A printed draft followed,nding beside the card.


    Jessica picked it up and looked at Mary. "Are you serious right now, Mrs. Shayman? What happens when I take the card, and you use me of extortionter? It''s going to be your word against mine."


    A flicker of annoyance shed in Mary''s eyes. She hadn''t expected the girl to be this sharp.


    "You''re imagining things," Mary said tly.


    Jessica crossed her arms. "Then bring awyer and a witness. Have the money transferred as a gift, with a use stating you''ll never take it back for any reason. Once that''s in writing, I''ll sign your agreement."


    Mary''s chest rose and fell, her lips pressed into a thin white line. She red at Jessica for several seconds before turning away to make another call.


    Thirty minutester, the twenty million hit Jessica''s ount.


    She signed the agreement that Mary had given her.


    "Happy now, Mrs. Shayman?"


    Her hand trembled with thest stroke, pressing so hard it tore the edge of the paper.


    Mary looked it over and gave a thin nod of approval.


    "Now press your thumbprint."


    She turned to ask thewyer for an ink pad, but Jessica grabbed the fruit knife from the nightstand and sliced a small cut across her thumb. She pressed it firmly over her signature, the red mark sinking into the paper.


    She tossed the contract toward Mary. "Take it. I need some rest."


    Mary picked it up, scanned it, and slid it into her bag.


    "Don''t forget to leave within three days. I''ll have someone watching you."


    Jessica didn''t answer. Shey down, turned her back to the door, and faced the wall.


    Mary paused for onest cold nce before walking out with her people.


    Jessica curled in on herself, gripping the bank card until her fingers hurt.


    Blood seeped from her thumb, smearing across the card until the numbers faded under the stain.


    Inside the car, the maid spoke carefully. "Madam Chalmont, giving her twenty million and letting her keep the baby seems too generous."


    Pepper Chalmont gave a faint, icy smile. "That depends on whether she survives long enough to have it."


    She wasn''t Mary at all. She was Gianna''s mother, Pepper.


    She had promised her daughter she would take care of Jessica. But after digging deeper, she found out- Jessica was already in the maternit ward, on bed rest, trying to save the pregnancy.


    The country had too many restrictions, so Jessica had to be sent abroad as soon as possible.


    Pepper had already used a few tricks to keep Zane upied, but if Jessica stayed in Oceaton, the Shaymans would eventually learn the truth.


    So Jessica had to leave immediately. Once she was out of the country, it would be easy enough to make her lose the baby-or disappear altogether.


    A faint smirk tugged at Pepper''s lips.


    That twenty million wouldn''t be easy money to keep.


    Jessica might have taken it, but whether she lived long enough to spend it was another matter.


    Even if that little tramp somehow gave birth, she had signed the agreement. She would never be able to threaten Gianna''s ce again.


    Meanwhile, Anneliese and Jonathan had stopped by both the supermarket and the local farmers market, but as expected, wild greens like shepherd''s purse were out of season and nowhere to be found.


    Jonathan made a quick call, ordering Zion to find some by any means necessary.


    Then he drove Anneliese back to The Banyans.


    "Didn''t you sayst night you wanted to see our new home together?"


    The Bentley pulled up beside the Western-style fountain. Jonathan stepped out, walked around the car and opened the passenger door te took Anneliese''s hand as she climbed out, then lifted his chin slightly toward the house.


    "After you, honey."


    Anneliese held his hand and followed him into the vi, a soft smile curving her lips.


    She hadn''t seen the ce at allst night. They had gone straight to the bedroom the moment they arrived.


    They had promised to explore it together today.


    As she walked beside him, she tilted her head up. "You barely slept two hoursst night. Why don''t you rest first? You said this is our home now. We''ll have all the time in the world."


    Jonathan looked down at her and slipped an arm around her waist. "I can''t wait. Don''t you want to help me make it perfect?"


    He couldn''t wait to show her everything. He couldn''t wait to make every part of this house theirs.


    Only when she was part of it would it truly feel like home.


    A home that was theirs.


    Anneliese caught the meaning in his eyes, her gaze brightening. "I just didn''t want


    you to exhaust yourself."


    Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "You doubt my stamina."


    Two hours of sleep was plenty for him.