Anneliese quickly leaped onto the floor. Jonathan took one long stride, grabbed the thermos, and before he could say a word, Anneliese snatched his hand and dragged him into the elevator with her head down.


    She still needed to visit Jessica, and Jonathan had his own errands. They split up once the elevator doors closed behind them.


    When Anneliese reached Jessica''s room, the pies she had brought were already gone. Jessica was packing up, the tray wiped clean.


    Anneliese froze. Jessica had already changed out of her hospital gown. She was wearing a sweater and sweatpants, shoving towels and toiletries into her bag.


    "Hey, aren''t you supposed to be discharged tomorrow? Why are you packing now? What''s the rush?"


    Jessica was supposed to stay for a three-day observation. It hadn''t even been that long.


    Jessica spotted her, smiled, and gently brushed aside Anneliese''s hand as she kept packing.


    "I''m fine. I can tell how my own body feels. The baby''s sitting pretty steady in here. I already signed the discharge papers."


    "Are you sure? Maybe listen to the doctor? And don''t tell me you''re trying to save money just because..."


    Anneliese clearly thought Jessica was rushing out because of her n to study abroad, scrimping wherever she could.


    But that wasn''t why Jessica was leaving, and she didn''t hide it.


    She opened her bag, took out a document, and handed it over.


    "Take a look."


    "What is it?"


    "A breakup settlement. The very expensive kind."


    Her smile was bitter. Anneliese frowned, scanning.


    Jessica had agreed to take twenty million. But if she ever reached out to Zane again —if she ever brought the child to the Shaymans'' door—she would owe ten times the amount.


    Anneliese clenched the papers. "Someone from the Shaymans came? Who?"


    Jessica had signed it, but the other party''s name was left nk.


    Jessica shrugged. "Mrs. Shayman, who else?"


    Anneliese looked down at the agreement again. "She knows you''re pregnant. She''s letting you have the baby, but she''s not acknowledging the child?"


    Something about it felt wrong.


    A family like the Shaymans—would they really let their own bloodline drift outside their walls?


    Jessica rested a hand over her belly and sat on the bed.


    "Looks like it. And honestly? Mrs. Shayman was surprisingly decent. She knew wanted to leave, knew I wanted to study abroad. She solved the hardest part-the money She, drant force an abortion didn''t try to take the baby away. I guess I walked away with a pretty sweet deal."


    She was smiling, but the sight made Anneliese''s chest tighten.


    "Jonathan said the Shaymans are the kind who take responsibility when there''s a child involved. So why..."


    Jessica tucked the agreement back into her bag and let out a smallugh.


    "This is normal. Families like theirs talk big about never letting their bloodline fall outside the house, but trust me there are plenty of


    legitimate kids who never ne


    imed. It''s just not public


    knowledge. Now the baby ispletely mine. I won''t have to


    worry about giving him a good life."


    "But-"


    Jessica squeezed her hand, cutting her off.


    "No buts. Zane and I should''ve ended ages ago. I already promised Mrs. Shayman


    I''d disappear within three days. Annie, I need your help."


    Anneliese looked into Jessica''s steady, resolute eyes. She had made up her mind.


    And Anneliese had promised-she would respect every choice Jessica made. She nodded. "Tell me what you need."


    "I want to leave tomorrow. At first, Mrs. Shayman tried to pressure me into a termination. I only got her to back off because I signed this and agreed to leave for good. But I still don''t feel safe don''t want anyone


    knowing where I''m going. And I can''t disappear on my own."


    Anneliese took Jessica''s cool hands in hers. "You''re afraid she hasn''t given up. That


    she might stille after you and the baby."


    Jessica stroked her belly and lifted her gaze.


    "Annie, this baby only has me. And I only have him. I will protect him with everything I''ve got. Right now, you''re the only person I trust."


    Anneliese''s lips curved gently as she pulled her into a hug.


    "Okay. I''ll find a way to get you out of the country immediately. Not even Jonathan will know where you go. You''re safe."


    Jessica leaned her head against her shoulder, eyes burning, and answered with a soft, trembling hum.