Chapter 6

Stanley's embrace was solid and warm—once the haven Jessica had craved above all else, now transformed into the cage that imprisoned her.

The sudden movement startled her, her heart skipping a beat. She began struggling immediately, her weakened hands pushing feebly against his solid chest. "Stanley, put me down!"

He ignored her completely, striding purposefully back to the bedroom and depositing her onto the bed without an ounce of gentleness.

The mattress was soft, but it did nothing to cushion her plummeting heart.

He loomed over her, hands braced on either side of her body, his towering frame completely engulfing her in heavy shadow. He stared down at her from above, dark eyes churning with fury and mockery.

"What's the matter? Can't even stand being in the same room with me now?" His lips curved into a cruel smile, his words like poisoned daggers. "Or is it that I haven't been satisfying you, leaving you so desperate you had to find some random man to fill the void? Is that what you've sunk to, Jessica?"

"He's not—!" The humiliation crashed over Jessica like a tidal wave. She trembled with rage, a flush of shame coloring her deathly pale face. "He's my doctor!"

"Your doctor?" Stanley looked as if he'd heard the world's finest joke, scoffing coldly. "A doctor who calls you in the middle of the night? Who holds you in parking garages? Jessica, you're getting worse at lying by the day."

He didn't believe a word.

In his eyes, every explanation she offered was nothing but a transparent cover-up.

Jessica's heart sank to rock bottom. She didn't even have the strength left to argue.

The grinding pain in her stomach struck again, excruciating enough to bead cold sweat across her forehead, her entire face white as paper.

She curled inward with anguish, her brow furrowing deeply, even her breathing carrying an uncontrollable tremor.

Stanley's rage faltered for one inexplicable moment at the sight of her fragile, broken appearance.

He frowned irritably, that nameless fury still burning in his chest impossible to suppress. His hand reached out as if to grip her chin, but froze mid-air. Finally, he only raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.

He straightened, wordlessly shrugging off his jacket and sliding beneath the covers beside her.

A chasm stretched between them, impossible to cross—yet he forcibly pulled her against him, blanket and all, the movement anything but gentle, almost punishing.

"Stay still," he commanded against her ear, his voice ice-cold and domineering.

Jessica went rigid in his arms, not daring to move.

His embrace was no longer warm sanctuary, but an exquisite prison.

She lay with her back to him, staring with hollow eyes at the deep darkness beyond the window.

Explanations were powerless. Resistance was futile.

This man who had once been her god and her salvation had become the source of all her suffering.

She felt an unprecedented exhaustion and helplessness, as if every ounce of strength had been drained from her body. She wanted only to sink into sleep and never wake again.

That night, they shared a bed but inhabited different worlds.

When Jessica woke the next morning, the space beside her was already cold.

Stanley had left at some point without leaving so much as a note.

Her stomach felt hollow and empty, radiating a dull, secretive ache. She had no appetite whatsoever.

Forcing herself through her morning routine, she changed into a crisp professional suit and concealed her haggard, sickly complexion beneath layers of foundation.

There was still work to hand over before her resignation became official. She had to finish her final duties properly.

Suppressing every roiling emotion, Jessica drove calmly to the office.

After parking, she made her way toward the company building. Having eaten nothing all morning, combined with her deteriorating condition, a violent wave of dizziness suddenly crashed over her.

Her vision went black. Her steps faltered.

The screech of brakes shattered the morning quiet. A red Porsche sports car screeched to a halt mere inches from her knees.

Jessica's heart stopped, her face draining white with belated terror.

The car door flew open with a bang. A fashionably dressed young woman stormed out, jabbing her finger at Jessica's nose. "Are you blind?! If you want to kill yourself, don't try insurance fraud on me! Do you have any idea how much this car costs? You couldn't afford to scratch the paint!"

Jessica was already dizzy and disoriented. The woman's screaming made her vision darken further. She clutched at a nearby tree for support, unable to form words.

Seeing Jessica's silence, the woman assumed guilt and grew even more aggressive. "Cat got your tongue? You're dressed all professional, but turns out you're just a scammer! Insurance fraud in broad daylight!"

Passersby were beginning to gather, pointing and whispering.

Just as Jessica felt utterly defenseless, humiliated and helpless, a clear, melodious voice suddenly cut through the commotion with undeniable authority.

"Ma'am, the traffic camera footage is crystal clear. You ran a red light and nearly hit a pedestrian. And now you're trying to pin it on her?"

As the words landed, a understated black Bentley pulled to the curb. A woman in a haute couture suit stepped out.

She appeared to be in her early thirties, with softly waved hair and flawless makeup. Her eyes carried an innate confidence and cool detachment, her presence so commanding it was impossible to ignore.

She walked directly to Jessica's side, positioning herself protectively in front, her gaze sharp and cold as it fixed on the Porsche driver. Her tone was utterly composed. "Traffic law states that vehicles must reduce speed when approaching crosswalks. You were not only speeding but also ran a red light. So perhaps you should be apologizing to my friend here?"

The Porsche driver found herself suddenly intimidated by this woman's overwhelming presence, taking in the obviously top-tier designer clothing and impeccable styling. Her aggressive bluster deflated by half.

Still, she tried to bluster. "Who the hell are you? I ran a red light? Which eye saw that?"

"The intersection camera. And my dashcam backup. Both saw it." The woman's red lips curved slightly, her tone casual yet each word perfectly articulated. "Would you like me to call the police over to review the footage so you can apologize properly? Or I could have my attorney contact you directly to discuss compensation for slander and reckless endangerment."

With each sentence, the Porsche driver's face grew paler.

This was clearly someone far above her weight class.

She shot Jessica one final resentful glare before scrambling back into her car and peeling away in humiliated retreat.

Only then did the woman turn around. The icy sharpness in her eyes melted instantly into pure concern mixed with exasperation. She reached out to steady Jessica's swaying form, frowning deeply. "A few years away and this is what you've become? Letting people push you around in the middle of the street without even fighting back?"

Jessica took in that familiar, radiant face, her nose tingling with emotion. She managed a smile more painful than tears. "Leila. You came back."