Chapter 14

Tessa stammered, "No, that's not it. I didn't. It was all…" Her eyes darted around, searching for any escape from this mess, finally landing on the phone she'd dropped in her panic. A desperate thought flashed through her mind. She pointed at the phone as though it were a lifeline. "Sebastian, Ronald, I meant none of that. It was that man! He kept causing trouble for me. I just—" Before she could finish, her jaw was violently wrenched to the side. Her body slammed into the floor and slid nearly two feet before colliding with the bed frame. Pain shot through her back, but she refused to show it. Instead, she forced her eyes to redden, putting on the same pitiful expression that once made Sebastian and Ronald rush to her side. This time, she was met only with cold stares. Their eyes held no warmth for her now—not anymore. Seeing that they had already decided not to relent, she dropped the act entirely. "Fine, I'm vicious. I'm jealous of Bella—an orphan everyone worships just because