Chapter 0003

Tessa didn’t know how she got back to her apartment. The moment she opened the door, a gust of cold air hit her and she shivered. 

The place she called home now felt like a strange place. It was no longer warm. Perhaps it had never been warm. It was just an illusion. 

She had gone deeper into things when Aaron was just having fun with her. The moment the woman he loved showed up, he threw her away like trash. 

He didn’t even have the decency to be honest with her. To him, everything can be brushed away with a few dollars. He trampled on her heart and gave her money as if the money would heal her shattered heart. 

Looking around the apartment, she was filled with resentment. This place was special to her. Aaron had taken her for the first time in this place. He had asked her to move in so they could spend more time together. 

How could she not see it? The signs were there. Usually, if it wasn’t about sex, Aaron wouldn’t even bother with her.  

Quite alright, they would order in food but they never went on dates. Thinking about it now, she realised he didn’t want to be seen with her in public for Serena’s sake. 

Tessa was foolish enough to believe it was to avoid bad rumours about her that would destroy her reputation. The red flags were there. But she was blinded by love and ignored them. 

Perhaps she had hope that things would change once they got married. But boy, was she wrong. Aaron had been playing with her all this while and she was none the wiser. 

Anger flared up within her and she rushed to the bedroom and began to pack her clothes. Tears streamed down her face and there was a part of her that still wanted to beg him and ask him to choose her but she pushed it away. 

She had already made a fool out of herself. She wouldn’t let him humiliate her twice. When she was done packing, she dropped him another text. 

[I’ve left the apartment. It belongs to you and I don’t want anything that belongs to you. I’ve returned the cheques and left them with Nora. I have no use for your money, Mr Wentworth. I’ll leave the keys with the security. I never want to see you again and I wish you happiness in your marriage.]

This time, she didn’t wait for his response and immediately deleted his number. 

‘I’m starting over. I may be hurt but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I’ll overcome this. I know I can,’ she said silently and left the house. 

She had just gotten into a cab when her phone chimed. With a racing heart and bated breath, she took out her phone but her stomach twisted when she read the text. 

[Good riddance.]

That’s all Aaron sent back. He didn’t even ask where she would go or show any care. Tessa could only blame herself for the little hope that had ignited in her heart when she heard the phone chime. Now she had to have her heart shattered all over again by his cold hurtful words. 

She let out a sigh and couldn’t stop her tears from flowing down her cheeks. The driver noticed the lady he was driving wasn’t in a good mood so he put some music so that she wouldn’t feel embarrassed. 

Tessa cried all the way until she reached her home town in the Countryside.

…

Aaron had been anticipating Serena’s arrival for a while now. After all, he had loved her all his life but she always gave him excuses as to why they couldn’t be together. 

He even had his old man make a contract with the Winston group for him to marry her when the time was right. 

They were supposed to get engaged two years ago but she suddenly left for further studies and became a famous pianist outside the Country. Aaron was devasted when she left to pursue her studies instead of trying to fulfil their marriage agreement but since he loved her, he supported her and told her he would wait for her. 

However, she stayed out of contact while abroad. Aaron was frustrated and he even wanted to follow her but suddenly, a young beautiful woman with similar features to Serena appeared for interviews at his Company. 

At first, he was shocked that two people could look so similar. And then, a thought flashed through his mind. Since he missed Serena so much, why not keep her look-alike close until she comes back?

So he employed Tessa as his senior assistant despite her low qualifications but she surprised him by working extra hard until she became a worthy assistant. 

He couldn’t stop wanting to be close to her and in no time, he found himself being intimate with her when they both got drunk. Her drunk look that time looked so seductive that he failed to resist the temptation. Coupled with the fact that she looked like Serena, he chose to use her to vent his longing for the woman he loves. He had tried to stop because he felt like he was being unfaithful to Serena but Tessa was just so addictive. 

On the night that he learned of Serena’s return, he only planned to give Tessa money and ask her to leave but she came to meet him in only a tiny towel. 

He thought with his manhood and ended up having sex with her, claiming it was the last time. 

From Tessa’s apartment, he went straight to pick Serena up but surprisingly, the zeal he thought he would have when he saw her again was not there. 

No excitement or anything. 

He just felt normal. Like he was meeting one of his old friends. 

This surprised him because Serena was the woman he’s always loved and he had been waiting for her for a long time so his reaction was somewhat strange. 

But he didn’t think much about it. What mattered was that she was back and they could finally get married. 

“I can see that they’ve been improvements to the company,” Serena commented the moment he came back from the bathroom and sat next to her in the small lounge area in his office. 

Aaron nodded. “Yeah. It’s not me. Everything you see has been done by Te-” 

The space between his eyebrows met when he realised he was about to mention Tessa’s name. Why the hell was he even thinking about her?

‘It’s because she’s been my assistant for years. Now that Serena is here, I just need to focus on her.’ He said silently but there was a strange emotion stirring in his chest that he couldn’t quite place. 

“What?” Serena asked and Aaron turned to look at her. 

“My assistant did all the work,” he said nonchalantly. 

He kept quiet after that. He realised quite quickly that he and Serena had literally nothing to talk about. It was slightly awkward. 

“Would you like to eat something?” He offered and she smiled at him. 

“Sure. Let’s go home and have lunch there. I’m sure my brother and father are dying to see you. We can also discuss our engagement.” 

Aaron nodded but he didn’t know why Tessa’s face suddenly flashed through his mind. He couldn’t help wondering. 

‘How is she doing? Will she look for a job in the City? Maybe I should help her out.’

Serena noticed that he had zoned out again. This was the fifth time since he saw her again that he was zoning out. She clenched her fists as irritation flared through her. Aaron used to worship the ground she walked on but now, he was different. 

Picking up the phone he had left on the coffee table, she handed it to him. “You received a text while you were in the bathroom.” 

Aaron snapped out of his reverie and inexplicable guilt rushed into him when he looked into Serena's eyes. 

‘What am I doing? I should be focusing on her right now.’ 

He smiled at her and got the phone from her. When he unlocked the phone, his eyebrows met when he read the message that Tessa had sent. 

‘Thanks for the cash but I want more. I didn’t date you for nothing you know. What will that small amount do for me? Did I waste my time fucking you just for you to give me such a small amount?’

Anger surged within Aaron. He hated golddiggers the most. He gave her money that she could only dream about but she still wanted more. He stared at the text in disdain and his opinion of Tessa dropped down a notch. 

He put his phone into his pocket and looked at Serena. “Let’s go.” 

Since he was always in love with her, Aaron didn’t think it was a bad thing for him to see her family so soon. 

Whilst they walked down the hallway and passed by the assistants' office, he couldn’t help but stare inside briefly. He felt a strange emotion in his chest when he saw Tessa’s empty desk and it confused the hell out of him. 

‘Was I too harsh on her?’