The only effective way forward was to start with Vince.


    Vince slid behind the wheel, started the car, and gunned the engine. His heart mmed against his ribs. If Jessica really was Salome...


    He shut his eyes, unable to let his thoughts go any further.


    If it was true, the pain was unbearable.


    He''d been right there, always by her side, yet he''d watched her suffer and when Timothy set that cruel trap-he''d even chosen, just once, to turn his back on her.


    Timothy knew Salome too. She''d always depended on him as a child, always wanted to be near him.


    Timothy probably knew more about her than anyone.


    On top of that, he''d once confided in Timothy about her birthmark—something so intimate, so private. Now, Timothy and Jessica were married. If Jessica was Salome, if she had that birthmark, Timothy would definitely be suspicious.


    So, when Timothy imed he had news about Salome... what if he meant Jessica?


    If that was the case-and Timothy used information about Salome to torment them in court, to force Jessica back to The Gilded Whisper Estates-then Timothy''s actions were truly unforgivable.


    Vince''s hands shook as he pulled out his phone and dialed Jessica.


    "Hello, Vince?" Her voice trembled through the speaker, and his heart twisted with worry and a tenderness he could barely contain.


    "Jessica, where are you?"


    "I''m on my way back to my hometown."


    "With Herbert?"


    "Yeah, he''s giving me a ride."


    Vince''s voice quavered, and Jessica wondered if Timothy''s condition was more serious than she''d realized. Why else would Vince sound so shaken?


    She was torn. No matter what, she''d never wanted Timothy dead. But whenever she remembered the pain he''d caused her, the words just wouldn''te.


    "Send me your location. I want toe see you."


    "Okay."


    "I''ll hang up now."


    Jessica sent him the address.


    If something had happened to Timothy, Vince would have told her, wouldn''t he? There was no way he''d just leave Timothy toe visit her if things were dire.


    Vince needed to see where Jessica grew up-maybe he could find some clue, something that would confirm his suspicions.


    He couldn''t say anything yet, not without proof. He didn''t want to scare her.


    If she really was Salome, he needed to understand her childhood, her life, everything about her past.


    His car sped down the highway.


    Jessica and Herbert had left the ident scene and reached The Gilded Whisper Estates in just over twenty minutes; now, they''d only been on the road for half an hour.


    Vince was already merging onto the interstate.


    Meanwhile, Timothy was wheeled out of surgery and slowly regained consciousness.


    After everything that had just happened, he expected Jessica and Vince to be waiting for him outside.


    He wanted to see Jessica.


    But when he opened his eyes, only She was there.


    His injuries were all across his back, so hey face down on the hospital bed.


    She hurried to the doctor, voice tight with worry. "How is he?"


    "He''s stable," the doctor replied.


    "the


    "There''s a patch of burns on his back and several smaller wounds, but they''ve all been treated. Nothing internal, just some new tearing along an old abdominal wound. You should all encourage him to take better care of himself-he can''t keep thinking he''s indestructible. The


    body has its limits."


    "Thank you, doctor."


    Timothy realized Jessica and Vince were gone. His heart sank.


    The pain that gripped him had nothing to do with his wounds.


    In the past, if he so much as scraped his knee, Jessica would panic, her eyes


    threatening to spill over with tears.


    He could still remember those days, clear as yesterday.


    How had everything changed sopletely?


    He''d been hurt several times now, yet she hadn''te to see him once.


    How could a woman be so gentle and tender, and then be so cold?


    He didn''t know it yet, but soon, he would learn that when a woman truly hardened


    her heart, she could be even more ruthless than any man.


    He''d overlooked so much.


    He''d never given her the response she needed.


    And now, she had nothing left to give.


    Back in his hospital room, Timothy said nothing.


    She sat quietly beside him, her, voice soft with concern. "Timothy Vince called and asked me toe check on you. He said you''d been in a car ident, that your car exploded..."


    She choked up, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. “What happened? Do


    you have any idea how scared I was?"


    She broke down, her dark hair falling around her face, her gentle, graceful


    manner making Timothy pause.


    They''d grown up together, and over the years, She hade to resemble Salome in many ways.


    But she''d never had Salome''s wild, lively spirit.


    After the fire seven years ago, that was why he''d agreed to marry her-her looks


    and her temperament were something he could ept.


    Maybe Yates had been right all along-Timothy had always been drawn to women like her.


    Yet nothingpared to the way he''d felt when he met Jessica. The urge to marry her had erupted from deep within him, unstoppable.


    Sometimes, he still couldn''t believe the reckless choice he''d made back then-Row, for the first time in bis life, he''d let his heart overrule his


    head.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!