bChapter /bb520 /b

    Jessica found thements especially amusing, particrly when Brian earnestly responded to obvious jokes.

    “What’s so funny?” Brian asked, walking in unnoticed by Jessica. He leaned over as he peeked over her shoulder.

    Jessica instinctively hid her phone, then realized a secondter that there was no reason to hide. She thought, ‘Why be shy? He posted it, and I was more than happy to read it.‘

    With that thought, she turned the screen toward him. “Your replies.”

    Brian chuckled at the scrollingments. “Guess I got it right.” If nothing else, making Jessicaugh was worth it.

    The tenderness in his voice was impossible to ignore. Jessica’s cheeks warmed as she muttered, “Like I care if you got it right.”

    Brian sat beside her, resting his head on herp to listen to their babies‘ kicks. “You’ve been through so much, Jessi.”

    Reading all the questions fromizens, especially the ones from other expecting mothers who were at the same stage of pregnancy as Jessica, had made Brian truly understand how tough pregnancy could be. It had deepened his shame for his past absence.

    “I was a real bastard back then. I don’t know how you put up with me.” His voice cracked with regret. He had no right to ask for reconciliation, but letting go was unthinkable. He couldn’t imagine living the rest iof /ihis life without her.

    Jessica listened to his heartfelt words in silence. After a long pause, she finally replied, “Let’s not dwell on the past. Are you nning to keep sharing like this?”

    She knew what he truly wanted ito /ihear, but she couldn’t promise that yet. She thought, ‘This is enough for now, isn’t it? Why does it have to change?‘

    Brian caught her unspoken message. Forcing a smile, he nodded. “Yeah, the fans seem to like my tweets.” He pulled up his profile. “Look, these followers gave great pregnancy tips.”

    As he shared lighthearted fan interactions, the tension between them eased into somethingfortable and familiar.

    Over the next few days, Brian continued his daily updates as usual. If he were even slightlyte, fans would flood thements demanding new content.

    Jessica’s initial amusement with thements faded quickly, and she stopped paying attention, unaware that countlessizens were trying to tag her. Since she didn’t have a Twitter ount, they resorted to tagging Xelvra and Sana instead.

    Sana’s previously quiet ount suddenly gained over 100 thousand followers. She even got recognized in public several times, with fans approaching her to ask about Jessica’s well being.

    Sana grumbled on Monday, pulling off her mask as she bumped into Jessica at the office, “Jessi, if you don’t open a Twitter ount soon, I might as well quit and be a full time influencer.”

    “That’d be great. I’ll be your first customer if you start selling stuff,” Jessica teased.

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    “Jessi!” Sana huffed. She was joking. She had no real interest in inte fame.

    “Just kidding. Hang in there. Once the hype dies down, they’ll move on,” Jessica reassured Sana, still unwilling to open an ount.

    “By then, I might already be a celebrity, and they’ll still be your fans,” Sana joked.

    “Impossible. Brian and I aren’t that interesting.” Jessica said dismissively.

    Sana hesitated, wanting to argue, but ultimately stayed silent.

    At the end of the day, the two women walked out together, only to find Brian and Wesley waiting outside.

    “Jessi.” Brian immediately strode over, taking Jessica’s bag and leading her away with a quick nod at Sana.

    “See you tomorrow.” Jessica waved goodbye.

    Left alone with Wesley, Sana felt inexplicably flustered. “Jessi, can you-”

    “I’ll take you home,” Wesley cut in smoothly.

    Sana red. “I don’t want you to.”

    “But I want to. Give me a chance?” Wesley grinned, unfazed by her re.

    His good–natured persistence left Sana with no room to argue without seeming unreasonable.

    “Hungry? There’s a new seafood ce. My treat,” Wesley coaxed.

    “No. I’m going home,” Sana snapped.

    “Fine. Weekend, then.” Wesley’s tone was easygoing, but his grip on her wrist was firm as he guided her toward his car.

    Sana struggled briefly, then yielded with a sigh.

    On the way to the restaurant, Wesley tried to spark conversation, but Sana remained silent. The atmosphere between them felt eerily simr to the awkwardness after their first night together. He couldn’t understand why she was being so difficult.

    Sana, on the other hand, still couldn’t convince herself that Wesley loved her. She knew many rtionships these days weren’t built bion /i/blove, and if it were anyone but Wesley, she might’ve settled for something casual. But with him? She couldn’t bear the though

    The truth was, she cared too much about Wesley to let him waste his time on her. She thought, ‘Maybe I should just end this,”

    The moment the car stopped, Sana pushed the door open, ready to bolt. She wondered, ‘Step one, I should keep a distance away

    “Wait,” Wesley bsaid /bsuddenly, reaching out and pulling her back just as her one foot was already stepping onto the ground.

    Off–bnce, Sana tumbled into hisp, narrowly avoiding an ident since the car was parked. “What the hell?” She clutched her throbbing forehead, ring at him.

    “You forgot your bag,” Wesley said, reaching out to inspect the reddening spot on her forehead. “Let me see.”

    12:54 Tue, 2 Sept A

    Sana swatted his hand away.

    Wesley’s patience fraying, he pulled her into a firm embrace. “At least tell me why you’re mad.”

    Sana snapped, “I’m mad? Stop making things up. Let go-”

    Just then, a shocked voice called from outside the car. “Sana?”