The next day, Tessa went to the Jacobson residence to attend a gathering.


    Their residence and the Yates residence were located in the same residential neighborhood.


    Before going to the Jacobsons'', Tessa decided to make a stop at the Yates''.


    Samuel and Marianne were both home. Seeing her at home, Samuel asked, "You haven''t beening home recently. Where have you been staying?"


    Tessa, who was now aware of the truth behind Samuel''s second marriage, no longer treated him with the same cold indifference as before. She knew now that his second marriage was one of her mother''s dying wishes.


    She replied calmly, "I''ve been staying at the apartment my cousin gave me. It''s near thew firm, so it''s more convenient for me to go to work every day."


    Samuel nodded. "I''ll take you to meet a few of my old colleagues when you''re free. They might help you get some new cases."


    She knew he was trying to broaden herwork and did not refuse his offer. "Alright. How about next weekend?"


    At that moment, Seline Yates came running down the stairs, hugging Tessa''s leg tightly. "Tessa, you''re back!"


    Tessa patted her head. "That''s right."


    Marianne stood nearby, smiling as she asked how Tessa had been doing as ofte and if she was adjusting to living on her own.


    Instead of arguing with her as Tessa used to do, she nodded lightly and said, "I''ll just head upstairs to grab a few things."


    Then, she went upstairs to her room.


    "Samuel, I feel like Tessa''s changed. Did you notice it? She seems much more approachable and friendlier than before," Marianne said with a smile.


    Feeling pleased, Samuel nodded and said, "She''s grown up now, and she''s no longer so immaturely stubborn.


    Once Tessa was in her room, she changed into a different outfit and was about to do her makeup when her gaze fell on something on the vanity table.


    There, she saw a crayon drawing of a happy family of four.


    She paused, her emotions swirling within her.


    It was a drawing that her sister, Seline, had made of their family of four.


    On both sides of the drawing was a man and a woman who were clearly meant to be Samuel and


    Marianne. There were two girls standing in the middle the taller one being herself, while the shorter one was Seline.


    She stared at the drawing for quite some time as her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She stood there silently, lost in thought.


    After a long time, she rolled up the drawing and ced it in a storage box.


    Once she finished her makeup, she went downstairs to join her family as they went over to the Jacobson residence.


    She wore a long-sleeved almond-colored dress with a pair of white high-heels. The outfit made her look elegant and poised, the kind of look that would please the older people at the banquet.


    Seline wore a red dress with her hair tied into two buns, adorned with strawberry-shaped hair clips. She looked adorable and festive.


    Tessa and Seline walked in front, while Samuel and Marianne followed behind as they entered the Jacobson residence.


    Stephen hade out personally to greet them.


    Once they entered the vi, Stephen''s parents smiled as they came over to wee them.


    Standing beside Stephen''s parents was Jacqueline, who chimed in with the polite pleasantries.


    Tessa''s gaze swept over Jacqueline indifferently.


    The dinner wasvish and had clearly been prepared with care as the table was filled with dishes Tessa loved.


    After the meal, both families gathered in the living room to discuss the details of the uing engagement.


    In just a few days, Tessa and Stephen were set to be engaged, but there were still a few details about the engagement party that they had to finalize.


    Before Stephen''s grandfather, Ralph Jacobson, could speak, Stephen suddenly broke the silence. "Since everyone is here, there''s something I need to address."


    All eyes turned to him.


    "Jacqueline,e here and apologize to Tessa," Stephen said coldly.


    Jacqueline''s eyes widened in shock, and her lips began to tremble.


    Stephen''s grandmother, Rowena Lae, frowned, her tone displeased. "Stephen!"


    Ignoring her, Stephen kept his eyes fixed on Jacqueline, his gaze sharp and intimidating. "I told you to apologize. Didn''t you hear me?"


    Sophia was visibly confused as she asked, "What''s going on here?"


    There was a chilling edge in


    Stephen''s voice as he looked at Jacqueline with a piercing gaze.. "Why don''t you exin to everyone what happened at the equestrian center the other day?"


    Jacqueline paled as she turned to look at Rowena aggrievedly. "Grandma..."


    Rowena felt sorry for her and looked at Stephen with displeasure. "Stephen, Jacqueline has already


    told me about the incident at the et


    equestrian center. It was a misunderstanding. Don''t make things difficult for her."


    Tessa smirked faintly but said nothing when she heard Rowena''s words.


    Samuel and Marianne exchanged bewildered looks,pletely confused about what had happened.


    He turned to Tessa and whispered, "Why is Stephen asking Jacqueline to apologize to you? What did she do?"


    Tessa replied calmly, "Let''s hear what she has to say for herself first."


    Stephen''s patience was running thin, and his expression grew colder. "Jacqueline, tell everyone exactly what happened at the equestrian center. I''ll tell them myself if you dare leave out any details.