**Chapter 505: Getting a Closer Look**


    His voice was a low, gravelly whisper, tinged with a teasing edge. "What do you think I''m doing, Anneliese? I''m simply giving you a chance to see if I''ve been sneaking around behind your back. Otherwise, I''d be able to smell your jealousy from across the ocean."


    A wave of embarrassment washed over Anneliese, igniting a fiery blush on her cheeks. Anger bubbled beneath the surface as she turned her gaze back to Jonathan, her eyes narrowing into a re.


    "Fine! I''ll do it!" she retorted, her words sharp andced with tension. "But there better not be any evidence or guilt hanging over you!" Her teeth clenched as she spoke, each syble dripping with defiance.


    Despite her natural shyness, her eyes began to wander hesitantly across the screen, moving inch by inch as if she were unraveling a mystery.


    Her cheeks burned with a deep crimson hue, and she swallowed hard, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread.


    "Are you happy now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the tension palpable in the air.


    Jonathan''s voice dropped even lower, a conspiratorial murmur as he tilted the phone back up, ensuring that only his face filled the screen once more.


    Anneliese huffed, a sense of triumph swelling within her. "Are we done already? Afraid I might actually see something you shouldn''t be showing?"


    "Yeah, I am," Jonathan confessed, a small nod apanying his admission, his expression revealing a hint of vulnerability.


    Anneliese''s eyes widened in surprise, for she hadn''t spotted anything remotely suspicious during her scrutiny. After his patient exnations earlier, her doubts had all but vanished.


    Why was he reverting to such teasing again?


    When their gazes locked through the screen, Jonathan''s breath hitched slightly, a flicker of something deeper passing between them.


    "Baby," he said, his voice dropping to a rough, intimate tone, "if you keep looking at me like that, I might just embarrass myself."


    Anneliese froze momentarily, the realization of his words hitting her like a bolt of lightning.


    Her face red with heat, and she shot him a fierce re, her fingers trembling slightly at her sides.


    Jonathan''s lips curled into a faint smirk, his eyes trailing down to the delicate curve of her neck, a look of admiration and mischief dancing in his gaze.


    "Are you wearing the ne I gave you?" he asked, his tone yful yet sincere.


    She lowered her head shyly, her fingers brushing over the ne as if it were a cherished secret.


    She was adorned in a luxurious cashmere slip dress, the fabric hugging her figure just right, with a deep V-neck cardigan draped elegantly over her shoulders. The fine chain of the ne peeked out from beneath the fabric, the pendant cleverly concealed from view.


    With a flick of her wrist, she revealed the tiny snowke pendant, holding it up for him to admire. "Thank you for the surprise," she said, her voice softening.


    "Do you like it?" he inquired, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    "I do! Does it look good on me?" Anneliese tilted her head slightly, her fingers still toying with the pendant, a shy smile gracing her lips.


    Jonathan''s gaze darkened, lingering on the delicate curve of her corbone. He shifted on the couch, parting his long legsnguidly, as if trying to create a more intimate atmosphere.


    "It''s hard to tell from here," he said, his voice dropping to a coaxing murmur. “Be a good girl and take off your cardigan. I want to take a good look at it."


    Anneliese''s heart raced at his words, realizing she wore nothing beneath the soft cashmere slip. The neckline dipped low, and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes shimmering with a mix of shock and excitement.


    "No!" she eximed, her voice firm yet betraying a hint of uncertainty.


    "I just want to see how the ne looks on you. Why are you being so shy?" he


    teased, his eyes glinting with mischief.


    "Liar! I said no!" she shot back, her voice rising slightly in protest.


    "Come on..." he coaxed, his tone yful yet insistent.


    When Anneliese finally ended the video call, her heart still racing, she stepped out of


    her bedroom to find her grandmother, Nishay, and Jessica in the living room.


    "Are you guys done with the pies already?" she asked, her surprise evident in her tone.


    Nishay handed Jessica a ss of water, concern etched on her face. “Jessica''s not feeling well," she exined gently.


    Anneliese''s expression shifted as she walked over, noticing the pallor on her friend''s face. “Are you feeling nauseous? Any stomach pain?"


    Jessica shook her head after taking a couple of sips from the ss. "I''m fine. Just get me a couple of antacids, and I''ll lie down for a bit,” she replied, her voice weak but determined.


    After reassuring her grandmother that everything was alright, Anneliese heard her grandmother''s voice, tinged with worry. "It''s easy to fall sick during the holidays. Youngsters these days barely take care of themselves. Are you feeling unwell too, Anneliese? Your face is so red."


    As Nishay reached out to touch her forehead, Anneliese quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks burning even hotter with embarrassment.


    “No, I''m fine. It''s just a little warm in here..." she stammered, her thoughts racing back to the earlier conversation with Jonathan.


    She couldn''t shake off the memory of their yful banter, and the thought made her cheeks flush even more.


    Though Nishay seemed suspicious, she chose not to pry further, sensing her granddaughter''s difort.


    Anneliese found the stomach medicine and brought it to the guest room, only to discover Jessica pacing nervously back and forth.


    “Here, take this. If it doesn''t get better, we''ll go see a doctor," Anneliese said, handing her the antacids.


    "Annie, I think I might be pregnant,” Jessica blurted out suddenly, grabbing Anneliese''s hand tightly.


    Anneliese froze for a moment, her mind racing to process the shock of her friend''s revtion.


    "Are you saying you ha―" she began, but Jessica quickly shushed her, panic in her eyes.


    "Shh! Don''t let Grandma hear!" she whispered urgently, covering Anneliese''s mouth with her hand.


    Anneliese nodded, lowering her voice. "Is it Zane''s?" she asked, her heart pounding.


    Jessica''s hands felt icy against Anneliese''s warm skin. "Who else? But we''ve been careful, and it''s not exactly easy for me to get pregnant. Do you think I might be wrong? That must be the case, right?"


    Seeing the flustered look on her friend''s face, Anneliese rubbed her hands gently, trying to calm her.


    "How long has it been?" she asked, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions.


    "About a week, I''d say," Jessica replied, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "Alright, let''s not panic. Once Grandma''s asleep, I''ll go out and get a pregnancy test. We''ll check first, and if it''s positive, we''ll head to the hospital to confirm," Anneliese said, her tone firm and reassuring.


    "Okay. I''ll do whatever you say," Jessica replied, her voice trembling with uncertainty.


    It was Jessica''s first experience with something so monumental, and the anxiety was palpable in the air.


    Nishay usually retired early, and as soon as she drifted off to sleep, Anneliese prepared to step out.


    As she opened her bedroom door, she was startled to see Jessica had donned her coat as well.


    "Wait! You can''te with me!" Anneliese insisted, quickly ushering her back into the safety of the bedroom.