Chapter 58 Shattered Pride
91%
s
Tess heard the synchronized shouts echoing through the building, but she could barely open her eyes, hovering between consciousness and copse. She didn’t even have the strength to lift her head.
Finn’s sharp gaze fell on her crumpled form, a flicker of shock breaking through his icy stare.
He parted his lips, but his throat was so dry that no words came out.
<i>How </i><i>did </i><i>thing </i><ie </i><i>to </i><i>this</i>?
His
eyes immediately snapped to Zane, who stood rigidly; he lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.
Zane had always followed orders to the letter. He would never overstep unless <b>… </b>
Unless this wasn’t Tess’s choice. Unless this was Nadine’s doing.
Rage flickered across Finn’s face. He didn’t hesitate. In two long strides, he was at Tess’s side and helped her to stand straight.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” he snapped.
Tess braced herself against his chest, her voice t and bitter. “What–did you and Nadine not agree that I should bow for two full hours?”
Finn froze. The coldness in her voice sent a chill down his spine. He turned sharply to re at Nadine.
Nadine shrank under his gaze, murmuring pitifully, “I told her she didn’t need to apologize. But she insisted. She said she’d bow for two hours. I couldn’t stop her. I guess… she wanted to make a scene in front of you.”
She said it with a wounded look, as if Tess had orchestrated the whole thing to gain sympathy.
Tess stared at her in disbelief, as though seeing a stranger.
This was the girl she once treated like a sister.
“Zane,” Finn said sharply.
Zane stepped forward andid out the truth.
O
<b>29 </b>
<b>ORN </b>
O
く
Chapter 58 Shattered Pride
“It was Ms. Nadine,” he said, his voice steady.
Zane’s word shattered Nadine’s carefully woven lie.
Her face went pale. “Zane’s on Tess’s side-”
91%
<b>+5 </b>Free Coins
But her voice faltered the moment Finn’s eyes met hers–cold, sharp, and unforgiving. She fell silent.
“Finn, I-” Nadine started, but he was already turning back to Tess.
He wanted to exin.
That he never meant for it to go this far. He only hoped a forced apology would break her pride a little and make her listen for once.
But before he could finish—
“Get lost!”
Tess’s voice cracked with fury. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her. She stumbled a little before she steadied herself. When she saw Finn stepping closer, something inside her snapped. She shoved him back with every ounce of strength she had left.
Finn stumbled, caught off guard.
“Stop pretending, will you?”
Her voice was raw, her smile twisted with pain. “Pride? Is that what this is about? I don’t have any left–not after you shattered it, piece by piece.”
She tilted her head back, the pale skin of her face stark against the faint scar on her cheek.
Finn’s breath caught. He wanted to say something, but it was as if an invisible hand gripped his throat. “You …”
“You wanted an apology? Fine,” she said hoarsely. “I bowed. That should count.”
She cast a nce at Nadine, who looked like a ghost in the corner. Then Tess leaned weakly into Finn, whispering her final words like a dying wish. “Now keep your promise. Let him go.”
Each word felt like it had been wrenched from her bones.
Then she staggered away, dragging her numb legs across the lobby.
O
<b>29 </b>
ORN
о
19:58 Fri, Aug 29 G G
Chapter 58 Shattered Pride
Alone. Broken. Humiliated.
91%
s
The entire room had fallen into a stunned silence. No one could look away from the tragic figure disappearing out the door.
Not a sound–only the faint scrape of her steps.
As soon as her figure vanished from sight, the entire building fell into a silence so deep, you could hear a pin drop. The very air inside seemed to freeze in ce.
Finn stood where Tess had just bowed, his jaw clenched tight. A bitter chill radiated from him, wrapping around his entire being. He was like a towering iceberg–silent, unyielding, and cold to the bone.
Zane’s heart sank.
Nadine trembled, her chest tight, wanting to escape. But just as she turned, she met Finn’s dark, stormy gaze.
His eyes were like a cold de, so sharp that it could slice through her.
Nadine flinched.
Finn strode forward and stopped in front of her.
His towering frame cast a long shadow over her, his restrained fury pressing down like a thundercloud.
He stared at her as though he didn’t know her anymore. She was once a kind and capable girl -how had she be this?
“Who gave you permission to mess with
my wife?”
His voice was low and sharp as ice.
Nadine’s scalp prickled.
It wasn’t just Finn’s overwhelming pressure. Everyone else’s curious and judgmental stares pierced her like needles.
“Finn…” she whispered, barely audible, begging.
But Finn didn’t budge. Zane, worried about the growing public attention, quickly stepped in to disperse the crowd.
<b>O </b>
O
<b>29 </b>
<b>ORN </b>
O<fnce91> Chapters first released on Find★Novel</fnce91>
Chapter 58 Shattered Pride
91%
s
Within moments, it felt like a heavy storm had settled over the building. Everyone walked on eggshells.
At the center of it all, Nadine stood with her head bowed, <i>too </i>ashamed <i>to </i>lift it.
And the man before her–his heart had already followed Tess out the door.
Outside, the scorching sun seemed to dull the ache in Tess’s legs.
She didn’t know what happened after she left. She just kept walking–mechanically, painfully.
When she finally reached the edge of the road to call a cab, her phone rang.
“Ms. Ember, Mr. Jackman is awake.”
She rushed to the hospital.
Charles was sitting up in bed, taking small spoonfuls of grits with the help of a nurse. An IV line still hung from his arm.
<b>C </b>