Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-Chapter 181: Break the promise for the better

With confidence and contentment in her stride, Jessica made her way toward the car waiting at the doorstep.

A subordinate hurried out of the mansion after her. "You have a report to check on," he said, handing over a thick brown envelope.

Jessica accepted it calmly, though her heart gave a sudden thump against her chest because this was the subordinate in charge of her mother’s investigation.

She dreads what the report might be but then with a gentle firmness, her expression composed she accepted the file though her heart raced with trepidation.

"Thank you," she murmured as the subordinate bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

A flicker of pity passed through her eyes—she had seen Jessica’s quiet endurance, her strength hidden beneath grace. She had seen the cruelty Jessica endured from the very people who were supposed to be her family. so heartless.

Unaware of the subordinate’s silent thoughts, Jessica cast one last glance behind her before sliding into the car.

She settled quietly into the back seat and placed her bag beside her. Her gaze fell on the empty seat next to her, and for a brief moment a warm tender smile crept onto her lips. She then looked at the ring on her finger.

Carefully, she studied its intricacies—the design, the simplicity, and above all, its elegance. She tapped her cheek thoughtfully and murmured, "A carefully crafted thin band of platinum with a radiant single diamond seated on it—quite elegant and delicate at a glance." She sighed.

Her heart softened.

"It must have cost him a lot," she whispered, almost to herself. A rare smile played on her lips. She felt warm and happy.

Though she had taken this bold step yet she is still tethering on the edge, she felt content in the moment. She could only hope that whatever challenge came next would be a hurdle they could overcome together.

Quietly, she retrieved the file her subordinate had handed her earlier. Taking a deep breath, she opened it and scanned through the information.

Her brow furrowing as she read on, her hand clenching by her side, and her eyes growing cold.

"Drugging? I suspected as much," she murmured. She turned the page with deliberate care, each word etching deeper into her soul.

"Dosage minimal but consistent. No prescription issued." Jessica’s eyes widened. Her jaw tightened.

Then, she quickly flipped the page and her eyes widened with disbelief—the scanned copy of a waiver. Her father’s signature was scrawled at the bottom, authorizing medical caregiver access to one name she never wanted to see again—Clara Brown, her step mother.

Her jaw clenched, breathing heavy, eyes sharp and cold. She picked up her phone and dialed the number of the subordinate who gave her the file. "Is this the only documentation you could find?" she asked.

The reply came swiftly, as expected. "I’m still digging deeper. There seem to be other factors, and the signature on the waiver might be forged."

"Alright. Pause that for now and run a background check on Clara. I want to know her connections to my mother—both in the past and during her marriage. It seems there’s a link between them," she concluded.

"Understood," came the swift reply. Jessica ended the call as swiftly as she had started it.

She quietly flipped through the remaining pages, then shook her head and shut the file. Her hand traced the edge of the brown envelope gently.

"Mom, I will secure justice for you—just a little more time," she whispered. She leaned her head on the headrest and closed her eyes briefly.

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~Back at the mansion~

As Jessica stepped out of the house, Davis retrieved a second ring from the small casing, he had taken Jessica’s ring from and slid it onto his finger. The ring was an exact replica of the one on Jessica’s hand, except it lacked the diamond.

He smiled briefly. "I’ll keep this on my finger until the wedding day—until I can exchange this vow with you," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Davis slowly closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady his fraying nerves. He wheeled himself toward the window to watch Jessica’s car pull away from the mansion.

Once he was certain she had gone far, he rolled his wheelchair over to the bed and began carefully arranging various necessities. Over time, moving with the wheelchair had become easier and more precise.

With practiced ease, he transferred himself from the wheelchair to the bed. He sat at the edge, staring at the floor, deep in thought.

The silence around him was peaceful, but within, a storm was raging. He looked down at his legs—still weak, still trembling.

His gaze shifted back to the ring on his finger. "You were angry that I over-stressed my leg, but without the stress, I can’t fast-track the process. I better break the promise of not lying to you I made—for the better," he whispered aloud.

With a crutch beside him, he slowly lifted himself from the bed. His muscles trembled and contracted with the effort.

A sharp, soul-piercing pain surged through his right leg, but he bit down on his bottom lip, forcing himself to endure the pain that coursed through him like lava, threatening to erupt at the slightest strain.

During his training yesterday, he had noticed that one leg was more flexible and supporting than the other. Today, he had decided to focus on the weaker leg.

Slowly and steadily, he began shifting his weight onto the more flexible leg while carefully placing the inflexible leg on the floor for support.

His legs wobbled beneath him, and for a moment, it seemed he would fall. But he took a deep breath and steadied himself. One slow step. Then another. He moved from the bed to the wall, using the crutch lightly for balance.

He continued the routine, repeating the same cycle. Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes stretched into an hour.

By the time he stopped, his body was drenched in sweat, his legs trembling, his muscles twitching with exhaustion.

Carefully, he guided himself to the bathroom for a quick shower. There were too many things going on—rest wasn’t a luxury he could afford and not at the moment.

After stepping out of the bathroom, Davis felt his body refreshed. Quietly, he changed into a fresh set of clothes, settled down, and retrieved his phone. He dialed a familiar number.

"Investigate the Santiago family and send me the report early," he instructed.

"Also, gather all our secret security staff for a briefing tomorrow morning at 10."

Ethan could hardly believe his ears. Even through the phone, Davis could sense the joy radiating from him. A small smile tugged at Davis’s lips as he wondered how Jessica would feel when he finally got back on his feet.