They Want Me Back When It's Too Late (Jessica and Brian) novel Chapter 348

Chapter 348

“Jessi, what a coincidence! We both picked the same salon on the same day,” Madeline said.

She pushed the stylist aside and placed her hands on Jessica’s shoulders. Her smile was sweet, but her eyes in the mirror burned with malice.

Jessica’s skin crawled where Madeline touched her.

She knocked Madeline’s hands away and turned to the stylist. “Get your manager. This is a members–only salon, isn’t it?”

The membership fee here was at least six figures a year. No way Madeline could afford that.

Madeline’s face darkened instantly. “Jessica, who do you think you’re looking down on?”

Jessica ignored her and kept her eyes on the stylist. “Go.”

The stylist looked at the two women locked in an obvious confrontation and knew he was out of his league. He quickly did as told and went to fetch the manager.

Soon, a fashionably dressed woman in her thirties walked over. “Ms. Grant, you wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, Sammy. Are you letting non–members in now?” Jessica’s voice was ice–cold.

“Of course not.” Sammy Rhodes quickly denied it, then turned to look at Madeline with a businesslike tone.

“Miss, I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Could you show me your membership card?” While asking, Sammy quickly scanned Madeline’s outfit–not a single designer label in sight. This made her even more determined to side with Jessica.

Madeline’s face went pale. “I forgot my membership card.”

Jessica calmly shot that down. “That’s fine. You can show the digital version. You didn’t forget your phone, too, did you?”

Her eyes pointedly swept over the phone clutched in Madeline’s hand.

Madeline’s hand tightened around her phone. She stubbornly insisted, “I didn’t link it to my phone.”

Sammy frowned. “But we automatically set up digital cards for all our members when they sign up.”

Her eyes showed growing impatience. She shot a meaningful look at the barber, who was watching the drama unfold.

Madeline’s face froze at those words. She was about to make another excuse when a well–dressed girl approached with a hostile expression. “Madeline, what are you doing here?”

“Ms. Shawn, hello! So she’s your friend?” Sammy recognized the newcomer and quickly greeted her, his attitude noticeably warmer than when he’d

faced Madeline.

“Yeah, what’s going on with her?” The woman asked impatiently, but her gaze suddenly froze when it landed on Jessica. “Wait. Are you Jessica?”

Jessica studied the woman for several seconds before recognition dawned. “Sally! It’s been forever. I almost didn’t recogn

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The Shawn and Grant families had been business/partners for years.

Ten years ago, when Jessica still lived at home, she and Sally had met countless times at family gatherings. They’d been friends, of sorts.

“You look exactly the same, Jessi. Did Madeline do something to offend you?” Sally glanced between the two women, clearly sensing the tension. She couldn’t afford to upset Jessica.

Jessica smiled and nodded. “She startled me while I was getting my hair done, then said some extraordinary things. I asked Sammy to escort her out.

You don’t mind, do you, Sally?”

Sally said, “Of course not. I only brought Madeline in because I ran into her outside, and she promised that if I got her through the door she’d paym back the money she owes me with interest.”

She continued, “The second we walked in, she disappeared. I’ve been looking everywhere for her.”

Sally finished with clear irritation, then turned to glare at Madeline. “You managed to cause trouble in what, five minutes? Madeline, you’re really something else!”

Madeline’s face had already turned ugly the moment she realized Sally and Jessica knew each other. Now, hearing these words, her expression twisted

even more.

She wanted to curse them out, but forced herself to hold back. She lowered her head and apologized to Sally. “Sorry, Sally, –”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to!” Sally cut her off, then glanced pointedly at Jessica.

There was no way Madeline would apologize to Jessica.

Her eyes darted around frantically as she thought of how to get out of this mess. Then suddenly, she clutched her stomach and crouched down. “Ah-

Sally jumped back. “Hey, what are you doing? I didn’t even touch you.”

Jessica watched Madeline’s obvious act and felt her mood hit rock bottom. Still, she forced herself to tell Sammy. “Sammy, have someone take her to the hospital.”

It might be fake now, but nobody knew if it could turn real if this kept going.

Jessica thought about the nightmare and closed her eyes, trying to convince herself that she couldn’t let Madeline get hurt in front of her.

Sammy didn’t want anyone getting hurt in her shop either. The security guards he’d called had just arrived, so he immediately had them carry Madeline away to the hospital.

But Madeline clutched her stomach and stumbled toward Jessica. “Jessica, you better pray nothing happens to my baby. Otherwise, I’ll make sure your child joins mine!”

The moment she finished speaking, she swung her hand toward Jessica’s stomach without warning.

Jessica’s eyes widened as she instinctively shoved Madeline away/Madeline stumbled backward, barely caught by the bodyguards before she could fall.

“Get her to a hospital, now!” Sally’s voice cracked with panic. She watched Jessica’s face drain of all color, her heart hammering against her ribs. ‘Please

don’t let anything happen to her.’

Seeing Jessica’s ashen complexion, Madeline allowed herself a satisfied smile as the bodyguards escorted her away. She thought, ‘Jessica, I don’t believe you won’t be terrified this time!‘

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When Madeline left, Jessica gripped the back of her chair and sank into it. “I’m fine,” she managed, though her trembling hands against her stomach betrayed the fear she was trying to conceal.

Sally’s worry deepened, and she offered to drive Jessica home, but Jessica declined. “No need, I still have more stylin care of your business.”

ish. You go ahead and take

Jessica accepted the glass of warm water Sammy handed her and took small sips. While she still felt reasonably stable, she completed the styling session she’d initially planned.

Afterward, she returned to the office, hoping, work would numb her turbulent thoughts. Unfortunately, the moment she clocked out, all the chaotic emotions flooded back, threatening to overwhelm her completely.

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