Chapter 239 Tessa Is Killed
To Tessa's surprise, when Gemma heard what she said, although anger flashed in her eyes, it vanished completely the next second.
Gemma suppressed her rage.
Not only that, she even smiled at Tessa and reached out to hold her hand.
"Tessa, you've been wronged too."
"Everyone outside is saying this has something to do with you, but I don't believe it. I know you and Mark truly loved each other. You would never do this to Mark for a disabled Liam."
Tessa felt like she had a lump in her throat.
Things were a bit unexpected.
Gemma didn't get angry, and even comforted her instead.
Had someone coached Gemma?
Tessa forced a smile, barely maintaining it.
"Of course."
Gemma soon went to greet other people.
Tessa sat alone, and no one came to talk to her.
First, the buzz around Mark's incident hadn't died down yet, and no one wanted to get too close to Tessa to avoid bringing suspicion on themselves.
Second, Tessa brought bad luck.
Everyone was afraid of being tainted by misfortune.
Tessa was just left there on the sidelines.
She felt restless and really wanted to find an excuse to leave early.
But Mark's ashes were still displayed in the memorial hall, not yet buried in the cemetery.
Everyone would go to the cemetery for one final memorial, and only then would the funeral be complete.
The ceremony was barely a third of the way through.
She couldn't leave this early.
Just then, Gemma came to find her again.
Tessa realized with frustration that compared to being left alone, she'd rather talk with Gemma.
"Uncomfortable, aren't you?" Gemma asked her in a low voice.
Tessa smiled stiffly.
She heard Gemma say, "I thought you wouldn't come. Everyone outside is saying you caused Mark's death. Since you're here, I'll try to be a good host. You're sitting here alone and bored—why not go to my study, read some books, and pass the time."
Tessa agreed almost without thinking.
"Okay."
She couldn't wait to leave the hall and escape those whispers and scrutinizing looks.
"Let's go."
Gemma led the way.
Tessa quickly followed behind.
On the second floor, Gemma stopped at the study door, turned to Tessa and said, "Just wait here for a while. I'll have the servants bring some fruit. When it's time to go to the cemetery, I'll come get you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez."
Tessa thanked her and stepped toward the study.
Just then, she suddenly felt Gemma quickly follow her in.
Before she could wonder why Gemma had followed her in, she felt a sharp pain in her chest!
Looking down, she saw a dagger had pierced straight through her heart!
Her eyes widened as she collapsed to the floor.
She saw Gemma standing beside her, smiling coldly like a ghost.
"You killed Mark and still want to live? Go to hell!"
In the last moment of her life, Tessa's mind flashed to a scene from years ago.
Her white horse had been spooked, breaking through the fence like crazy and running toward the road.
It was Liam—he had risked his own safety to save her from the horse.
Tessa's eyes widened as she opened her mouth, only to have blood pour out.
Gemma closed the study door and went downstairs.
One stab wasn't enough to kill Tessa instantly. She wanted Tessa to feel life slipping away bit by bit, just like Mark.
Until death.
Downstairs.
Mark's funeral continued. No one knew what had happened in the second-floor study.
Soon it was time to leave for the cemetery, and Idris asked about Tessa.
Gemma said, "She probably couldn't stand the way people were looking at her and left."
Idris didn't like Tessa either, so he said nothing and left carrying Mark's urn.
They returned from the cemetery at four in the afternoon.
The guests came back for dinner.
Normally, when someone so young died, the funeral shouldn't be too elaborate.
But Gemma insisted, and Idris could only go along with her.
Just as the guests were all seated and the meal was about to begin, a servant's scream came from upstairs.
"Someone's dead!"
...
Tessa was dead.
Dead in the study on the second floor of the Rodriguez Villa.
When the servant found her, blood had pooled everywhere—the entire study floor was covered in blood.
Tessa's eyes wouldn't close.
The onlooking guests were all terrified.
The police arrived quickly.
When this news reached Amelia's ears, she was shocked and immediately called Samuel.
Samuel happened to be about to call her.
When the call connected, he said, "I'll come pick you up. Let's have dinner at my place."
"Okay."
Amelia didn't say much more. She changed into comfortable clothes and went with Samuel to Rosevale Manor.
The food was prepared by a chef from All Seasons Table.
Samuel had asked Yosef for it.
Amelia liked the food from All Seasons Table, but today she wasn't in the mood to eat. After just a couple of bites, she asked, "What happened? How did Tessa end up dead at the Rodriguez Villa?"
Samuel dismissed the others, leaving only Jeremy and York.
He glanced at York and said, "You tell her."
York was a bit nervous.
He didn't know if he'd done well or messed up, because things had turned out differently than he expected.
He began nervously.
"Mr. Crawford asked me to cause some trouble for the Rodriguez family. I happened to find out that today was Mark's funeral."
"I knew Gemma was a bit extreme, so the day before, I had someone egg on Idris to adopt a new heir, and then leaked the news to Gemma."
Then he bribed someone to tell Gemma at the funeral that Mark could have survived, but Tessa had completely cut off his chance at life.
He did this to provoke Gemma's anger toward Tessa, and Tessa would definitely attend the funeral.
At this point, York bit his lip and said, "I thought they'd fight at most. I never expected Gemma to actually kill Tessa."
This wasn't his intention, and it far exceeded his expectations.
After speaking, York looked at them both nervously.
But he saw them both smile knowingly.
Amelia even said, "York, you did great. You avenged my brother. Thank you."
Not just Liam—back when she was heartbroken and "going crazy," the Young family had taken the opportunity to plant a spy in Shadow Operations Division, causing her to be drugged at Crystal Springs Resort and Shadow Operations Division to suffer heavy losses.
The Young family owed her two debts.
This debt had finally been repaid.
Mark's death had made Tessa be called a jinx. Compared to Liam's injuries and the Shadow Operations Division members who died, this punishment was still too light.
Now that Tessa was dead, she'd finally vented some of the anger in her heart.
"Thank you for this, York."
Amelia stood up and bowed to York in thanks.
She wasn't just thanking him for herself, but also for Liam and the deceased Shadow Operations Division members.
York quickly stepped aside from her bow.
"Ms. Richardson, how could I accept this? Please get up."
Amelia straightened up.
Seeing Samuel looking at her questioningly, she told him about the past.
Jeremy and York knew about what happened between her and Samuel at Crystal Springs Resort.
So she didn't hide anything from them.
After hearing her out, all three understood.
"Actually," York said, "I'm not that smart. I was worried about how to cause trouble for the Young family to keep them from targeting you. I happened to be drinking with Byron, and he suggested it. If anyone deserves credit, it's Byron."
Hearing this, Jeremy turned to look at York, gratitude flashing in his eyes.
York was rough around the edges but thoughtful.
Before he was sure whether he'd messed up or succeeded, he didn't mention Byron at all.
Only after confirming he'd actually "done well" did he bring up Byron.
He didn't take credit for himself.
But he was willing to bear the pressure for Byron.
Having such a close friend was his good fortune.
After dinner, Amelia and Samuel had some time alone.
Jeremy called York outside.
"Last time at the company, I bet you that Mr. Crawford couldn't leave before ten o'clock, and I won a drink from you. Thinking about it now, that was pretty unfair. How about this—today I'll buy you a drink."
York knew Jeremy was thanking him.
He punched Jeremy in the chest.
"Jeremy, you always talk in circles. If you're moved, just say so. Why bring up being unfair? If my brain were any simpler, I wouldn't understand what you're saying."
Jeremy shook his head.
"Not everyone is like you."
"Are you complimenting me? Not everyone is as straightforward as me?"
"No, I'm insulting you. Not everyone is as dumb as you."
"Damn! You're asking for it!"
The two started roughhousing, and other subordinates egged them on to spar, making the living room lively.
Compared to the living room downstairs, upstairs was quiet.
Samuel brought Amelia to his room.
"I have a gift to show you," he said.
Amelia nodded.
This wasn't her first time entering a man's bedroom.
Shadow Operations Division had mostly men.
Byron, Louis—they were all men.
She'd known Byron the longest. Back when they were struggling, they even lived in the same tiny rental, growing up together.
Later, when they were older, sometimes when missions were urgent, she'd kick open their doors and yell at them to get up and work.
Entering men's rooms was routine for her.
But Samuel's room was different.
She saw Byron and Louis as subordinates, as family—she didn't see them as men.
Samuel was truly her man.
Amelia felt inexplicably nervous.
Fortunately, she was good at managing her expressions and didn't let Samuel notice, or he'd probably tease her.
In the room, Samuel closed the door and said, "Make yourself comfortable. Wait for me a moment—I'm going to take a shower."
A shower?
Amelia tensed up.
She hadn't expected things to move this fast.
After all, Samuel had only proposed to her—they weren't actually married yet.
Deep down, she was an old-fashioned, traditional woman.
But the words of refusal reached her lips and she swallowed them back.
What happened at Crystal Springs Resort still cast a shadow over her.
Even though she now knew that man was Samuel.
Still, Samuel was right—when facing fear and difficulties, you have to face them head-on, not run away.
It was time for her to take this step and confront the shadow in her heart.