Before she could finish, Jessica grabbed the ss of water from the nightstand and hurled it.


    The ss hit hard, sshing water straight into the maid''s face. The sound of it filled the room.


    The maid screamed, stumbling back, while Mary caught part of the spray herself. She shot to her feet, patting at her soaked clothes as the chair ttered to the floor.


    Herposure snapped. "How could Zane ever get involved with someone like you?" she spat, her refined mask crumbling.


    Mary dabbed her wet clothes with a tissue, ring at Jessica with open disgust.


    Jessica''s lips curved upward, her smile widening.


    "Mary, you''ve done your digging, haven''t you? I''m an orphan. No family, no background. Just some girl from nowhere. People like me don''t fear people like you."


    Her palm brushed her belly. "Since you think I plotted to have this baby, why wouldn''t I keep it? I can always negotiate with your familyter.


    "I heard illegitimate children now have the same inheritance rights as legitimate ones. And I''m carrying your family''s first grandchild.


    "If I wait a year, forget three million. I could ask for thirty million, three hundred


    million, maybe even three billion. Your family cares about appearances, don''t they?


    "I doubt you''d want me showing up on a talk show with your family''s heir in my arms, right?"


    "You filthy b*tch!" the maid shouted, stamping her foot.


    Jessica turned her head, her cold eyes sweeping over the maid''s drenched, messy


    face. "Mary, I suggest you keep yourpdog on a short leash."


    Mary drew a slow breath, forcing herself calm, but her tone dropped low.


    "What will it take for you to get rid of it?"


    Jessica rested her hand protectively over her stomach. "Nothing will make me do that. This baby is mine. Mine alone."


    Her voice was unwavering, every word deliberate.


    Mary frowned. "Yours alone? What does that mean?"


    "It means I''m keeping him. If your family doesn''t want him, then act like he doesn''t exist. I won''te knocking on your door."


    Jessica wasn''t foolish enough to fight Mary head-on.


    She was alone, with no power, and even if Mary couldn''t legally force her into an abortion, there were still plenty of ways to ruin her life.


    She needed to y smart.


    Mary gave a cold, mockingugh. "Sure. You say that now, but once the baby''s here, you''lle back begging for money. Women like you can''t be trusted."


    Jessica tilted her head slightly. "Twenty million."


    Mary blinked. "What?"


    "Give me twenty million, and I''ll sign a legal contract today. I''ll never approach your family again. The child will renounce every right to inheritance. You''ll never hear from either of us again ''


    She lifted two fingers.


    Maryughed, her voice dripping with scorn. "Twenty million? You''ve got some nerve."


    Jessica leaned back against the bed, her tone steady and cool.


    "Twenty million for the Shaymans'' first grandchild''s inheritance rights? Honestly, that''s a bargain.


    "If you pay your son will know I took


    the money to cut all ties. You won''t have to worry about me showing up again


    or him getting softter. Clean and simple, don''t you think?"


    Mary stared at her in silence, weighing her words.


    Jessica didn''t push. She dropped her gaze to her nails, studying them with quiet patience.


    After half a minute of silence, Mary''s voice came out cold and sharp.


    "Fine. I can agree to that. But there''s one condition. Once you take the money, you leave the country within three days."


    Jessica lifted her gaze. "Deal."


    Perfect. Exactly what she wanted. She almost found herself liking Mary for making it so easy.


    Mary gave a curt nod. "I''ll make a call."


    She grabbed her phone and stepped outside, likely to arrange the transfer of the twenty million.


    The maid red at Jessica on her way out before following her boss.


    The moment they left, Jessica''s rigid shoulders sagged. Tears slipped down her face faster than she could stop them.


    She tilted her head back and wiped them away with her sleeve.


    "Come on, little one," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "No crying. We''re about to have enough money to start over somewhere new. No


    Sever going to hurt you ag That''s a good thing, isn''t it? From now on, it''s just you and me. That''s better. That''s perfect."


    With this money, she could study overseas, build a life, and never look back.


    If the Shaymans wanted to buy her off, then fine. She''d take it all.


    Once she epted it, everything between her and Zane would be finished.


    No more illusions. No more second chances.


    This was good.


    Jessica fanned her face with her hand, brushing away the damp heat in her eyes


    before forcing a faint, determined smile.


    About ten minutester, Mary walked back into the room.


    She tossed a bank card onto the bed. "There, twenty million. The password''s


    today''s date. Check it. Then sign the contract."