Jacob’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. He clutched the jar filled with small flowers tighter in his hands, sniffled, and tried his best to keep his voice steady. “Mommy, I picked you some flowers. I hope you get well soon.”

    He held out the ss jar filled with colorful flowers, his eyes red and watery.

    Jessica’s fingers twitched slightly, but all she managed was a cold response. “Just put it over there. Don’te to the hospital during school hours anymore. And stop bringing me your homework to check. We’re also putting your art lessons on hold.”

    Jessica was dealing with the pregnancy and trying to handle Madeline behind Brian’s back. She didn’t have the energy to teach Jake painting or check his homework right now.

    Jake felt like crying when he heard this, but he forced himself to hold back the tears. “Okay, Mom. You focus on getting better. I won’t bother you anymore.”

    Seeing how understanding Jake was being made Jessica feel a pang of guilt, but she didn’t soften her stance. “Mm–hmm.” She looked down and gave a brief response, clearly wanting to end the conversation.

    But Jake still wasn’t leaving. Jessica frowned again, and just then, Brian walked over and ced a cup of warm milk in her hands. “Jessica, don’t keep everything bottled up inside, okay? We’re all here to help you.”

    Brian had dark circles under his eyes, and the stubble on his chin looked like it hadn’t been properly taken care of in days.

    The exhaustion in his features was something he couldn’t hide, no matter how hard he tried.

    Jessica remembered what Gabri had mentioned during her visit–how the news of her divorce from Brian had made

    countlessizens question whether their rtionship was even real.

    People thought Brian was just putting on an act to promote his new products, so they started mass returns that sent Atkinson Group’s stock prices plummeting. The memory made her fall silent.

    ‘Brian must be swamped right now, but he still shows up in my hospital room every single day,‘ Jessica thought. ‘Is it really just because he’s worried about me? Or does he know what Madeline did and feels guilty about it?‘

    Jessica looked up and studied him quietly. ‘Do you have any idea what Madeline put me through?‘ she wondered.

    “Jessica?” Brian felt an uneasy feeling creeping up inside him as she stared at him. It was like something he really didn’t want to face had happened without his knowledge. He called her name softly.

    “Hmm?” Jessica didn’t look away, just gave him a casual response.

    “Is there something you want to tell me?” Brian asked softly.

    When Jessica heard that, she couldn’t help but admire how sharp Brian’s instincts were. ‘Can Madeline really fool him?‘ she thought.

    “No, you can leave now. Don’t bothering back either, I’ve decided to discharge myself today and move back home,” Jessica said coolly. Without hesitation, she pushed away the warm milk Brian had handed her. “Sana, could you get me

    some water?”

    03%1

    14:49 Tue, 26 Aug

    “Oh, okay, Jessica.” Sana had been holding her breath because of the weird tension in the room. She jumped up at Jessica’s request and went to pour water, feeling Brian’s piercing stare on her back.

    ‘Mr. Atkinson, I’m not trying to steal your job here, but Jessica really can’t stand you right now. I can’t make her ufortable just for your sake, right?‘ Sana thought.

    Jessicapletely ignored Brian and Jake. After drinking the water Sana brought her, she pulled out her phone and called her parents, asking them toe help her with the discharge paperwork that afternoon.

    When Jessica hung up, her stomach started rumbling, so she asked Sana to order takeout for her.

    Brian couldn’t take it anymore. He stopped Sana and looked directly at Jessica. “Jessica, even if I really did something wrong without meaning to, just punish me, okay? Don’t take it out on yourself.”

    bAD /b

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

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!