Chapter 17
Adnan turned to look at Tena Airbøngh his eyes behind the rimien glasses appeared vaimu she
“Who taught prea to twist the truth and art so reckl
“Oh, so you’re denging it“” Adrian’s their was flat, his fare showed nocamper, but there was a cold glint
“Adrian, do you really have to say this to me
this eyes. “Shu
of Clit Truss frustration frally boiled neer
Being reprimanded by Adrian the adored, riperially when it was in defense of Calista, stung deeply. The jealousy she felt overpowered her
tention the art vulnerable. Tin your sidert Mar’s just an nutuder—one ela notarrassed both you and our family in Stonetiriler all those prani
Are you still thinking alsan ber?
Adrian’s refined and elegan de cineanor, reinitirent of a gentleman from a classical painting rooded further at her words, the warmth in hi
He looked at her, his wouer turning cold “Whatever happened between her and me ended a long time ago. Its in the pait. Stop dragging up things
The hour with the pliotos waunt her fault. She dorint owe me anything, and the dorint own the Cole family anything
His thoughts drafted back to seven years ago, to that all fated wedding. It was the second time that night his mind
gone there
After the chaos of the welding, the Terell family, apparently afraid of offending the Cole family, had Simon issue a public statement, esi with Calma that same day
But no one knew the real reason behind his reaction li wan’t about the photos–those were just an excuse. His emotions had only been ingerred during the ring exchange when he saw the pair of rings that never should have appeared.
As for the scandalous photos, Adrian knew he had only used them as an outlet for his misplaced anger
The pesi
next day, he led the photos investigated. As expected, Calista was innocent.
Adrian never felt he had true romantic feelings for Calista. The wedding was just a compromise because he couldn’t be with the wanted. So lie settled for Calista, simply because she resembled her so much.
002
he
Iruly
He had once thought of reaching out to Calista–not to patch things up, but simply to apologize, But by then, she had already left the country. To him, her departure was her way of cutting ties completely
Adrian had never been the kind of person to chase anyone. Back then, his so–called pursuit of Calista was merely a way to vent his unresolved. feelings for someone else, an act meant for her to see.
The engagement and eventual wedding with Calista were just part of the performance, playing along one step at a time.
But when he saw the rings he had originally bought for someone else appear at the wedding, ssgust and frustration overwhelmed him. He no longer wanted to go through with the marriage.
Over the past seven years, for various reasons, Adrian hadn’t paid attention to Calista. The urge to apologize faded with time, eventually becoming an afterthought.
Hut sering Calista again tonight did take him by surprise, especially given how much she had changed. And of all times. Tessa chose to cause a scene at the banquet.
selp but feel a surge of irritation
Remembering how he had asked Calista to apologize to Tessa earlier, Adrian couldn’t help
“I just can’t stand her Tessa said.
Tessa still couldn’t accept how calinly Adrian was treating Calista. It was infuriating. She was his ex–fiancée, and their breakup had been messy.
Tess thought. Why is he acting so composed now! When people split, they should become enemies, unable to even look at each other without Contempt
The
more she thought about it, the arigner she became. Her words spilled out without restraint. “And anyway, she never used to care about these things. Today, she’s only making a scene because she’s found herself a rich guy. She’s clearly just using this chance to settle old scores!” Tessa was fuming, but Adrian caught the key detail in her outburst. His eyes narrowed slightly. “Old wores What else did you do to her!!
“1” Tessa froze, her mal suddenly clearing as she realized she had let something slip. Her eyes darted away, avoiding Adrian’s gare as she stubbornly demed it “What could have possibly done to her
Seeing her guilty expression, Adrian felt a heavy weight in his chest.
Chapter 10
Underwood, Mh Cole
“Adrian, what are you doing!
Tessa asked, stunned by what he had just instructed.
You’re a member of the Cole family. There’s no reason for any evidence to remain behind in Zandora.
Tessa felt a flicker of relief, but when she noticed Adrian’s tight expression, without his usual warmth, her heart sank. “Adrian is still angry!
She bit her lip and softened her tone. I know I was wrong to argue with her tonight, but after seven years, she suddenly comes back, and all I could think about was what happened back then. I just couldn’t let it go…
“And just because you couldn’t let it go, you thought it was okay to publicly slander someone and demand an apology from someone who did nothing wrong?” Adrian’s tone was stern.
Chapter 17
Adrian tumed to look at Tessa A
Although his eyes behind the rimless glasses appeared calm, she still felt a chill down her spine.
Who taught you to twist the truth and act so recklessly?” he asked pointedly.
“I didn’t do that, she insisted.
“Oh. so you’re denying it” Adrian’s tone was flat, his face showed no anger, but there was a cold glims in his eyes. “Shall we take a look at the surveillance footage together luer!”
“Adrian, do you really have to say this to me—just because of Calista? Tessa’s frustration finally boiled over.
Being reprimanded by Adrian she adored, especially when it was in defense of Calista, stung deeply. The jealousy she felt overpowered her initial Intention to et vulnerable. I’m your sister! She’s just an outsider–one who embarrassed both you and our family in Stonebridge all those years agol you still thinking about her?
Adrian’s and elegant demeanor, reminiscent of a gentleman from a classical painting, cooled fumber at her words, the warmth in his expression fading
looked at her, his voice turning cold. “Whatever happened between her and me ended a long time ago. It’s in the past. Stop dragging up things om years ago. The issue with the photos wasn’t her fault. She doesn’t owe me anything and she doesn’t owe the Cole family anything
His thoughts drifted back in seven years ago, to that ill–fated wedding. It was the second time that night his mand had gone there.
After the chaos of the wedding, the Terell family, apparently afraid of offending the Cole family, had Simon issue a public statement, cunting ties with Calista that same day,
But no one knew the real reason behind his reaction. It wasn’t about the photos–those were just an excuse. His emotions had only been triggered during the ring exchange when he saw the pair of rings that never should have appeared.
As for the scandalous photos, Adrian knew he had only used them as an outlet for his misplaced anger
The next day, he had the photos investigated. As expected, Calista was innocent.
Adrian never felt he had true romantic feelings for Calista. The wedding was just a compromise because he couldn’t be with the one he truly wanted. So he settled for Calista, simply because she resembled her so much.
He had once thought of reaching out to Calista–not to patch things up, but simply to apologize. But by then, she had already left the country. To him, her departure was her way of cutting ties completely
Adrian had never been the kind of person to chase anyone. Back then, his so–called pursuit of Calista was merely a way to vent his unresolved feelings for someone else, an act meant for her to sc
The engagement and eventual wedding with Calista were just part of the performance, playing along one step at a time.
But when he saw the rings he had originally bought for someone else appear at the wedding, disgust and frustration overwhelmed him. He no longer wanted to go through with the marriage
Over the past seven years, for various reasons. Adrian hadn’t paid attention to Calists. The urge to apologize faded with time, eventually becoming an afterthought
But seeing Calista again tonight did take him by surprise, especially given how much she had changed. And of all times, Tessa chose to cause a scene at the banquet
Remembering how he had asked Calista to apologize to Tessa earlier, Adrian couldn’t help but feel a surge of irritation
“I just can’t stand her! Tessa said.
Tea will couldn’t accept how calmly Adrian was treating Calista. It was infuriating. She was his ex–fiancee, and their breakup had been messy.
Tewa thought, Why is he acting so composed now! When people split, they should become enemies, unable to even look at each other without contempt
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her words spilled out without restraint. “And anyway, she never used to care about these things. Today, she’s only making a scene because she’s found herself a rich guy. She’s clearly just using this chance to settle old scores!”
Tessa was furning, but Adrian caught the key detail in her outburst. His eyes narrowed slightly. “Old scores? What else did you do to her?”
“1..” Tessa froze, her mind suddenly clearing as she realized she had let something slip. Her eyes darted away, avoiding Adrian’s gaze as she stubbornly denied in “What could I have possibly done to her?”
Seeing her guilty expression, Adrian felt a heavy weight in his chest.
5:51 PM & d
Chapter 17
He used to think he understood Tessa well enough. She could be a bit spoiled, but overall, she was still obedient and well–meaning.
But after tonight, he started to doubt that perception. He thought, People don’t reveal things by accident–it’s the subconscious truth that slips out Flashes of Calina’s amused, almost mocking expression from earlier that evening ran through his mind, along with old memories that resurfaced unbidden.
During t
the two years he was with Calista, she often left the Cole family looking upset. Whenever he asked her about it, she never explained.
He wondered. Has this all been related to Tess? And if so, how many incidents have taken place that I haven’t known about?
Tessa squirmed under Adrian’s gaze, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. She was already drenched from falling into the pool earlier and clutched her towel tighter around herself Softening her tone, she tried to appear phaiful. “I fell into the pool twice tonight. Im soaked and freezing Adrian, please don’t be mad at me, okay!”
Seeing her like this, Adrian held back further criticism. His voice was calm but carried a note of warning. There won’t be a next time
As for Calista, even if he no longer had feelings for her, he couldn’t ignore the hurt he had caused back then. He wasn’t planning to pretend it didn’t happen. If given the opportunity, he intended to make things right.
As he was the head of the Halls family, Connor’s schedule was always tight. After the business banquet, he needed to fly back to Mystoria that very night on his private jet,
Calista, on the other hand, had taken a few days off, so there was no rush for her to retum to Stonebridge,
For convenience, she had booked a room at the Wellington Grand Hotel, where the banquet was held.
Back in her room, Calista kicked off her high heels and walked barefoot across the plush carpet. She opened her suncase, grabbed her pajamas, and headed straight to the bathroom.
After taking off her makeup, she enjoyed a long relaxing bath and washed her hair
By the time she dried her har and finished her skincare routine, it was already past eleven
