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."

room for hesitation. Ralph was right. The Yates family was in legitimate business. They couldn't withstand James'

day Stephen hesitated, the danger to them

no words came. A tear slipped down her cheek before she even realized

trembled as she choked out, "Is it because you're

"No. I just realized..."

took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the

He continued,

you would be a good fit

good family—would be worthy of becoming the

closed his

that clawed at his chest. "But now I've figured it out. I'm not done having fun. I don't want to spend my entire life with just one woman. So let's break up. Forget about me. I'm the one who let

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

year, the flowers had withered, and the entire garden was bleak

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

a person have so many tears? No matter how much

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

to be

want

Tessa,

was in a hurry