When I Left, He Found His Way Back-Chapter 24: A kiss

Jessica POV

Entering the big mall brought back memories of my part-time sales rep days. At 16, I was young, beautiful, and full of energy. The store owner likely thought my youthful charm would attract fellow teens to buy headsets and laptop hardware, which is why I became the face of Tech Haven’s marketing campaign.

My poster hung proudly near the entrance for five months, until the company went bankrupt and was acquired by new owners. I, without a university degree, found myself laid off.

The hardest part was the missed opportunity. Our manager had discussed sponsoring my education and having me sign a contract. I remembered his words: "Jessica, we believe in you. We’ll support your studies and make you a key part of our team."

But fate had other plans. The company’s collapse shattered those dreams, leaving me to forge my own path.

I was mocked by my family and called a jinx time and time again. They believed the smooth-sailing company suddenly going bankrupt and the manager getting fired a few months later was because I got involved with the company.

"You’re a curse," my adopted mother would say, shaking her head.

"If only you hadn’t taken that job, Tech Haven would still be thriving," my adopted dad would joke.

Their words stung, and I began to doubt myself. Was I truly a bringer of bad luck?

But deep down, I knew better. I knew I couldn’t have been the reason behind the company’s downfall, still, I wanted to prove my innocence, so I went in search of the manager, but surprisingly, I heard he committed suicide.

When my adopted parents saw the news, my mom had clapped her hands in my face and screamed, "You killed him!"

And my dad had gone, "He shouldn’t have gotten close to you."

The seeds of self-doubt were planted in me. For a while, I began to believe that I could have truly been the cause. Every subsequent failure or setback made me wonder: "Is it me?"

But Hilda stood by me. It took her months to unwrap my mind from such negativity and I couldn’t be more glad.

"Hey, Jessica, look!" Hilda’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I followed her gaze.

It was the same store I used to work at, but what caught my attention was the man in a suit, standing at the entrance. "Kristen?" I wondered. From the rear, he looked like Kristen. But I didn’t think he’d be here.

"It’s him," Hilda whispered. "What’s he doing here?" Her eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Don’t tell me he’s stalking you," she gasped.

I rolled my eyes, chuckling at her dramatic reaction. "What nonsense do you have stuck in that head of yours, Hilda? Let’s say it’s him, we would appear to be the stalkers because he was here before us. Not to mention, this is a mall. Anyone could come here..."

My voice trailed off when he turned in our direction. It was indeed, Kristen. He looked taken aback for a moment before he smiled and waved us over.

"Jessica, what brings you here?"

I smiled at him as we closed the distance, "I need a few things, so I reckoned it would be nice to visit the mall. And you, what are you doing here?"

He leaned forward, and instinctively, I pulled back. He paused for a moment, a soft smile spreading across his lips. Then, his hand snaked around my waist, and he drew me in.

My heart skipped a beat, and I tried to pull away from him. The thought of being a married woman on paper rang loudly in my mind.

But Kristen’s grip only tightened. I could feel his hot breath on the side of my face, and a scorching glare on my back which sent a shiver up my spine.

I looked behind me, there were too many eyes, people were staring, and even Hilda looked horrified.

"Don’t move away," he whispered to my ear. "Liam’s men are trailing you." His breath tickled my ear and he drew me into a tight hug.

My body stiffened, shifting my gaze around, I saw a few men in black suits scattered around in the crowd. Someone was even taking a photo of us.

If this would make Liam give up on me, then this was my chance. Slowly, my tense muscles relaxed and I returned the hug, wrapping my arms around his strong build. The smell of his intoxicating perfume almost knocked me off my senses.

As I breathed him in, Liam’s face flashed in my mind. The warnings he sang to me, the look that haunted me, and my marital status all came down on me at once.

My head buzzed and I quickly pulled away, but before I could be free, his face suddenly filled my view.

His lips crashed against mine, sending shockwaves through my entire being. My eyes widened in horror, and for a long moment, I forgot to breathe.

Until I realized that I had to push him away. My hands instinctively flew up to his chest, and I shoved with all my might.

Kristen stumbled backward, his eyes locked on mine, filled with a mix of passion and surprise. I stood there, frozen, my lips still tingling from the unexpected kiss.

"Jessica, I –" he began, but I cut him off.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "You can’t just kiss me out of the blue!"

"How would he believe it if we don’t even kiss?" he asked.

My fist clenched and so did my jaw. My gaze drifted to the surrounding area but the men in suits were gone. "I’ll take my leave now." I turned and walked away, forgetting about Hilda for a moment.

Hilda soon chased after me, concern etched on her face. But as she tried to bring up the matter of the kiss, I stopped her instantly.

"Don’t," I warned was my voice low and firm.

Hilda’s eyes widened in understanding. "Okay, Jess. Whenever you’re ready to talk."

I nodded, grateful for her sensitivity. The memory of Kristen’s lips on mine still made my skin crawl. I felt violated, and it still made my blood boil.

The shopping trip that was supposed to be fun now looked more like an escape, a desperate attempt to distract myself from the turmoil brewing inside.

I was still a married woman, bounded to Liam by law, yet I’d allowed another man to kiss me. That was akin to cheating. My fist clenched. Even though I knew that he didn’t do it on purpose, even though it was no one’s fault, I still felt angry over it.

"This will fit you," Hilda said, holding a hanger with a bra in front of my chest. "Go try it on."

Her words snatched me from my thoughts, and I took the bra from her, staring at it intensely. "This cup is too big, I’m a 32A," I said without thinking.

Hilda raised a brow. "Are you sure about that?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized I don’t know my bra size anymore. I stopped wearing bras around 3 years ago.

Has my body changed that much? I hadn’t bought new lingerie in ages.

"Try it on, just to be sure," Hilda encouraged.

And that was how I realized I’d long left 32 and was now 36. The joy I felt made me forget my encounter with Kristen.

I used to hear that women’s breast size had an impact on their self-esteem, but I didn’t think it made any sense. But as I stared at my reflection in the mirror in the changing room, I finally understood what that statement meant.

Seeing myself in the 36 bra, fitting perfectly, was a revelation. It wasn’t just about the number; it was about embracing the changes my body had undergone. I looked curvier, more feminine, and surprisingly, more confident.

For the first time, I realized that my self-worth wasn’t tied to a specific measurement, but to how I felt in my own skin. And in that moment, I felt beautiful, inside and out.

Hilda’s voice broke the silence, "Jess, how’s it fitting?" she asked, knocking gently on the door.

"Perfectly," I replied, smiling at my reflection.

My sour mood was uplifted and in the end, I enjoyed my shopping, unaware of the doors of dangers I’d stepped into.

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