"Tessa, didn't… Didn't you go to the orphanage?"

She pointed at the snacks on the ground. "I came here to buy something for the children."

Henry wanted to hide the shopping bags, but it was pointless. His hands were filled with them. "I… I'm here to accompany my boss' daughter to do some shopping. He has work today, so he got me to come shopping with her. I didn't buy any of these."

The more he explained, the more guilty he felt. His last words were the most unconvincing.

Tessa looked at the glaring brand logos on the shopping bags. Even though she did not recognize any of them, it was not difficult to guess how expensive they were when a mere set of lipsticks was worth a hundred thousand dollars.

"I didn't realize your boss was so rich."

Henry did not reply for fear of saying something wrong. He put the shopping bags down to help Tessa pick up all the snacks.

Serene smiled as she walked over. She placed her long, slender, and fair fingers on Henry's shoulder to stop him.

"Tessa, he shouldn't help you even if he's your boyfriend. He still needs to shop with me. That's his job today."

That was when Henry paused in his steps and looked hesitantly at Tessa. "My boss gave me the orders, Tessa. I…"

"I understand. I'll handle this on my own. You should continue shopping." Tessa stopped him from saying more.

What did she do to deserve an heir and heiress putting on a show for her? All she wanted was for them to leave.

Tessa crouched to the ground and started picking up the snacks.

Henry's fingers twitched, but Serene dragged him off in the end.

…

Every child in the orphanage was happy to see the snacks. They chattered while surrounding Tessa. She looked at the pure smiles on their faces and finally felt a tinge of warmth in her heart.

The director was curious to see her alone. "Where's Henry? Why isn't he here with you?"

Tessa pursed her lips. She had no idea what to answer.

The director thought they had gotten into an argument when she saw Tessa's reaction. She patted Tessa's shoulder and tried to advise her. "I watched you grow up, Tessa. I know you've always wanted a family of your own.

"Henry works three jobs a day just to save enough money to marry you. He stands up for you in the face of danger and always has fun with the children whenever he drops by the orphanage. You can tell from all of these that he's a good man. He's worth living your life with.

"Don't make any rash decisions out of anger. You should sit down with him and talk things through if there are any problems between you."

Tessa was filled with bitterness. She did not tell the director about Henry's cancer misdiagnosis. The director had no idea that Tessa even sold a kidney to 'save' him, only to find out everything was a lie.

The couple had spent every night and day together for two years. Tessa knew very well how good Henry was to her. However, she had given him her heart too. That was why her heart was filled with so much pain when she found out the truth. It shattered her.

When Tessa got home, Henry had prepared a table full of food for her.

"It was my job to accompany my boss' daughter as she shopped today, Tessa. I had no choice but to leave you there alone. I promise never to leave you behind like that again once I earn enough money."

He sounded apologetic and reproachful of himself.

Tessa had heard many similar lies from him. She no longer felt anything. All she did was grunt a reply and sat down to eat.

It could be because of their awkward encounter earlier, but they had their meal in silence.

Henry put down the cutlery and took out a box, handing it to her.

"It must've been hard on you to take care of me at the hospital, Tessa. My boss' daughter was in a good mood today, and she gave me a tip. I bought this present specially for you. Open it up and have a look."

Tessa took the box from Henry as he looked expectantly at her. She opened the box and saw that it was lipstick. The logo on the box looked exactly like the one on the set of lipsticks he bought for Serene earlier that day.

However…

Tessa felt the sticky bottom of the box and smiled sarcastically. The label must have been freshly peeled off. She did not have much knowledge of high-end brands, but she knew that only complimentary gifts would have labels stuck on them.

Henry had given her a free gift but bought Serene a set of lipsticks worth a hundred thousand dollars.

Tessa was probably just an orphan to Henry, and that was why she only deserved free gifts like this.

Henry was surprised by the lack of emotions on Tessa's face. She used to treat his gifts like treasures, but she did not react to his gift today.

"What's wrong? You don't like the shade? I don't understand cosmetics, so I got the staff to pick the shade for me."

Tessa put the box aside and shook her head. "There's no need to spend anything on me."

They were about to break up, after all. She did not want to be financially entangled with him in any way.

Henry sighed with relief. 'It seemed like she didn't want me to waste money like this.' He thought.

A familiar, adoring smile appeared on his face. "It's only right for me to spend money on my girlfriend. Besides, you spent your life savings on me. I should be spending on you too."

Tessa pursed her lips slightly but said nothing. She was exhausted from all the traveling today. She took a bath and went to bed early.

She was still sleeping the next morning when she was woken up by a call. She was still in a daze when Lawrence's anxious voice was heard on the other end of the call.

"Someone reported that your graduation thesis utilized fake data. The university wants to investigate your work."

Tessa jerked awake instantly. Faking data was a serious crime. It was a devastating accusation to anyone involved in research. If she were convicted of faking data, she would not be able to graduate. Even her placement to study overseas would be canceled.

However, she could not understand why someone would report her data was faked when she had worked hard through the night for a month to produce the data. Who could have reported her?

"Mr. Werner, you know that I got my data through experiments. I would never plagiarize."

Lawrence sighed heavily. "It's not enough that I believe you. But we need evidence. It's just that there's only less than half a month before you graduate. Even if you manage to submit the timeline of your experiment, you won't be in time to make it for your graduation review.

"The only way is to explain things to the person who made the report and get them to rescind it."

Tessa quickly asked, "Who reported me?"

"Serene Chord."

Tessa instantly felt helpless when she heard the name. Why did Serence insist on giving her trouble?

She had already convinced Henry to mess with Tessa's feelings, but that was not enough. Serene was even going as far as to ruin her academic life.

The other half of the bed beside her had turned cold. Henry was gone.

Tessa had no idea how to contact Serene. She did not even know where to find Serene.

She had no choice but to search for Chord Group's address online. Tessa quickly put on her clothes and rushed there in hopes of meeting Serence.

Tessa waited from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. It had been four hours, and she had not drunk a single drop of water. Her body had not recovered from the kidney removal. She could not withstand the long hours of standing and the hunger.

Just as she was about to collapse, two familiar figures appeared at the door. It was Serene and Henry.

Tessa clenched her teeth and pressed her hand down on her wound while stopping them.

Henry did not expect to see her there, and he became flustered. "Tessa, what are you doing here?"

All Tessa could think about was getting Serence to rescind the report. She did not care about anything else.

"Ms. Chord, I produced my data by working through the night in the laboratory. I didn't fake them. Please rescind your report."

Henry had no idea about this. "What's going on—"

Serene interrupted him with a smile, "Well, what can you do if I suspect you, Tessa? The university will investigate and dig out the truth."

It would take at least half a month for the university to investigate this. There would not be enough time for Tessa.

"Ms. Chord, tell me what I should do to convince you to rescind the report."

Tessa knew that Serene was doing this on purpose. It would be better to confront her rather than go in circles.

Serene played with her long nails nonchalantly. She did not even look at Tessa. "You disturbed my fun yesterday while shopping. How about this? Stand here and apologize to me loudly until I forgive you. I'll rescind the report after that. Sounds good?"

Henry frowned subtly. His hands, which were hanging by his sides, moved slightly, but he said nothing.

Tessa took a deep breath. She tried to suppress the wave of emotions within her.

As crowds of people walked in and out of the office entrance, Tessa began apologizing clearly and loudly. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

People from every corner of the building turned to look at her.

Tessa had never experienced such humiliation before. It felt like she was being stripped naked and thrown out into the streets while everyone jeered and sneered at her. However, she had no choice.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Serene laughed softly. "Why is your voice so soft?"

Tessa closed her eyes. She tried her best to hold back the discomfort coming from her stomach. She raised her voice to repeat her words robotically, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Tessa did not remember how many times she apologized while everyone around her sneered and Serene looked at her tauntingly. However, Serene stayed silent throughout.

All of a sudden, a group of people appeared with eggs and rotten vegetables. They flung them at Tessa. They shouted vulgarities while flinging things at her.

"Die, you plagiarizer!"

"Bitch!"

"Shameless woman!"

Tessa wanted to hide, but more and more people surrounded her. She could not move at all. Those people got even more brazen. Tessa felt the pain from getting her hair pulled. She wanted to call for help, but her voice was buried in the crowd's yells.

Someone reached a leg out to trip Tessa. Numerous feet stepped on her calf and arms, and multiple slaps landed on her face.

Tessa's surgery wound had not healed, and blood began to flow out of it. It was extremely painful.

As another foot was about to stomp on the surgery wound on her abdomen, Tessa closed her eyes in dejection.

"Get out of the way!"

A pair of big hands pushed away the crowd.

Tessa used the last of her strength to look up. There was a frightening look on Henry's face. When he saw the disheveled Tessa on the ground, panic and fear appeared in Henry's eyes.

The increasing pain in Tessa's abdomen was too intense. She could no longer take it and passed out.

…

When Tessa regained consciousness, all she could see was white. She could vaguely hear talking outside her ward.

"Who told you to arrange those people to be there?" Henry sounded furious.

"We just thought she was getting away too easily after only apologizing in public. She deserves something more serious. She needs to be punished anyway. Wasn't it good to arrange for those people? Two years is almost up. We won't have another opportunity to get her again after this."

"Don't you know someone might die from all that stomping? Her life would've been in danger if I hadn't saved her in time."

There was silence. Everyone was shocked by Henry's anger, and they spoke carefully.

"Why do you care if that woman is in danger, Henry? You aren't… in love with her, are you?"

Henry had been furious but froze at the question. He reacted to it reflexively. "Impossible!"

He could never have fallen for Tessa. It was easier to punish her and play tricks on her if he got into a relationship with her.

Henry loved only Serene. She was his fiancée.

He must have been playing the role of Tessa's wonderful boyfriend for too long, which was why he felt the need to protect her. That had to be it.

Henry kept repeating this to himself while wiping away any feelings he harbored for Tessa.

Everyone resumed their sniggering and jeering.

"I knew it. You'd never fall for anyone who's from the working class."

"Your engagement party with Serene is coming soon. There won't be much time left for us to punish her. I'm going to miss this."

The voices got further and further away until there was only silence left. A tear fell down Tessa's cheek as she lay in bed.

When Henry entered the ward and saw the empty look in her eyes, his heart thumped with fear. His hand trembled as he caressed her cheek. There was pain hidden deep inside his eyes.

"It's not that I didn't want to speak up for you, Tessa. You know I can go against my boss' daughter's wishes. That's why I…"

The first words he spoke were still lies.

Tessa pursed her lips. She felt nothing inside. They had been together for two years. Tessa did not believe that Henry was unaware of what kind of person she really was.

When she was bullied and humiliated by Serene, Henry stood and watched without saying a word. When she was beaten up by the crowd, he stood at the side and watched.

Tessa knew that the man who had once protected her two years ago no longer existed.

"How do you feel now? Does it hurt anywhere?"

The doctor walked in right after he asked the questions. He looked grim as he held the medical report in his hand.

"Tessa Shoreman, the results indicate that you—"

"I know my condition well, doctor. Please don't say anything more." Tessa quickly interrupted the doctor.

The doctor looked at the two people in the ward and sighed before leaving.

Henry suddenly felt panicked. "What's wrong with you? Are you sick, Tessa?"

He did not realize that his voice was trembling.

Tessa's lips tightened. "I'm fine. I just have low blood sugar and some physical wounds. Nothing serious."

Henry knew about her low blood sugar, so he sighed with relief when he heard that it was just that. He looked at Tessa lying in bed. Her face was pale and covered with scratches. He spoke up with great difficulty.

"Tessa, I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you today, and you got hurt. I wanted to pull you out of the crowd, but there were too many people. It wasn't easy for me to squeeze into the crowd to get you out."

He looked in another direction while he spoke. He was afraid to look into her emotionless eyes.

It did not matter if he knew about her thesis being reported. It did not change the fact that he had chosen to take Serene's side today.

Tessa suppressed the sharp pain in her heart. She pulled the blanket over her head. "I understand. You should go. Don't let your work get affected."

Henry felt guilty when he saw how Tessa was still thinking of him when she was so weak. He stood where he was and looked at her for a long time. In the end, he placed his warm palm on the blanket where her head was hidden underneath.

"I promise you'll never get hurt again, Tessa."

What a touching declaration. Unfortunately, it was a lie.

After settling the issue of her data being faked, Tessa managed to get her graduation certificate and arrange her studies overseas without a hitch.

Despite the doctor advising her to stay a few more days in the hospital, Tessa insisted on being discharged.

When she returned to her rental home, everything looked exactly as when she left. Henry had not been home for the past few days.

A notification appeared on her cell. It was a piece of news. Tessa clicked in to read it.

"Shocking news! The Jennings and Chords have announced their marriage alliance. The engagement party will be held in seven days."

Tessa held her breath.

Henry must have been busy preparing for his engagement.

She remembered hearing that her punishment would end when Henry and Serene got engaged, which was seven days later.

Tessa tapped on a ticketing app to check her plane tickets. Only six more days until she left. She would leave before their so-called punishment would end.

She sighed gently. She got up to pack up every matching item in the house—brushing cups, towels, keychains… Henry and she would not be needing those any longer. After packing everything into a box, she took it downstairs to be thrown.

She did not expect to see Henry at the door. He looked at the box filled with the various items they had picked out together and took a sharp breath. His voice trembled slightly. "Why are you throwing them away?"