They Want Me Back When It's Too Late (Jessica and Brian) novel Chapter 6

Five minutes later, a black Range Rover sped toward the hospital. In the back seat, Brian sat with a cold face, his eyes fixed on Jessica in his arms, never blinking.

The moment her eyelids moved, he saw it.

“Jessica, wake up,” Brian said.

Jessica caught the faint cool scent on him and slowly opened her eyes. She was sitting on Brian’s lap, leaning into his chest.

The moment her gaze met his brooding eyes, she seemed to catch a flash of joy in them.

“Why did you…” The joy in Brian’s eyes faded just as fast.

What he saw in hers was indifference. She got off him without a trace of hesitation and shifted to the side as she sat up, deliberately putting distance between them.

Brian raised an eyebrow, thinking she was still acting childish. “Jessica, you’re not a kid anymore. You knew you were allergic and still didn’t go to the hospital.

You just had to pass out right in front of me and Jake so we’d panic and fuss over you–was that what you wanted?”

Maybe it was because Jessica’s cold attitude had been getting to him these past two days, but the words Brian had meant as concern came out sounding more like an accusation.

Jessica silently clenched her fists at her sides. Her face, turned toward the window, looked pale.

Seeing her like that only annoyed Brian more. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “Say something. You went this far hurting yourself just to play the victim.

“Now both Jake and I are taking you to the hospital in person, and you still want to sit there pretending not to care?”

Jessica gritted her teeth and slapped his hand away. She gave a bitter smile. “Playing the victim? Brian, are you pretending not to know I’m allergic to floral scents, or did you just forget?”

Brian’s brows furrowed tightly. His already grim expression turned colder. He looked at Jessica like he was indulging her for being unreasonable.

Jessica thought, ‘Forget it. What’s the point in saying all this now?’

All of a sudden, it just felt meaningless. None of it mattered to her anymore.

Noticing the other two gazes in the car, she looked up. In the front seat, Madeline watched the scene unfold with a wide–eyed look of innocence while Jacob nestled in her arms.

When Jessica looked over, he pouted in annoyance, as if blaming her for overreacting and disturbing everyone.

But no matter how she looked at it, after she passed out from an allergic reaction, neither Brian nor Jacob had worried about her first. They only thought she was using it to manipulate them.

They were even afraid she’d take it out on Madeline and silently shielded her, taking her side.

“Jessi, are you okay?” Madeline’s eyes welled with tears, as if she were truly worried about Jessica. She handed her a bottle of water with gentle concern. “Don’t be scared. We’ll be at the hospital soon. Mr. Atkinson, Jake, and I are right here with—”

Jessica smacked her hand away without mercy. The slap rang out sharp and loud.

Madeline let out a muffled gasp, as if it really hurt, but she bit her lip and endured it. The back of her delicate hand reddened.

“Mom, why are you always so mean to Maddie? I really don’t like you anymore.” Jacob’s voice turned shrill as he shouted at Jessica, clutching Madeline’s hand tightly and blowing softly on it. “Shoo shoo, Maddie’s ouchie will go away.”

Jessica’s lips trembled. She started to speak but stopped, her eyes slowly closing. What she saw in front of her felt like a stab to the heart.

Jacob had always been energetic. For a little boy like him, bumps and bruises were quite normal.

Whenever that happened, he would pout, throw his little arms around Jessica, and cry with that wronged, adorable face of his.

And every time, Jessica would blow on the bruised spot and say, “Shoo shoo, Mommy’s magic breath will make your pain go away.”

As soon as she blew on it, Jacob would stop crying, snuggle up to her for a bit, then bounce away to play again.

But now, watching the boy she’d once held so dearly comfort another woman as if she were his mother, Jessica felt like the whole thing was a cruel

5:58 AM

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Brian and Jacob didn’t notice the flicker of triumph in Madeline’s eyes or the smug challenge in her gaze when it met Jessica’s.