Davis watched as Alex hurried toward the exit of the hotel lobby. It was clear he was in a rush, constantly checking his phone even while speaking with him. A smile creeping on his lips as he watched him go—Alex was always in a rush, always chasing the next deal, the next opportunity. He was the kind of person who could come and go in the blink of an eye.
"He came and left like the wind. That’s just how he is," Davis murmured quietly to himself, the words slipping out before he could stop them. There was no malice in his tone, just a quiet observation.
With Alex gone, Davis, Jessica, and Ethan continued toward the car. They had more important matters to attend to—there was no time to waste.
Ethan helped Davis into the car, and Jessica followed, sitting beside him. Ethan took the front seat next to the driver. The car slowly pulled out of the hotel driveway and merged onto the highway.
Throughout the drive, Davis remained silent, lost in his thoughts. His brows furrowed occasionally as he pondered the things waiting for him.
He had never expected that the first time he left the country in over a year, it would be to face old friends—friends who had once been like family. But now, he was a different person. The accident had changed him in ways that no one truly understood. His wheelchair was a constant reminder of that.
But it wasn’t the wheelchair that troubled him. It was the fact that he had to visit them, despite everything.
He had shut himself off from them for so long, not wanting their pity, not wanting their compassionate glances that made him feel like less of a person. Even now, as he thought he had healed, he still felt the sting of their potential judgment
Over the past year, Davis had cut ties with those friends. He didn’t want their pity or the way they stared at him like he was broken. Even now, when he thought he had healed, their presence still affected him.
He sighed again. "Maybe this is the right way forward," he muttered. If he truly wanted to reclaim his place in the business world, he couldn’t do it alone. He would need the help of those friends, even if it was hard to face them.
Jessica glanced at him. She could feel the weight in his heart, the way he struggled to make a decision. Seeing the troubled expression on his face
Without a word, she gently placed her hand over his. The simple gesture was enough to pull him from his thoughts. He looked at her hand resting on his, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away. Her warmth seeped into him, and the tension in his shoulders eased just slightly.
"You don’t have to carry this burden," she said softly. "Whatever they say or think, it doesn’t define you."
Her touch and words brought warmth to him. He glanced down at her hand on his, feeling the comfort it brought. He had never been the type to show his vulnerabilities easily, but with Jessica, it was different. She seemed to understand him without needing words.
"I’m just... worried," he confessed. There was no need to hide. Jessica always seemed to understand him even when he didn’t speak.
She smiled. "There’s no need to be. True friends will accept you, no matter what. And if we’re talking business, then this is the perfect time to find the right people to stand by you."
Her words sank in, and Davis took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Jessica was right, he realized. If he truly wanted to regain his place in the business world, he would need those friends by his side. He just wasn’t sure if he was ready to face them yet.
From what she could tell, these people he was about to meet meant a lot to him. Their bond seemed close—perhaps even like family—but had been abandoned, likely because Davis had shut himself away after the accident.
He nodded slowly, letting her words settle in his mind. "I guess you’re right," he said, his voice firmer this time. "It’s time to move forward."
Jessica smiled softly, her eyes filled with understanding. She knew that this wasn’t easy for him. They hadn’t talked much about his past—about the friends he had left behind—but she could sense that it was still a raw subject for him.
Her thoughts wandered to the first time she met Davis. It had been an overwhelming day—full of confusion and chaos. She had entered his study, nervous and uncertain of how to approach him. He had been cold, distant, almost as though he was lost in his own world. But there was something about him that drew her in. His vulnerability, hidden behind the walls he had built around himself, was something she couldn’t ignore.
She shuddered slightly, remembering the clatter of the plates when he had lost control. What would have happened if he had reacted differently that day? If his anger had turned toward her, would she have survived the encounter? She quickly pushed the thought aside. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer to that question.
Back then, Ethan hadn’t shown her much respect. If Davis had ordered anything, Ethan might have done something rash. She smiled to herself, remembering how fiercely protective Ethan had been—like a mother hen guarding her chick.
But even as those thoughts lingered, she couldn’t help smile widening. Davis had come a long way since then. He had changed. Maybe not entirely, but he had softened, opened up. And she was proud of the progress he had made.
Suddenly, Davis’s voice broke through her thoughts. "What’s so funny?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity.
Jessica blinked, realizing she had been lost in her thoughts. She smiled sheepishly. "I was just remembering how you were after the accident. And how protective Ethan was. I think he needs a reward."
Davis raised an eyebrow. "Are you calling me a chick?"
"No," she laughed. "I’m just saying that you were a handful back then. And I’m sure if anything had gone wrong, Ethan would’ve come after me."
In the front seat, Ethan shuddered at the memory. He still remembered those days vividly—the way Davis had been distant, angry, and almost unapproachable.
He still couldn’t believe how Jessica had managed to calm Davis down and gain control of the situation so quickly, like she had planned it all along.
Jessica grinned as she saw Davis trying to glare at her. "Alright, alright, I know my mouth can be too sharp sometimes. But that’s a memory I won’t forget. I should’ve taken a picture to remember it."
Davis chuckled lightly, but the smile faded as he remembered his old butler, Henry. Of all the people he had mistreated, Henry had taken the most damage. A sense of guilt settled on his shoulders.
And yet, Henry had stayed by his side, never once complaining. In fact, Henry had only asked Ethan to take over his duties when Davis arrived.
"Ethan," he said suddenly, "Increase Henry’s salary by fifty percent starting this month."
Ethan and Jessica both gasped. Their jaws dropped.
"Did you say fifty percent?" Ethan asked in disbelief.
"That’s like half of his current salary added to it," Jessica muttered.
"Is this some kind of bonus?" she asked, though she had a feeling it wasn’t.
"No," Davis said firmly. "It’s an apology."
Jessica blinked. "What?"
"I was too harsh on him after the accident. I just remembered how much he endured. He didn’t quit—he only asked Ethan to take over whenever I arrived."
Jessica nodded slowly. "That’s understandable. But don’t you think saying a heartfelt ’sorry’ will mean more than money?"
To her, a sincere apology had far more value than throwing money at someone. It would show real humility and remorse.
"I’ll do that," Davis agreed. "When we return. It’s time I made things right."
In the front seat, Ethan’s eyes widened. Davis Allen—apologizing to a butler? If the media got wind of this, it would make headlines. It would boost Allen Group’s image like never before.
Then he shook his head and sighed. What was he thinking—using someone’s pain as a marketing idea? He felt like slapping himself.
Jessica gently brought the focus back. "So about the friend we’re going to see... is he more of a business partner or a close friend?"
Davis looked thoughtful. "A close friend. We lived in different cities but kept in touch. We did some business together too."
Jessica smiled. "Then don’t worry. I’ll go with you. And if they try to look down on you, I’ll handle it."
Davis raised an eyebrow, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Is this my wife protecting her husband?"
"Call it whatever you like," she smirked. "No one insults my husband and gets away with it—except me, of course."
He laughed lightly, and for the first time that day, his heart felt a bit lighter.