Chapter 126: What Game Was Tessa Playing?

Celeste’s house always smelled like lavender and vanilla, soft, sweet and welcoming. Tessa inhaled deeply the moment she stepped in, holding onto that calm for a few seconds longer than usual.

“Tessa!” Celeste rushed forward, tying her apron around her waist as she padded barefoot across the tiled kitchen floor. “Finally! Come, come! I’ve been dying to recreate that carrot cake you made. You came at the right time.”

Tessa laughed, dropping her bag on the counter. “You say it like I’m some culinary goddess.”

“Please,” Celeste scoffed, flipping her braids over her shoulder. “That cake nearly made me propose to you. I need the recipe before you become stingy with it.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Tessa said, shaking her head as she washed her hands in the sink.

Tessa felt a bubbling warmth in her chest. She didn’t make many close female friends, Maya was her anchor, but Celeste… Celeste was the kind of chaotic, warm, slightly nosy friend she didn’t know she needed.

As they gathered ingredients, Celeste nudged her with a mischievous grin. “So… tell me. How did it go with Julius Blackwell? You said you’d give me details today. And I am in full gossip mode.”

Tessa’s lips curved into a secretive smile as she cracked the eggs. “It was… interesting.”

Celeste gasped. “Interesting good or interesting dangerous?”

“A little of both,” she said, pouring sugar into the bowl. “I went to that lounge close to his office just to see if he might stop by.”

Celeste froze dramatically. “That’s the spirit girl.”

“Well,” Tessa folded the mixture carefully. “I needed a head start. Saturday was too far.”

“And did the target show up?”

Tessa smirked. “Like he was summoned.”

Celeste squealed. “Ah! Babe, you are the baddest! So? What happened? Did he talk to you?”

“We talked… for a little while.”

Celeste leaned closer, eyes wide with excitement. “Sharp girl. Sharpest girl in this entire sisterhood. I swear if you had a tail it'd be wagging.”

Tessa burst into laughter, shaking her head. “You’re insane.”

“And you love me,” Celeste said, poking her hip. “Now spill. Did he look at you like he wanted to devour you?”

“Celeste!”

“What? It’s a valid question.”

Tessa bit back a shy smile. Celeste gasped loudly enough to scare the dog sleeping by the window. “TESSA!”

“What?”

“I’m so proud of you. We’ll toast after the cake. God! That’s progress!”

Tessa felt a subtle rush of satisfaction. Hearing it said out loud made her success feel even sweeter.

As they whisked, stirred, and poured batter, they fell into easy laughter, teasing each other about kitchen skills, men, and past disasters. The warmth was grounding.

Until Tessa’s phone vibrated on the marble counter.

She wiped her hand and reached for it. An unknown number.

“Who’s that?” Celeste asked.

“No idea.” Tessa frowned and answered, placing the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

Silence. Not a breath.

Her brows knitted together as her skin prickled. Something about the quiet felt wrong.

“Hello?” she repeated, slower this time.

Still nothing. She ended the call.

Celeste’s eyes were already watching her. “What happened? Your face just changed.”

“It was… weird,” Tessa murmured. “Someone called but didn’t say anything.”

Celeste shrugged. “Network maybe? Or someone mistakenly dialed you.”

“Maybe,” Tessa whispered, though her gut twisted in a way she couldn’t explain. She placed the phone down and forced a smile.

“Okay,” she said, tapping the bowl. “Let’s cream the butter.”

They continued mixing and folding, whisking and decorating, the kitchen filling with warmth again. Celeste played music, dancing in between cabinets like a hyperactive butterfly. Tessa shook off the unease.

But then her phone rang again. Another unknown number, different from the last one.

Tessa hesitated, throat tightening.

Celeste paused dancing. “Pick it.”

Tessa swallowed and answered again.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

But this time, the quiet was worse. It wasn’t empty. It was intentional. Someone was listening.

Her skin crawled, a cold shiver spidering down her spine. This wasn’t a mistake. This was deliberate.

She ended the call instantly.

Celeste’s smile faded. “Okay… what the hell was that?”

“I… I don’t know.” Tessa rubbed her hands together unconsciously. “That didn’t feel like a network issue.”

“Maybe it’s a prankster,” Celeste offered, forcing a casual tone. “Some childish idiot trying to get on your nerves.”

“Maybe,” Tessa whispered.

………..

Roderick stepped out of his home, locking the door behind him as he walked toward his car. The sun was dipping slightly, casting long shadows across the quiet street.

He almost didn’t notice the figure standing at Tessa’s door. But when he did, he paused.

Jordan, just standing there. Hands in his pockets. Head lowered slightly. Like he’d been waiting a while.

Something about the stillness felt off.

Jordan lifted his head the moment he sensed he was being watched. When he saw Roderick, he broke into a wide, false smile and waved.

Roderick managed a polite nod. “Hey.”

Jordan stepped toward him, the smile too bright to be real. “Good afternoon.”

Roderick stalled beside his car. “Looking for Tessa?”

“Yes,” Jordan said immediately. “She’s not picking my calls. Been trying to reach her.”

Roderick’s brows lowered. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, yes. Yes,” Jordan rushed. “We just have… things to discuss. Family matters.”

Roderick nodded slowly. “Well, she’s not home. She’ll probably be back later.”

“I’ll wait,” Jordan said.

Roderick felt a quiet warning stir inside him. Something wasn’t right. Jordan’s eyes were too restless. His demeanor, too forced.

Jordan cleared his throat. “So… um… do you know what school Naya attends?”

Roderick stiffened. A cold, sharp awareness sliced through him, why was he asking him such a question? Even though he knew the school, there was no universe where he would reveal that to this man.

“I don’t,” Roderick lied easily. “Maybe ask Tessa.”

Jordan clicked his tongue. “Tessa is trying to take my child away from me,” he muttered darkly. “I need a lawyer. A good one. If you know any, I’d appreciate it.”

“I don’t,” Roderick said slowly. “But I have a friend. I can ask him.”

Jordan exhaled in relief. “Good. Let me give you my card.”

He pulled out a card and handed it over. “Please. I really need help.”

Roderick accepted the card with a polite nod. Jordan waited, staring into space, as if hoping for more conversation.

Roderick forced a smile, stepped into his car, and closed the door.

On the way out, he tossed the card straight into the trash can beside the driveway.

His mind raced, Jordan looked different from the man he's seen several times, but more terrifying was the quiet suspicion unfurling in his chest.

What game was Tessa playing? Was she really keeping the child away from Jordan?

He didn’t know.

But one thing was certain, Tessa could never be wrong to him. Never. He’d loved her for too long for that.

And one day…

One day he hoped she would finally see him.