Xavier shook his head helplessly. He could now tell that Stephen was a hopeless romantic, the type that couldn''t be saved. Stephen nevercked any suitors when he was growing up, but he had always been calm when facing them.


    Susan was amongst them, and although she had clung to him like a leech, he had never once shown any interest in her.


    In the past, Xavier assumed that Stephen''sck of interest in women was due to his frigid nature. His opinion only changed after he saw Tessa''s photo in Stephen''s vi. It wasn''t that he was disinterested in women.


    He had only seemed that way because he already had someone in his heart. Stephen had rejected all his other suitors for Tessa''s sake.


    Hayden was already wasted by the time dinner was over. The restaurant manager had ordered a car for Hayden in advance, so he was the first to leave. The moment they arrived at the entrance, Barry bid farewell to Stephen and Xavier. "Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Lumen, we''ll be taking our leave now."


    Stephen kept quiet. Xavier knew that it wasn''t convenient for Stephen to say his truest thoughts, so he decided to give him a hand. "Are the two of you getting a cab to go back?"


    Barry replied, "Yes. Ms. Yates and I are here for business, so we''re staying at a hotel."


    Stephen''s brow furrowed after hearing his words. Xavier knew that he was worried about Tessa returning to the hotel with a middle-aged man who was partially intoxicated. He quickly offered, "Let me send Ms. Yates back. I didn''t drink just now, so I can drive."


    Barry looked at his phone. He had just ced an order on the e-hailing service app. "Why didn''t you say so earlier?" he wondered in his heart.


    It would be too shameless of Barry to cancel the e-hailing service to ask whether Xavier could send him back as well. He said, "Then, I''ll leave her in your safe hands, Mr. Lumen."


    However, Tessa rejected Xavier''s offer. "No need to trouble yourself. I can just call a cab," she said, preparing to follow up on her words.


    Half-jokingly, Xavier asked, "Ms. Yates, are you worried about being with me?"


    Her eyes flickered toward Stephen before she locked gazes with Xavier. Politely, she exined, "You know that''s not what I mean, Mr. Lumen."


    Smiling, Xavier replied, "Then, you shoulde along with me, Ms. Yates. Your hotel is along the way, anyway."


    Standing next to them, Barry


    listened to their conversation. His lips twitched as he pondered


    Xavier''s words. Tessa didn''t evemet


    mention which hotel she was


    staying at, so how would Xavier


    know whether it was along the way?


    Could it be that he was interested in


    Tessa and wanted to use this opportunity to show off his good qualities?


    As a result, Barry''s curious gaze alternated between Tessa and Xavier.


    Tessa looked at Stephen and was about to reject Xavier again when Stephen suddenly interrupted, "Send her back first, then. I need to head over to where Nancy is. She''s been rushing me."


    Tessa felt like she had been drenched in a bucket of ice water, making her feel chilly. Meanwhile, Xavier shot a look at Stephen before saying, "You should hurry and go then."


    Stephen made a noise of agreement. He didn''t spare another nce at Tessa before he turned on his heel and walked over to the ck Maybach.


    As Tessa watched him leave, she felt a wave of bitterness spreading in her throbbing heart. It appeared that she still couldn''t keep her emotions in check, making her wonder what Stephen was up to.


    She had done her best to forget and not think about him, only for him to keep appearing before her.


    Not only that, but he would do things that made Tessa misunderstand his intentions, like asking her to stay for dinner, ordering her favorite dishes, and letting his eyes linger on her. However, after he was done, he would turn around and unt his rtionship with Nancy fight in front of her face.


    What was Tessa in Stephen''s eyes? A pet that he could y with as he pleased?


    "Ms. Yates, let me send you-"


    "I already said I don''t need you to!"


    Tessa sternly interrupted Xavier before he could finish his sentence. Her voice


    was tinged with anger, her temper ring rapidly.


    Xavier was stunned for a moment before he rubbed at his nose awkwardly. "Alright, then. You can get a cab for yourself."


    She might have looked gentle and quiet on the surface, but beneath her facade was someone with a fiery temper.


    "Stephen, oh Stephen," Xavier thought to himself. "Now that you''ve angered your wife, let''s see how you''ll coax her in the future."