Chapter 7

Looking at Jessica again, Chris saw the same concern in her eyes as in her mother-in-law’s.

“You’re already having a hard time raising Jordan on your own. It’s good to have a vehicle for getting around. Don’t worry, if it’s something I give, the Hall family won’t dare to take it.”

The Hall family wasn’t as powerful as the Wilder family, but they still held some influence locally. Back then, Michael had been sent abroad for an arranged marriage. Within five years, his wife grew tired of him and divorced him, leaving even their daughter behind. He returned home quietly with the child.

As for the Hall family, they considered Michael a disgrace. It was bad enough that he had eloped with Jessica, but then he ended up being kicked out by a woman. After he returned, they never let him back into the house, and they even took back the property they had given him.

Now, Jessica claimed that Michael’s apartment would be ready soon and he would move out—but in reality, that property also belonged to her.

Chris sighed and turned to leave.

When you truly care about someone, everything becomes different. All the things he never deserved, Jessica gave away so freely to someone else.

On the way back to the dorm, Chris sent Jessica a message.

—Don’t forget to sign the papers next week.

Jessica had also just left the hospital. She had originally planned to leave with Michael and Jordan, but there were documents waiting at the office—she had to work overtime tonight.

When she saw Chris’s message, she pressed down harder on the gas pedal.

Just seeing Chris’s name made her feel irritable.

She had personally decided to inject capital into the hospital where Chris was interning. The board of directors didn’t understand it at all.

She had hoped to see Chris today, but after asking the nurses, she was told he wasn’t on duty.

She had already gone this far—trying to give him a way to not embarrass himself, to preserve his pride as a man—and yet he still wouldn’t take the hint?

As she silently cursed his ingratitude, she received his message. After reading it, Jessica curved her lips into a faint smile.

‘Alright, looks like he found out about the hospital funding.’

They were a married couple after all. There would always be friction. Even if she and Chris weren’t a typical couple, someone had to take the first step.

Strangely enough, even though Michael had returned to reconcile with her, and even though she had repeatedly faced the man she used to long for, she hadn’t rushed to divorce Chris and build the dream family she once wanted.

She didn’t know why she couldn’t take that step.

Maybe it was habit.

After all, they had been married for five years. To suddenly divorce Chris like this felt unfair to him. Jessica comforted herself with that thought.

She still loved Michael. That hadn’t changed. But she had grown used to Chris’s presence.

His gentleness and quiet care were exactly what she needed.

Back when she was with Michael, their relationship had been fiery and intense. Their fights made entertainment headlines, and their reconciliations were public knowledge.

After too many years of that chaos, a man like Chris—calm and steady—felt more suitable for her.

Jessica wasn’t just a woman, she was also a businesswoman.

And businesspeople valued profit.

She always knew what worked best for her.

Only after returning to the office did she bother replying to Chris’s message.

—Got it.

Shannon, Jessica’s secretary, hadn’t left work yet. Carrying a stack of documents, she followed Jessica into the office.

“Ms. Wilder, the Ocean Conference begins the day after tomorrow and lasts a week. Your flight details have already been sent to your phone. I’ll be accompanying you again this time.”

At those words, Jessica paused.

She turned to look at Shannon.

Having worked with Jessica for years, Shannon understood her with a single glance. She immediately added, “The Ocean Conference is a five-nation summit. AGS International, the company you were interested in during the last bidding, will be there. You said you wanted to partner with them.”

Jessica made a small sound of acknowledgement.

If the conference started the day after tomorrow, she would have to leave tomorrow. If it lasted a week... she wouldn’t be able to attend the adoption.

After thinking it over, Jessica said, “Have Tina come with me. You stay here. Go with Chris next week to sign the papers.”

Shannon paused. “Me? Sign the papers?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing major.”