Chapter 8
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“So you and Addie are really over?” Dad asked curiously.
It hadn’t been easy for him, raising me all on his own. We had always tried to be thoughtful with each other. Harsh words were rare between us, and when I did speak firmly, he knew I meant it.
I nodded. “I really don’t like him anymore. We’re not right for each other. Dad, if we can, I don’t want us investing in them. Find a
reasonable excuse to pull out. I’m not saying this because of personal resentment, and I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’m saying it because it’s what’s best for us.”
Dad’s expression grew serious, and after a long moment, he nodded. “Okay. We’ll do it your way. To be honest, their company never really met our investment standards in the first place. I was only willing to take the risk for you, to help make you happy. Now that you’ve come to your senses, I’m happy for you.”
Looking at the gray at Dad’s temples, I suddenly wanted to cry.
So all of it had really been because of me.
I didn’t have many friends back home, but Dad wanted me to get out of the house, so he handed me the holiday shopping and specifically told me not to pass it off to our housekeeper.
Resigned, I went out to buy groceries for the holiday. And just as expected, I ran into the two people I least wanted to see.
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“Tessa, what a coincidence,” Chloe said, clinging to Adrian’s arm. With him there, at least Chloe wouldn’t completely lose her mind.
“I must’ve gotten out of bed on the wrong side this morning, so no, not much of a coincidence.” I pushed my cart along and kept picking things out,
Without a word, Adrian slipped his arm out of Chloe’s grasp and reached for my cart, taking over pushing it for me.
I stopped where I was and refused to follow him. Instead, I turned around and grabbed a different cart.
“What are you doing?” Adrian’s brow tightened.
“A cart you touched? I don’t want it.” I gave a shrug.
Something suddenly smacked into my back. I reached behind me and touched it–it was a supermarket egg. “Tessa, what kind of attitude is that? Are you showing off because you’re rich? I know my family doesn’t have your kind of money, but if we did, I’d invest in Addie’s family’s company without hesitating. I wouldn’t use it as leverage as you do!”
I turned around. Chloe’s whole face was stiff with anger, like she was the one who had been wronged.
I stopped walking. “Adrian, did I or did I not tell you that if you and your little childhood sweetheart showed up in front of me again, I wouldn’t be polite?”
I shot him a cold look, took an egg from the display beside me, walked over, and planted it on top of Chloe’s head in one hard motion.
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“You don’t exactly look rich either. Do you think investing is a joke? You think you can make it happen just by flapping your mouth? Idiot.”
I let out a cold laugh and turned to leave.
Only then did the stunned Chloe snap back to herself. “Tessa! You bitch! I’m calling the police!”
She tugged at Adrian’s sleeve. “Addie! Look at her–she’s bullying me!”
So I stopped again. “You’re saying I bullied you? You want to call the police?”
I pointed at the surveillance camera. “I wonder who threw the first thing. But that’s fine. I’ll hire the best lawyer I can find, and you’d better ask your childhood friend to hire you one too, because I’ll fight this to the bitter end.”
When she saw I was really about to call the police, Chloe panicked and hurriedly pleaded with Adrian.
Adrian stepped forward and snatched my phone away.
“This was our fault. Chloe, apologize.”
Adrian looked at me, his eyes rimmed red.
“What are you talking about? I’m not apologizing!”
An apology? Back then, whenever Chloe hurt me, Adrian always covered for her. He would tell me to be the bigger person.
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Even when he brought Chloe into our home, ate the meals I cooked, and kissed her right in front of me, all Adrian had to say was, “Coco had too much to drink. Stop being so petty.”
I gave a cold snort. “You’re insane.”
Suddenly, he dragged Chloe, who was trying to leave, right up in front of me. “Chloe! Apologize!”
Chloe struggled wildly and burst into tears. “What’s wrong with you? I’m not apologizing!”
She shook Adrian off and ran out crying.
Store employees were already heading over, and I had completely lost any desire to shop, so I hurried outside.
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