His Unveiled Passion

Chapter 283

"Tessa?" Wendy's internal alarms blared as her expression darkened. She strode forward, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. "What are you doing

here?"

Seated elegantly on the couch, Tessa lifted her gaze slowly. A mocking smile played on her lips. "Well, well. If it isn't my doppelgänger. For a moment there, I thought some long-lost sister had appeared. Since when did you start playing the 'substitute' game?"

Wendy's face drained of color. Tessa had noticed?

Recovering quickly, she forced a scoff. "Copying you? Don't flatter yourself. Why would I need to imitate you?"

Tessa examined Wendy from head to toe. Then, she burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Wendy sneered.

"Just remembered an old tale." Tessa tilted her head, eyes glinting with malice. "Ever heard of it? Some knockoffs only highlight the original's superiority."

Wendy's manicured nails dug into her palms. Of course she knew the parable— the ugly peasant girl whose clumsy imitation of a beautiful woman became proverbial ridicule.

Wendy crossed her arms, looming over the seated figure. "You think you own this aesthetic? That no one else can possibly share your tastes without being a copycat?"

The identical hairstyle-pure chance. Even the same

she could retort, a

Zachary's pleasant voice,

time, you're still chasing after him? Are you that

scoffed. "Not everyone mistakes trash

Tessa's ridicule. A flicker of pain crossed his features

all too well the

he'd

to Tessa in the past, so being called trash" was

I'm just glad you're safe." Zachary stepped closer, his expression tender, eyes brimming with lingering

she rose from the couch and delivered

crisp sound echoed through the lobby like a gunshot. A few scattered passersby whipped their heads toward

the front

gawked openly.

well. The ladies in the company, including the receptionist, had a secret crush on

the receptionist would have recorded

The entiret