Charles lifted Jessica from the hotels threshold , the night air biting at her skin.A soft shiver ran through her , the unexpected cold piercing deeper than she had anticipated . Rheas wine had soaked into her dress , rendering the fabric heavy and damp . Her hair , once styled , now hung limp , weighed down by the spilled drink . The remnants of cake clung to her gown , sticky and humiliating . She glanced down at herself , her face burning with shame . Thank you , she whispered , her voice soft , almost drowned by the night . You can let me down now . A car rolled up to them , its engine a low hum in the quiet of the evening . Charles released her , and Jessica noticed his suit now bore splatters of cake and frosting . A wave of guilt washed over her . Sorry … Ive ruined your clothes again . Maybe you should take it off and let me clean it for you ? He remained silent , his eyes cold and unreadable , fixated on her.From the beginning , hed wondered why she insisted on being his companion to the hotel . At first , hed thought she was merely trying to stir trouble . Now , it seemed clear : shed sought to ruin the evening , but had instead tangled herself in a mess of her own making- Charles didnt speak . His gaze fixed on her , sharp as ice , and it sent a shiver down her spine . She forced a strained smile , trying to mask her discomfort . I know I look awful , but you really dont have to look at me like that . Before she could speak further, his hand shot out , pinning her back against the side of the car . His towering form blocked her in , looming over her like a shadow … I dont care what youve got with my nephew , he said , his voice low and laced with a warning . I wont be dragged into your mess . His words pressed heavily against her chest , suffocating her . She had used him to gain entry to the party hed allowed it , perhaps out of curiosity . But if she thought she could use him to get back at Hugh , she was mistaken . The coldness radiating from him made her heart flutter with unease . Now she understood it wasnt her she was saving , but his own dignity . A bitter smile curled at her lips . Of course , he was angry . It made sense . Her gaze fell to the ground , hiding the turmoil she couldnt mask . She spoke softly , her voice steady , yet laced with sincerity . Hensley , this wont happen again . I swear it . She hadnt meant to use him as a pawn against Hugh . That was her burden to carry . Charles studied her for a long moment , his silence as chilling as his stare . Finally , his expression softened , if only slightly . 1/3 Jessica hesitated , uncertainty flickering in her eyes . But he met her gaze with a calm indifference , as if he were entirely unaffected . Im taking you home . its fine . Really , she began to protest , but before the words fully left her lips , he guided her into the car . He climbed in after her , motioning to the driver with a quiet command . Jessica sank into the seat , careful not to move too much . She didnt want to risk making his car as messy as her clothes . What about Mr. Hensley Sr. ? she asked , recalling that he had come with Dom . Hell have his own ride , Charles replied with a cool glance . She nodded , a small sense of understanding settling in . Of course , a family like theirs wouldnt settle for just one car . The car pulled to a stop beneath Jessicas apartment building . She glanced at the man beside her . His eyes were closed , his expression unreadable , as if the world beyond the car didnt exist . Hensley , Im home . Thank you for the ride , she murmured softly .. A faint grunt came from him in response , the sound more a vibration in the air than a word . His eyes stayed shut . A thick silence hung between them , oppressive and unsettling . Without another word , Jessical quickly opened the door and stepped out , eager to escape the weight of it . As her foot touched the ground , his voice cut through the air , sharp as a knife . Something was tossed from the car . She barely had time to react , her hands snapping up to catch it . His suit jacket . You said youd wash it . His voice , laced with a subtle challenge , drifted over her , the arch of his brow almost visible in the way his words landed . Her throat tightened , a sense of confusion washing over her . Oh , yeah . Yes … Ill wash it . She had assumed that , given his cool detachment , he wouldve discarded it perhaps too offended by the cake stains to care . Yet , he handed it to her , as if entrusting her with it . Youll wash it yourself , he added , his gaze still hidden . Of course , Ill take care of it , she said , the words leaving her lips quickly . She wasnt sure if he was trying to avoid having the jacket dry cleaned or if it was something else entirely . The car began to pull away , leaving Jessica standing in the night with his jacket in her hands . She The real problem ? Her gown . It was a rental , and now it was stained beyond saving completely ruined . She returned to her apartment later than she had planned . Fortunately , shed called Selene in advance , letting her know shed be working late and asking her to keep an eye on the boy . When she entered , the quiet was comforting . Both Selene and her son were already sound asleep . She was relieved they hadnt seen her in such a state . After cleaning herself up , Jessica walked to the room she shared with her son . He was nestled snugly in sleep , his small arms wrapped around a dinosaur plush . A smile spread across her lips as she brushed a lock of hair from his forehead . The tenderness of the moment made her heart ache in the best way . Carefully , she lay down on the other side of the bed , not wanting to disturb him . The exhaustion from the night hit her all at once , but sleep refused to come . Her thoughts raced . Rheas panic had confirmed what Jessica had suspected all along . The child Rhea carried wasnt Hughs . That child had ties to the man Jessica had seen at the hospital the doctor . She would find him . She had to . The truth about the scandalous photos from years ago still eluded her , but she would uncover it , no matter the cost . Charles didnt return to the Hensleys estate until he was certain Jessica was safe at her apartment . Entering the front door , he found his father , Jane , and Hugh and his wife waiting in the living room.The atmosphere was thick with anticipation .