His Unveiled Passion

Chapter 178

The silence in the room was absolute, making the vibration of the phone sound particularly clear. Stephen glanced at the screen. It was Tessa calling.

His gaze darkened slightly as he picked up. His voice was hoarse. "Hello, Tessa."

Hearing his raspy voice, Tessa immediately asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did something happen on your way back?"

"No."

A brief silence followed.

Tessa hesitated before softly reporting, "I've arrived safely. The journey was smooth, and this place is well-hidden. The lady taking care of me is kind and attentive. Everything is fine."

But she swallowed the words, "Except I can't see you. Except I miss you terribly and can't stop worrying about you."

Now wasn't the time for sentimentality. Stephen still had important things to do. All she could do was listen to him and stay put, just as he had asked.

Stephen gave a hum of acknowledgment. Tessa noticed his unusual coldness today. Perhaps he was still processing everything that had happened earlier.

She hesitated. "I'll hang up now. You must be busy."

Stephen tilted his head back, staring blankly out the window at the blinding sunlight. His eyes reddened as he forced the words out. "Let's break up."

Yates family was in legitimate business.

Stephen hesitated, the danger to them

parted slightly, but no words came. A tear slipped down her

choked out, "Is it because you're afraid

"No. I just realized..."

himself to suppress the tears threatening to

He continued,

would be a good fit as my wife.

be worthy of becoming the Jacobson

closed his

want to spend my entire life with just one woman. So let's break up. Forget about me. I'm the

estate was a two-story villa with a small garden. From her bedroom window, Tessa could

time of year, the flowers had withered, and the entire garden was

bed, clutching her blanket, crying silently. It had been over an hour since she hung up,

many tears? No matter how much she cried, they just

for breaking up-that he wasn't done playing around. That wasn't the

had to be because of

want James

Tessa,

was in a