Sophia froze for a moment before noticing the thermal container in Tessa’s hand. “Tessa, you brought food for Stephen?”

“Yes.”

Sophia looked at Stephen. “Are you full? Do you want to eat more? I brought all your favorites.”

Stephen replied, “There’s no need. Tessa’s homemade food suits my taste perfectly. I finished it all.” Hearing this, Sophia flashed a smile. “Alright. It’s fine as long as you’ve eaten.”

Quentin gave the couple a mischievous look. “Oh? Tessa made it herself?”

He set down the fruit basket and supplements he was carrying, looking at Stephen with a teasing grin. “Lucky bastard.”

Stephen replied, “Yeah, it’s a joy that you single folk wouldn’t understand.”

Quentin’s smile froze. “Alright, fine. One of these days, I will find myself a girlfriend too, just so I can flaunt our love in front of you every day and drive you crazy.”

Naomi widened her eyes in surprise. “Tessa, you know how to cook?”

Tessa smiled. “I just learned it.”

“Love is truly magical,” Naomi exclaimed in disbelief as she circled Tessa teasingly.

“I still recall that time back in college when you fried an egg for me. When I took a bite, it was crunchy.

You said that eggshells were a good source of calcium. And now you’ve learned to cook? Incredible.”

Tessa awkwardly touched her nose. “Eggshells do have calcium in them, though.”

Naomi laughed in exasperation. “Fine, fine. You serve eggs with shells to your best friend but whip up fancy meals for your fiancé?”

Tessa’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “I will make you a fancy meal next time.”

Naomi grinned. “I will hold you to that.”

Quentin gave her a sideways glance. “Tessa is cooking for her romantic fantasies. What are you butting in for?”

Naomi lifted her chin haughtily. “Mind your own business.”

The group bantered for a while, and the atmosphere grew lively.

Sophia chuckled along, her gaze

landing on the thermal containeret

Tessa’s hand. “Tessa, are you going to wash this?”

“Yes,” Tessa responded.

“Give it to the caregiver,” Sophia said, signaling to the caregiver nearby.

The caregiver quickly stepped forward. “Ms. Yates, let me take care of this.”

Tessa passed the thermal container to the caregiver.

Sophia didn’t stay long. She happened to receive a phone call and left in a hurry.

Tessa also had some work to deal with in the afternoon, so she left after spending some time with Stephen.

Just as she exited the hospital, she met someone she didn’t want to see.

Zachary walked toward her. “Tessa, I finally get to see you. Why haven’t you been home the past few days?”

The “home” he mentioned was Marina Apartment. That was the only address Zachary knew of.

Tessa looked at him warily. “What are you doing here?”

Excitement gleamed in Zachary’s eyes as he stared at her. “I heard that your engagement ceremony was canceled?”

Tessa responded coldly, “What does that have to do with you? Move.”

Zachary blocked her path. “Tessa,

vel.nét

do you believe in fate? The engagement ceremony being disrupted shows that God forbids this engagement.”

Tessa sneered. “It’s the 21st century. How have superstitions like yours not been eradicated?” Zachary didn’t feel offended. No one was happier than him to see the engagement ceremony get disrupted.

And to top it off, Stephen had been stabbed and nearly died. Even fate seemed to be on his side!

A smile surfaced in his eyes. “Tessa, you know who the attacker was? She’s a crazed admirer of Stephen’s, and she has been pursuing him for ten years. Many people saw her at the engagement banquet that day. The news is spreading across Rivertown as we speak.”

He leaned closer. “Tell me, how could any man remain indifferent to a woman chasing him so passionately for a decade?”