bChapter /bb488 /b

    While Brian seethed watching the video call with the fake Madeline, Jessica had already contacted the real oneb. /b

    “Let’s meet.” Jessica cut straight to the point the moment the call connected.

    “How surprising. Jessica, you initiated a meet–up.” Madeline’s voice dripped with false calmness, though internally, she was fuming. She thought, ‘Damn it! How did she survive that fall?‘

    “Noon tomorrow at Caden Café. If you don’t show, I’ll hand the restaurant surveince footage to Brian.” Jessica had no patience for games.

    Madeline’s breathing hitched, but she forced calm into her tone. “Surveince footage? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

    Jessica smirked at the telltale tremor in her voice. “Fine. Skip it. I’ll have a chat with Brian tomorrowi./ii” /iShe moved to hang up.

    “Wait!” Panic sharpened Madeline’s voice. Jessica’s confidence left no room for bluffing.

    “Changed your mind?” Jessica asked tly.

    “I’ll be there. I’ve got plenty to say to you, too,” Madeline spat through gritted teeth.

    “How thrilling.” Jessica ended the call with a scoff, then contacted the head of the security team Sana had arranged, telling him to bring backup to the café tomorrow.

    No matter what Madeline tried tomorrow, she had to get on that ne. Someone would tail her until the baby was born. After that, if Madeline still dared cause trouble, Jessica wouldn’t hold back.

    Whether Brian would approve wasn’t Jessica’s concern. She thought, ‘If he sides with Madeline, I’ll escte this straight to Brian’s father. Let’s see who’s left embarrassed when the truth blows up.‘

    Jessica was determined, but that thought didn’t steady her nerves.

    That night, nightmares gued Jessica–visions of Madeline’s child dying en route, Brian raging at Jessica; of herself miscarrying caused by Madeline while Brian defended the culprit; of him choosing Madeline without hesitation when both women were in peril.

    gued by nightmares all night, Jessica looked hollow–eyed and drained the next morning.

    “Jessi, you’re pale. Stay home today,” Ste said with concern. She opposed Jessica’s early return to work anyway. Jessica had barely rested for a few days.

    “I’ve been out nearly a week. The project needs me.” Jessica declined. Home was thest ce she should be, especially

    with today’s agenda. She wouldn’t burden her parents with Madeline’s mess.

    When persuasion failed, Ste piled extra food onto Jessica’s te. The moment Jessica left, Ste called Gabri. b“/bbGabi/b, something’s off with Jessi, but she won’t talk. Can you check on her at the office?”

    b1550 /bbThu /bb28 /b

    bAUG /b

    Gabri agreed instantly, grabbing one of Inkspire Studio’s design files as cover before driving to bGrant /bbGroup/b.

    In the office, Jessica picked at the breakfast Sana had brought, her gaze flicking intermittently to her phone before drifting

    into a frown.

    Sana couldn’t ignore it. “Jessi, you’re expecting a message?” She assumed it was from Brian.

    “No.” Jessica snapped back to reality, setting her phone down.

    The evasion only deepened Sana’s suspicion. Just as she debated how to probe further, Gabri arrived.

    “Still eating? Review this for me when you’re done.” Gabri dragged a chair and sat opposite Jessica, her stare unblinking.

    Jessica took a dyed beat to respond. “When did you get here?”

    The disjointed reply made Gabri’s brows knit. After a long scrutiny, she cut to the chase. “Jessi, what’s wrong? If you can’t tell me, let’s visit Wesley.”

    “Absolutely, Jessi. I cane with you, too. I’ll call him to clear his morning,” Sana offered, pulling out her phone.

    “Don’t.” Jessica forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just tired from recovery.” Rubbing her temples, she gestured to Gabri’s decoy file and extended her hand as she spoke, “Is this for me? I’ll handle it.”

    Seeing that Jessica didn’t want to talk about it, Gabri reluctantly handed it over.

    Gabri and Sana spent the morning tossing lighthearted anecdotes at Jessica, who responded with sporadic, distracted smiles. Her eyes repeatedly darted to her wristwatch.

    The two exchanged uneasy nces. At noon, they offered to apany Jessica to get something to eat.

    However, Jessica refused. “Go ahead. I’m meeting a client.” She lied.

    “Which one? It’s not on your schedule,” Sana frowned. She quickly recalled Jessica’s schedule, and she was sure there were ino /iappointments today.

    “A client from overseas. I forgot to update you.” Jessica’s smile was brittle. “Stop worrying. I’m fine. Really.”

    Gabri and Sana insisted on joining, but Jessica’s patience snapped. She said coldly, “Enough. I’m fine. You’re acting like I’m terminally ill.”

    Jessica’s rare coldness stunned them. They exchanged another worried nce. Sana thought, Jessi has never shut us out like this, not even when she was at her worst. Something is seriously wrong.‘

    Their concern only grew deeper the more they thought about it.

    Jessica had enough on her te. She didn’t have the energy to manage anyone else’s concerns. She checked the btime/b, grabbed her bag, and stood up. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me, or I’ll get upset.” With that, she opened the boffice /bbdoor /bband /b

    left.

    bau/b, 20 bAuy/b!!