Chapter 265 Return Them Yourself
At the police department, Diana handed over the watch purchase documents to police officers. Realizing the watch was a gift from Liam to Tessa, the troublemaker, who knew better than to provoke Liam, said nothing more and quickly left.
“Diana, was it you who brought the evidence that got me out? Thank you!” As soon as it was clear the accusation was false, Tessa was released. When she saw Diana, she was both elated and disheartened—elated because Diana must have been sent here by Liam and disheartened because it wasn’t Liam who came.
Standing by the car door, Diana looked up at the sound of Tessa’s voice.
Truth be told, at first glance, seeing Tessa so frail and pale, her face and hands bruised and bloodied, yet still managing a strained smile, Diana couldn’t hate her anymore.
Regardless of Tessa’s past, she was now just another unfortunate soul. Without Liam, she might have been stuck here for months, just like the last time Diana got arrested because of a misunderstanding, and Teresa, followed by Liam, came to the rescue.
“No need to thank me, I’m just following orders,” Diana replied indifferently, “Don’t move I need to take a picture of you.”
As she spoke, she grabbed her phone and snapped a picture of Tessa, then said, “All right, hop in the car.”
“Okay.” Tessa obediently nodded and got into the car.
After Tessa was settled in the back seat, Diana climbed into the passenger seat and sent the picture of Tessa to Liam. “Liam, she’s been released. Where should I drop off Tessa?” Just as Diana was about to hit send, she hesitated, her finger hovering above the screen. After a moment’s thought, she added, “She was set up and roughed up pretty badly. Should we press charges?”
With a brief pause, Diana hit send.
Back at his office, Liam’s handsome features furrowed with concern and anger as he looked at the photo of Tessa, but his reply came through seconds later, “No need, just take her back to the hospital.”
The Yellen family was the target of scrutiny, and Liam knew too well how many eyes were watching their every move. He didn’t want to stir the pot further and invite trouble at such a critical moment.
Upon seeing Liam’s terse response, Diana felt a wave of relief wash over her.
At least Liam wasn’t willing to compromise his own interests for Tessa’s sake.
She simply texted back, “Okay,” and then turned to Tessa, who sat beside her. “Tessa, it seems I’ll be taking you back to the hospital.”
Looking at Diana, Tessa shook her head. “Diana, can I not go to the hospital, please?”
“You’ve been hurt quite badly. You need to get that looked at,” Diana insisted.
Tessa continued to shake her head. “It’s just some scrapes and bruises. I’ll be fine in a few days,” she replied with a soft and fragile voice, her bright eyes twinkling with a hint of innocence.
Even if it wasn’t Liam, Diana felt a twinge of sympathy just looking at her.
Taking her eyes off Tessa, Diana wasn’t ready to give her an answer and instead texted Liam again, “Tessa doesn’t want to go to the hospital. She prefers going back to her dorm.”
“Just let her,” came the prompt and clear reply from Liam.
Though the message was succinct, a rare flash of anger crossed Liam’s face as he typed out those words.
“Liam has no objection.’ After receiving Liam’s reply, Diana turned back and told her.
“Okay,” Tessa said, nodding serenely before cracking a grateful smile at Diana. “Thanks, Diana.”
“No problem,” Diana responded with detached brevity, then instructed the driver to head to the school.
“Diana, could you return these to Liam for me?” Tessa pleaded, opening her backpack with an innocent gaze fixed on Diana.
Diana peeked inside the backpack, which was filled with boxes of jewelry and a watch worth over $5 million—a piece she had purchased at Liam’s request.
Liam’s generosity toward Tessa was astonishing. In such a short period, he’d already gifted her so much.
“No,” Diana refused without hesitation. “You should return them yourself.”
“Okay, then,” Tessa murmured dejectedly, bowing her head. “Thanks, anyway.”
Diana watched her with a faint frown creasing her brow, feeling an inexplicable heaviness in her chest, but she said nothing more. Together, they continued in silence toward the school.
...
After wrapping up the meeting, Teresa headed straight to Nebula for lunch with Gabriel.
She used to think that such comings and goings were a waste of time, but now, Teresa didn’t see it as troublesome at all.
She could still do plenty while in the car—read, grade assignments, and prepare presentations—her productivity undisturbed.
However, as her car approached the school’s main entrance, Teresa unexpectedly caught sight of Diana dropping Tessa off.
Quickly, she instructed the driver to stop and rolled down her window to call out to Diana.
“Teresa?” Hearing the voice, both Diana and Tessa turned to see Teresa and called out to her in unison.
Teresa got out of the car, sizing up Tessa, and immediately grasped the situation.
It must’ve been Liam who had Diana bail Tessa out of the police station.
Thinking of the relationships between Diana, Tessa, and Liam and the fact that Liam had Diana set Tessa free, Teresa felt a new wave of disappointment in Liam.
“Are you off work now?” Diana approached Teresa with a smile, casually striking up a conversation.
Teresa walked up to her, noticing the trench coat hanging open to reveal a thin office dress underneath. Her calves were bare with just a sheer layer of stockings. She couldn’t help but reach out to pull the coat closed, “It’s freezing out. Why didn’t you dress more?”
She had gone through an abortion and had not rested a day after leaving the hospital. Now, here she was, still not taking care of herself, hardly dressed for the cold weather. Teresa simply couldn’t understand what Diana was thinking.
