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."

no room for hesitation. Ralph was right. The Yates family was in legitimate business. They

extra day Stephen hesitated, the danger

but no words came. A tear slipped down her cheek

trembled as she choked

"No. I just realized..."

forcing himself to suppress the tears

He continued,

good to you before because I thought you would be a good fit as my wife. Only a

family—would be worthy of becoming the Jacobson family's young mistress.

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

small garden. From her bedroom window, Tessa could see the garden

year, the flowers had withered, and

crying silently. It had

person have so many tears? No matter how

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

to be because of

didn't want James

Tessa,

in a hurry