Chapter 33


    Chapter 33 His end


    “It’s been a week since the tragic end of the Winston group’s heir, Harry Winston. His death was


    apanied by the Winston group dering bankruptcy after the anti-moneyundering


    Tessa furrowed her eyebrows, anger surging through her at the mention of Harry Winston on the


    He was the talk of the City. All his illegal businesses hade to the surface and how he used


    prohibited drugs in his pharmaceuticalpany was exposed.


    Michelle clicked her tongue and folded her arms as they watched the news in the visitors’ lounge at the


    company.


    She wrinkled her nose in disgust and said, “It is true what they say. You can never know someone


    completely until they show you their true colours Who would have thought Harry was a hardcore


    criminal?”


    Tessa sighed and replied, “He was so sincere that I would never ce him as someone who would do


    such a thing. I was so grateful that he helped Mom get better. Who knew he would turn on my kids and


    kidnap them? I feel so guilty that I made them trust someone who hurt them.”


    It had been a hard week for Tessa. Having someone she trusted betray her like that was like a punch in


    the gut.


    She recalled how Aaron warned her about him. By that time, she found it hard to believe that Harry had


    purposely approached her. Heck, even if he had, he had helped her mother so she didn’t


    think much about it.


    However, human trafficking was a very serious crime. And to make her marry him, Harry orchestrated a


    n to kidnap the triplets so that he could y the hero.


    Tessa’s heart ached when she recalled thest conversation she had with him before he jumped off a


    cliff.


    ~FLASHBACK~


    The children spent some days in the hospital. Both Tessa and Aaron stayed with them. They took care


    of them together, alternating between feeding them and giving them baths to regte their


    temperature.


    By this time, the news was out there. Aaron had spread the news of Harry’s crimes to make everyone


    know he was a wanted criminal.


    Their parents soon found out about the kidnapping, so they visited the kids at the hospital.


    Elena, Edmund and Aaron were all chatting with the kids so Tessa excused herself.


    She hadn’t talked to Edmund since that day when he told her Aaron would marry Serena Staying in the


    same room with him was making her feel ufortable.


    A bodyguard followed her as she went up to the roof to get some fresh air. When she reached, her


    phone suddenly rang


    Tessa’s heart jumped to her throat when she saw who was calling.


    It was none other than, Harry Winston.


    The man who was wanted for kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, tax evasion and many other


    crimes.


    Anger surged through Tessa when she recalled how weak her kids had been. The doctor said they


    might not have woken up if the drugs had stayed in their system.


    Filled up with fury, Tessa picked up the call and snapped, “You sure have some nerve, Harry. How


    could you? The kids liked you! They called you uncle! They trusted you! How could an adult who was


    supposed to protect them do such a thing?! Are you even human?”


    There was silence from the speaker save for the heavy breathinging from Harry.


    “Tessa, I’m sorry. I just wanted you to be mine.”


    “How does kidnapping my kids make me yours? Are you crazy?”


    “The kids are making you go back to the man that hurt you. Have you forgotten, Tessa? He’s the man


    that gave you a cheque to leave so he can be with the love of his life. He’s the man that didn’t want you


    or put you first. You were just a substitute and once the woman he truly loved came back, he cast you


    aside without hesitation. How could you forget all this and give him your attention? Why? I wanted to


    get rid of the kids since they seem to bring you close to Aaron!” Harry


    said in one breath.


    Tessa gasped. She didn’t know Harry could be so unreasonable. Was he pretending to be nice all


    along? Was this the real him? This man with a twisted and scheming mindset was a stranger to


    her.


    “How could that be a reason to kidnap, drug and traumatise my kids? Did you want them to grow up


    without knowing who their father is?”


    “No! I was ok with them knowing about him as long as you agreed to be with me. But you fell for


    him again! You were supposed to love me. I stood by your side. Helped your mother get better. But


    what did I get in return? Nothing!”


    Tessa dragged in a shuddering breath. She didn’t respond to Harry’s rants and stated, “You’re a wanted


    criminal. If you hand yourself over to the police, perhaps I can forgive you but we can never be friends


    again.”


    A dark chuckle from the phone sent an eerie chill down Tessa’s spine. Harry scoffed and replied, ”


    Hand myself in? No way. I’ll make sure you have no peace. I want you to live the rest of your life in


    fear. Constantly looking behind your back just in case I creep up on you.”


    Heughed like a maniac and then he added, “Since I can’t have you, I’ll find a way to stay in your


    mind forever. When you have nightmares, it will be me you will dream about.”


    With those words, Harry cut the call. Tessa immediately informed Aaron and the call was traced to


    a cliff on the outskirts of town.


    They assumed Harry had jumped to his death and fell into the sea but they didn’t find his body.


    ~END OF FLASHBACK~


    A cold shiver ran down Tessa’s back at the memory. She shook her head to rouse herself from the


    thoughts. She wouldn’t give Harry the satisfaction


    “He’s a psychopath! They are the only ones who have double personalities. They pretend to be nice


    and sweet, but they are evil inside,” Michelle said.


    Tessa nodded and suggested, “Let’s go back to work. I don’t want to watch any more news about that


    man. He gives me the creeps.”


    Meanwhile, the Winston family had fallen from riches to rags overnight.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Luckily, Mrs Elizabeth Winston had some assets in her name so they moved to an average house.


    Serena was fuming as she sat in the small living room with her parents. She looked around the tiny


    house and disgust flitted through her eyes.


    “Are we supposed to live like this? Like peasants?” She screamed.


    Her father, Benjamin Winston narrowed his eyes at her. He scolded, “Do you think you’re still a rich


    princess? We lost everything all because of your brother! After causing such a mess, he even


    killed himself! This is what we can afford now, take it or leave.”


    Serena huffed and folded her arms. She haughtily said, “I’m not going to live like this. This is not. the


    life I deserve. I’m going to be Aaron’s wife.”


    Benjamin’s eyes lit up. He stroked his beard and said, “That’s right. Edmund had called me about


    cancelling the contract. We won’t agree. Serena, work on Aaron and make him fall in love with


    you. Marrying him is better than having 15% shares of hispany. The Wentworth group will be


    yours.”


    Serena nodded with determination, saying, “Yes, Dad. I’ll make him mine.”


    Her eyes turned cold as she thought about her n to get rid of Tessa. She was the only one stopping


    her from marrying Aaron.


    Serena thought Aaron would return to her once Tessa did something wrong.


    A wicked smirk crossed her lips as she said silently. I’ll make her pay and avenge my brother.”


    When Tessa was done with work, she was taken back home in a convoy of cars that were provided


    by Aaron The first andst car had trained bodyguards and there were two bodyguards in her car.


    She thought it was too much but it was either that or moving into Aaron’s mansion. Tessa didn’t


    want to do thetter to avoidplications so she settled for the bodyguards.


    Walking into the apartments, her three kids rushed to her gleefully.


    “Mommy! Wee back!” They chorused.


    Seeing her kids, a warm smile crossed her lips. It was good that they were still high spirited but


    Aaron had them go through therapy so that they wouldn’t get traumatised


    “Hey, my babies. How are you doing?”


    “We are fine! Mommy, Daddy is cooking dinner for us!”


    Tessa arched an eyebrow. “Your Daddy?”


    “Yes, Mommy! He’s in the kitchen, wearing your apron,” Reagan said excitedly.


    This piqued Tessa’s interest. She never knew Aaton as the type to cook but when she walked to the


    kitchen, a mouth-watering aroma reached her nose.


    She stood under the archway and watched Aaron do his thing. He was in ck pants and a ck shirt


    dress. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled up to his elbows and her white apron was wrapped


    around his lean waist.


    He looked handsome and sexy as he made his way around the kitchen.


    “I never knew you can cook,” Tessa said, making her presence known.


    Aaron turned to nce at her and smiled warmly. He replied, “I didn’t. But during the five years that you


    were not here, I learnt how to cook. You had cooked me a lot of meals so I gave the lessons my all so


    that I can cook for you when you return.”


    Tessa bit her lower lip and entered the kitchen. A thought urred to her and she ended up asking,


    “What if I didn’t return?”


    “I would have continued to search for you.”


    “What if it took twenty years?” She asked again.


    “I would still look for you until myst day on earth I would have never given up on you.


    Tessa smiled, feeling giddy at his words for some reason. She noticed that she was starting to feel


    things so she quickly excused herself.


    “I’m going to freshen up. I can’t wait to taste your food, Mr CEO,” she said, chuckling.


    Aaron raised an eyebrow at her. He asked, “Are you questioning my cooking skills, Miss CEO?”


    Tessa shrugged and responded, “It’s hard to believe. I’ll know if you’re skilled or not when I taste


    the food.”


    Aaron ced the spat on the table and stalked Tessa. He took a step forward, and she took a step


    back until her back hit a cab.


    She clutched her dress and swallowed. Aaron was too close. She could smell his cologne and


    almost feel his skin.


    “W-what are you doing?” Tessa stuttered as Aaron bent over, cing his hands on top of the cab on


    either side of her body.


    He lowered his head and whispered, “There’s something else that I’m skilled at. Would you like to


    taste it?”


    Tessa’s heart did a flip. Her eyes fell on his plump lips and she gulped, her heart pounding.


    “Aaron, 1-”


    “Don’t you want to check my skills? I’ll make you feel good, I promise”


    Tessa began to feel hot. Strange sensations coursed through her body and she wound up mping


    her legs shut.


    Her eyes widened when Aaron’s head began to draw closer to hers as if he was about to kiss her.


    ‘What should I do? Should I push him away?’ Tessa’s mind reeled with thoughts while her heart


    galloped violently.


    Just before Aaron’s lips could meet hers, Reagan’s voice echoed around them and they stepped away


    from each other quickly.


    “Wow! Mommy and Daddy are kissing!”


    Tessa cleared her throat and ran to her room while Aaron chuckled.


    He then nced at his son, “Do you want to help Daddy cook?”


    “Yes! Daddy, you were kissing Mommy. Will you live with us now?”


    Aaron ruffled Reagan’s hair and lifted him, putting him on the countertop.


    He smiled at him and said, “Soon, son. I have a feeling that we will start staying together soon