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?

could have happened to

the door cautiously.

Wendy's wrist and yanked her toward the

pulled along.

Wendy to the

her balance, her knee slamming into

Tessa?"

my ceramic doll?" Tessa's voice was cold as she leaned in. "And why were you in my

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

really? Then, why did I see the hem of your beige skirt when I

gray dress! This beige skirt..."

me! You

cold glare. "What about your skirt? Isn't that beige dress

her voice turned as icy as a midwinter chill. "What were you doing

involuntary shiver running down her spine. "I...

were you looking

what she had done. "I... I was just..." "That's enough!" Zachary stepped forward and stood in front of Wendy. "Tessa, stop overreacting. It's just a broken porcelain

slap echoed through the room as Tessa

and Wendy froze in

screamed at Zachary. "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

resounding slap, Wendy was struck hard across

"Get out!"

instantly bloomed

to let it

widened her eyes and raised her hand to slap back, but Tessa caught her wrist and shoved her aside. Wendy fell onto a pile of ceramic and porcelain shards, the sharp fragments

My hand!" Wendy screamed

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

her gaze unyielding. "You wouldn't have gotten hurt if you hadn't broken

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

his arms as tears streamed down her face.

just hold on. I'll

her away. As he passed Tessa, he shot

her face devoid

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