Chapter 13

The night before the hearing, while Tessa was in the shower, the sound of something shattering in her bedroom startled her.

She quickly rinsed off, threw on her pajamas, and hurried to investigate.

The bedroom was empty, but the floor was covered with broken ceramic shards.

Tessa immediately recognized the broken pieces as her mother's ceramic doll.

She and her mom had painted it together at a DIY store when she was 12 years old. It was a light blue

Cinnamoroll figurine with their names carefully engraved on the back.

As she looked at the shattered fragments, a wave of anger surged through her, consuming her completely.

"Who did this?" Tessa roared, storming out of her bedroom.

She pounded on the door to Zachary's room across the hall.

"Zachary! Wendy! Which one of you went into my room?"

Zachary opened the door, his eyes clouded with annoyance. "What now? It's the middle of the night. Can't a person get some sleep?"

Tessa's chest heaved with anger, her eyes blazing. "Zachary, were you in my room?"

"Who else would have gone into your room?" He frowned. "I've been in here working on a contract this whole time."

"If it wasn't you, it must've been Wendy," Tessa snapped, turning and heading straight for Wendy's room without another word.

Wendy's room was at the end of the hall.

Seeing Tessa storm off in anger, Zachary hurried after her. He was worried something might happen.

"Wendy! Open the door!" Tessa shouted, her voice trembling with fury as she kicked it open. Zachary was taken aback.

Was this really the same gentle, submissive Tessa he had always known?

to

the door cautiously. "Tessa, what's wrong

grabbed Wendy's wrist and yanked

as she was pulled along. "Let go of

shoved Wendy

her balance, her knee slamming into

you lost your mind, Tessa?" Wendy shouted, clutching

she leaned in. "And why

nervously. "I... I didn't! I was in my room the whole

did I see the hem of your beige skirt when I came out of

I was wearing my gray dress! This beige skirt..." Wendy's words stumbled out, betraying her before she

a rage. "Tessa, you tricked me! You didn't even

her a cold glare. "What about your skirt? Isn't that beige dress the one

as her voice turned as icy as

running down her

looking

Zachary stepped forward and stood in front of Wendy. "Tessa, stop overreacting. It's just a broken porcelain doll. We can buy another

finish, a sharp slap echoed through the room as Tessa struck

Zachary and Wendy froze in

"This is none of your business! Why are you defending her?" Seeing Zachary slapped, Wendy's expression hardened. She shoved him gently aside and confronted Tessa. "Why did you hit

Wendy was

"Get out!"

bright red handprint instantly bloomed

to let

back, but Tessa caught her wrist and shoved her aside. Wendy fell

hand!" Wendy

side, panic etched across his face. "Dee Dee, are

wouldn't have gotten hurt if you hadn't

her angrily. "Apologize to Dee Dee right now!" Tessa's gaze turned icy. "She should be the one apologizing to me. She broke

tears streamed down her

Dee, just hold on. I'll take

Tessa, he shot her a fierce glare

replied flatly, her face devoid

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