Linda was back in the country?

Through her tears, Linda said, "Anthony, I can't bear the thought of Tracy calling anyone else 'Mom' and 'Dad'."

Anthony whispered in her ear, "I promise, Tracy will be a Harris, officially and forever."

Her tears gave way to laughter.

"Anthony, when you think about it, legally, we're the ones who are married. Jessica..."

Anthony's brow creased with worry. "I only registered our marriage before the wedding to protect you from being pushed around overseas.

"I can offer you the world, just not the Harris name. Jess is innocent, so leave her be," he implored.

Linda's frown betrayed her irritation, yet she knew they had to focus on Tracy for then, so she shelved her feelings.

"You needn't worry about me vying for the title of Mrs. Harris. I'm not even worthy."

Anthony sensed his earlier words had been too cutting and quickly knelt to soothe her.

"What are you saying? If you're not worthy, then who is? You're the one who blessed the Harris family with Tracy. My mom hasn't stopped thinking about you."

Jessica's balance wavered. Anthony's mother was aware of his affair with Linda!

She envisioned her mother-in-law, haughty and aloof.

The Harris family had looked down on her because her parents refused to provide financial support for the marriage, and her mother-in-law had been especially harsh, never once offering a smile.

Jessica had clung to the naive hope that her earnest efforts to please her mother-in-law would win her acceptance.

At this moment, it dawned on her that her mother-in-law had already welcomed another woman into the family. How could Jessica matter to her then?

Her legs turned to lead as she trailed behind Anthony and Linda up the stairs.

Anthony had maintained a gentlemanly facade, but as soon as they were out of sight, he yanked Linda close and pinned her to him.

"Let's put Tracy's situation aside for now. Shouldn't we focus on resolving my issue?"

He pressed against her, sending a wave of heat across Linda's cheeks.

He and Linda slipped into the empty storeroom. It was not long before the muffled cries of passion, broken and sporadic, seeped into Jessica's ears.

Just a wall away, she trembled, sliding down against the cool surface to the floor.

Anthony's breath came in ragged gasps. "Linda, after having a kid, how are you still so...?"

Linda's breathy response followed, "Oh, and Jessica isn't?"

The sounds of their encounter grew more intense, culminating in Anthony's low roar. "Jess is too buttoned-up, nothing like you—so free-spirited from your time overseas."

Jessica's nails bit into her palm, the pain a sharp contrast to the shock coursing through her. She had always seen the president of Harris Group as a paragon of virtue, one who looked down on any woman who dared to approach him, except for her. Then she knew he was nothing but a libertine.

As the moans started anew, Jessica pushed off the wall and staggered away.

The director was already waiting in her office. "We need to confirm, Jessica. Are you and Mr. Harris still planning to adopt Tracy?"

Jessica did not answer right away. Instead, she asked to see Tracy's personal file.

The file revealed that Tracy was born in the spring five years earlier, just six months after Jessica and Anthony had married, around the time he had proposed. Rage and bitterness surged within her.

Handing back the file, Jessica's voice was steady. "I've decided not to adopt Tracy. You can proceed with her adoption."

The director gave a pensive nod.

"Jess!"

Anthony barged in, grabbing Tracy's file from the desk.

"Since when did I back out of adopting Tracy? Who said you could decide for me?"

Jessica's gaze was icy as she met him. "And you were going to adopt Tracy without asking me, right?"

Anthony was speechless.

Linda popped up from behind him with a grin. "Hey, Jess, it's been ages."

Sweat dotted Anthony's brow as he gestured toward Linda and explained, "Linda is an investor in this orphanage. I just bumped into her today."

"So? What's that got to do with adopting Tracy?" Jessica shot back.

Anthony scowled. "How could I not have seen it before? You're so aloof, so unfeeling. Tracy's a sweetheart. Doesn't she tug at your heartstrings?"

Aloof? Unfeeling?

She was the one betrayed, let down, and then she was the bad guy?

Linda stepped closer and smilingly took Jessica's hand. "Jess, Anthony told me you're adopting Tracy. That's wonderful news! Tracy is an angel, the sweetest kid we've got."

Jessica could not resist. "If Tracy's such a treasure, why don't you adopt her?"

Caught off-guard, Linda felt her smile waver.

Anthony jumped to her defense, positioning himself between them. "What are you implying? Linda is single. What would people think if she adopted a child on her own?"

Jessica's heart ached as if pierced by a thousand needles.

Anthony had empathy for Linda, but he seemed blind to the whispers that would swirl around Jessica if they adopted Tracy.

For five years of marriage, Anthony had kept her from getting pregnant, using his 'career in its rising phase' as an excuse.

The rumor mill churned relentlessly.

Some whispered that Jessica's wild youth and numerous abortions had left her barren. Others speculated she was infertile by nature.

Even her mother-in-law's barbs cut deep, mocking her as an 'infertile hen'.

Whenever Jessica poured out her heart, Anthony's answer was to shower her with luxury gifts, never once standing up to clear her name.

If he truly loved her, would he not speak out against the slander?

Adopting a child would only cement the rumors of her infertility, would it not?

Clutching at a final hope, Jessica trembled and said, "Anthony, don't you want a child of our own?"

Anthony's gaze fell. "Let's wait a few more years, okay? You know the company is expanding..."

"Fine, I'll follow your lead," Jessica cut him off.

Her heart had gone numb. She might as well go along with it.

Anthony wrapped her in a joyful hug, "Jess, I always knew you had the biggest heart."

As her hair brushed his ear, Jessica caught the envious glint in Linda's eye.

In that instant, she realized Linda was no longer satisfied being the unseen wife on a marriage certificate. She was after the title of Mrs. Harris for all to see.

A line from Alicia Keys' 'Try Again' suddenly played in Jessica's head.

'I could try again, however, I would rather let you go.'

She was ready to ditch that mess of a relationship. Who picked up the pieces was none of her business.

Anthony had gone off with the director to sort out some paperwork, leaving Jessica and Linda by the staircase.

"Jess, don't you think Tracy and Anthony could pass for father and daughter? To the untrained eye, they might as well be related."

Jessica caught the hint in Linda's voice. "Really? What a coincidence."

Linda pressed on, a sly tone in her voice. "And Tracy's mom, whoever she is, must be quite the looker."

She tossed her hair back, not-so-subtly showing off a love bite on her collarbone.

"Oops, my husband can be a bit eager. Does Anthony ever get like that with you?"

Jessica took a deep breath. "Ever heard of someone biting when they're pushed too far?"

Linda's expression changed, and she was about to retort when she caught sight of a figure at the corner.

"Well, let's see if they're just putting on a show or if they're actually capable of biting."

Before Jessica could process her words, Linda suddenly stumbled backward, away from the staircase.

"Ah!"

Linda's scream pierced the air.

Jessica's hand shot out, trying to catch her, but she only grazed Linda's sleeve, ripping off a button.

Anthony, rounding the corner at the sound, hurried over.

Linda was sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, and Jessica stood above, her hand still hanging in the air as if frozen in time.

Anthony shoved Jessica out of the way and bolted down to scoop up Linda.

"Linda, come on, open your eyes!"

Gripping Anthony's arm, Linda twisted her face in agony. "Anthony, don't be mad at Jess. She's just not Tracy's biggest fan. I tried to calm her down, and it set her off."

Her words trailed off as she slumped unconscious in his arms.

Anthony whipped around, his eyes burning holes into Jessica, who had been shoved to the ground.

"Jessica, you know I can't stand hypocrites."

He hoisted Linda in his arms, heading for the hospital. "You'd better hope Linda's okay, or forget about any old times."

As the car engine roared to life below, Jessica inspected her palm, gashed by the gravel.

Blood oozed out.

The orphanage director approached, hearing the commotion, and helped Jessica to her feet, words failing him.

Jessica pulled off her scarf and pressed it to her bleeding hand. "I've been volunteering here for years. I thought we were friends."

The lunch bell had the kids pouring out of the orphanage.

Watching Tracy skip and hop, the director mused, "Tracy's got a stroke of luck, bonding with Mr. Harris like they're family."

On her way home, Jessica finally dialed that number from her contacts, untouched for five long years.

It was answered after a single ring.

Simon Canfield's voice, smooth and alluring, drifted through the line. "Ms. Sullivan, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

Ignoring the bite in his tone, Jessica cut to the chase. "Simon, does our engagement still stand?"

Simon's laughter crackled through the phone. "You must be kidding, Ms. Sullivan. You're a married woman now. If you're looking for a boy toy, you've dialed the wrong number."

Unruffled, Jessica asked again, "Just tell me, is our engagement still on?"

Simon's voice turned intimate, pressing against the receiver. "Ms. Sullivan, are you proposing an affair?"

At her limit, Jessica snapped, "Let's pretend this call never happened."

She ended the call and pulled over to the side of the road.

A message from Linda popped up on her phone.

[Jessica, how does it feel to play house for five years?]

[Guess what Anthony is up to now?]

A GIF popped up on the screen.

There was Anthony, dressed to the nines, crouched down tying Linda's shoelaces. The cufflinks at his wrists were the ones Jessica had chosen for him.

Her palm, which had healed, bled anew as she clenched her phone.

The ringtone pierced the silence. It was Simon again.

"Ms. Sullivan, ever the firecracker. If you'd been a bit more observant, you might've noticed the marriage certificate was a fake from the start."

Simon was uncannily resourceful; he had uncovered in minutes what had eluded her for years.

Jessica's fingers clenched around her phone. "Mr. Canfield, I didn't come here for your snide remarks. I just want to ask..."

Simon's voice was a low rumble, cutting her off, "It's a done deal, always."

Jessica was lost. "What does that mean?"

Simon's face took on a rare solemnity. "It means our engagement stands. Whenever you're ready, I'm here to be your husband, Jessica."

She was silent for a long moment before responding.

"I've got things to wrap up in Capital City. Let's meet next Monday outside the Hudson City County Clerk's Office."

Simon's voice lightened as he teased, "Whoever chickens out is a scaredy-cat."

"Immature," retorted Jessica before ending the call.