bChapter /bb356 /b

    “He’s genuine.” Wesley watched Brian at the checkout counter, his voice cutting through the quiet.

    Jessica pulled her gaze away and turned toward the window. “But he genuinely can’t let her go either,” she said softly.

    She didn’t name who the woman was, but Wesley was sharp enough to figure it out instantly.

    Wesley studied Brian in the distance, then spoke up again. “Have you ever considered that maybe this whole thing between them is just a misunderstanding?”

    He prided himself on reading people well, and Brian clearly had feelings for Jessica–no, he was obviously in love with her. Someone like bthat /bbhad /balmost zero chance of cheating. And even if he did stray, he’d probablye clean to his partner instead of this endless back–and–forth mess.

    “A misunderstanding?” Jessica let out a bitterugh. “Trust me, I’d love nothing more than for it to be just a misunderstanding.b” /b

    When she first heard that Madeline had been sent overseas, she believed Brian’s exnation for a split second.

    Unfortunately, Madeline’s reappearance and the ck–and–white pregnancy test results had turned Jessica’s trust into aplete joke.

    Wesley wanted to say more, but Brian had already returned from settling the bill, forcing him to swallow his words.

    “What were you two talking about?” Brian had been watching them from the corner of his eye while paying, so he hadn’t missed Wesley approaching Jessica. His wariness toward Wesley only deepened.

    “None of your business.” Jessica refused to answer, shutting Brian down with a sharp retort before smiling at Wesley. “Thanks for having dinner with me tonight. It’s gettingte, so I won’t keep you any longer. See you around.”

    “Sure, see you,” Wesley smiled.

    Jessica nodded, grabbed Brian’s arm before he could say anything else, and headed for the exit.

    Brian didn’t dare push back and followed her out.

    When they stepped outside the restaurant, Jessica released his arm and took a deep breath. “Mr. Finch and I are just friends, Brian. I won’t let it slide if b! /bfind out you’re giving him trouble.”

    She felt stupid having to exin this, but she had to make it clear to protect Wesley from problems.

    Brian wasn’t listening at all.

    “You’re really going to defend him like this? You’ve only known him for a few days!” Brian’s voice was full of hurt.

    Jessica’s fierce defense of Wesley cut through Brian like a knife, each word slicing deeper into his heart. The summer night still held its heat, but his chest

    felt frozen.

    Jessica was overheated, and Brian’s stubborn refusal to listen pushed her over. Fury zed behind her eyes, the world bwent /bdarkb, /bband /bbshe /bbpitched /b

    forward.

    “Jessi!” Brian’s heart stopped. He lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground.

    “Jessi, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me like this–Jessi!” Panic edged his voice as he scooped her up and sprinted btoward /bbthe /bbparking /bareab. /b

    Jessica’s head cleared just as she realized she was airborne. The shock jolted through her buntil /bbshe /bregistered Brian’s barms around /bbher/b, band /bbher /bbracing/b. pulse gradually slowed.

    Rather than struggle, she looked bup /bat him with weary bexasperation/bb. /bb“/bbI’m /bbfine/b. bPut /bbme /bbdown/b.

    b1/3 /b

    Brian wasn’t buying bit/b. “People don’t just copse when they’re fine. I’m taking you to the hospitalb./bb” /b

    “No. Don’t make this a bigger deal than it is—just take me home. I have a business trip tomorrow and can’t waste time on bthis/bb, /b

    “Absolutely not. You’re in no condition to travel. I’ll call your father and have him send someone else.” Brian’s tone left no room for argument.

    That single response was exactly what pushed Jessica over the edge.

    Jessica’s hand cracked across his face. “Shut up! This isn’t Atkin

    She struggled to get down from his arms, his controlling behavior

    For ten long years, she’d bent over backward for him out of love, without a second thought.

    Group, and you have no right to interfere with my work!”

    “her mind back to those suffocating years of marriage.

    sacrificing everything to keep Brian happy, throwing away her dignity and self–brespect /b

    Looking back now, she was disgusted with the woman she used to be.

    She’d finally found her footing again, built her own career and life, and he was trying to control her again. There was no way!

    “Jessi, that’s not what I meant-” Brian scrambled to exin, gently setting her down while keeping his hands hovering protectively near her shoulders in case she copsed again.

    She swatted his hands away impatiently. “I know exactly what you meant. I don’t need you driving me anywhere, and I need you to stop following me around.”

    She spun on her heel and headed straight for her car.

    Brian hurried after her. “I’m sorry, Jessica. I screwed up–this is all on me. When we return, you can punish me however you want, but please don’t be stubborn. You’re not feeling well, and if something happens while driving-”

    Jessica stopped dead in her tracks.

    Brian’s face lit up with hope. “Jessica, did you change your mind? I can drive you—”

    But Jessica had already raised her hand to g down

    a taxi.

    “Just because I’m not driving doesn’t mean I need you to

    climbed into the cab.

    take ollime. Don’t tter yourself.” Jessica threw the cutting remark over her shoulder as she /li/ol

    Brian stood on the sidewalk, stunned and speechless.

    As the taxi pulled away, Jessica watched through the rear window as Brian remained frozen. Finally, her mood lifted slightly. She thought, ‘Ha. So much for that n.’

    Early the next morning, Jessica wheeled her suitcase to the airport.

    Two days of business travel would give her a temporary escape from the constant possibility of running into Brian and

    Jessica thought she’d feel happy and relieved. But that morning, when she instinctively nced toward the mailbox bon /bbthe /bwall next bto /bbher /bbdoor /bband /bsaw only the hotel’s smoothb, /bnk surface, a wave of profound emptiness washed over her.

    After the afternoon business meeting, no one was there to prepare and deliver dinner.

    Jessica stared at the hotel’s room service menu, her appetitepletely bgone/b.

    b212 /b

    | b0953 /bbTh? /bb24 /bJ?I ?I bD /b

    As shey on the hotel’s plush king–size bed that evening, her thoughts drifted involuntarily. ‘What is Jacob doing right bnow/b? bDid /bhe finish the hom wawa bI /bgave him? Is Brian actually making sure he’s staying on track?”

    Even her dreams were filled with scenes from her time working through documents.

    the Atkinson family home, patiently tutoring Jacob. At the same time, Brian sat nearby quietly.

    Sop

    The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. Fin

    Finally, she grabbed her phone and called Wesley first thing in the morning.

    “What’s wrong?” The call connected, and Wesley’s slightly hoarse

    voice came through.

    Jessica woke up the next morning feelingpletely off. ‘Seriously? I’m in a different ce and still thinking about Brian and Jacob. Am I never bgoing /bto be able to get away from them?‘

    Jessica suddenly realized what she’d done and quickly apologized. “Sorry, did I wake you up? I’m so sorry.”

    She nced at the time–barely six o’clock. Even for summer, that was pretty early. She felt even more embarrassed.

    Fortunately, Wesley didn’t seem angry. “It’s fine, I was about to get up anyway. Ms. Grant, aren’t you bon /ba business trip? Why are you calling bme /bout of bthe /bblue?”

    Jessica exined her state of mind over the past day and night.

    When she finished, she asked with confusion, “Dr. Finch, what’s wrong with me?”