Chapter 3

Linda was back in the country?

Through her tears, Linda said, "Anthony, I can't bear the thought of Tracy calling anyone else 'Mom' and 'Dad'."

Anthony whispered in her ear, "I promise, Tracy will be a Harris, officially and forever."

Her tears gave way to laughter.

"Anthony, when you think about it, legally, we're the ones who are married. Jessica..."

Anthony's brow creased with worry. "I only registered our marriage before the wedding to protect you from being pushed around overseas.

"I can offer you the world, just not the Harris name. Jess is innocent, so leave her be," he implored.

Linda's frown betrayed her irritation, yet she knew they had to focus on Tracy for then, so she shelved her feelings.

"You needn't worry about me vying for the title of Mrs. Harris. I'm not even worthy."

Anthony sensed his earlier words had been too cutting and quickly knelt to soothe her.

"What are you saying? If you're not worthy, then who is? You're the one who blessed the Harris family with Tracy. My mom hasn't stopped thinking about you."

Jessica's balance wavered. Anthony's mother was aware of his affair with Linda!

She envisioned her mother-in-law, haughty and aloof.

The Harris family had looked down on her because her parents refused to provide financial support for the marriage, and her mother-in-law had been especially harsh, never once offering a smile.

Jessica had clung to the naive hope that her earnest efforts to please her mother-in-law would win her acceptance.

At this moment, it dawned on her that her mother-in-law had already welcomed another woman into the family. How could Jessica matter to her then?

Her legs turned to lead as she trailed behind Anthony and Linda up the stairs.

Anthony had maintained a gentlemanly facade, but as soon as they were out of sight, he yanked Linda close and pinned her to him.

"Let's put Tracy's situation aside for now. Shouldn't we focus on resolving my issue?"

He pressed against her, sending a wave of heat across Linda's cheeks.

He and Linda slipped into the empty storeroom. It was not long before the muffled cries of passion, broken and sporadic, seeped into Jessica's ears.

Just a wall away, she trembled, sliding down against the cool surface to the floor.

Anthony's breath came in ragged gasps. "Linda, after having a kid, how are you still so...?"

Linda's breathy response followed, "Oh, and Jessica isn't?"

The sounds of their encounter grew more intense, culminating in Anthony's low roar. "Jess is too buttoned-up, nothing like you—so free-spirited from your time overseas."

Jessica's nails bit into her palm, the pain a sharp contrast to the shock coursing through her. She had always seen the president of Harris Group as a paragon of virtue, one who looked down on any woman who dared to approach him, except for her. Then she knew he was nothing but a libertine.

As the moans started anew, Jessica pushed off the wall and staggered away.

The director was already waiting in her office. "We need to confirm, Jessica. Are you and Mr. Harris still planning to adopt Tracy?"

Jessica did not answer right away. Instead, she asked to see Tracy's personal file.

The file revealed that Tracy was born in the spring five years earlier, just six months after Jessica and Anthony had married, around the time he had proposed. Rage and bitterness surged within her.

Handing back the file, Jessica's voice was steady. "I've decided not to adopt Tracy. You can proceed with her adoption."

The director gave a pensive nod.

"Jess!"

Anthony barged in, grabbing Tracy's file from the desk.

"Since when did I back out of adopting Tracy? Who said you could decide for me?"

Jessica's gaze was icy as she met him. "And you were going to adopt Tracy without asking me, right?"

Anthony was speechless.

Linda popped up from behind him with a grin. "Hey, Jess, it's been ages."