Zander's POVI wasn't really planning on leaving. I just wanted to tease her a bit.But Jessica, being sick, didn't have the energy to see through it.Seeing her now, weak and reliant on me, a corner of my heart surged with warmth.For nearly a year, I had been cold towards her.
Jessica's POVThe lights suddenly went out. But I knew I was not alone.I tripped over something under my feet and exclaimed in surprise, almost falling. Zander caught me.His hand was on my boob. Damn it. I was not wearing a bra.I quickly stood up.Suddenly, I could smell him-his famili
Zander's POVDamn it! We were just minutes away from tumbling into bed together.The damned lights returned like a cold blade, ruthlessly severing the aura we had been wrapped in.The moment the power came back, it was as if the world snapped back onto its tracks.The flame that had just ignited between us was wavering under the sudden brightness.Jessica seemed to regain her senses with the return of the lights, pushing me away forcefully.I was still dazed, and stumbled backward from the force of her push.Each intimate moment we had just shared shattered like foam.But I was already aroused.My pants taut with the discomfort of my erection.When Jessica's gaze inadvertently swept over the evidence of my arousal, it was like a jolt of electricity, hitting me and causing every nerve to tremble with excitement.Yet the clear embarrassment on her face doused me with cold water, cooling the passion that had just been boiling.She quickly averted her head, avoiding my gaze.Then, she sai
Jessica's POVThere were two reasons for me saying that to Zander.First, I was ready to face the trouble head-on.Second, I was telling Zander that he didn't need to take care of me anymore.After all, I planned to divorce him. Our current intimacy was inappropriate.Zander immediately caught the implication in my words.His eyebrows furrowed. Then, he instinctively retorted, "You're not fully recovered. Why the rush to go to the company?"I looked at him, my tone resolute, "It's just a common fever. I'm not as fragile as you think. Moreover, can I hide here for the rest of my life?"Zander's lips twitched. He wanted to argue, but in the end, he sighed and said nothing.For a couple of years, he knew me well. Once I made a decision, it wasn't easy to change.He looked at me helplessly. I found the creamy mushroom soup suddenly tasteless.I watched him put down his knife and fork. I immediately stood up, taking his plate."I'll clean up today," I said.I stacked the dishes and carried
Jessica's POVTabitha's words had barely left her lips when Alvin and I exchanged a swift glance.We were confirming our shared suspicions in that instant.Ever since I received that malicious email, I had felt a vague connection to Frank, though lacking concrete evidence and unsure of his further moves.However, it seemed that he was not as formidable as I had imagined. His tactics were just so-so.Alvin nodded slightly and turned to Tabitha, his tone steady and calm, "I see. Release what we prepared earlier.""And that's all?" Tabitha questioned."One more thing, check who is absent now," Alvin added.Tabitha's face was etched with concern. She wanted to say something more but stopped herself, simply responding with an "Okay," before hurrying out of the office.The door closed. Alvin and I took out our phones to check Frank's live stream.On my phone screen, Frank's face loomed large. His expression was exaggerated and almost comical as he spoke at length.He waved his left hand tow
Jessica's POVFrank's voice was so loud. It seemed to make my phone vibrate with his fervor.However, it couldn't quite mask the lack of conviction in his words.Watching his performance, I couldn't help but sneer, "His mind is really strong. He's still lying at this point."Alvin also shook his head helplessly and said, "Otherwise, how could he have been causing so much trouble in Alpha for so many years? People like him have long cultivated a 'strong mindset'."Frank's channel was flooded with more viewers.More and more people began to question him based on the evidence we had released.Frank didn't want to respond, but he had to face it.Just then, there was a knock on his door.Frank was taken aback for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief.He muttered quietly, "Who's here at this time?"He got up to open the door. When the door opened, his face turned pale instantly.Several police officers stood sternly at the door, one of them saying, "Frank, you are suspected of spreading
Jessica's POVI stood quietly. Gazing at the bodyguard and the impressive convoy before me, my thoughts inevitably drifting back to my childhood.It was a time deeply branded by my family's unique background.My father, the legendary figure who once commanded the entire Mafia kingdom in the underworld, made a significant decision that changed the fate of our family - entering the business world.However, this decision was not without its challenges.Many rival Mafia families still harbored resentment towards us. They were seeking opportunities to provoke trouble.During those days, my life was surrounded by strict security measures.Whether it was my daily commute to school or occasional outings, I was always accompanied by a group of well-trained bodyguards.Later, Justin made an extremely cautious arrangement.He chose his most trusted subordinate, Johnny, to become my adoptive father.As a result, I spent most of my time living with Johnny.I only returned to New York, to the home
Jessica's POVI walked into the dining room, where the butler stood respectfully to the side, swiftly pulling out a chair for me.My gaze casually swept across the open kitchen, catching sight of a figure in a pristine white chef's uniform bustling about the stove.Justin seemed to notice my attention and explained, "This is the chef I've specially invited for today. He's a master chef from a three-star Michelin restaurant. His culinary skills are exceptional. You'll get to taste it."I nodded as he skillfully flipped the steak. His every movement was smooth and fluid, as if he was performing an exquisite dance.In no time, a perfectly cooked steak was served in front of me. The tender meat had a delightful caramel color.The side dishes were also arranged with care, resembling a piece of fine art.A small stir in my heart, Justin remembered my favorite medium-rare.As I took a couple of bites of the steak, savoring the wonderful taste of the meat, Aurelia, sitting opposite me, said w
Jessica's POV"Do you think I can't afford clothes like her?" Sybil glanced at me, her expression daring the clerk to challenge her.The clerk, seeing Sybil seemed ready to ignite, didn't dare to ask further questions and went to the fitting room to tidy up the clothes and brought them out, held a pile of clothes that reached half her height.Sybil's face froze at the sight of the towering stack of clothes in the clerk's arms.At that moment, Genevieve, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, mimicked Sybil and Tawny's tone, "Oh dear, can't you afford these clothes?"I couldn't hold back any longer and let out a chuckle.Sybil's face turned gloomy, saying, "It's just a few pieces of clothing, who can't afford them?"Holding her credit card between two fingers, Sybil handed it to the clerk, saying, "Check them out for me."The clerk hurriedly began to tally up the cost of dozens of items. After the clerk finished ringing up the clothes, she smiled at Sybil and said, "Miss Wickers, the to
Jessica's POVExiting the heavy doors of the courthouse, sunlight bathed me, yet I felt no warmth.Zander stood there quietly, his figure slightly forlorn. His lips trembled, on the verge of speaking, a look that left a bitter taste in my heart.I stopped and asked softly, "Anything you want to say?" Zander just stood in silence, as if time had frozen. After a long while, he shook his head gently.I let out a faint, bitter smile, "You're still like this, always keeping things to yourself. But from now on, I might not have the chance to hear what you want to say."Zander opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out.I didn't linger and turned to leave. I got into a taxi and messaged my best friend, Genevieve. "Dear Miss Woods, I've divorced. Could you accompany me to clear my head?"The message was barely sent when her reply popped up on my screen, "What? You divorced? What did that jerk Zander do?! I mean, of course, where should we meet?"I was amused by
Jessica's POVI immediately pressed the answer button on my phone."Jessica, we've been monitoring Mr. Wyatt's indicators, and they've just shown abnormal fluctuations, triggering the alarm. We'll arrange for a comprehensive physical examination. Just in case, you should come back to the hospital," the attending physician's voice echoed over the phone.Hearing this, my heart instantly clenched."What do you mean? He was fine when I left. Is it a sudden deterioration?""We're not sure of the cause of these fluctuations, so we need to conduct tests. It's just that if other treatments are needed, family members can make decisions directly," the attending physician replied."Okay, I'm coming right back!" I hung up the phone hastily and turned to rush to the hospital.However, Zander grabbed my arm at that moment.His grip was like a vise, preventing me from moving."Where are you going? Didn't you say you wanted a divorce?" Zander said in a deep voice.I twisted my wrist, but I couldn't b
Jessica's POVI sat quietly outside Johnny's hospital door throughout the night, watching as the sky gradually lightened.As I began to feel the weariness, a voice suddenly spoke from behind."Ms. Riddle? Is that you?" I was startled and turned to find Ned.He must have been coming for his shift. I straightened my clothes and stood up, "Yes, let's go in together." "Ms. Riddle, have you been sitting outside for long? You could have asked Emmett and the others. They're on duty and could have let you in," Ned said.I shook my head slowly, not wanting to disturb others' rest, and I needed this solitude to sort out my chaotic thoughts.Ned didn't press further. He silently followed by my side, but I could see the confusion and a hint of concern in his eyes.As a subordinate trained in the family, this was a rule set when Justin was still the mafia boss. They were not to question the arrangements and commands of their superiors. Although the Riddle Group has successfully transitioned into a
Zander's POVSunlight streamed through the window, gradually pulling me from a chaotic slumber.My consciousness slowly gathered in my mind, and sensing the bothersome light, I opened my eyes to find that it was already daytime. The lingering dizziness and headache made me instantly realize that I must have been drugged yesterday.I sat up abruptly and looked around. The room was empty, with no sign of anyone else. Only my suit and shirt were neatly folded on the bedside table.At that moment, a slight noise came from outside the bedroom, as if someone was walking cautiously.I frowned, and a name flashed through my mind, Tawny.The image of her handing me that glass of water last night replayed in my mind like a movie. I pursed my lips, got out of bed, and quickly put on the shirt placed on the bedside table. Usually, when I'm extremely angry, I become unusually calm.I strode to the door, flung it open, and saw Tawny coming towards me with a tray in her hands. The tray was filled wi
Jessica's POVAnger, grievance, and disappointment, a tapestry of emotions intertwined. I felt I couldn't bear any more, so I turned and left the villa. It was unknown how much time had passed before I regained my senses. The cold night wind played with my long hair, and the dull ache in my head made me realize I had been walking alone for quite some time.I couldn't believe that Zander, that jerk, believed Tawny wasn't capable of harm. He wouldn't even deign to listen to what I had to say. Tawny's hypocritical face lingered in my mind. At the business dinner, when she falsely accused me of splashing wine on her, I thought she was just a woman who loved to stir up trouble. But now, I realized she was far more sinister than I imagined.Just like a moment ago, I knew her admission was meant to provoke me, yet under those circumstances, my emotions were still affected by her. I couldn't help but sigh, turned around, and walked back, as my car was still parked near the villa. Cars rushed
Zander's POVI fantasized alone in the dark during countless silent nights.When I finally lay bare the truth about Johnny to Jessica, about how he killed my father, I imagined her reactions.I envisioned her being devastated, possibly accusing me of false accusations with anger, but I never anticipated the reality to be such a heart-wrenching situation—she simply refused to believe the evidence before her eyes.She persistently tried to exonerate Johnny, going to great lengths to clear his name, which filled me with frustration and helplessness.This was the situation I least wanted to face.Our relationship had become charged because of this.I was determined to have a thorough conversation with Jessica, to lay out all the facts so she could no longer argue.However, Tawny's sudden appearance disrupted my freshly made decision like an unexpected storm.At that moment, the telephone rang abruptly, breaking the tense atmosphere.I glanced at the caller ID. It was Dwayne.I took a deep
Jessica's POVI never expected Tawny to show up here at this time. Although I had moved out of the villa, it still held years of shared memories with Zander. Moreover, Zander and I are still legally married. What did she think of me, showing up so boldly with a key?My gaze bore into Zander, my anger burning fiercely. I demanded harshly, "Why does she have a key to this place? You owe me an explanation!"Zander just pressed his lips tightly, silent. His face was clouded, seemingly still angry about our previous argument, unwilling to explain further."Tell me!" I pressed loudly.Tawny stepped forward at that moment, a sly glint in her eyes. Yet, she forced a smile on her face and feigned innocence, "Jessica, don't misunderstand. I just came to..."I didn't want to hear her nonsense and interrupted her, raising my voice, "Fine, then tell me, where did you get the key to my house?"Tawny's gaze flickered, stealing glances at Zander but remaining silent. I was disgusted by her pretentiou
Jessica's POVI glanced at the pillow in her arms, not daring to agitate her, and nodded, "Who's trying to take your child?"At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed in the hallway. Upon hearing this, Vilda shrank behind the curtain, trembling in fear, "She's here! She's come to take my child!"Before I could say anything more, a woman dressed as a doctor strode in imposing air. She looked at me rudely and said, "Vilda's condition is unstable, and she doesn't meet the criteria for visitors. Please leave."I glanced at the name badge on her chest, which seemed to read "Attending Physician." I asked, "You're the doctor?"She nodded and said, "I'm Vilda's attending physician, Dr. Tamara Dickinson."I put down the fruit basket and explained, "I'm her friend, and I'll leave after seeing her.""There's no need. Strangers will only exacerbate her condition. You should go," she replied.I frowned and said, "I'm her friend, not exactly a stranger. Do you refuse visits from her family for