Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Jessica’s POV

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We were led inside, and if the exterior was impressive, the interior was majestic: a grand foyer with high ceilings, a crystal chandelier, hardwood floors polished to a shine, and an open-concept living room flowing into a state-of-the-art kitchen with marble counters and stainless-steel appliances.

The walls were adorned with neutral art, nothing too personal, but the space screamed luxury: plush sofas, a stone fireplace, and French doors opening to the backyard pool, its water shimmering invitingly.

River walked me through the security protocols, showing me how the entire house was networked.

“Mr. Tyrone insisted on the highest encryption,” River explained, handing me a sleek tablet.

“The biometric locks, the cameras, the perimeter alarms-you can control all of it from your phone. He made sure only you have the primary access codes. Even he can’t enter without you being notified.”

My heart skipped. It was a gesture of trust-or perhaps a way to make me feel like I finally had control over my own boundaries.

When he was finished, River gave a slight, respectful bow and retreated to the security station near the gate.

We explored the house, the air fresh with a hint of new paint and lemon cleaner.

There were enough bedrooms to choose from-spacious, with en-suite baths and walk-in closets.

Aunt Lydia picked a sunny one on the ground floor for ease, while I chose an upstairs master with a balcony

view.

Adrian, overwhelmed by the choice, looked at a room that was twice the size of our old apartment, then looked at me.

“I’m still sleeping with you, though. Right?”

I pinched his nose, my heart aching. “Of course, Addie. Always.”

We got settled thereafter-unpacking essentials as the movers finished up.

By evening, I made dinner: simple pasta with sauce, garlic bread, and salad, the kitchen’s high-end stove making it feel effortless.

We ate at the dining table, laughter echoing as Adrian recounted his “adventures” exploring the backyard.

Aunt Lydia looked more relaxed than I’d seen in weeks, her color returning, and Adrian’s joy was a balm on my frayed nerves.

In the dead of the night, after putting Adrian to sleep, and feeding Aunt Lydia her pills with a glass of water, I found myself alone in the enormous living room.

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Chapter 124

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The house was quiet now. I stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, my silhouette reflected against the glass as I looked out over the pool.

The surface was a perfect, undisturbed mirror under the moonlight, broken only by the underwater lights that cast a deep, serene blue glow through the water.

In my hand, I swirled a cup of apple juice, watching the ice clink against the crystal.

I could feel the cool night air seeping through the glass, a subtle chill that reminded me I was no longer in our cramped, overheated apartment.

Everything here was designed to be beautiful, to be calm.

Never in my wildest imaginations did I think all my dreams would come true like this-standing here, in a home that felt like a fairy tale, with space to breathe and no immediate worries about bills or cramped

apartments.

I thought about the pure joy on Adrian’s face earlier, his eyes lighting up like the stars as he discovered the playroom stocked with toys.

About how relaxed Aunt Lydia had seemed at dinner, her laughter genuine for the first time since the surgery.

Even if this was temporary-and I prayed with everything I had that it wasn’t-it felt incredible.

This taste of luxury was sweet. The apple juice added more flavor, a simple pleasure amplified by the

moment.

But the quietness of the moment allowed my mind to go where I didn’t want it to: back to Aaron.

It was a hard truth to swallow, but Aaron had always been the one to show up for me, even when we were at

each other’s throats.

In high school, he knew exactly how to make me cry with a single comment, yet he was also the only person who ever stepped in when things got truly bad.

It was a confusing, messy cycle that apparently hadn’t ended.

Even now, while he clearly hated me for what I’d done, he was still the one building walls around me to keep me safe.

He didn’t deserve the six-year gap I’d torn into his life. I knew that. Hiding Adrian wasn’t something I could just apologize away, a sin that’s hard to wash clean.

Back then, I told myself I was being smart. I told myself that running was the only way to protect my son from the Tyrone family and to protect my own heart from breaking any further.

Those reasons felt like a solid shield at the time.

But standing here, looking at the life he’d just handed us, that shield felt more like a weapon I’d used against

him.

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Chapter 124

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I’d been so focused on surviving that I hadn’t realized how much I was destroying in the process.

I sighed, the cool glass sweating against my palm.

There was no point in dwelling on the past anymore. It was a closed book; all I could do now was work on the sequel.

I had to show him I was sorry. I had to show him we could be a family, even if “family” just meant co-existing in this beautiful, gilded cage.

While I was lost in the silence, my phone buzzed in my pajama pocket, the vibration startling me.

I pulled it out, the screen glowing bright in the dark living room.

Aaron.

My heart did a violent somersault. I swallowed hard, the apple juice suddenly feeling like a shot of straight whiskey, burning its way down.

I counted to five, trying to steady my pulse, before I swiped to answer.

“Hello?” I whispered.

A second of silence passed. Then he spoke, his voice low and tired.

“How do you like the place, Jess?”

I looked around at the shadows of the vaulted ceiling.

“Aaron… you told me it was a condo. This is… this is a palace.”

“I changed my mind,” he said, and I could almost hear the shrug in his voice. “I want my son and his mother to live comfortably. I want you to be able to breathe and feel safe.”

His mother. The phrase felt like a dull blade to my chest. He didn’t say “you.” He didn’t say “my Jess.”

I was a category now. A title. I wasn’t his partner; I was his baby mama.

A tear leaked out, hot and silent, tracking down my cheek,

“River should have briefed you,” he continued, oblivious to the crack in my heart. “Are you okay with the layout? Do you need anything changed? I can employ a domestic staff-a cook, a cleaner-”

“No, Aaron, I’m fine,” I interrupted, wiping my face.

“I can handle things myself. Besides, I’ll be working from home now. I’ll have ample time for the chores. I need to keep busy, or I’ll go crazy.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “I don’t like the sound of you scrubbing floors, Jessica. But… I’ll let you have the say this time.”

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I could picture it perfectly-the way his brow would be furrowed, that stubborn line appearing between his

eyes.

“Thank you,” I mumbled.

Then, the air in the conversation shifted. The weight of the real reason for all of this settled between us.

“When are you going to tell him?” Aaron asked.

I bit my lip, my heart accelerating.

“Sunday. It’s Father’s Day. I thought… I’d like to have a lunch here. Just us. We can break the news then.”

The silence stretched for a moment. I held my breath, wondering if he’d reject the idea of a family lunch after everything.

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