Although Jessica had left the Gilded Whisper Estates, her business there wasn't truly finished. That's why she didn't reach out to Herbert, but instead returned to her own small apartment.

Back in her own space, she felt herself relax, the heavy tension of the Estates finally falling away.

Today happened to be Timothy's birthday.

No wonder he never celebrated it. Now she understood-the day also marked the anniversary of his mother's death.

She remembered a time when she'd tried to throw him a birthday party. He'd gotten angry, and she'd been hurt by his reaction. Knowing now that he had his reasons, she found herself strangely numb. The answer had come too late.

If she'd known earlier, maybe her hurt would have faded, replaced by sympathy or even guilt. She might have sought him out to apologize, to offer comfort. But everything, she realized, seemed orchestrated by fate.

She and Timothy were simply from different worlds. They never should have crossed paths in the first place.

Tonight, she suspected neither Sheila nor the Lawsons would be able to sit still. Let them wrestle with each other; only then could she slip away quietly tomorrow.

taking a steadying breath as

more attentive to Jessica, but Sheila's presence had finally severed Jessica's last tie to the marriage. Sheila had been careful not to show too much in front of Jessica-always wary that Jessica might tell Timothy something. But now, there was nothing left to fear. Jessica herself was letting go. If Sheila tried hard enough, maybe she could win Timothy's heart back. She walked to his door

from his room, his handsome

tonight. I asked the kitchen to send

hungry," he said

the sort of day when food had

never celebrated my birthday-not once. Would you sit with me for a birthday dinner? There's no cake, no celebration. Just a meal. Would that be all

the same day Timothy's mother died.

gift from above, a consolation for her loss. Though the age gap was wide, they told others she was their goddaughter, but in

Timothy couldn't refuse. Because of his mother, his grandparents

"All right," he agreed.

of wine waited, breathing beside

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