Chapter 151 Patience Is Needed for Good Days

Chapter 151 Patience Is Needed for Good Days

Brian set down his glass, his gaze deepening.

"What are you getting at?"

"You should know as well as I do—business isn't what it used to be. Even with Abram backing me, several of my operations have been shut down."

Gone were the days when whoever had the guns held all the cards.

"I warned you about this. You should've changed your strategy. If you'd gotten out of the arms trade with Theo earlier, maybe you'd be in better shape now."

A flash of something dangerous crossed Frank's face. He let out a derisive laugh at Brian's words.

"You bailed too early. You're still too naive—you have no idea how ambitious these young guns are nowadays."

"Someone out there has bigger balls than we do. They got into a 'special' line of business, and they've already gone from a street gang to a real player... Brian, if we keep sitting on our hands, we're going to be left in the dust."

Tessa immediately understood what kind of 'special business' Frank was referring to.

Some things weren't just illegal in Astoria—they were untouchable in Zephyria too.

"Are you out of your mind?" Brian's brow furrowed as he stared at Frank.

"And playing it safe like you do—is that really going to improve the Dobbins family's situation?"

Frank drummed his fingers impatiently on the table. "I've got a solid supply connection. If you're willing, we could monopolize this market."

Tessa's hand tightened on the table, bunching the tablecloth into wrinkles.

She could distance herself from Oliver's drug business when talking to the police, but if the Dobbins family got involved...

Ryan would have a much harder time staying clean. Everything was connected, threads woven into threads.

Brian's expression hardened, his refusal cutting like ice. "As long as I'm alive, the Dobbins family will never touch that poison. The tragedy from back then will never happen again. Frank, I've been more than lenient with you already."

He stood and strode out. Nova followed close behind. The atmosphere at the table turned oppressive.

Frank's calculating gaze shifted to Tessa and Ryan, searching for a crack in their armor.

Neither made a sound. They simply continued eating in silence.

The meal ended as poorly as it had begun. As Tessa and Ryan left together, she felt as though a stone had been dropped into still water, sending ripples through her chest.

They both knew Frank was angry—not just about Brian's lack of trust, but more so about Ryan inheriting the Dobbins family.

If an outsider could do it, why couldn't he?

The closer they got to the changing of the guard, the more tensions would rise.

Once inside their room, Tessa gripped Ryan's hand even tighter, as if the pressure made everything more real.

"Ryan, whatever happens from now on, I'll face it with you. I won't back down."

She spoke the words like a vow. When she turned, she met Ryan's gaze—burning with an intensity that was almost scorching.

Without a word, he lowered his head and captured her lips.

The temperature in the room rose without a sound. Tessa returned his kiss with equal fervor, both of them kissing as though it were their last chance—as if they wanted to meld into each other's very bones.

On their final day in Zephyria, Tessa and Ryan brought snacks and books to Eden for the children.

The farewell wasn't heavy with sadness. The children hugged Tessa one by one, looking forward to seeing her again.

Even though no one knew how long that would be. Even though Tessa had no idea if they'd still be here the next time she came.

When Tessa and Ryan left for the airport, Frank made a point of coming to see them off.

He squeezed out a couple of crocodile tears and said to them, "Come back soon. Eden will always have a place reserved for you."

Tessa didn't quite catch the meaning of that last part, but judging by Ryan's expression, it wasn't anything good.

Aboard the return flight, Tessa gazed down through the clouds, her heart heavy.

The more they learned, the more responsibility they carried.

"Why did Frank say Eden has a place reserved for us?" Tessa asked.

"...Eden was named Eden because when the Dobbins family was first established, they bought the island to use as a cemetery."

"Every head of the family is buried on Eden."

Frank's words had been cunning—they sounded like a welcome for Ryan to return as the next leader, but also like a curse for them to take up residence in Eden soon.

Tessa hadn't expected what sounded like a blessing to be such a vicious remark.

She gritted her teeth. "Then he'll be the first non-leader buried there."

Ryan let out a low chuckle, finding her vindictiveness adorable.

"My words always come true," Tessa said stubbornly.

Ryan nodded with a smile. "I believe you. After all, the last person you cursed was Ethan."

Hearing that long-absent name stirred something in Tessa.

Time had flown by—less than a year, and so much had changed.

Things had shifted dramatically.

But she had no tears to shed. All she felt was excitement at the thought of finally breaking free.

After eleven hours in the air, they touched down in Majestic City. Tessa took a deep breath of the ocean-scented breeze.

She'd never imagined she'd come to think of Majestic City as home—a place she missed, a place where she could truly relax.

Walking out of the terminal, Tessa spotted Chloe and Calista standing together, holding up a huge sign plastered with Tessa's photo.

It looked like something you'd see at a celebrity fan event.

Tessa approached them with a helpless smile. "You two really went all out."

Chloe glanced at Calista. "It was mostly Calista's idea. Global Horizons Group gave her such a cushy job that she barely works an hour a day."

With all that free time, Calista came up with all sorts of bizarre projects—like this welcome sign.

Tessa ground her teeth lightly. "Well, thanks so much."

"Mr. Williams, we need some girl talk with Tessa," Chloe said to Ryan.

Before he could respond, the two of them flanked Tessa and swept her forward.

"You have no idea how insufferable Oliver and Cecilia have been! The company's basically become their personal playground. They'd install their dog as security if they could!"

Calista nodded emphatically. "The whole place is a mess now. They've transferred a bunch of people to Harmony City."

They were clearly planning to relocate headquarters.

Tessa understood their frustration, but she felt helpless too. "Good things come to those who wait. Just think of it as paving the way for our future."

Calista's mouth turned down. "But my benefits..."

She'd been happily employed, and suddenly her payroll changed hands. She'd been worried about it for weeks.