His Lovable Klutz (Completed)

Segment Sixty-four.

♥ Will Die For You ♥

      Stefan was sitting in his office, his eyes focused on the report in front of him, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake off the hovering thoughts of his jealousy over Lucius and how it was starting to affect him. The ticking clock on the wall marked the passing minutes, but his thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

      "Come in," he said, not bothering to look up.

      The door creaked open, and Susan, his assistant, poked her head inside. "Mr. Reynolds, you have a visitor."

      Stefan finally looked up, his brows knitting together in confusion. "Who is it?"

      Before Susan could answer, Tessa walked into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor. Stefan's face immediately darkened, anger flashing in his eyes.

      "Susan, you can leave us," Stefan said curtly, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

      Susan hesitated for a moment, sensing the tension, but then nodded and quietly shut the door behind her, leaving them alone.

      Stefan leaned back in his chair, his gaze hard and unwelcoming. "What are you doing here, Tessa?"

      Tessa, undeterred by his anger, walked over to his desk, her movements slow and deliberate. She placed her hands on the edge, leaning slightly forward.

      "Why have you been ignoring me, Stefan?" she asked, her tone carrying hurt and frustration. "I've called, I've texted, and you haven't responded once. Why do you hate me so much?"

      Stefan let out a harsh laugh, one devoid of any humor, and leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing at her.

      "Hate you? I don't hate you, Tessa," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I just don't care about you anymore. So, if you're here looking for some kind of closure or reassurance, you're wasting your time."

      Tessa's face twisted in hurt and disbelief. "You can't just throw me away like this, Stefan," she said, her voice rising. "I've been part of your life for years! And now, just because of that girl, you're—"

      "Don't,” Stefan interrupted sharply, his voice slicing through the air like a knife. "Don't you dare talk about Coby like that."

      Tessa flinched at his tone but pressed on, her desperation growing. "You know, I found out you haven't even spoken to your mother in months. Do you hate everyone who's ever cared about you?"

      Stefan's eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he leaned over his desk, his face mere inches from Tessa's.

      "You want to know why I haven't talked to my mother?" he hissed, his voice venomous. "Because I don't need her, just like I don't need you. You've always been a burden, Tessa. A leech, sucking the life out of me. All you ever did was take and take, never giving anything in return."

      Tessa's eyes welled up with tears, her lower lip trembling as she struggled to keep her composure. "Stefan, please—"

      "Please, what?" Stefan snapped, cutting her off. "Please forgive you for being a manipulative, selfish bitch who couldn't stand the fact that I found someone better? You're pathetic, Tessa. And the fact that you even came here, trying to guilt me into feeling something for you, is just more proof of how low you'll stoop."

      Tessa's breath hitched in her throat, her vision blurring as the tears threatened to spill over. She tried to speak, but her voice came out as a broken whisper.