The Wife They Tried to Replace Is Now Untouchable novel Chapter 262

Chapter 262

Chapter 262

Jessica doubled over, clutching her chest as the pain threatened to overwhelm her. It hurt so much.

“Jessi, what’s happening?” Stella noticed her daughter’s distress and tried to help her up,

her voice filled with worry.

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Jessica shook her head dully. “I’m okay, Mom. Thanks for telling me about the wedding, but I won’t be going tomorrow.” She pushed past Stella and left

the house alone.

Stepping outside, she watched with tear–filled eyes as the wind swept up withered leaves along the road, suddenly feeling aimless.

Tears streaming down her face, she thought, ‘Everyone is busy with Jake’s wedding, and I’m like a stranger. No, I’ve always been a stranger.‘

At the ceremony, Jake stood in a tailored suit beside his beautiful bride, exchanging vows. Brian and Madeline sat in the front row, and the crowd applauded warmly.

“Why aren’t you clapping? The Atkinson family of four looks so perfect,” whispered a guest.

“Exactly. Madeline might be a stepmother, but she’s treated Jake better than his real mom, who abandoned him and never came back after the divorce,” another guest said.

“Yeah, Jake’s so grateful. He didn’t even invite his birth mother to the stage today,” a third guest said.

“Smart move,” yet another guest said.

“Yeah, everyone’s praising him for being so loyal,” another guest said.

‘Smart move, huh?‘ Jessica thought bitterly.

Jessica felt a wave of dizziness at the whispers.

She wanted to insist that Madeline wasn’t as flawless as they claimed, that she hadn’t completely ignored Jake after the divorce. But the words caught in

her throat.

She thought, ‘I may not have ignored him entirely, but I did refuse to visit when he was sick. I was the one who stayed distant. Of course, he grew disappointed and pulled away.‘

‘This is all your doing, Jessica. Why feel sad now? No, I never meant for this!‘

Jessica shook her head wildly, and in an instant, the scene shifted again.

She was back at her front door, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to go inside.

From within came the soft, gurgling laughter of a baby, followed by Jake’s voice calming Stella and Dereck.

He said, “Grandpa, Grandma, don’t be upset. I didn’t tell you beforehand because I didn’t want you to worry. Look, as soon as the baby turned a month old, I brought him to see you right away.”

‘A baby? Jake has a child?‘ Jessica wondered.

Jessica watched herself push open the door, only to meet Jake’s wary stare–a look she didn’t recognize.

She thought, ‘What’s he so afraid of? Does he really think I’ll hurt his baby? How could he even think that?‘

She rushed into the room, her eyes fixed on the infant in Stella’s arms. “Jake, can t hold him?”

“No,” Jake said without hesitation.

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13:32 Wed, 18 Jun G

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