Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-Chapter 162: Replacement...

With her disguise complete, Jessica turned toward Anna one last time. "Remember what I said. Lock the door. Don’t come out until someone I come to seek you out, can you recognize my voice?"

Anna nodded severally. "Be careful," she whispered.

Jessica didn’t respond. She simply gave a tight smile and unlocked the door, slipping back into the hallway like a shadow—quiet, invisible, and deadly.

Anna felt cold all over as she stood in the dimly lit room. The scent of stale perfume and cheap cologne lingering in the air. She hadn’t anticipated encountering such a situation today.

Her hands trembled as she sat on the edge of the couch in the empty room Jessica had pulled her into just moments ago, her thought swirling with emotions. She dare not make the slightest noise or whimper she still wanted her life.

Today, she had been assigned to serve two older men—men old enough to be her father, if he were still alive. Their names didn’t matter, but their power and wealth did. They were filthy rich. Men already accustomed to getting what they wanted, no matter the cost. She found herself grappling with a mix of fear and resignation.

She couldn’t compete with them as she had nothing, . Just a sick mother lying on a hospital bed with tubes and machines keeping her alive. Her mother needed medication, constant care, and, most of all, surgery—one they couldn’t afford.

She had knocked on every door, begged every relative, cried through long nights, and even worked three jobs at once. Nothing had worked. She hadn’t planned to end up here.

The Gray Jones club and bar popularly referred to as 24 Hours All Night club was her last option as introduced by a someone. A place where girls sold smiles, charm, and sometimes more—to survive.

Jessica had promised to come back for her. Anna knew better than to believe in promises out of her experiences for the past years. But still, something about that woman: her eyes, her strength, her confidence—sparked a small flame of belief inside Anna.

Anna knew she shouldn’t be trusting her but then what else can she do then praying and hoping she wouldn’t forget.

~In the lounge~

Armed with information she had gathered from Anna. Jessica made her way to the room where the meeting had to be held.

Jessica walked quietly, her face partly hidden by her hair and the shadows. The air was thick with expensive cologne, cigarette smoke, and the low hum of laughter and murmured conversations.

Her steps were light, her presence lacking the usual composure of pride and arrogance since she had to put herself in the place of a weak girl who couldn’t defend herself. The dim lights of the club reflected off her earrings, the tray of drinks steady in her hands.

Desmond spotted her first as she entered the lounge, his eyes trailed her body, slow and full of hunger. He leaned back in his seat with a smirk, completely unaware that the woman before him wasn’t the call girl he had requested, but rather his nephew’s wife.

George Brown, was already half-drunk and wrecked of alcohol, yet he looked up at her with a lazy smile, his brow furrowed at first at her image but it disappeared as far as it came.

George Brown felt he might have been mistaken because Jessica had been missing for quite some time.The scent of whiskey clung to him like a second skin. His face was flushed, his eyes glazed, but he still managed to grin when Desmond gestured toward Jessica. George licked his lips as though he was seeing a delicious meal.

Their actions made Jessica feel disgusted, the urge to throw up pressing so hard on her. But then she had to endure it. She was here with a purpose—to dig into Desmond and George Brown’s plot behind the scene.

But then looking at the both, she is quite sure their collaboration had been in the far back dating to only when they both knew.

"Let’s talk business first," Desmond said, licking his lips and casting a sly glance at Jessica. "We’ll enjoy her company afterward. I’ve booked her just for you."

Jessica didn’t flinch. She placed the drinks on the table with quiet precision, her eyes lowered like a proper server, but her ears we

sharp.

Slowly, she subtly attached her recording pen below the table securely. She was sure all the conversation which she felt is necessary will be recorded.

George chuckled, waving a hand sloppily. "Alright. Talk. Let’s talk about it"

Desmond leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly but not enough to escape Jessica’s trained hearing.

"The Brown group is already an empty shell, do you mind handing it over to me,I believe you understand how well it will favour your intentions?" He asked, his gaze lingering on him longer than expected.

Jessica’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her heart pounding anxiously as she waited his response.

George sighed, rubbing his temples. "My intentions has always been clear, to hold onto that group and for Jessica, she is to remain in your family and never think about taking the group back."

Desmond chuckled lightly as he downed another cup his drink. "George, I don’t see why you have to bother about Jessica when you have practically arranged everything from the onset."

"I still need to be worried especially after she married your crippled nephew, what if he develops interest in the group?"

"Interest? In the group? That must be a rich dream for him." He smirked with a chuckle.

Desmond had always kept the Brown group as his sole property and legacy and never had the intention of sharing with any one.

His only intention is keeping a complete hold of the group. "Desmond, if you really want this to work grant me funds to grow the group and not to hand it over, besides it should have been hers. Then, I can agree to whatever conditions you state?"

"Do you think it is easy to do? And at this time?" Desmond asked, the bitting sharpness of the drinking made him frown.

"I know and I understand what you are trying to say but think about it. Also, the Allen Family is yet to do something concerning my missing daughter." He concluded.

Desmond laughed bitterly. "Help you? Do you think I can easily cough out money now . I told you what to do and yet you didn’t want it that way. He pressured. George shook his head in denial.

"Desmond, you should know that my daughter is married to your family and up till this minute, I have not received any entitlement due for an in-law even after she had gone missing.

"George, your request of entitlement isn’t that proper, recall the agreement of the marriage between the families which everyone’s affected by now."

Jessica’s fists clenched behind her back. So this was the truth. George was willing to sacrifice anything within reach to keep his failing business.

"You think I wanted it this way?" George growled suddenly, slamming his glass on the table. "You think I like watching everything I built turn to dust? I did what I could! And now—"

"Now you’re desperate," Desmond interrupted. "Which is why you’ll do what I say next."

Jessica kept her expression neutral, but inside, her blood was boiling. This wasn’t just greed. This was betrayal of the deepest kind. "A father betraying his own blood because of wealth",

Jessica never thought about the situation of the alliance in marriage to have been a control measure he had placed on her while intending to take over everything her mother had built.

She straightened slowly and poured another drink for each of them, in the bid to keep them focused and blissful unaware of her intention.

Desmond leaned back again, pulling a cigar from his coat. "Let’s enjoy tonight, George. There’s still time to fix this—if you stop acting like a scared little boy. Do what needs to be done."

George laughed, but it was hollow and as of struck with a thought he settled his gaze on him "And what if he comes back? What if he fights?"

Desmond’s hand paused lightly , his breathe hitched "Then we destroy him," Desmond said coldly. "Just like it should have been."

"Are you really sure this plan will work and if it didn’t work?" George queried.

"Do I even have to worry when I already sent in an appeal to the court to declare him dead by the end of the month?"

Jessica’s hand trembled slightly, but she caught herself. So they had planned it. Every piece of the puzzle was falling into place.

George raised his glass. "To power. And to the end of those who get in our way."

Jessica raised her tray and backed away politely, her head slightly bowed. Neither of the men suspected a thing. Not yet. Because, they thought she is going to get more drinks as per the arrangement.

As she returned to the hallway, her eyes burned with fury. She had thought that the Allen family just approached the Brown family for marriage, she never thought it to be premeditated but then she had heard and had enough.

They had plotted everything—betrayal, manipulation, and destruction. And they thought they could do it in the dark, hidden behind wealth and power.

"This time she must prove to George Brown that the group was her mother’s labour and according to her will should be handed to her." She concluded.