?Chapter 1448:


    “I know you’re still carrying what happened back then.” Lawrence finally stripped away the bravado. His voice softened. “I know you’ll never forget it. But I’ll spend my whole life making it right. Even if you never smile at me, I’ll stay.”


    “Don’t bother.” Jacob’s refusal was absolute.


    “I will bother,” Lawrence shot back, stubborn and shameless as ever. “I can’t live without you.”


    Jacob turned, feet carrying him toward the stairs. “Then go die.”<fn06ba> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find{n}ovel</fn06ba>


    “If that’s what you want…” Lawrence’s voice suddenly dropped, serious now. “I will.”


    Jacob froze mid-step. His instincts kicked in—he spun around. Lawrence was gone from the stairs.


    For a dangerous second, he almost chased after him. His pulse tripped over itself, but he smothered the emotion and forced himself to keep walking.


    Lawrence hovered out of sight, listening.


    The moment Jacob ignored him, he shot forward. “You’re not even going to look for me? Aren’t you afraid I might really die?”


    “You’re all talk,” said Jacob, sounding sure of himself.


    Knowing Lawrence as well as he did, he never believed the man would actually hurt himself.


    “Bet on it,” insisted Lawrence, rushing right over to him. He put his hand over his chest. “You have no clue what just happened. I thought my heart was about to quit on me. If that happens, I’m done for—just a shell walking around.”


    “Stop whining,” Jacob cut in.


    “Fine, whatever you say!” Lawrence straightened up.


    Jessica watched them, feeling lost. How were these grown men supposed to be in their thirties? To her, they looked more like rowdy kids.


    Jacob caught sight of her suitcase. “You’re seriously leaving?”


    She gave a bright nod. “Yes!”


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    “Just leave the suitcase, take your purse, and go,” Jacob told her, waving off any protest. “And listen, if he proposes, don’t just say yes right away. Don’t go letting him decide everything for you.”


    “I get it.” Jessica wasted no time replying.


    She had switched into a new outfit, every detail of her makeup wless. It was in as day she had ns for a date.


    “You went all out. No need for all that.” Lawrence nced at her from head to toe. “If you show up looking like this, he might think you’re desperate.”


    “He won’t. That man is clueless.” Jessica shook her head. She finished with her lipstick, meeting her own gaze in the mirror. “Honestly, I’m only doing this so he thinks I spent the morning with another guy.”


    Lawrence’s face scrunched with shock and confusion.


    “I’m off.” Jessica swung her bag over her shoulder, her smile yful. “You two, carry on.”


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