They Want Me Back When It's Too Late (Jessica and Brian) novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232

After dismissing the irate driver, Brian tapped lightly on Jessica’s car window.

Jessica rolled it down. “What?” she snapped.

Brian’s gaze was heavy with concern. “Jessi, you’re in no state to drive. Let me take you to the office.”

“No.” Jessica refused.

Brian sighed, “I know you don’t want to see me, but you can’t risk your safety.” His gaze drifted downward.

Jessica followed his gaze to the subtle curve of her abdomen, then recalled the near–collision. Her protest died in her throat.

Seizing the moment, Brian reached through the window and unlocked the door. Before Jessica could react, he had opened the door.

“You…” Her face darkened.

Ignoring her glare, Brian scooped her up effortlessly, placed her in the passenger seat, and took the driver’s seat himself. “Take a nap, Jessi. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Jessica bristled, reaching for the door handle.

“Don’t. There’s traffic coming,” Brian warned.

Jessica instinctively released the handle and turned, only to see the empty Cullinan.

“You…” Trapped in the moving car, she glared at Brian. The road to downtown wasn’t exactly busy. Just moments ago, nearly getting hit by one car had already been suspicious enough. What were the chances another would come so soon?

Brian merely offered a placating smile.

Fuming but fearing to distract him while driving, Jessica simply shut her eyes.

The silence between them thickened until they reached Grant Group. The second the car stopped, Jessica shoved the door open.

Brian unbuckled and quickly followed. “Wait, you skipped breakfast.”

“I ate,” Jessica threw over her shoulder without breaking pace.

Brian pulled her back into his arms. “Stop lying. I heard your stomach growling,” he murmured with a sigh.

Jessica flushed with embarrassment and stomped hard on his handmade leather shoes.

Brian didn’t even flinch. He carried her to his car.

Jessica struggled, but his grip was ironclad. Defeated, she finally stilled.

Brian smiled, “I made these eggs this morning. Try one?” He handed her a peeled hard–boiled egg.

As Jessica looked at the egg, she thought of Madeline’s Instagram post. Then, unbidden, the image of Brian holding Madeline flooded her mind. Her stomach lurched. “Ugh…”

“Jessi!” Brian reached to steady her, but she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch me. You’re disgusting,” she said flatly. The thought of him with Madeline made her want to throw up.

She thought bitterly, ‘Brian, you make me sick.‘

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Chapter 232

Brian froze upon hearing this. “You think I’m… disgusting?” The hurt in his voice was raw.

Jessica turned away. “Believe what you want. Stop bringing me food. I don’t need it.” She shoved the door open, but Brian caught her wrist. “Damn it. Brian! Enough!” she exploded.

Brian softened instantly. He comforted her patiently, “Fine, Jessi. But let me drive you to work. You’re not yourself lately. I’m worried.” The near–accident

startled him. His eyes pleaded as he waited for her answer.

Jessica didn’t even want to eat the food he brought. There was no way she was going to let him drive her anywhere. Without hesitation, she shot back, “No. I’ll hire a driver.” With that, she wrenched free and stormed off.

Left behind, Brian stood alone, his expression crumbling.

Another exhausting workday ended as Jessica stepped into the underground parking lot–no familiar car in sight. She thought bitterly, ‘Finally tired of the act and gave up? Good.

She drove home in a subdued mood, unsurprised when sleep eluded her again that night.

After hours of staring at the ceiling, she sat up, the weight of her spiraling thoughts unbearable. She headed to the balcony.

Passing Pancake, she paused to ruffle its fur. “Little guy, I envy you sometimes.” To live carefree–eating, sleeping, repeating–sounded like bliss.

Jessica stood on the balcony and gazed at the star–strewn sky, memories flooding in.

On nights like this years ago, Brian would join her to watch the sky. Those golden days had lasted only the first year or two of marriage before distance crept in. After she had quit her job to raise Jacob full–time, they had barely spoken.

When Jessica had filed for divorce, she believed it was best for both. But then, Brian’s sudden change, his tenderness and effort, had almost swayed her. Turns out, she had really been a fool.

She thought, ‘Everything he did was just for the children. Huh, what a devoted father.‘

Her grip on the railing tightened until her knuckles whitened.

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