As the car made its way home, Jessica’s thoughts were tangled. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her mind. She had to plot out her next steps carefully, figuring out how best to handle the mood and the timing.
Then, a thought came to her mind —dinner. A casual setting. Everyone would be home, and she could ease into the conversation.
She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Bella’s number. It rang just once before Bella picked up.
"Hello?" Bella’s voice sounded distracted.
"Bella," Jessica said, keeping her tone neutral, "Come home early tonight. We need are having dinner together"
Bella raised an eyebrow. Jessica was never one to call people home without a reason. She tried to dig for more details, but Jessica wasn’t budging. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"Just come home," Jessica replied, her voice firm. "We’ll talk later."
Bella, though curious, didn’t push it further. Who was she to question her elder sister?
Next, Jessica called Ethan. He had been discreetly sent back to keep a close eyes on situations outside.
Though he had began to treat this place as home, because the place he called home had never treated him like one but here he felt alive and at home.
But when he saw Jessica’s name on his phone, he picked up, surprised. "Ethan, come back home. We need everyone here for dinner," Jessica instructed.
Ethan hesitated, confused. Something must have gone wrong for such a summon back for dinner when they have days where everyone returns for family dinner. He cannot neglect the invitation
This family had become important to him. He had seen their kindness, their warmth and wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to chat, laugh and scheme.
Richard was the last person Jessica called. He had been managing the household in her absence, and to be honest, it had been tiring.
He was more than happy to take a break from dealing with family affairs and focus on the business side of things. When Jessica called, he simply agreed, his mind already back on his responsibilities.
When Jessica finally arrived home, she was greeted by Davis, who was sitting at the door waiting for her. He had no idea what was going on, but he could tell something was up by the expression on her face.
He didn’t ask questions, though. He could feel her emotions swirling, and whatever it was, he knew it was important. He pulled her in for a hug, holding her close for a moment, offering silent support.
"Are you alright?" Davis asked gently as he pulled back, studying her face.
Jessica smiled faintly, nodding. "I’m fine. Let’s go inside."
Once inside, Jessica made her way to the kitchen to give instructions to the chef. She wanted everything to be perfect for dinner. The food had to be just right for the conversation she was about to have. The staff would prepare the meal exactly as she wanted it, and she made sure they knew the timing—everything had to go smoothly.
Afterward, Jessica and Davis went to their bedroom. She sank into the couch, her mind still racing, when her phone rang. She picked it up without hesitation, seeing the caller ID: Dean.
"Hello, Dean," Jessica greeted the man on the other end.
"Dr. Sica, someone has requested you personally as their attending doctor," the dean said. His voice was steady, but Jessica could hear the underlying urgency.
Jessica’s heart skipped a beat. This was not good. For twelve years, she had kept a low profile. Every surgery she performed had been arranged carefully by her subordinates, always planned and executed without anyone knowing her identity. No one ever saw her face. But for someone to request her specifically as their doctor... that could only mean one thing.
"Who is it?" she asked, though she already had a suspicion.
"The patient is Matilda Santiago," the dean answered, his voice casual but serious at the same time.
Jessica’s stomach dropped. The Santiagos. She had crossed their path once before, and the memory was a sharp one. There were three families that no one dared cross: the Santiagos, the Ravensdales, and the Allens. The Santiagos were notorious for their influence and power. If they were asking for her help, it was not a request—it was a command.
Jessica sat up straighter, her mind whirring. She didn’t want to be involved with the Santiago family. She had already seen what their reach could do. But at the same time, she couldn’t just refuse.
"Can I decline?" she asked, though she knew it was a long shot.
"You could," the dean said, though his tone made it clear that it wasn’t a real option. "But I wouldn’t advise it. The Santiagos are not people you can turn down."
Jessica closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. She didn’t want to get involved with them again. She had a feeling that this was more than just a simple medical case—it was a web of ties she didn’t want to touch. Still, the Santiago family had their hooks deep into the world of the powerful.
Refusing them could have serious consequences, especially for someone like Jessica, who had worked so hard to maintain her anonymity.
Her mind flashed back to a relic she had found among her mother’s things. Nora Santiago. The name had been a mystery to her, but now it felt like the puzzle pieces were finally starting to fit together. Was there some connection between her mother and the Santiago family? And if so, what did that mean for Jessica now?
With a heavy sigh, Jessica knew she didn’t have much of a choice. She had already been drawn into this world of powerful families, whether she liked it or not.
"Alright," she finally said, her voice resolute. "I’ll do it. But I’ll work on my own terms."
The dean didn’t hesitate. "Understood, Dr. Sica. I’ll make the arrangements."
As soon as the call ended, Jessica leaned back, her mind racing. She felt a strange mix of emotions—relief, tension, even a touch of amusement. The situation was becoming more complex by the minute.
She glanced at Davis, who was watching her closely. "Everything alright?" he asked, concern in his voice.
Jessica gave him a small smile. "Yeah, someone asking me to be attending doctor, I think my years of anonymity is coming to an end".
"Isn’t that good?" He smirked.
"Not in anyway good, you know". She retorted. Who wants to be in the searchlight always. Attracting friends and foes with later enormous.
Davis nodded in understanding. He had always known her for her quiet simplicity towards life and everything.