?Chapter 264:


    “What? What are you suggesting?” Anthony demanded, spinning around to face Kristopher. His gaze was sharp, confusion written on his weathered face. “When you were with Belinda, you often had her speak on your behalf. Now that you’re divorced, you expect her to do the same for your new engagement?”


    Kristopher stood still, his expression unreadable. “All I’m asking is whether you’d agree if she came to you,” he stated tly.


    Consumed by anger, Anthony mmed the armrest of his wheelchair. “You scoundrel! This is between us. Why drag Belinda into it? Hasn’t she done enough for you? You’re divorced. Why can’t you just let her go?”


    Kristopher sneered. “I was deceived about the divorce. She promised we’d remarry, so I agreed. Then she backed out, tricked me.” He looked defiantly into Anthony’s eyes. “She owes me.”


    Belinda’s grip on the doorknob tightened as she overheard. How effortlessly he lied! He had agreed to the divorce, not out of honesty, but to shield Cathy from scandal. And now, he was iming betrayal?


    Anthony eyed him with suspicion. “What are you implying? Did you really intend to remarry Belinda after the divorce?”


    “Yes,” Kristopher said, his voice rough. “She was a good wife, and I never nned to leave her.”


    Belinda bit her lip, the sting sharp as her nails dug into her palm. He had no love for her, no affection. His refusal to divorce wasn’t born from love, but obligation. She had been apetent wife, nothing more.


    “You had no intention of leaving her? So why are you so close to Cathy? And now you even n to engage Cathy?” Anthony’s tone was incredulous. After a brief pause, he continued, “Do you think I would ept your sham engagement to Cathy just because of your exnation? Absolutely not!”<fn2fda> Chapters first released on find?novel</fn2fda>


    With that, he turned and pressed the elevator button. Kristopher persisted. “You haven’t answered—would you agree if she pleaded with you?”


    Anthony stopped, his hand frozen over the button. He sighed. “Kristopher, we both know Belinda loves you deeply, enough to do anything for you. But don’t push her too far.”


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    After a moment, he added, “If Belindaes to beg me, I might agree. But have you considered what it means if you really make her beg me for this?”


    “She will never love you again. You im it’s a pretend engagement with Cathy, but are you willing to lose Belinda forever just like that?”


    As Anthony finished speaking, the elevator dinged. He stepped inside and departed without a backward nce. The doors slid shut, and the hallway was left in silence.


    Just then, the door to the ward swung open. Cathy’s agent emerged, her expression anxious. She hurried over to Kristopher and said, “Mr. Cox, Cathy is still agitated. She’s been given a tranquilizer, but she’s still talking about suicide as soon as she wakes up. You mentioned a willingness to propose and get engaged to her… Is that true? If so, I’ll tell her — it might calm her down. If not, I won’t say anything to avoid upsetting her further.”


    Kristopher sighed deeply, his gaze distant. “Tell her we will be engaged.”


    When Kristopher confirmed his agreement, the agent was visibly thrilled.


    “Great!” she eximed, her voice ringing with excitement. However, she quickly realized her outburst may have been too much, andposed herself. “I’m going to share this wonderful news with Cathy right away! She’ll be so overjoyed, I bet it’ll speed up her recovery!” With that, she turned on her heel, a bounce in her step as she headed for the ward.


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