Chapter 427
Chapter 427:
Raven’s tone was ice. “Show her who runs this house. Make sure she remembers it in her bones p>
Shoved to the floor, Tessa curled in on herself as a storm of fists and kicks fell on her, every blow harder than the last.
That night, the sky split open again and rain hammered down in sheets.
Gabriela was jolted awake by the shrill ring of her phone. She shot upright in bed. The clock on her nightstand glowed past two in the morning, and the caller ID showed Tessa’s name.
She grabbed the phone immediately. “Tessa, what happened p>
On the other end came Tessa’s shaking, broken whisper. “Gabriela… help me p>
Gabriela’s heartbeat kicked hard. She threw on clothes with frantic hands.
Her first instinct — the one that rose before she could even think — was to call Wesley. But the memory of him sitting across from Rebecca, the easy closeness between them, flashed through her mind. Her hand froze.
Her thumb hovered, then moved past his name.
Instead, she hit Tyler’s contact.
“Tyler, I’m sorry to call you this late p>
𝘔o𝗋𝖾 𝘯о𝘃еl𝘴 о𝗻.с𝗼𝗆
Tyler didn’t hesitate.
He stormed into Fulton’s house with Gabriela, ready to take Tessa out of there.
Tessa was on the cold floor, bruised and shaking, tears sliding silently down her face.
Fulton staggered out of the bedroom, cursing. “Who the hell said you could walk into my house like p>
Tyler’s temper snapped.
His fist drove straight into Fulton’s face and sent him crashing to the ground. Leaning over him, Tyler pressed his knuckles to Fulton’s cheek and growled, “You think you can raise your voice at me? Before you start barking, maybe ask around who Tyler Jordan is p>
Broad-shouldered and solid with muscle, Tyler towered over him like a storm cloud. The tattoos coiling down his arms made him look even more dangerous.
Raven and Sigrid stayed silent.
Fulton, face dark with rage and humiliation, didn’t try to fight back.
Tyler scooped Tessa into his arms and carried her straight to the hospital for examination.
Thankfully, the doctor confirmed that although Tessa’s injuries were painful, none were life-threatening.
Determined to end it for good, Tessa stayed in the hospital for three more days. Then, with Gabriela beside her and medical evidence in hand, she went to court and filed for divorce. Afterward, she moved into Gabriela’s villa.
“Gabriela, let me stay here for a little while. I’ll move out as soon as I find an apartment,” she said.
Before Gabriela could answer, Loretta cut in, brisk and decisive. “Why bother moving out? Gabriela’s villa has more than enough rooms. You can stay here as long as you want p>
Loretta spoke like she was Gabriela’s real grandmother, managing the house as if it were hers.
Tessa blinked at her, startled by how direct she was.
Gabriela didn’t mind at all. With a small smile, she said, “Mrs. Larson is right. Stay. I’ll have company, and you’ll have somewhere safe p>
Relief washed over Tessa’s face. “Then I’ll stay for now p>
Just as the mood in the room began to settle into something warm, the landline rang sharply, cutting through the air. Gabriela picked it up. It was the guard at the gate.
“Miss Haynes,” he said, uneasy, “there’s a man outside named Fulton Ortiz. He says he won’t leave unless you come out to see him p>