Though Adah had spoken with energy and warmth which made Jessica feel relaxed and at home—being accommodating. She didn’t feel that way toward Tricia.
Tricia on her own part had remained silent. Her attention was entirely fixed on Davis, and she barely acknowledged Jessica’s presence in the room.
Her gaze was intense, longing, and a little too transparent for comfort. Jessica subtly glared at Davis, her eyes bearing an accusation of him attracting peach blossoms even in the midst of friends.
Alex glanced toward Tricia, waiting for her to contribute, at least a polite word or two to help Jessica feel more at ease among them.
But Tricia remained still, her lips tight, her posture rigid. It was evident she wasn’t here to make friends—especially not with Jessica.
But Jessica, having noticed Tricia’s undisguised interest in her husband, shook her head lightly. With one thought in time "
"Tricia, right?" she said, as though just realizing her presence. Tricia blinked and looked at her. Jessica continued, her voice polite but laced with subtle authority, "It’s a pleasure meeting you."
A subtle smirk curved her lips as she watched Tricia’s expression twist with suppressed rage.
Jessica’s words, though courteous, carried an undercurrent that didn’t go unnoticed. Tricia’s face twisted subtly in frustration, a forced smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Well, I appreciate that you’ve had the opportunity to visit, you’re welcome. Although you won’t be staying in Noveria, we do hope to see you around often."
"Thanks, I really appreciate that," Jessica replied smoothly.
Even though part of her was curious to know the kind of friends Davis had managed to keep over the years, she was grateful that at least a few of them were willing to accept her as his wife.
Lucas took a quiet sip from his glass before setting it down. His eyes drifted to Davis’s motionless legs, and something in him tightened. His breath caught slightly.
"Davis, it still feels surreal seeing you in a wheelchair," he said, his tone heavy with disbelief.
"Lucas, you may find it hard to believe, but this is my reality now. One that’s not going away anytime soon," Davis said, his voice low.
"What exactly happened?" Alex asked, his brows furrowed. "Because, honestly, I’m still confused. And then suddenly hearing about your marriage—it’s just a lot to process."
Davis smiled faintly and looked from them to Jessica, who sat calmly beside him. A grateful smile curved his lips. He reached for her hand and held it tightly, as though drawing silent strength from her.
"It’s a long story," he said. "I got a call that one of our branches here was under attack—something about a new product launch. I flew in immediately... but the next thing I knew, everything turned to chaos. Then blackout. And here we are."
The room fell silent. The weight of the moment settled over them like a thick fog.
Alex exhaled slowly. "What’s the status of your treatment? Have you launched a full investigation?"
"Treatment... ongoing, with limited hope. Investigation... already underway," Davis replied in clipped tones.
Alex nodded. "We tried reaching out after the initial reports, but the news that followed was vague and hard to trust. Then came the rumors that your company was shutting down. We tried digging into it ourselves, but things were already tangled. And before we knew it, your uncle—under the title of acting CEO—released an internal memo."
Davis leaned back slightly in his chair. "How’s the market been since then? Any major shifts?"
Lucas, always up-to-date and in tune with the latest business trends, jumped in to answer. He gave a detailed analysis of the market shifts, competitive trends, and the status of their industry—his voice crisp and confident.
"What do you think the Allen Group’s take now in the market should be?"
Lucas straightened briefly "It’s tough to estimate. Confidence in Allen Group dipped sharply after the rumors about your health and the company’s instability. Your uncle made some aggressive changes—some were strategic, others questionable. The competitors took advantage, of course."
Jessica joined the discussion, offering perspectives that surprised everyone with their depth and clarity.
"So... what’s your plan now?" Matt asked finally.
Davis’s reply was swift. "Simple. Relaunching the company—next week."
"What?!" they all exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
Matt leaned forward, stunned. "That’s impossible. The company was nearly gutted—systems, reputation, staff, everything. Relaunching in a week... is like pulling off a miracle."
"Well," Jessica said with a dazzling smile, "the plans are already in motion. And we’re hoping we can count on your support."
Reaching into her handbag, she retrieved a stack of meticulously designed invitation cards. The room fell quiet again. Even Davis blinked in surprise.
With grace and confidence, Jessica stood and began distributing the cards one by one. When she got to Luke, she paused for a moment, meeting his gaze.
"You’re not thinking of turning me down, are you?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.
Lucas held her gaze, something unreadable in his eyes. But then, he sighed and took the card. "I won’t disappoint you," he murmured.
Though he had unresolved tensions with Davis, he had already decided not to let that taint his view of Jessica. She, after all, had nothing to do with their past feud—and she clearly knew what she was doing.
The rest of the room looked on with a mix of admiration and surprise.
Davis, for his part, felt a surge of emotion. He hadn’t expected her to go this far—or to handle things with such quiet elegance.
As Jessica returned to her seat, he reached for her and gently pulled her into his embrace. His eyes, intense and filled with silent questions, locked onto hers.
"How did you manage this?" he whispered close to her ear.
Jessica smiled softly, leaning into his warmth.
"I’ll tell you," she whispered back, her voice low and firm, "when we get back."
Then Davis planted a gentle, appreciative kiss on her lips—ignoring the stunned silence that briefly enveloped the room.
The relaunch was no longer a distant hope. It was happening. And with Jessica by his side, it seemed like even the impossible could become real.