"I just ran into a complete lunatic," Tessa said.
Jasmine widened her eyes in shock. "What lunatic? What happened?"
Tessa didn't want to talk about it. "Forget him. He's nothing but trouble."
Molly glanced over. "Are you hurt, Tessa?"
Tessa gave a slight shake of her head, her expression cold. "I'm fine."
Jasmine and Molly exchanged a look. Understanding her mood, they didn't press further.
Jasmine gently tugged Tessa's arm like a child seeking attention. "Tessa, I just sang a song, and Molly said I was off-key. I don't believe it. I'm going to sing it again, and you tell me if I was off."
She was clearly trying to change the subject, hoping to take Tessa's mind off what had just happened.
Tessa's cold expression eased slightly, and a small smile tugged at her lips. "Alright. Let me hear it."
"Okay, here goes."
To make Tessa laugh, Jasmine deliberately exaggerated her pitch and tone. The song turned into something reminiscent of an elementary school poetry recital.
Tessa immediately saw through her intentions. Her heart warmed, and she laughed out loud, genuinely amused.
After a few rounds of laughter, her mood lightened. She even let Jasmine coax her into having two glasses of fruit wine.
When the gathering ended, everyone left the private lounge together.
Outside, in the open-air parking lot of the club, Lester walked over with concern in his eyes.
"Tessa, you've had a few drinks. Let me drive you home."
The wine she drank was low in alcohol. Two glasses weren't enough to get her drunk. Her eyes were still clear, and her tone polite.
"Thank you, Mr. Cooper, but I'm going back with Wynn. She didn't drink, so she can drive us."
Standing nearby, Wynn raised the car keys in her hand as proof.
Tessa nodded. "Goodnight, Mr. Cooper."
"Goodnight."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Lester remained where he was, watching her figure disappear into the distance. A dull ache settled in his chest.
Tessa's white McLaren sped off into the night.
A sigh could be heard coming from Lester's side.
Yves gave his shoulder a pat. "Lester, maybe it's time to like someone else. I don't think she's into you. Unrequited love's no good."
Lester said nothing. Instead, he walked off toward his own Maybach.
Yves muttered under his breath, "Stubborn to the bone, he is. What a waste of a handsome face. A natural-born heartbreaker with a hopelessly faithful soul. This just proves that the ones we can't have always haunt us the most."

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