Chapter 175 The Breaking Point
Chapter 175 The Breaking Point
Tess cut him off mid–sentence.
Finn blinked, startled, and lifted his gaze to her.
<b>(</b>24)
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Her face was expressionless, the corners of her lips tilted upward without the faintest trace of a smile.
“I told you–she’s not my sister. Since when does some random foster kid count as family? Finn, she’s a lot closer to being your lover than my sister.”
“Tess Ember!”
Finn’s voice was low and sharp, the kind of coldness that could cut through bone.
“Get out.”
Her reply was almost a whisper, eyes lowered, not sparing him another nce.
A wave of exhaustion crashed over her, heavy and sudden. Tess narrowed her eyes, looking like a solitary cat tending its wounds–isted, weary, and helpless.
After the tension rose, the door clicked shut behind him, leaving only the stillness of the hospital room.
Tess sank back into the pillows; she closed her eyes, her shoulders sank into the soft pillow.
“Nadine pushed you, didn’t she?”
Steven had settled back into his chair, his eyes filled with clear concern.
“Yeah.”
She pressed her lips together.
Steven studied her–close enough to reach out–but something in his chest twisted; he had a hard time describing it.
He almost reached out to ruffle her hair but stopped halfway, his hand falling back to his side with a quiet sigh.
“It’s okay. I’m back in Aetheris now. You’re not alone; you still have me.”
<b>15:51 </b>ΕΠΙ,
:
<b>94 </b>
Chapter 175 The Breaking Point
His voice was gentle, a quiet anchor.
Tess froze for a beat, then felt a rare, unexpected warmth bloom in her chest.
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They’d once been colleagues, friendly enough that she’d often told him how lonely it felt living in Aetheris with no family.
She didn’t realized he’d remembered.
Her nose stung.
“By the way
…
”
Steven’s tone shifted–more serious, his face tensed.
Tess nced at him in confusion, but he was already pulling up something on his phone, handing it over. “I saw this and thought it seemed off. I asked around, found out you’d been hospitalized, and came straight here.”
She took the phone. Her eyesnded on the headline.
“Tess Ember Wears Knockoff Gown to Nadine Ember’s Celebration Party”
A small me icon and the bright red word “HOT” sat next to it, showing it was one of the tform’s most talked–about topics.
She tapped it open. There’s a picture of her from behind, in the white gown she’d worn- custom–made, one of a kind.
Scrolling down, she saw thements. In just two hours, there were already hundreds of thousands.
“Seriously? Wearing a fake Cavrielle to your sister’s party? Pathetic. Wear a knockoff because
couldn’t get
get the real one?”
you
“Tess had everything—a prestigiousw degree, a promising career–and threw it all away. Now she’s stealing her sister’s man too.”
“Does she really have everything? If she wears knockoffs, maybe her talent is fake too.”
The phone screen was a wall of venom.
“Wait a second–Mr. Lock is her husband, right? How’s that stealing a man?”
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Chapter 175 The Breaking Point
“Wow, didn’t know ex–cons could still pull the tragic–saint act.”
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Anyone who tried to defend her was instantly swarmed and attacked by otherments until the originalments were deleted.
The self–appointed justice warriors celebrated like they’d just saved the world.
A stone seemed to press down on Tess’s chest. Her expression stayed calm, but her heart throbbed in pain.
“People online say whatever they want,” Steven said softly. “The inte loves to jump on whatever’s trending. Don’t let it get to you.”
She shook her head and forced a smile. “I won’t.”
To prove it, she met his eyes, letting him see the the clear and strong will still in her.
She wasn’t guilty. And she wouldn’t take the me for malice born of lies.
Her fingers tightened on the nket, creasing the fabric.
She didn’t need to think long to know who was behind this.
She’d only wanted to live her life in peace–but some people seemed determined to ruin it.
Her gaze turned cold.
Maybe… it was time to speed things up.
“If you’re nning something, I can help,” Steven said, sharply sensing the shift in her mood.
Tess smiled faintly. “This time, I want to handle it myself. But if I need backup, I’ll count on you, Mr. Stone.”
“Of course.”
They shared a look–one of quiet understanding.
The tension eased, if only a little.
But as Tess lowered her gaze again, her brow furrowed.
How had anyone recognized her gown as a knockoff of Cavrielle at all? The White Swan was private couture–no Cavrielle tags, no signature marks.
15:51 Fri, Oct <b>3 </b>
Chapter 175 The Breaking Point
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She was puzzled, but the answer was obvious; it was a deliberate attack on her reputation.
In high society, being used of wearing counterfeit luxury could ruin your reputation.
Meanwhile, Nadine and Sydney had deliberately stayed out until dawn, even stopping at a quaint café for breakfast.
But the moment they stepped out of their car, a wave of reporters surged toward them, microphones thrust forward.
Sara Lili
<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.