Chapter 7
At 9:30 am the next day, Brandon finally came home. The housekeeper informed him, “Mr. Kerr, Mrs. Kerr prepared an anniversary gift for you. It’s in the safe in the study.”
Brandon froze. Was today their anniversary?
In the previous years, it had always been Jessie who insisted on celebrating it. As for him, he had never cared for it.
Thinking back to how frail Jessie had looked while she was hospitalized, Brandon felt a tightness in his chest. Almost as if he were possessed, he headed toward the study. As he opened the safe, the first thing he saw was the notebook.
An entire passage appeared before him. “Brandon, I’ve loved you for seven years. Back then, I was just a maid’s daughter, and I felt unworthy of you. But when I became the Hickmans‘ real daughter, you came to dislike me.
“When I was still a maid’s daughter, Anna often picked on me. Every time I got punished, you were the one who stood up for me. You always showed up when I needed help most, and that’s how I fell for you.
“When I returned to my rightful place as the Hickmans‘ biological daughter, you started to resent me. You believed that I stole Anna’s identity, but I was merely returning to my real parents, my real family.
“All I did was return home–was that so wrong? I knew you liked Anna, and I thought I didn’t stand a chance. That was until she gave you up and you chose to be with me. I believed that if I loved you with all my heart, you’d fall for me too, but I was wrong…
“I made a vow to myself. I vowed that the moment you hurt me for the 99th time, I’d walk away forever.”
With trembling hands, Brandon turned the pages, fighting off the unsettling feeling rising in his chest.
Every single page listed a moment when he had hurt her. When he finally reached the 99th entry, his eyes turned red.
So, Jessie knew everything. She had just been playing along, counting down the days until she
left him.
Below the notebook were three documents–the divorce agreement, the employment termination agreement, and the miscarriage record. That was the moment Brandon finally broke down. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
He had signed those agreements himself.
And that miscarriage record… They had even had a child?
A gust of wind from the window flipped the notebook to its last page.
Jessie’s elegant handwriting stood stark against the white page. “The baby is gone. That makes this the 100th entry. It’s time for me to go. Let’s never meet again, Brandon.”
Brandon’s hands shook so violently that the documents all fell to the floor. He kept muttering to himself. “No… That’s impossible. She loves me so much. There’s no way she’d leave.”
Brandon searched the entire villa like a madman, but Jessie was nowhere to be found. Her wardrobe, her vanity, and even the lilies she loved were all gone. Not a trace of her remained.
Seeing Brandon acting like a crazed man, the housekeepers approached fearfully. “Mr. Kerr, what are you looking for?”
Brandon didn’t answer, as if lost in his own thoughts. “She’s gone… I lost Jessie…”
Not knowing what had happened between the two, they suggested, “Why don’t you try calling Mrs. Kerr?”
That snapped Brandon out of it. He frantically called Jessie, only to hear a robotic voice say, ” The number you have dialed is no longer in service.”
Brandon was taken aback. He didn’t expect her to be this thorough in leaving. He had the housekeepers try calling her, but it was futile. His eyes turned bloodshot, his throat so dry he couldn’t speak.
Wasn’t Jessie leaving exactly what he wanted? Then why was he this devastated?
Jessie had no friends in Kindale. If she left, the most likely place she’d go was the Hickman residence. Quickly pulling himself together, Brandon got into his car and sped to the Hickman residence.
Meanwhile, at the Stafford residence in Kindale, Zane helped Jessie carry her suitcase and held her hand as they entered the grand manor.
The Kerr family was nowhere near the same league as the Staffords. The Kerrs were wealthy, but the Staffords were at the very top in terms of wealth.
Even Phillip Hickman, Jessie’s father, would have to show respect to Zane.
“The main bedroom used to be mine. It was a pretty simple room before, but I had it redone over the past two days. I think you’ll like how it turned out. If you don’t like the place, I’ll get a different house, and I’ll renovate everything to your taste.
Chapter 7
3/3
“I’ve moved to the room next to the main bedroom. If you need anything at night, just call for me.”
Jessie’s nose stung as she felt like crying. She had grown up sleeping in utility closets, so she had always dreamed of sleeping in the main bedroom. But neither in the Hickman nor the Kerr residences had that dream come true.
Now, she didn’t even have to ask, and yet Zane had already had everything ready. So, this was what it felt like to be loved.
Upon noticing Jessie’s eyes glistening, Zane grew nervous, wondering if he had done
something she didn’t like. “What is it? You don’t like that? If you don’t, I’ll get someone to destroy it all. Someone, bring-”
“I never said I don’t like it. I’m just a little touched.” His swift command earlier made Jessie laugh. “Let’s go upstairs. Why don’t you show me around?”
Zane let out a relieved sigh. Smiling, he led her upstairs.
The room had pastel pink walls, a cabinet full of limited–edition plushies, and a vase of lilies on the vanity. Everything was decorated to her liking. Even if she had done the decorating, she wouldn’t have gotten it this perfect.
Seeing how moved she looked, Zane grinned. “If you had picked me back then, you wouldn’t
have had to suffer so much. You-
Before he could finish, Jessie hugged him.
Zane froze for a moment, unsure where to place his arms, which were still hanging in midair.
“Thank you, Zane. Thank you for loving me for so many years. I’ll make it up to you from today onward.”
Hearing that, he chuckled and held her tight. “You made that promise yourself, Jessie. Wait for another half a month. Half a month from now, we’ll get married.”
“That’s fine, but before that, I have one request. Let’s not make our relationship public yet.”
