Chapter 913
In that moment, Tessa didn’t shy away from acknowledging her connection to Julian. She wanted everyone to see that she had nothing to hide. She wasn’t afraid of being investigated. Everything she did could stand up to scrutiny.
Hector raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration. He hadn’t expected her to remain this composed under pressure. That kind of nerve was rare.
Even Zack was quietly impressed. He wouldn’t have dared speak like that in front of the sergeant, yet Tessa had no problem going toe-to-toe with him. It left him a little stunned. Everything that happened today shattered his previous impression of her. Who said women were weaker than men? Tessa really was a force to be reckoned with. That kind of boldness—he had to respect it. At the very least, she wasn’t one to crumble under pressure.
Hector didn’t say anything. He simply gestured for Julian to come over. But the man’s hair was a matted mess, his face smudged with grime. It was hot in Millford, and he was still wearing the same clothes he’d been arrested in. He carried a strange, sour odor that was hard to describe. Tessa wrinkled her nose instinctively. If she had a choice, she really didn’t want any more involvement with Julian, because frankly, there was no reason to. Besides, things had already come this far—what was the point in dragging it out any further? Julian looked toward Hector’s gesture, but his eyes were vacant, staring into the distance without focus. Seeing this, Hector sighed inwardly and turned to Tessa.
“Miss Tessa, would you mind saying a few words to Mr. Hayes? After all, he’s your fiancé. Seeing him like this… I’m sure it hurts.”
At that, Tessa gave a small cough. Her gaze shifted—truthfully, she didn’t want to go over there. She just didn’t see the point.
She forced a polite smile. “Sergeant, why don’t you just say what you came to say? At this point, given who we are and where we are, there’s no need to play around with pretenses.”
Her brows drew together slightly, irritation beginning to creep in. She was already at the station, yet they were still circling around, stalling and being vague. Even now, they were dodging the real issue. Tessa truly didn’t understand what game they were playing. But this wasn’t her home turf—she couldn’t act recklessly.
“Why the rush, Miss Tessa?” Hector replied with a light smile. “I was only hoping you’d show a little concern for your fiancé.”
“Let’s stay on topic, Sergeant,” Tessa replied, composed and measured. “This is a federal facility in Millford. Once Julian clears his name, I’ll bring him home myself.”
Hector let out a laugh. “No rush. The thing is, it’s not just Mr. Hayes who needs to clear his name. It’s you too, Miss Tessa.”
Tessa’s fingers tensed instantly, unsure how to respond. Hector wasn’t just a newly promoted officer; he’d also sharpened his ability to manipulate people.
Zack looked from one to the other, quietly stunned. This was a real clash of minds.