Chapter Title: A Morning Full of Work and an Unexpected Visitor
Unlike Jennifer, whose morning was filled with uncertainty, Jessica's day began with purpose.
Jennifer had left early.
Very early.
The apartment had still been covered in the soft blue light before sunrise when she quietly stepped out, leaving Jessica asleep beneath her blanket.
Now, several districts away, Jennifer sat by the car window.
The vehicle rattled along the busy Lagos roads.
Vendors moved between traffic carrying bottled water, groundnuts, and soft drinks balanced effortlessly on trays.
Conductors shouted destinations.
Passengers squeezed into narrow spaces.
The city was already awake.
Jennifer rested her head lightly against the glass.
Her eyes followed the passing buildings absentmindedly.
She should have been thinking about the john.
About tomorrow.
About finally meeting the family she had not seen in years.
Instead, her thoughts kept drifting back to the restaurant.
Their restaurant.
The large old building Jessica had found.
The empty halls.
The wide kitchen.
The second floor.
The reading corners they planned to build.
The bookshelves.
The warm lights.
The dream that felt impossible only a few months ago.
A small smile appeared on her face.
For the first time in years, her future felt larger than her past.
The realization felt strange.
Comforting.
Terrifying.
Beautiful.
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Jessica's morning began with purpose.
The small apartment was unusually quiet.
Without Jennifer's constant presence moving about the room, the place felt larger than normal.
Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains covering the window, casting warm golden patches across the floor.
Outside, the neighborhood was already alive.
Vendors pushed wheelbarrows loaded with fruits.
Children chased one another through the narrow street.
The distant sound of motorcycles and impatient drivers blended into the familiar rhythm of Lagos mornings.
Jessica stretched her arms above her head before heading straight into the kitchen.
There was work to do.
Always work.
The small kitchen quickly filled with the comforting aroma of food.
A pot of rice steamed gently while crayfish stew simmered beside it.
The scent of onions, pepper, crayfish, and spices spread throughout the apartment.
By the time everything was ready, the clock showed exactly 8:00 a.m.
Jessica carried her plate to the small dining table and sat down.
She wasn't in a hurry.
She ate slowly.
Enjoying every bite.
The white rice was soft.
The stew was rich and flavorful.
Beside it sat a chilled bottle of malt.
Simple.
Affordable.
Perfect.
As she ate, her thoughts wandered toward the restaurant.
Their restaurant.
Not another temporary job.
Not someone else's business.
Not another workplace that could disappear overnight.
Something that belonged to her and Jennifer.
Something they were building together.
The thought alone made her smile.
When she finished eating, she carefully packed the remaining food into containers.
One portion was specifically for Jennifer.
Knowing Jennifer, she would probably come home exhausted and forget to eat.
Jessica rolled her eyes affectionately.
"That woman would survive on air if nobody watched her."
After storing the food in the freezer, she headed into the bathroom.
The hot bath felt wonderful.
Steam filled the room.
The heat eased the stiffness in her shoulders.
By the time she stepped out, her mood had improved considerably.
She dressed in yesterday's outfit.
Clean.
Comfortable.
Practical.
After touching up her makeup and fixing her hair, she stood before the mirror.
Satisfied.
Today was packed.
First:
One-hour cooking class.
Second:
Sunshine's birthday event.
Three hours of work as an assistant chef and waiter.
Eighty thousand naira.
Third:
Visit the restaurant renovation site.
Inspect painting.
Inspect repairs.
Inspect workers.
Inspect everything.
The schedule alone was enough to make her tired.
"So much work."
She sighed dramatically.
Yet despite the complaint, excitement filled her chest.
Money.
Work.
Progress.
Those three things had become her favorite combination.
Just as she grabbed her handbag—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Jessica froze.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
Nobody usually visited Jennifer.
Especially not this early.
Curious, she walked toward the door.
She unlocked it carefully.
The moment it opened, she became alert.
Standing outside was a young woman.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Everything about her appearance suggested wealth.
The yellow designer gown fit perfectly against her figure.
Long dark braids rested over one shoulder.
White heels.
A gold bracelet.
Flawless makeup.
Even her perfume carried a faint luxurious scent.
Jessica immediately became cautious.
Rich people rarely appeared at buildings like this.
And when they did, trouble often followed.
"Who?" Jessica asked bluntly.
The woman smiled politely.
"I'm Bella Willow Grove."
Her voice was calm.
Refined.
"I'm looking for Jennifer."
Jessica's suspicion deepened.
"Why?"
Bella met her gaze.
"I'm someone who knows her."
That wasn't really an answer.
Jessica folded her arms.
Jennifer had suffered enough because of people from her past.
She wasn't about to hand information to strangers.
"She's not around."
Bella nodded.
"When will she return?"
Jessica lied smoothly.
"Not today."
"Maybe not tomorrow either."
Bella was silent for a moment.
Then something unexpected happened.
Jessica studied her more carefully.
The girl couldn't have been older than twenty.
Young.
Beautiful.
Well-dressed.
Yet there was something strange about her.
Something that didn't fit.
It wasn't nervousness.
It wasn't guilt.
It wasn't regret.
It was her eyes.
Cold.
Not cruel.
Not arrogant.
Cold in a way Jessica recognized immediately.
The coldness of someone who had survived things they should never have experienced.
The coldness of someone forced to grow up too quickly.
For a brief moment, Jessica felt an uncomfortable familiarity.
Those eyes...
She had seen them before.
The first day Jennifer walked out of prison.
The first night they met.
The guarded expression.
The careful distance.
The silent caution hidden beneath every movement.
The eyes of someone who had learned how dangerous trust could be.
The eyes of a survivor.
Bella stood calmly beneath Jessica's scrutiny.
Confident.
Composed.
Whatever life she had lived, it clearly had not been easy.
Her expensive appearance could not hide that truth.
"Please tell her Bella came looking for her."
Her voice remained steady.
No pleading.
No hesitation.
Only certainty.
Jessica found herself nodding slightly.
Not because she trusted her.
But because she understood that look.
The look of a person carrying invisible scars.
Bella reached into her handbag and handed over a business card.
"If she comes back, give her this."
Jessica accepted it.
Their fingers brushed briefly.
The girl's hand felt cool.
"I'll come again."
With that, Bella turned and walked away.
The click of her heels echoed softly down the corridor.
Outside, several neighbors had already noticed her.
Mrs. Kemi from the next building openly stared.
Two elderly women stopped their conversation.
Children paused their game to watch.
Bella climbed into a sleek black SUV waiting by the roadside.
The driver quickly opened the door.
Whispers immediately spread through the neighborhood.
Jessica shut the apartment door.
Hard.
Silence returned.
She leaned against the door and exhaled slowly.
Her eyes dropped to the business card in her hand.
Simple.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Just like its owner.
Did I do the right thing?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Jennifer's past wasn't hers to expose.
If Bella truly knew Jennifer, then Jennifer deserved to decide what happened next.
Jessica carefully slipped the card into her handbag.
"When she comes back, I'll tell her."
That was enough.
For now.
Checking the time, she immediately groaned.
She was running late.
Again.
Typical.
Quickly grabbing her keys, phone, and bag, she locked the apartment behind her.
The warm morning air greeted her instantly.
The street buzzed with life.
People rushing to work.
Vendors shouting prices.
Cars honking impatiently.
Another ordinary Lagos morning.
Jessica adjusted her bag on her shoulder.
Ahead of her waited cooking classes.
A birthday event.
Restaurant renovations.
And countless responsibilities.
It was exhausting.
It was difficult.
It was uncertain.
But for the first time in years—
The future felt worth chasing.
With determination burning brightly inside her chest, Jessica stepped forward and disappeared into the busy morning crowd.