Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Ella's face drained of color, as if someone had publicly stripped away her last shred of dignity. Her lips trembled, unable to form a single word.

"Michael has always despised anyone interfering with his decisions. You refuse to respect boundaries, yet you insist on provoking him." Dwayne let out a deep sigh, his tone heavy with resignation. "That's exactly why your relationship has felt like walking on eggshells all these years. Your excessive need for control only drives him further away."

His words cut like a blade, striking straight at Ella's core.

She was left speechless, all her grievances and schemes ruthlessly exposed.

Her eyes reddening, she pointed at the door and shrieked hysterically, "Get out! Just get out! Since you're so determined to side with Michael, go sleep in the guest room tonight!"

Dwayne shook his head, unwilling to waste any more breath arguing. He grabbed the jacket he'd just taken off and walked out of the bedroom.

Ella collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed uncontrollably.

……

The following evening at Autumnleaf District Precinct.

Jessica had just finished packing up for the day when the sky outside suddenly darkened.

Heavy black clouds blanketed the city. After several ominous rumbles of thunder, torrential rain poured down without warning.

The downpour was fierce and relentless, kicking up a white mist from the pavement.

Standing under the precinct's entrance awning, Jessica watched the deluge outside, her brow slightly furrowed.

She'd rushed out that morning and forgotten her umbrella. Worse still, the ride-sharing app showed a queue of several hundred people waiting for cars.

The early winter rain carried a bone-chilling wind that made her shiver involuntarily.

Just as she debated whether to make a dash for the bus stop, she spotted a black sedan through the thick curtain of rain, parked at a nearby intersection.

The car door swung open. A tall figure emerged, holding a large black umbrella and striding purposefully toward her through the downpour.

The rain blurred her vision, obscuring the man's features.

But his upright posture and commanding presence radiated a familiar sense of security, even through the gloomy weather.

Jessica's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be Michael?

The image of him last night—white shirt, apron tied at his waist as he cooked in the kitchen—flashed through her mind, along with his low, domineering declaration. Like an invisible net, the memory tangled her thoughts.

Had he come to pick her up from work?

Jessica's fingers unconsciously tightened around her bag strap, an undeniable mix of excitement and panic rising in her chest.

She even took an instinctive half step forward, ready to meet him.

However, as the black umbrella drew closer and tilted upward slightly, revealing a gentle, jade-like face with a concerned smile, Jessica's steps froze abruptly.

"Jessica, did you forget your umbrella?" Philip approached, umbrella in hand, his eyes behind his glasses brimming with warmth.

The moment she recognized him, the secret anticipation in Jessica's heart was extinguished, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over it. In its place came a sharp, indescribable sense of disappointment.

She opened her mouth, forcing down the inexplicable bitterness, and managed a strained smile. "Philip? What are you doing here?"

"I was handling some business nearby. When I saw it was about to rain, I figured you might not have an umbrella, so I stopped by to check." Philip angled the umbrella over her, shielding her from the diagonal spray of rain, his voice gentle. "Come on, the car's at the curb. I'll give you a ride home."

Jessica had no reason to refuse, so she nodded and followed him into the rain.

Philip shielded her as she got into the car, then folded his umbrella and slipped into the driver's seat. Half his shoulder was already soaked through, but he paid it no mind, carefully adjusting the heater to a higher setting.

The car moved smoothly through the rainy night.

"How are you adjusting to working at Autumnleaf District?" Philip asked softly as he drove. "You don't look well. Are you overworking yourself?"

"It's fine. I’ve just picked up a few new cases, so things have been a bit hectic." Jessica stared at the retreating neon reflections outside the window, her tone somewhat distracted.

Philip smiled, his tone carrying a gentle insistence. "You push yourself too hard. Let me grab some groceries and cook you a proper meal—you deserve it."

Jessica wanted to decline, but Philip had already parked in front of a nearby fresh market.

Watching him dash through the rain to buy ingredients, Jessica swallowed her words of refusal.

Back at her apartment, Philip carried the groceries straight into the kitchen with practiced ease.

Jessica felt awkward watching him do all the work. She took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves, and followed him in. "Philip, let me help."

"Sure, could you wash these tomatoes for me?" Philip handed her a small bowl, accepting her offer without hesitation.

Soon, the kitchen filled with the sounds of running water and chopping vegetables. Warm yellow light bathed them, creating a sense of domestic tranquility.

Yet as Jessica watched Philip's back while he stood at the counter cutting vegetables, her mind involuntarily conjured Michael's image again.

It was the same kitchen and the same lighting, but a completely different presence—one that made her heart race with overwhelming intensity.

Jessica shook her head sharply, trying to drive that domineering man from her thoughts.

She lowered her gaze, focusing on washing the tomatoes in her hands. The water rushed over her fingertips, but it couldn't wash away the restlessness in her chest.

"Jessica."

Philip continued chopping vegetables skillfully, speaking in a seemingly casual tone that broke the kitchen's quiet.

"Hmm?" Jessica turned off the faucet and flicked water droplets from her hands.

Philip paused his work and turned to look at her, his gaze behind his lenses sharp with scrutiny. "Sarah contacted me this afternoon."

At the mention of that name, Jessica's hand-drying motion froze abruptly. Her expression turned instantly cold.

Sarah's hysterical curses and threats from last night were still vivid in her mind. That woman clung like disgusting gum you couldn't scrape off.

"What did she want?" Jessica's voice went flat, laced with undisguised revulsion.

Philip observed her reaction, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

He picked up a nearby towel to dry his hands, his tone calm yet laced with subtle manipulation. "She asked to borrow money, saying she’s desperate with nowhere to turn. She also cried to me about... matters concerning you and Michael."

Jessica's heart tightened, her brow furrowing deeply.