Chapter 468
Jessica smiled sweetly, her face flushed with shyness.
Just then, the doors to Velvet Vogue swung open, and Wendy and Samuel walked in.
Samuel spoke up. “Dr. Binder is waiting for us. Let’s go inside.”
Wendy moved toward the entrance, but her steps halted suddenly as she spotted two familiar figures,
Following her gaze, Samuel saw Stanley and Jessfca.
At that moment, Stanley and Jessica were holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes with such a tender look it was almost sweet enough to make anyone believe in fairy tales.
Samuel smirked. “I didn’t realize Mr. Hawk was such a busy man. He carried you to his place last night, and tonight he’s here having dinner with Jessica. Playing the field between two women–he’s really an expert at this.”
Shaking his head, Samuel chuckled. “Didn’t expect him to be such a player.”
Wendy stared at Stanley and Jessica, then said, “No, he’s not a player.”
Samuel raised an eyebrow, looking at Wendy in surprise.
Wendy continued, “He’s always loved Jessica, and he’s always favored her. He’s not a player.”
Samuel sighed. “Alright, then. Let’s head in.”
Wendy nodded, tearing her gaze away from Stanley and Jessica, and followed Samuel into the restaurant.
Stanley and Jessica didn’t notice Wendy and Samuel. Stanley released Jessica’s hand, gracefully taking his knife and fork to cut into his steak. Then, as if casually bringing up an old memory, he asked, “Do you remember when we first met in that cave?”
Jessica paused for a moment, her knife still in mid–air. She lifted her gaze to Stanley. “Why are you asking this?”
Stanley’s tone remained soft but insistent. “It was the first time we met. I’ve never forgotten it. Have you?”
Jessica’s eyes flickered briefly, and she looked away. “Of course I haven’t forgotten.”
Stanley leaned slightly forward, his voice gentle.
“That forest was so remote. You told me your parents had taken you on a trip, but you got lost and wandered into that forest. You found me there, badly injured, and brought me to the cave.
“In the cave, you treated my wounds, but the next morning, when I woke up, you were gone. Your parents found
and took you away, right?”
you
Jessica nodded slowly. “Yes, that’s right.”
What Stanley didn’t know was that Jessica had been there for another reason. It was right after her birthday, and Wendy had called Lilian, asking for help.
At the time, Wendy had been living in the countryside, trapped by the shadow of her foster father. That phone call was how Jessica and Lilian found out about Wendy’s dire situation. Elated by the news, Jessica had insisted that Lilian take her to see it firsthand, to witness Wendy’s suffering.
They both went to the forest, and Jessica had witnessed everything–Wendy and Stanley’s encounter, everything that had happened.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 460
So, Jessica knew all the details. She knew it all.
That story sounded perfectly reasonable, and Stanley hadn’t suspected anything for years.
Stanley set down his knife and fork, his gaze sharp as he looked at Jessica. “By the way, whatever happened to that crystal pendant I gave you?”
Jessica froze, her heart racing. That was the one question she had feared–her fatal flaw. She didn’t have the crystal pendant.
That pendant had always been with Wendy.
Jessica stammered, “—”
Stanley cut her off, his voice calm but firm.
“I’ve wanted to see that pendant for years. But every time, you’ve come up with an excuse not to show it to me. Could it be…you don’t have it?”
His tone remained casual, but his words were sharp.
“If you don’t have that pendant, how can you prove you’re the girl who saved me all those years ago?”
Jessica’s mind was racing. Was Stanley starting to doubt her?
That pendant was her greatest bargaining chip. If Stanley found out that she wasn’t the girl who saved him, she would have nothing left.
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