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

it felt

from the doorway. "Every year, Mom bought you the

checked-all the sizes should fit you.

find something,

We'll

Jessica nodded.

wardrobe and

clothes,

covered with

eyes stung

a family

forgotten about her or pretended she didn't

always been in their

the cracks

herself aching to see her

that she was a mother herself, she

your child

her phone and called

contacted the Bryants, letting Mr. and Mrs.

Grandpa was waiting for them at the Lawson estate, urging them to get

as soon as possible.

decided to split up-one

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

called Yates, telling him to meet at

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

then said

for a

just learned today that they

childhood, she'd always called him by his

I'm

I think I should start calling

to book a

Jessica couldn't wait any longer. She wanted her

as soon as possible-maybe it

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

You

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

ID. Vince, hoping she'd

arranged for his assistant to book a flight for after ten

the Gilded Whisper Estates. As soon

his car, Yates strode

about?"

"Come inside. You'll find

way over, Vince had

replied that

getting his