Chapter 204 Threw the Words Like Knives
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Tess’s thoughts were all over the ce, heavy and tangled. She couldn’t stop shing back to that kidnapping just several days ago. Without really thinking, her fingers moved across her phone screen, putting together a long post on X.
When she finally hit “send,” her hand had already curled into a fist.
If it were only her name getting dragged through the mud, she wouldn’t have rushed. But when people who’d actually helped her were getting caught in the crossfire, she couldn’t just let it slide.
Her mind drifted again, zoning out until the driver’s voice cut through. “We’re here!”
Tess blinked, gave a quick apologetic smile, and got out of the car.
The second she stepped into Evermount Vi’s grounds, her heart started pounding for no particr reason.
She frowned at herself, ncing toward the beautiful vi just ahead.
Maybe it was the darkness settling in, but the whole building seemed to shift in her mind—as if it wasn’t a home anymore, but some huge animal crouched and ready to spring.
Once she pushed the door open, warm light spilling from the hallway snapped her back. She told herself she was just wound up from stress.
But as soon as she passed the living room, that same uneasy feeling rushed over her again.
Her eyes slid toward the couch, and there he was.
Finn sat there in silence, jaw tight, dark eyes locked straight on her.
And just like that, Tess realized her earlier feeling had a reason.
Still, she didn’t have the patience for Finn right now. Her head was already packed with problems, so she headed toward her room to check on La instead.
Coming home to that kind of stare when she was already on edge? Anyone’s temper would
crack.
It waste. She wondered if the housekeeper had already made La’s form.
She picked up her pace until Finn’s voice stopped her.
Chapter 204 Threw the Words Like Knives
“Shouldn’t you be exining yourself?”
The question came out of nowhere.
She stopped with her eyebrows knitting, and looked back at him.
His expression was dark, his presence cold and heavy. He seemed… hurt.
That thought startled her. <i>Did </i><i>I </i><i>really </i><i>just </i><i>think </i><i>of </i><i>him </i><i>as </i><i>hurt</i><i>? </i>
The surprise burned away fast, reced by irritation.
I’m running <i>myself </i><i>ragged</i><i>, </i><i>and </i><i>now </i>Finn <i>is </i><i>demanding </i><i>answers</i>? <i>How’s </i><i>that </i><i>fair</i>?
She shook her head and shot back, “Exin what, exactly?”
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The truce they’d managed for a few days shattered right there, the air between them growing cold.
“We’re not divorced yet, Tess. You think I don’t exist anymore?”
Her pale face stayed nk, almost bored.
Her indifference made his jaw clench harder.
His voice dropped, low and bitter. He seemed angry and also mocking himself.
Her look basically said, <i>What’s </i><i>his </i><i>problem </i><i>now</i>? Seeing that, whatever patience he had was gone.
Her mouth twisted into a cold little smile. “Being a widow’s not the worst thing.”
She didn’t have to spell it out–the sarcasm was obvious.
Finn had started to lecture her, but her casual dismissal just stoked the fire.
“Can’t you talk to me like a normal person for once?”
She crossed her arms, eyes icy as she studied his shadowed, still–handsome face. A short, humorlessugh escaped. “You’re the one who started questioning me. Besides, I’m not your employee anymore. You don’t get to talk to me like that.”
Her stare didn’t waver. Finn’s throat felt tight.
He rubbed his temples, took a breath, then lowered his head slightly.. “Those pictures of you and Connor all over the inte–what do you have to say about them?”
<b>20:41 </b>Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 204 Threw the Words Like Knives
That caught her off guard. She’d only just seen them herself.
“Do you really like hanging around other men that much?”
The roughness in his voice hit before she could even think.
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Her eyes went wide. She tapped her own face with one finger. “I like hanging around other men?”
She stared at him like he was someone she’d never met.
Her deal with Cavrielle had always been business–strictly investor and project. But from Finn’s mouth, it sounded like she was depending on a man.
The hot, knotted feeling in her chest started to freeze over.
“At some point, “First it was Charles, then Abel, Steven … and now Connor out of nowhere… Finn had gotten up and crossed the room, closing the gap in a few steps. His hand mped around her wrist like a steel cuff. “Who’s next, Tess? And what’s the deal with Connor?”
<i>If </i><i>she </i><i>would </i><i>just </i><i>give </i><i>in </i><i>a </i><i>little</i><i>, </i><i>I’d </i><i>fix </i><i>them </i><i>for </i><i>her</i>. <i>But </i><i>why </i><i>does </i><i>there </i><i>always </i><i>have </i><i>to </i><i>be </i><i>other </i><i>men</i><i>? </i>
Tess yanked her wrist free. “Next? There will be many more men, but never you.”
Her gaze stayed locked on his as she threw the words like knives.
Right after the words left her mouth, his tall frame jolted twice, and then his grip on her wrist mped down even harder.
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.