When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese and Zacharias) novel Chapter 669

From that moment on, Wendy had poured almost everything she had into her career. Even now, when the bridal brand she founded had grown into a world-famous luxury label, she still never slowed down.

Adrian knew the truth. After her second pregnancy, Wendy never had the chance to recover appropriately. Her body took a real hit, and her health had been fragile ever since.

Wendy, of course, did not respond to a single word he said. The door closed behind her. Only after a long pause did a quiet scoff slip from her lips.

She worked herself this hard because she had never escaped the pain of losing her daughter. What she hated even more was her own helplessness at the time. She wanted power. She wanted strength. If she had possessed her current status, background, and wealth back then, Anastasia would never have dared to touch her daughter.

What she despised most was herself. She had married Adrian and willingly became a full-time housewife. In the end, she had earned that outcome. She could not even protect her own child.

Almost without thinking, Wendy slipped her hand into her pocket, reaching for the pregnancy checkup slip she had carried with her all these years. It was the only thing she had left. The closest thing she still had to a photograph of her daughter.

Whenever her fingers touched it, she felt as if her daughter were still beside her. Her heart would finally settle. But this time, her hand came up empty.

Panic slammed into her chest.

Wendy shot to her feet, instinctively, and started searching her pockets in a frenzy.

No. That's impossible. How could it be gone?

Wendy's face went ghostly pale before it hit her. She had changed jackets earlier. The moment that important call came in, she rushed out and never took the pregnancy checkup slip out of her pocket.

She hurried toward the bedroom. Her steps were uneven and rushed. When she pushed the door open and saw the jacket still tossed on the couch, she finally breathed a little easier. Only after she reached into the pocket and felt the pregnancy checkup slip did a faint smile return to her expression.

That smile vanished the instant she unfolded it.

A large hole was punched straight through the pregnancy checkup slip. Worse, it lined up exactly with the position of the fetus in the womb, as if some cruel hand had once again crushed her daughter without mercy.

Wendy's heart clenched violently. Pain twisted through her chest. Her vision darkened, and she collapsed onto the couch. It took a long moment before she could steady herself again. Clutching the damaged pregnancy checkup slip, she stumbled out of the bedroom.

"Mira!" Wendy shouted. Her voice was sharp with panic, calling for the maid Mira Gilmore. Mira quickly came out of the kitchen and headed upstairs.

That is precisely why I worry about the staff touching my things, or tossing my clothes into the wash, and accidentally losing or damaging the pregnancy checkup slip. That is why I set this rule for every single servant in the house.

Mira may be young, but she does her job correctly and takes her responsibilities seriously. She has never made a mistake, not even once. Which means the only person who could have damaged the pregnancy checkup slip is Gianna.

Meanwhile, after helping Jessica secure a new identity, Anneliese went straight to Jessica's place. She handed over the documents, then gently held Jessica's hands. "Have you decided when you're buying the ticket? Do you know where you want to go?"

Jessica clutched the new ID card, and for the first time in ages, her heart finally felt steady. She smiled, then pulled Anneliese into a tight hug. "The longer I wait, the more can go wrong. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I'll go to Harborview first. Annie, thank you."

Anneliese let out a soft sigh and hugged her back. "If you're thanking me, then promise you'll take good care of yourself and my godbaby. And live well. Really live."

Jessica nodded over and over again, forcing her lips into a smile even as tears slipped down her face. She bit down hard, refusing to let a sound escape. Anneliese did not notice. After a long moment, Jessica quietly wiped away the tears and said, "Help me pack, okay? And… can you stay with me tonight?"

Anneliese pulled back slightly and smiled. "Of course."

Jessica blinked at her. "Are you sure? Your Mr. Fullbuster won't come storming over to murder me, will he?"

"He won't. My Mr. Fullbuster is very reasonable and extremely understanding," Anneliese said with a laugh. "Besides, I've been living here anyway. Grandma might not be against Jonathan and me anymore, but she never said I could move in with him. He'll get it. I'll give him a call."