Tessa spent the next two months preparing for her wedding, scheduled for the

    end of October.

    Two days before the wedding, Tessa received a call from an unknown number.

    With all the wedding preparations going ontely, Tessa had been receiving

    numerous calls daily from people congratting her on her marriage.

    Some of the calls were from her ssmates, and some were rtives from either

    the Yates or the Somerton families. She had also received calls from the

    Jacobsons.

    Hence, she had gotten used to receiving calls from unknown callers.

    Tessa answered the phone and said, "Hello?"

    She had originally assumed it was someone calling to congratte her on her

    wedding. To her surprise, it was Zachary.

    His voice was hoarse and filled with bitterness as he said, "Tessa, I heard that

    you''re about to get married."

    Her expression immediately turned cold upon hearing Zachary''s voice. She said

    coldly, "I am. If you''re here to congratte me on my wedding, then thank you.

    However, if you''re here to cause trouble, I-"

    Before she could finish, Zachary interrupted her. He sounded quite emotional as

    his voice rose several octaves. "Tessa, don''t be fooled by Stephen''s facade! He''s

    not as innocent as you think he is!

    "He''s actually a scheming, cunning, and maniptive man! Do you know what he

    did when he found out that we were together? He''s the reason why Wendy

    returned from abroad!"

    Frowning, Tessa paused momentarily before she asked, "What do you mean?"

    Zachary exined, "Back when we first got together, Stephen sent someone to

    set me up. Whenever I was out partying, his men would throw women at me.

    "In fact, even when I was out attending social gatherings, his men would also

    arrange female escorts for me. When I was out drinking, all those female

    "He''s also the reason why Wendy returned from abroad. He had someone fill her

    head with nonsense-"

    Tessa cut him off coldly. "Zachary."

    Hearing her icy tone, Zachary immediately fell silent.

    Then, she questioned him coldly, "Are you trying to tell me that his men knocked

    you out cold, stripped you, and threw you on a bed with those women?"

    "No, Tess..."

    "Were you drugged out of your mind, brain so clouded with lust that you had no

    choice but to sleep with those women?"

    Zachary stammered, "N-Not exactly..."

    "Did they threaten to kill you if you didn''t sleep with those women, then?"

    Zachary''s voice grew smaller with each word, and it was obvious that he felt

    guilty. "No..."

    Tessa scoffed. "So you werepletely sober and clear-headed when you slept

    with those women. You''re a grown man with a healthy body.

    "Despite having a girlfriend, you did

    not reject those women who were

    pushed onto you. In fact, you were

    the one who had indulged in the

    pleasure they had given you. So,

    what does that have to do with

    Stephen?"

    Zachary''s voice was slightly emotional. He was unwilling to ept the oue of

    his situation. "He''s the one who sent those women to me!"

    Tessa''s voice was filled with rage as

    she snapped, "Couldn''t you tell them

    no? You''re the one who failed to

    keep your dick in check, so why are

    you turning things around and trying

    to push the me on someone else.

    "Thank you for telling me all this. If you hadn''t, I wouldn''t have realized how

    grateful I should be toward Stephen. If it weren''t for him, I wouldn''t have seen your

    true colors so quickly!

    "Zachary, you''re the most disgusting

    person here. You''re dirty and filthy.

    You''ve never learnt to take

    responsibility for your actions, and

    you always push the me onto

    other people. People like you don''t

    deserve to be loved."

    With that, Tessa did not hesitate to end the call and block Zachary''s number.

    Just then, Stephen pushed the door open and walked in.

    "Did you hear all that?" Tessa asked. The door had not been closed shut, and she

    had not been talking softly either.

    Stephen nodded.

    "Zachary told me that you''re the one who had set him up with those women. He

    also said that you''re the reason Wendy decided to return to the country. Is that

    true?"

    Stephen did not deny it. "It''s true."

    Tessa looked up at him.

    "Tess, do you me me?" Stephen asked as his gaze flickered.

    "What would I me you for?"

    "For ruining your rtionship with Zachary and tearing you two apart."

    Tessa slowly walked toward Stephen, and his gaze remained fixed on her. His

    hands at his sides slowly curled into fists.

    He was extremely nervous as he was terrified that Tessa would resent him after

    she learned the truth.