Chapter 428
Chapter 428:
The weather was bitterly cold. In a chilling tone, Gabriela directed the guard, “Disregard that man.” Fulton could linger outside for as long as he pleased—Gabriela was utterly indifferent.
As Gabriela ended her call, Tessa’s phone buzzed with a call from her father. “Come outside, I’m here with Fulton,” he said.
Tessa could tolerate Fulton enduring the harsh cold, but the thought of her aging father suffering was unbearable. Reluctantly, Gabriela joined Tessa as they stepped outside.
A fine drizzle fell, and the frigid air numbed their hands. Coleman stood there, clad in a heavy, pale gray overcoat, his glasses perched on his nose. His silver-streaked hair lent him a scholarly air, unmistakably a man of refined education.
𝘠𝗼𝗎𝘳 ո𝗲𝘹𝘁 𝘧а𝘷o𝘳it𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗮𝗱 𝗂𝘴 o𝘯 𝗀𝗮lո𝗼vе𝗹ѕ.с𝗼𝘮
Seeing the bruises on Tessa’s face, Coleman’s brow furrowed slightly, though his face remained stern as he scolded, “What’s wrong with you? Instead of staying in your own home, you’re crashing at someone else’s place p>
“Dad, the moment I got home, Fulton hit me,” Tessa said, her face emotionless. “That evening, the rain was torrential, and the cold was biting. He beat me until I collapsed on the floor, after which he retreated to the bedroom to sleep. If Gabriela and her friend hadn’t intervened to rescue me, I might not have survived p>
That night, Tessa lay on the icy floor, feeling that her home was colder and more inhumane than the sterile hospital ward. Her mind spiraled into a storm of memories.
She remembered the brilliant young man she had admired in college before ever meeting Fulton, how she had pushed herself to excel academically just to feel worthy of someone so seemingly unattainable.
She recalled her dreams of becoming a powerful, self-reliant woman, thriving in her career.
She thought of the cruel remarks from Fulton’s family after each of his violent outbursts and her parents’ callous advice to endure rather than leave.
Despair consumed her.
At Tessa’s words, Coleman’s face showed a flicker of shock — a brief spark of real concern breaking through. “Tessa, you p>
Sensing that shift, Fulton immediately dropped to his knees in front of Tessa. He slapped himself in the face over and over as tears streamed down. “Tessa, I only lost control because you disrespected my mother. I know my family isn’t as good as yours, but you didn’t have to treat her so coldly. She’s getting older and her back hurts all the time, and you still kept dumping chores on her. It’s too hard on her. I’m sorry. I swear I’ll never touch you again. Tell me what you want my mother to do and I’ll make sure she does it. Please, give me one last chance p>
His twisted version of reality made Tessa’s stomach turn. She looked away and snapped, “Get out of my sight p>
Fulton clung to her sleeve like a child and whimpered, “Tessa, is this because I’m disabled? Do you look down on me because of my leg? Is that why you want a divorce p>
Those fake tears sent a cold shiver down her spine. She yanked her arm free and said, ice in her voice, “Leave. We’re finished. This divorce is final p>
Whatever debt she had owed him for the past was already paid — in years of her life and in money.
The moment those words left her mouth, Coleman struck her across the face.
Gabriela, who had been standing a few steps back, rushed forward. “Mr. Ramsey, Tessa just got out of the hospital. She’s still recovering. How could you hit her p>
“Be quiet,” Coleman snapped. “You young people are always shouting about divorce and poisoning her mind. In my time, marriage was for life. You stayed married no matter how hard it was p>
He turned on Tessa. “Fulton damaged his leg saving you, and now you want to leave him because he’s disabled? You’re ungrateful. You’re disgracing our family p>