On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 170

Catherine Brown’s lips tightened. “Lillian, you just got back, so you don’t know. Jessica got into some trouble a few days ago. I imagine she’s too embarrassed to see us. We haven’t been able to reach her. I thought for sure she’d come for Gabriel’s birthday, but she’s blocked my number.”

Lillian frowned.

“It’s a celebration,” Willie said with a hint of reproach. “Let’s not talk about people who spoil the mood.”

Lillian shot him a sharp look. “What happened? We’ve been gone for two years, and the family feels… strange.”

Willie tugged on her arm.

Lillian smiled coolly. “I was hoping to see Jessica while we were back. Since no one can get in touch with her, I’ll just go find her myself tomorrow.”

Isabella sighed. “Lillian, Jessica isn’t in a good state of mind right now. If she says anything to upset you, please try to be patient with her. Don’t take it personally.”

Kevin Brown snorted. “Her child is almost five. She’s hardly a child herself. The problem is that Elizabeth spoiled her rotten and never taught her any better.”

Lillian’s smile was sharp as glass. “Kevin, Jessica is your daughter too. If you felt Isabella wasn’t raising her right, you could have stepped in.”

Willie shot to his feet and pulled Lillian toward the door. “Come with me.”

Isabella laughed, trying to smooth things over. “Today is all about Gabriel, so I won’t pester him. But Eric and Randy, it’s about time you two found girlfriends, don’t you think?”

At Willowbrook Gardens, George got out of Nathan’s car just as the property manager was supervising a cleaning crew tidying up the mess outside Jessica’s villa. George’s expression darkened.

The manager saw him and hurried over. “A mob was here earlier, throwing trash at the house,” he explained before George could ask. “I helped Ms. Brown leave through the back entrance.”

“Where did you take her?” George asked urgently.

“I dropped her at a bus stop,” the manager said cautiously. “She asked me to leave her there, so I came straight back. I don’t know where she went.”

George’s brow furrowed. He tried calling Jessica, but the calls went straight to voicemail. He had assumed she would be here. He pulled out his phone. “Frank, find Jessica Brown’s location. I need it in ten minutes.”