bChapter /bb11 /b

In the hospital roomb, /bbJacob /blooked like a mini version of Brian, the coldness in their eyes just bas /bidentical.

Jessica’s bchest /btightened. Even nowb, /bjust thinking about the divorce made her heart ache in waves.

Her silence only deepened Brian’s assumption that something shady was going on between her and the man in the photos.

Brian’s fists clenched, veins bulging bacross /bthe backs of his hands from the surge of anger. “Say it. Who is he? What exactly is going on between you

btwo/bb? /b

b“/bbYou /bignored your phone calls, left your son in the hospitalb, /ball so you could have coffee with him?”

When he bwas /bfrantically trying to call Jessica but couldn’t get through, and received a bstack /bof photos showing Jessica “flirting” with another man, sent by someone unknown, he was so furious he couldn’t even bspeak/b.

He thought, ‘How could Jessica do this? How did she even dareb?/b‘

In the photos, bJessica /band Simon had their heads almost touching. Simon bwas /btapping her forehead with his finger. The look in Jessica’s eyes was a kind of helplessness, like she didn’t know how to deal with him.

That kind of closeness made it impossible for Brian to believe their rtionship was innocent.

b“/bJessica, don’t you have a sharp tongue? Then exin this to me. Who is he? How long have you been with him? Brian moved closer to her step by step, his voice cold and his expression grim.

On the hospital bed, bJacob/b, who had already been feeling upset, saw Brian burning with rageb. /bHe pursed his lips and then started to sob quietly.

It was the first time he had seen Brian this terrifying. In the pastb, /beven when Brian got angry, he only wore ba /bcold face.

Jessica felt like her chest was tightening up. She took a deep breath and held back the tears that were about to fall.

She thought, ‘So in Brian’s eyes, just meeting another man means I’m cheating? Then what about him spending all that time with Madeline, even bringing her home like it’s nothingb–/bwhat does that count bas/bb?/b‘

bJessica /bwanted to ask, but her throat felt tight, dry and sore, and not a single word woulde out.

Brian’s face was gloomy as he pressed in on her. The two of them stared at each other like enemies.

“Jake, bare /byou okay? Where did you get hurt?” When Madeline pushed the door open and walked in, Brian and bJessica /bwere standing almost nose to

nose.

Jessica forced herself not to back down and held her ground against Brian. Neither of them was willing to give in.

Jacob had only been crying softly before, but the moment he bsaw /bMadeline, he burst into loud sobs. “Maddie, I’m scared.”

Madeline quickly nced at Jessicab, /bsneering subtly, then walked bover /bto the bed looking full of concern as she went to hold Jacob.

Madeline thought, bJessica/b, you were the one who cheated first. Let’s see if Brian still wants bto /bstay married to you now.”

Madeline was secretly gloating, but on the surfaceb, /bshe pretended to be nice and spoke up for bJessica/b, “Mr. Atkinson, whatever bJessi /bdid, I’m sure she had her breasons/b. Please don’t fight in front of Jake, you’ll scare him.”

She made it sound like she bwas /bon bJessica’s /bside no matter what, like beven /bif bJessica /bhad done something wrong, it was understandable.

But the malice in Madeline’s words bwas /bobvious. bJessica /bcould hear it and responded, “Madeline, cut the bact/bb. /bYou know exactly what’s going on hereb.” /b

Jessica had no trouble figuring out the photos were taken by someone Madeline hired. What surprised her was how eager Madeline was to drive her

Out

Jessi, what bare /bbyou /btalking aboutb?/bb” /bMadeline looked at Brian with wide, innocent beyes/bb, /bbas /bbif /bshe had no bidea /bwhat bJessica /bmeant.

Jessica didn’t bother ying along anymore. bIt /bbwas /bpointless to her. She sneered, “Fine. You win.”

She thought, ‘bI’ll /bbgive /bBrian to her. Nob, /bbI’ll /bgive her both of them–my husband and my bson/b.

b5.58 /bbAM /b