Kylee’s inquiry was far from surprising.
At the Thomas family banquet, Kylee had been present but had left in a hurry after receiving an urgent call from her mentor. Unbeknownst to her, during her absence, Jessica had gained recognition for a courageous act and caught Liam’s attention, leading to his suggestion that Jessica join Grand Plains General Hospital.
Still, Kylee beamed with pride as she responded to Jessica’s comment. “Yes, I’ve started working at Grand Plains General Hospital.”
Jessica raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What’s your role there? Are you an attending physician or something else?”
The question caught Kylee off-guard, and her expression tensed briefly before she forced a smile. “Actually, I’m not officially on staff yet. Grand Plains General Hospital has incredibly high standards. The hiring process is rigorous, with exams and multiple selection stages.”
After a slight pause, Kylee elaborated, “Right now, I’m apprenticing under the Chief Surgeon in the Cardiac Surgery Department. I’m still training, but my mentor believes that with another two years of hard work and experience, I’ll be ready to pass the exams and secure a permanent position.”
Jessica gave a small nod. “I see.”
Kylee’s enthusiasm didn’t waver. “Jessica, you should join me there! Even if you don’t meet the criteria for training right away, you could assist me for now. With some experience, you might even become a trainee in a couple of years.”
Jessica responded with a polite smile. “Thanks, but I’ve already secured a job. I start tomorrow.”
Kylee’s curiosity was piqued. “Really? Where will you be working?”
Jessica’s lips curled into a meaningful smile. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Fair enough,” Kylee replied, though she inwardly dismissed Jessica’s response. In her mind, it was likely that Jessica had found a modest position at a small hospital or clinic, too insignificant to mention.
Throughout the meal, Kylee made various attempts to steer the conversation and engage Jessica.
“Jessica,” she began with forced cheer, “now that you’re Mr. Thomas’s goddaughter, I’m thrilled for you. Since our families are so closely tied now, maybe you could arrange a dinner with Nathaniel and his wife for my family?”
Jessica’s response was calm and disinterested. “We’ll see.”
Both Nathaniel and Abigail held a strong disdain for Baker due to his past treatment of Jessica. As a result, they bristled at the mere mention of Baker’s name, something Kylee was well aware of.
Frustrated by Jessica’s indifferent response but unwilling to push her further, Kylee bit back any further comments.
Once the meal ended, the two women exited the restaurant. Jessica graciously declined Kylee’s suggestion to spend the rest of the afternoon together, offering a polite but firm goodbye before driving off.
________________________________________
Back at the Clark Family Estate
The living room simmered with tension as Jonathan confronted Ethan.
“Why did you purchase a new bed?” Jonathan demanded, his face dark with frustration.
Ethan remained unfazed, his tone sharp as he replied, “What do you think a bed is for, if not sleeping? Especially since you went out of your way to remove all the other beds from the house.”
Jonathan’s tone grew more forceful. “You and Jessica are still married. Married couples share one bed—not separate ones.”
Ethan met Jonathan’s gaze with a cool, unyielding expression. “Our marriage probably won’t last another month. What does it matter whether we share a bed now?”
Jonathan faltered momentarily, but he quickly recovered. “You ought to reconsider this divorce. Where else will you find a wife as exceptional as Jessica? She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Don’t be foolish. You’ll regret it once she’s gone.”
A derisive scoff escaped Ethan’s lips as he leaned back, his expression one of utter disbelief.
“Regret divorcing Jessica?” he repeated mockingly. “Trust me, that’s something I’ll never regret.”
His voice rang with confidence, a conviction that left no room for doubt. Yet, Ethan was blind to the twists of fate that awaited him—an impending realization that would redefine regret.