Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica stopped Larkin, shaking her head. "Let's just leave it. I don't want to be

tangled up with their family anymore."

The more you try to sort it out, the messier it gets.

But Larkin's jaw tightened. "If I don't confront Phelps about this, I'll never be able

to swallow my anger. Don't worry, Jess. I'll handle this. No matter what, I'll make

sure your divorce from Timothy goes through smoothly."

It was in that moment Jessica realized: having family, for a woman after marriage,

was the greatest source of strength.

Her grandfather had lost his granddaughter for so many years, and now he knew

in advance all the hurt she'd suffered at the Lawsons' hands. There was no way

The'd stand by and do nothing.

Jessica didn't try to stop him again.

Vince put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you to your

room. You've had a tough day-just rest here tonight. Let us handle the rest."

"Alright," she agreed quietly.

She was drained, physically and emotionally, from the whole exhausting divorce

ordeal. The idea of rest was a relief.

Jessica followed Vince down the hall to her room.

Stopping at the door, Vince glanced back at her. "Even though you haven't been

home for years, Mom always kept your room ready. After you turned eighteen, she

even had it redecorated."

With that, he pushed the door open.

The room was awash in soft, feminine touches-blush-pink curtains, a crisp white

bed, a neat row of plush toys lined up above the headboard. On the wall hung an

oversized photograph. There was a picture frame on the nightstand too, holding a

photo of her as a little girl.

Jessica stepped inside, her fingers brushing the frame as she picked it up.

Looking at her childhood face, she felt a rush of emotions-grief, comfort, longing

-all at once.

feel

down, it felt like

spoke softly from the doorway. "Every year, Mom

checked-all the

If you can't find something, just ask. Grandpa

early tonight. We'll have dinner

Jessica nodded.

Vince left, she walked to the wardrobe and

brand-new clothes,

vanity was covered with jewelry and

eyes stung with

have a

or pretended she didn't

she'd always been

into the cracks of her battered

found herself aching to

she was a mother herself, she

your child like

out her phone and called

had already contacted the Bryants, letting Mr. and Mrs.

at the Lawson estate, urging

as soon as possible.

had decided to split up-one headed

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

to

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

said

for a

that they were siblings,

she'd always called

I'm your

calling you that anyway. Can you send me

to book a

sick; Jessica couldn't wait any longer. She wanted

her as soon as possible-maybe it would help

photo of your ID," Vince said quickly. "I'll have my secretary

you. You want to go

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

picture of her ID. Vince, hoping she'd still

arranged for his assistant to book a flight

Whisper Estates.

his car, Yates strode

this about?"

was grim. "Come inside. You'll find out

his way over, Vince

who replied that

getting