bChapter /bb266 /b

    Despite her tough exterior, Vivian couldn’t help but tell Maxine about this beforehand.

    Maxine was at a loss for words. Instinctively, she reached for her phone to call Jessica, but Vivian reached out and pressed down on her bhand/bb, /bher expression conflicted. Vivian said quietly, “If I remember correctly, the two of them should already be on the ne.”

    “What?” Maxine gasped in shock.

    Vivian looked a bit guilty. “I meant to tell you sooner, but with the new job and everything going on… it just slipped my mind.”

    Maxine stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the revtion. With trembling hands, she slipped her phone back into her pocketb, /bthen mechanically reached for herptop and opened her chat window with Jessica, her mind utterly nk, words failing her.

    Vivian looked at her with concern. “It’s really nothing serious. Didn’t your ex–husband say sost time… The Jensons haven’t been keeping tabs on you muchtely, right?”

    Maxine sighed. “Well, since they’re already here…”

    ‘There’s no holding back a grown child,‘ Maxine thought.

    Fortunately, her mobility had just recovered, so she was able to go to the airport to pick the two of them up.

    They went to the airport together for the pickup, but unlike everyone else, Lisa and Jessica furtively emerged from the exit, dragging their suitcases behind them.

    If circumstances had allowed, the two would’ve even pulled scarves out of their luggage to wrap around their heads, anything to avoid being recognized.

    “Are we in the clear?” Jessica whispered cautiously.

    Lisa nodded earnestly, keeping her voice low. “Absolutely. I already scoped out the area, it’s all clear. You can rx,”

    Just as they finished speaking, hands suddenly mped down on the backs of their necks. Jessica froze, then turned stiffly to meet Maxine’s towering re. Maxine demanded, “Since when did you get so bold? Sneaking back home behind my back?”

    Without a second thought, Jessica quickly dropped her suitcase and clung to Maxine’s arm, pleading sweetly, “Maxine, I’ve missed you bso /bmuch! You never even texted me back!”

    Maxine freed her other hand and pinched Jessica’s cheek lightly. “No messages, huh? Then take out your phone, let’s check the chat history. bDon’t /bbgo /busing me without proof!”

    She thought, ‘With my leg acting uptely, I’ve just been stuck at home glued to my phone. I replied to every single message you bsent /bme, Jessica. bWe /beven did video calls sometimes. If that’s not keeping in touch, then what bis/b?‘

    Jessica pouted pitifully, “But I was so lonely all by myself! You kept dying your trip, and I had to spend Christmas all alone!”

    Maxine called her out bluntly. “Don’t even try, I already saw the group photo of you with William, Vivianb, /band the others on bInstagram/bb.” /b

    Jessica huffed and clung tighter to her arm. “I don’t care what you say, I’m staying with you!”

    Meanwhileb, /bVivian and her daughter were far more direct. Vivian had Lisa by bthe /bear bas /bbthe girl /bbwhimpered/bb, /b“bMom/bb, /bI bwas wrong/b. bPlease /bbforgive /bme

    bVivian /bsnappedb, /bb“/bIt’s one thing for you to mess pround on your ownb, /bbut bdragging /bbJessica /binto it? bIf /bbanything /bbhad /bbhappened /bbon /bbthe /bbway/bb, /bI’d like bto /bsee you’d bexin /bbit /bbto /bMaxineb!/b”

    The bfour /bbof /bthem got binto /bthe car. Jessica bwriggled /bbwith /bbexcitement /bbin /bbher /bbseat/bb, /bbgazing /bbout /bbat /bbthe /bbblur /bbof /bbcars /bband /bbscenery /bbrushing /bby it’s so beautif bcan /bbbarely /brecognize banything /bbanymore/b!b” /bbshe /bbeximed/b,

    b1/2 /b

    08.13

    bEN/bb, /bb4 /bbJUI /bDEW

    Maxine said while driving, “Yeah, Hathnd’s been pushing hard on infrastructure projectstely. The city’s expanded a lot bpared /bto bbefore/bb. /bShe added, “Even parts bof /bthe airport have gotten aplete makeover.”

    After ba /bbrief pause, Maxine added, “If you want to stay here, I’ll bring you back for good once the Jenson family’s case is over”

    A