Chapter 59 A Quiet Goodbye
Chapter <i>59 </i>A Quiet Goodbye
“You came.”
The moment Charles saw her, a flicker of warmth lit
“How are you feeling?”
Tess forced a smile as she turned to ask the nurse.
<i>up </i>his usually calm eyes.
91%<fn1d71> Follow current nov?ls on FιndＮovel</fn1d71>
s
“He’s recovering well. Just a couple more days
discharge,” the nurse replied gently, collectin of observation, and he should be ready for
the empty te from Charles’s bedside.
Once she left, the room grew quiet with only Tess and Charles remaining.
Tess finally exhaled in relief and settled into the soft chair beside the bed.
“Are you okay? Does anything still hurt?” she asked, her voice gentle with concern.
Charles arched his brows in azy smile, his demeanor gentle–like a big, obedient dog. “Nope. Didn’t the nurse just mention that I’ll be discharged soon?
Tess nodded.
After that, silence fell between them again.
Charles tried to say something but couldn’t seem to find the right words. The air felt heavy, the space between them filled with unspoken things.
Tess was the one to finally break it.
“I’m sorry.”
She lowered her gaze, guilt swirling in her eyes.
If Charles hadn’t taken her in out of kindness, he wouldn’t have found himself in Finn’s
crossfire.
Charles hadn’t expected that. Flustered, he tried tofort her.
m now. After a moment’s
But despite his eloquence in court, the right words escaped struggle, he managed to say, in a somewhat dry and awkward manner, “This wasn’t your
fault.”
C
O
29
<b>29 </b>
<b>ORN </b>|||
O
Chapter 59 A Quiet Goodbye
Tess gave a small shake of her head, silent.
91%
s
Charles’s brow knit slightly, a trace of worry flickering across his face. “Don’t carry all of the burden by yourself. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
And for a brief moment, it felt like someone had gently tapped on the locked door around her heart.
Ever since her release from jail, Tess had adopted a hedgehog–like demeanor, always preparing for the next blow.
Whether it was Kylie, Nadine, or Finn, she met them all with a cold indifference. But the truth was, everything she did was to protect herself and La. Her strength was forced. Her resilience, a disguise. She had no choice but to build walls around herself just to survive.
“Don’t stress about it. That house they’re auctioning off already has a decent opening bid. I’ve got some savings, and I still have myw firm. Really, it’s nothing to worry about,” Charles said gently.
Tess blinked fast, her eyes growing misty.
“Hmm, I should go check on La.”
She stood up.
Charles tensed up at the thought of her daughter alone in the house. He quickly waved her off and said, “Go on, don’t worry about me. I’m fine here.”
Tess gave him onest look, then turned and walked out.
Her silhouette disappeared at the doorway, and the room returned to stillness.
Charles leaned back against the pillow, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
Something didn’t sit right. His gaze lingered on the door where she’d vanished.
Then–knock, knock.
A knock broke the silence outside the door.
Ruling out the possibility that Tess might return, Charles’s gaze fell on the door, his eyes darkening.
“Come in.”
O
29
<b>29 </b>
<b>ORN </b>|||
O
Chapter 59 A Quiet Goodbye
91%
s
When Tess got home, Bessie had just finished making La a bottle of form.
“I’ll do it.”
Even though her legs still ached from days of running around, all the pain and tiredness vanished the moment she saw La.
Bessie caught the gauntness in Tess’s face; she was startled, but then she saw the sparkle return to her eyes. She swallowed her words.
She handed the baby over.
Tess cradled La tightly, the familiar scent of milk washing over her like a balm. Every muscle in her body finally rxed.
La hadn’t seen her mother in days. She reached up with chubby little arms, trying to wrap them around Tess’s neck.
Their heads touched gently, a quiet moment of warmth between mother and child.
Moved by the way the two looked at each other, Bessie couldn’t help but be swept up tenderness of it all. A soft smile blossomed across her face.
in the
“Alright, let me hold her. You go rest,” Bessie offered, reaching for La.
As if understanding the exchange, La blinked her big round eyes and stretched out her arms toward Bessie.
Tess didn’t argue.
Something urgent required her attention.
“Bessie, could you watch La a bit longer?”
Bessie noticed the look on Tess’s face. She didn’t understand what was going on, but she patted her chest confidently. “Of course, no problem.”
Tess headed into the bedroom.
She moved from room to room, finally dragging out a familiar suitcase.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Bessie asked, startled.
O
<b>29 </b>
ORN |||
19:58 Fri, Aug 29 GG<b>. </b>
Chapter 59 A Quiet Goodbye
“I’ve already troubled you long enough,” Tess said with quiet apology.
91%
s
Bessie knew Tess had always been the kind of girl who didn’t like imposing on others. But this was a big house with plenty of rooms, and she and La barely took up a corner. How Iwas that a burden?
“Have you found a ce to stay?”
Bessie ced the bottle near little La’s mouth, letting her hold it and drink on her own, while asionally lending Tess a hand as she packed.
<b>“</b><b>I </b>found a few live–in jobs online–food and amodation included. I’m heading out with La for some interviews,” Tess said briskly.
Tess moved swiftly, with ease.
Given how firm her tone was, Bessie didn’t press.
Before long, Tess had packed up everything for herself and La. Then, with careful attention, she cleaned the ce.
Standing in the doorway, she gave the neat little home onest lingering look.