Chapter 1421 I Will No Longer Acknowledge You as My Brother
Unlike Cora's warmth, the woman in the photo had a cool demeanor, though a hint of amusement lingered in her eyes. They stood just inches apart, comfortably close.
Jason gazed at the camera with unmistakable tenderness overflowing from his eyes.
The woman wasn't holding his hand. Her eyes reflected intelligence and clarity.
Lawrence felt something pierce his spine, causing him to step backward.
After regaining his composure, he exhaled softly.
For a moment, those eyes reminded him of someone he'd seen recently, though he couldn't place where.
This woman looked nothing like his mother Cora.
Cora embodied the classic housewife, her entire world revolving around her family.
But the woman in the photo had eyes that contained multitudes—ambition, career aspirations, dreams, and a certain worldliness.
Her gaze was both penetrating and grounded—impossible to describe precisely, but undeniably impactful when you met it.
After studying it briefly, Lawrence carefully returned the photo to Jason's palm.
The photograph lay silently in his hand.
Lawrence felt an inexplicable heaviness. He'd planned to return to Tessa, but now his mind was elsewhere, so he decided to spend the night at the Smith Villa.
When he woke, his phone showed thirty-some missed calls from Tessa.
He called back immediately. The moment she answered, he heard her sobbing.
"Lawrence, you didn't come home last night, did you? Every time I close my eyes, I see those men's faces. Some people I know sent me two videos—how did they get them? Who recorded them? Was it Selena? She's deliberately trying to ruin my reputation in Vistalia's elite circles!"
"I hate her so much! I hate her! Why doesn't she just die? Someone like her shouldn't even be alive!"
Tessa had been emotionally unstable for days, waking each morning to curse Selena.
Lawrence's heart ached. Last night, Richard had made him question his own actions, but hearing Tessa's frantic state convinced him again that Selena deserved contempt.
"I'm coming right now, Tessa. Don't worry, I've had those videos removed."
"But they're still mocking me! They're calling me horrible names. I can't take it anymore—I'm going to jump from the balcony!"
"Tessa, don't do anything rash! I'm on my way!"
After hanging up, he called the villa staff, instructing them to watch over Tessa.
He rushed downstairs, heading for his car.
Just as he reached the ground floor, his phone rang again—this time, Richard.
"Lawrence, I'll be at the Smith house in ten minutes. I need to tell you something crucial. You must wait for me there."
Lawrence felt irritated. Richard had stood him up last night without apology, and now expected him to wait again.
"Richard, because of your kick, Tessa barely slept and now she's having nightmares. I suspect Selena took those degrading videos specifically to destroy Tessa! And you're defending someone like that? You disappoint me."
Lawrence was about to get in his car when Richard responded.
"Lawrence, do you think everyone in the world is out to harm Tessa? Do you suspect even me? Isn't your favoritism a bit extreme? I'm your brother too, and Dad's still upstairs in his condition. All you see is Tessa!"
Lawrence's heart clenched. He immediately denied it. "That's not true. But Richard, Tessa is a young woman. Haven't I always told you to be gentle with our sister?"
"But she's not!" Richard shouted.
Noticing Selena glancing his way, he lowered his voice, "I'll be home in minutes. If you don't wait for me, I'll never acknowledge you as my brother again."
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