Elena seeing Tessa seemingly struck with paralysis called out to her., her voice echoed through the spacious condo, each call growing more insistent. "Tessa? Tessa, are you alright?"
Tessa snapped out of her daze, blinking rapidly as she turned towards Elena. She forced a smile onto her face, though her eyes still held a glimmer of shock.
Elena offered a sympathetic smile and approached Tessa. "I'm sorry about the door issue, Tessa. I'll make sure to send a handyman over to take a look at it as soon as possible."
Tessa nodded, her gaze flickering briefly towards Blake, who was quietly enjoying his pancakes. Her mind was still reeling from the unexpected sight of him.
"Thank you, Elena," Tessa managed to say, her voice slightly shaky as she turned to leave the condo. Her footsteps were hasty, eager to put some distance between herself and the bewildering encounter.
As Tessa continued her brisk pace along the beach, her fists clenched in excitement, she couldn't help but mutter the name "Blake Shelton" to herself over and over again. It felt surreal, as if saying his name would wake her up from a dream if she was indeed dreaming.
"Blake Shelton," she repeated, each utterance carrying a mix of disbelief and exhilaration. "Blake Shelton... Free and well."
The waves crashed against the shore, their rhythmic cadence providing a backdrop to Tessa's internal turmoil. She couldn't shake the feeling of astonishment that coursed through her with every step she took. This was no hallucination, no figment of her imagination. Blake Shelton was real, tangible, right here on this exotic island.
Her mind raced with a flurry of questions, each one more urgent than the last. How had he managed to evade capture? What role did Rose Shelly play in his sudden reappearance because she knew for a fact that the powerful CEO she knew to be Rose had her ways. And most importantly, what did this mean for the intricate web of lies and deceit that had ensnared them all?
Yet, despite the fear and uncertainty that gripped her, Tessa couldn't shake the glimmer of determination that burned within her. She may not have all the answers, but wait...
Something else wasn't adding up. Elena, the supposed owner of the resort, had always seemed suspiciously familiar to Tessa. There was something about her demeanor, her presence, that set off alarm bells in Tessa's mind.
She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was an air of authority about Elena that seemed out of place for someone running a simple beach resort. Tessa's instincts told her that Elena was more than just a businesswoman – she was a key player in whatever game was unfolding on the island.
As she made her way back to her suite, Tessa's thoughts whirled with possibilities. If Elena was indeed involved in whatever scheme was afoot, then she needed to gather as much information as possible before confronting her. But where to start?
Tessa knew she needed to tread carefully. Confronting someone as powerful as Elena without solid evidence could be dangerous. She needed to gather more intel, piece together the puzzle, before making any bold moves.
Once inside the safety of her room, Tessa wasted no time in springing into action. With practiced ease, she scanned the room for any signs of surveillance, ensuring that she was truly alone before picking up the phone to make a call.
Her contact, a prison warden with access to valuable information, answered on the other end. Tessa wasted no time in getting straight to the point. "Hey, it's me," she said, her voice low and urgent. "I need a favor."
She went on to ask her contact to confirm the status of Blake's incarceration discreetly. If anyone could uncover the truth behind Blake's disappearance, it was her well-placed source within the prison system.
A tense silence hung in the air as Tessa waited for her contact to respond. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her contact spoke up, confirming that Blake was indeed incarcerated at that very moment.
'That can't be,' Tessa thought.