Jessica fluttered her long lashes, her expression the picture of innocence. “What do you mean by that, Mr. Adams? I was only trying to help Miss Reed sober up. Isn’t that the polite thing to do?” she said sweetly, her tone edged with subtle sarcasm.
Ryan let out a sharp, humorless laugh, his irritation boiling beneath the surface. “Help her sober up? More like you were using this as an excuse to humiliate her!”
Before Jessica could respond, Emily suddenly interjected. “Ryan, that’s enough,” she said, her voice calm yet decisive.
Dabbing at the wine stains on her face with a tissue, Emily turned to Jessica with a faint, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Clark. I made a fool of myself earlier,” she murmured, her voice quivering with remorse. “I… I really can’t control myself when I drink too much.”
Her demeanor, weak and vulnerable, made her look pitiable. In contrast, Jessica’s composed and confident stance appeared almost confrontational. But Jessica didn’t seem to care.
With a gentle smile, Jessica reached out and patted Emily’s shoulder. “Well, Miss Reed, maybe you should drink less next time,” she said lightly, her words laced with pointed amusement. “And if it happens again, I’d be happy to help you sober up the same way.”
Emily’s smile froze, her expression faltering as embarrassment and frustration flickered across her face.
At that moment, Ethan rose from the sofa, his movements deliberate. “Let’s go home,” he said coldly, addressing Jessica.
Jessica turned to him, her tone calm and indifferent. “You go ahead. Bethany and I aren’t ready to leave yet.”
Without waiting for Ethan’ response, she glanced at her friend. “Shall we, Bethany?”
“Of course,” Bethany replied with a cheerful smile. Together, the two women walked away, leaving Ethan standing motionless.
Ethan’ dark eyes followed Jessica as she left, his emotions hidden behind a mask of calm. Nearby, Alexander shook his head, muttering under his breath, “What happened to Jessica in those three years abroad? She’s changed completely—it’s like she’s a whole new person.”
Even he couldn’t deny that this new Jessica was magnetic, commanding attention wherever she went.
________________________________________
Back in their booth, Bethany broke into laughter, her eyes sparkling with delight. “That was perfect! Absolutely perfect! I don’t think Emily will dare pull another drunken stunt anytime soon.”
Jessica chuckled softly, but she said nothing more. The two stayed for a while longer, enjoying their evening before heading home separately.
________________________________________
When Jessica stepped into the Clark family home, she noticed the soft hum of the television emanating from the living room. Curious, she followed the sound and found Jonathan sprawled on the sofa, dozing lightly as the flickering screen cast shadows across the room.
“Jonathan? Jonathan?” Jessica called softly, nudging him awake.
Jonathan stirred, blinking as he sat up. A warm smile spread across his face when he saw her. “Jessica, you’re back,” he said, his voice thick with sleep.
Jessica returned his smile, her tone gentle. “It’s late, Jonathan. Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I must’ve dozed off while watching TV,” Jonathan explained. But the truth was, he had stayed up, waiting for her to return.
After a pause, he asked, “Why were you out so late? Did something happen? Was anyone giving you trouble? If they were, just tell me—I’ll make sure they regret it!”
His protective tone warmed Jessica’s heart. She shook her head reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Jonathan. I’m not the same person I used to be. I won’t let anyone push me around anymore. But if it happens, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Good,” Jonathan said with a relieved laugh. “Alright, it’s late. You’ve got work tomorrow. Go on, get some rest.”
Jessica smiled. “I will. But let me help you to your room first.”
Jonathan chuckled as he stood. “Alright, alright, if you insist.”
After escorting Jonathan to his room, Jessica retreated to hers. She took a quick shower and went straight to bed without bothering to check if Ethan had returned. The alcohol, along with the night’s events, lulled her into a deep, dreamless sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
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The Next Day
At the Grand Plains General Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Department, Jessica resumed her routine. She worked with her usual precision and focus, the events of the previous night already a distant memory.
Kylee’s absence over the past two days came as no surprise. Jessica shook her head, letting out a cold chuckle at the thought of her former rival. It was typical of Kylee to retreat when things didn’t go her way.
After finishing her morning rounds, Jessica returned to her office and was just settling in when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her eyes narrowing slightly.
She hesitated for a moment before answering. The caller was Carola.