Timothy pulled his robe from the wardrobe, draping it over his arm. His expression remained calm, lips parting as if to speak, but when he looked at Jessica''s almost unreadable face, he thought better of it and left the master bedroom without a word.


    The guest room was right next door. He headed straight for the bathroom.


    After showering, Timothy settled onto the bedroom balcony, lit a cigarette, and dialed Vince.


    "Did you get that wound taken care of?"


    Vince''s first words cut straight to the point.


    "Yeah."


    "How''d you manage to hurt your neck? Bled a lot, didn''t you?"


    Vince probably had an idea, but asked anyway.


    "Got bitten by a sweet little kitten with a mean streak," Timothy replied dryly.


    "That sounds dangerous. Did you get a shot?"


    Timothy took a deep drag, exhaling smoke. "Vince, I didn''t call to chit-chat. Do you


    realize you messed up my ns? Again?"


    "Didn''t I make it up to you with that project?"


    Timothy''s lips curled into a cold half-smile. "You''re good at keeping score, aren''t you? One project doesn''t cover two screw-ups."


    Vince''sugh was soft, almost teasing. "If I offended without knowing, I hope President Lawson will enlighten me."


    Timothy didn''t bother.


    He''d cut off every escape route for Jessica-no money, nowhere to go. It was only


    a matter of time. If she didn''te home today, or tomorrow, she''d eventually have to.


    And yet...


    Thirty million. Vince was certainly generous.


    "What did you buy from her for thirty million?"


    He needed to know where Jessica''s money came from.


    "Paper cutouts."


    Timothy''sugh was short and sharp. "I have a hard time believing you''re not doing this just to get under my skin."


    Paper cutouts, for thirty million.


    Vince had to know Timothy had frozen Jessica''s ounts, and now he''d just handed her a fortune.


    "Don''t me me for nothing. It really was for the paper cutouts. Oh, and I forgot to tell you—three days from now, my grandfather''s turning seventy. We''re having a party at the house. Be there and bring your wife. My grandfather wants to meet her."


    That jogged Timothy''s memory. Larkin''s first love had been a master at traditional paper cutting. Larkin had a thing for collecting them, and over the years, his obsession had only grown.


    Even so, if Vince bought those simple snowkes and little paper dolls Jessica made with Henry for that kind of money... It wasughable. Those trinkets weren''t even worth pocket change, let alone good enough for Larkin''s collection.


    "Vince, you really love testing my limits, don''t you?"


    Vince sounded honestly baffled. "Timothy, what are you talking about? I don''t get it. What am I supposed to have done?"


    There was no way Timothy could tell Vince that his wife was being difficult, threatening divorce, and that he''d frozen her assets to bring her back home.


    "Fine. y coy if you want. I''lle to your grandfather''s party in three days and


    see for myself what kind of paper cutouts are worth thirty million."


    "Just don''t forget your wife. My granddad couldn''t care less about you, but he''s dying to meet her. Says he''s got a present he wants to give."


    Jessica had just signed an agreement with him today-he wasn''t allowed to force her to attend any events.


    Timothy''s face darkened. "Ask her yourself."


    "Fine, fine, I''ll reach out. Since you''re on the line, I might as well tell you what I called about."


    Yates had mentioned this to Timothy before.


    "Go ahead."


    "You know a fair bit about my little sister''s situation, but there''s one thing you might not know. She''s got a pink birthmark right over her heart..."