Chapter 412
Chapter 412:
Coleman’s voice turned cold again, sharp and dismissive. “You really think you’re suffering that much? Your mother and grandmother went through hardships a hundred times worse when they were young, and they never abandoned their families. But you? You complain about life instead of enduring it p>
Tessa’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile, but her eyes were empty.
On the other end of the line, Coleman hissed, “I’ve said everything I need to say. If you dare go through with this divorce, don’t call me your father again p>
The call ended with a hard click.
For a moment, Tessa just stared at her phone in a daze. Then the tears finally broke. She collapsed against Gabriela, sobbing until her chest ached and her breathing turned shaky.
“Gabriela, you heard him, didn’t you? The moment I even try to get a divorce, my dad will cut me off. He’ll turn the whole family against me, make everyone believe I’m some ungrateful woman who betrayed him. I’ll have no one. What’s the point of earning all this money every year? No matter how hard I work, it feels like there’s no place for me in this world p>
Tessa’s sobs were so raw that Gabriela felt her own chest tighten. But she didn’t know the full history between Tessa and her father, so she held back from giving advice.
All she could do was place a gentle hand on Tessa’s back and let her cry.
“You have us,” Gabriela murmured softly. “Aubrey, Loretta, Farley — all of them care about you. And if you ever have nowhere to go, come stay with me. I have more than enough space. Stay as long as you want p>
𝘑𝘰𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗵𝖾 𝗰𝗈𝗆𝗆uni𝗍𝘆 𝗮t
Through her tears, Tessa grabbed her arm. “Gabriela, you’re such a good friend p>
She cried until her strength ran out. Then, finally, she took a shaky breath. She rubbed at her swollen eyes and let out a weak laugh. “Look at me. Falling apart again in front of everyone p>
Gabriela shook her head firmly, refusing to let her say that about herself. Curiosity crept into her voice. “Tessa, how did you end up with Fulton in the first place p>
Tessa was the poised, capable chief secretary of Apex Group — anyone could see she was exceptional. Fulton, by comparison, had neither the character nor the ability to match her.
Why would Coleman fight so hard to keep her tied to him?
Gabriela’s thoughts raced, and she blurted out, “Is your dad hiding some kind of secret that Fulton p>
Tessa immediately shook her head, cutting her off before she could finish.
“My dad is a university professor, Gabriela. He’s a man of principle. He would never do anything underhanded p>
She let out a quiet sigh and continued. “I actually met Fulton in college. He was a year below me p>
With her looks, her background, and her talent, Tessa had drawn plenty of admirers back then.
Fulton confessed his feelings early, but she had her eyes on graduate school and turned him down without hesitation.
Then, one night, everything changed.
She was cornered in a dark alley by a group of thugs and almost assaulted. Fulton suddenly appeared, fought them off, and got her out — but he injured his leg so badly that he was left with a permanent limp.
Coleman, who was respected on campus for his integrity, kept telling her over and over that she owed Fulton for saving her, that she should repay that debt with care and loyalty.