"—"
The words caught in Herbert's throat. He swallowed them back.
Jessica was still married. Whatever he wanted to say, now just wasn't the right time.
"It's been so long since we've seen each other. When are you coming back? I'd love to take you out for dinner, celebrate your movie in advance."
"My mom's been feeling a lot better since she saw me. She came out here to recuperate, but she says once she's back on her feet, she'll head home to Riverside. It shouldn't be much longer."
"Alright. I'll be waiting," Herbert replied, his voice bright and cheerful.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Really. I don't have anything else—since you just met your biological father, you should spend more time with your family. I'll let you go. Take care."
After hanging up, Jessica felt a tangle of emotions twisting inside her.
She knew how Herbert felt about her.
But...
She still hadn't signed the divorce papers with Timothy.
married, already
was such an incredible guy-he deserved someone better, someone
said anything outright, and she couldn't bring herself to break the silence either. Maybe, when the time
phone rang again, interrupting her thoughts—a number she didn't
but with Carlisle's film just premiering, maybe it was
moment the call connected, a small, familiar
"Mom."
Henry?
pang shot through
cut the call, her
listening to the dead line. His
didn't
phone dangling limply. Naylor anxiously leaned over, "Henry, did you
up. Then she hung
eyes were lost,
"How could she be so heartless? Henry's her own
then, the
maid hurried to open
"Phelps! Get out here!"
with anger. He jumped to his feet to greet
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