“Tessa?” Wendy’s internal alarms blared as her expression darkened. She strode forward, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. “What are you doing

here?”

Seated elegantly on the couch, Tessa lifted her gaze slowly. A mocking smile played on her lips. “Well, well. If it isn’t my doppelgänger. For a moment there, I thought some long-lost sister had appeared. Since when did you start playing the ‘substitute’ game?”

Wendy’s face drained of color. Tessa had noticed?

Recovering quickly, she forced a scoff. “Copying you? Don’t flatter yourself. Why would I need to imitate you?”

Tessa examined Wendy from head to toe. Then, she burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Wendy sneered.

“Just remembered an old tale.” Tessa tilted her head, eyes glinting with malice. “Ever heard of it? Some knockoffs only highlight the original’s superiority.”

Wendy’s manicured nails dug into her palms. Of course she knew the parable— the ugly peasant girl whose clumsy imitation of a beautiful woman became proverbial ridicule.

Wendy crossed her arms, looming over the seated figure. “You think you own this aesthetic? That no one else can possibly share your tastes without being a copycat?”

Tessa’s amusement deepened. “Oh, I get it. The matching outfit is a coincidence. The identical hairstyle-pure chance. Even the same perfume? Just cosmic serendipity. By all means, keep telling yourself that.”

Wendy frowned, and before she could retort, a man called out, “Tessa!”

Wendy was stunned to hear Zachary’s pleasant voice, while Tessa stared at him coldly.

Wendy hissed, “You were waiting for Zachary? After all this time, you’re still chasing after him? Are you that desperate for male attention?”

Tessa scoffed. “Not everyone mistakes trash for treasure.”

Zachary approached and heard Tessa’s ridicule. A flicker of pain crossed his features before settling into resigned acceptance.

He knew all too well the things

he’d

done to Tessa in the past, so being called trash” was getting off lightly. He had no disillusions abouto himself.

“Tessa, I’m just glad you’re safe.” Zachary stepped closer, his expression tender, eyes brimming with lingering affection.

The words ignited Tessa’s fury. In one fluid motion, she rose from the couch and delivered a stinging slap across his face.

The crisp sound echoed through the lobby like a gunshot. A few scattered passersby whipped their heads toward the commotion. Even the

receptionist at the front desk

gawked openly.

Zachary was relatively good-looking and dressed well. The ladies in the company, including the receptionist, had a secret crush on him.

If she weren’t afraid of getting fired, the receptionist would have recorded this and showed

The entiret

company. The mighty CEO was slapped by a woman. What a scene!

“Have you lost your mind?” Wendy shrieked as she rushed to Zachary’s side. She cupped his face with trembling hands. “Are you okay? Let me see!”

Zachary’s head had snapped sideways from the impact. After a dazed moment,

he brushed Wendy away, his gaze locking onto Tessa’s icy eyes.

“Why?” His voice cracked with genuine hurt.

Tessa radiated frigid rage, her voice icy. “You called the police?”

Zachary replied earnestly, “Of course I did! When I heard you’d been kidnapped, I

-I was terrified something would happen to you.”

Her eyes flashed dangerously. “How did you know James took me? Did Jacqueline tell you?”