Chapter 7
Te didn’t want to stay there any longer. She tumed and walked toward the backyard pool. The night breeze was cool. She had barely sat down by the pool when Tank followed her out.
“Mrs. Jones, “Tania said, gently rubbing her swollen belly. She smiled sweetly as she said, “Mr. Jones said that once the baby’s bom, he’s buying mea villa at Novena Hill. Oh, and do you know why Mr. Jones lost control and slept with me that night after he was drugged?” She leaned in close to Tessa’s ear
“was wearing one of your favorite white dresses in the exact same style. He mistook me for you. So, I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have all this
Tessa slowly tumed her head and was just about to say something when Tania suddenly fell headfirst into the pool, sending up a huge wave of water.
“Help! My bal! she panicked and screamed sharply as she flailed in the water.
By the time everyone rushed over, they saw Tania thrashing in the pool, and Tessa standing at the edge, expressionless,
Chaos erupted in the Jones residence.
Cliftond jumped in to poll Tania out, but before he could get to her, Isabelle slapped Tessa across the face. “You disgrace! Apologize to Tamil
Tessa’s head snapped to the side from the blow, a thin trickle of blood appearing at the comer of her mouth. She slowly tumed back, then suddenly smiled. “Fice
And with that, she grabbed the fully soaked Tania, who had just been pulled from the pool, and shoved her right back in.
Isabelle let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Tessa yanked the emerald bracelet–the heirloom of the Jones family that Isabelle had personally placed on her the day she married–off hur wrist and hurled it to the ground. The bracelet shattered into several pieces, glittering coldly in the moonlight.
As she turned to leave, she heard Clifford shout her name behind her indisbelief. But this time, she didn’t lookback
She had barely gotten home when the front door was flung open..
Clifford stormed in, soaked from head to toe. His suit jacket was drenched, water dripping from his hair. He had clearly rushed over without hesitation. He was out of breath his eyes swirling with a storm of emotions–anger, desperation, and panic.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.” Tessa stared at him coldly. “But if you think I owe you an apology, then let’s get a divorce.
Η
The second Clifford heard her say “divorce“, all color drained from his face. “Don’t say that” nervously rushed forward and pulled her into his ams. “You know damn well that divorce would all me!
She looked up at his red–rimmed eyes and suddenly found it ridiculous. “What about me?” she asked quietly, “Clifford, did you ever think about my life?”
He froze.
“I know you’re uncomfortable with Tania and the baby, but Grandma threatened me with her life, and Tania’s my savior. How could I force her to get an abortion?” His voice was raspy. “Tess, please try to understand where I’m coming from, just this once.”
“Bo you were thinking about your grandmother and Tania… Tessa gave a small, bitter smile. “You just didn’t think about me, did you?”
His mouth opened, like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just held her tighter “lay, okay,” he murmured, gently rubbing her back like she was just being difficult.
He continued, “Let’s just move past this, alright? I’ll explain everything to Grandma. Once the baby is born, things will go back to the way they were…
Lying in his arms, breathing in the familiar scent of firon his skin, she suddenly felt exhausted. His embrace was still warm, and his heartbeat was still steady, but her heart was growing colder and colder.
There was no going back Norever.
She was determined to start a new life without him,
Chapter 8
In the days that followed, Clifford seemed to sense something and started sticking to Tessa like glue. He was constantly by her side, even waiting outside the bathroom door when she went in.
Every now and then, he’d eatch a glimpse of Tania standing in a comer with swollen eyes from crying. He would just from and pretend that he didn’t see her.
One moming, he suddenly pulled out a gold–embossed invitation, his eyes lighting up like he was a teenager again. “Tess, today’s the school’s centennial celebration. Some of our old classmates are getting together for in
“You’ve been cooped up at home for days, and it’s a good chance for you to go out and clear your head a bit. Get some fresh air and catch up with some old friends. What do you think?TM
She stared at the school’s crest stamped in gold on the invitation and was suddenly reminded of how he had stood outside her classroom, waving basketball game
Tickets ten years ago
“Tess, do you want to go?”
decided that she would, since it would probably be the last time anyway.
At the reunion, Clifford never let go of her hand.
Their old classmates teased them, saying that the class heartthrob and beauty queen still looked perfect together. Someone even brought up how he had once stood in lineall night to buy her a limited–edition album
Clifford laughed and wrapped his ann around Tessa’s waist, his fingers gently stroking the curve of her back like he was silently trying to win her over.
“Do you all remember our time capsule?”” the class president asked, hauling a box into the room. “It’s letters that we wrote ten years ago. Everyone, come grab yours!!!
People eagerly stepped forward to claim their envelopes.
- It was Tania calling.
Tessa was just about to open hers when Clifford suddenly froze. His phone cang. It was
He glanced at Tessa, hesitated, then stepped into the hallway to answer. A minute later, he returned pale–faced. “Tess, she tell. She’s at the hospital now—”
