His Unveiled Passion

Stephen tilted his head slightly, shooting a piercing glare at Cassidy. "I don't hear a single hint of sincerity in your apology."

Cassidy was so frightened that she immediately started crying, pleading to Tessa, "I'm sorry, Ms. Yates. I'm really, really sorry. Please have mercy on me. I shouldn't have humiliated you like that earlier. Please give me a chance to right my wrongs."

Tessa's eyes were ice cold. "I want you to write a public apology and post it on all your social media accounts. I want it pinned to your wall for a month. Naturally, you'll also be compensating me 10,000 dollars."

Cassidy turned pale upon hearing Tessa's conditions. She looked discomfited as she said hesitantly, "Ms. Yates, I have over 10,000 fans on my Instagram and Twitter accounts. I usually rely on those accounts to earn a living. It'll affect my image if I post that apology."

"So, are you saying you won't do it?" Tessa regarded her coldly.

Cassidy worried her bottom lip, deliberately turning up the pathetic look on her face. "I didn't say I won't do it. It's just that going about it will be challenging. You're threatening my livelihood by doing this."

Just then, someone in the crowd piped up. "Ms. Yates, she claims to be a highly educated heiress online."

Tessa's voice was cool as she said, "You can choose not to apologize."

A flash of glee appeared in Cassidy's eyes. "Thank you, Ms. Yates. I knew you'd

She hadn't even finished her sentence when Tessa interjected, "Then, I'll have no choice but to pursue legal action."

The smile on Cassidy's lips froze right then and there.

The onlookers started whispering amongst themselves once more.

"Ms. Yates is so kind. If I were in her shoes, I would've used this opportunity to humiliate Cassidy."

Someone muttered lowly, "Are you sure that's kindness? Personally, I think Ms. Yates is ruthless. You've truly underestimated just how shameless Cassidy can be. Once everything blows over, she'll definitely use that account to rake in the cash."

"I agree. It's exactly as she said. You know how forgetful netizens are."

Cassidy's eyes flickered as she considered her options.

Considering how powerful the Jacobson and Yates families were, there was a high chance this wouldn't end with just an apology and monetary compensation if they were to go to court.

There was even a chance that she'd end up in jail.

Cassidy remembered an influencer named Wendy Cox who was found spreading malicious rumors about someone. She later heard that Wendy was sued for slander and promptly sent to the slammer.

If jail time was Cassidy's other option, she would much rather suffer online humiliation instead.

Cassidy immediately made her decision.

She bit the bullet and said, "Ms. Yates, I'll do as you say and apologize publicly."

Bruno also noticed that Tessa was way kinder than Stephen. So, he turned to Tessa and apologized, saying, "Ms. Yates, I'm very sorry. I'll do the same and post

a public apology on all my social media accounts. I'll even compensate you with 20,000 dollars for the indignity you've suffered."

Tessa glared at Bruno. "You?"

Tessa still remembered the outrageous things Bruno had said at the mall.

Just then, one of Bruno's peers in Sudmere interjected loudly in an attempt to get into Stephen and Tessa's good graces, "Mr. Jacobson, Ms. Yates, don't listen to Bruno! You can't let him go just like that. Two days ago, he sent one of his men to look into you and even told us he's going to have you raped!"

Those words echoed across the venue. Stephen's eyes immediately turned murderous.

His guards wasted no time pinning Bruno down to the ground.

"I never said that! This is all a misunderstanding! Ms. Yates, Mr. Jacobson, I swear none of that has ever happened!" Bruno cried, his face smushed to the ground. "I didn't know you were a Yates. If I'd known who you were, I would have never dared to make such comments."

"Are you suggesting that it's alright for you to say such things toward the common folk, then?" Tessa's voice was as frigid as the winter night.

"No, that's not what I meant!" Bruno exclaimed.

Someone in the crowd chimed in once more. "He meant it exactly like that! Bruno's notorious for having his way with women without their consent in Sudmere."

"That's right! Bruno has always loved abusing his power to oppress the weak. You can't let him go just like that."

Tessa sneered upon hearing their words. Then, she looked down at Bruno, demanding icily, "Is that true?"

Bruno hastily defended himself, blurting, "No! Don't listen to them. They're just a

bunch of backstabbers trying to kick me when I'm down!"

Tessa curled her lips into a frosty smirk. "I'll have someone look into that."

Just then, Stephen's phone started ringing. He looked at the caller ID before answering the call.noveldrama

The person on the other end of the

line reported solemnly, "Mr. Jacobson, Bruno Tatum, the third son of Sudmere's Tatums, has been investigating Ms. Yates. He has even contacted people from the

underworld to do so. He gave them her picture and paid a large sum to thoroughly 'entertain' her.

"One of the dons contacted me the second he saw the photo."

The person on the other end of the line fell silent, seemingly unsure of how they should word their next sentence.

Stephen had run out of patience, so he questioned sharply, "Well?"

The caller's voice dropped as they tentatively continued, "That don told me that Bruno wants to hire 10 men to rape her before... dumping her body into the sea to feed the sharks."

They only dared to mention certain

keywords. Still, judging by how

tremulous their voice had turned toward the end of their sentence, it was obvious that they were terrified that Stephen would shoot the messenger if they went into detail.

Stephen's knuckles turned white upon hearing that report. He lowered his gaze toward Bruno, who was still thrashing on the ground. The look in

his eyes made it seem as lookin

he

wasn't looking at Bruno, but instead envisioning Bruno's corpse beneath his feet.

Bruno sensed the murderous intent radiating from Stephen and felt dread overwhelming him with each passing breath. His face turned even paler as seconds ticked by.

Once Stephen ended the call, he turned to his guards and instructed, "Toss him into the sea."

It was a simple instruction, but it was enough to make Bruno go limp as rivulets of cold sweat poured down his face.

"Mr. Jacobson, I'm begging you. Please have mercy. Please—"

The crowds cried out in shock.

The bodyguards didn't bother waiting for Bruno to finish his plea before dragging

him away.

Tessa turned to look at Stephen and inquired with a slight frown on her face, "Who was that earlier?"

Stephen gently pulled Tessa into his embrace, saying softly, "It's nothing. I'm here now, so nothing bad will ever happen to you."

The bodyguards hauled Bruno to the deck before throwing him overboard like yesterday's trash.

The onlookers wasted no time rushing over to take a look.

Bruno's screams of fright pierced the air.

Things had gotten so loud that Marissa, who had been busy upstairs, wasted no

time rushing down to check just what was going on.

If it weren't crowded on the deck earlier, it was definitely packed like a can of sardines now.

They were all leaning over the railing, watching Bruno thrashing and struggling in the open waters.

Marissa shoved her way through the crowd and ran over, demanding urgently, "What's going on here?"