Chapter 413
Chapter 413:
Little by little, she let Fulton into her life.
By the time she graduated, Fulton staged a grand proposal in front of their classmates. He went down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
By then, the story of Fulton’s “heroic sacrifice” had spread through every corner of campus. Students applauded and insisted that a man who had suffered so much for her deserved her lifelong devotion.
Crushed by the weight of expectation, Tessa forced herself to nod and accept.
Gabriela frowned, unease settling in her chest. Something about it all felt wrong.
She finally asked, “Be honest — what are the chances that Fulton just happened to show up at the exact moment those guys cornered you in that alley p>
Tessa’s expression went cold, her voice flat. “What a coincidence, right? I wish I had never met Fulton p>
She thought bitterly that even being assaulted back then might have been easier than the life that followed.
Her mouth twisted into a tired smile. “At first, after the wedding, he treated me okay, and his mother wasn’t too bad either. But then his sister, Sigrid Ortiz, moved back in with her child after her divorce, and suddenly every single expense landed on me p>
Tessa had urged Sigrid to get a job. Sigrid insisted she wanted to work at Apex Group — and demanded that Tessa use her position to get her hired as an executive assistant. Sigrid didn’t even have a high school diploma.
ѕ𝘩𝖺𝗿𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝘳 f𝘢𝗏𝗼𝗿𝗶t𝘦𝘴 f𝘳о𝘮
Even so, Tessa swallowed her pride, went to HR, and begged until she managed to get Sigrid a basic clerical position.
Instead of appreciating it, Sigrid twisted it into an insult. She claimed Tessa had humiliated her by not getting her a more important role. She quit after just a few days and then brought chaos back home.
“After that, Fulton only got colder toward me,” Tessa said, her voice unsteady. “Sometimes I think he even regrets hurting his leg for me p>
She had never told anyone all of this before. But with Gabriela sitting there, listening, the walls finally gave way. The tears wouldn’t stop until her body gave out and she fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.
Gabriela stayed with her until she drifted off, then gently pulled the blanket up around her and slipped out of the hospital room.
In the hallway, Loretta and Miriam approached, both wearing the same tight, worried look.
“How is Tessa?” they asked at the same time.
Gabriela let out a tired sigh. “She’s okay now — she’s already asleep p>
But Tessa’s situation was messy. Fulton really had injured his leg protecting her, and with Coleman’s threats hanging over her, divorce seemed almost impossible.
As she spoke, her gaze shifted — and there was Wesley, standing a short distance away. The sharp line of his tailored trousers emphasized the long, powerful shape of his legs. His presence pulled attention without trying.
Steadying herself, Gabriela walked over to him and looked up. “Wesley, I owe you for today,” she said quietly.
Without him stepping in, she might have been the one lying in a hospital bed in critical condition.
Wesley lowered his eyes to meet hers. His voice was smooth and cool, carrying quiet authority. “There’s no need to thank me. It wasn’t anything at all p>