But Timothy suddenlyughed.


    A cold, mocking smile curled on his lips as he loosened his tie. "Do you know what happened to thest person who crossed me?" he sneered.


    She couldn''t have cared less.


    At worst, it meant death.


    Better sooner thanter.


    Maybe in her next life, she''d be lucky enough never to meet him again.


    Jessica turned her head away, silently cheering for her own courage.


    The instant she let her anger out, the weight she''d been carrying seemed to lift, as if she''d finally shaken off her chains.


    If Timothy refused to grant her a divorce, then she''d drag things to the bitter end— no matter how ugly it got.


    Wait around for death? Not her.


    She wanted out, and she wanted it clean. She''d cut all ties, with no strings left behind.


    But Timothy wasn''t finished. He grabbed her chin, forcing her stubborn, infuriating face back toward him.


    "Jessica." He spoke her name softly, his voice low and smooth, but the frost in his eyes was unmistakable. "You''ve found your backbone today, haven''t you? Didn''t you say I only ever bully you because you''re mute?"


    His grip tightened, pain shooting through her jaw.


    "Fine. Then let me show you what happens when you defy me!" His voice was ice-cold, every word razor-sharp. "I''ll make this perfectly clear: you don''t get to walk away without consequences."


    He shoved her face aside.


    "I want to see just how a stubborn, silent woman like you ns to survive after leaving me!"


    With one hand on the steering wheel, Timothy still looked every inch the


    His words were colder than winter steel: "Now get out. And don''te back to The Gilded Whisper Estates."


    Jessica had been waiting to hear these words for so long.


    Before stepping out, she signed to Timothy, her hands steady: "The signed divorce papers are still in the study drawer, Mr. Lawson. Don''t forget to put your name on them."


    She lowered her hands, didn''t spare him another nce, and climbed out, heading for the front gate of the estate without looking back.


    Timothy''s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles went white, his nails nearly digging through the leather.


    His eyes were as dark as midnight.


    A secondter, he mmed his foot on the gas. The car shot forward, speeding past Jessica he didn''t even bother slowing down. The car''s edge clipped so close to her that she stumbled, lost her bnce, and fell. Her palms scraped painfully against the pavement.


    Through the rearview mirror, Timothy saw her fall. His foot hesitated on the brake just for a moment.


    Then, just as quickly, he pressed the gas again, the car''s rear tires spitting up a cloud of dust as he tore away.


    Pathetic.


    She couldn''t even stand on her own.


    How would she survive without him? Give it a little time-she''de crawling back, begging for forgiveness.


    She''d gotten way too boldtely.


    Maybe a little suffering would remind her just how good she''d had it with him.


    Jessica slowly got to her feet, brushed the dust from her clothes, and walked out of the estate to wait by the roadside.


    A shy convertible pulled up,ing to a smooth stop right beside her.


    Sallie slid off her sunsses, ring at Jessica in annoyance. "Where the hell have you been these past few days? Do you know how worried Timothy was? He''s been looking for you everywhere!"


    Jessica turned away, ignoring her.


    If she was cutting Timothy out of her life, then she had no reason to keep Sallie in it either.


    "Hey! What''s your problem? I''m talking to you-are you deaf or something?"


    Jessica stayed silent.


    Just then, a taxi approached. She raised her hand to g it down.


    Sallie grew frantic, yelling after her.