---- Chapter 18 "Tess, just look at me," Clifford said softly from behind Tessa, his voice filled with frustration and longing. Tessa didn't even flinch. She continued unlocking the shop door, treating him like he wasn't even there. "Tess, please listen to me," he trailed after her as she walked into the cafe, watching as she turned on the machines and started washing the cups and plates with practiced ease. For a second , he froze. A long- forgotten memory suddenly came rushing back to him.
"Clifford , I want to live a simple, easy life." The girl was wrapped in a blanket, sitting next to him under the stars. "Tess, no matter what kind of life you want to live, I'll be there with you." The boy's voice carried a trace of youth. They were just in middle school then. "Clifford, you don't understand ," she said, her smile faint. "Why wouldn't I understand ?" he asked anxiously . There was a pause before she finally answered , "One day, you'll inherit the Jones Group.
You'll have to carry the weight of the family and the business. You'll ---- be forced into marrying some gentle, proper wife and raising a bunch of kids to mold into the next generation of heirs. "But I don't want that kind of life. I want to open a small cafe and spend my days with someone romantic, living freely." The boy grabbed her hand in a panic. "Tess, I'm not going to live like that. I'm going to marry you!" She smiled again, but she never looked at him.
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Later, the girl fell in love with him too. She gave up her dreams and became the graceful, accommodating Mrs. Jones for his sake. And the boy had forgotten what she once wanted and the starry sky they once sat under. A tear slipped from Clifford's eye, falling onto the back of Tessa's hand. She twitched slightly and finally spoke. "Clifford , we're divorced . We have nothing to do with each other anymore." Her voice was calm and detached. It was as if she truly didn't care anymore.
"Tess, I'm sorry. I know everything now. I know that Tania's child was never mine... I know all those accusations against you were false." "The child wasn't yours?" Tessa raised an eyebrow. " Then whose was it?" ---- He quickly explained , "It belonged to some wealthy businessman. Tania was actually his mistress. She got pregnant, and he dumped her, so she drugged me and claimed that the baby was mine. "Tess, my grandmother and I have already punished her.
She's out of our lives for good." He gently tried to fasten the emerald bracelet on Tessa's wrist. "My grandmother wanted me to give this back to you. She told me to bring you home. You are the true lady of the Jones family." Tessa frowned and quickly took it off, yanking her hand away and shoving the bracelet back into his palm. "Mr. Jones, love is like this bracelet . Once it's broken, it's broken.
No matter how carefully you glue it back together, no matter how sincere your apologies are, the cracks will always be there." She gave a cold laugh. "Mr. Jones, please leave my cafe, I don't serve people of your status." The emerald bracelet sat heavy in his palm, like it carried the weight of a thousand regrets. He could hardly breathe. His face twisted in pain. "If I can't undo the past, then let me start over. Let me chase you again. Forget the past. Let's just focus on the future.
Please?" She let out a bitter laugh. "Mr. Jones, could you not be so ridiculous?"
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