After putting the phone on silent mode, Tessa finally got a good night''s sleep. By the time she woke up next, it was already 1:00 pm.


    Stephen was long gone, leaving her alone in bed.


    She ran a hand through her hair. Then, she lifted the nket to freshen up. But the moment her feet touched the floor, her legs gave out, and she nearly copsed.


    After Zachary left, Stephen followed her into the bedroom to sleep. He had promised to just hold her and do nothing more. But in the end, he still couldn''t resist and ended up wearing her out.


    It took her a while to get used to the soreness before she finally managed to walk out of the bedroom.


    Stephen was on the couch in the living room. He crossed one leg and ced hisptop on his knee.


    There was something undeniably attractive about a man when he was deep in work.


    The snow had stopped, and the golden sunlight streamed in through the windows. As it bathed Stephen in its warm glow, it seemed to soften his sharp features.


    The heater was turned on in the house. Stephen had his ck dress shirt buttoned all the way up to the cor. His face was unreadable as he stared at the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard.


    At that moment, he lookedpletelyposed and untouchable.


    Butst night, those beautiful hands of his had slowly unbuttoned her clothes.


    Tessa knew all too well how wild Stephen could be beneath that cold and distant exterior. Seeing him so focused on work for the first time, the contrast was almost jarring.


    She couldn''t help but watch him for a moment.


    Sensing her gaze, Stephen nced over. His cold expression softened instantly, and a gentle smile yed


    on his lips. "Tess, you''re up? V


    Tessa nodded and walked over. She sat cross-legged beside him, tilting her head


    to nce at hisptop screen.


    Stephen said in a gentle voice, "Grandpa officially put me in charge of the


    That left Tessa confused. After all, Caleb was supposed to be the president of Jacobson Corporation.


    But since it was their family matter, she knew better than to pry.


    To her surprise, Stephen brought it up himself. "What Susan did was actually linked to my dad''s illegitimate son."


    When he said that, he kept his eyes on hisptop screen. He showed no emotion, as if he were merely stating a fact.


    Tessa''s eyes widened in shock. "An illegitimate child?"


    Stephen finally showed some emotion. He stopped typing, a mix of struggle and sorrow flickering in his eyes.


    Tessa had never seen that look on his face before.


    His voice was soft as he said, "When my mom was pregnant with me over 20 years ago, my dad cheated on her.


    "Shortly after I was born, his


    mistress showed up with a hospital


    pregnancy report and confronted


    him. She wanted to use the baby to


    force them to divorce, so she could


    take my mom''s ce.


    "When my mom found out, shepletely broke down. She fell into postpartum depression and almost jumped off a building.


    "My grandparents tried to pressure


    my dad into making his mistress get an abortion. But he truly loved that woman, so he couldn''t bring himself to do it He told my grandparents that he would make her get an abortion. But in reality, he secretly sent her abroad."