Chapter 17

Milk frothed on Tessa's lips, creating a striking image. Stephen's gaze flickered, his eyes darkening slightly before he quickly looked away. His Adam's apple bobbed as he cleared his throat, awkwardly murmuring, "Get some sleep. Goodnight." Without waiting for her response, he turned and strode toward the stairs. Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Tessa simply looked away and continued sipping her milk. The next morning, Stephen knocked on Tessa's door, before her alarm even went off. "Tess, time to get up." Tessa opened her eyes, reached for her phone beneath her pillow, and checked the time. It was 9:59 am. Perfect timing. After getting ready, she came downstairs to find breakfast already set on the table. It was a simple but hearty plate of a big breakfast. She took a bite, and her eyes lit up in surprise. "This tastes exactly like the place near our law firm!" Stephen, seated across from her, hummed in response without looking up. She hesitated, unsure what his response me