Chapter 3

Although Brandon and Jessie had been married for three years, they rarely shared a bed. That was because Brandon said he didn't like having someone next to him while he slept. But Jessie knew that it wasn't that he disliked having someone next to him; he just wasn't used to her being next to him. Aware that Jessie had always had an issue with Anna, Brandon had even prepared a whole set of excuses in advance. But to his surprise, Jessie agreed right away. "Alright. I have a lot of things in the room. I'll just move them out altogether." She'd have to move everything sooner or later anyway. Hearing that Jessie planned to move everything out, Brandon instinctively wanted to say she didn't have to, but Anna spoke before he could. "Thank you very much, Jessie." Without responding, Jessie bent her frail figure to move the box down the stairs. The box was a bit too full and heavy. As Jessie walked, she accidentally stepped on a shard of alabaster. She slipped, and her knee slammed hard against the ground, causing bits of alabaster to pierce her skin. The pain made cold sweat break out down her back, but she bit her lip. By then, Brandon had already been led away by Anna. He didn't see any of it. The agonizing pain brought tears to Jessie's eyes, and they gradually fell to the floor. Back when she was living in the Hickman residence, Brandon wouldn't even let Anna carry her own bag, saying, "You're a princess here, Anna. Princesses deserve to be treated as such." Back when Jessie was just the maid's daughter, no one cared if she did dirty, backbreaking work or got hurt. Now that she was revealed to be the true heiress and was even Brandon's wife, things weren't much different. No matter the time or place, the people around her would always choose to side with Anna. As for Jessie, she had gotten used to it. It took Jessie the whole afternoon, but she finally finished packing everything. She then called for some movers to haul everything to the dump. Seeing that, Brandon asked, "Anna's only staying for a little while. Once she leaves, you'll have your room back. Why are you throwing so much out?" He couldn't shake the feeling that Jessie had been acting strangely these past couple of days. Jessie calmly said, "All of them were pretty old. I just think that it's time to get rid of them." "Jessie, you're not the kind of person to be wasteful." Of course, she wasn't. Jessie had never lived a pampered life, so she didn't have the habits of spoiled ladies from wealthy families. She tended to use her things for a long time. Smiling, Jessie merely said, "It's just been long enough. Only by removing the old would there be space for the new." That applied to people as well. Her reason sounded perfectly reasonable, and further questioning would only make Brandon seem petty. Thus, he changed the topic. "There's an auction tonight. Since the host has invited me, you and Anna are coming along." Jessie had wanted to refuse, but Brandon quickly added, "You're my secretary. It wouldn't be right if I attended without one." She stared at him. And bringing Anna along was somehow right to him? She seriously wanted to force him to answer that. Nevertheless, knowing that questioning him would lead her nowhere, she merely gave a nod. She should just treat this as her final duty as his secretary before finally leaving the job. … That evening, the lights of the auction hall were so bright that it was like daytime. The attendees were all members of high society, every one of them seasoned and shrewd. The Kerr family's business had been thriving for the past two years, so the organizers came to greet them right away. "Mr. Kerr, your seats are ready. You may be seated now." They had prepared two seats for Brandon. "Mr. Kerr, we heard you're married. The other seat is reserved for your wife." Brandon, Jessie, and Anna froze for a split second. Brandon's marriage had been kept tightly under wraps. No one knew how that news was leaked. Jessie couldn't help looking at Brandon, waiting for his response. There were three people and two seats. Who was he going to choose? His answer didn't come as a surprise to Jessie. Brandon denied it, saying, "I'm not married. I have no idea where that rumor came from." "Then the two ladies with you are…" The host looked behind Brandon. Brandon brought Anna forward, introducing her, "This is Mr. Phillip Hickman's daughter, Anna Hickman." "Oh, Ms. Hickman. A pleasure." Then, looking slightly awkward, Brandon gestured to Jessie. "This is my secretary." Even though Jessie had expected this, hearing the cruel truth out loud still made her heart ache. She forced herself to keep her composure, clinging to the last shred of dignity she had left. Thereafter, Brandon brought Anna to their seats whereas Jessie was left standing in the back. All of a sudden, Jessie felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, possibly because of the cold air conditioning in the auction hall. Clutching her stomach, she turned and rushed to the restroom.