Chapter 84

He took a handkerchief and gently wiped her cheek.

Her skin was soft as petals, not just on her cheeks but all over. A girl like her deserved to be nurtured by power and wealth.

Outside, a thunderclap broke the silence, and lightning split the sky. The rain began to pour down, quickly drenching the city.

Max sat on the edge of the bed, and as dawn approached, he slowly walked over to the floor–to–ceiling window. The raindrops hit the glass like a cascade of shattered diamonds, seemingly trying to capture the neon lights from outside.

At ten in the morning, Patrick gently pushed the door open. “President, the video conference is all set up.”

Max nodded, rubbing his temples as he stepped out of the bedroom. There would be three meetings today, ones he was supposed to attend in person. Instead, he had stood up all the executives last night.

A shadow passed through Max’s eyes, and his lips tightened just slightly. That kind of mistake was inexcusable.

Meanwhile, at the Rowland estate, Tessa hadn’t acted immediately upon receiving the news last night.

She glanced at the hearty breakfast spread out on the table before sitting down.

In another ten minutes, Andrew’s courier would arrive with the season’s must–have item, a tradition that had become almost ceremonial over the years. Yesterday, Andrew had sent over a designer watch, and the envy it sparked was palpable. Ever since her engagement to the Clements clan, Andrew’s gifting had become habitual. Tessa, frail since childhood, relished Andrew’s attentions but couldn’t help feeling resentful. Why must it be her, with a constitution so delicate that even a night of passion was too much to bear?

After a few coughs and dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she sipped some warm broth and then asked, “Is it Brielle? The young lady from the Haywood family? I haven’t been to a social event in years. Is she well–known? Why would Sophia go after her?”

The maid shook his head, “Miss Sophia is impulsive. Rumor has it she’s avenging Miss Emily. They’re quite close.”

Tessa had no interest in getting involved in such messes, finding them tedious and the women’s tactics distasteful. But then she thought, if she could resolve this, everyone would see just how much Andrew heeded her words.

“Miss Sophia was taken to the police station last night.”

Tessa nodded, her fingertips lightly gripping the spoon, “Let the other Rowlands beg for my help first, then I’ll call Andrew.”

She knew her standing wasn’t enough to involve Max. It had to be Andrew who intervened.

Her pallor was evident, and she frowned again, “Do you know why Emily is targeting Brielle? Is there a history between them?”

The maid considered for a moment and replied honestly, “Both are with Dorsey International. It’s probably a professional dispute.”

Tessa nodded, not particularly concerned.

Half an hour later, as expected, Sophia’s parents called, their voices tinged with desperation. Before her engagement to Andrew, Tessa had suffered their disdain because of her frail health, but ever since Andrew had doted on her, insisting she was the only one for him, those who once scorned her changed their tune. Even her status within the Rowland family had soared. Otherwise, with her health, she’d have likely been shunted aside.

Tessa deliberately ignored the calls, feigning busyness. Only on the eighth call did she answer, speaking softly, with an air of gentleness. “Yes, I’ll speak to Andrew. Since it’s Brielle who lost something, she should be responsible. As for Sophia, a financial settlement should suffice.”

The caller complimented her before hanging up, and Tessa felt a surge of satisfaction. Yet, always cautious, she asked the maid a few more questions.

“Why did Emily go to Dorsey International?”

The more she thought about it, the less it made sense. Why would Emily go to Dorsey International out of the blue and clash with Brielle?

“Does Brielle have another identity?”

Tessa had kept a low profile for years, rarely venturing out. She wasn’t aware that Brielle was engaged to Spencer.

“Ms. Tessa, Brielle is engaged to Spencer,” the servant informed her.

Hearing this, Tessa knew things were complicated. If Brielle was engaged to Spencer, he would surely get involved.

“But Ms. Tessa, you needn’t worry about that. Few know of her engagement to Spencer. Besides, Sophia made it clear that Spencer publicly stated at Dorsey International that he doesn’t favor Brielle and plans to call off the engagement.”

Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. If it didn’t involve the Dorsey family and was just an issue with a lady from the Haywood family, the situation was manageable.

She took a sip of tea, planning to time her call to Andrew perfectly. She didn’t think her decision would cause much trouble for the victim, Brielle. In Beaconsfield, it was a survival of the fittest. Brielle could only blame her misfortune for crossing the wrong people.