Chapter 289: One Month
Jessica glanced over but eventually got into the passenger seat without a word, as usual.
They drove in silence, not even making small talk.
Jessica stared at the hood of the car, her gaze steady.
Years of tough life had taught her not to cross any lines.
Next to her, Jasper was the golden boy, while she felt like dirt.
Now, with the "mud" now clinging to her, she felt even worse and more worthless.
Jessica's stomach churned.
Seeing Jasper always made her feel more inferior.
At a red light, Jasper handed her a hot drink from the car's storage.
"Are you cold?" he asked, noticing her pale face.
Jessica took it quietly. "Thank you, Mr. Murphy."
That title annoyed him.
Jasper stared at her. "Jessica, are you defying me?"
Her eyelids trembled, and she looked down, acting gentle and obedient. "I wouldn't dare, Mr. Murphy."
Jasper was sure she was defying him.
It reminded him of the time he asked her to get along with Oscar, and, frustratingly, she did exactly that.
The memory of Oscar's proposal was particularly galling. Jasper was there, his heart in turmoil as Oscar got down on one knee. "Do you give your blessing for Jessica to marry me?" Oscar had asked. Jasper's response, "I have no objections," had been intended as a reluctant acceptance. To his chagrin, Jessica had immediately accepted, slipping the ring on her finger and marrying Oscar just a few days later.
Her gentle ways always infuriated Jasper, and thinking about it now felt like a fire inside him.
Jasper had meant to say, "It's up to you," but no one wanted to hear that.
"Call me whatever you want," Jasper said, restarting the car and driving faster.
Jessica hadn't eaten much, and the speed made her pale, but she bit her lip and endured it.
At their destination, Jasper closed the car door and took her suitcase.
Jessica followed, puzzled by Jasper's handsome, upright back.
Did he want her to call him by his name like before?
Jessica shook her head and smiled.
She wasn't the wild 18-year-old Jessica anymore.
As a nanny's daughter, how could she call him by his name?
Now, she was mired in filth and trouble, making it worse.
Inside the villa, dinner was Mexican stir-fry, and a few people gathered, creating a lively atmosphere.
Harper insisted on inviting Zoey, and Zoey didn't resist.
After years of knowing each other, Zoey found Harper still kind and warm-hearted.
Jessica felt most relaxed with Harper.
Harper had a magic power; with her around, Jessica's inferiority vanished.
So when Harper asked her to come back and help, Jessica didn't hesitate.
Jessica wanted to be more cheerful instead of trapped in her past.
Harper had some fruit wine, her cheeks flushed, and she clung to Jessica's arm. "It'd be great if Lisa were here tonight. How long has it been since the three of us got together?"
Jessica gently wiped Harper's forehead with a handkerchief. "Didn't Lisa say she'd be back next week?"
"Why does next week feel so far away? I really want the three of us together," Harper said.
Jessica helped Harper upstairs to bathe and sleep, and Agnes insisted on sleeping with Jessica too.
That night, the three of them shared a room. Harper had a heart-to-heart with Jessica, spilling everything about her strange husband, including the marks Francis left on her. Jessica would have noticed them anyway.
Agnes was easily convinced they were bug bites, but Jessica wasn't fooled.
Harper sighed, "You don't know how scared I was. He actually used his hands; it hurt so much."
Jessica replied quietly, "That's because you were too tense, so it hurt."
Harper looked at her and asked, "Jessica, you and Oscar. Is he rough with you too?"
Jessica shook her head. "We never did it."
Oscar was handsome, but he turned out to be a complete psycho.
At first, he only beat her when drunk, but later, he'd come home at noon just to beat her up.
In two years of marriage, Jessica lived in constant fear.
Oscar threatened to kill Zoey if she told anyone.
Long-term abuse made Jessica afraid to resist and even get used to it.
If Harper hadn't run into it and got Jasper to intervene, Jessica didn't know how long she'd be trapped in that dark marriage.
She remembered the last moment of separation; Oscar had held her and cried, "Jessica, I love you. I really love you."
Jessica fainted on the spot, scared by his words.
Harper was shocked, "Jessica, you are still...?"
Jessica shook her head. "No."
She and Jasper had made love once, but it wasn't pleasant.
Both were inexperienced, and it ended quickly.
That was her only intimate moment with Jasper, who felt so distant.
She still remembered Jasper being stern and aloof in bed, like a king.
Jessica thought he'd be like that forever.
Until she saw how Jasper looked at Harper and Agnes, she realized that when a man truly wanted to protect a woman, his gaze changed. He had never treated herself that way because she was not worthy. Fortunately, she had come to terms with it now.
On the third day, Francis had his assistant invite Harper to the office for a meeting.
Harper thought it was about paperwork, so she took the documents Jasper had helped her reissue and followed Victor.
In the office, Francis was at his desk, reviewing documents.
His white shirt wrapped around his strong body, his face was exquisite, and his meticulousness in work gave him an indescribable handsomeness.
Harper thought he looked quite good.
After a while, Victor brought her some delicacies.
Harper lost interest after a few bites and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Getty, when will you be done? The court is about to close."
Francis lifted his eyelids and said with indifferent eyes, "What's the rush? Listen to my terms first."
"You!" Harper was so angry she couldn't speak. She knew Francis wouldn't make it easy, and of course, a trap was waiting for her.
Francis cut to the chase, "Stay with me for a month, and I'll sign now. We'll divorce next month."
Harper felt he was toying with her, trembling with anger. "When pigs fly, I'd rather stay with a dog than with you."
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