Vince didn''t stop there-he twisted the knife just a little deeper.


    He typed out a message to Timothy:


    "If you hang up on me, I''ll just assume you''re mad and noting."


    Timothy nearly crushed his phone in his grip.


    Vince had been overseas for months, looking after his mother. Now he was back -was he really here to ask for help, or just to make Timothy''s life miserable?


    He never should have agreed to take on Vince''s project. Should''ve known better. Vince''s games always ran deep.


    Timothy couldn''t help but wonder: did Vince know that Jessica was his wife?


    First, Vince wired thirty million up front. Then, at Red House, he deliberately stuck up for Jessica. And now, he was talking about finding "Vince''s younger sister."


    Yeah, right.


    The Zimmermans had spent fifteen years searching for Vince''s sister, but eventually gave up—or at least, that''s what Yates said. Now, out of nowhere, Vince was bringing it up again.


    Nothing but smoke and mirrors with this guy.


    Vince was leagues ahead of Kane and Yates-always scheming, always smiling, always hiding his true intentions.


    A wolf in sheep''s clothing, through and through.


    Meanwhile, Vince had quietly looked into Jessica''s whereabouts and learned she''d just bought herself a small apartment.


    So he went to the real estate agency himself and made sure all records of Jessica''s purchase were wiped clean.


    As for registering the apartment, Jessica had actually asked the agent herself to dy the paperwork.


    A faint, knowing smile curved Vince''s lips.


    Afterward, he headed straight to Jessica''s new ce.


    Jessica was hunched over herptop when she heard a knock at the door. She frowned, hesitated, then got up to answer.


    Vince?


    "Jessica," he greeted her, his tone easy and pleasant.


    Jessica clenched her fists for a moment. He''d found her so quickly-if Vince could track her down, then Timothy could, too, couldn''t he?


    She wasn''t ready to see Timothy. Not yet.


    After a brief pause, Jessica stepped aside and let Vince in.


    She poured him a ss of water.


    "Thank you," Vince said, epting it graciously. "Sorry to drop by unannounced. The truth is, my grandfather really wants to meet you. I''ve already spoken to Timothy he won''t be attending. Could I trouble you to ept my invitation?"


    Jessica typed a line on her phone and showed it to him: "I can meet your grandfather. Is there any way to do it earlier orter?"


    Vince hesitated. "My grandfather... well, he specifically asked you toe on his birthday. He''s hoping you''ll bring a gift—and he''s such a big fan of your papercuts. He''s collected your work for years, and he''s invited several other papercraft enthusiasts to his birthday dinner. Honestly, he''s a little vain about it, but too shy to admit it. As his grandson, I want to make sure everything goes smoothly for him. You''re smart-I''m sure you understand what I mean."


    Jessica couldn''t help but smile. So there were grandfathers out there who weren''t all stern and overbearing, unlike Timothy''s.


    If Larkin admired her work that much, and Vince had spent so much just to buy


    her papercuts for his grandfather, it would be pretty heartless to turn them down.


    She typed another line for Vince to read:


    "Are you sure Timothy won''t be there?"


    "Absolutely."


    Even if Timothy did show up, Vince already had a n. So he answered her without hesitation.


    Jessica''s fingers flew across her phone screen once more.


    "I''ll go to your grandfather''s birthday dinner, and I''ll prepare a special gift for him. But you have to promise me one thing."