Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Jessica’s POV

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Fiona didn’t look away. She exhaled heavily, using the back of her hand to wipe the dampness from her cheeks.

“It took Eric cheating on me, shattering me the way I shattered Aaron-to finally see the bullshit I’d been living. I had to feel that kind of hurt to realize I’d been the one handing it out for years.”

She took a shaky breath, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“I reflected on everything. The thrill of it all, the lust, the money the power-it was empty, Jess. I realized I was becoming the monster. So, I changed. I went to therapy, I cut ties with everyone who fed that part of me, and I started over. It’s not an excuse. I know I’m the villain in your story. It’s just… the truth.”

When she finished, the room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. I studied her the sincerity in her reddened eyes, the defeated slump of her shoulders.

She looked exhausted, like she’d been carrying this apology for miles.

Still, the old Jess-the one she’d bruised so many times-refused to let my guard down completely.

“How do I know this isn’t a tactic?” I asked, my voice hardening. I’ve seen this movie before, Fiona. The villain plays nice just to get close enough to strike harder.”

A flash of raw, unfiltered hurt crossed Fiona’s eyes.

She blinked rapidly, her lips trembling as she let out a soft, broken sigh.

“I know. I don’t expect you to believe me. I don’t even think I deserve your forgiveness. I’m not here to force a reconciliation or ask for a seat at your table. I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do, and because I can’t move forward until I’ve at least tried to own up to the mess I made.”

She stepped back toward the door, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“I hope you have a happy life, Jess. With Aaron. You both earned it.”

She offered one last small, sad smile before disappearing through the door. I stood in the foyer, watching her retreating back through the glass, feeling a strange, hollowed-out sensation in my chest.

The anger was still there, but it felt… lighter.

Aaron’s POV

“Aaron, please! Do not do this. Do you have any idea how many ves your grandfather will ruin if you back out now.”

My mother’s voice rose to a bellow, echoing off the glass walls of my office. I sat behind my desk, my eyes closed, rubbing the bridge of my nose where a headache was beginning to throb

I had just finished a grueling three-hour board meeting where my grandfather had spent the entire time eyeing me like a piece of chess equipment he was about to sacrifice.

Now, my mother was here to play the role of the enforcer.

“Mom,” I called, my voice dangerously low. “I don’t want to take ay anger out on you. Kindly leave.”

“I’m trying to save you from yourself!” she snapped, leaning ove my desk. “This merger, this marriage with Lauren-it secures our legacy for a century. Why are you being so stubborn

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11:50 Wed, Feb 11 00 D

Chapter 138

15%

55 vouchers

I snapped. I opened my eyes, the cold fire in my gut finally boiling over. I stood up slowly, looming over the desk.

“Why did you never marry the man your father wanted you to?” asked, my voice cutting through her hysterics like a blade.

She froze, her mouth agape.

“Why did you make my father into a puppet for the Tyrone legacy?” I continued, stepping around the desk to face her.

“If love wasn’t important, if a connection didn’t matter, why did you fight so hard for him? Why did you risk everything for a man who didn’t fit the legacy?” I let out a mocking laugh.

“Dad didn’t even want this. He wanted to be an architect, but you made him sacrifice his dreams just so you could have both -the man you loved and the throne.”

She was speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for a rebuttal that didn’t exist.

She had spent her life preaching the family name, but her own history was a testament to her hypocrisy.

I let out a bitter chuckle.

“I guess you don’t have much of a say in trying to bend me to his will, do you? You’ve already lived your rebellion, Mother. Let me live mine. You may leave now.”

“Aaron,” she called, her voice dropping to a calm tone.

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