Zachary’s eyes darkened, filled with pain. “It’s my fault I didn’t satisfy James, that I didn’t break you two up… If I had, and James got what he wanted, he wouldn’t have come after you. He wouldn’t have gone after Mr. Yates and Seline…”

Tessa was confused and thought he was being absolutely ridiculous.

She let out a bitter laugh. “So you’re apologizing because you didn’t break me and Stephen up?”

“I…” Zachary’s eyes flickered. “That’s not what I meant, Tess…”

Tessa’s face flushed with emotion, and her eyes turned red. Her voice rose in anger as she said, “Zachary, Seline was taken hostage by James’ people! She could’ve been rescued, but because you called the police, the officers showed up and ruined everything. Now she’s been taken to Arcton!”

Zachary’s eyes shot wide open in shock. “What? Was Seline kidnapped too?”

“It really wasn’t Jacqueline who told you to call the police?” Tessa’s fury boiled over. “Do you know what James said to Stephen over the phone? He said if the cops showed up, he’d kill us on the spot!

“Jacqueline knew! She told you to call the cops because she wanted James to kill me! She used you. Don’t you get it?” She glared at him as her chest heaved with rage.

His face went pale, his eyes clouded with anguish. Realizing he had almost caused Tessa’s death, the pain in his chest grew unbearable.

“I’m sorry, Tess… I didn’t know… If I had known, I never would’ve called the cops-”

“Enough!” Tessa snapped and cut him off. “Tell me the truth. Did calling the cops really have nothing to do with Jacqueline?”

His lips pressed into a tight line, and his fists on both sides were clenched.

Faced with Tessa’s accusations, he nearly blurted out the truth. But…

Even though Cayden had been arrested, Gomez Group’s official controlling shareholders hadn’t been affected.

Right now, Gomez Group was

nothing more than a plaything in James’ hands. Even though James had returned to Arcton, all it would take was a single word from him, and Gomez Group would be on the brink of bankruptcy again

On paper, the company still bore the same name, but in reality, it belonged to the Fullertons now.

Zachary weighed his options. No matter what, the company was his father’s life’s work. Even if it wasn’t truly theirs anymore, having a part of it was still better than losing t altogether.

He couldn’t expose Jacqueline. Not yet.

“It had nothing to do with her.” His voice was hoarse as he spoke.

Tessa simply stared at him. A few seconds passed before she let out a faint, bitter laugh. She didn’t say another word and turned to leave.

Only then did Wendy, who had been standing nearby the whole time, step forward and tug at Zachary’s sleeve. “Zachary, are you okay? I’ll get you an ice pack.”

Zachary shoved her aside roughly, his expression dark with frustration. “Get lost!”

He turned around and pulled out his phone to quickly dial a number.

He needed to know the truth-whether Jacqueline had known James would kill them if the cops showed up.

If she told him to call the police despite knowing it would lead to the death of the woman he loved…

He would never forgive her.