His Unveiled Passion

Chapter 9

Tessa woke up from her sleep naturally, and it was already 10:00 am when she opened her eyes.

"Ahh!!!" She stretched lazily. "Not having to go to work feels amazing."

She got up from bed, washed up, and went downstairs for breakfast.

The housekeeper, Emma Grant, had prepared breakfast for two. Tessa glanced at the empty seat across from hers but said nothing.

Emma, noticing that Tessa had come down, asked curiously, "Ms. Yates, isn't Mr. Gomez coming down for breakfast today?"

Tessa took a mouthful of her oatmeal porridge before replying, "He didn't come home last night, so he probably won't be eating."

"Oh," Emma said. She realized she had spoken out of turn and turned back toward the kitchen without further questions.

After finishing her breakfast, Tessa received a message from Stephen. He asked, "Tess, should we have the engagement gown custom-made or go with a brand's latest seasonal collection?"

Was it still possible to have a gown custom-made in time?

Tessa wasn't sure when the engagement date was, either. She asked through text, "When is the engagement date?"

Stephen texted back, "It's not set yet. We'll decide when you're done there and back in Rivertown." She messaged in response, "Okay, I should be done with everything here in nine days."

He said, "Alright."

Worried that a custom-made gown wouldn't be ready in time, Tessa replied, "Let's go with a brand's new season collection. I'll go pick one."

Stephen responded, "Okay, let me know once you have chosen."

Tessa was about to exit WhatsApp when a notification appeared from Zachary's chat. She pressed on it and saw there was a video.

In the dimly lit private room, a drunk Zachary leaned into Wendy's arms. He murmured, "Dee Dee, you're finally back. I... I knew you would come back... I've been waiting for you for five years..."

The background noise was filled with rowdy cheering. Tessa vaguely recognized several voices, some of which were Jodie and Zachary's friends.

They were all people she knew.

video, Wendy held Zachary with her head lowered. She smiled softly at him, "Zachary,

nuzzled into Wendy's embrace as his voice came in fragments. "I'm... I'm not drunk. I'm very much sober. You're Wendy Cox, and you're the one I love the most. I didn't misspeak, right? Look, I'm sober..." In the background, someone asked, "Zachary, if Wendy is the one

said, "Who's Tessa? I... I only love

looks like Zachary can't live without you." Jodie's voice rang out. "Look at him, he's clinging to you

mockery flashed in

Jodie's sister-in-law in the three years she had been with

Those people never saw her as Zachary's girlfriend, after

The one who spoke was Jodie's best

chimed in. "How could an ordinary woman like her

things to her face. Tessa

acted close and friendly with Tessa on the surface, but in reality, she was no different from the rest of them. She

worry, Wendy. We're all on your

know her status and

love. Her mind is full of marrying into a rich

as us. Zachary was just playing

was as calm as a

had posted this video to assert her claim over Zachary. It was also to humiliate her, forcing her to face reality

exactly what Wendy had in

cry uncontrollably after watching it. She pictured Tessa breaking up with Zachary afterward,

the words of those people in the video had no impact

still clinging to Wendy in the video, muttering sweet nothings. Tessa found it disgusting and immediately exited

screen of the phone as she typed

and her lips curled into a smirk. She quickly replied using Zachary's

like Gomez Group couldn't even compare to one of the subsidiary companies under her family's empire. The profits they made

for four generations. By her generation, they were one of the top ten wealthiest and most influential families in the country. Tessa and a common scion like Zachary were

group of Zachary's could never have imagined that Tessa's

affect her mood

the entire day browsing the

gown with a champagne-colored base and light pink embroidery with diamonds scattered over it. The gown was decorated with three delicate pearl chains on each side. They started at the neckline, diagonally wrapping over the upper arm, and continuing

with a circle of roses adorning the chest. It was cinched at the waist and hips, and the skirt was a mermaid style that trailed on the floor. The overall design

few scattered blush pink rose petals adorned the skirt, giving it a romantic and graceful

posting, she