Chapter 9 - The Choice That Changed Everything
Leo received the same warning ten minutes later.
His security chief wanted to bring Tessa back to the estate.
Leo refused to make that decision for her.
Instead, he called.
“Tessa, Detective Nolan told me about the photograph.”
“I know.”
“I can arrange additional protection if you want it.”
She was silent.
Then she said, “I want the police handling the investigation. If they recommend security, I'll talk to them.”
“Okay.”
Another pause.
“Leo?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for asking.”
He closed his eyes.
Those four words meant more than she knew.
The following morning, investigators detained Salvatore Bianchi for questioning after obtaining evidence related to the false invoices and disputed corporate filings.
His attorney denied that Sal had committed any crimes.
The investigation was far from finished.
But the threatened sale had stopped.
Arthur remained safe.
And the residents of Hawthorne were receiving care.
Tessa should have felt relieved.
Instead, she felt exhausted.
She hadn't had time to understand everything that had happened.
She'd lost her job.
Her father had nearly been moved without her knowledge.
Two men she'd trusted had hidden important truths from her.
And she was falling in love with someone whose world had terrified her for a year.
She hated that last part.
Love was supposed to make life simpler.
At least, that's what she'd once believed.
On Friday afternoon, exactly one week after the disastrous date, Leo came to the hospital.
He carried a small paper bag.
Tessa met him in the cafeteria.
“What's that?”
“Lunch.”
“You brought hospital cafeteria food into a hospital cafeteria?”
“No.”
He opened the bag.
Inside were two sandwiches from the little deli Tessa had mentioned months earlier.
She stared.
“You remembered?”
“You said the turkey sandwich was the only good thing about Tuesdays.”
Tessa smiled.
“I said that once.”
“I remember a lot of things you say.”
They sat near the window.
For several minutes, they simply ate.
Leo told her that he was resigning from day-to-day control of the foundation while independent trustees reviewed its finances.
He had also begun working with attorneys to separate himself from the family's remaining criminal operations.
“I can't pretend my past disappears because I want a different future,” he said.
Tessa looked at him.
“No, you can't.”
“I know.”
“What happens now?”
“I cooperate with the investigations. I accept whatever consequences come from the things I've actually done. And I stop putting people in danger because of my name.”
Tessa considered him.
“That's a lot easier to say than to do.”
“Yes.”
“Are you doing it because of me?”
Leo shook his head.
“You made me look at myself. But the choices are mine to make.”
She liked that answer.
More than she wanted to.
After lunch, they visited Arthur.
He was sitting up in bed, working with a speech therapist.
When Leo entered, Arthur studied him carefully.
The older man still didn't trust him.
Leo understood.
“Mr. Jenkins,” he said. “I owe you an apology.”
Arthur looked at him.
Leo pulled up a chair.
“I failed to oversee the foundation. I trusted someone who was hurting people. And I treated your daughter badly.”
Tessa's eyes filled.
Arthur watched him without speaking.
“I can't change any of that,” Leo continued. “But I'm going to do what I can to make it right.”
Arthur slowly raised one hand.
He pointed toward Tessa.
Then toward Leo.
“No... hurt.”
Leo nodded.
“I understand.”
Arthur shook his head.
He struggled for another word.
“Ever.”
Leo's voice was steady.
“Ever.”
Arthur studied him for another moment.
Then he extended his hand.
Leo shook it.
Tessa turned away to hide her tears.
That evening, she and Leo walked through the hospital garden.
The air smelled of wet roses.
A distant church bell rang.
Tessa stopped beside a stone fountain.
“I need to tell you something.”
Leo looked at her.
She took a breath.
“I think about you when you're not around.”
His expression softened.
“I think about you all the time.”
“That doesn't mean I'm ready.”
“I know.”
“I don't want to become another person who lives in your house and follows your rules.”
“Then don't.”
She looked surprised.
Leo continued.
“You should have your own home. Your own work. Your own life.”
“What if I want you in it?”
He stared at her.
“Then I'd be grateful.”
Tessa laughed softly.
“You really are terrible at this.”
“Romance?”
“Being normal.”
He smiled.
“I'm learning.”
She stepped closer.
This time, she was the one who touched his chest.
She remembered the foyer.
The grandfather clock.
His hand around her waist.
How frightened she'd been.
Now she could walk away.
He would let her.
The knowledge changed everything.
“Can I kiss you?” she whispered.
Leo's breath caught.
“Yes.”
Tessa rose onto her toes.
Their first kiss was gentle.
No force.
No anger.
No jealousy.
Just the warmth of his hand resting lightly against hers.
When she stepped back, Leo looked almost stunned.
“What?” she asked.
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Leo.”
“I've wanted to do that for a very long time.”
Tessa touched his cheek.
“Then you should've asked.”
He laughed.
A real laugh.
She had never heard it before.
For one beautiful moment, the world felt peaceful.
Then Leo's phone rang.
Caroline.
He answered.
Her voice was tense.
“Leo, the federal investigators have completed their initial review of Sal's archive.”
“What did they find?”
“Your father's old accounts.”
Leo went still.
Caroline continued.
“The criminal operations weren't just inherited by Sal after your father died. Sal was using them to fund parts of the Hawthorne scheme.”
Tessa watched Leo's expression change.
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“It means your family's past may be more directly connected to the care foundation than anyone realized.”
Leo closed his eyes.
Then he looked at Tessa.
For years, he'd believed his father's money was the foundation beneath his life.
Now he was beginning to see how much of that foundation had been rotten.
He took Tessa's hand.
May you like
And made the hardest decision of his life.
“Tell them I'll come in tomorrow.”
