Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Jessica’s POV

I stood in the middle of our cramped living room, surrounded by half-filled boxes and crumpled packing paper that crinkled underfoot.

Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting warm patches on the worn hardwood floor, but it did little to lift the knot in my stomach.

We were packing up our life in Pittsburgh-every toy, every book, every memory-and heading to Los Angeles.

Adrian bounced around the room like a ping-pong ball, his sneakers squeaking against the floor.

“Momma, do you think we’ll see Mickey Mouse? Or SpongeBob? I heard they make all the cartoons in LA!”

He clutched a stuffed dinosaur in one hand and a handful of action figures in the other, haphazardly tossing them into a box labeled “TOYS” in my messy Sharpie scrawl.

I forced a smile, kneeling down to help him organize the mess before it turned into an avalanche.

“Maybe, buddy. LA’s where a lot of magic happens. Who knows? We might even spot a movie star on the street.”

His pure, infectious laughter bubbled up, and for a moment, it eased the ache in my chest.

He was so happy about this move, eager to leave behind the quiet streets of Pittsburgh for the bright lights and beaches he’d

seen on TV.

But me? I wasn’t happy at all. I was scared out of my mind.

As I folded his tiny shirts into a suitcase, my thoughts spiraled into the dark places I tried to avoid.

Moving to a big city like LA meant more visibility, more chances of being found.

In Pittsburgh, we were ghosts; we were safe in the grey, industrial shadows. But LA was a hub, a place where people like the Tyrones did business, attended galas, and owned property.

What if Aaron found us?

The thought made my stomach do a slow, nauseating flip. Adrian wasn’t a “tender” baby anymore. He was a person-a person

who looked, spoke, and moved exactly like the man I’d run away from.

Aaron had the resources to bury me in legal fees, the power to sue for custody, and the wealth to offer Adrian a life I could only dream of providing.

Would he take him just to punish me? Or worse, would he resent me for the secret I’d kept? But then, why should he? He was the one who chose Fiona.

He used me, didn’t he? A rebound, a distraction while he sorted out his mess.

A hot, stinging tear escaped and splashed onto the sleeve of the hoodie I was folding.

“Jess.”

The soft voice made me jump. I hadn’t heard her come in.

I quickly swiped at my face with the back of my hand and tossed the shirt I’d been clutching into the suitcase, pretending to be absorbed in the task.

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13:20 Mon, Jan 12✓

Chapter 64

“Hey, Aunt. Do you need something?”

I turned around, pinning a brittle, fake smile onto my face. Aunt Lydia was standing by the door, leaning slightly on the

frame.

She looked thinner since the collapse, her skin a bit more sallow, but her eyes were as sharp and perceptive as ever.

Her lips curved into a small, understanding smile as she stepped closer, her slippers shuffling softly on the floor.

She didn’t buy the “I’m fine” act for a second.

“You don’t have to hide it from me, honey. I know you’re sad. I know you’re worried.”

I let out a dry, breathy laugh and shook my head, avoiding her gaze.

“No, Auntie. How could I be? We’re going to get you treated. That’s the only thing that matters. LA has the best specialists, the best equipment… it’s going to be great.”

I tried to sound positive, but my voice wavered at the end. She sighed, and moved closer until she could place a hand on my shoulder.

“Honey… I’m sorry,” she began. I opened my mouth to interrupt, to tell her she had nothing to be sorry for, but she shook her head to silence me.

“I know this is hard for you. Moving out like this, uprooting everything-and it’s all because of me. You really don’t have to come with me, you know? I can use my pension money, or maybe get a loan…”

“Absolutely not,” I snapped, my voice firm.

“I won’t let you go through this alone. You saved me when I had nothing. You gave me a home when I was a ‘stray rat’ on a patio. I am not letting you navigate a major surgery and recovery in a city five states away while I stay here and wonder if you’re breathing.”

She was family, the only real family I’d had in years-and I’d be damned if I let her face this without me.

Her eyes watered, the lines around them deepening with emotion.

“I know how much you’ve worked for Adrian. How you’ve built this life from nothing. And I know you’re scared that… well, that he could be taken away by his father. But you know, Jess? It’s bound to happen sometime soon. Secrets like that don’t stay buried forever.”

I took a shaky breath and nodded, finally admitting the truth out loud.

“I know. I just… I don’t want it to be now. I want Adrian to be mature enough to understand why I kept him away. I don’t want him growing up in that toxic Tyrone household while he’s still so impressionable.”

I swallowed hard, the bitterness of the past rising in my throat.

“And Aaron having custody means Fiona would be a constant in his life. She never liked me, Auntie. I know she’d make my son’s life hell just to get back at me.”

She squeezed my wrists.

“I understand. I really do. But you are a force, Jessica. You’ve survived more than most women twice your age. And I can assure you, all those things won’t happen. Not if we handle this right.”

Her words were meant to comfort me, but they didn’t quite land. How could she be so sure?

Still, I appreciated the effort, the way she always tried to be my rock. I sniffled, pulling myself together.

Mon,

Chapter 64

“Thanks, Aunt.”

She squeezed my hands before letting go.

“How are the preparations coming along?” she asked, sensing my need for a distraction.

I cleared my throat, and wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt.

“Pretty good, actually. I’ve secured a nice apartment in a decent neighborhood-not too flashy, but safe for Adrian. I paid three months’ rent upfront, so that’s one less worry. The rest of the money will go toward bills and, of course, Adrian’s school fees. I found a good elementary school nearby with great reviews.”

She smiled, a glimmer of relief and pride in her eyes.

“You’re an amazing woman, Jess. Hard-working, resilient, and a hell of a mother. I know your mom would be so proud of you, wherever she is. She’d be amazed at the woman you became.”

We both stood there for a moment, caught in a rare moment of shared emotion, before she changed the topic.

“And what about work? How will you manage in a city that expensive?”

“My editor in Pittsburgh wrote me a glowing recommendation,” I said, a small spark of hope finally flaring up.

“I’ve spent the last three nights curating my portfolio and sending out applications to every major outlet in California LA is the heart of media and entertainment; if there’s anywhere a journalist can make a name for herself, it’s there. I’m hoping to land a spot at a reputable digital newsroom or a lifestyle magazine.”

She nodded, clearly impressed, her smile widening.

“A fresh start. A bigger stage.” She patted my arm. “I’ll leave you to finish packing. I’m going to go see what my grand-nephew

He’s probably turning his room into a disaster zone.”

is

I chuckled softly. “Yeah, go check on him. Thanks, Aunt.”

She gave my shoulder a final pat and shuffled out, leaving me alone with the boxes and my thoughts.

Once I was alone, I let out a long, jagged sigh.

Despite the huge turn our lives were about to take-the uncertainty, the fear-I was so glad there was a chance for Aunt Lydia to live longer. To fight this thing.

The doctors ran tests after her collapse, and the answer was worse than anyone expected: kidney stones, but complicated ones, large and stubborn, blocking things in ways that required specialized surgery.

The local hospital here in Pittsburgh? It was fine for check-ups and minor stuff, but they didn’t have the equipment or the experts for something this major.

“You’ll need to go to a bigger facility,” the doctor had said, his face sympathetic. “Somewhere like LA, with top-tier urologists

and advanced tech.”

Moving to Los Angeles wasn’t just a change of scenery; it was a race for her life.

So here we were, planning to fly out in just a few days. Tickets booked, bags almost packed.

I just hoped that in a city of four million people, one specific man stayed exactly where he belonged-in my past.

13:20 Mon, Jan 12 st.