~Next Morning~

The morning light filtered through the window, its dazzling golden hue radiating against the wall.

Jessica stirred awake, her head throbbing so hard that she clutched it tightly in her palms.

Since the incident at the auction, she had felt her headache becoming constant.

For the hope of getting a good night's rest, she had left the bed in the middle of the night to take pain relief, but even at this moment, it seemed not to be helping.

"Ouch…" She exhaled, a bitter chuckle leaving her lips when her eyes fell on Davis' empty side of the bed…he had been absent.

She had noticed it during the night, but now, in the clarity of morning, the same reality that he hadn't spent the night at home…stung more than she cared to admit.

Her thoughts raced tangled between both worry and doubt.

"Who would be happy living with a lady who had practically forgotten everything about her partner?"

Sinking back into the pillows, she draped a hand over her forehead. Just then, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Pushing herself up on one elbow, she reached for it, but only for her hand to brush against a wrapped box.

Startled, she sat up on the bed, her brow furrowed contemplatively as she approached the edge of the bed, hoping to reach for the phone.

Her eyes widened with surprise as a delicate gift box sat beside her phone.

"Is this a surprise gift?" She muttered as she turned it over in her hand, weighing the wrapper while she tried to guess the content.

"Or… is it from one of his admirers, and he mistakenly placed it here…on the night stand?"

She gave it a gentle shake. "Feels like… jewelry."

Her gaze swept across the room, her eyes searching and probing the empty bedroom for a faint trace of his presence in the room.

But there was none, not in the slightest bit.

Jessica's heart dropped. Her attention returned to the delicate box again.

"Definitely…a gift from …some mistress." She muttered, her eyes reddening slightly.

The thought clawed at her chest, the feeling of loss gnawing at her heart.

Yet on a second thought, she shrugged quietly trying to give herself hope.

"No…, It certainly shouldn't be from a mistress, I believe he shouldn't be that kind of man."

If his reputation is that bad, Richard wouldn't have spared him, nor would he respected the sacrifices he made.

"God, how do I know the situation of our marriage?"

Her doubts whispered again.

"Is it possible he might be having a mistress he feels compelled to shower gifts to?"

"Could this be one of the numerous gifts?"

"Has he given me any gift in the past?"

The phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her thoughts. She set the box carefully on her lap, reaching for the phone but her movement faltered when her hand brushed against something else—a small sticky note.

Frowning, she peeled it off and read the neat scrawl. "I hope you liked the gift?"

"Huh?" Her eyes darted from the note to the box in her lap. The phone's persistent buzzing was forgotten as her fingers hurriedly tore through the wrapping.

Inside was a delicate jewelry case, strangely familiar. She hesitated, afraid of her own guess, but slowly lifted the lid.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart slammed wildly in her chest, and her hands trembled as she carefully drew out the necklace.

The blue diamond caught the morning light, scattering its across the room in glittering rays that was both dazzling and brilliant.

"This… wait…this is… the necklace from the auction?"

Her brow furrowed. "Was he there?"

"Wait.. And… was he the mysterious highest bidder everyone wanted to see?" she whispered.

"Didn't he say a business meeting?"

"Is going to an auction now a business meeting?"

"Why does it feel like this vocabulary isn't close in meaning and context?"

Her thoughts raced; if the necklace had found its way into this room, then definitely he came back.

Otherwise, how would the gift, the necklace, be placed by her phone and when?

"Wait… I left my phone in a ringing mode," she quickly checked her phone. "Set to vibration."

Definitely, she couldn't believe the idea that she had been bothering herself in vain.

"I've got to confirm this," she said.

Hurriedly, she scrambled out of the bed, her feet slipping into her footwear, the necklace tightly held in her hand as she bolted for the door.

Her feet carried her swiftly down the staircase, but halfway, her steps faltered at the sight below.

Davis and Ethan were engrossed with work, his brow furrowing; at intervals he shook his head, at others he rubbed his temple, his shoulders sagging.

From the stairs, Jessica felt her heart tighten as she stared at him. It was clear he was tired, too tired, yet he couldn't show it.

The next moment, her ear picked out a word from their hushed discussion—"therapist."

Her eyes narrowed, her heart racing with questions.

She didn't want to imagine, but then she couldn't help herself with the thoughts.

"What therapist?"

"Who needed one?"

Could it be… is he unwell?

Her legs moved on their own accord, and she took the last steps of the staircase.

Davis and Ethan looked up, he dropped the documents in his hand and stood up, closing the distance between them.

"You're awake?" he murmured, his gaze scanning her face as he carefully brushed her cheek with his palm. "Still tired?"

Jessica's eyes narrowed as she met his gaze. "What… tired?" She already had an inkling he had something more in his word.

Davis nodded as he continued, "I returned late last night and found you in a restless sleep… so.. " he let his words trail off.

He couldn't bring himself to tell her how much she had suffered last night.

Or tell her she was trapped in her dream, or was it her memory, that he had to invite the doctor in the night to take a look at her condition.

Or that her head ached until she passed out from it.

Davis could already pick out the idea she didn't have any recollection of what had transpired.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be standing so calm at this time.

His heart raced painfully; he could only hope she wasn't going to have any further complications.

Recalling the situation at the auction, Jessica felt uneasy. "Did something happen last night?"

"What could possibly happen?" Davis retorted.

Taking the necklace from her hand. "Did you try it? Was it beautiful?" he asked gently, while carefully steering the discussion away from what happened last night.

"It was beautiful," she murmured while handing it over to him.

Davis took the necklace from her, and she turned around; a flicker of pain crossed through his features, but he quickly concealed it.

Carefully, he slid the necklace around her neck before clasping it together.

Jessica smiled brightly; she didn't have to ask to know it must be beautiful.

Lightly caressing the necklace, she placed a light feathered kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, it's beautiful."

"It is," Davis chimed, his gaze trained on her, absorbing every little detail of her.

Jessica felt her cheeks heat up in shame, recalling how she had thought of the necklace as a gift for a mistress or possibly from a mistress.

She couldn't really proffer any answer to why she felt that way.

Or the answer to why that was the first thought crossing her mind.

"Why not go and freshen up?" Davis suggested.

"You and Ethan?"

"Don't worry, we will talk after that."

Jessica sighed with relief as she spun on her heels, heading back upstairs.