The silence in the room was absolute, making the vibration of the phone sound particrly clear. Stephen nced at the screen. It was Tessa calling.


    His gaze darkened slightly as he picked up. His voice was hoarse. "Hello, Tessa."


    Hearing his raspy voice, Tessa immediately asked with concern, "What''s wrong? Did something happen on your way back?"


    "No."


    A brief silence followed.


    Tessa hesitated before softly reporting, "I''ve arrived safely. The journey was smooth, and this ce is well-hidden. Thedy taking care of me is kind and attentive. Everything is fine."


    But she swallowed the words, "Except I can''t see you. Except I miss you terribly and can''t stop worrying about you."


    Now wasn''t the time for sentimentality. Stephen still had important things to do. All she could do was listen to him and stay put, just as he had asked.


    Stephen gave a hum of acknowledgment. Tessa noticed his unusual coldness today. Perhaps he was still processing everything that had happened earlier.


    She hesitated. "I''ll hang up now. You must be busy."


    Stephen tilted his head back, staring nkly out the window at the blinding sunlight. His eyes reddened as he forced the words out. "Let''s break up."


    There was no room for hesitation. Ralph was right. The Yates family was in legitimate business. They couldn''t withstand James'' ruthless tactics.


    Every extra day Stephen hesitated, the danger to them grew.


    Tessa froze. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. A tear slipped down her cheek before she even realized it.


    After a long pause, Tessa''s lips trembled as she choked out, "Is it because you''re afraid of implicating me?"


    "No. I just realized..."


    Stephen took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the tears threatening to escape.


    He continued,


    "I was good to you before because I thought you would be a good fit as my wife. Only a girl like


    you-beautiful, talented, and from a good family—would be worthy of bing the Jacobson family''s young mistress. But..."  swnovel


    Stephen closed his eyes, swallowing


    the pain that wed at his chest. "But now I''ve figured it out. I''m not done having fun. I don''t want to spend my entire life with just one woman. So let''s break up. Forget about me. I''m the one who let you down."  swnovel


    The house on the estate was a two-story vi with a small garden. From her bedroom window, Tessa could see the garden below.


    At this time of year, the flowers had withered, and the entire garden was bleak and lifeless-just like her mood.


    Tessa curled up on the bed, clutching her nket, crying silently. It had been over an hour since she hung up, yet her tears hadn''t stopped.


    How could a person have so many tears? No matter how much she cried, they just wouldn''t dry up.


    She didn''t believe Stephen''s reason for breaking up-that he wasn''t done ying around. That wasn''t the kind of person he was.


    It had to be because of James.


    Stephen didn''t want James to hurt


    Tessa,


    ties. he was in a hurry to sever


    the words he used were too


    crue! They cut deep, and she


    pretend they didn''t hurt.


    swnovel


    Tessa didn''t want to cry, but she simply couldn''t stop.


    The winter night fell early. By a little past six, the sun had already set.


    A soft knocking sounded at the door.


    "Ms. Yates, it''s time for dinner," the housekeeper called gently from outside.


    Tessa sniffled, her voice hoarse. "I''m not hungry."


    Perhaps the housekeeper hadn''t heard her clearly, as she knocked again. "Ms. Yates, are you asleep?"


    Tessa wiped her tears, got out of bed, and straightened her hair and clothes before walking to the door.


    "I don''t have much of an appetite tonight. Please go ahead and eat without me."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!