Chapter 358 Standing there was Gianna, dressed to the nines. Her tall, slender figure made her stand out from the crowd. Gazing at Jessica with her gorgeous eyes, she greeted, âItâs been a while, Ms. Marsh. Care for a chat?â
âGet your hands off me!â Jessica snapped. As she was in a hurry to make a phone call, she did not wish to waste time talking to that woman before her eyes. She tried to fling Giannaâs hands away but to no avail.
Dissatisfied, Gianna insisted, âYou donât want to talk? Well, I do.â
Considering that Lindaâs shop was right around the corner, Jessica feared being seen having an argument with Gianna. She lifted her chin slightly and gestured toward the emergency exit nearby. After Gianna loosened her grip, she led the way at once.
Soon enough, the duo entered the emergency exit.
During the interim, Jessica had been trying to get Rayna on the phone. Yet, before long, Gianna closed the door behind her and raised a question. âDo you remember the day when you came looking for me and asking for my help? Why did you wire me the money without actually letting me help with anything?â
âIsnât it good enough when you get to have free cash like that?â responded Jessica, growing impatient. Deep down, she was starting to panic because Rayna still did not answer the phone after several attempts. âI have an emergency to attend to, so if thereâs nothing else, Iâll be going now!â
Getting one step ahead of her, Gianna stood in the way and refused to let her go. âOh, no, you donât. Who knows if youâd stab me in the back later on by calling me a swindler and putting me behind bars?â
âReturn me the money, then, was Jessicaâs only suggestion.
âNo way.â
âThen keep it. Consider it a gift. I promise Iâll never use it against you.â It was clear that Jessica had reached the limit of her endurance. âI still have matters to deal with, so if youâll excuse me!â
Be that as it might, Gianna was still there, blocking the path with her slim body. âI canât just take your word for it. How would I know what youâre really thinking?â
That left Jessica at a loss for words.
Promptly, she fished out a pen and a piece of paper from her handbag and detailed a statement in black and white. She even signed her name on it before handing it over to Gianna. âThere, happy? Iâm in a rush for something, so please move aside before anyone gets hurt.â
Gianna carefully kept away that piece of paper, but instead of letting Jessica off, she probed further, âYou previously told me to get together with Mr. Lopez, so when will you be hooking us up?â
Jessica gave a bark of laughter in exasperation. âWhat the f*ck! Youâre really pushing your luck! Iâve already given you a handsome amount of money for nothing, and here you are, still having the nerve to demand more from me.â
âYou said those words yourself, and you also gave me the money of your own accord.â Pinning her gaze on Jessica, Gianna parted her ruby lips and teased, âLet me guess. You were in a relationship with Mr. Lopez and you got hurt in the process. Thatâs why you contacted me and tried to pair me up with him. In reality, you only wanted revenge, correct?â
Having been exposed, Jessica clenched her fists in rage.
Then came her frosty voice. âWould I be that dumb to specially seek you out and pay you that hefty sum of money only to take revenge on a man?â
Gianna let out a chuckle and leaned over to look Jessica in the eye. âIn this world, Ms. Marsh, only we women Chapter 358 understand each other best. Iâve seen some pictures of a woman making frequent visits to the Lopez Group. From what Iâve heard, that woman is Mr. Lopezâs girlfriend, and sheâs been bringing him lunch boxes. Although. she had a face mask on, I can still recognize that it was you, Ms. Marsh.â
âYouâre sick! Iâm so done with you!â Rolling her eyes, Jessica shoved Gianna away and forced her way through.
Concurrently, she dialed Raynaâs number once more. Alas, before she could open the door to the exit, she was pulled away from behind.
Taking advantage of her height, Gianna yanked Jessica violently. âYou gave up on vengeance because youâve reconciled with him, right?â Jealously filled her eyes.
âHowâs that any of your business?â Jessica tried to retract her arm with all her might. âYouâd better let go of me before I call the police!â
It looks like Iâm right!
Giannaâs face contorted. She tugged on Jessicaâs arm even more tightly than before. âDo it, then! Itâd be even better if Mr. Lopez could be here to see your true colors! I recorded our exchange back at the cafe. I wonder what his reaction would be when he heard it.â
Upon hearing the threat, Jessica gnashed her teeth while glaring daggers at Gianna.
With a gloating smirk playing about her lips, Gianna initiated a negotiation. âIf you carry on with that plan of yours, Ms. Marsh, and let me be with Mr. Lopez, Iâll surrender that recording to you. Otherwise, Iâll simply forward it to him. Weigh up the options wisely.â
âThereâs no need for that.â
Giannaâs eyes lit up at those words. She thought that Jessica had agreed to go with the plan. However, a few seconds later, she heard Jessica uttering, âYou can let him have the recording and even show him the transaction history of my remittance for all I care.â
That would make sense, for Jessica had already made up her mind to tell Wyatt the truth that very night when they celebrated his birthday. In fact, she had been quite depressed about keeping him in the dark for so long. No longer did she desire to shoulder that burden alone.
Regardless of what his decision would be, she would accept it.
Moreover, since they had an unborn baby, she thought he might be lenient toward her.
Gianna was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Jessica to be that fearless.
Snapping out of her daze, she saw Jessica already stepping out. Once again, she reached out and wrenched the latter inside.
âYou canât leave!â
âLet go!â bellowed Jessica, her visage as grim as death.
In response, Gianna clasped Jessicaâs arm, unwilling to set her free. Jessica struggled to break free from Giannaâs grip. Just like that, the ladies tussled with each other at the emergency exit.
As they scuffled, Jessica almost lost her balance and fell down.
Noticing the staircase behind Jessica, Gianna had a sudden thought in her mind. With a push from her, Jessica, who had just gotten to her feet, tumbled down the stairs.
The next second, Jessica was lying on the floor down the stairs. She was in such agonizing pain that she kept gasping for air as though she was suffocating.
2 Chapter 358 Gianna, in turn, froze in shock as she broke out in a cold sweat. She took quite a moment before dashing. down the stairs to help Jessica. âHey! Are you okay?â
âYâYou...â Jessica could not say another word. All she could do was touch her own belly with her trembling hands.
It was then Gianna finally caught sight of the trail of blood flowing out below the hem of Jessicaâs dress. Frightened, she staggered backward and nearly toppled over at the steps. âYâYou fell down because you were careless. Itâs not my fault. Itâs not...â
Mustering all her strength, Jessica managed to open her mouth and say, âCâCall... the ambulance.â
Gianna frantically picked up Jessicaâs phone from the ground. Thankfully, the screen was not locked. She quickly dialed the emergency number.
Right before hitting the call key, she suddenly realized something. If Jessicaâs saved, sheâll come after me, wonât she? No, I canât save her!
Panicâstricken, she accidentally opened the list of reminders on the phone. As she read the contents, her eyes widened in an instant, and she almost forgot to catch her breath.
On the floor, Jessica was already sweating profusely from the pain. Still, she made a great effort to grab Giannaâs pants cuff and plead, âCâCall... the ambulance... and Iâll let this slide. Please.â
As fast as she could, Gianna forwarded to herself everything that was on the list of reminders on Jessicaâs phone before calling the ambulance. Immediately afterward, she left the phone beside Jessicaâs hand and fled the scene through the stairwell.
Jessica managed to sneak a peek at the phone before her consciousness began fading away, her hands covering her tummy the whole time.
Anybody, please, save my baby...
Every passing second felt like an hour to Wyatt. He was dying to give Jessica a call, yet he was worried that he might give himself away for getting overly excited about her having a bun in the oven. No, I must resist the temptation!
At long last, he weathered the excruciating wait until it was time to get off work. He put his jacket on and was prepared to leave.
âMr. Lopez.â His secretary stopped him in his tracks and stated gingerly, âMr. Green from Greenbit Industries wants to invite you for dinner.â
âIâm not going. Iâm heading home for dinner, Wyatt rejected the invitation then and there. Itâs my birthday today, and Iâve been waiting to go pick Jessica up just to hear the good news from her. âPostpone it until tomorrow.â
âItâs about the project on Gilded Avenue. Mr. Green has agreed to the business collaboration. He said he only has time for tonight, and heâll be leaving for Spaunia first thing in the morning,â the secretary replied.
Annoyed, Wyatt glanced at the watch on his wrist. âAre the terms all set? How about the contract?â
âThe contractâs ready.â With that said, the secretary submitted the files to the man on the spot. âIâll arrange for someone to drive-â
âWhereâs the place?â
âRoom 1688 at DM Premium Club at six oâclock.â
âGot it,â said Wyatt, all ready to march out of the door.