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."

Tessa's just a small-time lawyer-how much could she possibly make in a

silence settled over the

glances began to converge on Tessa from all

clear they all shared the same opinion as

lawyer; they couldn't wrap their heads around how someone like

tell me. I could've helped

a fake gift?" was what he wanted to say, but he couldn't bring himself

was clear to

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

silent,

louder than any words

to ease the tension. "No way. Tessa and I are

never give me a bogus gift. Please stop saying things like that-it's

could still sense

over 50,000 dollars on the necklace, hoping it would convey her gratitude for all the kindness Jodie had shown her

go through with an arranged

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 her

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

looked down on her for being

Zachary chose to ignore it, Jodie had occasionally stepped in, even going out of her

turned out she,

to her bank account. 50,000 dollars now felt like little more than

me the necklace. I'll replace it with a proper birthday gift later," Zachary interjected. "Tessa

between Tessa and Zachary,

the necklace might be

fake. On the surface, it would humiliate Tessa, but

it, just give it to him," Tessa said, folding her arms and glaring coldly at Zachary.

spoke up. "Zachary, don't be too hard on Ms.

silent, his face set in a grim

the tension, someone suggested they play a

over, eager to

way to a quiet corner

beside her, his expression still

her attention absorbed

long silence, he finally spoke, his tone low and

affordable. It would've been better than gifting fake

it's fake, then just give it back to me," she replied flatly, her eyes

making me look bad. Don't you

closed her eyes, taking a

a moment, she opened them again

you check it

for a moment before lowering his head to look for the