Chapter 685 A Peaceful Storm

    Now? She really didn’t like the ocean anymore.

    “You’re awake?”

    The man’s voice came from behind her.

    ???,

    ?? 52%=

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    Tessa turned and saw Victor standing at the end of the wooden walkway, a te of grilled food in hand.

    Seeing him confirmed it wasn’t a dream–Victor had really found her.

    And in that moment, something inside her heartpletely shifted.

    He walked up and, seeing her silent, reached out and gently rubbed the top of her head.

    “Did you sleep well?”

    He was trying to be gentle.

    But he wasn’t like Abraham, who treated Ste with warmth simply out of habit.

    Abraham exuded a calm, refined tenderness.

    Victor, though–when he tried to be soft, it felt like steel wrapped in velvet. A rough kind of gentleness.

    Tessa blushed faintly and nodded. “Mm.”

    iUgh/ii… /i

    A sh of memory surfaced–her wrapping her arms around Victor in front of Marie. She wanted to die of embarrassment.

    Her mom’s few words to her growing up had always been, “iGirls /iishould /iibe /i

    ireserved/i.i” /i

    Chapter 685 A Peaceful Storm

    But back then? She’d forgotten everything.

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    Without realizing it, in those few short days by Victor’s side, she’d be emotionally attached to him.

    It didn’t feel like they’d only known each other for a handful of days–it felt… much longer.

    Victor held her close and led her back into the room.

    Even though she was starving, when he brought her food, she only nibbled on the fruit.

    She didn’t touch the grilled fish, shrimp, or oysters at all.

    Victor frowned. “You don’t like grilled food?”

    Tessa gave him a pitiful look. “I’ve been eating fish non–stop this whole time.”

    Clearly, she was sick of it.

    Just the sight of fish made her want to gag.

    Seeing her look so fed up made Victor chuckle softly. “Looks like she really put you through it.”

    So much that she couldn’t even eat fish anymore.

    Tessa went quiet.

    Thinking back on her time with Marie–it really had been a nightmare.

    But when she remembered everything she’d learned…

    Tessa still felt grateful to her.

    Back in Rivermount, she’d watched Ste move on from Ethan, that dominating man, and she never imagined she’d be someone like that

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    Chapter 685 A Peaceful Storm

    herself.

    And yet…

    “Where’s my phone? I want to call Ste.”

    She had left so suddenly–Marie was probably worried.

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    Tessa didn’t know how long she’d slept, but considering the change in location and the time of day, it must’ve been a while.

    Victor said, “No need. She knows.”

    “You told her?” Tessa asked.

    He nodded calmly. “Mm.”

    Tessa didn’t doubt him for a second. If Marie already knew, then there was no need for her to call.

    She could thank her properly once they got back to Falvaria.

    Victor had more food brought in–this time, no fish. Tessa finally ate her fill.

    “Ah, that was iso /igood.”

    It was the best meal she’d had in a long time.

    Honestly, ever since arriving in Falvaria, she hadn’t eaten properly. It had been feast or famine every day.

    That had never happened in Rivermount. Just thinking about it made her feel a little bitter.

    Ashen Pact was a total mess.

    But the ind Victor brought her to felt like a peaceful world untouched by

    chaos.

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    Chapter 685 A Peaceful Storm

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    Outside, night hadpletely fallen. Only the sound of waves remained. The lighting along the coast was done well–soft, not pitch–ck and oppressive.

    Later that night.

    Someone arrived on the ind. Ss called Victor away, leaving Tessa alone in the room.

    She wanted to call Ste, but realized her phone wasn’t with her.

    Actually, since the moment she stepped onto Spada Ind, Marie had taken her phone.

    With nothing else to do…

    She nced at her tanned skin and decided to take a long bath to restore it.

    “Mm, this feels amazing.”

    The water was warm.

    It felt like all her exhaustion was melting away–especially the soreness from how Victor had “worn her out.”

    And those particr ces…

    Tessa closed her eyes,pletely rxed.

    She had no idea that her entrance into the bathroom had been silently witnessed by someone else.

    In a wooden cabin across the way, the mood inside was heavy.

    Seated across from Victor was a man in a tailored suit, with two armed

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    Chapter 685 A Peaceful Storm

    bodyguards behind him.

    .

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    Danger radiated from every inch of him, and one nce at his eyes revealed his cunning.

    “Mr. Victor, are these terms to your satisfaction?”

    The manid out his offer and asked.

    But Victor, holding a cigar in one hand and his phone in the other, barely nced up. His eyes lingered on the screen.

    His mind was still stuck on the image of Tessa stepping into the bathroom unclothed…

    It was as if he hadn’t heard a single word the man had said.

    Lewis, standing behind, saw Victor remain silent. Ss gave a pointed cough, while Lewis leaned over–trying to sneak a look at what Victor was staring at so intently on his phone.

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    The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In