Chapter 38
Before Jessica could answer, Simon spoke, “Alright. Give me two weeks. I’ll try to make it happen.”
At Atkinson Manor, Brian had just stepped inside when Sylvie hurried over and reported, “Sir, Mr. Jacob Atkinson hasn’t eaten the whole day. He’s been calling for Mrs. Atkinson since he woke up.”
Brian was about to head to his study, but hearing that, he turned straight for Jacob’s room.
Maybe Jacob had heard the footsteps. He opened his eyes and whispered, “Daddy, where’s Mommy? You said I could see her when I woke up, didn’t you?”
Brian stayed silent. Even with the fever gone, Jacob’s cheeks were still flushed and weak. At that moment, Brian couldn’t help but think Jessica was being far too cold.
Tears slid down Jacob’s cheeks as he spoke up, “I’ve woken up so many times. She’s still not home. Why doesn’t she forgive me? I just blurted out something without thinking. Why is she holding it against me?”
Brian frowned upon hearing that. He had Sylvie bring up a bowl of porridge. He then sat down beside the bed and fed Jacob himself.
J
Jacob managed to eat half of it before his eyes started drooping, and he lay back down again.
Brian was just about to leave when he heard Jacob murmur under his breath, “Mommy, you are so mean. Why can’t you be more like Maddie?”
Brian’s eyes turned grim, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. He stood there for a beat and quietly walked out.
Around 5 PM, Jessica checked out of the hospital. She drove back to her parents’s house, anxiety gnawing at her the whole way.
As the car rolled through familiar streets and pulled up to the old villa, her eyes stung with tears. It had been seven years since she stormed out in a fit of anger.
No sooner had she parked the car than Maria Carter, the housekeeper, appeared in the front hall. The moment Jessica stepped out, Maria’s eyes widened. “Jessi? Jessi, is that really you?”
“Oh my, you finally came back.” Maria got choked up and turned toward the staircase, calling out at the top of her lungs, “Mr. Grant, Mrs. Grant, Jessi’s home.”
“Hi, Maria.” Jessica greeted her.
Before Jessica even made it past the entryway, she saw Stella flying down the stairs. The moment their eyes met on the stairs, they both teared up.
Jessica muttered, “Mom.”
Stella replied with sobs, “My sweetheart, you’re home. Finally, you’re home.”
Stella threw her arms around Jessica, and she scanned her daughter from head to toe with a worried face. Ševen years had passed, and her little girl had grown into a mature woman.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Jessica whispered. Back then, she left without thinking, never once considering her parents’s feelings.
“It doesn’t matter now. You’re here. That’s all I care about.” Stella dabbed the tears from Jessica’s cheeks.
At that moment, the conflicts in the past seemed to fade completely. Stella tilted her chin upstairs and said, “Your father’s in the study. When he heard you would come back, he didn’t know what to do with himself.”
Jessica didn’t say anything. She just headed upstairs. She paused at the door, knocked, and then pushed it open. She whispered, “Dad.”
“Got the nerve to come back, huh? Thought you’d made up your mind to leave. Why are you here now?” Dereck had his back to her, not turning around, like he didn’t want to look at her.
However, the way his hand trembled around the mug gave him away.
Jessica’s eyes turned red again. She walked over and hugged Dereck from behind. “Dad, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong.”
Dereck’s shoulders jerked a little. He turned around and stared at Jessica’s tear–streaked face. He never thought his proud, headstrong daughter
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Chapter 38
would be the one to come home like this and admit her mistakes.
His voice cracked as he asked, “Did that brat let you down?
