Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-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 some stress.

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 same was 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 time it 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 become so 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 you?"

Jessica shook her head and smiled warmly. "No," she replied, her voice light. "I was just thinking you look really handsome today... and you kind of remind me of 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 I 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 I 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 some memories in him. His gaze grew intense. "Can you tell me again... 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 I 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, though his eyes looked a bit startled. Jessica paused briefly, surprised to see Matilda here of all places. She noticed the older woman blink several times, her breathing slightly uneven—nervous even.

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 results showed something extraordinary, but she knew dropping the news too suddenly would seem strange and unbelievable to Jessica.

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 time they met. And yes... it was still there. That same warm, calming, and motherly feeling. It wrapped around her like a blanket, comforting and safe.

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, I came to 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 helped me when I fell infront of the elevator." She concluded.