bChapter /bb391 /b

    On the freezing operating table, tears streamed uncontrobly down Jessica’s face as the scalpel’s cold gleam stabbed into her ayns the barrier.

    With a cold re, Brian said, “Madeline lost her baby. You will pay for this.”

    His icy gaze bore down on her, sending violent shivers through her entire body. The next second, t from her womb.

    the scalpel sliced across hef skin, ready to tear her ay

    “No! Brian, don’t!” Jessica’s screams tore through the air, but all she got in return was his cold, retreating back. Soon, the thick stench of bonded bey

    nostrils.

    A frail baby’s cry barely started before it was mercilessly cut off. A bruised, lifeless infant appeared before her, and Jessica’s eyes flew wide open in shrede

    terror.

    “No!” Jessica bolted awake, gasping for breath with cold sweat soaking her forehead. As the nightmare’s horrifying images reyed in her mind, her whole body trembled uncontrobly as she clutched her belly protectively.

    “No, I will never allow anyone to harm my baby,” Jessica muttered to herself before she suddenly grabbed her phone with trembling hands and wanted to call a movingpany without a second thought.

    Jessica thought anxiously, ‘I can’t keep living so close to Brian and Jake. What if my nightmare actuallyes true, and Brian tries to harm met There’d be no one around to help. I’d bepletely on my own.‘

    She frantically scrolled through her phone, ready to call a movingpany, but froze when she saw the time. It was 3.25 AM.

    ‘If I suddenly start packing up and moving in the middle of the night just because of a dream, people would think I’ve lost my mind. And why should it be me who’s moving out, anyway?‘ she thought.

    Jessica lifted her chin defiantly and reasoned internally, ‘I have a clear conscience. Even if Brian really finds out that I was the one who gave Madeline’s parents her address, I have my reasons, and I’ll defend myself.

    ‘If he really turns a deaf ear to everything and blindly sides with Madeline like in my dream, my family is going to step up and deal with this for me. Fierce determination surged through her, and she finally forced herself to calm down.

    But for the rest of the night, she couldn’t fall asleep no matter how she tossed and turned. She even considered calling Wesley, but when she looked bat /bthe clock again, she ultimately put down the phone.

    Jessica ended up sitting in silence for two whole hours. When the sky finally started to brighten up, she dragged herself up from bed, got ready, and went straight to the office.

    By the time Brian showed up with breakfast at her usual hour, she had already left, to his surprise.

    At the office, Jessica had just finished a morning meeting when the receptionist informed her that Brian had arrived and wanted to see her. She was about to tell them ito /isend him away, but the memory of her nightmare suddenly shed across her mind, and she changed her mind.

    “Put him ion /ithe line. I’ll speak to him myself,” Jessica said coolly.

    “Got it, Ms. Grant,” the receptionist acknowledged and handed the receiver to Brian. “Mr. Atkinson, Ms. Grant will speak with you directly.”

    Hearing the receptionist, Brian immediately took the receiver and said in a gentlest voice, “Jessi, I brought you

    “Brian, how many times do I have to tell you that I don’t need anything from you?” She didn’t even let him finish. Her furious shout roared through the

    line.

    Brian frozei, /ipletely stunned by her sudden outburst. Before he could process what was happening, an avnche of anger poured through the phone, each word sharper than thest.

    Jessica finally let it all out in one explosive tirade, venting every bit of rage and sufferation that had been pitting up lieka vaig d’une

    She yelled, “Listen to me. If you still have even a shred of self–respect left, don’t you evere bathering me again!”

    With a final furious shout, Jessica mmed the phone down, leaving Brian no chance to talk back or even ask a single questions

    Downstairs, Brian stared at the receiver, the call cut off so abruptly that his face turned solemn with worry. He thought anviously, is less’s castelda getting worse again?‘

    bAD /b

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