Chapter 44
In public, Ryan maintained his usual aloof demeanor.
The black trench coat added to his domineering aura.
As he approached step by step, I suddenly felt uneasy.
This matter could be big or small.
Small, it could be settled with money. But big...
With Ryan's power in Jelaston, it would be as easy as flipping a hand to make Jane go to jail.
And undoubtedly, he would protect Jessica.
As expected, he stood beside Jessica. His eyes were slightly lowered, lips lightly parted. "How do you want to deal with this?"
I clenched my fists and before Jessica could speak, Jane pulled me behind her.
"I'll take full responsibility. This has nothing to do with Charlotte."
"Jane!"
I was anxious, but Jane glanced at me, and said disdainfully, "How are you going to deal with this? Beg your ex-husband publicly for my sake or beg the mistress who's wrecking your marriage?" Before she finished, the atmosphere in the room became even more tense.
Jessica sneered. "Who are you calling a mistress? According to the order of arrival, Ryan and I have known each other since childhood. So I can't be the mistress. And if being unloved means being a mistress, then it's even less me!"
Each word made my heart ache even more.
According to her, the past three years of what I thought was a good marriage were nothing but illusions.
I met Ryan's gaze. It was as deep and dark as a bottomless abyss and forced a bitter smile on my face. "Is that how it is, Ryan?"
Having loved him unwaveringly for seven years, I was now branded a "mistress.
"1
Regardless of what others said, I just wanted to know his thoughts.
Leaning against his arm, Jessica coquettishly lifted her chin. "Isn't that right, Ryan?"
"That's enough."
Ryan furrowed his brows slightly and calmly withdrew his arm. "It's just a wrecked car. We can buy another one tomorrow."
I was stunned.
Was he really not going to stand up for Jessica?
Jessica was obviously not going to let this matter go so easily. "It's not that simple. They didn't just wreck the car! What they did was like slapping my face!"
Ryan gave her a cold glance. "Didn't you slap Charlotte tonight?"
His words surprised not just me but Jane as well.
The two of us looked at each other and we could both see the puzzled look in each other's eyes.
Was Ryan... speaking up for me?
Jessica, despite her guilty conscience, refused to back down. Her eyes had turned red as she complained to Ryan, "This is not fair at all. You're clearly being biased towards her." "She's my wife, it's only natural I should favor her," Ryan said calmly.
I was taken aback.
Would he be biased towards me?
Tlowered my head and didn't believe anything I heard.
Jessica's face darkened for a moment, then she regained her composure and
said firmly, "Then why are you divorcing her for my sake?"
Ryan's expression darkened. "Jessica, who told you that I was..."
"Isn't it true?" Jessica interrupted, looking defiant.
Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, unwilling to listen to their bickering, I looked at Ryan and asked, "You're sure you won't pursue this matter further, right?"
"That's my car. I'm the person that you should be asking," Jessica asserted forcefully.
"But it's his money, isn't it?" I pursed my lips straightened my back, and said slowly, "Since we're still legally married, I can legally reclaim the marital property he used to buy you that car. My advice to you is to let it go while you still can."
"What do you mean?" Jessica demanded.
"I mean, this matter isn't your concern," I replied firmly.
All I wanted was for Ryan to back down from this issue from the start.
Jessica couldn't stir up any trouble.
At this, Jessica's eyes turned sharp as she glared at me as if she wanted to skin me alive, then turned to Ryan, and said with a frown, "Your 'good wife' is so scheming and domineering..."
I was at a loss for words.
I didn't want to embarrass myself any further, so I said to Ryan, "Since you're not pursuing this matter, we'll be leaving now."
With that, I took Jane to handle the formalities and left in a hurry.
Before leaving, I heard Jessica's ranting.
"Ryan, you've been living with her for three years. How tired you must have been..."