Chapter 358


    Standing there was Gianna, dressed to the nines. Her tall, slender figure made her stand out from the


    crowd. Gazing at Jessica with her gorgeous eyes, she greeted, “It’s been a while, Ms. Marsh. Care for


    a chat?”


    “Get your hands off me!” Jessica snapped. As she was in a hurry to make a phone call, she did not


    wish to waste time talking to that woman before her eyes. She tried to fling Gianna’s hands away but to


    no avail.


    Dissatisfied, Gianna insisted, “You don’t want to talk? Well, I do.”


    Considering that Linda’s shop was right around the corner, Jessica feared being seen having an


    argument with Gianna. She lifted her chin slightly and gestured toward the emergency exit nearby.


    After Gianna loosened her grip, she led the way at once.


    Soon enough, the duo entered the emergency exit.


    During the interim, Jessica had been trying to get Rayna on the phone. Yet, before long, Gianna closed


    the door behind her and raised a question. “Do you remember the day when you came looking for me


    and asking for my help? Why did you wire me the money without actually letting me help with


    anything?”


    “Isn’t it good enough when you get to have free cash like that?” responded Jessica, growing impatient.


    Deep down, she was starting to panic because Rayna still did not answer the phone after several


    attempts. “I have an emergency to attend to, so if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now!”


    Getting one step ahead of her, Gianna stood in the way and refused to let her go. “Oh, no, you don’t.


    Who knows if you’d stab me in the backter on by calling me a swindler and putting me behind bars?”


    “Return me the money, then, was Jessica’s only suggestion.


    “No way.”


    “Then keep it. Consider it a gift. I promise I’ll never use it against you.” It was clear that Jessica had


    reached the limit of her endurance. “I still have matters to deal with, so if you’ll excuse me!”


    Be that as it might, Gianna was still there, blocking the path with her slim body. “I can’t just take your


    word for it. How would I know what you’re really thinking?”


    That left Jessica at a loss for words.


    Promptly, she fished out a pen and a piece of paper from her handbag and detailed a statement in


    ck and white. She even signed her name on it before handing it over to Gianna. “There, happy? I’m


    in a rush for something, so please move aside before anyone gets hurt.”


    Gianna carefully kept away that piece of paper, but instead of letting Jessica off, she probed further,


    “You previously told me to get together with Mr. Lopez, so when will you be hooking us up?”


    Jessica gave a bark ofughter in exasperation. “What the f*ck! You’re really pushing your luck! I’ve


    already given you a handsome amount of money for nothing, and here you are, still having the nerve to


    demand more from me.”


    “You said those words yourself, and you also gave me the money of your own ord.” Pinning her


    gaze on Jessica, Gianna parted her ruby lips and teased, “Let me guess. You were in a rtionship


    with Mr. Lopez and you got hurt in the process. That’s why you contacted me and tried to pair me up


    with him. In reality, you only wanted revenge, correct?”


    Having been exposed, Jessica clenched her fists in rage.


    Then came her frosty voice. “Would I be that dumb to specially seek you out and pay you that hefty


    sum of money only to take revenge on a man?”


    Gianna let out a chuckle and leaned over to look Jessica in the eye. “In this world, Ms. Marsh, only we


    women understand each other best. I’ve seen some pictures of a woman making frequent visits to the


    Lopez Group. From what I’ve heard, that woman is Mr. Lopez’s girlfriend, and she’s been bringing him


    lunch boxes. Although. she had a face mask on, I can still recognize that it was you, Ms. Marsh.”


    “You’re sick! I’m so done with you!” Rolling her eyes, Jessica shoved Gianna away and forced her way


    through.


    Concurrently, she dialed Rayna’s number once more. s, before she could open the door to the exit,


    she was pulled away from behind.


    Taking advantage of her height, Gianna yanked Jessica violently. “You gave up on vengeance because


    you’ve reconciled with him, right?” Jealously filled her eyes.


    “How’s that any of your business?” Jessica tried to retract her arm with all her might. “You’d better let


    go of me before I call the police!”


    It looks like I’m right!


    Gianna’s face contorted. She tugged on Jessica’s arm even more tightly than before. “Do it, then! It’d


    be even better if Mr. Lopez could be here to see your true colors! I recorded our exchange back at the


    cafe. I wonder what his reaction would be when he heard it.”


    Upon hearing the threat, Jessica gnashed her teeth while ring daggers at Gianna.


    With a gloating smirk ying about her lips, Gianna initiated a negotiation. “If you carry on with that


    n of yours, Ms. Marsh, and let me be with Mr. Lopez, I’ll surrender that recording to you. Otherwise,


    I’ll simply forward it to him. Weigh up the options wisely.”


    “There’s no need for that.”


    Gianna’s eyes lit up at those words. She thought that Jessica had agreed to go with the n. However,


    a few secondster, she heard Jessica uttering, “You can let him have the recording and even show


    him the transaction history of my remittance for all I care.”


    That would make sense, for Jessica had already made up her mind to tell Wyatt the truth that very


    night when they celebrated his birthday. In fact, she had been quite depressed about keeping him in


    the dark for so long. No longer did she desire to shoulder that burden alone.


    Regardless of what his decision would be, she would ept it.


    Moreover, since they had an unborn baby, she thought he might be lenient toward her.


    Gianna was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Jessica to be that fearless.


    Snapping out of her daze, she saw Jessica already stepping out. Once again, she reached out and


    wrenched thetter inside. “You can’t leave!”


    “Let go!” bellowed Jessica, her visage as grim as death.


    In response, Gianna sped Jessica’s arm, unwilling to set her free. Jessica struggled to break free


    from Gianna’s grip. Just like that, thedies tussled with each other at the emergency exit.


    As they scuffled, Jessica almost lost her bnce and fell down.


    Noticing the staircase behind Jessica, Gianna had a sudden thought in her mind. With a push from her,


    Jessica, who had just gotten to her feet, tumbled down the stairs.


    The next second, Jessica was lying on the floor down the stairs. She was in such agonizing pain that


    she kept gasping for air as though she was suffocating.


    Gianna, in turn, froze in shock as she broke out in a cold sweat. She took quite a moment before


    dashing. down the stairs to help Jessica. “Hey! Are you okay?”


    “Y–You…” Jessica could not say another word. All she could do was touch her own belly with her


    trembling hands.


    It was then Gianna finally caught sight of the trail of blood flowing out below the hem of Jessica’s dress.


    Frightened, she staggered backward and nearly toppled over at the steps. “Y–You fell down because


    you were careless. It’s not my fault. It’s not…”


    Mustering all her strength, Jessica managed to open her mouth and say, “C–Call… the ambnce.”


    Gianna frantically picked up Jessica’s phone from the ground. Thankfully, the screen was not locked.


    She quickly dialed the emergency number.


    Right before hitting the call key, she suddenly realized something. If Jessica’s saved, she’lle after


    me, won’t she? No, I can’t save her!


    Panic–stricken, she identally opened the list of reminders on the phone. As she read the contents,


    her eyes widened in an instant, and she almost forgot to catch her breath.


    On the floor, Jessica was already sweating profusely from the pain. Still, she made a great effort to


    grab Gianna’s pants cuff and plead, “C–Call… the ambnce… and I’ll let this slide. Please.”


    As fast as she could, Gianna forwarded to herself everything that was on the list of reminders on


    Jessica’s phone before calling the ambnce. Immediately afterward, she left the phone beside


    Jessica’s hand and fled the scene through the stairwell.


    Jessica managed to sneak a peek at the phone before her consciousness began fading away, her


    hands covering her tummy the whole time.


    Anybody, please, save my baby…


    Every passing second felt like an hour to Wyatt. He was dying to give Jessica a call, yet he was worried


    that he might give himself away for getting overly excited about her having a bun in the oven. No, I


    must resist the temptation!


    At longst, he weathered the excruciating wait until it was time to get off work. He put his jacket on


    and was prepared to leave.


    “Mr. Lopez.” His secretary stopped him in his tracks and stated gingerly, “Mr. Green from Greenbit


    Industries wants to invite you for dinner.”


    “I’m not going. I’m heading home for dinner, Wyatt rejected the invitation then and there. It’s my


    birthday today, and I’ve been waiting to go pick Jessica up just to hear the good news from her.


    “Postpone it until tomorrow.”


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    “It’s about the project on Gilded Avenue. Mr. Green has agreed to the business coboration. He said


    he only has time for tonight, and he’ll be leaving for Spaunia first thing in the morning,” the secretary


    replied.


    Annoyed, Wyatt nced at the watch on his wrist. “Are the terms all set? How about the contract?”


    “The contract’s ready.” With that said, the secretary submitted the files to the man on the spot. “I’ll


    arrange for someone to drive-”


    “Where’s the ce?”


    “Room 1688 at DM Premium Club at six o’clock.”


    “Got it,” said Wyatt, all ready to march out of the door.