His Unveiled Passion

Chapter 2

Zachary instinctively shrugged the woman's hand off his arm, and her expression instantly hardened. "I'm also friends with Jodie. Is it really so odd that I'm here at her birthday party?" Tessa asked, a faint, almost mocking smile on her lips.

"No, it's just that I thought you weren't a fan of parties like this, so I didn't bring it up," he explained. Tessa couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Was that honestly the reason he hadn't mentioned it?

It felt more like he'd deliberately left her out, planning to bring someone else instead.

Zachary scanned the room, his eyes icy and probing, as if silently asking, "Who let her in?"

Unnerved, Jodie quickly looked away, acting as though it was none of her concern.

"Hi, you must be Tessa Yates. I'm Wendy Cox," the woman who had arrived with Zachary said, stepping forward to introduce herself. "I'm sure Zachary's mentioned me."

So, this was Wendy-the woman who had been Zachary's first love.

Tessa's heart ached, a heavy weight pressing down on her chest. After all, she had been in a relationship with Zachary for three years, and emotions weren't something that could just be erased in an instant.

Luckily, Tessa was good at masking her feelings. She gave a faint, polite smile and nodded toward Wendy. "Ms. Cox, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Wendy flashed a bright smile. "Ms. Yates, has anyone ever told you we look a little alike?"

The moment the words left Wendy's mouth, Zachary's expression soured.

Tessa couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of him. With a subtle smile, she shifted her gaze to Wendy, meeting her provocative stare.

"What? Really?" Tessa blinked her large, dewy eyes, her voice carrying a hint of innocence. "I don't see it. You're just not as pretty as I am."

The onlookers were left in stunned silence.

Wasn't Tessa always the quiet, well-behaved one? Why did everything she said today feel so tense? Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Jodie quickly stepped in to redirect the conversation.

"Okay, enough standing-let's sit down," she suggested.

Wendy quickly pushed aside her irritation with Tessa. Forcing a smile, she handed her gift to Jodie. "Happy birthday, Jodie. I got you something."

As Jodie took the gift, she couldn't help but notice the bag was exactly like the one Tessa had given her earlier.

Surprised, Jodie pulled the gift box from the bag and opened it. "Wow, I've been eyeing this necklace for ages. Thank you so much, Wendy."

Tessa's eyes widened. How could this be the same necklace she had bought?

Jodie then reached for the gift Tessa had given her earlier, pulling it from the bag again. "Wow! Tessa, yours is the same necklace too!"

"It must be a fake."

the necklace, one of Jodie's friends spoke dismissively, "This necklace costs over 50,000 dollars. Tessa's just a small-time lawyer-how much could she possibly make

silence settled over the

to converge on

shared the same opinion as the person who had just

wrap their

darkened. "Tessa, if you're short on money, just tell

gift?" was what he wanted to say,

to everyone in

narrowed as she met his gaze. "Zachary, do you think my gift to her is fake

remained silent, his

silence spoke louder than any words

forced a nervous laugh, attempting to ease the tension. "No way. Tessa and I

me a bogus gift. Please stop saying

still sense a subtle disdain in her eyes.

50,000 dollars on the necklace, hoping it would convey her gratitude for

Tessa had cut ties with her family after refusing to go through with an arranged marriage. She walked

father, Samuel Yates, retaliated by freezing her bank account and cutting off all financial support. With no family connections to lean on, Tessa managed to land a job at a law firm purely through

year, she worked as a trainee lawyer, earning only four thousand dollars a month. After passing her licensing exams a year later, her salary improved, but it was still modest. To those in Zachary's social circle, she was

on her for being "poor". They'd deliberately leave her out when they went out, making her

had occasionally stepped in, even

from the others, but it turned out she, too,

Samuel had reactivated her access to her bank account. 50,000 dollars now felt like

gift later," Zachary interjected. "Tessa didn't know

between Tessa and

over the necklace might be seen

she complied, it would imply she believed the necklace was fake. On the surface, it would humiliate Tessa, but since Tessa was Zachary's girlfriend, it would also tarnish his reputation

it to him," Tessa said, folding her arms and glaring coldly at Zachary. With that, Jodie

"Zachary, don't be too hard on Ms. Yates. She had

silent, his face set in a grim

the tension, someone suggested they

walked over, eager to join the drinking and

to

and sat beside her, his expression

him, her attention

tone low and measured. "If you

It would've been better than gifting

then just give it back to me," she

bad.

eyes, taking a few deep

them again and

I do to embarrass you? The receipt's in the bag. Can't you check it yourself, or should I take you to the store and

moment before lowering his head to look for