Chapter 337 Always Alone
Yesterday afternoon, Fred called Jessica and said Michael wanted to meet her, suggesting a place.
Given the weather, Jessica picked a quiet, elegant restaurant near the old Harriman residence. Neither she nor Michael ordered food; they just got two glasses of water and a private room for their talk.
Michael got straight to the point, "Is there something you want to tell me, Jessica?"
Jessica knew Michael always got info fast. Despite being an easygoing old man, he'd stand up for her if he noticed Imogen's bad attitude. He'd protect her and never judged her background.
Now, this lovely old man was meeting her so seriously.
Whether Kimberly told him or he found out another way, Jessica saw the seriousness and displeasure in Michael's eyes today.
Michael only said three things.
"Jessica, I like you a lot. In this world, no matter your job or environment, you should be free and genuine. No need to create a persona; being real is what matters."
"You're smart, with both softness and strength. Forget the complex Jenner family ties; as an individual, you're a sensible and good girl to me. Gabriel likes you, so I accept everything about you."
"But having a child already? That's a different story. You must understand, the Harrimans is still a prestigious family."
Jessica didn't interrupt, just listened. At the end, she looked down at her glass of water and said, "I understand."
The Harriman family is still the Harriman family.
A short sentence, but it said so much.
No need for extra words.
Those who get it, get it.
A wise person, even with a junior, wouldn't act offensively.
Michael's authority and power didn't harm Jessica, but it made her realize the huge gap between her and Gabriel.
If Gabriel could bridge that gap himself, Michael might not push it.
But the existence of an unclear child was the biggest obstacle the Harriman family could never accept.
Michael noticed she didn't bother with explanations or pleas for forgiveness.
He placed a card on the table. "This might seem disrespectful, but I genuinely care about you. Raising a child alone isn't easy. This is a small token for you and the child. Whether you stay in the country or move elsewhere, this will help you live comfortably. It's not an insult; consider it my apology."
The scene Jessica had once imagined was now real, and she laughed briefly.
But she quickly pushed the card back to Michael and said, "No need, thank you, Grandpa Michael. I canraise my daughter myself. She hasn't suffered much, and I have a better job now. You don't need to apologize. Knowing you and having this journey has been an honor."
Michael nodded, stood up, took the cane Fred handed him, and looked back at her. His eyes were no longer kind but held the authority and ruthlessness of the Harriman family elder. "Do you know what you should do?"
Jessica met Michael's cold gaze. "Yes, I'll cut off all contact with him. You can rest assured."
Michael gave her a long look, then left with Fred's support.
In the old house's living room, the air was dusty despite the protective sheets on the furniture.
Jessica spent the afternoon cleaning the children's room, letting Danielle nap inside, and took out her old toys.
Since meeting Michael yesterday, she hadn't cried, not even when Gabriel rushed back from Country S overnight.
Sitting in the old house, looking around, she remembered standing by the bed with Danielle, both bewildered by the unconscious and injured Gabriel. She couldn't hold back and cried alone in the master bedroom. When Danielle saw her red eyes and asked what was wrong, Jessica said the dust irritated her eyes.
Later, she called Kevin over.
She asked him to help stage this scene.
Of course, just a couple of sentences wouldn't change everything immediately.
How could Gabriel not know if she had been married?
In the old neighborhood, the streetlights were dim, some broken, leaving certain paths pitch dark.
At 8 PM, Gabriel found the location based on her earlier call. The black Bentley parked below the old apartment complex, and he saw the light in Jessica's window and called her.
Jessica only answered select calls since Kevin left, screening even business partners.When Gabriel's call came in, she looked at the familiar number and answered.
"Hello," she said, her voice steady.
"Jessica, give me a reason," Gabriel said, looking out at the night through the car window. The old neighborhood took him back six months, with its old four-pane windows, clean sheets, the smell of medicine and disinfectant, and the little white bear by the bed.
Jessica stood by the window, looking at the car parked below.
When she first saw the black Bentley, it felt out of place.
How could such a car be here?
How could someone like Gabriel ever belong to her?
She kept looking at the car and said, "A lot of what I said on Instagram was to deal with the media. I know you know whether I've been married, so that doesn't matter. But..."
Jessica lightly placed her hand on the cold windowsill, the chill seeping into her heart.
"Do you remember you once asked me if Danielle had a father? I said her father was dead. Actually, Danielle's father has always been abroad. We never married and haven't had much contact, but he did come looking for me. We once had feelings for each other, and later we separated. But no matter what, he is Danielle's biological father. Even if you're good to Danielle and she likes you, you can't change that. He's back now to give Danielle a normal, complete family."
"Only when a child's biological parents are together can it be a complete family, a healthy family. That's the best choice for Danielle, isn't it?"
"I know everything today makes me look heartless and even like a womanizer, but Gabriel, from the start, you should've known that a woman with a child like me couldn't see her own position clearly. I got lost in all the goodness you gave me, thinking I could hold onto this unbelievable happiness. But back to reality, Danielle needs her biological father, needs a complete family. Even if you want to hold onto me, I have to think of Danielle and not selfishly deprive her of the right to be with her father. So, after making this choice, I hope, Mr. Harriman, you won't entangle with me anymore."
Gabriel listened to her ramble on.
"Jessica, do you think I can't tell which part is a lie?"
Jessica closed her eyes, then opened them, smiling lightly, not knowing if it was a sneer or something else, and said in a very soft voice, "Danielle, her biological father, and I are a family. That's not a lie. Thank you for still respecting me, not choosing to come up and knock on the door, not causing more trouble for me and Danielle. After all, Danielle's father is here, too. I don't want any uncontrollable situation to happen. If the neighbors see, it would be embarrassing for me. That's all. We are all adults, let's keep our boundaries and not entangle, thank you, goodbye."
She hung up directly.
He watched as Jessica's windows darkened, one by one, until her house was swallowed by the night.
The black Bentley remained parked below the old apartment complex.
Residents of the neighborhood passed by the car, curious and pointing atthe out-of-place car, full of envy but not daring to touch it, afraid of having to pay for any damage.
The car lights were off, but the car didn't move an inch all night.
Until dawn.
Wayne called and said, "Mr. Harriman, Mr. Wilson flew in from Country S with great sincerity for the collaboration. He is already at the company."
Gabriel looked at the old neighborhood through the car window. Snow had started falling again in Xyleria since last night, covering the car with a layer of white.
He checked the time and said, "10 AM, in the company meeting room."
"Okay, Mr. Harriman."
Xyleria was in the grip of its harshest winter in memory, buried under a record-breaking snowfall.
Gabriel drove out of the old neighborhood, back to the company, back to his position. The Harriman Group still stood tall in the center of Xyleria, its modern architecture reflecting a cold brilliance.
Everything was as usual.
As if, for all these years, Gabriel had always been alone, and Jessica had never appeared.
