The room was warm from the central heating. Sienna had also taken off her coat. She walked over to the couch, picked up Naomi's coat, and held her own coat in one hand and Naomi's in the other, hanging both up before turning back with a bright smile.
"This place is perfect for a New Year's Eve party. What a nice spot to watch the fireworks and city lights."
"Right? Pretty great choice for New Year's, huh?" Naomi grinned.
Sienna nodded with a smile. "Yeah, yeah!"
"Why isn't Tess here yet?" Naomi glanced toward the door and pulled out her phone. "I'll give her a call."
Just then, the door opened.
Naomi looked up with a smile. "I was just about to call you, and you—what the hell?"
It wasn't Tessa who walked in—it was Stephen.
And Nancy.
The smile on Naomi's face froze instantly, replaced by a flicker of anger. She snapped, "Who invited them?"
Sienna shook her head. "Not me."
Henry also shrugged. "I have no idea."
Quentin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Didn't you say you wanted a New Year's party? What's a New Year's party without my best friend?"
"You're such a goddamn idiot, aren't you?" Naomi exploded. "You know he cheated on Tess, right? He hooked up with a freaking celebrity! I threw this party to cheer Tess up and to help her get over him! What the hell were you thinking, inviting Stephen?"
"Huh?" Quentin blinked, completely dumbfounded. "You didn't tell me not to invite Stephen! He's been my best friend for over ten years…"
He rubbed his nose, sighing. "Come on, don't get so worked up. They broke up, so what? We're all in the same circle. It's not like we can just cut someone off forever just because they split up, right?"
"Oh, please." Naomi scoffed. "Why the hell not? Mr. Jacobson is way out of my league. If cutting ties is what it takes, then so be it!"
Seeing that Naomi was serious, Quentin started to panic. "Hey, come on, it's not that deep. Don't go making it a whole 'let's never talk again' thing. Just hear me out—"
After all, the Jacobson family heir's romantic scandals wouldn't have hit the headlines unless he'd allowed them to.
Henry had even warned Stephen to be careful and not hurt Tessa so badly that she'd never come back.
Now, seeing how furious Naomi was, Quentin nearly blurted out the truth, but Stephen shot him a look that stopped him cold.
Naomi was too straightforward; she couldn't keep a secret to save her life. If she found out the truth, Tessa would know within a heartbeat. And all their efforts would've been for nothing.
As the argument heated up, the door opened again.
"Sorry, I got held up. Hope I'm not too late."
Tessa stepped inside and locked eyes with Stephen.
Her heart seemed to stop beating.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: His Unveiled Passion
I know this isn’t Stephen’s fault but I still hated how he was so careless around this bitch even after Tessa already told him it’s obvious that this bitch likes him and she looked at Tessa with hostility. If Tessa breaks up with him again, I’ll even support her. Ugh. Good luck on winning Tessa back again, Stephen. Tss. I so hate these updates....
Nooooo! Not again! We don't need a twist like this. Is it too hard for the writer to conclude with..."and they live happily ever after"?...
Finally getting Stephen and Tess back together then to tear them apart with foolishness. This is craziness...
Yuhohoooo!!! Finally!!!...
Aaand~ Tessa and Stephen are finally back together! Yaaaaay!...
Why make an uninteresting, irrelevant twist when readers are waiting for Tess and Stephen to be together?...
Gosh just let Tessa and Stephen get back together already! Ugh...
Oh my god, when is this book finishing... they're not even back together yet and more nonsense side plots.....
Whoa! Hahahahahaha! Go, Sophia! Burn, stupid Rowena! Lol...
Sooo~ Chapters 310-318 were just a repeat of Jacqueline’s punishment, official expulsion from the Jacobson family, and arrest. With few changes since Tessa and Stephen are not together this time. So Tessa didn’t witness how Jacqueline was tortured at Stephen’s base, though at least Tessa was still called over and witnessed how Stephen officially expelled Jacqueline from the Jacobson family and how Stephen’s subordinate made Jacqueline grovel in front of Tessa. Lol. I hope Jacqueline’s really out of the story now....