RedNovelChapter 242
Jessica's hands were full, making conversation impossible.
But Herbert could already guess what she wanted to say.
"Wondering why I'm here?" he asked with a half-smile.
Jessica nodded.
"I cto visit my grandfather's grave, and thought I'd stop by your grandmother's too. | can't even count how
many meals she made forwhen | was a kid."
Of course, the real reason was to keep Jessica company.
He knew today was the Thanksgiving Day, and Jessica would be here to pay respects to her grandmother and
mother.
Herbert reached out, taking the offerings and flowers from Jessica's arms. “Let's do this together."
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He loaded the items into the trunk, then opened the car door for her.
Once they were inside, Jessica began sharing her morning's speech therapy practice. She admitted it was still
tough—even the simplest sounds wouldn't cout right.
"Don't rush," Herbert reassured her. "You haven't started treatment yet. The test results show your nerves have
healed much more than before, which is why you're suddenly making ssounds. You'll recover faster than
most. All you need is a minor procedure to help things along."
For Jessica, it was a ray of hope she hadn't seen in years. If her body was healing on its own, maybe her chances
of speaking again were much higher than before.
She pressed her thumb into her palm-a silent thank you.
She didn't say more. If she started signing, Herbert would have to take his eyes off the road to watch, and she
didn't want to be a distraction.
Secretary Allen followed Herbert's car all the way to the cemetery.
After parking, Herbert and Jessica got out and walked together to the grave sites.
Secretary Allen hesitated, debating whether to call President Lawson. But he'd been told simply to pick up Mrs.
Lawson and bring her home-nothing more. If he reported that she was visiting the cemetery with another man,
President Lawson would probably lose his temper. That would only make work harder for everyone. No need to
make trouble for himself, Allen decided.
When Herbert and Jessica finished paying their respects, Secretary Allen hurried over as they returned to the car.
"Mrs. Lawson, President Lawson askedto drive you back to Riverside City as soon as possible," he said.
Jessica instinctively signed, **Tell him I'm not going back.**
Secretary Allen frowned, helpless. "Mrs. Lawson, | don't understand sign language."
Herbert stepped in, translating smoothly. "She says to tell President Lawson she won't be coming back today."
With that, Herbert put his arm around Jessica's shoulders and steered her toward his car, holding the door open
for her.
Secretary Allen quickly caught up, his tone urgent. "Mrs. Lawson, President Lawson was very clear-he wants you
htoday."
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Jessica didn't want to make things harder for him. She took out her phone and sent Timothy a message:
*#%|'m not coming back to Riverside City today.**
She showed the message to Secretary Allen-her way of saying she'd informed Timothy herself. If her husband
had a problem, at least Allen wouldn't be to blame.
Relieved, Secretary Allen nodded. He wouldn't have to take the fall for this.
Timothy had rushed hlate the night before, visited Sheila at the hospital, and finally collapsed into bed after
three in the morning. Even so, he was up early, waiting for Jessica so they could go to the Lawson family estate
together.
When her text arrived, Timothy's face clouded over.
She was two hours away, and refusing to chome-there was nothing he could do about it.
He had no choice but to take Henry and go to the family gathering without her.
Timothy's family took ancestral traditions seriously-he'd grown up with that expectation. The entire Lawson clan
was already gathered, just waiting for Timothy's family to arrive before heading out.
But once again, it was only Timothy and Henry-Jessica was nowhere to be seen.
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