Jessica yanked off the suit jacket she'd just put on, her hands shaking with anger. Alan's words had cut deep.
"Alan! You're seriously not worried about what Chloe would think-seeing your clothes on me, especially after what she walked in on earlier? Isn't that a bit much?"
Alan let out a cold laugh. "Seriously? You think you're worth Chloe getting upset over?"
Jessica's jaw clenched hard. Right, how could she forget? The whole damn world knew Alan hated her guts. That mess earlier was never about anything but his twisted way of humiliating her. Of course Chloe would've known.
She stopped struggling, letting him finish dressing her without saying another word. If he wasn't scared of the fallout, why should she care? The moment he buttoned the last snap, she shoved his arm away, pulled the door open, and walked out like nothing happened.
"Paul, I'm okay," she said flatly. Besides the ripped clothes and being thoroughly degraded inside and out, there wasn't really much to fuss over, was there?
Paul turned his eyes away, unable to keep looking. Her swollen lips made him tense with anger, but where would he even direct it? He barely controlled his voice as he said, "Uh, yeah... someone dropped off flowers. Said you had to sign for them."
Earlier, Chloe had gone upstairs with that exact purpose. When Jessica didn't come down but Chloe did, pale as a ghost and storming off, Paul thought it was just some argument. But now, seeing Jessica show up like this, it all clicked into place.
"Oh. Thanks," Jessica mumbled, walking past, head down. When the shame's laid out that clearly, all you're left with is the unbearable awkwardness of it.
Watching her leave, Paul pushed the door open and stepped into the bedroom. Alan was there cleaning up the torn clothes on the bed.
Paul's face darkened, his voice tight. "Alan, what the hell are you doing? No matter what she did back then-she was just a kid! And she's already paid for it once with her life. Isn't that enough?"
Alan's knuckles went white as he gripped the ruined fabric and tossed it in the trash. His voice came out low and sharp. "Everybody answers for what they've done. Kid or not."
She messed with things she never should've touched. That's on her. He'd push her out himself if he had to.
"So that gives you the right to humiliate her like this?"
Alan's whole body tensed, rage simmering under his skin. "And what if I said yes?"
"Then this is the last time you'll ever touch her like that," Paul said, voice cold. "From now on, she's with me. I'll make sure she's safe."
"With you? Paul, come on! The Leighton and Knight families are practically tied at the hip. Richard was my enemy-that makes his sister the enemy of the Knights too! You really wanna marry her? Think about how you're gonna explain that to your board!" Alan's tone was cold as ice, and it cut straight through.
"So what? Worst case, I walk away from this CEO job. Let my sister take over!"
"Step down? Do you even get why rulers always pick power over love? Because only with power can you actually protect the one you love! Lose that power, and forget it-you won't even get to talk about love."
Alan brushed past Paul without a second glance, an unsettling chill trailing behind him like a shadow from hell. "Stay away from her."
If you can't shield her, then just back off.
"Alan, I won't stay away. Even if I'm not strong enough to protect her now, I'll stand with her, no matter what."
Alan didn't bother to reply. His footsteps echoed as he strode down the stairs.
Meanwhile, Jessica held a huge bouquet of rare, crazy-expensive roses gifted by the count. The petals weren't your usual red-they faded from soft yellow at the edges to a warm apricot in the center, each layer folding over the next like a shy girl blushing.
Chloe's eyes narrowed, full of spite. "Jessica, care to talk?"
"Sure. Where?" Jessica didn't even flinch.
"By the lake."
Jessica handed the flowers to Grace, asked her to put them in a vase, then followed Chloe through the backyard.
The Southern estate was massive, and behind it stretched a wide pond. Autumn wind skimmed over the surface, sending small ripples flickering in the gray light.
"Jessica, five years ago you threw yourself at Alan like trash. And now you're pulling the same move? You've got zero shame!" Chloe suddenly swung her arm toward Jessica's face.
But Jessica grabbed her wrist mid-air, grip firm. "Maybe you need a reality check. He was the one who tore my clothes, remember? Paul just carried me upstairs, yet Alan barged into my bedroom. Chloe, this really seems like a 'you' problem-can't even keep your own man in check? Keep him away from me, or next time, I'm charging him with assault."
If Alan dared humiliate her again, she'd go straight to the cops. Let's see who gets embarrassed more.
Chloe yanked at her wrist, face scrunched in pain. Jessica hadn't even used much force-and yet, her words hit harder than the grip, stabbing deep into Chloe's gut.
"You know he hates you. Why the hell would you come back?"
Jessica's lips twitched. So now, coming back to her own home was a crime?
"I just want to take back what I'm owed. And to find out who really killed my parents."
Her gaze drifted toward the far end of the pond, voice low and sharp. "Chloe, remember what you did when I was six? You tried to drown me right here."
