Chapter 7 Chapter 7 She Looks Just Like That Girl

Edward landed in the capital at 3 PM three days later, and specifically asked Carol to pick him up.

The sky, originally sunny and clear, suddenly turned dark as heavy rain poured down like someone flipped a switch. The air felt suffocating, like being locked in a giant cage.

Carol stood by the window watching the rain: Great, just great. Clearly not a day to go out. But orders were orders-she had no choice.

She threw on a beige trench coat and drove toward the airport. Just as expected, the car gave up halfway-completely stalled. The rain had eased a bit, and she wasn't too far from her destination anyway, so she called for repair and another car before grabbing her umbrella and walking to the VIP gate.

The wind didn't do her any favors. Half her coat got soaked, and a passing car splashed muddy water onto her legs. Thankfully, she was only here to pick up Edward-not attending a gala or anything-so it wasn't a total disaster.

She stood at the VIP entrance, waiting. The heating there was barely working, and her damp clothes didn't help. She shivered.

After the plane landed, she waited another ten or so minutes before spotting Edward, sticking out like a sore thumb in a loud floral shirt-bold, cocky, and totally himself.

He didn't even glance her way, acting like she was invisible. Did she tick him off again, or what?

Just as she was about to speak, she saw the woman next to him, and even someone as composed as her froze for a moment.

A gorgeous, elegant girl had her arm looped around Edward's. Compared to Carol, who was clearly a mess from the rain, the other woman looked glowing, almost unreal.

It was obvious which of them was more in his world.

It felt like the noisy world suddenly shattered into icy silence around her.

Even after all these years, Carol recognized her in seconds.

Jessica Green, the Green family's precious daughter-and Edward's childhood friend. Back in high school, Jessica was one of the only girls in Edward and Jonathan's circle-spoiled and protected by all of them.

When Carol moved in with the Dawsons, Jessica's family had already relocated overseas, so they'd never really met.

Edward might treat most women the same, but Carol knew deep down he treated Jessica differently. Most of the women around him dressed flashy, scheming for his money. But Jessica-polished, graceful-wasn't one of those girls.

Carol stared at her face, overlapping it in her mind with the one she'd seen in the photo Edward kept in his pocket watch... They looked almost identical-especially the eyes. So that girl from his youth was Jessica?

Carol stood still, her legs rooted to the spot.

Jessica smiled gently, her eyes soft like shimmering moonlight. She stepped forward and held out her hand. "You must be Carol! Edward talks about you a lot. Hi, I'm Jessica."

Even Carol had to admit-Jessica was the definition of class.

Carol quickly gathered herself. She didn't want to seem out of place, so she reached out too. But her palm was still damp from holding the umbrella.

She hesitated for a split second, but Jessica didn't flinch. She warmly grasped Carol's hand, her smile full and genuine.

Carol forced a smile back. "Nice to meet you, Miss Green."

While the two of them talked, Edward's gaze briefly brushed over her damp coat, and his lips moved slightly like he wanted to say something.

"Come on, don't be so formal-since you're Edward's sister, that means you're my sister too. Just call me Jessica," Jessica said lightly.

Carol couldn't help glancing at Edward then.

He despised being called her "brother," even Jonathan had been warned off from calling him that.

But hearing Jessica say it? Not a flicker of annoyance crossed his face.

Yep. He definitely treated Jessica differently.The Green family was real old money-five generations of politics meant enough connections to shake up the whole capital. Jessica? A textbook elite. She and Edward were from the same world.

Carol? She was just a tagalong, barely able to catch a glimpse of that lifestyle thanks to Sophia Turner.

Jessica had it all. Carol had nothing.

Edward was never short on flings-she'd seen all types by his side over the years.

But this time... this time felt different. There was a sharp sense of threat creeping in. The gap between her and Jessica was brutally obvious, a canyon shaped by social class and birthright-something no amount of hard work could fix. If she wasn't wrong, Jessica was probably the woman Timothy had picked for Edward.

The Dawsons ruled in business. They needed the political muscle of the Greens.

So that's what Christopher had been about to say the other night.

And Edward's excuse of a "business trip"? A cover to go fetch Jessica from abroad. No wonder he didn't bring her along.

Now Edward was standing in front of her, squinting as he looked her up and down with that teasing grin of his. "What'd you do, fall into a ditch?"

She didn't answer.

Jessica stepped in smoothly, saving the awkward moment like a pro. "Some drivers clearly weren't taught manners. It's pouring and still they don't slow down. Carol, we're around the same size. I have a spare jacket-let's get you out of that wet one before you catch a cold."

She took a coat from her assistant behind her.

Carol wanted to refuse but paused. With so many eyes around, straggling behind them in that soaked, mud-stained coat would only make things worse.

People respect the way you look before they know who you are. Always have.

Fine. She'd already lost the upper hand. No point in making it worse.

"Thanks, Miss Green."

She took off her damp coat. Jessica didn't just hand her the jacket, she gently draped it over her shoulders and even tied the belt at the waist, her smile warm and soft like a big sister doting on her sibling.

Carol recognized the jacket brand-it was one of ten pieces worldwide. Limited edition.

At the parking lot, she and the driver loaded the luggage. He was used to the work, but she struggled.

As she was putting it down, her hand accidentally got caught under the luggage. Pain shot through her and she crouched down, trying not to cry out.

The driver looked worried. "Ms. Bright, are you okay? Need a hospital?"

She shook her head, forcing herself up. "I'm fine."

She went to open the backseat, but saw Edward and Jessica already settled in. Paused for a split second, then quietly shut the door and climbed into the passenger seat.

Jessica's gaze swept over her hand-subtle, but she noticed.

The whole ride, Jessica chatted away about those good old high school days with Edward.

He chuckled and nodded sometimes, clearly not minding the trip down memory lane.

Carol glanced into the rear-view mirror and met Edward's deep eyes. They were nothing like his usual playful gaze-there was something chilling about them.

It startled her. She looked away instantly.

Jessica turned to her. "Carol, where'd you go to high school?"

"Ravenscar Academy."

Jessica raised an eyebrow, surprised. "No kidding? Same school as Edward and me. What a small world."

Ravenscar Academy wasn't just any school-it was the best in the country, especially in the capital, packed with the kids of the rich and powerful.

It had taken a lot of effort on Sophia's part to get Carol in.

"Oh, you and Mr. Dawson were basically legends back then," Carol said with the kind of polite, distant smile people used for small talk.

Jessica gave her an easy smile. "Come on, Carol, don't be so formal. You're Edward's sister, aren't you? You should call him like that."

Carol just smiled without replying.

When she'd first moved into the Dawson house, she had called him that. Edward didn't like it. She assumed he just didn't want anything to do with her or Sophia.

Now, he grabbed a water bottle, twisted it open and took a big swig. "She can't call me bro," he said flatly.