The warmth of his breath grazed her earlobe, and Jessica instantly froze, turning rigid in his embrace like a startled deer. Brian seized the bmoment /bbto /bcarry her into the car and shut the door.

    By the time Jessica snapped out of her daze, the car was already gliding onto the road. Outside, the traffic was heavy. Unless she wanted bto /bfling bherself /binto moving cars, she had no choice but to let him drive her home.

    Jessica crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat, silently seething, ‘I can’t believe I actually got flustered just now. How humiliating. But the real question is, did Brian notice?‘

    b“/bDon’t worry, no one’s following us,” Brian exined. Catching her gaze, he assumed she was still concerned about the photographers from earlier.

    “I’m not worried,” Jessica said, exasperated by his misunderstanding. Yet, as she realized he hadn’t caught on, a wave of relief washed over herb. /b

    ‘Seems like he didn’t notice. Maybe it’s best to just let him misunderstand me,‘ Jessica thought. Thenb, /bshe blurted,

    Brian looked genuinely confused. “What rumors?b” /b

    Jessica red at him. “Don’t y dumb with me,” she said. “I know you’ve seen what people are saying about you online.”

    All that talk about him being totally whipped or a love–struck fool was just absurd to Jessica. She wouldn’t buy it for a second that Brian didn’t mind thosements.

    To her surprise, Brian let out an amused chuckle. “Oh, you mean that? It’s nothing, really. Theizens aren’t wrong, you know. There’s absolutely no need to address it.”

    “You!” Jessica was stunned. In disbelief, she thought, ‘Does he really not care at all?b‘ /b

    Just then, the light turned red. Brian braked, took out his phone, tapped it a few times, and handed it to Jessica. He said gently, “Don’t overthink it. I really don’t mind. In fact, even the board at Atkinson Group should be thanking you.”

    Jessica lowered her gaze to the chart showing Atkinson Group’s recent stock surge on his phone and remained silent.

    Ever since their divorce, Atkinson Group’s stock price had been steadily climbing. Recently, it had practically shot up in a near–vertical line.

    ‘From a business perspective, Brian’s life actually got better after leaving me,‘ she thought, a cold sting settling in her chest. ‘How ironic.‘

    Brian noticed her mood shift and asked with concern, “Jessi, where has your mind wandered off to again?”

    She snapped, “None of your business. Mr. Atkinson, are you trying to flex by showing me that?” Unable to hold back, she let out a mocking scoff. “How childish.”

    If the light hadn’t turned green just then, Brian might have buried his face in his hands and sighed.

    “No, it’s not that I have anything to boast about,” Brian began. “I just wanted to let you know thattely, with so manyizens shipping us as a couple, it’s brought an enormous wave of attention ito /iAtkinson Group.

    “That buzz has significantly boosted our product sales, and the stock price has ibe /i

    soaring

    as a resultb. /b

    “Now, even the board members greet me with smiles whenever we meet. This is all thanks to you.” He continued calmly, exining thepany’s recent situation.

    Though Brian was speaking from the heart, the more he said, the quieter Jessica became. She wondered, ‘So being good to me can actually help bhis /b

    career.too?

    ‘Is that why he’s acting this way now? Because the stock price benefits from it?

    Chapter b419 /b

    bAfter /ball, bwith /bso bmany /bbpeople /bbshipping /bus online, he can’t bfisk /bbstepping /bbback/b, bnot /bif he cares babout /bbhis /bbpublic /bbimage /bor the bpany’s /bpedoras bexins /bbeverything/bb? /b

    bJessica /bwaspletely lost in her own thoughts, unable to stop the quiet sadness that seemed to radiate from her,

    Meanwhile, Brian fellpletely silent. ‘I’ve said the wrong thing again,‘ he realized, a dull ache tightening in his chest.

    Afterposing herself, Jessica realized Brian hadn’t said a word for quite some time. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why’d you stopbi?/i/bb” /b

    Brian gripped the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, the streetlights casting a cold glow across his face. After ba /bmomentb, /bbsaid/b, b“/bbYou /bbdon’t /bwant to hear it. Jessi, you… Forget it.”