Jessica had been dreading the moment where she would have to meet up with Ethan again. She had stayed up all night wondering what he could probably want at a time like this, when the only thing they needed to finalize their divorce was his signature. It was obvious that they was no form of love between them, so why pretend when the truth was known. Yet here she was, sitting at a café that they man who had just destroyed her life had chosen.Her parents had tried their best to convince her that they was no need in going to see him, but nothing worked.“What’s the point of this meeting? He is a grown man who has made his choice to be with that woman so let him be, Jess.” He had said when she announced to them that she would be going over to meet with Ethan.“I know, dad. But deep down I just want to hear him out and leave Los Angeles knowing there’s nothing holding me back here.” Jessica had answered, trying to ensure that her emotions were in check.Her mother had not even tried to joi
Jessica sat in her family’s spacious living room, one of the many that they owned in their family estate. She was lost in thought, absentmindedly drawing out the outline of her tea cup while she sat. She had returned from the café a few hours ago, but her mind was still replaying all the events that had happened in there. It had gone worse than she had prepared for mentally and emotionally.Her parents both walked into the room, returning from an errand they had to run. They watched as their daughter sat unaware that they had walked into the room as she held her tea cup tightly. Janet, her mother. quickly took a seat which was opposite to where Jessica sat while Joseph chose his comfy armchair, watching their daughter entirely before she recognized their presence.“Earth to Jessica!”“We’ve been watching you for a few minutes and you didn’t realize that we had come into the room.” Janet finally spoke, breaking the silence and making Jessica conscious of her surroundings. Jessica sigh
The Johnson family began to arrive at the Mitchell mansion and were welcomed by y2yttthe golden hue of the sun as it began to set on the building in front of them. Jessica, sitting with both hands crossed at the back of her father’s G-wagon, could feel the ominous sensation in the air as they arrived. She wished she could be as calm and poised as her parents were while their feet echoed on the marble floor as they walked in to where Mr and Mrs Mitchell stood to welcome them.“Welcome, Joe. It has been too long.” Mr Mitchell greeted, shaking the hands of his long time friend.“It has. I was so happy when I got the invitation.” Joseph lied, trying his best to not act angry at what his son had done to his daughter. They needed this night to go well so Jessica could leave the country without any hiccups.“We’re so sorry about everything. That’s why we decided to invite you and your family over, when we heard the news.” Mrs Mitchell walked over to hug Janet, squeezing her in her arms like
Jessica stood at the airport terminal, her heart beating in her chest as her parents stood by her in the midst of the active individuals who were either returning or traveling to their destinations. Her father, Joseph Johnson, held her on her suitcase, a part of him unwilling to let her go. Her mother, Janet, kept fussing about the coat she had picked out to wear for this trip. The chilly in the airport sipped into the terminal from the automatic doors that had placed been at different locations. “So are you ready? Italy will be a great start for you, Jess.” Janet said, smoothing the invisible creases on Jessica’s coat. Jessica let out a smile, though her heart was heavy with this decision to move to Italy. It was supposed to be an escape for her, the fresh start that she needed for her life. Five years in a loveless marriage where she was never recognized was enough to make her want to take retreat.“Yes, mum. I know and I’ll ensure that you both are able to visit as soon as possib
“Benevento, signora Jessica.” The driver at the airport terminal greeted her with a smile on his face as he got her suitcase and put them in his vehicle. His sleek black uniform and cap shone brightly against the beautiful morning sky in Italy. “Ahh, my bad. I am your Carlo, your personal driver in the city of Florence.”“Grazie” Jessica answered, remembering the word she had learned during her flight to Italy. It was still shaky but she had put in a lot of effort to practice for this new phase of her life. The long flight to Italy had been exhausting and draining but the beautiful landscape in the city of Italy took it all away as she watched her spirits begin lifted.“Long flight?” Carlo asked with another smile on his face because he recognized the tired look on her face. It was the same with the numerous passengers he worked with everyday outside the airport.“Yes, Carlo. Very long if I must say.” Jessica said, still taking the wonderful structures in front of her in the city of
The beautiful rays of the morning sun waltzed right into Jessica’s apartment, majestically taking over the entire space which welcomed it in through the large widows placed strategically in the apartment. She opened her eyes and studied the entire room since it was her first time waking up in her new apartment in Florence, Italy. Jessica stretched lazily in her medium sized bed, taking in the cool breeze that accompanied the sun like a partner in crime. Florence was going to be her haven for the next few years of her life, a place where would start her life all over, away from the memories in Los Angeles. Here, she could make a name for herself in whatever industry she chose and she would do this while raising a child.Jessica glanced at her clock on her bedside table. “Gosh, it’s already 9:30am. What time did I finally get to fall asleep last night?” She wondered, placing her feet into the comfy shoes that had already been placed by the side of her bed.Her antenatal check-up was in
Ethan Mitchell was found on his king-size bed with every limb of his body spread out. He was tangled in the silky sheets that he had imported a few months ago for his comfort, while the remnants of food and drinks from the previous night still clung to his body. As the early morning sun made its way into his bedroom through the heavy curtains he had hung, he squinted his eyes regretting why it was morning already. To his left and right, lay two women without any form of clothing on them but the mess they had created on his bed; empty bottles of wine, glasses covered in lipstick smudges, and the smell of what seemed to be bodily fluids from a hot night.The door to Ethan's bedroom slammed open, forcing everyone to wake up immediately as they jumped to see a woman standing in front of them. It was Ethan's mum, Victoria Mitchell, standing above them and judging each of them with her dark eyes that were filled with disgust. She took a deep breath in, processing what had become of her son
Ethan quickly splashed water on his cold face, the chill sending jolts through his entire body and bringing back the excitement of last night's party. The person he saw in the bathroom mirror as his reflection made him sad because he had become a shadow of his former self. His red eyes from intoxication, his beard unshaven, and the outstanding smell of alcohol that he could wash off his body despite his efforts to scrub it all away before he met with his grandfather.His grandfather's call earlier that morning had been abrupt and shocking, as it left him no chance to give reasons why he wouldn't be able to make it. Ethan deep down knew that this could be the chance he had spent the last five years of his life waiting for but he couldn't show up and look at a person from a ship wreckage. With such little time, there was only some facial magic he could perform so he wouldn't be late. As he buttoned up one of his numerous crisp white shirts, he couldn't help the nervousness he felt as he
FEW WEEKS LATER“You can’t be serious.”Jessica sighed, placing the phone on her other ear. “Dad, I know this looks right, but Avery wants me to be there.”She heard her father’s disapproving silence stretched for a moment before he finally spoke up. “Jessica, this is Ethan’s family we are talking about here. They will use every opportunity to remind you that you lost custody of your daughter. Even though it’s only temporary.”“I know,” she admitted, rubbing her eyes. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about Avery.”“She’s an only child. She doesn’t understand what this is doing to you.”Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat. She understood what her father was talking about. Every moment spent around Ethan, his world, and his family took something away from her, leaving her exposed.But her little girl wanted her to be present. That was all that mattered.A soft knock at her apartment door made her come back to reality. “I have to go, Dad. I’ll call you soon.”She hung up and pulled op
“No, no, no...” Jessica’s voice trembled as she read through the words again, her fingers holding on tightly around the document as if she would squeeze enough and the ruling would change. Her vision began to blur with tears, her entire body going numb from the shock.“Jessica?” Ricky’s voice came but cautious this time around, the argument between them had been forgotten temporarily. She took a step closer, but she shut it down.“Sorry, but I need to be alone.” She whispered, her voice barely audible to him.“What? Jessica what’s going...”“I said I need to be alone, Ricky!” she snapped at him, her grief and frustration boiling over. Without waiting for him to leave, she grabbed a coat from the rack and stormed out of the house, slamming her door behind him. When he was ready he would leave and lock up.The cold night air hit her cheeks harshly as she walked aimlessly down the street. Her mind was a field of chaos. They had finally taken her. They hadn’t finally taken Avery. The cour
“I hope you haven’t come here to waste my time, Ethan. You know I am really busy.”Ethan exhaled sharply, running his right hand down his face as he chose to sit just across from his grandfather in his office in the Mitchell building. The old man’s piercing grey eyes watched Ethan from his mahogany desk, the weight of his grandfather’s expectations pressing on him like a chain, causing him to keep drowning in a river.“I wouldn’t be here if this wasn’t important,” Ethan replied, his voice controlled but tight as he composed himself in front of his grandfather.His grandfather leaned back in his chair, giving his grandson a listening ear. “Then get straight to the point.”Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “I would like you to meet Avery.”His grandfather’s expression remained the same when he heard that statement, his eyes gave off no sign of emotions in them. “And why would I do that?”Ethan clenched his fists in disbelief that he was hearing a question like this. “Beca
Ricky waited until the door clicked shut behind Ethan before turning around to face Jessica fully. Hisneus, usually filled with charm and warmth, was cold for the first time. He tossed the bouquet of white lilies onto the kitchen counter, the flowers landing with a loud thud.“You’re sure, huh?” Ricky’s voice was low, edged with something darker than jealousy, something very possessive.Jessica crossed her arms, leaning against the door as she steadied her breath. “What exactly are you trying to imply here, Ricky?.Ricky took a step closer, his jaw closing. “I’m not implying anything, Jessica. I’m just asking why was he here?”Jessica exhaled sharply, her patience thinning. “Because he’s Avery’s father. She’s been through enough today with the court hearing, and he wanted to check on her. That’s all.”Ricky’s laugh was bitter, nothing like the easy charm she’d grown used to. “Right. Just like that? No other reason?”She moved to the living room, putting space between them as she picke
Jessica sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the darkened window. The echoes of the courtroom still replayed in her mind. Avery’s eyes ran over with tears, Lois’s sharp words, and Ethan’s fixed gaze on her. She rubbed her eyes together, trying to push it all away, but the ache was relentless, carving deep into her chest.The apartment was painfully quiet, except for the humming coming from the city beyond her window. Avery had fallen asleep hours ago, holding on tightly to her stuffed bunny with a grip that mirrored Jessica’s own desperation. She thought about pouring herself a glass of wine but couldn’t summon the strength to do so. Instead, she sat in the silence, letting it swallow her whole.A soft knock broke through the stillness of the moment, pulling her from her own thoughts. She frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was past eight. Who would be here by a time like this?She walked barefoot to the door and peered through the peephole to see Ethan standing there. He
The courtroom emptied, leaving behind an air of tension that seemed to live out with Jessica as she hastily made her way through the heavy double doors. Her heels hit against the cold marble floor, each step echoing the desperation screaming in her heart.Avery’s cries still rang in her ears, fueling the urgency that she felt. She spotted her daughter in the hallway, her tiny body forced against her grandmother’s tight embrace, hiccupping as the leftover tears ran down her eyes. Jessica rushed forward, her voice filled with regret.“Avery,” she whispered, kneeling. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry anymore.”Avery lifted her face ruined by tears, her cheeks red from the continuous crying. “Mummy...mummy, you were yelling? Did daddy do something?”Jessica’s heart clenched when she heard her daughter’s words. “No, no, my love. Not at all. Mummy wasn’t angry at Daddy. I was...I was upset at something that was happening in there.”Avery sniffled, clinging to her mother’s arm this time
The courtroom had fallen into a session of uneasy silence, the kind that pricked against the skin and made breaths seem shallow. Jessica sat on the witness stand, her knuckles white as she held on to its edges. Gregory Welsh adjusted his tie as he saw this, the perfect example of calculated confidence, his every move deliberate as he moved forward.“Ms. Williams,” he began, his voice still smooth but filled with accusation, “You have still given me an answer to my question.” Jessica’s throat tightened. Gregory’s gaze pinned her on her seat like a predator who finally caught its prey. He continued. “Why did you take Ethan’s unborn child abroad, raising her far from her biological father for five years?” Every eye in the courtroom was fixed on her, waiting to hear her answer, the same one that she hadn’t summoned the courage to give. She glanced at her later, Lois, who gave her a steady nod, urging her to remain calm and answer. But Jessica could feel the weight of judgement coming fr
The court reconvened shortly after the brief recess, the tension in the air was palpable to everyone. The jury made their way back to their seats, their earlier expressions of doubt surrounding Ethan Mitchell still roaming g in the air. Jessica Williams sat beside her lawyer, Lois, who leaned in and spoke in a low tone.“We’ve started well, Jessica,” Lois said, her eyes narrowing with determination in them. “But now’s where the real test begins. Stay calm, answer the questions truthfully, and don’t let his lawyer try to corner you. We already have momentum on our side, let’s keep it up.”Jessica nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Her heart began to pound heavily as the judge stepped in, announcing that the proceedings should continue. It wasn’t long before that her name was called. “Ms. Williams,” the court clerk called out to her. “Please take the stand.”Jessica rose, her hands trembling as she made her way to the witness stand. She took the oat with a clear and steady voic
The room fell silent as Ethan Mitchell made his way to the witness stand. His steps were steady and calculated, but his face betrayed the unease he felt in his heart as he sat down, adjusted his tie and took the oat that was administered by the bailiff. The jury watched very closely, their expressions remaining neutral but very attentive, ready to weigh every word that proceeded out of his mouth.Lois rose from her seat, her every movement planned and deliberate. Her navy blue suit remained crisp and sharp, her expression calm but determined to bring Ethan down. She approached the stand, her bind in between her hands.“Mr Mitchell,” Lois began, her voice smooth but having a sharp undertone to it. “Thank you for being here today, we all know how busy you are. I want to just ask a very simple question. Can you please tell the court why your marriage to my client, Jessica Williams, came to an end?”Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his teeth gnashing against each other. “Our marri