Love's New Bloom

Chapter 170

Chapter 170 His Child

Tessa’s hostile way of asking such a derogatory question made Erin feel repulsed. She couldn’t understand how her relationship with Chandler had anything to do with Tessa.

“Who are you to Chandler?” Erin maintained a nonchalant expression.

Tessa mentioning Chandler for a second time didn’t sit well with Erin. Her dislike for the woman before her deepened when she thought of the fact that Tessa was the one who caused her misery by capturing and imprisoning her.

Although Tessa could be considered pretty, she had a scar that marred the middle of her forehead, making her appear somewhat savage and terrifying. At the same time, it elicited a sense of pity for her as well.

Tessa didn’t bother to conceal anything as a slight smirk appeared on her lips. “I’m not anyone significant to him. I just can’t stand seeing him happy! Over the years, he casually sought out women, but each time, he swiftly got rid of them without any lingering attachments by

using money to send them away. Why did he make an exception for you?”

She then answered her own question by continuing, “Perhaps that’s love. Others may not understand it, but one’s own heart knows best

whether they truly like someone or not.” © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Erin remained silent, observing the woman before her and not knowing what to say. She wouldn’t utter useless pleas for mercy, as Tessa wasn’t likely to develop compassion suddenly and choose to let her go.

Her calm composure impressed and deeply frustrated Tessa at the same time. It seemed impossible to make Erin cry and beg for mercy.

After observing Erin the whole day. Tessa had a rough idea of what kind of a person she was.

When Erin woke up, aside from being reasonably shocked and fearful of her surroundings, she didn’t cry, make a fuss, or break down. This

reaction was unexpected for Tessa.

She had no plans to torture Erin to make her beg for mercy. Humans couldn’t withstand trials when their bodies were in a fragile state.

Pleas of mercy obtained by coercion in a drastic situation wouldn’t make Tessa gain a sense of accomplishment.

Casting a glance at Erin, Tessa walked toward the monitoring station and looked at an envelope placed there. A hint of unusual excitement flashed in her eyes as she eagerly anticipated witnessing Erin slowly crumble and collapse.

“Erin, I know you have many questions and want to know why I kidnapped you. I can tell you why. It’s because I can’t conceive a child who has Chandler’s genes. The reason is simple as that. You just happened to be the unfortunate woman who was carrying his child.”

This absurd answer left Erin at a loss for words. Such a reason wasn’t anything she was expecting. She’d considered many possibilities. but she never imagined that the child in her womb would be the real reason behind her abduction. If what she said was true, did that mean she would be imprisoned until she gave birth to her child?

That would be horrible!

If she failed to escape and Chandler didn’t manage to locate her, what was going to happen after she gave birth?

All these thoughts finally brought a genuine sense of fear that was clearly reflected in Erin’s eyes.

Seeing the transformation in Erin’s expression, Tessa laughed out loud. “Good! Your expression now is that of a normal person being imprisoned. I thought you were much stronger, but it turns out you’re just an ordinary woman.”

“Why do you want to have his child? What happened between you and him?” Erin asked reflexively.

Tessa frowned and pondered the question for a moment. Half a minute later, she said, “I know that if I don’t explain everything clearly. you’ll incessantly ask me the same questions over and over again during our time together.”

With that. Tessa took off her camouflage cap and brushed the stray hairs on her forehead back.

Hatred filled her eyes as she said, “Do you know how I got this scar on my forehead? Back then, when I was still in medical school, I confessed my feelings to Chandler in front of the entire school. Not only did he reject me in front of everyone, but he also humiliated me with his words! That night, I went to a bar to drink because I was too heartbroken. But on my way back, three men followed me-”

Erin’s eyes showed a hint of astonishment and concern as Tessa continued disdainfully, “Stop looking at me with that fake look of pity. It’s as you think. Those men kidnapped me and took me to a deserted area and they sexually assaulted me.”

After pausing slightly, she went on, “After the incident, overwhelmed with shame and anger, I wanted to end my life. I ruthlessly smashed

my head against a sharp rock. But I guess God wasn’t done with me yet. When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital, saved by a kind lady living in the suburbs who happened to pass by. I dropped out of school after that and reported the assault on me to the police. Within half a month, those three criminals were caught, sentenced, and sent to prison. But the emotional trauma I experienced remained unresolved. I indulged in very destructive behavior for a long time and harbored a strong aversion and rejection toward men. That lasted until I met my

ex–husband.”

As she reached that part of her story. Tessa’s expression began to gradually contort and become twisted. She squinted her eyes and stared at a certain point, her gaze somewhat empty yet deep, as if she’d fallen into the depths of her memory.

“My ex–husband was initially very good to me. During the time when we were both madly in love, he proposed to me. As a woman who had been mistreated before, I thought God was finally being merciful toward me and was granting me the ideal life. So, I married him decisively!

Tessa sneered as she continued, “But just a few days into our marriage, during a candid conversation, I revealed the deepest, darkest secret that I’d carefully concealed. I thought that since he loved me, he would be understanding and accepting. Ha! Little did I know, once he learned about the humiliation I’d experienced in the past, he had no qualms with subjecting me to domestic violence that lasted for

two years.”

Upon hearing about Tessa’s tragic life, Erin felt very sorry for her deep within her heart. These emotions canceled out the anger and hatred she initially held for her captor. Certain human emotions were inherent. Under normal circumstances, such emotions wouldn’t disappear

completely just because of some unfortunate or unhappy experience.

Erin’s expression brought an inexplicable sense of redemption to Tessa’s wounded heart. She could feel the genuine kindness and pity

that Erin was emanating.

However, kindness was of no use to her anymore. She no longer needed it. 1

Tessa adjusted her tone and said, “My ex–husband was perverted. While he loved me, he couldn’t accept the fact that I’d once been defiled by someone else. As he was unable to vent his internal anguish anywhere else, he took it out on me as revenge. Because I loved him and believed that I was at fault and had wronged him, I endured his physical abuse time and time again. Then, there came the time when I was three months pregnant. He beat me so badly when he was drunk, leading to the miscarriage of our child…”

A glimmer appeared in Tessa’s eyes, and she laughed somewhat maniacally. “After losing the child, the doctor told me that I would never be a mother in this lifetime. At that moment, I came to an epiphany. I wanted to break free from the sick marriage with my ex–husband. We divorced, and he regretted it a bit after sobering up. He blamed himself and granted my wish for a divorce.”

Unfortunately, Tessa’s story didn’t end there. “But not long after, he started harassing me again. Seeing no better way out, I came up with a plan and caused his death in a car accident. At long last, my life became peaceful. But it didn’t last long. Police officers began investigating me. I knew I’d committed a crime by killing him. However, I didn’t want to go to jail for scum like my ex–husband, so I quickly sold my house at a low price and left.”

At this point, the sympathy in Erin’s eyes vanished completely. Tessa’s voluntary act of murder was beyond her comprehension. After all, no matter how unfortunate one was, taking away another’s life was a cardinal sin–no one’s life should be easily taken away.

An eye for an eye wasn’t always the best solution to problems.

Calmly, Tessa glanced at Erin and continued her story. “The investigators couldn’t find enough evidence to arrest me, so my situation wasn’t too dire. During this time, I began reflecting on my life and pondering why I ended up in this state. One fateful day, it dawned on me

that the root cause of all this was Chandler!”

Tessa’s face contorted with anger, and she was evidently losing control over her emotions. “It’s because he rejected my confession back then! All the misfortunes I’ve experienced were caused by him! He rejected my love, so I want him to never find happiness!”