Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Jessica froze when she heard William’s trembling voice through the phone, her heart skipping a beat.
“He’s threatening me.”
Her grip tightened on the phone, voice shaking.
Jose immediately snatched it: “William, which rooftop are you on?”
“Heh, Jose. How caring of you.”
William laughed bitterly. “Top floor of the Financial Tower.
You’ve got thirty minutes. Any later and you’ll collect a corpse.”
The call ended.
Jose pulled Jessica toward the elevator: “Let’s go.”
“No.”
Jessica halted abruptly, a flicker of determination in her eyes. “Jose, I’m not going.”
“What?”
Jose stared in disbelief.
“He’s threatening suicide to force me back.”
She shook her head, gaze heartbreakingly clear. “If I go now, it tells him this tactic works.
Next time he’ll do it again.”
After several silent seconds, Jose pulled her close: “Certain?”
“Certain.”
Jessica leaned against his chest. “William won’t actually jump.
He loves himself too much.”
Yet thirty minutes later, news vans encircled the Financial Tower’s base.
Standing in the hospital lobby, Jessica and Jose watched the live broadcast.
William stood silhouetted against the rooftop edge, wind whipping through his hair.
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“Viewers, at 8 PM tonight, a suicide attempt unfolds atop the Financial Tower…”
Jessica’s hands trembled.
Jose clasped them firmly: “Jess, this isn’t your fault.”
Onscreen, firefighters inched toward William.
Negotiators pleaded as crowds swelled below.
“I want Jessica!
Only Jessica!”
William screamed at the camera. “Jessica! I know you’re watching!
Come now or I jump!”
Jessica closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath.
When they reopened, hesitation had vanished, replaced by unprecedented calm.
“Jose, let’s leave.”
She stated.
“Where to?”
“The airport.”
Jessica turned from the screen. “Weren’t we going to the Maldives for our honeymoon?
We leave now.”
Watching her resolute back, warmth flooded Jose’s chest.
This woman had finally learned to live for herself.
One hour later, their plane ascended steadily.
Jessica gazed through the window as city lights faded below.
Jose held her hand without speaking.
“Any regrets?”
She whispered.
“About what?”
“Not saving him.”
Jose met her eyes: “Jess, some people can only save themselves.
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You gave him chances.”
Jessica nodded, the last trace of unease dissolving.
The plane pierced the clouds, soaring toward the horizon.
Back in the city, firefighters ultimately pulled William from the ledge.
He hadn’t jumped-just as Jessica predicted, he clung to life.
But discovering she’d truly vanished, even fled the city, shattered him completely.
Three days later, on a Maldivian beach,
Jessica stood in a white wedding dress, Jose in a white suit.
There weren’t many guests, just the sunset, the waves, and each other.
“Will you marry me?”
Jose knelt on one knee, holding a ring in his hand.
“I do.”
Jessica smiled, tears in her eyes, but not tears of sadness.
The moment the ring slid onto her ring finger, she knew her new life had truly begun.
After the wedding, they walked hand in hand on the beach.
“Jose, thank you.”
Jessica said.
“What for?”
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“Thank you for making me understand that loving someone isn’t about sacrificing everything for them, but about be- coming better together.”
Jose stopped walking, looked at her seriously: “Jessica, I love you, not because I want to possess you, but because I want to give you happiness.”
Jessica stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.
The sea breeze was gentle, stars filled the sky.
And in that distant city, William sat in the empty Anderson Manor House, holding a newspaper.
The front-page headline was a photo of Jose and Jessica’s wedding.
“Roberts Group President Jose and his wife Jessica held a romantic wedding in the Maldives.”
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In the photo, Jessica smiled so brightly, so happily.
It was a smile he had never seen before.
William slowly put down the newspaper and closed his eyes.
He finally understood that some losses can never be recovered.
And some people, once missed, are gone forever.
