Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 349: You've grown up...

~Elsewhere- Jessica's car raced towards the countryside, her gaze outside the window as she watched the scenery blur past while she left the city.

The city, a place that had shrouded her life in mystery and confusion. As the buildings receded into the distance, she couldn't help but wonder how things had ended up this way. So many questions, so few answers.

She held onto the hope that this trip would finally begin to unravel the tangled threads of her past.

Before setting out, she had made a crucial stop at the testing centre to drop the specimen she had taken from George's hair during her trip to the Brown family.

She wished so much to have the test result without any delay. Hence, she requested an express service. With the guarantee of having the result in 24 hours she was assured and then left but not without leaving a trusted guard to wait and watch.

She wouldn't want to risk the result being tampered with or compromised at the moment as it held a serious answer to the truth she seeks.

Jessica's gaze never left the window with several thoughts swirling in her mind, she watched the scenery blur past.

After a few hours, the car turned into an untarred road leading deeper into the countryside.

The path narrowed, and with every bump and curve, the air felt a little purer, a little more familiar.

Tall trees flanked either side of the winding road, their canopies interlaced, allowing golden shafts of sunlight to pierce through in dazzling patterns.

Wildflowers bloomed in bursts of colour, the warm amber glow of the morning sunlight kissing the petals as it sways gently in the morning breeze. Its fragrance, calming and enchanting.

Jessica rolled down the window, allowing the breeze to sweep in. It carried the scent of earth, hay, and distant pine. A calm refreshing breath.

The air was cool and soothing, brushing over her skin like a mother's hand lulling a restless child to sleep. Birds chirped, The birds chirped nonstop in symphony as they fluttered from branch to branch, flapping their wings at intervals, their melodies crisp and vivid.

From afar, the soft, steady gurgle of a stream echoed like an old lullaby as it rushed down the hills.

She remembered that stream well, especially the spot where the warm steam rose at the point of confluence evaporating into the sky, it was a beautiful sight.

She took a deep breath, the nostalgia washing over her like a balm as she recalled the days in the past when she spent her life here and the peace that followed.

A soft smile tugged her lips as she searched for the simplest description of this part of the world.

"I think this is the kind of place where tpaused, where silence wasn't empty, but full of life." "A place where nature gives peace, and existence feels meaningful." She raised her phone and took a quick panoramic shot of the view before her and sent it out to Davis.

An hour later, the car cto a gentle stop before a modest bungalow nestled amid a lush garden of vegetables and herbs.

The lawn was neatly trimmed, the tall trees surrounding it like natural guardians.

Its entrance and walkway, paved with concrete, made it much easier for entrance.

Its glass door glistened with the reflections of the sun.

Just beside it was a separate round hut built from mud and thatch. This humble hut used as kitchen once served as their hsince the bungalow was at its foundation stage before the death of her mother Nora.

After her mother's death, they had lived in the mud house until their life condition improved when Jessica's efforts towards a better life began paying off.

With determination, she completed the building of that bungalow letting her grandmother settle down.

It can only be said, this was the first bungalow around this side of the community.

Smoke curled from a hole in its roof, carrying the scent of firewood and simmering broth.

A scent that smelt of homeliness without the complexities of city life and its hassle.

A narrow path of flat stones connected the two buildings, with herbs and vegetables growing in patches along the way.

As Jessica stepped out of the car, her gaze swept across the compound. It appeared empty as though nobody was around.

She made her way behind the kitchen and followed along the path into the woods before she paused, her eyes softening, her gaze gentle as it settled on a spot.

There, in the garden, bent over a basket of freshly plucked vegetables with sfruits, was Grandma Nelly. "Grandma," Jessica called gently, her voice cracking, her nose tingling, her eyes blurred with unshed tears. Seeing the one woman who had been there for her all through the darkest moments of her life, through every storm, every scar, every sorrow brought emotions surging to the surface.

She felt all of her grievances break forth.

She wanted to lodge her complaints, she wanted to tell her all the maltreatment she had experienced, all the cruelty she endured in silence.

She wanted to cry and be cuddled like a baby just like in the past when she would be pulled into her embrace and a lullaby sang to her or a story told.

In certain cases, she will take out her tto praise her so much that she will see herself invincible above all the troubles.

To put simply she had been the strong shoulder that was there for her when all failed.

Nelly, seeing her, had a wide smile plastered across her face. She had missed this granddaughter of hers so much.

Though she had always spoken with her on the phone, that does not equal the bond of seeing her like at this moment.

Balancing herself with her walking stick, she left the basket behind and moved toward her granddaughter. Jessica rushed into her arms.

She embraced Jessica. Patting her back softly as she felt her heavy heart. She slowly pulled away as she raised her trembling hand to wipe the tears already clouding her eyes.

"Grown so big and still crying like a child, will our princess always remain a crybaby?" Her trembling voice was laced with deep affection.

"Alright, you have been wronged but then you have been able to make it through, right?" Jessica nodded. She never thought she would still feel the urge to cry and complain even when she was this close to being a mother herself.

Seems that no matter how old one is, maternal affection will always make you a child.

Recalling that fateful night she had arrived in the countryside on foot in the company of Richard, she had cried her heart out.

Her crying had left them stumped and helpless about what to do. It was as though they had not been together and had not been taking care of each other for the past weeks.

At that time, Grandma Nelly had cried with her, even when she didn't know the full story.

Thinking back now, it seems every clue was clear but as a child, she hadn't taken note or better still she didn't understand.

"I won't be a crybaby," she murmured with a teasing glint. "You can stop embarrassing me." Nelly chuckled.

Jessica bent down and picked up the basket and they began walking back toward the house together.

"How have you been, Grandma?" "I've been doing great," Nelly replied, beaming.

She let Jessica lead her back towards the bungalow.

Her gaze took a quick glance around the compound. "Haven't you already made it easier?" "You built this house, brought electricity and clean water, who wouldn't thrive in comfort?"Nelly said, smiling fondly.

Jessica nudged her playfully. "It's just a shelter. Nothing worth mentioning." "It's more than that," Nelly said warmly. "You've made this place a home." "Well, knowing you are doing well then I am relieved." Jessica smiled.

They both arrived at the front of the building, Nelly took a quiet glance at the guards that had followed her ords back She beckoned them to sit while she called over the maid to attend to them. Having them settled, she led Jessica into her bedroom. Patting the seat beside her on the bed. "Csit." Jessica took a deep breath and walked over. Just as she settled down, the maid cin with a tray of food which she served.

Looking at the local delicacy she had missed for a while, her lips curled up.

She picked up her spoon and dived into her meal, the taste burst forth as she savoured its flavour and she began eating with gusto.

Nelly gazed at her affectionately. She didn't know she would be visiting this day.

Otherwise, she would have carefully prepared all her favourite dishes and looking at her expression; she had a premonition that there is more to this visit. Jessica finished her bowl of food leaving nothing behind. In contentment, she rubbed her stomach which seemed to have becmore rounded than it was.

While she was still reliving the satisfaction from the food, she felt her baby baby kick more aggressively.

There's no doubt it's struggling for its own meal. Jessica smiled widely.

Seeing her finish the meal and the plate taken away, Nelly breathed deeply.

"Jessica," how have you been?" she muttered.

Jessica, noting the change in countenance, felt her breath hitch, as her heart hammered against her chest with dread and trepidation.

She had the feeling that this might not just be a simple but a tof revelations.

"Grandma," she called, "I have been pretty fine and like I told you before, I and my husband will visit you soon enough." Nelly nodded, her eyes reddened and her voice choked with emotion. "You've grown up." Jessica stared at her, confused. She didn't expect the woman smiling just a few minutes ago to have her eyes reddened.

And more surprising was that the culprit was none other than her.

Hurriedly patting her back, "Grandma, What is the problem?"