Right... if anything happened to my fragile grandmother, it would be a disaster.


    Jessica immediately realized she had suggested a terrible idea, but there was nothing she could do.


    "Anyway, I''m on your side. If you need anything, just tell me."


    Anneliese nodded, sitting up.


    "Let me use your phone for a moment. I''ll call him."


    "What? Your phone is dead?" Jessica asked, puzzled, then went to fetch it.


    Anneliese exined, "Grandma made me block him."


    "Just unblock him and change his contact name. Grandma won''t know. She''ll think it''s permanent and won''t suspect anything."


    Anneliese blinked, dumbfounded.


    "You''re supposed to be the one who''s forgetful and scatterbrained when pregnant, but you''re still sharp!"


    Jessica smiled, rubbing her belly. "I''m smart. I''m going to have a clever baby too."


    Anneliese chuckled at how maternal she sounded.


    "You''ve really got the mommy vibe now."


    Jessica scowled and tickled Anneliese''s waist. "Who are you calling a big mom? Watch your words!"


    Anneliese rolled on the bed, ying along. Jessica left after a while.


    Anneliese''s mood improved. She unblocked Jonathan''s phone and WhatsApp, but


    as soon as she did, new messages popped up.


    ''You blocked me? How cruel of you.''


    ''Just wait! Let''s see how I deal with you next time.''


    ''Little liar.''


    She thought he might not have noticed, but he clearly had.


    A question mark appeared in the chat before she could respond, and then his call


    came.


    She answered quickly, heading to the bathroom and locking the door.


    "Grandma was watching me block you. I didn''t lie. As soon as I was out of her sight, I unblocked you," she whispered.


    Anneliese lowered her voice as she exined, but heard no response from the man. She pressed her lips together.


    "Are you angry?"


    His deep, husky voice finally came through. "Did you get hurt again?"


    She paused, surprised he wasn''t angry but worried about her. The surge of emotion made her want to cry.


    She sniffled. He caught it immediately.


    "Zion, turn around!"


    Anneliese was startled. "No! Don''te back. Grandma didn''t touch me again I told her we brake up She only made me block Don''t worry about me."


    "Really?"


    "Yes, you can ask Maisie if you don''t believe me."


    Jonathan chuckled. "How do you know I didn''t?"


    He had called Maisie immediately upon discovering he was blocked.


    Anneliese smiled. "Mr. Fullbuster, openly telling me you had a spy watching me— are you serious?"


    Hearing herughter, Jonathan finally rxed for the first time in days.


    The silence that followed felt almost charged, a hidden tension flowing between them.


    Until she whispered softly, "Jonathan... I missed you."


    He had been recliningzily, but stiffened instantly, making Zion flinch in the rearview mirror. What could Mrs. Fullbuster have said to make him react like that?


    Jonathan could hardly believe his ears. Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he finally whispered. "Baby what did you just say ehdn''t catch it."


    Anneliese hadn''t expected herself to say something like that to him, and it had to be


    now.


    She hadn''t meant to, but the words slipped out, leaving her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.