Claimed by the Man I Shouldn't Love

Alan leaned in, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. He hooked a finger under her chin, his eyes glinting with mockery. "What? Cat got your tongue? Want me to say it for you? You stripped naked and climbed into my bed at fifteen, practically assaulted me."

Jessica locked eyes with him, her gaze sharp and defiant. The shocked gasps from around the room stabbed at her ears. Fifteen, already crawling into a guy's bed-how shameless did she seem to everyone now?

Her lashes fluttered, heart stung. If he hadn't suddenly shown up back then with some woman on his arm, saying she was his fiancée, would she have done something that crazy?

He was already twenty-five at the time. Weren't guys supposed to have needs? He spoiled her like she was the only one in the world. Other than her being too young... she couldn't think of any reason he'd leave. She just wanted to prove that whatever that other woman could give him, she could too.

Now, she understood. He meant to humiliate her like this-make sure everyone knew exactly what kind of "cheap" girl she was.

She pulled away, shaking off his hand. Turning to Daniel, she gave a bitter smile. "Yeah... I was reckless and stupid. Guess I was just that cheap, right?"

She was laughing, but it wasn't funny-it was the kind of laugh that made your chest ache. Daniel gripped her hand tighter. "No. You were just a good girl who fell for the wrong guy."

Her heart clenched. Someone had once said that to her, too-that she was a good girl.

Alan's face went cold, jaw tight, lips spitting out just two words: "Clear out."

His bodyguards immediately started ushering everyone out of the room.

Daniel stood up, placing himself in front of Jessica. "Mr. Knight, you two aren't together anymore. A real man doesn't throw a woman's past back in her face like this. That's just common decency."

Alan gave a cold chuckle. "So you're saying I lack class, huh? Well, I don't need your lecture on manners. You-get him out of my sight."

"What are you trying to do? Forty-eight hours in interrogation wasn't enough for you? I can report you for this!" Daniel didn't budge from in front of Jessica.

"Go ahead. Try it if you dare." Alan had clearly had enough. With a wave of his hand, a few bodyguards grabbed Daniel and tossed him out without hesitation.

Jessica stayed put, grabbing a glass of wine and plopping her feet up on the coffee table. Leaning into the couch, she said lazily, "Say what you gotta say, dear ex-brother-in-law."

Alan's foot came down hard toward her leg. "Feet down. Sit properly."

He'd spent fifteen years shaping her into a perfect, obedient girl-a little princess. And now, in just a few years, she'd turned into this defiant mess right in front of him.

Jessica quickly pulled her leg back, and the man's foot hit nothing but air. She didn't even glance his way, just took a slow sip from her drink. "Alan, I'm not the same Jessica you used to know."

Alan's brows knotted tight. That move of hers-sharp, quick-yeah, she must've learned some serious self-defense. He kept a bit of distance, trying to keep his tone calm. "So, who've you been with these past four years?"

Someone had given her a fake identity, taught her how to fight, wiped every trace of her past clean-whoever it was, they weren't average. And Alan was sure it wasn't Richard-he'd been combing the globe for her all this time too.

Jessica paused for a second. Shouldn't he be asking how she'd survived the blast?

"A stranger helped me out. Took me in. Got me patched up." She lowered her gaze slightly, hiding whatever flashed in her eyes.

Helped her, huh? Alan's eyes flickered with too many tangled emotions. His lips pressed into a hard line, holding everything in tightly.

"Who was it?" His voice had turned cold and sharp, almost instinctively assuming it was a man.

"Not your problem." Jessica tossed back the drink in her hand.

Alan's hand shot out and smacked the glass from her fingers, face dark with anger. "Who said you could drink? Who the hell is he?" What else did he teach her? Damn it, who took her away?

Jessica stared at the broken glass scattered on the floor-it didn't sting anymore. She'd gotten over the fragile part of herself long ago.

She turned her gaze on him, eyes sharp. "Alan, what, you mad that I made it out alive? You gonna go kill the guy who saved me too?"

"Yeah! He deserves it! And so do you! Ever stop to think why he picked you?"

Jessica let out a cold laugh. What, was she so worthless that nobody should've saved her?

"At least he didn't want me dead!"

Alan froze. His lips moved slightly, like he wanted to say something, but he held it back-barely.

A long beat passed.

"So, why come back? Revenge? Or you planning to spill the 'truth' from back then?"

"What if I told you Chloe helped me find those kidnappers-would you even believe it?"

"She's dead. And that's on you. Nothing can change that."

Jessica's expression darkened. He'd dodged the real question again. She scoffed, "You don't believe me, so why bother asking? I came back to find out how my parents really died. Did you have anything to do with it?"

Alan flinched, his deep eyes sliding away from hers.

The room went so quiet, even the sound of breathing felt out of place.