CHAPTER 23

Everybody was flabbergasted by Tessa's sudden action and words, the ladies were happy but they were also surprised. 

They never imagined Tessa would stand up to leave, she even dared to do so. 

It was a shock to them, that somebody could actually be so disrespectful to a head commander. 

Without waiting for Edward's words, Tessa took her mini bag and walked away, she walked past Edward when Edward sounded. 

"You can't leave while the event is still going on"

Edward stood up and faced Tessa. 

"You have to stay until the discussion finishes, then I will judge you, and see who I want"

Tessa's face darkened more, if slapping him wouldn't caused her trouble, she would've slapped him already. 

"It seems you don't understand me, Mr Edward. I am no longer interested. You don't have the connection I am looking for, rather than wait for this to be over, I choose to leave"

Edward walked slowly to Tessa, his footsteps seemed to increase the intensity in the room. The air seemed to have become thicker as he came closer to Tessa. 

"Do you realize how much your family did to get you here? You are the lowest class person among those three ladies, yet you are the one misbehaving, there is nothing wrong with the question I asked, unless you are being a kid"

Edward's words seemed to be loud, and it was drawing attention. Tessa didn't know it would turn out this way, she just wanted to leave quietly, and now it was becoming a show for everyone. 

Well, she wouldn't back away from it. 

"There is nothing wrong with your questions, it is just how you say them. It speaks loudly of who you are. I can't. I wouldn't. Associate with somebody like you"

Edward looked around seeing his little chat with Tessa had attracted onlookers, exactly what he wanted, but he pretended to be surprised. 

He cleared his throat. 

"As a head commander who have served this great country, I demand that you stay and wait until we finish"

"Not only would you be disrespecting me if you walk away, but you would also be going against the laws of this place if you disobey my order"

Edward's outer expression was poker but he was smiling brightly inside, he chose this place because of the rules that govern it, here he could do whatever he wanted with anybody, provided he was ranked higher than the person. 

A mere civilian like Tessa had no right here. 

"You would be punished if you do so"

Tessa was a little bit surprised to hear his words, no wonder he chose this place among all the places in the city, a place where he was supreme.

If she goes back to sit down, she would be a fool. 

Who knew what other things the question booklet contained, or what order she might have to obey onward? 

She would definitely not be herself if she went back to sit with this hypocrite. 

"Then, I rather be punished"

Tessa turned to face the entrance of the luxury hall, she didn't know what punishment she would be receiving, she didn't deserve to be punished in the first place, but she rather take that path than remain with this supercilious brat. 

The military men standing there opened the door for Tessa, immediately they opened the door, Edward snapped his fingers. 

"Seize that lady, and bring her to me"

The men walked to Tessa and seized her hands, Jeremy witnessed the scene, he rush inside the luxury hall. The military men standing by the door allowed him, it was obvious that his superior had committed a crime, he should be inside so they would face the consequences together. 

The men wanted to drag Tessa to Edward, but she struggled to free her hands, eventually, they overpowered her. 

"Let Miss Tessa go now"

Jeremy was held down by the military men inside the luxury hall, the scene caught the attention of everybody now, they all stopped what they were doing to watch the unfolding. 

Edward casually walked to Tessa, he was smiling brightly now, he couldn't hold it anymore. 

"Miss Tessa, I told you that you can't leave without my permission, now, look what you have done to yourself"

He stopped close to Tessa. Tessa had a serious expression on her face. 

"Did you serve this country or yourself? If you serve this country then you served the people, You are supposed to show respect for the people you served, unless you were just doing it for this fame, that means you are not qualified to call yourself a soldier"

Edward's cheeks moved, he couldn't believe Tessa still dared to voice out her opinion, given her situation.

Her words would definitely work on normal soldiers, but soldiers from the military special unit were not ordinary.

They were different kinds of breed, especially higher rank ones like him. 

Edward's expression turned poker, the air suddenly went denser than before, Tessa was starting to feel the sudden changes in the surroundings.

Cold sweat was starting to form on her face, Edward looked at Tessa, some people still didn't understand how they won the war, he wanted to say something when somebody's voice was heard from the entrance. 

"She is right"

Everybody turned in the direction of the voice, the person was putting on a brown military uniform with no medals, just a plain uniform with no decoration. 

He was tall, and his haircut made him look like a newly recruited soldier. 

Given his uniform, he was a private, the lowest rank in the military special unit. 

How did somebody like this enter the luxury dining hall? 

Everybody was having the same thought. 

Tessa was surprised to see Klaus, she thought this place was for high-ranking military personnel, how did Klaus enter, and three people were following him from behind.

The three people were dressed in normal clothing, they weren't even in the military.

Tessa was still lost in thought when her eyes captured the invitation card in Klaus's hands and the three people who were following him from behind. 

She felt somehow disappointed. 

Klaus approached the scene with a deadpan expression. 

"As a soldier, you have no right to harm the normal citizens, if you do, then what are you fighting for"

Klaus stopped beside Tessa, he looked straight into Edward's eyes, he sounded like a superior being. 

"Head commander Edward Jackson. You have no right to detain a normal civilian here, that law only works on us, not normal citizens"

Edward's face darkened. 

'Who the hell is this brat, is he blind or something, didn't he notice that I am a head commander, who let a private inside here in the first place'

Before Edward could respond, Klaus continued. 

"You should apologize to Miss Tessa, and let her go, it seems she doesn't want to stay anymore"

Edward's face turned ugly. He couldn't believe this low-life private was telling him what to do and what not to do. 

Klaus faces the military men holding Tessa. He raised his voice a little. 

"Let Lady Tessa go now! Don't you know the rules!"

Klaus's sudden dominion causes the men to quickly let go of Tessa. 

Tessa was still finding this surprising, she thought Klaus was a low-ranked military personnel, where did he get this much authority?

Her eyebrows moved a little, Klaus wasn't using any authority here, he was just saying the truth, more like he was standing up for her, and this could get him in trouble. 

She wanted to say something when Edward sounded. 

"And if I don't let her go, what would you do"

Edward's face turned serious, he released more of his aura, which made the air more dense. 

Tessa and everyone in the scene could already feel the strange power coming out from Edward's body. 

It wasn't a playful matter anymore, things had suddenly become serious. 

Tessa was afraid she had put Klaus in deep trouble this time, she looked straight into his eyes, yet there wasn't a sign of fear in them. 

'Was he hiding it, or he just wasn't afraid'

Klaus's next words gave Tessa the right confirmation. 

Klaus faced Edward. 

"Then I will force you to let her go"