Chapter 261 Unforeseen Events
“Liam, there’s been trouble with the Yellens. Tessa’s been calling non-stop and wants to see you,” Chuck informed him.
Liam had seen it coming—trouble with the Yellens. To avoid any conflict of interest, he conveniently scheduled a business trip right before the turmoil erupted, staying away for a week. Only after matters seemed settled with the Yellen family did he return.
But no sooner had he gotten into the car from the airport than Chuck, sitting shotgun, turned to Liam in the back seat and told him the news as his phone call just ended.
During this trip, Diana had accompanied Liam, and as she sat beside him now, she lifted her gaze at Liam. Though no media had officially reported it yet, there were no secrets Diana wasn’t privy to, thanks to her constant proximity to Liam.
“I won’t see her,” Liam declined flatly without opening his eyes or furrowing his brow.
He had already blocked Tessa by all means of contact. She couldn’t reach him, so she contacted Chuck.
Diana couldn’t help feeling a wave of satisfaction at his resolute “I won’t see her.” It seemed his indifference wasn’t reserved solely for her. Tessa was just another substitute for Teresa.
Fortuitously, she could remain by Liam’s side, engage in conversation, collaborate, share meals, and even now, sit beside him in the same car.
“Understood,” Chuck nodded, swiftly setting up a block against Tessa’s calls on his phone to spare Liam further nuisance.
The day was waning, and torrential rain started to pour. After dropping Diana off along the way, Liam headed straight to his apartment.
However, as his car approached the entrance to the underground parking, a sudden screeching halt jerked Liam forward from his reclined position, only to be yanked back by the seatbelt.
“What’s the matter?” Liam’s eyes snapped open as he demanded in a deep voice.
“Liam, it looks like... we might’ve hit someone,” the driver stammered, rattled.
Just moments ago, a figure appeared out of nowhere in front of their car. Due to the heavy rain, visibility was poor, and the driver realized it was a person only in the final second, slamming on the brakes just in time.
“Go check it out,” Liam instructed calmly.
“Got it.” The driver composed himself, responded swiftly, and hurried out of the car to assess the situation.
When he reached the front of the car, the headlights revealed a person lying on the ground. Surprised at first, he quickly ran back to report to Liam, “Liam, it’s Tessa. She’s on the ground and looks like she’s passed out.”
Liam’s features tensed, and the next second, he swung the door open, stepped out, and headed toward the front of the car. The driver saw this, quickly popped open an umbrella over him, and followed.
There, as expected, was Tessa, soaked to the bone, with blood oozing from her forehead.
Without hesitation, Liam strode over, scooped her up in his arms, and turned to get back in the car, completely indifferent to whether he got wet. He only gave the driver a stern instruction, “To the hospital.”
“Got it.” The driver closed the car door for him, raced back to the driver’s seat, made a U-turn, and drove toward the nearest hospital.
“Turn up the heat,” Liam instructed, holding Tessa close. He switched on the overhead light as he settled in and saw Tessa’s pale face, her lips tinged with a hint of purple from the cold. He then started removing Tessa’s soaking wet clothes, replacing them with his own dry coat that he had placed beside him.
The chill of early January was severe, and Liam wondered just how long Tessa had been out in the rain to be this freezing.
After wrapping her in his coat, Liam pulled her tight into his arms, using his own body heat to warm her.
His feelings for Tessa were complicated.
If it weren’t for Yvonne’s influence, if Tessa hadn’t gotten close to him because of her machinations, his attitude would undoubtedly be different. After all, she had genuinely given her first night to him.
“Liam...” Tessa’s weak voice called out to him.
Lost in thought as he held her close, Liam was brought back to reality when Tessa awoke in his arms, her eyes glistening with weakness as she looked up at him.
Hearing her voice, Liam looked down. “Liam, why have you been ignoring me? Is it because you knew my dad was going to be in trouble?” Tessa’s voice wavered, her lips puckered, and soon tears began to stream down her cheeks.
“No,” Liam replied calmly as he looked at her.
“Then why?” she persisted.
“You shouldn’t have come to me just because Yvonne told you to,” Liam felt no need to hide the truth from Tessa at that moment.
“I didn’t...” Tessa began, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face, making everything seem grimmer. “Liam, don’t you believe in your charm?”
Watching her, Liam chuckled softly but didn’t respond.
Soon enough, the car pulled up to the ER of the nearest hospital. Liam carried Tessa out of the car and into the emergency department.
...
Tessa hadn’t been hit by the car. She had broken her forehead in the fall. It was a superficial flesh wound—nothing serious. However, she’d caught a chill, and a severe cold had turned into a high fever, necessitating hospital observation.
After ensuring Tessa was settled in, Liam was ready to leave.
But before he could take a step, Tessa sensed his intention and grabbed his hand, pleading, “Liam, I’m afraid. Can you please stay?”
“Afraid of what?” Liam asked, turning around to face her with an indifferent expression.
“I’m afraid you don’t want me anymore,” Tessa said sadly, her eyes clear and shimmering.
Liam barely smiled and said, “I never claimed you as mine.”
