Chapter 271
Without asking any questions, the driver agreed and headed out.
In less than ten minutes, the driver returned with Tessa. As he opened the back door of the car, Tessa's first impulse was to resist getting in, seeing the man with his eyes closed, resting against the seat.
"Get in!" Liam sensed her hesitation, and suddenly, annoyance flared within him. His eyes snapped open like a warning, and he growled at the figure standing by the car door.
Tessa was actually a bit intimidated by him, and when he raised his voice, she couldn't help but shudder. She got in the car and sat down by the door, eyes fixed on him.
The driver shut the door and quickly returned to the driver's seat.
"Take us to Willow Heights," Liam instructed the driver in a deep tone.
The villa in Willow Heights was the same one Tessa had previously lived in.
"Yes, Liam," the driver responded, smoothly pulling the car out into traffic.
"Liam, is... is something the matter?" Tessa tried to meet his fiery gaze with a strained smile.
"You short on cash or just need to blow off some steam?" Liam said tersely, his annoyance so palpable he didn't care to add another word.
Tessa grinned. "I think you're pretty skilled, Liam. After being with you, I really can't imagine being with anyone else."
Liam looked at her with a heavy gaze, his emotions unreadable. After staring at her for several seconds, he suddenly closed his eyes to rest, not uttering another word.
The car was on its way to the villa at Willow Heights. Tessa sat obediently by his side, feeling his potent and brooding presence, and remained silent.
The drive from the club to Willow Heights was quite a distance.
Perhaps it was the stillness of the car or the comfortable warmth that gradually enveloped her, but slowly, Tessa curled up by the window and drifted off to sleep.
It was after she had fallen asleep that Liam, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and looked over at her.
In the flickering light from the window, her brows were slightly furrowed, and faint bruises marked her fair cheeks, likely from past conflicts.
He had always thought of Tessa as a vain girl, completely different from Teresa.
But now, he realized he didn't know her well enough.
Currently, with Tessa's parents detained and their assets frozen — potentially to be seized — Tessa had no income and was forced to fend for herself.
At nineteen, she indeed faced tough challenges.
Watching her, Liam felt an impulse to touch the faint bruises on her face gently.
Yet just as his fingertips almost grazed her skin, he paused.
Tessa shifted slightly and murmured "Liam" in her sleep.
Liam was sure she was asleep. The rhythm of her breathing was a tell that could not lie.
Thus, she was indeed dreaming of him, not putting on an act for his benefit.
"Turn the AC up a bit in the back," Liam whispered, retracting his hand and instructing the driver up front.
"Sure thing, Liam," the driver promptly responded and adjusted the temperature accordingly.
Liam took a heavy glance at Tessa before closing his eyes to rest again.
When the car pulled up to the grand residence in Willow Heights, almost an hour had passed. At some point, Tessa had woken up. As Liam's eyes flickered open, his eyes locking onto hers.
She was staring intently at him, unwavering. As soon as she saw him stir, a broad smile spread across her face, and sweetly, she greeted him, "Liam," then asked, "Am I staying here tonight?"
Without answering, Liam simply gave her a weighty look before stepping out of the car.
Watching him exit, Tessa bit her lip and followed suit.
The residence had a housekeeper who was responsible for its upkeep and had once cooked for Tessa during her brief stay.
Hearing the doorbell, the housekeeper rushed to answer. The sight of Liam with Tessa in tow barely registered as a surprise. She respectfully welcomed them with a simple "Liam, Tessa."
Liam handed his coat to the housekeeper and changed his shoes, heading upstairs without another word. Tessa, kicking off her shoes as well, followed him barefoot, tracing his steps closely behind.
Back in the main bedroom, Liam, halfway through loosening his tie, cast a casual glance back at Tessa. Noticing her still clad in her club cleaning uniform, irritation flared within him. "Go clean yourself up," he commanded.
"Okay," Tessa meekly responded, heading to the bathroom she knew all too well.
Maybe it was because he hadn't had enough to drink at the club, or perhaps his anger was yet to subside, but after Tessa slipped into the bathroom, Liam poured himself a glass of whiskey and downed it in one gulp.
However, the strong liquor did little to quench the fire raging within. Abruptly setting down the glass, he began shedding his clothes as he made his way to the bathroom...
...
After a tumultuous night, Tessa awoke feeling sore all over, discomfort plaguing every inch of her body.
Yet, mindful of her early morning class, she dared not linger in bed, quietly getting up at 6:30 am.
But as she was about to leave the soft embrace of the sheets, she hesitated at the thought of parting from the man lying soundly beside her.
Wondering when, or if, she'd ever get the chance to return to share this bed with him once more.
Despite her father's ascent from humble beginnings to a successful career, his eagerness for wealth had never waned. And though her parents held high positions, what they desired most was to see her married into affluence.
After she graduated high school, whenever an opportunity arose, her father would introduce her to the influential young elites.
To be honest, among those elite brothers, there were only two who really made her heart race: Gabriel and Liam.
