bChapter /bb360 /b

    Faced with Jessica’s questioning, Brian lookedpletely innocent. “Yeah, a notebook’s pretty useful. What’s wrong bwith /bit?”

    Jessica, infuriated by his words, lifted her hand and threw the notebook at him.

    She roared, “What’s wrong with it? Brian, how dare you ask? Who gives a totally ordinary notebook as a gift? If you couldn’t get something proper, you could’ve just said so. Did you really have to pull this stunt?”

    ‘Who exactly are you trying to piss off with this?‘ she thought.

    Jessica was truly angry this time. At the same time, she felt more and more sorry for dragging Wesley into the mess of her and Brian’s rtionship,

    “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through today. I’ll get you a proper recementter.” After yelling at Brian, Jessica rubbed her forehead and looked at Wesley to apologize sincerely.

    “It’s fine. This isn’t your fault.” Wesley’s tone was gentle. He even smiled at her as he spoke.

    Jessica felt even more guilty.

    Brian ground his teeth, thinking, ‘Damn pretty boy! Enough is enough.‘”

    Brian looked up at Wesley coldly. “Are you implying this is my fault?” He mmed the notebook down on the table as he spoke.

    Wesley stood up helplessly and picked up the notebook from the table. “Not exactly, but sir, you could stand to be a bit more mature. Some things aren’t just about what’s on the surface.” He spoke with a hint of implication.

    “Enough. Stop it, both of you. That’s it,” Jessica suddenly said, shooting a warning nce at Wesley as she finished.

    Wesley knew she still didn’t want Brian to know the truth about her situation. He couldn’t help feeling helpless.

    ‘Why’s she so stubborn?‘ Wesley thought.

    “Okay, Jessi. I’ll do whatever you say.” Brian took the opportunity to back down. If he could help it, he didn’t want to make Jessica angry.

    But Jessica wasn’t having it. She didn’t even nce at Brian, only turning to Wesley. “Shall we take a walk?”

    Clearly, she didn’t trust leaving Wesley alone with Brian.

    Unfortunately, Brian interpreted her words in apletely different way.

    “Jessi, you just got back from your trip. Maybe you should go rest first. Or you could invite him back to our ce.” Brian forced back his jealousy as bhe /bspoke.

    Brian thought, ‘I’ll just have to y host to him at home, that’s all. Thest thing I want is he and Jessi being balone /btogether. Who knows what he to her?‘

    may

    bdo /b

    Jessica kept a cold iface /iand didn’t feel like talking.

    Wesley looked at the two of them stuck in a standoff. He spoke up reluctantly to decline. “No, I’ve got ns thternoon, bso /bI’ll bhead /bbout /bnow.”

    Then he picked up the notebook and the gift box and left smoothly.

    Jessica watched him walk away and let out a long breath of relief.

    “Quit staring. He’s gone. Jessi, what does he do? Is he really low–paid? Why do you have bto /btreat him bto /bbmeals /bball /bbthe /bbtime/bb?/bb” /bbBrian’s /bbvoice /bbwas /bbthick /bwith jealousy. It made Jessica roll her eyes.

    “I’m happy to treat him. No need for you to stick up for me.” With that, Jessica picked up her phone and headed to the checkout counter

    Brian got shot down again. He clenched his fists and hurried after her.

    b‘/bIt’s fine,‘ he thought. Jessi’s just fooled by his act for now. She’ll see what he’s really like sooner orter. No rush!

    Brian rushed to pay the bill. Then he pestered Jessica until she agreed to go home with him.

    As soon as they got back, Jessica mmed the door behind her, leaving Brian outside.

    Brian stared at the closed door. He rubbed his face and didn’t feel too upset. It wasn’t the first time after all.

    biAD /i/b