Chapter 59 Jessica with Another Man
Vincent nodded. "It is too flashy. I need to swing by the precinct to change anyway. Conveniently, there's a coffee shop near the police station."
"Oh, okay then." Jessica quickly ducked into the vehicle.
Upon arrival, Vincent had Yosef find a spot for Jessica to wait for him while he went to change.
During this time, Jessica received a call from Gabriel. She didn't want to answer. But call after call came through.
At last, Jessica took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. However, Jessica had overestimated her strength.
Gabriel's voice came through, "Jessica."
Just hearing her name made her chest tighten and ache.
"Are you at school today?" Gabriel asked tentatively.
Jessica pressed her lips together, fighting to keep her emotions in check. Truly… truly trying hard.
Gabriel grew anxious after not hearing a response, "Jessica, are you there? If you're there, just let me know."
Jessica tilted her head back, blinking fiercely. It took a colossal effort to control herself before she finally managed to whisper, "Yeah, I'm here."
Responding to him seemed to drain all her strength.
"When does your class end? I'll come pick you up," Gabriel offered.
Jessica dug her fingernails into the palm of her left hand with her right, fighting for composure.
She inhaled deeply, straining to keep her voice steady to mask her emotions, "No need, I'll head home by myself."
"I've got another class to attend. If nothing else, I'm going to hang up," she blurted out, eager to end the conversation.
"I'm good now." Just then, Vincent emerged in plainclothes.
Jessica swiftly disconnected the call. On the other end, Gabriel frowned subconsciously as he cradled his phone.
Having been married to her for two years, although they hadn't spent much time together, his keen insight and meticulous attention to detail meant he knew her better than most.
Jessica was a simple soul, easily flushed, and downright terrible at lying.
Her voice had just now been soft, almost a whisper, trembling ever so slightly. A dead giveaway she wasn't being honest.
And then there was that assertive male voice, crystal clear on the line, certainly no figment of his imagination.
Jessica had lied to him. And she was with another man. Perhaps even worse, she might have lied because of this man.
The realization struck Gabriel with an oppressive heaviness, stirring up irritation.
Seeing Gabriel's silent demeanor after the call, Diana ventured, "What's up, Gabriel?"
"It's nothing, let's head back," he dismissively replied.
At the coffee shop, Jessica handed the menu over to Vincent. "You pick!"
"A cappuccino," he requested.
Jessica looked up in surprise. "You like that, too?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I prefer the flavor."
Jessica was genuinely surprised; it was her impression that most men favored less sweet beverages like straight black coffee, with few opting for the sugary options.
Gabriel was a perfect example of that preference.
"I wouldn't have pegged you for a fan of the sweeter side of coffee," she remarked.
Vincent's gaze grew distant as he offered a soft explanation, "My dad was also a police officer, his job full of danger. As a kid, I'd place a sugar cube in his palm before he left for a mission, hoping he'd come home safe."
"Growing older, I made it a habit to carry a sugar cube myself whenever I was on duty," he added.
Though Jessica had never personally experienced those perilous moments, she'd seen enough on TV. Now, faced with a living, breathing hero before her, she felt a deep sense of awe.
The server soon arrived with their freshly brewed coffee. Considering the baby, Jessica had been craving coffee lately, yet she had resisted the temptation.
"Oh, by the way, I'm Jessica." Halfway through her drink, Jessica realized she hadn't properly introduced herself yet.
“Vincent,” he offered, extending his hand too.
As Jessica clasped his fingers, her mind stuttered for a split second. His hand was warm and strangely familiar… it was much like Gabriel's.
And just as she thought of him, her phone buzzed with his call. Hesitating only a moment, she picked up with an attempt at normalcy.
"Hey," she started, determined to appear casual.
"Still at school? I'll come and get you," Gabriel offered.
Without a second thought, Jessica declined, "No need, I'm crashing at the school tonight. You've got tons on your plate, get some rest."
She hung up before he could respond and finished her coffee, heading to the front desk to pay. There she spotted a petite dish of caramel candies and grabbed a couple.
Stepping outside, she noticed the sky looked brooding. Lately, sunny afternoons could turn into sudden downpours by evening. It seemed rain might be on its way.
"I'll give you a ride,” Vincent offered.
Jessica blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"
"You said you were staying at school, right? It's getting dark, looks like rain. It's not safe for you to travel alone," he explained.
Her chest warmed with his concern, but a chill crept through her heart. Even a virtual stranger showed care, while Gabriel, her very own hubby, was absent when she needed him most, in the company of another woman.
Vincent had planned to hail a cab back to the police station. But upon hearing the name of Jessica’s school, he realized it was just a short distance away, and conveniently near his police station too. It seemed like fate.
Side by side, they walked, with Jessica growing increasingly curious about Vincent's life at the police station. He shared some amusing stories, making her laugh heartily.
About twenty minutes later, they reached the gates of Jessica’s school.
"Here we are. Thanks for your company," she said.
"Sure. Get inside safely,” Vincent nodded.
Unnoticed by all, a sleek black luxury car sat idling a short distance away, with Gabriel in the driver's seat.
The windows were rolled up, and the dim streetlights did little to illuminate the interior, leaving Gabriel's expression hidden from view.
If only had anyone been able to see inside, they would have seen a face shadowed with a chilling, eerie composure.
Through the faint glow of the lights, his eyes remained fixed on where Jessica and Vincent had been standing just moments before.
Jessica had barely taken a few steps when she realized she was still clutching a caramel candy in her hand.
She turned around and called out, "Vincent!"
She jogged back to him and placed the candy earnestly into his palm. "For you, I hope it brings you back safely every time you're on duty."
Vincent thanked her and left. Without waiting any longer, Gabriel instructed his driver, "Drive on, catch up to her."
Five minutes later, Gabriel's car pulled up alongside Jessica.
