bChapter /bb462 /b

    “Go try these on,” Brian said, taking the clothes and guiding Jake toward the fitting room. He tried to make conversation with Jessica to keep her from getting bored.

    “Jessica, you’ve still got such great taste. Everything looks good on him. I bet Jake would look really handsome in those overalls from earlier,” Brian smiled.

    “I didn’t just pick them randomly,” Jessica shot back. She had specifically researched different children’s brands, studying their styles and materials before carefully selecting these pieces for Jake.

    Brian fell silent. Of course she hadn’t picked randomly. She was way too focused and deliberate for that. ‘I’m such an idiot for saying something so stupid,‘ he thought.

    “I… I said the wrong thing again,” Brian apologized sincerely.

    Jessica shook her head. “You don’t need to apologize to me. I did all those things because I wanted to. If you really feel guilty about it, just be good to Jake from inow /ion.”

    Even if Madeline had another child with Brianter, Jessica hoped he wouldn’t forget about Jake. Now that the divorce was finalized, changing custody arrangements would beplicated and wouldn’t be good for Jake.

    If Brian didn’t want to let go, her chances of winning weren’t very high, and she’d also have to consider Jake’s feelings. Jessica thought it through briefly in her head, then gave up on the idea.

    ‘Whatever, I’ll leave things as they are for now,‘ Jessica thought. ‘I’ll wait a couple years and see how it goes.

    ‘If Brian really treats Jake badly because of Madeline’s child, and Jake still clings to me and loves me like he does now, then I’ll fight for custody, even if it means our families tear each other apart.‘.

    Brian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He looked at Jessica’s expressionless face and had the distinct feeling she was thinking about something unpleasant, but he didn’t dare ask what.

    Fortunately, Jake came out after changing clothes, breaking the tension. “How do I look? Mom, am I cute?” Jake cupped his little face in his hands and asked Jessica with exaggerated sweetness.

    “Stop being silly,” Brian said, giving Jake a light smack on the back of his head.

    Jacob protested. He wasn’t being silly at all. He was seriously trying to make Jessica happy.

    “Not bad,” Jessica said, looking at the cool and handsome Jake with satisfaction. She nodded approvingly and picked up another outfit for him to try on.

    Jake wasn’t the least bit impatient. He took the clothes and went back to the changing room.

    After going back and forth trying on seven or eight outfits, they were satisfied with all of them. Brian bought everything without hesitation, then left their address for home delivery.

    After buying clothes, they headed out and picked up several pairs of shoes and a few hats for Jake.

    Summer was just turning into fall, but the afternoon sun was still pretty harsh. Jessica followed her usual routine and picked out aplete outfit for Jake before finally calling it quits.

    13:13 Sun, 24 Aug

    “I think we’ve got enough. Let’s go,” Jessica said.

    Brian nodded with a smile, but after just a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

    “What’s wrong?” Jessica turned around.

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    “I just remembered my suits are all out of season. I need to pick up a few new iones/i. Jessica, if you’re inot /itoo tiredi, /iwould you mind helping me choose?” Brian asked, looking slightly embarrassed.

    Jessica was about to say no when Jake grabbed her hand. “Come on, Mom, please? Dad hasn’t bought new clothes in forever.”

    Jessica didn’t believe that for a second. Brian nevercked for clothes. But when she saw the nervous hope in his eyes, she found herself nodding anyway.

    A few minutester, they were standing in an upscale boutique as the sales associate brought over several suits. Jessica realized she’d made a mistakeing here.

    Brian was still ying dumb, asking for her opinion. “Jessica, which of these do you think looks better?”

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