<b>Chapter </b><b>1014 </b>


    Especially with Tessa, he kept feeling that something was off. It was as if she knew something.


    +15 BCNUS


    Since she was a child, Arnold had always found her expressions a little strange–her thoughts ran far too deep for someone her


    age.


    That alone had always made him feel uneasy.


    But he kept those thoughts buried in his heart.


    After taking care of everything, Arnold silently watched Grace and Tessa leave.


    He hoped that this time, their mission to confront the Hayes family would turn out to be the right thing.


    He still felt uneasy about this household without Aurora around.


    But after all, he was just a housekeeper.


    Saying too much would only make others annoyed.


    Arnold let out a sigh, then quietly returned to the house to continue his work.


    Unbeknownst to him, Tessa was watching his hunched figure through the rearview mirror.


    Interesting. Did he notice?


    Tessa curled her lips, finding the situation more and more entertaining.


    Noticing Tessa’s sudden change in mood, Grace asked curiously, “What is it, sweetie? Why do you look so happy all of a sudden?


    Tessa quickly wiped the smile from her face and replied, “Oh, Mom, I was just thinking how happy I am not to be with someone who tried to strangle me.”


    She lifted a hand to touch her throat, her eyes full of distress.


    “Mom, I’ve even started to dislike my own voice. I know you probably feel the same, but it’s not like I wanted this…”


    Grace pulled Tessa into her arms with a pained expression. “It’s okay, darling, I know it’s not your fault. I’ve seen how good you’ve been to me all these years.


    “<i>So </i>don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get justice. I won’t let you marry that man.”


    Only then did Tessa rest her head against her mother’s shoulder with ease.


    She smiled with genuine ease, eyes filled with admiration for Grace. “Mom, you’re amazing. With you <i>by </i>my side, I really feel safe. I can’t even imagine what my life would be like without you.


    “Silly girl.”


    Grace ruffled her hair and didn’t say much more.


    She knew very well that she couldn’t stay with this child forever.


    Her identity was one thing, but on top of that, who knew how that woman was doing now?


    She was probably living the life she always dreamed of…


    At that thought, a sharp glint shed through Grace’s eyes.


    Tessa noticed it and felt a bit puzzled–why did her mother show that kind of expression?


    Andtely, her mother had been treating her far too well.


    There were times when even she felt she had done something wro


    But in her mother’s eyes, it all seemed like nothing–she didn’t se


    That only deepened the doubts in Tessa’s heart.


    Was every mother in the world like this toward their child?


    Or… was it just her mother?


    The whole way there, Tessa kept trying to figure out what Grace wa


    But Grace didn’t say anything more.


    She simply sat upright, eyes focused on the road ahead, clearly not


    Tessa didn’t push her luck.


    There was still a tough battle waiting ahead.