The Night She Came Home

Chapter 3 Encounter

Jessica Davis POV

I was woken up by a ringing phone early in the morning. I fumbled around for a moment before realizing it was Lawrence’s cell phone.

Before I could do anything, Lawrence grabbed the phone and stepped out of the room.

Still, I caught sight of the caller ID — it was Lucy.

My heart shattered all over again, and I could barely catch my breath.

If Lucy was the only woman in Lawrence’s heart, what had last night’s passion meant?

My rational mind told me it was all the alcohol. I looked too much like Lucy, and Lawrence had mistaken me for her once more.

But deep down, my emotions refused to accept that.

After I’d asked for a divorce last night, Lawrence had grown frantic. No matter how many times I reminded him I wasn’t Lucy, he wouldn’t listen.

We’d had s*x everywhere — the backseat of the sports car, the living‑room couch, the dining table, the balcony, and finally the soft bed. I’d gotten lost in the desire Lawrence stirred inside me. The last time, after I felt him finish deep inside me, I’d been completely drained and passed out.

Only now did it hit me: this was the first time in our three‑year marriage we’d slept together without any protection.

“Get some rest.”

Lost in my jumbled thoughts, Lawrence ended his call with Lucy and walked back in, handing me a bank card.

“You can spend this however you want.”

He always gave me money or gifts after we were intimate.

I’d been thrilled by it before, but now my feelings were all over the place.

I used to take pride in the fact that I got paid for every “favor” I gave him. But ever since I’d met Lucy, I’d grown more and more uneasy.

Lawrence noticed I wasn’t taking the card, a hint of confusion crossing his eyes. He added, “There’s a fifty‑million‑dollar limit on it.”

I was stunned the second I heard that number.

It had only ever been a few million before, and this time the amount had jumped up an entire order of magnitude.

At that moment, Lucy and Anna were the last things on my mind. Money was what I loved most!

I broke into a bright grin, like a little girl who’d just gotten her dream present, and snatched the bank card in an instant. “Really? I love you so much, Larry!”

Overcome with excitement, I jumped up and gave him a bear hug. Afterward, I thoughtfully got up to pack his things and smiled as I saw him off to work.

Right after he left, I called Grace to ask her out shopping.

Once I’d gotten all dolled up, I met Grace at the entrance of the fanciest mall in town.

“Whoa, look at this gorgeous lady!”

Grace walked over and teased me.

I slipped my hand around her slender waist and casually flashed my bank card. “Miss Johnson, would I have the honor of treating you to lunch?”

Seeing my smug smile, Grace punched me right in the arm.

I clutched my stomach. “Darling, are you kidding me? I’m buying you lunch and I still get punched! You know me, I’m rarely this generous!”

But Grace paid no mind to my suggestion and blurted out the name of Los Angeles’s most extravagant restaurant.

Oh no, I was going to go broke!

Regret hit me all at once. I’d already given Grace my word, so I had no choice but to follow her with a forced smile.

“Relax!” Grace smiled and reassured me as she browsed the menu.

I knew my friend too well, though. I was already scrambling for an excuse to bolt.

Suddenly Grace set down her menu. Thinking she’d changed her mind, I jumped in right away. “Grace, if nothing here appeals to you, let’s go to our usual spot instead!”

With that, I got up and headed for the door.

“Jessica, hold on!” Grace called after me. “Is that… Lawrence sitting over there? And the woman across from him is…”

She gave me a quick once‑over, then glanced back at the silhouettes through the glass, her face wide with alarm.

Sensing something was wrong, I followed her gaze. Sure enough, Lawrence was seated at the opposite table, and beside him was… Lucy.

So this was what his “work” really was — having dinner with Lucy.

And it was at this very restaurant, the same place we’d only visited once, right after we got married.

A bitter laugh tugged at my lips. Not wanting Grace to worry, I put on a nonchalant act. “Grace, remember how I managed to land Lawrence in the first place?”

“You mean she’s the woman Lawrence is head over heels for — Lucy!”

I nodded.

Watching them chat away so happily, I could barely breathe.

I tried hard to mask my feelings, but Grace picked up on my off‑kilter mood anyway.

“Jessica, let’s go over to their table.”

Grace dragged me straight to Lawrence and Lucy’s booth, plopped herself down without so much as an invitation, and waved at the waiter. “We’ll have exactly what they’re having. This gentleman’s paying.”

Her bold, unapologetic move made me laugh, and my tangled emotions calmed down a little.

“Hi, darling.”

I smiled, putting on the act of a gracious, devoted wife. “Miss Smith, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Mrs. Davis, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just discussing business with Lawrence.”

Lucy stared at me, looking tense and frightened, and shot Lawrence a desperate plea with her eyes.

She’d certainly not been this meek little‑rabbit act last night.

I knew this was nothing more than one of her tricks to lure men in.

Still, I’d grown tired of these games. I’d once used the very same tactics to flirt with Lawrence, but now it was clear he was nothing but a shallow man. What was there for me to cling to, anyway?

“Jessica, it really is only business. Don’t make Lucy uncomfortable.”

Lawrence spoke up to defend Lucy, yet his tone carried clear irritation at my meddling. It was as if he was telling me: you’re nothing but a stand‑in, and you have no right to judge Lucy.

I opened my mouth to speak, but after a few seconds of hesitation, I fell silent.

I already knew no amount of arguing would make him call Lucy out on her behavior, not for my sake.

“Mr. Davis!”

Grace slammed her hand down hard on the table. “What are you talking about? How dare you reprimand your own wife for another woman? We only just walked in here to have dinner, we haven’t done a thing!”

“Grace.”

I grabbed hold of her arm, not wanting my best friend to get worked up over this.

But the second Grace sat down, Lucy’s fear only intensified. She shrank into Lawrence’s arms. “Lawrence, your wife and her friend seem to dislike me. I think I should leave.”

Lawrence shot me a warning look, then turned to comfort Lucy in a soft, gentle voice. “It’s fine, ignore them. Let’s keep eating. You love the steak here, don’t you?”

A jumble of emotions washed over me: bitterness, jealousy, and heartache.

When it came down to it, Lawrence would always side with Lucy over me.

“I’m going to the restroom. You guys go ahead and eat.” I stood up and walked away.

Staring at myself in the bathroom mirror, I saw my red‑rimmed eyes and haggard expression.

How ridiculous. I couldn’t even fool myself, let alone hide what I was feeling from everyone else.

“You okay?”

Lucy walked in out of nowhere.

I hastily covered my face to mask my expression, then pretended to wash my hands. “I’m fine, thanks.”

Lucy went on. “Jessica, I was worried you might not like the food here. You probably don’t get to fancy restaurants very often. Should I ask Lawrence to order something else for you?”

“Lawrence told me you’re an orphan, raised in poverty. You’ve never really fit into high society. It must have been hard stepping into my shoes as Mrs. Davis. But I’m back now.”

Lucy turned to face me, her face a mix of smugness and pity.

In that instant, I truly wanted to rip that woman’s face off.