Chapter 40
After her shower, Jessica settled down at the desk and began sketching patterns onto the fabric spread before her.
She knew the fabric would fray once it was cut, and since she didn’t have the right stiffening spray at home, she’d had a professional at the textile market handle it
for her.
At least she wasn’t a stranger to crafts–years of helping Henry with his paper–cutting projects had kept her hands nimble and her lines steady.
Her movements were fluid, almost instinctive
Still, after that dizzy spell this morning–passing out in the car and ending up in the hospital–she wasn’t quite herself. A dull ache pulsed in her abdomen.
When she’d first heard the diagnosis–cancer–she hadn’t believed it. She’d always felt healthy, never had any pain. The only time she could recall real discomfort was that one day her stomach hurt so badly she’d gone to the hospital–and that was when her world shattered
Life could change in an instant
The doctor had warned her if she was fooling pain, it meant things were already serious.
Ever since then, even the smallest twinge seemed magnified.
She stood up and tack a couple of pills, waiting for the pain to subside, then quietly turned to her work!
Ten minutes later, there was a soft chime.
The door opened I
She turned. Timothy had already stepped inside
Her eyes narrowed, brows drawing tight.
Timothy entered with a chill in his demeanor, dark eyes sweeping across her desk }
Jessica lowered her head, ignoring him, continuing her careful lines on the fabric
His gaze was cold, his handsome face set in indifference
He had come to her, yet she didn’t even acknowledge his presence
After a moment, he it a cigarette
She caught the faint scent of sandalwood, her hand pausing for just a second before she forced herself to keep working
He leaned against the wall, silent for a while, then finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly–almost beautiful in its roughness. “So, how long are you planning to keep running from home?”
Jessica kept her head down
The only sound in the bedroom was the scratch of her pencil against cloth
Timothy, irritated by her silence, stubbed out his cigarette, grabbed the pencil from her hand and tossed it onto the desk. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at
hima
“Are you really going to keep this up?
Har expression remained soft and distant, yet her eyes glistened with unshed tears.X
For a moment, something tightened in Timothy’s chest!
He released her jaw,
The mamage certificate–I spoke to my grandfather. It has nothing to do with you“)
From his suit pocket, he produced a volvet box. He took out the ring inside–o brilliant diamond–and slipped it onto her finger.
The stone sparkled, catching the light.
Jessica’s mind dofted to the past
He’d always been exceptional–privileged, talented, strikingly handsome, currying himself with a natural arrogance that set him aparti Untouchable Unreachable
She could never forget that right when she w She’d been terrified, barely able to react when hud appeared and taken down the bullies surrounding her, sending them running for their lives!!
was sixteen the streetlights casting golden halos, illuminating him like some kind of deity.
Hed taken off his overcoat and walked toward het stepping right into her world.
From that moment on, she’d never been able to lock away X
She had foolishly believed that if she just tried hard enough, gave everything she had, she might one day find a place in his heart &
But someone else had already filled it, long ago
If Timothy had given her this ting on any day in the past seven yours, she would have been overjoyed
But now, it only made her feel hollow
She started to remove the ring–only for Timothy to snatch up her phone.
