<More Than A Favor
Chapter 24
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“Elaine, I’ve prepared a very special celebratory dinner for you two. I’ve even invited friends and family. You must come back by six tonight,” Tessa said, catching me off guard.
I hadn’t expected that she didn’t know Logan and I hadn’t gotten the marriage certificate. Clearly, Logan hadn’t told her. Considering their attitude last night, he was probably afraid of being scolded. Hearing the joy and anticipation in Tessa’s voice, I felt reluctant to break the news. But the truth couldn’t be hidden for long. If the friends and family Tessa invited all showed up, it would only embarrass her more.
“Tessa…” I called softly.
“Why are you still calling me that? You should be calling me ‘mom‘ now. Or is it because I didn’t pay you to change your stance?” Tessa teased.
My heart, which had felt numb all day, suddenly grew heavy. “Tessa, I’m sorry. I… I may never have the right to call you ‘mom‘ anymore.”
There had been so many moments over the past ten years when I wanted to call Tessa “mom.” I never thought that day would never come.
“What… What do you mean?” Tessa asked, her voice confused.
“Elaine, are you uncomfortable calling me ‘mom‘? If so, then don’t worry. You can just call me ‘Tessa.“”
I interrupted her gently, “We didn’t get the marriage certificate, and we never will.”
“What?” Tessa sounded shocked. “What happened? Elaine, what’s going
on?”
“Tessa, we broke up.” The words left my mouth, and I felt a strange sense of relief, as though a heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders.
Tessa was silent for a long time. I began to worry she might not be able to handle the disappointment. Over the years, she had treated me like her daughter, and I knew how much she had hoped for me to officially become
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part of the family. This morning, she had been so happy, waiting for me to come back and call her “mom.”
I swallowed my unease and called softly, “Tessa…”
“Elaine… why?” Tessa’s voice was full of sadness.
A storm of thoughts rushed through my mind, but in the end, I simply said, “Tessa, Logan and I just aren’t suitable for each other.”
I didn’t mention Logan‘ betrayal–it wasn’t something to be proud of. I had no interest in competing with another woman for a man. But the truth was, I had lost to another woman–a widow, no less.
“How can you not be suitable?” Tessa said, clearly in disbelief. “You’ve been together for so many years. You know each other so well. You love him, and he cares about you. How can you suddenly not be suitable?”
Hearing her like this made my heart ache. “Tessa…” I murmured, unable to
say more.
“It must be Logan‘ fault,” Tessa said firmly. “I’ll call him and ask what he did to let you down.” She hung up before I could respond.
I felt my nose sting with emotion. What she said was true.
Nora held my hand. When I looked at her, I managed to smile faintly. But in her bright eyes, I saw the truth–my smile was broken. I may have looked calm on the surface, but my eyes revealed the pain in my heart.
Tessa called again, but I didn’t answer. I already knew what she wanted to say. She would try to persuade me to come to the Mercer estate.
But I didn’t want to go. If I went, Tessa and Ethan would try to coax and plead with me to reconsider. My mind was made up, and there was no point in listening to pleas that would only waste their efforts and drain my
emotions.
