Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 192

Chapter 192

Daphne’s POV

The persistent chime of my phone pulled me from a heavy, dreamless sleep.

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I blinked against the morning light filtering through the cyan curtains of the guest room, momentarily disoriented by the size of the bed.

Then the memories of the previous night settled in my chest.

I fumbled for the device on the nightstand. The screen lit up with Lois’s name, and my heart gave a little jump.

I snatched it up and answered without thinking twice.

“Lois? Hey, is everything okay?” The words tumbled out fast. “You never call this early. Did something happen? Are you alright? Is it your mom? Your brother?”

She let out a quiet laugh on the other end.

“Daphne, breathe. I’m okay. I just wanted to hear your voice before the day got away from me.”

I exhaled, sinking back against the pillows, and a small smile found its way to my lips.

After everything that had unfolded yesterday evening, hearing her voice felt like finding a compass in the middle of a forest.

“I’m okay too. Just… adjusting. How is Pedro? And your mom?”

There was a long pause, the kind that makes your heart skip a beat.

“He’s stable for now,” Lois said, her voice dropping. “But the doctors ran more tests. It’s stage one cancer, Daph. He needs surgery soon. I’m trying to figure out how to pull the money together for it. My mom is a wreck, so I’m trying to stay steady for her.”

My stomach dropped.

“Oh my God, Lois.” I pressed a hand to my chest, as if that could stop the ache spreading there.

“I’m so sorry. That’s… that’s huge. Listen to me, you have to stay strong. I’m going to work twice as hard. I’ll find a way to help you cover the costs. We’ll get him through this.”

“Daph, no,” Lois said firmly, but I could hear the weariness underneath. “This is my family’s burden to carry. You have enough on your plate with that job and… and everything else.”

“Don’t be stubborn,” I countered, my voice thick with emotion. That’s what best friends are for. We’ve been each other’s safety net for years, and I’m not stopping now. I have to go to work in a bit, but I’ll call you tonight. I love you, Lo.

“I love you too. Have a good day”

The line went dead, leaving me staring at the wall,

I sat there for a second, taking a slow breath and running my fingers through my hair. The happiness from talking to her lingered, but it tangled with everything else.

Last night replayed in my head-David bringing that woman home, the way the house had felt suddenly too full.

How was I supposed to face him today? Or her?

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14:05 Sat, Apr 4

Chapter 192

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I pushed the thoughts aside and got up.

A long shower helped clear some of the fog.

The hot water eased the tension in my shoulders, and by the time I stepped out, I felt a little more like myself.

I spent an hour getting ready, using makeup to mask the puffiness of my eyes. I chose a simple blouse and skirt that felt professional.

I doused myself in my favorite perfume, and I was ready. Or as ready as I could be.

Downstairs, the kitchen was already bustling.

Helen was standing by the stove, the aroma of sizzling bacon and fresh pastries filling the air.

“Good morning, Helen. Can I help with anything?” I asked, stepping into the room.

“Oh, good morning, Daphne! No, no, you’re a guest. Please, sit.”

“I’m a guest who happens to be an assistant,” I reminded her with a small smile, reaching for a stack of plates.

“It wouldn’t be right for me to just sit here while you do everything. Let me help. Two sets of hands will make it faster anyway.”

She let out a fond sigh, and we worked side by side, chopping tomatoes and stirring batter.

We were in the middle of plating some fruit when I heard soft, tentative footsteps on the hardwood.

I turned, and the air seemed to leave the room.

Julie was standing in the doorway. She looked even smaller than she had the night before, her pale skin almost translucent in the morning sun.

She looked timid, her shoulders hunched as if she expected the world to strik

her at any moment.

But it was what she was wearing that made my blood run cold. She was wrapped in a crisp, white button-down shirt that was clearly several sizes too large for her. It was one of David’s.

The sleeves were rolled up at her wrists, and the hem fell halfway down her thighs.

I swallowed hard, the bitterness rising in my throat. I turned back to the coffee machine, my hands trembling as I stirred sugar into a cup.

“Good morning, Helen,” Julie murmured. She glanced toward me and gave a tiny, flickering nod, “Hello.”

She wasn’t rude. In fact, she seemed almost painfully polite, but could barely manage a stiff nod in return.

My mind was already racing, vivid and unwanted images of why she would be wearing his clothes playing on a loop in my head.

Helen answered warmly. “Morning, sweetheart, Coffee’s almost ready, Looking for something?”

Julie nodded, still not quite meeting my eyes,

“Just the extra towels, David said they might be in the linen close upstairs, but I couldn’t find them.”

Helen pointed her toward the right cabinet. “Top shelf, blue one”

“Thanks.” Julie’s voice was quiet, almost non existent.

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14:05 Sat, Apr 4

Chapter 192

Breakfast came together quickly after that. Plates were set, eggs scrambled perfectly, fruit arranged in bowls.

Julie stood over a chair, staring at her food with total disinterest.

Honestly, she made me curious; I felt a desperate need to know what lay behind those empty eyes.

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As I sat, the sound of David’s heavy, confident footsteps echoed own the stairs. Each thud sent a jolt of pure panic through

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t sit at that table and watch him pull out her chair or share a private look with her over coffee.

I couldn’t spend the next thirty minutes sitting across from them, pretending everything was fine.

“I have to go,” I blurted out, grabbing my bag and my phone from the table.

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