Ryan’s thoughts churned in turmoil, swirling with confusion and frustration. Jessica had been captivating—there was no denying it. Her aura earlier had commanded the room, her strength and presence demanding admiration. And yet, this truth gnawed at him relentlessly.
Why did it have to be her? Jessica—the woman he had once despised with every fiber of his being. The woman he had mocked, scorned, and dismissed more thoroughly than anyone else.
If only she were just Nathaniel’s goddaughter. If only she weren’t entangled in the tangled web of their shared past, how much easier it would have been. How much simpler life might have seemed.
An uncomfortable silence fell over Ethan’ group. The tension in the air was almost suffocating, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on everyone.
Finally, it was Alexander who broke the quiet. He turned toward Emily, his expression tinged with mild concern. “Emily, don’t drink too much. You don’t handle alcohol well, and you’ll regret it later.”
Emily offered him a small, slightly wobbly smile, her voice already carrying a faint slur. “Don’t worry about me. I know my limits,” she replied, though her glass, still half-full, suggested otherwise.
Alexander’s gaze shifted between Emily and Ethan, his brow creasing as he shook his head. Love—so complicated and maddeningly illogical.
________________________________________
Downstairs, Bethany’s cheerful company lifted Jessica’s spirits, her warmth a welcome reprieve from the earlier tension. The two sipped their drinks, the atmosphere around their table relaxed.
Bethany, however, soon grew thoughtful. Her gaze turned serious, and her voice gained a purposeful edge. “Jessica, what if Mrs. Wright approaches you and demands that you apologize?” she asked.
Jessica stilled at the question, her mind turning inward. Silence lingered between them as she considered her response. Her feelings toward Carola Wright were far from simple—an intricate tangle of respect, gratitude, and admiration. Carola had been the only member of the Wright family to believe Jessica’s innocence when Kylee accused her of stealing the necklace. For that, Jessica was grateful.
But gratitude wasn’t enough to make her compromise her principles.
When Jessica finally spoke, her voice was clear and resolute. “No matter what, I will never apologize to Kylee,” she said, her tone slicing through the air with conviction. After a brief pause, she added, “It doesn’t matter who asks me—not even Carola. The answer will always be the same.”
Bethany nodded in firm agreement. “Exactly! You’ve done nothing wrong, Jessica. Why should you apologize? Giving in will only encourage Kylee to keep pushing your boundaries.”
At the mention of Kylee, Jessica’s brows knitted slightly in frustration. Lately, Kylee’s behavior had crossed every line of decency, growing more intolerable with each passing day.
As Jessica opened her mouth to respond, Bethany nudged her arm, gesturing toward the upper floor. “Look,” Bethany said, her tone suddenly sharper. “Isn’t that Ethan and his friends?”
Jessica followed her friend’s gaze, her eyes landing on the booth where Ethan sat with his group. Her expression darkened immediately.
At that very moment, Emily was clinging to Ethan’ arm, her body swaying slightly as if she could barely remain upright. Ethan leaned in, speaking to her in a low voice, his words indistinguishable from this distance.
Jessica’s sharp eyes narrowed, her annoyance simmering just beneath the surface. So, Emily had decided to ignore her earlier warnings. Very well.
Beside her, Bethany bristled, her indignation plain on her face. “What on earth is Emily doing? Has she no shame?”
Jessica rose from her seat, her movements calm and deliberate. “Come on, Bethany,” she said, her voice steady but cold. “Let’s see what’s going on up there.”
Bethany’s eyes lit up with anticipation, and she sprang to her feet. “Absolutely! Let’s go.”
________________________________________
Meanwhile, at Ethan’ table, Emily’s inebriated state was becoming increasingly evident. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes drooped as she clung to Ethan’ arm like a lifeline.
“Emily? Are you okay?” Ethan asked, his tone tinged with concern as he gently nudged her.
Emily pouted, her eyes closing like a child refusing to wake. “Don’t bother me… I’m sleeping…” she mumbled, her voice soft and slurred. “Just let me sleep…”
Ryan sighed audibly, his voice weary. “Just let her lean on you for now,” he said. “She’s been in a bad mood these past few days.”
Ethan frowned, his expression caught between discomfort and obligation. He was about to reply when a sharp, melodic voice interrupted the scene.
“Well, well, well. What’s Miss Reed doing here?”
All heads turned toward the source of the voice, finding Jessica and Bethany approaching their table. Jessica’s calm composure contrasted sharply with Bethany’s barely contained indignation.
Alexander, clearly caught off guard, stammered awkwardly. “Uh… Emily’s drunk.”
Bethany’s lips curled into a sneer, her tone biting. “Since she’s drunk, maybe you should send her home. What is this? Does being drunk give her the right to cling to someone else’s husband?”