Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 144: Unexpected encounter

Two days later...

Jessica woke up earlier than usual. With everything happening in her life now—pain, confusion, and trauma—she

needed a way to clear her mind and release sstress.

A good workout in the gym was exactly what she believed will do the magic. And since Elliot was still staying at

the mansion, she figured it was a perfect chance to enjoy a friendly but competitive morning duel with him.

Even though Elliot was older, Jessica never underestimated his skills. He was full of surprises, and their mock

duels always pushed her to the limit. The swas true for Elliot, he never let his guard down when facing

Jessica despite the fact he was the one that trained her.

The duel was intense, with sweat dripping from both their foreheads, laughter echoing in the gym, and the

occasional playful jabs at each other.

By the tit ended, Jessica was exhausted but refreshed. Davis, who had been quietly watching from the side,

rolled forward and handed her a clean towel he had prepared in advance. In his other hand, he held out a bottle

of water.

"Thanks," Jessica said breathlessly, taking the water and drinking it with deep gulps. The cool liquid soothed her

dry throat.

Once she caught her breath, they left the gym together. Elliot heading off in another direction to his room. while

Jessica and Davis returned to theirs.

Jessica entered her bathroom for a quick shower to avoid her body getting sticky from the sweat. The cold water

cascading down her body helped her relax even further, but her mind remained restless.

As she got dressed and sat at her dressing table, her thoughts ran wild. There were so many questions, so much

she didn’t understand and couldn't decipher, then the heavy feeling in her chest that wouldn't go away.

The situation with Bella was complicated, and a sense of fear kept tugging at her heart. The truth she was trying

to uncover could either bring peace or create more chaos. She didn’t know what to expect.

She stared into the mirror, holding the warm cup of tea Davis had made for her. The scent rose softly into the air,

calming her nerves. Davis moved around the room, wheeling himself from one side to another as he picked out

her things and packed them neatly into her bag.

He had becso attentive lately, so thoughtful, and seeing him like made her heart feel warm. Her eyes

softened with emotion though she hadn't forgotten the decision to speak to him about them.

"I just wish... you could get well soon", she thought quietly.

Feeling her gaze on him, Davis turned his wheelchair around to face her. His brows furrowed slightly, concern

flashing in his eyes. "What is it?" he asked gently. "You're not thinking of doing something reckless again, are

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you?"

Jessica shook her head and smiled warmly. "No," she replied, her voice light. "I was just thinking you look really

handstoday... and you kind of remindof Bella when she’s focused. That serious face—you both have it."

Davis laughed, his eyes lighting up. It was a sound she had grown to love. His once gloomy and withdrawn

demeanor had slowly begun to change. He smiled more often now, and there was a brightness in his eyes she

hadn’t seen in a long time.

"Should | take that as a compliment?" he teased as he wheeled closer to her. His gaze locked with hers, filled

with warmth and gentleness.

"Yes, you should, handsome," Jessica smirked playfully, her lips curling up in amusement.

They shared a laugh, a soft, genuine moment between them. But then Davis's expression changed. The light-

heartedness faded, replaced by curiosity and something deeper.

"You said | look like Bella when I'm serious?" he asked quietly, his voice shaking just a little. Jessica froze for a

second.

Davis had always felt a strange connection to Bella from the very beginning. He liked listening to her talk, liked

her laughter, and had even told Jessica he wanted to make Bella his sworn sister.

But he hadn't found the right moment to do it yet. Now, hearing Jessica say he resembled Bella when focused

stirred smemories in him. His gaze grew intense. "Can you tellagain... how did you and Bella meet?"

Jessica’s heart ached. The memories of how she met Bella were hard to relive. That Chapter of her life carried a

heavy weight—dark, painful, and traumatic. She didn’t like thinking about it, let alone speaking of it. But she

knew Davis deserved the truth.

Still, something wasn’t sitting right with her. Her instincts told her to be sure of everything before opening up.

"I'll tell you everything... but after | get back," she said gently, avoiding his eyes. Davis looked disappointed, but

he didn’t push.

Jessica stood up, grabbed her bag, pressed a soft thank you kiss on him and walked out of the room.

Sliding into the back seat of the waiting car, her heart thudded loudly in her chest. She placed a hand over it,

trying to calm the racing beats. The closer she got to the truth, the more anxious she felt. The DNA results she

was about to collect could change everything.

"Drive," she instructed the driver, her voice barely steady.

~At noon~

Jessica finally arrived the testing center around noon. The morning had been packed with work. Before coming

here, she had to attend an important board meeting at her fashion company. The exhibition she had previously

put on hold was now back in motion, and there were plenty of details to sort out.

During the meeting, Jessica assigned tasks to various department heads, ensuring that every segment of the

preparation was handled by someone capable.

She discussed the layout of the venue, the selection of designers, media handling, and the security

arrangements for the big day. It was intense, but she had managed it with her usual efficiency and grace.

Yet even with all that going on, her mind never strayed far from the DNA result she was about to collect.

Stepping out of her car at the center, Jessica took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. She was about to walk

through the doors when she noticed two people descending the stairs just outside the exit.

It was Lady Matilda... and she wasn’t alone.

By her side was a tall young man with

sharp features and a calm

expression, USE eeEala es a

bj Stpricesica paused briefly,

surprised to see Matilda here of all

places. She noticed the older woman

blink several times, her breathing

slightly uneven—nervous even. The

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Lady Matilda had taken a quick peek at the test results earlier and, though they confirmed what she had

suspected all along, she was still unsure how to share the truth.

It was a sensitive matter, one that

could change everything. The regylts

showed something Yodrdordinary, but

she Re SPopping the news too

suddenly would seem strange and

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unbelievable to Jessica. The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

So instead of revealing anything right away, she made a quick decision to simply stay close to her. She'd support

her through the moment and wait for the right time.

Jessica’s expression softened the moment she saw Lady Matilda. Without thinking, she stepped forward and

gently hugged her.

"Good afternoon, ma’am," Jessica said warmly as she held her briefly. It felt like the most natural thing to do,

though she couldn't explain why.

She just wanted to feel that

sensation again—the one from the

last tthey met, And yes. @ Was

si thehsl That swarm, calming,

and motherly feeling. It wrapped

around her like a blanket, comforting

and safe. The content is on

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chapter there!

When she pulled away, she smiled gently. "You're here to...?" she asked, her tone curious.

Lady Matilda returned the smile and quickly composed herself. "Oh, | cto see a friend," she replied

smoothly, "but she’s not around at the moment."

Jessica nodded slowly, not pressing further.

Then Lady Matilda turned slightly and gestured to the man beside her. "Dr. Sica, this is my son, Donald

Santiago," she said with a small, knowing smirk.

"Donald, this is the doctor I told you about—the one who helpedwhen | fell infront of the elevator." She

concluded.