They Want Me Back When It's Too Late (Jessica and Brian) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Chapter 171

“You wanted me dead?”

Jessica’s voice was flat, her gaze sharper than ever. The hand that had just slapped Madeline trembled slightly.

Madeline’s head had tilted from the force of it. A distinct red imprint bloomed across her pale cheek.

“Jessi-”

Another smack came.

Jessica struck her again, hard and swift, her voice laced with fury, “You wanted me dead!”

Jessica stood traumatized, her hand trembling slightly at her side whether from exertion or overwhelming emotion, it was hard to tell.

Her eyes burned red at the corners, locked on Madeline… and the pastry in her hand.

Jessica was severely allergic to nuts–how severe varied, but the risk was always there.

And Madeline, who had once been her personal assistant, knew this better than anyone.

What shattered her wasn’t just the danger. It was the fact that the girl she had treated like a sister would go so far as to try to kill her.

Madeline’s cheek throbbed with pain, the sting clearing the fog of jealousy that had clouded her for weeks.

She looked down at the walnut pastry in her hand in silence.

It wouldn’t kill Jessica immediately. At worst, she’d break out in hives. If she got to a hospital in time, there might not even be visible symptoms.

However…

If the reaction was severe, her throat could close up. She could suffocate.

Madeline’s expression darkened, eyes flitting away from Jessica’s.

She couldn’t hold that gaze anymore. Jessica’s eyes weren’t just furious; they were wounded and confused. “Why would you do this to me?” they seemed to ask.

Madeline clenched her fists. She thought back to everything Jessica had done for her over the years.

Before they met, not one soul in her 22 years had ever treated her with such warmth.

Madeline had once been grateful to Jessica, considering her a sister and dearest friend.

But then Brian came along. It was Jessica who’d unknowingly nurtured her ambition, who made her want more.

Her gratitude toward Jessica gradually became tainted with envy and jealousy, eventually morphing into covetousness.

She secretly coveted Brian, envied Jessica’s poise and decisive style, and desired everything she possessed.

Madeline’s resolve flickered the moment she noticed the overwhelming sorrow in Jessica’s eyes.

She had once loved her like family.

However…

Brian’s face, chiseled and dreamlike, flashed across her mind. He was the kind of man girls always fantasized about, with a perfect background. To win

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Chapter 171

his heart would mean everything.

Madeline’s hesitation lasted only a moment before her resolve hardened.

Compared to the good days she could have with Brian, what were a few years of Jessica’s care worth?

“Jessi, you must have misunderstood me.” Madeline quickly suppressed her emotions and said with grievance, “I know you blame me for what happened with Brian…”

She squeezed out a few tears and turned her face toward Jessica, “If you’re still mad, just hit me until you’re not.”

She practically looked like she was offering the other cheek after being slapped on one side.

Jessica’s fist clenched tighter. Though she hated Madeline, she wasn’t the type to shamelessly harm someone’s physical safety.

“These pastries were from Jake. I was just helping him deliver them. I didn’t check them carefully and forgot that you’re allergic to nut.”

Madeline covered her swollen cheek. “I just didn’t want Jake’s kind gesture to go to waste, so I thought you could at least have a small bite.”

She spoke with sincerity. In the past, Jessica might’ve believed she was telling the truth.

But after all that had happened, Jessica had already seen through Madetine’s true nature.

“If you’re only here to deliver pastries from Jacob, then you can leave now.”

After speaking, Jessica turned and walked toward the door. Madeline didn’t try to stop her.