Chapter 309 - Emotional Jess

Jess tucked Lucille into bed, read her story, and found a box where she put an old blanket to make a makeshift bed for Macao. 

Soraya had to sleep together with Lucille in the bed. She didn't have an extra mattress for her since she never had guests in her apartment other than Luke, and once her father. But her father was a different story since he was uninvited and just forced his way into her apartment and her life as well.

According to Soraya, it is the first time that Lucille will sleep with her since the young girl has always been sleeping alone on her own bed. But Lucille didn't mind. She was over the moon with her happiness that finally she has a dog. 

Jess heaved a deep sigh when Lucille finally fell asleep, hugging her stuffed toy and Macao down on the floor right next to her bedroom slippers. Soraya met her eyes who took the inner side of the bed for Lucille wanted to be near her dog as much as possible. 

"This won't do. I have to talk to Noah," she whispered in the dimly lit bedroom. "Was he really mad?" 

Soraya was watching the expression on Jess's face and felt a pang of pity towards the other woman. For she was trying too hard and not got caught between the father and daughter petty fight over owning a pet. 

"He's a bit mad but I think more of work than with the dog," she whispered back as she glanced over the sleeping Lucille next to her. 

Jess nodded and mouthed "goodnight" before heading out of the guest room. She went to her bedroom and took a quick shower. She was tired and had to be in the office early tomorrow but because of a dog, she had to stay up late and have a discussion with Noah when all she wanted was to crawl into her bed. 

She exhaled another deep sigh as she put on lounge pants and a soft long sleeve shirt. She let down her damp hair and went to Noah's apartment.  Her heart was beating faster than usual when she walked the short distance between hers and Noah's apartment. The information she heard from Lucille was echoing in her mind. 

The thought of Noah and Lucille moving to Berlin was creating chaos in her overthinking brain. She was confused and hurt about why Noah seemed to forget to tell her about it. Was he waiting for the right time to discuss it with her? But the fact that Lucille already knew about it, means that the plan was already decided and Noah just didn't inform her yet. 

She wondered if it was because she was not a member of their family so she's the last one to know. It added to her irritation that buying a dog became a problem because of his ex-wife. The ex-wife wasn't even living with them. Her allergy has to be considered when she's not in their house. 

Jess exhaled a deep breath before pressing the doorbell in Noah's apartment. She can go inside on her own but with how Noah was acting simply because she bought Lucille's a damn dog, she has no plan to get into his place on her own. She wants Noah to open his damn door. 

Noah just got off from a video call with Markus when he went to the kitchen to get something to eat. He was thinking if he should swallow his pride and went to Jess's apartment. He was wondering what Jess cooked for dinner. He was shoving the last piece of peanut butter sandwich when he heard the doorbell. Who would ring the doorbell at this time of the night? 

He wondered if Lucille finally threw in the white towel and came home. But why would she ring the doorbell? He thought to himself as he went to open the door and got a surprise. For it wasn't Lucille who was outside the door but Jess. An annoyed Jess. Very annoyed Jess, he gulped down his nervousness and smile. 

"You forgot the passcode of my apartment?" He asked with a slightly teasing tone but Jess's expression remained passive. 

"No, I want you to open the door for me and decide if you want to let me in." She said with a serious expression on her face and the tone of her voice. 

Noah smiled. "Silly minx," he quickly pulled Jess inside and gave her a tight embrace that she didn't return. 'uh, uh, Houston we have a problem,' he thought inwardly. 

"How's my prodigal daughter?" He asked, kissing her temple and rubbing her back while praying in his head that Jess won't be too mad at him. He misses her and wishes to be with her but with how cold she is right now, Noah has a feeling that he won't get anywhere with Jess tonight. 

"Would you like some coffee? I was about to make one," he smoothly lied, trying to gauge her anger. 

"Coffee is fine." She said without a hint of a smile. 

He exhaled a soft sigh that she didn't pull away from his embrace even when she was being cold towards him. 

"How was Lucille?" He asked once again. 

"She's already asleep." 

He breathed in a sigh of relief that she finally answered him. "Sit down, I'll go turn on the coffeemaker." 

"When are you planning to tell me that you are moving to Berlin with your daughter?" 

Noah's steps faltered when he heard Jess's question full of hurt. He slowly turned around and his breath was caught in his throat when he saw the pain in her eyes. 

"Baby," he took a long stride to reach her but she stepped back, avoiding his embrace. 

"When do you want to tell me?" 

"Soon. I'm dreading the move but with the incoming annual shareholders meeting, I have to be in the main office and I can't leave Lucille here, hence the so-called move. But it was just for a few months. I wish we didn't have to." His gaze softened when and his heart trembled at the same time Jess's lips and chin shook as she was trying to stop her tears from falling. 

Noah pulled her inside her arms a bit forcefully. He didn't want her to avoid his touch, "baby if I can bring you with us I would. You know that, right?" 

Jess sobbed as a reply.. The anxiety she was feeling with the thought of Noah and Lucille moving away dissipated into thin air, as well as her straight as she went limp inside Noah's arms.