It wasn''t until everyone started talking about it that he finally realized Jessica hadn''t said a single word since she''d arrived.


    Vince ignored the questions tossed his way and instead shielded Jessica, gesturing politely. "This way."


    Jessica couldn''t care less that people called her mute.


    Because she was, in fact, mute.


    What really bothered her was Timothy''s intention to announce their rtionship publicly-she wanted nothing more than to slip away unnoticed.


    But Timothy caught her by the wrist, pulling her close and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. His dark eyes softened as he looked at her, his voice gentle and warm. "Do you need to use the restroom?"


    Jessica shot Vince a pleading nce, as if silently asking for help.


    Everyone stared, dumbfounded by the scene.


    Vince just smiled. "Timothy, you go ahead. I''ll show her the way."


    Timothy''s expression darkened as he looked at Vince. "No need. She''s my wife-l know where the restroom is. I''ll take her."


    With that, he kept his arm around Jessica and steered her out of the room, ignoring her resistance.


    Behind them, the whispers started up.


    "My God, she''s actually Timothy''s wife?"


    "I can''t believe Timothy married a mute woman.”


    "He must really love her, if he''s willing to marry someone who can''t speak."


    Meanwhile, Timothy''s close friends each harbored their own thoughts.


    Larkin, however, stayed quiet for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Honestly, I think it''s great. Jessica''s got both beauty and brains-she''s more than a match for Timothy."


    He''d actually asked Vince to bring Jessica over today so he could formally announce to everyone that Vince would be marrying her. Jessica was Alfreda''s only granddaughter, and marrying into the Zimmerman family would guarantee she''d be cared for all her life—a way for Larkin to repay Alfreda''s kindness.


    But now that Jessica had married Timothy and be Mrs. Lawson, Larkin felt there was nothing to worry about.


    Someone scoffed, "Larkin, she''s mute. How could she possibly be good enough for Timothy?"


    "Exactly. I can''t believe the Lawson family agreed to let Timothy marry her. It''s just too strange."


    "She''s beautiful and talented, sure, but at the end of the day, she''s mute. That''s hardly a good match for Timothy. Larkin, why are you so biased in her favor?"


    Larkin didn''t care a bit about Jessica''s inability to speak. "Enough already. Who would choose to be mute? She''s got this challenge and still hasn''t given up on herself. She''s an incredible paper artist-so resilient. Why shouldn''t she be with Timothy? Timothy grew up with every advantage, but Jessica is just an ordinary girl who''s managed to make a name for herself in traditional arts. That''s even more impressive. She''s my honored guest, and I don''t want to hear anyone call her mute to her face again."


    As Alfreda''s granddaughter, Larkin felt obliged to watch out for her he wouldn''t let anyone look down on her.


    If she couldn''t be his daughter-inw, he''d make her his goddaughter instead, give her some backing, so she''d never be bullied in the Lawson family.


    Larkin had already decided the wedding gift would be an offer of godfatherly protection.


    Meanwhile, Timothy walked Jessica to the restroom door.


    "Go ahead. I''ll wait for you out here."


    Only then did he let her go.


    Jessica gave him a detached nce and slipped inside.


    She quickly scanned the room, looking for a way out.


    Outside, she heard Sallie''s voice.


    "Timothy, are you out of your mind? Why would you tell everyone Jessica is your wife? Are you really nning to let all of Riverside City know you married a mute woman?"


    Jessica just smirked, the corners of her lips curling in cold amusement. She gathered up her dress and slipped out the window.