A Love as Restless as the Wind novel

---- Chapter 16 Clifford's assistant said, "Mr. Jones, we can't find any trace of Mrs. Jones. She's completely erased any traces of her identity. If it were me, I'd run far away too, and never come back." Clifford's eyes darkened as he let out a bitter laugh. After everything he had done to her, he still expected her to be understanding, obedient, and patient. Ever since he realized that Tessa had left him for good, it felt like someone had carved out a piece of his heart.

It was still beating, but it was just aching. "Keep looking." He was long since numb to the pain. All he could do now was try to find her and beg for forgiveness. "I've finished looking into everything you asked. The footage is all here on this flash drive." The assistant extended his hand, revealing a cold, metallic USB stick in his palm. Clifford's fingers trembled slightly as he took it and inserted it into his computer. Deep down, he'd already guessed the truth.

Looking back, it didn't make sense. Tessa was never the kind of person who could hurt someone else. But still, he had to see it for himself. That was his ---- punishment. He forced himself to watch every second, swallowing back wave after wave of rage and regret. It was true that while Tania was curled up in his arms, listening to him tell stories, the woman he loved was burning with a high fever in a room downstairs, weakly knocking over a glass of water, bleeding, and suffering.

It was true that while he devoted all his attention to Tania at the ranch, Tessa had been right there, watching silently. When he stepped away to take a call, Tania had taken the chance to provoke her. When the horses collided and Tessa was thrown to the ground, he hadn't even spared her a glance. He only rushed to Tania's side, while the woman he once held so dear was nearly trampled to death. It was true that the beef stew had been fine.

It was Tania who laced it with abortion drugs, trying to induce a miscarriage and pin it on Tessa. And Clifford had believed her. Without a second thought, he punished Tessa in the cruelest way, left her ina blizzard, buried beneath an avalanche. "What the hell... have I done..." He clutched his head in anguish. "Tess... How could I have done this to you? "Tessa Turner, if I ever betray you in this lifetime, may I... "Spend the rest of eternity never knowing happiness... ---- "Tess...

losing you means losing all of my happiness." He whispered the words as tears splashed onto the back of his hand, cold and bitter. "Help! Somebody help!" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the Jones residence, yanking him out of his torment. "Tania, it's time you paid for everything you've done. " Clifford looked down at the bloodied, pitiful woman before him with furrowed brows. "Clifford...

I won't do it again, I swear I won't..." Tears streamed down Tania's face as she desperately reached for him, still trying to cling to him like a lifeline. "You love me, don't you? Please... Please, let me go. I'll disappear. I won't ever show up in front of you and Tessa again..." He grabbed her by the throat and laughed coldly in rage. "Love you?" His chest twisted with pain. Indeed, from Tessa's perspective, didn't he do everything out of love for Tania?

And the worst part was, he did waver for a brief moment because of Tania. "Tania, did you trick me into signing the divorce papers?" "Tessa asked me to! She said she needed help getting