Zane’s expression abruptly darkened, and he loosened his arms around Jessie.
you,
“Jessie, am I someone you’re ashamed to be seen with? I’m not Brandon Kerr. If I get to marry
it’s because I earned the right to fair and square. Why would I keep it a secret? The Stafford family holds strict values. Once I choose a woman, my choice will never change. There’s no way I’d agree to keep my marriage a secret.”
Thinking Jessie still had reservations, Zane let go of her completely and took a step back.
But before he could get far, Jessie pulled him back. Her arms tightened around his waist, and she pressed herself closer to him.
“Zane, am I that unworthy of your trust? Do I seem like the kind of woman who would two- time you? Are you insulting me or just questioning your own judgment?”
Whether in the Stafford family or the business world, Zane had always been the one calling the shots over the years. As such, no one had ever dared speak to him like this. Jessie was the only one who would.
“Then what do you mean by that? How is not announcing our marriage any different from having an affair?”
Watching him grow flustered and angry amused Jessie.
―
She deliberately teased him, saying, “Then tell me what about the birthday gifts you gave me for the past three years? I’m talking about the ones you found various reasons or ways to give me. Proof of loyalty as the other man?”
Zane stiffened, his tone softening a little. “How did you know those gifts were from me?”
She looked up to meet his gaze, her lips curving into a smile. “Besides you, no one else in this world remembers my birthday.”
When she was just a maid’s daughter, the maid had told her that they were unworthy of celebrating birthdays. Later, when she became the Hickman family’s heiress, the Hickmans only celebrated Anna’s birthday because their birthdays were on the same day, and they were afraid that the truth would get out.
Thus, he was the only one in the past seven years who would give her carefully selected gifts
every year.
Zane’s heart stirred at the realization that Jessie had always known how much he cared.
Nevertheless, he still couldn’t understand it. “If you knew I liked you all along, why did you choose to be with Brandon three years ago? What does he have that I don’t?”
Jessie lowered her gaze, a self–deprecating look crossing her eyes. “He has nothing on you. It’s just that when I was 15, I was falsely accused of breaking a vase at the Hickman residence. I had to kneel for three days and nights in the snow for that. When I passed out, it was Brandon who saved me. Back then, he was the only light in my darkness.”
The words had barely left her lips when Zane’s gaze darkened. He sounded furious as he questioned, “Who told you it was he who saved you?”
Zane pushed her away, his eyes filled with grievance and anger.
Jessie wasn’t sure which of her statements had upset him, but she still answered, “When I woke up in the hospital, he was the one by my side taking care of me.”
An exasperated laugh escaped Zane’s lips. “Jessie, I always thought you were smart, but how could you even mistake your own savior?”
His words dropped like a bomb. The stunned Jessie stood there for a few seconds, her mind buzzing. “Mistake? If he wasn’t the one who saved me, then why was he by my bedside the whole time?”
Zane’s expression turned darker by the second, and he enunciated, “Listen up, Jessie–the person who saved you back then was me! I had to rush home because something urgent came up at the Stafford residence, so I asked Brandon to watch over you. From the very beginning, it was I who saved you. I even did the Kerr family a favor by giving them a project as payment for Brandon helping take care of you.”
Jessie opened her mouth, then closed it again, speechless.
Zane stepped toward Jessie, backing her into a corner. In a dead serious tone, he stated,
Jessie, if you fell in love with Brandon because of that one act, then I’m telling you now–you loved the wrong man.”
