Zachary’s words lingered in Tessa’s mind like a spell, lening her restless and T.
Iwo and the best day when Tessa viited Stephen, she looked preoccupied
“Tessa, what’s on your mind?” Stephen asked
She fluttered her eyelashes and humed her face way from him “What What’s with Susan?–
He smirked meaningfully “Are you jealous?–
She pulled her cheeks, pretending to be indiferent. “Of course not. You have never mentioned her before, so I was just curious.“”
Remembering how that woman had kidnapped Selline and even tried to stabber, she felt angry on top of her jealousy. “How did you attract such crazy admitt? She’s completel
Stephen gestured for her to get closer. “Tessa, come over here”
Shrobediently moved closer and sat by his bedside.
Taking her hand, Stephen looked at her seriously. “She was my high school classmate. She pursued me fervently back then, but I rejected her clearly. Later, she attended the same umberinya me and continued chasing me, but I ne pove her any hope.”
She lowered her eyes and pouted. That’s it?”
Stephen pinched her cheeks. “That’s maly it hardly spoke to her, and we never en exchanged contact information?
Tessa remained silent for a moment before asking. Then why did she persist for so long? Ten years isn’t short, after all. It’s not mere days or months.”
He chuckled helplessly. “How would I know? Everyone around me knows how indiferent i have been to her, we barely spoke a few sentences in ten years. She leaned closer and huffed. “How many sentences are barely“?
He laughed softly. “Maybe live or six sentences..”
“What could you possibly have to say in so many sentences? Here ned unresonable
Seeing her jealous expersion, Stephen found her utterly adorable.
His game softened, overflowing with affection. “Nothing much. She confessed a few times in high school, and I rejected her twice after that, we rarely spoke.”
“you really didn’t feel anything for her Tessa anked skeptically. “She’s pretty, after all
“Nope,” Stephen said firmly, gazing at her intently. “There’s already someone in my heart. There’s no room for anyone else.”
She gnedignorance. “Someone else? Who’s that?
He gleamed with amusement “Who do you think?”
She mumbled vaguely, “How would I know if you don’t tell me?
In Stephen’s eyes, her valking was pure eoquettishness, melting his heart entedly. He couldn’t resist
With a smile, hesaid, “Ther’sno one else but you.”
Tessa turned her face away, avoiding his game “She confessed to you in high school. I was so young back then.”
He couldn’t have liked her archatapeld he?
Stephen explained, “I didn’t think about daring in high school”
Hearing that “Tessa gewcurious. She looked into Stephen’s eyes, her almond–shaped eyes sparkling. “When did you start liking me?
He said, “At first, I only saw you as a little sister. I’m not sure when it changed”
She pressed on “Not even an approximate timech
“Thad to guess, it was when you were in high school when Jordan Lane harassed you, Frealized something was different after thit him.” She pursed her lips. “You hit it well
Stephen ruffled her soft hair had to wait for you to grow up”
His eyes revealed a hint of sorrow “When you graduated from college, I went to your father to propose a marriage allance. But you didn’t agree and ran awrrom home.” Feeling guilty, she looked away. “I thought my dad was acting me for the company’s beedit. How would I know you had this planned all along? You didn’t tell me, i wiunped
He suddenly put on a pindal expression “Duch, my wound hurts.”
Panicked, Tessa inmediately leaned over his waist “What’s wrong? Did you accidentally touch it? I’ll call the nurse.”
He pulled her into his arms just like that, resting his chin on the top other head. His voice was low and gentle “past hold me and it won’t hurt anpinoce,” Shechackled. “You’re teasing nie,
“No,” Stephen murmured, stroking her hair gently “It really hurts, anbe good. Let me hold you and the pain will go away.
Tessanded hertare against him, taking in his presence.
When Zachary returned from di
i dinner, he was stopped in the hotel lobby
and teltso
He turned toward the voice and saw yung he didn’t reco
She was dressed in luxury brands from head to toe.
Tare His were fillet contusion as he walked toward her
The woman leaned against the couch, titing her head slightly to look at him. “You will know soon enough.”
Zachary satin front other and asked again, “Who are you?”
sherepied, “The Jacobson family’s adopted daughter, Jacqueline.”
“The Jacobson family?” He frowned and continued, “Stephen’s sister?
sight” She smiled. “How about considering a partnership with me?
He looked puzzled “What kind of partnership
She smirked. “One that will break Stephen and Tessa up.”
Zacharyeyed hers
suspiciously “Whyshould I trust o
She let out a sough “Because I love Stephen. No one wants to break them up more than I do.”
facqueline handed him a business card. “Iknow you’ve been looking for investments recently. Contact this number, and they will invest in the Gomez Group.”
She added, “But if you want the Gomez Group to be invested in, you have to work with me to break them up.”
He glanced at the card”
1wn without the investment, I will find a way to break them up. Tessa can only ever be mine.”
Shecuted her lips into a smile. Then, Mr. Gomer, hope we get along”
He looked thoughtil Twill verify your identity before contacting you” “No worms” She offered him her contact information. “We’ll stay in tour”
