The truth was, he was going to Oakwood just to see She.


    If he''d truly wanted to take her with him, he had their marriage certificate-her ID number was right there in in sight. Was it possible he hadn''t noticed?


    These half-hearted gestures might have fooled the old Jessica, but not anymore.


    She wouldn''t let herself be so blindly taken in.


    He only wanted to keep her from filing for divorce.


    Jessica raised both hands, exasperated. "Fine, I''ll take the job with my advisor. But what about She? What''s supposed to happen to her?"


    Would he really just leave She to fend for herself?


    "Why are you so concerned about her?" Timothy replied coolly. "Look, if you want to work, you have my support. Isn''t that enough?"


    The corners of his eyes and mouth softened, a subtle charm glimmering in his expression.


    He was always soposed, impossibly handsome, with that innate confidence that made even the smallest hint of tenderness dangerously seductive.


    But Jessica had snapped out of it.


    She wouldn''t let herself get swept up again.


    She just couldn''t tell if he truly didn''t care whether She became Professor Ines''s student, or if he was ying mind games-pretending indifference because he knew she''d use this as leverage in their divorce talks.


    It seemed all too possible.


    Timothy was, after all, a businessman.


    Shrewd, calcting, always three steps ahead-these were his strengths.


    He''d outmaneuvered rivals far more experienced than her; Jessica never really stood a chance.


    So, she dropped the subject.


    It was clear now-the path to a smooth divorce wouldn''t be easy. She''d have to wait and see.


    If Timothy was determined for She to be Ines''s student, sooner orter, he''d show his hand.


    Jessica let the matter rest.


    With her silent acquiescence, Timothy''s irritation eased.


    He asked his secretary to book them on a flight after dinner.


    Room service brought up dinner; he had it sent up to their suite.


    After they ate, Timothy called She to tell her they''d be leaving together. But her phone was off.


    He noticed an unread text on his own phone-from She.


    Timothy, I''ve gone ahead and returned to Riverside City.


    Timothy pocketed his phone and turned to Jessica. "Hand me your key card. I''ll fetch your luggage from the room. You go wait downstairs at reception."


    Jessica fished the card from her purse and passed it over.


    She didn''t bother to say more. Let him do as he pleased—at least she could save herself the trouble of struggling with signnguage.


    She''s words over lunch echoed in her mind.


    She had learned to read signnguage after an ident damaged her vocal cords.


    That had been seven years ago.


    Six months after the ident, She started learning signnguage.


    Timothy had begun taking lessons right around then, too.


    What a coincidence.


    Some kinds of affection, Jessica realized, would always be out of her reach.


    Timothy came down with Jessica''s suitcase, and a driver from the branch office took them to the airport.


    Once aboard first ss, Jessica closed her eyes the moment she sat down. Timothy asked a flight attendant for a nket and gently tucked it around her.


    She could feel his careful touch.


    He had so many admirable qualities. Even his small, gentlemanly gestures were more polished than most people could manage.


    But she wouldn''t mistake these little courtesies for genuine care.


    To him, they were simply second nature.


    Two hourster, they arrived back at The Gilded Whisper Estates.


    Jessica had barely stepped through the door when she heard Henry reciting from "A Mother''s Love."


    "Threads in a mother''s gentle hands, sewn into a traveler''s coat... Who can say the heart of grass could ever repay the warmth of spring?"


    Jessica''s heart gave a little tremor.


    The next moment, a familiar woman''s voice drifted into her ears.