His Unveiled Passion

Tessa was tickled pink by Marissa's words.

Finally, she looked at Marissa helplessly. "Say, Marissa, do you even hear yourself? I'm Stephen's girlfriend. You're currently trying to convince me to bring my boyfriend to my love rivals' birthday party, you know?"

She wasn't mad. If anything, she was just baffled by the absurdity of the request.noveldrama

Marissa raised a hand and swore, "Trust me. I just don't want to leave any regrets. You just have to bring him along. You can flaunt your relationship with him. I'm totally fine with that. I just want him to attend my birthday party for once. Scout's honor."

Then, she grabbed Tessa's arm and shook it like a spoiled child begging for candy. "Please, Tessa. You're the bestest friend ever, aren't you? Just say yes. I really don't mean any harm. I promise I won't ask this of you ever again, so please?"

Tessa furrowed her brows, deep in thought.

Marissa continued to plead her case, "I swear I won't do anything to him. Just consider my decision to hold this birthday bash as me closing the chapter to my unrequited love for him."

After a beat, Tessa sighed in resignation. "Fine."

Marissa's face lit up with joy as she grinned. "Thanks, Tessa. Lunch is on me!"

Tessa, Marissa, and Stephen were sitting around a round table inside a restaurant's private room.

Marissa handed the menu over to Tessa, letting her order.

They had chosen an Ucresian restaurant for lunch.

Tessa ordered a few dishes she liked, one of them being lightly poached shrimp.

She had loved shrimp ever since she was a kid. Usually, the servants back home would peel them before serving them on the table. Alas, there were only her, Marissa, and Stephen inside the private room right now.

Once the dishes were served, Tessa served herself a shrimp, wiped her hands, and got ready to peel it herself.

Suddenly, a spoon swiped the shrimp from her plate.

Tessa looked up at the thief, only to find Stephen already peeling the shrimp for her.

He looked as though there was nothing out of the norm about it. He even looked elegant whilst doing so.

Tessa blinked in surprise, instinctively shooting a glance at Marissa, who looked stunned. But a dark look tinged her brows.

Meanwhile, Stephen was done peeling the shrimp. He promptly dipped it in the sauce and placed it back on Tessa's plate.

Tessa murmured quietly, "Thank you." Then, she began to enjoy her shrimp.

She hadn't even finished her first shrimp when Stephen was done removing the shell from the second shrimp.

Marissa's smile looked strained. "Stevie, I didn't think you'd ever peel a shrimp just for someone else."

Stephen was pretty much royalty in

Rivertown. He had plenty of staff

members waiting on him hand and

foot. So, he had never needed to

peel his own shrimp, much less

someone else's.

Still, judging by his skill, it was obvious that this wasn't his first rodeo.

Stephen's gaze was lowered on the

shrimp, utterly focused as he replied

somewhat absentmindedly, "Tessa's

my girlfriend. Of course, I should

dote on her. Am I supposed to let

her do it herself?"

That was the kick in the gut.

Marissa felt her heart clench upon hearing those words.

She didn't say anything in response. Instead, she just served herself before stuffing her mouth full of food.

She thought to herself, "Why did you have to open your big fat mouth? Now see what's happened? Damn it, every word coming out of his mouth might as well be a dagger to my heart."

Marissa had always viewed Tessa as her rival.

She had imagined that Tessa would flaunt her victory when she got back together with Stephen. She even thought that Tessa would brag about how easy it was to nab the man Marissa had been pining for, even after seven years.

Marissa had even rehearsed just how she was supposed to go about responding gracefully when that time came.

Nevertheless, she never once expected Stephen to be the one rubbing salt in her wounds.

Compared to him, Tessa actually had the decency to look awkward and embarrassed.

Soon, there was a mountain of peeled shrimp on Tessa's plate.

Stephen figured it was just about the right amount for Tessa. So, he picked up a warm towel and wiped his hands clean. "Is that enough?"

"Yes," Tessa murmured as she continued digging into her shrimp.

Stephen scooped up some baked salmon, carefully removed all the bones, and placed the clean fillet on Tessa's plate.

Tessa soon had a feeling that someone was staring at her mournfully.