With confidence and contentment in her stride, Jessica made her way toward the car waiting at the doorstep.
A subordinate hurried out of the mansion after her. "You have a report to check on," he said, handing over a thick brown envelope.
Jessica accepted it calmly, though her heart gave a sudden thump against her chest because this was the subordinate in charge of her mother’s investigation.
She dreads what the report might be but then with a gentle firmness, her expression composed she accepted the file though her heart raced with trepidation.
"Thank you," she murmured as the subordinate bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
A flicker of pity passed through her eyes—she had seen Jessica’s quiet endurance, her strength hidden beneath grace. She had seen the cruelty Jessica endured from the very people who were supposed to be her family. so heartless.
Unaware of the subordinate’s silent thoughts, Jessica cast one last glance behind her before sliding into the car.
She settled quietly into the back seat and placed her bag beside her. Her gaze fell on the empty seat next to her, and for a brief moment a warm tender smile crept onto her lips. She then looked at the ring on her finger.
Carefully, she studied its intricacies—the design, the simplicity, and above all, its elegance. She tapped her cheek thoughtfully and murmured, "A carefully crafted thin band of platinum with a radiant single diamond seated on it—quite elegant and delicate at a glance." She sighed.
Her heart softened.
"It must have cost him a lot," she whispered, almost to herself. A rare smile played on her lips. She felt warm and happy.
Though she had taken this bold step yet she is still tethering on the edge, she felt content in the moment. She could only hope that whatever challenge came next would be a hurdle they could overcome together.
Quietly, she retrieved the file her subordinate had handed her earlier. Taking a deep breath, she opened it and scanned through the information.
Her brow furrowing as she read on, her hand clenching by her side, and her eyes growing cold.
"Drugging? I suspected as much," she murmured. She turned the page with deliberate care, each word etching deeper into her soul.
"Dosage minimal but consistent. No prescription issued." Jessica’s eyes widened. Her jaw tightened.
Then, she quickly flipped the page and her eyes widened with disbelief—the scanned copy of a waiver. Her father’s signature was scrawled at the bottom, authorizing medical caregiver access to one name she never wanted to see again—Clara Brown, her step mother.
Her jaw clenched, breathing heavy, eyes sharp and cold. She picked up her phone and dialed the number of the subordinate who gave her the file. "Is this the only documentation you could find?" she asked.
The reply came swiftly, as expected. "I’m still digging deeper. There seem to be other factors, and the signature on the waiver might be forged."
"Alright. Pause that for now and run a background check on Clara. I want to know her connections to my mother—both in the past and during her marriage. It seems there’s a link between them," she concluded.
"Understood," came the swift reply. Jessica ended the call as swiftly as she had started it.
She quietly flipped through the remaining pages, then shook her head and shut the file. Her hand traced the edge of the brown envelope gently.
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