Chapter 594:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

He stepped out of the car and came around to her side, opening the door. He took her hand, helping her out, and pressed a lingering kiss to the back of it. Then he intertwined their fingers. Together, they walked up to the porch. With one last deep breath, Tessa unlocked the door and pushed it open.

All eyes turned toward Tessa and Gendry as they entered. In the living room were her parents, Alex, Rita, Maya, Jace, Aunt Luisa, Uncle Alden, and their youngest daughter, seventeen-year-old Emma, Tessa’s cousin.

The moment Rita spotted Gendry, she gasped. “Gendry!” she squealed, jumping up from her seat and rushing toward him.

Gendry barely had time to react before Rita crashed into him. He let out a soft chuckle, crouching slightly to meet her height as he ran a hand through her hair.

“Missed me that much, huh?” he teased, the corner of his lips lifting in amusement.

Rita huffed and pulled back, immediately smoothing down her hair. “You’re ruining my hair,” she grumbled, glaring up at him.

“My bad,” Gendry said, his voice dripping with fake remorse. His amused gaze flicked toward the others, and laughter rippled through the room, even from Alex.

𝖯op𝘂𝗅а𝗋 s𝗍𝗼𝗋і𝗲𝘀 o𝘯 gа𝘭no𝘃el𝘴.𝘤𝗼m

Despite the lighthearted moment, Tessa caught the curious look in her father’s eyes. There were unspoken questions swimming in his gaze.

“Good evening, everyone,” Gendry greeted.

“Gendry,” Thalassa spoke, her voice filled with warmth. “Why don’t we all go to the dining table? We can have dinner first, and afterward, Tessa can share her news.”

Tessa nodded, squeezing Gendry’s hand. Everyone moved to the dining area and took their seats at the table. Tessa and Gendry sat next to each other, their knees lightly brushing.

Dinner was pleasant, filled with light chatter, but Tessa could feel the tension building beneath it. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Gendry occasionally glanced her way, sensing her nerves, and subtly reached under the table to take her hand.

When the last plate was cleared, her father leaned his forearms against the table, exhaling. “Alright, Tessa,” he said, his deep voice steady but expectant. “You assured us in the group chat that this wasn’t anything bad, but it’s been quite suspenseful. What did you want to tell us, my dear?”

He hesitated, then asked carefully, “Does this have to do with… Henry?”

The mention of her biological father barely stirred anything in Tessa now. Shaking her head, she gave her father a reassuring smile.

“No, this isn’t about Henry. But since you mentioned him, I do have something to say regarding that.”

A small frown creased Kris’s forehead, and her mother exchanged a wary glance with him.

“He came to see me at the office today,” Tessa continued, keeping her voice even. “I’ve arranged for him to be given a place to stay and a monthly allowance, but I made it clear to him that I don’t want him in my life.”

Her mother studied her for a long moment. “Are you sure?”

Tessa didn’t hesitate. “I’m sure, Mum. The only parents I’ve ever needed are the two of you.”

A collective “aww” sounded from her aunt and uncle, while the rest of the table smiled. Thalassa reached over and squeezed Tessa’s hand. “And we couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.”

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