Jessica is one of those people that you can count on to really listen when you feel like unloading.  She just has that special something that enables people, especially her friends and patients, to open up to her.  She's not not one to beat around the bush either as she is very logical in the way she sees things.  However, over the years, we have predominately seen her as William Arlington's wife.

Jessica was just getting use to life as a newlywed when she learned that she was pregnant with William's child.  Excited and slightly nervous to share the news with her husband, nothing could have prepared her for the ripple effect that would occur when William learned the news.  After affirming that she was indeed pregnant, William accused her of having an affair, stating that he couldn't possibly be the father of her child due to his sterility.  Naturally, Jessica was floored as she knew her baby couldn't be anyone else's.  However, William wouldn't listen and threw her out of their home in a fit of anger.  Jessica's nightmare would turn from bad to worse following a ride home from Blanchencore Hospital, when her car skidded off the road during a rainstorm, leaving her confined to the vehicle.  Despite a daring rescue by her friend (Shanna) and Shanna's husband, Ben, the gas leakage from Jessica's car resulted in a massive explosion, leaving the trio assumed dead.  We would not learn of Jessica or her baby's fate until nearly a month later when William found her in a rehabilitation clinic being treated by Dr. Greg Juntas, who he accused of being Jessica's secret lover.  His callous attitude regarding the death of their child toppled by his continued delusions that she was cheating on him prompted her to ask her husband for a divorce.  William adamantly refused.  In an effort to avoid another scene with her husband, Jessica asked Greg to have her released from the hospital under his care while she gathered her remaining things in Hallandale, determined to get away from her husband until the ink on the divorce paper was dry.  However, her plans were sidetracked by the discovery that her place of employment (Blanchencore Hospital) was blown to smithereens, leaving her friend and colleague, Dr. Romain Chandler, assumed dead. Later that evening, Jessica continued with her plans to move out, but was caught by her husband, who made quite a rumbling, letting Jessica know in no uncertain terms that he would not divorce her.

Things continued to escalate between the two, especially after Jessica moved back into their home temporarily.  William became possessive and aggressive with Jessica, resulting in her running to her friend, Greg, for help.  Greg suggested that she call the cops, but she was too scared to do so.  As such, Greg opted to spend the night instead, not knowing an enraged William was lurking.  Things would finally escalate to the point of no return when following an argument with her friend and former colleague, Romain Chandler, who was curious as to the recent beauty mark (bruise) on Jessica's neck, Jessica returned home, only to be greeted by her threatening husband.  Choosing to stand up to her husband this time, she told William that she would not allow him to continue to control her.  She also made it quite clear to him that he was the one to blame for their marriage skidding off the rocks.  Testing the waters to the extremes, William ordered Jessica to strip of her clothes.  When she refused, he started to unbuttoned his shirt before moving closer to her.  Jessica, fearing he was trying to force himself on her, pulled out a gun and fired when he wouldn't back down.  William wasn't hit, but he did manage to pry the gun from his wife's friend and surprise a curious, Romain, who heard the gunfire and ran inside.  William surprised Romain as he came in by striking him over the head with a gun.  When Romain came through, he had a huge headache and a severe head wound, prompting Jessica's insistence to call the cops.  William, however, would have no such thing and managed to leave their home the same night with Romain's body.  The next morning, Jessica would learn in a cruel twist of fate that her husband left Romain for dead in a morgue cooler when she found herself concealed by the same doors, thanks to William, who had enough of his wife. Greg, worried about Jessica's sudden disappearance and thinking that William might be behind it, tailed him with the help of Taneia Ralston.  William, who decided to tie up loose ends with Jessica and Romain before he left town, led them right to their whereabouts when he discovered that his wife and her friend had escaped and decided to make a run for the state border, only to be surprised by Taneia and Greg bringing forth an army of cops.

A few months later, Jessica visited William in prison with a new found strength as she served her ex- husband with the finalized copy of their divorce agreement.  He tried effortlessly to break her tough exterior, letting her know that he was still in control and that their battle was far from over.  Jessica ignored his rantings and continued on her merry way, feeling free at last.  She went out to the docks and took a clear view out at the ocean before noticing a bare figure out to sea.  She later learned that the mysterious stranger was none other than her ex- husband's hired Attorney, A. Ramsey-Lakhan.  Also following this revelation was her discovery that William was petitioning the court for parole.  Determined to put a stop to his possible release, Jessica went to Royce Keller for advice.  After hearing from Jessica that A. Ramsey-Lakhan would be representing William, Royce suggested that she hire Joy Gannon.  Jessica took Royce's advice and sought out Joy, only to learn that Joy was previously married to Mr. Ramsey-Lakhan.  Despite her connections to the case, Joy refused to back out, determined to show her ex- husband that she can roll punches with the best of them.