Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Jessica’s POV

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The sleek black SUV pulled up smoothly in front of what could only be described as a dream home-a sprawling two-story house nestled in a quiet, tree-lined suburb far from the city’s chaotic pulse.

Aaron had told me a “condo,” a word that implied a luxury apartment, perhaps a safe floor in a secure building.

But this? This was a house; it was a fully built family haven, the kind with a wide front porch wrapped in blooming vines, a manicured lawn that stretched like a green carpet, and large bay windows that promised floods of natural light.

The exterior was a warm blend of stone and wood, with a chimney hinting at cozy fireplaces inside, and a detached garage big enough for multiple cars.

It screamed stability, the sort of place where kids could run barefoot in the backyard, where holidays felt magical.

Beside me, Aunt Lydia leaned forward in her seat, her eyes widening despite the fatigue still etching her face from recovery.

“Oh, Jess… this is…” She trailed off, her voice soft with wonder.

Adrian, buckled in his booster, pressed his nose against the window, his little mouth forming a perfect O as he gazed around, taking in the swing set peeking from the side yard and the sparkling blue pool visible through the gated fence.

I couldn’t find my voice. I felt like an intruder in my own life.

Just then, two large moving trucks pulled into the driveway behind us, and a team of professional movers began unloading our modest boxes-boxes that looked pathetically small and battered against the backdrop of such opulence.

The driver of our SUV nodded politely and opened the doors, helping Aunt Lydia out with a steady arm.

Adrian tugged at my sleeve, his eyes shining with hope.

“Momma, is this our new home?”

I glanced at Aunt Lydia, my eyes practically screaming for her to intervene-to hand me a script, a lie, or anything that would help me explain this without promising a future I couldn’t guarantee.

How was I supposed to look into the bright, trusting eyes of a five-year-old and tell him that this luxury was just a gilded life raft? That we were living in a fortress designed to keep out a storm he didn’t even know was coming?

But Aunt Lydia remained silent. She just leaned heavily on her cane and offered me a weak, tired smile.

There was no rescue in her gaze only a quiet heartbreaking recognition: “This is your cross to carry honey’

15:05 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 123

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I forced a breath into my lungs and turned to Adrian, smoothing his hair.

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“We’ll be living here for a while, Addie,” I said, my voice barely holding steady. “It’s… a special place for us to stay while we sort some things out.”

I hated the vagueness of it, but I couldn’t tell him the truth.

Life had taught me that hope was a dangerous currency. The Tyrones weren’t a family; they were a dynasty, a den of vipers where Kennedy loomed like a permanent eclipse.

He was a man who could snap his fingers and yank this all away, plunging us into a poverty deeper and colder than anything we’d survived before.

Adrian’s pupils dilated, reflecting the sprawling glass of the house. “Really?”

I managed a nod, his excitement infectious enough to momentarily dull the ache in my chest.

“Oh, Momma! Why didn’t you tell me we’re rich now?” He bounced on his toes, throwing his arms wide as if he were trying to embrace the entire acre of land.

“Does this mean I get a room with a slide? Or a spaceship bed?”

Aunt Lydia and I exchanged glances before bursting into laughter, the sound genuine and much-needed in the crisp morning air.

His innocence sliced through my worries, a brief, warm flare against the chill of uncertainty. But as the laughter faded, the shadows crept back in.

We weren’t here because we’d worn the lottery. This wasn’t a reward for my return or a prize for my six years of silence.

This was a tactical retreat. We were here because we were prey, tucked away in a high-end burrow to hide from a man who viewed people as either assets or obstacles.

Kennedy Tyrone wouldn’t see a grandson when he looked at Adrian. He would see a weapon to be wielded in his crusade to make Aaron suffer, or a stain on the family legacy to be erased with a flick of his wrist.

This was the very heart of the fear that had kept me running for six years: the Tyrone web.

It was a place where power plays were the only currency and the innocent were just collateral damage to be crushed underfoot.

As I watched my son spin in dizzying circles on the pristine driveway, his laughter ringing out in the quiet suburb, my heart swayed in the center of the storm.

I could only pray that Aaron’s promise of protection was as solid as the stone of this house, and that the walls were thick enough to keep the vipers out.

Just then, a massive figure approached from the side gate-a guard towering at least six-foot-five, with broad shoulders that strained his black tactical vest, arms corded with muscle like twisted ropes, and a shaved head that gleamed under the sun.

15:05 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 123

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His face was a mask of stoic professionalism, his eyes scanning the perimeter before they settled on us.

“Miss Reid,” he called in a deep, rumbling voice, extending a hand. “I’m River. I’ll be your personal bodyguard. My team and I are responsible for everything within these walls.”

I forced a smile, shaking his hand-his grip firm but not crushing.

“Nice to meet you, River. This is my aunt, Lydia, and my son, Adrian.”

Adrian stared up at him, eyes wide as saucers.

“Are you Superman’s brother?” Adrian asked, his voice dead serious. “Or are you a robot? You’re huge!”

“Addie,” I nudged him gently, pulling him close, heat rising to my cheeks. I looked up at River with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry about that…he’s got quite the imagination.”

Surprisingly, River’s stern expression softened.

He actually knelt, bringing his massive frame down to Adrian’s eye level. A small, kind smile touched his lips.

“I’m not a robot, kid. And Superman is a friend of mine, but I think my cape is at the dry cleaners. Who’s your favorite superhero?”

Aunt Lydia and I exchanged a quick, amused look.

She quirked an eyebrow at me, a silent ‘well, he’s certainly charming,’ while Adrian giggled and launched into a mile-a-minute ramble about Spider-Man’s tactical web-shooters.

For a fleeting moment, the suffocating tension of the move actually eased.

Aunt Lydia let out a soft, dry chuckle. “Careful now, River,” she teased, leaning her weight onto her cane. “Your boss might not be pleased with you fraternizing like this.”

The change in River was instantaneous. It was like watching a well-oiled shutter slam shut-his posture snapped back to a rigid, military line, and his stoic mask slid back into place.

His eyes, which had just been crinkled with kindness, were suddenly back to their restless scan of the perimeter, sharp and impassive.

“Apologies, ma’am,” he said, his voice dropping back into that deep, professional rumble.

“I was merely trying to make the transition comfortable for the little one.”

He offered me a final, brief glance, and for a split second, a flicker of genuine warmth broke through the ice of his expression.

“You’ve got an adorable kid there, Ms. Reid.”

I offered him a smile and mumbled a ‘thank you.’

15:05 Tue, Feb 3