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The spacious bedroom now housed two beds, a detail that left Jessica momentarily puzzled. Still, she instinctively recognized Jonathan’s hand in this arrangement. Shrugging off the thought, she prepared for bed, eager to rest before starting her first day at the hospital.
Just as she settled into the comfort of the blankets, the door creaked open.
The sight of Ethan entering the room stirred unwelcome memories. Ryan’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind: Ethan loves Emily deeply.
Jessica’s gaze turned icy as she briefly looked at Ethan before dismissing him entirely. Ethan ignored her cold demeanor, letting the room sink into an awkward silence.
Jessica turned in early, but her rest was shattered in the depths of the night.
________________________________________
A Nightmare
She woke abruptly, gasping for air, her forehead damp with cold sweat. The vivid remnants of the nightmare haunted her. In the dream, Baker, Holley, and even Ethan had conspired against her. Just as Holley had been about to plunge a dagger into her chest, Jessica had jolted awake, her heart hammering.
The terror felt so real, so visceral, that she couldn’t shake it. She couldn’t understand why her subconscious would twist the people closest to her into villains. Hugging herself, she buried her face in her knees, trying to quiet her racing thoughts.
Seeking solace, she stepped out onto the balcony, curling into the swing chair and gazing at the dark expanse of the night.
________________________________________
An Unexpected Encounter
The click of the balcony door startled her. Jessica raised her head to see Ethan standing in the doorway, his hair tousled and his voice rough with sleep. “Why are you out here in the middle of the night?”
Her eyes widened with conflicting emotions as she looked at him. Then, without answering, she turned away, unwilling to let him see her vulnerability.
Ethan frowned, annoyed by his own actions. When he had awoken to find her missing from the room, a flicker of worry had pushed him to search for her. Now, seeing her outside, he realized her insomnia was none of his business.
He was about to leave when her voice, crisp and cool, stopped him.
“Ethan,” she said, her tone cutting through the stillness. “You really love Emily, don’t you?”
Ethan hesitated, his expression unreadable, before turning back to face her.
Jessica’s lips curved into a sardonic smile. “To marry an utterly repulsive illegitimate daughter for her, you must really love Emily.”
Her words dripped with irony, her tone a sharp weapon.
Ethan opened his mouth to reply, but Jessica continued in a low, detached voice, “Jonathan insists we wait a month before finalizing the divorce. That must be irritating for you.”
Ethan’s gaze darkened, a flicker of scorn in his eyes. “It’s good that you’re aware of that,” he said coldly.
Jessica’s smile turned faint, her expression composed. “Don’t worry. After a month, I’ll make sure the divorce goes through. You’ll be free to be with Emily.”
Her calm demeanor unsettled him, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. Her indifference to the situation grated on his nerves, sparking an unfamiliar irritation.
Narrowing his eyes, Ethan snapped, “I expect you to hold to that.”
With that, he turned sharply and re-entered the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind him.
Jessica remained seated, staring into the night. Her expression betrayed no emotion, but inside, a hollow ache lingered.
________________________________________
The Next Morning
Jessica found little rest that night, the dark circles under her eyes betraying her sleeplessness. After a quick application of makeup and carefully adjusting her sleek black wig into a neat ponytail, she prepared for her day.
Arriving at the Grand Plains General Hospital, she parked in the lot and made her way toward the Cardiac Surgery Department. Although Caiden’s contact had offered to meet her at the entrance, Jessica had suggested they meet directly at the department instead.
Exiting the elevator, she was immediately stopped by security. “Who are you? What are you here for?” the guard asked brusquely.
Before she could respond, a gentle voice called out from behind her.
“Jessica?”
Jessica turned, startled, to see a woman stepping forward with a warm smile.