Chapter 16 Jessica, Green with Envy
Jessica stumbled, turning on her heel, and dashed away. She didn't have the courage to witness any more. If only remorse could turn back time, she wished she'd never opened that door.
"Gabriel, do you even realize how cruel you are?" Jessica leaned against the wall, gulping for air as if it could soothe her aching heart. She clutched at her chest, as if numbing her heart could stop the pain.
Suddenly, her stomach lurched uncomfortably, and she bolted to the restroom, vomiting violently until all that was left was the remnants of bitter bile and her breakfast gone.
She didn't know how long she knelt there, her black hair was a messy veil over her pale, bloodless face, looking utterly wretched.
Then came a knock at the door. "Jessica, let me in," called Gabriel's voice. He had followed her.
After an intimate moment, why follow her just to twist the knife in her heart again? Leaning against the door, Jessica let her weary body slide to the floor. She didn't want to answer, preferring to act as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Gabriel's voice grew more insistent. "I know you're in there. I'm giving you three minutes. If you don't open the door, I'll break the door down."
His words struck fear into her heart. In the final few seconds, Jessica stood up and unlocked the door.
"Why'd you lock yourself in?" Gabriel frowned at her disheveled hair.
"I'm upset," she admitted, seeing no point in hiding it now.
"Over her hugging me?" he asked, bewildered.
"It was more than a hug," Jessica challenged with a cold look. "There was a kiss, and I saw it. Are you going to tell me my eyes are playing tricks, or will you claim it was nothing?"
Who would believe such a poor lie? She was no longer a naive toddler.
"Are you jealous?" Gabriel's deep eyes searched hers.
Jessica had been holding herself together, but his question broke her facade, revealing her hurt.
Stepping forward, she buried her face in Gabriel's chest and poked it with her slender finger, her tiny voice betraying her vulnerability, "Gabriel, you can't treat me like this."
"I know you want a divorce, but we're still married. I'm your wife. Shouldn't you act like it?" She was indeed upset.
Jealousy seemed to be a natural part of women's instinct. Even if the one she loved wasn't him.
"Don’t you claim not to love me? So why the jealousy?" Gabriel suddenly asked.
Jessica snapped, grabbing his tie as if she were a wildcat ready to pounce. "By that logic, I should be free to mess around, find myself some boy toys, a whole array of young hunks, since you don't care."
"You wouldn’t dare!" Fury flashed in Gabriel's eyes. "Remember your place, Jessica. We're not divorced yet."
"Then remember yours! If I see you with Diana again, I’m hitting the clubs to find myself some boy toys," Jessica said with a newfound confidence.
"What's a boy toy?" Gabriel was puzzled.
Jessica smirked, "Definitely not someone like you."
"And what am I like?" he asked, curiously.
"You?" Jessica caught herself as her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly reclaimed her composure. "You’re in the uncle category. You don't have the same market appeal as they do."
"Say that again?" Gabriel pinched her ear, a mix of anger and disbelief in his voice.
Jessica's ears had always been her weak spot, and at his pinch, her heart skipped a beat, her ears flaring red in an instant.
Licking her lips, she offered another morsel of thought. "Sure, the young hotshot's got stamina, but watch out because they're often players. Give me a mature man anytime since they're gentle, loaded, and handsome with a knack for treating a lady right. They're every woman's ideal choice."
Unfortunately, those ideal guys usually had their hearts tied up elsewhere. What good was their charm be if it wasn't meant for her? That thought kept Jessica silent, locking it away within.
Gabriel's demeanor noticeably softened, his gaze upon her growing tender.
"What brings you here?" he pivoted to the matter at hand.
Remembering her reason, Jessica quickly said, "Xavier wants us to spend some time back at the Ancestral Home in the next couple of days. To keep him company, I’ve agreed that we'll join him for lunch."
"All right, just give me a minute," he told Jessica.
"Okay," she agreed, patiently awaiting his return.
Turning the corner, Gabriel entered Diana's hospital room while Jessica waited outside, expecting it wouldn't take long. When Gabriel finally reemerged, she thought he’d settled everything.
"Diana wants to see you," he announced.
Jessica balled her fists, frowning with hesitation before mustering the courage, "But I don't want to see her."
From within, Diana's voice reached out, "Jessica, I mean no harm. I just want to see you, to apologize."
Apologize to her? Jessica thought inwardly, ‘No thanks—I can do without that kind of favor.’
And besides, this was clearly just a show for Gabriel’s benefit. Why should she play along with Diana's act?
Suddenly, warmth spread through her hand. Gabriel had taken her delicate hand into his, guiding her to Diana’s bedside.
Seeing her, Diana smiled gently, "Jessica, I must thank you. If it weren’t for you, Gabriel wouldn't have found the culprit so quickly. And regarding yesterday's incident, I owe you a serious apology. It was wrong of me to interfere in your and Gabriel's financial matters."
"I'm truly sorry," Diana said, acting piously and apologetically.
Jessica had no desire for such sanctimonious words.
Just to get it over with, she replied half-heartedly, "Let's consider the matter closed. Take care of your health."
"Does that mean you have truly forgiven me?" Diana appeared surprised, her face lighting up with glee.
"Sure," Jessica responded, unenthusiastically.
Just when Jessica thought their exchange had concluded and she could leave, Diana spoke up again. "Jessica, since you've forgiven me, would you do me a huge favor and retrieve your marriage certificate from Xavier during your visit to the Ancestral Home?"
Jessica almost laughed out loud. She knew Diana wasn't simply being kind. This had been her aim all along. Of course, without their marriage certificate, Jessica wouldn't be able to divorce Gabriel. Diana was meticulously plotting to push her out.
"I'm sorry," Jessica said, her tone firm and decisive. "It depends on Xavier’s decision. It's not up to me. Xavier’s health isn't great, and I will respect his wishes without any coercion."
With those words, Jessica shrugged off Gabriel's hand and left without further discussion.
Their ride back to the Ancestral Home was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
"How did she know our marriage certificate was with Xavier?" Jessica couldn't help but ask Gabriel, finally giving voice to her suspicion.
"I told her," Gabriel admitted, with straightforward simplicity.
Jessica managed a wry smile. She had suspected as much but still wanted to hear it from him.
"Gabriel, who's in a rush here? I already promised after Xavier's birthday I’d talk to him about the divorce and get our documents back. There's no need for these reminders. Don't worry, I won't forget," she said, her voice trembling as her eyes welled with tears.
Her emotions were a chaotic whirl, like a marble rolling back and forth unpredictably in her chest. He could've been upfront about wanting the papers back rather than using Diana as a go-between.
Gabriel looked at her, feeling guilty. It wasn't his suggestion, but the whole mess was indeed caused by him.
The previous day, after Diana woke up from her accident and cried in his arms, she confessed her fear of nearly dying and not being able to see him again or become his bride. She wanted them to get a marriage certificate first, and then wait to have a wedding until his family accepted her.
"We might need to wait a bit to get the certificate, Diana," Gabriel told Diana.
"Why the hesitation, Gabriel? Do you know how terrified I was when I was in that coma, fearing I'd die and never be your bride?" Diana pressed.
"Our marriage certificate and documents are with Xavier. We need them for the divorce first before we can marry," he explained.
In explaining the situation to Diana, Gabriel let this detail slip without meaning to. To his surprise, she took note of that little detail and used it to request Jessica.
On the remainder of the journey, Jessica was rather quiet, resting her head against the window, silently watching the scenery flash by in a blur.
