Chapter 81

Quentin looked at Tessa meaningfully and said, "Tess, back then, I didn't realize that Stephen was beating that guy up because he liked you. "I just thought he was stepping in for you like a brother would. It wasn't until recently that I figured out Stephen's feelings for you had been growing for a long time." Tessa felt a wave of emotions after hearing Quentin's story. She had gripped her wine glass so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. She never expected Stephen to go so far as to beat someone up for her, to the point of almost killing him too. Suddenly, she felt fear wash over her. She was afraid of dragging him down. Stephen had always been the kind of person whom parents would often see as a good role model, while teachers regarded him as an exemplary student. Meanwhile, people his age would see him as a talented man who was so far ahead of them that they had no chance of catching up to him. His future was bright. If he ended up shouldering the burden of taking a