Darkness slowly rolled away from the sky as morning light crept in, painting the horizon in hues of gold. The dew still clung to the lush green grass, and the flowers began to open up, releasing their sweet fragrance into the warm, fresh air.
Davis stirred awake, his eyes slowly settling on the peaceful face of the woman beside him. Carefully, he slipped his arm from under her head, replacing it with a pillow. As he shifted to get out of bed, a slender arm wrapped around his waist. He paused.
A sleepy voice mumbled, "Still early... Where are you going this early?"
Davis turned to look at her, her eyelids fluttering but not yet fully open. He chuckled softly. "I have a lot to sort out today. It’s better to start early."
His hand brushed away the stray strands of hair from her face.
"I’ll be visiting the Santiagos’ this evening," Jessica muttered.
Davis gave a small nod. He knew this visit weighed on her. The Santiagos were no ordinary family, and Jessica always seemed tense around them. With the date already fixed, there was no turning back now.
After a moment of thought, he said, "You might want to carefully choose what you wear, probably a dress. I have a strong feeling you’re not just going to meet the familiar faces this time."
That jolted Jessica awake. Her eyes snapped open, all traces of sleep gone. "Why do you say that?" she asked, her chest tightening slightly.
"Just a gut feeling," Davis replied quietly.
She let out a slow breath, her heart thudding. Davis went on, his voice thoughtful.
"Think about it. You’ve met Lady Matilda a few times already, and you know her son as well. Before our trip, they requested your visit, but you rescheduled. You’ve had dinners with her outside their mansion before and now, they want you to visit their family estate. Doesn’t that suggest something deeper?"
Jessica nodded slowly. "I’ve always suspected she had something on her mind. There’s a certain familiarity I feel when I’m with her... and those subtle looks she gives me. You may be right."
A quiet stillness fell between them, each lost in their thoughts. Then Jessica straightened, determination in her eyes. "Alright. No need to worry. I’ll be ready on time." With a smile on her lips, she muttered "We shall see what they’ve got."
"Going with your driver?" Davis asked.
"No. They’re sending one. But I’ll have a backup on standby just in case I decide to leave early."
Davis gave a soft laugh. "Smart move. Well, now that Sleeping Beauty is fully awake, I’ll be on my way."
Jessica smiled faintly. "It’s okay."
He pulled her into a warm hug. When he let go, Jessica rose from the bed and walked into the walk-in closet to select a dress from her limited-edition collection.
After a warm shower, Davis received a quick shoulder massage from Jessica before slipping into his tailored suit. She helped him adjust his tie.
He stood before the mirror, took a deep breath, then walked himself toward his wheelchair to settle down for the day.
The mansion buzzed with renewed energy. The aroma of breakfast filled the air as the chef worked in the kitchen and maids attended to their assigned duties.
Ethan sat in the dining room, focused on his laptop with several files sprawled across from him. His expression hardening as he was going through the acquisition documents Davis had instructed him to prepare. Despite just returning from travel, work had resumed in full swing.
The soft rolling sound of Davis’s wheelchair made Ethan glance up. He stood and approached, they both exchanged pleasantries. His hand settling on the wheelchair he assisted Davis to the seat.
Davis looked at the screen. "Any challenge with the acquisition?"
Ethan shook his head slightly. "I got a report and it seems Madam is also interested in the acquisition. I got the report that the company is a direct competitor and was founded with a purpose."
Davis’s eyes narrowed. "Has she made progress already?"
"I’m not sure," Ethan replied. "But I keep hitting walls whenever I make a move. I suspect she’s ahead."
"Roughly a week," Ethan responded.
Davis sighed. "You’ve already lost. Pull back if she is involved and if she is not then maybe you will have to dig deeper."
Ethan nodded. Knowing Jessica’s strategy and precision, he understood there was no winning against her once she acted.
"Yeah... makes sense. Maybe we should find out from her?" He suggested.
"I will," Davis said. "When she comes down for breakfast."
Moments later, Jessica descended the stairs with calm elegance and graceful steps. Her expression was serene, yet focused.
Her presence brought a quiet calm to the room. Her poise and gentle aura were unmistakable.
The faint curve of her baby bump was visible beneath her silk dress. Ethan stood to pull out her chair.
Ethan stood quickly, pulling out her chair. She nodded gratefully and sat.
The maids brought in breakfast. Ethan gathered the papers together and the maids began setting the table.
Quietly and efficiently the maids arranged the dishes on the table and quickly returned to the kitchen.
Without looking up, Jessica asked, "Ethan, were you trying to acquire Jack’s Group?"
Ethan and Davis both turned to her, caught off guard.
"Yes. I’ve been working on it, but—"
"No need," she interrupted. "I finalized the acquisition two weeks ago while still in Noveria. I only received the confirmation yesterday."
Ethan let out a low whistle. "That explains a lot."
Davis frowned slightly. "Why did you acquire it?"
Jessica leaned forward. "Desmond was targeting it. He had invested heavily and was close to becoming the top shareholder."
Jessica smiled lightly "You’ve forgotten It’s a direct rival to Allen Group. His plan was to slowly fund Jack’s Group while draining Allen from within, turning it into an empty shell."
She paused to let the words sink in.
"So with no option left, I have to step in and take it over—quietly, before he knows about it though it was a difficult task but he never knew it was my doing."
Davis nodded, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Seems you’re better informed about Allen Group than I am yet you never told me?"
Jessica gave a soft smirk. "Not really. At the time you are planning the relaunch. Topping up with the burden of acquisition isn’t a good idea."
Then she turned to Ethan. "I need you to track the alliance between the Brown family and the Allen family. My team is already working on it, but we haven’t cracked their strategy. Between George and Desmond, one of them is the real mastermind."
She grew quiet, her gaze turning distant. Her lips thinned slightly at the mention of George Brown.
He had betrayed her mother, tried to crush her company, and now he dared plot again. Her stepmother wouldn’t go unpunished either. Jessica’s eyes darkened, a flash of resolve burning in them.
Davis, noticing the shift in her expression, felt a chill. He had seen this look before. An expression that shows her fury might be silent but it’s absolute.
After breakfast, Davis and Ethan left for their scheduled meetings.
Jessica stood at the doorway, watching the car disappear through the gate. Once inside, she walked back upstairs.
There was still much to do before visiting the Santiagos.
Settling into her study, she picked up her phone and dialed. "Get me Clara Brown’s latest movements," she ordered. Her voice is calm, yet firm.
She had returned from Noveria. Now it was time to finish everything she had paused.