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 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
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 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 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
Zander's POVHarrison Group Tower was nestled in the most bustling and expensive part of Los Angeles. My office, perched atop the tower, boasted the finest view, where I could be the first to witness the sunset over Los Angeles. Yet at that moment, I sat behind my desk, my thoughts drifting, utterly unable to concentrate. The sky outside the floor-to-ceiling glass panes gradually darkened.The scene of Jessica and I leaving the courthouse together kept replaying in my mind.This wasn't the first time Jessica had proposed divorce. Like last time, I had many ways to delay it, but I didn't.As Jessica turned and left, watching her resolute back, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I still loved her. Yet our love was hurting each other.She had become restless due to Johnny's unresponsive state, but she never considered how much I wished my father were alive, even if in a coma like Johnny.That was an unbridgeable gap between us.A knock on the office door interrupted my thoughts. I gathered
Zander's POVI looked down at Jessica with a mix of frustration and concern.Her eyes were closed, her long lashes resting peacefully on her cheeks, indicating she was genuinely intoxicated rather than feigning drunkenness to curse at me.'This damned woman.'I cursed under my breath but bent down to lift her from the sofa.As I walked out of the private room, guests in the bar corridor stepped aside, forming a path as my bodyguards swiftly moved to shield us from the onlookers. Dwayne led the way with a respectful and upright posture, each step measured and rhythmic.Holding Jessica close, I left Racket. As soon as we stepped outside, a bodyguard who was less intoxicated assisted Genevieve. I spoke in a cold yet authoritative tone, "Arrange a car and have someone see her home."Then, I proceeded to my car with Jessica in my arms.Suddenly, I noticed subtle footsteps and turned to see Dwayne by my side. I frowned and asked, "I'm driving myself home. Why are you following me?"Dwayne's
Jessica's POVI had a dream where I returned to my youth.Then, I saw Zander, too.I didn't know why, but the moment I saw him, I wanted him desperately. He seemed to know what I was thinking and strode over, grabbing my shoulders and kissing me fiercely."Zander, no, I mean... okay... oh," I moaned as he moved my underwear aside and began to slowly glide his tongue all around me. "Mm," he groaned, looking up at me. I felt like I was already close. It felt so good that I was.I succumbed to his advances, the warmth and pleasure so real.After the shuddering, I felt a sense of emptiness, as if he had never filled me. I struggled to hold him back as he prepared to leave, and in an instant, I opened my eyes. I found myself lying on a soft, warm bed. The bathroom door was tightly closed, with the sound of water running inside. That familiar, comforting feeling enveloped my mind.Wait, didn't I go drinking with Genevieve? But why did I go drinking?My head spun, unable to think clearly.At
Genevieve's POVSunlight streamed through the restaurant windows, casting mottled patches of light and shadow on us. "How about it? Not bad, huh? I checked other people's reviews on Facebook to choose this restaurant," I said triumphantly."Mm, not bad," Jessica glanced around and casually remarked.I sensed that something was off with Jessica. I looked at her curiously and asked, "Jess, what's wrong? You seem distracted today."She just lightly pursed her lips, silent, those closed lips like a tightly shut city gate, locking her thoughts securely inside.I couldn't let her off the hook so easily, so I nudged her arm. "What's going on? I'm worried about you."She lifted her head, looked at me, and then said, "Haven't you seen today's entertainment news?"I quickly took out my phone from my bag, eager to open Twitter, my fingers swiftly scrolling on the screen. Soon, the trending topic about Harrison Group's chairman, Zander, allegedly having a new lover caught my eye.My eyes widened
Zander's POVA strange panic gripped me as my intense kisses ignited a desire within me. I longed for Jessica, yearned to possess her. Unlike the last time, this time my heart was filled with a desire to destroy. The strange tingling sensation gripped my body once again as I began to get rougher. The soft, gentle kisses turned hard and rough. Warmth spread through me as I pressed my chest against hers. The thundering heartbeats set a new life in me."Wait," a small, breathless whisper escaped her lips as she tried to stop me, but there was no going back now. I pulled away for a moment and then stared down at her bare breasts exposed under my wicked grasp. "I said, you can only be mine," I said as I wrapped a hand around her throat and pushed her against the headboard on the sheets. A loud scream escaped from her lips as my tongue dipped between her legs. Clearly, the sudden excitement and pleasure almost sent her over the edge. Her hips thrusted in a steady rhythm against my mouth. I
Jessica's POVI looked at his back, clad in a tailored suit and his meticulously styled hair. He was a man of precision, yet sometimes his extremes were terrifying. I looked at him and said, "We're divorced. I don't have the duty to play the loyalty game with you anymore. I'm leaving."However, his cold fingertips, like a snake's tongue, slithered down my cheek, showing no intention of letting me go. During our relationship, he had one rule: no betrayal. But now that we were divorced, his possessiveness had not decreased, but instead had reached a pathological level."Zander, let me go," I said.Zander pressed my body against the cold wall, his smile chilling. "Jessica, if I hold you, will you not be cold?""Zander! Are you insane?"His body was hot, pressed tightly against mine. The atmosphere between us immediately became ambiguous. Zander whispered in my ear, "Jessica, even after the divorce, you can only be my woman.""Let me go. There's nothing between Sigmund and me," I said, tr
Zander's POVAs my words fell, everyone at the table froze instantly, as if the entire space had been paused. The atmosphere solidified into ice. Naturally, everyone understood that I was threatening. The oppressive silence spread like a tidal wave, enveloping everyone.Life after the divorce has been like a long, painful nightmare for me. Jessica vanished so resolutely, traveling and relaxing with Genevieve as if she had forgotten everything we once had. I, on the other hand, was trapped alone in the ruins of our broken relationship, unable to extricate myself.When Tawny invited me to this banquet, I immediately refused. What a ridiculous class reunion! However, when Dwayne reported back to me and mentioned the name of the school, it was Jessica's alma mater. That lingering attachment deep within my heart, like a spark in the darkness, drove me here.Yet, I never expected that when Jessica saw me, her gaze was as if looking at a stranger. Her indifference felt like a heavy blow to m
Jessica's POVHearing Sigmund's words, I instinctively looked at Zander, who was clenching his fists so tightly that his veins were bulging. My heart tightened. I knew Zander all too well. His intense possessiveness was like a raging fire, capable of consuming everything in its path. Sigmund's words had, without a doubt, initiated a silent challenge to Zander in front of everyone.I felt a sense of tension. If I rejected Sigmund at this moment, he would undoubtedly embarrassed in front of everyone, becoming the laughing stock of our social circle. But if I didn't reject him, I was worried about Sigmund becoming a target for Zander.For a moment, I felt caught between a rock and a hard place. Genevieve sensed my predicament and, with a smile, stepped in to help me, "Everyone knows that the best ways to forget an ex are either to let time pass or to start a new relationship. I truly hope that someone as outstanding as you can help heal the deep wounds in her heart sooner."As she spoke,
Jessica's POVI sat at the table, which seemed lively but was actually unbearable to me. The noisy and chaotic atmosphere surged towards me like a torrential tide, threatening to completely submerge me. An inexplicable sense of oppression and irritability spread in my heart like weeds.When the crowd heard the question, they instantly became a swarm of headless flies in disarray. They all clamored at me, "Although this topic is rather inappropriate, we are really curious. Jessica, how did your husband pass away?"I glanced at Zander, whose face clearly showed his displeasure. I snorted in my heart. He and I were divorced. Why should I care about his feelings? Moreover, the painful memories he brought me over the past year were like deep scars etched in my heart. How could I forget them easily?Before I could speak, Genevieve stepped in. "He was good to Jess at first, but as soon as the novelty wore off, he cheated immediately. Some women nowadays have no shame, seeing a wealthy man an
Jessica's POVAfter I spoke, Genevieve looked at me in surprise. A wry smile crept into my heart. On our way to the restroom, she couldn't stop chattering, "Did you see that annoying look on Zander's face? I really wanted to rush over and punch him hard. This man is even worse than those oranges on the streets of Los Angeles that are thrown away after being squeezed dry!"I let out a helpless chuckle."Jess, are you really planning to stay here and watch him canoodle with Tawny? You still have feelings for him in your heart, and in the end, it's you who will be hurt," Genevieve said with concern."Didn't you say that one day we would let go? Besides, we are divorced now. Can I not allow him to have a new love?" I shrugged and replied."That's true, but that woman is Tawny! How could he not know that she has always wanted to sabotage your relationship, or perhaps they had something going on before?" Genevieve speculated.Before I saw them together, I was certain that Zander wouldn't ha
Jessica's POVThe key phrase "J&Z General Hospital" from Alexander's words struck me like a bolt from the blue. I froze instantly. The classmates around me began discussing fervently."I heard this general hospital project is being prepared by Harrison Group as a gift for his beloved," one said."Mr. Harrison is known for his cold and ruthless demeanor, but it turns out he's such a passionate man at heart. J&Z, the name itself sounds like it's derived from the initials of two people's names," another chipped in."Which Mr. Harrison are they talking about?" someone asked, confused."Are you drunk? How many Harrisons in Los Angeles can afford billions? It's obviously Zander Harrison," came the reply.J&Z, a name I knew all too well. I had once told him about my dream to build a large hospital to help more patients. When Zander planned this, I had no idea, and now it seemed the hospital was meant for someone else.I wasn't sure if he had found a new love so soon, but it was clear it wasn
Jessica's POVMy conversation with Genevieve about Johnny ended without any resolution. The lack of evidence left us without a concrete conclusion. Yet, those ambiguous words hung over me like a thin veil, occasionally tugging at my heart and pulling out a thread of doubt when I least expected it.Back in Los Angeles, we resumed our normal lives and work. However, I still didn't return to my apartment. I knew Zander wouldn't wait forever, just as time wouldn't stand still.The impact of the divorce gradually faded, and I no longer wallowed in sadness as I initially did. Instead, I slowly embraced the new rhythm of life.Genevieve was always aware of my emotional shifts. Seeing me in good spirits, she excitedly suggested, "Our class president is organizing a reunion. Let's go together."Genevieve and I attended the same university, both majoring in medicine. I frowned and said, "I never practiced as a doctor for a single day. I always feel out of place at these reunions.""Most of our