As the days passed, Jessica couldn't help but feel the weight of Armando's actions closing in around her. Dante’s presence was becoming more frequent and noticeable. Though he was discreet, she knew he was keeping tabs on her family, just as Armando had ordered. The constant surveillance felt suffocating, like invisible walls being built higher around her.
Jessica sat in the nursery one evening, folding tiny clothes for the baby. The soft pastel hues of the room stood in stark contrast to the darkness she felt creeping into her life. She had tried to talk to Sean and Mia about toning down their plans for her “escape,” but they were relentless, determined to find a way out for her.
"Jess, we can’t just sit by and watch you live like this," Sean had said earlier that day. His voice was
