The domineering tone, the cold expression, even Alessia could misunderstand Dominic for acting, her heart skipped a beat without warning.
However, this sudden flutter was quickly suppressed by her because she knew better than anyone that it was just an act.
Alessia had her pride; she absolutely wouldn't allow herself to fall in love with someone who didn't love her.
Alessia bit her lip, staring at her toes.
Facing Dominic's impoliteness, Enzo just casually hooked his lips and didn't linger with Dominic, heading straight into the car.
Watching the car drive away, Alessia silently freed her hand from Dominic's grasp.
Dominic looked at his empty palm, feeling as if a part of his heart had emptied along with it.
He watched Alessia walk back into the house, inadvertently glancing at his palm again, where the warmth of Alessia still lingered.
"Alessia?"
"Yeah!" Alessia turned around.
Dominic's face tensed, arrogantly saying, "Do you want to go pick up the kids? Let's go together then!"
Alessia blinked, looking puzzled. When did she say she wanted to go?
"Um, I don't really want to," Alessia honestly shook her head in refusal.
After facing a day of turmoil between Dominic and Enzo, she just wanted peace and quiet.
Encountering Alessia's complete disregard, Dominic's expression cracked. He stood frozen in place, while the instigator urged from the side.
"Mr. Carter, if you're going, you should leave now. Otherwise, it'll be too late, and I'm afraid Elle will be tired," Alessia said, then walked into the house. Just then, a car pulled up outside, and Jessie stepped out.
Jessie had just drawn the line with her yesterday, and it wasn't a joke. Why did she come back so soon?
Alessia felt strange as Jessie walked up to her and knelt down directly.
Jessie pleaded with a face full of shame, "Sia, please... save Ava."
What did Ava do again?
Alessia thought for a moment, then said to Jessie, "Get up first before you speak."
What's with kneeling like this?
Jessie obediently stood up, avoiding eye contact with Alessia, and said, "I'm sorry, Sia. Ava is in the hospital. My dad... he's desperate. He's begging me to take you to the hospital to see Ava."
Has Harrison still not come to his senses?
But what did it have to do with her? Her relationship with the Ramirez family had already been sorted out.
Alessia said directly, "Jessie, I can't help you. You might as well go back and persuade Mr. Ramirez."
"It's no use. My dad's decisions have never changed since childhood," Jessie murmured, "I don't want to deal with him either, but Nolan is gone. If I don't, there's no one else."
As Jessie spoke, she became emotional and tearful.
This was the second time Alessia had seen Jessie cry. The first time was relief; this time, it was helplessness.
The first time she accommodated her because it was easy and had been decided from the start.
This time was different. She wasn't a saint. Everyone had their own life. Life's journey was long; everyone would encounter problems that couldn't be solved, and they had to find a way to solve them on their own.
Alessia spoke firmly, "Even so, I can't help you."
Alessia refused again, and Jessie's emotions almost collapsed. She saw Alessia about to leave, so she stopped her without thinking.
"Sia, I know it's unreasonable for me to ask like this, but I have no other choice. If I had any other way, I wouldn't come to you."
Alessia looked at the humble Jessie, with a hint of pity, but her attitude remained unchanged, "I can't help you."
Previously, Jessie had always been seen as a confident career woman, and being bound by her family was her misfortune. But blindly compromising wasn't a wise choice.
Just as Alessia ignored Jessie and was about to enter the house, the sound of a car came from outside again. The car door opened, and Bianca ran in, looking anxious.
"Sister-in-law, please help Jessie this time." Bianca also stood in front of Alessia, pleading for Jessie.
"I know Jessie did something stupid the day before yesterday, and I've scolded her harshly for it. She made a deal with her dad. As long as she helps Ava this time, her dad will agree to sever ties with her. You don't know how strict the Ramirez family is with Jessie. This is Jessie's best chance to break free from the Ramirez family!"
Alessia hesitated, looking at Jessie.
Jessie awkwardly lowered her eyelashes.
She thought Jessie came to her to fulfill Harrison's request, but it was about breaking ties with Harrison, so it seemed she was not without efforts.
Everyone striving to break free from shackles and start anew deserved respect.
Alessia changed her mind and said, "I'll go with you."
Jessie breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the tears from her face, and sincerely said, "Thank you, Sia."
"I'll go upstairs and change clothes first." Alessia nodded and walked into the house.
Bianca watched Alessia's back and happily held Jessie's hand. "Great! After this is over, don't do anything silly again."
"I won't." Jessie said, "I was foolish before, thinking things would get better after this incident, and I wanted to save the Ramirez group. I've figured it out. After this is resolved, I'll talk to Sia and let her hand over the Ramirez group to someone else."
"Well, don't be too pessimistic. Believe that everything will get better." Bianca comforted with a smile.
"Here you go!" Just then, a hand with distinct knuckles held out a packet of tissues. Jessie and Bianca looked over and saw the handsome face of Dylan.
"Dylan, what are you doing here?" Jessie was surprised.
Dylan had one hand in his pocket, looking at Jessie askance, as if it were a matter of course. "I've been here since this morning."
Jessie's expression froze completely. This meant that Dylan saw her crying with snot and tears just now.
If someone else saw it, it would be fine, but why did it have to be this man who didn't get along with her?
Wasn't this giving him ammunition to mock her?
Jessie's face flushed, not knowing whether she was angry or embarrassed, but in the next second, when she was tearing tissues, she regained the graceful and intellectual demeanor.
Watching her movements, Dylan's expression changed. He suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and took the tissues to help wipe the tears from Jessie's face. The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Bianca couldn't help but curl her lips in amusement, discreetly stepping back to leave. When she turned around, she saw Riley standing behind her.
Bianca immediately restrained the expression of gossip she had just had and pretended to ignore Riley as she walked past him and directly into the house to pour herself a glass of water.
Just as she was about to drink the water, the glass was taken away.
Riley stood beside her, emptied the glass she had filled, poured warm water again, and gently said, "A girl should not drink cold water."
After speaking, Riley handed the glass back to her.
Bianca looked at Riley's soft facial features, her nose souring. Suddenly, without warning, she poured all the water in the glass onto Riley's face.
"Riley Sinclair, what are you doing here? Are you regretting it?" Bianca didn't joke or playfully call him uncle anymore. Riley didn't know, but from today onwards, Bianca never called him uncle again.
Riley calmly took off his glasses and set them aside, then took the water glass from Bianca's hand, refilled it with warm water, and handed it back to her.
Then he said, "I have no regrets. I saw your InstaStory yesterday and am glad you're restarting without obsession."
Sometimes, gentleness with indifference is the most deadly.
Bianca felt a pain in her heart, as if a blunt knife was cutting her flesh.
She drank all the water in one gulp, forcefully pushing the glass back into Riley's hand, and disdainfully said, "You were just a moment of confusion for me. Now that I see clearly."
As the two argued, Alessia had changed into new clothes and come downstairs. Bianca restrained her emotions and took the opportunity to move away from Riley.
In the yard, Alessia found Dominic waiting in the car outside.
Dominic looked at Alessia through the car window. "I'll go with you."
Alessia pursed her lips and said directly, "Enzo isn't here now. You don't need to put on an act."
Dominic propped his chin with one hand, found an excuse with a sideways glance at Alessia, "Do you think I want to? I'm afraid you'll get into trouble. Christian keeps babbling, he's too chatty."
Christian was indeed chatty, but Alessia didn't think Dominic would fear his son.
But Jessie and the others were waiting, and it was not good to delay any longer. After a moment's thought, Alessia decided to get in the car.
***