"Timothy, once you''re divorced, let''s be together."


    She finally found the courage to say it out loud.


    His divorce was drawing closer every day, and she knew she had to start nurturing whatever was between them before it was toote.


    She couldn''t keep waiting.


    She looked into Timothy''s eyes, hoping he''d give her an answer.


    He furrowed his brow, silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "Don''t even think about it. We''re not right for each other. Not long ago, you told me that what happened seven years ago was better left forgotten. Let''s not revisit it."


    She hadn''t expected him to reject her so tly.


    "Timothy, you know how I feel about you."


    "Seven years ago, I would''ve married you without hesitation. But time changes things. Your voice is healed now, and I have a wife and a child. You know me I''m not one to change my mind about people or things once I''ve made up my mind."


    So, because she walked away all those years ago, he''d never choose her again?


    But recently, he''d still treated her just as kindly as before.


    He was the first to rush to her side when she was hurt.


    Why couldn''t things go back to the way they were?


    "Timothy..."


    He cut her off, his voice final. "If that''s all you want to talk about, let''s not continue."


    He wouldn''t discuss it with her anymore.


    Jessica cared about these things a lot.


    "Your biological father''s been found. If you decide to acknowledge him, think carefully about how to tell your adoptive parents. I don''t want them to get hurt over this. Come on, I''ll drive you home."


    She said nothing more.


    Timothy dropped her off at the entrance to her apartmentplex. She stepped out and watched as his car disappeared into the distance.


    So it was true he really did have feelings for Jessica now.


    Even as kids, Jessica always clung to him, and it was obvious how much he cared for her.


    Later, She had gone out of her way to deceive Jessica.


    Fate had even smiled on her for a while, letting Jessica get lost.


    Timothy was right-once he made up his mind about someone, he rarely changed


    it.


    Unless they were broken or lost forever.


    Maybe that was how she should handle Jessica, too.


    Break her. Or lose her.


    After leaving Yates, Vince called Jessica.


    "Jess, you should leave The Gilded Whisper Estates."


    Now that Jessica knew She''s biological father was responsible for what happened to her grandmother, Timothy would surely keep shielding She. For Jessica, it felt like death by a thousand cuts.


    "I don''t want you to end up suffering because of my little sister," Vince said, full of guilt.


    He med himself for not protecting her.


    "It''s fine. Don''t think like that," Jessica reassured him.


    She wasn''t nning to leave The Gilded Whisper Estates—at least not yet. Mayfield was She''s biological father. Jessica was all grown ups now, and she looked nothing like the little girl from years ago; there was no way Mayfield would recognize hér.  ?wnovel


    She had clearly epted Mayfield as her father. If Jessica stayed, she''d have a better chance of finding out more about him.


    "I just worry about you," Vince said softly.


    She smiled, albeit sadly. "You get used to it after a while. I won''t have to deal with


    it for too long anyway. Besides, there''s something else I need to take care of."


    "What is it?"


    She hesitated, then answered, "Henry Lawson."


    Ever since Jessica filed for divorce from Timothy, she''d barely mentioned Henry in front of Vince as if she was prepared to give up. custody. And although she wouldn''t take Timothy to court, she was still thinking of Henry''s future.


    Now that she knew She''s real father was a dangerous man, she was even less


    willing to let her son out of her sight.


    Sometimes, you just had to admit gics were a strange thing.


    Maybe She wasn''t as harmless as she seemed.


    There was no way she and Mayfield could have be so close in such a short time, not genuinely. And yet, She had chosen this exact moment to reveal she had a biological father-almost as if she was paying the way for her own. rtionship with Timothy after Jessica and Timothy divorced.


    "You do what you think is right. I won''t interfere," Vince said. "But don''t act rashly.


    If anything happens, call me. Someone who''s lost their conscience is dangerous."


    "I know. I''ll be careful."


    Meanwhile, in his office at Lawson Enterprises, Timothy was reviewing the files Secretary Allen had just brought in.


    "Mr. Lawson, I found the information you asked for on that Bentley." Allen had worked with Timothy for years and knew to always look a step ahead. Not only did he track down the owner, but he''d dug up their entire background.


    Timothy opened the file, his gaze darkening as he read.


    The owner was She''s father.


    What was Jessica''s connection to Mayfield? And why had she been following his car?


    Timothy scanned Mayfield''s background-he was a prominent figure in Cloverdale, a self-made casino owner whose business empire now spanned real estate, nightclubs, and hotels.


    A man with real influence.


    Timothy immediately called Vince.


    "Tell me why is Jessica investigating Mayfield?"


    "How did you know she was looking into him?" Vince asked.


    "She was tailing his car. I was following behind her."


    Vince sighed. "Let''s make a deal. You tell me where my sister is, and I''ll tell you


    why Jessica''s after Mayfield."