Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-Chapter 284: He was wronged...

Lady Matilda felt a sudden throb in her temple. The headache wasn’t just from fatigue, it was from sheer disbelief.

She hadn’t known her son-in-law had been waiting outside her home all this while.

Her sharp gaze landed squarely on Jessica. "Are you truly human?" she hissed. "How could you leave your husband out there in the cold, in the dead of night, just waiting for you?"

Jessica blinked, stunned.

"Why didn’t you bring him in?" Lady Matilda’s voice cracked like a whip.

Jessica’s lips parted, desperate to explain herself, but no words came. What excuse could she possibly give? Everything she could think of sounded either pathetic or disrespectful.

With this grandmother, Jessica always seemed to be on the losing end of the battle. Every. Single. Time.

As she scrambled for the right words, Lady Matilda’s voice exploded again—louder, fiercer.

"Are you less than any of the Santiagos that you would leave your husband out like a beggar? For no reason at all?"

Jessica flinched. The question stabbed deeper than she expected.

"When did he arrive?" Lady Matilda snapped, her voice rising with every syllable, each one striking like a match.

At that moment, Jessica began to doubt her grandmother’s sincerity. Was she truly her own grandmother or Davis grandmother? Looking at how quickly she switches sides.

But then... guilt washed over her. She had asked Davis to wait. And yes, she had stayed longer than planned. She hadn’t even stepped outside to check on him.

Taking a long breath, she looked her grandmother square in the eye. "Grandma, can you let me go now?" Her voice was measured but taut with strain. "The more time you spend complaining about how long he’s been waiting, the longer he’s still going to be out there."

Lady Matilda drew in a slow breath, the wrinkles around her eyes tightening. "He was wronged," she murmured after a pause. "Bring him in for dinner. Though I doubt he’ll eat—it’s far too late—but I’ll have the kitchen prepare something light. At least, something to cushion his stomach."

Jessica’s brows twitched. This was not in the plan. She had only come to visit... When did it evolve into introducing Davis as the son-in-law?

"Grandma, you’re misunderstanding the situation." Jessica tried to sound firm, but a smirk tugged at her lips. "We should be the ones visiting you officially next time, remember? That’s the proper protocol."

Lady Matilda paused, lips tightening as she gave it a second thought. After a short sigh, she relented. "Alright then. Don’t keep him waiting."

She called the butler. "Prepare a gift for my son-in-law. Deliver it to the car. Apologize for my granddaughter’s careless attitude."

By the time Jessica stepped out of the Santiago mansion, it was close to midnight. The butler trailed behind her, a wrapped box in hand.

The night air kissed her skin, and as the lights from the house dimmed behind her, she could finally breathe. The weight in her chest began to lift.

She approached the familiar black car, heart skipping a beat.

Her hand rose to tap the glass, but before she could, the door opened slowly from inside.

The butler moved forward, bowing slightly. "Good evening, Mr. Allen. Our matriarch sends her sincerest apologies for not realizing you were here, resulting in your long wait."

Davis stared at him blankly. Then his eyes drifted to Jessica, who offered a weak shrug as if saying, Don’t ask.

The butler stood still like a child awaiting rebuke. Davis didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

With a calm breath, Davis picked up a small box from beside him in the car and handed it to the butler. "Please give this to the Lady Matilda. I only came to pick up my wife. I’ll visit properly another time."

The butler, surprised but respectful, accepted the gift. "Very well, sir. I’ll pass along the message."

Jessica carefully placed the gift she received in the car’s trunk. "Thank you," she said softly to the butler before slipping in through the opposite door.

The car slowly pulled away from the Santiago residence. Jessica glanced out the window, watching the lights grow fainter, swallowed by the night.

She let out a slow, long sigh of relief.

Before she could say a word, Davis reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. "So, what’s up?" he murmured, comforted to finally hold her close after the long, emotionally charged night.

He had already made peace with the idea of sleeping in his car. Yet her single message earlier—asking him to wait—had kept him hopeful. Kept him going.

Jessica exhaled. "It went fine... but I made a fresh set of enemies," she replied, eyes closed.

~Airport – Country Y ~

It was past midnight when the big Boeing 787 airplane landed smoothly on the runway at Country ’s International Airport. The airport was quiet and calm, with only a few lights on and hardly any noise. Most people were asleep, and only a few staff moved around slowly.

The first-class cabin door slowly opened and amongst other passengers a young handsome man stepped down—elegant, calm, and cold as frost. Julian Anderson.

Behind him followed Maxwell, his longtime assistant pulling their luggage along with him.

They went through immigration and security quickly. Their papers were stamped and cleared without any delay.

Exiting the arrivals, a black luxury sedan awaited their arrival with an assistant waiting behind the wheels.

Seeing them approaching, he stepped out of the car, nodded slightly "Welcome Boss." Julia nodded as he slid into the back seat while Maxwell patted the back of the driver playfully before he slid into the front seat.

The driver went around the car, dropped the luggage in the trunk before he slid into the driver’s seat and the car came to life.

"Bob. Long time," Maxwell greeted the driver with professional politeness.

"Indeed," Bob replied with a curt nod. He was more than a driver—he was one of the very few trusted aides Julian had personally chosen to stay in Country Y.

Julian’s voice was low but firm. "You’ve been watching her?"

Bob hesitated. "Sir, it’s been difficult. She’s more mysterious than we anticipated."

Julia’s brow twitched. "Mysterious?"

"Yes, She is effortlessly cautious. You see her moving alone but I think that apart from our team, there are three other elite teams keeping watch over her and no one dares come closer.

Besides, she is too sensitive and notices when our team arrives. I recalled her cold gaze and smirk directed at me...It was chilling.

And when she is alone, she blends into the crowd when she wants. Moves in calculated ways. She’s not loud, but she’s everywhere. No traces. I couldn’t tail her without losing track within minutes." He lamented.

Julian leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. This wasn’t what he expected.

Bob had never said such words about anyone. If he described her this way, then she wasn’t just a woman. She was a storm disguised in a calm breeze.

"That’s the sort of lady that suits the Anderson family." He smirk with pride tinged in his voice.

Maxwell glanced at Julia through the mirror. "Should we alert anyone to your arrival?"

Julia shook his head. "No. This time... I’m here for one reason only—to support her fashion week." He muttered the last part to himself.

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