Dear Husband, Please Love Me More

Tessa Curme was a strong, kind, and hardworking woman. She and her boyfriend of eight years, Mark Crossley, were about to get married, which would have been the happiest day of her life. But the eve of their wedding day turned into a nightmare when she returned to the house she bought for their marriage to pick up the veil she unwittingly left behind.

Mark was on their bed cheating on her with another woman. But what broke her the most was that it wasn't just anyone. He was with her best friend, Martina.

"Mark, what would you do if Tessa found out you were doing me here, in your bed, the night before your wedding?" she heard Martina ask.

"Well, I didn't intend to get married so soon anyway," Mark answered, piercing her heart.

And as if that wasn't enough, she discovered they had been cheating on her for five years and had a three-year-old son.

Devastated, she wasted away at a bar, drowning her heart in alcohol, which might have been a bad idea if it wasn't for a fateful encounter.

Driven by her sorrow, Tessa recklessly cornered the helpless man into a dark room and jumped on him.

"Get your hands off me, woman!" The man warned in a struggle.

"Stay with me, handsome," Tessa whispered sultrily, tightening her hold on him and drawing closer.

Little did she know the man she tried to put her paws on turned out to be the president of LBL Corporation, Phil Scott.

One embarrassing encounter after the other, Tessa and Phil often ran into each other in the most awkward way possible.

However, each time, Phil's interest in her grew. To the point that the line dividing his instincts and rationale was thinning. It was the first time he felt like letting his desire loose toward a woman. Still, something just kept drawing the two apart.

"Tessa. Don't date his kind of man. Because when you do, you'll only end up suffering your whole life. Someone like him is better suited for an arranged marriage. He doesn't seem like the man who'd love a woman with his heart," said her friend, Sara.

Tessa knew her friend was right, but what could she do when he already had her captivated?

Defeated in the trials of the heart, would Tessa find her true love this time?

Be it desire or not. Could there be a chance that Phil might fall in love?

Tessa Curme was a strong, kind, and hardworking woman. She and her boyfriend of eight years, Mark Crossley, were about to get married, which would have been the happiest day of her life. But the eve of their wedding day turned into a nightmare when she returned to the house she bought for their marriage to pick up the veil she unwittingly left behind.

Mark was on their bed cheating on her with another woman. But what broke her the most was that it wasn't just anyone. He was with her best friend, Martina.

"Mark, what would you do if Tessa found out you were doing me here, in your bed, the night before your wedding?" she heard Martina ask.

"Well, I didn't intend to get married so soon anyway," Mark answered, piercing her heart.

And as if that wasn't enough, she discovered they had been cheating on her for five years and had a three-year-old son.

Devastated, she wasted away at a bar, drowning her heart in alcohol, which might have been a bad idea if it wasn't for a fateful encounter.

Driven by her sorrow, Tessa recklessly cornered the helpless man into a dark room and jumped on him.

"Get your hands off me, woman!" The man warned in a struggle.

"Stay with me, handsome," Tessa whispered sultrily, tightening her hold on him and drawing closer.

Little did she know the man she tried to put her paws on turned out to be the president of LBL Corporation, Phil Scott.

One embarrassing encounter after the other, Tessa and Phil often ran into each other in the most awkward way possible.

However, each time, Phil's interest in her grew. To the point that the line dividing his instincts and rationale was thinning. It was the first time he felt like letting his desire loose toward a woman. Still, something just kept drawing the two apart.

"Tessa. Don't date his kind of man. Because when you do, you'll only end up suffering your whole life. Someone like him is better suited for an arranged marriage. He doesn't seem like the man who'd love a woman with his heart," said her friend, Sara.

Tessa knew her friend was right, but what could she do when he already had her captivated?

Defeated in the trials of the heart, would Tessa find her true love this time?

Be it desire or not. Could there be a chance that Phil might fall in love?

It was already eleven o'clock in the evening, and the streets of the Arlington Suburbs were now desolate. With only a few street lamps illuminating the sidewalk, Tessa Curme soon arrived in front of the gate of a simple yet modern house with a big glass fountain at the garden's center situated in a great location.

Tessa knew right away the first time she laid her eyes on it that this would be the perfect house to build her own family. She liked it so much that she even had to bargain with the real estate agent to lower his offer.

After getting the deal, she painstakingly designed it, down to the minor details. She wanted it to be perfect when she and her would-be husband moved in after the wedding. Tessa had been waiting for that day all her life, and tomorrow would be her last day of waiting as they were finally getting married.

But tradition had it that they should not stay together the night before the wedding. So, they had arranged Tessa would spend the night at her friend Sara Daniell's place, and Mark would stay in their newly furnished house.

However, upon their last-minute checking, Tessa discovered that her wedding veil was missing. She started freaking out but recalled putting it in the master's bedroom at their new house. She thought about going back to pick it up for a while. After all, they had a tradition to commit to. But the wedding was more important at this point.

Thinking about how perfect their wedding tomorrow would be, Tessa returned home to get the veil without informing Mark.

She giddily opened the gate and wanted to surprise him. Who would have thought it was her who would end up being surprised?

Tessa entered the house and discreetly walked into the silent living room. But the silence was soon shattered by a woman's high-pitched moaning.

For a second, Tessa initially wondered whether she had come to the wrong house. But when a familiar masculine voice rang out from their bedroom, her heart sank in agony and dread. With each heavy step, Tessa strode towards where the lewd sounds were coming from and soon stopped in front of the slightly opened door.

Through the door's crack, Tessa saw a pair of black high-heeled shoes and a woman's dress scattered on the floor. Ignoring the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Tessa raised her shaky hand and weakly pushed the door open.

Tessa quickly regretted her actions as she witnessed a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life. Mark, her soon-to-be husband, was holding a woman in the bed, both naked and in an ambiguous position. Furthermore, the woman Mark was with was Tessa's college roommate and long-time best friend, Martina Lindsay.

The scene unfolding before her eyes had her dumbstruck and incensed that she could do nothing except stare at the two closest people in her life betraying her with pleasure. Even though she had never engaged in such intimate activities, Tessa was not innocent, so she knew what the two were doing.

Nevertheless, Tessa still couldn't accept that her best friend and fianc were having an affair!

With her facing the door, Martina obviously saw Tessa's sudden arrival. Still, she didn't even look surprised and flustered. In contrast, she boldly met Tessa's eyes and gave her a taunting look.

Anger surged inside Tessa as she witnessed the audacity of her so-called best friend. Tess was so enraged that her breathing became ragged as she fought the urge to lash out at this cheating couple.

Meanwhile, when the woman in his arms suddenly became silent, Mark curiously glanced at Martina before asking hoarsely, "Baby, what's the matter?" His deep voice echoed in the quiet house with lust.

Martina looked at Tessa meaningfully before slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and coquettishly asking, "Mark, what would you do if Tessa found out you were doing me here, in your bed, the night before your wedding?"

"You are so naughty! Why did you suddenly bring her up? Am I not satisfying you enough?" Mark teased, smiling obscenely as his hands continued to caress her chest.

Disgust and pain flickered across Tessa's eyes. She didn't expect her always dignified fianc to act like this to another woman.

Martina furrowed her eyebrows at Mark and playfully glanced in Tessa's direction before responding coyly, "But what if Tessa suddenly comes here now and catches us..."

Before Martina could finish her words, Mark interjected, "Baby, you're overthinking. I drove Tessa to Sara's place in person, so it would be unlikely for her to be here."

Earlier, when he returned home, Mark spotted a scantily dressed Martina waiting for him and leaning against the gate of their newly furnished house. Even though he was getting married the next day, he couldn't possibly turn down a woman who approached him on her initiative.

Martina pouted her plump lips and pretended to ask in concern, "Oh? What would you do if she caught us here in the act and canceled your wedding?"

Mark smirked and kissed Martina's neck before remarking, "Well, I didn't intend to get married so soon anyway."

"You mean," Martina asked seductively, raising her finger to hook Mark's chin and forcing him to look at her. Looking at her dazzling smile and long wavy hair scattered down her shoulders, which gave her the appearance of a siren, Mark was so enthralled that he fell into a trance.

"You're really not going to marry her?" Martina added, glancing mockingly at Tess, who was now staring blankly at Mark.

"Of course," Mark answered dazedly. His focus was solely on how he would spend this pleasurable night with Martina, so he didn't realize his slip-up.

Martina chuckled and murmured, "If you knew Tessa was here, would you dare say that to her?"

Losing his patience, Mark grunted and couldn't hear Martina's words. "Baby, you're talking so much tonight!"

With that, Mark dipped his head, eager to punish her with a kiss. However, Martina blocked his lips before Mark could do so and gestured toward the door, muttering, "Stop, I'm not kidding. Tessa is really here."

Mark, who was completely engrossed in his passion, didn't take Martina's words seriously. He grabbed her arms and pressed her firmly on the bed, thinking she was only teasing him, whispering huskily, "You little liar! Lying again, hmm?!"

"I'm not!" Martina replied and kept blinking at Mark while motioning for him to look at the door.

Though he didn't believe what Martina had said, Mark snapped his head toward the door, clicking his tongue and saying mischievously, "Still lying? Tell me, how should I punish you to"

Mark couldn't finish his words. He was so terrified to see Tessa standing there, looking at them with her sorrowful eyes. In that instant, his sexual desire completely dissipated into thin air. In a panic, he even forgot to cover himself with the quilt, wanting to rush toward Tessa and explain himself.

Meanwhile, despite being caught in the act, Martina was not embarrassed and still appeared careless. She didn't even attempt to cover her naked body and looked at Tessa languidly.

At this point, the tears Tessa had been suppressing had come like a torrent. She initially believed that discovering Mark's affair with Martina would be the most painful experience she had ever had.

But Tessa was wrong. While listening to their conversation just now, it felt as if her heart was being broken into tiny pieces, and she couldn't do anything but silently listen to the man she thought had loved her wholeheartedly.

She and Mark had been together for eight years, so one could say that they were very familiar with each other. But this time, Tessa realized that she might not have known the real Mark all along. This realization brought excruciating pain to her heart, suffocating her while her vision became blurred.

Tessa desperately wanted to beat and scold them just so they could feel what she was currently feeling, but she felt so tired she didn't have the strength to confront them.

Ironically, she thought everything was perfect, but reality decided to play a cruel joke on her. She caught her best friend and fianc having an affair. What was worse was that they did it in their marital bed.

No one would understand what she felt right now. It hurt so badly that Tessa just turned around, wanting to escape from there quickly.

Seeing Tessa leave, Mark didn't bother to look for decent clothing and simply picked up whatever was on the ground to cover the lower part of his body. While chasing her, Mark called out, "Wait, Tessa!"

As Tessa was about to reach the front door, Mark suddenly grabbed her arm and pleadingly said, "Tessa, please listen to me."

Tessa pushed his hand away from her and didn't look back. She was already in tears.

Mark said, his voice sounding desperate. "Please, just let me explain!"

Glancing at Mark, Tessa laughed sarcastically. "I saw and heard everything. What else can you explain? "

The night before their wedding, her groom cheated on her with her best friend. Tessa thought it only happened in movies and TV series. She didn't expect this to happen to her life one day.

Martina trailed behind him, wrapped in their red embroidered wedding quilt, her huge wavy hair scattered across her shoulders. Even though her hair was slightly messy, she still managed to look seductive. Leaning against the massive carved glass wall with her arms crossed, Martina smirked and said mockingly, "Oh, one more thing, Arthur's father is Mark!"

Arthur was the adorable three-year-old boy Martina had given birth to.

Tessa looked at them in disbelief. She still had a sliver of hope that Mark was faithful to her and that he only cheated this time because Martina seduced him. However, Martina's words undoubtedly crushed all the possibility of Tessa forgiving Mark and getting back together. Tessa bit her lip to refrain from sobbing. She slapped him with all her strength and shouted, "Let me go, you cheater!"

A resounding "pang" echoed in the living room. Mark hissed and stared at Tessa in disbelief, holding his aching cheek, which now had distinctive red fingers printed on it.

Tessa's heart, which had loved Mark for years, had been shattered into thousands of pieces as she walked away from them.

Inside the Paradise Bar. The loud music was deafening. The disco lights kept flickering on the young men and women dancing on the dance floor. Clearly, everyone was having a good time except for Tessa. She sat in front of the bar counter and kept drowning herself in the alcohol, wanting to forget what she had witnessed a while ago.

Her best friend and fianc?!

Both of them were bullshit!

She and Mark had been in love for eight years, but she never knew that he and Martina were having an affair, and worse, they had a three-year-old child together.

Suddenly, the image of Martina's smooth and long slender legs wrapped around Mark's muscular waist flashed through her mind. Disgusted, Tessa downed the red wine in front of her. She still couldn't wrap her mind around everything. Mark already had a child with Martina, so why did he have to continue fooling Tessa and act as if everything was okay? What was the point of holding the wedding tomorrow when Mark didn't even plan to marry her?

With her eyelashes fluttering slowly, Tessa chuckled dryly. No wonder Martina didn't get married for so many years!

Were they too good at concealing their affair, or was Tessa just too stupid not to notice it?

On second thought, Tessa realized Mark and Martina hadn't done much to conceal their illicit affair. Every time Mark went on a business trip, he would never forget to bring gifts to Arthur. Then, when Arthur once called Mark "Dad," Martina explained that it was because the child longed to have a father figure and casually said, "Tessa, please don't take it seriously!"

Tessa laughed at herself. How could she not notice that Arthur bore any semblance to Mark?

She was simple-minded and gullible. It was foolish of her to put too much trust in them. But who could blame her? The three of them had a great relationship and even frequently went out. Then, when Arthur was born, they had an additional member. Tessa had never discovered anything odd in all those years, let alone the affair between them.

For a while, Tessa felt lost and betrayed. She grabbed the red wine in front of her and downed it. She choked in tears as the red wine burned her throat. Despite the suffocating feeling inside of her, Tessa continued to drink it.

However, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist and took the glass off her hand. Stunned, Tessa turned her head only to see a man smiling at her frivolously.

Tessa gave him a sidelong glance. Since she didn't recognize him, Tessa simply snatched the glass back and filled it again with red wine.

Ignored, the man playfully grabbed her hand again and slowly ran his rough fingers over her palm.

Tessa furrowed her brows. Although Tessa drank a lot and was still sober, she was caught off guard as the man suddenly molested her, causing her to spill the wine on her chest. Tonight, she wore a casual white blouse, so when it became wet, it turned see-through and inadvertently revealed her bra.

An obscene smile bloomed on the man's face, and he was about to put his arm around Tessa's waist when a scantily clad woman came over and leaned into his arms. Without saying anything, the woman seductively clung to the man's neck before starting to kiss him. As such, the man seemed to forget Tessa, focusing entirely on this wild woman.

Without breaking their heated kiss, the two left, leaving Tessa in shock at the sudden turn of events. Tessa was not innocent, so she knew what they were about to do. Moreover, she saw nothing wrong with it. They were both consenting adults and willing to engage in lovemaking acts, just like in Mark and Martina's case.

So how could Mark explain this matter to her? Both of them willingly engage in this illicit affair, and Martina even gave birth to Arthur, despite making the child fatherless in the eyes of the public.

Tessa smiled self-deprecatingly. But what about her? Who did Mark take her as? While embracing Martina in his arms and pleasuring her, did he even consider for once their eight-year relationship?

Tessa shook her head to forget the pain. Looking everywhere, she noticed almost everyone was having a wild time while she was here at the counter, looking so sad and miserable.

She stood up and went to the dark corridor. With only dim light illuminating the way, Tessa bumped into a man's muscular chest when she turned the corner.

A bold idea rushed into her mind as she felt his breath and heard his heartbeat. Mark had already had a three-year-old son with Martina while she had been living like an ascetic monk for so many years.

Tessa sneered. 'Why not act recklessly for once, Tessa? Right, what more could you lose?'

So Tessa boldly flung her arms around the man's neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his lips.

Meanwhile, Phil Scott pursed his thin lips and grimaced when he smelled the pungent smell of wine after bumping into a woman. When Phil was about to push her away, this drunk woman started to kiss him on his lips. Caught off guard, Phil stared at the woman's figure, vaguely reflected by the dim light.

"Get your hands off me, woman!" he said, clearly irritated.

His words fell on deaf ears. "Stay with me, handsome," Tessa whispered sultrily, tightening her hold on him and drawing closer.

Slowly, Tessa closed her eyes, feeling his scorching heat against her body. Phil was not surprised. Scenes like this were rather typical in the bar. People who came here either wanted to enjoy the drinks or find someone to spend the night with.

The woman's voice was clear and soft against his ears, enchanting Phil for a second. It was already too late when he snapped out of it and intended to push her away. The next thing Phil knew, the woman pressed herself against him, and the door behind him somehow opened.

Tessa grinned foolishly and closed the door.

The room was dark, which strengthened Tessa's resolve. Spotting a sofa, Tessa forcefully pushed the man in front of her to lie on it. Afterward, she climbed onto him, looking like a vixen. Perhaps because of the effect of alcohol, her body became hot, like a raging fire.

Phil struggled, but the woman above him seemed so strong that he couldn't break himself free for some unknown reason. Ultimately, they carelessly fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Tessa didn't notice it. She suddenly felt empty and hot, so her hands hugged his neck again in desperation, like vines wanting to swallow him.

While Phil gasped for breath, Tessa climbed onto his body and started planting kisses on his face. Her restless hands kept touching his body until they stopped on his belt.

Phil closed his eyes and took a shaky breath to calm himself before pushing her away.

"Damn it!" Phil cursed.

Just his luck. He happened to get caught by such a crazy woman.

Tessa kept reaching for him in the dark, murmuring, "Mark, Mark..."

The expression on Phil's face instantly turned cold. He said, through gritted teeth, "Scram!"

He was a normal man, and although he tried his best to control himself, Phil still clearly felt the change in his body. Nonetheless, he would never have a fling with a woman he had just met.

At this moment, the door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang, and the lights in the room lit up in an instant before a deep voice exclaimed, "Police! Everybody, don't move!"

Stunned, Tessa and Phil simultaneously turned their heads to the door. After seeing the men in police uniform holding guns and aiming at them, they both knew in their hearts that they were in deep trouble.

Meanwhile, while Sara slept soundly, an unexpected phone call woke her up, and it was by far the most shocking wake-up call she had.

"What?! Alright, I'm coming." Sara bolted up and quickly dressed up.

Coincidentally, Mark was outside her apartment, looking for Tessa.

"Mark!" Sara came at him.

"I'm sorry, but please tell her to come out and see me. I called her, but she wouldn't answer. Please, I needed to talk to her," Mark begged, making Sara all the more confused.

"What are you talking about? Tessa's been detained! How could she come out and see you here?!" Sara yelled at him, confused.

"What?" Mark uttered in shock.

"For the love of! She just went out to get her veil. Why did she end up at the police station?" Sara muttered in distress.

With that, the two rushed towards the police station where Tessa was currently detained.

Sara quickly spotted Tessa talking to a female officer when they walked in. She appeared dazed in her disheveled state.

"What the hell is going on?" Sara asked Tessa after walking toward her friend, her brow wrinkled, "You came to your new house to get your wedding veil, didn't you? Why did you end up here at the station?"

She glanced at Tessa's disheveled state and added, "Mark also couldn't get through to you, so he came to my house to find you. Who would have known..."

After having an eventful night and staying at the police station for some time, Tessa's makeup was a complete mess, her skirt was wrinkled, and her white blouse was soiled with red wine.

Mark scowled when he saw Tessa in this state. He took off his coat and was about to put it on for her when Tessa looked at him viciously and hissed, "Get lost!"

Mark flinched, stung by the hatred that flashed in Tessa's eyes.

Witnessing all this, Sara looked at Tessa in disbelief. She finally realized that something had happened between them, and it wasn't an easy matter. Even though Sara was dying to know what happened, she held it in as Tessa had to complete all the procedures before they released her.

It was an arduous process. By the time the three left the station, it was already daylight.

While leaving, Tessa ran into Phil, surrounded by a group of people wearing coats. Tessa had drunk a lot of wine last night, so now her head was throbbing in pain. Even after being pestered by Sara, Tessa remained quiet. But when she saw Phil again, her face couldn't help but flush in embarrassment.

Last night, Tessa didn't know what came to her and only realized what she was doing after seeing the shocked looks on the police officers' faces who barged into them.

Meanwhile, Phil's deep facial features were cold, and he kept a straight face. However, after noticing Tessa's figure across the corridor, complicated emotions flashed in his eyes; disgust, indifference, and dislike.

Phil stopped walking, and his eyebrows were slightly wrinkled.

Seeing Phil's expression, Tessa's heart seemed to skip a beat, wondering what the man would do to her after what she did last night. Thankfully, Sara pulled her right away and said, "Let's go!"

Having walked past Phil, Tessa inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.

Stepping outside, Mark, who had been silent for a long time, couldn't help but ask, "Tessa, what's going on? Why are you suddenly involved in human trafficking? "

Tessa looked at this cheating bastard and parroted, "Human trafficking?"

"Yes, I became a prostitute overnight," Tessa sneered. "Why? Got a problem with that?"

Mark had an affair with Martina first, so who was he to condemn her even if she somehow became a prostitute?

Mark frowned and quickly responded, "I know you're not like that, but..."

Before Mark could finish his sentence, Tessa screamed in frustration, "You had a son with Martina. Why can't I have a fling with a man?" Her eyes were red and puffy, with dark circles under them.

Hearing Tessa's words, Sara was taken aback. "What? Is Arthur Mark's son? "

"Yes!" Tessa answered vehemently and turned to leave, not wanting to see Mark's face as she kept remembering how he and Martina cheated on her.

But Mark quickly stopped her. Then, he asked, "Where are you going?"

"It's none of your business!" Tessa shoved him away and strode forward.

"None of my business?" Mark incredulously exclaimed as he followed Tessa. "Looking at the time, it's past six o'clock now. The ceremony will start at eight-thirty and then the hotel reception at ten o'clock. "

Tessa's rage grew when she heard Mark say these things, so she grabbed whatever her hands could get, and it was the garbage bags out in the corner. She tossed them at him, screaming, "Fuck you and our wedding!"

Mark showered in different kinds of trash, including some greasy vegetable leaves. After being momentarily stunned, Mark furiously swiped all the filthy and smelly garbage on him and scolded her as though she was a kid throwing a tantrum. "Tessa, what's wrong with you? Have you forgotten? We're getting married today! "

Tessa laughed dryly, her gaze fixed on Mark. "Didn't you say you don't want to get married any time soon?" she smirked, remembering what he said to Martina the night before.

Tessa continued, "Since that's what you wished for, let's break up and call off the wedding!"

"What makes you think I'd agree with that?" Mark furrowed.

"What a joke! What about you? Did you get my permission when you and Martina had an affair behind my back?" Tessa spat back and turned to leave. She felt nothing but deep hatred towards this man she had loved deeply for years.

However, Mark wasn't done with her yet and grabbed her arm fiercely, saying, "Where are you going? You have yet to tell me why you went to the bar and fooled around with a stranger in the middle of the night."

Losing her patience, Tessa shoved him away and roared, "Fuck off!" Before Mark could react, Tessa threw him punches and kicks, and he couldn't do anything but endure Tessa's anger.

Unbeknownst to Tessa, a black car had parked across the street, and the people inside witnessed this scene.

Phil's secretary, Sally Eden, was dressed professionally in her buttoned-up suit, wearing light makeup, and had her long hair coiled up. Her clear and calm voice rang inside the car, "President Scott, the proposal for the new site has been finalized. MD Group's president expressed his interest in investing in one of our projects. He wants to make an appointment with you for a detailed discussion."

Sitting in the back seat, Phil had a mysterious look on his face while watching the scene outside.

Afterward, he averted his eyes from Tessa and answered coldly, "You can schedule that later. Now go back to the company. "With that, he closed his eyes and tried to catch some sleep.

Hearing this, Sally stopped talking and motioned for the driver to start driving.

As soon as Tessa arrived at Sara's apartment, she went straight to the guest room and fell asleep, feeling completely depleted and exhausted. It was nearing dusk when Tessa woke up, disturbed by Sara's consistent shaking.

Tessa then heard Sara whisper urgently, "Tessa, wake up! Mark and his mother are in the living room."

Blinking her eyes, Tessa quickly covered her head with a quilt, grumbling, "Drive him away!"

Sara frowned in irritation. "It's obviously his fault, so why are you the one hiding from him?"

Then, she yanked the quilt away from Tessa and hissed, "Since that bastard came here with his mother, we should demand an explanation from them!"

Sara dragged her to the living room without waiting for Tessa to react. Helpless, Tessa had no choice but to follow Sara.

As soon as he saw Tessa, Mark stood up immediately. However, Karina, his mother, who was seated next to him, didn't get up. The middle-aged woman had her arms crossed and exuded an air of arrogance.

"What are you doing here?" Tessa asked weakly. After all, Tessa once loved this man deeply, so she felt a pang in her heart whenever she saw Mark and remembered his betrayal.

Before Mark could answer, Karina answered haughtily, "Of course, to ask for an explanation from you. Why did you suddenly decide to call off the wedding?"

Tessa was accustomed to Karina's icy attitude towards her. Eight years ago, Karina seemed indifferent and distant when Mark formally introduced her to his parents. However, that all changed when the Crossley family filed for bankruptcy.

At that time, Tessa had to take care of Mark's parents while funding his education abroad, so her relationship with Karina improved. However, after Mark returned to work for TL Group, Karina treated her coldly and even sometimes abused her for no apparent reason.

Sara was an amenable person. However, she didn't like to be coerced. As such, facing Karina's rude demeanor, Sara furiously said, "How dare you come here and question us?! It's Tessa who should ask for an explanation from you!"

Pulling Sara's arm, Tessa shook her head and signaled Sara to stop talking.

Then, Tessa slightly raised her head to meet Karina's eyes and said, "I think I have made it very clear to Mark."

After all, Mark had broken his promise and cheated on her. How could they expect Tessa to marry him as if nothing had happened?

"Why are you making a big deal out of this?" Karina scoffed, "Didn't you flirt with a man in the bar and have sex with him?"

Sara rolled her eyes and said in ridicule, "No wonder Mark is an asshole. It turns out his garbage character runs in the family."

Karina felt extremely insulted when she heard this. She pointed her finger at Sara and exclaimed, "You uneducated wench!"

Karina turned to Tessa in disgust. "What kind of people are you mingling with, Tessa?!"

Unfazed, Sara challenged, "Huh, I'm uneducated? Do you think you educated your son well by teaching him to cheat on his fiancee for years and have a baby with her best friend?"

Mark, who was sitting next to Karina, remained silent. Tessa gave him a disappointed look. Unlike before, he didn't stop his mother from accusing and wronging her.

"Mark," Tessa quietly said, "Tell your mother what happened last night in the new house in Arlington Suburbs."

Mark gazed at Karina but said nothing.

For some reason, Karina became anxious. She quickly said, "We all know what you did in the bar last night. Instead of admitting your mistake, you are accusing Mark instead."

Tessa suppressed her anger and tried so hard not to lash out. "Last night, I caught Mark and Martina in our bed, both naked. Martina also admitted that Arthur is Mark's son," she said, through gritted teeth.

Although Tessa didn't want to recall or talk about it, Karina and Mark forced her to do otherwise.

Hearing this, Karina was not a bit surprised. She even retorted, "Arthur is Mark's son, but our family hasn't acknowledged his existence, nor do we intend to welcome Martina into the family. So, what's the big deal about that?"

Her words undoubtedly shattered Tessa's heart even more. Mark's family was aware of his relationship with Martina and Arthur, but they all lied to her and treated her like a fool.

Tessa dryly chuckled while holding back her tears. Forcing herself to stay calm, Tessa said in frustration, "What's the big deal?! Well, for me, your son having an affair with my best friend and even having a son together was a big deal, so I've broken up with him!"

Karina raised an eyebrow at Tessa and coldly said, "After your scandalous acts last night, even if you don't mention breaking up with Mark, our family won't still accept you."

Although Tessa expected this to happen, she was slightly sad when she looked at Mark. This scene wasn't new to Tessa, but his silence while his mother degraded her was soul-crushing to Tessa. He was nothing but a shell of who he once was on that memorable evening eight years ago. Despite Karina's fierce scolding, Mark showed firmness about their relationship when he formally brought her to his home. He even planned to sever ties with his parents if they refused to accept their relationship.

But when Karina tried to justify his wrongdoing, Mark was indifferent and even looked upright. As though all of these had nothing to do with him. Why did it seem that the man she thought she knew all along became a stranger in the blink of an eye?

Sara couldn't believe what she had heard. Glaring at Karina, she flared, "Mark is the one who cheated on Tessa. How can you blame Tessa as if she was the one at fault and even accused her of cheating? How shameless can you be?!"

"Sara, stop talking," Tessa murmured, shaking her head and motioning for Sara not to say anything else. She knew Karina well when it came to matters like this. Tessa didn't want to have another useless argument with Karina since she had decided to end this relationship.

Karina still looked composed and turned a deaf ear to Sara's words. As though she was an understanding elder, Karina gently said, "Although you later supported Mark's study abroad, that was your responsibility as you were his girlfriend at that time. We've been paying your tuition and living expenses since your sophomore year. We've done everything we could for you. Now that you've broken up, you can think of it as being even, and no one owes anyone anything."

Karina's words somehow saddened Tessa. Karina was obviously drawing a line. Could their eight-year relationship be reduced to just that? Karina stated they were "even," but did Mark really not owe her anything for what he did to her?

Sara was enraged, so she asked, "What about the new house in Arlington Suburbs? Tessa paid the down payment and spent a considerable amount on its renovation. She also paid off the mortgage every month before that! You should compensate her for her expenses!"

Karina didn't bat an eyelid when she answered shamelessly, "That house is under Mark's name. It has nothing to do with Tessa."

Tessa was stunned and turned pale. When Karina insisted on naming the house she bought only in Mark's name, she didn't think much of it. It turned out that they had taken precautions in case something like this happened. So, although Tessa was the one who bought the house, from a legal standpoint, she was technically not its owner.

Thinking of this, Tessa couldn't help but laugh to herself instead of being angry. She could only blame herself for trusting others and why she ended up like this.

Looking at the farce in front of her, Tessa badly wanted to end this and never see this asshole again. She said in a resolute tone, "If you are done, please leave!"

Karina was relieved when she heard that Tessa didn't plan to argue about the house. Still, as though she was not satisfied with embarrassing Tessa, Karina added, "Since you two won't get married, you should return all the jewelry we gave you."

Tessa sneered. Karina was really awesome. After looking so upright saying those things, all Karina wanted was to take back the jewelry box they gave her. Without thinking much, Tessa grabbed the jewelry box from her bag and handed it to Karina.

Karina received the box and carefully opened it. Inside was a set of jewelry consisting of a pair of rings, a necklace, and earrings. Karina counted them before closing the box and nodded with satisfaction.

While putting the jewelry box into her bag, she looked at Tessa and arrogantly said, "Tessa, remember, from now on, you have nothing to do with Mark. So, don't you ever pester him again!"

After saying this, Karina and Mark exchanged looks before they got up and headed to the door.

Sara, who saw everything on the sidelines, grew so enraged that she used a broom to chase them away and smacked Mark in the back while yelling, "Get out of here, you shameless bastards!"

Mark fell silent and didn't bother to block the broom. He was somewhat heartbroken, but he was more disappointed in Tessa.

Karina was furious and wanted to get back at Sara for hitting her son, but before she could, Mark stopped her.

"Mom, you've gone overboard this time." Mark's brows furrowed as he dragged Karina down the stairs. However, he couldn't get over the fact that the woman who had always been clinging to him suddenly became cold-hearted and even chased them away. It was as if Tessa had become a different person overnight.

Karina looked at him with displeasure. "What did I say wrong? That bitch shouldn't take all the credit! We paid for her tuition. Otherwise, do you think she could graduate from college? Why are you speaking up for her? Do you still love her?"

Mark looked at his mother and said nothing. Coming up with an answer to whether he still loved her or not was hard. Mark did love Tessa. Her braveness and gentle nature made him fall for her repeatedly, but he couldn't say for sure that he still loved her as much as he did eight years ago. Perhaps what he felt right now was only a lingering emotion. After all, they had been together for eight years, and forgetting what he had been used to wasn't easy.

Karina's face became ugly seeing her son's expression. Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets as she eyed Mark. "Don't you dare think about getting back with her! You've already broken up with her, so stop caring about that damn girl. Even if she didn't take the initiative to break up with you, I would find ways to separate the two of you. Do you think I would let that girl marry into our family?"

She didn't say that even if Tessa successfully married her son, Karina had long thought of ways to break them up on the same day they married. She didn't expect the two of them to break up even if she hadn't taken action. Even the heavens were against letting the two of them be together.

Mark was surprised that his eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. "Mom! How could you say that? Tessa worked hard to support my studies abroad, but in contrast, we only paid a small part of her tuition. She never treated us badly, but the money we spent on her couldn't compare to what she gave us!" he argued.

"What? Why are you making it sound like it's my fault? Are you even hearing yourself? Didn't you cheat on her and have a son with Martina? Don't push all the blame on me, and use your brain! You kept speaking up for her, but did you even think where all the money she gave you came from? She was just a fresh graduate then, but she had that huge sum of money and supported you from studying," Karina scolded.

"I... I don't know. All I know was she worked part-time jobs and gave me money." Mark scratched his cheek and tried to think.

Karina raised her brow at him and scoffed. "Even if she worked multiple part-time jobs, do you think she could earn that much?"

Mark frowned and asked, "Mom, what are you-"

"I don't think she got her money in a good way. We both know she had been socializing outside and often returns drunk." Karina paused for a moment, then sneered. "Didn't she just get arrested for prostituting herself last night? Do you honestly think she'd go to a bar to order a few drinks? Think about it, son. Who knows what kind of talent she had to earn millions-"

As Karina continued to prattle on, Mark's expression turned ashen, and he immediately interrupted his mother. "Don't say that to her! I know she's not that kind of person!"

He knew her very well and could say that Tessa wouldn't do such a thing. He wouldn't believe it, no matter what.

"Regardless of what you think, Tessa is such a woman in our eyes!" Karina glared at her son. Of course, Mark wouldn't think that way because his thoughts blinded him. But she was different. She had weathered many storms and experienced many things, so her thoughts weren't as shallow as her son's.

"Pay attention to your image since you are taking a civil service exam next month. Being around that girl won't do you any good," she added.

Mark's expression turned sour as soon as he heard her mention the exam. He clicked his tongue and said, "Mom, I don't want to take the civil service exam. We're already in a good situation, so why are you insisting on making me take that test? Besides, even if Tessa didn't break up with me, she wouldn't stop me from taking that examination. She would've supported me."

It had always been like that, so he had gotten used to it. Hence, when all the secrets he hid from Tessa came to light, he felt guilty and ashamed to face her. After all, his mother treated Tessa coldly and always scolded her. Then he cheated on her.

She almost gave him everything because her world revolved around him. But now that they had broken up, she had nothing, and he was uncertain if she would live on the streets after a few days. In addition, she also had to support her grandmother and a sick uncle in Lockwood City, almost three hundred kilometers away from Bay City.

"Support? That's useless! She's just a burden to you! Have you forgotten what happened before? Once you became a civil servant and married her, what do you think people would say to you? Do you want them to point fingers at you and say your father-in-law is a corrupt official who committed suicide because he was afraid of punishment? They would say you're just like him! Like what I've said, it won't do you any good and would instead drag you down."

"Forget about her and focus on preparing for the exam. We might have gotten that through connections, but don't mess this up, even if it's just for formality."

Karina had planned everything for Mark's future, and she wouldn't let someone like Tessa ruin it.

In truth, Tessa was indeed good to them, but the thing was, her background would become a blemish to their family. It would ruin their credibility, and Karina didn't want people gossiping about her family because of Tessa.

Mark fell silent and just averted his eyes.

The cool, early spring breeze gusted, making Tessa and Sara shiver. They were sitting by a lake in the park, holding a can of beer.

Tessa gulped down her beer and threw the empty can aside. She lost count of how much beer she had drunk, but it still couldn't fill the emptiness inside her heart.

"That asshole would surely regret hurting you like that! He's blind for not seeing how precious you are!" Sara looked at Tessa and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. You're still young, so you'll meet someone who genuinely loves you. That bastard will be green with envy once that time comes!"

Tessa nodded at Sara's comforting words but wasn't sure about the future. Even if she told herself those exact words, she still couldn't get over the fact she got cheated on by the man she had loved for eight years. What Mark had done to her left a scar in her heart and cast a psychological shadow on her mind.

Tessa took a deep breath and opened a new can of beer.

"Cheers!" She raised.

Sara clinked her beer with hers and gulped it down.

With a downcast mood, Tessa stared blankly at the lake and coldly laughed at herself as she realized how foolish she was. She thought that once she got drunk, she would somehow forget the pain, but it only increased as time passed. It was as if a void took form within her.

She closed her eyes and screamed, hoping the pain would all disappear.

"Ahhhh!"

Sara looked at her and screamed as well.

"Bastard, Mark! I hope you get retribution for what you did!" Sara shouted.

Tessa suddenly laughed after hearing her words. Her friend appeared more hurt than she was.

"See? You laughed. If cussing him could vent your anger, don't think twice and do it! He doesn't deserve you, so don't be soft-hearted, okay?"

Tessa nodded and shouted at the top of her lungs. After doing it several times, the burden inside her heart lightened. She leaned her head on Sara's shoulder and sighed. The latter hugged her and stroked her back.

Sara knew Tessa would soon recover from this heartbreak because that had always been the case. Unlike her, Tessa was much calmer because she wasn't the type of woman who would weep over a broken heart as if the world had collapsed.

However, Sara knew that it would be difficult to forget the past. She was even shocked when she learned of Mark's cheating. After all, she was witness to how they fell in love. Tessa and Mark were like a pair of lovebirds that couldn't be separated, so it never crossed her mind they would break up in the ugliest way.

"Tessa, you're a strong girl. You'll get through this," Sara warmly said.

Tears pooled in Tessa's eyes. The truth was, she wasn't strong. She just didn't know how to express how hurt she was. Even though the heaviness in her heart lightened by drinking and shouting, the pain wouldn't disappear immediately.

She sighed and continued to drown her sorrows in the malty liquids. Sara silently accompanied her friend until her world spun. She thought she could hold her drink, but she overestimated herself.

"Hey, you're already drunk. Let's go home." Tessa blinked and hiccuped. She stood up and tugged Sara's sleeve.

"I'm not drunk." Sara laughed and stood up. Tessa put Sara's arm over her shoulder and supported her. She wasn't as drunk as Sara because she could hold her liquor.

Just then, Sara suddenly broke free and danced, singing in high spirits even though she was staggering. "Baby, you go ahead boldly!" Albeit she was off-key, she kept singing loudly, attracting the passerby's eyes.

Tessa immediately sobered up when she saw Sara almost fall. She rushed and tried to pull her up, but Sara dodged her hand and hopped happily.

Tessa felt her temples throb in frustration. She followed Sara but let her do as she pleased this time. However, she regretted her decision the next second when Sara bumped into someone and stumbled.

She quickly ran to her and pulled her up while profusely apologizing.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

When she raised her head and looked at the man Sara had bumped into, her eyes widened upon seeing a familiar handsome man in front of her. The dim light from the yellow lamp on the street illuminated his cold and devilishly handsome face. He was emanating a noble and dignified air.

She never thought they'd run into each other in her drunken stupor twice. Recalling what she had done last night suddenly flushed out all the alcohol in her system. It was the most embarrassing thing she had ever done in her life.

She tucked the stray hair behind her ear, averting her eyes, and said softly, "I'm sorry..."

Tessa's breath reeked of alcohol when she spoke, which made him frown in disgust. Phil pursed his lips and turned sideways, ignoring Tessa.

He had just finished dinner with his business partner and drank wine, so he waited for the driver to pick him up. Running into her again was a surprise he didn't want. Despite that, his expression remained impassive.

"Baby, you go boldly, go ahead, don't look back..." Sara sang loudly, not caring whether she was out of tune. Her body swayed as she pointed her finger at Tessa. "Tessa, why aren't you singing? Come on. Sing with me-"

Sara's drunken antics only doubled Tessa's embarrassment. She hushed her friend and hurriedly said, "Sir, I'm sorry about what I did last night."

As if he didn't hear her, Phil said nothing and walked away when a black Range Rover pulled up in front of him.

Speechless, Tessa gawked at him as he boarded the car. She thought he would at least say something, but he just left!

Perhaps he already forgot what happened last night because she was just a stranger in his eyes. If that was the case, it couldn't be any better.

Taking a deep breath, she helped Sara stand up, and they went home.

At the same time, inside the Range Rover, the driver, Edward, looked at Phil and asked, "President Scott, are you going home?"

Phil nodded slightly, but his eyes were fixated on Tessa's receding figure. A few minutes later, he rolled up the window, leaned back, and closed his eyes.