Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Jessica’s POV

Baby, did you park all your stuff” I called out my voice echoing as I hurried up the stairs toward Adrian’s room.

My chest felt night, that restless energy of a big move buzzing through my limbs

It was the day. We were actually moving to China

The house felt different-empty in some corners, cluttered with suitcases in others.

Aaron bad mentioned that we would eventually come back, but something in the way he looked at the maps on his desk told me otherwise.

He’d told me it all depended on us. If Adrian and I loved it there we wouldn’t have to return.

He would just expand his company further into the global market, which had always been his long-term goal anyway.

He was building an empire that didn’t need his grandfather’s approval or the Tyrone name to survive.

I stepped into Adrian’s room and found him sitting on the floor trying to decide which of his three favorite dinosaurs could fit into his small backpack.

Momma, can Rex come? He’s big but he’s a good flyer. Adrian asked, looking up at me with those wide, trusting eyes.

“Rex can definitely come, baby, but we have to move fast. The car will be here soon.” I said, kneeling beside him to help zip the bag.

I was all over the place. I’d checked my passport ten times in the last hour.

I’d walked through the kitchen twice to make sure the stove was off, even though I knew I hadn’t cooked a thing since yesterday.

The magnitude of what we were doing, leaving everything behind to start over in a country where no one knew our names -was finally hitting me.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. They probably knew Aaron. It was hard to hide a star basketball athlete with his kind of reach; his face was on billboards and highlight reels across the globe.

But in China, he wouldn’t be “The Tyrone Heir’ under Kennedys thumb. He’d just be an athlete starting a new chapter.

1 stood up, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead, and headed toward our bedroom to grab the last of the carry-ons.

I was staring at a stack of folded clothes, wondering if I’d packed enough warm things, when I felt a presence behind me.

Before I could turn, two strong arms wrapped around my waist. Aaron pulled me back against him, his chest a solid, warm wall against my back.

He leaned down, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my neck, sending a wave of calm through me that I desperately needed.

“Deep breaths, Jess.” he murmured, his voice a steadying force.

“You’re overthinking the packing. If we forgot something, we’ll buy a new one when we land.”

I leaned my head back against his shoulder, closing my eyes.

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Chapter 147

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“I just feel like I’m forgetting something important. What if the paperwork isn’t right? What if your grandfather finds out before the plane leaves the tarmac?”

Aaron turned me around in his arms, keeping me close. He looked down at me, his eyes soft but filled with that unshakable confidence that had led us this far.

“I’ve got everything under control. The flight is set, the housing is ready, and the trail is cold. Trust me.”

I looked into his eyes and felt that knot in my stomach loosen a fraction.

“I do trust you. I’m just… I’ve never moved an entire life across the ocean before.”

“Well, you’re doing great,” he whispered, a playful glint appearing in his gaze. He leaned in, his nose brushing mine.

“And you look beautiful when you’re stressed, though I’d much prefer you relaxed.”

He tilted his head and kissed me—a slow, deep kiss that tasted of promise and new beginnings.

I melted into him, my hands sliding up his chest to rest on his neck, forgetting about the suitcases and the looming flight for a fleeting second.

“Keep it PG! Ugh, some of us are still single and suffering over here.”

I pulled away shyly, my cheeks flushing a deep red as I refused to meet the newcomer’s gaze.

David was leaning against the doorframe, a smirk plastered on his face and a set of car keys dangling from his finger.

He’d been our shadow for the last forty-eight hours, helping with the heavy lifting, the security sweeps, and the logistics of disappearing.

“David,” I mumbled, smoothing down my shirt and looking everywhere but at him or Adrian, who had wandered into the hallway, curious about the noise.

Aaron didn’t look embarrassed at all. He kept one arm draped possessively around my shoulders, pulling me back into his side as he looked at his cousin.

“You’re late,” Aaron said, his gaze pointed.

“I was busy making sure the paparazzi are currently chasing a black SUV filled with your security team toward the Hamptons,” David replied with a wink, looking quite proud of himself.

Aaron’s eyes slid toward Adrian, checking to make sure our son was preoccupied with his dinosaur, then moved back to David.

“Is the car ready?”

“Yup. Engine’s running, luggage is loaded, and the security team is in position at the main terminal to act as a distraction.” David said, his tone finally turning serious..

He stepped into the room, lowering his voice.

“I’ve wiped the house servers and dismantled every internal security detail,” David said, his tone turning serious.

He stepped into the room, tossing the keys up and catching them in one smooth motion.

“If grandpa tries to check the logs or pull the footage to see when you left, he’s going to find a whole lot of nothing. I’ve scrubbed the recorders clean-no history, no backups. By the time he realizes the house is empty, he won’t have a single clue which direction you headed.”

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