They all ran in the same circles, so Ines had, of course, heard rumors about this woman.


    What she hadn''t expected was that the team had managed to survive all this time thanks to Jessica''s financial support.


    Jessica continued her gentle deception, using signnguage to deliver a white lie: "I don''t want Timothy to know about this, so... could you keep the money for me for now?"


    Ines agreed without hesitation, promising to keep the secret safe.


    As Jessica left Ines''s studio, she couldn''t help thinking-if, when she was a child, she and her grandmother could have sold their paper cuttings for this kind of money, maybe her grandmother wouldn''t have died so young.


    Back in that tiny town, they never had ess to anyone from high society. They had no idea there were people out there who collected paper art, let alone paid such a high price for it.


    Jessica''s heart felt unbearably heavy.


    Her grandmother had done everything she could to cure Jessica''s voice, sacrificing so much in the process.


    On her deathbed, her grandmother was wracked with guilt-not for dying, but because she hadn''t been able to cure Jessica''s mutism, because she would never again hear Jessica call her "Gran."


    All these years, Jessica had longed to speak.


    Once she started earning her own money, she''d gone to see doctors.


    Every appointment ended in disappointment.


    Later, she married Timothy.


    During those years when she loved Timothy and Henry most, she''d secretly sought out doctors again.


    If only she could talk, she would have told them-face-to-face-that she loved them.


    But maybe it was a blessing, after all, that she''d never spoken those words out loud.


    Otherwise, how much more humiliating would it be now?


    A few minutes ago, Ines had mentioned Mr. Smith''s movie role, and said he could rmend some foreign specialists.


    Should she try again?


    A taxi pulled up. Jessica pushed her thoughts away and climbed in.


    "To The Lawson Group, please."


    When the cab stopped at the entrance, Jessica didn''t go in right away. She''d seen enough business dramas to know that regr people never just waltzed into a ce like this and demanded to see the CEO.


    She couldn''t speak, and nobody at thepany knew she was Mrs. Lawson. If she tried to exin herself to the receptionist, she''d probably beughed right out the door.


    Last time, even the school security guard had used her of pretending to be Mrs. Lawson.


    She wasn''t about to humiliate herself again.


    Instead, she texted Timothy:


    I''m downstairs at your office. I need to talk. Could you send Secretary Allen to fetch me?


    He still wasn''t ready for a divorce. He needed her to keep up appearances as Mrs. Lawson, to cover for his affair with She.


    She was pretty sure he''d send Allen.


    Upstairs, Timothy was in the middle of a meeting when his phone buzzed. It was Jessica.


    She hadn''t reached out to him in a long while.


    He read the message, stood up, and announced, "Let''s adjourn."


    The entire boardroom was stunned.


    The meeting was at its most critical point. Why end it now?


    But Timothy was already striding out.


    Outside, Jessica waited quietly by the main entrance-her back to the building, gaze downcast.


    Timothy came out and spotted her slim figure from behind. His voice softened as he called, "Jessica."


    She turned, meeting the fathomless depths of his eyes.


    He stepped forward and took her hand.


    She instantly pulled away, raising her hands to sign: "You promised yesterday- no one can know we''re married."


    Timothy''s lips curled into a cool, almost mocking smile. "Am I really that much of an embarrassment to you?"


    "I''m the embarrassment here," she signed, her delicate fingers fluttering. "We''re getting divorced in a month. There''s no reason for anyone to know we''re married now."


    Her hands moved with a graceful lightness that made Timothy''s eyes ache.


    His lips pressed into a hard line. His voice wasmanding, with an edge that brooked no argument. "Come upstairs."


    He led the way, Jessica following silently behind.


    They entered the executive elevator reserved for the CEO. Timothy nced at her, taking in her icyposure, then quickly looked away.


    The elevator shot to the top floor.


    Jessica barely noticed the luxurious décor of The Lawson Group''s offices as she trailed Timothy into the CEO''s suite.


    The space was vast, exquisitely furnished-a testament to Timothy''s stature in the business world.


    On a disy shelf, a crystal frame caught her eye: a photo of Timothy and She, arms wrapped around each other, She''s smile radiating warmth.


    She scoffed silently. The man who hated taking photos, and yet― Jessica''s lips curled in the faintest, coldest smile.


    Timothy noticed where she was looking and opened his mouth to speak, but Jessica''s hands were already moving, her fingers spelling out her next words.