The Wife They Tried to Replace Is Now Untouchable novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Looking at all the intriguing and mysterious designs, she felt as if the part of her that used to live for art had come awake again.

Seeing Jessica completely absorbed in the illustrations, Gabriela teased playfully from the side, “Now you know how much you’ve missed out, huh? Come on, let’s go to my office.”

Jessica looked away. The works on that gallery wall had sparked an overwhelming urge to start drawing again.

Talking about how the company had developed these past few years, the two of them made their way into the office one after the other. Jessica took in the space, styled just the way Gabriela liked it.

If Jessica hadn’t chosen to get married and become a housewife back then, her office probably would’ve looked a lot like this.

“Oh, right. I want you to mentor someone for me. She’s a young girl. She just graduated from a prestigious university. She’s got potential and decent talent too.” Gabriela pulled out a file and handed it to Jessica.

She casually added, “Too bad though–she comes from a rough background and her family doesn’t pay attention to her. She got into college through sheer determination and worked part–time all the way through to pay for her education.”

Jessica paused, her hand frozen mid–page. Something about it felt way too familiar. “Did her family also try to force her into marriage, pushing her into it for money?”

Gabriela looked surprised. “You know her?”

Jessica shook her head, but for some reason, Madeline’s face popped into her mind.

Back then, when Madeline had just graduated from college and got rejected by every company she applied to, it was Jessica who had interviewed her.

Madeline had said if she couldn’t land a job in a big city, her father would force her to marry someone. She’d been scared and insecure, but underneath it all, there had been a stubborn streak that refused to give up.

Jessica had felt a pang of sympathy. Out of that entire group of interviewees, Madeline had had the weakest qualifications. Out of pity, Jessica had taken her in and taught her everything–how to handle people, how to navigate the workplace–step by step.

Later on, Madeline had visibly improved by leaps and bounds. People at the company had even started saying she was becoming more and more like Jessica.

But in the end, all that careful mentoring led to Madeline scheming to imitate Jessica in every way–just so she could replace her.

“Let someone else mentor her,” Jessica said, turning it down. “I’ll interview an assistant myself.”

She thought to herself, ‘Once burned, twice shy!

Gabriela didn’t say anything more and let Jessica decide.

As evening approached, Gabriela still had work to take care of, so Jessica headed back on her own after work.

Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she was caught off guard to see Brian waiting in the parking garage to corner her. “I made a reservation,” Brian said. “Let’s talk over dinner.”

“Oh, did you sign the papers?” Jessica asked.

*Can we just have a normal conversation?” Brian sounded frustrated, but there was a trace of helplessness in his voice.

He thought, ‘If it’s not about divorce, Jessica won’t even say a single word to me?‘

“Then there’s nothing to talk about.” Jessica moved to get in the car, but Brian blocked the door with his hand.

Jessica gave Brian a shove, clearly annoyed. “Let me say it one more time–we have nothing to talk about except the divorce. Now can you get out of my way?”

Brian was tall and solid, only taking a small step back from the push. “Just because Madeline’s working as my assistant and Jake likes her you want a divorce?”

The two of them were locked in a standoff. Jessica tried to open the car door, but Brian kept one hand pressed against it. Neither would back down.

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