Quentin looked at Tessa meaningfully and said, “Tess, back then, I didn’t realize that Stephen was beating that guy up because he liked you.

“I just thought he was stepping in for you like a brother would. It wasn’t until recently that I figured out Stephen’s feelings for you had been growing for a long time.”

Tessa felt a wave of emotions after hearing Quentin’s story. She had gripped her wine glass so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

She never expected Stephen to go so far as to beat someone up for her, to the point of almost killing him too.

Suddenly, she felt fear wash over her. She was afraid of dragging him down.

Stephen had always been the kind of person whom parents would often see as a good role model, while teachers regarded him as an exemplary student.

Meanwhile, people his age would see him as a talented man who was so far ahead of them that they had no chance of catching up to him.

His future was bright. If he ended up shouldering the burden of taking a life for her sake, she would never forgive herself.

She blinked, her nose tingling and feeling slightly stuffy.

…

It was already way past midnight by the time Tessa and Stephen returned to Marina Apartment.

The night wind was cold, and the moonlight cast a light in the dark atmosphere.

Tessa got out of the car without saying a word and walked straight ahead with her head down.

Stephen followed behind her into the apartment. “Tess, don’t be mad.”

Tessa did not respond.

When they reached her unit, Tessa tried to close the door behind her, but Stephen forced his way inside with a hurt expression. “Tess, are you afraid of me?”

His voice was filled with unease as he explained, “Don’t be afraid of me. I don’t have violent tendencies, and I’d never resort to domestic violence. I was just provoked that day. The things he said about you made me furious. I couldn’t stand hearing someone talk about you like that.”

Tessa looked up at him and sighed helplessly. She said, “Stephen, I’m not afraid of you and am definitely not afraid of you hurting me. I’m just worried about you.”

He pursed his lips before reaching out to pull her gently into his arms. “It’s okay now. It’s all in the past.” Leaning against his chest, Tessa felt her throat tighten, and her voice became slightly choked.

“Please don’t be so impulsive in the future. Your whole life would’ve been ruined if you really did end up kitting someone. It’s not worth it. I’m not worth you doing such a thing-”

Stephen softened his tone and said, “But I didn’t kill anyone, did I?”

Tessa hit him in annoyance and exclaimed, “How can you say that?”

Stephen’s warm hands began rubbing her back gently in a soothing rhythm, as if comforting a child. “Alright, I get it. I won’t do such a thing again.”

She asked in a muffled voice, “How many days were you locked up in a cell?”

“Not that many,” he replied.

Looking tearful, she asked, “Did you suffer? I heard that you only get to eat bread, watery soup, and bland oatmeal in there. How did you get used to eating such food?”

Stephen chuckled. “I didn’t like it, but I pretended that I was going on a diet.”

Hearing his answer, she burst out laughing despite her tears. She couldn’t help but hit him again as she said, “You’re not even fat. What diet are you on about? Are you just trying to annoy me?”

“Alright now. Can we not talk about this anymore?”

She looked up at him through her teary eyes and asked, “Stephen, why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“I didn’t want you to feel burdened by what happened. Everything I did was voluntary. It had nothing to do with you.”

Tessa sniffled as tears gathered at the corner of her eyes before sliding down her cheeks.

He cupped her face in his hands, gently brushing away her tears with his thumbs. “Why are you crying now? Don’t cry. My heart aches whenever I see your tears.”

Stephen leaned down and brushed his warm, soft lips against her cheeks, kissing her tears away tenderly.