Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

His gaze traveled from me to the bags on the floor, and finally to Aaron. His face lit up instantly.

“Daddy You’re home!”

He didn’t wait for an answer. He bolted across the room and threw himself at Aaron’s legs.

72%

Aaron laughed–a rich, warm sound–and picked him up, swinging him into the air before tucking him against his chest.

“Hey, big guy. Sorry if we woke you up,” Aaron said, his voice back to that calm, steady tone.

He glanced at me, his eyes dancing with a playful glint that made me want to both punch him and kiss him again.

I cleared my throat, my voice still a bit breathless.

“We… we just got some food. Are you hungry, Addie?”

Adrian nodded eagerly. I hurried into the kitchen to hide my flushed face, my mind racing.

I stayed busy unpacking the pasta and garlic bread, focusing on the simple movements to ground myself.

I could hear them talking in the living room, the easy banter between father and son filling the house in a way that made the trauma of the afternoon feel a million miles away.

By the time we sat down for dinner, I had mostly regained my cool, though the heat still lingered in the back of my throat every time Aaron looked at me.

He sat across from us, having finally shed his suit jacket and loosened his tie.

“So.” Aaron said, twirling some pasta around his fork. He looked at Adrian, then shifted his gaze to me. His expression turned a bit more serious.

“I’ve been thinking. Things are going to get a little loud around here for a while. A lot of people are going to be asking questions, and I don’t want you guys having to deal with the cameras every time you walk out the front door.”

I paused with a piece of garlic bread halfway to my mouth, the steam from the pasta still curling between us.

“What are you saying?”

“I want us to take a trip,” Aaron said, his voice steady. He reached for a napkin, but his eyes never left mine.

“Just for a bit, while the lawyers handle the mess with Lauren and my grandfather. I’ve already made the arrangements. We’re going to relocate for a month or two. Maybe Singapore, or perhaps China. I have a few offices there I can check in on, and we can actually have some peace.”

Adrian’s eyes widened, his fork hovering over his plate.

“Is it like an adventure? Will there be dragons in China?”

Aaron chuckled, reaching over to ruffle our son’s hair.

“Maybe not real dragons, buddy, but lots of cool stuff-big cities yummy food, and parks bigger than the ones here. What do you think, Jess?”

I looked at Aaron, searching his face for any sign of uncertainty.

“Singapore sounds beautiful,” I whispered. The idea of a fresh start, even if it was only temporary, felt incredibly refreshing.

But deep inside, a small worry lingered.

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11 10 Tue, Feb 17 Gac.

His gaze traveled from me to the bags on the floor, and finally to Aaron. His face lit up instantly.

“Daddy! You’re home!”

He didn’t wait for an answer. He bolted across the room and threw himself at Aaron’s legs.

72%

Aaron laughed-a rich, warm sound-and picked him up, swinging him into the air before tucking him against his chest.

“Hey, big guy. Sorry if we woke you up,” Aaron said, his voice back to that calm, steady tone.

He glanced at me, his eyes dancing with a playful glint that made me want to both punch him and kiss him again.

I cleared my throat, my voice still a bit breathless.

“We…. we just got some food. Are you hungry, Addie?”

Adrian nodded eagerly. I hurried into the kitchen to hide my flushed face, my mind racing.

I stayed busy unpacking the pasta and garlic bread, focusing on the simple movements to ground myself.

I could hear them talking in the living room, the easy banter between father and son filling the house in a way that made the trauma of the afternoon feel a million miles away.

By the time we sat down for dinner, I had mostly regained my cool, though the heat still lingered in the back of my throat every time Aaron looked at me.

He sat across from us, having finally shed his suit jacket and loosened his tie.

“So,” Aaron said, twirling some pasta around his fork. He looked at Adrian, then shifted his gaze to me. His expression turned a bit more serious.

“I’ve been thinking. Things are going to get a little loud around here for a while. A lot of people are going to be asking questions, and I don’t want you guys having to deal with the cameras every time you walk out the front door.”

I paused with a piece of garlic bread halfway to my mouth, the steam from the pasta still curling between us.

“What are you saying?”

“I want us to take a trip,” Aaron said, his voice steady. He reached for a napkin, but his eyes never left mine.

“Just for a bit, while the lawyers handle the mess with Lauren and my grandfather. I’ve already made the arrangements. We’re going to relocate for a month or two. Maybe Singapore, or perhaps China. I have a few offices there I can check in on, and we can actually have some peace.”

Adrian’s eyes widened, his fork hovering over his plate.

“Is it like an adventure? Will there be dragons in China?”

Aaron chuckled, reaching over to ruffle our son’s hair.

“Maybe not real dragons, buddy, but lots of cool stuff-big cities yummy food, and parks bigger than the ones here. What do you think, Jess?”

I looked at Aaron, searching his face for any sign of uncertainty

“Singapore sounds beautiful,” I whispered. The idea of a fresh start, even if it was only temporary, felt incredibly refreshing.

But deep inside, a small worry lingered.

2/3

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