Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The man's voice was low and gentle, and only then did Jessica's trembling begin to ease. The nap she'd taken earlier hadn't done anything to shake off her weakness or exhaustion.

Half-asleep, she slumped into Timothy's arms and drifted off, but even in sleep, a deep furrow remained between her brows.

Timothy, worried she might wake easily, hardly dared to move.

Memories of the night before crept in, and with them came a wave of guilt unlike anything he'd ever felt.

Meanwhile, Vince left The Gilded Whisper Estates and headed straight for the hospital.

Sure enough, Larkin was lying in his hospital bed, but he looked perfectly fine.

"Grandpa, didn't they say you needed emergency care?" Vince asked, bewildered.

Larkin, looking completely serious, replied, "You and Timothy didn't get into a fight, did you?"

Vince frowned. "Grandpa, what's going on?"

Larkin finally explained, "Timothy's assistant called and said you and he got into it over something—asked me to get you to come back so you two wouldn't come to blows. Honestly, look at you. Aren't you both too old to be fighting like kids?" "Grandpa!" Vince was exasperated. "And aren't you too old to fall for such tricks? Do you really think I'm the type to pick a fight with Timothy over nothing?"

As for the trouble at the company, Vince knew Timothy must've had a hand in it, but with his grandfather's health on the line, he hadn't dared to ignore the call. "So you're telling me I got played? What actually happened?"

Larkin just stared at him, confused.

"Look, time's tight. I'll explain everything to you later," Vince said, before rushing out of the hospital. He still needed to stop by the office.

If Timothy had set things in motion, Vince couldn't afford to waste any more time

-he had to get his team together and handle the fallout.

He'd barely left the hospital parking lot when his assistant called.

"Mr. Zimmerman, the situation's under control."

"What do you mean, under control? How did it resolve so suddenly?" Vince asked, feeling completely out of the loop.

"It was just a computer virus-a false alarm. Before our tech guys even started working on it, the problem vanished on its own."

Vince slammed on the brakes, then pounded his fist against the steering wheel.

He knew Timothy was behind this, but these were high-stakes problems-he'd been forced to take the bait and leave.

And Jessica?

A chill ran through him. He floored the gas pedal and sped back toward The Gilded Whisper Estates.

The house was shrouded in darkness.

He rang the doorbell for ages before Mabel finally came to the door.

"Mr. Zimmerman, good evening."

"Where's Timothy?"

Mabel frowned, looking uneasy. "Sir told us aff to turn in for the night. only came because I heard you

ringing. I honestly don't know if they're still here."

Vince pushed past her to the main house and started ringing the inner bell.

"Mr. Zimmerman, please, let me get the door," Mabel said, switching on the lights

as she led him inside.

The place was deserted.

Vince hesitated to open the bedroom doors himself, so Mabel went from room to room, knocking and checking each one. But by the end, it was clear—there was no sign of Timothy or Jessica anywhere in the house.

On the floor, the divorce papers Timothy had drafted lay scattered.

Vince's hands clenched into fists. Timothy had gotten everyone out of the way, then taken Jessica with him.

Knowing he'd been played-and still falling for it-made Vince seethe with frustration.

If it had

he mbled down, roping in his ht been a company crisis,

hadnoveldrama

not have left. But Timothy

grandfather as well.

Cunning bastard.

If Timothy could use Yates to reach him, then Vince could use Yates to find

Timothy.

Back in his car, Vince called his assistant, instructing him to track down Timothy's whereabouts. Then he dialed Yates.

"Yates, set up a meeting with Timothy at the Red House for drinks."

"Why don't you just call him yourself?" Yates groaned. These two were going to

be the death of him.