She stepped into the room.


    She walked over to the bedside, her expression etched with worry as she nced at Henry. "Jessica, is Henry alright?"


    Jessica knew She could read signnguage, so she skipped typing on her phone and signed directly.


    "It''s appendicitis, but he''s okay now. The surgery''s done."


    "How did he get appendicitis all of a sudden?"


    Jessica shook her head.


    She''s face softened with sympathy. "Poor thing, must have been so painful for him."


    She pulled up a chair and sat down next to Jessica.


    Jessica frowned, her mind drifting.


    Timothy had suddenly started doting on her, buying her cake, acting unusually close, and upending one of her long-held suspicions.


    Because she loved him so much, she was utterly defenseless against his gentleness.


    Now her heart was wavering...


    She was Timothy''s aunt, but since they were the same age, they never acted like aunt and nephew. That strangeck of boundaries made it awfully hard for Jessica to feelfortable around her.


    After all, both Phelps and Sallie had dropped hints about She and Timothy''s rtionship.


    Now, with She showing up uninvited, Jessica''s emotions were even more tangled.


    She''s presence felt like a constant reminder of everything Jessica had seen and heardtely.


    For a moment, Jessica almost gave in to the urge to ask She outright—just to get the truth out. But she stopped herself; it felt too abrupt, too inappropriate.


    Besides, ever since She had first appeared before her, in both words and actions, she''d seemed to be on Jessica''s side.


    If there really was something between She and Timothy, would She ever admit it? And if word got back to Timothy, it would only make things worse-he hated that kind of confrontation.


    Jessica prided herself on being above such behavior.


    Still, it was only because she was so conflicted inside, desperate to know the truth, that she even felt the impulse.


    She quickly tamped it down and sat quietly, not saying a word.


    She, however, broke the silence.


    "Jessica, Henry''s out of danger now. You''ve been up all night-why don''t you go home and get some rest? I''ll stay with him."


    Jessica''s hands moved swiftly. "It''s fine, I''m not tired. You, on the other hand, just got off a long flight and haven''t adjusted to the time difference. You should go get some sleep."


    She considered this for a moment, then said, "Actually, Jessica, there''s something you should know. Last time Henry had a fever, the nurse who gave him the injection was his ssmate''s mother. He asked me to pretend to be you-he didn''t want his ssmates to find out about your situation. It''s almost morning, and once the day staffes in, there''ll be more people around. He might run into someone he knows..."


    She didn''t finish, but her meaning was clear.


    Jessica got the message.


    She continued, "It''s not that I''m judging you for not speaking. Kids his age are sensitive and care about how others see them. I heard from Henry that you''re gentle and understanding, so I''m sure you can see where he''sing from, right?"


    She spoke softly, her tone unfailingly polite and gentle. Even when she said something that stung, her voice was calm and pleasant.


    Jessica gave a resigned little smile.


    She truly did understand how Henry felt.


    She''d heard him admit, in his own way, that he minded her inability to speak.


    If she stayed, it really would embarrass him.


    Henry had only just started to open up to her again; until she''d sorted out the truth with Timothy, she didn''t want to make things even more strained between mother and son.


    But she had no intention of handing She this chance, either.


    Without answering, Jessica stood up and walked out of the hospital room.


    She watched her leave, the corners of her lips lifting in a subtle smile. Sensible woman, she thought. No wonder the Lawsons had agreed to let her marry Timothy.