Chapter 5
The person approaching was Zion Jenkins, one of Zachary's friends.
He was the same man who had shown sympathy toward Tessa during that evening's gathering.
Tessa had known Zion for nearly three years and had always thought highly of him.
"I'm just picking up a few things," she said.
He glanced at the bag in her hand. "Is that for Zachary?"
Tessa didn't feel like explaining, so she gave a silent nod.
"This brand of watch isn't cheap. Even the most basic models cost five figures. You really don't need to
get him something so expensive. Zachary..."
"Didn't deserve it" was what Zion wanted to say.
Zachary had openly confessed that he couldn't let go of Wendy and was only using Tessa as a
placeholder.
Last night, he even abandoned Tessa and walked out with Wendy in front of everyone.
After leaving the birthday party, Zachary and Wendy spent the night together at a hotel. Tessa had no idea
what had transpired, but Zion knew exactly what had happened.
They had a small group chat for their circle of friends, and despite being with Zachary for three years, Tessa had never been added. But as soon as Wendy came back to the country, Zachary added her without a second thought.
Earlier that afternoon, Wendy had shared a photo of herself and Zachary in bed in their group chat, casually suggesting that Zachary keep it as a memento.
However, within minutes, she retracted it, claiming it was sent by mistake.
Zion had caught the message just in time. He had thought about saying something but ultimately decided against it. It wasn't his place, and it felt smarter to stay out of it.
As Zion thought it over, he had initially planned to tell Tessa the truth and urge her to move on. But just as he was about to speak, he hesitated and stopped himself.
"Zachary doesn't need things like this. You really don't have to spend months of your salary on such an expensive gift for him."
Zachary had been his close friend for over a decade, and it was difficult to bring himself to say anything too harsh.
Still, part of him considered telling Tessa that the gift might not even mean anything to Zachary.
Zion couldn't
even been meant for him. She nodded and gave a polite smile. "Alright, I won't do it again
bit more conversation, Zion and
Zion watched her walk away, he let out a deep sigh. "She's such a good person... How did she end up caught
he opened WhatsApp and sent
your girlfriend is really something else. I just saw her buying you a watch that costs thousands, and she did it like it was nothing. That's probably a few
with Wendy when he received
building inside him vanished in an instant as
things with the gift. If that
seriously. Afterward, he'd throw in a few compliments to smooth things over-Tessa would definitely appreciate that. "Zachary, what's going on? Who's messaging you?" Wendy asked, looking
didn't push
restroom. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly grabbed his phone from the
had seen him enter his password before it was his
Wendy typed in the password and opened
conversation and saw that the last message
trip during the upcoming holiday, mentioning that it was her only chance to
few travel guides for places she was
to reply. "There'll be so many people during the holidays. What's there to
Tessa had stopped messaging him
scrolled through the travel destinations, a flash of mockery
seemed their three-year relationship wasn't as
trip
couldn't even be bothered
Wendy left the chat and absentmindedly scrolled through
on the times Tessa had seemed entirely indifferent,
finally ready to move on, but instead, Tessa was still trying
app and turned off Zachary's phone. After placing it back where it had been, she took out her own phone and
Gomez. I was with Zachary at the jewelry store earlier and happened to run into the woman he's seeing.
...
the gift in hand, Tessa returned to
the gift for Stephen inside, his cold, handsome face suddenly drifted into her
had known each
hundred meters apart in the same neighborhood, so they
visit the Jacobson family when she was only ten. By then, Stephen had already become the picture-perfect image of a
still remembered the first time she saw Stephen-it took her breath
intimidating presence,
snow.
her to greet him, Tessa
Stephen had kept his distance, offering only a brief, indifferent
he must
had stayed with
was in high school and struggling with math, Stephen's mother,
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