Page 7 of Claiming Tessa

T heir lives settled into a routine, and they grew closer every day. It sometimes scared her when she thought about how much she already loved them, more than she had thought possible. If something were to happen that broke them up, it would destroy her.

When she’d received the call from an old friend of her father’s, she’d been shocked to learn her father had left her most of what he had. The lawyer, Mr. Turner, rambled on, but all she heard was that everything belonged to her, and her mother had been taking it for years.

“So, you see, Ms. Cunningham, your mother has secretly been stealing from you for years. You have every legal right to kick your mother out of your house. She gets plenty to live on from both former husbands, so it’s not like she’ll be out on the street.

She can still live the lavish lifestyle she’s accustomed to. ”

As much as Tessa wanted to lash out at her mother, she ultimately just wanted her out of her life for good. “I just want her gone. I hate the way she treats everyone. Like she’s so much better.”

“You do know she came from poverty, right?”

Tessa’s eyes widened. “No, I didn’t.” Another shock to her system.

“Well, yes,” he replied. “She lived with her mother and father and her three siblings on a run-down farm. Her mother cleaned houses and did ironing while her dad worked in a factory and tried to make the farm successful. When she was sixteen, she walked away. She never finished high school and hasn’t seen her family since she left home to become a waitress.

That’s where Thomas Watts, Jared’s dad, met her and fell in love.

After he died, your father met her at a charity event.

He married her and had her moved into his house within two months. ”

“She always told me she didn’t have any family,” Tessa muttered.

“In her mind, she probably thought that. I’ve had to deal with her for a long time, and she’s about as cold as a person can get.”

“I agree with that.”

Tessa’s nails bit into her palms as memories assailed her. She’d gone through so much most of her life because of her mother’s greed. To say she resented her mother even more was an understatement. A mother was supposed to protect her children.

“Is there any legal action you’d like me to take at this moment?” Mr. Turner asked.

Tessa shook her head. “No. I have a lot to think about, but I’ll get in touch with you if I make a decision.”

Mr. Turner stood and shook her hand.

“Thank you so much.”

“I’m just glad you have learned the truth. I tried numerous times to get in touch with you.”

“I’m sorry. I was overseas. I think I was trying to get as far away from her as possible.”

“I don’t blame you for that. Have a good day.”

“You, too, sir.”

Tessa walked out of the building, raised her face to the sky, and took a deep breath.

She felt like her life had done a one-eighty.

She’d walked into the lawyer’s office feeling like something was wrong with her, but now she knew it wasn’t herself but her mother’s greed, and it was hard to take it all in.

She turned and started walking down the street, unaware of anything, she just needed to move.

Diego caught up with her first and wrapped his arms around her. “Wait, Baby. What’s going on?”

She turned and looked at both men. “I understand now.”

“Understand what?”

“Why my mom hates me so much.”

“Then tell us?” Gavin asked and rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

“My father left me everything. I own the house she lives in, and she thought by pushing me away, I’d never find out.

Jared’s father left him his business to take over when he was ready, and he’s built that up over the years.

My father was a day trader and a damn good one.

He was a multimillionaire by the time he was thirty. ”

Gavin scowled in confusion. “So, you’re saying your mom has been stealing from you since your father died?”

“Yes. My mother receives an allowance from both her husbands’ estates, but she’s also been living off the money I was given to keep the house going and not have to worry about finances. Thankfully, it was a certain amount each year, so she couldn’t go through all of it.”

She hadn’t realized she was crying until both men wrapped themselves around her.

“Everything is going to be fine, Baby,” Gavin said. “Take time to process it. We’ll support whatever you want to do.”

She wiped the tears from her cheek. “I do know. I don’t want the house. If it’s okay with you, I love your house so much more, so I think I’ll sell my mother’s house.”

“That’s fine by us,” Diego told her. “As long as we’re together.”

“God, I love you guys.”

“We love you, too, Baby,” Gavin said.

Diego kissed her forehead. “You’re our world.”

“Do you want to head home?”

She looked up at Gavin. “Not yet. I want to talk to Jared.” She sighed. “Do you think he knows anything about this?”

Both men shook their heads.

“I would bet he doesn’t,” Diego said.

“I agree,” Gavin said. “He’s a good guy.”

She nodded. “Yes, he is.”

“How about we go with you? We’ll stay out in the waiting room.”

She squeezed Diego’s hand. “I’d appreciate that.”

“Then let’s go.”

They walked to Jared’s building since it was only a few blocks away.