Chapter 425
Chapter 425:
Tessa’s cheekbone had been shattered so badly that it took more than ten days in the hospital before she was even barely stable.
Not a single relative came to visit. Not even her own father set foot in the hospital.
Coleman had only called her. “Fulton shouldn’t have hit you, but letting anger drive you to refuse reconciliation — sending him to jail, giving him a criminal record — that’s an even bigger disgrace p>
The threat was obvious. If she didn’t back down, he would never forgive her, and her mother would be forbidden from seeing her.
When discharge day finally came, only Gabriela and Aubrey accompanied her as she hobbled out.
Aubrey crossed her arms, her glare sharp. “Even if Fulton once saved you, hitting you is unforgivable. If you go back there, you’re just lining yourself up for the next beating p>
Gabriela slipped an arm around Tessa’s shoulders and spoke gently but firmly. “Tessa, stay with me instead. My place has more than enough guest rooms, and you won’t have to live in fear p>
Moved by the sincerity of her two friends, Tessa was just about to nod when a shadow moved toward her.
𝗕e 𝘁𝘩𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗋𝘀𝗍 t𝘰 𝗿е𝖺𝖽 on
Fulton. No question.
The sight of him hit her like ice water. Her breath caught, and she stumbled back in panic.
Wasn’t he supposed to still be in jail? How had he gotten out?
Gabriela immediately stepped in front of Tessa, narrowing her eyes. “What are you doing here p>
Fulton wore a light brown coat. He looked a little thinner than before, and oddly put together, with a strange new intensity in his face.
He limped toward Tessa and dropped his voice like he was soothing a child. “Sweetheart, I came to take you home p>
Tessa pressed herself against Gabriela’s back and refused to move. “I’m not going with you. Leave now p>
Putting on a sorrowful expression, Fulton murmured, “Tessa, I’ve missed you every single day. You know I love you. If I didn’t, I never would have risked my life to save you back then.” His eyes were red as he pleaded, “Please, just give me another chance. I swear I’ll never hit you again p>
Tessa hesitated.
In all their years of marriage, Fulton had never apologized like this — never lowered himself like this, never promised to change.
Had those days in a cell really shaken him enough to force regret into him?
Seeing that flicker of softness in Tessa’s eyes, Gabriela leaned in and whispered, urgent and sharp, “Tessa, don’t fool yourself. Abuse always comes back, no matter what it sounds like at first. Once it starts, it never really ends. You can’t just trust his promise p>
Suddenly, Fulton dropped to his knees with a hard thud and clung to the hem of Tessa’s coat. “Tessa, if I didn’t care, I never would have thrown myself into danger for you that night. Look at me now — half a man, limping everywhere, barely able to make money. I’m not even worthy to stand next to you p>
His voice shook, carefully broken.
Even pitiful like this, he was still striking — his sharp features softened by pain, his eyes lowered in practiced misery. He looked like someone begging to be forgiven.
Against her will, Tessa’s mind dragged her back to that terrible night: the ripping of fabric, the choking fear, the certainty of what was about to happen. If Fulton hadn’t shown up, she might not be alive.