The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 792

Gary couldn't believe it. "Your mom and I have been trying to get through to you all this time, and you never listened. What changed today? Did you finally see Jessica for who she really is and decide to walk away?"

"This has nothing to do with her!" Casper snapped and hung up. He got to his feet and grabbed Jessica's hand. "Why aren't you stopping me?"

The colder she was, the more it scared him.

"I've already said everything I needed to say," Jessica replied, prying his hand off. "If we run into each other again, just act like you don't know me, and I'll do the same. We'll be strangers."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Casper stood there, staring after her in a daze, shaking his head over and over.

No, this wasn't real. This couldn't be happening, he thought. How could a woman who used to care so much about money just walk away from it like this?

Trying to steady himself, he pulled out another phone. He told himself Jessica still loved money. She must have only dumped him because he didn't have any.

At least she was still responding to messages from the account he used under Zane's name. That thought dulled the stabbing pain in his chest a little.

Casper kept telling himself that once the project with Zane took off, he'd have money again, and Jessica would come back to him.

Just as Casper was about to get back to work, his phone chimed with a notification. The account he was logged into was only connected to Jessica, so he knew right away who it was.

"So, yeah, I admit I was wrong before, and I'm going to change. From now on, I promise I won't bother you anymore because I need to focus on my work."

A wave of panic crashed over Casper. If Jessica wasn't even planning to talk to Zane anymore, that meant she had truly woken up and decided to rely on no one but herself. And where would that leave him?

Almost on instinct, Casper texted back. "Actually, I'm not Zane. We've been together for so many years. I know you pretty well."

"Casper, I knew it was you for a while now. Back then, I just wanted to forget everything and try to make things work with you again," Jessica said.

Casper read the words but couldn't figure out what she was really getting at.