Jessica said , her She recalled the night in the hotel , initially believing the man she met was Hugh , only to learn later that Rhea had orchestrated the encounter .
The man who took her first time was not Hugh , and she did not even know his identity .
The revelation had almost crushed her when she discovered it at the wedding , and to her disbelief , that one night had resulted in pregnancy .
She and Hugh had never been involved , so how could Arthur be his child ? Despite her explanation , Charles penetrating gaze suggested he harbored doubts .
Jessica took a deep breath and confessed , Im not afraid of being judged .
Truthfully , I dont know who the father of my child is .
She firmly added , But its definitely not Hugh .
Charles was taken aback , finding it almost absurd that she , the mother , did not know the father of her child .
How could she be so uncertain ? His disbelief made the rooms atmosphere grow tense .
Just then , the voice of her son echoed from the bathroom , Mommy , I forgot to bring my clothes .
Can you help me ? The request was a welcome interruption for Jessica .
However , Charles stopped her , Dont move , Ill help him .
He was mindful of her injured foot .
Despite Jessicas reluctance to trouble him , Charles demeanor left no room for objection , so she stayed put .
Thank you , the clothes are in the wardrobe in the room , she directed him to where she and her son slept .
Charles nodded and made his way to the room .
Upon entering , he first saw only womens clothes in the wardrobe .
He then opened the bottom drawer where Arthurs clothes were neatly folded .
As he reached for a set , a familiar scent caught his attention .
He found a small , elegant bottle tucked away in the drawer .
Driven by a sudden urge , he picked it up and brought it to his nose .
The scent triggered a flood of memories the hotel room five years ago the dim lights .
the 1/3 This was the scent he had been searching for all these years , never once encountering it again until now .
Jessica , sensing something off .
decided to check on Charles herself .
When she found him holding her perfume bottle .
lost in thought , she quickly explained .
This is the perfume my father made for me .
Charles turned to her , his expression shifting as his voice grew hoarse .
Your father ? Yes .
Jessica replied .
a softness in her tone .
He loves creating perfumes .
This was the first one he made just for me , and he named it Cherish after me .
Its one of a kind She looked away , a trace of sadness in her eyes .
It was also the last perfume he made for me .
It held a special place in her heart as her fathers finall gift , and she cherished it deeply , seldom using it to preserve its memory .
Charles face grew more complex as he listened , his gaze deepening with intrigue .
Holding the perfume bottle , he murmured .
Is it unique ? Realization dawned on him no wonder he had never found this scent elsewhere .
Could she be the woman from that night five years ago ? Mr.
Hensley , whats wrong ? Jessica noticed his prolonged focus on the perfume and his distant expression .
Regaining his composure , Charles handed back the perfume and reassured her with forced calm , Its nothing .
Ill take the clothes to him now .
As he passed by , Jessica sensed an unspoken change in his demeanor , something new and undefined .
In the bathroom , the little guy looked up in surprise as Charles entered with the clothes .
Why here ? are you Even though they had just declared a truce , this sudden closeness felt too forward , too soon for the boy .
Charles , however , did not respond immediately .
He stared at the boy , reflecting on the teachers comment about their resemblance .
Instally , he had thought Arthur might be Hughs child because of a familiar air .
However , as he looked into the boys face now , he could not help but see a reflection of himself .
Arthurs discomfort grew under Charles intense scrutiny , and in an attempt to deflect , he quipped with a mix of defiance and humor , What are you looking at ? Are you jealous that Im bigger than you ? Caught off guard .
Charles broke from his reverie , tossed the clothes at him , and shot back with a : Before leaving , he advised Jessica to take a couple of days off to rest her foot and only return to work once she felt better .
He cast one more lingering look at the boy before departing .
Downstairs , Charles handed a small bag containing two strands of hair to his assistant , Flint , and instructed in a serious tone , Go and do a paternity test for me .
Back inside the apartment , Jessica noticed the perfume bottle still sitting on the table , musing over Charles peculiar interest in it .
Maybe it was the uniqueness of the scent her father had created , a fragrance so captivating that it left a lasting impression .
Her thoughts were interrupted as her son suddenly hugged her arm , his expression a mix of curiosity and concern , Mommy , do I really look like that stupid geezer ?
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.
