Chapter 18
“Tess, just look at me,“Clicord said softly from behind Tessa, his voice filled with frustration and longing.
Texa didn’t even flinch. She continued unlocking the shop door, treating him like he wasn’t even there.
“Tess, please listen to me,” he trailed after her as she walked into the cafe, watching as she turned the machines and started washing the cups and plates with practiced ease. For a second, he froze. A long–forgotten memory suddenly came rushing backto lim.
“chiffe, I want to live a simple, easy life.” The girl was wrapped in a blanket, sitting next tolmunder the stars.
“Tess, no matter what kind of life you want to live, I’ll be there with you.” The boy’s voice carried a trace of youth. They were just in middle school them.
“Clifford, you don’t understand,” she said, her smile faint.
“Why would I understand?” he asked anxioush.
There was a pause before she finally answered, “one day, you’ll inherit the Jones coup. You’ll have to carry the weight of the family and the business. You’ll be forced into manying some gentle, proper wife and raising a lunch of kids to mold into the next generation of heim.
“But I don’t want that kind of life. I want to open a small cafe and spend my days with someone comantic, living freely.”
The boy grabbed her hand in a panic. “Tess, I’m
going to live like that. I’m going to tarry you!”
She smiled again, but she never looked at him. Later, the girl fell in love with him too. She gave up her dreams and became the graceful, accommodating Mrs. Jones for his sake.
And the boy had forgotten what she once wanted and the starry sky they once sat under.
Atear slipped from Clifford’s eye, falling onto the back of Tessa’s hand. She twitched slightly and finally spoke. “Clifford, we’re divorced. We have nothing to do with each other ammote.”
Her voice was calm and detached. It was as if she truly didn’t care anymore,
“Tess. I’m sorry. I know everything now. I know that Tania’s child was never mine.. Ilmow all the accusations against you were false.”
“The child wasn’t yours? tessa raised an eyebrow. “Then whose was it?
He quickly explained, “It belonged to some wealthy businessman. Tania was actually his mistress. She got pergeant, and he dumped her, so she drugged me and daimed that the baby was mine
“Tess, my grandmother and I have already punished her. She’s out of our lives for good.”
He gently ined to fasten the emerald bracelet on Tessa’s wrist. “My grandmother wanted me to give this back to you. She told me to bring you home. You are the true lady of the lonely.”
Tessa frowned and quickly took it off, yanking her hand away and showing the bracelet back into his palm “Mr. Jones, love is like this bracelet. Once it’s broken, it’s broken No matter how carefully you glue it back together, no matter how sincere your apologies are, the cracks will always be there.”
She gave a cold laugh. “Mr. Jones, please leave my cate. I don’t serve people of your status.”
The emerald bracelet sat heavy in his palm, lile tamed the weight of a thousand erguits. He could hardly breathe.
His face twisted in pain. “I can’t do the past, then let me start ows. Let me chaseyou again. Forget the past. Let’s just focus on the future. Please?”
She let out a bitter laugh. “Mr. Jones, could you not be so ridiculous?”
But no matter what she said, he refused to budge. He started chasing her all over again, like he said.
The next moming, Just as Tessa unlocked the door to hercate, difford walked in carrying a giant bucket of roses still wet with moming dew
“Chord don’t need this kind of thing in my cafe!”
He ignored her and set the roses on the coffee bar. Tess, I’meraving your homemade pudding.” Then, he pulled out his black cand. “I’ll take 50”
Tessa leaned arainst the wall, giving him an insincere smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not for sale!”
On the third day, Clifford didn’t bring coses. Instead, he showed up with a whole crew of people, carrying in boxes pen boxes.
“What are you doing?” Tessa muished to block the doorway.
Clifford buried over, flustered. “No, Tess. I swear just wanted to upgrade your coffee machines.”
Herexpression turned ley. “No. Get your people out of here now!!
And so it went, day after day
He showed up at her door like clockwork, watching her unlock the door to her shop, staying until she closed, quietly keeping her company.
Umil finally, Tessa had had enough.
After the last customer left, she stored over, grabbed Clifford by the arm, and dragged him inside “child, are you serious right now? Are you a child toplaying these stopid little games?”
