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.

her head lowered. She smiled softly at him,

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

"Who's Tessa? I...

you." Jodie's voice rang out. "Look at him,

flashed in Tessa's eyes

never heard herself being addressed as Jodie's sister-in-law in the three years she had been

was hardly surprising, though. Those people never saw her as

to leave. How utterly clueless of her." The one who spoke was Jodie's best friend. She was the same woman who claimed that the necklace she gifted was fake and had

in. "How could an ordinary woman like her ever let go of

lowered her gaze, and her lips curled into a cold sneer. Jodie would never say such things to her face. Tessa was now certain that the disdain she had seen in

in reality, she was no

worry, Wendy. We're all on your

We don't like that Tessa, either. She should know

Tessa has been reading too many romance novels about the domineering CEO falling in love. Her mind is full of marrying into a rich family. It's hilarious! She probably doesn't even realize she's just a

us. Zachary was just playing with her. Now

as calm as

claim over Zachary. It was also to humiliate her, forcing her to face reality and leave Zachary

was exactly what Wendy had in

that Tessa would be heartbroken and cry uncontrollably after watching it. She pictured

those people in

video, muttering sweet nothings.

of the phone as she typed a message, "I'm definitely not in the

the message, and her lips curled into a smirk. She quickly replied using Zachary's WhatsApp, "At least you still have

even compare to one of the subsidiary companies under her family's empire. The profits they

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

imagined that Tessa's last name was the

incident didn't affect her mood at

browsing the official websites of major brands, selecting a gown for

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

cinched at the waist and hips, and the skirt

blush pink rose petals adorned the skirt, giving it a

just ten minutes of posting, she