Lester let Tessa go and took a polite step back. He exuded grace and poise as he said politely, "There''s no need for you to be so courteous."


    Just then, a woman said snidely, "My, my. If it isn''t the knockoffdy? I''m surprised. I can''t believe a fraud like you would actually be on this cruise ship. I''ve really underestimated you, haven''t I?"


    Tessa spun on her heels and immediately saw a familiar yet bitter-looking face.


    Cassidy had her arms crossed before her chest as she nced at Lester before sneering at Tessa disdainfully. Then, she mocked, "And here I was wondering just how you managed to board this cruise ship. Turns out you managed to get your ws into his pants."


    Tessa''s face turned thunderous as she intoned coldly, "It seems that your time in detention didn''t teach you anything."


    Cassidy''s anger red the second her stint in the detention center was brought up. She was still resentful over how she''d been humiliated back at the mall.


    If it weren''t for Bruno''s connections, they would still be forced to sit in that dingy holding cell.


    Cassidy red at Tessa and growled, "How dare you bring that up? I''ve been dying to get back at you, and you''ve just served yourself up on a silver tter."


    Lester''s icy gazended on Cassidy. "Miss, you''re a grown woman. So, you are responsible for whatever you say. If you continue ndering my friend, I will pursue this legally."


    "Oh, I''m terrified. No, really. I''m shaking in my boots." Cassidy rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Go ahead and sue me if you dare. Go on, do it!"


    Cassidy was especially brazen today because a few of her friends were also on this cruise.


    These friends of hers were scions and heiresses of Sudmere. They were the sort of people who despised women who were vain yet materialistic. To them, Tessa fit the bill like a glove.


    Besides, Tessa had also made an enemy of Bruno. The first thing he said after he got out of the holding cell was that he was going to ruin her.


    Plus, Cassidy had kept an eye out and saw that Tessa''s bodyguard was nowhere to be found. Theck of that skilled guard of hers only bolstered Cassidy''s courage to insult Tessa.


    A small crowd had already gathered around them, eager to watch the drama unfold.


    Cassidy was far from satisfied with the current standstill. So, she deliberately raised her voice and hollered, "Look, everyone! That vain fraud offended Mr. Tatum, yet still dares to show her face on this cruise!"


    Some of the guests on this cruise were Marissa''s ssmates. Others were socialites she had gotten acquainted with abroad.


    Marissa''s mother was from Sudmere, so she would often visit Sudmere. As a result, she had plenty of friends there as well.


    However, Tessa had never crossed paths with anyone from Sudmere''s upper crust society.


    Meanwhile, Bruno was an infamous yboy in Sudmere. He was notorious for being a rich, good-for-nothing yboy.


    Cassidy had gotten stic surgery and wormed her way into Sudmere''s elite circle by hooking up with Bruno. Once she did, she thought herself superior to others and constantly belittled those she foundcking. Quite frankly, she was a master at riding on others'' coattails?


    The second Cassidy mentioned Bruno, those in the crowd who recognized the


    name immediately cast sympathetic nces at Tessa.


    Some began to whisper amongst themselves.


    "It''s a shame. She''s so pretty. Yet, she''s also offended Bruno. She''s done for now."


    "That''s right. Everyone knows Bruno, and no one who crosses him ever emerges unscathed."


    "Do you remember that influencer he wanted to date? I''ve no idea how she managed to offend Bruno, but her nudes got leaked all over the


    inte. I heard she fell into


    depression andtermitted


    suicide because of it."


    "I heard about that, too! God, it was such a huge scandal. Still, the Tatums managed to keep it hush-hush. That influencer''spany even imed that she fell into depression because of her work.


    "A lot of her ignorant fans have been ming the agency because of that. In reality, Bruno was the cause of her death."


    "Judging by Cassidy''s behavior, this woman must''ve offended Bruno. Knowing Bruno, he''s definitely going to make her pay."


    "It''s such a pity. She''s gorgeous, but she''s definitely a goner."


    Just then, Bruno finally arrived at the scene. He was wearing a gaudy floral shirt and a pair of sunsses. Beautiful women were hanging off each of his arms.


    Cassidy''s expression turned cold the second she saw Bruno with two other


    women.


    Meanwhile, Bruno''s lips twisted into a scowl the minute heid his eyes on Tessa. His cocky attitude dissipated instantly as he took off his sunsses. His eyes gleamed viciously as he stared at Tessa and spat through gritted teeth, "You''re so dead."