Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Jessica’s POV

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We made our way downstairs, the reality of the departure settling over us. The house felt like a shell now, a memory of a life we were outgrowing.

David helped us with the final bags, his usual playful banter replaced by a focused, quiet efficiency.

When we reached the airport, I expected us to head toward the private hangar where the Tyrone jets were kept. Instead, David drove us toward the main international terminal.

I looked at Aaron, my eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “We’re flying commercial?”

“It’d be too easy to track the private jet,” Aaron said, satisfying the curiosity he saw in my eyes.

“My grandfather monitors every flight plan that leaves that hangar. But a first-class cabin on a massive international flight? We’re just three more names among hundreds. We’ll vanish into the crowd.”

The logic was sound, typical of Aaron’s calculated way of thinking.

At the gate, the atmosphere was heavy with the sort of quiet goodbye that felt more like a transition than an ending.

The terminal was filled with strangers, providing us with the perfect camouflage, but within our small circle, the air was thick with unspoken gratitude.

David stepped forward and dropped to one knee so he was eye-level with my son. He didn’t go for a standard hug.

Instead, he held up a fist, keeping his pinky and thumb extended the secret signal they’d spent the last few weeks perfecting behind my back.

Adrian’s eyes lit up instantly. He mimicked the gesture perfectly his small hand clashing against David’s.

“The eagle flies at midnight?” Adrian whispered, his voice hushed and full of mock mystery.

“The eagle flies at midnight,” David replied solemnly. Their hands moved through a complicated series of taps and spins, a blur of motion that ended in a synchronised snap.

“That means if the dragons in China get too loud, you send the signal and I’ll fly in with the reinforcements. You’re the captain now, Addie. You keep the perimeter secure.”

Adrian nodded with the gravity of a seasoned soldier, his expression incredibly serious.

“Sector four is locked down, Uncle David.”

Aaron sighed, a sound that was half-annoyed and half-amused, and gently pulled Adrian back toward his side.

He looked at David, an eyebrow arched.

“Stop filling his head with this nonsense. I’m trying to move him to a new country, not recruit him for a black-ops mission. You’re going to infect my son with your madness.”

David straightened up, the smirk on his face growing wider. He dusted off his jeans, looking entirely unrepentant.

“Madness? Please. I’m giving the boy a survival skill set. One day he’ll thank me when he’s successfully evaded a board meeting he didn’t want to attend.”

“Will you come stay with us?” Adrian’s small voice interrupted their banter, his hand reaching out to tug on David’s jacket.

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Chapter 148

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The humor in David’s eyes softened into something more genuine, a rare moment of vulnerability flickering across his face.

“As soon as your dad gives me the all-clear, I’ll be there,” David promised, his voice losing its teasing edge.

“I’ll bring the best reinforcements money can buy.”

He stood up and turned to me, stepping into my space to give me a brief, supportive hug.

He smelled like expensive coffee and the lingering scent of the car’s leather interior.

“Take care of him, Jess,” he said into my ear before pulling back. He’s…. well, he’s quite an energy ball once he gets going. Don’t let him stay in his head too much.”

“I know,” I laughed softly, though a lump was already forming in my throat.

“Thank you for everything, David. Truly. We wouldn’t be standing on this side of the gate without you.”

He nodded with a proud smile. Finally, he turned to Aaron.

The two men stood there for a moment, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

David reached out and patted Aaron’s shoulder, his grip lingering for a second.

“I’ve got your back here,” David said. “I’ll handle the board meetings and the old man. Just go. Don’t look back.”

Aaron nodded once. He didn’t smile, he wasn’t a man for grand emotional displays. but I could see the gratitude in the way his jaw relaxed.

Their relationship was a beautiful thing, and I was so happy that Aaron had found it in his heart to forgive David for the mistakes of the past.

It was funny, actually. I had expected the wounds to take years to heal-for the bitterness to fade enough for him to look us in the eyes without flinching.

But his forgiveness had arrived with a sudden, earned

grace,

They were more than cousins now; they were brothers-in-arms.

I let out a soft sigh, pushing away the memory of the darker weeks. I didn’t want to think about the mistakes or the pain today. Today was for the future.

“I’ll come visit soon,” David called out, waving as we turned toward the boarding bridge.

We walked down the long, carpeted tunnel, Aaron holding my hand in one of his and Adrian’s in the other.

When we stepped onto the plane, the flight attendants greeted us with quiet smiles, leading us to the first-class cabin.

It was luxurious-private pods that felt more like small hotel rooms than airplane seats.

As soon as the plane took off and the seatbelt sign flickered off, the cabin crew helped us convert the seats into a large, communal bed.

The hum of the engines was a steady, soothing background noise as the city we’d called home disappeared beneath the clouds.

Adrian was already yawning, his excitement finally giving way to exhaustion. We settled into the middle of the large bed, tucking him in between us.

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