Chapter 13
The night before the heating, while Tessa was in the shower, the sound of something shattering in her bedroom startled her.
She quickerinsed on, threw on her pajamas, and hunded to investigate
The bedroom was empty, but the floor was covered with broken ceramic shards
Tessa immeshatele recognized the broken pieces as her mother’s erramie doll.
She and her som had painted it together at a DIY store when she was 12 years old. It was a light blue Clumamotoll figurine with their names carefully engraved on the back
As she looked at the shattered fragments, a wave of anger urged through her, coming her completely
“who did this?” Tessa roared, storming out of her bedroom.
She pounded on the door to Zachary’s rooms across the hill.
“Zachary Wendy Which one of you went into my mom?*
Tachary opened the door, his eyes clouded with annoyance. “What now? It’s the middle of the night.
Can’t a person get some sleep?
Tessa’s chest heed with anger, bet eves blaring. “Zachary, were you in my room?”
“Who else would have gone into your room?” He frowned. “I’ve been in here working on a contract this whole time.”
*if it wasn’t you, it must’ve been Wendy,” Tessa snapped, tuming and beading straight for Wendy’s room without another word.
Wendy’s coom was at the end of the hall.
Seeing Tessa storm off in anger, Zachary hurried after her. He was worried something might happen
“Wendy Open the door!” Tessa shouted, her voice trembling with fury as she kicked it open.
Zachary was taken aback.
Was this really the same gentle, submissive Tessa he had always known?
What could have happened to make her so furious?
Wendy opened the door cautiously. “Tessa, what’s wrong with you?**
Tessa grabbed Wendy’s wit and yanked her toward the coDIT.
Wendy struggled, stumbling as she was pulled along. “Let go of me! Tessa, let go!”
Tess shoved Wendy to the floor
“Ouch!” Wendy cried out as she lost her balance, her knee slamming into the nearby cabinet.
“Have you lost your mind, Tessa? Wendy shouted, clutching her injured knee.
“Did you break my ceramic doll? Tessa’s voice was cold as she leaned in. “And why were you in my mom just now?
Wendy’s eyes flidused nervously. “L. I didn’t I was in my room the whole time. Don’t accuse me!!
Tessa looked directly into Wendy’s eyes “Oh, really? Then, why did I see the hem of your belge skirt when I came out of the bathroom?
“That’s ridiculous! I was wearing my gray dress! This beige sida…” Wendy’s words stumbled out, betraying her before she could stop herself.
She flew into a rage: “Tessa, you tricked me! You didn’t even see my skart, did you?”
Tessa shot her a cold place. “What about your skirt? Isn’t that beige dress the one you just changed into?–
Afrosty glint flickered in Tessa’s eyes as her volumed as a midwinter chill. “What were you doing in my coom?”
Wendy froze under her piercing gaze, an involuntary shiver running down her spine. “I… I was just… looking around,
in my room?”
Why were you looking around in my
Wendy swallowed hard. She wastered that Tessa might uncover what she had done. “I. I was t…
“That’s enough!” Zachary stepped forward and stood in front of Wendy, “Tessa, stop overeating. It’s just a broken porcelain doll. We can buy another one. Why air you talong it out on Wendy
Before be could figuli, a sharp slap echoed through the room as Tessa struck Zachary hard across the face.
Both Zardairy and Wendy Huge in shock
“Get out!” “Tessa pestued at Zachary “This is none of your business Why are you defending her?”
Sering Marbury slapped, Wendy’s expression durdened. She shaved him gently aside and confronted Tessa. “Why did you hit him?
With a persoalding slap, Wendy was sicklund across the fuor,
Abright red handprint instantly bloomed on Wrady’s cheek.
Furious, Wendy refused to let it slide
