Chapter 20* A drink
Tessa was in the kitchen when Harry entered and stood too close to her, startling her. She jumped and dropped the pot she was holding before placing her hand on the left side of her chest.
“God, Harry, you gave me a scare.” She said as she bent over to pick up the pot.
It was because he was silent when he walked in and went to stand behind her from nowhere. Suddenly having someone behind her made her heart jump and she freaked out.
Harry stepped back, he ran a hand through his hair sheepishly whole apologising. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s ok,” Tessa responded and returned to what she was doing. “Why are you here?”
She didn’t remember inviting him over. Just showing up at her place unannounced was awkward.
Harry frowned but Tessa didn’t see his expression. ‘Is she asking because she didn’t want me to see that she had let Aaron into her house?’
“I came to see you so that you can accompany me tonight,” he proposed.
“Oh, where do you want to go? You know I don’t leave the house at night unless it’s necessary.”
“It’s my birthday today, Tessa. Or have you forgotten? I always remember yours.”
Tessa’s eyes widened and guilt crept into her. She whipped her head around to look at him, saying, “I’m so sorry. I was just overwhelmed with everything. Aaron got the kids without my permission and I had to go to his office to take them back. The day has been stressful. Happy birthday, Harry.”
When he heard this, Harry finally understood how Aaron found himself at Tessa’s house. He breathed out in relief knowing she still didn’t want him.
“Do you want me to do something about him? I can call the police and have them chase him away,” he offered.
Tessa shook her head. “It’s alright. He’s the kids’ father after all. Let them bond. Besides, Aaron practically owns this City. Who would be brave enough to arrest him?”
Harry clenched his hands into fists. A menacing look flashed through his eyes as hatred brewed within him.
Those kids! All they wanted was their real father. What’s so good about him?!
He was angry but his face still had a bright smile as he talked to Tessa.
“How about you accompany me for a drink tonight? It’s my birthday and I don’t want to be alone.” Tessa furrowed her brows. She wiped her hands with the handtowel and turned around to look at him. “Shouldn’t you have dinner for your birthday or something? Why would you go clubbing during the week?” “I’ve just been stressed lately. Please, Tessa. You’re the only one who can make me feel better.”
Tessa sighed. She felt bad and decided to accompany him. ‘It’s only a drink.”
1/5
Chapter
“Fine. But we won’t stay out late. Willa cries for me in the middle of the night.”
Harry smiled and began to help her set the table.
During the process of the dinner, Tessa allowed Aaron to stay with the kids and told him she was going out
with Harry.
Harry smirked at Aaron whose jaw clenched so hard it looked like it was about to snap. He was clearly
enjoying Aaron’s predicament. He may have found his way back into Tessa’s life through the kids, but the one she will be spending time with was him.
Anger bubbled up within Aaron and he glanced at Tessa, requesting, “Can I speak to you after dinner? It’s
important.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow. “Unless it’s about the kids, I don’t want to discuss anything with you right now.”
“It’s about the kids and their safety,” Aaron said through gritted teeth.
Tessa wanted to refuse. However, she recalled how her mother told her he has a right to be there for the kids
and relented.
“Fine. We can talk in the kids’ room.”
Dinner was over a little later and Tessa led Aaron to the kids’ bedroom and then she crossed her arms across
her chest and stared at him defiantly.
“Speak. I’m listening.”
“Who’s Harry to you?”
Tessa scoffed. “Mr Wentworth, is this about the kids?”
“Yes. Do you even know who he is or do you just blindly trust people?”
Anger surged within Tessa when he said that. After all, she had trusted him blindly before, only to find that she was not the one he loved.
“What is your point, Mr Wentworth?” She spat.
“My point is. Harry is Serena’s sister. Do you know that?”
Tessa felt a ringing sound in her ear. ‘Did he already know who I was when he approached me at the hospital?”
She began to suspect Harry but then she shook her head. If he was a bad man he wouldn’t have offered to help her mother get treatment.
“He must have not known that my kids are related to you,” she mumbled.
“Are you serious? Two of the kids look so much like me. How could he not put two and two together? Or are you actually in love with him that you’re willing to be deceived by him?”
Tessa became livid at his words as she responded curtly. “Even if I’m in love with him. How is it your. business?”
Aaron’s heart clenched in pain. Tessa had heard how Harry deceived her and she was still willing to be with
Chapter 20 A drink
him. Was she really into him?
“He lied to you, Tessa.”
“Well, at least he didn’t try to make me a substitute for another woman.”
Aaron felt like he had been stabbed in the heart with a sharp object. Had he really lost? Would Tessa never be his again? How was he supposed to go on from now on?
“If there’s nothing more, please excuse me. I need to change.” Tessa said.
Aaron left the room looking like he had lost all his wealth. His children saw him and rushed towards him.
“Daddy, what’s wrong? Why are you sad?” Reagan asked his father.
Aaron quickly composed himself and smiled at him, ruffling his hair.
“I’m just sad that I won’t be staying here with you.”
“That’s simple. Just tell Mommy that you will be sleeping in our room. She will agree!”
Aaron’s eyes lit up when he heard this. A few seconds ago he had felt lost but now, because of his son, his fighting spirit was restored.
He would only give up on Tessa over his dead body.
Looking at his son, he bent over and whispered something in his ear.
Reagan smiled mischievously. “Count me in!”
The father and son laughed while Harry glared at them from the side. He didn’t care though. It was a good thing that Aaron was bonding with his kids. It meant it wouldn’t be hard to get rid of them when Tessa becomes his wife.
Aaron sat on a couch and began to play with the three kids. They were showing him their books and what they had learnt in kindergarten so far.
“Oh, Willa, did you draw this?”
“Yes, Daddy. It’s our family.”
“This is good, Willa. Well done!”
“Nia, I can see that you’re good at colouring. None of the paintings have gone out of the lines. Well done!” “Reagan, my son! This is wonderful. You painted the garden perfectly. Well done!”
The kids were giggling with huge grins on their faces after being praised by their father. This was the scene that Tessa saw when she returned from changing her clothes.
Her heart felt warm and guilt crept into her. So this was what she had been depriving her kids of? Aaron was a good father. He might be a bad partner but he was a considerate father. So attentive and loving.
She was busy admiring the interaction between father and children when Harry’s voice brought her back to the present.
“Are you ready to go? I must say you look ravishing.”
Aaron heard his words and raised his head to look at Tessa. His throat became dry as he drank her in.
She was in a tiny black dress that left nothing to the imagination. It hugged her figure perfectly. Her creamy thighs were left in the open and the dress had a plunging neckline, exposing a tiny part of her cleavage. She had curled her hair and let it flow down to one side of her shoulder. She applied red lipstick on her lips and did a smokey eye makeup.
“Wow! Mommy, you look nice!” Willa chirped.
“You look pretty, Mommy!” Nia added with a smile on her face.
Reagan looked at his father and said in an exaggerated tone. “Wow! Mommy is beautiful! Isn’t Mommy beautiful Daddy?”
Aaron who was lost for words gulped and replied in a daze. “She sure is.”
“Tell her, Daddy. Tell Mommy she’s beautiful-”
“Reagan!” Tessa scolded her son.
Aaron glanced at her. “He’s right. I should tell you. You look beautiful, Tessa. So dazzling that for a moment
there, you left me speechless. You’re breathtaking.”
Tessa’s face flushed and she hurriedly walked towards the door. “Mr Wentworth, you should leave the moment you put the children to sleep. Bye, my babies, I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“Bye, Mommy! Don’t worry about us, Daddy is here!”
Aaron’s jaw ticked when Harry threw a triumphant look at him and placed a hand on the small of Tessa’s back, leading her out.
Anger and jealousy flared through Aaron. He never even knew he was capable of feeling this kind of jealousy.
Tessa looked so sexy and he hated that the fucker, Harry, was the one with her.
Taking out his phone, he texted his assistant who was waiting outside in the parking lot.
[Follow those two and tell me where they are going.]
Reagan looked at his father and frowned disapprovingly.
“Daddy, do you want to be our daddy or not?”
“Of course, I want to be your daddy. I am your
daddy.”
“Then why didn’t you go with Mommy just now?”
Aaron smiled and ruffled his hair.
“I’ll follow them soon. I just want to put you to sleep and then I’ll go after your Mommy. I’ll never let someone else become your daddy, I promise.”
Reagan smiled from ear to ear when he heard this.
“Then we should go and sleep right now,” he suggested.
Aaron carried Willa and Nia to the bedroom while Reagan followed closely. He tucked them in and read them stories but since they were excited that their father read them stories for the first time, it took a long time for them to fall asleep.
An hour later, Aaron breathed out in relief when the little ones finally slept off. He took out his phone and read the text from his assistant.
Enock: [They are at Marlin’s club, Sir.]
Aaron clenched his hands into fists. He was sure Harry was up to something and it was his job to protect Tessa and the children from him.
He tiptoed out of his children’s room and left the house. He then dialled some numbers and made a conference call.
“The CEO himself. What’s up, Aaron?” Tony answered while Victor listened. Graham’s line went unanswered since he was on duty at the military base.
“Do you guys want to go out for a drink? It’s on me.” Aaron offered. “Really? This is a rare chance to spend the mighty CEO’s money. Count me in. Send me the address,” Tony replied.
“Yeah, me too. I’m stressed anyway.” Victor added. Aaron cut the call and sent a group message. He clenched his hand around his phone and then he dialled his assistant’s line. “Hello, Sir.”
“Investigate what Harry was up to the past five years.” There was a menacing look in Aaron’s eyes when he cut the call. He was sure Harry’s presence in Tessa’s life wasn’t a coincidence.
If he finds out that Harry had a hand in helping her leave, he will show him exactly who’s the boss of Ashford City.
