Chapter 5 - The Gift of Dignity
The next morning, Tessa woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and hot pastries.
She opened the door to find two high-end tailors and a personal stylist waiting in the hallway, accompanied by four racks of elegant clothes, cashmere sweaters, and custom winter coats for both her and Lily.
"What is all this?" Tessa asked, bewildered.
"Orders from Mr. Rossi, ma'am," the head stylist smiled warmly. "He requested a full wardrobe for both of you."
An hour later, dressed in a soft cream cashmere sweater and tailored trousers, Tessa walked down to the estate's main courtyard. She found Zo standing near the fountain, watching Lily play happily with a golden retriever puppy that one of the guards had brought over.
Tessa stepped beside him, looking down at her luxurious sweater. "Zo... this is too much. I don't know how to repay you for any of this."
Zo didn't turn his head, keeping his eyes on the laughing little girl. "You don't repay kindness, Tessa. You accept it."
"I used to clean your floors three days ago," she whispered.
"And now you sit at my table," Zo said, finally turning to face her. "I spoke with the pharmacy's corporate board this morning. The company that inflated the price of Lily's insulin was bought out by my holding group an hour ago. The prices have been slashed nationwide."
Tessa stared at him, her mouth opening in absolute shock. "You... you bought the pharmaceutical company?"
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"I don't like monopolies that prey on mothers," Zo said simply, reaching out to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Tessa felt a sudden, electric warmth bloom in her chest. For years, men had treated her as disposable, weak, or a burden. But this feared mafia Don treated her like a queen.
