"I''ll thank you on the baby''s behalf."


    Anneliese smiled as she gently patted Jessica''s back.


    Mary was able to track Jessica down through the hospital and find out about the pregnancy.


    As such, Jessica no longer felt safe staying there. She wanted to go home, get some rest, and leave the country as soon as possible.


    Anneliese didn''t try to talk her out of it.


    She drove Jessica home. Only after watching her fall asleep did she quietly close the bedroom door and call Nicole.


    "Ms. Horowitz, I need a favor. Are you free? I''ll treat you to afternoon tea."


    The Horowitzes were in legitimate import-export now, but that was after they''d cleaned up their history. Their past wasn''t exactly spotless, and they still had ess to certain channels. Getting Jessica a new identity would be easy for them.


    Nicole was in the middle of a private manicure appointment when she got the call.


    She lounged on the couch while a handsome man with wless skin knelt at her feet. He wore only a tank top and a floral apron, carefully painting tiny designs on her glossy nails with the devotion of a very obedient service provider.


    But the moment she heard Anneliese''s voice, Nicole lost all interest in flirting.


    "Oh, don''t call me Ms. Horowitz. Mrs. Fullbuster, you''re the one doing me a huge favor today. How could I possibly turn you down? I''ll head out now-just send me the address."


    Anneliese didn''t mind the sarcasm. She''d owed Nicole a meal for ages and had even promised to introduce her to Jonathan, but she''d kept getting pulled into emergencies and never made good on it.


    Nicole had invited her out shopping before, and Anneliese had declined then too.


    "Okay. I''ll pick the spot and send it to you. And I''ll apologize properly when we meet."


    After the call ended, Nicole tapped the man''s thigh with the toe of her crossed foot. "Wrap it up. I''m going out to hear some gossip."


    Just days earlier, she''d heard that the pretentious Selina had been arrested. Nicole had wanted all the details from Anneliese, but Anneliese had practically vanished.


    And recently, she hadn''t posted a single update online.


    Now, Melody''s attempted murder charge was still blowing up the news cycle, and Zacharias hadn''t managed to bury it.


    uderias Tech was in chaos. Zacharias was overwhelmed, and half the industry was circling like sharks, waiting to tear off a piece of thepany.


    He''d been one of the hottest rising stars in recent years. For things to explode this badly, that took serious firepower.


    Nicole would''ve bet money Jonathan was behind it—jealous, furious, and absolutely done with Anneliese''s ex. He must''ve decided to crush himpletely.


    With a spectacle this entertaining, and a chance to hear things straight from the source, there was no way Nicole wasn''t showing up.


    The handsome man held her hand gently. "What kind of gossip? Is it better than seeing me? Why don''t you bring me along? Youdies can chat while I keep taking care of you"


    Nicole saw right through him.


    He''d realized Anneliese was someone significant and was hoping to get introduced.


    Bold move. Not much brain behind it.


    Nicole slid her hand away and patted his cheek.


    "Do you even know whose wife she is? Trust me-you don''t want to."


    Then she stood, grabbed her purse, tossed a generous stack of bills onto the table, and headed out.


    Anneliese had suggested a newly opened high-end dessert shop in Oceaton.


    The ce was romantic and beautifully decorated, with great reviews and prices so steep that the room stayedfortably empty.


    They took a window seat on the couch. Anneliese handed Nicole a gift and told her about Jessica.


    Nicole turned the gift over in her hands-a limited-edition, fully diamond-studded bracelet worth more than two hundred thousand. It was the one she''d failed to buy and had vented about on social media.


    Without hesitation, she made a quick call and issued instructions.


    When she hung up, she looked at Anneliese with a bright, hungry smile.


    "I appreciate the gift, but what I


    really want is the story. I believe Selina hired a hitman-she''s been vicious, fake and maniptive since childhood. Nothing that woman does would surprise me.


    "But your former mother-inw? She was only tough inside her own house. What pushed her to hire someone to kill? And don''t tell me you don''t know. I won''t believe you."


    Nicole even shoved her dessert aside, fully locked in, ready for every juicy detail.


    Anneliese had suggested a newly opened high-end dessert shop in Oceaton.


    The ce was romantic and beautifully decorated, with great reviews and prices


    so steep that the room stayedfortably empty.


    They took a window seat on the couch. Anneliese handed Nicole a gift and told her about Jessica.


    Nicole turned the gift over in her hands-a limited-edition, fully diamond-studded bracelet worth more than two hundred thousand t was the one she''d failed to buy and had vented about on social media.


    Without hesitation, she made a quick call and issued instructions.


    When she hung up, she looked at Anneliese with a bright, hungry smile.


    "I appreciate the gift, but what I


    really want is the story. I believe Selina hired a hitman-she''s been vicious, fake, and maniptive since childhood. Nothing that woman does would surprise me.


    "But your former mother-inw? She was only tough inside her own house. What pushed her to hire someone to kill? And don''t tell me you don''t know. I won''t believe


    you."


    Nicole even shoved her dessert aside, fully locked in, ready for every juicy detail.