She couldn''t say it out loud.


    In her heart, Herbert Wheeler and Vince Zimmerman upied entirely different ces. She couldn''t even exin what made the difference-just that it was there. Some things, like the humiliation she suffered at the hands of Timothy Lawson, she could confide in Vince, but she could never bring herself to tell Herbert.


    An ident severe enough to make the car explode there was no way things could be that simple.


    Jessica Greene''s silence weighed on him. He felt a deep ache in his chest.


    "Little Mute," he called to her softly. That was his special name for her a term of endearment only he used.


    "I''ve left the Wheeler family. You don''t have to worry about them holding me back anymore. He can''t use the family to threaten you again."


    He hadn''t nned on telling her this. But Jessica never liked to burden others; she was always thinking of everyone else before herself. He couldn''t stand watching her swallow all her pain alone. He wanted her to know she wasn''t alone. If she needed someone, he''d be there, no questions asked.


    Jessica couldn''t bring herself to answer.


    The day she saw the news, her first impulse had been to call him, to ask what had happened. But in the end, she kept quiet. What he wanted, she couldn''t give. At least...not now.


    She forced a small smile. "Why would you do something so foolish? Did you really leave the Wheeler family just for me?"


    He nodded.


    They had known each other since they were young. Back then, after school, Herbert would always wait at the gate for her, only heading home with his friends after she''de out.


    He''d walk behind her, worried that someone might mock or taunt her. Ever since Herbert started shadowing her to and from school, the kids who used to tease her for being "the mute girl” had gradually disappeared.


    “Don''t do anything that reckless again,” she said softly. “I''ll just run inside to get my ID. Wait here for me, okay? Afterward...could you drop me at the train station? I want to go home."


    "Of course."


    Jessica went to Timothy''s room and rummaged through his suitcase until she found her ID and passport.


    She grabbed her bag and left The Gilded Whisper Estates.


    Herbert started the car. "You don''t need to take the train. I''ll drive you back myself.


    I was nning to visit anyway."


    She nodded. She knew that if she said she wanted to go home, he''d insist on taking her. Asking him to wait and drive her to the station was just an excuse— there were things she wanted to say.


    "Let me make a call first."


    Jessica pulled out her phone, just as Vince''s name lit up on the screen.


    She answered.


    Vince''s voice came through immediately. "Jess, you need to leave. Get away from Timothy."


    eln


    Mabel hade to the hospital with him. Timothy was in surgery, and while they waited, Vince questioned Mabel. Apparently, Timothy had intended to have their names tattooed on each other and had brought in two artists to do it.


    When Jessica''s phone rang, Timothy had snatched it away and turned it off: Vince realized right away-Timothy must have caught Jessica trying to call for help, and then dragged her and the tattoo artists to another location. The car ident that followed was easy to figure out-Jessica, desperate and unwilling to have Timothy''s name branded on her, must have done something to try to save herself, and that led to the crash.


    It was far too dangerous.


    He''d never agreed to let Jessica go back with Timothy in the first ce.


    "My sister''s mess isn''t yours to fix," Vince said, voice tight. "This is my problem. He''s not going to tell me about it just because you try to please him, so stop being so selfless. Think about yourself for once."


    He''d been terrified when he saw the burning wreck on the news. He''d rather see Jessica with Herbert-even if it meant he''d never have her himself-than let her stay trapped with Timothy, constantly at risk.


    Jessica had picked up the phone to say exactly that. She''d been fooled by Timothy too many times; she should never have believed that spending a final "cooling-off" month with him at The Gilded Whisper Estates would make him reveal Vince''s sister''s whereabouts.


    “Vince, I''m sorry. I was useless—I couldn''t help you."


    "It''s not your fault. You should never have had to carry this."


    "I''ve decided to go back home."


    Vince paused. "Good. Go home for now. I''ll handle Timothy, and I''ll make sure he leaves you alone."


    When the call ended, Vince dialed She Howard.


    She was surprised to see his name pop up-he''d been shielding Jessicately, never reaching out to her. Still, she answered the call.


    Vince got straight to the point. "Timothy''s in surgery right now. Do you want toe see him?"


    He tossed the question at her. Right now, She was the only one who could keep Timothy upied. He needed to buy Jessica a little time-a chance to catch her breath.


    If Jessica hadn''t been so determined to leave, he would never have called She.


    "What happened?" she asked, anxious.


    "He was in another car ident. The car exploded. He nearly died protecting Jessica."


    Vince knew he had to make it sound like Timothy cared deeply about Jessica- enough to put pressure on She. If Timothy wasn''t given some real trouble, he''d never stop hounding Jessica.


    Sure enough, She panicked. "Which hospital? I''ming right away."