Betrayed by Blood: My Second Life as a Queen novel Chapter 265

Willow was thoroughly disgusted by his tender tone, rolling her eyes without bothering to hide her revulsion.

Elias's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but he brushed it off, comforting himself with the thought that anger was better than apathy.

Besides, maybe her hostility wasn't actually directed at him. Maybe seeing Tessa try to act affectionate had made her jealous.

With that delusion firmly in place, Elias felt completely validated.

He lowered his voice softly. "Are you uncomfortable talking about it?"

Terrified he was about to say something even more nauseating, Willow cut him off. "Tessa sold four pieces of the inheritance my mother left me. They're worth three hundred million dollars. I called you here to pay her debts!"

Three hundred million was a massive sum, especially since the Landon family's stock prices had recently plummeted due to the online scandal. Liquidating that much cash right now was going to sting.

But it wasn't impossible. It just hurt.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and finally shifted his gaze to Tessa.

There was no trace of remorse on her face, only a twisted sense of grievance. "Elias, I didn't think Willow would be so petty. I only sold them because I wanted to buy nice things for you and your mother..."

Elias stared at her in dark silence.

For the past decade, he had always viewed Tessa as innocent and kindhearted. Even while living under someone else's roof, she had maintained a resilient, fighting spirit.

No matter what obstacles she faced, she always smiled through the pain.

That was why he had felt so protective of her. Whenever she and Willow had clashed, he had instinctively taken her side.

But standing here now, Elias suddenly realized the one who truly deserved his pity had always been Willow.

Tessa was a parasite, clinging to Willow and draining her dry, all while playing the victim to turn everyone against her.

Just the thought of it made Elias's heart ache for Willow.

He looked up, his gaze piercing Tessa with an unprecedented sharpness. "Since we got married, you've bought me one pair of five-hundred-dollar cufflinks, and you bought my mother a hundred-dollar teapot. What else have you bought? Do you honestly believe a pair of cufflinks and a teapot are worth three hundred million dollars? Tessa, when did you become such a liar?"

Tessa's eyes widened in shock. She never imagined Elias had kept track of such trivial details.

A wave of humiliation washed over her face. She instinctively opened her mouth to spin another lie, but the profound disappointment in his eyes stopped her dead.

The words died in her throat. Elias's voice was frighteningly calm. "I don't know what you did with that money. But for the sake of the child you're carrying, I will cover this debt."

Tessa barely had time to exhale in relief before he added, "But this is the last time, Tessa. Don't be so greedy."

The word "greedy" struck her like a physical blow, leaving her completely paralyzed.

Willow raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. In her past life, these two had been the picture of a stable, sickeningly sweet romance right up until the day she died.

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