Jessica sank lazily into the oversized sofa, half-lidding her bright eyes with a sly glint-it was the look of a clever little fox scheming in plain sight.
"Chloe, you're seriously overthinking this! You're not married yet, so obviously, living at your parents' place makes more sense. People talk, you know? Unmarried cohabitation isn't exactly a good look, especially for the Southern family. Still, living here isn't free-rent, food, utilities-that all adds up. Alan, don't tell me you can't handle that?"
No way she was gonna let Chloe waltz into the Knight home just like that. She hadn't forgotten how Chloe almost got her killed back then. Letting the two of them live comfy together without paying a cent? Not happening.
Chloe's face went pale. "It's okay, Alan. As long as I'm with you, nothing else matters," she said softly, clearly hinting she wasn't bothered by what people thought.
Alan held her hand tightly, his eyes filled with warmth. "I won't let my woman suffer. Chloe's staying right here. Jessica, name your price. This should cover it."
A sleek black card landed on the coffee table with a soft thud. It had a subtle gold rim-no doubt a symbol of serious power.
Jessica snatched it up instantly. That was the black card-no limit. Meaning, she could literally drain millions from it.
"Thanks, Alan. I appreciate it," she said with a sweet smile. Yeah, she wasn't exactly broke these days, but if she had a chance to burn through Alan's cash, why not? Maybe she could even bankrupt him. The thought made her grin as she started calculating in her mind.
"Jessica!" A sudden shout snapped through the room as a gray blur rushed in.
"Paul!" Jessica stood up quickly and ran to him, instantly swept into the arms of the man with the calm, gentle aura.
"Kiddo, you're alive! Damn, you've grown," he chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"Don't touch my head," Jessica batted his hand away with a scowl. She seriously hated that-made her feel like a damn pet.
Paul's laugh echoed warmly through the room.
"Weren't you busy checking up on the branch offices out of town?" A cold voice cut through the moment.
Paul seemed to notice the other two people in the room for the first time. His expression faltered a little. "Alan, I heard Jessica came back, so..."
Alan's face was thunderous. The guy had skipped his own cousin's wedding, but one word about Jessica, and he jumped on a plane?
"Paul, I'm feeling tired. Carry me upstairs?" Jessica turned to him, face all soft and innocent, putting on a playful smile.
"You still act like a kid, huh?" he laughed, but there was a hint of helplessness in his tone. She always wanted to be held, yet every single time, Alan would beat him to it. It took Paul a while to figure out-she didn't really want him to pick her up. She was just trying to push Alan into doing it because he wouldn't do it otherwise.
But this time? No one was there to steal the moment.
He scooped her up into his arms without hesitation and headed for the stairs, not sparing Alan even a glance.
Paul laid Jessica gently on the bed and sat beside her. "Where've you been all these years?"
Jessica tugged on his arm, motioning for him to lie down next to her. "Somewhere amazing. It felt like a dream, like those fairytales we used to read. There was even a count who saved me." That place had been both her escape and her prison.
The people she missed most during those four years were her family and friends. Now that she'd finally seen them again, the loneliness she'd buried for so long started bubbling back up. All she wanted was to lean on someone, just for a while.
Paul turned to face her, resting on his side. "You didn't plan to tell me anything, huh?" he tapped her forehead, his tone teasing.
Jessica slapped his hand away with a frown. "I'm serious! Believe it or not, that place is real. I just don't know where exactly-but there was an island, and the count was real too."
He gently stroked her short hair. She was back, and that was all he needed. If she didn't want to talk, he wasn't going to press her.
"When did you cut your hair?" he asked softly. In his memory, she'd always had long hair.
Jessica's chest tightened. She'd kept that long hair for sixteen years-first because she didn't know better, then because he said he liked it. She'd held onto it for him.
Just then, a faint scent of pine drifted through the air. Her brow furrowed. A flash of cold flickered across her eyes as she slowly turned her head to look at Paul.
Compared to Alan, Paul didn't have such a sharp look, but his features were gentle and defined-like someone straight out of a drama.
"Paul, do you like me?"
Paul blinked, caught completely off guard. What kind of question was that?
"Of course I do!" He meant it-he loved her like a sister, like family. After all, since the day she was born, she'd belonged to Alan in everyone's eyes.
Jessica reached up and pressed her lips lightly to his, then eased her body onto his.
Paul froze, staring up at her in shock. Her soft frame on top of him made his heartbeat go haywire.
"Jess... you're just using me because of him, aren't you?" he managed to say, lifting her head gently.
"Paul, I don't love him anymore. If you care about me, maybe we could give it a shot," Jessica said, then sat up and started unbuttoning her shirt.
