Chapter 241: When do we escape?
Chapter 241: When do we escape?
As Blake settled into the chair, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath his feet, leaving him stranded in a sea of uncertainty. How could Tessa know about his past with Rose Shelly? And what did she want from him?
Meanwhile, Tessa observed Blake carefully, her mind racing with questions and doubts. Despite her initial instinct to keep her guard up, there was something about him that tugged at her conscience, urging her to give him a chance. He seemed vulnerable, almost fragile, beneath the surface bravado he projected.
Taking a deep breath, Tessa decided to break the tense silence that hung between them. "Look, Blake," she began, her voice softening slightly, "I don't know what brought you here or what you're looking for, but I think we got off on the wrong foot."
Blake glanced up, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of surprise and wariness. "You could say that," he replied, his tone guarded. "I didn't expect to be interrogated the moment I walked through the door."
Tessa offered him a faint smile, hoping to ease the tension that lingered in the air. "I apologize if I seemed suspicious," she said, her voice genuine. "It's just... I've been through a lot lately, and I tend to be cautious around strangers."
Blake nodded understandingly, his expression softening slightly. "I get it," he said, his voice tinged with empathy. "We've all got our demons to contend with."
For a moment, they sat in companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Despite the uncertainty that still lingered between them, there was a newfound sense of understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the struggles they both faced.
As the minutes ticked by, Tessa found herself growing increasingly curious about Blake's past. She knew there was more to him than met the eye, and she couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, Blake couldn't shake the feeling that Tessa held the key to unlocking the mysteries of his past. There was something about her that intrigued him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Against all better judgment, she couldn't suppress the burning question that had been gnawing at her since Blake's arrival.
"How... how did you manage to escape jail? I'm sure Rose planned it all, yes?" Tessa's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes fixed on Blake's face, searching for any sign of deception.
Blake's eyes widened in shock at the mention of Rose's name, his breath catching in his throat. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped to his feet and began to advance towards Tessa, his movements quick and determined.
Instinctively, Tessa's hand flew out, grasping for the familiar shape of her pepper spray. But before she could react, Blake dropped to his knees before her, his eyes pleading with desperation.
"Rose... you know Rose," he implored, his voice raw with emotion. "Please, where is she? How is she?"
Tessa's heart ached at the raw vulnerability in Blake's voice, his desperation palpable in the air between them. Despite her reservations, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.
"I... I don't know," Tessa stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't seen her since..."
Since everything went to hell, she thought bitterly, the memories of that fateful day flooding back with painful clarity.
"But you must know something," Blake pressed, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her shiver. "Please, Tessa. You're my only hope."
Tessa's confusion deepened as she listened to Blake's desperate pleas. It was clear that he was searching for her and he cared deeply about her, but the mention of Rose's name only seemed to stir up more questions than answers.
"I... I don't understand," Tessa murmured, her brow furrowing in confusion. "If you're looking for Rose, then why..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Blake's expression darkened, his eyes clouded with uncertainty.
"I don't know where Rose is," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I thought... I can't go into details but look. I woke up one day and my whole life restarted here. I'm...I'm lost.."
Tessa's heart sank as she watched the hope drain from Blake's eyes, the weight of his disappointment almost palpable in the air between them.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat. "I wish I could help you find her, but..."
Her words trailed off as she struggled to find the right words, the truth weighing heavy on her conscience.
"Rose... she's gone," Tessa finally confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. "She sold off her company four months ago and disappeared without a trace. You know when I saw you this morning I assumed she'd be on this island too. I thought she sold off her company to run off with you. But now...now that you're saying you don't know where she is...it raises a lot of questions,"
A heavy silence descended over the room as Blake absorbed her words, the reality of Rose's disappearance sinking in with crushing finality.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of their shared loss hanging heavy in the air between them. But as Tessa watched the turmoil play out on Blake's face, she knew that she couldn't turn her back on him now, not when he needed her the most.
As Blake rose to his feet, a sheepish expression crossed his features, the weight of his actions weighing heavily on his conscience.
"I'm sorry for... for startling you," he began, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to come across as... as threatening."
Tessa nodded, her gaze softening as she regarded him with understanding. Despite the fear that had gripped her moments before, there was something about Blake's demeanor that put her at ease.
"It's okay," she assured him, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I understand."
But as Blake's thoughts turned to Rose, a pang of anxiety washed over him. If Rose truly cared about him, why hadn't she come searching for him on this island? Why hadn't she found him yet?
But then he remembered the doubt that had plagued him during his time in jail, the fear that Rose had abandoned him. And yet, when she had finally made her move to get him out, he had been proven wrong.
As these thoughts swirled through his mind, Blake realized that he couldn't afford to dwell on the past any longer. If he wanted to find Rose, he needed to take matters into his own hands.
But even as he made this resolution, a sense of unease settled over him. There was something about Tessa that he couldn't quite put his finger on, something that made him hesitant to trust her completely.
But for now, he had to focus on the task at hand. With a final nod of gratitude towards Tessa, Blake made his way towards the door, his mind already racing with plans for his next move.
"Thank you, Tessa," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "For everything. I should get going now,"
Tessa accompanied Blake to the door, the morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room.
"Sorry, one more thing. You came here recently, right? Please, how do I get off this island?" Blake stopped to ask, desperation etched in his tone.Blake's voice held an edge of anxiety as he posed his question, and Tessa couldn't help but pause, sensing the tension that seemed to emanate from him.
"Are you planning to leave soon?" Tessa's inquiry was met with a resolute nod from Blake.
"Yeah, I need to get out of here," he responded, his words rushed, as if time were of the essence.
Tessa furrowed her brow, studying his demeanor intently. There was something in the set of his shoulders, the furrow of his brow, that hinted at an underlying fear.
"Is everything alright?" Tessa's concern was evident in her voice. "You sound...worried."
Blake's response was immediate, almost preemptive. "When are you leaving? Maybe we can go together."
Tessa couldn't help but feel puzzled by his sudden urgency. "I have some projects to finish first. Why? What's going on?"
"It's not safe here. We have to leave now," Blake insisted, his urgency escalating.
Tessa considered his words, a frown creasing her brow. "Shouldn't we ask Elena? She might know more about leaving the island."
But Blake was adamant. "No...no... no..no...don't do that. You can't trust Elena. Trust me. Avoid her and anyone associated with her."
Tessa raised an eyebrow, memories of seeing Blake and Elena together earlier that morning flickering through her mind.
"Really? Because I saw you having breakfast with her today," Tessa countered, her skepticism evident.
Blake's response was evasive, his gaze shifting away from hers. "It's not what you think. You have to believe me."
Tessa's uncertainty grew, a knot forming in her stomach. "Okay... Well, I can't leave immediately. I have things to take care of first. Why do you sound so...desperate? Like something's chasing you."
"It's nothing. I'll figure it out. Thanks for your help," Blake replied, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Tessa watched as Blake turned to leave, a mix of confusion and offense swirling within her. He was begging her for help then all of a sudden was mad at her?