The second time Bruno bumped into Stephen was three years ago. They had
attended the same banquet then.
His father had brought him towork with other business elites in order to
expand their business. At the time, Stephen had been surrounded by people.
Everyone seemed to orbit around him.
It was so crowded that several failed to squeeze past the throng to introduce
themselves to Stephen.
His father had used the opportunity to warn him. He had stated inly that Bruno
could fool around as he wished, but he was not to mess with Rivertown''s prince.
His father had also added that Bruno would be removed from the family if he ever
dared to offend Stephen.
The Tatums would announce to all that Bruno was no Tatum to prevent the family
from falling into disgrace because of Bruno''s actions.
Bruno knew that his father wasn''t merely joking or trying to scare him into
submission.
After all, he was only third in line and had two older brothers vying for the
inheritance.
It didn''t end there.
Oh, no. His father also had three mistresses warming his bed, two of whom had
borne him children. Therefore, Bruno also had a half-brother and a half-sister to
contend with.
His older brothers were far more capable than he was, while his bastard siblings
had his father''s favor. Thus, a waste of space like him could be easily discarded at
a moment''s notice.
Bruno''s mind churned away, faster than it ever had in his life. Toward the end, he
was already breaking out in cold sweat.
Before he could do anything else, he was met with the sight of something even
more horrifying.
Stephen had turned toward the woman who had sent him to jail and asked in
concern, "Tess, are you okay?"
What''s this? That damned woman was acquainted with Stephen?
Judging by how worried Stephen was, they must be really close.
Bruno couldn''t help but shake in his boots, his knees turning wobbly at this
revtion.
Tessa shook her head and said to Stephen, "I''m fine."
Cassidy saw that things weren''t going her way and had lost all the arrogance she
exuded just minutes earlier. Instead, she was now trying to slink away.
However, someone from the crowd tripped her. Cassidy didn''t see iting, so
she fell to the ground with a heavy thud, looking utterly dishevelled.
Those who disliked her wasted no time mocking her, saying, "Goodness, Ms.
Latham. Where are you heading off to?"
"What did you say earlier? Oh, right.
You called Ms. Yates a vain fraud.
You imed that she was wearing
fakes to bolster her image, didn''t
you? Well? Why aren''t you
continuing your crusade to crucify
her?"
"Exactly! Everyone heard how you''ve been ndering Ms. Yates earlier. Don''t you
think you should apologize?"
"I bet you didn''t see thating, did
you? It must feel awful to find out
that this gorgeousdy here is Ms.
Yates of Rivertown. You''ve been
wagging your tongue earlier, trying
to ruin her image, so why are you
running now?
"Oh, I know. You''re terrified of the consequences."
Cassidy pushed herself to her feet. She had never been so humiliated in her
entire life.
Stephen heard thements and shot her a chilly re.
Cassidy trembled and slowly inched over to Tessa, intending to apologize.
She lowered her head and whispered, "I''m sorry, Ms. Yates. I shouldn''t have
criticized you."
"Criticize me?" Tessa wasn''t about
to let her off the hook so easily. So,
she added, "You ndered me
publicly, calling me all sorts of
names. Yet, now you im to have
only criticized me?"
Cassidy pouted as tears welled up in her eyes. Then, she turned to look at
Stephen with grievance, attempting to garner Stephen''s pity.
Finally, she deliberately whimpered, "Mr. Jacobson, it was all a misunderstanding.
I''ve already apologized to Ms. Yates. Can''t you let me off the hook?"
Cassidy had always prided herself on knowing men and was confident in her
beauty.
So, she thought to herself, "There isn''t a man in this world who can deny me when
I cry so prettily."
s, Stephen only shot her a disgusted look and said stonily, "No."