bChapter /bb492 /b

    The news that the president of Atkinson Group had copsed from exhaustion after searching the river for his wife for three days once again topped the trending charts.

    Jessica sat quietly in the backseat of the car, scrolling through the reports on a borrowed phone.

    “Mrs… Uh, I mean, Ms. Grant, should we go to the hospital first? Or head straight to Grant Manor?” The young driver, Judith Barry, said, her eyes shining with barely contained excitement.

    Three days ago, while taking photos by the river, she had rescued Jessica, her idol, from the water,

    “Please take me home. You can just call me Jessica,” Jessica replied with a faint smile.

    Three days ago, after the car plunged into the river, Jessica had mustered herst strength to unbuckle her seatbelt and escape, only to be knocked unconscious by a powerful current. When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed.

    Judith exined that Jessica had been unconscious for two days. If she hadn’t woken up soon, Judith would have

    contacted Brian.

    Over the next few conversations, Jessica learned that Judith had once been a devoted fan of her and Brian’s rtionship, collecting countless articles and photos of them. That was how she recognized Jessica immediately.

    Judith also knew about their divorce, which was why she hadn’t announced the rescue.

    Judith had asked Jessica yesterday, “What if you didn’t want to go back to Brian? The news said you crashed while trying to escape him. What if I sent you back and made things worse?”

    Jessica had been deeply touched by Judith’s thoughtfulness. But once the emotion faded, reality set in. Jessica knew that her parents must have been frantic after nearly three days without clues. She had to get home immediately.

    However, since Jessica woke upte at night, Judith insisted she rest another day in the hospital, fearing the journey would be too taxing. Only after a thorough checkup the next morning, confirming both Jessica and her unborn child were unharmed, did Judith allow her to leave.

    Jessica had considered calling her parents to pick her up but worried they might be too distraught to drive safely. In the end, she asked Judith to take her home.

    Judith, kind–hearted and eager to help, agreed without hesitation. She even lent Jessica her spare phone to ease her anxiety during the ride.

    The moment Jessica turned it on, she saw the headlines about Brian’s copse. The photos showed him pale, unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes, lying on/a stretcher. Seeing him like this, Jessica felt a deep pang in her chest.

    Besides, thements revealed he had stayed by the river for three days, diving into the water dozens of times to search for her. Jessica’s heart twisted with emotions.

    Jessica’s heart wavered. She thought, ‘Brian risked his life to find me. Maybe… Can I try trusting him againb?/b‘

    “We’re here.” Judith’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

    Jessica looked up at the familiar manor, her eyes instantly welling up. She nodded and stepped out of the bcar/bb, /bbShe /bwas about to ring the doorbell when the door swung open from inside.

    “Jessi?” Ste, who was preparing to head back to the river to continue searching, froze in ce before tears streamed

    down her face.

    “Mom!” Jessica threw her arms around Ste, unable to hold back her tears.

    They held each other for a long moment beforeposing themselves. Jessica recounted how she had been rescued, and Ste showered Judith with gratitude, inviting her inside for a meal while immediately calling Dereck to share the good news that Jessica was safe and back.

    After spending half a day at home with her parents, Jessica finally spoke up as evening approached, “Dad, Mom, I need to go out for a bit.”

    “Where?” Ste and Dereck asked in unison.

    Jessica gave a wry smile. “I can’t calm my mind. I want to talk to Wesley.” As she spoke, her eyes flickered to the news about Brian’s hospitalization on her phone.

    Ste and Dereck exchanged nces, then looked back at Jessica’s visibly troubled expression. After a moment of

    hesitation, they agreed–on the condition that she take bodyguards with her.

    Jessica, wary of another incident like before, epted their terms.

    Half an hourter, Wesley visibly rxed when Jessica walked into his clinic.

    “Thank goodness, you’re safe. When did you get back? You should’ve let us know.” Wesley immediately picked up his phone to text Sana, informing her that Jessica had returned unharmed.

    “I just got home this afternoon,” Jessica replied, then recounted her rescue to Wesley.

    Wesley smiled, “I’m d you’re okay. But since you came straight here after returning, is there something you wanted to

    ask?”

    Jessica lowered her gaze, taking a long moment before speaking, “I knew how Brian copsed from exhaustion searching for me. Do you think he truly loves me?”

    Wesley steepled his fingers on the desk. Instead of answering, he asked, “Haven’t you already decided that in your heart?” Otherwise, she wouldn’t be here. Otherwise, you wouldn’te to my clinic.

    Jessica remained silent.

    Wesley waited patiently for her to continue.

    After several minutes, Jessica exhaled. “There’s too much between us. Love alone can’t fix. But I can’t deny being bmoved /bby what he did. Yet the pain of the past… I can’t let it go. Dr. Finch, what should I do?”

    Before Wesley could respond, she added, “What if I pretended to have amnesia?” She thought, ‘Erasing bthe /bpast bmight /b

    b2/3 /b

    b13:12 /bbFr/bb, /bb29 /bbAug /b

    offer a chance to start over.

    Wesley shook his head. “That’s a terrible idea. Unworthy of you. If you’re torn between old wounds and new hope, follow your heart. It can’t be worse than how you feel now.”

    “Follow my heart?” Jessica murmured.

    Wesley nodded. “Exactly. Do what you want. Nopromises, no masks. Just be yourself.”

    Jessica felt like she understood, but she still couldn’t make a decision. She bit her lower lip. “Would that work?”

    “Try it,” Wesley said simply.

    Leaving without a definitive answer, Jessica had her driver take her to Brian’s hospital.

    When guards notified Brian of her arrival, he ripped out his IV and tried to get up.

    “Stay

    down!” Jessicamanded the moment she entered.

    Brian instantly obeyed, but his eyes never left her. “You’re really here, Jessi. Am I dreaming?”

    Jessica stood by his bed, pausing before replying, “This isn’t a dream. I’m back.”

    Tentatively, Brian reached for her hand. Jessica didn’t pull away. The warmth of her skin convinced him this was real, and a grin split his face.

    Jessica turned slightly before getting straight to the point. “Brian, I’m unwell. I’d like to recuperate at your ce, and I’ll leave after I’ve recovered. Would that be alright?”

    Brian was stunned for a second, then he answered without hesitation, “Of course, it’s okay. I’d be more than happy.”

    bAD /b

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