NovelOnlineChapter 68
There wasn't a sound on the other end of the line.
"Jessica?"
Jessica hung up.
Timothy waited for her response, but all he got was the flat, repetitive beep of a disconnected call.
Jessica took the ice pack from Mabel and lay down on the bed, pressing it gently to her swollen eyes.
Mabel spoke in a low voice. "Ma'am, I'll go warm up the food. Once you're finished with the ice, don't forget to
chave dinner."
She quietly left the bedroom.
A moment later, her phone rang-Timothy's number lit up the screen.
Mabel frowned.
The nerve of Mr. Lawson, flying overseas with their son to chase after another woman, leaving his wife all alone.
She really didn't want to answer, but after sthought, she picked up.
As soon as she answered, Timothy's voice cthrough.
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"Has Jessica been crying?"
At least he had a shred of conscience, Mabel thought. He still cared enough to ask.
"| can't say for sure if she cried. She just woke up, but her eyes are red and puffy."
"Go tell her to book a flight and csee me. I've scheduled a family portrait session and a wedding
photoshoot."
Mabel's face lit up.
"Of course, I'll tell her right away."
"And let her know-if she doesn't cthis time, | can't guarantee when I'll be available again."
With those instructions, Timothy hung up.
Jessica knew he was always busy. He had to impose a sense of urgency, to make sure she'd come-make her
behave, make her hurry.
Mabel wanted to tell Jessica as soon as possible, but seeing her lying down with the ice pack, she decided to wait
a little longer. It wouldn't make much difference.
This was a perfect chance for Jessica to mend things with Mr. Lawson and their son. Mabel hoped she'd take it.
Not long after, Jessica emerged from the bedroom.
Mabel was busy cleaning, but hurried over to pass along Timothy's message.
Jessica typed out her reply on her phone and showed it to Mabel: she wasn't going.
She looked pale, her refined features drained of color.
"Ma'am, you really should go," Mabel urged gently. "Don't you miss Mr. Lawson and your little boy?"
Jessica shook her head.
Mabel sighed inwardly. Jessica had always cherished her husband and son above all else. Clearly, their actions
had hurt her deeply.
Not wanting to upset Jessica further, Mabel tried again. "Mr. Lawson's always so busy, but he's made tthis
trip. If you don't go now, who knows when you'll get another chance? He wants to make up for the wedding
photos-maybe it's a sign things are improving. Maybe he'll even plan a new wedding ceremony, ma'am. You
shouldn't let a chance like this slip by."
Retake the wedding photos?
Hold a new ceremony?
What good were those rituals to someone whose days were numbered?
Jessica had no use for such gestures, nor would she continue to be his pawn, his shield against Sheila and the
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLawsons' disapproval.
A deep, aching sadness filled her.
She remembered the day he'd said they'd reshoot the wedding photos, that the registry photos didn't matter
anymore. Pathetically, her heart had fluttered with hope.
But Sheila's return and the Lawsons' opposition had changed everything. That's when Timothy started to play
the doting husband-offering explanations, acting gentle, pretending to care.
He was terrifying in his own way.
Jessica didn't dare think too deeply.
She didn't even want to check his travel schedule.
For seven years, he'd always been "on business trips." Who knew how many of those days were really spent with
Sheila?
Jessica stayed silent for a long time. Mabel thought she was considering going overseas to see her husband and
son.
Mabel stood quietly by her side, waiting for her answer.
Jessica pressed her fingers to her brow, trying to shake off her thoughts. She tossed the used ice pack in the
trash and headed to the dining room for dinner.
She didn't answer Mabel's question. Mabel followed, still speaking softly: "Ma'am, from the sound of it, it wasn't
easy for Mr. Lawson to make tthis trip. If you go, the three of you can finally be together again."
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