The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In novel Chapter 793

Chapter 793 No More Pretenses

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Victor saw him too. Their eyes locked, and in that instant Victor’s gaze was sharp as a blade.

Dan, on the other hand, felt as if someone had struck him over the head with a heavy club.

His eyes lingered on Victor for a few seconds, then dropped to Tessa standing behind him.

When Tessa saw Dan, her own mind buzzed. She clearly hadn’t expected to run into him here.

Dan’s head was a storm, waves crashing over and over. He turned to Victor. “Mr. Victor? This…”

This what? His eyes slid back to Tessa.

Victor’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

Dan froze.

What? What did he mean, what? “Shouldn’t you be giving me a proper explanation?”

Marie and Derrick’s words flashed through his mind–this wasn’t their business.

So all this time, while they kept demanding Tessa from Ashen Pact, she had actually been… with Victor?

Dan’s breath quickened, his chest tightening, fury mounting.

Goddamn it.

Victor smirked. “A proper explanation? And what would that be?”

Dan had no words.

Even Conan was silent.

Victor’s mouth curled in a cold smile. “Our explanations are usually given in the form of truth.”

Truth?

Dan’s eyes darkened. “What truth is this supposed to be?”

She was right there, standing beside him, yet for weeks both he and the Dawson family, and even the Tom family, had used Tessa as the reason to pressure Ashen Pact.

Ashen Pact had been thrown into chaos, tearing itself apart in a frantic search for her.

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Even when they suspected Tessa was nothing but a pretext, they still wanted to drag her out and smash the excuse down on Ashen Pact’s head.

But now…

Victor was parading her openly? Not even pretending anymore?

Yes–this was what it felt like. They weren’t even pretending now.

Victor gave a low laugh. “And what does Mr. Morris think our truth is?”

“You’ve gone too far!” Dan shouted.

He felt like he was about to burst a blood vessel. His rage surged until his vision blurred red.

He glared at Victor with venom, then turned that same glare on Tessa.

Tessa, timid to begin with, shrank under his look and quickly hid behind Victor.

Victor sensed her fear. He took her cold little hand and, ignoring Dan, said gently, “Come on, let’s go find it.”

Whatever Tessa had lost in the restaurant, his voice toward her was unusually soft.

And with her small frame against his height, she looked all the more like someone fragile, needing protection.

Victor led her inside.

Dan’s fury spiked higher.

He turned to Conan. “What the hell are they doing?”

“They’ve dropped the act,” Conan replied.

Dan clenched his jaw.

Dropped the act–yes. That’s exactly how it looked.

They were flaunting Tessa in public without the slightest disguise.

Dan raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “They’re all out of their damn minds!”

His phone buzzed violently in his hand. It was Dale calling.

The moment he answered, Dale’s voice came through, harsh with panic. “Have you found Tessa or not?”

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Even across the line, Dan could feel Dale’s fury and desperation. Clearly the pressure on Ashen Pact had only increased.

No more pretenses–things had turned even harsher.

Dan’s breathing grew ragged. “I’m coming to Black Mountain now!”

Marie’s words replayed in his mind: Ask Victor. Or ask your scumbag father.

It was obvious–Ashen Pact’s downfall had everything to do with both Dale and Victor.

Inside the restaurant, Tessa finally found her necklace.

It was the one her mother had given her, the same necklace passed down from her grandmother. The meaning behind it was too precious for her not to search until she

got

it

back.

Clutching it tightly, she looked up at Victor, worried. “Dan saw me. Will that affect you?”

“No.”

Victor spoke the word casually, as if it were nothing.

Tessa stared at him.

“Back then, you were just a pretext for the battle. Marie and Derrick have already torn Ashen Pact apart.”

So now, there was no need to pretend anymore?

Her chest tightened.

Victor’s tone suggested exactly that–no more need to pretend. But what was his true grudge with Ashen Pact?

He didn’t say, and Tessa didn’t dare ask. Some scars hurt too much to reopen

with words.

Half an hour later, Dan arrived at Black Mountain.

Dale, Manny, Artemis, and Lina were already there.

Lana was still in the hospital, gravely injured. When she heard her precious item had been

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Chapter 793 No More Pretenses

stolen, she had erupted into curses from her bed, screaming that it was Tessa’s fault.

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She swore that the moment she left the hospital, the first thing she would do was kill Tessa.