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Jessica remained unbothered by the cruel words. Her response bwas /bcalm and sharp. “First of all, I asked for a divorce. Secondly, I don’t care if Jacob likes me or not.”

After speaking, Jessica nced toward the security camera and said, “bHave /bsecuritye here. This is ba /bprivate area. No unrted people are allowed to enter.”

Without sparing Madeline another look, Jessica pushed the door bopen /band stepped inside. She paused briefly before she walked toward the sofa.

She had long given up on Brian and Jacob. cing a hand gently over her abdomen, Jessica furrowed her brows.

She hadn’t told Dereck about the pregnancy. Although she had only sipped a few rounds of red wine, bJessica /bstill felt a faint chill in her belly.

Meanwhile, Brian had searched the venue and failed to find Jessica. Holding a ss bof /bwine, he approached Dereck. “Hi, Mr. Grant.”

As a sophisticated CEO, Dereck had excellent self–restraint, but even so, he could hardly hold back ba /bcontemptuous nce at Brian.

Facing Brian’s sincere smile, Dereck responded with a cold expression andpletely ignored him. Instead, he turned to the people beside him and said, “Some people are blind and foolish. Just being near them brings bad luck.”

Brian clenched his jaw but had no grounds to refute.

Dereck cast a discreet re at Brian. The people around didn’t notice, but Brian caught the signal.

“Mr. Grant, may I have a word with you in private?” Brian asked. He wanted to exin himself, but with so many people around, it wasn’t the time or ce for certain conversations.

Dereck didn’t answer. He simply turned around and walked away. He thought, ‘If Jessica hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve taught this brat ia /ilesson he’d never forget.

Soon, the party was nearing its end.

Madeline was politely escorted out of the hotel by security. If the reporters hadn’t already left the entrance, she might have made tomorrow’s headlinesb. /b

“Jessica, even if you were born into privilege, I’m still better than you. Brian is mine,” Madeline shouted in rage as she was led away.

She swore inwardly, ‘I absolutely refuse to lose to Jessica, no matter what it takes.’

After leaving the party, Brian returned to Atkinson Vi.

“Daddy.” Jacob greeted him while rubbing his sleepy eyes. It was already past 10 PM, but he still stayed awake to wait for his father.

Brian said to his son, “Time to go to bed. Mommy wille and see you soon.”

Jacob instantly cheered up. “Really? Daddy, you’re not lying to me, right?”

“I’m not. Mommy promised me herself,” Brian said while ruffling his son’s hair.

“Yay! Mommy’s finallying back,” Jacob eximed with excitement.

Sylvie came out when she heard the noise. She greeted Brian briefly and led Jacob back to his room to sleep.

Brian stood there for a moment before frowning slightly and returning to his room.

Brian wondered, ‘Jessica is the heiress of Grant Group. I had nned to pressure her into giving up divorce through other means, but now that with the entire Grant Group backing her, she’s no longer the powerless woman I once thought I could control.

There were only two days left on the divorce countdown.

Jessica’s identity had already spread throughout elite circles. Even staff in Atkinson Group were whispering about it behind closed doors

A clerk whispered, “Did you hear the big news? Mrs. Atkinson is actually the heiress of Grant Group. Her identity was announced iat /ist night’s party.”

18 AM

Another clerk replied. “I heard that too. I always thought she came from some rural backwater. Who would’ve guessed…

When Madeline arrived at the office, it wasn’t even officially time to start work, yet she already heard employees chatting in hushed tones.

She barked, “What’s wrong? You guys can’t start working unless it’s the exact minute on the clock?”

The employees immediately scattered and returned to their desks.

Madeline stood there and red at them for a few seconds. Then, she walked back to her office in heels.

She had barely slept a wink the night before. In the morning, she caked onyers of makeup just to hide her haggardplexion.

As soon as she sat down, she asked her assistant to bring in a cup of coffee.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was a message from the receptionist: [Madeline, Jessica has arrived at thepany.]

Madeline jumped to her feet, and the coffee cup in her hand shattered on the floor.