She had looked calm on the way back, but her heart had been in turmoil the whole time.


    Right now, the heavy ache in her chest that had felt cold and tight seemed to warm up a little.


    "Yeah, I know." Anneliese hugged Jessica back and gently patted her shoulder.


    Jessica heard the shake in her voice. Her frown grew deeper.


    She could feel how sad and exhausted Anneliese was.


    So what exactly had Jonathan done?


    The two of them walked inside. Nishay had been waiting anxiously and kept looking toward the door.


    As soon as the elevator opened, Anneliese saw Nishay and quickly put on a bright, happy smile.


    "Grandma, I''m home. We should still be in time to make dinner together, right? Come on, let''s hurry."


    She wore a hat that covered the bandage on the back of her head.


    Nishay did not notice anything. Once she saw Anneliese return, the uneasiness she had felt earlier faded.


    "It''s the holidays, and you are still this busy. Jessica and I have already finished most of dinner. You don''t need to help. Look at you. You look so pale. Did you not rest well these past two days?"


    Nishay looked worried. Anneliese held her arm.


    "Yeah. I did a lot of testing, and it was tiring."


    "Go rest for a while," Nishay urged.


    Jessica pushed Anneliese toward the bedroom. "Alright, stop getting in the way. Rest for a bit. I will call you when it is time to eat."


    Anneliese got pushed into the bedroom. She heard Jessica and Nishay whispering outside and couldn''t help but smile a little.


    She changed into a different outfit and sat on the couch. She took out her phone and saw the WhatsApp message from Jonathan, ''Did you get through it? I asked a doctor to help. If anything urgent happens, you can call her.''


    He also sent a phone number.


    Anneliese stared at the number. Her fingers tightened around her phone.


    Carter had returned to Halden for the holidays, so he was not in Oceaton.


    It was clear that Jonathan worried something might happen at Nishay''s ce, so he found a doctor who could help in an emergency.


    They had only been together for less than half a year, yet she could clearly feel all the good he had given her.


    He was thoughtful, patient, and gentle. Even the smallest things were taken care of better than she expected.


    Would anyone treat a stand-in with such care?


    She believed no one would.


    She had already lived through fake affection once.


    Compared to Zacharias'' lies, she could tell that what Jonathan gave her was real.


    But he had also kept many things from her.


    A sharp pain hit her head. Anneliese


    lifted a band to press her forehead and forced herself to stop thinking. t belongs to sw


    She saved the doctor''s number that Jonathan sent her. She sent a short reply and turned off her phone.


    At the airport, Jonathan received her message after he boarded the ne.


    He opened WhatsApp, looked at the chat window, and frowned.


    ''Thank you.''


    He could feel the cold distance in those two words.


    She knew very well that he never wanted her thanks.


    He did not do any of this out of gratitude for her.


    His fingertip paused on the screen for a moment before he replied, ''Honey, I boarded the ne.''


    That message did not get a reply. Even after hended in Halden, there was nothing.


    Nishay was tired. After they ate dinner and watched some TV, she went back to her room to rest early.


    Anneliese stepped out of Nishay''s room. Jessica had already turned off the TV. "Grandma went to sleep?"


    Anneliese nodded. Jessica let out a breath. "Want to hang out in my room for a bit?"


    Anneliese had nned to. They shared a small smile.


    When they entered Jessica''s room, Anneliese saw that the window seat had been carefully decorated.


    There were string lights and a small table. On it were juice and a few tes of snacks and pastries.


    Anneliese walked over. She looked at the juice and understood at once.


    She turned back. "Looks like I don''t need to ask. I am going to have a little godson or goddaughter, right?"


    She looked at Jessica''s stomach. Her tone sounded certain even though she asked a question.


    If Jessica weren''t pregnant, she


    would have opened a bottle of wine would never skip that on


    today. She would never sk


    a night like this.


    Jessica saw that she had figured it out. She gave a small, bitter smile and turned to the nightstand. She opened a drawer and handed Anneliese a stic bag.