Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 99

10:37 Fri, Jan 23

Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Jessica’s POV

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The transition from the silence of the jet to the concrete heat of Los Angeles felt like waking up from a dream you weren’t ready to leave.

As the plane taxied toward the private terminal, the familiar, sprawl of LA unfolded outside the window. It was a world away from the honey-toned sunsets of Madrid.

Beside me, the “Madrid version” of Aaron was already fading. His jaw was set in that familiar, hard line as he scrolled through a barrage of messages that lit up his phone.

A cold knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. I was terrified that the moment our feet hit the tarmac, we’d slide right back into the roles we played so well: the professional distance, the guarded glances, the icy silence.

“An important meeting popped up, I can’t delay,” Aaron said, finally pocketing his phone.

He turned to me, and for a second, his expression softened into a regretful smile that didn’t quite reach his preoccupied eyes.

“One of my drivers is already here. He’ll drop you home. It’s safer this way-more discreet.”

I nodded, swallowing the pang of disappointment that rose in my throat.

I didn’t doubt the importance of his meeting, but I wasn’t blind, either. I saw the way he scanned the airport fence line, his body language shifting into a defensive crouch.

I knew this ‘discretion’ was as much about the paparazzi as it was about business. To the L.A. media, Aaron was a trophy, and I was just a missing piece of a headline they were itching to write.

“Okay,” I murmured, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Text me later?”

He didn’t answer with words. He reached out, his hand sliding into my hair as he pulled me into a hard, lingering kiss. It tasted like a promise and a goodbye all at once.

“Count on it,” he rasped against my lips.

Then, he was gone. I watched him stride toward a waiting black SUV, his team closing in around him like a human shield.

I found myself waiting for the cliché movie scene-the one where he stops, turns back, and offers a small, reassuring smile. But he simply walked away without a backward look.

I sighed, letting the fantasy go, and shifted my gaze to the left where a sleek black town car sat idling.

The driver stepped out immediately to help me with my bags.

I slid into the back seat, the leather cool and smooth against my skin-a small, grounding relief from the storm of thoughts racing through my mind.

10:37 Fri, Jan 23

Chapter 99

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As we pulled away from the private terminal, I leaned my head against the cool window.

I was still lost in our last shared kiss on the plane, the way his heartbeat had felt against my cheek, and the intoxicating memories of Madrid.

More than anything, I craved a future where we we’d be together-truly together-without the weight of secrets, contracts, or engagements hanging over us.

But doubt whispered in the back of my mind: would that day ever come, or was this just another fleeting high before reality came crashing down?

The drive passed in a haze, traffic snarling around us in slow motion.

We finally pulled up to my apartment, a modest building that felt humble and small after the gold-leafed luxury of Spain.

Through open windows, the faint sounds of my neighbors’ lives spilled out into the tree-lined street.

The driver set my luggage down in the lobby, his expression unreadable behind a polite, steady nod.

I offered a quick word of thanks, took my luggage, and retreated toward the elevator.

With every floor the lift climbed, I felt the years of my life settling back onto my shoulders.

I stood in front of my door, my hand hovering over the doorbell. I had told my aunt I’d be home sometime this week, but I hadn’t given her the exact day.

My heart was thundering against my ribs—not with the fire Aaron sparked, but with the pure, terrifying love of a mother who had been away too long.

I rang the bell.

“I’m coming! Hold on!” My aunt’s voice yelled from deep inside.

The locks turned, the door swung open, and for a second, she just stared at me, her mouth hanging open. Then, she let out a piercing scream.

“Jessica!”

She threw her arms around me, nearly knocking me over. I dropped my bags and hugged her back, closing my eyes and drinking in her homey scent-laundry detergent, cinnamon, and the comfort of safety. It was the smell of my real life.

“You’re early! Why didn’t you call? We were just about to have lunch,” she rambled, pulling back to inspect my face.

“You look… different. You look glowing, honey. How was the trip? Wait, don’t tell me yet-come in, come in!” Questions tumbled out as she ushered me inside, grabbing my suitcase.

“Did everything go okay? The meetings? And Aaron-did you two… talk?”

10:37 Fri, Jan 23

Chapter 99

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Before I could even attempt an answer, a thunderous sound of small footsteps echoed from the hallway.

“Momma?”

I froze. My breath hitched in my throat. Adrian burst around the corner, his small frame skidding on the hardwood floor.

He stopped for a heartbeat, his eyes widening as they landed on me.

“Mommaa!”

He launched himself at me like a rocket. I dropped to my knees, catching him in my arms, and the force of his impact sent a sob ripping through my chest.

I pressed my face against his neck, breathing him in.

The scent of his baby shampoo washed over me, a sudden, powerful wave that anchored me to him and made the rest of the world fall away.

I cried. I hadn’t meant to, but the gravity of the secret, the fear of Aaron’s reaction, and the sheer joy of holding my son again just overflowed.

He pulled back, his small hands resting on my shoulders as those big brown eyes searched mine.

“Momma, why are you crying? Are you sad?”

“Happy tears, baby,” I promised, my voice thick. I cupped his face, my hands trembling.

In the soft light of the apartment, the resemblance to Aaron was almost unbearable.

“I missed you so much. I missed you every single second.”

I pulled him close again, peppering his face with kisses-forehead, cheeks, nose-until his giggles filled the empty spaces where my doubts had been.

“Stop, Momma! It tickles!” He wriggled free, breathless and grinning.

I laughed through the lingering tears, reaching for my suitcase.

“I didn’t come back empty-handed, you know. I think there might be a few treasures in here for a very brave boy.”

I watched his face transform as I unearthed the gifts from Madrid: the tiny soccer jersey, the pair of sneakers, new clothes, wooden puzzle of a Spanish galleon, a new encyclopedia, and a bag of colorful candies.

I’d bought them in a rush while Aaron was stuck in a meeting at the high school where we went to watch the

game.

It was the only hour I had to myself, the only time I could gather these treasures without his watchful eyes. And I’d been meticulous about hiding them in my luggage.

10:37 Fri, Jan 23

Chapter 99

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Adrian’s eyes went wide as saucers, looking at the jersey as if it were spun from gold.

“For me? Whoa! You’re the best, Momma-you always know!” He clutched the fabric to his chest before lunging at me, nearly knocking me over.

“You’re like a superhero, coming back with treasures!”

I laughed, the sound bubbling up from deep inside. His innocent flattery melted the last of my tension, grounding me in the only reality that mattered.

“And you,” I whispered, squeezing him tight, “are my favorite adventure.”

Aunt Lydia watched us from the kitchen doorway, drying her hands on her apron with a knowing smile.

“He hasn’t stopped talking about you. He was counting the hours, not just the days. Now, leave the treasures for a moment and go wash up. I made your favorite-extra-cheesy lasagna.”

I listened to her and retreated for a quick hot to wash away the lingering tension and the weariness of the flight.

The meal was still simmering when I finished, giving me a few more precious minutes to sink into the sofa and simply be near my baby.

He spent twenty minutes showing me every single drawing he’d made while I was gone, his little voice animated as he described his imaginations.

Watching him, the guilt I’d felt on the plane returned tenfold. This is what Aaron is missing, I thought. This joy. This light.

Soon, the aroma of melting cheese filled the air, and we gathered around the table.

The room was full of light chatter and the easy comfort of home.

Even after dinner, Adrian refused to leave my side, trailing after me like a shadow-and I didn’t have the heart to let him go.

We stayed curled together on the sofa until his head finally grew heavy against my

chest.

Moving carefully, I used every bit of my strength to carry his limp, sleeping weight to our room and tuck him

The apartment fell into a sudden, heavy silence.

I walked into the living room just as Aunt Lydia was coming from the kitchen with two cups balanced in her hands.

She pressed one into my hands before settling onto the sofa across from me. She didn’t say a word, but her gaze was steady and far too perceptive.

She had been the one to hold me together when I arrived on her doorstep six years ago, pregnant and broken. She knew my tells.

10:37 Fri, Jan 23

Chapter 99

She took a slow sip of her tea, her gaze never leaving mine.

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“The driver was a professional, Jess. Black car, tinted windows, expensive suit,” she said quietly. “That wasn’t a taxi.”

I looked down at my tea, watching the steam rise in curls.

“And you,” she continued, her voice softening. “You didn’t just come home from a business trip. You look like a woman who finally found a piece of heaven, but realized she had to smuggle it home in the dark.”

She leaned forward, resting her hand on my knee.

“So tell me, Jessica. What really happened in Madrid?”

I looked toward the kitchen, where I could hear the soft buzz of the refrigerator.

F

ADI