"This time, I no longer feel suffocated after leaving Oceaton. Being alone is a bit lonely, but it feels peaceful. For the first time, I can see my future clearly. I want to finish the studies I neverpleted and to see a wider world. The baby isn''t my burden—it''s my courage. Annie, I don''t feel like this is suffering."


    As for Zane, he didn''t love her that much to begin with. Even now, searching for her everywhere was likely just because he wasn''t used to her sudden disappearance. Moreover, as a man favored by fate, he couldn''t stand having things ended early by a woman he had always looked down on.


    Jessica wasn''t a block of wood; she could feel the disdain and contempt buried deep in his bones. She also didn''t want other people to think that she tried to raise her status by using her child. Even if the Shayman family and Zane epted her because of the baby, Jessica could already imagine the mess her life would be afterward. Now that she had finally taken this step forward, she didn''t want to turn


    back again.


    In truth, she had been alone since the day she was born. She was already used to loving herself, used to struggling just to survive. So why, after meeting Zane, had she begun to hope that this man would love her instead?


    Listening to Jessica, Anneliese could hear the bitterness and hardship beneath her calm tone. In the end, Jessica was disappointed-being hurt too deeply that drove her to move on without looking back.


    Anneliese rubbed her slightly reddened eyes and smiled as she said, "I told you before that no matter what decision you make, I''ll always support you. Don''t worry about it. If you don''t want him to find you, I guarantee he won''t. It''s only a pity that Pepper won''t get exposed!"


    Jessicaughed. "It''s not a pity. Those twenty million are very real."


    Pepper had handed over the money so readily, probably because she believed she could deal with Jessica sooner orter and take it back. Now that her schemes had failed, she and Gianna would be infuriated when they realized Jessica had vanished without a trace and used the twenty million to live in better conditions while raising Zane''s child.


    "Protect yourself," Anneliese reminded her.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve hired two bodyguards myself. I''ll be careful."


    After ending the call, Anneliese turned around and found that Jonathan had already walked over without her noticing.


    The balcony''s ss door was pushed open, and he stood there with his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. His gaze was deep and intent as it rested on her.


    When their eyes met, Anneliese felt


    as though she might drown in his


    look. Sheremembered what whispered in his ear before


    e had


    answering the call. Now that he was staring at her like this, the shyness of that heartfelt confession rushed back all at once.


    Her eyes flickered slightly. She lifted her phone and waved it at him. "You heard everything, right? Jessica doesn''t want toe back."


    Jonathan had already heard it, and he silently spared Zane a single second of pity.


    One could only deem Zane a failure


    since a woman carrying his child


    refused to return to his side. toret


    However, it was all his own doing, so Jonathan had no extra sympathy to give. Instead, he took it as a quiet


    warning to himself that there was


    nothing a man could do when a


    woman made up her mind.


    Since he had finally seeded in winning Anneliese back, he needed to discipline


    himself and never allow himself to follow in Zane''s footsteps.


    Thinking about it, Jonathan didn''t reply to Anneliese. Instead, he beckoned her. "Come here."


    Anneliese blinked and obediently walked over.


    He was tall and broad, blocking the doorway. She didn''t exactly have another option. However, the look in his eyes carried a dangerous intensity, making her heart pound a little too fast.


    The moment she stepped closer, his hand reached out and pressed against her lower back.


    "Ah!" Even though Anneliese had been mentally prepared, she still cried out softly as she stumbled straight into Jonathan''s arms.


    She looked up at him. His palm was warm against her waist, and his gaze dark. Then, he spoke in a low voice.