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    Jessica nced at the sales associate, whose smile was getting a bit strained. ‘Poor girl,‘ she thought.

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    The woman had just finished exining that all these suits were perfect for Brian and had been throwing him some pretty obvious looks, but Brian was actingpletely oblivious to it all.

    “This one,” Jessica said after barely ncing at the options. She pointed at a burgundy suit–the most eye–catching color of the bunch. Brian would never normally wear anything that bold. She was doing this on purpose, and she knew it.

    Brian would never normally wear anything that bold. She was doing this on purpose, and she knew it.

    “The fabric and cut are excellent. You really know what works for me,” Brian said. He could tell Jessica was deliberately trying to mess with him, but he was more than happy to y along.

    Brian took the suit from the sales associate without hesitation. “I’ll go try it on. Wait for me,” he said, already heading toward the fitting room before Jessica could stop him.

    Half a minuteter, Brian emerged wearing the deep red suit. The bold color transformed his usually stern appearance, adding an unexpected allure that made his already striking features even more captivating. Even Jessica, who was used to seeing him, couldn’t help but freeze for a moment..

    Brian noticed her reaction, and his lips curved into a slight smile. He walked over to her and suddenly leaned down close. “Do you

    like it?”

    Jessica snapped back to reality and shoved him away. “Why are you getting so close all of a sudden?”

    Brian straightened up with her push, lookingpletely innocent. “So you could get a better look, of course. Did I do something wrong?”

    Jessica was at a loss for words. Technically, he hadn’t done anything wrong, but his sudden proximity reminded her of when they’d first started dating.

    Back then, Brian wasn’t nearly asposed as he was now. Whenever he changed clothes, he’d always lean in close like this to ask for her opinion, and more often than inot/i, those questions would end with him kissing her.

    They’d been so good together back then, but the past was meant to stay in the past.

    “It’s fine. If you like it, just keep wearing it,” Jessica said dismissively, brushing off whether it was right or wrong. She turned to leave, but Brian caught her arm.

    “Let go. I already helped you buy clothes. What more do you want?” Jessica frowned. ‘Don’t push it,‘ she thought.

    “We’re still missing a tie, Jessica. You know my closet doesn’t have anything that goes with this suit. I’ll have to ask you to help me pick one out,” Brian smiled wryly.

    Jessica felt like she’d just shot herself in the foot. The worst part was that Brian was right. His request wasn’t unreasonable at all. If she refused now, she’d look like the one being difficult.

    Jessica pressed her lips together and finally picked out a tie for Brian, her expression cold the entire time.

    Brian was thrilled to receive the gift/”You gave me something, so I have to give you something back. I can’t let you do all this work for nothing. Let’s go check out the floor downstairs.”

    13:13 Sun, 24 Aug

    The women’s section was one floor down.

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    Jessica wanted to refuse, but Jake had already cheered “Yes!” and grabbed her hand, looking at her with excitement as he waited to go shopping with her.

    “See? Even Jake agrees with me. Just let me thank you properly, Jessica.” Brian pressed his advantage.

    Jessica couldn’t say anything to that.

    The three of them ended up going into the luxury women’s clothing store downstairs together.

    Madeline had been following them the whole time. She angrily hung up on another debt collector’s call and watched the three of them chatting happily inside the store. No one would have guessed that Brian and Jessica were actually divorced.

    ‘What a hypocrite, Jessica,‘ Madeline thought bitterly. ‘You say you want nothing to do with Brian anymore, but here you are, still clinging to him like a leech.”

    田

    AD