Charles lifted Jessica from the hotels threshold , the night air biting at her skin.A soft shiver ran through her , the unexpected cold piercing deeper than she had anticipated .
Rheas wine had soaked into her dress , rendering the fabric heavy and damp .
Her hair , once styled , now hung limp , weighed down by the spilled drink .
The remnants of cake clung to her gown , sticky and humiliating .
She glanced down at herself , her face burning with shame .
Thank you , she whispered , her voice soft , almost drowned by the night .
You can let me down now .
A car rolled up to them , its engine a low hum in the quiet of the evening .
Charles released her , and Jessica noticed his suit now bore splatters of cake and frosting .
A wave of guilt washed over her .
Sorry … Ive ruined your clothes again .
Maybe you should take it off and let me clean it for you ? He remained silent , his eyes cold and unreadable , fixated on her.From the beginning , hed wondered why she insisted on being his companion to the hotel .
At first , hed thought she was merely trying to stir trouble .
Now , it seemed clear : shed sought to ruin the evening , but had instead tangled herself in a mess of her own making- Charles didnt speak .
His gaze fixed on her , sharp as ice , and it sent a shiver down her spine .
She forced a strained smile , trying to mask her discomfort .
I know I look awful , but you really dont have to look at me like that .
Before she could speak further, his hand shot out , pinning her back against the side of the car .
His towering form blocked her in , looming over her like a shadow … I dont care what youve got with my nephew , he said , his voice low and laced with a warning .
I wont be dragged into your mess .
His words pressed heavily against her chest , suffocating her .
She had used him to gain entry to the party hed allowed it , perhaps out of curiosity .
But if she thought she could use him to get back at Hugh , she was mistaken .
The coldness radiating from him made her heart flutter with unease .
Now she understood it wasnt her she was saving , but his own dignity .
A bitter smile curled at her lips .
Of course , he was angry .
It made sense .
Her gaze fell to the ground , hiding the turmoil she couldnt mask .
She spoke softly , her voice steady , yet laced with sincerity .
Hensley , this wont happen again .
I swear it .
She hadnt meant to use him as a pawn against Hugh .
That was her burden to carry .
Charles studied her for a long moment , his silence as chilling as his stare .
Finally , his expression softened , if only slightly .
1/3 Jessica hesitated , uncertainty flickering in her eyes .
But he met her gaze with a calm indifference , as if he were entirely unaffected .
Im taking you home .
its fine .
Really , she began to protest , but before the words fully left her lips , he guided her into the car .
He climbed in after her , motioning to the driver with a quiet command .
Jessica sank into the seat , careful not to move too much .
She didnt want to risk making his car as messy as her clothes .
What about Mr.
Hensley Sr.
? she asked , recalling that he had come with Dom .
Hell have his own ride , Charles replied with a cool glance .
She nodded , a small sense of understanding settling in .
Of course , a family like theirs wouldnt settle for just one car .
The car pulled to a stop beneath Jessicas apartment building .
She glanced at the man beside her .
His eyes were closed , his expression unreadable , as if the world beyond the car didnt exist .
Hensley , Im home .
Thank you for the ride , she murmured softly ..
A faint grunt came from him in response , the sound more a vibration in the air than a word .
His eyes stayed shut .
A thick silence hung between them , oppressive and unsettling .
Without another word , Jessical quickly opened the door and stepped out , eager to escape the weight of it .
As her foot touched the ground , his voice cut through the air , sharp as a knife .
Something was tossed from the car .
She barely had time to react , her hands snapping up to catch it .
His suit jacket .
You said youd wash it .
His voice , laced with a subtle challenge , drifted over her , the arch of his brow almost visible in the way his words landed .
Her throat tightened , a sense of confusion washing over her .
Oh , yeah .
Yes … Ill wash it .
She had assumed that , given his cool detachment , he wouldve discarded it perhaps too offended by the cake stains to care .
Yet , he handed it to her , as if entrusting her with it .
Youll wash it yourself , he added , his gaze still hidden .
Of course , Ill take care of it , she said , the words leaving her lips quickly .
She wasnt sure if he was trying to avoid having the jacket dry cleaned or if it was something else entirely .
The car began to pull away , leaving Jessica standing in the night with his jacket in her hands .
She The real problem ? Her gown .
It was a rental , and now it was stained beyond saving completely ruined .
She returned to her apartment later than she had planned .
Fortunately , shed called Selene in advance , letting her know shed be working late and asking her to keep an eye on the boy .
When she entered , the quiet was comforting .
Both Selene and her son were already sound asleep .
She was relieved they hadnt seen her in such a state .
After cleaning herself up , Jessica walked to the room she shared with her son .
He was nestled snugly in sleep , his small arms wrapped around a dinosaur plush .
A smile spread across her lips as she brushed a lock of hair from his forehead .
The tenderness of the moment made her heart ache in the best way .
Carefully , she lay down on the other side of the bed , not wanting to disturb him .
The exhaustion from the night hit her all at once , but sleep refused to come .
Her thoughts raced .
Rheas panic had confirmed what Jessica had suspected all along .
The child Rhea carried wasnt Hughs .
That child had ties to the man Jessica had seen at the hospital the doctor .
She would find him .
She had to .
The truth about the scandalous photos from years ago still eluded her , but she would uncover it , no matter the cost .
Charles didnt return to the Hensleys estate until he was certain Jessica was safe at her apartment .
Entering the front door , he found his father , Jane , and Hugh and his wife waiting in the living room.The atmosphere was thick with anticipation .
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.
