《when his perfect mask shattered i awoke》 Created 1 Chapter 1 Marriage. A Scam Chapter 1 Marriage, A Scam +5 Free Doing Anneliese ude¡¯s friend had imed she saw Zacharias Shaw walking into a hotel with the other woman, the two of them acting far too close. Anneliese had simplyughed it off. ¡°That¡¯s got to be a mistake.¡± Zacharias? Cheat on her? They had grown up side by side. Thirteen years of history, loyalty, and a bond so deep it felt unshakable. Justst month, he had rented out the biggest digital screen in Oceaton for her birthday. His love deration yed on a loop for the entire city. That kind of devotion didn¡¯t just vanish. Besides, they were trying to have a baby now. She had just gotten her pre¨Cpregnancy test results. Everything looked good. The second she saw the report, she headed straight to his office to share the good news. She stepped out of the elevator that led straight to the top floor. But someone was already standing there, blocking her path. ¡°You can¡¯t be up here without an appointment!¡± the girl snapped, her chin slightly lifted. She wore a bright yellow dress. She looked young, sharp, and a little too confident. Her face seemed vaguely familiar. She stood with both hands out, clearly trying to keep Anneliese from getting past. ¡°Coral, this is Ms. ude. She¡¯s also Mr. Shaw¡¯s wife.¡± Jackie rushed over, his tone tight. ¡°Apologize.¡± Coral looked stunned for a moment, then straightened her spine and said with a sugary tone, ¡°Good afternoon, Ms. ude. I¡¯m Coral Slenderidge. Mr. Shaw is sponsoring my studies. ¡°I¡¯m lucky he let me intern here. I didn¡¯t get any message about a guest, so I followed procedure. I hope you understand.¡± She sounded polite, but there was an edge in her voice. A quiet kind of challenge. Anneliese didn¡¯t respond. Her eyes dropped to Coral¡¯s hands. ¡°Nice polish,¡± she replied, t and calm. Chapter 1 Marriage. A Scam s That dusty blue shimmer was the same shade she¡¯d seen on Zacharias¡® pinkyst night while. they were cooking. She had asked about it. He said it was ink. She hadn¡¯t thought much of it then. Now, Coral quickly tucked her hands behind her back. She turned her head slightly, but not fast enough. Anneliese saw it. A dark, deep mark was pressed into the skin behind her car. A hickey. With faint bite marks. around it. She knew that spot. Zacharias always kissed her there. He buried his face behind her ear when he couldn¡¯t hold back. His voice would get low, thick with want. ¡°Honey¡­ when will you finally be ready? I want you so bad it hurts¡­¡± Her body had been through so much. She had suffered serious damage years ago, and doctors. told her getting pregnant would be nearly impossible. Zacharias said he was allergic to condoms. They were always too busy, too tired. They had been married for two years, and still had never gone all the way. Each time he went to cool off in the shower, she had felt torn¨Cguilty, touched, and thankful. So, when he asked for a baby, when he gently told her to quit her job and focus on her health, she agreed without hesitation. For six months, she endured the endless checkups. But deep down, she had looked forward to
  1. it.
Tonight was supposed to be their real wedding night. She had even gone out and bought lingerie¨Csomething she would never normally wear. But now she knew the truth. Zacharias hadn¡¯t been cherishing her. He had already gone to someone else for what she couldn¡¯t give. Her friend¡¯s warning, her blind trust, everything hit her all at once like a brick to the chest. She stood still as stone. ¡°Ms. ude, Mr. Shaw is with Mr. White. You can go in,¡± Jackie said softly as he pulled Coral Chapter I Marriage. A Scam aside. Anneliese walked forward, her heels tapping steadily against the polished floor. She reached the office door and pushed it open just enough to hear. A man was speaking inside. s. ¡°Having a lookalike is fine, but keeping her so close is just asking for trouble. What if Anneliese finds out?¡± It was Christopher White¡¯s voice. Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel Anneliese froze. Her fingers turned ice¨Ccold against the doorknob. Zacharias¡® betrayal was real. And Christopher¨Cher own brother¨Calready knew. Zacharias replied. His voice was low and calm, steady as always. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Anne trusts me. She loves me. She¡¯s obedient. She won¡¯t leave. She¡¯s focused on getting pregnant. She won¡¯t notice a thing.¡± Each word cut deeper than thest. Christopher¡¯s voice returned. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget, Selina paid someone to hurt her. Anneliese got stabbed twice. Her uterus was nearly destroyed. Everyone in Oceaton knows she can¡¯t have kids. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t proposed, whisked her out of the country, and kept her happy, we wouldn¡¯t have. had time to clean up after Selina. ¡°If Selina had gone to prison because of her, her life would¡¯ve been over. You really went the extra mile for her. ¡°Selina¡¯s proud. She doesn¡¯t likepetition. She¡¯s nothing like Anneliese. If she finds out you found a stand¨Cin who looks just like her, she¡¯ll lose her mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a fling. Selina¡¯sing back soon. I¡¯ll get rid of the stand¨Cin before then.¡± ¡°Alright. Just handle it right.¡± Anneliese¡¯s hand trembled. Her legs felt weak. Her vision blurred as the pain crushed her chest. It felt like her heart was being torn apart, like fingers were digging in, squeezing, ripping it into pieces. Her back curled from the weight of it. Her breath came short. Her knees nearly buckled Chapter 1 Marriage, A Scam under her. +5 Free Coms She was the true daughter of the Whites, yet they didn¡¯t bring her home until she turned seventeen. No matter how polite or thoughtful she was, no matter how hard she tried to please them, her parents and her older brothers always favored the fake¨CSelina White. The only person who truly cared for her was Grandma. When Anneliese turned eighteen, Grandma gave her the family¡¯s heirloom bracelet. Selina couldn¡¯t stand it. She cried and screamed nonstop until their parents gave her a fifty¨Cmillion- dor mansion just to calm her down. Not long after that, Anneliese was heading home one night when a group of thugs cornered her. They yanked her into a dark alley. She fought back with everything she had, but they stabbed her twice. Shey there bleeding, her clothes soaked. When the attackers ran off, she crawled toward the street alone, dragging herself out of that alley for help. She was rushed to the hospital, barely hanging on. The doctors almost had to take her uterus. The story exploded online and on every news outlet. ¡°Did you hear? The real White daughter got gangbanged and lost her uterus!¡± ¡°She¡¯s useless now. Can¡¯t have kids. She was already crude¨Cnow she¡¯s totally ruined. Who¡¯d want her?¡± ¡°How many guys went at her? If I were her, I¡¯d have jumped in a river by now.¡± The mockery spread like wildfire. The shame never let up. And through it all, Zacharias was the only one who stood by her side. While the whole city tore her apart, he stepped forward and said he loved her. Right after her eighteenth birthday, he got down on one knee and proposed in front of everyone. He took her on a trip. He stayed close and helped her heal. Chapter 1 Marriage. A Scam She had almost drowned as a child, and it was Zacharias who had jumped in to save her. After that, she stuck to him like a shadow. She already had feelings for him, and after that, she gave him her heartpletely. Even when her family disapproved, she stayed by his side. He had nothing, but she didn¡¯t care. She worked with him through the hardest years¨Cthrough the tiny basement they lived in, through all the sleepless nights. She didn¡¯tin once. Two yearster, they finally got married. Even after that, he stayed gentle. Their love stayed strong. They began nning for a baby. Everything felt like a dream. Anneliese thought Zacharias was her light, her miracle, the beautiful answer to all the pain life had thrown her. But then she saw the truth¨CZacharias had always loved Selina. That was why Coral¡¯s face had felt so familiar. She had that soft, fragile look Selina wore so well. So, the love confession, the public proposal, the marriage¨Cnone of it was for Anneliese. It was all to shield Selina. To serve her. To protect her.. How noble of him. And what did that make Anneliese? A sacrifice for their love story? A stand¨Cin for the girl they worshipped? Should she thank them for wrapping her in this up pretty little lic? A voice broke through from behind the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Zacharias spoke, his voice low and cold. He pushed back from the desk and walked to the door, his eyes dark and sharp. He flung the heavy doors open and looked around with a tense re, but the hallway outside was empty, His brow furrowed. Jackie came jogging down the corridor. ¡°Who just passed through here?¡± Zacharias¡® voice was tight. Jackic froze under his stare, unsure what had happened. Chapter I Marriage. A Scam He didn¡¯t dare lie. ¡°Mr. Shaw, the madam came by. She bumped into Coral. Looked like she got upset. You didn¡¯t see her?¡± ¡°Anneliese was here?¡± Christopher stepped forward, his expression tightening. Zacharias¡® jaw locked. A sudden unease shot through his chest. His tone turned cold. ¡°Check the security footage. Now.¡± Created 2 Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye ¡°What are you all standing around for?¡± Her voice rang out from the terrace. Soft. Clear. Familiar. Anneliese stepped through the ss doors with her phone in her hand. Her eyes were calm. Her face gave nothing away. Zacharias and Christopher exchanged a quick nce. Their shoulders rxed. They knew how much Anneliese valued her family. If she had heard what they said, she wouldn¡¯t be this quiet. She would have been sobbing. shouting, falling apart. Zacharias smiled faintly and walked over to take her bag. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Why didn¡¯t youe in right away?¡± He looked sharp and effortlessly put¨Ctogether, dressed in a dark gray bespoke suit that hugged his tall frame just right. His presencemanded attention, not because he tried, but because sess had settled into his every move. and uderias Tech had skyrocketed in just a few years. Its value had passed ten billion, Zacharias, not even twenty¨Cseven, had already made a name for himself as one of the rising stars in Oceaton¡¯s tech scene.. There was something maic about him. That quiet confidence. That polished charm. He didn¡¯t need to chase anyone. A little warmth, a soft smile, and most women folded casily. Anneliese¡¯s hands were trembling. Her skin felt cold to the touch, but Zacharias didn¡¯t seem to notice at all when his hand brushed past hers. What are you doing here, Anneliese? Why keep chasing something that¡¯s fake? Anneliese thought. She forced a smile. ¡°I got a call. Thought I¡¯d take it outside so I wouldn¡¯t interrupt you.¡± Zacharias rxed instantly. Christopher, still stiff with impatience, didn¡¯t hold back Fri, Sep Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye ¡°If you¡¯re going to be a stay¨Cat¨Chome wife, then stay at home. Don¡¯t just show up here without notice. If you really have toe, book ahead. You¡¯re always careless. Your sister never acts like this.¡± If it had been Selina, they would¡¯ve weed her with open arms. No matter what she did, it was seen as thoughtful, graceful, perfect. Anneliese kept her voice even. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Christopher frowned. She used to talk back. She used to get defensive or do something dramatic just to prove she wasn¡¯t any less than Selina. But now she didn¡¯t argue. She didn¡¯t say much at all. That silence stung more than anything else. It made him feel like she didn¡¯t even see him. He decided she was just being her usual pitiful self¨Cdull and forgettable. ¡°You two haven¡¯t been home in a while,¡± he added. ¡°Come back for dinner tomorrow. Mom and Dad need to talk to you both.¡± Zacharias nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll bring Anne.¡± Christopher turned and left without another nce. Zacharias guided her into his office and closed the door behind them. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. ¡°What¡¯s the asion? Did my sweet wife miss me?¡± he said with a softugh. That familiar cedar scent clung to his skin. Anneliese pressed her hand lightly to his chest, her eyes falling on the bag he held. Inside was the test result she¡¯d picked up that morning. It showed she was finally healthy enough to try for a baby. But now, there was no point in bringing it up. She leaned away without meaning to. Her body didn¡¯t lie. Zacharias frowned slightly. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you?¡± She lifted her head. Part of her wanted to p him. She wanted to rip away the lies, to break the pretty mask he wore. But violence wouldn¡¯t fix anything. Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye Free Coind She needed to walk away, to leave the Whites behind, the truth about what Selina had done to her, and most of all, justice. ¡°Will I always be less than Selina?¡± she asked. Zacharias paused. So that was what she¡¯d been holding in. He reached out and tapped her forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t need topare yourself to her.¡± The words sounded gentle, but they split down the middle. He might have meant that she was. iparable or that she didn¡¯t evene close. Anneliese used to believe the first. Now, she knew better. She saw clearly now. Zacharias was an expert at making emptiness sound sweet. A knock echoed at the door. Coral stepped inside with two cups of coffee. Anneliese moved away from Zacharias and sat on the couch. Coral ced a cup on the table in front of her, then walked across the room and handed the second one to Zacharias. ¡°Here¡¯s your coffee, Mr. Shaw,¡± she said softly. As he reached for the cup, her fingers skimmed his palm. The gesture looked casual, but it wasn¡¯t. Her nails grazed lightly across his skin. ¡°Ms. Slenderidge, right?¡± Anneliese said suddenly. Coral froze. The room felt like it dropped in temperature. Zacharias¡® jaw tightened. His fingers gripped the coffee cup harder than before. He looked at Anneliese, who gave him a slow, rxed smile. ¡°I just want juice. The medicine I¡¯m taking isn¡¯t great with caffeine. That¡¯s all. Why do you both look so nervous?¡± Zacharias didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Go get her some juice.¡± His voice was calm, but the warning behind it was clear. He didn¡¯t even need to raise his tone. The look in his eyes said enough. Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel Coral¡¯s face turned pale. She bit down on her lip and spoke quickly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Madam. I¡¯ll bring you juice right away.¡± Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye She grabbed the coffee and rushed out, heels tapping across the marble floor as she disappeared through the door. Anneliese watched her go, her eyes steady and unreadable. She didn¡¯t look away until Zacharias stepped into her line of sight and blocked it with his broad frame. She gave a small you Mile. ¡°She can¡¯t even handle a simple drink order. Since when did be so patient with interns?¡± Zacharias¡® face rxed. A moment ago, he thought something was off. Now, hearing her talk like this, he decided she was just being petty. Just jealousy, nothing more. He leaned over, one hand pressed against the couch¡¯s backrest. His voice turned yful. ¡°Getting jealous? She¡¯s a sponsored poor girl. She¡¯s still young and doesn¡¯t know any better. Why are you even bothered?¡± Young? Anneliese thought. Zacharias must have forgotten¨CAnneliese was only twenty¨Ctwo herself. At eighteen, she was already standing beside him, helping him build everything from the ground up. Back then, uderias Tech was nothing more than a tiny team of fewer than ten people. his She started as assistant, worked long hours, solved endless problems, and by the time she resigned, she was heading the PR department on her own. She remembered one time when a client humiliated her during a pitch. She had run off to cry alone in a stairwell. Zacharias had found her and told her something without a flicker of sympathy. ¡°Anneliese, you chose to step into the real world carly. That means you better get used to being hit hard. No one¡¯s going to coddle your mistakes or moods.¡± She used to think he was pushing her to grow. She thought maybe he cared in his own way. Now she knew the truth. He had always known how to be kind¨Che just never chose to be kind to her. When Anneliese stepped outside the building, the strength drained from her all at once. Her knees buckled, and she sank onto a bench near the curb. 11:26 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye She dropped her head into her hands, breath caught in her throat. Her calm began to fall apart. Bit by bit, the hurt and anger took over, sinking into her chest like cold steel. Her heart, already cracked, felt like it was caving in. The sun slipped lower. Faded light scattered through the gray sky. A chill breeze swept through the street, carrying fine raindrops that clung to her skin. Dry leaves drifted down and scattered across the road. Cars rolled over them, grinding them into the wet pavement. They looked like everything she had clung to¨Clove, family, pride¨Call crushed and dirty. She didn¡¯t know how long she sat there, shaking. Her body trembled until it began to still. She lifted her head and pulled out her phone, She didn¡¯t hesitate as she tapped a number and held the phone to her car. The call connected after one ring, but no words came out of her mouth. A calm voice came through the line. ¡°Anneliese? I¡¯m here.¡± That sound hit something deep in her. Familiar, but distant. Her chest tightened. ¡°George, I¡¯m sorry to bother you thiste. I just wanted to ask¡­ can I still join the Project eVTOL researchb?¡± Her voice was barely more than a whisper. Her checks flushed with shame. She had no idea if she even deserved to ask. She had entered Astoria University at fifteen as a gifted acronautical student. By junior year, she had already made breakthroughs in sensor¨Cfusion algorithms. Her designs helped drones avoid obstacles with higher uracy and stability. She used that research for wildfire detection. The drone she designed became one of the most advanced search¨Cand¨Crescue models of its time. Even the professors had been blown away. They filed a patent for her. They offered her a fast track into grad school. The department head took her on as his final disciple. Her future had been bright, solid, and already unfolding. She evenunched Superbflight Aviation with her senior ssmates, a startup focused on lightweight aerial cameras. But four years ago, she gave all of that up for Zacharias. She walked away from school, from theb, from everything. Chapter 2 Divorce And Goodbye Her professor hadn¡¯t forgotten her. +5 Fier Cond Two years ago, he flew to Oceaton himself and personally invited her to join the VTOL project. She said no again. Now, she regretted it. All of it. She bit her lip until she tasted blood, but George¡¯s voice remained just as warm. ¡°Of course. I told you, if you ever wanted toe back, we¡¯d be ready. When can youe? I¡¯ll book your flight. Would tomorrow be too soon?¡± Anneliese felt a strange warmth bloom in her chest. ¡°What about Professor¡­¡± ¡°Oh,e on. You know how he is. Just show up. Give him a surprise. Once he sees you, he¡¯ll forget whatever grudge he¡¯s holding. And if he doesn¡¯t, cook him dinner. If that doesn¡¯t work, cook him two.¡± H Sheughed through her tears. ¡°I¡¯ll cook every day if I have to. I just need one month to sort out some things here. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Of course it is. We¡¯ll wait.¡± ¡°Thank you. Really.¡± She ended the call and sat in silence. The weight pressing down on her chest finally lifted. One month. She would get a divorce. She would leave this city. She would return to the life that was hers all along. She looked up, her vision clear. At that moment, a ck Bentley passed by on the road. The back window was cracked open. Inside, a young girl was straddling a man¡¯sp. Her arms wrapped around him, and their kiss burned through the cold, as if autumn had nothing to do with them at all. Created 3 Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It If he had just turned his head, even for a second, he would¡¯ve seen her¨Chis wife, sitting alone at the edge of the sidewalk, drenched in the rain, shaking from the cold, her eyespletely empty. However, he didn¡¯t. He was too lost in the thrill. That young girl in his arms lit him up with something new. In that moment, he forgot he had a home, a wife, or a past. Anneliese watched the car fade into the city¡¯s neon blur. Then, she stood. She reached into her purse, pulled out the fertility report, and tore it apart piece by piece. Her fingers moved slow and steady. When she was done, she walked to a nearby trash bin and dropped the shreds in. Then, she turned and walked the other way. The night had deepened, and the misty rain still fell. Even the busy business district had gone quiet. At the corner, an olddy squatted on the curb. Her white hair clung to her skin under the streetlight, and rain misted across her thin coat. A few bunches of flowers rested by her feet. Life was hard. Love meant nothing. Anneliese slipped off her wedding ring. She stepped toward the olddy and gently took her hand. She ced the ring into her palm and folded her fingers over it. ¡°It¡¯s raining. You should go home.¡± The olddy said nothing. Anneliese didn¡¯t wait for a reply. She turned and walked away. Two minutester, a ck Phantom pulled up to the curb. The driver¡¯s door opened, and a man stepped out. His leather shoes tapped the pavement, polished and narrow, catching the streetlight as he moved. His suit pants lifted slightly as he stepped forward, revealing dark socks and sharp, lean ankles. 11:26 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It Free Coins He stood tall. His frame filled the sidewalk as he opened a ck umbre arid walked straight. to the olddy. He reached down and steadied her as she tried to rise. Her voice wavered. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, Jonathan. 1 didn¡¯t expect the rain. I¡¯m still healthy. A little water doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± She exined that she had left a concert. On the way back, her driver had identally knocked down a flower seller. He took the girl to the hospital, so she waited here since thepany building was nearby. She figured her grandson, the workaholic, coulde get her. However, when she saw the chill in his eyes, her words slowed. Suddenly, she remembered the ring. She fumbled to push it into his hand. ¡°A young woman gave this to me by mistake. She walked away before I could say anything. Quick, go after her! She went that way!¡± She pointed toward the street. Jonathan Fullbuster¨Cthe olddy¡¯s grandson¨Clooked where she indicated and spotted a faint silhouette. A slim figure walked into the lights and fog, her form fading with each step. ¡°Get in the car.¡± He helped his grandmother into the back seat. He turned up the heat, spread out a nket, and waited until she was settled. Then he shut the door and took off after the girl. His stride was steady, long, and determined. The figure ahead became clearer. She walked at a calm pace, straight into the rain. Her mist¨Cblue coat clung to her back, soaked clean through. Her waist looked small, almost fragile. She held herself upright. Her whole presence felt distant, as if nothing in this noisy world could touch her. She turned the corner and disappeared into the night. By the time Jonathan caught up, she was gone. The long street stretched ahead, still and empty. Light reflected in the puddles, casting blurred shapes across the sidewalk. It felt like she had never been there at all. Back in the car, the olddy leaned toward him. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t catch her.¡± Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It She scowled. You run an airline and pilot your own nes, and you couldn¡¯t catch one girl?¡± ¡°Grandma, your logic is a little off¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get smart with me. I¡¯m disappointed. That girl was beautiful and kind! Why didn¡¯t you show up five minutes earlier? You might¡¯ve met her! You have no idea how perfect you two would be together!¡± Find the newest release on find?novel ¡°She¡¯s married,¡± he replied, holding up the ring. It looked like a wedding band. The olddy didn¡¯t take it. She shoved it back toward him. ¡°So what? She took it off, didn¡¯t she? That means something. You¡¯d better go find her and give it back.¡± Jonathan turned the ring between his fingers. The soft pink diamond caught the dim light and glimmered like a secret. It feels weird¡­ holding a stranger¡¯s wedding ring. His grandmother stared him down. He gave in and tossed the ring onto the center console and let out a quiet sigh. A faint smile tugged at the edge of his lips. His sharp profile looked softer in the dark. ¡°Well, I appreciate your faith in me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. That ring¡¯s worth at least a million. You¡¯re going to find that girl and return it. Got it?¡± ¡°Got it, Your Majesty.¡± He answered without conviction, but his eyes still flicked to the ring. What a headache, he thought. Anneliese didn¡¯t check her phone until she was in the back of the cab. Only then did she see the message Zacharias had sent two hours ago. ¡°Honey, something came up. Noting home tonight. Sleep early.¡± She didn¡¯t reply. She swiped away the pinned chat. Then she deleted the contact name ¡°Hubby¡± and changed it to something else. The bedroom looked like it had been staged for a photo shoot. Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It Roses covered the floor, their petals trailing from the doorway to the bed in a winding path of red. Anneliese had dressed the bed in her favorite silk set, a soft shade of yellow that reminded her of buttercups in carly spring. She had gone all in. Every corner felt warm and full of promise. But now, it felt like a cruel joke. She stormed in and ripped the sheets off in one hard pull. Petals scattered across the floor, tumbling in every direction like confetti after a failed celebration. The next morning, the doorbell kept ringing. The sound wed at her skull. Her head throbbed, her temples pounding in sync with every buzz. She forced herself downstairs and opened the door. Jessica Sweeting stood there with fury all over her face. Before Anneliese could say a word, Jessica pulled her into a tight hug and started shouting. ¡°That j*rk! *sshole! He can forget about bing the richest man now! ¡°He¡¯s got another woman in his heart, treats you like a stand¨Cin, and still manages to fool everyone into thinking he¡¯s such a good guy. D*mn. That¡¯s some next¨Clevel maniption. ¡°What storm drain did he crawl out of? Who let him loose to wreck people¡¯s lives? ¡°I swear, I hope he lives long enough to regret everything. May he stay infertile forever, and still have grandkids he doesn¡¯t deserve!¡± Jessica¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t stop. Each curse came harder than thest. Anneliese pulled her inside, guided her to the couch, and poured her a ss of water. Jessica downed it in one long gulp. When she looked at Anneliese again, she noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the tired slump in her shoulders. She stopped yelling and dug through her bag for a stack of photo ¡°Annie¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just show me what you¡¯ve got.¡± Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It Anneliese gave her a weak smile and took the pictures. She had tried to prepare herself. But the moment her eyesnded on the photos, her chest went right. Zacharias had Coral tucked away in a private vi just a few streets from hispany. They walked around together like a couple on vacation, bold and casual, with their hands locked like they had nothing to hide. In one photo, taken just before dusk, Coral had her legs wrapped around his waist as he carried her into the vi. Her body pressed close. Her expression smug. On her private social ount, Coral showed off designer bags¨Cbags identical to the ones. Zacharias had given Anneliese. In hertest post, Coral wore a diamond bracelet. Her fingers rested on a man¡¯s chest, her my hand. caption written like a im¨C¡®His love is in the diamond. His heart is uhan¡¯s chest, her Anneliese clenched the photo. Her knuckles went pale, and her eyes burned. It wasn¡¯t about missing him. It wasn¡¯t even about heartbreak anymore. It was about everything she had poured into a man who gave her back nothing but lies. Jessica snatched the photos from her hand and hissed under her breath. ¡°Thank God you never slept with him. Or you¡¯d be at the doctor by now. And even if everything came back clean, you¡¯d still be sick just thinking about it.¡± Anneliese gave a tiredugh. ¡°Yeah. Lucky me, right?¡± She stood up and headed upstairs. A few minutester, she returned with two big bags and dropped them at Jessica¡¯s feet. ¡°Help me sell all of it. And use the money to support some girls who actually need it. Someone who deserves a shot.¡± The bags were full of expensive gifts¨Cwatches, perfumes, purses, and jewelry. Things Zacharias had given her over the years. But packing them made her realize something. None of it had ever meant anything. It was just money. effortless spending. Thoughtles She used to treasure those things. Now she couldn¡¯t stand to look at them. Why keep them, just to risk running into Coral wearing the same purse? Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It Jessica and Anneliese had grown up together in the same group home. In Tree Coins Jessica now ran a small hustle with two friends¨Cpart¨Ctime detectives, fake girlfriends, side¨Cjob specialists. They did everything from catching cheaters to reselling luxury bags. Anything for a price. Jessica pulled the bags closer and gave a sharp whistle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll flip this stuff and find a few broke, hot high school guys to mentor. Let Zacharias know women can do the same demn thing.¡± Sponsoring wasn¡¯t just a man¡¯s game. Anneliese smiled and shook her head. ¡°No need. Let the stuff go to someone who needs it. Not every girl down on her luck turns into Coral. And Zacharias? He¡¯s garbage. But I¡¯m not crawling in after him.¡± Jessica let out a deep sigh and cursed Zacharias again under her breath. A hundred silent ways. He didn¡¯t deserve a woman like Anneliese. And once she was gone, he¡¯d never find another. go ¡°What¡¯s your n now? That *sshole¡¯spany is blowing up. Guys like him, the ones who of that came from nothing, they care more about image than anything. He¡¯ll never let ¡®perfect husband¡® mask. He¡¯s probably not gonna make divorce easy¡­¡± Jessica didn¡¯t trust him. Not really. She had a bad feeling. Zacharias seemed obsessed, and part of her believed he hadn¡¯t let Anneliese go at all. Anneliese stayed home that day. She boxed up everything she owned,beling each item, organizing what she needed to take when the time came. Her grandmother had left her a small apartment before she passed. Once the divorce went through, Anneliese nned to move in and start over. By evening, Anneliese sat at her vanity, brushing her hair under the soft, warm lights. Her reflection looked steady, but her chest felt tight. Zacharias hade to pick her up for dinner at the Whites¡® estate. He stepped behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. His gaze met hers in the mirror. 6/7 11:26 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 3 Don¡¯t Even Think About It ¡°Someone looks beautiful,¡± he said gently. Hershes trembled. She turned to face him and tilted her chin up. ¡°Zacharias, do you really love me?¡± He leaned closer and reached for her. TO Free Come ¡°Why are you asking me that? Is it because I¡¯ve been working too much? Not spending enough time with you?¡± His voice softened. ¡°Once I get a break, we¡¯ll make up for it. We¡¯ll do the wedding, the honeymoon. You always wanted to see Bragg, right?¡± Anneliese leaned away just enough to keep out of his arms. Her voice stayed calm. ¡°No thanks. If you don¡¯t love me, we can get a divorce. I don¡¯t need the title of Mrs. Shaw.¡± They had known each other for thirteen years. Even without love, there should have been some sense of care between them. She wanted to give him a chance to be honest. She wanted to end things with dignity, but Zacharias¡® hand mped around her jaw. His brow creased, and his voice dropped low and cold. ¡°Divorce? Don¡¯t even think about it. Only death can break us apart!¡± That word hit her like a hammer. Her shoulders stiffened. Her face turned pale. Created 4 Chapter 4 He Tears It Up Chapter 4 He Tears It Up +10 Free Coins Zacharias had wed his way up from nothing. His rise had been fast, but not clean. He knew how to charm people. He also knew how to break them. Her mind shed back to that round of venture capital funding. There had been another tech startup in the race, one with stronger tech and a better pitch. But just before the deal closed, the CEO had a sudden car ident. Zacharias had swooped in and imed the win. It had seemed like bad luck for them. Now, it didn¡¯t feel like luck at all. ¡°You really mean that?¡± she asked, her voice cracking. Her eyes turned ssy. A wave of chill crept up her spine. Zacharias thought she was moved. His smile returned. He gently touched her cheek. ¡°Of course I do. We¡¯ve spent thirteen years together. That¡¯s a lifetime. ¡°If I didn¡¯t love you, would I have taken all that pressure just to be with you? ¡°If I didn¡¯t love you, would I name mypany after you? Anne, we¡¯re going to grow old together.¡± She had never changed herst name after being found by the Whites. She still used her adoptive father¡¯s name, ude. But Zacharias had branded hispany with that same name, like it was a promise. He believed what he said. Selina had been his unreachable fantasy. The moment he decided to marry Anneliese, any chance they had to be a couple went up in smokes. Coral was just for fun. But the woman beside him, the one he married¨Che saw her as the one he¡¯d grow old with. Chapter 4 He Tears It Up Zacharias was too handsome for his own good. And when he smiled, those soft eyes and that calm voice could cover every lie. 10 Free Coins If Anneliese hadn¡¯t overheard what she did, maybe she would still believe him now. She kept. her tone steady. ¡°Then, promise me something.¡± He raised a brow and grinned. ¡°Anything¡± She stepped back and pulled a few sheets of paper from the drawer beside her bed. Then she held them out. ¡°If you¡¯re that sure you¡¯d never betray me, sign this.¡± He took them without hesitation. But the second he saw the title¨CDivorce Agreement¨Chist face dropped. ¡°Anneliese, what the hell is this?¡± His fingers tightened around the papers. The crisp pages buckled and creaked under the pressure. ¡°If you¡¯re really that loyal, then sign it. Just to prove it. I¡¯ll believe you-¡± Zacharias cut her off. ¡°Enough! This is because of that secretary, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve been jumping to conclusions ever since I hired her! ¡°Have I not treated you well all these years? Or are you just too used to ying my wife? ¡°Marriage needs trust. And this is how you test me? I can¡¯t believe it. Don¡¯t ever let me see this again!¡± He didn¡¯t even nce at the terms. He ripped the papers in half, tore them again, then flung the shreds into the air. He turned and stormed out. The door mmed so hard the frame shuddered. Anneliese stood in the middle of the room. Her fists stayed clenched. Torn pieces of paper floated down around her, scattering across the floor like pale leaves. Her face didn¡¯t move. But her eyes burned like ice. Jessica had called it from the start. Zacharias was never going to hand her freedom over that Chapter 4 He Tears It Up She had only tested him, but he reacted like she¡¯d stabbed him in the back. +10 Free Coins If he had even a shred of affection left, he would¡¯ve noticed how many of her things had vanished from the house. Instead, he cheated with both his body and his heart, yet still expected to keep her trapped in a marriage built on nothing but performance. A normal divorce wouldn¡¯t work. Not with him. She had to find another way out. After the fight, the ride back to the Whites¡® estate felt like a tomb. Neither of them spoke. As the gates came into view, Zacharias finally reached for her hand. His voice dipped into something tender. ¡°If you don¡¯t like me working with Coral, I¡¯ll move her to another department.¡± He didn¡¯t think Anneliese really wanted to leave him. In his head, she was just too in love. Too jealous. Too wrapped around him. That thought made him feel smug. Like he still had control. He didn¡¯t mind humoring her at little if it meant keeping her calm. Sure, he could move Coral out. That was easy. But he also needed Anneliese to stay in her ce. He couldn¡¯t keep tolerating every little outburst. ut up with you being So, he added, ¡°Let¡¯s just forget this whole thing. But Anne, I won¡¯t always put up unreasonable.¡± Anneliese left her hand in his but didn¡¯t return the gesture. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯ve probably been drinking too much medicine. Guess the bitterness got into my my head.¡± Zacharias looked at her with mock concern and ran a hand over her hair. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. But hang in there, alright? For our future. For the baby. I even picked out names already.¡± He leaned closer and whispered in her ear like he was building a dream they would never share. Anneliese lowered her eyes and let her disgust sink deep into her gut. Chapter 4 He Tears It Up She could bash his head in with that baby he wanted so badly. That image gave her a spark of joy. At the dinner table, dishes lined every inch of the table, steaming and untouched. But no one moved. Timothy White, Mnie Lawrence, Perseus White, and Christopher were all seated. Across from them, a massive screen showed a paused WhatsApp screen, waiting for Selina to answer from overseas. Anneliese picked up her fork. ¡°Have fun waiting, you guys. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Timothy shot her a re. ¡°Put those down. Show some manners.¡± She smirked. ¡°So, starving the whole house just to wait for Selina counts as manners now?¡± They had begged her toe home when she never wanted to return. Now, they expected her to go hungry every night for someone who didn¡¯t even want to be here. The Whites had even shifted their entire dinner schedule to match the time zone in Age, just to fit Selina¡¯s convenience. Mnie frowned. ¡°Anneliese, your sister all alone out there. Her only wish is to video chat and have dinner with her family. Can¡¯t you wait for her?¡± Perseus chimed in, ¡°We made all this just for you. Selina eats takeout every night. What else do you want?¡± Christopher let out a dryugh. ¡°Come on, when does she not make a scene? Selina left for college overseas just to avoid her. If she had even half of Selina¡¯s sense, this house wouldn¡¯t be such a mess all the time.¡± Anneliese almostughed. She said one sentence about being hungry, and they all came for her like wolves. Selina didn¡¯t even have to show her face. Her name alone made the whole family rally behind her, but none of it bothered Anneliese anymore. The only reason she came tonight was to see if her father, mother, and eldest brother had known the truth about the stabbing back then. Chapter 4 He Tears It Up +10 Free Coins If not for that, she wouldn¡¯t have stepped foot through the door. Shedled herself a bowl of soup and gave a bitter smile. ¡°So, she moved abroad to avoid me? That¡¯s new. I thought she just failed her SAT and had to find another way out¡± She turned to Zacharias, her voice light but sharp. ¡°Though I also heard she followed some airline captain out there. Not very proper, is it? Did she catch him in the end?¡± Zacharias stayed still, his face calm. But she saw the way his fingers clenched on his knee. What a joke. A man pining for a woman who barely gives him a second thought, Anneliese thought. Her appetite came roaring back. She leaned forward to take a bite, but before the spoon reached her lips, Christopher mmed his hand across the table and knocked the bowl straight into her chest. Soup sshed everywhere, soaking her blouse and burning her skin beneath. ¡°You deaf or just ignoring us? What are you, a starving pig? You want to eat? I¡¯ll give you something to eat!¡± The burn stung, but no one moved to help. Christopher jabbed a finger in her face and kept yelling. ¡°And what trash were you talking about just now? Selina¡¯s incredible. She got into college because she¡¯s talented. Cello, piano, painting¨Cshe¡¯s an artist!¡± Perseus added, ¡°And what if she chased a guy? That shows confidence. That shows guts. She goes after what she wants. Unlike you. You¡¯ve done nothing but embarrass this family from day one. We¡¯re lucky Zacharias still bothers with you.¡± Anneliese stood up, her blouse clinging to her body. That was when Zacharias finally noticed the red patch spreading across her shirt. ¡°Enough!¡± he snapped. ¡°That¡¯s enough! She¡¯s hurt. Anne, let me see it.¡± He reached for her, trying to check her burn, but Mnie just rolled her eyes Fresh chapters posted on fin?novel ¡°The soup¡¯s barcely hot. She¡¯ll live. Probably another one of her games. Zacharias, don¡¯t fall for it.¡± Anneliese smacked his hand away, sneered, and grabbed the edge of her shirt. Then she 11:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 4 He Tears It Up yanked it up without a word. Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself, People Created 5 Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself, People Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself, People Anneliese pulled her shirt up and bared her stomach. +10 Flee Coind The skin, once fair, was burned red. Two thick scars shed across her lower belly like deep cuts on paper. The heat from the earlier spill had turned the skin around them even redder, making the scars look sharper, crueler. Four years had passed, but they still looked fresh. That was how badly she had been hurt. She hadn¡¯t just nearly lost her womb. If she hadn¡¯t crawled out of that alley soaked in blood and half¨Cconscious, she would have lost her life too. She didn¡¯t look away as she turned to face her so¨Ccalled family. She let them see it all. The room fell still. So quiet it could choke. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Her voice came low and cold. ¡°The burns are real. I¡¯m still healing and getting ready for pregnancy. The doctor said I can¡¯t miss meals. Was it really too much to ask for a bowl of soup?¡± She studied their faces. Timothy¡¯s jaw locked. Mnie brought a hand to her mouth. Neither of them met her eyes. Their guilt slipped out through the cracks in their masks. Perseus nced once, then looked away fast, his breath catching in his throat. They weren¡¯t shocked because they cared. That silence was fear. That was when Anneliese finally understood. It wasn¡¯t just Christopher and Zacharias who knew what Selina did to her. They all knew. Her parents. Her brothers. Everyst one of them. They had all been part of it. ¡°What are you doing? Put that down!¡± Zacharias rushed toward her and yanked the shirt back down. He didn¡¯t want anyone to see. Not the scars. Not the truth. Not the damage that wouldn¡¯t go away. Those marks weren¡¯t just wounds. They were reminders. Of a past he never wanted to deal with. Chapter 5 Go Fck Yourself, People He covered her up fast, so fast he didn¡¯t notice how the fabric stuck to the burn. Pain shot through her body. Anneliese winced, then pped his hand away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Zacharias grabbed her wrist. ¡°Come on. You need cold water.¡± Right then, the TV lit up. The speakers rang out with a soft, cheerful voice. ¡°Hi. Mommy! Hi, Daddy! Hi, my super handsome brothers! Good evening! Oh wow, Anne and Zach are there too? Did you miss me?¡± Selina¡¯s wless face popped up on screen, all rosy checks and sparkling eyes. She wore a white hoodie with bunny ears and sat by a tall window with sunlight pouring in. A perfect breakfast tray rested on the table beside her. She smiled like sunshine. Her eyes sparkled with yfulness. Her wild brows gave her that ¡°Im sweet but don¡¯t mess with me¡± kind of charm. Selina. The golden one. The princess. She waved at the camera like nothing had happened here. The tension at the table cracked and crumbled. No one looked at Anneliese anymore. Not when Selina was smiling on screen. All eyes turned toward the television. ¡°Morning, sweetheart.¡± ¡°Did you sleep okay, Selina?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be all you¡¯re eating. Don¡¯t starve yourself, honey.¡± ¡°I checked the forecast. It¡¯s getting cold there. Make sure you dress warm.¡± Even Zacharias let go of Anneliese¡¯s wrist. His gaze locked on the screen, focused and calm. Anneliese had never seen him look at anyone like that. She stood frozen. And she felt stupid. She had promised herself she didn¡¯t care anymore. That these people weren¡¯t worth it. 11:27 Fri, Sep 5¡¤ Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself. People But now, watching every single person she cared about turn their backs again, it felt like her chest had split open. The scars throbbed. Her body pulsed with rage. Her fists clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms. She wanted to smash that screen into a hundred pieces. She stared at Selina¡¯s fake smile with burning eyes. ¡°Anne? Why are you just standing there?¡± Selina looked toward her, then turned to Zacharias. ¡°Zach, did you make her mad again? You better be treating my sister right. If not, I¡¯ll fly home and teach you a lesson myself!¡± She raised her fist in a yful threat, all cutesy and bold. Zacharias chuckled and slid his arm around Anneliese¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re doing great. Already trying for a baby, right, honey?¡± He looked down at her, all warmth and affection. Anneliese raised her chin and smiled. She slipped her arm through his and leaned closer with a bright, sugary tone. ¡°Yeah. Next time youe back, our baby will be calling you Aunt Selina.¡± Zacharias stiffened just slightly. On the screen, Selina¡¯s smile froze. Her eyes dimmed. She nced at Zacharias, her face not as perfect anymore. Anneliese lowered her gaze and smirked. She knew Selina. Knew her too well. Selina had always been the shining one. The star. The one everyone loved. But that girl¡¯s pride ran deep. And so did her ego. Even if Selina didn¡¯t care about Zacharias, she would never want to see him belong to anyone else. Especially not Anneliese. And now? Now they were both breaking. ¡°Zach, congrats to you and Anne.¡± Selina¡¯s smile lit up her face, smooth and sweet like nothing had ever gone wrong. Zacharias stared at her. His throat shifted as he swallowed, and he gave a small nod. His voice 11:27 H, Sep C Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself. People came out quict, almost forced. ¡°Thanks.¡± 10 Free Coins But the air changed. Something invisible passed between them and pulled everything tight. Anneliese felt her stomach turn. She slipped her hand out of Zacharias¡® grip and walked off without a word. She headed straight for the room that used to be hers. Behind her, theughter started again. Light. Carefree. As if she had never been there. No one noticed she had left. No one cared about the sting on her skin or the burn under her shirt. But she cared. Her skin still burned, and she wasn¡¯t about to let another scar im her body. She pushed open the door to her old bedroom. The space lookedpletely different. Her room had be a showroom full of model airnes. Right across from the entrance, a photo of Selina hung on the wall. Selina wore a sharp flight suit and a pair of dark sunsses. Her arms were crossed, her chin raised, her grin bold. The aviation school loomed behind her. Annelieseughed under her breath, sharp and cold. ¡°I forgot to tell you. We redid the room, Christopher said from behind her. He had followed her upstairs. ¡°You¡¯re married now. You don¡¯t live here anymore. Use the guest room upstairs if you need to shower.¡± He shut the door like her being there spoiled the ce. Anneliese turned around. Her face was nk, but her eyes were ice. ¡°What now? Since I¡¯m married, I don¡¯t even get a servant¡¯s room anymore? When Selina gets. married, are you going to strip her of her dance studio, piano room, painting studio, reading nook, and this little hangar of hers too?¡± Selina had an entire floor to herself. Anneliese had nothing. Not even a corner. They never meant to let here back. But they always acted like she was the one who kept her distance. Like she was the one who didn¡¯t care. It was disgusting. Christopher met her stare, and for a split second, something guilty flickered in his expression. But it vanished, buried under a wave of irritation. 11:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 3 Go Fck Yourself. People ¡°Anneliese, why do you keepparing yourself to Selina? You can¡¯t dance. You don¡¯t y instruments. You don¡¯t paint. Why not try being a good daughter for once? Morn¡¯s birthday ising. Selina¡¯s been working on a surprise for weeks. What about you? What have you done?¡± Anneliese let out a bitterugh. Oh no, as if she couldn¡¯t do those things. They just never bothered to ask. All they did was look at her once, and they decided Selina was the more talented of the two. Not that it mattered anymore. She bit her lip, eyes narrowing, and let out a small breath like she was trying not to cry. ¡°I did prepare something. I¡¯m giving Mom a house. That¡¯s why I care today. I need the ID. I¡¯m transferring the deed to her. It¡¯s a surprise. Christopher, will you get it for me?¡± Her chest tightened. Her pulse kicked up. This was risky. But she had worn the role of the obedient fool so long that Christopher didn¡¯t even hesitate. He nodded, looking proud. ¡°Now that¡¯s the spirit. Come on. I¡¯ll grab it for you.¡± Two minutester, the ID was tucked neatly into her purse. That made it all worth it. She didn¡¯t want to stay another second. She turned and hurried down the stairs, ignoring Christopher¡¯s voice calling behind her. Her steps echoed down the staircase, Perseus came rushing from the dining room when he heard themotion. He grabbed her by the arm. ¡°Everyone¡¯s waiting on you for dinner. Where the hell do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Dinner?¡± Anneliese smiled, her voice sharp. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s eat.¡± She turned around and headed toward the dining room. Perseus followed, thinking she¡¯d calmed down. But as soon as she reached the long table, Anneliese gripped the tablecloth and yanked it hard. tes flew through the air. Bowls flipped and shattered on the floor. Food sttered across the tile. ss cracked beneath their feet. 11:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself, People Mnie screamed. Timothy jumped up, shouting in rage. Anneliese didn¡¯t flinch. She stood still and looked over the mess. ¡°You dragged me back here. for dinner, and there isn¡¯t a single dish I like. If I¡¯m supposed to be miserable, then let¡¯s all be miserable. She turned and walked out. They could protect Selina all they wanted. Let them choose sides. She was done pretending she belonged. ¡°What is wrong with her now?¡± Mnie¡¯s voice trembled as she turned to Christopher. He threw up his hands. ¡°How should I know? She flips out over nothing. That¡¯s what happens when you let her get away with everything¡± This update is avable on Find1Novel ¡°This is too much, Timothy growled, his face pale with fury. Zacharias stood off to the side. His brow furrowed. ¡°She really did get burned earlier. She must still be in pain. I¡¯m sorry, you two. I¡¯ll bring her back another time to apologize.¡± He turned and hurried out the door. Created 6 Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm Zacharias pulled up behind her and on the horn. Once. Twice. A third time. Anneliese didn¡¯t even look back. She kept walking, head low, her steps fast and steady like she was trying to outrun something. He hit the brakes hard and got out. He caught up to her in just a few strides. ¡°Get in the car.¡± ¡°I get carsick. I feel like throwing up. I just want to walk.¡± Anneliese kept moving, her arms swinging hard at her sides like she was trying to shake off every name and every face in that house. Being the family punching bag had worn her out. The looks Zacharias and Selina had shared over dinner still made Anneliese sick. Those quick nces, the silent messages passed between them¨Ceveryone at that table saw it. No one said a thing. How could people talk about letting go like it was easy? Like you! everything you felt? just switch off She told herself to be strong. She told herself to move on, but her heart dragged behind like a tired animal too scared to let go of a dying thing. She was trying. She was fighting to heal, but why couldn¡¯t he just leave her alone? ¡°Let me go! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± she yelled, wrenching her arm free. However, before she could step back, her feet left the ground. Zacharias scooped her up without a word. He carried her to the car, shoved her into the passenger seat, buckled her in, and mmed the door shut. Inside, everything went still except the rough sound of their breathing. ¡°Anne, what are you even doing right now?¡± His voice finally broke through the silence. Anneliese didn¡¯t answer. She kept her face turned toward the window and stared outside. Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm His fingers clenched around the wheel. His knuckles stood out. His jaw tightened. She didn¡¯t flinch. Zacharias ripped off his tic, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her closer. ¡°Anneliese!¡± She turned her head. His breath hitched. Free Cons Her face had gone pale. Her skin looked paper¨Cthin under the soft lights. Her eyes were wide and dark, but blurred by tears she hadn¡¯t let fall. The edges of hershes were red. Her checks held a fragile flush, like she was one blink away from breaking. And somehow, Zacharias felt like she already had. Something squeezed in his chest. His whole face shifted with guilt. Anneliese tried to pull away. ¡°Let go of me! What am I doing? I¡¯m hurt. My whole body¡¯s in pain, and I can¡¯t even lose my temper?¡± She stared right at him. ¡°Zacharias, ask yourself this¨Cdo you even care about me anymore?¡± The look in his eyes shifted. His guilt turned desperate. He reached over and rubbed her back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey. I¡¯m so sorry. It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t know the soup was that hot. Let me take a look at the burn, alright?¡± He reached for the hem of her shirt. She pped his hand away. He didn¡¯t snap. His voice stayed soft. ¡°Okay. Okay. Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± He leaned in to kiss her forehead. She turned her head and let it miss. He gave her hair a light ruffle and started the engine.. They hadn¡¯t made it far before his phone started going off again and again. He ignored the first call, then the second. After a third, he slipped in his earpiece and picked up. His face shifted in a sh. The worry vanished, reced by a polite, tight smile. ¡°I¡¯ve got an emergency at work. Can you get out here for a bit?¡± 11:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm +10 Free Coins Anneliese didn¡¯t say anything. She opened the door and climbed out. Then, she mmed it shut behind her. ¡°I¡¯ll have Jackie pick you up right away. Just wait right here, okay?¡± he said through the window. She didn¡¯t respond. She stood in the wind with her arms at her sides, her dress billowing softly. Her face looked like a calm sheet of ss. Zacharias stared at her. Something in him faltered. She looked like she was already gone. He hesitated, but Coral¡¯s crying voice filled his mind. He remembered the ident she mentioned. He remembered how Anneliese had followed him since she was nine. He remembered her at eighteen, walking away from the Whites just to live with him in that damp basement. He remembered how much she used to love him. He stepped on the gas and drove off. She loved him. He¡¯d always be her world. He¡¯d make it up to her someday. Anneliese stood where he left her and watched the luxury car disappear into the road ahead. Her lips curved into a thin smile. Zacharias, no one stays in the same ce forever, she thought. You think a moment of genuine love¡® can keep someone around forever? The Whites¡® estate sat high in a gated road was clean. There wasn¡¯t a cab,rhood built into the hills. The air was still. The sight. She called Jessica, then started walking downhill alone. When she rounded a corner, she saw three kids gathered under a tall tree, jumping and shouting. One of them, a boy no older than ten, was halfway up the trunk. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s dangerous! Get down from there!¡± The tree stood right beside the edge of an artificialke. The boy lost his grip and slipped sideways, tipping toward the slope near the water. 11:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm Anneliese bolted. Her feet hit the ground hard. She had to reach him in time. 10 Free Coins ¡°No, we have to climb up! Our drone¡¯s stuck in the tree! Can you help us get it down?¡± A little girl with two bouncy buns clung to Anneliese¡¯s sleeve, her voice high with urgency. She couldn¡¯t have been more than five. She looked like a puff of snow with huge blinking eyes that shimmered with worry. Anneliese crouched down and gave her a gentle pat on the head. ¡°I¡¯m not great at climbing trees, honey.¡± The girl puffed her cheeks and frowned. Anneliese pointed at the controller she held in her hands. ¡°But I¡¯m really good at flying drones. How about you hand me that and I¡¯ll try to fly it down?¡± The boys crowded over, voices piling on top of each other. ¡°No way! It¡¯s stuck! You¡¯ll never get it out!¡± ¡°Pfft. I¡¯ve been flying drones since before you were out of preschool. I already tried a hundred times. If you can¡¯t climb, then back off and quit making things worse.¡± The boy in the tree had his chin up and a smirk across his face. Annelieseughed softly. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make a deal. If I can¡¯t get it down, I¡¯ll buy you a new one. But if I do, you have to shout, real loud, ¡®Miss, you¡¯re the best!¡® Deal?¡± ¡°You¡¯re on! You¡¯re gonna regret this! Lemon, give her the controller!¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s about to eat your words. Watch this.¡± Anneliese took one nce at the drone, locked onto its position, and moved the control stick without flinching. rit to m into The boy scoffed, arms crossed, waiting a branch. But his smug look vanished in a heartbeat. The drone, which had been jammed tight in the branches like a bug in a jar, suddenly buzzed to life. It twitched once, then zipped through the leaves with a clean break, slicing through the gaps like a silver arrow. Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm It shot out of the tree with a sharp tilt, climbing fast as it soared into the open sky. ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°It¡¯s flying!¡± ¡°She really did it!¡± -10 Free Cons Anneliese stepped back and guided the drone into smooth dives and turns, racing it just above theke¡¯s surface before pulling it back up toward the clouds. The kids cheered behind her, pping and yelling like they had front¨Crow seats at an air show. Anneliese tilted her head back and watched it glide. With every loop, something heavy inside her felt a little lighter. She stepped back again, her smile easy and wide, her lips parted as the wind touched her face. Then, she bumped into something. It wasn¡¯t cold like a wall. It was warm. And it breathed. She turned fast, startled, just as warm breath brushed past her ear. It wasn¡¯t a wall. It was a man. Her panic made her twist away, but she lost her footing and pitched backward. She crashed straight into him, knocking them both back a step. His back hit the stone wall behind them. ?????? ???? f?ndnovel Anneliese reached for anything to keep from falling. Her fingers clutched his tie and pulled it tight. They froze like that, bodies close, her hand still gripping the silk knot at his chest. She looked up and saw the sharp line of his jaw, pale skin framed by the cor of a crisp white. shirt. His Adam¡¯s apple shifted slightly. A small mole just beneath it moved with the motion, subtle but distracting. A deep sound rumbled from his chest. Anneliese blinked, realizing she still had him by the tie and had practically yanked it into his Chapter 6 She Cornered That Man Like a Storm neck. A thin red line marked the edge of his cor. She let go fast and took a step back. Then came the kids¡® shouts. ¡°It¡¯s crashing! It¡¯s going down!¡± Her heart jumped. The drone! She looked down at the controller, fingers frozen. She had no idea whatmand to use. She looked up, squinting through the branches¡­ Then a warm hand slid over hers. His fingers wrapped around hers and pushed gently on the stick. The drone came spiraling down, spinning toward the treetops. But just before it hit, it twisted sharply and rose again, scraping past the branches in a clean sweep. The limbs shook, and golden blossoms rained down, fluttering through the air like gold snowkes. Lights flicked on around them, one by one, washing the yard in soft amber. In the fading light and the scent of crushed petals, Anneliese looked up and met his eyes. They were deep and still, dark as the ocean at night. Created 7 Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight He stood tall, one shoulder against the wall, head tilted just slightly down. 10 Free Cons The glow behind him caught the edge of his face, leaving the rest in shadow. He didn¡¯t need to speak to be felt. His presence filled the space, heavy and sharp, like something dangerous wrapped in silk. Anneliese stood frozen, too stunned to react. He powered down the drone, let go of her hand, and raised a brow. His voice was low and easy, carrying a trace of dry amusement. ¡°Are you waiting for me to say¡­ ¡®Miss, you¡¯re the best?¡® before you let go?¡± His breath drifted across her skin, warm and close. Anneliese snapped back to reality. Her fingers were still tangled in his tie. She jumped back, dropped her eyes, and stared at the ground, her cheeks burning. Thankfully, the kids ran back over and swarmed around Anneliese like a pack of excited puppies. ¡°Miss, that was incredible!¡± ¡°Can you show me how to do that spin move?¡± ¡°I wanna fly it super low over theke like you did. That was so sick!¡± ¡°Miss, you¡¯re the best pilot ever!¡± Anneliese nearly groaned. Did they all have to keep calling her ¡°Miss¡°? Where was this politeness earlier when they were yelling over each other? She gave a a quick smile and tried to shake off the awkwardness. ¡°It¡¯s getting pretty dark. You should be going home, kids. Right on cue, a few parents appeared in the distance, calling their kids. The group scattered in direction like startled ducklings. every Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight 10 Free Com When she turned back, she spotted the little girl from earlier holding tightly onto the tall man¡¯s leg. She was still staring at Anneliese, eyes wide with curiosity. Their gazes met, and the girl gave a shy, toothy smile.. ¡°Miss, you saved Snow Eagle. How am I supposed to thank you?¡± Her soft, sweet voice warned Anneliese¡¯s chest. Anneliese bent down with a gentle grin. ¡°So, your drone has a name? Snow Eagle? That¡¯s pretty awesome. And you don¡¯t need to thank me. Your dad¡¯s just as capable. I bet he could¡¯ve flown it down withour me.¡± She nced over at the man beside her, remembering the collision from before. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about earlier. I didn¡¯t see you standing there and walked right into you.¡± The embarrassment hit hard. She didn¡¯t even lift her head. Her eyes stuck to the man¡¯s wrinkled tie, the very one she¡¯d yanked. His white dress shirt now had a dark stain from the soup she spilled. The mess stood out against the clean fabric. His tie lookedpletely crushed. She felt her stomach twist. She let out a dryugh, pulled out her phone, and held it out. ¡°Can I get your contact info?¡± He didn¡¯t reach for it. One hand stayed in his pants pocket, the other rested lightly on the girl¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hm?¡± Anneliese immediately realized how that must¡¯ve sounded. She waved her hand. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not like that. I just feel bad for ruining your shirt. If you give me your info, I¡¯ll send you a new one.¡± ¡± Trying to be polite, she looked up to meet his eyes¨Cand froze. His features were sharp and clean. Strong brows, high nose bridge, and big eyes, deep¨Cset with a striking edge. Even with his gaze lowered, the air around him felt heavy, like he carried weight without speaking a word. 11:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight Her heart gave a strange little stutter. She chalked it up to guilt. ¡°Did you learn how to fly drones professionally?¡± +10 Free Coins He didn¡¯tment on the shirt. Didn¡¯t even nce at her phone. That question was all he cared about. Anneliese had done far more than learn. She had studied aircraft design. She could take apart a drone and rebuild it blindfolded. That used to be her world. Her dream. Something she gave up, but now, she wanted it back. She was only twenty¨Ctwo. She still had time. Something lit up behind her eyes. She smiled softly. ¡°I¡¯ve studied a bit. Anyway, about the shirt-¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. You were helping the girl.¡± His voice was calm, his hand still tucked in his pocket. Anneliese stopped pressing. It felt wrong to insist, especially since the man clearly had a family. Offering to rece his shirt now felt like too much. She gave a small bow, then reached into her bag and pulled out a wrapped candy. She handed it to the girl. ¡°Thanks for letting me help. Here, a little treat for you.¡± The girl¡¯s face lit
  1. up.
¡°Thank you, you, miss.¡± Anneliese gave her a quick wave and turned to walk down the hill, but after a few steps, she stopped and looked back at the man. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to overstep, but even with the good security here, it¡¯s probably best not to leave little kids unsupervised near the water.¡± The thought of them climbing trees that close to theke still made her uneasy. She said it gently, then turned and walked away without waiting for a reply. Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight Behind her, she heard his voice, low and steady. +10 Free Coins ¡°Don¡¯t go near the water again. Got it?¡± He tapped the girl on the forehead with his finger, and she giggled softly. The little girl covered her forehead, her round face wrinkling with a pout. ¡°That really hurt, Jonathan!¡± thin Jonathan bent down and scooped her up with one arm like it was nothing. ¡°Jonathan. mon tilted her head and blinked up at him. ¡°That prettydy thought you were my dad. Why didn¡¯t you tell her the truth?¡± ¡°Why would I exin myself to someone I don¡¯t even know?¡± ¡°But she¡¯s so and she¡¯s nice, and she¡¯s: cool! If you¡¯d just told her, maybe added her on WhatsApp, you wouldn¡¯t be single anymore! Then, Penelope would stop calling you useless every day!¡± She puffed out her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m telling Penelope! You missed a great chance. You¡¯re not serious about getting a wife. That¡¯s a problem with your attitude!¡± Jonathan let out a lowugh. Even at four years old, Lemon was already ying matchmaker. ¡°What do you call me?¡± For more chapters visit ¡°Old man.¡± ¡°And you call her?¡± what do ¡°Prettydy.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a whole generation gap between us. That doesn¡¯t sound right, does it?¡± Lemon¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°Wait¡­ really?¡± Something didn¡¯t sit right, but she couldn¡¯t figure out what. She gave a tiny huff. ¡°But she¡¯s so, so pretty! I wanna look just like her when I grow up..¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t answer. He turned his head and nced down the mountain trail. The woman was already gone. Her silhouette faded into the soft yellow glow of the streetlights. Her figure was slim and graceful, distant but striking. There was something familiar about her. Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight 10 Free Coins After picking up the ID, Anneliese felt good for once. She went to bed early and actually managed a solid night¡¯s sleep, However, something rustled in the dark, and she stirred. A cold touch slid across her stomach, pulling her halfway out of her dreams. She cracked her eyes open and saw a dark figure crouched beside her bed. One knee rested on the mattress. He leaned over her with one hand on her stomach. Her pajama top was pushed up, and the chill air hit her bare skin. Goosebumps spread across her belly. Her chest tightened. ¡°Hey!¡± She screamed and kicked with all her strength. Her foot hit him square in the side, and his body mmed onto the floor with a sharp thud. ¡°Anneliese! Are you insane?¡± Zacharias groaned, clutching his ribs where he¡¯d hit the floor. His voice was low and angry. Anneliese jolted upright and flicked on the bedsidemp. The sight of him sprawled out beside the bed made her face twist with rage. ¡°Are you out of your mind? What the hell are you doing creeping around in my room in the middle of the night?¡± Her heart was pounding. Had he taken out some giant life insurance policy on her? Zacharias stood up slowly and stared down at her. His jaw was tight, his eyes cold, and his whole body gave off the kind of chill that sank straight through the skin. ¡°I was putting burn ointment on you.¡± He waited. Waited for her to realize he was trying to help. Waited for her to feel guilty. He up and throw her arms around him like she used to, whisper something thought she would sit soft and grateful. She used to be easy to please. Just a little concern was enough. But Anneliese rolled her eyes and turned her back. She pulled the nket over her head and shut her eyes. Chapter 7 Wedding Night Firelight Ointment? She almostughed. *10 Free Coins It had been at least five or six hours since she got burned. Even if her skin were rubber, it would¡¯ve been ruined by now. Zacharias stood frozen beside the bed, staring at her covered figure. She didn¡¯t move. She wasn¡¯t sulking. She wasn¡¯t teasing him. She was done. His chest tightened with frustration. A flicker of panic mixed with anger. He climbed back onto the bed, straddled her, and yanked the nket away. His hand locked around her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, honey. I swear it was a work emergency. I didn¡¯t mean to blow you off. I told Jackie to take you to the hospital. Why did you go by yourself and shut off your phone? I was going crazy trying to reach you.¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t say anything right away. She just kept her eyes closed and waited for him to finish talking. Then, she opened them. Her voice was calm. Her gaze was t. ¡°Thanks for worrying. And for caring. I understand your concern. Now, can I go back to sleep?¡± It was the right thing to say. It was polite, but something about it felt like a p to the chest. Zacharias stared at her, feeling like someone had carved up his insides with ss. There was no grip left on anything. His voice dropped lower. ¡°You¡¯re feeling better now, right? Let¡¯s make up for our wedding night. I want you. I don¡¯t want to wait anymore.¡± He leaned down and kissed her without giving her a chance to answer. Created 8 Chapter 8 Deleting ID Anneliese¡¯s eyes flew open. Her whole body froze. She couldn¡¯t believe it. +10 Free Cons He had spent the night with another woman. Then, he came home and tried to sleep with her like none of it mattered. Was Coral not enough for his appetite? She stayed frozen for a second, stunned. Then, she felt his lips press against hers. They were warm and soft. His breath was familiar. It should¡¯ve meant something, but it didn¡¯t. No heat. No pull. Just emptiness. ¡°Get off me! Let go!¡± She thrashed under him, tried to shove him away. When he didn¡¯t move, she sank her teeth into his lip with everything she had. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the room as Zacharias finally lifted his head. ¡°Anneliese¡­ are you pushing me away?¡± His voice shook with anger and disbelief. He stared straight at her, eyes stormy and using, while his hand clenched tight on her shoulder. Then his gaze dropped, and he seized her wrist. ¡°Where¡¯s your wedding ring?¡± He had noticed. Anneliese tried to pull her hand free. ¡°I¡­ I lost it by ident.¡± ¡°You lost it? Where?¡± Zacharias didn¡¯t believe her. Something felt off. He wondered if she¡¯d found something out. She had been distant for days, and that ring had never left her finger, not even in sleep, but now, her hand was bare, with only a faint pale band showing where the ring used to be. Anneliese met his eyes and felt her stomach tighten. ¡°I told you, I lost it. If I knew where, it wouldn¡¯t be lost. You¡¯re hurting me¡­¡± ¦§ His fingers dug in. Her long hair spilled across the pillow like a tangled mess. Chapter 8 Deleting ID 10 Free Coine Her eyes, already bright, began to blur as tears gathered. Hershes clumped, her cheeks. flushed with pain and fear. And then the tears spilled over. She looked up at him with wide, tear¨Cfilled eyes, fragile and frightened. She looked like a flower beaten by rain¨Cbeautiful, helpless, and breaking. Zacharias thought she was crying over the ring, which only made him want her more. The heat in him surged, thick and unrelenting. ¡°Anne¡­ Honey, let me take care of you. Just once, alright?¡± His hair was messy, his lips swollen from her bite. His eyes, usually so calm, were full of hunger and need. Even now, with that cut on his lip, he looked almost unreal. Too perfect. Too polished. The injury only made him more dangerous. Anneliese saw the want in him, but all she felt was disgust. Fear crawled through her veins like ice. Her eyes drifted to his chest. In their struggle, his shirt hade undone, and his cor hung open. There, against his skin, was a line of lipstick marks. They were faint but obvious. Her breath caught. Her stomach turned. She wanted to scream, to spit the truth in his face. She wanted to run to the kitchen, grab a cleaver, and cut that pathetic junk of his off. Then, she¡¯d split it in half. Hand one piece to Coral and mail the other to Selina. He was disgusting. But she knew Zacharias too well. He was obsessive, relentless. If she confronted him now, he would dig in his heels. He wouldn¡¯t let go of her. So, instead, she let the pain pour out. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me! My burn still stings! You heartless b*stard! My body¡¯s not even healed, and you¡¯re trying to get me pregnant just to lose it?¡± Chapter 8 Deleting ID Her voice cracked and shook as the tears ran down. 10 Free Cons Anneliese had never been one to cry easily. She grew up in an orphanage. Her adoptive parents died young. She took care of her sick adoptive grandmother alone. She learned how to carry pain without letting it show. Yes, not even to him. Even with him, she almost never let her guard down. Zacharias still remembered the day she was rushed into surgery when she was eighteen. He had sat by her bed, gripping her cold hand, eyes burning red. When she woke up, she gave him that crooked smile. ¡°Zacharias, are you crying? Look, I¡¯m okay. I can stillugh.¡± Sometimes, he hated how strong she was. She never leaned on him the way he wanted. Never needed him the way he needed her. He wanted to strip that strength away. He wanted her small, dependent, fragile¨Chis. But now, seeing her cry like this, something cracked in him. He quickly climbed off her and sat at the edge of the bed. Guilt sank deep into his chest. He reached over and wiped her cheeks, his hands gentle now. Anne, don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have hurt you. Hit me if it¡¯ll help, alright?¡± He took her hand and lifted it toward himself. However, Anneliese pulled her hand back. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Get out. I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Zacharias froze. He didn¡¯t want to leave. He wanted to hold her, to fix it. But she looked broken. And the worst part¨Cshe didn¡¯t even want tosh out at him. That quiet rejection hit harder than anything else. He let her go and slowly stood. ¡°Okay. Get some sleep. I¡¯ll stay in the guest room tonight. I¡¯ll find the ring. Don¡¯t be upset.¡± Chapter 8 Deleting ID 10 free Com As Zacharias stepped out, he bent over and picked up the pajama pants that had been torn from Anneliese the night before. He didn¡¯t leave them behind. He took them with him. He had always made his desire clear, but he wrapped it in tenderness, cloaking it as love. Anneliese used to think it was sweet. It made her feel wanted. Safe. Now it made her sick. She got out of bed, wiped her face dry, and stumbled into the bathroom. She grabbed her toothbrush and scrubbed until her gums stung and her mouth felt raw. The taste of toothpaste didn¡¯t help. Nothing did. When she finally came back to bed, she wrapped the nket around her body like armor andy there without moving. By the time she got up the next morning, Zacharias was gone. Downstairs, Zoey greeted her with a warm smile and a bowl of ck herbal tonic. ¡°Good morning, madam. Here¡¯s your it after breakfast.¡± medicine, I just finished boiling it. Let it cool a little, then drink Anneliese looked at the bowl. Usually, she forced it down with her nose pinched shut. But today, just smelling it made her stomach churn. The bitterness seemed to rise from her gut, filling her throat and tightening her chest. ¡°Leave it there,¡± she said. ¡°Sir made breakfast himself today. He even left a note for you. He really cares about-¡± ¡°I need you to buy something for me, Anneliese interrupted, handing her some cash. She didn¡¯t want to hear another word. Just then, Jessica arrived. The food was already there. They might as well eat it. Throwing it felt like admitting defeat. So, Anneliese pulled Jessica to the table and shared breakfast with her. Afterward, she poured the entire bowl of medicine down the sink and walked out. away In the car, she slouched against the seat. Jessica nced at her. ¡°Rough night?¡± 11:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 8 Deleting ID Anneliese had barely slept. Every creak in the floorboards made her flinch. She kept imagining Zacharias bursting through the door. Her thoughts had twisted into a heavy fog, filled with memories she couldn¡¯t shake off. She shook her head. She didn¡¯t want to talk. Jessica respected that. ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯ll wake you when we get there.¡± Anneliese leaned to one side, and within minutes, she was out. They spent the morning at the Sinoria Postal Services, handling the paperwork to change her address. Everything went smoothly. When they walked out, it was official. She was no longer a resident of the White estate. Her new address was the apartment her grandmother left her. Jessica wrapped an arm around her and grinned. ¡°You¡¯re finally free. Let that pack of blind fools keep worshipping that fake b*tch. One day, they¡¯ll all choke on that rotten cherry.¡± She grinned wider. ¡°Come on. Time to celebrate. Big meal. My treat.¡± They had just gotten into the car when Anneliese¡¯s phone buzzed. She opened the text from an unknown number¨Cit was a photo. The image showed a dim car interior. A woman sat straddling a man¡¯sp, her tight skirt pulled halfway up her thighs. His hand was shoved under the fabric. A dark stain bloomed across his pants. And on his ring finger was a familiar gold band. Then, another message came through¨C¡®He¡¯s amazing. Two fingers and I¡¯m shaking. Anneliese stared at the screen. Her stomach flipped. That hand¨Cthe one buried between someone else¡¯s legs¨Chad made her breakfast this morning. She shoved open the car door, covered her mouth, and rushed toward a trash bin. Jessica chased after her, patting her back. ¡°Annie? Are you okay?¡± For original chapters go to find?novel Chapter 8 Deleting ID Anneliese wiped her mouth and muttered, ¡°Breakfast. Zacharias made it.¡± Jessica paused. Her expression changed. Then, she mped a hand over her mouth, bent over, and threw up beside her. They didn¡¯t speak for ten minutes. Once they made it back inside the car, Jessica mmed the door and sat back, fuming. ¡°Who is this trashy side chick? She thinks being the other woman is some kind of prize? Her out the brain. How can someone be mom must¡¯ve given birth to her in parts and forgot to p that proud of being cheap?¡± Anneliese stayed quiet. But she was calm now. Focused. She saved the photo and screenshot the message. ¡°The ones you helped me take before? They¡¯re not enough in court, but this one is. I should be thanking her.¡± She opened her messages and typed quickly. ¡°Wow. He¡¯s so good, he made you lose dder control and brain function at the same time. I know it¡¯s you, Coral. Bluestar Cafe. One hour. If you don¡¯t show up, I¡¯ll send this to Zacharias myself. Created 9 hapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs Chapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs ¡°Tll go with you. I swear I¡¯ll beat the crap out of Slenderb teh!¡± Jessica rolled up her sleeves like she was ready to throw hands right then and there. She was petite and delicate, barely five¨Cfoot¨Cthree, with a baby¨Cfaced sweetness¨Cround cheeks, wide eyes, soft curls, and naturally arched brows. She looked like the type who¡¯d be easy to push around, but her temper was explosive, and she could seriously throw down. Back at the orphanage, it had always been Jessica who stood up for Anneliese. The kids there were rough and wild, but Jessica had no problem taking on three or four boys at once. Even if she ended up half¨Cdead, she¡¯d still sink her teeth into someone¡¯s neck and tear off a chunk.. That was the kind of girl she was¨Cfierce to the bone. Anneliese felt a rush of warmth in her chest and gave Jessica a tight hug. ¡°No need. What¡¯s the point of hitting her? She¡¯ll just go crying to Zacharias and milk it for sympathy¨Cand probably walk away with a chunk of the marital assets, too.¡± Jessica paused, thinking it over, then frowned. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n?¡± Anneliese lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. ¡°Whatever I do, I need solid evidence of Zacharias cheating. Without that, I¡¯m always on the back foot. ¡°Covert photos don¡¯t hold up in court. And those texts and pictures we just got¨Cthere¡¯s no clear shot of Zacharias¡® face, and that phone number might not even be Coral¡¯s. It¡¯d be too easy for theirwyer to throw out¡± ¡°What now?¡± Jessica was getting agitated. She offered, ¡°Want me to get you in touch with a divorcewyer? Let the pros handle it?¡± Anneliese shook her head. Zacharias had some real pull and a decentwork of connections. And then there were the Whites. Back when Zacharias had nothing to his name, Anneliese had insisted on staying with him, and the White family had been furious. They¡¯d even kicked her out of the house. But after Zacharias built up hispany and proved he had a future, the Whites changed their tune and started valuing him as their son¨Cinw. Chapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs They wouldn¡¯t just sit by and let her get divorced now. The Whites had connections everywhere, and Christopher himself was a partner at aw firm. +10 Free Coins It she went looking for awyer now, the Whites and Zacharias would know by the next day. She turned to Jessica. ¡°Jess, when I meet with Coralter, I¡¯ll need you to handle something for me.¡± Anneliese stepped into Bluestar Cafe, nestled in the middle business district. of the She was just about to find a seat when she spotted Christopher walking in with two men in sharp suits. Clearly, they were here for a meeting too. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Christopher frowned at her, his disdain seeping through as naturally as breathing. Anneliese had removed her name from the White household. As far as they were concerned, she might as well have been a stranger. She kept her voice t. ¡°You can pretend you didn¡¯t see me.¡± Annoyance prickled at the back of her mind. She couldn¡¯t let Christopher find out about her meeting with Coral. She started to turn, nning to step outside and message Coral to switch locations. But just as she turned around, Christopher yanked her arm hard. Pain shot up her arm, and Anneliese turned back, furious. ¡°Hands off?¡± One of the men beside them quirked a brow and gave Christopher a teasing look. ¡°Ex- girlfriend, Mr. White? She¡¯s pretty. You should be nicer to her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Christopher snapped, ¡°She¡¯s my sister. You two go on ahead to the private lounge. My sister makes a mean cup of coffee¨Cway better than your average barista. I¡¯ll have her personally brew you a few in a bit.¡± Sister? The two men visibly paused, ncing at each other before exchanging a knowing look and grinning with unspoken understanding. A lover¨Cto¨Cbe¨Csister, surely. Christopher babied his sister. He even kept multiple framed photos of her on his desk. Moreover, the real White heiress had attended several White Inc. gs in the past¨Cshe looked nothing like this woman. Sure, Selina was attractive too, but nowhere near as jaw¨Cdroppingly Chapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs gorgeous as the woman before them. +10 Free Coins And really, who would ask their biological sister to brew coffee for business guests the moment. they met? This wasn¡¯t their home¨Cit was a public cafe. A host entertaining guests in their own ce was one thing. But in a coffee shop? They left, and Anneliese shook off Christopher¡¯s grip. After being pushed away several times, Christopher¡¯s frown deepened. He looked like he was about to scold her, but when he saw her rubbing her arm, he held back. Maybe he had grabbed her too hard just now, but she wasn¡¯t Selina, pampered from birth, and couldn¡¯t take a bit of pain. ¡°Do you know how upset everyone was after you suddenly left yesterday? ¡°Selina felt guilty. She thought she ruined dinner for all of us and hung up not long after. I tried calling her this morning, and she didn¡¯t even pick up. You should call herter and apologize. ¡°Also, I¡¯ve got an important business meeting¨C1 need you to brew some coffee and bring it to the Pisces Lounge.¡± With that, Christopher turned to leave. Anneliese almostughed at how absurd it was. He expects me to apologize to Selina without even asking what happened¨Cand on top of that, he wants me to go make coffee? What, does he think I work at this cafe? She couldn¡¯t help thinking back to the Whites¡® obsession with coffee. When she first returned to the family, she didn¡¯t even know the difference between a mocha and a cappino. They¡¯d mocked her for it and acted like she was beneath them. Then Selina had set her up and made a public joke out of her, and to this day, people still called her a backwater bumpkin. Trying to redeem herself and win their approval, she¡¯d put serious effort into learning. She even got certified as a barista. For a while, she made custom coffees every morning and evening for each member of her family. Eventually, she realized that all that effort meant less than nothing¨Cshe¡¯d have been better off 11:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs giving her love and loyalty to a dog. At least a dog would wag its tail in gratitude at her. 410 Free Colnis ! With that, she pulled out the National Family Registry from her bag and pped it against Christopher¡¯s back. He caught it. ¡°Transferred the property already?¡± Anneliese smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah. First thing in the morning¨CI couldn¡¯t wait.¡± Satisfied, Christopher tucked away the registry. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. I¡¯m going to entertain the guests. You better get moving¨Cmake the coffee and bring it over.¡± Seeing her so obedient, he figured if she did wellter, he could formally introduce her to his business partners. With that thought, he stepped into the private room. When a server came in to take their order, he waved him away. This cafe prided itself on its personalized service. If a customer wanted to make their own coffee, that was perfectly fine. And with Anneliese there, what was the point of ordering? The server looked a little confused but didn¡¯t say anything and left. Half an hour passed, and not only was there no coffee, but there wasn¡¯t even a ss of water. Latest content published on ?ovelFind His business partners were clearly annoyed. Christopher finally stepped out to check, only to find that Anneliese was long gone. Realizing she¡¯d yed him, Christopher was livid, and he immediately called her. The call didn¡¯t go through. Meanwhile, his guests walked out one after the other. d called Zacharias, ¡°Zach, Anneliese is getting Christopher, seething, kicked over a chair more and more unbelievable! She made Selina cry yesterday, and now today she acted like nothing happened¨Cthen ditched me and ruined my meeting! This is all because you spoil her! Cut off her allowance and let her learn a lesson.¡± Without money, he wanted to see if Anneliese woulde crawling back to their family. That idea had actuallye from Selina. Just the day before, she had suggested giving Chapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs Anneliese more money. +10 Fren Coins ¡°Anne¡¯s not like me. I¡¯m graduating soon and already getting offers from toppanies. She never even went to college¨Cshe¡¯spletely dependent on you, Zach. And you don¡¯t even. love her, so she¡¯ll definitely put up with anything. ¡°She onlyshes out at home because she¡¯s unhappy. If she had more money, she wouldn¡¯t cause so much trouble, and Mom and the guys wouldn¡¯t have to deal with her cither. Money solves a lot of problems. Why don¡¯t I give her half my allowance?¡± See? So thoughtful and considerate. Which was exactly why Anneliese couldn¡¯t be spoiled any further. Before the call went through, Zacharias was in his office giving Jackie strict instructions to track down the missing wedding ring. ¡°Have someone keep an eye on secondhand sites, auction houses, and luxury resale stores. You can also post a high¨Creward notice online. I don¡¯t care what you do¨Cthat ring back as soon as possible.¡± Jackie felt the pressure mounting. But this is like searching for a needle in a haystack! He really couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. Mr. Shaw is already with Coral¨Cclearly, he doesn¡¯t care about Madam anymore. So, why go through all this trouble over a wedding ring? ¡°Why not just buy her a better one?¡± Jackie suggested carefully. Zacharias¡® expression darkened. ¡°And what¨Ccall that a wedding ring too? Do you think it would mean the same thing? Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?¡± It was clear how much the loss of that ring bothered him. Jackie didn¡¯t understand it, but he dared not press further. Bowing slightly, he said with reverent urgency, ¡°Understood, sir. I¡¯ll recover it¨Cno matter what it takes.¡± Just then, Christopher¡¯s call came in. Zacharias waved Jackie off and gestured for him to leave. the room. He answered and listened as Christopher ranted on the other end. In the past, hearing that Selina had been brought to tears might¡¯ve made him agree with Christopher and give Anneliese a warning. But this time¡­. He kept thinking about the look in her eyesst night. About how strange her behavior had been the past two days. And deep down, he felt the urge to make things right with her. Chapter 9 Recover the Ring at All Costs +10 Free Coint He said in a low voice, ¡°Christopher, Anne¡¯s my wife. If she¡¯s out of spending money, that reflects badly on me. People will think uderias Tech is going bankrupt. Let¡¯s leave it for now! -I¡¯ve got another meeting. Talkter.¡± Christopher stared at the phone, stunned by the sudden hang¨Cup¨Cthen furiously kicked over two chairs. Back in his office. Zacharias set the phone down¡­ but not for long. A momentter, he picked it back up and refreshed WhatsApp. Still no message from Anneliese. Strange. She should¡¯ve been up and out by now. Maybe she hadn¡¯t gone into the kitchen? Maybe she didn¡¯t see the breakfast he left her? That had to be it. There¡¯s no way she would¡¯ve ignored it . She must¡¯ve missed it. With that thought, he texted her. ¡®Breakfast¡¯s in the kitchen. Still sleeping, honey?¡± But the message just sat there, unread. No reply. Zacharias frowned, growing restless. She used to reply to him within seconds. By the time Anneliese received the message, she was already seated in a private tea room. And across from her sat Coral, all dolled up in a sleek Chanel set and holding a milkshake- white Hermes Constance bag, her smile openly provocative as she looked at Anneliese. ¡°Ms. ude, I truly admire Mr. Shaw. I¡¯m not trying topete want to ruin your marriage. All I¡¯m asking is to stay by his side.¡± with you, and I certainly don¡¯t Just beyond a thin decorative screen, two tall figures sat at another table. The scent of sandalwood curled through the air, but Coral¡¯s slightly shrill voice pierced straight through the screen andnded directly in the ears of the man sitting with his back to
  1. it.
Created 10 Chapter 10 Tricking Him Into Signing the Divorce Papers 410 Free Coins Chapter 10 Tricking Him Into Signing the Divorce Papers The man wore a custom¨Ctailored suit, his skin fair and refined, with delicate gold¨Crimmed sses perched on his nose. He had the polished appearance of a gentleman, but there was a touch of roguish charm beneath the surface¨Ca wolf in schr¡¯s clothing. Clearly a gossip lover, he immediately set down his cup and leaned shamelessly against the decorative screen to eavesdrop. Not only was hepletely unbothered by the impropriety of it, but he even squinted his eyes and signaled ¡°shh¡± to the man sitting across from him, who remained still and unmoved. In a low voice, he whispered, ¡°Tsk. We¡¯re about to witness the wife and the mistress go at it. The wife¡¯s gonna throw cash in her face and send her packing. I¡¯m betting three million-e on, pick a number. If you lose, that new Koenigsegg in your garage is mine.¡± Across from him, the other man held a cdon cup, his long fingers slowly tracing the rim. His gaze remained cool and disinterested, as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word. Joel Cahan pressed again, ¡°Come on, hurry! If I lose, I¡¯ll give you a one¨Cpoint cut on the contract!¡± That finally earned a scoff. ¡°I bet the wife won¡¯t give her a single penny.¡± Joel was speechless. That¡¯s a hell of a gap. Shaking his head, he leaned in closer and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re definitely gonna lose. Jonathan, you¡¯re a genius when ites to flying jets, but you don¡¯t know the first thing about catfights. If this woman didn¡¯t n to throw money around, she wouldn¡¯t have picked such a discreet, high¨Cend coffeehouse for the showdown. ¡°Just wait and see¨Cmy experiencees from devouring every romance novel and soap opera out there. I know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Surrounded by fragrant steam and the earthy scent of coffee, Jonathan set his cup down. His long fingers tapped once on the table, signaling Joel to refill his coffee. As Joel leaned in to pour, he heard Jonathan drawlzily, ¡°And you got this stupid from watching all that?¡± Joel went silent. With a mouth like that, why not skip the coffee and drink cyanide instead? 11:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 10 Tricking Him Into Signing the Divorce Papers +10 Free Con On the other side of the screen, Anneliese ignored Coral¡¯s feigned innocence and deliberately provocative smile. Moving at a steady,posed pace, she poured the ground coffee into the coffee pot. Then, she lifted the kettle and poured the water into the pot to brew the coffee. As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air, Anneliese finally pushed a cup toward Coral and spoke. ¡°No one¡¯s asking you to leave him. Go ahead, have a taste.¡± Suspicion flickered across Coral¡¯s face. Compared to Anneliese¡¯s unruffled calm, she clearly couldn¡¯t keep herposure. ¡°Really? If you¡¯re not here to warn me off, are you seriously just offering me coffee?¡± Seeing that she didn¡¯t touch the cup, Anneliese didn¡¯t push. Instead, she lifted her own and took a delicate sip. ¡°Ms. Slenderidge, you say you don¡¯t want to ruin my marriage¨Cbut that doesn¡¯t seem to be the case.¡± If she truly didn¡¯t want topete, why send those provocative photos? Coral¡¯s ambition had been obvious from the moment they first met. She wasn¡¯t content with being a fling¨Cshe wanted the title, the upgrade. Clutching her fingers together, Coral still couldn¡¯t read Anneliese¡¯s tone or intention. The longer they sat, the more she began to suspect she was being recorded. Her voice trembled, and her eyes turned red as she whispered, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Anneliese had no interest in watching Coral y the victim. She set her phone on the table and tapped the screen lightly. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not recording. It¡¯s just the two of us here. Let¡¯s be honest with each other¡­ and maybe work together?¡± Coral frowned. From her point of view, they were onpletely opposing sides. What kind of ¡°cooperation¡± could there possibly be? ¡°Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke?¡± Anneliese¡¯s unusual calm was throwing her off. Feeling uneasy, Coral stood up, ready to leave. But Anneliese reached into her bag and handed her a document. ¡°Why not take a look before you go?¡± 11:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 10 Tricking Him Into Signing the Divorce Papers +10 Free Coins ¡°Divorce papers? What the hell is this sumosed to mean?¡± Coral¡¯s voice turned sharp the moment she saw the title on those pages. Behind the screen, Joel¡¯s mouth formed a perfect O. Okay¡­ this wife isn¡¯t ying around. Then, that same clear, melodic voice floated out again. Just as you see¨CI¡¯m divorcing Zacharias. And you want to take my ce. So, in a way, we share the same goal. He¡¯s refusing to sign right now, which is why I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll use your position to trick him into signing these papers. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too hard for you, should it?¡± Coral¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you insane? Even if he does sign it without reading, once he finds out, he can still contest it. And don¡¯t you need both parties present at the courthouse? He¡¯ll know eventually.¡± This is pointless. A waste of time. Coral was convinced Anneliese was setting her up. If she really used her position to get Zacharias to sign this, Anneliese could easily expose her. Then she¡¯d not only be med for sabotaging the marriage, but also seen as maniptive and calcting. Zacharias would lose all trust in her, maybe even fire her as his secretary. She wasn¡¯t stupid. Why would she go along with this? Coral raised the papers, ready to throw them back at Anneliese. But Anneliese calmly said, ¡°All you need to do is get him to sign. I¡¯ll handle the rest. Ms. Slenderidge, I¡¯m determined to get this divorce.¡± There was such firm conviction in her voice that Coral froze for a moment. Anneliese reached into her bag again and pulled out another sheet of paper. ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about. This is a written guarantee. It states that I instructed you to do this and that I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡± Coral took it with suspicion and skimmed through the lines, and just as Anneliese had said, it spelled everything out clearly. She sat back down slowly. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re serious?¡± With this letter, even if things blew up, she could im that Anneliese had ckmailed her Chapter 10 Tricking Him Into Signing the Divorce Papers 10 Free Coins withpromising photos or other threats. Zacharias¡® fury would fall squarely on Anneliese¡¯s shoulders. But what Coral still didn¡¯t understand was¨Cwhy was Anneliese doing this? Does she really want a divorce? Surely not¡­ She¡¯d looked into Anneliese¡¯s background. Sure, she was breathtakingly beautiful, but she had. a tarnished past¨Crumors of being gang¨Cdefiled, unable to bear children. A woman like thatnding someone like Zacharias was pure luck. There was no way she¡¯d willingly give up the title of Mrs. Shaw, and going this far at that. Anneliese gave her a faint smile. ¡°I don¡¯t tolerate betrayal. I¡¯m dead serious.¡± Coral stared at her strangely. And in that moment, Anneliese saw something in Coral¡¯s eyes. that made her chest tighten¨Ccontempt, contempt for someone hopelessly in love. And that stung more than she cared to admit. Seeing that Coral was still hesitating, Anneliese decided to throw in one final spark. ¡°Take a look at this photo.¡± She slid it across the table. Coral picked it up, and the moment her eyesnded on it, her expression changed. ¡°Who is she? Why does she look¡­¡± ¡°She looks somewhat like you, doesn¡¯t she? Or rather¡­ You look like her. That¡¯s why Zacharias picked you.¡± Yes, the photo Anneliese gave her was of Selina. Coral clearly hadn¡¯t expected to be a stand¨Cin. Her face went ghostly pale as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her fingers trembled as they gripped the photo, visibly shaken. Anneliese watched her quietly. It was obvious Coral had fallen deeper than she¡¯d realized. And who wouldn¡¯t? A man like Zacharias¨Chow could anyone stay emotionally detached? ¡°You feel sorry for me?¡± Coral¡¯s voice cracked into a bitterugh. ¡°Please. You¡¯re no better than 1. So what if I¡¯m a substitute? At least I¡¯m not some empty decoration of a wife!¡± Clutching the photo tightly, she wiped her tears with reddened eyes and red at Anneliese in rage. But Anneliese¡¯s expression remained calm throughout. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood me. I¡¯m not trying to insult you¨Cjust stating the facts. And there¡¯s no need to look at me like that. Ms. Slenderidge. She¡¯s the love Zacharias could never have. 11:29 Fri, Sep 5 Readplete version only at find(?)ovel Chapter 10 Tricking Him Into Signing the Divorce Papers +10 Free Com ¡°She¡¯s studying abroad right now, but she¡¯ll be back soon. When that happens, what do you think will be of you?¡± She paused, then added gently. ¡°Time isn¡¯t on your side. And once certain opportunities slip away, they may nevere again.¡± Her voice was light and even, but every word struck Coral like thunder. She understood the message loud and clear. Once that woman returned, she would be tossed aside. She had to secure her ce before that happened. Gritting her teeth, Coral snapped, ¡°Sign the guarantee. I¡¯ll bring you the divorce agreement signed by Mr. Shaw¨Cnoter than tomorrow.¡± A slow smile curled across Anneliese¡¯s lips. She pulled out a tube of lipstick from her bag. twisted it open, and dabbed color onto her thumb. Without hesitation, she pressed her fingerprint onto the paper. She wasn¡¯t afraid of Zacharias finding out she¡¯d been the one behind Coral¡¯s actions. By the time that happened, things between them would already be past the point of no return. ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± Anneliese handed her the guarantee and reached out her hand. ¡°Pleasure doing business,¡± Coral replied quickly, giving it a firm shake. Then, she packed up her things and rushed out. Anneliese remained seated in silence. In her ears, it was as if Zacharias¡± raspy voice echoed once more. Anne, anyone in this world can lie to me, use me, betray me¨Cbut not you. Never you!¡± He¡¯d said that on a night he came home drunk, after someone from his core team had betrayed him, nearly destroying everything he¡¯d built. He had clung to her in their tiny apartment, broken and desperate. She had stroked his hair, cradled him close, and promised him firmly, I won¡¯t. I, Anneliese ude, would never lie to you. But you did, Zacharias. You turned me into a fool with your lies. You built a perfect image of yourself in my eyes, then tore it down with your own hands. Anneliese shut her eyes, trying to suppress the burning heat that had gathered behind them. And then, a sudden shrick exploded from behind her, loud a hard she nearly knocked over the cup beside her. thunder, making her jump so Created 11 Chapter 11 Mr Fullbuster¡¯s Thing for Married Women Chapter 11 Mr Fullbuster¡¯s Thing for Married Women Someone¡¯s on the other side! 10 Free Cond Anneliese was horrified. What she had just done was definitely not something she wanted anyone else to see. Please tell me they didn¡¯t hear anything¡­. Of course, the one thing she feared most was exactly what happened. That voice came again, full of surprise and excitement. ¡°Thought it was a wife¨Ctearing¨Cinto- the¨Cmistress episode, but turns out it¡¯s the wife and the mistress ganging up on the man! ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m starting to feel bad for the guy. Wait¨CZacharias? Why does that name sound so familiar?¡± The voice actually sounded pretty nice¨Csmooth and pleasant¨Cbut at that moment, Anneliese really wished she could poison it silent. It wasn¡¯t just eavesdropping¨Cthis guy was a total gossip! And he seemed to know Zacharias? If he said anything to him, her whole n would go up in smoke! ¡°Tsk, tsk, I remember now. It¡¯s the founder of uderias Tech, isn¡¯t it? One of the rising tech stars of aton! Right, he got that Top Ten Young Entrepreneurs awardst year, didn¡¯t you present it to him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice was calm and detached as he set his cup down, clearly telling Joel to shut up already. But Joel was too caught up in the drama to catch the hint. He kept clicking his tongue and two even took a photo together that went viral going on. ¡°How could you not remember? Y online. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t pulled it down so fast, it would¡¯ve hit the trending searches. People were calling you the twin kings of the business world. But d*mn, are women always this ruthless now? The guy¡¯s about to get blindsided with divorce papers and doesn¡¯t even know it? ¡°I mean, what kind of ace does the wife still have up her sleeve to make Zacharias sign that agreement? He¡¯s not exactly a pushover¨CI heard he¡¯s got a real vicious streak. Hey, why aren¡¯t you saying anything? And what¡¯s with that face?¡± Joel was rambling himself hoarse while Jonathan¡¯s expression remained as nk as ever. Nothing was lonelier than gossiping alone, so Joel picked up his tea to moisten his throat. Chapter 11 Mr Fullbuster¡¯s Thing for Married Women +10 Free Colna Just as he was grumbling internally, a clear and lovely voice¨Cone that also sounded oddly. familiar¡ªspoke up beside him. ¡°Would you like some peanuts?¡± Perfect. Nothing pairs better with drama than peanuts! Joel turned his head and saw a slender, graceful figure standing by the screen partition. He hadn¡¯t even noticed when she appeared. The woman had fair, porcin skin that glowed in the sunlight streaming through the window, her features radiant and delicate. Most striking were her naturally misty eyes with slightly upturned corners¨Csoft and sweet with an effortless allure. She was a stunner and couldn¡¯t have been older than her early twenties. Joel¡¯s eyes lit up in admiration. What a beauty¡­ and she gets me too! Wait. The moment he recognized her voice as the same one from behind the screen earlier, the coffee he¡¯d just sipped went straight down the wrong pipe. He doubled over, choking and coughing. He had assumed the women had left since it had gone quiet on the other side. Still coughing awkwardly, he nced at Jonathan¨Cwho had remainedpletely silent the entire time¨Cand red at him with wordless usation. barn Fullbuster, you b*stard! You totally knew they were still here and didn¡¯t warn me! Jonathan looked unbothered, eyes never even flicking his way. His gaze had fallen on Anneliese instead. The voice had sounded familiar earlier, but he hadn¡¯t thought much of it- she had seemed so youngst night, like a student. He never expected it really was her. ¡°Uh¡­ Mrs. Shaw, right?¡± Joel apologized with a sheepish smile. ¡°Sorry about earlier. Talking behind someone¡¯s back was definitely out of line. But, I mean, we were here first. Overhearing. your conversation wasn¡¯t exactly intentional, right? So¡­ how about we start over? Joel Cahan, current CEO of Everfield Capital.¡± He was a seasoned businessman¨Cno stranger to awkward situations. After his coughing fit passed, he stood up like nothing had happened and extended a hand to Anneliese. She hadn¡¯te looking for a fight anyway. Smiling politely, she stepped forward, ready to Chapter 11 Mr Fullbuster¡¯s Thing for Married Women shake Joel¡¯s hand¨Conly for Jonathan, who had stayed quiet until now, to speak up. ¡°Drop the ¡®we.¡°¡± 10 Free Cons The message was clear: he had no part in Joel¡¯s gossip and wasn¡¯t about to get dragged into it. Anneliese had been focused entirely on Joel¨Chis mouth was a real threat, after all. But at the sound of that familiar voice, she instinctively turned to Jonathan. And the moment she got a good look at his face¨Cthat cold, refined handsomeness¨Cand met his profound eyes, her ankle buckled. She let out a small cry as she stumbled forward toward the table. Eyes squeezed shut, she cursed Jessica for insisting on stopping by the mall to get her a pair of four¨Cinch stilettos¨Cjust to help her look more imposing in front of Coral. Now she was about to make a total fool of herself. And she only wished she wouldn¡¯t crash into the kettle and get her face badly scalded. Yet, the embarrassing scene of shattered cups she¡¯d expected never happened. Instead, a solid arm swept in like steel rebar, blocking her from falling across the table. Anneliese instinctively clung to it like a lifeline, wrapping her arms around it tightly. When she finally steadied herself and opened her eyes, she let out a breath¨Conly to be hit by a faintly unfamiliar scent. It wasced with the bitter fragrance of coffee, mingled with cool notes of wood and ambergris that lingered in her nose. She blinked and only then realized she had both arms tightly wrapped around the man¡¯s forearm, like she was hanging off of him. Readplete version only at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel She was gripping him so hard that¡­ her chest hurt. It was bruised from the impact and from being pressed too hard. The man had politely clenched his hand into a fist, but the wristwatch and knuckles were unyieldingly firm, digging right into her. ¡°You going to let go?¡± A cool voice rang out above her. Snapping out of it, Anneliese recoiled like she¡¯d been burned and quickly stepped back. Jonathan withdrew his arm, but the moment she did, Anneliese nearly copsed again¨Cthis time from sheer horror. There, on his spotless white dress shirt, was a clear smudge of red¨Cher lipstick. Chapter 11 Mr Fullbuster¡¯s Thing for Married Women 10 Free Cone The same lipstick she¡¯d used to press her fingerprint carlier had still clung to her thumb and now left a ring mark on his sleeve. This was only their second meeting, and she¡¯d already ruined two of his shirts. God, why me? Her face burned with embarrassment. Right now, she wanted nothing more than tounch this man¨Cthis walking aura of power¨Cstraight into outer space. ¡°I¡­ About the shirt¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Okay¡­ But that only made her even more embarrassed. ¡°Are you alright, Mrs. Shaw?¡± Joel turned to ask with concern. Anneliese nodded quickly. There was no way she could stay here any longer. Avoiding Jonathan¡¯s gaze¨Cwhich felt almost physical in its weight¨Cshe grabbed an upside- down cup, filled it, and raised it toward Joel with aposed smile. ¡°Mr. Cahan, I hope you¡¯ll keep what just happened to yourself. I¡¯ll toast to that with coffee in ce of wine.¡± Without waiting for a reply, she drained the cup, then dipped her head slightly in Jonathan¡¯s direction. ¡°Sorry about carlier. And¡­ thank you.¡± With that, she turned and made to leave, but Joel stepped in front of her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Shaw, I won¡¯t say a word. And since we¡¯ve officially met now, how about adding me on WhatsApp?¡± He needed to stay in the loop for the next episode of this drama, after all. Anneliese really didn¡¯t want to, but seeing that Joel had already pulled up his QR code, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse, especially since she was still counting on him to keep quiet. She scanned it quickly and made her escape. After she left, Joel finally processed what had just happened. He turned to Jonathan. 11:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 11 Mr Fullbuster¡¯s Thing for Married Women ¡°You two know each other?¡± Jonathan took a sip of coffee and replied calmly, ¡°No.¡± +10 Free Coins? ¡°No? But why did it feel like the whole vibe just now was super weird? You think she got scared off by your frosty stare? But she didn¡¯t exactly seem like the timid type.¡± Jonathan couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond. His eyes dropped to his right sleeve. The crisp white fabric had wrinkled a bit, and for some reason, that spot still held the lingering sensation of something soft and warm. It left him oddly unsettled. He stood up and reached for his zer. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t forget your one¨Cpoint cut.¡± Joel clicked his tongue. ¡°As if I could. I¡¯ll get the contract drawn up when we get back. But hey -why¡¯d she only ask me to keep quiet? You heard everything, too.¡± He followed after him. ¡°Pretty obvious. Your mouth¡¯s the one that runs.¡± Joel fell silent, at a loss for words. And I just had to ask! But just as they reached the front, the manager greeted them. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, Mr. Cahan, a youngdy just now insisted on covering your table. I told her we could just put it on your tab, but she said Mr. Fullbuster would understand, so I went ahead and added it to her bill.¡± Hearing that, Joel quirked a brow and nced at Jonathan with a smirk. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a first¨Cgoing out with you and having a woman pick up the tab. You don¡¯t know her, huh? Funny, she didn¡¯t mention me at all.¡± Something was definitely off. Joel could feel it in his bones. Is Jonathan Fullbuster¨Cthe famously untouchable ice sculpture¨Cfinally cracking? Maybe he¡¯s got a thing. Like¡­ a thing for married women? ¡°Tsk. Want me to send you her WhatsApp contact?¡± Joel elbowed Jonathan lightly in the shoulder. Created 12 Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand Original content can be found at find?novel After leaving the coffeehouse, Anneliese slid into the car and instinctively rubbed her chest. It still ached a little. Just then, her phone buzzed¨CWhatsApp. Thinking it was from Jessica, she hurried to check, but it turned out to be from Joel, whom she¡¯d just added. ¡®Mrs. Shaw, do you know Mr. Fullbuster? ¡®Nothing important. Just checking to see if you¡¯ve blocked me. Anneliese stared nkly at the screen. Seriously? What the hell is wrong with him? Coincidentally, Jessica¡¯s message popped up. ¡®Signal jammers are in ce. And she sent a Sneaky rat GIF along with it. Anneliese¡¯s eyes lit up. and she sent back a sticker of a cat getting patted on the head. Exiting that chat, her eyesnded again on Joel¡¯s message. Mr. Fullbuster? So, hisst name really is Fullbuster She thought back to what Joel had said earlier¨Cthat the Top Ten Young Entrepreneurs Award Zacharias receivedst year had been handed to him by that same man. Back then, she had paid close attention to everything rted to Zacharias. She remembered the ceremony too¨Cshe¡¯d been there in the audience, watching Zacharias take the stage. Too bad her eyes had only ever been for him, so she hadn¡¯t noticed the presenter at all. dup the Still, she had looked up the presenter¡¯s identity afterward. Jonathan Fullbuster. In the business world, his name was practically synonymous with power and money. Unlike Zacharias, who had wed his way up from nothing, Jonathan came from the prestigious Fullbuster family in ¨C long¨Cstanding noble lineage. The family¡¯s fortune stretched back generations, even as far back as the 18th century or carlier. In more recent history, the Fullbusters had started with aviation, then expanded into real Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand +10 Free Caine. estate, finance, tech, banking, entertainment¨Cyou name it. Their wealth was staggering. Jonathan was known as the Prince of Halden. He was a year younger than Zacharias, yet already a dominant force in the business world. Despite his youth, his worth was in the billions, and he had earned his stripes in more than one battlefield. It was said that even though the family empire no longer relied on aviation, Old Mr. Fullbuster remained a staunch traditionalist. He believed aviation was the foundation of the family legacy and insisted that anyone vying for leadership had to prove themselves at their family¡¯smercial airline, FullAir, first, by bing a captain. Only after conquering the skies would they be deemed worthy of controlling the Fullbuster Group. Jonathan, a prodigy, still held the record as FullAir¡¯s youngest captain. Now the CEO of FullAir, he was said to be just one step away from taking full control of the group. ¡°Anne, when the ceremony starts, you¡¯re only allowed to look at me¨Cnot him!¡± Anneliese still remembered what Zacharias had said the night before that award ceremonyst year. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll only look at you! My husband¡¯s so handsome¨CI wouldn¡¯t notice anyone else even if I tried. What, Mr. Shaw, are you suddenly feeling insecure?¡± ¡°Jonathan Fullbuster might be born with a silver spoon, but that¡¯s all he¡¯s got on me. Give me ten more years, and I¡¯ll be just as good¨Cbetter even. So, honey, don¡¯t you dare look at anyone else.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. I won¡¯t. Not even a nce!¡± Those old memories came rushing back, and Anneliese curled her lip in disbelief. How did Ipletely ignore someone like Jonathan just to stare at Zacharias all night? Wow. I really was blind back then. That evening, Zacharias was home for once. But oddly enough, the woman who used to cling to him like a shadow whenever he was home hadn¡¯t shown up all night. He finally found her in the sitting room, seated by the window and typing furiously on herptop. She was so focused that she hadn¡¯t even noticed him walk in. Zacharias leaned over to look at her screen. ¡°Honey, what are you working on?¡± Over the past two days, Anneliese had been cramming all the professional knowledge and recent industry developments she¡¯d missed over the past four years, Every night, she Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand +10 Free Coins: organized her notes and questions into PowerPoint slides and sent them to her mentor. She had already sent three emails so far¨Ceven though they hadn¡¯t replied once, she was. determined to keep going. She wanted to prove her resolve. This time, she wouldn¡¯t give up halfway. ¡°Just browsing some random stuff. Got bored at home.¡± She instinctively angled the screen. away from him. Zacharias stared at her for two seconds, then calmly reached over and pressed the power button to shut theptop down. ¡°What are you doing?! I didn¡¯t save my work!¡± Furious, Anneliese red at him, but Zacharias had already taken theptop and set it aside. Then he scooped her up and settled her on hisp. ¡°Honey, your job right now is to nurse your health and get your body ready for pregnancy. Have you been taking the herbal tonics? What did the doctor say?¡± His voice was full of concern, but Anneliese could barely contain the burning resentment rising in her chest. Her smile twisted with cold irony. ¡°Getting pregnant takes two, doesn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve been doing my part. The question is¨Care you doing yours? Tell you what, I¡¯ll schedule an exam for you tomorrow. You get yourself checked it together.¡°¡± too, so we can work o.. ¡°What am I supposed to get tested for?¡± Zacharias frowned. with your testicles, ¡°Sperm quality, obviously. And maybe see if there¡¯s anything wrong epididymis¨Cbasic reproductive health. Might want to check your testosterone levels, any possible gic disorders, stuff like that.¡± Huh, who knows if you¡¯ve already picked up something nasty? Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if being a cheating b*stard is hereditary. And you think you¡¯re fit to father a child? Without sparing a nce at Zacharias¡® now grim expression, Anneliese shoved him aside and walked out. Zacharias stared at her retreating figure and pressed his fingers to his temple. What¡¯s going on? Why does it feel like she¡¯s been throwing all kinds of shades? Is she still this upset about being left on the side of the road that day? Her temper¡¯s out of control! When he returned to the bedroom, Anneliese was already asleep. Zachariasy down beside her and shifted closer, wrapping himself around her from behind. Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand +10 Free Calls ¡°Honey? There¡¯s nothing wrong with me. Don¡¯t go scheduling any kind of tests for me, alright?¡± Anneliese kept her eyes closed, pretending to sleep, lips curled in a silent, bitter smile. Men are so selfish. Women risk their lives to carry their children, but ask them to take a basic health test, and suddenly it¡¯s too much. Zacharias, seeing she wasn¡¯t responding, assumed she¡¯d fallen asleep. He sighed, gently turned her to face him, and pulled her into his arms before closing his eyes. A long whileter, Anneliese opened hers. She slipped from his hold and rolled to the other side of the bed. Same bed. Different dreams. The next day at uderias Tech, Coral walked into the CEO¡¯s office with a stack of contracts in her arms. ¡°Mr. Shaw, these are documents that need your signature. Mr. Septian asked me to bring them in,¡± she said, her voice soft and sweet. Zacharias didn¡¯t even lift his head. ¡°Leave them. You can go.¡± But Coral had no intention of leaving so easily. Zacharias was focused on reviewing reports when the scent of her perfume drifted past. hade around the desk and was pushing the files directly toward him. She ¡°Mr. Shaw, Mr. Septian said some of these need to be signed urgently,¡± she said,tching onto his arm as she pouted. Zacharias¡® hand paused mid¨Cpage. He finally turned to look at her, his expression cold and his eyes utterly indifferent. ¡°Out. Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± His tone dropped, eyesnding on her hand¨Cclearly, he wasn¡¯t in the mood. deal with other women. Plus, Coral had already overstepped once. If she hadn¡¯t been so out of linest time, Anneliese wouldn¡¯t have grown so suspicious. Anneliese had been acting up the past few days, and he wasn¡¯t in the headspace to d Coral¡¯s face paled, Zacharias¡® moods could be unpredictable, and she was genuinely a little afraid of him. Still, she couldn¡¯t just walk out now. There was something buried in those files that needed to be signed. 11:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand 00 +10 Free Col Panicked but stubborn, she bit her lip¨Cand instead of leaving, she twisted her hips and slid herself right onto hisp. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave a spoiled little whine. ¡°No! Are you tired of me already?¡± A flicker of irritation crossed Zacharias¡® eyes, but then his gaze froze when he got a good look at her. For a split second, he thought he was looking at Selina. He grabbed Coral¡¯s chin, studying her face closely, eyes turning dark. ¡°Who told you to do your makeup like this?¡± Of course, Coral noticed the change in both his expression and body. Beforeing in, she had deliberately copied the look in that photo, even down to her outfit, mimicking that upper- ss, socialite style. She¡¯d even rehearsed the expressions. Zacharias¡® reaction stabbed her like needles¨Cshame and fury tangled in her chest¨Cbut more than anything, she felt danger looming. ¡°Do you like it? I followed a beauty blogger¡¯s tutorial,¡± Coral said coyly, tilting her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t suit you. Wash it off.¡± Zacharias dropped his hand from her check. But Coral only held tighter to his neck and wriggled on hisp. ¡°Funny¡­ your body doesn¡¯t seem to agree.¡± Zacharias¡® breathing grew heavier. His hand slipped to grip her waist. Coral twirled his tie between her fingers. ¡°Come on, just sign the documents first. I don¡¯t want Mr. Septian yelling at me.¡± She leaned in close, breath warm against his ear. ¡°Once I¡¯m done delivering them¡­ I¡¯lle back and y with you. Whatever you want¨CI¡¯ll do it.¡± As she spoke, she twisted her waist to grab the stack of documents, bit off the cap of the pen with her teeth, and held it out to him with glistening eyes. That humble, eager¨Cto¨Cplease gaze clearly struck the right chord in Zacharias¨Cespecially when paired with that face. His expression shifted slightly as he reached for the pen. What he didn¡¯t know¨Cwhat he couldn¡¯t have known¨Cwas that in the days toe, he woulde to regret this moment with every fiber of his being. 11:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 12 The Divorce Agreement in Hand If he could, he would go back in time and drive that pen straight into his hand. Created 13 Chapter 13 And She Fell on Him Again Chapter 13 And She Fell on Him Again 88 +10 Free Coins Soon after, Coral sent Anneliese a photo along with a text. ¡®It¡¯s done. How do you want me to give it to you?¡® Anneliese received her WhatsApp message just as she arrived at the pet store to pick up Meatloaf. She opened the attachment and stared intently at the signed divorce agreement with Zacharias¡® signature erged on her screen. The man was normally very cautious, yet Coral had still managed to get his signature this quickly. It only proved how much he still trusted and doted on her. What do you call that? Thinking with the wrong head? She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Zacharias¡® reaction would be when he realized he¡¯d been yed. She was actually starting to look forward to it. ¡°Meatloaf, go on¡ªyour human¡¯s here!¡± Hearing the store clerk¡¯s voice, Anneliese looked up just in time for the big dog to pounce on her with excitement. Meatloaf, a golden retriever, was gentle and incredibly well¨Cbehaved. She had found him as a stray the same year her adoptive parents passed away and had raised him by hand ever since. Melody Zwick¨Cher mother¨Cinw¨Cwas allergic to dog fur and had forbidden her from keeping a pet, but Anneliese hadn¡¯t been willing to give Meatloaf away. Still, once the topic of pregnancy came up, Melody used Meatloaf as another excuse, saying pregnant women shouldn¡¯t keep dogs, that it would affect both the mother and the fetus. And this time, Zacharias hadn¡¯t stood up for her. In the end, she¡¯dpromised and left Meatloaf at a pet boarding facility, onlying by every few days to see him. Now, holding it again, Anneliese¡¯s nose stung. She buried her face in its soft fur, taking a deep breath as she stroked its big, fluffy head. ¡°Meatloaf, I¡¯m so sorry. I promise I¡¯ll never abandon you again. Will you forgive me?¡± It was as if Meatloaf understood. It panted happily at her, tongue hanging out, and nudged her palm with its nose over and over again¨Clike it was trying tofort her. Anneliese smiled. ¡°Thank you, big boy. Let¡¯s go home.¡± 175 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 13 And She Fell on Him Again : 88 +10 Free Coins She led Meatloaf to the car and wasted no time replying to Coral¡¯s message. ¡®uderias Tech parking lot. Bring it down. I¡¯m almost there.¡® She started the car and headed straight for thepany. Since her car was registered in thepany system, just to be safe, she parked in the public za lot and walked over to meet Coral. The exchange went smoothly. Anneliese had just stashed the divorce agreement into her bag when a startled voice called out behind her. ¡°Madam? What are you doing here?¡± It was Jackie. Anneliese froze. She quickly shot Coral a look, who immediately turned and left. Anneliese spun around to block Jackie¡¯s view, stepping in his direction. ¡°Jackie, I came to see Zacharias. He¡¯s in his office, right?¡± Clutching her purse, she felt a wave of regret. She never should¡¯ve been so eager to get the signed agreement¨Cchoosing this location for the handoff had been a mistake. Jackie nced in Coral¡¯s direction. ¡°He is. Who were you just talking to, Madam?¡± Anneliese¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°No one¡ªjust a stranger asking for directions. Why?¡± Jackie thought for a second. That silhouette had looked a lot like Coral, but the two women had been standing in a shadowy corner, and he hadn¡¯t gotten a clear look. Besides, Coral could never possibly be involved with Annelise in any way. He must¡¯ve been mistaken. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up,¡± he said, brushing it off and leading her toward the elevators. Inside, he quickly lowered his head and sent a text on WhatsApp. When he looked up, he found Anneliese watching him with a faint smile ying on her lips. ¡°What?¡± she asked lightly, ¡°Texting your boss to give him a heads¨Cup?¡± Jackie stiffened, cold sweat forming on his back. Does she¡­ know something? ¡°C¡¯mon, Madam. Everyone knows Mr. Shaw adores you¨Che¡¯d have you dangling from his neck at work if he could. I don¡¯t need to warn him about anything.¡± 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 13 And She Fell on Him Again Anneliese let out a smallugh. ¡°Oh? So, I¡¯m just some decorative essory now?¡± Jackie instantly pped himself across the mouth¨Ctwice. 88 +10 Free Coins ¡°That was my bad! Everyone in thepany knows how capable you are, Ms. ude. Back when you were still active, the entire PR department worshipped you. Every press release, every productunch, every interview draft you prepped for Mr. Shaw¨Cwless. Every single time.¡± Jackie¡¯s face was full of reverence and sincerity. Anneliese didn¡¯t say another word. Case closed. Just like his boss¨Can actor worthy of an award. Right before she stepped into Zacharias¡® office, the cleaningdy happened to exit with her cart. Anneliese nced at her, and the thought of Coral obtaining Zacharias¡® signature shed through her mind. This update is avable on Find¡ïNovel She seemed to know what Coral had done to get it. Her eyes filled with bitter rity and mockery, fingernails digging into her palm. She was sick and tired of living like this¨Cconstantly being made the fool. Maybe it was all in her head, but the moment she entered Zacharias¡® office, she felt like there was a disgusting, lingering stench in the air. It made her stomach churn. So, when Zacharias reached out to hold her hand, she instinctively stepped back¨Ctwo full steps. Zacharias frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anneliese quickly thought of an excuse. ¡°I just wanted to tell you I went to see Meatloaf. I brought him back home. If you don¡¯t agree, then don¡¯t touch me.¡± It was the perfect excuse¨Cusible enough to mask everything else. Zacharias¡® expression rxed slightly. ¡°Honey, didn¡¯t we already talk about this? Once the baby¡¯s a little older, we¡¯ll bring him back.¡± ¡°My body isn¡¯t even ready yet. Who knows how long it¡¯ll take for me to get pregnant¨Cmaybe years. And how old does the baby have to be, anyway? Three? Five? Meatloaf¡¯s not young anymore. You think he¡¯ll still be around by then?¡± Her voice rose as emotion surged. 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 13 And She Fell on Him Again 88 +10 Free Coins Zacharias didn¡¯t know what had triggered her again, but Anneliese had been out of sorts for days now. He didn¡¯t try to coax her this time. His face darkened, and he returned to his chair. ¡°I said no. Take the dog back. Your job right now is to get pregnant. We need a kid in the next two years. This isn¡¯t up for discussion, Anneliese.¡± ¡°And if I refuse to take him back?¡± Zacharias¡® entire body turned cold. ¡°Then I won¡¯t mind finding the dog a new owner.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide that, Zacharias!¡± she shouted, face pale with anger. ¡°Meatloaf is my family. You have no right to threaten me like this.¡± Zacharias¡® voice remained cold and even. ¡°Anne, we¡¯re husband and wife. I¡¯m more than capable of dealing with one dog. Be good. I¡¯ll let it slide today. Keep the dog for tonight. Send him back tomorrow, alright?¡± Seeing her face drained of color, he stood up and started walking toward her again. He still didn¡¯t want her to be too upset. He was going to pull her into his arms and calm her down. But before he could get close, Anneliese took a furious step back. ¡°Dog, dog, dog! He has a name! It¡¯s Meatloaf! If you love saying the word so much, what breed are you, huh? If I called you a stupid mutt, would you answer?¡± Zacharias could hardly believe what he was hearing. His face turned dark with rage¨Cbut before he could respond, Anneliese turned and stormed out, mming the office door behind her with a resounding bang. He pressed his fingers to his brow, his entire body tense with fury. There was no way he was going to chase after her. For a brief moment, he even recalled that phone call from Christopher, and for once, he thought the man might have a point. Maybe it was time to teach her a lesson. With that, he picked up his phone and called his private financial advisor. ¡°Freeze the joint ount,¡± he instructed coldly. ¡°Temporarily suspend my wife¡¯s ess.¡± Anneliese left uderias Tech fuming, nearly bursting at the seams. Remembering that Meatloaf was still waiting in the car, she quickened her pace. She reached the parking lot and unlocked the car. The first thing she did was reach for the rear 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 13 And She Fell on Him Again 88 +10 Free Coins door, anxious to check on her dog. But before she could open it, azy, familiar voice sounded behind her. ¡°Abusing a dog in broad daylight? Didn¡¯t know that was your thing, Mrs. Shaw.¡± Startled, Anneliese turned around and saw a tall figure emerging from behind the car. It was Jonathan. He was wearing a sharp ck pinstripe suit¨Csimple and ssic in style¨Cbut unlike the white shirts he¡¯d worn before, this time he had on a ck satin shirt underneath. It amplified hismanding presence, casting a shadow as he approached. The air around him felt colder, heavier. Anneliese¡¯s eyes instinctively flicked to his ck shirt, a strange pang of guilt twisting in her gut. He¡¯s probably wearing dark colors to avoid another wardrobe casualty. Can¡¯t even me him¡ªhe looks like he¡¯s on his way to a funeral. ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± Meatloaf, noticing her, began pawing at the window and panting excitedly. Anneliese immediately opened the car door, and Meatloaf shot out like a golden cannonball, bursting with joy. ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± But instead of throwing itself at her like usual, Meatloaf charged full speed toward Jonathan- growling like a little beast. Oh shoot! Is my brain cursed? Do I manifest every worst¨Ccase scenario by thinking about it? If Meatloaf ws him, forget the shirt¨Cthe whole d¡¯mn suit¡¯s going to be a write¨Coff! Created 14 Chapter 14 So You¡¯re the Crybaby Chapter 14 So You¡¯re the Crybaby +10 Free Coins ¡°Meatloaf! Come back!¡± Anneliese cried out and immediately looked away, not daring to watch what came next. Meatloaf had always been well¨Cbehaved. It never jumped on strangers, let alone barked at them. She had no idea what had gotten into it that day, but one thing she did know¡ªif it actually bit the Fullbuster family¡¯s golden heir, the consequences would be dire. For all she knew, Meatloaf would be served as the main course on the Prince of Halden¡¯s lunch table. Panicking, she dashed after her dog, trying to grab it before it couldunch itself at the most elite man in the city. But Meatloaf barreled forward with so much momentum that not only did she fail to stop him¨Cshe ended up crashing into the man with him. Bang! The sound echoed through the parking lot as both the dog and the woman mmed into the man, pinning him against the car door. Meatloaf stood on its hind legs, both front paws propped against Jonathan¡¯s chest, while Anneliese, still wrapped around the dog¡¯s belly, had her head buried squarely into Jonathan¡¯s abdomen in a verypromising position. The world froze in an awkward silence. Then came the man¡¯s low, gravelly voice above her. ¡°Move!¡± Anneliese scrambled to pull Meatloaf off him, gripping the dog with both arms¨Cbut she failed, and with another thud, she knocked into Jonathan all over again. Jonathan, exasperated, looked down to see the top of her head ramming into a rather sensitive area,pletely unaware of what she was doing. Finally losing patience, he grabbed her by the back of her cor and yanked her off him. ¡°I meant you.¡± Yanked back, Anneliese looked up at him and finally realized what had just happened. Her face instantly flushed crimson. ¡°I¨Cuh¡­ I thought you were talking to Meatloaf. I was just trying to pull it off, I swear¨CI had no other intentions.¡± Jonathan pointed to the golden retriever still happily glued to him. ¡°So, you assumed I speak fluent canine and skipped talking to you?¡± 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 14 So You¡¯re the Crybaby : 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese fell silent. Oh god. He doesn¡¯t think I was calling him a dog¡­ does he? I swear, that wasn¡¯t my intention! ¡°I¡¯m really, really sorry,¡± she muttered, rubbing her forehead. Why is this man built like reinforced concrete? First, he bruised my chest yesterday, and now I¡¯ve probably got a bump the size of a golf ball on my forehead. What is this? Bad karma? Or should I have checked the daily horoscope before leaving the house? Still, one thing was at least mildlyforting¨CMeatloaf hadn¡¯t attacked. At the moment, the big golden retriever was fully embodying the role of a clingypdog. It was licking Jonathan like crazy, its tongue slobbering all over the man¡¯s expensive suit jacket until it waspletely ruined. Anneliese felt cold sweat sliding down her back. Any second now, she swore, Jonathan was going to pull out a knife and slit Meatloaf¡¯s throat. ¡°He¡¯s not usually like this,¡± she exined quickly. ¡°He normally ignores strangers. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into him. Maybe it¡¯s just that you¡¯re overflowing with charisma, Mr. Fullbuster. Too much love and light, you know?¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Right on cue, Meatloaf barked at Jonathan as if to second that opinion. Good boy, Anneliese thought, then snuck a nce at Jonathan¡¯s face. His expression was unreadable, cool andposed as always. It was impossible to tell if he was angry. But her nerves were frayed to the breaking point, and his silence only made it worse. Her mouth ran before she could stop it. ¡°I mean¡­ yes, we knocked into you, but I got hurt too, okay? You¡¯re really hard. Let¡¯s just call it even, yeah?¡± Jonathan finally lifted hisshes and looked straight at her. ¡°I¡¯m hard?¡± Anneliese blinked. She pointed to her forehead. ¡°Yeah, see? You can check if you don¡¯t believe me-¡± But when her eyes met his¨Cdark, deep, andced with something she couldn¡¯t quite read¡ª her voice faltered. She suddenly felt like some delusional fan trying to cop a feel. She waved her hands quickly, ¡°I meant your belt buckle! That¡¯s what I hit! I wasn¡¯t talking about anything else-¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t have to exin.¡± Jonathan cut her off calmly. Follow current nov?ls on find?novel 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 14 So You¡¯re the Crybaby : 88 +10 Free Coins Please. Someone save me! Anneliese wailed inside. I never want to see this man again for the rest of my life. There was no greater torment than this level of awkwardness. Finally, Jonathan lowered himself enough¡ªdignity be d*mned¨Cto give Meatloaf a quick pat along the spine. Meatloaf nearly exploded with joy, its big head nuzzling eagerly into the man¡¯s palm. Seeing his gesture, Anneliese finally let out a quiet breath of relief. At least he didn¡¯t seem disgusted by Meatloaf. Though¡­ his suit was clearly ruined. ¡°Meatloaf, stop licking!¡± she called, trying to salvage the situation. ¡°Licking helps dogs calm down, especially when they¡¯re anxious or stressed,¡± Jonathan said suddenly, then nced at her. ¡°So, little kids need constant supervision, but it¡¯s okay to leave a dog locked in a car?¡± Anneliese fell silent. The words stabbed her like a boomerang. She had said something simr to him not long ago¨Cnow he was throwing it right back at her. Is he really the type to hold a grudge? Still¡­ he wasn¡¯t wrong. Even in mild weather, a car¡¯s interior could reach dangerous temperatures in just ten minutes. A dog could easily be oxygen¨Cdeprived. She had thought she¡¯d only be gone five or six minutes to pick up the divorce agreement. She¡¯d even cracked the driver¡¯s side window just slightly for airflow. But she hadn¡¯t anticipated running into Jackie¨Cor being forced to follow him upstairs, which cost her precious time. She had only said a couple of lines before bolting back down, but that didn¡¯t excuse it. It had been careless. So, she didn¡¯t make excuses and nodded. ¡°That was my fault. You¡¯re right to call me out, Mr. Fullbuster. I promise it won¡¯t happen again. Thank you¨Ctruly. If something had happened to Meatloaf, I¡¯d never have forgiven myself.¡± Standing before him with her head slightly lowered, she looked like a schoolgirl getting scolded. Too obedient. Too well¨Cbehaved. Jonathan replied coolly, ¡°If you were one minuteter, I would¡¯ve smashed the window.¡± Chapter 14 So You¡¯re the Crybaby +10 Free Coins Anneliese couldn¡¯t help ncing at him again. Who would¡¯ve thought¨Ccold, icy Mr. Fullbuster is actually¡­ a dog lover? That¡¯s kind of¡­ weirdly cute. With hisshes lowered and long, elegant fingers gently stroking Meatloaf¡¯s big golden head, the man looked like a king¡­ and Meatloaf was clearly over the moon. Its tail was wagging so fast it was basically a turbine. She had never seen Meatloaf act like this around anyone before. Could he actually smell the scent of wealth? ¡°Why¡¯d you name him Meatloaf?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She blinked, pulled out of her thoughts. But the moment she remembered how she¡¯d found him, a warm smile tugged at her lips. ¡°He was a stray. I tricked him intoing home with me using a chunk of meatloaf. So¡­ Meatloaf.¡± That was twelve years ago. Back then, she had just lost her adoptive parents. She¡¯d been vulnerable, grieving, totally lost. Then one day, she found a filthy little golden pup in the neighborhood. He looked maybe five or six months old. Onerge chunk of meatloaf was all it took¨Che started following her around and never left. She¡¯d wanted to keep him. Her grandmother had objected at first, but eventually relented when she saw how much joy and life the dog brought into their quiet home. Meatloaf was family. And yet she¡¯d almost abandoned him¡­ all because of Zacharias. Her smile faded, eyes stinging faintly. Jonathan nced at her, then raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Miraculously, Meatloaf¨Cwho had been stuck to him like glue¨Cactually obeyed. He jumped down and trotted straight to Anneliese¡¯s side, pawing at her leg. She crouched down. Meatloaf rolled onto his back, belly up, and she rubbed it, looking up in surprise. He actually listens to you?!¡± Wait¡­ is Meatloaf a sucker for a pretty face too? Since when did it have that trait? Jonathan merely quirked a brow, offering no exnation. His eyes were deep, unreadable, Sensing he wasn¡¯t in the mood for small talk, Anneliese stood and pulled out her phone. ¡°Mr. 11:31 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 14 So You¡¯re the Crybaby 88 +10 Free Coins Fullbuster, let me at least get your contact. Meatloaf ruined your suit. I really should pay you back¨Cotherwise, I won¡¯t feel right about it.¡± This time, Jonathan didn¡¯t refuse. He reached out to take her phone, but just then, a call popped up on her screen. The caller ID? Trash No. 1. Anneliese felt her scalp tingle. She quickly rejected the call and forced an awkward smile. Jonathan didn¡¯tment. He simply recited a string of digits. She hastily typed it in, and as she was about to save the contact, he suddenly spoke. ¡°So¡­ which number simp am I?¡± Created 15 Chapter 15 Meatloaf, Attack Chapter 15 Meatloaf, Attack +10 Free Coins Anneliese chuckled. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re an upright and honorable man¨Clook, how could I possibly give you a nickname like that?¡± She flipped her phone around to show him the contact name as proof of her innocence. Jonathan nced at it and said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m not ¡®Mr. Fullbuster.¡® You don¡¯t know my name?¡± She quickly deleted the ¡°Mr.¡± and changed it to ¡°Jonathan Fullbuster,¡± exining as she typed, ¡°Of course I know¨Ceveryone knows who you are. I just thought people at your level preferred formal titles. Didn¡¯t want to be disrespectful.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by Find?Novel Once the name was updated, she tilted the phone again for him to confirm before sliding it back into her pocket. Jonathan nodded. ¡°Names are meant to be used. What level do you think I am prehistoric?¡± So that was why she¡¯d been using the overly respectful tone. All Anneliese could do was offer him a strained smile. Prehistoric or not, he¡¯s definitely impossible to deal with. Fortunately, just then, a smartly dressed young man came jogging over with a briefcase. Likely Jonathan¡¯s assistant. He gave Anneliese a polite nod, then turned and handed Jonathan his suit jacket before getting into the car and driving off. Anneliese scooped up Meatloaf, who looked like it wanted to follow after them. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, huh?¡± she scolded. ¡°Keep acting like this, and you¡¯re gonna end up as a literal meatloaf! One bite, gone!¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Meatloaf blinked its big, round eyes at her, lookingpletely aggrieved. In the back seat of the Maybach, Jonathan watched her through the rearview mirror. In the ss, the woman and the dog gradually shrank from view. His gaze was unreadable, deep as a stillke. The scene outside rolled backward like an old reel of film: a girl clutching a scrappy puppy, standing lost in time¨Chelpless, uncertain. So, the crybaby was you¡­ 11:32 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 15 Meatloaf, Attack 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese didn¡¯t notice the gaze from afar. She climbed back into her car with Meatloaf, and just then, Zacharias called again. She didn¡¯t answer. With a frown, she set the phone to silent. That evening at Madison Vi, Coral had just taken a bath and slipped into acy dress. She posed a full table of beautifully prepared dishes, snapping a picture from above. She made sure to get one fis¨Cd leg in the frame¨Cvery pleased with the result¨Cthen sent the photo to Zacharias. Only after the message failed to send did she realize the Wi¨CFi was out. She called the property management, who assured her someone would be sent over immediately to fix it. Coral rxed on the couch. Less than five minutester, a knock came at the door. Rich neighborhoods really do with five¨Cstar service, she mused. Answering the door, she saw a woman and two men in work uniforms bow politely with toolboxes in hand. Coral didn¡¯t even look at them properly. She just waved a hand and said, ¡°Make it quick. My boyfriend¡¯sing home soon. Don¡¯t ruin our romantic night.¡± With a sway of her hips, she turned and walked back inside. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Absolutely,¡± the woman in the cap replied sweetly¨Cthen rolled her eyes in a dramatic, full¨Ccircle motion behind Coral¡¯s back. Half an hourter, Jessica and her two teammates exited the vi and got in the car. She pulled off her hat, shook out her hair, and immediately texted Anneliese. ¡®All done¡® And then, with her usual fashion, she followed up with a Cheers GIF Anneliese replied almost instantly, ¡®200k transferred. Please confirm receipt. Even family keeps the books straight. She then followed up with the same Cheers GIF Chapter 15 Meatloaf, Attack +10 Free Coins ¡®Thank you, my sugar mommy! I¡¯ll be your devoted worshipper for life. If I could add a time limit¨Cten thousand years.¡® Jessica replied and emphasized it with a rolling¨Cand¨Chugging¨Cyour- leg GIF. Anneliese chuckled and turned off her phone. After dinner, she took Meatloaf to the park for a walk. When they returned to the vi, the lights were on. She assumed Zoey hadn¡¯t left yet and didn¡¯t think much of it. Inside, she unclipped Meatloaf¡¯s leash and patted it. ¡°We¡¯re home. Still remember where your bed is? Go on, have fun.¡± Meatloaf, clearly thrilled to be back, wagged its tail and sprinted straight toward the living room. Anneliese crouched down to change her shoes, but before she could finish, a scream tore through the air, followed by the sound of Meatloaf¡¯s painful whimpering. Her heart leapt. Forgetting her shoes, she bolted into the living room¨Cand the sight that greeted her made her blood boil. Meatloaf, who¡¯d been so cheerful and excited just moments ago, nowy on the ground, trembling. Lenora Shaw, her sister¨Cinw, was standing over him with an ashtray, repeatedly mming it down onto his body. Blood trickled from its head, and it curled up in a ball, whimpering in pain and helplessness. ¡°Lenora! I dare you toy one more hand on Meatloaf!¡± Anneliese¡¯s fury exploded as she charged forward and shoved Lenora hard. She didn¡¯t hold back. Lenora fell backward with a cry, crashing to the floor. The ashtray shattered, slicing open her hand. ¡°You pushed me?! You hit me over some filthy mutt? Anneliese, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lenora screamed, staring at her in disbelief. Anneliese nced down at Meatloaf, whose blood was now streaming into its eyes. It looked up at her with tears glistening in its big, trusting eyes, and her heart shattered. Without hesitation, she strode forward, climbed on top of Lenora, and pped her across the face¨Conce, twice, 88 Chapter 15 Meatloaf, Attack ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Melody came rushing down from the second floor. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mom! She hit me! And she brought that filthy dog back home!¡± Lenora howled, already using through sobs. Hearing her insult Meatloaf again sent a fresh wave of anger through Anneliese. Meatloaf had always been such a sweetheart. She¡¯d taught it that Melody and Lenora were family, and good dogs didn¡¯t bite family. So even as it was being beaten, it just whimpered andy there without fighting back. But now she had seen it with her own eyes. Who knew how many times Meatloaf had been abused when she wasn¡¯t around? ¡°Stop calling it filthy. Between you and it, the one acting like a rabid dog is you,¡± she snapped. Just as she raised her hand to strike again, Melody lunged forward. She grabbed Anneliese by the hair and pped her¨Chard. Smack! Melody had done hardbor in her younger years, and her strength was no joke. The force of the p sent Anneliese flying. Her head mmed into the TV cab with a sickening thud, her ears ringing as her vision went dark. ¡°Woof! Woof, woof, woof!¡± Meatloaf, seeing Anneliese hurt, rushed to her side, growling and snarling as it stood protectively in front of her. Melody pulled Lenora up, her expression harsh. ¡°Anneliese! You know I¡¯m allergic to dog fur. You brought that mutt back here without permission, and now you¡¯re hitting Lenora? You want me to have Zacharias divorce you? Kick you out of this house? Out of this family?!¡± Blood dripped from Anneliese¡¯s forehead. She clutched it with one hand, using the other to brace herself against the wall as she stood. Her gaze turned icy Her lips curved into a mocking smile. A drop of blood slid from her brow to the corner of her eye¨Cbut instead of looking weak, the sight only made her appear more dangerously beautiful. ¡°Huh! What, does your family actually have a throne to reign? Go ahead. Let him divorce me. I¡¯ll say a prayer for you daily and thank you for it.¡± 11:32 Fri, Sep 5 ¡­ 88 Chapter 15 Meatloaf, Attack ¡°She¡¯s cursing you, Mom!¡± Lenora shouted, stomping her foot. ¡°She wants you dead!¡± +10 Free Coins Annelieseughed coldly. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything like that. If anyone cursed you, it¡¯s your precious daughter.¡± ¡°Liar! You did! I heard it! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you meant¨Cwishing my mom dead! I¡¯m telling my brother!¡± Melody¡¯s chest heaved with fury. She raised her hand again and charged at Anneliese. Once, Anneliese had endured it all¡ªfor Zacharias, for the sake of keeping the family peace. She had backed down, swallowed her pride. But not anymore. She stepped back and warned, ¡°Try that again, and I¡¯ll let Meatloaf bite you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s bluffing, Mom!¡± Lenora scoffed. ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a useless leech, living off my brother. Filthy inside and out, can¡¯t even give him a kid. She wouldn¡¯t dare turn that mutt on us!¡± With a sneer, she grabbed a vase off the table. Melody rushed in behind her, both of them charging toward Anneliese. Lenora wasn¡¯t just furious¨Cshe wanted revenge. She wanted to destroy that perfect, beautiful face. ¡°Meatloaf!¡± Anneliese roared. ¡°Get them!¡± In the very next second, with a sharp bark, Meatloaf became a golden blur andunched himself at them. Created 16 Chapter 16 A Rift in the Family Chapter 16 A Rift in the Family +10 Free Coins By the time Zacharias got the call and rushed to the hospital, Melody and Lenora had already been stitched up and given rabies shots. The moment the mother and daughter saw him walk in, they copsed into each other¡¯s arms, crying. ¡°Zacharias, look what your wife did! She¡¯spletely out of control! ¡°I worked my fingers to the bone raising you and your sister. I never asked for much in return, not even for you all to be grateful, but a little respect wouldn¡¯t kill you! I¡¯m heartbroken. I can¡¯t stay here anymore¨CI¡¯m going back home!¡± Lenora clung to Melody, her tears spilling over in seconds. Her cheeks were swollen, and there was a deep bite mark on her leg. The doctor said it would scar, and she truly felt aggrieved. ¡°Zach, Anneliese knows Mom¡¯s allergic to dog hair, but she still brought that dog home. I tried to talk to her about it, and she set the dog on me and Mom. She even cursed Mom, saying she should just die! Zach, you have to do something about this. If you don¡¯t, Mom and I are heading back to Baytree!¡± Watching his mother and sister sobbing together, Zacharias¡® face darkened, the veins in his temple throbbing. ¡°Where is she?¡± he asked through clenched teeth. Sensing his anger, Lenora immediately jumped in. ¡°She disappeared. She set the dog on us and then just left.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll handle this. You and Lenora just rest,¡± Zacharias assured, left Jackie to look after them, and then strode out with a cold, imcable expression. Lenora, seeing this, hurried after him and grabbed his arm, still crying. ¡°Zacharias, divorce Anneliese. I like Selina, and you like her too, don¡¯t you? If Selina hadn¡¯t sponsored you through school and sent Mom money for her medical bills, how would we even have what we have today? ¡°She¡¯s kind and elegant, pure and refined¨Cand she¡¯s studying abroad! She¡¯s the real rich beauty, and only she deserves to be my sister¨Cinw. Anneliese is nowhere near good enough for you. Zacharias, you should-¡± Thinking of how Selina still sent her gifts from abroad and even promised to set her up with her crush when she returned, Lenora grew more and more animated. She believed Zacharias felt the same way. She knew Selina was the love that her brother could never have, and he only married Anneliese to protect Selina. And now that Anneliese had crossed the line like this, her brother had to hate her even more. He must be dying to get rid Chapter 16 A Rift in the Family +10 Free Coins of her. ?????? ???? F?ndNovel But to her shock, Zacharias¡® expression grew even colder, and he cut her off sharply. ¡°Enough! Whatever is between me and Anneliese is none of your business. And let me be clear: there will be no other sister¨Cinw besides Anneliese. Show some respect.¡± Lenora, still afraid of her brother, paled under his fierce gaze, her tears rolling down her face again. She ran back to the hospital room to cry to Melody. ¡°Mom, call Selina on video right now! We need her toe back. Otherwise, Zacharias will really lose his way!¡± Zacharias finally found Anneliese at the veterinary clinic, tending to Meatloaf¡¯s head wound. He stormed in with two men in ck, his fury so intense it startled the vet. ¡°Anneliese! Come with me and apologize to Mom and Lenora right now!¡± Zacharias grabbed her arm and yanked her from the chair. Anneliese¡¯s vision went dark for a second as she steadied herself. She looked at him coldly. ¡°Let go! What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Only then did Zacharias see her face clearly¨Chalf of it was swollen, her temple scraped and crusted with blood. Her skin was so pale that every bruise looked stark against it, and the p mark and cuts were painfully visible. Mom and Lenora hadn¡¯t said a word about Anneliese being hurt¡­ Instinctively, Zacharias loosened his grip, his brow furrowing. Anneliese seized the chance to pull free, stepping back. ¡°Zacharias, you didn¡¯t even ask what your mom and Lenora did, and you want me to apologize? What if I don¡¯t?¡± She stood under the harsh white light, her face like frost, her silhouette lone and unyielding. Her gaze on him was devoid of any warmth, like she was looking at a stranger. No¡­ like he was the enemy. In that moment, Zacharias felt his breath catch, his chest tightening with sudden panic. He instinctively reached for her hand. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, I¡ª¡± But before he could touch her, Anneliese flinched, swiping his hand away. Her nails grazed his cheek, leaving a faint sting. Humiliated in front of so many people, Zacharias¡® face hardened again. ¡°My mom¡¯s allergic to dog hair, and you brought that dog home anyway. That was wrong enough. ¡°On top of that, she¡¯s your mother¨Cinw, and my sister is still a kid. No matter what Chapter 16 A Rift in the Family 88 +10 Free Coins happened, you shouldn¡¯t haveid a hand on them¨Clet alone sic the dog on them! You¡¯reing with me to Created 17 Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn¡¯t Be Crossed Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn¡¯t Be Crossed 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese remained unfazed. ¡°Huh, your mom used to sell fish at the wet market¨Cdidn¡¯t seem allergic to dog hair then, did she? You know better than anyone whether she¡¯s really allergic or not. You really think she¡¯s not doing this on purpose just to make my life hell? ¡°And your sister¨Cwhat, she¡¯s still a kid at 19? Zacharias, your sister cracked Meatloaf¡¯s skull open. That¡¯s animal abuse. And you¡¯re just going to pretend it didn¡¯t happen?¡± Zacharias¡® face darkened with frustration. He looked at her with obvious disapproval. ¡°Anne, my dad was never reliable. My mom raised Lenora and me all by herself. ¡°You know how hard she worked and how much she suffered. She¡¯s a little hot¨Ctempered now because of how rough life used to be. Can¡¯t you just be more patient with her? Try to keep the peace?¡± It was true that Melody had had a hard life. Zacharias¡® father, Richard, had been a deadbeat who drank and beat his family. Melody had raised her two kids by selling fish at the market. Back when Anneliese lived in the same neighborhood, her adoptive father had been a firefighter and her mother a schoolteacher. At the time, whenever Richard went on a rampage, Melody would bring Lenora over to their ce to hide. She¡¯d always been sweet to Anneliese¨Cholding her hand and praising her endlessly, saying how much she hoped Anneliese would marry her son someday. Lenora even used to call her Anneliese endearingly all the time. But somewhere along the way, everything changed. Was it after that scandal ruined her reputation? Or when uderias Tech went public and Zacharias¡® status suddenly rose? Maybe it had started long before that. Truth was, some people would suffer with you, but never stomach your sess. Anneliese looked at Zacharias, her gaze heavy with sarcasm, no longer in the mood to argue. ¡°Zacharias, I didn¡¯t cause your mom¡¯s suffering, and I sure as hell don¡¯t owe her or your sister a demn thing. Why should I give in to them? ¡°Let me remind you¨Cwhen my adoptive father died, it was your mother who begged my grandmother for his death pension to help your family pay off their debts. If anything, she : Original content can be found at Find1Novel Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn¡¯t Be Crossed 88 +10 Free Coins owes me.¡± She had been ten when her father died in a fire. Her adoptive mother had miscarried and died after falling down the stairs in a panic. It had been a one¨Ctwo blow¨CAnneliese lost her whole world in a matter of days. She¡¯d barely finished burying them when disaster struck the Shaws. Richard had killed someone while driving drunk, and debt collectors swarmed the family. Melody had begged her grandmother for help, and her soft¨Chearted grandmother had handed over everyst penny of thepensation money. Yearster, when Melody fell ill, Anneliese had secretly worked at a mermaid restaurant for two years just to pay the medical bills. The chronic cold in her body¨Cthat was partly from too much time in cold water during puberty. And what had she gotten in return? Just exhaustion. So deep she sometimes wanted to scream at herself for being so stupid. You should¡¯ve seen through these people a long time ago, Anneliese ude. They¡¯re cold. Selfish. And you were a fool. She didn¡¯t want to look at Zacharias anymore. Instead, she turned her attention to Meatloaf. But Zacharias couldn¡¯t stand the way she looked so indifferent. He grabbed her hand and said through gritted teeth, ¡°We¡¯re talking about a dog biting someone, and you¡¯re dragging up ancient history? Enough. You¡¯re going to take care of them and apologize¨Cnow.¡± I¡¯m not going! Let me go!¡± Anneliese yanked her arm away with all her strength. Zacharias snapped. His face clouded over as he barked an order at the two bodyguards. ¡°Fine. A dog that bites people has no ce here. No need to treat it. Hold it down and put it down!¡± The bodyguards obeyed without hesitation and moved toward Meatloaf. Sensing danger, the dog whimpered and backed into the corner, barking in panic. Anneliese had long stopped expecting anything from Zacharias. But even so, his cruelty still cut deep. Hatred filled her tear¨Cbright eyes. ¡°Zacharias! You¡¯re a monster! Did you forget?! You¡¯re the one who gave me Meatloaf!¡± He knew exactly how much the dog meant to her. 11:32 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 17 Lines That Shouldn¡¯t Be Crossed 88 +10 Free Coins After her parents died, she¡¯d lived with her grandmother. It was Meatloaf¡¯s arrival that brought warmth andughter back into the house. She had always been grateful to Zacharias for giving her Meatloaf, and over the years, the dog had be family. Her grandmother didn¡¯t want to move to Oceaton, worried she¡¯d be a burden, and chose to stay behind in Baytree. Meatloaf had been her onlypanion since. Zacharias knew all of this¨Cand he still wanted to put Meatloaf down. There had never been a moment when Anneliese hated this man more, or hated her own blindness more. ¡°Stop! Get away from him! Let go of me!¡± The vet and assistants were too intimidated by Zacharias and his men to intervene. The two bodyguards had already pinned Meatloaf down. One of them strapped on a muzzle. The dog¡¯s wet eyes were wide with fear and confusion. It couldn¡¯t even bark¨Cit just looked at Anneliese in a silent, desperate plea. Created 18 Chapter 18 The Breaking Point 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese felt like knives had been driven straight into her chest. She screamed andshed out at Zacharias in a frenzy, kicking, scratching, bitingpletely unhinged. Her eyes burned blood¨Cred, and she was spiraling out of control. But what filled her more than anger was the overwhelming helplessness. Zacharias, caught up in his rage and pride, faltered when he saw how violently she reacted. A flicker of regret and panic shed through him. But when she stared at him with such raw hatred¨Cjust for a dog¨Cit only reignited the fury in his gut. A twisted need to destroy everything surged up inside him. How could a dog possibly mean more to her than he did? Without another word, he bent down, hauled Anneliese over his shoulder, and strode toward the exit. ¡°Make it quick,¡± he barked to the bodyguards. ¡°Don¡¯t let it suffer.¡± Dangling over his shoulder, Anneliese beat on his back and bit into his shoulder, tears streaming down her face as she watched them prepare to act. Her voice trembled, cracking. ¡°Zacharias¡ªhubby¡ªplease, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll apologize, I¡¯ll get on my knees and beg! Just don¡¯t hurt Meatloaf¡­¡± But Zacharias didn¡¯t stop. In fact, there was even a trace of smug satisfaction in his voice. ¡°Anne, now you¡¯re sorry? Now you want to beg? Toote. You¡¯ve beenpletely out of lely. ¡°Meatloaf bit my mom and Lenora¨CI have to give them an answer. Once the dog¡¯s gone, they¡¯ll stop making a fuss and won¡¯t target you anymore. This is for your own good. ¡°If you really like dogs, we can get another one when our kid¡¯s five or six. We¡¯ll pick one out together-¡± ¡°Zacharias! I don¡¯t want another dog! If you touch Meatloaf, I swear to God I¡¯ll poison your whole d*mn family! Tell them to back off!¡± Shaking violently, Anneliese fought wildly, her hand scrambling against his side until she felt something solid. She gripped it tightly and smashed it down onto Zacharias¡® head. Wham! ¡°Ugh!¡± 32 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 18 The Breaking Point ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN()vel ¡°Mr. Shaw!¡± +10 Free Coins Zacharias let out a muffled groan, one hand going to his head. His vision spun. He had no choice but to set her down, staggering from the blow. The two bodyguards shouted in rm and rushed toward him. ¡°Meatloaf¨Crun!¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t even look at Zacharias. She shoved the door open and shouted at the golden retriever, who immediately bolted toward her and vanished through the doorway. By the time Zacharias shoved the guards aside and looked up, the entrance was empty. Both Anneliese and the dog were gone. His whole frame was tense with rage. ¡°What are you standing around for? Go after her!¡± Finally, the bodyguards scrambled and chased after them. Zacharias leaned against the wall, pain throbbing in his skull. Shattered porcin littered the floor at his feet. He looked shaken, stormy, and still in disbelief¨CAnneliese had smashed a vase over his head. For a dog. He closed his eyes, but the image wouldn¡¯t leave him¨Cthe way she had run without a backward nce, the dog by her side. It made his insides churn like he¡¯d been gutted. Does she not care? Won¡¯t even check if I¡¯m hurt? No¨Cshe probably didn¡¯t even realize she hit me. Anneliese still cares. And she would never hurt me on purpose. She used to stay up all night by my side when I had stomach pains from drinking too much. Clinging to that thought, Zacharias finally felt his wild heartbeat begin to settle. Anneliese didn¡¯t dare run along the main roads. She was sure Zacharias would send people after her. Instead, she took Meatloaf through a maze of narrow alleys, weaving through them until she finally emerged somewhere unfamiliar. She¡¯d gotten herself lost¨Cbut at least Zacharias hadn¡¯t caught up. With that, she pulled out her phone to call Jessica and ask if she could crash at her ce for the night. But her phone had died at some point. 11:32 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 18 The Breaking Point 88 +10 Free Coins With a tired sigh, she crouched down and rubbed Meatloaf¡¯s head. ¡°Sorry, Meatloaf. Looks like you¡¯re going to be on the run with me for a while. Kinda exciting, huh? Let¡¯s go.¡± It waste autumn. The chill in the air deepened by the minute. Streemps flickered overhead, casting her thin figure in a long, drawn¨Cout shadow. She walked with a slight limp. At her side, the golden retriever seemed to sense her mood, head drooped, keeping close as he matched her pace step for step. From a distance, they looked almost like a painting. A strange, poetic sight. Beautiful in a quiet, mncholy way¨Cbut undeniably heartbreaking. ¡°Pull over,¡± came a low, crispmand from the back seat. Zion Hand, the assistant behind the wheel, didn¡¯t quite catch it at first. Pull over where? What for? But then he nced in the rearview mirror and followed his boss¡® gaze to the sidewalk, and his eyes widened in shock. No way. I must be hearing things. Sure, that woman¡¯s silhouette is delicate, and yeah, she¡¯s limping and looks like she¡¯d been through hell, walking with that helpless kind of vulnerability like she¡¯s begging someone to rescue her. But isn¡¯t Boss cold as ice and ¡°women don¡¯t exist to me¡°? What does that have to do with him? Created 19 Chapter 19 It¡¯s Me, Jonathan Chapter 19 It¡¯s Me, Jonathan : 88 +10 Free Coins Certainly, the boss couldn¡¯t have been possessed. That can only mean I¡¯ve seriously misunderstood. While his brain scrambled to catch up, Zion failed to stop the car in time. It breezed past the woman and her dog, kicking up a cold gust and a flurry of dry leaves in its wake. Anneliese flinched from the sudden chill and instinctively stepped further off the road, pulling Meatloaf along. ¡°Stop the car.¡± The air inside the Bentley dropped several degrees. Zion felt a chill creep down the back of his neck and stomped on the brake without thinking. The car came to a halt. And then Zion stared in absolute shock as his notoriously cold and romance¨Callergic boss opened the door¨Cand headed straight for the woman on the sidewalk. He¡¯s approaching her! And trying to talk to her! Everything Zion believed about the world shattered in that moment. Anneliese kept her head down, her eyes fixed on her scraped leg. She¡¯d fallen earlier while running through a dark alley. A shadow suddenly blocked her view. In her peripheral vision, a pair of sharp, ck leather shoes appeared. Her blood ran cold, face pale, and she turned to run¨Conly to have her wrist caught in a strong grip. She didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe lowered her head and sank her teeth into his hand. The man grunted. His voice was low and unfamiliar. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­ Jonathan.¡± Anneliese stiffened as soon as she realized she¡¯d bitten the wrong person. She slowly let go and looked down¨Cright into the big goofy face of Meatloaf, who was happily sitting at the man¡¯s feet, tail wagging like a fan. ¡°Woof!¡± Mortified, Anneliese yanked her hand away like she¡¯d touched something scalding and 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 19 It¡¯s Me, Jonathan 88 +10 Free Coins stumbled back two steps. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! Someone was chasing us just now¨CI thought¡­¡± But when her gaze met Jonathan¡¯s steady, quict eyes, her cars flushed red. Every time she saw this man, she was either apologizing or thanking him. It was like he had a knack for showing up exactly when she was at her lowest. ¡°Is your hand okay?¡± she asked guiltily. Jonathan let his arm fall to his side, out of her view. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, his eyes scanning her,nding on the bruise near her temple. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find(?)ovel There was something about his gaze¨Cit was too clear, too cutting. It made her feel exposed. Embarrassed. And they weren¡¯t even close. She forced a smile and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just¡­ ran into a homeless guy. Scared myself and fell.¡± Jonathan obviously didn¡¯t buy it, but he didn¡¯t press. Instead, he stepped aside slightly. ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll take you.¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not necessary. I already called a ride¨Cwait! Meatloaf¨Cah!¡± Before she could finish refusing, Meatloaf had already wagged its butt and hopped into the back seat of the Bentley like it was its own d*mn car. Anneliese lunged after it in a panic, but the motion pulled hard on her injured knee. Pain shot through her leg, sharp and searing, and she copsed forward¨Cexcept the fall never came. An arm tightened around her waist, lifting her off the ground. She looked up, stunned, to find herself in Jonathan¡¯s arms, her small frame curled against his chest. A firm grip caught her around the waist. Suddenly weightless, she realized she¡¯d been lifted off the street. She was now hanging delicately in a man¡¯s arms. Startled by the sensation, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Apologies,¡± he said evenly. ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to be presumptuous. But you¡¯re hurt¨CI¡¯ll carry you in.¡± Given the situation¨Cand his calm demeanor¨CAnneliese couldn¡¯t bring herself to protest. She 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 19 It¡¯s Me, Jonathan : gave him a sheepish smile. ¡°Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± He nodded slightly and started walking. 88 +10 Free Coins He was tall. Taller than Zacharias by about an inch, at least. And his scent¨Ccool and woodsy- became sharper in the night breeze. Anneliese¡¯s face was nearly level with his jaw, and her gaze inadvertentlynded on his pronounced Adam¡¯s apple, where a small mole sat beneath the skin. She quickly looked away and, trying to ease the awkwardness, asked lightly, ¡°Aren¡¯t there height restrictions for pilots? Mr. Fullbuster, aren¡¯t you over the limit?¡± They had reached the car. Jonathan bent slightly, set her gently into the back seat, and leaned over her with one hand braced against the roof. ¡°Are you implying I used connections to get through?¡± Anneliese blinked and quickly shook her head. His lips curved faintly. ¡°Then that means you looked me up. Funny, I don¡¯t recall ever telling you my height¨Cor my profession.¡± She fell silent, at a loss for words. And just like that, the conversation was dead in the water. Jonathan didn¡¯t wait for her to respond. He shut the door and walked around to the driver¡¯s side. Anneliese, still recovering from the embarrassment, red at Meatloaf. The golden retrievery t in the car, buried its head between its paws, and even flopped one over its ear¨Cying dead, pretending like none of this was its fault, Jonathan got in on the other side, and the car slowly pulled away from the curb. Anneliese cleared her throat, figuring she should at least try to exin. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re quite well¨Cknown. I didn¡¯t have to look you up¨Cpeople talk.¡± Jonathan gave a nomittal nod. He didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he simply said- Created 20 Chapter 20 Not Just a Ride Chapter 20 Not Just a Ride 88 +10 Free Coins ¡°I¡¯m six¨Cfoot¨Ctwo. That disqualifies me from flying fighter jets. The military has strict height limits, butmercial airlines are a bit more lenient. I¡¯m technically over the standard, but it¡¯s still eptable.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Anneliese nodded, and to her surprise, he turned to look at her. ¡°Anything else you want to know?¡± he asked. She choked a little. The way he said that¨Cit almost sounded like she was eager to learn about him, like he was offering up answers to any question she could think of. If someone overheard this, they¡¯d think they were on a date. She gave a dry littleugh. ¡°Well, Meatloaf seems to really like you.¡± She shot the dog a resentful re. Ever since Jonathan got in the car, Meatloaf had turned its backpletely to her. It¡¯d cozied up at Jonathan¡¯s feet, shamelessly rubbing against him like some adoringpdog. They¡¯d run through multiple alleys, and the dog was filthy. The pristine white wool carpet of the Bentley was already ruined. At this point, Anneliese had given up caring. It was like having so many fleas that one more didn¡¯t even itch. ¡°Did Meatloaf bash its head itself?¡± The man¡¯s deep voice rumbled beside her like a cello string being unexpectedly plucked. It startled her. Great, she thought. Another trap question. One wave of interrogation after another. Meatloaf¡¯s head had been split open by Lenora and was still bandaged. Its fur had been shaved to stitch the wound. Jonathan¡¯s phrasing only made it reek of sarcasm. Anneliese gave a smallugh. ¡°If I said it fell on its own, would you believe me?¡± ¡°I have reasonable suspicion that you¡¯re abusing animals,¡± Jonathanmented, pulling out his phone and tapping the screen with long, slender fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve got the animal protection agency¡¯s number right here.¡± Zion, still driving up front, nearly dropped the steering wheel. I¡¯d believe it any day if someone tells me Boss clubbed a dog. But calling the animal protection agency? 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 20 Not Just a Ride 88 +10 Free Coins That¡¯s rich. Weren¡¯t you the same guy who blew a rabbit¡¯s brains out at the hunting range ? Unfortunately, the gorgeous woman beside him clearly believed it. Panicked, Anneliese leaned over and grabbed Jonathan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°No, no, no! I swear I didn¡¯t hurt it! Please believe me, Mr. Fullbuster¨Clook at me. Do I look like someone who¡¯s got it better than the dog?¡± Honestly, she looked worse. Meatloaf¡¯s head had been properly treated, but her wound was scabbing over, raw and visible. There was still a clear handprint on her cheek, and her pants were torn at the knee, the gash beneath faintly bleeding through. Jonathan¡¯s gaze swept over her once more, finallynding on the hand clutching his suit sleeve. She quickly let go, but her fair, tender fingertips had crumpled the crisp edge of his zer like a kitten pawing at him¨Cnot too hard, but definitely there. He looked up again, eyes still skeptical. ¡°Appearances can be deceiving.¡± Anneliese sighed and gave up. ¡°Okay, fine. I got into it with some family members. My sister- inw hit Meatloaf.¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze darkened, and Zion, gripping the wheel, almost swerved. Holy hell. She¡¯s married?I just heard something I definitely wasn¡¯t supposed to. The car jolted sideways, and Anneliese, caught off guard, mmed into the window. Jonathan reached over and grabbed her wrist, pulling her upright again without even looking. ¡°Calcium deficiency?¡± Zion swallowed hard. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll start taking calcium supplements. Sorry about that, uh¡­ madam?¡± He figured, as a responsible assistant, he should at least remind his boss that the woman was married. Anneliese felt the awkwardness instantly. She had once liked being called Mrs. Shaw. But now that she was in the middle of divorcing Zacharias, that title felt like a cruel joke. ¡°Hi. I¡¯m Anneliese ude. You can call me Ms. ude,¡± she said, voice calm but firm. Zion forced a smile and clutched the steering wheel like a lifeline. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. ude. I¡¯m Zion Hand.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by findnovel 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 88 Chapter 20 Not Just a Ride +10 Free Coins Internally, though, he was screaming. Oh sh*t! She doesn¡¯t want to be called ¡®madam¡®! This is textbook emotional mutual interest¨Cscandal¨Clevel stuff. There¡¯s no saving this now! ¡°Take care of that wound,¡± Jonathan said tly, casting a pointed look at Zion to shut him up. He leaned forward and retrieved a first¨Caid kit, handing it to Anneliese. ¡°Need help?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve got it. Thank you.¡± She quickly epted the kit. Ever since Meatloaf got hurt, she¡¯d been so busy running around that she hadn¡¯t even tended to her injuries. As she opened the kit, she suddenly looked up at Jonathan. ¡°Can I charge my phone somewhere?¡± Jonathan held out his hand. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Created 21 Chapter 21 Suspicion and Static 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese nced at the hand Jonathan extended toward her. His fingers were long and clean, the lines on his palm sharp and well¨Cdefined. There were faint calluses along the center of his palm and on the pads of his fingers, but they didn¡¯t take away from their elegance¡ªany hand fetishist would be hard¨Cpressed to find a single w. Caught a little off guard, she gingerly ced her phone in his palm, and before letting go, she even rubbed it on her shirt as if worried there might be something dirty on it that would defile his regal hands. Jonathan gave her a nce, then bent down to help her connect it to a charger. Anneliese immediately snipped open the tear in her pants with medical scissors. She cleaned and disinfected the wound, applied ointment, and wrapped it with gauze¨Call in one swift, practiced motion. When she finally looked up, she realized Jonathan¡¯s gaze had settled on her at some point. ¡°Do you get hurt a lot?¡± he asked casually, noticing her confusion. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find¡ïNovel ¡°Huh? Oh¡ªno, not really.¡± But growing up without parents meant there were always scrapes and bruises along the way. It wasn¡¯t like she ever had the luxury of making a fuss when she got hurt. She just learned to grit her teeth and move on. Jonathan didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Give me a cotton swab. I¡¯ll take care of the cut on your head, too.¡± The wound on her forehead hade from banging into a cab¨Cit was just a minor scrape that had already started to scab over. He wants to help me with that, too? Seriously? He has a daughter already, isn¡¯t this¡­ a little much? We¡¯re not even that close. Technically, we barely know each other. Letting him help with something like that¨Cit just feels way too personal. Without thinking, Anneliese waved him off. ¡°No, no need. I can do it myself.¡± To prove it, she grabbed a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, then turned to the car window and quickly disinfected the wound on her forehead. 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 21 Suspicion and Static : 88 +10 Free Coins Her movements were efficient and clean. She tilted her head to check the angle¨Clooked good. She was just about to turn back to Jonathan when her eyes met his in the ss. He was watching her. Through the dark¨Ctinted window, his gaze seemed even deeper, intense in a way that made it hard to breathe, like he could look right through a person¡¯s soul. And here she was, head tilted back, nostrils slightly red. Not exactly her most ttering look. Their reflections ovepped in the ss. Anneliese¡¯s heart gave a sudden jolt. Okay, is he secretly a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing? Does he have some kind of agenda here? With his status, every second probably costs a fortune. Why take the time to personally drive me home? It¡¯s¡­ weird. I¡¯ve heard stories¡ªsome rich men get a thrill out of having affairs with married women. Maybe that¡¯s the real excitement for them. The moment she had that thought, she felt like her seat was covered in needles. No way. That can¡¯t be it. Right? She blinked and looked again¨Csure enough, Jonathan had already looked away. That earlier moment must¡¯ve just been a coincidence. Just as she let out a breath of relief, Jonathan turned to look at her again. Her lungs forgot how to function. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me where you¡¯re going.¡± Mortified, Anneliese scrambled to respond. ¡°Oh¨Cright, Riverview Court, please. Thank you.¡± Riverview Court was the residentialplex Jessica was currently renting. Jonathan gave a small nod. ¡°Riverview Court.¡± Zion immediately punched it into the GPS, and the car went quiet after that. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Anneliese looked over again. ¡°Right¨Cyour hand. I didn¡¯t break the skin, did I?¡± She hadn¡¯t forgotten that Jonathan was also a pilot. Any kind of injury could be a hassle. She¡¯d been too panicked earlier to notice how hard she¡¯d bitten him. Jonathan extended the hand she¡¯d bitten. Anneliese leaned in to check and spotted the mark right near the base of his thumb. It was deep and vivid, the teeth marks dark against his fair skin¨Cbut thankfully, the skin hadn¡¯t broken. 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 21 Suspicion and Static 88 +10 Free Coins Embarrassed, she rubbed her nose awkwardly. The soft gleam of his mechanical wristwatch caught the light and shimmered faintly, casting tiny specks of reflection into her eyes. In the dim interior of the car, her eyes seemed to glisten, as if holding back tears. Jonathan¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. He flipped his wrist and pulled his hand back, lips parting lightly. ¡°Strong bite. Not calcium deficient.¡± Anneliese blinked. She had been about to apologize, but he¡¯dpletely derailed the mood. From the driver¡¯s seat, Zion stayed quiet. Is Boss¡­ throwing shade now? Seriously? At that moment, Anneliese¡¯s phone vibrated to life with a low, persistent hum as it powered on. Jonathan lowered his eyes and caught a glimpse of the screen. Another call from Trash No. 1. Anneliese leaned forward quickly and hung up with a frown. But the moment she put the phone down, it rang again. And again. By the third time, Jonathan¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°What are you, haunted or something?¡± Created 22 Chapter 22 A Good Person (With an Icy Face) Chapter 22 A Good Person (With an Icy Face) Anneliese, feeling slightly embarrassed, blocked Zacharias outright. Peace, atst. She gave a polite smile. ¡°Sorry about that¨Cmust¡¯ve been annoying.¡± 88 +10 Free Coins Jonathan said nothing, eyes closed as he leaned back to rest. The only sound left in the car was Meatloaf panting excitedly the entire ride. The man sat with his long legs crossed, and Meatloaf had been shamelessly rubbing up against his shoes the whole way. Every now and then, Jonathan would nudge the dog¡¯s head with the tip of his shoe, and Meatloaf would respond by wiggling its butt enthusiastically. At this point, Anneliese genuinely couldn¡¯t tell whose dog it actually was. ¡°Why is her phone suddenly unreachable?¡± Zacharias had already gotten his head wound treated in the ER. His expression was cold and tense. After several failed attempts to reach her, a deep frown creased his brows. ¡°Mr. Shaw,¡± Jackie asked cautiously, ¡°could Madam¡¯s phone be turned off?¡± ¡°It keeps saying the line¡¯s busy! What the hell is going on?!¡± Zacharias tried calling again. Who has Anneliese been on the phone with all this time? But who else could she possibly call? The Whites don¡¯t care about her, and other than Jessica, she doesn¡¯t have anyone. And it¡¯s not like she could be on the phone with Jessica this long ¡°If the line¡¯s been busy all this time¡­ maybe Madam blocked your number?¡± Jackie offered tentatively, Zacharias stared at him like he¡¯d just cracked a bad joke, then let out augh. ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s your idea of a joke now, Jackie?¡± The assistant fell silent. ¡°Probably just bad reception. Go check if she went home yet,¡± Zacharias ordered. 88 +10 Free Coins 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 22 A Good Person (With an Icy Face) The rightful source is If she¡¯s not home, then she¡¯s with Jessica. Anneliese, don¡¯t think running off means you¡¯ve escaped. City lights streaked by as the Bentley approached Riverview Court. Anneliese had already messaged Jessica ahead of time. She leaned forward and pointed out the window toward Jessica, who was standing by the road. ¡°That¡¯s my friend. Just pull over there.¡± Zion slowed the car, and Anneliese turned to Jonathan. ¡°Thanks so much for today, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Jonathan finally opened his eyes and gave her a dignified nod. ¡°Meatloaf and I got along well.¡± Trantion: If it weren¡¯t for the dog, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered letting her in his car. So that¡¯s what it was. Anneliese felt a wave of relief and silently scolded herself. Anneliese, you narcissist. Get a grip. ¡°You clearly love dogs, Mr. Fullbuster. You must be a good guy. Well, goodbye.¡± She opened the door and got out, dragging Meatloaf away from where it was still trying to snuggle up to Jonathan¡¯s foot. Zion couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter at her ¡°good guy¡± remark. Jonathan turned to him, gaze cool and sharp. Zion fought back the urge tough harder. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I also think you¡¯re a great boss. And definitely a good guy.¡± A good guy¡­ with the face of a cold, domineering CEO out of a soap opera. Jonathan stared at his overly bold assistant and nodded. ¡°Take your calcium supplements. Don¡¯t let your joints go bad while you¡¯re still young.¡± Zion had no words. God knows, I meant that as a ! ¡°What happened to you? You look like you¡¯ve been through hell. And who was that who dropped you off? I swear I saw a man!¡± Jessica helped the limping Anneliese while holding onto Meatloaf, her concerned expression turning gossipy as her eyes chased the departing Bentley. Anneliese gave her a quick pinch. ¡°Stop staring. He¡¯s got a daughter old enough to have opinions. Just some stranger I happened to meet¨Ckind enough to give me a lift.¡± 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 22 A Good Person (With an Icy Face) 88 +10 Free Coins The moment she heard about the daughter, Jessica immediately lost all interest in the juicy possibilities. She had been fantasizing about some jaw¨Cdropping hunk¨Csomeone way better than Sh*tShaw -who¡¯d sweep Annie off her feet andunch her into her own happily¨Cever¨Cafter. Back at the apartment, the two women and one dog settled in as Anneliese gave Jessica a quick rundown of everything that had happened that night. ¡°That witch Melody Zwick! If you hadn¡¯t helped their family out back then, they¡¯d be living on the streets by now! And that d*mn Lenora¨Cwhy the hell did you even bother with her? Let her run off with that thug and pop out seven or eight kids. She¡¯d love that! A whole family of ungrateful leeches!¡± Lenora had actually been close with Anneliese when they were younger. Back in high school, Lenora had dated an older guy from outside the school, and Anneliese discovered he was nothing but a thug with a string of exes¨Ceach one had gotten pregnant and had abortions for him. She¡¯d told Zacharias, and he¡¯d locked Lenora in the house for days until she agreed to break up. Since then, Lenora had hated Anneliese, and for the past couple of years, she¡¯d done everything she could to make her life hell. Jessica was so mad that she started shaking. And right then, Zacharias had the gall to call her phone. ¡°Don¡¯t answer. I already blocked him,¡± Anneliese said coldly. Jessica hung up, but Zacharias just kept calling again. And again. Relentless. Created 23 Chapter 23 Wash Him Away Chapter 23 Wash Him Away Just then, a car horn red downstairs, and Anneliese had a bad feeling. 88 +10 Free Coins Jessica hurried to the window and peeked out, then immediately cursed. ¡°He actually had the nerve to show up!¡± With that, she rolled up her sleeves and, without a second thought, grabbed a four¨Cpound dumbbell off the floor and stormed toward the door. Afraid she might actually go through with it, Anneliese rushed over to stop her. ¡°Don¡¯t¨Cwe¡¯re living in awful society. If he gets hurt, he deserves it, but if something happens to you, I¡¯ll be the one heartbroken.¡± Jessica hesitated, then put the dumbbell down. But instead of calming down, she spun on her heel and dashed into the kitchen. Anneliese thought she was going for a cleaver and instinctively pressed a hand to her forehead ¡ªbut to her surprise, Jessica came charging back out just a secondter, heading straight for the window. They lived on the third floor, and Riverview Court was an old neighborhood with low buildings. As soon as the window flew open, Zacharias, who had been leaning casually against his Maybach, immediately looked up. He took a few steps forward and lifted his chin, eyes narrowing as he scanned the window for a glimpse of Anneliese¡¯s silhouette. And that was when Jessica, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, tipped an entire basin of water over the edge. Ssh! Zacharias reacted fast, jerking sideways to dodge, but he still got the hem of his trousers soaked. Even in the dark, his expression was thunderous. He red upward, but Jessica didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°How do you like the foot bath, Mr. Shaw? Want another taste before you leave?¡± Just the thought of Sh*tShaw siding with his witch of a mother and his bratty sister, bullying Annie¨Cand even trying to put poor Meatloaf down¨Cmade Jessica want to put him down too. ¡°Jessica!¡± Zacharias barked, eyes sharp and cutting through the darkness. ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯te after you!¡± Chapter 23 Wash Him Away Jessica rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯d love to see you try!¡± ? +10 Free Coins With a bang, she mmed the window shut, then yanked the curtains closed in one dramatic motion. Of course, Zacharias wasn¡¯t going to back off that easily. Jessica¡¯s phone started ringing nonstop, and Zacharias somehow managed to get through the downstairs security and made it up to their floor. The knocking started¨Cloud, persistent, impossible to ignore. Jessica shoved Anneliese toward the back. ¡°Go lie down. Let me handle that jack*ss.¡± But Anneliese pulled her back. ¡°Forget it. He won¡¯t stop until he sees me.¡± At that, she calmed the whimpering Meatloaf, locked it in the bedroom, and only then opened the front door. Her gaze was calm, restrained, and steady as she looked at Zacharias. Zacharias locked eyes with her, his sharp features tight with controlled anger. ¡°Come home with me.¡± He reached for her, but Anneliese dodged him, and Jessica immediately smacked his arm with a clothes hanger. ¡°Mr. Shaw, what the hell do you want Annie for? To take her back and keep torturing her with your lovely little family?¡± ¡°This is none of your business!¡± Zacharias snatched the hanger out of her hand and snapped it clean in half, the wooden pieces ttering to the floor. Seeing that only made Jessica more furious. ¡°What, you gonna hit me now? Just like your dad, who¡¯s in prison?¡± That jab hit him hard. Zacharias¡® face twisted with rage. ¡°Shut up!¡± The two looked like they were seconds away from throwing punches, so Anneliese stepped in, pulling Jessica behind her. ¡°I¡¯m not going back with you. You can leave now.¡± Zacharias stared at her coldly. His patience had clearly run out. ¡°Anneliese! My mom and my sister are both seriously hurt, and you put a hole in my head. What more do you want? I¡¯m giving you a chance to walk away with some dignity. Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± ¡°And what if I don¡¯t take it?¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t bothering back. Ever again.¡± His voice was ice. He waited¨Cwaited for her to panic, to cry, to beg him for forgiveness. That was how it always Chapter 23 Wash Him Away Follow current nov?ls on FindN()vel 88 +10 Free Coins went. Every time they fought, she was the first to fold, to say sorry, to cling to him. So, this time couldn¡¯t be any different. She was just acting out because he hadn¡¯t given her enough attentiontely. It was a tantrum, a cry for him to notice her again. If she softened up, he might even humor her. But Anneliese¡¯s face remained calm. In fact, she merely nodded. ¡°Got it. If that¡¯s all you came to say, then you can leave.¡± Zacharias¡® eyes widened in shock. For a split second, he froze. She had changed. She didn¡¯t seem to care about him anymore. But that wasn¡¯t possible. She had loved him so much. Every time they fought before, wasn¡¯t she always the first to give in, to apologize, to beg for forgiveness? This time couldn¡¯t be any different. She was just acting out because he¡¯d been ignoring hertely. This was all to get his attention¨Cshe wanted him to coax her. ¡°Anneliese, the more you act like this, the more tired of you I get. You don¡¯t even realize how exhausting you are. ¡°I¡¯m telling you now¨Cthis little push¨Cpull game of yours? I¡¯m not buying it. Come home. Apologize at the hospital tomorrow. Take the dog back to the pet store, and promise never to bring it home again. Do that, and we¡¯ll be done with this.¡± Created 24 Chapter 24 Burn It Into Ice Chapter 24 Burn It Into Ice +10 Free Coins Anneliese stared at Zacharias, watching him monologue like he had everything figured out. It was almostughable. What had she done to make him so sure of himself? How low had she stooped, how hard had she clung to him in the past, for Zacharias to believe she could never leave him? Cheating men were all the same¨Carrogant, delusional, convinced the world revolved around them. Zacharias was no exception. Anneliese had no desire to argue with him anymore. She was beyond exhausted. Her head hurt, her knee ached, and her whole body was sore. She gave a faint nod. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital tomorrow. But tonight, I¡¯m staying here.¡± Zacharias, seeing her finally give in, loosened his hands¨Cthe same ones he¡¯d been clenching without even realizing it. He still wasn¡¯t thrilled about her refusal to go home, but he was willing to take this as a win, topromise. ¡°I won¡¯t being to get you tomorrow,¡± His voice dropped low. ¡°Or ever again. Once you¡¯ve thought things through,e home on your own.¡± And with that, he left¨Cno goodbye, no concern for her well¨Cbeing, not even a nce back. Jessica was furious. ¡°You¡¯re really going to the hospital tomorrow to apologize? For what?! Annie,e on¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually thinking of going back to him.¡± Honestly, it wouldn¡¯t have surprised her. After all, Zacharias had saved Anneliese from drowning when they were kids. Ever since she was eight or nine, Anneliese had been trailing behind him like a little shadow. She¡¯d poured years into this man, quietly sacrificing, suffering in silence. The sunk cost was massive. But rational decisions weren¡¯t supposed to be based on the past. They should be about the future. Jessica was just about ready to shake some sense into her when Anneliese blinked. ¡°Did I say I was going to apologize?¡± A smile crept onto her lips. ¡°Jess, I¡¯m going to need you with me tomorrow. If all goes well, I should be able to file for divorce at City Hall. Might as well congratte me in advance.¡± She walked over to the window and snapped a photo of Zacharias¡® car, which was still parked downstairs. Then she opened WhatsApp and sent it to Coral. Chapter 24 Burn It Into Ice +10 Free Coins Hopefully, Coral wouldn¡¯t let her down that night and keep Zacharias upied just long enough. The night was silent. Anneliesey in bed, eyes fixed on her phone. The harsh glow of the screen stung her eyes, but not as much as the image on it¨Cthe live feed from the security camera in the living room of Madison Vi. Jonathany back on the couch. And the woman? She was dressed in a skimpy maid outfit. Disgusting. Infuriating. Absurd. Heartbreaking. Still, Anneliese didn¡¯t look away. She kept watching. She had to. She had to let the truth scald her deep enough that no warmth could ever grow back. ¡°What are you doing awake? What¡¯re you looking at¡­¡± Next to her, Jessica stirred from sleep. Sensing the light, she cracked an eye open and nced at the screen. The next second, she jolted upright, horrified. ¡°Annie, don¡¯t watch that! It¡¯s gonna scar your eyeballs!¡± There was nothing crueler than watching one¡¯s own husband cheat on one¨Cseeing it, in full, in real time, while he got handsy with another woman. But Anneliese simply raised her hand, brushing Jessica away. Her face was numb, her voice eerily calm. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I watch? This is your masterpiece, Jess¨Cyour hard¨Cwon intel. Solid proof.¡± The photos they¡¯d taken earlier wouldn¡¯t hold up as evidence in court. But Madison Vi? That was marital property. And she had every right to install cameras in her own house. That the footage just so happened to catch her husband cheating? That was legally admissible evidence. Anneliese¡¯s eyes were red as she stared at the screen. The man grabbed the woman by the hair, flipped her onto the couch, and pinned her down. Fresh chapters posted on F¦Énd£Îovel 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 24 Burn It Into Ice ¡°Ah!¡± the woman moaned. ¡°No. Zach¨Cdon¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You little sl*t. You say no, but your body says yes.¡± 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She scrambled out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. And there, she vomited¨Cwatching herself unravel. For just a second, she felt it. Thest remnants of love she had for Zacharias¨Ceverything she¡¯d held on to¨Cflushed down the toilet with a gurgling rush of water. Expressionless, she returned to bed, saving and backing up the surveince footage to the cloud while Jessica watched her with growing worry. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Get some sleep.¡± She even smiled, reached out, and gently brushed Jessica¡¯s hair back before closing her eyes. But Jessica leaned over and pulled her into a hug. It had only been a few days since the lies began unraveling. From the moment she discovered the betrayal to now, Jessica had seen everything¨Chow Anneliese had gotten to this point. Just a few days. That¡¯s all it took for her to strangle her own heart. She looked calm and numb on the outside, but inside she was a ruin. Jessica¡¯s tears fell one after another, silently soaking into the crook of Anneliese¡¯s neck. Annie, if you¡¯re too broken to cry, then let me cry for you. Let my tears soak into your cracked heart. Don¡¯t let it freeze over . Let it feel warmth again. Let it bloom once more, brilliantly. Because Zacharias¨Che doesn¡¯t deserve a single piece of you. 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Created 25 Chapter 25 Wake¨CUp Call Chapter 25 Wake¨CUp Call 88 +10 Free Coins Anneliese gently patted Jessica¡¯s shoulder. Truthfully, she felt fine. Maybe her heart had already died the day she overheard that conversation outside the office. Falling in love took time, but falling out of love could happen in an instant. All the pain that followed¨Cthe struggling, the self¨Cdoubt, the helpless iling, the numbness- none of it had anything to do with that man anymore. It was just a lingering grief for her old self. For the girl who had once been stupid enough to love him. She just needed time now. Time to heal. And she would. The next morning, Anneliese was jolted awake by a shrill ringtone. Still half¨Casleep, she answered, only to be met with a furious scream in her ear. ¡°Anneliese! You¡¯vepletely lost your mind! Letting your dog bite your mother¨Cinw and sister¨Cinw? Do you have any decency or upbringing at all? Do you know Mrs. Shaw is already demanding Zacharias to divorce you?! ¡°I¡¯m telling you now, the White family has no ce for a daughter with such a terrible reputation! If Zacharias kicks you out of the Shaw family, don¡¯t even think about setting foot in our house again! ¡°I have no daughter like you!¡± came Timothy¡¯sment. Anneliese rubbed her dry, tired eyes, then looked at the screen. Ah. Trash No. 2. She blinked, trying to figure out how the Whites caught wind of the incident so quickly. Had Zacharias gone tattling on her already? But before she could wonder further, the voice on the other end switched to Mnie, ¡°Don¡¯t even try to make excuses! Mrs. Shaw and Lenora video¨Ccalled your sister. Selina saw their injuries! You¡¯ve gone too far! The moment she heard they wanted Zacharias to divorce you, she told us right away. ¡°She¡¯s only doing it for your own good. I¡¯m telling you, get to the hospital right now¨Cbeg, kneel, and apologize, do whatever it takes to get forgiveness. If you wait any longer, it¡¯ll be too Anneliese cleared her throat. ¡°Wow. She¡¯s such a dedicated whistleblower, huh? Her kindness 11:33 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 25 Wake¨CUp Call could flood the Pacific.¡± : 88 +10 Free Coins Her voice was still rough and sleepy, tinged with early¨Cmorning grogginess. But to the Whites, thatziness sounded like yet another offense. Perseus mmed his cutlery on the table. ¡°Anneliese ude! Is that how you speak to your elders?! I know you¡¯re at Riverview Court. I¡¯m sending someone to pick you up and take you straight to the hospital!¡± Anneliese knew they were fully capable of following through with that threat. Not that it mattered¨Cshe was already nning to go anyway. She held the phone away from her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll go on my own,¡± she said tly, then hung up. The dining room went silent. Perseus mmed the phone onto the table. ¡°She actually hung up on me!¡± Mnie clutched her chest. ¡°She¡¯s such a barbarian! That¡¯s really what you get for not raising your child yourself¨Cno manners at all!¡± Christopher tried tofort his mother. ¡°Mom, we spoiled her rotten. That¡¯s the problem. We gave her an inch and she took the whole d*mn mile.¡± Timothy, the head of the family, finally spoke, voice heavy. ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t mention that disgrace again. She¡¯s ruining our appetite. Selina, sweetheart, you must be starving. Come, let¡¯s eat.¡± On therge screen at the end of the table, Selina sat in front of what looked like a dinner spread. It was already past 7 p.m. where she was. She¡¯d eaten long ago. Everything on the table was just for show. As soon as she took a bite of anything, she turned slightly away from the camera and discreetly spat it into the trash. ?????? ???? find(?)ovel All part of the image she was crafting¨Cthe devoted, obedient daughter who was willing to dy her dinner just to join the family for breakfast. She bit into a sandwich and sighed delicately, ¡°Maybe I overstepped. But I¡¯m sure Anne wouldn¡¯t have let the dog bite unless she had a reason. We shouldn¡¯t just take Mrs. Shaw and Lenora¡¯s word for it¡­¡± ¡°Oh,e on, Selina, you don¡¯t have to defend her,¡± Christopher cut in. ¡°Enough bad vibes. Let¡¯s just eat, okay?¡± 11:34 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 25 Wake¨CUp Call Selina flipped her hair. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± : 88 +10 Free Coins Perseus suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, any progress in the love department? My sister¡¯s got it all -looks, brains, and now she¡¯s gone all the way to Age. That guy can¡¯t possibly stay indifferent.¡± Everyone turned to Selina with interest. She covered her face coyly. ¡°He¡¯s really busy, you know. And I didn¡¯t go there just for him¡ªI went to study, to build a future for myself. Honestly, I¡¯m probably busier than he is. We barely even see each other. He¡¯s not some ky yboy either. He¡¯s got self¨Crespect. ¡°I¡¯m not like Anne. I¡¯m looking for something deeper. I want a soul connection, not just some surface¨Clevel fling. But don¡¯t worry. I believe in myself. Oh, and guess what¨Che¡¯s back in the country. He¡¯s taking full control of the family business now.¡± Created 26 Chapter 26 The Return Chapter 26 The Return 88 +10 Free Coins ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ve finished my studies. After I celebrate my birthday with my friends this year, I¡¯lle home for good. I¡¯ll figure out both love and career¨Cdon¡¯t worry!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The moment she said she wasing back, the whole family lit up with excitement. They encouraged her to go after love bravely, promising they¡¯d always have her back. Completely forgotten was the time when Zacharias proposed, and Anneliese wanted to be with him. Back then, this very same family had pointed fingers at her, calling her shameless and saying she had no self¨Crespect. Anneliese arrived at the hospital with a sharp¨Clooking attorney by her side. She had just stepped out of the car and was heading toward the inpatient wing when a familiar Bentley pulled up not far ahead. Jonathan stepped out first, followed by Zion and two other young men. Anneliese raised a hand to wave, but before she could call out, they were already briskly walking away. Jonathan led the group with a stern face, his long strides confident and decisive. He asionally tilted his head to listen to the man beside him, his brows furrowed in concern. This text is hosted at f?ndnovel Did something happen? ¡°Get out! Who said you coulde in?¡± Crash! The moment Anneliese entered the hospital room, Melody hurled everything from the table at her, screaming in rage. Lenora jumped down from the neighboring bed and pointed at Anneliese. ¡®Didn¡¯t you hear my mom? Get out! Stand in the hallway and face the wall until she cools off! You¡¯ll be allowed back in when she says so!¡± Mother and daughter were identical in their sharpness and superiority¨Csmug, arrogant, and mean. Anneliese sidestepped the flying objects, calmly dusted off her skirt, though there was no real dust, then slowly lifted her gaze toward Lenora. 11:34 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 26 The Return ¡°Which rabid dog won¡¯t stop barking?¡± ¡°Who are you calling a dog?¡± 88 +10 Free Coins ¡°Whoever answered,¡± Anneliese replied with a faint smile while looking at her. Lenora¡¯s reaction came half a second toote, her face contorting with fury. The dog bite on her leg was still throbbing¨Cdoctors said it might leave a scar¡ªandst night, the pain kept her from sleeping. The p mark Anneliese had left on her face now looked even more dramatic under the daylight. She thought Anneliese hade to apologize. But instead, Anneliese had walked in and called her a dog. How dare she? ¡°Anneliese! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lenora lunged at her, hand raised to scratch her face. Anneliese caught her swinging hand in one swift motion. At five¨Cfoot¨Csix, she stood a good half a head taller than Lenora. Today, she¡¯d dressed with intention¡ªsleek ck heels, a long trench coat, full makeup, and sharply drawn eyeliner. Her already striking features, bold and expressive, now carried an almost dangerous beauty¡ª intense,manding, impossible to look away from. Standing in front of Lenora, Anneliese radiated power. Her gaze was sharp and cold¡ªchilling, almost ghostly. To Lenora, she looked like a beautiful demon who hade to take her soul. All the fight drained out of Lenora in an instant. She iled and shrieked, ¡°Mom! She¡¯s gonna kill me! Tell my brother to dump her! I don¡¯t want her as my sister¨Cinw!¡± Melody mmed the nightstand and barked at the nurse and housekeeper. ¡°What are you just standing there for? Help Lenora!¡± The nurse and the housekeeper, Joanna, hurried toward Anneliese, but she pushed Lenora aside. Lenora stumbled back into Joanna, hitting her injured leg and letting out a sharp scream, followed by a string of angry curses. Anneliese walked over to the couch, sat down, and crossed her legs. She nced at Melody and instructed tly, ¡°Have the nurse and Joanna step out. I need to speak with you alone.¡± 11:34 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 26 The Return 88 +10 Free Coins Melody thought Anneliese was trying to act all tough, but in the end, wasn¡¯t she just here to bow her head and beg for forgiveness? Why else would she ask the nurse and the housekeeper to leave? Clearly, she was embarrassed and didn¡¯t want to lose her dignity. Melody let out a snort through her nose and gave Anneliese a look of pure disdain. Lenora was thinking the exact same thing. She let out a mockingugh and said, ¡°Why make them leave? Anneliese, I want you to apologize in front of them. I want it recorded too¨Ceveryst word!¡± She turned, sat down on the hospital bed, and straightened her spine, her chin lifted like royalty. One¡¯d never guess that just a few years ago, she was a in, broke girl who couldn¡¯t even afford her tuition¨Cchasing after Anneliese, begging for a new pair of shoes. Anneliese stared at her in silence, unblinking. Lenora frowned under the weight of that gaze¡ª she hated it. It felt like being stripped bare. Flushed with embarrassment and rage, sheshed out, kicking Joanna in the leg. ¡°What are you waiting for? Start recording! Get her face in the frame¡ªI want tears, snot, and her pping herself before I¡¯m satisfied!¡± Joanna winced but took out her phone. Anneliese lifted her hand and pointed beside her. ¡°I brought awyer with me. Are you sure you want to record a humiliating video like that in front of legal counsel?¡± Created 27 Chapter 27 A Shocking Turn Chapter 27 A Shocking Turn Lenora and Melody turned to look, only to realize Anneliese hadn¡¯te alone. +10 Free Coins Standing beside her was a sharply dressed young man in a gray suit, his hair neatly styled, thin gold¨Crimmed sses perched on his nose. He held a leather briefcase in one hand, exuding the polished air of a corporate attorney. Melody¡¯s brows knit together. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? Why¡¯d you bring awyer?¡± Lenora let out a coldugh. ¡°Seriously, Anneliese? Drop the act. Even though you live off my brother¡¯s money. So what¨Che¡¯s the one paying for your fancywyer, too, right? Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re the only one with legal counsel, like me and my mom don¡¯t have our own. What a joke.¡± She tugged at Melody¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mom, call Zach. Get uderias Tech¡¯s legal team over here now. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s really scared.¡± Melody patted her daughter¡¯s hand, trying to calm her down. ¡°Rx. She probably brought thewyer to draft some kind of formal apology or written guarantee. Maybe even offer financialpensation. You know how she loves putting on a show for your brother.¡± Lenora considered this and perked up, her interest clearly piqued. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get started, then. I hope she makes a public apology¡ªwith herwyer as a witness.¡± Anneliese gave a slight nod, clearly amused. ¡°Have Joanna and the nurse step out. I can¡¯t begin otherwise.¡± Melody didn¡¯t argue this time. With a sharp nce from her, Joanna and the nurse quickly exited the room. But instead of what they were expecting, Anneliese took a stack of papers from herwyer, walked over to the bedside, and handed them to Melody. What she said next dropped like a bomb, ¡°I¡¯m divorcing your son. Zacharias and I have both signed the divorce agreement. Now, I need you, as his immediate family, to apany me to City Hall and file the paperwork.¡± Melody¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She quickly flipped to thest page of the divorce papers¨Cand sure enough, there were Anneliese¡¯s and Zacharias¡® signatures. She understood thenguage in the agreement just fine. And Anneliese¡¯s words were crystal 11:34 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 27 A Shocking Turn clear. But somehow, it didn¡¯t make any sense. Anneliese wanted a divorce? She actually wanted a divorce? That couldn¡¯t be right. 88 +10 Free Coins And Zacharias? Just yesterday, when Melody had brought up the idea of divorcing Anneliese, he was furious andpletely against it. How could he have changed his mind overnight and even signed the papers? ¡°Mom, let me see!¡± Lenora snatched the agreement and studied it closely, her eyes practically popping out of her head. ¡°Oh, my God. Mom, this really is Zach¡¯s signature. No doubt about it. He finally came to his senses! He¡¯s done with Anneliese¨Cthat scheming, two¨Cfaced woman with a reputation in ruins! This is the best news ever!¡± Lenora broke into an excitedugh. With Anneliese out of the picture, she could finally bring Selina in as her new sister¨Cinw. But Melody wasn¡¯t so quick to celebrate. She¡¯d seen more in life than Lenora and didn¡¯t take things at face value. Taking the papers back, she narrowed her eyes at Anneliese. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re not here to apologize?¡± ¡°Clearly not.¡± ¡°Then, what is this, Anneliese? If the divorce is already signed, you could¡¯ve just taken Zach and filed it yourselves. Whye here? You expecting me to talk him into it? You¡­.¡± Anneliese cut her off before she could spin any more wild theories. ¡°Yes, the signature is real. But Zacharias didn¡¯t know what he was signing. He doesn¡¯t actually agree to the divorce. That¡¯s why I need you, as his mother, to act as his representative and file the paperwork with me at City Hall.¡± Latest content published on FindN0vel Under Oceaton¡¯sw, if one party was unavable or unwilling to submit a divorce filing in person, a direct rtive or legal representative could do it on their behalf. However, after the mandatory cooling¨Coff period, both parties must appear in person to receive the final divorce certificate. 11:34 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 27 A Shocking Turn 88 +10 Free Coins That was exactly why Anneliese hade to see Melody today¨Cshe needed her cooperation to bypass Zacharias, at least for now. Melody felt like her brain was being twisted in knots. But one thing was clear: Zacharias didn¡¯t want the divorce. Anneliese did. How was that even possible? The agreement in her hands was clear as day. And just yesterday, Zacharias had been adamantly opposed to the idea. As his mother, Melody knew her son well¨Che truly didn¡¯t want to end things. But Anneliese? She didn¡¯t look like she was ying games either. She was serious. When Melody realized that, her expression soured. Everything she¡¯d just said now felt like a p in her own face, ringing in her ears. Then, she noticed the financial terms¨Cthe 500 million in cash Anneliese was entitled to in the settlement. Her jaw clenched. ¡°You want to walk away with half a billion? Are you out of your mind? And you got him to sign this without even knowing? Anneliese, this is fraud. No¨Cthis is robbery. I¡¯m calling the police.¡± Created 28 Chapter 28 The Price of Walking Away Chapter 28 The Price of Walking Away +10 Free Coins Lenora leaned in and, upon seeing the 500 million settlement demand, let out a shortugh. For original chapters go to Arms crossed, she sneered, ¡°Well, I thought you finally grew a spine and stopped clinging to Zach like a leech. Turns out you¡¯re just here for the money. Let me guess, you forged the signature, too? ¡°Seriously, have you looked in the mirror? Do you really think you¡¯re worth half a billion? You you think you were married to Zach for two years and didn¡¯t even pop out a kid. What makes deserve a dime? You should be walking away with nothing.¡± Melody nodded in agreement. ¡°Lenora¡¯s right. Unless you walk away with absolutely nothing, there¡¯s nothing to talk about. Quit putting on a show¨Cit¡¯s making me sick.¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t respond to their jabs. Calm andposed, she began toy out her case with perfect rity. ¡°First of all, Zacharias and I are legally married. We never signed a prenuptial agreement. I was by his side when he built uderias Tech, which, under thew, makes it marital property. ¡°Second, I have undeniable proof that Zacharias cheated. He¡¯s clearly the one at fault in this marriage.¡± Both Lenora and Melody¡¯s expressions darkened when they heard that. It was obvious they already knew about Zacharias keeping a mistress. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Anneliese¡¯s lips as she reached for a stack of photos and videos from her attorney and tossed them onto Melody¡¯sp. ¡°Take a good look.¡± She stepped aside and shot herwyer a nce. He adjusted his sses and stepped forward with calm, professional poise. ¡°Ms. Zwick, here¡¯s concrete evidence of your son Zacharias¡® affair with a woman named Coral. This file includes recent bank statements showing that he has spent over ten million on her. He even bought her brother and his wife a vacation home. All of these expenditures were made using marital funds. ¡°If my client proceeds with awsuit and seeks divorce on grounds of infidelity, Zacharias will be required to make significant concessions in the division of assets. ¡°Now, while I¡¯m not saying he¡¯ll be left penniless, the court is likely to order a 50/50 split. 11:44 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 28 The Price of Walking Away 873 +10 Free Coins ¡°ording to my research, uderias Tech¡¯s valuation has multiplied by more than two or three hundred times in the past two years. Your son¡¯s current worth is easily over ten billion. Even at half, my client stands to receive five billion.¡± Melody¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. She looked down at the photos, the bank records, and the explicit videos that had just started ying¨Cand was visibly shaken. Thewyer¡¯s tone left no room for doubt, and Melody suddenly looked like she might faint. ¡°T¨CThis isn¡¯t my son. You faked these! You¡¯re trying to trick me!¡± ¡°You know very well whether Zacharias cheated and whether this evidence is real. ¡°I¡¯m hurt, and I can¡¯t face him anymore. I just want to cut ties clean and walk away with what I¡¯m owed. ¡°If you think I don¡¯t deserve even 500 million, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll stay married to Zach and wait it out. uderias Tech is only going up. Give it two or three more years, and I¡¯ll be walking away with over ten billion. I¡¯m in no rush. ¡°Oh, and by the way¨CI find Zach disgusting now. So, if you were still hoping for a grandkid, you can forget it. I¡¯m not having a child with that man.¡± Her voice was clear and almost musical. She brushed away a fake tear from the corner of her eye, feigning sorrow and heartbreak, then met Melody¡¯s shifting gaze and said, ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say. It¡¯s your choice now¨Chave your son quietly get divorced and let me leave, or keep dragging this out until we all suffer. I¡¯ll give you some time to think. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, go ahead and consult another attorney. ¡°But don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¨Cthis needs to be handled before Zacharias finds out. If he does, well, I guess I¡¯ll have no choice but to remain your daughter¨Cinw. Just don¡¯t expect me to keep pretending to y nice. Your son lost his charm a long time ago.¡± Anneliese finished speaking and gave Melody a quick wink. She straightened her back, ran her fingers through her long curls, pulled out a pair of sunsses from her bag, and walked away without a hint of hesitation or regret. Behind her, thewyer gave the stunned Melody and Lenora a polite nod and handed them his card. ¡°I represent Ms. ude. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. But it¡¯d be best if made a decision by the end of the day.¡± you 11:44 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 28 The Price of Walking Away +10 Free Coins As Anneliese stepped out of the hospital room, she could hear Lenora panicking behind her. ¡°Mom! Mom, your eyes are rolling back¨Cbreathe! Deep breaths!¡± Then came the sound of heavy breathing and the tter of something crashing to the floor. Anneliese didn¡¯t turn back. She entered the elevator with herwyer, who had stood stiff as a board the entire time¨Cuntil the doors closed. Then, he broke into a goofy grin. ¡°So¡­ how was I? Pretty professional, right?¡± Created 29 Chapter 29 Countdown in the Sky Chapter 29 Countdown in the Sky 5870 +10 Free Coins His name was Miles Warren. He wasn¡¯t really awyer¨Che was one of Jessica¡¯s business partners. He¡¯d even pretended to be awork technician that day. Anneliese gave him a thumbs¨Cup. Under her dazzling gaze, Miles¡® ears turned a little racd. He coughed lightly. ¡°You think she¡¯ll actually agree to this?¡± Anneliese¡¯s lips curved faintly, her tone certain. ¡°She will.¡± Melody wasn¡¯t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. After getting a proper scare, she was probably panicking over the thought of her son walking away with nothing or having half his assets taken. Moreover, Melody had never liked her as a daughter¨Cinw. She always believed her son deserved someone better. A real high¨Csociety heiress. The kind worth billions. So, giving Anneliese 500 million? Melody could live with that. Zacharias had betrayed her¨CAnneliese was determined to let him taste what it felt like to be stabbed in the back by someone he trusted most. Seeing how confident she was, Miles raised his brows in amusement. ¡°Well then, cheers to your freedom, Annie.¡± Anneliese¡¯s smile widened. She raised her hand and gave him a high¨Cfive. Just then, the elevator doors opened onto the first floor. As they stepped out, they almost bumped into Jonathan and arge group trailing behind him. This time, it wasn¡¯t just two people following him¨Cthere were several more. Anneliese immediately noticed one man carrying a Nexa drone, another holding aptop, and two doctors in white coats. One of the doctors was carrying a blood transport cooler. The group moved quickly, tension thick in the air. People in the lobby instinctively stepped aside to let them through. Anneliese also moved to one side, her eyes briefly locking with Jonathan¡¯s. His sharp, cool gaze slid past her without pause as he entered the elevator, the others close 11:44 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 29 Countdown in the Sky behind. ¡°What¡¯s going on? That guy up front gives off serious boss energy¡­ Annie?¡± Miles called her back to reality. She blinked and followed him outside. 6873 +10 Free Coins They were almost to the parking lot when a wave of reporters came running in the opposite direction, heading toward the hospital¡¯s inpatient wing. ¡°Can we confirm the drone is going tounch from the inpatient wing?¡± ¡°Get the livestream ready¨Cwe¡¯re already trending. We need to break this story first!¡± ¡°Has anyone been assigned to interview Mr. Fullbuster yet?¡± Anneliese stopped in her tracks and turned toward the inpatient building. She pulled out her phone and opened the trending topics. ¡®AeroAir Involved in Onboard Incident.¡® ¡®Pregnant Passenger Rushed to Hospital After In¨CFlight Injury.¡® ¡®AeroAir Issues Official Statement.¡® ¡®Race Against Time: Emergency Drone Delivers Life¨CSaving Blood.¡¯ The top few trending topics all had a ¡°Breaking¡± tag next to them. It was clearly a flight incident involving AeroAir, which was short for Aerolux Airways. Aerolux Airways was a fully owned subsidiary of Fullbuster Group. Jonathan was the CEO of AeroAir. ¡°Annie?¡± Miles had already opened the car door, but noticed she hadn¡¯t caught up. He called out to her. ¡°Miles, go ahead without me. I¡¯ve got something I need to take care of.¡± Anneliese looked up. With that, she turned and ran back toward the hospital. As the elevator climbed, she quickly read through the trending topics and pieced together what had happened. A pregnant woman,te in her term, had suffered an emotional breakdown duringnding. 11:44 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 29 Countdown in the Sky When a flight attendant tried to calm her down, things turned physical. She fell, began bleeding heavily, and was rushed to the nearest hospital. 873 +10 Free Coins Theplication? She had Rh¨Cnegative blood. Her life was hanging by a thread. And this hospital was the only one in aton with a supply. A travel blogger on the same flight had captured the entire thing on video. It went viral in minutes. Aerolux Airways had responded quickly, posting an official statement on their website. They were dispatching blood via drone from this hospital and had granted the media full ess to follow the emergency rescue operation. Anneliese made it to the rooftop but was stopped at the door. The press was being held back as well, though their cameras were already rolling. She stood on tiptoe, trying to see what was going on in the center of the rooftop. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, the blood is secured and ready to go. We¡¯re clear forunch at any time. ¡°The ambnce is twenty minutes out from St. Aurora Medical Center. They¡¯ve prepped the OR. We can start the transfusion as soon as she arrives¨Cbut the bleeding¡¯s out of control. If the sma doesn¡¯t get there within thirty minutes, she won¡¯t make it.¡± Zion, phone in hand, reported directly to Jonathan. Jonathan¡¯s eyes were fixed on the nearbyptop screen. At the update, he looked up toward the drone not far away. This text is hosted at f?ndnovel ¡°When will the senior technicians from Nexa Tech get here?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been pinging them nonstop, but there¡¯s a massive jam on Pinecrest Avenue. They¡¯re stuck in traffic. I¡¯m worried¡­¡® Created 30 Chapter 30 Countdown to Crisis A light sheen of sweat had broken out on Zion¡¯s forehead. This was getting out of hand. If the blood didn¡¯t make it in time and the pregnant woman hadplications, AeroAir would be in deep trouble. Jonathan had only just returned to the country and taken his ce at AeroAir¡¯s headquarters a month ago. As the young heir, he was already under heavy scrutiny. This was not the time for anything to go wrong. ¡°The status on the helicopter?¡± Jonathan asked calmly. His voice was even, his expressionposed. There was no panic¨Cjust steady, focused control. ¡°It¡¯s already in the air, but it¡¯s still at least ten minutes out. We¡¯re not going to make it in time¡­¡± Jonathan turned toward Logan, the bespectacled engineer sitting at a nearbyputer. ¡°What¡¯s the update, Logan?¡± Logan Winters, somewhere in histe thirties or early forties, was dressed in a checkered shirt, thick sses perched on his nose¨Ca textbook tech guy. He was mapping out drone routes, but so far, none of them were working. SB b b n k h P h g h M Sweat trickled down his temples, and his hands trembled slightly over the keyboard. Being singled out by name only piled on the pressure. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯ve tried multiple routes, but none of them get us there fast enough. The biggest issue is getting from here to St. Aurora Medical Center¨Cwe¡¯d have to pass through the old housing district. The power grid over there is a mess. If we reroute around it, we lose over ten minutes. If we go through, we risk dys anyway¡­¡± ¡°I want a solution, not excuses.¡± ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll keep trying, but I¡­¡± Sensing his hesitation, Jonathan turned swiftly to Zion. ¡°Put out a citywide call¨Csee if anyone near St. Aurora Medical Center has Rh¨Cnegative blood and can donate immediately. AeroAir will offer a generous reward. ¡°Get the patient¡¯s family to the hospital right away. Prep them for the worst, but do it gently- make sure they won¡¯t have any regrets. ¡°Tell PR to prepare two contingency ns. Monitor the media closely. ¡°And send a motorcycle to Pinecrest Avenue. Try to get one of Nexa¡¯s top engineers here¨Cfast. Zion nodded and rushed to carry out the orders. Jonathan turned back to Logan, who was still working on the route. ¡°What¡¯s the farthest point we can realistically reach in time?¡± Logan wiped his face. ¡°Maybe¡­ Mistfall Avenue.¡± ¡°If the dronends there, could someone drive the rest of the way to St. Aurora Medical Center in time?¡± Logan¡¯s eyes lit up, but he soon shook his head. ¡°Unlikely. That stretch of Mistfall Avenue is under construction¡­¡± His voice trailed off, and sweat started running down into his eyes. Then, from the back of the ce, a clear female voice rose above the tension. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster? Can I take a look?¡± Jonathan turned and spotted her immediately¨CAnneliese, waving at him from the edge of the crowd. Her eyes sparkled, bright with urgency. ¡°Ms. ude? What¡¯s she doing here? Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯ll escort her out.¡± This was thest thing they needed¨Cmore chaos. Zion had just finished his call and was about to turn around when he heard Jonathan say, ¡°Bring her over.¡± Zion froze. This was bad. Jonathan was clearly letting personal feelings interfere, but Zion had always been the type to follow orders without dy¨Ceven if he didn¡¯t get it, even if he didn¡¯t agree. Discover more novels at FindN()vel So, without another word, he headed straight for Anneliese and signaled the others to let her through. She jogged up to Jonathan¡¯s side, her eyes locked on theputer. ¡°Mind if I try?¡± Logan looked up, his eyes pausing briefly on Anneliese¡¯s striking, youthful face. His tone wasced with barely disguised contempt. ¡°You know what you¡¯re doing? This isn¡¯t some game¨Cif you waste time, you-¡± ¡°Whether I do or not is beside the point,¡± Anneliese cut in smoothly. ¡°What¡¯s clear is¨Cyou don¡¯t.¡± Logan opened his mouth to argue, but Jonathan¡¯s voice sliced through the tension. ¡°Stand up. Let her work.¡± Logan couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing¨Cbut deep down, he knew she was right. At this point, he was practically hoping someone would pull him out of the fire. And since Jonathan had given the order, he stood up without hesitation. Anneliese slid into the chair, eyes sharp with focus. Her slender fingers danced across the keyboard. ¡°I¡¯ll rebuild the environment model first, then try a different route nning algorithm¡­¡± Her hands moved fast. With each keystroke, the city¡¯s streets spread across the screen like a web¨Cdense, intricate, and alive with possibility. Zion stood frozen, watching her work, then nced over at Jonathan, who stood nearby with one hand in his pocket, observing in silence. He didn¡¯t dare say a word. Holy crap! Okay, Ms. ude actually seems to know what she¡¯s doing. And that calm, focused energy? Way more professional than Logan ever was. Standing next to our CEO, she doesn¡¯t look out of ce at all. Honestly, they look good together. Wait, what am I thinking? No, no¨CMs. ude¡¯s married. This line of thought is seriously out of bounds. ¡°All set! Let¡¯s go!¡± Zion was still stuck in his moral dilemma when Anneliese¡¯s cheerful voice snapped him back to reality. 3/3 Created 31 14:14 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 31 Flying the Drone Chapter 31 Flying the Drone : 83 +10 Free Coins The moment her fingers struck the final key, the drone lifted into the sky, refrigeration box secured, cutting swiftly northward. ¡°Quick! The drone¡¯s airborne¨Cget a live feed on it!¡± A ripple of excitement spread among the gathered media. Anneliese finally raised her head, gesturing toward the monitor as she spoke to Jonathan. ¡°It still passes near the slums, but I trimmed the route to save four minutes. From this side, it only skirts the eastern edge¨Cfewer power lines, fewer hazards. If you¡¯ll trust me, I¡¯ll monitor the feed in real time, adjust the height as needed, and guide it clear.¡± Zion rubbed the bridge of his nose, hiding a smirk. Bold woman. Whether the boss approves or not, she it anyway. Confidence¡­ or reckless youth? But the next instant overturned his doubt. ¡°Good.¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly as his gaze met hers. Clear eyes, steady voice¨Cshe wasn¡¯t guessing. She had alreadymitted, sure of herself. What he didn¡¯t realize was that two lives depended on her gamble. Her confidence was not arrogance, but urgency. Still, when Jonathan epted it so simply, Anneliese felt her pulse stutter, as though she had misjudged the man. Heat crept into her cheeks under that sharp, unwavering stare. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, the press wants a few words from you and Ms. ude¡­¡± Zion cut across, breaking the charged silence. Anneliese blinked, snapped back to herself, and lowered her gaze quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll have to decline. I need to track the drone¡¯s course.¡± Interview me? I¡¯m not the one they care about, she thought. Jonathan¡¯s attention lingered on the pink glow of her ears. After a beat, he turned toward his aide. ¡°Get her an umbre.¡± 14:14 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 31 Flying the Drone Without another nce, he strode toward the waiting cameras. 83 +10 Free Coins Zion followed at a slower pace, shaking his head. Five years at his side, and I¡¯ve only just realized¡­ He can be rather hypocritical. Even while answering the media¡¯s questions, Jonathan¡¯s eyes slid toward Anneliese, still bent earnestly over her screen. Anneliese¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on the monitor as she briefed Logan. The arrogance and skepticism that had clung to his face earlier had vanished, reced with quiet respect. He nodded again and again, listening carefully. Jonathan¡¯s mouth lifted at one corner, a hint of pride softening his usual cool demeanor¨Clike a mentor watching someone prove themselves. Minutester, the sma reached St. Aurora Medical Center. Twenty¨Cfour minutes. A record. While Jonathan was quickly encircled by reporters, Anneliese slipped away toward the stairwell, but before she could disappear, the sound of firm footsteps came from behind. She turned, just in time to see him striding toward her, his gray coat catching the rooftop wind an image so cinematic it felt unreal. Zion darted ahead, pressing the elevator button and waiting by the door. Jonathan stopped at Anneliese¡¯s side. ¡°Let¡¯s go down together.¡± She gave a small nod and stepped inside. Standing confidently in the center, she lifted her head, only then noticing Zion¡¯s startled expression. She blinked. Should I have let him enter first? But I¡¯m not his employee¡­ and after today, we¡¯re even. No guilt here. Rxing, she smiled at Zion and shifted politely to one side. Zion froze under Jonathan¡¯s gaze¨Cone that wordlessly conveyed, I saw that. Jonathan entered next, followed by Zion, who pressed for the ground floor before moving subtly behind Jonathan. The elevator hummed into motion. Silence pressed between its walls. 14:14 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 31 Flying the Drone Read full story at F?ndNovel 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese scrolled through her phone, face calm. Jonathan stood tall, hands at his sides, eyes straight ahead. The weight of restraint fell on Zion. They¡¯re quiet because of me¡­ if I leave it like this, it¡¯s awkward. And so, he cleared his throat. ¡°Ms. ude, your skills are remarkable. Did you major in drones?¡± Talking about someone¡¯s passion was always a safe way to break the tension. Anneliese nced up, her eyes bright with an easy smile. ¡°I studied aircraft manufacturing at university.¡± ¡°No wonder. That¡¯s notmon¨Cand even rarer for women. Actually, our academy has an eVTOL design institute. Prof. Clocke is considered a leading figure in the field. Have you heard of him?¡± Created 32 Chapter 32 Confusing Appearances Anneliese¡¯s eyes glimmered with recognition. Prof. Clocke¡­ could it be Professor Alexander Clocke, my mentor? ¡°Are you from Astoria University?¡± she asked softly. 83 +10 Free Coins Zion¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Yeah! I did my undergrad at Astoria! Wait, how did you know? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ You studied there, too?¡± Anneliese nodded, lips curving. ¡°What a coincidence. You¡¯re my senior, then.¡± Zionughed, delighted. ¡°No way! Ms. ude, let¡¯s add each other on WhatsApp?¡± He lifted his phone, the QR code glowing on screen. Anneliese leaned closer to scan- ¡°Perfect,¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice cut through, smooth andmanding. ¡°You¡¯ve been of great help today. Let¡¯s add each other on WhatsApp, and I¡¯ll have Zion prepare a proper gift as thanks.¡± His gaze flicked sideways at his aide. Zion stiffened instantly, heat rushing to his ears. Zion realized, with a sudden jolt, that he¡¯d been so absorbed in chatting with Anneliese that he had nearly sidelined Jonathan entirely. Heat crept up his neck as he scrambled to fix the slip. ¡°Ha, yes¨Ca grand gift, of course. The trouble is, I don¡¯t know Ms. ude¡¯s preferences. Perhaps she could tell you directly, Mr. Fullbuster, and then I can follow your instructions?¡± Anneliese had just been lifting her phone to scan the code when the subject shifted without warning. She paused, lips parting in surprise, then offered Jonathan a light smile and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I only happened to be in the right ce. It wasn¡¯t anything extraordinary, and besides, I¡¯ve already caused you some inconvenience. Let¡¯s call it even.¡± Jonathan angled slightly toward her, his deep voice steady, pressing. ¡°Each matter stands on its own. Tell me what do you like?¡± ¨C Standing beneath his towering frame, nearly six¨Cfoot¨Cthree, with thatposed certainty rolling off his words, Anneliese felt the weight of it. She hesitated, brow furrowed, then admitted softly, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything just now.¡± Jonathan¡¯s mouth curved into the faintest smile. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Let me know when you do.¡± 14:14 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 32 Confusing Appearances ¡°Alright.¡± : The word slipped out before Anneliese realized something. Wait, didn¡¯t I just refuse? Jonathan didn¡¯t give her time to dwell on it. His voice was calm, almost casual. ¡°My WhatsApp is the same as my number.¡± 83 +10 Free Coins She blinked. She already had his number saved. Without thinking too much, she nodded again. ¡°I¡¯ll add youter.¡± The elevator chimed, doors sliding open to the first floor. Jonathan strode out, coat sweeping behind him. Anneliese followed, only for him to stop abruptly just two steps outside. She nearly collided with his back, stumbling to a halt. Startled, she looked up. ¡°Sir¡­¡± Her voice wavered, unsure. Jonathan turned slightly, his expression carrying a trace of helpless amusement. ¡°That kind of respect¨Cyou don¡¯t need to say it. Keep it in here.¡± He tapped his chest lightly. Anneliese looked at him in surprise. Zion slipped out of the elevator and leaned close to mutter, ¡°You¡¯re making him sound ancient. Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s not thrilled.¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t know how to respond. In the end, she scratched her head, eyes following Jonathan¡¯s tall figure as he walked ahead. If you don¡¯t like being called that, just say it inly! Why the cryptic, intimidating way of putting things? And honestly, some people just have a presence. Can you me me? Outside the hospital, Jonathan offered to arrange a ride for her, but Anneliese politely declined. 14:14 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 32 Confusing Appearances 83 +10 Free Coins The pregnant woman was still in critical condition, and AeroAir¡¯s press conference was due within the hour. Jonathan had his hands full, and the Bentley was already waiting at the curb. A chauffeur opened the door, and Jonathan slid inside without a word, leaving only a brief nce in her direction. Zion circled around the car, pausing long enough to waggle his phone at her with a grin. ¡°Ms. ude, don¡¯t forget to text. Mr. Fullbuster knows Prof. Clocke¨Che could give you an introduction.¡± He shed her a knowing look, as if to say, ¡®you get what I mean,¡® then ducked into the car. The way he said her name respectfully made Anneliese¡¯s skin prickle. But wait¡­ Jonathan actually knows my professor? She was surprised, though on second thought, perhaps it wasn¡¯t strange at all. As the CEO of AeroAir, it made sense that he would have connections everywhere. Out of curiosity, she pulled up his WhatsApp profile. His disy name was simply Jonathan Fullbuster, neat and direct. But the profile picture¨Carge dog that looked uncannily like Meatloaf¨Ccaught her off guard. So, he likes dogs?Hmm¡­ Appearances can be misleading¡­ Anneliese smiled faintly, shaking her head. She sent over a text. Unsurprisingly, with his schedule, there was no response. She didn¡¯t mind and closed the app, about to tuck her phone away¨Cwhen it suddenly buzzed again. Melody¡¯s name lit up the screen. Five minutester, inside the hospital ward, Melody still seemed half in disbelief. ¡°Are you really going to go through with a divorce?¡± Anneliese nodded, calm but firm. Original content can be found at ?ovelFind Chapter 32 Confusing Appearances 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Whether I¡¯m serious or not, why don¡¯t you bring your paperwork ande with me to City Hall? We¡¯ll find out together.¡± Chapter 33 Bumping Into Zacharias Created 33 Chapter 33 Bumping Into Zacharias : Chapter 33 Bumping Into Zacharias 83 +10 Free Coins Melody, watching how firm and calm Anneliese was, felt a wave of mixed emotions stir inside her. Lenora, however, let out a sharpugh. ¡°Finally figured it out, huh? My brother never cared about you. Two years of marriage, 500 million in hand, and now you¡¯re bowing out on your own. Honestly, you got the better deal.¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t bother rising to the bait. Instead, she turned toward Melody, her tone steady. ¡°Since you¡¯ve made up your mind, let¡¯s go now¨Cbetter to avoid unnecessaryplications.¡± The words weren¡¯t just for show. If they lingered even a little longer, Zacharias might catch wind of this, and leaving would be impossible. Melody clearly shared the same worry. She feared Anneliese might backtrack at thest moment, so both sides agreed quickly and made for the door. But the moment it swung open, Anneliese froze. A tall figure in a charcoal suit stood right outside, his hand casually in his pocket, his expression ice¨Ccold. A thin white bandage cut across his forehead, but the stark line only drew more attention to the sharp angles of his face. His eyes locked directly onto hers, unblinking. It was Zacharias. Anneliese¡¯s pulse stuttered. Panic flickered in her eyes, draining the color from her face. When did he get here? Did he hear¡­ everything? ¡°Z¨CZach, what are you doing here?¡± Behind her, Melody and Lenora stiffened as well. Melody clutched her purse so tightly her knuckles whitened. Zacharias¡® gaze swept over all three women before settling squarely on Anneliese. His brows drew together. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Anneliese caught the nervous nces between Melody and Lenora. Afraid one of them might 14:14 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 33 Bumping Into Zacharias : 83 +10 Free Coins slip, she quickly spoke up herself. ¡°I¡¯ve already apologized, and Mom and Lenora epted it. I¡¯m just taking them out for some shopping.¡± Her cold expression and pale features made it easier for Zacharias to ept her words. So, she did apologize¡­ The panic on his mother¡¯s and sister¡¯s faces suddenly made sense. They must have picked on Anneliese again and were now worried he would reprimand them. As for shopping, that wasn¡¯t unusual. His mother and Lenora often relied on Anneliese to foot the bill. And considering her recent mistake,pensating them with gifts seemed only fair. A sense of calm settled back over him, and he nodded. His lips softened into a gentle smile. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Readplete version only at F?ndNovel Anneliese¡¯s tense chest eased slightly. She had no wish to linger in his presence and tried to step past him. But before she could, Zacharias¡® hand shot out and closed firmly around her wrist. A rush of distaste rippled through her, but instead of pulling back, she forced herself to meet his gaze. His eyes, unexpectedly warm, lingered on her. ¡°Honey, I knew you¡¯d see reason¨Cfor our family¡¯s sake, to think things through. Andter, pick out something nice for yourself too. Today, it¡¯s on me.¡± Irony stirred bitterly in Anneliese¡¯s chest. If he knew what we were truly nning, would he still be speaking this sweetly? He¡¯d probably explode with rage. But knowing she wouldn¡¯t have to keep pretending much longer, a bright smile spread across her face. ¡°Really?¡± For a brief second, Zacharias lost himself in that expression. When was thest time she smiled at me like this? It felt like ages, even though it hadn¡¯t been long at all. Her smile pierced through his recent gloom, leaving him almost dazed. His eyes brimmed with tenderness as he murmured, ¡°Of course. When have I ever lied to you? Honey, you deserve it.¡± Chapter 33 Bumping Into Zacharias He leaned closer, aiming to brush a kiss across her forehead. 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese had no patience left for his performance. With a quick twist of her waist, she sidestepped the gesture, lowering her gaze while throwing him a subtle nce. ¡°Mom and Lenora are still here.¡± Mistaking her evasion for shyness, Zacharias¡® smile deepened, and he tightened his hold on her hand. ¡°Alright, then. You three go on. Shall I drive you myself?¡± Anneliese responded almost too quickly. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take them. You should focus on work.¡± They made their way downstairs together. After watching her and the others get into the car, Zacharias bent to shut the rear door, then leaned down to tap on the driver¡¯s side window. Anneliese rolled it down, and he reached in, gently smoothing back a strand of her hair. ¡°Honey, it¡¯s been too long since we had dinner together. Make something tonight¨CI¡¯ll be home early.¡± Her lips curved politely. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like your Sunday roast.¡± The words made her fingers tighten slightly on the wheel. That dish demanded hours of careful preparation¨Cevery ingredient washed, cut, and seasoned with precision. It was nothing short of aborious undertaking. Created 34 Chapter 34 City Hall Chapter 34 City Hall : 83 +10 Free Coins It was one of Zacharias¡® most beloved meals. In the past, Anneliese had poured hours into preparing it, taking pride in pleasing him. Now¡­ she could only sneer at the thought. I must have had far too much time on my hands back then. ¡°Got it!¡± she replied curtly. Zacharias only heard petnce, nothing more. He was certain she would give in eventually, just as always. Smiling indulgently, he pinched her cheek. ¡°My dear wife, you really are the best.¡± Anneliese nearly spat in his face, but the man finally released her, and she pressed down on the elerator, speeding away. Original content can be found at Find1Novel In the rearview mirror, his tall figure stood motionless, eyes fixed on the car as it pulled away. That show of tenderness no longer stirred the faintest ripple in her heart. Watch closely, Zacharias. You¡¯re not the only one who can put on a performance. I¡¯ve fooled you, too. What you gave me, I¡¯ll return in full¡ªthe sting of betrayal from the person closest to you. The paperwork was processed smoothly at City Hall. The moment the divorce certificate slid into her hands, Anneliese felt a weight lift. She was ready to leave when Melody tugged her back. ¡°Anne¡­¡± Melody sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you since you were little. It breaks my heart to see you and Zachariase to this. But you must understand, he isn¡¯t just anyone now. He¡¯s on his way to bing a titan in business. ¡°How could such a man keep a wife drowning in scandals, mocked wherever she goes? That won¡¯t do. And besides¡­ You can¡¯t bear children. My son¡¯s empire needs an heir.¡± Her words were smooth, carefully wrapped in the guise of reason, as if everything she said was for Anneliese¡¯s own good. Anneliese yanked her hand away, cutting her off. 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 34 City Hall (83) +10 Free Coins ¡°Empire? You can tell me that, but don¡¯t embarrass yourself by saying it to others. You¡¯re only here for one thing¨Cyou want me to erase that video of Zacharias cheating, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Melody¡¯s mask cracked for an instant; disdain and irritation flickered across her face. She had once liked Anneliese. But now? That stubborn pride, those clear eyes that seemed to strip away falsehood¨Cintolerable. After all, what does Anneliese have left? No parents to shield her, no family of her own. She survived solely on Zacharias¡® support. So, what right does she have to look at anyone with such defiant rity? ¡°Anneliese! How dare you talk to my mother like that! If you don¡¯t delete that video right now, I¡¯ll call my brother this instant!¡± Lenora lunged forward, trying to shove her, but Anneliese sidestepped neatly. Lenora nearly toppled over, cheeks burning with rage. Anneliese¡¯s face remained calm, long used to her sister¨Cinw¡¯s favorite threat. She thinks this still works on me. Once upon a time, it did. Not anymore. ¡°Lenora, do you really believe I¡¯m still scared of you running to Zacharias? Go ahead¨Ccall him. See if I care. And even if I erased the video now, what makes you so sure I didn¡¯t keep a backup?¡± Both Melody and Lenora froze, their expressions darkening at once. Anneliese flicked her wrist dismissively. ¡°Rx. As long as the divorce goes through without drama, I won¡¯t hang onto that video a second longer. It¡¯s disgusting to me, too.¡± Without waiting for their response, she slipped into her car and drove away. Lenora stood seething, ring at the spot where the car vanished. ¡°Mom, are we really letting her walk away with 500 million from my brother? It¡¯s 500 million! Why should she get a cent?¡± What right does Anneliese have? She¡¯s making me unbelievably angry! Melody¡¯s voice was steady. ¡°Your brother is a public figure. Even if she doesn¡¯t sue but releases proof of his affair, it¡¯s his reputation that will shatter, not hers. ¡°Let¡¯s keep her calm for now, then find a way to cut her off. That 500 million won¡¯tnd in her hands so easily.¡± 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 34 City Hall At that, Lenora¡¯s pout softened into a sly grin. She linked arms with her mother. 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. Anneliese wille crawling back one day, begging to return to him. When that happens, promise me you won¡¯t show her any mercy.¡± ¡°Of course not. I can¡¯t stand the sight of her anymore,¡± Melody replied, though her mind had already drifted elsewhere. Images shed¨Cyears ago, when Richard had beaten her until shey half¨Cdead, humiliated and incontinent. Back then, Lenora was too young to help. Anneliese had been the one to clean her up, to tend to her when no one else would. That memory festered like a hidden wound. Every time Melody faced Anneliese¡¯s unyielding gaze, it was as if the girl mocked her weakness and her carefully cultivated grandeur. But now, things had changed. Her son was sessful, she was a woman of means, and the past no longer needed to exist. Anneliese should disappear. She no longer has the right to stand before me. ¡°Mom, what if my brother actually forgives her and takes her back?¡± Created 35 Chapter 35 Contacting Selina Chapter 35 Contacting Selina 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Then let your brother keep her if he insists. A wife who doesn¡¯t know her ce is no wife at all -that¡¯s Anneliese¡¯s choice,¡± Melody said coolly. ¡°Exactly! Let¡¯s call Selina and share the good news.¡± Lenora practically bounced into the car, immediately starting a video call. She was glowing with excitement. To her, Selina¡¯s elegance and noble temperament made her the perfect match for her brother. ¡°Selina,e back soon. I¡¯ll push my brother to confess to you! I can¡¯t wait for you to be my sister¨Cinw!¡± Selina¡¯s cheeks tinged pink as she cast Lenora a reproachful look. ¡°Don¡¯t joke like that, Lenora. Anne is dear to me. I could never break up her marriage.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be breaking anything¨CAnneliese wants out herself!¡± Selina sighed softly. ¡°Anne¡¯s just upset because of past grudges with you and your She¡¯ll regret this in a few days. mother. ¡°In our circles, men straying isn¡¯t unusual. Many wives turn a blind eye, some even¡­ bnce the scales themselves. That¡¯s what keeps marriages steady.¡± She left the words hanging, then quickly excused herself and ended the call. Melody, however, sat in silence. Meanwhile in Age, Selina lowered her phone, eyes shing with disdain. As if I¡¯d ever marry Zacharias and take Anneliese¡¯s leftovers. What a ridiculous dream they¡¯re spinning She had higher ambitions, after all. The White family had been waning for years, while Zacharias¡® uderias Tech was soaring. In another year or two, his wealth might eclipse her family¡¯s. If that happened, Anneliese¡¯s status would rise with him¨Cand Selina could not stomach that. 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 35 Contacting Selina : Anneliese is beneath him. She doesn¡¯t deserve the ce she holds. 83 +10 Free Coins Opening WhatsApp, Selina typed a message to Zacharias. ¡®Zach, your mother mentioned you and Anne argued again. Anne¡¯s stubborn¨Cbe more patient with her.¡®¡± She silently counted to five. The phone lit up. Selina¡¯s lips curved into a sweet smile, though her heart chilled at the reply. ¡®She¡¯s my wife. Of course, I¡¯ll cherish her. We¡¯ve already made up.¡® So, he still wants her back. That won¡¯t do. Before she could plot further, a breaking news notification appeared. Her eyes sharpened as she tapped on it. It was a minor incident involving AeroAir, but the media coverage was enormous. Cameras captured the press conference as a tall figure in a crisp pilot¡¯s uniform entered the hall, nked by staff. Camera shes snapped wildly. The man¡¯s stride was steady, his bearingmanding. Even without a clear shot of his face, the aura alone was maic¨Cproud, assured, every inch the center of gravity in the room. The broadcast cut to footage of a drone rushing sma to the hospital. The man¡¯s silhouette reappeared briefly. Selina leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. Why does that woman next to Jonathan look¡­ like Anneliese? Before she could study it further, the frame changed. Reporters praised AeroAir¡¯s wless response. ¡°The pregnant woman and child are safe, thanks to AeroAir¡¯s swift and orderly response. Mr. Fullbuster exined that drones are now deployed at Oceaton Airport for rapid response, rescue, surveince, and supply delivery. ¡°Over the next five years, AeroAir will invest heavily in building eVTOL facilities around the hub, creating a regionalwork. Oceaton Airport is set to be a model for the world¡¯s next¨Cgeneration airports. For now, AcroAir¡¯s stock continues to climb¡­¡± Selina¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. She quickly sent a congrattory message to 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 35 Contacting Selina Jonathan¡¯s assistant and, without waiting for a reply, pressed call. 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, I¡¯ll be back in the country soon. I¡¯ve missed you¨Ccan I visit when I return?¡± Meanwhile, Anneliese also had the conference broadcast on. Seeing the safe rescue, her lips curved in quiet relief. Exiting the trending feed, she lingered briefly on a photo of Jonathan in uniform. Because front¨Cfacing shots were restricted, only a blurred side profile circted¡ªbut even that was enough to stir online frenzy. His sharp figure set thement section aze, full of strangers swooning over their ¡®new dream husband.¡® Official source is Find_Novel(. Created 36 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese shut down the Twitter app, only to discover Jonathan had already seen her message. Acknowledging him felt like the bare minimum of politeness, so she tentatively tapped out a short note of congrattions. ¡®Thank heavens that woman is alright. And your PR team handled the fallout perfectly. Well done.¡® She was moments from switching her phone offpletely when his reply shed onto the screen. ¡®We were fortunate to have you there! Shouldn¡¯t he be swamped right now? She worried her lower lip, fumbling for a response, when a second message arrived. ¡®So, have you chosen your reward?¡® ¡®Is anything truly on the table?¡® Considering his vast resources, a minor favor came to mind. She was merely testing his sincerity when his answer appeared. ¡®If it¡¯s within my power to give, don¡¯t hesitate to name it.¡¯ Anneliese paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Is it really him on the other end? After all, this promiscuous generosity felt entirely out of character for a ruthless business magnate. ¡®In that case, I¡¯ll have to give it some serious thought. I can¡¯t waste a golden opportunity like this.¡¯ ¡®Take your time. A faint smile touched her lips. Feeling the conversation needed a more natural conclusion, she ventured a different question. ¡®Mr. Fullbuster, is the dog in your profile picture Meatloaf? She looks exactly the same. ¡°You think I stole your photo?¡± 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapters first released on find(?)ovel Chapter 36 A Shopping Trip Anneliese didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. Only then did she realize how alike their profile pictures appeared. Hers showed Meatloaf¡¯s face squashed to one side by a yful hand, while Jonathan¡¯s disyed a clear frontal shot. To anyone else, it might even look like matching couple photos. She hesitated, wondering if Jonathan was subtly suggesting she change hers. ¡°The name¡¯s Azuki,¡± he said. 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected such an odd name. For a moment, she assumed perhaps his wife or daughter had chosen it. ¡®That¡¯s a cute name,¡® she replied, still a little surprised. Jonathan seemed upied and didn¡¯t reply further. Anneliese didn¡¯t dwell on it. She parked her car and headed into the mall, nning to buy daily essentials and a few outfits since she was moving out of the vi today. As she wandered through, an upscale boutique of handmade couture dresses caught her eye. She stepped inside. Since Jonathan intended to thank her separately, she couldn¡¯t just overlook the fact that she had ruined his suit and car. Buying him a suit in return felt inappropriate, so she decided instead to purchase gifts for his wife and daughter. Two couture dresses, with tailoring included, would equal the price of one of his bespoke suits -a fair bnce. She quickly chose a pale lc dress with delicate embroidery along the waistline for his wife, and a soft pink, more casual style for the little girl, somethingfortable rather than restrictive. ¡°Hello, that will be 166 thousand. How would you like to pay?¡± Anneliese handed over her card. A few momentster, the sales associate returned with a troubled look. ¡°Ma¡¯am, your card was declined. Do you have another one?¡± 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 36 A Shopping Trip Anneliese froze, caught off guard. Suddenly, a mocking voice cut through the silence. ¡°Anneliese, you really do find ways to embarrass me wherever you go.¡± 83 +10 Free Coins She turned, spotting Christopher with his arm draped around a voluptuous woman¨Cudia Brent, a recently popr actress, morous and self¨Cassured. But when udia¡¯s gazended on Anneliese¨Cbarefaced yet stunning enough to outshine her -irritation flickered. udia was already in a heated romance with Christopher, yet the subtle tension between him and Anneliese made her uneasy. Instinctively, she clutched his arm more tightly, staking her im. ¡°Chris, who is she? Strutting around like this¡ªit¡¯s pathetic. Honestly, I¡¯m embarrassed for her.¡± Christopher¡¯s gaze slid to the declined bank card, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. Zacharias might have refused his proposal outright, but clearly, he¡¯d made sure to cut Anneliese off financially. With a derisiveugh, he said, ¡°Her? Just a naive girl who doesn¡¯t know her ce. How could I possibly know someone like that?¡± In his mind, it was perfect¨Cwithout ess to money, she would have no choice but to crawl back to him sooner orter. Leaning backfortably in the boutique¡¯s lounge, Christopher allowed udia to take charge. She lifted her chin, pointing at Anneliese as if she were an intruder. ¡°She¡¯s not even a real customer. Just get her out. For privacy¡¯s sake, I don¡¯t want her standing there while I change.¡± 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 37 Causing a Scene Created 37 Chapter 37 Causing a Scene Chapter 37 Causing a Scene : 83 +10 Free Coins udia leaned into Christopher with deliberate sweetness, and he brushed her cheek lightly before turning to the sales clerk. ¡°Isn¡¯t it about time you cleared the floor?¡± Taking the cue, the clerk¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°Madam, if you¡¯re not proceeding with payment, I¡¯ll have to ask you to leave.¡± Anneliese froze. She hadn¡¯t gone shopping in days and hadn¡¯t realized Zacharias had blocked the card. It wasn¡¯t some allowance card from him either¨Cit was their joint ount, holding not only his sry and dividends but also her own earnings. Her chest tightened. She never imagined Zacharias would stoop so low as to freeze the funds they both had rights to. Herplexion paled, but her voice stayed even. ¡°One moment. I¡¯ll make a call.¡± She stepped aside and dialed the bank manager. ¡°This is a joint ount. My husband cannot freeze it without my consent, Mr. Carlton. Isn¡¯t that a breach of your duty?¡± Isaac Carlton¡¯s reply was courteous yet firm. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, while it is indeed a joint ount, Mr. Shaw is the primary holder. You are listed as an authorized user. Legally, he may suspend your ess.¡± Her hand tightened around the phone. Rage simmered. She had been deceived from the start. When she turned back, Christopher wasughing openly, relishing her humiliation. Anneliese ignored him. ¡°Forget it,¡± she said tly. The refusal to lean on him soured his smug expression. He stepped directly into her path. ¡°Why leave so quickly? If you want the dress, it¡¯s simple. Trying on clothes can be exhausting. You help my girlfriend try them on. If she likes what she sees, I¡¯ll pay for both pieces afterward.¡± udia nestled against his chest, voice syrupy as she purred, ¡°Chris, you¡¯re always so 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 37 Causing a Scene (83) +10 Free Coins considerate. I adore you. That red one¨Cgive it to her to model. I want to see how it looks.¡± Her manicured finger pointed at a crimson couture gown with a daring high slit. Suppressing a giggle behind her hand, she watched with malicious delight as the clerk carried the dress toward Anneliese. Anneliese didn¡¯t even nce at the gown. Instead, she leveled a sharp look at udia and Christopher. ¡°Are you sure she¡¯ll still want it after I¡¯ve worn it?¡± Her outfit was simple¨Cshirt tucked into wide¨Cleg trousers, t white shoes, a trench sweeping lightly as she moved. Yet her tall, elegant frame and natural poise made the casual clothes look refined. Even without considering her face, udia¨Cshort and straining against high heels¨Cwas no match. udia¡¯s cheeks med. ¡°What do you mean? Chris, I don¡¯t want her trying anything for me. Make her leave!¡± She wasn¡¯t stupid; theparison would be brutal. Christopher¡¯s jaw tightened. He hadn¡¯t meant to drive things this far. All he wanted was to push Anneliese into lowering her pride. Now that she was escting, he could easily shrug off the me. His voice chilled. ¡°Clear the ce.¡± A voice cut through the tension. ¡°Hold it right there.¡± A young man in a ck leather jacket strode in, stopping at Anneliese¡¯s side. He handed his card to the clerk. ¡°Charge Ms. ude¡¯s purchases to me.¡± Christopher¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Mr. Tate, what are you doing, interfering in the White family matters?¡± Jameson Tate¡¯s brow arched. ¡°Interfering? No. I just don¡¯t stomach bullies.¡± Christopher snapped, ¡°I¡¯m disciplining my own sister. The arrogant one here is you!¡± Jameson¡¯sugh was cold. ¡°You call it discipline? Bringing some starlet to humiliate her¨Cdoes Follow current nov?ls on 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 37 Causing a Scene that look like a brother to you?¡± : He turned to Anneliese, his tone softening. ¡°Want to pick out a few more pieces?¡± She shook her head quickly. ¡°No need. I cane back another time¡ª¡± 83 +10 Free Coins Jameson cut her off. ¡°We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we? It¡¯s just a couple of dresses. Don¡¯t tell me you think I can¡¯t afford it?¡± ¡°Mr. Tate, you must be joking.¡± The clerk soon returned with the bags. Anneliese epted them without another word, and she and Jameson walked out together. Christopher surged to his feet. ¡°Anneliese! Don¡¯t forget you¡¯re a married woman!¡± Her gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°My life is none of your concern.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only looking out for you! Don¡¯t be ungrateful! You¡¯ve already shamed yourself and now unt yourself indecently¨Cno wonder people talk!¡± Her eyes sharpened, cutting like ice. ¡°And who do you think caused all that ¡®shame¡®?¡± Selina White. Every stain on her name traced back to her¨Cand the family that enabled it. Christopher had no right to speak. Anneliese had no proof yet, but debts like these were never forgotten. Christopher faltered. The look in her eyes pierced straight through him, leaving unease prickling in his chest. Created 38 Chapter 38 Fooling Zacharias. : ?? 83 +10 Free Coins By the time Christopher gathered himself, Anneliese had already walked out with Jameson. Hisplexion darkened. Something about her felt different: she was no longer the woman he thought he understood. That unfamiliar strength unsettled him, gnawing at him with the sense he was about to lose something he couldn¡¯t name. ¡°Chris, help me pick out a gown for the red carpet¡­¡± udia tugged at his arm, but he shoved her aside, irritation shing in his eyes. ¡°Why ask me? Can¡¯t you tell what suits you? Or do you enjoy putting your ws on disy?¡± Her face burned with humiliation, tears brimming. Outside the mall, Anneliese nced at Jameson. ¡°Thanks for earlier. I¡¯ll pay you backter.¡± He chuckled. ¡°It was nothing. Are you looking down on me? Besides, I¡¯ve never gotten along with your brother¡ªit wasn¡¯t all for your sake. If you really want to thank me, buy me dinner sometime.¡± Back when she first returned to the White family, Anneliese had caught the attention of many young men. Jameson had been one of the boldest. But after her scandal, they all vanished, Jameson included. She didn¡¯t intend to invite trouble now either. With a faint smile, she replied, ¡°Since it wasn¡¯t just for me, I¡¯d rather return the money directly.¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°Still the same¨Cstubborn as ever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment. Thank you.¡± She lifted her hand in farewell and walked away with her bags. Jameson¡¯s eyes lingered on her retreating figure, lips curving into a sly grin. Once back in her car, Anneliese unblocked Zacharias¡® number and dialed. 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 38 Fooling Zacharias : He didn¡¯t pick up. She knew it was his way of punishing her. She called again. And again. By the fifth attempt, he finally answered. ¡°Honey, sorry, I was in a meeting just now and didn¡¯t hear your calls. What¡¯s wrong?¡± His voice was warm, even yful. 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s grip on her phone tightened until her knuckles turned white. ¡°Did you freeze my bank card?¡± ¡°The card? Oh¨Clook at me, I forgot. You upset me yesterday, so I acted a little rashly¡­ Honey, are you angry?¡± Her chest rose and fell, each breath heavy with suppressed fury. ¡°Zacharias, that¡¯s our joint ount. My money¡¯s in there too. What gives you the right?¡± ¡°Anne, you know that¡¯s not what I meant. Just promise you won¡¯t block me again, and I¡¯ll restore it immediately, alright? ¡°These days have been exhausting for me. I only want us to be fine again.¡± His tone was gentle, coaxing¨Cyet beneath it, she heard the unspoken threat. Anneliese swallowed hard, her voice breaking as she feigned fragility. ¡°You know how your mother and sister treat me. Today I went shopping with them, and when I couldn¡¯t pay¡­ Don¡¯t tell me this wasn¡¯t deliberate! You wanted me humiliated! ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t shop there again. Go pamper your family if you want. Unblock it or don¡¯t¡ªI don¡¯t care!¡± Her words shook with wounded indignation. Standing before the tall ss windows, Zacharias imagined her tear¨Cstained cheeks, His expression softened. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯ll unblock it right away. I¡¯ll call Mom too, and tell her to stop troubling you. Alright?¡± Anneliese let out a coldugh. As though to smooth things over, he chuckled softly. ¡°And don¡¯t forget our little promise, Anne. Come home early today, I¡¯ll leave the office soon, 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 38 Fooling Zacharias : too. It¡¯s been ages since we¡¯ve had a candlelight dinner together.¡± She didn¡¯t answer. The line went dead with a sharp click. 83 This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel +10 Free Coins Zacharias took her silence as silent consent. Instead of anger, his lips curved in indulgence. A dewed kitten is always easier to handle. But after the call, Anneliese¡¯s porcin features were icy, her gaze sharp as winter ss. There was none of the fragile sorrow Zacharias pictured. Within minutes, the bank manager called. Calmly, she transferred a sum to Jameson, then went in person to open a fresh ount. Without hesitation, she shifted twenty million into it. Leaving the bank, she retraced her steps to the mall, spent over six million without batting an eye, and from there drove straight to a luxury dealership. Meanwhile, in uderias Tech¡¯s boardroom, Zacharias sat through a project meeting. His phone buzzed nonstop beside him. ncing at the screen, he saw one alert after another¨Cmassive withdrawals, eachrger than thest. A vein pulsed at his temple. He knew all too well the temper of his mother and sister. If Anneliese had set them loose, they would surely try to make her bleed. That suited him just fine¨Che intended to use their hands to wear down her defiance. Created 39 14:15 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 39 Moving Out Chapter 39 Moving Out Did they go too far this time? Zacharias wondered. ? (83) +10 Free Coins His expression darkened when another notification popped up¨Cthree million spent at a jewelry store. He froze mid¨Csentence, raised a hand to pause the meeting, and stepped outside with his phone. He dialed his mother immediately. Melody picked up almost at once. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find_Novel(. ¡°Zach, why are you calling now? I-¡± ¡°Mom, you and Lenora need to stop!¡± His voice was sharp, cutting her off. Startled, Melody sucked in a breath. ¡°What on earth did we do?¡± Zacharias¡® brow furrowed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you both out shopping?¡± Melody and Lenora were, in fact, at home. But guilt pricked her conscience, and she answered too quickly. ¡°Yes, yes¡­ We¡¯re shopping.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve bought enough already. Anne has apologized and shown goodwill. Don¡¯t push her too hard.¡± The moment he defended Anneliese, Melody¡¯s tone soured. ¡°How are we pushing her? Did she run crying to you again? Zacharias, we are your own mother and sister! ¡°Even if she pays, it¡¯s still your money. Do you begrudge the woman who raised you?¡± ¡°Mom, that¡¯s not what I said!¡± He exhaled, annoyed. ¡°Forget it. Just¡­ don¡¯t be too harsh, and let here home early.¡± He hung up before she could argue further, irritation simmering as he turned back toward the conference room. But his phone buzzed again. One nce at the screen made his jaw tighten¨Ca Maserati purchase had just gone through at the dealership. Perfect. 83 Chapter 39 Moving Out +10 Free Coins Back at home, Lenora lounged on the couch, idly crunching chips while a variety show red. Her phone pinged with a new WhatsApp message. She tapped it open¨Cand shrieked. ¡°Ah! Argh!¡± Melody rushed over in rm. ¡°What happened? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lenora¡¯s face darkened as she clutched the phone. ¡°Mom! Look at my brother¨Che just snapped at me for no reason! And now he¡¯s saying I won¡¯t get my allowance this month! What¡¯s wrong with him? Why is he acting like this?¡± Elsewhere, Anneliese eased her brand¨Cnew sports car into the driveway of Sunrise Residence, an SUV following close behind. As she stepped inside the vi, Zoey appeared at the entrance to greet her. ¡°Wee back. And¡­ this is?¡± Her eyes shifted to the two tall men trailing behind Anneliese, confusion flickering across her face. ¡°They¡¯re here to collect some things I¡¯m donating,¡± Anneliese replied smoothly. Her tone was calm, almost detached. ¡°Zoey, I¡¯ll handle dinner tonight. You can head home early.¡± Zoey hesitated. Normally, she stayed untilte, but Anneliese didn¡¯t like her privacy invaded- especially when it came to matters involving Zacharias. Thedy of the house always preferred to handle those herself. Not thinking too deeply about it, Zoey slipped off her apron, grabbed her bag, and left. Anneliese had been sorting her belongings over the past few days. It took less than half an hour to direct the movers as they boxed up everything that was hers and carried it out. Meanwhile, at uderias Tech, Jackie stepped into the CEO¡¯s office carrying a bouquet. ¡°Mr. Shaw, the flowers for Mrs. Shaw have arrived.¡± Zacharias looked up, his gaze lingering on the roses wrapped in fine paper. They were 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 39 Moving Out Anneliese¡¯s favorite. 83 +10 Free Coins The recent cold war between them had worn him thin, leaving him restless and irritable. But the thought of surprising Anneliese tonight lifted his mood. He could already picture it¨Cher eyes lighting up, her arms flung around his neck, her lips. pressing against his. She was simple to please, really. A little gesture was enough. Anticipation warmed his eyes as a faint smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Just put it there.¡± Jackie carefully ced the bouquet on the desk and turned to leave, but Zacharias¡® voice stopped him. ¡°How¡¯s the search for the wedding ring going?¡± ¡°Mr. Shaw, we¡¯ve already put out notices through local news and inquired across second¨Chand markets, but no one has reached out yet¡­¡± Zacharias¡® brow creased. ¡°Put more effort into it.¡± The n was to surprise her the moment the ring resurfaced. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Jackie left quietly. A buzz cut through the silence. Zacharias¡® lips curled upward¨Csurely Anneliese was asking when he would be home, dinner waiting on the table, He unlocked the screen, but his expression changed when he saw the caller ID. For a moment, he hesitated, thumb hovering, before tapping twice to answer. Selina filled the screen. Arms folded tightly around herself, her face was ashen, eyes swollen and red¨Crimmed. ¡°Selina, what happened?¡± Zacharias¡® voice dropped, taut with rm. ¡°Zacharias, I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Am I disturbing you? I just¡­ I didn¡¯t know who else to call¡­¡± 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 39 Moving Out Her voice cracked, trembling, the image of her strength gone. 83 +10 Free Coins A flicker of shock pierced through him. In his memory, Selina had always been radiant- poised, fearless, sunlight wrapped in elegance. But now, watching her break in front of him, Zacharias¡®posure slipped. He surged to his feet without thinking, urgency shing across his face. Created 40 Chapter 40 Leaving It All Behind ¡°Take your time. What exactly happened?¡± 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°I¡­ I stumbled into a shooting scene¡­ Two people just copsed right in front of me. Blood was everywhere, and I¡­ I¡­ ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel ¡°I didn¡¯t dare call home, I was afraid my parents and brothers would panic. I¡¯m terrified, Zacharias. Every time I close my eyes, I see them again. C¨CCan you 5 Chapter 40 Leaving It All Behind 83 +10 Free Coins Every corner bore her touch, every detail a fragment of the home she once cherished. Here, she had believed she¡¯d found warmth. A safe haven. A ce she could grow old with Zacharias. Now, standing in the same rooms, everything felt foreign. Unfamiliar. Shattered beyond recognition. Anneliese walked to the corner of the living room and pulled a golf club from the bag. The weight felt right in her hands. She strode to the enormous wedding portrait, raised the club, and swung without hesitation. Crash! ss shattered, the smiling couple torn apart, the wall behind exposed in a jagged frame. Bang! Bang! Bang! The vase she had chosen so carefully exploded into fragments. The keepsakes from Adros scattered in pieces. The handmade couple¡¯s mugs, the coffee table, the dinnerware, the candlesticks¨Call reduced to wreckage. Amid the chaos, Anneliese stood still. Tears slipped down her face, but the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile. All expectations¨Cgone. All trust¨Cbetrayed. Only those who lived through it would understand the weight of that hollow ache. She let the club fall with a dull ng and walked out, the vi door closing slowly behind her, sealing the ruins in shadow. She left with nothing in her hands, her back straight, her steps unyielding. Penelope had given Anneliese a unit in the upscale Maple Bay, As Anneliese reached the elevator, her phone buzzed. A new WhatsApp notification shed across the screen¨CJackie¡¯s name. Jackie¡¯s message popped up. ¡®Mrs. Shaw, Mr. Shaw had to leave suddenly on a business trip. He asked me to deliver flowers as an apology. I left them outside Sunrise Residence since you 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 40 Leaving It All Behind weren¡¯t home.¡® 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese let out a dryugh. Good thing I didn¡¯t wait by candlelight for a man who never nned to return. She tucked her phone away and pressed the elevator button. Just then, another notification chimed¨Ca voice note from Jessica. Anneliese tapped y. ¡°Anneliese,e out with me! I¡¯ll show you what real men look like. Innocent boy¨Cnext¨Cdoor types, rugged mechanics, charming professors, dark doctors, even pilots with abs sharp enough to cut ss. One of them will scoop you up and call you baby. Tempted yet?¡± A faint smile tugged at Anneliese¡¯s lips. She knew about those role¨Cy clubs, all shy fantasy and little substance. Not her style. She smiled faintly, realizing she hadn¡¯t even pressed the button yet. Her gaze rose¨Cand froze. One of the floor numbers was already lit. Her pulse quickened. Someone else is here. A chill spread across her skin. She stiffened, forcing herself to turn, inch by inch. in hand, Behind her stood a man. Tall. Imposing. His pilot¡¯s uniform pressed to perfection, cap posture steady. Those dark eyes fixed on her, unwavering, sharp as a de in the dim light. For a breath, the elevator felt smaller. Created 41 Chapter 41 The Awkward Elevator Ride +10 Free Coins Each of the four stripes, which represented the rank of a captain, on his shoulders appeared as tense as the lines of worry on Anneliese¡¯s forehead. Slightly raising his lips, the man teased, ¡°Taking home a captain pilot with six¨Cpack abs, huh?¡± Anneliese fell silent. Eventually, she epted her situation and was no longer on tenterhooks. Urgh! Having someone in the elevator with me is startling enough, and to make things worse, that someone is an acquaintance and happens to be a captain in a pilot uniform! Ah!!! D*mn you, Jessica! Anneliese¡¯s cheeks turned red with embarrassment at the thought of this. Finally, after much struggle, she managed to squeeze out a few words. ¡°Hey, what a coincidence! Do you live here too?¡± she asked, though having doubts about him actually living here. Arching his eyebrow, Jonathan replied, ¡°Of course. What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re nning to take me home with you?¡± Once again, Anneliese was tongue¨Ctied. As the elevator¡¯s light shone under Jonathan¡¯s perfect nose bridge, his lowered eyes cast a faint shadow. His patronizing gaze gave Anneliese the distinct impression that he seemed to condemn her audacity in harboring such twisted thoughts toward him. Thus, she shook her head stiffly and said, ¡°No, not at all! I absolutely have no such intentions! Everything you heard just now wasn¡¯t true. My friend was just teasing me.¡± With that, she let out entrancing yet awkwardughter, which echoed in the elevator. Jonathan nomittally raised his eyebrow again. ¡°So, you want toe home with me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese took a while to process his words before following his gaze. It was then that she realized she had forgotten to press the floor button, and the elevator had been moving up for a while. Panicked, she hurriedly pressed the button for the 25th floor with shaky hands, only to discover that Jonathan coincidentally happened to live just one floor above her. 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 41 The Awkward Elevator Ride 83 +10 Free Coins Given its proximity to the business district, Anneliese¡¯s grandmother had given her this apartment as a gift to ease hermute to work. Just then, a thought was brought to her mind. That¡¯s right! AeroAir¡¯s headquarters are also in the business district. It¡¯s no surprise that Jonathan lives here. Still, this is all way too coincidental. Anneliese hung her head in frustration. With her back facing Jonathan, she simply wished the elevator would move faster and that he would stop talking. Perhaps her prayers worked, for Jonathan¡¯s phone vibrated, prompting him to answer the call. Anneliese breathed a sigh of relief, and her awkwardness swiftly subsided. ¡°Grandma,¡± he greeted, his voice calm. Meanwhile, on the other end, Penelope spoke affectionately. As usual, their conversation always involved her nagging him about marriage. ¡°Jonathan, have you found my lifesaver yet?¡± Upon hearing that, Jonathan answered helplessly, ¡°Grandma, what lifesaver? Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild.¡± ¡°If I really were an elderly woman without family support on the streets, that youngdy¡¯s ring could have ensured me afortable old age! ¡°Tell me how can she not be my lifesaver? Now, hurry up and find her for me. By the way, you didn¡¯t lose that ring, did you?¡± Raising his hand, he pressed the bridge of his hat against his forehead. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t lost it. But Grandma, finding her is like finding a needle in a haystack. At least give me a little bit of time, right?¡± ¡°Hurry up then! I like that girl. She¡¯s really charming, and a good match for you.¡± Jonathan involuntarily gazed at Anneliese, who nervously hunched her shoulders and retreated to the elevator door, again at the mention of charming. Jonathan ended the call. His eyesnded on her anxiously intertwined fingers, and he mused, Each finger on her delicate hands is empty¨Cno sign of a wedding ring. Yet, there¡¯s a noticeable indent where a ring had once been on her right hand¡¯s ring finger. Could there 7 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 41 The Awkward Elevator Ride really be such a coincidence in this world? : For original chapters go to f?ndnovel His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. Suddenly, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your ring size?¡± 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese, startled by Jonathan¡¯s sudden question, realized he was staring at her hands. Subconsciously, she hid her hands behind her back. ¡°Ring size? I don¡¯t know. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± A faint smile yed on Jonathan¡¯s lips, amused by her startled reaction. As expected, the smile from a usually cold person had a fatal effect, as it could always cause one to overthink. Hence, Anneliese felt uneasy all over. Just then, she noticed she was holding a shopping bag, which she had put in her car earlier after shopping at a couture dress store and had brought it upstairs with her. She quickly handed the shopping bag to Jonathan, which also served as a reminder that he shouldn¡¯t be asking an unknown woman such odd questions, considering that he was a married man with a daughter. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, this is the clothing I owe you. Thanks again.¡± As she spoke, the elevator reached her floor. Seeing this, Anneliese stuffed the shopping bag into Jonathan¡¯s arms, nodded, and hurried out. Jonathan returned home with the bag. Once inside his apartment, he hung his hat on the rack and changed into a pair offortable shoes. After that, he loosened his tie, took off his watch, casually threw it on the console by the entrance, and carried the shopping bag into the living room. Created 42 Chapter 42 Good News Chapter 42 Good News 83 +10 Free Coins He ced the shopping bag on the coffee table, opened it, and took out a cardboard box from inside. But once he opened it, he was lost in thought. Strange. Why would she give me a couture dress? The apartment unit Anneliese¡¯s grandmother had given to her was a spacious, nearly 2152.8 square feet t. Anneliese tidied up the ce a bit, took a shower, andy on the bed. Then, she called her grandmother back in Baytree and went straight to sleep. Thanks to the change in her surroundings, Anneliese managed to sleep soundly through the night. Neither did she suffer from insomnia, nor did she get woken up by nightmares in the middle of the night. In fact, it was her phone¡¯s vibration that woke her up. She groggily reached for her phone, picked it up, and saw a WhatsApp message from Selina, stating, ¡®Thanks, Anne, for letting Zache over to keep mepany. It feels so warm and reassuring. Attached along with the message was a photo. In it, Selina was sitting cross¨Clegged on the couch in her nightgown. Not far from the bar, Zacharias, with two buttons on his shirt cor being undone, held a decanter and poured the wine. Still, irony truly peaked when Anneliese¡¯s gazended on the wedding ring on his finger, which was illuminated by the dazzling crystal light. So¨Cthis is Zacharias¡® so¨Ccalled business trip, she thought. After saving the photo, she immediately forwarded it to Coral. Once done, she stretched and got out of bed. She washed her face and came out to find that she couldn¡¯t cook as she hadn¡¯t bought anything for the kitchen yet. Therefore, she decided to go out for breakfast before heading to a nearby supermarket for some grocery shopping. Anneliese changed intofortable casual wear, grabbed her bag, and walked out. 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 42 Good News : 83 +10 Free Coins She pressed the elevator button. Her phone beeped as she waited for the elevator to arrive. Anneliese took it out of her bag and nced at it. Her eyes widened in disbelief the next second. She rubbed her eyes, making sure her eyes weren¡¯t ying tricks on her. Upon realizing she indeed received a reply to the email she had sent to her professor, Anneliese excitedly covered her mouth, squealed, and danced in joy. ¡°Ah!!!¡± ¡°Coming in?¡± Just then, the elevator doors opened. A familiar deep voice rang in her ears. At once, Anneliese looked up. Since she was currently in a good mood, shepletely forgot the awkwardness fromst night as she looked at the handsome and refined Jonathan in the elevator. She entered with a spring in her step and gave him a wave. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Fullbuster!¡± Dressed in a dark blue, well¨Ctailored pilot¡¯s uniform, which embraced his stalwart build, Jonathan gazed down at Anneliese¡¯s radiant face with joy. ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± Compressing her lips in a smile, Anneliese said, ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Before Jonathan could nod, she eagerly shared. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, have you ever given up something very important and passionate about? At first, I thought I¡¯d lost it forever. But I never thought that I would one day realize that I can still make up all the regrets.¡± Such was her mood right now. Anneliese stared at Jonathan, hoping for empathy. However, upon thinking about how someone like Jonathan likely wouldn¡¯t have any regrets in life, she felt certain that he must find her overly dramatic and funny right now. Jonathan spoke softly just as she was about to change the subject. If truth be told, he knew the source of Anneliese¡¯s happiness. Yesterday, he had sent a video of her controlling a drone on the hospital rooftop to Prof. Clocke. Now, it seemed to him that 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 42 Good News Prof. Clocke had watched the video. : Content originallyes from f?ndnovel 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Unable to get what you want isn¡¯t necessarily a regret; regaining what you lost is fulfillment,¡± Jonathan remarked, his husky voice echoing in the confined elevator and brushing past Anneliese¡¯s ears softly like a feather. Her lips moved slightly, and her eyshes trembled lightly as she gave thought to his words. Yeah. For years, I had desired Zacharias and his family¡¯s affection. Yet, I never got it. Now that I have given up, it¡¯s actually no big deal. I have no regrets at all. Instead, I have picked up my dreams and regained Prof. Clocke¡¯s recognition. From now on, I will only be stronger and better. So, Jonathan is right. This is considered fulfillment, indeed. A bright and cheerful smile surfaced on Anneliese¡¯s face as she looked up. ¡°Wow, Mr. Fullbuster, I didn¡¯t expect you to be quite the motivational speaker.¡± Jonathan arched an eyebrow, not expressing an opinion. Seeing this, Anneliese chuckled and looked down. She was eager to check the reply from her professor. past few In the email, not only had Prof. Clocke answered the questions she had sent over the days, but he also assigned her the task of sorting out materials in the Astoria University archives. Given her familiarity with him, Anneliese was aware that sorting out materials was just an excuse. Prof. Clocke must not want me to waste this month¡¯s time. He wants me to learn through organizing materials so that I can make up for the professional gaps of the past four years and catch up quickly, she thought. Ding¨Cdong! Just then, the elevator chimed and reached the ground floor. The doors opened. Before even stepping out, Anneliese spotted Jessica standing outside, waiting for the elevator with Meatloaf, Created 43 Chapter 43 Where¡¯s Meatloaf? 83 +10 Free Coins Jessica, on the other hand, was about to call Anneliese after spotting her. However, Meatloaf acted first. She rushed into the elevator and headed straight for Jonathan. Jessica gazed at Jonathan, who was dressed in a pilot¡¯s uniform, looking absolutely fine in both appearance and physique. At once, her jaw dropped, and she blurted out, ¡°Oh my God! Annie, you were actually seriousst night?! You really brought home a random pilot for a night of fun?! You¨Cmmmph!¡± In a fit of panic, Anneliese dashed out of the elevator and covered Jessica¡¯s mouth, preventing her from saying further. She was so flushed with embarrassment that she dared not look at Jonathan¡¯s expression in the elevator at all and quickly dragged Jessica outside. ¡°You and him¡­¡± Jessica still attempted to speak despite having her mouth covered. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think!¡± Anneliese quickened her pace. Jessica broke free once outside the building. ¡°Slow down a little! Don¡¯t stretch your legs! Say, was he not up to par? How many times in one night? Strange. Howe you¡¯re still able to walk as if on wings instead of feeling sore enough to get out of bed?¡± ¡°Jessica, please shut up!¡± Jessica¡¯s car was parked downstairs. As if being chased by a ghost, Anneliese urged Jessica to drive off after getting in with her. Left with no choice, Jessica drove away. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, these pilots live a messy love life. They fly around and have affairs with women everywhere. Did you check his medical reportst night?¡± she said upon ncing at Anneliese, who was covering her face in the passenger seat. Anneliese rubbed her flushed face and cast her a despondent look, ¡°He lives on the floor above me and is a married man with a daughter. You¡¯ve got it all wrong!¡± ¡°What?¡± Jessica blinked. A sense of disappointment instantly manifested in her chest as she recalled Jonathan¡¯s handsome face, great physique, and charming aura. 14:16 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 43 Where¡¯s Meatloaf? : 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Ah! It¡¯s so awkward! I really want to strangle you!¡± Anneliese red at her and stretched out her hands. ¡°Can¡¯t you be a little nicer to an old friend? It¡¯s your fault for misleading mest night.¡± Jessica swatted her hands away and ungratefully shifted the me. Anneliese remained silent. Last night, Jessica had insisted on setting her up for a night out. She, thinking about the awkward situation in the elevator, irritably snapped at Jessica. ¡®No need. The pilot is already with me in the elevator.¡® Yet, never once did it cross Anneliese¡¯s mind that Jessica would bump into her and Jonathan leaving together early in the morning. Clearly, she would misunderstand the whole thing. Anneliese rubbed her hair, feeling like weeping but had no tears. Still, figuring there was nothing she could do about it, she stopped stressing herself out and said, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just go to the supermarket.¡± With that, Jessica drove out of the neighborhood. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll let you boss me around for free today.¡± ¡°Really appreciate it. Have you had your breakfast yet? Why did building so early?¡± ¡°I came to drop off Meatloaf. Meatloaf¡­¡± you show up at at the apartment As Jessica spoke, she sensed something was off. In an instant, she turned her head to look at Anneliese. Anneliese, too, looked at her in shock. A secondter, they both spoke in unison. ¡°Where¡¯s Meatloaf?¡± ?????? ???? find¡¤novel ¡°Where¡¯s Meatloaf?!¡± Jessica promptly mmed on the brakes. Both recalled that Meatloaf seemed to have rushed straight into the elevator just now when the doors opened. Giving Anneliese a doubtful stare, Jessica questioned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s not a random man Chapter 43 Where¡¯s Meatloaf? : 83 +10 Free Coins on the streets and just your upstairs neighbor? So, why is Meatloaf so close with him then?¡± ¡°I want to know too. I¡¯m really not close with him!¡± Anneliese swore. As she was currently worried about Meatloaf, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Jessica and hurriedly called Jonathan. Jonathan answered promptly. But he seemed to enjoy making her feel awkward, as he remained silent. Anneliese cleared her throat. ¡°About earlier¡­¡± ¡°Yes? Are you calling to exin? I¡¯m listening,¡± Jonathan interrupted, his bassy voice grew huskier through the phone, sending waves of pleasantness to her cardrum. As a result, the flush on Anneliese¡¯s face, which had subsided earlier, resurfaced, and she showed no response to Jonathan¡¯s words. She had no idea what there was to exin or how she could do it. In fact, shepletely struggled to exin anything. ¡°Um, Mr. Fullbuster, is Meatloaf with you? I think I left her behind just now. Can Ie back to pick her up now?¡± Jonathan appeared to chuckle ambiguously on the other end. But then again, it was perhaps her imagination. ¡°She¡¯s at my ce, but I had to rush to a meeting and have already left. Come pick her up at noon.¡± With that, Jonathan ended the call. Anneliese stared at her phone, speechless. For some reason, she felt like she had fallen into a situation where her child had been taken hostage and was waiting for her to settle the score with the kidnapper. Anneliese headed to Astoria University after returning from the supermarket. Prof. Clocke and his senior students weren¡¯t at Astoria University as they were currently at a researchb in Westrough. However, he did have an assistant from the department send Anneliese the key to the archives. Stacks of files containing old documents,boratory data from previous years, and more piled up in the room. Because Prof. Clocke had taken his team away, it had been a long time since Chapter 43 Where¡¯s Meatloaf? anyone hade here. # 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese opened the windows to air out the room. Then, she rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a bucket and mop, and went out. 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Created 44 Chapter 44 Provocation Chapter 44 Provocation 83 +10 Free Coins Unexpectedly, she bumped into Lenora just as she reached downstairs. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lenora questioned, ring at Anneliese in surprise. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel Zacharias, seeing that Lenora had poor grades and failed to get into college through the SAT, wanted to send her abroad for a better education. However, Lenora, who was terrible at foreignnguages, whined and refused to go. As a result, he had no choice but to secure Lenora a spot as an auditing student by donating to a schrship program at Astoria University. The reason she showed up in this building was to find the aircraft manufacturing major¡¯s campus heartthrob, whom she had a crush on. Although she was just an auditing student, she was generous with her money and had crafted herself as the rich, beautiful youngdy on campus. Everyone was aware that her family owned a techpany, and she had some friends on campus willing to hang out with her. ¡°Lenora, who is she? Is she also a student here?¡± asked Fiona Jones, one of Lenora¡¯s friends. Then, another friend, Heather Lynch, also added, ¡°She¡¯s so pretty. Howe I¡¯ve never seen her before?¡± ¡°Impossible! She didn¡¯t even finish high school! She can¡¯t be a student here at Astoria University,¡± Lenora immediately remarked disdainfully. Fiona and Heather both wore a contemptuous look upon hearing that Anneliese hadn¡¯t even finished high school. At once, they lost interest in Anneliese. Lenora, not wanting her friends to know that Anneliese was her sister¨Cinw, rushed toward Anneliese and pulled her under a nearby tree. ¡°Anneliese, did you apply for a janitorial job here? Even if you divorce Zach, you still don¡¯t have to take up menial jobs like this, right? Or are you doing this on purpose? ¡°You know Coral is a student here, so you got a job here. What exactly are you trying to do, huh?¡± 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 44 Provocation Anneliese treated her as if she were a fool. : 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°You¡¯re not the boss of me. I don¡¯t need your permission for what I do. What are you so nervous about? Afraid I¡¯ll expose the dirty deeds Zach has done?¡± ¡°You promised us that you wouldn¡¯t make a big deal out of it once the divorce is registered. Are you going back on your word now?¡± Enraged, Lenora grabbed Anneliese and refused to let go. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯re up to. Get the hell out of Astoria University now!¡± Anneliese couldn¡¯t be bothered with her. ¡°I suggest you let go of me now. If not, don¡¯t me me for talking about our rtionship and Zach¡¯s shameful affairs with your friends right here, right now,¡± she said coldly, a smirk ying on her lips. Panic struck Lenora when she saw that Anneliese was about to raise her voice. At once, she released her. Seeing that she was free, Anneliese turned around and prepared to leave. ¡°Anneliese, it¡¯s totally pointless to target Coral. Do you know where Zach is right now?¡± Lenora retorted as she couldn¡¯t stand seeing her so arrogant. Of course, I know. He¡¯s with Selina, Anneliese answered silently. Well, Zacharias and I already registered our divorce. I don¡¯t give a d*mn even if he¡¯s having a three¨Cway rtionship with Selina and Coral now. She continued walking, but Lenora gained a step. ¡°You don¡¯t know, do you? The one Zach truly likes is Selina! And right now, he¡¯s with her. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s Selina¡¯s birthday in a couple of days. Mr. White, Mrs. White, and Perseus will all fly to Age to celebrate her birthday. ¡°No one even remembers that it¡¯s also your birthday that day, ¡°Oh, Anneliese, you poor thing¡± Anneliese and Selina shared the same birthday. However, after Anneliese returned to the White estate, Selina refused to celebrate with her. Hence, the Whites changed the date of Anneliese¡¯s birthday, giving Selina a day all to herself. Even so, they always forgot the date and never properly celebrated Anneliese¡¯s birthday with her. 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 44 Provocation 83 +10 Free Coins Even though Anneliese had given up on their affections, her heart still ached a little when she heard what Lenora said. She turned around, her gaze as cold as ice. ¡°Are you done? Believe it or not, I¡¯ll stuff this mop in your mouth if you don¡¯t leave now.¡± As she spoke, she raised her hand, and the mop went straight toward Lenora¡¯s face. Seeing this, Lenora screamed and turned to run. Anneliese had walked away by the time Lenora¡¯s friends approached her. ¡°Lenora, why is she so rude? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, Lenora. A pretty high school dropout like her¨CGod knows what kind of work she has been doing. How do you even know someone like her?¡± ¡°We used to live in the same neighborhood. I wanted to help her after seeing her so down and out. But who knew she couldn¡¯t handle the shame and got mad instead,¡± said Lenora, hiding the truth from her friends with a smile. Upon hearing that, Fiona added, ¡°Well, some people just don¡¯t appreciate kindness. Lenora, I know you¡¯re kind, but you shouldn¡¯t bother with people like her. The school is toox in hiring janitors.¡± ¡°Look at her, simply dressed and acting like she¡¯s a student here. Maybe she¡¯s trying to seduce one of our seniors. Well, well, well. Little does she know, she looks like a seductive fool who¡¯s bad at her studies. It¡¯s hrious,¡± Heather echoed. ¡°True. Not many pretty ones can get into our school. But I heard there was once an amazing senior in the School of Aviation. Not only was she drop¨Cdead gorgeous, but she was also top in her field.¡± Created 45 Chapter 45 Mockery Chapter 45 Mockery 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°Freshmen in the gifted youth program usually stood out, but she went further than that. By junior year she had already filed for her own patent. She was the rising star of the School of Aviation. Later, something happened, and she gave up her direct path toward a PhD. Otherwise, she would probably still be there. ¡°She¡¯s probably even Jackson¡¯s idol back then, Lenora.¡± The mention of Jackson Shayman, the very person Lenora was chasing, set her off immediately. ¡°You just made that up! Hardly any girls study aircraft manufacturing, and now you¡¯re saying one of them was some genius? And a beauty on top of that? No way. Jackson would never fall for some random girl.¡± Fionaughed. ¡°Exactly. And even if such a girl existed, could she really outshine our Lenora? Those girls in aviation could pass a one off as a ten.¡± ¡°Exactly. Oh, by the way, Lenora, that girl earlier¨Cdid she get work done on her face? Do you know where?¡± They didn¡¯t lower their voices. Their words carried across the hall andnded on Anneliese, who caught every word. Her eyes dimmed, shadowed with self¨Cmockery. The White family and Zacharias never even knew she had graduated from Astoria University. When she entered the gifted program, Zacharias was still in hisst year of high school. That was when Melody¡¯s cancer was first found. His grades copsed, and the pressure crushed him. If Astoria University hadn¡¯t given her a schrship, she would have stayed in her hometown to keep Zachariaspany. For his sake, she never admitted she was heading to college. She told him she was going out to see the world. She secretly handed her schrship money to Melody to cover Melody¡¯s surgery. Later, Zacharias got epted into Braveton University in Oceaton. She wanted to tell him the truth, but the lie dragged on too long. By the time she tried, the words stuck in her throat. Once he started his sophomore year, he threw himself into his startup and stopped paying attention to her. When the White family finally found her, they didn¡¯t bother asking about her past. They 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 45 Mockery : branded her inferior to Selina and called her troubled. 83 +10 Free Coins Still, Anneliese wanted to prove herself. That year, Astoria University held a ceremony, and she was chosen to give a speech as a student representative. She mailed her family an invitation. She waited in the auditorium until everyone else had left. No one came. She walked back through the rain and found out Selina had returned sick from a trip. Everyone rushed to the hospital. Her invitation had vanished. No one ever saw it. When they came home, her parentsshed out. They used her of being selfish, of ignoring her sister¡¯s illness, of wasting time instead of staying by the family. She never got to exin. They were too busy cooking for Selina before rushing out again. Not long after, rumors spread. Her story tore through the university like wildfire. Whispers followed her everywhere. Fingers pointed. It felt like thorns digging into her back. Then, Zacharias confessed his feelings and offered to take her abroad for a break. It was during his hardest days of building hispany. She was deeply moved. After they returned, she gave up her ns for graduate school. She graduated early and worked as his secretary. It embarrassed her professors and her alma mater, so she stopped mentioning Astoria University altogether. Looking back, she realized how many foolish choices she had made. Anneliese stepped out of the restroom with a bucket and mop. Suddenly, the weight in her hand disappeared. She turned. A tall boy in a gray tracksuit caught up from behind and bent down to take the bucket. ¡°Anneliese, I wonder if you still remember me. I¡¯m Jackson.¡± He was tall and lean, his short hair damp with sweat as if he had just finished running. His features were sharp, his smile bright and clean. 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 45 Mockery 83 +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s eyes filled with confusion. When Jackson realized she didn¡¯t remember him, his smile faltered. ¡°Back then, you told me to wait at the School of Aviation. I came like I promised, but you were gone. And now you don¡¯t even remember me. That hurts.¡± His words sparked her memory. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re thatw student, right? You really switched departments?¡± Jackson¡¯s eyes lit up again. His smile spread wide. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me.¡± He still remembered his first day at Astoria University. He had been dragging his suitcase, lost on the way to thew school. Suddenly, something buzzed overhead. He looked up and saw what looked like a giant insect hovering. It was a drone. Its camera whirred and clicked. Then, a soft, clear voice called from behind. Read full story at Find1Novel ¡°Hey freshman, this is the School of Aviation¡¯s new camera drone. You don¡¯t mind if we post your picture on the school¡¯s official wee page, right?¡± He turned around. A dazzling girl in a pinafore jogged toward him, controller in hand. Her smile and the summer breeze under the camphor tree stayed with him ever since, carved deep into his dreams. Created 46 Chapter 46 Reunited Chapter 46 Reunited :. She was younger than him, yet she was already a junior in the School of Aviation. He never likedw, but his family forced him intow school. That day he fell in love with drones and promised himself he would switch majors. 83 +10 Free Coins By the time he finally transferred during his sophomore year, she had already graduated and left. Heter heard she got married. He never thought he would see her again on campus. ¡°Yeah, I switched. I¡¯m in my first year of grad school under Professor Baltimore. Did youe back to campus too?¡± ¡°I did. I¡¯m nning on grad school too, but right now I¡¯m helping Professor Clocke organize the archives. You¡¯re already in grad school? Congrats. I¡¯m not your senior anymore, then. Who knows, maybe you¡¯ll be mine.¡± Annelieseughed. She still remembered Jackson. Back when he was fighting through his transfer, he hade to her for advice more than once. Jackson¡¯s eyesnded on her bare fingers, and his smile grew. ¡°d I called you Anneliese, then. Let me help you carry this.¡± ¡°Thanks. Let¡¯s reintroduce ourselves then. I¡¯m Anneliese.¡± They walked upstairs together, talking. Not far away, Lenora stood hidden at the corner. Jealousy burned in her eyes as she red at them. Anneliese, you b*tch, she thought. Anneliese spent the morning buried in the archives, so focused she nearly forgot the time. By noon she hurried out of campus toward the bus stop when a car pulled up beside her. A fat man with a round face and big ears stepped out of the back seat and grabbed her. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Mrs. Shaw. Where are you headed? Let me give you a ride.¡± Chapter 46 Reunited Anneliese instantly recognized him. It was Mr. Chokehand, an old business partner from uderias Tech. Half a year ago, during a pitch meeting, he had almost taken advantage of her. That was the day Zacharias stormed in, beat him bloody, and dragged her out. After that, Zacharias used it to force her into quitting her job and staying home to prepare for pregnancy. ¡°Let go! Or else Zacharias will show up and crack your head again!¡± Her stomach twisted as she shook him off, her cold. eyes But Chokehand didn¡¯t let go. His greasy stare lingered over her body. ¡°Don¡¯t fake it. You think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re divorcing him? He already has someone else. Just be my girl. ¡°I can give you everything he did, maybe more. Better than wasting your time chasing after some college boy.¡± His thick, sweaty hand reached for hers. Anneliese fought back. She screamed, her voice cutting through the street, drawing the of passersby. But Chen Jie, heavy and powerful, red at them like a wolf daring anyone to step in. eyes ¡°What are you staring at? Never seen a married couple fight before?¡± The crowd backed away. No one moved to help. Jacques Chokehand dragged her toward the curb. Her chest tightened with panic. Suddenly, a car swerved hard and smashed into the parked car beside them, the sound of metal crunching loud in her ears. Jacques cursed and whipped his head around. Anneliese seized her chance. She kicked him straight between the legs. He buckled, groaning in agony as he clutched himself, and she bolted. By the time he straightened, she was gone. ¡°You little b*tch! This isn¡¯t over!¡± Still cursing, Chen Jie held his groin and limped back to his car. He red at the driver as the 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 46 Reunited window rolled down. Inside sat Jameson. 83 +10 Free Coins Jacques sneered. ¡°What? You chasing her, too? Too bad. Your little stunt didn¡¯t even get you a look.¡± Jameson smirked. ¡°Better than a pig like you who thinks he cany a finger on her.¡± He threw the car in reverse, spun around, and sped off to chase her. He drove through two streets but never saw her again. Anneliese finally reached Maple Bay, and then she remembered she needed to pick up Meatloaf. She called Jonathan. Jonathan gave her ess to the top floor. When she arrived, she saw only one apartment. Fresh chapters posted on findnovel She rang the bell. The door opened almost at once. A man stood there, looking like he had just stepped out of the shower. He wore a long ck robe, the belt tied tight, the cor neat. Only a strip of shin and a lean ankle showed. His damp hair stuck to his forehead, a few strands falling loose. His skin smelled fresh and clean, with a sharp edge of danger that made Anneliese freeze. Her breath caught. ¡°Where¡¯s Meatloaf?¡± He stepped aside. ¡°Come in.¡± Anneliese stayed rooted. ¡°I won¡¯t go in. Just send Meatloaf out.¡± She called into the apartment, but Meatloaf never answered. Jonathan arched a brow. ¡°I won¡¯t eat you, you know.¡± Created 47 Chapter 47 At His House Anneliese had no reply for that. 83 +10 Free Coins She forced a stiff smile. ¡°I really am sorry about what happened that morning. I owe you a proper apology, I¡ª¡± Jonathan turned, cutting her off mid¨Csentence. ¡°That didn¡¯t sound sincere. Get inside. I have something for you.¡± She followed him in, uneasy. One nce told her this entire floor belonged to him. The space stretched at least three or four thousand square feet. The style was sleek, cold, and expensive, everything in shades of ck, white, and gray. Not a single sign of a woman anywhere. It was clear his wife and child didn¡¯t live here. Anneliese hovered at the entryway, unsure what to do. Without turning his head, Jonathan said, ¡°There are disposable slippers in the cab.¡± ¡°Alright, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± She bent down, pulled out a pair, and slipped them on. She stepped into the living room. He was at the bar, pouring water. Even though the venttion worked perfectly, she still felt suffocated. His sharp, clean scent clung to the air, faint yet overwhelming, as if she had stepped into the range of a predator. Her body tensed with unease. ¡°Where¡¯s Meatloaf? Meatloaf?¡± she called out again. ¡°She¡¯s in the den eating canned meat,¡± Jonathan answered. She turned her head and caught sight of him drinking. His Adam¡¯s apple shifted with each swallow, the lines of his throat sharp and defined. A drop of water slid down from his jaw, traced the curve of his strong neck, rolled past a pale mole, and disappeared into the cor of his ck robe. Chapter 47 At His House Heat flushed through her, and she quickly looked away, frowning. The sound of the ss hitting the bar cracked the air like a shot, jolting her chest. Jonathan walked toward her. She stiffened, gripping the strap of her bag. 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°What do you want to give me? I left something cooking at home. I need to take Meatloaf back soon.¡± He gave her a quick look. ¡°You came upstairs just to get a dog, and you still carried a bag?¡± She forced a nervousugh. ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡± He didn¡¯t push. Instead, he pointed at a bag on the coffee table. ¡°Take that home. Wear it. And this¡­¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fin?novel From behind the bag, he lifted a velvet jewelry box and handed it to her. Her eyes locked on the bag. She recognized it immediately. It was the two dresses she had bought yesterday to rece what was ruined. She had bought them for his wife and daughter. Now he was giving them back, telling her to wear them herself. That could only mean one thing. And the jewelry¨Cthere was no way she was misunderstanding that. The wounds from the harassment and humiliation earlier had left her raw, and this was the final spark that set her off. She snatched the jewelry box and flung it at his face, Then she grabbed the bag and swung it hard. ¡°You b*stard! Trash! You garbage! I can¡¯t believe I was wrong about you. You¡¯re just like Zacharias!¡± She swung the bag at him again, striking with all the strength she had. 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 47 At His House : The sound of impact thudded heavily in the air. 83 +10 Free Coins His hand shot out fast and mped around her wrist. His grip was hot and unyielding. Pain shot up her arm, her fingers went numb, and the bag slipped to the floor with a crash. Her eyes burned with fury as she red at him. ¡°Let me go! Meatloaf! Get out here! Bite him!¡± Jonathan loosened his grip when he saw her struggling. He was afraid to hurt her. Meatloaf burst from the room at the sound of her anger, ws pounding against the floor. But the big dog only froze, ncing between her and Jonathan, her eyes full of confusion and sadness. It didn¡¯t look like the same loyal guardian that had once charged at Melody and Lenora at hermand. Her chest heaved with rage, tears filling her eyes. ¡°You traitor!¡± The dog wouldn¡¯t help, and Jonathan¡¯s strength overpowered her. She had no chance. She spun and bolted for the door, but she barely made it two steps before his hand mped down on her arm. Her body lurched, and she mmed into his chest. The danger radiating from him closed in, pressing against her like a heavy shadow. Her face drained of color as she thrashed to break free. He caught both her hands, twisted them behind her back, and locked them tight. His other hand gripped her waist as his long stride drove her backward. Her knees hit the edge of something, and her legs buckled. She dropped into a single¨Cseat couch, breathless and cornered. ¡°Let me go! What are you trying to do, you monster?¡± Her voice tore into the air as she struggled, her body twisting and fighting against him in wild panic. Created 48 Chapter 48 Clearing Up Chapter 48 Clearing Up 83 +10 Free Coins The man bent his knee and nted it on the couch. His right hand mped down on Anneliese¡¯s arms, wrenching them backward, while his other hand pressed firmly against the back of the couch. His body leaned over hers, pinning her fragile frame into the cushions. She had no choice but to arch ufortably, tilting her head back until her eyes locked on him. The first thing she saw was Jonathan¡¯s robe, loose and hanging open, showing the sharp lines of his corbones and the pale hardness of his chest. His chest moved against her like that of a predator about to strike, held back only by the thrill of waiting. Anneliese¡¯s face turned pale. Her lips shook as she stared at him. He lowered his gaze, leaning just inches from her face. His sharp features looked frozen in ice, and his long, narrow eyes carried a cold edge that felt like des ready to cut her to pieces. His jaw was locked tight, his lips pressed into a straight line. Stray strands of messy hair fell forward, making him look even more dangerous and almost cruel. Anneliese¡¯s body shook with fear. Her nose stung red, and she bit her lip so hard she fell into silence. Hershes trembled, and no matter how much she tried, tears welled in her eyes. Her gaze burned with both terror and anger, but she did not dare set him off. The assault she braced for never came. Instead, his lips parted, and a lowugh broke out. ¡°You were running from me? Tell me clearly. How am I trash? How am I some sort of monster?¡± Anneliese clenched her teeth. Her thoughts screamed, You already put your hands on me. Do I really need to exin it? You know exactly what you¡¯re doing. Jessica had been right. These pilots did not just chase games. They chased danger. The higher their rank, the better they hid their vices under false virtue. ¡°Talk!¡± The look on Anneliese¡¯s face did not escape Jonathan. He knew she was cursing him in her head. Chapter 48 Clearing Up His voice came down heavy, sharp with anger. The sound made her flinch. +10 Free Coins Her chest tightened, but then her fury snapped. Her eyes red red as she red at him. ¡°Talk about what? Mr. Fullbuster, don¡¯t tell me you dragged me here behind your wife¡¯s back, baited me with Meatloaf, showered me with clothes and jewelry, just so we could have a friendly chat?¡± Jonathan frowned, thrown off guard. Anneliese thought she had cut him deep. A bitterugh left her throat. ¡°Am I wrong? No wonder you kept popping up everywhere I went. No wonder the great heir of the Fullbusters gave his number to me so easily! ¡°But I just escaped a marriage where I was betrayed. What makes you think I¡¯d ever y the other woman in another broken marriage? ¡°Take your dirty thoughts and that swollen pride of yours somewhere else. You came to the wrong person. ¡°And hear me clearly. If you ever touch me, I don¡¯t care how powerful the Fullbuster family is. I¡¯ll rip your mask off and show the world what hides behind your polished shell.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by F?ndNovel Her chest heaved with rage as she cursed him, but Jonathan only stared, steady and unmoved. Maybe women had cursed him out before. Maybe it did not matter anymore. His dark eyes stayed fixed on her, pressing down with a weight so heavy it crushed her breath. Her courage sank like air leaking from a balloon. Fear rushed back into her chest, and she shrank into herself. That was when he moved. His lips curved slightly. ¡°Are you finished? Then it¡¯s my turn. I won¡¯t take the fall for nothing.¡± His body leaned down like a mountain shadowing her, pressing closer and closer. Their breaths tangled. Anneliese¡¯s face turned white. She squeezed her eyes shut and jerked her head away. But the touch never came. Instead, a sudden beeping broke through the silence. Her eyes shot open. She turned and saw the glow of his phone. At some point, he had lifted it, and a video chat request filled the screen. Her voice broke as she asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± 14:17 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 48 Clearing Up : Her body shook. Horror raced through her. Who was he calling? And it was at a moment like this, too. 83 +10 Free Coins The thought that he might want someone watching as he broke her made cold dread crawl down her spine. Her body trembled harder, tears streaming until they blurred her vision. She regretted ever setting foot in his ce. ¡°I¡­¡± She forced herself to breathe and tried to calm down. She almost begged him for mercy and was ready to lower herself just to escape alive. Then the call connected. A child¡¯s sweet voice rang out, cheerful and bright. ¡°Hello! So, who¡¯s been missing the great Lemon? Wait a minute, hey, you¡¯re that cutedy!¡± The lively voice of a little girl cut through the thick, suffocating air. Anneliese froze. She knew instantly Jonathan would never let a child see something vile. Her eyes flew wide, and she turned sharply to the screen. The camera was aimed straight at her. Created 49 Chapter 49 Video Call She recognized the girl in the video. +10 Free Coins It was Lemon, the same child who had clung to Jonathan¡¯s leg the first time they crossed paths. Anneliese felt her mind crash like a system overload. Lemon¡¯s wide eyes blinked in confusion as she looked at the frozen figure on the screen. She lifted her tiny hand in a wave. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything, cutedy? Don¡¯t you remember me? I¡¯m Lemon! Jonathan! Jonathan, why won¡¯t she talk to me?¡± Jonathan. She called his name. Not ¡®Dad.¡® Jonathan, Anneliese thought. Anneliese¡¯s head turned slowly, stiffly, toward Jonathan. He was already staring at her. His eyes cut into her with mocking sharpness and something colder beneath. Her throat tightened as she swallowed. The realization hit hard. She had probably made a disastrous mistake. Jonathan tilted the phone toward himself, speaking to Lemon with deliberate ease. ¡°She¡¯s malfunctioning. I will call you backter, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lemon nodded with a smile. Jonathan ended the call, his focus snapping back to Anneliese. His words came sharp and clipped. ¡°I. Am. Single.¡± Anneliese blinked, scrambling, her voice unsteady. ¡°But the jewelry¡­¡± Even if she had misunderstood the situation, even if she picked the wrong dress and he returned it, that could be exined. But jewelry for another woman? That couldn¡¯t be brushed aside. 14:18 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 49 Video Call ¡°Open it.¡± 83 +10 Free Coins Jonathan let out a low, humorlessugh. Driven by desperation, Anneliese leapt for the jewelry box. She needed to see what was inside. She moved too fast. She had to get out of this awkward situation. Then she collided with him before he had fully stepped aside. Her lips grazed the side of his neck, and she stumbled back onto the couch. The fleeting brush of warmth lingered against Jonathan¡¯s skin. His throat tightened, his gaze darkened, and his voice dropped, heavy with meaning. ¡°So, which one of us is making the move here?¡± Anneliese froze. She wanted to exin, but he kept going. ¡°The first time we met, you mmed me against a wall, pulled my tie, and held me by the throat.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°The second time, you clung to my arm. ¡°The third time, you and your dog tackled me. ¡°The fourth time, you left a mark on my hand. It¡¯s still there, by the way. ¡°Then yesterday, you said you¡¯d take me home. This morning, you left Meatloaf with me. So, tell me, who¡¯s the oneing up with all these plots here?¡± Heat burned across her face. There was no way she could exin all of this away. Even she thought she sounded guilty when heid it all out. Her voice shook. ¡°Can we talk about this like normal people? Please don¡¯te so close!¡± She shoved him back, darted forward, and snatched the jewelry box off the floor. With trembling hands, she flipped it open. Inside sat a ring. Her retort died in her throat. The sight froze her solid. 14:18 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 49 Video Call : The ring was unmistakable. Her head snapped toward him. ¡°This¡­ this is my wedding ring. Why is it in your hands?¡± Chapters first released on find¡¤novel 83 +10 Free Coins Jonathan sank onto the couch, his expression carved sharp, his brows tense. He had not expected it either. But suspicion drove him to have someone check. He had not expected it either. But suspicion drove him to have Zion look into it. Zacharias had purchased the pink diamond openly at an auction. Easy enough to trace. And it led straight back to her. Jonathan¡¯s face darkened. His lips curved faintly, but his voice cut deep. ¡°I should ask you why. First, you mistook my grandmother for a beggar. Then you used me of being some violent creep. What¡¯s next on your list?¡± Anneliese¡¯s chest clenched. The pieces finally snapped together, toote to save face. ¡°But you were dressed in a¡­¡± ¡°I stopped at the airport maintenance hangar this morning. I smelled like engine oil. I came home to shower. Is that a crime in your book, too?¡± ¡°But you locked Meatloaf away¡­¡± ¡°Then exin how she¡¯s sitting right here.¡± She turned. Meatloaf sat at the coffee table, wagging her tail. Her lips were shiny with grease. She had been eating canned meat all along and was ignoring her callspletely. Shame flooded her, heavy and crushing. Her chest felt like it would cave. She just wanted the world to end right here, right now. Jonathan, clearly not finished, spoke up again. ¡°And exchanging numbers? If you have a problem with that, I can block you right now.¡± Created 50 Chapter 50 Misunderstanding Cleared Chapter 50 Misunderstanding Cleared The phone spun slowly in Jonathan¡¯s palm. Anneliese¡¯s checks turned scarlet as she kept her head down and blurted in a rush. ¡°Fine, just block me already!¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice dropped into a lowmand. ¡°Lift your head. Look at me, then say again.¡± With tears clinging to hershes, Anneliese raised her face and forced herself to meet Jonathan¡¯s cool gaze. 83 +10 Free Coins that She pressed her hands together against her chest and begged. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, boss. Words fail me. I never should¡¯ve judged your noble character through my filthy lens! ¡°That¡¯s unforgivable. To make up for it, I¡¯ll leave right now and spare you the trouble of seeing me again.¡± She bent low, grabbed Meatloaf close, and rushed out. The door mmed shut behind her. Jonathan made no move to stop her. The silence in the room grew heavy. His long, sharp fingers tugged loose the tie of his robe. Silk slipped apart, and a chill draft cut through the heat clinging to him. His eyes lingered on the armchair nearby. The leather still carried the faint shape of her body. He stared at it for a long moment, his throat tight, before leaning back in his chair and letting out a heavy breath. After a pause, a roughugh broke out of him, low and sharp, as if he wasn¡¯t sure whether it was for himself or her. Meanwhile, Anneliese hurried back to her ce. She locked the door and downed two sses of cold water, yet it still couldn¡¯t cool her burning face. 14:18 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 50 Misunderstanding Cleared : 83 +10 Free Coins God, she didn¡¯t even want to think about how Jonathan saw her now. She must¡¯ve looked foolish, selfish, and ridiculous. She dropped onto the couch, buried her face in a pillow, and stayed there without moving. Then, her phone rang. She didn¡¯t want to answer. She wanted quiet. Yet, the ringing continued, over and over, until she snatched it up, swiped to connect, and snapped. ¡°Who the hell is this? Can you not?¡± Silence stretched for a few seconds, then a familiar voice came through, one that only irritated her more. ¡°You haven¡¯t been answering my calls. Anneliese, did you block me again?¡± She pulled her head from the pillow, nced at the screen, and froze. It was a video call from Zacharias. And she had already answered. Her brows knit together. She hadn¡¯t blocked him. She had only set his calls to be sent to voicemail. She hadn¡¯t cut him offpletely since the divorce wasn¡¯t final, and she knew they still had things to fight about. Blocking and unblocking was just a hassle. ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, say it. If you¡¯re just going to waste my time, then I¡¯m hanging up on you.¡± Her voice was t, her finger ready to disconnect. Zacharias¡® handsome features hardened like ice. His voice came sharp and cold. ¡°Anneliese, where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing?¡± His face and tone belonged to a jealous husband catching his wife in betrayal. Anneliese blinked, then let out augh. Only then did she notice her reflection in the small window of the call. She was sprawled on a couch that wasn¡¯t hers. Her hair was tangled, and her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were red and swollen, bitten earlier from nerves and glossed now with water. She looked like a woman who had just been kissed breathless. Even her blouse hung loose, the tie at her neckline undone without her realizing. It was 14:18 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 50 Misunderstanding Cleared showing a faint line of her cleavage. : 83 +10 Free Coins No wonder Zacharias thought she cheated on him, but even if she did, what right did he have to question her? Her smile turned mocking. ¡°Are you using me of infidelity?¡± His anger cracked into unease. He forced a sigh, his voice softening. ¡°Baby, you¡¯re imagining things. I¡¯m just worried about you. I¡¯ve been away on a business trip. I keep calling and you never answer, and I¡ª¡± She cut him off, her smile sharp with bitterness. ¡°Are you really on a business trip, Zacharias?¡± ¡°Of course I am¡­¡± But his eyes flickered. He had a feeling she had figured it out. She knew he wasn¡¯t away on work. She knew who he was with. His words stopped. Silence pressed down on both of them. Anneliese¡¯s eyes curved as she smiled, her voice sweet and cutting. Get full chapters from find?novel ¡°Where¡¯s Selina? Taking my ce and doing my job as your wife in bed?¡± Without another nce at his pale face, she hung up. Over in Age, Zacharias¡® voice cracked in panic as the screen went ck. ¡°Baby! Anne?¡± It felt like something inside him shattered with the call, leaving nothing but wreckage behind. Created 51 Chapter 51 Tricking Him Into Staying Chapter 51 Tricking Him Into Staying 83 +10 Free Coins He gripped his phone tightly before dialing Anneliese¡¯s number again, but the girl did not pick
  1. up.
It turned out she knew he¡¯d been lying about being away on business, choosing to keep Selinapany in Age instead. What else does she know? Zacharias closed his eyes briefly, almost forgetting to breathe. He eventually spun around, grabbed his suit jacket from the couch, and made for the door. Just then, Selina walked out from the kitchen, dressed infy clothes, while holding a tray of cookies. Seeing him stride past without so much as a nce, she rushed forward and caught his arm. ¡°Zach, the cookies are ready. Try them! Do you think they¡¯re good enough to be served at the party?¡± She picked one up and brought it to his lips, her eyes full of hope. Unable to disappoint her, Zacharias opened his mouth and took a bite. ¡°Is it good? How¡¯s my baking?¡± However, he could not focus on the taste of the cookies. Even with Selina standing before him, his mind was filled with the image of Anneliese¡¯s chilling expression. He nodded absent¨Cmindedly, then pushed away the hand offering him another cookie. ¡°Selina, I need to head back now.¡± He turned to leave, but Selina had no ns of letting him walk out so easily. She clung to him tightly and pleaded, ¡°Zach, the party is less than twelve hours away. Do you really have to leave now? I want so much for you to stay and celebrate with me.¡± She knew he had just called Anneliese, but she was confident that she could keep Zacharias by her side. After all, Anneliese was nothingpared to her. For the past two days, women had been calling Zach and pestering him, yet he ignored them Chapter 51 Tricking Him Into Staying all and kept herpany. : 83 +10 Free Coins To her shock, Zacharias slowly pulled his arm free from her grasp. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Selina. I really have to go back.¡± Selina¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°But I¡¯ve already told my friends I¡¯ll be introducing someone very important¡ªsomeone new to the family. ¡°Plus, my parents and brothers are on their way. I even begged them to bring Anne along this time.¡± Zacharias had been determined to leave, his expression unshaken. However, hearing herst sentence, he came to a stop. ¡°Did Anne agree toe along?¡± Selina smiled sweetly. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she? It¡¯s the perfect chance for us to celebrate our birthday together. We¡¯ve never done that before, and I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡± A wave of relief washed over Zacharias at once, realizing his inws must¡¯ve told her that he was in Age. Since she agreed toe, it meant she wasn¡¯t truly angry. When she arrived, he would exin everything and coax her back into good spirits. He¡¯d say he wanted to surprise her bying early to set up the party. By then, Anneliese would surely be touched. ¡°Thank you for inviting Anne.¡± He turned back to Selina with a smile on his face. Selina blinked innocently. ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve been helping me out for two days, and I feel safe around you. How can I let Anne get angry at you? ¡°Don¡¯t me her for being jealous, though¨Cshe just loves you too much.¡± Zacharias¡® expression rxed further. He finally understood why Anneliese had been upset enough to block his number¨Cshe loved Chapter 51 Tricking Him Into Staying and cared for him, of course! 0:0 This time, he would make it up to her when she arrived. 83 +10 Free Coins ¡°I even prepared an evening gown for Anne. Come with me. I¡¯ll try it on first so you can see how it looks.¡± Selina set the tray aside, took his hand, and led him toward the dressing room on the second floor. As if it were the most natural thing in the world for a man and his sister¨Cinw to be alone together, she seemed oblivious that their behavior was improper. Zacharias, lost in the warmth of her closeness, was convinced she was just an open¨Cminded person. However, Selina was smug. The birthday party would be her moment in the spotlight. She¡¯d be at the center of attention, not allowing Anneliese to spoil any part of her big day. The next day, when Anneliese left home, she stood by the elevator for a long time, observing. She watched as a car headed up from the underground garage, floor by floor. Only when it stopped at the 20th floor did she press the button. Anneliese waited, not wanting to bump into Jonathan. She stepped forward when the elevator doors slid open, only to be met by a familiar face. Get full chapters from find~novel The man recognized her instantly, his eyes wide with surprise. Chapter 52 How Humiliating Created 52 Chapter 52 How Humiliating Chapter 52 How Humiliating ¡°Ms. ude? What are you doing here?¡± Anneliese froze when she saw Zion. 83 +10 Free Coins Forcing a smile, she yed it off coolly. ¡°W¨CWhat a coincidence, Mr. Harlon! I live here.¡± Zion looked even more surprised. ¡°What a small world! Mr. Fullbuster lives upstairs. Come on up, Ms. ude.¡± As the elevator doors began to close, he kindly held them open for her. However, Anneliese had no ns of doing so. She quickly waved a hand. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m heading down. I¡¯ll wait for the other elevator.¡± But Zion onlyughed and gave her a gentle tug. ¡°The next one will take a while. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Fullbuster doesn¡¯t dilly¨Cdally. I bet he¡¯s already waiting by the doors. You won¡¯t waste any time.¡± Before she could respond, Anneliese was pulled inside. She hadn¡¯t even steadied herself when the elevator rose one floor above. As if to prove how well Zion knew his superior, there he was¨Cstanding tall andmanding, right outside the doors as they slid open. Zion grinned broadly. ¡°Look who¡¯s here, Mr. Fullbuster. Turns out Ms. ude lives here too. What a coincidence!¡± He nced behind. ¡°Hey, why are you hiding behind me? Ah¨Cha! You¡¯re trying to surprise our CEO, aren¡¯t you?¡± With that, he stepped aside, revealing Anneliese from where she had been shrinking back. Immediately, she felt the full weight of Jonathan¡¯s prating gaze. That was not what she had intended! With her head lowered, Anneliese screamed in silence, thanking Zion for his very thoughtful introduction. Jonathan stepped into the elevator. Anneliese kept her head lowered, shrinking further into Chapter 52 How Humiliating the corner. Just then, his steady voice sounded above her. ¡°Are you hiding something, Ms. ude? Why are your eyes glued to the floor?¡± He was doing it on purpose! Anneliese felt the sheer mischief in the man¡¯s words. 83 +10 Free Coins She rubbed her neck awkwardly. ¡°You see, I have a stiff neck from sleeping funnyst night.¡± One hand in his pocket, Jonathan let his gaze linger on the tips of her ears, flushed as red as if they might bleed. ¡°I see,¡± he mumbledzily. Just as Anneliese let out a sigh of relief, his voice came again, slow and teasing. ¡°Were you overthinking in your dreams too?¡± Her breath hitched in her throat, and she coughed violently. ¡°Are you alright, Ms. ude?¡± Zion, not understanding their cryptic exchange, was rmed by her coughing fit. Jonathan raised a hand and gently patted her back. Startled, Anneliese mped a hand over her mouth, not daring to cough at all. When she finally looked up, she was practically begging him with puppy eyes. Her long hair covered her cheeks, while her face was flushed pink from coughing. Her catlike eyes brimmed with mist, while her long, curledshes fluttered gently. Jonathan¡¯s throat tightened, his gaze darkening. The hand hovering over her back curled loosely into a fist, and he yfully flicked her forehead before slipping his hand back into his pocket. ¡°Just this once. I¡¯ll let it go.¡± Though slightly annoyed at being teased, his words sounded like a royal pardon to her. Chapter 52 How Humiliating 6:0 Anneliese immediately straightened her back in relief. ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± she murmured. Jonathan said nothing more. 83 +10 Free Coins Meanwhile, Zion observed the two of them before zooming in on the side of Jonathan¡¯s neck. ¡°What¡¯s that, Mr. Fullbuster? Did you hurt yourself?¡± Jonathan tilted his head slightly, catching sight of his reflection in the elevator wall. Anneliese¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she followed his gaze, noticing the thin scratch running from his jaw to his neck. It looked exactly like the scrape from when she had hit him earlier with a shopping bag. Just when she thought the matter was behind them, the guilt came back to pierce her again like a boomerang. Her chest tightened. Jonathan¡¯s eyes flickered toward her before he brushed it off nonchntly. Get full chapters from findnovel ¡°A little wildcat scratched me.¡± Zion leaned in for a closer look. ¡°You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s just a light scratch. Otherwise, it¡¯d be trouble. Best to stay away from strays, Mr. Fullbuster. There are plenty of ungrateful strays these days.¡± Anneliese ducked her head, feeling uneasy. Was Zion talking about her? Thankfully, the elevator finally reached the underground garage. She bolted at once. ¡°I¡¯ve got ces to be. Goodbye!¡± Zion stared after her vanishing figure, feeling suspicious. He turned to his boss. ¡°Did you do something to Ms. ude, Mr. Fullbuster? Seems like she¡¯s avoiding you.¡± Created 53 Chapter 53 Calling Them Out Chapter 53 Calling Them Out Instead of stopping, Jonathan merely cast a cold, warning nce at Zion. ¡°She¡¯s just a little girl. What could I possibly do to her?¡± He strode to the car, opened the back door himself, and got in. Zion squinted. 82 +10 Free Coins A little girl? She¡¯s a married woman going through a divorce, possibly hopping into a second marriage. Which part of it makes her one? Mr. Fullbuster, do you even hear the nonsenseing out of your own mouth? Meanwhile, Anneliese was driving toward Astoria University. Just as she neared campus, her phone rang abruptly. The car in front of her swerved like a nervous rookie driver, jerking forward at times and slowing down suddenly. She didn¡¯t dare lose focus, afraid she might crash if the driver braked again. Keeping one hand on the wheel, she answered the phone. Perseus¡® stern voice came through. ¡°Anneliese, your parents and I are at the airport now. The ne¡¯s about to take off. ¡°Hurry over to Donna¡¯s Bakes in Calrough. We need you to pick up a pecan pie and some zed donuts beforeing to the airport.¡± His tone was lofty andmanding, like it were only natural she followed his instructions. Anneliese gripped the steering wheel even tighter. She knew that pecan pie and zed donuts were Selina¡¯s favorites. Just then, she remembered Lenora telling her that the White family was going to celebrate Selina¡¯s birthday together. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on ?ovelFind Chapter 53 Calling Them Out Irritation and bitterness rose in her chest. 82 +10 Free Coins She wasn¡¯t evenpeting with Selina to win over the family¡¯s favor, yet they constantly rubbed it in her face, seemingly as though her feelings didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Are you there, Anneliese?¡± Perseus prompted after receiving no response from her. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have time to head there,¡± Anneliese answered curtly. Inside the VIP lounge at the airport, the entire White family was gathered. Perseus had turned on the speakerphone. Hearing Anneliese¡¯s indifferent refusal, Christopher was the first to snap. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re just a housewife. Zacharias isn¡¯t even around, so what are you putting on airs for?¡± Anneliese could picture the cold, disdainful curl of his lips. She knew it all too well. ¡°Does that mean you know where Zacharias is?¡± she asked with a faint smile. ¡°W¨CWhere else would he be? He¡¯s on a business trip, isn¡¯t he?¡± Christopher¡¯s voice faltered. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t reveal to her that Zacharias was with Selina. If Anneliese made a fuss now, she¡¯d ruin the birthday party Selina had been anticipating for ages. Mnie hurried to smooth things over. ¡°Anne, your sister just called. She¡¯s been craving the pecan pie and zed donuts from Donna¡¯s Bakes. We¡¯re short on time, so could you get them instead?¡± She added, ¡°Think of it as a birthday gift for your sister, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No¡± Anneliese refused immediately. Mnie faltered, stunned by her daughter¡¯s answer. Anneliese spoke up again harshly. ¡°What has she ever given me for my birthday? Also, have you guys forgotten it¡¯s also my birthday? 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 53 Calling Them Out : ¡°Do you know what my favorite food is? Did you even get me a gift?¡± Each question struck like a blow, as though aimed at their very conscience. The lounge fell into a heavy silence. Mnie¡¯s eyes reddened as she snatched up the phone, rushing to exin. ¡°Anne, she¡¯s your older sister!¡± 82 +10 Free Coins Anneliese fired back. ¡°Technically, I was born before Selina, so why does she get to be the eldest daughter of the White family just because she wants to? ¡°Either way, today¡¯s my birthday too. Where are my gifts and blessings?¡± When she realized she¡¯d really forgotten Anneliese¡¯s birthday, Mnie paled in horror. Shame and guilt overcame her at once. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Anne. I¡¯ve been so upied these days. ¡°How about this? Once wee home with Selina, we¡¯ll throw a party to make it up to you, alright?¡± Mnie coaxed gently, convinced that such words would surely pacify Anneliese. But the next second, what she heard was even colder. ¡°Oh. How thoughtful of you.¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re our daughter. We¡¯re all family, and we care for you, Anne.¡± Anneliese chuckled. ¡°If you say so. Anyway, I couldn¡¯t care less about ate birthday party. ¡°But given the time difference, Selina¡¯s birthday is a day behind. That means today is my birthday. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you this once if you celebrate with me now. What do you think?¡± Hearing her words, the rest of the family fell silent. They found it ridiculous. Anneliese wasn¡¯t surprised in the least. ¡°Is anyone still there? Did I say something wrong?¡± 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 53 Calling Them Out : 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°Happy birthday, Anne. We really want to celebrate with you, but preparations have been made for Selina¡¯s party. We can¡¯t pull out now.¡± Created 54 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 54 Doing as They Say Chapter 54 Doing as They Say ¡°You¡¯re noting, are you?¡± Anneliese questioned. 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°You¡¯d fly more than ten hours to attend Selina¡¯s birthday party, but you can¡¯t spare half an hour to drive over and celebrate mine?¡± Anneliese¡¯s words cut sharp, leaving Mnie¡¯s face drained of color. She turned to Timothy beside her. ¡°Tim¡­¡± Timothy finally spoke. ¡°Anne, we¡¯re boarding thest flight today, and the tickets can¡¯t be changed. When we get back, we¡¯ll throw a bted birthday celebration for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯ll make it up to you. This time, we mean it,¡± Mnie quickly added. Anneliese tapped the steering wheel with her finger. ¡°Since when can birthdays be postponed? ¡°Should I crawl back into your womb so you can give birth to me again? ¡°Well, you neither raised me nor loved me¨Cso what does it matter?¡± Mnie¡¯s breath hitched in her throat, and tears began spilling from her eyes. ¡°Are you ming me for everything, Anne? How can you speak to me like this? I love you very much¡­¡± Seeing his wife upset, Timothy snatched the phone away, his voice stern. ¡°Anneliese, your parents gave you life. That doesn¡¯t mean you can nitpick and use us over every little thing! ¡°We¡¯re boarding in less than forty minutes. Go and get those pastries¨Cyou¡¯ll still make it if you hurry. As for the rest, we¡¯ll talk when we get back!¡± As the family¡¯s patriarch, Timothy¡¯smanding voice swiftly crushed the guilt that had begun to stir in the others. In the past, Anneliese respected Timothy deeply. She had always longed for his approval, eager to prove herself. She¡¯d go out of her way to bring him the best tea, all because he enjoyed brewing a cup each afternoon. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find_Novel(. 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 54 Doing as They Say She massaged his head and covered him with a nket whenever he fell asleep from exhaustion in the study. She had searched far and wide for the best remedies to ease his troubled sleep. She wanted to show him she was no less than Selina¨Cthat she was a good daughter. 82 +10 Free Coins But now, she no longer wished to be trapped in the endless cycle of proving and pleasing. She grinned. ¡°Alright. But since Zacharias froze my card, I don¡¯t have any cash on me.¡± Christopher was aware of this. He quickly jumped in, saying, ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll wire you the money right now.¡± ¡°Send me two hundred bucks. Thanks.¡± Anneliese spoke unhurriedly. Christopher¡¯s anger rose, but Perseus tugged his sleeve. ¡°Just give it to her. We can¡¯t let Selina down.¡± After all, two hundred bucks was hardly something they couldn¡¯t afford. Besides, Anneliese was still their younger sister. If that amount could stop her from making a fuss, then so be it. Mnie pressed as well, ¡°Hurry up and wire it to her!¡± Hearing this, Anneliese chuckled to herself. For Selina, they¡¯d agree to anything. She almost regretted asking for so little. On the other end, Mnie sounded sweet and gentle as she coaxed, ¡°Anne, Christopher is sending over the money right away. Get yourself a treat, alright?¡± Just then, her phone pinged, telling her she had received money from Christopher. If she didn¡¯t know that they often gave Selina far more pocket money than this, Anneliese might have believed they valued her as well. ¡°Not to worry, I¡¯ll have the pecan pie and zed donuts delivered soon. I bet Selina will be thrilled,¡± Anneliese remarked before hanging up. She pulled over to the side of the road, ced an online order, and had everything sorted 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 54 Doing as They Say within three minutes. For two hundred bucks, it was an easy job. Half an hourter, a delivery guy arrived at the airport¡¯s VIP lounge, panting hard. 82 +10 Free Coins He poked his head inside and called out in a heavy ent, ¡°Who ordered the pecan pie and zed donuts?¡± The White family was caught off guard, for they¡¯d been expecting Anneliese to show up. When no one answered, the delivery guy raised his voice impatiently. ¡°Which one of you is Selina¡¯spdog? Your order¡¯s here, soe and get it.¡± Christopher, who had just risen to his feet, stopped in his tracks. His face darkened as the other passengers in the lounge looked at him. He wanted to turn back, but the delivery guy had already zeroed in on him. Rushing forward, he shoved the bag into Christopher¡¯s hands, then loudly confirmed, ¡°You¡¯re Selina¡¯spdog, right?¡± Christopher gave the slightest nod and snatched the bag. ¡°Get lost!¡± he muttered through gritted teeth. The delivery guy wasn¡¯t offended and simply snorted. ¡°What are you acting tough for? You¡¯re just shamelessly sucking up to Selina.¡± With that, he bolted out of the lounge. The stic bag crinkled loudly in Christopher¡¯s grip. He¡¯d blown two hundred bucks just to make a fool of himself in public. 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 55 Anneliese, That Brat Created 55 Chapter 55 Anneliese, That Brat The thought of skinning Anneliese alive crossed his mind. 82 +10 Free Coins He tossed the bag of pastries onto the table and grabbed his phone, wanting to call Anneliese and give her a piece of his mind. Mnie stopped him. ¡°Let it slide, Chris. It¡¯s her birthday too. It¡¯s no surprise she¡¯s upset because we forgot about her.¡± ¡°She was insulting us, Mom!¡± Christopher snapped, indignant. Anneliese had clearly referred to them as Selina¡¯spdogs. Mnie sighed. ¡°Well, we never raised Anne ourselves, so she¡¯s got a sharp tongue and a wild personality. It¡¯ll take time.¡± Timothy frowned, clearly irritated. ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s get ready to board.¡± When Anneliese arrived at school, she saw Jackson waiting outside the library. He was carrying a tall stack of books. ¡°Anneliese, I found some journals and papers worth reading. They are all yours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice of you. Thank you very much,¡± Anneliese replied, reaching for them. Jackson took a step back. ¡°They¡¯re heavy. Open the door, and I¡¯ll carry them inside for you.¡± Anneliese smiled, quickly opened the door, and poured him a cup of water. They talked briefly about the books before Jackson made a move. As he walked out of the teaching building with a smile on his face, a figure suddenly dashed out and blocked his path. ¡°Jackson, since when are you friends with Anneliese? She¡¯s not a good woman, so don¡¯t be fooled by her looks!¡± It was Lenora. 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 55 Anneliese, That Brat 82 +10 Free Coins She had just seen them chatting in the corridor,ughing, and even going into a room together. He¡¯d been inside for quite a while before emerging. Lenora had been trying to woo Jackson over for nearly two months, yet he never once smiled at her. Why should Anneliese, that fox, get his attention instead? Jackson¡¯s sunny expression faded, and he frowned immediately. ¡°You¡¯re not in a position to judge others.¡± He stepped around Lenora and walked away. Frustrated, she pulled out her phone. ¡°Jackson, I swear I¡¯m not lying. She¡¯s a married woman! ¡°Yesterday, she was pulling and tugging with a man after leaving campus. They were fighting on the street, and his car nearly got wrecked! ¡°She¡¯s so promiscuous that even her¡ª¡± Lenora trailed off, blushing. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t even bring myself to tell you some of the things she¡¯s capable of. Either way, she¡¯s filthy. If you don¡¯t believe me, see for yourself!¡± Jackson looked at Lenora¡¯s phone. The photo showed a bulky man at a bus stop outside their school, holding Anneliese¡¯s hand. Judging by her clothes, it had been taken that very day. Lenora saw him staring at the photo, convinced that he believed her. She opened her mouth to continue, but Jackson¡¯s cold voice cut her off. ¡°Delete the photo. I¡¯ve seen it already, and if it spreads, it¡¯s on you. ¡°Lenora, I don¡¯t care why you¡¯re trying to ruin her name. However, spreading false rumors is a crime. It doesn¡¯t look good for you either. ¡°If it happens again, I¡¯ll report you to the school. They¡¯ll make someone of your character leave Astoria University.¡± He walked off once he was done speaking, as if staying any longer would taint him. 2/3 Official source is find?novel 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 55 Anneliese, That Brat : Lenora¡¯s chest heaved in anger. Furious, she stomped her foot. 82 +10 Free Coins That afternoon, Anneliese left school with the uneasy feeling of being watched. She nced around several times but saw nothing, assuming it was just the lingering anxiety from running into Jacques at noon. She had driven to school today. Her car drew attention, and she hadn¡¯t wanted to drive into the parking lot, so she parked a distance away. Once inside her car, she thought about buying a second¨Chand vehicle to keep things lowkey. Back home, Anneliese made herself something to eat before taking Meatloaf for a walk downstairs. After twops, she was about to head back when Meatloaf suddenly bolted, pulling hard against the leash. A bad feeling hit her immediately. As Meatloaf barked wildly, Anneliese caught sight of a tall figure ahead of them. She stumbled forward while Meatloaf dragged her along, bumping and tripping toward the man. By the end of it, she was utterly drained. It wasn¡¯t until Meatloaf flopped at Jonathan¡¯s feet and rolled over that she steadied herself, speechless. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think she belongs to you instead¡­¡± she uttered. Jonathan bent down, stroking Meatloaf¡¯s head. Hearing Anneliese say that, he looked at her. ¡°Perhaps,¡± he replied. Anneliese paused, thenughed dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve had Meatloaf for twelve years.¡± Besides, Meatloaf had been a gift from Zacharias. What did Jonathan have to do with her dog? Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf Created 56 Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf Jonathan stared at her, his eyes unreadable. Sure enough, she didn¡¯t seem to remember him at all. 82 +10 Free Coins Anneliese thought for a moment, then added, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you and Meatloaf have the same scent.¡± Her words hung in the air. Seeing Jonathan¡¯s expression darken as he stared at her, she blinked in confusion. Suddenly, he took a long stride toward her. Their distance closed abruptly, well beyond any normal social boundary. His chest nearly brushed against the tip of her nose. In her line of sight, his grey shirt stretched tightly across his torso, hinting at the curve of strong, defined muscles beneath. Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened. She held her breath, momentarily stunned by his actions. ¡°What are you holding your breath for?¡± The man¡¯s low voice sounded from above. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese looked up at him. 17 Her innocent, bewildered look only made him more imposing. Jonathan lowered his gaze and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say I smelled like Meatloaf?¡± Only then did Anneliese realize how inappropriate her words had sounded. She¡¯d just told him he smelled like a dog! She shook her head quickly, trying to rify. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that! I wasn¡¯t implying you¡¯re a dog¡­¡± Good heavens, she was making things worse! Under Jonathan¡¯s increasingly dark and dangerous gaze, Anneliese decided to be bold. Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf : She closed her eyes and leaned in slightly, sniffing him as if she were a little puppy. The crisp, pleasant scent of cedarwood filled her nose. 82 +10 Free Coins She stepped back, blushing slightly. ¡°Done. You smell clean and fresh. Nothing strange about your scent!¡± Atst, Jonathan seemed satisfied, moving his gaze away from her. Anneliese exhaled in relief and hurried to diffuse the situation. ¡°You have a Golden Retriever called Azuki too, right? Why haven¡¯t I seen it anywhere?¡± What she really meant was that Meatloaf had probably sensed a fellow furry friend¡¯s scent on Jonathan, making it excited. Jonathan patted Meatloaf¡¯s head again. His gaze caught the warm glow of the sunset, giving him an unusual warmth, though his voice remained calm and distant. ¡°Azuki passed away many years ago.¡± Anneliese froze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know. You must miss it a lot¡­¡± Even though it had been gone for years, Azuki still appeared as Jonathan¡¯s profile picture. Anneliese could rte. Meatloaf getting old as well, well past the average lifespan for a Golden Retriever. She often worried the day woulde when Meatloaf might not wake up from its nap. When Meatloaf had been staying at the pet boarding shop, it always seemed lethargic. Every time she visited, it barely moved. But now that Anneliese had brought Meatloaf home, it was full of energy. Even though some of the things it did made her sigh in exasperation, she was secretly d. She liked seeing Meatloaf so full of life; it made her feel as if it could stay by her side a little longer. ¡°I haven¡¯t had anything to eat,¡± Jonathan said suddenly. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese was caught off guard again by his abrupt shift in topic. Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ve been very lenient with you. I no longer ept verbal 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf apologies.¡± : 82 +10 Free Coins Anneliese thought of all the trouble she¡¯d caused him; all the embarrassing situations she¡¯d created. Feeling guilty, she pointed upstairs. ¡°How about we head upstairs? I¡¯ll make you something to eat. It¡¯s my way of saying both sorry and thank you.¡± Jonathan said nothing. He simply took Meatloaf¡¯s leash from her hand and strode toward the apartment building. Anneliese smiled and hurried to follow. The sunset stretched a long, brilliant trail across the sky. The afterglow cast the shadows of two humans and a dog among the bushes. When they arrived at the elevator, Jonathan pressed the button for the 26th floor. Anneliese blinked in surprise. ¡°Are we not going to my ce?¡± ¡°I have ingredients at home. Besides, you left something there.¡± ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fin?novel Anneliese froze. She knew he was referring to her two gowns and a wedding ring. She had been too busy fleeing the mortifying scene with Meatloaf to grab them. She dreaded going to Jonathan¡¯s ce, for it felt like returning to the scene of a crime. Her lips moved slightly, and Jonathan, sensing her hesitation, nced at her. ¡°Lemon would like to FaceTime you.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Anneliese agreed. She genuinely liked the little girl. She gathered her emotions. As long as she stayedposed, everything would be alright. Before stepping inside, she hyped herself up and slipped into a pair of indoor slippers. 14:19 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration Created 57 Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration 82 +10 Free Coins Seeing how calm andposed she looked, Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ll go change,¡± he said. ¡°The kitchen is that way. Make yourself at home.¡± ¡°Alright, Jonathan,¡± came Anneliese¡¯s reply. I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m done.¡± She adapted effortlessly into the role of a house helper. By the time Jonathan looked back, she¡¯d already gone into the kitchen without a second thought. That very morning, Anneliese had guarded herself against Jonathan. By the time evening rolled around, she seemed to have let her guard down as though he weren¡¯t a man. He didn¡¯t quite know how to feel about it. He looked like a pampered heir who¡¯d never done a single chore, yet his kitchen was surprisingly well¨Cstocked. The fridge was full, the pantry abundant. Anneliese, mindful of time, decided to keep it simple and just make a bowl of pasta. She boiled some water, cooked the pasta, and quickly prepared two servings. She then added a few key ingredients. She washed and chopped some basil, made some chili oil, and poured it over the pasta, filling the air with a savory aroma. She pan¨Cfried two eggs, gave everything a toss, and sprinkled some parmesan. It looked and smelled delicious. Anneliese took one final whiff, satisfied with her creation. She loosened her apron, about to call for Jonathan, when she froze. Leaning against the kitchen doorway was a tall, slender figure. Jonathan had made his way into the kitchen silently. He was dressedfortably in a baby blue V¨Cneck cardigan and a pair of gray wide¨Cleg pants. The man looked rxed yet refined, and undeniably sexy¨Ca stark contrast to his sharp suit from earlier. 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 82 Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration +10 Free Coins He even looked a bit younger, almost like a college boy Anneliese might have seen on campus. In truth, Jonathan was only twenty¨Csix. Oftentimes, his presence andmanding aura overshadowed his youth. This unexpected shift was startling, but a feast for the eyes. Anneliese froze, but Jonathan had already stepped forward. ¡°Why are you standing there like an idiot? Go and sit in the dining room. I¡¯ll bring dinner over.¡± Instinctively, Anneliese walked to the dining room. Only after sitting down did she realize something felt off. The source of th?s content is find?novel She hade to cook as an apology, but now, it seemed like she was being treated to dinner. However, Jonathan returned momentster with two tes of pasta, cing one in front of her before pulling out a chair opposite her. Snapping back to herself, Anneliese smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know how much you¡¯d eat, so I made a little extra. We can share the rest.¡± Jonathan handed her some utensils. ¡°This is more than enough. Let¡¯s dig in.¡± Anneliese pressed her lips into a small smile. She had only snacked lightly that afternoon, and walking the dog had made her a bit hungry. More importantly, it was her birthday. The White family¡¯s antics had ruined her day. Quietly, she had hoped someone would share a simple meal with her on a day like this. She hadn¡¯t expected it to be Jonathan, though. Life worked that way sometimes¨Cfamiliar people drifted away, while strangers gradually became close. Anneliese rxed. It felt like she had a small secret tucked in her heart. She stole a nce at Jonathan, but unexpectedly, their eyes met. He¡¯d been looking at her, but his gaze seemed questioning. She quickly dropped her gaze after being caught pecking, but she felt his presence linger. 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration Anneliese looked at him again. ¡°I just wanted to see if you liked my pasta.¡± 82 +10 Free Coins Jonathan finally withdrew his gaze, but felt she wasn¡¯t telling the full truth. He was about to take his first bite when Anneliese¡¯s phone rang. It was her grandmother from Baytree, and she smiled at once. She raised the phone to answer, then gestured for Jonathan to stay quiet. He nodded, and she stepped to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window to take the call. ¡°Good evening, Grandma. Are you back from your evening walk?¡± It was her grandmother¡¯s usual post¨Cdinner stroll. ¡°Have you had dinner yet, Annie? I wish you eternal peace and happiness, my dear, and that all wishese true.¡± your Anneliese had returned to the White family, where they¡¯d forgotten her birthday. Nheless, she did not tell her grandmother about it. Still, the old woman remembered Anneliese¡¯s birthday, and having someone who genuinely cared¨Cthat was what family meant. ¡°Thank you, Grandma. Yes, I¡¯m having dinner right now. Don¡¯t worry.¡± 14.20 82 Chapter 58 A Quiet Celebration Created 58 Chapter 58 A Quiet Celebration Chapter 58 A Quiet Celebration ¡°Did you eat cake? What about Zacharias? Is he with you?¡± +10 Free Coins ¡°Yeah, we had a candlelight dinner tonight. We¡¯re on our way home now. He¡¯s driving, so he can¡¯t talk, but he asked me to say hi to you.¡± Anneliese hadn¡¯t told her grandma about the divorce. Zacharias had grown up under her grandma¡¯s care. If her grandma knew what he had be, she would be even more upset than Anneliese. Her health wasn¡¯t good, and she lived so far away. Anneliese didn¡¯t want to worry her. She nned to go back to her hometown after the divorce, before leaving Oceaton, to spend time with her grandma and talk things through. ¡°That¡¯s good. Oh, I sent you some money through WhatsApp. I had to ask my neighbor Lisa¡¯s granddaughter, Emily, to teach me for half a day before I figured it out. You have to ept it, okay? ¡°Emily said, if you don¡¯t, it¡¯ll bounce back.¡± Anneliese¡¯s nose stung. ¡°Grandma, I¡­ got it!¡± Her grandma had been tough her whole life. She never wanted the retirement money Anneliese gave her and only agreed to hire a helper after much convincing. Life was already tight for her, yet she still wanted to send a gift for Anneliese¡¯s birthday. Worried she wouldn¡¯t ept it, her grandma reminded her again before hanging up. Anneliese opened the app, epted the money, and sent a photo from her birthday to her grandma. When she sat back down at the table, she noticed Jonathan hadn¡¯t started eating yet. She looked at him in surprise. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, don¡¯t wait for me. The noodles won¡¯t taste good if they sit too long.¡± Jonathan looked at her. ¡°How¡¯s your grandma¡¯s health?¡± Anneliese paused for a moment, thinking that the higher a person¡¯s status, the more polite and well¨Cmannered they seemed to be. She nodded and smiled. ¡°She¡¯s doing fine, thanks for : 82 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 58 A Quiet Celebration asking.¡± Jonathan gave a small nod and lifted his brow slightly. ¡°Your birthday?¡± +10 Free Coins Anneliese smiled. ¡°You know my situation. Sorry you had to hear me lic just now.¡± She meant lying to her grandma. Jonathan didn¡¯tment. He just stood up. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± He picked up a square ss cup nearby and went into the kitchen. Anneliese wasn¡¯t sure what he was doing. Resting her chin on her hand, she didn¡¯t wait long before he came back. He set the ss cup in front of her. She saw something inside¨Crice grains sat at the bottom with a thinyer of oil on top. Holding a cotton swab, Jonathan snapped the swab in half, dipped the tip in the water, and stuck it in like a wick. From somewhere, he pulled out a metal lighter. With a flick of his wrist, the lighter clicked, and a small me appeared at his fingertips. ¡°Want to light it yourself?¡± He handed her the lighter. Outside, thest of the sunset faded. Through the small me, his face looked hazy, but his long, sharp eyes reflected the fire, and it made her heart beat faster. She felt almost drawn in. Taking the lighter, her fingers brushed his for a moment, and the me wavered. She held it close to the cotton swab in the ss. Like a candlewick, it caught fire immediately. Jonathan took the lighter back from her hand, snapped it shut, and set it on the table. His voice was calm. ¡°Go ahead, make a wish.¡± Anneliese looked at him. He curved his lips in a small smile and gestured at the me. Sometimes, the atmosphere just made things feel strange. Right then, Jonathan didn¡¯t feel like someone she had just met. He felt more like someone she had known for years and maybe even someone close to her. 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 58 A Quiet Celebration 82 +10 Free Coins Her eyes grew warm. Hershes trembled as she quickly sped her hands together and closed her eyes. She shut out all distracting thoughts. She wished for her grandma to live long and stay healthy; for Meatloaf to always be by her side; for her divorce to go through smoothly, and for a fresh start; for peace in the years ahead; and for the health and safety of the man who had spent her birthday with her. It felt a little greedy, but she silently counted to three before opening her eyes and blowing out the me. Jonathan pped, and the chandelier above lit up. His gaze met hers across the table. Her eyes sparkled, and her lips parted as if she was deeply moved but didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Jonathan¡­¡± He raised a brow, and for the first time, thought his name sounded nice. Then, he heard her say, sincerely, ¡°You¡¯re such a good person.¡± Official source is find~novel The smile faded from his eyes, reced by his usual cool, distant look. The corner of his lips tugged slightly. ¡°Eat your noodles.¡± Created 59 Chapter 59 An Unwanted Call : 82 +10 Free Coins He picked up his fork and lowered his head to eat the noodles, like even looking at her once more was annoying. Anneliese gave him a look full of annoyance. After dinner, she offered to do the dishes, but Jonathan silently picked up the two bowls and went straight into the kitchen. Anneliese thought it would be rude to leave with Meatloaf right then, so she stayed in the living room. That was when Selina¡¯s video call came in. She answered with a nk face. On the screen, Selina wore a pink¨Cpurple gown, her makeup perfect, and a full set of emerald jewelry. She waved and smiled. ¡°Anne, I¡¯m throwing a birthday party today. My parents and brothers are alling to celebrate. I was trying on my outfit when I suddenly remembered that today¡¯s your birthday back home. Happy birthday! Oh, and can you check my makeup and dress? Tell me what you think.¡± She held the phone out and turned it around to show herself from all angles. Her eyes and smile were full of pride and joy, clearly trying to get under Anneliese¡¯s skin. She wanted Anneliese to get upset, jealous, lose control, or even break down. But Anneliese stayed calm. She looked at her like she was watching a clown. ¡°Everything matches fine. The emerald¡¯s bright, suits you well. Like frosting that looks sweet but is already turning bad. I can almost smell it through the screen.¡± Anneliese wrinkled her nose, waved her hand, and frowned. ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s gone off. That fake sweetness really stinks.¡± Selina¡¯s smile froze, her face turned cold, and then she gave a sigh. ¡°Anne, my parents and brothers are all here, but they didn¡¯t bring you. Even Zach stayed here. You¡¯re upset about that, aren¡¯t you?¡± Anneliese let out a coldugh. Selina continued. ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. Look, your eyes are red.¡± DNEY CHA 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 59 An Unwanted Call 82 +10 Free Coins Selina covered her mouth andughed. She wore an emerald bracelet on her wrist and dangled it in front of the camera for a moment. Anneliese thought it looked familiar, but before she could get a good look, Selina lowered her hand. Seeing Selina¡¯s smug face, Anneliese rolled her eyes. Her eyes were red. From hate. How could she not hate? Seeing Selina¡¯s fake innocent face brought back memories of that night when she was eighteen. She remembered being dragged into a dark alley, her mouth covered, only able to make desperate whimpers like a trapped animal. She remembered how her clothes were ripped, those filthy hands roaming over her¡­ They even pulled out a camera. If she hadn¡¯t fought back, she didn¡¯t know what would have happened. In the end, she only scared them off because of how badly she was hurt. She had crawled through the darkness, bleeding, as if the alley would never end. The scar on her stomach was still deep, and the nightmares came often. How could she not hate? But she had no evidence. In the past two days, she had secretly checked the bank records of Zacharias and the White family after her ident four years ago. There hadn¡¯t been anyrge or unusual transactions. After four years, with so many people protecting Selina, it was unlikely any proof remained. Anneliese¡¯s eyes grew redder, her whole body sinking into those memories, when Selina suddenly eximed. ¡°Oh! Anne, who¡¯s with you? I think I see a man!¡± Anneliese turned and saw Jonathaning out of the kitchen after washing the dishes. He was tall, standing at the counter pouring water, his silhouette falling into the camera¡¯s view. 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 59 An Unwanted Call 82 +10 Free Coins Anneliese quickly adjusted the angle of her phone and sneered. ¡°Can¡¯t I have a drink with a friend on my birthday? Thanks for the concern, but my life is fun and never lonely. Sorry to disappoint you.¡± She hung up, stood up, and put a leash on Meatloaf. ¡°Thanks for the birthday candle. I had a good time. A friend invited me out to celebrate, so I¡¯ll get going. Don¡¯t want to bother you anymore.¡± Jonathan walked over and gave her a small nod. ¡°Take your things.¡± There was a shopping bag and a jewelry box on the coffee table. Anneliese nodded, walked over, and took out a box with the little dress she had bought for Lemon. ¡°This one¡¯s for Lemon. Can you pass it to her for me? Otherwise, it¡¯d just go to waste. By the way, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d video call her?¡± She handed the box to Jonathan, but he didn¡¯t take it. ¡°It¡¯s toote today. Kids go to bed early. You can give it to her yourself another time.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anneliese put the box back in the bag. Her eyes fell on the jewelry box with the wedding ring inside, and her brow furrowed. She had thrown that ring away that night. Something once discarded was not something she ever wanted back. Original content can be found at find(?)ovel Created 60 Chapter 60 No Regrets Chapter 60 No Regrets : She paused for a moment, then turned back to look at Jonathan. ¡°Can I ask for a birthday gift?¡± 82 +10 Free Coins Jonathan hadn¡¯t gotten Anneliese a birthday gift. First, he had only just realized it was her birthday. Second, with the way things were between them now, even if he gave her something, she probably wouldn¡¯t ept it. He didn¡¯t expect her to ask herself. A small smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Of course.¡± He was curious what she would ask for. Anneliese pointed at the ring box. ¡°The Fullbuster Group should have its own charity foundation, right? Could you do me a favor and donate this ring to help elderly people who lost their only child?¡± The channels she could reach on her own might not be reliable. Donating the ring would help those elderly people and count as doing something good in her grandmother¡¯s name. At least the ring would get put to use. Jonathan looked at her. ¡°That¡¯s all you want for your birthday?¡± ¡°Yes. Letting go of the past is the best gift I can give myself. If you help me make this wish happen, that¡¯s also the best gift you could give me.¡± Jonathan smiled. ¡°Alright, but are you sure? No regrets?¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t hesitate. Her voice was steady. ¡°I won¡¯t regret it.¡± In Age, Selina saw a man¡¯s shadow cross Anneliese¡¯s screen and gasped. ¡°What happened?¡± 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 60 No Regrets : Zacharias heard the sound and quickly came into the dressing room. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find{n}ovel 82 +10 Free Coins Selina hurriedly ced her phone face down on the vanity and pressed a hand to her chest. ¡°Zach, I just saw a really scary video. Did I disturb you?¡± Of course, she didn¡¯t tell him she had been on a call with Anneliese and that there seemed to be a man with her. If Zacharias knew, he¡¯d probably leave right away. She needed him to stay until after her birthday party. She wanted Anneliese to know that whatever Selina wanted¨Cperson or thing¨CAnneliese could never take it from her. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay,¡± Zacharias said, nodding. He was about to leave, but Selina held his hand. Zacharias turned back. She looked up at him, her eyes soft, and gently swung her arm. The emerald bracelet on her wrist swayed with the movement. Its glossy green color made her pale skin look even fairer. She touched it, her eyes full of memories, then looked at Zacharias. ¡°Zach, thank you for letting me wear this bracelet today. It¡¯s Grandma¡¯s keepsake, the family heirloom passed down to daughters. ¡°I know I¡¯m not my parents¡® biological child, so it made sense that Grandma gave it to Anne back then. I¡¯m not trying to take it from her. I just really miss Grandma. ¡°She wore this bracelet her whole life. It carries her warmth. Being able to wear it for even half a day is enough for me. Thank you for granting me this wish.¡± Her face showed longing and sorrow, and tears slipped down her cheeks. Zacharias raised his hand to wipe them, but he stopped halfway and curled his fingers back. Selina quickly wiped them away herself and said lightly, ¡°Don¡¯tugh at me. I just miss Grandma too much.¡± Zacharias¡® lips curved. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. Grandma is watching from above. She¡¯d be touched to see how devoted you are. But Anne doesn¡¯t know I lent you the bracelet. At the airport, remember to take it off. She mustn¡¯t see it.¡± 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 60 No Regrets 82 +10 Free Coins Back then, their grandma had given the bracelet to Anneliese. Out of jealousy, Selina had acted on impulse and hired a few people to scare Anneliese. It happened right after she had just turned eighteen. She only wanted to scare Anneliese and maybe grab a few hundred dors. She hadn¡¯t expected things to go so far. Still, the bracelet had caused it all. If Anneliese found out Zacharias had lent it to Selina, she would be upset again. Lately, Anneliese had been quick to anger, and Zacharias didn¡¯t want to cause more trouble or make her upset. So, the bracelet had to stay hidden. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure Anne never sees it,¡± he said. Selina smiled and lowered her gaze to the bracelet. Anneliese hadn¡¯te along anyway, so she wouldn¡¯t see it. But as far as Selina knew, Anneliese didn¡¯t have any close male friends. Who was the man celebrating her birthday with her? And why did that figure look so familiar? Not long after Anneliese got home, Jessica showed up. ¡°Babe,e on, I¡¯ve got everything set up. Tonight, we¡¯re going all out¨Cno going home until we¡¯re drunk!¡± Created 61 Chapter 61 Trading Up Chapter 61 Trading Up 82 +10 Free Coins Anneliese was pulled back to her room, changed into a flirty little dress, and dragged out the door. When they reached the ground floor, Jessica spotted the shiny new purple Maserati and clicked her tongue. ¡°There are so many rich people in the world. Why can¡¯t I be one of them?¡± The next second, her dream car shed its lights at her. Jessica rubbed her eyes while Annelieseughed and pressed the car keys into her hand. ¡°Go spend some time with your dream car.¡± Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Jessica ran her hand over the steering wheel with a sigh. ¡°Babe, why didn¡¯t you leave that jerk Zacharias sooner? Wasn¡¯t the luxury car tempting, or was the divorce settlement too big to give up?¡± Anneliese agreed. ¡°Back then, my head wasn¡¯t clear.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really clear now?¡± Jessica asked as she drove out. Anneliese looked firm, but if Zacharias tried to win her back, Jessica worried she might give in. Anneliese used to give him everything without holding back. In a marriage, the one at fault was usually the one who was spoiled and took things for granted. Annelieseughed. ¡°Of course. What would I want him for? His bad habits? The fact he¡¯s almost thirty and already losing his charm? Or maybe his crazy mom, his clueless sister, or that scheming ex he can¡¯t let go of?¡± Jessica nodded quickly. ¡°Exactly! After the divorce, we can find a younger, sweeter boy toy. Isn¡¯t that better? Tonight, I¡¯ll let you see what it¡¯s like to be a yer¡± Half an hourter, they arrived at a private room in Velour. Anneliese looked at the lineup of more than ten male escorts in different outfits and roles. She realized being a yer wasn¡¯t as easy as it sounded. 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 61 Trading Up : 82 +10 Free Coins Jessica pulled out one hundred thousand in cash and pped the stacks onto the table. With one hand on her hip and a foot on the coffee table, she grabbed a pile of bills and tossed them into the room. ¡°Say nice things. Give my girl all the emotional value she deserves. Do it well and I¡¯ll reward you.¡± She made that hundred thousand look like millions with her bold, carefree attitude. The escorts at Velour had seen a lot. A hundred thousand usually didn¡¯t impress them. But this was a high¨Cend club where women usually just swiped their cards. Seeing someone throw cash like this was rare. And honestly, cash felt more exciting. Besides, all they had to do was say sweet things. With such a stunning woman in front of them, they would have done it even without money. The men crowded around Anneliese, who rubbed her forehead. She knew the hundred thousand came from the two hundred thousand she had transferred when Jessica helped her set up surveince at Coral¡¯s ce. After splitting it with Miles and another partner, Celine, the rest went to Jessica. Not wanting to waste her friend¡¯s effort, she sat and epted it with a smile. ¡°Baby, I¡¯ve never had a wife since I was young. Please feel sorry for me. Can you be mine?¡± one escort said. ¡°In your dreams! You¡¯re shameless. Pretty girl, look at me instead. Use your beauty on me. I¡¯d love to fall for it,¡± another said. ¡°Step aside! Why does such a beautiful woman look a little sad? If you¡¯re tired, why not rest in my heart? You can stay there forever,¡± one more said. Men dressed as doctors, race car drivers, and more surrounded Anneliese. To be fair, it really did help her forget her worries for a while, and she couldn¡¯t stopughing. Then a tall man dressed as a pilot stepped forward. He was about to push the others aside and take his ce. 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 61 Trading Up Jessica looked at him, blocked his way, and said in a helpless tone, ¡°You better not.¡± 82 Read full story at Find?Novel +10 Free Coins The man had broad shoulders, a slim waist, long legs, and a cocky charm. In the pilot¡¯s uniform, he looked convincing. Among the escorts, he was one of the top picks. But Jessica had recently seen Jonathan in a real pilot¡¯s uniform. That had been breathtaking. After seeing the real thing, this knockoff just looked cheap. Theparison was harsh. The man looked unhappy at being stopped. ¡°Why not me? I really like her. I won¡¯t even take the service fee. Just give me a chance.¡± He pushed aside the ¡°doctor¡± in front of Anneliese and dropped to one knee before her. With a face full of affection, he said, ¡°Guess which uniform I like best?¡± He gave her a meaningful smile, then added under her stunned gaze, ¡°It¡¯s the one you wear for me.¡± Anneliese was speechless. Under the dim lights, his features looked sharp, and the uniform seemed real. For a moment, with his head slightly lowered and the cap brim casting a shadow, he almost looked like someone else. Created 62 Chapter 62 Dragged Into Danger +10 Free Coins Updates are released by F¦Énd£Îovel A sudden image shed through Anneliese¡¯s mind¨CJonathan pinning her down on the couch, slowly leaning closer. She could almost smell the clean, woodsy scent on him. In his uniform, he seemed as distant and untouchable as a snowcapped peak. But if he were kneeling in front of her like this¡­ ¡°You¡¯re blushing!¡± Jessica gave her a push, snapping Anneliese back to her senses. She shook her head, but the heat in her face only grew stronger. Why was she thinking of him now? Was she out of her mind, letting herself get distracted like this? Men in uniform like him were nothing but trouble. She needed to wake up. ming the atmosphere, Anneliese stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom. You guys keep ying.¡± ¡°Want me to go with you?¡± Jessica looked worried, but Anneliese shook her head. She had just seen Jessica sitting on the floor arm wrestling like a boxer. Better to let her keep having fun. At Maple Bay, Jonathan stepped out of the shower, towel¨Cdrying his hair. His phone buzzed on the cab. He answered while facing the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. Joel¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Zane¡¯s back. Let¡¯s get together tonight. ¡°Not going¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so cold. It¡¯s a long night. You don¡¯t have a woman around, and you don¡¯t have a flight mission, right? I know a new club that just opened¨CNocturne. Supposed topete with Velour¡­¡± These days, Jonathan mainly handled AcroAir¡¯s management and strategy. He barely flew anymore, only keeping up flights on key routes to maintain his license. Even so, if his friends 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 62 Dragged Into Danger invited him out ten times, he might show up twice. Joel figured he¡¯d get ignored again, but to his surprise, Jonathan replied. ¡°Velour?¡± Jonathan¡¯s hand paused as he wiped his hair. Hearing his interest, Joel raised his voice. 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°You don¡¯t know Velour? It¡¯s the most famous yground for rich women in Oceaton, with high¨Cend male escorts. But Nocturne¡¯s different¨Cit¡¯s paradise for men. That ce¡­¡± If he remembered right, someone had mentioned Velour before leaving. High¨Cend male escorts, huh? Jonathan tapped his phone with his fingers. The window reflected his unreadable eyes. A droplet slid from hisshes onto his chest before running down his abs and disappearing under the towel at his waist. He looked away, turned, and cut Joel off in a low voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Velour.¡± ¡°What? No, I said Nocturne, not Velour. Jonathan, you¡ª¡± Before Joel finishedining, the call ended. At Velour, Anneliese took a moment in the restroom to breathe, then bumped into a man in the hallway. It was Jacques. Her face changed, and she turned to run. ¡°Finally caught you! Let¡¯s see where you go this time!¡± Jacques Junged, grabbing her and dragging her toward a private room. She struggled and tried to shout, but he covered her mouth. His grip was strong and his expression vicious¨Cthis time, he wasn¡¯t letting her go. He sneered. ¡°Stop fighting. You think your husband¡¯s any better? Six months ago, when I kept pestering you, it was because he told me to. He¡¯d show up at the right time to y the hero, 14:20 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 62 Dragged Into Danger : 82 +10 Free Coins then use it to talk you into quitting your job. Now you¡¯re on bad terms with him, so what are you still protecting yourself for? You¡¯re an idiot.¡± Dragged along, Anneliese froze as his words sank in, a chill spreading through her. She clutched the doorframe with all her strength, her eyes burning with anger. Zacharias! How many lies had he told her? Jacques frowned and reached to pry her fingers off. Bang! A kick sent him flying into the wall before he copsed to the floor. ¡°Run!¡± Anneliese was pulled by the arm, and she instinctively followed. After two turns, she stopped, bracing on her knees to catch her breath. Only then did she see who had saved her. ¡°Jameson? Thank you.¡± Jameson leaned on the wall with one hand, catching his breath, and smiled. ¡°That¡¯s the third time I¡¯ve bailed you out. Don¡¯t think you can just thank me and be done.¡± ¡°Third time?¡± Jameson clicked his tongue. ¡°I was the one who rammed Jacques¡® car before, too.¡± Anneliese looked surprised. It all seemed like too much of a coincidence. But for now, he really had helped her. She smiled sincerely. ¡°So how do you want me to thank you, Mr. Tate?¡± ¡°Nothing big. Juste sit in my booth for a while and have a couple of drinks.¡± Created 63 Chapter 63 The Trap Chapter 63 The Trap Anneliese found it hard to say no, so she nodded. 82 +10 Free Coins When the door to the private room opened, she looked inside and saw five people sitting around, both men and women. Seeing it wasn¡¯t just Jameson, she felt relieved. She walked in, greeted everyone, and poured herself three sses of wine. ¡°I¡¯ll drink three toasts to you, Mr. Tate.¡± She lifted her head and finished one ss. As she bent down to grab the second, Jameson reached out and stopped her hand. ¡°One is enough.¡± ¡°Well, look at that. Even Mr. Tate knows how to be soft now,¡± someone joked. Jameson gave them a look, and the group just smirked and went back to what they were doing. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit for a bit? Do you want me to pick a song for you?¡± Fresh chapters posted on Find_Novel(. Anneliese shook her head. ¡°I came with a friend, so I won¡¯t stay. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal another time.¡± He looked disappointed. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll walk you over. Wouldn¡¯t be good if you ran into Jacques again.¡± She agreed, so they left the room together. ¡°Let¡¯s go this way, take a detour,¡± he said. She nodded. Earlier, when she ran with Jameson, she had panicked and lost track of direction. However, after only a short walk, she felt something was off. Her vision blurred, and her body grew weaker. By the time she realized she had been drugged, it was toote. Jameson suddenly leaned in, grabbed her shoulders, and caught her against him as her body slid down the wall. Anneliese red at him. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. Am I any worse than Jacques?¡± His voice sounded caring as he 14:21 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 63 The Trap reached to touch her lips. She clenched her teeth and turned her head away. 82 +10 Free Coins She had thought it was too much of a coincidence. She had picked the drinks herself from the table at random. She hadn¡¯t expected it still wouldn¡¯t be safe. It seemed all the drinks on that table had been spiked. ¡°You¡¯re even worse than him.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m more sincere. I really like you. I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± Jameson bent down, lifted her into his arms, and walked quickly toward the elevator. Anneliese didn¡¯t fight back. She secretly reached for her phone in the back pocket of her dress. Her hands shook as she held down the volume button, calling her emergency contact. She tried to be careful, but he noticed. He yanked her hand away just as the call connected. His expression darkened. He shoved her against the wall and covered her mouth while throwing her phone aside. ¡°Help¡­ Help me!¡± She managed to shout at the same time. ¡°Mmmph!¡± The phone hit the wall, dropped to the floor, and its screen cracked, but the call stayed connected. Jameson frowned. Anneliese¡¯s eyes lit with a small hope. But then, Selina¡¯s cheerful voice came through before the call ended. ¡°Anne? Sorry, what did you just say? I didn¡¯t hear you. Zacharias is in the shower, and we¡¯re heading to the airport to pick up our parents. If you got yourself into trouble, handle it on your own. ¡°If you really can¡¯t, then just ept it, like you did four years ago. You made it through back then, didn¡¯t you? Good luck, bye.¡± The light in Anneliese¡¯s eyes faded. She had forgotten. Her emergency contact had always been Zacharias. Chapter 63 The Trap : Back when she was eighteen and in the hospital, Zacharias had set it up himself. 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll protect my girl. I promise, no matter when or where, if Anne is in danger, I¡¯ll be the first one there.¡± Six months ago, Jacques had tried to touch her during a business meeting. She had secretly called her emergency contact then. That time, Zacharias had shown up right away, hit Jacques, and shielded her behind him. She had foolishly believed he was her protector, but now she realized it had been a lie. Zacharias had always been the knife cutting into her. He was thest hand pushing her down. Anger and hatred rose inside her. ¡°See? Zacharias is busy with another woman. He doesn¡¯t care about you. He¡¯s not worth your loyalty. Be good, I¡¯ll make sure you enjoy it.¡± Jameson picked her up again, stomped twice on the phone, and kicked it into the corner. He carried her into the elevator as her body grew weaker and hotter, her mind slipping away. When the doors closed, someone stepped out of the shadows. It was Melody. She lowered her head and sent a text message. Created 64 Chapter 64 Quirky Preferences ¡®Don¡¯t forget to press record.¡¯ Anneliese, since you struck first, don¡¯t me me for striking back. 82 +10 Free Coins As long as Anneliese was caught cheating on video, she wouldn¡¯t have to fear the woman backing out of the divorce. The evidence of her son¡¯s affair in Anneliese¡¯s hands would lose its value. After all, both had been unfaithful. She would never allow Anneliese to walk away with that 500 million divorce settlement. Nor would she have to worry about her son exploding with rage once he learned the divorce had been finalized, or if he refused to let go. With Jameson¡¯s help, she¡¯d be able to kill several birds with one stone. A wave of relief washed over Melody as she put on her sunsses, turned around, and strode away. Back in Age, Zacharias stepped out of the guest room, where Selina was already waiting in the living room. She stood there with a smile, handing him his phone. Read full story at find~novel ¡°You dropped this on the table just now.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Zacharias took his phone and checked it immediately, wanting to see if Anneliese had called or texted. Seeing nothing, he frowned slightly. Selina chuckled. ¡°Are you missing Anne already? Who knew you were this clingy, Zach? ¡°She should be on the ne right now. We¡¯ll go pick her up soon, and you¡¯ll see her then. Quit sulking, or I¡¯d feel guilty.¡± She leaned in closer, winking mischievously at him. Chapter 64 Quirky Preferences +10 Free Coins Zacharias seemed a little awkward as he pocketed his phone. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that Anne hasn¡¯t been answering her calls. She¡¯s such a handful.¡± Even as he spoke, he quickened his pace toward the door. The way he couldn¡¯t wait to get to the airport made Selina scoff. Jonathan climbed out of the Maybach, his frame tall and imposing as he stood outside Velour. Two other luxury cars pulled into the lot almost at the same time, parking right next to him. Their doors opened, and three men, all striking in looks and bearing, got out one after another. ¡°Why are we meeting here?¡± Carter Chevalier, with sharp features that made him look almost androgynous and a dainty mole at the corner of his right eye, gave off a gentle, harmless air as he shut his car door. Joel pointed toward Jonathan. ¡°Ask him. It was his pick.¡± ¡°Velour, huh? Isn¡¯t this practically a modern¨Cday brothel?¡± Zane Shayman was a tall, broad¨Cshouldered man. Dressed in leather tonight, he had an easy, dashing charm to him. He strode toward Jonathan and threw an arm around his shoulder, twisting his sharp features into an exaggerated wink. ¡°Jonathan, have you finally given up holding back and decided to confess those feelings you¡¯ve been hiding all this time?¡± Jonathan red at him. ¡°You must¡¯ve been in Age for too long. You swing both ways now, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hell no. I¡¯m straight as theye!¡± Zane protested, frowning. ¡°Also, falsely using awyer is an extra crime! Unless, of course, someone as good¨Clooking as you were willing to bend me himself.¡± ¡°Hand.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes flicked coldly to the hand on his shoulder. Chapter 64 Quirky Preferences Zane immediately raised it, looking as though he was surrendering. 82 *10 Free Coins Jonathan entered the club wordlessly, his long legs moving in steady, confident strides. The others followed a step behind. ¡°Why do I feel like he¡¯s here to catch someone cheating? He¡¯s practically burning with anger,¡± Zane muttered, watching Jonathan¡¯s back. Joel replied cryptically, ¡°If anything, it¡¯s usually someone else catching him.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Carter lifted a brow. Something about that sounded loaded. Joel only chuckled to himself, not daring to say it outright. Thest time, he¡¯d gotten the impression Jonathan had a peculiar fondness for other men¡¯s wives. Velour was usually filled with female clientele. Male guests came too, but they were rare. For men of Jonathan and his friends¡® status, this was truly a first. The manager, trembling with nerves, led them into a private room. Jonathan sat down on the couch, his gaze sweeping over the manager who stood stiffly, waiting for further instructions. ¡°Velour is famous for its male escorts, am I right?¡± ¡°Those guys? They¡¯re hardly worth mentioning, and definitely not as famous as the four of you The manager forced a smile, his heart pounding. ¡°But if you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll get my best men toe by!¡± He¡¯d never heard of these four having such quirky preferences. Even if one of them did, surely not all four? Or had today¡¯s tycoons grown tired of women and collectively switched tastes? Joel tossed the lighter he¡¯d been fiddling with onto the table. Chapter 64 Quirky Preferences 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°Don¡¯t give us that look. The three of us are perfectly normal. We¡¯re just here to keep him have to order male escorts here?¡± ¡°Well, not exactly¡­¡± ¡°Did all the female patrons tonight order male escorts?¡± The manager answered honestly, ¡°Yes, most of them have. After all, peoplee here to have fun.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d said anything wrong, but suddenly, the atmosphere seemed chilly. ¡°And how exactly do these escorts entertain their guests?¡± ¡°They¡¯d have a few drinks, talk, sing, dance, y card games¡­¡± The atmosphere became even more tense. ¡°Keep going¡± ¡°They¡¯d give out massages, a foot rub¡­¡± 14:21 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 65 We¡¯re a Legitimate Business ¡°And?¡± The man¡¯s oppressive gaze made the manager¡¯s knees buckle. If he said another word, the whole club might not survive the night. He gulped, waving his hands quickly. ¡°That¡¯s all, Mr. Fullbuster! We¡¯re a legitimate business!¡± Zane caught onto something. 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°Oh, I get it! You offer special services at a premium price, and it sounds like you have a private for that.¡± space Jonathan¡¯s expression darkened. Immediately, he stood up and strode toward the exit. The manager hurried after him. Having worked at Velour for so long, he was sharp and experienced. He¡¯d seen his fair share of mening in to catch cheating partners before. But he could tell Jonathan wasn¡¯t here to fool around. He was on a mission to catch a cheater, cause trouble, and maybe even trash the ce. Whoever dared cheat on Jonathan Fullbuster must be blind. Meanwhile, Jonathan had already left the private room. Find the newest release on fin?novel He nced at the manager, about to question him, when a somewhat familiar woman came rushing over in a panic. ¡°My friend is missing! Where did you take her?¡± She continued, ¡°If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll burn this ce down with my bare hands!¡± The manager had dealt with troublemakers many times. He was about to brush her off and signal security to remove her when Jonathan¡¯s deep voice sounded. ¡­ : 82 Chapter 65 We¡¯re a Legitimate Business ¡°Are you talking about Anneliese?¡± Jessica turned and recognized him instantly. She hurriedly nodded. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s Anne. She told me she was going to the bathroom but never came back. +10 Free Coins ¡°I¡¯ve been looking around for her, but all I found was this. Something must have happened to her!¡± In her hand was a broken phone. Jonathan recognized the case immediately¨Cthere was no doubt it belonged to Anneliese. He red at the manager. ¡°Find her!¡± He barked coldly. The manager¡¯s face went pale. This was bad. If Jonathan¡¯s woman got into trouble at Velour, it would be the worst crisis of his career. Inside the private room, Zane watched as Jonathan left. Drama was nothing new to him, yet he was dumbfounded by this. ¡°No way! Is he really here to catch a cheater? Since when did he have a woman? Am I dreaming, or simply too jetgged?¡± Carter shrugged helplessly. Both turned to Joel, who looked equally stunned. Was that actually Mrs. Shaw? Though they had suspected Jonathan might have a thing for married women, it was only a suspicion. Surely he wasn¡¯t this desperate, He waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. I didn¡¯t set him up!¡± Zane got up and chased after him. Chapter 65 We¡¯re a Legitimate Business : 82 +10 Free Coins But as soon as he stepped out, he saw Jonathan leading the manager down the corridor toward the end. Zane grabbed the woman trying to follow them. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Where are they going?¡± It was none other than Jessica. Jessica hadn¡¯t expected Jonathan to take matters into his own hands. Before she coulde around, the manager had already followed him timidly. She tried to go after them, but someone grabbed her just then. Seeing the manager leave with Jonathan, she spun around, annoyed, and swung her hand. ¡°Let go, or I¡¯ll beat you up!¡± Created 66 Chapter 66 A Desperate Search +10 Free Coins Jessica had a cute bob cut, a round face, and round eyes. She only came up to Zane¡¯s chest, but when she got mad, she was like a chubby little bird crashing into people. Zane chuckled. ¡°You beat me up? Come on, I didn¡¯t even¡­ Ow! You¡¯re being serious? Let go! Let me go!¡± Before he could finish, she twisted his arm with a grappling move and pinned him against the wall. Original content can be found at FindN()vel Half his face was squished t. He had really misjudged her. She wasn¡¯t some chubby little bird at all; she was tough as steel. Jessica was worried about Anneliese, so she let go and walked off without a word. Zane caught up, keeping a cool face but talking nonstop like a broken record. ¡°You trained in grappling, huh? Pretty good moves. What happened? Tell me, maybe I can help. You¡¯re acting cold, but I know. You¡¯re looking for someone, right? You¡¯ve got a really pretty friend who went missing? Running around like this won¡¯t work. You need a n.¡± The nonstop chatter gave Jessica a headache. She pulled out her wallet, grabbed all the cash, and threw it at him. ¡°This is all I¡¯ve got. Take it and stop following me!¡± She ran quickly around the corner, but there was no sign of Jonathan and the others. Even being treated like a paid escort didn¡¯t bother Zane. He picked up the bills and strolled after her. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need help? You paid me, so I should at least do something. I know this area way better than you.¡± Jessica was desperate. She grabbed him. ¡°Fine. Then, tell me, where could my friend be?¡± ¡°First, you¡¯ve got to tell me about your friend. Best if you give me a photo too. I¡¯ll send it to my group so my buddies can look out for her.¡± ¡°You guys even have a group chat? Perfect!¡± 14:21 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 66 A Desperate Search Her eyes lit up. She quickly pulled out her phone, added him on WhatsApp, and sent Anneliese¡¯s picture. 82 +10 Free Coins Zane opened it. The girl in the photo was holding a golden retriever, crouched under a cherry blossom tree. She had bright eyes, white teeth, and looked graceful and pretty. ¡°Tsk, no wonder.¡± ¡°No wonder what? Hurry up and send it to your group!¡± Zane nodded like he was taking it seriously, then forwarded the photo into their four¨Cperson group chat. ¡°Your group is called Four of a Kind?¡± They were escorts but still named themselves like big shots. Guess people needed ambition. Meanwhile, Anneliese was carried into a hotel room upstairs, almost unconscious. Jameson tossed her onto the bed, but she bit her tongue to stay awake. When she saw him adjusting the camera set up at the bedside, her heart sank like a stone. ¡°Don¡¯t bother struggling. I gave you a heavy dose, so you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± He finished setting up and started tearing his clothes off. He climbed onto the bed, grabbed her ankles, and yanked hard, dragging her under him. ¡°You don¡¯t know, but I fell for you at first sight. That face, that body¡­ The first time I saw you, I wanted to press you down like this¡­¡± Ript Rip, rip! Her clothes tore apart piece by piece. Anneliese let out helpless sobs. ¡°Let me go¡­ Please, don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Her face flushed red, tears rolled down and slipped into her thick dark hair. Her pleading eyes were full of misery, the kind that made people want to give her anything. But that only made him crazier. How could he stop? Chapter 66 A Desperate Search 82 +10 Free Coins Jameson¡¯s eyes burned red with excitement. ¡°Why are you reacting like this? Didn¡¯t Zacharias satisfy you? Babe, don¡¯t be so nervous. You¡¯re making me lose it before we even start¨Cah!¡± He was on top of her, kissing wildly, his adrenaline spiking. Then, a cold sh of light cut across his face and neck, sharp pain spreading. He shoved Anneliese away and looked up. Somehow, she had gotten hold of a small utility de. She gripped it tight and swung at him again. ¡°B*tch! You¡¯re crazy!¡± The de nearly cut his throat. He cursed, dodged, then grabbed her hair and flung her off the bed. She hit the floor hard but forced herself up, crawling toward the door. Jameson wiped his face and found his hand covered in blood. His eyes turned vicious. He jumped down and stepped toward her. ¡°I wanted to be gentle, but you¡¯re forcing my hand! I¡¯ll make sure you regret it tonight!¡± He kicked her hard in the waist and legs twice. Created 67 Chapter 67 Covered in Blood +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s weak body rolled across the floor like a rag, with no strength left to fight back. Jameson pressed down on her again, grinning as he lowered his head. Right then- Bang! Bang, bang! With a few loud kicks, the door burst open. Jameson looked up in shock. A tall figure stepped in from the hallway light. His face wasn¡¯t clear, but his whole presence gave off a dangerous, threatening energy. Jameson froze in fear and let go of Anneliese. ¡°You, how-¡± Before he could finish, a heavy kick sent him flying. This update is avable on find{n}ovel He crashed into a cab and hit the ground hard. The moment Jonathan came in, he saw what was happening on the floor. His usually calm face finally broke. He didn¡¯t look at Anneliese for long. His eyes locked straight on Jameson. He pulled off his suit jacket and tossed it over Anneliese, covering her, then slowly took off his watch. He pressed the watch against his knuckles, clenched his fist, and walked toward Jameson. Bang, bang, bang! Each punchnded heavy and solid. Jameson couldn¡¯t even scream. Blood filled his nose and mouth. When Jonathan finally stepped back, the face of the broken Patek Philippe was smeared with blood, dripping down. Chapter 67 Covered in Blood He tossed the watch onto Jameson¡¯s bloody face and turned to Anneliese. 82 +10 Free Coins He knelt beside her and reached out, but just as his hand touched her, a pair of pale hands shot out from under the jacket. A sharp de shed from her fingers and cut at him. Jonathan¡¯s hand was shed before he could react. He moved quickly, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up into his arms. Her palms were torn and bleeding from gripping the de. Pain flickered in his eyes. His voice dropped low as he looked at her, trying to calm her. ¡°Easy, let go.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes were blurry and unfocused. The pain kept her barely conscious. Her wetshes trembled, as if she was struggling to recognize him. ¡°I¡¯m Jonathan.¡± He leaned closer so she could see his face. His voice was soft and steady. She didn¡¯t know if she really recognized him, or if his tone simply calmed her down. Her tense body slowly rxed. Jonathan stroked her trembling back, a faint smile on his lips. His thumb brushed the inside of her wrist, feeling her fast pulse. He spoke again. ¡°Trust me, I won¡¯t hurt you. You¡¯re already hurt. Let go, okay?¡± Maybe it was his patience, but Anneliese finally loosened her grip. The bloody de slipped to the carpet. Her arms went limp, and he caught them gently in his hands. He lifted her hands to his lips and blew softly over them. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, it¡¯s over.¡± Anneliese stared nkly at him. Then she turned her face into his chest, brushing against him 14:21 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 67 Covered in Blood as if looking for warmth. : 82 +10 Free Coins Jonathan¡¯s eyes shook. He didn¡¯t say anything else, wrapped her in his jacket, and carried her out. In the hallway, Jessica and Zane rushed over with the hotel manager, who had just brought the room card. ¡°Annie!¡± Jonathan had Anneliese wrapped from head to legs, leaving only her pale calves dangling over his arm. Jessica, anxious and angry, reached to pull the jacket aside to check on her. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± Before she could, Jonathan stepped back with Anneliese in his arms, his voice low and sharp. Jessica froze, pulling her hand back, unsure of what she had done wrong. ¡°Take her away now. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Zane stepped forward, pulled Jessica back, and spoke to Jonathan. Jonathan carried Anneliese away without a word. Jessica didn¡¯t want to let a man she barely knew take Anneliese like that. She tried to chase after them, but Zane grabbed her and mped a hand over her mouth. ¡°Mmm!¡± Created 68 Chapter 68 I Don¡¯t Want This 82 +10 Free Coins ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Anneliese clinging to him? She went along on her own¨Cso why are you making a fuss?¡± The reminder snapped Jessica out of it, and she looked closer. Wow, her slim, porcin arms slip from beneath his ck suit jacket, tightening around his waist. Her fingers clutch at the back of his shirt, pale and delicate against the smooth line of his silk¨Cd waist- wanting, aching, more than words could ever say. ¡°Mmph!¡± She struggled to get a word out. Zane finally loosened his grip, and Jessica snapped when she caught her breath. ¡°Are you kidding me? The guy already has a daughter! Let go of me!¡± In a rush, Jessica grabbed his arm, ready to throw him over her shoulder. Zane froze, eyes wide. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? He¡¯s never even been married and doesn¡¯t have a single girlfriend. Where¡¯s this daughter supposed toe from?¡± Jessica whipped her head around, still fuming. ¡°Seriously? But Annie swore his kid is grown!¡± Zane let out a disbelievingugh. ¡°Then, she must¡¯ve mixed it up. That man¡¯s still a virgin. You¡¯re giving him way too much credit.¡± A virgin, huh? Well, that¡¯s not exactly a bad thing. At least he¡¯s cleaner than whatever Zacharias has been throwing around. No¨Cwait! What the hell am I thinking? If Annie doesn¡¯t snap out of it, even some untouched rookie won¡¯t do her any good! Jessica wanted to chase after him, but the hallway was already empty. No trace of anyone left. She shot Zane a re. ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zane put on an innocent expression and pointed toward the guest room. ¡°Honestly, I think it¡¯s better if you stay behind and deal with the mess. I spotted a camera in there. Do you really want me to check it? What if I end up seeing something I shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°In your dreams¡± Jessica shoved past him and bolted into the room. He followed. The moment he stepped inside, the heavy stench of blood hit him. On the floory Jameson, soaked in red. Zane caught Jessica by the arm. ¡°Enough. You should wait outside. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 68 I Don¡¯t Want This ¹þ For original chapters go to find(?)ovel
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He worried the sight might be too much for her, but when he turned back, she had already slipped away. Jameson was crouched as Jessica, sleeves rolled up, rained punches and kicks on him without hesitation. She beat him half¨Cconscious, then out cold, then tried to bring him back again just to keep hitting. Before she could go further, Zane pulled her back. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Any more and you¡¯ll be the one facing charges.¡± Jessica snapped, her voice sharp with anger. ¡°It was that guy who did the beating, not me! Let go of me or I¡¯ll give him a couple more for good measure.¡± Zane was left speechless. Tch. She looks all sweet and innocent¨Cbut d¡¯mn, she¡¯s sly to the bone. He let go, only to watch helplessly as Jessica drove another kick straight into Jameson¡¯s crotch. A blood¨Ccurdling scream tore through the air. Just then, Jonathan stepped out of the elevator with Anneliese in his arms¨Cand ran right into Carter and Joel. His eyes snapped to Carter, urgency all over his expression. ¡°Take a look at her. Now.¡± However, instead of moving forward, Carter edged back, retreating in quick steps. He¡¯s gotta be kidding me. Why the hell would I step closer in a mess like this? What does he think I am¨Csome idiot with zero sense? ¡°I usually deal with brains and hearts, not women. You sure you want her in my hands?¡± Carter asked. Jonathan¡¯s brow creased. ¡°Useless.¡± His gaze slid to Joel. She just lifted her hands in surrender. ¡°Want me to book you a room instead?¡± Jonathan stayed silent, but the look he gave her was akin to him saying, You¡¯re even more useless than he is. The woman in his arms seemed to lose what little self¨Ccontrol she had left. She writhed against him, tugging at his shirt, her hands slipping under the fabric to press against his skin. 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 68 I Don¡¯t Want This 82 +20 Free Coins Her palms were soft and feverish, trailing down his back. Sparks seemed to catch where she touched. Jonathan¡¯s jaw tightened. He strode out, though his stepscked their usualposure. Carter and Joel instinctively stepped aside, clearing the way. They watched Jonathan carry the woman straight out of the club and into his car. For a beat, the two exchanged a knowing look. ¡°Did he just send her to the hospital?¡± Joel muttered, looking almost regretful. Caster gave her a knowing look. ¡°Sometimes when you don¡¯t strike while someone¡¯s down, it¡¯s because you¡¯re after something bigger.¡± Still, a flicker of sympathy stirred in him for Jonathan. The hospital isn¡¯t exactly around the corner¨Chopefully the poor guy can hold out through the ride. In the backseat of the Maybach, Jonathan had already told Zion to head straight to the hospital before raising the partition. Anneliese was perched on hisp, wriggling restlessly in his arms. She pushed her flushed face out beneath his ck jacket. Her forehead was damp with sweat. A few strands of hair clung to her cheek and slid down her pale neck, curling into the shadowed valley of her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice came low. His gaze was dark as he tried to wrap the jacket back around her. But she shoved his hands away, both arms struggling free. ¡°It¡¯s too hot¨CI don¡¯t want this.¡± Anneliese felt as though a fire had been lit inside her. Heat and dizziness swept through her, scattering her thoughts until only instinct remained¨CJonathan was the only cure her body craved. Created 69 Chapter 69 Do You Even Know Who I Am? +20 Free Coins I crave his touch, but he¡¯s so d*mn annoying¨Cwon¡¯t let me near him, and now he¡¯s trying to wrap me up again. Is he trying to suffocate me? I don¡¯t want it. She finally broke free from his hold. Without giving him a chance to react, she yanked off his suit jacket and flung it aside. Her waist twisted, one long leg swinging over in a swift move. The jacket hit the floor, and her bare little foot nudged it farther away in disdain before she straddled him. One hand slipped beneath his shirt, gliding upward along the firm muscle lines. The other traced over his neck, fingertips skimming and teasing until they paused at the tiny brown mole resting on his Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°I want you¡­¡± Her rosy cheeks lifted as she looked up. Heat shimmered in her eyes, and her breath, warm and sweet, slipped past her parted lips against his skin. Anneliese whispered and leaned down. Her soft, fragrant body pressed against his chest as she captured that tiny mark with her lips. It felt like she had taken a hard candy into her mouth. Not sweet¨Cyet strangely calm, soothing the ache wing through her body. She tried to melt it with the tip of her tongue, but the candy only rolled and shifted yfully, refusing to surrender. He really is wicked. She snapped, and, without a second thought, sank her teeth into it, a quick nip followed by a lingering suck. A low sound rumbled out of him¨Cshockingly close to a moan. Anneliese¡¯s eyes flew wide. Then came his voice, rough and unsteady, dropping from above like a warning growl. ¡°Anneliese.¡± She lifted her head in surprise. Her eyes shimmered, ssy with confusion and the hunger she couldn¡¯t shake. The ache in her throat only grew sharper, and before she knew it, she leaned in, drawn toward his tightly pressed lips. But just as she was about to reach him, a broad hand mped down on the back of her neck, 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 69 Do You Even Know Who I Am? holding her still. 82 +20 Free Coins ¡°Mmh.¡± Anneliese squirmed in protest, twisting her waist. Her off¨Cshoulder crop top, already tugged half out of ce, barely covered her anymore. Jonathan¡¯s gaze darkened as pale skin spilled into view, a restless, unguarded snowfield under neon light. Outside the window, colors bled and shimmered, painting her in a haze of decadent glow. Her seaweed¨Cdark hair slid down in loose strands, brushing over the veins on his hand. Sparks shot from that fleeting contact, racing hot and fast through every nerve in his body. Jonathan¡¯s eyes grew darker, turbulent, locked on the woman in his arms. ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡± Anneliese¡¯s vision swam, the world a blur until all she caught was a pair of narrow, smoldering eyes. Her head tipped back against his grip, and she let out a sultry yet pitifulugh. ¡°It hurts¡­ I can¡¯t stand it. Kiss me. Hold me. Please¡­ I¡¯m burning up. Help me.¡± Jonathan¡¯s dark gaze stayed locked on the flushed features in his arms, the woman lost in desire. She looked at him with raw hunger, yet she had no idea who he was. His hand tightened at the nape of her neck while the other mped around her slim waist. Two points of restraint¨Cthough it was hard to tell who he was trying to trap, her or himself. Anneliese¡¯s frustration only grew, and her eyes misted over until tears spilled in heavy drops down her cheeks. She red at him, puffed up with indignation, as if her sorrow could drown him. ¡°You¡¯re so d¡¯mn cold! A heartless b*stard, that¡¯s what you are! You call yourself a man?¡± sheshed out, her fists pounding against his chest, tugging at his shirt in a burst of helpless anger. The buttons popped loose, scattering across the seat. The gash on her palm split open again, tiny beads of blood seeping out against his skin. Jonathan let out a sigh that hovered somewhere between resignation and defeat. He eased his grip, releasing her wrists atst. After leaning back, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. He allowed her to climb onto him, and her lips pressed against his with frantic insistence. He neither kissed her back nor pushed her away. 82 Chapter 69 Do You Even Know Who I Am? +20 Free Coins Her mouth moved with urgency, but shecked the skill in her desperate attempts to pry his lips apart. Her body writhed awkwardly against hisp, seeking relief she couldn¡¯t find. The air grew hot, breaths tangling in the narrow space. Th?s chapter is updated by Find[?]ovel Streetlights outside flickered through the car window, washing over the curve of her trembling back, then over the sharp lines of his face. His expression remained guarded, rigid, as if untouched by the storm raging against him. Only the fists buried into the leather seat betrayed him¨Cknuckles white, muscles strained near breaking¨Cproof that he wasn¡¯t as untouched as he seemed. At Age Airport. ¡°What did you just say? Anne didn¡¯te with you?¡± Zacharias and Selina had no trouble meeting up with the Whites, yet Anneliese was nowhere in sight. His expression hardened, and his hand clenched into a fist. A wave of unease surged through him, sharp and disorienting, leaving his chest tight with panic he couldn¡¯t quite exin. ¡°You know how Anne is. She just can¡¯t stand being around Selina. But think about it¨Cback then, the mix¨Cup wasn¡¯t Selina¡¯s fault. She was just a baby andpletely innocent.¡± Created 70 Chapter 70 The Missed Party Chapter 70 The Missed Party Timothy frowned, looking helpless. +20 Free Coins ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel Mnie nodded. ¡°We asked Anne over and over toe with us, but she refused. She cried and begged us not to go. There was really nothing we could do.¡± Zacharias frowned and stared at Selina, his eyes sharp. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Anne got on the ne? You lied to me!¡± Selina¡¯s face went pale, but she lifted her chin stubbornly. ¡°Zach, if you think I had bad intentions, then I have nothing more to say.¡± Christopher quickly pushed Zacharias back and pulled Selina into his arms angrily. ¡°Why are you yelling at Selina? She told us she wanted to invite Anneliese. ¡°Anne refused, and we didn¡¯t want Selina to feel sad, so we told her Anne got on the ne.¡± When Zacharias heard this, he realized he had misunderstood Selina. He looked guilty. ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have taken it out on you.¡± Selina¡¯s eyes turned red, but she spoke gently. ¡°I know you argued with Anne and you¡¯re worried about her, so you lost your temper. Anne is lucky to have someone who cares about her like you. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. I couldn¡¯t be happier for her, so how could I me you?¡± Perseus patted Zacharias¡® shoulder and said, ¡°Zacharias, look at how forgiving and thoughtful Selina is. You¡¯ve spoiled Anne too much. You always lower yourself to please her, and that¡¯s why she¡¯s be like this, doing whatever she wants.¡± Selina noticed Zacharias¡® expression darken and quickly tugged on Perseus¡® sleeve. ¡°Perseus, don¡¯t say that. Anne isn¡¯t like me. She¡¯s sensitive and needs more love to feel secure. Zach spoiling her isn¡¯t wrong. Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. You all just had a long flight, so you must be exhausted. Go rest first.¡± She spoke softly, linking arms with Mnie as they started walking, but Zacharias didn¡¯t move. He frowned. ¡°Timothy, Mnie, please rest well. I¡¯m going back home.¡± He suddenly realized it had been several days since he¡¯d had a real conversation with Anneliese. And it had been seven or eight days since she had reached out to him. That wasn¡¯t right, and the uneasy feeling in his chest kept getting stronger Chapter 70 The Missed Party *20 Free Coins His instincts told him he had to go back immediately. He needed to see her. If he waited any longer, he feared she would really be angry and ignore him. Selina¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Zacharias, you¡¯re noting to my birthday party?¡± ¡°Yeah. Happy birthday, then.¡± Zacharias gave her a nod and turned to head quickly toward the ticketing hall. Selina let go of Mnie¡¯s arm and ran after Zacharias. She grabbed his arm, and her steps faltered. He turned quickly, and she fell into his chest. He caught her instinctively. Selina looked up at him, her eyes showing hesitation, like she wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Zach, actually¡­ these past two years, the one who rented the Spectra Square screen for my birthday¨CI know it was you.¡± Zacharias froze, his gaze unsteady. His lips parted slightly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t. You-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. I¡¯m sure it was you. I¡¯m not saying this topete with Anne for anything. I just want you to know I was really happy. Every year, I looked forward to those wishes from far away, ¡°This year, I wanted to finally see the screen light up with you beside me, so I could thank you in person. But it seems¡­¡± She smiled, but her eyes showed sadness. Then, she blinked, and her eyes filled with tears. ¡°But it¡¯s right for you to go back to Anne. Even though she had a male friend celebrating her birthday with her, I¡¯m sure the person she really wanted by her side was you¡­¡± ¡°What male friend? What birthday celebration? Zacharias hand tightened on her arm, his face dark Selina froze, looking regretful ¡®Make yourself clear¡® He pulled her out of his arms, his eyes sharp. 2.3 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 82 Chapter 70 The Missed Party +20 Free Coins Selina bit her lip. ¡°It was when I video called Anne before. I saw her at a man¡¯s ce. She said he was a male friend who was throwing her a birthday celebration¡­ ¡°Zach, Anne loves you so much. She would never do anything to betray you. ¡°Hey, Zach!¡± Selina watched as Zacharias pushed through the crowd, his back full of anger. She lowered her head and rubbed her sore arm where he had grabbed her. When Anneliese woke up, daylight was shining brightly outside the window. The room was very quiet. Hershes trembled as she opened her eyes, seeing the in white ceiling above her. 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapte Created 71 V r 71 Pieces of the Puzzle Chapter 71 Pieces of the Puzzle : The smell of disinfectant and the in blue nket told her she was in a hospital. 82 +20 Free Coins Herst memory was of a tall figure breaking down the door and lifting her from the floor. It was¡­ Jonathan. Anneliese sat up quickly and looked herself over. She was wearing a loose hospital gown. Her waist and stomach ached, but there was nothing unusual between her legs. She let out a sigh of relief just as the door opened. Clutching the nket, she looked up nervously. It was Jessica. ¡°Annie, you¡¯re awake! Do you feel any difort?¡± Jessica walked over, and Anneliese grabbed her hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. My neck just hurts a little. I don¡¯t even know where I hit it. Who brought me here? And who changed my clothes?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t remember anything? Don¡¯t worry, that b*stard didn¡¯t get the chance to do anything. Mr. Fullbuster rushed in and saved you. He brought you here, and the nurse should have been the one who changed your clothes.¡± Mr. Fullbuster? So, it really was him. The image of the man breaking in shed through her mind again, and she let out a breath. ¡°Are you sure it was the nurse?¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯m notpletely sure. I stayed at the hotel to deal with the video, so I got thereter.¡± Talking about it made Jessica a little guilty. It was all because Zane had stalled her. She knew he wasn¡¯t really an escort. He was clearly rich, just trying to get back the money she 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 71 Pieces of the Puzzle tipped him. G D 82 +20 Free Coins ¡°Do you know how rich people keep their money? By only taking in, never giving out.¡± She had never seen such a shamelesswyer. He would¡¯ve been better off as an escort than pretending to be awyer. ¡°The video.¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice tightened, and Jessica quickly tried to calm her. ¡°I destroyed everything. I cut the card into pieces, smashed the camera, and that b*stard Jameson is basically half crippled now. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Anneliese exhaled and stayed quiet for a while. But Jessica misunderstood and added quickly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I checked. There aren¡¯t any marks or hickeys on you. Mr. Fullbuster didn¡¯t do anything. Honestly, I even wonder if something¡¯s wrong with him. Leaving such a gorgeous woman like you alone after you were drugged¨Cif it¡¯s not that he can¡¯t, maybe it¡¯s his orientation¡­¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried!¡± Anneliese cut her off before she went further. ¡°I just think this whole thing isn¡¯t that simple.¡± ¡°You think someone told Jameson to do it?¡± Jessica caught on right away. Anneliese nodded. ¡°How did Jameson and Jacques know so fast that I broke up with Zacharias?¡± At first, she thought it was because Zacharias¡® affair had already spread around their circle, which made Jacques and Jameson show up again. But now she realized both of them appeared only after she officially filed for divorce. She didn¡¯t even need to think too hard to know there was someone behind it. Melody was ruthless. ¡°So, you already know who¡¯s behind it.¡± At that moment, a deep, steady voice spoke, Anneliese looked over and saw Jonathan walking in. 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 71 Pieces of the Puzzle : This text is hosted at FindN0vel He was still in a suit, but today it looked different. 82 +20 Free Coins He wore an Eastern¨Cstyle shirt buttoned all the way up to his corbone. Over it was a corless, minimalist zer, paired with light gray straight¨Cleg trousers. The look was casual but had a restrained, serious feel. When their eyes met, her chest tightened. Her hands gripped the sheets under the nket. She looked away, her face warming. What scared her more than blurred memories was the nk space where she couldn¡¯t remember anything at all. She had no idea what happened after he carried her out of the hotel room. Wait¨Cwhen had he in? How much had he heard? Hopefully not what Jessica had just said. Panicked, she nced at Jessica, but her friend wasn¡¯t dependable. Ignoring her silent plea for help, Jessica jumped up. ¡°Oh! I just remembered, I have another client waiting for me. Anyway, you¡¯re fine now. The doctor said you can leave once you wake up. Since Mr. Fullbuster is here, let him take you home. I¡¯ll head out first!¡± As she spoke, she gave Anneliese a quick wink that clearly meant ¡°Good luck, girl,¡± and dashed out of the room. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯ll go ask the doctor about her discharge,¡± Zion said as he set the thermos on the bedside table. Then he followed after, even closing the door neatly behind him. Created 72 Chapter 72 When Silence Breaks The hospital room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 82 +20 Free Coins Under the nket, Anneliese¡¯s fingers twisted nervously. She kept her head down, still trying to prepare herself, when Jonathan walked up to her bed. His tall figure cast a shadow over her. ¡°Do you remember what happenedst night?¡± Anneliese stayed quiet. Why did he have to start with such a tough question? She bit her lip and finally lifted her head to look at him, speaking softly. ¡°If I said I didn¡¯t remember anything, and was shocked to see you here this morning¡­ would you hit me?¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°You can try.¡± ¡°Alright, I do remember a little. I know you saved me, but after leaving the hotel, I don¡¯t remember anything.¡± Her words faded, and the room fell silent again. Jonathan didn¡¯t speak. His expression and eyes were hard for Anneliese to read. Almost like he felt wronged. She thought that was ridiculous. She blinked, and when she looked again, he was the same as always, cold and unreadable. Anneliese pressed her lips together and finally broke the silence. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m really grateful. Thank you for helping me yesterday. After that, you brought me straight to the hospital, right? Nothing else happened on the way?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but ask directly. She couldn¡¯t stay in the dark forever. Jonathan was about to open the food container he had brought, but his hand paused slightly when he heard her. In his mind, images shed of her refusing to let go, sitting on hisp, demanding kisses, squirming in his arms¡­. 14:22 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 72 When Silence Breaks 82 +20 Free Coins She had treated him like a tool, using him for some temporary relief. The sight of her flushed face and damp hair as she clung to him, breathless against his neck¡­ He hadn¡¯t been able to control her. He hadn¡¯t wanted to hurt her, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t take it and knocked her out. His Adam¡¯s apple moved as he swallowed. Slowly, he scooped a bowl of chicken and mushroom porridge with vegetables, then looked at her. His eyes were calm, but his words. went straight to the point. ¡°You want to know if I touched you?¡± ¡°Cough! No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I trust you¡¯re a gentleman! You saved me, and if I still doubted you, what kind of person would that make me?¡± Anneliese waved her hands quickly, so anxious she was about to swear an oath. Jonathan pulled out two napkins, ced them on the bowl to keep the heat in, and handed it to her. She took it carefully, surprised. Her palm was injured and wrapped in bandages, so she was clumsy when holding it. He didn¡¯t rush her and added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re clean.¡± Anneliese lowered her head, hershes trembling, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn¡¯t even figured out her marriage with Zacharias yet. Thest thing she wanted was to end up in an affair. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t she be just like Zacharias? But her relief didn¡¯tst long. Jonathan¡¯s cool voice sounded again. ¡°But I¡¯m not clean anymore.¡± Anneliese froze. What did he mean by that? What had she done to him? Her heart, which had just calmed down, shot back up to her throat. Chapter 72 When Silence Breaks Her hand trembled, almost spilling the porridge. Jonathan steadied the bowl in his own hand. ¡°Does your hand hurt?¡± Anneliese quickly nodded, trying to cover up her awkwardness and nerves. +20 Free Coins She wanted to suggest waiting until the porridge cooled, but Jonathan had already pulled a chair over and sat down by the bed. ¡°Looks like you want me to feed you.¡± Before she could shake her head, a spoonful of porridge was already at her lips. Her cheeks turned red, and she didn¡¯t dare open her mouth. She felt guilty, half afraid the porridge was poisoned, half afraid of upsetting him and getting tossed out of a ne at ten thousand feet. In the end, the porridge still went in, though she didn¡¯t taste anything at all. Her hesitant expression made Jonathan¡¯s lips lift slightly, and he let out a low, unreadableugh. Anneliese¡¯s scalp tingled at hisugh. She couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and looked up weakly at him. ¡°Did I cross the line?¡± ¡°Not too much¡­¡± Anneliese let out a small breath of relief, the corners of her lips curving up. ¡°If you don¡¯t count the part where you kissed me.¡± Anneliese was stunned, ¡°Can you please just say everything at once?!¡± She was flustered and annoyed. ¡°You¡¯re getting mad at me?¡± Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡­¡± Before Anneliese could defend herself, he spoke again. 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 Chapte Find the newest release on findnovel Created 73 r 73 His Silence Chapter 73 His Silence 82 +20 Free Coins ¡°So, you really think just because you forced a kiss on me, our rtionship isn¡¯t clean anymore, and you can get mad at me whenever you want?¡± Anneliese wanted to cry. She quickly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t! That¡¯s not what I meant! Don¡¯t twist my words or read into it the wrong way, okay?¡± Her almond¨Cshaped eyes misted over with embarrassment. But her rushed exnation came out sounding more like she was pouting. Oh god. Strike me with lightning already. ¡°Alright, I believe you. I misunderstood.¡± Thankfully, Jonathan was reasonable and didn¡¯t press the issue. Anneliese was so relieved she almost cried. She said awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I wasn¡¯t clear- headed at the time. If I did anything else that went too far, I apologize for that too.¡± Her eyes were sincere, and her fingers twisted together tightly. She was scared he would something sharp again. say Jonathan looked at her, his fingers itching to pull open his cor and show her the mark on his Adam¡¯s apple. But she lookedpletely mortified. In the end, he softened. He pressed his lips together and let her off for now, ¡°Forcing a kiss isn¡¯t going too far? What else were you nning to do to me?¡± So, forcing a kiss wasn¡¯t ¡°too far.¡± Anneliese forced a dryugh. ¡°No, nothing.¡± But her eyes, maybe because he kept bringing up the kiss, kept drifting to his lips. That was when she noticed they were actually very nice. Thin like flower petals, the top lip shaped like a cupid¡¯s bow, the center full and distinct, the Chapter 73 His Silence 82 +20 Free Coins bottom lip a little fuller, and the color a healthy rose pink. They looked soft and kissable. People called that kind of mouth kissable lips. So¡­ did she actually manage to kiss him? Probably not. She had forced it, and he was a grown man. He must have resisted. While Anneliese was lost in thought, he suddenly licked the corner of his lips. The move was casual but distracting. Ahhh! Her eyes felt burned. She panicked and looked away, her gaze darting everywhere. When people were embarrassed, they always tried to look busy. She not only looked around but also turned to pour some water. She ended up almost knocking over the thermos without even touching the kettle. Jonathan¡¯s long fingers caught her restless wrist. Where their skin touched, it felt like jolts of electricity ran through her. Anneliese froze. Jonathan let go casually. ¡°Want some water?¡± Anneliese nodded quickly, feeling stupid. Jonathan got up, poured her a ss of water, and handed it to her. Anneliese took it, drank a couple of sips to cover up, and finally calmed down. ¡°Sorry to trouble youst night. You probably didn¡¯t even rest, and you came here early this morning to check on me. I feel bad. If you think the noodles I made tasted okay and my cooking is decent, next time I¡¯ll make a full meal to thank you. Also, I¡¯ll bring Lemon over. 1 still haven¡¯t given her the little dress I made.¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°No rush. Wait until your hand is healed.¡± Anneliese looked at her hands wrapped like a mummy and smiled. ¡°Honestly, it doesn¡¯t hurt that much. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a serious injury. I just don¡¯t know why they wrapped it up like this.¡± The bandages were so thick that they looked like her hands were broken. Jonathan didn¡¯t answer, his expression pausing slightly. 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 82 Chapter 73 His Silence Anneliese felt uneasy. ¡°Uh¡­ you wrapped them?¡± +20 Free Coins On the way to the hospital, Jonathan hadn¡¯t been able to hold out and had knocked her out. He had wrapped her hands in the car. When they reached the hospital, the doctor didn¡¯t want to risk more damage, so they left them as they were. Seeing his silence, Anneliese quickly changed her words. ¡°Haha, they actually look really creative and artistic. I don¡¯t feel any pain at all.¡± Her forcedpliment only made things more awkward. Thankfully, Zion knocked on the door and walked in. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, since Ms. ude is awake, she can be discharged now. I¡¯ve already taken care of the paperwork. And here, Ms. ude¡¯s clothes.¡± Jonathan took the bag from Zion and handed it to Anneliese. ¡°Jameson is in the hospital. The club and hotel hallway cameras are all here, along with Jameson¡¯s friends, and all the spiked drinks are still locked in that private room. What do you want to do about it?¡± As he spoke, he handed Anneliese a USB drive. She was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected him to go this far for her. If it had been just her, forget about quickly gathering evidence and witnesses, she probably wouldn¡¯t even have been able to get the surveince footage, 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other 82 +20 Free Coins Her fingers trembled slightly as she took the pen drive. It was small, but she felt its weight. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you.¡± Jonathan let out a softugh. ¡°Then, don¡¯t.¡± Zion hurried to add, ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. ude. A real man wouldn¡¯t stand by and do nothing. ¡°Besides, you already know Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s a certified gentleman!¡± There was no need for such formalities. Fresh chapters posted on F¦Énd£Îovel If they kept going at it, it would only upset Jonathan. Anneliese nodded, clutching the pen drive in her palm. ¡°Well, if you ever need my help in the future, just give me a call. I¡¯ll do everything I can.¡± Zion was speechless, not daring to look at Jonathan¡¯s face. In a situation like this, the damsel in distress would shyly offer themselves to their savior. However, Anneliese¡¯s words basically meant she wasn¡¯t interested in him. He suspected that if they¡¯d been part of a college frat house, she would be making Jonathan a sworn brother for life. Meanwhile, Jonathan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He simply looked at Anneliese and said, ¡°Sure.¡± Whatever she owed him, he would make sure she paid him back after her divorce was final. Anneliese thought the matter was finally behind her. Feeling relieved, she smiled. ¡°I¡¯m going to call the police.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t object. She quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll do it now and wait for them. Mr. Fullbuster, your time is precious, so I won¡¯t bother you any longer. He shook his head. ¡°Where¡¯s your phone?¡± 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other Only then did Anneliese remember that Jameson had smashed it to pieces. Her ears turned red. 82 +20 Free Coins It felt like she had just made a bold deration, only to be pped in the face by reality. Seeing her flustered expression again, Jonathan said gently, ¡°I¡¯ll call the police and wait with you. That way, you don¡¯t have to go to the station to file another report.¡± Then, he instructed Zion, ¡°Get her a new phone.¡± Before Anneliese could refuse, Zion smiled warmly. ¡°Ms. ude, do you have a preferred model or color? Should I just get a few for you to pick?¡± Without waiting for her answer, he strode out as if he were on a mission. Anneliese stared after him, dumbfounded. Soon, sheposed herself and looked at Jonathan. ¡°Do you want to finish this up?¡± he asked, lifting the bowl and bringing a spoonful of soup to her lips. Anneliese froze. This feeling of impropriety wouldn¡¯t go away. She didn¡¯t even know how she managed to finish her soup, for everything felt like a blurry daydream. As Jonathan ced the bowl down, his crisp white shirt sleeve rode up slightly. On his wrist was a thin, long cut. Anneliese saw it and immediately thought of the utility knife she had hidden in her pocketst night. She had put it there on a whim before going to the club, She remembered using it on Jameson. ¡°Did I do this to you?¡± she asked in shock. Jonathan slid his wrist back under his sleeve and said nothing. ¡°It¡¯s just a small cut,¡± came his 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other (?) +20 Free Coins response. ¡°No, it¡¯s not! Let me see!¡± Anneliese felt a surge of guilt. She leaned forward, grabbed his hand, unfastened the cuff, and rolled up the sleeve to examine it carefully. The wound was about the length of her thumb, scabbed over but with some redness around it. She frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be careful with your wounds! What if it leaves a scar? This wasn¡¯t treated properly!¡± Jonathan lowered his gaze, observing her furrowed brows and the concern in her eyes. He smiled softly, his heart feeling inexplicably warm. ¡°This little cut won¡¯t leave a scar,¡± he said. ¡°Even small wounds can get worse if neglected. Hang on!¡± She ran out to get iodine and cotton swabs, then carefully cleaned the area around Jonathan¡¯s wound while giving him precise instructions. ¡°Before the scab falls off, use this at least three times a day, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± ¡°The same goes for the wound on your palm, then. You can¡¯t afford to let it scar.¡± Anneliese looked up, realizing Jonathan was fixated on her injury. The feeling was natural, as if they were in a rtionship where they could care for and look after each other. Her heart skipped a beat. For some reason, his gaze felt like it was burning her. Created 74 Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other 82 +20 Free Coins Her fingers trembled slightly as she took the pen drive. It was small, but she felt its weight. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you.¡± Jonathan let out a softugh. ¡°Then, don¡¯t.¡± Zion hurried to add, ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. ude. A real man wouldn¡¯t stand by and do nothing. ¡°Besides, you already know Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s a certified gentleman!¡± There was no need for such formalities. If they kept going at it, it would only upset Jonathan. Anneliese nodded, clutching the pen drive in her palm. ¡°Well, if you ever need my help in the future, just give me a call. I¡¯ll do everything I can.¡± Zion was speechless, not daring to look at Jonathan¡¯s face. In a situation like this, the damsel in distress would shyly offer themselves to their savior. Checktest chapters at find?novel However, Anneliese¡¯s words basically meant she wasn¡¯t interested in him. He suspected that if they¡¯d been part of a college frat house, she would be making Jonathan a sworn brother for life. Meanwhile, Jonathan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He simply looked at Anneliese and said, ¡°Sure.¡± Whatever she owed him, he would make sure she paid him back after her divorce was final. Anneliese thought the matter was finally behind her. Feeling relieved, she smiled. ¡°I¡¯m going to call the police.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t object. She quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll do it now and wait for them. Mr. Fullbuster, your time is precious, so I won¡¯t bother you any longer. He shook his head. ¡°Where¡¯s your phone?¡± 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other Only then did Anneliese remember that Jameson had smashed it to pieces. Her ears turned red. 82 +20 Free Coins It felt like she had just made a bold deration, only to be pped in the face by reality. Seeing her flustered expression again, Jonathan said gently, ¡°I¡¯ll call the police and wait with you. That way, you don¡¯t have to go to the station to file another report.¡± Then, he instructed Zion, ¡°Get her a new phone.¡± Before Anneliese could refuse, Zion smiled warmly. ¡°Ms. ude, do you have a preferred model or color? Should I just get a few for you to pick?¡± Without waiting for her answer, he strode out as if he were on a mission. Anneliese stared after him, dumbfounded. Soon, sheposed herself and looked at Jonathan. ¡°Do you want to finish this up?¡± he asked, lifting the bowl and bringing a spoonful of soup to her lips. Anneliese froze. This feeling of impropriety wouldn¡¯t go away. She didn¡¯t even know how she managed to finish her soup, for everything felt like a blurry daydream. As Jonathan ced the bowl down, his crisp white shirt sleeve rode up slightly. On his wrist was a thin, long cut. Anneliese saw it and immediately thought of the utility knife she had hidden in her pocketst night. She had put it there on a whim before going to the club, She remembered using it on Jameson. ¡°Did I do this to you?¡± she asked in shock. Jonathan slid his wrist back under his sleeve and said nothing. ¡°It¡¯s just a small cut,¡± came his 14:23 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 74 Caring for Each Other (?) +20 Free Coins response. ¡°No, it¡¯s not! Let me see!¡± Anneliese felt a surge of guilt. She leaned forward, grabbed his hand, unfastened the cuff, and rolled up the sleeve to examine it carefully. The wound was about the length of her thumb, scabbed over but with some redness around it. She frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be careful with your wounds! What if it leaves a scar? This wasn¡¯t treated properly!¡± Jonathan lowered his gaze, observing her furrowed brows and the concern in her eyes. He smiled softly, his heart feeling inexplicably warm. ¡°This little cut won¡¯t leave a scar,¡± he said. ¡°Even small wounds can get worse if neglected. Hang on!¡± She ran out to get iodine and cotton swabs, then carefully cleaned the area around Jonathan¡¯s wound while giving him precise instructions. ¡°Before the scab falls off, use this at least three times a day, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± ¡°The same goes for the wound on your palm, then. You can¡¯t afford to let it scar.¡± Anneliese looked up, realizing Jonathan was fixated on her injury. The feeling was natural, as if they were in a rtionship where they could care for and look after each other. Her heart skipped a beat. For some reason, his gaze felt like it was burning her. Created 75 Chapter 75 ying Hard To Get : Chapter 75 ying Hard To Get She quickly pulled her hand back and hummed in response. The police arrived soon after. 82 +20 Free Coins They interrogated Anneliese about what had happened and took statements from both her and Jonathan. Patrick Walen, the detective handling the case, promised a thorough investigation before leaving with his team. Not long after, Zion came by with a new phone. As expected of a highly capable assistant, he had even transferred Anneliese¡¯s SIM card from her old device. Anneliese thanked him repeatedly and insisted she could be discharged on her own. Eventually, Jonathan left with Zion. Aside from the bruises across her waist and abdomen from Jameson¡¯s attack, Anneliese was fine. She carried the shopping bag into the bathroom and, upon taking out its contents, realized there was underwear inside as well. Whether it was a coincidence or not, she couldn¡¯t say. But the sizes of both the clothes and the underwear fit her perfectly. Anneliese refused to read too much into it. When she came out of the bathroom, she powered on her phone. A string of notifications chimed one after another. She picked it up and saw that a strange number had called her more than twenty times. Her instincts told her it was Zacharias. She felt nothing at all, and with a swipe, she blocked the number decisively. She then changed her emergency contact to Jessica before checking WhatsApp. 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 75 ying Hard To Get At the very top was her chat log with Selina. When she tapped on it, she found over a dozen photos from a birthday party. 81 +20 Free Coins ¡®Anne, I just found out that Zach books out the big screen at Spectra Square every year for my birthday! Please thank him for me, will you?¡® One of the photos showed Selina with her family, posing in front of the massive screen lit up with fireworks. She smiled at the camera while shooting mini hearts. Anneliese was reminded of her birthday when Zacharias once booked thergest outdoor screen in Oceaton, making a spectacle of celebrating her birthday. Back then, she cried happy tears. But as it turned out, Zacharias had long been spendingvishly on his lover, stering her face on giant screens at famousndmarks. He never failed to disappoint her. Anneliese exited the chat without much thought, no longer caring about what Zacharias did. She even hoped Selina would cling to him, dying his return until the cooling¨Coff period of their divorce was over. As she left the hospital, Anneliese eyed her new autumn outfit and decided to stop by the mall. She wanted to buy Jonathan a suit as a token of appreciation. What she hadn¡¯t expected was to run into Jackie there, who was out shopping with his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Zacharias got off the ne and hurried out through the VIP passage. He called Jackie, his voice urgent. ¡°Where¡¯s my wife?¡± Before boarding, he had already asked Jackie to check on Anneliese. However, Jackie hadn¡¯t listened to the man¡¯s orders at all. Where else would she be, if not waiting for Zacharias at their vi in Sunrise Residence? 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 75 ying Hard To Get : That was exactly what he had reported back to Zacharias. Then, he took the initiative to send Coral his boss¡® flight details. 81 +20 Free Coins Jackie¡¯s girlfriend had been threatening to break up with him, so all his free time went into coaxing her. Now that Zacharias was asking about Anneliese, he was caught off guard. Thankfully, he was unusually lucky today¨Che had just run into Anneliese shopping for a suit. He quickly reported, ¡°Mr. Shaw, your wife is on a shopping spree. She¡¯s even picking out a suit and tie for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zacharias slowed down, and the furrow in his brows disappeared. ¡°I¡¯ll send you a photo right now.¡± Jackie immediately snapped a picture of Anneliese inside the store and sent it over. When Zacharias opened it, he saw Anneliese with her head slightly lowered. She was elegant as ever whileparing two different ties. Her lips carried a gentle, captivating smile, and she didn¡¯t seem angry at all. It turned out she was simply ying hard to get with him. Afraid of pushing it too far, she had even gone ahead and prepared a gift for him. This time, she almost had him fooled. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Zacharias! I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Coral flew into his arms, the scent of her perfume strong. Zacharias put down his phone, frowning as he stared at her. ¡°How did you know what time I¡¯d be back?¡± His gaze was sharp, his expression displeased. There was no joy nor surprise on his face. Chapter 75 ying Hard To Get : No man in his position liked having his movements carelessly exposed. At once, Coral went pale in the face. 81 Content originallyes from f?ndnovel +20 Free Coins As tears welled up in her eyes, she whispered timidly, ¡°While you were on the phone with Mr. Septian yesterday, I happened to overhear your conversation. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you dearly, Zacharias, and I thought of surprising you here. Could you not be angry at me?¡± Created 76 Chapter 76 I¡¯m the Only One Who Truly Loves Him Readplete version only at Find?Novel Coral clung to Zacharias in a coy and yful manner. 81 +20 Free Coins However, he was annoyed at her for acting impulsively and without permission. What if Anneliese had also to pick me up from the airport? They would¡¯ve run into each other! She¡¯s lucky Anneliese is currently shopping at the mall! Turning to re at her, he took in her aggrieved and hesitant expression. The affection brimming in her eyes eventually softened his heart, and his anger slowly melted away. He finally reprimanded her lightly in a curt voice, ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± Overjoyed by his lenient reaction, she immediately bounced to her feet and tried to kiss him on the lips. ¡°Stop that.¡± He turned his head away, dodging her kiss, and sternly rebuked her. Sticking her tongue out at him, she wrapped her arm around his again. ¡°It¡¯s been forever since Ist saw you¡­ I¡¯ve missed you so much that I can¡¯t even sleep¡­ It¡¯s been such torture, yet you¡¯re being so cold to me¡­ I don¡¯t care¨Cyou have to make it up to me.¡± ¡°Fine. Go ahead and inform Jackie about what you wantter.¡± His response was lukewarm. He was distracted by his phone, trying to call Anneliese. But he was repeatedly greeted by the cold and mechanical voice as his calls went straight to voicemail. Zacharias hastily quickened his pace, eager to see Anneliese as soon as possible. Watching his odd behavior, Carol bit her lip hard. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of jealousy and fear. She was aware that he had gone abroad to apany his old me. It was the main purpose of his trip. Therefore, she had tried everything¨Ccontacting him via different means and using every trick she knew¨Cto get him toe back. But he had coldly ignored her the entire time. Even now that he was finally back, his mind wasn¡¯t focused on her at all. She could feel his chilly indifference toward her. 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 76 I¡¯m the Only One Who Truly Loves Him How could she allow such a thing? It was uneptable! 81 +20 Free Coins Determined to capture his attention again, she climbed into hisp as soon as they entered the car. She clung to him and kissed him passionately, her hands slowly roaming down to the zipper of his pants. Having been away for several days, he was easily aroused by her advances. He took control and kissed her fiercely, roughly groping and squeezing her breasts. An exaggerated moan escaped her mouth. She was so loud that even the driver in front could hear her despite the partition between them. Things slowly escted. Just as she was unbuckling his belt, he grabbed her wrist and firmly pushed her away. ¡°Behave. I¡¯ll y with you another time. My wife is waiting for me at home.¡± She stared at him for a moment before slumping into her seat in silence. She let her hair fall forward and cover her face, hiding the cold and sarcastic smile on her face. Hah! Anneliese? Waiting for him at home? Impossible. She has been nning her divorce for a long time. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s still pining for him! Coral wept softly, without making a sound. Her shoulders trembled with each choking sob. Zacharias had been out of the country for several days, so he was busy catching up on some messages and documents. He did not notice her crying silently beside him. By the time he realized, her eyes were already red and swollen from crying. Frowning slightly, he pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Am I troubling you? I¡¯m sorry¡­ I know I don¡¯t have the right to ask anything of you, but I¡­ I just missed you so much.¡± She meekly wiped away her tears and whimpered, ¡°And I¡¯m so scared¡­¡± ¡°Scared of what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m scared that you¡¯ll suddenly stop wanting me one day.¡± She raised her head to look at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her youthful and delicate face overflowed with affection and yearning. 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 76 I¡¯m the Only One Who Truly Loves Him 81 +20 Free Coins Despite looking at Carol, Zacharias was reminded of how Anneliese had looked in the past. There was a time when she, too, had showered him with love and affection. She had beenpletely dependent and reliant on him. But she had matured quickly once she entered the workforce. She swiftly grew increasingly independent and reserved, even distant. Just two years into their marriage, their rtionship lost some of its initial passion. It felt as though they had sunk into the boring routine of an old married couple. He found himself wishing that she could return to how she used to bepletely dependent on him. He wanted her clinging to him for affection and begging softly for his attention, just like Coral was now. ¡°Why would I stop wanting you? You silly girl¡­¡± Zacharias gently tapped Coral¡¯s nose, his handsome face showing a rare hint of warmth. Sensing the shift in his mood, Coral immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°I would neverpete with your wife, but¡­ could you take me back to school now?¡± Her pleading voice was soft and sweet. ¡°I don¡¯t want to part with you just yet¡­ Just an hour, that¡¯s all -would that be okay?¡± She looked so pitiful and lovable at the same time that he nodded and instructed the driver to change course toward Astoria University instead. Gazing into his refined and handsome face, she let her thoughts wander. Both Anneliese and that old me of his¡­ Neither of them actually loves him. I¡¯m the only one who truly loves him¨Cwith my entire being. Her eyes burned with ambition. I¡¯m the one striving for our love and our future together! The headquarters of Aerolux Airways¨Cthe CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, this is thetest disciplinary n submitted by Mr. Lachman of the Cabin Crew Department. Please have a look,¡± Justst month, a female flight attendant had intentionally spilled coffee on a VIP male passenger in the first¨Css cabin, hoping to obtain his contact information in the process. It had seemed consensual¨Cthe male passenger had gone along with her little scheme. Such urrences weren¡¯t umon in the airline industry. 81 Chapter 76 I¡¯m the Only One Who Truly Loves Him +20 Free Coins But the problem arose when she openly unted the bracelet he had given her during the pre- flight coordination meeting. Her actions had sparked gossip among several other flight attendants, and Jonathan happened to overhear the entire conversation. 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 77 Jonathan¡¯s Preferences Created 77 Chapter 77 Jonathan¡¯s Preferences 81 +20 Free Coins Jonathan had not shown much reaction at the time. However, during the department meeting held earlier this month, he specifically allocated some time at the end of the meeting to discuss the issue. The incident had been a great disgrace to Mr. Lachman of the Cabin Crew Department, who was sternly reprimanded for his oversight. Over thest two months, he had been ving away to tighten discipline and improve the work culture at AeroAir. His disciplinary n had been revised three times since then. Even the flight attendants at AeroAir were treading carefully, meticulously keeping every single hair in ce lest they were caught in the crossfire. Zion set thetest version of the disciplinary n down on the table, then subconsciously straightened his tie and posture. Jonathan didn¡¯t even bother to acknowledge the document in the slightest. He simply stated inly, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in looking at the n¨CI only care about the results. If the work culture in thepany hasn¡¯t changed by the end of the quarter, he can take responsibility and resign from his position.¡± ¡°Yes, sit.¡± Zion took the document back and ced another file on the table. ¡°This is the incident report on the pregnant passenger from the recent incident. You also asked us to investigate her family¡¯s recent financial transactions for anything abnormal. Nothing seems out of the ordinary so far. Would you like us to continue digging?¡± Jonathan had only just returned to the country and taken over as the executive CEO of AeroAir when the incident urred. Moreover, there just happened to be a prominent social media influencer on the flight at the time. The incident had quickly escted into a major incident online. On top of everything, the pregnant woman happened to have a rare blood type¨CRh¨Cnegative blood. There were too many lucky coincidences to be a coincidence. How could Jonathan not be suspicious about the whole situation? ¡°A fox doesn¡¯t show its tail that easily. No need to continue watching them for now,¡± Jonathan said. Zion nodded and moved on to the next item in his report. 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 77 Jonathan¡¯s Preferences 81 +20 Free Coins ¡°The editor¨Cin¨Cchief of the Finance Daily, Mr. Hussain, would like to schedule an in¨Cdepth interview with you about the development of the ¡®Smart Airport¡® initiative¡­¡± ¡°Decline it.¡± Zion acknowledged the order. With no other matters to report at the moment, he turned to leave. His phone vibrated just as he was about to step out of the office. ncing briefly at the screen, he abruptly stopped in his tracks and returned to stand in front of Jonathan again. ¡°Anything else?¡± Jonathan finally raised his head to look at Zion. Zion pushed his phone toward Jonathan. ¡°Ms. ude is asking about your preferences. How should I respond to her, Mr. Fullbuster?¡± Jonathan¡¯s gazended on the WhatsApp conversation disyed on Zion¡¯s phone. He paused for a moment, then pulled out his own phone to check. As expected¡­ There was nothing. He tossed the phone back to Zion, his tone t and unreadable. ¡°Reply however you see fit.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Zion got the hint. Taking his phone, he turned to leave again. ¡°Wait.¡± At that moment, Jonathan suddenly remembered something and called out to Zion. He opened a drawer and pulled out a jewelry box, which he tossed to Zion. ¡°Have it melted down, and donate the remains to the Fullbuster Group¡¯s foundation for elderly parents who¡¯ve lost their only child.¡± Pausing for a moment, he then added in an icy voice, ¡°Do it yourself.¡± Zion was baffled by those cryptic words. It¡¯s one thing to donate jewelry, but why melt it down? And what did he mean by ¡°remains¡°? Opening the jewelry box, he peeked inside. He was instantly greeted by the sight of a dazzling 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 77 Jonathan¡¯s Preferences pink diamond ring. Oh¡­ It¡¯s Ms. ude¡¯s wedding ring¡­ I remember now¨CI once helped Mr. Fullbuster trace the origins of this ring¡­ 81 +20 Free Coins He secretly snickered to himself. Honestly, though, there¡¯s no need to melt it down. The mes of jealousy surrounding Mr. Fullbuster alone could¡¯ve melted the ring with ease. Anneliese was waiting at a red light when she received a reply from Zion on WhatsApp. Tapping on the message, she blinked in surprise. All I did was ask a simple question: What kind of food does Jonathan like? Why did Mr. Hand send an entire document to me? She tapped on the document. The dense content jammed into the document made her eyes water. It listed not just Jonathan¡¯s food preferences¨Cbut even included his favorite underwear brands! She did not dare to read further and hurriedly closed the document in a panic. Anneliese: ¡®Mr. Hand, did you send the wrong file?¡® Is it really okay to share the CEO¡¯s personal details just like that? Zion responded a momentter. Zion: ¡®Huh?¡® Zion: ¡®I asked one of the junior secretaries to extract just the part about his food preferences, Looks like they misunderstood and sent the entire document. Zion: ¡®But it¡¯s fine¨Cwe trust your integrity, Ms. ude. Just don¡¯t spread the information around. Anneliese: ¡®Alright! In any case, she had noticed one specific detail when she nced through the document earlier¨CJonathan liked peach almond mille¨Cfeuille. There¡¯s a bakery near Astoria University that makes a great version of peach almond mille¨Cfeuille. ¡­ : 81 Chapter 77 Jonathan¡¯s Preferences +20 Free Coins Without hesitation, she switched on her turn signal and made the turn toward the bakery. But something unexpected happened as soon as she parked the car and walked to the bakery- she ran into Zacharias, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in several days. Zacharias was dressed in a crisp, tailored suit. His expression was cool yetposed. Standing with one hand in his pocket, he radiated the calm confidence of a sessful and refined businessman. His appearance stood out like a sore thumb in the little university town, drawing curious nces from passersby. Coral stood beside him, her face flushed with pride and coquettish modesty. A few other girls stood nearby, staring at Coral with undisguised envy. This content belongs to findnovel ¡°Coral, your boyfriend is seriously handsome! And impressive! No wonder you¡¯ve been hiding him from us!¡± ¡°Mr. Shaw, I know you¡¯re the CEO of apany and everything, but we¡¯re Coral¡¯s closest friends! We won¡¯t forgive you if you ever treat her poorly!¡± 14:24 Fri, Sep 5 Created 78 Chapter 78 Everyone¡¯s Favorite, My Disgust Chapter 78 Everyone¡¯s Favorite, My Disgust 81 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel +20 Free Coins Her roommate chimed in with a grin, ¡°You know Coral¡¯s one of the campus beauties, right? All the guys line up for her. Mr. Shaw, don¡¯t get too full of yourself.¡± Coral clung to Zacharias¡® arm, smiling sweetly. ¡°He¡¯s not that bad. Besides, he really does have an important meeting. We¡¯ll n another day, and he¡¯ll treat everyone to dinner. Isn¡¯t that right, Zacharias?¡± Zacharias gave the slightest nod. His face betrayed how little patience he had left. ¡°You all heard him. Let us through now,¡± Coral insisted. Someone quipped, ¡°Through? Sure. Only after a kiss.¡± ¡°Kiss! Kiss!¡± her roommates egged her on. Coral¡¯s cheeks flushed. She tiptoed toward him shyly. Zacharias leaned down with a stiff look, ying along for show. Public affection wasn¡¯t his thing. Right before her lips met his, he turned his head, letting her kissnd awkwardly on his cheek. The moment he turned, his eyes collided with a pair he recognized instantly. Anneliese. His chest tightened, and his handsome mask cracked as his eyes widened. For a split second, he thought he was imagining her. Reality hit. She was standing right there. He shoved Coral aside without thinking and strode toward Anneliese. ¡°Ah!¡± Coral tumbled back onto the floor with a small scream, staring up at him in shock. Her eyes darted to Anneliese, and her face turned ghostly pale. ¡°Honey¡­ w¨Cwhat are you doing here?¡± Zacharias¡® voice shook as he reached for her. Anneliese stepped back sharply, her expression frosty, her eyes filled with disgust. ¡°Keep those filthy hands off me.¡± The words cut deeper than any de. Zacharias felt a jolt in his chest. He rushed out a hasty defense. ¡°Honey, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. Coral and I were just ying Truth or Dare. I was Chapter 78 Everyone¡¯s Favorite, My Disgust only¡­ used as a prop.¡± 81 +20 Free Coins Anneliese almostughed at how fast he managed to spin that lie. She didn¡¯t cut him off. She wanted to see how far he¡¯d go with the performance. ¡°Oh, really? You expect me to buy that? Take a good look at yourself first. Maybe start with that ridiculous lipstick stain on your cheek before you keep acting.¡± His jaw tightened. He rubbed his face, only to see the smear of lipstick on his fingers. His confidence faltered instantly. He grabbed her wrist in desperation. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Don¡¯t let people gossip about us here. We¡¯ll talk it out at home, okay?¡± His voice softened, almost pleading, eyes begging her to give him an out. That tone used to work on her. Even at her worst temper, she¡¯d eventually cool down. Yet, not this time. Her fury, bottled up for weeks, finally erupted. Her palm flew across his face. Smack! The p echoed in the air. Heads turned. Gasps spread through the crowd. Zacharias stood frozen, stunned, the red mark on his cheek burning. ¡°Anne¡­ how could you hit me?¡± Anneliese flexed her tingling wrist, eyes mocking. ¡°Wasn¡¯t clear enough? I can do it again if you¡¯d like.¡± She raised her hand once more. This time, he caught her wrist, his face darkening like storm clouds. He had finally pieced it together¨Cshe already knew, His voice was sharp. ¡°So, you¡¯ve known this whole time? Were you spying on me?¡± The usation was so ridiculous that it almost made Annelieseugh. She was about to fire back when Coral scrambled forward, voice trembling. ¡°Ms. ude, please don¡¯t be mad at Zacharias. We were only messing around¨Cit was just a game. If you need to take it out on someone, hit me instead, I-¡± Smack! Her words were cut short by Anneliese¡¯s hand striking her cheek. Coral stumbled back, clutching her face, eyes welling with tears. ¡­ 81 +20 Free Coins Chapter 78 Everyone¡¯s Favorite, My Disgust Anneliese arched a brow, voice dripping with contempt. ¡°One shameless man. One trashy girl. A p each, fair and square. Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me?¡± Zacharias¡® expression hardenedpletely. A dangerous chill rolled off him as he yanked Anneliese away. 14:25 Fri, Sep 5 Created 79 Chapter 79 No Home Left to Return To : Chapter 79 No Home Left to Return To 81 +20 Free Coins ¡°You¡¯ve pped me, shouted at me, cursed me, and humiliated me in front of everyone. Isn¡¯t that enough? Let¡¯s just go home already!¡± Zacharias grabbed her wrist, his voice tight with desperation. Anneliese wrenched her hand free, her tone cutting like ice. ¡°Home? With you? Don¡¯t kid yourself. Zacharias, whatever we had ended a long time ago. There is no ¡®us,¡® and there¡¯s definitely no home waiting for us.¡± Her eyes were sharp and steady, but there was nothing of him reflected in them. It was like he didn¡¯t even exist. Color drained from Zacharias¡® face. His hand trembled as he gripped her, terrified of letting go, as though releasing her now meant losing her forever. ¡°Anne, I¡­¡± She cut him off before he could spin another excuse. ¡°You im to be a man of stature. Then act like it. Stop disgracing yourself. Let me go.¡± The crowd was already buzzing. Whispers spread, fingers pointed, phones discreetly raised to record. Zacharias red at the onlookers, his cold eyes silencing some. Yet when he turned back to her, there was no trace of mercy. His grip finally ckened. Anneliese turned without hesitation and walked away. Coral rushed over, still clutching her cheek. ¡°Zacharias, let me see. She hit you too hard¡­ how are you going to walk into the office like this?¡± Her voice trembled with worry as she reached for him. His icy stare snapped to her. The weight of it made her flinch. For a moment, it felt like she was the one who had pped him. Coral stumbled back, rattled. Zacharias said nothing. His jaw was locked, his whole frame rigid with anger as he strode off, leaving Coral behind in the middle of the gawking crowd. Phones clicked, and whispers followed. Most of them were Astoria University students, and plenty recognized her¨CCoral, the Faculty of Business Administration¡¯s so¨Ccalled campus belle. Now the whispers twisted. Is she the side chick?Is she stealing someone¡¯s boyfriend? Screens lit up as photos snapped one after another. 14:25 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 79 No Home Left to Return To : 81 +20 Free Coins Heat burned through Coral¡¯s cheeks as she covered her face, drowning in humiliation. Inside, hatred boiled. Anneliese¡­ that b*tch. Acting like she¡¯s too good for Zacharias, pretending she doesn¡¯t care. Then showing up here on purpose, digging into my life, waiting for the perfect moment to ruin me. Too vicious. Too calcting. ¡°Coral, who was that girl just now? Is Mr. Shaw really your boyfriend?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re not the side chick, are you?¡± Her roommates crowded around, eyes full of questions. Tears rolled down Coral¡¯s cheeks as she looked at them, overwhelmed with helplessness. ¡°Why would you say that? It¡¯s not what you saw. She¡¯s just his ex. They broke up ages ago! She cheated first, and now she¡¯s bothering him persistently.¡± One roommate frowned. ¡°Then why did he run after her?¡± Coral took the opportunity to borate on her story. Her voice quivered slightly, making her appear convincing, and she raised her voice so everyone could hear. ¡°You don¡¯t get it. She¡¯s unstable. She has bipr disorder. She¡¯s done many reckless things to cling to Zacharias, even harming herself. He can¡¯t simply ignore her. He¡¯s at a loss.¡± She let out a heavy sigh, shoulders sagging as if the weight of it was crushing her. Her reputation meant everything. She couldn¡¯t let Anneliese drag her down. She needed to flip the story before it spread further. Her roommates, knowing Coral¡¯s spotless image¨Cher grades, her internship, her polished reputation¨Cchose to believe her. Their gazes softened, recing suspicion with pity as they attempted to soothe her. Meanwhile, Anneliese was sitting in the Astoria University library, browsing archives on smart manufacturing. Her hands moved, but her mind was miles away, Frustration simmered within her. The words blurred, and nothing seemed to stay in her mind. Finally, she shoved back her chair and pushed open a window. The breeze cooled her flushed face, her chest slowly loosening. She shut her eyes, steadied herself, then sat down again and forced her focus onto the papers. By noon, she returned to Maple Bay, stopping at the pet shop for snacks and a fresh bag of dog food for Meatloaf. In the parking basement, she was juggling her shopping bags when a familiar voice called out, ¡°Ms. ude? What a coincidence.¡± Chapter 79 No Home Left to Return To 81 +20 Free Coins She turned. Zion was standing there with two heavy grocery bags, following right behind Jonathan. She paused briefly. The scene¨CJonathan leading with Zion behind, carrying groceries- appeared surprisingly domestic, reminiscent of a husband with his gentle wife. This update is avable on F?ndNovel Her brows lifted. Two men doing groceries together? Then Jessica¡¯s words echoed in her mind. Could it be¡­ Jonathan really does swing that way? Before she could think, Jonathan approached with a steady voice. ¡°What¡¯s going on with your hand?¡± Without waiting for her reply, he took the bags from her arms. Created 80 Chapter 80 A Wound That Spoke Louder Than Words. Chapter 80 A Wound That Spoke Louder Than Words Anneliese nced down and spotted the blood sceping through her bandage. 81 ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel +20 Free Coins The cut had torn open again¨Cno doubt from that chaotic tug¨Cof¨Cwar with Zacharias and Coral. He had pulled at her endlessly, too wrapped up in himself to notice she was hurt. She hadn¡¯t even realized it until now. Jonathan, however, picked it up at once. That small detail rattled her. A mix of emotions rose in her chest¨Cheavy, sour, hard to name. She pushed it down quickly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jonathan¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°Didn¡¯t you once say even small wounds need proper care? Don¡¯t brush me off.¡± His eyes bore into her, making her stomach twist with guilt. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯ll fix it up when I¡¯m home.¡± Zion jumped in with a quick diversion. ¡°Ms. ude, were you out shopping?¡± His gaze flicked toward the bags Jonathan held. Anneliese gave a faint nod. ¡°I bought a suit for you and picked out two ties. Just a little thank¨Cyou gift. I hope they fit.¡± Jonathan¡¯s brows rose, surprise flickering across his usually impassive face. Zion rushed to back her up. ¡°They¡¯ll fit perfectly. I already got all Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s preferred brands and sizes-¡± Anneliese almost choked as her mind shed back to that absurd file Zion hadpiled¨Cso detailed it even included irrelevant details. Before Zion could dig himself into a hole, she cut him off, ¡°The elevator¡¯s here. Let¡¯s go.¡± The three entered together. Jonathan stood silently at the front while she and Zion lingered behind. Zion let out a quiet sigh of relief and mouthed a quick thanks. She subtly gestured for him to stay quiet. When she turned, she found Jonathan watching her. Their eyes locked for a moment that stretched too long. Thankfully, Zion spoke at just the right moment, ¡°Ms. ude, did you have lunch yet? We¡¯re just about to cook. You should join us.¡± 14:26 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 80 A Wound That Spoke Louder Than Words Anneliese blinked. ¡°Is that really okay? I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s appropriate.¡± 81 +20 Free Coins Inside, she couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes. Wow. With the boss right here, Zion just takes over like it¡¯s his ce. Honestly, he¡¯s behaving more like the of the house than an assistant. Could Jessica have been right? Maybe Jonathan really does swing that way¡­ ¡°Come on, it¡¯s really fine,¡± Zion grinned. ¡°The housekeeper is off this week, and my cooking could kill someone. Mr. Fullbuster has been way too patient with me. If you could take over meals for a bit, you¡¯d be rescuing both of us.¡± Ah, the housekeeper¡¯s away. That exins why, she told herself. Her gaze then slid to Jonathan. Jonathan looked at her steadily. ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. You really don¡¯t have to.¡± Anneliese weighed it quickly. I¡¯ve got to cook anyway¨Cwhether it¡¯s here or at home makes no difference. At least this way, it feels like I¡¯m paying him back for everything he¡¯s done for me. She replied, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. I¡¯ll walk Meatloaf quickly, thene by.¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°Bring him along as well.¡± The elevator arrived on her floor, and she slipped out. As the doors slid shut, Jonathan¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°Bold move, huh?¡± Zion was quick to straighten up. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Fullbuster. My cooking is truly terrible, and I didn¡¯t want to torture you with it.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t answer. He strode away without looking back. Zion¡¯s eyes followed Jonathan as he strode off. He¡¯s pleased, I can tell. Still, why do I feel like I¡¯m abetting a kidnapping of an innocent woman? He sighed to himself. So much for morals, Zion¨Cyou¡¯ve sold those off cheap. Call it a sin if you want. But hey, I¡¯m single, I¡¯m underpaid, and vis don¡¯t buy themselves. What¡¯s wrong with wanting a few more this year? At uderias Tech. Zacharias showed up from his business trip without warning. As soon as he entered the office, Chapter 80 A Wound That Spoke Louder Than Words the atmosphere grew tense, and a thick silence settled over everyone. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡­¡± Jackie was already waiting by the door, iPad clutched tight in both hands. 81 +20 Free Coins Zacharias lifted his chin slightly. Jackie rushed forward and handed it over. ¡°I pulled the surveince from the day Mrs. Shaw visited.¡± Zacharias took the device and strode straight into his office, his face dark. Throughout the entire drive back, his mind kept looping the same thought. Now, as he stared at the screen, he had to face it. She¡¯s known for ages. I¡¯m the fool thinking I could hide it. 14:26 Fri, Sep 5 Created 81 Chapter 81 Shattered Secrets Chapter 81 Shattered Secrets : 81 +20 Free Coins As he recalled the past days, he was certain Anneliese had started acting strangely ever since that day she hade to the office. He remembered it clearly¨Cshe had shown up at thepany while he was in the office with Christopher, talking about the past. The thought that she might have overheard their conversation, that she might already know the truth, made his face go pale and his chest tighten with unease. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡­¡± Jackie followed Zacharias inside and had just opened his mouth to speak, but with a sharp crash, Zacharias hurled the tablet across the room. It shattered into pieces, and Jackie shut his mouth at once, sweat dripping heavily from his forehead. He had already watched the surveince. That day, Annelise hadn¡¯t gone to the terrace to take a call before reaching the office door at all. She had lingered right outside for quite some time. He didn¡¯t know what exactly Zacharias and Christopher had been discussing that Anneliese might have overheard, but Jackie instinctively felt something serious was about to explode. Sure enough, Zacharias flew into a rage the moment he saw the footage. Jackie had worked under Zacharias for years, yet never once had he seen him lose control like this. He lowered his head, not daring to breathe too loudly. Zacharias turned, his chest still heaving with fury. ¡°Useless! You¡¯re worse than a watchdog. What¡¯s the point of keeping you around?¡± ¡°Mr. Shaw¡­ could Madam already know about Coral?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Zacharias yanked at his tie, forcing himself to calm down as he sat behind his desk, his gaze cold and cutting as itnded on Jackie. ¡°Since Madam already knew that day, yet has acted as if nothing happened all this time, that means she never intended to expose you, nor leave you. If you coax her well, she won¡¯t stay angry for long. ¡°Didn¡¯t she just pick out a suit and tie for you today? That shows she¡¯s been waiting for you toe home.¡± Jackie¡¯s words reached Zacharias like medicine soothing his raw nerves. Chapter 81 Shattered Secrets : 81 +20 Free Coins The rightful source is find?novel He closed his eyes briefly, conceding that Jackie made sense. As long as he put in the effort to make it up to her, how could Anneliese not forgive him? His voice dropped. ¡°The wedding ring¨Cdid you find it?¡± Jackie hesitated. ¡°Useless!¡± Zacharias snapped again, his anger ring. ¡°Mr. Shaw, I truly-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want excuses. That ring must be found! And if it can¡¯t be, can¡¯t you think of something else? Have another one made identical to it¨Cdo I have to spell it out for you?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll arrange it immediately.¡± Jackie answered quickly and turned to leave. But Zacharias stopped him again, ordering him to prepare several pieces of jewelry and purses, then order a massive bouquet of flowers. Jackie was to bring them along when they returned together to Sunrise Residence. Just as he pushed open the office door, Jackie froze¨Cthere stood Coral, masked, walking toward them. ¡°Mr. Septian, is Mr. Shaw inside?¡± She made to step past him, but Jackie blocked her way. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡¯s in no mood right now. He won¡¯t want to see you.¡± Coral¡¯s stomach sank. She had gone back to the dorm with her roommates, but the more she thought, the more uneasy she grew. She had called Zacharias over and over, and he hadn¡¯t picked up once. Anxious and afraid, she chased him all the way to thepany. Zacharias didn¡¯t go after Anneliese¨Che came back to the . Doesn¡¯t that mean he doesn¡¯t really care that much about her? ¡°Move aside. I brought something for Mr. Shaw. He never said I couldn¡¯te in, so who are you to stop me?¡± Coral refused to leave. Her raised voice drew nces from the secretaries nearby. Jackie, worried Zacharias would erupt again, was about to drag her away when a cold voice came from inside. ¡°Let her in.¡± Delight shed across Coral¡¯s face. She shot Jackie a smug look before pushing the door open with her chin lifted high. ¡­ 81 Chapter 81 Shattered Secrets +20 Free Coins ¡°Idiot,¡± Jackie muttered under his breath, watching her back. From the look on Zacharias¡® face earlier, Anneliese certainly mattered, even if it was only to a certain degree. He had stopped Coral for her own good, but if she insisted on throwing herself into the fire, no one could save her. ¡°Zacharias, I was worried about your face, so I bought ointment and ice packs for the swelling and bruises. Let me take care of you right now.¡± Coral pulled off her mask, revealing the swollen half of her face as she approached him. She paid no mind to her own injury¨Cher only concern was Zacharias. Unlike Anneliese, who had humiliated him in public, she wanted him to see how thoughtful and obedient she was, how much she cared for him. 14:26 Fri, Sep 5 Created 82 Chapter 82 The End of the Game Chapter 82 The End of the Game 81 +20 Free Coins But before Coral could get close, Zacharias pointed toward the couch area and said in a low voice, ¡°Go sit over there. I have something to tell you.¡± Coral froze, her expression stiffening. She bit her lip. ¡°Zacharias-¡± ?????? ???? find¡¤novel ¡°Call me Mr. Shaw.¡± Zacharias cut her off again, his tone hard. Tears clung to Coral¡¯sshes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Shaw. I only wanted to help you with the swelling on your face¡­¡± Zacharias pressed his fingers to his brow and signaled with his eyes for her to move. She dared not disobey. Head lowered, brushing away tears, she walked over and sat down properly. That couch was the reception area. Countless times, she had seen Zacharias receive clients there¨Csharp, precise, and utterly unyielding. Now, sitting there herself, her heart clenched with a heavy sense of dread. Momentster, Zacharias joined her, crossing his legs as he sat in the single¨Cseat couch opposite. He got straight to the point. ¡°Take this card. The password is your birthday. There¡¯s five million in it. Go pack your things and don¡¯te back again.¡± Coral¡¯s eyes widened. She never imagined the man who had kissed her passionately in the car earlier could turn around and say something so final and cruel. Her face went white as she shook her head. She tried to lean forward, reaching to embrace him, but Zacharias frowned and raised his hand, stopping her cold. His expression was detached, calm as ever, and impossibly handsome, but there was no longer a trace of warmth or desire in his eyes. She couldn¡¯t ept such an abrupt end. Dropping to her knees, she threw herself against his legs, sobbing as tears rolled onto the fabric of his suit trousers. ¡°Zacharias, I don¡¯t want the card, I don¡¯t want the money. I only want you. I truly love you. I don¡¯t need a title! I promise I won¡¯t show myself in front of Madam, I¡¯ll even quit thepany. You can hide me anywhere you like, and as long as you visit me sometimes¨Cjust once a month would be enough¡­¡± Her words spilled out in anguish, filled with devotion and desperation, as if the sky itself would copse if she had to leave him. For an instant, Zacharias¡® expression flickered. He raised a hand, brushing her wet cheek. But then Anneliese¡¯s words echoed in his ears. Chapter 82 The End of the Game ¡°I am me, you are you. There hasn¡¯t been an ¡°us¡± for a long time, let alone a family.¡± 81 +20 Free Coins He knew she truly meant it this time. Without real action, he would never win her back. And he could not afford to lose her. Coral¡¯s eyes lit up with hope. She tilted her head and tried to lick his fingertips. But Zacharias suddenly seized her chin. His grip was firm, forcing her head back until her neck strained, leaving her no choice but to look into his cold, merciless gaze. ¡°Coral, the game is over. Do you understand?¡± A shiver ran through her. She didn¡¯t understand, she didn¡¯t want to. But Zacharias had already pushed her aside and risen to his feet. He smoothed down the wrinkles on his trousers and looked at the woman crumpled on the floor. A flicker of pity crossed his eyes¨Cgone almost at once. Coral had been his first woman. He never loved her, but years of nights together had left their mark. Still, his voice was t when he said, ¡°Madison Vi will be transferred to your name as well. Coral, don¡¯t make this harder than it needs to be.¡± Meanwhile, at Maple Bay¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll handle the prep. Ms. ude, with your hand injured, just guide me when it¡¯s time to cook.¡± When Anneliese arrived at the 26th floor and stepped into the kitchen, she found Zion in an apron, busy with ingredients. She nodded without hesitation. ¡°Alright. Just call me Anneliese¨Cit feels awkward when you keep saying Ms. ude.¡± Zion smiled. ¡°Then you should call me by my name too.¡± ¡°Okay, Zion.¡± ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Anneliese.¡± They exchanged an easy smile. But suddenly Zion felt a chill crawl up the back of his neck. He turned and startled¨Chis boss was standing silently behind them. Following Zion¡¯s gaze, Anneliese looked over and saw Jonathan watching them. His expression was calm as he crooked a finger at her. Chapter 82 The End of the Game : 81 +20 Free Coins ¡°Come here. Time to change the bandages.¡± He spoke casually and walked toward the living room couch. ¡°Oh,¡± Anneliese answered obediently. When she followed, Jonathan was already seated in the middle of the long couch,manding and rxed. An open medical kit sat on the coffee table before him. ¡°I can do it myself,¡± Anneliese said with a smile, a little uneasy about letting someone like him tend to her wounds. But Jonathan¡¯s nce at her left hand silenced her. ¡°Both your hands are injured. You can¡¯t manage it. And besides, it¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t treated your wounds before.¡± Created 83 Chapter 83 An Awkward ident 81 +20 Free Coins Of course, thest time Jonathan had dressed her wounds, she had been unconscious. That was different. Even though Anneliese ude thought so, she didn¡¯t dare say it aloud. She walked over and sat down beside him on the couch, keeping a careful distance so their bodies didn¡¯t touch. Jonathan picked up the scissors, and Anneliese quickly leaned forward, stretching out her hand to cooperate. But he didn¡¯t move. When she nced at him questioningly, he quirked a brow. ¡°What are you, a gibbon?¡± Anneliese scooted closer in embarrassment, forcing a smile. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to sit too close in case it made you ufortable, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Read full story at findnovel ¡°And that idea never crossed your mind when you forced a kiss on me yesterday.¡± Can we please not bring that up again? She decided the only way out was to deny it. ¡°I don¡¯t remember any of that. I doubt I¡¯d ever do something so outrageous. Maybe you¡¯re mistaken, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Jonathan caught her hand and cut away the bloodstained gauze before lifting his eyes to give her a sidelong look. ¡°There¡¯s a dashcam in my car. Want me to pull up the footage of your heroic deed?¡± No way to argue that one. But who in their right mind installs surveince inside their car? ¡°No, no, I believe youpletely. I just said it feels unreal since I don¡¯t remember¨Cit¡¯s not that I think you¡¯re lying¡­ Ow!¡± He suddenly ripped the gauze away. The sticky pull made her flinch, but his grip on her wrist held firm. Anneliese suspected he was taking petty revenge, though she had no proof. He disinfected and dressed the knife wound again, his touch efficient if not especially gentle. She dared not speak, watching him intently. At some point, she realized how close they were¨Cclose enough to breathe in the faint cedar scent clinging to him. The couch dipped beneath their weight, her skirt brushing his suit trousers. She could even feel the heat radiating from the hard lines of his thigh. Startled, she pulled herself back just as he tied off the fresh bandage. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said quickly and tried to rise from the couch, but just then Meatloaf, who had 14:26 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 83 An Awkward ident 81 +20 Free Coins been lyingzily by the cushions, suddenly bolted. The dog crashed into her knees, sending her stumbling off¨Cbnce¨Cstraight into Jonathan¡¯sp. Flustered, her handsnded squarely against the firm muscle of his chest. He leaned back against the couch, and her lips¨Cunbelievably¨Cmet the very lips she had studied in the daylight. Hm¨Cso soft! Wait¨Csoft? Soft?! Realizing what she had touched, Anneliese¡¯s head snapped up. At close range, she met his narrow, deep¨Cset eyes, framed byshes so long they almost seemed gentle. ¡°Does it feel real enough this time?¡± Her face burned. She scrambled to rise, pressing against his chest for leverage. But when her hands squeezed without meaning to- ¡°Mm¡­¡± Jonathan gave a low grunt. His hand shot out, seizing her wrist again. Anneliese froze, crimson spreading to her ears. ¡°I¨CI¡­ Meatloaf ran into me. I didn¡¯t mean to offend you.¡± She tried tugging her hand free, but his grip didn¡¯t loosen. ¡°And Meatloaf made you grab me too?¡± he questioned with an arched brow, stupefying her. Had she really grabbed him? Yes¨Cher guilty hand was still pressed against his chest, palm tingling with the heat and strength beneath. Speechless, she could only look at him pleadingly. His gaze turned dark, and she could almost feel him debating which hand to cut off first. Just then, her phone shrilled. Some merciful soul had called at exactly the right time. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I need to take this call!¡± Jonathan released her, and she bolted for the bathroom. Meatloaf, thinking she had started a game of chase, barked and bounded after her, pawing at her legs to get inside too. Still holding a grudge, Anneliese shoved him back through the doorway. ¡°More like Paw Patrol to the wreck! Go reflect on your actions!¡± Created 84 Chapter 84 No More Tolerance Chapter 84 No More Tolerance 81 +20 Free Coins She mmed the bathroom door shut. Meatloaf whimpered pitifully outside, then crouched down on its haunches as if it were kneeling. Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly before he looked away¨Conly to meet Zion¡¯s gaze from the kitchen doorway. Zion¡¯s expression said it all. He had seen everything. His boss had secretly beckoned the dog with a curl of his finger, and only then had Meatloaf gone wild. Honestly, the one kneeling outside the bathroom shouldn¡¯t have been the dog at all¡­ Forget it. The picture is too much. I can¡¯t even go there. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re really making the dog take the me. Bullying the weak, huh?¡± Zion muttered just loudly enough, guilt pricking at him. Jonathan arched a brow but said nothing, proving once again that a capitalist¡¯s conscience was made of steel. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I learned a new phrase recently¨Caggressive simp.¡± Yes, that described his boss perfectly. Jonathan didn¡¯t get the ng, but he understood enough of the literal meaning. As he packed away the medical kit on the table, he said, ¡°I learned a new word too¨Coptimization. Want me to optimize you next?¡± Zion immediately mimed zipping his lips. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, something just came up at home. I¡¯ll be off now.¡± Jonathan gave a nomittal nod. As Zion turned to leave, Jonathan¡¯s eyes flicked toward the drooping dog at the bathroom door. ¡°What¡¯s ¡®Paw Patrol to the Wreck¡® supposed to be?¡± Zion blinked, then stifled augh. ¡°It¡¯s ¡®Paw Patrol to the Rescue! It¡¯s a cartoon. Last year, when you flew the maiden flight to Mancheston, remember that terminally ill boy who asked for a photo? He was watching Paw Patrol in the cabin. One of the pups in it, Skye, is also a golden retriever.¡± Jonathan remembered. The boy had been gravely ill, traveling with his mother to see his father working abroad. His dream had been to be a pilot. His mother had begged 14:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 84 No More Tolerance 81 +20 Free Coins Jonathan for a picture to encourage him. Jonathan had stepped into the cabin during the flight, taken the photo, and even watched the cartoon with him for a minute. With a snap of his fingers, Jonathan drew Meatloaf¡¯s attention. The dog darted happily to his feet. Jonathan rubbed his big head. ¡°It¡¯s Paw Patrol to the rescue, Meatloaf.¡± Meatloaf wagged its tail furiously, fully agreeing. Inside the bathroom, Anneliese nced at the caller ID¨CNatalie Ancel, now the PR director at uderias Tech and once her subordinate. She answered, only to hear Zacharias¡® voice. ¡°It¡¯s me. Where are you?¡± Anneliese had been rejecting his calls for days. With unknown numbers constantly popping up, she had stopped answering strangers altogether. Yet here he was, borrowing an employee¡¯s phone. ¡°Don¡¯t hang up! Can we talk, please?¡± His tone carried a plea she had never heard before¡ª gentle, helpless, almost earnest. But Anneliese had long stopped expecting anything from him. Her voice was cool. ¡°If you want to talk about divorce, we can meet. If not, then we have nothing to discuss.¡± His harsh breathing came through the line, his voice suddenly hoarse. ¡°Divorce? Anneliese, how dare you!¡± Her eyes turned frosty. How could she not dare? She had already decided long ago. ¡°Do I look like some pushover to you, Zacharias? That you thought I¡¯d tolerate infidelity?¡± Her voice never once rose or broke. Even through the phone, he could feel the ice in her tone. He would have preferred her to scream at him, curse him¨Canything but this cold indifference. It unsettled him more than anger ever could. The fury gathering in his face dissipated. His voice dropped, heavy. ¡°Anne, I¡¯ll be at our old spot in an hour. If you don¡¯te, I¡¯ll have no choice but to call your grandmother and ask her to talk sense into you.¡± ¡°Zacharias, you¨Chello? Hello?¡± Before she could unleash her fury, he had hung up. When she called back, the line was Chapter 84 No More Tolerance immediately cut off. ¡°B*stard!¡± 81 +20 Free Coins She drew two deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down, then pushed open the bathroom door. The living room was empty. She walked to the kitchen and saw Jonathan standing at the counter, one hand braced on the surface, his tall frame slightly bent as he studied something intently. Curious, she stepped closer and peeked. A projection screen disyed the recipe steps for spaghetti marinara. Official source is F¦ÉndNovel Isn¡¯t this the kind of dish even grade schoolers can cook? So much for the CEO act- underneath it all, still a kitchen disaster. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, why don¡¯t you step out for a bit? I¡¯ll do the cooking¨Cit won¡¯t take long.¡± Jonathan nced at the bandages on her hands. ¡°Call me when it¡¯s time to te the food.¡± Created 85 Chapter 85 Old Spots, Old Wounds +20 Free Coins Anneliese shed Jonathan an OK sign and thought that he wasn¡¯t actually that hard to get along with¨Cat least he wasn¡¯t one of those domineering CEOs who expected everyone to serve him hand and foot. She had grown up doing chores, and after returning to the White family, she had honed her cooking skills just to win approval. She had tried to prepare everyone¡¯s favorite dishes, but though her food filled their stomachs, it had never warmed anyone¡¯s heart. Later, with Zacharias, whose stomach was weak, she had cooked whenever she could- nutritious meals and medicinal broths to nurse him back to health. And yet, all her care had only raised a sc*mbag and a den of wolves. The thought made her tighten her grip on the spat, and she stirred the pan with fierce energy. She worked with practiced ease, and before long, the dishes were ready. She didn¡¯t bother calling Jonathan over; she simply set everything out on the table, removed her apron, and went to find him. She found him in the study, finishing a call. Knocking lightly on the door, she waited as he turned and gave her a slight nod. ¡°What I want is a deal closed, not excuses and contingency ns. Show me results, not n B. Or are you telling me you¡¯d rather fall back on one? That¡¯s enough!¡± He ended the call sharply and walked toward her. Anneliese rubbed her nose. ¡°Food¡¯s ready. Where¡¯s Mr. Hand? I couldn¡¯t find him.¡± ¡°His mother called him home for a blind date.¡± Anneliese fell silent, pitying Zion for all of five seconds. They went together to the dining room. Seeing the table already set, Jonathan nced at her in question. Anneliese waved her hand. ¡°It was nothing. Didn¡¯t take much effort.¡± Since her hands seemed fine, Jonathan said nothing more. He pulled out a chair and sat down, picking up his cutlery. When he noticed Anneliese still standing, he lifted his eyes to her. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Please, enjoy your meal, Mr. Fullbuster. I won¡¯t join you¨CI suddenly remembered something urgent,¡± she said with a faint smile, already retreating toward the door. Chapter 85 Old Spots, Old Wounds Jonathan set his cutlery back down on the porcin te with a crisp clink. (1) +20 Free Coins Even after driving out of the garage, Anneliese could still hear that sound echoing in her ears. Was he upset? But I hadn¡¯t to dine with him anyway¨Conly to repay the favor by cooking. The food was ready; it wasn¡¯t as though I had stood him up. Never mind. Best not to overthink it. Her thoughts shifted to Zacharias¡® threat. If he truly contacted her grandmother all the way in Baytree, she would never forgive herself. She pressed harder on the elerator. The ¡°old spot¡± he mentioned was Hearth & Garden, a private restaurant specializing in Rivend cuisine. The couple who owned it had once been their neighbors back when they lived in a basement apartment. She remembered one torrential storm in Oceaton. She had been burning with fever. Zacharias had been away courting investors, and rainwater had flooded the basement. As everyone scrambled to escape, she stumbled outside only to remember he had left behind critical documents. She had gone back into the rising water and copsed. Raven Jensen, their neighbor, had discovered her in time and sent her husband to carry her to the hospital. When uderias Tech prospered, Zacharias had invested in the couple¡¯s restaurant, but his mother and sister had a problem with that. To that, Zacharias dered, holding Anneliese in his arms with tender authority, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with investing in the people who saved my wife¡¯s life? Half of my assets belong to Anne. Even if she throws them into the sea, no one has the right to object!¡± Sometimes, Anneliese wondered if his past tenderness hadn¡¯t been entirely an act. But if there had been no true feelings at all, maybe it would have hurt less to sever them now. ¡°Anne, you¡¯re here. Mr. Shaw¡¯s been waiting upstairs,¡± Raven greeted warmly. Her Rivend dishes were exquisite, her husband, Marek Gibson, had a head for business, and their restaurant now had three branches. This year, they had even bought a vi, finally rooted in Oceaton. Grateful and inspoken, Raven had always cherished Anneliese. ¡°Raven,¡± Anneliese nodded with a smile. The rightful source is Find¡ïNovel Raven pointed upstairs toward the private dining room, her eyes full of admiration and blessing. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡¯s prepared a surprise for you. Hurry on up¨CI¡¯ll get the kitchen started.¡± But Anneliese caught her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t, Raven. I won¡¯t be staying long. Don¡¯t waste the effort.¡± Chapter 85 Old Spots, Old Wounds 81 +20 Free Coins She released the stunned woman and went upstairs. Watching her go, Raven couldn¡¯t help frowning. Did they fight? At a corner of the first floor, Joel was chatting with friends about an investment project. Looking up, he caught sight of Anneliese heading upstairs. Pulling out his phone, he snapped a quick photo and sent it into the Four of a Kind group chat, tagging Jonathan¡­ Created 86 Chapter 86 Roses and Lies Chapter 86 Roses and Lies ¡®Bombshell ude¡¯s on a date with Shaw?! 81 +20 Free Coins ¡®Shaw¡¯s pulling out the big guns¨Ccartloads of roses. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, buddy. Before Jonathan even replied, Zane jumped in. ¡®Fullbuster, you¡¯re slipping. A man who can soar that high shouldn¡¯t lose ground over a stolen wife.¡¯ Carter chimed in. ¡®Joey, drop a pin for Fullbuster so he can save his neck.¡® Location sent.¡¯ ¡®I give Fullbuster twenty minutes before he shows.¡®¡± ¡®Ten minutes. No more than that.¡¯ By the time Jonathan saw the messages, ten minutes had already passed. He tapped open the photo, his gaze turning cold. So, she rushed off to see her cheating husband? Huh! Zacharias¡® private dining room was tucked away at the farthest end of the second floor. A que hung above the door: uderias Suite, carved by the two of them together when the restaurant first opened. Back then, she had thought of it as a gesture of his devotion. Now, standing before the door, Anneliese found it unbearable to look at. She tore the que down, tossed it into the trash, and only then pushed the door open. A heavy fragrance of roses swept over her. The entire room was filled with blooms, arranged to look warm and romantic. Zacharias had changed into a light khaki suit, less severe than his usual dark ones, and the color gave him a rakish, almost princely air¨Cwell¨Cmatched with the sea of roses. The moment he saw her, he stood and stepped forward, arms already reaching for her. ¡°Babe.¡± ¡°Please call me Ms. ude, Mr. Shaw.¡± She sidestepped smoothly, pulled out a chair, and sat with her arms crossed. 14:27 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 86 Roses and Lies 81 +20 Free Coins Zacharias faltered at her coldness, though he quickly tried to soften it with a helpless smile. ¡°Alright, Ms. ude. Have some water, calm your temper.¡± He poured it himself. Anneliese stared at him, marveling at how he could act so unbothered. ¡°Zacharias, how did I never realize you had such a talent for performance?¡± While he tried to make light of it, her gaze was nothing but scorn. He slid arge jewelry box across the table, smiling. ¡°I bought this for you at the auction in Agc. Open it, see if you like it.¡± Official source is find~novel Her eyes didn¡¯t even flicker toward the box. Instead, she pulled the divorce papers from her bag and tossed them in front of him. ¡°Sign it.¡± Without even ncing at the papers, Zacharias threw them into the trash. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! I will never divorce you. Calm down and hear me out, will you?¡± She wasn¡¯t surprised in the least. Fortunately, she had nned ahead, registering the divorce already. If she hadn¡¯t, his defiance might have driven her to madness on the spot. All she needed now was to keep him from finding out, get through the cooling¨Coff period, and then force him to pick up the divorce certificate with her. Her lips curled. ¡°You went to Age just to buy me jewelry?¡± She knew full well he had gone to celebrate another woman¡¯s birthday. ¡°Look. It suits you.¡± He ignored her jab and opened the box himself. Inside gleamed a full set of diamond jewelry, dazzling enough to make it clear he had spared no expense. Anneliese hooked the diamond ne with one finger. Zacharias¡® gaze wavered as he asked softly, ¡°Do you like it? Let me put it on you.¡± He was about to rise when- Clink. With a flick of her hand, the ne dropped into the decanter, sinking into the deep red wine as if soaked in blood. ¡°Roses, purses, jewelry¨Cthe standard three¨Cpiece apology set of cheating men. You learned quickly, Mr. Shaw. What¡¯s next, a house in my name if this doesn¡¯t work? ¡°Your so¨Ccalled guilt and regret are nothing but cheap and false. You¡¯re no different from those greasy, middle¨Caged men in our circles who can¡¯t keep their pants on. With a price that low, no ¡­ 81 Chapter 86 Roses and Lies wonder you feel so free to cheat.¡± +20 Free Coins His face shifted, the smile freezing on his lips as his brows furrowed. ¡°Anne, must you twist my intentions like this? I prepared all this with sincerity. I know the Coral incident enraged you. But I¡¯ve already sent her away for good. I swear I¡¯ll never see her again!¡± He moved closer, clutching her hand, his expression steeped in remorse. ¡°Babe, she was the one who seduced me. I never wanted her. I only let her take advantage of me that night because I was drunk at a banquet. ¡°You weren¡¯t well enough, and I couldn¡¯t risk you conceiving and miscarrying, just to satisfy my own desires. I couldn¡¯t bear it. But I¡¯m a man, a normal man¨Cit¡¯s too hard to go back to celibacy once you¡¯ve known a woman¡¯s body. She was nothing more than a release, like a game or a hand of cards. I never felt a shred of affection for her!¡± Created 87 Chapter 87 Shattered Truths There was even a flicker of regret shimmering in Zacharias¡® eyes. He held tightly onto Anneliese¡¯s hand and lowered his head, about to kiss her fingertips. 81 +20 Free Coins But just before he touched her, Anneliese yanked her hand back. She smiled coldly. ¡°Oh, I get it. To you, this is just mindless coupling between animals, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Anneliese, watch your words¨Cthat¡¯s incredibly harsh!¡± She gave a sharpugh. ¡°Ha, Zacharias, the way you shirk responsibility is just as ugly. The way you twist your values makes me sick. How blind must I have been to ever fall for a sanctimonious piece of trash like you?¡± Her words cut too deep, and Zacharias¡® expression darkened. But he forced himself to rein it in, knowing she was truly angry this time. He told himself he could let her vent as long as it eased her anger. He let out a weary sigh. ¡°If trampling on my sincerity helps you calm down, then go ahead. As long as you¡¯re happy.¡± The way he sounded, as though he was the one tolerating her tantrum, only made it worse. Anneliese looked at him with a cold sneer and said bluntly, ¡°Drop the act, Zacharias. You must have checked the office security footage¨Cyou know I heard everything. So don¡¯t stand here pretending to be the devoted husband. It¡¯s disgusting! ¡°Do you really think tossing aside your stand¨Cin for some so¨Ccalled true love makes you a saint? That I should fall at your feet in gratitude? What a joke. Save those words for Selina White. Maybe she¡¯ll shed a few crocodile tears for you. With me? Don¡¯t bother.¡± Anneliese spared him no dignity, each word slicing through his lies and hypocrisy. She ripped the bandage off their marriage, exposing the rot beneath. Zacharias¡® fists clenched tight on his knees. In a burst of shame and fury, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Anne, when did you learn to eavesdrop? Why hide it all this time? What are you trying to do? Since when did you be so scheming?¡± He hated this side of her¨Cunyielding, relentless, refusing to let things go. Did she not realize that tearing away the veil would only wound their marriage? What was the point? They still had a lifetime together ahead of them. A few bumps were nothing to worry about. If she could only be smart enough to let it slide, people would still envy them as the perfect couple. Out of guilt, he would have made it up to her tenfold. Wouldn¡¯t that have been better? Chapter 87 Shattered Truths : ¡°Take your filthy hands off me! Don¡¯t touch me¨CYou make me sick!¡± 81 +20 Free Coins Anneliese struggled, but Zacharias only tightened his grip. His voice was low and hoarse with anger against her car. ¡°Anne, you¡¯re not a child anymore. Stop being so reckless. You need to think before you speak¨Csome things can be said, and some things, never. Do you understand?¡± She hadn¡¯t wanted to waste her tears or anger on someone unworthy, and she thought she had already braced herself to cut ties. Yet facing Zacharias as he scolded her so righteously made her chest tighten with rage. She stopped struggling, only staring at him with cold disgust. ¡°Of course. If I hadn¡¯t overheard, how else would I know that my husband and my so¨Ccalled family all teamed up to treat me like a fool for years? ¡°You all watched me wear myself out pleasing you, pouring out my heart, while youughed behind my back. Didn¡¯t it feel good, tricking me so easily? Tell me, Zacharias, who¡¯s the one trampling on whose sincerity here?¡± His face went pale. Anneliese¡¯s eyes grew red with fury, but there was no sadness in them, only disdain. Zacharias couldn¡¯t stand the way she looked at him. She had always gazed at him with tenderness, with love, as though he lit up her world. When had it all changed into this? Guilt, shame, and panic crashed over him, and he couldn¡¯t even bear to hear another word. He cut her off in a rush. ¡°Anne, it¡¯s not what you think-¡± ¡°Get out! Let go!¡± Anneliese no longer wanted to hear a single excuse. She struggled again, unable to bear his touch. Just then, the door to the private room swung open. ¡°Anne, Mr. Shaw, you two¡­¡± It was Raven, carrying a tray of dishes. Zacharias turned grim. ¡°Get out!¡± Content originallyes from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel ¡°Zacharias, enough!¡± Anneliese snapped. ¡°Raven, please, call the police for me.¡± But Raven didn¡¯t leave, nor did she call. She set the tray down and hurriedly pleaded, ¡°Mr. Shaw, please calm down. Don¡¯t use your hands. You¡¯ll end up hurting Anne.¡± Created 88 Chapter 88 The Breaking Point : Zacharias still had enough pride left to release her. 81 +20 Free Coins The moment Anneliese regained her freedom, she raised her hand and flung the cup of water straight into his face. The liquid trickled down his handsome face, ruining the cold arrogance and refined dignity he wore like armor. His eyes shut, his expression dark with fury. ¡°Anneliese, enough!¡± For her tosh out at him again and again in front of others¨Che found it unbearable. His voice was sharp, dangerous. Raven feared he might strike Anneliese in his anger, so she quickly pulled a few napkins from the tray, thrusting them at him while shielding Anneliese behind her. ¡°Here, Mr. Shaw, wipe your face.¡± When Zacharias refused to take them, she panicked and tossed the tissues at his face. One clung to his forehead, making him look all the more disheveled. He yanked it away and scrubbed hard at his face before opening his eyes with a re that could chill the air. Anneliese remained calm. Her voice was steady, final. ¡°We¡¯re past the point of no return. Divorce is the only thing left to say. Sign the papers, and we¡¯ll talk. Until then, don¡¯t bother.¡± With that, she pulled Raven along and walked out. Zacharias stood frozen for two seconds, then suddenly spun around and kicked over a chair. It crashed into the table, knocking sses and a decanter to the floor in a shattering mess. He braced his hands against the table, lips curving coldly. Ha. She¡¯s acting as if she really means it. If I hadn¡¯t known she spent the morning picking out suits and ties for me, I might almost believe she¡¯s serious about divorce. This is nothing more than wounded pride- she just wanted me to coax her. Whenever Selina¡¯s name came up, she turned prickly, stabbing like a hedgehog at anyone nearby. But Selina never tried to fight her, even left the country, always putting her first. Why can¡¯t Anneliese be more magnanimous, less petty? Fine. I had concealed the truth this time, and my little game with Coral had hurt her. But her anger only proves how much she loves me, how much she cares. Just jealousy, nothing more. If I put in the effort, I¡¯ll win her back. Chapter 88 The Breaking Point 81 +20 Free Coins With thatforting thought, Zacharias straightened, smoothed his suit, and regained his Just then, Jackie called with a report. ¡°Mr. Shaw, Madam¡¯s wedding ring may have been found! It¡¯s listed for auction this weekend under the Fullbuster Group.¡± Zacharias¡® expression lit with joy. She didn¡¯t care for that diamond set, but the wedding ring was Anneliese¡¯s most cherished piece of jewelry. He could never forget the tears in her eyes when he slid it onto her finger, the joy on her face as she choked up with happiness. If I get the ring back, Anne will be delighted. ¡°Send me the picture now,¡± he ordered. Jackieplied at once, and Zacharias tapped impatiently at his phone, opening the forwarded photo. Someone might have dismantled the ring and sold the diamond loose¨Cunderstandable. But how had it ended up in a Fullbuster Group charity auction? Their foundation was reputable, and every lot carefully vetted. For such a stone of unclear origin to slip through the cracks seemed impossible. Then Jackie¡¯s WhatsApp message came through. Zacharias opened the image and erged it. It¡¯s the same stone! He recognized it instantly¨Cthe pink diamond he had fought to win at the Harborview auction. Anneliese had worn it daily for two years. He couldn¡¯t be mistaken. ¡°Get me an entry ticket to the auction,¡± he ordered curtly. He would reim that stone and put it back on her hand where it belonged. Find the newest release on find?novel ¡°Anne, why are you two divorcing?¡± Outside the restaurant, Raven held her hand, pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset with me for speaking up, but you two had such a strong rtionship. You got through so many hardships together, and life is finally good. Don¡¯t be so rash.¡± Anneliese gave her a small smile, appreciating her good intentions, but did not hide the truth. ¡°Raven, he cheated on me. He¡¯s also lied to me about many things. He¡¯s crossed lines I can never forgive. There¡¯s no going back.¡± ¡­ : 81 Chapter 88 The Breaking Point +20 Free Coins Raven¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Cheated? Are you sure? Couldn¡¯t it be a misunderstanding? Mr. Shaw doesn¡¯t look like the kind of man who¡¯d do that.¡± Anneliese gave a bitterugh. She had to admit, Zacharias¡® public image as the perfect, devoted husband had been wless. She wouldn¡¯t have believed he was capable of betrayal, either, half a month ago. But in just two weeks, Zacharias had be unrecognizable in her eyes. Chapter 89 No Turning Back Created 89 Chapter 89 No Turning Back Chapter 89 No Turning Back 81 +20 Free Coins He was no longer that poor young man in a crisp white tee who had carried nothing but pride, kindness, and quiet gentleness. ¡°There¡¯s no misunderstanding.¡± ¡°But I think Mr. Shaw truly regrets what he¡¯s done. If you divorce him now, doesn¡¯t that just hand him over to those other women? Anne¡­¡± Raven¡¯s view echoed the fears and reasoning of many women when faced with a husband¡¯s betrayal, but Anneliese had never thought that way. She shook her head with a small smile, cutting her off. ¡°Raven, I know you¡¯re busy; the kitchen can¡¯t run without you. I won¡¯t keep you.¡± Truth was, she worried Zacharias mighte chasing after her. She had no desire to tangle with him any further. Being trapped in a rotten marriage like this drained her, no matter how hard she tried to act like it didn¡¯t matter. The torment couldn¡¯t be erased with a simple deration of indifference. ¡°All right then, Anne. If you ever feel down and want someone to talk to,e to me. I won¡¯t tell Mr. Shaw,¡± Raven said softly, her expression conflicted as she squeezed Anneliese¡¯s hand. Her palms were rough with calluses from years of cooking, but the warmth carried through. Anneliese nodded, then got into the car and left. Raven watched the car merge into traffic before turning back, only to run straight into Zacharias striding out. Mustering her courage, she spoke up, ¡°Mr. Shaw, Anne is such a good woman. She¡¯s followed you faithfully all these years, suffered so much beside you. ¡°You should never have betrayed her! What do those women outside havepared to her? All they want is your wallet. A man like you, with such ability and power¨Chow could you not see that?¡± The source of th?s content is find?novel Marek returned just in time to hear her and rushed over, yanking Raven aside. ¡°How dare you speak to Mr. Shaw like that!¡± She stumbled from his pull, nearly falling. Marek bowed deeply to Zacharias in apology. ¡°I apologize, Mr. Shaw. This woman¡¯s gone mad -needs a good lesson. She¡¯s just a silly woman who only knows how to cook. She¡¯s clueless. Please, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Normally, being rebuked so directly by someone beneath him would have enraged Zacharias. 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 89 No Turning Back : 81 +20 Free Coins But hearing Raven¡¯s words, a different thought crossed his mind. She wouldn¡¯t have dared to say that unless Anneliese had sent her. I knew it! Anneliese isn¡¯t serious about the divorce at all. She¡¯s just hurt, just wants to force me to bow my head. His tense expression cased. ¡°My feelings for Anne have never changed. We¡¯ve just had a misunderstanding. Raven, help me talk to her, convince her.¡± With a brief nod, he turned and walked away. ¡°Look at the trouble you nearly caused! Be d Mr. Shaw didn¡¯t hold it against you, or you¡¯d see how I deal with you!¡± Marek shoved Raven, scolding. ¡°But Anne said Mr. Shaw cheated-¡± Raven tried. ¡°What business is that of yours? And besides, what powerful man doesn¡¯t cheat? It¡¯s nothing. As long as he doesn¡¯t divorce her or abandon his wife, that¡¯s a blessing for any woman. You women are just too dramatic!¡± Marek¡¯s face showed nothing but disdain. Raven opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but he had no patience for her. ¡°Enough. Get back to the kitchen and cook. I¡¯ve got important guests tonight, and you¡¯ll do the dishes yourself. Not a single mistake, you hear?¡± He pushed her back toward the kitchen. Raven was never good with words, but cooking had always been her true domain. She didn¡¯t dare dy service, so she hurried back to the stoves. Meanwhile, Anneliese returned to Astoria University. In the records room, she pulled out her phone and called Jessica. ¡°Jess, help me find a reliable private investigator. I need to look into something.¡± Since Zacharias clearly had no intention of cooperating with a divorce, Anneliese felt she had to make preparations on her own. ¡°Got it,¡± Jessica agreed without a single question. Hanging up, Anneliese buried herself in her studies. This time, she slipped into focus even faster than before. She spent the entire afternoon reading through two CFD papers and sketching out a partial design for a drone. By the time her neck stiffened and her eyes blurred, she finally lifted her head to realize the sky outside had already turned dark. Her stomach growled, reminding her she had forgotten something, and she smacked her Chapter 89 No Turning Back forehead. Shoot! I forgot I¡¯m Jonathan¡¯s cook now! He¡¯s not sitting at home hungry, is he? 81 +20 Free Coins With that, she rushed to pack up and ran out. On the way, she tried calling Jonathan twice. Both calls were declined. Even through the phone, Anneliese could feel the storm of his anger. Created 90 Chapter 90 A Dangerous Misunderstanding Chapter 90 A Dangerous Misunderstanding 81 +20 Free Coins When she got back to Maple Bay, Anneliese didn¡¯t even stop by her ce to check on Meatloaf. She went straight upstairs and pressed the doorbell. But no one answered, no matter how long she waited. Her eyes lit up with a faint spark of hope. Maybe Jonathan isn¡¯t home at all. Maybe when he hung up on me earlier, he¡¯d just been busy outside and hadn¡¯t even noticed I¡¯d shirked my little duty. Yes, yes, that had to be it¨Cno need to panic. With that thought, she rxed a little, pulled out her phone, and sent him a WhatsApp message. ¡®Mr. Fullbuster, since you¡¯re not home and dinner time has already passed, I suppose I don¡¯t need to cook tonight? I¡¯lle again tomorrow.¡® She let out a quiet sigh of relief, turned around¡ª Click. A crisp sound of the door unlocking came from behind her. Anneliese froze. No way¡­ But the faint hope inside her immediately withered when Jonathan¡¯s deep voice followed, echoing in the empty hallway. ¡°Going somewhere?¡± She didn¡¯t dare turn around, instinctively dropping her gaze to her phone. Maybe if I delete that message now, I can still save myself? ¡°I¡¯ve been home this whole time.¡± Toote! Like a stiff robot, Anneliese slowly turned around, haltingly raising her hand in a tiny wave. ¡°Hi¡± Jonathan still had his phone in his hand, the lit¨Cup screen showing her WhatsApp message as if mocking her for her ridiculous little trick. Her embarrassment was enough to make her want to dig a hole in the floor. Meeting his dark gaze, she pressed her palms together and quickly apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I really didn¡¯t mean to forget you¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t mean to? You¡¯re saying you wanted to do it on purpose?¡± Anneliese fell guiltily silent. 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 90 A Dangerous Misunderstanding He didn¡¯t look at her again, simply turned and walked back inside. He left the door open. That must mean he¡¯s still giving me a chance to make up for it, right? 81 +20 Free Coins Bracing herself, she stepped in after him, slipped on disposable slippers, and headed toward the kitchen while rolling up her sleeves. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll whip up dinner for you right away.¡± She hadn¡¯t taken more than two steps when Jonathan¡¯s low voice cut her off. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Cooking for me was never your responsibility. It was unfair of me to push it onto you. I¡¯ll have Zion arrange for another housekeeper tomorrow. You don¡¯t need to trouble yourself anymore.¡± Follow current nov?ls on F¦Énd£Îovel His words were polite, but the cool distance in his tone stung far more than if he had scolded her outright. Anneliese froze in ce, then slowly turned to look at him. He was sitting on the couch with a tablet in hand, his gaze nowhere near her. A natural chill surrounded him, proud and untouchable. Knowing full well she was in the wrong, Anneliese bit her lip and forced herself forward to exin. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯m sorry. I agreed to help you with meals. That makes it my responsibility. ¡°Even if I had something else to do, I should¡¯ve told you ahead of time. I shouldn¡¯t have buried myself in research and sketches until I lost track of time, and then tried to cover it up. I truly apologize.¡± Shame burned through her, and she even started to bend, ready to bow in apology. But Jonathan suddenly lifted his eyes to hers. ¡°Researching papers and sketching designs¨Cwas that why you lost track of time?¡± Not because you saw the husband you used to love dearly, lost your head, and tried to rekindle old feelings? Startled by the look in his eyes, Anneliese rushed to rify. ¡°Really, I was working on design sketches. I even forgot to eat. The moment I realized the time, I rushed straight back. I swear it wasn¡¯t on purpose.¡± As if to prove her words, her stomach growled loudly. Normally, she would¡¯ve died of embarrassment at such an udylike sound. But right now, she thought it couldn¡¯t havee at a better time, She even straightened her belly a little, pressing her hand over it, then looked up at him with pitiful eyes. ¡°See? You heard that, right? My stomach isn¡¯t lying.¡± Chapter 90 A Dangerous Misunderstanding Jonathan¡¯s gaze flicked down to her abdomen, his expression oddlyplicated. And then, from the entryway, came a thunderous voice. ¡°Oh my god¨CMs. ude is pregnant?¡± 81 +20 Free Coins Pregnant? Who¡¯s pregnant? Anneliese wondered without a second thought. Is there another Ms. ude here? She whipped her head around to see Zion standing there with two food containers in hand, staring at her in shock. His eyes were locked squarely on her stomach. Only then did she realize what he¡¯d misunderstood. She hurriedly shoved her hands behind her back, sucked her stomach in hard, and wished she could stick her butt out just to erase the image. 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 91 Misunderstandings Cleared Created 91 Chapter 91 Misunderstandings Cleared Chapter 91 Misunderstandings Cleared 81 +20 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. ¡°Mr. Hand! What on earth are you thinking? How could I possibly be pregnant?¡± ¡°But you just said the gut won¡¯t lie, and you even made Mr. Fullbuster listen. If that¡¯s the case¡­ then isn¡¯t the baby his?¡± Zion lookedpletely dramatic, his thoughts running wild. Mr. Fullbuster doesn¡¯t just want to be her secret lover¨Che also wants to be her baby¡¯s father?! Is his ambition really that big? ¡°Of course not! Wait¨Cno! I¡¯m not pregnant at all. I was just trying to prove to Mr. Fullbuster that I was hungry, that¡¯s all. I just wanted him to hear my stomach growling!¡± Realization dawned on Zion, and he cleared his throat apologetically. ¡°Right, right. I walked in and saw you patting your stomach, saying you weren¡¯t lying to Mr. Fullbuster. I misunderstood. Sorry about that.¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel wronged. It¡¯s not entirely my fault. With our CEO¡¯s less¨Cthan¨Cpure thoughts, who wouldn¡¯t have jumped to conclusions? Besides, what decent young woman pats her stomach just to let people hear it growling? When Zion nced over, he caught Jonathan¡¯s icy gaze and arched a brow. ¡°Forgot your calcium supplements, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zion stiffened. He could swear Jonathan himself had thought the same thing earlier! When I walked in, his expression was definitely suspicious. Hypocrite¨Che¡¯s allowed to suspect, but I¡¯m not? ¡°Mr. Hand, did you major in screenwriting?¡± Anneliese snapped, her cheeks still burning as she shot him a resentful re. Zion felt as if he¡¯d been hit with a tag¨Cteam assault from husband and wife. Still, he forced a dryugh. ¡°Sorry to disappoint, Ms. ude. I graduated with dual master¡¯s degrees from an Ivy League institution. ¡°But I do like watching melodramatic romance dramas in my free time. You know, those stories where the Alpha CEO¡¯s wife runs away with his baby.¡± Anneliese fell silent. She would never have guessed that polished, elite¨Clooking Zion hid such a soft, girlish heart. But his wild imagination had only left her more embarrassed, unsure how to face the man 1/3 ?????? ???? find?novel 81 Chapter 91 Misunderstandings Cleared sitting on the couch behind her. Just as she was nning to slip away with some excuse, Jonathan stood up. +20 Free Coins The sound of his steady footsteps felt like they pressed directly against her heartstrings until he passed her by, his tall figure heading toward the dining room. Relief washed over her until he suddenly turned his head back. Anneliese immediately straightened like a soldier awaiting inspection, nearly raising her hand in salute. He studied her for a moment, then a faintly amused smile curved his lips. Just as she felt she might suffocate under the silence, his voice came, cool and casual. ¡°Weren¡¯t you hungry? Come eat. Really? He has to build it up like that? Anneliese grumbled. Can¡¯t he just say it inly? Zion had brought food from Amber Garden, a ce so expensive it was practically legendary. Rumor had it that the chefs there descended from royal kitchens and never epted takeout orders. Naturally, the dishes were as exquisite as they were rare. The perks of being rich. When I finally get my five hundred million, I¡¯ll indulge in this too, Anneliese thought. Once Zion set everything out, he left for the night. That left only Anneliese and Jonathan at the table. She had no appetite for such fine food. With her head down, she ate quickly, only wanting to finish and escape the awkwardness. But then Jonathan¡¯s slow voice came from beside her. ¡°Clearly, you¡¯re starving.¡± Anneliese nearly choked on her food. She looked up at him, unsure if he realized the inte ng behind those words, but his calm eyes gave nothing away. ¡°Slow down. No one will steal it from you,¡± he added, his tone uncharacteristically normal. For once, it seemed his conscience had stirred. He even poured her a ss of water and pushed it toward her. Startled by the gesture, she picked it up with both hands, sipped, and carefully asked, ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re not mad anymore?¡± ¡°Was I ever mad?¡± Chapter 91 Misunderstandings Cleared All right, maybe you weren¡¯t angry, you just treat everyone with the same cold sarcasm. 81 +20 Free Coins Still, Anneliese thought Jonathan¡¯s temper wasn¡¯t so bad. After all, she had left him hungry until now, and instead of scolding, he was treating her to a feast. And honestly¨Cwhat CEO would tolerate a subordinate openly spreading ridiculous rumors? Zion had all but used him of fathering her child, yet Jonathan hadn¡¯t even docked his pay. What a decent man. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, the seafood chowder is really good. You should have some.¡± She quickly returned the kindness,dling a bowl and setting it before him. Jonathan nced at her, picked up the spoon, and said casually, ¡°I want something lighter tomorrow morning.¡± It was clearly an instruction for her to continue cooking. Smiling, Anneliese nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to do my job properly. By the way, what time will you be leaving in the morning?¡± Already, she was nning to set two rms the moment she got home. No way would she let him go hungry again. 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 92 The Woman in the Road Created 92 Chapter 92 The Woman in the Road Chapter 92 The Woman in the Road This update is avable on F¦ÉndNovel 81 +20 Free Coins ¡°I usually get up at six, exercise for 40 minutes, and leave promptly at seven¨Cthirty.¡± Jonathan looked at Anneliese as he spoke, detailing his schedule like he was filing a report. She almost felt like she had taken over Zion¡¯s job. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but admire him- only a man like him could live with such discipline. If someone made her wake up at 6 a.m. to exercise, she¡¯d rather hang herself on the spot. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have breakfast ready by six¨Cfifty and bring it up for you. Would that work?¡± Coming to his ce at dawn just to cook still felt odd to her. Jonathan seemed to understand her hesitation. He only nodded once. ¡°That works.¡± After dinner, Anneliese busied herself clearing the table, eager to make up for her earlier blunder, then excused herself and left. Zacharias had been gone for several days, and the backlog of work kept him at uderias Tech untilte at night. By the time he sank into the back seat of his car, he rubbed at his temples and pulled out his phone. The screen was quiet¨Cno calls, no messages from Anneliese. In the past, if he stayedte at the office, she always called. She reminded him to eat, warned him not to drink too much, told him to bring a jacket because the night air was chilly, and urged him to drive carefully. Her voice had been incessant, her words endless. Many times, he had grown irritated, putting the phone on speaker and setting it aside, barely listening as she fussed, only giving the asional grunt of acknowledgment. But now, the very voice and calls that once annoyed him were the ones he longed for most, ¡°Drive faster,¡± Zacharias ordered, snapping the phone shut and urging Jackie on. He wanted to get home quickly, to see her sooner. He wondered if she was asleep¨Cor if she had left the porch light on for him, like before. Screech! Jackie mmed on the brakes. Chapter 92 The Woman in the Road Zacharias¡® brows drew together, his voice cold. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Sir¨Cit¡¯s Coral,¡± Jackie said tightly. 81 +20 Free Coins Zacharias turned to look. Coral had appeared out of nowhere. Dressed in a thin dress, she stood at the intersection in the autumn chill, right in front of his car, locking eyes with him in stubborn defiance. His frown deepened. He hated this kind of entanglement. ¡°Ignore her. Drive.¡± His handsome face remained frozen, betraying not the slightest ripple, as if there was no trace of affection left for her. He was certain Coral wouldn¡¯t dare throw herself against the car. Jackie hesitated. ¡°Sir¡­¡± ¡°I said drive!¡± Zacharias snapped. Jackie gritted his teeth and stepped on the gas. The car surged forward, and Coral paled, panic shing across her face. She started to move aside but bit down hard, closing her eyes and refusing to budge, her pride and desperation chaining her in ce. Screech! Jackie had no choice but to m the brakes. Even so, Coral¡¯s body still crumpled, staggering before copsing to the ground. He tightened his grip on the wheel, about to ask for instructions- ¡°Coral!¡± When he turned, the backseat was empty. Zacharias had already flung the door open and rushed out, In the next moment, he was lifting Coral into his arms. Her knees and hands were scraped, her thin figure trembling in his hold. ¡°To the hospital!¡± His voice was low andmanding as he carried her back into the car. Jackie recovered and swerved the car around, heading away from Sunrise Residence and straight toward the hospital. In the backseat, Coral clung to Zacharias, arms locked around his waist as tears streaked down her face. ¡°Zacharias, I knew you¡¯d never truly abandon me. It hurts¡­ am I going to die?¡± ¡­ 81 Chapter 92 The Woman in the Road +20 Free Coins His brows were drawn tight. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you move? Were you trying to get yourself killed?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m stupid¨Cstupid enough to love you. As long as you¡¯ll turn back and look at me, I¡¯ll do anything. What are a few injuriespared to that?¡± Zacharias said nothing, only letting out a quiet sigh. Coral pressed closer, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s so warm in your arms. Honestly, if I could die here like this, I¡¯d be happy.¡± ¡°Faster!¡± Zacharias barked at Jackie. Ignoring red lights, Jackie sped through the city until they reached the hospital in record time. After the doctors examined her, they concluded Coral had only sustained minor cuts and bruises. Nothing serious. With a bit of bandaging, she was free to go home. 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 93 Trouble Near Dawn Created 93 Chapter 93 Trouble Near Dawn Chapter 93 Trouble Near Dawn : 81 +20 Free Coins Zacharias came back inside after smoking two cigarettes, and Coral had already cleaned herself up. Her eyes were red and watery, but she still forced a sweet, dependent smile as she opened her arms for a hug. Zacharias didn¡¯t go over. His voice was low and stern. ¡°I called you a cab. It¡¯ll take you home. I don¡¯t ever want to see something like this happen again.¡± Coral¡¯s smile vanished, disbelief shing in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Even with injuries, I still can¡¯t make him stay? But just now in the car, he held me so tightly. He wasn¡¯t as cold and indifferent as he¡¯s pretending to be. He still cares, I know he does. Official source is find?novel Yet Zacharias didn¡¯t answer. He turned and walked away without looking back. Once in the car, Jackie asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Shaw, should I drive you back to Sunrise Residence?¡± Zacharias almost nodded by instinct, but Coral¡¯s scene still clung to him¨Cher heavy perfume stuck to his skin. Anneliese hadn¡¯t forgiven him yet. If she caught even a trace of another woman¡¯s scent on him, she would only misunderstand further. With a helpless sigh, he ordered, ¡°Back to the office.¡± Once there, he took a quick shower. But it was alreadyte, and Anneliese was no doubt asleep. He had only just returned from abroad and hadn¡¯t even adjusted his schedule yet. So instead of going home, Zacharias stayed at the office and spent the night there. If he had gone back at all, he would have found his home already stripped bare, nothing but an empty shell. The next morning, he was jolted awake by Jackie¡¯s urgent knocking. Zacharias opened the door with a deep frown, his expression hard. ¡°This had better be important.¡± It was. At dawn, Melody had been taken away by the police. They said she was involved in a sexual assault case and was now being held at the station. Zacharias rushed there immediately. As soon as he stepped out of the car, Lenora came running toward him, red¨Ceyed and panicked. ¡°Zach, they took Mom inside. Please, you have to get her awyer and get her out!¡± She was a mess¨Chair tangled, still in pajamas,pletely frantic. Neen years old, spoiled 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 93 Trouble Near Dawn and brash as she was, she had never faced anything like this. She was terrified. 81 +20 Free Coins Zacharias steadied her by the shoulders. ¡°What exactly happened? What did Mom do while I was away?¡± Lenora¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°I don¡¯t know, what could she possibly have done? It must be a mistake. Zach, just fix this.¡± Her evasive eyes told him everything. His face hardened, and he let go of her with a sharp snap. ¡°At a time like this, if you still won¡¯t tell the truth, I can¡¯t help her.¡± Jackie jumped in. ¡°Lenora, just say it straight. If Aunt Melody gets cornered during questioning and they pull it out of her, it¡¯ll be even harder to fix.¡± Jackie was a distant rtive of Melody¡¯s, and his dismissive attitude toward Anneliese had always been colored by her influence. Lenora finally broke down, stomping her foot. ¡°This is all Anneliese that b*tch¡¯s fault! Mom only asked Mr. Tate to teach her a lesson, and she turned around and heartlessly threw her own mother¨Cinw into the police station!¡± Zacharias froze. He clearly remembered what Jackie had said¨CMelody was being investigated for sexual assault. His own mother had tried to arrange for someone to assault his wife?! His face turned grim, disbelief tightening every muscle. ¡°She¡¯s your sister¨Cinw; have some respect! And what the hell do you mean by just a lesson? If it were just a lesson, do you think the police would be involved?¡± Lenora had never seen her brother look so terrifying. She trembled all over, too scared even to cry. Then fury overwhelmed her fear, and her voice cracked. ¡°Zach! Anneliese didn¡¯t even get hurt, but Mom¡¯s been dragged away! And you¡¯re yelling at me? If she hadn¡¯t set her dogs on us, if you hadn¡¯t always defended her no matter what, Mom never would¡¯ve snapped and sent Jameson Tate after her.¡± With that, she wiped her tears and ran back to the car in sobs, Zacharias felt a sliver of relief when he heard that Anneliese wasn¡¯t harmed, and just then thewyer arrived. No matter how furious he was, he couldn¡¯t ignore his mother. He took thewyer inside the station without another word. Maple Bay, that morning, Anneliese followed Jonathan¡¯s request and made him a stack of savory pancake, a ss of protein shake, and a small bowl of sd before carrying the tray Chapter 93 Trouble Near Dawn 14:28 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 94 The Hickey Created 94 Chapter 94 The Hickey Chapter 94 The Hickey : 81 +20 Free Coins Meatloaf seemed to know exactly where she was headed, tail wagging as it padded along behind her. When Jonathan opened the door, he found Anneliese standing there with a bright smile, a big floppy¨Ceared dog crouched obediently at her feet. Both the woman and the dog tilted their heads up at him. For no reason at all, his mood lifted. Stepping aside, he gave a faint smile. ¡°Morning.¡± He had clearly just finished his workout, showered, and changed into a crisp white dress shirt and ck suit pants. His hair was still damp, the cor loosely fastened with a tie, but the top two buttons undone, revealing a pale stretch of his neck and the sharp line of his corbone. Anneliese¡¯s eyes flicked up by ident,nding on the hollow of his throat. Her gaze caught on what looked unmistakably like a hickey. It wasn¡¯t fresh¨Calready fading at the edges¡ªbut still strikingly obvious. She could imagine just how heated it must have been when it happened. Her eyes widened. Oh my God. Am I really seeing this first thing in the morning?! Look away, look away! She quickly turned her head. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Fullbuster. I¡¯ll just leave this here and won¡¯te in.¡± She held out the breakfast she had brought. ¡°I¡¯lle backter to pick up the tray.¡± Jonathan took it from her hands with a simple, ¡°Thank you.¡± Anneliese waved it off and was just about to turn away when his voice stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡± She nced back. He had already set the tray down on the console by the door and was pointing to the entryway system. ¡°Come record your fingerprint.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± she blurted, startled. Why on earth would he need her fingerprint in his house? ¡°It¡¯ll make it easier for you toe cook ahead of time,¡± Jonathan exined. Anneliese realized it was no different from how housekeepers sometimes had ess set up. She stepped forward again, but once he¡¯d finished setting it up, she hesitated. ¡°Hm?¡± Jonathan gave a soft questioning hum. She bit her lip. ¡°If I leave my fingerprint, won¡¯t your girlfriend have a problem with that?¡± The whole thing just felt awkward. Chapter 94 The Hickey : Jonathan narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°My girlfriend?¡± 81 +20 Free Coins Anneliese blinked, her gaze darting back to his throat. That hickey was so tant, right on his Adam¡¯s apple. Judging by the cement, his girlfriend must be a very possessive woman. He noticed where she was looking. Realization dawned, his expression shifting from confusion to teasing amusement. Quirking a brow, he tapped the spot on his throat, his eyes darkening as he drawled, ¡°If you mean this, then I doubt she¡¯d mind.¡± Her eyes instinctively followed the motion of his fingertip. His fair skin made the kiss mark stand out even more, right above the small mole on his Adam¡¯s apple. The rise and fall of his throat when he spoke made the fading bruise look even more suggestive, turning his usually austere, untouchable air into something dangerously enticing¨Clike a sly fox luring prey in. Anneliese¡¯s cheeks med as she jerked her gaze away. Why is he pointing it out to me? And what on earth does that even mean? A thought flickered in her mind, too quick to catch, and she asked dumbly, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she mind?¡± Most women would be furious at the idea of another young woman freely entering their boyfriend¡¯s home, no matter the reason. ¡°Because¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curled with wicked amusement as his eyes bored into hers. ¡°She¡¯s right in front of me.¡± Updates are released by FindN0vel Right in front of him? Anneliese nced down at Meatloaf. The dog sat there staring up at her, ears perked. Clearly, there wasn¡¯t anyone else here. And then it hit her¨Cthe ¡°she¡± he was referring to was her. Her eyes widened, her toes curled against the floor, and her face burned hotter than ever. I¨CI was the one w¨Cwho left that ridiculously obvious, feverishly wild hickey?! Oh God, cut my tongue out! Why did I have to ask? This is so mortifying! Especially with his gaze still locked on her, unrelenting. The blush spread from her ears, threatening to set her whole body aze. If she stayed under his stare any longer, she was pretty sure she¡¯d spontaneouslybust. ¡°Cr*p! I think I left the stove on at home. Meatloaf, let¡¯s go!¡± pping a hand to her forehead, she spun around and bolted for the elevator. 14:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter Created 95 95 Lines That Couldn¡¯t Be Crossed Chapter 95 Lines That Couldn¡¯t Be Crossed 81 +20 Free Coins Jonathan leaned casually against the doorframe, watching as Anneliese all but sprinted down the hall, vanishing in a blink. A faint smile tugged at his lips. Tilting his chin at Meatloaf, who was still crouched by the door, he said, ¡°Go on. If you don¡¯t keep up this time, I¡¯m afraid you really will end up as dog stew.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± Meatloaf barked as if it understood, then bounded after her. Inside the elevator, Anneliese¡¯s face still burned hot. This entire floor belonged to Jonathan alone, and though the elevator didn¡¯t open directly into his apartment, it wasn¡¯t far from the door either. Which meant his teasing voice had carried perfectly into the elevator¨Cand she had heard every word. The humiliation made her want to crawl into a hole. Thankfully for Meatloaf, just before the doors closed, it squeezed inside, and the elevator began its descent. Back home, she copsed onto the couch. Raking a hand through her hair, she forced herself to recall that night again, desperate for any detail. Nothing. Not a single memory surfaced. Groaning, she grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it. God, did I do something even worse than kissing him? She pulled out her phone, opened her chat with Jonathan, and hovered her fingers over the keyboard. She wanted to ask if anything else had happened that night. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to type the words. Forget it! Just asking would be humiliating enough. But what if I really did something worse? Ugh, I¡¯m going crazy. She opened the chat again. How the hell am I supposed to ask this? I¡¯m losing my mind. The only thing that saved her from drowning in her own embarrassment was a call from her best friend Jessica. Reliable as ever, Jessica had already found her a private investigator. They met at a small park. By the time Anneliese arrived, Jessica was already there with the detective. He looked ordinary enough, his face calm and approachable, but his sharp gaze gave him away. Jessica exined that he had once served as a scout in the military and was highly capable. Chapter 95 Lines That Couldn¡¯t Be Crossed 81 +20 Free Coins Anneliese trusted Jessica¡¯s judgment. Without wasting words, she handed over a photo and a folder of documents. ¡°Detective Hayes, this man is Rory Reyes. ¡°Four years ago, he started a techpany called Intellicon. On the road to securing funding, he was in a car ident that caused the deal to fall apart. Thepany eventually went bankrupt, and he left Oceaton. ¡°I believe that ident was no ident, and I want you to investigate what really happened- and find him. This file has some basic information on possible suspects you can use for reference.¡± The detective studied the photo and documents, then nodded. He said he would look into it and get back to her soon. After agreeing on a fee, he left. Jessica¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Hold up¨Care you suspecting that Zacharias staged that car ident? That¡¯s brutal! I thought you were hiring him to dig into Selina White¡¯s stunt against you.¡± Discover more novels at Find?Novel She cursed Zacharias under her breath, worry flickering in her eyes. To her, he was nothing but a wolf dressed in sheep¡¯s clothing. Anneliese shook her head. ¡°The Selina White thing? No point. The Whites and Zacharias cover their tracks too well. Four yearster, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d find evidence.¡± Jessica leaned closer. ¡°So, this is about leverage? You want something to force Zacharias into a divorce? That son of a b*tch¨Che¡¯s done every rotten thing possible, broken your heart over and over, and still wants to chain you down. ¡°If he¡¯s all that, why hasn¡¯t an angel descended from the heavens to get him?¡± She was still swearing when Anneliese¡¯s phone rang again. The caller ID showed uderias Tech¡¯s legal department. Frowning, she answered, only to be met with a low, steady breath on the other end. Then came that all¨Ctoo¨Cfamiliar, infuriating voice. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Anneliese¡¯s brows knitted. Her voice was icy. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Come to Jefferson Street Station right now and sign the settlement papers.¡± Zacharias¡® tone was deep,manding, almost daring her to refuse. Annelieseughed outright, the sound sharp. She had a pretty good guess what this was about. ¡°Settlement papers? What are you talking about? I haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Anneliese! I don¡¯t care how angry you are, but dragging family business into the police station is going too far. No matter what my mother did, she¡¯s still your mother¨Cinw. Use your head and get over here now.¡± His voice dropped even lower,ced with a rage he barely controlled. 81 Chapter 95 Lines That Couldn¡¯t Be Crossed Anneliese pulled the phone away from her ear. ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± +20 Free Coins Outside the station, Zacharias stood in the chill of early winter. The wind ruffled his hair as his sharp features set like stone. ¡°Anne, must you really do this to get back at me? If you insist, then I¡¯ll have no choice but to cut off the medical funds in Baytree.¡± Created 96 Chapter 96 Shattered Illusions His voice was cold as ice. 81 +20 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s grandmother in Baytree suffered from kidney disease. Though it had not reached the point of needing a transnt, she still had to undergo dialysis twice a month. The old woman refused to move away, and while Baytree¡¯s cost of living was lower than here, Anneliese had still arranged the best treatment n money could buy. It was far from cheap. She couldn¡¯t believe Zacharias would stoop so low as to use that against her. He wasn¡¯t even human anymore. Her voice trembled with fury. ¡°You¡¯re a monster, Zacharias! My grandmother practically raised you. If not for her giving up my father¡¯s pension, you, your mother, and your sister would have been living under a bridge! How dare you use her as leverage?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want this either, Anne, but you left me with no other choice. So, get over here now.¡± Anneliese said nothing more, only hung up in anger. Still, Zacharias knew she woulde. Yet as he gripped the phone, the veins stood out on his hand, his chest tight with irritation. That uncontroble panic, that spiraling sense of loss as everything slipped further from his grasp the more he pressed, the further she pulled away. It left him raw, frantic. He could feel it deep down: something about her was different now. She no longer cared about his moods, his feelings. It was as though she was preparing to fly away from him, and he had no idea how to hold her down, no idea what exactly he was about to lose. The uncertainty gnawed at him like standing on the edge of a cliff, knowing the next step could send him plunging into the abyss. This text is hosted at Find1Novel An hourter, Anneliese still arrived at the station. The moment she stepped out of the car, she spotted Zacharias beneath the tree outside the office building. A cigarette burned between his fingers, his tall frame sharp and unyielding, his handsome face shadowed by smoke. Even with the bustle of people going in and out around him, he stood there as though he belonged to another world. But Anneliese was no longer swayed by that wless shell. To even look at him twice felt like an insult to herself. She barely spared him a nce before heading straight toward the building. Zacharias crushed out his cigarette and strode after her. Before she could reach the doors, his 14:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 96 Shattered Illusions hand mped hard around her wrist. ¡°Let go!¡± She tried to pull free but couldn¡¯t. He yanked harder, dragging her forward. ¡°We need to talk.¡± 81 +20 Free Coins Pain red in her wrist. She frowned. ¡°Zacharias, this is a police station. If you don¡¯t let go, I¡¯ll scream for help.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind the scene, go ahead. See if anyone will intervene when a husband holds his wife¡¯s hand,¡± he shot back. Anneliese¡¯s pride held her silent. He forced her along to the Bentley, shoved her into the back seat, then climbed in after her. The door mmed, sealing them in a tense, suffocating silence. Arms crossed, she shifted as far from him as possible. The distance tightened his jaw, his dark gaze fixed on her. Finally, his tone softened, coaxing. ¡°Don¡¯t be difficult. Just sign this settlement. It¡¯s for your own good.¡± He slid the document in front of her. Anneliese¡¯s eyes flicked down. The paper dered she would not pursue charges against Melody¨Cand, by extension, against Jameson. He had imed Jameson was only acting under Melody¡¯s orders and even had recordings of her phone calls to him. If she let Melody off, she¡¯d be letting Jameson off too. Her heart chilled. She had long since given up on this man, but once, he had been the boy she loved beyond reason, the one she had dreamed of growing old with. That boy was gone. What sat across from her now was someone unrecognizable, someone who kept shattering whatever hope she once had. Hatred rose, sharp and choking. And when anger reached its peak,ughter sometimes followed. She let out two bitter chuckles. ¡°For my own good? Tell me, how exactly is forgiving someone who tried to rape me supposed to be for my good?¡± Her voice was frigid, her expression stripped of every trace of the warmth and gentleness she had once shown him. Those clear eyes of hers, always bright like twinkling stars when they looked at him, now held nothing but cutting contempt. Zacharias felt as though a giant hand had mped down on his heart, stealing his breath. He knew she was hurt, but what choice did he have? No matter her anger, he couldn¡¯t abandon the mother who raised him. It¡¯s fine. We still have a lifetime ahead of us. I¡¯ll make it up to her slowly. ¡­ 81 Chapter 96 Shattered Illusions +20 Free Coins Clinging to that thought, he spoke in a low voice. ¡°Anne, you need to understand¨Ceven if you refuse to sign, neither Tate nor my mother will actually be convicted. My mother only did this because you set your dog on Lenora. She just wanted Jameson to scare you a little.¡± 14:29 Fri, Sep 5 Created 97 Chapter 97 Demand an Apology From Melody Chapter 97 Demand an Apology From Melody 81 +20 Free Coins ¡°He never meant to do anything worse. You were just too frightened, that¡¯s why your exaggerated the seriousness of it. Since you weren¡¯t hurt, why make a fuss? Dragging this out will only damage your reputation. Or do you want people pointing fingers at you everywhere you go, just like four years ago?¡± Four years ago¨Cthat single incident had upended Anneliese¡¯s entire life. The trauma it left on her body and mind had been devastating. No one knew that better than Zacharias, who had been there through it all. Yet now he audaciously tore open that old wound with his words. Her eyes burned with hatred. She swung her hand hard across his face. ¡°Zacharias, you b*stard!¡± This time, he didn¡¯t dodge. Red bloomed instantly on his fair cheek. His head tilted slightly from the blow, his tongue pressing against the numbed flesh before he turned back to her. His gaze wasplicated as he asked quietly, ¡°Feel better now? Sign the settlement.¡± He shoved a pen into her hand. She gripped it and aimed straight for his face. Zacharias caught her wrist, stopping the pen just inches from his skin. ¡°Calm down! We need to resolve this, not make a scene.¡± His eyes darkened as he pressed down harder on her wrist, leaning forward until she was pinned against the leather seat of the Bentley. Both her hands were trapped above her head, her whole body restrained. She red at him, her eyes filled with nothing but loathing. ¡°Who¡¯s making a scene? I¡¯m protecting my rights! ¡°Zacharias Shaw, the only reason nothing happened to me is because I was lucky enough to be saved in time¨Cnot because they let me go. And you? You¡¯re defending a man who tried to rape your wife. What a saint you are!¡± Her words sliced through him. His chest felt as if it were being scraped raw with des, his face pale with pain. His voice dropped low and hoarse. ¡°Anne, don¡¯t look at me like that. I told you¨Cmy mother only wanted to scare you. She¡¯s your mother¨Cinw. Do you really think she¡¯d want to see me humiliated like that?¡± The source of th?s content is Find?Novel Just because his mother said it was only to scare me, he believed her? Anneliese¡¯s lips curved in bitter mockery. She didn¡¯t bother to argue anymore. It was useless- he would never believe her. He would always choose to believe Melody, even against evidence. Her silence only deepened the sting. His face burned, though whether from her p or from 14:29 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 97 Demand an Apology From Melody 80 +20 Free Coins his own shame, he couldn¡¯t tell. He forced down his anger, speaking slowly. ¡°Attempted rape is difficult to prove. ¡°You went to the private room with Jameson willingly that night and even poured him drinks. He insists you were interested in him, and since it ties into family disputes, conviction will be nearly impossible. ¡°That¡¯s just the truth. Anne, we¡¯re supposed to spend our lives together. Since a conviction won¡¯t happen, signing this settlement is the best oue. The Tates will be grateful, and you¡¯ll get along better with my mother.¡± He seemed to convince himself with those words, his expression calming, almost self¨Cassured. Taking her hand, he guided it toward the signature line. In his mind, he was doing this for her. Anneliese didn¡¯t resist. He thought she had finally relented¨Cuntil she drove the pen hard, stabbing two deep holes into the page. down ¡°I¡¯ll have another copy brought over,¡± Zacharias muttered after a pause, his brow furrowed in frustration. His determination was clear: if she refused to sign, he would sit here with her all day. But Anneliese had calmed now. Leaning back, she regarded him with cold eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll sign, but on one condition.¡± His gaze flickered, then relief softened his lips into a faint smile. He had known she would give in eventually. She wouldn¡¯t let her marriage to him reach a dead end with his mother. She loved him too much for that. His chest swelled with guilty gratitude, his eyes tender as he promised, ¡°Anne, whatever condition you set, I¡¯ll agree.¡± Her lips curved faintly, her voice soft yet cutting. ¡°Sign the divorce papers, and I want one billion.¡± Zacharias froze. The words were nothing like what he had expected. He had assumed her condition would be something as simple as demanding Melody apologize. Created 98 Chapter 98 Terms He Couldn¡¯t ept Chapter 98 Terms He Couldn¡¯t ept 80 +20 Free Coins Even if Anneliese hadn¡¯t named such a condition, Zacharias would have ended up facing it anyway. The relief that had just softened his face tightened in an instant, his alluring eyes clouding with a chilling coldness. This wasn¡¯t the first time she had asked firmly for a divorce. In fact, it was the third. He remembered well. The first time she presented the divorce papers was the day after she learned the truth at hispany. He hadn¡¯t taken it seriously then, thinking she was just being emotional, and he tore the papers up in anger. The second time had been at the small restaurant. Though he had felt uneasy, he still hadn¡¯t believed she truly meant to end things. But now Zacharias understood, with absolute rity, that she wasn¡¯t bluffing. She wanted out¨Cfor real. The realization made his chest tighten, his breathing heavy and uneven, fury and panic warring inside him. His gaze hardened. ¡°Impossible. I won¡¯t agree to that, and I won¡¯t sign.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t sign the divorce papers, but you want to force me to sign this settlement? Zacharias, you¡¯re the biggest hypocrite I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same thing!¡± he snapped. The settlement, signed or not, would hardly change the oue¨Csigning it only sped up the process. But the divorce papers? That would end their marriage. And that, he could never allow. Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected him to refuse even now. However, she didn¡¯t believe it was love or attachment holding him back. It was his obsession with his carefully crafted image¡ªthe devoted husband, the responsible businessman. That was all he couldn¡¯t let go of. ¡°Anne, I know I¡¯ve hurt you, but none of it was what I wanted. Please, honey, give me some time to heal you, to make it right, to change your mind. Don¡¯t give up on us so easily.¡± His hands sped hers, eyes full of contrition and pleading. But she felt no warmth from his touch. She was grateful she had already seen through his cold selfishness. She had awakened atst. 14:30 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 98 Terms He Couldn¡¯t ept : Get full chapters from Find_Novel(. Bit by bit, she pulled her hand free. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you another option.¡± 80 +20 Free Coins Hope flickered in his eyes once again. ¡°Tell me, Anne. Whatever it is this time, I¡¯ll do it.¡± His urgency bled through every word. She only thought how foolishly early he was celebrating. Meeting his gaze, she nodded. ¡°Be my witness. Testify against Selina White. Tell the court that four years ago, those thugs acted under her orders to deliberately hurt me and force a retrial.¡± The faint smile on Zacharias¡® lips drained away, piece by piece. Her eyes shone with a clear, steady light as she held his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t do it?¡± His handsome face twisted, brows drawn tight, but no words came. Seeing him struggle, she felt no pain anymore¨Conly bitter irony. Does he really think this waffling, this pathetic attempt to keep everyone happy, makes him noble? ¡°Is it really that hard? Zacharias Shaw, I¡¯m your wife. Shouldn¡¯t you stand with me?¡± She stared him down, unflinching. He couldn¡¯t bear that clear, stubborn gaze. His breathing grew uneven. Anneliese tugged at his tie, winding it around her finger, her lips curling coldly. ¡°You testify for me, and I¡¯ll sign the settlement. I¡¯ll personally bring your mother out, and I¡¯ll even forgive you for lying to me back then. I won¡¯t bring up divorce again. How about that?¡± She hadn¡¯t smiled at him like this in a long time. The sweet scent of her, like fresh pears, filled his lungs and muddled his thoughts. It hooked him, softened him, made him ache with longing. He realized just how long it had been since theyst kissed, since theyst held each other. He missed her desperately. His throat bobbed, and he instinctively leaned in, reaching for her lips. But Anneliese yanked his tie hard, leaning back to put distance between them. Her face went cold. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered me. This is your one chance.¡± ¡°Cough¨Clet go!¡± Zacharias¡® breath hitched, for a moment, truly thinking she meant to strangle him. But she released him, only fixing him with that icy stare. He steadied his breathing, thoughts churning. He knew she wouldn¡¯t be easy to cate this time, yet all he could think was that she must just be jealous of Selina. 14:30 Fri, Sep 5 Chapter 99 The Truth at the Window Created 99 Chapter 99 The Truth at the Window : Chapter 99 The Truth at the Window 80 +20 Free Coins The events of the past were long behind them, and Anneliese¡¯s health had nearly recovered. They were already preparing to have a baby, and soon enough, there would be a child. Why dig up old wounds? From here on out, everything Zacharias had¨Chis wealth and honor¨Cwould belong to Anneliese, his missus. As long as they lived happily, what had happened before should be left in the past. What he owed Selina would never change, but Selina was about to finish her studies abroad and return. Her reputation was spotless, her future bright. How could she possibly be treated as a suspect now? She was nothing like Anneliese¨CSelina had been pampered since birth, raised in constant praise. She would never be able to endure it. Zacharias pressed his thin lips together, struggling for a long time before making a decision. ¡°Anne, the case was closed four years ago. Even if I testified, there¡¯s no evidence to overturn the ruling. Besides, we¡¯re husband and wife. The police might not even take my testimony seriously. Why put yourself through this?¡± Anneliese had already guessed this would be his answer. The reason she brought up this condition was that she knew Zacharias would never be able to do it. She hadn¡¯t really meant to give him a chance, and his refusal only deepened her realization of just how hypocritical this man truly was. She gave a half¨Csmile, half¨Csneer. ¡°At the end of the day, you just can¡¯t do it. In that case, there¡¯s nothing left to discuss.¡± When she tried to get out of the car, Zacharias¡® heart sank. He pressed down on her shoulders, forcing her back against the seat. His brows furrowed. ¡°Name another condition.¡± Anneliese almostughed at the sheer absurdity. ¡°Alright. Die.¡± Zacharias fell silent. ¡°Let me go!¡± She struggled against him, but he only tightened his grip, his handsome features set in cold determination. ¡°Jameson¡¯s nose was broken, along with four ribs. The medical report ssifies it as a level¨Cnine disability, Jessica did it, didn¡¯t she? If the Tates decide to press charges, with their influence, she could easily face a year or two in prison.¡± Chapter 99 The Truth at the Window 80 +20 Free Coins ¡°You¡¯re threatening me again? Despicable!¡± Anneliese, furious, raised her hand to p him. Zacharias caught her wrist tightly. ¡°How is that a threat? Whatever the Tates decide to do is out of my control. But if you refuse to spare Jameson, do you think they won¡¯t fight back?¡± Anneliese had no idea what had happened after she was taken away that night, and Jessica had never brought it up. But knowing Jessica¡¯s temper, after seeing her bullied by Jameson like that, it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if she had castrated him. Her worry clouded her judgment, and before she realized it, her gaze fell on the settlement agreement. ¡°Now, be sensible and sign it. I promise the Tates won¡¯t trouble Jessica.¡± Zacharias handed the pen back to her. The air felt heavy, and just as Anneliese hesitated to reach for the pen, someone tapped lightly on the window. A calm, clear male voice followed through the half¨Clowered ss. ¡°Mr. Shaw, if you¡¯re going to threaten someone, at least get your facts straight. Otherwise, you¡¯ll only end up making a fool of yourself.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find¡ïNovel Jonathan?! Even without turning her head, Anneliese recognized him instantly. She was startled at how familiar his voice already felt. Her body went rigid the moment she realized how humiliating the scene must look. Zacharias had her pinned against the back seat, his body half pressed over hers. After the struggle, their clothes were even a little disheveled. Having Jonathan witness this made her cheeks burn with shame. She lowered her head, unable to look outside, and an ache rose in her nose for no reason at all, Jonathan, however, hadn¡¯t even nced inside the car. Dressed in a ck suit, he stood with his back partly turned, showing only the clean line of his jaw. Zacharias, on the other hand, whipped his head toward the window immediately. When his gaze fell on that tall, unmistakable figure, his eyes widened. Jonathan! What¡¯s he doing here? Shock flickered across Zacharias¡® face. In that moment, when Anneliese shoved him away, he finally moved aside. She quickly straightened herself, then pulled the car door open and stepped out. Chapter 99 The Truth at the Window 80 +20 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡­ What are you doing here?¡± Her embarrassment was clear, though her voice carried more surprise than anything else. Jonathan¡¯s eyes rested on her. After a quick sweep over her figure, he finally answered, ¡°Detective Walen called me. I came to cooperate with the investigation.¡± Patrick Walen had already taken Jonathan¡¯s statement back at the hospital. Strictly speaking, Jonathan didn¡¯t need to be here at all. But he had left Patrick his number, asking to be informed of any updates. When Patrick called Anneliese, he had also called Jonathan. Knowing how busy Jonathan was, Anneliese felt a surge of gratitude mixed with guilt when she realized he hade all the way here just to cooperate. Created 100 Chapter 100 Breaking the Facade : Chapter 100 Breaking the Facade For more chapters visit F?nd-Novel Anneliese¡¯s lips parted slightly, but before she could say anything, Zacharias stepped out of the car. He immediately wrapped an arm possessively around her waist, pulling her into his embrace as his dark eyes fixed on Jonathan. The man before him wore a dark double¨Cbreasted suit with subtle vertical patterns, a white striped shirt, and a coffee¨Ccolored paisley satin tie. His look was understated yet stylish, carrying a natural air of refinement andposure. Even someone as proud as Zacharias had to admit that Jonathan was the picture of old money, unmatched in bearing, and certainly in no way inferior to himself. Primal instinct made him wary of another man who radiated even greater strength. To make it worse, something about Jonathan¡¯s attire felt strangely familiar. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Mr. Fullbuster. A pleasure. Honey, when did you and Mr. Fullbuster get acquainted?¡± He lowered his gaze to Anneliese. From the moment he pulled her close, Anneliese had resisted, but Zacharias¡® grip on her waist was firm. She didn¡¯t want to create a scene in front of Jonathan, so she stiffened, her expression cold, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard Zacharias at all. Jonathan¡¯s cool, clear eyes fell on Zacharias¡® hand gripping her waist. When the woman in his arms remained unresponsive, Zacharias¡® expression faltered. Catching Jonathan¡¯s nce, he instinctively tightened his hold, though Jonathan¡¯s face revealed nothing. Still, Zacharias felt a wave of unease wash over him. His frown deepened. Selina¡¯s words at the Age airport came to mind¨Cshe had said Anneliese had celebrated her birthday with another man. Could it be¡­ His gaze flicked between Anneliese and Jonathan, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Impossible! Jonathan could have any woman he wanted. Why would he set his sights on a married one? Besides, over the years, Anneliese¡¯s entire world had revolved around him. In life, in work, she had never let another man near her. Between her and Jonathan? Impossible. Suppressing the sudden surge of panic, Zacharias forced a faint smile. ¡°My wife and I had a small quarrel. She¡¯s still upset, I¡¯m afraid. Forgive us for letting you witness such a scene, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Anneliese loathed his words, loathed even more his pretense of marital affection. She was divorcing him, and Jonathan already knew. Why bother keeping up appearances now? In front of Jonathan, she had already endured worse humiliation. ¡°What quarrel? We¡¯re about to face each other in court and split for good. And stop calling me your wife!¡± She shoved Zacharias hard and stepped a few paces away, putting distance between them. Zacharias¡® face darkened, his stare heavy with discontent. But she couldn¡¯t care less. Anneliese rolled her eyes at him outright. His dignityy in tatters. Thinking back to Jonathan¡¯s earlier words, Zacharias scowled and said, ¡°And what exactly did you mean just now, Mr. Fullbuster? It isn¡¯t very polite to eavesdrop on a husband and wife¡¯s conversation, is it?¡± Jonathan watched as Anneliese pushed Zacharias away like a cat bristling at an unwanted touch. A flicker of coldness faded from his eyes. She herself likely hadn¡¯t noticed, but after breaking free, she had instinctively taken half a step in his direction. In a rare moment of patience, Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly as he replied, ¡°Eavesdropping? We¡¯re in public. I happened to be walking past the car and overheard you resorting to underhanded threats, Mr. Shaw. Since it so happens this matter concerns me, I couldn¡¯t help but speak up.¡± Not far away, Zion nearly rolled his eyes. Mr. Fullbuster, do you even realize how many ¡®coincidences¡® you just listed? Anyone would call that divine intervention by now. Even if Mr. Shaw were dim, he wouldn¡¯t buy that. Zacharias¡® face turned ashen, his smile brittle. ¡°Quite the coincidence indeed. Then tell me, Mr. Fullbuster¨Cwhat does this matter have to do with you?¡± Jonathan quirked a brow, about to answer, but Anneliese cut in coldly, ¡°What are you, a detective? Where have you been then?¡± Who are you to question anyone? Turning to Jonathan, she said firmly, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, let¡¯s go in together.¡± Created 101 Chapter 101 A p Gone Wrong Chapter 101 A p Gone Wrong 45 +10 Free Coins Jonathan¡¯s calm gaze lingered on Anneliese, and for some reason, he felt as though she was standing up for him. His long, narrow eyes flickered with sudden brightness, and the corners of his lips curved into a gentle smile. He gave a slight nod. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, the two of them walked toward the hall together, side by side, as if Zacharias no longer existed. Zacharias clenched his fists, anger roiling in his chest. Anneliese walked quickly ahead, embarrassed and unwilling to let that madman Zacharias catch up to her. Arriving at the mediation room, she pushed the door open¨Conly for a figure to lunge straight at her. ¡°Anneliese ude, you shameless woman! You seduced my son and then had people beat him so badly that he¡¯s lying in a hospital bed, unable to move. And you¡¯ve got the nerve to call the cops and use him of rape?!¡± The shrill voice was apanied by a hand with long red nails swinging toward Anneliese¡¯s face. She never imagined someone would dare make such a scene inside the police station. Completely unprepared, she froze. Those ws were about to rake her face, and all she could do was squeeze her eyes shut and try to recoil backward. The next second, a shriek filled the air, colliding with Zacharias¡® furious shout. ¡°Ahhh! Let me go, that hurts!¡± ¡°Anneliese, where do you think you¡¯re going?!¡± Confused, Anneliese blinked her eyes open and finally saw the scene clearly. The woman who had just tried to p her was Jameson¡¯s mother, Leah Moreau. But now, Leah¡¯s wrist was firmly gripped in Jonathan¡¯s hand. The pain bent her 10:53 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 101 A p Gone Wrong 45 +10 Free Coins over, her arrogance vanished, and she whimpered in agony. And Anneliese, in her attempt to dodge, had somehow pressed her cheek against Jonathan¡¯s chest, falling right into his arms. Zacharias arrived a beat toote. His handsome face turned stormy as he red at her, as though she had just publicly humiliated him with an affair. The irony was, though idental, the sight must have looked exactly like she had made Zacharias wear the horns. And honestly? That thought was strangely satisfying to her. On impulse, instead of pulling away, Anneliese let her cheek nuzzle lightly against the warmth of Jonathan¡¯s chest. Zacharias¡® vision darkened. He strode forward, reaching out to yank her back. Jonathan, slightly taken aback by the softness brushing his chest, felt a peculiar, tingling sensation there. When Zacharias reached for Anneliese, Jonathan shifted his stance and gave Leah¡¯s arm a hard tug at the same time. Leah stumbled right into Zacharias¡® grasp. In the very next moment¡ª ¡°Ahhh!¡± Zacharias, aiming for Anneliese, had ended up grabbing a full handful of Leah¡¯s chest. Leah¡¯s scream pierced the air. When she realized who had touched her, her cheeks flushed beneathyers of makeup, her embarrassmentced with anger. ¡°Mr. Shaw, what are you doing?¡± Zacharias froze in shock, only to look down and see Leah¡¯s powdered, wrinkled face. Disgust shot through him. He jerked his hand back and scrubbed it furiously with his handkerchief, as if trying to rid himself of contamination. Leah¡¯s face twisted with fury at his reaction. Anneliese almost burst outughing. She tilted her head up, meeting Jonathan¡¯s Chapter 101 A p Gone Wrong : 45 Updates are released by F¦ÉndNovel +10 Free Coins Once everyone was finally seated under Patrick¡¯s direction, Anneliese nced across the table. Leah sat massaging her chest in secret, while Zacharias¡® face was beyond grim beside her. The sight made it impossible for Anneliese to suppress the faint amusement in her eyes until Patrick began speaking. ¡°Melody Zwick ims she only wanted Jameson Tate to scare you. Tate says he never used the drug; that it was bought by his associate that night, Luca Zorin, who misunderstood his intentions and tried to curry favor by spiking the drinks. ¡°Zorin has confessed to buying and administering the drug, and stated that Jameson knew nothing about it. Our investigation confirms Luca¡¯s involvement, and he has already been transferred for prosecution. ¡°However, at present, there isn¡¯t enough evidence to prove Zwick instructed Tate to attempt sexual assault against Ms. ude. Since this involves a family dispute, we¡¯ve asked you here, Ms. ude, to see if you¡¯re willing to ept mediation.¡± Anneliese¡¯s heart sank. No wonder Zacharias had insisted there wasn¡¯t enough evidence. Even if she refused to sign the settlement, Melody and Jameson would walk free. Clearly, Jameson had already lined up a scapegoat. Leah sneered. ¡°Anneliese ude, my son¡¯s already beaten so badly he can¡¯t even get out of bed. What more do you want? I advise you not to push your luck. The Tate family isn¡¯t just any ordinary household in Oceaton.¡± Created 102 Chapter 102 The One Who Struck 45 +10 Free Coins Leah red at Anneliese, her face twisted with fury. The thought of Jameson lying in that hospital bed¨Ctoo hurt to sleep, too weak to eat¨Cmade her heart ache with rage. This wh*re with her sl*tty¨Clooking face flirted with my boy in the first ce! After following him into the private lounge to drink, she suddenly shamelessly backed out at the minute! Some audacity she has to use my boy of attempted rape! Anneliese turned to Patrick. ¡°Detective Walen, are people allowed to openly threaten others in a police station?¡± Patrick¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Mrs. Tate, watch your words.¡± Leah seethed, about to retort, when Jonathan¡¯s thin lips parted. ¡°I beat Jameson.¡± His wordsnded like a thunderp. Not only did the Tates erupt in shock, but even Zacharias¡® hands tightened into fists as his eyes snapped toward Jonathan. Jonathan¡¯s background was no secret, but without his permission, Patrick had never dared mention his involvement in that night¡¯s events. So, until now, neither Zacharias nor the Tates knew that truth. They had simply assumed Jessica was the one who injured Jameson. Only now did Zacharias finally understand the meaning behind Jonathan¡¯s words outside the car window earlier. So, it was Jonathan who saved Anneliese that night! What rose in his chest wasn¡¯t gratitude but sheer panic, fury, and jealousy. No one knew better than Zacharias how beautiful Anneliese was. Often, he wished she would tone herself down, hide her beauty away at home for his eyes alone. And yet, in that most critical moment, it had been Jonathan who saved her. What had he seen? What had happened between them? His eyes burned red from the storm of suspicion. Leah exploded. ¡°It was you? Who do you think you are, beating my son half to Chapter 102 The One Who Struck death!¡± 45 +10 Free Coins Moments earlier, Jonathan¡¯s grip had nearly crushed her wrist, and his aura had left her too shaken to fight back. But now, her fury boiled over. Beside her, Stephen Tate¡¯s face was dark. ¡°Detective Walen, this man just admitted he crippled my son. Why haven¡¯t you taken him into custody?¡± Anneliese¡¯s chest tightened in worry. She opened her mouth to speak up for Jonathan, only for a bottle of water to appear in front of her. She followed the long, elegant fingers back to Jonathan¡¯s calm, reassuring eyes. His gaze seemed to say: It¡¯s nothing. Rx. Realization struck. She had been foolish to worry. A man like Jonathan didn¡¯t need excuses. Even if he had beaten someone for no reason at all, he would never be made to pay for it. Privilege had always existed in this world, and Jonathan was firmly rooted in that privileged ss¡ªsomething his usual low profile had made her briefly forget. Zacharias had been watching the two of them closely. When he saw Jonathan hand Anneliese water, and worse, saw the bright smile she turned on him in return, his knuckles cracked audibly as his fists clenched tight. I¡¯m sitting right here, and they dared flirt right under my nose?! For more chapters visit Meanwhile, Patrick only responded to the Tate family¡¯s demands with a coldugh. Arrest the Fullbuster heir? Not even the state chief would dare attempt that. The Tate family¡¯s arrogance was staggering¨Cso much so that Patrick almost admired their foolishness. Seeing Patrick remain silent, Stephen sensed something was off and turned a probing gaze on Jonathan, who impassively confessed, ¡°I regret it¡ª¡± Leah¡¯s brows shot up. ¡°Oh, now you regret it?! Toote! You-¡± ¡°I regret not hitting harder,¡± Jonathan cut her off tly. ¡°Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t still be kicking up a fuss here.¡± Chapter 102 The One Who Struck 45 +10 Free Coins Leah¡¯s furious retort choked in her throat, Jonathan¡¯s words slicing it off clean. She gaped, breathing hard, ready to m the table, but Stephen caught her just in time. A seasoned veteran of the business world, Stephen had already picked up on something from Patrick¡¯s guarded demeanor and the invisible pressure radiating off Jonathan. He tugged Leah back and asked, ¡°Detective Walen, who is this gentleman?¡± Patrick thought to himself, Finally, you¡¯ve bothered to ask. Took you long enough, but at least you¡¯re not dense. In a grave tone, he introduced, ¡°This is Mr. Jonathan Fullbuster.¡± Jonathan Fullbuster? Leah frowned, unimpressed. That¡¯s it? Just a name? No titles, no status attached? Clearly, he isn¡¯t some big shot. In fact, he might only just be this wh*re¡¯s lover! 10:53 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 103 Misced Apologies Created 103 :. Chapter 103 Misced Apologies 45 +10 Free Coins Stephen couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the name sounded familiar, though he hadn¡¯t yet recalled who it was. But before he could, Leah sneered, ¡°Who do you think you are to bark at us? Mr. Shaw, your wife found herself a lover right under your nose, and you¡¯re just sitting there?¡± Anneliese blinked in disbelief. What? Is my life worth nothing? If you wanna die, go ahead; why drag me along? Who am I to make Jonathan my lover?! ¡°Enough!¡± Leah never expected it. Before Zacharias could explode, her own husband struck first. ¡°Honey? You¨Cah!¡± The sharp p left her stunned, ears ringing. She turned, dazed, to see Stephen already bowing repeatedly in front of Jonathan, his tone filled with desperate apology. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡ªI¡¯m terribly sorry. My wife has clearly lost her mind. Please don¡¯t take her nonsense to heart. You¡¯re a generous man, don¡¯t lower yourself to her level.¡± With that, he yanked Leah forward. ¡°Well? Apologize to Mr. Fullbuster!¡± Leah still hadn¡¯t fully processed what had just happened, but even she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to miss that she had offended someone untouchable. Face swollen and pride shattered, she bent reluctantly at the waist, forcing out an apology. Jonathan, indifferent, didn¡¯t even nce at them. His voice was calm and measured. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who deserves the apology.¡± Stephen froze, then quickly understood. He turned and bowed toward Anneliese. ¡°Mrs. S¨Dno, Ms. ude, I¡¯m sorry. We failed to keep Jameson in line. We¡¯ll deal with him when we get home. As for what my wife just said, you¡¯re a person of integrity. Please don¡¯t hold it against her. Come on! Apologize to Ms. ude!¡± 10:53 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 103 Misced Apologies He shoved Leah hard, silently cursing her stupidity. Can¡¯t you tell Jonathan¡¯s here to back Anneliese up? Blind, brainless woman! 45 +10 Free Coins Leah nearly stumbled onto her knees in front of Anneliese. Her face burned red, humiliation cutting deep. In the past, because the Tates and the Whites were old acquaintances, she had looked down on Anneliese¨Cthe daughter brought back halfway through life, never truly favored. And now she had to bow her head to her? A woman young enough to be her daughter? ¡°Hurry up!¡± Stephen barked, pping her again. Finally, Leah gritted her teeth and forced out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Anneliese was still reeling from Leah¡¯s earlier usation of a ¡°lover,¡± unable to recover from the sheer awkwardness. This is so awkward¡­ And the Tate couples are suddenly almost kneeling at my feet! This¡­ I¡­ This only makes it look even more like I really have Jonathan¡¯s support and that he¡¯s really my lover! What the hell?! Meanwhile, Zacharias¡® expression had grown beyond dark. His wife, in front of him, was being shielded by another man without hesitation. She hadn¡¯t even bothered to deny it. Did she take him for a dead man? He sneered. ¡°Clearly, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding, a false usation against my wife. My wife loves me very much. Everyone in Oceaton knows we have a happy marriage. To nder her like this¨Cwho would believe it?¡± Before Anneliese could speak, Zacharias slipped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. His eyes narrowed as he smiled thinly at Jonathan. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Fullbuster? To im my wife and you share anything beyond propriety -that would beughable.¡± Read full story at find¡¤novel Jonathan met his gaze, his own lips curving faintly. ¡°Happiness isn¡¯t proven with words. If people find room for gossip, it only shows you haven¡¯t done enough.¡± ¡°Duly noted,¡± Zacharias replied darkly, his fake smile tight. He caressed Anneliese¡¯s shoulder and added softly, ¡°Honey, I¡¯ll do better from now on. I¡¯ll love and treasure you more, so no one can find the slightest w to use against us.¡± Chapter 103 Misced Apologies 45 +10 Free Coins Anneliese loathed his empty performance. She shoved her chair back and rose. ¡°Detective Walen, I do not agree to mediation. Handle the case as it should be handled.¡± Even if Jameson and Melody would eventually be released forck of evidence, at least they would spend some time in custody and pay some price. With that, she strode out of the mediation room without hesitation. Zacharias¡® expression sank as he instinctively started to follow, but Stephen and Leah held him back. Created 104 hapter 104 An Unexpected Ride : Chapter 104 An Unexpected Ride 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Shaw, Jameson only acted because your mother told him to. We¡¯re in the same boat here. Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d get Anneliese to sign the settlement? What now?¡± Zacharias felt a pounding headache. He nced outside, only to see Jonathan rising and leaving with Anneliese. For a moment, it was as if a pair of horns had been ced on his head. Outside the station, Zion had already pulled the Maybach around. He stepped out, walked to the rear door, and opened it. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, Ms. ude, please get in.¡± Jonathan turned to Anneliese. ¡°How did youe? Let¡¯s go together.¡± Jessica had taken out her new car, so she hade by cab. Anneliese wanted to thank Jonathan, and since she also feared Zacharias chasing her down to pester her, she nodded and climbed in without hesitation. As soon as Zion spotted Zacharias running out, he spun the wheel sharply and mmed the elerator. The Maybach shot forward, leaving Zacharias coughing in a cloud of exhaust. Inside the car, Zion¡¯s sudden swerves sent Anneliese tumbling against Jonathan¡¯s arm, clinging to him like an unwilling essory. Once they merged onto the main road and the speed steadied, she pulled away quickly, embarrassed. ¡°Sorry, I couldn¡¯t keep my bnce.¡± Jonathan withdrew his supporting arm. ¡°You¡¯re not the one who should apologize.¡± His gaze, cool and sharp, shifted to Zion in the front seat. Zion immediately forced a grin at her through the rearview mirror. ¡°My mistake. I¡¯ve been jumpy since I was a kid¨Calways afraid of teachers and cops. Old habits For original chapters go to F?nd-Novel die hard.¡± Anneliese took him at his word, though she couldn¡¯t quite picture a top¨Css 10:53 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 104 An Unexpected Ride 45 +10 Free Coins academic talent being afraid of authority figures. Still, she nodded with genuine sympathy. ¡°Thank you for oveing your nerves and standing as a witness for me. I really appreciate it.¡± Her earnest, clear eyes made Zion feel guilty. Heughed awkwardly. ¡°You should really be thanking Mr. Fullbuster. I was just along for the ride.¡± After that, he wisely shut up and shrank into silence. Anneliese truly did want to thank Jonathan, but the words caught in her throat. Since the day they met, it seemed like all she ever said to him was thank you. And one little phrase felt too flimsy, especially whenpared to what he had just done. Even Zacharias had turned against her, pressuring her intopromise, but Jonathan¡ªwho barely knew her had stepped into the police station without hesitation to help her. She didn¡¯t need to know his schedule to imagine how busy and important he was. The thought of wasting his time, of owing him, made her cheeks warm. And after that morning¡¯s misunderstanding and Leah¡¯s ¡°lover¡± remark¡­ She hadn¡¯t even looked at him yet, but her face was already burning red. Sensing her awkwardness, Jonathan broke the silence first, his voice smooth and clear. ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed. Even elementary school kids know this much.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She blinked up at him in confusion. His brows lifted slightly. ¡°Cooperating with an investigation is every citizen¡¯s legal duty and social responsibility.¡± He said it so seriously that it sounded like he was reciting from a textbook. ¡°Pfft!¡± Anneliese burst outughing before she could stop herself. Her embarrassment vanished in an instant. Covering her mouth, her eyes curved into crescents as she gave him a big thumbs¨Cup. ¡°You¡¯re exceptional, Mr. Fullbuster!¡± 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 104 An Unexpected Ride : The man¡¯s sense of duty really is something else. 45 +10 Free Coins But of course, she didn¡¯t truly believe that was all it was. She knew she owed him a debt¨Cand that he was likely helping because of the small favor she had done for him before. Jonathan, watching the sparkle in her eyes, let the corners of his lips curve faintly. ¡°So, how about you make me a few more meals as a reward?¡± ¡°Of course! Even ten full banquets wouldn¡¯t be enough!¡± she answered without hesitation. The light in his eyes deepened at her yful response. After a brief pause, he returned to the subject at hand. ¡°That man, Luca Zorin¡­ Do you want me to deal with him?¡± Anneliese froze. Luca had already confessed to buying and using the drug. The Tate family must have either bribed him or had something on him. Even with Jonathan¡¯s influence, handling it wouldn¡¯t be easy¨Cand she didn¡¯t want to owe him such a heavy debt. Besides, even if Luca retracted his confession, it still might not be enough to convict Jameson or Melody. 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 105 Meeting Created 105 Chapter 105 Meeting : 45 For more chapters visit F¦Énd£Îovel +10 Free Coins Even if Jameson got sent to jail, it meant Anneliese had already dered herself the Tates¡® enemy. By now, he had learned his lesson. With Jonathan showing up, the Tates would think twice beforeying a hand on her again. More likely, their hatred would turn on Melody, and that oue worked just fine. Anneliese shook her head at Jonathan. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s not worth the hassle. I¡¯ve already taken my revenge. That¡¯s enough.¡± Jonathan nodded without saying anything. He had known she would refuse, but he would wait. One day, she would rely on him without holding herself back. The car slowed to a stop at Maple Bay. Jonathan had to return to the office, so Anneliese stepped out and closed the door. She turned to leave, but something made her hesitate. She bent down and tapped lightly on the ss. The window lowered, and sunlight slipped through the thinning autumn leaves, painting shifting patterns across Jonathan¡¯s sharp, elegant features. The light brushed over his strong brow, leaving shadows across his seemed darker and deeper than ever. eyes that He looked directly at her, his gaze heavy and steady, almost like a touch. The words she had meant as casual praise suddenly carried weight under that stare. Heat rushed to her cars, and she blurted quickly, ¡°The suit and tie look great on you. You look incredible.¡± 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 105 Meeting 45 +10 Free Coins Before he could respond, she waved, turned fast, and ran off, her small frame darting into the neighborhood like a startled deer. Jonathan watched her disappear before rolling the window up. The corner of his mouth curved faintly. So, she had noticed. The suit and tie he wore today were the ones she had chosen for him. ¡°Sir, must be an autumn heatwave. ¡°Your ears are bright red,¡± Zion teased as he guided the car into traffic, amusement flickering in his eyes. Jonathan nced at him, his smile already gone. ¡°It¡¯s already winter. How long is your autumn heatwave supposed tost?¡± Zion gave a dryugh. ¡°Right, winter already. That exins the chill.¡± His boss lived by double standards. When Anneliese was around, the air felt like warm autumn sunshine. The moment she left, winter arrived, cold and merciless. Just like his heart. Jonathan ignored his assistant¡¯s jab and gave his order instead. ¡°Make sure Melody and Jameson don¡¯t get bail.¡± At the station, Zacharias had already arranged forwyers to meet Melody. Still, hours passed before he finally stepped outside. Jackie was waiting. The moment he saw Zacharias, he shook his head in frustration. ¡°Mr. Shaw, we¡¯ve called everyone we can, but there¡¯s still no bail. It¡¯s not even that serious. How is this happening?¡± Jackie couldn¡¯t make sense of it. 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 105 Meeting : 45 +10 Free Coins The evidence was weak,wyers had been brought in right away, and Melody hadn¡¯t said anything reckless. By all rights, she should have been released at once. Yet every door had been mmed shut. Zacharias¡® expression hardened. No bail meant someone had already interfered. It wasn¡¯t Anneliese. She didn¡¯t have that kind of influence. There was only one person who could. Jonathan. Why would Jonathan shield Anneliese like this? It had to be tied to that old incident years ago. Yes. Jonathan must have recognized her. He owed her, and out of guilt, he was now protecting her. There was no way they were falling in love with each other. Anneliese cared for him far too much to ever let that happen. The thought eased the tightness in his jaw, but the moment he pictured Melody¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face, her tangled hair, and her swollen eyes, the anger returned with force. He climbed into the car and asked curtly, ¡°Where is Anne?¡± Jackie stammered, ¡°Mrs. Shaw hasn¡¯t answered her phone, so I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± He had been too busy pulling strings and hadn¡¯t bothered to keep track of her. Zacharias¡® expression darkened even more. His stare was so sharp that Jackie turned pale. Finally, Zacharias spoke coldly. ¡°Anneliese is my only wife. Remember that.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Jackie wiped the sweat from his forehead. Chapter 105 Meeting ¡°Where should I drive you now, Mr. Shaw?¡± 45 +10 Free Coins Zacharias pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Hearth & Garden. I¡¯m meeting Mr. Hoffington from the state office.¡± He couldn¡¯t abandon Melody entirely. Connections still had to be managed. When they arrived at Hearth & Garden, Marek was already waiting. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. Complete privacy, the best dishes, and the finest wine. Mr. Hoffington hasn¡¯t arrived yet. Mr. Shaw, please wait in the private room. I¡¯ll stay by the entrance and let you know the moment his car pulls up. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Chapter 106 At the Restaurant Created 106 : Chapter 106 At the Restaurant 45 +10 Free Coins Marek spoke as he followed Zacharias up the stairs toward the private lounge. Zacharias stopped short at the doorway, his expression dark and tense. His gaze locked on the bare doorframe, and his voice snapped. ¡°Where¡¯s the que that used to hang here?¡± The wooden sign had once been fixed to this door, carved with the words uderias Suite. Zacharias himself had etched the letters. Marek hadn¡¯t even noticed it was missing. But when he saw the cold fury rising in Zacharias, he rushed to speak. ¡°Mr. Shaw, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ask Vanessa. She¡¯s in charge of this floor.¡± Vanessa arrived in a hurry. Her words tumbled out. ¡°That que? Anneliese took it downst time she came and tossed it¡­ into the trash.¡± Marek¡¯s face went pale. ¡°That was carved by Mr. Shaw himself! How could you throw it out? Go and get it back right now!¡± He caught sight of Zacharias¡® stormy expression and barked the order again, this time louder. However, Vanessa froze, stricken. ¡°I thought nobody wanted it anymore. The trash truck already took it. It¡¯s gone. There¡¯s no way to get it back.¡± The hallway shook as Zacharias mmed his fist into the lounge door again and again. The wood rattled beneath his blows. Marek flinched, and Vanessa shrieked as she pped her hands over her ears before bolting down the hall. Chapter 106 At the Restaurant She had always believed Mr. Shaw to be gentle. 45 +10 Free Coins The waitresses often whispered how lucky Anneliese was to marry such a man. But now? He looked like a wild beast, dangerous and untamed. Her legs carried her before she even thought about it. She fled without looking back. Marek wiped sweat from his forehead, then faced Zacharias. ¡°I¡¯ll have a new que made, exactly the same as the old one. I¡¯ll hang it back here immediately.¡± Zacharias shut his eyes, fighting to calm the fire inside him. His voice was low when he spoke. ¡°Go downstairs and greet Mr. Hoffington.¡± Relieved, Marek nodded and left quickly. Zacharias stayed there, staring at the nk space where the que had once hung. He remembered the day he carved it with Anneliese, holding her on hisp, guiding her hand across the wood. When they finished, he hadughed and called it ugly, pretending he wanted to toss it, but she had clutched it like treasure, delighted about its existence. Now she had thrown away the very que they carved together. The thought ripped through him, leaving his chest tight. His body burned like fire, restless and unsettled. Everywhere he turned these days, reminders of Anneliese slipping away surrounded him. He wanted to hold on to her, but everything he did felt useless. She was like the wind, like sand slipping through his fingers. He felt powerless, desperate, and certain she was vanishing from his life. Just then, his phone buzzed. Selina¡¯s name lit up the screen. 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 106 At the Restaurant He hesitated, then answered. : 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°Zacharias, Lenora told me about your mother¡¯s case. How could Anne¡­ She shouldn¡¯t be shing with her elders. How¡¯s it going now?¡± Selina¡¯s voice brimmed with urgency and concern, yet it only rang hollow to him. It gave nofort. Instead, irritation cut sharper inside him. His voice dropped cold. ¡°I¡¯m handling it.¡± Hearing his tone, Selina grew careful. She softened her words. ¡°My parents and I are on the way to the airport. We¡¯ll be back soon. Once we¡¯re home, we¡¯ll talk to Anne, help calm her down. Don¡¯t worry, Zacharias. Don¡¯t let this upset you.¡± She expected gratitude. Instead, his voice struck like ice. ¡°No. Don¡¯t you dare go to Anne.¡± The authority in his tone stunned her. He had never spoken to her like that before, more like an order than a request. Selina froze. Something was deeply wrong. ¡°Zach, what happened?¡± ¡°She already knows about what happened back then. If you go to her now, it¡¯ll only make her angrier. I¡¯ll handle this myself. That¡¯s all.¡± And with that, Zacharias ended the call. For the first time, Selina sat silent, staring at her phone. He had never hung up on her before. Worse¨CAnneliese now knew she was the one who hired those thugs to go after 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Th?s chapter is updated by F?nd-Novel Chapter 106 At the Restaurant her. ¡°Selina, what did Zacharias say? Is Melody alright?¡± 45 +10 Free Coins Her mother Mnie¡¯s voice snapped her back. Selina turned her head, eyes red and brimming. Her voice broke. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s all my fault.¡± The words slipped out, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Timothy, Perseus, and Christopher, sitting up front, turned toward her in rm. Created 107 Chapter 107 Fake B*tch ¡°Selina, don¡¯t cry.¡± : ¡°Take a breath and tell us what happened.¡± 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°It has to be Anneliese stirring things up again. Selina, don¡¯t put this on yourself.¡± ¡°Yeah, Selina, you¡¯ve been with us in Age this whole time. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡± Everyone tried to console her, but Selina lowered her tear¨Cstained face. Beneath the sorrow in her eyes, a faint spark of pride flickered. When she finally looked up, her expression shifted into guilt and shame. Her voice shook as she said, ¡°Zacharias told me Anne lost her temper because she found out the truth about what happened back then. This is my fault. She probably despises us so much now that even Melody got pulled in and ended up at the police station. ¡°Dad, Mom, Perseus, Christopher¨Cwhen we go back, I¡¯ll beg Anne to forgive me. Please, stay out of sight. She might lose control and try to hurt you.¡± The moment they realized Anneliese had uncovered the truth about years ago, the Whites exchanged uneasy looks. But their difort, along with the flicker of guilt that crossed their faces, vanished quickly when Selina¡¯s tears fell harder. Timothy¡¯s brow darkened. His voice came out low and heavy. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare. Does she really think she can put us all behind bars?¡± Mnie pressed a tissue to Selina¡¯s cheeks, her tone gentle and steady. ¡°You¡¯ve been through enough these past years. Back then, you were just a kid. Everyone makes reckless mistakes. None of us ever med you.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Christopher cut in with irritation. 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 107 Fake B*tch : 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°If Anne hadn¡¯t paraded Grandma¡¯s bracelet all the time, Selina wouldn¡¯t have snapped and tried to put her in her ce. And it¡¯s been four years already. Why is she still dragging this out?¡± Perseus added, ¡°Selina, stop crying. You regretted it right away and pulled back. The ones who went too far were those thugs, not you.¡± Checktest chapters at find[?]ovel Only then did Selina¡¯s sobs ease. She wiped her cheeks and whispered, ¡°No matter what happens, when we go back, I¡¯ll admit everything and ask Anne to forgive me. Mom, Dad, Perseus, Christopher, please don¡¯t stop me. That¡¯s the only way I¡¯ll feel at peace.¡± Relief softened Mnie¡¯s face. She patted Selina¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Alright. When the timees, we¡¯ll stand with you and exin everything to Anne. She isn¡¯t cruel. She¡¯ll understand.¡± Selina leaned against Mnie¡¯s shoulder and nodded. But inside, she felt no fear. She felt no shame at all. So what if Anneliese knew the truth about the past? There was no proof left. Her whole family, along with Anneliese¡¯s inws, stood firmly on her side. What could Anneliese possibly do on her own? Selina lowered her eyes, her fingers brushing over the bracelet hidden beneath her sleeve. The same bracelet that had brought misery to Anneliese years ago now gleamed on Selina¡¯s wrist. People needed to know their ce. The only mistake Anneliese had made was trying to fight for something that never belonged to her in the first ce. 10:54 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 107 Fake B*tch 45 +10 Free Coins That evening, Anneliese had set the table with a rich dinner to thank Jonathan. When Jonathan unlocked the door and stepped inside, the aroma of hot food drifted from the kitchen to the entryway. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Anneliese said, timing her words as she carried steaming dishes to the table. The dining table sat near tall ss windows, and behind her, the sky red with streaks of sunset. Bathed in the warm glow, she smiled, looking every bit the picture of a gentle wife waiting for her husband toe home. Jonathan froze in the entryway, his shoes half¨Coff, his chest pounding hard enough to shake him. For one fleeting second, he thought if he called her ¡°honey,¡± she would run straight into his arms, leap onto him, and cling to him like she belonged there. Then, Zion¡¯s voice cut across the moment. ¡°Whoa, this smells incredible! Anneliese, you¡¯re like some kind of fairy¨Ctale housekeeper.¡± Annelieseughed at his teasing. ¡°If that¡¯s true, does that mean I should vanish into thin air right now?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t do that! That would turn into a horror movie real fast.¡± Zion waved his hands around in a panic. If Anneliese suddenly vanished, Jonathan would kill him. Jonathan finally slipped off his shoes and walked closer. He nced at the spread on the table and asked, ¡°When did you find the time to make all this?¡± Chapter 107 Fake B*tch He hadn¡¯t known anything about it. 45 +10 Free Coins He hadn¡¯te back to Maple Bay for lunch, and that morning when he asked her to register her fingerprints, she had avoided the subject. Clearly, Anneliese had gotten the code to the house from Zion and figured out when Jonathan would be back. Anneliese couldn¡¯t tell if his tone carried disapproval. Maybe he didn¡¯t like people tracking his schedule. Afraid he might take it out on Zion, she opened her mouth to exin, but before she could, Jonathan spoke again. Created 108 Chapter 108 At Home ¡°Next time, you can just ask me. Mr. Hand isn¡¯t always reliable.¡± Unreliable? Zion froze in ce, thoughts swirling in his head. The CEO had just taken a swing at his work ethic. That was insulting. Straightening his posture like he had something to prove, Zion set his jaw, determined to show Jonathan that he could be counted on. 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯ll take these files and head out. My mom lined up a blind date for me, and I can¡¯t bete for that.¡± Before Jonathan could answer, Zion was already moving toward the study. A few minutester, he walked out with a file folder in hand and rushed straight for the door. Anneliese had cooked a full meal, even set aside a portion for him, but before she could say a word, he was gone. She turned to Jonathan, startled. ¡°Why does Mr. Hand keep going on blind dates every single day?¡± Jonathan slipped off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch. He lifted his eyes at her question. ¡°Maybe he feels like he¡¯s running out of time.¡± Anneliese thought back to Zion¡¯s face, He wasn¡¯t striking, but his features were tidy and pleasant. There was a schrly charm to him. He was still young. In most social circles, someone like Zion¨Cwith his appearance and his skill set- would be considered a good match. Finding a partner shouldn¡¯t have been hard. 1/4 Updates are released by find[?]ovel Chapter 108 At Home Jonathan, by contrast, carried the aura of someone people admired from a distance but hesitated to approach. ¡°He¡¯s actually pretty handsome,¡± Anneliese murmured without meaning to. +10 Free Coins Jonathan had just rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands when her words hit him. He stopped and turned. ¡°Handsome?¡± His voice was slow, every syble deliberate. That morning, she had called Jonathan incredibly handsome. Thepliment had carried him through the entire day. Jonathan thought of Zion¡¯s sharp chin, the big, wide grin that pulled his eyes into thin slits, and the way he tried too hard to impress. Handsome? That? Does she really think every man walking by qualifies as handsome? She has seen my face. How could she look at Zion and still say that? How could someone¡¯s sense of taste be so off? he thought. Anneliese blinked. ¡°You don¡¯t think he¡¯s handsome?¡± Jonathan pressed his lips into a tight line and gave a dry, humorless chuckle. He turned away and headed to the bathroom. From the set of his shoulders, Anneliese felt the weight of silent resentment, though she had no idea what had sparked it. Meanwhile, just stepping out of the elevator, Zion suddenly bent forward and sneezed hard. Jonathan kept Anneliese for dinner. She had cooked carefully to his: liking, making sure every dish suited his taste. Chapter 108 At Home 45 +10 Free Coins Through the meal, she thanked him often and watched closely for his approval. By the time the tes were nearly empty, she felt confident that the boss seemed fairly satisfied. ¡°How was it? Next time, I can adjust to your preferences,¡± she asked as she set her fork down. She meant it sincerely. She figured she would be cooking for him for a while, and his approval was part of her responsibility. Her cooking was excellent. Even if the dishes had fallen short, Jonathan would have forced himself to eat them and likely imed they were good. But watching her treat this like a duty, like she was a chef ready to record every suggestion in a notebook, frustrated him. This wasn¡¯t what he wanted. He hadn¡¯t asked her here to y housekeeper. He set down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin. ¡°It¡¯s really good, but there¡¯s still room for improvement.¡± ¡°Got it. Tell me, and I¡¯ll make it better next time,¡± Anneliese replied cheerfully, nodding without the slightest irritation. She didn¡¯t think he was being difficult. Everyone had their own preferences, and even with her best effort, her cooking might not match his exactly. Since she owed him, his opinion mattered first. Jonathan felt his chest tighten with frustration. The scene turns to Sunrise Residence. Chapter 108 At Home 45 +10 Free Coins Zacharias had spent the entire day running around, yet he still hadn¡¯t been able to secure Melody¡¯s release. All he could do was pull strings to make her time in detention less miserable. When the car finally entered theplex, the hard line of his brow rxed a little. He hadpromised enough when it came to his mother. Surely Anneliese couldn¡¯t me him any longer. By now, she had to be calmer. He hadn¡¯t had dinner, and he missed her ramen. It was simple, but they always tasted like home. He was finally going back. As he walked toward the door, Zacharias realized it had been far too long since he hadst stepped inside. ¡°Mr. Shaw, we¡¯ve arrived. But¡­ Mrs. Shaw doesn¡¯t seem to be in,¡± Jackie said carefully. Zacharias nced toward the window and frowned again. Created 109 Chapter 109 Vacant Home 45 +10 Free Coins The massive vi stood in silence under the night sky, not a single light on inside. Zacharias¡® chest clenched without warning. ¡°She¡¯s probably asleep by now.¡± The car rolled to a stop as he spoke. It wasn¡¯t clear if the words were meant for Jackie or for himself. A strange hesitation gripped him, the kind someone felt when returning to a ce they weren¡¯t sure they still belonged. When Jackie noticed that he wasn¡¯t moving, he quickly got out, circled around, and opened the back door for him. ¡°Mr. Shaw?¡± Zacharias drew in a slow, controlled breath before finally swinging his legs out. Straightening his jacket, he started toward the front steps. Jackie trailed behind with the briefcase. As they reached the porch, a sharp crack sounded under Zacharias¡® shoe. ¡°What is it?¡± He frowned and nudged it with the tip of his shoe, It seemed odd that anything would be left lying at the front door. In the dim glow of the moon, he finally saw it. It was a bouquet of roses thaty crushed, wilted, and decaying. Jackie saw it too. 10:55 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 109 Vacant Home : 45 +10 Free Coins His face changed as he stammered, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s the bouquet you bought for Mrs. Shaw the night you left. How is it still here?¡± The memory hit Zacharias hard. He had meant to be home that evening for dinner, to try and mend things with Anneliese. He even had Jackie bring her roses. But then Selina had called him in desperation, and he boarded a ne without saying a word. ¡°I told you to give those flowers to Anneliese and exin everything. So why the hell are they still sitting here?¡± His voice turned sharp, his cold gaze cutting into Jackie. Sweat broke out across Jackie¡¯s forehead. He felt cornered, yet what could he say? He wasn¡¯t Anneliese¡¯s husband. He was only an assistant. It was Zacharias¡® job to patch things up with his wife, but he left the dirty work for his assistant while he was enjoying the embrace of another woman. ¡°I¡­ I brought them that night, but Mrs. Shaw wasn¡¯t home. ¡°I knocked for a long time, and nobody came to the door. So, I left them here. ¡°I texted her too. I thought she¡¯d see them when she got back¡­¡± His voice faded, and both men froze as the same grim thought crossed their minds. Maybe Anneliese never came home that night. Zacharias¡® anger evaporated. He spun and shoved the door open. The lock clicked, and the moment the door swung wide, the lights snapped on. ¡°Anne! Honey!¡± 10:55 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 109 Vacant Home 45 +10 Free Coins His voice thundered across the empty living room, echoing off the walls. No reply came back. Latest content published on Find¡ïNovel His eyes swept across the space, and his stomach dropped. His face went pale. ¡°What the hell¡­ what happened here?¡± Behind him, Jackie froze, his words breaking into a nervous tremor. The vi, once warm and elegant, was wrecked. The floor was covered in shards of ss. Branches from broken ntsy scattered across the ground. The couch had been shed wide open, its stuffing spilled everywhere. Their wedding portrait had been smashed, the ss fractured, the image split clean in two. Every vase and ornament had been shattered. Even the towering nts by the window had withered into brown husks. The ce looked like a ruin. ¡°Mr. Shaw, what¡­¡± Jackie couldn¡¯t finish the sentence. ¡°Anne! Anne, where are you? Don¡¯t do this to me! Anneliese!¡± Zacharias¡® voice cracked as he charged up the stairs. He tore through every room, throwing doors open, until he reached their bedroom. The air was heavy with the stale smell of dust. The bedding she had adored with all her heart was shredded and tossed aside, The curtains were ripped down, and she took her time picking those out. The wedding photo that had once hung above the bedy smashed on the floor, Chapter 109 Vacant Home ss shattered, a wine bottle spilled across it. Zacharias staggered into the walk¨Cin closet. 45 +10 Free Coins Her clothes were gone. His own suits and ties were tossed in heaps, the shelves inplete disarray. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡­ are you okay?¡± His knees buckled, and his vision spun. Jackie caught him as he faltered, but Zacharias seized him back with burning eyes. ¡°Call the police! Right now! Someone broke in, destroyed everything, and kidnapped Anne. That¡¯s the only exnation.¡± Jackie¡¯s face twisted with hesitation. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡­ I think maybe Mrs. Shaw¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish before Zacharias cut him off with a furious roar. Created 110 Chapter 110 In Denial : 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°I told you to call the cops. Do you not understand innguage, you useless idiot?¡± Jackie stopped stammering. His hands shook as he scrambled for his phone. He called the police without saying another word. But the more he thought about it, the less it made sense. If this had been a break- in or a kidnapping, why would anyone waste time shredding wedding photos? He had already checked the house. None of the valuables were missing. Zacharias¡® luxury watches sat untouched, lined up neatly where they always were. That was not robbery. That was Anneliese packing up, tearing down what was left, and walking out. Jackie did not believe Zacharias had failed to notice that, not for one moment. He thought Zacharias simply did not want to face the truth. Zacharias would rather imagine a crime than admit that Anneliese had left him with finality and without hesitation. The police arrived quickly with the neighborhood security team. They pulled up the security footage. Zacharias stood motionless in the ruined living room. His face looked carved from granite. He called her over and over, but she never answered. ¡°Sir,¡± one officer said carefully. ¡°The video shows your wife hired a movingpanyst week. She was thest person seen leaving the property. No one else has been inside. There are no signs of forced entry. This does not look like burry or kidnapping. You should probably reach out to your wife directly.¡± The officer tapped a key and yed the footage. Anneliese appeared on the screen, slender andposed, She walked out of the vi with her head held high. Her steps were steady. Her 10:55 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 110 In Denial movements were deliberate. She never turned back. 45 +10 Free Coins Jackie walked the officers and security guards out to the gate. He thanked them. When he came back, a sharp crack split the air. Zacharias had hurled his phone. It shattered against the floor and skidded across the tiles. Jackie froze in the doorway. He did not dare move. Across town, Anneliese went to bed early. She had been battling insomnia for weeks, buttely her life had started to settle. Her sleep had finally begun to improve. Before turning out the light, she followed her nightly routine. She wrote an email to her professor. He never mentioned it, but she noticed the pattern. She always read her emails at lunch, and he always repliedter in the afternoon. It had be a quiet ritual. He was waiting for her updates every day. Her professor really was as kind as her senior had once told her. Thinking about Jonathan made her smile. He genuinely liked her cooking, and it reminded her of the time her professor had praised her skills too. At the end of her email, she attached a handwritten recipe for sweet¨Cand¨Csour pork, his favorite. She even added her small tricks for getting the sauce right. That night, she dreamed of home. In her dream, she was back in theb with her professor and seniors. Together, they worked on a futuristic vertical¨Cliftmuter airbus, sleek and built to carry dozens of passengers. They flew the craft between tall buildings andnded it on the rooftop of a shining tower. Through a ss wall, she saw a tall man in a tailored suit standing in a corner 10:55 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 110 In Denial 45 +10 Free Coins office. She leaned out the Airbus window, grinning, and stretched her hand toward him. ¡°Hey, handsome. I flew in just to pick you up. Want a ride with me?¡± She blew him a yful kiss. A sharp ringtone sliced through the dream. Anneliese¡¯s eyes snapped open. Her heart still raced. Her own voice from the dream still echoed faintly in her head. She could not believe she had just had that kind of dream. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel On the floor, Meatloaf¨Dher bulldog¨Cwas irritated. He hated being woken up. He rose from his bed and pawed at the nightstand. The phone rattled with each strike. The sound echoed with each thump. Then, by chance, his pawnded just right. The call connected. The speaker switched on. ¡°Babe! Anne! You finally answered! Where are you? Tell me where you are! Are you really done with me?¡± Zacharias¡® voice filled the room, ragged, frantic, and thick with alcohol. Anneliese frowned. Sleep left her instantly. She picked up the phone, stunned by what she heard. Had Zacharias forgotten how he had forced her to sign that settlement earlier? And now he tried to y the brokenhearted husband? ¡°Zacharias, it¡¯s the middle of the night. If you¡¯re going to lose your mind, then at least call the right person.¡± She cut the call and blocked the number. She tossed the phone onto the bed andy back down, willing herself to sleep. But the phone buzzed again. 10:55 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 110 In Denial She exhaled sharply and checked the screen. Another unknown number. 45 +10 Free Coins She knew exactly who it was. And she knew he would not quit until she answered. She sat up in bed. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°Anneliese, I went back to the house! Our home is wrecked. You have to tell me it wasn¡¯t you.¡± His voice trembled, disbelief dripping through every word, edged with fury. Anneliese¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. So that was why he had lost his mind. The man who never came home had finally stepped through the door, only to find the ce gone. He was absurd. He had not cared about that house in years. He had been too busy living in luxury, chasing excitement. He had been bored. He had even forgotten how long it had been since hest set foot there. Created 111 : Chapter 111 Defending Herself 45 +10 Free Coins When Zacharias realized the house was gone and his wife had disappeared, there was no sense of relief. Rage and grief wed at him, as though none of it had been his doing. ¡°No. It was me.¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice was cold and steady as it slipped into his ears. His face, already flushed with alcohol, drained of color. Even though the security footage had hinted it was her, hearing her confess tore through him like a de. He could not ept it. And her tone¨Ccalm, detached, stripped of all emotion. It felt as if every trace of love and regret had been erased. That left him feeling like one of the shattered pieces she had tossed aside in the Sunrise Residence. Broken. Cast off. Forgotten. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN()vel Zacharias refused to believe the woman who once loved him with such fire could vanish from his life so suddenly. His raw voice cracked as he shouted. ¡°Anneliese, are you out of your mind? I told you what happened with Coral was an ident, and it¡¯s over! Why would you do something so reckless? ¡°Do you even realize how bad it is to rip up our wedding photos? And those things -we carried them all the way from overseas. How could you smash them like they meant nothing?¡± His eyes burned. The Sunrise Residence wasn¡¯t just a house. It was their home. From the design to every detail inside, Anneliese had poured her entire heart into
  1. it.
10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter III Defending Herself 45 +10 Free Coins He still remembered her spinning with excitement as she waved the sketches she had drawn herself, smiling brightly as she said, ¡°Zacharias, we finally have a home.¡± He could still see her in the kitchen, carefully serving the meals she had cooked, her smile glowing as she said, ¡°You¡¯re home. Wash your hands, dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Those memories were vivid, alive in his mind. How could she have destroyed it with her own hands? His chest tightened, pain ripping through him as if his heart had broken along with the things she smashed. His eyes were bloodshot, veins straining. ¡°Say something! Come back to Sunrise Residence right now. Exin yourself, confess your mistakes, and I¡¯ll treat it like one. I¡¯ll pretend it never happened, you 11 The silence stretched, feeding his panic. His voice cracked with sharpmand. Then came a lowugh, soft and hollow. ¡°Zacharias, I don¡¯t owe you any exnation. And I don¡¯t need your forgiveness. I¡¯ll never go back to Sunrise Residence.¡± ¡°Anneliese!¡± He clenched the phone, his chest twisting with rage and dread. ¡°Why are you so furious, Zacharias? Do you honestly think you have the right? ¡°You slept with Coral, and your heart belongs to Selina. You¡¯re filthier than the worst squalor the world cane up with. ¡°You knew Selina was the one I despised most, and you still loved her. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s your freedom to choose who you fall in love with. But you also knew she hired someone to kill me, and you still lied to protect her while stabbing me in 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 45 Chapter 111 Defending Herself the back in the process. +10 Free Coins ¡°You lied for four years. What gave you the idea that when I finally uncovered the truth, I would still want you in my life?¡± Her voice never wavered. It was so calm it sounded almost like she was talking about a stranger¡¯s life. But every word cut into Zacharias like an arrow striking deep. He pressed his hand against his chest, struggling to breathe. His voice broke with desperation. ¡°Anne, it¡¯s not what you think ¡± She cut him off. ¡°Stop calling me from new numbers. Unless you want me to change mine tomorrow. The next time I answer, it better be about the divorce.¡± She hung up without pause. ¡°Baby!¡± Zacharias jerked the phone away and saw the call had ended. Fury erupted, and he hurled it across the room. It was the second phone he had shattered that night. Thetest modely in pieces on the floor. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey and swallowed hard. The burn scorched his throat and spread in his stomach like fire racing through his veins. He drank too quickly, then he choked until he coughed hard. ¡°Mr. Shaw, you can¡¯t keep drinking. Your stomach¡¯s already weak, you¡¯ll make yourself sick.¡± Jackie rushed in to stop him, but Zacharias shoved him away. 45 Chapter 111 Defending Herself ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw never let you drink this much either.¡± At her name, Zacharias froze, the bottle suspended in his hand. +10 Free Coins Of course. In the early years, when he had pushed himself day and night, drinking to win over investors, he had wrecked his stomach. For the past two years, it had been Anneliese who cared for him, reminding him again and again not to drink too much. 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Created 112 Chapter 112 Still In Denial : 45 +10 Free Coins Every time he stumbled home drunk, no matter how upset she was, she still brewed him a hangover cure and patiently fed it to him. But his drinking always made her furious. A faint smile tugged at Zacharias¡® lips, but it vanished as quickly as it came. He remembered¡ªAnneliese was divorcing him. She had noticed he was drunk earlier, but she hadn¡¯t cared in the slightest. ¡°She¡¯s getting brave. Let¡¯s see if she really has the guts to follow through.¡± He tilted his head back and drank faster, the liquor burning down his throat. If his drinking pushed him into the hospital, he knew Anneliese woulde to him. Zacharias kept drinking until he waspletely gone. When he finally surfaced from the haze, warmth pressed against his chest, the softness of a woman curled in his arms. His pulse spiked. For a fleeting moment, joy flooded him, and he thought she hade back to him. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and pressed his lips against her hair. ¡°Anne, I knew you wouldn¡¯t really leave me. You¡¯d never stop caring.¡± ¡°Zacharias, you¡¯re awake? Are you still feeling sick?¡± The voice was sweet, careful, but it wasn¡¯t Anneliese¡¯s. His eyes flew open. His face hardened, his brow knitting in anger. ¡°What the hell? Why are you here? Where is this?¡± It was Coral. And this was the bedroom in Madison Vi. Chapter 112 Still In Denial 45 +10 Free Coins She wore a thin, ckce slip. She slid her arms around his neck, her red lips parting as she leaned toward him. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? You were drunk at the bar. I happened to be there. You thought I was Anneliese and dragged me home. Last night, we even¡­¡® He was ckout drunk, and all he remembered was the call to Anneliese. But he wasn¡¯t na?ve enough to believe Coral¡¯s story of a chance encounter. He shoved her away, grabbed his clothes off the floor, and yanked them on with sharp, angry movements. His voice cut like ice. ¡°Coral, I¡¯ve told you before. Stop throwing away your dignity.¡± Then it struck him. Anneliese already knew about Coral. She wasn¡¯t bluffing when she said she wanted out. She was absolutely serious. So, what else had she done in the meantime? Besides trashing Sunrise Residence, obviously. Was she gathering evidence against him? Zacharias¡® stare turned like steel, scanning the room until his expression twisted darker. Half an hourter, he sat on the couch, clean and dressed, his face a storm. He pointed at the tiny pinhole camera he had found on the table. ¡°What is this? Tell me!¡± Coral¡¯s face drained of color. Her shoulders curled inward as her eyes welled. ¡°I swear I don¡¯t know. I have no idea how that thing got here. I swear I didn¡¯t put it there!¡± 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 112 Still In Denial Her fear looked real. Too real to be an act. 45 +10 Free Coins He hadn¡¯t expected to actually find a hidden camera, but that didn¡¯t mean he believed her. She could have nted it herself, waiting to use it against him. His stare bore into her, heavy and unrelenting. If it wasn¡¯t Coral, then it had to be Anneliese. She had been ying him the whole time.. The thought turned his face pale. He snatched the camera off the table and hurled it down, then stomped until the pieces scattered across the floor. Coral bit her lip, and the look on her face showed she had reached the same conclusion. It must have been installed during that ¡°inte repair¡± the other day. No wonder the connection had mysteriously gone out. Anneliese had pretended to side with her, even used her to push Zacharias into signing divorce papers. But behind her back, she had turned on her too. Coral¡¯s jaw tightened in fury. She grabbed at Zacharias¡® arm, panic spilling out of her voice. ¡°Who would put surveince here? What if they leak our photos everywhere? That¡¯s vicious! ¡°And it¡¯s illegal to install hidden cameras without permission! We should call the police!¡± Zacharias tore her hands away. ¡°This house isn¡¯t yours anymore. I¡¯ll find you another ce. Pack your things. I¡¯ll send some guys to help you move out.¡± Chapter 112 Still In Denial 45 +10 Free Coins Madison Vi was marital property. Anneliese had every right to put cameras in her own house. He had once promised to give it to Coral, but that was over. He wouldn¡¯t risk handing Anneliese leverage by moving assets before the divorce. Official source is find~novel ¡°What? But I¡¯ve gotten used to living here. We¡¯ve made memories here. I won¡¯t go! You promised this ce to me, Zacharias!¡± Her tears fell as anger twisted her face. But when he looked at her, there was not a shred of pity in his eyes. His mother was still at the station. 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Created 113 Chapter 113 Pump and Dump Chapter 113 Pump and Dump 45 +10 Free Coins Anneliese already held undeniable proof of his betrayal. One storm had barely cleared before another loomed over her. Since flying back to the country, Zacharias had not even rested. Trouble hit him one after another, and for the first time, he found himself falling behind. But his mind was set. He wanted Anneliese. He would never ept a divorce. With a hand pressed to his temples, he seized Coral¡¯s wrist and spoke in a voice edged with steel. ¡°Come with me.¡± Coral fought against his grip. ¡°Where are we going? Zacharias, stop pulling me, you¡¯re hurting me!¡± She caught the cold fury in his eyes, and dread tightened in her chest. Her body resisted, but he overpowered her and forced her into the car. The second he pulled out of the driveway, Zacharias called Jackie. His voice was low and sharp. ¡°Why was I at Madison Vi?¡± ¡°You were drunkst night, Coral called me because she was worried. I gave her the address, and she rushed over. Mr. Shaw, you mistook her for Mrs. Shaw and refused to let her go¡­¡± Zacharias¡® hands clenched on the steering wheel. ¡°Jackie, if you want to quit, then do it now!¡± ¡°Mr. Shaw, I promise this won¡¯t happen again,¡± Jackie stammered, shaking on the other end of the line. Zacharias was finally showing that he was finished with Coral, 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 113 Pump and Dump 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°This is thest time. Now, tell me about what I asked. Where¡¯s Anne staying?¡± ¡°I tracked her down. Mrs. Shaw is living in Maple Bay, in the condo she inherited from her grandmother.¡± Zacharias exhaled, his features softening for only a moment before hardening again. ¡°Keep digging. I want to know if she¡¯s spoken to a divorcewyer, what she¡¯s been doing, who she¡¯s met, and where she¡¯s gone. I want everything. And most of all, I want to know what¡¯s happening between her and Jonathan.¡± Anneliese had sworn nothing had happened between her and Jonathan. But she could not erase the shameful dream that haunted her¨Cthrowing herself into his arms, calling him handsome, kissing him with a desperation she could not exin. Her face flushed with heat. She felt dirty, weak, and unworthy of a man as disciplined and untouchable as Jonathan Fullbuster. That morning, she packed the breakfast she had made into a paper bag, carried it upstairs, and hesitated outside his door. After a long moment, she gently hooked it onto the knob. She nned to leave quietly, take the elevator, and text him so he would know his meal was waiting. That way, she could avoid the unbearable awkwardness of facing him. But just as she bent down to sneak away, the door clicked open. Startled, she spun around. Jonathan stood before her, already dressed. His white shirt was buttoned all the way to the cor, a dark blue tie perfectly knotted at his throat. A ck leather armband wrapped neatly around his sleeve, and his pressed ck cks fit his tall frame with military precision. Every detail radiated restraint and authority. 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 113 Pump and Dump 45 +10 Free Coins He lifted a brow. ¡°Why do you look so suspicious? You¡¯re creeping around like a thief at dawn.¡± Her cheeks burned. ¡°I¡¯m not a suspect! I just¡­ I was rushing for school. I didn¡¯t know if you were awake, so I left your breakfast at the door. But since you¡¯re already up, you should eat it while it¡¯s still warm. I have to go.¡± She turned to flee, but his voice stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡± The word came out calm, almost casual, yet it struck her like amand. She froze, forcing a strained smile, terrified that he had seen through her. Jonathan picked up the bag and said evenly, ¡°There¡¯s a charity auction tonight. Your ring will be one of the items. Do you want to attend?¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Do I have to?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the owner. You need to sign the papers andplete the donation.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± She nodded quickly. ¡°Then¡­ can I leave now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The moment he said it, Anneliese bolted down the hall. Jonathan lingered in the doorway, silent. She ran so fast he nearly wondered if she had poisoned the food. Later that morning, as she drove out of Maple Bay, a ck car swerved in front of her and blocked the road. Zacharias stepped out, dragging Coral with him. He rapped on her window and leaned closer. ¡°Anne, let¡¯s talk. There¡¯s a caf¨¦ up ahead.¡± Chapter 113 Pump and Dump 45 +10 Free Coins Anneliese frowned in irritation, but his stubborn expression told her he would not back down. Against her better judgment, she gave a short nod. Fine. She would hear what kind of game they were ying this time. But as soon as they sat down in the caf¨¦, she was caught off guard. Coral suddenly dropped to her knees, her body hitting the floor with a heavy thud. ¡°Ms. ude, I beg you! Please forgive Mr. Shaw! It¡¯s all my fault, everything is because of me,¡± she sobbed, clutching at Anneliese¡¯s leg. ¡°I was the one who shamelessly chased after him. And that night, when he was drunk, I¡­ I climbed into his bed and shared it with him.¡± 10:56 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 114 Apology Updates are released by find?novel Created 114 Chapter 114 Apology er 114 Apology : Anneliese recoiled, but Coral clung even tighter. She lifted her head, her pale face streaked with tears. Newest update provided by f?ndnovel 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°Ms. ude, I could neverpete with you. You grew up with Mr. Shaw, you have years of history, you¡¯re childhood sweethearts. He cherishes you, protects you, and married you. ¡°I¡¯m just a nobody, one of many women captivated by his charm, his power, and his looks. I shamelessly tried to seduce him even though he rejected me countless times. It¡¯s all my fault. I am disgraceful¡­¡± Coral¡¯s voice broke. Her throat tightened with sobs, her cheeks burning with shame. She lowered her eyes, bitterness and resentment shing through them. She knelt at Anneliese¡¯s feet as if begging forgiveness, but inside, she seethed with hate. Anneliese must be thrilled, she thought. Zacharias is humiliating me like this to prove his loyalty. She might act righteous, but deep down, she is calcting and maniptive. Still, she had no choice. She couldn¡¯t risk Zacharias turning against her. He had forced her to kneel and exin herself. She had to obey, and that only made her jealousy of Anneliese burn hotter. Anneliese, however, felt nothing but disbelief. The whole scene was absurd. ¡°Ms. ude? Call her Mrs. Shaw,¡± Zacharias said, frowning. Coral wiped her tears as Anneliese recoiled, yanking her leg free and stepping back. A gasp echoed in the air. Chapter 114 Apology : Coral tipped sideways and copsed onto the floor. 45 +10 Free Coins Anneliese hadn¡¯t even pushed her. Coraly clutching her stomach, wincing. ¡°Mr. Shaw¡­ my stomach hurts so bad¡­¡± She reached toward him, but Zacharias remained cold, his eyes fixed on Anneliese. A vein throbbed at Anneliese¡¯s temple as she red at him. ¡°Zacharias, do you really think I¡¯d be impressed by this circus? It takes two to cheat. A decent man doesn¡¯t betray his wife, and a decent woman doesn¡¯t throw herself at a taken man. You¡¯re both disgusting. ¡°One seduces, the other goes along. You¡¯re a perfect pair. Whatever twisted game you¡¯re ying, I want no part of it. Stop dragging me into your mess.¡± She grabbed her bag and moved to leave, but Coral, still on the ground, wrapped herself around Anneliese¡¯s leg again. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, please forgive Mr. Shaw. I¡¯ll leave, I swear!¡± Anneliese felt a slimy weight wrapping around her leg. She looked down. ¡°Coral, you¡¯re a student at one of the top universities in the nation. Do you know how hard it is to get there? You had a bright future, yet here you are, squabbling over a worthless man. That¡¯s your choice, but don¡¯t make me deal with the consequences of your actions. I do not have coprophagia.¡± ¡°Mrs. Shaw! How can you say that about Mr. Shaw?¡± Coral cried, wing at her in hysteria. Anneliese shook her leg instinctively, sending Coral rolling farther across the floor, wailing. She turned to leave when someone stormed into the room. ¡°Coral, are you alright? Anneliese, you vile woman! 10:57 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 114 Apology 44 +10 Free Coins ¡°Hurting my mom wasn¡¯t enough? Now you¡¯re going after my brother¡¯s child? She¡¯s pregnant!¡± It was Lenora, her face twisted in rage as she shoved Anneliese hard. Anneliese stumbled back, gripping the table edge, nearly falling. She thought she had just heard a thousand voices whisper in her ear, calling her a cuck. Pregnant. Coral was pregnant. Perfect. Zacharias¡® eyes widened in shock. He spun to look at Coral, disbelief in his voice. ¡°What did you just say?¡± He couldn¡¯t use condoms because of his allergy, true, but he had made Coral take birth control. Pregnancy was impossible. Lenora held Coral as she groaned in pain. ¡°Mr. Shaw, I¡¯m sorry¡­ is our baby going to be okay? I¡¯m so scared¡­¡± She reached toward him, her hand trembling in fear, the picture of innocence. But Coral had nned this. The moment Anneliese called her a stand¨Cin, she stopped taking the pills. She had conceived quickly. Her period had skipped, and she had secretly messaged Lenora for help in the car. Now Lenora was here, and Coral¡¯s chances were better than ever. Zacharias¡® gaze darted instinctively to Anneliese, panic shing across his face. He did not see thising. ¡°Anne, I¡­¡± Anneliese cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. ¡°No. Don¡¯t call me that, and Chapter 114 Apology 44 +10 Free Coins don¡¯t even look at me. Congrattions, you¡¯re going to be a dad. Really, congrattions. But don¡¯t think you can drag me into this mess. Get the mother of your child to the hospital before this turns into a crime scene. And leave mepletely out of it.¡± Her face was calm. No heartbreak, no tears, no anger. Only cold indifference and sharp sarcasm, like someone stepping away from a fire they never wanted to touch. 10:57 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 115 Surprise Created 115 Chapter 115 Surprise : 44 +10 Free Coins Zacharias felt his whole body plunge into icy shock. His throat tightened, frozen with disbelief. ¡°Zacharias, stop talking and get Coral to the hospital! She¡¯s fainted!¡± Lenora¡¯s voice cracked with panic as Coral sagged limply against her chest. Without hesitation, Zacharias bent, lifted Coral in his arms, and strode toward the exit, his face dark and unyielding. Lenora jumped to her feet and swung at Anneliese. ¡°Anneliese, why haven¡¯t you signed the settlement?¡± Anneliese anticipated the attack. She grabbed Lenora¡¯s wrist, spun her sharply, and pped her. Lenora stumbled into the table. Before she could regain bnce, Anneliese pressed her head down, ttening her face against the tabletop. She then grabbed a cup of coffee and poured it over her. ¡°I know what you did, Lenora. Jameson¡¯s your mom¡¯s handiwork, and you led Jacques to me. I¡¯ve only just realized you two really are a poisonous duo. If you don¡¯t want to get involved and locked up like your mother, stay far away from me!¡± Anneliese released her grip. Lenora, soaked and squinting through the mess, backed away under Anneliese¡¯s imposing presence. ¡°You¡¯ll see! I¡¯ll make my brother divorce you!¡± She spat the threat and fled. Anneliese didn¡¯t react. If Lenora could do that, she¡¯d thank her. She walked calmly to the front desk and asked the manager to copy the security footage, just in case. After leaving the caf¨¦, she headed to Astoria University. In the archive room, Jackson was waiting outside. 10:57 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 115 Surprise Seeing her, his handsome face brightened with a warm, genuine smile. ¡°Anneliese.¡± She blinked in surprise and opened the door for him. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?ndnovel His eyes immediately fell on the sketches left on the table. 44 +10 Free Coins ¡°You¡¯re drawing drone wing details? This is incredible. Can I take a closer look?¡± Anneliese poured him a ss of water and smiled. ¡°Just some sketches. Nothing secret.¡± He picked them up. Even casually drawn, the precision and careful measurements were clear. After a few moments, he pointed at her analysis of critical vibration speeds and discussed it with her, admiration evident in his eyes. ¡°You are too modest. You haven¡¯t fallen behind at all in four years. You¡¯re still amazing.¡± Anneliese blushed under his sincere gaze. She waved her hands. ¡°Did youe here for something?¡± Jackson tapped his head and exined why he came. His mentor, Professor Baltimore, had a new project and was short on staff. Hearing Anneliese was back, he requested her help with data collection and analysis. Anneliese was surprised. She had taken sses with Professor Baltimore but had worked more closely with Prof. Clocke since sophomore year. However, Professor Baltimore remembered her and wanted her assistance. ¡°Am I really suitable for this?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Professor Baltimore trusts your skills and your character. Since Chapter 115 Surprise Professor Clocke isn¡¯t around, I think he wants to recruit you for his grad program.¡± 44 +10 Free Coins Jackson winked. ¡°Joining his team as my junior would be great too. Give it some thought. Professor Baltimore¡¯s great too.¡± Anneliese chuckled. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help tomorrow. Grad school with Professor Baltimore? Nah. I¡¯m trying to win my mentor back.¡± He looked disappointed but unsurprised. After he left, she refined her sketches. She had to attend an auction with Jonathan, so she didn¡¯t stay long before returning to Maple Bay. She hurried to get ready. When she was almost finished, Jonathan¡¯s message arrived. ¡®Ready? The car is waiting downstairs.¡¯ She opened her jewelry box, grabbed a pair of pearl earrings, and nced at her grandmother¡¯s bracelet. Something felt off, but she didn¡¯t linger. Jonathan¡¯s guy was waiting for her. She closed the box, grabbed her bag and shawl, and left. She moved quickly down the building steps and froze outside. A tall man leaned casually against a ck Bentley, scrolling his phone with effortless confidence. The watch on his wrist caught the sunlight, sharp and precise, reflecting across his sculpted features and high cheekbones. Jonathan had said someone would pick her up, but he had not mentioned it would be him. Created 116 Chapter 116 Pick Her Up 44 +10 Free Coins Anneliese felt a little overwhelmed, and after a moment, she picked up her pace. The soft click of her heels made Jonathan look up. Their eyes met, and she immediately dropped her gaze, focusing on the steps. But the more she tried to walk carefully, the more awkward her steps became. Her stiletto caught the edge of the step. She wobbled, and in an instant, a strong shadow appeared in front of her. A firm hand gripped her waist, steadying her. Before she even felt the warmth, he pulled back, maintaining a polite distance. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered. Jonathan¡¯s gaze lingered on her. He immediately recognized the dress. A couture dress, palevender, hugging her figure like a soft spring mist. The fabric traced the line of her chest and the curve of her narrow waist. The embroidered petals moved gently with her breathing. She looked stunning. Her calm, almost distant air kept the scene from feeling too intense, but even he felt the pull of her presence. ¡°That dress suits you. Was it meant for me?¡± He turned and opened the car¡¯s rear door. Anneliese moved forward, and his whisper brushed her ear. He held the door with one hand and shaded the roof with the other, leaning close enough for their breaths to meet briefly. For a moment, his presence felt like a gentle barrier surrounding her. She nodded 10:57 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 116 Pick Her Up quickly, ducking into the car. : Even seated, she could feel the weight of his attention. The dress had been meant for Jonathan¡¯s wife. Now, after a mix¨Cup, it was on her. 44 +10 Free Coins Had Jonathan misunderstood her intentions? Did he think she wore it to send a message? She hadn¡¯t brought any other gowns from Zacharias. This couture dress was the only suitable option. Her ears burned, the heat creeping up her neck and cheeks. Jonathan still had not closed the door. She assumed he wanted her to exin. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I was just¡ª¡± ¡°Hm? Wrong idea about what?¡± She blinked. It wasn¡¯t what she thought. She hadn¡¯t noticed that the silk shawl draped over her arm had fallen to the floor. Jonathan bent slightly, gathering the delicate fabric and returning it to the car. Her face med. She snatched the shawl and straightened her posture. ¡°It¡¯s fine, really.¡± The soft fabric slid through her fingers, sending a tingling warmth through her palm. Fresh chapters posted on fin?novel Jonathan¡¯s gaze lingered, amusement flickering in his dark, narrow eyes as he observed her tremblingshes and flushed cheeks. He closed the door, circled the car, and slid in beside her. ¡°Drive.¡± 10:57 Sat, Sep 6 Chapter 116 Pick Her Up The driver today was not Zion, but a quiet, middle¨Caged man she did not recognize. 44 +10 Free Coins The cabin felt unusually still. Jonathan¡¯s presence was intense, and the tension in the air pressed down on her. Anneliese fiddled nervously with the fringe of her shawl, longing for the easyfort Zion¡¯s presence usually brought. Jonathan nced at her and broke the silence. ¡°Do you want to check tonight¡¯s auction list? See if anything catches your eye?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She hade only to sell her wedding ring, not to participate, but she nodded anyway. He leaned over, retrieved a tablet, and opened the auction page before passing it to her. As she began scanning the listings, Jonathan¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced at the screen and then looked at her. ¡°It¡¯s my grandmother. Video call. Do you mind if I take it?¡± Anneliese raised her head, slightly surprised. It was his car, and of course, he had every right to take a call. Seeing her hesitation, Jonathan added, ¡°If she sees you, she might get¡­ excited.¡± Anneliese did not fully understand, but she gave a small nod. ¡°Go ahead. I don¡¯t mind.¡± He swiped the screen and epted the call. Jonathan¡¯s grandmother appeared on the screen. Her gentle face was framed by snowy hair, neatly styled in an elegant bun. Chapter 116 Pick Her Up ¡°Jonathan, did you really find my savior?¡± ¡°Yes. When have I ever lied to you, Grandma?¡± 44 +10 Free Coins ¡°Good, good. Now tell me, have you seen the girl? Is the ring really hers? Is she divorcing like I said?¡± ¡°Grandma, she¡¯s sitting right next to me,¡± Jonathan quickly interrupted. Penelope¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Next to you? Oh, don¡¯t tease me, Jojo. I cannot believe it.¡± Created 117 Chapter 117 Jonathan¡¯s Grandmother : Chapter 117 Jonathan¡¯s Grandmother 53 s Anneliese blinked, surprised to hear Penelope calling Jonathan ¡°Jojo.¡± The nickname sounded like he was someone about to embark on a bizarre adventure, but Jonathan did not look like that kind of man at all. She bit the corner of her lip, trying not tough, surprised that their conversation seemed to revolve around her. Before Anneliese could even figure out how she had ended up being Penelope¡¯s lifesaver, Jonathan said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask her about that.¡± He tilted his head and looked at her with a half¨Csmile. ¡°Want to say hi to my grandmother?¡± Readplete version only at find[?]ovel Anneliese froze and then shifted her gaze to the screen. Penelope red straight at them. ¡°Hah, you¡¯re acting like there¡¯s a youngdy in the car. If you¡¯ve got the courage, show me. Let me see this miracle for myself.¡± Anneliese remembered meeting Penelope once before, but the dim light and her sour mood had kept her from looking closely. She had even mistaken her for someone selling flowers on the street. Now, watching Penelope¡¯s animated expression, the lines of her face slowly matched the memory, and a faint sense of familiarity and warmth rose in Anneliese¡¯s chest. She tilted her head and stepped into the camera frame, waving. ¡°Hello, Old Mrs. Fullbuster. I¡¯m Anneliese.¡± The woman on the screen froze. ¡°Did it freeze?¡± Anneliese asked Jonathan, puzzled: 14:35 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 117 Jonathan¡¯s Grandmother : 53 s ¡°No, no.¡± Penelopeughed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m surprised. Completely overwhelmed. Wow, the little angel we met that night¨Cthat was you for sure!¡± Her delighted voice carried through, and Anneliese looked back at the screen. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating, Old Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± ¡°Exaggerating? Just call me Grandma like Jonathan does. You¡¯re Anneliese, right? That¡¯s such a beautiful name. Which characters are they?¡± ¡°¡®Anne¡® and ¡®Liese. My mom loved anything graceful, so my dad named me that.¡± She spoke naturally, thinking of her adoptive parents, not her biological family. Her adoptive mother adored graceful things. Swans, princesses, or anything that moved without effort. Her adoptive father, Frederick ude, had chosen the name when he adopted her. Her features softened as she remembered them. Her clear eyes shimmered with nostalgia and longing. Jonathan gripped the phone a little tighter without realizing it, his gaze lingering on her face far longer than necessary. Anneliese didn¡¯t notice, but Penelope, on the other end of the video, certainly did. She thought it was time to start nning a proper future for her grandson. He was impossible to hold back. ¡°I will just call you Anne. I still haven¡¯t properly thanked you for giving me that ring.¡± Her eyes were warm and kind, and Anneliese thought of her grandmother back in Baytree. Even though their lives and styles were very different, the feeling they gave off was remarkably simr. Anneliese blushed. ¡°I misunderstood you. I hope you won¡¯t be upset, Grandma.¡± 14:35 Sun, Sep 7 ¡­ 53 Chapter 117 Jonathan¡¯s Grandmother s ¡°How could I be upset? You acted out of kindness, and I appreciate it. When you have time, have Jonathan bring you over. I¡¯ll have someone prepare some good food for you. You muste.¡± Anneliese agreed, and Penelope hung up reluctantly. ¡°She¡¯s so rxed,¡± Anneliese said, smiling at Jonathan as she turned toward him. She suddenly noticed how close they had gotten without realizing it. The air smelled fresh and woody. It was clean and calm, but also sharp and intense, filling her lungs and making her heartbeat quicken. ¡°She really likes you,¡± Jonathan said. He looked down at her smiling face, and his eyes softened. He felt his emotions deepen and thought a few words silently. Anneliese¡¯s heart skipped. She sensed something unspoken in his tone, so she straightened and moved back instinctively. ¡°I like her too,¡± she said. Jonathan¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°You only met her once, and you already like her?¡± He clicked his tongue in mild frustration. Penelope¡¯s charm was overwhelming, and he felt a sting of difort. He had tried teasing her countless times, but she seemed untouchable,pletely immune to his efforts. Silly girl, he thought. Still, thinking about how loving someone extends to everything around them, Jonathan epted that Anneliese¡¯s affection for Penelope was real. ¡°True connection isn¡¯t about how much time people spend together. It¡¯s about fate ¡­ 53 Chapter 117 Jonathan¡¯s Grandmother s and energy. Some people meet toote and wish they met sooner, and some grow distant no matter how long they know each other¡­¡± 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter Created 118 118 On the Way Chapter 118 On the Way 53 s Anneliese pressed her lips into a soft smile, and her thoughts wandered to the White family, to Zacharias. Even though they were her closest rtives, the warmth and kindness they offered could not match the genuine care of a stranger she had just met¨CPenelope. Jonathan watched her smile shift subtly, teasing and thoughtful. He wanted to ask her a question. He wondered what kind of ce he held in her heart. But he knew it was too delicate to ask now. Even if he tried, she would probably sidestep the answer. And he did not want to upset her. ¡°What is it? Did I say something wrong?¡± Anneliese felt a small flutter of unease under his steady, lingering gaze. Jonathan rxed his expression and offered a faint smile. ¡°I was thinking about what you said about your name earlier.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You said your mother liked graceful stuff, so Anne makes sense, but you know, ¡®Liese¡® can mean ¡®God is my abundance¡°,¡± Anneliese blinked. Her father had never told her that. ¡°Yeah, abundance. It¡¯s not just one thing, you know. It¡¯s supposed to be many. Perhaps your father wanted your life to be one filled with joy and everything you¡¯d ever need.¡± She had never thought of it that way. Surprise softened into delight. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 118 On the Way 53 s She felt her adoptive parents¡® care and love as if they were her biological parents. Perhaps Jonathan¡¯s words captured her father¡¯s true intention. Her lips curved gently. ¡°Thank you. I love that exnation. Next time I see my parents, I will tell my dad.¡± Jonathan watched her smile and nodded slightly. She studied him with curiosity. ¡°What about your name? Gift of God?¡± ¡°Probably. My grandfather named me. You know, air cargo guys don¡¯t like bad weather, so God¡¯s providence is important.¡± Jonathan gave a small, self¨Cdeprecating smile. Gift of God. He was far from that. The Fullbuster family was no ce for calm elegance. She noticed the irony in his smile and guessed he did not love the name either. Still, she smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s great, you know. To be a gift of God. Great things in life.¡± Jonathan looked at her. Her eyes curved with careful kindness, trying to understand him. He was surprised at how easily she sensed his feelings. A strange, thrilling tension tightened his chest. Her gentle insight made him want her even more. He clenched his hand on his knee, holding back the urge to reach out and touch her. At that moment, his phone buzzed. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 118 On the Way He nced down. Queen texted, ¡®So you took a liking to her?¡¯ Jonathan tapped a short, decisive reply. ¡®Yeah.¡®
  1. 53.
s Fresh chapters posted on Find~Novel Penelope had been staring at the phone, waiting for his reply. Her grandson¡¯s bluntness surprised her. He had always been stubborn, hiding his desires. Even when asked directly, he would dodge the question. He preferred getting what he wanted quietly, without drawing attention to himself. Penelope thought she had seen everything, but she had never seen him this direct. This was no casual liking. This was burning, undeniable desire. She grinned and pretended not to understand Jonathan¡¯s subtle plea. She typed slowly. ¡°She is married. We cannot break the rules. Being a homewrecker is shameful, Jonathan.¡± ¡°She will be divorced in less than ten days. Did you not say I should seize the opportunity?¡± ¡°Did I ever say that? You think I am a woman without principles?¡± ¡°You are. Do not doubt it.¡± ¡°Do you know the most important thing about winning someone¡¯s heart?¡± Jonathan sent a cheeky, pleading emoji. Chapter 118 On the Way 53 s ¡°Silly boy. It is about working hard. You need to make your move. You are going to the auction anyway. Buy anything Anne likes. I do not need to exin why, do I?¡± Jonathan stared at the screen, frustration knotting his chest. A single vivid opportunity appeared, and he shot his shot with all his might. The girl leapt away before he could catch her. When would she finally rest in his hands? The scene turns to the hospital. ¡°Arrange the procedure for her tomorrow.¡± Created 119 Chapter 119 Cruel Zacharias 53 s Zacharias stepped out of Coral¡¯s hospital room and spoke to Jackie with a cold, sharp tone. Inside, Coral¡¯s muffled sobs trembled through the door, apanied by Lenora Shen¡¯s calm, soothing words. Jackie¡¯s face tightened with concern. Coral had just clung to Zacharias so desperately that she fainted, and he would not allow this child to be born. Half a month ago, Jackie had identally walked into Zacharias¡® office and found Coral sitting in hisp, arms wrapped tightly around his neck, kissing him fiercely. The memory lingered ufortably, a reminder of how unpredictable life could be. He dared not speak. ¡°Yes, Mr. Shaw. I will have a bodyguard watch over her as you have ordered.¡± Zacharias loosened his tie. Coral¡¯s cries had softened, yet that only made them sound more painful, more heart¨Cwrenching. Irritation surged through him, but beneath it was a subtle, inescapable tug of emotion. This was his first child, yet the child could only be Anneliese¡¯s. He had grown up with her and knew the consequences of siring a baby with another woman. If he had a child with anyone else, Anneliese would never forgive him. He stepped away from the room and nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s time for the auction. Where¡¯s the invitation?¡± Jackie hurriedly pulled the charity auction invitation from his briefcase and handed it over. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 119 Cruel Zacharias 53 s ¡°The pink diamond on Mrs. Shaw¡¯s wedding ring is the first item. You can change and head over now, Mr. Shaw.¡± Sunrise Residence was still under repair, so Zacharias had been staying in the hotel¡¯s presidential suite. The auction was conveniently along the way. The event was at the Liscarton Hotel. The car stopped outside the hotel. Jonathan got out, walking confidently around the vehicle to open the door for Anneliese. She lowered her head to adjust her shawl and looked up to find his hand already extended. She did not hesitate. Her hand rested naturally in his palm. He closed his fingers around hers. Anneliese, as uderias Tech¡¯s PR director, was used to social handshakes and formal dances, yet Jonathan¡¯s touch made her pulse quicken, a subtle, unfamiliar flutter. Once she stepped down and found her bnce, he released her hand. He lifted his arm slightly, silently inviting her to loop hers through his. Her gaze drifted ahead, catching two figures in the lobby. ¡°What is it?¡± Jonathan asked. She shook her head slightly, but her eyes lingered. The lobby glittered with gold ents and a bustling crowd. Jonathan saw nothing out of ce. For a brief moment, she thought she had seen Zacharias walking in with a woman, arm in arm. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 ¡¢(53) s Chapter 119 Cruel Zacharias That made no sense. Melody was still in police custody, and Coral was in the hospital. Zacharias was meticulous with time; he would not be casually walking here with a woman, not when it would risk everyone seeing through his facade of loving husband. She had imagined it. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said, smiling faintly as she linked her arm through Jonathan¡¯s. Jonathan, aware of the tight schedule, guided her through a private entrance into the auction. Inside, the room was divided into several sections. A staff member had prepared a reserved area for the rich heirs, with two elegant Eastern style armchairs separated by a small table holding tea, delicate pastries, and a fruit tter. Jonathan guided Anneliese to the seats. The staff member leaned forward and whispered something to him. ¡°I¡¯ll be away for a moment,¡± Jonathan said softly. Anneliese nodded without hesitation. He poured a cup of tea and ced it carefully in front of her before turning to leave with the staff member. Steam curled from the cup. Just as Anneliese reached to pick it up, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Selina. ¡®Guess where we are?¡® She also sent a photo. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 119 Cruel Zacharias 53 +5 Free Coins Fresh chapters posted on find¡¤novel The photo showed Selina in a red velvet gown, arm linked with a man in a ck suit. His face was hidden, but the watch on his wrist immediately caught Anneliese¡¯s attention. It was Zacharias¡®. The gift she had given him for uderias Tech¡¯s IPO. Her brow furrowed as she zoomed in on the image. It was not concern that made her focus. The background looked unmistakably like the hotel lobby. A careful nce confirmed it. She had not imagined it earlier. Zacharias was here. He was with Selina. Created 120 Chapter 120 At the Auction : Tonight, the auction felt like the Fullbuster Group¡¯s only major event. Zacharias and Selina were present as well. 53 +5 Free Coins Content originallyes from F?ndNovel Anneliese furrowed her brow without thinking. Jonathan returned at that exact moment. She slipped her phone into her pocket as a shadow fell beside her. When the first item appeared, Anneliese nced at Jonathan, startled. Her pink diamond was supposed to open the auction, ording to the catalog. Instead, an emerald carving took its ce. Jonathan tilted his head. ¡°They made a small change. The pink diamond moved to the second half of the auction.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± she said, nodding without pressing further. Her attention, however, lingered on Zacharias and Selina. They were here. Could Zacharias know the pink diamond from their wedding ring would appear tonight? She pushed the thought aside. Zacharias tricked her into marriage to help Selina out, so there was no reason he would bring his first love to bid on their diamond, What she didn¡¯t know was that Zacharias had exactly that n in mind. Upon seeing that the first lot wasn¡¯t the pink diamond, his brow tightened. ¡°What is going on?¡± He stepped forward, ready to question the staff. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 120 At the Auction : 53 s He hade to reim the wedding diamond, and it was gone from the disy. ¡°Zach, rx,¡± Selina said, touching his arm lightly. ¡°Maybe they just switched the order. Let¡¯s wait.¡± Zacharias¡® face stayed cold. He fought to hide his irritation. He had intended to attend alone, but Selina had arrived in Oceaton earlier and insisted oning when she learned he would bid on the diamond. At first, he refused. ¡°Anne misunderstands us,¡± Selina said. ¡°If I go with you to get the diamond, it also proves there¡¯s nothing between us.¡± He agreed. Her logic was reasonable. He didn¡¯t notice the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes when the pink diamond didn¡¯t appear as expected. The auction moved fast. Because it was a charity event, the lots varied in value. Paintings by young artists went for a few thousand, while gem pieces reached millions. Anneliese, deciding to join in and contribute, bid four thousand on a string of pearls. Finally, the heart¨Cshaped pink diamond appeared. The screen disyed it in full, showing every detail. The auctioneer announced, ¡°Starting at five hundred thousand.¡± Bids came immediately. ¡°One million.¡± 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 120 At the Auction ¡°Six hundred thousand, once¡­ Lot 34 jumps to three million!¡± A soft murmur spread across the room. 53 s The diamond was high¨Cquality, with a rare vivid pink color, but under two carats and worth roughly one million normally. Now someone was bidding triple. They were either foolish or determined. The murmurs died down. No one else raised a hand. Anneliese looked toward the auctioneer but could see nothing beyond the screen. Still, she sensed it was Zacharias bidding. ¡°Three million, twice. Three million¡­ Lot 1 rises to four million!¡± Just as she thought Zacharias would win, the auctioneer¡¯s gaze shifted. Anneliese turned sharply. Jonathan was holding a paddle. ¡°What are you¡ª¡± She gasped, instinctively reaching to grab his sleeve. Jonathan tilted his head. Anneliese spoke quickly, nervously. ¡°This pink diamond isn¡¯t worth this much. It sold for 1.2 million before, and the market has dropped. Its value should be lower¡­¡± Before she finished, a deep, familiar voice cut through the room. ¡°Five million.¡± It was Zacharias. Jonathan raised his paddle again. ¡°Lot 34, five million. Lot 1, six million. Both bidders are determined. Will the Chapter 120 At the Auction bidding continue?¡± Created 121 Chapter 121 Bidding Chapter 121 Bidding 53 s The auctioneer¡¯s voice surged with excitement, and murmurs spread through the room. The pink diamond¡¯s value was obvious. Nobody expected the bidding to climb this high. ¡°Why are you still raising the bid¡­¡± Anneliese leaned forward anxiously, gripping Jonathan¡¯s paddle hand tightly. Her hands were still icy, even though her health had mostly recovered. The sudden chill pressed against his warm hand, sending a shiver of tingling heat through him. Jonathan tightened his grip instinctively, resisting the strange sensation. Goosebumps rose along his wrist even under the cuff of his sleeve. His body reflected his feelings openly and intensely. He braced his elbow on the table, leaned closer, and asked, ¡°Hm?¡± Anneliese realized something. Jonathan came from wealth. He probably grew up handling jewels and diamonds like toys. He could not be unaware that the pink diamond¡¯s price had already soared. This could only mean¡­ ¡°You realized Zacharias is bidding too? You¡¯re helping me.¡± Her eyes widened in recognition as she looked up at Jonathan. She had not noticed how close he leaned. Their breaths mingled. If she moved slightly, she might brush against the curve of his lips. Anneliese froze. Jonathan froze too, seemingly more startled than she was. 14:36 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 121 Bidding : 53 s The screen disyed a full 360¨Cdegree view of the pink diamond. Light from the jewelrymps danced across its facets, casting shimmering reflections into Jonathan¡¯s eyes. His eyes looked deep and mysterious, like a falling gxy. Anneliese held her breath until the auctioneer¡¯s voice cut through the tension. ¡°Eight million! Lot 34 bids eight million, eight million once! Eight million twice! Will Lot 1 raise the bid?¡± Jonathan reacted first, lifting the paddle with her hand still holding his. ¡°Ten million! Lot 1 increases to ten million! Wow, this really is a remarkable pink diamond.¡± The rhythmic voice of the auctioneer pulled Anneliese back to reality. She quickly pulled her hand away and tugged at Jonathan¡¯s sleeve, anxious. ¡°Stop. You don¡¯t need to bid more. Besides, even if he wins the diamond, it might not be for me. Maybe he¡¯s giving it to an old me.¡± She understood what Jonathan was doing. Jonathan was bidding because she didn¡¯t want the diamond. Zacharias, however, was determined to reim it and likely return it to her. Jonathan and Zacharias were now at odds. Spending ten million on a diamond worth far less seemed reckless. Jonathan gave her a reassuring look. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Over at Lot 34, Zacharias¡® face darkened. Selina frowned beside him, ncing toward Anneliese and Jonathan. 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 121 Bidding : 53 s Zacharias had been determined to reim the pink diamond. He was willing to pay ten times its value. Now, the Lot 1 bidder interfered. It was only a pink diamond, yet two men were battling over it. Zacharias felt anger and frustration boil inside him. He had assumed reiming the wedding diamond would be simple. He did not expect this opposition. The man at Lot 1 was obviously challenging him. Zacharias was a shrewd businessman who never acted against his own interests. Normally, he would have stopped long ago. But the memory of Anneliese¡¯s attitude, Jonathan protecting her at the police station, and her calm congrattions when he became a father put a heavy tension on his chest He would do whatever it took to reim their wedding diamond. He wanted to recreate the ring exactly and ce it back on Anneliese¡¯s hand. She could only be his. He raised his paddle again. Selina grabbed his arm. ¡°Zacharias, Lot 1 is doing this on purpose. Maybe we should let it go. We can find another diamond for Anne.¡± ¡°No! It has to be this one!¡± He yanked his hand free. He raised the paddle firmly, ¡°Fifteen million.¡± Chapter 121 Bidding : 53 For original chapters go to Find?Novel s ¡°Lot 34 bids fifteen million!¡± The auctioneer¡¯s voice rang out, barely finished before continuing. ¡°Lot 1, twenty million!¡± Zacharias¡® expression darkened. ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million!¡± He gritted his teeth, eyes fixed on Lot 1. His sharp eyes seemed to fire invisible arrows through the screens toward his opponent. 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 122 Fierce Battle Created 122 Chapter 122 Fierce Battle : 53 s ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million! Twenty¨Cfive million once! Twenty¨Cfive million twice! Twenty¨Cfive million three times! Congrattions to Lot 34 for winning the pink diamond.¡± The hammer came down with a solid thud, sealing Zacharias¡® im on the diamond. Yet, he felt no triumph. Normally, apuse and murmurs of admiration filled the room after such bids, but now silence stretched across the hall, heavy and awkward. Everyone was probably wondering who in their right mind Lot 34 could be. ¡°Zach, your dedication to Anne is really impressive. Even I have to admire it. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll forgive you once she sees the pink diamond.¡± Selina ced her hand gently on his, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. Her presence was calm, almost fragile, like a quiet, patient flower in bloom. A set of ruby jewelry appeared next, gleaming under the lights. Selina¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s stunning.¡± She thought that if Zacharias could spend twenty¨Cfive times the value of the pink diamond for Anneliese, then buying this ruby set for her was hardly surprising. But Zacharias¡® focus was elsewhere. He straightened suddenly. ¡°I¡¯ll finalize the transfer.¡± His urgency to im the pink diamond and to see who Lot I was pulled him forward. He didn¡¯t even nce at Selina as he walked away. Selina pressed her lips together, frowning, her chest rising and falling sharply, then 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 122 Fierce Battle she followed Zacharias out. : 53 s At Lot 1, Anneliese stifled augh behind her hand, amusement flickering across her face. Watching Zacharias throw twenty¨Cfive million at the pink diamond made her pulse race with excitement. Even if he eventually gave it to her, the frustration she once felt had dissolved entirely. Fresh chapters posted on find?novel ¡°You did that on purpose. He could¡¯ve quit bidding at any moment, you know.¡± Her eyes twinkled as she looked at Jonathan. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°If he quits, we¡¯ll just call it charity. That works too.¡± But Zacharias wasn¡¯t about to quit. Those who understood rivals best knew: he would never surrender easily. Even if he did, it also worked in Jonathan¡¯s favor. He could show how shallow Zacharias¡® resolve was. Jonathan looked at Anneliese¡¯s bright, sparkling eyes and grinned. ¡°It¡¯s about to get even more interesting.¡± ¡°Really? How?¡± She leaned forward slightly, her hand covering her mouth in curiosity, eyes demanding an answer. Jonathan leaned closer, lowering his voice. ¡°Take a closer look at the diamond.¡± Anneliese grabbed the tablet on the table, the screen alive with live auction updates. 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 122 Fierce Battle She swiped to the pink diamond¡¯s listing and froze in astonishment. ¡°This isn¡¯t mine!¡± 53 s The stone was almost identical in shape, size, and carat, but the color was slightly duller and the rity a touch lower. It wasn¡¯t her wedding diamond. Jonathan nodded. ¡°I had someone swap it at thest minute. Your pink diamond was privately sold just now.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So, when you stepped away earlier, you were doing that?¡± He nodded again. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Zacharias to show up at the auction. I just had a simr diamond ready. Swapping it for disy was easy.¡± He spoke as if it were casual, but Anneliese understood the effort and precision it must have taken. She hesitated, murmuring, ¡°It was just a little idea of mine¡­ It¡¯s not that important.¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°No, it is important. Since I promised to handle it, I wasn¡¯t going to let it return to trouble you.¡± Warmth and a sharp ache spread across her chest. No one had ever made her feel this valued¨Cnot Zacharias, not the White family. He had not only kept his promise but had outsmarted Zacharias entirely. She could barely imagine his face when he realized twenty¨Cfive million had been spent in vain. 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 122 Fierce Battle Anneliese blinked, whispering softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Her eyes drifted to the auction screen again, lingering on the ruby set. 53 s She reminded herself that Jonathan¡¯s skill and efficiency had done this, and her racing heartbeat slowly began to settle. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Jonathan noticed her focused stare. She nodded. He raised his paddle. Four million. The ruby set was his. Anneliese assumed it was a gift for his family or another charitable gesture. She didn¡¯t think much further. Created 123 Chapter 123 Gift for Her :.. Soon, a staff member brought over the ruby jewelry set. Jonathan handed it directly to Anneliese. ¡°This is for me?¡± Anneliese asked, startled. 53 s Jonathan nodded slightly. ¡°Grandma asked me to thank you on her behalf. And since you helped AeroAir handle that crisis earlier, this is a little overdue thank- you.¡± ¡°This is too extravagant¡­¡± Anneliese murmured, unsure about this. Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°AeroAir¡¯s handling of the crisis added at least fifty billion to thepany¡¯s market value. If you hadn¡¯t stepped in when you did, it wouldn¡¯t have gone nearly so smoothly. This is just a small gesture. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Fifty billion? Anneliese blinked, convinced, and epted the jewelry. Later, as she left the table and washed her hands in the restroom, she stared at the jewelry box, lost in thought. Four million dors. Jonathan called it a ¡°small gift,¡± and somehow she had convinced herself of that. Four million dors, and they called it a casual little present. Good grief, Anneliese. When did you get so gullible? she thought. ¡°Anne, what are you doing here? Who bought that ruby set for you? Was it you at Table 1? And who was the man with you? How could you do something like this to Zacharias?¡± It was Selina. Anneliese snapped the jewelry box shut and cursed under her breath. 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 123 Gift for Her This was the first time she faced Selina since learning the truth. 53 s A sharp, old pain red in her stomach, like a wound screaming in anger and betrayal. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Anneliese said coldly, her curt reply cutting through the tension. Selina frowned. ¡°That¡¯s crude! I¡¯m your sister. I¡¯m a White family heiress. I¡¯m Zach¡¯s friend. No matter which way you look at it, I cannot allow you to do anything that goes against society¡¯s morals.¡± She stepped forward, grabbing Anneliese¡¯s wrist with righteous force. ¡°I don¡¯t care who the man is. You need to stop this now. We¡¯re going to return that jewelry to him and end it cleanly.¡± Anneliese yanked her wrist free, scoffing. ¡°Oh, so right after seeing me, you throw the adultery card at me? Selina, you really know how to twist things. No wonder you and Zacharias get along so well.¡± Selina¡¯s long, manicured nails dug into Anneliese¡¯s soft arm as she tugged back. Anneliese could no longer contain her fury. She swung her hand and pped Selina across the face. The sharp smack echoed through the restroom. ¡°How dare you hit me!¡± Selina eximed, holding her cheek. Anneliese shook her hand free. ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to do that, and since you presented yourself like a nice little present, I figured it¡¯d be early Christmas for me.¡± ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re asking for it!¡± Selina hissed, raising her hand to strike back. Anneliese had already anticipated this. She grabbed Selina¡¯s wrist and spun her forcefully. Chapter 123 Gift for Her Selina screamed, stumbling backward. :D At thest moment, a tall figure caught her. ¡°Selina, are you okay? What happened to your face?¡± It was Zacharias. 53 s He held the jewelry box, having justpleted the process to im the pink diamond. ¡°Zach, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Selina said, still trembling, leaning against him like a startled bird. ¡°Your face is swollen! That is not fine! Who hit you?¡± ¡°I did. Got a problem with that?¡± Zacharias¡® gaze lifted sharply at the familiar, clear voice. His eyes lit with surprise when he saw Anneliese standing there, elegant in a couture dress with a shawl draped over her arms, radiating poise and grace. ¡°Honey! What are you doing here?¡± Anneliese smiled faintly. ¡°You sound surprised. Is this some secret meeting ce you two have? I¡¯m not allowed in?¡± Zacharias frowned and instinctively moved to push Selina back. Selina stumbled slightly, pressing closer, voice urgent and worried. ¡°Zach, don¡¯t be mad at Anne. She didn¡¯t mean to hit me.¡± Zacharias steadied Selina and stepped forward. He grabbed Anneliese¡¯s wrist firmly, his voice dropping cold. ¡°Anne, apologize to Selina right now!¡± ¡­ 53 Chapter 123 Gift for Her ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel Anneliese looked at him with a mocking smile. s She wasn¡¯t surprised he would side with Selina. His concern for her had always been shallow; she just hadn¡¯t realized it before. Her smile turned cool. ¡°I wish I could be an octopus and p both of you eight times at once.¡± Her gaze lingered on Selina¡¯s face, full of curiosity. ¡°By the way, he¡¯s expecting a child with your recement. He¡¯s about to be a father. I wonder how that feels for you¨Cdisgusting? Or secretly satisfying? Can you tell me all the details?¡± Chapter 124 Confrontation Created 124 Chapter 124 Confrontation Chapter 124 Confrontation : Selina¡¯s expression shifted constantly, flickering between shock, anger, and confusion. 53 s Anneliese almostughed, but Zacharias did not share her glee. He was as ck as thunder. His voice was low, rough, and full of anger as he called her name. ¡°Anneliese!¡± Seeing the cold, sharp edge at the corner of her lips, he quickly forced down his rage and tried to exin. ¡°There is no recement! I already told you, Coral took advantage of me while I was drunk. It has nothing to do with Selina. I came today to get our wedding ring diamonds. Selina came along to help when she heard, trying to pitch in. You misunderstood everything. Can you apologize to her now?¡± He stared at her with a mix of frustration and reason, as if he had already exined everything and wanted her to stop overreacting. Selina stepped forward. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Zach. I was at fault back then. That p was owed to Anne. But Anne, even if you don¡¯t like it, I still have to say this. epting jewelry from another man isn¡¯t right. You should return it. I¡¯ll make sure the next pieces you likee from me.¡± ¡°What jewelry from another man?¡± Zacharias¡® eyes locked onto the jewelry box in Anneliese¡¯s hand. His brow furrowed as he snatched it and opened it. Inside, the ruby set gleamed. His handsome face darkened, and his grip on her wrist tightened without thought. ¡°What is this? Why are you so quick to favor someone else? I have not neglected you at all! I¡¯ve given you the best this world has to offer!¡± Anger surged through him. He remembered how she had casually tossed aside the diamond jewelry he had carefully chosen, yet now she treasured gifts from 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Fresh chapters posted on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Chapter 124 Confrontation another man, even carrying them into the bathroom. A strange, unfamiliar jealousy filled him, and he struggled to control it. Anneliese¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°What are you doing? Let go!¡± 53 s Zacharias refused. Veins pulsed at his temples, and his piercing, hurt¨Cfilled gaze fixed on her. ¡°Who gave this to you? Tell me!¡± Selina intervened quickly. ¡°Zach, calm down. Anne just really likes this set. Nothing happened with Mr. Number One.¡± The mention of Mr. Number One reminded Zacharias of the twenty million he had spent unnecessarily. He knew exactly what a gift of that value represented. ¡°Who is he?¡± Veins throbbed at his temples. Jealousy and fury collided violently in his chest. He had tried to ask before, but the staff had stayed tight¨Clipped. Anneliese had no intention of dragging Jonathan into this. Her eyes were cold and clear. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to know. Let go!¡± She reached for the box. Zacharias snapped, throwing the ruby set into the trash with force. ¡°Zacharias! Are you insane? It¡¯s not yours! What gives you the right to throw it away?¡± Anneliese shoved him, desperate to retrieve the box. It was worth millions. Her panic only deepened Zacharias¡® irritation and jealousy. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pinning her against him. He pulled a small 14:37 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 124 Confrontation box with the pink diamond from his pocket and opened it. 53 s ¡°Anne, look. I got our wedding diamond back. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll buy it for you. Why care about that?¡± Selina spoke softly. ¡°Anne, the wedding ring is a symbol of your marriage. Be careful. Don¡¯t lose it again. Zach put a lot of thought into it. Don¡¯t let him down.¡± Anneliese felt disgusted by them both. She lowered her gaze to the pink diamond. ¡°Twenty¨Cfive million? Zacharias, only a guy like you would spend that much on something like this.¡± Zacharias frowned. Her reaction was not what he expected. No tears, no softness, no gratitude. Her face remained calm, her eyes sharp with mockery and indifference. His knuckles trembled slightly on the box. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Selina asked, confused. Anneliese grabbed the pink diamond. ¡°Zacharias, this isn¡¯t the diamond from our wedding ring.¡± She snapped the box shut and, before he could react, threw it with force. Selina gasped. ¡°Anneliese! What are you doing?¡± The box mmed into the corner of the wall, sending diamonds scattering across the floor. Zacharias¡® face darkened. He lunged instinctively to grab the box. Anneliese stumbled back, steadying herself against the sink. ¡­ :0 Chapter 124 Confrontation She shot him a mocking nce, then turned and walked toward the trash. s She reached in and pulled the jewelry box Zacharias had thrown away back out. 53 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 Created 125 Chapter 125 Treasure Chapter 125 Treasure 53 s The trash can was clean, save for a few crumpled tissues lying at the bottom. The jewelry box was untouched. Anneliese opened it, lifted out the jewelry, tossed the empty box aside, and strode quickly toward the exit. ¡°Anneliese, wait!¡± Zacharias¡® deep, firm voice rang out, and he immediately started after her. Selina caught his arm. ¡°Zach, you think the diamond might¡¯ve fallen into the drain? I¡¯ve looked everywhere. It¡¯s gone. We need to get the staff.¡± Zacharias stopped. She added softly, ¡°Anne¡¯s angry. If the wedding diamond really is lost, she¡¯ll be devastated.¡± Anneliese had said the diamond wasn¡¯t theirs, and he wanted to find it fast to understand what had happened. He pressed his thumb to his forehead and pulled out his phone, calling Jackie to bring the staff. Anneliese stormed toward the auction hall. She was just about to go back inside when she bumped into Jonathan walking out. His eyes immediately scanned her. The look on her face seemed off. His gaze settled on her right hand. She clutched the ne, rings, and bracelet, and a red mark circled her wrist. His expression darkened. ¡°What happened?¡± The concern in his voice stirred an unexpected wave of frustration and helplessness in her chest. 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 125 Treasure She lifted her hand weakly. ¡°The jewelry box got dirty.¡± 53 s Jonathan stepped closer. He noticed her hair was loose, a stray strand falling across her forehead, making her look delicate and disheveled. He reached out and gently tucked the strand behind her ear. His voice was low and calm. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll hold these for you and get a new box.¡± Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected him to adjust her hair. His touch carried no intimacy. There was only careful, considerate attention. His fingers didn¡¯t brush her skin; they simply guided the stray hair behind her ear and withdrew. It was a gentle and very polite gesture. He was trying to console her. As he pulled back, his fingers brushed against her pearl earring. The round pearl swayed, lightly brushing her delicate neck with a cool, tickling touch. Her irritation, anger, and frustration softened instantly, though the gentle touch made her heart skip. She lowered her gaze. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes lingered on the swinging earring. Her earlobe flushed faintly. He opened hisrge palm toward her. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Anneliese realized she had been gripping the jewelry tightly, her palm pressed painfully against the sharp tinum edges. She nodded and released it, letting the ruby set fall into his broad hand. 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 125 Treasure ¡°Should we head home now? Together.¡± 53 s She had lost interest and didn¡¯t want to speak. Jonathan didn¡¯t push. He lowered his palm slightly and asked again in a gentle tone. His warm, low voice carried aforting weight that was hard to refuse. The words could have sounded suggestive, but the situation made them urate. Chapters first released on find?novel They were going home together. Suppressing the odd flutter in her chest, Anneliese nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Jonathan led the way toward the private exit. She followed quietly. His gaze flicked to her wrist. The red mark was vivid, a sharp reminder of the chaos she must¡¯ve gone through. A shadow of concern crossed his face. He realized he should have been more careful. At the very least, he should¡¯ve asked for staff to apany her. Selina and Zacharias had searched everywhere for the missing pink diamond without luck. Selina, exhausted from pretending, muttered, ¡°I wonder why the staff hasn¡¯t arrived yet. She stepped out and scanned the hallway. At the far end, she saw Anneliese walking beside a tall, upright man. He subtly adjusted his pace for her high heels. He had one hand in his pocket, moving with azy, confident stride like a lion Chapter 125 Treasure roaming its territory. He asionally tilted his head, listening to Anneliese as she spoke to him. 53 s The dim light at the corridor¡¯s end highlighted how close they walked together. Their differing heights and physiques made them look strikinglypatible. Selina quickly snapped a photo. By the time she lowered her phone, they had disappeared around the corner. 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 126 Scandal Created 126 Chapter 126 Scandal Chapter 126 Scandal 53 s Selina zoomed in on the photo, her heartbeat quickening. The man¡¯s back looked strikingly familiar, and the more she stared, the more he resembled the person she had been thinking about for weeks. Herposure snapped. She grabbed her phone and ran around the corner, but no matter how fast she moved, she could not catch him. Flustered, she called. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, it¡¯s Selina. I went to the Fullbuster Group charity auction today and picked out a gift for you. Could I bring it by tomorrow? I also saw Jonny at the Oceaton auction and nned to have him deliver it¡­¡± She paused to listen. ¡°Oh, Jonny isn¡¯t in Oceaton. Then, I must have been mistaken. Okay, thank you.¡± The fact that Jonathan would not be at Oceaton made relief wash over her. A smile spread across her face. She exchanged a few more polite words before hanging up quickly, careful not to intrude on thedy¡¯s life. Looking at the photo again, she scoffed. She had been reading too much into it. Jonathan was in a world entirely his own, and Anneliese was miles away from it. There was no way they were connected. Just then, the staff arrived. Selina put her phone away and guided them into the restroom. Soon after, the pink diamond was located. Zacharias examined it closely, frowning. Nothing looked wrong, but he could not understand why Anneliese had been so certain it was not their wedding diamond. He remembered that the pink diamond had been the first item up for auction but Chapter 126 Scandal had been moved to ater session. His expression darkened. 53 s He pulled up the auction catalog on his phone andpared the original listing with the diamond in his hand. When he reached the rity specifications, his face clouded instantly. D*mn it. This was not the same pink diamond. It was definitely not the one from their wedding ring. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Zach?¡± Selina asked, noticing his dark expression. He clenched the diamond tightly, anger radiating from every muscle. ¡°This is not our wedding diamond. They swapped it at thest minute.¡± ¡°What? How is that possible? That¡¯s fraud. We need to demand answers from the organizers!¡± She eximed, shocked and furious. ¡°It won¡¯t help at all,¡± he replied coldly. ¡°I didn¡¯t record all the specifications. I didn¡¯t even pay close attention to the auctioneer. I assumed this was the correct diamond. The organizers can easily shift the me onto me.¡± ¡°So, we just have to swallow this loss?¡± Selina¡¯s face flushed with indignation. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Anne. Even if she¡¯s upset, she shouldn¡¯t take a prank this far. She can¡¯t just work with another man and trample all over your love for her. You only went so far just to get the diamond back! Her voice shook with anger and helplessness. Zacharias¡® sharp, handsome features were cold and rigid. ¡°Are you sure Anne came with that man, Mr. Number One?¡± 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 126 Scandal 53 s He could not ept that Anneliese would team up with another man to humiliate him and trample on his heart. Selina could not believe he was still trying to defend her even when there was overwhelming evidence. Frustrated, she pulled out her phone. ¡°Anne is my sister, but I cannot watch you be tricked and humiliated. Look at this. I just took it.¡± Zacharias stared at the photo of their backs. His eyes darkened, and he flung the newly won pink diamond across the room with sheer fury and humiliation. He seethed with a mix of anger and shame. Inside the Bentley, Anneliese and Jonathan settled in. Staff in tailcoats delivered a new jewelry box. Jonathan handed it to Anneliese. ¡°Do you like this box? I can have them prepare another one if you want me to.¡± The moment she touched it, the box radiated weight and antique elegance. She examined it closely. It was made of expensive wood, had a finish that looked royal, and decorated with gold filigree. Large, high¨Cquality gems¨Csapphires, emerald, amethyst,piszuli, coral, pearls, and other rare stones¨Cwere embedded. The piece was clearly an antique and beautifully preserved. ¡°This¡­ This looks even more valuable than the ruby set.¡± Jonathan gently took the box from her. ¡°Not the point. Just focus on what it¡¯s used for and whether you find it to be your liking.¡± He opened the box and carefully arranged the ruby jewelry inside, one piece at a time. 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Chapter 126 Scandal Finally, he left a ruby bracelet out and looked at her. ¡°Want to try it on?¡± Created 127 hapter 127 Rubies For more chapters visit ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese looked at Jonathan. : 53 s He held a delicate tinum bracelet set with over a dozen rubies. The gems caught the light, sparkling brilliantly as his pale, precise fingers tilted it slightly, almost beckoning her to reach for it. But¡­ Was he really going to put it on her himself? Tonight, Anneliese had kept her look simple. Only pearl earrings dangled from her ears. Both wrists were bare. No woman could resist a piece of jewelry this exquisite, ced right before her. She lifted her hand instinctively, but then noticed her wrist was already red and swollen. She tried the other hand, only to see simr marks there. Her skin was thin and delicate. Earlier, Zacharias and Selina had gripped her too hard. ¡°Maybe I should just forget it. I ran into a couple of crazies a while ago.¡± Embarrassed, she tucked both hands into her shawl. Jonathan didn¡¯tment. He nodded slightly and ced the ruby bracelet back in its box. Then he leaned over and grabbed a first aid kit. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± He held out a bottle of anti¨Cswelling spray. He hadn¡¯t offered the bracelet just for show. This was his way of helping her. Her wrists still throbbed, so she handed her hand over without hesitation. 14:38 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 127 Rubies ?? (53) s Jonathan held her forearm carefully and sprayed the cooling, soothing form over the swollen areas. A tingling chill spread across her skin, easing the pain instantly. ¡°Your other hand as well.¡± Once one wrist was treated, he gestured for her to switch. Anneliese offered the other hand. Jonathan sprayed it carefully too, then looked up and noticed her faint, amused smile. ¡°What are you smiling at?¡± He capped the bottle. Anneliese¡¯s eyes curved in a small, wry smile. ¡°Nothing, just thinking about thest time I got hurt and you rescued me.¡± Jonathan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°So, take care of yourself. I have zero interest in rescuing injured kittens all the time.¡± Anneliese thought silently that it was something out of her control. She had been too young and too naive to see Zacharias¡® vtile side before she married him. She shed Jonathan a big, yful OK. He handed her the capped spray. ¡°Use this if it still hurts. A few sprays tonight, and by morning it should be fine.¡± She nodded and took it. Her lips moved as if to say thanks, but she realized she had already said it too many times. Instead, she tilted her head. Chapter 127 Rubies 53 ?? s ¡°The ramen I madest time¨Cyou really liked it, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s not hard to make. I can show you how tomorrow if you want.¡± Jonathan sent a quick message on his phone and looked back at her with a smile. ¡°Sure.¡± Zacharias and Selina left the hotel. The man¡¯s mind was heavy with thoughts. He walked ahead with a cold expression, ignoring Selina, who was struggling in her high heels behind him. She called twice, and he did not respond. Just before they reached the lobby exit, a casually dressed middle¨Caged woman bumped into Zacharias. ¡°Mr. Shaw, what a coincidence.¡± ¡°Dr. Helpis? How much longer until my wife¡¯s body is ready for conception?¡± The woman was the gynecologist overseeing Anneliese¡¯s health. Her eyebrows rose in surprise. ¡°Mr. Shaw, she has been ready for a while now. She hasn¡¯t shown up at the hospital for two weeks at this point. She fully meets the criteria for conception.¡± Zacharias¡® stunned expression mirrored hers. ¡°Really? Mrs. Shaw didn¡¯t tell you this good news? She was so happy she had tears in her eyes and wanted to share it with you immediately.¡± Immediately? Two weeks ago? Zacharias¡® throat tightened as realization struck. ¡°Do you remember the exact day?¡± Chapter 127 Rubies : 53 s ¡°Yeah, the 13th. That was my mother¡¯s birthday, and she saw the flowers I ordered for my mom. Told me they¡¯re beautiful and wanted me to tell my mom she said happy birthday.¡± The 13th! That was the day Anneliese had appeared at hispany¨Cto share the news. Zacharias¡® usually wless face paled, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists. If nothing had gone wrong that day, maybe they would already have been expecting a child by now. ¡°Mr. Shaw, are you okay?¡± Dr. Helpis asked, noticing his shock. Zacharias finally rxed his thin lips into a small line. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Our anniversary ising up. I guess she was nning to tell me on that day.¡± Chapter 128 Very Delusional Created 128 hapter 128 Very Delusional 53 s Dr. Helpis smiled warmly. ¡°Perhaps I should congratte you, Mr. Shaw. Mrs. Shaw might already be pregnant.¡± She nced at Selina, who had caught up with Zacharias. ¡°Your wife endured so much during her treatments. She is strong, optimistic, and values her marriage. You really need to appreciate her.¡± Selina¡¯s cheeks flushed with fury at the pointed look. Before she could speak, Dr. Helpis strode away with confident steps. Selina forced a bright smile and casually looped her hand through Zacharias¡® arm, masking her irritation. ¡°Zach, did you hear that? Anne¡¯s body ispletely recovered! This is amazing. I finally don¡¯t have to feel guilty anymore. ¡°Mom, Dad, and my brothers don¡¯t need to worry either. Anne really shouldn¡¯t have hidden this from us.¡± She emphasized her words to make it seem like Anneliese had intentionally kept the secret. Zacharias, however, knew the truth. Anneliese had gone to thepany full of hope and eagerness to share the news, only to hear a cruel reality. No wonder she was so upset. His fists clenched, and he suddenly quickened his pace. He needed to find Anneliese immediately, exin everything, and apologize properly. He would tell her that as long as she forgave him, he would ept any punishment she gave him. ¡°Zacharias!¡± Chapter 128 Very Delusional Selina frowned, frustrated by his silence. : She hurried to catch up as they reached the steps outside. Suddenly, Zacharias¡® foot slipped, and he staggered down the steps. Selina, close behind him, also lost her bnce. A gasp escaped her throat. 53 s Before she could steady herself, Zacharias instinctively grabbed her to keep from falling. Selina¡¯s body tumbled down the steps, limbs iling as she screamed. Zacharias managed to steady himself. When he looked up, he saw Selina sprawled awkwardly on the ground in front of the hotel. The lobby lights gleamed, and people bustled past them. Her high¨Cslit gown did nothing to cover her legs. ¡°That guy is ruthless. He almost fell and dragged his girlfriend down like a shield.¡± ¡°This girl is in terrible shape. Why isn¡¯t she getting up? Did she hit her head?¡± The murmurs reached Zacharias. His cold gaze swept across the crowd. He quickly shrugged off his suit jacket and sprinted down to Selina, scooping her into his arms. ?? Someone in the shadows recorded the scene and uploaded it online. Selina, cradled in Zacharias¡® arms, ached all over. Her arms and knees were scraped, bruised dark purple, and streaked with blood. Her face was thankfully unscathed. She bit her lip to keep from crying, while Zacharias¡® eyes reflected deep remorse, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Selina. I was too surprised to react right away.¡± 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 128 Very Delusional : Despite her pain and anger, Selina forced a relieved smile. 53 s ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know you panicked because of Anne. You didn¡¯t mean it. But it hurts, and it¡¯s embarrassing. Zach, please take me to the hospital and then home.¡± What that doctor said obviously intensified Zacharias¡® guilt toward Anneliese. Selina was not going to let Zacharias seek Anneliese out right now. When Zacharias returned Selina home, the White family was gathered in the living room. They had heard that Anneliese had not only refused Zacharias¡® apology but had also teased him with a handsome man. Everyone was furious. ¡°This is outrageous!¡± Timothy mmed the couch. ¡°Zacharias, now calm down. We will not just stand by and watch her act recklessly. I¡¯ll call her right now.¡± Mnie reached for her phone, but Selina interjected. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t forget to mention Melody¡¯s situation. We need Anne to resolve it quickly.¡± ¡°All right!¡± Mnie started to dial, but Zacharias grabbed the phone. Surprised, Mnie asked, ¡°Zacharias, what are you doing?¡± He frowned. ¡°Mnie, Anne still resents us over that incident. She won¡¯t listen to you now. Don¡¯t push it.¡± The room fell into tense silence. Guilt flickered across everyone¡¯s faces. Selina suddenly paled, forcing fragility onto her usually bright, confident expression. ¡°Zach, you resent me, don¡¯t you? I know it¡¯s all my fault. What I did was reckless, and I have regretted it every day since then. We¡¯re lucky Dr. Helpis told us about Anne¡¯s full recovery, or the guilt would¡¯ve eaten me alive forever. But if Anne won¡¯t forgive me, I might as well let her stab me twice myself!¡± ¡­ N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find~Novel 53 Chapter 128 Very Delusional s Selina suddenly stood up, snatched a knife from the table, and rushed toward the door. 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 129 Acting Created 129 Chapter 129 Acting ¡°Selina!¡± Shouts erupted across the room. +5 Free Cons Perseus grabbed her waist in a firm hold, steadying her instantly. Christopher yanked the knife from her hand and dropped it heavily to the floor, the sound echoing sharply. ¡°She¡¯s fully recovered. There¡¯s nothing more to fight over!¡± Christopher¡¯s voice cut with sharp frustration. He could not bear to see his beloved sister so sad, guilty, and in pain. Perseus gently settled the struggling Selina back onto the couch, his brow deeply furrowed. ¡°Yes, we are family. There is no reason to hold grudges. And though Selina did get those thugs, she regretted it immediately. ¡°That same night, she sent messages to stop them. Either the gang leader ignored the messages or acted recklessly. ¡°Selina only wanted to scare Anne a little. If Anne hadn¡¯t overreacted, it would never have escted like that.¡± Selina pressed her pale lips against Perseus¡® chest, shaking her head. ¡°Perseus, stop. It was my fault from the start. All my fault!¡± Timothy and Mnie looked on with pained expressions. Zacharias rubbed his forehead. ¡°Timothy, Mnie, let¡¯s drop this. Mnie¡¯s birthday ising up. We can apologize to Anne together and smooth things over then.¡± ¡°It¡¯s her own mother¡¯s birthday. She shoulde back and be the subservient daughter she should be, not steal the spotlight and be the main character. This is 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 129 Acting unbelievable,¡± Christopher said, frowning. (53) s He remembered Anneliese had gifted Mnie a housest year for her birthday, thinking there was no reason to give Anneliese extra credit. Outside the White family and Zacharias, what influence did Anneliese really have? She had to care for some old bat in Baytree. Survival alone was difficult, and Anneliese knew it. That was why she oftenpeted with Selina while still trying to gain their favor. Now she was preparing a house, clearly to outshine Selina on her birthday, take the spotlight, and earn their approval. ¡°Enough. It was our fault. We will apologize together and move on,¡± Timothy said firmly. Four years had passed, and revisiting this old issue irritated him. But Anneliese was now Zacharias¡® wife. Zacharias had a bright future ahead. Their rtionship needed careful maintenance. At the very least, they must not let it deteriorate any further. Anneliese was easy to appease, and a simple joint apology would likely resolve everything. Over at Maple Bay. ¡°Wow, look at this. Last year, a simr cloisonn¨¦ jewelry box was sold at a Harborview auction. It didn¡¯t even have the extra gems, and it went for $880,000. This one will cost even more. Man, Jonathan is generous with money.¡± ___G Compared to Zacharias, this was on another level. Chapter 129 Acting s Several million already spent on jewelry, and they¡¯d barely made any progress just yet. ?????? ???? F¦Énd£Îovel Zacharias? The b*stard manipted Anneliese into sharing a basement with him and got her to work as his unpaid assistant. Jessica¡¯s anger red, and she quickly gulped water to calm herself. ¡°Do you think Jonathan likes me?¡± Anneliese asked suddenly. ¡°Pfft!¡± Jessica nearly spat water from surprise. Anneliese handed her a tissue. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Jessica wiped her mouth,ughing. ¡°Anne, sometimes I wonder how your head works.¡± She can always blurt out something so surprising, she thought. Anneliese blushed faintly. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Jessica asked, grinning. Anneliese gave her a sharp look. ¡°I am serious. I would not joke about this.¡± It sounded self¨Cabsorbed, but Jonathan had been exceptionally kind to her. She wasn¡¯t blind to it. Jessica stifled herughter. She noticed that Anneliese¡¯s expression was not shy or yful but troubled and conflicted, as if she faced a serious dilemma. Jessica thought Jonathan might not be entirely sincere, but this was not the time to judge. Anneliese had just been hurt by a decade¨Clong rtionship and had not finalized her divorce. 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 129 Acting : 53 s Any man¡¯s attention now would feel overwhelming. It would feel more like intense pressure than blissful joy. Patience and careful steps were needed. If Anneliese saw anything too soon, Jessica was certain she would pack up and leave immediately. Romantic feelings were delicate. The fact that Anneliese asked the question out loud meant she had no feelings for Jonathan just yet. Jessica said a silent sorry to Jonathan. She was not necessarily trying to set her friend up with some filthy rich guy, but he was far superior to Zacharias in every way. Such a man was too exceptional to ignore. It could be worth her friend¡¯s time just to put him on a trial period. If everything went well, he could be the guy she needed all along. Created 130 Chapter 130 A Friend¡¯s Analysis Anneliese studied the situation calmly, her mind sharp and precise. 53 s ¡°I think you¡¯re overthinking this. Millions might sound like a lot, but for someone like Mr. Fullbuster, it¡¯s just a small gesture. ¡°Besides, I looked it up. AeroAir¡¯sst crisis was handled perfectly, and their market value jumped tens of billions. You helped them a lot. He¡¯d be a miser if he hadn¡¯t given you that jewelry set at least. ¡°And remember the time you got hit with that aphrodisiac? He took you to the hospital. If he really wanted to poke inside you, that was the perfect chance, but he didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Jessica¡¯s reasoning was logical and convincing. Anneliese felt relieved but also slightly uneasy. No, he hadn¡¯t forced himself on her, but it wasn¡¯t like nothing had happened. She had kissed Jonathan. But she had been the one to kiss him, not the other way around. Well, it was probably nothing. No big deal, maybe. ¡°Better just put these away. With Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s status and personality, he wouldn¡¯t y some secret crush game.¡± Anneliese agreed immediately and let the thought go. She put the jewelry box in the safe, but as she was about to close it, her eyes caught the bracelet her grandmother had given her. She traced it gently with her fingers. Her grandmother had been frail and cold when she had fastened the bracelet on Anneliese¡¯s wrist. She had whispered, ¡°You have gone through too much, Anne. I hope this bracelet 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 130 A Friend¡¯s Analysis. brings you luck and stays with you, just as I stayed with it.¡± ?? (53) s Her grandmother had been the only person in the White family who had genuinely cared for her. Anneliese¡¯s gaze lingered on the bracelet, full of nostalgia and longing. Then a sharp unease prickled her mind. Something was wrong. Meanwhile, Zacharias left the White family home. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He felt irritated and considered ignoring it. When he saw the word shing on the screen, his dark, handsome face briefly lit up. ¡°Honey, you-¡± Before he could finish, Anneliese¡¯s sharp, urgent, and icy voice cut through the line. ¡°Do not call me that! We¡¯re in the process of a divorce, Zacharias. Answer my question. Did you swap out the bracelet Grandma gave me?¡± Though she phrased it as a question, her tone made it clear she was sure Zacharias was the culprit. She had kept the bracelet carefully in the safe, with only her and Zacharias knowing the code. He was the only one who could have reced it, and somehow he had put a nearly identical bracelet in its ce without her noticing. Zacharias¡® smile disappeared instantly. He had lent the bracelet to Selina, who promised to wear it only on her birthday. But he had returned to the country in a rush, and with Anneliese pushing for a divorce and Melody¡¯s ident, he hadpletely forgotten about it. He hadn¡¯t expected her to notice. ¡°Anne, the bracelet is safe. I only took it to get it O 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 130 A Friend¡¯s Analysis cleaned-¡± ¡°You gave to Selina, didn¡¯t you?¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice cut him off like a de. A top¨Cquality bracelet required no maintenance. Also, it held great sentimental value for Anneliese. There was no reason for Zacharias to handle it himself, except for Selina¡¯s scheming. 53 s Anneliese felt a wildfire of rage ignite in her chest the moment Zacharias¡® quiet confession came true. How dare they! Anneliese thought furiously. ¡°Anne, listen! I did not give it to Selina. She only wanted to wear it for a day. I just lent it-¡± His voice sounded weak and hollow to her. She interrupted with sharp disdain. ¡°You lent it to her? That bracelet does not belong to you! You have no right to lend it to anybody!¡± ¡°Anne, we are married. What¡¯s yours is mine, and it¡¯s true the other way around.¡± Zacharias¡® brow tightened. He felt guilt and regret, but he hated her cold, separating tone. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in bestiality, let alone marrying an animal. Return the bracelet intact immediately, or I will call the police and make sure your precious love reunites with her mother in jail.¡± ¡°Anne! Anneliese?¡± He pulled the phone away, only to see she had hung up. He dialed again, but she had blocked him. Frustrated, Zacharias tugged his tie and called Selina, instructing the driver, ¡°Turn back to the White residence.¡± Chapter 130 A Friend¡¯s Analysis He had to retrieve the bracelet. : Giving it to Selina without thinking it through had been careless. 18 53 s It had been a catalyst for the string of events that happened four years ago and still carried special meaning for Anneliese. He should not have lent it to Selina just because she asked so sweetly. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find(?)ovel Returning it might fix some of the damage. ¡°Zach? I was just putting medicine on my leg. It hurts so much¡ªI almost missed your call.¡± Hearing her pain and realizing it was his fault, Zacharias¡® expression softened slightly. Created 131 Chapter 131 Get the Bracelet : Chapter 131 Get the Bracelet ¡°Is your leg okay?¡± ¡°Much better. Don¡¯t beat yourself up. I heal fast.¡± Zacharias¡® lips curved slightly before he spoke. 53 s ¡°That¡¯s good. Selina, Anne has found out about the emerald bracelet¡¯s swapping. I need you to get it ready for me. I¡¯ming back to retrieve it now.¡± Selina held the phone, and her smile melted faster than a snowball under a scorching sun. The next morning, Anneliese came down the stairs and saw Zacharias standing by the car. He looked like he had been there all night, still wearing the same suit from yesterday. A cigarette smoldered between his fingers. The faint smoke only added to his already maic presence. He broke the cigarette in half and walked toward her. ¡°Come home, honey.¡± ¡°Where? Sunrise Residence? I thought I smashed it up good.¡± Anneliese stepped back, dodging his outstretched hand. Zacharias¡® expression tightened painfully. ¡°I had my men restore it. It¡¯s as good as new now.¡± ¡°Man, I should¡¯ve burned the whole ce down.¡± Her mocking words made his fists clench. His chest heaved with frustration. Until recently, Zacharias was the spoiled one in this rtionship. Given his usually dominant spot, bowing his head was a nigh impossible task. 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 131 Get the Bracelet He lowered his voice slightly. ¡°Anneliese, must you act like this?¡± She didn¡¯t want to argue. ¡°Give me the bracelet.¡± His confidence faltered immediately. 53 s His lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°The bracelet can¡¯te to you yet. Selina was worried it might break during transit, so she sent it through a professional courier. It will take a couple of days to arrive.¡± Anneliese smirked with exasperation. Of course, it had ended up in Selina¡¯s hands. That woman would never return it willingly. ¡°Nobody¡¯s stupid enough to buy that excuse, Zacharias. Nobody but you!¡± ¡°Anne, you have to stop assuming the worst. I promise I will get the bracelet back to you as soon as it arrives.¡± ¡°Your promise is worth as much as a piece of tissue in a trash can! After all the lies you told me, your integrity means nothing! Your skin¡¯s thick enough to stop an ICBM dead in its tracks! No way I¡¯m buying your promise!¡± Her words struck him like ice. He remembered when she had trusted himpletely, at home and at work. She had always supported him fully, relied on him entirely. Now the woman felt like a stranger. Her eyes were frigid, and her words cut sharper than winter winds. His chest heaved with panic and restless urgency. He could not hold back and scooped Anneliese into his arms. ¡°Honey, I know I messed up. I know I should¡¯ve thought of you before I did anything. But this time, I swear I will return the bracelet, and it¡¯ll be intact. Just trust me one more time!¡± 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 ¡­ : 53 Chapter 131 Get the Bracelet His voice was low, urgent, and hoarse. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Anneliese struggled fiercely. +5 Free Coins The more she resisted, the tighter he held her, as if he was trying to merge her into his very being. Read full story at FindN0vel Her strength was no match. She wanted to bite him, but she might gag and throw
  1. up.
¡°Ah, Mr. Shaw. How roguish of you, and in broad daylight too. Do you not know what shame is?¡± A familiar, calm voice cut through the tension. Anneliese froze immediately. Zacharias looked up and saw Jonathan, impably dressed andposed, walking out of the same building with his assistant. Zacharias¡® face darkened, but he did not release her. Like a lion guarding its territory, threatened by a stronger rival, he instinctively gripped her tighter. Jonathan¡¯s gaze was sharp, his tone amused. ¡°Ah, sometimes I forget that your skin is¡­ thick enough to stop an ICBM dead in its tracks. Would you mind teaching me how to grow a thicker skin? Perhaps I can be as bold as you are now.¡± He nced at Zion. ¡°Why are you just standing there? Come on, snap a photo. Take a video. This is the highlight of Mr. Shaw¡¯s life. Forcing a woman to go with him against her wishes.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster,¡± Zion said, pulling out his phone to record Zacharias¡® face. Zacharias¡® handsome features twisted with frustration. 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 ¡­ 53 Chapter 131 Get the Bracelet He instinctively loosened his hold. s Anneliese wasted no time. The moment he loosened his hold, she shoved him away. She stumbled backward and risked a fall, until a warm, strong hand circled her waist, holding her firmly. She leaned into the broad, warm chest, still shaken. Then she looked up into Jonathan¡¯s calm, dark eyes. His gaze was steady, reflecting care and concern instead of mockery.. Anneliese felt embarrassed and flustered. Her cheeks flushed instantly. Created 132 Chapter 132 Angry Zacharias 53 s Zacharias watched them hugging andughing right in front of him, their eyes meeting with a yful, knowing intensity. When he saw Anneliese¡¯s pale skin flush a delicate pink, a mix of jealousy and anger red in his gaze. ¡°Let go of my wife!¡± Zacharias shouted, stepping forward to grab her. Jonathan had already released her. Zacharias did not even register on Jonathan¡¯s radar. However, he did not want Anneliese to be stuck between a rock and a hard ce because of him. Still, he came up with a little idea when he let her go. Updates are released by FindN()vel He looped his long arm around her, guiding her to his right and slightly behind him. Anneliese was fast. She slipped instinctively to Jonathan¡¯s side and stayed just out of Zacharias¡® reach. Zacharias grabbed air, and Jonathan¡¯s hand caught his. ¡°Trying to grope me, Mr. Shaw? Feeling overly friendly today, are we?¡± Jonathan said smoothly. Zacharias twisted his hand, locking fingers with Jonathan in a tense grip. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re making yourselffortable. Even our marital matters seem to interest you.¡± The two men tested each other silently, veins rising along their hands and arms, suit jackets stretching over hard muscles. The tiny spark of rivalry, the tense energy of confrontation, made Zion tense with 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 132 Angry Zacharias excitement. He clenched his fists, silently cheering for his boss. Until- ¡°Jonathan, can you walk me?¡± Anneliese¡¯s hand tugged gently at Jonathan¡¯s sleeve, soft and deliberate. Both men instantly rxed. 53 s Zacharias froze, stunned. The blow to his pride was sharp. He could fight all he wanted, but if Anneliese was going to another man willingly, there was nothing he could do about it. He deted like a popped balloon. Jonathan¡­ Zion could tell. His boss rxed because he was clearly enjoying her subtle gesture. Jonathan let go of Zacharias¡® hand and smiled at Anneliese. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go.¡± He stepped forward, cing himself slightly in front to shield her. Zacharias¡® handsome face darkened. He stared as she fell into step beside Jonathan. She didn¡¯t nce back once. He felt invisible, like a shadow left behind. He couldn¡¯t hold it in. His voice dropped low and rough. ¡°Anneliese, you should exin. What¡¯s going on between you two? Are you living together?¡± He had seen Jackie¡¯s investigation; he knew she lived alone. 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 132 Angry Zacharias : But he didn¡¯t know Jonathan lived in the same building. 53 s Seeing him step out had shaken him, and now their side¨Cby¨Cside departure pushed him past his limit. Anneliese tried to control her temper, keeping her dignity intact. But Zacharias crossed the line. She spun sharply on her heels and pped him hard across the face. The sharp impact made him flinch slightly. Her eyes were icy. ¡°Do not tell me what to do. I owe you no exnation. Even if I am living with another man, it¡¯s just fair, because you did the same. I would be repaying the favor in kind. Why are you angry? Also, the fact that you think I¡¯d do the same thing as you is projecting. I¡¯m not as low as you think. You might be ruled by nothing but your animalistic tendencies, but I have my own morals.¡± Her fury left a red mark on his pale cheek. Yet he stared at her and smiled. ¡°Anne, feel better now?¡± She froze. It was unbelievable. That whole episode was for nothing. Instead, Anneliese was disgusted. She turned coldly and slid into the car. Zion immediately drove off. Once they left Maple Bay, the silence inside the car felt overwhelming. Anneliese felt humiliated, but the quiet made her emotions grow, so she spoke. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°You¡­¡± 14:39 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 132 Angry Zacharias They spoke at the same time, both startled, and paused mid¨Csentence. Their eyes met. Zion gripped the wheel tightly. 52 +5 Free Coins The tension and the quiet were better than any drama. Also, this was live, raw, and unfiltered. ¡°You go first,¡± Jonathan said, lifting an eyebrow. Anneliese pressed her lips together. ¡°I¡­ just wanted to thank you for stepping in earlier. And¡­ I felt kind of embarrassed.¡± Zacharias was now a taint in her life. Jonathan, however, seemedpletely calm. He nodded lightly, lips barely moving. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You were young, and youth tends to fall prey to empty words.¡± Created 133 Chapter 133 Smile : 52 s Anneliese pressed her lips together with a smile, and the tension on her face finally eased. She nodded. ¡°I think so too. Everyone makes mistakes when they¡¯re young. But honestly, the way you just acted reminded me of someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Jonathan narrowed his eyes slightly, curious and expectant. Behind the wheel, Zion¡¯s hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned pale. Inside, he was screaming like a kettle about to boil over. Of course she meant her crush. Who else could it be? The question from the boss was unnecessary. There was no way Anneliese could just admit it out loud. But the next second, Anneliese said, ¡°My best friend. You don¡¯t know her. She¡¯s always teasing Zacharias in the same indirect way you just did.¡± Jonathan was quiet. Zion¡¯s inner scream was cut off like someone had strangled the life out of it. And also, speak of the devil. The instant Anneliese spoke of Jessica, her phone lit up with Jessica¡¯s call. ¡°Annie! Detective Hayes found Rory!¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes shone as she heard the good news. ¡°That fast? Where is he? What¡¯s happening now?¡± ¡°Detective Hayes said that after Rory left Oceaton, he went back to his hometown in Riveraton. But he got into a car ident, injured his leg, and now suffers from constant migraines. He hasn¡¯t been able to work and has been living on his savings. ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s holding on to some evidence from the incident, but he refuses to 14:40 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 133 Smile hand it over. He insists on seeing you in person. Otherwise, he doesn¡¯t trust anyone. 52 s ¡°One of his rtives connected him with a doctor overseas. He¡¯s about to leave for treatment in Adros, and no one knows when he¡¯lle back. ¡°Detective Hayes believes you need to go to Riveraton right now. Maybe you can catch him before he gets on that flight and convince him to hand over the evidence.¡± ¡°Hold on, let me check the flights. When is he leaving?¡± Anneliese frowned as she pulled up the airline schedules. Jessica¡¯s voice came through quickly. ¡°Detective Hayes said Rory is already on the way to the airport. His flight leaves in three hours and twenty minutes.¡± Anneliese couldn¡¯t believe it. She scrolled through the direct flights from Oceaton to Riveraton. The earliest flights still left in more than two hours. A direct flight alone would take nearly three hours, and she still had to get to the airport first. It was impossible to make it. Her brows tightened. ¡°It can¡¯t be done. Unless I can grow wings, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll get there in time. Does Detective Hayes have his number? Maybe I can try a video call?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t work. Detective Hayes said Rory is firm on this. He¡¯ll only talk to you in person.¡± Anneliese let out a long sigh. It made sense. Rory had been destroyed by Zacharias. And she was Zacharias¡® wife. Of course Rory would be suspicious. If he didn¡¯t see her in person, he could easily believe she was working with 14:40 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 133 Smile Zacharias to get the evidence and then silence him afterward. 52 +5 Free Coins She exhaled again. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing I can do. Maybe I can fly to Adros once he¡¯s there.¡± ¡°You¡¯d need a passport, and that takes time. The longer this drags on, the worse it gets. And you want the evidence fast so you can finalize the divorce. ¡°Otherwise, Zacharias could cancel the filing, or wait until the period expires, and then you¡¯d have to file again. That could take forever. Annie, think carefully. There has to be another way.¡± Jessica paced the floor with nervous steps. She hated the thought of Anneliese spending even one more day with Zacharias. If he snapped and forced himself on her, Anneliese would have nowhere to turn
  1. to.
Anneliese knew Jessica was right. She had fought this hard because she couldn¡¯t afford to lose time. Just as the silence grew heavy, Zion finally spoke up. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re trying to get to Riveraton fast, are you? That¡¯s not a problem. Maybe look at who¡¯s sitting right next to you.¡± Anneliese turned her head toward Jonathan, and her eyes grew brighter with realization. Of course. He was a pilot. Not only that, but he also owned an airline. This text is hosted at find?novel ¡°You need to get to Riveraton quickly?¡± Jonathan asked. He had heard everything already. The car had been quiet, and Jessica was not exactly subtle or quiet. 14:40 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 133 Smile And on the other end, Jessica had caught pieces of the conversation too. Before Anneliese could answer, Jessica¡¯s voice rose sharply from the phone. ¡°Annie! Is Mr. Fullbuster with you? Put me on speaker right now!¡± Urged by Jessica, Anneliese pressed the speakerphone button. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, hello. This is very important for my dear Annie. 52 s ¡°She¡¯s too shy to ask for your help, so I¡¯ll do it for her. Please, do us a favor and help her.¡± Created 134 Chapter 134 Plea Chapter 134 Plea ¡°I swear on Zacharias¡® miserable life. If you help her, I¡¯ll stand by you with everything I have.¡± 52 s Jessica¡¯s words carried power. If there was ever a fight for the throne of Anneliese¡¯s partner, her voice would hold the deciding weight. Whether Jonathan passed her test or not depended on what he did next. And she trusted that he was sharp enough to see it. ¡°Head to the airport.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t answer Jessica. He gave the order straight to Zion. Zion had been waiting for it. He smoothly changednes. ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Anneliese blinked in confusion. Jessica¡¯s voice cracked with gratitude, but Anneliese only stammered, caught between surprise and doubt. ¡°How are you helping me exactly?¡± Jonathan¡¯s tone stayed calm. ¡°I happen to be flying there. I¡¯ll take you with me.¡± Anneliese froze. She had heard of carpooling, but this was the first time someone had offered her a seat on a private flight. ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s too convenient.¡± The coincidence hit like a p. It felt outrageous, the kind of story a person wouldn¡¯t believe even if a stranger whispered it on the street. Fresh chapters posted on findnovel Could he really expect her to swallow it? 14:40 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 134 Plea :. The thought she had shoved awayst night returned, uninvited. But Jonathan¡¯s sharp features carried no shame and no trace of a joke. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re lucky. Life is handing you a free pass.¡± 52 +5 Free Coins Anneliese stayed quiet. Her eyes burned with doubt, as if silently using him of lying right to her face. Jonathan exhaled as if he was tired of proving himself. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me? Then ask Mr. Hand to pull up my schedule.¡± Anneliese tilted her chin. ¡°Fine. Show me.¡± Zion almost choked on his breath. Why couldn¡¯t she just ept it? Jonathan didn¡¯t let him stall. ¡°Mr. Hand, show her.¡± At the next intersection, Zion eased the car to a stop. He reached for his tablet, opened Jonathan¡¯s calendar, and zoomed into a single event before tilting it toward her. Anneliese read every word. Jonathan was listed as a speaker at an Aviation Department seminar on carbon reduction policy, and the venue was Riveraton. Her stomach flipped. The light turned green, and Zion quickly tucked the tablet away before she could look closer. Thankfully, he had been clever. Jonathan was scheduled to attend the event, but it was ted to happen three dayster. He had zoomed in close enough to hide the date. Jonathan¡¯s voice was smooth. ¡°It just means I¡¯m arriving a little early. Half a day sooner, that¡¯s all.¡± Chapter 134 Plea Anneliese seemed to ept it. Her gaze lingered on him. s Jonathan felt the weight of her stare crawling under his skin. It unsettled him. Yes, she looked eager and intent, but it wasn¡¯t the look a woman gave a man. It was the way people looked at a lucky charm. The realization struck him just as she spoke. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯ve seen enough. Mr. Fullbuster¨Cyou¡¯re my lucky charm.¡± She said it inly while extending her hand toward him. Zion bit back a sigh. He didn¡¯t dare nce into the rearview mirror. He didn¡¯t want to see the look on his boss¡® face. What is Ms. ude doing? he thought. First, she ims the CEO reminds her of her best friend, and now she is calling him her lucky charm. Does she not see that the man wants to be her lover, not her lucky token? Poor Mr. Fullbuster. Even Jessica, still listening through the phone, froze. From the moment Jonathan agreed to her request, she had stayed silent, waiting for Anneliese to thank him properly. Instead, her friend twisted the knife. Lucky charm? Yeah, you can go ahead and call him your guardian angel, she thought. Jessica pressed her hand to her forehead. She could almost feel Jonathan¡¯s irritation through the line, heavy and storm¨Clike. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 ¡­ : 52 Chapter 134 Plea She pictured his face turning stiff with it. +5 Free Coins Yet Jonathan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. His features stayedposed, his eyes unreadable. But his gaze lowered to her slender hand. He didn¡¯t take it. His fingers curled tight, as though he was fighting the urge to drag her close and make her finally see the hunger he kept hidden. His eyes stayed locked on her hand, and when he spoke, his voice was low and rough. ¡°Curl your fingers.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese blinked but followed anyway. ¡°Bend your elbow.¡± She did. Her knuckles hovered awkwardly near her ear. ¡°Now knock left.¡± Her hand tapped against her own head with a dull thud. Created 135 Chapter 135 Curious But what did that mean? she thought. 52 s Jonathan watched her freeze, her eyes wide with confusion. The tension in his chest loosened. He leaned back, shut his eyes like nothing mattered, and let a faint smile curl at the edge of his mouth. Forget it. She was too charming for him to stay angry. ¡°Uh¡­ Annie?¡± For original chapters go to F¦ÉndNovel Anneliese pressed her fingers to her forehead. Her heart skipped when she caught the unreadable curve of his smile. She pushed the thought away. Before she could dwell on it, Jessica¡¯s voice called from behind. Anneliese exhaled with relief and turned. They had already nned to meet at the airport. The scene turns to the terminal building. ¡°Babe, I swear¨CI never thought I¡¯d fly private!¡± Jessica dashed forward and hugged her tight, practically shaking with excitement. Annelieseughed. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s my first time too!¡± They both burst outughing. ¡°Ms. ude, Ms. Sweeting, this way, please. We¡¯re ready for boarding.¡± Zion stepped up with a polished smile. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 135 Curious ¡°Already?¡± : Jessica looked around as if she¡¯d stumbled into a magic trick. No check¨Cin. No lines. Just fast and seamless. She was thrilled. 32 s At this rate, they might even get to Riveraton in time for some food before the meeting. Anneliese was equally surprised. She walked beside Zion and asked, ¡°Is it always this easy to get a private flight cleared?¡± Zion exined, ¡°Normally, even with priority clearance, it takes a full business day. ¡°But AeroAir has been expanding its private and charter division for the luxury market. ¡°And ever since Mr. Fullbuster came back, he¡¯s opened new channels. Things move faster now. Most airlines can¡¯t do this.¡± Today, Zion had one job: to make sure Jonathan impressed Anneliese. He was ready to roll out the red carpet¨Cquietly. What he didn¡¯t mention was that Jonathan had already pulled strings behind the scenes. As they walked toward the exit, Jessica frowned. ¡°Wait, we¡¯re not using the boarding gate?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Zion replied. ¡°The jet¡¯s parked at a remote stand. A car will take us straight to the tarmac.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ wow.¡± So, she had been waiting in the wrong ce the whole time. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 135 Curious : 52 s Perfect. Now she just wanted to wrap Annie up and hand her straight to Jonathan. Forget the steps, let her enjoy the good life already. No. Stop. She could not sell out her best friend for a taste of luxury. Just two more days. She could wait. Jessica leaned toward Anneliese. ¡°Hey, you think Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s flying us himself?¡± ¡°I doubt it. He¡¯s headed to a meeting, not ying chauffeur.¡± Jessica wasn¡¯t convinced. She was sure Jonathan¡¯s sudden appearance wasn¡¯t just a chance. Zion might have shown Anneliese some official itinerary, but Jessica believed Jonathan came just for her. ¡°Wanna bet? He¡¯s flying the ne. I¡¯m calling it.¡± She winked. When a guy liked a girl, he showed off. That was just nature. No way Jonathan Fullbuster was different¨Cunless he wasn¡¯t interested in Anneliese that way. ¡°I¡¯m not betting with you. You sound ridiculous.¡± Anneliese gave her a light push and lowered her voice. ¡°Stop, Mr. Hand might hear.¡± Jessica grinned but kept quiet. When the car slowed on the tarmac, Zion turned from the front seat. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 135 Curious : 52 s ¡°Mr. Fullbuster owns three private jets¡ªa Gulfstream G700, an Airbus ACJ350, and a Cessna CJ2 for short trips.¡± He nced at Anneliese. What woman wouldn¡¯t be impressed by that? If he weren¡¯t tied to this assistant role, he would¡¯ve made a move on his boss. Anneliese¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°So, since it¡¯s just the two of us, are we taking the CJ2 today?¡± Yes. That spark. That look. She was caught, even if she didn¡¯t realize it yet. Zion silently congratted himself and was about to answer with ir when she suddenly asked, her eyes curious, ¡°I¡¯ve heard the CJ2 meets ICAO Chapter 10 noise standards, and they¡¯re way quieter than older jets. The engines are mounted on the tail, right? From the side or back, they¡¯re pretty visible. Do you think I could look before takeoff? Or maybe not. Forget I asked, Mr. Hand.¡± Her words trailed off when she caught Zion¡¯s t expression. He was drained. This wingman role wasn¡¯t for him. Winning over a woman with iron walls like Anneliese? That was Jonathan¡¯s job alone. Created 136 Chapter 136 The ne : 52 +5 Free Coins Zion said, ¡°The CJ2 cabin and cockpit are far too cramped. Mr. Fullbuster hardly ever flies it. We¡¯ll be taking the Airbus ACJ350 instead.¡± He turned his head as soon as he finished, making it painfully clear he had no interest in speaking to Anneliese again. Anneliese sat in silence, her hands folded tightly in herp. It felt as though Zion had something personal against her. Readplete version only at F?ndNovel The car slowed to a stop. When Anneliese and Jessica stepped out, the enormous Airbus ACJ350 dominated their view. It truly lived up to its reputation as the top ne. Its polished silver frame gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight, radiating authority and wealth. The stairway was already lowered. They began their climb, and as Anneliese lifted her head, she saw him. Jonathan stood at the cabin entrance, no longer in the tailored suit he had worn that morning. He stood with the crew, weing them as if they were heads of state. His crisp white shirt and ck tie framed his lean frame, his navy uniform pressed to perfection. The gold stripes on his shoulders gleamed against the sunlight, entuating the hard line of his jaw. The effect of the uniform hit like a punch. Even Jessica felt her chest tighten, and she forced herself to nce away quickly. ¡°Wee aboard. I¡¯m Jonathan, your captain for this flight. I¡¯ll be at your service.¡± When their eyes met, he inclined his head slightly. His voice carried a clear authority, his gaze steady yet softened with a faint smile. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 136 The ne 52 s Behind him, the first officer, the purser, and two wless flight attendants bowed with polished precision. ¡°Wee aboard. We¡¯ll do our best to serve you.¡± Anneliese felt her cheeks warm instantly. It was the first time she had ever seen Jonathan in uniform, standing as captain. It felt different. The sharp intensity she usually saw in him was deliberately tempered. He looked reserved, professional, and somehow even more maic. ¡°Thank you.¡± The words escaped before she could stop them, pulled out by the sheer weight of the moment. Regret struck almost instantly. She was just a passenger catching a ride. Saying something like that made it sound like she was some kind of dignitary. She was definitely not a dignitary. Her face burned hotter, panic and embarrassment knotting inside her. And she looked at Jonathan. Jonathan¡¯s eyes stayed calm. His expression held steady as the corners of his lips lifted faintly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be formal. If you want any food or refreshments, let Mr. Hand know. I¡¯ll be in the cockpit. We¡¯ll be departing shortly.¡± The crew behind him tried not to stare, but she could feel their nces brushing over her. She nodded quickly. ¡°Okay.¡± 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 136 The ne $2 s Jonathan gave her onest look before heading for the cockpit, the first officer close behind. The purser stepped forward with a wless smile, already attentive. Jessica clutched Anneliese¡¯s hand, nearly bursting at the seams with screams. She felt like her feet weren¡¯t even touching the floor. She forced herself to breathe slowly, desperate not to make her friend feel more embarrassed. Still, how could she possibly stayposed? This wasn¡¯t just a luxury jet. The CEO himself was flying it. Who in the world could treat this like it was normal? She wanted nothing more than to roll around in the plush cabin and take a thousand pictures. But she held back. At least, until she noticed Zion stretched out on the curved leather couch by the window. One leg crossed over the other, he ordered steak and wine with the ease of someone dining at home. Her eyes widened. To anyone watching, it looked like he was the man in charge, not Jonathan. The picture feltpletely upside down. As the flight attendant left, Zion noticed her staring and gave azy smile. ¡°Ms. Sweeting, Ms. ude¨Ccare for a ss of wine? We¡¯ve got some of Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s rare Nikon Dee onboard. You¡¯d regret passing it up.¡± Jessica blinked. ¡°Your boss is literally flying this ne, and you¡¯re this calm?¡± Zion shrugged. ¡°What else can I do? I¡¯m not the captain. I can¡¯t fly it.¡± The truth was, whenever his boss changed his ns, Zion was the one scrambling -rebuilding schedules, juggling crises, smoothing out problems. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 136 The ne So, was it really so wrong for him to enjoy a rare moment of peace? Jessica had no words. But she had to admit, he made a point. 52 s She burst intoughter and shot him a thumbs¨Cup. Then she whipped out her phone and turned to a flight attendant. ¡°Can I take pictures?¡± ¡°Of course. Would you like me to take some for you? I¡¯m pretty good with a camera.¡± Jessica¡¯s head bobbed quickly. ¡°Yes, please! Let¡¯s start with a few shots of the two of us.¡± She wrapped an arm around Anneliese and tugged her into pose after pose. Before Anneliese realized it, Jessica had her smiling and shifting into angles across the cabin, capturing every corner in photos. Meanwhile, inside the cockpit, the pale glow from the instrument panel traced Jonathan¡¯s profile as he focused sharply on the controls. Created 137 Chapter 137 Flying a ne : 52 s The man moved with calm precision, his face impossible to read as he requested clearance from the tower. Yet First Officer Michael Chaplin felt an unease pressing at him, though he could not exin why. The tower¡¯s voice crackled through the radio. ¡°Airbus ACJ350, runway 28L, cleared for taxi.¡± ¡°Taxiing, 28L,¡± Jonathan repeated. His right thumb flipped the nosewheel steering switch, and his left hand eased the throttles forward. The aircraft began to roll steadily across the tarmac. Eyes fixed ahead, his feet shifted with exacting care on the rudder pedals, keeping the jet perfectly centered on the line. That was when Michael realized what had been bothering him. Normally, Jonathan Fullbuster flew with almost arrogant ir, guiding the ne like it was an extension of himself. But today, every motion was clipped, exact, and mechanical. Too exact. Jonathan looked nervous. Jonathan noticed Michael¡¯s stare and cut him a sharp nce that said enough. Michael turned his head away and forced himself back into his role. The cockpit was no ce for wandering thoughts. The jet rolled onto the centerline and held there, engines humming like restrained beasts. The tower came back. ¡°Airbus ACJ350, surface wind two¨Ceight¨Cfour at five meters per second, runway 281, cleared for takeoff.¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze stayed locked on the PFD as he repeated the clearance word¨Cfor- word. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 137 Flying a ne ¡°Thrust set. One hundred knots.¡± : The nose gear rattled as vibrations surged through thending gear into the cockpit. Jonathan¡¯s voice never wavered. ¡°VI.¡± ¡°Rotate.¡± 52 s Golden stubble from harvested fields blurred past as the aircraft surged forward, lifting off and climbing into open sky. Only when they leveled into cruise did Michael risk a smile. ¡°Captain, you¡¯re flying unbelievably smoothly today.¡± Jonathan gave him a sideways look. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m not smooth the rest of the time?¡± ¡°You are. I mean, it¡¯s so smooth thedies in the back probably didn¡¯t feel a single bump. It¡¯s the kind of flight they¡¯ll remember.¡± And Michael thought privately that the passengers were also realizing Jonathan was more than reliable. He was someone people could trustpletely. Today, his precision was a show in itself. The scene turns to Oceaton. Zacharias froze as he watched Anneliese climb into Jonathan¡¯s car and leave with him. His jaw tightened. He yanked at his tie, turned, and mmed his fist hard against the hood of his Bentley. His phone rang. Jackie. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel Chapter 137 Flying a ne Zacharias answered, listened briefly, and his expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯re useless!¡± His voice snapped as he cut the call. He climbed into his car, mmed the door, and roared away. 52 s When he reached the hospital, Jackie was already waiting in the ward with two bodyguards who looked pale and shaken. The bed was empty of Coral. Instead, Lenora sat there in a hospital gown, her hair tangled, her head bowed. Coral had been scheduled for an abortion that day. But when the doctor came, the guards realized toote. She had already traded clothes with Lenora and slipped away. The one left in the bed was the Shaws¡® daughter. ¡°Where is Coral? Tell me!¡± Zacharias stormed forward, towering over her with fury radiating from his eyes. His sharp features cut like steel, his gaze dark and cold. Lenora clutched the nket, her face drained of color. She feared her brother in moments like this, but she still believed she had done nothing wrong. She bit her lip and whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯ll believe that? Either you talk, or I¡¯ll send people after her. And when I do, I will find her.¡± Lenora¡¯s anger red. ¡°Zacharias, how can you be this cold? That baby is your son. ¡°For Anneliese, you turned your back on us. You let Mom rot in jail. And now you¡¯re throwing away your son and your sister too? 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 137 Flying a ne : 52 s ¡°But Anneliese doesn¡¯t even love you. She¡¯s already divorcing you. She¡¯s seeing other men¨Cmore than one. ¡°And for a woman like that, you would betray your own family, the people who actually care about you?¡± Her voice shook with outrage, and her eyes burned with hatred for Anneliese. It had been Anneliese¡¯s betrayal years ago that left Lenora locked up at home and forced to end things with Tristan Mantown. She had been sixteen when she got pregnant. Her mother had smuggled her into a shady clinic, and the botched abortion left her infertile for life. She was only neen now, yet she felt as if her future had already been stolen from her. And in her mind, it was Anneliese who had destroyed it. Four years ago, when Anneliese¡¯s ident left her unable to conceive, Lenora saw it as nothing less than justice. And when she saw Coral, pale and trembling in that hospital bed, being pushed into the same nightmare she had endured, she could not bear it. Helping Coral was like trying to save her own broken self. Created 138 Chapter 138 Evil Sister Chapter 138 Evil Sister 52 s After all, she was the baby¡¯s aunt. Her brother had more than enough money now, so raising a child born out of wedlock was not even an issue. ¡°Be quiet. Don¡¯t insult your sister¨Cinw like that. Lenora, you¡¯re beingpletely unreasonable right now.¡± Zacharias lifted his hand in anger. Lenora tilted her chin upward with stubborn defiance, refusing to flinch.. In the end, he could not bring himself to strike her. His hand froze in the air, his fingers curling into a tight fist. They had grown up with a useless father, and through those years Lenora had always leaned on him. He had once shielded her with his own body. The three of them¨Cmother, son, and daughter¨Chad survived only by holding onto one another. Seeing him hesitate made Lenora bolder. Her voice rose, sharp and grating. ¡°Anneliese is a filthy slut. She¡¯s cheap, she¡¯s shameless, she-¡± His palm finally connected with her face. She clutched her cheek, eyes widening in disbelief as she red at him. ¡°You hit me? For Anneliese? For that filthy, disgusting woman?¡± Her voice broke apart, caught betweenughter and tears. ¡°That bruise on your face¨Cit came from her, didn¡¯t it? She pped you, and now you take it out on me. What a joke,¡± Tears slid down as sheughed through the pain. Then she pulled out her phone with trembling hands. ¡°Open your eyes, Zach. Anneliese went after the man I loved. She has been 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 138 Evil Sister 52 s cheating on you for who knows how long. Tell me, did I say anything wrong about her?¡± She shoved the phone against his chest. On the screen were photos¨CAnneliese with Jackson. The boyish man looked polished and bright, like sunlight given form. His gaze on Anneliese was open, intent, and filled with unmistakable affection. The sight burned Zacharias¡® eyes. With quick taps, he erased every photo, deleting all of them from the phone. It was as if by removing them, none of it had ever existed. He tossed the phone back at her and stared at her reddened cheek. Guilt tightened his chest. He pulled out a bank card and held it out. ¡°I won¡¯t cut your allowance this month. Take this card too. Go shop with your friends or take a trip if you want. Just stay out of my business, and stop harassing your sister¨Cinw. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten about Mom. I¡¯ll bring her home in a few days. The arrangements are already made. She won¡¯t suffer there.¡± He reached to ruffle her hair, but she jerked away from his touch. He sighed, then turned and walked out. The moment he stepped into the hall, he told two guards, ¡°Keep watch on Lenora. She will likely try to find Coral. Track her.¡± Coral had fled in a hurry, which meant she did not have much money. The card in Lenora¡¯s hand had plenty. If she could not spend it all, she would probably hand it to Coral. The guards nodded. Jackie stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Shaw, let me treat your face.¡± 14:4 Sun, Chapter 138 Evil Sister He passed an ice pack to him, his voice low with sympathy. This was already the second time Zacharias had been struck. Jackie never imagined Anneliese had that kind of fire in her. (6?) s ¡°Find out where Anneliese went,¡± Zacharias said coldly, pressing the ice pack against his bruised cheek. Jackie hesitated. Truthfully, he thought his boss had lost his mind. The more Anneliese hit him, the more fixated he became. ¡°She isn¡¯t answering her phone, and her movements are unpredictable¡­¡± Where was he supposed to even begin? In the past, Anneliese had only gone to the Sunrise Residence or uderias Tech. Her whole life had revolved around Zacharias. But now she had broken away. Jackie realized he knew nothing about her at all. Zacharias¡® face darkened, his stare cutting and dangerous. ¡°Then hire a private investigator. I want her tracked every hour of the day. Do you understand?¡± Jackie nodded quickly, unsettled. The scene turns to Riveraton. The ne touched down through a light curtain of rain. Anneliese barely felt a bump the entire flight. When she and Jessica reached the door of the cabin, Jonathan was already walking toward them. Jessica shed him a huge thumbs¨Cup. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, that was amazing. You¡¯re the best.¡± 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 138 Evil Sister : She nudged Anneliese¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Right, Annie?¡± 52 s Anneliese had nned to tease the same way, but the moment she met Jonathan¡¯s steady gaze, her breath caught. A strange tension pressed inside her chest. Instead, she only smiled faintly and said, ¡°This was the smoothest flight I¡¯ve ever had. It was a real pleasure. Thank you.¡± Jonathan stopped in front of them. Jessica released her arm. ¡°Make sure you thank Mr. Fullbuster properly. I¡¯ll go call Detective Hayes.¡± With that, she slipped away, leaving Anneliese standing alone with him. She could not figure out the right way to thank him. He had everything she once possessed, and everything she never would again. ¡°Trying to figure out how to thank me?¡± Jonathan spoke as if he could read every thought written across her face. 474 ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel Created 139 Chapter 139 Thank You 52 +5 Free Coins Anneliese puffed out her cheeks. ¡°Exactly. You¡¯re way too rich. People can thank you all they want, but they¡¯ll never figure out how to please you.¡± Her voice softened into something teasing, light but a little yful, like she wasn¡¯t trying to flirt but couldn¡¯t help it. Jonathan felt a stir deep in his chest, like a feather brushing against him. She stood right inside his personal space, close enough that he could reach her if he wanted. The temptation nearly broke him. Holding himself back was almost unbearable. His eyes lingered on her flushed, glowing face. His hand lifted on its own, slow and careful, as if he was giving her every chance to step away. Anneliese¡¯s breath caught as his fingers drifted closer. She didn¡¯t know what he was about to do, but her body stayed rooted in ce. She inhaled the clean, woodsy scent clinging to him, her chin tipping upward,shes trembling like dark wings of a raven. Jonathan studied her expression. She looked startled, maybe even nervous, but she didn¡¯t move. That had to mean she trusted him. The thought softened him. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to break that trust. He reminded himself that soon she would be free again. She would be single again. He only needed patience. If he pushed her now, he might lose herpletely, and winning her back would be impossible. 14:41 Sun, Sep 7 Content originallyes from find?novel Chapter 139 Thank You : 52 s So, instead of pulling her close, running his fingers through her hair, or lowering his mouth to hers, Jonathan shoved the impulse deep down and buried it beneath his willpower. In the end, he only pinched her cheek, smiling faintly as he murmured, ¡°There¡¯s a crease here.¡± He pulled back, but the feel of her warm, soft skin lingered on his fingertips, sparking an addictive sensation that refused to fade. ¡°Really?¡± Anneliese quickly rubbed at the spot he had touched. Her mind shed back to when Jessica had dragged her across the cabin¡¯s oversized bed earlier,ughing and rolling around. She guessed that must have been where the crease came from. Her blush deepened, pink turning to a vivid red, though she wasn¡¯t sure if it came from embarrassment or from Jonathan¡¯s touch. On her wless skin, the color only made her more striking. Still, she ducked her head, clearly rattled. Jonathan steered the moment away. ¡°If you can¡¯t think of a way to thank me, then let me decide.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She lifted her head again. He raised a brow. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything in mind yet. But when I do, when there¡¯s something I want from you, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± That sounded much easier to her. Relief washed over her, and she nodded quickly. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll never turn you down. So¡­ since Jess is waiting, I should get going?¡± Jonathan asked, ¡°Is it a hassle? Do you need help?¡± What he really wanted to say was whether Anneliese wanted him to go with her, but he swallowed that, 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 139 Thank You : 52 +5 Free Coins ¡°No, I can handle it. Jess and another friend areing with me. And don¡¯t you have a meeting?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He nodded. Just as Anneliese waved and turned to leave, Jonathan called her again. She stopped and nced back, puzzled. ¡°Wait.¡± His voice was calm and smooth. He grabbed two umbres from the side and held them out. ¡°It¡¯s been raining in Riveraton these past few days.¡± The trip had been so sudden that she and Jessica hadn¡¯t thought to pack umbres. She hadn¡¯t expected this small gesture from him. It made her feel guilty, like she was taking advantage of his kindness again. ¡°You¡¯ll still have one if I take this, right?¡± she asked, then only picked up a single umbre. ¡°One¡¯s enough for me. Just make sure you stay dry too.¡± She gave it a small swing in her hand and left the cabin with quick, light steps. Zion walked up and reached for the umbre still in Jonathan¡¯s hand. ¡°I already set lunch with Mr. Chandlington from the Department of Tourism. You can head out now.¡± Last month, Riveraton and AeroAir had signed a big partnership tying flights with travel packages. Mr. Chandlington¨Cwhose full name was Thomson Chandlington¨Chad invited Jonathan to lunch. Jonathan had turned him down before, but now that his schedule had shifted, he asked Zion to arrange it. ¡°Got it.¡± 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 139 Thank You Jonathan nodded and walked toward the bedroom inside the cabin. This was his private jet, and he kept spare clothes stored there. 52 +5 Free Coins Seeing him go in to change but still carrying the umbre, Zion assumed he had forgotten about it and quickly spoke up. Created 140 Chapter 140 Reminder ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, let me hold the umbre.¡± Jonathan raised his hand, blocking him. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. It¡¯s a couple¡¯s umbre.¡± It was the one Anneliese had set aside just for him. Zion¡¯s lips twitched. He stayed quiet. A couple¡¯s umbre? That was just the one they handed out on the ne. 52 +5 Free Coins His boss hadn¡¯t even started dating and was already acting like a lovesick fool. Outside the airport, Anneliese and Jessica met Rory at a restaurant. ¡°Mr. Reyes, it¡¯s been a long time. I heard about what happened to you over the years. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Anneliese reached her hand across the table, but Rory didn¡¯t move. His eyes looked mocking, and his expression stayed cold. Back then, theirpanies had been bitter rivals. As Zacharias¡® secretary and girlfriend, Anneliese had shed with Rory¡¯spany more times than she could count. None of those meetings had ended well. Then came Rory¡¯s ident. He lost his funding, his team abandoned him, and his health copsed. Years had passed, yet he looked more than a decade older. Meanwhile, Anneliese looked radiant, like someone living at the height of sess. ¡°Mr. Reyes, don¡¯t take it out on her. The one who ruined you was Zacharias, that b¡¯stard, not Anne,¡± Jessica said, irritated by Rory¡¯s attitude. Anneliese pulled her hand back and caught Jessica¡¯s wrist. 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 140 Reminder Rory let out a harshugh. His shoulders shook as it broke from him. 52 s ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing left, Mrs. Shaw. If you came here tough at me, then take a good look. I¡¯m a wreck. You¡¯ve had your fun. Now get out.¡± Checktest chapters at ¡°You can¡¯t even tell what¡¯s right from what¡¯s wrong. We-¡± Jessica started, frowning. ¡°Jess.¡± Anneliese shook her head and called the waiter, ordering a bottle of red wine. When it arrived, she poured three sses full to the rim. She stood, ss in hand. ¡°Whether you believe me or not, I wasn¡¯t involved in what Zacharias did, and I knew nothing about it. ¡°I may be divorcing him now, but it isn¡¯t final yet. So, if you want to call me his wife and think I profited from him, you¡¯re not wrong. This first ss is my apology.¡± She tilted her head back and swallowed the wine until the ss was empty. Rory didn¡¯t flinch. His eyes stayed cold. Anneliese lifted the second ss. ¡°I heard about your failed startup, how your team left you, and your girlfriend walked out. This one¡¯s for that.¡± She downed it in one gulp, swaying as she set it down. Jessica caught her arm. ¡°Anne¡­¡± Anneliese steadied herself and picked up thest ss. ¡°Your legs are gone, and your body is broken. I can¡¯t give you your health back. But I¡¯ll pay for every treatment you need from here on. I¡¯ll drink thisst one to prove I mean it.¡± 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 140 Reminder She emptied the ss, finishing nearly the whole bottle by herself. (52) s Her head spun. Jessica eased her into her chair, but Anneliese kept her eyes fixed on Rory. Rory frowned. ¡°Strange. I remember you being very close with Zacharias back then, Mrs. Shaw.¡± He still didn¡¯t believe her. Anneliese pulled two items from her bag and pushed them across the table. ¡°These are photos of Zacharias cheating on me. ¡°This is a copy of the police report I filed against his mother, Melody. It¡¯s stamped and dated five days ago. ¡°And this recorder holds a conversation I think you should hear.¡± Suspicious but curious, Rory picked them up. The photos showed Coral and Zacharias inpromising positions. The report carried the seal of the police department. The date matched her words. Then he pressed y on the recorder. Zacharias¡® furious voice filled the room. ¡°Anneliese, are you insane? I told you, what happened with Coral was a mistake! It¡¯s over! Why did you lose it like this? You trashed our house! Answer me!¡± ¡°Zacharias, I¡¯m never going back to Sunrise Residence.¡± ¡°Anneliese!¡± ¡°You slept with Coral, and you fell for Selina. You disgust me. ¡°You knew I hated Selina the most, but you chose her. You knew she hired someone to kill me, and you lied to protect her. You betrayed me. ¡°You lied to me for four years. What made you think that if I ever found out, I¡¯d 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 140 Reminder still stay with you?¡± The recording was short, but the weight of it hit hard. 52 +5 Free Coins It was clear that what stood between Zacharias and Anneliese wasn¡¯t only a broken marriage. It was something far darker. Created 141 Chapter 141 Request for Help 52 s ¡°Zacharias teamed up with another woman to trick you and stab you in the back? That exins it.¡± Rory¡¯s sharp expression finally softened. Anneliese let out a slow breath, relieved she had prepared for this. ¡°Mr. Reyes, you and Annie both suffered because of that fraud Zacharias. Don¡¯t you want payback for what he did? What kind of evidence are you holding onto? You can trust us with it.¡± Jessica saw Rory¡¯s attitude loosening and pressed while she had the chance. Rory frowned, still torn. Anneliese could see his hesitation. Fighting through the dizziness and nausea that kept weighing her down, she spoke. ¡°Mr. Reyes, I know Zacharias has money and influence, and you¡¯re afraid he¡¯ll retaliate. But if you give me what you know¨Cor any evidence you still have¨Cyou can leave the country right away. ¡°Or just name your price. I¡¯ll buy it off you. Once it¡¯s in my hands, it won¡¯t be your problem anymore.¡± Rory finally caved. His fist tightened, and his voice came out hard. ¡°Five million. I want five million.¡± It was a steep price. Jessica thought he sounded exactly like the businessman he used to be. He was bold enough to throw out a number like that without hesitation. But Anneliese nodded. ¡°Fine.¡± Rory¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, you didn¡¯t even ask what kind of evidence I¡¯ve 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 ?. 02 Chapter 141 Request for Help got before agreeing?¡± s Anneliese pressed a hand to her temple. ¡°Zacharias did you dirty, Mr. Reyes. The money I havees from uderias Tech anyway, so I might as well use it to make things right.¡± ¡°Generous, Mrs. Shaw. Still, if you really manage to get divorced, you¡¯ll probably walk away with hundreds of millions. Spending five million is worth it.¡± Jessica cut in. ¡°Then tell us, Mr. Reyes. What exactly do you have?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a recording my assistant Hector made. He admitted that Zacharias paid him years ago to spy on me. The day I left home, Hu called Zacharias right after, and I was hit with a car ident at the next intersection.¡± Jessica frowned. This content belongs to Find¡ïNovel ¡°But that alone doesn¡¯t prove Zacharias caused the crash. He could argue he paid your assistant just to get ahead of yourpany in financing.¡± It wasn¡¯t strong evidence. Jessica felt let down. She had hoped Rory held something big enough to throw Zacharias in prison and leave uderias Tech in Anne¡¯s hands. Rory gave a bitterugh. ¡°Miss, if I really had hard proof, do you think I¡¯d let Zacharias get away with it? I would¡¯ve buried him long ago.¡± Jessica stayed quiet. Fair enough¨Cshe had expected too much. But Anneliese wasn¡¯t discouraged. She didn¡¯t need evidence to jail Zacharias. She only needed enough to push him toward divorce, and this recording carried weight. ¡°The recording. Money for goods.¡± She held out her hand. 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 141 Request for Help (52) s Rory shook his head. ¡°The sh drive¡¯s at my old family house. You¡¯ll have toe with me.¡± Anneliese nced at Jessica, who gave a small nod. Rory¡¯s cousin wheeled him outside, and the two women followed. Jessica leaned closer and whispered. ¡°I think he¡¯s asking way too much. That recording¡¯s not worth it.¡± Anneliese looked at Rory, frail and hunched in his chair. ¡°Let it go. He¡¯s been through hell.¡± All she thought about was getting that recording. Once she was back in Oceaton, she could finally divorce Zacharias and free herself from this rotten marriage. That alone made it worth the cost. Rory¡¯s old family house sat in a rural vige under Riveraton, hidden among the mountains. By the time they arrived, night had fallen. Halfway there, rain poured hard, and the signal kept dropping. The cab stopped at the vige entrance. The driver refused to take them further on the rough roads. Anneliese told him to wait, then she stepped out with Jessica and Monroe. They shared a wide umbre Jonathan had given them, but the mountain wind was fierce and the storm unrelenting, By the time they reached Rory¡¯s house, their clothes were soaked, and they shivered from thete autumn cold. ¡°Gaston, boil some ginger tea and bring it over. And grab a few sets of dry clothes.¡± Rory told his cousin, who hurried off and came back with a bundle. 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 141 Request for Help 52 s ¡°They¡¯re my ex¨Cgirlfriend¡¯s old clothes. If you don¡¯t mind, you can change into them.¡± Rory set the clothes on the table. Anneliese and Jessica thanked him and didn¡¯t hesitate to change. He stepped into another room and returned with a sh drive. He handed it to Anneliese. She plugged it into her phone, and when the recording yed clearly, she finally exhaled. Jessica and Monroe Hayes both breathed in relief as well. Created 142 Chapter 142 The Proof Chapter 142 The Proof 52 s Anneliese handed Rory the bank card with the transfer and thanked him. Rory said, ¡°The rain¡¯s getting heavier, and the mountain road¡¯s hard to drive on. If you don¡¯t mind, I can have Gaston clean up a room. You could stay the night and leave tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thanks, but no. We¡¯ve got friends waiting for us in Riveraton.¡± Anneliese refused. The vige felt too isted, and that unsettled her. At least she already had the sh drive. She mentioned friends in Riveraton partly to warn Rory and keep him cautious. Rory didn¡¯t push. ¡°Alright then. Once you¡¯ve changed, you should head out soon. This storm doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s letting up. I¡¯ll find some raincoats for you.¡± Anneliese thanked him and went with Jessica into the room on the left. Monroe took the one on the right. When the women came back, Monroe Hayes was already seated at the table in the main room, sipping some hot ginger tea. Gaston served it to Anneliese and Jessica too. The cold had seeped deep into them, and since the others were drinking, they epted with thanks. The ginger tea worked quickly. Warmth spread through their bodies, and they rose to say goodbye, But as Anneliese took only two steps toward the door, her vision wavered and her knees buckled. A momentter, she copsed without warning, her mind sinking into ckness. The scene turns to a five¨Cstarmercial hotel in Riveraton. O 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 142 The Proof : Jonathan had just finished an online meeting. Although he was the CEO of AeroAir, his investments stretched far beyond thatpany. Every day was packed with obligations, and today his schedule had beenpletely overturned. 52 s After the call, he stepped to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window with a ss of water. Rain mmed against the ss, sliding down in thick sheets. Jonathan nced at his phone. Hisst message from Anneliese had been five hours ago, when he had asked if everything was going smoothly. She had replied, ¡®It¡¯s going well, Mr. Fullbuster. No need to worry!¡® He refreshed the screen again, but no new messages appeared. Content originallyes from f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? His brow furrowed. He turned, opened the door, and called out quietly, ¡°Mr. Hand.¡± Zion was dozing on the couch in the living room, but years of discipline had made him sensitive to Jonathan¡¯s tone. He snapped upright before his eyes even opened. ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster?¡± ¡°Has Anneliese contacted you?¡± Jonathan asked, his voice heavy, Zion came fully awake. He looked at the storm outside, then at the clock. It was almost eleven. His brow tightened as he pulled out his phone. ¡°No, Ms. ude hasn¡¯t called me.¡± Thest time he¡¯d spoken to her was three hours earlier. Chapter 142 The Proof She had said they were leaving town and would be back that evening. ¡°Could she and the others still be in the countryside? ¡°It¡¯ste¡­ maybe the storm was too much, and they decided to wait until morning?¡± Zion suggested. Jonathan stayed silent. He dialed Anneliese¡¯s number. Her phone was off. His eyes darkened. He turned sharply to Zion. ¡°Do you have Jessica¡¯s number? Call her.¡± 52 s Zion silently thanked himself for saving Jessica¡¯s contact back on the ne. He dialed. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster,¡± he said a momentter, ¡°Ms. Sweeting¡¯s phone is off too.¡± Jonathan¡¯s expression hardened. Both phones were off. That was not normal. He thought for a moment, then said, ¡°They must have rented a car to get out of town. Check with the cabpany.¡± Zion moved quickly toply. As he worked, he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you have plenty of leverage to push Zacharias into a divorce. Why send Ms. ude out here and put her at risk?¡± With Jonathan¡¯s influence, forcing Zacharias¡® hand should have been simple. This trip had disrupted his schedule, and now Anneliese might be in danger. Zion couldn¡¯t understand why his boss would do this. 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 142 The Proof Jonathan¡¯s brow tightened. ¡°Because I don¡¯t have that right.¡± 52 s He wasn¡¯t ying games with her. That marriage and that past belonged to her. He wanted her future, and that meant respecting her choices. He could help her, but he could never destroy her marriage for her. He feared she might regret it someday, and worse, that she would me him for doing so. Created 143 Chapter 143 Wishes (52) s He wanted a future with her, but he knew it could only happen after she shut the door on her past. It was never her fault. The truth was harsh¨Che had shown up toote. Far toote. When Anneliese regained consciousness, her head spun in a haze. For a long moment, she could not recall where she was or what had happened. A man¡¯s voice drifted from the front. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Memory tore through the fog. Her eyes flew open. She was crammed into the backseat of a car that reeked of cheap leather mixed with grease. Rain pounded against the ss, drowning out the night outside. The world was unrecognizable. The voice came from the driver¡¯s seat. She shifted and only then realized her wrists and ankles were bound. There was no one else. Just her and him. She pushed herself upright and scooted toward the passenger door, ramming her shoulder into it. The door didn¡¯t move. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. You¡¯re not getting out. Rx, I¡¯m not here to hurt you.¡± A sharp click broke the silence. The re of a lighter filled the cabin with dim light. A cigarette glowed between the man¡¯s lips, and in that sh, Anneliese saw his face, Rory. ¡°You can even drive with your leg like that? You drugged us, and now you im you won¡¯t hurt me? Where are my friends?¡± 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 143 Wishes Her voice was steady, sharpened with anger. Rory leaned back, exhaling smoke that curled into the air. ¡°My leg¡¯s stiff, not paralyzed. And your friends? Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯re fine.¡± (52) +5 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s mind raced. ¡°Zacharias sent you, didn¡¯t he? How much did he give you?¡± That made him turn. He smirked and tapped ash into the tray. ¡°Smart girl. Don¡¯t hate me for cashing in. He offered thirty million.¡± Her chest tightened. A bitterugh slipped out. ¡°I¡¯m an idiot.¡± She had thought she and Rory were allies. They were both burned by Zacharias, and both wanted revenge. But she had forgotten that adults do not fight for ideals. They fight for money. Revenge is a child¡¯s fantasy. What she could not figure out was how Zacharias discovered her meeting with Rory so fast. She swallowed her frustration. ¡°If I told you my divorce is final and I offered double, would you let me go?¡± Rory chuckled darkly. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, if I did that, do you think Zacharias would spare me? I¡¯d have the cash, but I¡¯d never live to spend it. You should have been smarter. He already knows everything you¡¯re doing.¡± The truth was Rory had considered siding with her. But on his way home, Zacharias¡® message came through. Thirty million for the sh drive and Anneliese. Safe and unharmed. That kind of money could not be turned down. Not when Zacharias had eyes 2/4 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 143 Wishes 52 s everywhere. Rory had already been burned once by him, and he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to push back again. Anneliese let out a sharpugh. ¡°So that¡¯s who you are. You bow to power and feed on the weak. You¡¯re spineless and worthless.¡± Rory inhaled hard, coughed, and waved her insult away. ¡°Save your strength. Zacharias will be here soon. Once the transfer clears into my offshore ount, you and the drive are his.¡± Anneliese went silent. Her eyes slid to the sh drive lying on the armrest. Nothing she said would change his mind. Smoke thickened inside the car. Her throat burned until a cough wracked her chest. She pressed forward and spoke. ¡°Mr. Reyes, at least open the window. I can¡¯t breathe.¡± He didn¡¯t argue. He started the ignition and lowered the rear window a few inches. Anneliese leaned toward the opening, pulling in the cool air while her eyes swept thendscape. Darknd stretched endlessly around them, with only a few faint lights flickering in the distance. She knew they were close to the airport. She had heard a ne roar overhead earlier, and Rory was clearly preparing to disappear after the exchange. Rory might not harm her himself, but she had no faith Zacharias would hold back when he arrived. The idea of surrendering now scorched her chest. Newest update provided by f?ndnovel She tilted her face into the rain, letting the cold sting her skin until strength 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 143 Wishes returned. : ¡°Mr. Reyes, the ropes are too tight. I can¡¯t feel my legs anymore¡­¡± Her voice pitched higher with panic. Rory frowned and nced back at her. ¡°Cut the act.¡± 52 +5 Free Coins ¡°I mean it. I can¡¯t feel a thing. Just loosen the knots on my legs. My hands are still tied, and it¡¯s just us here. You¡¯re a grown man, and I¡¯m restrained¨CI wouldn¡¯t get far even if I tried.¡± 4/4 Created 144 Chapter 144 Act 52 s ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find[?]ovel ¡°Just untie me already. If something really happens to my leg, how will you exin it to Zacharias? You heard the recording. Zacharias still cares about me, still wants me. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have paid thirty million just to get here.¡± Anneliese¡¯s words finally cut through Rory¡¯s stubborn silence. He exhaled sharply and flicked on the overhead light, his face tightening with irritation. ¡°Lift your leg. I¡¯ll take it off.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t lift it. There¡¯s no strength or feeling at all. God, is it really damaged?¡± Rory watched her strain to move, her face twisted in pain, yet her leg wouldn¡¯t respond. A knot formed in his chest. Had he tied it too tight? Had the cirction been cut off this whole time? ¡°D*mn it,¡± he muttered under his breath. He dropped to his knees, leaned close, and tugged furiously at the knots biting into her skin. The rope finally gave way. ¡°Try moving now.¡± Before he could even blink, her legs shot forward. Both feet struck his chest with brutal force. The blowunched Rory back into the driver¡¯s seat. His head smacked the frame, and his back mmed against the leather with a harsh crack. Anneliese twisted fast, grabbed the USB drive from the center console, shoved the door open, and stumbled into the storm. She wed her way upright and bolted toward the back of the car, slipping and sliding on the soaked ground. Rory stayed stunned for a heartbeat, then snapped to. She was already running. 14:42 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 144 Act : 52 +5 Free Coins He shoved his own door open and lunged out, but when he realized he couldn¡¯t catch her on foot, he scrambled back in, mmed the engine alive, and wrenched the wheel hard. Anneliese ran fast, but her bound wrists threw her off bnce. She tripped again and again, each stumble stealing precious seconds. The headlights loomed behind her, ring and relentless. She knew she could never outrun a car. Her only chance was the woods. If she reached the trees, Rory¡¯s bad leg would cripple his pursuit. She had seen the line of trees earlier. That had to be it. She pushed harder, forcing her body toward the shadows. But the Audi closed in, the growl of its engine rumbling closer, the ground trembling beneath her feet. Then, through the curtain of rain, another set of headlights cut across the storm. Anneliese squinted, blinded by the re. A dark SUV charged toward her like a predator unleashed. The storm blurred everything. She couldn¡¯t see who was behind the wheel. But Rory had spoken of Zacharias, said he was on his way. It had to be him. Her chest sank. Rory chased from behind, Zacharias pressed from ahead. There was nowhere left to run. Her legs gave out. She dropped to her knees as her strength bled away. Rain drenched her face as the headlights burned against her eyes. She shut them and froze, bracing for impact. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 144 Act Inside the SUV- ¡°Mr. Fullbuster?¡± s In the back, a man¡¯s eyes locked on the Audi rushing toward the woman. His voice cut through, calm but edged with steel. ¡°Hit it.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The driver¡¯s lips curved faintly as his foot crushed the pedal. The ck Mercedes G¨CWagon ripped through the storm like a streak of lightning. It thundered past Anneliese and spun hard, its frame mming into Rory¡¯s Audi. The collision exploded across the night, metal shrieking as the Audi buckled. Another hit followed, then another. The brutal impacts rolled the car until it flipped, grinding against the soaked ground in a twisted wreck. Anneliese¡¯s scream tore from her throat, lost beneath the violent sh of steel and rain. She copsed into the mud, arms thrown over her head, waiting until the chaos broke and silence returned. Only the hiss of rain and the moan of the wind remained. Slowly, she lifted her face toward the glowing beams. The rear door of the G¨CWagon swung open. A tall figure emerged, framed by the light. The driver rushed around, snapped open a ck umbre, and handed it over. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 144 Act +5 Free Coins The man took it without a word and walked toward her, each step long and steady. The light behind him and the storm blurred his features. His ck leather coat whipped in the wind, slick and gleaming under the rain. Anneliese¡¯s legs shook. Fear surged through her, urging her to flee. She tried to push back, but her knees buckled, dropping her into the muck. A firm hand caught her arm, steady and unshakable. The rain stopped falling on her. Her gaze dropped to the hand gripping her. Long fingers, pale and veined, cold and controlled, like ice¨Cchilled stone. She knew this hand. This wasn¡¯t Zacharias. It was obviously¡­ Her head snapped up, eyes colliding with the man¡¯s. His dark stare locked onto her, deep, relentless, and unyielding. 4/4 Created 145 Chapter 145 Saved Chapter 145 Saved ¡°J¡­ Jonathan?¡± Her voice cracked as it slipped out. ¡°It¡¯s me. You don¡¯t have to be scared.¡± s This text is hosted at ?ovelFind When her panic faded enough for her to see him clearly, Jonathan gripped her and hauled her up from the soaked ground where she had been curled tight. Anneliese¡¯s legs gave out beneath her. Jonathan steadied her with one hand, then wrapped his arm around her narrow waist and pulled her into his chest. In the same motion, he drew a knife and shed through the rope biting into her wrists. ¡°Your legs feel numb?¡± Her cheek rested against his chest. His shirt grew wet from her tears, and she stayed quiet, unable to speak. His deep voice came from above, heavy with concern. ¡°Yeah,¡± she whispered. Her nasal voice broke into a weak sob. Jonathan exhaled hard. ¡°Hold the umbre.¡± She followed without thinking. The handle felt clumsy in her grip until he added, ¡°Both hands.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She shifted her grip, but then her body lifted off the ground. Jonathan bent low and scooped her into his arms. Shocked, Anneliese clutched the umbre, the canopy wobbling as she tried to bnce it. Rain streaked down his face. She fumbled to raise the umbre higher, nerves written across her face. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 145 Saved ¡°Keep yourself covered,¡± Jonathan told her in a low voice. Headlights cut through the rain, sweeping across the road. Anneliese bit her lip, tense again. Jonathan spoke quickly. ¡°That should be Zion.¡± +5 Free Coins The car rolled close. It was Zion. He jumped out fast and pulled open the back door. Jonathan carried Anneliese over and slid into the seat with her in his arms. Her breathing eased, but she clutched his arm. ¡°What about Rory? Jess and the others are still with him.¡± ¡°Ms. Sweeting and the detective are safe. They were being held at Rory¡¯s ce outside the city. We¡¯ve already pulled them out. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Relief poured through her, draining what strength she had left. She slumped against the seat, worn out. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you should head out. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± The rough voice came from the window. Anneliese turned and saw the man who had been driving the G¨Css earlier. Even though he had crashed Rory¡¯s car, he stood there unscathed. Her chest loosened at the sight. ¡°Alright.¡± Jonathan¡¯s reply was t. He rolled the window up. Zion pped his shoulder once, circled the hood, and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. He shifted the car into reverse. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 145 Saved +5 Free Coins Anneliese twisted to look back. She caught a glimpse of the stranger dragging Rory out of the wreckage. Then a thick, dry towel dropped over her head. It blocked her vision and wrapped her in warmth. ¡°Dry off,¡± Jonathan said as he rubbed the towel gently over her hair. ¡°I can do it myself,¡± Anneliese mumbled from under the fabric. Water dripped from her hair, so she patted it dry quickly. She pulled the towel away and nced at Jonathan. His dark hair was wet too, and guilt mixed with gratitude inside her. She leaned closer, reaching toward him. ¡°Your hair¡¯s soaked too. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her sudden nearness threw Jonathan off. When he turned, his eyesnded on her sweater stered to her skin. Her scent was faint but sharp, curling under his senses. The thin knit clung tight, the dark greence beneath barely covering her. The outline beneath shifted with each breath like fruit heavy on the branch. Jonathan¡¯s throat tightened. His fist closed over his knee, and he adjusted his coat before speaking, his voice low and raw. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Anneliese drew back to her corner, hugging her shoulders as she shivered lightly. ¡°Ms. ude, there¡¯s a nket and clean clothes in the bag. See if anything helps.¡± Zion¡¯s voice carried from the front as he passed a heavy duffel back. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 145 Saved ¡°That¡¯s really kind of you, thank you.¡± She took the duffel back. ¡°It was Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s idea. I only carried it out.¡± s Anneliese opened the bag and pulled out a soft cashmere nket. She wrapped it around herself, holding it tight. She couldn¡¯t change inside the car, given that there were other guys around, but with the heater running, the cold no longer bit as hard. Her gaze drifted to Jonathan. His leather coat still dripped. She spoke softly. ¡°Jonathan, take your coat off. You¡¯ll get sick.¡± She tugged at the edge, but he pushed her hand away, unwilling to let it go. He only wiped at the water with the towel and kept the coat on. 4/4 Created 146 4/4 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 146 Inside the Car Chapter 146 Inside the Car ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just wipe it off.¡± +5 Fre The leather jacket kept the rain away, and somehow he looked unfairly good in it. Anneliese thought back to the moment earlier when he walked toward her through the rain, holding an umbre. Her heart had stumbled so hard that she had snapped her gaze away. ¡°Okay, then.¡± The air shifted, thick with silence. Beneath it lived something unspoken, a charge neither of them dared to name. One of them brushed it away with ease, while the other tucked it close like a treasure to keep. Jonathan drew a slow breath, shut his eyes, and cursed himself quietly. He couldn¡¯t believe it. Something was rising, and given that it was night outside, it was definitely not the sun. The knot in his stomach loosened bit by bit before he risked another look at the woman beside him, wrapped in a nket. ¡°Did you get hurt anywhere?¡± Anneliese turned at the sound of his voice. Her dark eyes glimmered softly, rain making them bright. Her hand slipped from the nket and opened. In her palmy a sh drive. She spoke with a smile. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. And look, I even got what we came for. But really, it was because you showed up in time. If you hadn¡¯t, I probably wouldn¡¯t have made it out.¡± Rory hadn¡¯t nned to hurt her at first, but she had pushed him too far. Once he lost control, no one knew what he might have done. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 146 Inside the Car The thought pressed on her chest, and she shuddered sharp with fear. s ¡°By the way, how did you even know I was here? You showed up right when I needed you.¡± Her eyes searched him, curious and intent. ¡°We tried calling you and Ms. Sweeting, but both phones were off. I figured something must have gone wrong.¡± Jonathan¡¯s reply was steady, almost detached. Anneliese blinked. ¡°And then? How did you track this ce down?¡± Zion finally stepped in. He could not stand how Jonathan always skimmed over the hard work when it came to his own efforts. When someone puts themselves on the line, people deserve to know. Not to be thanked, but so they feel safe and seen. Trust needed that. So, he jumped in quickly. ¡°Let me exin. Ms. ude, you wouldn¡¯t know this, but the moment Mr. Fullbuster thought something had happened to you, he told me to contact the cabpany. ¡°It was pouring, and not many cabs were running from the airport to the countryside. We managed to track down the driver who brought you here. ¡°He remembered you because you asked him to wait at the vige entrance. He sat there for half an hour before someone told him you weren¡¯ting back because of the storm. He got angry and left, but it stuck with him. ¡°Once we heard that, we knew something was wrong. Mr. Fullbuster immediately sent people to Creekwater Vige to search for you.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± That was how Jonathan had managed to save Jessica and Monroe too. This text is hosted at F¦ÉndNovel 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 146 Inside the Car ¡°But then how did you know we were here, in this exact spot?¡± Anneliese tilted her head, curiosity glowing bright. Jonathan exhaled, and the corner of his mouth lifted. 52 s ¡°I figured Rory had betrayed you. The one tied to Rory was Zacharias. I checked the flight logs and saw Zachariasnded here from Oceaton three hours ago. That confirmed Rory had made a deal with him. ¡°Rory was desperate to leave the country for treatment. With that kind of money, he¡¯d only get more reckless. I guessed he¡¯d arrange the meeting close to the airport. Around here, this was the best spot. With the storm clearing the roads, it didn¡¯t take long to find his car.¡± He said it like it was simple, like piecing all of that together had cost him nothing. But Anneliese knew better. Tracking flights and cameras meant pulling strings, cashing in favors, calling in connections. She looked at Jonathan and felt the weight of another debt she could never repay. Yet her chest was warm, moved by something stirring restlessly inside her, like a seed cracking through frozen ground. She parted her lips, ready to speak. Jonathan was watching her, patient, waiting for her words. And then- Her body jolted forward with a sharp sneeze. Another followed, then another, spilling out one after the other. So much for words of gratitude. Her sneezes came out first, and she couldn¡¯t control them. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 146 Inside the Car Her eyes widened in shock. : 52 s She turned away fast, hands covering her nose and mouth, while heat rushed down her face and neck. Her mind spun. He couldn¡¯t possibly think she had done that on purpose. That was the thought that went through her head. Created 147 Chapter 147 Cold 52 s How could she sneeze right in front of the man who had just saved her, especially in a moment like this? Jonathan didn¡¯t seem to mind, thankfully. He turned toward Zion and said, ¡°Turn up the heat.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± When Jonathan looked back, he caught Anneliese hiding under the nket, her face glowing red with embarrassment. She pulled it over her head until she disappeared inside. A faint smile touched his eyes. ¡°Are you sick?¡± Anneliese shook her head under the nket. Her voice came out muffled. ¡°I¡¯m just tired. Can I get some shuteye?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll wake you when we get to the hotel.¡± His voice was steady and calm. Anneliese let her eyes close. She thought she would never be able to sleep after everything that had just happened, not while sitting next to Jonathan. But the moment her eyes shut, she drifted off. Jonathan noticed her body loosen under the nket. He reached over and pulled it down, brushing away damp strands of hair that clung to her face, He tucked them carefully behind her ear. Her cheeks were warm and flushed, so he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. It was too hot. His brow tightened. ¡°Drive faster.¡± 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 147 Cold : 52 s ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Zion replied. He swerved around the corner, skimming close to another car. Zion nced across and frowned. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I think that was Zacharias¡® car.¡± He was almost sure he had seen Zacharias behind the wheel as they passed. Jonathan didn¡¯t lift his eyelids. He showed no reaction. He only pulled the trembling Anneliese¨Cnket and all¨Cinto his arms. Zacharias¡® car sped forward. His expression was darker than the storm clouds hanging over Riveraton. His men were already out searching for Coral, who had escaped from the hospital. But Jackie had just tracked down Anneliese and confirmed she was in Riveraton. She wouldn¡¯te here for no reason. Zacharias quickly guessed why she was here and struck a deal with Rory. Rage and grief twisted inside him. He knew now that Anneliese truly meant to divorce him. She had nned this carefully, all to leave him. That woman, he thought. Once he caught her, he would make sure she never forgot the lesson. As he neared the meeting point he had arranged with Rory, Zacharias slowed, then finally pulled his car to the side. He lit a cigarette, the me casting sharp light over his furrowed brow and shadowed eyes. Darkness raged within him. She must be terrified. Good. Let her. A little scare always does that woman good, he 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 147 Cold thought darkly. 52 s She needed to realize that only he could save her. She needed to understand how foolish it was to leave him. He smoked three cigarettes before starting the car again. But when he reached the rendezvous, only an overturned Audi sat waiting. ¡°Anne!¡± Zacharias¡® face drained of color. He mmed on the brakes, leapt out, and sprinted toward the wreck. He searched the interior. No one was inside. No Anneliese. Blood streaked across the shattered windshield and soaked the driver¡¯s seat. Rain beat down as his voice tore through the night. ¡°Anne! Rory! Anne! Baby, I¡¯m here, where are you?¡± The storm answered with silence. Soaked through, he stumbled back to his car. His hands shook as he dialed the police. Regret stabbed him¨Che should have driven faster. What happened? Where is Anneliese? She can¡¯t be gone. She can¡¯t, he thought. The scene turns to a suite inside a hotel. Jonathan carried Anneliese straight into the bathroom. He filled the tub with hot water. Her body burned with fever, yet she shook all over, her hands and feet frozen stiff. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 147 Cold Warmth was not returning to her. : The bath filled with steam. Jonathan set her down on the edge, but she immediately slumped against him, weak and limp. Updates are released by find(?)ovel He yanked his tie off and used it as a blindfold.. 52 s With one hard pull, he ripped open her sweater cor, tearing the damp, filthy fabric off her skin. He peeled the wet sweater away from her skin, then slid his hand down to undo her jeans. He tugged at the zipper and tried to pull them off. The denim clung stubbornly to her hips, caught against her curves. His voice dropped, rough and low. He gave her a quick pat. ¡°Come on, help me out here. Stand for a second, alright?¡± He wrapped his arm around her waist to lift her. But just as he tried, she stirred. In her fever haze, she wrapped her arms around him instead. She pressed her burning face against his chest, her voice soft and fragile. Created 148 Chapter 148 In a Daze ¡°No.¡± 52 s Her tone sounded yful yet filled with protest as she twisted against him. The slippery edge of the tub nearly sent her falling backward. Jonathan¡¯s arms tightened instantly. Her nearly bare body pressed against him, her bra the only thing between his skin and hers. Her smooth, wet warmth filled his hold. Sweat dripped across his forehead. The steam fogged the bathroom until the air felt suffocating. His mouth went dry, and his throat ached for air. With sight cut off, every other sense sharpened. Her faint scent hit him with the force of a drug. The soft, stubborn noises she made, the slick glide of her skin beneath his hands, the curves pressed insistently against him¨Ceach detail tested his restraint. His body betrayed him, and something down there stood up stiffly. A vein at his temple throbbed. He abandoned the struggle to peel her pants away. Instead, he locked an arm around her waist, lifted her, and dropped her straight into the tub. ¡°Soak in here for a bit. Warm yourself up. I¡¯m leaving.¡± His voice came out rough. He pried her fingers off him and turned toward the door. The water stilled. Jonathan exhaled, certain she had settled now that she wasfortable. Then bubbles gurgled, followed by frantic sshing. His steps froze. He tore off the tie that had been blinding him. It only made things worse anyway. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 148 In a Daze He spun back. She was under the water. : ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel 52 s Her dark hair spread around her, her pale face still and cerie. Her hands folded loosely across her chest while her lips pushed out a faint trail of bubbles. Her slim legs kicked and fought like she had transformed into some restless mermaid stranded in ss. ¡°Anneliese!¡± Jonathan¡¯s voiceshed out as he lunged forward. He pulled her up before the water could im her breath. Her eyelids fluttered weakly. Droplets blurred her vision, and then his face sharpened into focus¨Ctight, sharp, filled with rm. ¡°Jonathan? Why are you yelling at me?¡± Recognition struck Anneliese. Her eyes welled up as her lips, red and wet, pushed into a trembling pout. Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened. The veins in his hand stood out where he gripped the porcin. The arm holding her back clenched harder without meaning to. Water streamed down as he lifted her higher. Their faces hovered close, their breath mingling, their bodies pressed inescapably together. The heat of the bath faded. A chill swept over her bare chest, and she shivered as her mind cleared in an instant. She didn¡¯t resist, but her body stiffened. Panic flickered through her dark eyes. Jonathan caught it immediately. 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 148 In a Daze He knew she was fully awake now. : 52 +5 Free Coins The urge to take her, to cross that line, burned inside him like molten rock. But reason crushed it down. His words rasped low and jagged. ¡°Can you stay in the tub by yourself now?¡± Her face flushed red. Hershes trembled as she gave a tiny nod. ¡°Yes. I can.¡± His jaw locked, but he released her. She folded her arms over her chest and sank back into the bath. She kept her down until she heard the door close. Only then did she cover her burning face with both hands. eyes She had not meant to notice, but it was impossible to ignore. His body had been¡­ undeniable. With his size, it was obvious. The soaked fabric revealed everything without mercy. It frightened her to realize it. And yet she could not stop seeing it. Why is he so¡­ she thought. When she had been half¨Cconscious, she was clinging to him, pawing at him. Any guy would pop a boner. He had only worried she might fall sick. cing her in the hot bath had been pure concern. Everything else had been an ident. 3/4 14:43 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 148 In a Daze It had to mean nothing. 52 s She convinced herself with that thought and ducked beneath the water again, her face glowing hotter. Jonathan left the bedroom, shrugging off his leather jacket and carrying it loosely on his arm. He nearly collided with Zion, who entered with a maid and two medical staff in white coats. ¡°She¡¯s in the bathroom. Once she¡¯s warm, make sure she gets out of the water fast,¡± Jonathan said, stepping aside as the staff waited. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, we¡¯ll handle it from here. You should change into dry clothes,¡± Zion told him as he reached for the jacket. He tugged, but it did not move. Created 149 Chapter 149 Stubborn Jonathan Zion was surprised. He tugged at it again. And he was surprised again. 52 +5 Free Coins He nced up and found Jonathan¡¯s cold stare fixed on him. Reflex made him let go and move aside. Jonathan strode straight toward the second bedroom, the leather jacket still in his hand. Zion watched him disappear past the doorway, and the truth settled in. Jonathan had carried Anneliese through almost the entire drive. The leather still held her warmth, her scent. That was why no one else could touch it. It reminded Zion of high school crushes. A kid guarding his girlfriend¡¯s chair. Refusing to let anyone sip from her soda. Protecting the sweater she left behind in gym. It was raw. It was real. Anneliese¡¯s fever finally eased after two IV bags. She drifted into sleep. When she woke, the storm had passed. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, washing the city skyline in sharp color. Her body still ached, her limbs heavy, but hunger twisted in her stomach. She pushed herself upright slowly. On the nightstand sat a ss of water and the sh drive. She reached for the ss. The water was still faintly warm. Anneliese drained half of the ss¡® content, then she freshened up quickly in the 14:44 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 149 Stubborn Jonathan bathroom before stepping into the suite. ? ) 52 +5 Free Coins The presidential room stretched wide and quiet. She barely had time to take it in before a familiar voice drifted from the couch. ¡°Hey. Still feel bad?¡± Her heart skipped. She knew that voice. The bathroom scene rushed back, and heat flushed her neck. She had not expected him to still be here, much less to face him so soon. She let out a slow breath, turned, and looked. Jonathan sat in a sharp three¨Cpiece suit, tie knotted clean, expressionposed. The tightness in her chest eased slightly. ¡°Yeah, the IV helped a lot.¡± ¡°Come here.¡± His tone was even, his gaze steady. She hesitated, uncertain about the order, but she obeyed. She walked toward him and stopped at his side. Jonathan set theptop aside, stood, and reached out his hand. Her body reacted before thought could catch up. She recoiled, stepping back quickly. It was obvious she was staying away. His hand hung in the air, awkward and heavy. The silence thickened, and Anneliese wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Why did I move? What¡¯s wrong with me? she thought. 14:44 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 149 Stubborn Jonathan She realized he had probably only wanted to check her temperature. 20 5 Free Coins Now, because of her, the moment felt loaded, weighed down byst night and the memory of the bathroom. Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened as he studied her. His voice came t. ¡°Three strikes.¡± The first had been when the aphrodisiac gave her courage. The second wasst night. If anything like those incidents were to happen again, he would not refuse her again. But Anneliese didn¡¯t follow his meaning. All she saw was how upset he looked. Regret zed across her expression: As he began to pull back his hand, she lunged forward and grabbed it. She only wanted to fix it, but holding his hand felt even stranger. Jonathan froze, his brow rising as he nced down at her fingers wrapped tight around his. She forced herself to meet his eyes, then pressed his hand to her forehead. ¡°Feel it. Am I still hot? I can¡¯t tell.¡± Of course Jonathan saw through the little act. Amusement flickered in his gaze as he watched color spread across her face. He let his palm rest warm and steady against her skin, but he didn¡¯t say a word. He simply studied her. Hershes quivered, her neck stiff under the weight of his stare. She started to shift, but he frowned. ¡°Strange. Hold still. Let me check again.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s strange?¡± 14:44 Sun, Sep 7 Chapter 149 Stubborn Jonathan ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel Anneliese froze, tongue darting across dry lips. Maybe the fever hadn¡¯t left? But she felt fine. 52 +5 Free Coins Jonathan¡¯s voice slowed. ¡°A fever should warm your forehead. Yours isn¡¯t hot. But your face¡­ it feels like it¡¯s on fire.¡± His fingers traced from her forehead, down the curve past her eye, and onto her burning cheek. Her face was small enough to fit beneath his palm, and under his touch, the heat deepened. Created 150 Chapter 150 Touch She didn¡¯t need him to say it. Her skin was burning, fire crawling across her cheeks. It wasn¡¯t just her face. Her whole head felt like it was melting, thoughts dissolving into mush. Hershes fluttered, and Anneliese quickly turned, dodging the warmth of his hand. She covered it with a hasty excuse. ¡°That¡¯s how I get when I have a fever. My cheeks heat up. It happens. I¡¯ll take another pill.¡± She spun on her heel, ready to retreat to her room. Before she could move, his hand caught her arm. She turned back. Jonathan smiled calmly. ¡°Of course it happens. But you¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you? You should eat something before you take the meds.¡± He let go and walked toward the dining room. As he moved away, the air around her finally felt lighter. She raised her hands, fanning her burning cheeks, and hurried after him. The hotel had prepared a simple, nutritious meal. The vors were light but satisfying. Anneliese ate until she felt full. When they finished, Jessica walked in with Monroe, Rory had tied them up, leaving Gaston to guard them. Jonathan¡¯s team hadn¡¯t reached them untilte at night. Mountain roads slowed them down, and they only returned by sunrise. Jessica circled Anneliese, inspecting her carefully. Only when she saw that Anneliese was fine did she rx. ¡°Oh my god. I can¡¯t believe I call myself your protector,¡± she said, voice thick with guilt. The trip had been almost pointless. She knew Anneliese trusted her and Monroe¡®bat skills, which was why she had agreed to go with Rory. Monroe looked equally embarrassed. ¡°Guess all those years hunting these people down came back to bite me in the *rse.¡± Anneliese smiled faintly. ¡°What matters is that we¡¯re safe. Besides, who would have thought Rory would give up revenge just for money?¡± Monroe wasn¡¯t meant to be a bodyguard. His expertise was tracking and investigation. He scratched the back of his head. ¡°Lucky Mr. Fullbuster was there. We owe him.¡± Jonathan only nodded from the couch. Zion led Monroe out to rest while Jessica pulled Anneliese into the bedroom. ¡°Spill it. Did anything happen with Mr. Fullbuster? Come on, don¡¯t hide it. The whole hero¨Csaves¨Cthe¨Cdamsel moment¨Ctell me everything.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes darted nervously. ¡°Nothing happened! By the time he found me, I looked like a drowned body. No dramatic moment can happen in a situation like that.¡± Her denial came too quickly, guilt shadowing her features. The steamy bathroom scene shed unbidden in her mind. Jessica saw it all. Secrets always meant something. She knew that. : She stopped questioning, but her lips were curling into a knowing smile. ¡°Annie, you¡¯re gorgeous. Even if you¡¯re dead, you¡¯d still be¡­ drop dead gorgeous. Mr. Fullbuster is a lucky man.¡± No one knew what advantage Jonathan had taken, but it was enough to leave Anneliese, normallyposed, flustered and guilty. Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel A soft knock broke the air. Anneliese stood quickly, eager to escape Jessica¡¯s piercing gaze, and ran to the door. She thought it was Zion. Instead, Jonathan stood there. He wasposed and poised, tall andmanding in the doorway. Seeing him triggered all the memories from earlier. And the lewd thoughts she was having did not help at all. His soaked pants, and his drenched upper body¡­ The half¨Ctransparent shirt that clung to his skin and wrapped around his abs. The loosened tie and open cor¡­ And even the beauty mark on his Adam¡¯s apple that turned just a shade darker from the moisture in the air¡­ She felt like she wasn¡¯t sick. She was just losing her mind. A lust¨Cfueled mind. She nearly pped herself for thinking it. Her voice came out scratchy. ¡°W¨CWhat is it?¡± Jonathan studied her quietly, then said, ¡°Zacharias is at the station. He reported that he can¡¯t find you. Do you want to see him?¡± Her mind cleared instantly. She frowned and shook her head. ¡°No. Forget it. Jess and I were just about to head to the airport and get a flight back to Oceaton.¡± Rory had shut off her phone and tossed it aside back in the vige. Jessica had brought it back, but it was still charging and dead. Zacharias couldn¡¯t reach her, so he went to the police. She doubted he was genuinely worried. Most likely, he noticed Rory had gone missing and panicked. He feared they had teamed up against him. Let him sweat, Anneliese thought. ¡°Good. We¡¯re heading back too. We can do it together,¡± Jonathan replied with a nod. Anneliese hadn¡¯t answered, but Jessica bounced over excitedly, ready to leave. Created 151 Chapter 151 A Female Pilot Chapter 151 A Female Pilot ¡°Does this mean we get another free ride on the private jet? That¡¯s amazing!¡± s On the return trip, Jonathan didn¡¯t take the controls. Instead, he stayed in the cabin, holding meetings and working through files. He was truly swamped¨Cswitching between three differentnguages, drinking only a few sips of water in two hours. Watching him, Jessica muttered that she would never envy the rich again. It wasn¡¯t until they were almost over aton that Jonathan finally paused. He got up, nced at his watch, then turned to Anneliese. ¡°We¡¯ll bending in about fifteen minutes. The Airbus ACJ350 uses quite a few advancedposite materials. Want me to show you around?¡± Of course, she was interested. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she practically bounced to her feet. ¡°Yes, absolutely! This cabin is so quiet. It¡¯s like sitting in a library.¡± He gave a small nod. ¡°The soundproofingyer uses nanoporous absorption, simr to 3M acoustic foam.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen that in the research room before. It¡¯s made of superfine fibersbined with nanoporous structures. Oh, and I looked at this couch earlier. It¡¯s so light.¡± ¡°That¡¯s carbon fiber honeb paneling.¡± Jessica had originally been hoping to see her best friend and this devastatingly handsome billionaire share some steamy moment in the luxurious cabin¨Cmaybe a passionate wall kiss or a lingering stare over a ss of wine. She even had her phone camera sneakily ready. But when she peeked over, the two of them were crouched in the corner, poking and prodding at the couch like a couple of engineers. To an outsider, it looked more like they were nning to hijack the ne. Jessica pressed a hand to her forehead. My bestie has zero ambition, and Mr. Fullbuster isn¡¯t in any hurry either. Neither of them is seizing the moment. I¡¯m stressing out while they¡¯re cool as cucumbers. I¡¯m done! Meanwhile, in Riveraton, Zacharias had called the police. Officers arrived quickly, collecting fingerprints and blood samples from the wrecked Audi before checking the surrounding area. He followed them back to the station and waited restlessly, calling in favors and searching frantically for Anneliese. But his influence in Riveraton was limited. On top of that, he had no Chapter 151 A Female Pilot idea Jonathan had already put in a word to deliberately slow his search. As a result, Zacharias found nothing. s Fortunately, the forensic results confirmed that the blood samples from the car and the scene were type O. Anneliese¡¯s blood type was B. Even so, the discovery did little to calm his fear. While Zacharias was tearing his hair out, Anneliese and her group had alreadynded safely. The skies over Oceaton were heavy with clouds, the bone¨Cchilling wind hinting that the first snow of the season was near. ¡°It¡¯s nearly dinner,¡± Anneliese said, ncing at Jonathan. ¡°If you and Zion are free, let me treat you both to a meal.¡± A dinner invitation was hardly enough to repay them, but at least it was something. Jonathan lowered his gaze, lips parting as if to speak, when a crisp, confident female voice rang out. ¡°Jonathan, you¡¯re back.¡± Anneliese turned toward the sound and saw a tall woman with short hair and striking features, striding over in a pilot¡¯s uniform. ¡°Whoa,¡± Jessica breathed beside her. Anneliese¡¯s eyes brightened as well¨Cit was her first time meeting a female pilot. The woman was at least five¨Cnine, her shirt and tailored pants cinched at the waist with a belt. She moved with brisk,manding energy, a mix of elegance and strength. A beautiful woman with a truly unique presence. In moments, she was standing in front of them. Jonathan asked, ¡°Why are you back early?¡± India Malone gave him a pointed look. ¡°What, I can¡¯t finish my work ahead of schedule? Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me to these two lovelydies?¡± Her eyes swept over Anneliese and Jessica beforending on Anneliese¡¯s delicate, striking face. She had only just returned, but had already heard the rumors. The ever¨Caloof Mr. Fullbuster had flown his private jet to Riveraton personally, escorting two beautiful young women. Everyone at AeroAir was buzzing with spection about his rtionship with them. Anneliese looked to Jonathan, who inclined his chin toward India. ¡°India Malone, pilot for AeroAir, and a friend of mine.¡± 9:33 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 151 A Female Pilot He then turned toward India. ¡°This is Anneliese, and her friend Jessica.¡± 39 s He didn¡¯t exin Anneliese¡¯s connection to him, but that vagueness in itself carried its own weight. Anneliese smiled at India, her eyes curving, her gaze bright. ¡°Hello, Captain Malone. You¡¯re the first female pilot I¡¯ve ever met. That¡¯s really impressive¨Cand so cool!¡± India blinked. 9:33 Thu, Sep 11 Read full story at FindN()vel Created 152 Chapter 152 A Photograph and a Rumor Chapter 152 A Photograph and a Rumor Is this girl really this sweet? That¡¯s not ying fair¡­ there¡¯s no way to dislike her. 39 s She cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯m not a captain yet. I still don¡¯t have the required flight hours.¡± Could she actually be sarcastic? Anneliese smiled and pulled out her phone, giving it a yful shake. ¡°Then it¡¯s only a matter of time before you¡¯re promoted. Can we take a picture with you?¡± Jessica immediately nodded, her eager eyes making it hard for anyone to refuse. India gave a reserved nod. ¡°All right.¡± With that, the two girls quickly moved to stand on either side of her. Adjusting the camera, Anneliese stretched out her arm, but it felt wrong to just take a selfie. India¡¯s whole aura deserved a full¨Cbody shot. So, she handed the phone to Jonathan. ¡°Please take one for us.¡± Jonathan epted the phone, momentarily thrown off. Zion was just as stunned. Ms. Malone has been chasing Mr. Fullbuster for nearly a decade and even ended up a pilot herself in the process! And here I am, worried she and Anneliese might sh over Mr. Fullbuster, but what on earth is happening?! Watching Jonathan holding the phone and awkwardly preparing almost felt sorry for him. Jonathan, expression unreadable, snapped two shots. to take the photo, Zion ¡°All done? Thank you.¡± Anneliese walked over, took her phone back, and checked the pictures. Jonathan fixed his eyes on her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask to take a photo with me?¡± Am I not good¨Clooking enough in uniform? She¡¯s seen me dress like this several times, but has never once suggested a picture! We haven¡¯t had a single photo together to this day! Anneliese looked up, surprised to find something like disappointment flickering in his eyes. She blinked. ¡°Did you want to be in it too? We can ask Mr. Hand to take one of us together.¡± Jonathan clenched his jaw. ¡°No need.¡± Chapter 152 A Photograph and a Rumor Was that what I meant?! She¡¯s clearly ying dumb on purpose! Anneliese nodded absently, scrolling through the pictures. ¡°Okay.¡± s Meanwhile, Jessica turned to India. ¡°Captain Malone, what¡¯s your secret to being that tall?¡± At five¨Cfoot¨Cthree, Jessica had always considered her height a w. Anneliese, nearly five¨Cseven, already made her envious, but India¡¯s height and striking looks were the kind of body Jessica wished she could reserve for her next life. India gave her a straightforward answer. ¡°Find yourself a tall boyfriend and hope your progeny carry his genes.¡± Jessica went speechless. India then walked over to Jonathan. ¡°I have some thoughts about the internal recruitment program. Let¡¯s discuss it over dinner.¡± Every year, AeroAir ran an internal pilot recruitment program, with a dedicated training base in Age. This round of female pilot recruitment was India¡¯s responsibility. But due to concerns about training returns and lingering gender bias, AeroAir¡¯s executives had always contested Jonathan¡¯s push to increase the proportion of female recruits. When a female captain in Adros was recently involved in a ne crash, the board doubled down on its pressure to cancel the female slots entirely. Jonathan understood this was most likely why India had brought it up. He nodded, then nced toward Anneliese. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to join you for dinner. Maybe-¡± He was about to suggest that Anneliese and Jessica coulde along to experience the staff dining hall, but she quickly waved him off. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯ve already done more than enough these past two days. Go on with your business. Jess and I will head out first.¡± She tugged Jessica along, the two of them leaving together. Not far away, two flight attendants passed them, whispering excitedly. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Mr. Fullbuster and Ms. Malone! They¡¯re such a perfect match.¡± ¡°I heard they grew up together. Ms. Malone gave up joining her family¡¯s logisticspany just to follow him and even became a pilot. She really loves him.¡± ¡°Well, why do you think the chairman handpicked her as his future daughter¨Cinw? Some people are just born with cheat codes. Can¡¯t even be jealous.¡± 9:33 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 152 A Photograph and a Rumor 39 s The two attendants giggled as they walked off, and Anneliese couldn¡¯t help but nce back in the direction they¡¯d pointed. Jonathan and India were walking side by side, India speaking animatedly as she tilted her head up at him. Jonathan leaned toward her naturally, lips faintly curved in what looked like a smile. Jessica peeked at Anneliese¡¯s expression, then asked with mock innocence, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Annie¡¯s not jealous, is she? Anneliese turned back to her friend. ¡°I was looking at Jonathan and India. Didn¡¯t you hear what those two flight attendants just said?¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find¡ïNovel Created 153 Chapter 153 A Bitter Confrontation : Chapter 153 A Bitter Confrontation 39 s ¡°Look at them¨Cheight, presence, family background¨Cthey really do look like a perfect match. Even their silhouettes walking side by side fit together. And they grew up together too.¡± She had noticed Jonathan¡¯s attitude earlier as well. Around India, he seemed unusually at ease, their interactions natural and familiar. Jessica nced at her friend, who lookedpletely unbothered, even speaking with a light, easy tone. Jealousy clearly wasn¡¯t in the picture. Jessica pouted. ¡°You and Zacharias grew up together too. Childhood ties often can¡¯tpete with someone new who sweeps in out of nowhere. Otherwise, how else did Selina White manage to steal him away with her phony act?¡± Anneliese shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s different. Zacharias was blind and foolish. Jonathan isn¡¯t. Besides, India seems nice¨Cnothing like Selina.¡± Jessica fell silent. Should I be d for Jonathan, or pity him? At the same time, India was speaking to Jonathan about Anneliese. She didn¡¯t mince words. ¡°Do you like that girl?¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Got a problem with that?¡± A sharp ache rose in India¡¯s chest, her eyes stinging as she fought back the urge to cry. ¡°Unbelievable. I never thought the almighty Fullbuster heir would be just like any other man- shallow, ordinary, drawn to something young and pretty!¡± Jonathan raised a brow. ¡°So, you agree she¡¯s stunning? I think her eyes are the most beautiful. Don¡¯t you?¡± As he remembered the way her ears flushed pink at the slightest touch, he added, ¡°Her ears are beautiful too.¡± India¡¯s jaw tightened. God, how did I ever fall for this b*stard? And to think I wasted nearly eight years chasing him! She shot him onest furious re before storming ahead, her back radiating anger. 170 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 153 A Bitter Confrontation : N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find[?]ovel $39 s Later that evening, Anneliese and Jessica had dinner together before picking up Meatloaf. For the past two days, the dog had been staying at Miles¡® house. Feeling abandoned, Meatloaf had barely eaten. On the way back, Anneliese smothered it with hugs and kisses, but the dog remained sulky and aloof. When they arrived at Maple Bay, she led him out of the cab and into theplex. Downstairs, Jackie spotted her and quickly dialed Zacharias. ¡°Mr. Shaw, I see Madam. She¡¯s at Maple Bay.¡± In Riveraton, Zacharias stood in the bustling street, his face grim as he barked into the phone. ¡°Give her the phone. I want to speak to her!¡± While leading Meatloaf inside, Anneliese spotted Jackie approaching, and the smile on her face vanished. She ignored him and headed straight for the door, but Jackie stepped in front of her. ¡°Madam, Mr. Shaw wants to speak with you.¡± He offered her the phone. She took it, only to immediately hang up and power it off. Tossing it back, she frowned. ¡°Move.¡± Jackie scrambled to catch the phone, quickly switching it back on before stepping in front of her again. He knew if he failed this simple task, Zacharias¡® wrath would be inevitable. ¡°Madam, Mr. Shaw is worried sick. I¡¯ve been here for two days without sleep, just waiting for you. Even if you don¡¯t appreciate it, you can¡¯t be this cold.¡± Anneliese let out a sharpugh, her lips curling. ¡°Did I ever ask you to wait for me? If you don¡¯t step aside right now, I¡¯ll have Meatloaf bite you.¡± The dog, who had been ignoring her all day, suddenly barked fiercely at Jackie, baring its teeth as though ready to obey. But even then, Jackie didn¡¯t budge. He simply held out the now¨Cconnected phone again. ¡°Go ahead, let it bite me. As long as you¡¯ll answer Mr. Shaw¡¯s call.¡± His face was haggard, exhaustion written across his features. Gone was the indifference and veiled disdain he used to show Anneliese. ¡°Anneliese ude!¡± Zacharias¡® deep voice thundered through the phone. She couldn¡¯t truly set her dog on Jackie, and calling building security would take too long. With a cold expression, she snatched the phone back and pressed it to her ear. ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°Anneliese, you did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you? Do you have any idea what I went through, 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 153 A Bitter Confrontation 39 s thinking you were missing, seeing that car drenched in blood? I nearly turned Riveraton upside down looking for you! And you¡­ you just ran back to Oceaton! I-¡± His voice broke into harsh curses, thick with rage and panic, rough from strain. Anneliese pulled the phone away slightly, her tone cutting as she interrupted. ¡°Well, thank you so much for your concern. Anyone listening might actually believe Rory wasn¡¯t acting under your orders.¡± 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 Created 154 Chapter 154 Words That Can¡¯t Be Taken Back Chapter 154 Words That Can¡¯t Be Taken Back 39 s The woman¡¯s voice through the receiver was still the one Zacharias knew so well, but it carried no warmth, no fluctuation. If anything, there was only impatience and mockery. In contrast, his own frantic desperation made him feel like aplete fool. His grip on the phone was so tight his knuckles turned white, his wrist trembling faintly. Standing on the unfamiliar street under the night sky, he felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over him. After the chill came a bone¨Cdeep exhaustion, as though all his strength had been drained away. His chest rose and fell rapidly. ¡°Anne, I never ordered Rory to hurt you! I swear. You have to believe me when I saw his car flipped over and you gone, I thought my heart had stopped. ¡°You can¡¯t throw away everything between us because of one lie, one mistake! You can¡¯t erase all our years together! I was worried sick. Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± His voice cracked with pain, even carrying a note of pleading. A cold wind swept past Anneliese, whipping her hair across her face. She didn¡¯t bother to brush it aside. Her throat tightened before she finally spoke. ¡°Zacharias, I believe you.¡± She believed that he had been worried. Years together left something behind, even if it wasn¡¯t love. To put it bluntly, even a dog that clung to him for over a decade would mean something eventually. How much more so when she had stood beside him through hardship into wealth? If she had been hurt and Zacharias hadn¡¯t cared at all, then she would have been the real fool. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel Hearing her say she believed him almost brought tears to Zacharias¡® eyes. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, lips lifting slightly as he was about to speak¨Conly for her voice to cut through again. ¡°But Zacharias, whether you worry or not, I don¡¯t care anymore.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t care? Why don¡¯t you care? How could you not care?¡± His breathing grew uneven again. She doesn¡¯t care anymore? Doesn¡¯t that mean she no longer cares about me either?! Does she not love me anymore? Zacharias refused to ept it. As soon as she made another sound, he cut her off, questions tumbling out in a rush. ¡°If you don¡¯t care about me, who do you care about? Jonathan Fullbuster? Don¡¯t deny it¨CI know you flew to Riveraton on his private jet, and he pulled you out of Rory¡¯s hands, didn¡¯t he? ¡°How far have you two gone? Dr. Helpis said your condition was cured long ago. Why did you hide it from me? Anneliese, have you slept with him?¡± His voice rose, thick with jealousy and 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 154 Words That Can¡¯t Be Taken Back. fury. $39 s Anneliese went pale with anger. ¡°Shut up! Zacharias Shaw, I¡¯m not as vile as you! Jonathan and I are innocent.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to justify herself to him. But he was clearly unhinged, and if she didn¡¯t make it clear, she feared he might go after Jonathan. That would be humiliating beyond measure. Her calm certainty steadied him. The breakdown in his voice softened, his tone turning almost hopeful. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t betray me, honey. You still care about me, don¡¯t you?¡± Anneliese crushed his fantasy with cold finality. ¡°I¡¯ve taken Rory¡¯s evidence. You know very well why. When you¡¯re back, find the time to get the divorce papers signed.¡± Zacharias didn¡¯t catch that she said ¡°get the papers¡± rather than ¡°file for divorce.¡± His fury red. ¡°Rory¡¯s evidence proves nothing. Don¡¯t think you can use it to threaten me. I won¡¯t agree to a divorce!¡± He mmed the call closed and turned, driving his fist into a tree. Jonathan had only been away two days before his schedule shifted again, piling up work. By the time he left the office and headed back to Maple Bay, the city was lit in neon, and night had fallen. At an intersection, Zion nced over. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, did Ms. ude reach out to you after you parted ways today?¡± Jonathan, scrolling through documents on his tablet, didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason. I just bet she would contact you first.¡± Jonathan finally lifted his eyes. His face was as cold as ever, but Zion swore he caught a flicker of curiosity. He grinned. ¡°Think about it, sir. Ms. ude saw Ms. Malone today. And then you turned down her dinner invitation because of Ms. Malone. You think she won¡¯t read into that?¡± Jonathan frowned slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t refuse because of India. I refused because of work.¡± Created 155 Sep Chapter 155 Messages and Misunderstandings Chapter 155 Messages and Misunderstandings s ¡°Alright, you turned her down because of work,¡± Zion said, ¡°but you still left with Ms. Malone, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Zion analyzed it with confidence. ¡°All in all, I think, if Ms. ude really likes you, she¡¯ll definitely reach out first. She might even try to casually ask about your rtionship with Ms. Malone. I¡¯ll bet two months¡® bonuses that she¡¯ll text you first.¡± Jonathan looked thoughtful. ¡°Double your year¨Cend bonus.¡± Good Lord, fortune dropped out of the sky! Zion pped the steering wheel. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re the best!¡± The promise was so tempting, he almost wanted to cheat¨Cmaybe secretly beg Anneliese to text Jonathan right away. The entire drive, he prayed silently for the phone to buzz. And maybe heaven heard him, because just as they neared Maple Bay, Jonathan¡¯s WhatsApp notification chimed. ¡°It has to be Ms. ude! Boss, check it!¡± Zion was more excited than Jonathan himself. Jonathan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, though he acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard. He calmly finished signing an electronic contract on his tablet before setting it aside and picking up his phone. Zion, tense about his bonus, pulled the car over to the side of the road. When Jonathan unlocked his screen and saw six new red dots from his pinned chat, a spark lit in his eyes, his lips curved almost against his will. She messaged me. Six in a row. Zion sped his hands together, rubbing them in glee. No doubt about it. The boss is over the moon. My double bonus is in the bag. ¡°Quick, check what Ms. ude said! Is she asking about Ms. Malone?¡± Zion pressed eagerly, already dreaming bigger. Maybe if Boss and Ms. ude make things official tonight, he¡¯ll be so happy he¡¯ll toss me a vi! But the next second, Jonathan¡¯s faint smile vanished. His gaze locked on the phone, eyes turning cold as frost. A chill radiated through the car until Zion¡¯s neck prickled. When Jonathan darkened the screen with a snap and looked up, Zion knew it was over. ¡°Your bonus this month is gone.¡± 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 155 Messages and Misunderstandings. Zion froze. ¡°Wha¨Cwhy? Boss, didn¡¯t Ms. ude message you?¡± he asked weakly. ¡°Next month¡¯s too.¡± ¨C 39 s Zion¡¯s jaw dropped. He shut his mouth quickly and turned back to the wheel. But I saw that look -Boss was pleased at first. It had to be Ms. ude¡¯s message. So, what on earth did she send to make him this furious? In the back seat, Jonathan¡¯s mood was stormy. That d*mn woman! Not a single word about India. Instead, she wired me money¨Cfive separate transfers, adding up to a million. ¡®I looked into charter costs. A million isn¡¯t nearly enough for a round trip, not to mention you helped me retrieve the five million I gave Rory. Please ept this as a small token of thanks!¡® Jonathan didn¡¯t need Zion¡¯s analysis to see what it meant. Even without dating experience, he understood. She had drawn a clear line between them, calcting every penny¨Cno intention whatsoever of stepping closer. Later that night, Anneliese was ready for bed, but Meatloaf kept pacing in front of the door, circling and whining. No amount of coaxing could get it to settle down. ¡°What, do you need to go out again?¡± The big dog pped its paws twice against the door. Sighing, Anneliese threw on a thin down jacket, clipped a leash to its cor, and led it out. The elevator doors opened, and Meatloaf bolted inside, nearly yanking her off her feet. ¡°Are you in such a hurry? Can¡¯t you show a little dignity?¡± She pressed the button for the first floor, the car beginning its slow descent. Meatloaf stared at the panel, then suddenly scratched at the doors, whining in distress. Startled, she pulled hard on the leash. ¡°That¡¯s dangerous! Meatloaf, what are you doing?¡± It howled and barked furiously, so Anneliese crouched to hold it tight, trying to soothe it. But when the elevator reached the ground floor, Meatloaf refused to leave. It sat stubbornly inside, eyes wary. ¡°Didn¡¯t you need to go? Come on, out!¡± It whimpered low. 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel Chapter 155 Messages and Misunderstandings ¡°Meatloaf, if you don¡¯t listen, I¡¯m going to get mad.¡± Created 156 Chapter 156 A Dog¡¯s Betrayal s Anneliese had to coax and tug with all her strength just to drag that troublemaker outside. But before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Meatloaf squatted down again, tail stuck in the air. No matter how hard she pulled at the leash, it refused to budge, tilting its head back and letting out long, mournful howls toward the sky. ¡°Miss, is this your dog?¡± An old man out for a walk stopped to watch and chuckled at the scene. Anneliese stared at him, speechless. With no other choice, she crouched down beside Meatloaf and looked up at the sky too. She had to see what on earth could make this dog so sorrowful. Then she realized Meatloaf¡¯s gaze was fixed on the very top floor¨CJonathan¡¯s apartment. Mystery solved! ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Is Jonathan some kind of male siren? How did even you fall for him? Meatloaf, I¡¯m your owner! Are you rebelling against me now? This is mutiny! Come on, get up! No? Fine¨Cif you don¡¯t move, we¡¯re going home!¡± But even that didn¡¯t work. Meatloaf refused to budge, as if determined to turn into a statue right there at the foot of the building. ¡°Meatloaf, be good. Jonathan¡¯s busy! And he¡¯s not your owner, so he¡¯s not responsible for walking you. I can¡¯t trouble him toe downstairs with me every day. Are you really not going back? Fine, then stay here by yourself! I¡¯m leaving! Really!¡± Anneliese dropped the leash and walked inside the apartment building, but Meatloaf didn¡¯t so much as twitch. Fuming, she stomped back out, crouched in front of it, and snapped, ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not spoiling you! Look at me and figure out who your owner really is!¡± She grabbed its head with both hands and tried to turn it toward her. However, Meatloaf twisted stubbornly, eyes still locked on the rooftop. She turned again, and it turned back. The standoff between the woman and the dogsted twenty minutes before Anneliese finally broke. Tossing the leash aside, she slumped onto the edge of a flowerbed. The cold wind whipped around her, leaving her even more depressed than the dog. Upstairs in his study, Jonathan was in the middle of an overseas video conference. Before returning home to take over Aerolux Airways, he had founded his own techpany 9:34 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 156 A Dog¡¯s Betrayal 39 s Newest update provided by F?nd-Novel in Age, and it had grown quite well. Lately, his time had been consumed by AeroAir, so he could only handle his otherpany¡¯s affairs in short intervals. Fortunately, thepany was already on track. The professional managers he had hired were outstanding, and the business ran smoothly without much effort from him. At that moment, the marketing director¨Ca woman in her forties¨Cwas proudly reportingst quarter¡¯s growth in user share. Jonathan, the young CEO, listened intently, then suddenly tilted his head. ¡°One moment.¡± He raised his hand for a pause and stepped out of frame. The people on the other side exchanged looks. Their boss wasn¡¯t the type to get distracted in the middle of a meeting. When he worked, his focus was frightening. He had never once interrupted a conference halfway, so everyone was naturally curious about what emergency hade up. But there was no emergency. Jonathan had simply heard a faint dog¡¯s bark. He walked out onto the balcony and looked down. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, he spotted two tiny silhouettes squatting below¨Cone human, one dog. Returning to theputer, he spoke in his smooth Androsian ent. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. The results are clear, especially the breakthrough from the tech team in local innovation. Very good. ¡°But challenges remain. The tech department¡¯s next priority will be deep system development. Please ensure cross¨Cdepartment resources are aligned. That will be all for today.¡± He wrapped up the meeting quickly and shut theptop. Five minutester, Meatloaf suddenly barked and darted forward. Anneliese was still slumped on the flowerbed, toozy to lift her head. Traitor. I¡¯m done with you. Then a pair of white sneakers appeared before her eyes. Anneliese looked up and was stunned to see Jonathan in a ck¨Cand¨Cwhite tracksuit, casually holding Meatloaf¡¯s leash. His features were clear and rxed, effortlessly striking. Yes, the man was handsome¨Cextremely so. But to Anneliese in that moment, the sight of him. was nothing but irritating. That clear, noble look of his¡­ he¡¯s really just a dog thief, isn¡¯t he? 9:35 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 156 A Dog¡¯s Betrayal 39 s ¡°You¡¯re wired me a million like it was nothing, yet here you are now squatting on the street like a street performer.¡± Jonathan arched a brow, his mellow voice drifting easily on the night air. Anneliese ground her teeth. Her resentment deepened, and she snapped back¡ª Chapter 157 Sugar¨CCoated Trouble Created 157 Chapter 157 Sugar¨CCoated Trouble s ¡°Yeah? Want me to show you how to snap a neck with my bare hands?¡± She pressed her palms together, making her knuckles crack. Jonathan chuckled and pulled one hand out of his pocket, holding it open in front of her. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll tip you.¡± She looked down and saw a piece of hard candy in his palm. The shiny wrapper glimmered under the streetlight, almost as if it whispered: Don¡¯t be upset anymore after eating me. It felt like he was coaxing a child. Anneliese couldn¡¯t helpughing. Strangely enough, her mood lifted. She plucked the candy from his hand, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. It was lychee¨Cvored¨Csweet and surprisingly good. Jonathan noticed the way her fingers brushed his palm when she picked it up, leaving a faint, ticklish sensation. When she bent her eyes in a smile, the candy between her lips, the feeling reached its peak. His fingers curled slightly, his thumb rubbing against his palm, and for some reason, the heavy knot in his chest from the moment she had transferred him money loosened. ¡°What¡¯s up with Meatloaf?¡± he asked. Anneliese¡¯s tone was full of usation. ¡°You really have to ask? Ever since it met you, this dog hasn¡¯t been the same. I was about to sleep earlier when it started pacing by the door, pawing at it. ¡°I thought it had to poop, so I took it downstairs¨Conly for it to nt itself here, staring at your floor without moving an inch. Two days without seeing you and it¡¯s acting like it¡¯s lovesick!¡± She red at Jonathan, then turned that re on Meatloaf. The dog stuck out its tongue pitifully before nestling against Jonathan¡¯s leg. Jonathan bent down to rub its head, and Meatloaf wagged furiously, spinning in circles with delight. The sight made Anneliese¡¯s chest ache with frustration. Jonathan lifted his eyes to her. ¡°Why re at him? Meatloaf¡¯s got more heart than you.¡± Anneliese fell silent. Me? How do I not have a heart?! ¡°Quit dodging the question. Tell me¨Cwhat exactly did you do to my dog?¡± she demanded. 9:35 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 157 Sugar¨CCoated Trouble #39 s ¡°Even if you suspect me of seducing you, surely you don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seduced your dog too?¡± Jonathan asked dryly. Anneliese rolled her eyes. She wasn¡¯t nearly vain enough to imagine Jonathan would seduce her. What woman hadn¡¯t a man like him¨Cbrilliant, powerful¨Cmet already? Even earlier that day, when she met India, she had to admit she was instantly charmed. Someone like Jonathan could have any woman he wanted. Why would he bother with her, a woman still legally married? She forced augh. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just saying Meatloaf really likes you.¡± Jonathan tightened his grip on the leash. ¡°Come on then, I¡¯ll help you walk it.¡± Relieved, Anneliese let out a breath. She truly had no way of dealing with this moody dog. ¡°Won¡¯t that trouble you?¡± Tilting her face up, she nced at him. Jonathan¡¯s eyes cut sideways to hers. ¡°Why? nning to wire me another dog¨Cwalking fee? My time¡¯s expensive, but I¡¯ll give you a discount¨Chalf an hour for just one million. Surely, to you, that¡¯s nothing.¡± Anneliese gaped. She looked from Jonathan to Meatloaf and back again. ¡°Are you short on pets? I¡¯m abandoning Meatloaf¨Cyou can have it.¡± ¡°Awroo!¡± Meatloaf whined, as if it understood, pitiful eyes trained on her. Jonathan flicked his finger lightly against her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll discipline her for you. Heartless witch.¡± ¡°Woof woof!¡± Meatloaf barked in triumph, chest puffed with pride. To Anneliese, it looked like some scheming traitor reveling in his victory. She groaned inwardly. This stupid dog is hopeless! Jonathan hit me, and it¡¯s actually happy about it! Click! The sharp snap of a camera shutter cut through the air, followed by an angry voice. ¡°Anneliese ude! You tell me you two are innocent?!¡± Zacharias stormed toward her, face dark with rage, phone clutched in his hand. He nearly shoved the screen into her face, showing the photo he had just taken. He had rushed back from Riveraton on the first flight, desperate to see her. Even though Jackie assured him she was fine, he hadn¡¯t been able to rest until heid eyes on her himself. But 9:35 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 157 Sugar¨CCoated Trouble what did he see? 0:0 39 s Her, with Jonathante at night,ughing together, their eyes meeting with unspoken meaning, the air thick with intimacy. Standing side by side, walking the dog¡­ they looked like a family. That sight dragged old memories up to the surface, ones Anneliese didn¡¯t know but Zacharias remembered all too well. 9:35 Thu, Sep Discover more novels at find[?]ovel Created 158 Chapter 158 Shattered Illusions Chapter 158 Shattered Illusions s To Zacharias, that demned dog was proof enough¨CMeatloaf had been nted at Anneliese¡¯s side by Jonathan from the very start. This man was dark and twisted, and he had coveted Anneliese, his wife, all along. It went back to the second month after Anneliese¡¯s adoptive parents passed away. Anneliese was living with her grieving grandmother, and the entire ude family was drowned in sorrow. This text is hosted at find[?]ovel One afternoon, Zacharias came home from school and spotted a spotless luxury car parked near their old neighborhood. A chauffeur respectfully opened the door, and out stepped a clean¨Ccut, aristocratic¨Clooking boy, holding in his arms a half¨Cgrown golden retriever¨Cdirty, injured in the hind leg. The boy and the luxury car looked painfully out of ce in the shabby alleyway. Zacharias couldn¡¯t help watching, right up until the boy entered their neighborhood. He saw him crouch in a corner, pull out a worn schoolbag, and let the dog sniff it over and over. Zacharias recognized that bag. It was Anneliese¡¯s old one. Frederick had bought her a new schoolbag shortly before he died, so how had her discarded bag ended up in the hands of this stranger? The boy let the golden retriever smell the bag for a long while, then shooed the dog into the neighborhood street and hid himself. Soon after, Anneliese¡¯s small figure came out of the old building. She spotted the wounded puppy, and with her pocket money, she bought it a slice of meatloaf. From then on, the dog wouldn¡¯t leave her side. When she finally scooped it up, stroking its wet fur, her eyes curved in a smile. It was the first time Zacharias had seen her smile since the ude couple¡¯s death. She brought the golden retriever home, named it Meatloaf, and asked around the neighborhood for its owner. But Zacharias couldn¡¯t bear for her to discover that the dog hade from that noble¨Clooking boy. He worried that her search would lead her back to him¡ªa person from an entirely different world. So, Zacharias lied, saying he had bought the puppy for her himself. Anneliese was delighted, and from then on, she clung to him even more. For a long time, Zacharias had feared Jonathan would return and expose his lie. But the boy Chapter 158 Shattered Illusions s never appeared again¨Cuntil now, when Jonathan stood at Anneliese¡¯s side once more, stronger than ever. So, the sight of the two of them with that dog pierced Zacharias like a de. It was unbearable, so painful that he hid his panic behind jealousy and rage. ¡°Zacharias, if you¡¯ve gone nuts, go to a psychiatric ward. Don¡¯t go around biting people like a mad dog,¡± Anneliese snapped, instinctively moving in front of Jonathan. Even Meatloaf crouched low, barking sharp warnings at Zacharias. The scene made Zacharias¡® blood boil. Blinded by fury, he reached out to grab Anneliese¨Cbut his hand was caught midair in a crushing grip. He couldn¡¯t move another inch. ¡°Jonathan Fullbuster,¡± he spat, ¡°you¡¯d better stay out of a married couple¡¯s affair. Or does the great Fullbuster heir, the CEO of AeroAir, really want to stoop to being a homewrecker?¡± His words were sharp, his eyes icy as he red at the man now standing squarely between him and Anneliese. Jonathan slid one hand in his pocket, standing tall, unyielding. ¡°Married couple? Not for much longer, surely. She doesn¡¯t want you near her. That means you won¡¯t take another step closer.¡± Zacharias¡® chest heaved as he fixed his gaze on Anneliese. ¡°Anne,e here.¡± Jonathan turned slightly, his voice calm but serious. ¡°Do you want to talk to him?¡± He asked as though he would honor her choice¨Cif she nodded, he would let go of Zacharias. But if she shook her head, then Zacharias would never cross that line. For the first time, Anneliese feltpletely at ease. She shook her head lightly. There was nothing left to say. She had told Zacharias everything already. He just refused to believe she would really leave him and kept clinging, trying to win her back. But she was exhausted, and her patience long gone. She thought, once the divorce papers were signed, Zacharias would finally realize it was truly over, and maybe then he would stop harassing her. Seeing her firm shake of the head, Jonathan¡¯s fist¨Chidden in his pocket¨Cquietly loosened. His lips curved faintly. ¡°All right. You take Meatloaf upstairs first.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Anneliese answered obediently, turned, and led Meatloaf away. Zacharias stood frozen, watching Jonathan shield her with the steady stance of a protector, watching the way the two of them seemed in sync, watching how naturally Anneliese trusted him. She even walked away at his word. 9:35 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 158 Shattered Illusions : But that trust¨Cthat reliance¨Cwas supposed to belong to him. She didn¡¯t love him anymore. And worse, she might have already started falling for another
  1. an.
Never had Zacharias felt that truth so sharply, so painfully, as he did in that moment. +5 Free hapter 139 A DIOW Chapter 159 A Blow Exchanged Created 159 Chapter 159 A Blow Exchanged Zacharias felt as if a knife had split open his chest, the cold wind rushing straight in. ¡°Anneliese! Babe, stop!¡± He struggled forward, voice hoarse with desperation. But Anneliese never looked back. Jonathan¡¯s tall frame stood firmly between them, and Zacharias couldn¡¯t break past him. As Anneliese¡¯s figure disappeared from view, rage consumed Zacharias. He clenched his fists and swung hard at Jonathan. Jonathan instinctively raised his hand to block, but a flicker of hesitation slowed him for just an instant. Zacharias¡® fist grazed his cheekbone, and in the same moment, Jonathannded a heavy punch of his own. The blownded with a sharp bam. Zacharias staggered back two steps, the corner of his lip split, the taste of blood flooding his mouth. ¡°Jonathan, do mouth. you dare admit you like her?¡± Zacharias sneered, wiping the blood from his Jonathan¡¯s expression remained calm andposed, but the words he spoke carried lethal weight. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? Yes. I like her very much.¡± To Zacharias, it was outrageous. This man dared to confess, right in front of her husband, that he liked his wife, saying it as casually as if he werementing on the weather. Jonathan¡¯s rxed stance, his ordinary tone, only made the deration more arrogant, more unforgivable. Zacharias was so livid that he nearly coughed up blood; in fact, his mouth was already full of it. Jonathan hadn¡¯t held back his punch in the slightest. Grinding his teeth, Zacharias shot back coldly, ¡°Ha. The great Fullbuster heir, and not even a shred of shame at being someone¡¯s homewrecker.¡± ¡°Mr. Shaw,¡± Jonathan countered, his voice loose and sardonic, ¡°you had no shame, cheating first. Compared to that, I¡¯m nothing.¡± Zacharias¡® fists trembled. ¡°Do you dare tell Anne who you really are? She¡¯ll never ept you if she knows you¡¯re only approaching her out of guilt, to make amends. I know her better than anyone¨Cyou and she have no chance. None. I¡¯m warning you, stop before you hurt her.¡± He thought those words wouldnd like a fatal blow, that he¡¯d finally see Jonathan¡¯s polished, aristocratic mask crack into panic and shame. But Jonathan didn¡¯t so much as blink. 9:35 Thu, Sep 11 Discover more novels at find{n}ovel Chapter 159 A Blow Exchanged 39 s He only regarded Zacharias with a cold, dismissive gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t know her as well as you think. If there¡¯s one man in this world she¡¯ll never be with again, it¡¯s the one who left her bruised all over and disappointed beyond repair¨Cyou.¡± Anneliese had brought Meatloaf home, but her heart was far from at ease. She found herself running to the balcony, opening the window to peer outside. From this height, this distance, she couldn¡¯t see a thing. Regret crept in. Why had she listened to Jonathan so easily? Zacharias already misunderstood her rtionship with him. She shouldn¡¯t have dragged Jonathan further into it. Who knew what Zacharias might do to him in a fit of madness? She paced the living room, debating whether to run back out again, when the doorbell rang. She rushed to the door and yanked it open. Seeing the tall figure standing there, she blurted anxiously, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly, but instead of answering, he asked, ¡°How were you so sure it was me outside?¡± She had opened the door too fast, clearly without checking. She couldn¡¯t even exin why, but she had known it was Jonathan, not Zacharias. Pressing her lips together, she said, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have trouble handling someone like Zacharias, right?¡± Jonathan took it as praise, as though she¡¯d said he was stronger. His brows arched slightly. ¡°He went home. Rest easy. If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll head upstairs.¡± His words said one thing, but his body said another. He didn¡¯t move, just angled his face slightly so that his right cheek, already bruised, was clearly visible to her. Anneliese noticed immediately and grabbed his arm. ¡°What happened to your face? Zacharias has gone mad¨Che actually hit you?!¡± Jonathan lifted his hand to cover the bruise, brushing it off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a scratch. I hit back too. Give it a night¡¯s rest and the swelling will go down.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good enough. Come inside. It needs to be treated, or it definitely won¡¯t be gone by morning.¡± She pulled Jonathan into her apartment. Meatloaf was the most weing of all, bounding up with a wagging tail and spinning in circles. ¡°I don¡¯t have men¡¯s slippers here,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about changing. Sit on the couch and wait¨CI¡¯ll get the medicine.¡± 9:35 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter Created 160 160 Too Close for Comfort Chapter 160 Too Close for Comfort s Anneliese let go of Jonathan¡¯s arm and hurried off to fetch the first¨Caid kit. Jonathan, however, still took off his sneakers at the entryway and walked into the living room in just his socks. Though she had been upstairs to his apartment more than once, this was the first time Jonathan had ever stepped into her home. He sat down on the couch, his gaze polite as it swept the room. Meatloaf padded over, shoving its big head into Jonathan¡¯s hand, and Jonathan rubbed it gently. When Anneliese turned back with the medicine, she found the man and the dog already in perfect harmony. Meatloaf was curled at Jonathan¡¯s feet, head resting on his thigh, eyes shut in bliss, looking ready to drift off under the steady strokes of Jonathan¡¯s hand. ¡°I swear, she¡¯s your dog,¡± she muttered. And in truth, Meatloaf had been his once¨Cthe smartest pup from Azuki¡¯s litter, raised by Jonathan until three months old before being sent to Anneliese¡¯s side. Jonathan¡¯s eyes lowered at the thought of Zacharias¡® earlier words. The light in them dimmed. He wasn¡¯t as calm and certain as he appeared. If she ever learned the truth about the past¡ª about who he really was¨Cwould she still let him stay close? ¡°What are you staring at? Lower your head.¡± Anneliese stood before him with a bottle of bruise spray in hand, but he kept his gaze down. Her voice tugged him back. Jonathan raised his head atst. Anneliese shook the bottle. ¡°This is the same one you gave mest time. Works pretty well. Close your eyes, I¡¯ll spray some on the bruise and rub it in.¡± She remembered the auction night, when Zacharias and Selina had hurt her wrist. Jonathan had used this same spray to treat her, and by the next day, the mark had nearly disappeared. ¡°All right,¡± Jonathan said softly, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. Anneliese leaned in, testing the angle with a couple of false starts. The problem was, with him. sitting there, eyes shut, his sharp,manding face rxed in quiet submission¨Cit put unexpected pressure on her nerves. ¡°Maybe I should cover your eye,¡± she murmured. ¡°If the spray hits yourshes, it¡¯ll sting.¡± His injury was far too close to his eye. Out of courtesy, perhaps, Jonathan suddenly opened his This content belongs to find?novel eyes. 9:36 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 160 Too Close for Comfort 39 s She hadn¡¯t expected it. Bending near, she froze as their gazes collided at close range. She could see every strand of his longshes, could see her own startled reflection mirrored in the depths of his dark eyes. Her breath caught. A loose strand of hair slipped free, brushing against his throat before fluttering away, leaving behind a trail of tingling heat that ran down her spine. Jonathan¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he rasped, ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Then he closed his again. eyes His skin was pale and wless, glowing like polished jade. Even with a bruise marring his cheek, his face looked almost morepelling, like a battle¨Cworn beauty that made him seem all the more striking. Sitting there with his head tilted back, eyes shut, he almost looked obedient, like someone waiting to be imed. Anneliese bit her lip, pushing away the strange stirrings in her chest. She lifted her hand atst, covered his eye with her palm, and sprayed twice before gently rubbing the medicine in. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± she asked. The bruise darkened under the treatment, standing out even more against the perfection of his features. ¡°Yeah, it hurts,¡± Jonathan admitted without holding back, brows drawn, hissing in pain. Guilt and worry pinched her heart. Without thinking, she bent closer and blew gently on the wound, her warm breath carrying a faint sweetness. It drifted across his senses, intoxicating, like a hidden perfume. The urge to lean in and kiss her swelled suddenly. She went to blow again, but Jonathan suddenly caught the hand shielding his eyes and pulled it down. With his other hand, he mped over her mouth. His eyes snapped open, sharp and dark. ¡°Don¡¯t blow like that.¡± His reaction startled her. Wide, clear eyes blinked up at him in confusion, her body gone rigid. Nervously, she ran her tongue over her lips¨Cbut in doing so, she brushed against his palm. The soft, damp touch seared into him, and his breath quickened. That single spot in his hand burned as if set on fire. How could it be that soft¡­ That delicate little tongue had once kissed him, slipped past his lips without rhythm, demanding sweetly. The memory surged back too fast. Before Jonathan could gather himself, Anneliese jerked away as if shocked, pushing him off Chapter 160 Too Close for Comfort and stumbling back two steps. 9:36 Thu, Sep Created 161 s Her checks burned red as she tossed the spray at him, blurting quickly, ¡°Alright. Take it home with you. Spray it again before bed, and by tomorrow it should be much better.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze lingered on her full, pink lips for several seconds before he forced down the surge of restlessness and disappointment rising inside him. Only then did his voice rumble low in response. He nodded and rose to his feet. His height cast a shadow over Anneliese, and without realizing it, she took another step back. The edge of the coffee table pressed into the back of her knee, and just as she tipped backward, his hand caught her arm and pulled her back upright. ¡°Careful.¡± ¡°Oh¨Cthanks.¡± Anneliese steadied herself and quickly thanked him. Looking up, she noticed the bruises on his face and asked with concern, ¡°Other than your face, did you hurt anywhere else? Do you feel unwell?¡± Jonathan had meant to y up his injuries, hoping to stir her sympathy, close the distance between them, and deepen her dislike for Zacharias. But as he stared at the guilt and apology written so inly across her expression, regret crept in. He realized he had been petty. His refined features softened as he gazed at her. ¡°No. Nowhere else.¡± He paused, then thought of what Zion had said earlier. ¡°What about you? Do you have anything you want to ask me?¡± ording to his assistant, since Anneliese had encountered India earlier that day, she¡¯d surely ask about his rtionship with India. However, she hadn¡¯t sent him a single WhatsApp message, nor brought it up at all. Did that mean she wasn¡¯t jealous at all, that she truly had no special feelings for him? Caught off guard by his question, Anneliese shook her head. ¡°No, nothing to ask.¡± His gaze carried a quiet pressure that made her tense up without knowing why. Jonathan clearly wasn¡¯t satisfied with her answer. He stepped forward and bent slightly, closing the distance between them. ¡°Think again.¡± Anneliese instinctively retreated half a step, her face flustered. ¡°Really, I don¡¯t have anything to ask¡­ Just, um, sorry for getting you hurt tonight.¡± 9:36 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 161 Dreams That Burn D: $38 s With her head lowered, she looked like a child admitting to a mistake. The confusion in her eyes and that small, unconscious step back left Jonathan feeling utterly defeated. He stopped, eyes dark and heavy, before lifting a hand and ruffling the top of her head with a firm rub. His voice came low, edged with helplessness. ¡°Forget it.¡± He pressed down harder than necessary, mussing her silky smooth hair into a messy tangle. Anneliese blinked, stunned by the sudden teasing. Forget what, exactly? By the time she dodged away and patted her hair back into ce, his tall frame was already by the entryway. He slipped on his shoes, then turned as if remembering something. ¡°You¡¯re still recovering. Don¡¯t bother making breakfast tomorrow. Rest. I¡¯ll have Zion bring food over.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you. See you tomorrow.¡± She walked toward him. Jonathan looked at her and said softly, ¡°Alright. Goodnight. Sweet dreams.¡± Even if she didn¡¯t have him in her heart yet, he hoped at least she would dream of him that night. And she did. In her dream, inside a dark car, she straddled him on the seat, kissing the small mole at his throat. His narrow eyes, usually so cold and distant, shimmered with tears, and his voice broke with strained restraint. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ we can¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°Why not? I want you. Trust me, you¡¯ll like this.¡± She pressed her body against him, cupped his face, and kissed him hard. The man who had always denied himself finally gave in to her lure. He pinned her wrists. behind her back, flipped her beneath him, and with smoldering eyes that ignited her, pressed down. But just then, blinding headlights swept over the car. ¡°Go to hell!¡± She looked up to see Zacharias¡® furious face behind the wheel, driving straight at them. The rightful source is find~novel Bang! Anneliese jolted awake at the scream, bolting upright in bed, heart hammering. The dream clung vividly to her mind¨Cthe chaos in the back seat felt so real, as if it had actually happened. Her phone buzzed. Pressing her flushed cheeks, she shook her head, still dizzy, and picked up the call. 38 s 9:36 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 161 Dreams That Burn ¡°Madam, Mr. Shaw was beatenst night. He¡¯s dizzy, his eardrum¡¯s bleeding¨Che¡¯s in the hospital now. You need toe right away.¡± Jackie¡¯s anxious voice rang out. Anneliese slipped out of bed and yanked open the curtains. Created 162 Chapter 162 I Don¡¯t Love You Anymore Chapter 162 I Don¡¯t Love You Anymore 38 s The bright morning light spilled through the window, finally scattering the absurd dream like mist. Her voice was cool. ¡°That has nothing to do with me. You can call Slenderidge.¡± She was about to hang up when Zacharias snatched the phone back. ¡°Anneliese, if you don¡¯te, I¡¯ll call the police. I¡¯ll have them investigate your lover!¡± His words came through clenched teeth, and when his injuries tugged at his face, he let out a hiss of pain. Chapters first released on find¡¤novel The sound only lifted Anneliese¡¯s spirits. Her tone turned light. ¡°Go ahead, call the police. Perfect timing. I¡¯ll bring along the recording Rory Reyes gave me and let them hear it too.¡± ¡°Is that a threat, Anneliese!¡± Zacharias¡® voice dropped to a chilling cold. He had been beaten, yes, but he had exaggerated the injuries on purpose and checked himself into the hospital, convinced she would worry, that she woulde rushing over. Instead, she sounded delighted by his misery. Was the Anneliese who once cared for him in every detail, who put him above all else, really gone? ¡°So what if I¡¯m threatening you? It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve never threatened me before.¡± Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. Zacharias clenched his fist and took a steadying breath. ¡°Anne, if you don¡¯t want toe, fine, I won¡¯t force you. But I¡¯m telling you, that recording you have means nothing. It¡¯s not real evidence. You can¡¯t use it to pressure me. And don¡¯t think I¡¯ll agree to a divorce because of it either. ¡°Do you really think Jonathan is such a great man? With his status, do you honestly believe he¡¯ll be serious about you? I heard he already has a childhood sweetheart lined up, a pilot with a solid family background. Old Mr. Fullbuster couldn¡¯t be happier with her. ¡°You think Jonathan will give up someone like that to choose you¨Ca divorced woman? Wake up!¡± Anneliese¡¯s good mood vanished under his constant nder. Her brow furrowed. ¡°Zacharias, you¡¯re the one who needs to wake up. Stop dragging other people into this! I want to divorce you for one reason only¨Cbecause I finally see you clearly. You¡¯re nothing but rotten to the core. I stopped loving you a long time ago.¡± Those words¨CI stopped loving you¨Cwere sharper than any de, piercing Zacharias¡® ears and sinking into his chest. His face turned ashen, his grip on the phone nearly slipping. His strength drained, and he slumped back against the hospital bed. 9:36 Thu, Sep 11 38 Chapter 162 I Don¡¯t Love You Anymore s ¡°I don¡¯t believe you! After more than ten years together, how can you say you don¡¯t love me anymore? Anne, what about the bracelet your grandmother left you? Tomorrow is your mother¡¯s birthday. Come to the White estate, and I¡¯ll give it back. Then we can sit down and talk, alright?¡± His voice carried both pleading and persistence. Anneliese frowned in irritation, but the bracelet was something she needed to reim. The divorce cooling¨Coff period also had just three days left. She wanted to settle everything at once. ¡°Fine.¡± She agreed, then hung up before he could say another word. Zacharias stared at the silent phone, his head buzzing. ¡°I don¡¯t love you anymore.¡± Her words echoed like a curse, pounding in his ears. He pressed his aching temples and slowly calmed himself. She had agreed toe to the White estate and talk the next day. She must have said that out of anger. How could she not love me? Loving me is her instinct. She¡¯s always been a part of me, like a bone inside my body, inseparable. As long as I exin things and give her everything she wants, she¡¯ll back to me. With that thought, Zacharias grew certain. Mnie¡¯s birthday banquet would be critical, and he couldn¡¯t afford a single misstep. He immediately dialed Selina. At home, Selina was trying on gowns. After four years abroad, she nned to make a dazzling return at Mnie¡¯s birthday banquet. She wanted everyone to see that even after years away, she was still the White family¡¯s little princess. She had spent days currying favor with Jonathan¡¯s mother, who finally agreed to deliver an invitation to Jonathan on her behalf. His presence at the banquet would make Selina the of all Oceaton, the brightest jewel of the night. envy When Zacharias¡® call came through, her eyes lit up. She answered quickly. ¡°Zacharias, I¡¯m trying on dresses right now. Want to video call and help me pick which jewelry looks best?¡± His voice was hoarse. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯m calling to ask about jewelry. Anne¡¯s bracelet should have been delivered by now, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Created 163 Chapter 163 The Weight of Apologies Chapter 163 The Weight of Apologies The smile faded from Selina¡¯s face. a Just a few nights ago, she had fallen down the stairs and hurt herself, yet Zacharias hadn¡¯t called her once to ask how she was. Now that he finally had, he was only asking about the bracelet. She took a deep breath before forcing a smile. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s here. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve kept it safe. Tomorrow at Mother¡¯s birthday banquet, I¡¯ll put it on Anne¡¯s wrist myself and apologize properly. That should be enough, shouldn¡¯t it?¡± Her tone grew increasingly pitiful, waiting for Zacharias tofort her. Instead, his voice came stern. ¡°That won¡¯t do. Selina, speak with your parents and brothers. When everyone apologizes to Anne tomorrow, they should each bring her a gift as well. Can you do that?¡± Selina nearly smashed her phone in fury. The next day was supposed to be her stage, her grand return to society with the birthday banquet as her backdrop. Apologizing was bad enough¨Cbut to bring gifts for Anneliese too? Did she deserve that? Still, she had always crafted her image before Zacharias as tolerant and kindhearted. She let out a softugh. ¡°Zacharias, if you spoil Anne like this, you¡¯ll ruin her. Fine, I understand. I¡¯ll tell Father.¡± After hanging up, Selina mmed the phone onto the table. She picked up the bracelet from the jewelry box and dangled it loosely from her finger, eyes glinting with mocking coldness. ¡°Selina, you look stunning.¡± Mnie entered then, beaming at her daughter in the purple gown. Selina quickly wiped her eyes and turned to her with reddened rims. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me ¡®nothing.¡® You¡¯ve been crying¨Cwhat happened? Do you want to drive me crazy with worry?¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s really nothing. Zacharias just called and said Anne still refuses to forgive him, that she¡¯s still kicking up a fuss. He wants each of us to prepare a heavy gift and apologize on our knees¡­¡± 9:36 Thu, Sep 11 Read full story at find?novel Chapter 163 The Weight of Apologies 38 s Mnie cut her off in outrage. ¡°What? Kneel? We¡¯re her parents! Isn¡¯t she afraid that making us kneel will cut her own life short?¡± Seeing her fury, Selina quickly patted her chest to calm her. ¡°No, Mom, you misunderstood. You and Dad won¡¯t need to¨Cjust me and the guys. As long as Anne forgives us, I¡¯m willing. I¡¯ll persuade Perseus and Christopher.¡± Selina started toward the door, but Mnie caught her arm. ¡°No! You and your brothers won¡¯t either. Don¡¯t mention this to your father.¡± ¡°But Zacharias¡­¡± Selina hesitated. ¡°Listen to me.¡± Mnie patted her hand firmly. Perseus, Christopher, and Selina were the flesh of her heart. How could she allow them to kneel before Anneliese? Timothy, however, valued Zacharias highly and might actually consider it. That was exactly why Mnie wouldn¡¯t let him know. ¡°Alright, if you say so.¡± Selina nodded anxiously. Mnie then asked, ¡°Will Mr. Fullbuster trulye tomorrow?¡± A blush rose to Selina¡¯s cheeks as she nodded shyly. Mnie lit up with excitement. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! The Fullbuster heir from Halden at my birthday banquet¨Cwhat an honor! People will envy us to no end. I¡¯ll have so much face tomorrow.¡± Though the White family was wealthy, in Oceaton¨Clet alone in Halden¨Cthey were nowhere near the Fullbusters¡® level. Mnie looked at her daughter with pride and satisfaction, imagining her future as Mrs. Fullbuster. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll introduce you to him tomorrow.¡± Selina slipped her arm through her mother¡¯s, smiling sweetly. At Maple Bay, Zion had already arrived early in the morning, bringing Jonathan breakfast. While Jonathan tidied his appearance, Zion stood by to deliver the day¡¯s work reports. When he finished, he handed over a gilded invitation. ¡°This was sent by Madam. Tomorrow is Mrs. White¡¯s birthday banquet. She asked that you attend on her behalf to deliver birthday wishes, since Ms. White once helped her.¡± Jonathan adjusted his cufflinks without lifting his head. ¡°Not going.¡± Zion wasn¡¯t surprised and tucked the invitation away without protest. 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 163 The Weight of Apologies 38 s Jonathan reached for his suit jacket, then seemed to reconsider. He tossed the jacket to Zion. ¡°Hold this.¡± Zion caught it awkwardly, only to freeze in shock as he watched Jonathan pull off the tie he had just finished knotting in front of the mirror. 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 164 The Wrong Message Created 164 Chapter 164 The Wrong Message Chapter 164 The Wrong Message 38 s Jonathan loosened two buttons on his shirt, deliberately exposing the line of his neck and corbone. He turned left and right in front of the mirror, studying himself for a long while. Then he found an angle, pulled out his phone, and snapped two quick photos. ¡°Which one looks better?¡± Sorry? Zion blinked. My workaholic boss is suddenly anxious about his looks at the crack of dawn? As exasperated as he was, Zion still did his duty. He took the phone andpared the shots carefully. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, with a face like yours, every picture looks good. But if I really have to pick, then maybe this one?¡± Jonathan nced at the photo Zion chose, dismissed it as basic guy taste, deleted it, and sent the other one straight to Anneliese. Zion was speechless. Unbelievable. First thing in the morning, he ys me like an idiot and unts his love life. Sending coy, half¨Crevealing selfies¨Chow did I never notice before that my boss has such natural talent for being the teasing angelic b*tch type? Anneliese was brushing her teeth at the sink when the photo came through. She absentmindedly unlocked her phone, tapped the image, and nearly choked on her mouthwash. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± She quickly rinsed and wiped her face before looking at the photo again. No mistake¡ªit was Jonathan himself. That wless profile, the sharp jawline, the tall,manding posture, even when standing casually. It was definitely him. But what on earth was he doing sending her a bare¨Cneck, bare¨Ccorbone selfie first thing in the morning? She started typing. ¡®Mr. Fullbuster, did someone hack your ount?¡® No, delete that. ¡®So handsome! Want me to help check your outfit?¡® No, no, not good either. 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 164 The Wrong Message 38 s She kept deleting and rewriting, unable to settle on a reply, when Jonathan¡¯s message arrived first. ¡°The bruises don¡¯t look obvious, right? I have an important meeting today. No need to wear a mask, correct?¡® Relieved, Anneliese patted her chest. So that¡¯s what this was about. She erged the photo, focusing on the side of his face where the bruise had been. His body¡¯s ability to heal was astonishing¨Cthe swelling and redness fromst night had almost vanished. She was about to reply when she noticed her fingers had lingered, erged right over his corbone and the small dark mole at his throat. At once, the dream fromst night shed back, and she nearly dropped her phone in guilty panic. She fumbled to close the image. Another notification chimed. Anneliese looked¨Cand her mind went nk. ¡®So handsome! Want to¡® , ¡®?¡® She froze. The half¨Cdeleted message she had typed earlier had somehow been sent, leaving behind a terribly ambiguous line. Oh no, oh no. How do I even exin this? She spun in circles in the bathroom, mortified. Meanwhile, Jonathan stepped into the elevator. He looked down at his phone, watching her typing indicator blink nonstop, and the corners of his lips curved. The elevator stopped at Anneliese¡¯s floor. He stepped out. ¡®Open the door. Before she could figure out how to exin, another message popped up. She remembered he had saidst night he would bring breakfast. She rushed to the door, peeked through the peephole, then braced herself and opened it. Facing the man from the photo, tall and striking in person, Anneliese forced a nervous smile. ¡°Um, about that message earlier¡­¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel Jonathan arched a brow, waiting for her exnation. Just then, her phone rang. ¡°Come in first, I¡¯ll take this call,¡± she said quickly. 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 164 The Wrong Message On the screen shed the caller ID: Trash No. 3. From his height, Jonathan caught sight of it and smirked faintly. ¡°Haunted again?¡± Anneliese gave him a sheepish smile and answered the call. 38 s Selina¡¯s soft, delighted voice chimed through. ¡°Anne, did you get the evening gown I had couriered over? Mother chose it herself for you. Tomorrow is her birthday banquet, and you muste. I want to introduce you to someone. He¡¯s the one I like. Zacharias is excellent, butpared to him, n Created 165 Chapter 165 Painted Over Chapter 165 Painted Over Original content can be found at findnovel 0: 38 s ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ll understand when you meet him tomorrow. You¡¯ve really misunderstood me. What you treasure so much, I might not even care for. Anne, you¡¯ve been back in the White family for years now¨Cyou need to broaden your horizons.¡± Though she sounded as if she were exining helplessly, every word dripped with boast and scorn, her disdain for Anneliese striking as clearly as a p across the face. Expression calm, Anneliese gestured for Jonathan and Zion to make themselves at home and walked onto the balcony. ¡°Are you finished? Because I recorded everything. Want me to y it for Zacharias? Or better yet¨Cdoes that man you like know you¡¯re using him as a trophy? Should I let him hear it tomorrow too?¡± Silence fell on the other end of the line. When Selina finally spoke again, her voice was taut. ¡°Anne, you¡¯ve misunderstood me. I only wanted to make it clear I have no interest in Zacharias. Whatever he did to hurt you, that was one¨Csided on his part. As your sister, I¡¯ve always wished you and your husband a long and happy marriage.¡± Anneliese let out a sharpugh. ¡°Selina, you think too highly of yourself. Zacharias told me everything. You begged him, swore you¡¯d go to prison young if he didn¡¯t help. Out of pity, he went along with your little scheme to deceive me. Stop unting your superiority in front of me¨Cit¡¯s meaningless. ¡°Oh, and he also said the only one he¡¯s ever loved is me. If you and I fell into the water together right now, I¡¯d bet everything he would save me first. He hasn¡¯t contacted you, has he? That¡¯s because you annoy him. Stop dreaming about being everyone¡¯s darling¨Cit¡¯s ridiculous.¡± She covered her mouth andughed softly. Selina¡¯s breathing grew heavy. Anneliese could picture her face twisting in rage, skin darkening as if the words had cut deep. It was true¨Cno one knew one better than one¡¯s enemies. Selina had always perched above her, and she would never stand being provoked like this. Anneliese almost looked forward to the next day, curious to see how Selina would act then. After a long pause, Selina¡¯s voice came back, gritted between teeth. ¡°That¡¯s fine then, Anne. I¡¯m d I didn¡¯t cause any misunderstanding between you and your husband.¡± Anneliese snorted. ¡°Pfft. Don¡¯t tell me you actually believed I was recording you. I¡¯m not that bored.¡± Her mockingugh shattered Selina¡¯sposure. Selina hung up in a fury, then swept her cosmetics off the vanity with one hand, her eyes dark and venomous. Anneliese, just you wait. 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 165 Painted Over ¡°Whose banquet are you going to?¡± 38 s When Anneliese stepped back inside from the balcony, Jonathan asked. He gestured at the two gowns lying on the couch. ¡°The White family is hosting tomorrow.¡± Not wanting to say more, Anneliese quickly shifted the subject. ¡°Thanks for bringing breakfast. Have you eaten yet? Want to join me?¡± Zion had already ced the takeaway on the dining table. Jonathan, however, had pressing work and no intention of sitting down. ¡°I already ate. I need to head to a meeting.¡± That reminded Anneliese of the photo message he had sent earlier¨Cshe had yet to answer his question. She studied the side of his face carefully. ¡°The bruising isn¡¯t noticeable unless someone looks closely. But since it¡¯s such an important meeting, maybe I should put a bit of foundation on it for you?¡± Jonathan¡¯s first instinct was to refuse. Makeup on a grown man felt odd to him. He had turned down simr offers before interviews. But now, faced with her earnestness, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say no. After only a beat of hesitation, he said, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Wait here.¡± Anneliese dashed into her bedroom and soon returned with toner, foundation, and powder. She gestured for him to sit. ¡°I¡¯ll prep your skin first. That way, the coverage will hold better.¡± Leaning close, she dabbed carefully. Jonathan sat back, long legs apart, tilting his head up to her with quietpliance. She tried to ignore the weight of his deep gaze and focused on her task, smoothing moisturizer across his striking features. Working on a face like his made being a makeup artist feel like pure indulgence. Her touch was light, fingers warm and soft as they patted along his cheeks. Even though Jonathan disliked the faint scent of cosmetics, he had to admit¨Cit felt surprisingly pleasant. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re something, Ms. ude. You can¡¯t see the bruises at all. No one would even guess Mr. Fullbuster has makeup on.¡± Created 166 Chapter 166 Painted Faces Zion praised the moment Anneliese set her tools down. 38 s Anneliese felt a sense of pride. Jonathan¡¯s face carried such authority that doing anything to it became an aesthetic pleasure. Smiling shyly, she said, ¡°It¡¯s only because your boss has such great skin. The makeup goes on easily.¡± It wasn¡¯t ttery. His skin was smooth and wless, better than most women¡¯s. Smooth to the touch, bouncy and soft, it was addicting to brush against, and she found herself hooked on the feeling. ¡°I¡¯m heading out.¡± Jonathan rose to his feet, then suddenly reached out and rubbed his thumb along the corner of her mouth. ¡°You got some powder there.¡± Only then did Anneliese remember how her hair had slipped down earlier, and she had tucked it back without thinking. But where his thumb had brushed across her cheek and lip, it was like a spark had caught fire. Her face flushed bright red. She hurriedly raised her hand and wiped at the spot herself,ughing awkwardly. Jonathan stepped into the elevator, the mirrored wall reflecting his wless features and the faint curve of his lips. ¡°Have two sets of men¡¯s skincare products delivered to Maple Bay,¡± he instructed Zion. He had a feeling she liked men with good skin¨Che¡¯d better maintain it. Zion, used to his boss¡® peculiar orders at this point, only nodded, then reminded him, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s banquet Ms. ude is attending should be Mrs. White¡¯s birthday dinner. Sir, you¡­¡± ¡°Clear the schedule,¡± Jonathan continued. That was as good as admitting he nned to attend as well. Clearly, he was worried the Whites might make things difficult for Annelise. After breakfast, Anneliese took Meatloaf for a walk before hurrying to Astoria University. She hadn¡¯t been to campus for three days because of her trip to Riveraton, so she called Jackson on her way. When she arrived, Jackson was already waiting downstairs. She jogged over quickly. ¡°Sorry, 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 166 Painted Faces : something came up these past few days, and I couldn¡¯t make it to ss.¡± 38 s She wore a simple white cashmere hoodie, wide¨Cleg ck pants, white sneakers, and a camel- colored coat, her hair tied back in a low ponytail with a backpack slung over her shoulders. She looked no different from any other student on campus, yet as she ran up to him, she carried with her the warmth of sunshine and autumn air. Jackson¡¯s hand clenched tighter in his pocket before he forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Come on, Professor Baltimore asked me to bring you straight to theb.¡± She had promised earlier to help in the professor¡¯sb with sorting and analyzing data, but things had been dyed. Falling in step beside him, Anneliese asked, ¡°Professor Baltimore isn¡¯t mad, is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± Jackson kept the conversation going. ¡°In fact, he even asked about you twice, wondering if something had happened.¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t want to mention the mess with Zacharias, so she only smiled. ¡°Just had some personal matters to take care of. It¡¯s all settled now.¡± Her light tone left Jackson a little disappointed. ¡°Can you tell me about theb?¡± she asked. The thought of spending every day with her instantly revived him. ¡°Of course! The project we¡¯re working on is about energy and power optimization. The team¡¯s not that big¨Cjust me, and four other seniors, three guys and a girl. They¡¯re all easy to get along with, so don¡¯t worry.¡± As he went on introducing each member by name and personality, Anneliese listened attentively, asionally asking questions. From a distance, the two of them looked close, chatting andughing with ease. Not far away, a girl in a brown beret¨CCoral¡¯s roommate¨Csnapped several photos of their backs and immediately sent the pictures to Coral. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel ¡®Coral, that crazy woman showed up at our school again. She¡¯s even cozying up with Jackson. Hurry and show your boyfriend these pictures so he won¡¯t fall for her tricks again! ¡®By the way, you¡¯ve skipped too many of your core sses. You¡¯re short on credits, and we¡¯ve covered for you too many times already. Several professors are angry. If you don¡¯te back soon, they¡¯ll mark you as absent more than eleven times and cancel your exam eligibility! ¡®Tell your boyfriend to deal with his ex ande back to school!¡® 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 166 Painted Faces 38 s Coral was holed up in a rundown motel on the outskirts of Oceaton. She zoomed in on the pictures, staring at Anneliese¡¯s bright smile as she walked across Astoria University¡¯s campus. She then looked around at her own miserable state¨Cdisheveled, hiding out, surrounded by piles of instant noodle trash. She didn¡¯t even dare open the curtains in broad daylight. Compared to Anneliese¡¯s glow, she felt like nothing more than a roach. And in her mind, it was all Anneliese¡¯s fault. Created 167 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 167 The Red Dress Chapter 167 The Red Dress 38 s That scheming woman must have known this day would . Coral raked her nails across a photo of Anneliese¡¯s face as if venting her fury. Just then, the door banged open. Zacharias walked in, cold as ice, with two ck¨Cd bodyguards behind him. Coral went pale and turned toward the window, thinking of escape, but they were on the sixth floor. Dropping to her knees, she clutched his leg and begged, ¡°Zacharias, please let the baby live. I love you. I just want to keep our child. I swear, once the baby is born, I¡¯ll leave and raise him far away. I¡¯ll never disturb your life again¡­¡± However, his face stayed hard as stone. He grabbed her chin. ¡°Coral, I warned you not to y tricks with me. I told you to take the pills. Why didn¡¯t you listen? You¡¯ve been very bad.¡± He shoved her away and motioned to the bodyguards. Coral¡¯s cries echoed as they dragged her back to the hospital, where the operating room was already prepared. This time, Zacharias intended to watch her get on that table himself. Anneliese¡¯s insistence on divorce had only grown stronger. Zacharias had been unable to sleep, haunted by dreams of her asking to leave him. He felt time slipping away¨Cif he didn¡¯t act now, he would lose her for good. He nned to show Anneliese the abortion paperwork the following night, then apologize alongside the Whites. She must be lying when she says she doesn¡¯t love me anymore. I can still make it right. I can win her back, he thought. But just as Coral was about to be wheeled into surgery, a hoarse voice cut down the hall. ¡°Stop this surgery! I object!¡± It was Lenora, supporting Melody as they hurried over. ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡± Zacharias frowned and shot his sister a re. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell take Mom home to rest?¡± you to The police hadn¡¯t found enough evidence, so the case had been written off as a family dispute. Melody had been detained for a full week and was only released that day. ¡°Zacharias, how dare you scold your sister! For that woman who harmed your mother, you want to kill my grandchild? Have you lost your mind? Anneliese can¡¯t even have children. Do 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 167 The Red Dress 38 s you want our family line to die off?¡± Melody rushed forward to shield Coral. Coral¡¯s eyes lit up instantly¨Cshe jumped from the bed and hid behind Melody. The veins at Zacharias¡® temple bulged. ¡°Mom, move! Anne can have children. She¡¯s cured. We¡¯ll have a baby soon. Don¡¯t meddle in this!¡± ¡°Coral is carrying my grandchild¨Chow is this not my business?! This surgery won¡¯t happen; not over my dead body!¡± Her fierce protection made Zacharias frown deeply, but his decision was made. He signaled to the guards. They moved forward¨Cuntil the next second when Lenora screamed, ¡°Mom! What¡¯s wrong?!¡± Melody¡¯s eyes rolled back, and she copsed. Chaos erupted. Zacharias had no choice but to halt the procedure and carry his mother to a hospital room. Looking at her pale face as shey in bed, still trying to shield Coral, he suddenly felt drained and powerless. The following night, Jessica sent a pre¨Crecorded audio clip to Anneliese¡¯s phone. ¡°Came out pretty good. When the timees, use it to scare the hell out of them. Ha, I can¡¯t wait to see their faces.¡± Anneliese pressed y, listened briefly, and curved her lips in a smile. She handed Jessica a pearl ne, which Jessica helped fasten around her neck. ¡°I¡¯ll sneak in and stick close to you. Don¡¯t worry, darling, go all out.¡± That night was the White family¡¯s banquet¨CSelina would definitely make a move. For Anneliese, it was a dangerous dinner, a trap waiting for her to walk in alone. Jessica wasn¡¯t about to let her go unprotected. She would blend into the crowd and guard her from the shadows. Anneliese turned and smiled. ¡°With you there, I¡¯m not afraid of anything.¡± Jessica pinched her cheek. ¡°Honestly, you could just ask Mr. Fullbuster to go with you. If he showed up by your side, that would be the best revenge of all. The Whites¡® eyes would pop out of their heads, and they wouldn¡¯t dare stir up trouble again.¡± She had already suggested it once before, but Anneliese had refused, saying she had her own n. She didn¡¯t want to drag Jonathan into her business. And speak of the devil¨Cher WhatsApp chimed. She nced at the screen and froze. It was a message from Jonathan. ¡®Are you wearing the red dress?¡® 9:37 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 167 The Red Dress 38 Fresh chapters posted on F¦Énd£Îovel s Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Anneliese nearly suspected he could either read minds or see into the future, or how could he have known she had chosen the red gown? Then again, he had been there the night before when she was deciding between only two¨Cone ck and one red. He must have guessed. Created 168 Chapter 168 The Banquet ¡®You guessed right.¡® 0: ¡°The ruby set I bought at the auction should go perfectly with it.¡¯ 38 s Seeing Jonathan¡¯s reply, Anneliese touched the pearl ne Jessica had just fastened around her neck. She had felt awkward about wearing the jewels he had given her, but since he had mentioned them directly, leaving them untouched would seem deliberate and strange. ¡®I¡¯ll try it.¡¯ After hesitating, she finally sent the reply. Before she could rise, Jessica, who had caught a glimpse of the chat, chuckled. ¡°Great minds think alike. I told you the rubies matched better. Let me swap it for you.¡± Jessica quickly fetched the jewelry and sped the ruby ne and earrings onto Anneliese. Just those two pieces transformed her¨Csuddenly radiant, dazzling with poise and elegance. ¡°You look gorgeous. Send him a photo!¡± Jessica snatched her phone and snapped a shot before Anneliese could stop her. ¡°Wait-¡± ¡°Wait nothing,¡± Jessica cut her off and hit send. ¡°He gave you the gift. The least you can do is return the courtesy with a picture.¡± Inside the AeroAir CEO¡¯s office, Jonathan opened the image. His long fingers zoomed in, brushing over Anneliese¡¯s flushed cheek on the screen, then pausing at her delicate earlobe, made lovelier by the ruby drop he had given her. He tapped save. Zion knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, it¡¯s about time. We should head out to the White estate.¡± Jonathan rose to his feet. ¡°Check if there¡¯s a red tie in the lounge.¡± Zion blinked in confusion. At the White estate, garden lights glowed, and the air inside the residence was rich with the scent of champagne and desserts. Laughter and chatter filled the rooms as guests mingled in 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 168 The Banquet their finery. : 38 s Brothers, Perseus and Christopher, stood at the entrance, greeting guests on behalf of the family. ¡°Call Anneliese again,¡± Perseus ordered in a low voice. ¡°She promised she¡¯de early to help with the arrangements. The banquet is about to start, and she still hasn¡¯t shown up. Unbelievable.¡± Christopher, already irritable, dialed her number, but no one answered. Remembering that Timothy would be leading the family in apologizing to Anneliese that night only made him more annoyed. ¡°She¡¯s not picking up. Honestly, it¡¯d be better if she didn¡¯te at all¨Cjust showing up embarrass us.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she had prepared some kind of birthday surprise for Mom?¡± will The thought of the luxury vi Anneliese had given Mnie softened Christopher¡¯s scowl slightly. At that moment, a Bentley rolled to a stop, and Zacharias stepped out. ¡°She¡¯s here,¡± Christopher muttered, moving forward. He intended to scold Anneliese before reminding her not to steal the spotlight that night. Selina was making her first public appearance since returning from abroad, and Anneliese needed to let the attention fall on her. But when the car door opened, only Zacharias got out. Christopher frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Anneliese?¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t here?¡± Zacharias¡® expression darkened. d in a sharp navy suit, he looked every bit the elegant son¨Cinw, but his face was grim. He had gone to Maple Bay to pick her up, ringing the bell for ages with no response. He thought she must havee early. Now it seemed she had been avoiding him. Christopher sneered. ¡°Her tantrums need to stop. She has no sense of asion. Does she want to hand outsiders aughingstock on a silver tter? If she¡¯s so bold, she should just stay away tonight!¡± The banquet was filled with the White family¡¯s closest allies. Anneliese not arriving with Zacharias only broadcast their marital discord for all to see¨Ca humiliation for the Whites. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. It¡¯s about to start,¡± Perseus said gravely. 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 168 The Banquet 0: 38 s Updates are released by find?novel As they entered, Selina appeared, dressed to steal the show. Her red ball gown shimmered under the lights, paired with an entire ruby set of jewelry. Her long curls framed her radiant face, yful yet striking. She had taken great pains that night, confident she would outshine everyone. ¡°Perseus, Chris, Zach,¡± she greeted sweetly, ¡°where¡¯s Anne? Is she outside? I¡¯ll go bring her in.¡± Her words made Zacharias¡® face turn darker, but Christopher stopped her. ¡°She hasn¡¯t arrived. Leave it.¡± ¡°But Mom and Dad are waiting for her. We¡¯re supposed to enter as a family. How could she-¡± Selina looked worried, but inside, she brimmed with joy. Could Anneliese be too scared to at all? She wished more than anything that Anneliese would never show her face again. Created 169 38 s But to everyone¡¯s surprise, when the lights in the hall went dark, Selina, holding onto Mnie and Timothy¡¯s arms with Christopher and Perseus following behind, making her grand debut, and the four of them descended the sweeping staircase together, bathed in the spotlight¨Cthe picture of a united White family¨Cthe vi¡¯s double doors swung open with a boom. A ze of light spilled in from the entrance, outlining a slender figure that instantly drew every eye. She stepped inside slowly, framed by fire and shadow. A red satin gown hugged her curves, tailored to perfection, showing off her striking figure. The off¨Cshoulder design revealed smooth, fair skin, elegant corbones, and a ruby ne that glittered like me against her neck. The fitted waist and fishtail hem flowed into a slit that swayed with every graceful step, revealing shes of her long, straight legs. Anneliese walked forward, her naturally radiant features enhanced by wless makeup. In an instant, she became the new focal point of the entire room. Selina had sent her a ck gown, iming Mnie had chosen it for her. Knowing Anneliese valued family¡¯s feelings, especially on Mnie¡¯s birthday, Selina had been certain she would obediently wear the old¨Cfashioned dress, only to look in and stiff beside her. But instead, Anneliese appeared in zing red¨Cmatching Selina¡¯s own choice. And the color suited Anneliese perfectly. The bold design highlighted her figure, turning her into a vision of elegance and allure. Compared to her, Selina¡¯s princess¨Clike red dress looked juvenile, almostical. Selina nearly wanted to order the servants to drag Anneliese away and force her to change. D*mn her! Selina clenched her jaw so tight it ached, her face twisting under the weight of fury and jealousy. ¡°Ow, Selina?¡± Mnie gasped in pain, and Selina realized she had dug her nails into her mother¡¯s arm. She quickly released her grip, lowering her voice into false concern. ¡°Our whole family is over here, while Anne walked in alone. People will talk. I¡¯ll bring her over.¡± She tried to step away, but Mnie yanked her back. ¡°Why bother? She came here just to make trouble.¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s right,¡± Christopher added with a scoff. ¡°She¡¯s embarrassing us on purpose, parading herself forughs. What good does it do her? She never knows her ce.¡± Perseus frowned. ¡°She¡¯s just grabbing the spotlight. Ridiculous and stupid.¡± 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 169 A Red Entrance 0: 38 s Timothy said nothing, his grim expression an unspoken agreement with his wife and sons. That night was meant to show the family as one united front. One person¡¯s disgrace stained them all. In their eyes, Anneliese¡¯s appearance proved she was a small¨Ctown girl with no sense of propriety, incapable of the refinement Selina had disyed in tirelessly preparing for the banquet. That was how the entire White family saw it. But Anneliese no longer regarded them as her family, and their reputation meant nothing to her. She was here for one purpose¨Cto disrupt. ¡°She¡¯s stunning. Who is she? I don¡¯t remember seeing her before.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Whites¡® real daughter? The one from that scandal four years ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s her? My god, she looks like that? No wonder¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. She¡¯s just a pretty face. A nobody. Not even raised by Mrs. White. Even if she is their blood, there¡¯s no bond there. And after what happened back then¡­ What a disgrace.¡± ¡°Exactly. Selina grew up showered with love, raised like their true daughter. She¡¯s just graduated from a top foreign university and evennded an offer at AeroAir. She¡¯s going to build airnes.¡± ¡°No wonder Mrs. White always brings her up in conversation and never the real daughter.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s sad. She should have had everything¨Cwealth, privilege,fort¨Cbut instead grew up poor and neglected. And even now she¡¯s useless¡­¡± Whispers rippled across the hall. The initial awe in the guests¡® eyes shifted into disdain, pity, and mockery. Anneliese ignored them all, walking with unhurried grace. Zacharias¡® eyes lit up, and he made to step toward her, but Lenora and Melody pulled him back. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. Do you want to humiliate yourself with her?¡± ¡°Zach, listen to Mom,¡± Lenora urged. ¡°The doctor said if she gets angry again and faints, it could be dangerous.¡± Chapters first released on find{n}ovel Created 170 38 s This update is avable on fin?novel Zacharias was held back, and with his mother and sister tugging at him, he couldn¡¯t very well struggle in front of everyone. For a moment, he was stuck in an awkward stalemate. Selina¡¯s lips curled in a mocking smile. She flicked her gaze toward one side, and right on cue, a sharp female voice rang out clear across the hall. ¡°What¡¯s there to pity her for? She¡¯s the one unting herself all day long, strutting around like a temptress. Of course, street thugs would target her¨Cno wonder she lost her womb! ¡°If I were her, I¡¯d be too ashamed to show my face, but she¡¯s shameless, arrivingte just to make a grand entrance!¡± Four years ago, when Anneliese¡¯s scandal had rocked the city, the Whites had kept her away from every banquet and g since. She herself had hidden out of sight, unwilling to drag Zacharias down with her. Though she was the greatest victim, she had been forced to live with shame, as if the fault had been hers alone. And wasn¡¯t that exactly what Selina wanted? To ruin her, to brand her as a stain the White family would rather forget, so Selina could keep basking in the role of their one and only cherished daughter. Anneliese¡¯s lips curved in a cold, cutting smile. She picked up a ss of champagne from the towering disy and strode straight toward Sonya White¨Cone of Selina¡¯s so¨Ccalled ¡°best friends,¡± who had long delighted in mocking her. Sonya shrank back when she saw the chill in Anneliese¡¯s eyes, but remembering it was Mnie¡¯s birthday banquet, she lifted her chin again. Surely Anneliese wouldn¡¯t dare cause a scene. ¡°Anneliese, I was only speaking the truth, you¨Cah!¡± The champagne tipped and spilled down from the crown of her head, soaking her hair and face in a sticky cascade. Sonya shrieked, wing at her dripping face as the hall erupted inmotion. ¡°Enough! Anneliese, what are you doing?¡± Perseus stormed down the stairs, grabbing her wrist. Selina swept in tofort Sonya, her voice gentle, her posture perfect. ¡°Sonya, are you all right? Anne, quickly apologize to her. Let¡¯s help her upstairs to clean up.¡± She looked every bit the considerate elder sister smoothing things over. Timothy, Mnie, and Christopher came hurrying as well. The lights in the hall zed brighter, and every eye turned on Anneliese with disapproval. She stood alone in the center, smiling still, though the smile never reached her eyes¨Clike a 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 170 Truths in Champagne 38 s rose blooming with thorns. She yanked free of Perseus¡® grip, pped her hands sharply, and raised her voice. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this rich. ¡°When I was being ndered and spat on just now, your whole family stood by on the stairs, enjoying the show. But the moment I rinse a filthy mouth, suddenly you can¡¯t stay calm? This is how you treat your own daughter? Your own sister?¡± Her biting words struck home. The White family¡¯s faces darkened, stung by the truth sheid bare. Even the guests exchanged uneasy looks. Many of them had said less¨Cthan¨Ckind things earlier, but not one White had spoken up for her. To treat one¡¯s own flesh and blood so coldly was ugly to watch. Perseus¡® face flushed with anger, but he forced a measured tone. ¡°Anne, you¡¯re the host tonight. How could you stoop to a guest¡¯s level? We only lectured you so you¡¯d know how to conduct yourself.¡± Christopher added, ¡°Just apologize to Sonya and let it end here. Let¡¯s not ruin Mother¡¯s birthday.¡± Sonya copsed against Selina, weeping pitifully. ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. I was the one who spoke out of turn. I¡¯ll never dare to tell the truth again¡­¡± Together, Perseus and Christopher looked the picture of protective brothers, as if asking Anneliese to apologize was simply smoothing over her rashness. Sonya¡¯s tearful self¨Cme only painted Anneliese as unreasonable and cruel. Disapproving stares rained down on her from all sides. Anneliese lowered her eyes, her smile edged with scorn. Then she lifted her gaze, voice clear and cutting. ¡°Fine. If we¡¯re speaking truths, then let me share one. Sonya, you had an abortion justst week. Instead of staying home to recover, you came here to wag your tongue. You really do have energy to spare.¡± Monroe felt guilty about what had happened to her in Riverton, so upon returning, he had slipped her information free of charge¨Cone of those tips being Sonya¡¯s abortion. Sonya¡¯s eyes flew wide in horror, her hands instinctively clutching her stomach. ¡°You¡¯re lying! I didn¡¯t!¡± she screeched, ring at Anneliese. But her panicked expression and guilty reflex betrayed herpletely. Created 171 Chapter 171 The Birthday Chaos 38 s The guests murmured among themselves, every gaze snapping toward her, and Sonya¡¯s face flushed crimson. Anneliese tapped her chin with a finger, her eyes sweeping over Selina and the rest of the White family. ¡°What other truths are there? Let me think.¡± Then, her gazended squarely on Christopher. ¡°My dear brother, that little starlet udia Brent you¡¯ve been parading around? She¡¯s been ying threesomes with the assistant director and the third male lead in that little nest you bought her. Do you know the pair of horns you¡¯re wearing is sorge and tall?¡± Christopher¡¯s eyes bulged, stunned beyond belief, whileughter and snickers rippled all around. In that moment, he truly felt as if a pair of horns had grown atop his head. Anneliese raised her voice again. ¡°And since everyone is so curious about what really happened to me back then, I might as well spell it out today.¡± Instantly, Selina¡¯s expression shifted, and the White family¡¯s faces darkened with fury and impatience. Yet beneath the surface, their stiffened posture and flickers of panic betrayed them. Christopher finally snapped out of his daze, fury surging as the whispers around him grew. ¡°udia Brent? I don¡¯t even know her! I don¡¯t know what nonsense you¡¯re spouting!¡± Timothy¡¯s voice cut in, deep and angry. ¡°Anneliese, haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble already?¡± Selina¡¯s eyes were wide with anxious pleading. ¡°Anne, today is Mom¡¯s birthday. All these guests are here. If you have some misunderstanding or grudge, we¡¯ll settle it all in private upstairs, alright? Don¡¯t embarrass the family like this.¡± Mnie¡¯s expression was stricken, her face pale as she looked at Anneliese with heartbreak. Perseus, meanwhile, shoved forward and grabbed Anneliese by the arm, yanking hard to drag her upstairs. ¡°You¡¯re making a fool of yourself. Move!¡± For original chapters go to F?ndNovel His grip was brutal,pletely heedless of whether he might hurt her. The scene dissolved into chaos. Guests, seeing the family all deny her ims, naturally began to doubt her words- especially since Anneliese¡¯s reputation was already far from spotless. Selina lowered her gaze, lips curling with disdain. Anneliese really is reckless and foolish. Anneliese struggled. ¡°Let go of me!¡± 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 171 The Birthday Chaos 38 s When her face turned pale, Zacharias shook off Melody and Lenora and strode over. ¡°Perseus, let her go! I¡¯ll take her upstairs.¡± He mped down on Perseus¡® hand, brows drawn tight, his eyes shing a sharp warning. Perseus hesitated. With Zacharias¡® standing and the White family¡¯s current financial troubles, they still hoped to negotiate funding with him that night. After a beat, he released Anneliese. Zacharias immediately reached to steady her. ¡°Anne, are you alright?¡± But Anneliese¡¯s shoulders stiffened as she leaned away from his touch. She ignored his concern and raised her voice again. ¡°I just brought up my ident from back then, and suddenly everyone looked guilty, desperate to shut me up and drag me away. Doesn¡¯t that say something?¡± At that, her gaze swept the crowd. ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone curious?¡± The room buzzed louder, voices low but insistent. Timothy¡¯s face was stormy. Mnie¡¯s brows pinched together. Selina¡¯s nails dug into her palm, her anger only rising at Zacharias¡® choice to side with Anneliese, letting her stand there spewing what she saw as baseless lies. But Selina knew Anneliese had no proof. Even if she spoke the truth, Selina was confident she could twist it so everyone would believe Anneliese was ndering her on purpose. Anneliese really is the biggest fool. To stir this up here, without a shred of evidence, only makes her look vulgar, jealous, and unhinged. Selina sighed softly as she stepped forward. ¡°Anne, after Mom¡¯s birthday, I¡¯ll leave Oceaton, alright? Please don¡¯t be angry anymore.¡± She flipped the narrative just like that, casting Anneliese¡¯s outburst as nothing but jealousy- her desire to chase Selina out of Oceaton. With that motive in everyone¡¯s minds, no matter what Anneliese said, the guests wouldn¡¯t believe her. Selina lowered her head, her whole demeanor tinged with sorrow and reluctant humility. Mnie¡¯s heart ached at the sight; she rushed forward and hugged Selina, tears spilling as she turned to Anneliese. ¡°Anne, I love you, but Selina is my daughter too. Why can¡¯t you tolerate her? Must you ruin my birthday like this? Please, I¡¯m begging you¡­¡± As the birthday woman, Mnie¡¯s tears sealed the crowd¡¯s judgment. ¡°So that¡¯s what this was about¨Cshe just didn¡¯t want her sister back.¡± 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 171 The Birthday Chaos ¡°Mrs. White is her real mother. How could she possibly wrong her?¡± ¡°Such a narrow mind, so full of spite and lies.¡± ¡°She grew up in the slums, and it shows. You can¡¯t change rotten roots.¡± 38 s ¡°Causing a scene like this on her own mother¡¯s birthday¨Cdisgraceful. No wonder everyone says she¡¯ll never measure up to Selina.¡± Created 172 Chapter 172 The Truth on Record The hall buzzed with harsh whispers, every one of them aimed squarely at Anneliese. Sonya nearly burst outughing, rolling her eyes at Anneliese with open mockery and provocation. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦Énd£Îovel 38 s Selina stood quietly at Mnie¡¯s side, head lowered in an air of calm elegance that only made Anneliese seem more isted, irrational, and abandoned. Zacharias, watching Anneliese stand alone, felt a pang of pity. His eyes softened, and with a sudden motion, he pulled her into his arms, his gaze sweeping the hall like a de. ¡°Enough!¡± The hall fell silent in an instant, guests turning their eyes away. Zacharias lowered his head toward her. ¡°Anne, you don¡¯t have any proof. Don¡¯t speak rashly anymore. Let me take you out of here.¡± He meant well. By now, her words had been doubted and dismissed; even if she revealed the truth, it would only make her look like a liar, pitiful andughable. But Anneliese hadn¡¯t been prepared for his sudden embrace. That once¨Cfamiliar masculine scent wrapping around her felt utterly foreign now. Disgust twisted inside her. She pulled back two steps, forcing distance between them, her lips curling in a cold smile. ¡°Why should I leave when I¡¯ve done nothing wrong?¡± Her eyes flicked over Zacharias¡® handsome but hypocritical face, then fixed on Mnie¡¯s sorrowful expression. As her biological mother, Mnie¡¯s pained look alone was enough to condemn her. And Mnie knew it¨Cyet she still chose to cast dirt on her own daughter, just to preserve the spotless image of the adopted one. Anneliese had long since given up hope for family love, yet the chill spreading through her was undeniable. She gave a short, bitterugh. ¡°You¡¯re really my mother? You really love me? What kind of mother rushes to condemn her own daughter?¡± Mnie couldn¡¯t meet her sharp gaze. Her heart twisted painfully, but seeing Selina trembling at her side, ready to copse, she steeled herself. Selina was proud, too proud to endure nder. And that night¡¯s chaos had been stirred entirely by Anneliese¨Cshe deserved to be taught a lesson. ¡°Anne, I-¡± But before Mnie could continue, Anneliese¡¯s lips curved into a cutting smile. She raised her voice. ¡°I have a recording here. Why don¡¯t we all listen together?¡± 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 172 The Truth on Record 38 s Before the Whites could react, she swiftly pressed y on her phone. The hall went still as a taunting, careless male voice echoed through the speakers. ¡°Of course. Back then, Selina hired people to rough her up. Anneliese took two knives and nearly lost her womb. Everyone in Oceaton knows she can¡¯t have children now.¡± ¡°Anneliese!¡± Christopher¡¯s eyes nearly split with rage. He recognized his own words from that day in Zacharias¡® office. With a roar, he lunged forward to snatch the phone. But Anneliese had been ready. She dodged aside, the recording still ying. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you taking care of her¨Cproposing on your knees, taking her abroad to calm her down- how would we have had time to clean up Selina¡¯s mess? If she had gone to prison because of it, her life would¡¯ve been over, and you¡ª¡± Zacharias¡® handsome face drained of color. He rushed in from the other side, seizing Anneliese¡¯s phone and forcing the recording off. His hands trembled as he killed the sound just before his own voice emerged. Christopher snatched the phone from him and deleted the file at once. But when he looked up, Anneliese was smiling at him with mocking amusement, her eyes saying clearly: Fool. And indeed, if he hadn¡¯t jumped up in panic, many people might not have recognized his voice. But his desperate scrambling only made it obvious¨Clike a confession without words. The silence broke into a wave of stifled, fevered whispers. ¡°That was Christopher¡¯s voice, wasn¡¯t it? With a reaction like that, it must¡¯ve been true. God!¡± ¡°So, Anneliese¡¯s ident was Selina¡¯s doing all along? Just like something out of a drama!¡± ¡°Looking at the Whites¡® guilty faces, it¡¯s highly likely true. Didn¡¯t expect to feast on such juicy gossip tonight.¡± ¡°The fake daughter hired thugs against the real one, and the Whites still protected her without a shred of guilt for their own blood. What a disgrace.¡± ¡°How shameless can Selina be, hiring someone to maim her sister? I never thought she was that kind of person.¡± The whispers swelled until every once¨Chostile eye that had been fixed on Anneliese turned instead to Selina. Amid the mor, Anneliese caught a voice she almost recognized¨CJessica¡¯s, twice disguised in tone. It was all she could do not tough outright. 9:38 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 172 The Truth on Record Selina, meanwhile, felt her heart seize in her chest. Her face went deathly pale. 938 s Created 173 : Chapter 173 A Shift in the Game 38 s Selina forced herself to stay calm, her lips trembling as she spoke. ¡°Anne, even if you don¡¯t like me, you can¡¯t nder me like this! The police investigated that case thoroughly. Those four thugs were sentenced. If it really had anything to do with me, would I still be standing here free?¡± Tears welled in her eyes, her voice carrying both grievance and anger¨Cyet no trace of guilt. Anneliese¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°I¡¯m ndering you? The one who said you hired people to hurt me was Christopher. All I did was y the recording. That piece was identally captured when I went to Zacharias¡® office on the 13thst month. I¡¯d like to ask my dear brother why he said those things.¡± Her mocking gazended on Christopher¡¯s darkened face, then on Zacharias, pale and shaken. Hearing her pinpoint the exact time and ce of the recording, the guests only believed it more. The chatter rose until it seemed the roof would lift. Selina¡¯s face drained of color, a chill running down her spine. She clutched Mnie¡¯s hand, swaying on her feet. Inside, rage burned hotter than fear. Careless fool! How can he let Anneliese catch it on tape?! Now he¡¯s dragged me into this mess of suspicion and disgrace! She turned to Christopher, voice trembling with usation. ¡°Chris, why would you say such nonsense? How could you?¡± Her pointed words only drew every pair of eyes to him. Even Timothy, Mnie, and Perseus fixed him with sharp stares. Though Christopher loved his sister, he couldn¡¯t help but feel thrown under the bus. The root of this was Selina, yet now it seemed everything was pinned on him. Still, years of instinct to shield her forced him to speak up. ¡°That recording was fake! I never said those things!¡± Anneliese shrugged. ¡°Alright. If you say it¡¯s fake, it¡¯s fake. After all, you deleted it yourself. Even if I wanted to send it for verification, there¡¯s nothing left to prove it was real.¡± Christopher froze. Exactly¨Cif the recording had been fake, why delete it so quickly? Anneliese dismissed it as false, but her words only made the guests more certain it was true. Yet at this point, all Christopher could do was insist on his story. Timothy tugged on Mnie¡¯s arm, stopping her fromshing out again. This had already gone too far. If it escted further, it would be impossible to salvage. 9:39 Thu, Sep 11 38 Chapter 173 A Shift in the Game s His temple pulsed as he stepped forward, bowing slightly to the guests. ¡°You all heard it just now¨CAnne herself said the recording was fake. There are misunderstandings between the children, yes. But Anne is our daughter, the one we struggled so long to find. ¡°When she suffered that ident, our family grieved deeply, guilty that we hadn¡¯t protected her. None of that was her fault. She fought those robbers with all her strength, was badly wounded, but managed to protect both her body and her life. ¡°She is a brave girl. That incident scarred her enough already. From now on, if I hear anyone use it to attack her, then you¡¯ll be going against the White family itself.¡± He knew he couldn¡¯t keep provoking Anneliese. The only way forward was tofort her and convince the crowd they had never mistreated their own daughter, nor covered up crimes for a foster child. Only that could contain the scandal. Fresh chapters posted on find~novel With firm conviction, Timothy took her hand and announced, ¡°Tonight, before you all, I dere this: I will transfer 5% of my shares in White Inc. to my daughter, Anne.¡± Selina¡¯s face changed instantly. Her hands clenched as fury swelled in her chest. Among the White children, Perseus had joined thepany early and been given 5% of the shares. She and Christopher had each received 3% at theiring¨Cof¨Cage. When Gloria, their paternal grandmother, passed, she had intended to leave 5% to Anneliese, but Selina had warned Timothy and Mnie in advance, preventing it. That was why Anneliese had been left with nothing. And now, Timothy had suddenly handed her 5%-more than both Selina and Christopher. Why should she get that? But in this moment, Selina couldn¡¯t oppose it openly. She forced herself to smile and stepped forward. ¡°Anne, hurry and thank Dad. You¡¯d always thought Mom and Dad didn¡¯t love you, but actions speak louder than words, don¡¯t they?¡± Her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, and the glint beneath was cutting. It seemed to say: You im to be so above it all¨Cthen why not refuse those shares? Anneliese, however, hadn¡¯t expected this twist. Her n that night had been to use the recording to tear away Selina¡¯s mask of hypocrisy, then announce her severance from the White family once and for all. She hadn¡¯t imagined it would lead here. 9:39 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter Created 174 174 Shares and Schemes Chapter 174 Shares and Schemes 38 s But watching Selina¡¯s nervous, defiant look¨Cas if terrified she might really im those shares ¨CAnneliese decided perhaps her announcement of cutting ties with the White family could wait. She winked at Selina, then turned to Timothy with a bright smile. ¡°Thank you, Dad. Where¡¯s the transfer agreement? Let¡¯s sign it right now.¡± Selina was rendered at a loss for words, and so was Timothy. Timothy had made that decision on the spot, of course, with no prepared documents. His expression stiffened for a moment before he turned to his eldest. ¡°Perseus, the transfer papers are in the study. Take your sister up to sign them.¡± Timothy no longer wanted to see Anneliese standing in the hall. In fact, he wished she would disappear altogether. Anneliese¡¯s lips curved as she looked at Perseus, her eyes gleaming. ¡°Let¡¯s go, big brother.¡± It was an unexpected boon. She¡¯d have been a fool not to grab it before Timothy changed his mind. Perseus shot her a re but still strode upstairs. Anneliese turned to follow, but as she passed Sonya, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Timothy. ¡°Dad, I think Sonya owes me a public apology. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Sonya shook with fury. She was the one sshed in champagne, humiliated in front of everyone¨Cwhy should she apologize? Sure, she had thrown a few insults, but Anneliese had exposed her abortion in front of all the guests. She opened her mouth to protest. ¡°Uncle Timothy, I-¡± Timothy¡¯s sharp gaze cut her off. ¡°Sonya, Anne is your cousin. You spoke out of line. Apologize, now.¡± This content belongs to Find[?]ovel Sonya¡¯s eyes filled with tears of humiliation as she looked desperately toward Selina. But Selina turned her head, refusing to meet her eyes. She knew perfectly well Timothy¡¯s concessions were only to smother the scandal of the recording. Sonya¡¯s parents depended on the Whites. When Timothy ordered, they gave her a hard shove. With eyes red, she choked out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Anneliese¡¯s half¨Csmile lingered as her gaze flicked between Sonya and Selina before she 9:39 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 174 Shares and Schemes followed Perseus upstairs. : 38 s ¡°Tonight is my wife¡¯s birthday. Let¡¯s return to the celebration, shall we?¡± Timothy called, and music swelled again as the guests drifted back to the dance floor. The hall filled with a false, glittering cheer. Selina and Christopher joined the dancing as if nothing had happened, but both felt the weight of eyes that followed them, skeptical and prying. ¡°Chris, you were too careless. I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m supposed to face anyone now,¡± Selina whispered, unable to hold back her resentment. Christopher swallowed his temper and murmured a few words offort. But the mood soured, and halfway through, they abandoned the floor. As Selina headed upstairs, she overheard two young women at the dessert table. ¡°Something recorded in secret¨Cit¡¯s probably true.¡± ¡°I think so too. No way Anneliese could make all that up. Hard to believe Selina turned out to be that kind of person.¡± ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s awful enough that she hurt her sister, but to seduce her brother¨Cinw too? Better keep our distance.¡± Selina¡¯s nails scraped hard against the banister, leaving deep marks in the wood. No matter. A recording alone isn¡¯t enough to convict me. And it¡¯s already been deleted. In this circle, reputation is nothing¨Cpower is everything. People bow to strength and trample the weak. Once Jonathan , once I be Mrs. Fullbuster, those same people talking behind my back will crawl to please me. And then, I¡¯ll make them pay. With that thought, she nced again toward the entrance, anxious. He¡¯ll , won¡¯t he? Her fingers trembled as sheposed a message and sent it out on WhatsApp. Jonathan¡¯s phone chimed just as he neared the White estate. He had chosen to attend only after learning Anneliese would be there, adjusting his schedule at thest minute. He¡¯d left the officete and been dyed by traffic. Ever since adding Anneliese on WhatsApp, he had developed the habit of checking her messages first. Pulling out his phone, he tapped open the app¨Cbut thetest message wasn¡¯t from her. 9:39 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 174 Shares and Schemes : 38 s It was a stranger¡¯s profile picture. A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes as he opened it. ¡®Where are you now? I¡¯m worried you might get lost since it¡¯s your first time here. Do you want me toe out and meet you?¡® Following the message was a cat¨Craising¨Cpaw GIF. Jonathan frowned at the familiar tone that made no sense to him. He didn¡¯t reply. Instead, he backed out and opened his chat with Anneliese, scrolling through their thread without thinking. Created 175 Chapter 175 The Price of Silence 38 s No new WhatsApp messages hade through. Thest chat still sat there¨CAnneliese¡¯s selfie wearing the ruby jewelry set. Above it was the mirror selfie he had sent her that same morning. They had traded photos back and forth. It felt good. Jonathan tapped open her selfie once more, staring at it for a moment before lifting his eyes. ¡°Drive faster.¡± In the Whites¡® study, Anneliese urged Perseus to draft the share transfer agreement on the spot. After signing her name, she handed the fresh document back to him. ¡°Please take this down for Mr. White¡¯s signature.¡± Perseus¡® jaw tightened, his face darkening. What was he, her errand boy? She had just secured a sizable piece of the family¡¯s wealth, yet wouldn¡¯t even call Timothy ¡°Dad¡± or him ¡°big brother¡± now. The memory of her tearing the family¡¯s dignity in front of the guests burned in his mind. Fury surged, and he mmed his palm against the desk. ¡°So eager, aren¡¯t you? Look at yourself, Anneliese¨Cgreedy and vicious.¡± Anneliese let out a coldugh. ¡°If you¡¯re not greedy, hand me your 5% of the shares.¡± ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Perseus barked, livid. She sneered. ¡°If you won¡¯t deliver it, I¡¯ll go myself. I¡¯ll also ask Mr. White whether these shares are just hush money for deleting my recording.¡± The threat hung tantly in the air. Perseus barely restrained himself from hurling the contract at her head. Instead, he shoved another document across the table. ¡°Sign this one first.¡± Anneliese picked it up, her lips curling with bitter amusement. It wasn¡¯t another transfer but a deration¨Cshe would promise never to pursue the truth of that night four years ago, never to mention it again. Clearly, Timothy had put Perseus up to it. So, this is the catch. These 5% aren¡¯t for nothing. She raised her eyes, voice icy. ¡°Hush money, huh? In your eyes, the two knife wounds I took, my brush with death, are worth just 5%?¡± 9:39 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 175 The Price of Silence 9: Of course, Timothy had seemed so generous. He had been waiting for this moment. Official source is 38 s Perseus frowned at her sharp words. ¡°Isn¡¯t this exactly what you wanted? You¡¯ve gotten yourpensation¨Cstop ying the victim. As for that night, yes, Selina was wrong, but it was justifiable. ¡°You caused a scene today, dragging the family into disgrace in front of all those people. And to think Dad wanted all of us to apologize to you! If you ask me, it was pointless.¡± Anneliese shot to her feet and flung the paper back at his face. ¡°My life may mean nothing to you, but it¡¯s not that cheap. I¡¯d be insulting my scars if I signed that trash.¡± ¡°Anneliese! You have no proof of what happened. But these shares are real. Once you walk out that door, it¡¯ll be toote to regret it!¡± Perseus roared, standing as the papers hit his face. She didn¡¯t even nce back. The door mmed behind her with a thunderous crack, the gust scattering the unsigned agreement across the floor. Perseus¡® eyelids twitched as rage coiled in his chest. And yet, unbidden, a memory surfaced. In this very study, years ago, after she had first returned to the Whites, she had learned from the maids that on weekends, he liked to sit here early in the morning, sipping pour¨Cover coffee and leafing through books. Back then, she would tiptoe in quietly on weekends, brewing fresh coffee with beans she ground herself, and leave it at his elbow. Sometimes, if he was in a good mood, he would lift his head and nod, and the girl would flush pink, her brows arching into a delighted smile as if he had handed her the world. That timid, thoughtful, gentle girl had vanished without a trace. Perseus clenched his fists and mmed them against the rosewood desk, the weight of his own frustration ringing in the blow. ¡°Anne¡¯s misunderstanding of me is too deep. I¡¯m the reason you¡¯re dragged into this. I¡¯m sorry. If I had known things woulde to this, I never should have involved you. Now everyone suspects me, curses me, and I¡¯ll bear it. But I truly fear they¡¯ll turn their anger on you too.¡± At the turn of the staircase, Selina stood in the shadows, eyes rimmed red, her face full of shame as she spoke softly. Her head dipped, revealing the pale, slender curve of her neck, fragile and wounded. Zacharias stood beside her, his gaze filled with pity as his voice gentled¡­ Created 176 Chapter 176 The Balcony Chapter 176 The Balcony 38 s ¡°It was my own choice. You¡¯re not to me. And besides, Anne was too impulsive. Family scandals shouldn¡¯t be aired in public. She-¡± ¡°Huh! You¡¯re the ones ying happy family. What the hell do your scandals have to do with me?¡± A clear, mocking voice cut in. Zacharias spun around and saw Anneliese standing only a few steps away. She had clearly overheard every word. His expression shifted, and he strode toward her. ¡°Anne, let¡¯s talk.¡± He reached for her hand, but she pulled back sharply, eyes full of loathing. Selina also stepped forward. ¡°Anne, let the three of us go over there and sort out everything from back then.¡± Without waiting, she turned and walked toward the balcony at the far end of the second floor. Anneliese hade that night with divorce in mind. She nced at Selina¡¯s retreating back, quirked a brow, and followed. Seeing she was willing to talk, Zacharias felt a flicker of relief and quickly trailed after them. The night wind on the balcony was sharp with cold. Anneliese folded her arms loosely and nced down at the garden below. Clusters of colored lights shimmered across the surface of the swimming pool, dazzling in the dark. It was winter, the air freezing, and the pool deck stood deserted. ¡°Go on,¡± Anneliese said tly, her eyes impatient. Selina lowered her voice, her tone trembling with practiced remorse. ¡°Anne, back then, Grandma loved you wholly. I couldn¡¯t stand the difference, and I couldn¡¯t stand your showing off. In my anger, I did hire someone to scare you. ¡°But I regretted it immediately, before anything happened. I even sent de a message to stop. He ignored it, probably afraid I¡¯d demand my money back. When you didn¡¯te home that night, I panicked. ¡°I went out looking for you, and when I couldn¡¯t find you, I rushed home and told our parents and brothers everything. I begged them to call the police, but by then it was toote. You were already in the hospital¡­¡± Her story was partly true, partly false. 9:40 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 176 The Balcony : 38 s She really had done it, and de had indeed been the useless thug who stabbed Anneliese twice and still let her escape. He had even sent Selina threats afterward, demanding more Official source is ?ovelFind money. That was when she knew she was in over her head. She had deleted the ckmail message, sent a fake text of regret, pretended to worry, and run around in tears. Back home, she had knelt before the family, weeping in confession. And as she had expected, they forgave her and cleaned up the mess. A shadow flickered in her eyes as she stepped closer to Anneliese. ¡°Anne, it was all my fault. Zach only helped me because I once supported him financially. He felt indebted to me.¡± Zacharias moved forward, voice earnest. ¡°Babe, I never told you. From middle school through high school, Selina secretly paid my tuition and living expenses. When my mother had cancer, she even covered the medical bills. Without her, my mother wouldn¡¯t have survived. I owed her that much¨Cowed her my life. ¡°That night, she had already stopped the deal. She truly acted on impulse. That¡¯s why I helped her. But Anne, you and I grew up together. My feelings for you were never false. Please believe me.¡± So that¡¯s how Selina became the love Zacharias could never have. To Anneliese, it wasughable. She had known he once received a private schrship, but not that it came from Selina. Charity from the White family¡¯s pampered heiress¨Cmoney that should have been hers in the first ce. And as for the one who had quietly paid Melody¡¯s surgery and treatment fees¨Cthat had been her. Anneliese turned to Selina. ¡°You paid the medical bills?¡± Selina¡¯s gaze faltered. Then she lurched forward suddenly. ¡°Anne, if you¡¯re angry, hit me. Go ahead, hit me! I won¡¯t fight back.¡± Her voice rose hysterically as she grabbed Anneliese¡¯s hand, trying to force it against her own. cheek. Anneliese felt as if a snake had wrapped around her, and she yanked back instinctively, struggling to break free. In the scuffle, they staggered closer to the balcony rail. Selina leaned close to her ear, whispering coldly. ¡°So sure that Zacharias loves you? Let¡¯s test it, shall we? We¡¯ll both fall into the pool¨Csee who he saves.¡± The words had barely left her mouth before she lunged, dragging Anneliese toward the railing. Anneliese¡¯s body tilted dangerously, but just before toppling, she shoved Selina hard. Created 177 Chapter 177 Into the Deep End Chapter 177 Into the Deep End : ¡°Ah!¡± Selina cried out in shock as Anneliese shoved her toward Zacharias. She stumbled forward with a face full of bewilderment. She couldn¡¯t understand why Anneliese would push her away. Since when did Anneliese have such a kind heart? 38 s ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel At the same time, Anneliese mmed into the railing. With a sharp crack, the wooden barrier snapped, and she plunged straight down. ¡°Honey!¡± Everything happened in just a few seconds. Zacharias shouted in rm, instinctively surging forward to catch Selina while stretching his other hand toward Anneliese. But Selina¡¯s body blocked his movement. His fingers closed on nothing, and he could only watch helplessly as Anneliese¡¯s figure disappeared off the terrace. With a loud ssh, she crashed into the pool below. ¡°Anne!¡± Zacharias shouted again, ready to leap after her. Selina clung to him tightly, sobbing. ¡°Zacharias, I didn¡¯t push her, I swear. I¡­ I¡¯m terrified of water; I can¡¯t swim. I almost fell too.¡± Her grip was iron tight, and for a moment, Zacharias couldn¡¯t break free. His expression darkened. ¡°Let go!¡± Tears streamed down Selina¡¯s cheeks as she stared at him in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re yelling at me? You still think I¡¯m guilty, don¡¯t you? Fine, I¡¯ll prove it to you!¡± With that, she released him, spun around, and jumped. She had been the subject of too much criticism that night. If Anneliese fell into the water while she stayed dry, the usations alone would drown her. She believed Anneliese had pushed her deliberately¨Cletting her fall would make it look like she was guilty of attempted murder. Selina refused to let her get away with that. So, she jumped without hesitation. Zacharias barely had time to react before he found himself standing alone on the terrace. ¡°Selina!¡± he yelled and dove in after her. 9:40 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 177 Into the Deep End Anneliese, meanwhile, had been prepared for this all along. 38 s When Selina called the day before, she had deliberately provoked her. The more reckless Selina became, the more it worked to her advantage. On a freezing night like this, Selina had insisted on talking outside on the terrace instead of somewhere warm. Seeing the shimmering water below, Anneliese had already guessed what might happen. Selina wanted to prove that Zacharias still chose her, to make Anneliese look humiliated. She wanted everyone to believe Anneliese bore a grudge and pushed her into the pool. That way, even if people suspected Selina of causing what happened four years ago, they would think Anneliese had hurt her too. They would call it even. The White family would only despise Anneliese more, while Selina could still lure Zacharias into diving down to save her. A perfect strike against her. One move, three wins. So, when Anneliese hit the railing, she had intentionally shoved Selina. But no matter how much she had braced herself for it, the sudden plunge into the icy pool still stunned her. The bone¨Cchilling cold locked up her limbs almost instantly, as if her blood had frozen in her veins. She iled a few times and managed to swim a little before a sharp cramp seized her leg. The more she thrashed, the faster she sank, coughing and swallowing more water. Panic crept in, and she bit down hard on her tongue to force herself to stay calm. Themotion was loud enough that someone woulde soon. She just had to hold out. So, she stopped struggling and let herself sink deeper, holding her breath. Through the shifting water, she saw Selina ssh down. A momentter, Zacharias dove in after her. Anneliese watched as he swam furiously toward Selina. Her lips twitched into the faintest smile, a stream of bubbles rising from her mouth. This is pretty good too¡­ She thought, but the water was so cold. And it felt as though she would never reach the bottom. The chill was draining her faster than she anticipated. Her consciousness started slipping, pulling her back to that childhood memory of drowning¨Csinking into a vortex with only freezing water invading her nose and mouth, crushing her chest, and leaving her trapped in despair. She forced her eyes open. Was it a hallucination? A shadowed figure cut through the dim water, swimming toward her with incredible speed- just like back then. 9:40 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 177 Into the Deep End 38 s Zacharias? Is he for me again? No, it can¡¯t be him. He¡¯s gone to save Selina. He was never my salvation. He¡¯s the one who¡¯ll push me into the abyss! Desperate to see clearly, she bit her tongue once more. Pain sharpened her vision¨Cor perhaps the figure had alreadye so close that his features finally appeared. Refined, striking, and unforgettable. Those narrow, deep¨Cset eyes locked onto her through the water, sharp and unyielding. 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 178 Pulled From the Depths Created 178 Chapter 178 Pulled From the Depths Chapter 178 Pulled From the Depths It was Jonathan. 38 s The moment Anneliese recognized him, hershes fluttered faintly. His broad hand had already wrapped around her, drawing her securely into his arms. He brushed her floating hair aside and pressed his palm against the back of her neck before lowering his head to seal her cold lips with his own. Her eyes flew wide, but Jonathan¡¯s thumb stroked gently behind her ear in a soothing motion. At the same time, Anneliese felt a breath of air forced between their joined lips, spreading into her chest and easing the suffocating tightness there. In the midst of the icy cold, that breath was the only warmth, and she instinctively closed her eyes, chasing after it, desperate to take in more. Jonathan started to pull back, but her lips clung to his, her tongue darting forward to tangle with his, bold and needy. His stroke toward the surface faltered. Then he captured her chilled lips again, gave her another breath, and teasingly pinched her ear with the hand at her nape, half reminder, half provocation. Anneliese¡¯s eyes opened, confusion flickering through the blur of water. She coughed in panic, choking on another mouthful. Jonathan frowned, tightened his arm firmly around her waist, and, with strong kicks, drove them both swiftly upward. Meanwhile, at the poolside¡­ ¡°Zach, please, don¡¯t leave me. I¡¯m scared. Please, I¡¯m begging you.¡± Zachary had already dragged Selina to the edge, but she clung to his neck, her legs wrapped around him, refusing to let go. ¡°Let go, Selina!¡± he barked, his wet face grim and urgent. Anneliese was still in the water. He had dived in to look for Anneliese, swimming toward the flurry of red fabric thrashing on the surface. But when he grabbed hold, he realized it was Selina. He had forgotten she was wearing a red dress too. He had wanted to push her off, but she hadtched onto him like driftwood, iming she couldn¡¯t swim. He decided to haul her up first before throwing himself into saving Anneliese. But even onnd, Selina refused to release him, still sobbing and shivering as though death was clutching her. ¡°Help me¡­ It¡¯s so cold¡­¡± she whimpered, tightening her grip on his neck. 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 178 Pulled From the Depths 38 s At that moment, another figure stormed up. She bent down, grabbed Selina¡¯s hair, and yanked it back hard. ¡°You little crybaby! Always clinging to men and whimpering! Fine, I¡¯ll give you something to whimper about!¡± It was Jessica. She had been watching from the shadows all along, keeping an eye on Anneliese. Seeing Zacharias save Selina and ignore Anneliese, Jessica¡¯s rage red so hot that she nearly stabbed the pair of them herself. The only reason she hadn¡¯t jumped in earlier was that she had seen Jonathan dive from the far side of the pool to rescue Anneliese. So, she used her strength elsewhere¨Cdragging Selina out of the water by her hair and pping her twice across the face. Selina screamed as if her scalp had been torn off, the heavy ps leaving her reeling. She shrieked louder and louder until the guests inside rushed out in rm. Discover more novels at findnovel ¡°Stop! Jessica, are you insane?¡± Zacharias froze for a moment at the sight of Selina being beaten senseless. He barked out the words, instinctively hauling himself onto the edge to stop Jessica. But Jessica let go of Selina and turned, nting a fierce kick into Zacharias¡® shoulder. With a ssh, he toppled back into the pool. He surfaced with a furious re, wiping water from his face. ¡°Jessica Sweeting!¡± Jessica met his anger without a flicker of fear. Her eyes burned with icy fire as she snapped, ¡°Why are you shouting at me? If anything happens to Annie, I¡¯ll smash your d*mn head in myself!¡± Anne! Zacharias¡® mind roared. Yes, Anne is still in the water. His face drained of color as panic gripped him. He scanned the pool wildly, but she was nowhere in sight. Just as he prepared to dive down again, movement caught his eye. From the deep end of the pool, a man surfaced with a red figure in his arms. ¡°Anne!¡± Zacharias cried, joy shing in his eyes as he struck out toward them. But he had barely swum a few feet when the man holding Anneliese turned back to face him. Created 179 Create Chapter 179 Shattered Facades Chapter 179 Shattered Facades : 37 s Zacharias froze when his gaze collided with another pair of eyes¨Ccold, fathomless, and sharp enough to cut. Jonathan¡¯s stare hit him like an icy de, carrying the kind of warning that could freeze the entire pool solid. Jonathan?! What¡¯s he doing here? The shock mmed into Zacharias¡® chest like a heavy hammer. His heart squeezed painfully as he saw Jonathan holding Anneliese. She clung tightly to his neck, her body limp against him, surrendering herselfpletely as he swam her toward the far side of the pool. All the strength drained out of Zacharias. He stayed rooted in the water, forgetting to move, forgetting even to climb out. Breaking through the surface, Anneliese gasped as fresh air rushed into her lungs. She coughed hard, still choking on the water. Jonathan kept one arm firmly around her while his other arm cut through the pool with steady power, carrying her swiftly to the edge. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, this way!¡± Zion was already waiting there. Just minutes earlier, he had parked the car and reached for the handle to open Jonathan¡¯s door, only for Jonathan to bolt out on his own. Zion had followed his line of sight and saw Selina and Zacharias leap from the terrace. By the time he blinked, Jonathan was gone. Zion had rushed back to grab a nket before running straight toward the White family¡¯s garden. Still out of breath, he dropped to his knees at the poolside. Seeing Anneliese drenched and pale, he didn¡¯t care about propriety¨Che grabbed her arm and hauled her up with Jonathan¡¯s help. She copsed to her knees, coughing hard. Jonathan surged up out of the pool, snatched the cashmere nket from Zion¡¯s arms, and bent to wrap it snugly around her shivering frame. ¡°The ground¡¯s freezing,¡± he said, scooping her up. without hesitation. Anneliese curled into him under the nket, trembling. Instinctively, her arms went around his neck, and she pressed herself closer. He was soaked and freezing too, but she felt only warmth and safety in his hold. 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 179 Shattered Facades : How many times has he saved me now? I really don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll ever repay this debt. 37 s Her dazed thoughts wandered as Jonathan nced down at her. She leaned into him with unguarded trust, and his longshes caught the droplets of water, blinking with a glint of quiet satisfaction. Zion hurried after them, picking up Jonathan¡¯s discarded cashmere coat from the grass and draping it over his shoulders. By then, themotion had spread. Guests rushed out from the banquet hall, voices rising in rm. Mnie and Timothy were among them. Their eyes went wide at the sight of Selina soaked through, kneeling pitifully on the ground with her face red from Jessica¡¯s ps. Christopher stormed forward and shoved Jessica back. ¡°How dare you assault a White on our estate grounds?¡± Jessica staggered two steps and nearly fell back into the pool. Seeing Christopher shielding Selina like a precious chick while Timothy and Mnie pulled her up and fussed over her, fury burned hot in her veins. She red at Christopher, then turned on the crowd with a sharp voice. ¡°Everyone, look! The imposter heiress, eaten up with jealousy, just pushed the Whites¡® real daughter off the terrace! She even clung to her brother¨Cinw to get him to save her, ignoring his wife¡¯s lifepletely!¡± Her words cut through the noise like a de. Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd. Christopher¡¯s face darkened, his eyes zing. He grabbed Jessica by the arm. ¡°Shut up! Stop spouting nonsense!¡± ¡°What nonsense? I saw it with my own eyes!¡± Jessica yanked against his hold, her voice carrying even farther. When he refused to release her, she lifted her knee, aiming straight between his legs. He let go instantly, but she pressed the advantage and kicked the back of his knee. They had been standing right at the edge, and with that kick, Christopher toppled into the pool¨Csshing Zacharias full in the face as he swam past. Selina, meanwhile, had just been helped up by Mnie. She leaned pitifully into her, preparing to sob out her grievances to her parents. But Jessica¡¯s voice rang out again, and Selina nearly choked on her own breath. She looked up with a pale face, ready to defend : Read full story at FindN()vel 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 179 Shattered Facades herself, when Christopher fell into the water. ¡°Chris!¡± ¡°Christopher White fell in!¡± ¡°Quick, someone bring a towel!¡± 37 s Created 180 Chapter 180 The Man Who Carried Her Chaos erupted, and no one paid Selina¡¯s frantic excuses any attention. 37 s Lenora and Melody had also rushed out. Lenora spotted Zacharias still floundering in the freezing pool and dragged Melody to the edge. ¡°Zach, get out of there!¡± ¡°Pull him up now! If anything happens to my son, you Whites will pay for it!¡± Melody shouted in fury, her heart aching for her child. Jessica immediately pointed straight at Selina. ¡°Your son jumped in from the second floor to save her.¡± The moment Melody heard that Zacharias had leapt from the terrace into the pool, her anger and worry sharpened further. She turned her re on Selina. No matter how fond she had been of the girl before, her gaze now was hard, seeing only trouble in her. Selina waved her hands desperately. ¡°No, Mrs. Shaw! I only wanted to apologize to Anne. I never thought she¡¯d refuse to listen and get so worked up. She grabbed at me, and somehow we both fell together. ¡°Zacharias jumped to save her¡­ Anne, yes¨Cplease, someone save Anne! Is she still in the water?¡± She cried out with frantic urgency, even turning as if she were about to throw herself back into the pool to rescue Anneliese. Her panic looked real, her shivering body and disheveled hair only adding to the illusion. Some of the onlookers began to believe her story. Mnie quickly pulled Selina into her arms, stopping her from jumping back in. ¡°Oh my God, what does this mean? Did the Whites¡® real daughter sink under?¡± ¡°Save her, quickly!¡± At Selina¡¯s words, more cries rang out. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward the water in dread. Selina stood there, shivering and humiliated under all those stares, yet secretly she felt a rush of triumph. Zacharias had pulled her out first, leaving Anneliese behind. It was nothing like the arrogant boasts Anneliese had thrown at her over the phone. Selina felt as if she had just pped her across the face. And if Anneliese really had sunk, being abandoned by her own husband, that pain would cut to 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 180 The Man Who Carried Her 37 s the bone. The longer she went without being saved, the greater the chance of pneumonia at best¨Cor far worse. But just as Selina indulged in that thought, a shout broke through the noise. ¡°Look, over there!¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s bringing her out!¡± ¡°Thank God!¡± Selina¡¯s head snapped up toward the direction everyone was pointing. Atst, she saw it: from the shadowed far side of the pool, a tall,manding man strode forward, carrying a woman wrapped tightly in a thick nket. An assistant trailed closely behind him. That corner of the garden was dimly lit, and to reach them required circling a cobblestone path lined with hedges. Everyone¡¯s attention had been on the water, so no one had noticed until now. The moment they did, silence fell. The man¡¯s aura pressed down on the crowd, suffocating in its weight. As Jonathan stepped from the shadows, carrying Anneliese across the stone path, his face gradually revealed itself under the amber glow of the gardenmps. Sharp breaths hissed all around. He was devastatingly handsome, his features finely cut and striking in the shifting light. His ck hair hung wet, slicked casually back, water dripping from the ends. Droplets traced over his pale, sculpted face, gleaming faintly, while his eyes glinted with a chilling sharpness that froze anyone who met them. In his arms, the small figure of Anneliese was swaddled from head to toe in the nket, even her hair hidden. Only two fair arms clung tightly around his neck, a ruby bracelet dangling on her wrist, glimmering softly and slightly softening the ferocity that rolled off of him. ¡°Who is that? I don¡¯t remember ever seeing him in Oceaton.¡± ¡°An actor, maybe? But he doesn¡¯t carry himself like one.¡± Murmurs rippled through the guests. Timothy and Mnie, as hosts, were equally baffled. They had no memory of inviting a man of such extraordinary presence and appearance. No one noticed Selina standing there drenched, staring as if she had seen a ghost. Jonathan! It¡¯s O 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Content originallyes from Find[?]ovel Chapter 180 The Man Who Carried Her Jonathan! He came. But why¡­ why is he holding Anneliese in his arms?! 37 s Created 181 Chapter 181 A sh at the Poolside It didn¡¯t y out the way Selina had imagined. 37 s In her mind, she should have been the one dazzling the crowd, holding Jonathan¡¯s arm as she introduced him with pride, revealing his identity as the Fullbuster heir while everyone looked on with envy and awe. Or, if not that, then at least when she fell into the water, he would have been the one to dive in and rescue her. He would see her as the woman constantly bullied by Anneliese, the one who had suffered quietly, and he would pity her, show her public affection, and erase all doubts cast by Anneliese¡¯s nder. Strong men always controlled public opinion¨Csuch had always been the truth. But now? No! I went through so much trouble to invite Jonathan here, not so Anneliese could steal the spotlight! Selina could hardly ept the reality staring her in the face. She rushed forward, cutting Jonathan off, tears brimming in her eyes as she lifted her face toward him with fragile gratitude. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re here. Thank you for epting my invitation to my mother¡¯s birthday banquet, and thank you even more for saving my sister just now. ¡°She and I had a little misunderstanding. She lost her temper, broke the railing, and fell. We were worried sick, and my brother¨Cinw was so frantic he wouldn¡¯t evene out of the pool.¡± Selina convinced herself that Jonathan had simply arrived at the right time and happened to save Anneliese out of basic decency. What infuriated her was Zacharias. If he hadn¡¯t insisted on rescuing her first, she would be in Jonathan¡¯s arms now. Turning, she waved him over. ¡°Zacharias, Anne must have fainted. Come check on her quickly!¡± She wanted Jonathan to know that Anneliese was married, wanted Zacharias to take his wife back immediately. Every extra second Anneliese spent draped over Jonathan¡¯s arm burned Selina with jealousy. But Zacharias was stuck on the other side. Melody and Lenora had dragged him aside the moment he climbed out, fussing with towels, scolding him for jumping into freezing water without regard for his own safety. ¡°Enough! I said enough!¡± 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 181 A sh at the Poolside 37 s When Selina turned to look at him, his hair was a tangled mess from their toweling, his expression grim. He tore the towel from Melody¡¯s hands and threw it to the ground with such force that both women flinched back. Striding forward, he reached out toward Anneliese and spoke coldly. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, thank you, but my wife is mine to save.¡± He had never intended to abandon Anneliese. Even if Jonathan hadn¡¯t jumped, he would have returned for her¨Che was sure of it. Jonathan had interfered where he shouldn¡¯t have, with motives toward Anne that were far from pure. Selina finally exhaled, convinced Jonathan would hand Anneliese over. But before Zacharias¡® hand could even touch her, Jonathan stepped sharply to the side. His gaze cut like a de, and his lips parted only to utter two icy words. ¡°Step aside.¡± Anneliese had already been sick in Riveraton just days ago, her body not fully recovered. Now, after being submerged so long in frigid water, she was trembling violently in his arms, a bundle of ice beneath the nket. If they truly cared for her, they should be focused on warming her, not wasting time with arguments. Especially Zacharias¨Chow dare he still call himself her husband when, in her moment of danger, he had chosen another woman first? Newest update provided by Selina stood there, stunned, unable to process what was happening. Zacharias knows Jonathan?! Jonathan didn¡¯t spare her a nce. His eyes were locked solely on Zacharias, every look and word shing like steel. Why does it feel as if the two of them were for Anneliese? She wondered. But that¡¯s impossible! The tension thickened. At that moment, Timothy and Mnie walked over. Timothy forced a polite smile. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, what an honor to have you here. Selina mentioned inviting you, but we never thought¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯s patience snapped. He could feel Anneliese shivering against him, and if her body dropped any further into hypothermia, it would be dangerous. Cutting Timothy off, he barked in a voice that brooked no refusal. ¡°Hot shower. Show the way.¡± His presence radiated authority, hismand carrying the weight of someone born to be obeyed. 9:41 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter Created 182 182 The Banquet in Ruins Chapter 182 The Banquet in Ruins Readplete version only at find¡¤novel 37 s Timothy instinctively stepped aside. ¡°Yes, yes, of course. You¡¯re drenched. You should hurry and get under hot water before you catch a cold¡­¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t bother listening. He had already strode past, heading straight into the residence. The guests who had crowded the doorway, whispering and gawking, scattered at once, making way for him without a word. Selina¡¯s eyes burned red as she spun toward Zacharias, stamping her foot. ¡°Zacharias, is Mr. Fullbuster about to take Anne upstairs for a bath? That¡¯s not appropriate¡­ or is it?¡± However, when she caught sight of Zacharias¡® dark, stormy expression, she flinched in fright. ¡°Jonathan! Stop right there! Hand me back my wife!¡± Zacharias roared, surging forward to snatch Anneliese away. How could another man so brazenly carry off his wife in front of so many people? If Jonathan really walked through those doors with her in his arms, then Zacharias would be nothing more than Oceaton¡¯sughingstock, branded the fool that was made wearing the horns. But before he had gone more than two steps, Zion blocked his path. ¡°Mr. Shaw, mind yourself.¡± That¡¯s my wife, and I¡¯m supposed to ¡®mind myself?! Zacharias almostughed from sheer rage, especially when he saw that Jonathan hadn¡¯t slowed in the slightest. Fury ignited in his chest. He drew back a fist, ready to strike Zion, when Jessica rushed over. ¡°Wife? Oh, so you remember she¡¯s your wife?! When Selina shoved Annie off the terrace, you were busy clutching her instead. ¡°When Annie was drowning and sinking, what were you doing then? Now you want to y the dutiful husband? Toote!¡± She rolled her eyes so hard it nearly rattled, then grabbed Zion¡¯s arm and hurried after Jonathan. Guests who hadn¡¯t recognized Jonathan¡¯s identity earlier were buzzing now after Zacharias¡® furious shout. ¡°My God, no wonder he looked familiar¨Cit¡¯s the Fullbuster heir, the current CEO of AeroAir.¡± ¡°He knows Anneliese? What¡¯s going on here?¡± Selina stood drenched, her sheer gown heavy with water and clinging pitifully to her legs, still 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 182 The Banquet in Ruins 37 s dripping as the cold wind set her teeth chattering. However, because Christopher and Zacharias had also been soaked, the household rushed to them first. No one thought to bring her a nket. In all her 22 years, she had never felt so invisible, so stripped bare under the scornful, mocking gazes surrounding her. She swore she could hear her heart bleeding in her ears, and the murmurs only fanned her rage higher. Jonathan had at my invitation. Why can¡¯t these people see it? Are they all blind?! As if to add insult, Timothy frowned at her. ¡°Selina, didn¡¯t you say Mr. Fullbuster came because you invited him? Why does it look like he knows your sister?¡± ¡°How should I know?!¡± Selina snapped, her voi shrill with frustration. The sudden outburst shattered her sweet, obedient¨Cgirl facade. Timothy stared at her, startled, his brows pulling tight. Realizing she had gone too far, Selina quickly softened, herself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad. I¡¯m just so cold. Mr. Fullbuster, yes filling with tears as she hugged always been a responsible man¨Cof course, he wouldn¡¯t ignore it if Anne were drowning. Ah¨Cchoo!¡± Only then did Timothy notice how pale and bluish her face had be from the chill. His heart squeezed with guilt, and he barked orders for the servants to fetch a nket. Christopher hurried to scoop her up and carry her inside. With such a scandal, Mnie¡¯s birthday banquet was in ruins. Timothy and Mnie made a few polite remarks before announcing its early end. The guests took no offense. After all, they had just been treated to not one, but two sensational spectacles. Still, many couldn¡¯t resist cornering Timothy and Mnie with eager questions. ¡°Mr. White, you¡¯ve been keeping secrets! When did you be acquainted with the Fullbuster heir?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¨Cyour family tying itself to the Fullbuster Group¡­ this is a huge step forward. Congrattions!¡± ¡°Timothy, don¡¯t forget us when you¡¯re sitting higher at the table!¡± Surrounded by ttery, Timothy felt as though all the humiliation of the night had been washed away. His face shone with pride, though he kept hisposure, smiling and waving a hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Selina is acquainted with Mr. Fullbuster, and she just received an offer from 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 182 The Banquet in Ruins 37 s AeroAir. That¡¯s why she invited him here tonight for her mother¡¯s birthday banquet.¡± At that moment, he told himself that Selina had, in fact, brought honor to the White family. 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 183 He Spanked Her Created 183 Chapter 183 He Spanked Her : Timothy thought, Selina¡¯s so much better than Anneliese, who¡¯s nothing but a drama queen. 37 s Anneliese had caused two major scenes in a single night, humiliating the White family utterly. She should never have been allowed back tonight. Inside the vi, Jonathan carried Anneliese, the warmth from the heater washing over them. His cold, calcting gaze swept over the maids before hemanded one to lead them to Anneliese¡¯s room. The maid, trembling in fear, hurried ahead and stopped before a door tucked in the farthest corner of the first floor. ¡°This is Ms. ude¡¯s room¡­¡± she stammered. When she pushed the door open, shelves lined with airne models greeted them. The maid froze, aware of Jonathan¡¯s icy, furious stare burning into her. ¡°T¨CThis is really Ms. ude¡¯s room. It¡¯s just¡­ been renovated,¡± she muttered. Jonathan had long known Anneliese¡¯s family neglected her, but tonight, he truly saw the depth of their disregard and mistreatment. They were like a pack of jackals. ¡°Take us to the guest room,¡± he said, his voice low and menacing. The maid nodded frantically and scurried upstairs. When Jonathan finally carried Anneliese into the guest room¡¯s bathroom and unwrapped her from the nket, she was still trembling, cold as ice, curling into herself. There wasn¡¯t time to fill the bathtub, so Jonathan turned on the hot shower and stepped under it with her in his arms, letting the warm water cascade over them. Anneliese clung to his neck, tilting her head to look up at him. Her eyes were red and glistening, her expression soft and vulnerable. Steam from the hot water rose around them, blurring the edges of the room, yet she didn¡¯t avert her gaze. She kept staring at him, as if afraid he might vanish if she looked away. 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 183 He Spanked Her : 37 s For a fleeting moment, seeing him swim toward her earlier stirred a strange memory¨Cone of the person who had saved her from drowning as a child. The images ovepped for a heartbeat, though she knew it couldn¡¯t be him. Back then, in the hospital, Zacharias had been by her bedside, hair still wet. He had saved her. She tried to shake the thought, but her eyes remained fixed on Jonathan. Sensing her unease, he adjusted his hold, rotating his arms to cradle her hips in a new hold. Sliding his arms beneath her knees from both sides, he lifted her like a baby, pressing her chest firmly against his as he stepped back slightly. The hot water cascaded over the back of her neck and shoulders. He lowered his gaze to her, his voice soft and gentle, mingling with the rising steam¨Cethereal, low, and maic as it brushed against Anneliese¡¯s ears. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Jonathan asked. Anneliese felt a surge of terror. She had overestimated herself. She¡¯d only ever practiced swimming in shallow water, with goggles and a nose clip, managing ap or two under perfect conditions. Thrown into deep water from a height, barely able to see¨Cthis was entirely different. She hadn¡¯t even begun swimming before panic set in; she choked, cramped, and iled before sinking. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find[?]ovel The childhood fear of drowning rushed back. If Jonathan hadn¡¯t reached her in time, she didn¡¯t want to imagine what might have happened. Even now, she trembled, weak and shaken, overwhelmed by fear. She kept her gaze locked on him, lips pale and pressed together, silent. Jonathan let out a sharp, exasperated snort and abruptly withdrew his hand from beneath her right knee. ¡°Serves you right,¡± he muttered. His deep voice resonated just as a sudden smack echoed through the bathroom. The unexpected impact made Anneliese cry out, her legs instinctively mping around his slender waist. Before she could react, his now¨Cfree handnded firmly on her backside. 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 183 He Spanked Her : She even heard the ssh of water. Her eyes widened in stunned disbelief. s Jonathan had actually spanked her. Why does he say that? Does he somehow know I fell into the pool on purpose? At that moment, Jessica arrived. She paused at the bathroom doorway, her voice hesitant as it floated inside. Clearing her throat with a cough, she asked, ¡°D¨CDo you need me toe in and help Annie?¡± Jessica¡¯s words jolted Anneliese¡¯s frozen thoughts back to life. Her mind spun, picturing everyone downstairs¨Cthe Whites, Zacharias, and the assembled guests. Jonathan had carried her straight into the bathroom. The realization hit her like a tidal wave, and a flush of heat surged through her body. ¡°Y¨CYou¡­¡± She stammered, unable to form aplete sentence, her legs instinctively squirming in an attempt to break free. Created 184 Chapter 184 A Searing Ache Chapter 184 A Searing Ache ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± : Jonathan¡¯smand rang sharp, his hoarse voice heavy with warning. Chapters first released on Find~Novel 37 s Anneliese froze,pletely at a loss. Like an ostrich hiding from danger, she instinctively buried her face against his chest, feeling as small and powerless as an insect. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. Put me down,¡± she murmured. His chest rose and fell in a tense rhythm. He inhaled deeply, then released the breath slowly before speaking again. ¡°Are you certain you can stand on your own?¡± ¡°Yes. You can let Jess in now.¡± Jonathan knew he was already at the limit. Carrying her upstairs could still be brushed off as an emergency, but lingering any longer would only stir unnecessary trouble. He didn¡¯t care what people said about him, but she didn¡¯t deserve to be dragged into rumors. Gently, he set her down, helped steady her, and without another word, strode to the door. As the door swung open, Jessica pressed herself against the wall, instantly covering her eyes in a dramatic flourish as if afraid of what she might see. Jonathan didn¡¯t even pause. ¡°Ms. Sweeting, please look after her.¡± He walked away without a backward nce. Jessica peeked through her fingers, then dropped her hand with a sly grin as she slipped into the bathroom. A smirk twisted into a grimace. Oh boy. Things are only just beginning, and he¡¯s already iming Annie like she¡¯s his. Meanwhile, Selina had been carried upstairs by Christopher. She hadn¡¯t even warmed herself with a shower before wriggling out of his arms and pushing him aside. She rushed straight toward Zion, who stood at the door of a guest room. ¡°Where are Anne and Mr. Fullbuster? Are they both in there?¡± 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 184 A Searing Ache The very thought made her dizzy. : Without waiting for an answer, she lunged for the door, panic written all over her face. Zion quickly intercepted her hand, his voice stern. 37 s ¡°Ms. White, mind your words. Ms. ude is resting in another room¨CMs. Sweeting is with her. And Mr. Fullbuster is in this room right now. It wouldn¡¯t be proper for you to enter.¡± Hearing that Jonathan and Anneliese had already gone their separate ways, Selina finally exhaled in relief. She realized she¡¯d been overthinking it. Anneliese¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t exactly clean, and she was already married¨Cthere was no way she¡¯d get tangled up with Jonathan. He had only carried her to help, nothing more. Still trembling from the cold, Selina nodded at Zion and staggered back to her own room. Half an hourter, Zacharias finished tidying up and knocked at Anneliese¡¯s door. Jessica answered with a smile, but the instant she saw who it was, her cheer vanished like smoke. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s you. So annoying.¡± Zacharias¡® face darkened. ¡°Who did you think it would be? Jonathan?¡± The way Jessica¡¯s expression shifted¨Cfrom bright and sweet to sheer disgust¨Csparked both jealousy and anger in him. Jessica crossed her arms, smirking. ¡°Well, well, so you did figure it out. Didn¡¯t think that much self¨Cawareness.¡± you had ¡°Jessica Sweeting! You¡ª¡± Zacharias ground his teeth, his eyes burning with warning. At that moment, Anneliese¡¯s voice drifted from within the room. ¡°Jess, let him in.¡± Jessica let out an exasperated huff before stepping aside. Zacharias strode inside, his gaze immediately falling on Anneliese, who sat propped up in bed 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 184 A Searing Ache beneath a heavy quilt, her cheeks faintly flushed. 37 s A flicker of rm crossed his eyes as he moved toward her, reaching out instinctively to check her forehead. ¡°Are you running a fever? Honey, I¡¯m sorry, I¡ª¡± Before his hand could reach her, Anneliese jerked her head away, revulsion clear in her expression. At the same time, Jessica rushed forward, seizing his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch her!¡± Zacharias had already been restraining his temper, but that was the breaking point. He wrenched Jessica¡¯s arm free with force, fury radiating off him. ¡°This is between me and my wife. Who the hell do you think you are? Get out!¡± His strength sent Jessica stumbling backward until she collided with the cab, a dull thud echoing in the room. Turning back to Anneliese, Zacharias barely had a moment to react before¨Cssh¨Ca cup of water struck him full in the face. And it was scalding hot. ¡°D*mn it!¡± His skin flushed crimson from the burn, his features contorted in shock and pain. The searing sting tore through him like fire, straight to his chest. It was a searing ache. He stood stunned, staring at Anneliese, who now bnced unsteadily on the bed, the empty cup clutched in her trembling hand. ¡°You burned me? You actually threw boiling water at me?¡± In her panic, Anneliese had risen too quickly, and her vision went dark. The cup slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor as her body swayed and copsed forward. Zacharias instinctively reached out, but she weakly pushed against his chest, copsing back onto the mattress. 9:42 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 184 A Searing Ache 37 s Her shove was so faint it barely registered, yet Zacharias stood frozen, his chest constricted with a turmoil of emotions. Created 185 Chapter 185 We Are Getting Divorced ¡°Annie, I¡¯m fine. Just calm down, alright?¡± Jessica rushed to the bedside, settling on the edge as she helped Anneliese sit upright. 37 s Zacharias stood nearby, his expression tight as he watched Anneliese lean against Jessica, struggling to steady her breathing. His voice came out rough, almost hoarse. ¡°Anne, didn¡¯t you notice Jessica shoving me into the pool, tearing at my clothes, and hurling sarcasm at me? All I did was shake her off¨Cand your response was to scald me with boiling water?¡± Jessica¡¯s re cut across the room like a de. ¡°With how you always put your side chick first, you¡¯re lucky all I did was kick you, and Annie only sshed water on you. How dare you stand here and act like the victim?¡± Anneliese drew in a long breath and finally lifted her gaze to Zacharias. Her eyes were sharp, clear, and merciless. ¡°You did this to yourself.¡± That cial look made Zacharias swallow the bitterness rising in his chest. He forced his voice low. ¡°Can you ask her to step out? I want to speak with you alone.¡± Anneliese had already intended to bring up the divorce. She grabbed Jessica¡¯s hand before Jessica lost her temper. ¡°Jess.¡± Jessica shot Zacharias a distrustful nce, then rose, tucked the nket carefully around Anneliese, and warned, ¡°I¡¯ll be right outside. If he so much as tries anything, just yell.¡± Anneliese¡¯s lips curved faintly as she nodded. Watching the two women treat him like a brute, Zacharias¡® handsome features twisted with frustration. As soon as the door shut, he crouched slightly, reaching as if to take Anneliese¡¯s hand. But before he could get close, she cut him off. ¡°Stay where you are.¡± 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 185 We Are Getting Divorced 37 +10 Free Coins Zacharias¡® fists tightened, though he fought to keep hisposure. She was burning with fever -he didn¡¯t want to agitate her further. ¡°Anne,¡± he began, voice urgent, ¡°I was going to save you, I swear. You and Selina were both in red dresses. I thought it was you, but when I reached her, she clung to me and wouldn¡¯t let go. I Anneliese¡¯s cold, unwavering voice sliced through his exnation. ¡°Zacharias, tomorrow morning at nine, I¡¯ll be waiting outside City Hall. Let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± The timing was almost cruel¨Cfinalizing their separation right after the White family¡¯s dinner banquet. Zacharias¡® frown deepened, his eyes growing cial. Pressing a hand to his throbbing temples, he muttered, ¡°You¡¯re feverish and not thinking clearly. I¡¯ll go get the doctor for you.¡± He turned toward the door, but Anneliese¡¯s sudden shout froze him in his tracks. ¡°Zacharias! Running away won¡¯t solve anything. I¡¯m not delirious¨CI know exactly what I¡¯m saying.¡± He spun back, his eyes zing with anger. ¡°Enough! Stop it. I understand you¡¯re furious because I saved Selina instead of you, but must you bring up divorce every single time? ¡°Haven¡¯t I endured enough? You¡¯ve been cozying up to Jonathan, even hugging him in front of everyone tonight, and I let it slide. ¡°And as for Selina- that recording you yed was fake. I didn¡¯t even call you out on it. So, what more do you want from me?¡± When the recording first yed, Zacharias almost believed it was real. But he had already reviewed the security footage from that day. He remembered it vividly- When Anneliese stepped out of the elevator and paused outside his office, her hands were empty. There was no phone. Anneliese¡¯s lips curved into a cold, restrained smile. ¡°Yeah, the recording¡¯s fake. I created it. But tell me¨Cwas a single word of it untrue? 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 185 We Are Getting Divorced 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°And you actually expect me to be grateful just because you didn¡¯t expose me right then? Honestly, Zacharias, your standards couldn¡¯t be lower.¡± His breath quickened as he stared at her in silence. Anneliese had no interest in going in circles again. They¡¯d argued like this far too many times; it was exhausting, meaningless. Discover more novels at find[?]ovel She picked up her phone, tapped the screen, and tossed it onto the bed in front of him. ¡°Watch this first.¡± Zacharias frowned, lifted the phone, and pressed y. The footage appeared¨Ca freshly recorded clip of Anneliese being shoved off the second¨Cfloor terrace into the pool. The video showed their heated argument clearly. Selina and Anneliese shed, tumbling against the railing¡ª But then Zacharias seized Selina, steadied her, and shoved Anneliese into the water. Veins strained against his forehead as he clenched the phone so tightly it seemed on the verge of breaking. When the clip ended, he swiped to the next. This time, the footage captured him dragging Selina safely out of the pool. Anneliese¡¯s smile sharpened. ¡°Do you see it clearly now? First, there¡¯s the leaked audio of uderias Tech¡¯s founder, Mr. Shaw, sabotaging rivals and securing funding illegally. ¡°Then we have Mr. Shaw cheating with the White family¡¯s fake heiress, shielding her crimes, and even attempting to murder his own wife at a dinner party to protect his mistress. Tell me, doesn¡¯t that make quite a headline?¡± Created 186 : 37 +10 Free Coins Anneliese spoke with a casual air, her words sharp despite the nonchnce. ¡°I imagine the inte would feast on a scandal like this. The real question is¨Cwill uderias Tech survive the fallout from your personal mess?¡± Zacharias¡® face drained of color. With a sudden burst of rage, he hurled his phone across the room. Bang! ???? ????s? ???????s ?? The device shattered into fragments. His eyes, bloodshot with fury, locked on Anneliese. ¡°Murder my wife? Are you seriously fabricating something this vile just to push through a divorce?¡± That wasn¡¯t what had happened. The video was deceptive, filmed from a misleading angle. He had reached out to restrain her, yet the footage made it look as though he was shielding Selina¨Cwhile shoving Anneliese aside. Anneliese met his livid, wounded stare with icy detachment. ¡°If you had agreed to end this marriage quietly, I wouldn¡¯t have been forced to go this far. Four years ago, I nearly died in that filthy alley. I survived by nothing but sheer luck. Selina tried to kill me, and you covered it up for her. That makes youplicit, Zacharias. So, calling you a wife¨Ckiller isn¡¯t exactly unjust, is it?¡± Her gaze didn¡¯t waver¨Ccold, cutting, filled with disdain and unshakable determination. She had plotted every move, resolute in dismantling this marriage. When she first traveled to Riveraton to retrieve the recording from Rory, Zacharias hadn¡¯t been concerned. There hadn¡¯t been enough proof. At worst, it would be an inconvenience¨Cnothing he couldn¡¯t manage. But with the recording and the incriminating videobined, plus his own wife publicly using him of adultery and attempted murder¡­ He would be defenseless. His reputation would copse overnight. The thought made him reel; his bnce faltered as he stumbled back a step. 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 186 His Reputation The room sank into a heavy silence, the tension thick enough to choke on. Atst, Anneliese spoke. ¡°Nine o¡¯clock tomorrow. If you¡¯re not there, I¡¯ll go straight to the Zacharias¡® fists trembled, his silence seething. But Anneliese was in no rush. She knew him too well. He woulde. press.¡± 37 +10 Free Coins She lowered her eyes, exhaling softly. ¡°Zacharias, let¡¯s end this cleanly. Don¡¯t make it uglier than it has to be, alright?¡± Finally, his voice rasped out, raw and jagged, like it had scraped over broken ss. ¡°You¡¯re something else, Anneliese.¡± That was his answer¨Chis reluctant surrender. Relief uncoiled in her chest, though her body felt heavy, her head spinning with exhaustion. She slumped against the cushions, limp. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s too soon. I¡¯ll have mywyer draft the divorce papers.¡± Zacharias muttered, clinging to ast thread of hope. He consoled himself. Even if they filed tomorrow, the legal process would still take time. Time he could use to win her back. He refused to believe that the love and tolerance Anneliese had shown him through all these years would simply disappear without a trace. But Anneliese¡¯s final words crushed the illusion. ¡°No need. The papers were filed a month ago. Tomorrow, we¡¯re only picking up the finalized decree.¡± Zacharias¡® eyes flew open in disbelief. ¡°What did you just say? We¡¯ve already filed for divorce?¡± His voice cracked, unsteady andced with confusion. Filed for divorce? A month ago? That¡¯s impossible. 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 186 His Reputation He hadn¡¯t signed anything¨Cno divorce papers, no visit to City Hall. Nothing. Yet somehow, the process had gone through, leaving him utterly baffled. But Anneliese¡¯s calm expression and steady tone left no doubt¨Cthis was no joke. A chilling realization struck him, and his voice sharpened. ¡°It was Coral, wasn¡¯t it?¡± 37 +10 Free Coins A month ago, Coral had still been his secretary. Almost every document passed through her hands before reaching him. If he had unknowingly signed divorce papers, then Coral must have orchestrated it. What he never expected was for Anneliese to join forces with her so soon. His chest tightened as his re bored into Anneliese, eyes zing with fury. But she only tilted her head, lips curving into a taunting smile. ¡°Not bad. Try again.¡± Zacharias squeezed his eyes shut, then reopened them, the pieces falling into ce. ¡°You I got the papers from Coral. Then my mom went with you to file the divorce, didn¡¯t she?¡± Anneliese arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with satisfaction. ¡°Exactly. Your dear sister was there too. And I should really thank your mom¨Cwhen the clerk insisted on a video call to confirm with you, she smoothed it over. She swore you¡¯d authorized her to handle it, even wrote a statement on the spot. That¡¯s how everything was approved.¡± Created 187 Chapter 187 She No Longer Loved Him +10 Free Coins Zacharias felt the world copse into darkness, a sharp metallic tang rising in his throat that he struggled to swallow back. And then¨Ceverything returned to him in a flood. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t go to the hospital that day to apologize to my mom. You went to plot with her, to set me up for divorce? What a d*mn joke!¡± Hisughter broke out, jagged and bitter,ced with mockery and despair. Zacharias had always believed himself clever, untouchable. Yet he had been nothing more than a pawn. They had deceived him, hidden everything from him, and stripped him of it all before he even realized what was happening. What a pathetic joke. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?ndNovel Her secret lover. His mother. His sister. The very wife he thought cherished him most¡ª together, they had carved him open, striking at his heart without mercy. Abruptly, Zacharias¡®ughter cut short. Fury overtook him, and he lunged forward, seizing Anneliese by the shoulders and jerking her upright. ¡°Anneliese ude! How dare you!¡± His grip was crushing, his anger palpable. Anneliese winced at the pain, but her defiance did not falter. She narrowed her eyes, teeth clenched, and raised her chin. Her face, flushed with fury, curved into a mocking smile¨Clike a rose blooming with thorns. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare? I told you I wanted a divorce¨Cdid you ever take me seriously? You betrayed me first, Zacharias. You betrayed us. And now you stand here pretending to be the victim? Ask yourself. A month ago, how much of your heart still belonged to me?¡± Her words struck him like a de. The blood drained from his face, and his fingers ckened on her shoulders. She shoved him away, stumbling back onto the bed, chest heaving with rage. ¡°If you¡¯d ever truly cared, you wouldn¡¯t have been blindsided by everything. You know who I am. You know I can¡¯t abide lies. Yet you sided with Selina, helped her deceive me¨Cyou cheated 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 187 She No Longer Loved Him 37 +10 Free Coins on me. And all the while, you were so certain I¡¯d never walk away, that I couldn¡¯t live without you. ¡°Your arrogance, your confidence¨Cthey were all born from my love. And every ounce of it turned into a de that cut me apart! The moment I heard you allughing at me outside the office, the Anneliese who loved you ceased to exist!¡± Zacharias stood frozen, sweat beading across his forehead. His pallor deepened, his chest hollowed with an unbearable emptiness. Anneliese no longer loved him. Not even a shred. To her, their marriage had been nothing more than a cage. She had been sharpening her de for freedom all along. And now, she had cast him aside like refuse, without the slightest hesitation. His breath came ragged. He tore open the cor of his shirt, choking on the words that refused to leave his throat¨Cpleas, excuses, desperate confessions. But none of them escaped. After what felt like an eternity, he spun on his heel and stormed out. Because if he stayed even a moment longer, he feared he would lose control¨Che feared he would strangle Anneliese with his own hands. Outside, Jessica pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch any sound from inside. Before she could hear much, the door flew open, sending her stumbling forward. She nearly collided with Zacharias¡®, but instead ofshing out as she expected, he brushed past her without a word, storming down the hall as though she didn¡¯t exist. Recovering quickly, Jessica shut the door behind her and hurried to Anneliese¡¯s side, her face. etched with concern. ¡°Well? Did he agree?¡± she asked breathlessly. To her surprise, Anneliese looked not only calm but faintly relieved, even pleased. She gave a firm nod. ¡°He¡¯s going tomorrow. And it¡¯s all thanks to the video you managed to get tonight.¡± Anneliese lifted her hand, and Jessica pped it in a triumphant high five, her eyes shining. ¡°Perfect! No wonder Zacharias looked like death warmed over when he left!¡± 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 187 She No Longer Loved Him ¡°Shattered¡± didn¡¯t evene close to describing him at that moment. Jessica, however, felt no sympathy. In her mind, he deserved every bit of it. 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± she added with a sly grin, ¡°do you know why Mr. Fullbuster showed up tonight?¡± Anneliese shook her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t have a chance to ask.¡± It puzzled her. She had never heard of Jonathan having any association with the White family. With his standing, if there were any connection, the Whites would boast about it endlessly. Then, a memory surfaced¨CSelina once mentioned she had invited Jonathan. Suddenly, the pieces began to fit. ¡°Hold on,¡± Anneliese murmured. ¡°Selina¡¯s had a crush on someone for years. When she went abroad, she imed she was chasing after a pilot. Could that pilot have been Jonathan?¡± The idea made too much sense. A couple of years back, Jonathan had been stationed overseas at AeroAir¡¯s branch office, only returning this year to take over at headquarters. It lined up perfectly. Selina wasn¡¯t the type to fall for just a pilot. If it was Jonathan, everything added up. Being a pilot was only one facet of his aplished resume. Jessica snapped her fingers, pulling Anneliese closer. ¡°Selina must¡¯ve pulled strings to secure the job offer from AeroAir. She¡¯s absolutely chasing Jonathan. You didn¡¯t see it, but I spotted her earlier, carrying a drink to his room herself. The way she was smiling¨Coh my, it gave me chills!¡± Created 188 Chapter 188 He¡¯s up for Grabs Had Selina gone to see Jonathan? Anneliese¡¯s fingers twitched under the covers. Selina always knew how to put on a show, and she had her ways of drawing people in. Right now, Zacharias viewed her as a pure, untouchable ideal. Did Jonathan feel the same way too? ¡°Annie, Jonathan is exactly what Selina wants. What do you say?¡± Jessica¡¯s excited voice snapped Anneliese back to reality. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese blinked, struggling to follow Jessica¡¯s train of thought. Jessica groaned in frustration. 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°Why not make him yours instead? Mr. Fullbuster is all Selina could ever ask for. He¡¯s got everything, yet he doesn¡¯t fool around. ¡°If you win him over, not only will Selina and her family lose their minds, but even Zacharias will regret everything. ¡°This is the sweetest revenge! Come on, give it a shot!¡± Jessica¡¯s face was flushed with excitement. Meanwhile, Anneliese merely stared at her, dumbfounded. Jessica made it sound as though she could im Jonathan as if he were hers so effortlessly. It seemed like Jessica was the one running a fever and acting delusional, not her. ¡°We¡¯re just friends, and Jonathan¡¯s a good person. He¡¯s helped me a lot, so how could I use him. like that?¡± Besides, she was getting divorced tomorrow. They had already caused a huge scene tonight. Though she couldn¡¯t do much about Selina, at least she¡¯d let off some steam. Now, Selina understood what it felt like to be judged, gossiped about, and looked down upon. 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 188 He¡¯s up for Grabs : 37 +10 Free Coins Anneliese wasn¡¯t driven by revenge, and she had no ns of looking for love right now. Seeing how Anneliese refused, Jessica sulked. Nheless, she knew Anneliese¡¯s nature well enough not to push further. At that moment, there was another knock at the door. Jessica¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I bet it¡¯s Jonathan. If it is, will you reconsider my suggestion?¡± Anneliese was taken aback by the question. She was about to refuse, but Jessica simply ignored her and darted to the door. As soon as the door swung open, Anneliese made eye contact with the familiar man outside. Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Look who¡¯s here! It¡¯s Mr. Fullbuster, the hero who saved our dearest Annie! Come in!¡± Jessica stepped aside with an overly enthusiastic smile, then turned to Anneliese and winked cheekily. Though Anneliese hadn¡¯t agreed to Jessica¡¯s absurd bet, those words still echoed in her mind. She never realized just how persuasive Jessica could be. Anneliese felt inexplicably flustered, and her racing heartbeat wouldn¡¯t calm down. The man¡¯s deep, alluring voice could be heard. ¡°Are you running a fever?¡± At the same time, hisrge hand rested gently on her forehead. Anneliese looked up to find Jonathan¡¯s intense gaze on her, his brows slightly furrowed. He had just showered and changed into a suit, leaving the top two buttons of his shirt undone with no tie. The skin on his neck was still slightly pink from the steaming shower, and the small mole on his Adam¡¯s apple stood out against his fair skin. His dark hair, blown fluffy and tousled, framed his face naturally. Anneliese¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and her cheeks began warming up. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a slight fever,¡± she admitted. Speaking made her voice hoarse in an unfamiliar way. m 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 37 Chapter 188 He¡¯s up for Grabs She lowered her head slightly to clear her throat, avoiding his touch. Jonathan withdrew his hand and said nothing. +10 Free Coins Soon, Anneliese raised her head again. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine after taking some medicine. Why aren¡¯t you¡­¡± She had meant to ask why he was here, especially since Selina was supposed to be the one meeting him. However, thinking of how Selina had pursued him for years and how he¡¯d epted her invitation to the White family¡¯s banquet, Anneliese decided it wasn¡¯t appropriate to ask. Fresh chapters posted on find[?]ovel Perhaps the two of them were close, and maybe he even liked Selina. ¡°Pardon?¡± Jonathan seemed to be texting someone. Hearing her pause, he looked up from his phone and studied her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Anneliese replied, shaking her head with a smile. Jonathan watched her carefully, noticing her evasive eyes. He grinned slightly. He thought of their underwater kiss and how she had wrapped her legs tightly around him in the bathroom, assuming she was being shy about it. 9:43 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 189 Caring for Her Created 189 Chapter 189 Caring for Her : Seeing that neither of them spoke, Jessica chimed in, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be heading out¡­¡± 37 +10 Free Coins But before she could finish, Anneliese turned to her and hurriedly said, ¡°That¡¯s alright, Jess. I¡¯m done here, so let¡¯s go.¡± She reached to lift the covers, but Jessica froze when she saw Jonathan bending down to support Anneliese. ¡°I¡¯ll go start the car,¡± Jessica answered before running off. Find the newest release on find[?]ovel As Anneliese held onto Jonathan, she tried to insist she could stand, but her legs wavered weakly. The next second, she felt herself being lifted effortlessly and ced back on the bed. ¡°We¡¯ll leave after you¡¯ve taken your medicine,¡± Jonathan muttered in a low voice. He sat beside her bed, his presence ever¨Cso¨Cintimidating. Anneliese instinctively drew her legs closer, slightly stunned as she gaped at him. ¡°Are youing with me?¡± she asked. Jonathan raised an eyebrow, finding her question strange. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± He hade precisely because of her¨Cand it was just as well he did. As he recalled her sinking into the icy water lifelessly, a storm brewed in his eyes. Anneliese let out a small smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Selina wasn¡¯t worth her time. Perhaps her rtionship with Jonathan was nothing more than casual. At that moment, Zion knocked and entered, carrying a ss of water with some fever medicine. Jonathan took it and handed the pill to Anneliese. She thanked him and ced the medicine in her mouth. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 189 Caring for Her Just as she reached for the cup, Jonathan brought it to her lips himself. While holding the cup in his hand, she drank the water along with the medicine. ¡°Drink more,¡± Jonathan said, not moving his hand. Anneliese drank, letting him guide the cup. 37 +10 Free Coins Zion watched as his usually aloof boss fussed over Anneliese with such patience and care, and he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself. Indeed, miracles truly existed. Judging by Jonathan¡¯s actions, he was a strong contender for the world¡¯s best boyfriend. Anneliese furrowed her brows slightly, full from drinking almost an entire ss of water. Jonathan didn¡¯t push her further and gently moved the cup away. ¡°What are you two-¡± Just then, a woman¡¯s voice rang from the doorway, clearly surprised. Anneliese looked up and met Selina¡¯s incredulous eyes. Zion had forgotten to close the door, and Selina arrived just in time to catch Jonathan leaning over as he fed Anneliese her medicine. She could hardly believe her eyes. How could this cold, aloof, and proud man personally care for Anneliese? She was a sly, beguiling fox! Selina hurried to the bedside, forcing a friendly, concerned smile at Anneliese. ¡°Do you feel unwell, Anne? Let me take care of you. ¡°I invited Mr. Fullbuster to the banquet tonight, and he shouldn¡¯t trouble himself with this.¡± She tried scooting closer to the bed, but Zion immediately blocked her way. ¡°Ms. ude has fallen sick and needs some fresh air. Please don¡¯t crowd around her bedside, Ms. White.¡± 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 189 Caring for Her : Meanwhile, Jonathan ignored Selina as he ced the cup on the nightstand. He noticed a tiny drop of water glistening at the corner of Anneliese¡¯s lips. Without a second thought, he reached out and wiped it away with his thumb. Selina¡¯s pupils shrank. She froze in ce, her face draining of color. ¡°You two know each other?¡± She could not be convinced otherwise. 37 +10 Free Coins Anneliese and Jonathan seemed intimate with each other, almost as if the world outside didn¡¯t exist. No two strangers would behave like this. Meanwhile, Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected him to do that. His touch made her feel a strange, ticklish warmth. Seeing Selina lose herposure, Anneliese felt rather satisfied, much to her own shame. Jessica¡¯s words seemed to echo in her mind again. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for a long time,¡± Jonathan replied, turning slightly as he answered Selina¡¯s question without missing a beat. Selina felt her mind go nk, and it seemed as though a bomb had exploded in her chest. She recalled spotting a man who resembled Jonathan with Anneliese on several asions. He was the one who celebrated Anneliese¡¯s birthday and apanied her to the auction. It turned out she hadn¡¯t been imagining things. It really was Jonathan! Jealousy, shock, disbelief, and anger surged inside her. She clenched her palm so hard it hurt, forcing a smile across her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know! Were you and Anne-¡± 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 189 Caring for Her Her words were cut off. ¡°Anything else?¡± 37 +10 Free Coins Jonathan sounded cold and detached, nothing like the way he treated Anneliese, as if he were someone else altogether. Created 190 Chapter 190 Ready To Teach Her a Lesson Chapter 190 Ready To Teach Her a Lesson The difference in treatment was ring. Selina felt as if she had been pped across the face, one blow after another. 37 +10 Free Coins The marks Jessica left earlier hadn¡¯t faded yet, and now, her cheeks burned even hotter. She was visibly embarrassed, but she forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m actually here to apologize,¡± she exined. ¡°Years of sun and rain had worn down the balcony railing. Maintenance work hadn¡¯t been done, and we didn¡¯t know the wood was already rotting. ¡°We certainly didn¡¯t expect the ident to happen¡­¡± However, Anneliese was certain the railing had been tampered with under Selina¡¯s orders. Her head throbbed, the fever made her dizzy, and the sound of Selina¡¯s voice only worsened her nausea. Still, watching the woman¡¯s mix of difort and humiliation on her face, Anneliese found it oddly satisfying. The feeling was dangerous, luring her toward Jessica¡¯s reckless suggestion of stealing Jonathan for her own. To stop that thought from taking root, Anneliese cut her off coldly and demanded, ¡°Where is Grandma¡¯s bracelet? Give it back to me.¡± She hadn¡¯t forgotten her original purpose tonight, which was to reim the emerald bracelet. She knew better than to count on Zacharias. He had probably already forgotten his promise to retrieve it from Selina and return it intact tonight. Not that Anneliese ever expected much from him anyway. Selina widened her eyes in mock surprise. ¡°I¡¯ve already given it to Zacharias, though. He was telling me how much he loved you, and how he wanted to use the bracelet to win your heart. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 190 Ready To Teach Her a Lesson ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to misunderstand, so I gave it back to him. 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°Has Zacharias managed to surprise you with it yet? With all the chaos tonight, he probably hasn¡¯t had the chance.¡± Selina was in possession of the emerald bracelet, and she had no ns of returning it so easily. She kept bringing Zacharias up, a deliberate reminder to Jonathan that Anneliese was still another man¡¯s wife. Not a word of it did Anneliese believe. She smiled coldly. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course, Anne. If you don¡¯t believe me, just give him a call right now.¡± She had felt his phone in his pocket when he jumped into the pool to save Anneliese. It was waterlogged now, and she wasn¡¯t worried about Anneliese actually making the call. Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Anneliese frowned. Selina¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, though her smile stayed helpless and sweet. ¡°Anne, you¡¯re free to search my room if you still don¡¯t believe me.¡± She then added, ¡°I have plenty of new jewelry, and you can have anything you like.¡± Hearing this, Anneliese was certain the bracelet wouldn¡¯t be found. Too ill and weary to argue any further, she dismissed the woman coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in anything of yours, but don¡¯t dream of taking what¡¯s mine. Touch it, and you¡¯ll pay the price.¡± Selina looked hurt. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like me, which is why you hate the people and things around me,¡± she answered in a low voice. Her words carried a hidden meaning, and she looked at Jonathan while she spoke. However, the man didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. Instead, he simply reached out to steady Anneliese as she stood up. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 190 Ready To Teach Her a Lesson When they went downstairs, the Whites were still in the living room. 37 +10 Free Coins Timothy could be seen consoling Mnie, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying. She had looked forward to today¡¯s birthday banquet, yet it ended in such disgrace. Over the next two weeks, the White family would be the butt of the joke within their circle. ¡°Alright now, Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s still here. Anneliese¡¯s behavior today was uneptable, and I¡¯ll teach her a lesson once he leaves!¡± Timothy spoke sharply. Just then, Anneliese interjected, ¡°How are you nning to punish me? Are you going to cut my allowance off? Lock me out of the estate on purpose? Make me kneel in the garden? Or perhaps have me spend the night counting beans?¡± She had been in those situations before. Having her allowance cut was practically routine. Selina received thousands each month, even receiving extra from the family. But when Anneliese returned, Timothy and Mnie feared that she¡¯d squander it all or develop bad spending habits, and they barely gave her a tenth of Selina¡¯s monthly allowance. Even thatsted only one month. When they learned she had used her entire allowance to cover her grandmother¡¯s medical bills in Baytree, they were annoyed that she¡¯d put outsiders before her own so¨Ccalled family. They reduced her allowance even further, iming that keeping close ties with her old family would affect her rtionship with the Whites. Even so, her measly allowance would be cut off whenever Selina put on a teary show. Being locked outside, forced to kneel in the garden, or made to do mindless chores like counting beans were just more of the White family¡¯s endless tricks. Created 191 Chapter 191 Assuming Selina Had Invited Him Chapter 191 Assuming Selina Had Invited Him Back then, Anneliese had been too young and far too eager for her family¡¯s approval. 37 +10 Free Coins She foolishly believed that sincerity would be met with sincerity, and that time would make everything better. Now, looking back, it was nothing but a joke. Timothy¡¯s face darkened, especially with Jonathan standing beside her. How bold of her to reveal such things in front of an esteemed guest! ¡°There you go again, with all that nonsense! You¡¯ve made your mother upset again!¡± he scolded. Timothy then turned to Jonathan. ¡°It¡¯s your first time here, Mr. Fullbuster. I¡¯m sorry you had to witness such a scene. ¡°You might not know this, but Anne was already seventeen by the time we reunited. She¡¯s got a wild temper, and she hasn¡¯t been able to get along with the family.¡± He added, ¡°As parents, we¡¯re truly worried. We can¡¯t be too strict with her, nor too lenient. Finding bnce has been difficult, but no matter what, everything we do is for her own good. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but she doesn¡¯t seem to understand where we¡¯reing from. She¡¯s even grown resentful of Selina¡­¡± Timothy sounded helpless, so convincing that one might really mistake him for a thoughtful, well¨Cmeaning parent. He paused and eyed Selina tenderly before letting out a sigh. ¡°We¡¯re lucky to have Selina, who¡¯s always so generous, kind¨Chearted, and never one to hold grudges. Kids these days, eh? Forgive us, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Timothy mistakenly believed Selina had been the one to invite Jonathan. He spoke with the air of an elder, ncing between the pair in approval. Standing behind Jonathan, Zion only felt secondhand embarrassment for him. This text is hosted at Find[?]ovel Fearing the truth might be exposed, Selina hurried to her father¡¯s side and took his arm. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 191 Assuming Selina Had Invited Him ¡°Stop ming Anne for this, Dad. She¡¯s down with a fever. ¡°Also, Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s time is precious. Let¡¯s not waste another minute, shall we?¡± Timothy patted her hand before turning back to Jonathan. 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°Why not drop by another day, Mr. Fullbuster? We¡¯ll have Selina invite you again when we¡¯re better prepared to host someone as great as you.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t move. Instead, he suddenly turned and sped Anneliese¡¯s wrist. Her fever hadn¡¯t gone down yet, and his cool, steady palm against her thin wrist was both abrupt and oddlyforting. She froze in surprise, and before she realized it, she had been drawn a step forward, now standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Dazed and confused, she nced down at his hand encircling her wrist with no room to spare. When she lifted her head, she realized everyone was ring at their intertwined hands. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, what are you-¡± Timothy frowned, but Mnie could no longer hold back. ¡°Anneliese, Mr. Fullbuster is your sister¡¯s guest. Why are you behaving like this?¡± Perseus stepped forward, pulling Selina to his side furiously. ¡°You¡¯re still a married woman, Anne. What¡¯s with your behavior?¡± Christopher went even further, reaching out to drag Anneliese away. But before his hand could touch her, Jonathan¡¯s other hand seized his wrist in a crushing grip. The man didn¡¯t hold back, and Christopher let out a muffled groan, his face paling. When Jonathan flung his hand aside, he staggered back two steps humiliatingly. Christopher was filled with fury, but before he couldsh out, Jonathan¡¯s cold, piercing gaze stopped him in his tracks. With a tug, Jonathan then drew Anneliese into his arms. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 191 Assuming Selina Had Invited Him 37 +10 Free Coins His hand shifted from her wrist to her slender waist, holding her firmly as his voice rang out sharply. ¡°Why on earth would I ept Ms. White¡¯s invitation? That¡¯s absurd.¡± Looking down at Anneliese in his arms, he added, ¡°I came with Anne.¡± The way he addressed both women was vastly different, and it was clear for all to see. Selina¡¯s face went deathly pale, as if her heart was bleeding with pain and jealousy. She never expected Jonathan to strip her of all dignity so mercilessly. They had known each other for five or six years. It was love at first sight for Selina when she met him at the Fullbusters¡® ce. She was only seventeen at the time. All these years, she pursued him relentlessly, even changing her college major because of him. She buttered up to his mother and went to great lengths to appear wherever he might be, hoping they¡¯d bump into each other. When he epted the White family¡¯s invite, she had been so excited she couldn¡¯t sleep, thinking she had finally caught his attention. But as it turned out, he was there for Anneliese. Who would¡¯ve thought that after everything, he still addressed her so coldly and formally? Tears streamed down Selina¡¯s cheeks uncontrobly. She lowered her head, unable to endure such humiliation. In the end, she ran upstairs with her face buried in her hands. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 37 Chapter 192 Leaving Once and for All Created 192 Chapter 192 Leaving Once and for All Chapter 192 Leaving Once and for All Anneliese blinked, her expression caught somewhere between dazed and innocent. She and Selina had been rivals for years, locked in constant battle. +10 Free Coins Whenever Selina pped her, she would do anything just to return the p, even if she hurt herself. However, today was different. She had managed to make Selina cry and run off without lifting a finger. Anneliese had to admit that winning effortlessly felt pretty sweet. ¡°Selina!¡± Mnie called after her anxiously, and she hurried off as well. Timothy and his sons were rigid, their hearts filled with anger and distress. However, Jonathan paid them no mind. With his arm around Anneliese, he started walking out. Feverish and weak, she simply followed his lead until someone called out angrily. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Perseus stormed over. Jonathan turned slightly, supporting Anneliese as he nced back. His gaze wasn¡¯t overtly sharp, but the weight of it bore down on Perseus until he froze in ce. Perseus clenched his jaw, unable to meet Jonathan¡¯s eyes, and instead red at Anneliese. He said coldly, ¡°Anneliese, it¡¯s Mom¡¯s birthday today. I don¡¯t care if you want to cause a scene, but where is your gift? Is this how you behave?¡± Christopher stepped forward as well, recalling how Anneliese was prepared to give her mother a vi. ¡°You¡¯re giving Mom a vi, right? Hasn¡¯t the deed already been transferred into her name? Stop ying games. Hand it over, apologize, and maybe we¡¯ll forgive you for the chaos you caused tonight.¡± Perseus, thinking of the vi, grew even more certain and forceful. In his eyes, Anneliese¡¯s outburst and her fight with Selina over a man were just ploys to draw attention to herself and outshine her sister. 1/3 Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n findnovel 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 192 Leaving Once and for All After all the trouble she had caused, it was time to get down to business. It would be a hassle if she continued dragging things on. Though Jonathan held her close, he had always matched his movements to hers. When Anneliese halted, so did he. ¡°I can handle it,¡± she murmured. 37 +10 Free Coins Meeting his concerned gaze, she gently nudged him back and stepped out of his arms. She slowly turned around as the White family watched. Seeing this, both Timothy and Mnie let out a sigh of relief. The man walked over and helped his wife to the couch, waiting for Anneliese to apologize and present her gift. Anneliese had grown up in an orphanage before a middle¨Caged couple adopted her. Both died shortly after, leaving behind only a frail, old woman for Anneliese to care for. Why would Anneliese pass up the chance to join a wealthy family like theirs? The more she shed with Selina, the more it proved she cared. Even tonight¡¯s loud, messy outburst was to grab their attention, making them guilty enough to pacify her, but she had gone too far this time. If not for Jonathan¡¯s presence, they wouldn¡¯t have given her the chance to apologize at all. Of course, that was what everyone in the White family believed. Anneliese instantly saw through the disdain and arrogance hidden in their eyes. She smiled mockingly as she chuckled. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have a birthday gift. There¡¯s no such thing as a vi transfer either.¡± She observed Christopher¡¯s furrowed brows and startled expression. ¡°It¡¯s hrious how naive you are. With intelligence and sharpness like that, you call yourself awyer?¡± she remarked. ¡°What do you mean there¡¯s no vi? You have the deed!¡± He snapped in anger. Anneliese couldn¡¯t even be bothered to respond. Ever since she returned to the family, not a single one of them had ever given her a birthday gift. Only thete Gloria had ever done so. 9:44 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 192 Leaving Once and for All 37 +10 Free Coins In contrast, she took the effort to get everyone a birthday gift each year, but now, they weren¡¯t worth a penny of her money or a shred of her effort. She nced at them disdainfully before turning away. ¡°If you leave tonight, don¡¯t evere back, Anneliese!¡± Perseus shouted furiously. Instead of shouting back, she merely muttered coldly, ¡°dly.¡± After tonight, she would never return. ss could be heard shattering behind her as Timothy hurled a winess angrily. ¡°Anne!¡± Meanwhile, panic welled up inside Mnie as she watched Anneliese leave without looking back. She shot to her feet, calling out instinctively. But Anneliese didn¡¯t seem to hear the woman, and her figure slowly disappeared through the front door. Created 193 Chapter 193 She Meant It Chapter 193 She Meant It 0:0 37 +10 Free Coins Mnie was both anxious and furious after hearing Anneliese¡¯s final words. She was so worked up that tears were streaming down her blotchy face. Her knees went weak as she staggered unsteadily, utterly caught off guard. Perseus hastily reached out to support her, saying, ¡°Mom, calm down. Have you forgotten how she reacted when Dad said he¡¯d give her shares tonight? She didn¡¯t even hesitate for a second to sign her name on those papers. She¡¯lle crawling back to us soon enough. Just you wait.¡± Christopher immediately added his two cents, ¡°What he said, Mom. She raised such a fuss earlier. I¡¯m sure Zacharias won¡¯t put up with her after that. She has nowhere else to go now that they¡¯re fighting. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s done this before. She¡¯ll alwayse back crying to us after she runs away. And that Jonathan guy? Please. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s just treating her like some sort of pet. There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll actually support her. ¡°She didn¡¯t even graduate high school. She has no degree, no connections, and most of all, no money. You should just give it a couple of days. She¡¯lle running back to you when she realizes she¡¯s basically homeless. ¡°You and Dad had better stop being the doormat when that happens!¡± Although their words made sense, Mnie had a feeling that Anneliese meant what she said. It was no longer a mere tantrum. It was the way Anneliese had looked at them earlier. Her eyes were so cold. It was as if she wasn¡¯t speaking to family, but strangers. She parted her lips to voice her thoughts when she suddenly recalled something. So, she snapped her head to Christopher and demanded, ¡°What was the vi transfer about?¡± Christopher frowned in confusion before saying, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a conversation we had back when she and Zacharias dropped by. She said she was going to sign a vi under your name as a surprise birthday present. So, she asked me to help her get her National Family Registry.¡± The look on Timothy¡¯s face turned solemn upon hearing Christopher¡¯s words. The possible implications behind Anneliese¡¯s actions were not lost on him as he questioned sharply, ¡°Where is it now? Bring it here!¡± Christopher bobbed his head. However, a maid¡¯s shrill scream stopped him in his tracks. 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 193 She Meant It ¡°Miss Selina?! Pleasee quickly, Mr. White and Mrs. White!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces went pale with fright. Something bad had happened to Selina. 37 +10 Free Coins In the meantime, Jessica was already waiting for Anneliese in her car outside the White estate. s, Anneliese had barely taken a few steps toward the vehicle when Jessica called out anxiously, ¡°Annie, something¡¯s up with Miles. I think he got into a fight. I have to go.¡± She nced at Jonathan and blurted anxiously, ¡°Can you please send Annie home, Mr. Fullbuster?¡± Jessica genuinely looked as though she was out of her mind with worry. As a result, Jonathan couldn¡¯t tell whether she actually had an emergency or whether she was trying to y cupid. Still, it didn¡¯t matter what she was up to because there really was only one answer to her question. He nodded slightly. Before Anneliese could get a word in edgewise, Jessica was already gone to the wind in her purple Maserati. Soon, there was only a purple speck that was getting farther and farther away from her. Jonathan¡¯s car was as spotless as always. There were no lingering scents soaking up the leather¨Cno weird perfumes or air fresheners. If she didn¡¯t know any better, she would¡¯ve thought that she was having a ¡°new car smell¡± experience. Still, Anneliese didn¡¯t really care about that little detail. All she cared about was trying to squash her nausea down. She had been feeling left¨Cfooted the entire night, and her fever hadn¡¯t gone down even the slightest. Right now, she was feeling green in the gills, smell or no smell. In the end, she ended up pressing her cheek against the cool window with a frown on her face, trying and failing to alleviate some of the car sickness. It didn¡¯t take long for Jonathan to do something about her miserable state. He reached for her, hisrge palm gently sliding behind her neck, holding it firmly. His skin was cool to the touch, and Anneliese, who had a palm pped across her lips and her eyes closed in difort, couldn¡¯t help but nuzzle against his palm. After a while, she 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 193 She Meant It eventually opened her eyes. : ¡°Come on. You¡¯ll feel better if you lean on me. The ride back won¡¯t feel as bumpy,¡± he murmured soothingly. 37 +10 Free Coins He didn¡¯t even wait for Anneliese¡¯s response before gently tugging her into his embrace. Sure enough, she ended up nestled in his arms in a matter of seconds as he made sure to wrap an arm around her waist, holding her steady. He felt as steady as a rock. To her surprise, his suggestion worked. She no longer felt like her stomach was seconds away from using bile as a projectile weapon.. Although her nose was clogged, she could still inhale slivers of his crisp scent due to their close proximity.. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t overpowering. Instead, it was rather soothing. Anneliese¡¯s muscles merely tensed for a brief moment before immediately rxing. After all, they¡¯d done more than just hug earlier. They¡¯d exchanged oxygen underwater¡­ and he¡¯d also bathed her. There was absolutely no point in trying to keep her distance from him for the sake of propriety. It was with that thought in mind that she eventually let her guard down and drifted off to slumbend.. She was so exhausted that she didn¡¯t wake throughout her journey back to Maple Bay. Jonathan noticed that and didn¡¯t bother waking her when they arrived. Instead, he carried her out of the car, into the elevator, and brought her to his penthouse. The family doctor was already waiting for them, and Anneliese was hooked up to an IV in no time at all. Nevertheless, her eyes fluttered open before the first bag was even finished. As her eyes regained their focus, she registered that she was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. Her groggy mind couldn¡¯t help but wonder just where she was. The only light source she could see was a floormp in the corner. Its soft glow nketed the floor with warmth. It was within this oddly safe cocoon that Anneliese remembered that she¡¯d fallen asleep in Jonathan¡¯s car. So, it didn¡¯t take her long to deduce just where she was now. 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 193 She Meant It : 37 Read full story at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel +10 Free Coins She had just gotten her muscles to support her weight when she heard muffled voices beyond the door. Soon, the door swung open with nary a sound. Her eyes turned to the figure standing in the doorway. It was Jonathan in a loose cashmere sweater and linen pants, looking effortlessly tall and handsome. Suddenly, she heard someone yawning. Created 194 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 194 Late Night Conversations : Chapter 194 Late Night Conversations 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re a godd*mn monster. I had a 1 a.m. emergency surgery, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to sleep since then. I told you that she¡¯s only got a slight cold and a mild fever. You can totally sweep her off her feet once she¡¯s done with the IV. ¡°So, for the love of God. Please let me sleep. I¡¯m going to die of overwork at this rate.¡± Carter still couldn¡¯t believe that a genius surgeon like him was being bossed around and dragged out of bed just to treat someone with amon cold. Saying that he was not a happy camper would be an understatement of the century. Jonathan, who had been suffering his nattering, noticed that Anneliese was wide awake and staring at him with startled eyes. So, he immediately turned around and shot Carter a warning look. ¡°Would it kill you to keep your mouth shut?¡± Carter¡¯s jaws promptly closed with a click. However, he quickly recovered and had a retort on the tip of his tongue when Jonathan strode over the bed,pletely dismissing him. The frosty look in his eyes was nowhere to be seen. In fact, he sounded warm as he asked gently, ¡°You¡¯re up? Are you still feeling sick?¡± Anneliese nodded before shaking her head as she replied, ¡°The fever¡¯s gone. I feel totally fine now.¡± Carter trudged over with his arms crossed as he rolled his eyes at Jonathan in exasperation. ¡°I told you so.¡± Carter¡¯s judgmental words rolled off Jonathan like water off a duck¡¯s back as he handed Anneliese a ss of water from the nightstand. Then, he introduced the two, saying, ¡°This is Carter Chevalier. He¡¯s my private doctor. He¡¯s as dumb as he ispetent, and he loves to run his mouth, so don¡¯t take his words to heart.¡± Carter sneered at him, but said nothing. Frankly, he wouldn¡¯t mind lobotomizing Jonathan just so he could finally understand what made him such an *sshole. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Chevalier. I¡¯m so sorry for the inconvenience. I¡¯mpletely okay, so please go home and rest.¡± 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 37 Chapter 194 Late Night Conversations Anneliese smiled at Carter, equal parts sheepish and thankful. +10 Free Coins However, all her words did was make Jonathan make room for Carter as the doctor grabbed his stethoscope to listen to Anneliese¡¯s heart and lungs. Once he was done, he smiled at Anneliese warmly before drawling, ¡°Ms. ude, you¡¯re too kind. You should watch out for scheming foxes.¡± Those words had barely fallen from his lips when Jonathan yanked him away by the cor. ¡°What happened to professionalism?¡± Carter rolled his eyes as he straightened his cor, saying, ¡°Her heart is fine and her airways are clear. Her fever¡¯s gone down, and there are no signs of dry drowning. Trust me. She¡¯s in way better condition than I am at the moment.¡± He¡¯d been ving away for nearly 24 hours. He wasn¡¯t kidding when he said he¡¯d die from exhaustion.. What a d*ckhead. Jonathan nodded upon hearing his diagnosis. With that done, Carter immediately shot him a look that said, ¡°You owe me one,¡± before leaving with a yawn. Meanwhile, Anneliese took a couple of sips of water, ignoring the y¨Cby¨Cy. So, Jonathan sat down in the chair by her bed and asked, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± She paused. Now that she thought about it, she probably wouldn¡¯t even realize that she was starving if he hadn¡¯t brought it up. She¡¯dpletely forgotten that she said no to dinner just so she could look good in her dress during the banquet. Plus, she had wasted way more energy than she thought she would because of that wretched affair. So, she nodded. Jonathan promptly called Zion, ordering him to bring in the food that had been kept warm just for her sake. Anneliese pursed her lips, waiting for him to end the call. Once he did, she took the opportunity to ask him, ¡°Did you really go to the banquet tonight for my sake?¡± 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 194 Late Night Conversations 37 +10 Free Coins She couldn¡¯t deny that it felt amazing when Jonathan announced to all the guests in attendance that he was there for her. He¡¯d put Selina in her ce in one fell swoop, and it had been exhrating. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he did what he did. She needed to know what his motives were.. She had assumed they were just friends. However, Jonathan had gone to great lengths just to help her. One could even say that he¡¯d blurred the lines by doing so. Jonathan¡¯s eyes swept over the brave look on her face before brieflynding on her fingers that were twisting with anxiety. Something unreadable flickered in his gaze before he said, ¡°Miss White did invite me to the banquet. However, I only epted the invitation because my mother insisted that I attend the banquet. I barely know the woman as it is, while you¡¯re the one I¡¯m friends with. Naturally, I stepped up to help a friend. Why do you ask, Anne? Do I look like the kind of person who can¡¯t differentiate right from wrong? Or do I also look like a guy who would just stand idly by when my friends are getting bullied?¡± He narrowed his eyes toward the end of his response, staring at her with a slightly annoyed look on his face. He¡¯d referred to her as ¡°Anne¡± when they were at the White estate. She was well aware that he had done it on purpose just to help her out. He had deliberately called her by that nickname just to make it seem that they were close. However, that was then, and now was now. The name ¡°Anne¡± slipped from his lips so naturally that it didn¡¯t stop her ears from heating slightly. His gaze was open and honest, which only made Anneliese feel silly for overthinking things. She couldn¡¯t help but feel flustered as her cheeks warmed. She hastily shook her head and replied earnestly, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Then, she swiftly changed the subject before he could notice the guilty look on her face, asking, ¡°By the way, how do you know Selina?¡± Jonathan knew what she was doing, but didn¡¯t call her out on it. Instead, he answered, ¡°I don¡¯t really know her. We¡¯ve only met a few times. My mother is the Latest content published on F?nd-Novel 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 194 Late Night Conversations : 37 +10 Free Coins one who¡¯s acquainted with her. I think it was five years ago? My mother fainted, and Selina was the one who took her to the hospital. They¡¯ve kept in touch ever since.¡± A look of understanding dawned upon Anneliese as she said, ¡°I see. Does Mrs. Fullbuster like her? Is she trying to set you two up?¡± She didn¡¯t bother beating around the bush. Even a blind man could tell that Selina was interested in Jonathan. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising that his mother would be aware of that little tidbit. The fact that she strong¨Carmed Jonathan into going to the banquet made it obvious that she desired Selina to be her future daughter¨Cinw. 119 Created 195 Chapter 195 A Fever Dream 37 +10 Free Coins There was a slight smile ying on Jonathan¡¯s lips as he inquired, ¡°Is something wrong with that, Anne?¡± Anneliese faltered, worrying her lip. However, she did not hesitate to meet Jonathan¡¯s gaze head¨Con before saying hesitantly, ¡°I know I¡¯m being a bit of a snake by talking behind someone¡¯s back, but we¡¯re friends. So¡­ I¡¯ll be blunt. Selina is trouble. I swear she may act like some sweet, innocent thing, but she¡¯s not. She¡¯s not good enough for you. Yes, I know it sounds condescending, but hear me out, okay? She¡¯s really good at getting people all wrapped around her finger. I don¡¯t want to see you be another one of her victims.¡± She sped her hands together nervously as she carefully scrutinized Jonathan¡¯s face for any signs of dissatisfaction or disdain. She didn¡¯t want him to think that she was saying all those things just to sow discord, and she certainly didn¡¯t want him to think that she was stepping out of line. More importantly, she was afraid that he wouldn¡¯t believe her and be upset that she¡¯d said those things. To her surprise, none of that happened. Instead, there was a hint of mirth on his handsome face. Suddenly, he stretched his legs and leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Anneliese couldn¡¯t help but stiffen at his close proximity. Her already high¨Cstrung nerves shot. through the roof, causing her breath to catch as hershes fluttered slightly in difort. She could see the tense expression on her face reflected in her dark eyes. ¡°Is that right? She¡¯s a bad woman, you say? If that¡¯s the case¡­ who do you think is worthy of me, Annie?¡± Annie! That was the nickname her friends gave her back in middle school. It had been years since then, and everyone else had gone their separate ways. Now, Jessica was the only one who used that nickname. So, why was he calling her that? Plus, how was she supposed to know who was worthy of him? Why was he even asking her this? 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 195 A Fever Dream :. 37 +10 Free Coins Anneliese was bluescreening. She was so flustered that she had no idea how to string words into coherent sentences. Just when she thought all was lost, she heard a knock on the door. Her head immediately snapped to the source of the sound, and she saw Zion standing at the door with a tray. He was the one who had knocked earlier. Anneliese¡¯s shoulders slumped with relief as she said, ¡°That smells so good.¡± Jonathan shot her a look. Nevertheless, he said nothing, allowing the awkward topic to drop. Then, he straightened and waved Zion in. Zion approached them and set the tray on the nightstand as he asked with concern, ¡°Ms. ude, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m much better now. Thank you so much for your help, Mr. Hand. I¡¯m so sorry that you have to go to all this trouble when it¡¯s already sote. Did you whip this up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a good cook. Average, really. Mr. Fullbuster ordered this special meal just for you. I¡¯m just the delivery guy. If you must thank someone, you should thank Mr. Fullbuster. He went all out for you, Ms. ude.¡± When he said ¡°went all out,¡± he was referring to the time Jonathan flew her to Riveraton himself. Anneliese couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat put on the spot. ¡°You¡¯re right, I really should. It¡¯s just that he¡¯s got everything he could ever want, so I have no idea what I can do to show my appreciation. It¡¯s kinda stressing me out!¡± Zion shot Jonathan a look before saying with a grin, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster doesn¡¯t have everything, though.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious what he¡¯s missing?¡± Anneliese blinked at Zion dumbly, still not getting it. Zion sighed at her with frustration, feeling impatient with her dense behavior. ¡°He¡¯s missing a wife!¡± Anneliese fell silent, utterly speechless by his answer. To be fair, that was pretty obvious. Fresh chapters posted on find~novel Still, how was that her problem? 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 195 A Fever Dream 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°Are you saying I should introduce Mr. Fullbuster to some girls to spice up his love life or something?¡± Jonathan instantly shot an icy re at Zion¡¯s way. If looks could kill, Zion would be six feet in the ground. Anneliese was so far off the mark! It was obvious that he was trying to hint that she should volunteer herself for the position! At this point, he couldn¡¯t help but suspect that she was deliberately being obtuse. Zion felt rather annoyed. Still, he wasn¡¯t one to bottle negative emotions and implode once it got too much. He would much rather mess with the source of his annoyance. So, he just went for it, half¨Cjoking, ¡°Ms. ude, you could always volunteer for the position, you know.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened in shock. How could he say that? No one in their right mind would actually say it so bluntly, would they? Did Zion get a side gig in the matchmaking business? Anneliese had no idea how to respond. Fortunately, Jonathan saved the day by saying, ¡°You can leave now.¡± Zion wasted no time seeing himself out. He even closed the door behind him. Jonathan picked up the bowl of chicken soup from the tray, stirred it gently with a spoon, and looked at Anneliese. ¡°About what Zion just said, you¡ª¡± Anneliese hastilyughed it off, cutting him off before he could finish his sentence, ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. I know we¡¯re just friends. I would never dare to overstep or even consider-¡± She had assumed that Jonathan was trying to warn her off. s, her words of titudes were silenced before she could finish them. ¡°You could.¡± ¡°What?¡± 9:45 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 195 A Fever Dream : 37 +10 Free Coins Jonathan met her rattled gaze with calm eyes. He sounded as though they were merely discussing the weather as he said casually, ¡°I¡¯m saying that you should consider Zion¡¯s advice.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers, staring at him in disbelief. His words came out of left field, leaving her stunned. She had no idea what to think. In all honesty, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether this was some sort of fever dream. Created 196 Chapter 196 Jonathan¡¯s Proposal 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°M¨CMe? Are you serious?¡± Anneliese stammered out the question after a long, pregnant pause. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that Jonathan was using this as a confession. She didn¡¯t know what to think. She didn¡¯t even know if she could think. Her heart was pounding to the tempo of a hummingbird¡¯s flight, and her mind refused to cooperate. Yet, she also noticed that his eyes were far too calm. He didn¡¯t have the look of a man baring his soul to another. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡± Jonathan asked with an arched brow.. He looked dead serious. However, she also knew that people tended to look super serious before breaking intoughter the very next second. It had to be a joke of some sort, right? Jonathan felt somewhat resigned at the suspicious look on her face.. So, he scooped up some soup and held it out to Anneliese, silently signaling her to open her mouth. The soup smelled delicious, and her stomach was definitely eager to get some of that in her body. However, Anneliese held herself back, hesitating. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether drinking the soup would also mean epting the proposal. ¡°Just drink the soup. Getting food in your belly doesn¡¯t make you my woman. Your hand is hurt. Plus, it¡¯s not as if I haven¡¯t fed you in the past.¡± Anneliese felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment. How could he just¡­ I know I don¡¯t exactly have a good poker face, but he didn¡¯t have to expose me like that! Ugh, he¡¯s so annoying. She lowered her eyes and obediently parted her lips.. However, she couldn¡¯t really enjoy the soup she was eating. Jonathan shot her a discreet nce and saw past her badly wornposure. She¡¯s still out of sorts, he sighed inwardly.. Just then, his ringtone broke the awkward atmosphere. 9:46 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 196 Jonathan¡¯s Proposal Anneliese let out a sigh of relief and wasted no time reaching for the bowl. ¡°I can feed myself. You should get that.¡± 37 +10 Free Coins Jonathan took a look at the screen, swiped to answer, put it on speaker, and set it aside. He didn¡¯t relinquish the bowl to her for even a second. Instead, he continued to feed her.. His mother¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Jonathan, I asked you to go to the banquet to support Selina. And what did you do? Selina got so upset that she fainted. She¡¯s being hospitalized now!¡± Selina fainted? Anneliese scrunched her nose in skepticism. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, Selina was far from some fainting flower. Still, it was likely that the White family would ce the me on Selina¡¯s shoulders after tonight¡¯s ordeal. Now, the White family would do aplete 180 and end up pitying her because she fainted. ¡°Jonathan, Selina saved my life. You should pay her a visit.¡± Jonathan held the spoon to Anneliese¡¯s lips as he shot a dispassionate look at the phone. ¡°I¡¯m busy. Also, I barely know her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why you should spend more time together and get to know each other! Trust me, Selina is a sweet, lively girl. You two-¡± ¡°Bad signal. Bye.¡± Jonathan immediately ended the call right then and there.. Anneliese burst into a peal of giggles. Never once did she imagine that Jonathan would use such ame excuse to get out of that talk with his mother. It was endearing in a weird way. ¡°You did the smart thing by choosing not to visit her. I have a good hunch that Selina¡¯s ying the victim card,¡± Anneliese said with a cheeky grin. Jonathan quirked a brow and replied, ¡°I did say that I trust your judgement, didn¡¯t I? Anyway, as you can see, I¡¯m at the age where my family would pull all the stops to see me get hitched.¡± He curled his lips into a self¨Cdeprecating smile as the mirth on his face disappeared, reced 9:46 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 196 Jonathan¡¯s Proposal by a frown. D: 37 +10 Free Coins ¡°My grandpa likes India, my mom thinks Selina is the next best thing after grilled cheese, and you were there when my grandma rang me up. She would set me up with any girl she sets her sights on. My dad doesn¡¯t really care, but I can only inherit some of his shares if I get married this year.¡± Anneliese had no words for the utter ridiculousness he was facing. In fact, she couldn¡¯t help but nurse a bit of headache just thinking about the things he had to suffer. ¡°I think India¡¯s a good catch¡­¡± she suggested haltingly. India was gorgeous with her long legs and thin waist. She was so cool and nice that Anneliese genuinely thought India and Jonathan would make a good couple.. Jonathan stared at Anneliese, trying to catch even a hint of dishonesty on her face. Unfortunately, there were none. That realization made him bitter as he shoved that bowl into her hands and said coldly, ¡°I only see India as a sister. It¡¯s never gonna happen.¡± Anneliese could tell that he was upset. So, she pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­¡± Jonathan wouldn¡¯t go his way just to spell it all out for her, just because. So, Anneliese could tell what he was implying, but she still thought it was utterly incredulous. However, she could no longer y dumb any longer because Jonathanid it all out the very next second, leaving her stunned. He said, ¡°Have you ever considered that we could just get our marriage registered after you get your divorce papers? We¡¯ll be at the City Hall anyway.¡± Anneliese could only gape at him, utterly speechless. Anneliese showed up at the City Hall half an hour early the following day. She¡¯d been counting the days since forever. ¡°Zacharias isn¡¯t gonna bail, is he?¡± Jessica was apanying her, checking the time. It was almost 9 a.m. and Zacharias was nowhere to be seen. Naturally, she was getting anxious and angry. ¡°He¡¯ll be here.¡± 9:46 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 196 Jonathan¡¯s Proposal Latest content published on f?ndnovel Anneliese was sure of it. 37 +10 Free Coins Zacharias came from poverty before finally climbing his way up to the top. His journey to sess hadn¡¯t been a stroll in the park. Created 197 Chapter 197 Finally Divorced Chapter 197 Finally Divorced 36 +10 Free Coins Zacharias was an ambitious, calcting man. There was no way he¡¯d give up his current sess for this. He would never risk it. To him, Anneliese was nothingpared to hispany¡¯s reputation. ¡°Are you really going to call the press if he doesn¡¯t show up?¡± Anneliese nodded firmly. ¡°Yes.¡± She¡¯d nned every single step she took carefully. She¡¯d mapped all the possibilities just to make sure the divorce went through today. She was ready to do whatever it took just to end it all in one fell swoop. She wasn¡¯t willing to drag this out. She¡¯d done her research, so she knew that the divorce would drag on if they didn¡¯t get divorced today. If she filed awsuit, the whole process would drag on for at least three months. She didn¡¯t have time, nor did she want to waste time on this when she was bursting at the seams just to get to Westrough to see her friends. She used to be uderias Tech¡¯s PR director, so she had plenty of contacts to get the job done. Reporters and influencers were a dime a dozen in her contact list. All she had to do was hit a few buttons, and they would be here before she could say ABC. Still, she would rather not pull that calling card. It was already a dumpster fire; getting the media involved would be adding oil to that fire. Fortunately, Anneliese knew Zacharias like the back of her hand because he finally showed up at 9:05 a.m. He looked rough, and his suit was rumpled. When she got a better look, she realized he was wearing the suit he had worn yesterday. She had no idea where he had spent the night. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair was a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot. There was a five o¡¯clock shadow on his jaw, and he was as pale as a ghost. Still, she had to admit that he really was a looker. He might be disheveled, but it only added to his looks. She would even say it made him look wild yet heartbreaking. It was an odd contrast, 9:46 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 197 Finally Divorced but he made it work. ¡°Anne¨C¡± He stood in front of Anneliese, voice trembling. Official source is Find?Novel 36 +10 Free Coins She cut him off, utterly uninterested in whatever he had to say, ¡°You¡¯re here, so let¡¯s go in.¡± Then, she spun on her heel and sauntered inside the City Hall. Jessica rolled her eyes at Zacharias and swiftly followed suit. They were quietly lining up at the divorce counter when Zacharias suddenly grabbed Anneliese¡¯s arm. Then, he fished a ring out of his pocket. ¡°Anne, look. This is the ring I used when I proposed to you. Do you remember how happy you were when you put it on? The ring is still here. ¡°Things don¡¯t have to change. Can¡¯t you reconsider? I love you. I really don¡¯t want this divorce.¡± Anneliese looked at the ¡°ring¡± in his hand. Honestly, it was more like a keychain. Back then, Zacharias had apanied her abroad to cheer her up. They¡¯d been backpacking and were pretty much penniless. That was when they picked it up near a church. Zacharias said it looked like a ring and asked her whether she would marry him once she turned 20. When she said yes, he slipped it onto her finger. She used to treasure that thing like crazy. She even went as far as to keep it locked up in her safe. However, that was all in the past. When she packed her stuff, she opened the safe and only took her own jewelry. As for that ¡°ring¡°? Well, she naturally left it behind. As sheid her eyes on that thing once more, she couldn¡¯t help but cringe at how stupid she had been. If she didn¡¯t know any better, she would even say she was under some sort of love curse. Right then, ady nearby overheard Zacharias¡® heartfelt speech and fell for it hook, line, and sinker. She even approached them and tried to talk her out of it. ¡°Miss, your husband¡¯s handsome and 9:46 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 197 Finally Divorced devoted. You really should think twice before getting a divorce.¡± 36 +10 Free Coins Anneliese couldn¡¯t help but stare at the woman¡¯s audacity. Then, she took the keychain from Zacharias¡® hand. His eyes lit up as his lips curved into a hopeful smile. He just knew Anneliese wouldn¡¯t be cold to his plight. s, his hopes were dashed as he watched her slip the keychain right onto thedy¡¯s hand the very next second. ¡°Since you¡¯re interested, you can marry him after we get our divorce. He just happens to need a mom for his b*stard, too.¡± Thedy stared at Zacharias in disbelief. She hadn¡¯t gotten a good look at the ring earlier, but now she could tell it was just a rusty iron keychain. Whatever interest she had was immediately gone as she yanked it off and threw it back at Zacharias. ¡°Ugh, proposing with a busted old keychain? And you got your mistress pregnant? God, you look like a catch, but in reality, you¡¯re just a piece of trash!¡± Anneliese and Zacharias were both good¨Clooking, so they naturally stole the limelight once they walked in. Still, thedy¡¯s outburst attracted more people¡¯s attention. Soon, they started whispering and pointing at Zacharias. A few passersby even gave Anneliese a thumbs¨Cup, cheering her on for the divorce. Zacharias¡® face turned stormy as he red at everyone else coldly. He might have questionable principles, but he was still no ordinary Joe. So, the aura he exuded quickly silenced whatever disparagingments came his way. Nevertheless, Zacharias didn¡¯t say another word or try to stop her after that. When it was finally their turn, it took less than three minutes for them to get the divorce certificate. Jessica headed straight for Anneliese the second they left the City Hall, asking eagerly, ¡°Did you do it? Are you divorced?¡± 9:47 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 197 Finally Divorced The peopleing to and leaving the City Hall immediately turned to look at them. Anneliese hastily rushed to grab her as she hissed in embarrassment, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s done.¡± 36 +10 Free Coins Sure, she was overjoyed that her sham of a marriage was finally over. Still, this wasn¡¯t exactly something they should be talking about so happily¡­ in public. ¡°Hand it over. Hurry up. I want to take a picture and post it on social media. Gosh, we totally have to celebrate this day. You¡¯re finally single again! I¡¯ve got a whole line of cute, rich guys dying to meet you.¡± Created 198 Chapter 198 Freedom and Sunshine 36 +10 Free Coins Zacharias walked up behind them, perfectly aware that Jessica¡¯s words had all been meant for his ears. He was seriously mad, and it showed on his face¨Che looked gloomier than ever. ¡°Jessica!¡± ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Jessica rolled her eyes at him. A sharp look shed in Zacharias¡® eyes. ¡°I know you ran off from the Johnsons. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want them to find out you¡¯re in Oceaton, right?¡± His threat made both Jessica and Anneliese stiffen. ¡°You jerk! You¡¯re so shameless!¡± Jessica snapped, her face turning a little pale. Anneliese stepped up to shield her, shooting Zacharias an icy look. ¡°Zacharias, please don¡¯t give me a reason to hate you.¡± When Zacharias saw the hatred and disgust in Anneliese¡¯s eyes, he clenched the divorce papers even tighter. He tried to soften his expression, looking almost resigned. ¡°Can¡¯t we just have onest meal together?¡± ¡°And you think threatening us is the way to do it?¡± ¡°Of course not. You¡¯ve got the wrong idea.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s no point.¡± Anneliese made her stance clear, tugging Jessica along as she prepared to leave. However, Zacharias wasn¡¯t willing to let her go. He grabbed her arm. ¡°Anne, do you really have nothing left to say to me?¡± ¡°Actually, I do.¡± A flicker of hope appeared in Zacharias¡® eyes, but Anneliese shot it down quick. ¡°About the 500 million from the divorce settlement, make sure you transfer it to my ount soon. Otherwise, I¡¯ll just go ahead and get a court order.¡± Zacharias was left speechless. She yanked her arm free and walked off, never looking back. 9:47 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 198 Freedom and Sunshine Watching her determined back, he was left feeling bitter and frustrated. 36 +10 Free Coins Right then, Zion approached them with a huge bouquet of flowers. ¡°Zion? What are you doing here?¡± Anneliese was surprised and delighted. She¡¯d thought after turning Jonathan down so firmly and slipping awayst night, he¡¯d be pissed and cut her off for good. Clearly, she¡¯d underestimated the man¡¯s character and generosity. Zion handed over the flowers with a grin. ¡°Ms. ude, Mr. Fullbuster picked these out himself. He said, even though you turned down his proposal, he still wants to congratte you for finally escaping your misery. From now on, your life will be nothing but freedom and sunshine.¡± When Anneliese saw the bright, colorful bouquet, her eyes lit up with genuine happiness. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster really knows how to make a girl feel special. I totally forgot to bring flowers!¡± Jessica chimed in. ¡°I love them. Please thank Mr. Fullbuster for me,¡± Anneliese said while epting the bouquet from Zion. Zion smiled. ¡°He wanted to give them to you himself, but he had a big meeting today. He wrote the card by hand, though.¡± Anneliese pulled out the card. Jonathan¡¯s handwriting on the card flowed with style and confidence ¡ª just right for his bright wishes about freedom and sunshine. Her lips had just curled into a smile when a hand suddenly shot out from over her shoulder and snatched the card away. ¡°Zacharias! What is your problem?¡± Annoyed, Anneliese spun around and tried to grab it back. However, Zacharias was faster, tearing the card into pieces and crumpling it up. She red at him. ¡°Zacharias, you¡¯re petty, ridiculous, and twisted with jealousy. It¡¯s honestly pathetic.¡± 9:47 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 198 Freedom and Sunshine Zacharias flinched, tasting a metallic bitterness in his mouth. 36 +10 Free Coins ¡°My son is outstanding and worth a fortune. You¡¯re just a barren, cast¨Coff woman who can¡¯t have a child. How dare you call him pathetic?¡± Just then, a familiar, sharp voice cut in from behind. Anneliese turned and saw Melody and Lenoraing quickly toward them. Coral trailed closely behind them, her eyes fixed hungrily on the divorce papers in Zacharias¡® hand. Anneliese had no interest in making a scene with Melody outside the City Hall, so she grabbed Jessica and tried to make a quick exit. However, Melody blocked her path. ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t forget what you promised. Delete the video before you leave!¡± Back when Melody hade with Anneliese to file for divorce, Anneliese had threatened to leak a racy video of Zacharias and Coral. Melody had demanded she delete it on the spot, but Anneliese said she¡¯d do it once the divorce was finalized. Find the newest release on find[?]ovel Melody had shown up for two reasons¨Cto see her son¡¯s divorce go through and to make sure Anneliese deleted the video. After all, her son was a public figure¡ªshe couldn¡¯t let Anneliese hold that over him forever. Anneliese looked at Melody with a nd expression and tossed her a USB drive from her bag. ¡°Everything¡¯s in here.¡± Created 199 Chapter 199 Get an Amniotic Paternity Test Done Chapter 199 Get an Amniotic Paternity Test Done ¡°What about the one on your phone?¡± Lenora snapped. 36 +10 Free Coins ¡°I deleted it ages ago. There aren¡¯t any backups, either. I¡¯m not about to let that kind of filthy video taint my phone and myptop. Happy now?¡± Anneliese arched a brow, her expression cold and full of disdain. Melody hated seeing her so smug. She couldn¡¯t forget that week she¡¯d spent in the detention center ¨C she¡¯d been locked up all because of Anneliese! Justst night, at the Whites¡® party, Anneliese had been openly flirting with Jonathan, making everyone whisper behind their backs. Melody was so furious that she wanted to ruin Anneliese¡¯s face. She yanked Coral forward, her face glowing with pride. ¡°Just look at Coral. The doctor said my grandchild is growing strong inside her. Like I said, you¡¯re just a barren woman who can¡¯t have children. If Zacharias hadn¡¯t agreed to marry you four years ago, do you really think-¡± ¡°Mom! That¡¯s enough!¡± Zacharias had stayed silent because he wanted Anneliese to delete that racy video, too. Regret and pain filled his heart. He still wanted to win Anneliese back. But as Melody kept going, even dragging Coral into it, he finally lost his patience. He stormed forward and pulled Melody away. Smack! Jessica stepped up without hesitation and pped Melody across the face. Melody was stunned and stood there in a daze. She couldn¡¯t believe Jessica dared to hit her in front of everyone. Zacharias was furious. ¡°Jessica! How dare you p my mother like this! You¡¯ve got a death wish or what?¡± He raised his hand, but Anneliese quickly shielded Jessica. O 9:47 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 199 Get an Amniotic Paternity Test Done ¡°She¡¯s my friend! Go on and p her if you dare. I promise you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Zion also stepped forward, blocking Anneliese with his body. 36 +10 Free Coins Melody¡¯s chest heaved. ¡°You¡­ have you forgotten your manners? That¡¯s right, I totally forgot that you two grew up in a foster home. I bet you didn¡¯t have anyone to raise you properly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s riching from you, you old hag with a rotten mouth. You raised a lying cheater. I used to put up with you because you were Annie¡¯s mother¨Cinw. But now they¡¯re divorced, nobody has to put up with you anymore! ¡°Stop ming Annie for not having kids. The real problem is your son! Annie was with him for years, but they never had sex, so how¡¯s she supposed to get pregnant? ¡°I¡¯m honestly shocked by how foolish you are. You¡¯re unting a pregnant mistress to your son¡¯s ex¨Cwife? Better get an amniotic paternity test and check if this homewrecker is even carrying your son¡¯s baby, you moron!¡± Jessica didn¡¯t hold back, firing off every insult she could. Melody was left totally speechless. What does she mean they never had sex? And why did she tell me to get an amniotic paternity testdone? This sharp¨Ctongued girl sounds way too confident. It sounds like she actually knows some deep secrets. Could it be that¡­ my son really is¡­ impotent? Melody turned in shock to stare at Zacharias, forgetting all about Anneliese and the others. Anneliese dragged Jessica away. ¡°You really have no filter! Why do you have to blurt everything out loud? ¡°Zion is standing right beside us! Can¡¯t you at least keep the private stuff to yourself?¡± Anneliese¡¯s face burned with embarrassment, feeling utterly mortified. Jessica looked embarrassed and sheepish, pressing her palms together as if begging for forgiveness. Zion trailed after them, still dazed. I can¡¯t believe what I just heard! 9:47 Thu, Sep 11 Chapter 199 Get an Amniotic Paternity Test Done If I can trade this dirt for a seaside vi from Mr. Fullbuster, would that work? I can¡¯t wait to see how that ys out! ¡°Zacharias, is what she said really true¡­?¡± 36 +10 Free Coins Behind them, Melody was still staring at Zacharias in shock. Veins pulsed at Zacharias¡® temple, his face turning stormy. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense!¡± ¡°But you never had sex with Anneliese. You loved her so much. You-¡± ¡°So, you knew I loved her? Then why did you always make things hard for her? You drove her to divorce me, and now I¡¯ve lost my wife and my home!¡± Zacharias cut Melody off, his voice icy. Read full story at Find?Novel His eyes were full of anger, bitterness, and even a hint of resentment. Melody went pale with fear, and she broke down crying. ¡°I only did it for you. Anneliese threatened me with that video. I needed to protect your reputation and interests! I have no choice¡­¡± Lenora held onto Melody, ring angrily at Zacharias. ¡°Zacharias, Mom did it all for you. Anneliese even told Jessica to hit Mom in front of everyone, and you¡¯re still ming her? You¡¯re not acting like her son at all. You should have dealt with them for her! You¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Zacharias shouted, his eyes growing even more bloodshot and terrifying. If they weren¡¯t his own mother and sister, he would have made them suffer beyond belief already. Created 200 Chapter 200 The Perfect Divorce Gift Chapter 200 The Perfect Divorce Gift He closed his eyes for a moment to calm himself down. Then, he walked away with long strides. Melody swayed on her feet, and Lenora was so angry that she burst into tears. Coral hid behind Melody, too scared to say anything. But Melody still hadn¡¯t forgotten about her. She suddenly spun around and grabbed Coral. ¡°You little tramp, tell me the truth. Are you sure the baby in your belly belongs to Zacharias?¡± Coral nodded in panic. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, of course the baby is Zacharias. Anneliese and her friend are both horrible. They¡¯re just trying to turn us against each other. How could you let them fool you?¡± Even with Coral¡¯s repeated assurances, Melody still didn¡¯t fully believe her. She decided she¡¯d ask the doctor right away about that amniotic paternity test. In the car, Jessica was still ranting about Melody. ¡°She¡¯s unbelievable! Calling you a cast¨Coff? Who even uses words like that ¨C her head must be full of rocks. ¡°And her loser son? He¡¯s nothingpared to Mr. Fullbuster. She acts like everyone wants him or something. ¡°Annie, did you see how Zacharias lost his mind when Mr. Fullbuster sent you flowers? If you ask me, you should just get together with Mr. Fullbuster and drive the whole family crazy!¡± Anneliese sat in the passenger seat, cradling the bouquet, while Jessica raged on. Anneliese turned to squint at her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you and Jonathan nned this together.¡± The timing was too strange. Last night, Jessica suggested she get together with Jonathan, and then Jonathan actually brought up marriage himself. Now Jessica was pushing the same thing all over again. ¡°nned what? What are you talking about?¡± Jessica looked honestly confused. Anneliese shook her head. ¡°Forget it.¡± She looked down at the flowers, only to find a little surprise hidden inside. She picked out two tiny, crystal carvings from between the petals. One was a pear made from clear quartz. The other was a peach carved from rose quartz. They were both made from the purest crystal, each just about the size of her palm, gleaming and wless. They were plump and absolutely adorable. ¡°Wow, those are so cute! What a perfect divorce gift. A genius move, Mr. Fullbuster!¡± Jessica caught sight of the little crystal fruits and gave a hearty chuckle. She thought Jonathan was a master of mind games. Those crystal ornaments weren¡¯t cheap, and Anneliese would have to keep them out on disy. Every time she saw them, she¡¯d be reminded that they were Jonathan¡¯s divorce gift, and that he¡¯d always be there for her through thick and thin. That would definitely keep Anne and Zacharias from ever getting close again. Those crystal fruits definitely took more than a couple of days to carve. He must have nned this ages ago. He really is a master of mind games ¡­ what a sneaky guy, but in a good way. ¡°Yup, I have to admit, he¡¯s quite thoughtful.¡± Anneliese smiled, took out her phone, put the crystal peach and pear back in the bouquet, and snapped a photo. She used the picture for a Facebook post, the caption reading, ¡°From now on, your life will be nothing but freedom and sunshine.¡± Original content can be found at find~novel Just as she was about to close Facebook, she got a notification ¨C someone liked her post. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked closely and saw it was from Jonathan.
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Zion said he had a big meeting today, so how did he manage to like her post right away? ¡°Annie, something¡¯s off!¡± Jessica¡¯s surprised voice suddenly rang out from the driver¡¯s seat. She had just stopped at the intersection and was now staring hard at Anneliese. ¡°What¡¯s off?¡± ¡°I just told you to go after Mr. Fullbuster, and then you asked if I nned everything with him. That doesn¡¯t make sense! Unless ¡­ Mr. Fullbuster already made a move on you! ¡°Come on, spill! And what did Zion mean about you turning him down? What exactly did you turn down?¡± Jessica bombarded her with questions, and Anneliese¡¯s eyes darted away in guilt. Jonathan¡¯s words fromst night echoed in her mind once again. ¡°Did you enjoy making Ms. White cry tonight? If you marry me, I can help you make her cry every day. Sound good?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get married on paper for two years. You help me get my shares, and we pretend to be the perfect couple in front of my family. That way, they¡¯ll stop bothering me about getting married. I¡¯ll be the best partner I can, and after two years, if you want to leave, you¡¯re free to go.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes had been so alluring when he said those words. He was dangerously persuasive. Luckily, Jessica had brought it up to her first, so Anneliese had already thought it through and decided against it. Otherwise, she might have said yes in a moment of weakness. ¡°No¡­ nothing like that.¡± Facing Jessica¡¯s intense questioning, Anneliese avoided her eyes and denied it. If Jessica found out that Jonathan had proposed, she¡¯d get even more excited. Created 201 Chapter 201 Her New Life Chapter 201 Her New Life ¡°Annie, do you even realize how guilty you look?¡± ¡°Just drive! It¡¯s a green light!¡± Anneliese quickly urged her on, and Jessica turned her attention back to driving. 70 +10 Free Coins Anneliese thought she¡¯d escaped the interrogation, but as soon as they passed the intersection, Jessica pulled over and crossed her arms, staring her down. With no other choice, Anneliese told Jessica everything about Jonathan and what he¡¯d said. Jessica clicked her tongue as she listened¨Cfamily pressuring him to marry and inheritance fights? Only someone as dramatic as Jonathan could up with excuses like that. Well yed, Mr. Softboy. ¡°So, what did you say?¡± Jessica was dying to know the full story. The suspense was killing her. Anneliese covered her face in embarrassment. ¡°I turned him down, of course!¡± She didn¡¯t even want to think about it! How could she possibly tell Jessica that when Jonathan finished, she ran away to the bathroom? She pretended to have a stomachache and hid out in there, nevering back out. Being a gentleman, Jonathan must have figured out that was her way of turning him down gently. He left the room quietly. When Anneliese finally came out, she quietly snuck home. She¡¯d never been so embarrassed. Jessica shot Anneliese a look of utter disappointment. ¡°A big shot like Jonathan hands you a golden opportunity, and yet you turned him down? How did I end up with such a clueless best friend like you? You¡¯re totally going to regret this!¡± She pulled away from the curb, clearly disappointed. She used to think Anneliese¡¯s hopelessly romantic side was a problem, but now that she¡¯d finally gotten over it, something still felt off. ¡°I won¡¯t regret it. Oh, and I¡¯m not going to the dinner tonight. I booked a flight to Baytree for next week. 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 201 Her New Life 70 +10 Free Coins ¡°I promised Professor Baltimore I¡¯d help in hisb for a few days, but I got busy with the divorce and didn¡¯t go. Can you drop me off at Astoria University? ¡°I need to pack and put my valuables in the bank. After visiting my grandma in Baytree for three days, I¡¯ll fly straight to Westrough to meet up with my seniors.¡± Anneliese already had her whole schedule lined up, packed to the brim. Career, family, friends¨Ceverything was in order. Romance and marriage weren¡¯t part of her ns at all, and she clearly had no intention of sticking around for Jonathan. When she thought of her new life ahead, her eyes shone, and her expression was rxed and joyful, her whole face glowing with anticipation for what was toe. She really was the living proof of Jonathan¡¯s blessing: From now on, her life would be nothing but freedom and sunshine. Seeing her like that, Jessica couldn¡¯t help but smile too. Her best friend¡¯s happiness was what really mattered. Men were just an extra perk. After arriving in Westrough, Anneliese soon joined Jackson¡¯sb under his guidance. The atmosphere was exactly as Jackson described¨Cfriendly and weing. Anneliese adapted in no time. She didn¡¯t need any help; she was right at home. All morning, she focused on her assigned tasks and did them exceptionally well. By lunchtime, she had neatly recorded all the voltage, current, temperature, and energy consumption data. Not only that, but she had also even drawn up clear energy¨Cconsumption graphs. At first, the otherb members had been a bit put off by her sudden arrival. However, when they saw what she could do, they weed her sincerely. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re really talented.¡± ¡°With you here, we¡¯re unstoppable! I might finally have time to take my girlfriend out. Anneliese, you are really a lifesaver.¡± Anneliese blushed at the praise and smiled shyly. ¡°It¡¯s all basic stuff. As long as you do it 2/3 Updates are released by f?ndnovel 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 201 Her New Life : carefully, it¡¯s not hard. Please don¡¯t tter me or I¡¯ll get cocky.¡± 70 +10 Free Coins ¡°No, we can spot a pro at a nce. Anneliese, your data analysis is awesome. It¡¯s going to make a big difference for our system upgrades.¡± Jackson walked over with a smile. ¡°I told you all along, Anneliese is great at her job! You all pretended to believe me, but now you¡¯re seeing it for yourselves!¡± A senior named Henry West quickly teased, ¡°Hey, look who¡¯s talking. Do you all remember a few days ago, before Anneliese even arrived, someone stocked up on snacks and bought afternoon tea for the wholeb? ¡°Hmph, were you trying to win us over so we¡¯d treat Anneliese well? Please¨Cwith skills like hers, she doesn¡¯t need to buy anyone off.¡± Anneliese nced over at Jackson, surprised. Jackson looked a bit sheepish, then begged the other seniors for mercy. After rounds of yful teasing, they finally let him off the hook so he could have lunch. ¡°Anneliese, want to grab lunch with me?¡± he asked. She was checking her phone and noticed the Whites had called her more than 10 times that morning. Jonathan had called once, too. She messaged him on WhatsApp to thank him for the flowers, and he had replied. Anneliese was just opening the program when she heard Jackson¡¯s question. She stopped and looked up at him. Created 202 Chapter 202 He¡¯s Just a Friend Chapter 202 He¡¯s Just a Friend : (70) +10 Free Coins ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I¡¯ve got a pet at home and I need to head back at noon to look after it. Some other time, my treat,¡± Anneliese said as she grabbed her bag. With a little wave, she walked off. Jackson¡¯s eyes dimmed like a puppy left behind, but he hurried after her. ¡°Let me walk you down.¡± She shed him a smile. Jackson¡¯s hand at his side clenched, loosened, and tightened again. Right before the elevator doors slid open, he finally blurted it out. ¡°Anneliese, I saw your post today. The one¡­¡± Anneliese caught the hesitation in his voice and couldn¡¯t helpughing. After turning to him, her smile was bright and steady. ¡°Yeah. I got divorced today. Care to congratte me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Jackson grinned before realizing how wrong that sounded. After scratching the back of his head, he stammered, ¡°I mean¨Ccongrattions.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m off.¡± She jogged away, her hair flying behind her like a banner. He spun in ce twice, then pumped his fist with a whispered, ¡°Yes!¡± The girl he liked was finally single, and the whole world felt worth celebrating. After sitting in her car, Anneliese finally noticed Jonathan¡¯s reply waiting on WhatsApp. ¡®Thanks for the flowers¨CI really love them. He added a dancing bear GIF. ¡®Nah, no need to thank me. I¡¯m just being loyal, after all.¡® Anneliese felt like there was nothing left for her to say. Why does it sound like there¡¯s this undercurrent of resentment in that reply, like I¡¯ve somehow let him down? So what, just because I won¡¯t sign the papers does that mean I have no loyalty? Anneliese had been staring at her screen for what felt like forever, not knowing what to type back. In the end, she simply locked her phone and tossed it aside. She ignored more than ten calls from the Whites and drove straight back to Maple Bay. n 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 202 He¡¯s Just a Friend 70 +10 Free Coins Anneliese was cradling the bouquet carefully in her arms. She stepped into the elevator¨Conly to notice an olddy already inside. The olddy carried herself with understated grace, and her features were soft and kind. Behind her stood a middle¨Caged maid holding tworge shopping bags. Anneliese gave a polite nod and shifted to press the button, but something about the olddy struck her as oddly familiar. She looked again¨Cand met the olddy¡¯s smiling eyes. ¡°Anne, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t recognize me? And this bouquet of yours¨Chow funny! There are even fruits tucked in here. Peaches and pears, no less.¡± The olddy was Penelope. Anneliese had only met her once in passing, andter they¡¯d spoken briefly over a video call before exchanging WhatsApp. Since then, they had kept in light touch..Sometimes, when Anneliese reminded her grandmother¨CNishay Morris in Baytree¨Cto bundle up before stormy weather, she would also drop Penelope a message. Still, this was the first time they had ever encountered each other properly. No wonder Anneliese hadn¡¯t recognized her at first nce. ¡°Old Mrs. Fullbuster? What a surprise!¡± Anneliese lit up, clearly delighted. Penelope chuckled and immediately tugged her closer. ¡°Now that¡¯s fate talking. But what¡¯s with ¡®Old Mrs. Fullbuster¡®? Sounds way too formal. Call me Grandma. And I¡¯ll just call you Anne.¡± ¡°Grandma,¡± Anneliese echoed sweetly. Penelope¡¯s smile deepened as she nodded. Then, her eyes drifted to the bouquet in Anneliese¡¯s hands, reminding her of the earlier question. ¡°I just got the divorce papers today,¡± Anneliese exined. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster gave me these flowers. They symbolize a new lease on life after so much hardship.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be d*mned. Who knew he had that kind of creativity in him?¡± Penelope blinked, half in disbelief. Annelieseughed softly. ¡°Of course he does, Grandma.¡± Penelope shook her head and let out a sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me. I know that man too well. If he¡¯s not eating or sleeping, he¡¯s buried in work. He¡¯s stiff as a board, cold as ice, and he loses patience the moment a girl talks too long. ¡°Honestly, he¡¯s a disaster waiting to happen.¡± 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 202 He¡¯s Just a Friend ¡°That¡¯s not true. Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s a good man. Plenty of girls like him.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then, tell me, Anne¨Cdo you like him too?¡± 70 +10 Free Coins Anneliese felt speechless. She forced out an awkward smile. ¡°Grandma, he¡¯s just a friend.¡± Penelope let out a snort. ¡°See? I knew it. You probably find him dull and hard to get along with. No charm, no sense of fun.¡± Anneliese could onlyugh in exasperation. ¡°That¡¯s not true, Grandma. Mr. Fullbuster has a wonderful personality. He may look cold outside, but he¡¯s warm at heart¨Csteady, reserved, and emotionally grounded. He mighte off as distant sometimes, but he¡¯s far from boring.¡± Penelope sighed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. He¡¯s not getting any younger, yet he still refuses to date or find a partner. At my age, I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ll live long enough to see a great¨Cgrandson.¡± In that moment, Anneliese truly understood just how much pressure Jonathan was under from all the talk of marriage. She tried to lighten the mood. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re still sharp as ever. You¡¯ll live long enough to see your great¨Cgrandson ace the top exams.¡± That made Penelope beam with delight. For more chapters visit find(?)ovel When they reached her floor, she insisted Anneliese stay for lunch and wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. Anneliese couldn¡¯t turn her down. She went home to feed Meatloaf, changed into fresh clothes, and returned upstairs. Created 203 Chapter 203 Anne¡¯s Special Day Downstairs, a Maybach rolled slowly into thepound. 70 +10 Free Coins Jonathan set the freshly sorted documents aside, leaned back, and shut his eyes for a moment to ease the strain. His lips parted just slightly. ¡°re¨Cup again?¡± he asked, directing thement at Zion behind the wheel. Content originallyes from find?novel Ever since Zion got back from the City Hall, he¡¯s been all twitchy¨Clike he wants to say something but keeps swallowing it down. And the whole drive, I¡¯ve lost count of how many times he¡¯s checked me in the rearview. Zion was left speechless. I¡¯m hesitating. Should I tell Mr. Fullbuster that Anneliese and Zacharias never even spent their wedding night together? My first instinct is to spill it¨Che¡¯d probably be thrilled to hear it. But then I stop myself. That¡¯s Anneliese¡¯s private business. The fact that I happened to stumble across it already feels wrong. Passing it around would just make me look crude. Besides, Mr. Fullbuster likes her for who she is. That much is obvious. He doesn¡¯t care about that kind of thing. If I blurt it out, Ms. ude might twist the whole story . She could easily assume he only fell for her because her marriage was never consummated. Zion had been torn about whether to speak up, but Jonathan¡¯s jab settled it¨Che mped down on the thought and decided to keep quiet. Forget it¨Cbetter just to let Mr. Fullbuster stumble onto the surprise himself. ¡°It¡¯s nothing!¡± Zion said. Jonathan lifted his eyes, nced at him, then dropped the matter without another word. ¡­ Anneliese was helping the maid set the dishes on the table when the front door opened and Jonathan stepped inside. ¡°Grandma? What brings you here?¡± His voice carried genuine surprise, With her back to Anneliese, Penelope rolled her eyes at Jonathan. Whoever thought it was a good idea to bring her in as backup clearly didn¡¯t know what they were getting into¨CPenelope was taking her role way too seriously. 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 203 Anne¡¯s Special Day : 70 +10 Free Coins ¡°I came to check if you¡¯ve made any progress. Maybe keeping some pretty girl hidden away like a treasure. But look at this ce¨Cno sign of ady, no warmth, nothing that feels alive.¡± Penelope¡¯s tone was half scolding, half amused. ¡°Grandma, is that really meant as praise?¡± Jonathan asked, baffled. ¡°You hide someone first, then we¡¯ll argue about whether it counts as praise.¡± Penelope shot back without missing a beat. Jonathan let out a helpless sigh and turned toward Anneliese, silently asking her for rescue. Anneliese hurried over. ¡°I just ran into Grandma in the elevator. She invited me to join dinner with you. Go wash up, it¡¯s almost ready.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jonathan loosened his tie with a quick tug and headed toward the bedroom. When dinner was served, Anneliese and Jonathan took their seats on either side of Penelope. The arrangement left the two of them facing each other across the table. Penelope smiled warmly. ¡°Today is Anne¡¯s special day. Jonathan, bring out one of the vintage bottles. Let¡¯s raise a ss for her.¡± Jonathan stayed put. ¡°Grandma, she¡¯s down with a cold and on medication. She really shouldn¡¯t drink.¡± Penelope¡¯s brows lifted in surprise. She turned to Anneliese, who gave a slight nod. Then her gaze swung back to Jonathan, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. ¡°And how exactly did you know she¡¯s sick and taking medicine?¡± Her expression hinted at all sorts of implications. Anneliese, worried Jonathan might say something that only deepened the misunderstanding, jumped in quickly. ¡°Grandma, Mr. Fullbuster, and I both attended the White Family¡¯s dinner partyst night. Something happened on the way back, and I ended up with a fever. He was the one who brought me home.¡± That answer softened Penelope¡¯s expression. She nodded in approval, lips curving into a pleased smile. ¡°Good. At least he knows how to look after a girl.¡± She passed the soup bowl the maid had just handed her straight to Anneliese. Anneliese was caught off guard by the kindness. She rose at once to ept it. ¡°Let me get a bowl for Mr. Fullbuster, too-¡± But Penelope pulled her back. ¡°Drink yours. He doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡± 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 203 Anne¡¯s Special Day : 70 +10 Free Coins Anneliese paused, lips pressing together. Then she shifted quickly. ¡°Then let me serve you instead. This soup smells wonderful.¡± Penelope nodded, brushing her fingers across her cheek. ¡°Ugh, can¡¯t even find Jonathan a partner. Anne, you must think I look worn out and old, right? Guess I need more soup to keep me alive.¡± Anneliese froze, not knowing how to answer. She nced at Jonathan with a flicker of sympathy. His thin lips were pressed tight in helpless silence. But then he turned and said to Penelope, ¡°If marriage were that wonderful, Anne wouldn¡¯t have gotten divorced.¡± The words blindsided Anneliese. Her sympathy evaporated in an instant. How can he turn around and shove me out front like that? Beneath the table, she instinctively kicked toward the other side. It was nothing more than a knee¨Cjerk reaction, a tiny, impulsive move. She never expected his legs to be so long, stretched almost to her side of the table. Her foot actually made contact. She pulled back in a rush, startled¨Cthen froze the next second. Her foot was caught, trapped so tightly she couldn¡¯t move it. Panic shed across her expression before she could stop it. She nearly turned to Jonathan, ready to beg him to let go. But just then, Penelope turned her way and caught her hand. Anneliese had no choice but to keep her expression calm, pretending nothing at all was happening under the table. Created 204 Chapter 204 Flirting : 70 +10 Free Coins Penelope¡¯s voice carried that soft, motherly warmth, but every word hit with the weight of someone who had lived long enough to know better. ¡°Anne, don¡¯t let him fool you. The problem isn¡¯t marriage itself¨Cit¡¯s that you trusted the wrong person. A good marriage should lift you up, make your life richer, and give you someone who¡¯s both your safe harbor and your strongest shield. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Anneliese froze where she sat, her legs stiff as if nailed in ce. She didn¡¯t dare move for fear Penelope would notice. Her cheeks burned hot. ¡°Y¨Cyeah¡­ right,¡± she muttered. Anneliese tried to shift her foot, just the slightest movement, but the man mped down even harder. The firm, unyielding lines of his thigh muscles pressed against her foot, and she could feel every ounce of that strength. Penelope went on, her tone both tender and firm. ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯re only twenty¨Ctwo. That¡¯s such a beautiful age for a young woman¨Cso full of energy and light. This is the time to enjoy sweet romances. Youth means you¡¯re allowed to make mistakes. It¡¯s your greatest freedom. Take my advice: when something ends, let it end. Then move forward without fear. If one rtionship doesn¡¯t work out, toss it aside and find another. Don¡¯t let fear hold you back.¡± Anneliese truly agreed with her. Penelope¡¯s words made sense. Since the divorce, and with her finally returning to the studies and dreams she¡¯d once left behind, there was no room left in her heart. She didn¡¯t want to divide her energy anywhere else. Still, she nodded with a faint smile. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll remember what you said.¡± Penelope patted Anneliese¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh, sweetheart, I was only making a casual remark. I wasn¡¯t scolding you. Why are you so tense? Look at you¨Cyour cheek is flushed, and you¡¯re even breaking into a sweat.¡± Red cheeks? That¡¯s the least of it¨CI¡¯m on the verge of tears here! Anneliese lowered her head, flustered, and brushed her fingers across her forehead. ¡°The soup¡¯s a little hot,¡± she muttered. ¡°Then take your time. No rush.¡± Penelope finally let go of her hand and smiled. Penelope lowered her gaze to her te, but not before shooting Jonathan a discreet re. With Penelope¡¯s attention no longer pinned on her, Anneliese seized the chance. She lifted the spoon again and used the motion of sipping soup to sneak a pleading look at Jonathan across the table. 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 204 Flirting 70 +10 Free Coins But the man didn¡¯t even nce her way. He kept eating as if nothing was going on, calm and unbothered. Helpless, Anneliese pulled out her phone under the table and opened WhatsApp. She sent him a little bunny emoji¨Cpaws pressed together, begging for mercy. Ding. Jonathan¡¯s phone buzzed. Anneliese tensed, worried he might ignore it. Relief washed over her when he reached for his phone and opened the message. But he still didn¡¯t let go of Anneliese¡¯s leg. Cornered, she gripped her phone tighter and hurried to type another message. ¡®I really messed up¨Cbig time. I swear I won¡¯t push my luck again!¡® Man, what the hell was I thinking? I actually had the guts to kick him. I¡¯m kicking myself for it now. Anneliese kept sneaking nces at Jonathan, her eyes almost pleading. Ding¨Cdong. Penelope gave a sharp snort. ¡°Can you not? We¡¯re eating. Do you have to keep working at the table?¡± Jonathan let out a helpless sigh. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m not working right now.¡± ¡°Oh, please. If it¡¯s not work, what else would it be? Flirting?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t buy it. Show me.¡± Penelope thrust out her hand without hesitation. Anneliese froze. Panic hit so fast her hand jerked, and the spoon slipped right into her bowl of creamy soup with a ssh. Jonathan watched her flustered reaction from across the table and couldn¡¯t hold back a quietugh. He flicked his fingers across the screen, shot her a quick reply, then locked his phone and set it on the table. ¡°Nothing ever gets past you, Grandma. I¡¯m done checking.¡± A secondter, another ding¨Cdong went off. This time it was Anneliese¡¯s phone. Her heart shot straight into her throat. 11:59 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 204 Flirting : 70 +10 Free Coins Thankfully, Penelope seemed oblivious and kept her head down, focused on her meal. Meanwhile, Jonathan finally let go of her leg under the table. Anneliese yanked her foot back at once, ducked her head, and shoveled food into her mouth as if that could hide her. She didn¡¯t even dare to check what Jonathan had sent her. Later, after dinner, she sat in the living room chatting with Penelope. Only then did she open WhatsApp and sneak a look at the message. ¡®Where the heck are you kicking at? You¡¯re gonna take responsibility if it breaks?¡® Anneliese recalled how Jonathan had been lounging with his long legs spread out. When she kicked at him earlier, she probably hadn¡¯t paid attention to where her footnded. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up with her ankle trapped so neatly between his knees. Just then, Jonathan walked in, carrying a te of freshly washed fruit the maid had just prepared. Her ears burned all over again. She fumbled to put her phone away as if it had suddenly be scalding hot. Jonathan settled into the single sofa beside her. He wore a crisp white shirt and ck trousers, the top two buttons undone. His sleeves were rolled carelessly to the elbows, exposing lean, well¨Cdefined forearms. Content originallyes from find?novel He picked up a small knife and began peeling an apple. As the de turned in his hand, the veins along his arm shifted with each movement, taut and strikingly sensual. The peel came off in one long ribbon, unbroken from start to finish. Created 205 Chapter 205 What a Petty Man! Chapter 205 What a Petty Man! 70 +10 Free Coins The apple¡¯s red skin and pale flesh framed Jonathan¡¯s long, elegant fingers so perfectly that the sight looked like something out of a living art film. Anneliese tried sneaking a nce to check for scuff marks on his trousers, but her eyes kept drifting back to his hands instead. She kept sneaking nces without meaning to. On thest one, she met his dark, steady gaze head¨Con. ¡°Want a bite?¡± Jonathan asked. Anneliese flustered instantly, waving her hands in panic. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Penelope shot Jonathan a sharp look. ¡°Really, Jonathan? You hand her this giant piece like it¡¯s nothing? Even if Annie wanted some, she couldn¡¯t manage it like that. Where¡¯s your sense of care? You need to cut it into smaller pieces and stick a fruit pick in them.¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Yes, Grandma. You¡¯re right.¡± When he actually started reaching for the knife, Anneliese panicked and snatched the apple from him. ¡°There¡¯s no need, Grandma. I can handle it just fine.¡± To prove it, she sank her teeth into the apple, the crisp snap echoing in the quiet. Penelope beamed, delighted. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. As long as you¡¯re enjoying yourself, I¡¯m happy.¡± With her cheeks puffed out from the bite, Anneliese¡¯s eyes curved in a shy smile. Penelope patted her shoulder before heading off to the bathroom. When his gaze found hers again, Jonathan was wiping his fingers with a napkin. ¡°Sweet?¡± The apple was sweet¨Crefreshingly so. But the way he asked it left her caught off guard, and she ended up choking a little on the juice that suddenly seemed too sharp, too sweet in her throat. Jonathan¡¯s doing this on purpose¨Cjust because I turned him down yesterday. What a petty man! Anneliese had just finished a big apple, and her stomach felt ufortably full. Penelope exited the bathroom and announced that an old friend had asked her to join a card game. Anneliese walked her to the door, but Penelope waved her off, refusing to let her follow any 12:00 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 205 What a Petty Man! farther. 70 +10 Free Coins Jonathan slipped an arm around Penelope to steady her as they headed toward the elevator. The moment the doors closed, Penelope shot him a quick wink. ¡°So? Did I pull it off¨Curgent enough, sharp enough?¡± Jonathan gave her a silent thumbs¨Cup. She smirked. ¡°See? That handsome face of yours isn¡¯t worth much when it really counts. Lucky for you, I¡¯ve got it covered.¡± But I can see why. Anneliese just got out of a failed marriage, so getting her to join our family as Jonathan¡¯s wife isn¡¯t exactly something she¡¯s ready to jump into right now. Jonathan¡¯s the one rushing it, sure. But honestly? I¡¯m the one who can¡¯t wait. ¡°Maybe I should fake an illness. Something dramatic, like terminal liver cancer. My dying wish would be to see you married.¡± Penelope¡¯s eyes lit up as she spoke. She was convinced it would work¨CAnneliese was far too soft¨Chearted to resist. Jonathan stared at her, brows knitting as if he were looking at a full¨Cblown drama queen about to take the stage. His voice dropped, stern and disapproving. ¡°Grandma! That¡¯s bad luck.¡± Penelope, however, had lived long enough not to care about superstitions. After seeing Jonathan so anxious on her behalf, it actually warmed her. She chuckled and gave a little nod. ¡°You¡¯re right, not exactly the best omen. Then let¡¯s make it your father with liver cancer instead.¡± Jonathan arched a brow, ying along. ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± Penelope pped her hands, sealing the deal. ¡°If you still haven¡¯t made progress, then that¡¯s what we¡¯ll go with.¡± I¡¯m no fool¨CI¡¯ve been around long enough to see things for what they are. That sweetheart Anneliese- she¡¯s not entirely immune to Jonathan. I wouldn¡¯t be working this hard to y matchmaker if she were. Jonathan pushed open the door and stepped inside. Anneliese was still in the kitchen. He arched a brow, clearly surprised. ¡°Well, that¡¯s rare. Thought the ce would be empty again.¡± Anneliese froze, unsure what to say. 12:00 Fri, Sep 12 Chapter 205 What a Petty Man! 69 +10 Free Coins Truth was, she had nned to slip out quietly. But Penelope had left earlier and taken the maids along with her. The table in the dining room was still a mess, with dishes and cutlery scattered everywhere. If she ate and ran, it would look terribly rude. So instead, she stayed behind to clean. She turned, forcing a sheepish smile, something between apology and plea. ¡°Aboutst night¡­ I should¡¯ve said goodbye properly before leaving. That was my fault. It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to help you. A month ago, I already promised my seniors that once the divorce went through, I¡¯d head to Westrough to join Professor Clocke and their team. I¡¯ve booked a flight for next week, so I¡¯ll be leaving Oceaton soon. Bad timing, really. Otherwise, after all the help you¡¯ve given me, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to return the favor.¡± Jonathan crossed the room. At her words, his steps faltered¨Cjust a fraction, but enough to notice. Read full story at find(?)ovel She¡¯s got a flight booked for next week? Perfect. Guess she really can¡¯t wait to get out of here¨Cno hesitation, no second thoughts, just dying to take off. In a hospital ward. Selina had been running a high fever that wouldn¡¯t break. It took a full day in the hospital before she finally looked a little better. Her face was pale, and her frame thin and tired enough to stir pity in her family and smother the anger they still held over the embarrassment. ¡°It was my fault first,¡± she admitted softly. ¡°Anne only made a scene at Mom¡¯s birthday because of me. Even if she did steal the man I liked on purpose, I don¡¯t hold it against her.¡± Her sadness shifted into worry. ¡°But why would Anne be so foolish? She actually divorced Zacharias just for Mr. Fullbuster. Zacharias will never forgive her for that.¡± Created 206 Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here? Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here? 45 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Fullbuster would never marry a divorced woman. And if Anne drags him into another scandal¨Cpeople saying he broke up someone¡¯s marriage¨Cwhat then? Wouldn¡¯t he turn his anger on our White Family as well?¡± Selina said coldly. Timothy and Mnie¡¯s expressions tightened, both looking deeply unsettled. Christopher cut in sharply. ¡°Selina¡¯s right. Anneliese is a brainless fool!¡± Selina let out a weary sigh. ¡°Dad was nning to talk to Zacharias about helping us raise some funds. That¡¯s gone now. And Mr. Fullbuster¨CI was hoping I could beg him for help, but that¡¯s impossible too. It¡¯s my fault¡­ I¡¯m useless.¡± She broke off, covering her lips as a cough racked her thin body, her fragile shoulders trembling. Mnie¡¯s heart ached. She reached over and patted Selina¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself. You just need to focus on getting well. None of this is on you. Anne¡¯s the one being reckless and dragging everyone down.¡± Selina shook her head. ¡°How can it have nothing to do with me? I should have left the White Family long ago, cut ties with you all. Then Anne wouldn¡¯t feel so distant from everyone. It¡¯s me¨CI was too greedy, too unwilling to let go¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! You¡¯ve got no kin of your own¨Cwhere could you possibly go? I raised you with my own two hands, my little princess. When you say things like that, it tears me apart.¡± Mnie¡¯s voice trembled with sorrow. Selina¡¯s birth mother was Mikita Hodge. She had been only neen, unmarried, without the means to raise a child. When she saw the wealth of the White Family, she disguised herself as a nurse at the hospital and secretly switched the babies. After carrying Anneliese away, she fled to Baytree and abandoned the infant by the roadside. If a sanitation worker hadn¡¯t found her in time and rushed her to the hospital, Anneliese would have slipped away without a sound. Mnie never forgave Mikita for what she had done. However, the woman had already died in a car ident ten years ago. No one ever learned who Selina¡¯s father was. The White Family never held Selina responsible for Mikita¡¯s sins. To them, Selina was innocent. In fact, they believed Mikita¡¯s death had already served as punishment, as if fate itself had 9:47 Sat, Sep 13 Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here? * Free Couns ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel decided Selina should remain in the White household. She was alone in the world, and heaven had no intention of letting anyone take her away. By contrast, the White Family¡¯s view of Anneliese was far colder. She refused to take their family name. Even after her adoptive parents passed away, she chose to stay in Baytree, caring for Nishay through her illness. Every year on her foster parents¡® death anniversary, Anneliese would return to pay her respects. Her heart, they thought, belonged entirely to Baytree. To the White Family, she never truly felt like part of their family. And now, watching her, the White Family was convinced they had been right all along. Selina always put the family first. Anneliese, in their eyes, only ever brought them trouble. Timothy¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Selina, don¡¯t start overthinking things.¡± Perseus yanked a tissue from the box and dabbed at Selina¡¯s tears. ¡°Dad, you promised to hand Anneliese that huge chunk of shares at the banquet. I¡¯m not letting that slide!¡± Christopher frowned as well. ¡°She¡¯s nothing but an ingrate¨Ccold¨Cblooded and vicious. When our family was struggling, she didn¡¯t lift a finger. Instead, she kicked us while we were already down.¡± Selina clutched at Christopher¡¯s arm, then Perseus¡®, trying to calm them both. ¡°No, listen. Thepany¡¯s cash flow can¡¯t hold out. Anne¡¯s the only one who might actually help us now. Maybe if she asks Mr. Fullbuster, he¡¯ll step in. And¡­ with the divorce, we don¡¯t even know if Anne got a share of the assets.¡± Timothy¡¯s eyes flickered, and for a moment, Perseus and the others exchanged a spark of hope. By then, the story of that disastrous banquet had already made the rounds in their circle. Wherever the White Family appeared, they were met with whispering and pointed stares. Even when they sought out investors, people openly told them to put business aside and get their family mess in order first. The White Family¡¯s reputation had hit rock bottom. White Inc. had already botched two significant projects in a row. There was still a chance to pull in new funding and survive the storm, but that door was closing quickly. If they couldn¡¯t patch the hole in time, the entire cash flow would copse. This whole mess is on Anneliese, and she d*mn well needs to own up to it! Timothy turned to Mnie and said, ¡°Selina¡¯s right. What matters now is plugging that 9:47 Sat, Sep 13 Chapter 206 What Are You Doing Here? financial hole. Go find Anneliese and coax her, properly.¡± Mnie clearly wasn¡¯t thrilled, but she still gave a reluctant nod. UD With thepany in trouble, it didn¡¯t take long before Timothy walked out of the ward with Christopher and Perseus. Once they stepped into the hallway, Timothy pulled Christopher aside. ¡°Head to uderias Tech right away.¡± As soon as the others were gone, Selina instantly dropped her frail act. She snatched up her phone, scrolling through the socialite group chats. Threads about the White Family banquet were buzzing, with venomous remarks aimed squarely at her. Her hands trembled as she mmed the phone onto the table, eyes burning red with fury. The door suddenly creaked open. A middle¨Caged woman stepped in, stylish and poised, carrying herself with the effortless grace of old money. She closed the door quickly behind her. A closer look at her features revealed a striking resemnce to Selina. ¡°Selina.¡± ¡°Mom? What are you doing here?¡± Selina¡¯s voice faltered, startled. Mikita strode over and sped Selina¡¯s hand. ¡°Word reached me that you¡¯ve suffered a terrible humiliation. How could I note see myself? Don¡¯t worry. I watched Mnie walk out with her two useless sons. I won¡¯t be running into them.¡± Created 207 Chapter 207 Her Baby Was Gone Chapter 207 Her Baby Was Gone +5 Free Coins Selina¡¯s expression softened a little as she grasped Mikita¡¯s hand the other way around. ¡°Better be careful,¡± she murmured. Mikita nodded cagerly. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you, okay? That Anneliese¨Cshe¡¯s the lowest of the low. How dare she flirt with Mr. Fullbuster and then leak the recording to all those people? She¡¯s ruined your reputation! And don¡¯t even get me started on that idiot Christopher¨Chow does he not know what¡¯s okay to say and what¡¯s not¡­¡± Before Mikita could finish, the hospital room door was shoved open with force. ¡°Selina,e help me talk to Zach!¡± Lenora burst in, stopping mid¨Cstep when she saw someone in the room. Mikita quickly stood, tilting her head toward Selina. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it, then.¡± She hurried out without another word. Lenora didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°Selina, who was that?¡± ¡°Just an elder I know from abroad. She came by to check on me since I¡¯ve been sick. But Lenora, what¡¯s going on with Zach?¡± Selina asked. Lenora¡¯s attention snapped back instantly, gripping Selina with urgency. ¡°Zach insists on forcing Coral to have an abortion! He¡¯s furious we hid things from him and got him to divorce Anneliese. Now he¡¯s even angry with Mom and me. We can¡¯t stop him! Selina, you have to talk some sense into him.¡± Selina let herself be pulled out of the room, her eyes shing nothing but impatience and disgust. Coral kinda looks like me, like some cheap stand¨Cin. And now this stand¨Cin thinks she will get pregnant and have a kid? I never paid much attention to her before¨Cfigured keeping her around might mess with Anneliese a little. But now that Anneliese and Zacharias are divorced, there¡¯s no need to keep Coral¡¯s kid around. If yed right, Coral could be a d*mn sharp tool in my hands. Once Lenora guided Selina to the operating room door, she saw Zacharias standing there with a cold, distant look. Coral crouched on the floor, holding his legs and begging pitifully. Selina put on a show as she helped Coral up. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant¨Cyou can¡¯t be sitting on the floor like that. Get up.¡± She moved Coral aside and then turned to pull Zacharias with her. ¡°Zacharias, we need to have 9:47 Sat, Sep 13 Chapter 207 Her Baby Was Gone a private word.¡± Lenora and Melody watched, their hopes pinned on Selina as she led him away, CD Selina wasted no time. ¡°Zacharias, I know Anne¡¯s personality well. If Coral really goes through with this pregnancy, the child will be living proof of your affair. Every time she¡¯s around, it¡¯ll be a constant reminder to Anne that you betrayed her, that you betrayed your marriage. There¡¯ll be no turning back.¡± Zacharias had assumed Selina wasing to persuade him to keep the child. His expression had been sharp and hard, but now he was taken aback¨CSelina was actually siding with him. He softened slightly. ¡°You¡¯re not here to tell me to keep the baby?¡± Selina frowned, a hint of regret in her expression. ¡°I feel for the child¨Cit¡¯s innocent. But I have my own stance. I¡¯m Anne¡¯s sister. I can¡¯t take Coral¡¯s side. Besides, I know you can¡¯t let go of Anne. As your friend, I have to support your choice.¡± Selina needed Zacharias to pursue Anneliese even more. She refused to believe Jonathan could remain indifferent if Anneliese and Zacharias were still entangled. Zacharias¡® gaze softenedpletely. ¡°You just can¡¯t force it¨Cimagine how messy that would be. Here¡¯s what you do: act like you¡¯re convinced by me, and I¡¯ll handle Mrs. Shaw and Lenora. As for getting Coral to go quietly onto the operating table, I don¡¯t even need to exin that part, right?¡± Zacharias nodded, and Selina immediately turned to Melody and Lenora, giving each of them a quick, decisive nod. The three lit up with relief, while Coral clutched Selina¡¯s hand, thanking her repeatedly. Coral had heard that Selina and Anneliese didn¡¯t get along at all. She figured Selina was protecting her baby primarily to spite Anneliese. But after drinking a single ss of milk that night, Coral slipped into a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying alone on a hospital bed, and her baby was gone. When the doorbell rang, Anneliese was busy in the kitchen, getting breakfast ready. Before she could even say a word, Meatloaf crouched right beside her, shot off toward the door like a rocket. 9:47 Sat, Sep 13 Chapter 207 Her Baby Was Gone 5 *S Free Coins Meatloaf knew how to open doors. Lately, besides Jonathan and Jessica upstairs, they hadn¡¯t had any visitors. So, Anneliese didn¡¯t think much of it¨Cuntil she heard Meatloaf barking in a panicked frenzy at the doorstep. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find~novel She quickly turned off the stove and hurried out of the kitchen. At the door, she found Mnie standing there, a maid trailing behind her. Mnie¡¯s brow was furrowed. ¡°Get that thing under control! This is a fancy neighborhood, not your old Baytree countryside. Is it really okay to have a wild dog like that lunging at anyone?¡± Anneliese frowned and patted Meatloaf¡¯s head to calm him. Her voice was sharp. ¡°Meatloaf¡¯s registered, vinated against rabies, and microchipped. He¡¯s perfectly legal to be here. On the other hand, some people seem to think it¡¯s fine to barge into private homes.¡± Created 208 Chapter 208 You Should Leave Chapter 208 You Should Leave Anneliese¡¯s words made Mnie freeze at the doorstep. 45 Fres Colna Mnie stared at her in disbelief. ¡°What do you mean, barging into someone¡¯s home? I¡¯m your mom! This apartment belongs to the White Family too!¡± She tried to push her way in, but Anneliese didn¡¯t block her. Reluctantly, she let Mnie bring the maid inside. ¡°Grandma left me this house. It¡¯s been officially transferred into my name for ages. It is separate from the White Family,¡± Anneliese said, arms crossed. Mnie plopped down on the sofa. With her legs crossed, she let out a sharpugh. ¡°Isn¡¯t she my mother¨Cinw? If this house is separate from the White Family, do you really think she would¡¯ve left it to you?¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t bother arguing. ¡°If you¡¯vee to im the house, hire awyer. They can sort out the ownership with me.¡± She had already made a mess of the banquet, throwing the White Family into chaos. Already annoyed, Mnie hade personally to see Anneliese. She expected Anneliese to feel touched and maybe even apologize. Instead, Anneliese remained cold and unyielding. Mnie felt her temper re and almost mmed her hand on the table, but he remembered why she hade. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to soften. ¡°Anne, I¡¯m not here to take the house. I know about Zacharias¡® affair and that you¡¯ve divorced him. You¡¯ve got nowhere to stay¨CI wouldn¡¯t dream of asking you for the house now. ¡°I just came to see how you¡¯re doing. After seeing that you¡¯re managing well¡­ I can finally rx.¡± Anneliese cut her off sharply. ¡°I¡¯m in a rush this morning. Breakfast isn¡¯t ready, and I¡¯ve got to head out soon. Just spit it out.¡± Mnie hesitated, clenching her fists before speaking. ¡°Thepany¡¯s in trouble, Anne. There¡¯s a five billion shortfall that needs covering fast. ¡°You¡¯re close to Mr. Fullbuster¨Ccould you maybe smooth things over with the bank and get them to approve a loan for White Inc.?¡± 9:48 Sat, Sep 13 Chapter 208 You Should Leave +5 Free Coina Anneliese knew Mnie didn¡¯t ask for favors lightly, but she hadn¡¯t expected her to be this bold. She stared at Mnie in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ve set your sights on me? Looks like the bank wouldn¡¯t approve the loan anyway. Even so, why do you think Jonathan would be the gullible one to foot this bill? ¡°Jonathan and I are just friends. I don¡¯t have that kind of pull. I can¡¯t help you. You should leave.¡± Her cold tone and firm stance made Mnie¡¯s brows shoot up in frustration. ¡°How can you say that! At the dinner, you were all over Mr. Fullbuster¨Ceveryone saw it! How is that ¡®just friends¡°? The Fullbuster Group is worth a fortune. They even own a bank. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster is the heir. Getting him to approve five billion for White Inc. would be a single word from him! Even if you skip the bank, five billion from him would be pocket change!¡± Anneliese let out a smallugh. ¡°Even if that amount is pocket change for him, that doesn¡¯t mean that he is a fool throwing money. Now, scram!¡± ¡°Why you! What good does White Inc.¡¯s bankruptcy do for you? You¡¯re already in your second marriage. Without our family backing, do you really think you¡¯d have a chance to marry into the Fullbuster Family?¡± Is she out of her mind? A guy only starts taking you seriously when he¡¯s already invested in you. That¡¯s the rule¨Cshe should be piling on the stakes while he¡¯s hooked! Look at Mr. Fullbuster¨Che¡¯s surrounded by women left and right. If she doesn¡¯t make moves for herself now, will she just sit there and wait for him to lose interest, letting some other woman swoop in and take her spot? I¡¯m only looking out for her. The White Family doing well means she will do well. She¡¯d better wake up and think about that! Anneliese stepped forward and yanked Mnie along, pushing her toward the door. Mnie barely registered a word. However, as Anneliese reached the doorway with her, the door swung open, revealing a tall, imposing figure of a man standing right there. Mnie¡¯s expression shifted instantly. Anneliese froze momentarily. Then, she flushed, a mix of embarrassment and anger painting her features. Jonathan¡¯s definitely heard what she just said! I¡¯m so busted right now. 9:48 Sat, Sep 13 The rightful source is find?novel Chapter 208 You Should Leave .:. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡­ what are you doing here so early? Have you¨Cno!¡± +5 Free Coins Mnie¡¯s expression twisted in shock, jumping to the wrong conclusion that Anneliese was living with Jonathan. Before Mnie could finish, Anneliese mped a hand over her mouth and shoved her toward the door. She pushed Mnie and the maid was sent tumbling outside. Then, she grabbed Jonathan by the arm and yanked him back inside. With a loud bang, the door mmed shut behind them. Outside, Mnie pressed the doorbell a few more times. After a while, realizing Anneliese wouldn¡¯t answer, she fell silent. Inside, the entryway was thick and awkward with silence. After a long moment, Anneliese finally looked up at Jonathan, her voice tinged with embarrassment and frustration. ¡°You¡­ You heard all that, didn¡¯t you?¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t try to hide it and nodded. ¡°She is definitely sharp. She¡¯s not even hiding her intentions.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice trembled softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that¡­¡± Created 209 Chapter 209 Unwanted Advice Chapter 209 Unwanted Advice +5 Free Coins Anneliese felt so ashamed she could barely lift her head, even though she had already cut ties with the Whites and rejected Mnie. The humiliation still clung to her like a weight she couldn¡¯t shake off. Before she could finish speaking, Jonathan interrupted. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so what are you apologizing for?¡± As he spoke, he raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of her head infort. ¡°Life hasn¡¯t been fair to you, stuck with a mother like that.¡± A flicker of cold light shed in his eyes. Every word out of Mnie Lawrence¡¯s mouth had been nothing but maniption and disdain toward her own daughter. What does she take Anneliese for? Anneliese had never expected that, instead of getting upset or misunderstanding her, Jonathan wouldfort her. She thought she no longer cared about how Mnie and her family treated her, but in that moment, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was Jonathan¡¯s gentle tone or the warmth of his hand that made her nose sting. Her heart softened, quivering with a bittersweet ache. She bit her lip, heat spreading from her ears to her cheeks. ¡°Thank you. Just treat whatever she said like hot air, don¡¯t take it to heart. I¡¯ll get breakfast ready right now, just give me a moment. If you¡¯re bored, you can help feed Meatloaf.¡± With that, she hurried back to the kitchen, her retreat looking very much like she was running away. Jonathan watched her disappearing figure, then lowered his gaze to his palm, the corners of his lips curving upward. Once breakfast was ready, Anneliese brought it to the table and ate with him. Noticing that she still looked uneasy, Jonathan said, ¡°My housekeeper extended her leave for another five days. I¡¯ll have to trouble you to make an extra portion during this time.¡± It just so happened that Anneliese only had five days left before she would leave Oceaton. That meant she could still cook for him five more times. She nodded. ¡°No problem.¡± Jonathan looked into her evasive eyes. ¡°As for what happened earlier, don¡¯t dwell on it. I won¡¯t misunderstand you. If you really had some scheme against me, you wouldn¡¯t have rejected my proposal without hesitation, would you?¡± 173 Chapter 209 Unwanted Advice 25 Free Coins? Anneliese fell silent. He clearly proposed a contractual marriage before¨Csince when did that be a proposal?! And why is he bringing it up again out of nowhere? ¡°I don¡¯t even have any ties with you, and yet the Whites are already scheming to drag you in. If you really went through with that agreement, wouldn¡¯t you be afraid that they¡¯d be leeches sucking you dry?¡± Jonathan quirked a brow. ¡°My blood runs thick. You could try marrying me and see.¡± Anneliese was speechless. When did he suddenly turn into some rich fool with money to burn? There¡¯s no point continuing this conversation. ¡°Eat.¡± She lowered her head and bit hard into her tuna sandwich. That morning, Jonathan had an informal meeting with officials from the Aviation Department about subsidies for certain routes. After the discussion, he returned to AeroAir headquarters. What he hadn¡¯t expected was to run right into Selina the moment he stepped into the building. Selina wore AeroAir¡¯s standard blue technician uniform, walking behind Caden Orwell, the head of the engineering department, along with two other young men in the same attire. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± She greeted him along with Caden, her gaze bright and cheerful when itnded on Jonathan. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN0vel Jonathan didn¡¯t look at her, only giving Caden a slight nod. Caden instinctively began reporting to his young CEO. ¡°These three are new hires in our department, all very capable. They just started today.¡± Jonathan nodded briefly and strode past, only for Selina to suddenly call after him. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, can I please have a moment with you?¡± He acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard her, his stride never faltering. Caden nced at her in she also surprise. He knew the CEO¡¯s mother had rmended her, but he didn¡¯t expect t personally knew the CEO. However, judging by Jonathan¡¯s cold disregard, it didn¡¯t seem that way. Selina showed no embarrassment. She gave Caden an apologetic smile before hurrying to catch up. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, it¡¯s about Anne. I won¡¯t take much of your time.¡± At the mention of Anneliese, Jonathan finally stopped. Selina¡¯s eyes lit up, but his icy words 8:06 Sun, Sep 14 N Chapter 209 Unwanted Advice shattered her anticipation.
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¡°Anything concerning Annic, I¡¯ll find out on my own. I don¡¯t need anyone else telling me. At that, he turned away, and Selina¡¯s expression twisted with jealousy, though she quickly smoothed it over before following in a rush. 3/3 Created 210 Chapter 210 Garlic Breath ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯m only worried you and Anne will both end up hurt.¡± 45 Free Coins. Perhaps her words made him pause, because he stopped and replied coldly, ¡°Really? Go on, then. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Selina¡¯s heart leapt. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you probably don¡¯t know¡­ Anne and my brother¨Cinw, Zacharias, were childhood sweethearts and had been in love for almost two decades. Anne loved him deeply. He was her first love. ¡°Back then, my parents thought he had nothing to offer and would only make Anne suffer, so they strongly opposed them being together. Anne was so determined that she even ran away from home to be with him, living in a basement and still content. He may have done wrong, but Anne is only angry right now. Especially now that he knows he was wrong. ¡°You may not know, but yesterday, he forced Coral Slenderidge to have an abortion just to win Anne back. It¡¯s only a matter of time before they remarry. When that happens, you¡¯ll be the one hurt¡­¡± Her eyes brimmed with feigned worry, as though she wanted to say more but held back. ¡°Are you done?¡± Selina bit her lip before adding softly, ¡°Anne and I have always shed. Everything I liked or cared about, she had to take away. It¡¯s what I owe her, and I don¡¯t mind. But I never thought she would approach you¡­¡± Her gaze on Jonathan was full of apology mixed with admiration, but her intention was obvious. She wasn¡¯t only confessing that he was the man she admired and truly cared for, she was also implying that Anneliese had only gotten close to him out of spite and revenge¡ªthat she was simply using him. No man could tolerate being used like that, especially someone like Jonathan, who stood at the top, looking down on everyone else. Selina waited, her heart racing with expectation. Jonathan was silent for a moment before finally speaking. ¡°Do you eat a lot of garlic?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your breath stinks.¡± He frowned, took two steps back, and covered his nose. Selina froze, instinctively raising her hand to cover her lips and breathing lightly into her palm. She smelled nothing. Then she remembered¨Cshe hadn¡¯t eaten garlic, not only that day Chapter 210 Garlic Breath but for the past month. Follow current nov?ls on F?ndNovel When she looked up again to exin, Jonathan had already walked off. Unfortunately, several colleagues had been eavesdropping nearby, and Jonathan hadn¡¯t spoken, quietly. So, when Selina nced around, she saw people suppressingughter, whispering, and quickly turning away when she met their eyes. Her face drained, then flushed crimson, then turned pale again, tears nearly spilling over. Back in his office, Jonathan sat down and said to Zion, ¡°Check if Selina White¡¯s hiring process waspliant.¡± Department recruitment never reached his desk, so he hadn¡¯t known she had joined AeroAir¡¯s engineering division. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Zion replied and left. Meanwhile, Jonathan pulled out his phone and opened his chat with Anneliese. At Astoria University, one of Anneliese¡¯s sr drones had gone off course and disappeared. While she was tracking its route, a WhatsApp notification popped up from Jonathan. It was an audio message. She tapped y instinctively, only to hear the familiar, grating voice of Selina. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you probably don¡¯t know¡­ Anne and my brother¨Cin¨C, Zacharias, were childhood sweethearts and had been in love¡­¡± Anneliese froze, listening as Selina rattled on, iming she would go crawling back to Zacharias and even hinting that she had only gotten close to Jonathan out of revenge. Her grip tightened around the phone. She immediately called him. The moment he picked up, she blurted out, angry and anxious, ¡°Don¡¯t believe a word she said. I didn¡¯t!¡± Jonathan stood and walked to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, the corner of his lips curving faintly. ¡°Didn¡¯t what? nning to remarry Zacharias, or deliberately getting close to me?¡± His tone was cool, pitched lower than usual, his eyes glinting with mischief. Anneliese¡¯s breathing grew heavy. ¡°Neither, of course! You know that. I fought tooth and nail to 2/3 8:00 Sun, Sep 14 Chapter 210 Garlic Breath ? ??? ? get that divorce and nearly put myself in danger just to get Rory Reyes¡® recording. Why would I ever go back to him?¡± Jonathan mused, ¡°Zacharias had Coral¡¯s child aborted just to keep you. You really don¡¯t feel anything at all?¡± Anneliese had already heard that news, but it stirred nothing in her. She frowned and gave a short, derisiveugh. 3/3 Created 211 100 45 Free Coins Chapter 211 The Bargain ¡°Feel anything? Am I out of my mind? If he will really marry Coral and take responsibility for her, I might respect him a little¨Cat least he¡¯ll be standing by someone. But the way he is now? It only makes me sick.¡± When a man is having his fun, why doesn¡¯t he me his mistress? Now that the marriage is ruined, suddenly it¡¯s all on her, and making her get rid of the baby is supposed to mean something? As if that child wasn¡¯t his to begin with. If he¡¯s really all that, why doesn¡¯t he go ahead and cut off his own manhood instead?! Jonathan listened to her firm, unwavering words, and a slow smile grew in his eyes. Suddenly, he asked, ¡°Are you in a hurry to exin yourself to me?¡± Exin what? That I won¡¯t go back to Zacharias Shaw? But why should I be the one rushing to exin myself to Jonathan? Wait, hold on¡ªhe asked me the question first! Anneliese parted her lips to respond, but before she could say anything, he continued as if her answer didn¡¯t matter. ¡°In that case, is that your attempt to get close to me?¡± ¡°When I met you, I had no idea you even knew Selina. I did know she had been hung up on some man for years, but it was only at the Whites¡® banquet that I learned that man was you.¡± Anneliese spoke quickly, nervous under his steady gaze. ¡°Do you believe me?¡± Selina had always been good at stirring up trouble. In the past, she only needed to shed a few tears and say a few ambiguous words, and the Whites would take her side every time, never Anneliese¡¯s. It had happened so many times that Anneliese couldn¡¯t be sure Jonathan wouldn¡¯t fall for the same trick. She bit her lip uneasily, her breathing growing shallow. ¡°If I doubted you, I wouldn¡¯t have recorded anything, let alone sent you His low, unhurried voice drifted over, making her blink. ¡°Oh¡­ right¡­¡± the recording.¡± Hearing that recording had thrown her off bnce, made her flustered. But Anneliese didn¡¯t let herself dwell on why she had panicked. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you silly¡­¡± Jonathan seemed tough quietly, his tone brushing her ears with a warmth that carried a hint of indulgence. The sound sent a shiver through her, her ears burning hot. ¡°There¡¯s a drone missing. I need to find it. Talkter.¡± Chapter 211 The Bargain Jonathan stared at the phone after she hung up, one brow arched. He turned, just as Zion walked into the office. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I looked into it. Selina did go through the proper written and interview process to get her offer. After she was hired, Mrs. Fullbuster did mention to Caden to look out for her, but everything about her recruitment and entry was above board.¡± Jonathan gave a short nod. ¡°Have Caden monitor her ability strictly. Don¡¯t let involvement lead to favoritism.¡± my mother¡¯s Business was business. Since Selina had entered thepany legitimately, he wouldn¡¯t fire her just because of a few words. She wasn¡¯t worth breaking the rules for. And keeping her around wasn¡¯t useless either. Just like carlier¨Che had never truly believed Selina. The reason he sent that recording to Anneliese wasn¡¯t to hear her exnation, but to provoke her rebellious streak. If Selina went to such lengths to sabotage them, wouldn¡¯t that only make little Annie more determined to push back? Anneliese was furious. After she located the missing drone, she finished her records and analysis in theb, then couldn¡¯t resist settling the score with Selina. For more chapters visit find?novel ¡®I know Grandma¡¯s bracelet is still with you. Bring it when youe to see me. With that, she sent Selina the address of a cafe. It wasn¡¯t long before Selina walked in. ¡°If you want the bracelet, you¡¯ll have to agree to one condition.¡± Selina sat across from Anneliese, face cold. Anneliese crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve. A petty thief like you thinks you can bargain with me? That bracelet is mine, and you¡¯re going to return it. It¡¯s worth a million, but maybe you¡¯d rather have the police open a case instead?¡± ¡°Go ahead then, call the police.¡± Selina wasn¡¯t afraid. After all, Zacharias was the one holding the bracelet now. Her lips curled. ¡°Be my guest, Anneliese. Let¡¯s see what happens first¨Cyou making that call, or me smashing the bracelet. A million¨Cdor bangle? I can afford to pay up.¡± Anneliese¡¯s grip tightened around the porcin cup, her eyes frosty as her lips pressed into a 8:06 Sun, Sep 14 N Chapter 211 The Bargain thin line. ¡°What condition?¡± 100 45 Free Soare Selina smiled. ¡°That¡¯s better. It¡¯s simple. You record a message saying the audio you yed at the banquet was fake, that you made it up. And you add that you only got close to Jonathan to upset me. Do that, and I¡¯ll return the bracelet to you without a scratch.¡± STAR Created 212 Chapter 212 The Tables Turned +5 Free Colna Updates are released by Find~Novel Selina opened the recording app on her phone, set it on the table, and gestured for Anneliese to begin. Anneliese nced at the screen, then lifted her eyes to Selina. ¡°Huh, you really are greedy, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What? You don¡¯t want to record?¡± Selina tapped her phone, her tone mocking. ¡°You go on about being devoted to your grandmother, iming you treasure her keepsakes most of all. But look at you¨Cwilling to let her bracelet shatter just for a little reputation and a man. She spoiled you for nothing while she was alive.¡± Perhaps it was because she had received so little love growing up that Anneliese valued the few people who had been kind to her. There weren¡¯t many, and she cherished each one. Gloria was one of them. Selina knew this and used it as leverage. She wasn¡¯t in a rush, waiting for Anneliese to give in. But instead, Anneliese let out a sharpugh, lowered her head, and slid a photo across the table toward her. ¡°Take a look.¡± Selina¡¯s expression faltered the moment her eyesnded on it. She reached out to grab the say when phone, but Anneliese had already pulled it back. ¡°What do you think Zacharias will he learns you¡¯ve been lying to him all this time, and the truth is, the person he should really be grateful to is me.¡± That day at the White estate, Anneliese had learned that Selina¡¯s status as Zacharias¡® unattainable love all came from the belief that Selina had once supported him financially, even paying for Melody¡¯s surgery. But the one who had actually made that anonymous payment was Anneliese herself. The photo she had shown Selina was the receipt from back then. Watching Selina¡¯s face drain of color, Anneliese pressed on. ¡°And don¡¯t forget, your little act of charity wasn¡¯t even selfless. You did it to secure the top student spot at school, so you could get the chance to host foreign guests and polish up your resume. ¡°thanks ¡°Let¡¯s be honest, your chance to study aviation at Georgia School of Engineering wa to the connections you made entertaining that guest whoter became a state governor. How do you think Zacharias will feel when he realizes his precious unattainable love was driven more by ambition than kindness?¡± The words nearly bled thest bit of color from Selina¡¯s face. Then Anneliese arched a brow and smiled. ¡°Well, speak of the devil. Should I tell him right 8:06 Sun, Sep 14 N Chapter 212 The Tables Turned 100 s now?¡± She tilted her chin toward the cafe entrance. Selina¡¯s heart jumped as she turned her head- sure enough, Zacharias had just pushed the door open and was heading straight toward them. In her panic, Selina almost knocked over her coffee cup. She grit her teeth and hissed, ¡°I¡¯ll have the bracelet sent over right now!¡± Anneliese wasn¡¯t surprised by her reaction. She simply lifted her own cup and took a slow sip. The vor wasn¡¯t bad. Catching Selina¡¯s anxious stare, Anneliese chuckled. ¡°Make the call first.¡± This was no longer Selina¡¯s moment to threaten her. Selina couldn¡¯t afford to let Zacharias see her mask slip. If he discovered the truth, he could easily turn against her. And if he went to the police to revisit the old assault case, she would be in serious trouble. He had covered things up back then, too, making him half an aplice, but Selina couldn¡¯t risk it. ¡°Anne! You finally reached out to me!¡± Zacharias hurried up to them, his eyes lighting up joy when theynded on Anneliese. Half an hour earlier, she texted him, asking to meet, and he dropped everything instantly. ¡°Zach¡­¡± Selina began softly. with Only then did he nce at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. ¡°Selina? You¡¯re here too?¡± Selina nearly choked. What am I, a live¨Csize statue? How could he not notice me even for a second?! She forced herself to swallow the bitterness and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to return Anne¡¯s bracelet, and to talk some sense into her. Zach, you even got rid of Coral¡¯s baby for her sake. If Anne knew, she¡¯d be moved¨Cshe¡¯d reconsider.¡± Zacharias had never told Anneliese about Coral¡¯s abortion. At Selina¡¯s words, his gaze immediately locked onto her. ¡°Anne, Coral¡¯s child is gone. I¡¯ve cut all ties with her. Can¡¯t we start over?¡± He had dressed carefully for this meeting: a dark blue checkered suit under a long ck cashmere coat. His refined demeanor, handsome features, and soulful eyes were all carefully presented for her. As he spoke, he crouched down beside her chair, looking up at her with devotion, and reached out as if to take her hand. Created 213 Chapter 213 Clean Break Chapter 213 Clean Break The sight was so intimate that a few patrons seated by the window couldn¡¯t help but nce over repeatedly. +10 Free Coins Zacharias was confident. He was certain Anneliese regretted the divorce, that hearing of Coral¡¯s abortion had shaken her resolve. Otherwise, why would she have asked to meet him? And he believed that the divorce had only been a way to pressure him into getting rid of Coral¡¯s child. Either way, as long as she was willing toe back, he was ready to forgive and ept her. But disgust flickered through Anneliese¡¯s eyes. She slid her chair back coldly, putting distance between them. ¡°I¡¯m here for my grandmother¡¯s bracelet. You stole it and gave it to Selina. Now, of course, it has to be returned in front of all three of us, so there¡¯s no disputeter. But since you¡¯re here, I have something else to tell you¡­¡± Her gaze cut toward Selina, and the warning in her eyes froze the other woman in ce. ¡°What is it?¡± Selina jumped in quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll call and have the bracelet sent right now.¡± Fear gnawed at her that Anneliese might expose everything to Zacharias on the spot. Forcing down her frustration, she made the call without hesitation. In less than 20 minutes, the bracelet arrived. Selina handed it to Anneliese, but she didn¡¯t take it, motioning for her to set it on the table instead. Selina¡¯s word wasn¡¯t worth a dime, and the bracelet was fragile¨CAnneliese didn¡¯t trust her not to fake a slip and me it on her. Grinding her teeth, Selina tamped down the urge to p her and ced the box on the table. Only then did Anneliese lift the lid. Seeing her grandmother¡¯s bracelet resting intact inside, she examined it carefully, confirming it was genuine before closing the box and slipping it into her bag. She rose to her feet. Zacharias stood up at once, unwilling to let her go. ¡°Where are you headed? I¡¯ll take you.¡± She had ignored his earlier words, and it stung. But he couldn¡¯t bear to waste this chance to be with her. He thought of how she used to orbit around him, and now, even catching a glimpse of her felt like a struggle. His chest felt heavy and tight. Anneliese cast him a look, and Selina stiffened, panic flickering across her face. As she passed Selina, Anneliese tilted her head slightly, her voice dropping to a cutting whisper. ¡°Stop running your mouth everywhere and stirring up trouble. If I find out you¡¯re badmouthing me to Jonathan again, I¡¯ll make sure you lose everything.¡± Selina¡¯s fingers clenched hard. How did she know? She had assumed Anneliese only came for the bracelet. She hadn¡¯t expected Jonathan to be in the mix. The memory of him mocking her for having a foul mouth¨Cloud enough for coworkers to overhear¨Cstill burned like fire She had barely worked a single day at AcroAir before the whole office was whispering about it. The shame had nearly made her pass out again. 62% Chapter 213 Clean Break +10 Free Coins Her eyes gleamed with spite. ¡°Jonathan¡¯s only ying with you. Do you really think you matter to him?¡± Anneliese gave her a cool nce. Looking at Selina¡¯s pitiful disy almost made her want to march straight to Jonathan and marry him out of sheer defiance. That said, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to trade barbs any longer. Turning back to Zacharias, she asked, ¡°You really want to drive me?¡± ¡°Of course, I-¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Before he could finish, Selina let out a sudden cry of pain. Zacharias turned, startled, to see her clutching her stomach, her face twisted in agony as she swayed unsteadily. ¡°Selina, what¡¯s wrong?¡± His brows furrowed as he instinctively caught her arm. She sagged against him, voice trembling. ¡°It hurts¡­ Zacharias, please, can you take me to the hospital?¡± ¡°I¡­ but¡­¡± He wanted to refuse, but when he nced back, Anneliese was already walking out of the cafe. Panic set in. He moved to follow her, but Selina went limp in his arms, her forehead breaking out in a cold sweat. She looked so helpless, so pitiful. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll take you right now!¡± Without another thought, he bent down, scooped her into his arms, and rushed outside. Anneliese started her car, ncing up just in time to see Zacharias carrying Selina in a frantic rush toward his Bentley. The corner of her lips lifted. Many thanks to Ms. White for her dramatic performance¨Cit made slipping away so much easier. Zacharias delivered Selina to the hospital. Once she was inside for tests, he lingered in the hallway and tried calling Anneliese. No answer. He texted her on WhatsApp, only to find himself blocked. Frustration creased his brow, irritation churning inside him. For the first time, he felt a surge of sharp impatience toward Selina. Checktest chapters at Find?Novel -He turned to leave, unwilling to wait. But as he reached the elevator, the doors slid open, and Perseus stepped out at a brisk pace. Created 214 Chapter 214 The Watch ¡°Where¡¯s Selina? What did the doctor say?¡± +10 Free Coins ¡°She¡¯s still inside for tests,¡± Zacharias replied, pointing toward the examination room. ¡°I¡¯ve got urgent business. Since you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Perseus stepped into his path. ¡°I need a word with you. Let¡¯s talk in the stairwell.¡± Thest time Perseus had gone to uderias Tech, Zacharias hadn¡¯t been there, and they hadn¡¯t met. Now, the two men entered the emergency exit, lit cigarettes, and only after a few drags did Perseus speak. ¡°How did you and Anne divide the assets in the divorce?¡± Zacharias inhaled deeply, exhaling smoke with a heavy gloom that couldn¡¯t mask his frustration. The subject of the divorce still stung. ¡°She only asked for 500 million in cash.¡± But even that, he hadn¡¯t been able to pull together at once. Most of his wealth was tied up in shares, funds, and properties. Anneliese had pressed hard, even warning that she would take him to court for enforcement if he failed to pay on time. The agreement clearly stated the transfer had to bepleted within seven days, and he had been scrambling to raise the money these past two days. Perseus frowned. Compared to the White family¡¯s five billion shortfall, 500 million was barely a drop in the bucket. Still, it could buy them some time. His voice lowered. ¡°Zacharias, our family¡¯s projects are in trouble. We¡¯re short on cash flow. Wire that money into White Inc.¡¯s ount.¡± Zacharias flicked ash from his cigarette, ncing at him. ¡°Anne would agree to it,¡± Perseus pressed. ¡°You know my father publicly announced 5% of White Inc.¡¯s shares would go to her. Ourpany¡¯s gain is her gain. Helping White Inc. is helping Anne. And besides, if you hand the 500 million directly to her, she¡¯ll feel secure and be even harder to rein in. Think about it.¡± That afternoon, Anneliese left theb and sent her grandmother¡¯s bracelet to a jeweler for maintenance. It was intact, but knowing Selina had worn it unsettled her. The next day, when she went to collect it, she thought of how she had turned down Jonathan¡¯s proposal of a marriage agreement. Wanting to show gratitude for all his help, she decided to buy him a meaningful gift. Passing a Patek Philippe boutique, she walked inside. One watch caught her eye immediately: a single disy piece with a deep¨Cblue starry dial, diamonds scattered like constetions, and a rich brown leather strap. Elegant, understated, and perfectly suited for Jonathan. ¡°Please let me see this one.¡± Aneliese smiled at the sales associate. But before they could respond, a woman¡¯s sharp voice cut in. I¡¯ll take that one. Wrap it up¡± 111 <
62% Chapter 214 The Watch +10 Free Coins Anneliese turned her head. A middle¨Caged woman in sunsses stood there, her manner haughty, dressed in the fashion of a socialite. The salesperson hesitated. ¡°Madam, this youngdy was just looking at¡ª¡± The woman¡¯s brows arched. ¡°I said I want it. What are you waiting for? She¡¯s just looking. Did she say she¡¯s buying? Look at her¨Cdoes she look like she can afford it? Hand it over!¡± The associate, caught between them, faltered. Anneliese, unwilling to put him in a difficult spot, stepped back politely. ¡°Give it to her first.¡± But instead of letting it go, the woman gave a sneer. ¡°See? A penniless student like you has no business in a ce like this. You¡¯re just polluting the air.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN0vel Dressed in a sweater, wide¨Cleg pants, and a cropped down jacket, Anneliese indeed looked like a student- especially since she had spent the past few days in theb, with nothing on her that showed a brand. The woman¡¯s biting voice carried, drawing nces from everyone in the shop. Anneliese¡¯s eyes cooled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take this watch too,¡± she said to the salesperson. Startled, they blinked. ¡°Miss, are you sure? This is a limited¨Cedition piece, only one in the country. Price: 3.8 million.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± she said without hesitation. The woman¡¯s expression faltered. She snatched the watch straight from the associate¡¯s hand. ¡°I imed it first. If you people sell such an expensive piece to someone ying pretend, don¡¯t be surprised when she returns it tomorrow.¡± Her shamelessness left Anneliese almostughing at herself for stooping to argue with someone like this. ¡°Forget it,¡± she said coolly. ¡°Clearly something¡¯s wrong with your head. I¡¯ll let you have it.¡± She was about to turn away and look at other disys when the woman suddenly grabbed her arm. 2/2 Created 215 Chapter 215 Broken Face, Broken Watch ¡°How dare you speak to me like that¨Capologize to me right now!¡± 62% +10 Free Coins Anneliese reflexively shrugged her hand free. In the next second-¡°Ah!¡°¨Cthe woman cried out and stumbled backward, the watch in her hand flipping out of her grip. It hit the floor with a crack; the crystal spiderwebbed. The salesperson stood frozen, then scrambled to pick up the watch, panic written all over their face. The woman in sunsses scrambled to her feet and pointed at Anneliese. ¡°You all saw that¨Cshe shoved me on purpose, and she broke the watch! It¡¯s her fault, not mine!¡± She turned to leave, but the staff wouldn¡¯t let her walk away that easily. A few security guards and the manager rushed over. Anneliese frowned and stepped forward. ¡°I didn¡¯t push her, and I didn¡¯t break the watch. You all saw what happened, didn¡¯t you?¡± The salesperson hesitated, flustered. ¡°Sir, I only saw them tug at one another¡­¡± The whole thing had happened so fast that they hadn¡¯t clearly seen how the watch flew out. ¡°She¡¯s the one who smashed the watch! I was going to buy it¨Chow could I have broken it? She couldn¡¯t get the watch and flew into a rage.¡± ¡°Check the footage then. I believe¨CAh¡­¡± Anneliese began, only for a palm to whip toward her face. She bent backward fast enough to avoid the worst of it, but even so, one of the woman¡¯s long acrylic nails grazed from her cheek down to her jaw, a sting of pain. ¡°You little b*tch, you shoved me and broke the watch, and you¡¯re still denying it?! I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson today!¡± the woman spat as she lunged forward, only to be restrained by the guards and the manager. Before they could pull her back, Anneliese stepped in and pped the woman hard across the face. The woman¡¯s sunsses flew off, her hair came loose, and she looked thoroughly humiliated. She screamed as the guards forced them apart. The manager hurried to pull the surveince footage, but the camera¡¯s angle had been blocked at the moment of the scuffle; the two women had twisted in front of the lens, and the clip didn¡¯t clearly show how the watch had beenunched. He tried to broker apromise and ced equal me on both. ¡°The footage isn¡¯t clear?¡± the woman snapped. ¡°She shoved me, and the watch flew with me¨Cobviously her responsibility. Why should it be mine?¡± She doubled down on her lie. Seeing that Anneliese was reasonable, the manager shifted his approach and focused on her instead. Content originallyes from find[?]ovel Anneliese was easygoing but certainly no pushover. She dug into her bag, pulled out a sheet of paper, and began sketching and calcting With a flurry of precise strokes, she pped the page onto the manager¡¯s desk and said coolly, ¡°This was our positions a moment ago, my estimates of her height and weight, and the distance she flew. ¡°Based on that, the force required to throw her that way is about 55 pounds of force. Do you understand what that means? It¡¯s roughly the force needed to tip over about an eight¨Cgallon bucket of water. Am 1 | O < 1/2 17:32 Mon, 15 Sept Chapter 215 Broken Face, Broken Watch some kind of Hercules who can fling that much force with a flick of the wrist? 62% +10 Free Coins ¡°Even if I were, there¡¯d have to be a reaction force¨Cdo you want me to calcte how many hundreds of pounds I¡¯d need to weigh to stay nted while emitting that much force so she could point at me and use me?¡± The manager stared at the page, bewildered by theplex forms and figures. This girl looks defenseless but is actually so scary, crushing people with science out of nowhere! This is unfair! Everyone in the shop fell silent, stunned. Anneliese pulled out her phone and shed it. ¡°If your store can¡¯t solve this, I¡¯ll call the police. Let them professionally determine whether I pushed her. They can also check the watch for my fingerprints.¡± Her argument was calm and airtight. People in the crowd had already started recording on their phones; the manager didn¡¯t want a bigger scene. He stammered, ¡°O¨Cokay. Please don¡¯t call the police. This really isn¡¯t your fault-¡± Anneliese nodded. ¡°If it¡¯s not my fault, may I leave now?¡± Before the manager could speak up, someone in the small mob began shouting, ¡°Let her leave! Who are you to stop her? It¡¯s not her fault!¡± ¡°Yeah, are you running a crooked shop? You scared a customer and then bullied the victim¨Cwhat kind of ce is this?¡± others chimed in. With the crowd pressing and videos circting, the manager waved his hands and personally escorted Anneliese to the exit. ¡°You can¡¯t let her go! I won¡¯t be pushed around¨Cif she can walk away, so can I¡­¡± < Created 216 Chapter 216 Going Viral Chapter 216 Going Viral 5.62% +10 Free Coins The woman in sunsses was fuming, but the security guards blocked her firmly inside the store. Anneliese walked out and nced back. Something about that woman seemed off, almost like she had gone after her on purpose. But she didn¡¯t know that woman at all¨Cmaybe she was just overthinking it. What Anneliese didn¡¯t expect was that before she even got back to Maple Bay, she had gone viral. ¡°Huh?¡± Zion let out a startled exmation in the Maybach¡¯s passenger seat, then passed his tablet to the man seated at the back. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, look at this¨Cis this Ms. ude? She¡¯s gone viral.¡± Jonathan lowered his eyes to take a look. ¡®Patek Philippe Store Scam¡® What kind of nonsense is this? Jonathan tapped the trending post with a frown, while Zion eagerly pointed the way. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, just y that clip. Ms. ude was incredible¨Cshe stunned the entire ce!¡± Jonathan opened the video. It was shaky, clearly taken in secret, only catching Anneliese¡¯s back. But the sound was sharp and clear, and near the end, the camera caught a fleeting glimpse of her breathtaking profile. Even from the back alone, Jonathan had no trouble recognizing her. When he finished watching, he scrolled down through thements. ¡®OMG! Who is this girl with both beauty and brains? I need answers in three seconds!¡® ¡®D*mn, is this what they meant by ¡°master math and science and you can go anywhere¡°?¡® ¡®You need a high IQ now to deal with scams?! Guess I¡¯ll just stay home.¡¯ ¡®What were those forms? Someone exin? ¡®Has anyonepiled notes yet? Hurry up! I¡¯m gonna memorize them in case I run into a scammer. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel ¡®Smart and gorgeous¨Cmy absolute dream girl!¡® ¡®My mom asked why I was kneeling in front of my phone. It¡¯s because my wife is too beautiful¨CI¡¯m worshiping her!¡® ¡®Wifey! My long¨Clost wife! I¡¯ve finally found you!¡® Is my wife from a university? Everf blurred, her beauty still shines¨Cat least campus queen level! Jonathan¡¯s brows furrowed tighter. ¡°Are men online always this shameless?¡± Calling her ¡®wife¡® one after another! Who the hell do they think they are? She¡¯s not their wife! She¡¯ll only ever be my wife, no one else¡¯s. Zion¡¯s lips twitched. His boss¡® jealousy was practically dripping. ¡°Sir, not everyone calling her ¡®wife¡® is a guy. Nowadays, even young women like to call someone like Ms. ude¨Cindependent, sharp, and gorgeous- O < 17:32 Mon, 15 Sept Chapter 216 Going Viral 62% +10 Free Coins their wife.¡± ¡°That¡¯s even worse!¡± Jonathan shot back. Zion fell silent. Why did I bother exining at all¡­ ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, do you want me to pull her off the trending list?¡± ¡°She earned her way on, why would I? Just keep an eye on public opinion. Anything that shouldn¡¯t appear -make sure it doesn¡¯t.¡± Jonathan¡¯s orders were clear. Zion immediately understood. That meant shutting down usations that Anneliese was staging the whole thing or rumors about stic surgery. Most importantly, no digging into her background. Still, he hesitated for a moment before asking carefully, ¡°What about the posts calling Ms. ude their wife? Do those count as things that shouldn¡¯t appear?¡± Jonathan shot him an exasperated look. ¡°What do you think?¡± As if I¡¯d waste time arguing with clueless . Zion chuckled awkwardly, pretending he hadn¡¯t noticed his boss sulking just a moment ago. ¡°By the way, I think Ms. ude was buying a men¡¯s watch. I wonder who she ns to give it to.¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly. A thought and a hope stirred in his chest. When Selina saw the viral news, she not only recognized Anneliese but also recognized the woman in sunsses. Her expression darkened instantly, and she rushed to find a private corner to call Mikita. The moment the call connected, her voice trembled with anger. ¡°Mom! What the hell were you thinking, making a scene with Anneliese in public? She¡¯s gone viral now¨Cdo you realize what a mess you¡¯ve caused for me?¡± At that moment, Mikita had just left the mall and was on her way back to her vi in the suburbs. She had ended up buying the watch, leaving it at the store for repairs, and was still fuming. Hearing Selina¡¯s scolding, she responded with wounded indignation. ¡°Your uncle tanked two of White Inc¡¯s major projects, and your father has been taking it out on me ever since¨Che hasn¡¯t even beening over ¡°I just wanted to buy a good watch to smooth things over with him. Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d run straight into that little tramp? The moment I saw her, I remembered all the suffering she put you through, and I just couldn¡¯t hold myself back from teaching her a lesson!¡± 2/2 17:32 Mon, 15 Sept A Created 217 Chapter 217 Hidden Agendas Chapter 217 Hidden Agendas E 62% +10 Free Coins ¡°You call that teaching her a lesson? Looked more like she taught you one,¡± Selina snapped, her voice sharp with anger. Mikita frowned. ¡°Well, I scratched her face.¡± ¡°But do you realize what¡¯s happening online right now? They¡¯re digging into her identity. If the Whites see it, they¡¯ll know Anneliese was never some delinquent dropout. Do you know how much effort I spent back then to hide all of that? And now it¡¯s all about toe out!¡± They said enemies often understood one best. Selina had been the only one to discover the truth¨Cthat Anneliese had been a prodigy admitted into Astoria University¡¯s advanced youth program and had already graduated at 18. For more chapters visit ?ovelFind Back then, Anneliese had even delivered a lecture at the university¡¯s auditorium, leaving an invitation for the Whites. Selina had hidden that invitation, burned it, and then pretended to be sick, forcing the entire family to stay at the hospital instead. She had gone to great lengths to make the whole family believe Anneliese was worthless, nothing but a troublemaker who hadn¡¯t even finished high school. Anneliese, with her proud and distant nature, had withdrawn further from the family, and Selina¡¯s lie hadsted all the way until now. ¡°So¡­ what do we do? I didn¡¯t expect things to blow up like this. I just wanted to p her twice and make her pay for the watch, Who knew she¡¯d be so cunning and hard to deal with?¡± Mikita whined, her voice full of frustration. Selina drew in a long breath. ¡°Did she see your face clearly? What if she recognizes you?¡± ¡°No, no, of course not. I was wearing makeup. Besides, she¡¯s never met me before. Even if she notices we look a little alike, there are plenty of people who resemble each other¨Cshe won¡¯t think too much of it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare act on your own again!¡± ¡°So what, we just let that little tramp get away with it?¡± Mikita¡¯s voice quivered with unwillingness. She hadn¡¯t managed to get the upper hand at the store; instead, she had been pped hard by Anneliese and tricked into buying a useless watch. Her face was still swollen¨Chow could she possibly let it go? Selina thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll send you two videos and some photos. Spread them around the socialite circles, the wives¡® groups. Try to get them into Halden¡¯s circles too.¡± She added sternly, ¡°And don¡¯t you dare send them out yourself.¡± ¡°I know, I know,¡± Mikita answered quickly. After hanging up, Selina dug out the footage from that banquet where Jonathan had held Anneliese so tenderly, treating her like the most precious thing in the world. She sent them to Mikita. A woman with such a scandalous reputation being cherished by Jonathan¨Cshe was unworthy. Selina knew she wasn¡¯t the only one who would be consumed with jealousy. She checked the trending search again, then called the tform, speaking as if she were a family member of both Anneliese and Mikita. She demanded that their faces be blurred and their voices altered. ||| O 1/2 17:32 Mon, 15 Sept?A 3, 62% Chapter 217 Hidden Agendas +10 Free Coins Removing a trending post outright required money and influence, but blurring and voice masking were easy¨Cafter all, posting videos without consent was against regtions. Soon, the video on the trending feed was processed, and Selina finally breathed easier. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, that looks like Ms. ude¡¯s car.¡± The Maybach was approaching Maple Bay when Zion spotted Anneliese¡¯s car parked by the roadside. He quickly alerted Jonathan. Jonathan nced outside, recognized it instantly, and ordered, ¡°Stop the car.¡± Inside her own car, Anneliese was scrolling through the trending feed. She only found out she had gone viral because Jackson had called her. She hadn¡¯t expected that the passerby who had secretly filmed the scene would upload it online. Since the person was a beauty blogger with some followers, the post shot to the top instantly. Anneliese disliked being in the spotlight. Worse, she genuinely feared her identity being exposed and dragging unnecessary trouble her way. She had already returned to school and nned to focus entirely on drones and eVTOL research. Who knew if she might one day be pulled into ssified projects? Thest thing she needed was overexposure. She was just considering whether to contact the tform to find the uploader when the video suddenly changed¨Cfaces blurred, voices altered. Anneliese blinked in surprise, then let out a softugh. Looks like these days know where to draw the line after all. Just then, a knock sounded on her window. She rolled it down, still wearing the faint smile from moments before. The brilliant winter sunset filtered through the bare branches above, casting golden light across her delicate face and making her beauty seem almost unreal. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you back early today? I was just about to head to the supermarket,¡± she said, her eyes lighting up with surprise. Jonathan¡¯s dark gaze locked on her, and then, without warning, he reached in, pinched her chin, and tilted her face upward. Leaning down, he closed the space between them little by little. Their breaths mingled. Stunned, Anneliese froze, hershes trembling as she held herself perfectly still. Created 218 Chapter 218 The Grocery Run Chapter 218 The Grocery Run Follow current nov?ls on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? +10 Free Coins For a split second, Anneliese thought Jonathan was about to kiss her through the car window¨Cuntil he frowned and asked in a low voice, ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Snapping out of her daze, she blinked in confusion. ¡°Huh? What about my face?¡± Jonathan¡¯s fingers shifted slightly as he pinched her chin, his thumb brushing over the spot from her right check down to the corner of her jaw. ¡°Hm¡­¡± A faint sting made her wince, and that was when she remembered. Back in the store, the woman¡¯s nails had scratched her. It had hurt at the time, but the pain quickly faded, and she had forgotten all about
  1. it.
¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a scratch.¡± Jonathan gave the mark another nce before finally letting her go. ¡°You were heading to the supermarket?¡± ¡°Yeah. The food your grandmother broughtst time was mostly ready¨Cmade. So, I bet there isn¡¯t much fresh meat or vegetables left in the fridge.¡± He nodded, then walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and slid into the seat beside her. By the time Anneliese realized what was happening, he had already buckled himself in. ¡°Drive,¡± he said, arching a brow as he looked at her. She gaped at him. ¡°You¡¯reing to the supermarket with me?¡± ¡°I eat too. Can¡¯t leave everything to you.¡± As much as it caught her off guard, his reasoning made perfect sense. Anneliese immediately epted it, waved at Zion in the Maybach up ahead, and then hit the gas. Funny enough, she had never sat in Jonathan¡¯s passenger seat before, yet here he was, sitting in hers. The oddness of it made her steal nces at him twice while driving. Jonathan, however, seemed perfectly at ease¨Ceven a little intrigued. It was his first time riding in a passenger seat; usually, he either drove himself or sat in the back. He had to admit, the experience wasn¡¯t half bad. His mind drifted to her trip to the watch shop. He let his eyes wander around the car, but there was no sign of a watch box. Anneliese hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about giving him a gift either. He figured she must have tucked it away. No rush. Maybe she¡¯s waiting to surprise me after dinner. At the supermarket, Jonathan immediately went to push a cart. The ce wasn¡¯t too crowded, and Anneliese headed straight for the fresh produce section. ¡°Anything you¡¯re craving?¡± she asked. When there was no answer, she turned around¨Conly to find Jonathan missing. Startled, she retraced her steps and spotted him standing by the aisle of indoor slippers, seriously examining the disy. She hurried over. ¡°You want slippers?¡± 1/2 17:32 Mon, 15 Sept A Chapter 218 The Grocery Run ?362% +10 Free Coins Without looking at her, he reached for a pair of pink, fuzzy women¡¯s slippers. ¡°For you.¡± Anneliese froze for a moment. She had been to his ce plenty of times, but he didn¡¯t own women¡¯s slippers. Each time, she had worn disposable ones. With a few more days ahead of her cooking for him, a proper pair really would be more convenient. And it was just a pair of slippers¨Cnot exactly a waste. Smiling, she nodded. ¡°Sure. These are¡­ cute.¡± She eyed the fluffy pink pair with rabbit ears, never imagining Jonathan¡¯s taste could be so girlish. ¡°d you like them.¡± He dropped them into the cart. ¡°Should we pick a pair for your grandmother too?¡± she asked. He shook his head. ¡°No need. She doesn¡¯te by often.¡± In truth, he didn¡¯t think they would be living at Maple Bay for much longer. If she agreed to marry him, Maple Bay would no longer be necessary. ¡°Still, maybe buy a pair to keep around,¡± Anneliese insisted. ¡°Disposable slippers aren¡¯t safe¨Cthey¡¯re slippery. Better to have a spare.¡± Just like at her own ce. Even though her grandmother in Baytree barely came to Oceaton once a year, Anneliese always kept a pair of slippers ready for her. She picked out a dark red pair¨Clight, soft, and nonslip¨Cand held them up. ¡°How about these?¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly as he took them and set them in the cart. But then he stopped walking altogether, his feet rooted to the spot. Puzzled, Anneliese looked at him. He looked right back, eyes steady. ¡°What?¡± she asked, tilting her head.. When he saw that she hadn¡¯t caught on in the slightest, a wave of frustration and helpless longing swept through him. His elegant features dimmed with a trace of disappointment. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± 0 < Created 219 Chapter 219 Missing Chapter 219 Missing Latest content published on Find1Novel 62% +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s heart sank at the way Jonathan sighed, as if she had broken some unspoken rule. And he wouldn¡¯t say it outright either¨Cmen could be so impossible to read sometimes. ¡°Forget it,¡± Jonathan sighed again, slowly turning the shopping cart around. Even his back looked wounded and lonely, practically begging for her to coax him. Anneliese felt the pressure mounting on her chest. In her panic, a sudden thought came to her. ¡°Wait! How about I buy a pair for you too, to keep at my ce?¡± Jonathan instantly turned the cart back with smooth ease. ¡°Sure.¡± She hadn¡¯t expected that to be the reason for his sulking. The realization was both amusing and exasperating. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Anneliese tried to hold it in, but he caught her anyway. Grinning, she looked straight at him. ¡°You¡¯re acting like a kid. I invited you over to my ce, but you didn¡¯t even invite me to yours. Hmph!¡± She puffed her cheeks, her arms akimbo, and pulled a sulky child¡¯s face. Jonathan nodded solemnly. ¡°Recognizing your mistakes and correcting them¨Cthat¡¯s the mark of a good child.¡± Anneliese fell silent, She had meant to call him childish, not confess to her own mistakes. Still, she obediently walked to the men¡¯s slipper section. Without even asking his size, she reached straight for thergest one. But the size 13 and 14 pairs were all hanging on the very top row. Even on tiptoe, she couldn¡¯t reach them. Just as she was about to step down and look for adder, her body suddenly lifted off the ground. Jonathan¡¯s strong hands had gripped her waist and hoisted her up with ease. She had already shed her down coat when they entered the store, leaving her in a fitted cashmere sweater. Through the fabric, she felt the solid warmth of his chest against her back. The heat spreading across her waist burned like fire, his crisp, clean scent wrapping around herpletely. For a moment, Anneliese forgot where she was or what she had been trying to do¡ªuntil Jonathan¡¯s voice snapped her back. ¡°Up you go, Annie. Grab it.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ okay.¡± Her ears flushed hot. She snatched down a pair of slippers without even ncing at the color, clutching them to her chest. ¡°Got them! Jonathan eyed the pair of slippers in her arms, his lips twitching and pressing together, but he said nothing as he set her back down. It wasn¡¯t until she returned honic and ced them on the shoe rack that Anneliese realized she had picked a pair of vivid red men¡¯s slippers¨Cso bright they looked more like a gag gift than something a man like Jonathan would wear. ¡°Woof!¡± Meatloaf tapped a paw against the red slippers. III 172 17:32 Mon, 15 SeptA Chapter 219 Missing a¡¢ ????, 62%u +10 Free Coins ¡°These are for your favorite Mr. Fullbuster. He didn¡¯t say a word when I handed them over. Maybe he actually likes red? That would be pretty unexpected.¡± ¡°Woof, woof!¡± Meatloaf barked, as if agreeing. Anneliese let it go, ruffling the dog¡¯s head before heading upstairs to change and start dinner. But just then, her phone rang. The caller ID made her pause. When she answered and listened, her expression changed instantly. The call was from Miles¨CJessica was missing. ¡°Even sick, Jessica never skipped a client. I went to her apartment and found broken sses and vases in the living room. She¡¯s gone, and her phone¡¯s dead.¡± Jessica had been hired to apany an elderly patient that day. When she didn¡¯t show, the client called Miles. He had sent Celine to take over the appointment, then rushed to Jessica¡¯s apartment and found signs of trouble. ¡°She didn¡¯t reach out yesterday either. Don¡¯t panic. Check with the neighbors first. If no one noticed anything, start looking at surveince footage. I¡¯ll be there in half an hour,¡± Anneliese instructed, already moving toward the door. She called Jessica, but as expected, the phone was off. Stepping into the elevator, she remembered Jonathan was still waiting and quickly rang him. ¡°Sorry, something came up, I need to head out right now, so I can¡¯t cook dinner tonight.¡± Her tone was urgent. At that very moment, Jonathan was in the entryway, cing the pink rabbit¨Ceared slippers neatly on the mat beside his own ck pair. The sight stirred something inside him¨Cit almost looked like a woman lived here now. He had never noticed before, but ck and pink side by side seemed perfectly matched, harmonizing beautifully together. 2/2 Created 220 Chapter 220 Traces This update is avable on F¦ÉndNovel Chapter 220 Traces +10 Free Coins When Anneliese called, Jonathan had just snapped a photo of the two pairs of slippers sitting side by side. Hearing the urgency in her voice, he finally pulled his gaze from the picture and asked in a low tone, ¡°What happened? Do you need my help?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t reach Jess. I don¡¯t know exactly what¡¯s going on yet, so I¡¯m heading over to check. If I need you, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Alright. Call me anytime,¡± Jonathan replied without pressing further, though he still reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Drive carefully.¡± By the time Anneliese arrived at Riverview Court, Miles was already inside Jessica¡¯s apartment with two property staff and a frail olddy. Anneliese recognized her immediately¨Cit was Madam Judy, the neighbor from next door. ¡°What kind of security d¨° you people run here?¡± Miles was shouting. ¡°You just let anyone wander in? Jess is missing! If something happens to her, this is on you too!¡± The security guard bristled, clearly offended. ¡°Riverview Court isn¡¯t some high¨Cendplex. We get paid peanuts, not to y bodyguards! We already agreed to check the surveince, but the cameras in this building are broken. What do you want us to do?¡± ¡°Enough. Stop arguing¨Cwhat¡¯s the situation?¡± Anneliese cut in as she walked through the door, pulling Miles aside. Miles looked as if he¡¯d seen salvation. ¡°Jessica must¡¯ve been taken sometime after 11 p.m. With the cameras down, nothing was recorded. But Madam Judy here said she heard a disturbance. ¡°She peeked through the door and saw three men in cke by. She was too scared to interfere and only caught a glimpse.¡± Anneliese frowned. She questioned Madam Judy herself, but nothing useful came of it. In the end, she sent both the property staff and the olddy home. ¡°You haven¡¯t crossed anyely, have you?¡± she asked Miles. He shook his head. ¡°Not that I know of, Should we call the police?¡± Pressing her fingers to her temples, Anneliese pursed her lips. ¡°I think I know what¡¯s going on. Let me make a call.¡± She stepped aside and dialed Jonathan. He answered almost immediately, the ringtone barelysting a second. She felt a pang of guilt¨Cshe was always troubling him However, there was no time for niceties now. ¡°Can you help me track someone¡¯s whereabouts?¡± ¡°Who?¡± 1/2 62% Chapter 220 Traces ¡°Marcus Johnson. Marcus as in M¨CA¨CR¨CC¨CU¨CS-¡± +10 Free Coins She hadn¡¯t even finished when Jonathan cut her off. ¡°Marcus Johnson of Johnson Property Holdings in Baytree?¡± His tone carried a flicker of surprise, and Anneliese was taken aback too. ¡°You know him? Yes, that¡¯s him!¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll look into it. Come downstairs.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anneliese froze, then hurried to the window. Beneath the tree where Zacharias had parkedst time sat a familiar ck Maybach¨CJonathan¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll be right down.¡± She spun and rushed out. She climbed into the passenger seat, still breathless. ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± she asked, half¨Cstartled, half¨Crelieved. Truthfully, her nerves had been stretched tight¨CMiles was no real help. But seeing Jonathan now filled her with a sudden steadiness, as if her fear had vanished. ¡°I dropped you off here before. I knew Ms. Sweeting lived in this building,¡± Jonathan exined simply, gesturing for her to fasten her seatbelt. With one hand, he eased the car out of the space, steering smoothly onto the road. ¡°Let¡¯s grab something to eat. By then, we should have word about Ms. Sweeting¡± He had already sent people to investigate, and his words made it clear¡ªhe intended to stay by her side until they found Jess. Since he was here, Anneliese couldn¡¯t refuse. She nodded, touched by the thought, then exined, ¡°You know Jess and I grew up in the orphanage together. She¡¯s like a sister to me. ¡°I was adopted when I was five, but not long after I left, Jess was taken in by the Johnson Family. She¡­ didn¡¯t have a good life there. ¡°Three years ago, she ran away to Oceaton and changed her name to Jessica Sweeting. Marcus Johnson is her brother¨Cat least on paper.¡± Out of respect for Jess¡® privacy, she left the details vague. But the suggestions of ¡°bad rtionship¡± and ¡°ran away¡± were more than enough for Jonathan to understand. Pulling over at the side of the road, he reached out and sped Anneliese¡¯s restless hand, still fidgeting in herp from worry. ? Created 221 Chapter 221 A Principle She Held On To Chapter 221 A Principle She Held On To ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s grab something to cat first, alright?¡± 61% +10 Free Coins Her hands were icy, but his warmth wrapped around them, steadying her in an instant. She stared at him, momentarily dazed, before nodding. ¡°Okay.¡± Looking outside, she realized he had stopped in front of a soup and sandwich shop. They went in and each ordered a bowl. Hunger pushed aside her anxiety for the moment, and she even found the chunky bits in the soup surprisingly good. By then, the weather had turned gloomy, but with a bowl of warm soup in her stomach, she felt warmth spread all through her body. As they stepped out of the shop, Zion¡¯s call came through. Jonathan put it on speaker, opened the passenger door, and gestured for Anneliese to get in. She bent quickly and climbed inside while he leanedzily against the car, arm draped over the door, holding the phone close to her. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, Marcus Johnsonnded in Oceaton yesterday afternoon¨Caround five, on an EastJet flight. But he booked a return flight for tonight at eleven. First ss¨Csix people this time, one more than he came with. I¡¯ll have someone check his hotel and any properties under his name¡­¡± Jonathan gave Anneliese a nce before lowering the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ve got a faster way.¡± He hung up, clearly about to dial another number, when Anneliese leaned over and tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Get in the car first.¡± He was standing in the wind, no coat, not even a sweater under his suit¨Cjust a thin shirt. Meeting her worried gaze, Jonathan paused, lips curving faintly. ¡°Alright, if you insist.¡± He shut the door with a snap and walked around the hood. Anneliese rubbed her nose, a little flustered. She had only asked him to sit, but the way he obeyed felt almost too well¨Cbehaved. Once inside, Jonathan called Joel. ¡°Well, well, am I seeing things? The great prince himself is actually calling me? I¡¯m ttered!¡± Anneliese remembered Joel, so she recognized his voice instantly. He was as chatty as she remembered. Jonathan cut him short, impatient. ¡°I recall your family has some distant ties to the Johnson Family in Baytree?¡± The Johnsons in Baytree? Our families were one three generations ago. Why?¡± ¡°Marcus Johnson is in Oceaton. Call him now and find out where he is.¡± ¡°What do you want with him?¡± ¡°Curiosity kills the cat. Just call ¡°Tch. Only I¡¯ll ever indulge your little temper. Give me a sec.¡± Barely two minutester, a WhatsApp voice note came through Jonathan opened it¨CJoel reported an Chapter 221 A Principle She Held On To +10 Free Coins upscale vimunity on the edge of town. Anneliese immediately entered the address into the navigation. For original chapters go to f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Jonathan checked his watch, swung the car around, and said, ¡°An 11 p.m. flight. We¡¯ve got time.¡± Anneliese had already been grateful that he found Jessica¡¯s trail so quickly. But he hadn¡¯t even waited for her to ask¨Che insisted on going with her to deal with it himself. She twisted her fingers, touched beyond words. Yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse, because she truly needed the help. Alone, she would never manage this. When she kept staring at him silently, Jonathan nced over after confirming the road ahead. ¡°What is it?¡± She almost blurted out that he was a good man, but the words felt flimsy, like he might mistake them for sarcasm. Instead, she fiddled with the zipper on her jacket and huffed, ¡°You must be doing this on purpose! You have to be!¡± He blinked at her, baffled. ¡°Doing what on purpose?¡± ¡°Being this good to me! You¡¯re making my heart stir¨CI¡¯m this close to saying yes to that ridiculous proposal of yours!¡± Jonathan¡¯s chest thudded hard, his grip tightening on the wheel. So, she¡¯s sharper than I thought. ¡°Well then, are you going to say yes?¡± She shot him a re. ¡°I¡¯m sticking to my principles!¡± He arched a brow, sighing with helpless amusement, though in the dim light his eyes held a tenderness she couldn¡¯t quite name. She turned her head sharply toward the window. Half an hourter, they drove into the vi district. 2/2 Created 222 Chapter 222 Breaking In Chapter 222 Breaking In ????, 61% +10 Free Coins Jonathan parked the car, but when Anneliese hurried to open the door, she found it locked. Startled, she turned to him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He leaned back, calm as ever. ¡°Tell me what identity should I use when I demand her release?¡± ¨C Anneliese blinked, then quickly caught on. Jessica¡¯s current identity was fake. On paper, she was still part of the Johnson Family. Marcus was her brother, and he had every excuse to take her away. Without a solid reason and strong standing, even Jonathan couldn¡¯t simply pull her out. He couldn¡¯t exactly im she was a friend¨Cof¨Ca¨Cfriend and insist on meddling in someone else¡¯s family business. Bang! A heavy crash echoed from the vi ahead. Anneliese jolted, panic overtaking her reasoning. ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll see once we¡¯re in. As long as Jess gets out safe, nothing else matters.¡± Jonathan unlocked the door, and they stepped out together. Anneliese darted ahead, ringing the vi¡¯s doorbell. It took a while before two guards in ck appeared, scowling. ¡°What do you want? Leave now.¡± ¡°Is Jess inside? You¡¯ve locked her up, haven¡¯t you? Let me in! Or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± The guards sneered, clearly unfazed. Domestic matters like this weren¡¯t something the police would touch. ¡°Go ahead, call. See who cares. Now get lost.¡± ¡°How about me?¡± Jonathan¡¯s low voice cut through the air. He had just finished a call. Now he stepped beside Anneliese, his arm slipping naturally around her shoulders. His presence alone pressed down hard enough that both guards froze, faces shifting. ¡°Jonathan Fullbuster.¡± His lips curved into a cold line as he spoke his name, no titles needed. His name alone carried enough weight to shake them. The guards¡® expressions changed instantly. The Fullbuster heir was notorious in Halden, and in Oceaton, his name carried even more weight. The Johnson Family might be Baytree¡¯s local tycoons, but here they were nothing. No one in their right mind would cross the Fullbuster heir. One guard rushed to open the gate/while the other ran inside to report. Jonathan reached out without hesitation and took Anneliese¡¯s hand, leading her in. They had barely stepped into the foyer when a tall man in a robe appeared. Gold¨Crimmed sses gave him a refined look, but the sharp, shadowed eyes behind them betrayed something far darker, He smiled as he spoke, a predator in disguise ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, what an unexpected honor. My humble home is truly graced by your presence His tone was warm and polite, but the words dripped with III O 17:33 Mon, 15 Sept A Chapter 222 Breaking In reproach¨Cthey had barged in uninvited. He was none other than Marcus Johnson. 043 61%u +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s eyes locked on his face, catching the redness on his right cheek and faint scratch marks along his neck. Her expression hardened as she ground out, ¡°Where¡¯s Jess? What have you done to her?¡± Follow current nov?ls on FindN0vel She moved to charge inside, but Marcus flicked his gaze at the guards, and one stepped forward to block her path. Marcus kept smiling. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t you. Anneliese. It¡¯s been years, and you¡¯ve grown. But you¡¯ve forgotten your manners¨Cshouldn¡¯t you at least say hi?¡± Revulsion rolled through her at the thought of what he had done to Jessica. Her fists clenched, chest rising and falling sharply. ¡°Move.¡± Her nerves were taut. With such a racket downstairs, Jessica should have heard. If she hadn¡¯te running out, it could only mean she couldn¡¯t move. God knew what Marcus had already done. The guards stood firm, ignoring Anneliese¡¯s demand. Marcus¡® smile widened. ¡°Anneliese, Jess isn¡¯t well. She¡¯s already asleep. Tomorrow, when she wakes, I¡¯ll have her call you.¡± Bullshit! Jess has been perfectly healthy these past few years. The only times she was ever near death were thanks to the Johnsons¡® abuse. The thought made Anneliese snap. She shoved the guard in front of her and tried to push through. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± One of them shoved back, and her heel slipped on the step. She lost her bnce and began to fall. But before she could cry out, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her upright. Shended firmly against Jonathan¡¯s chest, and almost simultaneously, two sharp cries of pain echoed through the vi. Created 223 back. Both guards had been sent sprawling, groaning as they copsed onto their knees right in front of her. Marcus¡® face darkened. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, what is the meaning of this?¡± Jonathan held Anneliese close, his expression like carved ice. ¡°What? You didn¡¯t see your men disrespect my fiancee, Mr. Johnson?¡± His voice was low,ced with a chill that sent a jolt through Marcus¡® gut. He knew Jonathan was formidable, but what stunned him was not the sudden attack. It was hearing Jonathan call Anneliese his fiancee. The im left him rattled¨Cif Jonathan had truly taken that stance, the Johnson Family could hardly afford to brush it aside. And Anneliese was just as stunned. Since when did I be his fiancee? She instinctively looked up, only to meet the sharp line of Jonathan¡¯s jaw. As though sensing her gaze, he lowered his eyes to her, his arm tightening around her waist. His voice softened. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here. Do whatever you want to do.¡± He bent and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. It clicked then¨Cwhat they had agreed on in the car. Jonathan was staking his im for her sake, giving them leverage. Still, she hadn¡¯t been ready for him to kiss her. His lips brushed her skin like a spark, and her face med crimson. She couldn¡¯t even look at him,shes fluttering. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be such a convincing actor, the tenderness in his eyes almost too real. Remembering Jessica steadied her. She wrapped her arms around Jonathan¡¯s neck and pouted angrily. ¡°Jonny, I don¡¯t care! I have to see Jess right now!¡± Fresh chapters posted on find?novel She looked both petnt and captivating, her frustration vivid and striking. Jonathan¡¯s eyes flickered, his heart unexpectedly stirred despite knowing she was putting on a show for Marcus. Just one soft ¡°Jonny¡± from her, and he felt hisposure waver. ¡°Alright. You¡¯ll see her right away.¡± His smile vanished as he turned back to Marcus. ¡°My fiancee has spoken. Surely, Mr. Johnson, you won¡¯t deny us this courtesy?¡± His tone was courteous enough, but the warning was clear. If Marcus refused, it meant dismissing the Fullbuster Family altogether¨Ca direct challenge no one could walk away from unscathed. 15:33 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 223 ying the Part 40 +10 Free Coins Marcus forced augh. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I wouldn¡¯t dare. But if I recall correctly, Anneliese was married two years ago¨Cto Mr. Shaw of uderias Tech, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Anneliese¡¯s lip curled in disgust. ¡°That¡¯s ancient history! I¡¯ve been divorced for ages.¡± She leaned against Jonathan, stamping her foot as sheined, ¡°Jonny, he says he¡¯s giving you due respect, but he¡¯s just stalling. Clearly, you mean nothing to him! And he¡¯s trying to drive a wedge between us¨Cwhat a b*stard!¡± Her voice had taken on such a spoiled, coquettish tone that it startled even her. She felt like she had turned into some favored but arrogantdy from a pce drama. To her surprise, Jonathan seemed utterly charmed by it. He wrapped his arm tighter around her waist, his eyes gleaming with indulgence as a smile spread across his lips. ¡°In that case, we don¡¯t have to give him due respect either.¡± The next second, the roar of engines filled the courtyard. Five or six luxury cars screeched to a halt, headlights flooding the vi in stark white light. From each car, half a dozen men in ck poured out, moving fast and disciplined. They fanned through the yard like a wave, bristling with menace, ready to act on Jonathan¡¯s signal. Even Anneliese froze. She remembered the Fullbusters as upright, legitimate business people -this disy looked anything but. Marcus¡® expression turned stormy. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, what is the meaning of this?¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Just granting my fiancee a small wish. No need to be nervous, Mr. Johnson.¡± Marcus clenched his fists, rage simmering. But the message was in: either step aside and let Jessica go, or watch every man here cut him down. And if it came to that, the Johnson Family would have nothing to gain. Created 224 Chapter 224 Breaking Chains 40 +10 Free Coins Marcus closed his eyes briefly before saying, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, wait here. I¡¯ll bring Jess down.¡± But Anneliese had already lost her patience. She pulled free of Jonathan and strode inside. ¡°No need! I¡¯ll get her myself.¡± Marcus¡® expression shifted, but no one dared to stop her this time. He moved as if to follow, only for Jonathan to raise an arm and block him. Anneliese found Jessica on the second floor in one of the bedrooms. The moment she pushed the door open, rage shook her to the core. ¡°Jess!¡± The Jessica who had always been so fiery and full of life was now a broken sight. For more chapters visit find{n}ovel She had been forced into a frilly pink princess dress that shedpletely with her nature. Her hair was a tangled mess, a strip of tape sealed her mouth, and her wrists and ankles were cuffed to the four corners of the bed. She looked less like a person and more like a doll, stripped of soul. At the sound of her name, Jessica turned her head weakly toward the door. Her eyes, dulled at first, flickered with a fragile light. Hershes trembled, and she curved her brows in a faint smile, though tears slipped silently into her hair. Pain stabbed Anneliese¡¯s chest. She rushed forward, hands shaking as she grabbed the keys off the nightstand and unlocked every shackle. Clenching her teeth against her fury, she pulled Jessica upright and carefully tore away the tape. ¡°It might hurt. Bear with it.¡± Jessica¡¯sshes lowered in a brief smile, and then the tape was gone. Her voice came out hoarse and weak. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Jessica had been adopted by the Johnson Family at six years old, full of hope. But the Johnsons were a devouring household. They hadn¡¯t wanted her as a daughter¨Cthey had chosen her because she resembled theirte daughter, Queenie Johnson, who had died in a car ident. Jessica had been a recement in the truest sense. From the day she entered the Johnson home, she had been forced to be Queenie. She had been drilled in every smile and gesture, her hobbies, her tone, even forced to wear princess dresses and speak in Queenie¡¯s exact cadence. She had even endured two cosmetic surgeries to perfect the illusion. When she seeded, she was fed. When she faltered, she was locked away or whipped. Her Chapter 224 Breaking Chains true self was erased¨Cher nature, her joys, her sorrows were not permitted. 40 +10 Free Coins By 18, Marcus¡® twisted desire for control over her had be frighteningly clear. Jessica had resisted, but Marcus¡® wife, Faye Thorne, had used her of seduction and beaten her nearly to death on multiple asions. Jessica had finally escaped, crafting a false identity and living free for three years. Until the day before, when Marcus had found her. Strong¨Cwilled as she was, she had already resolved that if Marcus dared touch her, she would rather die with him. But Anneliese had reached her in time. ¡°Good¡­¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters. We¡¯re leaving.¡± She helped Jessica up, and the sight of the raw, bloodied welts around her wrists and ankles nearly broke her. Rage coiled sharp and deadly inside her¨Cshe could have gutted Marcus with her bare hands. ¡°Annie, find me some scissors.¡± Jessica¡¯s voice rasped. She hadn¡¯t eaten or drunk for a day and night, her body limp with weakness. Anneliese asked nothing, quickly finding scissors and handing them over. Jessica¡¯s hair had always been short. Now it reached her waist, extensions Marcus had forced on her. She hacked at it in jagged cuts, letting it fall in uneven heaps. Then she turned the scissors on the dress. Anneliese tore away the frills for her, then stripped off her own down jacket and wrapped it around Jessica¡¯s shoulders. Together, they stepped out. At the top of the stairs, Marcus appeared. Jessica froze, her body trembling violently, her face drained of color. Years of confinement, whips, ice¨Ccell punishments¨Cher fear of him was etched into her very bones. Anneliese saw it all. This was Jessica¨Cthe fiercest, bravest woman she knew¡ªand still Marcus could reduce her to terror. Fury boiled up in her chest. She marched forward and pped him hard across the face. Smack! Marcus hadn¡¯t expected it. He hadn¡¯t even dodged, and the blownded square, leaving an angry red print on his cheek, knocking his sses askew. His eyes darkened, vicious, and his hand shot out toward Anneliese. ¡°How dare you-¡± ¡°Annie!¡± Jessica cried out, terrified, darting from behind to clutch Anneliese tightly. But Marcus¡® hand was never going tond on her face. Created 225 Chapter 225 Her Own Name Chapter 225 Her Own Name +10 Free Coins The moment Marcus raised his hand, Jonathan caught his wrist and twisted it back in one sharp move. A crack echoed, and Marcus howled in pain. Anneliese held Jessica tightly in front of her, soothingly patting her back. She rose on her toes, craning her neck to look. Jonathan had Marcus pinned against the wall, one arm bent cruelly behind him, and in that instant, he seemed lit from within¨Cdazzlingly striking. ¡°Ahh¨CMr. Fullbuster¡­¡± Marcus groaned. ¡°I let her do whatever she wants,¡± Jonathan said coolly. ¡°And I don¡¯t like anyone pointing their finger at my fiancee.¡± As he spoke, his foot came down squarely on Marcus¡® fallen sses. The lenses shattered under his weight with a chilling crunch. To Marcus, it felt less like Jonathan had stepped on the sses than on his spine, grinding his pride into dust. The Johnsons were Baytree¡¯s wealthiest family, bullies who ruled their turf. Marcus himself had always been arrogant, untouchable. Wherever he went, people bent to give him respect. Never had he been humiliated like this. His face flushed crimson as he rasped, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you and Joel are friends, aren¡¯t you? My family and the Cahans of Oceaton are kin. Why risk enmity with us for a stranger? Chapters first released on Find_Novel(. ¡°Besides, Queenie was my sister. She was rebellious and ran away from home. As her brother, I only meant to discipline her and bring her back. Our parents have been heartsick, our mother bedridden from grief¡­¡± Afraid Jonathan might fall for his act, Anneliese cut him off sharply. ¡°If your family misses your dead sister so much, why don¡¯t you all join her? Stop using grief as an excuse to torment innocent people, dressing up your twisted, selfish obsession as mourning. It¡¯s disgusting.¡± She tightened her grip on Jessica¡¯s hand, lending her strength, then nodded at Jonathan to let Marcus go. Looking Jessica in the eye, she urged, ¡°Jess, don¡¯t be afraid. Show him who you really are.¡± Jessica¡¯s hands were ice cold, but Anneliese¡¯s steady gaze gave her courage. The fear in her eyes steadied into resolve. She turned, her voice raw but clear. ¡°I am Jessica Sweeting, not Queenie Johnson! Whatever the Johnson Family spent raising me, I paid back long ago. I have nothing to do with you now, and I never will again!¡± Over thest three years, she had wired money to the Johnsons in three separate installments from different overseas ounts¨Cenough to repay every penny. It was both a way to sever ties Chapter 225 Her Own Name and to mislead their search. They truly believed she had fled abroad. ¡°Queenie¡­¡± Marcus began. ¡°Don¡¯t call me Queenie! I¡¯m not her. Do you not understand English?¡± Jessica roared. 40 +10 Free Coins Marcus had never seen her like this before. His eyes grew dark, shadowed. So, the little beast we tamed has found her fangs again. Interesting. But does she really think this means she can escape me? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Anneliese stepped forward, blocking Marcus¡® line of sight and guiding Jessica toward the stairs. Jonathan gave Marcus onest cold nce before following them down. In the car, Anneliese kept Jessica¡¯s hand in hers. Jessica leaned against her shoulder, drained. As the car rolled out of the vi district, Anneliese nced out the window and caught sight of a familiar face. It was the middle¨Caged woman she had once argued with at the Patek Philippe store, now walking with a boy of four or five. The woman¡¯s features tugged at her memory, and Anneliese twisted in her seat to look again¡ª but the car had already passed them, and she never saw the child¡¯s face. ¡°What is it?¡± Jessica asked, lifting her head. Anneliese quickly looked away. ¡°Nothing. Get some rest. I¡¯ll wake you when we¡¯re home.¡± Back at Maple Bay, Anneliese prepared a light chicken noodle soup for Jessica, stayed with her through dinner, then helped her bathe and dry her hair. Running her fingers through the uneven strands, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang. Jessica had once worn a neat bob, glossy and ttering. Now it was hacked short and ragged. ¡°We¡¯ll go fix it tomorrow,¡± Anneliese said softly. Jessica gave a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I was tired of that cut anyway. Something even shorter might suit me better.¡± Created 226 Chapter 226 Misunderstandings and Malice Chapter 226 Misunderstandings and Malice 40 +10 Free Coins Jessica tried tofort Anneliese instead. Her usual yful energy had already returned. ¡°By the way, I forgot to ask¨Cwhy did Mr. Fullbuster call you his fiancee? Don¡¯t tell me you agreed to his contractual marriage suggestion?!¡± Anneliese blinked, and the image of that light kiss he had left on her forehead suddenly shed in her mind. ¡°No, no, it was just to fool Marcus, to make the act more convincing.¡± Jessica looked regretful. ¡°Well, then make sure to thank Mr. Fullbuster for me.¡± Anneliese nodded. ¡°You need to sleep now. Get some real rest.¡± Jessica had gone a whole day and night without daring to close her eyes. The bloodshot streaks and dark circles around them made it painfully obvious. As soon as shey down and let her guard drop, she fell asleep almost instantly. Anneliese stepped out of the room and pulled out her phone to send Jonathan a message of thanks. ¡®Jess asked me to pass along her heartfelt gratitude.¡¯ His reply came quickly. ¡®And what about you?¡® Annelieseughed at the text and simply called him. ¡°Of course I¡¯m grateful too.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my thank¨Cyou gift then?¡± Jonathan had just finished showering. He sat casually on the living room sofa, towel in hand, drying his hair as he asked. He knew she had gone to the watch shop, but since they had spent the whole evening together, he hadn¡¯t seen her slip a watch into hiding anywhere. When they parted ways earlier, he had even hinted at it, but she had acted like she hadpletely forgotten. Now, giving her another chance to remember, surely she would hand it over, right? ¡°Huh? A gift? Is there something you want?¡± Instead, what Jonathan got was her utterly clueless response. She clearly hadn¡¯t prepared anything at all. Did that mean the men¡¯s watch she bought wasn¡¯t even meant for him? The thought alone soured his mood. His voice dropped cold. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ve got things to do. Bye.¡± And with that, he hung up, Anneliese hadn¡¯t even processed it before the call ended. Scratching at her hair, she realized he might actually be angry. Was it something I said? Chapter 226 Misunderstandings and Malice 40 +10 Free Coins Phone in hand, she looked lost, a flicker of unease and dim confusion showing in her eyes even though she hadn¡¯t noticed it herself. Just then, her phone rang again. Surprised and relieved, she answered without even checking the number. ¡°Was it because of what I said just now-¡± But before she could finish, apletely unfamiliar woman¡¯s voice snapped in her ear. ¡°You¡¯d better know what¡¯s best for you! Mr. Fullbuster isn¡¯t someone a woman like you can dream of having!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese pulled the phone away to check the screen. It was an unknown number. Mr. Fullbuster? Are they talking about Jonathan? Before she could ask, the caller hung up. Utterly baffling. Frowning, she blocked the number. But just as she was about to shower, her phone rang again -another unfamiliar number. With a sinking feeling, she picked up, only to hear another young woman¡¯s venomous tone. ¡°You shameless tramp! You already have a husband, and yet you still chase after men? Can¡¯t live without one, can you?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can live without a man,¡± Anneliese shot back coolly, ¡°but I do know that women like you¨Cspitting poison out of jealousy and ignorance¨Cmust be seriously sick.¡± She hung up before the caller could respond and blocked her too. But the calls kepting, one after another, all from strangers. Anneliese hung them up one by one, irritation mounting. It was obvious someone had deliberately leaked her number and stirred up gossip to paint her as a target. Finally, she set her phone to block unknown numbers and was about to investigate when WhatsApp began pinging nonstop. It was Nicole Horowitz, heiress of Horowitz Pharmaceuticals, flooding her with group chat screenshots. ¡®Someone¡¯s dragging your name through the mud in the socialites and rich wives¡® circles. Nicole was one of the few heiresses in Oceaton who still treated Anneliese decently despite her ruined reputation. Since Nicole had always shed with Selina, she found Anneliese worth defending. Truthfully, Nicole had hoped to watch Anneliese tear into Selina and reim her ce in the White family. But instead, Anneliese had cut ties with them for Zacharias¡® sake, even following him into a basement apartment to scrape by and start a business. ¡­ 40 Chapter 226 Misunderstandings and Malice +10 Free Coins Nicole never respected Zacharias and thought Anneliese had lost her mind, so their contact remained minimal. They only exchanged a few words when they happened to meet at social functions. 15:33 Tue, Sep 16 Read full story at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Chapter 227 Rumors and Recements Created 227 Chapter 227 Rumors and Recements Chapter 227 Rumors and Recements Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected Nicole to be the one tipping her off. 40 +10 Free Coins She opened the dozen or so screenshots Nicole had sent and saw that someone had spread photos and videos from that night at the White estate¨CJonathan holding her in his arms- across countless groups. Along with them came misleading captions, twisting the story into ims that she had deliberately seduced him. Chapters first released on findnovel Her face turned cold. Before she could respond, Nicole sent two more voice messages. ¡°Tsk, tsk, who would¡¯ve thought you had it in you? Pulling something this big off in silence! Even managing to hook the Prince of Halden? What a pity I didn¡¯t go to the White family banquet that night to see it for myself. ¡°I mean, with how stiff you always are, how on earth did yound a guy like Mr. Fullbuster? You even drove Selina¨CMiss Perfect Angelic B*tch herselfpletely insane. She¡¯s lost her cool, stering pictures and videos everywhere just to smear you. Impressive, really. Got any flirting tips to share?¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve divorced ages ago! Didn¡¯t I tell you? That so¨Ccalled ¡®self¨Cmade man¡® was never worth it¨Conly you treated him like treasure. But I really didn¡¯t expect your second round at love to be this good! Honestly, even I¡¯m tempted to take a jab at you out of jealousy, you brat.¡± Anneliese had no words. ¡°So, you think Selina¡¯s behind this too?¡± She recorded a short reply. ¡°Of course. ssic Selina. She¡¯s always used these kinds of tricks, stirring up group chats to bully people. Pathetic.¡± Anneliese had to agree. That night at the White estate, when she had fallen into the water, hardly anyone had the chance to take clear photos or videos. Only Selina could have gathered suchplete footage to spread around. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner sometime,¡± Anneliese replied. But Nicole shot back, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I can¡¯t stand Selina, so watching you drive her crazy is enough of a gift. I¡¯ll treat you to a feast instead. And if you bring Mr. Fullbuster along so I can admire him in person, all the better.¡± Anneliese sighed. What was she supposed to do? She and Jonathan were just friends, yet seemed like everyone believed there was something more. now it Chapter 227 Rumors and Recements 40 +10 Free Coins She understood perfectly well what Selina was trying to do¨Ccreate public pressure, surround her with gossip and insults, and force her to retreat from Jonathan. But people always had a streak of rebellion in them. The more Selina tried to pull tricks like this, the more Anneliese found herself tempted to take Jonathan up on his earlier proposal. The next morning, Anneliese rose early and prepared breakfast. Seeing Jessica still asleep, she packed it neatly into containers, clipped Meatloaf¡¯s leash, and headed out. Since Jessica was staying with her for now, it wasn¡¯t convenient to invite Jonathan down for breakfast. Her n was to bring the food up to him first, then take the dog for a walk. But when she rang the bell, the door opened to reveal a middle¨Caged woman she had never seen before. The smile froze on her lips as she nced around, wondering if she had pressed the wrong doorbell. But Jonathan lived in the penthouse, and his was the only unit on this floor. The woman, however, greeted her warmly. ¡°You must be Ms. ude. I¡¯m Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s housekeeper. Just call me Mabel.¡± Anneliese blinked, then recovered. ¡°Hello, Mabel. So¡­ you¡¯re back on duty already?¡± Nothing urgent or dire came up back home at all, but Mabel was unexpectedly given a paid month off, only to be called back on short noticest night. But if her employer said she had an emergency, she had an emergency. Smiling kindly, she added, ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± Noticing her gaze fall on the food container, Anneliese lifted it slightly. ¡°I brought breakfast for Jonathan. But since you¡¯re back, I guess I don¡¯t need to prepare these anymore¡­¡± Mabel nodded, though she didn¡¯t take the box, still smiling. ¡°Thank you for filling in the past few weeks. I¡¯ve made breakfast, Mr. Fullbuster already ate, and went to work. He probably just forgot to let you know. Would you like toe in for a chat?¡± She stepped aside to make room, but Anneliese pulled the container back. Looking into the apartment, her eyesnded on the pink rabbit¨Ccar slippers lying neatly at the entryway. Jonathan had bought them for her just the day before at the supermarket, insisting they¡¯d be convenient for her whenever she came by to cook. She had never even worn them. And now that his housekeeper was back, it seemed there was no reason to anymore. This morning, he hadn¡¯t needed her to make breakfast. He hadn¡¯t even told her he¡¯d already gone to work. Maybe¡­ maybe he didn¡¯t need her at all anymore. Chapter 227 Rumors and Recements 40 +10 Free Coins ¡°No, thank you. I won¡¯t intrude.¡± Smiling politely, Anneliese turned and walked toward the elevator. 15:33 Tue, Sep 16 Created 228 Chapter 228 Empty Spaces and Bitter Truths Chapter 228 Empty Spaces and Bitter Truths ¡°Take care, Ms. ude.¡± Mabel closed the door with a polite smile. 40 +10 Free Coins Anneliese turned back to nce at the firmly shut door. For some reason, a hollow feeling spread in her chest. Logically, this should have been good news¨Cshe no longer needed to cook for Jonathan, freeing her time. She was about to leave Oceaton anyway, with plenty still on her te. Theb work weighed heavily on her, and now she could finally give more of herself to the tasks she had promised to help with. It was only because Jonathan had made a n with me before and then suddenly left me hanging like this. That¡¯s why I felt so unsettled. It had to be that. She shook the thought away and stepped into the elevator. What she didn¡¯t see was the door opening again after the elevator doors closed. Mabel poked her head out, watching Anneliese leave, and quickly made a call. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hand? Ms. ude just left. Her expression? Well, I¡¯d say she looked pretty down, almost like she was about to cry when she heard Mr. Fullbuster had already gone to work. Definitely upset!¡± As soon as Anneliese exited the elevator with the food container in hand, her phone rang. Zion¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°Forgot to tell you¨Cstarting today, you don¡¯t need to bother preparing meals for Mr. Fullbuster anymore. Mabel¡¯s family emergency is sorted out, and she¡¯s back to work.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± Anneliese answered softly, herck of energy obvious even over the phone. Zion noticed but pretended not to. He went on casually, ¡°Though truth be told, Mabel probably won¡¯t be cooking much for him either. Mr. Fullbuster will likely be dining out these days¡­¡± That caught her attention, and out of courtesy, she asked, ¡°Why is that?¡± Zion had been waiting for the question. He clicked his tongue and lowered his voice. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s in a hurry to get married so he can secure his shares. He¡¯s been setting up blind dates, trying to settle this major life event quickly. This update is avable on find?novel ¡°Since he¡¯s too busy to carve out extra time, he¡¯s beenbining meals with meetings. Breakfast, lunch, dinner¨Chis schedule¡¯s packed. In fact, today at noon he¡¯s meeting Ms. Amanda Ashcroft, a pianist who just returned to the country, at the Central Tower¡¯s rooftop restaurant.¡± Chapter 228 Empty Spaces and Bitter Truths Anneliese forced a small smile. ¡°I see. Well then, I wish him luck on his date. I¡¯ve got something to do, so I¡¯ll let you go.¡± 40 +10 Free Coins She hung up and tugged Meatloaf¡¯s leash, heading outside. But the dog suddenly sat down stubbornly, twisting its head toward the elevator, refusing to budge¨Cas if waiting for someone to step out. Anneliese tightened her grip. ¡°Come on, he¡¯s off on dates now. He won¡¯t be walking you anymore.¡± A mournful howl slipped from Meatloaf, who lowered its head and whimpered, clearly sulking. She crouched to pat itfortingly before leading it out of the building. But Zion¡¯s words stuck in her mind. Without thinking, she pulled up her phone and typed ¡°Amanda Ashcroft¡± into the search bar. A picture of a striking young woman appeared instantly. Realizing what she was doing, Anneliese frowned and switched off her phone. This is none of my business; why am I looking into her?! ¡°Anneliese.¡± The sound of her name snapped her head up. There stood Marcus, his face wearing that familiar, chillingly false smile. He blocked her path with two bags in his hands. ¡°I was too hasty yesterday in bringing Queenie back. I overstepped. I bought some medicine and a few gifts to apologize. Could you take them to her for me?¡± Anneliese instinctively stepped back. Sensing her unease, Meatloaf lunged forward, barking furiously. ¡°Arf! Arf! Arf!¡± Holding the leash tight, she red at Marcus. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need your medicine or your apologies. Didn¡¯t we make ourselves clear yesterday?¡± She hadn¡¯t expected him to be waiting here so early. Marcus¡® smile widened. ¡°My family legally adopted Queenie. We raised her for over a decade. No matter what, she¡¯ll always be one of us. That fact won¡¯t change.¡± Anneliese¡¯s teeth clenched. ¡°Funny. The bruises on your face aren¡¯t even healed yet, and you¡¯ve already forgotten how they got there?¡± The faint imprint of her p still lingered on his cheek. For a moment, something dark Chapter 228 Empty Spaces and Bitter Truths flickered in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a shallow grin. 40 +10 Free Coins ¡°You don¡¯t need to hide behind Jonathan¡¯s name. I¡¯m not someone who scares easily. A fiancee? Please. Why hasn¡¯t anyone heard that the Fullbuster heir is getting married?¡± He had already ordered a thorough investigationst night. Though rumors had been swirling about Anneliese and Jonathan, the Fullbuster Family itself had released no such news¨Cno engagement, no fiancee. C Created 229 Chapter 229 Fractures and False Calm +10 Free Coins Marcus had even discovered that Anneliese and Zacharias had only finalized their divorce just two days earlier. How could Jonathan possibly want a woman who had only just left her marriage? Most likely, whatever happenedst night had been some favor Anneliese begged for- Jonathan ying along just to put on a show. But favors ran out quickly. And since she wasn¡¯t truly Jonathan¡¯s fiancee, and since Jonathan was too busy to constantly involve himself in Jessica¡¯s affairs, why would he bother for long? ¡°Go ahead and try me again if you dare!¡± Anneliese knew she couldn¡¯t back down now. If she showed weakness, Marcus would only grow bolder. She raised her hand to p him, but he seized her wrist with a crushing grip. ¡°Let go!¡± she demanded, jerking against him. Marcus sneered. ¡°You think you can-¡® ¡°Meatloaf, bite him!¡± 11 Before he could finish, Anneliese shouted the order. Meatloaf lunged forward with a fierce bark, snapping at Marcus¡® leg. Startled, Marcus recoiled, releasing her hand as he stumbled back, kicking wildly to ward off the dog. Afraid Meatloaf might get hurt, Anneliese yanked the leash tight. At that moment, a familiar Bentley rolled to a stop nearby. Zacharias stepped out, striding forward to put himself between her and Marcus. This content belongs to F?ndNovel ¡°Anne, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Anneliese was already seething. Nothing about this morning had gone right, and now here he was¨Cthe very man she had intended to confront anyway. Her eyes hardened as she pointed at Marcus. ¡°Zacharias, quit pretending to be innocent. If you hadn¡¯t tipped him off, how else would he have shown up here?¡± Jessica had hidden in Oceaton for more than three years without the Johnsons ever finding her. Then, the very day after Zacharias threatened her at City Hall¨Ciming he¡¯d inform them¨CMarcus appeared in Oceaton and tracked Jessica down. She didn¡¯t believe in coincidences. Chapter 229 Fractures and False Calm +10 Free Coins Zacharias¡® brows drew together in a sharp frown. He hurried to exin. ¡°Believe me or not, this had nothing to do with me, Anne. I¡ª¡± ¡°Even if it wasn¡¯t you, it was your mother or your sister!¡± She cut him off coldly. His lips pressed thin. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this. If it really was them, I¡¯ll hold them ountable.¡± Anneliese almostughed. She didn¡¯t want his promises, and she certainly didn¡¯t believe he could control Melody or Lenora. He had spun her too many empty dreams over the years¨Cso many that she had choked on them. Now, clear¨Cheaded atst, even hearing his tone made her stomach turn. ¡°The best exnation you could ever give me is to get out of my life.¡± She threw the words like ice and stormed back into the building. ¡­ Meanwhile, inside the CEO¡¯s office at AeroAir, Zion finished his call with Anneliese and stepped in. He waited until Jonathan set aside his paperwork before giving his report. ¡°I passed along the information you wanted¨Cthat you¡¯re going on blind dates.¡± Jonathan nodded, outwardly calm, though a faint spark of anticipation glinted in his she say anything?¡± eyes. ¡°Did ¡°She did,¡± Zion admitted, uneasy under the weight of his boss¡® gaze. ¡°But honestly, I think you¡¯re better off not knowing.¡± Jonathan¡¯s stare deepened. Zion had no choice but to finish. ¡°She said¡­ she wishes you sess and happiness on your date.¡± Snap. The pen Jonathan had been twirling idly between his fingers snapped clean in half. Zion¡¯s lips twitched. What did I say?! Better off not knowing! Why does he insist on torturing himself¡­ He cleared his throat and added, ¡°One more thing¨Cour men reported that Marcus showed up at Maple Bay first thing this morning. Seems he already knows about your connection to Ms. ude and doesn¡¯t care about your warning. Should we put some pressure on the Johnson Family?¡± The Johnsons might have been Baytree¡¯s wealthiest family on paper, but the title was padded with hot air. The Fullbuster Family held hidden assets across Baytree and its surrounding regions. If Jonathan wanted to cripple the Johnsons¡® projects, it would take nothing more than 15:34 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 229 Fractures and False Calm a word. : 40 +10 Free Coins But Jonathan tossed the broken pen into the trash and said evenly, ¡°Not for now. Just keep the men watching.¡± Zion was startled. Marcus¡® visit to Maple Bay is clearly a test. If Mr. Fullbuster lets it slide, he¡¯ll only push further. Why hold back? He can crush the Johnsons effortlessly and shield Anneliese without her even knowing. And yet¡­ he doesn¡¯t. 15:34 Tue, Sep 16 ¡­ : 40 Chapter 230 Crossed Paths Created 230 Chapter 230 Crossed Paths +10 Free Coins At Maple Bay, when Anneliese returned home with Meatloaf, Jessica was already up and sipping water in the living room. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jessica caught her mood in one nce. ¡°Nothing. Why didn¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡± Anneliese tried to smile it off. She didn¡¯t want Jessica to know Marcus had shown up again. But Jessica guessed it anyway. ¡°Did Marcuse looking for you?¡± Anneliese froze, about to deny it, but Jessica went on. ¡°I know him better than you do. He¡¯s not the type to let me go so easily.¡± Realizing there was no hiding it, Anneliese pointed downstairs. ¡°Not just Marcus. Zacharias was there too.¡± Seeing both of those sc*mbags first thing in the morning had felt like stepping straight into a mess she wanted no part of. Their eyes met, and in that moment of shared misery, both women suddenly burst outughing. When theughter faded, Anneliese sighed. ¡°Jess, what are you nning to do?¡± Jessica¡¯s smile stayed light. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Miles to arrange a new identity for me. If I managed to hide for over three years, I could do it again. Don¡¯t worry, Miles has the right connections to get me out.¡± ¡°Where will you go?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. There are plenty of ces.¡± The source of th?s content is find¡¤novel ¡°But you can¡¯t keep running forever, can you?¡± Jessica shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t have to. The only one really hunting me is Marcus. But he¡¯s bound to marry Faye Thorne soon. The Thorne family has grown strong, standing toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with the Johnsons. ¡°Faye¡¯s possessive and controlling. Once they¡¯re married, neither she nor the Johnson Family will allow Marcus to keep chasing me. Give it time, and he¡¯ll stop. Rx.¡± But how could Anneliese rx? Marcus was a deranged obsessive. What if he never gave up? What if Jessica tried to escape, only to be caught the moment she left Oceaton? But Jessica clearly didn¡¯t want her dwelling on it. She patted her stomach. ¡°I¡¯m starving. What 15:34 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 230 Crossed Paths did you make for breakfast?¡± 40 +10 Free Coins So, Anneliese joined her for the meal, reminded her not to go out unnecessarily, and then headed off to Astoria University as usual. Her assignments were the same as before, but she worked slower, distracted. Even Jackson noticed something was off. By noon, when she handed him thepiled data, he looked at her with concern. ¡°Anneliese, are you sick? Or did something happen?¡± ¡°What? No,¡± she said quickly, blinking in surprise and shaking her head. But Jackson wasn¡¯t convinced. She looked preupied, shadows beneath her eyes hinting at poor sleep. Still, the bright smile she gave him left no trace of it. He clenched his hands before asking, ¡°Then what about that meal you promised me? Can I cash it in today?¡± Anneliese hesitated. He had helped her before, even treated theb seniors to beverages and snacks. She had promised to return the favor with dinner. With only a couple of days left before she¡¯d be leaving theb behind, refusing again would mean breaking her word. And since she no longer needed to cook lunch for Jonathan, she nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°1 Jackson¡¯s face lit up in unrestrained joy, his smile so bright it was infectious. Anneliese found herself smiling back. ¡°You¡¯re this happy?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve been waiting for this meal a long time.¡± ¡°Well then, I can¡¯t make it too casual. It has to be a real feast. Anything special you¡¯d like to eat?¡± ¡°You decide.¡± As long as it was with her, he¡¯d be happy¨Ceven if it were just food from a food truck. His eyes sparkled with eager anticipation. ¡°How about the revolving restaurant at Central Tower¡­¡± She trailed off, nearly biting her tongue. She hadn¡¯t forgotten: Jonathan was supposed to be on his blind date there at noon. Zion¡¯s words had reyed in her mind all morning, and now they had slipped out unbidden. She was about to quickly suggest another ce, but Jackson pped his hands, thrilled. ¡°A fancy meal at the revolving restaurant? Perfect! Anneliese, how did you know I¡¯ve always wanted to eat there?¡± He looked overjoyed, full of expectation. Created 231 Chapter 231 The Wrong ce, the Wrong Time The revolving restaurant, with its soft lighting and romantic atmosphere, was the perfect setting for dates. Jackson loved it. Practically bouncing with excitement, he urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± However, Anneliese hesitated. Suggesting another restaurant doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea now¡­ At the same restaurant, Jonathan sat by the window, facing a young, elegant woman with striking features. But their conversation had nothing to do with romance. Amanda had recently won a prestigious soloist award abroad, hosted several sessful recitals, and even yed a musical prodigy in a blockbuster film two months earlier. Riding that wave of fame, she was now being courted to endorse one of the Fullbuster Family¡¯s luxury brands. That contract was why they were meeting that day. Normally, Jonathan wouldn¡¯t have needed to attend in person, but Amanda¡¯s family had old ties with his. His grandfather had called personally, asking him to show her some courtesy. More importantly, Jonathan wanted to test Anneliese, so he hade himself. After signing, he gestured for Zion to put away the papers, then shot him a quick look. Zion caught the silent question and shook his head slightly. He hadn¡¯t seen Anneliese. Jonathan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but the air around him cooled. He lifted his phone again, opening WhatsApp to check the pinned chat. ¡°Jonny, you seem distracted. Do you have something else to attend to?¡± Amanda asked lightly when she noticed him nce at his phone for the third time. He didn¡¯t look up. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said casually, still staring at the screen. Zion, who had retreated to the side, cleared his throat heavily as if to draw attention. Jonathan¡¯s gaze followed the sound to the entrance of the restaurant. There she was. Anneliese walked in, her slim figure unmistakable. A quiet, satisfied smile curved his lips¨Chis bait had worked. His little mermaid had taken the hook. But in the next second, that smile froze. For original chapters go to Find¡ïNovel Because Anneliese¡¯s eyes never even flicked his way. Instead, she turned, smiled warmly at someone behind her, and said something he couldn¡¯t hear. Jonathan¡¯s gaze shifted past her andnded on Jackson. Chapter 231 The Wrong ce, the Wrong Time 40 +10 Free Coins d in a hoodie, jeans, and a down jacket, the boy radiated carefree sunshine. Beside him, Anneliese with her simple student look¨Cmatched him like the perfect campus couple. Guided by a server, the two crossed half the restaurant and stopped at a table. Jonathan watched Jackson hurry to pull out a chair for her, practically tripping over his eagerness. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Amanda tilted her head into his line of sight, blocking it. Jonathan¡¯s eyes cooled as he pocketed his phone. ¡°I need to make a call,¡± he said evenly, standing before she could answer. With a polite nod, he walked away. Amanda pressed her lips together, irritation shing in her eyes. She set her winess down harder than she meant to, then reached for her purse. A passing server identally brushed against her shoulder. ¡°Sorry, sorry!¡± the server apologized quickly. Amanda shot him a re, temper ring, but forced it back down. She was back in the country to step into the entertainment industry¨Cshe couldn¡¯t afford a public scene. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said tightly, then rose to head for the restroom topose herself. Across the room, Anneliese had just settled in, removing her coat and scarf. After ordering, she also stood. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom,¡± she told Jackson. He smiled, nodding, watching her go. His heart raced as he imagined confessingter, wondering if it would scare her¨Cor maybe move her enough to say yes on the spot. The thought made his ears burn red. His grin only widened, boyish and unrestrained. He regretted refusing the wine she had offered to order for him earlier, considering she¡¯d be drivingter. Maybe a drink would help his courage. He was about to signal for a server when a hand appeared in front of him, fingers long and sharp, tapping twice on the table. Jackson¡¯s gaze followed the hand upward: the cuff of a crisp white shirt, the gleam of a rose- gold watch, and finally a pair of cold, distant eyes staring down at him. Created 232 Chapter 232 Distraction Chapter 232 Distraction 40 +10 Free Coins Jackson froze for a split second, then lurched to his feet, his voice cracking with shock. ¡°Jonathan?¡± Jonathan¡¯s hand mped down on his shoulder with unyielding force. The weight pressed him back into the chair before he could rise. Pain sparked across his shoulder, and confusion swirled in his chest. ¡°Your brother¡¯s on the phone. He¡¯s looking for you,¡± Jonathan said as he extended a cell toward him. Jackson¡¯s eyes widened as he reached for it. He pressed it to his ear, his mind clouded with questions. Why would his brother call Jonathan instead of him? ¡°Zane?¡± On the other end, Zane was just as bewildered. He had picked up Jonathan¡¯s call moments ago, and Jonathan had told him he had run into Jackson. He had ordered him toe up with something that would drag Jackson home right away. ¡°Zane, it¡¯s me. Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± At the sound of his brother¡¯s impatient tone, Zane dragged a hand across his forehead. ¡°You need to get home now. Mom passed out.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Quit wasting time! I can¡¯t leave where I am, so you have to go right this second!¡± Before Jackson could form another word, the line went dead. He shot upright, his face pale with panic. His gaze flicked toward the restrooms, but after a heartbeat, he bit down on his lip, shoved the phone into Jonathan¡¯s hand, and spoke with a voice thick with desperation. For more chapters visit ¡°Jonathan, my mom fainted. I need to leave right now. Please, when my datees back, tell her what happened. Tell her I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 232 Distraction 40 +10 Free Coins He sped his hands together as though in prayer, terrified Jonathan would turn him away. Jonathan was close with his older brother, but he never bothered with anyone else¡¯s problems. To his surprise, Jonathan nodded with ease. ¡°Alright.¡± Jackson¡¯s throat tightened with relief. ¡°Thank you, Jonathan. You¡¯re amazing. You¡¯re a true brother.¡± Jonathan only waved him off, his expression steady and unbothered. He gave a small nod as he watched Jackson rush toward the door, his steps quick and clumsy, his head turning back again and again, his face etched with fear. In the restroom, Anneliese stepped out of a stall and walked to the sinks. Amanda stood before the mirror, sliding fresh color onto her lips while talking on the phone. ¡°He¡¯s Jonathan,¡± she said with a sly grin tugging at her mouth. ¡°The crown jewel of Halden. A manpletely out of reach. You can¡¯t just walk up and flirt with someone like him.¡± Her words sounded yful, but her smile gleamed with self¨Csatisfaction. The moment Anneliese had suggested this restaurant, regret had wed at her chest. During the drive, she had thought about asking Jackson to pick somewhere else, but he had already made the reservation and insisted on handling the directions. She had found no chance to object. She had promised herself she would treat it like a coincidence. She would not look around, and she would not meddle in anyone else¡¯s date. But fate shoved her right into Amanda, and worse, her ears caught every word. ¡°Oh,e on, don¡¯t tease me.¡± Amandaughed into the phone. ¡°If I really scored him, I¡¯d dump Andrew in a second. I¡¯m not stupid.¡± Anneliese froze, her chest tight. Amanda Ashcroft had a boyfriend, yet she was here chasing Jonathan. 15:34 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 232 Distraction She couldn¡¯t stop herself from flicking her eyes toward the mirror, catching Amanda¡¯s reflection. 40 +10 Free Coins Amanda¡¯s lips curled, her voice dropping low as if to guard a secret. ¡°I¡¯ll call youter. Wish me luck.¡± Anneliese jerked her gaze away and hurried out, her thoughts tangling into knots. Should she warn Jonathan? That was the thought that swirled in her head. Meanwhile, Amanda tugged at her cor, loosened a button, and strolled out a momentter. A figure blocked her path. It was Zion. ¡°Ms. Ashcroft,¡± he said with polished courtesy, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster had urgent business and has already left. Before leaving, he asked me to escort you home.¡± ¡°What? He left?¡± Amanda¡¯s brows pinched tight, but Zion¡¯s smile remained professional as he shifted aside to invite her forward. ¡°Please, Ms. Ashcroft.¡± Amanda pushed her frustration down. ¡°But I haven¡¯t even eaten. I¡ª¡± ¡°Ms. Ashcroft, I have other responsibilities waiting,¡± Zion answered smoothly. His meaning was sharp. He would not wait. Amanda¡¯s stomach churned with anger, but she knew she could not cross someone so close to Jonathan. In fact, she hoped she might draw out a hint of his preferences from Zion himself. She pressed a hand to her empty stomach and forced a bright smile. ¡°I¡¯m not very hungry anyway. Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Hand.¡± Zion inclined his head. ¡°This way, please.¡± Back in the restaurant, Anneliese walked slowly, her head low, her eyes on the floor. Doubt and unease gnawed at her. If she told Jonathan, he might see it as meddling. If she stayed quiet, regret would cling to her. Her steps dragged as she returned to her table, her chest heavy with hesitation. Chapter 233 Surprise Created 233 Chapter 233 Surprise : 40 +10 Free Coins Anneliese lifted her gaze and felt her breath falter, her heart stumbling as if it had lost its rhythm. The chair across from her, still holding the warmth of Jackson¡¯s presence just minutes ago, no longer belonged to him. Someone else had taken that ce. Her lips parted and words tumbled out in a rush. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re here too? What a strange coincidence.¡± Jonathan leaned back with a quiet grace, his calm eyes locked onto hers. ¡°You sound surprised. Were you expecting someone else?¡± he asked, his brow arching ever so slightly. A weight pressed against his chest, sharp and heavy. The way her expression shifted made it look as if she felt disappointed by Jackson¡¯s sudden absence. Anneliese¡¯s lips trembled as though an answer waited there, but before she could release it, Jonathan¡¯s voice slid in again. ¡°Are you really this surprised to see me here? I thought you already knew I was meeting someone.¡± Heat surged across her face, breaking down herposure until she felt stripped bare. She grabbed her ss and took a hurried sip, letting the cool water soothe the panic racing inside her. Only then did she lift her eyes back to his. ¡°I¡¯m just having dinner with a ssmate,¡± she said quickly. ¡°He¡¯s helped me a lot with schoolwork.¡± She avoided the sharp edge of his earlier question, choosing not to answer it. Zion might have revealed something by ident, but she refused to let him take the me. Bringing Jackson here, knowing what she knew, was something she couldn¡¯t exin away. It would make her look like some sort of woman who wanted to make the guy she liked jealous. Jonathan pressed no further. 15:34 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 233 Surprise 40 +10 Free Coins He only nodded with steady ease and said, ¡°That ssmate of yours had somethinge up at home. He wanted you to know.¡± Content originallyes from F?ndNovel Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°What?¡± The world felt turned upside down. A trip to the restroom had unraveled everything so quickly. ¡°What happened? Was it serious?¡± Jonathan lifted his ss and let his fingers tap lightly against the rim. ¡°You seem awfully concerned about him.¡± His sharp look caught her off guard, leaving her unsettled. She answered before thinking, her words tumbling fast. ¡°I¡¯m not really. I¡¯m just asking out of courtesy. If someone rushes out, it usually means something important happened.¡± At least that much felt safe to say. Jonathan¡¯s thoughts quieted. He told himself she couldn¡¯t truly be interested in Jackson. She wasn¡¯t reckless enough to make the same mistake twice. His tone softened. ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything serious.¡± Her brows drew together. Jackson had left in such a hurry, yet Jonathan spoke as if he knew for certain. ¡°You know Jackson?¡± she asked carefully. ¡°His older brother is Zane Shayman. You might not remember, but when you got into trouble at the hotel, he was the one with Ms. Sweeting who cleaned things up.¡± Her chest tightened as the memory stirred, uneasy and sharp. The world suddenly felt too small. Oh, it was too small indeed. If Jonathan and Zane were friends, then Jackson¡¯s family carried its own weight. ¡°Jacksones from quite a family,¡± she said lightly. ¡°But he stays quiet about it.¡± Jonathan inclined his head. ¡°The Shaymans built their legacy inw and politics. Their children almost never stray from that road. Even in marriage, they choose from the same Chapter 233 Surprise circles.¡± : ?? +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s eyes lit with sudden understanding. ¡°That exins it. He said his major wasw when we first met.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the youngest son. They spoiled him. When he wanted to switch majors, they gave in. His career might bend to his will, but his marriage will not. That will be bound by tighter chains.¡± Jonathan¡¯s thoughts sharpened. Jackson was young, and he did not keep his interest hidden. The way he looked at Anneliese had carried more than casual interest. Jonathan had noticed it the instant they sat down. Years ago, Jackson had shaken his family when he demanded a transfer, and Zane hadined often about his stubborn streak. Seeing Jackson with Anneliese made everything fall into ce. That reckless transfer had been because of her. The thought brought Jonathan nofort. Jackson was no harmless boy. He could cut closer to Anneliese¡¯s heart than Zacharias ever could. So, Jonathan resolved himself. He would guard against him. In matters of the heart, honor was a useless burden. Anneliese was not surprised. Families rooted inw carriedplications as heavy as any dynasty, and they held alliances and power even tighter. She smiled faintly. ¡°I understand.¡± Jonathan studied her with quiet care. Her face did not shift, her voice carried only polite distance. The corner of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly, then smoothed away. He rose and gave a slight nod, ready to return to his own table. Anneliese turned her head, her eyes drifting instinctively toward Amanda¡¯s empty seat. Amanda still had not returned. The thought of what she might have overheard shed through her mind. And without thinking, as Jonathan walked past, Anneliese reached out and caught his arm. Created 234 Chapter 234 Intimate : 40 +10 Free Coins Jonathan froze mid¨Cstep. The look he gave her carried a question, though his lips never moved. Anneliese raised her head and met his gaze. ¡°It seems like your date still hasn¡¯te back. Why don¡¯t you stay here with me a little longer?¡± Jonathan fought back the upward pull at the corners of his mouth. His tone carried restraint and hesitation. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t. She¡¯ll be back any moment, and waiting at the table is a sign of respect.¡± His arm shifted as if to slip from her hold, but Anneliese didn¡¯t release him. Instead, her fingers clutched tighter, and the crisp fabric of his shirt bunched beneath her hand. Jonathan lowered his eyes to her grasp. His brow lifted, and his gaze returned to her face, piercing and unyielding. ¡°You clearly don¡¯t want me at this date. Give me a reason.¡± Anneliese faltered. A storm of doubt swirled through her mind. Should she tell him the truth about Amanda? But then she saw how serious he was, how much value he ced on treating a woman with respect, and her hesitation dissolved. He was too good to be tricked like this. He had stepped in for her time and time again, and they were friends. Since fate had let her overhear the truth, silence no longer felt like an option. Her hand pulled gently at his arm once more. ¡°Please, just sit down. I need to tell you something.¡± Jonathan sank into the chair across from her, his eyes never leaving hers. Anneliese reached for her water ss. The cool liquid rushed down her throat, Setting the ss down, she finally spoke. ¡°I ran into Ms. Ashcroft in the restroom. I heard her talking on the phone. She already has a boyfriend overseas.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes widened, a spark of shock breaking through his usually calm face. His brows knitted together. ¡°Are you sure? Maybe you misunderstood her. Ms. Ashcroft doesn¡¯t seem like the kind of woman who would do something like that.¡± Chapter 234 Intimate 40 +10 Free Coins The way he defended Amanda stung. His impression of her was far too good, and it made Anneliese¡¯s chest tighten with unease. ¡°I heard it myself,¡± she insisted, her voice rising with emotion. ¡°Why would I make something like that up? Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze lingered on her face, taking in the fire in her eyes and the urgency in her voice. His chest warmed in a way he refused to admit. He pressed his lips into a thin line, drew in a slow breath, and let it leave his lungs in a sigh that carried the weight of disappointment. ¡°Alright. I believe you. I just didn¡¯t expect this. Ms. Ashcroft seemed so graceful and put- together. I thought she might be a decent match. Instead, I almost let myself be yed for a fool.¡± Anneliese caught the shadow in his eyes, and guilt prickled through her chest. She hadn¡¯t wanted to see him hurt, yet she couldn¡¯t let him walk blind into a lie. She opened her mouth to soften the blow withfort, but before she could speak, Zion appeared with quick strides. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, Ms. Ashcroft said something came up, so she left.¡± Zion had already walked Amanda to the parking lot, gged down a car, and sent her off before returning. His only real goal was clearing Amanda out of the picture and giving Jonathan and Anneliese space to themselves. Anneliese blinked in surprise. Amanda had been desperate to impress Jonathan. Why would she walk away so suddenly? Relief spread through her chest like sunlight breaking through a storm. Zion turned his gaze on her with a mask of surprise. ¡°Ms. ude, what a coincidence to see you here.¡± Anneliese offered him a brief exnation. Zion chuckled warmly. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you and Mr. Fullbuster enjoy lunch together? I¡¯ve already eaten, so I¡¯ll get out of the way.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes drifted toward Jonathan, but before she could answer, his voice rang out, firm andmanding. ¡°I thought you arranged more than one date. Call the next one in.¡± Chapter 234 Intimate Zion stiffened, his body freezing in ce. 40 +10 Free Coins The request felt reckless, almost dangerous. Why show so much eagerness with Anneliese sitting right there? Get full chapters from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel He forced out a quick, obedient ¡°Yes, sir.¡± His phone slid into his hand, but his movements slowed, heavy with dread. His pulse thudded unevenly. He feared Jonathan would wreck everything and turn the me on him. Just as Zion lifted his foot to take a step, Anneliese¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and clear. ¡°Wait!¡± Zion spun around instantly, her tone jerking him back as if he had been pulled by invisible strings. ¡°What is it, Ms. ude?¡± Anneliese felt Jonathan¡¯s eyes fixed on her. Heat bloomed across her ears, and her palms dampened against herp. But with Amanda gone, with the date cut short, the sense of freedom inside her left no room for doubt. She knew what she wanted. She drew in a breath that filled her lungs, steadied herself, and gave Zion a faint smile before turning to Jonathan. ¡°I want to cut in line.¡± The words slipped into the space between them, bold and unshaken. Jonathan had not yet reacted, but Zion¡¯s fists curled tight, and his voice burst out in excitement. ¡°Of course you can!¡± The shout rang so loud that diners across the restaurant turned their heads. Anneliese sank down in her chair, her face flushed red as she lowered her gaze to the tablecloth. Jonathan cast Zion a sharp look, but even as his eyes narrowed, the faint curve tugging at his lips betrayed his mood. Chapter 235 Cut In Line Created 235 Chapter 235 Cut In Line Chapter 235 Cut In Line : 40 +10 Free Coins Zion shed Jonathan a sly grin, his eyes glittering with mischief, and before he turned away, he threw his boss a bold thumbs¨Cup brimming with triumph. Only then did Zion¡¯s chest loosen, and he couldn¡¯t help but admire the man. His boss knew exactly how to cast bait and wait for the perfect moment to strike. If you wanted to hunt, sometimes you need to put yourself out there and look like prey. And now the truth sat in before him. Anneliese believed she had made the first move, that she hade here on her own to ask for a chance ahead of the rest. She had no clue that there was never any blind date arranged. Jonathan had designed the whole scene,ying the snare in in sight, patient enough to wait until she stepped straight into it. This update is avable on find?novel Zion strode off, leaving Anneliese across from the man whose steady gaze brushed against her like a passing shadow yet sharp enough to leave her unsettled. Heat crawled across her cheeks, and she fidgeted, caught between embarrassment and unease. Finally, his calm voice broke the silence. ¡°You wanted to cut in line. What line, exactly, are we talking about here?¡± Anneliese twisted her fingers tight, then lifted her head with effort and forced herself to meet his eyes. ¡°I mean¡­ what you asked me before. Can I change my mind?¡± Her breath locked in her chest as she looked at Jonathan with eyes that begged for an answer. She had turned him down so firmly, so quickly, and now here she was, not even two dayster, ready to eat her words. And worse, after everything she had said about Amanda, it probably sounded as if she had tried to stir trouble on purpose. She had no clue how Jonathan saw her now. ¡°What exactly did I ask you before?¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice was smooth, but his eyes lingered on her burning face, watching the flush climb until her skin glowed scarlet. Her cheeks zed hot, and she clenched her teeth before blurting the truth. Chapter 235 Cut In Line : 40 +10 Free Coins ¡°Marriage! I¡¯m asking if you still want to marry me. Do you still want to get married with me?¡± Jonathan¡¯s hand clenched tight against his knee, then slowly rxed. His handsome face stayed calm, unreadable, while his gaze weighed her every word. ¡°You really changed your mind? I won¡¯t push you into this.¡± Her pulse surged at his words. Relief and fear collided in her chest, and she waved her hands quickly as her voice rushed out. ¡°I did change my mind. I regret saying no. I want this now. No one is forcing me. I was confused before, but now my mind is clear. What you suggested is smart. It¡¯s good for both of us.¡± Jonathan bit back the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched her stumble through her words with desperate urgency. ¡°You¡¯re doing this because of Ms. Sweeting and all the mess she caused. If that¡¯s your only reason, even without marrying me, I can still take care of it for you.¡± Anneliese¡¯s chest tightened until she thought her heart might burst. The more kind he was, the more she couldn¡¯t stand the thought of taking everything while giving nothing back. She nodded sharply, her eyes steady, her voice rich with sincerity. ¡°It¡¯s not only that. I know marrying you solves all my problems right now, but I wouldn¡¯t ept something this serious with just anyone. ¡°We already know each other. I trust you. ¡°You know I just came out of a marriage full of lies and betrayal. Saying yes again, even to a marriage of convenience, takes everything in me. But if it¡¯s you, I don¡¯t feel afraid of being hurt again. ¡°And I can help you too. I can take care of your problem, I won¡¯t demand more than you can give, and I¡¯ll do my best to make it work for you. I believe this can turn out good for us both. So, if you don¡¯t already have someone better in mind, can you give me another chance?¡± She stretched her hand out toward him, though her pulse hammered hard against her ribs. Jonathan¡¯s gaze fell to her hand, pale and trembling, before lifting to her face. His lips curved faintly, though his thoughts disagreed with her words. She thought this was cooperation. She thought she would disturb him. Chapter 235 Cut In Line She was wrong. : She was the one thing he had been waiting for. The perfect match for him. 40 +10 Free Coins He raised his hand and folded it over hers. His palm pressed against her skin, his eyes dark as they sank into her. ¡°You don¡¯t get to back out again.¡± His voice cut through the air, heavy with resolve, as his fingers slid between hers, locking their hands together so tightly that even air could not pass through. Anneliese¡¯s breath caught, startled, but then a rush of warmth spread through her chest, steadying her heart. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe. She felt sure. ¡°I was the one who asked for this. Why would I back out?¡± she answered quickly, her grip tightening against his. Jonathan rose from his chair. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her eyes blinked wide, her body following his lead before her mind caught up. He pulled her forward, his stride firm and decisive. ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked, her voice high with surprise as her eyes clung to his back. His tone was cool, steady, and without pause. ¡°We¡¯re picking up our papers. Then we¡¯re heading to the city hall.¡± Her eyes widened, and her breath stuttered in her throat. It was happening so fast. It felt as if he feared she might slip away if he let go, as if she were someone too rare to risk losing. Did he truly think she was that unsteady? Their lunch still sat untouched on the table, steak cooling, lobster waiting. Yet his hand gripped hers with unshakable force, as if no agreement on paper could bind her more firmly than the touch that held her now. This was just going to be a marriage of convenience, at the end of the day. Created 236 Chapter 236 Agreement Chapter 236 Agreement 40 +10 Free Coins Anneliese¡¯s chest felt tight, her nerves humming in a way she could not put into words. ¡°I have to leave townter today. I¡¯ll be gone for a few days. That means we should get the license as soon as possible.¡± Jonathan finally exined once they were seated inside the car. His hand never left. Anneliese¡¯s, his grip firm. So that was the reason. Anneliese gave a quick nod and checked the time on her phone. ¡°My documents are all at Maple Bay. If I stop by to grab them, we should reach city hall right as it opens.¡± Jonathan shifted his gaze toward Zion, who sat frozen in the driver¡¯s seat like a statue. ¡°Drive.¡± Zion¡¯s pulse pounded so hard it shook his hands on the wheel. So, he did it. Mr. Fullbuster did it. His sche¡­ n worked. He just dup¡­ won a woman¡¯s heart without much effort, and now she¡¯s bing his wife, he thought. He had guessed his boss was nning something, yet now he was the one driving him straight to pick up a marriage license, and the weight of that truth left him dizzy. ¡°Alright. Driving.¡± He steadied himself, pressed down on the gas too hard, and the car lunged forward with a violent jolt. Anneliese pitched toward the dash, but Jonathan caught her in an instant, wrapping her against his chest. His arm never loosened, as if she belonged there and nowhere else. The scene turns to Maple Bay, The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and the light spilled over them as they reached her floor. Anneliese stepped forward, but Jonathan¡¯s grip remained unyielding, guiding her along as if her hand were a tether. Chapter 236 Agreement She paused in surprise and turned to him. ¡°Thought you were going to get your papers?¡± : 40 +10 Free Coins Jonathan¡¯s stance made it clear he intended to follow her right through her front door, as though watching her collect them was his duty. ¡°My papers are in the car.¡± He said it without a pause, already stepping out of the elevator beside her. Fresh chapters posted on find?novel Anneliese blinked at him in disbelief. He really wasing with her to collect her papers. It felt as though he suspected she might run, and his way of preventing that was to stay close enough to shadow her every move. No, it had to be her imagination. But then she remembered Jessica was at home. If Jonathan came inside with her, Jessica would know instantly that they were heading for a license. Anneliese did not want Jessica¡¯s mind spinning with worry. And with Jessica¡¯s fiery temper, knowing the truth might spark a reaction Anneliese had no desire to face. She tightened her hold on Jonathan¡¯s hand. ¡°Wait. Just give me a second.¡± He stopped, his eyes narrowing as his gaze pressed down on her like a storm rolling in. ¡°You nning to run?¡± His voice was low and sharp, and it made her feel as though even a nod would slice her in two. She shook her head quickly, then rushed out words with sudden rity. ¡°No. I only want to grab my papers, change clothes, and put on some makeup. Do you want to take a moment to freshen up too?¡± Jonathan studied her, his lips curving with the faintest hint of a smile. ¡°You take this that seriously?¡± Heat crawled up her neck and across her cheeks, yet she lifted her chin with a flicker of pride. ¡°Even if it¡¯s only a marriage of convenience, it¡¯s still a marriage license. You can¡¯t ignore the Chapter 236 Agreement sense of ceremony, can you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Jonathan gave a slow nod. 40 +10 Free Coins Atst, he let her hand slip free. He slid both hands into his pockets and stepped back. The elevator light bathed him in gold, outlining his tall figure. His eyes were dark as night and seemed to hold an entire universe within them. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m not rushing you. I¡¯ll wait in the car.¡± Anneliese¡¯s heart thudded too fast, and she nodded before nearly running out of the elevator. Inside the apartment, Jessica was curled on the couch, her legs crossed as she watched a reality show. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯ting back for lunch. And why¡¯s your face so flushed?¡± Anneliese slipped off her shoes and headed toward her bedroom. ¡°I just came to grab something. I¡¯ll be out again soon. Did that creep show up this morning?¡± Before leaving, she had warned the security guards downstairs to stay alert for Marcus. But he was no ordinary man. If he wanted toe up, no one could stop him. The only reason he had lingered outside earlier and didn¡¯t barge in was because Jonathan had been around. ¡°He didn¡¯t make it upstairs. Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s presence is like a shield for folks like us. Before I meet my doom, you¡¯d better invite that man for dinner so I can toast him properly.¡± Annelieseughed under her breath and nodded, though she said nothing of how Jessica would not have to run anymore. She rushed into her room. Jonathan had said there was no hurry, but she could not keep him waiting long. She swapped into a fresh outfit, touched up her makeup with quick strokes, tucked her documents into her bag, and stepped back into the living room. ¡°Holy hell. What is this? You¡¯re dressed to kill! Who¡¯s the pre¡­ I mean, lucky man?¡± Jessica¡¯s eyes went wide with astonishment. Anneliese¡¯s hair had been swept back in a loose knot, secured with a small ruby pin. Chapter 236 Agreement : +10 Free Coins A soft white halter sweater brushed against her skin, paired with a ck skirt. Nude leather boots hugged her legs, and a red cashmere coat draped around her shoulders like a me. Her brows were drawn with care, her lips painted in a subtle but vivid shade, and she looked striking. ¡°Do I really look that different?¡± Anneliese¡¯s nerves fluttered beneath Jessica¡¯s piercing stare. She adjusted her hair with shaky fingers and slipped toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll exin when I get back tonight.¡± Created 237 Chapter 237 On the Way Chapter 237 On the Way 40 +10 Free Coins The door mmed with a crack that rattled through the hallway, the echo rolling off the walls until the air finally stilled again. Anneliese descended the stairs, each step carrying her toward the sight she knew would be waiting. Jonathan was there, just as she expected. He stood by the sleek car, tall andposed, his hand reaching to open the door for her himself. She noticed right away that he had changed. Earlier, he had worn a dark shirt that was sharp and severe. Now he wore a pristine white shirt tucked neatly into ck dress pants. Not a thread was out of ce. He looked like a man carved out of restraint and polish, his presence steady yetmanding, his aura so refined it caught and held the eye without asking permission. She lowered her gaze to her own outfit, a soft white sweater paired with a flowing ck skirt. For a fleeting second, it felt as though their looks had been nned in unison, as though fate itself had dressed them to match. Jonathan¡¯s eyes fell on her, steady and unflinching, carrying a weight that seemed almost tangible. Her hand closed tighter on the strap of her bag as she forced herself to step forward. ¡°Do I look alright?¡± His brow lifted ever so slightly. ¡°You look beautiful. What about me?¡± Her lips parted into a small smile. ¡°You look good too, Mr. Fullbuster. Handsome.¡± Laughter brushed between them, light and fleeting, before she bent to climb into the car. Jonathan lowered the door into ce, circled around with measured steps, and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. From the front passenger side, Zion turned with a grin stretched wide across his face. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster and Ms. ude, you two look like you belong together. Your wedding pictures are going to be gorgeous. And guess what? I checked earlier. Today¡¯s supposed to be the Juckiest day of the season to get married. If you tie the knot now, your marriage will be full of happiness, longsting, and with kidsing sooner rather thanter.¡± Heat rushed to Anneliese¡¯s checks. Hershes fluttered as her whole body stiffened. Zion had no idea that her marriage to Jonathan was nothing more than a contract signed on paper. Chapter 237 On the Way Her lips pressed tight, ready to cut him off, but Jonathan¡¯s hand moved first, tapping the back of his seat with a quiet thud. ¡°If you¡¯re after a wedding gift, just admit it.¡± Zion¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Guilty as charged.¡± It was the perfect day to ask, and he knew it. A wedding gift from the boss was a sure sign of good fortune. Jonathan¡¯s mouth curved faintly. ¡°Your bonus this month will be doubled.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fullbuster. Thank you, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± Zion¡¯s grin only grew as he turned his gaze toward Anneliese, eyes glinting with amusement. In the back of his mind, he was already nning to askter if ¡°double¡± really meant sixfold or even eightfold. Knowing Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s habit of scheming and wrestling his way into victory, and now managing to secure a wife, such a rare asion couldn¡¯t possibly end with something as small as double. Anneliese¡¯s throat closed suddenly, and she choked hard on her own breath. Jonathan¡¯s eyes flicked toward Zion, sharp and warning, before his hand moved to her back, patting gently. She waved him off, raising her chin to show she was fine. Then she leaned closer, her lips almost brushing his ear as she whispered low. ¡°We¡¯re only married on paper. Why didn¡¯t you tell Mr. Hand the truth?¡± Jonathan slipped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her slightly in. His mouth lowered until his words stirred against the curve of her ear, ¡°He would talk. If we¡¯re going to fool my family, then we have to fool everyone else too. To the world outside, we are a real couple, one that¡¯s very much in love.¡± His breath was warm against her skin, his voice pitched low, and it sent ¨¤ ripple straight through her nerves. Anneliese realized in that moment just how close they were sitting. Chapter 237 On the Way : Close enough to look like lovers caught in secret whispers before a wedding. 40 +10 Free Coins Her chest tightened. She held her breath, nodded faintly, and then leaned back just enough to put space between them. ¡°Alright. I get it.¡± Zion¡¯s words about today being the perfect day for marriage stayed with her, and she found herself worried that the office would be swamped with couples. But Jonathan had prepared ahead of time. They were ushered straight through, and everything moved swiftly and without dy. In less than five minutes, the license was resting in her hands. When they stepped outside, she gripped the marriage license, her legs weak beneath her, as if the ground had turned light and unsteady. It was almost impossible to believe that in only one week she had finalized a divorce and signed into a marriage. One trip into City Hall, then one trip out, and she had a new husband. Even if the marriage was nothing more than a contract, the speed of it was dizzying. Readplete version only at Find?Novel Anneliese checked the license. Inside was the photo of her and Jonathan, their heads tilted toward each other, their faces close. Her smile was stiff, almost uneasy, yet Jonathan, a man who rarely let emotion slip, had the faintest curve to his lips, and warmth shone faintly in his deep eyes. Both of them wore white, and against the backdrop, they looked every bit the couple just beginning their life together. Her sight blurred for a moment, and Zacharias¡® face shed in her mind, his photo beside hers from years ago. The memory struck sharp. That day she had dressed carefully, waited her turn, and sat in City Hall all morning. Three numbers were called and expired because Zacharias never showed, He had told her there was a project at work that had gone wrong. She had believed him without question and waited into the afternoon, taking another number. That number expired too. Four times it was called before he finally rushed in, just minutes before closing. He had been dressed casually, like it was an afterthought, while she stood there all day, afraid : 40 Chapter 237 On the Way of wrinkling her dress, looking like a fool. +10 Free Coins But her heart had been so full of happiness then that she never noticed anything amiss. Later, when she was back at the office, she discovered there had never been any trouble with theirpany¡¯s projects. The crisis had belonged to White Inc., not them. Chapter 238 Bad Memories Created 238 Chapter 238 Bad Memories Chapter 238 Bad Memories : 40 +10 Free Coins Zacharias had gone to White Inc. when Selina called, pulled into fixing problems that were not his. Later, he exined it away, saying he had only done it because he did not want her to cut ties with her parents. He told her he wanted to keep the peace in her family, so he had thrown himself into helping. She had believed him then. Looking back, she realized how naive she had been. That marriage had never been genuine. It had never been treated as something real, not from the very first day. Now, in this marriage bound by a contract, she felt something she had never expected. Jonathan¡¯s respect for her was clear, and there was sincerity in the way he carried himself. ¡°Do you really think it looks that good?¡± His voice rolled over her, low and maic, as his fingers slipped the marriage license from her grasp. Anneliese snapped back to the moment and lifted her eyes. Jonathan was staring at the photo with unwavering focus. ¡°Someone looks like they got dragged there against their will.¡± Her mouth opened. She admitted silently that her smile had been stiff, but his words were far too much. She pushed up on her toes, leaning close to see for herself, and her voice came out in protest. ¡°I was just nervous. If you don¡¯t like it, then stop staring at it. It won¡¯t matter in two years anyway. The marriage is just a¡­¡± The word ¡°contract¡± pressed hard against her throat, and she cut herself short. The contract would end in two years. Before she could finish, Jonathan¡¯s arm wrapped tight around her waist, and he spun her aside. A group of men and women stormed past, their voices loud with argument, and one came close to colliding with her. Anneliese stumbled, falling straight into Jonathan¡¯s chest. His heartbeat filled her ears, steady and strong. Chapter 238 Bad Memories For a fleeting second, her own heart fell into rhythm with his. She pulled away, her voice breaking. ¡°T¨CThank you.¡± Before she could say more, Jonathan tapped the license against her forehead. She froze and lifted her eyes. He gave the booklets a small shake. Checktest chapters at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, that wasn¡¯t what you were supposed to say.¡± 40 +10 Free Coins His eyes narrowed in quiet warning. The license was theirs now. To fool the world, they both had to stay in character. The name slipped from him so easily that heat crept into her cheeks. His ability to step into the role unsettled her. But she knew the truth. This marriage had given her more than him. She had fought for it, and she had promised to y her part. If affection was what it required, then she would give it. She lifted her chin, her flushed face blooming with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Fullbuster. You kept me safe, so a thank you isn¡¯t enough. You deserve a reward.¡± Before he could speak, she pressed a quick kiss against his cheek. Then she shoved him back and darted away, her eyes shing with mischief. Jonathan froze. This was¡­ unexpected. The kiss was soft, fleeting, and light as a butterfly wing brushing his skin. It passed in an instant, yet it rippled through him like waves breaking across a stillke. A boyish rush filled his chest, something he had not felt in years. He stood where he was, lips curving faintly, his gaze fixed on her as she sprinted ahead. Only when she was far did he lengthen his stride to catch up. Outside City Hall, Anneliese turned to him. ¡°You said you¡¯re leaving on a trip this afternoon. You don¡¯t need to drive me. I can grab a cab.¡± Jonathan caught her hand. ¡°You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 238 Bad Memories Her stomach gave her away with a loud growl. She pressed her palm against her belly and red at him. She remembered perfectly well who had kept her from eating lunch. +10 Free Coins For once, hisposed face shifted with something rare, an almost embarrassed flicker. It vanished in a blink. ¡°My fault. Let¡¯s get food.¡± He brought her to a restaurant tucked into a quiet neighborhood of garden homes. The setting was beautiful, private, and refined, the kind of ce that did not wee just anyone. The service was wless. The food was a blend of vors, each dish delicate and rich. They ate until they were full, and the air between them eased into something warm and unhurried. ¡°I know another ce. A Rivend spot. The food is incredible. Next time, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Her words were soft as they stepped out into the evening, her smile gentle. The ce she spoke of belonged to Raven and his wife. Raven¡¯s cooking alone was worth the visit. Jonathan¡¯s brows lifted, his interest in. ¡°After I get back from my trip.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They walked side by side, their voices fading into the air. They did not see the group emerging from another garden path. At the front of it walked Zacharias, beside a man with the calm and polished bearing of a schr. Created 239 Chapter 239 Zacharias Shocked 40 +10 Free Coins Zacharias had spent the entire day with Derek Golding, the president of Crucible Group, sitting across the polished table while contracts for the new yeary spread before them. Both sides wanted the partnership to continue, and their talks had been easy, steady, and full of promise. By the time noon came, their meeting had stretched into lunch. sses clinked, bottles uncorked, and the rhythm of conversation carried on without pause. Zacharias drank more than he usually did, his ss never staying empty for long as Derek kept pouring. When he lifted his head by chance, his eyes snagged on a figure passing by. His chest tightened. He thought he saw Anneliese. A shock ran through him. His feet moved before thought caught up, each stride sharper and faster, carrying him to the corner where she had disappeared. He turned with urgency, his gaze fixed, but the ce ahead was empty. The shape he knew better than anyone had already slipped away. His brow furrowed. A shadow carved itself across his face, and emptiness hollowed him out as if something had been stolen from his hands in in sight. He told himself he must have imagined it. Still, what he thought he had seen pressed heavily in his chest. The woman had walked close beside a man. They hadn¡¯t touched, not once, yet the space between them spoke of closeness. Since the divorce, joy had abandoned himpletely. He believed it had abandoned her too. She could not beughing, radiant, dining at another man¡¯s side while their lifey shattered behind them. ¡°Hey, are you feeling alright?¡± Derek¡¯s voice pulled him back. Concern lined his tone as he caught up. Zacharias blinked, fighting to gather himself. He did not look well at all. He straightened his shoulders, steadied his voice, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Probably just the wine. I thought I saw someone I knew. My stomach hurts a little too.¡± That part rang true. Pain burned through him, spreading sharp and deep, curling inside like fire in his gut. Derek pped his shoulder with a knowing smile. ¡°Still the sameint? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten already. Anneliese makes the best hangover cure I¡¯ve ever had, and her brew Chapter 239 Zacharias Shocked 40 +10 Free Coins could fix anyone¡¯s stomach. My wife still uses her recipes, and they work like magic. Anneliese also knows how to ease pain with her hands, doesn¡¯t she? ¡°My wife keeps saying she wants to learn that from her. It¡¯s been too long since we¡¯ve seen her. Our silver anniversary is in three days. You have to bring Anneliese. My wife reminded me twice this morning to send her love.¡± Derek¡¯s wife had stood by him through years of building, years of climbing and falling, never once letting go. Their marriage was unshakable. When Zacharias had first started talks with Crucible Group, it was Anneliese who had found the way forward through Derek¡¯s wife. Watching her carry burdens with him, shoulder to shoulder, had stirred something old in Derek and his wife. They were memories of their own years of struggle and love. That memory had yed its part in sealing the deal. The truth of the divorce had never left Zacharias¡® lips. For a second, his face froze, but then he smoothed it into a practiced smile. ¡°It¡¯ll be an honor for Anne and me. We¡¯d be lucky to share in your happiness. We¡¯ll be there.¡± Jonathan¡¯s words about leaving for a business trip that afternoon had not been a lie. AeroAir was wrapping up the purchase of two airports in Adros. He had already flown there twice, inspecting, negotiating, drawing the final lines. This trip was meant to close everything. It would take at least a week. If not for that deadline, he would not have rushed the marriage license. On the drive back to Maple Bay, Jonathan exined in his calm, even voice. ¡°I¡¯ll drop you off in Maple Bay. Tonight, I¡¯m flying out. I¡¯ll probably be gone for a week. If anything changes, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± Anneliese blinked, surprise shing across her face. ¡°But I¡¯ll be done with theb data in two days. After that, I¡¯m leaving aton too. I told you I¡¯d go visit my grandma in Baytree, then head to Westrough to see my professor and the rest¡± ¡°I know.¡± Jonathan nodded, his expression smooth and steady. Her thoughts spun. She had believed he pushed for the license so quickly because he wanted to show her to his family, to quiet their endless questions about his marriage. Chapter 239 Zacharias Shocked 40 +10 Free Coins She thought once they handled his family, she could leave aton free of weight. A contract marriage meant distance didn¡¯t matter. But if he left for a week, he would return to find her gone. That license felt useless now. ¡°So, when are we meeting your grandmother and your parents?¡± The words slipped out before she could stop them. Jonathan turned, one brow raised, a trace of humor in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re really eager to meet your inws?¡± Anneliese froze. Her lips parted, but no words followed. The way it hade out made it sound like she wanted to see them, as if she cared. That wasn¡¯t what she had meant, and he knew it. Heat rushed into her cheeks, her eyes bright as she red at him, caught in the sh of embarrassment and irritation. Jonathan felt a stir in his chest at the sight, an ache he tried to silence. He held back the urge to tease her further. Instead, he pulled out the marriage licenses, held them steady, and snapped a picture. Updates are released by FindN()vel ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. I¡¯ll send this to the family chat. They¡¯ll know I¡¯m married. Once I¡¯m back from my trip, I¡¯ll take you to see Grandma. The rest can wait.¡± Anneliese hadn¡¯t even absorbed his words when she saw him tap the screen twice. The picture was already sent. Her breath caught sharp in her chest. She lunged forward and grabbed his hand. Created 240 Chapter 240 Surprised Anneliese 40 +10 Free Coins ¡°Wait!¡± Jonathan¡¯s phone burst into sound, one alert colliding with the next, until the noise swelled into a relentless stream that refused to stop. Anneliese¡¯sshes quivered as she looked up. Her voice carried both dread and disbelief. ¡°You didn¡¯t already send it, did you?¡± Jonathan angled his head and stretched the phone toward her. ¡°I did. Do you want to see?¡± Each shrill ping scraped across her nerves until her scalp tingled. The constant noise wrapped around her like a, and she thought her whole body might crawl out of her skin. She had told herself she was ready for this, but he had not hesitated. He had made it public without the slightest pause. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find~Novel Pressed by the silent force of his gaze, she finally reached out and took the phone. The screen was still open to WhatsApp. The group where he had dropped the photo now shed with so many messages that the counter had frozen at ny¨Cnine plus. But that was not what stole her attention. Her eyes The name read ¡°Crybaby.¡± Her breath caught because the picture was hers. It made no sense. How could Jonathan pin her, and worse, call her something so teasing, so private? She didn¡¯t even remember breaking down in front of him. She leaned closer, eyes narrowing as if the truth would change if she looked harder. But the photo was unmistakable. It was her own picture with Meatloaf. No one else in the world could have had it. Jonathan leaned in, his voice a low current against her silence. ¡°What is it?¡± Anneliese raised a shaking hand and pointed at the screen. ¡°That¡¯s me, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 240 Surprised Anneliese : 40 +10 Free Coins Her gaze lifted, and she found his dark eyes locked on her. Her chest stumbled as though his stare had reached inside and taken her breath away. ¡°Who else would it be?¡± His voice rose at the end, effortless, like the truth had always been carved in stone. A restless heat spread through her chest. She froze, her thoughts tangled. ¡°You¡­ did you just pin me a moment ago?¡± Her words cracked softer than she meant. It was the only answer she could cling to. Because if he had already pinned her before today, then the truth could only mean one thing. He really wanted her. The thought struck like a storm, scattering her heartbeat until it thrashed against her ribs without rhythm. Jonathan studied her tremblingshes, the shadows in his eyes thickening. ¡°Yes.¡± His voice carried weight, though he buried the real answer deep inside himself. The marriage license was already enough for her to process today. If she learned too much too soon, she might slip right out of reach. And he¡¯d gone through too much to win her just to see her run away. Anneliese drew a long breath, but the knot in her chest only tightened. She pulled out her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll pin you too.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t blink. His stare stayed fixed, sharp as if he meant to watch her until it was done. She unlocked her screen. His eyes fell without intention, sliding over her WhatsApp. The top pin was her grandmother. Below it sat another, a glowing red candy marked ¡°Sweets.¡± Probably Jessica. That much he could ept, but the chat beneath was not him. Nor the one after. He searched, his gaze tracing downward, and still his face was missing. The list blurred with Chapter 240 Surprised Anneliese : 40 +10 Free Coins men¡¯s icons. If she wanted him at the top, she would have to pull him up herself. The thought cut deep. ¡°Quite a crowd of friends you¡¯ve got,¡± he said, the words thin and sharp as ice. The sound slithered down her spine, and her neck prickled cold. She rushed, dragging his chat to the top. Her voice tumbled out in a rush. ¡°I¡¯ve been buried in theb. I¡¯ve had to talk about experiments with my professor and a few of the guys from the program. I don¡¯t usually message this many people.¡± She often reached out to mentors in Westrough when she hit a wall, and since she and Jonathan met in person nearly every day, she rarely messaged him. That was why his chat had sunk so far down. She didn¡¯t even know why she was saying all this, but something inside her refused to let him think she leaned on other men. She refused to let him think that she had many close male friends. Jonathan watched in silence as his name slid to the top. The cold mask on his face slowly eased away. Then his voice pressed close, steady and unyielding. ¡°Change the name.¡± She had saved him as ¡°Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Better than nothing, but not by much. Her head tilted up. ¡°Change it to what?¡± Jonathan arched his brow, his silence heavy, leaving the decision in her hands. Her chest pulled tight. When he wanted something, the weight of his presence was hard to resist. Her lips parted, but the words tangled. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to write ¡°Hubby.¡± Not while his stare pinned her like this. Her courage faltered. Her thoughts spun, and instead of deciding, she pushed back at him. Created 241 Chapter 241 Questions Chapter 241 Questions : 40 +10 Free Coins ¡°I don¡¯t remember ever crying in front of you. And why did you, of all people, decide to save me under Crybaby?¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes fastened on her, calm yet searching, her face bright with disbelief and restless curiosity. His thoughts drifted far behind them, to a picture that would not fade. He saw her as a little girl, so small, so fragile, sitting alone in the shadows of a corner, her arms wrapped tight around herself as tears streamed silently down her cheeks. She had been eight or nine then, and he had seen her only three times. And every single time, she had been crying. Yearster, when they crossed paths again, the life she carried had not been gentle. Her family had treated her cruelly, and her marriage had left her broken and betrayed. Yet she never cried. She stood against it all with unyielding brightness, with a courage that refused to bend. But for him, she would always remain that girl who once let her tears fall freely. And deep inside, he wished for the day when she could stand before him again as that same girl, one whoughed without restraint, who shouted when she was angry, who wept when she hurt, and never once felt she had to hide it. ¡°You cried. You cried so hard I couldn¡¯t evenfort you. Think harder.¡± His voice lingered as his eyes stayed locked on hers, carrying meaning she could not grasp. Cried? So badly that he had to soothe her? He had actuallyforted her? Anneliese¡¯sshes flickered as her mind spun, her memory empty of anything like that. The more she tried, the clearer it became. It had to be the night when her memory had been taken from her. She could not recall it, but her imagination betrayed her. She pictured herself pressed against him, clinging desperately, kissing him again and again, dissolving into sobs when he resisted, and him gathering her in his arms, his voice soft and low as he calmed her broken cries. Chapter 241 Questions 40 +10 Free Coins A hot rush of color filled her cheeks, burning brighter with every passing second. Her gaze darted helplessly, refusing to meet his. Jonathan caught the change at once, saw the way silence wrapped around her, saw the pink flush crawl across her cars and face. He knew exactly what she was imagining. His lips curved faintly, and he offered no denial, no hint to ease her nerves. Because she was not mistaken. That night, she had cried against him for a long time. And it had been inside this very car. Jonathan¡¯s throat shifted as he watched the blush spread, soft and consuming, down to her neck. The air thickened in the back seat, heavy and charged, as if something unseen had sealed them inside it together. In the silence, he tugged lightly at his tie. Anneliese startled as her phone vibrated with another iing alert, and she fumbled clumsily until the family group chat sprang open before her eyes. The screen burst withments. Each new message stacked on top of thest, pouring in so quickly that the chat seemed to roar. Jonathan¡¯s post hadnded like a stone dropped in deep water, sending shockwaves that drew every hidden voice to the surface. Anneliese froze when her eyes caught the number. There were over three hundred members in the group. She ignored the storm of replies, scrolling upward with urgency until she found the source. It was Jonathan¡¯s photo, a picture of him holding two marriage licenses. Only the papers were shown. There were no names or faces. Relief loosened her chest, but the replies kept churning, wild and relentless, Her eyes skimmed them, and a smallugh slipped out. ¡°Everyone thinks someone hacked your ount. But honestly, is your family really this huge?¡± Everywhere she looked, the flood of messages circled around the same questions. Who was the bride? What was her name? What should she be called? Chapter 241 Questions 40 +10 Free Coins One reply was so ridiculous that it made her pause. Someone had called Jonathan ¡®Great Uncle¡® and asked who their ¡®Great Aunt¡® was, demanding to know when they could meet her in person. ¡°This is the main Fullbuster Family group,¡± Jonathan said simply. ¡°Every branch is inside. I don¡¯t even know most of them, so you don¡¯t need to pay them any attention.¡± Because he was already set to inherit the position of head of the family, his name had been added years ago, though he had never once spoken in the chat. Now that he was married, it was only right that they should know. And this was the quickest way to tell them all at once. The storm of messages did not surprise him. He had even expected the disbelief, the ims that his ount had been stolen. ¡°Your parents and grandmother just messaged you on WhatsApp,¡± Anneliese murmured as more alerts blinked across the screen. Her amusement gave way to nerves, and she quickly pushed the phone back into his hand. The news must have already reached his closest family. Jonathan epted it without so much as a nce. Instead, he Venmoed them some money, his quiet way of answering their usations. Then he muted the phone and tucked it away. By then, the car had rolled to a stop at the base of Maple Bay. Official source is find?novel Anneliese¡¯s voice lowered as she turned to him. ¡°I¡¯m going now. You don¡¯t have to send me off.¡± Jonathan gave a small nod. ¡°This afternoon, I¡¯ll have Joele by to handle Ms. Sweeting¡¯s situation.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anneliese blinked, startled by how far ahead he had already nned. When the meaning settled in, she nodded quickly. ¡°Alright. Then make sure you take care of yourself while you¡¯re away.¡± Created 242 Chapter 242 Zion Interjects Chapter 242 Zion Interjects : 40 +10 Free Coins Jonathan was going to say something, but Zion turned in his seat, twisting around with a look of exasperation. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, you don¡¯t get it. When Mr. Fullbuster dives into work, he vanishes from the world. He doesn¡¯t eat, he doesn¡¯t sleep, and nothing we say ever gets through to him. If you want him to take care of himself, then you¡¯ll have to call, text, and push him yourself. It¡¯s the only thing that works.¡± Jonathan waited for Zion to finish, then cut him a sharp nce. Zion instantly raised a finger to his lips and went quiet. Jonathan¡¯s eyes slid back to Anneliese. She offered him a faint smile. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t interfere with your work, then I¡ª¡± ¡°You can interrupt me anytime, my dear wife.¡± His smile was gentle, but the weight it carried was undeniable. For so long, she had believed that Zacharias¡® eyes were the picture of charm, sly and seductive. Now she realized how wrong she had been. Jonathan¡¯s cool eyes, when they curved into the smallest smile, carried a power that shook her heart in ways Zacharias never could. She nearly pressed her hand to her chest just to steady herself. She reminded herself this was only for show, only to keep up the act in front of Zion. That thought alone managed to calm her pulse. ¡°Okay¡­¡± She nodded without thinking, pushed the door open, and stepped out of the car. When Anneliese returned home, she found Jessica on the rug in the living room, brushing through Meatloaf¡¯s thick coat. The sound of the door opening made the dog¡¯s ears twitch. Meatloaf bounded forward, tail whipping from side to side. Anneliese bent to rub his head, while Jessica stood up in a rush, ¡°Where did you go? You said you¡¯d tell me when you got back.¡± Jessica¡¯s gut twisted. Something felt off. She grabbed a ss of water, pressed it into Anneliese¡¯s hand, and took her coat. ¡°I went to City Hall.¡± Chapter 242 Zion Interjects : 40 +10 Free Coins ¡°City Hall? You already got your divorce papers. Why would you go back to theplex again?¡± Jessica froze the second the words left her lips. The coat slipped from her fingers and hit the floor. Her eyes went wide. Theplex where City Hall was in meant only two things: divorce or marriage. The courthouse for the first, and City Hall for thetter. Anneliese¡¯s cheeks flushed as Jessica¡¯s stare dug straight into her. ¡°It¡¯s exactly what you think. I went to get a marriage license.¡± Jessica gawked like she¡¯d been struck. She spun in a tight circle, stunned, then grabbed Anneliese¡¯s shoulders with shaking hands. ¡°With Mr. Fullbuster?¡± Her mind scrambled for another possibility, panic creeping into her tone. If it wasn¡¯t with Jonathan, then it could only be with¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you went back and remarried that b*stard Zacharias?¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes red. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a criminal offense! It was Jonathan. Jonathan!¡± Jessica lost her breath. She sucked in air in ragged gulps, then when the truth sank in¡ªthat Anneliese had be Mrs. Fullbuster, the future mistress of the Fullbuster Family¨Cher lungs betrayed her again. She gasped so hard she wheezed, fighting for air. ¡°This isn¡¯t real. I¡¯m not dreaming.¡± She smacked her forehead several times, each p stinging. It hurt. So, it was real. She thought of every time Anneliese had sworn her heart was untouched. And now, out of nowhere, she was holding a marriage license. Jessica¡¯s mind raced. It had to be desperation, maybe a way to cling to Jonathan for safety, maybe a shield for her hopeless best friend. Tears filled her eyes. She dropped to her knees at Anneliese¡¯s side, clutched her leg, and sobbed. ¡°God, this means I¡¯m on Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s ship now, just a grunt under hismand. How do I Chapter 242 Zion Interjects 40 ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel +10 Free Coins pay back something like this? Annie, I can¡¯t carry that weight. Let me knead your shoulders, rub your back, work myself to the bone, while you repay Mr. Fullbuster with your body, your soul, your whole life!¡± Anneliese¡¯s re burned as she shook her leg free. ¡°What the hell are you saying? Get that garbage out of your head, you idiot! This is a marriage of convenience, in and simple. That¡¯s all it is.¡± She strode toward the couch. Jessica scrambled after her and dropped beside her. ¡°A marriage of convenience? Tell me exactly what that means.¡± She didn¡¯t believe it. Not for a second. Jonathan¡¯s hunger for power was written all over him. Jessica still remembered the night he carried Anneliese out of that hotel room, her clothes torn, his eyes burning with possession. That man¡¯s desire was no act. ¡°Two years. I keep his family off his back, and he gets his inheritance shares. In public, we y the happy couple. In private, he helps me with my problems. That¡¯s it. Nothing else.¡± Jessica let out a dryugh inside. Lies. They were all lies. ¡°Let me see the contract.¡± ¡°Contract? He was in a hurry to leave, so we only got the license. The agreement is just between us. Spoken, not written.¡± Jessica nearly copsed fromughter. A man with Jonathan¡¯s wealth would demand prenups, property contracts, every line spelled out in ck and white. They would do everything in their power to keep their wives from taking over their assets. For her best friend to think this was normal made Jessica want to scream. Created 243 Chapter 243 Smart Friend +10 Free Coins ¡°Alright, so let me get this straight. You¡¯re telling me you two agreed there won¡¯t be any intimacy after the wedding either?¡± Jessica¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She could not ept that Jonathan would ever back himself into such a corner. Anneliese had just lifted her ss, but the words hit her like a p. Her hand froze halfway to her lips. ¡°He never actually said anything about it, but isn¡¯t it obvious? This is a marriage of convenience. By default, there shouldn¡¯t be anything like that. Do we really need to talk about it out loud? That would be beyond awkward.¡± Jessica pped her thigh. She knew it. She wouldn¡¯t bat an eye if Jonathan, sly as a wolf, swallowed Anneliese whole without leaving so much as a crumb after they got hitched. Follow current nov?ls on FindN0vel That man was ying in a league far above her friend¡¯s. ¡°You two only agreed on how long the marriage willst. Nobody mentioned what happens between a husband and wife. The moment you picked up that license, thew recognized you as real husband and wife. Intimacy is part of marriage. You can¡¯t just assume it doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Jessica¡¯s voice carried the ring of truth, and Anneliese found herself unable to argue. Her friend¡¯s words dug deep, forcing her to admit they made sense. Her mind betrayed her. Jonathan¡¯s face came into sharp focus, that wless face carved as if by a sculptor¡¯s hand. She saw him in his fitted suit, the sharp lines of his body exuding restraint. She saw him in uniform, a force ofmand and strength. Heat rose up her neck, her cheeks burned, and for one fleeting second, she thought maybe sharing a bed with him wouldn¡¯t be the worst thing. She tipped her ss and swallowed heavy gulps of water. ¡°If he really wants it, I won¡¯t fight him. I¡¯m not losing anything.¡± Life had always been about food, drink, and sex. Desire was as old as the earth itself. This was her second marriage. Why should she hold back from tasting something good when it came her way? ¡°Well said! That man looks like he¡¯s built for this. If he can steer a ne into the sky, then Chapter 243 Smart Friend 40 +10 Free Coins sending a woman straight to heaven would be child¡¯s y. Girl, this is your moment. You better not chicken out!¡± Anneliese could feel her thoughts being dragged off course by Jessica¡¯s shameless words. If she let her friend keep going, she would have Jonathan fathering an entire army of children in her imagination. Her ears burned hotter by the second. She grabbed a fork, stabbed an apple slice, and shoved it right into Jessica¡¯s mouth. ¡°You¡­ ugh, that¡¯s exactly what backing down looks like,¡± Jessica muttered through the fruit, shaking her head. At that exact moment, Anneliese¡¯s phone vibrated and rang. Her eyesnded on the screen. It was a video call from Penelope, Jonathan¡¯s grandmother. Tension coiled tight in her chest. ¡°It¡¯s Jonathan¡¯s grandma.¡± Jessica straightened like she¡¯d just heard the national anthem and slid to the side in a show of respect. ¡°Pick it up. Right now.¡± Anneliese had always gotten along with the old woman, but today felt different. The timing could only mean one thing. The grandmother already knew about the marriage license. Her heart pounded against her ribs. Her new title weighed heavy, and she feared the woman might not wee her at all. She licked her lips and tapped ept. ¡°Good afternoon, Penelope.¡± ¡°Anne, how could you marry Jojo and still not call me Grandma? Is it because I¡¯ve done something wrong?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes narrowed with feigned anger as she stared through the screen. Anneliese¡¯s face heated scarlet. She shook her head fast and blurted out, ¡°Grandma!¡± ¡°Ah, now that¡¯s better. That¡¯s exactly what I wanted to hear.¡± ¡°Grandma, did Mr. F¡­ Jonathan already tell you about everything? He left on a business trip. Chapter 243 Smart Friend When hees back, we¡¯ll visit you together.¡± 39 +10 Free Coins The name had almost slipped from her tongue as ¡°Mr. Fullbuster,¡± but she caught herself in time. Her gaze lingered on the woman¡¯s expression. There was no hint of suspicion. There was only a warm, loving smile that softened the old woman¡¯s face. ¡°That boy is a fool. He gets the license and then runs off overseas, leaving you behind? That is no way to treat a wife. When hees back, I¡¯ll give him a good scolding. For now, let me send you a gift. Share the good news with your friends and colleagues.¡± ¡°Grandma, you really don¡¯t need to¡ª¡® 11 ¡°Yes, I do. I¡¯ll be waiting for the two of you toe home.¡± Before Anneliese could utter another word, the call ended. Her screen lit up again and again. Transfer notifications piled one on top of the other. ¡°Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand¡­ oh my God. Eight transfers of a hundred eighty¨Ceight thousand each! That¡¯s not celebration money, that¡¯s a ransom! Annie, you¡¯ve fallen straight into a goldmine.¡± Jessica pressed her face close, counting with wide eyes, tears springing up in disbelief. Compared to Zacharias¡® greedy, bloodsucking mother and lunatic sister, Jonathan¡¯s grandmother was a saint. Anneliese¡¯s chest ached with the weight of being spoiled so suddenly. She hurried into her bedroom, took a screenshot of the transfers, and sent it to Jonathan. His reply came almost instantly. It¡¯s celebration money. Keep it Her lips curved as a smile lit her eyes. She had been about to ask if he¡¯d reached the airport when another wave of notifications filled the chat. Jonathan had matched his grandmother, sending the same eight transfers of one hundred eighty¨Ceight thousand each, with one short note. Get some flowers. And wear them¡® Anneliese let out a helplessugh. Warmth bloomed inside her chest, too strong to ignore. She Chapter 243 Smart Friend 39 +10 Free Coins nced up and saw the vase on her vanity, where pale lisianthus stretched gracefully. She plucked a green flower, tucked it behind her ear, and snapped a picture in the mirror. Like this?¡® She sent an image. Jonathan was at the airport, and he got the photo. His long, slender fingers tapped the screen, and the image expanded. Her dark curls spilled over her chest in a waterfall of ck silk, swept to one side. Against that rich backdrop, the single fresh green blossom shone bright, set delicately by her ear. 15:36 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 244 Nice Photo Created 244 Chapter 244 Nice Photo Chapter 244 Nice Photo 39 +10 Free Coins The tender green petals framed the curve of her car, their brightness making her small lobe shine with a deep red glow, and her beauty outshone the blossoms themselves. Jonathan pressed save on the picture, and the corner of his mouth rose in the smallest smile. He turned off his phone and shifted his gaze toward Zion, who stood nearby. ¡°How¡¯s the progress in theb? Everything¡¯s running well?¡± Zion nodded with calm certainty. ¡°Rest easy, Mr. Fullbuster. Everything is going without a hitch. When you return, Mrs. Fullbuster will be caught off guard in the best way.¡± Jonathan instructed Joel to take care of Marcus¡® situation. Joel soon arrived to pick up Anneliese and Jessica, bringing Zane along with him. Inside the car, Anneliese quietly offered her thanks. Joel, both hands on the wheel, broke into a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal. We¡¯re all Jonathan¡¯s friends, and since you¡¯re married to him, you¡¯re family too. Isn¡¯t that right, Zane?¡± He gave Zane¡¯s arm on the passenger seat a firm p. Zane twisted in his seat to nce back at Anneliese and Jessica. ¡°Jonathan never showed the slightest interest in women, so we all thought he¡¯d end up single forever. And now he¡¯s the first one of us to settle down. It¡¯s insane. He¡¯s managed to lock down both love and a career. Anneliese, since your wedding came out of nowhere, you¡¯d better take a real close look at him now.¡± Only a few hours earlier, Jonathan had tossed their group chat a photo of his marriage license, acting like it was some kind of joke, saying he wanted the single guys to at least know what one looked like. Zane still bristled over it. He was the oldest of the four, had dated the most, and had always been considered the one most likely to marry first. And Jonathan swooped in and stole that from him. Jessica¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity as she leaned closer to Anneliese, her smile sharp with intent. Chapter 244 Nice Photo 39 +10 Free Coins ¡°Take a closer look? He avoids women, and he keeps himself clean, so that already proves enough. Or are you telling me he¡¯s got some leftover feelings from the past?¡± Zane arched a brow and gave her a look. ¡°You¡¯re really trying to pry the truth from awyer without even softening the words?¡± Jessica scoffed and rolled her eyes. ¡°Pry? I¡¯m being straight with it. If Mr. Fullbuster really had some woman buried deep in his heart, no matter how I asked, he wouldn¡¯t spill a single word of it.¡± Men who wanted to hide something always had friends who covered for them. Like Zacharias, who hid his own feelings so deep that no one could guess he still clung to someone until it came out yearster. Jackson let out augh and lifted a thumb in Jessica¡¯s direction. ¡°You¡¯re sharper than most people out there. But I¡¯ll tell you this. Jonathan has never had an ex¨Cgirlfriend. He¡¯s been single since birth, and with Anneliese, it¡¯s his first love. But¡­¡± ¡°But what? Don¡¯t drag it out, just say it.¡± Jackson stretched the words with a drawn¨Cout tone, enjoying the suspense. Anneliese hadn¡¯t taken much from their talk before, because neither Joel nor Jackson knew her marriage with Jonathan was only an arrangement. She knew better than to dig into his private history herself. But Jessica kept pressing, and Anneliese tugged on the back of her clothes, but Jackson¡¯s pause made her chest tighten with unease. Jonathan really might have someone untouchable in his past. Jessica urged him on, and Anneliese¡¯s eyes fell on him too. Jackson curled his lips into a wicked grin and chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it counts as a first love, but when Jonathan was a kid, he did know a little girl. He even kept a picture of her on his phone¡­¡± Joel cut a sharp look at Jackson from the driver¡¯s seat, his stare heavy with warning. He thought Jackson hadpletely lost it. Even he, the most talkative of the bunch, would never run his mouth about Jonathan¡¯s private life in front of his brand¨Cnew wife. If Jackson wanted to dig a hole for himself, he was free to do it, but Joel refused to be dragged Chapter 244 Nice Photo Discover more novels at F¦ÉndNovel ??? (39) +10 Free Coins into it. He jumped in fast. ¡°Ignore him. I saw the photo. It was just a childhood friend, a little girl with two high ponytails. She was probably seven or eight years old. That¡¯s not a first love by any stretch.¡± Jessica¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade. She never trusted the excuse of a so¨Ccalled childhood friend. Her voice danced with mischief. ¡°So, tell me, was she pretty?¡± Joel gave a nervousugh. ¡°I barely nced at it once. My memory¡¯s not clear.¡± He shifted the subject immediately. Jessica caught Anneliese¡¯s gaze, and the two women exchanged a long, knowing look. ¡°She had to be pretty. That¡¯s why Mr. Fullbuster stayed single all this time,¡± Jessica whispered into her ear. Jonathan was nearly thirty years old. With his looks, his presence, and his standing, women should have surrounded him. The fact that he had never dated was strange, and the most likely reason was that someone had already filled the ce in his heart. Anneliese felt the same weight of thought. She looked toward Jessica, offered a faint smile, then gently shook her head. Created 245 Chapter 245 Heavy Thoughts Chapter 245 Heavy Thoughts The meaning was simple. She did not care. 39 +10 Free Coins Even if this marriage had not been an agreement, she was a divorc¨¦e, and it hardly mattered if Jonathan carried the shadow of an old love. What mattered to women was never that a man had once loved, nor that he had once lost. What truly mattered was how he chose to handle the ghosts of his past now. Jessica let out a sharp breath and whispered something with a trace of defiance. ¡°She could neverpare to Annie. I still remember when you were little and loved wearing your hair in the same style of braids. You were full of light, and you looked so beautiful.¡± Anneliese had always been blessed with thick, heavy hair, and a single ponytail often slipped loose. When her foster mother had still been alive, she always tied Anneliese¡¯s hair high in two ponytails. The car fell into silence after that, the quiet settling heavy around them. It stayed that way until they pulled into the lot of an exclusive teahouse, a ce known for its privacy and quiet corners. Anneliese and Jessica walked ahead together, while Joel stepped out of the car and brushed his shoulder hard against Jackson¡¯s. ¡°Why did you bring up that picture? When Jonathan finds out, he¡¯ll rip you apart. Don¡¯t you dare drag me into this.¡± Jackson shrugged, careless, his voice cool. ¡°He told us the girl¡¯s married thest time he told us on that trip. I never saw him touch that photo again. She probably has kids by now. He¡¯s married himself, so he must have let it go a long time ago.¡± Joel shot him a sidelong nce. He figured Jackson had been through too many girlfriends to see anything as serious. Yet Anneliese¡¯s calm reaction earlier had seemed genuine, like she truly did not care at all. So, Joel let the thought drift away. 15:36 Tue, Sep 16 Chapter 245 Heavy Thoughts Inside the private room, Marcus was already waiting. 39 +10 Free Coins He rose when he spotted Joel, his smile quick and easy. ¡°Well, well, Joel. What got into you, inviting me out for tea¡­¡± His words cut short when his eyes fell on Anneliese and Jessica walking in behind him. His smile faded in an instant, gone like smoke in the wind. ¡°So, this is what it is. A trap.¡± Joel¡¯s expression stayed calm. He stepped aside and pulled out a chair. ¡°Anneliese and Ms. Sweeting, have a seat.¡± Anneliese sped Jessica¡¯s hand and led her to sit, while Zane¡¯s tall frame filled the doorway. He stepped in with coolposure and reached out to Marcus with formality. ¡°Zane. I¡¯m Ms. Sweeting¡¯s attorney.¡± Marcus sneered, his voice heavy with scorn. ¡°So, the famous Mr. Shayman himself. Queenie¡¯s been gone for three years, and look at her now. She can even hire someone like you. I guess I should look at her in a new light.¡± His gaze locked on Jessica, dark and sharp, and her face drained of color. She felt smothered under the weight of it, and disgust coiled in her chest. Anneliese gripped her hand tighter, and Jessica raised her chin, her re cold as ice. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call me Queenie. I already paid back every cent your family spent on me. I told you before, I have no ties with you or your family anymore, Stop trying to force one.¡± Marcus¡® hand tightened around his teacup, the porcin creaking under his grip, and he let out a bitterugh. ¡°We raised you, clothed you, and fed you. We took in a helpless child and gave you everything. That wasn¡¯t a debt cleared in a day. Not my parents, not me, not anyone in our family ever treated you unfairly. You grew up infort. And now you¡¯ve climbed higher, and you want to kick away the family that raised you?¡± Jessica¡¯s body shook because every word was twisted. None of it had ever been the way he painted it. Anneliese pressed her hand over Jessica¡¯s, then seized her own teacup and hurled it forward without pause. Chapter 245 Heavy Thoughts The cup struck with a violent crash, hot liquid sshing across Marcus¡® face. He cried out, and his chair screeched backward as he shot to his feet. 39 +10 Free Coins Water streamed down his face, and rage zed across his features as he raised his hand and pointed at Anneliese. ¡°You-¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find1Novel The word had barely left his mouth before Joel stepped up and seized his wrist, his brow furrowing with warning. ¡°Calm down. Anneliese only meant to cool you off. Today, Jonathan and Anneliese got their marriage license, and Jonathan trusted us to look after his wife and her best friend while he¡¯s away. Nothing can happen to them. Your family cannot sustain the damage thates from crossing the Fullbusters. Or are you saying your family¡¯s main branch wants to find out just how far the heir of the Fullbusters will go when provoked?¡± Marcus froze, disbelief cutting through his anger as his eyes locked on Joel. Anneliese and Jonathan had gotten their license? She was thedy of the Fullbuster Family? His face went pale, his teeth clenched so hard it seemed they might break. His re at Anneliese burned with venom, and a low, chillingugh slipped past his lips. Anneliese met his stare without fear. Her chin lifted as she threw his mockery back at him. ¡°Marcus, you twisted that story so hard, it unhappened things that happened. Yes, your family adopted Jess, but quit talking about riches andfort. That¡¯s a lie you keep repeating to make yourselves feel noble. ¡°You never saw her as family. You never even saw her as a person. You treated her as a stand¨Cin, a toy to shape and beat into whatever pleased you. Since she was a child, you punished her with fists, with whips, with locked closets, and with broken ss under her knees. She always ended up with a couple of hospital stays every year thanks to your family.¡± Created 246 ¡ê38 Chapter 246 Argument Chapter 246 Argument s ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t want anything to do with your family anymore, you will sign the papers today. You will promise to leave her alone. You will let her change her address and ask nothing about it so she can finally live her own life.¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice filled the room with iron strength. Each wordnded like a hammer, leaving no room for negotiation. Every syble demanded one thing: Jessica must break free from the Johnsonspletely. Marcus¡® face darkened until it seemed carved from shadow. If Joel and Zane had not been sitting on either side of Anneliese like silent sentinels, he would have already reached for her neck. His jaw clenched until the muscles jumped. His breath hissed through his teeth before he finally spoke, each word sharp as ice. ¡°Anneliese, you really have changed. Look at you now. Bing Jonathan¡¯s wife has made you bold beyond reason.¡± 11 His voice dripped with sarcasm. He reminded her of the helpless orphan she once was. Now, because of Jonathan, she had the gall to speak to him like an equal. Anneliese¡¯s lips curved into a sharper smile. She twirled a lock of her long hair between her fingers with the air of someone who owned the room. ¡°Of course I have changed. My husband loves me, protects me, and spoils me. Jess is family to me, which makes her family to him too. And my husband would never allow anyone to harm his family.¡± Jessica lowered her head. The tension in her shoulders eased, melting away like ice under the sun. Her lips twitched with an involuntary reaction. She had never realized Anneliese could act so naturally. The way she called Jonathan her husband sounded so smooth and natural that it could have been scripted by life itself. No one would guess their marriage was a mere arrangement. That was exactly why Anneliese hade today. She carried Jonathan¡¯s name like armor, using it to intimidate Marcus. She had to appear inseparable from him, inseparable in both love and power. Then reality hit. Zane and Joel were Jonathan¡¯s closest brothers. Every word Anneliese said. 1 Sep Chapter 246 Argument could be reported to him. A slow blush climbed her checks. When she saw the men staring at her with amused shock, shame clenched her chest. 638 +5 Free Coins She forced herself to stayposed, lowered her gaze, and lifted her cup with calm, sipping as if nothing had happened. Joel waspletely caught off guard. Last month, when he first saw Anneliese at the teahouse, she and Jonathan had acted like strangers. Now they were not just married. They looked like they could not bear to be apart. It was painfully obvious. Jonathan had a history with married women. He had pursued her even before her divorce from Zacharias. ¡°Marcus, you cannot force something that does not exist. That is true for family and for love. As Ms. Sweeting has shown her refusal to return to your family, you must stop pushing her. If you go too far, you will only embarrass yourself.¡± Joel knocked lightly on the table. His words carried persuasion, but underneath the polite tone was a quiet threat. Marcus felt pressure closing in from every side. He had never been forced into a corner like this. Jonathan alone was untouchable, and now both the Johnsons and the Shaymans were pressing him from every direction. He tightened his jaw, his eyes locking on Jessica with a weight that could crush. ¡°This is your choice. Being a Johnson gives you everything. You never worry about money. You live in a mansion, drive luxury cars, and never work a day in your life. Life outside is harsh and cruel. Look at what you have now. Look at what you eat and wear. Nothingpares to what you had at home. People only give because they want something back. Queenie, you will do well to behave.¡± Marcus had seen her apartment. Tiny, cracked, and worn. Her furniture was broken, her closet empty of decent clothes. And her job was nothing but lowly. Cheap. He hated her stubbornness, that unbreakable core no suffering had ever dulled. Yet that defiance drew him. It made him want to drag her back under his control. ¡°Queenie, you will do well to behave.¡± ?? weu, sep 6387 Chapter 246 Argument s His voice, always warning and low, slipped into her mind like a shadow crawling through walls. It carried every memory of darkness, blood, hunger, and relentless pain. Jessica felt the chill of his gaze. Her fists clenched tight, but her body shivered as if every fiber ached under his presence. Anneliese noticed the change. She turned, but Zane had already moved. For original chapters go to find?novel ¡°Tea.¡± He set a steaming cup of tea near her hand. The warmth touched her cold knuckles. She flinched as if waking from a nightmare. Her eyes lifted to meet his without thinking. Zane offered a soft smile. It was calm and gentle, like morning light cutting through storm clouds. It did not burn. It did not blind. It was the perfect touch to push back the darkness. Jessica parted her lips. Her voice came barely above a whisper. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her fingers, stiff from tension, finally rxed. She wrapped her hand around the cup, though she did not drink. The heat slowly spread through her, calming her shivering body. She drew a steady breath and reached into her bag, pulling out a neat stack of papers. Created 247 Chapter 247 Be Brave 638 +5 Free Coins. ¡°This is all the support money I have paid back to your family over the past two years, piece by piece. This notebook records nearly every expense I had while living with them. When I left, I took nothing, not even a cent. I even overpaid by one hundred thousand. I do not owe your family a single cent anymore.¡± Jessica ced the notebook and the transfer slips carefully on the table. She stood slowly. Her gaze was sharp and steady, locking onto Marcus with unshakable determination. ¡°I, Jessica Sweeting, am ending my adoption with the Johnsons. I am done with them for good.¡± Zane had met Jessica before. He knew the girl¡¯s fiery courage and her fearless heart. When Anneliese had gone missing, Jessica had stormed through the entire club searching for her. She had barged into a room and beaten the sc*mbag who pushed Anneliese around until he was knocked out cold, then she kept beating him until he woke up just to beat him senseless again. But now, facing Marcus, she seemed almost like a different person. Marcus had seen plenty of women and children broken by long¨Cterm abuse. He understood why she behaved this way. Healing from trauma is never simple. For Jessica to stand here so firm was already her showing immense bravery. Zane noticed her hands gripping the notebook so tightly that the pages bent under her fingers. He stood slowly, stepping forward. ¡°Mr. Johnson, if you refuse this arrangement, I have no problem filing awsuit as Ms. Sweeting¡¯s attorney.¡± He turned toward Jessica and lifted one corner of his lips into a faint, confident smile. ¡°Ms. Sweeting, would you consider hiring me?¡± Newest update provided by Find[?]ovel Jessica turned her head slowly. Her lips twitched into a stiff, controlled smile. ¡°Will there be a discount?¡± Zane did not expect her to joke under these circumstances. He blinked, thenughter slowly filled his eyes. ¡°Alright, I will give you twenty percent off.¡± Chapter 247 Be Brave s Marcus watched them with dark, stormy eyes. He felt something unfamiliar, a strange mix of frustration and helplessness. His prey had slippedpletely from his control. Compared to Jonathan¡¯s pressure, Zane¡¯s influence was sharper, more dangerous. The Shaymans were a family known for legal power. Zane, even at his young age, had built a solid reputation in the legal world. He had never lost a case. If Zane truly became Jessica¡¯swyer, no one could predict what he might uncover. At worst, Marcus could end up in serious trouble. Finally, Marcus slumped in his chair. ¡°Do I have a choice? You¡¯re not letting me leave until I say yes.¡± He red at Jessica. ¡°If you will leave the family, then I will watch closely to see what fate has in store for you.¡± He mmed his cup on the table. His face darkened as he stormed out. Joel and Zane followed him without hesitation. With Marcus agreeing to the terms, the termination papers and the change of address could be finished today. That would avoid any furtherplications. Jessica froze in ce. Her expression was nk and dazed. Anneliese stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. ¡°Jess, congrattions. You are free. From now on, we will both live better lives.¡± Jessica leaned against Anneliese¡¯s shoulder. She hugged her back tightly. She wanted to nod, but the tears came first, unstoppable. When they stepped out of the private room, only Zane stood a short distance away in the hallway, smoking. He carried a dangerous presence. Every line of his face, every movement of his body suggested quiet strength and a controlled threat. He was tall and broad. Even in a suit, he looked like an enforcer from the streets rather than awyer. He crushed his cigarette against a stone pir, flicked the stub into a trash bin, and strode toward them. Jessica¡¯s eyes were red and swollen from crying. She froze for a moment. 14:15 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 247 Be Brave Anneliese squeezed her hand gently and tilted her head with a teasing smile. ¡°Mr. Shayman¡¯s a nice guy, huh? Never thought he¡¯d be the type.¡± Jessica lowered her gaze, but she could hear the yful teasing in Anneliese¡¯s voice. She bit her lip and murmured, ¡°It is mostly because of Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Anneliese smiled and watched Zane walk toward them. She thought perhaps it was not entirely because of Jonathan¡¯s favor. Jonathan had handed this matter to Joel. Zane had no instructions from him. Even if Jonathan had asked for Zane¡¯s help, dedication varies from person to person. +5 Free CONS Anneliese honestly thought Zane was a good man. She could sense a small spark between him and Jessica. ¡°Where is Mr. Cahan?¡± Jessica stayed silent, her eyes downcast. Anneliese turned back to Zane. ¡°He had some urgent matters at hispany and left early. He asked me to apologize on his behalf.¡± Anneliese quickly waved her hand. Zane continued, ¡°Marcus is waiting in the parking lot. Leave the rest to me. Should I take Ms. Sweeting to the post office?¡± Anneliese¡¯s face lit up. ¡°That would be perfect. Jess, you¡¯re in Mr. Shayman¡¯s hands now.¡± She nudged Jessica lightly. Jessica finally looked up. ¡°Thank you for your help,¡± she said quietly. Zane nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± 14:15 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 248 Alone Time Created 248 Chapter 248 Alone Time s Anneliese suddenly said, ¡°I think I left my phone in the room. You two go ahead. I¡¯ll catch up after I grab it.¡± Jessica stared at her, wide¨Ceyed. Anneliese winked, then turned to Zane, who was watching silently. ¡°Please take care of Jess, Mr. Shayman. Don¡¯t let Johnson push her around again. I owe you a proper dinner. I¡¯ll make sure Jacksones too.¡± Zane¡¯s eyebrows lifted. ¡°You know my brother?¡± ¡°Yes. Jackson was my junior back in school, and now he¡¯s my senior,¡± Anneliese exined with a softugh that seemed to float in the air. Zane had heard all sorts of rumors about her after their first meeting. They said she was the true daughter of the White family. But even after her return, she could never live up to her status. She had dropped out of high school, liked to y around, and gotten into trouble with small¨Ctime criminals. And then she¡¯d run off for love. She left home for Zacharias. The stories about her were less than ttering, to say the least. Yet Jonathan had chosen her, and they were married. As his friends, Zane and Joel respected that decision. Most of the rumors were clearly false. Jonathan would never go for a woman with nothing but a bad reputation and no real talent. And now that he¡¯d found out she was an Astoria University alum, Zane understood just how unreliable the gossip had been. Even though he was busy, he knew his younger brother had a crush thatsted for years. And now that Anneliese had told him about her friendship with Jackson, that gave him the final piece of the puzzle. He knew why Jonathan told him toe up with a lie to lure Jackson home. He rubbed his temple, feeling a dull ache spreading through his head. His brother had terrible luck. He fell for the wrong girl, and worse, she belonged to Jonathan. Chapter 248 Alone Time +5 Free Coins Having a crush would have been fine, but he had been too soft when it came to courtship. It was embarrassing and pitiful. Zane looked at Anneliese with a mixture of frustration and concern. ¡°You better not call him He did not want the kid to get caught in Jonathan¡¯s crossfire. ¡°Sorry?¡± Anneliese paused, caught off guard. Zane continued, ¡°That confession you made about Jonathan? I recorded it. I¡¯m going to send it to him. He¡¯s going to be very happy.¡± If Jackson kept holding onto his fantasies, Zane would make sure he heard the truth as well. Better to end impossible feelings early and force him to let go. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes went wide. Her stomach dropped. She wanted to take back what she had just said. Zane was ruthless. No one should act this way. But Zane ignored her panicked re. He tilted his chin at Jessica, signaling her to follow him, and then he strode forward without hesitation. Jessica nced at Anneliese¡¯s horrified face and could not help a smallugh. She waved her hand and fell into step with Zane, ignoring the re. Anneliese shivered. The memory of that little speech was haunting her, especially how she called Jonathan her husband so naturally. It had gone straight to him. She nearly died of embarrassment. She quickly pulled out her phone and opened the chat with Jonathan. No new messages. He must still be on the ne and had not received the recording yet. There was still time to exin. Anneliese typed, deleted, and typed again as she walked, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. Should she tell him the truth? 14:15 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 248 Alone Time +5 Free Coffs That she had only pretended to be affectionate to use his name and intimidate Marcus? No, it was too early. The ne would notnd for another seven or eight hours. She could exinter. Just as she was about to close the chat, a voice message appeared unexpectedly. Anneliese nearly dropped her phone. She rubbed her eyes, sure she was not imagining it. It was really Jonathan. Her hands trembled as she pressed y. ¡°Of course I have changed. My husband loves me, protects me, and spoils me. Jess is family to me, which makes her family to him too. And my husband would never allow anyone to harm his family.¡± Her own voice. Her own spoiled tone. The exact words she had just said now came from the phone, hitting her like a bucket of cold water. She fumbled and quickly closed the message. Another voice message arrived immediately. Anneliese froze, gripping her phone, before she gathered the courage to press y. She lifted it to her ear, and his low, amused voice filled her senses. ¡°So, you spent ten minutes staring at my chat, thinking about how to exin this recording?¡± Anneliese frozepletely. D*mn it. He had received the recording from Zane and had been watching her chat all along. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, frozen. She had no idea how to reply. Seeing the ¡°typing¡­¡± indicator on his end made her fingers burn. She yanked the phone away and closed the chatpletely. She shut off the screen and tapped her forehead, mortified. Content originallyes from Find_Novel(. Created 249 Chapter 249 Messages Chapter 249 Messages A sharp ding echoed through the room. Another voice message from Jonathan had arrived. s Anneliese froze, her heart skipping a beat, unsure what he had said. She fumbled through her bag, pulled out her earphones, and gingerly plugged them in, bracing herself before pressing y. ¡°We are married. You can call me your husband. I need no exnation.¡± A shiver ran down her spine, sending warmth and tingling from her ears to her shoulders. Her fingers rubbed her ears instinctively. She hurriedly recorded a reply, her voice a mix of embarrassment and irritation. ¡°You¡¯re still on the ne, aren¡¯t you? How¡¯d you even get the news so fast?¡± She hesitated before sending it, and then immediately regretted the act. At the same time, her hand brushed the earphones off her head. They hit the floor, bounced twice, and tumbled down a short flight of steps. Get full chapters from f?ndnovel Anneliese lunged forward to grab them, crouching low, her breath quickening. Then a heavy foot mmed down on the earphones. Pain shot up her hand, forcing her to recoil. Her fair, delicate hand swelled where it had been crushed. ¡°Oh my, this sidewalk is wide enough, yet someone still runs right into my foot,¡± a familiar, sharp voice mocked. Anneliese looked up to see Lenora standing there, eyes shing with dominance. Next to Lenora were Melody, a refined young woman, and a group of rich wives. Lenora tilted her head, feigning surprise. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t my barren, ungrateful, harsh ex¨Csister¨Cinw who abused me and got tossed out of the family. ¡°Sorry about your earphones, but I assume you don¡¯t expect me to pay for them. After all, you married my brother with nothing, and a divorce made you hundreds of millions.¡± Chapter 249 Messages 45 Free Coins Lenora mmed her silver glitter stiletto into the earphones, grinding it down with cruel precision, as if she were stamping on Anneliese herself. ¡°Lenora, stop. This is family business. She¡¯s already divorced your brother. We don¡¯t need to mak things harder,¡± Melody said, her tone falsely gentle. But the damage was already done. That was exactly what they were gunning for. The rich wives had nothing but contempt on their faces, and they did not hold back with the mockery. ¡°Oh my! She walked away with hundreds of millions? The Shaws are generous.¡± ¡°Exactly. A woman with nothing and a reckless reputation shouldn¡¯t get a thing.¡± ¡°She¡¯s lucky to have married young, powerful Mr. Shaw. Even divorced, shees out on top.¡± Melody had grown up modestly and never fit in with the real elite housewives. Her circle consisted of lesser wives looking to climb socialdders. They gathered around Lenora and Melody, pointing fingers and whispering cruelly at Anneliese, eager to join in the attack. And they did that even though they had no idea about the whole story. Since Anneliese¡¯s divorce, Zacharias had forced Coral to abort, thereby destroying any chance of Melody getting a grandkid and Lenora having a niece or nephew. And his actions drove a wedge between him and his family. Zacharias hadn¡¯t answered calls ore home to dinner for days. All their anger had been unfairly ced on Anneliese, and now they had an outlet. Lenora lifted her foot to leave, but a sudden, forceful tug yanked her ankle. She stumbled and screamed. Anneliese¡¯s eyes narrowed, cold and sharp with fury. She seized Lenora¡¯s high heel and swung it with fierce precision. ¡°You blind, ignorant mutt. You yap on and on and on. Remember that one time when you nearly got yourself killed in a beating when you were a kid? Then you and your mother came to my ce for sanctuary, and you hid there for days. ¡°Remember how my parents kindly paid for your tuition when you couldn¡¯t cough up the 14:16 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 249 Messages money? And how your family used my dad¡¯s survivors¡® benefit to pay off your debt? 38 s ¡°You forgot all of that, of course, you did. You and your mother are all ungrateful. I don¡¯t expect any virtue from you and your ilk.¡± Anneliese¡¯s usations rang out as the high heel mmed into Lenora¡¯s chest, back, neck, and head. Lenora, missing one shoe and unable to dodge, screamed with every strike. ¡°Ow, ow, ow! Mom, help me! Nooo!¡± ¡°Anneliese, you lunatic! Stop this!¡± Melody finally reacted, rushing forward to shield her daughter. Others tried to pull Anneliese away, but she struck with precision, then retreated to the steps. She lifted the heel like a weapon, her eyes cold and unflinching. None had the courage to approach her. She looked down at Lenora, who sobbed, her face red and bruised. ¡°Barren? Really? That¡¯s the best you could do? We¡¯re out of the middle ages. That word should be retired as an insult. And besides, even if you mean it as an insult, that¡¯s a projection, at best. After all, you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Anneliese!¡± Melody¡¯s sharp voice cut her off, panic etched in every line of her face. Even though Melody silenced her, the expressions on her own face and on Lenora¡¯s pale, terrified face left no room for doubt about the truth behind Anneliese¡¯s words. Created 250 Chapter 250 Confrontation Chapter 250 Confrontation 38 s Anneliese curled her lips into a sharp, icy smile. Her eyes scanned the group of women, bright and unwavering. ¡°To all of you so eager to support the Shaw family, I hope your daily lives are filled with in-ws who belittle and mistreat you. I hope you sweat and struggle alongside your husbands to build everything from nothing, remain loyal even when your marriage copses, uncover hidden secrets and illegitimate children, and end your marriages with nothing left. Enjoy that.¡± ¡°Anneliese, shut up! Stop talking nonsense!¡± Melody saw the expressions of the other women change immediately. She snapped at Anneliese, grabbing a young woman who frowned at the scene, and addressed her and the elegant women beside her. ¡°Mrs. Westington, Reynelle, don¡¯t believe a word she says. That girl twists truth into lies. Look at her¨Cshe had the gall to attack me right in front of you. I¡¯m her elder! And look at Lenora. She left her battered.¡± Melody¡¯s eyes glistened red, her face lined with years of worry and weariness as she exhaled a long, sorrowful sigh. Lenora covered her bruised face and wept silently, tears sliding down her cheeks. ¡°Anneliese, you knew I cared about Reynelle. You came here today to ruin tea with Mrs. Westington and Reynelle, didn¡¯t you? ¡°Reynelle is Mr. Westington¡¯s only daughter. She graduated from the Royal Arts Academy abroad. She¡¯s a true socialite and prodigy. She is not a high school dropout, street¨Csmart woman like you. You need to know your ce and stop trying to interfere with our family.¡± Anneliese¡¯s gaze shifted to Mrs. Westington and Reynelle, and she finally recognized them. The Westingtons had built a sessful clothing and jewelry empire, and Reynelle was their only daughter. Anneliese had thought Melody and Lenora would only protect Selina. With her divorce finalized, they might even try to pair Zacharias up with Selina. Now it was clear Melody had bigger ambitions. Anneliese raised the high heel in her hand, and both Melody and Lenora flinched instinctively. 638 Chapter 250 Confrontation s The shoe sliced through the air in a smooth arc, narrowly passing above their heads, and smashed into the pool behind them with a loud ssh. Anneliese grabbed a damp paper towel and wiped her hand clean. She stepped down the stairs and faced Mrs. Westington directly. ¡°Mrs. Westington, I believe you can do your own due diligence. Ms. Westington is your beloved daughter. There¡¯s no such thing as too much investigation when ites to her marriage.¡± Before Mrs. Westington could reply, Melody forced aposed tone, though unease tinged her words. ¡°Your intention to interfere is obvious, Anne. Mrs. Westington won¡¯t be fooled. Given that we used to be family, I¡¯ll give you advice. There is no going back with Zacharias. Stop chasing him. If you need a man, I can introduce a few promising young men. Mrs. Lycaeum, I recall your nephew has opened up a few auto shops and is also freshly divorced?¡± Mrs. Lycaeum stepped closer, inspecting Anneliese carefully, and nodded in acknowledgment. Lenora snickered and leaned toward Anneliese. ¡°Mrs. Lycaeum¡¯s nephew is over forty and has three kids. Don¡¯t look down on him, though. You, on the other hand, have no reputation, no degree, no job, and only a destroyed marriage to show off. Forget about marrying into wealth. Mr. Lycaeum would be perfect for you. My mom is doing this for your own good.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly. She let out a soft, almost floatingugh. ¡°Save your concern. I am already married. And with all your energy, you should focus on controlling Zacharias so he stops bothering me with calls from new numbers all the time. I would rather not make my husband mad.¡± She turned to leave, refusing to waste another word on them. A sudden, incredulous voice stopped her. ¡°What did you just say, Anne? That cannot be true!¡± Anneliese turned and saw Zacharias standing a short distance away. Her eyes were filled with pure annoyance. She had meant to leave with Zane and the others. This encounter was bad luck in full. ¡°Say it again! Tell me you¡¯re not married!¡± 14:16 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 250 Confrontation This update is avable on find?novel In an instant, Zacharias closed the distance. He reached for her hand. 6388 +5 Free Cois Anneliese reacted immediately, stepping back a couple of paces to avoid his grasp. Zacharias stepped forward again, but Melody¡¯s face darkened. She rushed to intercept him. She had just imed in front of everyone that Anneliese was the one chasing Zacharias. His reaction nowpletely contradicted her story, leaving her feeling humiliated. Her n to lure Zacharias for a meeting with Reynelle had failedpletely. ¡°Zacharias, look at what Anneliese did to Lenora! You-¡± Melody tried to restrain him, but Zacharias¡® mind was consumed by Anneliese¡¯s earlier deration. She was married. He ripped his hands free from Melody and stepped toward Anneliese again. ¡°What did you mean when you said you¡¯re married?¡± His face burned red with rage. His eyes darkened, pupils constricting with every surge of emotion. Anneliese instinctively stepped back. Her voice was calm but firm. ¡°I mean exactly what I said.¡± Created 251 38 Chapter 251 Zacharias¡® Disbelief Chapter 251 Zacharias¡® Disbelief s ¡°You¡¯re lying! Ha! We¡¯ve only been divorced for five days, and now you tell me you¡¯re married? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Zacharias¡® voice cracked, thick with disbelief, as if he were arguing with reality itself. He nodded slowly, his movements stiff and drained, his tone almost hopeless. ¡°Anne, you¡¯ve always been great at scaring me.¡± He¡¯s out of his mind, she thought. Anneliese rolled her eyes and began walking, her heels clicking sharply on the pavement. There was nothing left to say between them. Ex¨Chusbands were a special kind of nuisance, relentless and irritating. No exceptions. Zacharias shifted, as if to follow, but Melody seized his arm sharply. ¡°Zacharias! There¡¯s someone I want you to know. This is Mrs. Westington, and this is her daughter, Ms. Reynelle Westington¡­¡± Her words hung in the air, earnest but almost pleading, yet Zacharias didn¡¯t nce at Reynelle once. He frowned, pulled his hand free, and said, ¡°Mom, I still have things to say to Anne. You all enjoy your tea.¡± Without waiting, he strode toward Anneliese, each step radiating determination. Melody¡¯s face paled, frustration tightening her features. She swayed slightly, seeking support from Mrs. Westington, but Mrs. Westington only let out a cold, controlledugh. ¡°From what I see, Mr. Shaw still carries feelings for his ex¨Cwife. My daughter has no shortage of suitors. She will marry well. Do not step foot in my house again. Goodbye.¡± With that, Mrs. Westington swept Reynelle along, their anger almost visible in the way they moved. Melody called after them, desperate, but no one looked back. Outside the tea house, Zacharias finally caught up with Anneliese. He grabbed her arm with firm insistence. ¡°Anne, where are you going? I¡¯ll walk with you. I also have something to discuss.¡± 138 Chapter 251 Zacharias¡® Disbelief s Anneliese jerked her arm free, her eyes cold and unreadable. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. I have nothing to discuss with you.¡± Zacharias raised his hands, surrendering, his expression soft, almost indulgent. ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t touch you. But just hear me out. Derek invited us to his silver wedding banquet with Mrs. Golding. I¡¯ll pick you up. Please, okay?¡± Anneliese¡¯s pace quickened. She had already received a separate electronic invitation from Mrs. Golding. She was heading back to Baytree and had no intention of attending. Her gift was ready to be delivered by someone else. ¡°I am not going. Zacharias, you¡¯re my ex¨Chusband, and that means you¡¯re dead to me. From now on, when you see me, act like we¡¯re strangers. No, we¡¯re really strangers. Understood?¡± Find the newest release on Find?Novel Her face was icy, her voice sharp and impatient, cutting through the air like ss. Zacharias moved to block her path, his long legs firm and imposing. ¡°Anne, Derek¡¯s silver wedding directly affects uderias Tech and Crucible Group¡¯s renewal contract for next year. You cannot do whatever you want about this. You areing with me.¡± Anneliese¡¯s anger red, heat rising in her chest. Sheughed, sharp and incredulous, a sound that carried both disbelief and fury. ¡°How many times do I need to remind you? We are divorced! I am not your wife anymore. I am not the PR director of uderias Tech. I have no reason or obligation to attend your banquet. Step aside.¡± Zacharias¡® face darkened, frustration etching deep lines across his handsome features. ¡°Anne, the renewal is critical for uderias Tech. You know that. Mrs. Golding likes you, and you-¡± ¡°I do not care! Zacharias, even if uderias Tech goes bankrupt tomorrow, it has nothing to do with me. I used to help Mrs. Golding and open doors for you because I was your employee and your wife. But now I have no reason anymore! You¡¯re not worth my time, much less my help!¡± Zacharias¡® lips pressed into a thin line, his fists clenching as silence fell between them. Anneliese brushed past him, but a thought struck her, and she stopped abruptly. ¡°Before uderias Tech goes bankrupt, make sure you transfer five hundred million to me first.¡± Chapter 251 Zacharias¡® Disbelief 9: Zacharias turned to watch her retreat, eyes steady. 45 Free Coins ¡°It is already transferred to White Inc.¡¯s corporate ount. Anne, whatever you want, just say it. Five hundred million, a billion, it does not matter.¡± Anneliese froze, spinning back to him, disbelief radiating from every word. choice.¡± mind?¡± ¡°You transferred our divorce settlement to White Inc.? Zacharias, are you out of your ¡°You agreed to it. White Inc. had issues, and your brother said this was your Anneliese could barely contain herughter, sharp and incredulous. ¡°You believed him just because he said I gave consent? When did you get so gullible, Zacharias? So easily fooled?¡± ¡°Anne, you still own part of White Inc. You cannot just watch if thepany struggles. The money is already transferred. Don¡¯t get mad. If youe to the banquet, act like a loving couple around the Goldings, then help me snag the renewal, I will transfer another five hundred million to you. That is fair.¡± Zacharias¡® lips curved slightly, confidence unwavering, as if money could bend her will. But Anneliese¡¯s eyes stayed cold and unyielding. ¡°Whatever financial dealings you have with the White family are none of my concern. If I do not see 500 million in my ount before time is up, I¡¯m filing for awsuit. Stop using money as leverage. You expect me to attend the banquet with you? Forget it. You will never put my husband in that position.¡± Created 252 Chapter 252 Determination Chapter 252 Determination E s That was yet another mention of her so¨Ccalled husband. Zacharias¡® handsome face darkened, sharp and fierce, before twisting into a bitterugh. ¡°You really know how to make things up out of thin air. There¡¯s only one husband for you, and that¡¯s me. You think saying that will make me let go of you? You seriously underestimate how much I care about you.¡± Anneliese felt like she was talking to a wall. She turned and walked away. She had said everything she needed to say. If he refused to listen to her, she would take legal action once the money failed to arrive. ¡°Walking away? Talking to yourself because you have nothing else to say?¡± Zacharias refused to let her go. He chased after her, his steps quick and purposeful. It was then her phone buzzed in her hand. She nced down and saw a WhatsApp notification from Jonathan. Her eyes brightened slightly. ¡°My husband just messaged me,¡± she murmured. She gave Zacharias a sharp nce, then opened WhatsApp and tapped the new voice message. A low, teasing, maic voice filled her ears. ¡°Yeah, we are already cruising. The private jet has high¨Cspeed satellite bands, using Ka and Ku band technology for a faster connection than the old L¨Cband. Annie, want to try a fun little test?¡± Before she could respond, another voice message arrived and yed automatically. Jonathan¡¯s voice carried a yful, coaxing tone. ¡°Call me Hubby again. Let¡¯s see how fast I get it.¡± Anneliese never imagined Jonathan would ask her to call him Hubby. Normally, that word would never leave her lips. But after Zacharias¡® relentless chasing, her frustration with him left her hesitating almost not at all. Chapter 252 Determination She tapped the speaker icon and held the phone close to her lips. ¡°Hubby? Did you get that?¡± 38 s She released the phone and watched the message send. Her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks burned with a sudden blush. She clutched her phone and quickened her steps. A cab pulled up just then, and she waved it down, sliding into the seat. Th?s chapter is updated by ?ovelFind The moment the car moved, her phone buzzed again. Her heart jumped, and she almost flung the phone across the seat. ¡°Youngdy.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Where to?¡± The driverughed and repeated the question. Anneliese quickly gave him the address for Astoria University. Once the car turned the corner, she opened the chat with Jonathan. Another voice message waited. Two seconds long. She hesitated, almost too nervous to y it. Finally, she converted it to text. I got it, honey.¡® The words appeared on the screen, and Anneliese could barely imagine the tone Jonathan had used to say them. She did not listen to the audio. She dimmed the screen, cracked the window, and let the cold winter wind brush her face. At the tea house, Zacharias remained in ce, staring in the direction the cab had vanished. The sound from Anneliese¡¯s phone hit him like a lightning bolt. Her soft, sweet, teasing voice, calling out Hubby, struck him like a punch to the chest. Zacharias felt as if someone had stripped him bare and thrown him into a frozen wastnd. Chapter 252 Determination His mind froze. He could not think. He could not ept it. By the time he processed his surroundings and felt the wave of pain, anger, shock, and Anneliese had already disappeared from view. He breathed heavily, his emotions condensing into a single, gnawing suspicion. The voice on the phone sounded very much like Jonathan. Anneliese was iming she had married Jonathan Fullbuster. Impossible. +5 Free Coins regret, Zacharias could believe Jonathan had an interest in Anneliese, maybe wanted to flirt or try dating her. Her beauty, her personality, her pure heart, and her simple background made her irresistible to men. But Jonathan marrying Anneliese? A divorced woman with a shaky reputation, no family wealth, and no academic pedigree? Impossible. It was impossible for a man like that not to care about Anneliese¡¯s past. That voice message had to be a trick, something Anneliese arranged to provoke him. After all, at the White family dinner, Anneliese had faked a recording to trick Selina and the White family. That hurt their reputation. She had no problem hiring someone to act and fool others. To fool him. But iming she had legally married Jonathan was just ridiculous. Zacharias forced himself to think clearly. He straightened his shoulders, squared his back, and turned to leave. Even if Anneliese had tricked him, he could feel the pressure she put on him. He could not calm her anger himself. If she needed persuasion, he would find someone else to try. Created 253 Chapter 253 On the Airne s Forty thousand feet above the earth, the private jet sliced smoothly through the endless sky. Outside the windows, clouds spread like a vast frozen sea, soft and brilliant, stretching beyond the horizon. The man sat upright on the leather sofa, his crisp white shirt immacte. His dark red tie was patterned with subtle swirling designs and tied in a wless Windsor knot. A ck and gold tie clip, iid with a small red gemstone, caught the light quictly. He crossed his long legs and focused intently on the video conference, his posture perfect, his gaze sharp. When the discussion reached a pause, he raised his hand slightly, signaling a short break. His voice was calm but carried quiet authority. ¡°Hold on. Let me check my WhatsApp.¡± In the AeroAir executive conference room, several high¨Cranking officers watched the young CEO lean forward and pick up his phone. His long fingers moved over the screen with precise ease, each swipe deliberate. Everyone in the room wondered what couldmand such immediate attention from a man so focused on business. Whatever it was had to be important. They spected who could have sent the message when, suddenly, a soft, melodic female voice filled the speakers. It was sweet, warm, and direct. ¡°Hubby? Did you get that?¡± Jonathan put down his phone and looked back at the screen, his expression calm and casual, as if he had not noticed the sudden tension in the room. ¡°Okay, continue.¡± The finance director froze mid¨Csentence,pletely forgetting the report he had been giving. Only the legal director dared to speak first, noticing Jonathan¡¯s rxed posture and ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, are you in love?¡± easy smile. Jonathan raised an eyebrow and leaned back on the sofa, adjusting his crossed legs. He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± he said lightly. ¡°Or did I make it too festive wearing this tie? Had to make it a ceremony. Not every day you get to take a marriage license.¡± 638 Chapter 253 On the Airne Zion, sitting across the room and taking notes, stared nkly at the ceiling. s Mr. Fullbuster, if you want the whole world to know you are married, you could have just said it. There is no need to act so stiffly, he thought. He had already yed Anneliese¡¯s voice message on repeat for half an hour before the meeting. Acting like he had just received it now waspletely unnecessary. The other executives could hardly hide their shock. They were not hearing things. Their boss had just gotten a marriage license. The Fullbuster Family now had a princess consort. ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Fullbuster. To a long and happy marriage and many children.¡± ¡°This is truly a great day for AeroAir. Though Mr. Fullbuster had to go on a work trip right after getting the license, Mrs. Fullbuster must¡¯ve been kind and understanding enough to ept that.¡± Some of the quicker thinkers smiled, offering these polite, warmments immediately. Readplete version only at FindN0vel Jonathan raised his hand. ¡°All AeroAir employees will get cash gifts today. I will cover it personally. I will not discuss personal matters further. Continue. Mr. Crescendia, you were reporting on the debts of these three airports. Were there any hidden liabilities?¡± The CEO returned fully to the meeting, and ten more minutester, the conference ended. By then, the news of Jonathan getting a marriage license had already spread throughout AeroAir. Selina, of course, heard it too. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She had never expected that after finallypleting her studies abroad and returning to AeroAir,ing closer to Jonathan, she would find he had already married. Selina did not know who he had married. But when she thought of the way he had protected and cared for Anneliese at the banquet, a deep unease settled over her. Panicked, she found a quiet corner and called Mnie. 14:16 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 253 On the Airne ¡°Mom, has Anneliese gone home to pick up her papers in the past two days?¡± Since the banquet, Mnie had been on edge. 38 +5 Free Cong Everywhere she went, people stared and whispered. She had avoided going out and had called a beautician to her home for treatments. Hearing Selina¡¯s question, she frowned and sat up, pushing away the beautician¡¯s hands. ¡°Why are you asking about her? She hasn¡¯te back recently, and she hasn¡¯t taken her papers. Why would she need it?¡± Selina exhaled in relief. At least the person who married Jonathan was not Anneliese. ¡°Never mind. We¡¯ll talkter.¡± Selina ended the call quickly. She still wanted to confirm the news. Maybe Jonathan¡¯s marriage was just a rumor. Mnie held the phone, frowning. Suddenly, a memory hit her. That night at the banquet, Christopher had said Anneliese had nned to take her papers so she could finish giving her the vi. But the papers were returned in the end, and the vi had never been given. They had nned to check the papers, but Selina had suddenly fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital. The matter had been forgotten. Can it be¡­ Mnie thought. Mnie¡¯s expression changed instantly. She could not care about her beauty treatment anymore. She ripped off the expensive facial mask and waved the beautician away. Chapter 254 Panicked Mnie Created 254 Chapter 254 Panicked Mnie ¡°You guys go home.¡±
  • 5 Free Cond
Melody darted out barefoot, her steps quick and graceful. Inside the study, Mnie flipped frantically through the family¡¯s files, turning page after page so fast the rustle of paper echoed through the quiet room. Her fingers shook, her face drained of color with every turn. ¡°Gone! They¡¯re gone!¡± Mnie¡¯s call interrupted Timothy¡¯s meeting. Mnie¡¯s voice trembled with panic over the line. Timothy¡¯s brow furrowed sharply, and his tone carried impatience. ¡°Gone? I am in a meeting. If it¡¯s nothing urgent, I¡ª¡± ¡°The papers! Honey, we¡¯re missing Anne¡¯s papers!¡± Mnie gripped the files tightly, her voice thick with emotion. The truth was undeniable. Over a month ago, Anneliese had quietly removed herself from the White family files. Timothy¡¯s frown deepened as he stood abruptly, signaling for the meeting to pause. Holding his phone tightly, he stepped out and spoke in a low, controlled voice. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. She made a whole scene just so she could be made into an official member of the family. She stood in the rain all night. It took her a titanic effort just to get those papers. She could never just remove herself quietly. Check again, carefully.¡± When they had first brought Anneliese back to live with Selina, things had been tense. Timothy and the others had wanted to observe her character, so they had dyed changing her address to the family house¡¯s. Word had spread among household members and friends. People whispered that Anneliese was just a country girl. Without having her address changed to the White house¡¯s, she might as well have been an outsider, almost like a child born outside the family. The insult had stung sharply. Anneliese had insisted on the change, pouting and refusing to yield until Timothy granted her wish. Timothy had set strict conditions: she would either have to change her name to White or stand in the yard the whole night. Chapter 254 Panicked Mnie +5 Free Coina It had been a rainy night. Timothy intended to make things difficult, but Anneliese had run outside and stood in the pouring rain. By the next day, she hade down with a high fever, right after she got her address changed. In their eyes, Anneliese had always wanted ess to the White family inheritance. She¡¯d never change her address or disown her family, not after everything that had been done for her. ¡°It¡¯s really gone. I have the files right here. I am not blind! Honey, what is Anne trying to do? Is she really turning away from us? Does she not want to acknowledge us anymore?¡± Mnie¡¯s chest tightened with sorrow. After all, this was her own daughter. She had once celebrated when Anneliese returned. Losing her again felt like a piece of herself had been ripped away. ¡°What is she trying to prove? That we treated her unfairly? That we are ungrateful? She¡¯s a selfish, ungrateful girl! ¡°I am in the middle of an important meeting. Go ask her yourself. She¡¯s divorced from Zacharias now. If she abandons us, then she has no one to turn to!¡± This text is hosted at ?ovelFind Timothy¡¯s voice trembled with anger as he ended the call. Mnie flipped through the files again and called Anneliese immediately. Anneliese had just finished herb work. She handed the neatly organized data to Jackson, who was busy with his work nearby. She picked up the phone and stepped out into the hallway. ¡°Hello?¡± She saw it was Mnie calling and answered without hesitation. Mnie¡¯s voice came through, sharp and furious. ¡°Anneliese, did you remove your papers and change your address?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mnie froze. She had not expected such a casual, almost effortless answer. Her chest heaved in disbelief. ¡°You ungrateful girl! What do you mean by that? You begged to have your address changed to our family house¡¯s. Now you change it again without saying a word. You did not consult anyone. Do you even care about your family? Do you even care about us?¡± vved, sep Chapter 254 Panicked Mnie +5 free Coins Annelieseughed softly, almost amused. ¡°I made it very clear. I said everything during the night of the banquet. Your family and I are done. Don¡¯t get too agitated, Mrs. White. With me out of the way, everything your family has belongs to your precious Selina. You should be jumping with joy.¡± Mnie¡¯s voice red with anger. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re divorced, jobless, and incapable. There is no way you can survive outside of our family!¡± Her words, meant to wound and scold, rolled off Anneliese like water. From the beginning, these so¨Ccalled rtives had never truly recognized her worth. They would not stop putting her down and pushing her into the dust, yet they called that a good deed. That they were doing it for her own good. She had no desire to argue further. She hung up on Mnie. Turning, she pushed open theboratory door. Bright lights flooded the room, contrasting with the deep darkness of the night outside. The senior students had finished their tasks and were preparing to leave. Imogen Snowden, the only doctoral student, neatly organized her materials and said, ¡°Everyone has worked hard today, especially Anneliese. Your data is precise and clear. Tomorrow, we can use it to further optimize the high¨Cefficiency power system. If we can improve endurance even slightly, we can finally submit the final results for the project.¡± Created 255 Chapter 255 At the Lab +5 Free Coins The moment Imogen spoke, a wave of excitement swept through the group. The senior studentsughed, nudged each other, and started nning where to go for a celebratory dinner once the project wrapped up. Anneliese had no interest in joining the cheer. She offered a polite, gentle smile to Imogen. ¡°I have to go, Imogen. There¡¯s still work to handle.¡± Imogen, her ck¨Cframed sses perched neatly on her face and her expression usually serious, returned the smile and spoke warmly. ¡°Come with us, Anneliese.¡± Anneliese shook her head softly. ¡°I think I¡¯ll skip this one out. I got my ticket home, and the flight¡¯s tomorrow.¡± ¡°What time is your flight?¡± ¡°Just after nine at night¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s plenty of time. Anneliese, you¡¯ve done so much for us. You have toe to dinner tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yeah, the dinner¡¯s going to be pointless without you.¡± Their enthusiasm was relentless. Anneliese could not resist entirely and reluctantly agreed. Jackson, however, stayed unusually silent, watching her closely. Once she stepped out of theb building, he followed quietly, his steps careful but deliberate. Anneliese quickened her pace toward the parking lot, unaware that he was trailing her. Her phone vibrated. She pulled it out and saw a video call from Jonathan. She brushed her hair back and swiped to answer. Before she could even see who was on the screen, Jackson caught up and called out. ¡°Anneliese, can I have a word with you?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Chapter 255 At the Lab +5 Free Colos Startled, she spun around, clutching her phone. Her eyes met his, and she forced a polite, nervous smile, ¡°Oh, yeah, sure. What is it?¡± Jackson froze, his gaze fixed on her. The dim yellow glow of the campus lights fell across her, painting her in a soft, ethereal glow. She looked almost unreal, as if she belonged in a dream. He thought about the warning call from his older brother, Zane, carlier that afternoon. Zane ordered him to stay away from Anneliese. Zane reminded him that she was already taken, and he left it there without any exnation. Jackson felt his chest tighten as though a heavy weight pressed down on him. He knew time was no longer on his side. If he did not make his move now, he might never be able to. Even though this was not the right moment and the timing was far from ideal, he took a deep breath, stepped forward, and forced himself to speak. ¡°Anneliese, I like you. I really, really like you. Ever since I first saw you on the campus tree- lined path, 1,552 days ago, I¡¯ve felt this. I¡ªI¡¯m nervous. Let me get my words out. Can you wait to answer me after I finish?¡± His eyes shone bright and sincere. Even in the cold winter night, a sheen of sweat glimmered on his forehead. This text is hosted at ?ovelFind His honesty radiated warmth, even in the sharp chill. Anneliese froze. A sudden chill ran down her spine, as if invisible eyes were watching her with quiet intensity. She shivered before she could remember why the feeling was familiar. Then, a deep, husky voice belonging to a man broke through the night air. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that is one question she cannot answer, but I can do it in her ce, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Jackson¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Who was that? Is there someone else here? he wondered. He nced around, but there was no one. The voice sounded oddly familiar. Finally, his eyes fell on the glow of Anneliese¡¯s phone, hanging in her lowered hand. Anneliese¡¯s pulse raced. 538 Chapter 255 At the Lab s She realized that before Jackson had stopped her, she had just answered a video call from Jonathan. The voice she heard came from her brand¨Cnew husband. A wave of panic and guilt flooded through her. She did nothing, but it felt like her husband had just caught her cheating. She gripped the phone tightly, instinctively wanting to hang up, but froze in ce. Ending the call now would only make things worse. Even though her marriage to Jonathan was a purely formal arrangement and he would not feel jealousy, she did not want to create unnecessary misunderstandings on the first day. She held the phone out toward Jackson with an awkward, forced smile. ¡°Uh, I guess I should introduce you. This is my husband.¡± She tilted the phone so Jackson could see the screen. Jackson¡¯s eyes widened. On the screen stood Jonathan, calm and poised in a ck shirt, framed by the hotel¡¯s floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. His dark eyes were sharp andmanding, but there was a faint glint of warning in them. Husband. Not just a boyfriend, but a husband. Jackson¡¯s pupils shrank. It felt like a lightning strike had split his chest. ¡°She¡¯s as good as your sister¨Cinw, Jackson.¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze sharpened as he stared at the young man who had just poured his heart out to his wife. Every inch of him radiated caution and disapproval, as if he could pierce through the screen and make Jackson back away. At the same time, Jonathan felt a quiet sense of relief. If he had not canceled Jackson¡¯s dinner ns, this boy might have taken Anneliese for himself. Created 256 Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson 38 s ¡°You got married? Married? But that¡¯s impossible! You just got out of a marriage, Anneliese!¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel Jackson¡¯s eyes widened. Shock and pain twisted across his face as he stared at her. He did not stop to think if he had the right to ask and simply blurted the question out. Anneliese¡¯s cheeks warmed slightly. She did move on from one marriage to the next at an astoundingly fast pace. A stranger might think she had been unfaithful in her previous rtionship, and that her new husband might not have been too new after all. The truth was simple. She felt nothing for Jackson beyond friendship and did not want him to keep hoping for something that would never happen. She nodded once. ¡°We got the license this afternoon.¡± Jackson¡¯s mind immediately shed back to lunch, when he had been tricked into leaving. He had even asked Jonathan to give her a heads¨Cup. Now it all clicked. Now he knew why Jonathan did what he did. Jackson raised a finger at the screen, his voice tight with fury. ¡°Jonathan, I trusted you! You sneaky, devious devil! You don¡¯t deserve Anneliese at all!¡± His anger red hotter with each word. His hand trembled and formed a tight fist. Jonathan¡¯s face remained calm, radiating a quiet authority and steady patience, like a man who had seen the world andmanded respect. ¡°Jackson, thank you for your feelings for my wife. Your taste is admirable. But a man must live by his code, and one of it states that his friends¡® wives are off¨Climits. I hope you can let go of thoughts you should not have and behave like a gentleman by wishing us well.¡± Jackson froze. Friend, my foot! he thought. I¡¯m not your friend, and what¡¯s that about being a gentleman? Are you calling me scum if I refuse to congratte you on your marriage? His eyes reddened. His fists shook with frustration and helplessness. Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson 38 s Anneliese, seeing that everything was cleared up and fearing Jackson might push himself too far, quickly lowered her phone. ¡°Thanks, I should go now.¡± She turned and jogged toward her car. Only after buckling her seatbelt did she finally exhale, letting the tension drain from her shoulders. At that moment, Jonathan¡¯s voice came again, calm but teasing. ¡°You seem to have a line of admirers waiting to take your hand in marriage, honey.¡± Anneliese nced at the phone lying on the center console and bit her lip before picking it up. Jonathan lounged on a sofa, swirling a ss of red wine in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but there was a faint spark of amusement in his eyes. Anneliese felt that familiar prickle of unease. She shifted her gaze and tried to steer the conversation. ¡°You are at the hotel already?¡± The dim interior light of the car did not hide the faint blush rising to her cheeks. Jonathan studied her carefully through the screen. She was his wife, and thew acknowledged it. The thought made him restless. Travel was routine, but tonight it made him impatient and oddly uneasy. He made up his mind to pick up the pace of his project. He took a slow sip of wine and spoke, smooth and teasing. ¡°I was going to talk to you about my schedule, but guess I got in the way of a confession session, and it was initiated by a handsomed, no less. I hope you¡¯re not too mad?¡± Anneliese remained silent. He¡¯s not going to let this go, is he? she thought. She shot the screen a mock re. ¡°Of course I¡¯m not mad. I should be thanking you. You shielded me from a romantic advance, and you¡¯re only on your first day. Thanks.¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved in a subtle smile. Through the look on her face, he saw that she held no feelings for Jackson. Quietly, he leaned closer to the screen. Chapter 256 Shocked Jackson ¡°I hope your gratitude doesn¡¯t stop at mere words.¡± His face suddenly filled the screen. The jawline was sharp, the lips soft and perfect. 38 +S Free Coins The first two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the movement of his throat and a beauty mark. The effect was intense, as if the screen could not contain him. Anneliese¡¯s heart skipped. She instinctively moved the phone slightly away, letting her eyshes lower. When she lifted her gaze again, Jonathan had stepped back. His wine ss rested on the table. He appeared to be reading a document handed by his assistant. She bit her lip nervously. ¡°You¡­ you havepany? You should get back to work now. I¡¯m going home.¡± The embarrassment was overwhelming. That meant someone else had also witnessed Jackson¡¯s confession. Jonathan nced at her. He saw the tremor in her eyes. He made noment and simply said, calm and measured: ¡°Of course. Text me after you get back home.¡± ¡°Okay, got it,¡± Anneliese mumbled and hung up. She rubbed her heated cheeks and only after parking did the strangeness of the moment hit her. She and Jonathan were in a contract marriage. There was no reason to report every move to each other on the very first day. Created 257 Chapter 257 On the Way Back Chapter 257 On the Way Back s Maybe Jonathan still had people from thepany around him, so he had done it on purpose just to let them watch the show. Anneliese shook her head, pushing the thought away and letting it fade. On her way back, she passed the tall ss tower that gleamed under the night sky, and she stopped there to collect the watch. That day, when she had gone into the Patek Philippe store to pick out a watch for Jonathan, the purchase hadn¡¯t gone through. So, she had stepped into the neighboring Vacheron Constantin boutique instead, where she chose another model. That watch had to be ordered in, so she left only the deposit. That afternoon the sales associate called her, saying the watch had finally arrived. What she never expected was to once again run into the very same woman in sunsses who had fought her for the watchst time. The woman carried herself like she owned the ce. She dressed like a wealthydy showing off her power. Tonight she wasn¡¯t hiding behind tinted sses. In one hand she carried a glossy designer bag, in the other she clutched the hand of a small boy. The rightful source is Find_Novel(. She stepped out of the Patek Philippe store, the clerk right behind her, smiling and passing her a gift bag that held the watch inside. ¡°Have a wonderful day, ma¡¯am.¡± So, it seemed that she had to buy that broken watch, and now it was all fixed up. Anneliese had no interest in crossing paths with her again. She slipped quickly behind one of the giant stone pirs in the shopping center, letting its shadow hide her. The woman strolled past with the child in tow. ¡°Mom, do you think Dad will be happy about the watch? Will he stop staying mad at Uncle?¡± ¡°He will love it.¡± Their voices trailed off as they walked farther, and Anneliese¡¯s eyes tightened on the woman¡¯s back. Last time, the woman¡¯s face had been hidden, but this time she saw it clearly. The features Chapter 257 On the Way Back were too familiar. The resemnce to Selina was sharp and unsettling. s Her brow furrowed deeper as she watched the woman and the child vanish into the distance. She recalled the sharp hostility in that woman¡¯s eyes the other day in the store. That hadn¡¯t been about a watch at all. But there were plenty of people in the world who shared a face. Coral, for instance, had moments where she looked like Selina too. Perhaps she was letting her mind wander too far. Anneliese picked up the watch and returned to Maple Bay, only to find Jessica was gone. Meatloaf spun in circles around her, restless and needy. She fed him, then reached for her phone to call Jessica. It took three tries before Jessica answered, and when she did, heavy metal sted so loud through the line that it made Anneliese¡¯s ears sting. ¡°Are you at a nightclub?¡± ¡°Yeah, Velour! From this moment on, I¡¯m Jessica! Only Jessica and no other name! I feel incredible, it¡¯s worth celebrating. Come out with me, drink with me, let¡¯s go!¡± That told Anneliese that Marcus had already left Oceaton, and Jessica¡¯s bright joy made herugh as well. ¡°Are you there by yourself or with someone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m with a new friend¡­¡± At once, Anneliese remembered thest time she stepped into Velour, when she booked male dancers and the whole night spiraled into chaos. Jonathan had been the one to save her then, and the memory left her with a bitter chill toward the ce. ¡°I¡¯ll pass Since Jessica had another friend this time around, she¡¯d give the invitation a pass. tonight. I¡¯m heading back to Baytree tomorrow, and I need to get my packing done. You have fun, but don¡¯t drink too much.¡± She ended the call, showered, and began folding clothes into her suitcase. Once she finished, she slipped back into the bathroom. Halfway through her bath, Meatloaf¡¯s paws thudded against the door, and his frantic barking filled the quiet. Chapter 257 On the Way Back were too familiar. The resemnce to Selina was sharp and unsettling. +5 Free Coins Her brow furrowed deeper as she watched the woman and the child vanish into the distance. She recalled the sharp hostility in that woman¡¯s eyes the other day in the store. That hadn¡¯t been about a watch at all. But there were plenty of people in the world who shared a face. Coral, for instance, had moments where she looked like Selina too. Perhaps she was letting her mind wander too far. Anneliese picked up the watch and returned to Maple Bay, only to find Jessica was gone. Meatloaf spun in circles around her, restless and needy. She fed him, then reached for her phone to call Jessica. It took three tries before Jessica answered, and when she did, heavy metal sted so loud through the line that it made Anneliese¡¯s ears sting. ¡°Are you at a nightclub?¡± ¡°Yeah, Velour! From this moment on, I¡¯m Jessica! Only Jessica and no other name! I feel incredible, it¡¯s worth celebrating. Come out with me, drink with me, let¡¯s go!¡± That told Anneliese that Marcus had already left Oceaton, and Jessica¡¯s bright joy made herugh as well. ¡°Are you there by yourself or with someone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m with a new friend¡­¡® 11 At once, Anneliese remembered thest time she stepped into Velour, when she booked male dancers and the whole night spiraled into chaos. Jonathan had been the one to save her then, and the memory left her with a bitter chill toward the ce. ¡°I¡¯ll pass Since Jessica had another friend this time around, she¡¯d give the invitation a pass. tonight. I¡¯m heading back to Baytree tomorrow, and I need to get my packing done. You have fun, but don¡¯t drink too much.¡± She ended the call, showered, and began folding clothes into her suitcase. Once she finished, she slipped back into the bathroom. Halfway through her bath, Meatloaf¡¯s paws thudded against the door, and his frantic barking, filled the quiet. 14:17 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 257 On the Way Back Wrapped in her robe, Anneliese rushed out. ¡°What is it?¡± s Meatloaf barked again and again, his tailshing with energy, then he tore down the hallway toward the front door. That was when she heard it. The ring of the doorbell cut through the air. Someone was there. She quickly pulled herself together, peered through the peephole, and saw building staff outside. Puzzled, she pulled the door open. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster? Mr. Fullbuster couldn¡¯t reach you, so he asked us to make sure you got safe.¡± home Anneliese froze, then she remembered her promise. She had promised Jonathan she would at least text him the moment she walked through the door. She had forgotten about thatpletely. Snapping back to herself, she lowered her voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble.¡± The guards waved it away with easy smiles. ¡°It¡¯s OK. We¡¯re just d you¡¯re safe and sound. You and your husband must be ¡°You should give him a call right now. Don¡¯t let him worry.¡± very close. Anneliese smiled and nodded, then closed the door. She hurried back to her room and grabbed her phone. Somehow, the phone had slipped into silent mode. The screen showed six missed calls from Jonathan. She stared at the glow of the disy, and her chest filled with a deep, aching swell. She had never imagined someone across the ocean could worry for her in this way. She had always believed that her marriage to Jonathan was nothing more than a cold, written contract. That was why she hadn¡¯t been surprised when he had left for a business trip the moment their marriage license was signed. 14:17 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 257 On the Way Back 37 s Yet the truth was clear. Even when he was far away, he had never really been absent. Everything he was supposed to do, he had done. Even the things no one expected, he had done them with care. Created 258 Chapter 258 Touched He asked his friends to help her solve her problems. +5 Free Coins He sent her small gifts, told her where he was going, and when she missed his calls he grew restless with worry. His thoughtfulness left her shaken, unsure of how to handle the emotions that swelled inside her. Anneliese clutched her phone tighter, then quickly opened WhatsApp and typed a reply to Jonathan. I made it home safe. I¡¯m sorry, I forgot to tell you. I was in the shower and didn¡¯t hear the phone.¡¯ Her chest tightened with guilt. Fear twisted in her stomach that he might be upset with her. Jonathan must have been waiting for her response, because his reply came almost right away. Get some rest. Good night.¡¯ Anneliese¡¯s fingers hovered above the screen. She wanted to send him a good night back, but she remembered it was still daytime where he was, and she stopped herself. After a long pause, she sent him a sticker of a baby rabbit curled up, fast asleep. The scene turns to the Whites¡® estate. Selina staggered into the house, drunk and stumbling, nearly copsing at the door. Mnie and Christopher were in the living room watching a reality show. They jumped to their feet and rushed to catch her before she fell. ¡°How much did you drink? What happened to you?¡± Mnie cried, panic rushing through her voice. ¡°Mom, I feel so awful. I can¡¯t take it,¡± Selina sobbed, her swollen eyes showing she had cried for a long time. She clung to Mnie¡¯s arms, swaying as if her legs could not hold her weight. Christopher bent down, lifted her without hesitation, and carried her upstairs with heavy 14:17 Wed, Sep 17 N¡­ Chapter 258 Touched steps. Heid her gently on the bed. P: 37 s Mnie pressed a warm towel to her daughter¡¯s face, but Selina broke down again, gripping her mother tightly as more tears streamed down her checks. ¡°My sweet girl, tell me right now. Who hurt you? Tell me and I¡¯ll make sure he pays for what he did,¡± Mnie said, her voice full of rage and fierce love. Selina¡¯s eyes burned with jealousy, because Jonathan was married now and there was no denying it. All of AeroAir was bursting with celebration. The people were handing out gifts, and every employee¡¯s bonus had already doubled. The secretary¡¯s office even updated Jonathan¡¯s personal information online to show that he was married. ¡°Oh my God, Mr. Fullbuster treats Mrs. Fullbuster like she¡¯s everything. He¡¯s head over heels in love with her.¡± ¡°The most wanted bachelor in the city just went public with his marriage. How can he do this without thinking about all the people who cared for him?¡± ¡°Who is his wife? I¡¯m sick with envy. I wish I could live her life.¡± ¡°The bonuses are doubled. So, when will Mr. Fullbuster have a baby? Is he nning to fill the house with kids until the walls burst?¡± The halls of AeroAir shook withughter and gossip, but Selina felt like her heart had been torn in two. Jonathan¡¯s mother had always liked her. At thest White family dinner, she had even hinted that Selina and Jonathan could be matched. Earlier that day, Selina had called Jonathan¡¯s mother in a panic, but her voice had been colder than before. The onlyfort Selina could cling to was that Mrs. Fullbuster clearly did not know who the bride was. That meant the woman still had not won the Fullbuster Family¡¯s approval. Even with that thought, Selina could not smother the misery wing at her chest. She had gone to a bar, where she ran into some old so¨Ccalled friends. 37 Chapter 258 Touched They mocked her openly,ughing about the scandal at the dinner. s ¡°Mom, Anne ruined me in front of everyone. Mrs. Fullbuster used to like me, but once she heard those ugly rumors, she turned cold. I really do love Jonathan, but now I know I¡¯ll never have a chance with him again,¡± Selina cried, her voice breaking with grief. Mnie¡¯s face flushed red with anger. ¡°Stop crying, baby. I¡¯ll make her pay for what she did to you,¡± she said with fury. Christopher¡¯s jaw tightened, his face dark. ¡°She wrecked her own marriage and lives in misery, so now she¡¯s determined to ruin Selina too.¡± If Selina had married Jonathan, the White family would have risen higher than ever before. Anneliese hadn¡¯t only crushed Selina¡¯s happiness. She had dragged down the future of the family. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster really isn¡¯t speaking to you anymore?¡± The voice came from the doorway. Timothy and Perseus had just returned, and their expressions were grim. Thepany¡¯s crisis had grown worse. Zacharias had wired five hundred million, which gave them some relief for a while, but in the afternoon, uderias Tech demanded every cent back. When Zacharias first made the transfer, he had already protected himself, so his move to reim the money was fully legal. Timothy had called him personally, his voice calm and patient, but Zacharias said his hands were tied. He admitted it was Anneliese who kept pushing him to pull the funds back. Timothy had boiled with rage. He had called Anneliese himself, but she refused to answer. He had clung to onest shred of hope, thinking Selina¡¯s connection to Mrs. Fullbuster might help. Maybe she could beg her for support. But when he came home and heard the truth, the hope vanished. Selina lifted her tear-stained face and nodded. Timothy¡¯s fury erupted. ¡°That ungrateful wretch. That heartless girl. Drag her back here, even if you have to tie her hands. I want her here tomorrow!¡± The next morning, Anneliese woke early. Content originallyes from 37 s 14:17 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 258 Touched Her flight back to Baytree was set for that night, and she knew she would be Oceaton for a long while. gone from Created 259 Chapter 259 Strange +5 Free Coins She had rented a safety deposit box at the bank, and that morning she intended to ce her finest jewelry and precious valuables inside it for safekeeping. As she stood at the bathroom sink brushing her teeth, a faint sound drifted through the quiet house. Anneliese paused mid¨Cstroke, her cars straining. She tilted her head, holding her breath, and listened harder. Silence settled again. She reminded herself that Meatloaf was out there. If anyone had broken in, the dog would have been barking his head off. Reassured, she leaned back over the sink and continued brushing. The next instant, the bathroom door flew open with a sharp bang. Meatloaf came barreling in, his tail wagging so hard it whipped the air, a greasy chicken drumstick hanging triumphantly from his jaws. Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Where in the world did you get that? Don¡¯t tell me there¡¯s an actual burr in the house.¡± And not just any burr, but one clever enough to bribe the dog. She spat out the foam, rinsed her mouth quickly, and rushed into the hallway. The sight that met her made her stop short. Jessica was creeping along the floorboards on tiptoe, her back hunched, moving toward the guest room like a thief in some cartoon. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice cut sharp as a de, her narrowed eyes fixing on Jessica. Jessica froze, caught mid¨Cstep, but she didn¡¯t turn around. She stretchedzily instead, stifled a yawn, and muttered, ¡°God, I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m just heading back to bed.¡± She took a step forward. ¡°Meatloaf,¡± Anneliese ordered, ¡°grab her.¡± The dog dropped the chicken bone with a wet smack and lunged. His teeth mped onto Jessica¡¯s college coat, and he pulled with surprising force, dragging her stumbling backward toward his owner. E Chapter 259 Strange Jessica staggered, ring furiously at the animal. ¡°Meatloaf, you traitor!¡± s So much for her bribe. He had chewed her offering with greasy delight, then turned right around and betrayed her, his mouth still shining with oil as he pulled on her coat. ¡°You-¡± Chapters first released on find?novel Anneliese strode over and caught Jessica firmly by the arm. But when she saw her friend¡¯s face, her words died at once. Now it all made sense. No wonder this girl had been skulking around at dawn, sneaking like a thief caught in the act. Her coat hung loose, barely covering her. Her exposed neck and chest were covered with marks, bruised kissesyered thick across her skin, undeniable proof of a night filled with fire. Anneliese¡¯s eyes red as she crossed her arms. ¡°And who is the guy who left you like this?¡± Not for a second did she think Jessica had been forced. Her cheeks were glowing, her lips soft and flushed. She looked every bit a woman who had surrendered willingly, drenched in passion. ¡°N¨Cno, it¡¯s not what you think, I just-¡°Jessica fumbled to pull her coat tighter around herself, fumbling in a panic. Her bag slipped from her shoulder and hit the ground with a heavy thud. A small box spilled across the floor. Jessica lunged for it, but Anneliese was faster. She bent down, plucked it up, and held it high in triumph. ¡°n B? You didn¡¯t seriously pay for a male escortst night, did you?¡± Jessica¡¯s face burned crimson. She snatched the box back with shaking hands. The secret was out. Pretending was pointless now. She copsed onto the couch and croaked, ¡°Get me some water first.¡± Her voice was hoarse, roughened from long hours ofughter and moans. 18 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 259 Strange 70 +5 Free Coins Anneliese shook her head but fetched her a ss anyway. Jessica downed the water, swallowed the pill, then covered her face with both hands. ¡°It wasn¡¯t some escort,¡± she muttered. ¡°It was¡­ Zane.¡± Anneliese¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor. She had seen the sparks between them yesterday, flickering quietly like coals. But she had never imagined they would ignite into a full wildfire overnight. ¡°You¡¯re telling me the guy you went drinking with at Velour was him? Did the two of you actually end up together?¡± Jessica dragged her hands down her face. ¡°Together? Absolutely not. It was just one night. Nothing more. Don¡¯t twist it into something it isn¡¯t.¡± She gave another loud yawn, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. ¡°I¡¯m going back to bed.¡± Anneliese stared at her retreating back, knowing without question that Jessica had no intention of saying another word. They were grown women now. Even best friends had to respect certain boundaries. So, she let her go. Jessica didn¡¯t want to relive it anyway. She felt there was nothing worth exining. The day before, Zane had gone with her to finish her address change. For the first time, she felt like chains had fallen from her shoulders. Freedom spread through her chest like sunlight. She no longer had to live like someone hiding in the shadows. She no longer had to feel like she was borrowing another woman¡¯s identity. She was no longer Queenie¡¯s stand¨Cin. She was finally just herself. Joy had bubbled up so bright that she had insisted on buying Zane a drink at Velour. At first, it was easy. They simply sat together, sipping their sses. Then his ex showed up, clinging to him and refusing to go away. Zane had wrapped his arm around Jessica¡¯s waist, pulled her onto hisp, and dered to his ex that she was his girlfriend now. That was when the night lost control. His ex would not believe it. Jessica thought of all Zane had done for her, so she decided she could repay him with one small favor. She would help him cut ties with his leftover baggage. 14:18 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 259 Strange : So, she grabbed his face and kissed him with everything she had. 37 s Now she sat with her head pounding, heavy from the hangover and the dizzy sweetness of the night before. She was certain she hadn¡¯t been the one to use her tongue first. But when it came to demanding, ¡°Are we doing this or not,¡± shoving him t against the booth, climbing on top of him, ripping his belt free, and tossing it into the dance floor while the crowd erupted into shrieks and cheers- Yes. That had absolutely been her. Created 260 Chapter 260 Wild Friend Chapter 260 Wild Friend ¡°Ugh!¡± s Jessica pressed her palms into her tangled hair, frustration twisting across her face. She let her body fall onto the mattress, burying herself under the nket until her head was hidden. When she had slipped out that morning, the man had still been sound asleep. She had settled the bill herself, left a card behind, and even ordered breakfast for him out of courtesy. It was her way of making things right, and at the same time drawing a clear line. Anyone who cared to notice would know exactly what she meant. That was the end of it. Jessica pulled the nket tighter around her body, curling herself into a small cocoon, and closed her eyes. Even though Anneliese usually avoided interfering in Jessica¡¯s private matters, she could not help herself. While chatting with Jonathan, she started asking about Zane. ¡°Has Zane been in a lot of rtionships before? This update is avable on find¡¤novel ¡°Does he have a certain type of woman he likes? ¡°You mentioned the other day that Jackson was being pulled home for an arranged marriage. Since Zane has already built his career, if he gets married, does he have to follow the same thing too?¡± It was the first thing in the morning in Adros, but Jonathan answered her patiently anyway. He sat at the table, breakfast in front of him. The more he realized how often Zane¡¯s name came up, the less appealing his food became. He managed a brief reply, and then the phone buzzed again. He unlocked the screen and saw Anneliese asking if Zane was faithful in rtionships. His jaw tightened, and the steel fork in his hand drove down with force, piercing straight into the steak on his te. While Anneliese was still waiting for his reply, his call came instead. By that time, she had already reached a restaurant near Astoria University, ready to attend a dinner with herb group. Chapter 260 Wild Friend She picked up, and Jonathan¡¯s smooth, maic voice filled her car. ¡°So curious about Zane. Do you like him?¡± 37 s Anneliese failed to hear the sharpness in his tone. She nodded lightly as though he could see her. ¡°Yeah. I mean, Zane¡¯s actually a really good guy-¡± Jonathan cut her off. ¡°Better than me?¡± Anneliese froze in silence. The weight in his voice struck herte, but it sank in quickly. She blinked. She was suddenly realizing she had spent her whole morning pressing her supposed husband about another man. Not just another man, but his closest friend. That behavior was not only wrong. It was shameful. It made her look like she had no sense at all. Her questions hade from concern, but panic rushed through her, and she scrambled to fix her mistake. ¡°No, no! There¡¯s no way he could everpare to you. You¡¯re the best. I only asked about him because he helped Jess so much yesterday, and that meant he helped me too. I thought maybe I could help him find a girlfriend.¡± Jonathan¡¯s fingertip tapped against the back of his phone twice, a subtle sound that he chose to focus on while ignoring most of what she said after those first few words. So, in her heart, he was the best. Zion sat across from him at the table, eating his own breakfast. He watched the man¡¯s face shift slowly from clear skies to storm clouds, then from storm clouds to heavy rain, and finally from heavy rain to bright sunlight, all in the span of one meal. And Zion had been working for him long enough to know what that meant. That soft tapping against the phone case was Jonathan¡¯s way of being secretly thrilled. Even when theirst project had raked in billions, he had not looked nearly this happy. Whatever Anneliese had told him, it had turned his strong and mighty boss into something soft and almost unrecognizable. 14:18 Wed, Sep 17 N Chapter 260 Wild Friend 37 45 Free Coins Because of Jackson¡¯s confession, Anneliese had worried the gathering tonight would feel awkward. To her surprise, Jackson never showed. The private room was full ofughter, and soon Professor Baltimore arrived as well. He spoke warmly to Anneliese, offering her praise and even extending a formal invitation to apply as his graduate student and join hisb. Anneliese politely refused. Professor Baltimore sighed with regret, then patted her shoulder with a gentle smile. ¡°All right, I understand. Your bond with Professor Clocke is strong. That¡¯s something I can¡¯t undo. He has spent the past two years devoted to the eVTOL project. It¡¯s one of the hottest open for it. fields in aerospace, built on the most advanced technology, and the future is wide If you follow him, your career will know no limits. Work hard, make your mark, and I¡¯ll be here to see it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Professor Baltimore.¡± Anneliese lifted her ss and toasted him. When she sat back down, Imogen walked over holding her own ss. ¡°Anneliese, let me toast you too. Thank you for all your help these past few weeks.¡± They touched sses, sipping the red wine. Imogen held her gaze steady on Anneliese, then spoke with sudden weight. ¡°You don¡¯t remember me, do you?¡± Anneliese blinked, her eyes clouded with confusion. ¡°Imogen¡­¡± ¡°Five years ago, at the GAIR Contest. I was there too. I lost to you in the very first round.¡± Anneliese¡¯s lips parted, but nothing came out. She searched her memory with everything she had, but her face still showed only uncertainty. Imogen gave a small smile, unsurprised. Five years ago, Anneliese had been radiant. She had been the youngestpetitor in the room, yet she led her team with unmatched strength, sweeping through the contest and iming the championship. 3/3 Created 261 Chapter 261 Her Past Chapter 261 Her Past 67 +5 Free Coins She had once been a wonder, a girl so gifted that every eye followed her. She carried herself with a sharp kind of pride, and her talent was strong enough to silence anyone who doubted her. Back then, Imogen¡¯s own team had not even made it past the early rounds, so it was natural that Anneliese did not remember her. At that time, Imogen had thought Anneliese would rise faster than anyone else and be the brightest star in the entire field. Yet the world turned cruel, and before long, disaster struck. The brighter the jewel, the more thrilling it seemed to watch it fall into dirt. People longed to see something wless break apart, because in its fall, they found proof that no light was ever truly perfect. This update is avable on Find?Novel Even Astoria University, a school that held itself up as a ce of reason and intelligence, had not escaped that hunger. ¡°Back then, the scandal about you spread like fire,¡± Imogen said, her voice low but steady. ¡°Someone must have done it on purpose to destroy you. You know this to be true.¡± The lies had been vile. They said Anneliese had been reckless outside the campus. They said she had chased after men in shady circles. They said she had gone through abortions. They even imed she had been stabbed by some jealous wife who had caught her with her husband. The filth spread fast, slipping from mouth to mouth, until it echoed through every part of the school. Soon after, Anneliese disappearedpletely. She was gone from the campus, gone from the industry. She carried nothing but shame on her back. She had been only eighteen. A girl barely grown, left alone to endure storms that should never have touched her. Imogen¡¯s eyes softened with sorrow as she looked at Anneliese, who sat frozen, stunned by the memory. ¡°I know I might be speaking too much,¡± Imogen said, her tone warm and fierce, ¡°but I never once believed you were like those rumors. People invent lies when they cannot stand the sight of someone who shines brighter than they do. They pull others down only so they can live with their own smallness. Chapter 261 Her Past s ¡°Anneliese, I hope that this time you rise again. Do not let their poison weigh on you. Do not bow to their shadows. Let your light ze even brighter than before, and crush those who tried to destroy you into nothing but dust.¡± Anneliese had not expected to hear words like these. The sound of Imogen¡¯s voice was filled with kindness, hope, and strength that wrapped around her like warmth. Her throat tightened, her eyes stung, and she lifted her ss with both hands. ¡°Imogen, thank you. Thank you for believing in me and for saying all of this. I will rise again. Back then, I was too young, but I am not weak anymore. I have turned myself into steel. I have hardened my heart. I am Anneliese the Powerful now, and anyone who dares to spread lies about me will not walk away from it. This toast is for you, Imogen.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Imogen said, her voice breaking into a smile. ¡°Then fight on, Anneliese.¡± Imogen lifted her ss, and their cups met with a sharp clink. They both drank in one pull. Yet inside, her heart carried a heavy ache. A heart of steel did note easily. A hardened soul was not born without pain. Imogen wondered what storms Anneliese had walked through in the missing years to be what she was now. The dinner ended after a little more than an hour. The group left the private room,ughing and speaking lightly. Anneliese walked in the middle, surrounded by the others. She did not see the eyes in the corner of the hall. They were filled with hatred and followed her every step until her figure faded out of sight. ¡°Coral,¡± a girl whispered at Coral¡¯s side, her voice sharp with surprise. ¡°That¡¯s the ex you told us about, isn¡¯t it? The one who wouldn¡¯t stop chasing your boyfriend? Why is she walking with Professor Baltimore and the others from the flight school?¡± Coral¡¯s roommate had only seen Anneliese once before, but she remembered her clearly. That day, Anneliese had marched up and pped both Coral and Zacharias across the face in front of everyone. And with her beauty, no one could forget her. The girl recognized her easily. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Coral muttered darkly. ¡°My boyfriend said she never even finished high school. Maybe she went into the real world early, made contacts, and built connections. She¡¯s 12:09 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 261 Her Past beautiful, so getting into the academic world isn¡¯t much of a surprise.¡± Her roommate gasped and lowered her voice. 67 +5 Free Coins ¡°Oh my God. She¡¯s not trying to hook up with Professor Baltimore, is she? He¡¯s old enough to be her father.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Coral said tly. ¡°She¡¯s never been the type to stay in one ce. Otherwise, my boyfriend wouldn¡¯t have dumped her.¡± Her words sounded careless, but her eyes burned with deep hatred. She med Anneliese for everything. She had been forced to give up her baby, and after that, Zacharias never saw her again. He had left her a house, but her parents had sold it to pay her brother¡¯s gambling debts. Now her parents demanded more money from her, yet she had none to give. She had skipped so many sses that the department had stripped her right to take the finals. They had told her she would need to repeat the year. The only reason she came here tonight was because her roommate had said the department head would be dining here. She hade to beg for another chance. Her life had unraveled into a mess. She had lost everything. And in her mind, it was all because of Anneliese. She would never forgive her. Anneliese knew nothing about the storm of anger Coral carried in her heart. She had drunk a little, but not enough to feel dizzy, and she still called for a driver. She slipped into the car, gave the driver her Maple Bay address, and prepared to grab her luggage and head straight for the airport. Created 262 12:09 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 262 Trap Original content can be found at find¡¤novel Chapter 262 Trap : +5 Free Coins She spent some time scrolling through her phone, but when she finally looked up, her chest sank. The road outside the window was unfamiliar, and unease swept through her like a cold tide. Her voice broke the silence. ¡°You¡¯re driving the wrong way. Tell me where you¡¯re taking me.¡± The driver lifted his head with slow certainty. He pushed the brim of his cap back, and his face came into the light. His features were rough and sharp, and there was a cruel edge in his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of, Ms. ude. I am only following Mr. White¡¯s orders to bring you home.¡± Anneliese¡¯s face hardened, her voice sharp with suspicion. ¡°Which one? Timothy or Perseus?¡± The man answered without hesitation. ¡°Your father, Mr. Timothy White.¡± Her grip tightened on her phone, her voice rising with defiance. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere with you. Stop this car right now, or I¡¯ll call the police.¡± Her fingers flew across the screen, unlocking her phone in a sh. But before she could dial, the driver mmed his foot down. The car jolted to a violent halt at the side of the road. The tires shrieked against the asphalt, the force throwing her forward in her seat. In one swift move, the driver twisted around, wrenched the phone from her hand, powered it off, and shoved it into the glovepartment with a harsh snap. His voice carried a cold warning. ¡°Ms. ude, it would be wiser to cooperate. If you refuse, I will knock you out.¡± The threat pressed against her chest like a de. When Anneliese finally crossed the threshold of the White family mansion, she was met not with words but with a strike. The crack of a palm across her cheek echoed through the entryway. The blow sent her reeling. Her shoulder mmed into a tall vase, shattering it into sharp fragments. She copsed onto the shards, pain stabbing her palms as broken ceramic cut into her skin. Blood welled in her mouth, the metallic taste spreading over her tongue. She clutched her burning face and forced herself to lift her head. Timothy towered over her, his finger stabbing the air inches from her nose. His voice thundered with rage. ¡°You ungrateful wretch! Look at what you¡¯ve done! I cannot believe I raised something like you! You forget kindness, you hold grudges, and you betray your own +5 Free Coins Chapter 262 Trap blood like amon beast.¡± Anneliese dragged her hand across her lips, wiping away the blood. She pressed against the wall, her body trembling, but her spine stayed upright. Her eyes swept across the living room. Mnie sat stiffly on the couch, clutching Selina¡¯s hand. Christopher and Perseus lounged back with their legs crossed, their cold eyes fixed on her as though the chaos before him was nothing but theater. Anneliese¡¯s lips curved into a bitter, broken smile. Her voice cut through the air. ¡°Kindness? Don¡¯t speak to me of kindness. Your family never gave me anything to be grateful for. Even if I owed you life itself, the night I was stabbed and left to bleed in that alley, you revealed your truth. You protected the one who did it. That night, I gave your debt back in full.¡± The chandelier¡¯s glow caught her eyes, making them glitter like des of ice. Timothy¡¯s fury faltered. His face locked in a grim mask, and for a heartbeat, he could not look at her directly. Selina¡¯s gaze lingered on Anneliese¡¯s swollen cheek. A flicker of satisfaction brightened her eyes. She rose to her feet, her voice dripping with false sweetness. ¡°Anne, I admit what happened back then was my mistake. I already apologized for that. If you won¡¯t forgive me, fine. If you want to destroy my reputation in public, fine. But Mom, Dad, and our brothers are still your family. Now that we¡¯re facing trouble, how could Zacharias to set us up and push us into this mess?¡± you team up with Anneliese¡¯s reply cut sharp as ss. ¡°You think I joined hands with Zacharias?¡± Selina¡¯s voice sharpened as she pressed forward. ¡°You asked him to invest five hundred million in ourpany. Dad and Perseus had just managed to calm the partners. Then you urged him to pull the money out, and it threw everything into chaos again. Now the whole world thinks White Inc. is falling apart. Anne, you are dragging us straight into ruin.¡± She had whispered poison into Perseus¡® ear for weeks, urging him toward divorce and division of assets. If she seeded, Anneliese¡¯s fortune would fill the Whites¡® empty coffers. If she failed, the family¡¯s resentment would devour her whole. Anneliese stared straight at Selina. Selina waited, her expression calm, expecting her to argue. Instead, Anneliese¡¯s palm cracked across her cheek with a force that rang through the room. 12:09 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 262 Trap 67 +5 Free Coins Selina gasped. Her scream ripped through the air. She never imagined Anneliese would strike. her in front of them all. She clutched her burning cheek, her hand shaking as she pointed a finger at her. Anneliese caught that finger, bent it back with merciless force, and delivered another blow across her face with the back of her hand. The sharp sound split the silence. Selina¡¯s mind went nk. Her body locked in shock. Christopher¡¯s eyes red with rage. He lunged forward, grabbed Selina, and shoved Anneliese hard. Her back mmed into the sharp corner of a cab. Pain seared through her, sweat breaking across her brow. When she pulled herself upright again, Mnie and the others had already gathered around Selina. Their voices rose in worry andfort, every nce filled with concern. Selina lowered her head against Mnie¡¯s shoulder. Her face stung, but as their affection surrounded her, her lips curved faintly. Anneliese¡¯s fury had only made her shine brighter. Her voice softened into false sacrifice. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, you guys. If letting Anne hit me can ease her anger, then I¡¯ll take it. As long as she¡¯s willing to help us through this, I¡¯ll endure it.¡± Mnie stroked Selina¡¯s hair, her re burning toward Anneliese. Her voiceshed like a whip. ¡°Anneliese, you can stand to learn from Selina. She is thoughtful, she is patient, she is everything you are not. If you could be half as considerate as her-¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice cut her off, cold and sharp. Her ovum donor might love the sound of its own voice, but Anneliese did not. ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ve heard it all. She¡¯s the perfect one, the obedient one, the pride of this family. If you want to worship her like she¡¯s the creator of your whole wide world, then go ahead, but don¡¯t drag me into it.¡± The words struck Mnie deep, her face paling as her chest tightened. ¡°You¡ª¡± Timothy gripped her arm, pulling her back. He had not dragged Anneliese here to fight over words. Hismand was clipped and firm. ¡°Take Selina upstairs and treat her injuries. Her face is swollen.¡± Perseus¡® voice followed, smooth and decisive. ¡°Yes, Mom. Take her up. Leave Dad and us to 12:09 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 262 Trap deal with this.¡± 67 s Mnie hesitated. The issue of Anneliese¡¯s address change had left her uneasy. She did not want Timothy and her sons to press too hard, afraid they might drive Anneliese away for good. Created 263 Chapter 263 Demands s Since Anneliese carried herself with such defiance, Mnie no longer felt the urge to step in. Anneliese had let her down too many times, and she decided it was best to leave her to the punishment of her father and brothers. ¡°Come on, Selina. Let¡¯s go upstairs. I¡¯ll put something cold on that bruise, or you¡¯ll never be able to walk outside tomorrow,¡± Mnie said softly, her voice dripping with pity. She held Selina¡¯s hand and led her toward the stairs. Selina nodded with a practiced sweetness, but before leaving, she threw Anneliese a look, her eyes sharp with mockery and swollen with pride. Anneliese¡¯s own cheek was puffed and red, yet no one reached for her. She stood alone, deserted in the middle of the room. The contrast was cruel. Behind that proud face of hers, her heart must have been breaking in silence. Selina looked on and felt a surge of delight, like watching her rival finally stumble. Yet Anneliese did not nce at her, nor at Mnie. When the two of them disappeared upstairs, Timothy did not raise his hand again. Instead, he lifted it with hesitation, his voice touched with regret as he said, ¡°Anne, I didn¡¯t mean to hit you. I¡­¡± His words fell t when Anneliese stepped back two paces, retreating from him like he carried a sickness she could not bear to touch. Her voice was hard and cold. ¡°Spare me that act. Cut to the chase,¡± Timothy¡¯s expression froze. His chest sank heavy with the truth that this daughter of his could never again be softened with kindness. He dropped onto the sofa, staring at her lonely figure, his tone clipped and unyielding. ¡°You will call Zacharias right now. You will tell him that the five hundred million you put in was given to White Inc. by your own choice.¡± Anneliese let out a sharpugh. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if you walk around with your heads filled with nothing but hot air. I already cut my name from this family. I have no ties to you 12:09 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 263 Demands : 67 +5 Free Coins anymore. Why would I throw my money into your family¡¯s hole? Just because your heads are empty doesn¡¯t mean mine is.¡± Perseus barked back, his anger breaking loose. ¡°If White Inc. falls, you won¡¯t be spared from the damage either!¡± Anneliese smirked. ¡°And myment about your heads stands. You¡¯re the one begging for help, but you think you¡¯re doing me a favor instead.¡± my Christopher¡¯s rage snapped. ¡°You¡¯re begging to be pped, Anneliese!¡± He stormed toward her, hand raised high, but Timothy¡¯s shout struck through the air. ¡°Chris, don¡¯t touch her!¡± Christopher stopped cold, his chest rising and falling in fury as he dropped back onto the couch. Timothy spoke again, his voiceced with strained control. ¡°What I promised you at the banquet is still good. Ten percent of the shares are yours. Make the call now, and I¡¯ll sign this moment.¡± Perseus pulled out a folder and ced it on the table with a thud. They had never wanted to show her those papers, hoping she would prove her loyalty without bargaining. To them, Anneliese was still the same, blind to her duty, unwilling to rise above herself. This was the time she should have given without expecting anything back, proving her devotion to family in the darkest hour. That would have proven her worth and tied her closer to them. They would have loved her as much as they loved Selina. Yet her vision was narrow. But signed papers meant everything was now just a cold trade. Christopher leaned forward, his tone sharp. ¡°That deal is as good as it gets. Call him.¡± He stood, pulled up Zacharias¡® number, and forced the phone into Anneliese¡¯s hand. Timothy raised his pen, his hand already poised to sign. The three of them looked at her with full certainty, convinced she would yield. The thought made her lips twitch with bitter amusement. 2/3 Chapter 263 Demands She epted the phone, her fingers tightening around it. Then, under their confident eyes, she flung it with all her strength. 5 Free Coins The crash thundered through the room as the phone struck the vase beside the sofa. The vase split apart, and shards exploded across the carpet. Splinters cut across Perseus and Christopher¡¯s faces, red lines of blood blooming on their skin. A sharp sting bit Timothy¡¯s car as a shard grazed past him, and he leapt to his feet in shock. He looked at his sons¡® bloodied faces, his rage bursting loose like a storm. His finger shook as he pointed at Anneliese. ¡°Lock her in the basement! If she will not listen, then let her sit there without food or water!¡± Find the newest release on f?ndnovel Across the city, Adros had just signed off on the sale of the first airport. The deal was sealed in ink. Inside the car, Zion grumbled, his voice full of disbelief. ¡°That Adros vulture knows how to milk a deal. Even after the terms were set, he dragged it out two or three more times, trying to shove in hidden traps. Thank God you saw it alling, Mr. Fullbuster. His face when you cut him off was a sight to remember.¡± Jonathan stayed silent. He powered on his phone and slid through the updates with careful eyes. This deal mattered. With three airports under AeroAir, thepany could unify its brand across several regions and carve out a base for low¨Ccost international flights. Jonathan pressed his fingers against his temple, his voice steady andmanding. ¡°I expect non¨Caviation revenue to break sixty percent within the year. Tell the redevelopment team I want their final n for expansion andmercial projects immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± The pressure was unending. Jonathan drove harder than the old capitalists ever did. Zion shivered, his pen scratching across his notebook as he wrote every word. Jonathan¡¯s voice dropped low, edged with gravity. ¡°s my wife reached out to you?¡± Zion, still caught in the rush of tasks, answered without pause. 3/3 Created 264 Chapter 264 Concern Chapter 264 Concern s ¡°And which department does she belong to? Oh, wait, your wife! Mr. Fullbuster, just a moment while I check¡­¡± Zion felt Jonathan¡¯s heavy stare burn into him, and his hands scrambled as he pulled out his phone. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, she hasn¡¯t contacted me.¡± Jonathan¡¯s brows knit into a hard frown. Almost a full day had slipped by, and he still had not spoken to her. She had not called. She had not sent even one WhatsApp message. He knew his hours had been swallowed by endless work, and he had not had a second to spare. But she was not the same. By now, she should have already arrived in Baytree for her vacation. It was clear she had lost herself in time with her grandmother and had already forgotten about the husband she had just married. A storm of frustration spread through him as he pressed the phone off with force, tossed it aside, and returned to his merciless pace of work. ¡°Documents.¡± Zion froze. He forced his mind back into order and quickly handed over the files for the next airport deal. Jonathan flipped through the pages, his brow sinking deeper, carved like stone, Zion¡¯s chest felt tight. He wondered if there was a mistake in the numbers. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Jonathan asked. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, if the next acquisition goes well, it will take us two and a half days.¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes locked onto him. ¡°I was asking how long it will take before my wife calls me.¡± Zion nearly lost his breath. Chapter 264 Concern How was he supposed to know that? His mind had switched tracks so many times he felt his brain had copsed. s ¡°Anneliese, why do you make everything so painful? Five hundred million for ten percent of White Inc. is more than fair. You hurt your brothers for nothing, and now you¡¯re just tasting the misery you invited.¡± It was past two in the morning when Selina walked to the basement door. A cashmere shawl clung to her shoulders as she peered through the iron bars into the crushing dark. The air was damp and sharp with mold, heavy with cold. In the corner, pressed against the wall, Anneliese¡¯s frail frame was a shadow among broken junk. Her thin clothes clung to her, her arms squeezed tight around her shivering body. Her teeth rattled as her body shook, every breath draining her strength. Her eyes stayed shut, and she gave Selina no answer. She had sensed trouble in the car earlier and had tried to call Jessica for help. The call never went through. The phone had been ripped from her hand before it could connect. Jessica probably thought she was safe in Baytree by now. Anneliese had kept her trip a secret because she had wanted to surprise her grandmother. She had not wanted her grandmother worrying about her flight or waiting at the airport. Now no one knew she was gone. By morning, Jessica would realize something was wrong. Anneliese told herself she just had to survive tonight. Being locked in darkness was nothing new. Readplete version only at Find1Novel At the orphanage, she had been shoved into closets before. She had never been afraid of the dark. ¡°Anneliese, did you faint from fear? Oh no, Delh, hurry and check if she really passed out!¡± Selina¡¯s voice rang with fake panic, followed by the shuffle of movement at the door. Chapter 264 Concern : Anneliese snapped upright, her nerves raw and sharp. The darkness did not help with the fear at all. She felt something fast scurry across her foot. Selina¡¯s doing. A rat. Or maybe a snake. 67 s Created 265 Chapter 265 Rat in Her Mouth ¡°Wait!¡± : Anneliese¡¯s voice trembled as it finally cut through the silence. 67 s Selina turned her head toward the basement, and in the dim light, she saw the faint shadow of Anneliese moving closer. ¡°If I beg for your mercy, will you really let me out?¡± Her voice cracked, thin and brittle, ready to break. Selina¡¯s chest leapt with excitement, and her eyes stayed fastened on that faint dark shape. ¡°Of course.¡± Her delight surged. Anneliese had lured Jonathan, had destroyed her own name, and now she hadnded straight in Selina¡¯s hands. There was no way Selina would actually let her go. She thought Anneliese was a fool to trust her. ¡°Start begging, and I will keep my word.¡± By now, Anneliese had stepped close to the other side of the iron door. Selina¡¯s voice quivered with sharp joy. ¡°Fine.¡± The word scraped from Anneliese¡¯s throat as she forced her body to bend forward, only a little. Selina leaned in, desperate to see more, pressing her face so near the bars that her breath touched the metal. A wide grin spread across her lips, ready to break into wildughter. But in the very next moment, Anneliese¡¯s shadow surged forward. Selina¡¯s jaw dropped in shock, and her eyes flew wide as something was shoved deep into her mouth. It was soft. It was covered in fur. And it stank so foul that her stomach turned. The truth hit her in a sh. She staggered back and convulsed as dry heaves ripped from her throat. ¡°Selina, you dirty b*tch. That dead rat suits you. It matches that filthy mouth of yours better than anything else ever could.¡± 12:10 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 265 Rat in Her Mouth Anneliese¡¯s sharpugh filled the space. 0 : 67 s She tore the dirty sleeve from her arm and hurled the foul fabric aside. The basement shook with the sound of violent gagging. Selina tried to spit curses, but the stench clogged her throat. She bent over, clutching her mouth, and staggered away, one of the servants rushing to hold her up. Anneliese had never feared rats. Children who grew up without being given an ounce of love had no ce for fear. Back when she was small in the orphanage, mean boys had shoved dead rats at her until she cried. She had learned fast that crying did nothing, so she had forced herself to endure. Later, when she lived in the basement with Zacharias, rats crept in from time to time, and she had always been the one to deal with them. It was filthy, but it was nothing new. Now she thought of Selina choking and retching, and the disgust faded from her chest. But the cold of the basement dug deep into her bones. She sank against the wall, and without reason, her thoughts drifted to Jonathan. The day before, he had kept sending her notes about his schedule. She believed he would send another today. She believed he would notice when she did not reply. She believed that just like thest time she was kidnapped, and the time before when she was drugged, he would appear and save her. Her lips curled into a bitter smile. That was a lie. He was not even in the same country. He was not even on the same side of the world. Her head grew heavy, heat surged through her body, and she thought fever was burning her because her mind drifted into a blur. What felt like an eternity had passed when a violent crash split the silence. The iron door swung open with a roar. She struggled to lift her eyelids. A ze of light stabbed into her vision, and through it she thought she saw a tall, familiar figure. Chapter 265 Rat in Her Mouth : 67 s It felt as if she had been swept through a whirlpool of time, as if she had slipped into a dream without end. In that dream, she was a small child again, curled tight in the dark corner of the orphanage. dormitory, shaking from the cold. Earlier that day, two couples hade to give charity, and they had praised her for being clever. By nightfall, the older children had turned against her. They knocked her dinner onto the floor and poured water over her nket. She clutched herself and whispered, ¡°Mom¡­¡® She had never once seen her mother since the day she was born, but in her fear, she longed for one. And God must have heard her cry, because not long after, He gave her a mother who loved her. The woman stroked her hair with gentle hands. ¡°Anne, do you want to find your real mom and dad?¡± Fresh chapters posted on F¦ÉndNovel She shook her head in panic and buried her face in her adoptive mother¡¯s arms. ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t want me anymore? You are my mother. You¡¯re the best mom in the world. I don¡¯t need anyone else.¡± Her mother kissed her tear¨Cstained cheek, her heart aching. ¡°Anne, you are already our daughter. We will never give you up. But don¡¯t you think maybe your real parents have been searching for you all this time?¡± Anneliese stared with confusion, and her father lifted her high into his arms. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We will help you look for them. You are so precious that when we find them, you will have two sets of parents who love you.¡± They had been the best parents, and they had given her endless love. But the picture shifted. Their warm, living faces turned into cold portraits. Then, she remembered the day the White family found her, and her grandmother had taken her to the graves. ¡°Your parents never stopped searching for your real parents. Say goodbye to them. When you get to your new home, be good and show kindness to everyone. If you do that, they will care for you. Then your parents will rest in peace.¡± Created 266 Chapter 266 Fever Chapter 266 Fever : 67 s She went back to the White family and tried with everything in her to be good. She kept her head down, worked hard, and tried to blend into their lives as though she belonged there. She wanted so badly for her parents and rtives to ept her. She treated it like it was her adoptive parents¡® final wish, and she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her grandmother, so far away in Baytree, lying awake with worry. But no matter how much blood tied them together, her presence never warmed the White family¡¯s hearts. They didn¡¯t deserve her. And still, she wondered if her real parents would be upset or disappointed that things had turned out this way. In her haze, Anneliese thought she saw them again. She saw her parents reaching out, their hands gentle, their touch soft against her hair. She heard their voices speaking to her, warm and soothing, the way they had when she was a child. ¡°Anne, don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s okay. Everything will be okay¡­¡± As her mind swam back toward the surface, she felt the undeniable warmth of an embrace. Peace wrapped around her like a nket. Her arms rose on instinct, clinging to the figure holding her. She pressed her cheek against that solid chest, nuzzling into it with a desperate need forfort. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Her voice trembled with longing and buried hurt. The arms around her suddenly stiffened. The response she craved never came. No soft caress, no tender reassurance. She rubbed her cheek against the chest again, unwilling to ept it. Atst, a hand came down lightly against her back in a gesture that tried to mimicfort. The sting in her nose built until tears slid freely down her cheeks. She held tighter and whispered, broken, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She buried herself closer into the embrace, but her body went rigid. Something felt wrong. Why was her mother¡¯s chest so hard? Chapter 266 Fever Did someone steal her mother¡¯s chest? ¡°Do you like touching it that much?¡± Content originallyes from find[?]ovel Her hand was caught in a grip that locked her in ce. The words came from above, deep and husky. A voice she knew far too well. Jonathan. ¤ä s Her eyes flew open. He stood before her in a ck satin shirt, the fabric damp, pulled crooked and wrinkled. Several buttons had been ripped open, and her hand had slipped right into the gap. Her fingers dug firmly against the hard muscle of his chest. She hadn¡¯t even shaken off her daze before his low, smooth voice fell again. ¡°Baby, you¡¯re hurting your mom.¡± Her entire body jolted. She yanked her hand away as though she had touched fire, scrambling upright. But in her panic, her hand caught on the shirt and tugged hard. And of course, another awkward event happened. The sound of fabric giving way filled the air. Two more buttons flew loose, and the shirt sagged open. His chest and stomach came into view, every line sharp, every ne of muscle carved as if from stone. Heat consumed her face. She threw her hands up in front of her, shaking them uselessly, her entire body on fire. ¡°I¡­ I need to use the bathroom!¡± Her eyes darted everywhere but at him. She hung her head low. She clung to the excuse like it was the only rope thrown her way, shoved the nket aside, and stumbled to run. Chapter 266 Fever She had forgotten how weak she still was. Her body had been out for too long. 67 s The moment her feet hit the floor, her legs crumpled beneath her like overcooked pasta. Her eyes shut tight as the ground rushed toward her. But a strong arm wrapped swiftly around her waist, pulling her back. The world tilted as Jonathan scooped her up, one arm firm around her middle, the other sliding under her thighs. She clung to him on reflex. Her legs locked around his waist, her arms wound tight around his neck, her cheek pressing hotly into his shoulder. ¡°Baby, let me take you to the bathroom. I¡¯m your mom, after all.¡± His voice dipped low into her ear,ced with amusement. He carried her forward with steady, deliberate steps. The way he held her, paired with his words, made it feel as though he were mocking her, ying out some absurd role of a parent escorting a child. Her entire body screamed with humiliation. Anger and shame twisted inside her so fiercely she thought she might faint again. Thankfully, he set her down gently on the closed lid of the toilet. His hand brushed the top of her head in a light pat before he turned and stepped out. She covered her burning face with both hands. She sat there for what felt like forever, but the image of his bare chest zed inside her head, refusing to fade. Her palm still felt the ghost of his warmth, and she snatched it back like it carried a brand. ¡°I called the doctor. Don¡¯t stay in there too long.¡± A soft knock on the door followed his calm reminder. Her teeth pressed into her lip. Her reply came muffled. ¡°I know¡­¡± She listened as his footsteps receded and a door shut. He must have left. Her racing heart eased little by little. 12:10 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 266 Fever 67 s When she finally gathered herself, she cracked the door open to peek out. The room beyond was sleek and private, every corner spotless. A single¨Cpatient luxury hospital suite. It was empty. She slipped out quietly and climbed back into the hospital bed just as the doctor entered with a nurse. Jessica followed right behind them, her face drawn with worry. ¡°Finally! You¡¯ve been out cold for an entire day and night. Do you see this? You¡¯ve even put wrinkles on my forehead! My frown wouldn¡¯t unravel!¡± 12:10 Thu, Sep 18 Created 267 Chapter 267 Worried Friend Chapter 267 Worried Friend 67 +10 Free Coins The doctor examined Anneliese with calm precision, then gave a gentle nod of reassurance. He told her there was nothing to worry about and urged her to rest before stepping quietly out of the room. Anneliese turned her gaze toward Jessica, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over her like a tide. Thest time her body had given out, it had been Jonathan who pulled her back from the edge. So, the silhouette she had seen before she lost consciousness truly belonged to him. Her lips parted, but before a single word could leave her mouth, Jessica burst forward, her voice quick and sharp, spilling answers as if she had been holding them back too long. ¡°I thought you had already gone back to Baytree. I didn¡¯t even realize you were missing until Mr. Fullbuster called me and asked where you were. That¡¯s when I learned you never even got on the ne. ¡°The Whites are absolute monsters. They tried to cover everything up by sending someone in your car straight onto the highway toward Baytree, just to fool anyone who mighte looking. No wonder the search went in the wrong direction at first. ¡°Thank God Mr. Fullbuster came back when he did. Annie, I mean it, whether this marriage started out as convenient or not, he has proved himself more dependable than anyone. You really should think about making Mr. Fullbuster yours for real.¡± Anneliese¡¯s throat tightened, her words trapped, but before she could reply, the door swung open. Jonathan walked inside with Zion trailing close behind. He had traded his disheveled clothes for a crisp gray¨Cand¨Cck checkered shirt, a smooth ck silk tie, and a tailored ck suit jacket. A small silver airne pin gleamed against hispel, catching the light with polished precision. He looked sharp,manding, every detail immacte, The contrast from before was striking. Where his shirt had been wrinkled and damp, now he stood collected, a picture of control. But this was who he usually was. He lived with discipline and order. Still, when Anneliese remembered that his earlier state of ruin had been caused by her alone, her face burned. 12:10 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 267 Worried Friend 67 +10 Free Coins Her eyes flicked up and collided with his shadowed stare. Her breath snagged in her throat, and she turned away in panic. ¡°You two should talk,¡± Jessica said firmly as she pressed her hand on Anneliese¡¯s shoulder. She gave Jonathan a pointed nod. She wanted this more than anyone, for the two of them to findmon ground, to make something real. Get full chapters from ?ovelFind Anneliese had signed that marriage license partly out of loyalty to her. She had never admitted it, but Jessica carried guilt heavy as stone in her heart. She would not feel at peace unless Anneliese found true happiness. And from what she had seen, Jonathan deserved at least a chance to earn it. ¡°Mr. Hand, I have some questions for you,¡± Jessica said as she guided Zion out, leaving the two alone. Anneliese kept her eyes lowered, but then a tall shadow swept across her bed. His presence loomed, impossible to ignore. Her lips trembled. She pressed her fingertips together, then lifted her face to meet him. ¡°So, why¡¯d you cut your trip short?¡± Jonathan studied the pale lines of her face, his gaze dark and unreadable. Relief struck him like a flood. If he had waited for her to reach out, he would never have found her in time. ¡°My wife went missing. Of course, I had to cut it short.¡± Her heart twisted at his words. The way he spoke her title made her pulse stumble, and hershes fluttered like she might hide from him. But when she tried to lower her head, his fingers caught her chin and tilted it upward. Her startled eyes locked with his. His gaze swirled like ck water, deep and endless, dragging her down. His face filled her vision, sharp and devastatingly handsome. He bent down and pressed his mouth to hers without a word. 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 267 Worried Friend Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened, her thoughts scattering like broken ss. 67 +10 Free Coins It felt like he had stolen everything¨Cher sight, her strength, even the rhythm of her own heart. All that remained was the soft heat of his lips, the wet press of the kiss, the pull of his breath against hers as it grew deeper and more urgent. He kissed her lightly at first, testing, tasting, and when she didn¡¯t resist, he pulled back just a fraction. But the moment her lips trembled with a breath, he tightened his grip on her jaw and imed her harder. His mouth forced past hers, his kiss fierce, his tongue demanding, swallowing every sound she might have made. She never noticed when her eyes closed, only that her body turned weightless, her lips tingling, her mind drowning in a haze. Her hearing returned with rity, and in that moment, she caught the thunder of a heartbeat pounding like drums in her ears, tangled with ragged breaths and the slick sound of their kiss. Heat burned through her veins. The world spun. A soft knock came against the door. Jonathan finally pulled away, his chest rising heavy, his breath hoarse. Zion¡¯s calm voice slipped through from the hall. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, the time is almost gone.¡± ¡°I heard you,¡± Jonathan answered, his voice rough and strained. The silence outside told her Zion had stepped back. Jonathan lowered his gaze, and his eyes fell on the girl trembling in his arms. She looked stunned, dazed beyond reason. From where he stood, he could see her smooth forehead, the flushed corners of her eyes, and the shimmer of a tear clinging to hershes. Her small frame shook as if she might break. She looked frightened. But she could not know that he was shaken too. The moment he had stormed into that basement and seen her crumpled against the wall 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ Chapter 267 Worried Friend without a sound, his control had shattered like ss. She was already his rightful wife, and he no longer wished to hold anything back. 67 +10 Free Coins 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 268 No Holding Back Created 268 Chapter 268 No Holding Back Chapter 268 No Holding Back There was no reason left to hold anything back. 67 +10 Free Coins Jonathan lifted his hand and brushed his finger against that tiny bead of a tear. His voice rolled out low, steady, and maic. ¡°I have to leave for Adros right now. Are you truly not going to open your eyes and look at me at least once more?¡± Anneliese felt her mind drifting, caught between shame and confusion. Zion¡¯s words earlier had reached her like a dull echo, blurred and far away. But Jonathan¡¯s voice came to her clear and strong, and hershes snapped open as her head lifted in a rush. ¡°You¡¯re leaving for Adros? Right this moment?¡± Original content can be found at F?ndNovel Her eyes were still veiled with a sheen of moisture. They glimmered like ss, making her look fragile and helpless. Jonathan¡¯s gaze froze on her, then slipped down to her soft, flushed lips. He didn¡¯t want to go. Yet he had flown across the ocean, kept to her side for almost eight hours, and guarded her until her fever broke. He had already wasted too much time. If he didn¡¯t leave now, he would lose his chance to sign the contract. ¡°Yes. Rest well. Wait for my return.¡± He lifted his hand, catching a loose strand of hair at her cheek. He curled it lightly around his finger before tucking it back behind her ear. ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Her face went scarlet as she gave a small, instinctive nod. Her lips parted. She wanted to speak, to ask, yet her thoughts churned like a storm. She felt foolish. She didn¡¯t know what to say. 17 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 268 No Holding Back 67 +10 Free Coins A knock echoed against the door, firm and steady. Jonathan didn¡¯t hesitate another moment. He turned and stepped out. The hospital room sank into silence. Anneliese sat stiff and dazed, as though she had just woken from a dream. She raised her hand and brushed her lips. A faint sting lingered there, proof it had not been a dream. He kissed her. But why did he kiss her all of a sudden? ¡°What are you sitting here reliving whatever happened while I was gone? Your man already walked out. Wake up.¡± Jessica waved her hand in front of her face. Anneliese jerked back and pped her palm across her mouth, her eyes flying wide. Her whole body gave away her guilt. Jessica dropped into the chair at her side, her lips curved in a sly grin. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m not the one you were kissing. What are you hiding for? I saw the whole thing. Your lips are puffed up. That kiss was intense, huh? Tell me the truth, Annie. Is Mr. Fullbuster any good?¡± Jessica tugged her hand away, revealing her burning face. A girl in love was beautiful beyond reason. Anneliese pressed her lips together. ¡°How do you even measure if someone is good at kissing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s when your knees go weak and your body feels like it¡¯s turning to jelly, and all you want is more of it. Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t get it.¡± Jessica shoved her shoulder yfully. Anneliese dropped her gaze, her blush deepening, and that was enough to set Jessicaughing with a knowing gleam in her eyes. ¡°Stopughing like a creep. I need to tell you what actually happened to me while I was gone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re dodging harder than a quarterback. Iugh like a creep? Honey, if you saw the pictures my head right now, you¡¯d call it worse. Want me to paint the picture for you?¡± in 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 268 No Holding Back ¡°Jessica, I was kidnapped. Should I call the cops and have Zane represent me?¡± Jessica froze as if the world had stopped spinning. Her grin fell t. 67 +10 Free Coins ¡°Oh, I see. A couple of kisses from Mr. Fullbuster, and now you¡¯ve picked up his cutthroat business tricks. That¡¯s cold, Annie.¡± Her jab struck deep. Anneliese suddenly remembered. She had been sick. What if Jonathan caught it from her? Thank heaven she had washed up in the bathroom earlier. Still, why did he kiss her at all? And why did he just leave without saying anything right after that? Jessica watched her fall into silence again and let out a long sigh. Her chest tightened. She thought her best friend had escaped one trap, but it felt like she was already being pulled into another. The scene turns to the Whites¡® estate¡¯s basement. The ce was the same, but the prisoners were not. The entire White family was locked inside, everyst one of them, trapped for two days and two nights. ¡°Somebody! D*mn it¡­ is anyone out there?¡± Someone coughed. Christopher leaned weakly against the iron door, rattling it with what little strength he had. Yet the mansion abovey dead silent, as though deserted. No servants. No guards. They¡¯d left. Nobody knew they had been thrown down here. Even in the heart of the city, even in and ruled byw, no one should have been able to imprison them like this. They knew even if someone was out for their blood, they wouldn¡¯t pick a ce like this tomit murder. But two long days had drained them of all certainty, and fear gnawed at each of the five captives. The conditions were unbearable. The ck¨Cd men had dragged them down and flooded the basement with water as cold as ice. 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 268 No Holding Back 67 +10 Free Coins At first, the family had thought they were about to be drowned like rats. Only when the water reached their waists did it finally stop. But their reliefsted only moments. The men returned and hurled in rats, water snakes, and crawling insects, filling the basement as if they meant to turn it into a pit of nightmares. 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ 67 Chapter 269 Karma Created 269 Chapter 269 Karma +10 Free Coins The White family had been terrified for so long that the fear seemed to seep into their bones. and hollow them out from the inside. In the beginning, they could still curse and scream as they sshed at the snakes and rats that slithered and scurried through the water. But the hours dragged into days, and not a single drop of clean water touched their lips. Their strength was drained away until their bodies felt empty and weak. They leaned against the damp stone walls, too frail to stand on their own. The filthy water rose to their waists, leaving them without even the chance to sit down and rest. Their faces had turned ghostly pale, their stiff bodies resembling corpses bloated by days of decay. Their skin had puffed and swelled from the endless soaking. The bites from rats, snakes, and insects had split open into wounds that festered white with rot. Each one of them burned with fever. And each one knew the truth. If it continued like this, they would die in this pit. ¡°Mom¡­ we¡¯re gonna die down here. I don¡¯t wanna die. I really don¡¯t.¡± Chapters first released on F¦Énd£Îovel Selina clung to Mnie as if she were herst anchor. The fever had left Selina delirious. Her lips were cracked, bleeding, and dry. Worse, she had been bitten by snakes. The snakes didn¡¯t seem to carry venom, but it didn¡¯t matter. Her calf and arm had swollen monstrously, round and tight like dough rising in the oven, and she wished she could cut the flesh away to stop the pain. Rashes had broken out across her skin, leaving angry red blotches that itched and burned all at once. The surface of the water carried bloated rat corpses and floating vomit, and the stench of rot pressed against their nostrils until every breath felt like swallowing filth. Every second was torment for Selina. Fear wrapped around her throat like a rope. She did not want to die here, And she knew who was to me. It was Anneliese. That vile woman should have been the one trapped down here. 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 269 Karma ¡°We¡¯re not gonna die. We¡¯ll make it through this. You have to hold on, Selina.¡± ? (67) +10 Free Coins Mnie¡¯s voice was faint, barely stronger than a whisper, but she forced it out as if words could keep her sister alive. She herself was trembling, starving, and close to breaking. Selina leaned against her harder, her weight dragging down like a stone. Mnie¡¯s legs. buckled, and she slipped into the water. The foul liquid rushed into her mouth, and she came up choking and coughing, her frail body shaking. ¡°Perseus, Timothy¡­ I can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Among them, Perseus still had the most strength. His young body hadn¡¯t yet given out. He snatched up a broken brick and mmed it against the wall, blow after blow, his movements filled with fury. The wall was closest to the za outside. By reason, someone should have heard it. If only someone had noticed, then they would be saved. But for two days straight, they had screamed, pounded, and begged until their throats were raw, and no help had evere. Rage filled Perseus until he could think of nothing else. He swore that once he got out, he would kill Anneliese, the venomous woman who tried to destroy them all. ¡°Somebody! Please! Anyone out there, help us!¡± The sound of his strikes rang through the basement, harsh and heavy against the stone. The others raised their heads, hope flickering in their dull eyes. But just as quickly, it withered. There was no answer. Only silence. It was odd that no one noticed the sounds. They made a din loud enough to wake a town. Atst, his strength failed. The brick slipped from his hand and fell into the water with a ssh. His body slid down the wall as if every bone had turned to dust. A snake glided past him, the ripples spreading as its body cut through the water. It raised its head and flicked its tongue, mocking him like a judge passing sentence. Then it drifted away, slow and careless. 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 269 Karma : Perseus held still, frozen in terror, until it disappeared into the dark. 67 +10 Free Coins Selina broke into sobs again, her whimpers soft and pitiful. No one spoke to soothe her this time. Irritation coiled through them instead. Every one of them knew the truth but refused to speak it aloud. If Selina hadn¡¯t pushed for the divorce payout from Anneliese, none of this would have happened. ¡°Stop crying already! I¡¯m still alive, but you¡¯re bawling like you¡¯re at my funeral. You¡¯re dragging us all down!¡± Timothy¡¯s head pounded with pain until rage spilled out of him. His voice cracked, sharp but powerless. Selina only sobbed harder. Time blurred until it lost all shape. None of them could tell how long they had been left to rot. Then, atst, footsteps echoed from beyond the door. The five of them forced their eyes open, their lids heavy as iron. They strained to focus on the shadow that stopped in front of the iron door. Perseus reacted first, forcing his trembling arm through the bars. ¡°Please¡­ save us.¡± Timothy and Christopher, half¨Cconscious, slurred out their pleas. ¡°Get us out of here. We¡¯ll repay you.¡± ¡°Call the cops. Somebody¡¯s trying to wipe out our whole family. It¡¯s Anneliese!¡± This was the Whites¡® basement. The only way that led to this ce was a narrow path. The basement had no windows. The iron door was their only link to the narrow hall above. Once the door shut, the darkness was suffocating, sealing them away from day and night alike. Now, finally, light poured down the passage and spilled into the cell. Someone hade. The figure outside stood in that glow. The White family couldn¡¯t see their face or even tell how many hade. They staggered forward, their voices breaking with desperation. They looked like beggars stripped of all dignity. Then a woman¡¯s voice rang out. It was sharp, steady, and merciless. Chapter 269 Karma 67 +10 Free Coins ¡°Trying to kill your whole family? So, you do understand that locking people down here and depriving them of food and water means death.¡± 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Created 270 70 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 270 Vengeance Chapter 270 Vengeance The room went quiet, the silence heavy and sharp. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find~Novel Timothy and the others finally realized the voice belonged to Anneliese. ¡°You selfish girl! How dare you show your face!¡± 67 +10 Free Coins ¡°Anneliese, you murderer, open this door right now!¡± Perseus yelled as he pulled hard on the iron bars. ¡°Open the door! Mom and Selina have already passed out!¡± Christopher¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. He shoved his hand through the bars, trying to w at Anneliese. Jessica let out a lowugh as she steadied Anneliese by the arm. ¡°Well, would you look at that? I thought this rotten family would be lying on the floor half- dead by now. Who knew you still had so much fight left in you? Guess cockroaches never die easy.¡± The father and sons, pushed by anger and desperation, found strength that should not have been there, like mes leaping high before they burned out. Jessica¡¯s words cut so deep they almost coughed blood. ¡°Quite a surprise,¡± Anneliese said, standing outside the iron door, her lips curling as she agreed with Jessica¡¯s taunt. Christopher¡¯s hand never touched her. A guard beside him grabbed his wrist, twisted it hard, and bent it back. Christopher screamed, the sound sharp and raw, like an animal being butchered. Timothy, seeing his son in pain, leaned on his authority and shoved his hand out. ¡°You ungrateful child!¡± The guard raised his arm to strike, but Anneliese stepped back half a pace and shook her head. ¡°You think you can dodge me? Get over here! Open this door!¡± Timothy¡¯s roar filled the room, but Anneliese¡¯s eyes locked on his wrist. The night he pped her right after she was taken to their house against her will, she had 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 270 Vengeance noticed his watch. She had not seen it clearly then. Now she saw it with certainty. It was the very same Patek Philippe that had stirred an argument at the mall. 67 +10 Free Coins That watch had been a magazine limited edition. The clerk had said there was only one in the entire city of Oceaton. Her thoughts drifted to that woman who looked so much like Selina, the woman who carried herself with care, the one who had always aimed her spite at her. She remembered the small boy the woman had held by the hand. A spark of curiosity lit in her eyes. Selina¡¯s story was not what Mnie and the White brothers believed. She was not just the child of a single mother who had switched babies in a reckless act and then died in a crash. It was not that simple. If it were, Mnie would never have treated Selina like a treasure. Anneliese felt a strange thrill, almost eager to see the truthe out. She tilted her head and peered inside. That was when she saw Mnie and Selina. Both of them looked drained, their strength slipping away. Selina looked even worse, her skin pale and lifeless after being bitten by snakes and bugs. They stared at the door with wide eyes, wanting tosh out, but their bodies sagged, too weak to fight. ¡°Anne¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Selina¡¯s voice cracked, rough and broken. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the White family¡­ Please¡­ please let my parents and brothers go.¡± Selina noticed Anneliese¡¯s sights, of course. They were focused on her. Jessica¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wow. This woman¡¯s good. She¡¯s half¨Cdead, and she still puts on that sweet act. I¡¯ve got to admit, I¡¯m impressed.¡± She shook her head in disbelief. The truth hit her clear as day. No wonder Selina, another adopted daughter, had tricked the White family into loving her like a princess, while Jessica herself had been thrown aside like 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 270 Vengeance nothing. : The difference between them was clear as ss. 67 +10 Free Coins Anneliese turned her gaze toward Jessica. ¡°She¡¯ll never drop her act, even if she dies. That takes skill.¡± Jessica pped her hands and grinned widely. ¡°That was perfect! You all love each other so much. How could I ever bear to tear you apart? Stay right where you are, together.¡± Anneliese turned to leave, and Timothy froze, stunned. ¡°You ungrateful brat! Where are you going? Open this door!¡± Perseus shook the bars hard. ¡°Anneliese, quit acting like you don¡¯t care! You came here to let us out!¡± ¡°Open the door! We don¡¯t have much patience left!¡± Christopher shouted, his voice rough with fury. ¡°If you open it now, when we get to the station, I¡¯ll make sure the cops take your remorse into ount and knock two years off your sentence!¡± Jessica spun around faster than Anneliese could form a response. She shoved her hand through the gap in the bars and pped Christopher across the face. ¡°How dare you hit me!¡± Jessica¡¯s eyes burned with rage. ¡°Of course. Someone has to knock some sense into that head of yours, even if it¡¯s filled with hot air. Sure, a brain¡¯s better, but baby steps. Calling the cops? Please. Your abuse and imprisonment of Annie is equally criminal, and you think you have the right to point your fingers at us? ¡°Now the tables turned, and you want justice? You, calling the police? And you¡¯re supposed to be awyer? What did you studyw for, just to twist it around for your own gain? ¡°You¡¯re pathetic. You don¡¯t even know how the system works. Judges hand out sentences, not cops. Wash the sludge out of your head.¡± Her fury spilled over as she grabbed Christopher by the hair and mmed his head against the bars again and again. The metal rang each time until his body sagged and his hand flew up to clutch his forehead, his face dazed. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this, you b*tch!¡± he shouted, his eyes spinning with stars. 3/3 Created 271 Chapter 271 Jessica¡¯s Fury Chapter 271 Jessica¡¯s Fury 67 +10 Free Coins Perseus caught his younger brother as he stumbled, steadying him with both hands. His voice softened, his wordsced with persuasion. ¡°Anne, I don¡¯t know whose side you¡¯ve taken or how you managed to convince that man to stand up for you, but anyone with that kind of power is either a criminal or something worse. ¡°You need to cut ties with him before he ruins youpletely. Let us out right now. For the sake of family, we¡¯ll forget this ever happened.¡± When Jonathan came to rescue Anneliese, the White family wasn¡¯t at home. They rushed back only after hearing their house had been broken into and that someone had taken her away. But by the time they arrived, strangers dressed in ck had already taken control of the mansion. Each member of the family was dragged down into the basement and locked away in the dark. Perseus and the others had already decided that Anneliese must have gotten herself mixed up with some vicious crime ring. They were certain she was leading herself straight to destruction. Perseus believed his heartfelt words, part threat and part plea, would convince her to unlock the door. What he heard in return was her sharp, bitterugh. ¡°Family? Don¡¯t insult me. When I was locked down here before, burning with fever until I passed out, none of you cared that I was family. None of you even came to check if I was alive. ¡°If I had died quietly in this basement, you wouldn¡¯t have noticed. You would have called me useless, a burden to the family, and you would have hidden my body without a second thought. That is exactly what you did four years ago! Timothy watched his oldest son choke on silence. The man¡¯s own face twisted, pride slipping away as he turned desperate. ¡°Anne, I know we made mistakes in the past. You need to let us make things right. Sweetheart, open the door for me. For your dad. ¡°Your mother can¡¯t take it anymore. She can¡¯t even speak. You¡¯ve always had a soft heart, and I know you can¡¯t stand to see her suffer. My head is splitting in pain. Help me upstairs like you used to, and give me one of those massages you learned just for me.¡± 1/3 Chapters first released on findnovel 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 271 Jessica¡¯s Fury Confidence flickered in Timothy¡¯s eyes. ¤¤ 67 +10 Free Coins Anneliese had always been easy to control. A warm look, a few soft words, and she would rush to the kitchen to brew coffee or make soup for the family. She had even studied massage just to please him. Every time she touched his shoulders, she had glowed with joy. Moments like those had been rare, but she had treasured them all the same. ¡°Enough,¡± Perseus cut in, his voice hard. ¡°You love to read in my study. Open the door and I¡¯ll let you in anytime, just like Selina.¡± He gave Christopher a push, urging him to speak. Christopher resisted, but he was too drained to hold back. And Selina¡¯s strength was fading fast. She couldn¡¯t endure much longer. Grinding his teeth, he forced the words out. ¡°Open the d*mn door. Next time I race, I¡¯ll let you watch the whole thing. That¡¯s why you came down here, isn¡¯t it? To open the door? Quit acting like you aren¡¯t.¡± Racing was Christopher¡¯s pride. When Anneliese had firste back home, she had seen him take Selina to the track. Hoping to bond with her brother, she had begged to go too. But the second she touched the door of his car, he had shoved her down, scraping her arm bloody. ¡°A farm girl like you doesn¡¯t deserve to touch my car. Do you have any idea what this costs? If I let you near it, the whole race would crash and burn.¡± Even now, the sting of that humiliation pressed against her chest. Her lips lifted in a faint smile. ¡°Strange. I wonder how your precious car ended up covered in scratches from stray cats.¡± Christopher¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°You? You did that?¡± That night, his car had been shredded by ws, left ruined beyond repair. He had never found the cause. To discover it was her almost unhinged him. Anneliese¡¯s smile deepened. Her beauty glowed, but her clear amber eyes made her look innocent. With that sly grin, she seemed both sweet and dangerous, like someone who had turned pain into a weapon. 12:11 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 271 Jessica¡¯s Fury 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°Oh, it was nothing. Sshing your race car with bottles of catnip is child¡¯s y. I have more than enough strength for that.¡± Christopher nearly lost control of his rage. Anneliese had no interest in wasting another word. Her smile lingered as she spoke. ¡°Whoever told you I came here to let you out was wrong. I came here to watch you suffer. That¡¯s what I wanted.¡± Her words froze Timothy and his sons where they stood. Their disbelief twisted into horror. Anneliese wasn¡¯t joking. She turned away,ughing with Jessica as they headed for the stairwell. The White men screamed until their throats broke, while Selina shoved Mnie aside and staggered for the door in panic. She never made it. The iron gate above crashed shut, plunging them all into suffocating darkness again. Outside, Jessica drew in the cool night air with a deep breath. A smile spread across her face as she shot Anneliese a teasing wink. ¡°Revenge feels incredible. And with Mr. Fullbuster on your side, it feels even better. Just for crushing the White family like this, he deserves a long, hot kiss as his prize.¡± Created 272 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 272 Reminder Chapter 272 Reminder Anneliese was shocked. 66 +10 Free Coins Her chest tightened like a knot being pulled too tight. She had finally started to bury the memory of that burning kiss, and now Jessica had dragged it back to the surface. Anneliese shot her a re sharp enough to cut, then spun toward the captain of the guards who stood stiffly at the basement door. ¡°What exactly did Mr. Fullbuster tell you?¡± The captain¡¯s tone was steady. ¡°He told us you have the final word, Mrs. Fullbuster. Only when your anger is gone do we release them. We follow only your orders, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± He called her Mrs. Fullbuster again and again, each word clear and heavy. From the corner of her eye, Anneliese caught the sly glint in Jessica¡¯s gaze, and heat swept across her cheeks. She spoke quickly, her voice low but firm. ¡°Then let them outter. I¡¯m already calm.¡± She knew she couldn¡¯t really let the White family suffer. She would never put Jonathan in that kind of danger. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± In the car, Anneliese leaned close and told Jessica about the watch, urging her to look into that woman. ¡°She¡¯s probably living in Stake Gardens with her kid. Last time I came to get you, I saw her there.¡± That night Marcus had tied Jessica up in Stake Gardens, Anneliese had caught sight of the woman through the car window as she drove away with her. Jessica¡¯s body went rigid. Anneliese remembered that night as well, the way Jessica had been bound hand and foot like a trapped animal. Guilt cut through her for not realizing the danger sooner. She spoke in a rush. ¡°We should just call Detective Hayes instead-¡± But Jessica gave a sudden smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can handle something this small. Besides, Marcus didn¡¯t get what he wanted that night, and he¡¯s already out of aton. I¡¯m not as breakable as you think.¡± 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 272 Reminder 66 ) +10 Free Coins The memories wed back anyway. Jessica had been sixteen when Marcus showed what kind of monster he was. It began with him peeping through the bathroom door. Then came the nights when her doorknob rattled like someone was trying to force their way in. Then her underwear began to vanish from her closet. She turned into a girl frozen by fear, too afraid to fall asleep. The Johnsons never stood by her. Her pleas were met with curses and blows. They called her names, said she was tempting her so¨Ccalled brother. Labeled and despised, Jessica fought to survive. She studied harder than anyone, believing a good college could free her from that house. But Marcus destroyed even that. He changed her college applications. She should have gone to a top university in Halden. Instead, she was shoved into a second¨Crate teachers¡® school in Baytree, practically in her backyard. When she found out, she stormed back to the Johnsons¡® estate. She demanded answers. Marcus cornered her, almost raped her, and she had only escaped by smashing an ashtray over his head. Marcus¡® fianc¨¦e, Faye, hated her enough to beat her until she was barely alive. They crushed every path she had. With no way forward, she ran. She escaped by sheer luck, shed her old name, and went into hiding. That night, she had been tied to a bed. If it hadn¡¯t been for her period, she might not havested long enough for Anneliese to save her. She talked big now, but Marcus had left wounds no one could see. She made jokes, but intimacy haunted her. The night with Zane wasn¡¯t born of love. It was the wild release of finally breaking free, of years of pressure exploding all at once. But Zane had been like a cure. The only drug that worked. Since that night, Marcus¡® shadow had lost its grip. The memories no longer carried fear or disgust. Now, when she remembered, her chest thumped hard and her blood burned. It was no longer 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 272 Reminder horror. It was fire, chaos, and the kind of intensity that shook her to her core. ¡°Get out. We¡¯re here. What are you blushing for?¡± 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese gave her a yful push, snapping her out of her haze. The car had stopped at Maple Bay. Jessica yanked on the cor of her turtleneck, hiding her face. She shook her head quickly. ¡°It¡¯s too warm. Too manyyers.¡± She pushed open the door and stepped out first. When she turned, she froze. A ck Bentley sat not far away. The driver¡¯s door opened, and a tall man climbed out. He wore a ck shirt tucked neatly into dress pants, but over it he had thrown a long leather coat, unbelted and loose. His walk was casual, careless, almost dangerous. He didn¡¯t look like anywyer. Well, that was just Zane. Jessica¡¯s heart jolted. For a moment, she thought she was dreaming. This couldn¡¯t be real. But then he came right up to her. He bent just enough, snapped his fingers in front of her face, and his low,zy voice curled close to her ear. ¡°You know, you ought to do something with the way you look at people. Or else they might think you¡¯re¡­ up to something. Something¡­ lewd.¡± Jessica¡¯s breath caught hard. He was wrong. She wasn¡¯t lewd! He was the one standing too close. Too close for strangers. The sound of Anneliese climbing out of the car jolted her. Jessica shoved him hard without thinking. Zane hadn¡¯t expected her to treat him as if she didn¡¯t know him. He also hadn¡¯t expected so much strength from someone so small. Her shove sent him staggering back two steps, thrown off bnce like a statue cracking at the base. His face darkened with frustration. Before he could speak, Jessica turned away and caught Anneliese¡¯s arm. 3/4 Th?s chapter is updated by ?ovelFind 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 272 Reminder ¡°Annie, take it slow. You¡¯re still not fully better.¡± : 66 +10 Free Coins Annelieseughed softly, her eyes sharp with amusement. Jessica¡¯s reaction was too strong, too guilty. She nodded toward Zane. ¡°Zane, what are you doing here? Did youe for Jess?¡± 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 66 Chapter 273 Shy Friend Created 273 Chapter 273 Shy Friend ¡°No way.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about her.¡± +10 Free Coins Jessica and Zane¡¯s voices crashed together, sharp and loud. Their eyes locked, then almost in the same breath, they both looked away, like strangers pretending nothing had been said. Anneliese almost doubled over withughter. The tension, the stiff voices, the guilty faces¨Cit all carried the thick stench of a hidden fling. ¡°Then tell me, Zane, what exactly are you doing here?¡± ¡°I came to return your phone, Anneliese. And Jonathan already set everything in ce regarding the Whites. You shouldn¡¯t run into any real problems. But if they keep stirring up trouble, you tell me. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Zane slid his hand into his pocket, pulled out the phone, and ced it in her hand. Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened with delight. ¡°How did you end up with this?¡± ¡°I had a case in Baytree. Picked it up on my way back.¡± She remembered how she had been dragged into the White family¡¯s home while her car was driven to Baytree. Jonathan¡¯s men had tracked her down there. Zane must have bumped into them by chance. But Zane wasn¡¯t the kind of man to waste his time ying delivery boy. He had taken this task for a reason, and it wasn¡¯t just about a phone. Anneliese curled her lips into a smile as she held the phone close. ¡°I¡¯ll have to go up. Jess, make sure you thank Zane for me.¡± She shot Jessica a knowing wink before heading quickly toward the building. ¡°Thanks for the trouble. Well, if there¡¯s nothing else, then I¡¯ll just¡­¡± Jessica¡¯s words tumbled out clumsily and unevenly. The memory of that one¨Cnight stand burned inside her, awkward and heavy, since she had never done anything like it before. She was about to slip away when Zane¡¯s voice cut her off. 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 273 Shy Friend ¡°We should talk.¡± 66 +10 Free Coins Jessica¡¯s head turned. She refused to let her nerves show. She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and gave a firm nod. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°The wind¡¯s picking up. We¡¯ll use my car.¡± The source of th?s content is Find¡ïNovel His jaw tightened as he gestured toward it with a tilt of his head. He didn¡¯t wait for her answer, already moving. Jessica trailed after him. He swung open the rear door, and she bent to slide inside. She had barely sat down when Zane stepped in too, closing the space. The backseat had plenty of room, but his presence made the air thick and suffocating. She had to shuffle fast or she would have been pressed right into his chest. ¡°About that night¡­¡± Zane started. Jessica¡¯s scalp prickled. She jumped in before he could finish. ¡°It was an ident. I don¡¯t care about it, and you shouldn¡¯t either. Don¡¯t worry. I already took the morning¨Cafter pill. You won¡¯t ever have to take responsibility.¡± Zane¡¯s eyes narrowed. She looked like she would swear her life just to prove she wanted nothing to do with him. His jaw clenched tight, and a roughugh scraped out of his throat. ¡°So responsible, aren¡¯t you?¡± Her lips twisted into a forced grin. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s the only way to handle it.¡± She would never be foolish enough to tie herself to a man like him, especially awyer. His face stayed hard and cold, and silence filled the car. Jessica took it as his warning, a wordlessmand to never speak about that night again. She nodded once, as if closing the subject.. ¡°Is that all? Then I¡¯ll have to go now.¡± She turned toward the door. But before she could pull it open, his hand mped around her wrist. His other arm stretched over, pressing firm against the top of the door, holding it shut and 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 273 Shy Friend caging her in. 66 +10 Free Coins Jessica¡¯s breath caught. She whipped her head around, eyes wide, trapped between the cold car door and the broad wall of muscle blocking her escape. His breath hit her skin, sharp with the scent of pineyered with a faint bite of smoke, clean yet fierce. The smell wed through her chest and dragged her mind back to that night. He had leaned over her the same way then,manding every second, pulling her into his fire without giving her space to resist. Jessica¡¯s heart raced. A single thought sliced into her. She should have been the one on top. She should have taken charge. Heat spilled across her face, and her tongue swept over her lips before she could stop it. Zane¡¯s gaze darkened. He caught every flicker, every crack in her control. His breath ghosted against the edge of her ear, and his voice fell low and rough. ¡°Let¡¯s do it again. This time, you can take the lead. You can¡­ be on top.¡± Jessica froze. He could see straight through her. That was terrifying. She yanked the door handle, slipped under his arm, and shot out of the car like lightning. Once her feet hit the ground, she spun around, crossing her arms into a sharp X in front of her chest. ¡°You¡¯re too expensive, Zane. I can¡¯t afford you. Goodbye.¡± She mmed the door hard and ran, her small frame darting away in the dark. In the backseat, Zane clicked his tongue as he watched her vanish into the night. That was the second time she had turned him down. Anneliese finally reached home, plugged in her phone, and hit the power. The device lit up and rang out with one notification after another, the sounds stacking together like a chorus of chimes. Her chest tightened when Jonathan¡¯s name filled the screen. He had called more than ten Chapter 273 Shy Friend times. She tapped their WhatsApp thread, and message after message scrolled down. 66 +10 Free Coins He had written again and again, asking if she was alright, begging for an answer. Every word dripped with worry and fear. Her chest warmed, heavy and full. She thought of how he had flown back only for her, how he had gone to such lengths to punish the White family for what they had done, how he had kissed her without warning. Her pulse faltered and raced, and her fingers shook as she typed. Did you kiss me because you love me?¡® Her teeth sank down hard as she read it over. She was about to send it when the screen lit again. A new call came in. It was the shippingpany. Earlier that afternoon, she had made arrangements for Meatloaf to be sent back to Baytree. 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Created 274 Chapter 274 Her Dog Chapter 274 Her Dog : 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°Ms. ude, the address you wrote down had nobody there. We went twice, and the phone number you gave us isn¡¯t working either. Right now, your dog is still with us.¡± Anneliese¡¯s brow furrowed. The address and number belonged to her grandmother. ¡°How could no one be home? Hold on, I¡¯ll call them.¡± She pressed her grandmother¡¯s number with trembling fingers. Silence met her. The line was dead, the phone powered off. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel Her chest squeezed tight. Panic wed at her ribs. She hurried to dial Gemma, the housekeeper who was supposed to care for her grandmother. This time, the call connected. ¡°Gemma, is my grandmother not home? A friend said no one answered the door, and her phone won¡¯t go through either!¡± ¡°Anne? Is that you? Your grandmother was taken to Oceaton. You didn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°What? Who took her? When?¡± The shock made her legs weaken, and she shot upright as if the ground had given way beneath her. Gemma¡¯s voice stumbled nervously on the other end. ¡°It was your husband who came. I thought you two agreed on it. He showed up yesterday and already took her.¡± Anneliese¡¯s grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles turned white. Her lungs burned for air. ¡°I see. Thanks, Gemma.¡± She ended the call, snatched her coat from the rack, and rushed out the door. In the elevator, she scrolled through her blocked contacts to recover Zacharias¡® number, Before she could, her grandmother¡¯s name appeared on her screen. She answered so fast her breath hitched. ¡°Grandma?¡± ¡°Yes, Anne, it¡¯s me. Did you alreadynd? Was your trip too much?¡± 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 274 Her Dog : 66 +10 Free Coins Her grandmother¡¯s familiar, gentle tone spilled into her ear, and relief washed through her, steadying her breath. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m fine. Where are you right now¡ª¡± Before she could finish, another voice slipped into the call. Zacharias. ¡°Anne, you didn¡¯t expect me to be with Grandma, did you? I brought her back to the house as a surprise. Honey, you¡¯ve worked so hard. I¡¯ming to get you now. Stay where you are.¡± Her jaw clenched until her teeth ground together. ¡°Zacharias, you son of a¡ª¡± ¡°Anne, your grandma is on the line. I know you miss me, but let¡¯s save those words for when I see you. We can whisper them to each other then, okay?¡± Her grandmother¡¯s softugh followed. ¡°Enough already, stop teasing her. Go and pick Anne up.¡± Anneliese¡¯s chest red with rage. She almost hurled her phone into the wall, but instead she squeezed her eyes shut and hung up. When she reached Sunrise Residence, Zacharias was already at the gate, waiting. She stepped out of the car, her steps quick and sharp. She lifted her hand to p him across the face. But his palm shot up, catching her wrist. His smile curved with ease. ¡°Anne, anger will only tear you apart. I¡¯d let you hit me, but your grandma is waiting inside. You don¡¯t want her to think we¡¯re fighting.¡± She jerked against his grip. ¡°You¡¯re vile and shameless. I¡¯ll tell her right now that we¡¯re divorced. You won¡¯t use her against me.¡± Zacharias let out a weary breath, his face weighted with shadows. ¡°Are you certain you want to tell her this second? Or do you want to see this first?¡± He slipped a folder from under his arm and held it out. She red but refused to touch it. ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous. It¡¯s your grandmother¡¯s medical report. I brought her to Oceaton yesterday and had her checked from head to toe. Take a look.¡± Her fury burned hot as she snatched the folder away. She unfolded the report. Zacharias¡® voice carried steady beside her. 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 274 Her Dog ¡°I marked the serious findings in red.¡± : Her heart sank. Her grandmother¡¯s kidneys, fragile for years, had worsened. Even worse was the red circle that wrapped around her heart results. ¡°Heart block. Heart failure?¡± 66 +10 Free Coins Zacharias nodded. ¡°She¡¯s old, Anne. Age brings this. But now she needs treatment. She can¡¯t take any kind of shock.¡± Her re pierced through him, zing with contempt. His lips curved into a bitter smile. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I didn¡¯t make this happen. These are the words of a cardiologist. If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll give you his number. You can call him yourself.¡± ¡°Give it to me.¡± Her tone was sharp as ice. The demand struck him, and his eyes dimmed. ¡°Anne, no matter what I do, you won¡¯t believe me. You think everythinges from malice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a rhetorical question. The number.¡± Her voice was cold as stone. He passed it over. She dialed at once, and the doctor confirmed every word. Zacharias had even arranged for her grandmother to be admitted two dayster for treatment. She hung up, her chest tightening with dread. Fear for her grandmother¡¯s health wed inside her, yet anger and frustration burned hotter. Everything was slipping out of her control. She had sworn she would never set foot in Sunrise Residence again. But here she was. Created 275 Chapter 275 Reluctance Chapter 275 Reluctance : 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese could still see that night vividly in her mind. She could see how the house had been thrown intoplete chaos, how shattered pieces and toppled furniture had marked every corner with her anger. Now, stepping across the threshold again, the house was immacte, spotless. It was restored to the exact state as it had been before. But neatness was not the same as love. She observed every detail, every polished surface, every perfectly aligned cushion, and it moved nothing in her. The order felt empty, hollow, almost ridiculous, and she could not suppress a small sense of boredom. Zacharias, on the other hand, had been holding his breath for this moment since the second she entered. His eyes glimmered with a burning anticipation, a longing that almost hurt to look at. He hoped she would be touched by the effort he had poured into their home. He hoped she would soften, if just a little, and return to his side. But her face remained a frozen mask. Her eyes carried a sharp edge of scorn and mockery, icy and unyielding. ¡°Anne,¡± he whispered, a twinge of pain threading his voice as he reached for her hand. ¡°Grandma!¡± The warmth returned in her tone as she dashed toward the sofa where her grandmother sat. His hand closed around air. He pressed his lips tightly together in frustration, and his stormy gaze flickered with disappointment before he forced a careful, controlled smile and walked toward them. Anneliese had not seen her grandmother for months. Thest time had been for her birthday. The woman had aged, her body a little frailer, her hair a little thinner. Anneliese¡¯s eyes watered as she wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 275 Reluctance : 166 +10 Free Coins Her grandmother¡¯s hand rested gently on her shoulder, firm and soothing, grounding her in the present. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight again. I thought you were done working and trying to have a baby with Zacharias. Why are you out working again? Are you wearing yourself too thin?¡± Anneliese shook her head and slowly pulled away, feeling the weight of her grandmother¡¯s concerned gaze. She almost told her the truth about her divorce, almost spoke the words, but she could not gamble with her grandmother¡¯s health. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not tired. I just wanted to work again.¡± Chapters first released on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Zacharias¡® lips curved into a faint, precise smile. He adjusted his suit and slid into the seat beside Anneliese. His hand moved toward her waist. She recoiled sharply and stepped back. ¡°Grandma, there¡¯s so much I want to say. Let¡¯s go upstairs to my room. We¡¯ll have a little private talk,¡± Anneliese said, determination threading her voice. ¡°All right, all right,¡± her grandmother replied, unaware of anything amiss, nodding as she followed Anne up the stairs. Zacharias watched them go, tugged at his tie, then allowed a small, confident smile to curl at his lips. His eyes gleamed with predatory certainty. She was home again. Reconciliation could not be far away. They would never be separated. Anneliese spent more than an hour upstairs, talking with her grandmother until the older woman finally drifted into sleep from exhaustion. Then, Anneliese left the room quietly. She did not go downstairs to find Zacharias. Instead, she walked to the balcony and pushed the door open with force, letting the night air wash over her, She pulled out her phone and opened the WhatsApp conversation with Jonathan. The message she had drafted, ¡®Did you kiss me because you love me?¡® still lingered unsent. The earlier flutter of emotion had faded, and she no longer had the courage to send it. She began deleting the words, letter by letter, but a sudden longing stirred within her. 2/4 12:12 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 275 Reluctance She wanted to hear his voice. Without hesitation, she called him. : The call rang endlessly, eventually going to voicemail. He was not picking up. 66 +10 Free Coins Her longshes fell as she powered off the phone, turning to step back inside, when it rang again. Her heart jumped. She snatched the phone and saw his name shing. Her eyes widened before she could even think. The moment the first ring sounded, she answered. ¡°Jonathan, is that you?¡± His voice came through, low and warm, with a touch of gentle exasperation. ¡°Honey, you didn¡¯t save my number under my name? So, I wonder, how should I punish you for this?¡± A pang of helplessness shot through Anneliese. Her nose tingled, and her throat felt tight. She realized, in that instant, how much she had missed him. ¡°I did save it. Don¡¯t try to frame me¡­¡® 11 Her voice carried a soft, teasing lilt, almost fragile, almost yful. Jonathan paused on the other end, silent for a moment, surprised by the change in her tone. Anneliese froze, unsure what to say, until his voice returned. ¡°Sorry, my bad. Then how would you punish me, honey?¡± There was a warmth in his words, a teasing and affectionate edge that made her breath hitch slightly. She bit her lip, words caught in her throat between thought and voice. Jonathan, rumored to be distant and detached, sounded instead like a yful charmer. He had rushed back for her, rescued her from the White family, and even ensured she got justice. How could she punish him for something so small? 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 275 Reluctance 66 +10 Free Coins Yet she could not resist. A faint smile, teasing and soft, curved her lips. ¡°Punish you? I will have to think about that carefully¡­¡± A softugh rose between them, shared and light, floating out into the balcony and the cool night air, wrapping around them like a private moment of warmth. Created 276 Chapter 276 Loving Husband The air between them hung heavy, quiet, yet it carried no awkwardness. There was only a strange, tense stillness. 66 +10 Free Coins Jonathan finally broke the silence, his voice gentle and full of concern. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± Anneliese nodded, her gaze dropping as she added quickly, ¡°Yes, much better. I already left the hospital.¡± ¡°Make sure you drink plenty of water. Your voice sounded a little nasal just now.¡± The nasal tone hade from the near tears, not sickness. She did not want him worrying about her anymore, and she refused to burden him further. She gave a small, soft smile. ¡°I know.¡± But she did not want to hang up yet. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, ¡°What are you doing right now?¡± He was probably still on the ne. Her own question made her tense. She worried it sounded like she was grasping for conversation. She pressed her lips together, bracing herself, but Jonathan did not give her a moment to feel awkward. Tm catching up on some sleep,¡± he said casually. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese froze, guilt stabbing her chest. He had been resting. Thatzy, tired sound in his voice now made sense. She had interrupted him. Her lips pressed together as she began to apologize, but then came the faint rustle of movement from his side. He was getting up. ¡°I should be up anyway. I have a meeting soon. So, thank you for waking me up, honey! Anneliese¡¯s chest tightened. She had intruded on his work, and she knew how tightly packed Chapter 276 Loving Husband his schedule always was. :. He had flown back just for her, sacrificing hours of sleep she could hardly imagine. Her chest softened with guilt. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± 66 +10 Free Coins She paused for a moment. Then she spoke, her voice gentle and almost motherly. ¡°Take care of yourself too. Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Her words sounded like a quiet, real wife caring for her husband traveling for work. She did not wait for his reply and hung up the phone. On the ne, Jonathan held the phone, a faint curve touching his lips. He felt the subtle, careful way she was inching toward him, even across the distance. Yet even that little distance she closed was enough to make her red and shy. Anneliese felt lighter after the call. She turned, and the faint curve of a shy smile touched her lips. A gasp left her mouth. Her eyes snapped up, and she instinctively pressed a hand to her chest. Outside the balcony¡¯s floor¨Cto¨Cceiling ss door, a figure stood. It was Zacharias. His presence was dark, heavy, oppressive, and suffocating even through the ss. His eyes chilled the air around her. Anneliese frowned. Before she could react, Zacharias pushed the door open. She took a step back, instinctive fear shing in her chest. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He looked at her, wary and guarded, his handsome face dark and stormy. He grabbed her hand, holding it tight. ¡°Who was that on the phone just now? Who were you talking to? She had been radiant,ughing with another man. Now, at the sight of him, she was cold and distant. Zacharias could not tolerate such a contrast. Jealousy red hot in his chest, and his eyes darkened red. 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Latest content published on Find1Novel Chapter 276 Loving Husband 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°I can talk to whoever I please, and it¡¯s still none of your business. Who do you think you are, demanding answers from me? You¡¯re my ex¨Chusband, and as I recall, that means you¡¯re as good as dead to me.¡± Anneliese yanked her hand free and flicked at her sleeve with disdain. Zacharias chest rose and fell rapidly, but he did not push further. Force would only drive her away. He softened his voice, his tone lower but heavy with longing. ¡°Anne, you must be hungry. I cooked your favorite dishes myself. We haven¡¯t had a proper meal at home together in so long.¡± ¡°Seriously, are you already that far gone in your delusion?¡± She crossed her arms and cut him off sharply, her voice cold and firm. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. I¡¯m married. When Grandma wakes up, I¡¯m taking her away.¡± She would not allow herself to return to this ce. This residence was nightmare brought to life. Zacharias¡® brow tightened, anger and disbelief mixing. ¡°Anne, you think I will believe your story about being married?¡± ¡°You¡¯re impossible!¡± Anneliese turned and walked past him. Communication with him was useless. You are impossible. You¡¯re being unreasonable. Stop causing a scene. These thoughts felt all too familiar to him. Those were the lines he threw at Anneliese, and all of them more than once. He couldn¡¯t remember if he was as impatient as she was now. Zacharias felt his chest tighten as if an invisible hand squeezed around his heart. His breathing became shallow and uneven. Even light words could cut deeply. Chapter 276 Loving Husband : 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°Anne, no matter what you say, I do not believe for a second that you are married. Show me your marriage license,¡± he said again, pulling her hand toward him. Anneliese did not expect this request. Anneliese froze, her mind snapping back. Then she remembered. Jonathan took photos of their licenses, but he didn¡¯t give her copy back to her. Created 277 Chapter 277 Zacharias Is Still Delusional +10 Free Coins ¡°Are you out of your mind? No one carries their marriage license with them all the time.¡± Zacharias¡® face rxed slightly, a flicker of relief softening his sharp features. He had already known she could never produce the proof. She had lied to him the entire time. ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, his voice calm but firm, and he reached for her hand. Anneliese froze, rigid and unyielding. Zacharias¡® tone softened, patient and coaxing, a quiet insistence threading through his words. ¡°Juste downstairs with me. After that, I won¡¯t stop you from leaving with your grandma.¡± Reluctantly, she allowed him to guide her down the stairs. When she stepped into the living room, her eyes widened in astonishment. The space had been transformed into something magical. Every type of rose imaginable bloomed across the room, each petal perfect, radiant, and vibrant. Their scent hung thick in the air, sweet and heady, filling every corner. On the dining table, candles flickered in delicate ss holders, reflecting light across wine sses and a feast of carefully prepared dishes. The glow shimmered across the silverware, painting soft warmth across the room. Anneliese had never expected that Zacharias had gone to such painstaking lengths while she was upstairs with her grandmother. Surprise fluttered across her features. Zacharias, misreading her expression, interpreted it as the stirrings of emotion. He led her to the table. From the bouquet in the center, he lifted a small red velvet box and sank to one knee in front of her. He opened the box to reveal a ring almost identical to the one they had once exchanged. It was a symbol of the life they had shared. He looked up at her, eyes steady and warm, reflecting the candlelight like molten fire. ¡°Anne, my gratitude to Selina was always just that. It¡¯s nothing more than gratitude. She helped me when I was broke and powerless. 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 277 Zacharias Is Still Delusional 66 +10 Free Coins And her haughty, snobbish attitude lit something in me. Something my insecurity wanted to conquer. ¡°I confused my desire to prove myself with love, and it made me hurt you. But the woman I have loved from the start has always been you. ¡°Losing you made me realize that everything I have without you is meaningless. Please, Anne, trust me again. Give me one more chance. Will you?¡± This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel His voice trembled slightly as he lifted her hand, holding it gently over the velvet box. Outside, beyond the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, a shadow lingered. The figure¡¯s eyes glimmered with jealousy and fury. Selina stood silently, phone in hand, recording the scene. Anneliese¡¯s departure was the final blow to the Whites¡® fragile mental state. They couldn¡¯t hold on much longer, and everyone fell unconscious. When they stirred and came to, to their surprise, they were already dragged back up to the living room. The ck-d intruders were gone. Someone had naturally called the police, but when the authorities realized the call came from the Whites¡® estate, no one took the case. Someone made sure of it beforehand. Only a few people in Oceaton possessed such influence. The White family was far from that level. Timothy¡¯s expression shifted immediately. Selina knew he was pragmatic. He would not pursue the matter or demand retribution from Anneliese. The White family could not risk angering someone with that kind of power, especially amid financial trouble, but Selina could not ept it. ¡°Dad, Mom, Anne couldn¡¯t have gotten herself a powerful protector outside, could she?¡± Her face was pale with disbelief and worry. 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 277 Zacharias Is Still Delusional The others looked stunned and speechless. 66 +10 Free Coins They called a car and drove straight to the hospital. Selina only swallowed cold medicine and fever pills before hailing a cab to find Zacharias. She needed him to see what Anneliese had done, to witness her cruelty and maniptions. She needed him to believe that Anneliese was flirting and scheming with men. She possibly had multiple benefactors, but she had not expected to arrive in time to see Zacharias kneeling before Anneliese, pleading for forgiveness. Her face turned pale, twisted with jealousy and fury. The reflection on her phone showed the exhaustion carved into her features. She knew men were drawn to appearances. Without Anneliese present, she could have yed the part of the fragile woman, falling into Zacharias¡® arms, begging for sympathy, and winning his pity. But Anneliese stood there. She was radiant, elegant, andmanding as a princess. If Selina stepped forward now, she would look pitiful inparison and only make herself a spectacle. She tucked her phone away and slipped out silently. Inside the vi, soft music floated through the air. Anneliese barely noticed anyone had been outside. As Zacharias moved to take her hand, she stepped back abruptly and folded her hands behind her. Confusion flickered across his face. He froze, holding the ring box, his eyes locked on hers. He was kneeling before her, devoted and vulnerable. However, her gaze was distant and unreadable, as though she were watching a performance. ¡°I¡¯ve already humored your little show. You¡¯d better hold up your end of the bargain and let me and Grandma go,¡± Anneliese said, her voice firm as she stepped toward the door. She turned and began to walk away. Created 278 Chapter 278 A Heart Beyond Forgiveness Chapter 278 A Heart Beyond Forgiveness 66 +10 Free Coins Zacharias¡® gaze trembled with anguish. How could she remain unmoved? How could she be so unyielding, so cold? Was he truly beyond forgiveness? He sprang to his feet, rushed forward, and seized Anneliese once more. ¡°Anne, I¡¯m not pretending. Every word I said came from my heart. Please¨Clisten to me, really look into my eyes.¡± He even pressed her hand toward his chest, as if to let her feel the heart that threatened to break apart¨Cproof of how deeply he meant it. However, Anneliese wrenched herself free again, her voice cutting through the air like ice. ¡°Enough, Zacharias. Don¡¯t you understand? Hurt and regret never fade. What we lost can never be recovered. Stop clinging to me and making this uglier than it already is.¡± She turned and walked toward the staircase. Zacharias¡® face drained of color. The ring in his palm cut into his skin until it drew blood. His throat tightened; he closed his eyes briefly, then hurried a few steps after her. ¡°Anne, you and your grandma don¡¯t need to leave. This was our marital home, and in the divorce, it should rightfully be yours. I¡¯ll have my secretary draft an additional agreement. The Sunrise Residence will be included in the settlement, and I¡¯ll make sure the deed is transferred to you quickly.¡± Anneliese paused, surprised. She turned back to study him, wondering what scheme he was ying at. The vi wasn¡¯t particrlyrge, nor was it among the most coveted in Oceaton, but its location in the city meant its value had only climbed. At the very least, it was worth twenty to thirty million. And now Zacharias, after spending so much effort restoring and renovating it, was actually preparing to sign it over to her? How rare¨Cit seemed he still had a shred of kindness left. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I truly want to do right by you, to make amends. I¡¯ll leave now,¡± Zacharias said with a bitter smile. Of course, he had his own motives. He wanted Anneliese to stay here, to see how much 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 278 A Heart Beyond Forgiveness 66 +10 Free Coins thought he had poured into restoring this ce to what it once was. He hoped she would remember the fragments of their life together within these walls. If he offered, surely Anneliese wouldn¡¯t refuse. Yet when she looked around and thought of Zacharias still living here, she felt only disgust. She arched her brow. ¡°Fine. Then, have the supplemental agreement sent over today. We¡¯ll transfer the deed in the next couple of days.¡± The moment she epted, Zacharias let out a breath of relief. He convinced himself she was softer than she appeared, that deep down she also longed for what they once had. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN()vel Less than an hour after he left, Jackie arrived with the supplemental agreement already signed by Zacharias. When he saw Anneliese again, Jackie¡¯s expression wasplicated. In the past, he had looked down on her, thinking she was nothing more than Zacharias¡® shadow, a woman too desperate to ever let him go. He had never imagined that when Anneliese said divorce, she meant it. She had even maneuvered carefully to make sure it happened. And once it was over, she walked away clean, without hesitation. It was Zacharias who had fallen apart, stumbling through his days in a fog, lost and broken. Because of his foul moods and increasingly uncontroble temper, Jackie himself had been living in constant turmoil. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, pleasee back,¡± he pleaded. ¡°Mr. Shaw truly can¡¯t live without you. His stomach condition has worsened, and every night he depends on sleeping pills just to get some rest. He really can¡¯t go on without you.¡± Anneliese signed her name quickly, handed the agreement back to Jackie, and ignored his words. ¡°Make sure the transfer ispleted within the next two days. And about the 500 million- tomorrow is the final deadline. Remind Mr. Shaw not to forget. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to sue. If word gets out and people think uderias Tech is facing a cash flow problem, Mr. Shaw could find himself chased down by the courts, and that wouldn¡¯t end well.¡± Jackie was speechless. 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 278 A Heart Beyond Forgiveness When a woman was determined, there really was nothing a man could do. After he left, Anneliese went upstairs. She called to arrange Nishay¡¯s hospital stay and scheduled her surgery. 66 +10 Free Coins Once the property certificate for the vi was in hand, she nned to take Nishay straight to the hospital. When Nishay woke from her nap, Anneliese told her that Zacharias was away on a business trip. Nishay frowned, remarking how strange it was that the couple always seemed to be traveling separately. She wondered aloud how they could possibly be preparing for a baby this way. A few vague answers from Anneliese were enough to brush aside her suspicions. That night, Anneliese stayed with Nishay in the guest bedroom of the Sunrise Residence. They talked for a long time, until Nishay drifted off to sleep. Anneliese, however,y wide awake, unable to rest. She tossed and turned, afraid of waking Nishay, until atst, she slipped out of bed with her phone in hand. There were no calls or WhatsApp messages from Jonathan. Wrapped in a nket, she curled up on the living room sofa, scrolling through her phone for a while. In the end, she couldn¡¯t resist sending him a message. ¡®Are you busy?¡® The other end remained silent. Anneliese didn¡¯t know whether he hadn¡¯t seen it, or whether he was simply too upied to reply. 3/3 Created 279 Chapter 279 Echoes in the Quiet 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese suddenly felt her irritation and restlessness give way to an inexplicable gloom. She let out a sigh and turned to thetest research papers on lightweight materials. Slowly, she immersed herself in the work, and her mood began to settle¨Cbut the more she read, the more alert she became. By the time her eyes grew dry and gritty, and she rubbed them, she realized over two hours had passed. It was nearly three in the morning. She opened WhatsApp again, and as before, he hadn¡¯t replied. Anneliese pressed her lips together and rose, heading upstairs. But just as she stepped onto the first stair, her phone vibrated. For more chapters visit find[?]ovel Sensing something, she picked it up¨Cand sure enough, it was a message from Jonathan. ¡®Busy, just saw this.¡¯ The pale glow of the screen reflected in her almond¨Cshaped eyes, making them shimmer. She quickly typed back: ¡®No worries.¡¯ ¡®Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet? Did something wake you, or can¡¯t you sleep?¡® ¡®Insomnia¡­¡® She had just sent the message when his voice call came through. The buzzing of the phone seemed especially loud in the quiet night, stirring her heart. She sprinted to her bag, grabbed her Bluetooth earbuds, and clipped them in, finally answering, slightly out of breath. His low, velvety voice sounded in her car. ¡°Night owl¡­ are you expecting me to lull you to sleep?¡± Anneliese, however, could faintly hear papers rustling and someone speaking in the background on his end. 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 66 Chapter 279 Echoes in the Quiet She hesitated. ¡°Are you busy?¡± Before Jonathan could answer, a new, unfamiliar voice approached over the line. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, we¡¯ve negotiated airspace usage with the government multiple times, but we just received some updates. This might affect the uing United Aerospace Safety Commission permit approval, and the finance team has drafted the optimal tax n. They need your final review.¡± ¡°One moment.¡± Anneliese heard Jonathan respond to the person. She said softly, ¡°Go ahead, you should focus. I¡¯m pretty tired¡­ I¡¯ll fall asleep soon.¡± She was about to hang up when his voice returned. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind the sound of our meeting being boring, why don¡¯t you just stay on the line?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese paused for a moment, but then a gentle smile curved her lips. ¡°Okay¡­ go ahead, focus on your work.¡± Jonathan said nothing more. He turned back to the conference table, carefully flipping his phone face down beside him. ¡°Continue.¡± Anneliese quietly tiptoed back to the bedroom, lying down beside Nishay again. From time to time, she could hear his deep, decisive voice echoing over the line¨Ccalm, unhurried, yet sharp andmanding, like a general orchestrating his strategy. Whether it was thete hour, her exhaustion, or the subtle effect of Jonathan¡¯s voice, her eyes soon closed, and sleep imed her. Over an hourter, Jonathan finally finished the meeting. He picked up his phone, the screen lighting his face, and realized the call had never been disconnected. He pressed it to his ear, still able to hear her soft, steady breathing. In his deep eyes, the usual edge softened, and his lips curved slightly. ¡°Good night, my princess.¡± Anneliese, of course, didn¡¯t hear him¨Cshe had slept soundly through the night. When she woke, her body felt heavy with sleep, and the sunlight was sharp in her eyes. It was 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 66 Chapter 279 Echoes in the Quiet already mid¨Cmorning. She touched her ears; Nishay must have gotten up to take off her earbuds. +10 Free Coins She quickly picked up her phone and saw that her call with Jonathan hadsted nearly two hours before ending. Her eyes flickered with a quiet light as she rose to wash up. Downstairs, the kitchen was alive with movement. As Anneliese stepped in, the savory aroma of pie filling hit her. Sure enough, Nishay was making pies. Anneliese hurried forward and hugged the elderly woman from behind. ¡°I love the pies you make the most.¡± The pies her foster mother used to make had the same filling recipe as Nishay¡¯s. After her foster mother passed, Nishay¡¯s pies carried that sameforting, homely taste. Anneliese had tried to learn the recipe, but for some reason, hers never turned out quite right. Nishay turned and smiled. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be craving them. I made extra, so I¡¯ll freeze them in the fridge. When I¡¯m gone, you and Zacharias can enjoy them together.¡± Anneliese¡¯s smile softened, and she let go of Nishay. ¡°You really care about me¡­ I just want to eat your pies all the time, Grandma. Since you¡¯re here, just stay.¡± With Nishay¡¯s recent health issues and surgery, recovery wouldn¡¯t be easy. Anneliese couldn¡¯t bear the thought of letting her live alone in Baytree. ¡°Why bring this up again? I¡¯ve got plenty of old friends back home. I¡¯m not interested ining here just to be your live¨Cin nanny.¡± Whenever the topic turned to living with Anneliese, Nishay always responded like this. Anneliese knew it wasn¡¯t that Nishay didn¡¯t care¨Cshe just didn¡¯t want to be a burden. This wasn¡¯t something that could be solved overnight. Created 280 Chapter 280 Family, Duty, and Hidden Tensions Chapter 280 Family, Duty, and Hidden Tensions ¡°I¡¯ll help,¡± Anneliese said with a smile. 66 +10 Free Coins Nishay shook her head. ¡°No need. I packed some ravioli just for you. Go cook it and fill your stomach. ¡°Was your business trip exhausting? How did you sleep in thiste? And why were you wearing earbuds to bedst night? That¡¯s terrible for your ears. Doesn¡¯t Zacharias ever say anything about it?¡± Nishay went on in a stream of chatter, but Anneliese listened, smiling, never the least bit annoyed. After cooking the ravioli, Anneliese snapped a photo and happily posted it on Facebook. Soon, her phone buzzed with likes andments nonstop. She ate her ravioli, asionally refreshing the page, but still didn¡¯t see any sign of Jonathan¡¯s reactions. He must really be busy. ¡°Later, if you¡¯re free,e with me to the supermarket. Let¡¯s buy more groceries while I¡¯m still here. Tonight, I¡¯ll have Melody and Lenora over for dinner so they don¡¯t feel neglected,¡± Nishay said as she stepped out of the kitchen. Anneliese slowed her stirring, looked up, and smiled. ¡°No need. They went on a trip together a couple of days ago¨Cthey¡¯re not in Oceaton. Besides, you¡¯re the elder. They should be visiting you, not the other way around. No need for formalities.¡± Back when her adoptive parents were alive, Melody often brought her children to ude Residence to mooch meals. Later, they even started bothering Nishay. Now, Melody and Lenora lived in Oceaton but still made a point to show off whenever they returned to Baytree. Whenever they came back, Nishay would host them, yet they were never satisfied, always nitpicking. Nishay was straightforward and kindhearted, always believing that sincerity would be returned in kind. Being slightly nicer to that sharp¨Ctongued mother and daughter seemed like it might benefit Anneliese¨Cbut some people like them, the kinder she was, the more entitled they felt, and the more they disrespected her. 12:13 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 280 Family, Duty, and Hidden Tensions 66 For more chapters visit f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? +10 Free Coins Anneliese thought about it now and wished she could make them spit out everything they ate. She would never let Nishay, with her delicate health, endure any extra trouble for them. ¡°On a trip? What bad timing,¡± Nishay said. ¡°Yeah.¡± Anneliese nodded. ¡°This afternoon, I¡¯ll take you out and show you around a bit.¡± Nishay studied her for a moment, eyes thoughtful. The next two days passed quickly as Anneliese kept Nishaypany, talking and helping her unwind. Not wanting to owe Zacharias any more favors, Anneliese had personally rearranged Nishay¡¯s surgery at a different hospital. Through her connections, she secured a chief physician who specialized in cardiology. Just as Anneliese helped Nishayplete the admission procedures and settled her into the room, Zacharias arrived. Frowning at the narrow three¨Cperson ward, he said, ¡°Anne, I already took care of everything for Grandma. The private hospital has a top¨Ctier suite and a dedicated medical team just for her. I guarantee she¡¯ll get the best treatment and post¨Cop recovery. Why did you decide to bring her here? Look at these conditions¨Chow can Grandma possibly rest properly?¡± ¡°This ce is fine. No need to waste money. And honestly, do you think the doctors at that private hospital are better than these public ones? Zacharias, I appreciate your intentions, but let¡¯s just go with Anne¡¯s n,¡± Nishay said quickly, worried they might argue. Anneliese gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯ll handle him,¡± she said. The two stepped out of the ward. Anneliese headed toward the emergency exit while Zacharias followed behind, his expression dark. Not far off, a group of doctors passed by. In the middle, a tall, strikingly handsome young man stood out from the crowd, his presencemanding despite his youth. It was Carter. He paused, raising an eyebrow as he nced in the direction of the emergency exit. Looks like Jonathan¡¯s been busy expanding his business empire¨Cbut did he realize his own home might be vulnerable? He tilted his head and whispered to the assistant walking beside him. 12:14 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 280 Family, Duty, and Hidden Tensions 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°Check if there¡¯s a patient¡¯s family member named Anneliese and find out who the patient is to her.¡± At the emergency exit, Anneliese faced him calmly. ¡°Anne, even if we¡¯re divorced, Grandma took care of me for years and did so much for our family. Isn¡¯t it natural for me to handle her hospital arrangements? Can you stop being stubborn and childish right now?¡± Zacharias¡® voice carried exasperation, but inside, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little pleased. He knew exactly how important Nishay was to Anneliese. Her acting out like this only proved that she cared about him, after all. Lately, Anneliese had been distant¨Cblocking him on every contact, ignoring any calls from strangers. He couldn¡¯t even find her. It felt as if she hadpletely erased him from her life. More than being angry at him, what tortured him most was her cold indifference. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. I would never risk Grandma¡¯s health,¡± she said. She had already checked: this hospital was the authority for the type of surgery Nishay needed. As for the ward, the arrangements had been rushed, so there wasn¡¯t a better room avable at the moment. Her friend promised to keep an eye out and try to get Nishay into a private room as soon as possible. ¡°Anne-¡± Created 281 Chapter 281 Echoes of a Divorce : Chapter 281 Echoes of a Divorce Zacharias frowned, about to speak, but Anneliese cut him off. ¡°Is the vi transfer done?¡± 66 +10 Free Coins Zacharias hesitated, but since the agreement had already been signed, he had no intention of dying further. He pulled the finalized property deed from his briefcase and handed it to her. Anneliese epted it. She had stayed in the basement with Zacharias, supporting him through his startup. The vi was marital property, so taking it didn¡¯t weigh on her conscience. Holding the deed, she turned to leave. ¡°Don¡¯te to the hospital for the next few days.¡± Zacharias couldn¡¯t just let her walk away. He stepped in front of her. ¡°The Goldings¡® 25th wedding anniversary g is in four days. You¡¯reing with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to tell Grandma. Maybe she can convince you.¡± His words carried a clear threat. Nishay was scheduled for a full checkup tomorrow, and barring anyplications, surgery was the day after. Anneliese clenched her teeth, forcing herself to stay calm. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go. But while Grandma¡¯s in the hospital, you¡¯re not allowed to bother her.¡± Zacharias frowned and sighed. ¡°Anne, Grandma doesn¡¯t know we¡¯re divorced. I¡¯ve stayed out of sight all this time. You¡¯re making her worry. ¡°If you don¡¯t want Grandma transferred, I¡¯ll see if I can arrange a different room for her. And if you don¡¯t want to see me, I can at least keep my visits brief each day, right? ¡°Anne, we¡¯re divorced, not enemies. Grandma has been good to me, and you don¡¯t get to stop me from taking care of her.¡± In the doctor¡¯s office, Carter held his phone, trying to pass along some news to Jonathan. The call connected, and Carter flexed his facial muscles, ready to make a big impression¨Cbut 12:14 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 281 Echoes of a Divorce the line went dead. Carter froze. He gritted his teeth and called again. : 66 +10 Free Coins By the fourth try, Jonathan finally picked up¨Cbut the tone on the other end was far from friendly. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Tch, what kind of attitude is that? I¡¯ve got something really, really important to tell you-¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna hang up.¡± ¡°Wait! It¡¯s about your wife!¡± Jonathan had already posted the marriage certificate¨Cnot just in the family group, but in their private four¨Cperson chat too. The group had erupted with excitement, everyone buzzing with discussion. But Jonathan? Calm as ever. He¡¯d posted the certificate and then disappeared. Still, Carter and the others could tell from his almost desperate need to publicize the marriage that he cared deeply about Anneliese. As if on cue, footsteps sounded on the other end. Jonathan had apparently moved somewhere more convenient to speak. ¡°You¡¯d better make it clear.¡± Carter didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°I came to the hospital today to discuss something-¡± ¡°Get to the point.¡± ¡°Your wife¡¯s grandma is having heart trouble and was admitted here. They¡¯ve scheduled surgery the day after tomorrow. And I happened to notice a pretty handsome, wealthy young man hovering around, trying to curry favor, even going so far as to get the elderlydy moved to a private room. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Leaving your wife behind is bad enough, but if you ignore something as serious as her elder having surgery, be careful¨Cyou mighte home to find her gone.¡± Readplete version only at F¦ÉndNovel Jonathan frowned slightly. Anneliese hadn¡¯t mentioned any of this when they talked on the 12:14 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 281 Echoes of a Divorce phonest night. : So, her sleeplessness was because she was worried about Nishay¡¯s health. 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°Arrange the room. Be there personally for the surgery the day after tomorrow. No mistakes,¡± Jonathan said in a low,manding tone. Carter had been waiting for exactly this moment and nodded eagerly. ¡°No problem. It¡¯s just that my project¨Cgrowing artificial organs using iPS cells¨Cis really strapped for funding. Could you throw in a little more?¡± Jonathan¡¯s tone was dry. ¡°So, you¡¯re trying to squeeze some money out of me, huh?¡± ¡°Well, Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re the one with the deepest pockets.¡± The project might not yield results anytime soon, but if organ regeneration worked, it would be a huge boon to humanity. Yet securing investment was a constant struggle. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer you another 500 million.¡± ¡°Make it a billion.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to be performing surgery on your wife¡¯s grandma. I¡¯ll know exactly what kind of men she likes, her preferences, her dislikes. Saying the right things to her¡­ Well, it all depends on my mood.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Zion call you.¡± Carter¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re generous! Don¡¯t worry. Your wife¡¯s grandma is like your grandma, and your grandma is like mine. I¡¯ll make sure your grandma is taken care of properly, every step of the way¡ª¡± Chapter 282 No Way Back Created 282 Chapter 282 No Way Back Carter hadn¡¯t finished speaking when the call was cut off. With a billion at stake, he didn¡¯t take offense. 66 +10 Free Coins In the hospital room, Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected that the moment she returned from the restroom with Nishay, the head nurse would inform her that a private room had just opened
  1. up.
Surprised and delighted, she quickly helped Nishay settle into the new space. Though notrge, the room came with its own bathroom, which already felt like a great improvement. Anneliese called Nicole, whose grandfather had once served as the hospital¡¯s deputy director. It was through Nicole that she had managed to get Nishay admitted. She offered her thanks, but Nicole sounded puzzled. ¡°A private room? That wasn¡¯t my grandfather¡¯s doing. Did you ask someone else for help?¡± Anneliese froze, recalling Zacharias¡® promise to pull some strings. Frowning, she said, ¡°There was someone, yes. Since my grandma is already taken care of, please don¡¯t bother your grandfather anymore. Thanks again. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner soon.¡± Because of that, when Zacharias showed up at the hospital the next day, Anneliese forced herself to be a little more patient with him. He made an extra effort to please, and Nishay seemed utterly charmed. ¡°Grandma, after this surgery you shouldn¡¯t go back to Baytree. Stay with Anne and me so we can care for you. Besides, you know how my mom spoils kids and doesn¡¯t know how to raise them. Once Anne has a baby, we¡¯ll really need your help-¡± Returning from the bathroom with a cleaned lunch box, Anneliese overheard Zacharias sitting by the bed, talking. She frowned. ¡°Zacharias!¡± Zacharias nced at her. Even when he saw her anger, he didn¡¯t take it to heart. Instead, he gave Nishay a helpless smile. 12:14 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 282 No Way Back : 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°Grandma, mypany is on track now, and our health checks showed we¡¯re ready to start a family. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time for us to have a baby? Maybe you can talk to Anne for me.¡± Nishay looked toward Anneliese. ¡°I have to agree with Zacharias.¡± Anneliese walked over and handed Nishay a ss of water. ¡°You¡¯ll need a full dder for the examter. Drink a little more.¡± She threw Zacharias a sharp look, then stepped out of the room with him. Her expression was tightly controlled. ¡°Thank you for arranging the private room for my grandma.¡± A flicker passed through his eyes, but he quickly curved his lips into a smile. ¡°It was the least I could do.¡± ¡°Once Grandma is through the surgery, I¡¯ll tell her about the divorce. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want you misleading her with all that talk. Stop wasting your energy on it. I hate it.¡± Her voice grew colder, harder. Zacharias clenched his fists. He believed he had done so much these past few days, and done it well. But Anneliese¡¯s attitude hadn¡¯t softened in the slightest, and the disappointment wed at him until it became unbearable. The moment she turned to leave, he suddenly seized her shoulders and shoved her hard against the wall. Before she could struggle, he pressed his body against hers, his gaze raw with pain. ¡°Anne, what do you want from me? Is it because we never slept together that you¡¯re leaving me so coldly? If we had a child, would you finallye back to me?¡± Back when they first started dating, Anneliese had lived through that horrifying night. The trauma left scars, and she resisted letting him near. He had once let Selina¡¯s insinuations poison his mind, convincing himself that Anneliese might not be pure, and the thought had left him uneasy enough to avoid touching her. Read full story at find?novel Over the year that followed, they had tried twice, but the moment he caught sight of the scar across her abdomen, his desire copsed. 12:14 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 282 No Way Back 66 +10 Free Coins On their wedding night, he had truly wanted her. But then he discovered he was allergic to condoms, and with Anneliese¡¯s condition making pregnancy impossible at the time, everything unraveled. One mishap led to another, dragging things out endlessly. The day Anneliese went to hispany, she had just received her fertility clearance report. For Zacharias, that knowledge ignited a thousand regrets. If only she had knownter, he thought. They would have crossed that final line and been husband and wife in truth. Maybe even parents by now. She wouldn¡¯t be able to turn her back on him then. Or perhaps, he told himself in his darkest moments, he should never have cared about her health at all. He should have taken her then, and she wouldn¡¯t be so firm in pushing him away now. That thought burned in his head as he pressed against her, breathing in the familiar scent of her body, his self¨Ccontrol slipping fast. He lowered his head to kiss her. But in the very next second, a fierce hiss of spray cut through the air. ¡°Ah!¡± Zacharias screamed as Anneliese whipped a can of pepper spray from her pocket and sted him full in the face. His eyes mped shut in agony as tears streamed uncontrobly. And that wasn¡¯t enough. Anneliese¡¯s knee drove hard into his most vulnerable spot. Not far away, Carter stopped dead in shock. The two male doctors walking beside him instinctively pressed their legs together at the sight. ¡°Anneliese!¡± Created 283 Chapter 283 Secrets Behind Closed Doors Chapter 283 Secrets Behind Closed Doors Zacharias was seething with rage. 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese stepped back, shaking the can of pepper spray in her hand. ¡°I got this just for you. Surprised?¡± Zacharias felt like his eyes were about to burn out¨Che couldn¡¯t even see the smirk on her face, but he could imagine it perfectly from the tone of her voice. She had gone to such lengths to guard against him. Thinking of that, he felt the pain in his heart was far worse than the pain in his body. He bent over, bracing himself against the wall, sweat pouring down his face. ¡°I love you so much, and this is how you treat me?¡± Anneliese snorted. ¡°Save your love. True love is constant care, not something you realize only after you lose it. And what you¡¯re showing? That¡¯s not care¨Cit¡¯s a selfish obsession, fear of being abandoned, resentment over what you didn¡¯t get. Don¡¯t pretend you¡¯re devoted. Once I hate someone, I will never like them again.¡± Having said her piece, she strode toward the hospital room at the end of the hall, leaving Zacharias doubled over in pain. She didn¡¯t even call for a nurse, nor did she notice the doctors standing by the elevator behind her. ¡°Dr. Chevalier, why are you recording this?¡± One of the doctors asked, puzzled, as Carter pocketed his phone. A medical genius, and still stopping to record the drama like it¡¯s a rey forter? Carter smirked, sliding the phone into hisb coat pocket and giving it a fond little pat. Did Jonathan even know his wife was this fiery? And could this video fetch another billion? If not a billion, 500 million should be doable. In Stake Gardens, Jessica and Miles posed as a young couple, strolling through the neighborhood for two days. They quickly became part of the local parents¡® group and easily gathered basic information about Mikita. Mikita had lived there for six or seven years. At home, she had only a little boy just over four, and a live¨Cin nanny. As for Mikita¡¯s husband, no one had ever seen him. Chapter 283 Secrets Behind Closed Doors +10 Free Coins The nanny often took the boy out to y. From what the older parents heard, Mikita¡¯s husband was a big¨Ctime businessman working overseas. Mikita herself led the typical life of a wealthy housewife: taking her child for walks, shopping, ying card games, arranging flowers, and enjoying afternoon tea. She went to a beauty salon every Wednesday without fail, each visitsting at least five or six hours. Jessica took the opportunity when the nanny brought the boy out to approach him and discreetly plucked two strands of his hair. On a Wednesday, Jessica waited and immediately followed Mikita as soon as she stepped out. But instead of heading to the beauty salon, Mikita drove straight to a restaurant. Something was off. Jessica slipped on a hat and went inside. She saw Mikita head to a private room at the very back of the second floor. Choosing a room with a view of that private space, she ordered a cup of coffee. But strangely, Mikita didn¡¯te back out¨Cand no one else seemed to enter either. After more than two hours, Jessica had gone to the restroom twice and began to feel something was wrong. She decided to go downstairs. Circling the restaurant and studying the first floor, she noticed something odd: there were no private rooms in the same spot downstairs. Instead, a hidden door was tucked behind some nts near the back exit. If the first and second floors were connected, anyone entering through that back door could reach the second¨Cfloor private room without anyone noticing. Considering this, Jessica approached the door. She grabbed the handle, about to twist it, when a harsh voice suddenly rang out: ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Jessica¡¯s heart jumped. She turned to see a broad, burly man walking toward her, holding an iron rod and staring at her with suspicion. Jessica stiffened but kept her expression calm, masking her shock. ¡°I¡¯m looking for my friend,¡± she said evenly. ¡°He was just around here a moment ago.¡± Content originallyes from find?novel The man clearly didn¡¯t believe her. He took two more steps toward Jessica, dragging the iron rod along the ground with a screeching, bone¨Cchilling scrape. 12:15 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 283 Secrets Behind Closed Doors 66 +10 Free Coins Jessica felt a cold sweat break out on her back. As she weighed whether she had any chance if it came to a fight, a familiar, slightly rough voice suddenly called out. ¡°Hey, babe, I¡¯m right here.¡± Jessica whipped around. In a nearby spot, a tall figure leaned casually against a pir, a cigarette tucked between his fingers, azy smirk on his face as he looked her way. Seeing her turn, he flicked the cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it underfoot, then started toward her. Jessica reacted instantly, stomping her foot in frustration. ¡°I knew you were sneaking off to smoke again! And all that talk about quitting for a baby¨Cit was all a lie. Fine, then. I¡¯m not having a kid. Whoever you want to have it with, go ahead!¡± She stormed toward Zane, punching toward his chest before striding past him. Zane let out a soft hiss, gave the burly man with the iron rod an awkward smile, then turned to follow Jessica, slipping his arm around her slender waist. Created 284 Chapter 284 Threads of Fate Chapter 284 Threads of Fate ¡°Babe, I was wrong. Just this once, okay?¡± Jessica stayed silent, her expression tight. : 66 +10 Free Coins Once they were out of the other man¡¯s line of sight, Jessica twisted her waist ufortably. ¡°It¡¯s just acting, Mr. Shayman. You don¡¯t need to hold me so tightly.¡± Zane raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, just acting¡­ though you didn¡¯t exactly hold back when you hit me earlier, Ms. Sweeting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m naturally strong,¡± she teased. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were so delicate, Mr. Shayman. Sorry about that.¡± Zane let go. ¡°That¡¯s all I get for helping you?¡± Jessica muttered, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°What were you doing just now?¡± he asked. She was such a delicate girl, yet she managed to stir up trouble everywhere she went. Since this involved Anneliese¡¯s privacy, Jessica didn¡¯t want to answer. But thinking back to the burly guy¡¯s fierce, tense expression, she became more convinced that this was the ce where Mikita was having an affair. Suddenly, she turned to Zane with a bright, deliberate smile. ¡°Mr. Shayman, it must be pretty easy for you to check things out, right? Could you find out who runs this restaurant for me?¡± Zane pressed his lips together. ¡°That¡¯ll cost extra.¡± Jessica fell silent. As expected,wyers could be even more calcting than businessmen. She gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m just a poor girl¡­ I even gave you my bank card that day!¡± Zane clicked his tongue. He had never met anyone so proud of being poor. He chuckled under his breath, pulled the card Jessica had left him from his wallet, and pressed 12:15 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 284 Threads of Fate it into her hand. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± she asked. 66 +10 Free Coins ¡°The bnce is too low. I start at a hundred thousand an hour. That night, you had me working more than five hours, didn¡¯t you? Earn a little extra and give it back to me.¡± Jessica froze. Watching her wide¨Ceyed stare, Zane smirked and ruffled the short hair on her head before stepping ahead. Jessica clutched the bank card, feeling increasingly uneasy. A hundred thousand an hour¡­ that¡¯s for legal consulting, not¡­ whatever he was doing that night. With his clumsy, brute¨Cforce approach, how could he possibly deserve that rate? The results of Nishay¡¯s physical exams all met the surgery requirements, and the operation went ahead as scheduled. When Jessica arrived at the hospital, Nishay was just being wheeled toward the operating room. Anneliese held Nishay¡¯s right hand, while Zacharias held the left. Jessica rushed forward and elbowed Zacharias aside, taking Nishay¡¯s left hand in hers. ¡°Ms. Morris, don¡¯t be scared. Just think of it as taking a nap¨Cyou might even have a nice dream. Annie and I will be right outside with you. I even booked a studio for a vintage- inspired photoshoot. When you¡¯re out, we¡¯ll go and take some gorgeous pictures together.¡± Nishay squeezed Jessica¡¯s hand with a smiling face. ¡°You little brat, you love teasing me so much. My face is all wrinkled already. Do you really think I can look good in photos?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll look beautiful! Ms. Morris, I¡¯ll be waiting for you toe out!¡± Anneliese leaned in and hugged Nishay, her eyes red with emotion. Nishay patted her back. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not scared. Anne, you don¡¯t be scared either.¡± The nurse wheeled Nishay into the operating room, and the doctors followed. Anneliese¡¯s eyes 2/3 12:15 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ 66 Chapter 284 Threads of Fate +10 Free Coins. widened as she recognized the young, handsome Carter walking at the front, even through his mask. Th?s chapter is updated by ¡°How¡­ are you here?¡± she whispered. Dominic Conti, who had been scheduled to be Nishay¡¯s lead surgeon, assumed Anneliese didn¡¯t know Carter and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Dr. Chevalier just because he¡¯s young. He has more experience with these surgeries than I do. Justst month, he performed aplex operation on a 103¨Cyear¨Cold¨Crecing the aortic and mitral valves, repairing the tricuspid, and doing a bypass. He set a record for the shortest operating time, and the patient recovered exceptionally well.¡± Anneliese had known Jonathan¡¯s friends were no ordinary people, but she hadn¡¯t realized Carter was this extraordinary. ¡°Ms. Morris, leave her in my hands. I¡¯ll do everything I can,¡± Carter said simply, his words carrying the highest promise a surgeon could give. The nurse handed Anneliese the surgery consent form. Anneliese took the pen, nced at Carter, and he smiled and nodded encouragingly. She signed carefully and solemnly. ¡°Please take care of her.¡± Carter nodded once more and led the team inside. ¡°Anne, Grandma¡¯s going to be fine. You¡ª¡± Zacharias stepped forward, reaching to put aforting hand on Anneliese¡¯s shoulder. Jessica shoved him aside. ¡°Do we need you to say that? Step away¨Cyou¡¯re bad luck!¡± She pulled Anneliese toward the waiting chairs and frowned. ¡°Why did he evene?¡± Anneliese exined how Zacharias had secretly brought Nishay here, but since he had arranged a full check¨Cup and the heart condition was discovered, it was a blessing in disguise. That eased some of her anger. 3/3 Created 285 Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore +10 Free Coins Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected that after everything she¡¯d done to Zacharias yesterday, he would still show up today. She supposed her pepper spray hadn¡¯t been strong enough, and that kick to his groin hadn¡¯t been harsh enough either. ¡°Wow, Mr. Shaw, uderias Tech went under, and now you¡¯re just clinging to Annie like some cheap bandage?¡± Jessica¡¯s tone was sharp, clearly trying to rile him up. Zacharias¡® expression darkened, and he gave Jessica a cold nce, yet somehow forced himself to sit down nearby. Jessica rolled her eyes, while Anneliese, concerned about Nishay, barely even nced at Zacharias. Thinking of Carter, she turned to Jessica. ¡°I¡¯ll make a call,¡± she said, rising to her feet. But Jessica grabbed her and, with a yful wink, called out: ¡°Oh, Annie, you¡¯re calling your husband, aren¡¯t you? Go ahead, right here! Ms. Morris just went in. If they need a signature, it¡¯d be bad if the doctor couldn¡¯t reach you.¡± Jessica nced at Zacharias. As expected, he frowned at them, his handsome face darkening further. Anneliese paused. There was really nothing to hide¨Cher marriage was open and aboveboard. She picked up her phone, but before she could dial, Jonathan¡¯s call came in, almost as if they were in sync. Her eyes lit up, and she answered immediately. Before she could even speak, Jonathan spoke first, ¡°Has Grandma gone into surgery yet?¡± She was about to ask whether he had asked Carter to help, but his words made her see there was no need. ¡°How did you know Grandma was going into surgery?¡± ¡°Carter happened to see you at the hospital. Something this big, and you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± 12:15 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore His tone was low, tinged with obvious displeasure. 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese panicked slightly and hurried to exin, ¡°You¡¯re so busy¡­I just didn¡¯t want to keep bothering you.¡± He was silent. Anneliese bit her lip, unsure if she¡¯d said the wrong thing. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. ¡°Am I an outsider? I¡¯m your husband.¡± Her heart felt like it had been lightly tapped across a thousand miles by him. She felt like a child caught doing something wrong¨Cconfused and uncertain where she¡¯d actually gone wrong. Wasn¡¯t it just a marriage of convenience? Or had that changed after that kiss? ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Her voice was quiet and hesitant. She hadn¡¯t thought about telling him, nor did she know she should. Jonathan could hear the uncertainty and panic in her voice. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a silent gesture of frustration. It was precisely because she hadn¡¯t thought to tell him that he felt such a heavy, suffocating mix of anger and worry¨Cthough perhaps he was just too impatient. His business trip hade at the worst possible time. Nishay was in surgery, and he had called tofort her, not to scold her. Yet his emotions seemed just slightly out of control. He truly didn¡¯t know how to deal with her. And every word she spoke carried weight he couldn¡¯t afford to misstep. Jonathan closed his eyes for a moment, gathering himself. When he spoke again, his voice was soft, warm, and tinged with a smile as he sighed. ¡°My wife¡­ Do I need to punch holes in our marriage certificate and hang it around your neck so you always remember? You¡¯re not alone anymore. You can rely on me¨Canytime, anywhere.¡± 2/3 12:15 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore : Chapters first released on Find1Novel 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese listened, stunned. She had grown up relying on herself, solving problems alone, only seeking help when absolutely necessary. As for the Whites, even if she never asked them for anything, they still found her troublesome. Even with Zacharias, he had often told her she was an adult now, that he wanted her to be independent. With thepany just starting out, with so many people and so much to handle, he couldn¡¯t worry about her. This was the first time someone had told her she wasn¡¯t alone, that she could depend on him anytime. And the crucial part¨Che wasn¡¯t just saying it. He had proven it. When she needed him, he had flown thousands of miles back and, from afar, arranged everything for her without her asking. A swell of emotion rose in Anneliese¡¯s chest, a mixture of warmth and something almost too full to contain. ¡°Anne?¡± He called after her, curious when she didn¡¯t respond. Anneliese sniffed, then murmured in a muffled voice, soft and hesitant. ¡°My husband¡­ I know I was wrong. Please forgive me.¡± Jonathan¡¯s breath caught slightly. This time, her gentle, almost coquettish tone had genuinely made him smile. ¡°Good. Knowing your mistakes is the first step to fixing them. I¡¯ll reward you when I get back.¡± He probably still had work to finish, because he added quickly: ¡°I checked with Carter. Grandma¡¯s surgery will take about five to six hours. Are you scared? Is anyone with you?¡± ¡°Jess is here. I¡¯m fine. You focus on your work. I¡¯ll give you the good news as soon as the surgery¡¯s over.¡± 3/3 Created 286 Chapter 286 Love, Lies, and Legacy ¡°Okay.¡± 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese was about to hang up when a hand suddenly shot out from beside her and snatched the phone without warning. ¡°Heh, I want to see just who your husband is.¡± It was Zacharias. He had jumped out of nowhere, and Anneliese panicked. She had just forgotten to mention to Jonathan that Zacharias was around¨Cshe hadpletely erased this scoundrel from her mind¡ªand worried Jonathan might misunderstand, she snapped, ¡°Give it back!¡± ¡°Heh, so angry. Is your husband someone who has to hide in the shadows, afraid of the light? Or does he not even exist?¡± Zacharias taunted her. He was just about to have a proper little chat with this mysterious man when he nced at the phone¨Cand grinned. ¡°Anne, your acting is actually impressive.¡± He handed the phone back to Anneliese with a smile. Anneliese froze for a moment before taking it. Jonathan must have hung up while Zacharias had the phone because the screen had already returned to the home page. She exhaled in relief. ¡°You can leave now.¡± Zacharias, convinced Anneliese had been putting on a show to trick him, wasn¡¯t in a hurry anymore. He didn¡¯t want to wait there during Nishay¡¯s surgery either, and with a teasing, indulgent smile, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll drop byter, Anne. Don¡¯t try to fool me again. ying hard to get too much can backfire¨Cwhat if I actually take it seriously and, in a fit of anger, drag someone off to get married? How would you like that?¡± Anneliese could only sit there speechless. Zacharias turned and left, leaving Jessica utterly stunned. 1/3 Sep Chapter 286 Love, Lies, and Legacy 66 +10 Free Coins This update is avable on find?novel ¡°Annie is married, and her husband is Jonathan Fullbuster! Who¡¯s ying hard to get? Take a look in the mirror¨Cdo you even deserve her, you jerk?¡± Hearing Jessica blurt out Jonathan¡¯s name, Zacharias felt even more certain it was impossible. Jonathan was arrogant, full of himself. If Anneliese had actually been on the phone with him, Would Jonathan have really backed out at thest minute? He still believed that someone of Jonathan¡¯s status could never marry Anneliese¨Cthe gap was just too big. Heughed aloud, shaking his head. Jessica was furious at his reaction, ready to snap at him, but Anneliese held her back. ¡°Let it go. You can¡¯t convince someone who¡¯s determined to live in denial.¡± No matter how many times she said she was already married, Zacharias wouldn¡¯t believe it, and there was nothing she could do about that. Anyway, once Jonathan returned to the country, everything would be clear. ¡°He¡¯s ridiculous! You dodged a bullet¨Chis rotten DNA would¡¯ve dragged down your kids, your grandkids, and beyond.¡± Anneliese nodded, then asked about Mikita. Jessica pulled out two sealed bags. ¡°This is hair from Mikita¡¯s son, Aiden, and this is Mikita¡¯s own. I¡¯ve tracked everything. Mikita meets Timothy every Wednesday at a ce called Moonlit Pavilion. Timothy always sneaks in through the back door, and they spend at least half a day together. ¡°Moonlit Pavilion is actually owned by Mikita¡¯s brother. And here¡¯s the twist¨Che¡¯s the deputy director of White Inc.¡¯s project division. Those three major projects that copsed? Every single one ties back to him. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for him, White Inc.¡¯s finances might never have unraveled. And your pathetic dad? He¡¯s on the brink of bankruptcy, yet he¡¯s still sneaking around with Mikita like some lovesick fool.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes went wide. She had suspected Mikita was shady, but she hadn¡¯t realized the scale of the problem. The revtion was shocking. Chapter 286 Love, Lies, and Legacy 66 +10 Free Coins After letting it sink in, she looked at Jessica. ¡°Impressive¨Cyou found all that so fast! You could practically take Detective Hayes¡® job.¡± Jessica rubbed her nose. It wasn¡¯t her brilliance¡ªit was the powerful backup she¡¯d had. She had to admit, Zane was definitely capable. ¡°You know, your useless dad¨Cwhy does his affair have to feel like some secret underground operation?¡± Anneliese could understand. ¡°Mnie and her two sons each hold shares in White Inc. Mnie originally had 20 percent, and when Selina came of age, she gave her 5 percent. ¡°Her two sons together hold 23 percent. That¡¯s a lot of stock. If Timothy¡¯s affair blew up the family, it might even threaten his position as CEO. Of course, he¡¯s being careful.¡± with Jessica scoffed. ¡°Imagine if your biased mom and two brothers knew that the sister they adore -not only illegitimate, but working with her mother and uncle to drain White Inc., and they even have a little brother¨Cwhat would they do? I wonder if they¡¯d still spoil Selina.¡± Anneliese was intrigued as well. ¡°Too bad I can¡¯t get a sample of your dad¡¯s hair¨Cthen I could just p a paternity test right in the Whites¡® faces.¡± Thinking of how Zacharias had forced her to agree to attend the Goldings¡® g with him¨Cand knowing Timothy would likely be there¨CAnneliese said, ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Created 287 Chapter 287 The Heiress and the Ex Chapter 287 The Heiress and the Ex Talking about the White family¡¯s endless mess made the wait less unbearable. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find_Novel(. The light above the operating room went dark. +10 Free Coins Anneliese rushed to the door. Carter came out quickly. Before she could even ask, he pulled off his mask and smiled. ¡°Mission aplished. The surgery went very well. Ms. Morris will be wheeled out any minute. She¡¯ll stay in the ICU for observation, but she should wake up within two hours at most.¡± Anneliese thanked him right away. Carter gave a nod and headed off to rest. Jessica watched him leave. ¡°Well, well. Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s friends really are something else.¡± ¡°All of them? Who else?¡± Anneliese nudged Jessica¡¯s shoulder. Now that Nishay¡¯s surgery had gone smoothly, she was finally in the mood to joke. Jessica¡¯s ears turned red. ¡°Come on. We know your Mr. Fullbuster is the best one of all. Satisfied?¡± This time, it was Anneliese¡¯s face that burned hot. Nishay¡¯s kidneys weren¡¯t strong, and her telet function was abnormal. After the operation, she developed bleedingplications and, with her weak immunity, ended up with pneumonia. Fortunately, Carter had acted quickly with the right treatment. The crisis passed, and two dayster, Nishay was stable enough to be moved into a regr ward. It had been a major surgery, and at her age, caution was essential. She would need to stay in the hospital for another two weeks. But the danger was behind them. The weight pressing on Anneliese¡¯s chest finally lifted, giving her the space to deal with the Sunrise Residence, She contacted a real estate agent she knew, asking him to take photos and find a buyer as soon as possible. That house was nothing but proof of her failed two¨Cyear marriage. Keeping it around was unbearable. 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 287 The Heiress and the Ex 66 +10 Free Coins But just because she had stayed at Sunrise Residence for two days, Zacharias had started acting entitled again. That evening, while Anneliese stood outside Maple Bay waiting for the pet carrier to bring Meatloaf back, a WhatsApp message popped up from Nicole. ¡®What¡¯s this? Did you get back together with Zacharias?¡® ¡®What?¡® Anneliese stared at the screen, baffled. Nicole immediately sent her a video. It was a small gathering inside a luxurious private room. A few men and women sat in the lounge area, chatting over wine. Most of them were part of Zacharias¡® social circle. Some were his old college ssmates, others were contacts he had made in recent years. Although Anneliese had been with Zacharias for years, he had never been eager to bring her along to socialize. Whenever he went out, she was left behind¨Cexcept on nights when he drank too much and she had to deliver medicine or pick him up. That was how she had met some of these people, enough to recognize them by face if not by name. But now the conversation was clearly centered on her. ¡°Did Anneliese really divorce Zacharias?¡± ¡°She posted ask him then.¡± on Facebook herself. Why would she lie? Zacharias will be here soon. You can The camera shifted, catching two figures walking through the doorway. The man wore a sharp suit, his handsome face lit with a smile, every movement polished and effortlessly charming. Behind him walked a petite woman with a delicate air. She wore a white sweater dress and short leather boots, and she handed a cashmere coat to the man with quiet grace. He epted it, hanging it on the rack beside him. The easy familiarity between them sparked teasingughter around the room. ¡°Zacharias, are you introducing us to your new wife?¡± ¡°Zacharias, are you really divorced?¡± 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ : 66 Chapter 287 The Heiress and the Ex +10 Free Coins ¡°One thing¡¯s for sure¨Cdivorcing her was the right move. What did Anneliese ever have to offer Zacharias? No degree, no reputation. She¡¯s only pretty, and even her health is fragile. If Zacharias hadn¡¯t pitied her enough to marry her, she probably would¡¯ve ended up working as a hostess. And she still had the nerve to flirt around and embarrass him at the White family banquet.¡± ¡°She clung to the title of Mrs. Shaw for so long, but what about the woman Zacharias really loved¨CSelina? Now that Selina¡¯s back in the country, at least Anneliese had the sense to step aside and make room.¡± ¡°Zacharias and Selina make such a perfect pair. Selina graduated from an elite university overseas. She¡¯s talented in everything she does, and she¡¯s an engineer at Aerolux Airways! So, tell us, when are you two getting married? We¡¯re waiting for the wedding banquet.¡± ¡°Enough! Stop stirring up nonsense! The first move after getting back on track isn¡¯t going to be some petty act like divorcing a wife. Do you think I, Zacharias, would do something like that?¡± His voice cut through the room, sharp with anger. He strode over to the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and continued, ¡°Anne and I are only temporarily divorced. We¡¯ll be remarrying soon. I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear all this chatter, but don¡¯t let ite up again.¡± But his measured tone carried little weight, and no one took it seriously. ¡°Zacharias, do you realize how awkward that makes Selina feel?¡± someone teased. Selina smoothed her skirt and sat down beside him with a smile. ¡°Why would I feel awkward? Anne is my sister. I took the love of our parents for so many years that I already owe her a debt I can¡¯t repay. How could I be selfish enough to take anything else from her? Tonight, I¡¯m here as the White heiress, asking for your investments. Running into Zacharias was just a coincidence, nothing more. Please don¡¯t read too much into it.¡± She spoke as if Zacharias¡® reconciliation with Anneliese was her own generous decision¨Cnot topete, but to give him back. And of course, she made sure to emphasize her role as the White heiress, using the moment to build her image as a strong, independent woman. Created 288 Chapter 288 Anneliese¡¯s Stand ¡°Are you two really getting back together?¡± someone asked, disbelief in their voice. +10 Free Coins Zacharias curved his lips in a faint smile. ¡°Of course. Anne¡¯s already moved back into the Sunrise Residence. How could it be anything else?¡± He looked utterly convinced. ¡°So, you split in a sh, and now you¡¯re remarrying in a sh. If anyone knows how to y games, it¡¯s you, Zacharias.¡± ¡°And your birthday¡¯s next month¨Care you still having Anneliese organize it at the Sunrise Residence?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Everyone will be there, and Anne and I will make sure it¡¯s a proper celebration.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡­ Zacharias, you¡¯re a tech entrepreneur and the CEO of a publicpany. Couldn¡¯t you book a grand banquet hall? Anneliese grew up in an orphanage¡ªshe¡¯s a bit¡­ modest, I guess.¡± Augh, heavy with an unclear meaning, echoed before the video cut off. Anneliese held her phone, chest rising and falling slightly, eyes sharp with ridicule and self- mockery. She had spent every year personally decorating the vi, carefully nning Zacharias¡® birthday parties¨Cyet in his and his friends¡® eyes, it was all petty and worthless. Even though she had long stopped caring about him, seeing the man she had once loved openly belittle and humiliate her in front of his friends made her chest tighten with frustration she couldn¡¯t release. Just days ago, he had knelt before her, iming his interest in Selina was only about conquest -and now he openly flirted with her, showing affection in public. Hah. Some things never change. At least she hadn¡¯t believed a single word Zacharias had said. Still, what had given him the confidence to assume reconciliation was inevitable? Anneliese took a deep breath and called Nicole without hesitation. 1/3 This text is hosted at 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 288 Anneliese¡¯s Stand Nicole answered almost instantly. ¡°You actually got back together with Zacharias?¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t answer Nicole. She asked instead, ¡°Are you still at the party?¡± ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Turn the speaker on. I need to say something.¡± 66 +10 Free Coins Nicole paused, ncing at Selina sitting next to Zacharias, fluttering andughing as she casually leaned into his arms. She rolled her eyes and suddenly stood up. She could not stand her acting so shamelessly. The moment Nicole stood, all eyes turned toward her. She had no idea what Anneliese was about to say over the speaker, but she had a hunch it was going to be entertaining¡ªand she was the kind of person who thrived on drama. She shook her phone lightly and set it on the table. By the time everyone had started to murmur in confusion, Anneliese¡¯s voice came through, clear and sharp. ¡°I swear on my ex¨Chusband¡¯s life: if I ever take him back, may he be childless, lose all his wealth, face disaster at home, and have misfortune follow him wherever he goes. Got that?¡± Zacharias hadn¡¯t expected Anneliese¡¯s voice to reach everyone¨Cand he certainly hadn¡¯t expected her to throw such words at him so brazenly, without concern for his pride. His expression darkened, veins bulging across his forehead. All of them went silent, stunned. Anneliese had always seemed soft, always putting Zacharias first. Beautiful, yes¨Cbut a beauty who always fawned lost her charm; it was dull and predictable. No one had imagined Anneliese¡¯s true nature could be like this. Selina gasped. ¡°Anne! How can you say that? You¡¯ve moved back into the Sunrise Residence, and now you suddenly start this? Isn¡¯t this just to make Zacharias chase after you again? You¡¯re being so dramatic¨Cyou¡¯re just taking advantage of him!¡± ¡°Heh¡­ I should¡¯ve known. It¡¯s that fake little princess again, with her sweet talk that thinks it sprinkles charm and sunshine everywhere. Sunrise Residence is my house from the divorce- so what if I live there? Mind your own business. 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 66 Chapter 288 Anneliese¡¯s Stand +10 Free Coins ¡°Or are you finally ready to im a secondhand man I¡¯ve already had? In that case, I really hope you two¨Cthe jerk and the petty girl¨Cget locked in misery for life-¡± ¡°Anneliese!¡± Zacharias¡® furious roar cut her off. He jumped up and grabbed his phone, looking like he was about to smash it. ¡°Zacharias, that¡¯s my phone!¡± Nicole shouted. Anneliese let out a light, mockingugh. ¡°Zacharias, listen carefully. I never nned on getting back together with you. Revenge? That, I¡¯ve thought about plenty. You¡¯d better stop spreading rumors about me¨Cor my husband will not be pleased!¡± She was about to hang up, but something struck her, and she picked the phone back up. ¡°Oh, and by the way¡­ the Sunrise Residence is listed online. The vi¡¯s nice, so feel free to bid. Since you all seem to care so much about me, mentioning me every other word, I¡¯ll give you a 1% discount off the market price. After all, we¡¯re not close¨Cso that¡¯s all the goodwill I can spare.¡± Her words barely faded before a loud crashing sound rang out. The call ended. Judging by the noise, Nicole hadn¡¯t been able to save her phone in time. Created 289 Chapter 289 Homing and Heartbeats Chapter 289 Homing and Heartbeats ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± Anneliese had just hung up the phone when she heard the familiar barking. 66 +10 Free Coins Meatloaf, who had been shipped to Baytree, had been sent back. Anneliese hurried down the path to meet her. The dog looked so pitiful that Anneliese had to crouch and coax her for what felt like forever before she finally calmed down and followed her on the leash toward home. But just as they neared the elevator, Meatloaf suddenly threw a tantrum. She whipped her tail, spun around, and dragged Anneliese straight out of the elevator, charging forward. ¡°Meatloaf! Stop!¡± Anneliese stumbled, pulled along in jerks, until they tumbled out of the building and toward the stairs. ¡°Ah!¡± She gasped, but with a solid thud, someone caught her. Shended in a somewhat familiar embrace. The man¡¯s scent¨Ccrisp, woody, and clean, yet tinged with the unfamiliar smell of tobo¨Chit her nose. Anneliese thought it was Jonathan, but somehow, she felt it wasn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t remember him smoking; this was the first time she¡¯d ever smelled it on him. And thest time they¡¯d spoken, Jonathan had said he wouldn¡¯t be back for another two or three days. Still uncertain, she heard a low, amused voice above her. ¡°So eager?¡± Anneliese lifted her head, and in the soft, muted light, his face seemed to glow like a scene from an old movie¨Cweathered yet maic. His eyes were deep and alive, his features striking and undeniablymanding. Anneliese¡¯s eyes brightened little by little. ¡°How¡­ how did youe back so suddenly?¡± 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 166 Chapter 289 Homing and Heartbeats Jonathan raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not happy to see me, Mrs. Fullbuster?¡± +10 Free Coins They¡¯d been in constant contact over the past few days. On the phone, he always called her Mrs. Fullbuster. But separated by miles, never seeing his face, it had always felt like a teasing joke. Now, with him right in front of her, Anneliese realized that when he said Mrs. Fullbuster, he had been serious¨Chis gaze deep and focused, his voice utterly intoxicating. Her face heated in an instant, and her heart raced. She hurriedly pushed him away, shaking her head to hide it. ¡°No, no¡­ It¡¯s just that you didn¡¯t tell me in advance. Seeing you all of a sudden¡­ it¡¯s a bit¡­¡± ¡°Surprising or shocking?¡± Meatloaf darted around them excitedly, leaping onto Jonathan¡¯s legs. Jonathan noticed that the leash was digging into Anneliese¡¯s hand. He took it from her, smiling. ¡°Surprising,¡± she admitted boldly, meeting his gaze without hesitation, though the tips of her ears tingled with a rosy warmth. Jonathan watched her, his lips curving into a faint, knowing smile. Updates are released by find{n}ovel He hadn¡¯t even gone upstairs yet, but seeing her like this was a surprise for him too. Zion had already pulled Jonathan¡¯s suitcase from the trunk, but he hadn¡¯t dared approach. Watching the scene, he realized that if he didn¡¯t step forward soon, their public disy of affection wouldn¡¯t stop. He rolled the suitcase over. ¡°Good evening, Mrs. Fullbuster¡­ Mr. Fullbuster. I guess I won¡¯t escort you upstairs then,¡± Jonathan turned and took the suitcase. ¡°Thanks for your hard work. Go get some rest.¡± Zion chuckled. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, just look at these dark circles under my eyes.¡± He pointed under his eyes, and Anneliese took a closer look. Someone who didn¡¯t know better might think he¡¯d been traveling abroad and picked up a bad habit. ¡°You must be exhausted.¡± 2/3 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 66 Chapter 289 Homing and Heartbeats What a hardworking guy. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s the one who¡¯s even more worn out,¡± Zion added. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, I honestly can¡¯t keep up. Mr. Fullbuster hasn¡¯t even had dinner yet, and I didn¡¯t bring any food. Can you take care of him?¡± He had stayed up countless nights to make sure Jonathan could return early, finishing work even on the flight back. Zion was genuinely trying to earn somepassion for Jonathan from Anneliese¨Cand he was truly at his limit. Anneliese quickly nodded. ¡°Of course, Zion. Don¡¯t worry. Go home and rest.¡± Zion yawned loudly and turned away. Anneliese looked back at Jonathan and, sure enough, saw some faint dark circles under his eyes too. Not as severe as Zion¡¯s, probably because he was stronger. ¡°I¡¯ll carry it. Let¡¯s head home.¡± Her heart clenched a little, and she instinctively reached for the suitcase at his side. She tugged a couple of times, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. She looked up at Jonathan. His gaze was gentle but resigned. ¡°I¡¯m not that weak to let my wife carry my suitcase,¡± he said. Anneliese froze. She realized how silly she¡¯d been¨Cbut hearing him call her his wife left her head spinning. She quickly let go of the suitcase, but as soon as her hand left it, Jonathan smoothly switched hands, took the suitcase, and caught her hand before she could pull it away. ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± he said. One hand held the suitcase while also keeping Meatloaf on leash. The other hand gripped hers tightly, and with long strides, he led the way up Created 290 Chapter 290 Between Kitchen and Heart Chapter 290 Between Kitchen and Heart +10 Free Coins Anneliese kept her head down as she walked behind him, her eyes catching their hands intertwined. Her heart raced. They stepped into the elevator. When she saw Jonathan press the button for the penthouse, she finally gathered herself and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been away for so many days, there probably isn¡¯t any fresh food at home. I¡¯ll go cook at my ce first. You can go back to yours to wash up and get ready, thene down. Does that work?¡± A faint, almost teasing smile tugged at Jonathan¡¯s lips. ¡°Your ce? My ce?¡± Anneliese blinked. Technically, that was right, but somehow it felt off. The man, however, seemed to have spoken casually. Before she could reply, he nodded. ¡°Whatever you decide.¡± She pressed the button for her floor, and the elevator started moving slowly upward. The car fell quiet, broken only by Meatloaf¡¯s excited little huffs at her feet. Anneliese could feel the sweat in their sped hands, though she couldn¡¯t tell whose it was. She suddenly remembered the kiss he had nted on her that day when he left. Her palms felt warmer, and even her cor felt hot. She fidgeted with her turtleneck, tugging at it nervously. ¡°I can make you a light pasta,¡± she offered, her voice a little tense. He lowered his gaze. ¡°That sounds good.¡± He didn¡¯t look away, his eyes scanning her. Anneliese, already on edge, felt even more exposed under his gaze, though thankfully, he softened it slightly. ¡°How¡¯s Grandma feeling? Do you need to go to the hospital tonight?¡± ¡°Dr. Chevalier has been very thorough. Grandma¡¯s recovering really well. I even hired a professional caregiver, so I won¡¯t need to go tonight.¡± Anneliese had wanted to thank him properly, but the elevator had already reached her floor. 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 290 Between Kitchen and Heart She took Meatloaf from Jonathan¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back, then.¡± Meatloaf, however, didn¡¯t move with her, tugging against the leash. Anneliese froze. ?? 10 Free Coins ¡°Let here upstairs with me. I¡¯ll bring her down in a bit,¡± Jonathan said with a smile. Reluctantly, she handed the leash back and shot Meatloaf a sharp re before stepping out of the elevator. The doors closed, and the elevator continued its ascent. Jonathan looked down at Meatloaf, who tilted her head back, tongue lolling, letting out a happy little pant. The man rapped lightly on her head. ¡°Who gave you permission to make my wife mad?¡± A soft whine. Meatloaf¡¯s eyes glistened, and she squatted at Jonathan¡¯s feet, looking pitiful. Meanwhile, Anneliese quickly made a simple pasta with tomatoes and eggs. Just as it was nearly done, the doorbell rang. She hurried to open it and, as expected, Jonathan was standing there with Meatloaf. He¡¯d taken a shower and changed into a loose, light¨Cgray loungewear set. The V¨Cneck pullover and wide¨Cleg pants draped over his long legs with effortless style, making even loungewear look like it belonged on a runway. His hair was still damp, and the V¨Cneck revealed a slice of his strong neck and corbone, the skin flushed faintly from the steam. He didn¡¯t look like he hade over for dinner. More like he¡¯d shown up in the middle of the night to keep herpany. Anneliese¡¯s eyes darted away. She quickly stepped aside to let him in. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some slippers.¡± She opened the shoe cab and set down the shy, bright¨Cred men¡¯s slippers they had 2/3 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 66 Chapter 290 Between Kitchen and Heart picked out together that day. Jonathan stepped inside, just about to change his shoes, when Anneliese remembered something and called after him. ¡°The pasta will be ready soon. The door code is 117625¨Ceither memorize it or add fingerprint.¡± +10 Free Coins your Before he could reply, she darted off toward the kitchen, disappearing from sight. Jonathan lingered at the doorway, a faint smile tugging at his lips. From trying to im a pair of slippers here to boldly stepping inside her home, things had gone even more smoothly than he¡¯d expected. His wife always found ways to surprise him¡ªand stirred bolder desires and higher expectations in him. By the time Anneliese brought the pasta to the table, Jonathan had already registered his fingerprint. He closed the door and walked over to the table. Seeing only one serving, he looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry at all, so I won¡¯t join you,¡± Anneliese quickly said. Jonathan didn¡¯tment further. He pulled out a chair and sat down. He twirled some pasta, blew on it, and took a bite. Anneliese watched anxiously for his reaction. The dish was simple, and she worried he might not like it or think she was just halfheartedly cooking for him. But he lifted his eyes, genuinely impressed. ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡± After that, he said nothing more and dug in, clearly very hungry. Even as he ate quickly, his movements wereposed¨Cno slurping or rude noises, just quiet, disciplined manners. Anneliese poured him a ss of water and set it nearby. ¡°Take it slow. There¡¯s more in the kitchen if you need it. I¡¯m going to give Meatloaf a bath now.¡± 3/3 This update is avable on find?novel Created 291 Chapter 291 Close Enough to Feel Meatloaf had been wandering outside for several days and definitely needed a bath. Jonathan looked up again. ¡°Need some help? You can wait until I finish eating.¡± Anneliese waved him off. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Eat and rest. I¡¯ve got this.¡± 66 +10 Free Coins He looked exhausted, and she had no intention of bothering him. But in her simple words, there was an unspoken concern, a quiet worry. The man studied her deeply, his gaze softening, then nced at Meatloaf wagging her tail nearby. ¡°Cooperate, okay?¡± Meatloaf seemed to remember the little knock on her head from earlier. She let out small whimpers, wagged her tail, and followed Anneliese obediently. By the time Jonathan finished his meal, washed the dishes, and tidied the kitchen, Anneliese was still crouched in the bathroom, struggling with Meatloaf. The dog was old and had limited energy. Now, shey therezily, letting Anneliese scrub her with the brush and rinse off the suds. ¡°I¡¯ll take over.¡± Jonathan rolled up his sleeves, revealing the firm line of his forearms. But at the sound of his voice, Meatloaf suddenly jumped to her feet, shaking her wet body with excitement. ¡°Ah, Meatloaf!¡± Anneliese got soaked in the process and shouted in frustration. Jonathan stepped in, gently pressing Meatloaf back down, taking the showerhead from Anneliese, and crouching beside her. Anneliese felt a warm hand brush lightly against her cheek. She turned, and Jonathan¡¯s deep eyes held a yful smile. Foam from her cheek still clung to his fingertip. ¡°My bad,¡± he said. 12:16 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 291 Close Enough to Feel 66 +10 Free Coins Anneliese red at him, pretending to be annoyed. ¡°See? This is all your fault! If you hadn¡¯t shown up, she¡¯d have listened to me. So¡­ do you have that thing from those fantasy novels- the power to form some kind of bond with animals?¡± Meatloaf had been a gift from Zacharias and had lived with her for over ten years¨Cbut somehow, she obeyed Jonathan the best. Jonathan met her gaze, his eyes deep and unreadable. ¡°If I could form bonds, I wouldn¡¯t waste them on a dog,¡± he said. He would save that bond for her¨Cfor them¨Cfor a connection meant tost a lifetime, spanning all their lives together as husband and wife. Silly girl. Anneliese caught only part of the meaning in his eyes. Surely he wasn¡¯t thinking about forming a master¨Cservant bond with her? A sudden, absurd image shed through her mind: herself in a maid outfit, a little fluffy tail at the back, kneeling before him in his sharp suit, serving coffee, wagging her tail. For more chapters visit Find_Novel(. She shivered. The way he looked at her suddenly felt¡­ dangerous. ¡°What are you imagining?¡± Jonathan squinted at her. Anneliese didn¡¯t dare speak and immediately lowered her gaze. ¡°Hurry up and finish washing her, or she won¡¯t behave,¡± he said. Working together, they quickly got Meatloafpletely clean. The dog seemed to enjoy the pampering from her two owners, her eyes narrowing in pure bliss. When Anneliese opened the dryer, Meatloaf obediently crawled inside on her own. ¡°Your clothes are all wet. You should change,¡± Jonathan reminded her as he followed. Anneliese looked down and felt a rush of heat to her cheeks. The house was warm, and she was wearing a white, cotton, country¨Cstyle long¨Csleeve nightgown. The wet fabric clung to her, revealing arge patch across her chest¨Cher light purplece bra 12:17 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 291 Close Enough to Feel was clearly visible beneath. ¡°Oh!¡± 66 +10 Free Coins She instinctively raised a hand to cover herself and, with her head bowed, ran toward the bedroom. Anneliese went to her room to change and lingered a bit beforeing out. Meatloaf¡¯s fur was already dry. She let Meatloaf out and walked toward the living room. The room waspletely silent¨Cso quiet that she began to wonder if Jonathan had already left. Then she saw him on the sofa: long legs stretched out casually, leaning back against the cushions, eyes closed¡­ and he was asleep. ¡°Shh.¡± Anneliese immediately signaled Meatloaf to be quiet. She bent down, grabbed a folded cashmere nket nearby, shook it open, and slowly approached him. Bending over, she draped the nket over him, and her gaze fell on his handsome face, unable to look away. His short hair fell naturally over his forehead. His eyes were closed, framed by long, thickshes. The light from the chandelier spilled across his face, highlighting the sharp, flowing lines of his features. Anneliese stared at thismanding face, momentarily lost and a little weak¨Ckneed. Suddenly, Jonathan bent his long legs, and she found herself standing between them. The unexpected movement bumped her forward, and she stumbled uncontrobly. Anneliese gasped and instinctively raised her hands, pressing them against the arm of the sofa. Her right kneended on the edge of the sofa between his legs, finally preventing her from copsing onto him. Created 292 Chapter 292 Between Heartbeats 65 +10 Free Coins Anneliese shut her eyes tight, holding her breath, biting her lip, terrified that her wildly beating heart would burst right out of her chest. The many perfectly still. Is he¡­ not awake? She exhaled a shaky sigh and tried to shift away, pressing with her knees, but suddenly, arge handnded on her lower back. ¡°Ah!¡± She cried out, and before she could move, she toppled squarely onto Jonathan, who caught her in a firm embrace. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him, letting her long hair spill over her shoulders, her cheek pressing into the side of his neck. Her face heated, and she murmured in a tiny, flustered voice, ¡°I¡­ I just wanted to help cover you with a nket¡­¡± She pushed gently against his shoulders, trying to free herself. But Jonathan didn¡¯t let go. He held her as if he weren¡¯t fully awake, silent and unmoving. Just as Anneliese began to wonder if he was still asleep, his handsome face nuzzled into her chest, brushing lightly¨Cand then, shockingly, he inhaled deeply, like a cat sniffing something irresistible. Anneliese froze. He couldn¡¯t possibly be treating her like a pillow, could he? But his breath was so hot, it felt like it cut right through her thin nightshirt, brushing her sensitive skin and sending shivers of tingling warmth through her. She stiffened, not daring to move, hoping he¡¯d release her. Yet she could feel it¨Ckneeling at the edge of the sofa, her knees perfectly wedged in the most awkward spot¨Cshe seemed to have awakened some sleeping giant. It was bing more and more obvious. Ugh¨Chow did all this even happen? 12:17 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 292 Between Heartbeats :. 65 +10 Free Coins Panic red in her chest. This situation had gone way beyond her control, and she had no idea how to fix it. Jonathan noticed that she was a little startled. Just when he was about to loosen his hold, the pounding on the door suddenly cut through the quiet of their racing hearts. Anneliese flinched, her body shivering slightly in his arms. Jonathan instinctively tightened his hold, then lifted his head from her chest, patting her back gently in a rough, husky voice. ¡°Did that scare you?¡± Anneliese wasn¡¯t sure whether he meant the knocking or something else. Her face flushed red, and she shoved him away. ¡°I¡¯ll go see.¡± She hurried to her feet and dashed toward the door. Jonathan watched her back, a faint curve appearing on his thin lips. He tilted his head back, his Adam¡¯s apple rolled a few times as he steadied his breathing. The knocking at the door continued relentlessly. Clearly, Anneliese hadn¡¯t opened it. Sensing trouble, Jonathan quickly regained hisposure and strode to the door. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. Before Anneliese could answer, he checked the video monitor by the door and saw the visitor outside. It was Zacharias. Anneliese turned to him. ¡°I don¡¯t know how he suddenly found this ce, or how he even got in!¡± Jonathan lowered his gaze on her, his thin lips pressing together. The shift in his aura was immediate, heavy with silent authority. Seeing him look genuinely upset, Anneliese grabbed the fabric of his chest. Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel ¡°It really wasn¡¯t me who let hime!¡± Created 293 Chapter 293 Her Choice, His Fury Chapter 293 Her Choice, His Fury But Zacharias couldn¡¯t ignore the sight before him. 65 +10 Free Coins Anneliese was dressed in silk pajamas¨Clong¨Csleeved and long¨Clegged, modest in style. Yet the fabric at her chest was rumpled, her hair in disarray, her eyes tinged red at the corners, her beauty too dazzling to conceal. Anyone could guess what had just happened. The mere thought drove Zacharias into a jealous rage, twisting his features. ¡°Jonathan, you jerk! What did you do to her?¡± He clenched his fist and swung hard at Jonathan. Jonathan pulled Anneliese close and twisted aside, shielding her. Zacharias stumbled forward, missing his target, crashing against the entryway before catching himself on the wall. He turned back, fury zing in his eyes. ¡°Anne! He¡¯s deceived you! He¡¯s already married¨Chow could you degrade yourself by being with a man so heartless, so vile? Come to me, now!¡± He reached out to her, desperate. Anneliese frowned. ¡°Zacharias, if you¡¯re here to throw a drunken tantrum, get out. Don¡¯t poison the air in my home.¡± Her words struck him like a blow. His expression crumpled with anguish. ¡°I love you¨CI¡¯m begging you toe back to me. But you refuse to even look at me. Instead, you give yourself to him, letting him use you, lowering yourself to be his ything¨Chis mistress? Weren¡¯t you the one who despised Coral and Selina? And what are you now? You¡¯re worse than them. You¡¯re cheap!¡± Jonathan¡¯s patience snapped. He moved in an instant, raising his foot to strike. Anneliese caught him around the waist¨Cnot out of pity for Zacharias, but because she wanted to deal with him herself. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Her voice was low, steady. She signaled for Jonathan to release her. Jonathan arched a brow. With him around, he wouldn¡¯t let her be hurt. He let her go. Chapter 293 Her Choice, His Fury : 65 +10 Free Coins Anneliese stepped toward Zacharias. His eyes lit up at once, those soft, charming eyes shing with excitement, a rush of heat spreading through him. ¡°Anne, I knew¡ª¡± He never finished. A sharp p split the air. Her hand hadnded squarely across his face, shattering his smug words. Zacharias slowly turned his head back toward her. Anneliese raised her hand again and struck him with another clean p. ¡°Are you clear¨Cheaded now?¡± His fists clenched. He lunged, hand shooting out to grab her. But an arm slipped around Anneliese¡¯s waist, drawing her firmly back into the safety of Jonathan¡¯s chest. In the same motion, Jonathan drove his foot into Zacharias¡® stomach. The blow doubled him over, forcing him to one knee as he clutched his abdomen in pain. ¡°You all right?¡± Jonathan asked quietly. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine,¡± she whispered, leaning against him. But Jonathan caught her hand, frowning at the redness in her palm. ¡°You call this fine? Your hand is swollen.¡± He lifted it, lowering his head to gently blow across her heated skin. Anneliese suspected he was doing it on purpose¨Cfor Zacharias to see¨Cbut she had no proof. Even so, his warm breath sent sparks racing through her fingertips, a tingling like a live current. She curled her fingers into a fist, then looked back at Zacharias¨Conly to meet the dark, venomous stare in his eyes. His face had gone pale with pain, one hand pressed to his stomach, the other braced against the wall as he struggled upright. His eyes burned red as he red at them, as if they were adulterers unting their betrayal. Anneliese let out a cuttingugh. ¡°You have no right to question me. What you¡¯re doing is Chapter 293 Her Choice, His Fury nothing but harassment. Get out¨Cnow.¡± She pointed to the door. : 65 +10 Free Coins Even Meatloaf despised Zacharias. She arched her back and barked furiously at him, sharp and relentless. But Zacharias refused to leave. He fixed his re on Jonathan, gritting his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll go if he goes!¡± Anneliese was speechless at the sheer audacity. Jonathan, however, tightened his arm around her waist, his lips curling into a mocking smile. ¡°You? Compete with me? Do you even know who I am?¡± Rage boiled in Zacharias¡® eyes. Of course, he knew who Jonathan was. ¡°Jonathan, what¡¯s there for you to brag about? You¡¯re nothing but lucky¡ªborn into the Fullbuster family instead of somewhere else¡ª¡± Jonathan cut him off, already impatient. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Shut your mouth.¡± Then, he lowered his gaze to the woman in his arms. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to know who I am, babe. Why don¡¯t you tell him¨Cwho am I to you?¡± The blush on Anneliese¡¯s cheeks had never faded, and now, under Jonathan¡¯s gentle, expectant eyes, the heat climbed higher still. But she didn¡¯t hesitate. She wrapped her arms tightly around his lean waist and faced Zacharias head¨Con. ¡°Zacharias, I already told you before¨CI¡¯m married. He¡¯s my husband. This is our home. We live together legally. The only one who needs to leave is you.¡± 3/3 Find the newest release on Find¡ïNovel Created 294 Chapter 294 Fury and Fidelity Chapter 294 Fury and Fidelity ¡®I¡¯m married. He¡¯s my husband. This is our home.¡® 65 +10 Free Coins Zacharias heard every word. They exploded in his head like bombs, then pierced his chest like shards of ice. The flush of alcohol drained from his face, leaving him deathly pale, frozen where he stood. He murmured in disbelief, ¡°Impossible¡­ That can¡¯t be true. How could you really be married? How could Jonathan have married you?¡± Seeing him so dazed, still refusing to ept the truth, Anneliese gave a bitter smile. She knew him too well. She knew exactly why he clung to denial. First, because she had once given in to him too often, and he still believed she would eventuallye back. Second, because deep down, he had always looked down on her¨Cthinking that a divorced woman with a tarnished reputation and no powerful family could never be truly cherished by a man like Jonathan. Zacharias gave a shakyugh, his voice breaking. ¡°Anne, stop teasing me like this. Please, don¡¯t lie. I know I was wrong! I love you, I really do¡ª¡± Suddenly, he lunged toward her, eyes burning with stubborn obsession. Anneliese found him utterly unreasonable. Her voice rang with disgust. ¡°Stop insulting the word love! Do you even know what love is, Zacharias? ¡°When you love someone, that person shines in your eyes. Even her ws be endearing, something you treasure and embrace, ¡°But you? All you ever gave me was control, belittlement, lies, and indifference. Admit it, Zacharias¨Cyou¡¯re no different from that abusive father of yours. At your core, you¡¯re selfish and cold. You don¡¯t even have the capacity to love anyone.¡± Her words struck him like a de to the heart. He staggered, his body swaying, his face ashen. He looked like a man on the edge of copse. Chapter 294 Fury and Fidelity Jonathan had already lost his patience. He gave Anneliese¡¯s soft waist two light pats. ¡°Take Meatloaf inside.¡± +10 Free Coins Anneliese lifted her head, worry flickering in her eyes. It wasn¡¯t Jonathan she doubted¨Cit was Zacharias. He was clearly drunk and barely coherent. If heshed out, Jonathan was already exhausted; what if he got hurt? ¡°Go on.¡± Jonathan¡¯s lips curved faintly as he gave her a reassuring nod. With her here, he couldn¡¯t fight freely¨Cwho knew what else Zacharias might do if he lost control again? Anneliese hesitated for only a moment. ¡°Be careful.¡± With that, she led Meatloaf away. Zacharias instinctively reached to grab her, but Jonathan stepped sideways, blocking his path. His hand shot out, seizing Zacharias¡® wrist before he could touch her. The hatred of a man robbed of his wife erupted instantly. Zacharias ground his teeth in fury, his other hand curling into a fist that he swung at Jonathan¡¯s face. Jonathan tilted his head, dodging with ease. In the same motion, he twisted Zacharias¡® arm behind his back and drove his elbow hard into the man¡¯s spine. Zacharias staggered and crashed out through the front door. Jonathan followed him out, shutting the door behind with a sharp pull. Zacharias regained his footing and turned, eyes bloodshot. ¡°You seduced her! The great heir of the Fullbuster family, lowering yourself to be a homewrecker, stealing another man¡¯s wife? I¡¯ll kill you!¡± He lunged at Jonathan again, seething with hatred, Jonathan flexed his wrists, crossing his hands once as if warming up. His expression turned ice¨Ccold. ¡°You¡¯re asking for it.¡± The handsome features hardened, his entire presence sharp and predatory. He moved like a panther, swift and merciless. Heavy thuds echoed down the hallway¨Cflesh meeting fist, blow after blow. Zacharias had never been Jonathan¡¯s equal, and drunk as he was, he stood no chance. Chapter 294 Fury and Fidelity 65 +10 Free Coins It was a beating, in and simple. Jonathan avoided his head and face,nding strikes only where the pain would cut deep but leave little to show. When he finally let go, Zacharias copsed to the floor, limp as wet y, unable to move, let alone fight. Checktest chapters at find[?]ovel Jonathan grabbed him by the cor and hauled him upright. ¡°She¡¯s my wife now. This is our home. If I ever catch you here again, you won¡¯t get off with just a few bruises.¡± He released him, almost casually, as if to let Zacharias take a good look at what was no longer his. Jonathan ced his hand on the lock, waited for the fingerprint scan to clear, then opened the door at an unhurried pace. He stepped inside, nced back once, and closed the door. Every movement was deliberate, steady¨Can understated disy of power. There was no sign that only an hour earlier, he had finally been granted the right to enter freely. The hallway fell into silence. Zacharias, drenched in cold sweat, slumped against the wall and stared at the shut door. When the sensor light flicked off, something warmer than sweat slid down from the corner of his eye. Inside, Anneliese heard the door open and close. She rushed out of the bedroom at once. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She looked at the man walking toward her. For a fleeting second, Jonathan considered pretending he was hurt, just to win her sympathy. But the thought vanished as quickly as it came. Created 295 : Chapter 295 Unspoken Tensions 65 +10 Free Coins There was no need. Anneliese was already his wife, and they had all the time in the world ahead of them. He wanted their marriage to be healthy. If they grew used to schemes and lies¨Ceven well- intentioned ones¨Cit would slowly taint the foundation of their rtionship. He had already kept some things from her; he couldn¡¯t afford to plot in every little detail. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I could handle a drunk guy,¡± Jonathan said as he stepped forward, reaching out to ruffle Anneliese¡¯s hair. Seeing that he was perfectly calm, Anneliese asked, ¡°Is he gone?¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Relieved, she let out a breath¨Conly to hear him continue. ¡°To prevent him from causing more trouble¡­ what if I stayed here tonight?¡± Her heart skipped. He¡­ he wants to stay here? Stay¡­ how exactly? Sharing a bed? She hadn¡¯t forgotten that they were legally married. She had always told herself it was just a contract marriage. But after that kiss, she was genuinely confused. And on the sofa just now, he had pulled her into his embrace. The memory made her right knee feel as if it were being pressed against something hard. Her face flushed. ¡°Stay¡­ here?¡± Her thoughts were written all over her expression. Jonathan¡¯s deep eyes glimmered with an unreadable intensity as he leaned in slightly, locking onto her. ¡°Not allowed? Or is it that, just married, you already want to start separating, Mrs. Fullbuster?¡± ¡°No! No!¡± Anneliese shook her head instinctively. Jonathan watched her cheeks grow redder and redder, seeing the flustered confusion on her face. He stopped teasing her and straightened up. 12:17 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 295 Unspoken Tensions ¡°Which room is the guest room?¡± : Anneliese¡¯s mind hadn¡¯t quite caught up. She let out a long, instinctive sigh. ¡°You¡¯re going to sleep in the guest room?¡± Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Her heart had been racing like crazy. 65 +10 Free Coins Jonathan looked at her bright, relieved eyes and the way her tension eased. No desire for him at all? His brow arched slightly. Leaning down again, he stepped closer. At 6¡¯2¡°, the height difference made Anneliese instinctively take a step back until her back hit the wall. He leaned down slightly,ing closer. ¡°If you want to sleep together, Mrs. Fullbuster, that¡¯s fine¡­ It¡¯s just that in the past two days and nights, I¡¯ve only slept three or four hours. So¡­ well, I might-¡± Anneliese blinked, confused by his sudden sigh. Then, he parted his lips and said a few words. ¡°I want to¡­ but I can¡¯t.¡± Anneliese blinked again. ¡°Want to¡­ but can¡¯t what?¡± Jonathan smiled faintly and said nothing. Instead, he tapped her forehead lightly with a finger, his gesture loaded with meaning. It was as if he were saying exactly what her mind had just wandered to¨Cthat kind of thought. Her face went red from head to toe. She opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t get a word out. Even if she tried to argue that she hadn¡¯t really thought that way, it somehow felt like admitting guilt. And how could he be like this? Which man would hint at his own shorings like that? Anneliese was both flustered and angry. She shot him a sharp re, then decided she didn¡¯t 2/3 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 295 Unspoken Tensions 65 +10 Free Coins want to deal with him anymore. With a sudden shove, she bolted back to her room, her footsteps thudding against the floor, and mmed the door shut. Meatloaf followed, stopping at the door and finding herself locked out. The dog lifted her paws and batted at the door twice, then turned to look at Jonathan as if asking what had upset her owner. Jonathan¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. He beckoned to Meatloaf, and she trotted back to his side. He bent down and ruffled her head. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand a girl¡¯s mind,¡± he said. Straightening up, he took Meatloaf with him as they headed off toward the guest room. Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Anneliese flopped onto the big bed, pulling the covers over her head, only emerging after a long moment. The heat in her face had cooled. She pressed her lips together, her thoughts slowly catching
  1. up.
Jonathan¡­ just now¡­ It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to but couldn¡¯t. He only said it because he noticed that she wasn¡¯t ready and tried to reassure her. That man is unbelievable! This content belongs to find?novel Anneliese shook her head to clear it and decided not to dwell on it. She had already nned to go to Westrough with Henry the next day, but with Nishay¡¯s surgery, there was no way she could make it. Earlier that day, she had tried calling Henry to exin, but he hadn¡¯t answered any of her calls. Now, thinking of it again, she picked up her phone and dialed once more, This time, it connected quickly. ¡°Anne? Sorry, we went into the mountains today, and the signal was terrible. Didn¡¯t get your calls,¡± came Henry¡¯s clear, apologetic voice. 3/3 Created 296 Chapter 296 First Day Living Together 65 +10 Free Coins The aircraft testing required adapting toplex environments¨Cstrong winds, numerous obstacles, wind resistance, obstacle avoidance, and mapping uracy¨Call of which meant venturing into the mountains. Anneliese had often apanied the team into the mountains before, and a sh of nostalgia crossed her eyes as she quickly spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. It¡¯s just¡­ with this cold weather¨Cand I saw Westrough got heavy snow a few days ago¨Cyou all need to stay warm and stay safe. Are you still in the mountains? Has Professor Clocke gone with you?¡± She was concerned and reached to put her phone on speaker to check Westrough¡¯s live weather report, when a familiar, aged voice suddenly spoke up. ¡°Hmph. Brat, you actually still have a bit of conscience¨Cremember to worry about me once in a while.¡± That voice¨Cit was unmistakably Alexander¡¯s. It had been so long since Anneliese had heard it, and she hadn¡¯t spoken to Alexander in ages. Her phone nearly slipped from her hand. Newest update provided by find¡¤novel After a long pause, she finally whispered nervously, ¡°P¨CProfessor Clocke¡­¡± She had told Henry not to mention her n to go over to Alexander. She feared that if Alexander knew, he would be angry and outright forbid her froming¨Cand she had nned to beg him in person once she got there. But now, Alexander seemed to know everything. ¡°You still remember I¡¯m your teacher? And yet, you don¡¯t even give me a heads¨Cup that you n toe? If I hadn¡¯t overheard your seniors talking, would I still be in the dark, waiting for you to act first and exinter?¡± ¡°No¡­. no, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯ve disappointed you so many times, I didn¡¯t know if you even wanted to see me¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t see Alexander¡¯s expression, didn¡¯t know how he was reacting, and suddenly the tears welled up uncontrobly, her voice trembling. Alexander listened to Anneliese¡¯s trembling voice and recalled someone saying that she was ashamed and that he shouldn¡¯t make things harder for her. He couldn¡¯t hold back a smile. 1/3 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 296 First Day Living Together 65 +10 Free Coins ¡°Alright, alright, stop sniffling before a certain clueless person thinks I¡¯m being harsh on you. Didn¡¯t you say you wereing?¡± Anneliese¡¯s face lit up with surprise. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure who he meant by clueless, but she clearly heard Alexander agreeing to let here. Yet, thinking that the call was meant to exin why she couldn¡¯t go, her excitement quickly turned to nervousness. ¡°Professor Clocke¡­ I¡­ I was supposed to board tomorrow, but I¡­ I can¡¯t make it now¡­¡± ¡°Hmph. So, you¡¯re standing me up again?¡± ¡°No, no! Absolutely not! It¡¯s my grandma¨Cshe just had heart surgery and is still in the hospital, she-¡± Hearing the hint of his frustration, Anneliese hurried to exin, but before she could finish, Alexander interrupted again. ¡°Then don¡¯te.¡± It felt like a hammer hit her chest. Her face went pale. ¡°Oh, Professor Clocke! You really scared Anne! Anne, don¡¯t mind Professor Clocke¡ªhe¡¯s not forbidding you froming. It¡¯s just that we¡¯ll be heading back to Oceaton soon!¡± Henry had clearly grabbed the phone to exin and calm her down. ¡°Huh?¡± Anneliese still felt a little confused. ¡°Theb was set up in Westrough at first because, one, funding was limited, and two, Westrough is a pilot city for low¨Caltitude economic reform. But you probably noticed, Oceaton isunching its low¨Caltitude airspace this year. The government is pushing to make it a model zone for the low¨Caltitude economy. ¡°Policy support is strong. Theb recently received a huge investment, and the investor has already built a new facility in Oceaton. So, our work here is wrapping up. Next week, Professor Clocke will take Chris and the others over first, and by next month at thetest, we¡¯ll all be in aton.¡± Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out this way, and a small, genuine smile curved her lips. She had been worried about what would happen to Nishay if she went to Westrough¡ªbut now, that concern was gone. 2/3 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 296 First Day Living Together 65 +10 Free Coins She only wondered which generous person had had the foresight to invest so heavily in their The next morning, Anneliese woke up to find it was already past eight. Remembering that Jonathan was still staying next door, she sprang out of bed. The apartment was quiet. After washing up, she opened the door and looked around. Jonathan was nowhere in sight, but Meatloaf came running across the balcony, a frisbee mped in her mouth, looking up at Anneliese expectantly. ¡°Where¡¯s he?¡± Anneliese asked, taking the frisbee from her. ¡°Woof! Woof!¡± Meatloaf barked twice, wagging her tail as she trotted toward the dining table. Anneliese followed and noticed a note weighed down on the table. Jonathan¡¯s handwriting was elegant and fluid, confident yet minimal. The message was brief: ¡®Breakfast¡¯s in the microwave. I¡¯ve walked Meatloaf.¡® Looking at the note, Anneliese felt the sunlight falling on her seemed even brighter. It was her first day living with Jonathan. She had to admit¨Cit felt really, really good. Created 297 Chapter 297 Slices of Warmth +10 Free Coins Anneliese walked into the kitchen and opened the microwave. Inside were two scrambled¨Cegg croissant sandwiches and a te of sausage roll¨Cups. She also spotted a pot of pumpkin soup, kept warm and ready to serve, with portions clearly meant for more than one person. Jonathan had probably considered that she was going to the hospital to see Nishay and had even prepared a portion for Nishay. A warmth spread through Anneliese¡¯s chest as she looked down at Meatloaf circling her feet. Chapters first released on find?novel ¡°Did he make all of this? Did he really make it himself?¡± ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± Meatloaf lifted her head and barked, as if trying to answer¨Cthough whether it was a yes or a no remained unclear. Anneliese took the te of breakfast, sat at the table, and took a big bite of the sandwich. She snapped a picture of her te and sent it to Jonathan. ¡®Delicious! Thanks for preparing breakfast for me! Jonathan was probably busy, because it took him a long while to respond. She sipped two more spoonfuls of pumpkin soup, pleasantly surprised by how well it was cooked. But a question nagged at her¨CJonathan could cook. So why had he been asking her to go upstairs every day to y chef before? Still pondering this, Anneliese left the kitchen, carrying the food container to Nishay¡¯s hospital room. She pushed the door open and was greeted by the sound of Carter and Nishay talking inside. ¡°Yes, my granddaughter really excels at everything! Too bad she¡¯s already married¨Cshe and my grandson¨Cinw get along wonderfully and are perfectly suited for each other. Dr. Chevalier, you¡¯re also impressive, young, and aplished. If only my granddaughter weren¡¯t taken, I¡¯d definitely introduce her to you.¡± ¡°No! Please, don¡¯t do that, not at all!¡± 1/3 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 297 Slices of Warmth : 65 +10 Free Coins ¡°What? Dr. Chevalier, what do you mean by that? Haven¡¯t you seen my granddaughter? She¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, out.¡± that¡¯s not what I mean. I¡¯m just afraid a certain someone might kill me if he finds Anneliese froze, speechless. ¡°Haha, Dr. Chevalier, you mean my grandson¨Cinw? He and my granddaughter have known each other since childhood. They¡¯re deeply attached¨Cit¡¯s really hard to say how things might turn out if he finds out.¡± Nishay chuckled cheerfully. Anneliese felt a chill crawl across her scalp. Carter hadn¡¯t been talking about Zacharias¨Che had clearly meant Jonathan. She quickly called out, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m here!¡± Both Nishay and Carter looked up. Carter, hands tucked into his white coat pockets, raised an eyebrow in a way that carried a pointed meaning. ¡°Ms. Morris is recovering well. Noplications.¡± Carter nodded and left the room. Once he stepped out, he dialed Jonathan. ¡°Tsk, Jonathan, you really can¡¯t catch a break. Even with a marriage certificate, you¡¯re still unofficial¡­¡± With someone like Jonathan, even being legally married didn¡¯t give him full recognition, so Carter couldn¡¯t resist teasing him a little. It was also a friendly warning¨Cmaking sure his buddy didn¡¯t get tricked by Anneliese. ¡°Dr. Chevalier, please wait.¡± Before Jonathan could answer, footsteps sounded behind Carter. Anneliese hade running after him. Carter paused, instinctively slipping his lit phone into his pocket. Anneliese stood in front of him, smiling with gratitude. ¡°Thank you so much for the past couple of days¡­¡± ¡°No need to thank me. Thank Jonathan.¡± 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 297 Slices of Warmth Anneliese felt a hint of warning in Carter¡¯s words. 65 +10 Free Coins She hadn¡¯t even told Nishay about the divorce yet, so mentioning Jonathan waspletely off¨Climits. Carter had been brought in by Jonathan, and Anneliese guessed that in Carter¡¯s eyes, she must look like the ultimate heartbreaker¨Cteasing Jonathan while he, of course, seemed like the poor, gullible fool. She didn¡¯t want Carter to have that impression. It would make Jonathan look bad. She met Carter¡¯s gaze steadily. ¡°Dr. Chevalier, because of my grandma¡¯s health, I haven¡¯t told her about my divorce and remarriage yet. But I want you to know I have no intention of holding onto my ex, and I would never do anything to betray Jonathan. Once my grandma¡¯s health improves, I¡¯ll exin everything to her.¡± Even though her marriage to Jonathan was just a contract, she didn¡¯t want his friends to think he was being cheated on. Carter could clearly hear that she was defending Jonathan¡¯s honor. ncing at the phone in his pocket, he wondered how much Jonathan was silently enjoying this. He felt ridiculous for getting worked up over someone else¡¯s marital affairs¨Conly to end up being force¨Cfed a slice of romance. Still, because of Anneliese¡¯s words, a genuine smile appeared on Carter¡¯s face. He nodded. ¡°When Jonathan heard your grandma was hospitalized, he immediately asked me to arrange the operation and be the lead surgeon. I¡¯ve never seen him care about a woman like that before. Ms. ude, you need to treat our Jonathan a little better.¡± ¡°Oh, of course! I will.¡± Anneliese felt a sudden flush of awkwardness and the weight of responsibility, as if Carter had just entrusted Jonathan to her care. Created 298 Chapter 298 The Weight of Devotion Chapter 298 The Weight of Devotion Anneliese smiled and nodded, and Carter gave a brief smile before turning to leave. Watching his back, she smiled to herself¨Cperhaps it was true that like attracted like. +10 Free Coins She found Jonathan¡¯s friends both impressive and easy to get along with. Carter was one such example, and Jackson and Joel were no different. That day, she had posted a photo on Facebook of the ravioli Nishay had made. Joel had liked it andmented that it looked delicious. One of Zacharias¡® friends, however, had written a snide remark. ¡®in food like this? Really showing off?¡® That had reminded her to clean up her WhatsApp contacts. She went through the list and deleted everyone from Zacharias¡® circle. Only after entering the office did Carter pull out his phone¨Csure enough, the call was still connected. ¡°Wow, first time I¡¯ve seen you this patient,¡± he said, clicking his tongue. ?????? ???? find?novel Jonathan signed two documents with smooth, effortless strokes before replying, ¡°I¡¯m hang up now.¡± ¡°Wait. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡± gonna ¡°Hm, my wife is wonderful, devoted, and loyal. I don¡¯t need anyone else to tell me that.¡± His tone was boastful yet secretly delighted. Even through the phone, the scent of his infatuation was palpable. Carter huffed in irritation but added, ¡°Still, you¡¯re lucky. She really looks out for you.¡± Anneliese was stunning, but what kind of beauty in their social circle wouldn¡¯t have caught their attention? From full¨Cfigured to delicate, there were plenty who could rival her looks. Yet Jonathan had fallen for Anneliese¨Cthis woman who seemed ordinary at first nce and carried so manyplications. As friends, they could only offer their blessings¨Cnot because they truly approved of her, but 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ 65 Chapter 298 The Weight of Devotion because they respected Jonathan¡¯s choice. +10 Free Coins On the contrary, Jonathan had fallen so fast and sopletely that his friends were genuinely worried¨Cafraid that Anneliese might not truly deserve the way he treated her. But in that moment, Carter seemed to understand why Jonathan, the ultimate cold, unattached type, would actually fall for her. Anneliese carried a kind of pure sincerity, a person who knew how to take care of others. It sounded like a simple trait, but it mattered more than most people realized. Any man living with a woman like her would be in good hands. These days, far too many people took others¡® kindness for granted, especially beautiful women who often thought very highly of themselves, demanding much while giving little. ¡°Enough sweet talk. Still looking for additional investment?¡± Jonathan¡¯s calm, measured voice came through the line, and Carter chuckled. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re brilliant- 11 He thought he had it all figured out, only to be interrupted mid¨Csentence. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m gonna spend my money on my wife.¡± ¡°How much can your wife even spend?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a researcher too.¡± Carter froze. The news dropped like a bombshell. ¡°Jonathan, you can¡¯t y favorites! Are you the kind of guy who forgets his friends for a pretty face?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t doubt it. That¡¯s exactly me.¡± With that, Jonathan hung up. Carter just stared at his phone, speechless. Meanwhile, Anneliese turned and entered the hospital room, where Nishay was eating the pumpkin soup she had brought. 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 298 The Weight of Devotion : 65 +10 Free Coins The soup smelled fragrant. The pumpkins had been carefully deseeded, their sweet aroma blending gently into the broth. Though simple and light, it was perfect for someone like Nishay, who had just undergone surgery. ¡°Grandma, is it good?¡± ¡°Delicious, absolutely delicious!¡± Nishay took a few more spoonfuls, then set the bowl aside and grabbed Anneliese¡¯s hand. ¡°Tell me¨Cdid you and Zacharias have a fight?¡± ¡°No¡­ we didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You still say no! Do you think I¡¯m blind and deaf? I¡¯ve been here for several days. I just had surgery, and Melody and Lenora haven¡¯t even shown up. ¡°They really just happened to be out traveling? Every time Zachariases by, you¡¯re so cold, and you two talk behind my back. If that¡¯s not a fight, what is?¡± Seeing she couldn¡¯t hide it, Annelieseughed. ¡°You really are sharp, Grandma.¡± She had been wondering whether to hint at her intention to divorce and gauge Nishay¡¯s reaction, when Nishay continued: ¡°Zacharias has been busy building his career these past few years. It¡¯s only natural that he hasn¡¯t always paid attention to you. ¡°But I can see he cares. As his wife, you need to be a little more understanding. Start a family soon, and your marriage will stabilize. Don¡¯t give other women a chance to interfere.¡± Anneliese knew Nishay¡¯s views were old¨Cfashioned¨Cbelieving a woman should be gentle, patient, and loyal, devoted to her family, raising children, and keeping her marriage intact. Looking into Nishay¡¯s worried, earnest eyes, Anneliese couldn¡¯t speak. She simply nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much. Just focus on getting your strength back.¡± Created 299 Chapter 299 Fractured Trust 65 +10 Free Coins At another hospital, Zacharias had been admittedte at night by Jackie. His injuries hurt, but they weren¡¯t serious. After getting treated and receiving fluids, Zacharias was ready to leave once the morning sobered him up. Just then, Selina walked in with Melody and Lenora. ¡°Zacharias, where exactly are you hurt? Who did this to you? Did you call the police?¡± Melody stepped forward, lifting Zacharias¡® shirt while questioning Jackie. Jackie shook his head. From the moment he¡¯d received Zacharias¡® call yesterday until he had helped him, slumped and barely able to move, into the car by the roadside, Zacharias hadn¡¯t said a single word. Jackie didn¡¯t know what had happened, and after thinking it over, he had decided to inform Melody. Zacharias raised a hand to push Melody away, his brow deeply furrowed and his expression impatient. ¡°Call the police! Right now!¡± Even as he blocked her, Melody saw therge bruises along his waist and abdomen. She shouted at Jackie. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t call the police!¡± Zacharias barked, furious. Jonathan had been the one to hurt him. Reporting it wouldn¡¯t aplish anything¡ªit would only make him theughingstock, a man beaten by his wife¡¯s current partner. Melody gasped, clutching her chest in shock, while Lenora trembled. ¡°Zach! Mom and I are just worried about you. How can you act like this?¡± For original chapters go to Find¡ïNovel ¡°Get out! All of you, out!¡± Zacharias ordered, his voice gloomy. Seeing him like this, Melody and Lenora didn¡¯t dare argue further. Selina quietly guided them out, but stayed behind herself. She poured him a ss of water and crouched by the bedside. 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 299 Fractured Trust 65 +10 Free Coins ¡°Zacharias, did Anne have someone do this? She already humiliated us at the party¨Cwasn¡¯t that enough?¡± Others might not have known, but Selina was fully aware thatst night Zacharias had been publicly shamed by Anneliese. He had gotten drunk and gone after her. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes¨Cpain, humiliation, worry for Zacharias, and anger at Anneliese all mingled together. Zacharias looked at Selina and tugged at his thin lips. ¡°She¡¯s really married. Do you know who she married?¡± For some reason, he almost looked forward to seeing Selina¡¯s reaction. The world had already turned upside down¨Cwhy was he the only one hurt and suffering? Selina¡¯s breath caught. A bad premonition washed over her, and her lips trembled. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Anne loved you so much. She just got divorced. How could she have married someone else so quickly? What actually happenedst night?¡± Each question came faster than thest, her voice tightening with urgency. Zacharias gritted his teeth, a deep gloom settling in his eyes. The name Jonathan hovered on his tongue, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. He refused to admit that Anneliese had left him¨Cand worse, married someone better. He had be a joke. Seeing his pained expression, Selina felt a spark of satisfaction. ¡°Zacharias, could it be that Anne, just to satisfy her vanity or to get back at us, casually married some powerful, old, bald man¨Cbing a stepmother to someone else?¡± Selina had previously confided in Zacharias about how Anneliese had imprisoned their entire family in a basement. Given Anneliese¡¯s connections, calling the police wouldn¡¯t help. She suspected Anneliese had married a bureaucratic old man out of revenge. Seeing Selina still thinking along those lines, Zacharias lowered his gaze, hiding the sharp irony and bitterness in his eyes. If Anneliese had truly sunk so low as to marry some old man, Zacharias might have felt a little 12:18 Thu, Sep 18 Chapter 299 Fractured Trust better-and at least had a chance to win her back. But the man was Jonathan. Jonathan wasn¡¯t some old, bald man with kids. 65 +10 Free Coins Seeing the flicker of excitement beneath Selina¡¯s worried expression, Zacharias felt an unfamiliar sensation. He had always thought Anneliese was petty, insisting on driving Selina out of the White family, constantly making things difficult for her. Selina, kind¨Chearted and always yielding, had gone from a pampered little princess to a cautious, trembling fake heiress. It had been pitiful. Now, seeing Selina secretly pleased, Zacharias thought of the hardships Anneliese had endured in the White family, and doubt crept in. At that moment, Jackie knocked and entered. ¡°Mr. Shaw, just got news¨CMr. Golding from Crucible Group met privately with Mr. Sullivan from Everon Tech today.¡± Everon Tech was the rival of uderias Tech. Derek had been dying the renewal with uderias Tech, and now a private meeting with David Sullivan didn¡¯t bode well. Zacharias¡® expression flickered. ¡°Make the gift for the Goldings¡® 25th anniversary even more impressive.¡± Jackie reminded him, ¡°The Goldings don¡¯t need gifts¡­ Mrs. Golding prefers Ms. ude¡­¡± 3/3 Created 300 Chapter 300 Hearts at Stake Chapter 300 Hearts at Stake : Jackie wanted to say that the contractst time had been secured with Anneliese by his side. If she could speak up for uderias Tech in front of Derek and Marlowe Sterling this time, the renewal would almost certainly be guaranteed. Zacharias frowned. ¡°She¡¯s already agreed to attend the banquet with me. As for the gift, follow my instructions¨Cthere¡¯s no such thing as being too generous.¡± Jackie nodded and was about to leave when Selina¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Instead of giving more, it¡¯s better to give something that truly appeals to her. I know what Mrs. Golding likes. How about I prepare the gift for you?¡± Selina knew that Anneliese had won Marlowe¡¯s admiration by giving her a thoughtful gift. That wasn¡¯t hard to top. She could get something even better¨Cand she wanted Zacharias to see it too. Whatever Anneliese could do, Selina could always do better. It had always been that way. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯m confident.¡± Selina¡¯s assured expression earned a nod from Zacharias. ¡°The banquet is tomorrow. If you need anything to get ready in time, just ask Jackie for it,¡± he said gently. Selina smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zach. Even if Anne won¡¯t help, I¡¯ll make sure the renewal goes through.¡± Zacharias thanked her with a squeeze of her hand, but Selina looked puzzled. ¡°How could Anne possibly agree to attend the Goldings¡® banquet with you?¡± Zacharias still thought Anneliese might change her mind, However, Selina knew her all too well. Anneliese was fiercely proud and stubborn¨Cshe¡¯d rather break like fine porcin thanpromise for anything less than her standards. Once she walked away, there was no turning back. There was no way she¡¯d agree to go with Zacharias to the Goldings¡® banquet. Zacharias said, ¡°Her grandmother came to Oceaton for surgery. She doesn¡¯t dare let her grandmother know about the divorce.¡± Selina¡¯s eyes flickered. As she stepped out of the hospital room, Melody and Lenora rushed up. ¡°Who hit my brother?¡± Selina sighed, her eyes red. ¡°Anne married some powerful man I don¡¯t even know. She locked our whole family up for days and even released some snakes to bite us. We almost died in the filthy basement water. Mom and Dad are still in the hospital, running fevers and hooked up to IVs. The police aren¡¯t helping at all. Mrs. Shaw, Lenora, Zacharias was right not to call the cops. Let¡¯s just let this go.¡± She didn¡¯t directly say it was Anneliese, but every word was calcted to stir Melody and Lenora¡¯s hatred. ¡°Of course it had to be that witch! What a curse¨Chow did our family end up crossing someone like her? She made Zacharias endure two years of insults and humiliation, killed my grandson, and now¡­ does she want to kill Zacharias too?¡± Discover more novels at Find?Novel Melody cursed her furiously, and Lenora seethed with anger. ¡°She¡¯s so low¨Cjust divorced Zach and already hooked up with some backup. Who knows, maybe she was already cheating on him before the divorce. Forget calling the police¨Cwe¡¯ll go straight to her!¡± Thest time Anneliese had hit her with heels, her whole body ached. She and her mother had been humiliated by the other wealthydies too. In the past few days, her mother had been trying to set Zacharias up with some socialite, but anyone remotely interested kept making excuses. All thanks to Anneliese. Lenora hadn¡¯t forgotten a single grudge. Selina held back the two furious women. ¡°Mrs. Shaw, Lenora, just listen to me. Anne has powerful backing now¨Cit¡¯s not wise to provoke her. Her grandmother is in the hospital in Oceaton. You should go to her and ask her to talk to Anne. Calm things down, let Zacharias be, and maybe everyone can live peacefully from now on.¡± Maple Bay. After work, Jonathan went straight to the floor where Anneliese lived. Zion followed him out of the elevator, standing a step behind. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, will you be staying at Mrs. Fullbuster¡¯s ce from now on?¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t slow his pace. ¡°Why not?¡± Living at his wife¡¯s ce after marriage¨CJonathan didn¡¯t mind it at all. He clearly liked the idea. Zion nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes, you surely can.¡± Jonathan¡¯s long legs carried him to the door. He unlocked it with a fingerprint, stepped inside, and nced back at Zion. ¡°You can leave now.¡± Click. The door closed softly. Zion stayed at the entrance, full of questions. Why did Mr. Fullbuster bring me along? Just to watch him open the door and go inside? In the kitchen, Anneliese heard the movement. She peeked out and saw Jonathan, and a faint smile curved her lips. ¡°You¡¯re back? Perfect timing.¡± Jonathan changed his shoes, tossed his suit jacket on the couch, and stepped into the kitchen to help, but Anneliese had already ted thest dish. ¡°Wash your hands¨Cwe¡¯re eating.¡± She had prepared avish dinner tonight to thank Jonathan. The presentation was meticulous, with fresh flowers and a candlelit centerpiece on the table, When they reached the dining table, Anneliese invited him to sit. ¡°Would you like some wine?¡± Created 301 Chapter 301 A Bet Between Gifts Chapter 301 A Bet Between Gifts Jonathan gave a faint smile as he leaned back in his chair. ¡°Want a drink?¡± s This text is hosted at Find¡ïNovel ¡°Hold on,¡± Anneliese said quickly. She shuffled out of the dining room in her slippers, the soles making soft thuds on the floor. When she returned, she was bncing a bottle of red wine in one hand while hiding the other behind her back. She ced the wine on the table and beamed at him. ¡°Guess what? I¡¯ve got a little something for you.¡± He noticed the way she kept her other hand tucked away. He rose from his seat. ¡°That¡¯s funny. I actually picked up a souvenir for you on myst trip as well. Give me a second.¡± Her eyes widened, lighting up with that spark he liked so much. She waited as he disappeared into the living room and came back in the same yful pose, his right hand hidden behind his back. The sight made herugh out loud. ¡°We look like kids. Should we reveal them together?¡± He tilted his head, lips tugging into a mischievous smile. ¡°Or we make it interesting with a bet.¡± ¡°A bet?¡± She narrowed her eyes, curious. ¡°Whoever guesses the other person¡¯s gift wins. The winner gets one favor from the loser. Deal?¡± He dragged out a chair and sat opposite her, one brow arched in challenge. Anneliese thought it over. This one¡¯s way too easy. Guys always go for the standard stuff¨Cbags, clothes, and some shy jewelry. No imagination. Based on the size of what he¡¯s hiding, it¡¯s clearly not a bag¨Cno ¡ªno way is it a skincare. I¡¯ve got this. She smirked and gave him an OK sign. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s text our answers. No peeking.¡± She typed ¡°jewelry¡± into her phone, grinning at her own cleverness. No need to be specific- bracelet, ne, earrings¨Cshe had all bases covered, and there was no way she¡¯d miss. Jonathan caught her smug little look. He could already tell what trick she was ying. Still, he pulled out his phone and typed in his own guess. Her WhatsApp dinged, and she was the first to pull out her hidden hand. ¡°This is for you. Just a little thank¨Cyou for everything you¡¯ve done. Hope you like it, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± It was a watch, tucked neatly inside its box. She offered it with both hands, a little proud of herself. Chapter 301 A Bet Between Gifts Jonathan epted it, then revealed what he had been hiding. ¡°Yours, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± s The moment she spotted the zippered case, her heart sank. This isn¡¯t for jewelry. ¡°D*mn it. Lost already.¡± Still, excitement buzzed through her. ¡°Can I open it now?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± His mouth curved, amused. She unzipped it quickly. Insidey a sleekpact drone¨Clight as air, barelyrger than a pen. Her breath caught, and from the look on her face, Jonathan knew right away he¡¯d nailed the gift. Her voice came out in a rush. ¡°Wait¡­ is this the PD¨C1001PRS?¡± She picked it up with care, her eyes shining bright. Three tiny lenses sat at the tip, reflecting the light. She instantly recognized what it was¨Cthe most advanced reconnaissance drone used by Adros¡® special forces. It was priceless, possibly worth more than a home. Her heart raced. ¡°This is insane. I love it!¡± She couldn¡¯t stop grinning, ready to fiddle with it right away. She then saw Jonathan unboxing the gift she had given him, and a wave of embarrassment swept over her. Ugh¡­ to this thing, my watch feels like pocket change. And the way he gives it¨Cso thoughtful, so spot¨Con¨Cit makes mine look half¨Chearted. Jonathan brushed a thumb over the silver face of the watch, then lifted it out of the box. ¡°Help me put it on?¡± Relief eased her nerves. He actually likes it. She set the drone aside and stepped closer, gently unsping the watch he already wore¨Ca Patek Philippe from the Grand Complications line; its dark leather strap fitted snugly against his wrist. Jonathan turned his hand slightly to help her, though the sp was stubborn. She leaned in without realizing it, worried she might pull too hard. Her hair slipped over the back of his hand, brushing his skin like silk. His fingers twitched, veins tightening along his wrist as if the touch had startled him. Anneliese had no idea how much she was pushing his buttons. ¡°There we go.¡± She slipped off the old watch and reced it with the new one, clicking the sp shut. It had a metal strap, which was adjusted at the store after she estimated the width of his wrist. She¡¯d been nervous it wouldn¡¯t fit, but the moment it clicked into ce, relief flooded her. : Created 302 Chapter 302 A Bet Sealed with a Kiss 92 s Anneliese turned Jonathan¡¯s wrist in her hand, studying how the watch sat against his skin. A little pride swelled in her chest, like she¡¯d pulled off something clever. ¡°Feels right?¡± she asked. She kept her eyes fixed on the watch, but when she finally looked up, she realized he wasn¡¯t even checking the gift. He was staring straight at her. The intensity of his gaze made her blush, and she swiftly let go. Original content can be found at f?ndnovel ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± Jonathan replied, his voice steady and smooth. ¡°I like it a lot.¡± Her eyshes fluttered as the bet suddenly shed back into her mind. She grabbed her phone and took a quick nce at the chat. He had sent her a photo of the watch. ¡°You got it right,¡± she teased. ¡°That makes you the winner. So, what do I owe you?¡± Jonathan kept quiet, just giving a faint smile. He wasn¡¯t going to admit he¡¯d guessed her move the instant she went viral with the watch. He¡¯d been waiting for it back then and had even felt a pang of disappointment when it never showed up. ¡°Let me think.¡± He grinned. ¡°Food first.¡± Jonathan uncorked the wine and filled each of their sses. They dined at a leisurely pace. As the sun dipped outside the vast ss windows, the night crept in, spreading like ink across the horizon. Nishay¡¯s surgery had been weighing on Anneliese¡¯s mind for the past few days, and she hadn¡¯t realized how much more she was drinking than usual. By the time the candles flickered lower, her cheeks warmed and her head felt pleasantly light. Chin propped on her palm, she tipped back thest drop of wine and looked at the man across from her. In the soft glow, he seemed impossibly handsome. ¡°So?¡± she teased, her voice husky with the wine. ¡°Have you made up your mind yet? If you don¡¯t ask me tonight, don¡¯teining to me tomorrow.¡± Her eyes were clouded, her lips were red, and the corner of her smile almost seemed to be daring him. Jonathan spun the wine ss between his fingers, took a leisurely sip, and then spoke, ¡°Come 9:23 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 302 A Bet Sealed with a Kiss : 92 +5 Free Coins here. Kiss me.¡± Her eyes widened. Did he just say that? He leaned back in his chair, totally at ease, as he waited for her to make a move. ¡°You really think I¡¯m that drunk?¡± she muttered, her cheeks burning. ¡°Are you?¡± His low chuckle made the air feel heavier. She wasn¡¯t, which only made her heart pound harder. ¡°Maybe I am¡­¡± she whispered. ¡°So, getting drunk gets you out of a bet?¡± He raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging, as if daring her to back down. Her chest ignited with heat. What am I afraid of? A deal¡¯s a deal. She shoved back her chair, mmed her hand on the table, and strode toward him. They¡¯d kissed before. Once, he¡¯d kissed her so deeply she could still feel it¨Cthen left her. She¡¯d kissed him plenty of times, at least in her fantasies. Fantasies where she¡¯d tackled him on a hospital bed, climbed on top of him, ripped his tie, and begged for her kiss back. Cheh¡­ this is just me finally making that dream real¨Cnothing to it. Her steps faltered as she drew closer. His dark eyes held hers, steady and calm, stripping away her boldness bit by bit. Anneliese thought, Why the hell are my legs turning to jelly now? ¡°Close your eyes,¡± she blurted. His lips curved, but he tilted his head and obeyed, She turned quickly, ready to run. Jonathan didn¡¯t need to open his eyes to know. His arm shot out, grabbing her waist, and with one swift tug, she ended up on hisp. Her lips parted in shock, eyes wide. ¡°Taking off again?¡± His voice was low, yful. ¡°Really going to bail?¡± Mortified, Anneliese buried her face against his chest. 9:23 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 302 A Bet Sealed with a Kiss 92 s Jonathanughed, watching her cover her face with her hands. ¡°They say booze gives people courage, but you¡¯re clearly the exception. Maybe I should just call you my little coward. Let¡¯s 11 He had been about to let her off with an IOU. Before he could finish, her head snapped up and her cheeks flushed. She seized his tie, pulling him close and kissing him fiercely. Jonathan stunned. Her kiss was fierce, tasting of wine and sweetness. Heat coiled in his chest, sharp and sudden. He forgot to close his eyes, too caught in the sight of her so close. Hershes trembled, and her cheeks flushed under the chandelier¡¯s glow. Her lips moved against his, and for the first time, he felt himself tangled in a he couldn¡¯t escape. 9:23 Thu, Sep 25 Created 303 Chapter 303 More Than Just a Contract Chapter 303 More Than Just a Contract 92 +5 Free Coins Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened, their depths churning with a fierce intensity, like a storm brewing silently. The weight of it could¡¯ve unhinged anyone. However, Anneliese didn¡¯t sense any danger. With her eyes shut tight, she grew bolder since he wasn¡¯t making a move. She gently stuck out her tongue, grazing his lips in a cautious experiment. When nothing happened, her courage grew. She felt like a silly little rabbit nibbling at the edges of a lion¡¯s cage, utterly unaware that the beast was only biding its time. As soon as she leaned back, all innocent satisfaction, the lion pounced. Jonathan¡¯s arm circled her back, pulling her tight against his chest. His other hand clutched her hair, keeping her steady as his mouth consumed hers with fierce passion. With the faint sweetness of wine on their lips, the kiss became even more intoxicating. He only released her when her breathing became shallow. She copsed against him, struggling to catch her breath. Her eyes were a jumble of tears, defiance, and a hint of mischief as she looked up at him. ¡°Don¡¯t call me a coward. I¡¯m not!¡± Great. Tipsy and mouthy¡­ fantastic . Jonathan gazed at her flushed face and kiss¨Cswollen lips, smiling. His voice dropped low and rough. ¡°Alright. You¡¯re a little fighter.¡± Her blush deepened instantly. Little fighter? He¡¯s messing with me, isn¡¯t he? ¡°I¡¯m not a fighter either!¡± she shot back, fuming and flustered all at once. His eyes sparkled with amusement. He thought she was adorable when she got all defensive like this. He gently stroked his thumb over her heated cheek and nodded with mock seriousness. ¡°Fine. Not a fighter. You¡¯re just a diligent student who keeps her words.¡± Ugh, that sounds even worse! Anneliese had had enough of his teasing, so she hugged him tightly and hid her face in his shoulder. ¡°I feel like my head¡¯s spinning. I think I¡¯m really drunk.¡± People who were truly drunk never admitted it anyway. 9:23 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 303 More Than Just a Contract : 92 s At the same time, Jonathan felt his own restraint slipping. Having her this close was pushing him to his limits, so he adjusted his grip on her and suggested, ¡°If you¡¯re drunk, I¡¯ll take you to bed.¡± She remained still, only nodding slightly against his shoulder. In one swift motion, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Heid her gently on the bed. She rolled over, tugged the nket up, and squeezed her eyes shut as if already asleep. Jonathan let out a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the table.¡± She gave no reply, so he stepped out, leaving the door ajar. Anneliese figured he had left the door open by ident. Just as she wanted to sneak a peek, the sound of footsteps returned. Jonathan reappeared, carrying a ss of warm water. He ced it on the nightstand, switched on themp in the corner, and turned to leave once more. He figured she was hiding under the covers from sheer embarrassment. Yet just as his hand reached for the doorknob, a muffled voice emerged from beneath the nket. ¡°Aren¡¯t we in a contract marriage?¡± Anneliese¡¯s thoughts spun. If that¡¯s true, then why are we kissing like this? Jonathan turned back, his gaze steady. ¡°A contract doesn¡¯t change what it is. Marriage is still marriage.¡± Anneliese froze under the nket, her heart stuttering in her chest. Her head felt light; her thoughts were tangled and unclear. His voice dropped lower. ¡°It isn¡¯t something you do halfway. Marriagees with everything, and I don¡¯t believe in cutting corners.¡± Heat flooded her cheeks, her whole body tightening under the covers. Jonathan¡¯s tone softened, coaxing now. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to hate it just now. So don¡¯t push it away. Let it happen¡­ slowly, one step at a time.¡± Anneliese gave no reply, so he let out a soft sigh and turned away. Find the newest release on FindN()vel Right as the door was shutting, a small hand poked out from under the nket, shed him a thumbs¨Cup, and then disappeared like a scared rabbit. 9:23 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ 91 Chapter 303 More Than Just a Contract Jonathan¡¯s low chuckle lingered in the air as the door clicked shut. s When his footsteps finally faded away, Anneliesey awake in bed, unable to sleep. She snatched her phone, snuggled it under the covers, and tapped her chat with Jessica. ¡®Ahhh, Jonathan¡¯s basically making it clear he wants me!¡® she typed in a frenzy. On the other end, Jessica¨Cfresh from yoga and mid¨Csip of water¡ªnearly choked when she read it. Her reply popped up right away. ¡®You¡¯re only realizing that now?¡® Anneliese bit her lip. Alright, fine¡­ It¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t know. That night at the White estate dinner, I definitely felt his reaction when he carried me into the shower. Created 304 Chapter 304 Choosing More Than a House Chapter 304 Choosing More Than a House 91 s Back then, Anneliese had convinced herself it was just a typical reaction¨Cany guy around a woman would have acted the same way. Tonight felt different. Jonathan¡¯s gaze told her he wanted more than just herpany. Whether it was her he craved or simply her body, she couldn¡¯t tell. Either way, her mind was a blur, nothing like the happily married life she had once envisioned. How did things even get here? she asked herself. Her phone buzzed with another message from Jessica. ¡®So, do you want to sleep with him or not?¡® Anneliese thought, God¡­ Why am I lying in bed at midnight having this conversation? As they chatted longer, it became tougher to unwind. Warmth spread through her, her toes curling beneath the covers as shame blurred into something dangerously close to desire. She peeked out from under the covers, her cheeks flushing, her lungs gasping for air. Another message popped up. Jessica, clearly seeing right through her silence, doubled down. ¡®You¡¯re married. End of story. Use him, not gadgets!¡® Anneliese¡¯s face burned even hotter. Morning came too soon, and once again she overslept. When she finally left her room, the clock was already creeping toward 9 a.m. She figured Jonathan had already gone for work, but instead found him lounging on the couch with hisptop on hisp, casually browsing through documents. He looked up as her door opened. Anneliese froze. Oh no. My hair¡¯s a wreck, my face is bare, and¨Coh God¨Cwhat if I still have sleep crust in my eyes? She swiftly darted back in and mmed the door as if escaping a crime scene. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel 9:23 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 304 Choosing More Than a House It took her a full half hour before she dared toe out again. 91 s Jonathan was still lounging on the couch with hisptop, his fingers asionally tapping away. She tried to sound casual, asking, ¡°Don¡¯t you have work today?¡± He lifted his gaze. ¡°Come here.¡± Her heart skipped. The exact words fromst night echoed in her head, ¡®Come here. Kiss me.¡® He had said it so casually, like asking her to pass a dish across the table. He says marriage with the full package¡­ but do we seriously have to dive in this early in the morning? Her pulse kicked up. She moved closer, voice trembling. ¡°Wh¨Cwhat is it?¡± He chuckled to himself, clearly amused by how nervous she looked. He patted the seat beside him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Scared I¡¯ll eat you up?¡± Anneliese¡¯s lips twitched, but she sat down. Jonathan tapped theptop and handed it to her. ¡°Check this out.¡± On the screen were three luxury vis. She blinked. ¡°What is it?¡± He exined, ¡°Pick one. Our new ce. Which do you like?¡± Her jaw ckened. This wasn¡¯t what she expected. ¡°Isn¡¯t Maple Bay good enough?¡± Jonathan exhaled slowly. ¡°We¡¯re married. If we move in together, it¡¯ll make things easier with both our families. A new ce is necessary.¡± She reminded herself of their deal¨Cher role was to keep his family from hassling him about marriage. She nodded slightly. ¡°Fine. So, am I the one changing ces, or is it you?¡± On the inside, she was thinking, Please don¡¯t mention moving. Packing boxes is a total nightmare. She knew she was beingzy, and the whole idea of moving just seemed like a huge pain in the neck. Jonathan¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Maple Bay isn¡¯t safe. What went downst night could just as easily happen again.¡± He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. Zacharias had already shown up uninvited more than once, and Marcus had cornered her downstairs before. 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 304 Choosing More Than a House 91 s Maple Bay was shy, but it wasn¡¯t private. Compared to the gated vis Jonathan was showing her now, Maple Bay didn¡¯t evene close. Anneliese scrolled through the listings, her jaw nearly hitting the floor with each click. Back when she and Zacharias bought their ce at Sunrise Residence, she honestly thought she¡¯d reached peak luxury. Now, seeing the properties on Jonathan¡¯s screen, that old ce seemed like a bargain. These weren¡¯t just houses¨Cthey were ptial estates, each worth many times more, with grounds so vast she could probably get lost wandering through the backyard. Only then did she grasp just how rich Jonathan really was. She turned to him slowly. ¡°You know, we never signed a prenup. Should we get that sorted before anything?¡± Jonathan¡¯s brows lifted slightly. How did house hunting suddenly turn into a talk about prenups? He clearly wasn¡¯t a fan of the subject. He simply replied, ¡°Toote. A prenup only works before the ¡®I do, not after.¡± 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 305 Strings Attached Created 305 Chapter 305 Strings Attached : Anneliese asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the least bit worried I¡¯ll clean you out if we ever split?¡± Jonathan arched a brow. ¡°Would you?¡± 91 s Her head shook fast, then wobbled into a nod. ¡°I mean, I¡¯d like to think no¡­ but let¡¯s be real. Money makes people do dumb things. You¡¯re sitting on a fortune, and I¡¯m scared one day I won¡¯t resist.¡± The corner of his mouth tugged upward. Her fake gold¨Cdigger act clearly entertained him. ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± he said simply. ¡°I trust you.¡± The truth was, part of him secretly hoped she cared about his wealth. If she clung to his money, maybe she¡¯d never even think about leaving. It was the only thing he had in abundance. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t rattled in the slightest, Anneliese let the topic die. She passed theptop back. ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you¨CI¡¯m not heading to Westrough just yet. Prof. Clocke and George areing back to Oceaton to set up ab. I¡¯ll decide on where to live once I¡¯ve checked out theb¡¯s location. Is that okay?¡± Jonathan was well aware of theb¡¯s location. In fact, those vis he¡¯d shown her had been chosen with that location in mind, along with his ownmute. He wasn¡¯t about to tell her that, though. ¡°Alright,¡± he replied, closing theptop. Her phone buzzed. It was E Dudley, her real estate agent. Anneliese shot Jonathan a nce before stepping aside to take the call. ¡°Any updates on the vi?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± E answered. ¡°We¡¯ve got an all¨Ccash bid, two million above market. The buyer¡­¡± Her tone faltered. Anneliese narrowed her eyes. ¡°Who is it?¡± There was a long silence before E finally confessed, ¡°It¡¯s your ex¨Chusband. Are you¡ª¡± ¡°Not selling to him,¡± Anneliese snapped, her tone firm. Chapter 305 Strings Attached s After a beat, she added, ¡°Knock the price ten percent below market and close it quickly, but put in a condition¨Cthe buyer can¡¯t flip it for at least three years.¡± Thest time she visited Sunrise Residence, Zacharias had actually hung their wedding photo again. The memory made her skin crawl. There was no way in hell she¡¯d let that house fall back into his hands¨Cwhether he bought it himself or got it through someone else. Jonathan set theptop aside, his gaze following her across the room. AeroAir Headquarters. Jonathan cut across the lobby, heading straight for the CEO¡¯s private elevator. Near the staff lifts, three women in uniform were bunched together, gossiping in low voices. ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s like something out of a drama! Did your sister actually say yes when her ex proposed?¡± ¡°Of course she did! The guy¡¯s hot, totally obsessed with her, and apparently the founder of a major techpany. Childhood sweethearts, too. I mean, seriously¨Cwho in their right mind divorces a man like that?¡± Zion¡¯s steps slowed. The story sounded a little too close to home. His gaze shifted, and sure enough, Selina was standing right in the middle of them. She had a video ying on her phone. Official source is find?novel He caught a glimpse and almost choked. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Zion demanded. The three women jumped. ¡°Ah! Mr. Hand! Good morning, Mr. Fullbuster!¡± Selina pulled her phone back, her face flushing. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mr. Fullbuster. Just a clip I recorded for Anne. They happened to see it, got curious, so I showed them¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice came out low and sharp. ¡°Show me.¡± Selina froze, clutching her phone tighter. ¡°You really want to see it? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s such a good idea¡­¡± Just in time, the staff elevator dinged open. The other two women already sensed trouble and quickly rushed inside, abandoning Selina behind. 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 305 Strings Attached 91 +5 Free Coins Jonathan¡¯s stare locked on her like a de. ¡°You didn¡¯t just camp out here on purpose, did you?¡± His tone wasn¡¯t a question. Selina stiffened, then forced a scowl. ¡°How could you even think that? If I really wanted to¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t let her finish. A nce at Zion was enough; Zion was already stepping into the private elevator. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster!¡± Selina blurted, panicked that he would actually leave. She moved to follow, but Zion shifted into her path with a cool half¨Csmile. The doors slid shut. Jonathan was gone. Selina bit her lip, seething. Zion tilted his head, his smirk sharp. ¡°Didn¡¯t you im just now that Mr. Fullbuster took it the wrong way? Why are you freaking out now?¡± Her nails dug into her palm, though her face stayed stiff with denial. Created 306 s ¡°Mr. Fullbuster took off before I could exin,¡± Selina huffed. ¡°I¡¯m upset, of course! I swear, it wasn¡¯t intentional-¡± Zion cut her off with a dry chuckle. ¡°Ms. White, you¡¯re clever enough to know it doesn¡¯t matter whether you meant it or not. What matters is whether Mr. Fullbuster believes you. That¡¯s the only thing that counts.¡± Selina¡¯s face clouded over. No amount of excuses could alter the fact that Jonathan clearly didn¡¯t trust her. She bit her lip, stifling any further protest. Zion leaned in slightly. ¡°Forward it to me, then erase every trace of it.¡± Five minutester, he walked into Jonathan¡¯s office and set the phone down on the desk. Jonathan¡¯s gaze dropped, his eyes fixed as the video began to y. The screen showed a vi glowing with soft light, every corner dressed in roses, balloons, and candles. It was the kind of picture¨Cperfect romance women dreamed about. On one knee, Zacharias appeared, a ring box in his hand. His eyes zed with intensity as he gazed at Anneliese. The recording was too far to catch their voices, but Anneliese¡¯s lips were clearly moving. Zacharias held her hand, ready to slide the ring on, then the video cut out. The silence in the office was heavier than the air. Jonathan said nothing, but the frost in his expression was enough to freeze the room. Zion forced himself to finish his report. ¡°Selina ims she saw Mrs. Fullbuster ept the ring. She also mentioned Mrs. Fullbuster is supposed to attend the Goldings¡® 25th anniversary tonight with Mr. Shaw.¡± His palms were mmy. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to look up. In his heart, Zion doubted Anneliese was unfaithful. Yet the footage was undeniable, and she had moved back into her old house. The way she and Zacharias gazed at each other¡ªit was unsettlingly intimate, D*mn¡­ Zacharias has been with Mrs. Fullbuster for over a decade. Mr. Fullbuster? That¡¯s a mere blip in . Even the calmest woman can be thrown off when all those old emotions resurface, and Mrs. Fullbuster has always been the romantic type. Maybe it¡¯s not really about Zacharias himself¡ªit¡¯s the whole setup. The 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 306 Shadows of Doubt 1911 s flowers, the lights, the way he went down on one knee with that ring. Nostalgia like that can mess with anyone¡¯s mind. Honestly? This whole thing is a train wreck. Jonathan finally spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Did Mr. Golding invite me?¡± ¡°Yes, but you declined,¡± Zion answered quickly. Jonathan sent the video to his own phone, wiped it from Zion¡¯s, then handed it back. ¡°Get ready for a gift. We¡¯re heading to the party.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster,¡± Zion nodded, stealing a nce at him. Is he about to confront Mrs. Fullbuster and her ex in front of everyone? Jonathan gave nothing away. His face remained calm, already consumed by engineering reports, as if the earlier storm had never happened. Does he trust her or not? That question was spinning in Zion¡¯s mind. He turned around, phone in hand, about to walk away, but Jonathan¡¯s voice stopped him dead in his tracks. ¡°She¡¯s selling a property¨Cfind out which one.¡± Zion straightened at once. ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± This content belongs to find¡¤novel That evening, Anneliese wheeled Nishay through the hospital garden. As they approached the elevator, a familiar voice called out from behind. ¡°Let me take over.¡± Her stomach sank. Ugh! Zacharias! She spun around, unable to mask her annoyance. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away?¡± ¡°Anne, don¡¯t be rude to him,¡± Nishay scolded softly. Zacharias stepped in smoothly, his smile practiced as he took the chair handles and adjusted the nket over Nishay¡¯sp. ¡°Grandma, she¡¯s only teasing. Work has been hectic, and I haven¡¯t been able to visit as often as I should.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, dear. Workes first,¡± Nishay replied warmly. As the elevator doors opened, Zacharias wheeled her inside. 2/3 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 306 Shadows of Doubt 91 s Then he turned to Anneliese, his smile growing wider. It seemed too perfect to be genuine. ¡°Anne, the Goldings¡® party is tonight. I¡¯m here to take you out and get you all dressed up.¡± He extended his hand toward hers, banking on Nishay¡¯s presence to keep her still. Anneliese folded her arms tight and put distance between them. ¡°Don¡¯t even try. You still owe me an exnation about that secretary of yours.¡± There was no way she could tell Nishay that her marriage to Zacharias was already over. Created 307 Chapter 307 Behind the Curtain s There was no way Anneliese was going to y house with Zacharias just to keep up appearances for Nishay. The whole idea made her feel queasy. If she gave him an inch, he¡¯d take a mile, and she refused to feed into his act. Since Nishay had already suspected something wasn¡¯t quite right, Anneliese thought it was best to let the truth seep in slowly rather than crush her all at once. Zacharias stiffened, visibly thrown off by her bluntness. Nishay¡¯s expression darkened. She tilted her head and asked sharply, ¡°Zacharias, what did do to Anne?¡± you ¡°Grandma, of course not!¡± He forced a smile, the edges of his voice trembling. ¡°She took it the wrong way. I¡¯ll talk to her and clear it up.¡± Nishay wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°If you¡¯ve done anything to wrong her, I¡¯ll be the first one to stand against you. Anne isn¡¯t alone in this world.¡± ¡°Really, Grandma, it¡¯s not what you think¡­¡± Zacharias scrambled, his voice thinning under the weight of her gaze. Anneliese watched him squirm, and for the first time all day, she felt lighter. Later, once Nishay was settled back in her hospital bed, she wasted no time shooing them out. Out in the hallway, Zacharias¡® expression soured. ¡°Anne, you know Grandma¡¯s weak. Why would you upset her on purpose?¡± Anneliese folded her arms. ¡°Which part wasn¡¯t true? Coral wasn¡¯t your secretary? I¡¯ve already spared Grandma from most of your filth. If I weren¡¯t afraid she¡¯d copse, I¡¯d have let her watch the whole sleazy show you and Coral put on.¡± His face turned ashen. Mortification flickered in his eyes, but he swallowed it down. He still needed her to speak on his behalf at the Goldings¡® party tonight. ¡°Let¡¯s not go over this again,¡± Zacharias muttered. ¡°Come with me to Eterna m. You need to get your hair and makeup done before the party.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself at home,¡± she responded coolly, walking away. ¡°Meet me at the hotel lobby,¡± He moved as if to argue, but she spun around and warned him, ¡°Push me again, and I won¡¯t go Readplete version only at find{n}ovel 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 307 Behind the Curtain at all.¡± : That silenced him. All he could do was watch her stride off without a backward nce. 91 s Back at Maple Bay, Anneliese sat at her vanity, brushing on light makeup before changing into her gown. She stopped before the tall mirror, her gaze dropping to the scars etched across her stomach. Three jagged lines from the stabbing, and another cleaner one left by the operation. Under the soft glow, they appeared stark and unforgiving. Her fingers lingered, tracing the lines gently. Jonathan¡¯s image suddenly popped into her mind -broad shoulders, a chiseled chest, toned abs¨Cthe memory of when she¡¯d identally ripped open his shirt. A lump rose in her throat. Would he look at these scars and turn away? She shook her head hard. Get it together, Anneliese. What are you thinking? Snatching the gown she¡¯d chosen earlier, she pulled it over her head and focused on the evening ahead. Before leaving, she sent Jonathan a quick WhatsApp message. ¡®I¡¯ve got a dinner party tonight.¡® He didn¡¯t respond. He was likely tied up with work. The Goldings were hosting their twenty¨Cfifth wedding anniversary celebration at a five¨Cstar hotel right by the river. When Anneliese showed up, the entrance was packed with luxury cars, and valets were bustling back and forth. She¡¯d just slipped into her heels and handed her keys to the valet when another car rolled up behind hers. Selina stepped out, her hand hooked into Timothy¡¯s arm, smiling like she owned the joint. A second car pulled in right after, and out came Perseus and Christopher. The instant they spotted her, all four faces fell. Christopher¡¯s eyes burned. ¡°Anneliese, Mom¡¯s still stuck in the hospital bed thanks to you, and here you are prancing around like you¡¯ve got nothing to answer for?¡± 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 307 Behind the Curtain 91 s If Timothy hadn¡¯t already warned them to leave her alone, Christopher would¡¯ve hauled her away without hesitation. Anneliese arched a brow, her lips curling. ¡°What is it now? Another rabid dog slipped its leash? Guess it still wasn¡¯t enough to teach you.¡± ¡°You!¡± Christopher¡¯s hand shot up, but Perseus pulled him back. That¡¯s when it hit him why they were there. The Whites needed investors tonight, and if they made a scene, the entire n would be ruined. He struggled to hold back, his face flushing with anger. Timothy stepped forward, his gaze steady on Anneliese. ¡°Your mother¡¯s been burning up with fever ever since she left that basement. She even calls out for you in her sleep. Don¡¯t you think you should visit her?¡± Anneliese clenched her jaw, reminding herself why she came tonight. Still, her eyes flicked up to his slicked¨Cback hair, every strandcquered into ces, his suit immacte as if the world itself wouldn¡¯t dare smudge it. Her brow lifted as she smiled thinly. ¡°Mrs. White has plenty of kids to fuss over her. I¡¯m just an outsider. It¡¯s best to keep out of the way.¡± Timothy¡¯s face darkened, his patience snapping. He said nothing more. Yet Selina held tighter to his arm, her smile so bright it was dazzling. 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Created 308 Chapter 308 A Hair Out of ce Chapter 308 A Hair Out of ce +5 Free Coins ¡°Anne, why show up by yourself? Shouldn¡¯t you be dragging that ¡®new¡® husband of yours along so Dad and the boys can size him up?¡± Selina¡¯s tone was sweet, but the glint in her eyes gave her away. She wasn¡¯t curious¨Cshe was setting a trap. Anneliese already knew exactly what Selina was after. She wanted to humiliate her in front of the Goldings, to make her look like a two¨Ctimer who couldn¡¯t keep her men straight. Great, all I need is their hair. If Selina¡¯s going to push my buttons, I could y along. Anneliese didn¡¯t hesitate. She lifted her hand and swung. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find[?]ovel Selina shrieked, clearly expecting it, and flung herself dramatically into Timothy¡¯s arms. The p missed, though not entirely¨CAnneliese¡¯s ruby ring snagged a lock of Selina¡¯s hair. As Anneliese pulled her hand back, Selina let out a sad cry and grabbed her head. ¡°Ow! That stings!¡± Her eyes welled up with tears, as if she were the victim. Timothy¡¯s face grew stern. ¡°Anneliese, that¡¯s it!¡± Anneliese gave him a bored look. ¡°Run your mouth, get pped. Simple equation.¡± ¡°What did I even do?¡± Selina¡¯s voice shook, her face contorted in a fake distress. ¡°Selina was only worried about you since you just got married,¡± Perseus jumped in, ring. ¡°You¡¯re way out of line.¡± Anneliese had already gotten what she needed¨Cthe strand of hair wrapped around her ring. She saw no point in wasting any more words. She smirked. ¡°Worried about me? Please. What kind of respectable woman calls someone else¡¯s husband ¡®new¡® like he¡¯s somemodity? My man belongs to me. I¡¯m not about to let trash like youe near him, much lessy eyes on him.¡± She didn¡¯t even nce back at their outraged faces. She turned on her heel, hips swaying as she strode into the hotel. As she stepped into the lobby, her gazended on the ruby ring still tangled in Selina¡¯s hair. She fiddled with it, trying to free the strand. Then, a voice suddenly startled her from behind. ¡°Anne, there you are.¡± 9:24 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 308 A Hair Out of ce 91 +5 Free Coins Her heart skipped a beat. She turned around, clutching her hand tightly. Zacharias stood there, his eyes lighting up as he drank her in. For a moment, his breath caught. Tonight, she was radiant. Thevender strapless gown traced every line of her frame, the airy fabric floating with her movements. Her shoulders gleamed under the chandelier, her hair swept up with a glittering diamond clip that sparkled like starlight. She looked untouched, almost ethereal. During their marriage, she wore more modest clothing, always portraying herself as the ideal wife. Now, at just twenty¨Ctwo, her soft and youthful style made her seem like a girl who had never been tied down. His eyes went soft, and Zacharias swallowed hard. ¡°Did I spook you? I didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡± His eyes flicked down to her hand. Anneliese¡¯s pulse quickened. She red. ¡°You creep up on people too much.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± His smile was gentle and inviting as he took her hand, making it clear he wanted to walk in with her like a couple. ¡°You go first. I need to touch up my makeup. I¡¯ll meet you inside.¡± Anneliese eased out of reach, her tone calm. She didn¡¯t wait for an answer, but instead swept past him and made a beeline for the restroom. Zacharias frowned, rooted in ce. He had brought her tonight to showcase uderias Tech. To him, her presence wasn¡¯t just personal¨Cit was business. At that moment, Selina walked in with Timothy and Perseus. Her face brightened instantly. ¡°Zach, why are you hanging around here alone? Come with us.¡± She¡¯d abandoned her sweet, sugary style for a bold red gown, heavy eyeliner, and bright red lips. It was clear she was trying to channel the old Anneliese¨Cthe one who used to stand by Zacharias¡® side at events. The issue was that it didn¡¯t work for her. Instead of looking morous, the look came across as forced, as if she were ying dress¨Cup. She went to take her arm, but Zacharias pulled back, leaving her hand dangling awkwardly in midair. Selina¡¯s smile faltered. 2/3 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 308 A Hair Out of ce : 91 s Timothy, still fuming over Zacharias pulling investment from White Inc., sneered. ¡°Mr. Shaw isn¡¯t the man he once was. Don¡¯t waste your time, Selina.¡± Selina clung tighter to Timothy¡¯s arm, scrambling to soothe him. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be angry. Zach only pulled out because Anne pushed him into it. He had no choice¡­¡± Meanwhile, Anneliese locked herself in a restroom stall. She rummaged through her purse, pulled out a sealed bag, and stuffed Selina¡¯s hair inside before zipping it closed. She slid the bag back into her purse, smoothed out her gown, and stepped out. Just as she was about to leave, something in the corner caught her attention. : Created 309 Chapter 309 The Little Princess : Chapter 309 The Little Princess 91 s In the far corner of the restroom crouched a tiny figure¨Ca girl of no more than five, bundled in a pink princess dress. She resembled a little mushroom hiding in the shade. As soon as Anneliese stepped in, she spotted the girl. Initially, she figured the girl was just waiting for her mom. Yet after a while, it became clear that no one else was around. ¡°Hey, why are you hiding here all alone?¡± Her voice softened as she moved closer. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F?ndNovel The little girl shrank away, burying her face deeper into her knees. Anneliese couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly. ¡°Need to call your mom or dad? Feel free to use my phone.¡± She dangled her phone yfully, the peach¨Cshaped charms making a crisp sound as they jingled. Big eyes stared out at her,shes thick and curled like a doll¡¯s. Anneliese blinked. ¡°Wow¡­ you really are a little princess. Do you remember your mom or dad¡¯s number? I can call them for you.¡± There was no response. The girl refused to speak. As Anneliese straightened, a tiny hand reached out and tugged on her skirt. She froze, then stretched out her palm. ¡°Don¡¯t remember? That¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s go together. We¡¯ll figure it out.¡± The girl studied her face for a long moment before slipping her tiny hand into Anneliese¡¯s. The warmth was so delicate it felt as if it would vanish the moment she let go. Anneliese took her to the lobby manager, who quickly snapped a photo and sent staff to look for her parents. They tried to bribe her with candy and toys, but the girl wouldn¡¯t let go, clinging tightly to Anneliese¡¯s arm. With no other option, Anneliese told the lobby manager, ¡°I¡¯m attending the Goldings¡® anniversary in Hall Three. She can stay with me until you find her parents. Call me once you do.¡± She left her number and guided the girl into the banquet hall. ¡°Dessert?¡± she asked lightly. Just as they began filling a small te, a sharp voice rang out. 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 309 The Little Princess : ¡°Anne, is this your new husband¡¯s kid? She¡¯s so cute! How old is she?¡± Selina came strutting over, two women following close behind. The girl instantly ducked, pressing her face against Anneliese¡¯s leg. 91 s Selina¡¯s smile widened. In her eyes, the scene proved everything¨CAnneliese had chained herself to a man¡¯s leftovers, ying the role of stepmother. She leaned down, cupcake in hand, her tone sticky¨Csweet yetced with venom. ¡°Hi there, darling. What¡¯s your name? I¡¯m your stepmom¡¯s sister. Call me Aunt Selina.¡± Her two so¨Ccalled friends¡ªthe same pair from the White estate dinner- hadn¡¯t let go of that night when Jonathan carried Anneliese out. Earlier, they had been pestering Selina with questions. Now, they snickered behind their hands, whispering loud enough for Anneliese to catch every word. ¡°Mr. Shaw has the looks, the money, the whole deal¡­ and he¡¯s walking straight into the usual trap. Why take marriage so seriously? Bing a stepmom in a second marriage? Total downgrade if you ask me.¡± ¡°Right? Word is she can¡¯t even have kids. Better totch on now and y stepmom than wait for him to sneak home a kidter. At least this way, she saves herself the drama.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. People live their own lives,¡± Selina cut in, lowering her voice as if she wereing to Anne¡¯s defense. Her smile never faltered. ¡°Honestly, I think it¡¯s perfect¨Cgetting to be a mom without going through the pain. Just look at her, glued to Anne like that¡­ They could pass for real mother and daughter.¡± Anneliese scoffed. She¡¯s practically begging me to p her. Before she could respond, Zacharias walked in with two business partners. Selina¡¯s eyes sparkled the moment she spotted them. ¡°Zach! Over here! Look¨Cit¡¯s Anne and she even brought her daughter!¡± Zacharias stopped short. He had been waiting outside for her, but when she never came, he walked in with his associates. Now, seeing her with a little girl holding her hand, his chest tightened. He knew Jonathan and Anneliese were married, yet the sight knocked him off bnce. Jonathan never had a wife before her, so where did this child from? Don¡¯t tell me¡ªshe¡¯s his hidden daughter. 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ 91 Chapter 309 The Little Princess s For the first time, Zacharias felt like he had stumbled upon Jonathan¡¯s weakness¡ªmaybe even the real reason Anneliese had married him. He strode forward, his eyes gleaming with triumph. ¡°Anne, you refused to take in Coral¡¯s child, yet you¡¯re perfectly fine ying mother to Jonathan¡¯s girl. That says it all, doesn¡¯t it? You love me¨Cyou always have. Not him.¡± 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 Created 310 Chapter 310 Wrecking His ns : Chapter 310 Wrecking His ns Anneliese was speechless. She hadn¡¯t said a word, yet Selina was quick to assume the little girl was Anneliese¡¯s stepdaughter. Zacharias went even further, somehow convinced the child was Jonathan¡¯s illegitimate daughter. What a perfect pair of brainless fools they were. How could any sane person get along with them? ¡°You two must¡¯ve escaped the same padded cell,¡± she remarked. 91 +5 Free Coins Anneliese quietly pulled the little girl a few steps back, seemingly worried she¡¯d catch their brand of crazy. The girl¡¯s face came into view. Zacharias lowered his head to look, but he was surprised to find that the child didn¡¯t look like Jonathan at all. Why did she faintly resemble Anneliese when she was younger, though? If not for the fact that Anneliese had been with him since she turned eighteen, he might have suspected she had secretly given Jonathan a daughter. ¡°Who is she, Anne?¡± Zacharias grabbed Anneliese¡¯s wrist, to which sheughed in anger. ¡°Why can¡¯t a child be around me? Do we have to be rted for that?¡± These lunatics had gone so far that they were scaring the child. She shook off Zacharias¡® hand just as Derek and Marlowe walked over. ¡°What¡¯s with all the chatter? What are you guys talking about?¡± It turned out their squabble had already drawn quite a crowd. Derek was a middle¨Caged man with a slight beer belly, but his thick hair had been carefully styled for the evening. 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 310 Wrecking His ns He looked especially dapper and high¨Cspirited. : Meanwhile, Marlowe looked barely past thirty despite being in her forties. Indeed, love could make one glow. 91 s Dressed in a striking red mermaid gown, she radiated elegance and vitality. The moment she spotted Anneliese, she broke into a smile. ¡°You¡¯re here, Anne! Why didn¡¯t you say hi?¡± Anneliese quickly put on a smile as well. ¡°I was just about to. Congrattions on your Silver Jubilee! May harmony and joyst through the years.¡± Derek chuckled, ncing at Zacharias. ¡°Your wife really has a way with words, Zacharias. You¡¯re a lucky man,¡± he said. Marlowe waved Anneliese over warmly. ¡°Always the sweet talker. Come, let me introduce you to a fewdies.¡± However, Selina couldn¡¯t stand seeing Anneliese in the spotlight, basking in the Goldings¡® favor. She stepped forward with a smile. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Golding, you guys are proof that happily ever after does exist. Your marriage is as sweet as ever, and you¡¯re practically glowing! ¡°Needless to say, we¡¯re all a little envious. We¡¯d love to hear your tips on making a marriage work, Mrs. Golding¨Cjust don¡¯t keep them all for Anne!¡± She nced at her two so¨Ccalled friends, and they quickly chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s right! Seeing how Ms. ude and Mr. Shaw¡¯s marriage has fallen apart, she would need Mrs. Golding¡¯s advice even more.¡± They added, ¡°But then again, failure is the mother of sess¨Cat least Ms. ude has some experience. For us unmarried women, your guidance would be even more valuable!¡± Seeing how fond Marlowe was of Anneliese, and how pleasant the atmosphere had Zacharias smiled gently to himself. grown, 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 310 Wrecking His ns He was about to take Anneliese¡¯s hand and approach the Goldings. 91 s But just as Anneliese was ying along without spoiling things, Selina suddenly jumped in with that nonsense. One of her friends went even further, openly bringing up his and Anneliese¡¯s divorce. Zacharias¡® expression darkened instantly, and a cold, ominous light shed across his eyes. Derek and Marlowe looked startled. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Marlowe asked. She had been so focused on preparing for the banquet that she hadn¡¯t been keeping up with the gossip. After multiple trips abroad and countless shopping sprees, she had only returned three days and hadn¡¯t heard a word about Zacharias¡® divorce. ago Derek, busy with work, hadn¡¯t paid much attention either. He¡¯d even brought up Anneliese over tea with Zachariasst time, yet the young man hadn¡¯t said a word about it. Zacharias quickly exined, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Golding, there¡¯s been some sort of misunderstanding between us, but our feelings are still there. It¡¯s all my fault, and I¡¯m doing everything I can to win her back and save our marriage¡ª¡± Before he could finish, one of Selina¡¯s friends cut in theatrically. ¡°Mr. Shaw, surely you know Ms. ude has remarried? She wasted no time at all.¡± ¡°To drive the point home, she¡¯s even brought her stepdaughter this evening. How could you hope to win her back now?¡± she quickly added. The rightful source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Zacharias froze, his expression turning rigid as his gaze cut over with a sharp, murderous edge. The woman paled and quickly ducked behind Selina. Zacharias turned to re at Selina, his eyes colder than she had ever seen. Even Selina faltered, her fists clenching in unease. She knew exactly what Zacharias was trying to do. 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ Chapter 310 Wrecking His ns : 91 s He¡¯d been trying to paint a picture of a happy marriage with Anneliese. That way, Derek would see him as steady and reliable, a man worth keeping ties with for their renewed contract. Created 311 Chapter 311 Getting the Situation Under Control By doing this, she had ruined Zacharias¡® n and made him angry. 91 s Original content can be found at find{n}ovel But by exposing Anneliese¡¯s fickle nature, Marlowe was bound to lose her good impression of her. Besides, she had prepared a special gift for Marlowe¨Csomething far better than the one Anneliese had once used to curry favor. When it came to winning people over, she had never lost to Anneliese, and this time would be no different. Once she gained Marlowe¡¯s favor, she could still help Zacharias secure the deal. By then, he couldn¡¯t stay mad at her. ¡°What? Have you divorced Mr. Shaw and married someone else, Anne?¡± Marlowe looked at Anneliese in disbelief, then at the little girl clinging to her side. Anneliese remained calm. Noticing the child¡¯s nervousness, she gently patted the girl¡¯s head before turning to Marlowe with a smile. ¡°Yes, I got divorced and remarried. Actually, I didn¡¯te here tonight with Zacharias. I was hoping to bring my husband along and introduce him to you both, but he¡¯s swamped with work. I hope you¡¯ll understand. ¡°Also, this little one isn¡¯t my husband¡¯s child. She got separated from her parents, and I¡¯ve already asked the crew to help find her family.¡± Marlowe was stunned. She looked at Anneliese and Zacharias, finding it a pity. The two had grown up together, and Anneliese had stood by Zacharias as he built his career. Marlowe had always thought the pair were a perfect match, much like her and her own husband when they were young. No one would have guessed their rtionship would end this way. 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ : 91 Chapter 311 Getting the Situation Under Control s ¡°Gosh, this is supposed to be Mr. and Mrs. Golding¡¯s Silver Jubilee. Isn¡¯t it a little bad luck to have someone fresh off a divorce and already remarried show up tonight?¡± Someone from the crowd muttered those words softly, but it was just loud enough for the hosts to hear. All at once, everyone turned to Anneliese, standing there with the little girl in hand. She frowned slightly and looked at Marlowe. Those words were harsh, deliberately meant to stir up trouble. Yet, they weren¡¯t totally untrue. The wealthy were often prone to superstition, and Anneliese couldn¡¯t be sure whether Derek and Marlowe would feel ufortable about it. She pressed her lips together, choosing to stay silent for now. If Marlowe truly minded, there was nothing she could do¨Cshe would simply have to keep her distance in the future. Meanwhile, Selina lowered her head, smiling to herself in secret. Anneliese was no longer Zacharias¡® wife, and her new husband was nowhere to be seen. If Derek and Marlowe grew upset and drove her out, that would be a show worth watching. Feigning urgency, she frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s making up nonsense like that? Honestly, what a joke! Anne, if she isn¡¯t your new husband¡¯s child, then is your man Mr. Fullbuster? He sure seemed attentive at our mother¡¯s birthday dinner. ¡°Come on, set the record straight. Let¡¯s see what those cowards have to say then!¡± Of course, bringing up Jonathan now was hardly out of goodwill. After the White family¡¯s banquet, gossip about Anneliese and Jonathan had spread, turning her into the talk of town. Selina had stewed in jealousy ever since, convinced that Anneliese¡¯s second marriage was to some much older man. By dragging Jonathan into the conversation now, she only meant to set Anneliese up for a 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 91 Chapter 311 Getting the Situation Under Control harsherparison when the truth came out. It was also to remind everyone that Anneliese was never a woman who knew her ce. s Divorced from Zacharias one moment, rumored to be entangled with Jonathan the next, only to slip seamlessly into marriage with an older man. Anneliese never had much of a good reputation in their social circle. It was only by standing beside Zacharias through their marriage and the early days of his start- up that her reputation had gradually recovered over the years. Tonight, Selina intended to drag her back down in an instant, to the days when everyone sneered and mocked her. All eyes were on Anneliese. She, of course, understood Selina¡¯s malicious intent. But her marriage to Jonathan was, after all, an agreement. He needed her to fend off his family¡¯s pressure to wed, and the moment they stepped out of the city hall, he had announced his marriage to the family via text. Yet, he hadn¡¯t revealed her identity to the public, and Anneliese wasn¡¯t sure whether he intended to keep their marriage hidden from everyone else. Besides, Jonathan was not something to boast about. She had no intention of letting Selina corner her into exining herself. Anneliese only smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. and Mrs. Golding¡¯s Silver Jubilee tonight. I fear I¡¯ve already stolen too much of the spotlight. If you¡¯re all so curious about my husband, we¡¯ll have to host our own banquet someday. ¡°For now, let us raise our sses together, and celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Golding¡¯s steadfast love -an example for us all.¡± She spoke clearly as she turned around, picked up a ss of champagne, and lifted it high. With that radiant smile of hers, she lit up the room. Without question, Anneliese knew how to work a situation to her favor. Created 312 Chapter 312 What a Try¨CHard 91 s Chapter 311 Getting the Situation Under Control By doing this, she had ruined Zacharias¡® n and made him angry. 91 s But by exposing Anneliese¡¯s fickle nature, Marlowe was bound to lose her good impression of her. Besides, she had prepared a special gift for Marlowe¨Csomething far better than the one Anneliese had once used to curry favor. When it came to winning people over, she had never lost to Anneliese, and this time would be no different. Once she gained Marlowe¡¯s favor, she could still help Zacharias secure the deal. By then, he couldn¡¯t stay mad at her. This text is hosted at find?novel ¡°What? Have you divorced Mr. Shaw and married someone else, Anne?¡± Marlowe looked at Anneliese in disbelief, then at the little girl clinging to her side. Anneliese remained calm. Noticing the child¡¯s nervousness, she gently patted the girl¡¯s head before turning to Marlowe with a smile. ¡°Yes, I got divorced and remarried. Actually, I didn¡¯te here tonight with Zacharias. I was hoping to bring my husband along and introduce him to you both, but he¡¯s swamped with work. I hope you¡¯ll understand. ¡°Also, this little one isn¡¯t my husband¡¯s child. She got separated from her parents, and I¡¯ve already asked the crew to help find her family.¡± Marlowe was stunned. She looked at Anneliese and Zacharias, finding it a pity. The two had grown up together, and Anneliese had stood by Zacharias as he built his career. Marlowe had always thought the pair were a perfect match, much like her and her own husband when they were young. No one would have guessed their rtionship would end this way. 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ : 91 Chapter 311 Getting the Situation Under Control s ¡°Gosh, this is supposed to be Mr. and Mrs. Golding¡¯s Silver Jubilee. Isn¡¯t it a little bad luck to have someone fresh off a divorce and already remarried show up tonight?¡± Someone from the crowd muttered those words softly, but it was just loud enough for the hosts to hear. All at once, everyone turned to Anneliese, standing there with the little girl in hand. She frowned slightly and looked at Marlowe. Those words were harsh, deliberately meant to stir up trouble. Yet, they weren¡¯t totally untrue. The wealthy were often prone to superstition, and Anneliese couldn¡¯t be sure whether Derek and Marlowe would feel ufortable about it. She pressed her lips together, choosing to stay silent for now. If Marlowe truly minded, there was nothing she could do¨Cshe would simply have to keep her distance in the future. Meanwhile, Selina lowered her head, smiling to herself in secret. Anneliese was no longer Zacharias¡® wife, and her new husband was nowhere to be seen. If Derek and Marlowe grew upset and drove her out, that would be a show worth watching. Feigning urgency, she frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s making up nonsense like that? Honestly, what a joke! Anne, if she isn¡¯t your new husband¡¯s child, then is your man Mr. Fullbuster? He sure seemed attentive at our mother¡¯s birthday dinner. ¡°Come on, set the record straight. Let¡¯s see what those cowards have to say then!¡± Of course, bringing up Jonathan now was hardly out of goodwill. After the White family¡¯s banquet, gossip about Anneliese and Jonathan had spread, turning her into the talk of town. Selina had stewed in jealousy ever since, convinced that Anneliese¡¯s second marriage was to some much older man. By dragging Jonathan into the conversation now, she only meant to set Anneliese up for a 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 91 Chapter 311 Getting the Situation Under Control harsherparison when the truth came out. It was also to remind everyone that Anneliese was never a woman who knew her ce. s Divorced from Zacharias one moment, rumored to be entangled with Jonathan the next, only to slip seamlessly into marriage with an older man. Anneliese never had much of a good reputation in their social circle. It was only by standing beside Zacharias through their marriage and the early days of his start- up that her reputation had gradually recovered over the years. Tonight, Selina intended to drag her back down in an instant, to the days when everyone sneered and mocked her. All eyes were on Anneliese. She, of course, understood Selina¡¯s malicious intent. But her marriage to Jonathan was, after all, an agreement. He needed her to fend off his family¡¯s pressure to wed, and the moment they stepped out of the city hall, he had announced his marriage to the family via text. Yet, he hadn¡¯t revealed her identity to the public, and Anneliese wasn¡¯t sure whether he intended to keep their marriage hidden from everyone else. Besides, Jonathan was not something to boast about. She had no intention of letting Selina corner her into exining herself. Anneliese only smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. and Mrs. Golding¡¯s Silver Jubilee tonight. I fear I¡¯ve already stolen too much of the spotlight. If you¡¯re all so curious about my husband, we¡¯ll have to host our own banquet someday. ¡°For now, let us raise our sses together, and celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Golding¡¯s steadfast love -an example for us all.¡± She spoke clearly as she turned around, picked up a ss of champagne, and lifted it high. With that radiant smile of hers, she lit up the room. Without question, Anneliese knew how to work a situation to her favor. Tonight was about celebrating Derek and Marlowe¡¯s Silver Jubilee, not making a scene for everyone¡¯s amusement. Even if a few people with bad intentions had been swayed by Selina, most people still knew better. One after another, the guests raised their sses to congratte the Goldings, and the atmosphere quickly livened up. Selina was naturally displeased. Feeling frustrated, she began, ¡°Mrs. Golding¡ª¡± But before she could finish, someone yanked her arm forcefully. She looked up with a frown, only to meet Zacharias¡® icy gaze. Beneath his calm exterior, a storm seemed barely contained. ¡°Enough!¡± he warned in a low voice. Selina¡¯s fingers tightened around her winess so forcefully that the liquid inside sloshed. She could hardly believe Zacharias was being so harsh with her. Worse yet, he was doing it to defend Anneliese in front of everyone. Her eyes reddened, her face twisted in aggrieved misery. ¡°Zacharias, I¡¯m only looking out for you. Can¡¯t you see that Anne is trying to humiliate you? People have been talking about how she¡¯s been cheating on you. She used to grovel over you, and now, you¡¯re the one bending over backward for her. ¡°You¡¯ve worked too hard for everything you¡¯ve built, and I just don¡¯t want your name dragged through the mud¡­¡± She looked every bit the part of someone fighting his battles for him, indignant on his behalf. Zacharias¡® gaze softened slightly. ¡°I know, but that¡¯s enough. If a husband and wife turn against each other in public, it¡¯ll only look more ridiculous.¡± 9:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 312 What a Try¨CHard : He knew if Selina kept stirring the pot, the truth might slip out. What was more, Anneliese was actually married to Jonathan now. Zacharias could hardly bear to imagine the looks he¡¯d get if that came to light. 91 s Would people view him with sympathy mixed with ridicule, mocking pity, or tant scorn, treating him as nothing but a joke? Selina nearly ground her teeth to dust, swallowing her resentment as she forced herself to nod. But when she looked up again, she saw Marlowe beckoning Anneliese once more. ¡°Come here, Anne.¡± She sounded warm and inviting, showing not the slightest distance despite the talk of divorce and remarriage. Selina felt even more stifled inside. When she saw Anneliese leading the little girl toward Marlowe, she quickly tugged at Zacharias¡® sleeve and hurried after them. She rushed to speak first. ¡°Mrs. Golding, I¡¯m so sorry for the disturbance earlier. Zacharias and I have prepared a surprise for you. I hope you¡¯ll like it. It¡¯s also a small token of our apology.¡± As she spoke, she raised her hand to signal a waiter in the distance. The waiter immediately turned around, picked up arge box that had been set aside, and quickly carried it over. The guests¡® gifts had already been cataloged and stored upon arrival. For someone to present another gift separately meant it was prepared with special intent, and it was bound to be remarkable. Themotion naturally drew everyone¡¯s attention. Conversations died down, and all eyes turned to them. Marlowe felt a trace of displeasure, but she couldn¡¯t openly dismiss Selina and Zacharias¡® gesture in front of the crowd. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 312 What a Try¨CHard She smiled and said, ¡°Oh? Derek, did you know about this beforehand?¡± Derek patted his wife¡¯s hand and looked toward Zacharias. ¡°Zacharias, why didn¡¯t you give us a heads¨Cup? It¡¯s very thoughtful of you.¡± Zacharias quickly smiled, waving his hand as he offered a few polite words. Derek and Marlowe both nodded with polite smiles. 91 s Selina shot Anneliese a provocative nce, and the men of the White family stepped forward to offer their support. Winning Derek and Marlowe¡¯s favor would bring glory to the White family, and perhaps a better chance at securing bigger investments. Anneliese met Selina¡¯s taunting look with only a faint smile before lowering her gaze. Zacharias was far too desperate for the contract renewal, and he had lost hisposure. Too much ttery and talk of profit could strip away goodwill instead of building it. Unless this surprise truly touched Marlowe¡¯s heart, Selina¡¯s grand gesture would backfire and only leave a bad taste. ¡°Do you want more cake? Would you like me to go with you?¡± Anneliese bent down slightly, asking the little girl still holding onto her finger. The child looked up and shook her head. She then let go of Anneliese¡¯s hand and ran off on her own toward the dessert table. Anneliese watched the little girl skipping away, and a smile formed on her lips. Seeing this, Selina assumed she was only pretending to stay calm. She gave a disdainful snort and looked away. Just then, the waiter opened therge carved wooden chest, revealing what was inside. ¡°What a gorgeous evening gown!¡± ¡°The embroidery on it looks exquisite!¡± Created 313 pter 313 Wrong Move Chapter 313 Wrong Move 91 s ¡°This is a Renaissance¨Cinspired evening gown, embroidered using genuine gold¨Cand¨Csilver threads. I¡¯ve seen a simr piece in a museum before, but this one is even more exquisite¡ªa true collector¡¯s treasure.¡± ¡°What a lovely gift to congratte Mr. and Mrs. Golding on their Silver Jubilee. Mr. Shaw and Ms. White have really put their hearts into this.¡± Praise filled the room. Anneliese nced over and saw Selina step forward, carefully helping the waiter unfold the embroidered evening gown from the wooden box. Under the dazzling crystal lights, the gown shimmered with golden and silver threads. It was stunningly beautiful and undeniably luxurious. Anneliese paused for a moment, for the others did not know that years ago, she too had given Marlowe a Renaissance¨Cinspired evening gown, one the woman had cherished deeply. That gift alone made Marlowe regard her in a new light. Marlowe had even worn that very gown to retake her wedding photos with Derek. To this day, the portrait hanging in their bedroom was one of her dressed in it. Now, Selina had presented an even more ornate and refined gown. Clearly, she was trying to win Marlowe¡¯s favor by copying Anneliese. Hearing the chorus ofpliments, Selina felt even more pleased with herself. She shot another look at Anneliese, certain the woman must be seething, her expression surely ugly with rage. To her surprise, Anneliese only smirked while shaking her head. Pfft! It¡¯s just cheap theatrics. Selina rolled her eyes, then turned toward Marlowe with a bright smile. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Golding, allow me to exin the origin of this evening gown. In fact, ites with a beautiful story-¡± 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 313 Wrong Move s She was brimming with pride, but before she could finish, Marlowe¡¯s expression darkened as she cut Selina off coldly. ¡°This gown is far too extravagant, so please take it back. I cannot ept such a gift for nothing.¡± Selina froze, her face paling instantly. That was not at all the reaction she had expected. With that, Marlowe turned and left. Zacharias¡® heart sank, and he furrowed his brows. Seeing Derek about to follow, he quickly stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Golding, what¡¯s-¡± Derek looked at him, his smile gone. He merely patted Zacharias on the shoulder and uttered meaningfully, ¡°Mr. Shaw, it¡¯s important to pick a virtuous partner.¡± The way he addressed Zacharias said it all. The gift had not won favor. Instead, it had offended the couple. Zacharias¡® expression was stiff, his smile forced, though he was filled with doubts inside. And since Derek had not lowered his voice, everyone had heard their conversation. In that instant, Selina felt the weight of mocking, disdainful stares fall upon her from every direction. She truly couldn¡¯t understand what she had done wrong for Marlowe to humiliate her like this in public. Why had Marlowe cherished Anneliese¡¯s gift but disrespected Selina when she had presented something much more valuable? She found it unfair. Selina couldn¡¯t swallow the bitterness, not after bing aughingstock once at the White family banquet, and now, at the Goldings¡® Silver Jubilee. At that, her eyes reddened. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 313 Wrong Move : She bit her lip and raised her voice impulsively. With her lips bitten and eyes red, she raised her voice. ¡°What have I done wrong, Mrs. Golding? I put my sincerity into getting this gift for seem to like it very much, but why won¡¯t you ept it? Is it because of Anne?¡± 91 s you. You Anneliese was dumbfounded. She hadn¡¯t said a single word from beginning to end, yet somehow she was dragged into this. Marlowe stopped in her tracks, turned back, and frowned at Selina. ¡°What does this have to do with Anne?¡± ¡°I know Anne once gave you a Renaissance¨Cinspired evening gown too, but this one is far more borate and refined. Anyone can tell it¡¯s way better than hers!¡± She continued, ¡°Now that Anne is married to a powerful Oceaton official, are you afraid she¡¯d feel displeased if you ept my gift? She isn¡¯t the sort of petty, domineering person to be upset over this. Isn¡¯t that right, Anne?¡± Selina looked straight at Anneliese, to which thetter remained silent. Her expression was hard to describe, surprised at how dumb Selina was. She had spoken so recklessly in public without knowing the full picture. Thanks to her words, the crowd immediately turned their attention back to Anneliese. ¡°She married an Oceaton official? Which one? Does anyone know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of any official remarrying, though.¡± Official source is find(?)ovel ¡°Oceaton is a major city, and a high¨Cranking official there would be old enough to be Ms. ude¡¯s father. To think she still agreed to the marriage¡­¡± Hearing the crowd¡¯s hushed discussions, Selina lowered her head slightly and smirked to herself. Let¡¯s see how Anneliese talks her way out of this one! Just then, an alluring, deep voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the banquet hall. Created 314 Chapter 314 Introducing Her Husband ¡°What a party! Can¡¯t believe I almost missed it.¡± Everyone instinctively turned their heads. s The heavy banquet hall doors opened to reveal a tall, broad¨Cshouldered man entering slowly. He wore a ssic three¨Cpiece ck pinstripe suit, the matte fabric paired with a gray shirt buttoned all the way to the cor. His jacket hung open, each stride revealing the vest that entuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Handsome beyondpare, noble in bearing, his presence wasmanding. It was Jonathan. Anneliese froze where she stood, and around her came the sound of gasps and murmured whispers. ¡°That¡¯s Jonathan Fullbuster of Aerolux Airways¨Cthe Fullbuster family¡¯s heir!¡± ¡°Jonathan! That¡¯s him, alright!¡± ¡°What¡¯s he doing here? Mr. Golding must have incredible connections.¡± Some recognized him and cried out in surprise. The Fullbuster family¡¯s roots were in the capital, but Jonathan had made his base in Oceaton ever since taking over as Aerolux Airways¡® president. He evenid out a major development n for expanding the Oceaton airport. During his time here, he had kept a low profile, rarely attending private gatherings. The only time he had appeared was at the White family banquet. Even then, when he saved Anneliese from drowning, it had been only a brief appearance¡ªnot a formal one. Few people truly knew him, and no one expected him to show up tonight. As hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Golding were both surprised and delighted. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 314 Introducing Her Husband 91 s Derek had indeed sent him an invitation, but Jonathan¡¯s secretary had replied with a polite decline. Realizing what was happening, Derek quickly took Marlowe¡¯s hand, ready to step forward in wee. But before they could do so, Jonathan strode across the hall and headed straight toward Anneliese. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him approach, drawing the attention of the entire room as if a spotlight followed his every step. Then, without hesitation, he slipped an arm around her waist. Anneliese¡¯s mind went nk. She could only look up at him in shock, her thoughts scattering. Jonathan lowered his gaze, smiling gently as he said, ¡°Sorry for beingte. The traffic was crazy.¡± Anneliese¡¯s ears slowly turned red, her mind a haze. He made it sound like they¡¯d nned oning together all along. ¡°Gosh! Didn¡¯t Selina just say Anneliese remarried into the Fullbuster family? Could it actually be true?¡± A startled voice rang out, too loud to be ignored. ¡°Nonsense! ording to Selina, Anneliese married some high¨Cranking official in Oceaton!¡± The person¡¯s friend hurriedly shot them down, lowering their voice in a frantic reminder. But the banquet hall was so quiet that their words carried just as clearly¨Cleaving both women red¨Cfaced as they pped hands over their mouths and ducked their heads. This was about the Fullbuster family¡¯s heir and his wife, and it wasn¡¯t something anyone could afford to joke about. Marlowe masked her surprise and looped her arm through her husband¡¯s as they stepped forward. Mr. Golding beamed. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 314 Introducing Her Husband ¡°We¡¯re honored to have you here, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± Marlowe¡¯s eyes flickered to the man¡¯s hand resting firmly on Anneliese¡¯s slim waist. With a smile, she voiced the question on everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°You¡¯re right on time, Mr. Fullbuster. Though, we were wondering¡­¡± Jonathan nodded politely to the couple but gave no answer. 91 +5 Free Coins His grip on Anneliese¡¯s waist tightened slightly as he looked at her and asked, ¡°Well, aren¡¯t going to introduce me?¡± He handed the reins to her, showing both his respect for Anneliese and his stance to the crowd. you Anneliese pressed a hand against her racing heart before she smiled at Derek and Marlowe. ¡°This is my husband, Jonathan.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by FindN()vel Hearing her words, the collective gasp this time was louder than when he first entered. Anneliese swore she could almost hear eyes popping from their sockets. What a shocker! Flustered, her cheeks flushed red as she shot Jonathan a half¨Cannoyed re before adding, ¡°Jonathan, Mr. and Mrs. Golding have always treated me kindly and helped me a great deal.¡± It was the first time she¡¯d addressed him so intimately in public, and Jonathan was clearly enjoying it. The hand at her waist grew warmer, his touch searing through the thinyers of her dress until her skin tingled beneath it. ¡°Why don¡¯t I just call you Derek and Marlowe, then? Thank you for taking such good care of my wife.¡± Jonathan looked at her once more with a gentle smile on his face, The Goldings, overwhelmed and ttered, broke into broad grins, showering Anneliese with praise before eagerly inviting Jonathan to talk in private. Created 315 Chapter 315 What an Embarrassment Chapter 315 What an Embarrassment Gasps rippled through the crowd. Shocked as they were, no one dared to speak openly in Jonathan¡¯s presence. 91 +5 Free Coins But while most eyes flickered toward him and Anneliese with awe or envy, they also strayed- more boldly¨Cto Zacharias and the White family. Where Jonathan and Anneliese drew restrained admiration, Zacharias and Selina were met with open ridicule¨Cgloating looks, mocking smirks, even a touch of pity. Even Timothy, usually the best at keeping hisposure, couldn¡¯t hide his shock. Simrly, Perseus and his brothers stood ck¨Cjawed, unable to close their mouths. As for Zacharias, his handsome face clouded over. He stared at Jonathan and Anneliese standing together like the perfect pair, his fists clenched so tightly that his veins bulged. Only sheer willpower kept him from storming over to tear them apart and making a scene. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Zacharias, did Anneliese really marry Jonathan?¡± From the moment Jonathan appeared, Selina felt trapped in a nightmare¨Cthough this was worse than one, absurd to the point of madness. Her mind went nk, unable to believe it. When she finally found her voice, she clutched at Zacharias while stumbling over her words. Zacharias nced down at her pale face and wide, quaking eyes. In her expression, he saw his own reflection. Selina was aughingstock¨Cbut wasn¡¯t he the same? Tonight, he¡¯d been stripped of dignity. All because of one man¡¯s arrival, he stood as nothing more than a failure. With a sharp motion, he flung her hand aside and walked away from the crowd. He hadn¡¯t used much force, but Selina still staggered. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 315 What an Embarrassment : With her head bowed, she muttered under her breath, ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­¡± She looked up abruptly, ready to confront Anneliese and Jonathan. But this time, Timothy caught her by the arm, his voice low and full of warning. ¡°Selina! Haven¡¯t you embarrassed us enough already?¡± ¡°Dad, I-¡± Her eyes brimmed with tears. Just then, someone suddenly pointed at her and shouted, ¡°Look at her dress!¡± ¡°God, what is that on her skirt?¡± ¡°Did she just do a number two?¡± Selina froze before spinning around in a panic. People around her were already pointing and whispering behind her back. 91 s The source of th?s content is Find_Novel(. ¡°What are you talking about? Nonsense! There¡¯s nothing wrong with me!¡± she screamed, clutching at the back of her gown. However, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They were crazy to think she¡¯d humiliate herself like that. But when Perseus caught sight of her gown, his face turned into stone. On the back of her red fishtail dress was a dark, sticky smear¨Clooking disturbingly like poop marks. Did Selina just¡­ Flustered, he quickly shrugged off his jacket and tried shielding her with it. At the back of the crowd, a tiny girl in a pink dress licked her chubby fingers, savoring the messy blend of chocte and mango cream she¡¯d just gotten from the dessert table. Then, she ducked behind Anneliese like a mischievous shadow. Themotion only grew louder. People covered their noses and stepped back as Selina shrieked in humiliation, now wrapped in her brother¡¯s jacket. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ Chapter 315 What an Embarrassment When Perseus tried to tie the coat around her waist, her face burned scarlet. In a frenzy, she tore it off and screamed, ¡°Get away from me! Nothing¡¯s wrong!¡± She shoved him hard. He stumbled back two steps, stunned. He had only wanted to protect her, yet here she was, treating him as if he¡¯d made her humiliation worse. s ¡°Selina, how can you treat me like this? I¡¯m only trying to help!¡± he demanded, his voice raw. Her eyes burned red with fury. ¡°Help? You¡¯re just an idiot! There¡¯s nothing, so don¡¯t make me look even worse!¡± She knew nothing had happened, yet Perseus was making things worse. By trying to cover her, he had only made everyone more convinced she¡¯d soiled herself. Wasn¡¯t that much more humiliating? Perseus stood in ce, reeling from the shock. All his life, he had cherished Selina like a princess, protecting her at every turn. And now, in front of everyone, his beloved sister had degraded him harshly. He was filled with hurt. All around him, people¡¯s eyes burned into him¡ªnot with sympathy, but with mockery. He felt like the biggest fool of them all. Created 316 : Chapter 316 His Silent Protection 91 s Perseus¡®plexion turned ghostly pale, yet a bitterugh escaped him, his fury straining at the edges of control. ¡°Fine! I¡¯m the fool here, alright? It¡¯s my fault for valuing a traitor like you more than more than my own sister! I should¡¯ve stayed out of it altogether. Go ahead¨Chumiliate yourself however you want!¡± He shouted the words, then stormed out, mming the door so hard the walls seemed to tremble. Anneliese froze in shock. Perseus had always doted on Selina, yet now they were tearing each other apart in front of everyone. Selina¡¯s face was streaked with tears as she frantically looked around. ¡°No, I¡­ I didn¡¯t wet myself!¡± She wed at her gown, wiping her hands against the fabric, only to smear something sticky and brown across her palm. Horrified, she raised it to her nose, and realization struck instantly. Her expression twisted with revulsion, but she tried to defend herself. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think! It¡¯s chocte, not¡­ Smell it if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± She thrust her hand toward the nearest bystanders, but they recoiled with disgust, covering their noses as though she were contagious. Desperation mounted. ¡°It¡¯s really chocte! I¡¯ll prove it! I¡¯ll eat it if I have to!¡± She licked her finger, but instead of convincing anyone, it only made the crowd retreat further, their faces twisted with horror. Several people even gagged audibly. No one believed her. Selina¡¯s shame boiled into rage. There was no way this had happened by chance, Then, it dawned on her. When Jonathan had walked in earlier, everyone¡¯s attention, including hers, had shifted to him. Before that, she vaguely recalled the little girl Anneliese had brought wandering toward the Chapter 316 His Silent Protection dessert table. It had to be her. Selina¡¯s eyes narrowed. Spotting the child hiding timidly behind Anneliese, she strode forward, her fury zing. ¡°It was you! Anneliese, you ordered this girl to smear chocte on me, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Selina, maybe you should clean yourself up first,¡± Anneliese replied sharply, frowning. But Selina ignored her. s Then, she lunged for the girl, desperate to clear her own name. ¡°Tell me¨Cwas it you? Why would you do this to me?¡± Before Anneliese could shield the little girl, Jonathan stepped forward. In one smooth motion, he scooped the girl into his arms and wrapped an arm protectively around Anneliese, pulling them both away. However, Jonathan could say anything, the little girl, frightened by Selina¡¯s hysterical outburst, suddenly burst into tears. She cried while shaking her head and waving her hands desperately, looking utterly aggrieved. ¡°Look how scared she is!¡± someone cried. ¡°Her hands and clothes are spotless. How can a girl be responsible for this?¡± ¡°I can testify¨Cshe¡¯s been with Mrs. Fullbuster the entire time.¡± ¡°Exactly. And honestly, the smell alone proves it wasn¡¯t chocte!¡± The crowd grew louder, siding with the sobbing girl. Selina¡¯s protests only sank her deeper into humiliation. Her face contorted with fury. ¡°You¡¯re all against me! It was her! Anneliese put her up to this! Check the security cameras¨CI demand the footage!¡± Her voice broke into shrieks, herposurepletely shattered. ¡°Enough! This is absurd!¡± Derek stormed over, his expression thunderous. He turned to Timothy with unconcealed contempt. 9:26 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ 91 Chapter 316 His Silent Protection s ¡°Mr. White, I extended this invitation only out of respect for the past. However, your daughter has disrupted my banquet from the start, and now she¡¯s humiliating my guests. Are you deliberately trying to provoke my family?¡± Timothy¡¯s face burned with shame. ¡°No, no¨Cit¡¯s my failure as a father. I¡¯m deeply sorry.¡± He had always considered Selina his pride, never imagining she could lose control so disgracefully. Still reeling in shock, he was suddenly called out. Stepping forward, he grabbed hold of Selina and apologized to Derek, then turned to Anneliese with a pleading look. ¡°Anne, we¡¯re family. Please, help me and your sister exin this away.¡± ?????? ???? FindN()vel Anneliese remained cold and unmoved, ready to state openly that she had severed ties with the Whites. Before she could speak, Selina erupted again, unable to bear the humiliation. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t beg her! She¡¯s the one who¨Cah!¡± Timothy spun and struck her hard across the face. ¡°Enough!¡± He was livid that Selina still couldn¡¯t grasp reality. Anneliese was Jonathan¡¯s wife now, and Jonathan¡¯s silent presence alone was more powerful than any defense. For Selina to keep screaming was nothing short of courting disaster. The p left Selina trembling, her eyes wild with fury and disbelief, as though she might lose her mind entirely. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 317 Bittersweet Tenderness Created 317 Chapter 317 Bittersweet Tenderness : Chapter 317 Bittersweet Tenderness (). s Timothy didn¡¯t give Selina the chance to make another scene. Exchanging a sharp nce with Perseus, the two of them seized Selina and hustled her out of the hall, stumbling beneath the weight of countless stares. If they lingered any longer, they risked being forcibly removed¨Cand that humiliation would be far worse. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find1Novel Once they disappeared, the banquet hall slowly regained its bnce. Laughter and conversation swelled back into the air, as though nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Derek and Marlowe guided Anneliese and Jonathan into a smaller lounge. After exchanging a few courteous remarks, Derek and Marlowe excused themselves¨Cthey still had guests to wee¨Cand left the couple alone, sensing the tension between them. Jonathan settled into the couch, one leg crossed over the other, his sharp features clouded with ice. Since Derek and Marlowe¡¯s departure, he hadn¡¯t uttered a single word, yet the oppressive weight of his silence filled the room. Anneliese risked a sideways nce at him, her heart sinking. He was furious¨Cshe knew exactly why¨Cand that knowledge made her uneasy, almost fearful of this side of him. Her tongue darted across her lips before she spoke, breaking the silence. ¡°Why¡­ did you suddenly show up?¡± The instant the words left her mouth, regret crashed in. Of all things to say, that sounded like she didn¡¯t want him there at all. Jonathan¡¯s expression darkened, his voice cutting like frost. ¡°My wifees to a party with her ex¨Chusband, and I¡¯m supposed to sit back and ignore it?¡± Anneliese¡¯s panic spiked. She scrambled from her seat and sped his hand in desperation. ¡°No, no! That¡¯s not it! I can exin!¡± One eyebrow arched, his gaze piercing. ¡°Then let¡¯s hear it¨Cyour excuse.¡± Her cheeks burned. She hadn¡¯t even begun, and already she felt guilty, as though every would sound hollow. word 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 317 Bittersweet Tenderness Still, she forced herself to speak. 91 s ¡°I helped Zacharias secure the deal with Crucible Group only because he threatened me with my grandma. I pretended to cooperate, but it was all a ruse. Mrs. Golding is like a mentor to me. Since I was in Oceaton, I would have attended the banquet regardless. I wasn¡¯t ying along with Zacharias to support him¨CI wanted to make it clear that we¡¯re divorced. We didn¡¯t even arrive together, I swear. Please believe me.¡± She squeezed his hand, her voice softening in appeal. Jonathan remained stern, but her earnestness chipped away at his fury. His expression stayed cold, yet there was a flicker of restraint. ¡°Oh? So, you nned to attend alone? Did it slip your mind that you have a husband?¡± Anneliese froze, speechless. She had no defense¨Cshe truly hadn¡¯t considered inviting Jonathan to apany her. She still wasn¡¯t used to her new role; more often than not, she simply forgot she was married. Besides, she had her own reasons. But at the moment, faced with the man¡¯s wounded, questioning gaze, Anneliese realized how much that hurt him. His low hum pressed the silence further. Anneliese lowered her gaze, conceding. ¡°It was my fault. I¡¯ll make it right next time. And also¡­¡± Her hesitation didn¡¯t provoke him. Instead, he looped a finger around hers, tugging her gently toward him. She gave in, settling beside him, the couch dipping beneath their weight. Jonathan slung an armzily along the backrest, but soon it shifted to her shoulder. In an instant, she felt her hip press against the firm line of his thigh, her whole body seeming to lean into his embrace. The faint trace of champagne on his breath mingled with his subtle, woody cologne, enveloping her senses. Her heart hammered. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 317 Bittersweet Tenderness : 91 s The thought that anyone passing through the banquet hall could easily glimpse them pressed so closely together left her mind in turmoil. She instinctively shifted, trying to put some space between them, but Jonathan¡¯s hand slid from the couch to sp her slender shoulder, holding her firmly in ce. His stance was unyielding. Anneliese could only look up at him, biting her lip before whispering, ¡°I just thought¡­ you¡¯re so busy. The Golding Family¡¯s banquet is nothing more than a minor social affair to you. I was afraid bringing you here would only waste your time, disturb you with something meaningless¡­¡± And that was truly what she had believed. Watching her so cautious and careful, Jonathan felt thest of his anger dissolve, leaving only helplessness and a bittersweet tenderness. His broad palm suddenly shifted from her shoulder to the back of her neck, urging her forward. Anneliese had no choice but to lean in, and the next moment, a gentle kiss brushed her brow. He didn¡¯t release her afterward. With his forehead resting against hers, his voice came low and steady. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Created 318 Chapter 318 Making Her Feel Cherished SGD +5 Free Cons ¡°Anne, what¡¯s so difficult about couples blending into each other¡¯s social circles? You¡¯re overthinking it. A husband should naturally support his wife¡¯s social needs and make her feel cherished. From now on, don¡¯t stress¡ªjust tell me what you need, alright?¡± Jonathan¡¯s breath brushed across her nose as he spoke. He was so patient, so tender, that Anneliese felt lightheaded. Her heart fluttered wildly, as if it had a mind of its own. She nodded without hesitation, her voice soft and sweet. ¡°Okay.¡± Jonathan finally lifted his gaze. When he saw her blushing, looking so gentle and obedient, his chest tightened. He reached out, unable to resist pinching her cheek, and added, ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to always give way to me. If you keeppromising, you¡¯ll never earn respect or gratitude¨Cmore often than not, you¡¯ll just be taken for granted. A wise woman knows how to guide her husband to put in effort. The more effort, the stronger the marriage.¡± Anneliese remained silent. She couldn¡¯t help but think back to her failed marriage with Zacharias. Is Jonathan calling me foolish? But honestly, the way he said it made him sound a little naive too. And yet, this slightly clumsy sincerity only made her heart soften further. She felt like she was falling for him all over again. Her hopelessly romantic side surged to the surface. But this time, she refused to overthink. Following her instincts, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Twice. Her breath was warm and sweet. ¡°Is this what you mean?¡± she whispered. Jonathan froze, a tingling sensation rushing through his chest like she had gripped his heart with both hands. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have tried guiding her¨Che was already willing to give her everything, even though they had only just begun. He slid his hand to the back of her neck, ready to deepen the kiss, when suddenly a small head 9:27 Thu, Sep Chapter 318 Making Her Feel Cherished popped up from behind the couch, staring with wide, round eyes. ¡°Ah!¡± Anneliese jolted back, yelped, and shoved Jonathan away. s Meeting the innocent gaze of a little girl, her cheeks med. How could I forget we¡¯re not alone? The little girl covered her eyes with her pudgy hands, as if saying she hadn¡¯t seen a thing. ¡°This is all your fault!¡± Anneliese shot Jonathan a re. He stayedpletely calm. Without a trace of embarrassment, he reached over, scooped the little girl up from behind the couch, and sat her between them. Then he turned to Anneliese. ¡°Why is Ellie with you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s called Ellie? You know her?¡± Anneliese blinked in surprise. No wonder she hadn¡¯t resisted when Jonathan picked her up earlier. ¡°She¡¯s India¡¯s niece. You probably know her father, too¨CSteven Malone.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Steven Malone? The Director of the Low¨CAltitude Economy Department under the National Air Traffic Control Committee.¡± Because of her job, she kept track of policy and government updates. She¡¯d seen him on TV more than once. Young, handsome, and maic, Steven was practically the face of the National Air Traffic Control Committee. But she had only ever seen him through a screen. The rightful source is find(?)ovel ¡°Yeah.¡± Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected the little girl she picked up by chance toe from such a prominent family. Still, she only lingered on her surprise for a second before saying, ¡°You should call her family. They must be worried sick.¡± She realized she¡¯d had Ellie with her for almost an hour. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 318 Making Her Feel Cherished Jonathan nodded and stepped to the window to make the call. 91 s Meanwhile, Anneliese pulled Ellie onto herp and teased gently, ¡°So your name is Ellie? That¡¯s beautiful. Tell me, was it you who yed with thatdy¡¯s dress earlier?¡± Ellie¡¯s big eyes flickered with panic. She dropped her gaze, lips sealed tight. She looked as if she was afraid Anneliese would scold her or think badly of her. But Anneliese could sense her unease, and instead of annoyance, she felt a quiet bond with the child. There was no way she could see Ellie as bad. She ruffled the girl¡¯s hair with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Ellie. You helped me get rid of the bad guys. I should be thanking you!¡± Ellie¡¯s face lit with a shy smile before she quickly looked down again. It was the first smile Anneliese had seen from her all night, and it almost melted her heart. Jonathan returned, lifting Ellie gently from herp. Her father¡¯s sending someone to pick her up. I¡¯ll take her down to the lobby.¡± Created 319 Chapter 319 The Full Story Chapter 319 The Full Story : s Anneliese rose to her feet, giving Ellie¡¯s hand a gentle squeeze. Her gaze lingered on the little girl nestled against Jonathan¡¯s shoulder, thoserge, tear¨Cbrimmed eyes full of reluctance as she nced back at her. Acting quickly, Anneliese called out to Jonathan, rummaged through her purse, scribbled her phone number on a sticky note, and pressed it into Ellie¡¯s palm. Content originallyes from Find_Novel(. ¡°This is my number. Call me anytime, alright?¡± Ellie clutched the note tightly before finally turning her attention to Jonathan. With the girl in his arms, Jonathan carried her away, while Anneliese took a moment topose herself before stepping out of the lounge as well. She was just about to look for Marlowe to bid farewell when Nicole suddenly appeared, seizing her by the arm and dragging her onto the terrace. ¡°You traitor! Since when did you hook up with Jonathan without telling me? If you hadn¡¯t let me watch Selina¡¯s melodrama tonight, I¡¯d have iced you out for two whole days just to show how furious I am!¡± Anneliese immediately pleaded for forgiveness, soothing Nicole with promises of coffee another day as an apology. Only then did Nicole relent, though her curiosity burned even brighter. She pulled Anneliese aside, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°So, how did yound Jonathan? Don¡¯t hold back¨Cspill every detail! nning to write a book? Because I¡¯d pre¨Corder the first copy!¡± Anneliese was left speechless. ¡°I didn¡¯tnd on anyone,¡± she said atst. ¡°His family has been pressuring him to marry, and I needed a way to shake Zacharias off. We simply got the marriage license, that¡¯s all.¡± Nicole clicked her tongue. ¡°Oh, please. Why can¡¯t I ever meet some wealthy heir desperate for a wife? And don¡¯t even try to deny it¨CI saw the way you two were looking at each other, practically glued at the lips in that lounge¡­¡± Flustered, Anneliese shoved her lightly, pressing her hands together in mock prayer. ¡°Enough already!¡± Seeing her cheeks flushed scarlet, Nicole finally changed the subject. ¡°Fine. Then tell me about that Eastern¨Cstyle wedding gown Selina gave away. She looked so smug, yet Mrs. Golding¡¯s A waiter passed by, and Nicole grabbed two sses of red wine, handing one to Anneliese as though settling in for a long chat. Taking a sip, Anneliese exined, ¡°Two years ago, I gave Mrs. Golding a traditional embroidered wedding dress. She appreciated me deeply afterward. Selina assumed Mrs. Golding adored that kind of embroidery, so she spent a fortune acquiring one for tonight.¡± Nicole leaned closer, intrigued. ¡°And the real story is¡­¡± ¡°The dress I gave her wasn¡¯t just embroidery¡ªit was her grandma¡¯s handiwork, originally made as a wedding gift for her mother. But during the political chaos ten years ago, her grandma was branded a capitalist and punished. The dress was lost, ending up in Harborview. Mrs. Golding¡¯s mother died young, never getting the chance to wear it, which became a lifelong regret. I happened to track it down and bought it back. For Mrs. Golding, it¡¯s not about the needlework¡ªit¡¯s about missing her mother and grandma.¡± Selina never knew the full story. On such a joyous asion, she just had to dredge up something painful for Marlowe, then unt her expensive gown as if belittling Marlowe¡¯s heirloom. No wonder Marlowe¡¯s mood soured. Nicole burst outughing. ¡°So that¡¯s why Selina¡¯s been copying your style! She¡¯s even trying to mimic your way of winning people over¨Cbut without doing her homework. What an absolute fool! I never realized she was that clueless.¡± Anneliese only shrugged and took another sip of wine. Her eyes drifted toward Nicole, who looked more polished than ever, and she hesitated before asking quietly, ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Of course. With our bestie status, I¡¯ll tell you almost anything.¡± Biting her lip, Anneliese murmured, ¡°Thanks. At that beauty clinic you always visit, do they offer services beyond stic surgery?¡± Nicole immediately noticed her friend¡¯s awkwardness, her eyes lighting up with mischief. With Anneliese¡¯s striking beauty, stic surgery was out of the question. It had to be something else. Nicole leaned in, lowering her voice. ¡°Oh, I get it. You¡¯re thinking about hymen restoration, aren¡¯t you? I know a ce that looks incredibly authentic-¡± ¡°What the¨Ccough, cough! Hymen restoration? Absolutely not!¡± 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 319 The Full Story Anneliese had just taken a sip of wine and nearly choked at Nicole¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, I totally understand.¡± 91 s Anneliese shoved her away, flustered. ¡°No, seriously! I just wanted to know the best ce for scar removal. I have an old scar on my belly that I want gone. You¡¯repletely overthinking it!¡± Nicole gave her a long, suspicious look. ¡°Why are you blushing so hard over a scar on your belly?¡± Anneliese¡¯s face grew even hotter. Why am I embarrassed? I¡¯m doing this for myself, not for anyone else. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ Created 320 Chapter 320 Call Me Mrs Fullbuster Chapter 320 Call Me Mrs Fullbuster s Ever since Jonathan made it clear he wouldn¡¯t tolerate a marriage without intimacy, her behavior had grown erratic. Honestly, what a mess. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the beauty specialist¡¯s card on WhatsAppter, but seriously¨Cyou¡¯ve got problems.¡± Anneliese couldn¡¯t stand Nicole¡¯s coy, prying gaze. With a dismissive wave, she turned and left the terrace. When she found Marlowe, she hadn¡¯t expected Zacharias to be there as well. She had assumed he¡¯d already left. Instinctively, Anneliese wanted to turn back, but Marlowe spotted her first. ¡°Anne,e here.¡± She offered a polite smile and walked over. Marlowe drew her down beside him, unconcerned about the eyes around them, and asked bluntly, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Fullbuster?¡± ¡°The little girl¡¯s family came to fetch her, so he brought the girl to the lobby.¡± Anneliese¡¯s expression remained serene as she spoke with Marlowe about Jonathan. But to Zacharias, that calm, radiant smile was unbearable. His fingers trembled around his wine ss. Watching his ex¨Cwife¨Cstill the woman he lovedugh and speak about another man with such ease was torture. Especially tonight, when Zacharias had met setback after setback in front of Derek and Marlowe. The contrast cut deeper. Compared to Selina, Anneliese had been the ideal partner. He had taken her for granted, and now he regretted it bitterly. Yet she gave him no chance, not even the smallest opening. Tonight, she hadn¡¯t spared his feelings at all, announcing her engagement to Jonathan before everyone, ying the role of a couple without hesitation. Jealousy and remorse churned inside Zacharias until he burst out, ¡°Anne, even if we¡¯re divorced, we shared over ten years together. We¡¯re still friends and family. Let¡¯s have a drink.¡± He beckoned a waiter, seized a champagne flute, and held it out to her. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 320 Call Me Mrs Fullbuster Anneliese regarded him coolly. s She didn¡¯t reach for the ss. Instead, her voice was light but cutting. ¡°Sorry, I believe a good ex should be as good as dead¨Csomeone who doesn¡¯t intrude on the other¡¯s life.¡± Zacharias froze, his handsome features tightening with hurt. With so many people watching, he thought she would at least humor him with a sip for the sake of appearances. He sighed softly. ¡°Anne, I can¡¯t be that heartless. If you ever need anything, I¡¯ll always be there¡­¡± Some of the businessmen nearby even nodded, impressed by his show of loyalty. But Anneliese felt nothing but disgust. Her lips curved into a mocking smile. ¡°No need. My husband would get jealous. The only connection I want left between us is when you transfer the divorce settlement. uderias Tech isn¡¯t on the verge of bankruptcy, is it? Is that why you¡¯ve been dragging your feet?¡± He wanted to pose as the devoted ex. Yet a man who couldn¡¯t even honor a settlement on time could hardly be called loyal. Her words silenced Zacharias, leaving his fa?ade shattered. From across the table, Derek broke off his conversation and frowned. ¡°Mr. Shaw, I¡¯m older, so let me give you some advice. Keeping your word is everything. A divorce agreement isn¡¯t just another contract. Dy makes you look unreliable.¡± Zacharias¡® jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Golding. I already instructed my people to transfer the settlement to Anne. Perhaps someone mishandled it. I¡¯ll check right away.¡± With so many eyes on him, Anneliese had cornered him. If he didn¡¯t resolve it immediately, rumors would spread. And tonight, his purpose was to renew a contract with Derek. He had already tested the man¡¯s patience; if Derek doubted his reliability, any renewal would be out of the question. Zacharias quickly made a call. Less than five minutester, Anneliese¡¯s phone buzzed. It was a bank notification¨C500 million dors had been deposited into her ount. ¡°Anne, Jackie must have forgotten. The settlement¡¯s been transferred,¡± Zacharias said tightly, Chapter 320 Call Me Mrs Fullbuster swallowing his anger. This update is avable on find{n}ovel s His eyes were filled with anguish. Never had he imagined their years together would end like this¨Chumiliated, in front of everyone. The woman who once stood quietly behind him, small yet unyielding, was now striking at him with precision. Every word, every blow,nded deep. Anneliese only nodded. ¡°From now on, please call me Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± The sound of Zacharias¡® fists clenching echoed faintly, but she no longer cared. She turned to Derek, said her goodbyes, and left the ballroom to find Jonathan. Outside, she spotted Jonathan and Ellie¨Can adult and a kid. She rushed forward, but as she drew closer, she noticed another tall figure lingering behind a pir. It looked like India. Created 321 Chapter 321 You Are Just a yer Chapter 321 You Are Just a yer India¡¯s voice cut through the air, sharp andced with bitterness. 91 s ¡°Every year I confess to you, and every year you turn me down, iming you like someone else! Follow current nov?ls on find{n}ovel ¡°And now look at you¨Csuddenly getting married just like that? Tell me, Jonathan, were you sozy you couldn¡¯t even invent a proper excuse? Did you just say whatever came to mind to brush me off?¡± Anneliese froze mid¨Cstep. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Jonathan answered evenly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t brushing you off. I respect you too much for that.¡± His calm, almost indifferent tone only infuriated India further. ¡°Oh, I should feel so honored,¡± she scoffed. ¡°Respect for your admirers¨Chow moving. But if you¡¯ve been pining for someone all these years, why involve an innocent girl in your mess?¡± Her words turned cold, like ice seeping into the room. His lips curved in the faintest smirk, ready to reveal that the woman he had loved all along was the very one he had chosen to marry. However, India cut him off mercilessly. ¡°What happened to your principles, Jonathan? Isn¡¯t this just because she¡¯s pretty and easy to fool? She was already tricked into marriage once, and you still went after her! You¡¯re no better than the jerk¨Cyou¡¯re just another yer.¡± A yer? He almostughed. Is that supposed to insult me? India was not like the others. She had chased him relentlessly for years, and their families had been close for generations. He got along well with her brothers; she was a colleague, a friend. But her constant confessions, her refusal to ept rejection, and the relentless pressure from their families had long worn him down. So, when she hurled the word ¡°yer¡± at him, Jonathan stayed silent. Exining himself felt pointless. India, seeing his silence, let out a furiousugh. She scooped Ellie into her arms, spat onest ¡°jerk¡± at him, and stormed away. 9:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 321 You Are Just a yer 0:0 From the shadows of a marble pir, Anneliese caught the whole exchange. She shrank back instinctively, her gaze falling to the floor. She remembered Zane once mentioning that Jonathan had loved someone for years. 91 +5 Free Coins Back then, she had dismissed it as idle gossip, nothing that concerned her. But now, with the truth pressing against her chest, she felt a weight she couldn¡¯t name. Her heart heavy, she waited until Jonathan left before pulling out her phone. Momentster, a waiter slipped her a sealed bag. Inside were a few strands of Timothy¡¯s hair. She had paid the waiter discreetly¨Cbetter him than risking suspicion by getting close to Timothy herself. Back in the glittering banquet hall, Jonathan was impossible to miss. He drew attention like a beacon, surrounded by Oceaton¡¯s elite. Anneliese hesitated, wondering if she should approach, when Jonathan¡¯s gaze locked onto hers. Excusing himself with a few polite words, he walked directly toward her. She smiled faintly and moved in his direction too¨Conly for another woman to intercept him. A striking figure in a sapphire dress, wine ss in hand, stepped boldly into his path. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster,¡± she said with a radiant smile, ¡°I¡¯m Jenna Lawson. I¡¯ve always wanted to thank Fullbuster Group for choosing me as Halcyon & Co.¡¯s spokesperson, but I never had the chance to meet you. Now that I finally see you here, may I have the honor of toasting you?¡± The woman¡¯s smile bloomed like a flower as she lifted her ss toward Jonathan, tilting her face up, her eyes brimming with unguarded admiration. Anneliese recognized her instantly¨CJenna Lawson, a rising star. She shot to fame with a breakout role in a hit fantasy drama,nded major endorsements, and became a variety show regr. Though her recent dramas hadn¡¯t been blockbusters, her name was steadily climbing. Anneliese hesitated, watching. Jonathan, however, didn¡¯t so much as nce at Jenna¡¯s ss. His cold gaze stayed fixed on Anneliese as he said tly, ¡°Move.¡± 9:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 321 You Are Just a yer 91 s Jenna wasn¡¯t the only woman scheming tonight, but her audacity showed she wasn¡¯t someone timid or easy to dismiss. Not only did she refuse to yield, but she even inched forward, her voice soft and deliberate. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯s patience snapped. His voice rang louder, cutting through the chatter around them. ¡°Honey, where were you?¡± Heat rushed to Anneliese¡¯s ears. In front of all these people, she couldn¡¯t just stand there anymore. Gathering herself, she slipped her arm through his and said smoothly, ¡°I already greeted Mr. and Mrs. Golding. Let¡¯s go.¡± Jonathan looked down at her, a faint curve tugging at his lips. ¡°Alright.¡± Together, they walked past Jenna without another nce, their elegant departure making them look every bit the perfect couple. And dozens of eyes followed, having witnessed everything. Created 322 Chapter 322 Don¡¯t Let Her Fool You s Jonathan didn¡¯t even nce at Jenna. Snickers quickly broke out around the room. ¡°Look at her nerve¨CMr. Fullbuster¡¯s here with his wife, and she still tries to throw herself at him. Might as well stamp ¡®wannabe mistress¡® on her forehead.¡± ¡°Some starlets really buy into their own hype. Just because fans worship them, they think they¡¯re irresistible.¡± The whispers stung. Jenna bit her lip, face tight with indignation. She mmed her wine ss onto the table, swept her gaze over the crowd, and snapped, ¡°You¡¯re all just jealous¨Cnone of you have the guts I do!¡± Then, she yanked up her dress and stormed out after the couple. Outside the ballroom, Anneliese tried to slip her hand free from Jonathan¡¯s arm, but he caught it firmly instead. Zion approached, quick steps echoing, holding Anneliese¡¯s shawl and Jonathan¡¯s coat. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster. Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± He nodded politely. Jonathan took the shawl and wrapped it around Anneliese¡¯s shoulders, then grabbed the coat from Zion. ¡°The night air¡¯s chilly¨Cbetter wear this too.¡± He draped the cashmere coat over her. It carried his clean, woody scent, and on her petite frame it looked oversized, almostically so, like a kid trying on her dad¡¯s jacket¨Ceven with her stilettos on. Jonathan slipped an arm around her, ready to leave. But the sharp click of high heels came from behind. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, please wait!¡± It was Jenna again. Jonathan¡¯s sharp, handsome features hardened, his voice cold. ¡°Halcyon & Co.¡¯s endorsement has nothing to do with me. And I don¡¯t know you.¡± Without another look, he took Anneliese¡¯s hand and started walking. However, Jenna rushed after him again. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I have something to tell you! Can we 191 Chapter 322 Don¡¯t Let Her Fool You talk in private?¡± This time, Jonathan didn¡¯t even turn his head. Zion, well¨Cpracticed in dealing with things like this, stepped in front of her like a wall. s Still, as Jonathan walked farther away, Jenna¡¯s panic grew. She called out, louder, ¡°It¡¯s about Mrs. Fullbuster! You¡¯ll regret not hearing me out!¡± Anneliese froze mid¨Cstep. Seriously? Why am I getting dragged into this circus? Jonathan squeezed her hand, his tone impatient. ¡°Ignore her.¡± He had no need to learn about his wife from anyone else¡¯s mouth, but Anneliese shook her head. ¡°No, I want to hear what she thinks she knows.¡± She had never even spoken to Jenna before, yet Jenna kept acting like she had dirt on her. Better to hear her out now than let her stir up troubleter. Jonathan sighed, then gave Zion a look. Zion reluctantly stepped aside. Jenna came closer, batting thick falseshes, her lips trembling like she had some devastating secret, though her eyes flickered nervously toward Anneliese. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, can I speak to you alone? It¡¯s really important.¡± Jonathan¡¯s patience snapped. His arm tightened around Anneliese¡¯s waist as he snapped, ¡°Are you deaf? My wife said she wants to hear you¨Cso talk.¡± Jenna¡¯s career had been smooth sailing these past couple of years. Fans praised her looks to the skies; wherever she went, cameras shed andpliments followed. She had never imagined Jonathan would treat her with such blunt disgust. She couldn¡¯t ept it. In beauty, she was every bit as good as Anneliese. In career, she was a rising star, miles ahead. And unlike Anneliese, she wasn¡¯t once divorced. Once she exposed Anneliese for what she really was, Jonathan would see her true colors¡ªand realize Jenna was the better choice. ¡°Since Mrs. Fullbuster insists, then I¡¯ll just have to say it here.¡± Jenna gave Anneliese a pointed look before turning back to Jonathan, wearing the expression of someone about to spill a shameful truth. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I overheard Mrs. Fullbuster asking Ms. Horowitz earlier about 9:28 Thu, Sep 25 Follow current nov?ls on F¦ÉndNovel Chapter 322 Don¡¯t Let Her Fool You : 91 s ¡°Enough!¡± Anneliese suddenly cut her off, panic shing across her face. She knew exactly where Jenna was going with this. Seeing her fluster, Jenna felt vindicated. Without hesitation, she blurted out, ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster¡¯s nning to get a hymen repair surgery. Don¡¯t let her fool you!¡± Even Jonathan, calm andposed as he usually was, wentpletely nk at that bombshell. Anneliese just stood there, numb. The humiliation was soplete, she had gone past shame into pure indifference. Zion, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to crawl under a rock. No, I should¡¯ve covered my ears, not my face. Knowing something this private about Mrs. Fullbuster? That is a death sentence waiting to happen! Created 323 Chapter 323 The Misunderstanding Chapter 323 The Misunderstanding s ¡°She misheard.¡± Anneliese threw the words over her shoulder and walked off in a hurry. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to track Nicole down and strangle her. Jonathan¡¯s icy re cut across Jenna just as she tried to follow. But instead of backing down, Jenna blurted out in desperation, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯m telling the truth! Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± This wasn¡¯t how she imagined things would go. Jonathan stopped walking. Jenna¡¯s heart leaped. Her cheeks flushed, her lips trembling as she whispered, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m cleaner than Mrs. Fullbuster. I¡¯ve never even dated anyone. I¡¯m still a college student, and I¡¯d be willing to-¡± Her simpering act might have worked on other men. Unfortunately for her, she had picked the wrong one. Jonathan¡¯s eyes turned dark with contempt. His voice cut through the night like a de. ¡°What are you, some product for sale? You think you¡¯re even qualified topare yourself to my wife?¡± The scorn in his words hit harder than a p. Jenna¡¯s face drained of color, then flushed crimson with humiliation. Without wasting another second, Jonathan shot Zion a nce and strode after Anneliese. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster!¡± Jenna cried, trying to chase after him. Zion blocked her path like a brick wall, his voice sharp. ¡°Ms. Lawson, Mrs. Fullbuster isn¡¯t someone you can nder at will. If you¡¯re so desperate to ruin yourself, might I suggest you find a wall and bang your head against it instead?¡± ¡°Why you!¡± Jenna¡¯s eyes zed. Zion only chuckled coldly, pulled out his phone, and walked off, leaving her standing there trembling with rage. By the time she turned to retreat back inside, her agent came storming out. His face was dark as thunder. Before Jenna could open her mouth, he jabbed a finger at her and exploded, ¡°What the hell did you just do? I just got a call¨Cthree endorsements gone, two scripts canceled, and even the Fullbuster Group endorsement contract we already signed is being dissolved!¡± Chapter 323 The Misunderstanding Jenna froze, her face going ghostly pale in an instant. 91 s Inside the car. Anneliese had her eyes shut, pretending to sleep, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with the man beside her. Jonathan wasn¡¯t fooled. His gaze lingered on her flutteringshes and the faint flush warming her cheeks, even in the dim cabin light. A helpless smile tugged at his lips. Anneliese was mortified. Just as she was about ready to dig a hole and bury herself in it, Jonathan¡¯srge hand gently steadied her head, easing it against his shoulder as the car rolled along. She stiffened at the sudden closeness. His warmth, his clean masculine scent, the subtle heat radiating from his skin¨Cit was all far too much. Her body went rigid, nerves stretched taut. Jonathan felt her tense up more and more, but the smile in his eyes only deepened. He dipped his head slightly, voice low and amused. ¡°Hey¡­ really, there¡¯s no need for all that.¡± Anneliese shot up like a startled cat, eyes shing at him. ¡°I told you¨Cshe misheard! I never nned on getting that kind of surgery!¡± Jonathan, seeing her face turn scarlet with indignation, quickly nodded. ¡°Okay, okay. I believe you. I just wanted you to know that marrying you means I don¡¯t care about your past. Not even your previous marriage.¡± The thought of Zacharias, however, still stirred something dark and poisonous inside him. The jealousy, the urge to erase the manpletely, to wipe him from Anneliese¡¯s memory¨Cit simmered quietly, but he would never act on it. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find~Novel He wasn¡¯t a boy anymore. He knew that loving someone meant taking them as they were¨Cpast and all. Otherwise, resentment would fester like a thorn, tearing them apart from the inside. Anneliese listened to the calm, almost yful tone of his voice, and the flush faded from her face. But her chest still felt heavy, a little tight. He already has someone in his heart, she thought bitterly. Of course he doesn¡¯t care. Words pressed against the back of her throat, but she swallowed them. If he isn¡¯t bothered, then 9:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 323 The Misunderstanding there is no point in exining. ¡°I get it,¡± she murmured, nodding. 0:0 91 s Jonathan, seeing her head bowed and mood low, mistook it for lingering embarrassment. He reached out, ruffling her hair gently, his voice warm. ¡°Just promise me you won¡¯t do anything foolish, alright?¡± Anneliese was rendered speechless. At this rate, the misunderstanding was going to gnaw at her forever. Flustered, she finally blurted out, ¡°I was asking Nicole about which clinic does the best scar- removal surgery. She misunderstood me, and Jenna overheard, twisted it, and blew it up into a circus. Why on earth would I ask about that kind of surgery?!¡± Created 324 Chapter 324 You¡¯ll Stay Upstairs With Me Chapter 324 You¡¯ll Stay Upstairs With Me For a moment, Jonathan was speechless. Turns out I really got the wrong idea. For once, he felt awkward. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, a rare sign of difort. Because of this, the ride back was unusually quiet. When they finally arrived at Maple Bay, Anneliese practically bolted out of the car. s They stepped into the elevator together. When Anneliese saw Jonathan press the button for the penthouse, she quietly sighed in relief. ?????? ???? f?ndnovel Good. He is nning to go back to his own ce tonight. She lifted her hand to press the button for her floor, but before she could touch it, his hand caught hers midair. Startled, she looked up at him. His gaze was steady, unreadable. ¡°Until we move into the house, you¡¯ll stay upstairs with me.¡± Anneliese pursed her lips, clearly reluctant. ¡°That¡¯s not really necessary, is it? Moving back and forth is a hassle. Why don¡¯t we just keep things as they were for a few more days? Besides, Meatloaf¡¯s still at home.¡± Jonathan¡¯s dark eyes held hers firmly. ¡°I told you before¡ªI don¡¯t intend to start this marriage living apart.¡± When he wasn¡¯t smiling, his presence was heavy, intimidating. If she kept refusing, she¡¯d just sound petty. So, she nodded. ¡°Alright, fine. Let me grab some things and bring Meatloaf over.¡± Jonathan¡¯s gaze flicked over her heels and the evening dress under his coat. ¡°You look exhausted. Just tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll get it. You should shower and rest.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. Her feet were killing her¨Cshe hadn¡¯t worn heels in ages, and now that he mentioned it, she could hardly stand straight. She gave in. ¡°Alright then¡­ get my pajamas, a few changes of clothes, my skincare stuff from the vanity¡­ oh, and my phone charger.¡± By then, the elevator had reached the top floor. The doors opened, and just as Anneliese 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 324 You¡¯ll Stay Upstairs With Me stepped forward, Jonathan suddenly bent down and scooped her into his arms. She instinctively clutched at his neck, wide¨Ceyed, staring at the strong line of his jaw. 91 s He carried her inside, pushed the door open, and set her gently on the entryway cab. Then he crouched down, taking hold of her ankle. ¡°Wait¨CI can do it myself.¡± Anneliese jerked back, flustered. But his grip only tightened, his voice low andmanding. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± His hand was warm against her skin, the pressure searing like fire around her ankle. She froze, too stunned to argue, as he slipped off her heels. He turned, opened the shoe cab, and pulled out the fuzzy bunny¨Ceared slippers they had once bought together at the store. He slid them onto her feet with quiet care. ¡°All set.¡± He stood, lifted her down by the waist, and guided her into a bedroom. As he opened the bathroom door, his tone softened. ¡°Go shower. I¡¯ll grab your things.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anneliese nodded and slipped into the bathroom. She was halfway through when there came two light knocks. Jonathan¡¯s low baritone carried. through the door. ¡°I left your clothes on the handle.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± His footsteps faded. Anneliese finished quickly, wrapped herself in a towel, and blew her hair dry before peeking at the door. No sound. She opened it, grabbed the bag hanging there, and brought it inside. When she saw what was on top¨Can airy white lingerie set¨Cher ears instantly burned. She changed into pajamas and finally stepped out. Only then did she notice the room properly. It was big, decorated in a sleek, minimal style that felt a little stark. But the gray bedding, the men¡¯s jacket tossed carelessly over the couch near the balcony, and the stack of finance magazines on the nightstand all pointed to one thing. This was Jonathan¡¯s room. 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ 90 Chapter 324 You¡¯ll Stay Upstairs With Me s Anneliese froze. She had assumed she would be put in a guest room¡ªjust like when he stayed at her ce downstairs, he always used the spare room. Apparently, she had guessed wrong. ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡± The deep voice came from behind her. She turned to see Jonathan stepping inside. He looked like he had showered in another room. ? Created 325 Chapter 325 Something Meaningful Chapter 325 Something Meaningful He wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt. 90 +5 Free Coins In fact, Jonathan was wearing nothing but a towel, draped low on his hips. The fabric barely clung to him, leaving little to the imagination. Under the soft amber glow of the bedroom light, beads of water slid down his pale skin, gilded in a warm bronze sheen. Broad chest, defined abs, that sharp V¨Cline¨Cevery inch of him was unfairly perfect. The sight hit Anneliese like a freight train. Her cheeks med crimson, and she whipped her head away, pretending to study the master bedroom like it was suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world. Her voice stumbled out, awkward and thin, ¡°S¨CSo¡­ am I¡­ am I supposed to sleep here tonight?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jonathan answered simply. ¡°The guest room hasn¡¯t been used in a while. I was out on a business tripst week, and Mabel wasn¡¯t working. The room hasn¡¯t been aired out or cleaned.¡± Anneliese was rendered speechless. She opened her mouth to say she could tidy one herself, but Jonathan cut her off. ¡°Your skincare stuff is on the nightstand for now. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have a vanity moved in. That work?¡± She nodded without thinking, and he turned toward the walk¨Cin closet. ¡°Make yourself at home,¡± he said over his shoulder. Only once his figure disappeared did Anneliese dare sneak a nce. She sucked in a deep breath, fanned her cheeks with both hands, and told herself to calm down. It wasn¡¯t like she had never shared a bed with a man before. Nothing to panic about. After all, she had already promised Jonathan that she wouldn¡¯t refrain from sex during their marriage, and she had agreed to take it as it came. Why would she act shy now? And yet, with the muffled sounds of him changing clothes in the next room, her whole body stayed hot, restless, impossible to settle. When Jonathan returned, he was dressed in a silk pajama set¨Clong sleeves and pants. The room was lit only by a single floormp. By then, Anneliese had already climbed into bed, wrapped tightly in the nket like a cocoon, lying stifly on her side. A faint smile flickered in his eyes as he walked toward her. 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 325 Something Meaningful 90 s She heard the footsteps and mped her eyes shut,mitting to ying dead. Thank God the bed has two pillows and two nkets. But then came the rustle of fabric, the dip of the mattress, and the unmistakable weight of someone settling down beside her. Jonathan¡¯s presence filled the space instantly. Her palms were dampened with sweat. She stayed frozen, every muscle taut. Minutes ticked by. Nothing happened. Slowly, she exhaled, letting herself rx just a fraction¡­ ¡°Awake?¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice suddenly rang in the dark. Hershes fluttered. She pressed her lips shut, refusing to answer, but then she felt the heat of him press against her back. His hand reached over her shoulder, gently urging her to roll t on her back. ¡°Guess you¡¯re asleep,¡± he murmured, his tone teasing. ¡°That means I can sneak a kiss from my wife¡­¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes snapped open. Hovering above her, his face only inches away, Jonathan leaned on one elbow, his gaze yful and sharp. ¡°Oh? So, Mrs. Fullbuster, you aren¡¯t asleep after all?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too loud,¡± she snapped, embarrassed. ¡°I was just about to drift off, and you woke me up. Can¡¯t I be annoyed?¡± Jonathan arched a brow. ¡°Fair enough. In that case, since you¡¯re up, why don¡¯t we do something more meaningful?¡± Her breath hitched. Can I shut her eyes and pretend again? Is it too ? ¡°W¨CWhat do you mean by ¡®meaningful?¡± Her voice wavered. He smirked. ¡°What do you think?¡± Thete¨Cnight quiet, the shared bed, the closeness¨Cit all spoke volumes, especially after the awkward conversation they¡¯d had earlier in the car. His breath fanned against her, heavy with implication. Anneliese couldn¡¯t tell if her pounding heart was fear or something else. Her lips trembled. ¡°I¡­ I think maybe this is a little too fast¡­¡® 11 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 325 Something Meaningful 90 s Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened, shadows rippling in their depths, but he reined himself in, lips curving in a sly smile. ¡°Too fast? Too fast for what?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Before she could figure out what he meant, he pulled out his phone, opened a video, and held it up for her to see. ¡°Maybe you should exin this, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± Anneliese blinked. Oh. So that¡¯s what he meant by ¡°something meaningful.¡± Not what I thought at all. Her nerves eased¨Cuntil she actually looked at the screen. Her eyes widened in fury. Newest update provided by find?novel ¡°Who the hell filmed this?¡± she demanded. She hadn¡¯t even realized someone was recording at the time. And now that footage hadnded in Jonathan¡¯s hands. Created 326 Chapter 326 Perfect Fit Chapter 326 Perfect Fit : 90 +5 Free Coins Zacharias¡® game, his scheme¨Cit was in as day. Jonathan caught the fire in Anneliese¡¯s face and lifted a brow. ¡°So, some creep was sneaking shots of you?¡± The hint was clear: nobody bothered unless there was something worth sneaking. Anneliese wasn¡¯t slow¨Cshe picked up the jab right away. She snapped upright, fists clenching, fury written all over her face. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this was Zacharias¡® setup. He probably sent someone to film it and dropped it on you just to stir up trouble between us. It¡¯s nothing like what it seems!¡± The first time Jonathanid eyes on the clip, he¡¯d been furious¡ªso mad he wanted to haul her onto the bed and give her a proper scolding. She just couldn¡¯t keep it together. The moment he stepped out of the country, she went straight to her ex¡¯s ce. But Selina had handed him that video on purpose. He wasn¡¯t blind¨Che knew exactly what she wanted him to think. There was no way he¡¯d buy into the mood it tried to create. Besides, he¡¯d spent that night on the phone with Anneliese until well past midnight, calming her down and getting her to sleep himself. So, when she started pointing fingers at Zacharias, he couldn¡¯t hide the smirk tugging at his lips. Jonathan stayed silent. ¡°Then, tell me¡ªwhat actually went down?¡± he asked. Anneliese hurried to set the record straight. ¡°Zacharias sneaked my grandma to Oceaton without telling me. Because of her health, I couldn¡¯t bring up the divorce. ?????? ???? find~novel ¡°I went to Sunrise Residence just to pick her up¨CI had no clue he was nning some over- the¨Ctop flower proposal. That video? It cut out everything. I said no, t¨Cout, right there. And those two nights I stayed at that ce? The house had already been transferred to me. Zacharias wasn¡¯t even around the whole time. I swear!¡± Her story lined up perfectly with what he had already figured out. He¡¯d had Zion dig into the property she sold¨Cit came back as the Sunrise Residence, just as expected. Carter had even sent him a clip earlier. ¡­ At the hospital, Zacharias had tried sneaking up on Anneliese. Without missing a beat, she sted him with pepper spray and mmed a knee into him so hard, it made Jonathan flinch just watching. Jonathan had no doubts about her integrity. There was no way she¡¯d cross that line with Zacharias. Really, it wasn¡¯t about her at all. It was his own jealousy talking. Seeing her so 1/3 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 326 Perfect Fit 90 s frantic, trying to make him understand, stirred a strange warmth in him, like she actually cared. That little tangle of resentment inside him began to unravel. He kept his expression dark and unreadable. ¡°You really think I¡¯m that easy to please?¡± She hesitated, unsure. ¡°Then¡­ how am I supposed to do so?¡± ¡°Check the nightstand drawer.¡± He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, steady rumble. ¡°Take out whatever¡¯s inside.¡± Anneliese frowned, puzzled, and pulled open the drawer. Inside were scattered papers, a pen, and an eye mask¨Call ordinary things. But tucked underneath, a small blue velvet box caught her attention. Instinctively, she reached for it. She lifted it and nced at him. He gave the faintest lift of an eyebrow. She opened the box and froze for a moment. Two rings rested inside. Nothing gaudy or shy¨Cjust a simple, ssic design, entwined like snake bones. His was in tinum, sleek and unadorned. Hers glittered with tiny diamonds, understated yet elegant. Subtle, refined, perfect for everyday wear. She blinked up at him, caught off guard again. He was stretched against the headboard, casual but with a proud tilt in his posture. ¡°All the tools for making it up to me are right there. And yet, you still look lost,¡± he said, a teasing lilt in his voice. Her hand around the box felt hot, almost buzzing with anticipation. She lifted the women¡¯s ring, catching the tiny engraving of their initials inside. Her fingers quivered slightly. Jonathan leaned in, ready to ask if she liked it¡ªif she gave even the slightest nod, he¡¯d have taken it and slid it onto her finger himself. But she didn¡¯t wait. With a small, decisive motion, she slid it onto her own hand, leaving him no room to act. Before he could even recover, she sprang from the bed. By the time he blinked and refocused, she was down on one leg at the bedside, holding the men¡¯s ring in her hand, eyes bright and mischievous,pletely taking charge of the moment. Anneliese tilted her head, eyes wide and sparkling. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡­ will you wear this and forgive me?¡± He froze, speechless. Themplight fell across her shoulders, making her long hair glow. Her smile was soft, almost coaxing, her eyes silently asking for him. Something about it¡ªit hit him right in the chest. Had she learned this trick from that scum of an ex? D*mn it¡­ It worked. Before Jonathan could think, his hand shot out. She gripped his palm and slipped the ring onto his finger with a small, proud smile. ¡°Perfect fit. When did you even get these ready?¡± 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 326 Perfect Fit 90 s He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he looped his long arm around her, hoisting her effortlessly onto the bed and pressing her close. Then, smoothly, he threaded his ringed left hand through her right fingers, locking their hands together. Close and intimate, a silent promise held in their touch. Created 327 Chapter 327 Mrs Fullbuster Chapter 327 Mrs Fullbuster s Anneliese froze, sprawled across him, every muscle on alert. She could hear the pounding of a heartbeat¨Cfast, urgent, alive¨Cbut she couldn¡¯t tell if it was hers or Jonathan¡¯s. His arms cinched around her waist, fingers digging in as their hands stayed intertwined. The ring bit into her knuckle, and the warmth of their palms pressed together left a slick, sticky heat between them. His body pressed upward, intense and scorching, and she felt pinned to a zing iron te¨Cunyielding, searing hot beneath her. Earlier, while rifling through the jewelry drawer, she had glimpsed a small, unopened box tucked deep inside. She hadn¡¯t touched it then, but now, a strange thought crept in¨Cit seemed like it had been left there for some deliberate purpose. A flush spread across her cheeks, and a tight thrill coiled in her chest. Just as the moment seemed about to tip into something uncontroble, Jonathan shifted, rolling her with careful precision onto the bed, easing her down with a controlled, deliberate touch. ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯m not upset anymore. Go ahead and sleep,¡± his low, husky voice whispered in her ear. A hot, fleeting kiss pressed against her skin. She shivered, sensitivity making her eyes flutter shut. Then, suddenly, the warmth vanished. He shifted upright and slipped out of the room, leaving only silence behind. The soft click of the door echoed as she rubbed at her tingling ear and tugged the covers closer around her. Exhaustion imed her quickly, and she soon sank into a hazy, drowsy sleep. In that half¨Cdream state, the mattress beside her sank slightly. A faint, cool dampness brushed against her, carrying a fresh, clean scent she knew wellforting and steady, like a silent promise of safety. The room felt unbearably warm, and she shifted, seeking the brief chill in the air¨Cbut before she could settle, a strong arm snaked around her waist, drawing her into a softer, warmer embrace. The familiar scent wrapped around her, and she melted back into sleep, darkness swallowing herpletely. The next morning, she woke to find the bed empty. Jonathan was gone. Yet traces of him lingered¨Cthe faint impression of his body on the sheets, the lingering warmth and scent, quiet reminders of the closeness they¡¯d shared the night before. She reached for the remote on the nightstand and drew back the curtains. Morning sunlight flooded the room, bright and gentle. She shielded her eyes, only to be caught off guard by a sparkle from the ring on her finger, dazzling her for a moment. For a long moment, she rotated it, letting the light dance across its surface, studying it like a small, precious secret, before finally swinging her legs off the bed and rising to face the day. Chapter 327 Mrs Fullbuster s As she stepped into the hallway, Mabel emerged from the kitchen, a warm smile lighting her face. ¡°You¡¯re up, Mrs. Fullbuster! Mr. Fullbuster already left for work, but he made me promise not to disturb you. Would you like some breakfast?¡± The way she called Anneliese ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster¡± felt effortless and natural, and Anneliese couldn¡¯t help feeling a touch self¨Cconscious. They had met before, but now, with that soft, caring look and the way Mabel mentioned Jonathan¡¯s instructions, it almost felt like yful teasing. And yet, Anneliese couldn¡¯t quite call her out on it¨Cno proof, just a knowing smile that made her cheeks warm. Find the newest release on Find1Novel She averted her gaze. ¡°Just call me Anneliese, Mabel. No need for all the formalities.¡± Mabel chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°Oh no, that won¡¯t do! Mr. Fullbuster finally married, and such a lovely, spirited wife¨CI¡¯m going to keep calling you Mrs. Fullbuster. Now,e sit down. I¡¯ll get breakfast ready for you.¡± With that, she hustled back into the kitchen. When she returned, the table was overflowing, a mix of East and West¨Cpiled high with dishes and aromas that made the room feel warm and lively. She set down a te with a smile. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster also asked me to make something heart¨Chealthy for you. You can take it along to the hospital.¡± Anneliese returned the smile, feeling a quiet warmth. ¡°Thank you, Mabel. You¡¯ve done so much already.¡± Mabel waved her hand lightly. ¡°I¡¯m just doing what he asked. Oh, and he also arranged for someone toe byter to help you with the move.¡± After finishing breakfast, Anneliese headed downstairs to sort through a few things. She wasn¡¯t nning to stay upstairs long, so she only packed the essentials, letting Jonathan¡¯s staff carry them up for her. By the time she stepped out, clutching her insted lunch box, it was nearing ten. She didn¡¯t head straight to the hospital¨Cfirst, she made a detour to a paternity testing clinic. When she finally got back on the road toward the hospital, her phone buzzed. It was Bridgette, the caregiver who looked after her grandmother. Assuming it was just a reminder because she was runningte, she answered immediately¨Conly to be met with a voice thick with panic. ¡°Ms. ude¡­e to the hospital immediately! Nishay¡­ She¡¯s had a serious ident. They¡¯ve taken her into surgery!¡± Anneliese¡¯s chest tightened, and her face drained of color. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stay calm. ¡°Bridgette, slow down. Tell me everything. What happened?¡± The reply came from the other side. ¡°Just ten minutes ago, two women came by¨Cdressed sharp, very put¨Ctogether. I think one was your mother¨Cinw, the other your sister¨Cinw. Nishay lit up when she saw them, even speaking a bit of your hometown dialect. ¡°She asked me to wash some fruit to serve them, but the moment I stepped away, things went wrong. I heard the crash of breaking ss from the bathroom. I ran back as fast as I could, and 9:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 327 Mrs Fullbuster there she was¡ªshe had toppled off the bed and was unconscious.¡± +5 Free C Created 328 Chapter 328 Have You No Shame? Chapter 328 Have You No Shame? s Anneliese¡¯s hands clenched the steering wheel, knuckles whitening, her vision blurred with fury. Melody. Lenora. She mmed the phone down and, trembling, redialed Jonathan. He picked up almost instantly. That low, controlled voice of his resonated through the car. ¡°Just woke up?¡± Her words caught in her throat, quivering and fragmented. ¡°Jonathan¡­ something¡¯s happened to my grandmother. They just rushed her into surgery. You have to-¡± She faltered, needing him to reach out to Carter, who hadn¡¯t been at the hospital since her grandmother¡¯s condition had stabilized a few days back. Jonathan could hear the fear rattling her voice. Through the line, she caught the scrape of a chair, then his steady footsteps, followed by that familiar, calm timbre. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get in touch with Carter right away. Are you behind the wheel?¡± Find the newest release on F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°Yeah,¡± she managed, her voice rough and parched. ¡°Anne¡­ slow down. Take a deep breath.¡± Even over the line, his voice carried a gentle authority that grounded her. Only then did it hit her¨Cshe¡¯d been flying. The GPS had been screaming at her, but she hadn¡¯t even noticed. Her hands were locked onto the wheel so tightly her fingers ached, the tension threatening to snap her knuckles. She obeyed without thinking, easing off the elerator, letting herself take deep, shaky breaths as she tried to calm the storm inside. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Your grandma¡¯s tough¨Cshe¡¯s got a lot of fight left. I¡¯m on my way to the hospital too. Promise me you¡¯ll keep it safe on the road, alright?¡± Her voice was still shaky. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll be fine.¡± But hearing his steady, grounded tone slowly eased her racing heart. Just knowing he wasing gave her a strange sense of steadiness, like she could lean on him even from miles away. She reached the hospital first¨Cbut to her surprise, Carter had already beaten her there. She jumped out of her car, spotting him already sprinting toward the surgical wing. The sight of him gave her a tiny measure of relief. As she reached the doors of the operating room, she froze at the scene: Bridgette tangled in a heated confrontation with Melody and Lenora. ¡°You are not walking away! You made her copse, and now you want to leave? Absolutely not!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Do you even know how much this dress costs? If you ruin it, can you even pay for it?¡± came the shout. ¡°Step aside! She fainted on her own¨Cwe¡¯re not at fault here. Stop pinning this on us!¡± Melody and Lenora hadn¡¯t anticipated Nishay would be so delicate. Now, the ring emergency room lights made it clear¨Cthey knew they¡¯d crossed a line. Both were frozen, looking for an escape, but the nurse wasn¡¯t about to let them off the hook. 9:30 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 328 Have You No Shame? 90 s ¡°Melody! Lenora! Have you no shame?¡± Anneliese¡¯s fury boiled over. She clenched her fists, then lunged and nted a solid kick into Lenora¡¯s knee. Lenora stumbled into Melody, and both tumbled to the floor. ¡°Anneliese! How dare you kick me?¡± Anneliese¡¯s hand shot out, pping Lenora across the face. ¡°If anything happens to my grandmother, you¡¯ll pay for it with your lives!¡± Her eyes zed red, fixed on the two women like predatory mes, as if she could devour them whole. Lenora faltered beneath the storm in Anneliese¡¯s eyes, her bravado slipping for an instant. Fear flickered¨Cquick, sharp¨Cbut pride forced her chin up. ¡°What is wrong with you? Nishay¡¯s copse isn¡¯t our doing. We heard she was here, came out of concern, exchanged a few words¡­ that¡¯s it. How could we possibly be med for her fainting?¡± Melody stepped in, brushing the dust from her clothes as she tugged her daughter upright. Anger shed across her face as she snapped, ¡°If her heart gave out, that¡¯s her destiny. Don¡¯t drag us into it. We visited out of decency, and now you¡¯re painting us as viins? Tell me- where¡¯s the justice in that?¡± Yet even as she spat the words, her eyes betrayed her, restless and evasive. She knew the truth of what she¡¯d done. Moments earlier, she had whispered venom into Nishay¡¯s ears¨Cpainting Anneliese¡¯s past in the ugliest colors, reviving the nightmare from four years ago when thugs had dragged her into a dark alley. She had embellished the scandal until it sounded unspeakable. Nishay¡¯s face had drained of color, her hand clutching her chest as her breathing faltered. Then Melody had twisted the knife, iming Anneliese lived without shame, tangled with men, already cast aside by Zacharias, and that Nishay ought to rein her in. All of it was a calcted strike to shatter Nishay¡¯s fragile heart. Nishay swung her hand at her, but Melody nimbly slipped aside. No one expected that simple dodge to send the woman pitching forward, tumbling right off the hospital bed and crashing onto the floor with a sickening thud. Shey there motionless. The sight sent a chill through Melody. She was already set on wringingpensation out of Anneliese. For all her low opinion of Melody and Lenora, even her contempt hadn¡¯t prepared Anneliese for cruelty this naked. This wasn¡¯t mereck of conscience¨Cit was rot through to the bone. Rage surged hot and sharp. Sheshed out, her palm cracking across Melody¡¯s face. ¡°Have you forgotten, Melody? When Cedric ran someone down and the creditors swarmed your door, you dragged your children to us in tears. It was Grandma who emptied her savings to rescue your family from ruin. Without her, Zacharias and Lenora would¡¯ve been pulled from school, and your precious household would¡¯ve been rotting under a bridge. And this is how you show your gratitude?¡± Created 329 Chapter 329 Ungrateful Parasites 90 s The pnded with a crack, leaving Melody¡¯s cheek stinging as though it had been seared. Instead of bowing her head or showing the faintest hint of remorse, her eyes zed hotter. Fury twisted her features as sheshed out, hand raised to strike back. Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel Anneliese caught her mid¨Cswing, mping down on her wrist so tightly that Melody¡¯s struggles only made her look more desperate. Frustration boiled over, and Melody spat out her fury like venom. ¡°You b*tch! Enough about that pathetic sum. 300,000¡ªthat¡¯s all it was! How long are you going to milk that as if we owe you our lives? Without that, do you honestly believe you¡¯d have been allowed anywhere near Zacharias? ¡°Look at yourself¨Cevery designer purse you¡¯ve bought these past two years costs more than that. A house for Nishay, servants, endless medical bills¡ªthat money was nothingpared to what you¡¯ve already spent. Don¡¯t you dare pretend we still owe you!¡± Lenora leapt in, her voice sharp and using. ¡°She¡¯s right! You even walked away with 500 million from Zacharias. And yet you stand here harping on about 300,000? Shameless!¡± To Melody and Lenora, that 300,000 from years ago had be a chain around their necks. Nishay acted as though her single act of generosity made her the family¡¯s eternal savior, strutting about with sanctimonious authority. She had paraded the story to the entire neighborhood, so that wherever they went, her shadow followed. Every nce from her carried a reminder of ¡°the debt,¡± every word a condescending order to treat Anneliese with reverence. And the neighbors? They never missed a chance to pile on. Each return trip to Baytree brought the same chorus of nagging. ¡°Without Frederick¡¯spensation money, Zacharias would never have made it through school. He¡¯d be nothing today. Nishay gave the Shaw family a lifeline. Now that fortune has smiled on them, it¡¯s their duty to honor her and look after Anne.¡± Even Zacharias skipping the New Year¡¯s visit with Anneliese to pay respects sparked calls¡ª some dripping with moral superiority, others cutting like knives¨Cusing them of ingratitude. Years of this had worn Melody and Lenora raw. The bitterness had been festering, and every slight from Anneliese only added fuel to the fire. Now, they were itching to strike back. Anneliese¡¯s stare turned cial, her patience snapped clean through. Melody and Lenora had brazenly dismissed every debt of the past as though it had never existed. Their shameless certainty only hardened her resolve. 9:30 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 329 Ungrateful Parasites 90 +5 Free Coins She knew their kind too well¨Cparasites who thrived on lies and entitlement. Words were wasted on them. Reason would never pierce their arrogance. So, she abandoned words altogether. Action would speak louder. Something cold glimmered in her hand. In the next heartbeat, she struck. A pair of shrieks tore through the sterile hospital corridor. ¡°Oh! My face! Anneliese, how dare you cut me!¡± Crimson welts streaked across their skin, their necks and cheeks burning with raw shes. They staggered back in horror, clutching at each other, only then spotting what she wielded. It wasn¡¯t a de at all¨Cit was a syringe. One of the thick, brutal ones, the kind with a needle that hissed as it scraped across flesh. Again and again, Anneliese drove it forward, not deep enough to maim but enough to scorch their nerves with raw, stinging fire. Her lips curved into a cruel smile, her voice low and venomous. ¡°You think this ends with a few scratches? No. You¡¯ll pay¨Cevery breath of yours will remind you. This syringe belonged to a patient carrying HIV. Fitting, isn¡¯t it? For parasites who betray the very hand that saved them¡ª your bodies should rot from the inside, your skin splitting, pus flowing until the worms take you early. And even then, I doubt the next life would ept filth like you¨Cyou¡¯d be cast into the beasts¡® pit where you belong.¡± The words struck harder than any de. Both women went pale as chalk. Lenora crumpled against Melody. ¡°Mom¡­ What do we do? I don¡¯t want to die like this!¡± Melody swayed, the blood draining from her face, rage warring with raw terror. Her trembling finger stabbed toward Anneliese. ¡°You devil¡­ you¡¯re a cursed, poisonous devil!¡± Anneliese only advanced, eyes zing, and jabbed forward with sudden swipes. The needle shed, grazing close enough to make them shriek. Their screams echoed down the sterile corridor as they stumbled over each other, desperate to get away. It took a nurse rushing over, brows furrowed in disapproval, to break the chaos. ¡°Enough! This is a hospital. Quiet down!¡± At that, Anneliese finally drew back, expression icy, her presence still radiating the promise of danger. Zacharias arrived just as chaos reached its peak. Melody and Lenora stumbled toward him, knees wobbling, tears all over their faces. ¡°Zacharias, thank God you¡¯re here¡­ Call the police! Anneliese tried to kill us¨Cshe¡¯s dangerous!¡± Melody wailed. ¡°Zach, she came after us with a needle from an AIDS patient! What do we do? Please¨Cget a doctor for me and Mom!¡± Lenora¡¯s voice cracked in sheer terror. His expression darkened when his gaze fell on the bloody scratches marring their faces. He spun to Anneliese. ¡°Are you insane?¡± he barked. But before he could say more, she was already moving. Without a word, she whipped up the syringe and shed at him. He flinched, throwing up his arm to protect his face. The needle raked across the back of his hand, leaving a thin but stinging wound. 9:30 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 329 Ungrateful Parasites 90 s Lenora cried out, her voice trembling. ¡°Zach, you¡¯re bleeding too!¡± Melody¡¯s face twisted with rage. ¡°Anneliese, I¡¯ll end you myself!¡± She hurled herself at Anneliese, wing for the syringe. Lenora clung desperately to Zacharias, while Melody, wild with fury, reached out as though determined to drive that poisoned needle into Anneliese¨Cif she had to die, she would drag her down as well! However, before she got close, a hard boot caught her in the ribs. The force sent her body crashing backward into Zacharias and Lenora. She doubled over, hands on her abdomen, her face ashen, pain robbing her of even a scream. In that same instant, a firm grip caught Anneliese¡¯s wrist and yanked her back. She stumbled, only to find herself drawn against a chest she knew all too well¨Csolid, warm, and frighteningly familiar, a sudden shield in the middle of the chaos. Created 330- Chapter 330 Wed Under The Law Chapter 330 Wed Under The Law Anneliese¡¯s head lifted slowly, her breath catching as her gaze locked with Jonathan¡¯s¨Cthose fathomless eyes steady and unyielding. ¡°Release it. Don¡¯t risk hurting yourself,¡± he saidmandingly, yetced with a tenderness that pierced straight through her frenzy. The storm raging in her chest faltered under the weight of that concern. Only then did she notice how violently her hand trembled around the syringe, the needle already bent from her desperate grip. Jonathan¡¯s grip enveloped hers, his thumb brushing lightly over the taut veins on her wrist, a silent reassurance that steadied her pulse. Her fingers ckened of their own ord, and the syringe slipped from her grasp, striking the floor with a dull ring. Weakness flooded her, and she copsed against him, her weight surrendering to the shelter of his embrace. And there, with her defenses torn apart, the tide she had dammed up broke free atst- terror, guilt, grief all surging forward in an unstoppable wave. Her eyes stung as hot tears burst forth, sliding down her cheeks in a flood she could no longer restrain. ¡°What should I do? Grandma¡¯s still fighting for her life in there¡­¡± Jonathan reached out, his touch feather¨Clight as he wiped the tears streaking down her face. His words came low and resolute, a quiet anchor in the storm. ¡°Carter doesn¡¯t lose patients. He¡¯s the kind of man even death itself keeps its distance from. Trust him¨CNishay will survive this.¡± Whether it was the quiet conviction in his tone or the unwavering faith he ced in Carter¡¯s skill, something in his voice¨Cabsolute certainty, unshakable calm¨Cslipped past her terror and wrapped around her heart. The panic wing at her chest eased and steadied. Without thinking, she clutched at the fabric of his shirt, sinking her head against his chest, drawing strength from his steadiness. ??.. Not far away, Zacharias was lifting Melody to her feet. But when his eyes fell on the sight of Anneliese¨Cso fragile, so trusting in another man¡¯s arms¨Chis heart clenched violently. He felt as though a de had been driven clean through his chest. Years of being with Anneliese, yet never once had she yielded to him like this, revealing such unguarded softness. She was never the fragile kind¨Cshe wore her strength like armor, too proud to admit pain, too stubborn to shed tears where anyone could see. He had known her for years, and even then, moments of weakness were rarer than gold. Newest update provided by f?ndnovel And yet Jonathan, who had barely stepped into her life, had somehow earned what he never could. There she was, clinging to him, crying as though he were the only safe ce left in the world! The sight tore Zacharias apart. Jealousy seared through him like fire, but the bitterness that followed was worse, acrid and suffocating, leaving his throat locked and his voice stolen. He stood there, burning alive and unable to speak. ¡°Zach! Look at Mom¨Cher eyes are rolling back! What if she¡¯s infected already? There¡¯s got to be some kind of blocker, right? Please, call a doctor before it¡¯s toote!¡± Lenora¡¯s frantic voice cracked through his daze. Atst, Zacharias snapped back to his senses. He nced at Lenora, who was trembling and sobbing uncontrobly, and his voice came out rough. ¡°She¡¯s bluffing. That needle was never tainted with HIV.¡± It baffled him how Melody and Lenora could be so gullible¨Cfalling headfirst into Anneliese¡¯s scare tactics. No hospital in its right mind would leave something so lethal lying around. Biohazard waste was destroyed on the spot, never just tossed into andfill. And he¡¯d seen it up close¨Cthe barrel was spotless, the needle pristine. More likely, Anneliese just snatched some unused syringe to frighten them. Lenora froze, then her face lit up with relief. Though she still felt a twinge of fear toward him, her respect for him was stronger. If he spoke with such certainty, she had no reason to doubt. Once it dawned on her that she¡¯d been yed, the fear drained from her legs. Fury took its ce, and she shot Anneliese a venomous re. Her eyes flicked to the man shielding Anneliese¨Ca face she remembered from the White family¡¯s banquet. Jonathan. A man so untouchable that even Selina could only look on from afar. And yet here he was, holding Anneliese close. The sight left Lenora reeling, envy twisting through her until her body shook. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re disgusting! Fresh out of a divorce and already tangled up with another man, clinging to him in broad daylight? You really are as faithless as I thought¨Cyou never deserved Zach!¡± Neither she nor Melody had attended that banquet the night before. Instead, they had spent half the night struggling with Zacharias, who had staggered home blind drunk. He had vomited, ranted, and through his drunken haze, he had cried out Anneliese¡¯s name over and over, pleading with her not to abandon him. Having spent the night mopping up his drunken chaos, both Melody and Lenora nursed a grudge that only festered darker by morning. They barreled into the hospital without so much. as ncing at the news, blind to the fact that Anneliese was already bound to Jonathan byw and vows. So, when Lenora jabbed a finger at Anneliese and hurled insults, Jonathan¡¯s frigid gaze sliced through her like a de. Her bravado crumbled at once; herplexion drained, and her shoulders hunched in retreat. Before Jonathan could even part his lips, Zion stepped forward, his voice edged like tempered steel. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster and Mrs. Fullbuster are wed under thew. You¡¯d better mind your tongue.¡± The revtion hit like a thunderp. Lenora¡¯s jaw dropped, her voice splitting into a shrill, broken cry of disbelief. ¡°What did you just say? Married?!¡± Even Melody, still doubled over from that brutal kick, managed to lift her head and stare, dumbstruck, at the sight of Anneliese nestled against Jonathan¡¯s chest. It defied belief. Anneliese had cast aside Zacharias¡ªonly to wind up with a man who eclipsed him in both fortune and looks? If wealthy men were truly this oblivious, then why on earth hadn¡¯t Lenora waltzed her way into high society by now? Created 331 Chapter 331 Shackles of Guilt Chapter 331 Shackles of Guilt +10 Free Coins Melody turned toward her son, her voice shaking. ¡°Zacharias, tell me it¡¯s not true.¡± His jaw tightened as he remained silent. That silence gave her the answer she dreaded. Both Melody and Lenora looked like the ground had vanished beneath them. The truth hit harder than illness, leaving them stunned and desperate to deny it. Zacharias¡® re locked on Jonathan, his tone sharp as steel. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you struck my mom without knowing the truth. Don¡¯t you think you owe us an exnation?¡± Jonathan had been helping Anneliese move into a chair. At those words, his steps halted. His eyes lifted, cold as frost, cutting through the noise around him. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. ¡°She didn¡¯t even reach the doctor¡¯s hands. I¡¯d say that was me being merciful.¡± Zacharias¡® face darkened, fury spreading like a storm. Melody couldn¡¯t take his smugness. She let out a sharp wail, then hunched forward, grabbing her stomach as her knees gave way. ¡°Ahh! My stomach! He¡¯s out to murder me! Lenora, call the police!¡± Big deal if he¡¯s rich and powerful. That doesn¡¯t give him the right to a finger on me in public. There must be cameras everywhere. As soon as I get that footage, I¡¯ll go viral online, bring the media in, and let¡¯s see if Jonathan still thinks he¡¯s above the . Her thoughts scattered as several cops rushed into the hall. Melody¡¯s eyes sparkled up. Perfect. Someone must¡¯ve called them. Maybe it was about Anneliese losing her mind with a syringe. ¡°Mom, look! The cops! Finally, someone¡¯s on our side!¡± Lenora¡¯s voice rose, full of hope. She darted forward, spilling words in a rush. ¡°My mom and I were attacked¨Clook at us! There are scratches on my face and neck, and my mom-¡± Discover more novels at findnovel The lead officer raised a hand, interrupting her with a firm tone. ¡°Are you Lenora Shaw and Melody Zwick? You¡¯re both suspected of causing Nishay Morris¡® fatal copse and are being investigated for murder. Here¡¯s the warrant.¡± Nishay Morris¨CAnneliese¡¯s grandmother. Chapter 331 Shackles of Guilt The paper was handed over, and the moment hung heavy. The officer signaled his team, and two policemen immediately restrained the women. Both mother and daughter froze, their voices breaking into frantic shouts. 4 79 +10 Free Coins ¡°This is murder? How could it be? We only said a few things! The olddy passed out because she was frail, not because of us! Why are we being med? Zacharias, tell them what really happened!¡± Melody¡¯s face twisted in panic. Lenora had gone ghost¨Cpale. A steady baritone cut through the chaos. ¡°If someone is aware that a patient has a severe heart condition and still taunts them with hurtful words, disregarding the potential consequences, that counts as murder under Article 232 of the criminal code.¡± Zane appeared, tall in a dark suit, his tone calm yet sharp enough to slice through the noise. He didn¡¯t look like awyer, but every word left no room for doubt. Melody and Lenora stared at him, eyes wide. Only now did they grasp how deep they¡¯d sunk. Jessica stormed in behind him, eyes zing. Her hand twitched like she was about to strike them both. ¡°You two are vicious! If Ms. Morris doesn¡¯t make it, you¡¯re murderers. You won¡¯t walk free.¡± Zane caught her by the cor. His next words hit the mother and daughter harder than any blow. ¡°You inquired about Ms. Morris¡® surgery and her room number. Everything is documented. You referred to her as an ¡®old hag¡® and stated that she had lived too long. Your intentions are clear. ¡°When she copsed, instead of offering assistance, you attempted to flee. The nurse has already confirmed this. That in itself proves your intent. As Ms. Anneliese ude¡¯s attorney, I¡¯ll be pressing charges for attempted murder of my client¡¯s grandmother.¡± Everything spun out of control for Anneliese. As soon as she heard her grandmother had copsed, her strength gave out. She had poured all her energy into racing here, not even taking a moment to call the cops. With officers standing guard and Zane speaking for her, relief began to ease her panic. She gazed up at Jonathan, her lips trembling, and finally found the strength to whisper, ¡°Thanks.¡± Chapter 331 Shackles of Guilt The words were fragile, but full of weight. A200 Created 332 Chapter 332 A Break Beyond Repair Chapter 332 A Break Beyond Repair +10 Free Cons Anneliese had run out of words. Gratitude felt useless now¡ªshe had already whispered it so many times that even she was sick of hearing herself say it. Jonathan always seemed to show up right when she was about to crack, as if the universe was sending him to catch her whenever she fell. He looked at her briefly before lowering his eyes again. He continued to wipe her right hand with quiet patience. Flecks of Melody and Lenora¡¯s blood stained her porcin skin, stark against her pale fingers. He cleaned each mark with precision, passing the soiled tissue to Zion once he was satisfied. Then he sped her trembling hand gently and asked, ¡°So, what do you see?¡± Her eyes tracked his. Their hands intertwined, the matching herringbone rings on their ring fingers gleaming under the hospital lights. Her breath hitched. The meaning struck her. Her answer came out as a fragile whisper. ¡°Wedding rings¡­¡± Chapters first released on findnovel Jonathan nodded slightly. ¡°So, do you want me to remind you what we are?¡± She shook her head quickly. Only then did he entwine their fingers and murmur, ¡°Your grandma is mine too. Protecting her is my duty. One more ¡®thank you¡® and I¡¯ll start charging you for the favor.¡± Every thank¨Cyou cut him. To him, it was her way of keeping distance, of holding herself ready to push him away at any time. An ache spread through her chest, bitter and sweet all at once. She lowered her head in silence. ¡°Zacharias, tell the police what happened!¡± Melody¡¯s shrill cry shattered the air. ¡°My son is the CEO of uderias Tech. How can you take one side of the story? I didn¡¯t kill anyone¨CI¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± She was dragged forward by the officers, kicking and screaming. The memory of being hauled off for provoking Jameson to assault Anneliese still burned in her mind, and she couldn¡¯t go through that again. Lenora broke down in sobs, spinning around every few steps as she begged her brother to save her. 13:18 Sun, Sep 28 Chapter 332 A Break Beyond Repair 6788 +10 Free Coins Zacharias was blindsided, but unlike his mother and sister, he had his wits. He knew the deciding factor was Anneliese¡¯s stance. If she forgave them, everything could still be smoothed over. He rushed toward her. ¡°Anne, I know you¡¯re worried about your grandma, but my mom and Lenora wouldn¡¯t intentionally harm her. This isn¡¯t something that needs police-¡± Jonathan¡¯s eyes shot up, cold and sharp, silencing him on the spot. Zion stepped forward immediately, ready to deal with him. Just as Zion was about to move, Anneliese yanked her hand out of Jonathan¡¯s grasp, leapt to her feet, and swung. Her palmnded square across Zacharias¡® cheek. The sound cracked through the hall like a whip. His head whipped around, and blood seeped into the corner of his mouth. His chest burned with humiliation, disbelief, and raw pain. He gazed back at Anneliese, stunned, only to be swallowed by the fiery re in her eyes. Her hatred radiated from her in waves, scorching hot. For a moment, his heart tightened like it was being crushed in a fist. ¡°How did your mom and sister know my grandma was here?¡± Anneliese asked. ¡°You told them, didn¡¯t you?¡± She was right. Melody and Lenora had no idea her grandmother had been transferred to Oceaton. Zacharias had deliberately kept her away from family matters, knowing exactly how vicious his mother and sister could be. He hadn¡¯t breathed a word. That left only one exnation. His breaths turned ragged as memory struck. Selina. She was here at the hospital the other day¡­ I told her. D*mn it, it was her. His fists tightened. His voice rasped. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, I-¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice cut like ice. ¡°I will never forgive you. Stop talking. The cops should take you in, too.¡± Zane nodded firmly. ¡°If Mr. Shaw is the one who leaked the information, he needs to be investigated. The squad car hasn¡¯t left yet. I¡¯ll call them back.¡± He lifted his phone to dial. 13:18 Sun, Sep 28 Chapter 332 A Break Beyond Repair 10 Free Coins Zacharias¡® face drained of color. Sh*t¡­ Mom and Lenora are loose cannons. One wrong word and they¡¯ll screw everything up. If I get pulled in too, I¡¯m done for. I need to get them a fast, shut them up before they spill. I¡¯ve already got enough mess on my te- getting hauled in for questioning isn¡¯t an option. He bent over, struggling to get the words out. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, Anne. You can doubt me all you like, but I want to apologize to you and Grandma on their behalf.¡± It was a desperate bow, pride swallowed whole. 313 Created 333 Chapter 333 A Promise at the Door Chapter 333 A Promise at the Door ¡°Cut the act¨Cyou disgust me!¡± Jessica spat straight at Zacharias. 67 +10 Free Coins He stayed silent, his eyes locked on Anneliese for a moment before he turned away, his gaze dark and unreadable, and walked off. Atst, themotion outside the operating room gave way to quiet. ¡°Annie, you doing okay? Your grandma¡¯s tough¨Cshe¡¯ll make it through, I know it.¡± Jessica saw how drained Anneliese looked. She took her cold hands in hers, gently rubbing warmth back into them. Anneliese forced a shaky smile, trying to hold herself together. ¡°Howe you showed up with Mr. Shayman?¡± Everything had been so sudden that she hadn¡¯t even managed to call Jessica. Obviously, Jessica had arrived with Zane. Jessica¡¯s eyes flickered before darting toward Zane. She swiftly offered an exnation, ¡°We happened to meet at a diner right as he got Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s call.¡± That wasn¡¯t how it had gone. It hadn¡¯t been a restaurant at all. Jessica hadnded a side gig at her studio¨Ca wealthy client told her his ex was still harassing him and he needed a fake girlfriend. She went to the hotel as arranged, tapped at the door, and found Zane standing there. up with Jonathan¡¯s call came through while she was perched on Zane¡¯sp¨Che wanted to practice the scene first. She picked up Jonathan¡¯s voice over the call, which was how she ended Zane. Preupied with her grandmother¡¯s surgery, Anneliese didn¡¯t catch on. She just nodded, then turned to Zane. ¡°Mr. Shayman, it¡¯s been nine years since my grandma used my dad¡¯s settlement money to bail out the Shaw family. Melody gave her an IOU for 300,000, and it was never repaid. ¡°We still have that note. The neighbors in Baytree can back it up- they all saw how much my grandma gave up for the Shaws. Do you think the IOU and their testimony could help the case?¡± 13:18 Sun, Sep 28 Chapter 333 A Promise at the Door :0 10 Free Coins Zane¡¯s brows lifted, and a spark of admiration shed in his eyes. She¡¯s sharp. This alone won¡¯t decide the case, but it could tilt the bnce in the defendant¡¯s favor. That IOU, especially, is a strong bargaining chip. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ll help,¡± he agreed. ¡°The IOU is in a box on her nightstand in Baytree,¡± Anneliese said, ¡°and I know the neighbors Jessica interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ve got it. I know all those neighbors. I¡¯ll go to Baytree and talk to them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Zane chimed in, turning his gaze to her. Jessica frowned. Why¡¯s a top running around on errands like this? Then it hit her. Oh yeah, Jonathan gives him the case¨Cno wonder he¡¯s going all in. She nodded. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Just as they were about to leave, Anneliese remembered something. She called out to Zane. ¡°Melody and Lenora have a housekeeper named Cynthia Patterson. She might know what they did to my grandma. She could be a key witness.¡± Zane gave a firm nod before leaving with Jessica. Anneliese slumped back, exhaustion written all over her face, her eyes locked on the doors to the operating room. Jonathan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by findnovel He eased her into a chair and gave her a bottle of water. She epted it, but didn¡¯t take a sip. Jonathan stayed by her side, steady and silent. His phone buzzed once, twice, then again. He ignored it. Anneliese stirred. ¡°The surgery could take hours. Don¡¯t worry about me¨Cgo handle your work.¡± She forced a smile, brittle and thin. Jonathan silenced his phone without hesitation. ¡°Work can wait. I¡¯ll be here with you until your grandma¡¯s out of surgery.¡± He saw straight through her. She wasn¡¯t nearly as unshakable as she pretended. That brave little smile only made his chest ache. Chapter 333 A Promise at the Door If I leave now, she¡¯ll fall apart the second I¡¯m gone. Nearby, Zion¡¯s phone buzzed just as relentlessly. +10 Free Coin Adros had just acquired an airport, and restructuring was at a critical stage. Decisions piled up, waiting for Jonathan¡¯s word. Additionally, Jonathan had sealed a joint venture with the local tourism board. He had dropped out of an international meeting to rush here the moment his wife called. Executive VP, Barry Palmer, had taken over, but the other side hadn¡¯t taken it well. 3/3 Created 334 Chapter 334 The Burden of Being ¡°Lucky¡± Jonathan¡¯s casual im that he wasn¡¯t busy nearly made Zion cry. +10 Free Coins Work was piling so high it could crush a man, yet here Jonathan was, tossing out lines sweet enough to rot teeth. Zion had no choice but to swallow the syrup every time he even thought aboutining. ¡°Really not busy?¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t sound convinced, though her hand gripped his sleeve tighter. Deep down, she just didn¡¯t want him to go. Jonathan gently covered her tense grip with his palm, a helpless smile spreading across his face. ¡°Not convinced? Check with Zion.¡± Her eyes shifted toward Zion. He bobbed his head instantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Fullbuster. Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s had plenty of free timetely. It¡¯s almost lunch anyway¨CI¡¯ll go buy us some bites.¡± He hurried off, leaving the two of them alone. Jonathan tilted her head gently until it rested against his shoulder. His scent was crisp, grounding, and for some reason, it made Anneliese¡¯s chest ache. Words stop them. spilled out before she could ¡°They took me in when I was five. My parents were amazing¨CDad was a fire chief, Mom taught art. They loved each other, and they loved me as if I were truly theirs. ¡°Between five and nine, life couldn¡¯t have been better. I had a family, a warm little home. We weren¡¯t rich, but we had everything that mattered. For a while, I believed that happiness wouldst forever. Then¡­¡± Her voice shook. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She didn¡¯t notice Jonathan stiffen beside her or the storm brewing in his dark eyes. my brother¡¯s ¡°Good things neverst. That year, Mom got pregnant atst. They kept saying I was the lucky star who gave them aplete family. Everyone was counting the days until birth. Then Dad¡­ ¡°He died. Mom, already fragile, copsed the moment she heard. She fell on the stairs, and the doctors fought through the night, but¡­¡± Over a decade had passed. Time dulled the de, but speaking it aloud now cut her all open Chapter 334 The Burden of Being ¡°Lucky¡± over again. Chapters first released on Find_Novel(. 414 F 20 Grandma is the only family I have left. If I lost her as well, what then? Anneliese bit her lip until it hurt. A bitterugh broke from her trembling lips. ¡°Lucky star? Guess I¡¯m more like a curse.¡± The words wed their way out, heavy as stone. Anneliese thought, Swapped at birth, abandoned, and I¡¯m still here. Maybe just surviving is the curse. My adoptive parents died too early, my real ones wanted nothing to do with me, and now Grandma¡¯s lying on that table because of me. The guilt was suffocating. ¡°Anne! Stop it. You¡¯re not a curse.¡± Jonathan framed her face in his hands, rough palms wiping at her tears. His voice was low, fierce, steady¨Clike a drum cutting through fog. Hershes fluttered. She looked up, startled. Jonathan¡¯s usualposure was gone. His face was tight with worry, his eyes raw with something she couldn¡¯t even name. ¡°Aren¡¯t I? If I had told Grandma everything earlier, maybe she wouldn¡¯t be in surgery right now. I knew what the Shaws were like. Why didn¡¯t I hire protection for the hospital? They came for her on purpose, and it¡¯s my fault. I¡­¡± Her voice cracked, guilt gnawing at every word. Then the memories she tried so hard to bury came rushing back. ¡®Kids from orphanages always bring misfortune. Look at her¨CFrederick¡¯s whole family gone in just a few years.¡® ¡®Ms. Alston was too old to have a baby. Frederick had to support two kids and too many bills. If he hadn¡¯t been working himself to death, maybe he¡¯d still be alive today. Maybe none of this would have happened if they hadn¡¯t adopted Anne.¡® Just the other day, I saw Frederick get his little girl a brand¨Cnew schoolbag. Not cheap either. Maybe that girl really is cursed.¡± At her adoptive parents¡® funeral, the whispers had been like knives. Rtives pointed, voices dripping with poison. Nishay had been the only shield Anneliese had. Wreath in hand, she had stood before her and silenced them all. Chapter 334 The Burden of Being ¡°Lucky¡± +10 Free Coins She told Anneliese those people were only after Frederick¡¯spensation and the house, that their venom was nothing but greed, that she should never let their words stick. 3/3 Created 335 Chapter 335 Through the Longest Night Those hurtful words still haunted Anneliese¡¯s mind after all these. At this moment, they mmed into her like a fist from the past. years. +10 Free Coins Jonathan stared at her pale face, her lost look, and his voice sank to a gentle whisper, meant only for her to hear. This text is hosted at find?novel ¡°You didn¡¯t fail, Anne. You¡¯ve done more than enough. Nobody can predict the future, so stop you and beating yourself up for things you couldn¡¯t control. That kind of self¨Cme only hurts doesn¡¯t change anything. You¡¯re amazing. Some people are inherently bad, and we won¡¯t let them get away with what they¡¯ve done. We¡¯ll fight for Grandma. For now, just take a breath, okay?¡± His tone was gentle, but deep down, his chest was knotted with fear and helplessness. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, yet his worries held them back. For eleven long hours, Nishay¡¯s surgery was a brutal ordeal. The hospital had to issue three separate warnings that her condition had be critical. Atst, Carter emerged, his face etched with fatigue. ¡°The surgery was a sess.¡± Anneliese nearly buckled. As she watched the slow and steady rise of Nishay¡¯s chest through the ICU window, her face was serene and at peace. It was only then that she felt the ground solid under her feet again. After checking on Nishay again, Carter reassured her, ¡°She¡¯s tough. Probably holding on for you. She¡¯ll need some time to recover, but she should be alright.¡± She was overwhelmed with relief. Anneliese spun around and flung herself into the arms of the man who had been standing beside her all night. She held onto him like an anchor, her tears bleeding relief and dread into his shirt. Jonathan wrapped her close without hesitation, a faint smile breaking through as he stroked her back. His eyes held a depth of gratitude only he understood. Watching them, Carter¡¯s eyes stung. Great. I bust my ass for ten hours, and Prince Charming gets the tears and cuddles. ¡°Really? Right in front of me? Show a little mercy¨Csome of us are hungry doctors, not your fan club.¡± Chapter 335 Through the Longest Night The dryint jolted Anneliese. : 478 78 +10 Free Coins She instantly pulled away, her cheeks flushing red. ¡°Dr. Chevalier, thank you for all your help. I¡¯ll send you something myselfter.¡± Jonathan¡¯s arms emptied in an instant. His wife had finally leaned into him on her own, but just as quickly, she was smiling shyly at Carter. Jonathan¡¯s smile vanished, and his entire presence became sharp, his eyes narrowing into des as he stared at Carter. Carter took a step back, suddenly unsure if that re was about to turn into a knife aimed right at his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Jonathan and I go way back¨Cthank him instead.¡± Carter rubbed at his nose, backing down quickly. Anneliese blinked, taken aback by his sudden retreat. Just as she was about to speak, Jonathan¡¯s hand tightened around her waist. His tone was calm, but a hint of jealousy seeped in. ¡°He¡¯s doing his duty, nothing more. You don¡¯t need to talk like you¡¯re in his debt.¡± Anneliese nced up at him, struck by how serious he seemed. She thought, Come on¡­ do they really think I¡¯m going to repay Dr. Chevalier with my body? What¡¯s next, a lifetime membership card? Jonathan¡¯s imagination really needs a leash. She rolled her eyes and gave Jonathan¡¯s side a sharp pinch. ¡°I meant a que for his office, you jealous maniac.¡± Jonathan tensed up. That sharp little pinch sent a jolt through him¨Csting mixed with heat, sparking something dark and restless in his gut. He¡¯d never realized his waist was that sensitive. His throat constricted, and his voice came out low and rough. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need a que either.¡± His fingers slipped into her hair, touching her tenderly yet iming her. Jealousy churned in Carter¡¯s stomach. He¡¯s not even willing to let me put up a que. Apparently, I chose the wrong side. With his stomach rumbling, Carter turned and walked away. Later, Jonathan and Anneliese left the hospital together, but then came across Zacharias, who was heading their way. Wind tore through his coat, chapping his face and leaving it drawn and haggard, as if he¡¯d been dragged through a ze. Chapter 335 Through the Longest Night He¡¯d likely spent the entire day running circles for Melody and Lenora. 300 F10 Free Coins Now that they¡¯d seen him here, it was clear he¡¯d already gotten the news: Nishay had made it through. Created 336 Chapter 336 Regret and Jealousy Chapter 336 Regret and Jealousy Zacharias came striding up, his face lit with forced relief. s ¡°Anne, thank God Grandma made it! My mom and Lenora finally admitted they were wrong. They¡¯re saying they¡¯ll beg for forgiveness and even stick around to look after her as payback.¡± For original chapters go to Find1Novel Anger shed across Anneliese¡¯s face. Her lips twisted into a bitter, mocking smile.. ¡°She¡¯s pushing eighty, and that surgery nearly killed her. How long do you think it¡¯ll take her to recover? How much more suffering do you expect her to endure? You really think that¡¯s ¡®okay¡®? If I stuck a knife in you twice and you lived, would you just shrug and say you¡¯re okay?¡± Her words cut sharper than knives, but he dared to look earnest. Anneliese almost burst outughing at his shamelessness. ¡°Unbelievable. You never changed. Remember when Selina paid someone to attack me? Because I survived, you just brushed it off, saying, ¡®You¡¯re fine. Why make a big deal?¡°¡± Zacharias went pale. He had no answer, no excuse¨Cjust silence. She gazed at him, her face as cold and unyielding as carved ice, stunning yet unattainable. It was as if she stood atop a mountain he could never scale. His chest constricted with the feeling of being so far away. He knew defending his mother and sister meant defying her. What was he supposed to do? Still, it tore him up. ¡°Anne, we were once family¡­ please.¡± His voice cracked, his throat tightening as he choked the words out. Her response was icy and blunt. ¡°The biggest mistake of my life was marrying you and getting tangled up in your family. That word ¡®family¡® was just a cover for all the ways you¡¯ve hurt me and Grandma. Don¡¯t think one sessful surgery can erase what you¡¯ve done.¡± She gripped Jonathan¡¯s hand tightly and walked away without a backward nce. Zacharias swayed where he stood. Her words reyed in his head, pounding away at him. Her greatest regret was marrying me? By the time he came to, Anneliese and Jonathan were already strolling away, hand in hand. Jealousy burned through him, raw and consuming. A passing car¡¯s headlights caught the herringbone rings on their fingers. The matching glint 12:42 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 336 Regret and Jealousy stabbed at his eyes like needles. +5 Free Coins He exploded with rage. Lurching forward, he shouted, ¡°Jonathan! Is that you? You¡¯re the one who turned her against me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Anne was never like this! She used to let things slide, too soft for her own good. Now she¡¯s cold as stone, like I don¡¯t even exist. All these started after Jonathan came into the picture. Of course¨Cit¡¯s him. He¡¯s the one messing with her. head, making her change. Zacharias grabbed Jonathan¡¯s shoulder from behind and swung a fist at him. ¡°Jonathan!¡± Anneliese¡¯s cry pierced the night. Jonathan had seen the shadow move behind him, but he didn¡¯t dodge. His only thought was protecting Anneliese at his side. He took a hit to the jaw, his head jerking to the side. Zacharias staggered forward a few steps, still reeling from the force. ¡°Zacharias!¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened as she saw the strike hit home. Her re pierced him, chilling him to the bone. For the first time, she looked straight at him again¨Cbut it was to check on another man. The jealousy ate him alive. His eyes reddened, his voice raw. ¡°Anneliese, you really think he¡¯s a good guy? Jonathan, go on¨Ctell her who you really are!¡± Anneliese¡¯s brow furrowed, confusion clouding her expression. Jonathan¡¯s eyes darkened, his whole presence radiating a deadly intensity. ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± His voice was sharp, carrying a weight that froze the air. Right then, Zion pulled up in his car. He moved to step out, but Jonathan stopped him with a nce. Jonathan drew her close with one arm, pulled the back door open, and nudged her inside. Her voice shook with panic. ¡°What are you doing? He-¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll handle this,¡± he cut in, steady eyes locking with hers before shutting the door. Anneliese immediately grabbed for the handle, but the locks clicked shut. Zion¡¯s calm voice 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 336 Regret and Jealousy A +S Free Coins came from the front seat. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, this is between them. Let Mr. Fullbuster handle it.¡± The car rolled forward, putting distance between them. As Anneliese nced in the rearview mirror, she saw Jonathan¡¯s towering figure approaching Zacharias. His gait was slow and deliberate, every step giving off an air of menace. His hand fiddled with the buttons of his suit jacket, as if preparing for a showdown. Her heart pounded. Are they really about to to blows? What was Zacharias trying to say before Jonathan interrupted him? Why does it feel like he¡¯s keeping something from me? Created 337 Chapter 337 I Was Her First Love ¡°Stop the car¡­¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice trembled, her chest tight with dread. s Zion leaned back, utterly unfazed. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, rx. Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s strength and skill are freakishly strong¨Cyour idiot ex doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Anneliese cast him a quick nce. Zacharias might be unbearably foolish, but hearing Zion voice it so bluntly made her cheeks burn, as if he were mocking her judgment. Zion caught her expression and only grinned, shameless and smug. He knew he was right. ¡°Good thing you¡¯ve finally developed better taste in men.¡± Bang! Jonathan marched straight up to Zacharias and drove his fist into the side of his face with bone¨Ccracking force. Zacharias staggered backward, head reeling, and crashed to the pavement. For a moment, the world went dark. When his sight cleared, Jonathan¡¯s shadow loomed over him like a predator closing in. Without hesitation, Jonathan hauled him up by the cor, dragged him a few steps, and hurled him into a car. Bang! The impact rattled metal. Zacharias gagged on the coppery taste of blood, spitting crimson onto the ground. Before he could breathe, Jonathan¡¯s massive hand mped around his throat, pinning him to the hood. Zacharias thrashed, but Jonathan¡¯s grip was iron. His face flushed scarlet, veins bulging across his temple as air slipped away. Through bloodshot eyes, he red up at Jonathan¡¯s murderous expression¨Cyet a twisted grin spread across his lips. ¡°Jonathan, you¡¯re terrified! You¡¯re the real liar here¨Clying to her, hiding the truth! You don¡¯t even dare show her who you are. You-¡± His words choked off as Jonathan¡¯s grip tightened, strangling thest of his breath. His body Discover more novels at find?novel 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 337 1 Was Her First Love convulsed, legs kicking frantically. : Jonathan¡¯s killing intent was palpable. Zacharias felt it¨Che¡¯d struck Jonathan¡¯s nerve. So, Jonathan really hadn¡¯t told Anneliese anything. s ¡°Shut up. Taking down uderias Tech would be child¡¯s y for me.¡± His tone was cold and lethal, dripping with menace. Then, just as suddenly, he released Zacharias. Zacharias copsed to his knees, hacking and gasping, face mottled red. Jonathan didn¡¯t spare him a nce¨Che simply turned and walked away. Still coughing, Zacharias dragged himself upright, one hand braced against the dented car. ¡°Anne hates me now, but only because she once loved me so deeply¡­ cough. And you? You¡¯re just some intruder who slithered in when things fell apart. A thief. ¡°You think you¡¯ve won just because you ruined our marriage, stole her from me, and now wear the title of her husband?¡± He wheezed, spitting more blood, but his eyes glimmered with malice. ¡°She¡¯s only with you to get back at me¨Cperhaps even a little touched by your actions¨Cbut don¡¯t fool yourself, she doesn¡¯t love you. And once she finds out what you¡¯ve been hiding, she¡¯ll never love you. She could end up with anyone, but not you.¡± A hoarseugh tore from his throat. ¡°Jonathan, your so¨Ccalled happy marriage is nothing but a farce. You¡¯re pathetic, unting it in front of me. I¡¯ll be waiting for the day she leaves you andes back to me.¡± He was certain that day woulde. Jonathan stopped mid¨Cstep. His tall silhouette turned, sharp and imposing against the shadows. His face remained unreadable, but his cial stare mmed into Zacharias like a sledgehammer. ¡°Marriage begins with kindness, and from that, love grows. Support, trust, gratitude¨Cthat¡¯s what real love is built on. Whether she loves me or not isn¡¯t yours to decide. But you¡­¡± That was Jonathan¡¯s perspective on marriage, but confronted with Zacharias¡® mocking eyes, Jonathan¡¯s lips curved into a humorless smile. He felt like he was talking to a brick wall,pletely wasting his breath. 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 1471 Chapter 337 I Was Her First Love s A low, scornfulugh escaped him as he turned his back once more. The sound cut deeper than any punch, piercing Zacharias¡® pride. Zacharias trembled, leaning heavily on the car before copsingpletely, drained and broken. He understood perfectly what Jonathan meant. He had squandered Anneliese¡¯s love, driven her away. Yet, he refused to ept it. He thought to himself, She may love Jonathan now, but I was her first love. If she loved me before, she will love me again. He would never let go, because the moment he did, they would truly be strangers for life. He couldn¡¯t ept it! Jonathan¡¯s talk about kindness before love was just proof¨Cproof that Anneliese didn¡¯t truly love him. Zacharias smirked bitterly. He was still the only man Anne had ever loved. Back in the car, Anneliese hurried to Jonathan¡¯s side, her trembling hand reaching for his face. ¡°Are you alright? Did he hurt you?¡± Her pale, stricken expression met Jonathan¡¯s silence as he gazed at her. Created 338 Chapter 338 An Overwhelming Kiss Chapter 338 An Overwhelming Kiss Zion drove slowly out of the hospital, silently lifting the divider as he moved. ¡°Say something! Was Zacharias¡­ Ah!¡± 0718 s Anneliese couldn¡¯t shake the unnerving sense that, though Jonathan appeared perfectlyposed, he exuded a dark, almost oppressive energy she¡¯d never sensed from him before. The unfamiliar intensity left her anxious and off bnce. Her worry was so sharp that when he remained silent, she almost reached over instinctively to tug at his shirt cor. Discover more novels at f?ndnovel Before she could speak, he suddenly leaned in. Anneliese startled, arching her back instinctively. Sitting sideways, she lost her bnce and toppled toward the car door. Just as the back of her head was about to hit the wall, hisrge hand slid into her hair, cradling her skull in his palm. Her eyes widened under the shadow he cast. He pressed down, silencing her startled cry with his fiery lips and insistent tongue. The kiss was feral. Her back pressed painfully against the cramped car seat, her spine aching under the intensity. His heated breath and the torrent of raw emotion emanating from him left Anneliese panicked and defenseless. She lifted her small hand, attempting to push him away, but he grasped it, prying her fingers apart and pinning them against the window with firm insistence. Their fingers intertwined, and he deepened the kiss even further. Outside, the neon lights blurred into streaks of color beneath her flutteringshes, tracing fleeting arcs over the tangled figures inside. Initially, she was simply shocked. They had kissed before, but always briefly¨Cgentle, measured, and restrained. He had always paused the moment she showed difort. This was different. Like a sudden downpour, an overwhelming wave, she was swept along, powerless to resist the force of his passion. 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 338 An Overwhelming Kiss 671 s Anneliese had been tense all day, weighed down by worry over her grandma. She needed an outlet for the bottled¨Cup emotion. At some point, she found herself gripping his tic, lifting herself to meet him halfway. Her tentative, hesitant tongue slid into the kiss, and the small gesture made Jonathan stiffen, heat and desire intensifying in his body. She once loved me so deeply. She¡¯ll never love you. She¡¯s only with you to get back at me. Zacharias¡® words reverberated in his mind, fueling a storm of jealousy and bitterness. But all that anger dissolved with even the slightest response from her¨Clike a child finally tasting the candy they had been denied for so long. ¡°What are you¡­¡± Anneliese kissed him back. Only when her head spun and her breath hitched did she realize the dynamic had shifted. Jonathan broke the kiss, yet now she leaned closer, cheeks flushed, slightly dazed, staring at him. He pressed his nose against hers, eyes dark and intense, shadows flickering across his features in the dim car light. His lips curved in a teasing smile, voice low and rough. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, your kiss tastes sweet.¡± Heat spread instantly down her neck. Hershes trembled. ¡°Liar¨CI didn¡¯t even eat any candy! I can¡¯t believe you¡­¡± She wanted to protest that someone like Jonathan, always soposed and aloof, could be so smooth¨Ctalking, opening his mouth with such shameless charm. Before she could finish, he grabbed her waist and lifted her effortlessly. Her world spun, and when she regained focus, she was straddling hisp, face¨Cto¨Cface. He seemed to anticipate her next words. Holding her close, leaning back slightly, his eyes locked onto hers, shadows deepening the intensity. 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 338 An Overwhelming Kiss ¡°Well? Perhaps your kiss was too light, and I misread it. Want to try again?¡± Anneliese remained silent. His gaze was maic; it felt like it was pulling her closer, making her cheeks turn red. It took every ounce of courage to kiss him under that scrutiny. Yet he clearly relished it when she took the initiative;st time she¡¯d won their bet, he¡¯d insisted she kiss him first. s Thinking of how he¡¯d stayed by her side all day, how he¡¯d persistently sought Carter¡¯s help, ensuring her grandma¡¯s well¨Cbeing, Anneliese couldn¡¯t bear the thought of disappointing him. She bit her lip, arms wrapping around his neck, and leaned in. But her lips never reached his soft lips; instead, theynded on the back of his hand, where the veins stood out sharply beneath her touch. Created 339 Chapter 339 We Are Family Anneliese looked up, utterly stunned. He is the one insisting 1 kiss him. So why is he covering his mouth like he¡¯s embarrassed? Jonathan caught her puzzled expression, his eyes shadowed and unreadable. s He had wanted their kiss to be about desire, connection, and pleasure. Yet the way she had hesitated, biting her lip and leaning in cautiously, it felt less like passion and more like an attempt to appease him. He never asked for that. He never wanted herpliance¨Cnever sought to coerce her in any way. Seeing her uncertainty grow, Jonathan offered a wry, helpless smile. With deliberate gentleness, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing the warmth of her skin. Then, leaning closer, his breath hot against her neck, he yfully nipped at her earlobe, as if lightly chastising her. A shiver ran through Anneliese. Jonathan exhaled softly, his voice low and gravelly. ¡°Well, I think I overestimated myself. If you keep kissing me like this, things could get out of hand.¡± Her body red with heat, her mind nk. Straddling hisp, reality hit her with a terrifying intensity. That hidden, formidable presence -he was both maic and daunting. She instinctively tried to shift away, but Jonathan¡¯s hands gripped her waist, drawing her closer. His warning was whispered right against her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Do you really want to get out of this car like this?¡± Frozen, she didn¡¯t dare make a sound, afraid even the slightest motion would trigger an explosion. Yet, even in stillness, he continued. Suddenly, the shrill ring of her phone cut through the tension. Startled, Anneliese muttered, ¡°Oh¡­ that must be my phone. Maybe it¡¯s from the hospital.¡± Jonathan¡¯s arms held her for a moment longer before releasing her. Feeling liberated, she 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 339 We Are Family scrambled back to the window seat and grabbed the phone. But the call came from an unfamiliar number. Concerned it might be someone from the hospital, she answered without hesitation. The voice that greeted her was one she had hoped to avoid. s ¡°Anne, Delh said she saw you at the hospital today. Were you there to see me? We waited but didn¡¯t see you.¡± It was Mnie. Only days ago, Anneliese had blocked every line from the White family. ¡°You¡¯re at St. Nine Hospital?¡± she asked, frowning. These people simply wouldn¡¯t quit. Mnie¡¯s tone was tinged with disappointment. ¡°So you weren¡¯t here to see me?¡± ¡°Mrs. White, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Anneliese thought she had made her stance clear¨Cthere was nothing left to discuss. ¡°Anne, stop calling me Mrs. White! I¡¯m your mom¨Cwe¡¯re connected! You¡¯re breaking my heart. Will you never ept me as your mom again?¡± Sobsced Mnie¡¯s voice, full of usation. Anneliese gripped the phone a little tighter, emotions stirred¨Cnot by sympathy, but by the memories of how she had once tried so hard to please Mnie, who had never once responded gently. A small, bitterugh escaped her. ¡°Sorry, my mom passed away twelve years ago. Mrs. White, since you¡¯re sick and in the hospital, maybe stop cursing yourself like that.¡± In the hospital room, Mnie wasn¡¯t alone¨CTimothy and the White brothers were present. The phone was on speaker, Anneliese¡¯s sharp, icy words echoing through the space. The rightful source is FindN()vel Mnie paled, hands clenched, chest heaving¨Cclearly wounded. Perseus and Christopher fumed, barely containing their anger. 12:43 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 339 We Are Family s Timothy shot them a warning nce before seizing the phone, his face etched with anxiety. ¡°Anne, it was me, your mom, and your brothers who messed up before. I shouldn¡¯t have taken out my anger on you because Zacharias pulled his investment, and I shouldn¡¯t have locked you in the basement. I¡¯m sorry, okay? You made us soak in cold water in the basement for two days. Your mom has been in the hospital with severe pneumonia for days and even had to be resuscitated yesterday. Anne, can¡¯t you let it go? We¡¯re family after all. Will youe see your mom?¡± As Timothy finished, Perseus and Christopher¡¯s panicked voices surged in. ¡°Mom! Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Call a doctor, quickly!¡± Amid the chaos, Perseus¡® strained, pleading voice returned. ¡°Anne, Mom fainted from heartbreak because of what you said! For Grandma¡¯s sake, pleasee see her.¡± Created 340 Chapter 340 I Will Be Your Family It was unusual. 071 45 Free Coins When Anneliese returned to the White family, Mnie and Timothy would asionally ster on polite smiles and offer a few cordial words. But Perseus and Christopher¨Cthe two brothers¨Cacknowledged only Selina as their sister. It had taken Anneliese considerable effort to get even the slightest tolerance from them. Yet, even then, their behavior toward her was suffused with superiority¨Ccold, dismissive, every wordced with condescension, as if speaking to her were an act of charity. So, hearing one of them actually ask for something, and with a trace of entreaty in their voice, was unprecedented. ¡°Well, well, listen to yourself¨Cthe illustrious Mr. Perseus finally knows how to humble himself and ask for a favor?¡± Anneliese snapped, letting her sarcasm ring freely. She could practically hear Perseus grinding his teeth, fury radiating from him. She waited for his retaliation, and sure enough, his voice turned icily sharp. ¡°Anneliese, don¡¯t push your luck!¡± A coldugh escaped her lips. ¡°Oh, really? I¡¯ve already disappeared from the White family, just like you all wanted. What more could you possibly want from me? If anyone should back off, it¡¯s you.¡± Without granting them a response, she ended the call. Gripping her phone tightly, her brow creased into a frown. That conversation had clearly struck a nerve. She knew perfectly well that the White family hadn¡¯t suddenly developed a sense of gratitude or remorse. Their reputation for coldness and selfishness made that obvious. Most likely, their behavior stemmed from Jonathan¡¯s public acknowledgment of her as Mrs. Fullbuster at the Golding Family banquet. Meanwhile, the White family was in crisis¨Ctheir finances had dried up, and panic had set in. 12:43 Mon, Sep 29¡­ Chapter 340 I Will Be Your Family Now, they hoped to cajole her into bailing them out. Nothing more. ¡°Are you upset?¡± Jonathan¡¯s deep, soothing voice came from beside her. Lam 45 Free Coins Anneliese nced at him, but the memory of the phone call¡¯s tension shed through her mind. Her gaze instinctively fell. He seemed calm now, though she doubted he could maintain thatposure without it affecting him. Lost in thought, she felt his fingers gently lift her chin. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± When her eyes met his narrowed, almost dangerous gaze, Anneliese flickered nervously. ¡°Nothing! I swear!¡± she hurriedly protested. Jonathan gave her a pointed, warning squeeze on her chin before letting go. Anneliese hesitated. ¡°Well, you heard all that just now, right? Do you think I¡¯m being¡­ too cold¨Chearted?¡± The car was quiet, though the White family had been noisy over the phone. Jonathan had certainly caught fragments of the conversation. Her birth mother, Mnie, now hospitalized, had pleaded for her visit. By anyone¡¯s standards, ignoring her might appear heartless. She worried Jonathan might think the same. He observed her anxiety and raised an eyebrow. She opened her mouth, ready to exin how greedy the White family was and how she refused to be manipted into draining Jonathan¡¯s resources¨Cbut he spoke first. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to acknowledge them, then don¡¯t. From now on, I¡¯ll be your family.¡± Those simple words struck her in the chest. A warmth spread through her body, and her nose tingled as emotion surged. Her eyes met his, wide and glistening. At that moment, Jonathan¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced down, saw the caller, and gestured to Chapter 340 I Will Be Your Family ?? +5 free Coins her. ¡°It¡¯s Grandma. Probably reminding us to visit.¡± Original content can be found at Find1Novel Before his business trip, he had promised his grandma that he would bring Anneliese to see her. They had been home for a few days, but the visit had been postponed because her grandma required emergency surgery. ¡°Go ahead, answer,¡± Anneliese said quickly. ¡°I can go with you tomorrow.¡± Jonathan picked up. After a few words, he said, ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s right here with me.¡± Anneliese assumed he meant her, and indeed, he handed her the phone. ¡°Grandma wants to talk to you.¡± Anneliese lifted the receiver. ¡°Good evening, Penelope.¡± Penelope¡¯s warm voice flowed through. ¡°Anne, you¡¯ve had a tough day, haven¡¯t you?¡± Anneliese nced at Jonathan and whispered, ¡°Did you tell Penelope about my grandma?¡± Jonathan nodded. She replied, ¡°Well¡­ Jonathan¡¯s been with me the whole time. My grandma¡¯s out of danger now, so I¡¯m fine. So don¡¯t worry about me, Penelope.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. You two probably haven¡¯t eaten properly all day, right? I had the staff prepare somete¨Cnight snacks. Why don¡¯t you and Jonathane over now?¡± Created 341 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 341 The Password Is Her Birthday Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the city, Soutke Residential District. Since leaving Sunrise Residence, Zacharias had been temporarily staying here. 22 871 s Stepping out of the car, his gaze clouded, he mmed the door and froze at the sight of the vi illuminated, a shadow moving inside. Zacharias¡® eyes widened. The figure was slender, unmistakably feminine. He hadn¡¯t hired a housekeeper. Though he had spent a week here, every night he returned to an empty, cold home that never felt like his own. Yet this scene¨Cthe soft glow, the figure inside¨Cevoked a memory of Sunrise Residence, when Anneliese would keep a light on, waiting for him no matter howte he returned. His pace quickened, and he strode into the vi, through the living room. A woman with long, wavy hair cascading down her back wore a loose white sweater dress. Bare¨Clegged, she was bent over, tidying the scattered cushions on the couch. ¡°Anne! Honey!¡± Zacharias, momentarily dazed, grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a tight embrace. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The sound escaped muffled from her lips. His eyes closed, heat prickling his eyelids as he inhaled deeply, catching the scent of an alluring, luxurious perfume¨Cnot the one Anneliese would wear. Confusion immediately overtook him. He released her and frowned, staring down at the woman in his arms. ¡°Why are you here? How did you get in here?¡± The woman¡¯s long, dark curls framed her shocked face. Her demeanor mirrored Anneliese¡¯s in some ways¨Cbut this was Selina. Zacharias let go, tugged off his tie, and sank onto the couch, furrowing his brow. ¡°Zach, I heard something happened to your mom and Lenora. I was worried, so I came over. When you didn¡¯t answer, I tried the password on a whim¨Cit was our birthdaysbined¡­¡± Selina¡¯s eyes glimmered, her smile warm with emotion. His frown deepened. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. The password is Anne¡¯s birthday.¡± Chapter 341 The Password Is Her Birthday Selina¡¯s smile stiffened, a sh of irritation crossing her face. Men could be infuriating! 45 Free Coins He hadn¡¯t treated her like this before. Once, she had been his ideal girl, while Anneliese had been invisible to him. This text is hosted at fin?novel Yet now, he had called out Anneliese¡¯s name while hugging her, and she had seen the fleeting disappointment in his eyes. Now, he was openly dismissing her, indifferent to her feelings. Selina grabbed her purse. ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t have bothered checking in with you.¡± She turned to leave, confident that a little distance would make him chase her. But Zacharias¡® voice stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡± A faint, knowing curve tugged at Selina¡¯s lips. She understood that holding back, just a little, was often the most effective way to make a man chase. It was exactly the same tactic Anneliese had once used on Zacharias. Selina¡¯s expression stayed calm as she faced him, but the anticipated pleas of regret never appeared. Zacharias¡® eyes were dark and serious. ¡°Were you the one who told my mom and Lenora?¡± Created 342 Chapter 342 She Is Ruthless s ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡± Selina¡¯s heart skipped a beat, though her expression remained one of bewilderment. She looked entirely innocent, yet Zacharias¡® gaze remained as cold and unyielding as ice. ¡°My mom and Lenora went to Anne¡¯s grandma to tell her about our divorce. The shock was too much for her¨Cshe ended up in the ER. You were the only person I told about her being hospitalized. Are you seriously iming you didn¡¯t tell my mom and Lenora?¡± Selina¡¯s face instantly paled, her voice rising in rm. ¡°Wait, your mom and Lenora were detained because of this?¡± She rushed to sit beside Zacharias. ¡°Zach, I did mention to your mom that Anne¡¯s grandma was in the hospital, but it was just in passing. I never imagined it would spiral into something like this!¡± She confessed without hesitation, her demeanorpletely transparent and earnest. Honestly, even if she had remained silent, Melody and Lenora would have inevitably spilled the truth. She had only mentioned it in passing¨Cnothing more. As long as she insisted no harm was intended, me seemed hardly fair. ¡°So it was you!¡± Zacharias¡® hand shot out, gripping her wrist with a force that made Selina gasp in pain, frustration, and anxiety mingling in her voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it through! I don¡¯t even know which hospital Anne¡¯s grandma is at. And seriously -her grandma is in critical condition, can¡¯t handle a little truth, and now she¡¯sshing out at everyone else? Is this really worth involving the police? Zach, did you secure awyer for your mom and Lenora? I feel partially responsible. If you haven¡¯t found someone capable, I could ask Christopher to assist¡­¡± ¡°No need. Anne already hired Zane. Christopher wouldn¡¯t be of much help.¡± Zacharias studied her for a few moments longer, then allowed his old impression of her to prevail¨Che believed she truly hadn¡¯t intended any harm. Selina was the sort of person who would secretly fund a stranger¡¯s surgery or give away a schrship without expecting recognition. 12:44 Mon, Sep 29¡­ Chapter 342 She Is Ruthless : 71 s There was no way she could have been cruel enough to use his mom and Lenora as pawns against Anne¡¯s frail grandma; she had likely spoken thoughtlessly, and nothing more. He released her wrist and rubbed his forehead. ¡°Mr. Shayman? Anne¡¯s really pulling out all the stops, huh? She¡¯s ruthless.¡± With Zane¡¯s legal prowess and his family¡¯s influence, even a seemingly trivial case like this- impossible to prove under normal circumstances¨Ccould end in conviction. Zane didn¡¯t hesitate to take on even a minor case like this. Selina knew Jonathan was supporting Anneliese, striking out in her defense. The jealousy twisting in her chest burned like molten acid, threatening to spill from her lips. She lowered her gaze, the resentment twisting her features. Zacharias, however, didn¡¯t notice. He simply looked exhausted. ¡°You should leave.¡± But Selina reached out, brushing a bruise near his mouth. ¡°Did you get into a fight? How can I just walk away seeing you like this?¡± He leaned back against the couch. Under the chandelier, his striking features were marred by several bruises and red marks around his neck. Selina retrieved a first¨Caid kit and an ice pack, kneeling on the couch to carefully tend to his wounds. Feeling her gentle touch, Zacharias¡® furrowed brow gradually rxed. By the time she finished, she noticed the faintest twitch at the corners of his lips¨Ca subtle smile. She knew then that he still cared. He could still be drawn in by her presence. Just as she allowed herself a small sense of triumph, Zacharias spoke, ¡°Back when I was sick or hurt, Anne would always care for me, patiently tending my wounds.¡± His voice was filled with nostalgia, and he let out a softugh. ¡°Once, she even cried¨Ctears streaming as she applied medicine, blowing on the wound as if she were the one in pain¡­ Ouch!¡± Selina had been about to feign tears for him, even pinching herself to evoke emotion. But as soon as he recalled that memory, her fake tears vanished. She pressed the cotton swab too hard, scraping at the scab. Follow current nov?ls on find~novel Zacharias inhaled sharply, eyes widening. Selina panicked, guilt flooding her. ¡°Sorry! I didn¡¯t 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 342 She Is Ruthless mean to hurt you.¡± 0: She lowered her head to gently blow on the wound. 71 s As she leaned closer, her loose sweater slipped from one shoulder, revealing a hint of skin. Her perfume drifted near him, and her lips hovered just inches from his mouth. Zacharias tensed briefly, then abruptly pushed her away and stood. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should go.¡± Tonight, he was not in the mood for anything else. Created 343 Chapter 343 You Are So Thoughtful Chapter 343 You Are So Thoughtful ?? s Zacharias strode up the stairs, while Selina froze on the couch, her face shifting between pale and flushed, breaking the cotton swab in her hand in sheer frustration. When she first encountered Zacharias, he had been just another penniless guy she barely noticed. Her affections had always been reserved for Jonathan¨Cthe golden boy everyone admired. But now Jonathan was blind to her entirely. He would sooner pursue Anneliese, the infamous divorced woman, than even acknowledge Selina¡¯s presence. After repeatedly hitting dead ends with Jonathan¨Cand with Zacharias slipping beyond her influence¨CSelina resolved to im Zacharias for herself, determined to have him utterly captivated. She had assumed that Zacharias, having already taken someone like Coral as a mere stand¨Cin, would be easily swayed by her¨Ccertainly, he would be utterly captivated by her without a second thought. Yet Selina never anticipated the oue. He actually refused her. D*mn it! The mortification was unbearable, and her jealousy toward Anneliese surged like wildfire. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Elsewhere in town, a Maybach rested at the curb. Inside, a man reclined against the leather seat as a woman gently dabbed medicine on his bruised face. He inhaled sharply. ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes glistened, her big gaze anxious as she held the disinfectant swab. She puckered her lips and blew softly over Jonathan¡¯s wound. A shiver ran down his neck, coursing through his entire body. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he caught her wrist. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Just apply some ointment,¡± he muttered, his voice husky. His bruises were hardly serious, yet her delicate, almost ethereal touch had nearly undone 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 343 You Are So Thoughtful him. Who on earth teaches her to treat wounds like this? It¡¯s unbearably seductive! Jonathan reached for the cotton swab in her hand, but she snatched it away. $71. s ¡°No! We have to take care of this properly, or your grandma will definitely worry if she sees you like this.¡± Her concern was understandable, but Jonathan had only been struck by Zacharias because of her. Follow current nov?ls on find?novel If Penelope fretted over her grandson and took it out on Anneliese, it would be a disaster. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± she warned, puffing out her cheeks and narrowing her eyes. Sighing, Jonathan leaned back, allowing his wife to fuss over him. She dabbed ointment on the bruises, massaged it in, and even blew on them again, finally nodding in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s sufficient for now. Apply more after your shower tonight. By tomorrow, the swelling should subside, though the bruises will linger. I got this from the pharmacy.¡± She triumphantly brandished a sleek ck mask, waving it as if she¡¯d uncovered a treasure. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, you¡¯re so thoughtful,¡± Jonathan said, raising an eyebrow and yfully tapping her nose. Flustered, Anneliese quickly packed her things and rolled down the window to summon Zion, who waited outside, ready to drive. The car glided into the vi¡¯s courtyard, halting beside the ornate fountain. Jonathan held her hand as they walked inside the living room, only to be intercepted by Penelope, who couldn¡¯t wait to greet them herself. ¡°Anne, I¡¯ve been dying to see you! Everyone, meet my sweet granddaughter¨Cinw. Isn¡¯t she lovely?¡± Penelope grasped Anneliese¡¯s hand, lifting her chin proudly for the assembled crowd. Anneliese nearly jumped. On the way over, Jonathan had clearly said that all his other rtives lived in Halden, and only Penelope resided here. Yet before her stood five, six, seven, eight elderlydies and gentlemen, and she had no idea what was going on. 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 343 You Are So Thoughtful ¡°Penelope¡­¡± 42 m s Before she could speak, the elders¡® gazes zeroed in on her, followed by a chorus of voices. ¡°She¡¯s stunning! Congrattions, Penelope. A granddaughter¨Cinw like her is a blessing.¡± ¡°She¡¯s youthful, intelligent, and kind. No wonder you couldn¡¯t wait to show her off!¡± ¡°Jonathan and she are perfect together. Hopefully they¡¯ll have a child next year¨Cmy twin great¨Cgrandsons need a ymate!¡± ¡°Oh my, their child is going to be adorable. Keep it up, you two!¡± Anneliese was inundated with praise, dazed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Sensing her difort, Jonathan drew her close. Penelope waved her hand. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve met my lovely granddaughter¨Cinw. Now, you should head home¨CAnne is still hungry!¡± Before Anneliese could respond, her arms were suddenly filled with gifts. She barely had time to react, let alone thank anyone, as the elders vanished as swiftly as they had appeared. Created 344 Chapter 344 Special Meals for Him 4 $71 +5 Free Coins ¡°Grandma, this¡­¡± Anneliese hesitated, cradling a stack of gifts in her arms, utterly flustered. Penelope simply smiled and patted her hand again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. They¡¯re all my old friends. When they heard I finally had such a sweet granddaughter¨Cinw, they thought I was exaggerating and had toe see for themselves. ¡°Now that they¡¯ve seen the truth, there¡¯s no denying it. Just keep the gifts, dear. You must be starving¨Clet¡¯s eat first.¡± She steered Anneliese toward the dining room, her warmth so disarming that there wasn¡¯t a single moment for awkwardness to take hold. Meanwhile, Jonathan sat quietly, arge purple bruise marring his handsome face, yet nobody seemed to notice. Anneliese couldn¡¯t help sneaking a nce at him, her expression tinged with disbelief. Really? Is Jonathan that unpopr now? Now that they were married, Penelope treated her like a treasure of national significance. In the dining room, Penelope had gone all out. The table was brimming with dishes¨Cnot massive portions, but each looked sophisticated and nourishing. Even the edible bird¡¯s nest soup came in multiple vors¨Cbrown sugar, coconut milk, snow pear, and red dates with berries. ¡°Anne, you¡¯ve been working so hard taking care of your grandmately. You look thinner than thest time I saw you. You need to eat and regain your strength.¡± Penelope¡¯s gaze was filled with genuine concern, but then she turned sharply toward Jonathan. ¡°You brought home a wife to care for her, not to watch her struggle! Right after the wedding, you go off on a business trip. Anne¡¯s grandma had surgery, and you weren¡¯t there. Poor Anne had to manage everything on her own!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right, Grandma. He got the best doctor and the finest hospital room. He stayed by my side the whole time outside the operating room. He¡¯s been nothing but supportive¡­¡± Anneliese nced at Jonathan, who simply sat quietly, drying his hands with a warm towel as Penelope lectured him, not offering a single defense. Chapter 344 Special Meals for Him She quickly grasped Penelope¡¯s hand, instinctively defending him. 45 Free Coins. Penelope¡¯s expression softened into a wide, amused smile as she looked from Anneliese to Jonathan. ¡°I see. Anne, seeing you so concerned about him, it looks like he finally has someone who¡¯ll stand up for him.¡± ¡°Grandma, no¨Cit¡¯s not like that!¡± Anneliese¡¯s cheeks med under Penelope¡¯s teasing grin. She was only speaking the truth! Penelope patted her hand once more. ¡°Eat up, both of you. I¡¯m going to rest for a bit.¡± With a cheerful wave, she left, and only then did Anneliese turn toward Jonathan. He raised an eyebrow. ¡°See? You believe me now?¡± Anneliese realized, with a small, relieved smile, that this was exactly what he had meant when he told her to rx. Jonathan sighed. ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be nervous.¡± ¡°What?¡± She followed his gaze and froze. His side of the table wasden with at least a dozen dishes, entirely different from hers. There was oyster stew, grilled steak, garlic butter shrimp, braisedmb, and ms with pasta. Wait a second. If I¡¯m not mistaken, all of these are considered dishes that boost a man¡¯s virility. Anneliese¡¯s mind shed back to how she had been straddling hisp in the car earlier, and her cheeks burned hotter. Just how wrong are Penelope¡¯s assumptions about Jonathan? Jonathan raised his fork, ready to dig in, when Anneliese, acting on impulse, grabbed his hand. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously going to eat all of this, are you? You don¡¯t need it.¡± Since they were staying at Penelope¡¯s house, it was certain they would be sleeping together that night. If he went through all of this food, she couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine the consequences! He looked at her, genuinely puzzled. ¡°Why not? I¡¯m hungry.¡± Chapter 344 Special Meals for Him : Anneliese blinked. Does he really not know what these dishes are for? *S Free Coins She studied him for a few seconds, checks burning. He seemed genuinely baffled, even trying to pull his hand free, as if he were just hungry and impatient to eat. ¡°Is something wrong with these dishes?¡± he asked, one eyebrow raised. Anneliese felt her face heat up. How can I exin that these are male vitality foods? It¡¯s beyond embarrassing. Thinking quickly, she held onto his hand. ¡°I just think eating this sote might be too heavy- it could be hard to digest and disturb your sleep. Something lighter would be better.¡± Jonathan shrugged. ¡°No worries. I have a strong stomach, and I¡¯ve still got work tonight.¡± With that, he gently freed his hand, sampled the braisedmb, and then helped himself to a bowl of oyster stew, looking like he was about to feast like a king. 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 345 Caught Off Guard ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Created 345 Chapter 345 Caught Off Guard 71 s Anneliese grew anxious and grabbed Jonathan¡¯s hand again. She bit her lip and blurted out, ¡°Grandma¡¯s probably trying to rush things between us. All this food is for that! You¡¯d better not eat too much of it!¡± She let go, but Jonathan caught her hand instead. With a light pull, Anneliese fell right into his arms. She looked up in surprise. Jonathan¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°To rush things?¡± Anneliese nodded. His smile faded a little, and he looked puzzled. ¡°How do you know so much about that?¡± Content originallyes from Find[?]ovel She stayed quiet. How could she exin thatst year Jessica had overheard that she and Zacharias had never been intimate, decided Zacharias must be incapable, and then looked into the topic just to tell her? She couldn¡¯t say that. She only knew some random things, but now, wouldn¡¯t Jonathan think she wasn¡¯t very proper Her face turned red with embarrassment. She didn¡¯t answer and quickly threw the me back. ¡°Isn¡¯t thismon sense? You¡¯re just clueless!¡± Jonathan chuckled and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m clueless. I just never needed to know. After all¡­¡± He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. ¡°You seemed pretty satisfied with me just now. You said it yourself. Why would I need it?¡± Whether it was his low voice or the breath against her ear, Anneliese¡¯s ears turned hot again. She could tell¨Che definitely knew. He was just pretending not to, so he could tease her. Flustered, she shoved him away. ¡°I¡¯m eating now!¡± Jonathan let out a quietugh as he watched her lower her head and dig into her food. After dinner, it was alreadyte. Jonathan went to the study to deal with the day¡¯s work. Anneliese wanted to see Penelope. However, a servant smiled and said, ¡°Old Mrs. Fullbuster said you must be tired today, so she¡¯ll talk to you tomorrow. The room¡¯s ready. Pleasee 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 345 Caught Off Guard with me and rest early.¡± A ÈÝ 71 s Anneliese felt touched by Penelope¡¯s thoughtfulness. She followed the servant upstairs to a room. ¡°The room was prepared in a rush. If you need anything, just call me anytime.¡± Anneliese thanked her. After the maid left, she pushed open the door. What she saw left her stunned. Rose petals covered the floor, bright red bedding was spread over a huge bed with heart- shaped balloons floating above it, and vases of roses filled the nightstand. On the dresser was a row of fake candles. On the bed sat a pair of cute bride and groom dolls. Anneliese felt like she had stepped into a wedding venue. She quickly closed the door and turned to leave, but bumped right into a firm chest with a thud. She held her forehead, groaning. ¡°Did that hurt? Let me see.¡± Jonathan¡¯s worried voice came as he bent down and pulled her hand away. When he saw the faint mark on her pale forehead, his brows drew together. How is she so delicate? ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Anneliese quickly waved her hand. ¡°Are you done with work already?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem happy to see me here.¡± His eyes narrowed a little as her reaction felt odd. ¡°How could I not be?¡± Sheughed. ¡°Why are you standing here? Go inside and rest.¡± He didn¡¯t push further and reached for the door handle. Anneliese instinctively stopped his hand. Jonathan grew even more puzzled. ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯re going into battle?¡± Anneliese thought about how Penelope had arranged the room just for them. There was no way to change rooms now. She released her grip, saying, ¡°See for yourself.¡± He opened the door. The sea of red made him pause for a moment. He had to admit that Penelope had put in the effort. Suppressing a smile, he nced at Anneliese. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll ask the maid if there¡¯s another room¡­¡± 12:44 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 345 Caught Off Guard : a He started to turn, but Anneliese quickly pulled him inside, shut the door, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t ask. Grandma had this set up for us. If we turn it down, she¡¯ll feel bad.¡± Besides, they already had the marriage license, and she was supposed to help him with the family¡¯s pressure and y the role of a proper wife. If they switched rooms now, wouldn¡¯t that be like telling Penelope something was wrong with their marriage? So what if the decorations were a bit over the top, with a strong wedding¨Cnight vibe? It wasn¡¯t a big deal¨CAnneliese could handle it. Created 346 Chapter 346 A Flustered Evening ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you?¡± Jonathan asked. Anneliese nodded, and a faint smile showed on his face. ¡°Then go wash up first.¡± She nodded again. She had to admit, Penelope had prepared everything thoroughly. 471 s In the dressing room, there was a whole row of brand¨Cnew designer clothes from thetest season, clearly just delivered, with some tags still hanging. There was also lingerie. Probably worried about sizing, Penelope had bought three or four of the same style in different sizes. Her thoughtfulness made Anneliese feel both touched and guilty. Penelope truly treated her like a granddaughter¨Cinw. If she found out this was only a marriage agreement with Jonathan, and that they nned to split in two years, she would probably be upset and angry. ¡°Can Ie in?¡± Jonathan tapped lightly on the dressing room door. Anneliese came back to herself. ¡°Yes.¡± He stepped inside. ¡°Can¡¯t find something?¡± She had been in there a while. ¡°No, everything¡¯s here. It¡¯s just¡­ Grandma prepared so much. I can¡¯t possibly wear it all. I feel embarrassed¡­¡± Jonathan looked over the rows of clothes. ¡°If you can¡¯t wear them all, pick what you like and take them home. Let¡¯s visit Grandma more often. Nothing makes her happier.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She nodded, then opened a cab next to the lingerie to look for sleepwear. The next second, she mmed the cab door shut. Chapter 346 A Flustered Evening What did she just see? An entire cab full of skimpy, sheer lingerie. Not a single normal piece in sight. She even spotted a pair of fluffy cat¨Ccar headbands and a ck cat tail at the bottom. How could Penelope, who looked so elegant and proper, be hiding things like that? +5 Free Goins She wasn¡¯t just preparing food, clothes, and a ce to stay. She was clearly pushing them toward a real married life. Anneliese felt like she had walked straight into a trap Penelope had carefully set up. ¡°Why are you so jumpy?¡± Jonathan walked over, but Anneliese couldn¡¯t let him open that cab. She quickly turned and pushed him back. ¡°Nothing. You go out first. I¡¯ll grab something to wear and take a shower.¡± He gave her a nce but didn¡¯t ask more. He turned and left. Anneliese let out a breath of relief and grabbed some lingerie. Since she couldn¡¯t find anything else that could pass as sleepwear, she pulled out one of his shirts instead. When she came out of the shower, Jonathan was standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, talking on the phone. His low, steady voice carried easily. This update is avable on Find1Novel Hearing her, he turned. The moment his eyesnded on her by the bathroom door, his breathing grew heavier. Her long, wavy hair was still damp, falling loosely around her shoulders. She wore an oversized white shirt. The cor was slightly open, the sleeves rolled to her elbows. The hem only reached mid- thigh, leaving her straight, slender legs bare. Her fair skin was still pink from the steam, and she stood there shyly, unaware of how she looked. In that moment, Jonathan felt his grandmother wasn¡¯t helping him at all¨Cshe was trying to drive him crazy. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Anneliese, already embarrassed, grew even more ufortable under his stare, curling her toes inside her slippers. Chapter 346 A Flustered Evening 31 s Luckily, Jonathan gave her a small nod and turned back to finish his call. Anneliese hurried to the bed, lifted the covers, and climbed in. She moved too quickly and bumped her head on the headboard. She rubbed her forehead, gritting her teeth, but didn¡¯t make a sound. Jonathan was still on the phone, but he wasn¡¯t listening to the report anymore. The little noises she made behind him yed out in his head as clear images. His lips curved, and he let out a quietugh. The project manager on the other end was thrilled. Wow, our newly finalized n made Mr. Fullbuster this satisfied? ¡°That¡¯s all for now. Thanks for your work.¡± Jonathan hung up, and when he turned, Anneliese was lying on her side scrolling through her phone. He walked into the dressing room, then soon opened the bathroom door and went in. The sound of running water came from inside. Anneliese lifted her head and nced that way. Earlier, she had already asked the night nurse about her grandma¡¯s condition. Everything was stable. Her grandma had woken up for a few minutes, then peacefully fallen back asleep. Relieved, Anneliese tucked her phone under the pillow, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep. As long as she slept, the next time she opened her eyes, it would be morning. Created 347 Chapter 347 idental Touch The idea sounded nice, but putting it into practice was hard. 45 Free Coins By the time Jonathan lifted the nket andy down beside her, Anneliese had already counted up to 863 sheep. Penelope had only given them one nket. When Jonathany on his side, Anneliese immediately felt the heat from his body and the fresh, cool scent that came with him. She stayed still, not moving at all. Then a low voice came from behind her. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before that you¡¯re terrible at pretending to be asleep?¡± Anneliese stayed silent. Before she could respond, his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his familiar embrace. Her cheek pressed against his warm, firm chest. He wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt. Her face heated on the side pressed against him. Jonathan seemed to notice her reaction and let out a sigh. ¡°The pajamas Grandma prepared didn¡¯t fit.¡± Anneliese froze. Did Grandma really give him a closet full of those ridiculous pajama sets too? What would men¡¯s versions even look like? Official source is She had never seen any before, and part of her actually wanted to. But she didn¡¯t dare ask. She just gave a soft ¡°Mm¡­¡± Jonathan¡¯srge hand gently patted her shoulder. ¡°Go to sleep. Goodnight.¡± 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 347 idental Touch 45 Free Coins cheek against his chest, hearing his heartbeat, and with her hand resting near his stomach where she could feel the tightness of his abs? The longer shey there, the stiffer she felt. Sweat gathered on her skin, and it was ufortable. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± In the dark, his chest vibrated as he asked in a low voice. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ too hot.¡± Anneliese squirmed a little, trying to move out of his arms. But when her hand moved, it brushed against his stomach. She instantly felt the firm ripple of his abs tightening. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly curled her fingers, but since they were pressed so close, there wasn¡¯t much room. Her hand ended up brushing across his abs as if she were tickling him. He let out a muffled sound and caught her wandering hand. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Anneliese¡¯s face turned red. Jonathan paused for a moment, his voice low and rough. ¡°You could mean it. Don¡¯t you really want to touch?¡± Huh? Touch? Touch where? Her mind went nk until he guided her hand down onto his firm abs. She wanted to say she hadn¡¯t meant to, but sometimes the body reacted faster than the brain. The feeling was really good. Smooth, solid, full of energy, with strength hidden underneath. And somehow, it felt even hotter. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve started a fire, are you gonna put it out?¡± 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 347 idental Touch : A s His rough voice sounded above her head. Anneliese blushed even harder and tried to pull her hand back. But he held her wrist again. ¡°Just teasing without taking responsibility? Baby, that¡¯s cold.¡± His tone held both frustration andint, low and tempting. Anneliese was speechless. How could he call her baby like that? Her whole body felt like it was on fire. She was embarrassed and flustered, turning her head away as she weakly argued. ¡°I wasn¡¯t! You¡¯re the one who told me to touch!¡± Her voice shook. His chest rumbled with a sigh before he spoke again. ¡°Oh, so obedient? Then what if I tell you to keep going¡­¡± Anneliese grew even more nervous. Before she could answer, he tightened his grip on her hand and guided it lower. Her mind went nk. She looked up in shock. But he lowered his head, and in the dark, he easily found her lips and kissed her. Soft at first, just tasting. Then his hot kisses trailed from her lips to her eyes, her cheek, her neck, and her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to say a proper hello? Hearing you say you¡¯re satisfied would keep me excited all night. I can¡¯t hold back¡­ Baby, help me, yeah?¡± The night grew heavy, and Anneliese was swept along. She realized it then. She had walked right into a trap, and Jonathan was the sly fox who knew exactly how to set it. ¡°Anne, eat more. These are really good for women. I had the cook make them just for you.¡± The next morning at breakfast, Penelope smiled warmly and encouraged Anneliese to eat more. 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 348 Stop Calling Me Baby Created 348 Chapter 348 Stop Calling Me Baby Chapter 348 Stop Calling Me Baby €71 s In front of Anneliese sat a lineup that looked more like a beauty regimen than a meal. The meals were vani custard with cogen pearls, sauteed asparagus with lily petals, duck strips with sprouted lentils, celery¨Ccashew sd, braised pork ribs with lotus root puree, and a delicate heritage hen consomme. Everything on her side of the table was meant to nourish, moisturize, and supposedly make her glow. Jonathan¡¯s dishes, byparison, looked far more ordinary. Penelope and the servants bustling back and forth fussed over Anneliese with warm smiles, ensuring every detail of her meal suited her needs. However, Anneliese felt as if everyone already knew what she and Jonathan had done the night before. The thing was, she hadn¡¯t even done anything. Penelope hadn¡¯t even bothered to prepare any protection for them, and all Anneliese had managedst night was tiring out her hand. The memory of Jonathan¡¯s first time still shed through her mind. His breath hade hard against her ear, rough and desperate, whispering, ¡°Baby, you¡¯re incredible.¡± Just the thought made her fingers twitch. Her spoon slipped and ttered into the porcin cup with a sharp ring. ¡°Don¡¯t like the taste of the heritage hen consomme?¡± Penelope immediately leaned over, concern in her eyes. Anneliese¡¯s ears turned crimson. She shook her head quickly. ¡°No, Grandma. It¡¯s tasty.¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice cut in smoothly, ¡°Grandma, let me take care of her. Please, go ahead and eat.¡± He reached for the cup in Anneliese¡¯s hands, gave the broth a gentle stir, then lifted a spoonful toward her lips with a quiet gesture for her to drink. She could feel eyes on her from every direction. Her chest tightened. She dropped her gaze and whispered, ¡°I can do it myself¡­¡± Jonathan leaned in just enough to make her nerves spike. ¡°Is your hand sore? I¡¯ll massage it for you after we eat.¡± Anneliese¡¯s mind went nk with a loud rush of heat. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words faltered before they even left her tongue. My hand really is sore. But whose fault is that, huh? He just doesn¡¯t know when to quit. Last night wasn¡¯t enough for him. He came back after his shower and¡­ yeah. 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 348 Stop Calling Me Baby 71 s That time dragged on forever, until she finally broke down in tears and bit at his Adam¡¯s apple to make him stop. ¡°No!¡± Anneliese¡¯s voice came out barely louder than a whisper, shaky but stubborn, as she lifted her gaze and shot him a re of irritation. Her eyes said more than her lips ever could. They were sharp, using, tinged with anger. Every nce carried that mix of grievance and defiance, like her whole heart was speaking through them. It¡¯s all his fault! Jonathan¡¯s thin lips curved into a satisfied little smile as he murmured, ¡°My bad, baby.¡± When he called her baby, Anneliese¡¯s head spun, every memory ofst night¡¯s heat and tangled whispers rushing back. It caused her to cough. Lowering her gaze, she saw something that made things worse: his long, clean fingers wrapped around the spoon. Every movement was unhurried,posed. Like carved jade, his fingers looked almost sculpted, carrying that same cold, aristocratic air that always set him apart. But it¡¯s the same hand from night, insisting on giving back as good as it got¡­ Her cheeks flushed so fast it felt like heat rushed straight to her skin. Even the sip of heritage hen consomme she had just taken went the wrong way, and she broke into a coughing fit. ¡°Oh my, Jonathan! Seriously? You¡¯ve got zero sense when ites to taking care of someone. That was anything but gentle.¡± Penelope frowned hard at him when Anneliese started choking, though the spark of mischief in her eyes gave her away. Look at those two, flirting right under my nose. My sharp old eyes catch every bit of it. At this rate, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if I have my great¨Cgrandson and little great¨Cgranddaughter before next month even rolls around! ¡°Careful.¡± Jonathan set the soup bowl down and, before Anneliese could even reach for a napkin, brushed her back with one hand and wiped the broth from the corner of her lips with his thumb. The calloused pad of his thumb was a little rough, and that fleeting scrape made Anneliese¡¯s breath hitch. She shot him a re, cheeks burning with embarrassment and annoyance. Her voice came out sharp and low. ¡°Stop calling me baby.¡± For original chapters go to find?novel 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 348 Stop Calling Me Baby * Free Cong Jonathan looked tooposed for someone she knew had been shamelessly yful justst night. Dressed in a charcoal id three¨Cpiece suit, he carried himself with the air of a gentleman, refined and self¨Cpossessed. After meeting her angry stare, he only lifted a brow with a calm, almost innocent expression. ¡°You choke on heritage hen consomme and you¡¯re telling me you¡¯re not a baby?¡± Anneliese had nothing to say to that. Breakfast ended in a blur, mostly thanks to her own fluster. After Penelope realized Anneliese¡¯s mind was upied with her worries about Nishay at the hospital, she didn¡¯t press her to stay. ¡°Anne, you have toe see me often, alright? I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Penelope mentioned warmly as she held Anneliese¡¯s hand, her eyes shining affectionately. ¡°I will. Take care of yourself too. We¡¯lle by whenever we can.¡± Anneliese nodded obediently, though her stomach knotted with unease. Penelope¡¯s endless nudges about babies, her talk of a newlywed¡¯s home, and her unshakable belief in nourishing food had left a mark that Anneliese couldn¡¯t shake off. She waited until Anneliese entered the car with a smile. Then, she turned, took arge gift box and a shiny gift bag from the servant nearby, and tucked them straight into Anneliese¡¯s arms. Created 349 Chapter 349 Lovesick Brain Chapter 349 Lovesick Brain s ¡°This is my little wee gift for you. Keep it safe, alright?¡± Penelope said with a smile. Anneliese had never seen a present that big before. It was heavy, too, and just the feel of it told her whatever was inside had to be worth a fortune. After being nervous and unsure what to do, she instinctively nced at Jonathan. The man curved his lips into a faint smile. ¡°When a giftes from an elder, it isn¡¯t something you turn down,¡± Jonathan remarked. So Anneliese clutched it close, then turned back to Penelope with a polite smile and a word of thanks. Once the car rolled out of the vi gates, she quickly handed the gift and bag to Jonathan. She peeked inside the bag and realized several other presents, all from Penelope¡¯s friends who had shown up the night before. ¡°Why give them to me? They¡¯re from Grandma, so you should hold onto them yourself.¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t even reach for the bag. His tone was matter¨Cof¨Cfact as he flipped open theptop on his knees, clearly slipping into work mode. With a nce, he signaled Anneliese to stay quiet. She wanted to protest, but in the end, she bit her tongue and didn¡¯t bother him. Left with nothing to do, she gave in to curiosity and opened Penelope¡¯s gift. No wonder it had felt so thick and heavy. Inside was a check for 8.88 million, along with three property deeds. One was for a six¨Chundred¨Csquare¨Cmeter garden vi in Oceaton¡¯s luxury district. Another was for a two¨Cstorymercial unit in the city¡¯s busiest business hub. Even the ¡®cheapest¡® was a nearly two¨Chundred¨Csquare¨Cmeter t inside Halden¡¯s second ring. The sheer extravagance of it made Anneliese swallow hard. She hurried to stuff everything back into the box, her palms damp with cold sweat. D*mn, money really does make people¡¯s hearts waver. With Penelope¡¯s dazzling prospects and Nishay¡¯s kindness, which made her so easy to be Chapter 349 Lovesick Brain s around, Anneliese knew temptation would gnaw at her sooner orter. Two yearster, greed would make it hard to walk away. But the thought of Jonathan¡¯s mysterious first love cooled her down instantly. Just because that woman hadn¡¯t shown up yet didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t exist. Men were masters at deception. Before she learned Selina was Zacharias¡® untouchable obsession, she too had lived in a pretty illusion. Once the veil came off, the ugliness had nowhere to hide. Anneliese had no patience for men with someone else carved into their hearts. She nced at the elegant man beside her and reminded herself she could enjoy hispany, but she¡¯d better not fall too deep. The thought alone killed her mood for opening more gifts. She stuffed every gift into a bag, folded the top shut, and decided she¡¯d lock them in her safe once she got home. Two yearster, they could go right back where they belonged. Jonathan pulled up at the hospital entrance. Content originallyes from ?ovelFind Anneliese stepped out of the car, and just as she clicked the door shut, the man got out on the other side too. He came around the front of the car toward her. Anneliese blinked in surprise. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to get down. Go on to work.¡± She already felt guilty enough. Jonathan had spent all of yesterday on her. On the way here, they¡¯d agreed he would only drop her off at the entrance. Instead, he stopped right in front of her. He took her hand and gently kneaded her fingers before speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re inside.¡± His palm was warm and firm. Her fingers turned soft under his touch, tingling like a current had just run through her. She nodded and turned to go, but then noticed Jonathan¡¯s tie was slightly crooked. Stopping again, she lifted her hand to straighten it for him. After a quick once¨Cover, she smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off?¡± Jonathan hadn¡¯t expected that. A flicker of amusement lit up his sharp eyes, his Adam¡¯s apple shifting as he answered, ¡°Yeah.¡± 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 349 Lovesick Brain P: * Free Coins Anneliese hurried inside the hospital, while Jonathan stood tall, watching her walk away. A car horn broke the moment, and he turned to see Carter behind the wheel of a Hummer. The window rolled down, and Carter leaned out with a grin. ¡°Well, Mr. Fullbuster. Practicing the fine art of wife¨Cwatching already? Tell me, how long before you turn into a statue from staring too much?¡± Jonathan shot him a look. ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking. You don¡¯t qualify.¡± Thatnded harder than Carter liked, leaving him speechless. But Jonathan wasn¡¯t done. He bent down slightly, resting his left hand on the window frame. The ring on his finger caught a quiet glint of morning light. ¡°When you¡¯ve got one of these, then we¡¯ll talk. You do know what this is, right? A wedding ring. My honey slid it on after I got down on one knee.¡± He tilted his head, eyes on Carter¡¯s chest. ¡°By the way, no tie today? You really ought to work on that if you¡¯re serious about finding a wife. Look at mine, perfect knot, thanks to my honey¡¯s handiwork.¡± Carter just froze, stunned. D*mn, what¡¯s got him so hyped today? And seriously, is this any way to treat the doctor who saved his life? ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, maybe you should go ahead and sign up to donate your brain someday!¡± I really wanna crack his head open just to see how that world¨Css lovesick brain of his even works! Created 350 Chapter 350 Go On Anneliese had just stepped into the elevator when the doors began to slide shut. At thest second, a hand slipped in, forcing them open again. She looked up and found herself staring at a face she could hardly stand. It was Selina. Seriously? Of all ces, does Grandma have to be in the same hospital as Mnie? 71 s Selina stepped into the elevator and noticed Anneliese didn¡¯t nce her way. That sh of jealousy in her eyes was impossible to miss. Just minutes earlier, Selina had seen Jonathan at the hospital entrance, personally escorting Anneliese. They had been pulling at each other like a pair of lovesick teenagers, practically acting out a scene from some cheesy drama. ¡°Anneliese, you really think you¡¯ve won? Please. Do you honestly believe that just because you signed a marriage certificate, the Fullbusters will ept you and let you sitfortably as Mrs. Fullbuster?¡± Selina¡¯s mocking voice echoed through the confined space. Unfortunately for her, Anneliese kept her head down, busy typing away on WhatsApp, with zero intention of responding. She was messaging her senior, asking about the flight back to Oceaton, and nning to pick them up if her schedule allowed. Selina¡¯s temper spiked when she realized she was beingpletely ignored. She raised her hand and pped Anneliese¡¯s phone out of her grip. The device hit the floor with a sharp smack. Before Selina could savor her little victory, another sharp crack rang out, and Anneliese had swung back, pping her across the face. After clutching her cheek with one hand, Selinashed out with the other, aiming for Anneliese. Anneliese caught her wrist mid¨Cswing, her grip iron¨Ctight. ¡°Selina, you just can¡¯t go a without asking for trouble, huh?¡± a day Selina tried and failed to break free. Rage twisted through her expression, yet suddenly curved Chapter 350 Go On 71 s her lips into a smile. ¡°Anne, don¡¯t say I never warned you. I¡¯ve heard that Jonathan¡¯s been in love with someone else for years. His so¨Ccalled first love. Do you really think he married you out of love? ¡°You¡¯ve got a tarnished reputation and a failed marriage behind you. For a man like him, marrying you was convenient. He always nned on making his first love Mrs. Fullbuster. That was never going to change. ¡°He¡¯s a man of duty and principles. Why drag a good, innocent woman into the mess of being his second wife? Easier to use you instead. Your reputation was already ruined, so whether it¡¯s your second or third marriage doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°And the best part? With you constantly falling short of what the Fullbusters expect, once he reces you, that woman will shine like a wless pearl inparison. They¡¯ll adore her all the more for it. ¡°So go ahead, keep fooling yourself. You¡¯re nothing but a pawn he used, and one day he¡¯ll toss you aside. Honestly, the only person who doesn¡¯t see it is you.¡± Selina¡¯s eyes carried nothing but mockery. She had chased after Jonathan for years. She never managed to chip away at even the smallest corner of his icy heart, but that didn¡¯t stop her from digging up bits and pieces about him. From what she¡¯d learned, Jonathan had someone he couldn¡¯t forget. And he kept every other woman at arm¡¯s length because of that woman. And now Jonathan suddenly marries Anneliese. Something¡¯s clearly off because there¡¯s no way he does it out of love. I¡¯m doing her a favor by pointing it out, and honestly, she ought to be thanking me for it. Selina waited for the flush of shame to creep over Anneliese¡¯s expression, but it never came. From start to finish, Anneliese¡¯s expression stayed perfectly calm, like nothing could touch her. The next second, Anneliese tore her hand free, grabbed Selina by the hair, and mmed her against the elevator wall. ¡°Go on. Take a good look at that twisted, jealous self of yours before you spit out another word.¡± As she leaned into the cold metal, Selina glimpsed her reflection. Her features looked warped, eyes zing green with envy, lips drawn tight as if she could spit venom at any second. Behind her, Anneliese tilted her chin withzy arrogance, her striking features alight with scorn and superiority. Selina¡¯s breath hitched when she noticed the faint marks on Anneliese¡¯s pale neck¨Ctwo unmistakable love bites. Chapter 350 Go On s Rage clouded Selina¡¯s vision, her world going dark at the edges. Anneliese finally let go, tugged a tissue from her bag to wipe her hand, picked up her phone, cleaned the screen, and walked out of the elevator without a backward nce. Once she was free of Selina¡¯s sight, Anneliese violently shook her right hand. ¡°Tch. D*mn.¡± That move was too sharp, and now my hands are cramping again out of habit. D*mn it, Jonathan. He¡¯s already got his precious first love, yet he won¡¯t quit messing with me. Figures, men are all the same, nothing but trouble. This update is avable on F?ndNovel Anneliese rubbed her sore arm, the frustration simmering in her chest. Inside the elevator, Selinashed out and kicked the wall hard. Right then, two family members of patients walked in. One of them muttered, ¡°Crazy people should be at a mental hospital, not hanging around St. Nine¡¯s.¡± Selina caught their whispers. The anger hit her so fast her nose almost twisted out of shape. By the time she pushed open Mnie¡¯s door, all the fire had drained away, leaving her pale and shaken. The Whites froze when they saw her. Half her cheek was swollen red, and her eyes were rimmed with tears. Mnie slipped right out of bed. ¡°Selina, what happened to you?¡± Selina shook her head. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry. I ran into Anne in the elevator. I know you¡¯ve been worried about her, so I tried to bring her to see you. I begged and begged, but she wouldn¡¯t even look at me. I reached out to pull her along, and she just¡­¡± Created 351 Chapter 351 What Are You Two Doing Here? Chapter 351 What Are You Two Doing Here? ¡°She hit you over that? What the hell¡¯s wrong with her!¡± Perseus and Christopher were just as furious. s ¡°Tch. Looks like marrying into the Fullbusters really turned her into someone who thinks she¡¯s royalty now.¡± ¡°When she came back to the Whites, she buttered us up like crazy. I knew then she was only out for herself. And now that she¡¯stched on to the Fullbusters, she doesn¡¯t even bother to look at us poor families.¡± Their voices dripped with sarcasm while Mnie wiped her tears in silence. ¡°Enough. Since she¡¯s already here in the hospital, the two of you will drag her in if you have to. Your mom and I brought her into this world. She¡¯s got the Whites¡® blood in her veins. She doesn¡¯t get to disown us whenever it suits her. If it weren¡¯t for the Whites, would some girl from the sticks have crossed paths with Jonathan? She thinks she can climb her way up using the Whites and then toss us aside once she¡¯s done? Not a chance.¡± Timothy spoke in a low, stern voice. Anneliese spent fifteen minutes talking to Nishay inside the ICU before the nurse gently asked her to leave. She peeled off the protective gown and was about to ask the nurse about Nishay¡¯s recovery when Perseus and Christopher showed up together. Anneliese frowned. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Christopher came in hot, his voice already raised. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯ve got some nerve asking me that! Mom¡¯s been sick for days, and it¡¯s all because of you. You didn¡¯t even bother to visit her once. But that old hag with no blood ties to you? Suddenly you care so much¡­ ah!¡± He didn¡¯t get to finish. Anneliese unscrewed the thermos lid beside her and threw the whole cup of water straight in his face. ¡°You crazy shrew!¡± Christopher sputtered, dripping wet. Thankfully, the water was only warm, not boiling. Anneliese sneered coldly. ¡°Look who¡¯s talking. You¡¯re the real hag here. Your whole family¡¯s nothing but a bunch of decrepit old leeches.¡± 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 351 What Are You Two Doing Here? Christopher hade all the way just to curse Nishay, Getting drenched only fueled Anneliese¡¯s fury, so she kicked him hard in the leg. * Free Cong He clutched his thigh and hopped around in pain, pointing a trembling finger at her. ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t hit you back!¡± He lunged forward, but Perseus caught him by the arm. ¡°Let go, Perseus! Can¡¯t you see how arrogant she is?¡± Christopher snapped. Calmer than him, Perseus warned in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t forget why we¡¯re here.¡± Christopher ground his teeth, barely holding himself back. Only then did Perseus turn to Anneliese. ¡°Ms. Morris is still our elder. She just had surgery. It¡¯s only right that we came to visit¡­.¡± Before he could finish, Anneliese cut him off with no courtesy. ¡°Visit? What kind of visit is this? You show up empty¨Chanded and call it concern? If you can¡¯t even act the part, don¡¯t dress it up like you¡¯re doing something noble.¡± Back when Anneliese first returned to the Whites, she had begged them several times to let someone apany her back to Baytree, so that Nishay could feel at ease and so she could pay respects to the couple who had raised her. That was something any decent family would¡¯ve done. But the Whites brushed it off like it was pointless. To them, Anneliese was never truly one of their own. The Whites were selfish to the bone. They looked down on Nishay and the people who had taken Anneliese in, and they sure as hell wouldn¡¯t associate with anyone who couldn¡¯t bring them profit. ¡°Anne, you¡¯ve got it wrong. It¡¯s not that we didn¡¯t bring a gift. We just know Ms. Morris is still in the ICU. Once she¡¯s moved to a regr room, we¡¯lle by properly,¡± Perseus exined, staying calm even though Anneliese had caught him out. Updates are released by Find[?]ovel Anneliese curled a sarcastic smile. ¡°Cut the act. Let me guess, Selina got hit and ran to tattletale. Now you¡¯re dragging me to the ward so the whole family can gang up on me? Do you think I look like an idiot? I¡¯m not going anywhere with you.¡± After seeing that she wasn¡¯t budging, Perseus¡® expression tensed, almost cracking. He frowned and said, ¡°Anne, you¡¯ve got it all wrong about us. Since you refuse to go see Mom, we¡¯ll stay here. That way, we can keep an eye on Ms. Morris and help out if needed.¡± With that, he grabbed a slightly flustered Christopher and plopped down on a nearby chair. His posture said everything. If Anneliese didn¡¯t cooperate, they weren¡¯t backing off. They would just wait her out. 12:45 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 351 What Are You Two Doing Here? 71 s Anneliese studied them momentarily and then curved her lips into a sudden smile. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± Since they¡¯re so eager for me to see how pitiful their family looks, I might as well take a look. Come to think of it, the DNA test results I sent to the earlier are back today. She stepped forward. Perseus and Christopher froze for a second, then hurried after her. The hospital setting didn¡¯t bother Anneliese. She wasn¡¯t scared the Whites would overstep here. When they reached Mnie¡¯s room, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She pushed the door open and walked in. Timothy had already prepped Selina and Mnie, ensuring they understood the bigger picture. They needed to stay patient, y along, and win Anneliese first. Only then could they help the Whites navigate the tricky situation. So when Anneliese entered, Mnie bit back the reprimand she had ready. Instead, she managed a surprised, almost delighted expression. Created 352 Chapter 352 Apologize to Anne Chapter 352 Apologize to Anne s ¡°Anne, you finally decided toe see me!¡± Mnie reached out, but Anneliese didn¡¯t move toward her. Instead, she walked over to the couch and sat down without a nce back. After crossing her legs, she looked at Mnie and said, ¡°A few days apart, you suddenly look ten years older. You¡¯ve got three devoted children spoiling you, yet you look frail here.¡± Her words dripped with sarcasm. Mnie felt a headacheing on, but what hurt more was that Anneliese had somehow hit a nerve. Mnie had been in the hospital for days. Timothy, Christopher, and Perseus said thepany was too busy to visit. Last night was the first time any of them came. When they arrived, visiting hours were almost over, and they left after barely ten minutes. And Selina, the daughter who was usually the most attentive, hadn¡¯t even visited until today. For some reason, Mnie¡¯s mind wandered back four or five years, to a time when she had been sick. Back then, Anneliese had spent days brewing herbal remedies for herself and preparing light meals every day. When Mnie had headaches, Anneliese had even massaged her acupoints. Mnie stared at the indifferent face before her, feeling sadness and guilt. Could it really be my fault? ¡°Anne, she¡¯s not the only one showing signs of age. Haven¡¯t I been feeling it too? Thepany¡¯s projects are falling apart, our cash flow¡¯s on the brink, and getting the family out of this mess is just one word from Mr. Fullbuster. Anne, if you¡¯d just give us a hand, we¡¯ll do anything you ask.¡± Timothy¡¯s desperation was palpable, like his chest was on fire. A couple of banks were still willing to consider loans for White Inc., but the terms were harsh. Ever since the Whites were locked in the basement for two days, even those banks had changed their tune. Timothy had to dig around to discover that Jonathan was behind it all, and he was confronted with a harsh truth. Without Anneliese¡¯s approval, Jonathan wouldn¡¯t ease up, and White Inc. would never get the funding. If it weren¡¯t for that, Timothy, prideful as he was, would never have pressured the whole family into yielding to Anneliese. ¡°Oh, what a shame,¡± Anneliese said, her lips curling lightly. ¡°There¡¯s really nothing I need from Chapter 352 Apologize to Anne s you. Besides¡­¡± She paused and let her gazend on Selina, standing quietly by the bedside. Selina¡¯s scalp prickled. A bad feeling gnawed at her gut. Sure enough, Anneliese continued. ¡°Selina just warned me that Jonathan only married me to toy with me. He doesn¡¯t care for me, and being Mrs. Fullbuster isn¡¯t something to brag about. I agree. In front of Jonathan, I don¡¯t carry the weight you think I do. I can¡¯t help any of you.¡± With that, Anneliese stood up and headed for the door. ¡°Anne, wait!¡± Timothy¡¯s expression twisted with fury as he snapped, spinning around and swinging his hand hard across Selina¡¯s face. ¡°What kind of nonsense are you spouting! Go apologize to Anne properly, right now!¡± The p hit like a bolt of lightning, leaving Selina staggering. Timothy was strong, still in his prime despite his age, and there was no way Anneliese could match his power. His p sent Selina crashing to the ground. She let out a sharp scream, her vision darkening, and blood ran from the corner of her mouth. Shey there, humiliated, clutching her fists,pletely unable to believe what had just happened. I can¡¯t even remember how often my family and Zacharias have been on my side. They¡¯ve always made Anneliese apologize to me again and again. But now, Dad actually expects me to apologize to Anneliese! He even does this in front of her, hitting me like that. Newest update provided by find~novel Selin¡¯s mouth was full of that metallic, sweet taste, and for the first time, she felt what it was like for Anneliese to be mistreated. But I absolutely cannot lose Dad¡¯s love. The more I hurt, the more they only worry over me. She propped herself up on the hospital bed and slowly pushed to her feet. After wiping at the corner of her mouth, she left a smear of blood across her swollen, reddened cheek. ¡°Anne¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t even remember saying those things. But if you despise me so much that you won¡¯t help the family, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes¡­¡± The way she held herself, swallowing every grievance for the Whites, keeping all those slights locked inside without a word, made Timothy¡¯s expression twist with guilt and regret. Mnie covered her mouth, stifling the sob that threatened to escape. Perseus and Christopher clenched their fists so tightly that it showed in their knuckles. Neither could bear to watch, so they turned their heads. Chapter 352 Apologize to Anne : s The whole scene felt like a family bound by deep loyalty, and Anneliese was the only one who looked like the viin. Selina waited for Anneliese to snap, tosh out even further. She knew her too well. Once Anneliese made a decision, there was no turning back. Created 353 Chapter 353 I¡¯m Willing to Cut All Ties With the Whites Chapter 353 I¡¯m Willing to Cut All Ties With the Whites Anneliese hadpletely lost faith in the Whites. 71 s But to everyone¡¯s surprise, she suddenly smiled and eased herself back onto the couch, settling into a posture that screamed let¡¯s talk. Selina felt a jolt in her chest, utterly thrown by Anneliese¡¯s unpredictability. ¡°Alright then, you¡¯re willing to do anything, huh?¡± Anneliese curled her lips in a teasing smirk, intrigued despite herself. In that moment, Selina felt like a bird caught in someone¡¯s teasing hands, sensing the bright, cutting edge of Anneliese¡¯s malice. Yet the rest of the Whites seemed overjoyed, oblivious as ever. The family who had just been worried for Selina now watched her stand frozen, not saying a word, and even nudged her impatiently. A wave of sorrow and anger rolled through her, but she forced a pale smile. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± Anneliese pped her hands. ¡°Perfect. Now confess¨Cadmit to hiring those thugs four years ago to try and take my life.¡± She picked up her phone, dialing the police station for Selina, and set it on the table with a clear gesture. tell the cops about everyone who ¡°Just call now. Confess exactly like I said. And make sure you tell the helped you cover it up. I promise, White Inc.¡¯s missing funds will be back in your ount within two days, operations restored.¡± When she finished speaking, the room fell into a suffocating silence. Back then, there had been four thugs involved, all of them sentenced for robbery and assault. The ringleader, who got the heaviest sentence, had finally served his time and walked out of prisonst year. After that, he vanished somewhere in Oceaton, entirely off the grid. Anneliese had eavesdropped on the truth and didn¡¯t just sit on it. She hired three private detective agencies to reopen the case, hoping to gather some evidence. But too much time had passed. The Whites had cleaned up every trace so thoroughly that nothing remained. There was no evidence, and not even the ringleader could be found. 12:46 Mon, Sep 29 71 Chapter 353 I¡¯m Willing to Cut All Ties With the Whites ¡°How is this even possible!¡± Mnie blurted, her voice sharp with shock. s Timothy frowned and shot her a look. Mnie quickly added, ¡°Anne, whatever happened back then has nothing to do with Selina. Why won¡¯t you believe me? You can¡¯t just demand that she turn herself in. Even if you dislike her, you can¡¯t go that far¡­¡± Mnie realized just in time that Anneliese might be recording. Timothy smiled at Anneliese. ¡°Anne, can we try asking something else?¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find~novel Selina sniffed and said, ¡°I won¡¯t confess to something I didn¡¯t do.¡± There was a sharp, almost defiant gleam in her eyes. I think that with the Whites¡® selfish coldness, it¡¯s a sign of genuine affection that they don¡¯t push Selina forward in a moment like this. Anneliese didn¡¯t feel disappointed. Honestly, she had never expected Selina to reallye forward. Anneliese let out a self¨Cmockingugh. ¡°See, even now, Selina is still the precious one in your whole family. So maybe you should be the ones begging her to handle the White Inc. crisis.¡± Anneliese¡¯s patience had run out. She had already given the Whites their chance. She stood up and walked toward the door. Selina¡¯s eyes were dark with a stormy shadow. Anneliese is downright vicious. With her making this demand, the moment White Inc. hits rock bottom, everyone will me me! She gritted her teeth and stepped forward, but before anyone could react, she copsed to her knees with a heavy thud, wrapping her arms tightly around Anneliese¡¯s legs. ¡°Anne, I was wrong! Please, I¡¯m begging you to help our family. I know you despise me, and I¡¯m willing to cut all ties with the Whites. From now on, you¡¯ll be the only heiress of the Whites. ¡°A family like the Fullbusters would never ept an orphan as theirdy. Jonathan¡¯s male rtives, their wives alle from impressive backgrounds. Anne, by helping the Whites, you¡¯re really helping yourself too. You¡¯d be securing your own standing in the Fullbusters. Don¡¯t you see?¡± Selina¡¯s words were heartfelt and desperate. Everything she said focused on the Whites and on Anneliese. She was willing to give up all her own interests and even disappear from the Whites entirely. 12:46 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 353 I¡¯m Willing to Cut All Ties With the Whites 45 Free Coins Mnie couldn¡¯t stand it. After seeing her pampered Selina stoop so low, break her pride like this, she felt a rush of pain and emotion. She leapt off the hospital bed and rushed over, grabbing Selina. ¡°No! Selina, you can¡¯t leave. How could I ever lose you?¡± Selina stayed on her knees, refusing to rise. ¡°Mom¡­ no, Mrs. White, please don¡¯t say anything. I don¡¯t care what happens to me, as long as the Whites are safe. Consider it my way of repaying you and Mr. White for all the years you¡¯ve cared for me.¡± Mnie always felt bitter and stung after hearing Selina call her Mrs. White. But that moment pierced her heart like nothing she had ever felt. Tears streamed down her cheeks without a thought. She fell to the floor, clutching Selina, and the two of them sobbed together, head to head. Christopher and Perseus stepped forward and helped pull Mnie and Selina up, supporting them firmly. Created 354 Chapter 354 The Results Had Dropped Chapter 354 The Results Had Dropped s ¡°Mom, Selina, stop begging Anneliese already. She¡¯s a cold¨Chearted witch. She¡¯s just stringing us along, never meant to actually help.¡± ¡°Exactly. Get up! Don¡¯t tell me the Whites, with all the connections and clout we¡¯ve built over the years, have to grovel before Mrs. Fullbuster. She wants to stand there with that icy stare? Fine. She¡¯d better not expect me or Perseus to stand up for her if she ever gets mistreated in the Fullbusters.¡± Timothy gently cupped Selina¡¯s swollen cheek, his voice aching with pity. ¡°Sweetheart, does it hurt? I¡¯m your father. Stop calling me Mr. White.¡± Selina was always the tactician. She dropped to her knees and made a show of humbling herself. In that moment, she looked both pitiful and self¨Csacrificing. That left Anneliese, cast in their eyes as nothing more than the vicious viiness of the story. Selina¡¯s tears fell free as she lowered her gaze, hiding the darkness that flickered beneath hershes. I¡¯ll make Anneliese pay back the humiliation I suffer today twice over. She thinks just because she¡¯s Mrs. Fullbuster now, she can use this chance to kick me out of the Whites. She¡¯s got no idea how far out of her league she is. Selina shot Anneliese another provoking nce, eager to catch even a flicker of jealousy, frustration, or, despair on her face. But to her surprise, Anneliese wasn¡¯t even looking at them. She was busy scrolling through her phone, eyes narrowed with an expression that seemed almost amused. Selina¡¯s gut told her whatever Anneliese was looking at wasn¡¯t ordinary. And she wasn¡¯t wrong. She knew Anneliese too well. What was on that screen was the result of a paternity test. On her way to the hospital room earlier, Anneliese had logged into the testing center¡¯s system, only to find the report still pending. Now, out of the blue, the results had dropped. She read them in silence. Timothy and Selina confirmed as biological father and daughter. Selina and Mikita confirmed as mother and daughter. And Mikita¡¯s little boy, Billy White, was also confirmed as Timothy¡¯s son. After lifting her gaze from the phone, Anneliese looked at the family clinging to each other Chapter 354 The Results Had Dropped like they¡¯d never let go. The sight struck her as nothing but cruelly ironic. s Such a devoted and loving family. But if Mnie and Perseus find out the truth, will they still treat Selina with the same tenderness, with no trace of resentment? I honestly can¡¯t wait to see. ¡°Anne, did you change your mind?¡± Selina caught the flicker in Anneliese¡¯s eyes, that strange shift in her mood, and her gut told her Anneliese must¡¯ve seen something on her phone. She had no idea what it was, but she wasn¡¯t about to let it slide. Selina lunged at her, grabbed the wrist holding the phone, and tilted her head to glimpse the screen. However, it was toote; the disy went dark before she could make out anything. ¡°Hard times are what really test love and loyalty. I truly hope the five of you will always stand by each other. Losing money or going broke, that¡¯s nothing in the end. With love, even the simplest life feels full. ¡°What matters most is that you never lose Selina, who means so much to you.¡± Anneliese yanked her hand free. Before walking off, her gaze lingered on Mnie, Perseus, and Christopher, her eyes glimmering with something unspoken. If I throw that paternity report in front of the three of them right now, they won¡¯t believe it. Timothy and Selina can talk their way out of anything, and those three would rather side with them than ever trust me. But tomorrow? Tomorrow, Timothy is meeting Mikita at the restaurant. And really, what could hit harder than seeing it with their own eyes? Latest content published on find?novel Anneliese had just stepped out of the ward when her phone buzzed. It was Jonathan. She answered, her tone clipped. ¡°What is it?¡± Jonathan¡¯s hand stilled over the papers in front of him. That calm, distant voice of hers caught him off guard. Last night in my arms, she wasn¡¯t like this at all. Her voice and her manner were soft, almost unbearably sweet. When things got rough, she even looked at me with teary eyes and tried to act coy. But now, just through the phone, I could hear that cold distance in how she speaks. It gave me the feeling of one of those dainty little women who y sweet and delicate, then the second they step off the bed, they act like they don¡¯t even know you. Jonathan paused before he finally asked, ¡°Rough day?¡± Truth was, Anneliese wasn¡¯t in the best mood. First, the Whites always managed to drain her 12:46 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 354 The Results Had Dropped energy, and then Selina had said something in the elevator that left her unsettled. Without meaning to, she took it out a little on Jonathan. g The moment she realized it, her voice softened. ¡°Sorry. I just ran into someone I really can¡¯t stand.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t get the short end of the stick, did you?¡± Jonathan asked. That caught her off guard. Warmth spread quietly through her chest at his concern. Anneliese¡¯s bad mood faded so easily with him. She felt her lips curve before she even realized it. How he treated her¨Cgentle, protective, almost indulgent¨Cmade it far too easy to believe she was loved. And that was what scared her most. Falling for him felt like the easiest thing in the world. Pressing her lips together, she forced herself to answer lightly. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Created 355 Chapter 355 Selina¡¯s Next n Chapter 355 Selina¡¯s Next n ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± s Jonathan didn¡¯t press further and added, ¡°Zane just called. He and Jessica are doing fine. They should be back in aton by this evening. Shall we all get together tonight?¡± Anneliese hadn¡¯t expected that. Whether it was helping Jessica out previously or saving her grandmother now, Jonathan¡¯s friends had gone out of their way to help. She quickly said, ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s also invite Dr. Chevalier and Mr. Cahan.¡± Inside the hospital room, however, the atmosphere was tense. ¡°How cold and heartless of her! Why can¡¯t Selina stay? ¡°Besides, what did she mean by hoping our family of five wouldn¡¯t break up?¡± As soon as Anneliese left, Mnie burst into anger, fuming. Anneliese had spoken vaguely, as if she was hinting at something else. Timothy frowned, his gaze flickering. He wondered whether Anneliese had discovered something. Mnie¡¯s face turned pale. This time, she wasn¡¯t putting on an act¨Cshe had been running a fever on and off for days, and her body was incredibly weak. The family hurried to help her lie down. Once she closed her eyes to rest, the others stepped out of the room. Timothy rubbed his temples, his expression heavy. At that moment, his phone buzzed with calls from thepany, asking him for instructions. He forced himself to stay focused, then turned to his two sons. ¡°Find out who¡¯s still worth reaching out to and give them another call.¡± 12:46 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 355 Selina¡¯s Next n Selina slipped her arm through his. 42 (71) +5 Fres Coins ¡°Dad, you must be exhausted. Why not head home and rest? Tomorrow, let Mom work her magic with one of her massages. Leave everything else to us, and we¡¯ll find a way.¡± Seeing her swollen face yet hearing not a singleint, Timothy felt both guilty andforted by Selina¡¯s thoughtfulness. He had been ming Mikita for the mess caused by her elder brother, Niki, and with thepany troubles piling up, he had lost all interest in meeting Mikita tomorrow as they had nned. He had been ready to call it off, but he nodded and patted Selina¡¯s hand. ¡°Alright. I didn¡¯t mean to hit you. Once thepany pulls through this crisis, you¡¯ll receive some shares,¡± he promised. Selina leaned against his shoulder, her expression tender with filial devotion. ¡°I don¡¯t me you at all, Dad. I only hate myself for not being capable enough¨Cfor letting Anne snatch Mr. Fullbuster away, and for failing to help you.¡± A cold glint shed in her eyes. Anneliese, just you wait. You may have pped me in the face, but I won¡¯t let you have it easy either. Do you think getting Jonathan to pressure us and cutting off the White family¡¯s lifeline means you¡¯ve already won? Just wait and see! After saying goodbye to Timothy, Selina didn¡¯t bother tending to her bruised face or disheveled appearance. Instead, she went straight to somewhere else. An hourter, she stood outside a Victorian vi halfway up the mountain, requesting to see its owner. ¡°Apologies, Ms. White, but Mrs. Fullbuster is currently resting after a sleepless night. We aren¡¯t allowed to wake her up, so please head back,¡± exined the middle¨Caged butler after keeping Selina waiting for a while. 12:46 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 355 Selina¡¯s Next n The woman dug her nails into her palms, then stepped forward with a weak smile. ¡°That¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll wait as long as it takes.¡± Her persistence was in¨Cif the mistress refused to see her, she wouldn¡¯t leave. 71 s The butler, clearly irritated by how clingy she was, chuckled and turned to leave, but before he could do so, Selina spoke again. ¡°Forgive me, but Mr. Fullbuster has been pressuring us because of my sister, and the White family¡¯s funds have been cut off. ¡°My parents have fallen ill from the stress, so I had no choice but toe here-¡± As she expected, the butler froze at her words. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster? You mean Jonathan Fullbuster? Who¡¯s your sister?¡± Feigning surprise, Selina replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Fullbuster is married to my sister, Anneliese ude. He attended the Goldings¡® Silver Jubilee and announced their rtionship. ¡°Have they not paid Mrs. Fullbuster a visit yet?¡± The butler frowned, then quickly hurried back inside. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel Within minutes, Selina was led into the vi. The butler ushered her into a small sitting room. After a short wait, footsteps approached. Selina rose at once. The woman who entered was impably kept. Even at home, she wore a branded couture cashmere set in soft ivory, paired with sapphire earrings and a matching ring of exquisite quality. She looked not a day over thirty despite being in her forties. A closer look revealed features simr to Jonathan¡¯s, her aura noble and refined. She was none other than Elizabeth Holf, Jonathan¡¯s mother. 12:46 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 355 Selina¡¯s Next n $71 s ¡°Sorry to trouble you, Mrs. Fullbuster,¡± Selina apologized. Her swollen eyes and disheveled state made Mrs. Fullbuster frown slightly. Taking a seat, Elizabeth finally asked, ¡°Why do you look like this? A young woman should always take care of her face¨Cespecially a pretty one like yours. Created 356 Chapter 356 Demanding To Meet Her Daughter¨CIn¨CLaw Chapter 356 Demanding To Meet Her Daughter¨CIn¨CLaw Tears welled up in Selina¡¯s eyes at once, and she hurriedly wiped them away. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Fullbuster. My face is swollen from being pped by Anneliese, but I¡¯ll be fine. However, I¡¯m afraid of what might happen to White Inc. if we don¡¯t secure our funds soon. ¡°My parents are no longer young, and thepany is their life¡¯s work. If it copses, they might not be able to take it. Have mercy on us, Mrs. Fullbuster. Please talk Mr. Fullbuster out of it!¡± Her tears finally spilled over. Elizabeth signaled for the butler, and he quickly passed Selina a tissue. ¡°Thank you,¡± Selina murmured, dabbing her tears away. ¡°Are you here to badmouth my son, Ms. White?¡± Selina was stumped. That wasn¡¯t her intention at all! She wasining about Anneliese, not Jonathan. How could Elizabeth miss her point entirely? ¡°Not at all, Mrs. Fullbuster. Anneliese is the White family¡¯s actual daughter, and she¡¯s always resented me for not leaving. Also, she gets into a ton of misunderstandings with our parents. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster can¡¯t be med. After all, she¡¯s his wife, and he¡¯s a devoted husband.¡± She paused. ¡°I only fear my sister acted in a moment of anger. If the White family really goes bankrupt, she¡¯ll regret it. We¡¯re still family, after all. If Mr. Fullbuster continues to pressure us, it won¡¯t reflect well on his own reputation either. Don¡¯t you think so, Mrs. Fullbuster?¡± She chose her words carefully. No mother would tolerate her son being strung along by a woman like that¨Cdivorced, with checkered past and a questionable reputation. 8:25 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 356 Demanding To Meet Her Daughter¨CIn¨CLaw +20 Free Coins Selina observed Elizabeth nervously, but the older woman¡¯s expression hardly changed. She simply nodded and said, ¡°I understand.¡± Selina couldn¡¯t read her meaning or mood, but the words clearly signaled dismissal. Eyes brimming with tears, she had no choice but to let the butler escort her out. When the butler returned, Elizabeth was by the window, sipping her coffee. ¡°Do you n on helping Ms. White?¡± the butler asked. Elizabeth stirred her cupzily. ¡°She¡¯s just a whiny outsider, even trying to use me as her weapon. She has ambition and courage, I¡¯ll give her that¨Cbut she¡¯s far too foolish.¡± The butler chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s far too naive and young. She¡¯s got nothing against you, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± Elizabeth set down her cup and sighed as she gazed out the window. The butler knew her well. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about Ms. ude, aren¡¯t you?¡± After all, Anneliese had never met Elizabeth or Jonathan¡¯s grandfather. Even if they were legally married, she hardly counted as the young madam of the family. ¡°She grew up in an orphanage and has already been through a failed marriage. What on earth does Jonathan see in her? ¡°He went and tied the knot without telling anyone, and even the olddy just went along with it!¡± Elizabeth knew Jonathan had brought his wife to meet his grandmotherst night, and that they¡¯d gotten along. The butler didn¡¯t darement much. ¡°I¡¯m sure Mr. Fullbuster will introduce you guys sooner orter. Perhaps Ms. ude is an exceptionaldy.¡± ¡°Her name rings a bell. Where have I heard it before?¡± 8:25 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 356 Demanding To Meet Her Daughter¨CIn¨CLaw Elizabeth frowned as she tried to recall, but nothing came to mind. She tilted her head and instructed, ¡°Bring me my phone.¡± The butler quickly fetched it, and Elizabeth dialed Jonathan¡¯s number. 198) +20 Free Coins In the president¡¯s office at Aerolux Airways, Jonathan had just ended his call with Anneliese and set his phone down. This text is hosted at Find[?]ovel Thinking it was the girl calling again, he answered without a second thought, phone to his ear as he signed some documents. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He sounded warm and gentle. Caught off guard by his tone, Elizabeth paused momentarily before she finally spoke. ¡°It¡¯s me, Jonathan.¡± The man stopped what he was doing. He closed the file he had just signed, set it aside, and loosened his tie. ¡°What is it?¡± He didn¡¯t necessarily sound distant, butpared to earlier, the difference was stark. Elizabeth¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Did Ms. ude meet your grandmotherst night? When is it my turn?¡± ¡°My schedule¡¯s packed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just get someone to pick her up¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s pretty busy too!¡± He cut her off before she could finish, making it clear he had no intention of introducing Anneliese to his mother anytime soon. Elizabeth¡¯s expression grew colder. Chapter 356 Demanding To Meet Her Daughter¨CIn¨CLaw ¡°I¡¯m your mother, not some monster who¡¯ll eat her alive! Is your wife too much of a embarrassment to introduce?¡± Jonathan tapped his finger against the desk impatiently. ¡°She¡¯s the one for me! It¡¯s Anneliese I¡¯ll be spending my life with, not you. I love he don¡¯t care what anyone else thinks. She doesn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval. You¡¯ll mee Grandma¡¯s birthday next month.¡± 8:25 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 356 Demanding To Meet Her Daughter¨CIn¨CLaw ¡°I¡¯m your mother, not some monster who¡¯ll eat her alive! Is your wife too much of an embarrassment to introduce?¡± Jonathan tapped his finger against the desk impatiently. $20 Free Gol ¡°She¡¯s the one for me! It¡¯s Anneliese I¡¯ll be spending my life with, not you. I love her, and I don¡¯t care what anyone else thinks. She doesn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval. You¡¯ll meet her at Grandma¡¯s birthday next month.¡± Created 357 Chapter 357 Chemistry Jonathan ended the call without another word, tossing his phone aside. +20 Free Coins On the other end, Elizabeth mmed her own phone down on the table, her expression dark with displeasure. Soon, night fell. When Anneliese entered the private room of the club with Jonathan, Joel and the others were already there. Jessica hade with Zane, and being the social butterfly she was, she had already gotten along well with Carter and Joel. The four of them were gathered around a table ying card games. As soon as she saw Anneliese and Jonathan walk in, Jessica pushed her cards away, leapt to her feet as though she¡¯d been pardoned, and rushed straight toward Anneliese. ¡°I¡¯m tapping out. We need to catch up, Anne!¡± Seeing hering, Anneliese instinctively opened her arms for a hug. But before Jessica could reach her, Jonathan casually hooked an arm around Anneliese¡¯s waist and steered her aside. Jessica¡¯s hug fell short, and she nearly crashed headfirst into the door. ¡°It¡¯s warm here. Why don¡¯t you take off your jacket first?¡± Jessica spun around in disbelief, just in time to see Jonathan bending down and whispering to Anneliese. It was as if that little move of pulling her away had been nothing more than a coincidence. But the man¡¯s possessiveness was practically radiating off him like a shield. How could Jessica not notice? She rolled her eyes, thinking to herself, With this level of jealousy, is he going to get jealous of his own child when Anne has a baby? 1/3 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 357 Chemistry 98 +20 Free Coins Anneliese slipped off her coat, and Jonathan took it from her, hanging it up alongside his own. Across the room, Joel and the others exchanged looks. Joel lifted his ss for a sip, then leaned toward Carter and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s only been a while since Ist saw Jonathan. When did he be such a simp?¡± His sudden change in demeanor was unnerving. Having seen the couple frequently while treating Jessica¡¯s grandmother, Carter remainedposed. He nodded at Joel. ¡°Rx, you haven¡¯t even seen the worst of it yet.¡± He still remembered that morning outside the hospital. Jonathan stood at his car window, deliberately showing off his tie, his wedding ring, and even his watch. So much so that when Carterter answered a call about a blind date his family had arranged for him, he was so rattled by Jonathan¡¯s smugness that he dazedly agreed to it. Jonathan was downright toxic! Noticing how uncharacteristically quiet Zane was, Joel and Carter both turned to look at him. ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± Among the four of them, Zane usually looked the coldest and hardest to mess with¨Cbut ironically, he was also the chattiest. Today, though, he was acting strangely. When prompted, Zane swirled his ss, shing a toothy grin. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s great? Oh, how romantic! I¡¯d kill to have a taste of it too.¡± Joel and Carter were speechless. Jonathan¡¯s lovesick disease had found another victim. Meanwhile, Anneliese nodded at Joel and the others, then leaned toward Jessica. ¡°You didn¡¯t run into trouble back in Baytree, did you?¡± she asked. 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 357 Chemistry +20 Free Coins She worried that Jessica might have encountered Marcus or other members of the Johnson family. If it weren¡¯t for the earlier matter with her grandmother, Anneliese would have been furious. Jessica insisted on going with Zane as well, or Anneliese would never have let her return to Baytree otherwise. Jessica¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and she instinctively nced toward Zane. Baytree was Marcus¡® territory. Soon after theynded, they had already noticed suspicious tailing. For her safety, Zane insisted that she stay within his sight at all times. Unexpectedly, he produced a pair of handcuffs and locked their hands together. For two days, they remained handcuffed except during bathroom breaks. They had even slept that way, and Anneliese¡¯s question brought back the dull ache of her half- numb limbs and feeling like a conjoined twin. Jessica subtly tried to look away, but Zane¡¯s gaze happened to meet hers. As they made eye contact, the man took arge sip of red wine, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing and eyes half¨Clidded, radiating full sexual tension. Checktest chapters at Find_Novel(. Jessica quickly looked away. ¡°Yeah, it went well. Don¡¯t worry, alright? I don¡¯t want Jonathan to get jealous. Can¡¯t get too close to you next time!¡± Anneliese pped her shoulder yfully. ¡°What are you talking about? He¡¯s mature and steady. Everything he does has a reason, and there¡¯s no way he¡¯d act so absurdly.¡± Created 358 Chapter 358 Really Expensive Wine Jessica nced at Anneliese but said nothing. Mature, steady, and reasonable? she thought. Anne is definitely head over heels for him. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to continue ying with them?¡± Anneliese asked, noticing Joel and the others still at the table. Jessica shook her head. ¡°Forget it, they¡¯re way too good. I¡¯ll only lose my confidence if I keep ying.¡± Though it was just a card game, Jonathan had an incredibly smart bunch of friends. (9) +20 Free Coins Jessica hadn¡¯t won a single hand since the start of the evening, and she felt like an idiot among them. Remembering Anneliese¡¯s sharp mind and uncanny memory, Jessica knew counting cards would be effortless for her. She nudged Anneliese back to her original seat. ¡°Why not y for me instead, Anne?¡± It seemed like Jessica was desperate to prove herself. In an attempt to win, she was using Anneliese as a secret weapon. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese blinked in surprise, but Jessica was already cheering her on. Just then, Jonathan came over with two sses of red wine. ¡°Want to y?¡± she asked while looking at him. ¡°I¡¯ll watch you,¡± he said with a smile. As he stood behind, his tall frame radiated a subtle, overwhelming pressure. Jessica immediately felt invisible. 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 358 Really Expensive Wine Just as she was about to move, Zane snapped his fingers. Jessica looked over instinctively. 98 +20 Free Coins He picked up an empty wine ss, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not every day we get to taste Jonathan¡¯s prized collection. Might as well make the most of it! Hand me the bottle, will you?¡± He was bossy as ever. Jessica rolled her eyes but went over. Curious, she asked, ¡°Is it really that good?¡± Earlier, she¡¯d chosen juice since she had driven herself to the club. But hearing Zane talk about it, she was tempted. ¡°It¡¯s a Conti from 1945. What do you think?¡± he said, clicking his tongue delight. Jessica admitted she had no idea. ¡°I can¡¯t tell,¡± she said honestly. Zane¡¯s eyes twinkled. with exaggerated He was used to people pretending to know, but her genuine ignorance was rare. ¡°It¡¯s made out of top Burgundy vineyards. They only make 600 bottles a year, and the post- WWII 1945 vintage is even rarer. One bottle even auctioned for over half a million.¡± Jonathan had saved this rare vintage for his wedding. It was the first time such a bottle had been opened, making the gathering even more special. Jessica dared not calcte how much one sip would cost, for the price was staggering. Her tiny mouth opened wide in anticipation, and she was dying to try it. After all, missing out on such an expensive wine would be a shame. She began to pour herself a ss. Joel asked, ¡°I¡¯d like another ss, Jess.¡± 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 358 Really Expensive Wine A 98 +20 Free Coins He was about to hand over his ss to her, but Zane¡¯srge palm blocked it mid¨Cair, his expression dripping with disdain. He didn¡¯t know Joel was this straightforward. Before he could say anything, Jessica said pointedly, ¡°You¡¯d better not drink too much, Mr. Cahan. Otherwise, it¡¯d affect your game.¡± The wine was Jonathan¡¯s¨Cand, in a sense, Anneliese¡¯s too. One ss was more than enough. With that, she turned away with the bottle in hand. Joel felt oddly sidelined, his mood souring. Zane¡¯s lips curled into a smug smile, eyes lingering on Jessica¡¯s back. After spending more time with her, he found himself viewing her in a different light. Meanwhile, Jonathan ignored the rest, bending slightly to ce a ss of wine within Anneliese¡¯s reach. Anneliese looked up. Seeing him standing, she shifted a little. ¡°Want to sit and watch?¡± she asked politely. ¡°Sure,¡± he answered at once. Anneliese sat on a single leather armchair. It was a polite offer, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to actually sit beside her. She scooted slightly, and the next moment, Jonathan plopped down. The chair sank under his weight, and Anneliese¡¯s petite frame ended up firmly nestled against him. He reached out, wrapping her waist, and gently adjusted her posture so she waspletely enveloped within his embrace. Anneliese felt too embarrassed to look up, her ears flushing red. Newest update provided by findnovel On the other hand, Carter and the others caught Jonathan¡¯s warning gaze. Chapter 358 Really Expensive Wine It was clear¨Cif anyone dared let his woman lose the game, they would answer to l Created 359 Chapter 359 Zacharias¡® Birthday Bash 20 Free Coins Carter had to admit that their R&D funding relied heavily on Jonathan¡¯s resources, so they had no choice but to bow to power. Simrly, Joel sighed to himself. He was hoping to bring two projects to life with Jonathan¡¯s help, and winning a wasn¡¯t worth offending him. card game Zane, however, thought of his unlucky sibling. Given how Jonathan regarded Anneliese as the apple of his eye, his younger brother was a fool for trying to make a move on her. For the sake of his safety, Zane had no choice but to swallow his pride and maintain a good rapport with Jonathan. The atmosphere in the corridor¡¯s other VIP room was starkly different from the rxed, cheerful vibes of the other box. Colorful lights, balloons, and fresh flowers filled the space, meant to celebrate, yet the tension was palpable. It was Zacharias¡® birthday¡ªa day Anneliese had usually orchestrated meticulously. They¡¯d usually host his birthday at Sunrise Residence, and Anneliese would be in charge of getting everything ready. But this year, she ended up getting married to Jonathan, and they had just unted their rtionship at Derek and Marlowe¡¯s Silver Jubilee. Needless to say, she wouldn¡¯t be continuing the tradition now. To make matters worse, Melody and Lenora had been detained by the police. Zacharias had only managed, through some channels, to secure their release the following day. He¡¯d be celebrating his birthday alone this year, and in truth, he hadn¡¯t nned much. All he wanted was for Jackie to drop him off at Sunrise Residence so he could spend some time Chapter 359 Zacharias¡® Birthday Bash there. $20 Free Co Halfway there, however, a friend called to say they had spotted Anneliese at a club nearby. Zacharias immediately turned the car around. When he finally arrived at the VIP room, he entered with a sense of expectation. But instead of seeing Anneliese, he only spotted Selina. Dressed in a white gown, she was pushing a towering three¨Ctiered cake. Candles flickered as she smiled warmly, joining the others in singing him a birthday song. Zacharias¡® gaze swept the room, looking for Anneliese, but she wasn¡¯t there. Instinctively, he reached to turn on the lights. As the birthday song faltered mid¨Cnote, the lights turned on, leaving everyone in the room frozen in astonishment. Zacharias¡® gaze swept across the room, confirming that Anneliese really wasn¡¯t there. His eyes immediately locked on Bowie Dasher, the one who had called him over. ¡°Where¡¯s Anne? You said she was here,¡± he asked, frowning. In an instant, the atmosphere frozepletely, thick and tense. Everyone instinctively looked at Selina, for she had organized this birthday surprise. People assumed that with Anneliese gone, Zacharias would¡¯ve turned his attention to Selina instead. At that moment, Selina felt her face burn as though Zacharias had pped her in public. She forced herself to stay calm and looked at Bowie in confusion. ¡°Why did you ruin the surprise for him?¡± she asked. Bowie was exasperated. Selina hadn¡¯t wanted Zacharias to know about the party, for she wanted it to be a real surprise. Bowie had tried every excuse, but Zacharias wouldn¡¯t budge. 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 98 Chapter 359 Zacharias¡® Birthday Bash +20 Free Coins In the end, the only way to get him out was to use Anneliese as bait, and technically speaking, he hadn¡¯t lied. ¡°I did see her!¡± he said, meeting Zacharias¡® piercing gaze. ¡°She went into the other VIP room with someone else.¡± Selina furrowed her brows, never expecting Anneliese to be here with Jonathan. Zacharias¡® expression darkened for a moment. On the way over, he¡¯d urged Jackie to drive faster, for he truly believed Anneliese would be at the party. For fourteen years, Anneliese had never once missed his birthday. He expected her to be here this year too, and the reality of her absence left him utterly disappointed. Selina, however, seethed inwardly at Zacharias¡® forlorn look, thinking he paid no attention to her efforts at all. She quickly walked over, slipping her arm through his. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought Anne would be here too? Maybe she¡¯s too shy to join us. Let¡¯s blow out the candles and send her a piece of cake.¡± Zacharias¡® thoughts stirred at her words. Could it be that Anneliese had heard about his birthday party and came here deliberately? ¡°You¡¯re thoughtful as always, Selina,¡± he said, nodding. Get full chapters from Find1Novel The surprise resumed. Selina immediately signaled someone, and they dimmed the lights. The guests resumed singing Zacharias his birthday song, and the awkward tension gradually eased. After Zacharias blew the candles out, he instructed the staff to move the entire cake away, ending Selina¡¯s carefullyid¨Cout surprise. Created 360 Chapter 360 A Fiery Kiss. He and Selina arrived at the private lounge where Anneliese and the others were gathered, a slice of cake in hand. As the door swung open, the group was no longer ying cards. Instead, they had moved to the couch area, engaged in a game of Truth or Dare. Joel had dared Anneliese to hold a rose with glimmering petals, which Jonathan was to remove one by one with his lips. As Anneliese held the rose between her teeth, Jonathan pulled her onto hisp, lowering his head to bite off the petals. She tilted her head back, inhaling his crisp, intoxicating scent mingled with the fragrance of the rose. For the first time, she realized how many petals a single rose could have. Everyone watched and teased the pair, this intimate little game far more torturous than a show of public affection. Anneliese¡¯s cheeks gradually flushed, her neck straining, while the man¡¯s deft lips and agile tongue removed only half of the petals. ¡°Anneliese! What are you doing?¡± Zacharias bellowed from the doorway, the veins on his forehead nearly bulging out. Selina¡¯s eyes mirrored the same shock and jealousy. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find[?]ovel Before witnessing this, she had assumed that Anneliese¡¯s tarnished reputation meant Jonathan¡¯s marriage to her was a mere formality¨Ca strategic move to pave the way for his true love, and that there could be no real intimacy between them. But now, seeing them entwined, sharing a passionate kiss over the rose petals, it felt like a second, crushing p to Selina¡¯s face, nearly causing her to tip over the cake she was holding. Startled by Zacharias¡® thunderous voice, Anneliese instinctively turned her head. However, before she could, Jonathan¡¯srge hand mped firmly on the back of her neck. Her eyes widened in surprise, and the next moment, he bit the rose, tilted his head, and pressed his lips firmly onto hers. 98 Chapter 360 A Fiery Kiss +20 Free Coins The two petals still clinging to Anneliese¡¯s lips were swept into his mouth along with hers, crushed and kneaded together in the intoxicating press of lips and tongue. Behind them, hurried footsteps echoed. Zacharias lunged at them, furious and flustered. ¡°Let go of her, Jonathan!¡± Anneliese¡¯s scalp tingled upon hearing themotion. The man, clearly displeased with her momentary distraction, punished her with a sharp bite. ¡°Ouch!¡± Her cry of pain was immediately muffled by his lips, and it transformed into a soft, melodious moan, dripping with an almost intoxicating allure. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she red at him, half in indignation, half in embarrassment. Jonathan¡¯s narrow eyes flickered, a low, teasing glint in them. ¡°Mm-¡± Instead of releasing her, a low, husky moan escaped him, following the rhythm of the moment. Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. How could he be even more exaggerated thanst night, when they had been tangled under the covers? She was utterly mortified, her face red enough to burn. Finally, he eased his hold slightly, raising a brow and speaking innocently. ¡°I was just humming along with you, love. Why are you embarrassed?¡± Anneliese shot him a flustered re, then buried her face further into his chest, trying to hide. She wasn¡¯t embarrassed in front of Zacharias or Selina, though. Rather, she was mortified in front of people like Carter and Joel. It took courage to act so intimately and flirtatiously in front of acquaintances. ¡°Hey, barging in uninvited is hardly polite!¡± yelled Zane. Zacharias ignored him and charged toward the couple, but before he could reach them, Zane stood up and blocked his path. 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 360 A Fiery Kiss Zacharias didn¡¯t even nce at Zane, wholly focused on Anneliese¡¯s figure. Anneliese, seemingly oblivious, clung even tighter to Jonathan. Zacharias¡® fury boiled over, and his face was twisted in anger. ¡°Move!¡± 98 20 Free Coins He shoved Zane with all his strength, and thetter¡¯s muscr body stumbled back like a rag doll. Jessica quickly caught him, and he steadied himself, muttering, ¡°I must¡¯ve had quite a bit to drink. I feel tipsy. Thanks.¡± His long arms instinctively draped over Jessica¡¯s shoulders, arching his back, bending his legs, and practically hanging onto her. Nearby, Joel squinted at this ridiculous disy of forced dependence¨Cit was almost unbearable to watch. Jessica, however, didn¡¯t notice anything amiss. She braced Zane and even stretched her leg to trip Zacharias slightly. Zacharias, eyes fixed on Anneliese, didn¡¯t notice his footing. He staggered forward and crashed into the coffee table, smashing a bottle of wine and several sses in a ttering mess. Created 361 Chapter 361 Confrontation ¡°Zach!¡± 98 +20 Free Coins Selina rushed forward to help Zacharias up, her eyes brimming with tears. She shot a look full of usation at Jonathan, who was holding Anneliese in his arms and hadn¡¯t even spared them a nce. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, as the saying goes, even a brief marriage leavessting ties. Zacharias heard Anne was here and came just to greet her and bring a birthday cake. For the past 14 years, it¡¯s always been like this. Do we really have to fight?¡± Selina¡¯s mouth was truly venomous. As soon as she finished, Anneliese felt Jonathan¡¯s arm tighten around her waist. She quickly patted his tense chest twice in a soothing gesture, saying, ¡°Honey, you¡¯re the one who brought me here tonight, and I ended up meeting the two people I hate most. ¡°My mood is ruined. How are you going to make it up to me?¡± As she spoke, her small hand shifted from patting to poking his chest. She was acting utterly spoiled. Since they¡¯d already kissed shamelessly just moments ago, she no longer felt pressured to hold back. Selina¡¯s words were clearly meant to upset Jonathan and make him angry, like her. She did it out of jealousy. Hence, Anneliese was trying to make her even more jealous. When Anneliese called Zacharias the person she hated most, Jonathan instantly felt better. Lowering his gaze, he caught her restless hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it gently. His voice was hoarse but indulgent as he said, ¡°Baby, it¡¯s my fault. I never thought someone could show up uninvited, shamelessly wrap it up in such lofty words, and make it sound so fresh and refined.¡± Jessica immediately burst intoughter, while Carter and the others smirked in disdain. Selina flushed with shame, her heart souring at Jonathan¡¯s open disy of affection for Anneliese. 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 361 Confrontation 98 +20 Free Coins Setting the cake on the coffee table, she pulled on Zacharias¡® arm. ¡°Zacharias, forget it. Anne isn¡¯t the same as before. Let¡¯s not force things. Come on, everyone¡¯s still waiting to celebrate your birthday.¡± She tried to drag him away, clinging to her dignity. Jessica couldn¡¯t hold back a scoff. ¡°Selina, from the way you talk, it¡¯s like you two sc*m weren¡¯t the ones who first betrayed Annie.¡± Selina had been subtly implying that Anneliese turned her back on everyone after climbing up to Jonathan. However, Carter and the others didn¡¯t know the full story. If they misunderstood and believed Selina, that would ruin Anneliese¡¯s reputation. Jessica refused to allow that. Pointing a finger at Selina, she snapped, ¡°You fake rich girl stole more than 20 years of affection meant for Annie. Not only that, but you stirred up trouble everywhere¨Chired killers, tried to murder her, and when you failed, you still shamelessly seduced another woman¡¯s husband. ¡°Now that Annie has stepped aside and let you two be together, she¡¯s finally found true love. She¡¯s with Mr. Fullbuster, who¡¯s top¨Ctier in every way, wise, and discerning. Yet, you two are still jumping around in jealousy? you tricked For more chapters visit find[?]ovel ¡°Look at yourself. Do you really think Mr. Fullbuster and his friends would believe the words of a vicious woman guilty of attempted murder? What is this, the old days where fools into being brain¨Cdead for 10 years with just a few lies?¡± Everyone went speechless. Jessica¡¯s words made them feel as if they believed even a little, that would make them brain- dead fools. Selina paled under the tirade, leaning into Zacharias¡® arms and bursting into tears. Atst, Zacharias pulled his attention away from Anneliese. Holding Selina, he red at Jessica. ¡°usations need proof. Everyone in Baytree says the Johnson Family¡¯s adopted daughter had an affair with Marcus. You even secretly had his child before you were of age¡­¡± Selina gasped. ¡°Ms. Sweeting, is that true?¡± 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 361 Confrontation Jessica¡¯s face went pale, her breath catching. : 98 +20 Free Coing Those nders and rumors were like invisible hands¨Cno matter how many times she told herself not to care, they always returned at the worst moment, choking her until she could hardly breathe. Anneliese¡¯s expression hardened. She pushed Jonathan¡¯s arm aside, ready to confront Zacharias. However, Jonathan held her back. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to.¡± She turned and saw Zane already stepping forward to shield Jessica. His eyes locked coldly on Zacharias. ¡°Mr. Shaw, to spread malicious rumors about a young woman in front of awyer¨Cwhether inw or morality¨Conly proves you¡¯re worthless trash. ¡°No wonder your wife left you without hesitation, abandoned the darkness, and devoted herself to Jonathan instead.¡± 8:26 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 362 I Want Cuddles and Kisses Created 362 Chapter 362 I Want Cuddles and Kisses Every word was like a stab to Zacharias¡® lungs. His face darkened, and he clenched his fists, ready to strike. ¡°Zacharia, don¡¯t be impulsive.¡± Selina clung to him tightly, crying as she tried to hold him back. She refused to believe Anneliese had no feelings left for Zacharias. If she could provoke Anneliese into showing even the slightest reaction toward him, it would nt a thorn in Jonathan¡¯s heart. Besides, Jonathan and his friends were not people they could afford to offend. She was also trying to protect Zacharias. ¡°Selina, let go of me!¡± Zacharias roared in anger. As she couldn¡¯t restrain him, Selina turned to Anneliese. ¡°Anne, everyone¡¯s here because of you. Are you just going to stand aside and watch?¡± Anneliese poked Jonathan¡¯s chest twice, and only then did the man reluctantly let her go. She rose from hisp, her gaze icy as it swept over Zacharias and Selina. ¡°Even ncing at you is already showing you respect. You think far too highly of yourselves.¡± With that, she bent down, picked up the cake Selina had brought, and walked toward them. Selina¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What¡­ What is it?¡± In two strides, Anneliese reached them, flipped her wrist, and smashed the whole cake straight into their faces. To deal with these two, her rule was simple¨Cuse her hands, not her mouth. After all, beasts couldn¡¯t understand human words. ¡°Ah!¡± Selina screamed, hiding in Zacharias¡® arms. Zacharias¡® expression twisted as he tried to block it, but it was inevitable. Half of Selina¡¯s face and hair were smeared with cream, while Zacharias¡® suit jacket was left in a mess. ¡°Anneliese!¡± Tue, Sep Chapter 362 I Want Cuddles and Kisses Checktest chapters at ?ovelFind Zacharias red furiously and reached to grab her. 198 +20 Free Coins Before he could, Jonathan appeared behind Anneliese, wrapping an arm possessively around her waist while seizing Zacharias¡® outstretched hand. With a faint, mocking smile, his cold lips curled as he nced at Selina clinging to Zacharias in tears. ¡°Mr. Shaw, do you still live by the motto¨Ceyeing what you could never get?¡± Zacharias¡® face sank even further. Panicked, he looked to Anneliese, only to meet her disdainful gaze. He instinctively pulled back his hand, wanting to push Selina away. However, with cake stered across half her face, Selina¡¯s eyes glued shut. She clung tighter, crying as she grabbed at him. ¡°Zacharias, my eyes hurt.¡± Forced, Zacharias bent down and carried her in his arms. He looked at Anneliese. ¡°Anne, it¡¯s my birthday today. I only wanted to share a piece of cake with you like before, to ask if you prepared me a gift. Why go this far? ¡°No matter what, you can¡¯t erase the 14 years of childhood we shared. Do you know, when I made my wish just now, every single wish was about you?¡± His eyes burned with passion and heartbreak, as if his feelings ran impossibly deep. To anyone unaware, it might have looked like true devotion. Anneliese clenched her teeth. Does Zacharias really think this is love? He had no idea her marriage to Jonathan was a contractual one. Bringing up their past in front of him over and over wasn¡¯t for her sake¨Cit was just his petty male pride,peting for dignity. Does he think I¡¯m an object to be fought over? Has he ever once considered my position? If he truly regretted and wished her well, he should disappear quietly and offer blessings from afar. 8:27 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 362 I Want Cuddles and Kisses +20 Free Coins Anneliese instinctively looked up at Jonathan. His jaw was taut, though his face betrayed no other emotion. Yet, she sensed danger. He was displeased. Her survival instinct kicked in. She raised her hand and gently cupped his face. He lowered his eyes to her. With a pitiful look, Anneliese said, ¡°What do I do? He made his wish about me. Am I cursed now? Will something bad happen? Honey, calm me down, please.¡± The frost in Jonathan¡¯s gaze melted. ¡°What can I do to calm you down?¡± Anneliese¡¯s cheeks flushed. Curling her lips into a smile, she mimicked his way of calling her, tiptoed closer, and said, ¡°I want cuddles and kisses.¡± Then, face burning, she leaned in and nuzzled against his handsome features. Jonathan¡¯s chest rose and fell, a deep chuckle slipping out. Meanwhile, Zacharias¡® face turnedpletely green, veins throbbing on his forehead. Chapter 863 A Generous Gift Created 363 Chapter 363 A Generous Gift +70 Free Doin Jonathan looked at him with disdain. ¡°Anne is only 22. I¡¯ll be with her when she¡¯s 82, 42, until she¡¯s 100. We have 70 or 80 years ahead of us. Compared to that, your so¨Ccalled 14 years of the past are nothing but pathetic. Stop bringing them up.¡± Under the dim lights of the private room, Zacharias¡® handsome face looked pale. Selina, covered in cream, struggled ufortably in his arms. Zacharias finally pulled his gaze away, ready to turn and leave with her. Jonathan¡¯s voice came again, ¡°Anne didn¡¯t prepare a birthday gift for you, Mr. Shaw, but I did prepare a generous one. I just don¡¯t know if you dare ept it.¡± The challenge in his tone was obvious. Zacharias had been humiliated all night. He couldn¡¯t back down. He sneered. ¡°What wouldn¡¯t I dare ept? Let¡¯s see what you have, Mr. Fullbuster.¡± The corner of Jonathan¡¯s lips curved into a faintly wicked smile. ¡°See you at the parking lot in 10 minutes.¡± Zacharias scoffed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so dramatic. Fine. See you there.¡± With that, he carried Selina out. After they left, Anneliese tilted her head up at Jonathan, astonished. ¡°You knew today was his birthday? You really have a gift for him?¡± Jonathan raised a brow yfully. ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± Ten minutester, having hastily cleaned herself up, Selina wrapped a coat around her, damp hair still clinging to her face as she followed Zacharias to the parking lot. Inside the Bentley, Anneliese sat in the back seat, nestled in Jonathan¡¯s arms. As Zacharias approached, she grew nervous and clutched Jonathan¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to run him over, are you?¡± Chapter 363 A Generous Gift 980 +20 Free Coins It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable guess. She couldn¡¯t understand why Jonathan wanted to meet Zacharias at the parking lot. There was nothing here that could count as a gift. ¡°What nonsense. Am I that violent?¡± Jonathan narrowed his eyes, the darkness within flickering. Truthfully, he would¡¯ve loved to¨Cbest if Zacharias were crushed to dust. ¡°Then what is it?¡± Anneliese exhaled in relief, her curiosity piqued. Jonathan didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he lowered the back window, tipped his chin at Zacharias, and said coolly, ¡°Follow me.¡± With that, he ordered Zion to drive. Zion clearly knew the destination, pulling the car out without question. Behind them, Jessica rode with Zane, while Carter and Joel followed in another car. Zacharias saw them all leaving and headed for his own car. Selina tugged on him anxiously. ¡°Zach, maybe we should let it go. Mr. Fullbuster clearly wants to humiliate us for Anne¡¯s sake. Why¡­¡± She wanted to ask why he wanted to walk straight into Jonathan¡¯s trap. Zacharias was too prideful to back down. He cut her off coldly, ¡°Enough.¡± He would not admit defeat. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me,¡± he added, climbing into the driver¡¯s seat. Selina bit her lip, then opened the passenger door and slipped in anyway. Fastening her seatbelt, she took his hand firmly. ¡°How could I leave you to face it alone? No matter if it¡¯s a trap or humiliation, I¡¯ll endure it with you.¡± Her voice trembled, but her grip was tight. In the dim car, Zacharias looked at her pale face, her damp hair sticking to her cheeks and neck. Although her hand shook with fear, she still chose to stay. Chapter 363 A Generous Gift Selina is kind, empathetic, and always willing to share his burden. Why can¡¯t Anneliese be the same? ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find¡¤novel 98 +20 Free Coins Anneliese had drunk two sses of wine. Rocked by the car, she dozed off in Jonathan¡¯s arms. When the car stopped, she stirred, her eyes hazy. ¡°We¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Yes. Do you want to sleep a little longer? You don¡¯t need to get out.¡± Jonathan patted her shoulder gently, his voice low, coaxing her to rest. Still half¨Casleep but curious, Anneliese rubbed her eyes and leaned against him, peering out the window. ¡°This is¡­ Sunrise Residence?¡± She froze. This was the home she once shared with Zacharias. Why has Jonathan brought them here? Knock, knock. The window was tapped twice. Zacharias had parked and was walking toward them. Created 364 Chapter 364 Demolish Sunrise Residence Chapter 364 Demolish Sunrise Residence Jonathan finally let go of Anneliese and said, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. Stay in the car. With that, he opened the door and stepped out. Zacharias frowned slightly, staring at the pitch¨Cdark vi nearby. A sense of dread washed over him. This was where he and Anneliese had lived after marriage. It¡¯s their home. As Anneliese¡¯s husband now, Jonathan should hate this ce. He wondered why he would bring him here in the middle of the night. Suppressing his unease, Zacharias let out a nostalgic sigh. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, seems like you know that every year on my birthday, Anne would hold a party here for our family and friends. Perhaps you don¡¯t know that every corner of this house, even the nts in the garden, were all arranged by Anne herself with such care.¡± His voice carried longing and regret, but also tant pride. No one knew better than him how deeply Anneliese once loved him. He refused to believe that their decade¨Clong bond could be outweighed by just a few months she¡¯d spent with Jonathan. Even if Jonathan was powerful and noble, he had never received Anneliese¡¯s wholehearted love. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I assume you¡¯ve never been inside? Why don¡¯t I show you around?¡± Jonathan looked at him coolly. ¡°You¡¯ll show me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Did you forget? You¡¯re no longer the owner of this house.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find¡ïNovel A mocking smile tugged at Jonathan¡¯s lips. Zacharias¡® expression darkened instantly. He had restored the vi and transferred it to Anneliese¡¯s name, hoping she¡¯d move back, be reminded of the past, and forgive him. However, she hadn¡¯t stayed a single day. After her grandmother was hospitalized, she had 178 Chapter 364 Demolish Sunrise Residence ?(90), +20 Free Coins packed up his belongings into severalrge boxes and sent them to the uderias Tech parking lot without a word. Soon after, the vi was put up for sale. Zacharias had been furious and wanted to buy it back, but Anneliese refused to sell it to him. Lately, caught up with the troubles of Melody and Lenora, he had forgotten about the vi entirely. He truly didn¡¯t know who the current owner was. A bad feeling gnawed at him. Could it be¡­ He narrowed his eyes on Jonathan. The man didn¡¯t disappoint. Jonathan snapped his fingers. Bang! Bang! Floodlights zed on, forcing Zacharias to squint. In the back seat, Jessica had just climbed into the car to ask Anneliese what was happening, but the ring lights made her avert her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s Mr. Fullbuster ying at?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Anneliese replied. When her eyes adjusted, she froze in shock. Five or six bulldozers stood ready around the vi. ¡°What the hell? What¡¯s he trying to do?¡± Jessica gasped. Anneliese blinked rapidly. With those bulldozers poised, she could guess Jonathan¡¯s intent. He was going to demolish the ce. Startled, she instinctively opened the door and got out. Upon seeing her, Jonathan turned, slipped off his cashmere coat, and draped it over her shoulders. His gaze was deep. ¡°Why did youe out?¡± le, Sep Chapter 364 Demolish Sunrise Residence Anneliese was speechless. With things like this, of course, she couldn¡¯t sit still inside. ¡°You¡¯re really¡­¡± She still couldn¡¯t believe he would act so recklessly, so impulsively. +20 Free Coins ¡°I think thisnd would be better used for a children¡¯s yground. What do you think?¡± Jonathan drew the coat tighter around her and buttoned it slowly, though sweat dampened his palms. Just as Zacharias had said, this ce carried meaning for both her and him. He wasn¡¯t sure if she would stop him. Perhaps she still had some lingering feelings here, or for Zacharias. ¡°Jonathan, you want to tear this ce down? You have no right.¡± Zacharias¡® mind roared when he heard the words ¡°children¡¯s yground¡°. He red at the bulldozers in disbelief, then spun and grabbed Jonathan¡¯s cor. Jonathan only gave him a cold nce and sneered. 8:27 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 365 You Decide Created 365 Chapter 365 You Decide ¡°My worthiness isn¡¯t for you to decide,¡± Jonathan said. +20 Free Coins Unless Anneliese refused, no one could stop him from leveling this ce to the ground. After speaking, he turned to Anneliese, waiting for her answer. Zacharias¡® eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Anneliese too. ¡°Anne, this was our home. I worked so hard to restore it to its original state. I transferred the vi to you, not so you could let someone else tear it down.¡± Anneliese also looked at him. Under the cold white light, his handsome face was deathly pale, and his bloodshot eyes seemed to bleed with pain. Yet, she only felt mocked. Before the divorce, he had secretly built another home outside and often stayed away. Now he was pretending to be devoted, acting heartbroken. Her voice was calm and cold as she said, ¡°I already sold the house. I¡¯m no longer the owner, so I have no right to stop this.¡± The agent had found a buyer and pushed her toplete the paperwork. At the time, she was still in the hospital caring for her grandmother, so the agent came to her for the signatures and handled everything else. By yesterday, the transfer wasplete. The vi now belonged to its new owner. However, back at the property office, the buyer was listed as a man named Kingsley Walt. Clearly, he¡¯s Jonathan¡¯s man. Upon hearing this, Zacharias red at Jonathan. ¡°So you bought the vi? Jonathan, you¡¯re utterly despicable.¡± Judging by Anneliese¡¯s expression, she hadn¡¯t known the buyer was Jonathan, much less that he intended to demolish the ce. Zacharias clenched his fists in rage, jaw tight with bulging veins. Chapter 365 You Decide Jonathan remainedposed. ¡°So what if I did?¡± +20 Free ComIS If Zacharias hadn¡¯t kept forcing his presence into their lives, disturbing them again and again, he wouldn¡¯t have gone this far. After being disgusted by him countless times, destroying a little piece of his nostalgia was already more mercy than he deserved. Zacharias hadn¡¯t realized that while distracted by his mother and sister¡¯s affairs, the vi had already slipped into Jonathan¡¯s hands. His chest heaved. ¡°I¡¯ll pay triple. No, 10 times the price. Sell the vi to me.¡± Fresh chapters posted on Find?Novel ¡°Tch. Who do you think you¡¯re looking down on? Who needs your dirty money?¡± Joel, leaning casually on a car hood, sneered. Zane also said, ¡°Keep that money for your grave. You¡¯ll need it sooner orter.¡± Of course, Zacharias knew money meant nothing to Jonathan. Not 10 times, not even 100 times, the price would change anything. Nevertheless, he had no idea how else to stop this. ¡°Anne, no matter what, you designed this ce yourself. You put your heart into it. Do you really have the heart to destroy it?¡± Selina stepped forward, holding Zacharias as she frowned at Anneliese. She didn¡¯t care if the vi was razed, but saying this would make Zacharias grateful. If Anneliese were persuaded, it would humiliate Jonathan in public and make him think Anneliese still cared. That was exactly what Selina wanted. ¡°Anne¡­¡± Just as she tried to continue, Anneliese cut her off with a cold nce. ¡°Even cake can¡¯t shut your filthy mouth.¡± Haunted by the memory of cake sttered across her face, Selina fell silent and hid behind Zacharias. Jonathan pulled out his phone and made a call. Not far away, the foreman in a yellow uniform standing by the bulldozers picked up. 8:27 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 365 You Decide Then, Jonathan handed the phone to Anneliese. ¡°You decide,¡± he said in a deep voice. He gave her the final say. $20 Free Coins For a moment, light flickered in Zacharias¡® despairing eyes. He stared at Anneliese, hopeful and pleading. Anne won¡¯t do it. She won¡¯t let go so easily and watch their home turn to dust. Nevertheless, when Jonathan passed her the phone, Anneliese only paused for a heartbeat. Then, without hesitation or struggle, she took it and said, ¡°Proceed.¡± Almost as soon as her words fell, several massive bulldozers roared to life. With overwhelming force, they toppledrge sections of the outer wall in an instant. As they pushed forward, trees fell like brittle twigs, and streemps crashed down. ¡°Anneliese!¡± Zacharias snapped back to himself, eyes bloodshot, his body swaying as if he might copse. Created 366 Chapter 366 Fed Up with Zacharias 898 +20 Free Coins Anneliese ignored him and turned to Jonathan. ¡°Is it really alright to do this at this hour?¡± The noise was overwhelming. The man, in excellent spirits, pulled her close and replied, ¡°It is loud, but don¡¯t worry. I already spoke with the management and the residents. They were told an entertainmentplex would be built here. No one objected.¡± What he didn¡¯t mention was that he had also distributed money to the residents. Everyone had been more than happy to ept. For more chapters visit Find1Novel ncing around, Anneliese noticed people peeking from windows and others watching from the street corner. Indeed, no one shouted or tried to stop it. She nodded slightly. Jonathan covered her ears gently. ¡°Go wait in the car. It really is too noisy.¡± Anneliese pulled Jessica along, and the two of them returned to the back seat. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster¡¯s jealousy could shake heaven and earth,¡± Jessicamented as soon as they sat down, pping her hands in awe. Unconsciously, Anneliese¡¯s gaze drifted to the man standing upright in front of the car, chatting casually with Joel and the others. His demeanor was calm, as though he were simply admiring the scenery, not demolishing someone¡¯s house. She shook her head lightly. ¡°Not jealousy. He¡¯s just fed up with Zacharias.¡± Last time, Zacharias had sent Jonathan a video of his proposal at Sunrise Residence, deliberately stirring trouble. To Jonathan, as her husband, that was nothing short of a deration of war. His actions tonight were simply a timely retaliation to protect his pride. There was no jealousy. After all, he already had someone he liked, ¡°Oh my god! Has Zacharias lost his mind?¡± Chapter 366 Fed Up with Zacharias A +20 Free Cons Jessica pressed against the window, too distracted by the chaos outside to catch Anneliese¡¯s words. At the vi, Zacharias suddenly rushed in front of a bulldozer, nearly being crushed. The sight made Jessica scream. Following her gaze, Anneliese also saw Zacharias stumble and roll into a deep pit. She frowned deeply. He hadn¡¯t cherished it when he had it, letting love wither away. Now, he clung desperately to a lifeless building. There¡¯s no point in doing this. Still, she worried he might get buried alive if he kept acting insane. Not out of care for him, but because if he were injured or killed, Jonathan would be held responsible. Before she could open the window to warn them, three bodyguards in ck had already dragged Zacharias away. Jonathan turned, opened the car door, and slid inside. ¡°It¡¯ste. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Anne.¡± The moment he sat down, Jessica tactfully opened her door, waved at Anneliese, and slipped out. Before closing it, she shot Jonathan a silent thumbs¨Cup. She wasn¡¯t exaggerating. He truly was ruthless. Seeing Zacharias¡® miserable state had even made her feel uneasy. For Zacharias, this birthday would surely be unforgettable¨Cfor all the wrong reasons. The car turned around slowly and drove off. From the rearview mirror, Anneliese caught onest glimpse of the vi, now in ruins under the floodlights. Jonathan also nced over, just in time to see Zacharias break free from the bodyguards and Chapter 366 Fed Up with Zacharias throw himself in front of a bulldozer again. $20 Free Commis As the machine rumbled forward, he retreated step by step until his foot slipped. He crashed heavily to the ground. The bulldozer didn¡¯t stop. Jonathan immediately pulled Anneliese into his arms, covering her eyes with hisrge hand. He didn¡¯t want her to see such misery, to feel pity for Zacharias, or be moved by his desperate persistence. Surprised, Anneliese blinked under his palm, her longshes brushing lightly against his skin, leaving a faint ticklish sensation. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She tilted her head slightly. Without loosening his hand, Jonathan lowered his head toward her. ¡°Answer me one question.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Was your decision only to save my pride?¡± Earlier, when Zacharias had begged her to stop, she had only said she was no longer the owner, not that she didn¡¯t want to stop it. Anneliese¡¯s lips parted slightly in surprise. ¡°Of course not. I have absolutely no attachment to this ce.¡± When she first left, she had already smashed much of the interior decoration herself. That was when she decided never to look back. Upon hearing her firm answer, Jonathan¡¯s deep eyes rippled with emotion. Then, Anneliese added¡­ Created 367 Chapter 367 Nothing Happened? ¡°Fair is fair. Now you answer one of my questions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± Anneliese blinked again. ¡°Jess said you were jealous. Is that true?¡± Jonathan froze for a moment, clearly not expecting her to ask so suddenly. +20 Free CoinG However, Anneliese had already grasped his hand¨Cthe one still covering her eyes¨Cand pulled it away. She lifted her head to look at him, her clear almond eyes bright and unwavering, demanding an answer. A smile slowly spread on Jonathan¡¯s face as he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah. Ms. Sweeting has pretty sharp instincts. She was right.¡± Anneliese¡¯s eyes widened under his stare, her rosy lips parting bit by bit. He actually admitted to being jealous. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be jealous?¡± Upon seeing her astonished expression, Jonathan almostughed. He countered softly, leaning down to brush two quick kisses against her lips. Hershes trembled, and her heart fluttered with them. The two sses of wine from earlier seemed to hit harder now. Her whole body felt light, almost dizzy. ¡°But, why would you be jealous?¡± she asked, confused yet hopeful, Is it because he likes me? People only got jealous when they cared. Jonathan chuckled at the dazed look. Anneliese didn¡¯t resemble the heartbroken woman Zacharias had described at all. She¡¯s more Chapter 367 Nothing Happened? like a naive girl who hadn¡¯t yet understood love. 98 +20 Free Coins Unable to resist, he pressed a few tender kisses to her wide, bewildered eyes before smiling. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural for me to be jealous over my wife?¡± His kisses carried no lust, only gentle affection, just as he had always treated her. However, Anneliese¡¯s heart sank with disappointment. Smiling faintly, she buried her face in his chest. She had forgotten that jealousy didn¡¯t alwayse from love. Sometimes, it was just a man¡¯s possessiveness. It was all because she was his wife, nothing more. Sensing her mood shift, Jonathan lowered his head, puzzled. All he saw was the crown of her dark hair. ¡°Anne?¡± He tilted her chin gently. Nevertheless, Anneliese¡¯s eyes were closed, as though she had already fallen asleep. Jonathan let out a softugh, pulling her tighter into his embrace. He reached for the nket, draped it over them both, and soon drifted off as well, lulled by her faint scent of wine and sweetness. Yet, Anneliese slowly opened her eyes from his arms, ncing at him. Leaning back against the seat, Jonathan¡¯s sharp features glowed faintly under the neon lights streaming past the window. His deep brows, high nose, closed lips, and strong jawline were devastatingly handsome. Falling for such a man would be natural. Being confused would be normal. However, she reminded herself to stop being sentimental. The next morning, Anneliese woke up with a heavy head. It¡¯s a mix of a hangover and what felt like the start of a cold. 8:27 Tue, Sep Chapter 367 Nothing Happened? Herst memory was falling asleep in the car, leaning on Jonathan. Did he carry me back? +20 Free Comhs She reached for the remote and opened the curtains, realizing she was in Jonathan¡¯s bedroom. He was no longer beside her, but she was dressed in a nightgown, and there was nothing else beneath it. Touching her cheek, she noticed her makeup had been removed, her skin clean and fresh. So not only had he carried me home, but he¡¯d also cleaned me up and changed my clothes? Her face burned hot as she ruffled her hair in embarrassment. Just then, her phone rang. She found it on the nightstand and answered. It was Jessica. ¡°Good morning, Jess.¡± ¡°Morning? It¡¯s almost 10. Tsk, how many rounds did you two gost night? It must¡¯ve been wild. Your voice is hoarse. Honestly, I give Mr. Fullbuster a bad review for not being gentler with you.¡± Before Anneliese could exin, Jessica had already painted the scene in her head. Anneliese was speechless. Get full chapters from find(?)ovel After a pause, she muttered, ¡°I just have a bit of a cold. We didn¡¯t do anything. Don¡¯t overthink.¡± ¡°What? Nothing happened?¡± Jessica gasped. She was standing at the vanity, dabbing concealer over the trail of shocking red hickeys across her neck and chest. 8:27 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 368 Do You Remember What Happened Last Night? Created 368 Chapter 368 Do You Remember What Happened Last Night? She seemed to have drunk a bit too muchst night. Before she knew it, she woke up naked in the same bed with Zane again. She had already progressed fast, yet Anneliese and Jonathan had been legally married for quite some time and were stillpletely tonic. Jessica began to doubt her own ears and judgment. She didn¡¯t even bother putting on concealer anymore. She picked up her phone that was ying on the loudspeaker and said, ¡°No way. Could it be that Mr. Fullbuster only looks capable but is useless in bed?¡± That won¡¯t do. Without a happy sex life, where would happiness from? Anneliese stayed speechless. Sure enough, she should never have tried to exin. She blushed, embarrassed and annoyed. ¡°He¡¯s very capable in bed.¡± Jessica caught something odd. ¡°How would you know that?¡± Anneliese turned over in bed. Of course she knew. Her arms had only just stopped aching today. She stammered. As a girl who understood instantly, Jessica gave a mischievousugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Fullbuster to be so patient. Step by step, huh? I get it. Yours is the ¡®married first, then love, then do it¡® pace.¡± Anneliese really couldn¡¯t keep talking about this. She turned over, got out of bed, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get to business. Don¡¯t tell me you forgot we¡¯re catching a cheater today.¡± Today was the day Timothy regrly met Mikita. Last night, Anneliese had already told Jessica about the paternity test results and her n. Today, they were going together to catch him in the act. Anneliese went to wash up and discussed the n with Jessica. When she came out of the bedroom, she was met, as expected, by Mabel. 8:28 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 368 Do You Remember What Happened Last Night? +20 Free Going ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, you¡¯re awake? I¡¯ll get you a bowl of hangover cure. Also, Mr. Fullbuster said you should call him once you wake up.¡± Mabel¡¯s tone was more natural and warm this time. After speaking, she turned toward the kitchen, but Anneliese hesitated and called out, ¡°Mabel, were you herest night?¡± Mabel looked back. ¡°No. I only walked Meatloaf in the evening and went home for the past couple of days. I don¡¯t usually stay over.¡± Anneliese nodded, but her ears turned hot. So, it really was Jonathan who changed her clothes. Thinking of how even her underwear had been reced with clean ones and how, when she was dressing earlier, she¡¯d noticed a few suspicious red marks on her chest and shoulders, she flustered with shame. Meatloaf hadn¡¯t seen her in two days and was wagging her tail wildly at her feet. Anneliese collected herself, sat cross¨Clegged on the carpet by the couch, petted the dog, and called Jonathan. He was probably busy as he didn¡¯t pick up. Just as Anneliese sighed in relief and was about to put the phone down, his deep maic voice suddenly came through. ¡°Do you still remember what happenedst night?¡± Anneliese was silent. Didn¡¯t I sleep straight through? What could have happened? Could it be that I didn¡¯t just sleep but got knocked out by the alcohol? This text is hosted at F¦ÉndNovel ¡°I¡­¡± Her voice wavered. ¡°What should I remember?¡± Jonathan paused, sighed, and said, ¡°Forget it. There¡¯s nothing much. You don¡¯t feel unwell, do you?¡± He asked with concern, but the less he said, the more curious she became. ¡°I¡¯m fine. What exactly happenedst night?¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice carried a smile as he rified, ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± 8:28 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 368 Do You Remember What Happened Last Night? ??? +20 Free Coins Anneliese quickly nodded, then, remembering he couldn¡¯t see her, added a hurried ¡°yeah¡°. Jonathan chuckled. ¡°Honestly, nothing serious. You just kept acting spoiled, asking for hugs and kisses, saying I¡¯m the best husband and that you love me most.¡± Anneliese froze, then flustered. She denied furiously, ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. How could I ever say that?¡± Because of her upbringing, she had never been someone who openly expressed her feelings. Even when she was with Zacharias, she never said such shameless, over¨Cthe¨Ctop words. As if expecting her denial, Jonathan smiled. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll send you the evidence.¡± Anneliese was flustered. There¡¯s even evidence? As she was left speechless, a notification chimed. He had really sent her an audio recording. Anneliese hung up and tapped it open. ¡°Baby, be good. Wake up and wash up. Then, you can sleep again, alright?¡± Jonathan¡¯s deep, gentle coaxing voice yed, followed by rustling and patting sounds. Then, she heard her own syrupy, cringe¨Cworthy voice whining, ¡°Ugh¡­ No¡­ I hate you. Stop bothering me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really not getting up to bathe?¡± Created 369 Chapter 369 Drunken Confessions ¡°No, no, mm¨Cyou think I¡¯m annoying. What a bad husband The man let out a helpless sigh, followed by a sillyugh. you are!¡± +20 Free Coing ¡°Then, give me a kiss and a hug before I get up. Honey, hurry and kiss me. Hug me! Not enough. Kiss here too, and here! And also here! Here!¡± After a round of yful kisses, Jonathan¡¯s voice sounded even more helpless. ¡°Baby? You¡¯ve had enough kisses. Now, it¡¯s time to get up. No stalling.¡± ¡°Mm, kisses feel so nice, sleeping feels so nice. I don¡¯t want to get up. Honey, you¡¯re the best. I love you. I¡¯ll see you in my dreams. Mwah¡­¡± As her voice faded, Anneliese heard a sound like a kitten purring. The audio ended, and when it automatically started to y again, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to listen. She hurriedly hit stop, then quickly deleted it. She covered her face. She really hadn¡¯t known she acted like this when she was drunk. Back when she worked in the PR department at uderias Tech, she often had to drink at events, sometimes even to the point of getting sick, but she had never been like this. Every time, she had just gone straight to sleep quietly. She had good tolerance, knowing, It¡¯s all his fault. He had woken her up when she had been sleeping soundly. With that thought, Anneliese¡¯s embarrassment instantly eased. She sent Jonathan a cute cat- covering¨Cface emoji and tossed her phone aside. An hourter, Anneliese arrived at Moonlit Pavilion and went to the same private room upstairs asst time. Meanwhile, Miles had been keeping watch outside the coffeehouse since dawn. He confirmed that before 8 a.m., Timothy had entered through the back door and hadn¡¯te out since. () Chapter 369 Drunken Confessions +20 Free Coins Inside the private room, Anneliese brewed a pot of coffee and stood by the window looking out. Before long, she saw a familiar car pull into the parking lot in front of the coffeehouse. Perseus got out of the driver¡¯s seat and opened the back door. Christopher and Mnie stepped out one after the other. Anneliese quickly lowered her head and sent Jessica an emoji. Downstairs, Jessica was sitting in a corner booth. She quickly flipped her hand and knocked over the coffee pot and cups. Her scream instantly drew the manager and waiters. So, when Mnie and the other two walked in, no one even noticed them. Anneliese stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor. When the three saw her, they came up right away. She had pushed the staff away because she worried they might recognize the three and tip off Timothy and Mikita. Christopher helped Mnie up the stairs and looked at Anneliese with sarcasm. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this rare? You actually came to greet us yourself.¡± Anneliese was in a good mood that day. Since she was about to let them sit back and watch a good show, she didn¡¯t care about his mocking tone. With a light smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered coffee and snacks. Please, this way.¡± She turned and walked toward the private room. Mnie and Perseus exchanged looks, each of them showing some surprise. They used to ignore Anneliese, but now, they actually felt it was unusual just because she spoke to them normally. They followed her into the private room. When Anneliese poured coffee for them, the uneasy feeling only grew stronger. ¡°Anneliese, what are you trying to do?¡± Christopher looked suspicious. He even wondered whether she had poisoned their drinks. : 2/3 ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? 90 Chapter 369 Drunken Confessions +20 Free Coins That morning, their mother had called, saying Anneliese had invited the three of them to Moonlit Pavilion for a talk. It was already strange that Anneliese had invited them. Her behavior that day was even stranger. Could it be that she has finally had enough, is softening, and realizes how important we are to her? With that thought, Christopher didn¡¯t wait for her to answer and said, ¡°Since you want to repair the rtionship, you should show some sincerity. Just pouring coffee isn¡¯t enough. ¡°You disrespected us by making Mom so ill during this time. Offer Mom a drink in lieu of an apology. ¡°Perseus, Mom, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Christopher shot looks at Mnie and Perseus. Perseus¡® eyes flickered. He had wanted to refuse, since Anneliese had a different status now. If she was finally willing to reconcile, they shouldn¡¯t anger her again. Then, he thought of how much frustration they had endured from her recently, and he felt they needed to put her in her ce. Only then would Anneliese learn her lesson, understand that they weren¡¯t easy to forgive, and be more obedient in the future. He nodded with restraint. ¡°Christopher is right.¡± Created 370 Chapter 370 Smoke and Secrets As Perseus spoke, he tugged on Mnie¡¯s sleeve. +20 Free Coins Mnie had wanted to scold Christopher and tell him not to make things hard for Anneliese. After all, Anneliese hadpletely pulled away from her during this time, and as a mother, Mnie still felt torn and miserable. What she wanted most was to fix their rtionship. But since both her sons had the same attitude, Mnie hesitated. With Anneliese speaking gently today and even taking the initiative to invite her out, it gave Mnie some confidence. She straightened her back a little, folded her hands in front of her, and said, ¡°Anne, listen to your brothers. As long as you respectfully serve this cup of coffee, the estate will still be your home, and we¡¯ll still be your family. Of course, after all this trouble, you should calm down and be more sensible. From now on, you need to get along well with Selina, okay?¡± Anneliese looked at the three of them, so full of superiority and self¨Crighteousness, and thought she hadn¡¯t done anything to make them misunderstand her. Or was it that she used to put them in their ce too often, and now that she eased up a little, they thought they could walk all over her? Just as she was left speechless, a sharp sound came from the hallway. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Mnie frowned and looked toward the door. Outside, chaos had already broken out. Smoke was seeping in through the crack of the door. Perseus quickly walked over and pulled the door open. The hallway was filled with thick smoke, the fire rm was ring, and people were rushing out of every private room, shouting as they ran. ¡°Fire! Get out now!¡± Perseus turned back and shouted, and Christopher immediately took off running. Mnie jumped up in a panic, but she knocked over a chair by ident. When she tried to run forward, she tripped and fell hard to the ground. Anneliese knew exactly what was happening. She also knew the ce wasn¡¯t really on fire¡ª Jessica had just set off some smoke bombs to confuse people. She got up slowly. When she saw Chapter 370 Smoke and Secrets
  • 20 Free Com
Mnie fall, she didn¡¯t help her. Instead, she stood at the doorway and shouted at the sight of the White brothers running away. ¡°Oh no, Mrs. White fell! Everyone look, Mr. Perseus and Mr. Christopher only care about saving themselves and not their own mother!¡± Perseus and Christopher had already run out of the room, but when they heard Anneliese shouting, they realized something was wrong. They didn¡¯t want to be used of abandoning their mother in a crisis and being branded unfilial. Perseus turned and red at Christopher. ¡°How could you leave Mom behind and run off?¡± Christopher looked embarrassed. ¡°Weren¡¯t you doing the same thing?¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d help her!¡± Perseus snapped, and the two of them hurried back into the room. Anneliese watched them return, then nced toward the end of the hallway where the private rooms were still quiet. She frowned slightly and walked over to Mnie. Get full chapters from Find~Novel Mnie had been in the hospital for many days and had just been discharged yesterday. Her body was still weak, and now, after being scared and falling down, her legs gave out, and her vision went dark. She couldn¡¯t get up for a while. Anneliese bent down and helped her up, saying, ¡°You really raised two good sons.¡± Mnie¡¯s face turned pale. She knew Anneliese said that on purpose to stir things up. But what Anneliese said was also true. She hadn¡¯t expected that at such a critical moment, neither of her sons could be relied on. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t listen to her! We¡¯ll get you out!¡± By then, Perseus and Christopher had rushed back and each grabbed one of Mnie¡¯s arms to help her up. Anneliese quickly walked back to the door. The rooms at the end of the hallway were still quiet, and she was thinking about how to stall for more time. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two people, clothes disheveled, rushing out from the end of the hallway. Anneliese¡¯s eyes curved in amusement. Well, isn¡¯t this just perfect? ¡°What are you standing in the doorway for? Move!¡± The White brothers held Mnie and reached the door, only to see Anneliese blocking the way. Perseus frowned and tried to push her aside. 8:28 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 370 Smoke and Secrets A 98 +20 Free Coins Anneliese staggered from the push and fell forward, grabbing onto the coat draped over a woman who was running past. ¡°Ah! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The woman screamed, but she couldn¡¯t stop her coat from being pulled off, leaving her exposed. She was only wearing a thong, her bare skin showing everywhere else. She screamed again, covering her chest with her arms and hiding behind the man next to her. Panicked, she shouted, ¡°Timothy, help me!¡± The half¨Cdressed man quickly pulled her into his arms and bent down to pick up the coat on the ground. But before he could, Anneliese firmly stepped on the coat with both feet. Timothy tugged at it a couple of times but couldn¡¯t get it back. Furious, he was about to curse Anneliese when suddenly he heard screams behind him. Created 371 Chapter 371 Caught in the Act ¡°H¨CHoney?¡± ¡°Dad!¡± This text is hosted at find?novel ¡°Dad, who is she?¡± : The moment he recognized the voices, Timothy froze, caught halfway up with his butt sticking out. Ze +5 Free Couns pants on in a The veins on his forehead bulged as he tried to think. Because he had pulled his rush without fastening the belt, the sudden movement made them slip down, showing half his bare butt. He hadn¡¯t even put on underwear. ¡°Ah! Ah! Timothy! How could you do this to me? You b*stard, I¡¯ll tear you apart!¡± As Timothy scrambled to pull his pants back up, Mnie pushed past Perseus and the others, shoving him hard before grabbing Mikita¡¯s hair. Mikita crossed her arms over her chest and squeezed her legs together, screaming as she tried to cover herself. Mnie yanked out a lock of her hair and scratched her face and neck. Crying, Mikita tried to hide behind Timothy. ¡°Timothy, help me, it hurts!¡± By then, plenty of people upstairs had stopped worrying about escaping. The smoke had mostly cleared. Everyone started crowding around to watch, pulling out their phones to record. Timothy had just managed to pull his pants back up, but his shirt was still open, showing his greasy skin covered in hickeys. He pulled Mikita into his arms and angrily shoved Mnie away. ¡°Enough! If you¡¯re going to lose it, at least pick the right ce!¡± Mnie stumbled back from the push, tripped, and mmed her head against the wall. With a loud thud, she went down and didn¡¯t get up right away. ¡°Mom!¡± 9:37 Wed, Oct 1. ¡­ Chapter 371 Caught in the Act ¡°Dad! You hit Mom over this woman?¡± s Perseus rushed to help Mnie, while Christopher pointed at Timothy in anger. Timothy had never been this humiliated. The stares from all around, along with camera shes going off in his face, made it worse. He covered his face, embarrassed and furious, and yelled. ¡°My business isn¡¯t yours to control! Don¡¯t make it worse! Get your mom out of here!¡± Christopher finally looked around and quickly covered his own face, then turned back to check on Mnie. When Perseus helped her up, she leaned against him, pale and gasping. A big bump had already formed on her forehead, with a little blood seeping out. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go,¡± Perseus said as he tried to lead her away. The truth was clear. Timothy had been fooling around with Mikita, and there was no point denying it. Even though both Perseus and Christopher were angry, as men, they could still understand him. Their parents were already old, and their mom had health problems. She had been a full- time housewife for years. Their dad messing around outside wasn¡¯t exactly shocking. Compared to ending up on the news and embarrassing the whole family, the White brothers would rather just leave quickly. But Mnie felt dizzy, her head pounding. The betrayal from her husband already hurt enough, but now her own sons seemed to be siding with him too. It felt like someone rubbed salt into an open wound. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, and she couldn¡¯t hold them back. Just as they were about to leave, Anneliese stepped in front of them. ¡°I just heard someone downstairs say it was nothing serious, just the smoke setting off the fire rm. But if Mr. White and this naked woman walk out like this, it won¡¯t look good. And Mrs. White still needs her injury checked. I saw Mr. Whitee out of that room just now. Why don¡¯t we all go over and clear things up?¡± The real drama was still ahead, and Anneliese wasn¡¯t about to let them leave. 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 371 Caught in the Act ¡°Anneliese! This is all your fault, isn¡¯t it?¡± Things had been too chaotic earlier, and Timothy hadn¡¯t noticed she was there. 74 s Now that the smoke in the hallway had cleared, seeing her block the way made it all obvious. No wonder nothing had ever gone wrong before when he came here. But this time, when he tried leaving through the back door, it wouldn¡¯t open no matter what. He had run back upstairs, only to bump into Mnie and the boys right there. That kind of coincidence could only mean someone had set him up. And with Anneliese standing here, he didn¡¯t have to guess who. Anneliese blinked, smiled, and walked toward the private room at the end of the hallway. ¡°So what if it was me?¡± Timothy raised his hand, ready to hit her. Anneliese covered her mouth and gasped. Created 372 Chapter 372 Clouds of Betrayal ¡°Ah! Your pants fell again!¡± Timothy instinctively reached to pull up his pants, only to realize he had been tricked. By the time he looked up, Anneliese was already walking toward the private room at the end of the hall. Mnie also wanted to see the ce where Mikita had been fooling around with her husband. She followed, and Perseus and Christopher, noticing the crowd on the other side of the hall pointing and whispering, just wanted to get out of there. They quickly went after her. Timothy hurried along too, shielding the almost¨Cnaked Mikita. Anneliese stepped into the private room and almost gasped. The ce was set up to look luxurious and romantic. Clothes were scattered across the floor. There was a huge swinging chair, candlelight, flowers, wine, and a heavy smell from the aroma oils. She thought Timothy and Mikita really were a pair of wild lovebirds who only got bolder with age. ¡°Ahh! You tramp! Does it feel great stealing someone else¡¯s man?¡± Mnie had been exhausted from the fighting, but the moment she saw the scene inside, her eyes went bloodshot and her rage returned. She screamed and lunged at Mikita. Terrified, Mikita covered her chest with her arms, dodged aside, and ran to the bed. She grabbed the nket to cover herself and cried. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please stop hitting me. Timothy and I are truly in love. We were drawn to each other, we couldn¡¯t help it¡­¡± Now that she had been caught, Mikita decided to make a scene. She had been with Timothy since she was eighteen and had even given him two children, yet Timothy still refused to let her show her face. She was tired of living in hiding, always kept in the shadows. 1/3 Checktest chapters at find(?)ovel Chapter 372 Clouds of Betrayal She was better than Mnie. Why shouldn¡¯t she be the legal wife? It would be best if Mnie had some sense, stepped aside, and given her the position. But before she could finish, Timothy rushed to the bed and spoke in a stern voice. ¡°Mikita!¡± s Timothy didn¡¯t want to upset the shaky peace holding things together. White Inc. was already giving him enough trouble. If his family fell apart too, it would be a disaster. Mikita still feared him. At his shout, she lowered her head and cried. Even so, Mnie trembled with anger after hearing Mikita¡¯s words. Timothy went to support her, but Mnie raised her hand and pped him across the face. Timothy frowned, the red mark stinging on his cheek. Mikita gasped, kneeling on the bed as if she wanted to go forward, but Timothy shot her a warning look that made her freeze. Holding Mnie, Timothy coaxed, ¡°Look at you. Is this really worth getting so upset over? The kids are watching. If you make yourself sick from this, it¡¯s no good. She and I were just messing around, nothing serious. You can trust me, I won¡¯t do it again, alright?¡± He spoke softly, trying to calm her, while throwing nces at Perseus and Christopher. The two caught on and stepped forward. ¡°Dad, you really don¡¯t know this woman? She seduced you first?¡± ¡°Of course! Honey, believe me. We¡¯ve had three kids together. After all these years, you¡¯re the one I love the most.¡± ¡°Dad, tell her to leave right now. Swear to Mom that you won¡¯t mess around anymore.¡± Christopher pushed him, and Timothy nodded before turning sharp eyes on Mikita. ¡°Why are you still here? Get out!¡± Mikita was unwilling, but she didn¡¯t dare go against Timothy. She got up and walked toward the dressing room. In Timothy¡¯s arms, Mnie cried and struggled. She hated him and was furious, but his 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 d. ¡­ Chapter 372 Clouds of Betrayal : coaxing and promises calmed some of her anger. 74 s She wasn¡¯t young anymore. As long as her husband didn¡¯t stray again and didn¡¯t threaten her interests, what choice did she have but to endure? Mnie finally quieted down, and Anneliese, watching, wasn¡¯t surprised. She sneered. ¡°I mean, Mrs. White, Perseus, Christopher, do you really think Mr. White and Ms. Hodge were just a fling? Look at this setup. And don¡¯t you think Ms. Hodge¡¯s face looks familiar?¡± ¡°Shut up! Anneliese, I never should¡¯ve had you, and I never should¡¯ve brought you back! You¡¯re nothing but trouble!¡± The moment Timothy heard her speak, his head throbbed. What scared him more was that from her words, it was clear she not only knew about his affair with Mikita, but probably also about Selina¡¯s real identity and the baby swap from back then. Those were things Timothy could never let Mnie and the boys know. He roared in anger and stormed toward Anneliese, grabbing the belt from the floor, ready tosh her with it. Created 373 Chapter 373 The Secret Son Revealed Anneliese didn¡¯t dodge or back away. She just said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m Mrs. Fullbuster now! Tryying a finger on me!¡± If she didn¡¯t use Jonathan¡¯s name now, then when would she? (74) s Her sharp, dismissive stare bore down on Timothy. Her whole presence carried a pressure that felt a lot like Jonathan¡¯s. Timothy¡¯s hand froze in midair with the belt trembling nonstop, his face turningpletely dark. Anneliese curved her lips into a slight smile. ¡°You¡¯re so angry. Are you afraid I might reveal something?¡± Timothy¡¯s breathing grew heavy. ¡°Anne, I know in the past it was we who wronged you. I will make it up to you! I really will!¡± When Timothy said ¡°we,¡± only Anneliese understood. He meant himself and Mikita. Mnie, Perseus, and Christopher didn¡¯t understand what they were hinting at, but Anneliese¡¯s earlier words already left them puzzled. Looking around, the ce was clearly set up like a home. Two stories, with what looked like a kitchen and dining room downstairs. The walk¨Cin closet nearby was filled with Timothy¡¯s and Mikita¡¯s clothes, proof that this was a long¨Cterm hideout, not just a casual fling like Timothy had imed. Perseus yanked Mikita, who was about to run to the dressing room. ¡°Stop. Don¡¯t move!¡± The three of them stared at Mikita¡¯s face. With that reminder, they noticed right away. This woman looks almost exactly like Selina! Just then, the door of the private room swung open, and a small figure ran in, calling, ¡°Daddy, Daddy!¡± A little boy rushed straight to Timothy and wrapped his arms around his leg. ¡°Daddy! I missed you. Where¡¯s the big gift you promised me?¡± 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 373 The Secret Son Revealed 74 s ¡°Daddy? You called him daddy?¡± Christopher stared, his eyes bulging as the boy clung tightly to Timothy¡¯s leg. Perseus was just as shocked. The boy looked no older than four or five. Timothy had fathered a child outside, giving them a half¨Cbrother. But none of them would ever wee a brother like that. In wealthy families, illegitimate children were always the most hated, because in their eyes, they weren¡¯t siblings. They were scavengersing to grab their share of money and resources. On top of that, the boy was young. He was ate¨Cborn child, the kind parents usually spoiled the most. Timothy hadn¡¯t expected Billy to be brought there. His face shifted, and he instinctively pushed the boy a little away. When Billy saw his father ignoring him and all these unfamiliar adults ring at him, he burst into loud sobs. He ran to Mikita, crying pitifully. ¡°Mommy! Daddy¡¯s ignoring me! Wah! They¡¯re ring at me. Mommy, hit them, beat them all up!¡± The boy¡¯s shrill cries andints made Mnie and her sons¡® faces turn even darker. Seeing the child, there was no doubt left. He was Timothy and Mikita¡¯s illegitimate son. Timothy¡¯s face sank. ¡°Shut up!¡± He snapped at Billy, then turned toward the nanny standing at the door, looking lost. ¡°Who told you to bring him here? Take him out right now!¡± The nanny felt wronged. The driver had told her that Timothy missed Billy and wanted to take him and Mikita to the amusement park. That was why she brought him along. But she didn¡¯t dare say anything and quickly stepped forward to carry Billy away. The boy screamed louder, clinging tightly to Mikita and wailing. ¡°Daddy hates me! Daddy doesn¡¯t love me anymore! Waaaah! Daddy, you¡¯re a big liar. You said I was the one you loved most, that you¡¯d give me everything¡­¡± 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 .. Chapter 373 The Secret Son Revealed For more chapters visit Find¡ïNovel s Mikita rushed to cover his mouth, but Mnie and her sons had already heard every word. Mnie¡¯s face turned pale green. ¡°Timothy! You old b*stard! You¡¯re old enough to be this brat¡¯s grandpa, and you still have the nerve?¡± Perseus and Christopher both turned red with rage. This time, it touched their own interests. There was no way they would put up with it. ¡°Dad, if everything is going to that b*stard kid, then what about us?¡± ¡°Dad, do you n to give our share to that b*stard too?¡± The brothers pressed in angrily, their force intimidating. Timothy backed away step by step until he dropped heavily onto the couch behind him. He had felt guilty at first, but his sons being so disrespectful made him furious and humiliated. pping his thigh, he shouted back, ¡°What b*stard? He¡¯s your brother! What¡¯s mine is mine to give, and I¡¯ll give it to whoever I want. Since when is it your ce to interfere?¡± Created 374 Chapter 374 Secrets Uncovered What Timothy said was basically proof of what Billy had just shouted, that everything Timothy owned would belong to him one day. 74 s Perseus and Christopher thought it was absurd and infuriating. Christopher clenched his fists tight. ¡°Great, just great! We worked ourselves to the bone for thepany, bending over backwards to beg for investments, and it turns out everything will go to that little b*stard one day. Perfect! all go down together!¡± Then why bother saving thepany? Let it go bankrupt. We can Perseus¡® eyes were bloodshot. He kicked hard and sent the coffee table flying. With a loud crash, the room went silent, broken only by Mnie¡¯s heavy breathing. Even Billy, who had been wailing, stopped crying and clung to Mikita. Anneliese looked at the family, their eyes red and their unity falling apart, and she felt satisfied. Back then, they had acted like such a loving family, especially when they were ganging up on her and ming her for everything. But now, after she had done so much to help them, they still hadn¡¯t figured out the truth about Selina and Mikita? They were too slow. Anneliese was just thinking about whether she should stir things up more when Perseus suddenly locked his sharp gaze on Billy. ¡°Wait. What did that b*stard just say his name was? Billy?¡± Christopher¡¯s expression also changed, his eyes widening in disbelief. Mnie¡¯s vision went dark. She wasn¡¯t stupid. In fact, women noticed these things faster. Selina, Billy. And looking at Mikita¡¯s face again, there really was a resemnce¨Cclear enough that she looked like Selina¡¯s rtive. Mnie suddenly rushed over and grabbed Timothy by the cor of his rumpled shirt. ¡°Selina is the daughter you had with this tramp, isn¡¯t she?¡± 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 ¡­ Chapter 374 Secrets Uncovered Timothy frowned. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± 74 s Mnie let out a bitter, brokenugh. They had lived together as husband and wife for over her twenty years. Even though Timothy denied it, his shifty eyes and subtle expressions gave the answer. ¡°Hah, hah! I actually raised your b*stard daughter with this tramp for more than twenty years! Even when my real daughter was brought home, I cared more for Selina, your illegitimate daughter! Hah, I really am the biggest fool!¡± When she thought about how much she had truly cared for Selina, while Mikita must have been secretly gloating behind her back, Mnie felt so stifled and regretful she could hardly breathe. But then another thought hit her. ¡°No! If Selina is your b*stard daughter with her, then the investigation that said she was switched by some single mom who couldn¡¯t afford to raise a child can¡¯t be true! Who was it? Who switched my daughter with Selina? Was it you, or was it her?¡± Mnie clutched Timothy¡¯s cor, ring at him with hatred, then pointed at Mikita. Mikita shrank back and held Billy tighter. Billy was terrified and burst out crying again. Timothy said in a low voice, ¡°That¡¯s not true. You¡¯re imagining things. There¡¯s no illegitimate daughter. I told you already, it¡¯s not true.¡± But Mnie no longer believed him. Suddenly, she thought of Anneliese. Since this whole setup today was arranged by Anneliese, she must have already found out the truth. Mnie turned to Anneliese. ¡°Anne, tell me, is Selina his daughter with Mikita? Who was the one who switched you two back then?¡± Perseus and Christopher also looked at Anneliese, their expressionsplicated. Deep down, they already knew the answer. They just didn¡¯t want to admit it. Anneliese wasn¡¯t noble at all. She had put up with so much unfair treatment, stabbed again and again by these so¨Ccalled family members. Now, seeing them breaking down and vulnerable, she felt satisfied. 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 d Chapter 374 Secrets Uncovered It was true¨Cpeople only cared when the pain was their own. She curved her lips into a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t doubt yourselves. You guessed right.¡± Then she pulled out a paper copy of the DNA test from her bag. s do it ¡°Here, I already had the DNA test prepared for you. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can go again yourselves. As for whether it was Mikita or Timothy who switched the babies back then, I¡¯d really like to know that answer too.¡± Discover more novels at Find?Novel Anneliese tossed the DNA test onto the shattered coffee table. Mnie rushed forward, snatched it up, and flipped through the pages with trembling hands. When she saw the confirmed mother¨Cdaughter and father¨Cdaughter rtionships between Selina, Mikita, and Timothy, her hand went weak, and the papers scattered to the floor. She lunged at Timothy and pped him hard across the face. Created 375 Chapter 375 Mnie¡¯s Rage ¡°Old b*stard!¡± : Timothy felt guilty and took the hit, thinking Mnie would calm down. (74) s However, the next second, she went crazy and grabbed him by the throat. ¡°Was it you? Did work with that b*tch to swap out my daughter? Was it you?¡± Mnie was so full of hate that she lost all reason. He hadn¡¯t expected her to lose control like this or suddenly have so much strength. He couldn¡¯t breathe, and his face turned purple. He tried to pry her hands off, but he couldn¡¯t. He looked to Perseus and Christopher for help, but one was staring at the DNA reports, and the other just red coldly at him, making no move to help. ¡°Timothy! I¡¯ll save you!¡± In the end, it was Mikita who rushed over and pulled Mnie away with all her strength. However, Mikita hadn¡¯t even had time to put on clothes. As Mnie was shoved aside and looked up, she saw Timothy hugging the naked Mikita again. you Her anger boiled over. ¡°Fine! If none of you want to admit it, then I¡¯ll call the police. Let them find out who swapped the babies back then!¡± She reached for her phone. Mikita panicked, tears filling her eyes as she looked at Timothy. Timothy coughed and grabbed at Mnie, trying to stop her. ¡°Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble?¡± Yet, before he could touch her, Christopher grabbed his hand. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want Mom to call the police? What are you hiding, Dad?¡± Perseus looked at him and Mikita coldly. ¡°So, you really worked with this woman to swap Anne out?¡± Things had gone too far for Timothy to cover up anymore. 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 375 Mnie¡¯s Rage 74 s His head felt like it was splitting as he snapped, ¡°How could it be me? Selina is my daughter, and Anne is too. I had no idea they had been swapped. I only found out five years ago when I learned Selina wasn¡¯t your mom¡¯s daughter. ¡°That¡¯s when I realized something was wrong. Mnie, you have to believe me!¡± However, Timothy was lying. At first, he really didn¡¯t know Mikita had secretly swapped the babies. He had met her at a bar. Back then, she was just a freshman, still pure and innocent, working part¨Ctime as a hostess and getting bullied. Timothy helped her, only for them to end up having a one¨Cnight stand. He wanted to give her money, but Mikita stubbornly said she wasn¡¯t after that. She refused and disappeared. Because she was different, he thought about her from time to time and always felt guilty. A yearter, he was in his car when he saw a slender girl selling flowers being harassed by a few men. The source of th?s content is F?ndNovel At a nce, he recognized her. He saved Mikita again, and this time, he kept her as his mistress. Back then, he had no idea that during the year she disappeared, she had taken a break from school, given birth to his daughter, and even dared to swap the baby with Mnie¡¯s, sending the child straight into his home. When Timothy finally discovered the truth, Selina was already five or six years old. As she grew, she looked more and more like Mikita, and Mikita¡¯s special attention to her made it obvious. He confronted her, and she immediately broke down, crying and kneeling at his feet. She sobbed and exined that she had been just a clueless freshman when she found out she was pregnant. By the time she realized it, she was already four months along and too scared to see a doctor. She bought abortion pills in secret, but then heard that at that stage they wouldn¡¯t work. When she went home during break and sneaked to the hospital to end the pregnancy, the doctor told her the baby was already six or seven months along. Ending it would cause her serious harm, and by then the baby was already moving. She 9:37 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 375 Mnie¡¯s Rage couldn¡¯t go through with it and ended up giving birth. 74 +5 Free Coins However, as a poor college student, she couldn¡¯t afford to raise a baby. When she found out Mnie had just given birth, she made a reckless choice and swapped the babies. She cried and begged for forgiveness. By then, it was already toote. Timothy had been supporting her for years and had developed feelings for her. He was even more afraid of Mnie finding out the truth, so he chose to cover it up with her. He asked Mikita what happened to his other daughter. She said that when she walked out of the hospital in a panic with the baby, she ran into a kind couple who were there for fertility treatment. She gave them the baby, and they promised to raise her well. Timothy sent people to track down that couple, but there was never any news. It wasn¡¯t until Selina was seventeen and got hurt in an ident that the truth came out. Timothy had been on a business trip. Mnie rushed to the hospital first, and when Selina needed a blood transfusion, she realized Selina wasn¡¯t her biological daughter and reported it to the police. As for Anneliese, her adoptive parents had always wanted to help her find her real family. They had taken her to the police to enter her DNA into the national missing¨Cchildren database. Created 376 Chapter 376 The Truth of the Switched Child Mnie¡¯s report quickly led them to Anneliese. s Timothy, enraged, had turned on Mikita. The truth was unbearable¨Cthe child had been abandoned at an orphanage¨Cleft in the snow with nothing but a thin nket in the dead of winter, barely saved from freezing to death. He struck Mikita twice in anger. Despite this, Mikita stood her ground and insisted she had given the baby to a childless couple, maintaining that it was the couple whoter abandoned the child at the orphanage. Timothy had been furious. This was his own flesh and blood, and Mikita had nearly cost the child her life. But Anneliese had already been found, and Mikita had been carrying Billy at the time. In the end, he dropped the matter. He had never pressed further¨Cwhether Anneliese had truly been given to that couple or if Mikita herself had discarded her at the orphanage remained unanswered. Now, under the weight of Mnie¡¯s re, the using stares of his son, and Anneliese herself, guilt gnawed at him. Mnie¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Selina looks just like her. Did you never notice? Still trying to fool me, Timothy?¡± Her teeth ground together; in that moment, it seemed she would tear Timothy and Mikita apart with her bare hands. Seeing she wouldn¡¯t believe him, Timothy turned to Anneliese instead. He still clung to the hope that Anneliese¨Cnow Mrs. Fullbuster¨Cmight help White Inc. survive. ¡°Anne, can you trust me? I was blind. I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d been switched. Mikita will apologize.¡± He shot Mikita a re. ¡°Mikita!¡± The secret was out, and Mikita was also afraid that Anneliese would never let it rest. Clutching her clothes around her, she stumbled forward, fell to her knees before Anneliese, and grabbed at her sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I was young and foolish. I couldn¡¯t raise Selina. I never thought they¡¯d abandon They swore to love you as their own.¡± you. 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 376 The Truth of the Switched Child 74 s Anneliese frowned. Doubt stirred in her heart. Could it be that Mikita never really abandoned me at the orphanage? ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? fin?novel Before she could question it, a deep,manding voice cut through the room. ¡°What couple? Speak clearly.¡± Anneliese looked up. Jonathan strode in first, his face cold and severe. Behind him came Zane and Jessica, followed by four uniformed officers¨Ctheir presence heavy and undeniable. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Timothy and Mikita faltered at the sight of the police. Her legs buckled, and she crumpled to the ground. Mnie, however, burst into wildughter after a moment of stillness. She staggered forward, grabbed one of the officers, and pointed squarely at Timothy and Mikita. ¡°Arrest them! They stole my daughter twenty¨Ctwo years ago. Take them away!¡± Her fury burned through her voice. I want both of them to be held ountable for what they¡¯ve done. If Timothy in prison with that woman, let¡¯s see how he thinks he¡¯ll hand everything in the White family to that illegitimate child. Jonathan gave no heed to Mnie¡¯s rage. His gaze locked only on Anneliese as he strode forward, dark brows drawn tight with displeasure. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Anneliese asked nervously, uneasy beneath the weight of his stare. ¡°How dare you ask? This is serious, and you told me nothing? Am I just a trophy husband?¡± Her waist throbbed with pain, and as her chin struck his solid chest, her eyes filled with tears from the impact and emotion. She looked up at him helplessly, hoping for understanding. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ I thought I could handle it on my own¡­¡± ¡± Her voice shook as she reached for his hand. ¡°I was going to tell you tonight, really.¡± Jonathan¡¯s face remained unreadable, his sternness unshaken. He only knew of the confrontation because Zane had informed him. Days earlier, when Zane had stepped in to help Jessica at the restaurant, he¡¯d bribed a young waiter to keep an eye out and report if anything unusual happened. 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 377 Justice and Confrontation Chapter 377 Justice and Confrontation 74 s The young waiter notified Zane, who immediately called Jonathan. Together, they rushed over. Anneliese shrank under the chill of his gaze, torn between anger and helplessness. She squeezed his hand, stood on tiptoe, and whispered, ¡°I was wrong, hubby¡­ Everyone¡¯s watching. Please don¡¯t embarrass me.¡± Her tone softened, yful as she called him hubby. Jonathan wanted to stayposed, but he found it impossible to do so. The man¡¯s tightly pressed lips loosened slightly, and the furrow between his brows softened, though an aloof, untouchable air still clung to him. Anneliese tickled his palm again. ¡°Come on, give me a smile.¡± Jonathan sped her hand, trapping her restless fingers in his warm palm. ¡°You think I¡¯ll smile when you¡¯re not treating me right?¡± Anneliese froze. Why can¡¯t he just talk normally? As they murmured, officers questioned Mnie. The police stepped forward and prepared to take Mikita and Timothy away. ¡°You are suspected of child trafficking and abandonment. Come with us to cooperate with the investigation.¡± Mikita went pale. She never expected something like this to happen so suddenly. She turned to Timothy for help, only to see him struggling, already forcibly handcuffed by the police. ¡°Officer, this is wrong!¡± Timothy flushed. ¡°I¡¯m Anne¡¯s father¨Chow could I kidnap my own child?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll investigate. You¡¯reing with us now,¡± the officer said. Seeing that the officers were clearly acting on Jonathan¡¯s orders, Timothy turned his pleading gaze toward Anneliese and Jonathan, shouting desperately, ¡°Anne, I¡¯m your father! Don¡¯t do this! Let me exin!¡± 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 377 Justice and Confrontation Created 377 Chapter 377 Justice and Confrontation The young +5 Free Cours waiter notified Zane, who immediately called Jonathan. Together, they rushed over. Anneliese shrank under the chill of his gaze, torn between anger and helplessness. She squeezed his hand, stood on tiptoe, and whispered, ¡°I was wrong, hubby¡­ Everyone¡¯s watching. Please don¡¯t embarrass me.¡± Her tone softened, yful as she called him hubby. Jonathan wanted to stayposed, but he found it impossible to do so. The man¡¯s tightly pressed lips loosened slightly, and the furrow between his brows softened, though an aloof, untouchable air still clung to him. Anneliese tickled his palm again. ¡°Come on, give me a smile.¡± Jonathan sped her hand, trapping her restless fingers in his warm palm. ¡°You think I¡¯ll smile when you¡¯re not treating me right?¡± Anneliese froze. Why can¡¯t he just talk normally? As they murmured, officers questioned Mnie. The police stepped forward and prepared to take Mikita and Timothy away. ¡°You are suspected of child trafficking and abandonment. Come with us to cooperate with the investigation.¡± Mikita went pale. She never expected something like this to happen so suddenly. She turned to Timothy for help, only to see him struggling, already forcibly handcuffed by the police. ¡°Officer, this is wrong!¡± Timothy flushed. ¡°I¡¯m Anne¡¯s father¨Chow could I kidnap my own child?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll investigate. You¡¯reing with us now,¡± the officer said. Seeing that the officers were clearly acting on Jonathan¡¯s orders, Timothy turned his pleading gaze toward Anneliese and Jonathan, shouting desperately, ¡°Anne, I¡¯m your father! Don¡¯t do this! Let me exin!¡± 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 ¡­ Chapter 377 Justice and Confrontation +5 Free Couns ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you married Anne. One day she¡¯ll have your children¨CI¡¯ll be their grandfather. If you drag me away, your reputation and theirs will suffer! Anne¡¯s acting out. Don¡¯t be reckless!¡± But Jonathan and Anneliese stood unmoved, silent as stone. Timothy then sought help from Perseus and Christopher, but the two brothers turned their faces away coldly. He had already been willing to leave everything to his illegitimate child. Now, working with the mistress, she had taken their real sister and abandoned her, forcing the mother and two brothers to pour all their care into the illegitimate daughter. They werepletely disheartened. He looked at Mnie, only to meet her eyes filled with hatred. At this moment, Timothy truly felt the sting of being utterly forsaken. He was forcibly taken away, while Mikitagged behind, dyed because she had to get dressed while being escorted. When Mikita was finally brought out, Jonathan¡¯s voice broke the tense silence. ¡°She mentioned an old couple earlier. Have her exin.¡± At hismand, Mikita was immediately brought before him and Anneliese. Seizing the moment, she dropped to her knees in front of Anneliese, tears streaming down her face as she begged, ¡°Ms. ude, I was foolish back then. I wronged you! But I know you have the kindest heart. Look at Billy¨Che¡¯s still so young. He can¡¯t grow up without a mother. Look at how desperately he cries! Please, spare me! If you don¡¯t press charges, I¡¯ll work myself to the bone to repay you.¡± She even dragged her young son forward, trying to evoke pity. Indeed, Billy had been crying pitifully the entire time, but Anneliese¡¯s heart remained unmoved. Anneliese¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You know a child needs parents. I was younger than Billy¨Cjust days old¨Cwhen you abandoned me.¡± Mikita¡¯s tone turned sharp. ¡°Shameless girl! Even if my daughter forgives you, I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll see you in prison!¡± Jonathan¡¯s brows pulled tight. His cold stare silenced her. ¡°Enough.¡± 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 d Chapter 377 Justice and Confrontation ¡£(74), s Updates are released by F¦Énd£Îovel Under his gaze, Mikita faltered, then began confessing¨Chow she left the hospital with the baby, met a middle¨Caged couple longing for a child, how they brightened when she said she couldn¡¯t raise her baby, how they promised to treat the child as their own. She even described the direction they left in. She tried to add more, but Jonathan had already turned away, signaling the officers with a sharp look. 3 Created 378 Chapter 378 Too Late for Regret 2 +5 Free Cond The police immediately stepped forward and dragged Mikita along. Terrified, she grabbed Anneliese¡¯s sleeve with a desperate tug. ¡°Ms. ude, I truly repent! I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry! Please, spare me!¡± ¡°Let go!¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice was sharp, his brows furrowed. With a ripping sound, half of Anneliese¡¯s silk shirt sleeve was torn off by Mikita¡¯s grasp. revealing a slender, wless arm. Mikita froze for a moment, staring at Anneliese¡¯s arm in shock. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Behave,¡± Anneliese said coldly. At that moment, two young officers pressed Mikita to the ground. Seeing she was no longer resisting, they turned to Anneliese apologetically. ¡°We¡¯re sorry for startling you, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± Jonathan had already removed his suit jacket and draped it over Anneliese¡¯s shoulders, pulling her close into his embrace. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Thank you for your hard work,¡± she murmured. Mikita was then escorted out. Seeing this, Billy burst into tears and clutched at her legs. A police officer picked him up and handed him to the nanny, but she hadn¡¯t expected both the master and mistress of the house to be taken away in one day. Not wanting to be burdened with Billy, she simply dropped the sobbing child on the ground and fled. Anneliese frowned as she looked at the little boy with his flushed, tear¨Cstreaked face. Years ago, Mikita abandoned someone else¡¯s child without a second thought. Now her own child is left unwanted, uncared for. Maybe this is retribution. ¡°Anne, my daughter, I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t realize the truth was so terrible. I never imagined Selina was that wretch¡¯s daughter, that she deliberately reced my real daughter and put herself in my ce! I regret it so much it¡¯s killing me. If I had known, I would have cherished you, protected you. I was deceived, manipted¨Cdon¡¯t you see? I¡¯m a victim too! They were the ones who were 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 ¡­ Chapter 378 Too Late for Regret : +5 Free Com ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find1Novel shameless and cruel! Anne, please give me another chance. Let me make it up to you, I beg you.¡± Suddenly, Mnie stumbled forward, tears streaming down her face, full of remorse, begging Anneliese for forgiveness. Seeing this, Perseus and Christopher also moved to step forward, but Anneliese drew back into Jonathan¡¯s arms, clearly impatient. Jonathan¡¯srge hand on her waist gently rubbed her, his gaze lowering as he spoke softly. ¡°Tired? Let¡¯s go home.¡± Anneliese nodded, uninterested in responding to Mnie. Seeing her turn to leave, Mnie panicked, wanting to cling and plead further. Jessica stepped in, her expression full of scorn. ¡°Save it. Where were you before? When you kept protecting Selina, favoring her so much that you drove Annie away! And now that you know Selina is an illegitimate child, you regret it? Do you think your regret is something precious, huh? Stop making people sick. By the way, do you think Selina even knows about her background after all these years?¡± Now they wanted to repent and make amends? The damage was done. It was toote. Mnie¡¯s face turned pale, and her body wavered under the weight of Jessica¡¯s words. Christopher and Perseus steadied her, their faces ashen, gray¨Cwhite, and drained of color, all three sharing the same stunned silence. The final words from Jessica cut the deepest. They realized that Selina had probably long known that Mikita was her birth mother, and might even have interacted with her under Timothy¡¯s guidance. To their faces, she would smile sweetly and call them Mom and Brother. But behind their backs, she would even address Mikita as her mom, andugh at the three of them as nothing but pitiful fools. Suddenly, Mnie spat a mouthful of blood, her eyes closing as she copsed. ¡°Mom!¡± 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 d. Chapter 378 Too Late for Regret +5 Free Come Perseus shouted, catching her, his eyes red¨Crimmed with fury as he stared at Anneliese¡¯s retreating back. Yet Anneliese did not even nce back. Christopher also watched her go, his gaze heavy with tumultuous emotions. He had always been the one who looked down on her the most, the one who shielded Selina at every turn. In his eyes, Anneliese was a country girl spoiled by a poor upbringing¨Cignorant, greedy, dismissive toward her own family, and too narrow¨Cminded to tolerate others. To him, she had onlye back to seize the White family¡¯s resources, nothing more than an ungrateful child. But now, as Mrs. Fullbuster, Anneliese held nothing for the White family. She had severed all ties. As for Selina, the sister he had always seen as innocent and pitiable, proud yet endearing- even if she was forever causing trouble and embarrassing the family¨Cturned out to be an illegitimate child, aplete source of disgrace. To Christopher, it felt as if his entire world had been overturned in less than an hour. The more he thought back on his past actions, the harder it became to breathe. He was nearly sick with regret, almost ready to cry at his own stupidity. Created 379 Chapter 379 The Hidden Web ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help!¡± Perseus shoved him hard, and Christopher finally snapped out of his daze. 2 5 Free Coins He helped lift the unconscious Mnie onto Perseus¡® back. ¡°Perseus, what do we do now?¡± ¡°First, get Mom to the hospital. Then check how much Mikita has taken from the White family over the years! She needs to confess everything! And find out how much Selina really knows. Oh, and Hiroto Hodge¨Che caused thepany to spiral into that vicious cycle. He needs to be investigated thoroughly, too!¡± ¡°Hiroto? Do you think he¡¯s working with her?¡± Christopher¡¯s fists clenched as his face darkened. Perseus nodded. ¡°When Hiroto sabotaged two projects, I wanted him punished, but Dad protected him. Their shared surname¨CHodge¨Cis no coincidence.¡± If Hiroto really was connected to Mikita, then everything that had happened to the White family was no ident. It had all been engineered by Selina and her birth mother. Enemies couldn¡¯t have struck harder. ¡°Strange¡­ where¡¯s Selina?¡± Christopher frowned. He wanted to confront her immediately, to ask where they had wronged her all these years. He immediately took out his phone and tried calling Selina, but it went straight to voicemail. Meanwhile, as Jessica stepped out of the restaurant, she couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°That was truly satisfying. What a pity the little saint wasn¡¯t in the audience.¡± Anneliese had orchestrated this entire setup, naturally aiming to gather everyone in one ce -especially Selina, the key yer. Unfortunately, an unexpected obstacle had arisen. Fresh chapters posted on findnovel The messages Anneliese had sent Selina went unanswered. Several calls had gone through, but Selina¡¯s phone was switched off. She waspletely unreachable. 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 ¡­ Chapter 379 The Hidden Web : e Still, with the dust settled now, Timothy might be unpredictable, but Mikita was certainly not going anywhere. Selina would eventually hear the news¨Cand it would surely surprise her. ¡°Forget her. But you and Mr. Shayman¡­ he truly cares about you.¡± Jessica¡¯s expression flickered for a moment, slightly uneasy. She instinctively nced at Zane. She hadn¡¯t expected that when Zane encountered her herest time, he would ask the staff to keep an eye on things. The thoughtfulness and care caught her off guard. But Zane was awyer; perhaps it was professional instinct that made him so attentive, so meticulous. Jessica was fully aware¨Cthey belonged to entirely different worlds. Even a few intimate encounters didn¡¯t mean anything substantial. Sensing Jessica¡¯s gaze, Zane instinctively turned his head, but she had already looked away. Walking behind Jonathan, Zane only saw the back of the woman¡¯s head, her chic short hair swaying lightly in the wind. Outside the restaurant, they parted ways. Anneliese got into the car with Jonathan, remaining unusually quiet. Jonathan noticed her mood was low as she leaned against the car window, staring outside. He reached over and drew her into his embrace, a faint lift in his brow. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, causing chaos and still not happy?¡± Anneliese flushed slightly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it chaos¡­ I just spent so long waiting for this moment, wanting to see the White family¨Cthose selfish, self¨Ccentered people¨Cbetrayed and abandoned by the ones closest to them, to watch them suffer, regret, and be pierced by their own mistakes. But now that it¡¯s happening, it doesn¡¯t feel as satisfying as I imagined.¡± Seeing her lower her gaze, Jonathan bent down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re not worth the emotions you waste on them. Consider it a weight lifted from your heart.¡± As he spoke, he gently lifted her chin, and Anneliese looked at him in quiet astonishment. 2/3 9:38 Wed, Oct 1. ¡­ Chapter 379 The Hidden Web s Jonathan¡¯s lips curved slightly, his voice soft and clear. ¡°From now on, may your heart hold only those who love you, and may everything you see be gentle and warm.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure if she could truly live by those words¨Cbut at this moment, his gaze was impossibly tender, drowning her in a warmth she could not resist. Meanwhile, in a vi at Soutke Residence, the empty bottlesy scattered across the floor, broken ss and wreckage littering the room. The air was heavy, the curtains drawn tight. On therge bed, two bodiesy entwined, lost in disarray. The night before, Zacharias had stood at Sunrise Residence, watching as the home he once shared with Anneliese crumbled piece by piece beneath the roar of bulldozers. He had been powerless to stop it, eventually forced away by two bodyguards called by Selina. Furious, Zacharias was brought to his current residence, where he vented his rage, smashing countless objects and drinking heavily. Eventually, he passed out, remembering nothing. Now, as consciousness returned, he stirred, feeling a splitting headache and an overwhelming urge to vomit. 3/3 Created 380 Chapter 380 A Night of Shadows g Zacharias propped himself up, intending to rush to the bathroom, but halfway up, his body gave way, and he copsed back onto the bed. Someone was tangled in his arms¨Che was not alone. ¡°Ugh¡­ it hurts¡­¡± A soft moan came from his embrace. Zacharias¡® eyes snapped open, fully awake. He shoved the woman off him. She fell back onto the bed but stirred awake and sat up abruptly. ¡°Wh¡­ what¡­? Ah!¡± A short, startled cry escaped her lips. Zacharias jumped off the bed and yanked open the heavy ckout curtains. Only then did he see the pale¨Cfaced woman wrapped in the nket. It was Selina! His mind went nk for a moment. He shook his head violently, trying to recall anything, but nothing came. ¡°Zacharias,st night¡­¡± Selina bit her lip, hesitating to speak. Zacharias¡® brow furrowed deeply, his eyes narrowing. ¡°You¡­ You didn¡¯t leavest night?¡± Last night I was in pain and drank myself senseless. But why did Selina lose control too? Selina saw his suspicion. I thought he was drawn to me, so why does he look so displeased now? Does he think I¡¯m scheming¨Cand despise me? She gritted her teeth, her eyes red, neck stiff, and spat out, ¡°I have nothing to say! Let¡¯s just pretend nothing happened. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Wrapping the nket around herself, she got off the bed to pick up the discarded clothes scattered across the floor. 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 d Chapter 380 A Night of Shadows As she stood, a dark stain on the pale green bedsheet caught Zacharias¡® eyes. s His gaze tightened. Looking back at Selina¡¯s stubborn, silent figure, his expression grew increasinglyplex. Selina bent to pick up some underwear, and suddenly her legs gave way, sending her sprawling forward. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Zacharias rushed forward, catching her in time. Selina struggled violently. ¡°Let go of me! Zacharias, you b*stard! Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice- you suspect me of plotting against you! And yet, you mistook me for Anne and forced yourself on me. No matter how I struggled, it from was useless. And now you dare to turn it around and use me? Let me go¨Cget away me!¡± Selina¡¯s emotions suddenly erupted, her screams and struggles growing violent. The nket wrapped around her fell to the floor, revealing her bare skin, marked with countless intense welts and scratches that met Zacharias¡® eyes. He also noticed the faint swelling around her wrists, further proving what she had said¡ªthat he had forced her. Could it be that night in my drunken haze, I mistook Selina for Anne? In an instant, Zacharias¡® guilt and heartbreak surged to their peak. He scooped her up and gently ced her back on the bed, carefully covering her with the nket. Selina refused to acknowledge him, turning her head away and closing her eyes, letting tears fall silently. Seeing this, Zacharias¡® guilt deepened even more. In his mind, Selina had always carried the elegance and pride of a white swan. He cupped her damp, tear¨Cstreaked face, gently wiping away the tears, his voice soft and earnest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I hurt you. Whateverpensation you want, as long as I can do it, I will.¡± Selina bit her lip and averted her gaze, refusing to open her eyes. Yet the hot tears still slipped from her corners, rolling into Zacharias¡® palms. She stayed stubborn but inwardly bitter. 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 d Chapter 380 A Night of Shadows Z s Agreeing to anything¨Cjust evading responsibility. Ridiculous. Does Zacharias really expect Anneliese to return? If the White family isn¡¯t in trouble, Jonathan never even gives me the chance to get close to them. Right now, Zacharias may be my best option, but under normal circumstances, I would never choose him. To me, Zacharias was always beneath me. When did he be the one to decide? ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I already said¨Clet¡¯s just pretend nothing happened. I just want to take a shower and be alone for a while.¡± Selina murmured after a long pause, her tone calm and light, but the final notes of her voice carried a fragile, broken edge. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? findnovel Zacharias felt his hands grow hot and damp again. I mistook Selina for Anneliese and forced myself on her, yet she stayed silent. It was her first time. I still hesitate to take responsibility¡ªall because of Anneliese. Now I realize that even the thought of another woman taking Mrs. Shaw¡¯s ce fills me with anguish, resistance, and unrest. Created 381 Chapter 381 Hatred or Indifference But what about Anneliese? s She plotted our divorce, rushed into a sh marriage with Jonathan, unted their love in public, dragged Selina¡¯s mother and sister into police custody, and night let Jonathan tear our home apart. She¡¯s so cold, so heartless. Yet, Selina stays by my side and guides me. A flicker of struggle and fury crossed Zacharias¡® eyes as he suddenly pulled Selina into his arms. ¡°Selina, I will take responsibility for you!¡± Selina¡¯s dampshes trembled as she opened her eyes. ¡°No! This won¡¯t do. You¡¯re Anne¡¯s ex- husband. If she finds out we¡¯re together, she¡¯ll never ept it. She might even hate you!¡± She shook her head, panicked. Zacharias¡® attractive eyes glowed red, his heart stirred, and his expression hardened with determination. ¡°She¡¯s just my ex¨Cwife. What happens between us has nothing to do with her! ¡°I¡¯ll get the water ready. Then, I¡¯ll carry you in for a soak.¡± Zacharias kissed Selina, set her down, and headed toward the bathroom. If Anneliese cares at all. she won¡¯t ept me with Selina. Will Anneliese hate me? Hatred is better than indifference¨Cor being forgotten. On the bed, Selina watched Zacharias¡® retreating figure, her earlier uncertainty fading, reced entirely by a cold resolve. Anneliese took my man; now I¡¯ve taken her ex¨Chusband in return. She hugged the nket to herself, sat up, and finally powered on her phone. Almost immediately, it pinged incessantly¨Cnumerous missed calls and WhatsApp messages flooded in. Selina was about to open WhatsApp to check when another call came through. Sensing urgency, she answered immediately. ¡°Christopher?¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s been hospitalized again. You need toe over right now.¡± 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 ¡­ Chapter 381 Hatred or Indifference Christopher gave her the address and hung up. For more chapters visit find[?]ovel : 74 s Selina frowned, gripping her phone. What¡¯s going on? Christopher is usually so talkative and never this curt. He always lets me end the call¨Cnever the other way around. Zacharias had brought Selina to the hospital. She hurried to the ward, adjusting her expression before stepping in, her face now etched with concern. ¡°Mom! Perseus, Christopher, what happened to Mom?¡± She froze at the sight of Mnie lying on the bed¨Cher eyes swollen and red, her face pale, as if she had aged several years in an instant. Perseus and Christopher stood by the window, seemingly engaged in a conversation. As Selina entered, they immediately fell silent, turning to look at her without saying a word. She felt something was off, but then Mnie spoke up, reaching her hand out. ¡°Selina,e here.¡± Selina hurried forward, intending to take her mother¡¯s hand, when Mnie suddenly swung her arm back with a sharp motion. With nearly all her strength, Mnie¡¯s palm struck Selina across the face. The world went ck for a moment, and she staggered two steps before catching the bedside table to steady herself. It took her a while to recover. Mnie has never hit me before, and my protective brothers just stand there and keep silent? ¡°Mom? Are you crazy? You actually hit me! I¡¯m your most beloved daughter, Selina!¡± Selina cried out, her face full of shock, grievance, and suppressed anger. Pain flickered in Mnie¡¯s eyes. Timothy and I once on Anneliese more than once for Selina¡¯s sake, and now my heart feels like it¡¯s being seared in boiling oil, Anneliese endured so much injustice¨Cinsults, beatings, being forced to kneel, even imprisonment. And Selina? She takes one hit, and already she can¡¯t bear it? Mnie felt a mix of irony and hatred. She grabbed a water cup from the table and hurled it at Selina. 9:38 Wed, Oct 1 d. Chapter 381 Hatred or Indifference ¡°Stop! This burns!¡± Zacharias yelled in pain. 74 +5 Free Coins He had arrived a moment toote. Seeing Mnie throw water at Selina, he barked sharply and rushed forward, instinctively raising his arm to shield her. Most of the scalding water spilled onto Zacharias¡® arm, with some sshing onto Selina¡¯s neck, instantly reddening the skin. Selina screamed in pain, immediately helping Zacharias roll up his sleeve and remove his jacket. Mnie and the two brothers watched coldly, silently. ¡°Mom, why are you treating her like this? How could you stand there and watch?¡± Created 382 Chapter 382 The Illegitimate Daughter Chapter 382 The Illegitimate Daughter Zacharias pulled Selina behind him, his face dark as he red at Mnie and the rest. Mnie sneered. ¡°Why are you calling me that? You and Anne are divorced, so don¡¯t even bother. s ¡°And if it¡¯s because of that little b*tch behind you, I won¡¯t have the two of you calling me that either!¡± Zacharias frozepletely. Mnie had always doted on Selina, favoring her over anyone else. However, right now, her attitude was a drastic change from before. Did she just call Selina a little b*tch? Not only was Zacharias shocked, but Selina questioned her own ears. She stepped out from behind Zacharias, staring at Mnie. She wondered if her mother had be delirious from her illness, yet Perseus and Christopher¡¯s expressions didn¡¯t match someone merely acting irrationally. A sudden realization hit Selina, and she began panicking. Perhaps they had discovered the truth about her past. ¡°Mom? Perseus, Christopher¡­¡± cried Selina. However, Mnie snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not your mother! Do you need me to remind you who your mother really is?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Selina trembled. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Perseus? Tell me, Christopher!¡± They knew about Mikita, but how much did they know? Perseus hissed. ¡°Stop pretending, Selina! Seeing you like this makes us sick! We were fools to ever be deceived by your act!¡± Christopher added bitterly, ¡°We loved you once, and your betrayal stings!¡± 74 Chapter 382 The Illegitimate Daughter Selina trembled as tears streamed down her face. ¡°Mom? Perseus? Christopher? What¡¯s going on? What have I done?¡± s Zacharias¡® heart ached as he took in Selina¡¯s burned neck, sweating forehead, and her helpless crying. He pulled the trembling Selina into his arms, his voice deep and firm. ¡°You probably know by now that Selina and I are together. Is that why you¡¯re treating her like this? It¡¯s my fault! I forced herst night while drunk. She¡¯s innocent-¡± ¡°Selina, you¡¯ve perfectly inherited your mother¡¯s shameless genes! You, innocent? Pfft! Zacharias, if it weren¡¯t for her, would Anne have divorced you? Do you still think she¡¯s innocent?¡± Mnie¡¯sughter turned venomous, tears streaming as her rage mixed with regret. Zacharias frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Selina is my father¡¯s illegitimate daughter. Twenty¨Ctwo years ago, that mistress secretly switched Selina for Anneliese!¡± answered Perseus. Hearing that, Zacharias loosened his hold on Selina. She panicked. ¡°Perseus! What are you saying?¡± ¡°How is this possible?¡± he whispered, disbelief in his eyes. ¡°How is it not? The paternity report is right here. That mistress went on to have another child with my father, and they¡¯ve been sneaking around all this while!¡± Christopher tossed the report to Zacharias, who picked it up and skimmed through the documents. By the time he nced at Selina again, his gaze was chilling. Despite not being the real heiress, he¡¯d always thought Selina was innocent. Her biological mother had apparently died in a car ident, and no one ever bothered looking into it. However, he now discovered that Selina was Timothy¡¯s illegitimate daughter. Her real mother was despicable, and Selina had taken everything that belonged to Anneliese. 9:39 Wed, Chapter 382 The Illegitimate Daughter ¡°Is it true?¡± Zacharias¡® face was ashen. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FindN()vel He stared at Selina with the report in his hands. 30 +5 Free Cond Selina shook her head, trembling. ¡°No¡­ Of course not¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­ This can¡¯t be real¡­ ¡°Did you really know nothing?¡± Mnie questioned sharply. Selina copsed to her knees in front of the bed, sobbing. ¡°Please believe me, Mom! I had no idea! How did this happen?¡± She suddenly eximed, ¡°Someone must have faked the report! Someone who loathes us! They must¡¯ve plotted this¡­¡± She was indirectly ming Anneliese for it. Mnie raised her hand and pped her again. ¡°How dare you drag Anne¡¯s name through the mud again! You¡¯ve got the nerve! Do you really think anyone¡¯s going to believe you?¡± Created 383 Chapter 383 The Truth Is Out Selina fell to the ground from the p. She tried to lift her head and argue, but the door swung open just then. Two police officers entered, dragging a disheveled Billy with them. (74) s ¡°Ms. Lawrence, we¡¯re re¨Crecording Mikita and Timothy¡¯s statements about the switch. Since his parents are under interrogation, no one¡¯s looking after him. ¡°We¡¯ve brought him here since he¡¯s part of the family,¡± exined an officer. Billy¡¯s head hung low, tears streaming down his face. The moment he saw Selina, he broke free from the officers and ran to her. ¡°Selina! You¡¯ve got to rescue Mom and Dad! ¡°They¡¯ve been taken away by the police, and I¡¯m so scared!¡± Selina stiffened, trying to push him away, but Billy clung to her tightly. Panicked, she looked to Mnie and met her mother¡¯s cold, hate¨Cfilled eyes. ¡°So you knew nothing, huh?¡± Mnie spat. Perseus and Christopher watched in horror. Anyst trace of hope they had in Selina had vanished. ¡°Turns out you knew about your identity, kept in touch with Mikita, acknowledged your biological family, and yed us for fools!¡± ¡°Selina, you were born to act! Have you ever been honest with us? You tricked me into taking the me, used me like a tool¡­ Are you proud of yourself? You¡¯re a great actress!¡± Christopher¡¯s eyes were red. He suddenly lunged forward, lifting Selina off the ground by her neck. ¡°Ugh!¡± She felt suffocated, her legs dangling as if death itself pressed down on her. Chapter 383 The Truth Is Out ¡°What are you doing? Let go!¡± 74 s The two police officers immediately intervened, pulling Christopher back and pinning him against the wall. He continued to re at Selina furiously. Christopher and Perseus finally discovered the truth¨CSelina had been maintaining contact with Mikita since childhood. She knew about her real identity all along, kept it from them, and even frequently arranged for Timothy to meet up with Mikita. During Selina¡¯s two or three years abroad, Mikita and Billy often visited her. Mnie, Perseus, and Christopher had supported Selina wholeheartedly while she was abroad, sending her money every month to ensure she lived well overseas. That money also ended up benefiting Mikita and her child. Christopher felt like vomiting. Worse, Timothy had frequently gone abroad. In truth, they were a close¨Cknit family of four. Now, with thepany on the brink of copse, he realized it was Selina¡¯s uncle who had embezzled the funds, and most of that money had ended up in Mikita¡¯s hands. Christopher struggled to break free. ¡°Let go of me!¡± He barked, ¡°We were fools for calling Anne an ungrateful brat, never realizing you were the actual ingrate in this family!¡± Compared to someone like Selina, Anneliese was practically an angel. ?????? ???? Find~Novel Selina coughed violently, finally catching her breath after the officers subdued Christopher. Mnie had seared her neck, and Christopher had choked her. Her blisters split open, the pain so sharp she could hardly speak. Once she steadied herself, a flicker of anger rose. At this point, there was nothing left to salvage. Chapter 383 The Truth Is Out 74 s While covering her neck, she smiled at Christopher mockingly, who was still struggling under the police¡¯s hold. ¡°You swore you¡¯d always love and protect me. And yet, the moment you learned the truth about my past, you went back on your word. ¡°Now you¡¯re fawning over Anneliese? It¡¯s a shame she doesn¡¯t need cheap, fickle love like yours!¡± Her words were sharp like daggers, piercing straight into the hearts of the other three. The room was suddenly filled with heavy, rapid breathing, and Perseus¡® face paled. ¡°Mom!¡± he shouted, rushing to the bed. Mnie rolled her eyes, having fainted from Selina¡¯s provocation. Selina smirked. To her, Mnie was the actual greedy, hypocritical one. She imed to love her, yet clung to Anneliese, trying to keep them both. She said she¡¯d always be her daughter, but the moment the truth came out, she struck her and screamed. She only loved Selina because she was obedient and easy to manipte. moved away from the unconscious Mnie, only to meet Zacharias¡® Selina¡¯s indifferent gaze stunned, incredulous eyes. Created 384 Chapter 384 A Date Chapter 384 A Date Selina shuddered, and her lips twitched slightly, Crap! In a fit of anger, she had lost control, forgetting Zacharias was still there. She tried exining her ruthless outburst, ¡°Zacharias, I-¡± However, the man simply turned away, avoiding her gaze as he strode out of the room. ¡°Wait, Zacharias!¡± Selina hurried after him, but Billy clung to her leg while wailing. ¡°I want Mommy, Selina!¡± Anxious and frustrated, Selina lifted Billy into her arms and ran after Zacharias. She finally caught up to him by the elevator, her eyes red at this point. She grabbed onto him. ¡°My neck hurts like hell, and my whole body is aching¡­ Zacharias, I feel dizzy and weak. I don¡¯t think I can stand-¡± She looked terrible. Pale and sweaty, the burn marks and swelling on her neck were painfully obvious. She held her younger brother, swaying unsteadily. Seeing this, Zacharias remembered his promise to take responsibility for Selina. His expression shifted slightly. But the thought of Selina being a lovechild, not nearly as innocent as she acted, and her earlier hospital outburst left him with no sympathy at all. She felt like aplete stranger, and his rose¨Ctinted sses wereing off. Before he could say anything else, Selina went limp against him. Chapter 384 A Date ¡°Selina!¡± He frowned, catching her and the kid just in time. (7) 74 s Jonathan ced the neatly¨Csliced steak in front of Anneliese and took away the piece she had been trying to cut in for a while, the entire chuck still intact. Anneliese looked up. Jonathan, elegant as always, continued his meal and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Dig in.¡± Anneliese nced at the perfectly sliced steak. ¡°Thank you.¡± She smiled. As she began eating, her eyes brightened slightly. Jonathan did everything to perfection. Each slice was cut against the grain, making the meat tender and juicy. It was delicious. ¡°Do you always treat your girlfriends like this?¡± Anneliese found herself wondering about his past loves. Who could resist a man like him, with his charm and tender gestures? Being treated gently by a man like Jonathan was addictive. It was like being fed opium, but the only difference was how deeply one got hooked. She speared another piece of steak, then looked up at him curiously. Jonathan paused, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her eat. His right cheek puffed out a little, just enough to look teasingly cute. ¡°Why ask that all of a sudden? Are you jealous?¡± Anneliese chewed and swallowed, shaking her head. Chapter 384 A Date (74) s ¡°The past is in the past. If that¡¯s true, I should be thanking your exes. Why would I be jealous¡ª¡± She stuffed another piece of steak in her mouth, chewing away happily. Jonathan¡¯s rxed expression vanished, and it was reced by an air of darkness. He no longer found her cute. Anneliese lowered her head to grab another piece, only to find nothing. She looked up and realized Jonathan had taken her te away. Her eyes widened, surprised at how moody he¡¯d be. The man now looked like a stern,manding officer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He returned the te of uncut steak to her. Jonathan took a bite, sipped some wine, then said, ¡°Not every advantagees so easily.¡± Anneliese didn¡¯t understand what she had done wrong. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel She carefully cut another piece, but just as she was about to devour it, Jonathan whisked it away again. He took a bite, his eyebrow raised. ¡°Not bad. Did you pick that up from looking after an ex?¡± Anneliese froze. Had she said something to remind him of his ex? That exined his sudden moodiness and teasing tone. Though she felt she¡¯d done nothing wrong, she knew she had to appease him. Created 385 Chapter 385 Jealousy Thinking of this, Anneliese bit her lip. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve never done anything like this for Zacharias-¡± Checktest chapters at Before she could finish, Jonathan¡¯s deep voice cut her off. ¡°Well, you must be regretting it now.¡± Anneliese froze. There was no point trying to reason with him, for he couldn¡¯t be appeased today. 74 s She picked up her ss of wine, but before she could take a sip, arge hand mped over it. Looking at the man causing trouble, Anneliese could only watch as he set the ss back on the table. ¡°Terrible wine. If you drink it, you¡¯ll start lying again, saying I¡¯m the best husband and greatest love. I might actually start believing it,¡± he uttered coldly. Anneliese¡¯s ears burned with embarrassment, feeling conflicted. your She touched her slightly empty stomach and muttered softly, ¡°What am I supposed to have, then?¡± Jonathan lifted the sd from the table, offering it to her with a faint smile. ¡°Have this.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anneliese frowned at the nd sd. ¡°If you find it in, you could add more vinegar to it.¡± He poured the entire small dish of apple cider vinegar into her sd. Under his watchful gaze, she ate it all, the sharp taste filling her mouth. After their meal, he got someone to take her to the hospital to see her grandmother, while he drove back to thepany. Both cars went in opposite directions. Chapter 385 Jealousy 74 s Inside, Anneliese watched the familiar Bentley drive away in the rearview mirror, and she quickly called Jessica to vent. ¡°I swear, Jonathan can be super grumpy. His mood swings are insane!¡± On the other end, Jessica couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Anneliese being forced to eat an entire bowl of sd dipped in vinegar. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Anneliese asked, flustered. Jessicaughed for a while before replying, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re beyond saving. Jonathan¡¯s angry because you¡¯re not jealous enough!¡± ¡°What?¡± Anneliese paused, thinking it over. After she¡¯d said she wasn¡¯t jealous and even thanked his exes, his expression turned dark and stormy. ¡°Why does he want me to be jealous, though? Aren¡¯t men usually annoyed when women hold on to exes and get jealous for no reason?¡± She frowned, feeling like something was off. Jessica rolled her eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t just refuse to get jealous. If you show no jealousy at all, it looks like you don¡¯t care about him. He wouldn¡¯t like that!¡± Anneliese, just beginning to understand, froze when Jessica continued, ¡°Besides, Anne¨Care you really not at all jealous?¡± Anneliese was caught off guard. Jessica smiled knowingly when Anneliese didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t push further, for some things had to be figured out on one¡¯s own. Too much interference wasn¡¯t helpful. Jessica knew Anneliese well enough to understand that she wasn¡¯t slow, dim, or pretending to be naive. She had just been deeply hurt in a rtionship spanning over ten years, and had wrapped herself up, afraid to feel too much or get too close. Chapter 385 Jealousy Suddenly, someone appeared behind her. ¡°What are you smiling at?¡± It was Zane. Jessica had invited him to dinner, and he¡¯d just run into someone he knew. s After a quick chat, he entered the private room to find Jessica leaning against the window, smiling giddily while on the phone. Jessica looked up. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just realized men can be super childish, no matter howposed they seem.¡± Even someone like Jonathan, who seemed so calcting andposed, wasn¡¯t an exception. Zane grinned as he stepped forward. In one smooth motion, he wrapped his arms around Jessica¡¯s waist and lifted her up. Jessica instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, her back pressing against the floor¨Cto- ceiling window of the restaurant. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Zane asked, teasingly stern. Jessica nced behind her. They were in the private room on the second floor, and the window overlooked the restaurant¡¯s entrance. It was peak dining time, and if anyone looked up, they could see her being held like this. Even Jessica, who was usually unbothered, felt a little embarrassed. She tapped his shoulders. ¡°I was just kidding. Put me down.¡± Zane chuckled lightly. ¡°Is that so? Jessica, are you two¨Ctiming me?¡± Created 386 Chapter 386 Digging Deeper Jessica was taken aback. s They had never confirmed their rtionship, and his question sounded as if they were already a couple. She blinked without answering and smiled instead. ¡°You¡¯re not jealous, are you?¡± Zane looked at the woman¡¯s teasing, indifferent smile. Instead of answering her, he kissed her on the lips. Meanwhile, in a moving Bentley, Jonathan continued to sulk. Even Zion, who was driving, felt a chill in the air he hadn¡¯t felt for a long time. Ever since Anneliese married Jonathan, he¡¯d been in a good mood almost all the time. Yesterday, he¡¯d gotten Sunrise Residence demolished, and he went to work in high spirits this morning. How had a simple dinner with his wife ruined everything? ¡°Mr. Fullbuster- ?? Zion was about to ask if he should y some music when Jonathan asked coldly, ¡°If a woman doesn¡¯t get jealous, does that mean she doesn¡¯t care about the man at all?¡± Zion blinked. ¡°Are you saying Mrs. Fullbuster doesn¡¯t get jealous of you?¡± The man¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Just answer the question. Also, stop calling her that! Are you trying to be clever?¡± Zion cursed to himself. His careless words had turned the boss¡® tricky question into a minefield. Chapter 386 Digging Deeper ¡°It depends. Some women are more easy¨Cgoing and don¡¯t get jealous casily¡­¡± Jonathan was not satisfied and cut him off coldly. 5 Free Coins ¡°You¡¯re talking about virtuous women from ancient times, right? That era ended long ago.¡± Zion shrank back in his seat, thinking, If you already have an answer, why bother asking me? Was he supposed to tell Jonathan that his wife¡¯sck of jealousy meant she didn¡¯t care about him, and that he would take it as the absolute truth? He feared that, in that case, he¡¯d be the one getting kicked out of the car. Seeing Zion instantly turn into a quail, Jonathan stopped pressuring him, adjusted his tie, and instructed, ¡°Look into the elderly couple Mikita was telling us about. Find them.¡± Read full story at find?novel Zion nced at the rearview mirror. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, do you actually believe what Mikita said?¡± Zion had followed her to the restaurant. He believed she¡¯d fabricated the story to lessen her guilt. After all, if Mikita had taken Anneliese to Baytree in the raging snowstorm that night and left her at the welfare center, almost causing her death, she¡¯d face not only kidnapping charges but also intentional homicide. Zion figured the infertile elderly couple was just a ruse. Unexpectedly, the boss seemed to believe her. If the couple didn¡¯t exist at all, how was he supposed to find them? Jonathan looked at Zion, his fingers lightly tapping on his crossed knees. ¡°I asked her about the couple, and Mikita told me everything. I even asked two questions in and she gave me the same answers each time. different ways, ¡°Mikita was pretty emotional then. It¡¯s possible she could have lied, but her logic was tight, and her details were consistent and reasonable. ¡°She probably wasn¡¯t in the right headspace to fabricate something so precise.¡± Thinking of this, Zion realized it was true. Chapter 386 Digging Deeper 45 Free Coins He assumed Jonathan had forgotten what he¡¯d already asked earlier, but it turned out to be intentional. ¡°Understood, Mr. Fullbuster. I¡¯ll look for the couple based on what Mikita has shared with us. ¡°They¡¯re monsters! If they weren¡¯t prepared to raise another person¡¯s child, they should never have taken Mrs. Fullbuster in. Abandoning her on that snowy night amounts to attempted murder!¡± he cried out. He then added, ¡°They don¡¯t deserve kids of their own. We must find them and make them pay for what they¡¯ve done!¡± If the couple had brought Anneliese to the police back then, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered all these years. Zion gripped the steering wheel, wishing he could find them immediately. At the hospital, the nurse treated the burns on Selina¡¯s neck, wrapping the area in thick bandages. Billy stood nearby, still sobbing and calling for his mother. When Selina asked what had happened, the little boy couldn¡¯t exin properly, only repeating that the bad cops had taken their parents away. Just then, Zacharias entered the ward. Selina immediately turned to him, her eyes red. ¡°Zacharias, my parents-¡± Having called the police for information, Zacharias was now aware of what had happened. Created 387 Chapter 387 Convincing Zacharias 74 s He told Selina what had happened at the restaurant, his expression remaining cold and unreadable. Selina¡¯s vision went dark when she heard that Mikita and Timothy had been arrested for abandonment and kidnapping. Right now, they were being questioned. Her first instinct was to me Anneliese. When did Anneliese find out she was Mikita¡¯s daughter? She had secretly investigated her identity and even orchestrated today¡¯s events! She hated that vicious, despicable person! Lowering her head to hide her fury, Selina smiled bitterly to herself. ¡°I know my biological mother made a mistake, but she was only eighteen or neen back then. She gave birth to me with nowhere to turn, acting impulsively¡­ ¡°Still, she is my mother. I have my father with me as well. The rest are angry and can¡¯t be bothered about him. Zacharias, could you get me a reliablewyer?¡± Selina pleaded earnestly. She quietly squeezed Billy¡¯s hand, nudging him toward Zacharias. ¡°Billy, why don¡¯t you ask him to help us save Mom and Dad?¡± The little boy burst into tears. But when he realized Zacharias could help them, he threw himself at his legs, sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°I want my mother, Zacharias! You have to help us!¡± Zacharias frowned at the little boy. That morning, he remembered how he¡¯d promised Selina to be responsible for her. Now that they were together, it was only natural for the boy to call him that way. Chapter 387 Convincing Zacharias Yet for some reason, it filled him with uncase and resentment. If he had known Selina¡¯s background, would he still have agreed to be with her? ¡°I want my Mom, Zacharias!¡± Billy¡¯s wailing yanked Zacharias back to reality. Looking down, he saw his suit pants soaked with the boy¡¯s tears and snot. He didn¡¯t feel pity or affection¨Conly intense irritation. At that moment, a nurse came in, frowning in displeasure. This content belongs to find[?]ovel s ¡°This is a hospital! Can¡¯t you handle your kid? He¡¯s disturbing the other patients! Don¡¯t you care that he¡¯s making a fuss?¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t-¡± Zacharias instinctively wanted to exin that the child wasn¡¯t his. Meanwhile, Selina stepped forward and picked Billy up, addressing the nurse firmly. ¡°The baby¡¯s just feeling ufortable. We¡¯ll soothe him.¡± Once the nurse left, Zacharias looked at Selina, his irritation growing. He said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s true your mother switched the children. She¡¯s the reason Anne had to suffer since childhood, and she almost froze to death in the snow. Even the bestwyer won¡¯t be able to help! ¡°Anyway, I need to pick my mother and Lenora up, so I¡¯ll be going now.¡± He turned and walked away. Selina hadn¡¯t expected him to refuse so outright. She had only given herself to himst night, but now, he didn¡¯t even want to help her with such a simple matter. Wasn¡¯t she the love of his life? Watching Zacharias¡® indifferent back, a chill ran through Selina. She closed her eyes briefly, then hurried after him with Billy in tow. 9:39 Wed, Oct 1 d Chapter 387 Convincing Zacharias : D 45 +5 Free Coins ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zacharias. I¡¯ve thought about it, and it¡¯s true that my mother should face the consequences formitting such a crime. ¡°I can only persuade her to confess and take responsibility. ¡°When she¡¯s out, I¡¯ll try to atone for her and sincerely ask for Anne¡¯s forgiveness. I let my emotions get the better of me earlier.¡± Tears welled in her eyes, and her face was full of shame. Seeing her pale, delicate face, Zacharias softened slightly. She wasn¡¯t cing me on him. Instead, she was remarkably reasonable. She wasn¡¯t ming him, and she was so reasonable. Helping her own mother atone was only natural, after all. He raised a hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. ¡°You should head back and get some rest.¡± Selina shook her head. ¡°If you¡¯re going to the police station, take me with you. They¡¯re my parents, and I have to see them.¡± Zacharias nodded. Soon, they picked Melody and Lenora up after they were released on bail. The mother and daughter no longer had any of their usual haughty, ostentatious airs. Thin and pale, with foul¨Csmelling bodies and dark circles under their eyes, they looked like two restless spirits released in broad daylight. Selina rushed forward, her eyes red. ¡°It must¡¯ve been tough for both of you.¡± ¡°Selina, you¡¯re the best. You¡¯re even here with Zacharias to pick us up!¡± Lenora cried while clinging to Selina. Melody nodded repeatedly, noticing how thoughtful and kind Selina was¨Cunlike Anneliese, 10 3/4 : 9:40 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 387 Convincing Zacharias who would torment them over trivial matters. ¡°Mom, Lenora, let¡¯s get into the car first. Selina¡¯s not here for you guys.¡± Created 388 Chapter 388 Apologize Zacharias interrupted them in a low,manding voice. Melody and Lenora froze. ¡°If she¡¯s not here for us, then why did shee along?¡± Selina felt embarrassed about mentioning her parents¡® mess and merely forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to attend to. You should head home first. I¡¯lle visit another day, alright?¡± With that, she turned and entered the police station. Melody and Lenora got into the car, ready to go home and rest. However, Zacharias announced, ¡°We¡¯re heading to the hospital.¡± s ¡°The hospital? Zacharias, Mom and I are fine. We may have been under constant surveince, interrogated, lectured, and deprived of proper food and sleep, but we don¡¯t need a doctor. ¡°We just want to go home, shower, and have a proper meal!¡± Lenora frowned in protest, and Melody slumped against the seat weakly, muttering, ¡°Let¡¯s go home, son.¡± Zacharias furrowed his brows. ¡°Ms. Morris has been transferred to a regr ward. You¡¯re going there now to kneel and apologize.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Zacharias, are you crazy?¡± As soon as he spoke, sharp protests filled the car. Zacharias¡® frown deepened. ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think being bailed out means it¡¯s over, do you?¡± Melody covered her forehead, groaning. Chapter 388 Apologize ¡°That old woman¡¯s fine! Her health problems are her own fault. What does it have to do with us? We¡¯ve been put through enough alreadyt She pounded the seat angrily. Seeing them like this, Zacharias pulled the car to the roadside, exhaustion written on his face. He said coldly, ¡°Ms. Morris survived only because she was treated in time. The doctors records prove how critical her condition was¨Cevery detail is evidence. ¡°Nurses and even people in the ward can testify. You saw her copse and didn¡¯t call for help. When a nurse finally did, you tried to slip away in the chaost He was seething. ¡°Anne¡¯s got an extremelypetentwyer. Thatwyer is ruthless enough to have once had the opposing counsel sent in with the defendant! ¡°He¡¯s gathered all the evidence and a bunch of witnesses. You should be grateful Ms. Morris survived the ordeal. Otherwise, you would be facing homicide charges!¡± Newest update provided by He added, ¡°I spent so much money and effort to get you bailed out. If you don¡¯t try winning their forgiveness, don¡¯t be surprised when the triales¨Cyou could easily face a decade or more in prison.¡± He deliberately made the situation sound worse, wanting to scare his mother and sister. However, he wasn¡¯t bluffing, and the situation wasn¡¯t far from the truth. Lenora and Melody froze, their faces drained of color. Zacharias continued, his voice low and stern, ¡°Ms. Morris is a softie. When you get there. apologize sincerely. As long as she agrees to let you off, Anne will respect her decision.¡± This time, Melody and Lenora nodded repeatedly. At the hospital, Anneliese stayed by her grandmother¡¯s side, watching Carter check on her. ¡°How is she, Dr. Chevalier?¡± Seeing Carter put away the stethoscope and straighten up, Anneliese immediately stepped forward. ¡°She¡¯s recovering very well, and your grandmother is doing great. Rx, take good care of her, and don¡¯t upset her again. Chapter 388 Apologize Nishay smiled gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Chevalier¡­¡± ?¡£74) s After Dr. Chevalier left, Anneliese held her grandmother¡¯s hand and bent over the hospital bed, letting her tears fall freely. Her grandmother didn¡¯t say much. She gently stroked Anneliese¡¯s hair with her rough, wrinkled hands. After a while, Anneliese calmed down. Red¨Ceyed, full of guilt and fear, she lifted her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandma. It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± ¡°The only thing you¡¯ve done wrong¡ª¡± Hearing her grandmother¡¯s weak voice made Anneliese¡¯s heart ache. She had almost endangered Nishay¡¯s life, and it was natural for her grandmother to be angry at her. However, she was caught off guard by Nishay¡¯s next words. ¡°Your mistake was always telling me only the good news, and never the bad. Tell me, how have you really been these past few years in Oceaton?¡± Her grandmother was still weak, and she struggled to catch her breath as she spoke. Yet, her eyes were full of concern, not at all ming Anneliese. Tears formed in Anneliese¡¯s eyes. Instead of hiding the truth, she quickly exined what had happened regarding the Whites and the Shaws. Over the years, whenever she returned to Baytree, called, or messaged, Anneliese had only shared good news. Her grandmother, due to her health, had only visited Baytree once. She suspected Anneliese had some hidden troubles, and she guessed the White family favored the daughter they¡¯d been raising instead. However, she never realized how serious it was until Anneliese cut ties with them. Created 389 Chapter 389 Settling Old Debts And then there was the Shaw family. $$ Free Count The ude family had not treated Melody and her two kids badly, yet the Shaw family had raised three ungrateful wolves. It was maddening. Nishay held Anneliese¡¯s hand tightly, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. ¡°Silly child, I¡¯ve only dragged you down.¡± Life in the White family had been so hard for Anneliese, yet she still tried to please them. Nishay knew most of it was probably for her sake. The year Anneliese was found and brought back, Nishay¡¯s health had suddenly gotten worse. The White family had paid for two rounds of expensive medical treatment. That was the only thing Anneliese ever felt thankful to the White family for. Those two bills had totaled more than 300,000. For the White family at the time, that amount was the kind of money Mnie could spend on a purse. However, because of that money, the White family had constantly scolded Anneliese, saying she was siding with outsiders. They used Nishay¡¯s medical expenses to control her many times. Later, Anneliese left the family and threw herself into starting a business with Zacharias. Part of the reason was that she believed in his team¡¯s future, but she also didn¡¯t want to keep being short of money and controlled by the White family. They got lucky, catching the right wave in the industry. With generative Al technology, Zacharias built up great wealth in just a few years. After that, they no longer had to rely on the White family to pay Nishay¡¯s medical bills. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t say that. You¡¯re my support, not a burden.¡± Anneliese frowned, puffed out her cheeks, and looked upset. Nishay patted her head, and that was when Zacharias walked in with his mother and sister, carrying big bags. ¡°Ms. Morris, I brought my mom and sister¡­¡± 1/3 Chapter 389 Settling Old Debts s As soon as Anneliese turned and saw them, her expression changed. She stood up quickly. ¡°Get out! Who said you coulde here?¡± ¡°Anne, we came to apologize¡­¡± ¡°No need. Get out! Zacharias, my grandma just got a little better. Do you want to upset her so much she rpses? Get out!¡± Anneliese pushed Zacharias toward the door, but Nishay¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°Anne, let them in.¡± ¡°Grandma!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Listen to me.¡± Seeing Nishay insist, Anneliese finally stepped aside. Zacharias led Melody and Lenora inside and gave them a look. Melody and Lenora stepped forward together and knelt in front of the bed. ¡°Nishay, I¡¯m sorry. That day, I wasn¡¯t thinking straight. I never meant to hurt you. Luckily, you pulled through, or I¡¯d never forgive myself.¡± ¡°Ms. Morris, I know I was wrong. You watched me grow up. Please forgive me this time. I¡¯ll treat you like my own grandma from now on.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN()vel The mother and daughter cried hard, their faces messy with tears and snot. They looked so pitiful that Anneliese worried Nishay might give in. She stepped up and held Nishay¡¯s hand, about to tell Melody and Lenora to stop, when Nishay spoke. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Grandma!¡± Anneliese protested quickly. However, Nishay patted her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t ept your kneeling and apology. Get up, and let¡¯s settle the score properly.¡± Melody and Lenora almost smiled in relief, thinking they had convinced her. However, Nishay¡¯stter words hit them hard. Their knees, halfway raised, dropped back down as their expression turned ugly. ¡°S¨CSettle¡­ what scores?¡± Chapter 389 Settling Old Debts (74) s ¡°When Frederick and Lorraine were alive, you always brought the kids over to freeload meals and borrow small amounts of money. That doesn¡¯t even count. ¡°However, Frederick¡¯spensation money was taken to pay off your family¡¯s debts, and it was never repaid¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Morris, it¡¯ll be repaid! I¡¯ll transfer a million to Anne right now,¡± Zacharias interrupted quickly. He pulled out his phone, but Nishay cut him off coldly. ¡°No need. However much it was, that¡¯s what you¡¯ll pay. Anne.¡± Nishay gave a signal, and Anneliese understood. She pulled out the IOUS Melody had signed years ago and handed them to Zacharias. ¡°Transfer it.¡± Zacharias looked at her, hesitated, but in the end sent exactly the amount written¨Cno more, no less. Nishay had a sharp memory and went through every item. The family had covered Zacharias¡® tuition twice and sent him six rounds of living expenses. They had paid Lenora¡¯s tuition thrice and covered Melody¡¯s property fees and utility bills twice. When Lenora had an abortion and needed to recover at home for a month or two, Melody had borrowed money from Nishay to cover her nutrition and medical care. Every single expense, though not much to Zacharias now, had been Nishay¡¯s proof of giving her all for the Shaw family. One transfer after another added
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In the end, there were more than twenty payments, not even counting all the small advantages the Shaw family had taken. 3 Created 390 Chapter 390 Mistaken Gratitude 74 s Zacharias felt like Nishay wasn¡¯t settling scores but putting him, his mom, and his sister on trial. By the end, he was so ashamed his fingers shook as he held his phone, and he couldn¡¯t lift his head. ¡°Anne, anything else?¡± Nishay couldn¡¯t remember, so she looked at Anneliese. Zacharias let out a small breath of relief, but then he heard Anneliese say, ¡°I¡¯ve got two things to add.¡± She had paid for Melody¡¯s surgery, and she never nned to let Selina keep taking the credit. Zacharias stared at Anneliese in surprise. ¡°Anne, what debts are left between us?¡± He had already transferred the 500 million she asked for in the divorce. Even the vi at Sunrise Residence, he gave her for free. But she let Jonathan tear it down, and now they were already building amunity center there. When he was with Anneliese, he had never limited her spending. She bought luxury goods and jewelry like the other rich wives. He didn¡¯t remember any debt left unsettled. Anneliese nced at him, then pulled two old hospital receipts from her bag and tossed them onto Zacharias. ¡°See for yourself.¡± The receipts floated down andnded at his feet. Before he could bend down to pick them up, Lenora, who was still kneeling, snatched them first. She wanted to see what was so important about these receipts that Anneliese dared to act so high and mighty. Chapter 390 Mistaken Gratitude 374)¡® s When she saw the dates and the patient¡¯s name, Lenora froze. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re ridiculous. You think stealing this from Selina proves you saved my mom? That¡¯s not going to work.¡± Anneliese lowered her eyes and looked at her with disdain. ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°You! Ann-¡± Lenora¡¯s mouth twisted with anger, ready to curse back, but Zacharias grabbed the receipts from her and shot her a sharp warning re. Lenora bit her lip and went quiet, though her face showed clear resentment. Beside her, Melody also looked resentful, her eyes full of sarcasm. She thought the receipts were stolen too, since Selina had already admitted it. Back then, Selina said she was the one who anonymously paid the surgery and hospital fees. Even Nishay¡¯s medical bills had been covered because Selina asked her parents for help. Newest update provided by F¦Énd£Îovel How could Anneliese have had the money to pay for her, an outsider? Zacharias looked carefully at the two receipts. There was no payer¡¯s name on them. He frowned and asked Anneliese, ¡°Anne, are you saying you were the one who paid for my mom¡¯s surgery and hospital stay?¡± Before Anneliese could answer, Zacharias spoke again. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I saw Selina at the hospital that day. I followed her outside and saw her get in a car. I couldn¡¯t catch up. When I got back to the ward, the nurse said the bill had already been paid. ¡°Later, when I saw Selina at the White estate for the first time, I asked her about it. She told me herself. She said she had heard one of the students she sponsored was in trouble. When she found out it was me, she wanted to help. She didn¡¯t want me to miss the most important exam of my life because of this, so she went to the hospital to pay the bill. ¡°Anne, I told you before that I mistook gratitude for love because she saved my mom. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know Selina was the one who paid? Is that why you¡¯re trying to use these receipts to im the credit? Anne, you don¡¯t need to do this. I already understand my feelings now!¡± The more he talked, the more worked up he got, looking helpless but emotional. 9:40 Wed, Oct 1 d ¡­ Chapter 390 Mistaken Gratitude He didn¡¯t want to believe Anneliese, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to. +5 Free Coms Back then, when Melody was sick, he was in his senior year of high school. It felt like he was carrying two mountains on his back. That was why he felt so grateful to Selina and why his feelings for her grew. But if it hadn¡¯t been Selina at all, if she had lied to him, then what was everything he lost¨Chis wife, his family -for? Anneliese listened to his speech and let out a coldugh. She nodded. ¡°Tsk, even now you still choose to believe Selina. No wonder she fooled you so easily. You sure you¡¯ve figured out your feelings? I don¡¯t think so. Just admit you¡¯re herpdog already and stop pretending.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Created 391 hapter 391 Anneliese¡¯s Proof Chapter 391 Anneliese¡¯s Proof 86 s Melody couldn¡¯t stand hearing Anneliese speak so harshly. She hated seeing Zacharias get insulted and put down by Anneliese. She stood up right away. ¡°Anneliese, you¡¯re just a broke nobody. You couldn¡¯t even pay for your grandma¡¯s medical bills. How dare you pretend to be my lifesaver? You¡¯re just embarrassed after being exposed!¡± Anneliese nced at her and didn¡¯t bother arguing. She looked down and tapped on her phone. Melody saw this and thought she had nothing left to say, so she quickly pulled Zacharias over. ¡°Zacharias, don¡¯t listen to her! How could she afford that? Those bills added up to nearly 400,000!¡± ¡°Anne never lies!¡± Even though Nishay didn¡¯t know the details, she spoke firmly. Zacharias looked at Nishay lying in bed, her eyes full of disappointment and me. His face turned pale, and panic rose in his chest. Official source is Find¡ïNovel ¡°Ms. Morris, I¡­¡± Before he could finish, Anneliese handed him her phone and said with a sneer, ¡°Look closely. Is the bank ount number and transfer record under Selina¡¯s name?¡± Zacharias took the phone. The hospital receipts didn¡¯t have a signature, but the card number. was there. After checking carefully, he confirmed the ount belonged to Anneliese. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone, almost unable to hold onto those thin slips of paper. It was ridiculous. He had been wrong about Selina all along. He had been deceived. ¡°How could this be¡­ Anne, I¡­ I didn¡¯t know, I never thought¡­¡± Melody grabbed the phone to check and was just as shocked. 10:15 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 391 Anneliese¡¯s Proof But Anneliese didn¡¯t react to Zacharias¡® red eyes or his regret. 86 45 Free Coins She only said tly, ¡°Wasn¡¯t Selina supposed to be the noble little princess of the White family? If she really paid, wouldn¡¯t she have shown off by paying everything at once? Why would she split it into two payments, first for the surgery and then for the follow¨Cup costs?¡± Back then, she had been desperate and foolish, scraping together money in a hurry to pay in two installments. And Zacharias hadn¡¯t even thought about that simple fact? From the start, he had just chosen to believe Selina. He was nothing more than a two¨Ctiming jerk. ¡°No, no, Anne¡­¡± He tried to exin, but Anneliese cut him off impatiently. ¡°Transfer the money.¡± Unable to face her cold eyes, Zacharias quickly sent over 500,000. Anneliese checked it and treated it as interest. Then, she pointed at the door. ¡°You can leave now. Otherwise, I¡¯ll call hospital security.¡± Melody and Lenora didn¡¯t want to go since they hadn¡¯t gotten what they came for. But Zacharias knew staying would only make things worse. He also wanted to confront Selina. He pulled his mother and sister toward the door. ¡°Zacharias, they still haven¡¯t said they won¡¯t press charges against me and Mom!¡± ¡°Enough! Idiot, do you think this is the right time to push?¡± Out in the hall, Lenora still resisted until Zacharias shouted at her. She shrank back, frightened, tears falling down her face. Melody¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Why are you yelling at your sister? We already kneeled, cried, admitted our mistakes, and even paid. What more do that old hag and that brat want?¡± ¡°Shut up! Mom, Ms. Morris has helped our family so much. And Anne even saved your life. Do you have any conscience at all?¡± 10:15 u, Oct 2 886 Chapter 391 Anneliese¡¯s Proof +5 Free Cona Zacharias¡® sharp gaze made Melody shrink back, guilt flickering in her eyes. But what hurt her more was that after everything she had gone through, Zacharias didn¡¯t say a single word tofort her. Instead, he kept siding with Anneliese, criticizing and ming them. They were supposed to be his family. Melody¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Anneliese didn¡¯t even finish high school. Who knows where she got that dirty money back then? If I had known the bills were paid with shady money, I would¡¯ve rather not been treated at all!¡± A vein stood out on Zacharias¡® forehead. He gave a bitterugh, said nothing more, and turned to leave. Back in the ward, even though Nishay said she felt fine, Anneliese still worried. She went to call Carter over herself. After Carter gave Nishay a check¨Cup, Anneliese finally felt at ease. Nishay held Carter¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Dr. Chevalier, do you already know my granddaughter?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Morris. So please don¡¯t be formal with me.¡± ¡°Good, good. Dr. Chevalier, you¡¯re young, handsome, and capable. You¡¯re only a few years older than Annie, right? Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Created 392 Chapter 392 I Would Like to Introduce You to Grandma Carter was at a loss for words. The source of th?s content is F¦ÉndNovel The more he listened, the more uneasy he felt. 86 s Anneliese¡¯s grandma had spoken so highly of him. She even mentioned once that if Anneliese weren¡¯t married, she would have wanted him as her grandson¨Cinw. Now, it seemed like she really wanted to set him up with Anneliese. If someone found out about this, his life would really be in danger. ¡°Grandma! Dr. Chevalier is very busy! You should get some rest instead of keeping him here with all your questions.¡± As sweat formed on Carter¡¯s forehead, Anneliese stepped in to cut Nishay off. Only then did Nishay say, ¡°Then, help me walk Dr. Chevalier out.¡± Anneliese and Carter left the hospital room together. Once they left the room, she shed an embarrassed, apologetic smile at him. ¡°Don¡¯t take Grandma¡¯s words to heart.¡± Carter shoved his hands into his pockets. ¡°So, when are you nning to tell your grandma that you¡¯re married to Jonathan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really afraid Grandma can¡¯t handle the fact that I divorced and remarried so quickly.¡± She genuinely had no idea how to exin everything to Nishay. She couldn¡¯t possibly tell Nishay that her rtionship with Jonathan was only a contract marriage. If she did, Nishay would probably get worked up all over again. Carter nodded. ¡°It¡¯s definitely not wise to put your grandma through any more stress. But it¡¯s clear she supports you being in a new rtionship. You could actually introduce Jonathan to her first.¡± With someone as good¨Clooking as Jonathan, Nishay would definitely be happy to try to pair up Jonathan and Anneliese. Otherwise, if she truly wanted to pair him with Anneliese, he would have to start worrying about his own safety. Anneliese¡¯s eyes lit up at his suggestion, and she nodded with a smile. ¡°Thanks for the idea, Dr. Chevalier.¡± €86 Chapter 392 I Would Like to Introduce You to Grandma Seeing he¡¯d made his point, Carter left feeling satisfied. a Anneliese turned around and saw from the window that Nishay had already fallen asleep, so she walked to the end of the hallway to call Jonathan. Jonathan was in his office listening to two department heads give their reports. When he saw his phone light up, he asked them to wrap things up and dismissed them early. He answered the call, grabbed his mug, and walked over to the dispenser. ¡°How¡¯s your grandma doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing pretty well. Dr. Chevalier said she¡¯s recovering fine, and she¡¯s asleep right now.¡± Hearing the cheerful tone in Anneliese¡¯s voice, Jonathan¡¯s lips curved up just a little. But remembering how she said she wasn¡¯t jealous earlier, his smile faded again, and he fell silent. With him saying nothing, Anneliese felt the pressure even through the phone. It made her uneasy, so she licked her lips before speaking again. ¡°Grandma will probably wake up in another two or three hours. If you¡¯re not too busy today, could youe by and see her? I¡­ I¡¯d like to introduce you to my grandma.¡± After she finished, there was still no response from Jonathan¡¯s end. Maybe the signal at the hospital is bad. She was about to check her phone when she suddenly heard Zion¡¯s startled shout. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, watch out!¡± Anneliese gasped. ¡°Jonathan! What happened?¡± In his office, Jonathan saw that Zion had just snatched his ss, which was overflowing with hot water. He nced at his own soaked shirt sleeve, his eyes turning cold as he answered, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I almost bumped into something.¡± ¡°Huh? Did I interrupt you? Watch where you¡¯re going, okay?¡± Anneliese¡¯s anxious, regretful voice came through. Jonathan sat back at his desk, his eyes showing a flicker of hesitation before he finally said, ¡°Anne, I¡¯m a little busy today¡­¡± Anneliese replied, ¡°That¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll talk another day. I won¡¯t keep you from work.¡± 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 392 1 Would Like to Introduce You to Grandma ¡°Okay.¡± 27 00 s After the call ended, Jonathan set his phone down, frowning slightly. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, is your hand okay? I¡¯ll go get some burn ointment.¡± Zion hurried over to check Jonathan¡¯s left hand. He¡¯d seen Jonathan at the water dispenser, and hot water had spilled over his hand. However, Jonathan seemed lost in thought and didn¡¯t even notice. Jonathan simply waved him off. ¡°No need. Just get some gifts ready and visit my wife¡¯s grandma on my behalfter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zion nodded, then added, ¡°Actually, your afternoon schedule could be rearranged. There¡¯s still time for you to go to the hospital.¡± Jonathan, however, had already picked up his pen and gone back to work. His voice was deep as he ordered, ¡°Do as I said.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Zion nodded and left, but he couldn¡¯t help ncing back at Jonathan as he closed the door. Mr. Fullbuster really seems off today. Even with something as simple as getting water, he was so absent- minded that he spilled it. That¡¯s not like him at all. Plus, he used to prioritize Mrs. Fullbuster¡¯s issues. Now he¡¯s not even going to visit her grandma himself? That¡¯s just strange. Created 393 Chapter 393 Don¡¯t Touch My Grandma After Zion left, the office fell silent again. s Jonathan sat there, not turning the page of the document before him. After a while, he let go of the pen and pressed his hand against his tense forehead. He opened the bottom drawer on his right, pulling out a square box buried under some files. Opening the box, he stared at the old, orange badge lying quietly inside. He reached for it, but as soon as his fingers touched the badge, he clenched his hand tightly. The burned patch on the back of his hand throbbed painfully from the movement. The pain seemed to spread through his whole body. Suddenly, it was as if heat waves and thick smoke filled his vision once more. He saw a tall figure break through the mes and smoke, running straight for him and carrying him on his back. This update is avable on f?ndnovel ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, kid, I¡¯ll get you out of here! ¡°Hang in there! I have a daughter, she¡¯s a few years younger than you. When we get out, I¡¯ll introduce you two, how about it?¡± Then there was fire, a st, an explosion¨Cfollowed by the roar of sirens, screams, and people wailing. Jonathan closed his eyes, and it all felt like everything was happening right before him. The scene soon shifted. That strong, lively figure turned into a ck¨Cand¨Cwhite portrait in a funeral hall. Next to his picture was a portrait of a gentle woman. She was his wife. She¡¯d been pregnant at the time. When she heard the news of his death, she copsed in shock and fell down the stairs, losing both her own life and their unborn child. Then, the scene shifted again. He saw a teenage boy step into the funeral hall, carrying a bouquet. He gazed at the two portraits, grief and guilt written across his face. His eyes drifted to an elderly woman and a little girl, both thin and frail, standing by the funeral hall. 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 393 Don¡¯t Touch My Grandma The old woman¡¯s face was nk, unmoving as she held the little girl¡¯s hand. 45 Free Coins The girl¡¯s long hair hung loose, her head bowed so low that she seemed afraid to cry out loud, Large tears gathered on her pointed chin and dropped to the floor. The boy was about to walk over when a man who looked like an official stepped up to the olddy and spoke a few words. Suddenly, the old woman lifted her head and stared straight at him. Her worn, nk face twisted with grief and rage as she rushed at him, shoving and shouting, ¡°You get out! Get out! You killed my daughter¡¯s whole family. It¡¯s all your fault! We don¡¯t need your mourning! Get out, all of you!¡± The bouquet slipped from the boy¡¯s hand, and he stumbled back. But in the next second, the olddy fainted from her overwhelming emotions. The boy lunged to catch her, but he was too thin to hold her up, and they both crashed to the ground. The little girl seemed stunned by what had happened. It was only when she saw her grandma faint that she rushed over. She knelt on the ground, pulling at her grandma, her cries filled with fear. ¡°Grandma! Please, wake up, Grandma! Don¡¯t you want Anne anymore? Grandma!¡± The boy scrambled up to check on the olddy, but the girl pushed him away with all her strength. ¡°Don¡¯t touch my grandma! Get out!¡± Her hands were small, yet her tears sttered onto the boy¡¯s hand, burning as if they were scalding his skin. He recoiled, knocked off bnce by her shove. Security guards hurried over, picking him up and shielding him. ¡°Nishay lost her husband when she was still young. Lorraine was her only daughter, and she raised her all on her own. Lorraine finally got pregnant after getting married, and now this happened. No wonder she can¡¯t ept it¨Cit¡¯s just so tragic.¡± ¡°I heard Frederick carried that young boy out of the fire himself. No one knows what the young boy said to him, because Frederick ran back in, and then the ce exploded.¡± 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 393 Don¡¯t Touch My Grandma 470 +5 Free ComS ¡°This family¡¯s got money and power. I heard they¡¯re from Halden. They must be some kind of big shots. I say Nishay should have just gotten along with them, then she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her old age¡­¡± ¡°What are you saying? Would you trade your son¡¯s life for a few million bucks?¡± ¡°Please! My son¡¯s our only child! Watch your mouth.¡± The funeral hall was in chaos, everyone talking over one another. Jonathan¡¯s chest rose and fell as he suddenly opened his eyes, the voices of the olddy and the girl still ringing in his ears. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! Get out! All of you! ¡°Get out!¡± Jonathan¡¯s brow twitched. He reached into the box and picked up the badge. One edge of the badge had been burned off. It was covered in soot, faded, and worn. He turned the badge over. Two lines of text were embroidered on the back. Name: Frederick ude Blood type: AB He brushed his finger gently over the corner of the badge, the weight of the years pressing down on him like a stone. Knock knock knock. There was a knock at the door. Jonathan put the badge back in the box, closed the drawer, and spoke in a low voice. Created 394 Chapter 394 You¡¯re a Coward Chapter 394 You¡¯re a Coward ¡°Come in.¡± *5 Free Coins Zion walked in. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯ve prepared gifts for the hospital visit. Here¡¯s the list. Please take a look, and if there¡¯s nothing you want to add or remove, I¡¯ll head to the hospital soon.¡± Zion handed Jonathan the gift list, and he looked through it carefully. There was quite a range¨Cfresh fruit, healthy cereals and nuts, a home¨Cuse blood oxygen monitor, and several CDs signed by opera artists. As Jonathan read through, Zion added, ¡°I heard people in Baytree love opera, especially the older folks. I figured Mrs. Fullbuster¡¯s grandma would enjoy it, too. I wasn¡¯t sure which artist she likes, so I got a few different CDs.¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful. Well done. This will do, but take the almonds out of the nuts.¡± ¡°Huh? Almonds are good for heart health¡­¡± Zion took back the list, puzzled. ¡°Her grandma is allergic to almonds,¡± Jonathan exined. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll make sure to remove them,¡± Zion answered quickly. Jonathan nodded. Zion hesitated, then asked, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, are you really not going in person?¡± Mr. Fullbuster even remembers that Mrs. Fullbuster¡¯s grandma is allergic to almonds. That¡¯s real attention to detail. He really cares about Mrs. Fullbuster. Zion still felt that Jonathan shouldn¡¯t miss such a good chance to visit. ¡°No.¡± Jonathan frowned, sticking to his decision. After the funeral back then, his grandfather had taken him with more gifts to the ude residence to express their gratitude and condolences. But they never even made it inside, and Nishay refused to ept anything. Frederick had saved Jonathan as part of his duty, but the death of Frederick¡¯s wife and unborn child was a terrible ident. Updates are released by findnovel Nishay had lost her only daughter, and in such a tragic way. It was only natural she would ?? 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 85 Chapter 394 You¡¯re a Coward me Jonathan. Jonathan wasn¡¯t sure if Nishay¡¯s feelings had changed after all these years. +S Free Coins Plus, Nishay had just had surgery. If he showed up and she recognized him, he worried it might upset her too much. He also feared she still wouldn¡¯t ept him, just as before. Anneliese respected her grandma and always listened to her. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t even need her grandma to object¨Cif Anneliese found out who he really was, she might hate him anyway. He recalled what Zacharias said to him that day. ¡°Jonathan, you¡¯re a coward! You¡¯re the lowest of the low. You lied to her and hid the truth from her. You don¡¯t even dare to tell her who you are! When she finds out what you¡¯ve hidden, she¡¯ll never want to be with you! Jonathan, your so¨Ccalled love is nothing but a lie! It¡¯s pathetic. I¡¯m just waiting for her to leave you ande back to me!¡± The knot in Jonathan¡¯s brow deepened even more. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned two buttons at his cor, and only then did the suffocating feeling ease a little. Meanwhile, at the police station, Selina contacted her Uncle Hiroto, and after a lot of trouble, they managed to hire awyer for Mikita. With thewyer there, she met with Mikita. The moment Mikita saw them, shepletely broke down, crying uncontrobly. Selina frowned and scolded her. ¡°Mom, this isn¡¯t the time to cry. Tell thewyer exactly what happened back then, and don¡¯t hide anything. You have to be honest.¡± Mikita went over how she had switched the babies, telling thewyer every detail. Thewyer took notes and asked, ¡°Is there anything else you want to add?¡± Mikita shook her head, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Selina. ¡°Selina, how did Anneliese get found by the White family? Did Mnie and Timothy bring her 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 394 You¡¯re a Coward back themselves? Did they do a DNA test?¡± 40 45 Free Coins Selina frowned. ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t Dad tell you how Anneliese was brought back? Why are you asking about this now?¡± Mikita looked dazed and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Maybe¡­¡± ¡°Maybe what? If you think something¡¯s off, just say it!¡± Sensing her hesitation, Selina pressed her. Hiroto nodded. ¡°Mikita, Jonathan hired a topwyer for Anneliese. You can¡¯t leave anything out.¡± Only then did Mikita look at both of them and say, ¡°Selina, when I switched you and that girl, I changed all your clothes too. I remember it clearly¨Cthe girl had a big green birthmark on the inside of her right arm. But when I identally pulled off Anneliese¡¯s shirt today, her arm was clean. There wasn¡¯t any birthmark there.¡± Created 395 Chapter 395 Can I Borrow Your Phone? Chapter 395 Can I Borrow Your Phone? *5 Free Core Mikita had always been someone who lived in the shadows. She¡¯d never met Anneliese face to face before, only seeing her in photos on Selina¡¯s phone. Their encounter at the watch store had been the first time they¡¯d ever met, so Mikita never had. a chance to notice whether Anneliese had a birthmark on her arm. Hiroto hesitated for a moment. ¡°Mikita, are you sure you remember it correctly? Maybe the birthmark was somewhere else?¡± Mikita shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m absolutely sure!¡± Back when she switched the babies, she was only neen, and she was terrified and nervous, so the memory was especially vivid. That child definitely had a green, crescent¨Cshaped birthmark on her arm. Selina frowned as well. ¡°Anneliese doesn¡¯t have any birthmarks.¡± There wasn¡¯t one on her arm, or anywhere else, for that matter. ¡°How is that possible? Could it have faded as she got older?¡± Hiroto wondered. Mikita shook her head. ¡°Maybe, but the birthmark I saw back then was really dark. It didn¡¯t got older¡­¡± look like the kind that would disappear as she When Selina and Hiroto left the detention center with thewyer, they were both still thinking about what Mikita had said. ¡°When Anneliese was brought back to the White family, did they do a DNA test?¡± Hiroto asked Selina. Follow current nov?ls on find[?]ovel Selina nodded and exined, ¡°Anneliese¡¯s DNA was entered into the database, and they found her by matching it to my dad¡¯s. When my dad got to Baytree, they did another paternity test at the police station to confirm she was really his daughter before taking her home.¡± Hiroto frowned. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s unlikely there was a mistake. The birthmark must have faded over time.¡± Selina fell silent, ncing at thewyer. ¡°Mr. Fenwick, what kind of defense should we use for my mom¡¯s case?¡± 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 395 Can I Borrow Your Phone? ???
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Thewyer looked troubled. ¡°There¡¯s no denying your mom switched the babies, and she¡¯s confessed to it. That alone is enough for a child trafficking charge. Right now, the most urgent thing is to find the older couple who took the baby. If we find them, that can clear up any suspicion of child abandonment or intentional harm. ¡°Right now, getting the victims¡® forgiveness is crucial. If the White family and Ms. ude don¡¯t press too hard, I might be able to get your mom a lighter sentence, and maybe even probation¡­¡± Selina nodded. As for the White family, Mnie, Perseus, and Christopher had all loved her for years, and she¡¯d fooled them for just as long. Their anger now was only because they were upset. Selina believed that if she cried a little harder, put on a pitiful act, and apologized relentlessly, she could probably get them to soften. The real problem was Anneliese. That woman was just too stubborn¨Cshe would never give in. Plus, she had Jonathan backing her, which made things even harder. But what if there was a problem with Anneliese¡¯s identity? If there had really been a mix¨Cup, and Anneliese wasn¡¯t Mnie¡¯s real daughter after all, then she¡¯d have nothing to do with this case. Selina¡¯s eyes lit up as the thought crossed her mind. She hurriedly said goodbye to thewyer and got into the car. She was desperate to get a hair sample from Anneliese. She called Anneliese right away, but the call didn¡¯t go through¨CAnneliese had already blocked her. Selina tried WhatsApp, but found she¡¯d been blocked there, too. Anxious, she asked the cab driver, ¡°Hi, my phone¡¯s out of battery. Can I borrow yours to make a call?¡± The driver handed over his phone, and she quickly dialed Anneliese¡¯s number. The call connected almost immediately. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 395 Can I Borrow Your Phone? ¡°Anneliese, it¡¯s me. I-¡± Selina spoke in a rush, but before she could finish, the call was cut off. Fuming, Selina called again. +5 Free Colle But this time, all she got was a busy signal. Apparently, Anneliese had blocked that number, too. Selina had thought that since Anneliese had set up Timothy and Mikita to be taken to the police station, she¡¯d be waiting for the chance to rub it in her face. She figured if she asked to see Anneliese, she would agree in a heartbeat. If that were the case, it would be easy to get her hair sample. But to her surprise, Anneliese ignored herpletely, as if she didn¡¯t exist. The feeling was awful. It made Selina feel like a total fool, as if she didn¡¯t even register in Anneliese¡¯s eyes. In a fit of anger, she mmed the phone down. The next moment, with a screech, the cab came to a halt. The driver kicked Selina out and made her pay several hundred dors for damaging his phone. Left standing by the road, Selina stamped her foot in frustration. Created 396 Chapter 396 Do You Think I¡¯m Stupid? She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself for a long time before calling Zacharias. ¡°Zach, do you know where Anne is right now? I want to beg her for help¡­¡± Before she could finish, Zacharias cut her off. ¡°Where are you?¡± +5 Fres Coing Hearing his question, Selina thought he¡¯d finally remembered her and was actually worried about her. Her mood lifted a little, and she smiled faintly, immediately telling Zacharias her location. ¡°Wait there.¡± Zacharias hung up after just those two words. He soundedpletely cold, but Selina didn¡¯t notice it at all through the phone. She thought Zacharias meant he woulde to get her. Even though things weren¡¯t working out elsewhere, at least Zacharias was still within her control. uderias Tech was apany Zacharias had started, with Anneliese helping him build it from scratch. If she married Zacharias, she would be enjoying the rewards of all Anneliese¡¯s hard work, and that would be enough to drive Anneliese mad. There was still a long road ahead, and in the end, she would be the one to win¨Cnot Anneliese! Jonathan and Anneliese would neverst. Once Jonathan divorced her, she would finally regret everything. A cold smile formed at the corner of Selina¡¯s lips. She didn¡¯t have to wait long before she saw Zacharias pull up. She adjusted her expression, hugged her arms around herself, and hurried toward the car with a pitiful look. ¡°Zach, I ran into a creepy cab driver just now. He kept staring at me and asking all these inappropriate questions. I was so scared that I had to get off early. It¡¯s freezing tonight, but thank goodness you came to rescue me! You¡¯re the best¡­¡± As she spoke, Selina rushed toward Zacharias as he got out of the car. However, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. His handsome face was stormy, his eyes dark and frightening. 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 396 Do You Think I¡¯m Stupid? She sensed danger and instinctively tried to back away, but it was already toote. There was a loud crash as Zacharias grabbed Selina¡¯s wrist and threw her hard. +5 Free Scans She mmed into the hood of the car, pain shooting through her waist. ¡°Zacharias, what¡¯s wrong with you¡­¡± Tears welled up in Selina¡¯s eyes. However, before she could get up from the hood, Zacharias pressed down on her shoulder and demanded, ¡°Selina, was it really you who paid my mother¡¯s hospital bills back then?¡± His voice was icy, his eyes cold as a deep winter. Selina¡¯s heart lurched, panic shing in her eyes. Could Zacharias have found out? Her lips trembled. She grabbed Zacharias¡® wrist, shocked. ¡°Zacharias, why are you suddenly asking me this? Didn¡¯t you see me at the hospital back then?¡± No matter how convincing Selina¡¯s act was, Zacharias still caught the flicker of panic and guilt in her eyes. She seemed truly startled and hurt by his suspicions. She really is a good actress. I wonder how many of her words have ever been true. ¡°You¡¯re still lying to me, huh? Exin this!¡± Zacharias pulled out two payment receipts and threw them in Selina¡¯s face. Selina picked up the receipts, her gaze immediately filled with hate. So Anneliese told him after all. D*mn you, Anneliese! You already have Jonathan, so why ruin things for me? you. It¡¯s just that you ¡°Zacharias, where did you get these receipts? I never meant to deceive always wanted to know who helped your family, so I let you think it was me¡­¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m supposed to thank you for taking credit and making a fool out of me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. It¡¯s just that, as Anne¡¯s sister, I thought if I took the credit, our families would be closer. Your family would be grateful, and you¡¯d treat Anne better¡­¡± Zacharias gave a mockingugh. ¡°Selina, do you think I¡¯m stupid? Even now, you want me to believe that? These receipts came from Anne. You didn¡¯t just steal her life; you even stole her credit! And yet you¡¯re saying you did it for her sake?¡± Selina¡¯s face was nk with shock. ¡°What? So it was Anne who paid? I didn¡¯t know! How could that be? Where would Anne have gotten so much money back then? She must have made huge sacrifices. It¡¯s all my fault, I really shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Th?s chapter is updated by Find[?]ovel Chapter 396 Do You Think I¡¯m Stupid? Selina started to cry, her expression full of shame and guilt, but when Zacharias now, all he saw was an act, and he was disgusted by it. 10:16 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 396 Do You Think I¡¯m Stupid? Selina started to cry, her expression full of shame and guilt, but when Zacharias lo now, all he saw was an act, and he was disgusted by it. Chapter 396 Do You Think I¡¯m Stupid? s Selina started to cry, her expression full of shame and guilt, but when Zacharias looked at her now, all he saw was an act, and he was disgusted by it. Created 397 Chapter 397 You Know Why 85 s He mped a hand around Selina¡¯s throat, just like Christopher had done in the ward. ¡°You scheming woman. Even now, you¡¯re trying to throw filth on Anne!¡± Selina¡¯s eyes rolled as she struggled to breathe, staring in terror at Zacharias¡® wrathful face. For a split second, she truly thought he was about to strangle her to death. Luckily, they were on a busy street, and a few passersby noticed them and dashed over. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? ?ovelFind Zacharias let go of her while she clutched her swollen throat, coughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. She brushed past the edge of suffocation in just one day. The fear clung to her like a shadow. Once she could breathe again, she pushed the person asking her if they should call the cops. She then stared at Zacharias with a devastated expression. ¡°Even if I wasn¡¯t the one paying for your mom¡¯s medical bills, I still supported you! Zacharias, you can¡¯t erase everything I¡¯ve ever done because of this one thing¡­¡± They just slept togetherst night, and he promised to take responsibility. She didn¡¯t want all her efforts to go to waste. Selina tried to reach for him while crying, but he merely took a step back and said coldly, ¡°Support? Ha! If you didn¡¯t take Anne¡¯s rightful ce as the Whites¡® heiress, would you be able to support me? ¡°Selina, you¡¯re a thief through and through. You stole everything you have from Anne!¡± His words pierced through her heart like an ice pick. Her pained expression turned in an instant. She wiped away her tears, her eyes turning sharp with a hint of satire. ¡°Howughable! Didn¡¯t you know from the start I was an imposter for Anneliese? You also kept saying that I was innocent. So, why am I at fault now? ¡°Ha! Zacharias, you knew the truth from the start. You just wanted to believe them. You let yourself be deceived! ¡°You thought Anneliese wouldn¡¯t leave you, so you indulged yourself and yed with her as you pleased. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve lost her, you can¡¯t ept it because she has a new man, Jonathan, who¡¯s leagues above you. You¡¯re pathetic! You want to dump all the me on me so that you can feel 10:17 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 397 You Know Why better about yourself. 5:0 ¡°In your dreams, Zacharias! Who are you to judge me? You¡¯re the shameless one here!¡± +5 Free Cons Zacharias stared at Selina, who had stripped off her mask, revealing her toxic side. His fists tightened as hisplexion paled. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and rushed to drive off. Selina watched the car vanish into the distance with venom gleaming in her eyes. She thought to herself. Once I prove Anneliese isn¡¯t the Whites¡® real lost daughter, Zacharias will have nothing left to say. At the hospital, Zion arrived at the ward with an armful of gifts. Anneliese went up to take some of them from him. ¡°Why did you bring so much?¡± ¡°Old Mrs. Fullbuster picked them out with Mr. Fullbuster. I just came to deliver them.¡± Zion always stayed true to his workaholic nature, abiding by his boss¡® orders. Anneliese smiled, her tone soft, ¡°Grandma doesn¡¯t know that Jonathan and I are married yet. So just pretend Jonathan is my friendter. Don¡¯t let anything slip.¡± ¡°Huh? Okay. Got it, Mrs. Fullbuster.¡± Zion was taken aback. He didn¡¯t think Anneliese¡¯s family still didn¡¯t know about Jonathan, especially since they had been married for so long. Is that why Mr. Fullbuster didn¡¯t visit? He recalled how Jonathan frowned when he was presented with the gift list earlier. He was brooding and looked hesitant. Zion had a feeling he had found the reason why. ¡°Grandma, this is my friend¡¯s assistant.¡± Anneliese introduced Zion to Nishay. He set down the gifts and naturally struck up a conversation with her. Though assistants rarely handled errands like this, Zion adapted with ease and chatted smoothly with Nishay no matter the topic. By the time he took his leave, Nishay was already calling him Zion instead of Mr. Hand. Anneliese walked Zion toward the elevator and asked, ¡°Is Jonathan very busy today?¡± Recalling how Jonathan was married but not recognized by her family, Zion couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Not terribly busy. But I believe you understand why he didn¡¯t visit.¡± He figured it wasn¡¯t good for Jonathan to be sulking by himself. He ought to give Anneliese a hint, so she¡¯ll introduce Jonathan to her family soon. Chapter 397 You Know Why With that, he waved and entered the elevator that just so happened to have arrived. s However, Anneliese stared at the closed elevator doors in a daze. Jonathan isn¡¯t busy. So did he just not want to visit Grandma? When she returned to the ward, Nishay wasn¡¯t asleep yet and was drinking water. Created 398 Chapter 398 Will They Do the Same Now? Chapter 398 Will They Do the Same Now? Anneliese grabbed the ss of water from Nishay. +5 Free Colos ¡°Anne, Zion is truly a good one. He¡¯s sincere and warm. He said his boss is very young, too. He must be outstanding as well to pick an assistant like him. How old is your friend? He¡¯s a man, isn¡¯t he? Look at the number of gifts he sent. It¡¯s too nice of him. We should treat him to a meal when I get discharged. When are you free?¡± ¡°Grandma, we¡¯re not that close.¡± Anneliese ced the cup down with a small smile. ¡°Huh? Really? Doesn¡¯t seem like it,¡± Nishay found it hard to believe her. Anneliese just smiled and tucked the nket around her. ¡°Big bosses like to be thorough and courteous. That¡¯s all.¡± Nishay pondered on it and agreed. If he really cares about Anne, he¡¯d make the effort to personally rather than send an assistant. Her thoughts drifted to how Zacharias had changed for the worse once he became a big boss, and her interest immediately waned. So she dismissed the mysterious friend of Anneliese¡¯s. At the moment, Carter was still her favorite candidate. It was the first day that Nishay was moved to a regr ward, so Anneliese spent the whole day at the hospital with her. She had wanted to stay the night, but Nishay insisted the night nurse was more professional and sent her home. It was already nightfall by the time Anneliese drove back to Maple Bay. She slowed the car as she neared the neighborhood when a shadow suddenly lunged out of nowhere. Startled, she stomped on the brakes and almost hit her head on the steering wheel. Irritated, she looked up to see an exasperated Selina standing there. As their gazes met, Selina mmed on the hood twice, signaling for Annelise to get out. But Anneliese merely frowned and honked three times. ¡°Argh!¡± The ring horn made Selina clutch her ears. She red furiously but refused to move. Fresh chapters posted on Find1Novel With her acting like this, Anneliese was even more unwilling to step out. There was no saying what madness Selina was up to. Anneliese wanted to honk again, determined to see who would give in first. Just then, a horn sounded from behind her. Chapter 398 Will They Do the Same Now? A0 +5 Free Cons Worried that she was blocking the way, she turned to look only to see a tall guy getting out of the car behind her. It was Jonathan. Anneliese¡¯s worries cased as she watched him stride toward her. She undid her seatbelt and opened her car door as he reached her side. With one hand pressing against the half¨Copened car door, he rested his other hand gently on her shoulders as he leaned down and said, ¡°Don¡¯t get out. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Then he guided her back into her seat with gentle pressure and shut the door for her. Anneliese decided to stay in the car as she watched Jonathan approach Selina. As expected, Selina¡¯s identity was exposed after Mikita was taken into custody. So Selina must be feeling cornered and desperate. Naturally, she loathed Anneliese too. Jonathan was also worried Selina might lose it and harm Anneliese. Selina felt like a de had cut through her heart as she watched Jonathan ever so gently settle Anneliese back into the car, but looked at her with a somber expression the moment he turned around. Her eyes were bloodshot with a crystalline tear clinging to the corner of her headlights reflected on it. eye. The ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I¡¯ve lost everything. I¡¯m reduced to shambles. I just want to ask Anne for mercy. That she can spare my mom. You really didn¡¯t need to treat me like some beast.¡± Herugh was satirical and a little bitter. Her shadow stretched long and thin under the harsh light. Jonathan stopped a mere two steps away. His gaze was icy and merciless. ¡°Your mom showed her no mercy back then. Four years ago, you didn¡¯t either. So what right do you have to beg for mercy now? Move out of the way!¡± A chill coursed through Selina¡¯s body, and her legs gave out. She held the hood for support as she moved to the side reluctantly. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, you¡¯re mistaken. My mom really did entrust Anne to an old couple. She didn¡¯t know they would abandon her. She¡¯s repentant. ¡°I also had nothing to do with the thugs that hurt Anne four years ago! The police had it investigated. If I were behind it, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here, would I?¡± Selina would never admit the truth in front of Jonathan. ¡°Nothing to do with you? The Whites might have had your back back then. But do you they¡¯ll still do the same now?¡± think Created 399 Chapter 399 Loyal to Him +5 Free Coing Jonathan¡¯s question drained all the color from Selina¡¯s lips. Her face froze, stiff like white cardboard. Her whole day had been chaos, and she hadn¡¯t even thought that far ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you bothering her again!¡± he warned coldly before turning around. Selina instinctively followed him. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, I truly had nothing to do with what happened to Anne four years ago, whether you believe it or not. And I was with Zachariasst night!¡± However, Jonathan didn¡¯t even stop. He wasn¡¯t interested in who Selina was involved with. But she then added, ¡°Anne still loves Zacharias!¡± Jonathan¡¯s steps faltered, and he turned his head. Selina smiled, almost triumphant. ¡°It¡¯s true. I was just with him yesterday. But after Anne spoke to him today, he started ignoring me. If Anne is truly over him, why did she have toe between us? I just think you can do better.¡± Anneliese couldn¡¯t hear their conversation at first since she was inside the car. However, Selina kept rambling, so she rolled down the window and caught onto her devious words right on time. She let out a derisive snort and got out of the car. She charged at them and raised her hands to cover Jonathan¡¯s ears while shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense! That¡¯s not true!¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t think she would get out of the car. She nearly crashed into his arms in her haste, too. With her soft hands sealing his ears, he couldn¡¯t exactly hear her clearly. All he saw were her rosy lips opening and closing, her breath grazing his chin, making it tickle. Even though he couldn¡¯t hear her, Jonathan could guess what she meant. The frost in his eyes melted away as he smiled. Selina watched them pressing against each other so closely. Envy burned inside her as she lunged for Anneliese¡¯s long, dark hair. Jonathan was enthralled by Anneliese, but still noticed Selina¡¯s move. He jerked Anneliese into his embrace and kicked out sharply at the oing woman. ¡°Argh!¡± Selina crashed to the ground and wailed as she curled up in pain. ¡°Did she touch you?¡± Jonathan asked, his arm still wrapped around Anneliese as his gaze swept 10:17 Thu, Oct 2 Chapter 399 Loyal to Him over her quickly, as if Selina was some kind of contagion. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Anneliese shook her head. He checked her over once more before shooting daggers at Selina, who was still lying crumpled on the road. The warning in his eyes made her too afraid to even look up. Find the newest release on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? He then steered Anneliese to turn around. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± B 45 Free Coins But Anneliese didn¡¯t budge. When Jonathan raised a brow at her, she said, ¡°Wait a second.¡± Then, she stepped toward Selina. Her shadow loomed over Selina, who looked up and saw Anneliese¡¯s spotless nude heels. It was so shining that it seemed like something she could never own. In that moment, an old memory shed before Selina¡¯s eyes of the day Anneliese returned to the Whites. Anneliese was standing awkwardly alone in the living room in her faded jeans and clean but yellowed white sneakers under the crystal chandelier. Meanwhile, Selina came down the stairs in the finest nightdress and a pair of Louis Vuitton slippers worth tens of thousands. Back then, Selina had sworn not to let Anneliese take what was hers, that she would always keep her beneath her. However, everything seemed to have turned around. Selina bit her lip hard, clenching onto a few strands of hair in her palm, her heart beating fast. Did Anneliese notice it? She tried to hide her hand behind her back, but Anneliese seized her by the hair in the next instant and pped her across the face. The hatred in Selina¡¯s eyes could no longer be contained while Anneliese stared at her icily. ¡°Selina, my husband is a million times better than that jerk, Zacharias. And unlike you two. I don¡¯t have wandering eyes when I have the best husband in the world! Zacharias is nothing to me the moment I married Jonathan. I will stay loyal to my marriage and treat my husband wholeheartedly.¡± Created 400 Chapter 400 It¡¯ll Be More Than Just a p ¡°If I hear you spouting nonsense to my husband again, trying to stir things up, I¡¯ll do more than just a p next time!¡± Anneliese finally let go of Selina. She then reached for Jonathan¡¯s hand before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Jonathan followed her lead while his mind lingered on the words she had just said. Anneliese wasn¡¯t the kind to kick someone when they were down. He knew what she said was to defend him. ncing at her small hand clutching his, he couldn¡¯t help but smile widely. They both drove off one after another, leaving Selina sitting by the road with venom¨Cfilled eyes. In the elevator, Anneliese finally snapped under the weight of his gaze and his subtle smile. She looked up and shot daggers at him. ¡°Why¡¯re you staring at me and smiling like that?¡± Jonathan didn¡¯t bother hiding it anymore, and he smiled even wider, showing his perfectly white teeth. His handsome face lit up so brilliantly that it almost dazzled her. It made Anneliese feel that he should be a flight attendant instead of a captain. He surely could attract more customers for AeroAir with that smile of his alone. This would be far more efficient than burning himself out as the CEO. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be this fierce to protect your husband,¡± he teased. Her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. Anneliese shot him a re. ¡°Fierce? You kicked her halfway across the street. You don¡¯t need me to protect you. She was trying to stir up trouble for no reason! This isn¡¯t the first time she¡¯s done this. I have to show her who¡¯s boss. Otherwise, she¡¯ll try this again!¡± Jonathan dropped his smile. Suddenly, he pouted a little andmented, ¡°Is that so? I thought it was because she was talking through her hat. You were afraid that I¡¯d misunderstand and be hurt. So you taught her a lesson for me.¡± Indeed, Anneliese had panicked. She was afraid Jonathan would misunderstand. She remembered Zion saying that he wasn¡¯t actually busy but didn¡¯t want to visit Nishay himself. So she told herself not to forget her ce. After all, their marriage was one of convenience. Jonathan had no obligation to help take care of Nishay like she was his family. She had lost her bearings because he had treated her so well. She indulged in the illusion that they were a normal couple. What Zion said was probably a warning from Jonathan. It was meant to remind her of her ce. She kept telling herself not to fall deeper just because he was kind. But she forgot everything the moment she heard Selina trying to sow discord. She couldn¡¯t keep her calm as she feared Jonathan would misunderstand her. She couldn¡¯t keep up the act anymore. She was hopelessly in love with Jonathan. ¡°Why so quiet?¡± Jonathan bent down, trying to catch a glimpse of her expression as she suddenly looked down. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Anneliese shouted. She shoved him aside and dashed out the elevator doors. Jonathan let her go. He was certain that she was just shy as he watched her run away before trailing after her. But as night fell, he could sense something was off with Anneliese. It seemed she was avoiding him on purpose. When he exited the bedroom after changing, she had left with Meatloaf without even asking if he wanted to walk her together. Later on, he heard the door. But when he exited the study, only Meatloaf was batting a ball across the floor in the living room. However, she was gone. He searched for her and realized she was taking a shower. When she finally came out in her pajamas, he was sitting on the couch with a magazine. ¡°Come here. Let me dry your hair.¡± Jonathan set the magazine aside to get up for the hairdryer, but Anneliese shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I dried it in the bathroom.¡± For more chapters visit find?novel His gaze swept over her still¨Cdamp hair, his voice firm, ¡°You must dry itpletely. Come here.¡± As he spoke, he went over to the vanity and plugged in the hairdryer. Anneliese instantly regretted rushing earlier, as she hadn¡¯t fully dried her hair beforeing out. She didn¡¯t budge. So Jonathan frowned. ¡°Are you avoiding me?¡± Her heart skipped a beat as she retorted, ¡°Why would I avoid you?¡± She bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Guilt and irritation were written all over her face. Chapter 401 Chapter 401 Lazy Cat, Careful Hands Chapter 401 Lazy Cat, Careful Hands 410 Free Cou Jonathan narrowed his eyes, set down the hair dryer, and strode toward the girl. His presence was strong andmanding. His face was calm. As he got closer, his size blocked the light from her. Anneliese swallowed. "Fine! Dry it, then! I don''t like to have my hairpletely dry. Men just don''t get it. If it''s too dry, it splits and frizzes!" Before he could reach her, she darted past and sat at the vanity, beckoning him. "Wasn''t it you who insisted on drying my hair?" Watching her, Jonathan wondered if he was making thingsplicated. He picked up the blow dryer again. "I might not get women''s stuff, but could you show me a bit at a time from now on?" From the mirror, Anneliese saw the man behind her, holding the dryer, his dark gaze locked on hers. Anneliese''s eyes flickered. She quickly looked away, fussing with her hair. "Why bother teaching you when-" Her words broke off when a sudden tug pulled at a strand of her hair. She lifted her head and red at him in protest. His innocent look left her unsure if he''d done it on purpose. "You''re my wife, Mrs. Fullbuster. If you don''t teach me, how else am I supposed to learn?" Anneliese bit her lip. She wanted to retort that their marriage would onlyst two years, and since he already had someone in his heart, why shape him into the perfect husband for another woman? However, before she could say anything, Jonathan had already switched on the dryer and begun blowing her hair. Her lips parted slightly, but in the end, she said nothing. Anneliese''s hair was thick. Drying it tired her arms, so she usually gave up while it was still damp. Jonathan was patient. His hands, clumsy and unsure, sometimes tugged too hard, making her flinch, but he was gentle. His broad palm moved through her hair. His fingertips grazed her scalp, moving with calm, Chapter 401 Lazy Cat, Careful Hands tender strokes. +10 Free Coins At first, Anneliese sat stiff and tense in the chair. As he finished, her eyes drooped. Her body rxed. Soon she leaned back against him, aszy as a cat. The dryer clicked off. The sound stopped, and her haze of sleep lifted instantly. "Was itfortable?" Jonathan''s hand moved through her smooth hair, fingers holding the back of her head and lifting her face as he raised an eyebrow. Anneliese''sshes trembled. "Yes, Mr. Fullbuster. You have pretty good technique." "Why not call me hubby?" His lips tightened. She hesitated. ¡°We''re alone, so it''s not needed, right? We''re not really a couple-ah!" Before she could finish, he leaned over her and pressed his mouth to hers, his teeth gently nipping her lips in response. She yelped, clutched her mouth, and red with wide, using eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes were already beautiful. With tears making them blurry, they looked even bigger. In the warm light, they shone like water, soft and bright. Eyes like hers brought out the worst in a man, made him want to tease her, and sought that vulnerable sparkle. Jonathan bent and scooped her up, heading to the bed. "Not a real couple?" His voice was low. "Are you reminding me we still owe a wedding night?" Anneliese''s eyes widened. That''s not what I meant! Before she could argue, he tossed her onto the bed. The sudden drop made her cry out and squeeze her eyes shut. Anneliese bounced on the bed, her hair fanning across her face. When she brushed her hair away and sat up, she froze at Jonathan standing by the bed, calmly undoing his shirt buttons. She''d seen his body before, but every time it hit her like a punch. Anneliese felt her heart pound. What a man. He''s my husband, after all. So why not enjoy it? However, thinking about how he wouldn''t visit her grandma made her upset. No matter how Chapter 401 Lazy Cat, Careful Hands tempting he looked, anger grew in her chest. Chapter 402 Chapter 402 No Way Out Chapter 402 No Way Out 110 Free Coins Why does he always get his way? Even when I agree, intimacy should unfold naturally. I should choose when and how our first time happens. Tonight isn''t the night. I''m still upset. Now is not the time. Anneliese sensed Jonathan''s piercing gaze. She stretched her extended leg, letting her foot graze his bare chest. Jonathan froze at her sudden boldness, breath hitching as his hand paused mid- button. He lowered his gaze, eyes tracking down to his chest. Though nearly 170cm tall, her feet were delicate and dainty-size 36, with elegant arches and soft, rounded toes. Her nails were bare yet naturally flushed. Her toes traced teasing lines down his chest. Two buttons popped free. Her foot slid lower, brushing against his abdomen. His eyes grew darker. He swallowed hard. Warmth spread through him, making it hard to stay in control. Still, her foot wandered, grazing nerves that made his pulse quicken. "Enjoying yourself?" he asked. He finally snapped. His hands enfolded her ankle-steady andmanding, making Anneliese tremble. "Of course. I haven''t had nearly enough fun yet..." Flushed, she propped herself up, batting glistening eyes at the man whose tension was practically straining at its limits. His breath grew heavier. He held her ankle firmly. Suddenly, he bent down. He pressed a fiery kiss to her sensitive instep. "Stop teasing me, baby. I surrender," he murmured. He pressed a kiss to her and lifted his gaze. Chapter 402 No Way Out Though he conceded, his eyes told a different story. A predator cloaked in courtesy, lying in wait for the faintest weakness. But tonight, Anneliese refused to be his prey. 10 Free Cons She tensed, then kicked him hard in the stomach, rolling off the bed in one swift motion. "I''ve got things to do-no time for games!" She dashed across the room barefoot, not bothering with slippers, and grabbed the door handle. Her hand clutched the doorknob, yanking hard. Huh? Why wouldn''t it turn? Panic jolted through her. She yanked again, harder, but the door stayed locked. Confusion muddled her thoughts. Footsteps echoed behind her-slow, deliberate, chilling her skin. In panic, Anneliese twisted the knob furiously, desperate to break free. Then, a long, well-defined hand appeared right before her eyes. The man reached out and turned a small dial beside the knob. Click, click. So he''d locked the door from the inside all along! "You can open it now." Shame and fury red. Anneliese wrenched the door open, only for his palm to m against it immediately, shutting it with a heavy thud. Her eyes widened. The gap vanished before her eyes. He is doing this on purpose! Anneliese''s heart raced. She felt trapped, helpless, unable to keep up with him. Before she could even think of escaping, his body pressed against hers from behind. Anneliese froze. Every nerve is tense. It felt as if she was trapped. Nowhere to run. Her mind wentpletely nk. Chapter 402 No Way Out +10 Free Con "Are you a rabbit? Running off so fast?" Jonathan''s voice carried a low, teasing lilt as it sounded just behind her. His hot breath brushed her neck, making her shiver. Anneliese bit back a groan of frustration. If I''d moved faster, I wouldn''t be trapped here-cornered with no space to maneuver. "I... I really have something to attend to. Please, just let me go first," she pleaded, her voice shaking. She tried tilting her head away from his warmth, but it was useless. The door blocked her in front, and his solid chest pressed her from behind. Escape was impossible. And the desire she had stirred only grew stronger, pressing insistently from behind. Jonathan''s gaze dropped to her neck, faintly flushed under the light. His eyes darkened as his hand moved to her shoulder, turning her to face him. Chapter 403 Chapter 403 The Morning After : Chapter 403 The Morning After +10 Free Coins He pulled back enough for her to breathe, but before she could rx, he tilted her chin up. His lips curved slightly. "What is it?" Anneliese hesitated, eyes darting nervously. "Professor Clocke and the others are arriving tomorrow. I have to meet them at the airport, so I need to go over the questions I''ve run into tonight. Then, I''ll ask him properly tomorrow..." Jonathan seemed distracted, trailing soft, tantalizing kisses down her neck. Gentle, yet impossible to ignore. Her chest tightened. When she realized he had no intention of stopping, already unbuttoning her blouse and moving lower, she panicked. Her hands flew to her cor and pressed against his lips. ¡°Are you even listening to me?" Finally, his gaze met hers. "I heard you. Sorting questions... is it that urgent?¡± "Yes!" She nodded repeatedly. "Extremely urgent." She expected him to stop, but instead, he took her wrist away from his mouth. He kissed her palm, his breath warm against her skin, and then moved her hand lower. "Be good. I''m even more... urgent." He guided her hand down, making it clear what he meant by urgent. Anneliese''s mind went nk, a startled cry swallowed by the searing kiss that followed. Her body softened under his touch. When he lifted her toward the bed, she buried her face in his chest, letting out shy, muffled whimpers. By morning, Anneliese awoke wrapped in warmth. A firm arm held her from behind, a hand resting over the scar on her stomach, lingering until the area felt heated. Memories came back to her. She had tried to hide her scars, but he gently took her hand away and kissed them. 6510 Chapter 403 The Morning After "Did it hurt, back then?" +10 Free Coins Many had asked the same. Years ago, after she was rescued andy pale in a hospital bed, Zacharias asked. She shook her head, insisting it hadn''t hurt. Zacharias believed her and continued to help Selina without a hint of guilt. Jessica had asked too; Anneliese had smiled, denying the pain, though Jessica had cried until her eyes were swollen. A few days ago, her grandmother finally learned the truth. Her frail hands cupped Anneliese''s face, asking if it hurt. Anneliese hadughed, saying, ¡°Grandma, it doesn''t hurt anymore." Yetst night, perhaps because Jonathan''s kiss was so sincere and the tenderness in his eyes so obvious, she found herself nodding for the first time. ¡°Yes... It hurt so much. It really does..." He lowered his head, pressing kisses to her scars for a long while. His voice, rough and husky, whispered, "I''m sorry... so sorry..." Even dazed beneath his kisses, she still didn''t fully understand why he kept apologizing. "Good morning, Mrs. Fullbuster," his voice rumbled from behind,zy and low with the remnants of sleep. Only then did she realize he was awake. She turned her head. "Morning. Why didn''t you get up for your run or work?" Even though we''ve slept together before, this is the first time I wake up in his arms in the morning. Jonathan brushed her cheek with a kiss, tightening his hold around her waist. In one fluid motion, she was turned to face him, snug against his chest. He nuzzled her hair and spoke in a rxed, open voice. "Too much warmth and sweetness by my side. My self-discipline isn''t strong enough." She blushed and gave him a gentle punch. "Don''t me me. We could have gone to sleep earlier, but it was you-" Her words cut off. Seeing her flustered, he chuckled. "Me, what?" Anneliese felt her ears and cheeks grow hot. The night before, they were both ready, and he was patient, but something went wrong at thest moment. 17:09 Thu, Oct 9. Chapter 403 The Morning After 51 +10 Free Coins After a moment, he let go and pretended toin. "You''ll wear me out sooner orter." Speechless, she shoved him aside and slipped out of bed, but Jonathan caught her hand. When she turned back, he was sitting up. "Come back carly this afternoon. Let''s go to the supermarket." His gaze spoke volumes-what they would buy needed no exnation. Anneliese shrugged off his hand and hurried into the bathroom. Jonathan looked at the door, unable to hide his smile. By the time she emerged, dressed and ready to leave, he had already freshened up in another room. Chapter 404 Chapter 404 A Rare First Chapter 404 A Rare First +10 Free Coins Jonathan wore a simple white shirt and ck cks as he sat at the dining table, scrolling through thetest financial news on his iPad. When he saw Anneliesee out, he set the tablet down and asked, "Are you going to the hospital after breakfast?" Anneliese sat down beside him, noticing that Mabel had already set breakfast on the table. She picked up a custard bun, took a bite, and nodded. "Yeah, I''ll visit Grandma first, then head to the airport to pick up Prof. Clocke and the others. In the afternoon, they''re meeting the investor from theb, and I''ll go with them." Jonathan smiled at her. "Sounds good." Anneliese turned to him. "What do you mean by that?" "Your n''s solid. After you meet the investors, I''ll take you to the store." Her ears burned as she thought, We''re eating breakfast. Can he stop bringing up that shopping trip? However, her curiosity got the better of her. She bit the custard bun and asked anyway. "Well, that... thing? In the drawer? Why wasn''t it suitable?" Jonathan looked at her, amused by how embarrassed Anneliese looked. He didn''t seem awkward at all as he answered calmly, "Zion bought it. I had never used it before, so I didn''t realize it couldn''t be used." Anneliese froze, then turned her head and stared at him in shock. "You''ve never used it?" He looked confused. "You''re the first woman I''ve married. Why would I have used it before?" She was speechless. The first night, Jonathan tricked her into staying in his room; she had seen that box of condoms in the nightstand drawer. At the time, she assumed he was experienced. Besides, with his looks and his age, how could he still be a virgin? No, maybe he just didn''t use them with his girlfriends before. It didn''t have to mean what she thought, so she asked again, "With your ex, did you two not Chapter 404 A Rare First use protection?!" +10 Free Colos Jonathan immediately reached over and flicked her forehead with his finger, causing her to yelp. "What are you thinking? Who told you I had an ex?" "You... You don''t?" He even copied her tone. "Was I supposed to?" Anneliese''s face turned red. She lowered her head and shoved the bun into her mouth, but inside, she was stunned. He''s never dated anyone? No ex? No other women at all? How did she get so lucky? She was on her second marriage and somehow ended up with such a rare catch. Anneliese could hardly believe it. She was still in a daze even when she got to the hospital and ran into Jessica, who came to visit Nishay. The two of them stayed with Nishay for a while. When they left the room, Jessica pulled her aside. "Did you get worn outst night? Did Mr. Fullbuster drain your energy?" "What are you talking about?" Anneliese''s face went red as she smacked Jessica. "Nothing happened!" Jessica''s eyes went wide. "You still haven''t done it? After all that? Wait, don''t tell me Mr. Fullbuster suffers from erectile dysfunction!" She said it while pulling open Anneliese''s cor to point at the kiss marks all over her neck. Last time, Anneliese told her they hadn''t slept together. Jessica thought maybe they were just taking it slow, wanting to build a real rtionship before sleeping together. But now? They were kissing this much and still hadn''t gone all the way. How did that make any sense? Anneliese quickly covered her cor and blushed. ¡°That''s not it. He''s fine!¡± "My silly Annie, maybe he tricked you." Jessica still looked doubtful. Her best friend couldn''t even manage to sleep with her own husband. Married twice already and still struggling-it was ridiculous. Chapter 404 A Rare First Anneliese covered her face. "He didn''t trick me! Something unexpected happened!" +10 Free Coins Seeing how red she was and how certain she sounded, Jessica guessed the unexpected event must have been her period. She silently mourned for Jonathan in her head. Anneliese worried she would keep asking questions, so she quickly changed the subject. ¡°Jonathan really does have a first love," though. Jessica was stunned. "What?" "Remember? Zane mentioned it when we were in the car," Anneliese reminded her. "Did you forget?" Jessica nodded. "Didn''t he also say that woman was already married? Then, it''s not possible. Don''t overthink it." Don''t overthink it? Anneliese pressed her lips together and leaned her head on Jessica''s shoulder, feeling a bit down. "It''s so annoying to like someone. Men are giving me a headache. Why do they all have a first love?" She wanted to stop falling for men who still held on to someone from their past, but when it came to Jonathan, she just couldn''t do it. Anneliese thought she was about to fall into the same pit all over again, and it made her feel both helpless and frustrated. Chapter 405 Chapter 405 A Push from Jessica Chapter 405 A Push from Jessica +10 Free Coins Jessica tilted her head with a smile as she looked at her gloomy best friend. "Well, well, well, so you admit you like him now?" Anneliese lifted her head. "And you''re still making fun of me. Jessica, do you think I''m just hopeless when ites to love?" Jessica cupped Anneliese''s face. "Do you want the truth?" Anneliese bit her lip and pushed her hands away. "Forget it, I''d rather not hear it.¡± Jessica could hardly hold back herughter at how downhearted she looked. She cupped Anneliese''s face again and said, "Actually, I think you''re brave. You went through a failed marriage, but didn''t lose the ability to love. Isn''t that courage? And besides, Jonathan''s so-called first love is already married, so that''s in the past. You and Jonathan are together now. What''s there to be afraid of?" Anneliese blinked. "That makes sense." "If you like him, then like him. If you want to fall in love, then fall in love. Annie, you''re not even twenty-three yet. What''s there to be scared of? Forget that old me. Use your charm to win Jonathan over. By the time she ever shows up again, it won''t even matter. "Even if Jonathan disappoints you, you can divorce him. Think of it as another lesson learned. You might even walk away with a few billion from him. With that kind of money, you can find yourself a younger guy. Wouldn''t that be nice? Even if you marry every two years, after five marriages, you''d still only be thirty. You''ve got time to have some fun." Anneliese stared at her, speechless. Was this really her best friend? Not a word of encouragement, and what was that about five marriages? The worst part was that Jessica sounded like one of those self-help tapes. The more Anneliese listened, the more it started to make sense. She was overwhelmed. She shoved Jessica straight into the elevator and walked away. Jessica watched her friend''s lighter steps and raised her brows with a smile. She wasn''t trying to trick her. She just saw things clearly from the outside. Chapter 405 A Push from Jessica AZON +10 Free Cons She didn''t know exactly how Jonathan felt about his first love, but she was sure he truly cared about Anneliese. In fact, he seemed even more lovestruck than she was. Rather than let Anneliese keep hesitating, it was better to give her a push. That first love? Jessica believed Anneliese''s charm would easily win out, unless Jonathan was blind like Zacharias. On her way back to the hospital room, Anneliese was still thinking about Jessica''s words. She remembered that her marriage to Jonathan was supposed tost two years by agreement. Suddenly, she felt less conflicted. It was only two years. She decided not to overthink it. She would focus on getting along with him and making the marriage work. If Jonathan fell in love with her after two years, that would be the best oue. If he still wanted a divorce by then, she wouldn''t have any regrets. Like Jessica said, she would only be twenty-four or twenty-five. She could find someone even better. With that thought, her mood lifted and her steps felt lighter. She stayed with her grandma a little longer, then left the hospital. She was about to drive to the airport to pick up Alexander when she was stopped in the parking lot by a man who looked like a butler. "Ms. ude, hello. Mydy is waiting at the cafe across from the hospital. She would like to have a word with you. Please follow me." Anneliese nced at the man and found the whole thing strange. She didn''t follow him. Instead, she unlocked her Maserati, opened the door, and got in. "Ms. ude!" Hearing the noise behind her, the man turned and saw Anneliese starting the changed. He rushed to the driver''s side and knocked on the window in a hurry. 1. r. His face Anneliese gave him no chance to drag things out. She backed out smoothly, turned the wheel, and stepped on the gas. She drove away, leaving nothing but exhaust behind. The man was left standing there, coughing in the cloud of smoke, his face dark with anger. He Chapter 405 A Push from Jessica could hardly believe she had left just like that. +10 Free Coins Frowning, he walked out of the hospital parking lot, crossed the street, and entered a cafe on the corner. In a booth by the window sat a woman in a dark green couture dress, wearing sapphire earrings and a matching ne. Her presence was elegant and imposing. She was Jonathan''s mother, Elizabeth Holf. The butler hurried over and lowered his head respectfully. "Mrs. Fullbuster, it''s my fault. I wasn''t able to bring Ms. ude." Elizabeth, not seeing Anneliese walk in behind him, slowed down her stirring of the coffee. Hearing his words, she set the spoon down and looked at him. ¡°What happened?" The butler''s face was filled with shame. "I told Ms. ude that you were waiting here and wanted to talk with her. She..." "What about her?" "She cursed me, saying I was nothing. She told me she was the Fullbuster family''s youngdy, that her status was too high to meet just anyone. She said not just any random person could ask to see her. She also said if you wanted to see her, then got into her Maserati and drove off." you go person. Then she should in Chapter 406 Chapter 406 The Price of Schemes Chapter 406 The Price of Schemes +20 Free Coins Elizabeth asked the butler to bring Anneliese over. The butler had already learned about Anneliese''s background from Selina. She had grown up in an orphanage, waster taken back by the White family, but was never favored. The White family was only a middle-ss family in Oceaton, not important enough to be noticed by the Fullbuster family. On top of that, the White family was about to go bankrupt. In the butler''s eyes, Anneliese was no different from an orphan with nothing. Elizabeth did not like her and looked down on her, and the butler knew it well. He thought that acting superior in front of Anneliese was a way to help Elizabeth put her in her ce. To him, Anneliese was just an orphan who had managed to climb her way into a wealthy family. He believed she would never dare to act arrogantly. But to his surprise, Anneliese, who looked soft and delicate, had a fiery and stubborn temper. Without saying much, she had turned around and walked away. The butler worried that Elizabeth would me him for failing to handle such a small matter, so he exaggerated and pushed all the me onto Anneliese. After all, only the two been there at the time. m had Elizabeth frowned when she heard this. She set her coffee cup down on the table with just enough force to show her displeasure. "How outrageous. She hasn''t even greeted her elders or gotten approval, yet she already goes around acting like the youngdy of the family and throwing her weight around. What on earth did Jonathan see in her?" Meanwhile, after getting Anneliese''s hair, Selina went to the hospital to find Mnie. Timothy was still being held at the police station for questioning. She wanted to get Mnie''s hair for a mother-daughter DNA test, but when she arrived at the hospital, she was told that Mnie had already been discharged. Selina rushed back to the White estate, only to find that she could not even get through the gate. Chapter 406 The Price of Schemes : ¨¢41) +20 Free Coins The servants who used to greet her respectfully now shut her out under orders. Some even pointed and whispered about her. She refused to leave and shouted at the gate until Mnie, probably embarrassed by the scene, finally came out with the servants'' help. Standing behind the iron gate, Mnie ordered Selina to kneel outside. Selina had no choice and knelt. The ground was cold and hard. The night wind was biting. Every now and then, passersby pointed at her. She thought of how Anneliese had once been made to kneel in the yard all night because of her scheming. That time had also been in winter. Selina had stood by the window with a cup of hot coffee in hand, watching Anneliese kneel straight-backed in the cold. She had felt smug and satisfied. Her parents and brothers had all loved her then. She had taken a sip of coffee, sat at the piano, and yed a cheerful piece called ¡°Waltz of the Little Dogs." She had thought of Anneliese as nothing more than a little dog jumping around for her amusement, never worth taking seriously. But now, things had changed. Selina realized she had underestimated Anneliese. Still, she believed she could turn things around. Anneliese had pushed her into this mess. she would never let Anneliese livefortably either. With sheer stubbornness, Selina knelt outside the vi for more than two hours until she finally fainted. Mnie, feeling some pity, had the servants carry Selina into the living room. Knowing how good Selina was at acting, Mnie went up and pinched her philtrum to wake her up. Selina slowly opened her eyes, then threw her arms around Mnie and cried, "Mom, please don''t abandon me," While hugging her, she secretly pulled out a few strands of Mnie''s hair. Mnie came to her senses and shoved Selina away. She stood up, furious. "I''m not your mom. Your mom is that shameless Mikita. Since you already reunited with her and hid it from us, stop pretending in front of me. I find it disgusting." Chapter 406 The Price of Schemes 4P (41) +20 Free Coins Her face was filled with pain and hatred as she ordered the servants, "She''s awake and won''t die, so throw her out." Selina was thrown out of the White estate again. She looked back at the vi she had lived in for so many years. Her eyes were bloodshot as she turned and left. That night, she rushed the hair samples to the testing agency and paid extra for an urgent result. At the airport, Anneliese wore a burgundy silk blouse, a ck wool skirt, and straight ck boots. On top, she had a fitted long white cashmere coat and a white beret. She held arge bouquet of yellow and purple tulips as she waited at the arrivals gate. When she saw the crowding out, she had not yet spotted Alexander and the others, but she already felt nervous. She lowered her head to smooth her blouse, then looked up and finally saw Alexander and her four seniors walking out. All four wore sses, dressed casually infortable clothes, and carried backpacks. They looked tired from travel but still had a strong air of schrs and researchers. Anneliese took a deep breath and was just about to go forward when she saw Clement and George slow down. They turned back as if waiting for someone. Even Alexander stopped walking and turned his head. Chapter 407 1 Get Free Coins > Chapter 407 Flowers and First Impressions Chapter 407 Flowers and First Impressions 41 +20 Free Coins Soon, a petite figure in a pink tracksuit jogged up and yfully said something to Clement and George before sticking out her tongue. Clement tapped the brim of the baseball cap on her head with a fond smile, then turned and spotted Anneliese not far away. He quickly raised his hand and waved at her. "Prof. Clocke, Anne is over there." Clement took a step forward, bent slightly, and pointed toward Anneliese as he spoke to Alexander. Everyone turned to look. "Wow! Clement, you only said a talented senior was joining us. You didn''t say she was this pretty. She looks more like a celebrity." The girl in the baseball cap, who was walking at the back, made a surprised remark as she looked at Anneliese. "Pretty, right? Our junior... well, no, now you''re our junior. Back then, Anne was the campus beauty at our school. Of course she''s pretty. But Gianna, you''re not bad either. You''re both pretty," Clement said with a grin. Gianna lifted her chin. "Who cares about that? If we''reparing, let''spare profe skills." "Then you probably won''t win." Quinton stood to the side, heard her words, and cut in. That instantly made Gianna raise her fist at him in annoyance. Quinton wanted to say more, but stopped when he saw Anneliese walking toward them. He made a gesture of zipping his mouth and looked at her with bright eyes. Gianna started to speak, but stayed quiet when she saw everyone watching Anneliese approach. Alexander was nearly seventy, with half of his hair white. He was of medium height, but his back was straight. He wore ck-rimmed sses, and the deep lines on his face made him look strict when he wasn''t smiling. Being stared at by him, Anneliese felt like a kid who had gotten in trouble and was sent to stand before the principal. 1 ... 41 Chapter 407 Flowers and First Impressions +20 Free Coins Her steps were stiff, and when she finally stopped in front of them, she seemed nervous and unsure. It was Quinton who stepped forward and broke the awkward silence. "Anneliese, those flowers look nice. Are they for me? Then I''ll dly take them." As he spoke, he reached for the flowers, but his elbow lightly nudged Anneliese''s back, pushing her closer to Alexander. Holding the bouquet tightly, Anneliese stumbled a little and stopped right in front of him. Even though she had been emailing with him these past weeks, she still felt nervous and short of breath. "Prof. Clocke..." "What? These flowers aren''t for me?" "They are! I picked them one by one. They''re tulips, which are Mrs. Clocke''s favorite." Anneliese quickly held out the bouquet. "Hey, you give me flowers, but choose what Ang likes? Who are you really giving them to?" Alexander pretended to be upset and didn''t take them. Annelieseughed nervously and was about to exin, but a pale hand reached out and took the bouquet. "Prof. Clocke, I can answer that. Since you and Mrs. Clocke have such a good rtionship, if these flowers make her happy, then you''ll be happy too. If you''re happy, then Anneliese won''t be scared of you being mad. So don''t keep that stern face. You''re scaring her." It was Gianna. She pushed the bouquet into Alexander''s hands as she spoke. Alexander instinctively took it and red at her. "You always think you know everything." Gianna giggled, turned to Anneliese, and winked. ¡°See? Prof. Clocke took your flowers. That means he won''t be angry anymore." She held out her hand. "Hello, Anneliese. I''m Gianna Malone." Anneliese looked at the hand in front of her, reached out to shake it, and smiled. "Hello, I''m Anneliese ude." Chapter 407 Flowers and First Impressions +20 Free Coins She knew the four seniors in Alexander''sb, but this was the first time she had seen Gianna. She had never heard that Alexander had taken on another student. "Alright, don''t block the way. Let''s go." Alexander spoke, and everyone started walking outside together. Clement gently nudged Anneliese, cing her beside Alexander. "Prof. Clocke, maybe I should carry the flowers instead." Anneliese reached for the bouquet in his hand, but Alexander switched it to the other. "What, you want to take back the gift you gave me? Or do you think I''m too frail to hold a bouquet?" When Alexander spoke, his old yful tone returned. Anneliese instantly felt the familiarity of the past, and her tense nerves eased. She muttered softly, "Of course not. You''re strong and full of energy. I just hope that if you scold meter, you keep your voice down." Chapter 408 Chapter 408 The Investor''s Lunch Chapter 408 The Investor''s Lunch +20 Free Coins Alexander nced at her. ¡°Hmph, I''ll test youter on what you''ve learned these past weeks. If you don''t pass, you''ll see if I can keep my voice down." Anneliese pretended to be scared and pulled her neck in. From behind came Gianna''s voice. "Anneliese, your car is in the parking lot, right? I asked my family to send a car to pick us up. I''ll take Prof. Clocke and the seniors home first. The car is already waiting outside at the exit." The parking lot and the exit were not in the same direction. ¡°Then, Prof. Clocke, let''s follow Gianna," George said as he pushed his suitcase and turned toward the exit. Anneliese said, "Prof. Clocke, let me drive you instead. It''s been a while since I saw Mrs. Clocke. I want to visit her." "But can your car fit so many people?" Gianna asked. Anneliese looked at her. "I rented a minivan. It can fit everyone." She hade to pick them up and had asked Jessica to rent a van for her. Her Maserati had been taken by Jessica. ¡°I see. I was overthinking it. Anneliese, you''re really thoughtful." Gianna smiled a little, looking embarrassed. Alexander said to her, "Gianna, you''re not going in the same direction. Go home first. We''ll let Anne drive us. Remember to meet us at noon at Oak Haven so we can see the investor together." "Okay, got it, Prof. Clocke." Gianna nodded, then suddenly turned to Anneliese. "For lunch, will you be going too?" Anneliese froze. Although Gianna sounded casual, she felt like the question carried a sharp edge. It was as if Gianna were questioning what right she had to attend the lunch. She stayed silent, but Quinton said, "Anne has already joined theb officially. Of course she''s going. Isn''t that right, Prof. Clocke?" Chapter 408 The Investor''s Lunch : Alexander nodded. "Anne wille with us at noon." Seeing the mood turn awkward, Gianna walked over to Anneliese and took her hand. 41 +20 Free Coins "Anneliese, don''t be upset. I didn''t mean anything by it. We just met and didn''t even get to talk before we split up. Now that I know you''ll be there at lunch, I feel better. I''ll bring you a gift." She smiled sweetly and spoke in a friendly tone. Anneliese smiled back. "You''re too polite. I''m not upset." "Good, then that''s settled. I''ll head off first. Bye, Prof. Clocke, seniors." She waved and left with light steps. Up ahead, a man who looked like a chauffeur walked up to greet her. He bowed respectfully, took her bag and suitcase, and the two left together. Anneliese and Alexander walked toward the parking lot. Clement spoke. "Gianna can be a bit blunt. Anne, don''t take it to heart." George said, "Anne and Gianna are about the same age. I remember four or five years ago, Anne already acted so mature and calm." Liam added, "Anne is too calm sometimes. I often forget she''s much younger than us. Gianna acts more like a girl her age." Anneliese only listened and stayed quiet. Some of the seniors lived in the school dorms, and some had homes near campus. On the way back, Clement didn''t let Anneliese drive. He took the wheel himself and sent her to sit in the back with Alexander. Alexander didn''t feel tired. He started quizzing Anneliese right away. The questions went on from the car ride all the way into his house. It only stopped when Ang urged him to change clothes. Luckily, Alexander was satisfied with her answers and even praised her. Anneliese chatted with Ang, Alexander''s wife, for a while. Soon after, Alexander came out dressed in a suit. At noon, they went to lunch with the investor. When they arrived at Oak Haven, Anneliese realized she had been there before. Chapter 408 The Investor''s Lunch : Z 41 +20 Free Coins It was the same garden-style restaurant where Jonathan had taken her for lunch after they got their marriage certificate. Gianna had changed into thetest Chanel tweed winter set. Her long hair was down, her makeup was perfect, and she carried herself with the poise of a wealthy heiress. She looked very different from how she had appeared at the airport earlier. When she saw them, she smiled, walked over, and held onto Anneliese''s arm. Sheughed and said, ¡°Anneliese, the seniors and I have already had dinner with the investor twice. You haven''t met him yet, so you might feel nervous. But don''t worry, I know him well. He only looks serious and intimidating, but he doesn''t lose his temper. I''ll speak up for youter." Anneliese looked at Gianna''s bright and eager face. She gave a small smile and nodded. Chapter 409 Chapter 409 Hidden Tension Chapter 409 Hidden Tension : 41 +20 Free Coins "Thanks for your kindness, Gianna, but it''s just a meal. I think if the investor chose ourb, then our ideas must match, and our personalities fit. He shouldn''t make things hard for us without reason. Don''t you think so, Gianna?" Gianna hit a wall but quickly smiled again. ¡°You''re right, I was overthinking. I was only worried you''d be nervous since it''s your first time going out to an event with us. I forgot you''ve already left school and worked for years. Handling something like this must be easy for you." Anneliese nced at Gianna and stayed silent. She could feel the subtle digs and hostility from Gianna ever since they met at the airport. But since she joined halfway through, it was normal for Gianna to have thoughts and opinions. Anneliese did not take it to heart. They would spend a lot of time together in thebter. She didn''t want to cause conflict right after joining and make things hard for Alexander. Anneliese did not speak, but Clement, who walked beside them, heard the exchange. He patted Anneliese''s shoulder and said, "Anne, don''t be polite with Gianna. The investor supports us not only because of theb''s strength but also because of her connections. If things get toughter, just let her help you out." Anneliese looked at Clement. She knew his personality well. He was kind and focused only on research. He was straightforward and never yed mind games. He probably hadn''t noticed the tension between her and Gianna. She smiled. "Then thank you, Gianna." Gianna curved her brows and eyes, looking harmless. ¡°Why so polite with me, Anneliese?" The group was led by a waiter into a private dining room. By coincidence, it turned out to be the same room where Anneliese had eaten with Jonathan The investor had not arrived yet. Anneliese sat inside, and scenes from thest meal here with Jonathan shed in her mind. A strange feeling rose in her chest. The thought made her heartbeat speed up. Chapter 409 Hidden Tension Could it be something to do with him? : 41 +20 Free Coins She pulled out her phone, opened WhatsApp, and went to her chat with Jonathan. After thinking for a moment, she sent him a message, ''What are you doing?'' His reply came fast. Before entering the room, she had already set her phone to silent. She had just locked the screen when it lit up again, ''In a meeting.'' Seeing his reply, Anneliese told herself she was indeed overthinking. ''Then focus on your meeting,'' she replied shortly. She thought he wouldn''t answer, but another message popped up right away, ''Miss me?'' The teasing words made her breathing falter. "What''s got you so focused, Anne? Must be something good." Quinton''s voice sounded beside her as he leaned in to peek at her phone. Her ears turned hot. Feeling guilty, she quickly put her phone away. She turned to join her seniors'' chat. After just a few sentences, the door opened. Annelies with her back to it, so she didn''t see, but Alexander and the seniors stopped talking and stood 1. up. At the same time, Anneliese felt a warm gaze settle on her. She quickly stood too and turned her head. Her eyes met the tall figure walking in. She saw his expression shift as he watched hers go from nk to surprise to joyful. Her lips parted little by little in shock. In his dark eyes, it was like ripples spread across a calmke. Anneliese instinctively took a step forward, but before she could move closer, a petite figure rushed past her like the wind and ran straight to the man. Her cheerful voice rang out. "Jonathan, you''re here." Anneliese froze at the sound of his name. Jonathan''s steps halted. The gaze that had been fixed on Anneliese finally shifted to Gianna. Ayer of coldness spread over his handsome face. He looked at her with disbelief. Chapter 409 Hidden Tension "What did you just call me?" $20 Free Coins Gianna''s expression didn''t change. She blinked, stuck out her tongue, and lowered her head. "Fine, fine, I got too excited. I just meant to say you''re close with my cousin India, right? You two haven''t made it official yet..." Jonathan frowned and cut her off in a deep voice. "I am married, but my wife is someone else. It has nothing to do with your cousin India. Don''t say things like that. If my wife hears and misunderstands, it won''t be easy for me to exin when I go back." Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Hidden Hostility : Jonathan spoke in a low voice as he walked past Gianna and headed toward Anneliese. Anneliese finally understood what he meant. Gianna''s cousin was India. She should have realized that earlier. & CD +20 Free Coins The surname Malone wasn''tmon. Still, Anneliese had only seen India twice. India was tall and striking with sharp, bold features, while Gianna was petite and delicate. The two didn''t look much alike, so Anneliese hadn''t made the connection. Now it seemed that Gianna''s hidden hostility was partly because she was standing up for India. As Anneliese thought about it, she came back to herself and saw Jonathan walking straight toward her. At the same time, he was saying things like "wife" and "hard to exin." Her expression tightened, and she quickly ducked behind Alexander. She even gave Jonathan a small wave, signaling him to stop. She looked like she wanted to avoid himpletely, pretending not to know him. The coldness on Jonathan''s face deepened, but in the end, he didn''t take another step. Alexander, noticing the tension that India''s words had caused, stepped forward and spoke. "Gianna, since it was a misunderstanding, you should apologize properly to Mr. Fullbuster." Gianna stood frozen at the doorway. The shock on her face slowly turned into helplessness and restrained anger after hearing both Jonathan and Alexander. In the end, she lowered her head, walked up to Jonathan, and spoke softly. "Jonathan, I''ve been staying in Westrough all this time. I only heard that you got married, so I thought it was you and India. After all, our grandfathers discussed a marriage between our families long ago, and you and India..." Before she could finish, Jonathan cut her off. He pulled out a chair and sat down. The scrape of the chair was sharp, and his cold voice followed. ¡°Gianna, India and I are friends and coworkers." Chapter 410 Hidden Hostility : +20 Free Coins His tone was heavier than before. Earlier, he had only been unhappy. Now, he was clearly angry. Gianna bit her lip, and her eyes turned red. She let out a short snort before speaking. "Sorry. I apologize." After that, she sniffled and turned to Alexander. "I don''t feel well. I''m going to the restroom." With that, she ran out. Clement saw her rush out crying and felt a little worried. Since she was a girl and had gone to the restroom to calm down, he couldn''t follow. He quietly turned to Anneliese. "Anne, can you go check on her?" Anneliese nodded. "Okay, I''ll go." She stood up and immediately felt Jonathan''s gaze on her. She didn''t look back and quickly walked out of the room. Heading toward the restroom, she soon found Gianna at the sink. Gianna was washing her hands. Her face no longer showed the shame and anger from before. Anneliese walked closer, stood behind her, and met her eyes in the mirror. She spoke first. "You know who I am, don''t you?" Her words sounded like a question, but her tone made it clear she was sure of it. It was obvious that Gianna''s little scene had been aimed at her. Anneliese didn''t believe for a second that it was some kind of mistake. The innocence and warmth on Gianna''s face were gone. She lifted her chin slightly and raised a brow at Anneliese through the mirror. "Oh? Who are you? You''ve got me confused, Anneliese." Anneliese stepped forward, stood at another sink, and slowly washed her hands under the water. Then she spoke calmly. "If you don''t know, then forget it." She pulled a paper towel, dried her hands, and turned to leave. Chapter 410 Hidden Hostility : 41 +20 Free Coins Behind her, Gianna hadn''t expected her to stay so calm. She turned and stared at Anneliese''s back before finally speaking. "My cousin and Jonathan grew up together. They went to the same schools from elementary through high school. Later, my cousin worked hard to get into the aviation academy just to be on his level. She went through a lot to be a pilot who could match him. She even followed him abroad to join the branch office of AeroAir in Agc. For the past two years, she''s been helping him build his career there. "The two of them are known in Halden as the perfect couple. For years, the only close woman by his side has been my cousin. Our families are lifelong friends. My grandfather and his grandfather agreed long ago that he and my cousin would marry. She''s the only future daughter-inw his grandfather has ever acknowledged. "They are truly well-matched. No matter where you came from, you''re just the third getting between them." party Chapter 411 Chapter 411 sh with Gianna +20 Free Coins Anneliese held back her impatience and listened to Gianna''s long speech before finally turning her head toward her. Her small face looked sharp, her eyes full of anger, and the way she stared at Anneliese felt like a judgment, cold and arrogant. Anneliese gave a shortugh with a touch of careless contempt. "Are you done? Can I leave now?" Gianna had not expected that kind of reaction, frowning. "Mistresses these days really have no shame. You act so boldly. No wonder India can be such a strong support for Jonathan at AeroAir. "As for you, you only know how to seduce a man into spending money to shove you into ab to make yourself look good." Anneliese''s eyes turned sharp. She looked at Gianna again and let out anotherugh. "You''re so worked up that people would think I stole your man if they didn''t know better. Tell me, do you have the hots for Jonathan too?¡± If the one standing in front of her had been India, and if those words hade from her, Anneliese might have felt upset. However, with Gianna stepping in like this, she only thought it wasughable. Gianna gave a cold snort, her tone both angry and dismissive. "You think everyone''s like you, chasing after men they shouldn''t? India is better than that. She doesn''t even want to waste time on a woman like you. Don''t think our family will just stand by and do nothing, though." Anneliese had actually thought pretty well of the Malone family before. She had only met India twice and never really talked to her, but she felt that India was open- minded and straightforward. It left Anneliese with an alright impression of India. As for Steven, the spokesperson for the Air Traffic Control Committee, Anneliese had never met him. But since she followed the official ount, she sometimes saw his videos at events or interviews. He came across as refined and polite. And Ellie, the little girl she had met at the Golding family banquet, was lively and cute. She had even helped Anneliese put Selina in her ce. Gianna? She was not likable at all. Chapter 411 sh with Gianna +20 Free Coins ¡°First of all, your cousin and Jonathan were never in a rtionship. Right now, I''m the one with the marriage certificate. I''m the rightful Mrs. Fullbuster. So, this so- called mistress talk doesn''t even make sense. "No one would agree with you. If you keep spreading it, your cousin''s reputation will take a hit. People will think she''s the one breaking up someone else''s marriage. "Second, I got into theb because Professor Clocke and the seniors acknowledged me. It had nothing to do with who invested. If you doubt that, we can go ask them right now." "You make it sound so nice. But Jonathan and India promised each other that if neither of them was married by thirty, they would get married. "She has waited all these years. How is that not you interfering?" Anneliese had not expected Jonathan and India to have that kind of history. For a moment, she felt uneasy, but soon she pulled out her phone. ¡°You''re questioning me like this. Does your cousin know? Or did she tell you to say this? Why don''t I call her right now and ask her myself?" She wanted to know if Gianna was acting on her own or whether India had told her to do this. She lowered her head to scroll through her contacts, and Gianna quickly stepped for grabbed her hand to stop her. "You think you can show off in front of India, too? Do you take me for a fool?" ind Anneliese turned her wrist, put her phone away, and smiled. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. I don''t even have India''s number. Why are you so nervous?" She was now sure that India had nothing to do with this. Gianna clearly didn''t even know that Anneliese and India had barely spoken and had never exchanged numbers. Gianna''s eyes flickered, and she flung Anneliese''s hand away. "My cousin is already in a bad mood. I''m warning you, don''t show off in front of her. Otherwise, I won''t let you off." She red at Anneliese, then pushed past her and walked back to the private room''first. Anneliese shrugged and followed. They both entered the private room one after the other. The atmosphere inside had already eased a lot. Jonathan was talking with Alexander. When he heard the sound, he looked over. Alexander nced past Gianna and waved at Anneliese. 41 Chapter 411 sh with Gianna "Anne,e here." +20 Free Coins Anneliese walked forward, and Alexander smiled as he introduced her. "Anne, this is Mr. Fullbuster from AcroAir. You two should have met before, right?¡± Jonathan followed the introduction, his gaze holding a deeper meaning as itnded on Anneliese. ¡°Yes, Professor Clocke. We do know each other.¡± She looked a little surprised. Turning to Alexander, she asked, "Prof. Clocke, how did we knew each other?" you know ) Chapter 412 Chapter 412 You Offended My Wife : Chapter 412 You Offended My Wife 441 41 +20 Free Coins Anneliese had never mentioned Jonathan in front of Alexander. Could Jonathan have mentioned me to Prof. Clocke before? Her mind flickered back to Gianna''s earlier usation-that she had used Jonathan''s connections to sneak into theb¡ªand a pang of guilt struck her. Is that really the case? Could Prof. Clocke already know about my rtionship with Jonathan? Her gaze darted anxiously between Alexander and Jonathan, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. It wasn''t until Alexander spoke to rify things that relief slowly settled over her. "Thest time there was an ident at AeroAir, didn''t you help solve the drone blood delivery problem? You did an excellent job." So, he hadn''t known about her and Jonathan, after all. Anneliese exhaled sharply, a mixture of relief and surprise washing over her. "Prof. Clocke, how did youe to know about that incident?" she asked. Alexander chuckled. "How could I not? That night, Mr. Fullbuster sent me the video andmended me for training such a capable student." ¡°What?¡± Her shock deepened. She nced at Jonathan, her clear eyes wide with astonishment. He had never mentioned this to her. Then, she remembered. The emails she had sent to Alexander initially went unanswered. The first reply hade only the day after she had assisted Jonathan. Only now did she understand-the reason Alexander had forgiven her so readily back then was because Jonathan had spoken on her behalf. Realization dawned, and she said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Fullbuster, for believing in me. Allow me to toast you." She poured herself a ss of wine and raised it toward Jonathan. Jonathan already had a full ss. Earlier, when Anneliese and the others had stepped out, Clement and Quinton had tried to toast him, but he had politely declined each time. Chapter 412 You Offended My Wife +20 Free Coins Quinton, seeing Anneliese offer the toast, tensed. He worried Jonathan might refuse again, embarrassing her. He was about to intervene when, for the first time that evening, Jonathan lifted his ss. However, instead of clinking sses with her, he arched an eyebrow and smiled, "Ms. ude, you expecting me to stand too? Rx. Just sit-no need to be so tense." His gaze was yful, almost teasing, as if to say, "Mrs. Fullbuster, you certainly know how to put on a show." Though his tone was gentle, a subtle distance remained, a quiet reminder that they weren''t entirely intimate. Anneliese felt her cheeks flush. She sat slowly, clinked her ss against his, and tipped her head back, drinking it in one gulp. The liquor proved stronger she anticipated. She choked, coughing violently. Covering her mouth, her face a vivid shade of crimson from both embarrassment and the burn of alcohol, she tried to recover. "Are you okay?" Quinton immediately reached over to pat her back and poured her a gl. warm water. Jonathan started to reach out as well but paused, aware that their rtionship wasn''t public. "I''m fine, Quinton," Anneliese said, ncing up only to meet Jonathan''s half-smiling eyes. He took a sip of his own drink and addressed Alexander, "Theb''s atmosphere is excellent. Everyone helps each other out." Though he spoke to Alexander, who sat beside him, a shiver ran down Anneliese''s spine. "Quinton, just sit down..." she murmured, quickly waving him off. Alexander, oblivious to Jonathan''s reaction, continued smiling warmly. "Most of these students have been working together since their first or second year. They know each other well. Gianna only joined a few months ago, but the seniors have been keeping an eye on her." Since sitting down, Gianna had remained silent. Everyone assumed she was still upset about what had happened earlier and didn''t give it much thought. Chapter 412 You Offended My Wife : 41 +20 Free Coins Now, hearing her name, she nced at Anneliese, stood, and raised her ss. ¡°Jonathan, I offended you earlier. Please don''t be mad at me. I''d like to apologize to you." She downed her drink in one go. Jonathan''s gaze was cool, his response measured. "You offended my wife," he said simply. Anneliese''s heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her eyes. Gianna bit her lip, a mixture of defiance and grievance shadowing her expression as she shot Anneliese a pointed look. Anneliese braced for a scene, but surprisingly, Gianna remained silent and returned to her seat. Jonathan resumed speaking with Alexander aboutb matters. "All the equipment you need is here, except for one particle image velocimeter. There was a dy, so we ordered another from abroad-it should arrive next week. "Prof. Clocke, you can take everyone to check the equipment tomorrow. If anything''s missing, just contact Zion directly." Chapter 413 Chapter 413 A Daring Move Chapter 413 A Daring Move : 41 +20 Free Coins Anneliese was listening intently when, without warning, a warm, familiar hand slipped into hers beneath the table. She jerked back, spinning to face the man beside her. Jonathan didn''t even nce her way. His eyes remained locked on Alexander, his expression calm,posed, the very image of professionalism. From above the table, no one would have suspected he was doing such a daring move beneath it. Her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand free. But it was futile. Jonathan''s grip was iron-strong. Not only did she fail to break away, but the tablecloth trembled twice under their struggle, and a sharp scratch on her palm warned her to stop resisting. Frozen with apprehension, she dared not move, lowering her head as guilt and panic flushed across her face. ¡°Anne, are you okay? You''re blushing,¡± Quinton murmured, leaning closer. Anneliese forced a smile. "I''m fine... I''m just feeling a bit warm." "You''re sweating." Quinton noticed the beads forming on her forehead, rose, and reached for a tissue. But Jonathan''s smooth,manding voice cut through the moment. "I''m genuinely optimistic about theb''s future. With everyone''s dedication, I''m confident we''ll continue to ovee technical challenges and achieve results. I can''t wait to celebrate our sesses together. Let''s toast.¡± He stood and raised his ss. Everyone else hurriedly rose, sses in hand. Quinton set the tissue aside and grabbed his own drink. Anneliese''s pulse raced; Jonathan still held her hand. For a heartbeat, she feared everyone would see. The thrill of the risk made her leap to her feet, pressing close to him to conceal their joined hands. Chapter 413 A Daring Move : Thankfully, everyone was too preupied with their drinks to notice. 41 +20 Free Coins Except Gianna. Her eyes glinted with amusement as she observed the subtle tug- of-war between Anneliese and Jonathan. Later, after everyone sat down, she snapped a sly photo and sent it to India. ''India, Anneliese can''t help seducing Jonathan, even publicly. She''s got himpletely under her spell at theb too. Poor you, losing him to someone like her! Look at this photo!'' When dinner ended, Anneliese departed with Alexander and the others. Outside the restaurant, Jonathan asked politely, "Prof. Clocke, how are you all getting home? Do you need me to send a car?" Alexander waved him off, smiling. "No need. Anne already arranged one for us." Then, remembering, Alexander turned to Anneliese. ¡°Anne, you''re not headed the same way. Don''t worry about seeing us off. Let Clement drive us back. You just go straight to theb tomorrow." Before she could respond, Jonathan''s calm voice asked, "Where do you live, Ms. ude?" Hisposure made the question feel innocuous, yet Anneliese felt a twinge of awkwardness. She wasn''t adept at pretending to be strangers in public. "I live on Pindale Street," she said, ncing away. Jonathan arched an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "What a coincidence! I live there too. Shall we go together, Ms. ude?" Her cheeks med, but Clement, ever enthusiastic, interjected. "That''s perfect! Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Fullbuster, but thank you for giving Anne a ride." Jonathan smiled, nodding. He found Clement far more pleasing to look at than Quinton. "Of course, Let''s go," he said, looking at Anneliese again. Anneliese waved to Alexander and the others before following Jonathan, her steps slightly stiff. Alexander and the others headed to the parking lot, oblivious. But Gianna, walking nearby, watched them leave, smirking. ¡°Jonathan treats Anneliese differently, doesn''t he? Like she''s special" Chapter 413 A Daring Move 41 +20 Free Coins Her words were meant both to provoke a little jealousy toward Anneliese and to hint that the rtionship between Anneliese and Jonathan was not entirely innocent. Unfortunately, Clement and the others nearby seemed blissfully oblivious, failing to notice. anything amiss. Clement said, ¡°Didn''t you hear earlier? Anne helped Mr. Fullbuster out of a difficult situation. Naturally, he values her more." Chapter 414 Chapter 414 A Personal Decision : Chapter 414 A Personal Decision 4 41 $20 Free Coins Quinton interjected, ¡°Yeah, and Mr. Fullbuster was just giving Anne a ride. You''re overthinking it, Gianna." The other seniors nodded in agreement. Gianna rolled her eyes and lowered her gaze, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. What she didn''t realize was that Anneliese''s talent andpetence had already won over Clement and the others five years prior. Even if Jonathan asionally seemed to show her a bit of favoritism, everyone deep down considered it only natural. Meanwhile, Jonathan instructed Zion to leave first. He opened the passenger door for Anneliese, who bent gracefully to slip inside. Once she was settled, he closed the door, circled to the driver''s side, and slid into his seat. He buckled his seatbelt but didn''t start the car immediately. Instead, he sat in silence, his eyes fixed on her. "Are you upset?" Anneliese felt a flicker of irritation and shot him a yful re. "Why didn''t you tell me you invested in theb?" Jonathan reached out, brushing her flushed cheek gently with his fingertip. "I wanted it to be a surprise. But judging by that look, I guess I startled you instead?" "Not startled, exactly... I just-did Prof. Clocke let me rejoin theb because of you?" That question weighed most heavily on her mind. Jonathan started the engine slowly, responding in a calm, measured voice. "Of course not. All I did was send Prof. Clocke the video of you assisting with the drone design that day. I didn''t mention anything else." The video had been his way of showing Alexander that Anneliese hadn''t forgotten her dreams or allowed her skills to atrophy. 17.42 Fri Oct 10 CID Chapter 414 A Personal Decision ¡°Really? Anneliese bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her expression. 20 Free Coina Of course, Mrs. Fullbuster, do you have so little confidence in yourself?" Jonathan''s eyes glimmered with amusement as he nced at her. "Of course not! Next question. Did you invest in theb solely because of me?" Jonathan smirked, and just then, the car slowed to a stop at an intersection. He turned to face her directly "What answer do you want to hear?" "I want to believe you invested because you trust in theb''s potential, not for personal reasons. Otherwise, it would undermine Prof. Clocke and the seniors!" Anneliese responded without hesitation. She didn''t think Jonathan would let personal feelings influence business decisions. Yet she couldn''t ignore the coincidence. She had been ready to leave aton for a position in Westrough, and somehow, theb had ended up relocating to aton. It made her wonder. If Jonathan''s investment had truly been for her sake, it made her wonder why he would go to such lengths and whether he simply didn''t want her to move away and be apart from him. Jonathan sighed, meeting her eyes. "So Mrs. Fullbuster, you don''t want me spending a fortu. on you, huh?" The faint disappointment in his voice made her hesitate. She pressed, ¡°Just answer the question. When the light turned green, he focused on the road and exined, "Remember what I said during that interview on the hospital rooftop? AeroAir ns to construct eVTOL takeoff andnding facilities around aton Airport over the next five years, forming a regional transportwork and positioning aton Airport as a global leader. ¡°Last year, I examined every major eVTOLb, research institute, and innovation center nationwide. I met Prof. Clocke and the others before that. Honestly, yourb isn''t the only one I''ve invested in." So it hadn''t been about her after all. Anneliese couldn''t tell whether she felt relieved or slightly disappointed. She nodded silently, only for Jonathan to add unexpectedly, ¡°But choosing Oceaton for the newb was a personal decision. And you know exactly why, Mrs. Fullbuster." Chapter 414 A Personal Decision : +20 Free Coins Her heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. She pressed her lips together. "You don''t want me to move to Westrough, do you?" Jonathan drummed his fingers lightly on the steering wheel. "Who''d want to be separated from their wife for a long time?" "Oh," Anneliese murmured, turning to the window, though a small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips. Jonathan stole a nce at her, his heart skipping when he caught that subtle smile. Perhaps, he thought, she doesn''t want to be apart from me either. Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Heading to the Store Jonathan pulled the wheel and turned the car. 41 +20 Free Coins Anneliese only snapped out of it when she realized they''d left the main road. ¡°Where are we going?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise. Jonathan nced at her. "Did you forget what we agreed on?" What did we agree on? She froze for a moment, then remembered-he''d said that morning they needed to go to the store together to restock. Her cheeks instantly burned, and heat rushed to her ears as she realized what they were restocking. She had thought he was teasing her about buying condoms together. Yet he wasn''t joking. He had nned it, deliberately. While she blushed furiously, Jonathan pulled into the supermarket''s underground parking lot. He parked, and before he could say anything, Anneliese hurriedly opened the door and stepped out, almost fleeing. Her long hair swung in soft arcs behind her. He watched her retreating figure, a smirk tugging at his lips. With long strides, he quickly caught up and walked beside her. "What''s the rush?" He clearly knew why but pretended not to. Anneliese slowed down and shot him a re to hide her embarrassment. "You''re just too slow!" Jonathan''s smile widened. He reached down and took her hand. ¡°Oh, I see. You just can''t wait, huh?" She yanked her hand back, stomped on his polished shoe, and spun into the elevator. Jonathan looked down at the footprint, amused. It was the first time anyone had ever "attacked" him like that-and he found it endearing. Anneliese had barely settled when five or six handsome college guys walked in. She stepped back politely to give them room. The guys immediately went quiet. The tallest, best-looking one, with a stylish haircut, stepped up next to her. "Which floor? I can press the button for you," he said with a grin. Chapter 415 Heading to the Store 41 +20 Free Coins Clearly, he was trying to start a conversation. His friends exchanged knowing looks, but Anneliese shook her head politely. "No, thank you." "Don''t worry. We''re students from the nearby Sportiva University. Which school are you from? I haven''t seen you around. Want to be friends-" A sharp intake of breath cut him off. Anneliese looked up to see arge, well- defined hand stopping the elevator doors just as they were about to close. The doors reopened, and a tall, imposing man stepped in, radiating quiet authority. Jonathan wore a dark gray pinstripe suit, the jacket unbuttoned to reveal a light gray shirt that hugged his athletic frame. His presence wasmanding. The college guys'' confident chatter immediately fell t. The only thing slightly out of ce was the creamy white mini purse in his right hand-but it only hinted at his status. One of the spiky-haired guy''s friends nudged him, but he ignored it, focused entirely on Anneliese. ¡°Hey, it''s fate! Let''s add each other as friends,¡± the guy said, holding out his phone, eyes hopeful. Before she could respond, Jonathan''s deep, maic voice cut through. "Sorry, that''s not happening. She''s taken.¡± He calmly lifted his hand and pushed the guy''s phone out of Anneliese''s space. The spiky-haired guy looked up and met Jonathan''s calm gaze. It wasn''t sharp or aggressive, but something about it made him feel like a massive predator had locked onto him. Instinctively, he shifted to the side to make room. Jonathan stepped forward smoothly, slipped an arm around Anneliese''s waist, and used his tall, broad frame to block her off from the group of guyspletely. The elevator moved upward, the silence thick and awkward. Chapter 416 Chapter 416 Why Are You So Popr? Chapter 416 Why Are You So Popr? ¹þ +30 Free Coins Anneliese looked a little awkward, and for some reason, a faint sense of guilt crept in. Meanwhile, Jonathan waspletely at ease. He nced down at her and said calmly, "Honey, why didn''t you wait for me?" When she saw the purse in his hand, she immediately understood why he''d taken so long-he must''ve noticed she''d forgotten her purse and gone back to the car to get it for her. "I told you, you''re too slow!" she muttered, reaching for the purse. However, when she tugged on the strap, it didn''t budge-Jonathan was still holding on. She looked up at him in confusion, and just then, he bent down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. A yful smile curled at his lips as he whispered in her ear, "Hmm, looks like you just couldn''t wait, Mrs. Fullbuster." Even though the students had their backs to them, Anneliese could practically feel their ears perk up. Her face red again, and she had the sudden urge to stomp on him. "Cut it out!" she hissed, ring up at him. Jonathan found her fierceness more amusing than threatening. Instead of backing off, he leaned in closer and murmured, "Why are you so popr?" First, a senior had tried to flirt with her. The moment he looked away, a few more guys lined up to get her number. She wouldn''t even let him stay close, as if to make it clear she wasn''t taken. Anneliese could hear a faint note of grievance in his voice. Through the mirrored elevator walls, she could see the guys in front still sneaking nces at them. She reached over to pinch his waist in warning-but he was all lean muscle, and she couldn''t get a grip through his shirt. Her hand slipped, and she ended up falling straight into his arms. She tried to pull away, but he wrapped his arms around her and spun her lightly. In the reflection, his tall, broad back and long legs framed the scene, while her slim calves in ck knee-high boots peeked out-exuding a yful, flirtatious energy. The group defeat. of guys exchanged looks, their faces caught somewhere between restlessness and Chapter 416 Why Are You So Popr? D*mn! He really knows what he''s doing! : 43 +30 Free Coins The silence in the elevator said it all. Mortified, Anneliese buried her face in his chest, refusing to budge. Because of that, she practically power-walked through the supermarket, barely ncing at Jonathan. He noticed how flustered she was and, for once, didn''t tease her-just followed at a rxed pace. When she finally stopped, they were in front of the personal care aisle. "Hurry up and buy it," she whispered. Jonathan didn''t move. He took her hand and said casually, "Shouldn''t we get some other stuff too? I''m fine either way." She turned and saw him pushing a big, empty shopping cart. Just imagining a single little box sitting in that oversized cart made her scalp tingle. She shot him another re. "Why''d you grab such a huge cart?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "Should I just carry it in my hand then?¡± Anneliese fell silent. Yeah, that would be even worse. She started regretting ever getting out of the car. Honestly, she should''ve just said no this morning when he suggested going to the store together. "Let''s look around first. We should get some daily supplies for your grandma, so she''ll have them when she''s discharged," he said, gently taking her hand when he saw she was about to snap. In the end, they didn''t just buy things for Nishay-they filled the cart with snacks too, before heading back to the personal care aisle. Anneliese had mentally prepared herself. She was a grown, married woman. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. Keeping her expression neutral, she walked up to the shelf with him. ¡°You picking, or am I?" Jonathan shot her a knowing look. She stood there with her chin slightly raised, eyes locked on the family nning products. If it weren''t for thatser-focused stare and her burning red ears, she would''ve looked perfectlyposed. Chapter 416 Why Are You So Popr? That adorable stubbornness of hers. Jonathan''s eyes glimmered with amusement as he leaned in. 43 +30 Free Coins "I''ll pick," he said softly. "But you''ve gotta tell me what kind do you like, Mrs. Fullbuster?" Anneliese''sshes fluttered furiously. She gave up, shoved him, and bolted. By the time they returned to Maple Bay, the sun had already set. The moment Anneliese stepped inside, she sensed something was off. Over the past couple of days, Mabel had still been around when they got home, and Meatloaf would usuallye running to greet them right away. Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Just the Two of Us Chapter 417 Just the Two of Us 43 +30 Free Coins That night, the house was unusually quiet. There was no sign of Mabel, no barking from Meatloaf, not even the usual smart lights flicking on. Anneliese called out twice. "Meatloaf?" Silence. She instinctively turned to the man behind her. ¡°Did Mabel take Meatloaf out for a walk?" He didn''t answer. The only sound was a bagnding on the cab. A momentter, his hands closed firmly around her waist. "Ah!" She let out a small gasp as he lifted her onto the low cab by the entryway. He stepped closer, resting his forehead against hers. The front door clicked shut, cutting off the hallway light. Darkness filled the entryway, and her heart skipped a beat. In the dimness, his warm breath brushed against her skin. His voice came low and rough. "I told Mabel to take Meatloaf home." Her heartbeat quickened. She instinctively pushed at his shoulder. "You... What are you..." This is getting out of hand! The ce is enormous. Even if we want some privacy, Meatloaf could stay. "Tonight''s just for us," he said. Everything had been nned. No one and nothing would interrupt. He''d reached his limit- one more day of restraint and he''d start turning into a monk. Before she could react, he tilted her chin up. His kisses fell like raindrops-on her tremblingshes, her cheeks, the tip of her nose-before finally finding her lips. Then he suddenly paused, his voice hot and gritty. "Baby, I''m the one who can''t wait. I''ll give you onest chance to say no. You-" Before he could finish, her hands slid from his shoulders to loop around his neck. She tilted her head and kissed him first. "Are you going to do it or not? Quit talking so¡ª'' "1 Chapter 417 Just the Two of Us She didn''t get to finish. His lips crashed into hers like a lit fuse, wild and hungry. 43 +30 Free Coins With one arm, he lifted her straight off the cab. She clung to him, fingers threading through his thick, slightly coarse hair. His kiss didn''t stop, swallowing her startled cries. Her eyes fluttered shut, every sense sharpening. The sound of him rummaging through the stic bag roared in her ears. He grabbed what he needed and moved quickly. The shopping bag tipped over, snacks scattering across the floor, but neither of them cared. He carried her through the mess and into the bedroom, kicking the door shut with a bang. The living room fell silent. The night had only just begun. Inside, things were heating up. Meanwhile, Selina was anxiously waiting. She finally received the DNA test results. She flipped straight to thest page. The moment her eyesnded on the result, her pupils contracted, and excitement lit up her face. She tucked the report into her purse, jumped into her car, and sped toward the White estate. At the same time, in a private club room, Perseus and Christopher sat red-faced, downing liquor straight from the bottle. A dozen men and women lounged on the nearby couch. The lighting was hazy, and the air was thick with the mix of alcohol and perfume. All eyes were on the White brothers, watching as if it were a show. News of White Inc.''s broken cash flow had spread quickly after the police took Timothy into custody. Everyone in their circle knew. The investigation into Timothy and Mikita had be thetest gossip. The brothers no longer expected a financial rescue. They hade to this gathering hoping to sell off parts of White Inc. at low prices, just to secure some funds before bankruptcy-maybe enough to stage aeback in the future. Many of the people in the room had once called them brothers and showered them with ttery. Now, the same people watched with mocking, scornful, or pitying eyes. They couldn''t even speak until they finished their bottles. Bang! Chapter 417 Just the Two of Us & C 30 Free Coins Perseus finally drained his bottle and mmed it on the table. He turned to Luke Doyle, the man lounging in the center of the couch, a woman on each arm. "Mr. Doyle, I''ve finished the bottle. Can we talk about the deal now?" Chapter 418 Chapter 418 The Whites'' Reckoning Chapter 418 The Whites'' Reckoning Perseus'' eyes were practically pleading,ced with desperate ttery. 30 Free Coins Luke chuckled and shook his head. "You''re a little too cager, Mr. Perseus. Your brother hasn''t even finished his drink yet." Perseus turned and saw Christopher swaying unsteadily, barely able to hold himself up. A third of the liquor remained in his bottle. Christopher forced down another gulp, but his body had reached its limit. He turned to the side, ready to vomit. "Chris!" Perseus lunged to steady him. He managed to catch his brother, but the bottle slipped from Christopher''s hand and shattered on the floor. Liquor sshed across the room. Luke clicked his tonguezily. "Tsk tsk, spilled the booze. Way to ruin the mood." Someone stood up and started shooing the brothers toward the door. It was obvious now-the drinking wasn''t a warm-up for negotiations. It was a humiliation ritual. Perseus clenched his fists, forcing himself to keep his tone level. "Mr. Doyle, if the price isn''t right, we can still negotiate." Luke waved him off. ¡°Price? Please. Everyone knows your family brought this on yourselves. You ignored the real daughter, spoiled the wrong one, and even offended Jonathan. Who''d dare touch your mess now? Lowering the price won''t help. Even if you gave it away, no one would take over that disaster of apany." The room burst intoughter and jeering. "They pampered an adopted daughter who turned out to be illegitimate, and now the real one''s married into the Fullbuster family. The drama in the White family never disappoints." "I swear, everyone there must''ve lost their minds. Mr. White let his mistress swap his real daughter, raised the illegitimate daughter like a princess, and let the mistress'' brother bleed thepany dry. That woman really yed her cards well." "Mrs. White and her two sons weren''t any smarter. The whole family danced to a tune by a mistress and her illegitimate child. If the White family doesn''t go bankrupt, who will?" Eachmentnded like a p, echoing in their ears. Whether it was the alcohol or sheer Chapter 418 The Whites'' Reckoning humiliation, their tempers snapped. "Honestly, the Whites have no one to me but themselves-" $30 Free Coins "Shut up!" Christopher lunged first, grabbing the cor of a man in a loud floral shirt and punching him square in the face. "Sh*t!" The man toppled onto the couch, wiped the blood from his mouth, cursed, and kicked Christopher hard in the stomach. Christopher was far too drunk to fight back. He copsed, and the man pounced, raining punches down on him. "Chris! D*mn it, let him go!" Seeing his brother beaten, Perseus charged in with bloodshot eyes. The others joined the brawl. Before long, the brothers were curled up on the floor, getting kicked and stomped by the crowd. Eventually, when neither could even cry out anymore, Luke finally raised a hand. "That''s enough. Don''t actually kill them." The crowd backed off. Luke crushed his cigarette between his fingers, stood from the couch, and strolled over to the battered brothers, looking down at them with disdain. "Why get so worked up? Everything they said was true. Honestly, the Whites had thising." He pulled two stacks of bills from his assistant and tossed them at the brothers. "I''m not stupid enough to take over your mess. But for old times'' sake, here''s money for the hospital bills. When White Inc. goes under, maybe mypany can take in a couple of freeloaders." With that, he left with his entourage, leaving Perseus and Christopher lying on the floor surrounded by scattered bills. Perseus'' arm hung limp at his side, throbbing like it might break. He reached out, grabbed a few bills, and clenched his fist tight, swallowing both pain and humiliation. Christopher suddenly coughed violently, spitting up blood. He held his stomach, tears streaming down his face, then let out a strange, brokenugh. Chapter 418 The Whites Reckoning "Perseus, they''re not wrong. This is karma. Real karma." +30 Free Coins If they hadn''t been so blind-spoiling Selina and ignoring the truth-none of this would have happened. They''d always known she wasn''t as innocent as she seemed. They weren''t blind or deaf. They simply chose not to see. Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Karma''s Grip Chapter 419 Karma''s Grip : 43 +30 Free Coins They were just pretending not to know. Deep down, they favored Selina-the girl who''d grown up right under their noses. In their eyes, Anneliese never measured up. Selina was the one who could bring them glory and benefits. Since the pain wasn''t theirs to bear, they simply didn''t care. Now, as agony spread through his body, Christopher couldn''t help but think back to that night -when Anneliese had been stabbed, hard. She''d dragged herself out of that dark alley, leaving a long trail of blood as she crawled for help. The pain she must''ve felt back then was way worse than what he was feeling now. Back then, they''d brushed it off. She hadn''t died, after all-just two stab wounds. When Anneliese refused to let it go, they''d called her petty and vindictive, saying shecked kindness and grace. Perseus heard Christopher''s twistedughter. He closed his eyes and stayed silent. The sorrow and self-mockery surrounding him were no less than Christopher''s. Outside the private room, Luke dismissed the others and opened the door at the end of the hallway. His arrogance was gone, reced by a polite, almost respectful smile. "Mr. Hand, everything you asked for is done." Timothy had tried to cover up White Inc.''s broken cash flow, but the news had spread quickly. He was in custody, but the White brothers were still around. News of thepany''s financial copse, Selina''s illegitimacy, and the White family''s offense against Jonathan had swept through all of Oceaton. Luke was the one who had deliberately leaked and guided the spread of that information. Even the Doyle Group''s earlier show of interest in buying White Inc. had been part of the scheme. Just when Perseus and Christopher thought they saw a sliver of hope, they were pushed into an even colder abyss. "Thanks, Mr. Doyle. I''ll drink to you on behalf of Mr. Fullbuster." Therge private room held only Zion. There were no shy lights-just a bottle of red wine and two sses on the table. Zion raised his ss. Luke hurried over, bent slightly, picked up the other ss, and clinked it carefully before downing the wine with a grin. Chapter 419 Karma''s Grip Zion took a few sips, then handed him a gold-embossed invitation. 43 +30 Free Coins "Mr. Fullbuster heard your family''s interested in clean energy projects. Next week, Fullbuster Group''s Novalen Power is hosting a technology exchange. I figured your family might appreciate this invitation." Novalen Power was a major force in the battery industry. Luke knew exactly how valuable that invitation was. His face lit up instantly. "Thank you, Mr. Hand. Please put in a good word for us with Mr. Fullbuster." Zion stood, shook his hand briefly, and walked out. Perseus and Christopher leaned on each other as they left the club and stepped into the parking lot. Perseus was about to open the car door when a pair of blinding headlights suddenly hit them. He shielded his eyes and looked over. A Bentley door swung open, and someone stepped out. As the figure approached, they recognized Zion-Jonathan''s trusted aide. Both brothers stiffened, instantly on guard. "What brings you here, Mr. Hand?¡± Perseus asked first. Zion looked them over, amusement ying on his lips. "You two look pretty rough." "If you''re here tough at us, sorry, but we''re heading to the hospital." "Hold up," Zion said. They stopped and turned. He pulled out his phone, snapped a few photos, and raised his voice. "Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Perseus. I should keep these for Mrs. Fullbuster. If she''s happy, maybe Mr. Fullbuster will reward me with another vi." Their bruised faces froze. Somehow, their injuries seemed to ache even more. They couldn''t afford to offend Zion, so they turned back to the car in silence. Only then did Zion finally put away his phone and speak in a slow, deliberate manner. ¡°Selling off White Inc.''s assets isn''t out of the question." Chapter 419 Karma''s Grip 30 Free Coms The brothers halted, hope flickering in their eyes, and turned back to him. They knew it wouldn''te for free and waited for the catch. ¡°Back when Mrs. Fullbuster was attacked, which one of you helped Selina clean up the mess?" Zion asked. "It''s simple. Hand over the evidence. Whoever needs to confess should do so. That shouldn''t be too difficult for the two of you." Chapter 420 Chapter 420 The Truth Chapter 420 The Truth 43 +30 Free Coins At White estate, Selina clutched the DNA test results, shouting to see Mnie and Perseus. Once again, the servant blocked her at the door, her patience wearing thin. "You''re not the White heiress anymore. Mrs. White doesn''t want to see you. Leave." ¡°Alina! Even if I''m an illegitimate child, I''m still a daughter of the White family. Illegitimate children have the same inheritance rights as legitimate ones. This estate belongs to me too. Even Mrs. White has no right to keep me out. Open the door-l have something important to tell her and my brothers!" "Pfft! You think you''re someone special? You''d love the whole of Oceaton to know you''re just an illegitimate child. Get lost!" Alina spat at her. She had suffered plenty under Selina''s bad temper over the years. When Selina was the family''s pampered princess, Alina didn''t dare talk back. Now that Selina still acted superior despite losing her status, no one was willing to tolerate her anymore. Watching Selina tremble with rage, Alina spat another mouthful of phlegm at her. "Ah!" Selina screamed, stomping her foot. She was determined to meet Mnie and Perseus that night. Jonathan''s words kept echoing in her mind. ''Back then, everyone in the White family helped you cover it up. Do you really think they''d still do that now?'' Panic spread through her chest. If Perseus and the others turned on her and went to the police about hiring someone to hurt Anneliese, she''d be finished. Leaving wasn''t an option. They needed to know immediately that Anneliese wasn''t really their daughter or sister. As she shook the iron gate again, headlights swept over her. Perseus and Christopher White were home. Her face lit up. She rushed forward. "Perseus, Christopher, you''re finally back! I have something significant to tell you!" The car window lowered, revealing their bruised and swollen faces. 1901 Sat, Oct 11 Chapter 420 The Truth 30 Fres Coins She covered her mouth, eyes turning red. ¡°Oh my god, who did this to you? Did you call the police? How could this happen?¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. In the past, Perseus and Christopher would have been touched, thinking their sister truly cared for them. Now, her exaggerated reaction only made them feel disgusted. ¡°Get lost! You''re not wee here," Perseus snapped. Selina saw he was about to drive in and hurried to the passenger side, pleading with Christopher. "Christopher, you''ve always cared about me, I¡ª¡± Christopher cut her off with a bitterugh. "Yeah, I''m the stupid one. Trying to brainwash me again?" He hadn''t forgotten that their current situation was thanks to Selina and her mother. Realizing they wouldn''t be swayed by emotion, she dropped the act and shouted urgently, "Anneliese isn''t your sister!" The car screeched to a stop before entering the estate. Selina was eventually brought inside. The servants were dismissed, leaving only Mnie, her two sons, and Selina in the study. "No way! This has to be fake! It''s definitely fake!" Mnie stared at the report, which stated that she and Anneliese weren''t biologically rted, shaking her head in disbelief. "You''re up to something again, aren''t you?" "What are you trying to pull? How could Anne not be our sister? We did a DNA test when we found her!" Perseus and Christopher were equally unconvinced. Selina was furious and felt mocked. In the past, they had believed everything she said without question, even lies. Now, when she was finally telling the truth, all three of them doubted her. ¡°I swear this test is real! If I''m lying, may I get hit by a car and die a horrible death. Mom, Perseus, and Christopher, you have to believe me. Anneliese isn''t part of the White family''s 19:01 Sat. Oct 11 Chapter 420 The Truth bloodline. If you don''t believe me, you can ask her yourself!" Her conviction silenced the study. +30 Free Coins Mnie and her sons exchanged uneasy nces, unsure what to feel. The situation was too absurd to process. "The police confirmed her identity back then. Your father went to Baytree himself and did DNA tests twice. Both results were positive before we brought Anne home. How could that be wrong?" Mnie still found it hard to believe, yet part of her hoped it was true. Anneliese already hated them. If she truly wasn''t her daughter, her guilt and shame would lessen. Chapter 421 Chapter 421 Bloodlines Unraveled Chapter 421 Bloodlines Unraveled If that''s the case, then where''s my real daughter? Áã‡ø +30 Free Coins "Maybe Anneliese found out the White family was searching for their daughter and pulled some strings to make herself the real heiress!¡± Selina spected coldly. Perseus shook his head. "No chance. Anne was just a kid back then. She didn''t have the brains or the means to pull something like that off. Besides..." It was clear Anneliese had no idea she wasn''t truly part of the White family. The disappointment and resentment she''d shown over the years had been real. If her only goal had been the family''s wealth and status, and they had treated her so poorly, she would have exposed the truth and left long ago. Perseus was certain-Anne knew nothing about this. Selina knew it too. She just had a habit of ming Anneliese for everything. When she realized Perseus wasn''t buying it, she secretly rolled her eyes. Her eyes reddened as she said, "Mom, Perseus, Christopher, the White family is falling apart. Let''s stop fighting over outsiders and focus on saving ourselves. First, we bail Dad out. Then, we work together to save the White family. Anne hates us anyway, and now she''s with the Fullbuster family. We''re the only real family left- we''re all in the same boat, right?" She believed the DNA test results would change their attitudes. However, Perseus and Christopher didn''t react at all. Their expressions remained cold. ¡°Selina, you''re just scared we''ll expose how you hired someone to hurt Anite back then, show the evidence, and make you pay for it," Perseus said sharply. Christopher sneered. "You did it on your eighteenth birthday, didn''t you? Karma''s a funny thing. Too bad you''re toote." "What... What do you mean?" Selina''s face turned pale. Cold sweat broke out on her back at the implication in Christopher''s words. He didn''t exin. Instead, he stood and told the servants to throw her out again. Once Selina was gone, Mnie, her eyes red, finally spoke up in confusion. "Anne really isn''t my daughter? Perseus, should we ask her about this?" Chapter 421 Bloodlines Unraveled +30 Free Coins Perseus lifted his hand to rub his aching forehead, but his fingers brushed against a cut on his face, making him wince. Mnie quickly got up to check on her sons'' injuries, but Perseus gently pushed her hand away. After a moment, he said, "Mom, let''s not tell Anne yet. She already hates us. If she finds out we''re not even rted by blood, she''ll go all out for revenge." Earlier that night, they had just finished negotiating with Zion, and Perseus didn''t want any new problems to arise. Christopher nced at him. ¡°Perseus, if Anne really isn''t our sister, then Mikita''s baby swap has nothing to do with her. Does that mean Dad will be released soon?" Mikita was the one who swapped the babies. Timothy had already passed the questioning period but was still being held. The brothers hadn''t lifted a finger to help him, and since the victim was Anneliese, the police were taking the case very seriously. They didn''t even need Jonathan to step in. If Anneliese found out she wasn''t the stolen child, the case would no longer involve the Fullbuster family, and Timothy would be released quickly. "Perseus, your dad..." Mnie hesitated, thinking of all their years together. Perseus'' face hardened as he cut her off. "Mom, thepany''s in ruins because Dad let that homewrecker get in his head and trusted the wrong people. He''s already nning to leave everything to his other kids. If you go soft now, have you thought about what he''ll do when he gets out?" His voice was cold and firm. Christopher and Mnie fell silent. The White family barely had anything left. With Timothy out of the picture, the brothers could still sell off what little remained and keep it for themselves. If he returned, everything would be uncertain again. The study went quiet. No one spoke another word. Across town, Anneliese was experiencing a night just as intense. Chapter 422 r 422 A Different Kind of Desire Chapter 422 A Different Kind of Desire Only this time, the intensity was of a different kind. 43 +30 Free Coins The man seemed insatiable, as if he could never get enough of her. He was endlessly curious. about her body, desperate to explore every inch of it. Anneliese was engulfed in his intense, burning presence. She felt like a stream slowly evaporating under his fiery touch, then like a single drop plunging into the ocean-swept up by wave after wave, each one deeper and wilder than thest. By the time the faint light of dawn crept through the window, her eyelids were so heavy she couldn''t open them. Her hoarse pleas sounded like a sick little kitten before he finally let her 1. go. She slept deeply, sinking into a heavy, dreamless darkness. When she finally stirred, her eyelids fluttered, and difort flooded her senses. Her limbs ached as if they''d been taken apart and put back together, and there was a dull pain in her lower abdomen. The sheets beneath her were dry. He must have cleaned her up again after she fell asleep, even changing the bedding. The soreness brought back shes of the night before, and before she was fully awake, heat rushed to her cheeks and ears. The room was silent, the ckout curtains drawn tight, making it impossible to tell what time it was. She reached to the side, but found only empty space. Jonathan wasn''t there, and to her surprise, a trace of disappointment crept in. She searched for her phone but came up empty. Then she remembered-he had pulled her into his arms the moment they stepped inside. He carried her to the bedroom, took off her coat, and tossed it onto the floor. Her phone was probably still in the pocket. After that, she hadn''t had a second to think about anything else. Covering her face with both hands, she rolled under the covers, her embarrassment bubbling over. Just as her face burned and her ears turned hot, she heard the faint sound of the doorknob turning. Her instincts kicked in. She snapped her eyes shut and pretended to be asleep. Outside, Jonathan was on the phone, but he kept an ear out for any sound inside the room. He must have heard something, because he opened the door and peeked in. The figure on the bed Chapter 422 A Different Kind of Desire was quiet, but he caught a glimpse of a pale little foot darting under the nket. 43 +30 Free Coins A smile tugged at his lips as he stepped into the room, moving closer to the bed. Anneliese strained to hear his footsteps, but the carpet muffled everything. For a moment, she thought he might have left. She listened harder, unsure whether to feel relieved or annoyed. She cracked one eye open to check-only to find his face inches from hers. Her eyes had adjusted to the dim light, and his handsome face was suddenly too close forfort. "Ah!" She yelped, nearly jumping out of bed. Realizing he had done it on purpose, frustration red. She balled her fists and pounded his chest and shoulders. "Jonathan! You jerk!" He chuckled, letting her hit him a few times before grabbing her wrists. "Babe, that''s not what you were calling mest night." His voice was husky, his breathing heavy, and the heat in his eyes felt almost tangible. Even in the dim light, her pale skin looked soft and radiant. She felt his gaze and followed it down. The nket had slipped below her chest during her outburst, leaving her exposed. Her face went up in mes. "Don''t look!" She yanked her hands free and dove under the covers, wrapping herself tightly and rolling over to hide. "It''s not like I haven''t seen it before. Why are you still so shy?" he teased, his voice filled with amusement and satisfaction. She only pulled the nket tighter and answered with a flustered, muffled protest. "Get out! I need to get up!" That quick glimpse had already set Jonathan on fire again. For the first time, he truly understood what it meant to crave someone. It was alreadyte, and she was probably starving. He figured she couldn''t take much more. Clearing his throat, he asked, ¡°Need any help?" "No!" she shot back immediately. Chapter 422 A Different Kind of Desire I''ll wait a few more nights like that before I let him help me get dressed. 43 +30 Free Coins Chapter 423 Chapter 423 Retribution and Reckoning Chapter 423 Retribution and Reckoning Hold on... What am I thinking? & C +30 Free Coins Jonathan yanked open the curtains, letting blinding sunlight pour into the room. Anneliese shielded her eyes, but a shadow quickly loomed over her. He leaned in, pressing two kisses-one on the top of her head, another on the back of her hand. "Be good. I''ll wait outside." She didn''t respond. Only after the door clicked shut did she lower her hands and open her eyes. Her ears still burned, and her gaze, leaning over the bed, identallynded on the trash can beside it. Thanks to Mabel''s timely cleaning, the only remaining contents were what Jonathan had left behind the previous night. The bag was heavy, and Anneliese didn''t dare count it. The heat rushed back to her ears instantly. Jonathan stepped out of the bedroom, a lingering smile in his eyes. Just then, Zion called. Jonathan blocked Meatloaf, who was wagging her tail and pawing at the closed door, then sat on the couch to answer. "What''s up?" It was rare for their workaholic boss to skip the office all morning. Even though he had finished the day''s work yesterday, Zion couldn''t help feeling curious-and slightly concerned -about his absence. Hearing Jonathan''s calm, cheerful tone, Zion decided to speak up. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, are you nning to take time off for your wedding?" Jonathan noticed Meatloaf still pawing at the bedroom door. He snapped his fingers, and the dog trotted to his feet, tail swishing in mild annoyance, still staring at the closed door as if puzzled why Anneliese hadn''t emerged. Jonathan tugged gently at Meatloaf''s floppy ears. His voice was rxed, tinged with a hint of "Not a bad idea." Chapter 423 Retribution and Reckoning (Æ·(43) +30 Free Coins Zion froze. Jonathan had never mentioned this before. The thought of Jonathan taking time off sent a chill down his spine. "I think you should discuss it with Mrs. Fullbuster first," Zion hurried on. "Her grandmother is still in the hospital. This isn''t the right time." Hearing her grandmother mentioned, Jonathan''s smile faded slightly. His eyes darkened as he thought of the woman in the bedroom. His impatience had gotten the better of him. He hadn''t told Anneliese about their shared past. He had nned to reveal it first, then let her decide if she truly wanted to be married to him. If she objected, like her grandmother had back then, he would respect her wishes and let her 1. go. If she forgave him, he would be her real husband, promising to protect and love her, never betray her. He had underestimated her influence and temptation and overestimated his self- control. His selfish desire had won, and he had imed her first. Shamelessly, he had thought it would give him leverage. "You talk too d*mn much!" His voice went icy and deep, like spring suddenly turning to winter. Afraid he''d said the wrong thing, he quickly continued, "Mr. Fullbuster, the White brothers provided the overseas ount Timothy used to pay Calvin to take all the me for Selina. The ount sent five million to his bank in Rugreica. They also gave his current location-he''s in a small town in Falvaria. We''ve already contacted people to track him. Once they find him, he''ll be brought back immediately." Calvin Brooks had been the ringleader and received the harshest sentence, but he was released early for good behavior. Shortly after, he disappearedpletely. Jonathan had tasked Zion with tracking him, but with no family and a long absence, there had been no progress. The other three men who had worked with Calvin endured a brutal couple of months. Broken ribs and fractured legs were an everyday urrence. Their wives had left, their children called other men "dad," and two of them were now living under a bridge. Thest man wasn''t living under a bridge because, aside from Calvin, he was the other one who had attacked Anneliese that night. He had already lost three fingers and was now hiding from debt collectors, trying to keep the rest of his limbs intact. Chapter 424 Chapter 424 Blushing Confessions Chapter 424 Blushing Confessions "Got it. Keep someone watching Selina." 43 +30 Free Coins Jonathan''s voice was cold as he finished the order. Just then, Mabel stepped out of the kitchen. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, the food''s been warm for a while. Is Mrs. Fullbuster still not up?" Jonathan nced at the tightly closed bedroom door, and the sternness on his handsome face softened. "She''s awake. Go ahead and set the table." "Alright. Mrs. Fullbuster must be starving. I''ll hurry," Mabel replied, bustling back into the kitchen. Hearing this, Zion suddenly understood why Jonathan had skipped work today. He chuckled to himself. "Mr. Fullbuster, those personal items I got for you came in handy, huh? Mrs. Fullbuster''s inexperienced, and you really went all out!" It was nearly noon, and she still hadn''t gotten up. Anyone could guess that Jonathan had been intense the night before. Zion felt giddy, like a kid in a candy store. Gossiping about Jonathan''s private life was rare¡ª missing this moment could mean never getting another chance. A brief silence followed on the line, then Jonathan''s low, icy voice came through. "Mrs. Fullbuster''s inexperienced? How would you know that?" Zion, caught up in his excitement, didn''t notice the warning in the tone. Heughed again. "Oh, the day Mrs. Fullbuster got divorced, I happened to overhear her and Ms. Sweeting arguing with Melody. That''s when I realized she and her ex never did anything. Mr. Fullbuster, I honestly think Zacharias is blind or has weird tastes¡ªalways chasing someone else instead of what''s right in front of him." Halfway through, Zion felt a chill run through him. Something is wrong. By the time he realized he''d probably crossed a line, Jonathan''s frosty voice was already in his ear. "With a mind that filthy, you''re in charge of the Cirelia Project." The Cirelia Project was AeroAir''s charity initiative to build roads and schools in remote, neglected viges. By the time Zion finished, he''d probably be living like a caveman. "No! Please, Mr. Fullbuster. I-" Zion said, but Jonathan had already hung up. Chapter 424 Blushing Confessions & D +35 Free Coins Zion wanted to smack himself. He couldn''t keep his mouth shut, and he shouldn''t have brought up the ex while the boss was clearly in a good mood. Gossiping about Jonathan''s private life was a mistake. Meanwhile, Anneliese shuffled out of the bedroom. She opened the door just in time to hear Jonathan remark that she was inexperienced. Anneliese nearly tripped and almost hit her head on the door. She wanted to retreat but didn''t know who Jonathan had been speaking to or how much worse the conversation might have been. Bracing herself, she stepped out. On the couch, Jonathan hung up the phone and turned toward her, sensing her presence. Mortified and flustered, Anneliese locked eyes with him. The midday sun poured through therge windows, making his white shirt look spotless. His ck dress pants were perfectly pressed, highlighting his long legs. He looked calm, collected, and entirely in control-restrained and dignified. All Anneliese could see were memories ofst night. He pinning her down, pulling her onto hisp, coaxing and teasing her in every way,pletely unrestrained. She didn''t touch her face, but she could feel it burning red. Her expression was anything but natural. Jonathan, however, appearedpletely unfazed, calm, andposed as ifst night had never happened. Anneliese felt frustrated and disconnected. She just stood there, watching him walk closer. He reached out and touched her forehead. ¡°Why''s your face so red? Are you running a fever?" Anneliese shook her head, but caught the teasing glint in Jonathan''s deep, narrow eyes. He wasn''t concerned about her being sick-he was clearly teasing her for blushing so easily. She had no way to hide it. Her fair, sensitive skin made even the slightest embarrassment noticeable-a trait she had had since childhood. She red at him. "It''s your fault! Who were you on the phone with, talking nonsense like that?" She felt genuinely upset. Discussing such private matters about their marriage with someone else made her feel disrespected and ufortable. She paused, wondering if she was misunderstanding. Chapter 424 Blushing Confessions From what she knew, Jonathan wasn''t the type to cross the line or act tactlessly. *35 Free Coins Chapter 425 Chapter 425 The Only One Chapter 425 The Only One 42 +35 Free Coins Jonathan noticed the fierce look in her eyes, but a yful smile graced his lips as he bent down and lifted her into his arms. Anneliese gasped in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck. She intended to object- until her eyesnded on his throat, causing her to keep silent for a moment. He hadn''t yet knotted his tie, and the cor of his shirt remained open, with one button undone. That slight looseness exposed the strong curve of his Adam''s apple¡ªand just below it, a small mole next to a faint bite mark. Further down, a thin scratch marked his skin. She recalled that. The previous night, he had pushed her to her limits, each time more forcefully than before, until she finally wed at his back in desperation. Rather than slowing him, it only encouraged him. In the end, her fury had led her to bite his neck again, simply to express her frustration. She thought, There''s no denying it now-the man in front of me, looking allposed and proper, is indeed the same one fromst night. No doubt about it. But goodness, he knows how to put on a show when he wants to! Jonathan had already carried her to the couch while she continued to fume silently in her thoughts, after which he settled her firmly on hisp. His arms held her against the firm contours of his body. Anneliese''s flushed cheeks and restless amber eyes revealed her thoughtspletely. He lifted her chin with one finger and narrowed his gaze. "Are you silently scolding me?" he inquired. Her eyes widened and her lips parted in astonishment. He thought, Every one of her thoughts is practically visible on her face. He chuckled, leaning in to ce a kiss on her soft, trembling lips. The sound of Mabel moving around in the kitchen reached her ears, followed by Meatloaf, propping her paws on the couch and staring at them with wide, sleepy eyes. She felt a surge of panic and pushed Jonathan away while covering her mouth with both hands. Chapter 425 The Only One "Are you hying to throw me off?" Anneliese asked. 35 Free Coins One of his eyebrows raised, and his gaze grew intense as he pressed a searing kiss against her neck, then moved to the delicate skin behind her ear. Only then did he whisper, "So... you really have no experience, huh?" The tips of her cars flushed bright red, contrasting like tiny rubies against her pale skin. Anneliese felt a flush of embarrassment as his warm lips grazed her ear, causing her breath to catch. The feeling was both maddening and exhrating. She instinctively turned away, her long, curledshes fluttering like a startled dragonfly skimming above the water and concealing the brilliance in her eyes. "Can''t you tell if I''m experienced or not?¡± Her voice trembled, revealing everything she wished to conceal. That reaction served as an answer. Jonathan''s chest rose and fell before a softugh escaped him. The sound made her open her eyes wide, ring at him in flustered indignation. "What''s so funny?" "I''m just pleased. It seems I''m the only man you''ve ever been with," he replied. His smile widened further despite her re. Instead of stopping, heughed even more, his lips curving so high they nearly reached his cheekbones. His words were filled with a smug, unapologetic happiness. "Be quiet!" she snapped. Footsteps from Mabel echoed from the kitchen, causing Anneliese''s embarrassment to intensify. She quickly covered his mouth, desperate to keep him silent before anyone else could hear. But just as she attempted to rise from hisp, his hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her back down. He grasped her wrist, kissed the tips of her fingers, and reiterated with stubborn determination, dering, "I genuinely am happy." She was speechless for a moment. "Because you''re my only woman as well," Jonathan continued. Anneliese was speechless again upon hearing his words. She thought, Does this man not understand the concept of shame? Chapter 425 The Only One 42 +35 Free Coins At around twenty-six, he''s handsome and aplished-so why on earth does he think hisck of experience is something to boast about? Why did he keep mentioning it? Yet, the more Anneliese contemted it, the more she understood it was something unique, if not valuable. In its own way, it wasmendable. And perhaps that was why Jonathan had been unable to stop himselfst night. A blush once again crept up her ears as she murmured, "Then, why didn''t you ever mention it? If Zion hadn''t brought it up just now, I''d still be unaware." Jonathan''s eyebrows raised when she declined to borate, a smile forming as he examined her. She puffed out her cheeks, realizing the earlier call hade from Zion¡ªnot some friend gossiping about her. Then another memory shed back-during her divorce proceedings. At the City Hall, she''d had an intense argument with Melody, and Jessica had let slip that Zacharias was not man enough. They had never experienced a genuine married life. This implied that Coral''s pregnancy likely had nothing to do with him whatsoever. Chapter 426 Chapter 426 Interrupted at the Door : Chapter 426 Interrupted at the Door At that moment, Zion had caught wind of the conversation. Just now, he must have inadvertently mentioned it to Jonathan.... 55 +10 Free Coins Anneliese felt somewhat reassured by that notion. She bit her lips and spoke up, "What does it matter if someone was married but never consummated the rtionship? Is that meant to be some sort of honor? Why bring it up-unless you''re still thinking about it?" She thought, Who even talks about things like that anymore? And honestly, it''s not like we''re living in the past. A woman''s value isn''t dependent on ''purity'' these days. She definitely didn''t see it as something worth highlighting. Jonathan met her fierce gaze and nodded. "I''m not preupied with it. When I married you, I was already aware of your previous marriage. Why should that affect me? It''s just..." "Just what?" she inquired. "It''s just that I found myself feeling a much stronger jealousy than I anticipated. And... if you''d shared this with me sooner, I wouldn''t have lost controlst night." His hand lightly caressed her flushed cheek, his tone airy yetced with remorse. She thought, Jealous? She blinked in surprise. Is he always jealous of me and Zacharias? Her heart raced for a brief moment, but she quickly rationalized it. She thought, Men are possessive by nature, especially when the woman is their wife. In my situation, I am Jonathan''s first. Naturally, he wanted to be my first as well. It wasn''t particrly shocking. She noticed the blend of guilt and irritation in his eyes. She recalled the previous night, bit her lip, and murmured, "You really didn''t understand? I was practically pleading, and you still..." Her usatory stare colored Jonathan''s handsome face with a rare blush. For once, his ears even turned pink. He turned his gaze away, cleared his throat, and said, "Apologies. I didn''t realize... without any experience to gauge it by, I- well, I''ll be more mindful next time." Jonathan had perceived Anneliese''s reactions fromst night: shy, awkward, andpletely Chapter 426 Interrupted at the Door untrained. 55 +10 Free Coins But he hadn''t delved deeper into it. After all, Anneliese had always been easily embarrassed in his presence. Jonathan simply assumed Anneliese was holding back because she couldn''t unwind¨Cnever considering it might signify something deeper. She listened to his hurried apology, then shot him an annoyed look. "Oh, so you''re already thinking about next time? Hmph. Don''t even consider it-there won''t be a next time anytime soon!" He didn''t react with anger to her response. Instead, hisrge hand slipped around her waist and gave it a light squeeze as he whispered, ¡°Are you feeling ufortable? Forget it, I''ll check on you myself.¡± Before she could respond, he lifted her in his arms and headed toward the bedroom. What he meant by ''checking'' was obvious. She paused briefly before realizing what he intended to do. Her legs kicked in resistance. "No! No way! I''m fine!" She hurriedly reiterated her objections in a flurry. But he continued walking, unaffected. "That mouth of yours isn''t exactly reliable. Either I check, or I call a female doctor right now. It''s your choice." She was utterly at a loss for words. Just then, Mabel emerged from the dining room and carried lunch to the table. She blinked, taken aback at the sight of the master of the house carrying the mistress into the bedroom- and closing the door behind them. Her eyebrow twitched. At this rate, the food will get cold. And honestly, doesn''t Mr. Fullbuster usually keeps hisposure? What''s with this sudden burst of impatience? Mrs. Shaw is still very young-he ought to be more careful! In the bedroom, Anneliesended on the bed with a soft thud. She barely had time to sit up before he held her knees down with one solid hand. She bit her lip, refusing to cooperate. He simply hooked an arm around her waist, yfully smacked her, andmanded, "Lift up." Chapter 426 Interrupted at the Door (55) +10 Free Coins Flustered and helpless, she curled her toes into the sheets, lifted just enough, and felt her swiftly removed with practiced skill. Her face turned bright red as she turned her head away. Of course, that was when the knocking started. pants Mabel''s voice called from outside, "Mr. Fullbuster, lunch is ready. Mrs. Shaw must be starving. These things can wait, you know-there''s always tomorrow." Anneliese immediately grabbed a pillow, buried her flushed face in it, then swung it down on Jonathan in frustration. The pillownded with a muted thump. She attempted to strike him again, but hisrge hand caught it mid-swing. He looked up at the door, his expression unfazed, and casually replied, "Understood. We''ll be right out." "Then don''t keep Mrs. Shaw waiting too long," Mabel responded, leaving with quick footsteps. Anneliese instantly pushed against his chest and dove under the nket, utterly embarrassed. Jonathan onlyughed, not the least bit irritated. He said while standing up, ¡°Forget the pants. I''ll get you a dress. We''ll eat first, then I''ll apply the medicine." She stayed hidden under the covers, silent. Ten minutester, the two of them finally sat down in the dining room. At the very least, the dishes had cooled to just the right temperature. Chapter 427 Chapter 427 Anneliese Was Really Hungry Chapter 427 Anneliese Was Really Hungry +10 Free Coins Anneliese is genuinely hungry, so she kept her head down and ate quietly. At the same time, Jonathan remains close by, attentively caring for her-serving her dishes, pouring soup, peeling shrimp, and topping off her ss without anyints. He mentioned what Zion had shared with him after he noticed she was nearly full. "Calvin is in Falvaria?" She looks up in astonishment. "That exins why the private investigator I hired was never able to locate him..." He reaches out and takes her hand softly. In that moment, she realizes how tightly she''s been holding her fork-her knuckles rigid and her fingertips chilled. "Baby, don''t be afraid," he whispers. "He will never harm you again. I promise." His grip tightens slightly, pulling her into his embrace. A gentle, reassuring kiss rests on her forehead, and with his serious promise, it embeds itself in her heart just as strongly. She wants to shake her head and express that she isn''t afraid anymore. But the sudden prick at the tip of her nose gives her away, and the words falter before they can escape her lips. How could she not feel fear? Even now, simply hearing Calvin''s name is enough to resurrect every piece of that night¡ª images of despair and terror burned into her mind. She still remembers his sharp, angr eyes and that hideous yellow hair. The other three thugs had followed his lead. Only when she managed to kick him in desperation did Calvin pull out a knife and thrust it at her with brutal intent. Later, she forced herself to upy the victim''s seat at the trial to muster every ounce of courage to meet the gaze of her attackers. All four of them had cried and pleaded, even attempting to kneel for her forgiveness. But as they were taken away, Calvin alone turned his head and shot her a nce¡ª dark, mocking, full of malice. For the first year afterward, nightmares frequently tormented her. Even now, though the Chapter 427 Anneliese Was Really Hungry 55 +10 Free Coins dreams have diminished, walking Meatloaf at night could still give her chills whenever a young man of a simr stature gets too close. Anneliese has always concealed that fear well. Even Jessica believed Anneliese hadpletely moved on from the trauma. She never anticipated Jonathan would see through her facade easily. She nestled in his arms, feeling the steady and powerful beat of his heart; she couldn''t refrain from curling against his chest like a cat seeking sce. "If we capture him... does that mean they can reopen the case? Selina will finally face consequences for what she did?" she asked. "Absolutely," he replied with an icy tone and unwavering. "She won''t escape justice.¡± She inclined her head and yfully brushed her hair against his chin in a lighthearted gesture. She had intended to speak to Perseus and Christopher herself about the past events. However, before she had significant action on her behalf. opportunity, Jonathan had already taken "Thanks, hubby. You''re amazing." She tilted her face upwards, her eyes radiating warmth. Hisrge hand moved to cover her gaze. He felt undeserving of the way she regarded him. He thought, I don''t deserve her, as I''ve failed to protect her. If only I had returned to the country a few years sooner, or cared just a bit more, she wouldn''t have suffered and endured so much. And if back then I had fought harder-begged his grandpa a little longer-then it wouldn''t be Zacharias who grew up with her as a childhood friend. It would have been me. That lunchsted much longer than usual. Now that they had truly be lovers, everything between them felt transformed. There was an almost tangible intimacy in their every movement, a closeness embedded in the smallest acts. Even a casual nce seemed maic, impossible to turn away from. Anneliese was internally thankful that Jonathan had requested Mabel to leave early. Otherwise, she would have felt far too shy. Once the meal concluded, she stood to help clean up. But just as she reached for her dishes, he grasped her wrist. ( Chapter 427 Anneliese Was Really Hungry "I''ll handle it. Go enjoy your phone for a bit and wait for me," he dered. Previously, she might have felt ufortable. 55 19 +10 Free Coins After all, she and Jonathan had entered into a marriage of convenience, more like partners in a deal than true spouses. She didn''t want to be solely a taker and never reciprocate, especially since he had already done so much for her. However, now Anneliese''s perspective had shifted in ways she hadn''t even realized. Her feelings toward Jonathan had evolved unintentionally. A woman ought to make full use of their husband-after all, I only have one man. Who else should I rely on if not him? The women who know how to relish being cared for lead the best lives. If I don''t start encouraging him to handle more domestic duties and share the chores now, then when will I? "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Fullbuster," she joked. Her eyes sparkled with a smile as she rose onto her tiptoes, pecked him on the chin, and dashed into the living room. Chapter 428 Unfairly used Chapter 428 Unfairly used Chapter 428 Chapter 428 Unfairly used : 55 +10 Free Coins Jonathan caught her wrist as Anneliese tried to leave. She turned her head, confused, and met his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "Baby, that kiss was way too half-hearted," he murmured. He drew her into his arms and captured her lips, lush and irresistible, without giving her a chance to protest. He began with a few gentle pecks, savoring her soft lips, but impatience broke through as he slipped his tongue between her lips, their hot breaths mingling. Her knees buckled and her waist weakened until she could hardly support herself. He was so tall that even when he bent low to reach her, her back ached and her neck strained, barely able to stand. She was practically hanging off his arm, her small hands clutching his shirt and wrinkling it. She was gasping for air by the time he released her. Jonathan brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and stated with his husky voiceced with teasing, "Just a couple of kisses and you''re out of breath? Your stamina is pathetic. You''reing with me to work out in the mornings starting tomorrow." She was momentarily speechless. She thought, He said the same thingst night. But honestly, he just has way too much energy! I''ve never realized that being a pilot meant they had to be incredibly fit. But Anneliese had always hated working out, so she immediately pushed him away and replied, "No way!" "Nope, not happening. If you keep this up, I''m afraid you''ll end up passing out in my bed next time." He brushed his knuckle against her nose with a teasing smile He thought to himself, Most importantly, she really needs to start exercising. She''s healthy now, but only because she is young. Once she throws herself into theb, she''ll be pulling days-long stretches without rest. Her body definitely can''t keep up. Anneliese scrunched her delicate brows, her cheeks puffing adorably as she tilted her head in mock outrage. ¡°Jonathan Fullbuster! I can''t believe you''re this kind of man!" "What did I do?" Jonathan inquired. "You actually dare to ask? Ugh, you have no self-control at all! Always chasing after beauty without a second thought. Just to satisfy yourself, you want me to suffer! And don''t even try to pretend otherwise-I know you think I''m not good enough. Don''t even try to deny it-you Chapter 428 Unfairly used : 55 +10 Free Coins totally think I''m not good!" Anneliese ced her hands firmly on her hips, ring at him. Before Jonathan could defend himself, she rattled off a whole list of usations. Finally, Anneliese gave him ast shove, dered him guilty, and started off. Jonathan stood frozen for a beat before striding after her. He swept her up into his arms and locked his eyes onto hers. "Wow, you''ll do anything to get out of working out, huh?" he insisted. She wasn''t truly angry; she was just being dramatic, trying to stay one step ahead so he wouldn''t drag her out of bed at dawn. Still, heat rushed to her cheeks, and this time her fluster was real. She squirmed against his hold, and her legs kicked in a futile protest as his arms kept her securely close to him. "Who says I''m only acting this way to avoid working out? I''m mad-truly mad! Can''t you see it? You don''t care about my feelings or my happiness at all. All you ever think about is looks-and that one thing!" Her pout deepened with spoiled defiance, and her almond-shaped eyes shimmered with unshed tears, wide and luminous until she looked heartbreakingly adorable and utterly impossible to resist. A deep, velvetyugh escaped him, rumbling from his chest in a way that was far too tempting to ignore. He carried her over to the couch and sat down with her. Anneliese''s cheeks med hotter beneath the sound of hisughter, irritation sparking in her chest. In a huff, she wriggled off hisp onto the cushions beside him, seized his ears between her hands, and red up at him. "You''re stillughing? Stop it! You''re not taking me seriously at all!" Atst, Jonathan reined in his smile, his gaze sobering as it fixed on her. ¡°Alright, alright¡ªI was wrong. I''ll reflect on it. But, baby, I swear you''re using me unfairly," he apologized. She gave a sharp little huff, her grip on his ears unrelenting as she lifted her chin with exaggerated grace. "Fine. I''ll give you a chance to defend yourself. Where exactly have you been wronged?" Jonathan''s voice became deep, smooth, and maic. "How could I ever not care about your feelings, about your happiness?" As he spoke, he leaned closer, brushing soft kisses against her forehead and the corners of her eyes. "Tell me, weren''t you happyst night? Didn''t it feel good for you? If it wasn''t enough, then I''ll Chapter 428 Unfairly used : 55 +10 Free Coins simply have to try harder. Perhaps even download a few tutorials..... study a little more..." Before he could finish the wicked suggestion, Anneliese pressed her palm firmly over his mouth, silencing him. Jonathan''s eyes lifted to hers, gleaming with mischief, his muffled voice rising in yful defiance against her hand. Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path : Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path Chapter 429 Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path 55 +10 Free Coins In the very next heartbeat, Jonathan drew Anneliese''s fingertip into his mouth. The heat and softness of him closed around her, wet and teasing, sending a sharp jolt through her nerves that rippled down her entire body. She shivered with her face zing scarlet, and hastily yanked her hand away. "I...I need to make a call. You finish the dishes!" she stammered before fleeing toward the bedroom. His low chuckle followed her retreat, his voice rich withzy amusement. "Careful, don''t strain your wound. I''ll put ointment on itter." Her only answer was the sharp m of the door. He shook his head with a helplessugh, only to nce down and find Meatloaf squatting at his feet. The little dog tilted her head, staring from him to the firmly shut door and clearly baffled by the situation. Jonathan bent to ruffle the pup''s head. "Rx, we''re not fighting. You wouldn''t understand- you don''t have a wife.¡± Meatloaf gave two indignant barks and spun in a little circle, as if voicing her protest. When Anneliese finally switched her phone back on, several missed calls from George shed on the screen. They had nned to head to theb together that morning, but thanks to herte start, it was already past noon. Mortified, she cursed a certain guilty culprit in her heart, picturing herself smacking Jonathan on the head with a tiny hammer. That afternoon, Jonathan drove her to theb. She couldn''t shake the suspicion that he was using this as an excuse, especially since theb was conveniently only a ten-minute drive from AeroAir''s offices. When the car rolled to a stop, Jonathan leaned over with his arm brushing close as he unfastened her seatbelt. His voice was low, coaxing, and almost too casual. "You really don''t want me to walk you in?" Anneliese waved both hands in a rush. "No, no need!" Before Jonathan could say another word, Anneliese twisted toward the door, as though the Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path slightest hesitation might give him enough time to follow her out. A quiet click froze her in ce. His long fingers had tapped the central lock. 55 +10 Free Coins She turned back slowly, only to meet his gaze-cool annoyanceced with something softer, almost wounded. "Am I really so embarrassing to be seen with?" he asked. "How could you be?" she rushed to reassure him. "You''re our... sugar daddy." His brows lifted, but his gaze held steady. "Then let me walk you in." She shook her head firmly. "No. That''s exactly the problem. Theb is your project. If Prof. Clocke and the others find out we''re married, it''ll only make things awkward. Otherwise, everyone could just be themselves around each other." And it was true-being suddenlybelled ''the boss'' wife'' would cast a shadow over every interaction, no matter how small. His lips pressed into a thin line, frustration flickering in his dark eyes. "But we''re not hiding our marriage. Plenty of people in Oceaton already know. Prof. Clocke and the others could hear it from anyone, at any time." He wasn''t wrong. They had never truly kept it a secret. On the very day they received their marriage certificate, he had announced it openly at AeroAir, even going so far as to update his online profile to read ¡®married''. Later, at Derek and Marlowe''s Silver Anniversary celebration, Jonathan had taken everyone by surprise when he appeared without warning and introduced her openly as Mrs. Fullbuster. For a man as private as he was, the gesture had carried weight. Jonathan guarded his personal life fiercely, and their marriage had never once surfaced in the news or on social feeds. He kept himself buried in work, rarely attending social functions, while she had always preferred to keep a low profile. To the outside world, it almost looked like a secret marriage. Anneliese offered Jonathan a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry. Prof. Clocke and the other seniors hardly pay attention to outside gossip. They won''t hear about us so easily." She thought, Gianna already knows, of course. But she stayed quiet through dinnerst night, and I can tell she''s not the kind who''d let something like this slip. Jonathan swallowed his frustration and gave a quiet nod after seeing how determined Anneliese was. ¡°I''lle pick you up this afternoon." Chapter 429 A Shadow in His Path 55 +10 Free Coins She returned the nod, then leaned over to press a quick, tender kiss to his cheek before slipping from the car. His eyes lingered on her retreating figure until she disappeared into the building. Only then did he pull his gaze back and start the car. But the moment he moved forward, a shadow stepped into his path. He mmed on the brakes, his expression hardening as his gaze turned cold. The figure approached, bending to rap twice on his window. Jonathan turned his head-and found Gianna staring back at him. Jonathan didn''t lower the window. His eyes slid past her, cool and dismissive, and his hand tightened on the wheel as if ready to drive off. Then it struck him, She works in theb too. If she decides to take out her temper on Anneliese, that could be trouble. He lowered the window against his instincts. Outside, Gianna shifted uneasily under the heavy air pressing from within the car. She was about to retreat when the window finally glided down. Quickly, she stered on a smile. "Jonathan, were you dropping off my senior, Anneliese? Why note inside with her?" she asked. His face remains impassive, voice cool and edged. "Don''t you have anything better to do?" Chapter 430 A Spark of Jealousy Chapter 430 Chapter 430 A Spark of Jealousy : Chapter 430 A Spark of Jealousy What Jonathan truly meant was that Gianna had been meddling where she shouldn''t. 000 (55) +10 Free Coins Gianna looked a little hurt, and her voice had dropped into a intive whisper. "It was Anneliese who didn''t want you going inside, wasn''t it? She was afraid others would think she only got into theb because of you. That''s why she made even someone as proud as you sneak around. Jonathan... how could she possiblypare to my sister?" His expression had remainedposed, but his eyes had chilled over, sharp and cutting like frost settling on ss. Gianna, who had been leaningzily against the car window, had faltered under that cial stare. Her hands had curled back instinctively, though her face had stayed defiant. "I..." The rest of her protest had died in her throat as his voice had struck like a de- firm, final, and impossible to resist. "Enough. My wife earned her ce in theb through her own merit. As for you, shall I call Prof. Clocke right now and ask whether he bent the rules for your admission? Don''t forget, as an investor, I have every right to examine the qualifications of theb''s core members." The Malone family''s influence had reached deep: though Old Mr. Malone had long retired but he had still borne the rank of Air Force General. Many of her rtives had remained entrenched in the nation''s aviation system. Her eldest brother, Steven, had already stood as heir apparent, the official face of the national air traffic authority. Her father, Adrian Malone, had chosen neither the military nor politics, but had instead built the country''srgest private cargo airline. To make matters more intricate, Prof. Clocke''s wife was distantly rted to the Malone family, and the professor himself had long been a close friend of Adrian. Gianna had studied abroad for years and only transferred to Astoria University six months earlier as an exchange student. Jonathan''s words had left no room for doubt-she had better know her ce, or he would not hesitate to use his authority as an investor to see her cast out. She could scarcely believe it. Jonathan is still willing to humiliate me, even with the Malones and Fullbusters bound so closely. All for a woman like Anneliese-divorced, ordinary, nothing special. Gianna''s jaw tightened. ¡°I...¡± 55 Chapter 430 A Spark of Jealousy +10 Free Coins But Jonathan didn''t even nce her way. He rolled up the window and sped off with onest sharp look, and the Bentley''s tyres screeched against the asphalt. Startled, she stumbled backwards. Her heel caught the curb, and she fell hard onto the pavement. She blinked back her tears and watched the car vanish. At the same time, a mix of pain and anger roiled inside her. What stung her most was the WhatsApp she had sent her cousin, India, just yesterday. India''s reply had been infuriating: ''Since Jonathan is already married, he has nothing to do with you anymore. You should stop meddling in other people''s business.'' As if one favored junior in theb weren''t enough. From the moment Anneliese arrived, everyone had fawned over her, praising her every move. It had felt perfect-until Anneliese came. Even before Anneliese set foot in theb, her name was already on everyone''s lips. Seniors showered her withpliments, constantly urging Gianna to learn from her. Her advisor, who once guided Gianna through every mistake personally, now spent half his time emailing Anneliese-and redirected Gianna''s questions to other seniors. The change grated on her nerves. She hated it. Perhaps it was nothing more than their ¡®aura'' shing, but the instant Giannaid eyes on Anneliese at the airport yesterday, an instinctive dislike bloomed in her chest. That face-soposed, so effortlessly striking-was enough to set her teeth on edge. She pushed herself up off the ground and brushed the dirt from her skirt. Then, as if remembering something, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her Facebook. Her eyes lit up when she saw a profile picture: ''Skyward Leap'' His true name was Felix Hammond, a PhD student in Astoria University''s aviation program. He had once wed his way toward a coveted spot in Prof. Clocke''sb, only to fall short-left standing in the shadow of Anneliese''s sess. Back then, Felix had bristled, plotting mischief. Yet the moment he discovered Anneliese''s background, his schemes dissolved into silence. Now, with theb relocated to Oceaton, Felix had resurfaced like a persistent shadow-bearing gifts, extending dinner invitations, ever eager to insinuate himself where he did not belong. Chapter 430 A Spark of Jealousy 55 +10 Free Coins Gianna thought, Felix is cunning, opportunistic, always jealous of anyone better than him... but I know that, with the right push, he can turn into a very sharp de. Her lips curved faintly as she began typing a new post. ''A little wee dinner for the gorgeous new senior, Anneliese-plus a chance to ship a couple, Picture attached.'' The image glowed on her phone. It capturedst night''s gathering: Jonathan standing tall, hismanding figure turned toward Prof. Clocke in mid- conversation. His profile was lost to the angle, leaving only the impression of strength and stature. But beside him¡ªAnneliese''s face alight with wine''s gentle flush that was delicate, radiant, and utterly unforgettable. Chapter 431 Chapter 431 The Woman in the Photograph Chapter 431 The Woman in the Photograph Gianna set her post to be visible only to Felix, then pressed send. 55 +10 Free Coins She slipped her phone away and walked briskly into the building. When she reached theb, she found everyone gathered around Anneliese''s desk, voices low with excitement. Even Prof. Clocke stood among them with his expression intent. No one looked up as she entered. The silence toward her was sharp, like a door quietly closing in her face. She moved closer and touched George lightly on the shoulder. "George, what are you all talking about?" His eyes never left the sketch beneath Anneliese''s hand. "She just came up with an idea to optimize our tilt-rotor system," he murmured. ¡°Shh-listen carefully." The brief exchange already seemed to scatter his thoughts. A frown creased his brow, and he waved her off, desperate not to lose the fragile thread of inspiration. His impatient wave felt like being brushed aside no differently than an insect to her. A flush of humiliation rose swiftly to her cheeks, stinging as sharply as a p. Gianna''s gaze settled on Anneliese. The girl sat with her back turned, her posture elegant yet unassuming, and still the entire room revolved around her as though she were its very axis. The sight ignited a slow-burning resentment in her chest. She refused to listen and refused to let Anneliese''s voice im even a corner of her mind. Her phone buzzed softly against the desk, breaking her thoughts. She rolled her eyes and returned to her own workstation, her steps brisk with irritation. She thought, So what if Anneliese once possessed a spark of talent? She''s been gone from the field for four years-four whole years when technology has been adv faster than anyone can keep up. By now, she can''t eve meas re up to a second- or third-year undergrad. Whatever spell she casts, it isn''t brilliance. It''s beauty... A smile here, a word there, until even the seniors bend toward her as though she were the sun itself. Gianna drew out her phone once more. A message blinked across the screen-proof her bait had been swallowed. Felix: ''Anneliese joined theb?'' Chapter 431 The Woman in the Photograph A faint curve touched Gianna''s lips. She hadn''t expected Felix to know Anneliese. 55 +10 Free Coins She thought, But then again, Felix stayed at Astoria for both his undergraduate and master''s, and Anneliese was there until four years ago. Their paths must have crossed. Her eyes glimmered with amusement as she typed, the wordsced with feigned innocence. ''You know Anneliese? She''s supposed to be really amazing, isn''t she?'' Felix''s reply came without hesitation, sharp and eager. ''She was extraordinary- chosen as Professor Clocke''sst personal disciple the moment she arrived, pushing aside senior students to im a key project, stirring scandal that tarnished the school''s name. Then she vanished for years, only to reappear and slip straight back into theb. No one but her could carry such a story!'' She thought, From his tone, it''s clear he doesn''t just know Anneliese-there''s bitterness there, a history that''s gone sour. What an unexpected stroke of luck. A small, almost mischievous smile tugged at Gianna''s lips. Gianna: ''I don''t really know much about her, but yesterday at dinner with the actually showed up with the sponsor''s boss.'' sponsor, she She sent the message¨Cthen she retracted it with a quick flicker and rewrote it. "She was in the same year as me. I didn''t realize she''d already be this aplished.'' Over at Astoria University''s campus, a petite girl in a white down jacket clung to her boyfriend''s arm. She had been chattering about going to the movies, only to realize he hadn''t reacted at all-his eyes had been glued to his phone the entire time. ¡°Babe, what are you looking at? You''re not even listening to me!" sheined in a sweet, and whiny voice. She tiptoed to peek at the screen-and froze, "Felix! I''m right here, and you''re looking at another woman''s photo in front of me? Who is she? Do you have something going on with her? Tell me the truth!" Her voice rose sharply. Felix''s expression darkened. He caught her wrist, tugged her quickly behind the cover of a tree, and pressed a hand over her mouth. Irritation shadowed his features. "Stop shouting nonsense. It isn''t what you think. That woman cost me my ce in Prof. Clocke''sb-how could I possibly have anything to do with her? Enough, Lynn. Don''t pester me." Chapter 431 The Woman in the Photograph A 55 +10 Free Coins His girlfriend, Lynn Hawthorne, looked unconvinced. ¡°Yeah, right. I saw it with my own eyes. That girl looks like some wide-eyed freshman-how could she possibly have stolen your spot in theb?" Exasperation tightened Felix''s jaw. He pulled the photo back up and thrust the phone into her hands. "See for yourself. Isn''t Prof. Clocke in the picture too?" She snatched the device, her lips pursed. And there it was-not just the woman, but Prof. Clocke as well. Still, her gaze lingered only on the woman''s face, refined and luminous, and the longer she stared, the more her breath quickened. She gave a soft, incredulous snort. "Then why did you zoom in on her face alone? You must think she''s pretty." Her words caught, her tone shifting as recognition dawned. Shock reced jealousy. "Wait... It''s her?" Felix looked at her. "You know her?" "Of course." Lynn''s voice lowered, thick with disdain. ¡°Didn''t I tell you? My roommate Coral was once dating an incredible guy off campus. His ex-girlfriend was a nightmare. She clung to him, never let him go, and Coral lost her baby in her madness. "Their rtionship fell apart, and Coral''s life crumbled with it. She cried herself hollow, her grades sank, and she''s been miserable ever since. All of it because that woman barged into their lives." Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Calvin Disappeared : Chapter 432 Calvin Disappeared Felix looked surprised. "Are you sure it''s her?" 55 +10 Free Coins "Absolutely. I''ve run into her a couple of times already. Once, I even saw her on campus, walking andughing with Jackson from the School of Aviation. With a face like hers, there''s no way I could be mistaken." Lynn nodded firmly and continued. "She''s really something. There''s no way she got into such an eliteb without pulling some strings. Babe, don''t you think Jackson probably helped her? I heard his family''s got some serious connections." He seemed to be mulling it over, his expression turning even darker. Meanwhile, at AeroAir headquarters, the moment Jonathan stepped into the office, Zion came in carrying an Americano, his face stered with an anxious smile. He set down the coffee, but when he noticed Jonathan was focused on hisputer, he just kept quiet and watched for any sign from his boss. Jonathan was as expressionless as ever, but after years of reading people, Zion could tell he was in a great mood. He looked like he could barely contain his happiness. No surprise there. Mr. Fullbuster finally isn''t single anymore. It is definitely something worth celebrating. There''s no reason for him to give me a hard time! With that in mind, Zion instantly felt half his worries melt away. He nudged the coffee cup closer to Jonathan, pleading his case. "Mr. Fullbuster, I know I messed up. I''ve reflected on it thoroughly. Please let me stay by your side. If you really send me off to oversee the Cirelia Project, what will you do if you suddenly need to take time off for your wedding? "Worse still, if Mrs. Fullbuster gets pregnant, how will you manage without someone you trust by your side? It''s one thing for you to work hard, but what if you miss out on taking care of Mrs. Fullbuster because you have to work overtime?" After finishing, Zion even looked at Jonathan with puppy eyes for extra dramatic effect. Only then did Jonathan look up. "You mean to say, I can''t function without you around?" Chapter 432 Calvin Disappeared 55 +10 Free Coins Zion was nearly in tears. "Mr. Fullbuster, that''s not what I meant. I was wrong! I''ll never gossip about Mrs. Fullbuster''s private matters again..." "Oh? So the next time you hear something about Mrs. Fullbuster, you''re just going to keep it to yourself and never say a word?" What? Zion waspletely lost. Is Mr. Fullbuster mad at me for gossiping too much? Or is he mad I didn''t tell him soon enough? Sweat began to bead on Zion''s forehead as he carefully ventured, ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, actually, ever since the day Mrs. Fullbuster got divorced, I''ve been meaning to tell you about it. But I figured that since you married her, you wouldn''t care about that kind of thing, so I didn''t bring it up..." Seeing that Jonathan''s attitude had softened, Zion realized his boss was actually upset that he hadn''t mentioned it sooner. Once he figured out the problem, he quickly added, "Besides, it''s more exciting when Mrs. Fullbuster tells you herself. I promise, from now on, if there''s anything about Mrs. Fullbuster, I''ll report it right away. Actually, I''ve got something about Mrs. Fullbuster to tell you right now." Jonathan never really nned to send Zion away over something so small. He''d just wanted to scare him a little. Besides, he was in a good mood today. He gave a slight nod. "What is it?" ¡°There''s been a situation in Falvaria. Calvin disappeared two months ago." "Disappeared?" Jonathan frowned a little. He doubted it was a coincidence. Anneliese had just learned the truth about the past, and now Calvin had gone missing right after? That sounded fishy to him. "Mr. Fullbuster, could the Whites have taken him out to protect Selina?" Zion guessed. Jonathan shook his head. "It''s probably not the Whites. Otherwise, Perseus and Christopher wouldn''t have let Calvin''s whereabouts get out." If Calvin really had been killed.... That would be a far bigger crime than just covering for Selina before. "Then, who could it be..." Zion frowned. Jonathan asked in a low voice, "Doesn''t Selina have a maternal uncle? Check him out. As for Chapter 432 Calvin Disappeared Calvin, send more people to find him. Whether he''s alive or dead, he must be found." "Okay, Mr. Fullbuster." "Any leads on that couple?" Jonathan asked. He was referring to the couple Mikita had mentioned, the ones who took Anneliese. A a 54 +10 Free Coins "We''ve narrowed it down to five couples from the hospital records, and we''re confirming them one by one. We''re close to getting a result." Jonathan nodded and picked up his pen, signaling Zion to leave. Zion asked, "Boss, what about the Cirelia Project?" "Handle it as you see fit." Jonathan didn''t even look up. Zion was thrilled he''d managed to escape the fate of being assigned to oversee the Cirelia Project. Inside, he was already celebrating and nearly broke into a happy dance right then and there. Overflowing with gratitude toward his boss, he decided he''d make up for it by working extra hard. Chapter 433 "Mr. Fullbuster, do you want me to help you pick out a gift for Mrs. Fullbuster?" Jonathan looked up. "Do I need to get her a gift?" Before Zion could reply, he figured it out himself. Of course he needed to. Things with Anneliese had taken a real turn for the better. He definitely needed to mark the asion. Anneliese finished two sets ofb tests, and it was almost time for dinner. She organized her data and then finally reached for her phone. There were a few new messages on WhatsApp, and also two missed calls from unknown numbers. Anneliese ignored the missed calls, opened WhatsApp, and saw Jonathan had messaged her. Just seeing his name there made her eyes light up a little. But before she could even open his message, another call came in from an unfamiliar number. Anneliese answered. "Hello?" A middle-aged man''s voice came through, oddly familiar. "Ms. ude, I''m Mrs. Fullbuster''s butler. Mrs. Fullbuster would like to have a word with you. I hope you''re avable now?" Mrs. Fullbuster? Anneliese paused for a second before realizing this must be Jonathan''s mother-her mother-inw, at least in name. Then she figured out why the voice seemed so familiar. That tone, that air of superiority, it could only be the same guy who''d cornered her in the hospital parking lot before, demanding she go with him. Anneliese frowned slightly. "Sorry, I don''t think I can make it right now..." She knew nothing about Jonathan''s mother, and she obviously wasn''t looking for a friendly chat. Chapter 433 Mrs Fullbuster Would Like to Have a Word With You She really had no interest in putting herself through anything ufortable. 54 +10 Free Coins There was a short pause on the line, then a woman''s voice came on. It was pleasant enough, but with a sharp,manding edge. "So what? I can''t even get you toe over, is that it?" There was no mistaking it. This had to be Jonathan''s mother, Elizabeth. Anneliese took a deep breath, managing a smile. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I think you''ve got it wrong, I She didn''t even get to finish before the woman cut her off, dropped an address, and hung up. Anneliese was left holding her abruptly disconnected phone, looking a little helpless. She packed up quickly and left theb. Luckily, the caf¨¦ Elizabeth had picked wasn''t far. Twenty minutester, Anneliese arrived and was led to the door of a private room. A butler in a suit and sses stood waiting outside. When he saw the bouquet in Anneliese''s hands, he looked her over, then gave a fake smile. "Ms. ude, we meet again. I still haven''t forgotten that exhaust air you gave mest time." Bene hat polite facade, Anneliese could see right through his contempt and hostility. She also knew his attitude was just a mirror of Elizabeth''s. She smiled faintly. "You like the smell of car exhaust, huh? Guess you''ve got a pretty unique taste." The butler clearly hadn''t expected her to talk back. The fake smile vanished from his face. "Mrs. Fullbuster is inside. Go on in." He was itching to see if she''d keep her attitude once she went inside. He stepped aside and motioned for her to enter. But Anneliese didn''t move. She just stared at him. "Open the door for me." Chapter 433 Mrs Fullbuster Would Like to Have a Word With You 64) +10 Free Coins I can''t believe this woman with no background and a failed first marriage is actually ordering me around! The butler could barely contain his irritation, his expression turning ugly. He stood his ground, but Anneliese wasn''t about to back down. After all, it was Elizabeth who wanted to see her, not the other way around. Honestly, if this butler pushes his luck any further, it''d be perfect. Then I wouldn''t even have to look for an excuse. I could just leave right now. Too bad, he wasn''t that clueless. In the end, he gave in. He gave a coldugh and pulled the door open for Anneliese, announcing loudly, "Ms. Anneliese, I''ve opened the door for you. Please, don''t keep Mrs. Fullbuster waiting." Just a moment ago, he''d been calling her Ms. ude. Now suddenly she was Ms. Anneliese. Clearly, this wasn''t meant for Anneliese. He was saying it for Elizabeth to hear. Elizabeth didn''t approve of Anneliese, so hearing the butler call her that would be especially grating. This butler really had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Anneliese even wondered if she''d somehow crossed him before. She just shot him a look and stepped into the room. The space wasn''t big, but it was elegant and cozy. Elizabeth sat on the couch by the window. Today, she wore a fitted ck skirt suit that was elegant and gave her a powerful, icy air. Her long hair was loosely pinned up with an emerald-studded magnolia hairpin, and she wore matching earrings. Chapter 434 Chapter 434 1 Brought You Some Flowers Chapter 434 I Brought You Some Flowers Z (54) +10 Free Coins The skin on the back of her neck and her calves looked very fair, and her face was smooth and tight, younger than her age. Everything about her gave off an air of being pampered and well cared for. She sat turned partly away, and even when footsteps sounded behind her, she didn''t bother to look back. Anneliese stepped forward, her tone polite and warm. "Mrs. Fullbuster, hello. I''m Anneliese. I was in a rush getting here, but I brought you some flowers. I hope you like them." She''d picked up the bouquet at a flower shop on the way. Even though the call had made it clear Elizabeth probably didn''t like her, Anneliese still made sure to show respect. Elizabeth only turned when she heard Anneliese''s voice, her gazending on the flowers. She instinctively leaned back, a faint crease between her brows. "Didn''t Jonathan tell you that I have mild pollen allergies?" The butler hurried over with a handkerchief for Elizabeth. "Mrs. Fullbuster, please use this for cover. I''ll get rid of the bouquet right away." He went to open a nearby window, then came back to Anneliese to take the bouquet, saying, "Give it to me, Ms. Anneliese. Next time you want to bring a gift, you should really check people''s likes and dislikes first..." But he noticed that Anneliese hadn''t loosened her grip on the bouquet at all. He frowned and looked up, only to meet Anneliese''s half-smil eyes. Suddenly uneasy, the butler heard Anneliese say coolly, "Mrs. Fullbuster, Jonathan really didn''t mention anything about your pollen allergy. But isn''t it your butler''s job to take care of you? Shouldn''t he know about it?" She left her words hanging, but the butler''s face already changed, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. Chapter 434 1 Brought You Some Flowers ZQ, (54) +10 Free Coins He did know about Elizabeth''s pollen allergy, but it was never severe. As long as she didn''t touch the flowers directly, there was basically no reaction. He was just thinking that since Elizabeth didn''t like Anneliese, the flowers would just make things awkward and give Elizabeth a chance to put her down. So when he saw Anneliese carrying the bouquet, he hadn''t stopped her or said anything. But now that Anneliese had called him out, he waspletely trapped. If he admitted he knew, he''d basically be saying he didn''t care about Elizabeth''s health and was cking on the job. If he denied it, then it''d mean he couldn''t even do the basics right. Either way, he lost. He thought that since Anneliese came from a modest background, she would be intimidated in front of Elizabeth. He expected her to panic when scolded and immediately apologize. He was sure she''d never dare call him out in front of Elizabeth. But he''d gotten it totally wrong. Instead of Elizabeth putting Anneliese in her ce, it was Anneliese who''d managed to embarrass Elizabeth a little. Since he was Elizabeth''s butler, his blunder reflected badly on Elizabeth. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I ... "The butler''s face turned pale. "You''re a disgrace. Get out." Elizabeth''s eyes were cold. "Yes, ma''am." He quickly took the bouquet from Anneliese and left, but not before giving Anneliese another look. Anneliese didn''t care at all. She''d already lived through a failed marriage where she bent over backward to please. She''d learned firsthand that giving her everything only got her heartache, not love. There was no way she''d make the same mistake twice. She wasn''t about to put herself through misery or swallow her pride for a mother- inw. Her marriage to Jonathan was really just for appearances. She was only there to keep his family Chapter 434 1 Brought You Some Flowers from pushing him about marriage, not to make his mother happy. 54 +10 Free Coins Even though she had started to develop feelings for Jonathan, she wasn''t going to force herself. Her attitude was simple: If it worked out, great. If not, they''d go their separate ways in two years. So, Elizabeth''s criticism and pressure didn''t bother her in the slightest. After the butler closed the door, Elizabeth gave Anneliese another look and said, "You''ve got some nerve, I''ll give you that. Have a seat." ¡°I''ll take that as apliment, Mrs. Fullbuster." Anneliese smiled, then walked over and sat down across from her. She kept it simple and youthful: no makeup, just a soft vintage cream knit sweater, a little ck dress, ankle boots, and her hair in a bun. But she was naturally pretty. Even without makeup, her features were bright and clear. Afterst night''s transformation from girl to woman, her eyes now held a new softness and a hint of feminine allure. It was undeniably captivating. She was, without a doubt, a stunning woman. Elizabeth sized her up and didn''t seem surprised. She knew her son well. Only a woman with true beauty and talent could get unapproachable son to act so smitten. her difficult, Chapter 435 Chapter 435 I Am Destined to be Selina''s Worst Enemy Chapter 435 I Am Destined to be Selina''s Worst Enemy 54 +10 Free Coins Not only has Jonathan actually married this woman, but he''s been hiding her away all this time and hasn''t even brought her home to meet me! But as far as Elizabeth was concerned, there was nock of real beauties in high society. Anneliese''s looks didn''t impress her at all. She just thought the girl looked vaguely familiar. Elizabeth kept staring at Anneliese, while Anneliese stayed silent, letting her look as long as she wanted. After a while, the long, silent scrutiny started to get ufortable. She pressed her lips together and finally broke the silence. "Mrs. Fullbuster, if there''s something you want to say to me, please just say it." That was when Elizabeth finally looked away. The only jewelry Anneliese wore was the wedding ring on her right hand. The diamond wasn''t big, but it was bright and eye-catching. Elizabeth''s eyesnded on it. "Is that your wedding ring?" Anneliese instinctively nced down, touching the ring with her fingertips, and nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Fullbuster. Jonathan picked it out." Elizabeth gave a slight, unreadable smile. ¡°You two have a contract marriage, don''t you?" "Excuse me?" Anneliese hadn''t expected the question and had no idea whether Elizabeth had already learned something or was just guessing. Her heart skipped a beat. But it was only for a second. She quickly masked her surprise and just looked at Elizabeth, puzzled. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I''m not sure what you mean. Jonathan and I are doing well." Whether or not Elizabeth actually knew anything, Anneliese figured there was no way Jonathan would''ve told her. He''d only married her to keep his family off his back. Besides, Elizabeth''s idea of a match for Jonathan had been someone like Selina. Just thinking about Selina''s character, Anneliese found it hard to even look at Elizabeth Chapter 435 I Am Destined to be Selina''s Worst Enemy without feeling a bit exasperated. A54 +10 Free Coins For her to set up Jonathan with someone like Selina, I wonder if she is actually his biological mother. Anneliese took another close, discreet look at Elizabeth. She realized that Elizabeth''s features, especially her profile, really did resemble Jonathan''s. There was no doubt she was his mom. "If this isn''t a contract marriage, I just don''t see why Jonathan would choose you. Plus, Ms. ude, you clearly don''t see yourself as Jonathan''s wife. Otherwise, you wouldn''t keep calling me Mrs. Fullbuster," Elizabeth said while taking a sip of coffee. Her tone was casual, but her words were dripping with contempt. Anneliese liked to think she didn''t care, but being dismissed like that still left her feeling irritated and stifled. She forced a little smile. ¡°Actually, Mrs. Fullbuster, you should probably ask Jonathan about that. He was the one who pursued me, and he was the one who proposed. I figure there must be something about me he likes. "Jonathan''s a great guy, but to be honest, aside from his family background, I don''t think I''m any less than him. As for calling you Mrs. Fullbuster, it''s just about respect for my elders..." Anneliese added with a smirk, "Mrs. Fullbuster, I maye from a modest background, but my family taught me plenty about respecting others.¡± Elizabeth was clearly irritated by that, her expression going cold. "My son must be drawn to your sharp tongue and thick skin, or maybe he likes yourck of manners and respect!" Anneliese''s polite smile faded. "Mrs. Fullbuster, respect works both ways. It''s like a mirror. However you treat others, don''t be surprised if they treat you the same." "Jonathan treats me very well. He''s always gentle. When I''m with him, I make sure he feels valued and loved, and I''m definitely not sharp-tongued at all.¡± She said it all with a straight face, sounding perfectly sweet. Elizabeth, on the other hand, felt like she''d tried to punch a pillow, only to find it full of marbles. "Well, back when Selina told me about you, I thought she was exaggerating. But now that I''ve met you, I realize she was exactly right." Chapter 435 I Am Destined to be Selina''s Worst Enemy Yeah, like Selina could ever say anything good about me. It was obvious that Elizabeth''s first impression of her couldn''t have been any worse. But Anneliese figured at least she was being honest. This was who she was. Still, hearing Selina''s name made her blood boil. (54 +10 Free Coins Some of it came from how much she despised Selina, but most of it was frustration at Elizabeth for ever picking someone as malicious as Selina for Jonathan. She didn''t even think twice about it, even until now. Anneliese felt angry on Jonathan''s behalf. That wasn''t what a mother who truly loved her son would do. Fueled by emotion, Anneliese shrugged, her tone turning sharp. "Mrs. Fullbuster, you realize I was always destined to be Selina''s worst enemy, right? You really can''t expect to hear anything nice about me from someone who hates me." Chapter 436 Is This How You Wee My Wife? Chapter 436 apter 436 Is This How You Wee My Wife? Chapter 436 Is This How You Wee My Wife? "By the way, Mrs. Fullbuster, have you heard the truth about Selina''s real identity? +10 Free Coins "She was never some fake heiress of the White Family. She''s an illegitimate child. Her birth mother wanted her to live a rich girl''s life, so she secretly swapped the babies. Now her mother hasnded in jail, and there''s no way she''ll ever get out. ¡°Selina told me more than once that you admired her and wanted to set her up with Jonathan. That can''t be true, right? I really don''t think your taste is that bad. "If it wasn''t about taste, then I honestly don''t understand why you would set your own son up for misery. Do you not love him? Mrs. Fullbuster, can you give me an answer?" Anneliese had no idea what exactly in those words had triggered Elizabeth. A cold sh of anger appeared on Elizabeth''s face, and the next thing she did was fling her coffee right at Anneliese. "Ah!" It happened so fast that Anneliese only had time to squeeze her eyes shut and turn her head away. But the expected humiliation of being drenched in coffee never came. Instead, shended in a familiar embrace, catching the cool, deep cologne she always associated with him-though now tinged with coffee. Anneliese opened her eyes in shock and looked up to see Jonathan, holding her tight, shielding her from the spray. His hair and one side of his face were dripping with coffee, and his shoulder was soaked. ¡°Jonathan, what are you... Here, let me help." Elizabeth obviously hadn''t expected Jonathan to show up, especially at a moment like this. She was stunned for a second, but she quickly stood up, grabbed a napkin, and rushed over to help wipe the coffee from his hair and cheek. But she never got the chance. Jonathan stood up with Anneliese still in his arms, stepping to the side to put distance between himself and Elizabeth. His eyes were cold and expressionless as he looked at her. Chapter 436 Is This How You Wee My Wife? "Mom, is this how you wee my wife?" Elizabeth looked caught off guard for a moment, but she quickly regained her withdrew her hand and sat down on the couch with a cold expression. 54 +10 Free Coins ¡°Jonathan, is that how you talk to your mother? Did you even hear what she just said?" Anneliese shifted in Jonathan''s arms, and he immediately lowered his gaze to her. "Are you hurt?" His voice was gentle and low,pletely different from how he sounded with Elizabeth. Elizabeth''s face grew even darker as she nced at the public disy of affection between the two of them. Anneliese hadn''t expected him to be so attentive. She replied softly, ¡°I just need my bag. I have wipes in there.¡± Her bag was sitting on the couch nearby. Hearing that, he finally loosened his hold around her waist. She leaned over to grab her bag, pulling out some wipes to clean his hair, his cheek, and the coffee on his neck. Jonathan cooperatedpletely, even bending down slightly to make it easier for her to clean. Anneliese was thorough, but the coffee had already soaked through his shirt and couldn''t be cleaned offpletely. She took off his tie, unbuttoned his cor, and tried to tidy him up a bit, but Jonathan caught her hand and said, "That''s enough, I''m fine." Anneliese nodded without a word, though her eyes were filled with concern. Jonathan''s tense expression softened a little, and he held Anneliese''s hand as he looked at Elizabeth again. "I heard what she said. Which part was unreasonable? What could possibly have made you so upset?" Elizabeth drew a sharp breath. ¡°Jonathan, I did try to set you up with Selina once, but that was just because I saw how persistent she was in chasing you all those years. I thought she was sincere. You two worked in the same field, so I figured you''d have things inmon and might get along. I never wanted to force you. Chapter 436 Is This How You Wee My Wife? 54 +10 Free Coins ¡°Besides, she seemed sensible and gentle, so I thought you guys would be a good match. I never imagined her background would be so disgraceful. No matter what, I''d never hurt you on purpose." When Elizabeth finished, Jonathan''s face barely changed. Clearly, he wasn''t satisfied with her exnation. Or maybe he just didn''t care. "Mom, if you are done with your exnation, I''ll take my wife and go now." He looked calmly at Elizabeth, then took Anneliese''s hand and led her out. Elizabeth watched them with a cold expression as they left. ¡°Jonathan, I only wanted to meet my daughter-inw. She was the one who told you toe here and deliberately provoked me. What was her real motive?" Anneliese''s heart skipped a beat because she really had told Jonathan toe. She even sent him the caf¨¦''s address on her way here. Chapter 437 (54) Chapter 437 Why Are You Giving Me Flowers? Chapter 437 Why Are You Giving Me Flowers? +10 Free Coins Elizabeth had been in Oceaton for a while now, and Jonathan had never once brought Anneliese over to meet his mother. She only thought it was necessary to let him know that Elizabeth had suddenly reached out to her. She never imagined Jonathan would show up in person, or that he''d get there so fast and at just the right time. He walked in right as things with Elizabeth hit a breaking point, which made it look as if she really had orchestrated the whole thing just to drive a wedge between them. Anneliese instinctively nced at the man by her side, her heart tightening with worry. After all, Elizabeth was his mother. Maybe he''d believe Elizabeth over her? Back when Melody was always making snide remarks about her in front of Zacharias, he would tell her to swallow her pride and apologize, just to keep the peace at home. He''d also tell her to buy things for Melody and Lenora to keep them happy. Anneliese suddenly felt a wave of fear and uncertainty. Without even thinking, she tried to pull her hand from Jonathan''s, but he instantly squeezed her hand tighter, intertwining their fingers. He paused, turned back, and spoke coldly, "You''re overthinking it. No one can drive a wedge between us. Mom, next time you want to see Anne, let me know first.¡± With that, he ignored Elizabeth''s dark expression and strode out of the private room, all while holding Anneliese''s hand. He walked so fast that Anneliese had to jog to keep up. As soon as they stepped outside, she spotted the butler leaning against the wall, clutching his leg, looking like he was hurt. When he saw theme out, he shrank back even further, clearly trying not to be noticed. Anneliese was silent the whole way as Jonathan led her out of the caf¨¦. He only let go to let her get into the passenger seat, then walked around to get in the driver''s side. She was just thinking how to break the ice when Jonathan turned to her first. "Do you smell anything?" His voice was gentle now, the sharpness from beforepletely gone. Chapter 437 Why Are You Giving Me Flowers? His hair was still a bit damp, with traces of coffee left. 54 +10 Free Coins By all rights, he should have looked a mess, but he looked as calm andposed as ever. Some people just had that quality. No matter what happened, nothing could bring them down. Anneliese froze for a moment. Anyforting words she''d had were suddenly useless. She had to admit, she was impressed by his ability to handle his emotions, but then she picked up on the scent in the car. Now that he mentioned it, the car was definitely filled with a floral fragrance. "Do I smell roses?" She started to turn to look, and Jonathan reached into the back seat and brought out a huge bouquet of roses. The rich scent of roses filled the car, and Anneliese''s arms were suddenly overflowing with deep red blooms. She nced down at the roses. Those roses were Rhodos red roses, velvet and vibrant, absolutely beautiful. She couldn''t help feeling a bit surprised. ¡°Why are you giving me flowers? It''s not a special asion today." She leaned in to smell them, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jonathan. "Mm. I just wanted to. If you need a reason..." Jonathan started the car, then turned to look at her. "It''s on the card." Anneliese was curious why he''d brought flowers and even bothered to include a card. She looked through the bouquet, finally finding a small card hidden between the flowers. She flipped it over and saw a date written in Jonathan''s handwriting. It''s yesterday''s date. What did that mean? Was there something to celebrate yesterday... Passionate and wild images fromst night shed through her mind, and suddenly she knew exactly what he was celebrating. Her cheeks turned bright pink, whether from the roses or embarrassment. Chapter 437 Why Are You Giving Me Flowers? "You get it?" Jonathan tilted his head and smiled at her. 54 +10 Free Coins Anneliese shot him a re, then quickly stuffed the card into her bag like it was burning her fingers. Jonathan nced at her little move, the corners of his mouth curling up. It was obvious she liked the flowers. Maybe keeping Zion around had been worth it after all. She stroked the petals and took in the scent, but she didn''t forget to check on Jonathan. ¡°You should have spare clothes in the trunk, right? Want to stop at a hotel so you can shower and change?" As she spoke, she nced out the window, looking for a hotel nearby. Chapter 438 Chapter 438 But She''s Your Real Mom, Right? Chapter 438 But She''s Your Real Mom, Right? (54) +10 Free Coins As they neared the intersection, Jonathan slowed down until the car stoppedpletely. Just as Anneliese turned to look at him, he unfastened his seat belt and leaned in close. "Honey, are you inviting me to get a hotel room with you?" His incredibly handsome face suddenly loomed in front of her, his breath brushing against her nose. Hearing that ¡°Honey," Anneliese feltpletely overwhelmed. Her heart was pounding wildly. Hershes fluttered. "I just thought you''d be ufortable, stuck in those coffee- stained clothes. Don''t get any weird ideas!" Jonathan smirked. ¡°Well, let''s skip it then. I wouldn''t want our first hotel experience to go to waste." Anneliese was speechless. She blinked a few times, then reached over to grab hisrge hand, looking right at him. "Are you doing this on purpose just to cheer me up?¡± Jonathan paused, then gave her a helpless smile. "You''re pretty sharp." Anneliese''s eyes softened, and her heart felt like it was melting. That feeling when she worried the other person was upset and wanted tofort him, but he was the one trying to make herugh instead-it was like the warmest response deep in her soul, flooding through her. She quickly leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips, but as she tried to pull away, his big hand mped around the back of her neck, pulling her into a real kiss. He sucked lightly on her lips, his tongue slipping in, kissing her hard and deep. Anneliese''s eyes widened, but she didn''t forget they were in the middle of traffic. Anyone behind them could probably see everything. Almost as if in response to her thought, she heard a car horn. Her cheeks burned, and she tried to pull away. Chapter 438 But She''s Your Real Mom, Right? (54) +10 Free Coins Jonathan wasn''t satisfied yet. He deepened the kiss even more, teasing her with his tongue. Not until Anneliese let out a faint whimper did he finally let her go. She was breathless, her cheeks flushed bright red. Jonathan lifted a hand, gently brushing her lips with his thumb before saying in a husky voice, "Honey, you''re so sweet." Anneliese shot him a yful re and turned to look out the window. Seeing her get shy again, Jonathan took her hand in his and said, "Weren''t you trying tofort me? A kiss works best. There are even better ways, though. Honey, you''re so smart. I know you get what I mean." Anneliese turned back, meeting his eyes. "Stop changing the subject! I''m talking about you. I''m not upset or mad. You saw how I handled your mom just now. I did great. So you don''t have to keep cheering me up. Really." She and Elizabeth had just met for the first time. She didn''t care about her and had no expectations, so nothing Elizabeth did could really hurt her. It was Jonathan who had been the one to get coffee thrown on him and argue with his mother. He was the one who neededfort and cheering up. Yet he put her feelings first, like he always did. He tried so hard to make herugh, trying to make her feel better. She was touched, but she also felt a pang of guilt, like she wasn''t doing enough for him. He looked at her. "I wasn''t trying to cheer you up. I just wanted you to be happy." Her heart skipped a beat again as a surge of emotions washed over her. It was almost too much. She felt like if this went on any longer, she''d fall even harder for him. So she hurried to change the subject. "So, you and your mom... Is there something going on between you two?" Her eyes held a touch of concern. Jonathan''s gaze softened, warmth flickering in his expression. He reached out and ruffled her hair. "You don''t have to be so polite. My rtionship with her has always been pretty average." 54 Chapter 438 But She''s Your Real Mom, Right? The light turned green, so he sat back, buckled his seat belt, and started driving again. Anneliese watched him. "But she''s your real mom, right?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "What, do you think she doesn''t love me?" Anneliese quickly shook her head. "No, I didn''t mean that!" +10 Free Coins Jonathan chuckled, watching how nervous she got, then reached over and gently pinched her cheek. "She probably doesn''t love me all that much. The only reason she liked Selina was because she would listen to her. She just wanted someone she could use to control me." He sounded casual, but Anneliese felt awful just hearing it. She could rte, because her own parents didn''t love her either. Any warmth or kindness they ever showed her always came with a hidden agenda. Only people who had lived through it could truly understand what it was like not to be loved by their own parents. It wasn''t easy to get over. She put the roses in the back seat, leaned over, and looped her arms loosely around his, snuggling up to him like a clingy kitten. Chapter 439 +10 Free Coins Chapter 439 Come Check Out Grandma''s Photography Skills "Come on, don''t get too close. You''re going to get coffee stains all over yourself." But Anneliese didn''t let go. She clung even tighter, mumbling, "I just want to be close to you." Jonathan looked a little resigned. Honestly, he wasn''t feeling that sad or hurt. He was a grown man. His heart had gotten tough and cold a long time ago, and he''d outgrown needing a mother''s love. He''d epted the truth that his mother didn''t love him when he was just 13 or 14. Now, nothing Elizabeth did could really get to him. What actually got to him was the way Anneliese handled him so gently, like he was some fragile item. It made him want tough, but at the same time, it softened that cold, tough heart of his. She just had a knack for stirring up his heart, always making him feel something without even realizing it. And honestly, that was a feeling he could get addicted to. The faint smile on Jonathan''s lips quickly vanished. He frowned and sighed lightly. "Hey, nobody ever said parents have to love their kids. I just didn''t get any motherly love, that''s all. I''ll make up for it in other ways, right?" His voice sounded a little down, and Anneliese''s heart ached for him. She knew it. There was no way he could be totally unfazed. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder, nodding over and over. "Uh-huh. There are plenty of people out there who would want to love you and take care of you..." Jonathan''s Adam''s apple bobbed. ¡°Does that include you?¡± Anneliese''sshes fluttered. She bit her lip, cheeks burning. "Of course! We''re married. You look out for me and make me happy, so I''ll do the same for you! My parents don''t love me either. Looks like we''re a perfect match!" Chapter 439 Come Check Out Grandma''s Photography Skills 54 +10 Free Coins Even though she never said "I love you" out loud, Jonathan was already more than satisfied. He nodded in agreement, grabbed one of her hands, and pressed it to his chest. Then he said in a low and husky voice, "Then give me a little rub. It hurts a bit." Anneliese''s sweetness made his heart beat so fast it actually ached. Her palmnded right over his strong heartbeat, and she gently massaged his chest. Jonathan couldn''t hold back his smile anymore. When they finally pulled over, Anneliese realized they hadn''t headed back to Maple Bay. Instead, they''d arrived at Pinepeak Bay Vi, where Penelope lived. Anneliese looked surprised. "Why are we here? Did Grandma invite us over for dinner?" Jonathan raised his eyebrows. "You''ll see in a minute.¡± He got out of the car first, and Anneliese hurried to follow. Jonathan had already opened the back seat and taken out the flowers for her. That huge bouquet that filled her arms looked tiny when he carried it in one hand. He took her hand and led her to the house. Before they even reached the door, Penelope came out, having heard from the staff that they''d arrived. It was deep winter, and the yard lights and streetmps were already on, bathing the young couple in a warm glow. Jonathan was holding the flowers, making the whole scene even sweeter. Penelope whipped out her phone and snapped several pictures of the couple right away. "Look at that! My blockheaded grandson finally figured it out. He''s actually giving Anneliese flowers!" She tucked her phone away and teased her grandson, not expecting a reply. Then she looked at Anneliese. "Anne,e check out Grandma''s photography skills." Penelope showed Anneliese the photos. In the photo, the two of them were holding hands, walking together, looking sweet and close. Her eyes lit up. It was their first photo together. Chapter 439 Come Check Out Grandma''s Photography Skills She really liked it. "Grandma, you did a wonderful job," Anneliese praised her. A54 54 +10 Free Coins Penelope lifted her chin proudly. "Of course! But this photo only turned out great because our Anne is so pretty. All I have to do is snap, and it''s perfect! I''ll send them to youter." Anneliese blushed, looping her arm through Penelope''s as they walked inside. "Grandma, let''s go in. It''s cold out here." When they stepped inside, a staff member immediately noticed Jonathan''s state. "Oh my, what happened to you, Mr. Jonathan?" Penelope turned her attention to Jonathan. Under the bright crystal chandelier, Jonathan''s messy, coffee-stained suit stood out. "What happened?" Jonathan ran a hand through his hair. "Just got some coffee spilled on me. Grandma, I''ll go get cleaned up first." Chapter 440 Chapter 440 I Like Grandma Chapter 440 I Like Grandma : 54 +10 Free Coins Given Jonathan''s status, no one in their right mind would dare to dump coffee on him. Penelope knew exactly who was responsible for this mess. She nodded as if it were nothing, then turned and gave Anneliese''s hand a gentle pat. "Dinner''s not ready yet. Anne, go change into something morefortable, and help Jonathan while you''re at it.¡± "Okay, I''ll get changed ande back down to keep youpany, Grandma." Anneliese obediently followed Jonathan upstairs. As soon as their figures disappeared at the elevator, Penelope''s expression darkened. "Elizabeth is just getting more and more out of line!" The maid beside her didn''t darement. Penelope picked up her phone and dialed Elizabeth. At that moment, Elizabeth was still on her way home, stuck in traffic and annoyed. Seeing Penelope''s call pop up, she frowned but answered anyway. ¡°Penelope.....¡± "Elizabeth, you''re going too far. I have never once used my mother-inw status to pressure you or make you suffer, but you''ve got some nerve bullying Anneliese.¡± Elizabeth''s face stiffened. "Penelope, you''ve got it all wrong, that''s not what happened! Where are you hearing this from?" That''s just great. Anneliese is really something else. She''d barely left and already ran to tattle to Penelope. That old hen haspletely lost her mind. How dare she put me down for that little tramp! "I handpicked that granddaughter-inw myself. Do you have a problem with that? Nobody said a thing to me. I invited both kids over for dinner, and what you did is written all over Jonathan. You think I can''t see for myself? You''re giving me a headache!" Elizabeth''s expression darkened. Chapter 440 I Like Grandma : 000 (54) +10 Free Coins Penelope clearly didn''t care what she had to say or exin. She was just dead set on siding with Anneliese. If Anneliese actually came from a good background, maybe she could understand and let it go. But Anneliese was beneath Jonathan in every way, and yet Penelope wasn''t trying to get them to divorce before anyone in Halden found out. Instead, she was letting things slide and even scolding Elizabeth, the current Fullbuster family matriarch, all for Anneliese. "Penelope..." She frowned, but Penelope cut her off with a weary sigh. "Enough. You''ve been in Oceaton long enough. If you have nothing better to do, just go back to Halden or go abroad for a while. You''re pushing middle age already, and you still haven''t figured your life out. Stop meddling in the kids'' marriage!" With that, Penelope hung up. Elizabeth clutched her phone, her chest rising and falling with anger. Under the neon lights streaming in through the car window, her face looked grim. Jonathan led Anneliese into the room Penelope had prepared for themst time. Thankfully, everything inside was perfectly normal this time. "Go take a shower. I''ll get you some fresh clothes." Anneliese figured Jonathan had to be ufortable, so she hurried him. She turned to head for the closet, but he caught her by the wrist. "What is it?" Anneliese nced back. ¡°Let''s shower together, okay?" He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder, his nose nuzzling the side of her neck. The thought of sharing a shower with him brought back all the wild memories ofst night. The rush of hormones was overwhelming. Anneliese''s ears turned pink. She really wasn''t ready for that. "I... I didn''t get coffee on me. Go shower, I want to go back down and talk with Grandma." Chapter 440 I Like Grandma Seeing her avoid his gaze, Jonathan knew she was shy. (54) +10 Free Coins But he also didn''t trust his own self-control at the moment. He had checked her that morning and noticed she was still red and sore down there. Part of the reason he brought her to Penelope''s was so Elizabeth could get a taste of being scolded by a mother-inw. It was partially to stand up for his wife. The other reason was, if they went home together, he knew he''d probably lose control and push her too far. "Fine, looks like I can''tpete with Grandma''s charm." He let go of Anneliese, his handsome face full of regret. Anneliese grinned and smacked him yfully. ¡°Mm, I like Grandma! If it weren''t for her, I probably wouldn''t have married you." She slipped away into the closet. Jonathan watched her disappear and could only shake his head in resignation. Chapter 441 Chapter 441 Jonathan''s Childhood Chapter 441 Jonathan''s Childhood This ungrateful little brat. (54) +10 Free Coins He had been so good to her, and yet he still couldn''tpare to Grandma. Clearly, he needed to step up his game. When Anneliese came out of the closet, she could already hear the shower running in the bathroom. She ced the clean clothes she''d picked out on the armchair by the bathroom and knocked on the door. "I left your clothes by the door." Jonathan turned off the shower, just in time to hear the quick sound of her running off. She ran off faster than a rabbit. But the more she acted like that, the more it made his heart itch. All the memories fromst night came flooding back-her soft, slender body, the way she melted in his arms, the way she looked when she lost herself in him. It just made him want her even more. When Jonathan turned the shower back on, he switched to cold water. The icy spray hit his skin, running down his neck, and his muscles tensed up, veins standing out across his shoulders and arms. The water streamed over his chest and abs, pooling at his core. Jonathan''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he looked down. Tsk. It didn''t help. Downstairs, Anneliese was in Penelope''s room, looking through photo albums. There were plenty of pictures of Jonathan as a kid. The first one was of him as a naked baby¨D totally unclothed, grinning wide, his little arms and legs plump and adorable. He looked just like a doll. Anneliese smiled as she flipped through the photos. If they had a baby, it would probably be at least as cute as Jonathan in these pictures. Chapter 441 Jonathan''s Childhood Wait a minute, what am I even thinking? I''m still young and need to focus on my career. Why am I daydreaming about babies? Something''s wrong with me! Z54) +10 Free Coins Honestly, the national birth rate probably dropped because they didn''t put baby Jonathan in the promotion ads! She flipped one page after another. Jonathan proved what it meant to be born handsome. Even before he lost his baby fat, he had the look of a golden, privileged little heir. By middle school, he looked like he''d stepped out of a painting. When he was in high school, he was honestly the kind of guy every girl would have a crush on. But in all those photos, Anneliese never once spotted Elizabeth. She clearly saw Penelope, Jonathan''s father, and grandfather in the albums. ¡°Grandma, can I ask why there aren''t any photos of Mrs. Fullbuster here?" Anneliese finally couldn''t help but ask. Penelope took her hand and let out a long sigh. "Elizabeth and Jonathan''s father had a business marriage. They had about six peaceful months after the wedding, but then..." Penelope''s face turned a bit embarrassed. "It''s actually a bit shameful to talk about. When Elizabeth was pregnant with Jonathan, my son Keh made a stupid mistake and cheated on her..." Basically, Elizabeth found out Keh had cheated when she was about to give birth. The shock sent her into earlybor, and she had a rough delivery. Betrayed by her husband and hurt by childbirth, Elizabeth took it all out on Jonathan. One month after Jonathan was born, she left him behind and went overseas. Keh tried to win her back, but a woman like Elizabeth would never forgive a humiliation like that. On top of that, the Fullbuster and Hoff families were tied up in business, so they couldn''t divorce. Later, Penelope and Jonathan''s grandfather, Derek Fullbuster, tried to make up for it by giving Elizabeth 5% of Fullbuster Group''s shares, hoping she''d at least stop resenting her own child for the sake of the money. Chapter 441 Jonathan''s Childhood But once she had the shares, Elizabeth just lived it up abroad and never came back. 54 +10 Free Coins Six monthster, she ran into her first love in Falvaria. From then on, she and Keh livedpletely separate lives. Jonathan was the one who suffered. He grew up without love from either parent and was raised almost entirely by his grandparents. When Jonathan was about 7 or 8 years old, the Hoff family''s business started failing. Elizabeth used her dividends from the Fullbuster Group to bail them out, and things got tight for her. Then, her first love betrayed her, which made her even more bitter. But that brought her back to the country. Seeing Jonathan again made her feel guilty, so she insisted on taking him back to raise herself. At that time, Jonathan still longed for motherly love, so he agreed. Derek and Penelope thought it might help heal him too. But within a week, Elizabeth lost patience with being a "good mom." Little Jonathan was left alone all the time. Then, six monthster, Elizabeth took him to a mountain ranch with her friends. He got lost in the mountains, and she didn''t even realize it untilte at night when she saw his bed empty. By the time they found him, he was burning up with fever and unconscious. Chapter 442 Chapter 442 You''re Trending Online 54 +10 Free Coins Afraid that Penelope and Derek would find out, Elizabeth took Jonathan back to the hotel and tried to bring his fever down herself. But she gave him the wrong medicine, and little Jonathan ended up in the hospital''s emergency room. From that point on, things had never been right between them. Penelope took Anneliese''s hand, speaking with a solemn, heartfelt tone, "It''s my fault for not raising my son right. He never learned how to be a good husband or father, and that''s why things turned out this way. "Elizabeth never wanted a divorce, but she never tried to get close to Jonathan, either. The truth is, the Fullbuster family was the one who hurt her first, so I can''t really ask much from her. But in the end, it''s Jonathan who''s suffered and paid the price. ¡°Jonathan''s grandpa was strict with him from the time he was little. Having parents like that wasn''t much different than not having any at all. Actually, maybe it would have been better if he''d had none at all. "He took over the family business in his early twenties, never really had a chance to just enjoy life. Anne, I know it''s shameless to ask, but could you love him a little more? For Grandma''s sake?" When Jonathan came downstairs to find Anneliese, Penelope had just stepped out to take a call from an old friend. Anneliese was still flipping through the photo album, head down. Jonathan sat next to her and pulled her into his arms. "Enjoying the album?" Anneliese was so absorbed she didn''t even notice hime in. Wrapped in his arms, she finally looked up, her eyes bright with a smile. "They''re great, especially this one!" She flipped to the very first page, showing a naked photo of him as a baby, Jonathan was speechless. He pped his big hand down over the embarrassing baby picture. "Why would Grandma even show you that?" Chapter 442 You''re Trending Online That''s so embarrassing! Anneliese tugged his hand away. "Why hide it? You were cute!¡± 000(54) +10 Free Coins Jonathan''s eyes darkened, and he whispered in her ear, his tone teasing, "It''s still pretty cute now." Anneliese was about to say he was handsome, not cute. What guy wanted to be called cute, anyway? But then she met his mischievous gaze and got it instantly. She averted her eyes. "Not cute at all!" That thing he was hinting at was definitely more dangerous than cute! Jonathan nipped lightly at her ear. "Anne, you''re being unfair. You''re so biased. It only ever listens to you. When you tease it, you always get the best reaction. How is that not cute?" Anneliese was left speechless by his bold words. Her cheeks burned, and when she looked up, she noticed Penelope on the terrace, still on the phone but turning toward them. Flustered, she pushed the man away and hurriedly flipped a few pages in the album, pointing at a new photo. "Hey, have you been to Baytree? This picture was taken there. That''s actually near my ce!" In the photo, Jonathan was a teenager, maybe 14 or 15. He wore a ck tracksuit and a baseball cap, looking cool and a little impatient as he stood on a boat''s bow. Behind him, the clock tower of Baytree was clearly visible. "You know, I used to y by that river all the time when I was a kid. Maybe we even crossed paths back then! When I look at this photo, you really do seem familiar.....¡± She had noticed the photo earlier and thought it was such a coincidence. She had to share it with Jonathan. She was happily telling him about it when he suddenly snapped the album shut. The photo disappeared, and Anneliese turned to look at him in confusion. Maybe it was just her imagination, but for a split second, she thought she saw something like panic or fear in his eyes. "What''s wrong?" "The maid said dinner''s ready. Aren''t you hungry?" Jonathan nced toward the door, and Anneliese saw that the maid was indeeding over. Chapter 442 You''re Trending Online She didn''t think much about it and let Jonathan help her to her feet. That night, the two of them stayed at Penelope''s ce. 64) +10 Free Coins Even though Jonathan cuddled and kissed Anneliese for a long time that night, he kept things pretty tame. After all, Penelope was around, and they couldn''t be too loud. They both actually got a decent night''s sleep for once. But the next morning, Anneliese was woken by the sound of her phone ringing. She fumbled for her phone and answered sleepily, ¡°Hello?¡± There was a moment of silence before Jessica''s exasperated voice came through. "Annie, you''re not still asleep, are you? Jonathan must have worn you outst night. Seriously, you need to get it together. Something huge just happened. You''re trending online!" "What? Trending? Me?" Anneliese was still groggy, but the news jolted her awake. But she just couldn''t figure it out. She was just a regr nobody, not some celebrity. Why would she be trending online? Chapter 443 Could it be that my marriage with Jonathan got exposed? "I just sent you the link. Go check it out!" Within seconds, Anneliese''s phone started going off nonstop. Her WhatsApp was blowing up too, with new messages popping up every second. 54 +10 Free Coins She sat up and ignored all the random questions, going straight to her pinned chat with Jessica. Jessica had sent her a bunch of links. "Got it," Anneliese replied as she clicked on one. "God, I knew it! Zacharias is like a bad penny that won''t go away. You two are divorced, and his mistress is still out here stirring up trouble, dragging you through the mud. Honestly, if they''re not causing drama, they just don''t feel right about themselves!" Anneliese quickly scrolled through the trending hashtags, her brows furrowing. AcademicFraudAnnelieseude# HighSchoolerPretendsToBeResearcherBeats PhD StudentsJoins TopLab# uderias TechCEOExposedForCheating# It turned out Coral had posted an anonymous thread on Astoria University''s campus forum in the middle of the night. In the post, Coral imed she''d been dating a guy off-campus and gotten pregnant. Then her boyfriend was stolen by a homewrecker. The homewrecker not only stole her almost-fianc¨¦ but also pushed her boyfriend to force her into an abortion. ording to Coral, this homewrecker was supposed to be a high schooler. She''d faked her identity and slipped into Astoria University, seducing the campus heartthrob Jackson and even several professors. She even sabotaged Coral, stirring up so much trouble that Coral was about to get expelled. Coral painted herself as the underdog: a poor girl who fought her way out of a remote mountain vige to get into Astoria University, only to lose everything over a failed rtionship. She imed she''d been left with nothing-tricked, abandoned, forced into an Chapter 443 Anneliese''s Sugar Daddy : abortion, and now about to drop out with nowhere to go. 54 +10 Free Coins There were several photos of Anneliese in the post, all taken on the Astoria University campus. Some showed her walking with Jackson, others showed her having dinner with the members of Alexander''sb. Every picture was carefully picked to look as ambiguous as possible, and with Coral''s confession about her own abortion and uing expulsion, the story seemed convincing. The post even mentioned the involvement of the campus idol, Jackson, and faculty like Alexander, so even though it was the middle of the night, the topic instantly blew up. In less than an hour, people figured out that the poster was once the campus belle from the Finance Department, Coral. People also recognized that the so-called sc*mbag who forced Coral into an abortion was uderias Tech''s CEO, Zacharias. The "homewrecker" was, of course, Anneliese. As the original poster, Coral confirmed theizens'' spections directly. The post quickly spread to Twitter. Netizens also dug up that Anneliese had recently joined Alexander''s top researchb. There was even a picture of Anneliese and Alexander standing outside a restaurant, with a tall, elegant man in a suit next to her. Even though the guy''s face wasn''t visible, he was quicklybeled as Anneliese''s sugar daddy¡ª Zacharias. Online sleuths imed he had helped her fake her academic records and pulled strings to get her into Alexander''sb, leaving several other PhD students rejected. Many Astoria University students rushed online to confirm there was no such beauty as Anneliese at their campus, insisting she must have faked her credentials to get into Alexander''sb. The gossip frenzy hit a fever pitch. The story involved college students, rich CEOs, affairs, abortions, and academic fraud... Each element was perfect for a social media storm. By the next morning, the story had rocketed to the top of the trending charts, with several relevant hashtags exploding in poprity and the buzz still going strong. Anneliese finished reading through the whole insane post and honestly had to hand it to Coral for her ability to turn the story upside down. She just couldn''t figure out why Coral was suddenly dragging her into all this. They hadn''t spoken in ages. While she was still trying to make sense of it, the door opened and a tall, sharp- looking man Chapter 443 Anneliese''s Sugar Daddy appeared. He was wearing a dark gray suit, a ck satin tie, and shiny ck dress shoes. Clearly, he''d juste straight from outside and hadn''t even changed his shoes. 0000(4) +10 Free Coins ¡°Don''t take down the trending stories yet. Just let it cool off a bit. Keep monitoring the situation. Have Fullbuster Group and AeroAir''s PR teams draft up statements and wait for my word. That''s it for now." He finished the call in a calm, unhurried tone, then walked over to Anneliese. Chapter 444 : Chapter 444 Everything Okay? (54) +10 Free Coins "Everything okay?" Jonathan noticed the phone still lit in Anneliese''s hand and figured she must''ve seen the trending post already. He tugged his suit pants a little higher and sat on the edge of the bed. Then, he reached over, pulled her out from under the nket, and settled her on hisp. His voice came low and gentle. His lips were brushing the tight space between her brows as if he could smooth away the worry there. "Don''t..." she blurted. "Wait, I''m still on the phone with Jess!" Her irritation from seeing the news online was tangling with the confusion of his sudden tenderness. She pushed a hand against his chest and whispered the reminder, afraid he might take it further. That was when Jessica''s voice cut in, sharp and dry. "You know what, forget it. Guess I was worrying for nothing. I''ll hang up. I wouldn''t wanna interrupt your little make-out session." Jessica had heard enough. Jonathan''s soft voice and the quiet, intimate sounds in the background told her everything. Even through the phone, she could feel that steady control around him, calm and deliberate, impossible to shake. For someone like Jonathan, burying a trending topic would be child''s y. And honestly, there wasn''t much Jessica could do now besides try tofort Anneliese, though it was obvious Jonathan had already taken over that role himself. All of a sudden, Jessica felt a small wave of sadness wash over her. It feels like that ambitious b*stard''s starting to steal the spot I used to have in Anneliese''s heart. Honestly, I dislike it immensely. As long as Anneliese was happy, that was all Jessica ever wanted to see. Her mood dipped for barely a second before she hung up the phone on her own. She cracked her knuckles and went right back to typing on her phone. She fired back at a bunch of clueless, foul-mouthed strangers online. This girl looks too perfect to be real. Like, do people even look like that in real life? Must''ve had a bunch of work done. Mr. Fullbuster really ain''t picky! Onement was written. Jessica shot back without missing a beat. ''Yeah, yeah. You''re ugly, so you must be right. Virtue Chapter 444 Everything Okay? bes a vice in the eyes of the corrupt. : 54 +10 Free Coins Anotherment popped up. ''Not judging or anything, but this side chick''s hot as hell. With that waist and those legs, she''s probably damaged goods. Girls like her are only good for a quick ride. When Mr. Fullbuster finally dumps her, I''ll throw in one thousand just to have a turn.'' Jessica rolled her eyes and fired off a reply. ''How about I use that one thousand to buy your pathetic life instead? How about you quit clowning around and try acting human for once?'' That side chick can''t evenpare to Coral. She''s a top student at Astoria University. That''s what I call a real goddess from a small-town sess story!'' Wow, you''re good at kissing *ss. Whatever Coral says, you nod like a bobblehead. She''d love a brainless fanboy like you.'' Jessica kept going, fingers flying, too mad even to notice the time. ¡°I''m fine. You just got back?¡± Anneliese leaned into Jonathan''s arms, breathing in the clean, familiar scent that always made her feel grounded. Her nerves finally started to settle. Moments ago, seeing her name all over the trending list and reading that flood of hatefulments had sent her into panic. She wasn''t some celebrity. She was just an ordinary woman who never imagined she''d one day be the target of a full- blown online witch hunt. It felt like the whole world was watching from the shadows, their eyes sharp with malice, ready to strip her bare andsh out. There wasn''t a shred of safety left in her. But the moment Jonathan stepped through the door, that suffocating fear seemed to fade. Every bit of darkness that had been creeping toward her scattered in his presence. Even she was startled by how safe this man could make her feel. "Yeah, I was almost at the office when I saw the trending tag, so I rushed back. Guess I was still a little toote. You already saw it," Jonathan said, running a hand through her hair before continuing. "The topic''s already blown up. I could have it taken down, but it''s smarter not to. I''ve reached out to Astoria University, Professor Clocke, and the Fullbuster Group''s PR department. Once we settle on a time, we''ll release a joint statement.¡± Anneliese blinked at him. "The Fullbuster Group''s PR department? What kind of statement?" Don''t tell me he''s actually nning to go public with our marriage now? Before she could even finish being surprised, Jonathan pinched her cheek lightly. "An official Chapter 444 Everything Okay? 54 +10 Free Coins announcement, obviously. That you''re Mrs. Fullbuster. What''s wrong with people online? Do they need sses? How could they mistake me for someone else?" It was the first time he''d shown even a hint of irritation since walking in. Apparently, he wasn''t angry about the scandal itself, but about being mistaken for Zacharias. For once, his usual low profile came back to bite him. Anneliese couldn''t help it. After seeing that frown on his expression, she burst outughing. "What''s so funny?" Jonathan asked, narrowing his eyes. "Oh,e on. This isn''t exactly good news. Who in their right mind gets jealous over being dragged into a public scandal?" she said betweenughs. Zacharias is probably losing his mind right now,pletely falling apart. And Jonathan? He''s over hereining that the people online didn''t recognize him instead. "Mrs. Fullbuster, watch your tone," he warned, voice firm but teasing. ¡°You''re not allowed tough. I''m your man. The only one." This whole thing is supposed to be serious. Really important. Chapter 445 Chapter 445 She Couldn''t Stand Dragging Him Into It Chapter 445 She Couldn''t Stand Dragging Him Into It 54 +10 Free Coins Jonathan gave Anneliese a light tap on the head. The look in his eyes made it clear he wasn''t amused, and she quickly wiped the smile off her lips. "Hey, maybe now''s not the best time to go public about our marriage?" she asked carefully. The second the words left her mouth, Jonathan''s expression shifted. His brows drew together, the air around him growing colder. "You don''t want to? Or am I just that embarrassing to be seen with?" Jonathan''s tone shifted near the end, a hint of hurt slipping into his voice. Anneliese shook her head fast. "No, it''s not that. You''re too worth showing off! That''s exactly the problem. If we make it official right now, I''ll be under so much pressure.¡± She understood why he wanted to do it. If Jonathan announced their marriage, all those online rumors about her being someone''s side chick or whatever would die instantly. Plus, with Astoria University and Alexander stepping in to confirm she really had studied there, even if people still doubted her, she''d have the Fullbuster Group standing behind her. With proper PR control, public opinion can shift quickly. It was the smartest, cleanest fix. But she was still the inte''s favorite scandal at the moment, the center of every nastyment. Jonathan was trying to protect her, and she couldn''t stand the thought of dragging him into the mess. This move might calm things down for her, but it would only stir up more trouble for him. She could already hear thements, people saying he was the rich fool backing her, the guy dumb enough to buy her way into a researchb. They would call him blind for falling for a divorced woman and use him of shielding her if she couldn''t handle a scratch. Worse still, they''d start questioning if someone like that should even be leading AeroAir. Thepany''s reputation and even Fullbuster Group''s stock could take a hit. As much as Anneliese tried not to belittle herself, she knew deep down that right now she didn''t deserve him. When Jonathan said he wanted to make their rtionship public, her anxiety wasn''t fake. She hadn''t even met his grandfather, Derek Fullbuster, or his father, Keh Fullbuster. Not to mention all the rtives living out at the Halden. I keep thinking, if thepany takes a hit because of me before I even meet his family, how am I ever supposed to show up at their door like I belong there? Chapter 445 She Couldn''t Stand Dragging Him Into It (54) +10 Free Coins "Everything Coral''s been saying? Totally bogus. Clearing it up won''t be hard. I can handle it myself,¡± Anneliese said, looping her arms around his neck and batting her eyes. "I just... wanted to do something big first, you know? Achieve something before we''re officially ''us.'' I wanted people to gush about how perfect we are, not have the whole inte dragging us while I turn into some stain on your life. So, no announcement yet, okay, hubby..." Her voice was soft, teasing, dripping with charm. Typically, Jonathan would''ve melted like putty in her hands, agreeing to whatever she wanted. But this time his expression was unreadable and his lips were pressed thin. He didn''t say a word. He had that quiet kind of pressure that made it impossible to move. Anneliese swallowed, feeling her words die on her tongue. She just stared at him, looking helpless. After a long beat, she couldn''t take it anymore. Her tiny butt wiggled on his thigh, and she nervously poked at his chest with a fingertip. "Are you mad?¡± "Stop moving," Jonathan grunted. Then, without warning, he spread his legs and gave her a sharp smack on the butt. It was part warning, part punishment, for rubbing against him and for dragging her feet on going public. He didn''t hold back. The impact made her flesh jiggle under his palm, and Anneliese couldn''t help but gasp. It doesn''t really hurt much, but it''s so embarrassing. Anneliese''s eyes were a bit red at the corners as she leaned into his shoulder. ¡°Can''t we just talk like normal? I''ve already been scolded so badly, and now you''re hitting me too! Boohoo." She pressed her head against his neck, letting out the most fake-sounding sobs imaginable. Even so, Jonathan felt a tug in his chest, a soft ache that made him almost slump. He gave her shoulder a gentle pat, his voice rough. "You''re not my stain. Never have been. Never will be." Something stirred in Anneliese''s chest. Her nose tingled a little, and she nuzzled against him. Jonathan''s chest sank again. "Stop with the fake sweetness. Are you trying to get me to tie myself to marriage with you at any moment?¡± That''s why she doesn''t want anyone to know we''re married. She''s always on edge, ready to step back, ready to leave me at a moment''s notice. Anneliese didn''t meet his gaze, or she would''ve caught the dark, almost obsessive Chapter 445 She Couldn''t Stand Dragging Him Into It +10 Free Coins possessiveness lurking in Jonathan''s eyes. "Huh? Why would you think that? I swear, I didn''t mean anything like that." I''m not like that. Things are going pretty well between us right now. How could I want to walk away at any moment? Even this so-called contract marriage still has almost two years left. When that timees, I''ll go only if he actually wants me to. Anneliese''s words didn''t feel like she was trying to soothe him, but Jonathan felt a little lighter inside. Still, he knew she was keeping her distance. She wasn''t about to owe him anything, and she wasn''t going to lean on himpletely. Chapter 446 Chapter 446 Disappointment and Helplessness Chapter 446 Disappointment and Helplessness Z30 +10 Free Coins Jonathan felt a mix of disappointment and helplessness, but he didn''t want to push her. Just then, Anneliese noticed her phone lighting up. She nced at Jonathan and said, "It''s probably Zacharias." Her phone had barely had a moment of peacetely. The calls, texts, and random unknown numbers were constantly buzzing. She had just put it on silent. However, the screen now showed a call from the director of the PR department at uderias Tech. Still, Anneliese knew who it really was. She had blocked Zacharias, Jackie, and Melody, but former colleagues from uderias Tech weren''t on her blocklist. "Go ahead. See what he wants." The mess online had all started with Coral. Jonathan looked annoyed, but gave her the nod to answer. Anneliese swiped to pick up and quickly switched it to speaker with recording on. "Anne, it''s me!" Zacharias'' hoarse voice came through. Anneliese hadn''t seen Zacharias in a while, and somehow he felt strange, almost like a shadow she didn''t quite recognize. It wasn''t the dizzying pull he used to have on her. It was the sudden realization that he really seemed to have slipped out of her life. Even something like this happening barely stirred a flicker of feeling inside her. She''d fully stepped out of it. She was ready to forget him. "Zacharias, seriously? Your little side chick pulls this stunt, and you still have the nerve to call me?" Anneliese snapped. ¡°Anne, I... I didn''t expect Coral to go this far, to turn it all back on us, I¡ª¡± ¡°Spare me the ¡®us. Just say what you need to say." Anneliese cut him off, irritation sharp in her tone. Zacharias felt it like a slow scrape across his chest. He drew in a steadying breath before speaking. ¡°Coral... she wants us to meet her." He gave her the time and address. Anneliese looked at Jonathan and said nothing wordlessly. "I want to go." Coral is making such a scene, I''ve got to see for myself what she''s trying to pull. Chapter 446 Disappointment and Helplessness Jonathan cut in, his voice low and sharp. ¡°She''s nothing. You don''t need to see her." +10 Free Coins Anneliese froze, taken aback by his directness. She looked at him, eyes wide, feeling a little helpless. Before she could even say anything, Zacharias snapped, his anger ring. "Jonathan! You''re here too? Anne, how could you let him eavesdrop on our call?" Anneliese just stared, totally speechless. I wanna swear. D*mn it, Zacharias is the real stain on my life! How the hell have I been blind all these years? "Are you out of your mind? What''s wrong with me taking this call with my hubby? You think I''d pick up without his okay? Apologize to him right now!" Anneliese practically unleashed a storm on her phone. Zacharias'' expression went pale. "Anne, you want me to apologize to him? You''re always so independent, so strong-willed. And now you''re letting him control even your calls? If he hadn''t thrown money around to fake things and get you into theb, would you even be taking this kind of abuse online? He''s the one who should take the me here. He looks down on you because of your background and education, doesn''t he? Anne, he never really loved you!" Anneliese rolled her eyes, utterly exasperated. Her voice went icy. "I said apologize to him. Right now. Or I''m hanging up." Zacharias let out a shuddering breath, trembling with anger. Anneliese actually threatens me like this for Jonathan. She takes his side every time. She''s willing to humiliate me just for him. Zacharias thought back to all those times he had begged Anneliese to apologize for Coral and Selina, over and over. It felt like a boomerang had shredded his heart. But the mess online had blown up way too big. uderias Tech''s website got hit hard. By the time morning came, the stock had started tanking, dropping more and more. Right now, Zacharias desperately needed to figure out a solution with Anneliese. His Adam''s apple bobbed painfully as he finally spoke. "Mr. Fullbuster, I... I''m sorry. That came out wrong." Jonathan, though, never once looked away from Anneliese. I feel cared for and protected by Honey. The way Honey threatens Zacharias for me? Honestly, it''s such a Chapter 446 Disappointment and Helplessness 10 Free Coins rush. Jonathan ignored Zacharias entirely. Instead, he tilted Anneliese''s chin up and kissed her sharply. "Ah... mm... mm!" Anneliese''s startled gasp turned into the unmistakable sound of a heated, lingering kiss. On the other end, Zacharias realized what was happening. His expression went pale, eyes zing red. ¡°Anne? Jonathan! What... what are you doing to her? How could you " Before he could finish, the call cut off with a snap. Zacharias mmed his phone against the wall in frustration. Half an hourter, Jonathan still drove Anneliese to the restaurant Coral had mentioned. Chapter 447 Chapter 447 There''s No In-Between Chapter 447 There''s No In-Between ¡°Alright, don''t get out. I''ll go in by myself," Anneliese said, tugging at her seatbelt. (000 +10 Free Coins She was nervous about reporters lurking around. If they caught Jonathan, it would be a mess. She reached for the car door. But Jonathan grabbed the back of her neck and spun her back around with one firm hand. "We go in together, or we leave together. There''s no in-between." Anneliese just stared at him, words failing her. I feel like ever since I shot down his n to go public, this guy has gotten seriously short-tempered... Anneliese hadn''t seen Coral in ages. Thest time she remembered, Coral was always perfectly made up, dressed to the nines, with this glint in her eyes that screamed ambition. But the Coral standing in front of her now looked frail and worn out. Her skin was pale, almost sickly, her hair dry and lifeless. The sharp edge of anger around her made her seem years older, drained of that youthful college energy and spark she once had. It''s obvious Coral''s been through helltely. But I don''t really get it. Even if she and Zacharias had a falling out, there''s no way he''d treat her that badly. Just from the time she spent around him, she should have had enough to get by and make it through college or even line up her next sugar daddy. How does it end up like this? Anneliese studied Coral with a puzzled look, but Coral was staring right back at her, eyes burning with jealous resentment. After Zacharias dumped her, Coral finally realized how powerless she was without his approval. She couldn''t even get close to the circles he used to move in. Then her parents and her brother, Tonell Slenderidge, showed up. They''d gotten used to the easy money she used to send every month, and now that it stopped, they came to collect- literally. They were living in the vi Zacharias had given Coral, but instead of gratitude, they gave her bruises and insults. Every day was a round of shouting and beatings. They wanted her to crawl back to Zacharias and beg for forgiveness. When that didn''t work, they pushed her to seduce other men. Didn''t matter if they were old or ugly. As long as someone could bring back that fifty to sixty Chapter 447 There''s No In-Between thousand a month lifestyle, they didn''t care what happened to her. *10 Free Coins Coral wasn''t innocent either. Once she had grown ustomed to spending freely and living in luxury, it was hard to return to the frugal college life she had previously had. She began frequenting bars and parties, hoping to find another way in. Her grades tanked. Her health did too. She ended up with two men, but neither one came close to what Zacharias had been. The first was a spoiled rich kid who threw her five thousand after two nights together and told her to get lost. The second was a small business owner pushing forty. He actually seemed to like her, but his wife was a nightmare. That woman showed up one night, dragged Coral out, and pped her so many times she lost two teeth. The guy came running but didn''t even dare open his mouth. In the end, he tossed her fifty thousand as hush money and disappeared. Meanwhile, the university had already sent multiple warnings about her missing credits. She never went back to make them up, so they were preparing to kick her out. Her future was in ruins. Her money was gone. She was desperate to get rid of her family freeloaders. That vi was herst hope. But then Tonell went and got himself hooked on gambling. He''d lost the entire property on the table. I have nothing left now. My life is a wreck. Everything is falling apart. And yet Anneliese just keeps getting more beautiful. Since her divorce, she is even more radiant. There is this soft, sultry warmth in her eyes that was never there before. I am a woman too, and of course, I can tell. Only someone who is being cherished, spoiled, and wrapped up in a sweet romance looks like that. But why does she get to be so lucky? She was the one who used to be the loser. It is not supposed to be like this. Coral''s wild, jealous re faltered when another gaze, sharp and cold yet far moremanding, cut straight through it. A momentter, Jonathan stepped forward, tall and solid like a wall that shielded Anneliese from Coral''s stare. The moment Coral met his eyes, she went pale. She quickly dropped her gaze, suddenly very aware of herself. Jonathan pulled out a chair, then another, sliding them close together before sitting down with Anneliese by his side. As if no one else existed, heced his fingers through hers and rested their joined hands Chapter 447 There''s No In-Between openly on his thigh, his manner almost deliberately casual. 54 +10 Free Coins Anneliese knew him well enough to recognize what this was. He had seen Zacharias earlier, and jealousy was still simmering under that calm surface. To soothe him, she leaned in slightly with a soft smile. "Hubby, I''m kinda thirsty." "Sure. What do you want? Water or coffee?" "Just water''s fine." He gave her a brief smile, reached for a mug, and poured in some fresh water to rinse it out before filling it again with fresh drinking water. Chapter 448 What a Mess Chapter 448 What a Mess Chapter 448 Chapter 448 What a Mess "It''s a bit cold. Maybe let it sit for a while?" Jonathan said. "Yeah." Anneliese nodded. 54) +10 Free Coins The two of them acted as if no one else were there. Jonathan poured her water and set her cup just right. Every little gesture was so natural that it almost looked elegant. Even doing something as simple as that, he somehow made it look refined. It only made him more maic. Coral''s eyes burned red. Zacharias, on the other hand, looked like he''d lost all patience. His expression twisted in irritation. "What do you want, Coral? Just spit it out." She stared back at him, whatever warmth she''d once had for himpletely gone. All that was left was anger and calction. She hated him for being so cold, so cruel. But she also knew this was herst shot to get anything out of it. "You want me to cooperate and clear things up? Fine. I don''t ask for much. Twenty million each. That''s all." Zacharias looked at Coral, a greedy and shameless woman, and felt a bitterugh rise in his throat. The moment he remembered how he''d thrown Anneliese away for Coral, something twisted in his gut. Now, standing there while Coral ckmailed him right in front of Jonathan, he could feel his pride shatter. It was like every bit of his manhood had been crushed into the ground. Zacharias'' voice was cold and sharp. ¡°Heh, Coral. What you''ve been spreading online is false information. That''s nder and defamation. Or are you trying to add extortion to the list now?" Coral gave a smallugh. "I''ve already lost everything. My future and my health are gone... everything. Mr. Shaw, after what you did to me, don''t you think you owe me something? How is that extortion? Additionally, I simply shared my own story online. I never once mentioned your name. How does that count as defamation? If people online decide to make their own guesses, that''s not on me." She sat there looking like she had nothing left to lose. Zacharias'' expression hardened. His jaw tightened so hard it looked like he might grind his teeth to dust. "As long as you''re willing to make it right," Coral went on. "I''ll go live right now and tell Chapter 448 What a Mess : 54 +10 Free Coins everyone it was all on me. I was the one who forced myself into your marriage with Ms. ude, while you stayed pure and rejected me. I''ll say I made up stories out of spite after drinking too much. That way, you and your precious uderias Tech won''t take any hit. In fact, with your holier-than-thou image, you might even turn this into free publicity for yourpany." Zacharias was a businessman to the core. Profit always came first. As the founder of a publicpany, his reputation mattered a lot more than sending her to jail ever would. Coral picked up her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and said, "I''ve got some photos and videos here. You might wanna take a look." She handed him the phone. The moment Zacharias saw the explicit photos and those filthy clips, the veins in his hand bulged as his grip on the phone tightened. So, all that admiration Coral showed me, all that sweetness and devotion -it''s all fake. She was ying me the whole time, already nning her next move. Anneliese looked at Zacharias, and he had that screwed-up look, like something disgusting just hit him. She didn''t even need to see Coral''s phone to know what was up. Man, what a mess. A trashy guy and a trashy girl, watching them tear each other apart is almost entertaining. Zacharias probably still thinks all those side chicks stick around because they''re so into his charm. Please. The guy''s pure delusion and ego rolled into one. Anneliese didn''t even bother to look up. She took a sip of her coffee, sounding bored and a little pissed. "So, are you two done? Coral, maybe you can tell me what makes you think you can walk away with twenty million from me? Please. With the crap you made up, all I''d have to do is toss our marriage certificate and divorce papers online, and every rumor you spread would copse on its own. You think I need you to clear my reputation?" Coral turned her gaze from Anneliese to the man beside her. "I heard you married Mr. Fullbuster. Congrattions, I guess. I mean, look at you now-Mrs. Fullbuster, loved and protected by a man way better than thest one. Shouldn''t you be thanking me for that? Why hold so much hostility toward a poor woman like me? You''re just kicking me when I''m already down." Before she could even finish, Anneliese raised her hand and flung the half-full cup of water right in Coral''s face. "Ah!" Coral shrieked and jumped to her feet, water dripping down her cheeks. She looked at Anneliese in disbelief. Chapter 448 What a Mess : 54 +10 Free Coins Anneliese smirked. "Didn''t you say I like kicking people when they''re down? I''d hate to disappoint you by holding back." Coral had honestly thought that in front of Jonathan, Anneliese would at least pretend to be the graceful, forgiving type. Turns out, she couldn''t be more wrong. She nced toward Jonathan, hoping for even a flicker of sympathy, but her heart sank when she saw him calmly holding a tissue, gently wiping the water off Anneliese''s hand. Coral bit down hard on her lip, forcing herself to sit back down despite the sting on her skin and the humiliation burning in her chest. ¡°Sure, you can post the marriage and divorce papers if you want,¡± she said through gritted teeth. "But once you do, everyone online will know Zacharias still fell for someone like me. You lost him to me." Chapter 449 pter 449 I''ll Find It : 54 +10 Free Coins "A woman who couldn''t even keep Zacharias? What makes you think you deserve to marry Mr. Fullbuster?¡± Coral said, her tone sharp. ¡°Ande on, people will say Mr. Fullbuster married the woman Zacharias didn''t want. That doesn''t sound good either, does it? Look, I can go live and apologize to you publicly, say nice things about you, whatever you want. Just tell me what to do, I''ll go along with it." Jonathan shot Coral a cold nce, then turned his gaze toward Zacharias, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips. "Man, you really have no standards, huh? Guess you''ll swallow anything filthy and disgusting thates your way." Zacharias'' grip on his coffee cup tightened. The next second, it shattered in his hand. Shards bit into his palm, blood seeping between his fingers. He didn''t even flinch. He just looked toward Anneliese, hoping, stupidly, that she''d care. That maybe he''d catch a flicker of worry in her eyes. But she didn''t even nce his way. Her attention was fixed on Coral, disbelief written all over her expression. ¡°How the hell did you even get into Astoria University? What do you spend your days thinking about? You sound like you crawled straight out of some ancient tomb. Zacharias cheating with you doesn''t make you special. It just makes you two perfect for each other. A trashy guy and a trashy girl. I''m the one who got cheated on, and somehow I''m supposed to be ashamed? Please. You talk like stealing someone''s husband is some kind of win. Figures you''d be that thrilled over something that gross." Jonathan squeezed Anneliese''s hand. "Hey, honey, don''t get mad. You know it kills me when you do." She looked at him, and the tension in her eyes softened. They both smiled. Coral''s fists clenched tight when she saw that smile, the anger in her chest rising even higher. I thought Anneliese would cave t +10 Free Coins The two of them acted as if no one else were there. Jonathan poured her water and set her cup just right. Every little gesture was so natural that it almost looked elegant. Even doing something as simple as that, he somehow made it look refined. It only made him more maic. Coral''s eyes burned red. Zacharias, on the other hand, looked like he''d lost all patience. His expression twisted in irritation. "What do you want, Coral? Just spit it out." She stared back at him, whatever warmth she''d once had for himpletely gone. All that was left was anger and calction. She hated him for being so cold, so cruel. But she also knew this was herst shot to get anything out of it. "You want me to cooperate and clear things up? Fine. I don''t ask for much. Twenty million each. That''s all." Zacharias looked at Coral, a greedy and shameless woman, and felt a bitterugh rise in his throat. The moment he remembered how he''d thrown Anneliese away for Coral, something twisted in his gut. Now, standing there while Coral ckmailed him right in front of Jonathan, he could feel his pride shatter. It was like every bit of his manhood had been crushed into the ground. Zacharias'' voice was cold and sharp. ¡°Heh, Coral. What you''ve been spreading online is false information. That''s nder and defamation. Or are you trying to add extortion to the list now?" Coral gave a smallugh. "I''ve already lost everything. My future and my health are gone... everything. Mr. Shaw, after what you did to me, don''t you think you owe me something? How is that extortion? Additionally, I simply shared my own story online. I never once mentioned your name. How does that count as defamation? If people online decide to make their own guesses, that''s not on me." She sat there looking like she had nothing left to lose. Zacharias'' expression hardened. His jaw tightened so hard it looked like he might grind his teeth to dust. "As long as you''re willing to make it right," Coral went on. "I''ll go live right now and tell Chapter 448 What a Mess : 54 +10 Free Coins everyone it was all on me. I was the one who forced myself into your marriage with Ms. ude, while you stayed pure and rejected me. I''ll say I made up stories out of spite after drinking too much. That way, you and your precious uderias Tech won''t take any hit. In fact, with your holier-than-thou image, you might even turn this into free publicity for yourpany." Zacharias was a businessman to the core. Profit always came first. As the founder of a publicpany, his reputation mattered a lot more than sending her to jail ever would. Coral picked up her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and said, "I''ve got some photos and videos here. You might wanna take a look." She handed him the phone. The moment Zacharias saw the explicit photos and those filthy clips, the veins in his hand bulged as his grip on the phone tightened. So, all that admiration Coral showed me, all that sweetness and devotion -it''s all fake. She was ying me the whole time, already nning her next move. Anneliese looked at Zacharias, and he had that screwed-up look, like something disgusting just hit him. She didn''t even need to see Coral''s phone to know what was up. Man, what a mess. A trashy guy and a trashy girl, watching them tear each other apart is almost entertaining. Zacharias probably still thinks all those side chicks stick around because they''re so into his charm. Please. The guy''s pure delusion and ego rolled into one. Anneliese didn''t even bother to look up. She took a sip of her coffee, sounding bored and a little pissed. "So, are you two done? Coral, maybe you can tell me what makes you think you can walk away with twenty million from me? Please. With the crap you made up, all I''d have to do is toss our marriage certificate and divorce papers online, and every rumor you spread would copse on its own. You think I need you to clear my reputation?" Coral turned her gaze from Anneliese to the man beside her. ¡°I heard you married Mr. Fullbuster. Congrattions, I guess. I mean, look at you now-Mrs. Fullbuster, loved and protected by a man way better than thest one. Shouldn''t you be thanking me for that? Why hold so much hostility toward a poor woman like me? You''re just kicking me when I''m already down." Before she could even finish, Anneliese raised her hand and flung the half-full cup of water right in Coral''s face. "Ah!" Coral shrieked and jumped to her feet, water dripping down her cheeks. She looked at Anneliese in disbelief. Chapter 448 What a Mess : 54 +10 Free Coins Anneliese smirked. "Didn''t you say I like kicking people when they''re down? I''d hate to disappoint you by holding back." Coral had honestly thought that in front of Jonathan, Anneliese would at least pretend to be the graceful, forgiving type. Turns out, she couldn''t be more wrong. She nced toward Jonathan, hoping for even a flicker of sympathy, but her heart sank when she saw him calmly holding a tissue, gently wiping the water off Anneliese''s hand. Coral bit down hard on her lip, forcing herself to sit back down despite the sting on her skin and the humiliation burning in her chest. ¡°Sure, you can post the marriage and divorce papers if you want," she said through gritted teeth. ¡°But once you do, everyone online will know Zacharias still fell for someone like me. You lost him to me." he moment I pushed her. She''s a divorced woman who finally got to call herself Mrs. Fullbuster. There is no way she would risk losing that: his favor, his spotless reputation, or the Fullbusters'' approval. As long as she''s scared, I''ve got the upper hand. All I''m asking for is twenty million. Twenty million is barely a dent in her world now. Anneliese didn''t even flinch. Coral pressed her nails into her palm, refusing to believe anyone could stay that calm. Coral''s mouth twisted into a mocking smile. "Please. If that''s what you really think, you Chapter 449 I''ll Find It : wouldn''t have shown up, Ms. ude.¡± 54 +10 Free Coins Anneliese''s eyes locked with hers. "I''m here for one reason. I''m here to find out who''s pulling your strings." No way this is all Coral''s doing. Coral''s heart skipped. She frowned. "What are you talking about? I already told you. I got drunkst night and posted something stupid online. I didn''t think it would blow up like this." How could I possibly admit there''s someone behind me? That would make it a full- on nned smear campaign, and I can''t handle that. Anneliese gave a coldugh. "You expect me to believe you acted alone? How did you even get those pictures, the ones of me joining Professor Clocke''sb and those dinner shots?" Coral scoffed. "What''s so strange about that? After what you did to me, of course I kept tabs on you. You''d be surprised how much I pay attention. I saw you eating with Professor Baltimore near campus once. After that, it wasn''t hard to find out more." Anneliese didn''t buy it for a second. I''ve already asked the seniors. None of them leaked the news about me joining the "Twenty million? No way. But I might cough up two hundred thousand for info on whoever''s scheming behind your back." Anneliese snorted. Coral nearlyughed herself into a fit. "Two hundred thousand? Seriously? You''re Mrs. Fullbuster, and that''s the big offer? What, are you trying to pay off a beggar?" Anneliese sneered. "You think you''re on the same level as a beggar? Giving to charity, sure, two hundred thousand isn''t much. But for you? That''s already too generous. Fine, if you don''t want it, no big deal. I can dig it out myself, takes a little extra effort, but I''ll find it." I''m originally nning to probe Coral to see if I can get anything out of her. But judging by her now, Coral is way too stubborn. Getting her to open up? Nearly impossible. Not wanting to waste any more time, Anneliese tugged Jonathan to his feet. "Hubby, let''s get out of here. This is exhausting." "Told you not toe," Jonathan said, giving her a gentle tap on the head. Chapter 449 I''ll Find It Coral hadn''t expected them actually to leave. She froze, caught off guard. 54 +10 Free Coins Zacharias, on the other hand, shot up and blocked their path. "Anne, now is not the time to act stubborn. You don''t even realize how brutal the inte can be. Clearing up the side chick thing is one thing, but academic fraud, kicking PhD students out ofbs? That''s way worse." Chapter 450 Chapter 450 Keep Out of My Stuff Chapter 450 Keep Out of My Stuff "I''ve been thinking about this. Didn''t I already hook Lenora up with an auditing pass for Astoria University? I''ve donated there, know some people, and learn the ropes. I can also arrange for you to receive a backdated auditing pass from a couple of years ago and officially register you as an Astoria University auditing student. "Just say you''re helping out in theb as an auditing student. You''re not core staff or anything serious. Mostly just running errands, taking notes. You can have Prof. Clocke keep the story consistent-" Anneliese cut him off before he finished. Her voice was t. "I don''t need you meddling in my stuff." He''s got his own mess to deal with. And he actually thinks I''m the same? She sidestepped Zacharias and walked out alongside Jonathan. Zacharias lunged forward, desperation in his voice. "Anne! This is the best way. Wait, hey!" But the hand he reached out with was grabbed in a vice-like grip by Jonathan and twisted upward in an instant. Zacharias met Jonathan''s eyes, which were cold, disdainful, and mocking. "Unbelievable. You''ve had no clue about her until now?" "What are you talking about?¡± Zacharias furrowed his brow, a nagging sense that he was missing something gnawing at him. Jonathan yanked his hand free and snorted. "Check your phone, idiot.¡± "Jonathan! Who are you calling an idiot? If you hadn''t shoved Anne into whateverb, she wouldn''t be getting dragged across the inte like this!" Zacharias seethed, but neither Jonathan nor Anneliese nced back. He just watched helplessly as they walked side by side, vanishing from sight. He closed his eyes. A sharp, tearing pain ran through his hand. After looking down, he saw that his palm, cut by the shattered ceramic, had turned into a raw, mangled mess from his unconscious clenching. Drops of blood fell to the floor, pooling into a small stain on the ground. He stared numbly as the red dripped through his fingers, feeling hollow inside. For some reason, he kept seeing Jonathan gently wipe the water off Anneliese''s hand. The memory of Jonathan''s careful, tender touch on Anneliese stayed with him. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Jonathan cared for her in a way Zacharias could never match. ¡°Heh, toote for regrets now. Mr. Fullbuster treats Ms. ude like she''s his whole world. I would have chosen Mr. Fullb-ah!" Coral''s sarcastic, teasing voice cut through. Zacharias spun around, cutting her off before she could finish. Fury boiled over as he grabbed Coral by the neck. "Shut up!" Honestly realizing it himself was one thing. Being called out by someone else, especially Coral, was a whole other level. He felt humiliated, furious, andpletely undone. Coral''s cheek flushed. Her re was sharp, almost venomous, eyes bulging with anger as she stared at Zacharias. It was like her look was saying, Jonathan''s better than him, and Zacharias clearly wasn''t ready to swallow that insult. He shrugged her off like she was nothing more than trash. Coldly, he snapped, "What do even know? Jonathan''s no different from me. If he didn''t have a problem with Anne, why would he shove her into thatb, trying to ''polish'' her like she was some project?" you Just like back then, even though Zacharias never let it show, he''d secretly resented that Anneliese didn''t have a fancy degree. The things had probably gotten messy between them physically that night. "Cough! Cough... hahahaha!¡± Coral copsed onto the couch, coughing violently. When she caught her breath, she startedughing like she''dpletely lost her mind, clutching her stomach as tears ran down her cheeks. Zacharias grabbed her by the cor. "What''s so funny? Shut up!" Only then did Coral stop and toss her still-lit phone at him with a smirk. "See for yourself." Zacharias frowned, snatched the phone, and scanned it. His expression froze. "This... this can''t be. Anne... how could she..." In just a short while, the entire online narrative had flipped. It all started about half an hour ago when Astoria University officially responded. They posted proof showing Anneliese had been enrolled there eight years ago. Every semester, she''d earned university-level schrships and repeatedly represented her department inpetitions, racking up awards along the way. Two minutester, Alexander''s personal ount chimed in with a response of his own. It was a recorded video. Zacharias clicked y. Alexander''s calm, slightly aged voice filled the room. "Anneliese was my student during undergrad. She was allowed to join my multi¨C sensor fusion research project ahead of schedule and made significant contributions to it. "She''s talented and hardworking. By her junior year, she led the creation of a specialized drone for fire surveince and rescue missions. She even donated that drone to the country for free." Chapter 451 Chapter 451 The Genius Girl Anneliese Chapter 451 The Genius Girl Anneliese +10 Free Coins "She''s by far the most talented and capable student I''ve ever mentored, and I''ve always had high hopes for her. She could have gone straight through her bachelor''s into a master''s, and been on a fast track to the top in the drone industry. But then, four years ago, she had that ident and decided to step away from the university. "It''s been a lingering regret for me, something that''s weighed on my heart. When I started the eVTOLb two years ago, she was the first person I thought of. I even flew out from Westrough to the Oceaton to personally try and convince her to join. But she still turned it down. "Now that she''s willing toe back, as her professor, I feel genuinely relieved and fully supportive. Whether she''ll produce groundbreaking results or not, we''ll all watch and see. I just hope people will give her a fair chance and not jump to conclusions. The young people need time to prove themselves." The joint statement from Astoria University and Alexander had shifted the opinions of some casual onlookers. Still, some people remained skeptical, thinking the university and Alexander had been covering for Anneliese to protect their own reputations. A few even wondered if outside interests had influenced Astoria University and Alexander. Some questioned whether the certificates and enrollment records the university had released were even real. Who''s that talented at fourteen or fifteen? A genius girl who also happens to be that good-looking. If she really existed, wouldn''t she have already gained widespread online attention? But they didn''t get a chance to doubt her for long. Out of nowhere, the official fire department''s social media ount posted a public thank-you. And of course, they were thanking Anneliese. They even tagged Astoria University, giving a shoutout for raising such an outstanding student. They went on to discuss how the XtremeFly A3 drone she helped develop has been the fire department''s go- to for spotting fires and monitoring situations for the past five years. It''s been crucial in keeping firefighters safe and making rescue missions more effective. Right away, the online conversation did aplete flip. ''The Genius Girl Anneliese.'' ''17 Years Old Me Vs 17 Years Old Her.'' ''Rising Star In Drones.'' ''That Patek Philippe girl Is Anneliese.'' Even that viral moment when Anneliese pulled off her move in the Patek Philippe store resurfaced, and people started talking about it all over again. The buzz just kept climbing. Zacharias gripped his phone, and a chill ran through him. His hands were shaking slightly. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing. It made no sense at all. Coralughed, sharp and unrestrained. ¡°Ha, weren''t you and Anneliese childhood friends? And you didn''t even know she''s Astoria University''s genius girl. Ha, that''s just so ironic.¡± She watched Zacharias freeze, his expression like he''d just seen a ghost, and she didn''t hold back her mockery. 22 6:09 pm PPD D Chapter 451 The Genius Girl Anneliese +10 Free Coins But this time, Zacharias couldn''t fire back with any angry retort. His strength seemed to vanish all at once, and the phone he''d been gripping slipped from his fingers and ttered to the floor. He buried his head in his hands and closed his eyes, yet something leaked out from the corners. At first, he was furious. He felt like Anneliese had been lying to him, ying with him, keeping something so importantpletely secret. Then, after the anger, the memories he had ignored before started creeping back. He remembered how brilliant Anneliese had been as a kid, skipping two grades. He thought she dropped out of Baytree to work when she left, but if that were true, Nishay would never have agreed to it. Now he realized that Anneliese had been the one paying Melody''s surgery and medical bills. And fourteen-year-old Anneliese somehow managed to handle such a massive sum of money. Now he seemed to understand how. There had to be schrships. Later, when he arrived at Oceaton, she mentioned several times that she wanted to take him somewhere. She wanted to show him parts of her life and introduce him to her friends. But he assumed she was just doing low-level, unskilled jobs. He had no interest in meeting her friends and even less in the messy ces she worked. He had refused again and again. Then, when the Whites took back Anneliese, he also met Selina, the dream girl. The attention he gave Anneliese dwindled even more, and now he realized just how badly he had messed up. He had lost something precious without even knowing it. He thought about how Anneliese might have left school because of that incident. She could have had a brilliant future, yet Selina destroyed it. And he had been an aplice. Thinking of how she had been so talented, someone who could have shone brilliantly in her field, but gave it all up just to work alongside him, it felt like thousands of needles were stabbing his chest at once. Blood seemed to pour from inside him. Suddenly, Jonathan calling him an idiot didn''t even feel wrong anymore. His hands, hiding his head, had grown damp. His shoulders trembled despite his best effort to stay still. Chapter 452 Chapter 452 He Refused Her Chapter 452 He Refused Her Zacharias didn''t even register Coral''s presence at first. Then her coldugh cut through the silence. "Mr. Shaw, done ying your little games." +10 Free Coins His body stiffened, but in a blink, he pulled himself together. He lifted his head and locked eyes with her with a stare sharp enough to slice through steel. Coral instinctively shrank back into the corner of the couch, clutching her neck like his gaze could reach through her skin. She swallowed hard. "Anneliese already cleared herself of the academic fraud. Next, she''s going to spill everything about your little affair. Everyone online is already cheering her on. People will believe her. You really want to be nailed to the public''s pir of shame as a cheating jerk? "If uderias Tech''s stock drops any further, you''ll have a tough time exining it to the shareholders. Compared to what thepany might lose, my twenty million barely scratches the surface. "All I need is the cash. I''ll go live immediately and set the record straight. I nned all of this to seduce you. You never yed nicely with me. The abortion was someone else''s baby, not yours. Sure, some people might still doubt you, but it''ll save part of your reputation, and you know it." By now, Coral no longer cared about the online hate or threats. She wanted the money. Anneliese wouldn''t give it, and she wouldn''t fall for anything. Coral was determined to take it from Zacharias. Twenty million would be her ticket out. She wouldn''t look back at her parents leeching off her or at Tonell. She''d disappear to a small, quiet ce and start over. She stared at him, confident he would agree. But Zacharias just stood there, silent, studying her for a long moment. Then he got up. He walked toward the door and didn''t look back. "No." He refused her. Coral couldn''t believe it. She watched Zacharias start to walk away without so much as a nce back, and something inside her snapped. She jumped to her feet and ran after him. ¡°Zacharias, what the hell are you thinking?" she yelled. He didn''t struggle when she grabbed his arm. He turned to look at her, and his expression was tight. "I messed up, I admit it. But Coral, you don''t really know me at all." Coral''s pupils shrank. "You''re seriously gonna admit to cheating, Zacharias? Are you out of your mind? Don''t you even worry that I could post those nude photos online? The board would fire you in a heartbeat! "You''d lose everything! You really think that groveling apology of yours would make Anneliese see you differently? Forget it. With Mr. Fullbuster as a shining example, you don''t even register. Anneliese isn''t gonna be moved, and there''s no way you''re getting back with her now. You''ve got nothing, and that means you don''t stand a chance against Mr. Fullbuster." Her voice went higher and sharper, frenzied as she yanked at him. Zacharias didn''t answer. He shook her hand off and kept walking. All he knew was that Anneliese had given so much, and he had 5:09 pm P P DD Chapter 452 He Refused Her +10 Free Coins failed her in return. At this point, if he stooped to team up with Coral and get tangled in her schemes, he''d hate himself even more than anyone else could. Forget Anneliese-he wouldn''t even be able to stand himself. Even the public wasn''t as naive as she thought. "Mr. Shaw! Zacharias, you can''t do this to me. We could have both won, I''m begging you, Zacharias.¡± Coral''s voice broke as she ran after him, tears streaking her cheek. She couldn''t ept it. After everything she had done, carrying the weight of the whole world on her shoulders, it was ending like this. Like a clown. With nothing to show for it, and everyone online hating her. But her cries didn''t stop him. He kept walking and finally spoke, his voice cold as ice. "Coral, we''re both getting exactly what we deserve." In the car outside the restaurant, Anneliese scrolled through her phone, checking thetestments. The online chatter had mainly shifted in her favor-no one seemed hung up on her being dragged into theb anymore. The focus had moved to her rtionship with Zacharias. ''Even if she was a genius girl who voluntarily donated her research to the country, that didn''t automatically make her morally spotless in matters of the heart. Why wasn''t anyone asking her to address the whole side-rtionship thing or forcing Coral to have an abortion?'' ''Poor Coral. Seriously, anyone would be trash for being a side chick.'' ''I''m sure Anneliese, who gave away her research for free, wouldn''t ever meddle in someone else''s rtionship. She''ll rify eventually.'' ''From looks to brains and talent, Coral doesn''t evene close. From a guy''s perspective, Anneliese is way more capable of being a side chick, unless Zacharias is blind.'' Anneliese just sat there, quietly taking it all in. After reading through thements, she handed Jonathan the statement she''d already prepared,plete with the marriage certificate and divorce papers. 6:09 pm PPDD Chapter 453 Chapter 453 Lost Control Chapter 453 Lost Control "I sent it out," Anneliese said. +10 Free Coins Jonathan leaned back against the seat, his handsome features sharp and a little cold, a trace of annoyance in his brow. He still wanted to make the official announcement about their marriage himself. To him, Anneliese was his wife. There was no way she was going topete with Coral over Zacharias. Anneliese pinched his cheek. "Don''t be upset. Didn''t we already agree on this?" Jonathan reached out and squeezed her cheek back, a little moreplicated than intended. Anneliese yelped, "Ow!" She gave him a pitiful re. He let go and turned his head away, pretending not to see anything. Anneliese stuck out her tongue and was about to send the edited post when she noticed a fresh statement pop up on uderias Tech''s website. Her brow furrowed. It''s probably Zacharias causing trouble again. He can''t be teaming up with Coral online to clean up his image, can he? However, when she clicked on the statement, she froze. It was Zacharias, and he had posted a public apology, and the person he was apologizing to was none other than Anneliese. ''I''m sorry for taking up public space, but I need to make it clear that Ms. ude and I became a couple on Valentine''s Day four years ago. Two years ago, we got legally married. Three months ago, we ended our marriage because I cheated on her with my secretary, Coral. ''Coral is a student we both supported. While she was interning at uderias Tech, I failed the test. I forgot my responsibilities as a husband. I betrayed my marriage. I betrayed the girl who grew up with me, the woman who started a business with me, who stood by me and supported me through everything. ''I hurt Ms. ude deeply, and I regret it more than I can express. ''I deserve the criticism and the insults. But Ms. ude is the victim here, so I ask everyone to stop hurting her further. Let her have her peace. Thank you. ''And once again, I apologize for the negative impact my own failures have caused in society.'' Below the statement, he had attached their divorce papers and a five-second video of himself bowing deeply to the camera. In the video, Zacharias'' seductive eyes were rimmed with red, and he was still in the same suit from before. His words were earnest, with no attempt to hide his wrongdoing. However, the more sincere he sounded, the tighter Anneliese''s brow furrowed. "Did that... get to you?" The deep, cold voice of a man, tinged with apparent jealousy, cut through the air beside her. Anneliese froze, her hand mid-air as she looked at Jonathan. She barely had a chance to speak before he yanked her hard into his arms. Darkness flickered at the edges of her vision as his lips mped down on hers. 0.09 pm Chapter 453 Lost Control Her heart stumbled as her cheeks heated up from the sudden, unprovoked kiss. His breath was aggressive, like he wanted to devour her right there and then. +10 Free Coins Anneliese let out a soft sound, instinctively pressing her hands against his chest. All her tiny protests and delicate hums, every weak push she gave, only seemed to fuel his recklessness. Jonathan gripped her waist and lifted her, shifting her from leaning against him to straddling hisp. Hisrge hands pinned her slender arms behind her back. Forced to arch her chest and tilt her head, Anneliese didn''t even get a chance to cry out before he buried his lips into hers again. She had no idea what hade over him. Back when they had been intimate, even with his possessive streak, he had always been careful, coaxing her gently and seductively. But now, he moved with a restless, almost rough intensity that left her breathless and off bnce. Anneliese winced from the pain, but she didn''t fight back. She just went along with his reckless movements, soft and yielding. Her quiet eptance seemed to calm Jonathan almost instantly. He stiffened for a moment, then pulled back, letting go of therge hands that had pinned hers. Anneliese''s back arched in midair. Her head pressed against the passenger seat. Her clothes were rumpled. Her hair was damp, and her lipstick was wiped clean from her lips. A single tear glistened at the corner of her eye. Her lower back ached, and she couldn''t straighten up right away. She looked at him, a little helpless and hurt. "Are you okay?" Her bright, glistening eyes held no anger or me, no usations. Instead, they were soft, full of gentle concern and a hint of confusion. Jonathan felt his chest tighten as if someone had grabbed it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Anneliese fell into his embrace again and held tightly against him. His deep, hoarse voice murmured against her ear. "Sorry... I didn''t mean to hurt you." He noticed the red marks on her wrists and brushed them lightly with his thumb. A sh of regret crossed his eyes. I''m the one who lost control. Chapter 454 Chapter 454 Proof in a Kiss Chapter 454 Proof in a Kiss +10 Free Coins Now that the whole inte knew Anneliese and Zacharias had grown up together- that they''d once been a couple and even married-Jonathanpletely lost his cool. He could see right through what Zacharias was doing. It was the oldest trick in the book-flip the narrative at the veryst minute. People rarely stayed angry at someone who publicly admitted their mistakes and showed genuine remorse. And Zacharias? He was good-looking, rich, and aplished. To most, that made him seem "brave" for admitting everything. Some might even feel pity that his rtionship with Anneliese ended. The online bacsh he faced might only intensify her sympathy for him-possibly even enough to forgive him. From then on, their names would always appear together online, intertwined like lingering old headlines. However, Anneliese still wouldn''t let Jonathan announce their marriage. "It''s okay. It doesn''t hurt," Jonathan spoke gently with an apologetic tone. "But honestly... what''s happening with you?" Anneliese sensed the guilt in his tone. She sighed and softly ran her fingers through his short, stiff hair. A sudden knock hit the window. She turned and froze. Zacharias was outside, leaning slightly to peer inside the car, his keen eyes piercing through the tinted ss. Why is he still here? Her stomach twisted. Although he couldn''t see her, she was overwhelmed with embarrassment. She let out a quiet gasp, wrapped her arms around Jonathan''s neck, and hid her face in his suit jacket. Jonathan''s arms wrapped around her more securely. He appreciated her cling, yet it sparked a shadowy flicker in his eyes. His hand reached up, gripping her neck to pull her back and face him; his voice was calm but gruff. "Why are you ducking like that? Are you afraid he''ll see you? Do you still have feelings for him?" Is he trying to piss me off? Her eyes widened. "What? Hell no!" He let out a brief, bitterugh. "You won''t even let me tell anyone we''re married. Maybe his apology actually affected you, and you''re considering going back.¡± She just stared at him. Seriously? He''s still on this? "You''re insane," she snapped. "He won''t sway me. What he said was just the basics-every adult should acknowledge their mistakes. That''s not something to be impressed by. "If anyone motivated me, it was you. You''ve been there for everything-calming me, helping me figure things out, and making sure the fire department spoke up before it was toote. That''s what actually made the difference. I¡ª¡± "Then prove it," he interrupted. "What?" Anneliese blinked. 6:09 pm P P DD Chapter 454 Proof in a Kiss +10 Free Coins "Talk is cheap, Anneliese. Show me," he demanded. Her breath caught. "Show you how?" He clenched his jaw. "Kiss me." Her whole face turned crimson. ¡°Wait-right now?" Her eyes flicked toward the window where Zacharias was still waiting, knocking again with obvious impatience. It wasn''t like she cared what Zacharias thought-it was just... this was a d*mn parking lot. Anyone could look in. The thought alone made her want to disappear. She hesitated for half a second, and Jonathan''s expression hardened. A dry, humorless chuckle left his lips as he leaned back and let go of her waist. "Go ahead, then. Get out." He said it tly, like he''d already decided she wanted to leave. Panic shot through her. No, that''s not what I meant! Unconsciously, she drew nearer, closing the distance between them. She gently cupped his face with both hands before kissing him. It was messy. Her teeth knocked against his lip, and he let out a low grunt. She tasted a hint of blood and froze, mortified. Then, his voice, deep and husky, echoed close to her mouth. "Easy, baby. Don''t stop. Give me more." Her mind went nk. The car was stationary, yet her heart pounded as if they were speeding on the highway. She wondered how someone with such a perfect, angelic face could utter something so shameless. Moreover, he was not finished-he was inviting her inside. Anneliese''s whole body heated up, flushing red like a shrimp in boiling water. Still, she couldn''t stop herself. She leaned in again, kissing him harder this time. The air inside the car grew heavy. His hands moved beneath her blouse, fingers mapping the curve of her waist, as all external sounds-the noise, the world, Zacharias-faded into silence. Chapter 455 6:09 pm P P DD Chapter 455 The One Who Can''t Move On Chapter 455 The One Who Can''t Move On Zacharias approached the Bentley simply because he recognized Jonathan''s car from afar. +10 Free Coins He''d just dropped his apology statement online and couldn''t bear to wait around. He needed to see Anneliese-to find out if her feelings had finally softened toward him. He knocked on the window twice; still nothing. By the fourth knock, irritation started to creep in. Maybe she''s not even in there, he thought, leaning closer to peek inside when the entire car suddenly rocked. Zacharias froze. His hand hung midair, the blood draining from his face. For a moment, he couldn''t even process what he was seeing or imagining. When his mind finally caught up, he blushed with rage. He hammered on the ss until his palm stung. "Anneliese! Jonathan! I know you''re in there! Open the d*mn door!" "Mr. Shaw, we have to get moving!" Jackie''s voice called out from behind, urgent and panicked. "Reporters are already heading here. If we don''t go now, we''re toast!" Zacharias reached for the Bentley''s door handle once more, but Jackie quickly approached from his car and took his arm. He had just received news that reporters had picked up the story and were closing in. Jackie pulled harder, but Zacharias fought against him. Zacharias struggled as if leaving would cost him something priceless forever. Jackie applied more pressure, his expression marked by urgency. After a brief moment of tense hesitation, Zacharias finally gave in and was pushed into the back seat. The door mmed shut just as the Bentley''s tinted rear window began to roll down. The two cars eased past each other. Through the half-open window, Zacharias caught a split-second view inside; it was enough to make his blood boil. Jonathan''s shirt was unbuttoned, with his cor hanging loose and revealing his chest in the dim light. He lounged back against the leather seat, looking smug and content. Anneliese was draped in his ck suit jacket, her face hidden. Her delicate, ringed hand rested on his throat, her fingertips tracing the curve of his Adam''s apple. Their eyes met for just a second. Jonathan looked rxed, almost amused. A slight smile yed on his lips, yet his eyes were icy and sharp-challenging Zacharias to respond. The window slid back up. Both cars rolled in opposite directions until the street was empty again. Zacharias sat there for a long moment before fury took over. He kicked the back of the driver''s seat twice and then delivered two forceful punches into it. The seat rattled beneath Jackie, but he kept his mouth shut and his eyes forward. Zacharias eventually calmed down, but his face stayed tense with anger. "How''s the chatter online?" he asked quietly. 5:09 pm P PD Chapter 455 The One Who Can''t Move On +10 Free Con Jackie risked a quick nce in the rearview mirror before answering, "Just like you expected, Mr. Shaw. We pushed some paidments and got the bots running. Things are steady now. uderias Tech''s stock price is climbing back." People online tended to be predictable-particrly when the person in difficulty was wealthy, attractive, and skilled at feigning remorse. Zacharias'' apology was impably timed. He spoke in defense of Anneliese, appeared genuinely heartbroken, and projected an image of a ¡°changed man.¡± Thanks to his charisma and strategic PR efforts, the story had shifted to favor him. Comments now read like redemption slogans. People praised him for being "man enough to own his mistakes," said "everyone deserves a second chance," and excused his behavior with lines like "he''s only human-at least he''s honest." Some fans joked that he was too handsome for anyone to stay mad at him, as if it''s just part of being attractive. A few even begged Anneliese to forgive him. Sure, some critics still called him a jerk and a bad influence, but after everything that had blown up before, this was a victory. Jackie couldn''t deny that Zacharias had yed the PR game perfectly. If he''d stayed with Coral, she would''ve dragged him straight down. That rtionship was a ticking time bomb. The truth about his cheating was already floating around uderias Tech, and once it leaked online, it would''ve blown everything up. "Keep an eye on thements," Zacharias ordered. "Got it, Mr. Shaw," Jackie replied. He hesitated before adding, "Mr. Shaw... maybe it''s time to let this go. Your mom and sister''s trial starts next week." Jackie understood that if Melody and Lenora were to be imprisoned, Zacharias'' reputation would be badly damaged, and Anneliese would want no part of that scandal. Besides, she was already married to Jonathan, and Jackie honestly understood her choice. If he were in her shoes, he''d have chosen Jonathan as well. He knew there was no way to win this fight. Zacharias was only risking getting hurt. If he kept provoking Jonathan, that man could destroy uderias Tech simply for fun. Zacharias turned his head slowly, his voice low and sharp as ss. "She and Jonathan won''tst. I still have a shot." Jackie had no idea where that confidence came from, but the look in his boss'' eyes- dark, unblinking, and dangerous-was enough to shut him up. Chapter 456 6:10 pm P P DD Chapter 456 Fire and Shadows Chapter 456 Fire and Shadows +10 Free Coins Outside the restaurant, Anneliese was still tucked inside Jonathan''s suit jacket. She adjusted her clothes, smoothing the wrinkles from her blouse, and was ready to instruct the driver to leave when a sudden disturbance erupted near the entrance. A wave of reporters gathered on the front steps, microphones and cameras shing in rapid bursts. Coral had just exited the restaurant and was instantly encircled. "Ms. Slenderidge, everyone thought you were an honor student! Why''d you throw it all away to be Mr. Shaw''s mistress?" "Did you really seduce him?" "Mr. Shaw said he and Ms. ude sponsored your studies. Care to exin why you betrayed them?" "Ms. Slenderidge, the university kicked you out for misconduct and embarrassing the school. Do you admit to that?¡± The questions came one after another, cutting sharper than knives. Coral threw up her hands to shield her face, staggering backward as shbulbs exploded around her. She never thought that after all she''d risked, she would end up feeling humiliated like this. Her voice broke into panicked screams as she tried to push through the crowd, but before she could, the wail of sirens filled the street. A police car arrived, and officers got out. Soon after, Coral was handcuffed and taken away for defamation. Inside the Bentley, Jonathan''s phone buzzed. He answered, listened briefly, then hung up with a faint, knowing smile. He looked down at Anneliese, who was still nestled against him. "You ever hear of a guy named Felix Hammond?" Anneliese frowned slightly, thinking. "Felix... That name sounds familiar." Jonathan nodded. "Apparently, the day before Coral went public with her post, she met up with one of her old roommates. The roommate''s boyfriend, Felix Hammond, tried to get into Prof. Clocke''sb a few times but failed. It seems like he''s the one who put her up to this mess." Anneliese''s expression changed as she remembered. "Oh, right. Felix was a senior when I was in school. He also aimed to join Prof. Clocke''sb, but the professor selected me instead, which gave me a direct route to my master''s and PhD. He didn''t take it well, and I think he had to retake his exams the following year." She shook her head slowly. If it''s him, then yeah... it makes sense. He must''ve realized I got epted back into theb. I can see how that would''ve stung. Jonathan smirked, tapping her nose yfully. "Guess that''s what happens when my wife is too d*mn talented for her own good." Anneliese blushed and gently punched him in the chest. ¡°You''re impossible. Do you have proof? I should inform Prof. Clocke and report this to the department." "I''m on it," Jonathan replied, already pulling up a message on his phone. "Someone will deliver the evidence to your inbox tonight." 5:10 pm P P D Chapter 456 Fire and Shadows +10 Free Coins Halfway up the hill at the Fullbuster Residence, Elizabeth was practicing her morning yoga when the butler burst into the room with a tablet. "Mrs. Fullbuster, Ms. ude is trending online again." Elizabeth frowned, lowering her arms. "Her? Why? Did the marriage leak?" Her tone was tinged with irritation. She believed the woman couldn''t tolerate being a secret and had revealed the news herself due to insecurity. Yet, the butler shook his head quickly. "No, Mrs. Fullbuster. You''d better see for yourself." He handed her the tablet. Elizabeth snatched it, scrolling with an impatient flick of her finger. ¡°Hmph. Even if she attended Astoria University, so what? Many studentse from there, but none of them are good enough for Jonathan. What''s gotten into him, letting her-" Her words trailed off as her eyes caught the mention of Baytree in Anneliese''s file. For a moment, Elizabeth just stared. Then her expression twisted, the color draining from her face. No wonder that name and face always seem so familiar. It''s her. How could it possibly be her? The tablet slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a sharp crack, the screen splintering on impact. "Mrs. Fullbuster! Are you okay?" The butler quickly approached, then stopped in shock upon seeing her face as pale as paper. "I''m fine," she replied quietly, waving him off. "You can go." He hesitated, then nodded and left without another word. Elizabeth sank onto the couch by the window, pressing a towel to her face as if to steady herself. Her fingers tightened around the fabric. As she wiped behind her right ear, her fingers brushed across a small patch of rough, uneven skin. The familiar burn pulsed beneath her fingertips. Her mind went nk. Then, suddenly-fire. She recalled that night when mes illuminated the Baytree sky. It was the year everything fell apart-the Hoff family faced financial ruin, prompting her to ask the Fullbusters for help, and she also confessed to her husband her wish to mend their marriage. It was also a year when everything went up in smoke. 6:10 pm P PDD Chapter 457 The Night Everything Burned Chapter 457 6:10 pm P PDD Chapter 457 The Night Everything Burned Chapter 457 The Night Everything Burned +10 Free Coins Derek and Penelope had always prayed their wayward son, Keh, would finally grow up and act like a man. After Keh had fathered a child out of wedlock that year, guilt toward Elizabeth weighed heavily on them. So when she agreed to give him another chance, his parents urged them to take a trip together-"a fresh start," they called it. It was during Jonathan''s summer break. Following Penelope''s advice, Elizabeth brought him along, believing the boy''s presence might help bridge the distance between her and her husband. However, the trip went south fast. Keh and Elizabeth barely spoke, their silence heavy with resentment. Then, right before they reached Baytree, Keh''s old habits resurfaced-he started flirting shamelessly with a hotel manager. Fuming, Elizabeth packed up their things, took Jonathan, and drove away in the dead of night. The Fullbusters had a vi in Baytree, so she headed there with her son, thinking a few quiet days apart might cool her temper. Keh finally arrived three dayster. Elizabeth was in the kitchen when he barged in, and the second their eyes met, the shouting started. Years of anger and betrayal poured out at once. Somewhere between the usations and mmed doors, she forgot to turn off the gas. A few bottles of wine got knocked over and shattered across the floor. By the end, both were furious. They stormed off to different rooms, refusing to back down. No one could have guessed what would happen next. During the night, the vi went up in mes. Elizabeth woke coughing, her throat raw from smoke. The hallway was filled with heat and firelight. The wooden staircase below her was already burning, the air thick and impossible to breathe. She managed to crawl to the balcony and jump from the second floor,nding hard on the grass. By the time she looked back, the whole vi was aze. The fire glowed like a monster, its heat licking at her skin as she stumbled backward. That''s when the realization hit-Jonathan was still inside. Staring up at the inferno, she froze and was paralyzed by terror. Her legs refused to move. By the time she reached the front gate, fire trucks and ambnces were already there. Through the shing lights, she saw Keh behind the police line-disheveled, with ash on his face and eyes filled with disbelief. When their gazes met, his shock turned to fury. He used her of abandoning their son, of saving herself and letting Jonathan burn. She screamed right back. The fight was ugly, raw, and loud enough to drown out the sirens. Fortunately, the firefighters managed to pull Jonathan just in time. He was unconscious but alive. Then, a thunderous explosion tore through the vi. 6:10 pm P P DD Chapter 457 The Night Everything Burned The st killed one of the fire captains instantly. +10 Free Coins Elizabeth still saw it-the orange glow illuminating the night sky, the crowd''s terrified screams, and a little girl with tear-streaked cheeks near the tape. The girl screamed, "Daddy!¡± again and again, thrashing in the arms of a young firefighter who tried desperately to hold her back. The fire raged until dawn. When they finally pulled the captain''s body from the ruins, there wasn''t much left-just a few charred remains. It was gruesome. Jonathan, who''d regained consciousness at the hospital, slipped away before dawn. He ran all the way back to the scene. He arrived as they pulled the captain''s body from the rubble. A young firefighter was cradling a little girl, her sobs raw and endless against the wail of sirens. The girl broke free and copsed beside the wreckage, screaming until her voice gave out. Jonathan dropped to his knees beside her and tried to cover her eyes. She wed at his hands and bit his ankle hard enough to draw blood. He didn''t let go. Elizabeth remembered running over, gagging from the smell of smoke and burnt wood. She yanked the girl away, shouting, "Hey, kid! You can''t bite people! Let go!" The girl looked up at her, eyes zing with pure hatred. Elizabeth had never encountered anything like it. The child looked feral-wild and broken. Those eyes haunted her for years. The smell of smoke, the screams, and the little girl''s hatred. It was all burned into her memory. Later, she found out that the firefighter killed in the st was named Frederick ude. She never imagined that Anneliese would be the same young girl from Baytree. Elizabeth ced a trembling hand over her chest, her heart thudding painfully. She reclined on the couch, gasping for air. No surprise, Jonathan never pursued any romantic interests-no blind dates or casual flings. Nothing. Suddenly, he announces he''s getting married. To whom? A woman who is divorced and has no possessions. Of course. It all fits now. It''s her-that girl. God... how could it have been her? Elizabeth threw the towel aside and shot to her feet. Her pulse roared in her ears as she rushed out of the yoga room. 6:10 pm P P DD Chapter 457 The Night Everything Burned +10 Free Coins One hourter, at the Fullbuster Residence. Elizabeth burst into the living room, still breathless, while Penelope was arranging two pots of blooming daffodils by the window. "Mother!" Elizabeth called, striding forward. Penelope''s hands stopped in midair, and her expression instantly darkened. She made no effort to turn around. "I told you to leave Oceaton," she stated tly. "Why are you still here? Do you want me to book your ticket myself?" Elizabeth clenched her jaw and sharply addressed the two nearby maids, "I need to speak with my mother-inw alone. You may go." The maids hesitated, ncing uncertainly at the old Penelope. Everyone in the house knew Elizabeth couldn''t order them around with her mother-inw''s approval. She tightened her grip on her purse. "Mother, please. This isn''t something we can ignore." Penelope finally looked up, irritation flickering across her face before she sighed and waved the maids away. Once they were gone, Elizabeth wasted no time, as she knew her mother-inw''s patience was paper-thin. She took out her phone, viewed thetest headlines about Anneliese, and showed the screen to Penelope. Chapter 458 Chapter 458 Lines That Can''t Be Crossed. Chapter 458 Lines That Can''t Be Crossed +10 Free Coins Elizabeth asked, "Mother, have you seen the news? Anneliese''s been trending for days-and it''s not good." Penelope didn''t even bother to look up from her nt. She let out a softugh instead. "Of course I''ve seen it. My granddaughter-inw''s all over the inte- how could I miss it?" She actually sounded proud. She''d even gone online herself, likingments that called Anneliese beautiful, capable, and full of potential. Elizabeth''s face stiffened. "Mother, this isn''t something to brag about. She faked her research and pushed Coral Slenderidge into getting an abortion. It''s all over the ce-it''s a disaster!" "Enough." Penelope''s tone snapped through the air like a whip. "Do you really think I don''t know how to read the news? That''s all fake lies and cheap gossip. Anne''s already cleared everything up. Try keeping up before you start talking nonsense." Elizabeth clenched her jaw, struggling to stay calm. "Then tell me, do you actually know who she really is?" Penelope gave her a long, unimpressed look. "Of course I do. She''s my granddaughter-inw-Jojo''s choice, and I trust his judgment more than yours." Elizabeth leaned forward, her voice trembling slightly. "She''s the daughter of that firefighter, Mother-the one who died in the Baytree fire. How can you just sit there and pretend that''s fine?" Penelope''s expression didn''t change, but her gaze sharpened. ¡°So what? Why shouldn''t it be fine? You really think I''m as blind as you are? You barely raised Jonathan, and now you want to control his life? Don''t make meugh." Elizabeth blinked, caught off guard. "You knew?" Her calm was shattered. Mother, that girl despised Jonathan when she was a child! She almost bit him! She med our family for her father''s death. She doesn''t truly love him. What if she''s using him to seek revenge and tear this family from the inside?" A sudden crash interrupted her. Penelope had thrown her porcin vase against the floor, shards scattering across the tiles. "Shut your mouth!" she barked, her voice trembling with fury. Elizabeth jumped back, startled. ¡°Mother, I''m just worried about Jonathan-" Penelope scoffed. "Worried about Jojo? Please. You''re worried about yourself." Elizabeth frowned, her voice shaking. "What are you talking about?" Penelope gave her a hard, knowing stare. "You''re terrified that once Jojo''s reminded of that night, he''ll remember what really happened-that you saved yourself and left him behind. You''re scared that when Anne learns the truth about that fire, she''ll see you for what you did. That Jojo will finally cut you off for good." Penelope''s patience wore thin. She rubbed her temple, exhaling slowly. She regretted, not for the first time, ever letting Elizabeth into this family. Elizabeth''s throat tightened. "That''s not true. Jonathan''s my only child. I know I wasn''t perfect, but my marriage was miserable- didn''t have a choice. All I desire now is for him to find happiness. I just worry some woman might hurt him again. Is that really so pm PP??? 5:10 Chapter 458 Lines That Can''t Be Crossed +10 Free Coins wrong? "Mother, you can''t seriously think this marriage willst. He only married Anneliese because he felt guilty. Do you really think she cares about him? They-" Penelope sharply raised her hand and interrupted, "Enough. Jojo and Anne arepletely different from you. They truly understand love and don''t use it as a weapon or bargaining chip." She rose to her feet, her tone icy and conclusive. "Stay away from their marriage. If I know you''ve caused any harm to them, you can gather your belongings and leave this family forever." Without another nce, she called out to the butler. The butler stepped into the room almost immediately. "Show Mrs. Fullbuster out," Penelope ordered. Elizabeth''s stomach sank. She hade here hoping Penelope would side with her-that she''d help her talk sense into Jonathan. After all, Penelope was the only person he truly respected. Yet, the olddy had known everything already, and she still chose Anneliese. Elizabeth tried to speak again, but the butler was already at her side, gesturing politely toward the door. Chapter 459 Chapter 459 The Call That Changed the Mood Chapter 459 The Call That Changed the Mood Jonathan had just dropped Anneliese off at the hospital. +10 Free Coins After the mess online had blown up, he''d dispatched a few bodyguards to station at Nishay''s floor. Anneliese also called the nurse to remind her to be extra cautious with her grandma and ensure she doesn''t answer any calls or scroll through the news. Still, a pit of worry sat in Anneliese''s stomach. If Nishay caught wind of those rumors, she''d be devastated. When the car came to a halt, Anneliese shifted and grasped Jonathan''s hand. She asked gently, "Do you want toe with me and visit Grandma?¡± Jonathan smiled. "I didn''t bring anything for her, and I''ve got back-to-back meetings this afternoon. Today''s already been chaos.¡± She knew he wasn''t lying. The moment things had spiraled online, he''d dropped everything that morning-calls, meetings, deadlines-just to rush to her side. He''d been handling her mess all day. The least she could do was let him breathe. She tried to smile. ¡°Next time, then. Go handle work. I''ll be fine." She reached for the door handle, but his hand caught her wrist. She blinked and turned back, thinking maybe he''d changed his mind. He hesitated for a second, then pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Thanks for understanding, honey." Her chest tightened. She nodded, exited the car, and watched his Bentley leave the hospital entrance. An unfamiliar unease settled in her-something she couldn''t quite identify. She shrugged it off and rushed inside. When she reached Nishay''s ward, she found Jessica sitting by the bed, keeping her grandmotherpany. The two wereughing at a cheesy TV show, the sound warm and familiar. Relief washed over Anneliese. She had worried that the nurse wouldn''t be enough to distract Nishay, so she asked Jessica toe by that morning. "Grandma! I''m here!" she called out brightly. "Did you miss me?" Nishay shot her a teasing look. "Miss you? Why would I? Jess kept me entertained." Jessica wrapped an arm around the old woman and shed a smug grin. "Yeah, Grandma''s got me. You''ve been reced." Anneliese caught Jessica''s quick wink-her way of saying the coast was clear. Nishay clearly hadn''t seen any of the online drama.. Relieved, Anneliese slid onto the bed and clung to her grandma''s other arm. "No way. Grandma, tell her you missed me even just a little!" With both girls clinging to her, Nishay finally broke intoughter. They chatted for a while until Nishay appeared sleepy. When shey down to rest, the two girls quietly left the room. The second the door closed, Jessica tugged Anneliese toward the stairwell. "What''s wrong?" Anneliese asked. 6:10 pm P P DD Chapter 459 The Call That Changed the Mood +10 Free Coins Jessica didn''t answer right away. She crossed her arms, looked her up and down, and started circling like a defective examining a suspect. Anneliese blinked in confusion as Jessica suddenly yanked at Anneliese''s cor and squinted at her neck. "Nothing to share, huh?" Anneliese swatted her hand away and adjusted her cor. "Hey! What''s your problem?" Jessica smirked. "Don''t act innocent. You slept with Jonathan, didn''t you? I could tell the second I saw you." Anneliese waspletely thrown off. After a few seconds of stunned silence, she gawked at Jessica. ¡°Wait, what? How the hell could you tell that?" Can she seriously tell just by looking? she wondered. Jessica wiggled her brows. "Girl, please. You''re practically glowing. That dreamy walk, that dazed little smile-you''ve got ''satisfied woman'' written all over you." Earlier, she had tugged at Anneliese''s cor to verify her suspicion. One nce confirmed everything. Those faint marks told her all she needed to know. So much for Mr. Perfectly Composed, she thought with a sly grin. Guess even the cool, collected ones have a wild side. Figures. The more a guy looks buttoned-up and disciplined, the dirtier he is once the lights go out. Jessica leaned in with a wicked grin. "So? How was it? Mr. Fullbuster looks like he''s got serious stamina-bet it was insane, huh?" Anneliese''s ears turned pink in an instant. She pped a hand over Jessica''s mouth before she could go any further. Still, she knew Jessica too well¨Cthis girl would keep poking until she got an answer. There was no escaping her relentless curiosity. Anneliese bit her lip, her face still burning. "Fine. It was great, okay? Happy now?" Jessica''s muffled giggles vibrated against her palm. She nudged Anneliese yfully until she finally let go, apanied by a warning re. Just as she was about to ask Anneliese when she would finally introduce Jonathan to Nishay, her phone unexpectedly rang. Chapter 460 Chapter 460 The Call She Should''ve Ignored Chapter 460 The Call She Should''ve Ignored Anneliese frowned when her phone lit up with an unfamiliar number. +10 Free Coins She didn''t have it saved, but she recognized it right away-it was the same number Elizabeth had used thest time she''d called to "chat." She didn''t need to think twice. Mrs. Fullbuster must have seen the trending chaos online and is now ready to unload her fury. "Who''s calling?" Jessica asked, leaning over to peek at the screen. When she noticed the unknown number and Anneliese''s expression, she didn''t hesitate¨Cshe grabbed the phone and declined the call. In her mind, it made perfect sense. After the morning''s chaos on social media, Anneliese had been all over the hot search. This was probably just some random troll or paparazzi trying to harass her. "Jess!" Anneliese gasped. "What? Wasn''t it just a spam call?" Jessica shrugged, totally unbothered. Anneliese stared at her for a moment, then sighed. She wasn''t exactly eager to talk to Elizabeth anyway. If she answered, it would only spiral into another pointless argument. "Yeah," she murmured, forcing a small smile. ¡°It''s fine.¡± Still, when Jessica wasn''t looking, she quietly opened WhatsApp and sent Jonathan a quick message letting him know she''d just hung up on his mom. His reply came secondster-a sticker of a cat being petted. Anneliese blinked at the screen and couldn''t helpughing softly. Wow, she thought, the CEO of AeroAir sending cat stickers-never saw thating. Jessica caught the sound of herugh and groaned. ¡°Ugh, seriously? You two can''t go five minutes without texting each other? You''re disgustingly sweet. I''m out of here before I get cavities." She yanked open the emergency exit door, muttering under her breath. Anneliese slipped her phone into her pocket and followed after her, grinning. "Hey, wait! How about you and Zane?¡± Jessica nced back, rolling her eyes. "What''s there to say? It''s purely physical-no feelings and deep talks. That''s it." Anneliese frowned. "Is that what Zane told you?¡± Maybe she was being naive, but she couldn''t help it¨Cher view of Jonathan had tinted everything around him. Since Zane was his close friend, she just couldn''t picture him as the type of guy who''d be careless or messy about rtionships. Jessica smirked. "Girl, not every connection needs toe with wedding bells. We''re adults. We both know what we''re doing. Besides, with a family like his? Even if he wanted something serious, I couldn''t deal with all that baggage.¡± She said it lightly, but there was a flicker of something guarded in her tone. 6:10 pm P PD D Chapter 460 The Call She Should''ve Ignored She knew exactly where she stood and how different her world was from Anneliese''s. +10 Free Coins Anneliese could marry someone like Jonathan because he truly loved her and because she deserved it. She was brilliant, confident, and came from a solid background. Her future was practically golden. Yet her? Jessica had no illusions about who she was. For the past few years, she''d been drifting from ce to ce, picking up whatever jobs she could find-some barely legal, most barely paying. To put it bluntly, she''d been surviving, not living. If it hadn''t been for Anneliese, she would''ve never even been in the same orbit as someone like Zane. What they had wasn''t love-it was chemistry, in and simple. A mix of attraction, adrenaline, and the thrill of doing something she knew she shouldn''t. It felt good, sure, but deep down she knew it was temporary. They were from different worlds, and people like her didn''t end up with men like him. The warmth she felt every time he smiled at her? Just a dangerous kind of wishful thinking. Jessica told herself to get a grip. She pasted on her usual carefree smile and hooked her arm through Anneliese''s, tugging her toward the stairwell like nothing was wrong. Looking at her friend''s bright expression, Anneliese didn''t push. She knew Jessica- if she kept digging, her friend would just shut down. Still, she couldn''t help worrying. Zane wasn''t just anyone. He was Jonathan''s closest friendpetent, polished, effortlessly confident, and born into a powerful family. Jonathan had once mentioned that the Shaymans were deeply entrenched in the legal world, with their influence and connections intertwined with politics and old money. It was a dangerous kind of power-one that could chew up someone like Jessica and spit her out without a second thought. So instead of saying what was on her mind, Anneliese stayed silent and walked beside Jessica. Trying to change the subject, she asked softly, "Jess, have you ever thought about tracking down your birth parents? I could go with you to get your DNA on record at the station." Jessica blinked, caught off guard. "What brought that up?" Years ago, Frederick took Anneliese to the police station to have her DNA entered into the national database. Jessica, on the other hand, never had that chance. After being taken in by the Johnsons as a stand-in for their missing daughter, she was treated more like a ceholder than a person. The Johnsons practically kept her locked up; they certainly weren''t about to help her record her DNA. As a child, Jessica often dreamed about discovering her true parents. She imagined their appearance, their personalities, and wondered how it would feel to finally be loved and wanted. However, years of scraping by had burned those hopes out of her. Now, her main focus was to get through each day-finding a way to survive, perhaps even with an ounce of dignity. As for her parents? She''d stopped hoping a long time ago. If they haven''t searched for me all this time, why should I bother searching for them? Maybe the truth is simple. Perhaps I was just. abandoned from the start. 6:10 pm P P D Chapter 460 The Call She Should''ve Ignored The thought made her chest tighten, but sheughed it off anyway. How pathetic, she thought. And kind of funny, too. "Maybeter,¡± Jessica replied quickly with a small shrug. Just then, a man with a lunchbox walked past, and the scent of greasy food permeated the hallway. Jessica suddenly froze, covered her mouth with a hand, and gagged. "Jess?" Anneliese grabbed her arm. "What''s wrong?" +10 Free Coins Jessica grimaced, rubbing her stomach. "It''s nothing, probably just too much cold junkst night. My stomach''s upset, that''s all." Meanwhile, at AeroAir headquarters. Jonathan leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking to his phone. He saw Anneliese''s text and swiftly made a call to someone. Chapter 461 6:10 pm p p DD Chapter 461 The Woman in the Photo Chapter 461 The Woman in the Photo +10 Free Coins Jonathan''s expression turned sharp, his tone icy enough to cut through steel. "Do I really have to teach you how to do your job?" The person on the other end instantly started panicking, stumbling over their words in a rush to apologize and promise it wouldn''t happen again. "See that it doesn''t," Jonathan stated tly before hanging up. The line went dead just as a knock sounded at his office door. Before he could respond, Zion entered, holding a thick file of documents. Jonathan raised an eyebrow, and Zion swiftly moved across the room to set the folder on his desk. "Mr. Fullbuster,¡± he reported quickly, "we finally found something on the couple suspected of taking Mrs. Fullbuster from Mikita all those years ago. Hmm... you''d better see this yourself." Jonathan flipped open the file, scanning through the first few pages. Two glossy photos slipped free and slid across the desk. He picked them up. The pictures showed an older couple and a young woman, all dressed in matching windbreakers, smiling against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The kind of photo ordinary families took on a weekend hike-warm, simple, happy. Zion cleared his throat. "We can''t confirm for sure that this is the same couple, but everything points their way. The young woman in the photo is Sylvia Pord, and here''s where it gets unusual-she shares the same birthday as Selina White. "The story goes that after visiting Oceaton for infertility treatment, the couple returned with a baby girl, iming they found her and legally adopted her shortly thereafter." Jonathan frowned. "Do you have pictures of the Whites?" "Right here." Zion swiped through his phone until he found photos of Timothy and Mnie, then handed it over. Jonathanpared the photos side by side-the girl from the mountain photo and the Whites. Zion came around the desk, leaning in to get a better look. His eyes widened. "D*mn. That girl looks more like Mnie Lawrence than Mrs. Fullbuster does. You don''t think... they got the wrong kid, do you?" Jonathan''s face was unreadable, though his silence was heavier than words. He slid the photos and documents back across the table. "Where is she now? Verify her connection to the Whites." "She''s currently studying in Madfell," Zion replied. "Should we loop Mrs. Fullbuster in? Another DNA test with her and the Whites would clear this up a lot faster.¡± Jonathan leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. He thought about how many years Anneliese had suffered under the Whites! roof-how they''d made her feel like an outsider in her own home. "Don''t tell her," he spoke quietly. "Not yet. Confirm everything first. When it''s certain, I''ll tell her myself." He looked down at the photo again, at that smiling girl who might''ve been living the life Anneliese was meant to have. Perhaps... not being White isn''t a tragedy after all. Maybe it''s finally her chance to be free. pr Chapter 461 The Woman in the Photo +10 Free Coins Meanwhile, two men in ck suits unexpectedly the women''s restroom at Oceaton International Airport, startling two women at the sinks. The women screamed and quickly fled. The guards approached the only locked stall, loudly banging on the door. "Mrs. Fullbuster, pleasee out immediately, or we''ll have to break it open!" No response. As one of them reared back to kick, the door suddenly swung open. Elizabeth stepped out, her face pale but zing with fury. The guards hesitated-after all, she was Jonathan''s mother-but the echo of his earlier order still rang in their ears. None of them dared defy him twice. One extended his hand. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, please hand over your phone.¡± Elizabeth''s re could''ve set the room on fire. She''d barely left Penelope''s ce when three ck cars boxed her in on the mountain road. Before she could even react, half a dozen men in ck had piled out, forcing her into another car. For a brief moment, she honestly believed she was being kidnapped. Then the vehicle took a direct route to the airport. That''s when she realized what was really happening. This wasn''t a kidnapping. This was exile. Her own family was throwing her out of Oceaton. At first, she thought Penelope was behind it. The olddy had been threatening to make her leave for weeks, though she''d never actually followed through. Elizabeth had assumed this was just another one of her empty threats. She hadn''t believed the bodyguards wouldy a hand on her until one of them grabbed her arm and twisted hard enough to make her yelp. That''s when it hit her. This wasn''t Penelope. This was Jonathan. Her son might be as ruthless as his father-possibly more so. Elizabeth wasn''t going to go quietly. The moment she got a chance, she slipped her phone from her purse, locked herself in a stall, and dialed Anneliese''s number. If she couldn''t reason with her son, she''d reach his wife. She believed that Anneliese already knew the truth-that Jonathan was the boy her adoptive father rescued from the fire years ago¡ªand that her marriage to him was deliberate, possibly driven by a secret motive. 5:10 pm P p D DD Chapter 461 The Woman in the Photo Yet after what happened at Penelope''s, she wasn''t so sure anymore. +10 Free Coins. The olddy''s response was sincere, and Jonathan''s quick reply-telling his mother to leave the city as soon as she mentioned Anneliese''s past-said it all. Anneliese didn''t know, nor did she have any idea.. Chapter 462 Chapter 462 Hospitalized Chapter 462 Hospitalized +10 Free Coins Jonathan was uneasy because Anneliese still lived in the dark. He feared words would slip from his mouth that should never be spoken. He feared his actions would betray the secret he carried. That was why he wanted her sent abroad, Elizabeth thought she could test Anneliese with a simple call. She wanted to know if the girl truly knew nothing. She never imagined the call would be cut off in her face. Worse, the bodyguards stormed in right after. It was obvious. They knew she had tried to call Anneliese. She had only just dialed, and they already knew. That could never be a chance. It had to be Anneliese. She must have tattled to Jonathan again. She not only hung up but also ratted her out. Elizabeth''s suspicion grew darker. She now believed Anneliese might know what really happened in that fire years ago. Maybe she had returned to strike back. A chill crept across her back. She red at the men and snapped. "What phone? You took my phone the moment I walked in here! Get out of my way!" The bodyguard''s voice was t. "Mrs. Fullbuster, please hand over your spare phone. If you refuse, we will search you." "I dare you to try!" Elizabeth''s fury burst loose. She shoved at the man and tried to storm off. The next second, her arms were twisted behind her. The bodyguard pulled the hidden phone from her pocket. His hands checked her waist and hips to be certain nothing else was there. Elizabeth had always lived as a wife of a rich man. Her marriage might be cold, but her life had been full offort and pride. She had never suffered humiliation like this. Her face turned a deep shade of purple from rage. Her teeth clenched tight. Anneliese, she thought. That wretched girl. At that moment, Anneliese had just left the hospital. She was only at the first traffic light when the butler called. He said Penelope had nearly fainted. Without hesitation, Anneliese swung her car toward the Fullbuster Residence. When she arrived, the private doctor had already finished his check. Thankfully, nothing serious had happened. The same doctor said Penelope was too old to handle anger, needed to rest, and remain calm. After the doctor left, Anneliese walked into Penelope''s bedroom. Penelopey pale on the bed. Her eyes cut sharp at the butler. ¡°Why call Anne? You had nothing better to do?" Anneliese hurried forward with a pout. ¡°Grandma, how could you say that? If you don''t feel well, of course, he has to call me. Or do 5:10 pm P P DD Chapter 462 Hospitalized you only call me your granddaughter-inw with your lips but not with your heart?" +10 Free Coins Penelopeughed at her sass. She reached for her hand and pulled her down to sit at her side. "I know you''re busy. You have yourb, your research, your grandmother at the hospital. I don''t want you worn out." Anneliese lifted her chin with pride. "I won''t be worn out. I know how to n my time. I''m sharp and I get things done fast. Besides, the new year is around the corner. Theb won''t return to full work until after that anyway." Her confidence lit her face. Penelopeughed again. "Happy to hear that. Since you''re not too busy, you and Jojo should go take your wedding photos. And tell me, when are you two nning to hold the wedding?" Her tone carried urgency. After Elizabeth''s visit earlier, her worry had grown. She had waited years for a granddaughter-inw. She could not lose her now. ¡°What?¡± Anneliese froze in ce. She never thought Penelope would mention it. She had never thought about it because her marriage with Jonathan was only a deal. "What do you mean what? This is important, and you two made no ns? Don''t stand there and tell me this marriage is for fun.¡± Penelope''s eyes narrowed on her. Anneliese''s nerves buckled under the stare. ¡°No, Grandma, that''s not it. I thought about it. It''s just... Jonathan is always busy." Penelope gave a sharp huff. ¡°Busy or not, you shouldn''t be the one to sacrifice. Hold on. I''ll call him right now and ask.¡± Anneliese parted her lips, then fell quiet. She wanted to stop her, but Penelope''s spirit was strong. If she pushed too hard, Penelope would sense something was off. As such, she let her call. And with Penelope so lively, she doubted the old woman had nearly fainted at all. The call connected. Penelope switched it to speaker. "Jojo, when will you take Anne to shoot the wedding photos? And the wedding, when is it happening?" Jonathan''s smooth voice came through. ¡°Grandma, why bring this up all of a sudden?" "You don''t worry about that. This is my duty. Now answer me. You get one chance. Speak wisely." Her tone pressed heavy. Jonathan''s pen stopped mid-stroke. He lifted his head. He guessed right away. His grandmother must have Anne there beside her. A quiet smile touched his lips. He gave a soft sigh and spoke, acting as if the choice was difficult. Chapter 463 Chapter 463 Answer Chapter 463 Answer ¡°Grandma, I''m swamped at the end of the year. You know that..." Anneliese let out a slow breath the moment Jonathan''s voice came through the line. +10 Free Coins Penelope smacked the nket hard with her palm. "What kind of talk is that! You''re busy, so your wife has to suffer? If you''re that busy, why don''t you just marry your job? Why bother taking a wife at all?" "Yes, yes, Grandma, please don''t get upset. I can do it anytime. But Anne is busy too..." Jonathan never got to finish. Penelope broke into loudughter and yanked Anneliese closer to her side. "Anne, you heard that, didn''t you? This boy just admitted he''s free whenever. And since you''re not tied up either, then follow my word. In the next two days, you two will go take your wedding photos. The wedding itself, we can talk aboutter. But the gown? That takes months to make. We need the style and size locked down right now." Before Anneliese could respond, Penelope pped her thigh with force. ¡°Good. That''s settled. Whew, that was tiring. Time to sleep.¡± She cut off all chances for them to argue. She hung up right away, pulled the nket over her, and shut her eyes. Anneliese froze. "Hm?" She felt cornered. Not just by one person but by two working together. Am I imagining things? she thought. As soon as she left Penelope''s room, her phone buzzed again. Jonathan was calling. "Baby, about those wedding photos... if it''s too much for you, I''ll talk to Grandma again." His voice was low, carrying guilt. He had always wanted to share those moments with her. He wanted everything from romance to marriage to feel real. But he didn''t want her forced into it. He wanted her happy. Anneliese slowed her pace. She still had theb to reach, but she stopped. "Hard on me? Why would it be? Or is it you who doesn''t want to take them with me?" Jonathan''s lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°Honey, don''t put that on me. I want it more than anything." Anneliese''s lips lifted as well. "Mr. Fullbuster, don''t put that on me either. I want it just as much." Theirughter spilled into the phone, light and easy. After a moment, Anneliese whispered, "I need to drive now." "Of course. I''ll see you tonight." Jonathan''s voice carried warmth. "Alright." Something in his tone made him sound exactly like a husband. Her smile lingered even after she ended the call. When Anneliese arrived at theb, she was met with warmth and cheers. Her mentor and the senior students surrounded her with 5:11 pm P PDD Chapter 463 Answer +10 Free Coins wee and concern. She bowed her head with gratitude. "Thank you, everyone, for standing up for me online. Thank you for protecting me. Once breakes, I''ll treat you all to dinner." Her mentor had recorded a video to defend her. Her seniors had also spoken out. They posted old photos frompetitions where they had won together. They showed the harmony of the team. They shattered the rumors that she had cheated her way into theb and brought division. "It was the right thing to do. Too bad our ounts don''t pull much weight. It didn''t help as much as we wanted." Clement patted her shoulder. Quinton nodded. "Starting today, I''ll post more videos on eVTOL tech. I''ll build the ount bigger. Next time, no one will dare im our voices are from bots." Prof. Clocke''s eyes cut sharp. "Next time? You expect another mess? Stop talking and hand me theposite wing test data I asked for yesterday." Quinton''s face dropped in misery. Laughter erupted around them. Gianna stood apart. The warmth around Anneliese burned her like fire. She couldn''t even fit in. Her chest twisted with rage. She had counted on the online storm to destroy Anneliese''s reputation. She thought it would force her out of theb. It made sense. Anneliese had been gone from school for years. She had no record. No achievements. She should have faded into silence. But instead, the storm had died overnight. Anneliese emerged brighter, crowned as a prodigy. Prodigy? Her? It wasughable. "Anneliese, the things they said about you online were vile. I was furious myself. You should rest for a few days. Don''t push yourself.¡± Gianna stepped forward with a soft tone. The room fell quiet. "You''re right. Very thoughtful, Gianna. Anne, maybe you should take a couple of days to reset," Clement agreed. Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Smirk Chapter 464 Smirk Anneliese lifted her head and shed Gianna a smile that carried both charm and edge. "Thanks for worrying about me. But Gianna, do I look like someone who needs rest?" +10 Free Coins Her skin was flushed with healthy color. Her eyes gleamed like polished gems. She looked brighter than ever, striking in a way that made her stand out even more. Not one shadow of sadness touched her face. Gianna had stared for so long, desperate to see even a trace of tears or some sign she had been hiding the pain. But there was nothing. Not even the faintest clue. What made it worse was that Anneliese wore no makeup at all. Gianna lowered hershes and curved her lips into a soft smile. "Then I worried too much. You''re incredible, Anneliese. You can bear so much. I''m not like that. A few harsh words can crush me right away." She stuck her tongue out in mock embarrassment and ducked her head. She wanted her colleagues to think she was delicate, someone who needed care. She thought they would give her sympathy. But no one reacted the way she hoped. Instead, one by one, they pped her shoulder. "Don''t say that. Even us guys can''t match Anne''s strength." "With Anne''s mindset, she''ll seed at anything. That deserves respect." Gianna froze in ce. Professor Clocke finally spoke. He waved everyone off and looked at Anneliese. "Anne, follow me." She trailed him into his office. He reached for his cup, and she quickly stepped forward to take it. She brewed him a cup of green tea, set it at his side, and only then sat down. Professor Clocke slid a paper toward her. "Fill this out and hand it in tomorrow." Anneliese nced at it, and her eyes widened. "A national challenge for low-altitude logistics algorithm optimization? Sir, you want me to join?" "If you have the guts for it. Do you?" He blew across his tea and studied her with tired eyes. Anneliese smiled, calm and steady. She reached for a pen and began filling out the form. "If you''re not afraid, then I have no reason to be." Professor Clocke set his cup down and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean I''m not afraid? Why should I be?" "Well, no reason, really. Just saying you''re really brave. If I lose, your reputation takes the hit. You''re the authority here. Today, you even stood online and called me one of your most valued students." Her gaze stayed on the paper. He chuckled and tapped her on the head. 6:11 pm P PD Chapter 464 Smirk Anneliese lifted her face in surprise. The old man red at her. +10 Free Coins "Now that you''ve said it like that, I can''t let my rep take the hit! If you''re not confident, don''t go. This contest is after the holidays. Thepetitors are the best in the country. They''ve been preparing for months. And you''ve only juste back... Forget it. Forget it." He leaned forward, ready to snatch the form. Anneliese covered it with both hands. "No way. I have to try." "Then you''re only allowed to win. Failure is uneptable." She groaned in protest. "Why give me pressure like that? Winning and losing aren''t everything. You sound way too obsessed with results. That''s not good for you." Outside, Gianna walked past the door. The sound ofughter drifted out. She bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. Her phone buzzed in her hand. She nced at the screen. Felix''s name red back at her. Her steps quickened, her eyes turned icy, and she swiped to end the call. Anneliese understood her mentor''s intent. The storm online had died, but doubt still lingered. This challenge was prestigious. He wanted her to crush it, to silence every critic, and to prove herself once and for all. It was not just a contest. It carried his pride. And it was her first battle since returning. Winning was the only option. Anything less than first ce would be failure. Anneliese had already decided. She finished the form and then brought up Felix''s issue. Professor Clocke''s face darkened. "I''ll go back to the school tomorrow. This must be dealt with firmly." "Do you want me to go with you?" Anneliese asked. "No. You focus on preparing. I''ll send you some materialter. Study it carefully." She left his office and sat down in front of herputer. Her phone lit up again. Jonathan had sent her more than ten pictures. Each was from a different photographer. Each showed a different style of wedding photo. Which style do you like, baby?'' Anneliese blinked in shock. She never thought he would move this fast. They had only just talked about wedding photos, and now he had already picked out photographers. She scrolled through the images slowly. Then a voice rang out behind her. ¡°So, you''re taking wedding photos, Anneliese?¡± The words sliced through the air. Anneliese stiffened. She didn''t need to look back to know who it was. 5:11 pm P P DD Chapter 465 Confrontation Chapter 465 Created 465 5:11 pm P P DD Chapter 465 Confrontation Chapter 465 Confrontation +10 Free Coins Anneliese mmed her phone onto the desk. The sharp sound cracked against the wood and echoed in the air. She spun her chair around, crossed her arms tight, and fixed Gianna with a smile that carried no kindness. "So, Gianna, what now? Do you have more advice for me today?" Gianna lifted her brows, her voice dripping with mock ease. "It was just a question. Why so uptight? My mother is a world-famous wedding dress designer. She has her own brand. She''s collected countless ssic gowns. "She never designs for just anyone. I thought I''d be generous and ask if you wanted me to introduce her. But from the way you''re acting, it seems you don''t need her help, right?" Anneliese tilted her head, her eyes cool and unreadable. "A few days ago, you stood beside your cousin and threw usations at me. And now you want to rmend your mother as my gown designer? Gianna, you shift your stance so quickly I can''t even follow it." She would have to be out of her mind to put her wedding dress in Gianna''s mother''s hands. India had chased Jonathan for years. The Fullbusters and the Malones had both considered tying their families together. It didn''t take much thought to guess how the Malone family saw her. If she went to Gianna''s mother for a gown, it would look like a challenge. And Gianna''s mother would never agree. The only one left humiliated would be her. Gianna let out a sharpugh. ¡°I live on my own terms. Not like you, Anneliese, who thinks too much about everything. I offered kindness, and you turned it into poison. If you don''t want it, then fine!" She turned her back and stormed away. Anneliese didn''t waste another nce. She picked up her phone again, but her interest in the gown photos had faded. She dropped it aside and pulled the research papers closer instead. Inside the White family estate, a loud crack split the silence. Mnie''s palm had mmed across Selina''s cheek. Red bloomed across her face in seconds. Mnie pointed a shaking finger at her. "It was you again! You knew Anne was a top student at Astoria University from the start. This is all your fault! Without you, we never would have treated her like that!" The scandal had spread across every corner of the inte. The Whites had seen it all. At first, Mnie believed Anneliese''s disgrace was a chance. She even cooked several dishes herself, packed them up, and set out to find her. She thought it was the moment to patch things up. But she never reached Anneliese. By the time she came back, the tide had already shifted. 6:11 pm P P DD Chapter 465 Confrontation Anneliese no longer needed their pity. +10 Free Coins And when they discovered she was a student at Astoria University, shame burned through them. They had mocked her as a dropout, a failure, someone beneath Selina. Now they regretted every word. They remembered each time they scolded her as useless. They remembered how Selina always cut her off. They realized Selina had known all along. When Selina returned to collect her things, Mnie blocked her path. The moment she pushed, Selina sneered and admitted it. ¡°Ha. So she''s some top student at Astoria University. Big deal. If you had cared at all when you first brought her in, you would have found out. And now you throw me on me? Her sess has nothing to do with you. Don''t forget, she isn''t even your blood." Her mocking eyes swept over Mnie, thennded on Perseus and Christopher. "Brothers, I''m the one with your blood. Not her. I know you''ve been selling the family''s assets. Some of that belongs to me and Billy. You don''t get to keep it all.¡± The house was a ruin. Every servant had been sent away. Rooms were empty. A broken vasey shattered by the door. Debt collectors had alreadye. Tomorrow, the estate could be gone. Selina returned only to grab what she could. She stuffed designer bags and jewelry into her arms, anything that could be sold. "You''re dreaming! You won''t take another cent from the Whites. Get out!" Mnie''s hair was wild, her voice raw with fury, her face carved with years she hadn''t yet lived. Perseus stepped up to steady her and red at Selina. ¡°Leave." Christopher seized Selina''s arm and dragged her toward the door. She carried nothing. She was thrown out and stumbled into a ck Mercedes waiting outside. Her uncle Hiroto sat behind the wheel. The moment she slid in, he leaned toward her. "Well?" Selina''s face was pale as paper. Her eyes shone red with panic. Her voice shook hard. "Uncle, they must have told Jonathan everything! I just said I knew they sold off the White family''s assets. They didn''t deny a thing!" Chapter 466 Chapter 466 Sold Off 05670 *10 Free Cons Chapter 466 Sold Off The assets of White Inc. had been frozen for months. No one dared to touch them. Selina knew it was Jonathan''s shadow pressing down on the market. But whispers had reached her cars these past two days. Perseus and Christopher had moved several factories and plots ofnd. The prices were cut to the bone. The sales were rushed and desperate. Yet someone still bought them. That meant Jonathan had let go. He would never loosen his grip for no reason. Selina''s heart pounded. She was certain now. Perseus and Christopher had betrayed her. She had tested them tonight. The signs were clear. Eight out of ten said she was right. Her breath came in quick bursts. She clutched her uncle''s arm, nails digging hard into his skin. Her voice shook. "Uncle, what do we do? If Jonathan finds out we hired someone to kill Calvin..." Fear consumed her. She was young. If she went to prison, her life would be finished. Her crimes would be heavier than Mikita. She knew it. Hiroto''s brows knotted tight. His voice cracked across the air like a whip. "Enough! Stop crying. Tears won''t fix a thing. You''re scaring yourself. Calvin died three months ago. No body. No trace. Even Jonathan cannot pull evidence from nothing." From the moment Anneliese uncovered the truth of the past, Selina''s nights had been sleepless. She had begged Hiroto to silence Calvin. She thought if he died, the truth would be buried with him. She never dreamed that Anneliese would walk away from Zacharias and stand with Jonathan. Now Selina shook with terror. Jonathan was not a man who left stones unturned. He would dig until he found the bones. Hiroto''s tone softened. "Calm yourself. Nothing will happen. Don''t let fear eat you alive." But her hands trembled. Her face was white as ash. Her lips quivered. "Uncle, something will happen. Anneliese will never spare me. Jonathan''s punishment will be worse.....¡± Her voice cracked apart. Her arrogance was gone. Her pride was dust. The ruin of the Whites burned in her eyes. She had seen the wreckage of the estate. The shattered vases. The stripped rooms. Mnie and her sons, broken and beaten down. The picture would not leave her. She believed that if Jonathan/wanted to defend Anneliese, it would not matter if she was guilty or not. He would find proof. He would crush her. 15:10 Thu, 16 Det Chapter 466 Sold Off Tirur struck a match, lit a cigarette, and drew in deep. Smoke curled in heavy clouds. His gaze locked on her bell what you can in the next few days, I''ll buy ne tickets." Selina froze. ne tickets? Uncle you mean we leave the country? But my parents are still in prison!" His brow furrowed. His tone grew sharp with impatience. "Your mother''s guilt is irond. She will nevere out. And your father." His words cut like steel. His eyes narrowed. "Do you even want him out?" If Selina had wanted Timothy freed, she would have spoken the day she learned Anneliese was not a White. But she had stayed silent. Her eyes flickered. She had wanted Timothy out once, to stop Mnie and her sons from taking what was left. But she had not expected the Whites to copse so fast. Their empire fell before she could act. Now, even if Timothy came back, it would mean nothing. He was split from Mnie and her sons. If he returned, he would lean on her shoulders. And the debt collectors would swarm. Hiroto watched her in silence and sighed. "Selina, if we stay, we drown. This city has no ce for us. Jonathan is a mountain we cannot climb. Better to leave and breathe free. Once we are settled abroad, we''ll bring your mother when the timees." His mind was already set. He feared the creditors as much as she did. He had taken his share from White Inc. over the years. In another country, that money wouldst a lifetime. Selina clenched her jaw. Her teeth ground hard. "Uncle, I''ll follow your lead. But don''t buy ne tickets. Get ship tickets instead.¡± Hiroto pped his forehead, smoke trailing from his lips. "Of course. You''re right. Jonathan rules the skies. Ships are safer,¡± The decision made, Selina''s pulse slowed. The storm inside her eased a little. Hiroto pointed his cigarette at her. Keep calm. Do what you always do. Don''t let anyone suspect." Selina nodded, her voice steady now. "I understand." Chapter 467 Chapter+vy with sorrow. "Anne, I waited almost the whole day for you. I just wanted to say I''m sorry, onest time. I didn''t know you were already attending Astoria University..." Anneliese''s patience snapped. She didn''t want to hear his apology. A chill crawled across her back. She turned her head and nced behind her. The sight made her body jolt. A sleek ck Bentley had rolled up without her noticing. Zion sat at the wheel, throwing her wild winks and exaggerated faces. Her stomach sank. Her gaze slid past him to the back seat. A man sat deep in the shadows. His face was hidden, but the heat of his stare scorched her skin. She felt it burn straight into her spine. Her heart stumbled in her chest. She red back at Zacharias, "Shut up! And stop following me. If you don''t, I''ll call the cops!" She bolted for the Bentley, her heels striking the pavement in a frantic rhythm. Chapter 467 Back Home She yanked the handle and dove into the back seat. "1-" The words died on her tongue. The seat was empty. #19 Free Coim Jonathan had already stepped out the other side. He mmed the door with such force that the sound cracked through the air. The rush of air whipped strands of her hair across her face. She froze where she stood. Zion''s smug voice came from the driver''s seat, sharp and poisonous. ¡°Ma''am, that was too much. I saw it clear. You threw yourself into his arms." Anneliese spun, her fury zing. "That''s not true! When did I ever? Why would I ever?" Zion lifted both hands, dragging two fingers across his eyes with mocking ir. "These eyes saw it. No, four eyes saw it. Clear as day." He had seen her smile. He had seen her leap forward and embrace Zacharias with joy. Even Zion couldn''t twist the truth this time. Anneliese''s throat tightened. Her chest ached. She wanted to scream, to cry. Disaster had crashed over her without warning. Jonathan had seen it all. This time, his anger was real. "It isn''t what you think!" she shouted at Zion, then rushed out again. Jonathan hadn''t spared Zacharias even a nce. He had already stepped into the elevator. By the time she reached it, the doors had closed. The lift rose without her. Her teeth sank into her lip: Her eyes burned hot. A sharp sting rose in her nose. Sadness, panic, and helplessness crashed down inside her. Jonathan had never treated her this way. Since the day they met, he had been gentle. He had been patient. He had been calm. Even when he was upset, he always gave her a chance to exin. But not tonight. Her trembling finger jammed the elevator button again and again. Zacharias watched, and a faint smile touched his lips. He stepped closer, his shoes echoing across the floor. But before he could reach her, Zion blocked his path. His smirk cut sharp and cruel. "Well, Mr. Shaw. You''ve got too many mistresses already. Now you''re desperate enough to wreck someone else''s marriage? That''s low, even for you." Chapter 467 Back Home $10 Free Cons Zacharias'' eyes turned cold. "That depends on Anne. If she gives me the chance, then yes. And if I be the other man, so be it. Jonathan was once the other man too. Isn''t that fair, Zion? Isn''t that payback?" His words were sharp des. He pointed straight at her mistake and at Jonathan''s past. Zion let out a harshugh. "Mr. Shaw, you''re a master at lying to yourself." Chapter 468 Chapter 468 Skirmish Chapter 468 Skirmish Zacharias watched her in the elevator button again, his jaw tightening with impatience. This was the moment he had waited for. The crack between her and Jonathan had opened, and he was desperate to wedge himself inside. ¡°Move,¡± he snapped, stepping forward, ready to push past. But Zion shifted smoothly into his way. His stance was casual, but his eyes were cold. He had been left here for a reason. Jonathan hadn''t abandoned the battlefield. He had left it in Zion''s hands. If Zion let Zacharias get one step closer, he might as well pack his bags and go supervise a charity construction project out in the wilderness. The two men stared each other down. Neither moved. Then-the elevator doors slid open, and Anneliese darted inside. She unlocked the apartment door and stepped in. Mabel hurried forward, Meatloaf bounding at her heels. Anneliese had slept at Penelope''s the night before. Meatloaf hadn''t seen her for two whole days. The little dog spun around her legs in frantic circles, jumping at her knees, begging for her hands, her tail whipping the air. Anneliese bent to change her shoes. Her eyes swept the room fast. "Where is he?" Mabel''s voice dropped. "He went straight to the study. He looked upset. I asked if he wanted dinner, but he didn''t answer. Do you know why, ma''am?" Anneliese pressed her lips tight and said nothing. She gave Mabel a strained smile and walked quickly down the hall. Meatloaf stayed behind, her head tilting as her tail drooped. Her bright eyes dimmed. Both her owners had passed her without a nce, but she didn''t understand why. She crept to her bed, lowered her head, and buried her nose, silent and sad. At the study door, Anneliese knocked. No answer. A prickle ran over her scalp. She knocked again, louder. "I''ming in." She turned the handle. The click echoed through the silence. She pushed the door open. The study was dark. Her eyes swept across shelves, desks, and chairs, but Jonathan wasn''t there. She turned, ready to check another room. She thought Mabel saw it wrongly. Then she saw him. 15 11 Thu 16 ??I T Chapter 468 Skirmish A dark silhouette stood on the balcony, tall and still against the storin. The sky was not yet ck, but thick clouds pressed low, smothering the horizon. 110 Free Core Below, the river ran like wrinkled silk, heavy and dark. A single cruise ship drifted by, its lights glittering in the gloom. The glow mixed with the ember of Jonathan''s cigar, ring and fading between his fingers. Anneliese stepped toward him. She pushed the balcony door open. Cold wind swept in, sharp with the bite of tobo. Jonathan didn''t turn. He lifted the cigar, drawing in deep. His cheek hollowed. His jawline cut cold in the dim light. The air around him felt like steel. The weight of his silence pressed on her chest. Her lips parted, but her voice stayed trapped. She dropped her gaze like a child caught misbehaving. He smoked two more drags. The wind shifted, and the bitter smoke rolled into her face. She coughed, sharp and startled. She clutched her chest. Then, on impulse, she made the cough harsher, louder, her shoulders shaking. Jonathan turned. His eyes found her doubled over, clutching herself as if she might faint. A sh of exasperation crossed his brow. He ground the cigar against the railing, sparks scattering before he flicked it into the bin. His voice was low and sharp. "Enough. Drop the act." Anneliese coughed twice more, sneaking a nce at him through hershes. His stare stripped every mask. Her face grew hot. She blurted stubbornly, "I''m not acting! It choked me, really. I didn''t even know you smoked cigars." His expression chilled further. "Of course you don''t know. You know Zacharias better. You two grew up together." Her stomach dropped. She wanted to p her own mouth. Her clumsy words were making everything worse. It sounded like she wasining about him. She bit her lip hard. Then, without warning, she leapt at him. Her legs locked around his waist. Her arms wound tight around his neck. The sudden weight pushed him a step back. But Jonathan didn''t lift his arms. He didn''t hold her. She felt the risk of falling, but she clung to him anyway. 15:17 Thu, 10 UC Chapter 468 Skirmish 10 Free Com She leaned in, aiming for his lips. She wanted to prove herself. She wanted to erase her careless words with a kiss. Yet even as she moved, Jonathan turned his head aside. Her kiss nevernded. Chapter 469 Chapter 469 Kisses Chapter 469 Kisses Her hips touched only the edge of his. Anneliese frowned, twisting against him to try again, but he turned away once more. Her stubbornness red hot. She clung tighter, writhing against him as if she could force the kiss no matter what. Her strength broke. Her grip failed. Her body slipped. "Ah!" she cried, bracing for the fall that would m her to the ground. At thest second, Jonathan''s hands closed around her arms. His grip saved her, but he let her slide free from his body all the same. Humiliation burned through her chest. This man. Did he think she had no dignity at all? If he wanted to be impossible, then fine. She would not beg. She tore herself free and spun around. She stormed to the balcony door and pulled with all her strength. The ss didn''t move. Her eyes blurred with tears. She yanked harder, but it stayed locked in ce. Only then did she look up and see his hand braced above her head, pressing the frame down. ¡°Jonathan! You b*stard! You''re pushing me around!". Fury and hurt tore through her voice. She turned on him, unleashing fists and kicks in wild defiance. He absorbed her blows for a moment before catching her wrists. He twisted her arms behind her back, his body pinning her against the cold ss, his strength unyielding. "I''m the b*stard? I''m the bully? You dragged another man to our doorstep and held him like he was me. That wasn''t my doing." Anneliese''s eyes filled with tears. Her voice cracked. "That''s a d*mn lie!" The words leapt out before she could stop them. His eyes widened in shock, and heat flooded her face. She cursed herself. She sounded raw, crude, nothing like the woman she wanted him to see. Jonathan''s lips curved with a hard smirk. ¡°A d*mn lie? That same mouth tried to kiss me over and over. You cried when I didn''t let you. Strange, isn''t it?" Her throat tightened. Sheshed out with her foot, striking his shin, and lifted her chin. "I didn''t cry! And if I did, it wasn''t for that. It was because you never listened. You never gave me the chance to exin!" 1511 Thu, 16 Oct. D EJU Chapter 469 Kisses 416 F1 Goos The memory ripped through her chest. The way he avoided her, like she carried poison. The way he left the car without looking back. It cut her open inside. Her eyes filled. The tears fell fast, heavy and hot. She pounded weakly against his chest. His silence broke her more than his anger ever could. She caught his hand and pressed it to her wet cheek. Tears dripped onto his skin. "Your wife is crying. Are you made of stone?" Her proud tone wavered, trembling with fear she could not hide. Jonathan''s hand shifted, but he didn''t wipe her tears. Instead, he hooked her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to meet his stare. "You said you had something to exin. I''m listening." Her nose reddened. Her breath hitched. Her chest ached with dread. "What if I told you... I thought he was you? Would that make you angrier?" The air turned sharp. His eyes froze, cold as ice. Her heart sank. She knew how unforgivable it was. But she forced herself on. "When I parked, he knocked on the ss. I couldn''t see his face. I never dreamed it was him. He wore a ck suit. I thought it was you. I opened the door, and it happened. "The garage was dark. I was so happy because I love you. I didn''t think. I just wanted to hold you. But the moment I saw it wasn''t you, I pushed him away." Jonathan''s lips sealed in a hard line. His silence cut sharper than rage. She had no idea what he was thinking. Hershes fluttered. She raised her pinky. "It was a tiny mistake. You can''t be this petty." His eyes darkened. He shoved her hand aside. "What did you just say?" Her pulse jumped. ¡°I said... I was wrong. I shouldn''t have called you petty." "Before that." "A small mistake?" "No. Before that." Her breath caught. "What?" His jaw clenched. The faint softness vanished from his face. Her stomach twisted. Panic built hot in her chest. She searched her own words, but she couldn''t recall which one had struck him hardest. Chapter 469 Kisses He saw the confusion in her eyes. His face hardened. He stepped back. "So it''s all just words. Just excuses. In that case, we''re done. Leave me. I want to be alone." ½ò His voice no longer burned with rage. It fell calm, distant, cold. The voice he gave to everyone else, and not to her. Chapter 470 Chapter 470 Petty Of course he was still angry. Anneliese knew she couldn''t really walk out. If she left now, their war of silence would begin in full force. $10 Free Comm She scoured her mind, reying every word she''d spoken, trying to find the one that had almost made his walls break. Then, like a spark in the dark, something clicked. Could it have been that? Her eyes lifted to the tall, motionless figure at the balcony rail. His back was straight, his shoulders hard as stone. She bit her lip, and heat crept up her cars. Jonathan stood facing the river, a wall of silence. He looked as if she didn''t exist, but every nerve in him was tuned to the sound of her behind him. He heard the door slide open, then close again. His hands tightened on the rail. A dry, humorlessugh escaped his lips. So that was it. She had already given up. All her sweet words had been nothing but a moment''s whim. And yet, how absurd. Those words had lodged in his chest. His heartbeat was still unsteady. That little traitor. For once, the unshakable Jonathan felt something like frustration w at him. He reached for his tie, ready- to loosen it. Then, someone''s arms wrapped around his waist. A warm, familiar body pressed into his back, holding him tight. His eyes flickered with surprise. He looked down and saw pale handsced across his stomach, fingers woven tight as if they feared he''d pry them off. Her cheek brushed against his back, soft and shy. Her voice came low, with a trembling smile. "You thought I left, didn''t you? You were disappointed, weren''t you?" He answered with a sharp, coldugh. Anneliese rolled her eyes silently. He was stubborn, but she had seen his hands tremble when he thought she was gone. She had seen the veins stand out on his knuckles as they gripped the rail. Her lips curved. She rubbed her face softly against his back and spoke in a voice that melted like honey. "Mr. Fullbuster, I''m serious about this. I think... I''ve fallen for you. You can decide what to do with that." The words rushed out. Her neck burned hot. Anneliese had never been good at this. Growing up without a family, she had carried her fear like a shadow. She had never been the type to speak her heart. < Chapter 470 Petty She had always shown it quietly, with loyalty and devotion, not with words. Even with Zacharias, she had never said she liked him, never said she loved him. He had been the one to whisper it over and over. He had fooled her with promises as easy as breathing, She had learned the hard way. Words could be sugar-coated poison. A woman couldn''t live on the sound of them. She had to look at what a man did, how he made her feel. Jonathan was different. With him, she felt warmth. With him, she felt safe. He gave her steadiness. He gave her answers. He made her feel that, whenever she needed him, he would be there. That was why she dared to speak now. That was why she could finally say she liked him. But the courage cost her. Her heart pounded wildly. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to answer. One second. Two. Thirty. A full minute. He said nothing. He didn''t turn. He didn''t even look at her. Her heart crashed. The fire that had leapt high inside her turned to ash, cold and heavy. She thought of the woman he had once loved. She thought of the agreement that had started this marriage. She had believed, because he never mentioned it again, because he never pushed papers at her, because he never demanded a divorce, that he had let it go. She had believed that by building a life with her, he had chosen to build something real. But maybe she had been a fool. Maybe he only saw her as a wife in name, a role anyone could fill. Maybe the kindness he gave wasn''t for her at all. Maybe it was simply the way he treated whoever stood in that ce. Or maybe it was simpler. Maybe he already belonged to someone else, and that was why he couldn''t return her words. She had only been fooling herself. She had handed him a confession he never wanted. She had weighed him down with feelings he didn''t ask for. The thoughts twisted around her heart like thorns. They pressed deeper with every breath. Salt burned inside her chest, and her whole soul felt tangled and raw. Chapter 471 Chapter 471 Answer Chapter 471 Answer 54% +10 Free Coins Anneliese''s hands fell from his waist as if she had been burned. Her throat quivered, but she forced her voice to stay even. "Sorry I bothered you. Forget what I said. Pretend you didn''t hear it." She turned fast, wanting to escape before the shame broke her apart. But in the next breath, Jonathan''s hand mped around her wrist. His grip was iron, pulling her back hard, refusing to let go. Her eyes blurred. She wanted to leave with pride, yet he held her fast. She twisted twice to break free, but his hand never loosened. He yanked her close, locking her tight against his chest. "Let me go!" she cried. "No. Be good. Let me hold you." Anneliese''s temper burst. What kind of man said things like this? If he didn''t want her, then why hold her this way? Be good? What kind of nonsense was that? Did he think she was some pet he could summon and dismiss with a single word? Her thoughts stormed, her anger roaring, and she missed the way his voice cracked with strain, or how his arms shook while clinging to her. He held her like she was something priceless. Too much force would break her. Too little, and she would slip away. Jonathan! You b*stard!" Her voice broke into sobs. "If you don''t want me, if you don''t want my love, then stop pulling me in! How can you do this? You''re stringing me along! You''re just like Zacharias!" Her fists struck his chest. Tears spilled free, her grief raw and unrestrained. Jonathan froze. The sound of that name cut deep. He let her go, but fear gripped him that she would run. He spun her instead, caging her against the balcony rail. His palms pressed the ss on either side, holding her trapped. His head dropped low, silencing her cries. He swallowed her words with his mouth. His kiss was rough, his breath heavy, his hunger fierce. His lips crashed onto hers, desperate to break through her fight. She twisted away, but his hand mped her chin, forcing her lips open. Her eyes flew wide. His gaze locked onto hers, dark and burning with fire. Hisshes lowered, and the river''s glow shimmered in his pupils. They gleamed with dangerous joy. 15:12 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 471 Answer Shock froze her Fury followed fast. What kind of man hurt a woman and smiled? She bit him, sharp and hard. He hissed from the pain and let her go. Blood welled at his lip. He dragged his tongue across it slow, never breaking eye contact. +10 Free Coins The motion was wicked, reckless, intoxicating. His voice rumbled low, mocking her. "You really bit me.¡± Her chest tightened. She had bitten deep. Even in the shadows she saw the wound, raw and red. But her anger held. He had asked for it. Maybe men were all like this. Maybe they split love and desire into separate worlds. Her re burned. "You deserved it!" His brow lifted. "I deserved it? Tell me how. I kissed the woman I love. My wife. Tell me how that makes me guilty." "You did deserve it!" Her voice cracked. "You don''t even care about me. You don''t even-" The words froze on her tongue. What had he just said? The woman he loved? Her? Her eyes widened, bright and trembling, lips parted in disbelief. She looked helpless, stunned, almost innocent. Jonathan''s eyes softened into a slow, knowing smile. He watched her in silence. Her cheeks med. Her gaze darted away, then back, then fled again like fire scorched her. His voice slid smooth, teasing. "What''s wrong? Run out of words? You had plenty tonight." "You... you... you! Say it again!" she stammered. Hershes fluttered, her voice breaking. Jonathan''s hands lifted, cupping her face as if it were fragile ss. His lips curved in a rare smile. "I''ll say it dearly as many times as you need, honey. I love you too." Her breath caught sharp Her nose burned. His words struck her heart like thunder and set it racing wild. She fell light, unsteady, her ches full and trembling. Tears threatened to spill. She didn''t want him to see. She buried her face in his chest, muffling her voice, "I don''t believe you. Say it again. I want to hear it Jonathanughed, deep and rich, his chest shaking with the sound. III 15:12 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 471 Answer 10 Free Coins He lowered his head, pressing a finger gently against her forehead. He nudged it toward his heart, his smile yful and full of heat. 111 Chapter 472 Chapter 472 Heart +10 Free Coins Jonathan''s lips brushed her hair, his voice low and yful. "Silly girl. My heart isn''t on that side. You pressed wrong. Now you''ll end up ming me and crying." Anneliese froze in ce. She realized her ear had been pressed against the wrong spot. fler cars burned hot. She listened closer, catching the steady beat inside his chest. She let out a faint huff. "It doesn''t even sound fast. Say it again.¡± She poked his chest with her finger, testing him like she dared him to prove it. "Tell me how much you like me." Jonathan''s stomach tightened at her touch. He caught her hand and held it firm. His voice turned deep and hoarse. "More than you like me. Just a little more." He believed it. He did love her. But he feared saying too much. He feared she would demand more or run from it. He had chosen patience, and it had worked. She thought she held the lead, yet she had confessed first. His eyes glimmered with dark amusement. He bent low and kissed the top of her head. Anneliese lifted her face, her eyes sharp with fire. "How can you say you love me more? I was the one who spoke first. You didn''t even answer me!" The thought of his silence stung her. Her eyes swam with hurt and doubt. Jonathan kissed her wetshes, his voice soft as he coaxed her. "Baby, maybe you said it too suddenly. Maybe I was too happy, and I froze." "Huh?" She blinked, stunned. Then, she remembered. When he said he loved her, she had frozen too. She huffed and let it go, though her gaze still used him. "Then, will you love me moreter?¡± Jonathan gave no words. He lowered his head and caught her lips. This kiss was gentle. It carried tenderness, devotion, and promises unspoken. Anneliese''sshes fluttered. She closed her eyes and tilted up, her arms curling around his neck to answer him. Their embrace deepened. Her body melted closer into his warmth. Then, a chill brushed her skin. A cool touch kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks. She opened her eyes. Snow drifted down, soft and white, floating all around them. 15:12 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 472 Heart Jonathan lifted his head. His gaze followed hers. He saw it too. +10 Free Coins Anneliese''s whole face lit bright. She bounced in his arms, her voice ringing with joy. "Jonathan, look! It''s snowing! The first snow of the year in Oceaton!" She stretched her hand, catching the flurry as it thickened, her voice filled with delight. Winter had held back for so long. The year was nearly over, and she thought snow would nevere. Yet it had arrived, sudden and quiet, like a gift. It felt like their love. She thought her heart was locked forever by past hurt. She thought she would never open it again. But then she had met Jonathan. Sheughed, holding snowkes in her palm. She lifted her face toward him. "People always say couples who see the first snow together stay together forever. Do you believe that?" Jonathan stared at her glowing eyes and lifted brows. His smile reached deep into him.-. "I only believe in myself." He would never let her go. No one and nothing could take her away, which meant they would always be together. Anneliese only rolled her eyes at his answer. She let out a hum. "You really have no sense of romance at all, Mr. Fullbuster." She tipped her head back to the sky. Snow covered her hair like a soft crown. "Are you cold?¡± Jonathan murmured as he wrapped her from behind. His hands covered hers. Her fingers were icy, fragile, like smooth ss in his palms. He rubbed them slow, warming her with his touch. "I''m cold, but I want to stay." She loved his arms around her. The moment was too good to end. She didn''t want to move. She didn''t need words. Standing with him, watching snow fall, was enough. Jonathan frowned at her thin jacket. His chin brushed her head, already white with frost. "Then, wait here. I''ll get you a nket. Before he could move, she turned fast and wrapped her arms around his waist. "No! You can''t go anywhere. Her sudden clinginess shook hirn. Her plea left him powerless. "Alright. I''ll stay." His voice carried warmth andughter. He opened his coat and tucked her inside, shifting to block the wind. III = §à < 15:13 Thu, 16 Oct D Chapter 472 Heart 54% +10 Free Coins Anneliese felt the way he shielded her. She pressed her face into his chest, then lifted her gaze, eyes wide and full of wonder. III Chapter 473 Chapter 473 Story Time Anneliese''s voice was gentle, but a spark of curiosity lit every word. "When did you start liking me?" 54% +10 Free Coins Jonathan lowered his eyes. Her gaze shone with such hope that it cut into him. His throat worked as if the truth caught inside him. He wanted to tell her everything. He had loved her for so long. So long that even she no longer remembered when it began. The urge to speak grew stronger in the quiet of the snowy night. It begged to spill out of him. "I..." His throat tightened again. His eyes grew shadowed, hiding what he could not say. His lips parted. But her finger pressed against his mouth. ¡°Forget it. You look like you''re trying toe up with a story. I hate lies. Don''t say anything." She turned her head. Her eyes followed the falling snow outside. She never noticed the way his face went still. The smile that had clung to his lips slipped away. His arms closed tighter around her, drawing her closer into his chest. "You really hate lies?" "Of course I do!" she said with sharp certainty. ¡°Everyone does. Don''t talk to me about white lies. A lie is still a lie. No matter how you dress it up." Her eyes turned cold. Her words came with the,weight of her past. Her marriage had been nothing but betrayal. Zacharias and Selina had yed her for a fool, and every memory of it still burned. Jonathan went quiet. His throat ached. Words stayed locked inside him. "What are you thinking about?" Her finger jabbed lightly against his chest. That small touch pulled his gaze back down to her. His lips curved faintly. His voice slipped out low and deep. "Nothing. I just think a night like this, with the snow falling, is perfect for more than watching snow." Hershes fluttered. Curiosity lit her face. "For what then?" His lips twisted into a sly smile. He leaned close to her car. He whispered two words. Heat rushed into her face. Her cheeks burned red. She lifted her hand, ready to strike him with her small fist. But he was faster. His arms swept her up. He carried her inside in one smooth stride, the balcony door falling shut behind him. He moved with purpose, straight for the bed. He had tasted her sweetness before, and it haunted him. Last night at Penelope''s, he had forced himself to III < Chapter 473 Story Time +10 Free Coins hold back. But tonight, with her confession, her kisses, her tender touch, he could not restrain himself any longer. Their mouths met before they even reached the bed. By the time they sank beneath the covers, the room was alive with heat. Outside, snow kept falling. The wind threw kes against the tall ss. Warmth inside shed with the winter cold, and mist bloomed on the windows. Through the fog, only faint shadows moved, entwined and restless. Later, Jonathan carried her to the bathroom. He cleaned her carefully and dressed her in soft sleepwear. By the time he brought her back, more than two hours had passed. Mabel was gone, but she had left food warm in the kitchen. Jonathan set Anneliese on the couch and smoothed her hair. "Wait here." She rubbed her growling stomach and pouted. "This is your fault! Hurry up, I''m starving!" His eyes shone with teasing light. He pinched her cheek. "You hardly moved, yet you say you''re exhausted. I did all the work. How are you hungrier than me?" Her cheeks med bright. She shot out her little foot and kicked him in the leg. "Shut up! Just go!" Heughed and rolled his sleeves. He walked off toward the kitchen. She watched his tall figure vanish. A smile curved her lips as she brushed back her long hair. She called out. "Meatloaf! Meatloaf,e here!" Her voice rang out again and again. The room stayed silent. No steps. No tail. Her brows furrowed. Her gaze drifted to the doghouse near the window. It was a broad wooden structure with a pointed roof. A little window let light in, and small doors swung for him to go in and out. Usually, he bounded out the moment she called. The dog was smart enough to open and close the doors." Had Mabel taken him away? Jonathan came back carrying two tes. But the couch was empty. He looked up and saw her crouched by the doghouse. He set the tes down and walked to her. "I thought you were hungry?" Anneliese spun around. Her eyes widened, pleading as she looked up at him. ¡°Honey,e quick. I think 3 III Oct. 15:13 Thu, 16 Oct 0 Chapter 473 Story Time Meatloaf''s sick. She won''t move. I call her. I y with her, yet she doesn''t respond." 54% +10 Free Coins Jonathan crouched down beside her. Meatloafy curled inside, her back to them. Her head was buried in her paws. Even when Anneliese reached out to stroke her, she didn''t stir. Meatloaf was old now. Anneliese''s eyes showed her fear, heavy and raw. Chapter 474 Chapter 474 Sad Dog Jonathan remembered the moment he had stepped into the house. Meatloaf had bounded toward him with all the strength her old body still carried, tail wagging and eyes bright. Jonathan had ignored herpletely. Now it was no mystery why the dog sulked in silence. A flicker of guilt stabbed at him. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his hand. "He''s probably mad. I didn''t pay attention to him earlier." Anneliese stiffened, her own guilt shing for a second. But she still snapped at him, eyes zing. "How could you treat her like that?" Jonathan''s gaze stayed steady on her. "So, did you go back and give her attention instead?" Her cheeks puffed up with frustration. "I... I didn''t. I was too busy making up with you. You were upset, so I had tofort you. That means this is all your fault!" Jonathan stayed quiet. Alright. He understood now. In this home, his ce sat beneath even the dog. Meatloaf had the power to ignore him too. Jonathan let out a long sigh. He tapped his knuckles against the side of the wooden doghouse, the sound hollow and sharp. "Meatloaf,e out. Mom''s already angry. If you stay inside, you and I are both in trouble." Anneliese''s face went crimson. Her fists curled tight, and she thumped his solid arm twice. "What nonsense are you saying? I am not her mom! If you want to be her dad, fine, but I''m her sister." She had raised Meatloaf since she was ten. Calling herself her mom still felt far too strange. Jonathan arched a brow, a sly smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Alright. If you insist on being her sister, then that makes me your daddy. I''m fine with that." Anneliese''s jaw dropped. Her fists flew again, harder this time, striking his chest. Jonathan onlyughed and pulled her into his arms. "You see that, Meatloaf? Your sister really hits hard." Meatloaf peeked out of the doghouse for one brief nce. Then, she snorted, turned away, and pushed her rump deeper into the bedding/ Enough. She was done with their drama. That night, Anneliese fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. Jonathany still, her body resting against his chest. He turned on the bedsidemp, his eyes fixed on her face. < 15:13 Thu, 16 Oct. Chapter 474 Sad Dog +10 Free Coins He brushed her hair gently, smoothing it back. A few strands clung to his fingers. He wound them around his fingertips, nning to pluck them free. But when he saw her peaceful expression, his hand faltered. Twice he tried, but his resolve failed him. Atst, he let go. He smoothed the strands back into ce with care. He eased her down onto the pillow, pulled the nket over her, and slipped from the bed. He carried the ss from the nightstand. In the bathroom, he took He ced both into a sealed bag and left the room. toothbrush. Half an hourter, Zion arrived, snow clinging to his coat. Jonathan handed him the bag and the ss. Zion''s brows lifted. "Hair works better for DNA. It''s more urate. Isn''t Mrs. Fullbuster at home?" His task was clear: conduct a paternity test between Anneliese and the Whites. A couple of hairs would have done the job. He wondered why his boss was handing him a toothbrush and a ss instead. Jonathan''s re was cold, his voice sharp. ¡°Too many questions. Get moving. You''re keeping me from sleeping." Zion said nothing. But inside, he finished the thought his boss had left unsaid. You''re keeping me from holding my wife in my arms, he thought. Poor assistant. He trudged through snow in the dead of night, working overtime, only to get a face full of his boss'' affection. But he kept quiet about it. The next morning, Anneliese stirred earlier than usual. She had wanted to catch the snow outside her window. But Jonathan was already gone. She wrapped herself in the nket and sat up. She checked her phone. The clock read half past eight. He had left for work hours ago. A message waited for her on WhatsApp. Good morning, baby, I left for work. There''s a surprise in the room. Look for it.'' Jonathan''s busiest season had arrived. She sighed for a moment, mourning her husband, who worked nearly 24/7. But the word "surprise hooked her instantly. She leapt from bed and began searching. She pulled open drawers, checked every corner, and even searched the nightstand. She found nothing. Time pressed hard against her. She still had to rush to the fab. She gave up the hunt and hurried into the bathroom. 15:13 The Chapter 474 Sad Dog There she spotted it. A brand-new toothbrush stood in the cup. Her brows knit. She lifted her phone, snapped a picture, and sent it to him. Mr. Fullbuster, the surprise you mentioned isn''t this, right?'' She stared at it, even touched the bristles one by one. She found nothing special. His reply came almost at once. Not the toothbrush, dummy!" She brushed her teeth, fuming. Then she typed back in irritation. Then, why did you rece it?'' Besides that toothbrush, there was nothing else to be found. Chapter 475 +10 Free Coins Chapter 475 Surprise Chapter 475 Surprise The old one got dirty. Keep looking! Anneliese rushed through brushing her teeth and sshing water across her face. She dressed quickly and stepped out again, her eyes sweeping the bedroom from corner to corner. Still nothing. No trace of surprise. The room glowed with dazzling light spilling in from outside. Snow had turned the world bright white. Only then did she realize she had forgotten the snowfall entirely. She had been too caught up in her hunt to notice. She hurried to the balcony, grabbed the handle, and froze in ce. Two little snowmen stood where she and Jonathan had embraced the night before. They had shiny ck marbles for eyes. They had sharp carrots for noses. ck yarn stretched across their faces, forming cheerful smiles. Jonathan had even dabbed pink circles onto their cheeks, like faint blush. The taller snowman wore a ck top hat and a gray scarf. The smaller one had a red cap and a red scarf to match. Anneliese''s heart softened at once. She loved them instantly. She hardly dared move. She feared the tiniest shift of the door might ruin them. She crouched, staring through the ss for what felt like forever. Atst, she slid the door open, pulled out her phone, and snapped pictures. I found the surprise!'' One photo captured the two snowmen. Another showed her crouching beside them, making a heart with her hands. Now these babies are mine!'' Her joy surged, but then worry pricked her. She opened the weather forecast. Oh no. No more snow today. They''ll melt by noon.'' Her chest sank. She wanted to stay home, to skip everything. Jonathan''s reply steadied her heart. Don''t worry. Every time it snows, every single year, I''ll build you snowmen. Her thumbs flew. Then next time we''ll build them together!'' Alright. She smiled again. She took more pictures from every angle. She could not resist sharing them online. I stand corrected. Captain Fullbuster understands romance! Four photos followed, each from a different side of the snowmen. III 15:13 Thu, 16 Oct 000 Chapter 475 Surprise Her post spread quickly. Likes andments piled up one after another. 54% +10 Free Coins Joelmented, ''Didn''t think I''d live long enough to see this. Mr. Fullbuster can actually make snowmen? Zanemented, "No wonder he''s married to such a beauty.'' Cartermented, ''Have mercy. Some of us just came out of surgery. Nicolemented, ''Who''s jealous? Me. I am.'' Jessicamented, ''Oh great, I just missed a nice scene.'' Penelopemented, ''Finally! He gets it.'' Annelieseughed at her screen. She lingered with the snowmen a little longer before tearing herself away. Even at breakfast, she could not resist turning to Mabel. "Mabel, could you bring all the ice from the freezer to the balconyter?" Her voice trembled with hope. "I just want to keep the snowmen a little longer." Mabel had already seen the photos. She smiled widely. "Don''t worry, ma''am. I''ll bring up buckets of ice. I''ll even shave fresh ice from the machine to scatter around them. I''ll guard your love snowmen." Anneliese''s face flushed. "Wouldn''t that be too much trouble?" "Not at all." Mabel waved her hand and headed straight for the kitchen. By the time Anneliese drove out of Maple Bay, her mood soared. The world felt bright, light, and perfect. But at the first turn, a car swerved and cut in front of her. Her tires screamed against the asphalt as she mmed the brakes. Her brows pulled tight. She lifted her head, and the driver''s door swung open. Someone annoying showed up. Selina stepped out. She strode up to the window and knocked twice against the ss. Anneliese pressed her lips into a thin line. Jonathan''s warning echoed in her mind. He had been right. She should n on moving out. Last night Zacharias. This morning Selina. They knew where she lived. It was unbearable. She drew in a breath, slow and steady, then lowered the window. Selina''s eyes zed with fury/"Anneliese, you told Mr. Fullbuster to fire me from Aerolux, didn''t you? You''re selfish to the bone. You don''t care that people will say he''s abusing power for you?" She had skipped work for days because of Mikita and Timothy. Today she had tried to return. Instead, 15:13 Thu, 16 Oct D Chapter 475 Surprise ?? 54% +10 Free Coins security had stopped her at the door and told her she was finished. She had nned to run overseas. But humiliation like this cut her to the bone. And now, facing Anneliese, who glowed with youth and beauty, made the wound burn deeper. Anneliese tilted her head. A sharp smile touched her lips,ughter sparking in her eyes. "Tsk. Ms. White, life''s already beating you down. Yet you came to me so I could finish the job for you?" Her hands came together, pping slow and deliberate. The sound cracked sharp in the air. Selina''s face twisted in rage. Her mouth warped, as if every p struck her harder than any p could. Chapter 476 Chapter 476 Ugly Chapter 476 Ugly +10 Free Coins Selina could barely breathe watching Anneliese glow with triumph. The sight burned in her chest like acid, made worse by the ruin of her own life. Her voiceshed out, cutting cold and sharp. "Jonathan was cursed the day he married you. You are selfish. You are heartless. You stain the perfect life he could have had. He will discover the truth. And when he does, I''ll be there. I''ll watch your little joy shatter." Anneliese''s heart still carried the warmth ofst night with Jonathan. That sweetness turned to fire the moment Selina spat venom on her marriage. Her hand snapped forward. She gripped Selina''s cor and yanked hard. Selina mmed against the car window, body twisted, her face a mask of disgrace. Anneliese''s voice was ice. "Selina, if I wanted to end you, it would be as simple as crushing a bug. The only reason you''re still standing is because I refuse to dirty myself. I won''t be as rotten as you. But hear me. Do not test me again. Stop crawling into my life. Stop trying to disgust me. If you don''t, you''ll regret it." Her words cracked the air like thunder. Her eyes burned with a cold fire. She patted Selina''s cheek, sharp and humiliating. Selina''s stomach turned, fear crawling under her skin. Fear coiled deep, but hate rose with it, thick and choking. Why did Anneliese get to stand tall? Why did she shine brighter while Selina drowned? Selina''s eyes red with fury. Her scream ripped free. "Anneliese, don''t get so smug. You don''t even know who your parents are! You''re a b*stard, a stray! You don''t deserve to stand over me!" Anneliese froze. Her grip faltered. "What did you just say?" Selina tugged at her cor, fixing the fabric. She pressed her hand to her mouth and let mockingughter spill. "Oh? Did I say something? You''re the clever one. Why ask me?¡± She turned on her heel to leave. Anneliese ripped free of her seat belt. The car door swung open. She caught Selina''s arm in a grip that shook with fury. "Say it again! What do you mean, I don''t even know who my parents are?" Selina saw the color drain from her face. The sight made her pulse race with cruel delight. Her hand covered her lips as sheughed harder, sharp as ss. "You really don''t know anything. You''re not my father''s daughter. You''re not Mnie''s either. You and the Whites share no blood at all. Isn''t it hrious?" < 15:14 Thu, 16 Octo Chapter 476 Ugly ? 54% +10 Free Coins Her grin stretched wider as Anneliese staggered under the words. "You fought me all these years for a throne that was never yours. You never belonged. I am the true daughter of the Whites. You are nothing. You have no right to tears or to anger. You''re a b*stard child with no name." Anneliese''s face paled until every trace of color vanished. Her mind roared with a hollow thunder. She could barely hear the rest. She was not the daughter of the Whites. This was something she never expected to hear. The gene bank had matched. The paternity test with Timothy had confirmed it. How could this be false? If she was not theirs, then who was she? What had the years of cruelty and injustice meant? It was absurd. It was cruel. It was madness. She gripped Selina''s arm, her voice breaking. "You''re lying. You are lying to me.¡± Selina sneered. "Why would I lie? I''ll give you proof." She tore her arm free and walked to her car. Anneliese shut her eyes. She already knew. Selina had no reason to invent this. The Whites were ruined. There was nothing to gain. Selina pulled a document from the seat and shoved it into her hands. "Look with your own eyes." Anneliese lowered her gaze. Her name was there beside Timothy''s. Her stomach lurched. She remembered thest time Selina had pressed her. The taunts. The tension. Now it was clear. Selina had wanted her hair. She flipped to the end. The numbers carved into her vision. The gic simrity was almost zero. Her hand trembled. Her head lifted slowly, her eyes burning into Selina''s. Selina''s voice struck hard, dripping with triumph. "I watched that test myself. There''s no mistake. You lived in the Whites'' house. You ate their food. You wore their name. You stole my life. You owe me, You owe the Whites everything" Anneliese''s hand shook as she lifted the report. A bitterugh burst from her chest. "So I was never their daughter." Selina''s brows snapped tight. "You''re insane. What are youughing at?" Annelieseughed again, raw and sharp. She lowered the report, her voice steady now. "Why wouldn''t Iugh? Why wouldn''t I be d? I owe the Whites nothing. How dare you stand here and < Chapter 476 Ugly 54% +10 Free Coins tell me otherwise?" Chapter 477 Chapter 477 Not a White by Blood 54% +10 Free Coins "Was it really my idea to return to the White estate back then? Timothy was the one who came all the way to Baytree, insisting on recognizing me as family. "When you add it up, I only lived there for a little over a year. What kind of life did I have during that time? If I didn''t end up broken from all the gaslighting and humiliation, it was only because I fought hard and made something of myself." Anneliese flung the DNA test report at Selina, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Thanks for sharing such great news." She turned to leave, but Selina''s face twisted with rage. This reaction was nothing like what Selina had expected. She screamed, "Wait!" Anneliese ignored her and reached for the car door. Selina rushed forward to block her way, adding, "Anneliese, since you''re not even part of the White family, you have no right to Grandma''s emerald bracelet or the Maple Bay apartment she left you. "Hand over the deed and the bracelet right now." Anneliese drove her elbow into Selina''s side, making her yelp and stumble back. She pulled the door open, slid into the driver''s seat, and mmed it shut. Through the window, she gave Selina a cool, dismissive look. ¡°I''m not giving anything back. What are you going to do about it? Sue me? I dare you." She rolled her eyes, smoothly reversed, and sped off. Selina watched the car disappear, stomping her feet in frustration. She cursed Anneliese for being shameless. Everyone knows she isn''t even rted to the Whites by blood. How can she still have the nerve to keep Grandma''s inheritance? She''s absolutely shameless! She grabbed her phone and quickly sent a WhatsApp message to Elizabeth, reporting everything that had happened. Over the past few weeks, she had been messaging her on and off. She was still waiting for her to teach Anneliese a lesson. For some reason, there hadn''t been a single response. The silence drove her crazy. How does a girl like Anneliese, with no real parents, end up this lucky? In truth, Anneliese wasn''t nearly as carefree as she had seemed in front of Selina. After driving a short distance, she suddenly hit the brakes and pulled over. She sat there nkly, not sure how long she had been lost in thought, when someone gently tapped on her window. She turned her head and froze. Jonathan was standing outside. 15:14 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 477 Not a White by Blood O ? ?? 53%?? +10 Free Coins He was supposed to be at work, yet here he was, right in front of her, just when she was feeling lost and shaken. She stared at him, stunned and unable to react. After another soft tap on the window, she snapped out of it and unlocked the door. He opened it, leaned in, and scooped her straight out of the driver''s seat. "How could I note back? You didn''t even buckle your seatbelt. Next time, I''ll have to spank you." That was when Anneliese realized she really had forgotten to buckle up. She looked up at him, nestled in his arms, speechless. Seeing her like this, he couldn''t stay mad. He opened the back door, set her inside, and climbed in after her. Before he could close the door, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried herself in his embrace again. Jonathan''s eyes glimmered with amusement. He shut the door and gently stroked her hair. ¡°You''re really clingy these days," he said with a quietugh. Anneliese inhaled his crisp, familiar scent and nodded softly. "You don''t like it?¡± she asked, "Quite the opposite. I love it. Don''t stop." She yfully punched him. ¡°Keep dreaming." Heughed, giving her ear a gentle squeeze. They sat quietly for a while before Anneliese finally lifted her head. "Did you already know? Did youe back just for me?" He had shown up at her car window at just the right moment, holding her and saying precisely what she needed to hear. Jonathan looked down at her and nodded. "You mean Selina ambushing you? Or the fact that you''re not the White family''s daughter?" Her guess was correct-he really did know. She had suspected it, yet she was still surprised. "How did you find out I wasn''t the White family''s daughter? Wait, when did you know? Why didn''t you tell me?" "Last time, when Mikita mentioned she''d entrusted the child to an old couple, I started searching for them," he exined. "I found them a couple of days ago. It turns out they really did adopt a little girl." Chapter 478 Chapter 478 When the Truth Settles In Chapter 478 When the Truth Settles In "She''s actually Mnie''s daughter, Anneliese sighed. +10 Free Coins "She''s in college over in Madfell now. Last night, I took your toothbrush and cup to Zion. He ran a DNA test overnight. It''s not that I didn''t want to tell you-l only just got the final confirmation myself. You''re not rted to the White family by blood." Jonathan had already stationed someone to keep an eye on Selina. The moment he heard Selina had gone to see Anneliese, worry drove him out of the office to find her. A short while earlier, he had spotted her sitting alone in the car, staring nkly ahead. She looked so small and lost. In that instant, he understood that Selina must have told her the truth. "Has she been doing okay all these years?" Anneliese asked suddenly. Jonathan hesitated for a moment before realizing she was talking about the real daughter of the White family, Sylvia Pord. He gently brushed a hand through her hair. "Sylvia is doing well. The old couple who raised her run a few small restaurants. They''re well-off, they get along great, and they treat her with genuine care. She''s a senior at Madfell University now, and her adoptive parents even bought her a small apartment in the city." Anneliese''s lips curved into a faint smile. "That''s good." She had never met Sylvia, but she had once lived in her ce, so she could easily picture what she must have gone through. Sylvia should have grown up in a happy,fortable home, but she was stolen away by her father''s mistress right after birth. Thankfully, the old couple had loved her deeply. Looking back, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Anneliese lifted her gaze to Jonathan and smiled softly. "She''s just like me. She found loving adoptive parents too." Jonathan patted her head again. "Still feeling upset?" She pressed her lips together, shook her head, and stayed quiet for a moment before speaking. "It''s not exactly sadness. At the very least, I should be d. I don''t have a drop of the White family''s selfish blood in me. I''m not one of them anymore. All the unfair treatment and suffocating expectations can finally farle away. They bullied me, and I gave it all back. There''s nothing left to be upset about. Still, I feel angry and empty. It''s like my entire life has been a cruel joke." Jonathan kissed her gently on the forehead and rubbed her back with a steady hand. He understood. She had never known she wasn''t truly part of the White family, so every hope, disappointment, insult, and stretch of numb time had been real. She had endured it all. She had finally escaped their tangled mess, only to discover she had never belonged to it in the first ce. That sense of being tricked by fate was impossible to shrug off She wasn''t their daughter, which meant her biological parents were still somewhere out there. Once again, she was an orphan with no clear past. Feeling lost and unsettled was only natural. 15:14 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 478 When the Truth Settles In 08.53%¡ã +10 Free Coins Jonathan wrapped his arms around her. "I''ll always be here for you. We have our own home now. Whether you want to keep searching for your real family or let it go, I''ll support you either way. You''re not alone anymore. Don''t be afraid." His deep, gentle voice filled the back seat. He didn''t rely on fancy words. His calm, steady tone alone was enough to give her strength. Anneliese''s eyes grew misty. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hugged him tightly, sniffling. "You''re so annoying." Her feelings for him grew stronger every day. She liked him more and more-and that frightened her just a little. Her soft, slightly nasal voice carried a yful lilt. Jonathan smirked. "Tsk, you little brat." Anneliese lifted her head from his chest, leaned in, and kissed him on the lips. "Am I still a little brat now?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow, but before he could answer, she climbed onto hisp. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this time taking the initiative. He closed his eyes and leaned back, resisting the urge to take control. He let her lead and enjoy the moment. He was almost too sweet about it. No matter what she did, he epted it without hesitation. Anneliese grew bolder with each kiss, savoring the thrill of being the one in charge. Her fingers toyed with his tie as daring thoughts flickered through her mind. Chapter 479 Chapter 479 Should I Tell Her? 53% +10 Free Coins "Her name is Sylvia, right? Do you think I should tell her about her real family?" After a long silence, Anneliese leaned against Jonathan''s chest and asked softly. Jonathanzily stroked her back, his voice calm and unhurried. "Do you want to tell her?" He had no interest in other women''s affairs. The only thing that mattered to him was whether the girl in his arms was happy. Anneliese frowned slightly. "I''m not sure. After hearing what you said, I feel like her life is peaceful and carefree right now. The White family is a mess. If she finds out the truth about her background, it''ll only bring her unnecessary worries. People from the White family might even start interfering with her life. But if she already knows she was adopted, maybe she''s still hoping to reunite with her real family." Her expression grew troubled. She remembered how, back at the orphanage, almost every child dreamed of finding their parents. ¡°Grandma¡ªI mean, Old Mrs. White was the only one who ever took my side and treated me kindly. When I was brought there, she was overjoyed. She hugged me and cried for a long time. She treated me well because she believed I was her real granddaughter. If she''s watching from above and knows Sylvia is actually her granddaughter, she''d probably want to make it up to her. The apartment at Maple Bay was left to me by h¨¦r, along with a bracelet. I want to give both to Sylvia." Earlier, Selina had tried to get those things from Anneliese, but there was no way she would hand them over. Now that she knew she wasn''t Gloria''s real granddaughter, keeping those things felt wrong. She decided to give them to Sylvia as a way of making up for the granddaughter Gloria never got to meet. To do that, she would have to tell Sylvia the truth about her background. When she finished, Anneliese looked up at Jonath 1. an. "Am I overthinking this?" Jonathan''s eyes softened. He reached out and gently smoothed the furrow between her brows with his fingertips. Only when her expression rxed did he speak. No. My sweet wife is just too kind. That''s why you think about these things so carefully." She had never even met Sylvia, yet she cared deeply about her. The White family had oppressed her, and Sylvia was the one who should have suffered those injustices. In a way, she had endured it all for her. Despite everything, she still held kindness in her heart for the White family''s real daughter. She was the one standing in the rain, yet she still wanted to hold an umbre for someone else. Her heart was still tender, just as it had been when she was a child. Jonathan''s mind drifted back to a scene outside Frederick''s memorial years earlier. That day, his family''s visit had upset her grandmother so much that she fainted. She was rushed to the hospital, and his grandfather had wanted to take him home, but he refused. He stayed outside the memorial hall until nightfall/People came and went without sparing him a nce. Then the little girl appeared. He thought she was going to scold him-or bite him again. Her eyes were red 15:14 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 479 Should I Tell Her? and swollen, and her voice was hoarse. "Come with me." He followed as she led him behind the memorial wall, head lowered. 53% +10 Free Coins "Grandma won''t let you pay your respects, so I can''t take you inside. Just leave the flowers by the wall. My mom and dad can see them. Once you''re done, go home." He stared at her, stunned. She red back at him fiercely. "Hurry up. I might change my mind." She tried to look tough, but her eyes were brimming with tears-like a little bunny baring its teeth. He bowed to the wall and set the bouquet down. The girl turned to leave, but he couldn''t help calling out. "You don''t hate me anymore?" She bit her lip and looked back at him. "If it weren''t for you, my mom and dad wouldn''t be dead. My little brother would''ve been born!" His chest tightened, and he lowered his head, fists clenched. Then her choked voice came again. "Your life was exchanged for my dad''s. You have to live well." By the time he looked up in shock, she was already gone. "Honey? Why aren''t you saying anything?" Anneliese waited for him to respond. When he didn''t, she reached out and poked him gently. Hisshes fluttered, and he gave her a small, crooked smile. "What did you just say?" She stared at him, sensing something strange in his gaze. It felt as if he was looking at her, but also through her-at someone else entirely. I asked whether I should tell Sylvia or not. You still haven''t answered me." Jonathan didn''t like how much her thoughts revolved around a stranger. His voice cooled slightly. "You''re not her, so there''s no need to worry so much on her behalf. She''s not a child anymore. If we tell her everything, whether she wants to meet her real family is up to her. It has nothing to do with us." Chapter 480 Chapter 480 Tracing the Truth Anneliese thought about it for a moment, took a deep breath, and nodded. I''ll make time in the next couple of days to fly over to Madfell and meet Sylvia." Jonathan frowned right away. Flying all the way to Madfell would wear her out. $10 Free Coms "I''ll have someone bring Sylvia here," he said thoughtfully. "It''ll be more convenient if you want to take her to pay respects to Old Mrs. White." Anneliese''s eyes lit up. "You really think of everything." Jonathan kept his gaze on her. "What about you?" "What about me?" She looked confused. He sighed. "You''re not the White family''s daughter. Have you ever thought about finding your real parents?" She hadn''t really considered it-maybe she just didn''t want to. After everything that happened with the White family, her hopes and longing for parental love had been slowly worn away. Seeing her fall silent, Jonathan pulled her into his arms, kissed the top of her head, and spoke gently. "Don''t think about it for now. Just let things happen naturally." "Okay." He patted her back, though he''d already instructed Zion to investigate her background. Not knowing the truth was like sitting on a ticking time bomb. Whether she wanted to reconnect''with her birth family was one thing, but understanding what had happened was another. Anneliese being mistaken for the White family''s daughter all those years ago was clearly no coincidence. Someone had interfered. "When you were picked up from Baytree, besides Timothy, who else was there?" Jonathan suddenly asked. Anneliese caught on immediately. "You think someone around Timothy tampered with things back then?" If anyone could have manipted the identity switch, Timothy seemed like the most obvious suspect. "Timothy found out early on that Mikita had swapped the babies, leaving his and Mnie''s daughter with an old couple. He didn''t have the means to find them. When Mnie eventually realized Selina wasn''t her daughter, he probably panicked. He must have feared she and her children would keep searching for their real daughter and sister, eventually tracing everything back to Mikita. So he brought home a fake to appease them" Anneliese still couldn''t understand how such a huge mistake had happened otherwise. Jonathan shook his head. "Don''t forget why Timothy is still locked up." She froze as she remembered that Timothy had been suspected of working with Mikita to traffic and abandon children, and it was Jonathan who had blocked his bail. If Timothy had known from the start that she wasn''t the real daughter, he would have told the police long 15:14 Thu, 16 Oct D Chapter 480 Tracing the Truth D83, 53%- +10 Free Coins ago to secure his release, especially during White Inc.''s critical period. It was apparent he had no idea. Anneliese frowned. "Then there''s a third party involved. Who could it be? And why would they do something like this?" Jonathan saw she was getting upset and gently pinched her nose. "I''ll have someone go to Baytree and find out what really happened back then." She nodded, then leaned forward and kissed him. "Hubby, you''re going to spoil me rotten." "Hmm?" "You think of everything and take care of it all for me.¡± She narrowed her eyes yfully. ¡°I''m starting to think you''re up to something-trying to turn me into someone who can''t live without you. Mr. Fullbuster, you''re pretty sneaky.¡± Jonathan smirked. "So, Mrs. Fullbuster, have you fallen for it?" Anneliese huffed, ready to retort, when a loud bang hit the car window. The sound made her jump. After everything that had happened that day, she was on edge every time someone knocked on the window. She instinctively ducked into Jonathan''s arms, thinking, Please don''t tell me that crazy Selina''s back again. When she turned and saw who it was, her cheeks flushed bright red. She quickly dove under Jonathan''s suit jacket to hide. He nced down at the girl hiding in his arms, amusement flickering in his eyes. As the traffic officer raised his hand to knock again, Jonathan rolled down the window. The officer didn''t react to the couple cuddled up in the back seat-he''d seen plenty on the job. What caught his attention was the man''smanding presence and striking, refined looks. He was clearly no ordinary person, though that didn''t excuse parking vitions. The officer cleared his throat. ¡°What''s going on here? You can''t park here for long.¡± Jonathan nodded politely, patted the girl hiding in his arms, and said, "You hear that, sweetheart? Stop giving me a hard time and cut me some ck for the officer''s sake." Chapter 481 hapter 481 The Office Buzz What? Does he seriously not feel embarrassed? Why does he have to make a scene? 05..53% 2 +10 Free Coins Anneliese could feel the traffic officer''s nosy, curious, and slightly intimidating stare. She nodded frantically, then pinched Jonathan hard on the side. Jonathan only smiled, lips curling up, and turned to the officer. "We had a little fight. I was making it up to her. We''re leaving now." The traffic officer looked up and rolled his eyes. Is this guy seriously acting out a drama? He waved them off. "Go on, move along!" - So annoying! "Alright, we''re leaving," Jonathan said. He rolled up the window and gave the woman in his arms a yful p on the butt. "You''re not getting out yet?" Anneliese popped her head out from his arms and red at him. "Why did you have to say that to the officer?" Jonathan couldn''t helpughing at his blushing wife. Her lipstick was smudged, her hair was messy, and her watery eyes were full of yful annoyance. His gaze darkened, and he clicked his tongue. "You were clinging to me and wouldn''t get up. What else was I supposed to say? If you really want to keep this going right here, I''m up for it. I just don''t want the officering back to yell at us for disturbing the peace." She''d seen that look in his eyes a lottely, and it scared her every time. She scrambled off him, face burning, and pressed herself against the car door. "Hurry up and drive!" Jonathan nced at his flustered wife, straightened his wrinkled shirt and suit jacket, and got out of the car. He''d asked Zion to bring the car earlier, then sent him away once he arrived. Jonathan drove Anneliese''s purple Maserati and dropped her off at theb building. "Call me when you''re done. I''ll pick you up," he said before she got out. "Got it, I''m going" Anneliese waved and hopped out without looking back. Jonathan watched her leave before heading to the office. By the time he reached the office, AeroAir''s group chats were already blowing up. / ''You guys won''t believe it! Guess what car Mr. Fullbuster drove today?'' ''That shy Maserati? Looks like a woman''s ride for sure. Is this real?'' 15:14 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 481 The Office Buzz I saw it myself¡ªMr. Fullbuster got out of the driver''s seat.'' ''Isn''t that his mysterious wife''s car?'' ''Looks like it! Did anyone see her? Spill it!'' ''Nope, just Mr. Fullbuster himself. 53% +10 Free Coins ''Mr. Fullbuster is driving his wife''s car, discreetly showing off their affection. So, whose daughter is his wife anyway? She''s such a mystery.'' ''Didn''t that tech intern say she isn''t from a rich family and was divorced?'' ''Divorced? Doesn''t that mean she''s old?'' ''I heard that intern got fired for spreading rumors about her. You guys better watch your mouths unless you''re tired of working here.'' Several messages were deleted, and the chat went dead silent. The fact that the usually cool Jonathan drove a pinkish-purple Maserati to work became the hottest topic in thepany. Even the secretaries caught wind of it, and a few bold ones went straight to Zion to ask if it was really his wife''s car. Zion didn''t bother covering for Jonathan and nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. Mr. Fullbuster drove Mrs. Fullbuster to work this morning in her car, and he''s picking her upter too." Within half a day, everyone at AeroAir knew Jonathan and his wife had a great rtionship. The mystery surrounding his mysterious wife only grew. Zion walked into Jonathan''s office with some contracts to sign. After Jonathan finished, Zion lingered. "Something else?" Jonathan asked, looking up. Zion hesitated. Jonathan tapped the desk, a trace of impatience in Kis eyes. Zion finally spoke. ¡°Selina apparently told people privately that Mrs. Fullbuster was divorced. Since you drove her car today, people have been gossiping a lot." Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "What are they saying?" Judging by Zion''s face, it wasn''t good. pushee Jonathan nced at his watch, pushed the files aside, and stood. "Forget it. I''ll listen for myself." Zion froze for a moment, then hurried after him. 15:14 Thu, 16 Oct 53% Chapter Chapter 482 482 The Unseen Mrs Fullbuster Chapter 482 The Unseen Mrs Fullbuster The food was good, and the dishes tasted great. Yet, Jonathan rarely set foot in the staff cafeteria. Whenever he arrived, the atmosphere became stiff and awkward. He had only been there three times, and each visit ended with some kind of mishap. The first time, a flight attendant nearly crashed into him with a tray. +10 Free Coins The second time, a woman from the PR department at the next table kept spraying perfume, practically marinating him in the scent. The third time, the project director snagged a seat at his table and spent the entire meal bragging about his beautiful college-aged daughter. Even Zion found the experiences scarring. After that, Jonathan decided it was easier to stay away. As they approached the cafeteria doors, the sound of gossip floated out. "With Mr. Fullbuster''s looks and family background, if I were Mrs. Fullbuster, I''d be here every day. That way, all those pretty flight attendants, pilots, and PR girls would stop dreaming." "Mrs. Fullbuster is way too chill. Maybe she''s just not presentable." "She could be a divorced older woman who''s too embarrassed to show up." "Come on, Mr. Fullbuster has high standards. She''s probably a ssy heiress from some low-profile family." "Then, why doesn''t she ever show her face?" "There are only two possibilities. Either she doesn''t love him, or she really can''t be seen in public." ¡°Mr. Fullbuster clearly loves his wife. He made a big deal of their marriage, gave everyone in thepany a gift, and now he''s driving her car to work to show it off. Even if she''s divorced, she must be sharp and know how to handle things. You should stop being so bitter," "Who''s bitter? We''re just talking. Honestly, Mrs. Fullbuster doesn''t seem particrly interested in him. Maybe she''s just after his money." "That''s not fair. Maybe she''s after his good looks." Zion stood behind Jonathan, listening to every word. His scalp tingled. When someone imed Anneliese didn''t love him, the air around Jonathan seemed to drop below freezing, as if he could turn the entire room into aur icebox. Jonathan''s lips curled into a cold smile, followed by a short, sharpugh. Without a word, he turned and walked away. Zion heard the gossip continuing, cleared his throat loudly, and hurried after him. Inside, the employees 15:15 Thu, 16 Oct 0 Chapter 482 The Unseen Mrs Fullbuster froze at the sound. 10 Free Coins One of the workers closest to the door peeked out, went pale, and whispered, "Oh no! That was Mr. Hand at the door. He definitely heard us!" "No way. You must be mistaken. Why would Mr. Hande here? He''s glued to Mr. Fullbuster twenty-four seven. Wait-was Mr. Fullbuster just here too?" Everyone exchanged nervous looks, their faces falling. Momentster, they scattered like startled birds. By the time Jonathan returned to his office, his face was like thunder. Zion followed nervously, only for the office door to m shut right at his nose. He trudged back to the secretary''s office, looking miserable. One of the other secretaries looked up in surprise. "Weren''t you supposed to have lunch with Mr. Fullbuster? Why are you back so soon?" "Some people just can''t keep their mouths shut." Zion sighed. "You mean the gossip about Mrs. Fullbuster? Did Mr. Fullbuster hear it? Honestly, there''s a simple solution. "Everyone''s curious about his wife-curious about the kind of woman who managed to snag him. Just have here to thepany once, and it''ll all be settled.¡± He was clearly curious himself. Zion''s eyes lit up. He could guess what Jonathan had in mind. When Anneliese was trending online, Jonathan had the PR department on standby and the official announcement ready to go. All he wanted was her permission to make it public that she was his. She wasn''t interested at the time, so nothing happened. Now, just a couple of dayster, he''d overheard staff gossiping that She didn''t care about him or love him. No wonder he was furious. Things between them had been going welltely. Getting her to visit thepany might actually be the perfect move. The only issue wasing up with a good reason to get her there. By the time Anneliese finished recording, two sets of data, theb was already empty. She picked up her phone and saw several messages from Penelope, who had sent her a selection of wedding dresses in different styles and brands. She tapped on a voice message, and Penelope''s warm, affectionate voice filled the room. Chapter 483 Chapter 483 The Malone Family''s Past Chapter 483 The Malone Family''s Past $15 Free Emine "Anochiese, have you had lunch yet? I picked out a bunch of wedding dresses for you. Take a look and refl me which brand and designer you like. Once you decide, I''ll arrange someone to take your measurements." Anneliese couldn''t help but smile. She quickly scrolled through the photos, then stopped when one of them caught her eye. The dress had a sculpted silhouette with delicate embroidery and beadwork that looked both elegant andfortable. For some reason, it just felt right to her. She thought that whoever wore it would look happy. She noted the brand name and sent a voice message to Penelope, ¡°Grandma, you and Jonathan really are alike. He also sent me a bunch of wedding dress photos yesterday and asked me to pick one. I looked through these and liked the embroidered one from Nuaine the most. But I didn''t see which designer made it." It was as if Penelope had been waiting by her phone. The moment Anneliese''s WhatsApp message went through, her phone rang. "Grandma, have you had lunch?" "Yes, I have. Anne, that embroidered wedding dress from Nuaine you mentioned, I think it suits you perfectly. Let me tell you something. The designer is actually the founder of the brand, and I happen to know her. "If you''ve made up your mind, I''ll call her right away and ask her to design a custom dress just for you. How about that?" "Wouldn''t that be too much trouble?" "Not at all. Listen to me. A princess only gets harried once in her life. Nothing about that is too much trouble Anneliese gave an awkward cough, "Grandma, this isn''t my first marriage" It sounded a bit awkward, but it was true. She was marrying Jonathan after having been married once before. Penelope didn''t seem to care, "Of course it''s your first. You and that man before didn''t even have a wedding. That doesn''t count as marriage. Listen to me, we''ll do it this way" Anneliese thought about it and agreed. She really hadn''t held a wedding with Zacharias before. Then, she nodded with a smile. "Alright, Grandma. I''ll leave it to you then" Penelope hung up, feeling happy, and immediately put on her reading sses to look through her contacts. The founder of Nuaine was a/Lunasian designer named Wendy Chalmont. She started the brand twenty years ago, creating a luxury wedding dress line. She was the chief designer herself, and now Nuaine had be an international pop-tier brand. She rarely designed personally anymore. III 15:15 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 483 The Malone Family''s Past However, 53 +10 Free Coins Wendy had married into the Malone family. The Malone and Fullbuster families had known each other for generations. Back then, Penelope had treated Wendy kindly, like a younger rtive. Unfortunately, something had happened to the Malone family twenty years ago. Wendy and her husband, Adrian, divorced. After that, she rarely appeared in front of Penelope again. Even so, her son Steven was still friends with Jonathan. So even if it wasn''t for the Fullbuster family''s reputation, she would probably agree to design the dress out of consideration for Anneliese. She would likely put her heart into it too. Thinking that, Penelope finally found the number and quickly dialed it. The call connected right away. A gentle, melodic voice came through, warm and soft with a faint lilt. "Old Mrs. Fullbuster, how have you been? What made you think of calling me today?" Penelope smiled. "Wendy, it''s me. Are you busy right now?" "I''m not. Even if I were, I''d always have time for you." At that moment, Wendy was in her studio. She pushed aside a pile of wedding fabrics and waved her assistant out of the room. Then she turned her chair and stood up, rubbing her stiff neck. Penelope had always been kind and gentle, especially with the younger ones. Wendy hadn''te from a wealthy family. She got into Halden University on her own, majoring in fashion design. During college, she met Adrian, the heir of the Malone family. Back then, he had hidden his family background and dated Wendy. The two of them were the kind of couple everyone envied. After graduation, Adrian''s identity was revealed. The Malone family disapproved of her background, and Wendy also felt that she wasn''t a good match for him. Without hesitation, she filed for divorce and took the chance to work in Seravia for a top luxury wedding brand called Parene. No one expected that Adrian would chase after her despite his family''s objections. He stayed there for two years. Eventually, the Malone family gave in, and Wendy was moved by his persistence. After all their ups and downs, they finally got married. However, after she married into the Malone family, she had to endure a lot of unfair treatment as the other women in their social circle never epted her. Thu, 16 Chapter 484 Chapter 484 Two Wedding Gowns 53% +10 Free Coins People always remembered those who showed them kindness during hard times. The memory of that kindness always stayed close to their hearts. Penelope was one of the few elders who had taken care of Wendy before. So even though they hadn''t seen each other for many years, Wendy was still very warm and polite. Penelopeughed and said, ¡°Then I''ll just say it. It''s all because of my useless grandson. I don''t know if you''ve heard, but Jonathan got married. That kid has no sense at all. He''s making my sweet granddaughter-inw suffer. He doesn''t even know how to n a proper wedding. ¡°My granddaughter-inw is shy. She would never ask for anything herself. She''s a busy girl too, but we can''t let her be wronged, can we? Jonathan''s parents can''t be counted on. You know that. So I, this old woman, have to take care of everything. I was wondering if you could design two wedding dresses for my granddaughter-in-w. If you''re too busy, one main gown would be enough." Penelope kept talking, but Wendy didn''t seem impatient. She smiled and said, "I heard about it. Congrattions, you''ve got such a lovely granddaughter-inw. I''m also one of Jonathan''s elders. I never got to design a wedding dress for my own daughter-inw, so if I can design one for Jonathan''s wife, it''ll satisfy my own wish. I should thank you for giving me the chance and trusting me. Don''t just say two gowns. However many you want, I''ll design them all." Even though Steven already had a daughter, he had never been married. No one had ever seen Ellie''s mother, and no one knew what had happened. But Penelope didn''t take Wendy''s words too seriously. She knew Wendy was very busy. That kind of talk was just polite. People said Wendy rarely designed dresses herself anymore, maybe once a year. The one she designedst year had ended up on a princess from Xelovia and made a stunning appearance at the royal wedding. Penelope chuckled happily. "Two are enough! 99 Wendy said, "Then let''s set up a time so I can meet your granddaughter-inw. I need to get a sense of her personality before I start designing. I''m also really curious to see what kind of woman made Jonathan settle down. Penelope replied, "Alright, I''ll confirm the time and contact you." After hanging up, Wendy stood there holding her phone, staring nkly out the window at the falling snow Her assistant came over and draped a cashmere shawl over her thin shoulders. ¡°It''s been snowing and freezing these past few days. You need to take care of yourself.¡± Wendy''s health had never been good. She adjusted the shawl and turned to smile at her assistant. Though she was already in her fifties and had noticeable wrinkles around her eyes, she still looked elegant and beautiful She sighed and said, "Do you think I''ll ever get the chance to design a wedding dress for my own child?" Her assistant quickly said, ''Why would you say that? Mr. Malone is only in his early thirties. He''ll definitely < 15:15 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 484 Two Wedding Gowns +10 Free Coins get married someday. Don''t worry. Besides, Ms. Ellie will grow up and get married too. She''ll want you to design her wedding dress. And there''s Ms. Gianna. She''s not even nning to get married yet, but she''s always pestering you to design one for her. You''ll have plenty of chances." Wendy just smiled and said nothing. She turned back toward the window. The faint sadness around her didn''t fade away. The person she had most wanted to design a wedding dress for was already gone. If her daughter had still been alive, she would have been in her prime this year. It would have been time for her to get married. In the president''s office of AeroAir, Jonathan went back to his office and didn''t even feel like eating lunch. He picked up the unfinished files and started flipping through them. After a few pages, he realized he was being terribly inefficient. He couldn''t even remember what he had just read. He pulled at his tie and rubbed his tense forehead. He picked up his phone and checked it. There was no new message from Anneliese on WhatsApp, and she hadn''t called either. Thest thing in their chat was the photo she sent that morning of the snowman she built. She had a bright smile on her face and sent a cute cat heart emoji along with it. How could she not love him? How could she not care about him? People around him had no idea. Anneliese clearly liked him. She had told him herself justst night. But maybe it was like when a delicious dessert was right in front of someone. Once a person got a taste of the sweetness, it became impossible to stop. They would want it all for themselves. He had be greedy. He wanted her love. He wanted her to love him deeply. He couldn''t helpparing himself to Zacharias, thinking about how she had once given up her dreams. to follow him everywhere. - She had cooked for him, worked hard to help him get investors, run his business, and even put up with his awful mother and sister. Chapter 485 Chapter 485 The Office Surprise 53% +10 Free Coins In the past, whenever Jonathan thought about those things, all he felt was anger toward Zacharias, along with frustration over how badly Anneliese had been treated. But now, when he thought about them again, all that came up was jealousy, bitterness, unease, resentment. He even felt restless and wronged. and It seemed like she had never done anything like that for him. Sometimes, he even felt that she was always ready to walk away. He let out a quiet sigh. It was only now that Jonathan realized he was just an ordinary man, caught up in the emotions that came with love. Love made him worry, and love made him afraid. He pressed his fingers against his temple with a small, self-mocking smile. Just then, footsteps and voices came from outside the office. The noise was loud enough to make him even more irritated. His face darkened, and he suddenly pushed his chair back and stood up. Right at that moment, the heavy double doors of his office swung open, and a figure appeared. Their eyes met, and both froze. Jonathan wondered if he was seeing things. The woman he had been thinking about was suddenly standing right in front of him. Anneliese was just shocked. Wasn''t she told that Jonathan had a stomachache and couldn''t even get out of bed? He looked fine. His temper was up, and he seemed full of energy. Zion came in a secondter, following Anneliese. When he saw his boss, he started signaling with his eyes. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster! You''re sick, how could you get up by yourself? I already told Mr. Tanner to handle things at the base. You shouldn''t be thinking about work right now. Look, Mrs. Fullbuster got so worried after hearing you were sick that she rushed here to take care of you." Zion had wanted to surprise Jonathan, but the surprise almost turned into a disaster. Things were about to fall apart. He blinked hard and rushed toward Jonathan, afraid that he wouldn''t y along. Luckily, Jonathan caught on quickly. He nced at Zion, then the next second, his tall body swayed, and he fell back into the chair. He weakly held his stomach and said to Anneliese, ¡°It''s nothing serious. Why did youe all the way here?" Anneliese quickly stepped forward and crouched in front of him. "You have stomach problems? Does it hurt a lot?¡± When Jonathan met her worried eyes, he felt guilty and looked away. 15:15 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 485 The Office Surprise 452%̨ $10 Free Coins "It''s not a stomach problem. Maybe I caught a chill. My stomach''s just a little upset. Zion''s overreacting You don''t need to worry." Anneliese took his hand and touched it. His skin felt warm. He didn''t seem sweaty or pale, so she finally rxed. She had been in theb earlier. Right after she hung up the phone with Penelope, Zion had called in a panic, saying that Jonathan was so sick he couldn''t get out of bed. She got scared and rushed over right. away. "How can I not worry? Did you get sick because you were building a snowman this morning? I bet you didn''t wear enoughyers." When she saw his guilty expression and heard how weak his voice sounded, she thought she was right. The guilt hit her even harder. She reached out to help him up. "Where''s your lounge? I''ll help you lie down." Jonathan wouldn''t refuse Anneliese''s care. He gave Zion a look before standing up. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster, the lounge is right over here," Zion said. He immediately understood what Jonathan wanted. His future promotion suddenly looked much brighter. He hurried forward, pushed open the lounge door, and stood there with a wide, eager grin. Anneliese helped Jonathan into the lounge. It wasn''t a big space, but it had everything a bed, couch, closet, and bathroom. She unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off, and tossed it on the couch. Then she reached for his tie and said, "Take off your pants too." "What?" "What do you mean, what? Are you going to do it yourself, or should I help you?" Seeing him still standing there looking dazed, as if he could start working again any second, she got even more annoyed. She didn''t realize that to Jonathan, her bossy, scolding look was actually adorable. He tried not tough and lifted his hand weakly, "You help me.¡± Zion, who was still by the door, couldn''t hold back anymore. Seeing Jonathan pretending to be frail made him burst outughing. Jonathan frowned and shot him a sharp look. Zion turned around right away. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I''ll leave Mr. Fullbuster to you. I''ll wait outside." He disappeared in a sh. Anneliese looked a little embarrassed and red at Jonathan. Then she went over and helped him Chapter 485 The Office Surprise unbuckle his belt and pull down his zipper. 452% Chapter 486 Created 486 Chapter 486 Caught in His Lie 52% +10 Free Coins Anneliese was worried about Jonathan not feeling well and treated him like a patient. She didn''t feel awkward or shy about it. What she didn''t notice was Jonathan''s Adam''s apple moving sharply. He felt like he had gone too far. If she kept taking care of him like this, she would find out the truth. "Ahem, I''ll do it," he said. When he saw her about to kneel down and help him take off his pants, Jonathan grabbed her wrist and spoke again. "Go get me some water." "Okay, then lie down," Anneliese said, not thinking much of it. She picked up the cup on the nightstand and went out to find the water dispenser. When she came back with a cup of warm water, Jonathan was already lying on the bed. Anneliese handed him the cup and sat by the bed, rubbing her hands together. ¡°I''ll give you a stomach massage. It might make you feel better,¡± she said. Her hands were warm from holding the cup. As she spoke, she reached under the nket and ced her hand on his stomach. Jonathan felt her soft little hand resting on one of his sensitive spots. It was like a feather brushing both his body and his mind. His lower abdomen tightened hard as if someone had pulled a string. Anneliese looked up at him in surprise. "Why are you so tense? Rx a bit. I can''t massage you if you''re all stiff." His lips pressed together. "I''m just a little ticklish." It was a terrible excuse. Anneliese stared at him again, confused. "You weren''t this ticklish before. It''s not like I haven''t touched you before. I''ve even kissed you before. Jonathan''s blood was already boiling, and he had no resistance left against her. He had been trying to hold back, yet she had to bring that up. In an instant, all the heated, wild images he had been fighting to suppress came rushing back. Anneliese looked dazed and shocked, her eyes lifting toward the man who caused it all. Seeing that there was no way to hide it anymore, Jonathan leaned over, wrapped his arm around her waist, and flipped her beneath him. Chapter 486 Caught in His Lie "You... you! You weren''t sick at all, were you?" 52% +10 Free Coins Anneliese finally realized what was happening. Thinking back now, both his and Zion''s behavior had been exaggerated from the start. She had only fallen for it because she had been too worried. Since he had been exposed, Jonathan stopped pretending. His lips curved into a small smile. "I wasn''t sick. I just missed you." Anneliese froze,pletely speechless. Missed me, my foot! They had literally seen each other just two hours ago. "You tricked me intoing here in the middle of the day just for this?" Anneliese said in disbelief, her voice shaking. Had he suddenly turned into some kind of lust demon? This was ridiculous. "You pervert! Let me go!" she shouted, her face burning with anger and embarrassment. She thought about how she had rushed out the moment she heard his stomach hurt, even hitting her leg on the corner of the table. It had hurt for a long time, and on the way there, she had kept telling the driver to hurry up until he started rolling his eyes at her. And for what? He had called her over just for this. Even though he looked dangerously attractive right now, she couldn''t ept it at all. "What did you just call me?" Jonathan pinned her down, his hand locking her wrists above her head, his eyes narrowing slightly. Her cheeks were bright red, but she refused to back down. "I called you a pervert. What about it?" Oh, what about it?" He gave a lowugh. "You dared to call me old while in bed. I guess I''ll just have to prove otherwise. You asked for this." Then he kissed her hard like a hungry wolf. His kissing skills seemed to improve every day. Anneliese quickly melted under him, her body soft and her breathing unsteady. "Stop it. This is your office. Get back to work,¡± she said between breaths. Thack She couldn''t stop thinking about how several of his secretaries were still outside, especially Zion. The thought made her feel humiliated, as if everyone out there knew exactly what they were doing inside. But Jonathan couldn''t stop. He looked down at her long, pale neck that stretched as she turned her head 15:15 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 486 Caught in His Lie away. He lowered his head and kissed her flushed earlobe, his voice low and rough. 52% +10 Free Coins "Work and rest bnce each other out. It''s my lunch break. Taking care of you is the most important work I can do right now." Anneliese froze again, speechless. She tried to resist, but then she saw that his ck shirt waspletely unbuttoned. The sight of his sculpted muscles and lean lines made her dizzy. In the end, though, he didn''t manage to prove that he wasn''t old at all. Things ended much faster than he probably wanted. Chapter 487 Chapter 487 The nket Incident 52% +10 Free Coins It happened for one simple reason. At the crucial moment, Anneliese''s stomach suddenly growled. Jonathan froze mid-movement, trying to pretend he didn''t hear it. His hand was still resting on her waist, but the next second, her stomach growled even louder. The sound was so loud that he couldn''t ignore it even if he tried. Anneliese''s pretty face instantly turned red. Embarrassed and tense, she twisted her waist hard and bit him. Jonathan almost lost it because of that. Caught off guard, he had to stoppletely. After getting himself together, he turned and saw her hiding under the nket, wrapped up like a cocoon. Hey down beside her,ughing, and started to pull the nket away bit by bit. The moment he pulled a little, Anneliese rolled to the other side and wrapped herself up again. It was too embarrassing. She wanted to disappear. Why did her stomach have to growl at that time? She didn''t even dare think about what kind of impression she had left on him now. Sexy and charming? Not a chance. She wanted to die from embarrassment. "Baby, my bad. It''s all my fault. Let''s go eat, okay?" Anneliese pulled the nket tighter, curling up like a shy little burrito. In Jonathan''s eyes, she couldn''t have been more adorable. "Be good. I''m hungry too." The moment he said that, the nket was yanked off, revealing her flushed face. Her eyes burned like fire as she red at him. "How dare you bring that up!" "My bad. My stomach''s growling too. If you don''t believe me, listen-¡± "Jonathan!" she shouted,pletely furious and embarrassed. She grabbed a pillow and smacked him on the head. Ten minutester, Jonathan walked out of the office alone. Zion hurried over, surprised. ¡°Mr. Fullbuster, what happened to you-" "Going to the cafeteria," Jonathan said as he headed for the elevator. Zion blinked. ¡°Mrs. Fullbuster isn''ting with you? A lot of employees want to meet her." He had been hoping to see them together, showing off their love for everyone to see. < Chapter 487 The nket Incident +10 Free Coins Jonathan cleared his throat. "My wife isn''t someone they can just see whenever they want. Who do they think they are?" The truth was, Jonathan hadughed earlier, which made Anneliese even angrier. She refused toe out now. Zion could tell that even though Anneliese didn''te out with him, Jonathan was clearly in a great mood. They reached the cafeteria and ran into a few executives on their way out. "Mr. Fullbuster, what brings you to the cafeteria today?" one of them asked curiously. Jonathan nodded calmly. ¡°My wife heard I was workingte without eating, so she came to make sure I had dinner. I''m here to pack some food to eat with her." He finished speaking and didn''t bother with the shocked faces of the executives. He just walked away. One of the executives grabbed Zion. "Mr. Fullbuster''s wife is here?" "Yeah. Didn''t you see how anxious he was? He''s afraid his wife will go hungry." ¡°Tsk, young couples are really in love. Should we go over and say hello to Mrs. Fullbusterter?" ¡°Better not. It''d be bad to interrupt their alone time. Right, Mr. Wayne?" Jonathan already said it himself. His wife wasn''t someone anyone could just meet. Zion waved his hand and followed after him. The executives exchanged looks. "Mr. Fullbuster personally getting food for his wife? What a role model." "Never thought he was this kind of man before, "They''re actually kind of sweet." Ever since Jonathan took over AeroAir, his strict and forceful style had scared everyone in management. They all thought he was intimidating. But now, seeing this side of him made him seem more human. He was just a young man after all. Without realizing it, they felt closer to him. Two of the executives even called their own wivester that afternoon, chatting about random things and leaving their confused spouses wondering what was going 1. on. By the end of the day, rumors spread across AcroAir''s staff chat group that Jonathan''s wife had visited his office, that Jonathan had personally gotten her lunch, and that the two had spent the morning together before he reluctantly sent her off to work. ording to a few secretaries who stayed in the office during lunch, she was young, beautiful, elegant, and gentle. Everyone said she was a perfect match for Jonathan. Near the end of the workday, AeroAir''s system announced Selina''s attendance and performance record. She was an intern in the tech department. III < Chapter 487 The nket Incident ? 10 Free Coins She had taken seven and a half days off in the past two weeks and made two major data mistakes. With that attitude and performance, getting fired was only fair. It wasn''t because she had badmouthed Anneliese, and Jonathan used his position to retaliate. Chapter 488 Chapter 488 Connections and Privilege Chapter 488 Connections and Privilege +10 Free Coins It was clear that Jonathan had heard those bad rumors. Otherwise, that kind of announcement would never have been made. For a while, all the gossip stopped. Instead, everyone in thepany became convinced that Jonathan and his wife had a loving rtionship. That belief settled deep in every employee''s mind. Anneliese had no idea that she had be the target of envy and jealousy among many female employees at AeroAir. She went back to theb and finished several sets ofposite wing tests. She measured thermal deformation under simted high temperatures and tested the dmination risks ofposite materials. When she walked back to the shared office area with the test data in hand, Gianna came in carrying a small purse. Anneliese almost bumped into her at the door. Gianna stepped aside. ¡°Be careful. Anneliese." Anneliese had been too focused on the data to notice her. She gave a small smile. ''Sorry, I''ll be careful next time." Gianna felt like she had hit a wall. It was worse because the senior researchers in the office looked over, which made her seem petty. She was sure Anneliese had done that on purpose. They just could not get along. Every time they met, it felt like bad luck. Gianna smiled and said, "Anneliese, are you also joining the National Low-Altitude Logistics Algorithm Challenge after the New Year?" "Also?" Anneliese caught that word right away. Gianna smiled again. ¡°Yeah, I''m interested too." She''s going to join the challenge? Anneliese was not worried, but she did find it strange. Last time, when Alexander gave her the registration form, it clearly said the challenge required a rmendation. Since Alexander had already rmended her, it would not make sense for him to rmend Gianna 100. 100. "Did Prof. Clocke not rmend you?" Anneliese asked. Gianna smiled proudly. "I don''t need a rmendation. If I want to join, I can just sign up. Anneliese, I won''t go easy on you then. You''d better be ready" She was the Malone family''s heiress. The challenge was co-hosted by the Air Traffic Control Committee and several logisticspanies. Her brother was the spokesperson for the Air Traffic Control Committee, and her father was the CEO of a III 52% Chapter 488 Connections and Privilege +10 Free Coins logistics giant. For her, a qualification others worked hard to get was nothing. With insiders willing to help, it only took a few words to get everything arranged. Why would she need a rmendation? Only someone like Anneliese, who had no family background, would ask such a question. Even if she had be Jonathan''s wife because of her looks, she was still narrow- minded and unrefined. Gianna could not understand why Jonathan liked her. With a quiet sneer, she turned and walked into the office first. She was determined to win first ce in the challenge. She did not believe that Anneliese, who had been out of the field for so long, could still keep up. She had been observing her for the past few days too. Anneliese always aimed too high and was never practical. She had not spent time preparing for the challenge. Instead, she was busy working on improvements to theposite wings. Alexander had already led them through many experiments on that. With the current material technology, there was no room for major improvement. Trying to stand out like that was ridiculous. In Gianna''s eyes, Anneliese was out of touch with modern research. She had chosen an impossible project just to look busy. When it failed, she could easily me the oue on the experiment being difficult for everyone. Alexander had rmended Anneliese for the national challenge to help her prove herself. So Gianna decided to join too, to defeat Anneliese during thepetition and show Alexander that Anneliese no longer deserved her ce in theb. She wanted to make Anneliese leave once and for all. Anneliese looked at Gianna''s back and raised an eyebrow, not caring at all. She lowered her head again to check the data she had just recorded. Soon, it was time to clock out. Gianna used her connections to get internal materials and information about thepetition process. It made her even more confident. Before leaving, she nced around the office and did not see Anneliese. It looked like she had gone back into the testing area. Gianna let out a smallugh and walked out without looking back. When she arrived at the Malone family''s home in aton, the housekeeper, Maven Grant, greeted her with a smile. "Wee home, Ms. Malone. Your father and your brother are both here today. The kitchen made your favorite seared short rib and foie gras. The foie gras is the freshest. Mr. Malone brought it back from his business trip just for you." 0 Chapter 489 Chapter 489 Family, Fault, and Fragility Gianna''s face instantly lit up with delight. "Dad''s back?!" 52% +10 Free Coins She hurried into the vi, and in the living room, she spotted two men seated on the couch-each with his own distinct style, both extraordinary in their own right. Adrian was already well into his fifties, with his salt-and-pepper hair neatly parted to the side, a few prominent silver strands at his temples that he didn''t bother dyeing. He carried himself with elegance and poise, his tall frame kept in excellent shape through years of fitness. There wasn''t a trace of the usual middle-aged bloat or wear; instead, he exuded the calm depth and quiet charisma of an older man with a story to tell. His features were still handsome, and there was a shrewd glint in his eyes that hinted at a seasoned businessman''s edge-he was the kind of man who turned heads wherever he went. Sitting in a single armchair beside him was Steven Malone. His facial structure bore a resemnce to Adrian''s, but his eyes and expression leaned more toward their mother, Wendy. At thirty, he was in the prime of his lifeposed, refined, and confident. Dressed in a white shirt with a navy tie,yered under a ck cashmere zip-up sweater and jacket, paired with tailored ck trousers and gold-rimmed sses, he exuded the polished demeanor of a man who had just returned from a business meeting. "Dad! You''re finally back! You''ve been abroad forever this time. Did you bring me any gifts?" yful and bright, Gianna flitted over like a butterfly, plopped herself down beside Adrian, and clung to his arm with a spoiled grin. "You''re already an aunt, yet you still act like a child." Adrian''s tone was steady but warm. "You''re not nearly asposed as little Ellie." Still, his voice carried unmistakable affection. Gianna kept smiling. "Come on, Dad. Ellie''s basically a carbon copy of Steven when he was little. But little girls are supposed to be cheerful and energetic, right? Don''t you think so too?" Adrian actually agreed. His granddaughter Ellie had mild autism. She was almost five now and still refused to speak. The thought made him sigh. "You''re her aunt. You should spend more time with her." With few women in the family and Ellie growing up without a mother, Adrian believed Gianna''s presence could help fill the gap and maybe even aid the child''s recovery. Gianna was about to nod when Steven, who had been silent until now, finally looked up. "Forget it. She''s lucky if she can take care of herself. I don''t need her losing my daughter again." Thest time, he''d left Ellie in Gianna''s care at a hotel while he attended a meeting that ran long. When he couldn''t reach her, he received a call from Jonathan Fullbuster-Ellie had wandered off and been picked up by his wife, who brought her to a banquet. In the end, it was their cousin, India, who retrieved the girl. III 15:16 Thu, 16 Oct Chapter 489 Family, Faul, and Fragility 84.52%A *10 Free Coins ma had always been a line afraid of her older brother. Ten years her senior, Steven had never been particrly close to her She knew he was bringing up the hotel incident again, but honestly, how was that her fault? She had told Ellie to stay put while she chatted with her friends on the phone-how could she have known the girl would sneak off without saying a word?! If anything, it was Steven''s parenting that wascking, not hers. Still, she didn''t dare argue. Pouting, she said pitifully, "Is it my fault I can''t take care of myself? I was born our family''s little princess-1 grew up without needing to lift a finger." Afraid of being scolded again, she quickly stood up and dashed upstairs. "I''m going to see what Dad brought me!" Once she was gone, silence fell over the living room. Her casual remark left both men thoughtful, their expressions subtly shifting. After a long pause, Adrian finally turned to his son. "Have you taken Ellie to visit your mother recently?" Steven rose to his feet, but didn''t answer. "It''s been over twenty years, Dad. Mom''s noting back. A lie can never be the truth. Not everyone can fool themselves as well as you can. You should give up before it''s toote. You''re still not old-maybe it''s time to start fresh." Adrian''s face darkened. "You''re truly your mother''s son. Not a hint of concern for your old man''s happiness. Get out of my sight!" Steven didn''t bother arguing, Hands in his pockets, he headed upstairs to check on his daughter. Meanwhile, Anneliese wasn''t taking the challenge lightly. Since she hadmitted to participating, she intended to give it her all. She had simply structured her schedule differently. During her time in theb, she didn''t study thepetition materials-but once she got home, she made every minute of her rest time count, poring over the information Alexander Clocke had given her. Chapter 490 Chapter 490 A Sweet Distraction *10 Free Cains And so, when Jonathan returned home, his beloved wife wasn''t in their bedroom, which felt unusually empty right then. On the low cab beside the couch sat the bouquet of Rhodes red roses he had given her earlier. Anneliese had cherished the flowers deeply. She had even looked up online how to keep them fresh for longer, adding preservative drops from time to time. Thanks to her careful attention, the roses hadn''t wilted-in fact, they had blossomed even more beautifully. But when Jonathan walked over now, he noticed the edges of the petals had started to curl and dry. She probably hasn''t changed the water today. That woman isn''t still upset about meughing earlier at lunch, is she? Unbelievable-she really holds a grudge. Jonathan took the vase, reced the water, added a few drops of preservative, and carefully arranged the flowers again before heading off to find her. Finally, he located her in the study. Anneliese was sitting cross-legged on the couch, fully absorbed in herptop, typing rapidly across the keyboard. She didn''t even notice when he entered. Jonathan walked closer and saw a swarm of glowing dots shing across the screen-she was clearly running a flight simtion. Seeing she hadn''t noticed him, he didn''t disturb her. Instead, he went to the desk, opened his ownputer, and began handling his work. It wasn''t until the shrill sound of a phone ringing filled the quiet room that Anneliese blinked out of her focus. Her eyes felt dry, and when she lifted her gaze, she realized it was alreadyte at night. Outside, the city skyline glittered with neon lights reflecting off the river. jonathan stood up behind the desk, phone in hand. ''Did I distract you?" "When did you get back?" They spoke almost in unison, and Anneliese quickly waved a hand. ¡°Go on, answer your call." Jonathan stepped over to her and answered, his voice calm and low. "Got it. It''s toote-just arrange a hotel He hung up and came to sit beside her, gently taking theptop from herp and setting it aside. Then, without warning, he pulled her onto his legs. "Sylvia Pord''s arrived. I asked Zion to send her to the hotel'' Anneliese nodded, about to reply when a sharp tingling surged through her legs. "Ah! My legs-they''re numb!" Jonathan chuckled at her pained little whine. As her face scrunched up, he reached over and lifted her nightdress without hesitation. The house was warm with the heater running, and under her cashmere Chapter 490 A Sweet Distraction dress, she wore nothing else, revealing two slender legs, fair and smooth like porcin. +10 Free Coins Jonathan''s hands began kneading her thighs in slow, firm circles. Already numb, her legs prickled like a stirred-up anthill at his touch. "Ow-don''t squeeze!" Her protest was sweet and breathy, but Jonathan didn''t stop. His hands slid down to her calves, then lifted her foot to stretch the back of her leg. She gasped aloud, but the blood flow quickly returned, easing the difort. He repeated the same on the other leg while she bit her lip and stayed obediently still. ¡°Better now?¡± he asked, ncing down at the woman in his arms-only to meet her bright, teasing eyes. Looping her arms around his neck, Anneliese grinned. "Not bad, Johnny. You''ve got some skill." Jonathan quirked a brow. "If my service pleased you, will there be a reward, Mdy?" Startled by his mock-serious tone, she blinked, then smirked. "Fine, I''ll reward you with gold-" Before she could finish, he curved his lips in amusement. "Forget the gold. How about a kiss instead, Mdy?" As he spoke, his hand slipped higher, lifting her skirt again and venturing deeper. Anneliese gasped, clutching his arm. ¡°No-stop! Have mercy! I still have work to finish!" Her flushed cheeks and shimmering eyes only deepened the darkness in his gaze. His voice dropped to a low, hoarse murmur. "Say my name." He still remembered her childish voice from years ago-''You must live.....'' Meeting his enigmatic eyes, Anneliese''s lips parted, but no words came. Bashful, she pushed at his chest, face burning crimson. Seeing her flustered, Jonathan finally relented. After all, he was still paying for theugh he''d let slip earlier that day-he didn''t want to risk provoking her again. "Fine," he said with a quiet chuckle. "You can save it for when we..." He deliberately left his words hanging, but Anneliese understood all too well-and hated herself for it. She bumped her shoulder against him with a huff. "Go finish your work! And if you''re done, go to bed!" Jonathan arched a brow, lips twitching. "Would you let go of my hand then?" III Chapter 491 Chapter 491 A Test of Trust Chapter 491 A Test of Trust 420 Free Coins Anneliese quickly shifted her legs, and only then did Jonathan slowly withdraw his hand. But instead of setting her down on the couch, Jonathan tightened his hold and lifted her up. "I still have work." "I know." Jonathan took long strides toward his desk and ced her gently into therge swivel chair behind it. "From now on, use myputer. Sitting on the couch will only make your legs go numb again." Anneliese tilted her head to look at him. "You''re really okay with me using it? I can ess whatever I want from now on?" "Be my guest, Mrs. Fullbuster." He gestured invitingly. Anneliese spun the chair once. "You''re sure? I can really use anything? Even decrypt locked files if I feel like it¡ªit''s not hard for me." A man''sputer or phone was usually more private than his wallet-who knew what secrets they held? Yet Jonathan offered herplete ess without hesitation, and that openness startled her a little. It made her feel cherished, almost guilty for doubting him. "Please, go ahead." Jonathan ruffled her hair and then left the room. Anneliese moved the mouse and smiled to herself. She loved how honest and unguarded he was with her. It was always the little things he did that moved her- each day, she fell a little deeper for him. Sometimes, she wondered if he was weaving a gentle trap around her. But she didn''t snoop around hisputer. Trust was the foundation of any marriage. Her rtionship with Zacharias had copsed the moment trust crumbled; no amount of love could survive that. Jonathan offered her his trust-she was willing to do the same. She wanted a marriage built on mutual faith, a healthy cycle of giving and receiving. The next morning, Jonathan personally drove Anneliese to the hotel where Sylvia was staying. "Want me toe with you?" he asked. "No, no need. I''ll just talk with her for a bit. You should get to work," she replied, ushering him off. 19 17 Fri Oct 17 Chapter 491 A Test of Trust Ôª ? 20 Free Cons After watching him leave, Anneliese went into the hotel''s fancy restaurant. Zion soon arrived with Sylvia in tow. The girl was dressed simply, with a backpack slung over her shoulders and long hair falling loose-she looked every bit the college student. One nce at her face, and Anneliese knew she truly was Mnie''s daughter. Her features mirrored Mnie''s almost perfectly. But while Mnie always carried an air of superiority and self-importance, Sylvia''s gaze was clear and earnest. "Hello, Mrs. Fullbuster," Sylvia spoke a little timidly, but couldn''t help stealing curious nces at Anneliese. "Shall we sit and talk?¡± Anneliese stood, gesturing to the chair across from her. Once they were seated and the server had brought over two cups of coffee and a few pastries, Anneliese finally spoke. "These are your family members." She slid her phone across the table, showing Sylvia a photo of a family portrait. Sylvia picked it up and studied it. In the picture, a middle-aged couple each held the arm of the girl in the center. Two young men stood behind them, and everything about their posture and clothing radiated the sense of a picture¨Cperfect family. Off to the side, half-forgotten, stood another girl in ill-fitting clothes, her presence barely acknowledged. Yet she was strikingly beautiful, her bearing graceful-Sylvia instantly recognized her as the woman sitting before her. "You... didn''t have it easy in that house, did you?" Sylvia''s gaze lingered on the faces of Mnie and Timothy-her biological parents- before lifting to meet Anneliese''s eyes. On her way here, she had been told only about her origins and the White family''s current downfall. She hadn''t known the details. But one look at this photo told her everything she needed to know about Anneliese''s life there. "This was taken half a year after I returned to the White family," Anneliese said quietly. "It was on Timothy White''s birthday-your father." Half a year, yet the so-called ''biological daughter'' still wore clothes that didn''t fit. In the family portrait, no one even considered how she might feel. Sylvia''s fingers trembled around the phone. She understood enough now. "Mrs. Fullbuster... could you tell me what life was really like for you with the Whites? I''d like to know what kind of people my parents and brothers are. Would that be okay?" Chapter 491 A Test of Trust Anneliese stirred her coffee gently. "Aren''t you afraid I might lie to you?" "No. I trust you, Mrs. Fullbuster. You have no reason to deceive me." +20 Free Coins She already knew the Whites had gone bankrupt; there was nothing Anneliese could possibly gain by lying or scheming against her. More importantly, she sensed no malice from this woman-only quiet sincerity. What Sylvia didn''t mention was that she had already known of Anneliese long before this meeting. She had followed her online. Chapter 492 Chapter 492 The Choice of Blood and Trust Chapter 492 The Choice of Blood and Trust 48 +20 Free Coins Sylvia had always been both a fan of Anneliese''s looks and a supporter of her character. Seeing her in person, she''s even more beautiful and aplished than she seems online. And despite all that noise on the inte, she never once bragged about being Mrs. Fullbuster-how rare is that? And their fates were intersecting in a strange, fleeting way. So when it came to choosing whom to believe, Sylvia trusted Anneliese far more than anyone from the White family. Anneliese smiled gently. "I''ll try to be as objective as I can." As they talked, neither of them noticed a well-dresseddy strolling past the restaurant window. The woman paused and turned to nce inside several times. She was Judith Royce, a former pokerpanion of Mnie-someone who used to live under Mnie''s shadow. Now that the Whites had gone bankrupt and their vi was seized, Mnie had been forced to move into an old apartmentplex in the suburbs. Always one for gossip, Judith couldn''t resist calling Mnie right away. "Mrs. White, guess who I just ran into at The Grand Meridian?" Mnie, wearing an apron, stood amid a pile of shattered porcin. She hadn''t done her own chores in years and had just dropped a stack of dishes while washing up. The floor was a mess, and Judith''s breezy "Mrs. White" made her fingers tighten on the phone, ready to hang up. But Judith rushed on before she could speak. "I saw that unloved ''real daughter'' of yours-now turned from rags to riches, Mrs. Fullbuster herself! And sitting across from her is a young girl who looks an awful lot like you. Don''t tell me you lost another daughter somewhere out there?" Judith broke into augh, covering her mouth. Mnie, furious, mmed the call shut. Her hands trembled as she bent down to clean, and in her distraction, she nicked her finger on a shard. Tears welled up, slipping down the new lines etched across her face. But the more she thought about Judith''s words, the more uneasy she became. A girl who looks like me? Could it be... Heart pounding, she tore off her apron, grabbed her phone, and called Perseus as she rushed out the door. Back in the restaurant, Anneliese evenly briefed Sylvia on the story of her time with the Whites-neither embellishing nor concealing anything. When she finished, she pulled from Chapter 492 The Choice of Blood and Trust +20 Free Coins her bag the property deed for the Maple Bay apartment and the bracelet gifted by Gloria, cing them both on the table. "These were left to you by your grandmother," Anneliese said softly. "I''ve already signed the transfer agreement. If you sign too, the house can be transferred to your name today." But Sylvia drew back slightly and shook her head. ¡°No, I can''t. I never even met Old Mrs. White. She left these for you, not me." Anneliese studied her for a moment, admiration flickering in her eyes. But precisely because of Sylvia''s integrity, she couldn''t keep what didn''t belong to her. "She gave them to me only because she mistook me for you. They were meant for her real granddaughter, not me. If you feel guilty taking them, just visit her grave more often-she was a kind, gentle woman." In truth, Anneliese suspected Sylvia''s decency might havee from Gloria''s bloodline-or perhaps from the loving upbringing of her adoptive parents. Still, Sylvia shook her head. "But you suffered so much in my ce. Selina White even hired someone to hurt you. Let this house be the White family''spensation for what you endured." Anneliese smiled faintly. "That had nothing to do with you. You''re not one of them, remember?" When Sylvia still hesitated, Anneliese unfolded the contract and handed her the pen. "If you don''t take it, I''ll never feel at ease keeping it. It''ll just sit there empty." Sylvia finally epted the pen but pushed the bracelet back toward her. "I''ll take the house. But please, keep this bracelet as a keepsake. If Grandma were still alive, I''m sure this is what she would have wanted." The bracelet had once been sped around her wrist by Gloria herself, and Anneliese had treasured it ever since. Seeing Sylvia''s insistence, she tucked it back into her bag. "Alright, I''ll ept it then.¡± But in her heart, she was already making ns-she''d have Zion purchase another piece of jewelry of equal value to give Sylvia before she left. With everything settled, Anneliese felt as though she''d finally closed a chapter of her life. A burden she hadn''t even realized she was carrying lifted from her shoulders, leaving her strangely light. She rose from her seat. ¡°I''ve said all I needed to say. These are the White family''s phone Chapter 492 The Choice of Blood and Trust numbers. What you do with them is entirely your choice-I won''t interfere." She slid a slip of paper across the table, but Sylvia didn''t reach for it. "I don''t want to acknowledge them,¡± she said firmly. (4), +20 Free Coins Anneliese blinked, taken aback by her decisiveness-and quietly moved by her honesty. Sylvial truly didn''t see her as an outsider. Chapter 493 hapter 493 Bloodlines and Boundaries Chapter 493 Bloodlines and Boundaries 47 +20 Free Coins "Is it because of what I told you?" Anneliese asked gently. "You look a lot like Mnie. If it really is you, maybe that bond of blood will make a difference-they might not treat you the way they treated me." But Sylvia shook her head. ¡°Of course not. You''re so much more capable and beautiful than I am, and they still couldn''t treat you right. They''d only treat me worse. I don''t have your strength. If it were me, I''d probably have died at Selina''s hands long ago." Just then, a frail figure rushed into the restaurant, cutting into their conversation. "You... You''re my daughter, aren''t you?" Anneliese froze, staring in shock at the sudden appearance of Mnie. How did she even find us here? Sylvia was startled too, her wide eyes locked on the stranger. "You... you are! You must be my daughter!" Tears streamed down Mnie''s cheeks as she stepped forward, reaching out to touch Sylvia''s face. "Let me take a good look at you." But Sylvia stumbled back two steps. ¡°I... I don''t know you. You''ve got the wrong person." Anneliese had promised Sylvia that whether she wanted to acknowledge the White family or not would be entirely her decision. If she didn''t want contact, Anneliese would make sure they wouldn''t bother her. After all, she was the one who had brought Sylvia to Oceaton in the first ce. Seeing the panic on Sylvia''s face, Anneliese immediately stepped forward, cing herself between them. "Mrs. White, she''s my friend, not your daughter. You''ve made a mistake. We''re leaving." She took Sylvia''s hand and started for the door, but Mnie hurried after them. "No! She is my daughter! Anne, I know you hate us, but you can''t stand in the way of a mother and daughter being reunited!" Her voice rose with emotion, drawing curious stares from all around the restaurant as murmurs rippled through the crowd. Sylvia, overwhelmed, instinctively sought shelter behind Anneliese. Anneliese held her protectively and frowned. Her voice dropped, steady and firm. "Didn''t you hear me, Lawrence? She''s not your daughter. You''re mistaken.¡± Chapter 493 Bloodlines and Boundaries +20 Free Coins) But at that very moment, Perseus and Christopher arrived. Christopher''s sharp eyes immediatelynded on the property transfer contract still in Sylvia''s hand. Without hesitation, he snatched it away. "If she''s not our sister," Christopher demanded, "why would you transfer Grandma''s property to her?" Sylvia''s heart pounded. She had never been in such a chaotic situation before. Protected all her life by her adoptive parents, she''d never experienced confrontation-let alone something like this. But she forced herself to stay calm. ¡°You can''t just grab my things without asking! Give it back!" Christopher hesitated as he looked at her his heart heavy with guilt and conflicted emotion. This was their real sister. They had treated Anneliese so poorly before, only toter discover that Selina was nothing but an illegitimate child who had long secretly reconnected with her birth mother and betrayed them. They had drowned in remorse ever since. And now, fate had brought their real sister before them-it felt like a chance to make things right. He forced a smile. "What''s your name? I''m your second brother. That''s our mother, and this is our eldest brother. Don''t be scared-we''ve been waiting for you toe home." Perseus and Mnie nodded eagerly, their faces filled with trembling excitement. Sylvia reached out, her voice calm but resolute. ¡°I''m sorry, but I don''t know any of you. I''m not your daughter. Please give me back my contract." Christopher frowned deeply. "You''re mistaken. I''m not trying to take your house. But if you weren''t part of our family, why would Anneliese give you our grandmother''s property?" "Just look at your face,¡± Perseus urged. ¡°You''re the spitting image of our mother!" "My child!" Mnie cried, stepping forward to clutch Sylvia''s hand. ¡°I didn''t mean to lose you. It was all my fault. Please, forgive me-why won''t you acknowledge me?" Anneliese stood quietly at the side, not intervening. Jonathan had told her before- Sylvia was an adult, and only she could decide whether to ept them or not. Even though she''d just said she wanted nothing to do with the Whites, people''s hearts could change, especially when faced with such raw emotion. And to be fair, Mnie and her sons did seem genuinely moved by the reunion. But watching them now, Anneliese couldn''t help recalling the day she herself was brought into the White estate. Chapter 493 Bloodlines and Boundaries +20 Free Coins Mnie had sat on the couch without even rising to greet her, Selina beside her with reddened eyes. Christopher had stood nearby,forting Selina and throwing Anneliese a disdainful look. His first words to her had been a warning-not to bully Selina. 17.10 47 Chapter 494 What Goes Around Chapter 494 Chapter 494 What Goes Around +20 Free Coins As for Perseus, he''d imed to be too busy at thepany and never showed up at all. Now, before her eyes, Sylvia suddenly yanked her hand from Mnie''s grasp and stepped back. ¡°I... I already have parents. They''ve loved me all my life and never once let me suffer. "I think... we were just never meant to be. You should pretend you never found me. After all, it wasn''t even you who did. I''m living well as I am, and I don''t want to change that. Let''s just stay out of each other''s lives." She blurted it all out in one breath, then turned and ran. Anneliese immediately followed, snatching the property transfer contract from Christopher''s hand as she passed. But before she could leave, Perseus grabbed her arm. "Anneliese! Our family wronged you, sure-but you were never one of us. We raised you for years, and now we''ve lost everything because of it. Doesn''t that make us even?" Christopher''s eyes burned red. "And now you''re turning our real sister against us. How can you be so cruel?" Anneliese almostughed at the absurdity. She jerked her arm free, her voice cutting cold. "I told her the truth-that''s cruelty? What, you want me to lie like Selina did, twisting ck into white and deceiving everyone? Would that make me ''kind'' in your eyes?" Her conscience was clear. She hadn''t exaggerated or ndered anyone, only facts. That, in her mind, was already mercy enough. "Anne, we''ve already realized our mistakes. Please, let me reunite with my daughter. I only have one daughter-please..." Mnie sobbed, suddenly stepping forward, and her knees buckled as if she were about to kneel before Anneliese. "Mom!" "Get up, Mom!" Perseus and Christopher hurried to pull her back, and Anneliese simply stood there, unmoving, watching with icy detachment. She didn''t believe for a second that Mnie would truly kneel. Sure enough, the moment her sons tugged at her, Mnie bounced right back up as though spring-loaded. She looked up, meeting Anneliese''s cool, almost mocking smile. Anneliese''s tone was calm but sharp as ss. "The daughter you cherished all those years was 19 18 Fri, Oct 17 Chapter 494 What Goes Around 20 F Come Selina-and only Selina. Now you''re running around desperate to im another. Why didn''t you think of that sooner? ¡°Whether your real daughter acknowledges you or not is her choice. I''ve done my part. If she refuses, you''ve only yourselves to me. You made this mess-you''ll have to live with it." With that. Anneliese turned and walked away. Mnie stood frozen, eyes bloodshot, whispering hollowly. "Our daughter won''t acknowledge us it''s our own doing, our own fault Then, overwhelmed by regret, she tore free from her sons and rushed after Anneliese. "Please -tell me how to reach her!" At the restaurant''s doorway, Mnie collided into her from behind. Anneliese stumbled forward, teetering toward a disy of porcin vases. If she fell, she would crash straight into the shards below. She gasped, instinctively raising an arm to shield her face, but a strong hand caught her in time, steadying her before she could fall. Heart still pounding. Anneliese turned quickly. Thank you thank you so much....." Her voice faltered as she recognized the man. He was handsome,posed, with a schrly air that radiated grace. The gold-rimmed sses on his nose added to the dignified aura. He gave her a polite nod, expression mild, then turned and walked away with the aide beside him. Anneliese watched his retreating figure before realization struck-it was Steven Malone. She had seen him countless times in news clips and once even left fangirlments under official videos-things like ''All the most handsome ones end up serving the country. No wonder she hadn''t recognized him right away in person. "Anne... I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to," Mnie''s trembling voice broke through her thoughts. Anneliese shot her a cold look. "If you want to know, find out on your own. I owe you nothing." At that, she walked out without looking back, leaving Mnie standing there, tears streaming down her face, her chest aching with remorse. Because deep down, Mnie knew Anneliese was right. Their real daughter''s rejection was no one''s fault but their own. After seeing how they had treated Anneliese, how blindly they had favored Selina, what child in her right mind would want to return to such a family? Chapter 494 What Goes Around +20 Free Coins Outside, Steven had already walked far down the street-but he couldn''t resist ncing back once more toward the restaurant door. Chapter 495 Chapter 495 Letting Go and Coming Home Something about that young woman tugged at his memory-her face seemed strangely familiar, as if he''d seen her somewhere before. "Mr. Malone, is something wrong?" the junior staffer behind him asked when he paused Steven turned back calmly. "No. Let''s go. Meanwhile, Anneliese took the elevator upstairs instead of leaving the hotel. She stopped outside Sylvia''s room just as the young woman was rolling her suitcase out the door. "You''re leaving already?" Anneliese asked in surprise. Sylvia''s eyes were a little red-she had clearly been crying-and she looked embarrassed. Tm sorry... I shouldn''t have run off like that. I was afraid I might soften if I stayed. I didn''t mean to leave you behind. They didn''t make things difficult for you, did they?" Anneliese could understand. Meeting one''s birth mother and brothers, learning the truth so suddenly-it was natural to feel overwhelmed. She smiled gently and shook her head. "No, they didn''t. As long as you''ve made up your mind, that''s all that matters." Sylvia gave a small smile. ¡°My parents are waiting for me back home to celebrate the New Year. It''s New Year''s Eve tomorrow-I want to go home." Anneliese nodded. She didn''t try to stop her, only handed her the signed property transfer contract. "Then let''s get the paperwork done now. Once it''s transferred, I''ll take you to the station." "Thank you, Mrs. Fullbuster." Just call me Anneliese," she said warmly. "Let''s add each other on WhatsApp, so we can stay in touch." Anneliese had no aversion to Sylvia-if anything, she felt a quiet fondness for her. And for Gloria''s sake, she wanted to keep an eye out for her. "Really? Can I add you?" Sylvia''s eyes lit up with genuine delight, her reaction so earnest that it made Anneliese chuckle in mild surprise. Afterpleting the transfer at the bureau, Sylvia said apologetically, "I left in such a hurry this time. My parents said they''lle with me next time to pay respects to Grandma." Chapter 5 Letang Go and Coming Home Aterfere''s the Anthod my adagene parents were mill aine, may I could served as freely and confidently as she dans-athens for without burden. For a long while she felt a pang of emny. She Minked quickly, lowering her pure, jout an the car pulled up the paned Splota''s shoulder ''Go on get in Don''t keep your parers waiting Bytte climbed in the car, then leaned out the window, waving entusiastically. "Sare- Anneliese, thank yout I hope you find your real family soon tool She suck out her tongue yfully, caching herself just in time before blunting out "weetheart like an overeager fan Anndiese only smiled and waved back She had long since stopped longing for a family-her heart was at peace with what the had After seeing Sylvia off. Anneliese wuddenly mined her grandmother terribly. She drove straight to the hospital Her grandmother was sitting in the garden downstairs, basking in the afternoon sun with the help of a nurse. Annelieve a beside her and told her briefly about Sylvia. Her grandmother patted her hand. "You did the right thing. That house belonged to her. What isn''t ours, we don''t take Integrity had always been her grandmother''s way. She''d never taken what didn''t belong to her. never oncepromised her principles. Years ago, after Anneliese''s adoptive parents passed away, the family they''d saved-a wealthy couple who''d been visiting Baytree-had left ten million behind, hoping to provide for the widow and child. Put her grandmother had donated it entirely to the fire department where her son- inw had served. "The pension is enough, she''d said. "That money would be blood-stained-it would dishonor his sacrifice" People had called her foolish, prideful¨Ccrazy, even¨Cto give up such a fortune. But to Anneliese, she was the strongest, most honorable person she knew. After walking her back to the ward, Anneliese called Carter to ask if her grandmother was well enough to be discharged. He approved. She nned to take her home to celebrate the New Year. That evening, she mentioned it to Jonathan. "I was nning to bring Grandma over to Maple Bay for the New Year, but after everything with Sylvia, it doesn''t feel right anymore. The house Chapter 495 Letting Go and Coming Home is transferred now. Could I bring her here instead?" 47 +20 Free Coins Jonathan pulled her into his arms. "What are you talking about? This is your home. Of course, Grandma should celebrate here." Anneliese rose on her toes to kiss the corner of his lips. "Thank you, darling. But... I haven''t told her about you yet." She looked guilty, but Jonathan didn''t take offense. Instead, he smiled, calm and considerate as always. "I understand. Tomorrow I''ll have the staff pack up my things and send them to The Banyans. We''ll be moving there after the holidays anyway." He had mentioned before that Maple Bay wasn''t secure and didn''t feel restful. The new vi, The Banyans, would be safer and more private. Anneliese had agreed. Now, with the past finally behind her, she could look forward to weing the New Year- with family she had chosen, and a home that was truly hers. Chapter 496 Chapter 496 A Matter of Timing Chapter 496 A Matter of Timing 20 Free Coins By all logic, Anneliese should have been happy with how cooperative Jonathan was being. But for some reason, she couldn''t shake off a faint unease. Twice before, when she had asked him to visit her grandmother under the guise of her friend, he had either deflected or conveniently found something else to do. She couldn''t help wondering-did Jonathan not want to meet her grandmother? ¡°What''s with the sudden silence?" he asked with a teasing smile, lightly flicking her nose. Anneliese blinked up at him. Seeing his warm, affectionate expression, she felt silly for even doubting him. Wrapping her arms around him, she rubbed her cheek against his chest. "If I''m spending New Year''s with Grandma, we won''t be together this year..." Her gentle tone melted Jonathan''s heart, but guilt shed across his eyes before he quickly pushed it down. His throat bobbed once before he spoke again. "Next year, we''ll celebrate with both families-together." Anneliese nodded eagerly. After leaving the bedroom, Jonathan went into his study and called Carter to ask about Nishay''s condition. "Would she be able to handle any sort of emotional shock right now?" ¡°Don''t even think about it!¡± Carter said at once. "She just had major heart surgery- you think that''s a joke? She''s old now. Even with a smooth recovery, she''s not like a young person. If she gets worked up again, I can''t promise I''ll be able to save her. "Her kidneys aren''t great either. Once she''s discharged, she should spend at least six months to a year in a good rehab center to recuperate. Why are you even talking about upsetting her now? What''s going on-don''t tell me Anneliese''s pregnant." Jonathan was just about to scold Carter for his wild guessing when a deep, authoritative voice suddenly came through the line. "Who''s pregnant?" Jonathan immediately recognized that voice. His brows knit together. It was his grandfather. "What''s going on?" Jonathan demanded, but before Carter could answer, Derek''s voice cut in, loud and direct. ¡°That woman''s pregnant? When are you bringing her home?" Clearly, Derek had taken the phone. Chapter 496 A Matter of Timing 47 +20 Free Cons Jonathan''s tone hardened. "What do you mean ''that woman? Her name''s Anneliese, and she''s your granddaughter-inw." ¡°Granddaughter-inw? You haven''t even brought her home to meet the family- how does that make her legitimate?" Derek barked, clearly angry. Jonathan remained calm. "Your wife has already met her, and she likes her very much. So yes, she''s met the family. Unless, of course, you and Grandma aren''t a family anymore. Did you two split up while I wasn''t looking? Because if that''s the case, maybe I should help Grandma find a nice old gentleman forpanionship." "Rubbish! Nonsense!" Derek fumed. He and Penelope had been bickeringtely, which was why she''d gone to stay in Oceaton for a while instead of returning to Halden. He couldn''t believe his grandson-rather than trying to mediate-had the audacity to throw such outrageous remarks at him! "So it''s fine for you to try setting me up with someone I don''t like, but I can''t choose the woman I love? Isn''t that a double standard?" Jonathan shot back. Derek was so angry that he nearly wanted to reach through the phone and smack his insolent grandson. "It''s almost New Year''s! You''reing back with your grandma, and if she really is pregnant, bring her too!" "She''s not pregnant," Jonathan said tly. "She''s still young." ¡°Not pregnant? I just heard Carter-are you hiding it from me¡ª" "Grandpa, it''ste," Jonathan interrupted. "What?" "You should go to bed. Everything you want will be waiting for you in your dreams." Derek was so infuriated that he hung up on the spot. Momentster, Carter called back, sounding sheepish. "Your grandpa came over this afternoon. He and my old man ended up ying chess tillte, so he happened to overhear. But seriously, you''re not bringing Anneliese to Halden for New Year''s?" Jonathan looked out at the thick darkness beyond the window and gave a wry smile. "It''s not time yet." Of course, he wanted both of their families to have a proper meeting and solidify their marriage. But he was still, technically speaking, living off the grid. He hadn''t even won over Chapter 496 A Matter of Timing Nishay yet. F: *20 Free Coins Also, bringing Anneliese home to Halden now would only stir up trouble-his grandfather and father might not be easy to handle, and the extended family wouldn''t be as kind as his grandmother. Worse still, his unpredictable mother would be back in Halden for the holidays too. He wasn''t afraid of anyone bullying his wife as long as he was there, but unnecessary conflict would only sour things and interfere with building their rtionship. And if she ended up getting scared off again, he''d have no one but himself to me. Better to wait. Next year, he swore, he''d spend New Year''s holding his wife in his arms. Just as Jonathan turned to head back to the bedroom, his phone rang again¡ªit was Zion. "Sir, our people keeping an eye on Hiroto Hodge said he used his connections to buy four fake-identity tickets bound for Harin secretly." Jonathan''s eyes narrowed, a cold gleam shing in them. "Trying to run, huh? Not that easy. Don''t startle him yet¡ªjust keep a close watch." Chapter 497 Chapter 497 Snow, Secrets, and a Farewell Flight Chapter 497 Snow, Secrets, and a Farewell Flight ? 20 Free Coins There was nothing quite as satisfying as tightening one''s grip just when the prey thought it had a chance to escape. "Got it," Zion replied. Jonathan''s voice was cold as he continued, "Looks like Calvin Brooks really is dead, seeing how desperate he''s getting away. After all this time, and they still can''t find a body?" He hadn''t been certain before whether it was Timothy or Hiroto who had helped Selina deal with Calvin, but now Hiroto''s panic to flee made things clear. The White brothers must have tipped him off, and his people must''ve discovered Calvin''s disappearance. Hiroto probably knew that if he didn''t run now, he''d end up with a murder charge on his back. "It''s been about three months, so a lot of evidence is gone, Zion reported. "But after checking the local underground, we found a lead. About two months ago, a hitman named Arkas took a job from someone in Oceaton. The target was a Lunasian man-very likely Calvin. We''re already tracking Arkas down." "Good. Put more men on Hiroto Hodge and Selina White. Also, assign a bodyguard to my wife -but don''t stick too close and make her nervous." Jonathan''s tone softened slightly at thatst part. He couldn''t risk either of those two turning desperate. Once Arkas was found, he''d take care of them all in one sweep. After hanging up, Jonathan thought of how Anneliese would be leaving the next day to pick up her grandmother. The thought of being separated from his sweet wife for several days only soured his mood further. He returned to the bedroom to find Anneliese sitting on the couch, reading through new documents from Alexander under the warm glow of a readingmp. Without a word, Jonathan strode over, took the papers from her hands, and scooped her up. "Hey! I wasn''t done reading!" she gasped. Even as he carried her away, her eyes stayed fixed longingly on the papers he''d tossed aside. Jonathan felt a pang of helpless exasperation. "What, is your husband not as interesting as a few sheets of paper?¡± His voice was low and rough-clearly displeased. Anneliese blinked at him innocently. "Of course not! But don''t you think you''re acting a little bit like..." "Like what?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. Chapter 497 Snow, Secrets, and a Farewell Flight 47 +20 Free Coins She dared not say he was like an incubus distracting her from her career. Her eyes darted quickly, which was answer enough. Jonathan gave a quiet huff and abruptly changed direction, heading not for the bed but toward the balcony instead. "Wait-where are you going?" she asked in surprise. He nipped lightly at her ear. "Didn''t you say you liked that pair of snowmen? They''ll melt soon. Tonight, I''ll make sure you get a good look." Before she could react, he set her down by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then, with one swift motion, he turned her around, guiding her hands against the ss as his warmth pressed up behind her. The temperature around them rose in an instant. Outside, the pair of snowmen still stood amid scattered shards of ice, encircled by twinkling string lights. Their pure eyes stared nkly ahead as Anneliese''s breath fogged the ss. The contrast made her blush even deeper-ice and snow before her, zing heat behind. The mix of chill and fire left her trembling and breathless. By the time she finally drifted to sleep in his arms, she dreamed of those two innocent snow figuresing to life, sobbing as they scolded her to return their pure, untainted eyes. The next morning, Anneliese awoke to the sound of footsteps and soft voices outside. She got ready quickly and stepped out of the bedroom, only to see several people moving in and out, carrying boxes. Jonathan stood tall andposed by the living room windows, dressed in a crisp pilot''s uniform, speaking into his phone. When he heard the servants greet her, he turned and saw her standing there, still dazed. He ended the call at once and walked over. The sunlight streamed through the vast windows, gilding his broad shoulders and the glearning stripes on his epaulettes. The blue-and-white uniform fit him perfectly-manding and elegant. The sight hit Anneliese like a physical blow; her cheeks flushed, her heart racing uncontrobly. She bit her lip, silently scolding herself. Get a grip. It''s not like you haven''t seen him in uniform before. But she still couldn''t tear her gaze away. Not until he reached her did she blink. "Today''s the maiden flight of the C999, Jonathan told her gently. "I''ll be piloting it myself¡ª we''re leaving soon." Anneliese''s eyes widened. She knew all about the C999-it was AeroAir''s first independently Chapter 497 Snow, Secrets, and a Farewell Flight 447 +20 Free Coins developed aircraft, heavily promoted as a new milestone for the nation''s aviation industry. But she hadn''t known Jonathan would be the one flying it. The news jolted her fully awake from her lovestruck haze, and she instinctively reached for his hand, gripping it tightly. "What''s wrong?" he asked, slightly startled by the sudden strength in her grasp. 19:21 Fri, Oct 17 Chapter Chapter 498 498 A Gift Beneath the Snow Chapter 498 A Gift Beneath the Snow 47 +20 Free Coins Jonathan turned his hand over to sp Anneliese''s, and she gazed up at him with doe-like eyes. ¡°Does that mean I won''t see you again until after the New Year?" She knew that during the holiday, he and Penelope would be heading back to Halden. She had thought he might at least stay in Oceaton for another day or two, but realizing he''d be leaving so soon made her heart ache with reluctance. Jonathan curved his lips slightly. "Don''t want me to go?" Anneliese flushed and quickly pulled her hand back, trying to sound casual. ¡°You''re overthinking it. It''s just a few days-we''re not children." At that, he quirked a brow. "Funny, because I''ll miss you. No wonder Zion keeps calling me a lovesick fool." Her ears went hot instantly, and she blinked at him in surprise. Her heart gave a sudden flutter. Their situation had never been quite like a normal couple''s-they''d gotten their marriage certificate first, without going through that sweet dating stage. But ever since that night on the balcony, when they''d confessed their feelings for each other, something between them had changed. Over the past few days, they''d been texting constantly, and whenever they were together, their eyes seemed maically drawn to each other. The feeling of being in love had only grown clearer and more real. And now, hearing him call himself "lovesick"... didn''t that mean he was admitting they were truly in love? A warm sweetness bloomed in her chest. Smiling softly, she teased, "You''re making that up. Did Mr. Hand really say that?" "He wouldn''t dare say it out loud," Jonathan replied with certainty. "But he''s definitely thinking it." Anneliese''s lips curved higher. She rose on tiptoe to straighten his tie. "Then I guess I struck gold. A lovesick husband is the best thing a girl could ask for." Jonathan arched a brow just as Mabel approached. "Sir, everything''s been moved as instructed-the items for The Banyans have been sent over first. And the things you prepared for Madam''s grandmother have all been ced in the guest room." Chapter 498 A Gift Beneath the Snow Jonathan nodded. "Thank you. You''ve all worked hard." 47 +20 Free Coins Once Mabel sent the movers away, Jonathan pinched Anneliese''s cheek affectionately. "I bought a few things for Grandma. They''re in the guest room- arrange them however you like when you have time." Anneliese couldn''t hold back anymore. She threw her arms around his waist. "Fine, I admit it- I''ll miss you too!" How could she not? He treated her so well. Not missing him would''ve made her heartless. Jonathan chuckled softly and pulled her close for a brief moment before whispering, "I really have to go now." She quickly lifted her head. "Fly safe. I''ll be waiting for you toe back." He only smiled, ruffled her hair, and strode out the door. As soon as he left, the house felt strangely empty. Everything in The Banyans had been set up -there wasn''t much of his personal stuff left here anyway. The living room looked almost the same as before, yet it felt hollow without him. When she returned to the bedroom, she noticed there was one less pillow on the bed, which made the loneliness settle even deeper. Her gaze drifted toward the balcony-where the two snowmen still stood. The sun hade out strong that morning, and the snowmen were already melting. Anneliese walked over, pushed open the balcony door, and crouched down beside them, feeling a touch of mncholy. "Madam, breakfast is ready. You should eat something," Mabel''s gentle voice came from behind. "I''ll clean up the snowter. Maybe it''ll snow again after the New Year. When Mr. Fullbuster returns, you two can build new ones together." Anneliese turned, smiling sheepishly. "I''m not a kid, Mabel. You don''t need to cheer me up. I''ll be right in." Mabel nodded and left. Just as Anneliese started to stand, something caught her eye-a faint glimmer in the melting snow. She froze, then crouched again and brushed at the slush. At first, there was nothing, and she wondered if she''d imagined it¡ªuntil a brilliant spark of light surfaced through the remnants of snow. She brushed the rest away and gasped. It was a tinum ne with an exquisitely crafted Chapter 498 A Gift Beneath the Snow +20 Free Coins diamond snowke pendant. Tiny crystals of ice still clung to it, making the diamond shimmer even brighter in her fingertips. Anneliese turned it over in her hands for a long while, her lips curving higher and higher, all her earlier gloom melting away like the snow. It had to be Jonathan-he must''ve guessed she''d feel lonely and left the ne hidden in the snow. A surprise to discover when the snowmen melted. The thought made her nose sting with warmth as her heart swelled with tenderness. Chapter 499 Chapter 499 Signs, Secrets, and Distant Skies Chapter 499 Signs, Secrets, and Distant Skies +20 Free Coins Two minutester, Jessica, who was busy at the hospital escorting a patient and running around collecting medical reports, suddenly received a text from her best friend. ''Aaaah! Jess, I''m in love! Real, sweet, heart-thumping love! Bless me!'' Jessica stared at her phone speechlessly as she grabbed thest report and headed toward the elevator. ''So the hopeless romantic finally returned, huh? Guess Mr. Fullbuster really did turn you into a lovesick fool again.'' As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted an elderlydy sitting on a waiting bench and hurried over to help her up. ¡°All the reports are out, Mrs. Goodwin! And you know what? I passed by a window and heard magpies chirping-definitely a good omen. Don''t worry, I''m sure it''s nothing serious. Let''s go see what the doctor says." "Alright. You''ve been such a dear, running around for me, child. I''ve got plenty of friends my age, and let me tell you-you''re one of the kindest and most patient young people I''ve met. Always so attentive, neverining. I''ll rmend you to all my friends next time they need a check-up!" Jessicaughed. "That''s so kind of you, l-ugh!" Her words were cut short as a wave of sudden nausea hit. She turned aside, gagging dryly. When she straightened again, the elder was watching her with curious eyes. pregnant?" Jessica froze. "Pregnant?" "Are you She quickly waved her hands with augh. "No way, Mrs. Goodwin. I''m not even married! I''ve just been having some stomach issuestely. Come on, let''s go inside." Still, as she spoke, her fingers tightened around the stic folder holding the reports. While the doctor went over the X-rays and exined Mrs. Goodwin''s condition, Jessica stood beside them,pletely distracted. Could I really be pregnant? Chapter 499 Signs, Secrets, and Distant Skies 47 +20 Free Coins She had been feeling nauseoustely, but until the elder mentioned it, she hadn''t even considered the possibility. She and Zane had always used protection. And back when she was living with the Johnson family, she''d endured so much hardship that it left her with a weak uterus and irregr cycles -sometimes skipping two or three months entirely. But now that she thought about it... Ever since she and Zane had been together, she hadn''t had a period at all. Her brows furrowed deeper, anxiety creeping in. Still, she pinched her fingertips and shook her head. No-that''s impossible. We''ve been careful. I can''t be that unlucky... right? Meanwhile, Anneliese had brought her grandmother back to Maple Bay. Supporting her gently, she unlocked the door to the penthouse with a cheerful smile. "We''re home, Grandma! Sit here for a bit, I''ll grab your slippers. I got you a red pair- they''re festive for the New Year. Do you like¡ª" Her chatter stopped mid-sentence. As she pulled out the slippers, another pair tumbled out along with them-an oversized pair unmistakably belonging to a man. And, of course, theynded right at Nishay''s feet. Anneliese''s lips twitched nervously. She quickly reached down to grab them, but Nishay beat her to it. "These are men''s slippers, aren''t they? Why do you have these here?¡± Anneliese snatched them back and stuffed them into the cab. "Just in case, you know? If a friend or coworker visits, they''ll have something to wear." Thankfully, her grandmother only nodded, seeming not to think much of it. Anneliese exined that she''d bought the apartment with money from her divorce settlement, and Nishay believed her. After showing her around, Nishay, tired from the trip, went to lie down and rest. That night, Anneliese sprawled across therge bed. It should''ve feltfortable, yet the room felt unbearably empty and cold. She realized she''d already grown used to falling asleep in Jonathan''s warm embrace. Restless, she sat up and opened her phone, scrolling through the news about AeroAir''s C999 Chapter 499 Signs, Secrets, and Distant Skies maiden flight. 47 +20 Free Coins The flight hadnded safely in Serava two hours ago. She''d even sent Jonathan a message on WhatsApp right at touchdown time-but he hadn''t replied yet, whether because he was busy or hadn''t seen it, she didn''t know. Online, there were plenty of updates-official reports, passenger posts, and bloggers sharing their flight experiences. She clicked through them absentmindedly, lingering longer on posts with photos, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But Jonathan had always been low-profile; unsurprisingly, she didn''t see him in any pictures. Until one photo made her stop cold. A travel blogger had shared their experience. ''The themed in-flight mealbined Serava-inspired vors-absolutely delicious. The cabin was incrediblyfortable too. And the highlight? The captain''s special multilingual greeting! He switchednguages so smoothly, ent wless-like a professional interpreter! And that voice... so rich and maic. Totally swoon- worthy. Too bad I was too excited to record it!'' Chapter 500 47 +20 Free Coins ''Such a shame! If anyone managed to get a recording, please share-it really sounded like a voice from a dream! Too bad the captain never showed his face. Still, when we disembarked, the co-pilot personally handed every passenger a thoughtful gift and amemorative certificate. And the best part? The co-pilot''s a total queen-stunning and so cool! Pictures attached! ''P.S. The certificate even had the captain''s signature-can someone tell me if this is AeroAir''s mysterious CEO?'' The post came with several photos. One showed the co-pilot handing out gifts¡ªa distant shot, but Anneliese recognized her instantly. It was India. Wearing her pilot uniform, India lookedposed, sharp, and radiant with confidence. Even through the screen, her presence was captivating. However, Jonathan had never mentioned that India would be on this flight with him. Remembering the nonsense Gianna had spouted before, Anneliese''s heart sank. She scrolled to the next photo-sure enough, thememorative certificate bore Jonathan''s unmistakable signature. She''d seen it before while assisting him at work-bold, fluid strokes that carried the precision of years of calligraphy practice. In thements below, the discussion was already exploding. ''It''s him! AeroAir''s young CEO-also the heir to the Fullbuster family! He''s a captain too?! What kind of cheat-code life is this?'' ''A total boss-imagine flying on a ne piloted by the richest man himself. That''s a lifetime brag!'' A lifetime? Nah, that''s at least worth three lifetimes.'' ''When''s AeroAir''s next maiden flight? Tell me when the CEO''s flying again¡ªI''m waiting!'' ''Young CEO captain and badass co-pilot queen-this pairing is everything!" "The co-pilot''s stunning! Blogger, any inside scoop? Are they really not a couple?'' ''I''m telling you, something''s definitely going on. Why else would the CEO personally fly the maiden voyage? Total power couple vibes!'' Chapter 500 Whispers in the Sky ) +20 Free Coins The more Anneliese read, the heavier her chest felt. She tossed her phone aside, unable to bear it any longer. But after a few restless minutes, she picked it up again. Opening WhatsApp, she saw that Jonathan still hadn''t replied to her message fromst night-her simple ''Congrattions on the sessful flight.'' A wave of frustration and unease surged through her. Her stomach clenched, sourness rising to her throat. She barely slept that night. The next morning, her rm jolted her awake. Her eyes felt dry and gritty, her head foggy with exhaustion. Without thinking, she reached for her phone-still no calls, no messages. The chat thread remained frozen at her lone text. And before she could stop herself, her mind started spinning. Images shed¡ª Jonathan and India together, perhaps celebrating after the flight, maybe too busy-or too close-to message her back. "Stop it!" Anneliese smacked her forehead. "Don''t be ridiculous.¡± She rushed into the bathroom, trying to drown out her thoughts under the sound of running water. She''d promised herself to trust him. Jonathan had always treated her with such care and sincerity; it was unfair to doubt him based on nothing but spection. Zacharias had hurt her before, but Jonathan wasn''t him. Still, despite her self-reminders, she spent the entire day distracted, checking her phone every few minutes. Even Nishay noticed. "Anne, are you in love?" Nishay asked suddenly over dinner. Anneliese froze, then forced a smile. "No, Grandma..." "No? You''ve been daydreaming all day. Who are you waiting to hear from? You think I don''t know you? Don''t lie to me." Anneliese met her gaze. "Really, it''s nothing. It''s almost New Year''s-just don''t want to miss any holiday messages, that''s all. Here, try the snowball cookies I made-they turned out perfect this time." Nishay studied her for a moment, then let it go with a nod. If her granddaughter truly was in Chapter 500 Whispers in the Sky 47 +20 Free Coins love, that was a good thing. She only hoped Anneliese wouldn''t fall into another pit like the one Zacharias had dug. "Invite Jess to stay for the New Year," Nishay said gently. "It''s lonely spending the holiday alone. The three of us can make it a warm one together." Chapter 501 **Created 501** **Driving a Wedge Between Them** "Yeah, that''s exactly what I was thinking," Anneliese replied, her voice steady, though her heart raced beneath the surface. "I''ll give her a call in a bit." No sooner had the words left her lips than her phone erupted with a series of chimes, each one piercing the silence of the room. Without a second thought, she reached for it, her mind racing with the expectation that it was a message from Jonathan. But as she nced at the screen, her heart sank, and the smile that had graced her face moments before vanished like a wisp of smoke. It wasn''t Jonathan reaching out. Instead, an unknown number had sent her a collection of photos that made her stomach churn. With trembling fingers, she opened the images, and her worst fears materialized before her eyes: Jonathan,ughing and smiling alongside India. The photos were taken in various locations, each one seemingly more intimate than thest. In one snapshot, the two of them stood side by side, adorned in matching uniforms, their faces lit up with joy as they exchanged knowing nces. Another captured a moment from avish banquet, where Jonathan donned a sleek ck suit, and India dazzled in a shimmering silver gown, theirughter mingling with the sounds of the celebration around them. But it was a particr image that struck her the hardest¡ªIndia, her cheeks flushed with color, leaningfortably against Jonathan''s arm, while he enveloped her in a gentle embrace, his gaze filled with a softness that Anneliese had once thought was reserved for her alone. A chill coursed through Anneliese''s fingertips, rendering them cold and numb. She found herself frozen, staring at the screen as if it were a venomous snake poised to strike. Finally, she flipped the phone face down on the table, as if it had seared her skin. "WI do you look so pale all of a sudden? Are you not feeling well?" Nishay''s concerned voice broke through her haze. Anneliese quickly stered a smile on her face, trying to mask the turmoil brewing inside her. "I''m fine, Grandma. I''ll call Jessica now." "Alright, tell her toe over early," Nishay replied, her voice tinged with worry. Anneliese stood there, gripping her phone tightly, the weight of it almost unbearable. She dashed into her bedroom, feeling the air thicken around her. Nishay watched her retreat behind the closed door, her instincts sharpening. She hadn''t been certain before, but now the truth was crystal clear. That girl must really be in love. If it were merely Jessica she was calling, would she feel the need to hide away like that? The distracted expression on Anneliese''s face had spoken volumes-it was as if her emotions wereid bare for all to see. Nishay wasn''t blind to the signs. Falling in love was a beautiful thing, but sneaking around like this? Who exactly was that man? The mere thought sent a ripple of unease through her. Inside her bedroom, Anneliese couldn''t resist the urge to nce at the photos again, her heart racing with each image. Her face was pale, but amidst the storm of emotions, a sense of determination began to settle within her. With a deep breath, she tapped the screen and dialed the unfamiliar number, her heart pounding in her chest. No one answered, and the call went straight to voicemail. A soft, bitterugh escaped her lips as she typed a response. ''You''re a coward.'' They were too frightened to even pick up the phone-what else could they be but a coward lurking in the shadows? After sending the message, she swiftly blocked the number, saved the incriminating photos, and took a screenshot of the contact. Then, without a moment''s hesitation, she forwarded everything to Jonathan. Though she had no idea who had sent those photos, it was clear they were attempting to create a rift between Jonathan and her. Yet, despite the obvious malice behind the act, once the initial shock wore off, Anneliese found herself leaning towards trusting Jonathan. She would hear his side of the story first. If his exnation didn''t satisfy her... Well, that would be a different matter entirely. Even after sending the photos to Jonathan, a sense of unease settled in her stomach. Grabbing her car keys, she dialed Jessica''s number, determined to pick her up herself. Perhaps a drive would help clear her mind and cool her racing thoughts. Meanwhile, at the Malone family vi in Oceaton, Gianna sat in front of her vanity, her fingers delicately trying on an array of new jewelry. Luxury boxes, each one a treasure brought back from her father''s recent travels,y scattered around her, yet despite the glittering gems, her expression was anything but joyful. Just moments ago, she had received the news that Zane was no longer alone. The mere thought of him with another woman ignited a furious ze within her. Years ago, when she was just fifteen, she had found herself in a bar overseas, where a man had crossed the line, harassing her. In a moment of panic, she had smashed a bottle over his head, never expecting the fragile man to copse into aa. His family, well-connected and vengeful, had dragged her to court, threatening to imprison her for life to pay for their son''s fate. The terror had been all-consuming. But it was Zane who had stepped in as her defensewyer, offering herfort and protection until the storm had passed. From that moment on, she had been captivated by him. She visited the Shayman family home often, and both families were aware of her growing feelings. Naturally, they had been more than happy to see their connection blossom. Yet, Zane had always treated her as nothing more than a little girl, the daughter of a family friend, dismissing her feelings as mere childish infatuation. But Gianna was no longer a child. Back then, he had insisted she was too young-barely twenty-and she had been forced to watch as he cycled through one girlfriend after another. After spending three years abroad, she had returned as a confident, mature woman, determined to impress Zane and finally im him as her own. Who could have predicted that another woman would already be by his side? And who did this Jessica think she was? From what Gianna had uncovered, the woman had no background, no education, and certainly no beauty to boast of. She was just an inconsequential nobody, unworthy of Zane''s attention. Chapter 502 **TITLE: Created 502** If it hadn''t been for the fact that Jessica was Anneliese''s dear friend, she would have never even had a chance to encounter Zane, not in a million years! Gianna had always maintained that she and Anneliese were like oil and water, and this situation only reaffirmed her belief. Anneliese''s relentless ambition to ascend the socialdder of the Fullbuster family was one thing, but to act as a matchmaker and push a woman as shameless as Jessica toward Zane? That was a whole different level of audacity. What a pair of despicable women they were! Gianna''s mind raced with indignation as she had already dispatched her connections to dig up everyst detail about Jessica. She was determined to uncover the truth, to reveal the facade behind that delusional little tramp. Once she had theplete picture, Gianna would make sure Jessica learned her ce in the grand scheme of things. Just then, her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. Gianna nced at the screen and saw a new message sh before her eyes. ''You''re a coward!'' The words ignited a firestorm of anger within her. Gianna''s hands trembled as she yanked off the delicate bracelet she had been trying on, the gemstones glinting mockingly in the light. With a furious swipe of her fingers, she typed back, ''Gosh, what an ungrateful fool! I''m trying to help you, yet you''re getting mad at me instead. No wonder your man got stolen!'' She hit send, but a momentter, the dreaded notification appeared: message failed to send. That failure only fueled her rage further. With a swift, furious motion, she swept the jewelry boxes off the table, sending them crashing to the floor in a cacophony of ttering metal and shattered dreams. Just as she stood there, fuming, a soft knock echoed at the door. A maid cautiously pushed it open, her voice careful and respectful. "Ms. Gianna, Mr. Malone is asking if you''re ready. The car''s waiting." Gianna inhaled deeply, trying to steady the storm brewing inside her, before rising to her feet. She gestured dismissively at the chaos she had created on the floor. "Clean this up.¡± As she descended the stairs, she spotted Adrian waiting for her, impably dressed in a perfectly pressed suit, his hair slicked back with precision. The moment he saw her, he adjusted his tie and beamed. ¡°What do you think of this tie? Does it go well with my outfit?" Gianna threaded her arm through his, a smile breaking across her face. "Daddy, you look absolutely amazing! You''re the most handsome man in the world. Mom''s going to love it." Adrian chuckled, a warm, fatherly sound that filled the air between them, and he patted her hand affectionately. "So, who do you think is more handsome, me or Zane?" ¡°Zane, of course!" Gianna teased, sticking out her tongue yfully. Adrian feigned offense, clutching his heart dramatically. Giannaughed and quickly added, ¡°Okay, okay! I take it back! You''re both equally handsome. You have that elegant,posed kind of handsome, while he''s more of the sharp, charming type." "That''s better," Adrian replied, visibly pleased. "Now, remember-when you see your motherter, keep up the sweet talk. And more importantly..." Before he could finish his thought, Gianna interrupted him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You want me to sing your praises so you can win her over, right? Don''t worry, I''ve got this!" She linked her arm through his and led him toward the door, eager to get moving. As soon as they stepped into the main hall, a graceful woman with a gentle demeanor appeared at the entrance. "Aunt Pepper!" Gianna eximed, her face lighting up with genuine joy as she dashed over. "I had no idea you were in town!" The woman standing before her was Pepper Chalmont, Wendy''s twin sister. Though they shared the same blood, they were fraternal twins, and their appearances reflected that distinction. Pepper may not have possessed the striking beauty of her sister, but she had aged with grace and dignity. Even now, her figure was well-maintained, and her calm, elegant manner echoed Wendy''s gentler side. "I''m here for my nephew''s wedding,¡± Pepper replied, her smile warm and inviting. ¡°I thought I''d drop by for a little visit. Adrian, are you two heading out?" Adrian returned her smile, his eyes twinkling. "Yes, we''re on our way to see your sister." "Oh, it''s been far too long since Ist saw her," Pepper remarked, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. Gianna seized the moment,tching onto her aunt''s arm eagerly. "That''s perfect then, Aunt Pepper! Come with us! Stay the night, please! It''s been ages since we shared a room. We can return to Halden together!" Her excitement was palpable, a genuine delight that radiated from her. When Gianna was younger, her parents'' divorce had left her feeling adrift. Wendy had left both her children in the care of the Malone family while she pursued her career overseas. Although Adrian frequently took Gianna to visit her mother abroad, Wendy rarely agreed to see him. Her father would often remind her to be understanding, to make her mother happy, and to foster a closer rtionship with her. But for Gianna, that was no simple task. Her mother felt like a distant figure, cold and seemingly uninterested in her and her brother. What kind of mother would abandon her own children like that? Even for her son''s sake, shouldn''t Wendy have considered reconciling with Adrian? Yet here they were, more than twenty yearster, and her mother stubbornly refused to even entertain the idea ofing back. Fortunately, her father was a devoted man, steadfast in his love and patience. All these years, he never strayed, never fathered any illegitimate children, and always showered Gianna and her brother with affection. In Gianna''s heart, it was her mother who was selfish and unreasonable, blind to the goodness that her father embodied. She often found herself wishing that her aunt could be her true mother instead. Pepper turned her gaze to Adrian, her expression thoughtful. "Adrian, would it be alright if I joined you?" Adrian smiled warmly, waving his hand in a weing gesture. "Of course, you''re family! It''s no trouble at all. Join us! Perhaps we can finally convince Wendy toe home for the holidays this year." Chapter 503 Chapter 503 Are You Jealous? Pepper smiled and nodded. ¡°Adrian, you''ve been hoping for a reunion with my sister every single year. Even I''m moved by your sincerity, so how could she not be? Maybe this will be the year she finallyes around. I''ll try t Gianna immediately linked one arm through Pepper''s and the other through her father''s, tugging them both toward the car. "Come on, let''s go!" "You''re a grown woman now. Why are you still so impatient?" Adrian scolded her gently, though there was nothing but affection in his tone. He pulled his arm free from her grip. Gianna scrunched up her nose. "What a boomer! Don''t you think so, Aunt Pepper? Dad''s such a stick- in-the-mud-no wonder Mom doesn''t like him." Pepper nced at Adrian and chuckled softly. "Your father isn''t old- fashioned; he''s steady and dependable. You, on the other hand, have no sense of respect. "But your mother''s work does put her around a lot of young people. Thest time I saw her, she was personally helping a few young male models adjust their suits. They were chatting andughing, and she said she liked the youthful energy they brought." Adrian''s expression immediately darkened. When Anneliese picked up Jessica, she noticed right away that her friend didn''t look well. "Are you okay? You look pale, and it seems like you''ve lost weight." Anneliese nced sideways at her as she drove. Jessica gave a smallugh. ¡°I''ve just been running around a lottely, and I''m kind of worn out. My stomach''s been acting up, so I haven''t been eating properly. You and Grandma better feed me well during the holidays." "Do you still have an upset stomach? We should get you checked out," Anneliese said, already starting to steer the car toward the hospital. Jessica''s eyes flickered, and she hurriedly stopped her. "It''s fine! If I really needed a doctor, I would''ve gone already. I''ve been in and out of hospitals enough these past few days. I''m fine, really. Let''s just go home. I don''t want to keep Grandma waiting." She thought of Old Mrs. Goodwin''s warning earlier, and her mood soured again. Thest thing she wanted right now was another doctor''s visit. It''s just stomach trouble, she told herself. Perhaps it was exhaustion. A few quiet days over the holiday would probably fix everything. When the two of them got home, they joined Nishay in the kitchen to make pies together. The house filled withughter and chatter, a rare moment of warmth. Anneliese was mixing the filling when her phone started vibrating nonstop in her pocket. She had a sudden feeling about who it was. Quickly, she washed her hands. "I''ll get that," she said, stepping away to answer the call. After speaking, Anneliese nced over at Jessica. Her friend quickly jumped in to cover for her, still kneading the dough. "Yourb must be keeping you really busytely," she said, trying to sound nonchnt. Anneliese hurried out of the dining room. Nishay took over stirring the filling and turned to look at Jessica suspiciously. "Jessica, are you two hiding something from me?" "Of course not! Grandma, I''m on your side¡ª I..." Her words cut off suddenly. "Ugh!" Jessica had leaned closer to soothe the olddy, but the smell of the filling hit her, and a wave of nausea rolled through her. She bolted toward the sink, her hands and feet going cold, her face draining of color. In the bedroom, Anneliese finally got the call she''d been waiting for. She''d been expecting Jonathan''s call for two whole days, but now that it was here, an inexplicable heaviness pressed against her chest. All of a sudden, she didn''t feel like answering anymore. She held the phone and considered not picking up, but before she could, the call disconnected on its own. Startled, she instantly regretted not answering sooner. So when the phone rang again, her fingers moved faster than her thoughts, and she answered in one quick motion. A flicker of annoyance crossed her eyes at her own reflex, but she lifted the phone to her ear without saying anything. On the other end, Jonathan hadn''t expected her to pick up so quickly. He froze, and for a moment, silence filled the line. It was so still they could hear each other''s breathing. Hearing the soft rhythm of her breathing through the line, Jonathan finally felt a bit of peace. The longing that had been pressing in on him eased so much so that he didn''t rush to speak. Anneliese, however, felt very differently. The longer he stayed silent, the more her nose stung. What was this? Was he really too guilty to say anything? "If you''re not going to talk, I''m hanging up!" She snapped first, her tone sharp and impatient. The moment the words left her mouth, she bit her lip, annoyed at herself. She''dpletely lost the upper hand. "Baby." His low, husky voice finally came through, smooth and warm like smoke. "I''ve missed you so much." It didn''t even sound like a line meant to coax her, more like a quiet confession from deep inside him. His tone barely shifted, but somehow she could hear the emotion beneath it. Just like that, the irritation and restlessness in her chest shattered into pieces. Anneliese bit her lip again, scolding herself for being so weak, and forced down the lump in her throat before replying coolly, "I don''t believe you. You''ve ignored my messages and my calls. You''ve got someone verypatible by your side, so why would you miss me?" A soft chuckle rumbled through the speaker. It was only then that Anneliese realized what she''d just said. Her face flushed hot with anger and embarrassment. "You-¡± Before she could finish, Jonathan cut in, voice low and teasing. "I can smell the jealousy from miles away. Are you jealous?" Chapter 504 Anneliese grew even more flustered. ¡°Jonathan!" The man''s voice came back low and rough, trying to hide his glee. "Turn on the camera. I want to see you." "Not a chance! You''re just trying to sweet-talk your way out of guilt. You wish!" "Of course, baby." His tone softened, coaxing but sincere. "For that maiden flight, India wasn''t the original copilot. It was supposed to be another senior colleague, but his pregnant wife had a bad fall, so they sw "As for those photos, they were taken from really bad angles. In that one where I''m holding her arm, a kid ran past and bumped into her. I was only helping her to steady herself. If it bothers you, I''ll stay far away from her next time." "And?" Anneliese asked, her tone still guarded, though her face had softened a little without her realizing it. "There''s a time difference. When I saw your messages, it was the middle of the night for you, and I didn''t want to disturb you. The next day got ridiculously busy, and I only just saw the photos you sent. I''m sorry She could hear the smile in his voice, smug and pleased with himself. "Jonathan! Are you done yet?" Anneliese hissed through gritted teeth. Only then did he rein it in, his voice turning gentle again. "I''ve already gotten Zion to trace that unknown number. Once we know who''s behind it, I''ll make sure you get an exnation. Just block the number, okay? Don''t let them bother you again." Anneliese smiled. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she rubbed her toes against the carpet nonchntly and said, ¡°I''m not blocking them. Who knows if they''ll tip me off again next time? You want me to block the number because you feel guilty, don''t you?" As soon as she finished speaking, the line went dead. She blinked, then nced at her screen. Did he just hang up? Her heart skipped. Was he really that annoyed? Had she pushed it too far? Wait, why was he the one getting mad? She was just about to fume when his name shed again-this time, a video call. And just like that, her temper fizzled out. At that moment, she realized she was done for. Her emotions werepletely tied to this man, and it wasn''t just simple liking anymore. A nervous flutter rose in her chest, a mix of longing and panic. She stared at the screen for a long moment before finally epting. When the video connected, Anneliese was still in a daze until she saw the image on the screen. Jonathan had juste out of the shower, a towel in hand as he ruffled through his damp, tousled hair. "Why did it take you so long to pick up? Was my exnation not good enough?" The man casually tossed the towel aside after wiping his hands twice and sat on the couch. His gaze into the camera was intense, a teasing smirk ying at the corner of his lips. It was already dark on her side, but over there, the sunlight was still bright, flooding him in a warm golden glow. He wore a deep navy silk robe that was loose at the cor. As he lounged in his seat, Jonathan seemed slightly fatigued, giving him a rare softness despite the yfulness. Anneliese could even see the water droplets clinging to his neck, tracing over the pale, slightly flushed skin of his throat, where a small ck mole stood out clearly. "Did you just end work?" Anneliese blinked, asking dryly. Jonathan had indeed just wrapped up. After returning to the hotel, he realized his phone was dead. He quickly plugged it in before going straight to the bathroom. When he came out and realized the gravity of the situation, he immediately called Anneliese. He raised a brow. "Looks like my baby still doesn''t believe me. Guess that leaves me with no choice..." Before Anneliese could make his words out, he lifted his hands to untie his robe. In an instant, the robe fell open, revealing his sculpted corbones and well- defined chest. He stretched his arms to adjust his position, the camera panning down to show his toned abs, the sharp V- cut of his obliques, and the lines flowing into the loose waistband of his pajama pants. "Ah! What are you doing?" Anneliese''s ears flushed red, and she instinctively looked away. She had seen his body before, but never through a screen with such sexual tension. Her heart raced uncontrobly, a mix of embarrassment and flustered excitement. If Jessica walked in now, she would definitely think Anneliese was watching explicit content. Jonathan''s gaze darkened as he watched the little girl tilt her head,shes fluttering, cheeks burning pink. Even from across the ocean, the way she looked stirred something deep in him, like a tide of longing he could no longer hold back. Chapter 505 **Chapter 505: Getting a Closer Look** His voice was a low, gravelly whisper, tinged with a teasing edge. "What do you think I''m doing, Anneliese? I''m simply giving you a chance to see if I''ve been sneaking around behind your back. Otherwise, I''d be able to smell your jealousy from across the ocean." A wave of embarrassment washed over Anneliese, igniting a fiery blush on her cheeks. Anger bubbled beneath the surface as she turned her gaze back to Jonathan, her eyes narrowing into a re. "Fine! I''ll do it!" she retorted, her words sharp andced with tension. "But there better not be any evidence or guilt hanging over you!" Her teeth clenched as she spoke, each syble dripping with defiance. Despite her natural shyness, her eyes began to wander hesitantly across the screen, moving inch by inch as if she were unraveling a mystery. Her cheeks burned with a deep crimson hue, and she swallowed hard, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread. "Are you happy now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the tension palpable in the air. Jonathan''s voice dropped even lower, a conspiratorial murmur as he tilted the phone back up, ensuring that only his face filled the screen once more. Anneliese huffed, a sense of triumph swelling within her. "Are we done already? Afraid I might actually see something you shouldn''t be showing?" "Yeah, I am," Jonathan confessed, a small nod apanying his admission, his expression revealing a hint of vulnerability. Anneliese''s eyes widened in surprise, for she hadn''t spotted anything remotely suspicious during her scrutiny. After his patient exnations earlier, her doubts had all but vanished. Why was he reverting to such teasing again? When their gazes locked through the screen, Jonathan''s breath hitched slightly, a flicker of something deeper passing between them. "Baby," he said, his voice dropping to a rough, intimate tone, "if you keep looking at me like that, I might just embarrass myself." Anneliese froze momentarily, the realization of his words hitting her like a bolt of lightning. Her face red with heat, and she shot him a fierce re, her fingers trembling slightly at her sides. Jonathan''s lips curled into a faint smirk, his eyes trailing down to the delicate curve of her neck, a look of admiration and mischief dancing in his gaze. "Are you wearing the ne I gave you?" he asked, his tone yful yet sincere. She lowered her head shyly, her fingers brushing over the ne as if it were a cherished secret. She was adorned in a luxurious cashmere slip dress, the fabric hugging her figure just right, with a deep V-neck cardigan draped elegantly over her shoulders. The fine chain of the ne peeked out from beneath the fabric, the pendant cleverly concealed from view. With a flick of her wrist, she revealed the tiny snowke pendant, holding it up for him to admire. "Thank you for the surprise," she said, her voice softening. "Do you like it?" he inquired, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I do! Does it look good on me?" Anneliese tilted her head slightly, her fingers still toying with the pendant, a shy smile gracing her lips. Jonathan''s gaze darkened, lingering on the delicate curve of her corbone. He shifted on the couch, parting his long legsnguidly, as if trying to create a more intimate atmosphere. "It''s hard to tell from here," he said, his voice dropping to a coaxing murmur. ¡°Be a good girl and take off your cardigan. I want to take a good look at it." Anneliese''s heart raced at his words, realizing she wore nothing beneath the soft cashmere slip. The neckline dipped low, and she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes shimmering with a mix of shock and excitement. "No!" she eximed, her voice firm yet betraying a hint of uncertainty. "I just want to see how the ne looks on you. Why are you being so shy?" he teased, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Liar! I said no!" she shot back, her voice rising slightly in protest. "Come on..." he coaxed, his tone yful yet insistent. When Anneliese finally ended the video call, her heart still racing, she stepped out of her bedroom to find her grandmother, Nishay, and Jessica in the living room. "Are you guys done with the pies already?" she asked, her surprise evident in her tone. Nishay handed Jessica a ss of water, concern etched on her face. ¡°Jessica''s not feeling well," she exined gently. Anneliese''s expression shifted as she walked over, noticing the pallor on her friend''s face. ¡°Are you feeling nauseous? Any stomach pain?" Jessica shook her head after taking a couple of sips from the ss. "I''m fine. Just get me a couple of antacids, and I''ll lie down for a bit,¡± she replied, her voice weak but determined. After reassuring her grandmother that everything was alright, Anneliese heard her grandmother''s voice, tinged with worry. "It''s easy to fall sick during the holidays. Youngsters these days barely take care of themselves. Are you feeling unwell too, Anneliese? Your face is so red." As Nishay reached out to touch her forehead, Anneliese quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks burning even hotter with embarrassment. ¡°No, I''m fine. It''s just a little warm in here..." she stammered, her thoughts racing back to the earlier conversation with Jonathan. She couldn''t shake off the memory of their yful banter, and the thought made her cheeks flush even more. Though Nishay seemed suspicious, she chose not to pry further, sensing her granddaughter''s difort. Anneliese found the stomach medicine and brought it to the guest room, only to discover Jessica pacing nervously back and forth. ¡°Here, take this. If it doesn''t get better, we''ll go see a doctor," Anneliese said, handing her the antacids. "Annie, I think I might be pregnant,¡± Jessica blurted out suddenly, grabbing Anneliese''s hand tightly. Anneliese froze for a moment, her mind racing to process the shock of her friend''s revtion. "Are you saying you ha¨D" she began, but Jessica quickly shushed her, panic in her eyes. "Shh! Don''t let Grandma hear!" she whispered urgently, covering Anneliese''s mouth with her hand. Anneliese nodded, lowering her voice. "Is it Zane''s?" she asked, her heart pounding. Jessica''s hands felt icy against Anneliese''s warm skin. "Who else? But we''ve been careful, and it''s not exactly easy for me to get pregnant. Do you think I might be wrong? That must be the case, right?" Seeing the flustered look on her friend''s face, Anneliese rubbed her hands gently, trying to calm her. "How long has it been?" she asked, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions. "About a week, I''d say," Jessica replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Alright, let''s not panic. Once Grandma''s asleep, I''ll go out and get a pregnancy test. We''ll check first, and if it''s positive, we''ll head to the hospital to confirm," Anneliese said, her tone firm and reassuring. "Okay. I''ll do whatever you say," Jessica replied, her voice trembling with uncertainty. It was Jessica''s first experience with something so monumental, and the anxiety was palpable in the air. Nishay usually retired early, and as soon as she drifted off to sleep, Anneliese prepared to step out. As she opened her bedroom door, she was startled to see Jessica had donned her coat as well. "Wait! You can''te with me!" Anneliese insisted, quickly ushering her back into the safety of the bedroom. Chapter 506 **Chapter 506: Swapped Within Seconds** "Just wait here for me. I''ll handle this myself," Anneliese insisted, her voice firm yetced with concern. Jessica, her eyebrows knitting together in worry, replied, "How can I possibly let you go alone? It''s alreadyte-" "Don''t worry about it. There''s a 24-hour pharmacy just outside our neighborhood. I''ll be back in no time. Grandma can''t be left alone right now, and I''d just fret about her if we both went out together," Anneliese reassured her, determination shining in her eyes. The recent snowfall was still fresh in Anneliese''s mind. Although the white nket had melted away, she knew the ground could have refrozen overnight, making it treacherous. If Jessica was indeed pregnant, thest thing Anneliese wanted was for her to slip and injure herself. Jessica, feeling the weight of Anneliese''s words, reluctantly relented. "Fine. Even if I am pregnant, it''s not like we can''t manage a baby. I''ve still got five hundred million just sitting around with no purpose! Go on, I''ll be right here,¡± she said, a hint of a smile breaking through her earlier worry. Anneliese reached out, yfully pinching Jessica''s pouty face before heading out the door, her heart heavy yet resolute. However, thirty minutes ticked by, and Anneliese still hadn''t returned. Jessica''s anxiety grew as she tried calling her friend''s phone, but the call went unanswered. Perhaps the pharmacy had closed early for the holiday, she thought, or maybe Anneliese simply hadn''t heard her ringing. Time dragged on, and after another thirty minutes of waiting, Jessica felt a knot tightening in her stomach. Meanwhile, Anneliese had started her car and driven straight to a nearby pharmacy, the cold air biting at her cheeks as she stepped out. The sky had darkened significantly, and with New Year''s Eve approaching, most shops had shuttered early, leaving the streets eerily quiet. The pharmacy, however, was still bright and weing, its entrance adorned with festive string lights that twinkled like stars against the backdrop of the night. As Anneliese entered the store, she noticed a young man behind the counter, his attention glued to a video game, headphones snugly over his ears. "Hold the line, hold the line! We''ve got this damn it! Who let that noob in?" he muttered, frustration evident in his voice. It was Anneliese''s first foray into purchasing a pregnancy test. She hesitated, wanting to ask the cashier where to find it, but seeing him so engrossed in his game, she decided to navigate the store on her own. Forget it, I''ll find it myself, she thought, determination fueling her steps. Suddenly, the door chimed again, and the cashier half-heartedly greeted the neer. A man d in a ck down jacket and a cap entered, apanied by a woman dressed in a striking red coat. Anneliese caught a glimpse of them out of the corner of her eye as they made their way to another aisle, but she paid them no mind. After searching for a few moments and still finding no sign of the pregnancy tests, she turned to explore another aisle. Just as she rounded the corner, she collided with the man who had just walked in. "Oh, I''m so sorry-" she began, instinctively stepping aside to apologize, but before she could finish her sentence, the man lunged at her. Caughtpletely off guard, Anneliese didn''t even have time to scream. A powerful arm wrapped around her neck, yanking her toward a dark corner of the store. Panic surged through her as she fought with every ounce of strength, but the disparity in their power was overwhelming. Desperate, she attempted to kick over a nearby shelf to create a ruckus, but the man swiftly pressed a damp cloth with a sharp chemical scent over her mouth and nose. Her body weakened almost instantly, the world around her fading into a disorienting darkness. In a swift motion, the man exchanged Anneliese''s coat for the red one worn by the woman who had entered with him. He then hoisted her into his arms, cradling her against his shoulder, concealing her as he made his way to the counter. "Keep the change," he tossed a few bills onto the counter with a casual air. Finally, the cashier looked up, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of a heavily bundled man tenderly holding a woman, murmuring softly, ¡°Just hang on. Once we''re in the car and you take these painkillers, you''ll feel better soon." The clerk''s memory flickered back to the earlier woman who had entered, followed by the couple. Seeing the man with the woman in red and a box of ibuprofen, he naturally assumed they were the same pair. "Damn, even rich guys know how to treat their women well," the cashier remarked, stuffing the cash into his pocket with a grin. "How''s an average guy supposed topete when the stakes are this high?" He chuckled to himself, feeling pleased with the unexpected tip. It was rare these days for anyone to pay in cash, let alone with such a generous gratuity. Across the street, a sleek ck car sat parked under a streetlight, its presence almost ominous in the stillness of the night. The moment Anneliese had stepped out of her own car earlier, a tall figure had emerged from this vehicle, his sharp gaze fixed intently on the pharmacy''s entrance. This man was one of the bodyguards Jonathan had discreetly assigned to ensure Anneliese''s safety. As he observed two figures following her into the store, a sense of urgency propelled him forward. However, just as he stepped off the curb, a car sped past, its high beams blinding him momentarily, forcing him to halt in his tracks. He stepped back, frowning in frustration. In a surprising turn, that same car suddenly mmed to a halt, reversed, and came to a stop right in front of him, blocking his path once more. The driver''s window slid down halfway, and a jovial face leaned over, grinning widely. "Gaston! When did you get back? Come on, let''s hit the bar! This here''s my high school buddy-just call him Gaston. Come on, let''s get him in the car!" Before the bodyguard could even process the situation, the back doors swung open, and two men jumped out, their faces beaming with enthusiasm. "Great to meet you, Gaston!" one of them eximed. "Gaston, you''ve got to drink with us tonight. No excuses!" the other chimed in, their excitement palpable. Chapter 507 **Chapter 507: My Wife Needs Me** The bodyguard forcefully shook off the persistent crowd and barked, "Get lost! You''ve got the wrong person!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife. The driver, intrigued and slightly taken aback, leaned out of his window, scrutinizing the bodyguard with narrowed eyes. For a brief moment, they locked gazes, and the driver''s mouth opened as if to speak, but before he could utter a word, the bodyguard had already sprinted off in the opposite direction, urgency propelling him forward. As he dashed away, he caught sight of Anneliese''s striking purple Maserati gliding out from the entrance of the pharmacy. It zipped past him, and in that fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of her slender silhouette behind the wheel, her hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders. His heart raced, a mix of relief and anxiety flooding his senses. He quickly made his way back to his own vehicle. The car that had obstructed his path remained parked, and its upants offered hurried apologies, further prolonging his dy. Time felt like it was slipping through his fingers like sand, and he could feel the weight of urgency pressing down on him. Finally, when he turned to give chase, Anneliese''s Maserati had already vanished into the distance. Panic surged within him, but luck was on his side; he managed to trace her all the way back to Maple Bay. As he pulled into the familiar area, he spotted her car parked in its usual spot, a sense of relief washing over him. Surely, she must have gone upstairs by now. But that relief was short-lived. An hourter, a figure he vaguely recognized burst from the elevator, panic etched across her face. When the bodyguard recognized her as Jessica, Anneliese''s closest friend, his heart skipped a beat. Memories of the earlier encounter flooded back, and a cold sweat broke out across his brow. What had he missed? He leaped out of his car and rushed toward her just as Jessica sprinted toward the Maserati, her worry palpable. "I waited upstairs for Anneliese,¡± she exined breathlessly, her eyes wide with concern. "But when she didn''te back, I thought I should check downstairs." Zaxton''s heart sank. Anneliese had left with her car keys, her vehicle still here, but she hadn''t returned-something was undoubtedly amiss. Just as Jessica leaned in to peer through the window, Zaxton''s voice broke through the tension. ¡°You''re Ms. Sweeting, right? I''m Zaxton Fawwaz, the bodyguard assigned to Mrs. Fullbuster. Has something happened to her?" Jessica jumped at the sound of his voice, her initial surprise quickly morphing into anxiety. ¡°You''re Annie''s bodyguard? Did you see where she went?" "Didn''t Mrs. Fullbuster make it back home?" Zaxton asked, his voiceced with concern. "No! She went to buy medicine and hasn''t returned for over an hour. Something must have happened to her!" Jessica''s voice trembled, and Zaxton felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Hisst shred of hope evaporated as he frantically dialed Jonathan''s number. Silence greeted him. No answer. Without wasting a moment, he called Zion next. The urgency in his voice was palpable as he waited for a response. This time, the call connected almost immediately. Zion''s demeanor shifted drastically after just a few words. Without a second thought, he abandoned the high- ranking Serava officials he had been conversing with and dashed down the hall toward the banquet hall, his heart racing. Aerolux Airways had just celebrated a significant milestone¡ªtheir first sessful flight from Lunasia to Serava¡ªand had secured two tourism partnership deals. Tonight''s event was meant to be a jubnt celebration. As Zion burst into the banquet hall, he found Jonathan engaged in a conversation with Serava''s Minister of Tourism, maintaining a polite smile. Yet, Jonathan''s fingers tapped restlessly against his knee, revealing his distracted state. He was calcting the time difference, eager to wrap things up so he could video call Anneliese before boarding his return flight to Lunasia. If this dragged on too long, she would likely be asleep by the time he could reach her. Just then, Zion approached, urgency radiating from him. Jonathan sensed the shift in the atmosphere and turned to face Zion, concern etching his features. ¡°Zaxton messed up and lost track of Mrs. Fullbuster. She''s missing," Zion reported, his voice low but intense. Jonathan was already on his feet, snatching the phone from Zion''s hand. "I''m sorry, Mr. Harisson," he said swiftly to the minister, his words flowing smoothly in the local dialect. "My wife needs me. I must leave now." Before the minister could register the gravity of the situation, Jonathan hurried out of the banquet hall, phone pressed firmly against his ear, anxiety coursing through him. The minister was left pondering who could be so vital to thisposed young CEO, a mystery swirling in his mind. Meanwhile, Anneliese jolted awake as a cold ssh of water hit her face, the shock sending her senses into overdrive. Hershes fluttered, droplets cascading down her cheeks. In an instant, a hand yanked at her hair, and pain shot through her scalp, forcing her eyes wide open. She felt disoriented, weak, and a wave of nausea crashed over her. It took a moment for her to focus, and when she did, she found Selina''s face looming above her, twisted with a mix of jealousy and sinister delight. "Anneliese, are you awake? I''ve been waiting for you to wake up," Selina said, her voice dripping with malice. Anneliese remained silent, her mind racing as she quickly assessed her surroundings. They were in a moving car, the darkness outside swallowing any hint of light. The ride was bumpy, indicating they were far from the city now. Her hands and feet were bound, leaving her utterly immobilized. Besides her and Selina, there was another man behind the wheel-the same man who had ambushed her outside the pharmacy. A chill ran down her spine as she realized the depth of her predicament. Chapter 508 **Chapter 508: She Wants Us Dead** The driver, a shadowy figure behind the wheel, caught Anneliese''s eyes in the rearview mirror. His gaze was sharp, almost predatory, sending a chill down her spine. Anneliese blinked, startled by the recognition. "Timothy? How did you manage to get out? What is it that you all want from me?" Timothy appeared gaunt, his once-familiar features now twisted by a brooding darkness that made him seem even more menacing than before. Before he could respond, a sudden sting exploded across Anneliese''s cheek. Selina''s hand had struck her with a force that left her momentarily stunned. "You b*tch! Do you honestly think Dad should stay locked away forever?" Selina''s voice dripped with venom, her eyes zing with fury. The impact of the p sent Anneliese''s head reeling to the side, a sharp ringing echoing in her ears, apanied by a wave of nausea that washed over her. In that moment of overwhelming emotion, she couldn''t contain herself. Turning sharply, she heaved, the contents of her stomach sttering all over Selina. "Ah! Anneliese, you did that on purpose!¡± Selina shrieked, her voice high-pitched with outrage as she shoved Anneliese away, sending her crashing against the car window with a resounding thud. As Anneliese regained herposure, she nced up to see Selina frantically stripping off her jacket, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger. A coldugh escaped Anneliese''s lips, a bitter sound in the tense atmosphere. "Mr. White," she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "have you not bothered to check on your precious daughter Selina since your release? You pampered her, never once letting her face the consequences of her actions. She is your true daughter, yet the moment you were imprisoned, she didn''t lift a finger to help you. "Instead, she dedicated herself to squabbling with your two sons over the White family fortune. Even when she discovered I wasn''t your biological child, she didn''t bother to go to the police to set the record straight, did she? She..." ¡°Shut up, Anneliese! Even now, you''re trying to turn us against each other? You really are malicious!" Selina''s expression shifted, her anger morphing into something darker as she momentarily forgot about the mess on her jacket. Throwing her jacket onto the floor in disgust, she seized Anneliese''s hair once more, her hand poised to deliver another p. But Timothy''s voice cut through the tension like a knife. ¡°That''s enough! I can''t stand this racket any longer. Just stop!" Selina''s hand froze mid-air, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. She wasn''t sure if Timothy believed Anneliese''s words, but the desperation in her voice was palpable as she pleaded, "Dad, don''t you remember? Anneliese called the police and got you and Mom arrested. She even manipted Jonathan into pressuring the others not to assist the Whites. If it weren''t for her actions, our family wouldn''t have ended up like this." Anneliese, still reeling from the chaos, managed to prop herself up. "I blocked your escape? Leaving Oceaton? What are you talking about?¡± The realization hit her like a thunderp¨DSelina and her family had been plotting to flee. Selina red at Anneliese, her eyes filled with venom. How dare this woman act so innocent when she had sabotaged everything for me? All Selina could think about was escaping Oceaton and finding refuge somewhere far away, but Anneliese had to ruin it all. If not for a tip-off to her and Hiroto, they would have remained oblivious to Jonathan''s people sealing off the city-there would have been no chance of escape. She seethed with resentment, ming Anneliese for being so ruthless, leaving them with no options. "You b*tch! Stop pretending to be so innocent!" Fury ignited within Selina once more as she pped Anneliese again, the force of it sending Anneliese''s head crashing against the back of the seat, a muffled groan escaping her lips. "Enough! Don''t hurt her!" Timothy barked, his tone sharp andmanding. Yet, deep down, he wasn''t concerned for Anneliese''s safety; he was merely anxious that any harm to her would jeopardize their n to use her as leverage against Jonathan. "I know, but she''s restless and cunning. I need to keep her under control so she doesn''t try anything foolish," Selina retorted, her frustration boiling over. As she spoke, her gaze fell upon a ne dangling from Anneliese''s neck, catching the dim light of the car''s interior. With a swift motion, Selina snatched the ne, yanking it hard. Pain shot through the back of Anneliese''s neck as Selina tore away the delicate snowke ne that Jonathan had gifted her. "Give it back!" Anneliese cried out, desperation mingling with anger. Selina held the ne triumphantly, her eyes narrowing as she examined the letters "J.F." engraved on the back. It was unmistakable-those initials belonged to Jonathan. "No wonder you''re so worked up. It''s from Jonathan, isn''t it?" The thought of Jonathan, who had turned his back on her, showing affection for Anneliese filled Selina with a toxic mix of jealousy and rage. He even had the audacity to mark his gift for Anneliese with his initials. How utterly unfair! Anneliese leaned back against the seat, her lips now bloodied yet curling into a mocking smile. "Yes, it''s a surprise gift from my husband. He showers me with new jewelry every day. "He even mentioned that this particr piece was custom-designed for me by a world-renowned jeweler. "But if you''re so fond of it, you can have it. There''s no need to snatch it from me-l have plenty more. "And honestly, I doubt you''ll ever find an opportunity to wear jewelry like that again.¡± Chapter 509 **Chapter 509: I Am Not Going to Run** Anneliese deliberately adopted a biting, derisive tone, aiming to unsettle Selina. "Ugh! Do you honestly think I care about your ridiculous ne?" Selina''s fury was palpable, twisting her features into a mask of rage. She swiftly turned and pressed the button to open the window, poised to hurl the ne out into the void. A flicker of excitement danced in Anneliese''s eyes. This was precisely the reaction she had been baiting for, hoping Selina would discard the ne. Perhaps it could serve as a breadcrumb, a potential clue left behind. But just as Selina''s hand shot up, ready to release the ne into the abyss, she suddenly clenched it tighter, shutting the window with a determined snap and pivoting back to face Anneliese. "You''re not getting away. Don''t even entertain the thought of trying anything foolish." Anneliese felt a wave of disappointment wash over her as she witnessed Selina''s change of heart, the opportunity slipping away like sand through her fingers. With a subtle smile, she remarked, "Actually, I was being dishonest earlier. Jonathan and I are merely in a contract marriage. If you''re contemting kidnapping me to leverage against him, it''s really pointless. You should just let me go." "A contract marriage? You''re nothing but a liar!" Selina hissed, gripping Anneliese''s chin and raking her nails harshly across her cheek. Deep down, Selina yearned for the truth of Anneliese''s words. The idea that Jonathan and Anneliese were bound by a mere contract was aforting thought. Yet, after all the sacrifices Jonathan had made for Anneliese including sending people to safeguard her while she was abroad-Selina could no longer deceive herself with false hopes. What could possibly attract Jonathan to a divorced woman like Anneliese? Was it her striking beauty? With a fierce determination, Selina dragged her nails down harder, the sharp sting radiating across Anneliese''s face. Anneliese squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth against the pain, and decided it was best to cease her taunts. In this moment, rity washed over her. Selina and Timothy had devolved into desperate, reckless criminals. It was imperative for Anneliese to remain sharp and avoid unnecessary torment. Her strength was waning. A throbbing ache pulsed in her head, and her stomach churned with unease. Closing her eyes to find a moment of respite was all she could muster. There was little else she could do. Anneliese managed a bitter smile, her mind racing with thoughts. Since she hadn''t returned home, Jessica would likely realize her absence soon enough. Jessica would undoubtedly alert the authorities and attempt to reach Jonathan. He must have sensed something was amiss, right? Anneliese couldn''t help but wonder how Jonathan, still in Serava, would react upon learning she had been kidnapped. Would he panic and rush to her aid, or would he dismiss it as yet another one of her troubles? The car continued its journey for another thirty minutes before finallying to a halt. Anneliese was yanked from her seat and dragged outside. As she surveyed her surroundings, a chill ran down her spine. They were in an isted, abandoned factory far removed from the city''s bustle. Not a single light illuminated the area, and there was an eerie silence, devoid of any human presence. Timothy released the rope binding her ankles and shoved her toward the darkened entrance of the factory. Inside, the atmosphere was cold and deste. Timothy struck a match and lit some dry wood, casting flickering shadows on the walls. He then seized the rope again, preparing to restrain her legs once more. Anneliese instinctively pulled her legs closer. "My legs are numb. Considering we''re stranded in the mountains, I assure you, I''m not going anywhere. I''d rather not freeze to death out here." She shivered in her thin clothing, herplexion turning a ghostly white. Alone in the chilling air, Timothy shot her a frigid re but ultimately decided against tying her up again. Selina approached, her frustration boiling over, and delivered a harsh kick to Anneliese. "Dad, you didn''t give a damn about her when she was with the Whites, so why pretend to care now? She.....¡± "Enough!" Timothy barked, his patience wearing thin. "Go contact your Uncle Hiroto and find out what''s happening on his end!" Frustration gnawed at Timothy. If he had any other options, he would never have taken such a perilous route. He loathed Anneliese for dragging them into this chaotic mess, showing them no mercy. Regret had settled in his heart countless times. If he had only treated Anneliese with a modicum of kindness back when she lived with the Whites, perhaps he could have been Jonathan''s father-inw by now. The Whites'' issues would have been trivial inparison. Timothy recognized Anneliese''s loyalty. Her unwavering dedication to her adoptive parents and her frail grandmother spoke volumes. But it was toote for second chances. Timothy shot a re at Selina. Selina clenched her fists tightly, her mind racing. Then, as if a light bulb had gone off, she dashed outside. They had already forged an agreement with Hiroto. They would abduct Anneliese. Meanwhile, Hiroto would create a diversion, negotiate with Jonathan, and facilitate their escape from Oceaton. Dividing their efforts would also mitigate the risks. Even if Jonathan''s associates managed to track down Hiroto, as long as Anneliese remained in their grasp, they would still hold the upper hand. Inside the factory, the signal was nearly nonexistent. Selina stepped outside, irritation bubbling within her as she searched for a spot where her phone might work. Her hatred for Anneliese was all-consuming, and a wicked idea began to take shape in her mind. Simply allowing Jonathan to pay a ransom for Anneliese would be letting that woman off far too easily. Anneliese would have to live her life perpetually on the run, hiding like a fugitive. So why should Anneliese enjoy the privilege of being the revered Mrs. Fullbuster, adored by a man like Jonathan? Chapter 510 Anneliese had grown tired of Anneliese''s relentless pursuit of her romantic interests. It was time to take matters into her own hands and arrange for a few men to "handle" her once and for all! Four years ago, Calvin and his crew had faltered, allowing Anneliese to slip away from their grasp like sand through fingers. But this time, Selina was determined; she was certain that Anneliese would not escape so easily. Jonathan, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by Anneliese''s past with Zacharias. Selina, however, found it impossible to believe that he could genuinely ept such a situation. As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Selina attempted to reach Hiroto on the phone, but her calls went unanswered. Panic began to creep into her heart as she dashed back into the dpidated factory, her voice tinged with urgency. "Dad, I can''t get in touch with Uncle Hiroto. What if something has happened to him? I need to check on him, and I''ll grab something to eat while I''m at it." Timothy felt a wave of dread wash over him at the thought of Hiroto being unreachable. His brow furrowed as he contemted the implications. After a moment of silence, he nodded resolutely. "Don''t take the car we just used. There''s another one parked in the back. Here, take this key." He handed Selina a key, and she epted it with a determined nod before making her way out. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back, her gaze piercing as she shot Anneliese a cold, calcted smile. The expression sent a shiver down Anneliese''s spine, a sensation akin to being coated in ayer of ice. "I found your real daughter. Her name is Sylvia..." As soon as the sound of Selina''s car faded into the distance, Anneliese seized the opportunity to steer the conversation toward a topic she knew would pique Timothy''s interest. ¡°Really? How''s she been all these years?" Timothy responded, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. Despite never having met Sylvia, a flicker of guilt ignited within him, a reminder of the daughter he had lost. Anneliese, observing the shift in his demeanor, sensed a vulnerability beneath his hardened exterior. He was not as impervious as he pretended to be. Unlike Selina, whose animosity was practically etched into her features, Timothy''s emotions were moreplex. She began to recount Sylvia''s story, detailing how she had taken the initiative to pass Gloria''s inheritance on to her. Timothy''s expression morphed into one of confusion and contemtion, and after a lengthy pause, he let out a heavy sigh. "It''s probably for the best if she doesn''t want anything to do with us..." The knowledge that Sylvia was thriving brought a measure of relief to Timothy''s conscience. After all, she was his flesh and blood. He turned his gaze toward Anneliese, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. "You''re really generous." That Maple Bay apartment was a gem, spacious and situated in an enviable location -it could easily fetch over ten million if sold. Yet, Anneliese had simply signed it over to Sylvia, taking the initiative to track her down herself. Timothy''s mind wandered back to the time after his release from prison, when he discovered that the White family fortune had already been divided and stripped bare. Mnie and her children had turned their backs on him, refusing to part with even a few hundred dors, let alone wee him back into their home. Selina, at least, still recognized him as her father, but she clung tightly to everything she possessed, which only deepened Timothy''s bitterness. Anneliese, noticing the turmoil on his face, decided to press on. "Mr. White, are you aware that Calvin is dead?" Timothy froze, his head snapping up to meet her gaze, shock etched across his features. Anneliese could see the truth dawning on him; he genuinely hadn''t known. Her confidence surged as she feigned surprise. "So, it wasn''t you who killed Calvin for Selina." "Of course it wasn''t me!" Timothy retorted vehemently. He wasn''t deranged. Even though he cared for Selina, he would never resort to murder for her sake. Anneliese pressed her lips together, contemting her next words. "Then it must have been Selina and Hiroto. Selina bribed Calvin and three others to take me out. Later, to cover her tracks, she had Calvin killed." "My husband has proof that Selina orchestrated Calvin''s murder. She can''t escape the consequences. That''s why she''s desperate, why she kidnapped me and is tormenting me." "Mr. White, I don''t understand why you would align yourself with her in this chaos." Anneliese shook her head, concern etched on her brow. "She''s withholding information about Calvin''s death because she intends to manipte you, Mr. White. She''s dragging you deeper into this quagmire.¡± "Mr. White, we were once family. You may not have cared much for me, but I haven''t forgotten the kindness you showed when you paid two hundred thousand for my grandmother''s medical bills. I''m telling you, before this spiralspletely out of control, there''s still a way out for you..." "Enough! Don''t say another word. It''s toote!" Timothy erupted, hisposure fracturing as he leaped to his feet, his voice a thunderous roar. Anneliese saw the flicker of anger in him and seized the moment, her voice urgent. "It''s not toote! Selina is on the run because shemitted murder. You''ve never trafficked children or taken a life. Why risk everything by keeping me hostage?" "If you let me go now, I swear, on the kindness you once showed me, I will pretend none of this ever happened. I can even help you financially." "With your capabilities, Mr. White, you could always start anew." Chapter 511 **Chapter 511: Hiroto in Hiding** The flickering mes cast a warm, golden hue over Anneliese''s delicate features, illuminating her face with an ethereal glow. Her eyes were steady, reflecting a depth of resolve that Timothy found both captivating and unsettling. When she spoke, her voice resonated with a quiet intensity, a force that felt undeniably genuine. Timothy observed her in silence, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his mind. There was something about her words that tugged at the corners of his skepticism, slowly chipping away at the fortress of doubt he had built around himself. He felt an unexpected inclination to trust her, piece by piece. "So, you really won''te after me for this?" he asked, his voiceced with uncertainty. Anneliese''s expression shifted to one of genuine surprise. "Why would I?" she replied, her tone steady. ¡°Selina is the one I despise. She hired someone to take my life four years ago, and I''ve carried that hatred ever since. I loathe her for the suffering she inflicted upon me. Back then, I med you for beingplicit, for standing by her and helping her conceal the truth. But now, I understand¡ªI was never your child. Naturally, you would protect her." "If you let me leave, then you are helping me," she continued earnestly, her gaze unwavering. "You''re saving me. I should be thanking you. I would never bring harm to you." Timothy felt a flicker of hesitation, a shadow of doubt crossing his features. He shook his head, trying to dispel the uncertainty that lingered in the air. ¡°You make it sound so sweet," he countered, his voice edged with skepticism. "But I still don''t trust a word you say. And Jonathan is no gentle man. So, stop trying to fool me.¡± He knew all too well that even if Anneliese found it in her heart to forgive him, Jonathan was a man who held grudges close to his chest, never allowing them to fade into the past. Timothy''s refusal hung heavy in the air, but Anneliese could sense a crack in his resolve. She pressed on, her determination ignited by the urgency of her situation. Selina wanted her gone, and Timothy was her only ally in this moment of desperation. Time was not on her side; if she failed to sway him before Selina returned, the stakes would skyrocket. "If Jonathan wanted you punished, he wouldn''t let you walk out of here today," Anneliese asserted, her voice firm. "You have no conflict with him. He only cares about my perspective. If I don''t me you, he won''t waste his time hunting you down." She leaned in closer, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "If you''re scared, I can remain silent. I won''t mention your involvement in this. You know I received five hundred million in the divorce settlement. I can pay you something for saving my life. With that money, you wouldn''t need to run." Her gaze was piercing, and she continued, "Mr. White, Selina abandoned the mother who sacrificed everything for her. Do you truly believe she will remain loyal to you once you escape? She won''t. Just think about that for a moment." Her final words struck Timothy like a physical blow, the weight of her statement sinking deep into his consciousness. No one understood Selina''s true nature better than he did. He recalled the painful memories of his imprisonment, the way Selina had never bothered to visit him, never even attempted to rescue him from his fate. He remembered Mikita, who had traded her own children for Selina''s sake. Now, as Mikita faced the grim reality of prison, Selina hadn''t lifted a finger to help her. It was clear to him: once Selina was free, he would be left to rot in the shadows of her past. He thought back to the night Selina had assisted Hiroto in eliminating Calvin. If she had the capacity to kill once, what was stopping her from doing it again? He could easily find himself next on her list. In contrast to Selina''s treachery, Anneliese had always been a woman of her word. She had a moral line she refused to cross. Timothy had joined Selina in abducting Anneliese, driven by the suffocating weight of his debts. aton had be a prison in its own right, and he felt he had no way out. But if Anneliese could provide him with that money, and he could avoid taking a life, perhaps a normal existence was still within reach. "Would you really pay me?" he asked, his voice tinged with a flicker of hope. "I want two hundred million." His eyes sparkled with a desperate longing. Anneliese frowned momentarily, contemting his request, before finally giving a slow, deliberate nod. "You have a deal,¡± she said, sealing their agreement with a sense of finality. Timothy narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping in. "That was fast,¡± he remarked, unable to hide his surprise. Anneliese let out a soft, wearyugh. "Look at my situation," she replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. ¡°Do you think I have the luxury of arguing? My life is worth more than two billion. I can afford it." "I am Jonathan''s wife," she continued, her expression serious. ¡°But the Fullbusters have never epted me. If news of a kidnapping gets out, my reputation will shatter. Even if Jonathan stays by my side, my standing in that family could slip away." "Mr. White, trust me," she implored, her voice steady. "I want this buried more than you do. All I want is to return home before sunrise, without anyone being the wiser." Her words washed over Timothy, dispelling thest remnants of his doubts. The weight of a Fullbuster title far surpassed the value of two hundred million. He recognized that Anneliese was not a fool; she would ensure this remained a secret. Meanwhile, Selina sped down the winding road, her heart racing as she repeatedly hit redial on her phone. Hiroto still hadn''t answered, and a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She was acutely aware that Jonathan''s people were on Hiroto''s trail, and he needed to outsmart them. Tension coursed through her, but she fought to maintain herposure. She believed in Hiroto''s ability to escape. He must have realized that Jonathan was keeping a close watch on him. If he was not answering, it likely meant he was on the move. As she approached the outskirts of town, a wave of relief washed over her when his alternate number finally connected. "Uncle Hiroto, are you safe?" she asked, her voiceced with concern. "It went well," he replied, his tone reassuring. ¡°Don''t worry. I found a ce to hide. I called Jonathan and told him to wire one billion into the overseas ount and arrange our private jet. He agreed." As the weight of their precarious situation hung in the air, both Anneliese and Timothy were left to ponder the choices thaty ahead, while Selina raced against time to ensure Hiroto''s safety. Chapter 512 **Chapter 512: Racing Against Time** Selina''s face lit up with a flicker of hope. "That''s fantastic! If everything is proceeding smoothly, then that''s even better news. Do we have a confirmed time for our departure? When exactly are we leaving? And what about Jonathan-did he make any specific demands?" But before she could finish her thoughts, Hiroto''s voice cut through the air, sharp and urgent. ¡°Hold on a second! Forget about that for now. Where is Anneliese? Is she safe?" ¡°Uncle Hiroto, please, you need to trust us. We''re keeping a close eye on her," Selina replied, trying to inject some calm into the situation. "Jonathan wants a video of Anneliese to ensure she''s unharmed. You need to record one and send it to me immediately," he insisted, his tone brooking no argument. Selina felt her grip on the steering wheel tighten, her knuckles turning a ghostly white as jealousy surged through her veins once more. Jonathan had acquiesced to their terms, which on the surface seemed like a victory, but deep down, it gnawed at her. It was a clear indication of his concern for Anneliese, and the realization stung more than she cared to admit. "God, that hurt," she thought, her heart racing. Her voice turned icy, sharp as a de. "She''s the hostage, Hiroto. He doesn''t get to call the shots. You tell him that if he keeps pushing for more, I''ll start by cutting off one of Anne''s fingers. Let''s see how he likes that." ¡°No! Don''t even think about doing something so reckless!" Hiroto''s voice cracked with panic, the urgency palpable even through the phone line. Selina frowned deeply, mming on the brakes, the tires screeching as she pulled over to the side of the road. "Uncle Hiroto?" she said, her heart pounding. Something felt terribly off. "Please, Selina! Don''t do anything rash. If you hurt Anneliese, Jonathan might just lose interest in her altogether. Even worse, if you provoke him, he could refuse to prepare the ne, and that would ruin everything we''ve worked for!" He spoke quickly, his words tumbling over one another, but Selina could still detect the tremor in his voice. They had previously agreed that she would manage the kidnapping and the hiding of Anneliese while he would keep his distance, yet now he was demanding to know her whereabouts. Selina''s instincts red to life, a cold chill creeping down her spine as suspicion took root. "We''ll talkter," she said curtly, ending the call in a hurry. Cold sweat began to bead on her forehead as the realization of their precarious situation settled heavily in her chest. On the other end of the line, the call abruptly dropped. Hiroto let out a strangled scream as a bodyguard d in ck kicked him forcefully against the wall. Surrounded by more than ten men in simr dark attire, Hiroto felt the walls closing in. Aptop nearby was already tracing the call, desperately trying to pinpoint his exact location. ¡°Please! Don''t hit me! I''m sorry! I did everything you asked!¡± he pleaded, struggling to rise from the corner where he had crumpled, pain twisting his features into a mask of desperation. He fell to his knees, bowing his head to the floor, begging for mercy. Across the dimly lit room, his wife and son huddled together, their muffled sobs echoing in the tense atmosphere as they buried their faces in their sleeves. "Damn it! We were mere seconds away from locking down the location," one of the men spat, frustration evident in his voice. The leader of the group, the one who had delivered the brutal kick to Hiroto, pressed his heel into Hiroto''s trembling hand, crouching down to loom over him menacingly. "Call her. Now!" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. Hiroto didn''t dare to refuse. His hands shook uncontrobly as he dialed the number, praying for a miracle. But fate had other ns. Selina had already powered down her phone, severing theirst line ofmunication. "It... It''s not going through..." he stuttered, panic coursing through him. The bodyguard, a menacing figure named Zaxton, brandished a cold, gleaming knife, pressing it menacingly against Hiroto''s hand. "So, she sensed something was off. Tell me, how should I punish you? Two fingers, or one eye?" "No-wait-ah!" Hiroto''s voice rose in a desperate plea, but it was cut short by a scream that echoed through the room. In an instant, they severed two of his fingers. Hiroto curled around his bleeding hand, writhing on the ground in agony, until someone yanked him upright by the cor and shoved him toward theptop. "Look closely. Her phone pinged in this area. Think! Does anything here seem familiar? If you can''t identify it, I''ll take your fingers and toes one by one," the leader threatened. Terror flooded Hiroto''s eyes as he stared at the screen, forcing his mind to conjure something¡ªanything. But the pain was overwhelming, and he eventually copsed to his knees again, groveling. "I swear, I don''t know where they''ve hidden Mrs. Fullbuster. I truly don''t! I can''t think of anything..." Zaxton, the bodyguard who had beaten him, was acutely aware of his failure to keep Anneliese safe. Zion had already berated him over the phone, and now the weight of that failure settled heavily on his shoulders. His only option was to locate Anneliese before Jonathan''s ne touched down. The thought of what awaited him if he failed was too horrific to contemte. His expression hardened into a mask of resolve. His men quickly restrained Hiroto, but the pain was too much, and he eventually passed out, still unable to provide any useful information. Zaxton could only bark orders at his team. "Review every vehicle captured on camera in the area where Selina''s signal disappeared. Mark anything suspicious and triangte the hideout." "Move quickly! Mr. Fullbusternds in four or five hours. If we don''t find Mrs. Fullbuster before then, forget about this year''s holiday and start nning your funeral," hemanded, urgencycing his tone. Meanwhile, Selina had already severed the call and killed her phone in an instant, as if something monstrous might reach out from it. She tossed the device onto the passenger seat, her fingers still trembling from the adrenaline coursing through her. The more she pondered the situation, the more a chilling certainty gripped her- something had gone terribly wrong with Hiroto. Deep down, she feared he hadn''t escaped Jonathan''s clutches at all. He was most likely already in their hands, and that thought sent a shiver down her spine. Chapter 513 **Created 513** **In Her Favor** The very thought of Hiroto''s suffering sent chills racing down Selina''s spine, causing beads of cold sweat to form on her brow. She could feel her teeth chattering, an involuntary reaction to the dread that gripped her heart. After what felt like an eternity, she managed to draw in a shaky breath, her panting echoing in the silence around her. The fear in her eyes morphed into something more sinister¡ªan unsettling madness that flickered like a me in the darkness. There was no escape from this nightmare. If she chose to sit idly by, she would meet the same fate as Mikita,nguishing away in a dim, forgotten cell. She was far too young for such a grim destiny. Prison was not an option she was willing to entertain. With resolve hardening within her, Selina realized there was no turning back now. As long as Anneliese remained within her grasp, she was determined to ensure that the woman tasted a fate far worse than death itself. If Jonathan were toe to despise Anneliese, if their bond were to shatter, it would only y into Selina''s hands. Her gaze sharpened as she turned the ignition of the car, the engine roaring to life. Hiroto''s chapter was over; it was time for her to gather more supplies. A confrontation with Jonathan loomed on the horizon, and she could feel the inevitability of it like a storm gathering strength. With a sense of urgency, she loaded the supplies into the trunk, her heart racing with anticipation. As she drove back, the familiar route took her through a small town she had scouted earlier. She recalled the gang of punks that operated in that area¡ª a group that could be swayed with a bit of cash and a tantalizing distraction. A sudden surge of confidence washed over her. With the right amount of persuasion, they would be more than willing to assist her. Her instincts proved true, and a sense of fortune enveloped her. She spotted the gang gathered together, theirughter echoing in the air as they drank. When they caught sight of her, a glimmer of excitement sparked in their eyes. They recognized the opportunity for fun, and seeing her alone, they quickly hopped into their car, eager to follow her lead. By the time Selina arrived back at the abandoned factory, over three hours had slipped away. She parked the car and watched as the punks pulled up behind her, their enthusiasm palpable. Stepping out, she addressed their leader with amanding tone, "Stay hidden for now. I''ll let you know when it''s time." She needed to slip inside and send Timothy away before hispassionate heart could jeopardize her meticulously crafted n. ¡°Got it. Just make it quick,¡± the leader replied, exhaling a plume of smoke that curled through the air towards her. Suppressing the revulsion that twisted her stomach, Selina cast a nce at the four burly men in the car, their bodies reeking of cheap alcohol and stale cigarettes. She turned her focus back to the factory, steeling herself for whaty ahead. Anneliese, I''ve poured my heart into your New Year''s gift. Brace yourself for the surprise. But as she stepped into the nt, an unsettling sensation prickled at the back of her mind. Timothy''s car was nowhere to be seen. Panic surged through her as she leapt from the car and dashed inside. The building was eerily quiet, devoid of life. Both Anneliese and Timothy had vanished. The remnants of the fire they had built earliery cold and extinguished. They couldn''t have left long ago. "Dad! Dad, I''m back! Come out!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls as panic wed at her throat. She dialed Timothy''s number, her heart racing as disbelief washed over her. Maybe Timothy had relocated Anneliese within the factory to keep her safe. But her search yielded nothing; she called out endlessly, her voice growing hoarse. No one answered. Even Timothy''s phone rang with an unreachable tone. Desperation wed at her as she bolted toward the exit. Just as she neared it, the four punks sauntered in,ughter spilling from their lips like a sinister melody. "Hey, beauty, where''s that gorgeous girl you promised us?" one of them taunted, a smirk stered across his face. "This ce looks empty. Don''t tell me you meant yourself," another chimed in, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Haha! If you''re that lonely, just say the word. We''re more than happy to keep youpany. No need to y coy," they jeered, emboldened by the absence of anyone else. They had waited outside for what felt like an eternity, their anticipation growing as they feared she might have second thoughts or, worse, contacted the authorities. Following her inside had seemed like a logical course of action. Now, faced with only Selina, they felt no need to hold back. "Don''t-don''te any closer! I paid you!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. She had hired them for a specific task, handing over a substantial sum of 20 thousand in cash. "If you''ve got that kind of money, why not give us a little extra?" the leader suggested, stepping forward with a predatory grin. He yanked off her ck baseball cap and tore away her mask, letting her hair fall loose around her shoulders. The reaction was immediate; they whistled and jeered, their crude remarks flowing freely. One of them shoved her, while another reached out to grab her arm. Selina screamed, dodging and backing away, her heart racing as she fought to maintain an air of defiance despite the fear gnawing at her resolve. ¡°I wouldn''t have brought you to this godforsaken ce if I were afraid of you! Listen closely. My husband is Jonathan Fullbuster, the CEO of AeroAir. He wields immense power and influence in Halden. "I''ve brought you here to help me teach a lesson to the woman who seduced him. My bodyguards will arrive any moment with her. "Do your job well, and you will be handsomely rewarded. But if any of you dare to Selina fixed each of them with a steely gaze, her words ringing with an irond conviction, unwavering and fierce. Chapter 514 514 No Escape Selina had been the pampered daughter of the White family for years, and her air of indulgence deceived people at first nce. The four punks hesitated, exchanging uneasy nces, and their leader forced a strained, awkward grin. "Hey, we were just messing with you, that''s all. Don''t be mad, beauty. We''ll back off now." Seeing their unease, Selina exhaled sharply, relief washing over her. Yet the four men didn''t leave. They lit cigarettes a short distance away, lingering like predators, waiting for an opening. Selina''s heart raced. She wanted to run, but she dared not break character, fearing they might realize her fear. Tears threatened to spill. As panic pressed against her chest and she contemted iming a bathroom break as an excuse to flee, the stillness of the night shattered with the roar of engines, growing louder and closer. Selina''s eyes lit up. Relief flooded her- Timothy had to be returning with that insufferable Anneliese. Her nerves snapped to alertness, but the four punks paled at the approaching noise. Then Selina sensed something was wrong. Beams from multiple cars cut through the darkness, illuminating the derelict factory. In an instant, the ce glowed like midday. Clearly, this was no ordinary arrival. Timothy would never make such amotion. So it wasn''t him. If it''s not Dad, then... No way! It can''t be Jonathan''s people. There''s no way they''ve found this ce so quickly. That''s impossible. She tried to steady herself, but the next moment the battered factory doors exploded inward under a forceful kick. A tall, cold figure stormed in, nked by a squad of men in ck suits. That face-sharp, unnervingly handsome-was just as she remembered from the first time she had seen him years ago, the kind of face that could ensnare admiration at a nce. The difference now was- back then, he had never looked her Now, he saw her. Only her. way. But the frost in his gaze, sharp and merciless, cruel and predatory, made her stomach twist. "M-Mr... Mr. Fullbuster..." Selina''s lips trembled, but no sound emerged. She stumbled back two steps until her spine struck the wall. Once, she had schemed endlessly for any chance to encounter Jonathan. Now, she wanted nothing more than to vanish and never meet him again. Isn''t he in Serava? How could he have returned so quickly? Is he really so desperate, so worried about Anneliese? Jonathan''s eyes swept the factory as he burst in, but there was no sign of Anneliese. But if Selina was here, then Anneliese must have been here before her. His gaze hardened, colder and crueler. He didn''t need to speak; the four punks, already ttened by the initial rush, began howling on the floor. "Ouch! Sorry! I''m so sorry! We didn''t mean to offend Mrs. Fullbuster!" "Please, sir, give us a chance to make it right! Don''t hurt us! Please spare us!" "We''ll take care of that b*tch Mrs. Fullbuster mentioned, we swear!" Pinned beneath the bodyguards'' guns, the punks trembled with pure terror. They had believed Selina''s earlier ims and assumed Jonathan and his men were her allies. They begged for mercy ceaselessly, their pleas frantic and disorganized. Jonathan''s eyes sharpened like razors. Selina''s vision dimmed in stages, darkness creeping in. "Enough! Shut the hell up!" she shrieked at the punks, panic cracking her voice. She looked at Jonathan in sheer terror. "Mr. Fullbuster, I-...¡± The punks'' frantic babbling needed no rification; Jonathan already understood why they were here. He regarded Selina as if she were already dead. He wasted no words. Tilting his head, he issued a singlemand. "Do it now." In a blur, Zaxton stepped forward. By the time he reached her, his de had already struck. The dagger sank into her lower abdomen- not fatal, but agony ripped through her, bone- deep, reminiscent of what Anneliese had endured four years ago. Selina doubled over, the pain stealing her scream. "Where is Mrs. Fullbuster? Speak!" Zaxton''s voice was ice. He twisted the de slowly, inching it deeper with precision. Selina smelled the metallic tang of blood, felt it seep from her, life ebbing with it. She shook her head, sobbing, her words ragged and broken. "I-I don''t know. Please... Ah! I really don''t know. I stepped out for a moment, and when I returned, Anneliese and my dad were gone. He was supposed to be watching her. If... if you don''t believe me, ask those four. It hurts... please, let me Chapter 515 **Chapter 515: When Karma Strikes** Zaxton''s expression twisted into a grimace as he withdrew his dagger from its sheath, the de glinting ominously under the flickering, dim light of the forsaken factory. The air was thick with an oppressive tension, saturated with the musty scent of rust and decay that clung to the walls like a shroud. On the unforgiving concrete floor, Selinay crumpled and vulnerable, her body a tapestry of anguish and desperation. She pressed her fingers against the wound in her side, crimson blood seeping through her trembling grasp, stark against the dull gray of her surroundings. Each breath she took sent waves of excruciating pain coursing through her, and a shudder rippled through her frame, not just from the agony but from the overwhelming terror that enveloped her like a dark cloud. As she lifted her gaze toward Jonathan, her wide, pleading eyes silently begged for mercy, her voice lost in the cacophony of her fear. In that moment, the heavy wooden doors of the factory swung open, and a team of bodyguards stormed into the room, urgency etched on their faces as they returned from scouring every corner of the dpidated building. "Sir, we searched every nook and cranny of this forsaken nt. Mrs. Fullbuster is not here," one of them dered, his voice steady, a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation that hung in the air like a leaden weight. Without a moment''s hesitation, Zaxton shifted his focus to the four young men standing nervously nearby, their faces pale and eyes darting around in sheer panic. He interrogated them with an intensity that made them tremble, his looming presence a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. The moment they grasped the seriousness of their predicament, their secrets spilled forth, confessions pouring out like a broken dam, each admission more damning than thest. Zaxton stepped closer, his voice low but firm as he ryed the information that would change everything. "Selina brought them here roughly forty minutes ago. She offered them twenty thousand dors to... deal with Mrs. Fullbuster. But when they exited the vehicle, they found the ce empty. It seems Timothy moved her while Selina was away." The revtion struck Jonathan like a thunderp, a jolt of panic coursing through him. Anneliese was gone. His fists clenched tightly, a surge of anxiety igniting behind his eyes. Another moment lost. Where are you, honey? The thought wed at his insides, a relentless reminder of the urgency that now filled the air. His brows knitted together into a fierce scowl, his heart hardening against Selina''s plight. He didn''t spare her a single nce; there was no time for her suffering. Without a second thought, he pivoted on his heel and strode out of the factory, urgency propelling him forward like a wild wind, each step echoing his determination. Zaxton and the others hurried to keep pace with him. Once outside, the cold air hit them like a p to the face, and Zaxton leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Sir, what shall we do with Selina?" Jonathan slid into the car, the door mming shut behind him with a finality that resonated with his resolve. "We arrived toote. We interrupted their little game." Zaxton nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Yes, sir." Had Jonathan not intervened, those four boys would have unleashed unspeakable horrors upon Selina. Now, she was about to face the very consequences she had wished upon Anneliese, a poetic twist of fate that felt almost cruel. With Jonathan leading the charge away from the chaos, he left Zaxton and two of his men d in ck to re-enter the factory, a stark reminder of the darkness that lingered within. Zaxton signaled to the guards holding the young men captive. They released them, and the boys stumbled to their feet, confusion etched on their faces, their minds racing with disbelief. Zaxton pointed toward Selina, who was curled up in a corner, blood staining her hands, a vision of despair. "Act as if we never entered this ce. Complete what you came for. Don''t jeopardize your own safety. Understood?" The punks froze, the color draining from their faces as fear took hold. "W-We wouldn''t dare..." Before the speaker could finish his sentence, the cold metal of Zaxton''s gun pressed against his temple, a chilling reminder of the stakes at y. "Wouldn''t dare? Then what use are you to me? I can..." "No! We dare! We understand. We''ll take care of her!" they stammered, their voices trembling in unison. Zaxton nodded, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face as he holstered his weapon and exited with his men. They took their positions outside the factory doors, a silent vigil over the unfolding drama within. Inside, Selina quaked as the four young men advanced toward her, their intentions unmistakable. The horror in her eyes widened, and a scream tore from her throat, sharp and filled with dread. But it was quickly muffled by the sickening sounds of her own cries and the brutal thuds that followed, echoing through the deste space. Four years earlier, Selina had sought to manipte Calvin and his crew to humiliate someone, weaving a web of cruelty to ensnare her enemies. Tonight, however, the wheel of fate had turned, and the retribution she had so carelessly orchestrated hade back to ensnare her instead, a cruel twist of irony. Meanwhile, Anneliese remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding behind her. Timothy had shoved her into the car, intent on extracting a hefty sum of money from her. They were driving toward a remote state near Oceaton, thendscape blurring past her as she struggled to process her grim reality. "I can''t move two hundred million dors in one go," she had exined to Timothy, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. ¡°My bank card has a transfer limit." Yet Timothy was relentless, pushing her to try regardless. She managed to transfer two million to an offshore ount before the limit locked her out, leaving them with no option but to find a bank. Timothy refused to turn back toward Oceaton, fearing an encounter withw enforcement, so he veered toward a state situated between Oceaton and Halden, his determination unyielding. As dawn broke, Timothy pulled over at a local bank, the sun casting long shadows across the pavement, illuminating the stark reality of their situation. "If you attempt anything foolish, I''ll end you with a single strike,¡± he warned, his voice low and menacing, a threat that hung in the air like a guillotine poised to drop. As the bank prepared to open its doors, he climbed into the back seat beside her. With a swift motion, he pressed a knife against Anneliese''s waist, severing the ropes that bound her legs and tearing the tape from her mouth. She rubbed her numb limbs, gradually regaining sensation. When she finally managed to stand, she locked eyes with him, her expression steady and resolute. ¡°I understand." Grabbing her purse, she waited for his signal, then pushed the door open and stepped out into the world outside, the morning air filling her lungs with a sense of possibility and newfound strength. Timothy remained close behind, draping a coat over his arm to obscure the dagger concealed against her lower back, his overconfidence evident in the way he moved. Earlier on the road, he had knocked her unconscious again with a cloth soaked in ether, keeping her in a stupor for hours. He had assumed she would be weak and disoriented, confident that she wouldn''t attempt to flee. But he had grossly miscalcted. The moment Anneliese''s feet touched the ground, she bolted before he could even clear the car door. "Anneliese! You little witch!" Timothy bellowed, fury propelling him as he lunged after her, his voice a thunderous echo in the crisp morning air. Anneliese pivoted on her heel, hurling her purse at him with all her might. He ducked instinctively, that split-second hesitation granting her the precious time she needed to escape. She had already put more than twelve steps between them, her heart pounding with the thrill of newfound freedom, the taste of liberation sweet on her tongue. In the aftermath of chaos, the fates of Selina and Anneliese intertwined in a haunting tapestry of justice and revenge Selina, once the puppet maste orchestrating cruelty, now found herself ensnared in the very web she had woven, her cries echoing through the factory as the consequences of her actions closed in around her The bitter realization that her maniptions had led to her own undoing was a stark reminder that karma is an unyielding force. Meanwhile, Jonathan''s heart, hardened by urgency and betrayal, raced against time to save Anneliese, the woman he loved. His decision to leave Selina to her fate signified a turning point, a moment wherepassion was overshadowed by the need to protect, illustrating the stark contrast between the two women''s paths. As dawn broke, Anneliese''s desperate flight symbolized hope and resilience, a stark juxtaposition to Selina''s despair. With every step she took away from Timothy, she embodied the strength thates from survival, her spirit unbroken despite the horrors she faced. The tension of her escape served as a powerful counterpoint to Selina''s plight highlighting the unpredictable nature of fate. In the end, the chapter closed on a note of uncertainty, leaving readers to ponder the delicate bnce between justice and vengeance. Both women were irrevocably changed by their experiences, and as the sun rose over the horizon, it illuminated the stark realities of their choices, leaving a lingering question: would the cycle of retribution continue, or would redemption find its way into the hearts of those who had suffered? Chapter 516 **Chapter 516: A Crash** Timothy''s heart raced violently within his chest, each beat echoing like a drum of impending doom. A cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and he found himself gasping for breath, the weight of a knife he had concealed just moments ago pressing heavily against his palm. The very thought that someone might catch sight of the glinting de sent a wave of dread crashing over him. Just as he contemted rushing to Anneliese''s side, a car suddenly thundered into view from across the street. It screeched to a halt, the tires shrieking in protest against the asphalt, but it was toote the vehicle collided with Anneliese, and a visceral shockwave of horror coursed through Timothy''s entire being. In that agonizing instant, time stretched out, freezing him in ce. His body felt paralyzed, gripped by disbelief and terror, as the color drained from his face. Should he leap forward to aid her, to rush to her side and offer help, or should he remain concealed, a coward lurking in the shadows? The indecision gnawed at him like a ravenous beast, a heavy cloud of guilt settling in his chest, suffocating him. The driver, a young man, stumbled out of the car, his face contorted in panic. Around them, pedestrians who had witnessed the ident surged forward, their phones raised like weapons, eager to capture the unfolding chaos. Each passing moment sent Timothy spiraling deeper into a vortex of anxiety. Fear twisted into guilt, each agonizing second stretching painfully as he wrestled with his conscience. Finally, in a moment of desperate rity, he made a choice that would haunt him. With a swift, determined motion, he snatched Anneliese''s bag from the pavement¡ª a small but significant token of her presence¡ªand bolted toward his car. The door mmed shut behind him with a force that echoed the turmoil within, and he sped away, tires screeching against the asphalt, leaving the scene behind like a nightmare he desperately wished to escape. Anneliese had only intended to reach the bank lobby before Timothy, hoping to find someone who could assist her. She had sensed his looming presence, an ever- watchful shadow that seemed to lurk just behind her, never allowing her a moment of peace. Acting on instinct had seemed like her best strategy, yet she had never anticipated the sudden appearance of a car barreling toward her. The blinding headlights illuminated her path for a fleeting moment before the vehicle struck her with a force that sent her flying through the air. The world around her dissolved into an abyss of darkness as she hit the ground, thest flicker of thought extinguished like a dying candle. When she finally regained consciousness, a dull throbbing pain radiated from her skull. As she attempted to shift her position, the ceiling above her spun like a dizzying carnival ride, waves of nausea crashing over her. "You''re awake? Try not to move," a gentle voice cut through the haze, soothing and warm. Anneliese struggled to push herself upright, but a firm hand pressed down on her shoulder, preventing her from rising. At the same moment, a sharp sting shot through the back of her hand, drawing her attention to the IV tube taped there. Breathing slowly, she fought against the vertigo and began to take in her surroundings. This wasn''t a hospital; it felt much cozier, almost like a home. Shey on a neatly made bed, the room adorned with warm hues and soft decorations that suggestedfort and care, a stark contrast to the chaos she had just experienced. The woman beside her, with soft features and an elegant demeanor, spoke again, her tone soothing. There was something about her that seemed vaguely familiar, yet Anneliese was certain they had never crossed paths before. ¡°And you are...?" Anneliese managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper,ced with confusion. "My name is Wendy Chalmont. This morning, you suddenly ran into the road and hit my car. Then you passed out. Do you remember any of that?" Wendy''s voice was warm, filled with a kindness that eased Anneliese''s anxiety. Wendy had been driving back from Oceaton to Halden, taking a detour to avoid an unwanted encounter with her ex. The traffic had been light, and she hadn''t expected anyone to dash into the road at that moment. In a world where staged idents were all toomon, her initial thought had been that it might be a scam. But as she stepped out of her car, her heart sank. Therey a fragile-looking girl on the asphalt, her wrist marked with rope burns, her pale face marred by fresh p marks and scratches. It was clear that something terrible had happened, and Wendy''s instincts kicked in. She had her assistant search for identification, but the girl had no phone or wallet to speak of. Despite having an urgent contract waiting for her in Halden, Wendy felt an overwhelming sense ofpassion. She couldn''t simply abandon the girl at a hospital and walk away. Instead, she made the choice to bring her home, a decision that felt right in her gut. "I... I''m so sorry. It was an emergency. I didn''t look before I ran. It was my fault. I wasn''t trying to scam you..." Anneliese stammered, her mind still foggy but shes of the crash returning to her. The weight of guilt pressed down on her, and she rushed to exin herself, her heart racing with the fear of being misunderstood. Seeing the distress etched on Anneliese''s face, Wendy ced a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know you weren''t trying to scam me. If I had believed that, I never would have brought you here. You hit the back of your head. The doctor said it was a mild concussion, so please, don''t move around too much." "Thank you..." Anneliese whispered, her voice trembling. "How long was I unconscious?" "It''s already past seven in the evening," Wendy replied, concern creeping into her tone. A wave of panic washed over Anneliese. Nearly an entire day had slipped away, and the thought of Nishay, terrified after the kidnapping, sent her heart racing. Jonathan might have already returned from Serava, and the weight of her situation pressed heavily on her chest, suffocating her with dread. She attempted to sit up, but the room spun violently, forcing her to copse back onto the pillows, unable to voice her fear through the dizziness enveloping her. "Don''t rush," Wendy said gently. "Did something happen to you? If you need to call the police or contact your family, we can take it step by step. But first, let me have the family doctor check on you again." Wendy had ensured the doctor wouldn''t stray far. After offeringfort to Anneliese, she stood up, her resolve firm, and headed briskly out of the room. Once on the first floor, ready to summon the doctor back, she was surprised to find Gianna and Pepper engaged in lively conversation with the housekeeper in the living room. "What are you two doing here?" Wendy asked, startled by their unexpected presence. Gianna puffed out her cheeks, then dashed up the stairs, linking her arm through Wendy''s. "Mom, please! You sound like you didn''t want Aunt Pepper and me to visit." Wendy chuckled, tapping her daughter''s nose yfully. ¡°When have I ever said that?" Gianna huffed dramatically, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We came to spend the New Year with you, obviously. Are you happy?" ¡°Of course I''m happy! How could I not be?" Wendy replied, her heart swelling with warmth at the sight of her daughter. In the aftermath of the crash, both Anneliese and Timothy found themselves at a crossroads, each grappling with the weight of their choices and the consequences that followed. Anneliese awoke ima safe haven, her body battered but her spirit flickering with gratitude for Wendy''spassion. The pain of her recent trauma lingered, yet the warmth of care enveloped her, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Timothy, consumed by guilt and fear, sped away from the scene, leaving behind not just the ident but the haunting realization of his own cowardice. The emotional turmoil within him mirrored the chaos of the moment, a stark contrast to Anneliese''s newfound sanctuary. As the night deepened, both characters faced their demons in different ways. Anneliese, recovering in thefort of Wendy''s Ene began to piece together her fragmented memories, her resolve strengthening with each passing moment. The kindness of a stranger ignited a flicker of resilience within her, pushing her to confront the shadows of her past. On the other hand Timothy''s escape was marred by the reality of his inaction, a bitter reminder that true courage often lies in facing one''s fears rather than fleeing from them. Ultimately, as their paths diverged, both Anneliese and Timothy were left to navigate their respective journeys toward redemption, each carrying the emotional scars of their choices but also the potential for healing and growth. **What to Expect in Next Chapter?** In the uing chapter, the tension will escte as Anneliese grapples with the aftermath of the ident and her mysterious circumstances. As she struggles to piece together the fragmented memories of her harrowing day, her sense of urgency will grow. With her mind racing about Nishay and the looming threat of Jonathan, Anneliese will be desperate to find a way to contact the outside world, even as her body betrays her with dizziness and pain. The reader will witness her determination to uncover the truth, even while trapped in a seemingly safe haven. 1.n Meanwhile, Wendy''s home will be a focal point of unexpected encounters. As her daughter Gianna and Aunt Pepper settle into the. household, the dynamics will shift. Their arrival will introduce a newyer ofplexity to Anneliese''s situation, as Wendy bnces her maternal instincts with the need to protect the vulnerable girl in her care. The chapter will explore the intertwining fates of these characters, hinting at secrets that could unravel both their lives. As Anneliese fights against her physical mitations, thestakes will rise leading to a suspenseful climax that could change everything for her and those around her. Prepare for revtions, emotional confrontations, and the relentless pursuit of truth as the story unfolds. Chapter 517 **Chapter 517: Unexpected Guests** Wendy exhaled a deep, weary sigh, her brow furrowing in concern as she turned to her daughter. ¡°Gianna, you need to understand something crucial. If you decide not toe home for New Year''s, it will break your grandparents'' hearts. They look forward to this time with you, and I know you wouldn''t want to see that disappointment in their eyes." The shadows of their tumultuous past loomed ominously, particrly the disapproving re of Adrian''s mother, which seemed to haunt Wendy. The divorce had left a bitter aftertaste, and Adrian''s choice to remain single while neglecting his responsibilities as a father only fanned the mes of resentment. It was a suffocating tension that hung in the air, thick and unyielding. Wendy couldn''t shake the gnawing fear that if Gianna chose to stay away, Adrian would inevitably find a way to show up, furtherplicating an already strained family dynamic. She was desperate to avoid any unnecessary drama that might arise. In Gianna''s presence, Wendy felt an overwhelming sense of obligation rather than joy. The only reason Gianna seemed inclined to spend the holiday at home was Adrian''s influence. Had it not been for him, Gianna likely would have opted to stay away, avoiding the heavy atmosphere that clung to their home like a persistent fog. The spirit of New Year''s that usually filled their suburban house felt starkly absent, reced instead by an icy void that made Wendy yearn for the sce of solitude she had grown ustomed to during these chaotic times. Gianna, meanwhile, was grappling with her own emotions. A sense of obligation twisted in her chest, fueled by the nagging thought that her mother wasn''t fully present for her. When she had suggested they spend the holiday together, Wendy''s response had been anything but weing. Instead of embracing the idea, Wendy seemed to push her away, leaving Gianna feeling undervalued and invisible. The chill in the air mirrored the frostiness of their exchanges, and Gianna found herself battling a rising tide of frustration. Every attempt she made to connect with her mother was met with indifference, and that was a heavy burden for a young heart to bear. In a moment of defiance, Gianna leaned against Wendy''s shoulder, yfully rubbing it as she adopted a spoiled tone. "I don''t care! I''m spending New Year''s with you, Mom. But right now, I''m going to my room!" With that promation, she released her grip and dashed up the stairs, her footsteps echoing through the otherwise quiet house like distant thunder. Wendy was left in a whirlwind of emotions, feeling the weight of her daughter''s words. Before she could gather her thoughts, her friend Pepper approached, her expression filled with concern. "Wendy,¡± she began cautiously, "you know Gianna only came here because Adrian asked her to. After all these years, there have been countless beautiful women vying for his attention. Just the other day in Oceaton, I spotted the young heiress of Andora Logistics practically clinging to him. Yet, through it all, he still wants to remarry you. Men like that are rare. What happened back then wasn''t entirely his fault. So, why do you " Wendy''s smile faltered, a flicker of guilt and pain shing in her eyes. She quickly masked her emotions, cutting Pepper off with a calm, almost rehearsed tone. "Have you eaten dinner yet?" Pepper sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of unspoken words. "Wendy, if you can''t move past this, you need to talk to Adrian. Be clear with him. He needs to let go, or Gianna will find herself caught in the middle, unsure of what to do..." Wendy frowned, her mind racing as she considered the implications. Just then, a sharp voice from upstairs sliced through her contemtion. Gianna was clearly in the throes of a heated argument with someone. Without a moment''s hesitation, Wendy turned and hurried up the stairs, with Pepper trailing closely behind her, both women propelled by an urgent sense of dread. They arrived at the first bedroom on the left, where they found Gianna gripping Anneliese''s arm tightly, her agitation palpable and fierce. Anneliese had merely wanted to use the bathroom, but as she tried to rise slowly, Gianna stormed in like a whirlwind, her expression fierce and unyielding. "What are you doing in my house?" Gianna demanded, disbeliefcing her voice. Anneliese, taken aback, had never expected such hostility from Gianna. She had hoped for a peaceful visit, particrly in a ce she thought was her sanctuary. Feeling weak and nauseous, Anneliese had no desire to engage in conflict. She lifted the nket, struggling to rise, but Gianna was relentless, gripping her arm and pulling her toward the doorway with a fierce determination. Instantly, Anneliese''splexion drained of color. The IV needle in the back of her hand was yanked out, causing droplets of blood to surface. Her stomach churned violently, the room began to spin, and she felt herself teetering on the brink of copse. "Gianna! She''s my guest! What do you think you''re doing? Let her go!" Wendy''s voice rang out, filled with a mix of urgency and protectiveness. She rushed forward to intervene, but before she could reach them, Anneliese, unable to hold back any longer, gagged and vomited. Gianna, standing directly in front of her, was momentarily caught off guard. The vomit sttered onto Gianna''s shoulder, trailing down her clothing, a grotesque mark of the chaos unfolding. Anneliese hadn''t eaten in over a day, and though it was mostly sour bile, the sight and smell were enough to make Gianna retch in disgust. "Ugh! That''s disgusting! You did that on purpose!" As realization dawned on her, Gianna shrieked and shoved Anneliese away, her fury spilling over. In her anger, she didn''t hold back, and Anneliese, too weak to steady herself, stumbled toward the small cab by the door. Fortunately, Wendy was quick on her feet and caught her just in time, preventing her from colliding with anything sharp. ¡°Gianna, apologize!" Wendymanded, her voice firm as she steadied Anneliese, who looked pale and shaken. Gianna''s eyes red with indignation as she watched Anneliese leaning against Wendy for support. The sight felt like a dagger to her heart. Her eyes turned red with frustration. "Mom, seriously-who''s your real daughter here? She threw up on me on purpose! If anyone owes an apology, it''s her to me! Yet here you are, yelling at me because of her?" Her voice trembled, the hurt unmistakable on her face, and Wendy''s expression softened, torn between her daughter and her guest. "She only collided with my car by ident. The concussion caused her nausea. How could that be intentional? She''s a guest here...¡± "Mom, you just said she hit your car by ident. Then why did you bring her back to our house?" Gianna shot back, her frustration boiling over, the heat of the moment palpable. As the chaos of the moment settled, Wendy found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, grappling with the conflicting loyalties to her daughter and her guest. The confrontation hadid bare the fractures in their family dynamic, revealing just how deeply rooted the tensions were. Gianna''s anger and hurt were palpable, and Wendy realized that her attempts to shield her daughter from theplexities of their situation had only intensified the divide between them. In the heat of the argument, Wendy felt the weight of her choices pressing down on her, the guilt of past decisions mingling with the stark reminder that the the urgency of the present. It was path to healing would require not just understanding but also vulnerability, as she needed to confront the ghosts of her past, including her unresolved feelings for Adrian. With a deep breath, Wendy understood that she could no longer allow fear to dictate her actions. She needed to bridge the gap between herself and Gianna, to reassure her daughter that love could coexist with the messiness of their lives. As she steadied Anneliese and turned back to Gianna, Wendy felt a flicker of resolve igniting within her. "We need to talk she said softly, her voice firm yet gentle. This was not just about the chaos of the moment; it was about forging a path forward together. The New Year was approaching, and with it came the promise of new beginnings, a chance to mend what had been broken. Wendy hoped that by embracing honesty and opening her heart, they could find a way to heal, not just as individuals, but as a family. Chapter 518 **Chapter 518: Unwee Hospitality** "Who even knows what she was after? Maybe she threw herself at your car on purpose! And Mom, you don''t even know her. How can you be sure she didn''t spit on me intentionally?" Gianna''s voice pierced the charged atmosphere, each wordced with venom, slicing through the tension like a knife through butter. The usations fell heavily, leaving Anneliese feeling as if she were teetering on the brink of a precipice. The air crackled with hostility, thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Wendy, her mother, stood nearby, her expression a mixture of confusion and concern, brows knitted together as she struggled toprehend the depth of her daughter''s fury. Anneliese felt small, a mere shadow in the corner of Gianna''s storm. A dull ringing echoed in Anneliese''s ears, amplifying the throbbing headache that had settled in her temples like an unwee guest. She leaned against the wall for support, her body trembling slightly as she fought to steady her racing heart. "Mrs. Malone," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper, "thank you for your help today. I''m feeling more awake now, so I really should be going. The problem is, I don''t have any money on me. Could I borrow your phone to make a quick call?¡± The truth was, Anneliese and Gianna had never been on the same wavelength. This was Gianna''s domain, and Anneliese could feel the weight of her status as an outsider pressing down on her, suffocating her with every passing second. Wendy''s demeanor was a stark contrast to the storm brewing around them; her warmth was a soothing balm against the harshness of the situation. Anneliese felt a swell of gratitude for the older woman''s kindness, but a nagging thought lingered in her mind: any mother would instinctively prioritize her own child over a stranger. The fear of overstaying her wee gnawed at her insides, tightening her chest with anxiety. Wendy, ever perceptive, noticed the pallor of Anneliese''splexion, the way her hands trembled ever so slightly as she spoke. It was clear that Anneliese was on the verge of copse. The few words she had managed to utter had left cold beads of sweat dotting her forehead, and there was no way Wendy would allow her to leave in such a precarious state. With a gentle yet firm grip, Wendy wrapped an arm around Anneliese once more. "Go lie down in the bedroom. I hit you with my car, so I am responsible for your well- being. Gianna is young and headstrong; we''ve spoiled her a bit. Don''t let her behavior upset you." As Wendy defended Anneliese, Gianna''s expression darkened, as though she had been struck without a sound. The dynamic in the room shifted palpably, and it was evident that Gianna was grappling with her anger over her mother''s apparent favoritism toward a stranger. Gianna was acutely aware of her father, Adrian, and the high regard in which he held Wendy. Confronting her mother was not an option, so she redirected her frustration toward Anneliese. "What a pathetic show,¡± she sneered, her tone dripping with contempt. Anneliese shuddered involuntarily at the unpleasant scent of Gianna''s shoulder, feeling as though the moment was pivotal. With a huff, Gianna stormed off, her intention clear: to shower, change, and deal with her emotionster. "Mrs. Malone," Anneliese insisted, her voiceced with urgency, "I appreciate your kindness, but I really need to leave. My family must be worried sick. I promise I''lle by another day to thank you properly." Wendy regarded her with a firm gaze, her resolve unyielding. ¡°Lie down first. I''ll go get the phone. If you take a few steps and copse, it''ll be my responsibility, right?" Anneliese felt cornered, left with no choice but to acquiesce. She allowed Wendy to guide her back onto the bed, the weight of exhaustion settling heavily on her shoulders like an unwee cloak. Wendy descended the stairs to fetch the phone, leaving Anneliese alone with her younger sister, Pepper. "I''m Gianna''s aunt. What happened to you? How did you get hurt like this? It''s the holidays, and you''re all alone. That''s tough. Please, lie down," Pepper said, her voice a mixture of curiosity and concern. Anneliese shook her head, stepping back slightly. "No, thank you. I can manage," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, the effort of speaking draining her further. Pepper frowned, her posture shifting from concern to defensiveness. "Do you want some water? And how exactly did you hit my sister''s car?" "I''m nauseous. I can''t talk," Anneliese muttered, hoping to put an end to the relentless questioning. But Pepper was unyielding, her inquiries pouring forth like a torrential downpour. Anneliese remained silent, and the absence of a response only hardened Pepper''s expression. "You hit my sister''s car, and she still brought you here to take care of you. You don''t need to be grateful, fine, but why act rude? And fighting with Gianna? That''s utterly disrespectful,¡± Pepper used, her voice rising in indignation. Anneliese felt the weight of despair settle heavily on her chest. Gianna had made everything worse, and now this stranger waspounding her misery. She had reached her breaking point. With a defiant lift of her chin, she red at Pepper. ¡°Can you leave? You''re keeping me from resting." Pepper froze, taken aback. ¡°What kind of attitude is that?" Anneliese curled her lip in disdain. "An attitude of someone who''s had enough of this nonsense." Having just been insulted for her manners, Anneliese felt utterly bewildered about what politeness she was expected to disy in this situation. Pepper let out a coldugh, her tone mocking. ¡°I''m curious¡ªwhat kind of parents raise someone shameless enough to act like a tyrant in another person''s home? Don''t tell me you have no parents to teach you manners." The words stung, cutting deeper than she could have imagined. If Anneliese had possessed even a fraction of her strength, she would have retorted immediately. But fatigue clung to her like a heavy nket, suffocating her spirit. She couldn''t fathom how long Wendy could possibly take just to retrieve a phone. Clearly, Pepper was eager to vent her frustrations on Gianna''s behalf. Anneliese refused to sit and endure this scolding, especially when her desperate need for the bathroom was bing more pressing by the second. She attempted to rise, eager to escape the confrontation, but her foot caught on something. She stumbled forward, her vision blurring as darkness crept in around the edges. Bracing for impact, she expected to hit the floor, but instead, a strong, steady arm caught her waist, preventing her fall. In the haze, a familiar voice called her name urgently, breaking through the fog of her disorientation. Darkness swirled at the edges of her vision, and she felt herself slipping away. That voice sounded distant, muffled, as though it was trying to reach her through a thick curtain of confusion. In the aftermath of the tumultuous encounter, Anneliese found herself enveloped in a cocoon of warmth and unexpected support. Despite the hostility she faced from Gianna and Pepper, Wendy''s unwavering kindness became a beacon of hope, illuminating the shadows that had clouded her mind. As shey on the bed, the exhaustion that had once threatened to consume her began to ebb, reced by a flicker of resilience. The confrontation with Pepper had been a harsh reminder of her vulnerability, yet it also ignited a spark within her-a determination to reim her voice and assert her worth in a world that often felt dismissive. In that moment of stillness, Anneliese realized that she need not apologize for her existence; her struggles were valid, and she deservedpassion, even from those who barely knew her. With each passing moment, the emotional turbulence began to settle, and Anneliese understood that the path forward would not be without its challenges. The tens with Gianna and Pepper might not dissipate overnight, but Wendy''s steadfast presence offered her a semnce of stability. As she closed her eyes, she envisioned a future where she could stand tall against adversity, where her story would be one of strength rather than shame. In the sanctuary of Wendy''s home, Anneliese felt the first stirrings of hope-a belief that she could navigate theplexities of her rtionships and emerge stronger on the other side. The darkness that had threatened to swallow her was now merely a backdrop to the light of newfound resilience, and for the first time in a long while, she dared to dream of a brighter tomorrow. **What to Expect in the Next Chapter?** As the tension in the Malone household esctes, readers can anticipate a deep dive into theplex dynamics that bind Anneliese, Gianna, and the res the family. With Anneliese''s health precariously hanging in the bnce, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Wendy''s nurturing instincts be enough to shield her from the hostility of her daughter and niece? Or will Gianna''s resentment bou over, leading to unexpected confrontations that could shatter the fragile peace? The next chapter promises to unravel theyers of family loyalty, betrayal, and the burdens of unspoken expectations, all while Anneliese struggles to regain her strength and find her footing in an environment that feels increasingly hostile. Moreover, the arrival of Adrian, Gianna''s father, looms on the horizon, hinting at a potential shift in the family dynamic. How will he react to the unfolding chaos, and what secrets might he bring to light? Anneliese''s past remains shrouded in mystery, and as her rtionship with the Malone family deepens, the truth about her connection to them may surface in shocking ways. Expect revtions that will not only test Anneliese''s resolve but also challenge the very fabric of the Malone family''s rtionships. With emotions running high and tensions simmering, the next chapter is set to be a whirlwind of drama, leaving readers breathless and eager for more. Chapter 519 **Chapter 519: The Scent of Him** Anneliese inhaled deeply, and in that moment, she was enveloped by a scent that felt like home¡ªa familiar, crisp aroma that wrapped around her like aforting embrace. It was a fragrance that belonged to only one person, a scent that had the extraordinary power to soothe her restless heart: Jonathan. The sheer wonder of it all struck her like a bolt of lightning. She hadn''t reached out to him, hadn''t given him a single clue about her situation, yet here he was, as if summoned by some divine force, appearing at the most crucial moment. The surreal nature of his arrival weighed heavily on her mind, particrly when she recalled that during her ident, he had been thousands of miles away, on the far side of the globe. "Babe, are you in pain? Please, talk to me," his voice, thick with genuine worry, pierced through the haze of confusion that clouded her thoughts. As she slowly lifted her head, the oppressive darkness that had shrouded her senses began to lift, revealing Jonathan''s anxious expression. He was there-solid, unwavering, a beacon of hope amidst her turmoil. Anneliese blinked, struggling to fully grasp the reality of his presence. His very existence was like a soothing balm for her frayed nerves, yet an unexpected sting pricked at her nose. A wave of heat surged behind her eyes, and tears began to flow down her cheeks, silent and unbidden. "What took you so long..." she managed to whisper, her voice quivering under the weight of her anguish and fear. The sweet, melodic tone she was known for had faded into a hoarse murmur, a stark reminder of the ordeal she had endured during her long hours of istion. Jonathan''s heart twisted painfully at her words. A tempest of rage and panic surged within him, intertwined with an overwhelming tenderness for her suffering. His eyes shimmered with a cocktail of emotions-deep sorrow, regret, and the haunting specter of what might have been had he been there sooner. He noticed the stark white gauze that was wrapped around the back of her head, a jarring reminder of her fragility. With the utmost care, he cradled her neck in a steady hand and lifted her into his arms, handling her as if she were the most delicate piece of porcin. "It''s my fault. I''m so sorry, baby. I''m so sorry that I''mte. I failed to protect you. Please, don''t cry..." His voice dropped to a near whisper, imbued with a sincerity that felt almost sacred, as if he feared that any loud word might shatter the fragile moment they were sharing. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, the warmth of his lips a promise offort and safety. Zion, who had been dragging Carter in behind him, froze at the doorway, nearly stumbling over his own feet. The sight of their usually stoic boss speaking in such a tender tone was enough to rattle him. Carter, steadying Zion with a subtle nudge, couldn''t help but wince at the scene unfolding before him. "Mr. Fullbuster, Mr. Chevalier is here," Zion reported, casting a quick nce at Wendy, who stood beside him, her expression a mix of confusion and intrigue. "Madam Chalmont, may wee in and check on Mrs. Fullbuster?" he added, trying to maintain a professional demeanor despite the emotional weight of the moment. By this time, Jonathan had already bent down, carefully lifting Anneliese into his arms as if she were the most precious thing in the world. It was only after ensuring herfort that he turned to Wendy, offering a polite nod. "Madam Chalmont, Anne needs peace and quiet right now," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate. Wendy, a woman who had weathered countless storms in her life, found herself momentarily at a loss. She prided herself on her ability to maintainposure, having wed her way up through the ranks with a steely resolve. Yet, the sight before her shattered her expectations. This Jonathan was a stark contrast to the aloof, untouchable man she thought she knew-now he was a devoted husband, tender and protective. With a reluctant sigh, she stepped aside, granting Jonathan and Anneliese the privacy they so desperately needed. Carter, eager to fulfill his duty, hurried in with a brief greeting, heading straight for the bedroom, while Wendy and Pepper quietly exited the scene. Jonathanid Anneliese back on the bed with the utmost delicacy, his touch feather- light. It was as though seeing him had finally allowed her to exhale, to release the tension that had gripped her so tightly. Though her head still spun, the pain had dulled, and a sense of calm began to wash over her. She refused to close her eyes, locking her gaze onto his, as if trying to draw strength from his unwavering presence. He met her gaze, fingers intertwining with hers, a silent vow of support that spoke volumes. Carter stepped in, his demeanor stiff as he prepared to examine Anneliese. The real challenge, however, was Jonathan, who sat nearby like a vignt guardian, ready to pounce at the slightest hint of trouble. "Can you even do this or not? Can''t you see she''s suffering?" Jonathan snapped, urgencycing his words. ¡°Hurry up. What''s the verdict?" he pressed, his protective instincts ring like a wildfire. Carter, worn thin by the intensity of the situation, finally snapped back. "Alright, we get it. You''ve unlocked the wife-protector skill. No need to show off. Anne''s fine. Just some scrapes and bruises. The head wound is the worst, but it''s already been treated. No extra care required. Just keep up with the medication and bed rest. Light meals for a few days, and she''ll be back on her feet in two or three days." All that fuss for what amounted to minor injuries¡ªand they had yanked him from a resort ind without so much as a moment to breathe. Carter had had enough of their dramatic disy. With a resigned sigh, he finished his examination, grabbed his medical kit, and left without another nce, wisely opting to escape rather than endure any more of their lovey-dovey antics. Every ounce of Jonathan''s attention remained fixated on the woman beside him, the weight of the day and night stretching out before them, feeling longer than an eternity. As the chaos of the moment began to settle, Anneliese felt a profound sense of relief wash over her. Jonathan''s presence, once a distant memory during her ordeal, now enveloped her like a protective shield, warding off the shadows of fear and pain. Their fingers intertwined, she drew strength from his unwavering gaze, a silent promise that she was not alone in this fight. In that shared silence, the emotional turmoil of the past hours began to dissipate, reced by a fragile yet burgeoning hope. The scent of him, once a beacon offort, now symbolized their resilience ¡ªa reminder that even in the darkest moments, love had the power to heal and restore. Jonathan, too, felt the weight of the world lift as he focused solely on Anneliese. The fear that had gripped him upon seeing her vulnerable was slowly reced by a fierce determination to safeguard her, to be the protector he had failed to be before. His heart swelled with a blend of love and relief, knowing that despite the chaos, they had found their way back to each other. As the remnants of anxiety faded, he vowed to cherish every moment, to be present for her in ways that mattered most. Together, they would navigate the aftermath of this ordeal, forging a path forward marked by unwavering support and an unbreakable bond, ready to face whatever challengesy ahead. **Conclusion** In the aftermath of the chaos, Anneliese and Jonathan emerged from the storm of fear and uncertainty, their emotional bond strengthened in ways they had never anticipated. The scent that once signified safety andfort now embodied their shared r¨¦silience, a testament to the trials they had faced together. Anneliese, feeling the warmth of Jonathan''s unwavering presence, realized that she was no longer alone in her struggles. The tears that had flowed freely moments ago transformed into a quiet resolve, as the shadows of her pain began to lift reced by a flicker of hope. In that sacred space, their intertwined fingers spoke volumes, solidifying a promise that they would navigate theplexities of life together, no matter how daunting the path ahead. For Jonathan, the experience had ignited a fierce determination to protect Anneliese, to be the partner she deserved. The fear that had once consumed him shifted info a profound sense of purpose, driving him to cherish every moment they had together. As he held her gaze, he felt an unbreakable bond forming, one that would guide them through the aftermath of this ordeal and beyond. With each shared breath, they forged a new understanding of love-a love that was not only about joy but also about facing adversity hand in hand. Together, they stood ready to embrace the future, fortified by their experiences and the unwavering strength of their connection, ready to face whatever challengesy ahead with renewed hope and unwavering support. **What to Expect in Next Chapter?** In the uing chapter, tensions will rise as Anneliese and Jonathan grapple with the emotional fallout from her ident. While Anneliese may have survived the physical injuries, the psychological scars run deep, and Jonathan''s protective instincts will be put to the test. As they navigate the delicate bnce between healing and vulnerability, readers can expect poignant moments that reveal theplexities of their rtionship. Will Jonathan''s fierce determination to shield her from pain inadvertently create new challenges for them? Moreover, the presence of their colleagues, particrly Wendy and Carter, with introduce an intriguing dynamic. With Wendy''s newfound perception of Jonathan as a devoted husband, her perspective on their professional rtionship may shiftplicating the already fraught atmosphere. As secrets and unspoken feelings begin to surface, the tension will mount, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Will Anneliese find the strength to confront her fears, and how will Jonathan''s unwavering support shape her journey toward recovery? Prepare for a chapter filled with raw emotion, unexpected revtions, and the undeniable power of love as they face the trials ahead together. Chapter 520 **Chapter 520: Awkward Intimacy** In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stretch into an infinite chasm, each tick of the clock dragging forward with agonizing slowness. Jonathan felt as though the weight of the world had settled heavily upon his shoulders, an oppressive burden that amplified his concern for Anneliese until Carter''s reassuring voice finally pierced through the fog of his anxiety, confirming her safety. "Are you still feeling unwell?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with genuine worry, his brow furrowing deeply as he scrutinized her pale face, the distress etched upon her delicate features tugging painfully at his heartstrings. He reached out instinctively, brushing a damp strand of hair away from her temple, wishing fervently that he could absorb her difort, to somehow take away her pain and rece it with warmth andfort. "No..." Anneliese murmured, uncertaintycing her tone as she bit her lip, but Jonathan could see the unease twisting her expression, deepening the worry coiling tightly in his chest. "Zion! Go drag Carter back here!" Frustration surged through him at the sheer absurdity of the situation. Why did everything have to feel so convoluted and tangled? "On it," Zion replied, his voice steady as he strode purposefully toward the door. Yet, panic flickered across Anneliese''s features as she clutched Jonathan''s hand tightly, her grip almost desperate. "Don''t call him," she pleaded, her voice barely rising above a whisper, thick with vulnerability. As her words hung in the air, she leaned into him slightly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, which only intensified the moment''s charged atmosphere. Jonathan noticed the subtle shift in her posture and instinctively lowered his head closer, catching her almost inaudible confession. "I... I can''t hold it much longer." Her voice was faint, a mere breath against the tension that enveloped them. Jonathan blinked in surprise, and then, a slow grin spread across his lips, warmth flooding his heart at her admission. He turned to Zion, who lingered hesitantly at the door, clearly unsure of what to do. "We''re fine. You can go," he said, dismissing him with a casual wave of his hand. Once Zion left, Jonathan chuckled softly, lifting Anneliese effortlessly into his arms, her slight frame fitting snugly against him as he carried her toward the bathroom. "We''re practically an old married couple now. How are you still shy about using the bathroom?" he teased, a yful glint dancing in his eyes. Anneliese froze at his words, her mind racing. An old married couple? Seriously? The thought sent a rush of warmth through her, mingled with a wave of embarrassment that made her heart race even faster. With Carter having just barged in for the exam, every inch of her felt tense and awkward, and admitting that she was fine seemed impossible when she was on the verge of bursting. "I''m not shy!" she snapped, her cheeks ring crimson, though her voice came out softer than she intended, betraying her embarrassment. Yet, when Jonathan stepped into the bathroom and reached to help with her pants, a wave of humiliation washed over her. "Get out! I can do it myself!" she protested, desperation creeping into her tone. Even that small act of resistance made her sway slightly, her vision darkening at the edges as anxiety threatened to overwhelm her. "Don''t struggle. I''ve got you," Jonathan said in a low, calming tone, unwavering in his determination to assist her. He steadied her against him and carefully slid her pants down, sending Anneliese''s face into a fiery blush of mortification. In a flurry of embarrassment, she hastily seated herself, but he remained directly in front of her, the proximity sending prickles of difort racing across her skin. "Red-faced, she pinched his waist. "Nope. Out!" ¡°Still keeping up that wless image of yours, Ms. ude?¡± Jonathan teased lightly, though concern flickered in his eyes. He didn''t want to step away in case she lost her bnce. Thest thing he wanted was for her to fall. When he carried her back to the bedroom, Anneliese looked utterly defeated, as though the very essence of life had drained from her, leaving her feeling fragile and exposed. Yet, Jonathan found her despondent expression irresistibly endearing, a strange mix of worry and affection swelling within him. He gently ced her on the bed, tucking the nket around her with a tender touch. "Rest for a bit. Then we''ll head home," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm against her frayed nerves. A wave of relief washed over her at his words, a flicker of gratitude igniting within her. ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued as she caught sight of the concern etched on his face. Jonathan''s gaze drifted to her cracked lips and the palm-shaped mark still lingering on her cheek, shadows clouding his eyes with unspoken worry. He rose to pour her a ss of water, the sound of the liquid filling the ss punctuating the silence that hung between them. "I had my eyes on Hiroto and Selina. They got spooked and noticed something. I didn''t expect Timothy to be released already. I miscalcted-underestimated them and left too many gaps in my n," he exined, the weight of his words heavy in the air. Because he had monitored Hiroto and Selina closely, he immediately knew who was behind Anneliese''s disappearance. Though it saved him time, he still arrived at the abandoned factory a step toote, frustration gnawing at him like a persistent shadow. He reviewed nearby surveince footage, tracked Timothy''s car, and after finally catching him, discovered that Anneliese had already escaped. Timothy had revealed her exit point, and Jonathan had traced her trail to Wendy''s car. He offered Anneliese a condensed version of events, omitting the details of how poorly he had handled Selina, Timothy, and Hiroto, not wanting to burden her with the weight of his failures. He brought the warm ss to her lips, steadying her as she drank, the simple act filled with unspoken care and affection. "You must be starving. What do you want to eat?" Her stomach churned with cramps, but the nausea and dizziness suppressed her appetite, leaving worry to grip her heart instead. "Grandma and Jess..." she murmured, the names slipping from her lips like a prayer. Jonathan wiped a droplet from her chin with a gentle touch, patting her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Rx. Once I knew Madam Chalmont had you, I informed Jessica." He paused, gauging her reaction, before continuing. "As for your grandma, I didn''t let Jessica tell her. We said Prof. Clocke urgently summoned you to theb to recover a critical data set." As the tension of the moment faded and the warmth of Jonathan''s care enveloped her, Anneliese felt a sense of safety she hadn''t anticipated. The embarrassment of their awkward intimacy began to dissolve, reced by a profound connection that transcended the chaos surrounding them. Jonathan''s unwavering support, even in the most vulnerable of circumstances, reassured her that she was not alone in this tumultuous world The yful banter between them,ced with genuine affection, reminded her of the strength they shared, a bond forged through trials and mutual understanding. With each gentle gesture, Jonathan was not just a protector; he was her anchor, grounding her in a reality that felt increasingly uncertain. In the quiet aftermath of their ordeal, a sense of rity settled over Anneliese. The weight of her worries lifted, reced by a flicker of hope as she realized that vulnerability could lead to deeper connections. Jonathan''s presence was a b balm to her frayed nerves, and as shey in thefort of his care, she could envision a future where their rtionship blossomed beyond the confines of awkwardness. With the promise of safety and emboldened to face whatever challengesy ahead, knowing that together, they could navigate theplexities of their lives. The journey would not be easy, but with Jonathan by her side, she was ready to embrace it, heart open and filled with newfound strength. **Conclusion** In the aftermath of their shared vulnerability, Anneliese found herself enveloped in a warmth that transcended the awkwardness of the moment. Jonathan''s unwavering support had transformed what could have been a moment of embarrassment into a profound connection, a realization that their bond was deepening amidst the chaos. As he tended to her with gentle care, the weight of her worries began to lift, reced by an unexpected sense of safety. The yful banter they exchanged,ced with genuine affection, reminded her that even in the most ufortable situations, they could find sce in each other. Jonathan was no longer just her protector; he had be her steadfast anchor in a tumultuous world. With this newfound rity, Anneliese felt emboldened to embrace the future, recognizing that vulnerability could lead to deeper connections. The chaos that had once surrounded her now felt manageable with Jonathan by her side, offering a promise ofpanionship and strength. As shey in thefort of his care, she envisioned a path forward where their rtionship could flourish, unencumbered by the past. Together, they could navigate theplexities of their lives, facing challenges hand in hand. With her heart open and filled with hope, Anneliese was ready to embrace whatevery ahead, knowing that their journey was just beginning, and that love could blossom even in the most unexpected of circumstances. **What to Expect in the Next Chapter?** As the dust settles from the chaos of the previous events, readers can anticipate a deepening of the bond between Anneliese and Jonathan. The tension that had once filled the air will begin to transform into a fragile yet beautiful connection, as both characters navigate theplexities of their feelings. With Anneliese''s vulnerabilityid bare, the next chapter promises to explore how this newfound intimacy affects their rtionship. Will they confront their emotions head-on, or will past fears and uncertainties push them apart? The stakes are higher than ever, and the emotionalndscape is ripe for exploration. Moreover, the tooming presence of external threats will continue to cast a shadow over their budding rtionship. With Timothy stillrge and the implications of Jonathan''s earlier miscalctiet weighing heavily on his mind, readers can expect a thrilling blend of action and emotional depth. How will Jonathan bnce his protective instincts with the need to allow Anneliese her independence? And what role will their friends, like Zion and Jessica, y in this evolving dynamic? As they face both internal and external challenges, the journey ahead will be fraught with tension,ughter, er, and moments that will test the very fabric of their connection. Prepare for a chapter that promises to be both heartwarming and suspenseful, leaving readers eager to see how Anneliese and Jonathan will navigate the uncharted waters of their rtionship amidst the chaos surrounding them. Chapter 521 **TITLE: Created 521** **Chapter 521 I Missed You** "Your grandmother has unwavering faith in Jessica," Jonathan said, his voice a soothing balm against the tumult of Anneliese''s anxious thoughts. His gaze locked onto hers, steady and reassuring, like a lighthouse guiding her through a stormy sea. ¡°She has no idea that you''ve been struggling like this. If those nerves are still getting to you, why not grab a little snack, freshen up, and then give her a video call? It might just help ease your mind." As his words settled into her heart, a profound sense of relief enveloped Anneliese, wrapping around her like a warm embrace on a cold day. She leaned her head into theforting palm of his hand, savoring the moment they shared, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over her. "Thank you..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, heavy with unspoken emotions. Thank you for understanding me, for standing by my side, for rushing back just when I needed you the most. Jonathan''s thumb glided gently along her soft earlobe, a tender caress that sent her heart racing. Yet, with a yful twist, he pinched it lightly, igniting a spark of mischief within her. ¡°Hm?¡± Anneliese blinked up at him, confusion dancing in her eyes, mixed with a hint of mock protest. His expression shifted, concern etching itself into his features as he chuckled softly. "You nearly gave me a heart attack," he replied, his tone half-serious, half-amused, a yful glint in his eyes. A warmth blossomed in her chest, and the moisture of unshed tears threatened to spill over. She sniffled, overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the moment, feeling lighter yet more vulnerable than she had in a long time. "Hubby, I missed you." Her words hung in the air, rare and vulnerable, an unguarded admission that she seldom allowed herself to voice. For a fleeting instant, Jonathan was caught off guard, his usual stoicism faltering as her airy confession washed over him like a tide, dismantling the emotional barriers he had built around his heart. His voice thickened with emotion, and a small, genuine smile began to form on his lips. "Say it clearly. Just how much did you miss me?" Anneliese hesitated, pondering how to convey the depth of her feelings. How had she never realized how much he reveled in teasing her? With a yful spark igniting in her eyes, she crooked a finger at him, beckoning him closer. Jonathan leaned down, curiosity dancing in the depths of his gaze, his heart racing with anticipation. She curled her finger again, urging him to lower himself even further, until their noses almost brushed against one another, the world around them fading into oblivion. His mind raced with possibilities, wondering what delightful mischief she was concocting, when suddenly, she puckered her lips and shot him a mischievous re that seemed to mock his romantic instincts. Jonathan chuckled, his deep-set eyes sparkling like stars scattered across a midnight sky, illuminating the space between them. This was not just any smile; it held a confident, almost sultry edge that sent a delightful thrill coursing through Anneliese, igniting a warmth deep within her. Her heart fluttered, hershes quivering as she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the sweet kiss she hoped would follow. But instead, heughed softly, the teasing lilt in his voice sending delightful shivers down her spine. "So, baby, you were craving my body, huh?" Surprise flickered in her eyes as hershes fluttered in disbelief, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. Jonathan lifted a hand, gently tapping her nose with his knuckle, a yful gesture that made her huff in mock annoyance. "Easy now. Behave yourself. You''re not fully recovered yet. Once you''re better, we''ll Her lips remained adorably puckered, and as realization dawned on her that he was teasing, she huffed again, her eyes snapping open, and her fist cocked, ready to yfully thump him. Jonathan allowed her to yfully hit him, fully aware that her tiny punches were more affectionate than forceful, a testament to their yful dynamic. He grinned, watching as color returned to her cheeks, the shadows of fear and exhaustion lifting like morning mist, revealing the vibrant woman he adored. Quietly, he exhaled, feeling a serene sense of peace wash over him, grateful for this moment of levity. They were newlyweds, blissfully in love, reunited after a brief but harrowing separation¡ªeach moment now charged with an intensity born from longing and desire. After such a scare, he intertwined his fingers with hers, pulling her into a warm embrace, allowing the silent strength of his presence to anchor them both. The room was suffused with a tender atmosphere, a cocoon of intimacy that enveloped them like a warm nket, shielding them from the outside world. Suddenly, the bedroom door swung open with a loud bang, shattering the serene moment like ss. A sharp voice sliced through the air, cutting through their bubble of bliss. ¡°Anneliese! You''re utterly shameless. Why are you still¡ª¡± It was Gianna, bursting in like a tempest, her presence an unwee storm that disrupted their tranquil haven. She had clearly just showered; damp strands of hair clung to her forehead, and she rushed in, ready to confront Anneliese without a second thought. But the sight that greeted her in the guest room made her pause, her words caught in her throat as she took in the scene-Jonathan''s protective stance, Anneliese''s startled expression. Jonathan released Anneliese and shot a piercing re toward Gianna, causing her voice to falter mid-sentence, startled by his sudden presence. "Jo-Jonathan? When... when did you get here?" She hadn''t heard a thing while bathing, and the sudden realization left her momentarily speechless, her mind racing to catch up with the unfolding drama. Jonathan''s eyes remained cold, like shards of ice. "Don''t call me that. Ms. Malone, please, exin to me why my wife is ''shameless."" Gianna bit her lip, anxiety coursing through her as she felt the weight of his gaze, the tension in the room thickening like a storm cloud. Even aside from her inability to challenge Jonathan, the close bond he shared with Zane meant she had to tread carefully, her heart pounding in her chest. ¡°Jonathan..... earlier, Anneliese... she puked on me, I.....¡± When he had rushed in, Jonathan had caught snippets of Pepper''s taunts, but his focus had been solely on Anneliese''s condition. Everything else could wait. Now, it was clear that a lot had transpired before his arrival, and the air crackled with unspoken words. Jonathan cut her off, his voice sharp and unyielding as steel. "It makes sense. Just looking at you makes me sick." Gianna''s eyes widened in disbelief, unable toprehend that she had heard him correctly. A gentleman like Jonathan saying something so rude was utterly unthinkable, a betrayal of the decorum she expected from him. She was the heiress of the Malone family; he should at least acknowledge the social ties between their families, or so she thought. "And this is my home!" she shot back, her face flushed with indignation, her voice rising in defiance. Jonathan''s lips curled into a sharp, measured smile, one that hinted at the storm brewing beneath the surface. ¡°Apologize to my wife." **Conclusion** In the aftermath of their reunion, Anneliese and Jonathan found themselves wrapped in a cocoon of intimacy, their connection fortified by the trials they had endured apart. The warmth of their bond radiated through the room, dispelling the lingering shadows of fear and uncertainty. Anneliese''s heartfelt admission, coupled with Jonathan''s yful teasing, allowed them to navigate theplexities of their emotions, transforming anxiety intoughter and love. As they embraced, the world outside faded away, leaving only theforting presence of one another, a reminder that together they could weather any storm. However, their moment of bliss was abruptly interrupted by Gianna''s unexpected arrival, a stark reminder of the challenges thaty ahead. The tension crackled in the air, hinting at the brewing conflict, as Jonathan''s fierce protectiveness over Anneliese shed with Gianna''s indignation se amid the turmoth Anneliese Yet even a felt a renewed sense of strength, bolstered by Jonathan''s unwavering support. Their love, once fragile, now stood resilient against external pressures, promising that together, they could confront any adversary. The emotional arc of their reunion had not only deepened their affection but also prepared them to face theplexities of their intertwined lives, united in love and determination. **What to Expect in the Next Chapter?** As the tension in the room esctes, readers can expect a riveting confrontation between Jonathan and Gianna that will test the boundaries of their rtionships. With Jonathan''s protective instincts ignited, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Gianna back down, or will she attempt to defend her actions? The dynamics of their intertwined lives promise to unravel further, leading to unexpected alliances and revtions. Anneliese, caught in the crossfire, will have to navigate her own feelings and loyalties as her husband stands firm against the storm that Gianna represents. vel Additionally, the chapter will delve deeper into Anneliese''s emotional journey, exploring how her recent experiences have reshaped her understanding of love and vulnerability. Expect poignant moments as she grapples with her feelings for Jonathan amidst the chaos. The yful banter between the couple may take a more serious turn, revealing hidden insecurities. and desires that could change their rtionship forever. With the potential for new challenges on the horizon, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to discover how Anneliese and Jonathan will confront both external conflicts and their own hearts. Chapter 522 **Chapter 522: The Apology He Demanded** Gianna stood in the midst of an emotional tempest, her heart pounding fiercely against her ribcage, a whirlwind of anger and frustration swirling within her. The very air around her felt electric, thick with unspoken words and unresolved tensions, as if the universe itself held its breath in anticipation. Before her, Jonathan loomed like an unyielding statue, his silence more oppressive than any usation she could imagine. He hadn''t cared to ask for her side of the story, yet here he was, demanding an apology from her¡ªa demand that felt utterly unjust, as if she were the one who hadmitted a grave offense. Just moments ago, her mother had echoed Jonathan''s sentiments, reinforcing the feeling of being trapped in a corner with no way out. Gianna felt the walls closing in on her, suffocating her spirit. Anneliese had invaded her life like a storm, and Gianna couldn''t shake the sense that this woman was a harbinger of chaos. The memories flooded back: how Anneliese had effortlessly stolen the spotlight at work, always managing to outshine her, and how, without a second thought, she had taken Zane¡ªsomeone who meant the world to Gianna-leaving her heartbroken and seething with resentment. Now, the audacity of Anneliese to intrude upon her sanctuary, her home, felt like a dagger twisting in her side, a further betrayal that ignited her indignation. The thought of apologizing to Anneliese was absurd; why should she extend any courtesy to someone who had done nothing but undermine her existence? Gianna''s expression hardened as she stood before Jonathan, her fury palpable, her body trembling with indignation. As the proud heiress of the Malone family, she had never bowed her head to anyone-especially not to a woman she regarded with such disdain. But Jonathan''s cool,manding gaze pierced through her bravado, sending a chill coursing through her. She felt her breath catch in her throat, and the defiance she had so fiercely clung to began to waver. Even if her father and brother were present, they would defer to him, and that realization only deepened her frustration. After what felt like an eternity, Gianna forced herself to swallow her anger, her voice trembling as she struggled to maintain control. "I... I was too angry earlier. I said things I shouldn''t have..." Her gaze was locked onto Jonathan, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, a tumultuous mix of hurt and resentment swirling within her. She couldn''t even bring herself to acknowledge Anneliese, who stood there with a smug smile stered across her face. Jonathan''s expression darkened, his tone as unyielding as ever. ¡°Apologize to my wife." The demandnded on Gianna like a p across the face. She had already softened her stance, yet he pushed her further, igniting a fresh wave of rage within her. Clenching her jaw, she stood her ground, refusing to yield. The atmosphere in the room thickened, a palpable silence enveloping them until Anneliese, with a delicate tug on Jonathan''s shirt, broke the tension. "Hubby, forget it." Gianna couldn''t help but curl her lip in disdain, yet a flicker of relief washed over her. At least Anneliese seemed to grasp her ce, albeit just slightly. But her moment of respite was fleeting, as Anneliese added with a condescending lightness, ¡°Her apology isn''t worth much anyway. I don''t need it." Gianna felt as if her chest might burst from the weight of her anger and humiliation. Jonathan, unfazed by the escting emotions, simply nodded. "You''re right, honey. People with foul mouths rarely recognize their faults. We won''t stoop to her level." "You''re going too far!" Gianna snapped, her voice rising in protest, the sting of beingbeled foul-mouthed again cutting deeper than she could bear. Overwhelmed, she turned on her heel and fled the room, tears streaming down her face, a torrent of emotions spilling forth. The silence that followed her departure was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. Anneliese turned to Jonathan, an amused smile dancing on her lips. "This is Madam Chalmont''s home. You just made her daughter cry." Jonathan chuckled, a calm sound that only fueled the fire of Gianna''s anger. ¡°I''m a gentleman. You made her cry." Anneliese was taken aback momentarily. With a tongue as sharp as his, it was no wonder even a teenager would shed tears. In that moment, she couldn''t dismiss Gianna as merely dramatic, yet a warmth unfurled in her chest at the thought of Jonathan''s steadfastness. She knew him well. He wasposed, never cruel; strict with himself and courteous to others, always respectful to women. He never humiliated anyone simply because he could, nor did he put someone on the spot without justification. Yet here he was, applying pressure in their own home, which felt decidedly uncharacteristic of him. The Malones and the Fullbusters had been friends for ages. He had just addressed Wendy as "Madam Chalmont," a clear indication of familiarity. But with Gianna, he showed no leniency¡ªonly for Anneliese''s sake. "Why are you staring at me?" Jonathan asked, arching an eyebrow as he caught Anneliese''s gaze. "You didn''t even ask what happened, and you still made Gianna apologize?" she replied, incredulitycing her voice. He blinked, a faint smile crossing his lips. "Why would I ask? You''re my wife. Who else matters? Any decent man would stand by his wife.¡± His words flowed with an ease that made them feel like an undeniable truth and he meant every syble. Anneliese''sshes fluttered as she lowered her gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. What Jonathan said was undeniably true, though such unwavering support was a rarity among men. The sensation of being unconditionally protected was intoxicating, a feeling she had never known before. She nestled against his chest once more, a strange sense of gratitude blooming within her for Zacharias. If it weren''t for his jerkish behavior, she might never have discovered Jonathan. "Mm,¡± she murmured, reveling in the warmth that enveloped her, then lifted a hand toward him. ¡°Carry me out. Otherwise, the host might kick us both out." Jonathan took her hand, but instead of lifting her, he shook his head. "Madam Chalmont isn''t the type to spoil her child. You look pale. Rest a little longer, and we''ll goter. I''ll head downstairs first." As he prepared to leave, the atmosphere in the living room below stood in stark contrast to the tenderness they had just shared upstairs. In the aftermath of the confrontation, Gianna found herself vel grappling with a whirlwind of emotions that left her feeling exposed and vulnerable. Her defiance, once a shield against the world, crumbled under Jonathan''s unwavering gaze and the weight of his expectations. The tears that streamed down her face were not just a release of pent-up anger but also a manifestation of the deep-seated hurt that had festered within her for far too long. In that moment, she realized that her struggle was not merely against Anneliese but against the fragile threads of her own identity and the expectations that came with it. The apology she had been forced to utter felt like a betrayal of her own spirit, yet it also marked the beginning of a painful but necessary journey toward understanding and reconciliation. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Anneliese''s bond deepened in the wake of the tension, revealing a dynamic rooted in mutual respect and unwavering support. His steadfastness in defending her, even amidst the chaos, illuminated the strength of their rtionship, casting a stark contrast to Gianna''s istion. As Anneliese nestled against him, she felt a warmth that transcended the superficiality of their earlier interactions, a realization that Jonathan''s loyalty was a rare and precious gift. While Gianna''s heart was heavy with resentment and confusion, Anneliese was enveloped in a newfound sense of security that she had longed for. In this moment, the emotional arc of the evening reached a poignant conclusion, highlighting theplexities of love, loyalty, and the painful path toward healing thaty ahead for all involved. **What to Expect in Next Chapter?** In the uing chapter, Gianna''s emotional turmoil will take center stage as she grapples with the fallout from her confrontation with Jonathan and Anneliese. The tension that has been simmering beneath the surface is bound to reach a boiling point, forcing Gianna to confront not only her feelings of betrayal but also theplex dynamics of her rtionships with both Jonathan and Anneliese. Will she find the strength to stand her ground, or will the weight of familial expectations and societal pressures push her further into a corner? Readers can anticipate a deep dive into her psyche, revealing the vulnerabilities that lie beneath her fierce exterior. Meanwhile, Jonathan''s unwavering support for Anneliese will be tested as the repercussions of his actions ripple through their lives. As Gianna''s anger festers, the delicate bnce of their rtionships may begin to unravel. Will Jonathan remain steadfast in his defense of Anneliese, or will he start to question the ramifications of his choices? The chapter promises to explore theplexities of loyalty, love, and the consequences of unyielding demands, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how these intertwined lives will navigate the storm ahead. Expect unexpected alliances, raw emotions, and perhaps even a revtion that could change everything for Gianna and those around her. Chapter 523 **TITLE: Created 523** Gianna flew down the staircase, her heart racing as if it were trying to escape the turmoil within her. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, each drop a testament to the emotional storm brewing inside. She flung herself into her mother Wendy''s arms, much like a child desperately seeking refuge after a day filled with unrelenting harshness at school. "Mom! I was bullied!" she cried out, her voice thick with raw emotion, a mixture of sorrow and indignation. Wendy inhaled deeply, her instincts as a mother kicking in. She reached for a tissue, her hands trembling slightly as she dabbed at Gianna''s tear-stained face, her heart aching at the sight of her daughter''s distress. ¡°What happened, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice a gentle balm, trying to create a sanctuary where Gianna could pour out her feelings without fear of judgment. "It''s Jonathan," Gianna replied, her voice quaking with righteous anger. "He didn''t even bother to ask me what really happened he just told me to apologize to Anneliese! And then he snapped at me like I was the one who did something wrong!" Gianna''s eyes were wide and red, a blend of hurt and frustration swirling in her innocent expression. It was a childlike pout that made it nearly impossible for Wendy to maintain herposure, even though she could sense Gianna was venting her grievances. Wendy ced aforting hand on her daughter''s back, forcing a smile that was tinged with helplessness. "But, honey, you have to admit that you might have crossed a line today," she said gently, trying to steer Gianna''s perspective without dismissing her feelings. "I was just standing up for India! You don''t understand, Mom," Gianna insisted, her voice rising with fervor. "She cares so much about Jonathan! They''re practically engaged! Why should Anneliese just waltz in, act like she''s the star of the show, and have no shame at all?" ¡°Gianna!¡± Wendy''s voice sliced through the air, sharp and cold, her usually gentle demeanor faltering as a frown creased her brow. Gianna froze, taken aback. Her mother rarely raised her voice; she was typically the calm anchor in their often-stormy lives. Pulling away from Wendy''s embrace, Gianna turned and clung to Aunt Pepper, her sulking demeanor evident as she buried her face in her aunt''s side, seeking thefort that felt more essible in that moment. "Aunt Pepper..." she murmured, her voice barely audible, a plea for sce. Pepper gently stroked Gianna''s hair, her touch a soothing balm as she spoke softly. "It''s alright, sweetheart. Your mom isn''t really mad at you. She just had a passing thought¡ªnothing more. No need to cry." She nced at Wendy, her expression a blend of understanding and concern. "Wendy, you know how Gianna is. Standing up for her cousin isn''t a crime. She''s just a little spoiled, and throwing a temper tantrum isn''t the end of the world." ¡°It''s New Year''s! How can you let your own daughter cry over someone you''ve met only once?" Pepper continued, her voice rising slightly. "Sure, Gianna made a mistake, but let''s not pretend Anneliese is a saint. If she were truly decent, Gianna wouldn''t be in tears right now." Gianna tightened her grip on Pepper, her small face flushed with anger and defiance. She refused to look at Wendy, her stubbornness palpable. Wendy felt the sting of those words, scraping against old wounds that had never fully healed. A dull ache throbbed in her head, and her chest felt constricted as memories surged forth unbidden. Seeing Gianna''s tears softened her heart, despite her earlier frustration. ¡°Gianna, I realize I was too harsh," Wendy admitted, her tone shifting to one of gentleness, vulnerability creeping into her words. "You''ve always adored that ruby set I collected, haven''t you? I''ll give it to you as a New Year''s gift." "I don''t want it. You should give it to Mrs. Fullbuster instead," Gianna mumbled, her defiance still evident, a shield against her mother''s affection. "Don''t be silly. You''re my daughter, and that''s why I expect more from you. I push you because I believe in you," Wendy replied, her voice firm yetced with love. Gianna''s lips curled into a slight smile, the tension easing just a little. "Fine." "Enough of this. Your makeup is a disaster. Let''s get you cleaned up. We still have guests to entertain," Pepper said, pulling Gianna to her feet with a gentle nudge, her tone lightening the atmosphere. As they made their way upstairs, Gianna''s expression morphed into a sulky scowl, her brows knitting together in frustration. "Aunt Pepper, I swear my mom doesn''t love me. She''s nicer to Anneliese than she is to me," she muttered, her voice thick with hurt, the words spilling out like a secret she had been holding too long. Pepper lightly tapped her head, a yful gesture meant to lift her spirits. ¡°That''s nonsense. Even if your mom didn''t love you-which she absolutely does she would never treat a stranger better than her own child." Gianna pouted, her brows furrowing deeper. "What did I do wrong? Why did she suddenly blow up like that? Her whole face changed." Pepper''s eyes momentarily flickered with memories of a distant past, shadows of old wounds surfacing. Back when Wendy had been with Adrian, he was already engaged to someone else. Their families had arranged it when they were vel children¡ªthe Quimby heiress, & girl from a powerful lineage in Halden, whose family wielded military and Porticalinfluence The two patriarchs had been brothers-in-arms, their bond forged in loyalty and blood. The Quimby heiress had grown up alongside Adrian, her childhood sweetheart, but then he fell for Wendy¡ªa seemingly ordinary girl daring to challenge a legend. Wendy dove headfirst into the opulent yet treacherous waters of the Malones'' high society. The Quimby heiress had relentlessly attacked her, wielding her family''s power like a weapon, and Wendy had endured every blow with fierce determination. In the end, it was the heiress who cost Wendy dearly-she lost her daughter in the crossfire. That was the price that ended the tumultuous love triangle¡ªthe cost was her child''s life. Adrian had orchestrated the heiress''s demise, yet Wendy''s daughter never returned. The loss remained Wendy''s epest wound, a scar that never faded. So when Gianna mentioned Anneliese, Jonathan, and India, it struck a nerve, echoing the pain of the past. Wendy found herself confronting memories she had buried deep, and her reaction was as inevitable as the tide. It had all transpired over two decades ago. The younger generation had no inkling of the storm that had once raged; what had been a tempest had long since been silenced and buried by the Quimby and Malone families, leaving only whispers of the past. "Enough of this. The past is the past; don''t dig it up,¡± Pepper said, her voice firm, cutting through the heavy air, a reminder that healing muste from the present. In the aftermath of this emotional upheaval, Gianna and Wendy began to navigate the turbulent waters of their rtionship, each grappling with their own ghosts while striving to understand one another. Gianna''s defiance, once a shield against her mother''s expectations, slowly transformed into a tentative eptance of Wendy''s love, albeit one colored by the shadows of their shared history. As Wendy extended a peace offering in the form of the cherished ruby set, the tension that had gripped their hearts began to dissipate, revealing the fragile bond of trust that still lingered beneath the surface. Gianna, caught between her desire for independence and her need for maternal affection, found sce in the realization that her mother''s harshness stemmed from a ce of love and protection, even if it was sometimes misdirected. Meanwhile, Wendy''s internal struggle wasid bare, as the weight of her past threatened to suffocate her present. The haunting memories of los and betrayal, long buried beneathyers of resilience, resurfaced with a vengeance, reminding her that the sears of her past were not easily forgotten. Yet, as she looked into her daughter''s tear-streaked face, she recognized the importance of breaking the cycle of pain that had once defined her own childhood. With Pepper''s gentle reminder echoing in her mind, Wendy resolved to confront her. fears and embrace a future where her daughter could feel loved and valued, free from the shadows of her predecessors. Together, they stood at the precipice of healing, ready to forge a new path forward, one built on understanding,passion, and the unwavering bond of family. Chapter 524 Pepper leaned in closer to Gianna, her voice soft yet firm as she attempted to quell the rising storm within her friend. "Gianna, listen to me. You are the heiress of the Malone family. Why would you even think about confronting a woman like Anneliese head-on? Without Old Mr. Fullbuster''s endorsement, she''s nothing more than a jester in this grand y of high society. Trust me, they will eventually push her out of their circle. There''s no need for you to rush into this." Navigating the treacherous waters of high society had never been a simple task, especially when it came to securing a good marriage. Wendy and Adrian had once burned with a passion that resembled wildfire, and Wendy had truly believed that she would find love in her marriage. But, as fate would have it, her dreams had been dashed, leaving her heart shattered and alone. Anneliese, on the other hand, bore the heavy burden of a divorce, her body marked by scars that made the prospect of motherhood seem like a distant dream. Shecked even the capabilities that Wendy had possessed at that time. When Wendy had married Adrian, she had already been carrying their child, Steven. Had that not been the case, Adrian''s father would never have allowed her into their prestigious family. Jonathan had rushed to secure the marriage license with Anneliese before even informing the rest of the family. This only fueled the resentment that the Fullbuster family would undoubtedly harbor against her; her journey within their world was bound to be fraught with obstacles. The oue of this tangled web of rtionships felt as if it had already been etched into stone. "I can''t stand her! I absolutely hate her!" Gianna burst out, her frustration evident as she shook Pepper''s arm in a fit of anger. Pepper gently pinched Gianna''s cheek, a motherly gesture meant to calm her. "You mustn''t make things more difficult for her, especially in Mr. Fullbuster''s presence. No matter the circumstances, she is his wife, and he will always defend her reputation." "Lucky b*tch. Some people are just born with all the advantages, aren''t they? Divorced, yet she still manages to marry Jonathan,¡± Gianna retorted bitterly, unable to shake the feeling that Anneliese was no different than Jessica. A shadow passed over Pepper''s eyes, her expression darkening slightly. "Yes, she certainly has her share of luck." Just then, Jonathan descended the staircase, and his eyes fell upon Wendy, who was lost in thought by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the sitting room. "Madam Chalmont," he greeted her, his voice warm yet filled with concern. Wendy''s gaze remained fixed outside, her mind seemingly adrift in distant memories, as if she hadn''t heard him at all. As Jonathan stepped closer, the sound of his footsteps seemed to break the spell, causing Wendy to startle slightly and bring her focus back to the present moment. He noticed she was clutching a yellowed piece of paper, which appeared to be some kind of medical test result. Before he could discern its contents, Wendy swiftly folded it and tucked it away, as if hiding a secret. "Why are you down here? I may not know all the details of what she went through, but it must have been terrifying. Right now, you should be with her, offering yourfort,¡± he urged, concern etched on his face. Though Anneliese had not shared every detail with Wendy, the wounds that marred her body and the frantic way she had jumped into Wendy''s car spoke volumes. Wendy could piece together the fragments of Anneliese''s ordeal. Perhaps it reminded her of a simr experience from her own youth-being kidnapped and fleeing for her life. That harrowing chapter of her past ignited a fierce protective instinct within Wendy towards Anneliese. She had brought her home, and wave of worry washed over her as she thought of the young woman''s plight. "Thank you for your kindness, Madam Chalmont. My wife is struggling right now. We may need to impose an you for a little longer. apologize for ruining your New Year Jonathan said, his voice tinged with regret. Wendy chuckled softly, a lightness in her tone. "Look at you you''ve learned to appreciate her without anyone needing to teach you. That''s wonderful.¡± Jonathan raised an eyebrow, a tender smile ying at the corners of his lips. "Please, no teasing, Madam Chalmont." She shook her head, her expression sincere. "I''m not teasing. I''m genuinely relieved. I can see that she''s a good person. It makes sense that ally Mrs. Fullbuster personall asked me to design her wedding dress." s?novels Jonathan, taken aback, realized he had never heard that before; Penelope had kept it from him. "My wife in a dress designed by you? She''s going to look absolutely breathtaking, and I can''t contain my excitement,¡± he replied, his voice filled with enthusiasm. Wendy couldn''t help but smile, a warmth spreading through her heart. He had never been this talkative; his evident affection for Anneliese was unmistakable. As Jonathan''s feelings became more apparent, old memories and quiet anxieties stirred within Wendy, lingering in the back of her mind. After a moment of contemtion, she asked cautiously, "Would you mind sharing what happened?" A sense of unease settled over her, fearing that this incident might echo the dark shadows of her own past involving India. But then again, India had never struck her as that kind of person, though perhaps she had misjudged her. Some girls transformedpletely when they fell in love. "My wife''s background is a bitplicated," Jonathan began, sensing her concern. Since Wendy had been so supportive of Anneliese, he feltpelled to provide her with a brief overview of the situation. Upon learning that it wasn''t rted to India, Wendy exhaled a sigh of relief. ¡°So her past is truly turbulent. It sounds like she grew up without parents. Poor girl..." For reasons she couldn''t quite articte, the image of Anneliese in an orphanage, finally reuniting with her parents only to be met with further hardships, twisted Wendy''s heart painfully. Perhaps it was her age; she couldn''t help but think of her own daughter. If her daughter were still alive, Wendy hoped she would have grown to be as resilient and radiant as Anneliese. Jonathan smiled at her, a knowing look in his eyes. "You''ve taken quite a liking to her, haven''t you, Madam Chalmont?" Chapter 525 Wendy nodded thoughtfully, her expression earnest. "I felt a strong connection with her. Anneliese really needs a couple more days of rest in bed. If you''re okay with it, why not let her stay here to recuperate?" She knew that if Jonathan took Anneliese back home, the atmosphere within the Fullbuster household would be anything but tranquil. Wendy''s mind raced with the implications. Anneliese was hardly in a fit state to celebrate the New Year at Jonathan''s ce, not in her current condition. Though she was an outsider in this delicate situation, the words tumbled out before she could rein them in. It was as if her exhaustion had stripped her of the usual boundaries she maintained. Jonathan turned to her, surprise flickering across his face. "Thank you, Madam Chalmont. However, it wouldn''t be appropriate for me to impose on your New Year festivities. I appreciate your concern, but I''ll take care of her myself." Wendy scrutinized him closely. His brows were furrowed just enough to indicate deep thought, his gaze unwavering, and his tone was calm and self-assured. He was truly remarkable¡ªsoposed and deliberate in his demeanor. Observing him like this made Wendy question whether she had been overthinking the whole matter. After all, she and Adrian were not Anneliese and Jonathan. As she took in the firmness and steadiness in Jonathan''s expression, Wendy felt her worries begin to dissipate, reced by a soft smile. "I actually prepared a little gift for you to celebrate your marriage. May your bond grow stronger with each passing year, and may you share a lifetime filled with joy together." With that, she retrieved a beautifully carved sandalwood box from the low cab, its surface smooth and warm to the touch, and handed it to him with a flourish. Jonathan''s lips curled into a faint yet gracious smile as he epted the gift without hesitation. ¡°Then I won''t stand on ceremony. My wife will adore this. Thank you, Madam Chalmont." As he thought of his mother, who had been a constant source of trouble for Anneliese, Jonathan couldn''t help but cast a sideways nce at Wendy, feeling a twinge of envy towards Steven. Steven may not have had aplete family either, but at least he had a dependable mother and a sweet, charming daughter. If only he and Anneliese could have a daughter, too¡ªshe would surely be beautiful and irresistibly adorable. The thought made Steven seem enviable. But then Jonathan remembered Steven had no wife. Meanwhile, he had the love of his life, a wife he cherished beyond measure. Any jealousy he felt evaporated as quickly as it had surfaced. Once again, the reality of having a wife seemed to solve everything. "Madam Chalmont, the pumpkin oatmeal is ready. Should I take it upstairs for thedy now?" A housemaid appeared at the parlor door, a tray bnced delicately in her hands, her voice polite and respectful. Wendy turned to Jonathan, her concern evident. "Make sure she eats something. She just threw up everything in her stomach." Jonathan nodded, gratitude swelling within him for Wendy''s thoughtfulness. He rose from his seat, ready to go. At that moment, a yellowed sheet slipped from Wendy''s hand and fluttered to the floor at his feet. He recognized it instantly as the old hospital form she had been holding. Curiosity piqued, he bent down to retrieve it and handed it back to her. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a prenatal checkup form. Wendy''s name was printed on it, and the gestational age noted was 31 weeks. Judging by the date, it must have been from her pregnancy with Gianna. She smiled softly as she epted it. "This is the prenatal form from when I was expecting my daughter." With a gentle, absentminded gesture, she rubbed the paper, as if brushing away dust that couldn''t possibly exist, then folded it with care and tucked it into her pocket. Jonathan nodded, a quiet understanding passing between them, but something nagged at the back of his mind. The creases and frayed edges suggested this paper had been cherished for years. Gianna lived re, yet Wendy treated the prenatal form like a precious keepsake, holding it close with a wistful look in her eyes. At first, it didn''t quite make sense to him. He chose not to press the issue. Instead, he took the tray from the maid, determined to see to Anneliese''s needs himself. As he made his way upstairs, he couldn''t shake the feeling that Anneliese was starving. After a period of rest-perhaps the medication had finally begun to take effect-herdizziness and nausea had lessened. The pumpkin oatmeal Wendy had requested wafted a warm, velvety aroma, filling the air withfort. Several small, light dishes were artfull arranged on delicate porcin tes apanied by fresh fruit that looked bright and inviting. Jonathan helped Anneliese eat, ensuring she was mostly full before he paused, concerned that too much at once might upset her stomach again. With her stomach finally settled, Anneliese felt a wave of relief wash over her. She called Nishay, her voice soothing as she spoke to her friend for a while, before finally lying down to rest again. When she awoke, the soft light of dawn filtered through the window, revealing that an entire night had slipped by. She barely stirred before a familiar voice brushed softly against her ear. "How are you feeling now?" It was then she noticed the warmth of the man beside her. He usually held her close when they slept, but tonight he had evidently been careful not to disturb her. Hey properly on his side of the beds So cautious that she hadn''t realized he was there at first. Chapter 526 Anneliese felt a wave of relief wash over her, the heaviness in her limbs slowly lifting. She wanted to adjust her position, to find a morefortable way to lie. As soon as she began to stir, the man beside her reacted instinctively, leaning in closer, his arm sliding effortlessly beneath her neck in a protective embrace. His voice, low and soothing, wrapped around her like a warm nket. "Don''t move too much. You''ll irritate the wound at the back of your head. I''ll help you," he urged gently. His broad, reassuring palm shielded the sensitive area at the nape of her neck as he carefully maneuvered her onto her side, ensuring herfort. In that moment, Anneliese felt like a fragile doll, delicately positioned ording to someone else''s desires. A small, involuntary smile danced on her lips, a flicker of joy amidst the uncertainty. "I feel much better. Where are we?" she asked, her curiosity piqued as she nced around the unfamiliar surroundings. The vi, though strange, bore an uncanny resemnce to Jonathan''s bedroom at Maple Bay, the decor striking a chord of familiarity deep within her. A tight knot formed in her chest as the realization hit her. Has Jonathan brought me back to the Fullbuster Residence while I was asleep? This was her first time stepping into this ce, and she couldn''t shake the self- consciousness that enveloped her. She felt disheveled, exposed, like a flower out of season. Noticing the fleeting panic that flickered across her face, Jonathan immediately recognized her unease. He wrapped her securely in his arms, pulling her close. "This is my ce in Halden-Oand Residence. How about we spend the day alone, just the two of us?" he proposed, his voice a soft melody in the quiet room. She released a gentle exhale, her body rxing under the weight of his words. "I nearly jumped out of my skin,¡± she admitted, cing a hand over her heart as a wave of relief washed over her, soothing her frayed nerves. Jonathan chuckled softly, his gaze warm as he looked down at her. "Are you really that afraid toe home with me?" She blinked up at him, her thoughts swirling like autumn leaves. "Yes. I''m not ready yet." She couldn''t shake the apprehension that bubbled within her. Jonathan''s grandfather and father were likely nothing like Penelope. They probably didn''t envision her as the ideal granddaughter-inw or daughter-inw. Moreover, with the holidays approaching, Elizabeth might also be home, adding anotheryer of anxiety to the mix. Thest encounter with Elizabeth had left a bitter taste in her mouth. Anneliese hadn''t experienced any significant loss then, but the difort of their interaction still lingered. She wanted to sidestep any potential conflict. "Rx. I''m here. No one can touch you. But if you truly don''t want to go back, I won''t force you,¡± Jonathan reassured her, his fingers gently stroking her long hair, a tender gesture that made her heart flutter. She lifted her gaze to meet his, searching for understanding. ¡°But I ended up in Halden anyway. If I don''t stop by to say hello, won''t your family be upset when they find out?" A small, knowing smile crept onto Jonathan''s lips. ¡°You care a lot about their feelings and opinions?" She shot him a pointed look, her resolve firm. Of course. They''re your family. Marriage isn''t just about us it''s the merging of two families i your family doesn''t ept me, we won''tst. And you-don''t forget, you need my grandma''s approval as well." In her youth, she had been a naive girl, believing that love and marriage revolved solely around the couple. She had thought that affection alone would suffice. But after enduring the relentless torment from Zacharias'' mother and sister-countless moments of swallowing her pride only to be met with humiliation he knew better now. To think otherwise would be foolish. Jonathan listened intently, his expression darkening as he absorbed her words. "Anne, if I couldn''t win your grandma''s approval, would you leave me?" Without a moment''s hesitation, she nodded firmly. "Of course I would. Grandma is my most important family. So when you meet her, you''d better bring your A-game." She had unwavering faith that Jonathan would leave asting impression on her grandmother. To her, it seemed inconceivable that he could fail¡ªhe was perfect in every way, and her grandmother had an exquisite taste that would surely recognize his worth. Yet, Jonathan''s breath hitched at her resolute answer, a rough edge scraping against his throat. "Baby, what if no matter what I do, your grandma still doesn''t like me?" he asked, pressing his chin gently against the top of her head, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice for the first time. Anneliese had never heard him speak with such vulnerability before. Taken aback, she looked up at him, her heart racing. "You''re Jonathan Fullbuster-the famous, unstoppable man. You can''t be doubting yourself. Rx. My grandma is very easygoing," she reassured him, trying to infuse her words with confidence. But her attempts atfort seemed to bounce off him, his arms tightening around her as if to shield her from the world. ¡°No. You have to promise me you won''t leave me. No matter what." He buried his handsome face in the crook of her neck, cing soft, tender kisses against her warm skin, igniting a warmth that spread through her entire being. Anneliese almostughed, realizing that Jonathan was being intentionally clingy, using his charm to coax her into submission. He nuzzled her so thoroughly that her skin tingled, and with a helpless little sigh, she surrendered. "Okay, okay. I promise." Only then did he lift his head, his deep, searching gaze locking with hers. "Remember what you said." They lingered in bed for another half hour, wrapped in each other''s warmth, before finally rising to the day. During breakfast, Zion. arrived to update Jonathan on Tothy and the others, buel new wave of reality crashing in. Chapter 527 "Timothy, Hiroto, and Selina have all been taken into custody," Jonathan announced, his voice steady yetced with an undercurrent of urgency. "The Director is treating this matter with utmost seriousness, having assembled a task force overnight to interrogate them. Hiroto has confessed that Selina ordered him to eliminate Calvin to ensure his silence, and he ims she is also the mastermind behind the recent kidnapping of Mrs. Fullbuster." Anneliese felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of Mrs. Fullbuster''s kidnapping. ¡°Selina used Hiroto to reach out to those four thugs. He even recorded her pleading for an introduction. Now, he is eager to confess in hopes of receiving leniency." Jonathan''s brow furrowed as he continued, "Selina remains unconscious. With the overwhelming evidence against her, it will be nearly impossible for her to deny her involvement. And Timothy? He shows no regard for the father-daughter bond; he too insists that Selina orchestrated the kidnapping." Anneliese blinked in disbelief, her heart racing. "Selina hasn''t woken up?" The thought of her rival in such a vulnerable state stirred a mix of concern and curiosity within her. Jonathan gently squeezed her hand, a gesture meant tofort. "She is easily frightened,¡± he stated, though his eyes betrayed a deeper concern. The details of Selina''s condition were grim, and Jonathan wished Anneliese would never have to hear them. Nearby, Zion stood quietly, a smirk ying at the corners of his lips. Selina had been brutally stabbed in the abdomen and had endured torment at the hands of several thugs until dawn. By the time she was discovered, she was hardly recognizable. To be alive was already a miracle, yet Jonathan described her as someone who "is easily scared"? But deep down, Zion couldn''t shake the thought that Selina had brought this upon herself. She deserved no sympathy, not after the chaos she had caused. "Why was Timothy released?" Jonathan asked, serving Anneliese another bowl of soup. He had already made it clear to the station that Timothy should remain detained. If left to their own devices, Timothy would have been released much earlier, but the station had inexplicably let him go. Jonathan''s mind raced with the implications. Selina and Hiroto had intended to escape at the same time, and the timing of this release troubled him. "Mr. Pierce informed me that the officers were trying to improve their clearance rates, misunderstood the case, and inadvertently released Timothy. The deputy in charge showed no signs of wrongdoing; it appears to have been a mistake," Zion reported, pausing momentarily as if weighing his next words. ¡°Speak up,¡± Jonathan urged, his patience wearing thin. "Zaxton and the others are still outside. They wish to apologize to Madam," Zion added. Anneliese looked up, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Huh?" Zion borated, "Earlier, Mr. Fullbuster learned that Selina and Hiroto were nning to flee. He instructed Zaxton to monitor them closely, fearing they might harm Mrs. Fullbuster. Zaxton became careless, which led to Madam''s fright." Anneliese had beenpletely unaware of these developments. She turned to Jonathan, her heart swelling with gratitude and admiration. She had never fathomed that he had been working so diligently behind the scenes to protect her. ¡°Just eat,¡± Jonathan said softly, gesturing for her not to fret. "Maybe don''t punish them," Anneliese suggested, squeezing Jonathan''s hand in a gesture of solidarity Nothing truly happened to me and they did find me. That counts for something. Besides, it''s New Year''s Eve." The people who had quietly safeguarded her had already borne a heavy burden. Their mistake hadn''t been intentional. If me were to be assigned, it rested squarely on Selina and Hiroto, who had been sharp enough to notice Jonathan''s men trailing them. In truth, Anneliese felt a flicker of admiration for their cunning. Zion''s decision to bring the bodyguards to seek forgiveness was clearly a hope that she would advocate on their behalf-a notion she understood all too well. Jonathan was aware of this too. His handsome features darkened slightly as he cast a nce at Zion, yet the gentle squeeze of Anneliese''s hand seemed to dissolve much of his irritation. Finally, he spoke in a low voice, "Deduct their year-end bonus. Then send them home to reflect on their actions." The bodyguards employed by the Fullbuster family enjoyed generous benefits, and losing their bonuses would sting but it was hardly devastating punishment. This was, in fact, the mildest reprimand possible. Zion shot Anneliese a grateful wink, silently thanking her on behalf of everyone involved. She returned his gesture with a warm smile. ¡°You''ve worked hard these days too, Mr. Hand. Allow me to wish you a Happy New Year in advance.¡± His face broke into a broad grin. "Then I''ll extend my wishes to Mr. Fullbuster and Mrs. Fullbuster as welt. May your love grow even, stronger this year-perhaps we''ll be weing a little one from you two soon." He turned to leave, still beaming, leaving Anneliese momentarily speechless. A little one... seriously? When had subordinates be so audacious as to nudge their boss toward starting a family? It was utterly unbelievable. But then, a thought crossed Anneliese''s mind, bringing a smile to her lips. She remembered Jessica and wondered whether she had ever bought a pregnancy test and what the oue had been. Just as she was about to send Jessica a message, Jonathan''s phone rang. It was Derek. Jonathan answered promptly, "Grandpa." "Where are you? It''s New Year''s Eve, and you haven''t even shown your face! Is that eptable?!" The old man''s voice boomed with authority, and Anneliese could hear every word as if he were standing right next to her. Chapter 528 She gently tugged at his sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper, "I''m feeling much better now. I promise I''ll return to Oceatonter. Please, don''t fret.¡± But deep down, her thoughts were tangled. I still want to be with my grandmother for New Year''s. This year had been particrly tough; Grandma had undergone major surgery, and this would be her first New Year since my divorce. It felt essential to be there for her, no matter the circumstances. Jonathan, sensing her resolve, squeezed her hand softly, his eyes filled with understanding. "We''ll make it back in time for New Year''s dinner, I assure you." But before the moment could settle, Derek erupted, his cane striking the floor with a loud thud that echoed through the room. "You think you''re so important?! Get back here immediately!" "I must decline, Grandpa," she replied firmly, her heart racing. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up now. It''s New Year''s, after all. Don''t let yourself get worked up.¡± Yet, before she could disconnect, Derek shot back, "What could possibly be so important? Hiding some woman away? How impressive." Jonathan raised an eyebrow, a mixture of surprise and annoyance shing across his face. "Who told you that? If their tongues are so long, I''ll dly pull them out and serve them as a side dish for the New Year." Derek snorted derisively. "So it''s true, then. Since you brought her back to Oceaton, why keep her hidden? Do you really think the Fullbuster family poses a threat? She doesn''t even dare to step foot in the house. How petty of you. Is that truly what you consider worthy?" At Derek''s pointed remarks, Jonathan''s expression turned steely, a storm brewing behind his eyes. But before he could retort, a soft hand reached for the phone, gently taking it from him. He blinked in surprise as Anneliese seized the device, offering him a reassuring smile that calmed his racing heart. She lifted the phone to her ear, fully aware of Derek''s earlierments. She knew that since the Fullbusters were aware of her presence in Oceaton, not greeting them on New Year''s Eve would be seen as disrespectful. Anneliese didn''t want Jonathan to get into a heated argument with his grandfather because of her. If Derek had issues with her, she would confront him directly. "Hello, Old Mr. Fullbuster. This is Anneliese." Her voice rang out clear and pleasant,ced with a politeness that was firm but not servile. Derek seemed taken aback, clearly unprepared for the sudden appearance of a young woman''s voice on the line. As the reality of her words sunk in, he felt a hint of awkwardness wash over him. Despite having heard everything, she maintained herposure, addressing him calmly with a straightforward tone thatmanded respect. At least she''s not useless, nor someone who hides behind Jojo, acting pitiful, nor someone who clings like a parasite. Derek cleared his throat, trying to regain his authority. "What did you just call me?" Anneliese thought to herself, You don''t acknowledge me, so of course, I can only call you ''Old Mr. Fullbuster.'' Before she could articte her thoughts, Jonathan snatched the phone back, his patience wearing thin. He immediately switched to speaker mode. "Old Mr. Fullbuster, since you seem to despise us so much, we wouldn''t dare address you in any familiar way." Anneliese stared at him, wide-eyed in disbelief. Why is he referring to his own grandfather as "Old Mr. Fullbuster"? She could hear Derek wheeze in disbelief and lightly pped Jonathan''s arm. What is he doing? Why escte things further? "You ungrateful brat! You two get back here this instant! I''ll¡ª" do Before he could finish his threat, Penelope''s voice interjected sharply. "You''ll what? What do you n to to my beloved grandson and granddaughter-inw. If you want them back, can''t you speak nicely? You''ve lost all your teeth and still don''t know how to soften that tone!" "It''s because you spoiled him! No manners, no respect. And you still indulge him¡ª your heart truly is crooked all the way to the horizon!" Derek grumbled, though the edge in his voice was softened by Penelope''s affectionate rebuttal. Penelope snorted, her voice dripping with sass. "Of course, I''m biased toward my grandson and granddaughter-inw. They''re beautiful, a joy to behold, they bring me happiness, and they leare for me in my old age. What would I gain by being biased toward a stubborn old man like you?" The two elders continued their yful bickering, resembling children more than dignified adults, and Anneliese couldn''t help but chuckle at their antics. Derek attempted to retort, but Penelope waved him off dismissively. "All right, enough. You''re out of breath. Drink some water. I''ll talk to Anne." With that, she took over the call, her voice warm and gentle as she addressed Anneliese. "Anne." Anneliese smiled brightly, her heart swelling with affection. "Grandma, it''s me." Instantly, Penelope''s demeanor brightened. "Didn''t you say you''d et spend New Year''s in Oceaton with your grandmother? Why did you follow Jojo to Oceaton?" Chapter 529 "A little mishap urred, Grandma, but please don''t fret. We''ll be there shortly," Anneliese assured, her voice steady despite the tension in her chest. "Very well, then! I''ll instruct the kitchen to whip up some more of your favorites. There''s no need to rush on the road. If timing gets tricky, it''s perfectly all right. The old man can be quite unbearable-don''t let him bother you. Just do what feels best for you," Penelope replied, her tone warm and reassuring. Anneliese had never anticipated that Penelope would put her own needs first, prioritizing herfort over the usual family expectations. With a soft smile, she replied, "Grandma, you''re so kind. It feels like ages since west saw each other-I''ve missed you dearly." Penelope''sughter rang out, a delightful sound that brightened the conversation. "Just remember to drive carefully," she reminded them before ending the call. Handing the phone to Jonathan, Anneliese met his gaze, her expression a mixture of concern and encouragement. ¡°If you''re not up for it, we can stick to our original n. I can take you back to Oceatonter." Her smile was genuine, but the yful glint in her eyes was unmistakable. "I have to go at some point. Or do you think I''m an unattractive wife you wish to hide away?" Jonathan recognized her teasing nature, a gentle attempt to alleviate the tension that hung in the air. He cradled her face in his hands, his eyes searching hers. "You look pale, exhausted, and those dark circles under your eyes tell their own story..." Anneliese stiffened, taken aback by his words¡ªuntil he added with a soft smile, "Yet somehow, you remain impossibly beautiful." She yfully shoved against his chest, but the small movement sent a wave of dizziness through her. In an instant, Jonathan gathered her into his arms, allowing her to rest against him. "Maybe we shouldn''t go after all..." His thoughts swirled with concern. Her body still felt fragile to him. I cherish her too much to let her endure any difort. Why should I tolerate anyone''s attitude, even from family? Anneliese tugged gently at his shirt, her voice firm yet soft. "I''m perfectly fine. If we postpone this visit, especially past New Year''s, we might miss out on a gift!" He lowered his gaze, a mix of helplessness and affection in his eyes. "You little money-lover." The caravan was prepared and waiting. Anneliese nestledfortably in Jonathan''s arms throughout the ride. The journey was so smooth that she hardly noticed the asional bump along the way. As they approached the Fullbuster Residence, Anneliese gazed out, though her view was somewhat limited from the caravan bed. Upon reaching the gates, the guards greeted them with warm New Year wishes and waved them through, their faces familiar and weing. The path meandered through towering, ancient trees, twisting and turning until, ten minutester, they arrived at the main courtyard. Anneliese attempted to sit up and Pet straighten her appearance, but Jonathan gently halted her. When the caravan came to a stop he took the time to smooth her hair and adjust her clothes, his touch tender and attentive. "Mrs. Fullbuster looks absolutely perfect," he dered, pride evident in his voice. Anneliese blinked in surprise. "If I look dreadful, it''s your reputation that suffers." He raised an eyebrow, a yful smirk gracing his lips. "A wife''s beauty is a husband''s glory Today I''m here to show you off. Youare not allowed to underestimate yourself." A shyugh escaped her, her cheeks flushing with warmth. "Stop it..." If he continued to shower her withpliments, she feared she might be too embarrassed to step out of the caravan. The thought of panicking in front of everyone was daunting. When she finally felt ready, she made a move to exit¡ªbut before she could, Jonathan''s arm slid beneath her knees, lifting her effortlessly. Anneliese froze in surprise. "What are you doing? Put me down! This isn''t appropriate!" This is my first formal meeting with his family. I wanted to exude calmness and dignity. Being carried in like this feels so childish! But Jonathan was unyielding, tightening his grip around her. "Hold onto me," he instructed softly. "But-" "You''re here to pay your respects despite your injuries. That alone speaks volumes about your sincerity and respect. Who would darein? Just trust me and listen." With that, he stepped out of the caravan while still cradling her. In the courtyard, several servants paused, their eyes widening in surprise as they took in the scene. Anneliese felt her ears flush with heat. She instinctively wrapped her arms around Jonathan''s neck, seekingfort in his embrace. Most of the staff present for the New Year were older, many having served the Fullbuster family for generations. They had watched Jonathan grow up-cold, distant, and seemingly untouched by the presence of women. No one could have predicted witnessing such a surreal and heartwarming sight. Here he was, married, bringing his wife home, carrying her with a gentle smile that radiated warmth and love. Chapter 530 What is happening here... The servants stood frozen in their tracks, eyes wide with disbelief. Jonathan wasn''t merely carrying the delicate figure of Anneliese; he was vigntly adjusting her position, ensuring herfort, a rare, tender smile gracing his lips. The atmosphere shifted palpably, as if time itself had paused. In that moment, all chatter ceased, and the usual greetings were forgotten. The sight before them was truly extraordinary¡ªa moment that felt like it belonged in a fairy tale. Only when the couple reached the protective overhang of the eaves did anyone muster the courage to speak. "Wee home, Mr. Jonathan. Wee, Ms. Anneliese,¡± one servant finally managed, his voice breaking the silence like a timid bird song. Another servant dashed inside the house, a flurry of excitement in their movements. ¡°Mr. Jonathan has brought Ms. Anneliese home!¡± they announced, their voice echoing with the thrill of the news. Derek had been waiting for this moment with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He and Penelope had practically raised Jonathan, nurturing his steady demeanor, his remarkable talents, and his insightful nature. Jonathan had always been a star in the making. Before he even stepped into the realm of the Fullbuster Group, he hadunched a techpany that quickly transformed into a powerhouse. Following Derek''s wishes, he had be the youngest captain in thepany''s history, a feat that left everyone in awe. Once he took over AeroAir, Jonathan had breathed new life into thepany in a matter of months, implementing daring reforms and securing his position as president within just half a year. As the heir to the Fullbuster dynasty, Jonathan''s skills constantly amazed Derek. With him at the helm, the family legacy felt invulnerable. Yet, Jonathan''s personal life was a source of constant worry for Derek. Despite his youth, he had never been in a rtionship¡ªa rarity among the wealthy heirs of their social circle. In their world, it wasmon to flirt with multiple partners each year, while maintaining one or two serious rtionships was seen as a sign of self-control. But Jonathan had never shown the slightest interest in women, even during his teenage years. Old Mr. Fullbuster, concerned for his grandson''s future, had even begun to fret about Jonathan''s orientation. At twenty-five, he became fixated on matchmaking, selecting India Malone as a suitable match¡ªsomeone who was well-suited and eager to co-pilot at AeroAir. Everything seemed to align perfectly. However, in a surprising twist, Jonathan had quietly married Anneliese. Derek had been blindsided by the news, delivered by an old friend-an outrageous revtion that left him reeling. To make matters worse, three long months had passed, and Jonathan had yet to bring his wife home. Derek''s initial indignation had morphed into a sense of helpless frustration. Now, as he observed their entrance, he sat rigidly, muttering under his breath, "They''re back, but what''s all this fuss about?" The servant who had rushed in to deliver the news fell silent, retreating to a corner, sensing the tension in the air. Derek and Penelope had three sons and a daughter, and this New Year''s Eve, their home was bustling with life-sons, daughters-inw, and grandchildren filled every corner. At that moment, all eyes turned toward the entrance as Jonathan strode in, cradling Anneliese in his arms. The unexpected sight left everyone momentarily speechless. The room fell into a profound silence. Anneliese felt the weight of countless gazes upon her-some curious, others shocked, and a few decidedly unfriendly. Though she had steeled herself for this moment, a tingling sensation prickled at her scalp, and her ears burned from the scrutiny. She discreetly tugged at Jonathan, silently pleading with him to set her down. But he seemed oblivious to her difort, his focus unwavering as vel he addressed Old Mr. Fullbuster. "Grandpa, I''ve brought my wife. home She''s a bit timid and sensitive, so please don''t frighten henaway. I worked hard to marry her." Anneliese stared in disbelief. What was he saying? Jonathan, usually soposed and measured, was acting out of character. She pinched him lightly, her urgency increasing as she silently implored him to release her. Before he could respond, Elizabeth, who was perched on a single couch nearby, couldn''t contain herself any longer. "She''s not timid-she looks disabled! All the elders are present. Must you ofing to each other like that?!" Wr Jonathan hadn''t intended to set her down anyway. Thement only fueled his determination to hold her closer. I promise myself that I will never let Anneliese suffer while she is by my side. Here, surrounded by my family, I will make it abundantly clear how much love and cherish her so that everyone understands the special ce she holds in my heart. Chapter 531 Even if they had something to say, they would need to think twice about voicing it. Jonathan''s cool gaze drifted toward Elizabeth, a silent tension hanging in the air between them. He said nothing, but the weight of his silence was palpable. Elizabeth met his gaze, her expression momentarily flickering like a candle in the wind before her brows knitted together in frustration. The thought of Jonathan unceremoniously tossing me out of Oceaton to make room for Anneliese ignited a fire of anger within me. Now, he had the audacity to bring Anneliese home, cradling her as though she were a precious artifact, something to be disyed rather than a person. How am I supposed to keep my temper in check when faced with such tant disregard? But then, just as my anger began to swell, Jonathan shot me that infuriating half- smile, a look that was equal parts yful and warning. In an instant, my ire shrank, reced by a wave of guilt. No matter what, I am his mother and elder-I cannot be the one to leap into conflict and humiliate my own son in front of everyone gathered here. As the silence deepened, it felt increasingly suffocating, a cloak of humiliation wrapping around me. Derek sat nearby, his expression dark and stormy. Penelope cast a nce at Elizabeth, but chose to remain silent, her lips pressed into a thin line. The three Fullbuster brothers and their wives were equally unresponsive, clearly unwilling to intervene in this escting drama. If even they remained mute, the younger generation would certainly not dare to speak up. Just when Elizabeth''s face was contorting into a more unattractive scowl by the second, Anneliese still nestled in Jonathan''s arms-suddenly broke the silence. "Mom is right. I''ve been rude. Please, put me down." She turned her gaze to Jonathan, who, without hesitation,plied, gently lowering her while still supporting her waist to ensure she didn''t wobble. Standing tall and steady, Anneliese beamed at the elders, her voice ringing clear and bright. "Happy New Year, Grandpa, Grandma! Happy New Year to all my uncles and aunts! I''m a little injured, and Jonathan was worried I might fall and embarrass myself, so... please don''tugh at me." Her demeanor was poised, as if she were performing on a stage rather than facing a room full of scrutinizing eyes. Despite Elizabeth''s earlier sharpness, Anneliese showed no sign of resentment. With so many eyes upon her, she appearedpletely unperturbed. In fact, she seemed to ease the tension in the room, even helping Elizabeth salvage her dignity. Derek remained silent, yet I could see the shift in his expression-a flicker of surprise and perhaps begrudging admiration. Penelope, however, was taken aback and sprang to her feet, her concern evident. ¡°Are you injured? Where?" she eximed, her voiceced with urgency. ¡°Grandma, it''s just a bump on the back of my head," Anneliese replied, her tone calm and reassuring. Penelope hurried over, and Jonathan gently lifted Anneliese''s hat, revealing the white gauze wrapped around her head a sight both jarring d rming. Old Madam Fu''s brows knitted together in worry. "How did this happen? No wonder your face looks so pale! Why are you letting her stand here? Hurry, take her upstairs to rest!" Her voice was tinged with anxiety, her heart clearly aching for her granddaughter-in-w. Anneliese lightly grasped her hand. ¡°Grandma, it''s really just a bump. I''m fine! I haven''t even had the chance to greet everyone properly yet¡ª" "Family doesn''t need to stand on ceremony," Penelope interjected, waving her hand dismissively. "There will be plenty of opportunities for thatter. Right now, you need to focus on recovering. If not, people will think we mistreat our granddaughter-inw." With that, she turned her attention to Derek. "Do you have anything to add?" What more could Derek say after her emphatic deration? While he might not have been particrly fond of Anneliese, the fact remained that she was already here¡ªit was toote to turn back. And, more importantly, he wasn''t about to make things difficult for an injured young woman. Seeing his cold, prideful grandson transformed into a soft protector stirred something uneasy within him. If he pushed too hard... who knew how Jonathan might react? Derek waved a hand dismissively. "You''ve already covered everything. What else is there for me to say?" With both elders speaking up, no one dared to make a scene. Voices chimed in with polite suggestions. ¡°Jonathan, take your wife upstairs.¡± "Should we call the doctor again?" Elizabeth''s expression darkened further, her frustration boiling just beneath the surface. As she opened her mouth to speak, her husband, Keh, gently tugged on her sleeve. ¡°Enough. It''s New Year''s¡ªstop making a scene,¡± he murmured, his tone firm yet quiet. Elizabeth''s manicured nails dug into the couch, leaving shallow imprints as she fought to contain her annoyance. She muttered under her breath, "Does she always greet her elders like this?" Acting as though she were above everyone else. And Old Mr. Fullbuster, after all his grandstanding, let Anneliese off so easily? "What''s the point of arguing?" Elizabeth continued, her voice low but fierce, "If the daughter-inw and mother-inw sh, everyone with say our son picked the wrong one. Do you want the family tough at us? Elizabeth fell silent, her thoughts swirling. Of course, I understand that. Chapter 532 There''s a sinking feeling in my chest, a persistent truth I cannot escape: Anneliese and I are fated to be at odds. Even if I were to extend an olive branch, I can''t shake the doubt that she could ever truly forgive me for the past. The shadows of our shared history loomrge, casting a pall over any chance of reconciliation. She hasn''t even been properly introduced yet, yet here she is, strutting about with an air of superiority,pletely dismissing my existence. If she wins Derek''s heart, what will be left for me in this family? The elders had spoken, their words echoing in my mind like a chilling refrain. Elizabeth averted her gaze, the coldness of her expression deepening as if the very air around us had thickened with tension. "Thank you, Grandpa. I appreciate everyone''s concern," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. Anneliese shed a sweet smile in Derek''s direction, a smile that seemed to light up the room. Beneath the opulent chandelier, herplexion was pale, yet her eyes sparkled with a rity that was almost mesmerizing. Whatever else could be said about her, there was no denying her beauty wless and captivating. Before Anneliese could even begin to take in the faces surrounding her, Jonathan had already whisked her away, carrying her effortlessly to a quiet courtyard nestled to the east of the main residence. The Fullbuster family was vast, sprawling across Oceaton with the three main sons and their sister each having established their own homes. Nevertheless, the Fullbuster Residence was a sanctuary, preserving courtyard quarters for each branch of the family. Jonathan led her to the courtyard belonging to the eldest branch, a ce steeped in memories. Once inside, Anneliese still had the energy to explore, her curiosity piqued by the remnants of his childhood scattered around¡ªbasketballs, skateboards, trophies, and model airnes that whispered tales of his youth. "Did you grow up here?" she asked, her voiceced with genuine intrigue. If only fatigue hadn''t weighed her down, she would have been inspecting every little detail, absorbing the essence of his past. He gently eased her onto the bed, his hand yfully pinching her cheek. "Still feeling okay?" She looked up at him, a smile breaking through her weariness. "You haven''t let me walk or talk. What could possibly happen to me?" Inside, I brace myself for the inevitable criticism, the humiliation of being the timid daughter-inw lurking in the background. Yet, contrary to my expectations, the day unfolds differently. Derek may appear stern, but he''s not unreasonable. And it''s clear he holds Old Mrs. Fullbuster in high regard. "If anyone bothers you, let me know right away," Jonathan said, propping a soft pillow behind her head. "You don''t have to put up with anything." Watching him, Anneliese felt the tightness within her begin to dissolve. With him by my side, I know I won''t have to endure any suffering. Jonathan is a far cry from Zacharias, who always speaks one way yet acts another. Jonathan.is dependable, steadfast, and sincere But then, a flicker of suspicion crossed Anneliese''s face. "Wait a minute..." ¡°Hm?¡± he replied, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Didn''t you mention you''ve been tormented by blind dates and pressure to marry? Yet, it se your like elderspletely indulge you." Jonathan exudes confidence, yet no elder seems to reprimand him. They appear almost wary in his presence. She found it hard to believe he was ever pestered about marriage. Her gaze bore into him, and she noticed the sheen of sweat forming on his palms. He removed his watch, cing it aside as if it were a burden. "I''m married it''s been almost four months now. They epted it a while ago." Is that truly the reason behind it all? Anneliese couldn''t fathom any other exnation. Her eyes widened slightly. "So... I''m epted now?" He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a gentle kiss, twice, his voice low and warm as he spoke. "Sweetheart, you don''t need to concern yourself with that." The woman I cherish¡ªthe one I fought tooth and nail to marry-needs no one''s approval but my own. The kiss sent a wave of dizziness through her, causing her to tilt her head slightly. He straightened abruptly, worry etched across his features. ¡°Lie down and rest,¡± he urged, his concern palpable. He helped her settle backfortably. When she felt a bit more at ease, she nudged him yfully. ¡°I''ll just rest for a little while. You should go tend to your family obligations.¡± With the elders congregating downstairs, she felt a wave of shyness wash over her, reluctant to keep him from his duties. Chapter 533 Jonathan smoothed her hair and nodded when he saw her fatigue. "Sleep for a while. I''ll wake you for food, then send you back to Oceaton." She closed her eyes obediently. When he left and shut the door, she tried to sleep-but couldn''t. Unfamiliarity or resting earlier kept her awake. Suddenly, the door opened, and light footsteps entered. Thinking he had returned, she lifted herself slightly. "Honey?" "Anneliese, I''m not Jonathan." The voice was bright and sweet. Startled, she sat up. A young girl in a red suit dress-porcin-pretty, around seventeen or eighteen-stood at the door. Hearing "Anneliese," she realized this must be Felyxia Fullbuster, Jonathan''s second uncle''s daughter. "Hello, sister-inw. I''m Felyxia. Can Ie in? I didn''t wake you, did I?" Seeing the girl''s friendly smile, Anneliese returned one. "No, I wasn''t asleep. Come in." She tried to get up, but the girl rushed over. "No, no, stay down! If Jonathan sees you getting up, he''ll scold me!" She shrank her neck as though truly afraid. Annelieseughed. "You''re scared of him? He''s very gentle." Felyxia looked at her as if she had just told a cosmic joke. "Gentle? Jonathan?" Seeing Anneliese''s sincere expression, she clicked her tongue. "He doesn''t throw tantrums, but when he gets angry, even my dad and Grandpa have to think twice. Sometimes, even Grandpa.gives in to find you think he''s gentle he must really spoil you. Anneliese, have you known him for a super long time?" Anneliese blinked, embarrassed. "Why do you think that?" We''d known each other less than six months... Yet he already meant so much to me. "Anneliese, don''t hide it!" "We haven''t even known each other for six months." Felyxia immediately pouted, looking betrayed. "You''re lying. I know the truth!" Anneliese smiled helplessly. "What truth?" The girl leaned in mysteriously. "I saw your portrait as a kid. Jonathan drew it himself. You''re prettier now, but you look the same! I recognized you instantly!" It''s not like I recognize her at first nce. That childhood image has long since blurred in my memory. But I know the girl in the portrait was always Jonathan''s favorite. Today, he brings his wife home, eyes full of her. Doesn''t that prove his wife is the girl from the portrait? Of course it is. I''m an expert at spotting couple dynamics, after all. Anneliese''s fingers curled tightly under the nket. "A portrait? When did you see this portrait?" Felyxia blinked. "He didn''t tell you?" Anneliese forced a light smile. "Maybe he wants to surprise me. I didn''t even know he could draw." Felyxia giggled. "I was around seven or eight. I got tired of ying and wandered to this building. No adults around, so I went upstairs to nap in a guest room But I identally went into a princess themed room instead. The portrait was there. Jonathan caught me and got so mad he almost hit me!" She stood up and mimicked his icy expression. "Who let you in here? Get out." She shivered dramatically, then sat again. "He was really strict with me back then. He even scared me to tears, and I had nightmares for days. Uncle and Aunty didn''t have a daughter, was curious Why Why Sun so de had a princess room. Later, I went to ask Madam Lore about it." Chapter 534 "Madam Lore served Sunlit de for years. She retired a couple of years ago but told me the princess room was for the third sister-inw." "That means you should admit it now, right?" Felyxia beamed proudly. It makes perfect sense to me¡ªmy aloof cousin, who never cared for women, is suddenly married? If Anneliese isn''t the girl he''s cherished for years, I can''t believe it. Jonathan is always so disciplined and distant. He helped me often when I was growing up, but that was the only time I ever saw him lose control. And that night, seeing him carry his wife home and protect her so openly... It all lined up perfectly. Felyxia felt brilliant. I''ve uncovered the truth. But when she turned back to Anneliese, her excitement instantly froze. Anneliese''s face went pale. Her faint, empty smile and fragile expression stood out. Shouldn''t Anneliese have looked touched? Happy? Moved? But she looks like she can barely breathe. Oh no. Did I just make a terrible mistake? "Anneliese, are you okay? Am I too loud? I won''t disturb you! I''m leaving!" Panicking at the thought of angering her cousin, Felyxia jumped up and bolted out, mming the door. Silence returned. Anneliese stared at the closed door and slowly loosened her tightly curled fingers, deep crescents in her palm. The portrait... It''s from ten years ago. Ten years ago, Jonathan already cherished a girl in his heart. How could that possibly be me? Felyxia must have guessed wildly. She said the girl in the portrait looked like me, so she assumed it was me. Her fingers, just rxed, clenched again as heaviness pressed on her chest. I know Jonathan once liked someone. Zane and the others have mentioned it before. At that banquet, I identally overheard India and Jonathan talking, and India brought it up too. That girl never appeared, and Jonathan never mentioned her, so I didn''t think much of it. Jonathan was already twenty-five or twenty-six-at that age, liking someone before is normal. Since he decided to marry me and seems genuinely invested, and our rtionship has progressedfortably, I haven''t dwelled on it. After all, I''ve been married before. Yet Felyxia''s words make me feel, for the first time, difort, bitterness, and panic. Could Jonathan have chosen that girl as his future wife ten years ago? Otherwise, why prepare a princess room in the house, with even the maid saying it was for the future Mrs. Fullbuster? Felyxia is the only girl among the Fullbuster grandchildren, and she''s always been doted on. On the caravan back, when Jonathan mentioned this cousin, his tone was umonly soft and affectionate. Yet Felyxia had merely wandered into that room by ident, and Jonathan had scolded her fiercely. Clearly, that girl meant more to him than anyone else. He even drew her portrait-I never knew he could paint. Felyxia says I look like the girl in the portrait. I try not to overthink it, but I can''t help wondering if I''m just a substitute. The thought twisted around her chest, tightening with every heartbeat, making it hard to breathe. When she regained her senses, she was already in the corridor. She reached out, trying to find the princess room Felyxia mentioned She wanted to see it with her own eyes. "What are you looking for here?" As Anneliese''s hand rested on the vel doorknob of the room next to Jonathan''s bedroom, a voice suddenly called out from the far end of the condor. Startled, Anneliese turned to see Elizabeth approaching-deep purple couture dress embroidered in gold, shawl draped, eyes sharp. Chapter 535 She frowned, her gaze at Anneliese sharp with disdain, mockery, and suspicion- almost as if she saw a thief. Seeing Anneliese remain silent, Elizabeth let out a cold snort. "Didn''t you im you were hurt and could barely walk? Yet you''re sneaking around here. It''s your first time in someone else''s home, and you wander about. Good thing I saw you. Anyone else might think the Fullbuster family brought home a petty thief." Anneliese loosened her grip on the doorknob and looked at Elizabeth. "Mrs. Fullbuster, may I ask-what identity did Ie here with?" Elizabeth saw Anneliese caught but unfazed, even daring to talk back. Her gaze sharpened. "Heh, you think that just because you carry the title of the Fullbuster family''s granddaughter-inw, you can¡ª" Anneliese interrupted her. "Yes. Since you know I''m the granddaughter-inw, does that mean a granddaughter-inw isn''t allowed to simply walk around? "Jonathan never said I must stay inside his bedroom. If you think it''s inappropriate for me to walk around, why don''t you call him here and ask him yourself?" Elizabeth scoffed. "Don''t use Jojo to pressure me. That''s the only trick you seem to have." Anneliese''s lips curved slightly. "A small trick is fine as long as it works." Elizabeth seethed at Anneliese''s sharp tongue. Her face darkened, but a sh of mockery and scorn appeared in her eyes. "You really think my son loves you? Truly cherishes you? Heh. You''re so na?ve." Anneliese knew Elizabeth disliked her, so nothing good woulde from her mouth. Her head throbbed. She didn''t reply and turned back to the room. I shouldn''t have run out so impulsively. It was reckless. But before she took two steps, Elizabeth blocked her path.,,.,, "You think I don''t know what you''re looking for? Follow me." Elizabeth turned and walked ahead. Anneliese hesitated, then followed. ... Soon, Elizabeth stopped at a door at the end of the opposite corridor. She stepped aside and gestured at Anneliese. "It''s not locked. Everything you want to know is inside." Her voice oozed mockery, certain that what waited inside would crush Anneliese. Anneliese nced at her, then took the doorknob without much hesitation. "You can open it if you want, but I''m afraid you don''t have the courage to face the truth," Elizabeth added. Anneliese looked at her calmly. "Thanks for the reminder. Isn''t this exactly what you want to see?" Then she twisted the knob and opened the door. She didn''t want to live in confusion. If Jonathan really does have someone he still can''t let go of... Then, no matter how painful or ugly the truth is, I have to face it. I refuse to let it fester inside me like a wound. The door swung open, and she saw everything inside. A snow-white carpet. Exquisite furniture Romantic gauze curta Shelves filled with delicate, cute trinkets-things any girl would love Jewelry hung on the vanity: earrings, nes, hair essories-sparkling. A vase of fresh flowers graced the bedside table. Clearly, this room was cleaned regrly. Someone kept adding new things. Elizabeth''s next words confirmed her thoughts. "This room-other than the maid who cleansit-Jojo wouldn''t let anyone else enter. For more than ten years, whenever he traveled or saw something he thought a girl would like, he brought it back and ced it here himself. Look how full the room is." Full indeed. The room overflowed with ten years of Jonathan''s affection and longing for another girl. Anneliese''s gaze drifted to therge framed photo on the wall opposite the door. A young girl with a simple ponytail, wearing a white dress, smiling brightly under the sun. Beautiful. Radiant. And she truly resembled Anneliese. A chill crept along Anneliese''s fingertips. She didn''t step inside, sharply pulling the door shut. She turned back. Elizabeth gave her a faint, mocking smile, as if to say, "See? Isn''t it pathetic?" Chapter 536 Elizabeth''s eyes shed with contempt. You''ve already been betrayed once, yet you learned nothing. No wonder you''re so easily manipted. "Compared to his flirtatious father, Jojo is loyal and devoted. Too bad he and that girl were never meant to be. Want to hear their story?" Anneliese forced herself to remain calm, but her steady expression masked the coldness in her eyes as she stared at Elizabeth. "No need. I''ll ask Jonathan myself." She knew Elizabeth''s intentions were anything but good¡ªher words were always twisted or outright malicious. She didn''t want to hear anything more. She just wanted to be alone. She turned to leave, but Elizabeth called after her, her voiceced with scorn. "I don''t agree with your rtionship¡ªnot just because your family background is poor, or because you''ve been married before. As a mother, I refuse to let my son drown in a false, delusional emotion." False emotion? Those words told Anneliese that Jonathan saw her as a substitute. He missed the woman he truly loved and married Anneliese as a stand-in, maintaining a false, unreal affection. Anneliese stiffened but walked even faster. Elizabeth watched her disappear. Emotions flickered in her eyes. I speak the truth. They don''t belong together. Jonathan''s kindness toward Anneliesees from guilt. Only guilt. A marriage built on guilt is doomed to fail. I will never let my son sacrifice himself forever. Without Anneliese, I''ll find someone more suitable-gentle, considerate, someone truly good for Jonathan. As his mother, everything I do is for him. With that thought, Elizabeth calmed down and left. ... Jonathan returned to the main building. After chatting with the elders and being teased by his cousins, he was summoned by Derek. Jonathan lounged on the couch, legs crossed and azy smile on his face, ignoring Derek''s re. It only fueled Derek''s anger. "If you have something to say, say it. My wife is unwell¡ªI need to care for her." Jonathan checked his phone, anxious that Anneliese might contact him. Darek pped the armrest. "Useless!" Jonathan raised a brow. "Old Mr. Fullbuster, now you''re unreasonable. When I was single, you scolded me daily. You almost wanted to strap a speaker to my ear to y marriage propaganda while I slept. "Now I''ve brought home a wife, and you still call me useless? With mood swings like yours, no wonder Grandma was ready to move out! He tapped his fingers, realization brightening his eyes. "Maybe you''re jealous since Grandma isn''t around, and you can''t stand me being happy with my wife?" Derek and Penelope had had a disagreement before, and Penelope, in a fit of anger, had taken up residence in Oceaton. If it weren''t for the New Year, she probably wouldn''t havee back at all. Derek bristled at his grandson''sughter, wanting nothing more than to kick him. "Stop joking! Marriage s serious. You didn''t inform the family and haven''t brought her home for months. You think no one can rein you in!" Jonathan saw his grandpa''s beard tremble in fury. Fearing a stroke, he stood, walked behind him, and gently patted his back. "Grandpa, you and Grandma already knows what I want. I thought your expected this." Derek froze. He, of course, knew that his grandson had always treated a girl differently¡ªand that this girl was the daughter of the firefighter who had saved him during the Baytree incident years ago. Back then, he went to Baytree to pick up Jonathan and bring him to Halden. The boy locked himself away for two days and nights, silent. When he finally emerged, the first thing he did was kneel before his grandfather and make a request. "Grandpa, she lost her parents Because of me. I cant return them, but want to give her a home a life together." Chapter 537 Jonathan begged him to let the Fullbuster family take in Anneliese. Derek could not bear the thought of his grandson staying guilty and uneasy about this for years and never moving on. Besides, taking care of one more person was not hard for the Fullbuster family. For the sake of Frederick saving Jonathan and dying in such a terrible way, Derek was willing to do it. He nodded. Jonathan was thrilled and went to ask the housekeeper to prepare a room for Anneliese right away. He worried she would not adjust, so he picked a room right next to his own bedroom. He was still a kid and had never taken care of a younger sibling, but he still did everything himself. He looked at many photos and set up a princess room that looked pretty good. He even told friends and rtives that he was going to have a little sister, never expecting the girl not to show up by the time the room was ready. They turned him down. Derek still remembered that the housekeeper went with Jonathan to Baytree. Jonathan went there full of hope and did not even get to see Anneliese. The housekeeper said Anneliese''s grandmother threw out everything they brought and told them to leave, never to bother them again. Jonathan talked a lot less after he came back from Baytree, but he refused to let the staff change the princess room back. Derek always thought Jonathan did all of this because he felt guilty as a teenager. He thought that once the boy grew up, his heart would toughen, and this small thing would fade away. He never expected Jonathan to hold onto it for so many years and to marry her without saying a word. Derek frowned. "You wanted her as a sister back then. Now, you married her. What is that supposed to mean?" Jonathan rarely got embarrassed. His ears warmed up. He lifted his hand and touched his nose without thinking. He looked a bit shy. "I did not know what feelings were back then. When I think about it now, the girl I wanted as a sister was the girl I liked." Derek fell silent. He could not believe his own grandson said something so shameless. Jonathan said it to make things clear. He wanted Derek to understand that his feelings for Anneliese were real and final. He hoped the old man would ept it, so nothing would damage their rtionship. Derek understood that very well. His chest tightened. He grabbed his cane and hit the man on the back a few times. His voice dropped low. "If not for it being a bad omen to have blood during New Year''s, I''d have made sure you''re punished!" Jonathan did not dodge. He even bent down a little to let the old man spare him. When Derek finally stopped, he smiled and said, "So, you ept your granddaughter-inw now? Where is the gift you prepared for her? I can take it to her." Derek had just calmed down a little, and now the frustration rose again. Jonathan pushed open the bedroom door and walked in. The woman on the bed was gone Pwas gone He paused and walked toward the bathroom "Anneliese, are you in there?" He knocked twice on the door. No one answered. He pushed the door open. The bathroom was empty. Anneliese was not there. A sudden worry hit him. He turned to find someone to ask, but his gaze stopped when itnded on the balcony it was a slim figure. Standing there in thirr clothes, looking quiet and cold. Jonathan frowned and walked toward the balcony. He grabbed a nket that was folded on the couch along the way. "Why are you standing out here alone?" He kept his voice soft so as not to startle her. He opened the cashmere nket and draped it over her shoulders, wrapping her small body. Then, he pulled her into his arms from behind. Anneliese went still for a moment. Jonathan found her hands and held them. "Your hands are freezing. Why did youe out here without a jacket?" He held her cold hands in his warm palms and gently rubbed them. Before she could react, he turned her around and pulled her into his arms as he walked her back inside. "Nothing. I just could not sleep and came out to look at the view." Once they stepped back into the bedroom, Anneliese tried to pull her hands away. Jonathan did not let go. One of his hands held hers with ease. His other hand slid the door shut and blocked the cold air outside. Then, he lifted her hands to his lips. He rubbed them again and breathed warm air onto the red, icy skin to help them warm up faster. Chapter 538 Anneliese lowered her eyes and looked at the man in front of her. His handsome face showed clear concern. His lowered gaze stayed on her red hands. His longshes could not hide the soft light in his eyes. It felt like she was some rare treasure to him, like he could see only her. Anneliese could not find any trace of her old happiness. Every time she thought about the idea that Jonathan treated her well only because of another woman and that she might be nothing more than a recement for someone he could not have, her chest felt like it was stabbed full of needles. She pulled her hands out of his palm. "I''m fine." His palm felt empty. Jonathan lifted his eyes and saw that she had already turned away. She walked toward the bed with her back facing him. He froze for a second and then followed her. "What''s wrong?" Anneliese sat by the bed. She lifted her eyes and looked at him. She wanted to grab him and drag him to the doorway of the next room to demand an exnation. She could not speak. Her throat felt tight, like something bitter sat in it, and she could not get any words out. Her concussion symptoms seemed to get worse. Her head hurt and she felt dizzy. She did not even have the strength to question him. Her pale lips lifted a little. She asked one thing. "When can I go home?" She wanted to go home. Jonathan noticed that after she rested for a bit, her face did not improve. It looked even worse. Her pale little face looked weak. He stepped forward and sat beside her. "Do you still feel sick anywhere? I can call Carter to check on you." He reached for his phone. Anneliese grabbed him. "Don''t. I''m fine. I''m just worried about Grandma. I want to go home soon." Jonathan stared at her small hand on his arm. His chest eased a little. A moment ago, he even thought she was pushing him away. Now he felt it must have been his imagination. He took her hand again. "I''ll tell them to get the car ready and send you back to Oceaton." They had already agreed that he would take her back to Oceaton to spend New Year''s with her grandma. If Anneliese did not go home on New Year''s Eve, her grandma would ask questions. It could scare the old woman. If her health went downhill again, it would be bad. She wanted to leave so badly. Jonathan only thought she was worried about her grandma. He did not think more about it. Anneliese nodded. He made the call and told the driver to prepare. After he hung up, he stood and got her a winter coat. "I can do it myself." When she saw him walk over to help her put it on, she stood and stepped away without thinking. His movement paused. A momentter, he lifted his right hand and held her face with his palm. Her face tilted up. Her wet eyes met his searching gaze. Her eyes flickered. She looked away without thinking. She used to look into his eyes and feel that they were deep, focused and very handsome. Looking at him, used to give her a sense of safety. andfort. Now that things did not feel the same, she could not look into himet eyes She feared she would see want tosee, something she did not want to see, "Did something happen?" He saw her avoid his eyes and narrowed his own a little. He asked in a soft voice. His thumb brushed her cheek. She did not answer. He bent down and pressed his forehead to hers. His warm breath brushed the tip of her cool nose. "Baby, don''t scare me. Tell me. Okay?" His voice was low and steady. It held patience and care. Her nose stung. A bit of the emotion she held back slipped out. She lifted her head and leaned back a little, creating some space between them. She looked at him. "Are you hiding something from me?" Jonathan froze. His eyes darkened a little. "Why would you ask that?" §Ö§ä He did not answer her question. Anneliese felt her heart sink. It felt like she was standing on something upreal, She could not find anything, solid under her feet. Her dizziness got worse. Her body swayed a little. "Baby!" Jonathan grabbed her in a panic. She closed her eyes and waited for the dizziness to ease. When she opened them, she saw him staring at her with the same tense look he always had when she was hurt. She moved her lips. Before she said anything, someone knocked lightly on the door. Chapter 539 A house staff member stood at the door. "Sir, the car is ready." "I got it." After the staff member left, Jonathan looked at Anneliese again. "Your body isn''t in good shape. You should..." Anneliese cut him off. "I''m fine. I can keep resting in the car on the way back. I''m really worried about Grandma." He saw how firm she was, so Jonathan stopped trying to talk her out of it. He knew Nishay meant a lot to her. He also knew that she looked soft and gentle, but she was very stubborn. Once she made up her mind, she rarely changed it. He bent down and lifted Anneliese into his arms. He stayed silent as he walked out. Anneliese looked up at him. She stared at the sharp line of his jaw and closed her eyes when her eyshes lowered. He never answered her question. Silence had be his answer. Jonathan carried her over to say a quick goodbye to Derek and Penelope. Then he took her into the RV. Jonathan saw her frown a little. He tried twice to ask her more questions, but Anneliese stopped him each time by saying she felt ufortable. After that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep quickly. Jonathan had no choice but to drop it. When he saw that she was not sleeping well, hey down beside her and pulled her into his arms with care. He adjusted their position to lessen the bumps. By the time they got back to Maple Bay, the sky had already gone dark. The car door opened. Anneliese got out on her own. Jessica had gotten the message in advance, so she was already waiti on the steps. "Annie, you''re finally back! Let me look at you. You really didn''t get hurt? I swear, the White family is awful!" Jessica ran over the moment she saw her. She lifted her arms like she wanted to hug Anneliese, but then hesitated. She had been a mess these past two days. Anneliese had been kidnapped because she went outte to buy a pregnancy test for herself. Jessica med herself so much that she felt like pping herself. How could she have let Anneliese go out alone thatte? If something really happened to her, she would never forgive herself. Anneliese saw her red eyes. She smiled softly and warmly and stepped forward to hug Jessica first. "I''m really fine. Look at me. I''m standing right here. To be honest, it even worked out in the end. Selina and Timothy wouldn''t be able to show up in front of me again. They would get what they deserved." Anneliese gently patted her back. Jessica let out a small huff. "Don''t say stuff like that. Nothing is more important than you. They are not worth you taking that risk." "Yes, yes," Anneliese admitted fast. "Did Grandma suspect anything? Let''s go up." She pulled Jessica toward the elevator. She seemed to forget who brought her home. She forgot that behind her stood a tall man with a strong presence. His eyes stayed locked on her the whole time. "Honey." She stopped walking when she heard his voice. It held a little hurt. She turned around. Jonathan finally walked toward her. He looked a bit lost and hurt. "Honey, did you forget about me?" Jessica covered her mouth to hide her grin, She nced at Anneliese ready to tease her, but then noticed that Anneliese''s smile looked a little forced content, belongs t Jessica felt the mood shift and wondered if they had argued. But that didn''t make sense. Something had happened to Anneliese, and Jonathan had been running around nonstop to save her. After a short separation and a close call, this was usually when a couple was the most loving. "Um... Annie, I''ll go inside first." She felt the pressure from Jonathan''s stare and quickly let go of Anneliese''s hand before running inside. At this hour, most people were already home with their families Dinner prep filled the apartments upstair rs. The outside area was quiet, s?novels The parking garage was empty. Only Anneliese and Jonathan stood there facing each other. His gaze was steady and heavy on her. Anneliese pressed her lips together. "Grandma is waiting for me. You should go home too. You''ll miss dinner with your family." She looked at his chin. She did not meet his eyes because she feared her emotions would break. She was extremely tired. She did not want to hear anything from him at the moment. She admitted she was avoiding it. They could talk after the New Year. But Jonathan lifted her chin. He made her raise her face. "Are you trying to send me away? Look at me." Her eyshes lowered again. She finally looked straight into his eyes. Her breath caught. Her hearth et felt fragile and weak. Chapter 540 She stared at him and thought about how he had turned down her invitations to visit her grandma again and again. Her lips parted. "I''m not trying to send you away. I really hate to see you leave. When I think about being apart for many days, I''m scared I won''t be able to stop myself from wanting you to stay. Why don''t youe up with me? You can wish my grandma a happy New Year before you go." As she spoke, Anneliese held Jonathan''s hand and tried to lead him toward the elevator. But she could not move him at all. His feet felt rooted to the ground. Anneliese turned back to look at him. Jonathan suddenly pulled her into his arms. He held her tight, pressed her face against his chest, and lowered his head to kiss the top of her hair. "Baby, I''m sorry. I still can''t go up." Anneliese lifted her head. "Why?" His handnded on the back of her neck and pressed her face back against his chest. Anneliese bit down on her lip. The light in her eyes faded. He did not dare look at her now. Jonathan rested his chin against her forehead and spoke in a soft voice. "Today was too rushed. I didn''t even have time to prepare a gift for your grandma. I''ll go with you next time when I''m fully ready." His words sounded reasonable. Anneliese closed her eyes and tried to hide the sting in them. She thought that even a man like Jonathan told a lie in a way that felt clumsy and easy to see through. Her heart settled heavily. It felt like something quiet had shifted inside her. She pushed him. "Okay. I''m going up then." Jonathan still did not let go. "Let me hold you a little longer." His clean scent filled her nose. His arms were warm and broad, and she knew them well. But Anneliese could not feel what she used to feel. Her hands hung at her sides. "After the holiday, what day are youing back?" Jonathan heard her ask about his return. In his mind, she still cared and did not want to be apart from him. A small smile showed in his eyes. The nervous feeling he had before faded. He let go of her and bent down a little to look at her. "I''ll be back by the third at thetest. Wait for me?" "Okay." When the time came, she nned to talk things through with him. Jonathan touched her hair before he turned away. The driver walked over with a bag. Jonathan took it and handed it to Anneliese. "These are the gifts from my grandparents and the other elders." He had epted them for her. He had nned to show them to her. But she had not seemed well the entire ride. Anneliese looked at the bag. The red gift bag was full and puffed up. There were small boxes inside. It was clear there were many nice things. It seemed that even if the Fullbuster family did not like her much, they still prepared gifts for her because of Jonathan. These were things he had pushed for on her behalf. He said he would not let her eel wronged when she went home with him. He kept that promise, but the thing that hurt her the most also came from him. Anneliese did not take the bag. "My grandma is home. If I bring this back and she asks about it, I won''t how to answer. Keep it with you for now." Jonathan did not overthink it. He handed the bag back to the driver and nodded. "Alright. I''ll take it back to The Banyans. You can look through everything when you go home." "Okay." "I''m leaving then?" Jonathan let out a small sigh. He hated to go. He wanted to kiss her, but when he saw how pale she looked, he held himself back the only hugged her again before he got in the car Anneliese stood there as the car slowly drove out of the parking garage. Her vision turned blurry. "What''s going on between you and Mr. Fullbuster?" Inside the elevator, Jessica watched as Anneliese remained quiet. Her mind was clearly heavy wit thoughts. Jessica felt worried and spoke up. Anneliese lifted her head. She hesitated, then shook her head and gave a small smile. "There are some things I still don''t understand. I''ll talk to you in a few days." Jessica frowned. Something was really wrong. And judging from Anneliese''s serious look, it was not something small. She wanted to ask more, but since Anneliese didn''t want to talk, she remained quiet. She stepped forward and hugged Anneliese while patting her back. "Okay. Just remember that no matter what happens, I''m always here for you. I''ll always support you." Anneliese''s eyes turned wet right away. Chapter 541 She had looked calm on the way back, but her heart had been in turmoil the whole time. Right now, the heavy ache in her chest that had felt cold and tight seemed to warm up a little. "Yeah, I know." Anneliese hugged Jessica back and gently patted her shoulder. Jessica heard the shake in her voice. Her frown grew deeper. She could feel how sad and exhausted Anneliese was. So what exactly had Jonathan done? The two of them walked inside. Nishay had been waiting anxiously and kept looking toward the door. As soon as the elevator opened, Anneliese saw Nishay and quickly put on a bright, happy smile. "Grandma, I''m home. We should still be in time to make dinner together, right? Come on, let''s hurry." She wore a hat that covered the bandage on the back of her head. Nishay did not notice anything. Once she saw Anneliese return, the uneasiness she had felt earlier faded. "It''s the holidays, and you are still this busy. Jessica and I have already finished most of dinner. You don''t need to help. Look at you. You look so pale. Did you not rest well these past two days?" Nishay looked worried. Anneliese held her arm. "Yeah. I did a lot of testing, and it was tiring." "Go rest for a while," Nishay urged. Jessica pushed Anneliese toward the bedroom. "Alright, stop getting in the way. Rest for a bit. I will call you when it is time to eat." Anneliese got pushed into the bedroom. She heard Jessica and Nishay whispering outside and couldn''t help but smile a little. She changed into a different outfit and sat on the couch. She took out her phone and saw the WhatsApp message from Jonathan, ''Did you get through it? I asked a doctor to help. If anything urgent happens, you can call her.'' He also sent a phone number. Anneliese stared at the number. Her fingers tightened around her phone. Carter had returned to Halden for the holidays, so he was not in Oceaton. It was clear that Jonathan worried something might happen at Nishay''s ce, so he found a doctor who could help in an emergency. They had only been together for less than half a year, yet she could clearly feel all the good he had given her. He was thoughtful, patient, and gentle. Even the smallest things were taken care of better than she expected. Would anyone treat a stand-in with such care? She believed no one would. She had already lived through fake affection once. Compared to Zacharias'' lies, she could tell that what Jonathan gave her was real. But he had also kept many things from her. A sharp pain hit her head. Anneliese lifted a band to press her forehead and forced herself to stop thinking. t belongs to sw She saved the doctor''s number that Jonathan sent her. She sent a short reply and turned off her phone. At the airport, Jonathan received her message after he boarded the ne. He opened WhatsApp, looked at the chat window, and frowned. ''Thank you.'' He could feel the cold distance in those two words. She knew very well that he never wanted her thanks. He did not do any of this out of gratitude for her. His fingertip paused on the screen for a moment before he replied, ''Honey, I boarded the ne.'' That message did not get a reply. Even after hended in Halden, there was nothing. Nishay was tired. After they ate dinner and watched some TV, she went back to her room to rest early. Anneliese stepped out of Nishay''s room. Jessica had already turned off the TV. "Grandma went to sleep?" Anneliese nodded. Jessica let out a breath. "Want to hang out in my room for a bit?" Anneliese had nned to. They shared a small smile. When they entered Jessica''s room, Anneliese saw that the window seat had been carefully decorated. There were string lights and a small table. On it were juice and a few tes of snacks and pastries. Anneliese walked over. She looked at the juice and understood at once. She turned back. "Looks like I don''t need to ask. I am going to have a little godson or goddaughter, right?" She looked at Jessica''s stomach. Her tone sounded certain even though she asked a question. If Jessica weren''t pregnant, she would have opened a bottle of wine would never skip that on today. She would never sk a night like this. Jessica saw that she had figured it out. She gave a small, bitter smile and turned to the nightstand. She opened a drawer and handed Anneliese a stic bag. Chapter 542 Anneliese took the stic bag. Inside was a pregnancy test. Two clear lines were on it. She looked at Jessica. Jessica had already climbed onto the window seat. She sat there with one hand on her lower stomach. Her expression looked a little nk. She clearly had not expected this baby. She had not prepared herself for it at all. Anneliese walked over and sat beside her. She picked up the two cups of juice. She handed one to Jessica with a small smile. "We still need to wee this little one who showed up to spend the New Year with us." Jessica had only allowed herself to think about her own situation after she heard from Jonathan at noon that Anneliese had been saved. Nishay had taken a nap. Jessica used that break to run out and buy a test. She still felt dazed even now. She could not believe she was actually pregnant. She knew very well that she and Zane had no future. This baby was aplete ident. She was not ready for it. Her heart only felt panic. She did not know what to do. She felt that this baby should not be born into the world. She thought the baby would not be weed. But the baby was innocent. It was her fault that the baby had already be unwanted before even being born. But Anneliese''s words made her nose sting. Her heart felt a little lighter. She took the juice. She tapped her ss lightly against Anneliese''s. She took a sip before speaking in a rough voice. "Annie, I..." Anneliese noticed Jessica''s hand shaking around the stem of the ss. She reached out and held her cold fingers. "Jess, do you remember what you told me earlier in the elevator? I felt the same way." Anneliese leaned over and hugged her. "No matter what you decide to do, I am always here. I will always support you. So we do not need to be scared." Jessica pressed her face into Anneliese''s neck. Her voice sounded very thick when she answered. "Yeah, I know." She held Anneliese. Her fear faded a little. Right then, a phone rang. Anneliese let go. "I think it''s your phone." She gestured to the glowing pocket. Jessica took her phone out. Her fingertips shook when she saw the name on the screen. Anneliese sat right beside her. She saw it too. It was Zane. Jessica froze. Anneliese bumped her shoulder gently. "You''re not answering?" Jessica snapped out of it. She hung up right away. She put the phone back in her pocket. She took another sip of juice. She stayed silent. Anneliese saw how troubled she was. "He is probably with his family for the New Year. He still remembered to call you. That means you are still on his mind." Jessica let out a smallugh at herself. "It does not matter if he has real feelings. He and I are not a good fit. We are not possible." Anneliese had heard her say this before. But saying it was also her way of convincing herself. She was scared of falling in too deep. But if she had not already fallen in, she would not keep trying to convince herself like this. her cold hand again. Anneliese held her "You really do not n to tell him about the baby? Being together is one thing. Telling him is another. He is the father. He has the right to know. He should also take his share, of responsibility unless you have another n. For example, raising the baby alone." Jessica was like a sister to her. She would stand with her no matter what. If Jessica did not want to keep the baby, then Zane needed to know. Jessica could not carry that pain alone. An abortion hurts a woman''s body The emotional pain was even worse. Itsted for life. Even if she stayed beside Jessica, she could not take the father''s ce. fo If Zane knew and took part, some of the emotional weight would shift away from Jessica. He also owed her an answer. It was better to face the pain now. f he asked her to end the pregnancy without taking responsibility, then Jessica would finally see what kind afman he was. If she wanted to raise the baby alone, then that would be different. Anneliese would support her. They had enough to take care of a child. Jessica understood what Anneliese meant. She took a long breath. Chapter 543 "Yeah. My mind was a mess right now. I needed to think it through again." Anneliese held her hand again. "I''ll go with you to the hospital tomorrow for another checkup. We should confirm everything first." "Okay." Jessica leaned on Anneliese''s shoulder. Her phone started ringing again. It kept ringing nonstop. Jessica took out her phone. It was Zane calling again. Anneliese turned to her. "You''re really not answering?" From the way he kept calling, Anneliese felt that Jessica might not be the only one who was anxious. If he knew Jessica might be pregnant, he might not choose to walk away. Jessica still did not want to answer. Anneliese did not want to affect her choice, so she pulled out her own phone to check it. The moment she took it out, her phone also started ringing. The sudden sound made her jump. Jessica looked over. When she saw the bright word "Hubby" on the screen, she lifted her eyes toward Anneliese. They looked at each other. For some reason, they bothughed. Then they made the same move. They switched their phones to silent mode, turned off the screens, and tossed them aside. Men were not cute at all. On a nice evening like this, only girlfriends understood someone best. ... On the other side, Jonathan had already returned to the Fullbuster Residence. He sat with the family for a while. When his nended in Halden, he sent Anneliese a WhatsApp message to check in. The chat stayed unread. There was still no reply. He stood up and walked to the window as he tried to call her. No one picked up. He did not know if she had fallen asleep or was with Nishay and did not see it. That uneasy feeling in his chest continued to grow. It even made him a little restless. "I bet Jonathan is calling Anneliese. I didn''t expect him to be like this after getting married." The elders had already gone to bed. Keh''s generation was still talking in the living room. The younger ones were in the entertainment room. The one talking was Robert, the youngest of that branch. He was two years younger than Felyxia. He was ying pool with Felyxia. When Felyxia heard that, she nced at Jonathan and spoke in a worried tone. "How do you know Jonathan is calling Anneliese? Did you see it? Maybe he''s calling an elder to say happy new year." "You don''t get it. Look at Jonathan''s face. It''s obvious. The person didn''t pick up so he''s in a bad mood. Who else can ignore his call and stiffl affect him like that? It can only be Anneliese Robert gave Felyxia a proud look. He did not notice that Jonathan''s mood was getting worse. "If you don''t believe me, let''s bet. When Jonathanes over, we can ask him. If I''m right, your gift goes to me this year. Deal?" Felyxia red at him. "I''m not betting. Stop bothering me." Robert froze. He did not know why she got mad, but she was not. She was actually nervous. She felt like she had really messed up. Not long after she told Anneliese all that nonsense, Anneliese left. And after Jonathan rushed back from Oceaton, his expression stayed calm, but he seemed distracted. He checked his phone many times, but he did not send any messages. Now, even his call did not go through. Maybe Anneliese was ignoring him. If that was true, she was doomed. The more she thought about it, the colder her back got. She prayed in her heart to every god she could think of. She begged all of them to make Anneliese call him back. She had just finished wishing when Jonathan''s phone started ringing. Felyxia''s eyes lit up. Her shoulders rxed. Jonathan also lifted his eyes when he heard it. His lips curved a little. But when he saw who was calling, his expression darkened. He picked up with irritation in his voice. "You''d better have a real reason." On the other end, Zane shivered as he held his phone. "It''s New Year''s Eve. Everyone else is having dinner, and you''re chewing me out?" "If it''s nothing, I''m hanging up." Jonathan did not want Zane to take up the line. What if Anneliese called back at that exact moment? "It''s something. Don''t hang up!" Zane quickly straightened his tie and rushed his words. "I just wanted to. ask if Anneliese is doing okay, for New Year''s. She''s probably still awake, right?" Chapter 544 "You got a death wish or what?" Jonathan''s voice drifted over, low and icy. Only then did Zane realize how bad hisment sounded and how easily it could be taken the wrong way. But Jonathan knows I''d never look at Anneliese that way, so why''s he acting like this in the first ce? "Jonathan, I can''t get a hold of Jessica. Didn''t she spend New Year''s with Anneliese? Can you ask Anneliese what''s going on with her..." Jonathan pressed his lips together as he stared past the floor-to-ceiling windows. The garden outside was lit up with strings of bright colors. Somewhere in the distance, fireworks kept blooming across the sky. The whole ce looked like one big picture of warmth and celebration. Everyone he cared about was under the same roof, yet because one person wasn''t here, he couldn''t feel any of that joy at all. "So, you think if you can''t reach her, somehow I magically can?" He lowered his gaze. His voice carried this tired mix of irritation and self-mockery. Zane froze for a second, then almost burst outughing. Out of nowhere, he suddenly felt like he wasn''t suffering alone. Maybe his situation wasn''t the worst after all. "You can''t reach Anne either? Wow, that is... incredibly convenient." He did swap ''great'' for ''convenient,'' but Jonathan still heard every bit of that schadenfreude in his tone. "You sound thrilled." "Of course not. I haven''t been able to reach Jessica for a day or two, so I''m over here wondering if I pissed her off or if something happened. Yet, if you can''t reach Anne either, then those two are probably hanging out and ignoring us. How about this-we''ll call Joel and Carter and go grab a drink?" Zane had already made peace with the situation, but Jonathan hadn''t. He still wasn''t in the mood. His reply came out slow and t. "No." And with that, he hung up. He rechecked WhatsApp-still no reply from Anneliese. Unease gnawed at him, so he dialed another number. "Is Mrs. Fullbuster asleep?" His voice was low and steady, and the call connected instantly. On the other end, the bodyguard who had been waiting outside Maple Bay all day, even during the holidays, slid out of the car, craning his neck to peek upstairs. "Mr. Fullbuster, Mrs. Fullbuster is probably still talking with Ms. Sweeting. Want me to go upstairs and check?" "No, that''s fine. Thanks." Jonathan hung up, pressing his thumb against the tense ridge of his forehead. The girl has time to chat with her bestie, but can''t bother to answer my calls or WhatsApp. Seriously... this is all Zane''s fault! How does he even let someone like Jessica slip through, allowing her to cling to my Anneliese? ... Zane had just settled at the game table when his WhatsApp pinged. His eyes lit up immediately. He checked it right away, expecting a reply from someone, but it wasn''t. It was Jonathan sending him a message. The message was just an emoji-ten fingers pointing down, dripping with pure disdain. Zane felt a flicker of confusion. Meanwhile, Jonathan put his phone down and caught Felyxia sneaking nces at him. She probably didn''t expect him to turn around so fast. Panicking, she quickly averted her eyes and tried to slip away. "Hold up!" Jonathan said in a low, firm voice. She froze, stiffening her neck as she slowly turned back. She held up the fruit tter like a shield. "Jonathan, you... You done talking to Anneliese? Want a couple of slices of watermelon? They''re super sweet." I just can''t rx. After seeing Jonathan make the call, I get nervous they''re going to argue, so I sneak over pretending to bring some fruit. However, his expression is terrifying there''s no way he''s figured me out, right? Jonathan looked at Felyxia and couldn''t tell if it was just his bad mood today, but everything about her rubbed him the wrong way. His thin lips twitched for a moment, then he said nothing. He just waved his hand. Felyxia nced at him cautiously, trying to read him, but came up empty. Still, under the weight of his intense presence, any thought of confessing vanished. Forget it. Maybe I''m overthinking. I''ll just get through New Year''s Eve for now. ... The next morning, Anneliese woke up feelingpletely drained, her body heavy, like she''d been asleep forever. The night before, she and Jessica had stayed upte, keeping watch until the early hours. By the time she got back to her room, exhaustion had hit hard, and she''d fallen asleep almost instantly. The dream she had wasn''t pleasant, though. In it, a grand wedding was taking ce inside a stunning castle with a foreign style, every detail perfect and breathtaking. Jonathan stood across from her, dressed in a ssic ck suit. She wore a wedding dress, her pregnant belly unmistakable beneath the fabric. They looked at each other with pure happiness in their eyes. Then, just as the officiant dered them husband and wife, a young woman in a white dress appeared out of nowhere. Her face was blurred, and she shouted at the top of her lungs. "I object! Jonathan, don''t you remember me?" Chapter 545 Jonathan ignored Anneliese''s desperate pleas and strode straight toward the woman. He grabbed her hand, and together they vanished into the shifting shadows. This is such a terrible, messed-up dream. Anneliese woke up from sleep with a start, tossing and turning for a long while before finally drifting back off. But once she did, she slept deeply, without any dreams. She felt like the weakness and difort that had gued her for the past couple of days had vanished entirely. Sitting up, she carefully shook her head-no more dizziness. She stretchedzily, then grabbed the remote and pulled open the curtains. The first day of the new year greeted her with bright, warm sunlight. She turned on her phone, and a flood of New Year''s messages poured in. But since Jonathan was pinned at the top of her contacts, the six new notifications from him stood out clearly. Her gaze lingered on them for a moment, but she didn''t open the messages. It was already past ten in the morning, and she and Jessica had agreed to go to the hospital today for a check-up. Anneliese quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom. After grabbing a quick bite with Jessica, they reached the hospital around 11 a.m. ... Thankfully, it was New Year''s Day, and the hospital was practically empty. Anneliese stayed with Jessica for her appointment, the blood draw, and the results. As expected, she was eight weeks pregnant, and everything looked normal. Exiting the OB-GYN office with the test results in hand, Jessica seemed calm. She gently touched her belly. "How did you get this big without me even noticing?" Annelieseid her hand over Jessica''s, resting both of them on her stomach. "Looks like we''ve got a thoughtful little one who already knows how to take care of you. I just saw a mom rushing in with her family¡ªher morning sickness was so bad she almost copsed, but she didn''t want to waste time. Came straight to see the doctor even on New Year''s." I really think this baby is already so thoughtful. Honestly, I, as the mom, feel even more unreliable¡ªhow did I not even notice him arriving? I only feel a bit of nausea for about a week, and it''s not even constant. It passes quickly. It''s as if the baby is saying hello, letting me know he''s there. As for everything else, there were really no side effects at all, and Jessica felt this tender, bittersweet ache in her chest. "Yeah... my sweet baby who cares so much about me..." she murmured. "That''s nice," Anneliese said, brushing her fingers lightly over the back of Jessica''s hand. Jessica looked at her and grinned. "Jealous? Go on, pop out one with your Mr. Fullbuster already." But suddenly, Anneliese''s smile faded. She pulled her hand back, and her mood drooped. "Maybe... never mind." Her thoughts flicked back to that awful dream fromst night. Jonathan ditches me and the kid to run off with his first love. Jessica blinked, caught off guard. It looks like their problems are quite serious this time. Just then, the elevator doors slid open. Anneliese was about to pull Jessica inside, but the moment she looked up and saw who was standing there, her steps stalled. A man stood in the elevator. He was tall and dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. Only now the suit looked a little rumpled. He leaned against the elevator wall with a slight slump in his shoulders. His face was still striking, but the faint stubble and the tired, worn-outlook softened that usual polish. It was Zachartas, after what felt like forever. Clearly, Zacharias hadn''t expected to run into Anneliese here of all ces. His gaze locked onto her with a direct, burning intensity. Those seductive eyes flickered through a mess of emotions before settling into something bright and unmistakably joyful. "Anne..." He straightened on instinct and even tugged at his tie as if that could steady him. His voice came out rough when he called her name. It sounded painfully sincere, like he had carried it around for a long time. Anneliese only frowned and stepped back twice. What lousy luck. Of all days, I have to run into this mess on New Year''s Day. Jessica was speechless, too. What kind of cursed fate is this supposed to be? She instinctively stepped in front of Anneliese. "We''ll wait for the next one." What she really meant was simple. Nobody needed to greet. Zacharias just needed to get lost. But Zacharias acted like he couldn''t read the room at all. Instead of closing the elevator and leaving, he actually stepped out. "Anne, it''s New Year''s Day. What are you doing here? Are you sick?" Anneliese felt her irritation spike. She rolled her eyes. "Aren''t you here too?" Zacharias'' lips curved when he heard that, and his seductive eyes lit up a little. "Anne, are you worried about me? I''m not sick. Something happened to Lenora..." Melody and Lenora had both been having a rough timetely. After the holidays, their case about hurting Grandma is going to trial, and there''s nothing my connections can do. Anneliese shows zero interest in settling anything. Chapter 546 So I spent the whole New Year under a dark cloud. I can''t even enjoy a single day. Lenora ended up in the ERst night. I don''t know if she was trying to drown her sorrows or just needed an excuse to explode, but she drank herself into alcohol poisoning. Zacharias only showed up at the hospital on New Year''s because of that. Anneliese couldn''t care less why he was there. She definitely didn''t expect one throwaway sarcasticment to make him think she was worried about him. She lifted a hand to cut off whatever fantasy he was spinning. "Stop. We''re not close. Move." She stepped forward to leave. Zacharias suddenly reached out to grab her. "This is the maternity floor. Anne, why are you even here? Wait... are you pregnant?" He had just noticed the sign behind her, and something in those usually seductive eyes went sharp and dark as he pressed her. There was no way she''d let him put a hand on her. She swung her bag at him on instinct. The metal trim on the strap scraped across the back of his hand and left a thin line of blood, but he barely reacted. He tried to grab her again. "Zacharias, what is wrong with you? Back off!" Jessica moved to shove him without thinking. Anneliese panicked. Thest thing she wanted was a pregnant Jessica getting dragged into this mess. She fumbled to pull Jessica away. "Don''t bother with him. Let''s go." Jessica managed to step back, but the few test reports Anneliese had been holding slipped out of her hand and fell to the floor. She crouched to grab them, but another hand moved faster. "Give it back." She snatched the papers right out of Zacharias'' hand. He had already seen them. The report clearly said eight weeks pregnant. Anneliese is actually pregnant. She''s carrying another man''s baby. For a split second, Zacharias felt his mind gopletely nk. It was like something just drained every bit of strength out of him. Anneliese took the chance and snatched the test results back without even trying. He staggered a step backward, and his vision blurred out. Anneliese didn''t bother to check on him or wonder how he felt. She stuffed the paper away, grabbed Jessica''s hand, and pulled her into the elevator. She kept jabbing the close button like her life depended on it. Luckily, the elevator started going down while Zacharias was still standing there, looking lost. "Tsk. He looks really messed up," Jessica muttered. She had seen the empty, crushed look on his expression just as clearly. But really, who can he me? He dug this hole himself. Anneliese isn''t pregnant this time, but it''s only a matter of time. Does Zacharias seriously think Anneliese and Jonathan are going to divorce, and she''lle running back to him? That''s just him being out of his mind. "Don''t worry about him," Anneliese said, her voice calm and detached. Jessica nodded but couldn''t hide the worry creeping into her eyes. "He thinks you''re pregnant, right? Did you see the way he acted just now? What he does something... crazy? Maybe we should just be upfront with him." After all, we can''t mess with crazy people. But Anneliese shook her head. "It''s fine. Exining it will just make him overthink." "True." Jessica nodded. The elevator slowly came to a stop-it had reached the first floor. They didn''t speak anymore and started stepping out, but before they could get all the way out, a figure suddenly lunged toward them. It was Zacharias. He had clearly rushed down the emergency stairs. He was panting hard, hair falling messily over his forehead, shadowing his eyes. Sweat dripped down along his brow, highlighting a pair of bloodshot eyes locked onto Anneliese. His gaze was intense, obsessive, terrifying. "What are you doing?" Anneliese stepped back, shielding Jessica, as Zacharias pressed against the elevator wall. "Anne, how could you! How could you have a baby with Jonathan! Don''t you remember? You promised me we''d have two kids, a boy and a girl, and you even said one of them could have thest name ude agreed, and now... did you just forget?" Anneliese stared at Zacharias, catching the hint of madness in his expression. Her palms were slick with nervous sweat. "Zacharias! This is a hospital! What do you think you''re doing? Step back!" she shouted. But instead of stopping, he seemed provoked by her sharp tone and the cold emptiness in her eyes. He reached out for her. She was already cornered in the elevator. Anneliese swung her bag at him. Jessica kicked toward him, too. But it was like Zacharias didn''t even feel it. Pain and obstacles didn''t register with him. Just as his hands were about to mp down on her shoulders, she instinctively shut her eyes. But the next second, instead of being grabbed, there was a loud bang. Anneliese opened her eyes and froze in shock. Zacharias had been kicked, flying across the elevator hall. Chapter 547 Right now, Zacharias was sprawled across the first-floor lobby and clutching his stomach in agony. His whole body was curled up in pain. But even like this, his eyes burned with anger as he red at Anneliese. Anneliese went a little pale. Then, suddenly, a figure stepped in front of her, blocking Zacharias'' line of sight entirely. At first, she thought this casually dressed man was just some random passerby, and she was about to thank him. But after he cut off Zacharias'' view, he turned to her, and his voice was steady but tinged with concern. "Mrs. Fullbuster, are you alright?" Looking at him, Anneliese immediately noticed the tension in his expression, the subtle edge in his demeanor, and the precision of his movements. This wasn''t just a stranger. She realized he had to be her bodyguard. Jonathan hadn''t mentioned anything about this. Just like before, when he had Zaxton shadow her, he hadn''t said a word. A flicker of unease ran through her, even though she knew Jonathan''s intentions were probably just to keep her safe. "I''m fine. You''ve been following me all these past couple of days?" Anneliese asked, pausing briefly before speaking directly to him. The man studied her carefully. Her expression and pale look made him choose his words carefully. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I''m Zaxton. Mr. Fullbuster was worried that if he wasn''t around, someone with ill intentions might try to hurt you, so he had me assigned to protect you." Anneliese gave a slight nod and said nothing else. She grabbed Jessica''s hand and started walking out. By now, Zacharias had managed to push himself off the floor. He held his stomach, every step sending a jolt of pain through him, but he still limped toward Anneliese, unwilling to give up. "Anne, I didn''t mean it! You''re pregnant, and Jonathan isn''t even here with you. He won''t take you home for the holidays, and he''s not sincere with you at all. How could you be so stupid, having a baby for someone like him, you¡ª" Zacharias didn''t finish his sentence. Zaxton stepped forward and grabbed him by the cor, cutting off his venomous words. "Let go! You dare get fresh with me, a dog of Jonathan''s?" Zacharias sneered, eyes shing with menace as he stared at Zaxton. Zaxton stayed calm. His expression was unreadable. "You''ve got nothing on me. You''re the CEO of a publicpany, and yet here you are, making a scene over someone else''s wife in front of everyone. Honestly, you''re living more like a stray than the rest of us, scraping by like it''s all you can do." Zaxton wasn''t afraid of Zacharias. Sure, Zacharias had money, but he didn''t work for him. As a bodyguard, Zaxton was doing his job with honor, and no one had the right to insult him. Zacharias clearly didn''t expect some little bodyguard to talk back. His mouth was as venomous as his obnoxious master, Jonathan''s. He threw a punch at Zaxton, but Zaxton was a professional-there was no way Zacharias wouldnd it. Zaxton caught the fist, twisted it, and with a smooth move flipped Zacharias over. He stumbled back, and when he regained his footing, Anneliese was already gone from the hall. At the parking lot. Anneliese saw Zaxton catch up and started walking toward him. "Please..... don''t tell Jonathan what happened today," she said. Zaxton''s expression was respectful, but his words told a different story. "Sorry, it''s my duty to report to Mr. Fullbuster truthfully." Anneliese felt a pang in her chest, but she could understand. After all, he doesn''t work for me, and he just protected me¡ªwhat right do I have to give him orders? Really, it''s not that I''m worried he''ll report Zacharias to Jonathan. I just don''t want Jonathan to know that Jessica is pregnant. She looked down and pulled the pregnancy test out of her bag, showing it to Zaxton. "See? I wasn''t the one who took this test today. This is my bestie''s news, It''s het business, and her privacy She doesn''t want anyone else knowing. And it has nothing to do with Jonathan. You can just not mention it to him, right?" Zaxton hesitated for a moment. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I won''t say anything if Mr. Fullbuster doesn''t bring it up himself." Anneliese wasn''t thrilled with that answer, but she didn''t want to make things awkward for a bodyguard during the New Year. I''ll deal with it when Jonathan actually finds out. She thanked him and turned, slipping into the car. Before she even made it back to Maple Bay, Jonathan''s call came through. Anneliese held the phone in her hand, staring at the screen for a long moment before finally answering. She nced out the window and held the phone to her ear without saying a word. For some reason, the man on the other end didn''t speak either. Just when she thought she''d identally hung up and moved to check the screen, his familiar low voice came through, calm and unhurried. "Honey, are you mad at me?" Her chest tightened, and she denied it instinctively. "No." She didn''t realize her tone carried a bit more stiffness than she intended. Chapter 548 Jonathan furrowed his brow slightly, but since he couldn''t see Anneliese''s expression, he chalked it up to maybe being too eager to see her¡ªletting his nerves get the better of him. His voice softened. "So... have you been thinking about me?" Anneliese bit her lip, and her throat tightened at his tender tone. "Jess is here. Besides, it''s only been a day since we split." She didn''t answer directly. But the truth was, she had missed him. Of course, she had. Even if all she could think about was the worst-case scenarios. Jonathan naturally felt a twinge of frustration at her reply, but knowing she was always shy about showing her feelings, he assumed she was just being considerate of Jessica. He pivoted smoothly. "Jessica''s pregnant? The baby... is it Zane''s?" A wave of irritation hit Anneliese instantly. It was obvious Zaxton had already filled Jonathan in. She pressed her lips together, and her voiceced with scorn and annoyance. "I really don''t know if you sent someone to protect me or just spy on me." The chill in her tone was unmistakable, even across the distance. Jonathan could feel the icy anger radiating from her. He hadn''t expected her to flip like that, and even his usually calmposure faltered for a brief moment. His striking features nked out, then his sharp brows knitted tightly together. Regaining himself, Jonathan loosened his tie and spoke gently, as if trying to soothe her. "I sent him to protect you. After what happened with the kidnapping, I couldn''t risk leaving you alone. And Grandma isn''t in the best of health. If something went wrong, you and Jessica would be too vulnerable. Zaxton was there to handle emergencies. I didn''t tell you because I didn''t want to ruin your New Year. If you''re upset about this, I can apologize. Next time, whatever I do involving you, I''ll tell you in advance. Okay?" He exined patiently, but somehow it made Anneliese feel irrational, as if she were being unfair for misinterpreting his good intentions. She didn''t calm down. If anything, she felt a mix of shame and anger, even guilt, all knotting in her chest. Her teeth pressed into her lip hard enough to leave pale marks. "Fine, even if that''s true, if it wasn''t spying, why did he tell you about Jessica being pregnant? That has nothing to do with anything." Jonathan paused for a moment, then said, "He didn''t tell me. I figured it out." And indeed, Zaxton hadn''t said a word. "Zaxton only mentioned you got tangled up with Zacharias at the hospital. I was worried about your head getting injured again, so I pressed him. That''s when he admitted you went with Jessica. But Zacharias wouldn''t just assume you were pregnant and start a fight for no reason. So I figured you must have gone to the OB-GYN Zane called mest night. He said he hadn''t been able to reach Jessica these past couple of days, and today is New Year''s Day. If it weren''t urgent, you wouldn''t rush to the hospital with her. Honey, I''m not stupid. All the clues added up." Jonathan''s tone was steady, patient, and deliberate. He exined everything clearly because he didn''t want her to think he had sent someone to spy on her, and he didn''t like this little wedge toe between them. He is so patient, so gentle, so understanding... Anneliese felt like she was just beingpletely unreasonable, and she knew her mind was off bnce. Because of that princess room, because of those ugly suspicions, she couldn''t meet him with a calm heart. The better he treated her, the tighter her chest twisted with hurt and resentment. She was terrified that every bit of his kindness toward her was a result of his affection for another woman. She realized that after going through betrayal once, she hadn''t grown braver or more decisive. Instead, she had gotten weaker. Back when she''d overheard the truth outside Zacharias'' office, her heart had ached and burned with anger, but she had dared to confront it. In that moment, she had made the right, decisive choice to cut ties and get a divorce. But yesterday, when she stepped into that princess'' room, she didn''t even dare to confront it. She could only tell herself excuses that her Body felt off, the Fullbusters weren''t the right ce for a fight, anything to make herself run away. She was terrified that her darkest suspicions the awful idea of being a recement-might actually be urate. Just imagining it nearly crushed her. If it were true, she couldn''t even guess how much it would hurt, or what kind of reckless, crazy thing she might do to Jonathan in a moment of losing control. She had never felt this frantic, this helpless, this lost and timid. Anneliese gritted her teeth. In the reflection on the car window, her almond-shaped eyes glistened with trembling tears, like two pools of blood. Chapter 549 She couldn''t get a single word out for a long moment. She just sat there, holding everything in, stubborn and tense. "Annie, I''m fine. Really. Don''t fight with Mr. Fullbuster because of me. If he finds out, then he finds out. It''s not a big deal..." Jessica clearly hadn''t expected Anneliese to snap like that and start arguing with Jonathan. She caught pieces of Jonathan trying to exin himself, and it was apparent the whole thing still circled back to her. She tugged lightly on Anneliese''s sleeve, and her voice was small and worried. That pull and that soft call felt like someone dragging Anneliese up from underwater. She sucked in a few shaky breaths and closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. When Jessica saw how pale her face was and how red her eyes had gotten, she gasped. "Annie, are you okay?" Of course, Jonathan heard that gasp through the phone. His voice instantly lost whatever calm he had left. There was a strained edge to it when it reached her ear. "Honey, I''m sorry. Whatever happened, it''s on me. Please don''t be upset. Let''s not fight, alright?" Anneliese even caught the sharp scrape of a chair being dragged across the floor. Jonathan must have shot to his feet in a panic. A secondter, he spoke again. "I''ming back to Oceaton right now. Whatever it is, we can talk in person." Her tears spilled before she even realized they''d fallen. They burned as they slid down the corners of her eyes. She fought through the tightness in her throat and turned her head away. She wiped at the streaks under her eyes, waited until she could keep her voice steady, then finally spoke. "No. Stay with your family. I just... I''ve been overly sensitive over the past couple of days. I''m probably about to get my period, and the whole kidnapping thing still has me on edge. Don''t worry about it. And I owe you an apology too. I shouldn''t have said what I said." Yesterday at the Fullbuster estate, Anneliese overheard the staff chatting. Every New Year, the Fullbusters held a long, formal family remembrance ceremony, and Jonathan, as the future heir of the Fullbuster Group, was never allowed to skip it. Jonathan had stopped walking. He drifted toward the tall windows, and his gaze settled on the distant direction of Oceaton without him even realizing it. "I''m not taking your apology." "Huh?" Anneliese''s stomach dropped. She froze for a second,pletely thrown. Before she could find her footing, he added, "You scared me just now. The only thing I''m epting is a kiss from you. Something to calm me down." Her nerves had been bouncing all over the ce, and with a few words, he scrambled everything she had been feeling. It took her a moment to catch up before she whispered, "Jess is right here." She had no idea how she was supposed to kiss him through a phone screen. And honestly, considering they had just been arguing, if she really sent him a kiss out of nowhere, Jessica would probably think she had lost her mind. Jonathan clearly wasn''t that easy to appease. "I''m still not convinced. Maybe I should just request a flight route right now." "Jonathan!" Her voice rose in a rush. He heard the panic in her tone. The icy distance from earlier was gone, reced with something softer and a little exasperated. Only then did his expression rx. "Alright. Fine. But you owe me one thing." "What is it?" "For the next two days, you are not allowed to ignore me. Pick up my calls. Reply to my WhatsApp. If you don''t, I swear I''ll show up in Oceaton and drag you out myself." Anneliese suddenly felt guilty for reasons she couldn''t quite put her finger on. She could hear how serious he was, and she nodded see before remembering he couldn her. She babbled Okay. Butcan you also promise not to tell Zane that Jess is pregnant?" Jonathan''s expression, which had finally eased, tightened again. "Anneliese, I need a whole condition just to get you to reply to my messages? So you really were ignoring me on purpose?" She heard the irritation in his voice and had to admit he was scarily sharp. "That''s not it. I was exhausted yesterday. And I took Jess to the hospital this morning. I didn''t have time. I wasn''t trying to bargain with you. I thought you were dodging the question. Did you already tell Zane?" "No. I didn''t tell him anything. You told me to keep it quiet, so I''m keeping it quiet." If Honey is already upset, and I still decide to push back against her, I''m basically signing my own death warrant. For the sake of my own sanity, I''m sure Zane can deal with it. I mean,e on. His own woman is pregnant, and she doesn''t even want him to know. That''s already a huge blow. If he doesn''t take a hard look at himself and figure out why that''s happening, and instead gets mad at other people for not giving him a heads-up, then there''s really no saving him. After hearing Jonathan agree so fast kind of threw Anneliese off. She hadn''t expected him to give in that easily. It made her realize how unnecessary all that irritation and guardedness had been. It felt like she''d worked herself up for nothing. Chapter 550 She went quiet for a moment before asking, "So... when are youing back on the third?" The moment she said it, Jonathan''s mouth tugged into this small, unconscious smile. The tension in his brow eased a little. "Not sure yet. I''lle back as early as I can. Can you wait for me?" "Yeah." After they hung up, Anneliese turned to Jessica. "Rx. He''s not telling Zane anything for now." Jessica nodded and leaned her head on Anneliese''s shoulder. "I kinda heard bits of it. Annie, I don''t know what happened between you two, but he really seems to care. Men don''t usually stay that patient during a fight. "They don''t take the softer route or try to calm things down like that¡ªespecially someone like him who''s used to being in charge and having everyone fall in line. Whatever''s going on, you two should talk it out. Don''t let some dumb misunderstanding blow up on you." Anneliese held Jessica''s hand. "Yeah." Perhaps it''s just a misunderstanding after all. I shouldn''t panic like that or take Elizabeth''s words at face value. Her intentions are so obviously spiteful... Meanwhile, Jonathan hung up, and his handsome face tightened a little. If I still don''t pick up on Anneliese acting off, then I''m just way too oblivious. The man lowered his eyes, reying yesterday''s events in his mind. He pinpointed the exact moment Anneliese''s mood had shifted. With long strides, he swung the vi''s door open and called out to a servant. "Get everyone who was on duty in the vi yesterday afternoon." The servants were quickly gathered. Outside the study, they lined up in two neat rows, exchanging nervous nces. None of them could quite figure out what was going on. Jonathan wasn''t the type to act like a spoiled brat. He didn''t torment the staff for fun, and he certainly didn''t take out a bad mood on them. On the surface, he looked stern, almost intimidating, with a presence thatmanded respect. But anyone who spent time around him knew he was calm, even-tempered, and perfectly content being alone. He handled most things himself and rarely needed to boss the staff around. For him to call everyone together like this, it was obvious something serious had happened. The servants were on edge, whispering among themselves, but nobody could make sense of it. The study door opened. Jonathan was wearing a perfectly tailored, sharply cut Eastern-style suit. Underneath was a crisp white Eastern-cor shirt. No tie, no essories. The only detail was the subtle cloud pattern embroidered along the cor, catching tiny shes of ck and gold in the sunlight. He stood there, tall and upright, but his whole presence radiated themanding, refined aura of an old-money heir. Every servant bowed their heads, falling silent. "Mr. Fullbuster, everyone who was on duty yesterday is here." Jonathan nodded once, not wasting words. His dark eyes swept across the group with quiet intensity. "Who was in Ms. Anneliese''s room yesterday? Did she see anyone, or did anything happen? Speak up now. If anyone is hiding something, it will be found out. You''ll leave immediately and never work here again." The Fullbusters held a high status. Working in their household wasn''t just well-paid it also carried a certain prestige. On top of that, the Fullbusters were decent people. There weren''t many junior family members around, and the work itself was calm andfortable. No one wanted to lose a job like this. Two of the servants twitched slightly, hesitating. They had been on the fence, unwilling to cross Elizabeth, but after hearing just how serious the consequences could be for hiding anything, they didn''t dare stall any longer and stepped forward. After all, even though Elizabeth carried the title of Mrs. Fullbuster, every servant knew that Jonathan was the true heir to the house. Not even Elizabeth could overstep that. "Mr. Fullbuster, I... I saw Ms. Felyxia and Mrs. Fullbuster go upstairs yesterday," one of them said. "I... I saw it too. Ms. Felyxia came down a littleter, looking a bit off, and then Mrs. Fullbuster went upstairs. Thappened to be going upstairs to grab something, and i think overheard Mrs Fullbuster and Ms. Anneliese arguing in the hallway..." "Arguing? Do you know what about?" Jonathan''s eyes darkened. The maid''s forehead glistened with sweat. "Mr. Fullbuster, I swear I didn''t listen carefully. I really don''t know..." Her expression was a mix of panic and unease, as if she were terrified that Jonathan wouldn''t believe her. Jonathan, realizing there was nothing more to squeeze out of them, let it go. Judging by Elizabeth''s temper, he could guess exactly what she might have said to Anneliese. He waved for the servants to leave. Once they were gone, he turned back to his study and immediately made a call, his voice cold andmanding. "Shut down the Azure Bay project with Holf Real Estate immediately. We won''t be renewing Cloudspire Gourmet''s supply contract next year, and we''re pulling AeroAir out of the deal." On the other end, Zion, who was lounging with his family on White Sand Beach, shot upright from his chair The sudden movement scared the two blonde, blue eyed bikini masseuses on either side of him, and they yelped in surprise. Chapter 551 Jonathan''s brows drew together. "What are you doing now?" He was buried in responsibilities as the head of thepany, while someone else was clearly having a carefree moment. "What? Nothing." Zion quickly gestured for the two women beside him to keep quiet. Barefoot, he stepped a few yards away across the sand before speaking again. "Mrs. Fullbuster..." He wanted to exin that the Hoff family was copsing. They were no longer what they once were. These two major projects ounted for nearly half of Holf Real Estate''s revenue. Cutting them would be like severing a vital artery. After all, the Hoff family was connected to Jonathan through his mother. And with Elizabeth''s explosive temper, she would absolutely blow up during the holidays. Yet, before Zion could finish speaking, Jonathan''s voice dropped-sharp and icy. "No excuses. Do it now." "Yes, Mr. Fullbuster. I''ll take care of it immediately." Zion ended the call and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had no idea what Elizabeth had done this time to push Jonathan this far. And after today, he could already imagine how strained that mother-son rtionship would be. Not daring to dy, he sent out the instructions at once. After hanging up, Jonathan searched for his cousin Felyxia''s number and dialed. At that moment, Felyxia was in a private theater with a few wealthy heiresses-and a couple of attractive malepanions-watching a New Year''s hit film. She nced at her buzzing phone. A chill ran through her, and the beverage she was drinking caught in her throat, sending her into a coughing fit. "Ms. Felyxia, are you okay? Be careful!" one of the escorts panicked and patted her back. Her expression darkened. Seeing the caller ID felt like staring straight at the Grim Reaper. A terrible feeling crept over her-Jonathan must have discovered everything, and now he was calling to settle the score. But she didn''t dare decline. She waved the young man away, stood up, hurried out of the theater, and answered the call. As expected, the moment the phone reached her ear, Jonathan''s deep voice came through. "What exactly did you say to Anneliese yesterday?" ... Elsewhere, Elizabeth was spending the afternoon at a flower exhibition with several societydies. The event took ce inside a ss conservatory, and each attendee brought a few pots of unusual blossoms to disy. Elizabeth presented a Nymphaea thermarum a blossom so rare it was nearly impossible to find. It bloomed for only seven days each year strictly summer Once that brief window passed, the next opportunity would note for another year. She had paid a hefty sum to acquire one in full bloom, and thedies crowded around her in admiration. Her expression remained calm. "I''m not sure how Jonathan managed to get it He knew I would be attending this event and worried wouldn''t enjoy myself, so he went out of his way to find it for me." "You really are lucky. Jonathan treats you so well." "Honestly. Who wouldn''t envy you? I have four little terrors at home, and together they still don''t measure up to one Jonathan." "Oh, please. It''s not just your family. Throughout the entire Halden circle, no onepares to Jonathan." The women chimed in one after another. Then ady wearing a full cornflower-sapphire set let out a dramatic sigh. "So many of us hoped to form a marriage connection with the Fullbuster family. The Halden heiresses were practically ready to fight over him, and who would ve imagined some unknown outsider him first?" would swoop in and take sider C¨®ntent Everyone knew Elizabeth''s marriage was unstable, and the Hoff family had been declining year after year. Her prestige in recent years came entirely from her title as "Mrs. Fullbuster," a position secured by her outstanding son, Jonathan. Elizabeth would never allow anyone to suspect that her rtionship with her only son was actually strained. In public, she always maintained the image of a loving mother with an obedient son. And because Jonathan had stayed single for so many years with no marriage in sight, every mother with a daughter in Halden showered Elizabeth withpliments. She reveled in it. But thenst year, Jonathan suddenly announced he was getting married. Just the day before the announcement, Elizabeth had still been telling thedies she was thinking over her potential daughters-inw. His marriage news hit her like a p. Now that woman brought it up again¡ªnot to offer sympathy, but to stir drama. She and Elizabeth had never gotten along, and the moment she spoke, everyone turned to watch Elizabeth. "Mrs. Fullbuster, didn''t Jonathan bring his wife home for the holidays? Why didn''t you bring her today so we could meet her?" Elizabeth''s expression had already cooled the instant Anneliese entered the conversation. She took two measured sips of her coffee before offering a reply. Chapter 552 "The wedding date hasn''t even been decided yet. What''s the hurry? There''ll be plenty of opportunities in the future," Elizabeth said nonchntly. The women exchanged a knowing nce. So, even now, Jonathan''s wife still hadn''t won Elizabeth''s favor. Right then, Elizabeth''s phone buzzed. She checked the screen, saw it was her older brother, Edison Holf, and stood up. "I need to take this call." But before she could answer, her sister-inw, Darlene Cooper, rushed in, visibly panicked. "Elizabeth, what is happening? Edison said Jonathan personally ordered the Azure Bay project to be suspended-" "Darlene! Not here. Let''s talk outside." Darlene was so rattled that shepletely ignored the surroundings. Once Elizabeth cut her off, she finally realized the circle ofdies subtly watching them. She forced a stiff smile, grabbed Elizabeth''s arm, and muttered as they stepped out. "Elizabeth, Edison called you nonstop, and you didn''t respond. Call Jonathan now and ask what''s going on. Maybe it''s some misunderstanding!" Her voice shook with anxiety. She thought she was whispering, but plenty of people heard. It was obvious something serious had exploded for the Hoff family. Elizabeth shot her a sharp look and answered the call. "Edison, what could be so urgent that you had to call today... What did you just say?" Her irritation evaporated as her brother rushed through the exnation. Hearing that Jonathan halted the Hoff family''s Azure Bay project and froze Cloudspire Gourmet''s procurement, she was stunned. Azure Bay project was a tens-of-billions project. Even a small percentage meant over a billion in profit for the Hoffs. And Cloudspire Gourmet''s supply contracts with AeroAir had been locked in for a decade. Every staff meal and airline meal for AeroAir was provided exclusively by Cloudspire Gourmet. Honestly, the Hoffs benefited immensely from this setup-pure profit from family connections. They''d been relying on those twofortable ie streams to maintain their lifestyle. Losing both at once sent them into a tailspin. "Elizabeth, what''s wrong with Jonathan? Did something happen?" Edison sounded desperate. Elizabeth''s grip on her phone trembled. She knew. He must have learned what she said to Anneliese yesterday. Still, she never expected Jonathan to go this far over a single conversation. "Edison, calm down. I''ll talk to him." "Okay, please. Elizabeth, help us speak to Jonathan. He refuses to take my calls." She hung up, her face drained of color. Forgetting the party with thosedies, she hurried out, Darlene right behind her. ... Meanwhile, in Oceaton, Anneliese had no idea Jonathan already sensed the tension between her and Elizabeth. She and Jessica returned to Maple Bay. After making sure Jessica took her folic acid, Anneliese told her to lie down and rx. Jessica curled up obediently to rest for the baby and scrolled through her phone. Anneliese suddenly remembered her promise to Jonathan in the car to his calls and messages on swer both WhatsApp. She opened the chat and slid upward. That was when she saw it. At exactly midnight, he sent a New Year''s greeting. Along with it, he transferred her 8.88 million as a New Year''s gift with the note: ''Year after year, from dusk until dawn.'' Anneliese froze, warmth tightening in her chest. She stared for several seconds, typing then deleting, unsure what to say. Eventually, she sent him an old meme she had saved long ago. It had three lines: ''Happy wife, happy life. Devotion sows itssting Honor yourdy all your days and fortune will shine on your ways. The message was delivered. But no reply came. She didn''t know whether he''d seen it. A bit discouraged, she raked her fingers through her hair and locked her phone. When she nced up, Jessica was watching baby videos. A big-eyed infant in yellow cartoon pajamas, a gleaming bubble of drool on his lip, wiggling happily at the camera. Jessica smiled unconsciously, one hand resting on her stomach. Anneliese lifted her phone and took a photo of her. Jessica blinked, snapping back. "Look at you. You''re already glowing like a mom." She passed her the phone. Jessica stared, stunned. It looked like her-but also didn''t. The version of herself she knew always carried a hint of sharpness. But in the photo, she sat against the headboard with soft crescent eyes, her expression lit from within Her frontis within mer features had smoothed into gentleness, her smile light as spring sunshine. Every part of her looked calm, warm, and peaceful. Chapter 553 Jessica barely recognized the reflection in the photo. Yet it was unmistakably hers. Her unborn child was already reshaping her from within, instilling a quiet, resilient strength. As she stared at the image, her hand moved to her lower abdomen, brushing it gently. Her eyes welled with heat. She gripped her phone tightly, nced at Anneliese, and blurted without thinking, "Anne, I want to keep this baby!" Anneliese paused for a moment, unsurprised. She smiled softly. "Alright." She understood Jessica instinctively. Girls like them, whocked strong family roots, often carried their emotions intensely; even if they appeared bold and unshakable, matters of love and kinship weren''t casual. People had always longed for what they had never possessed. That was human nature. Jessica had spent years in solitude. Now a child was part of her, tied to her by blood. Letting him go had been unthinkable. "Anne, you won''t try to change my mind?" Anneliese''s simple nod made Jessica blink in mild astonishment. Anneliese chuckled. "I always knew you''d make this choice. Why would I persuade you to change your mind? As I said, we can handle it financially. And gically, Zane is top-tier¡ªno matter which traits the baby inherits, I believe he will be more than fine. There''s no reason not to keep him." A year prior, when Anneliese herself had been adrift and unsure, she might have urged caution. Now, sitting on a fortune worth hundreds of millions, she had no reservations. She could fully support Jessica. If Jessica wanted the child, she could have the child without fear. Jessica smiled, sensing the reassurance. Anneliese was just about to ask if she nned to tell Zane when the door swung open, and Nishay stepped in. Both women flinched and went silent immediately. Their sudden hush, however, drew Nishay''s attention. Anneliese quickly stepped forward. "Grandma, is something wrong?" Nishay regarded her steadily. "Anne, are you seeing someone?" Anneliese blinked, a tight knot of nerves forming. "Why are you asking this now?" Nishay''s gaze didn''t waver. "It feels like you''re whispering all day, keeping secrets from me." Anneliese and Jessica exchanged guilty nces. Nishay didn''t mind Anneliese dating; she had nned to gradually tell her about Jonathan after the New Year. Butplications had arisen between Anneliese and Jonathan, and no one could predict what would happen once he returned from Halden. Anneliese grinned and linked her arm with Nishay''s. "If Jess and I were seeing someone, of course, we''d need you to approve of him." Jessica nodded eagerly, slipping off the bed to take Nishay''s other arm. "Exactly. You''re the only elder whose judgment we trust. Annie and I don''t have your experience. If anything seems off you''ll be the first to know, and the one to check him out. nking Nishay, they sessfully lightened her mood. Nishay squeezed their hands. "My eyes failed me. I didn''t protect Anne well enough, and the Shaw family took advantage of her." Back when Anneliese had been with Zacharias, Nishay had assumed he was trustworthy. She believed they all knew him and would act decently despite conflicts. Who could have guessed... Seeing Nishay''s guilt, Anneliese interjected. "It''s not your fault. People change." Before rising to prominence, the Shaw family had been different. Hearts shift more rapidly and unpredictably than the weather. Nishay settled on the bed''s edge and cautioned them gently, "You''re still young. Take your time with emotions. Don''t settle for less. You''re remarkable girls, just as capable as anyone with bottlin parents Stand tall. Youll meet men worthy of you." "You''re right, Grandma," Anneliese said with her usual sweetness. Nishay studied her a moment longer. "Anne, I remember you''ve got a few seniors. You and them..." Anneliese waved quickly, cutting off the spection. "Nothing''s going on. Most of them already have girlfriends. Don''t overthink it." Nishay epted her answer, letting it go. She pondered to herself, Anne is clearly seeing someone, though she won''t admit it. Judging by what she''s said, her boyfriend isn''t from theb. Then who could it be? Then she remembered the message she had received earlier: ''Your granddaughter is with the wrong person. She''s going to get hurt sooner orter. Watch over her and Watchroverter talk some sense into her She wondered who had sent that message just now and why they would im the man wasn''t right for Anneliese. Chapter 554 Nishay began to suspect that Anneliese had gone to extreme lengths to hide something¡ªpossibly because the man truly hadplications, like being married. Anneliese remained oblivious to the distant expression crossing Nishay''s face. Later that evening, she perched on her bed,ptop bnced over crossed legs, fingers dancing across the keys as if orchestrating a thousand drones tounch andplete their missions simultaneously. Suddenly, her phone on the desk rang, startling her. She nced at the screen out of the corner of her eye, and her hands froze midair. Her thoughts scattered. It was Jonathan. It was strange he had previously instructed her to reply via WhatsApp, yet after she did, he had gone silent. Now he was calling, seemingly just to wish her goodnight. A flush of nerves coursed through her, followed by a scoff at her own overreaction. She felt pathetic. She answered, voice hesitant. "It''ste, why are you-" Jonathan''s calm,manding tone cut her off. "Come downstairs." "What?" She blinked, confused for a moment. "I''m downstairs. Come on down." His words aligned perfectly with the suspicion that had just formed in her mind, and she wondered why he had suddenly returned. She snapped herptop shut, swung her legs off the bed, and approached the window to peer down. Night had settled deeply over the city, and even through the intricate festive decorations draping theplex, she couldn''t catch sight of him. "Okay, I''ll be down shortly." She threw on a jacket and quietly cracked open the bedroom door. Meatloaf padded over, hearing the movement. Anneliese crouched to rub the dog''s head. "Quiet now. Don''t wake Grandma or Jess. I''m heading out. Keep watch, alright?" Meatloaf wasn''t thrilled about herte-night excursion and followed her to the doorway. She slipped into her shoes and scratched behind his ears. "I''m going to meet Jonathan." The dog''s ears perked at the name, tail wagging uncontrobly, yet he remained seated. Anneliese hurried down the stairs. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped forward¡ªand froze, confronted by a pair of dark, familiar eyes. He was there, imposing in a long gray cashmere coat draped over his suit, broad- shouldered, tall, exuding calm authority. He blocked her path. For a moment, the elevator seemed dimmer, smaller. She hadn''t expected him inside; she thought he''d be waiting outside. Her foot lifted, then dropped back in hesitation. Jonathan moved first, closing the gap as he stepped fully into the elevator. Instantly, the space felt cramped, the tension thick. She instinctively tried to retreat, but before she could even shift her weight, his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her forward. He held her with a deliberate force from the start¡ªalmost possessive. Her ribs ached beneath his grip; her nose pressed against him. He carried that familiar scent of deep, polished wood, now tinged with smoke. She remembered catching the faint smell of tobo twice before-once when Nishay''s ident had interrupted his trip, and once on the terrace the night of their confession, a cigar smoldering in his hand. So he smokes when he''s stressed and worn out. Clearly, he''s tense tonight. Did I make him feel this way? The thought twisted ufortably in Anneliese''s chest, and she tried to pull away. Jonathan sensed her struggle and released her-only to rece it immediately with a warm, firm hand at the nape of her neck. He leaned down and kissed her without hesitation. The intimacy felt rare, a closeness they hadn''t shared in a long time. The instant their lips met, an electric jolt surged through her; a soft, relieved breath escaped him. Then everything broke loose. He pressed closer, parted her lips, entangled his tongue with hers, taking more and more. "Mmph... don''t..." "I have something to... Mm... let go..." His face was cold from the winter air, but his mouth burned with intensity. Anneliese felt caught between fire and ice, energy draining fast. Her voice merged with his breath. His hands, relentless on her waist and at her neck, arched her back as she staggered two steps. He pinned her to the elevator wall, kissing her with an unyielding, insistent passion. Chapter 555 With nomand taking effect, the elevator doors opened, closed, then opened once more-none of it muffling the slick sounds of kissing or the ragged breaths tangled between them. Jonathan only snapped out of the haze when Anneliese bit down hard enough on his lips. The sharp, metallic tang hit his tongue, and rity finally forced its way back in. He loosened his hold. When he nced down, he realized her cheeks were streaked with tears he hadn''t seen forming. Under the stark elevator lights, they shimmered. Her mouth was red and tender from his kisses, and her almond-shaped eyes gleamed with a fractured shine. She seemed frightened of him. Or like she was standing on the edge of emotions she couldn''t hold back any longer. "Honey, I¡ª" Her expression twisted with pain, tightening everything in his chest. He was just about to speak when she suddenly lifted her hand. A sharp crack split the air. She pped him. Her strength was mostly gone, so the blow itself was barely anything. But the humiliationnded deep. The heat that had filled the cramped space moments ago drained away, turning everything icy. She stared at the faint red imprint rising on Jonathan''s cheek, her fingers curling in horror at what she''d just done. "I..." Her lips trembled. She wanted to exin she hadn''t meant it. She expected him to erupt. Instead, he caught her hand and drew it toward him. He lowered his gaze to her reddened fingertips. Then he leaned in and took them into his mouth. Warm. Wet. Soft. The sensation wrapped around her skin, and a bolt of heat shot straight through her limbs. Anneliese froze, her tears hanging there but refusing to fall. She looked at him like she didn''t understand what was happening. Jonathan held her gaze, his eyes dark, damp, and consuming. Ignoring the way she trembled, he took each fingertip in turn, sucking lightly as he murmured in a low, rough voice. "Did that hurt? Do you want to try again?" Anneliese thought he''d lost his mind. And a man that gentle, that unhinged from his usual self¡ªhad to be guilty. Her heart lurched at the thought, and she ripped her hand away. The tears finally broke, spilling fast and heavy. "Why did you rush here? So you knew the whole time? Wow. Jonathan, what am I to you? Just body you can show up to whenever it suits you no exnations needed, juste and go? Or some cheap substitute who should be grateful you bothered?" Her tears didn''t even need warming up¡ªthey came sharp and bright, rolling down silently. Jonathan reached out, but he couldn''t catch up. Each tear hit the back of his hand, hot and stinging, like someone had dunked his heart in chili brine. He wiped desperately, voice cracking. "No. Don''t say that. Baby, please don''t cry... It''s killing me." He''d assumed that after what Felyxia said, and after seeing that princess-themed room, she had finally pieced together who he really was. He thought her distance over the past two days meant she couldn''t handle it¡ªthat she was preparing to walk away. He couldn''t sit and wait. Terrified, he filed a flight n on the spot and took his jet straight here. The whole way over, his mind conjured every possible nightmare. What he feared most was stepping into Maple Bay and finding it empty. Nothing left of her. Only God knew how hard his heart plummeted¨D¡ªand then mmed back into ce -when he got out of the car and saw the lights still on upstairs. So when the elevator doors opened, and she was there-within reach he lost control. He grabbed her, kissed her, and needed to convince himself she hadn''t vanished. That she still betonged to him. He never imagined she didn''t know who he was at all¡ªand had made up some absurd "substitute" story instead. Now he didn''t know whether to be relieved she hadn''t uncovered anything, or devastated she hadn''t recognized him. A man who always acted with certainty now stoodpletely unraveled. His hands hung uselessly at his sides; he couldn''t figure out where to start. Another thick tear slid down her cheek. He leaned forward instinctively to kiss it away, and she shoved him back. "Don''t touch me!" Her voice cracked, but her resolve didn''t. He stepped back half a step immediately, hands lifted in a small surrender. "Alright. I won''t. Just listen. You''ve got it wrong. You could never be a substitute. ''can barely keep up with you. When would I even have time to pine after someone else? Baby it''s you Sonly your always has and been." Chapter 556 Anneliese caught every word Jonathan said. Her eyshes quivered. A fineyer of tears slid down her cheeks, and she stopped sobbing, her vision slowly clearing. There it was¡ªhis gaze, earnest and pressing, soft yet powerless. She drew in a steadying breath, letting her hups settle before speaking. "So you really never had a first love that stuck? But everyone¡ªyour friends, your cousin, your mom-they all insist you''ve had someone on your mind for over a decade. I even saw the room you prepared for her. You put so much effort into it..." Noticing herposure returning, Jonathan cautiously took a small step closer. Hisrge hand cradled her wet face, his thumb brushing the red-tinged corners of her eyes. "Even if I had a first love, there''s no need for jealousy or pain, because she¡ª" Anneliese''s eyes narrowed sharply at his words, and the brief relief she''d felt vanished instantly. Before he could continue, the elevator doors opened with a chime. A familiar, startled elderly voice rang out from outside. "Anne! What on earth are you two doing?" Startled, Anneliese turned past Jonathan and saw her grandma at the doorway, brows furrowed as she scrutinized them. "Grandma? Weren''t you asleep?" Anneliese eximed. She remembered that Nishay had already gone to bed when she left home. Of course, Nishay had followed her. She''d noticed signs over the past few days that her granddaughter might be in love. A peculiar text that evening had confirmed her suspicion, though Anneliese hadn''t shared it, leaving Nishay worried. She had slept lightly, caught the movement, and tracked her granddaughter, taking another elevator down. She searched the building and outside, finding nothing, before heading back, disheartened. But when she pressed the button, there she was. Late at night, hiding in an elevator with a man, their posture suggesting intimacy¡ª their connection was unmistakable. Nishay''s gaze fell on Anneliese''s swollen eyes, frowning deeply, then fixed on Jonathan, who hadn''t even noticed her yet. "You brought my granddaughter out in the middle of the night and left her in tears like this, right in front of me. Care to exin yourself?" Jonathan''s shoulders tensed. His brows drew together. He had nned to return to Oceaton and have ¨¤ proper, calm tbe conversation with Anneliese, not thrust into this chaotic scend before a single word could be exchanged. Unlike Anneliese, whose memory of those early years was hazy and didn''t even include his name, Nishay had met him before and knew exactly who he was. This was certainly not the moment for a revtion. Yet there was no avoiding it now. Jonathan met Anneliese''s eyes with unwavering focus. She stared back, panic, urgency, and anxiety swirling in her gaze. He offered a small, reassuring smile, wrapped an arm around her, and stepped from the elevator. "Hi, Ms. Morris. I should have visited sooner, but I''ve been caught up-" He didn''t get to finish; Nishay interrupted sharply. "What''s your name? How are you connected to Anne?" From the instant Jonathan faced her, Nishay studied him closely. Her eyes narrowed, and fine lines around her eyes twitched. That face-those features. Distinct, striking. Even after more than ten years, the neat, guilty expression of that young man was still etched in her memory-and it perfectly aligned with the man before her. Yet she clung to a faint hope that it might merely be a coincidence. Seeing Nishay''s unreadable, harsh expression, Anneliese panicked and rushed to support her, blurting out, "Grandma, his name is Jonathan Fullbuster. We''re together. I''m sorry for keeping it from you..." "What did you just say his name was?" Nishay turned sharply to Anneliese, then abruptly removed her hand, shaking off the support forcefully. From Nishay''s eyes, Anneliese saw pure hurt, betrayal, and disbelief. She froze, lips trembling, utterly stunned, tears prickling hot again. Nishay, usually gentle, hadn''t snapped at her like this in years. The intensity of her gaze threw Anneliese back to the traumatic years following her adoptive parents'' ident. Anneliese was frozen in shock when a protective shadow appeared¡ªJonathan stepped forward, cing himself between her and her grandma. Chapter 557 "Ms. Morris, I went to Anne first. Please don''t take it out on her..." "Stop! Don''t you dare call me that, you..." Jonathan''s words were cut short by Nishay''s rasping voice. Before she could finish, she clutched her chest, her face contorting in pain as she staggered, bracing herself against the wall. "Grandma! Grandma, what''s happening?" Anneliese turned ghostly pale, fear rooting her to the spot for a heartbeat before she rushed forward. But Jonathan moved quicker. He stepped forward, lifting the frail woman effortlessly into his arms, his voice calm but firm as he addressed the panicked Anneliese. "Get the medication." Nishay''s eyelids squeezed tight, beads of cold sweat forming on her furrowed brow. Anneliese''s mind spun, the sudden terror knocking the air out of her lungs. Jonathan''smand pulled her back. She clenched her jaw, forcing her trembling hands into Nishay''s pockets. "No... Grandma didn''t bring her meds..." Her voice quavered. Jonathan strode purposefully toward the elevator, and Anneliese hurried to keep pace, pressing the top-floor button repeatedly. The elevator had already started moving, but she jabbed at the button relentlessly. Jonathan noticed her reddened fingertip and frowned slightly, his voice softening. "She''ll be fine. Remember the number I gave you? Call it now." The reminder sparked her memory. Jonathan had arranged an on-call doctor for emergencies, just in case. She scrambled for her phone and dialed quickly. It connected immediately. A calm, professional middle-aged woman answered, clearly already aware of who was calling. "Mrs. Fullbuster? Is your grandma having a problem?" "My grandma is unwell and agitated. Can you¡ª" "I''m on my way." The doctor didn''t even wait for the exnation to finish. The elevator doors opened at the top floor. Anneliese darted to unlock the door; Jonathan followed closely behind. They entered one after another. Jonathan turned slightly toward Anneliese. "Leave it open. The doctor will arrive any second." Hearing themotion, Jessica had opened her door and saw Jonathan carrying Nishay. She gasped and hurried over. "What happened?" "Which room is Ms. Morris in?" Jonathan asked, his tone low andmanding. Alert, Jessica pointed to the room next to hers. Anneliese had already rushed to the coffee table, searching for medication and filling a ss of water. She barely had time to return with it when a middle-aged woman in, pajamas entered with a medical kit, followed by a younger assistant also in pajamas. "She''s in the bedroom." Anneliese hadn''t expected the doctor to arrive so quickly; they must live in the same apartment as part of the arrangement. Her panic eased slightly. She led the way, holding out the emergency pills. "These are the medications Grandma usually takes." The doctor, Maisie Landis, nodded and quickly stepped into the room, the assistant trailing behind. "Mrs. Fullbuster, I''ll handle this." Anneliese handed over the pills and ss of water, watching as Maisie entered the room. Jonathan came out of the bedroom. Inside, Nishayy motionless on the bed while Maisie examined her carefully. She started to follow him in, but Jonathan wrapped an arm around her shoulder, gently closing the door. "It''s fine. Let her work." Anneliese pressed her lips together and nodded, gripping her hands until her palms were slick with sweat. Jessica''s gaze flicked between Jonathan''s serious expression and Anneliese''s tear- streaked face. She wanted to ask, but held back. Finally, she sighed, went to the living room, poured a warm cup of water, and handed it to Anneliese. "Sit and wait," she murmured. Holding the cup, Anneliese felt the heat seep into her frozen limbs, easing some of the tension. She shook her head at Jessica, then looked at Jonathan, who remained silent beside her. "Does Grandma know you?" she asked, frowning. Recalling the elevator, Nishay had seen them close, yet her demeanor had stayed calm. After that moment... Nishay had only be agitated when she saw Jonathan''s face¡ªor perhaps heard his name. Their worlds werepletely separate¡ªthere was no way Nishay could know Jonathan. She instinctively pushed aside that thought, though memories lingered-those instances when Jonathan intentionally or not, had avoided meeting Nishay. Chapter 558 Anneliese had the nagging sense she''d overlooked something so close to uncovering the truth, yet it had slipped from her grasp the instant she reached for it. She waited, breath held, for Jonathan to respond. He simply lowered his gaze, lips pressed tight in a rigid line. Without warning, the bedroom door burst open. Maisie and her assistant appeared. "The patient is stable now, but still extremely weak. Try not to upset her again. There''s a sedative in the IV¡ªit''ll take effect shortly." Anneliese let out a relieved sigh upon hearing that Nishay was safe and rushed to express her gratitude. "Dr. Landis, I''m sorry to trouble you during the holidays. Truly¡ªthank you so much." Maisie cast a quick look at Jonathan, then offered a gentle smile. "Just part of the job, Mrs. Fullbuster." She''d charged a fair fee, so of course, she was giving it her all. Jonathan murmured quietly, "Stay the night." Maisie inclined her head, while Jessica spoke up, "We have extra guest rooms. I''ll see you settled." Jessica escorted Maisie and her assistant out, leaving Anneliese to slip into the bedroom and approach the bed. She leaned over to see Nishay and sped her hand. "Grandma..." Nishay''s eyes fluttered open, her face pale. She didn''t withdraw her hand. Her voice, hoarse and fragile, carried a warning. "Anne, step outside first." Anneliese paused, ncing over her shoulder at Jonathan, who had quietly followed her in. Grandma wants a private moment with Jonathan? But why? Confusion and unease rooted her to the spot. Jonathan moved closer, sliding an arm around her waist to guide her gently away from the bed. His tone softened. "Go on. I''ll stay with Ms. Morris for a while." Reluctantly, Anneliese left, casting nervous nces back. She closed the door behind her but lingered just outside, unable to shake her anxiety. Something felt undeniably off about the room. Inside, Nishay''s gaze pinned Jonathan. Despite her age-clouded eyes, they glimmered with sharp distrust and a wary vignce. Jonathan ignored it. He adjusted the IV drip and lightly touched the tubing. "The fluid''s a bit cold. I can warm it up for you." "No need," Nishay interrupted. Her voice was rough and stubborn. She tried to lift herself upright. Jonathan didn''t resist. He matched her movements, leaning in to help her sit with ease. Before she could protest, he positioned a pillow behind her back. When she moved to push him away, he had already stepped back, standing silently, patient like a well mannered boy awaiting instruction. The wealthy heir in Halden acting subdued waspletely unbelievable. Especially when facing someone like her, an unremarkable old woman. He only acted this way because of the debts he carried¡ªbecause he was haunted by the three lives he owed the ude family. Nishay''s face was drained of color. Memories of that day remained raw and painful. Jonathan unfolded a tissue and bent to wipe her cold sweat, but she pped his hand aside. "I''m just a useless old woman. I hardly deserve your attention, Mr. Fullbuster!" He had anticipated resistance. His expression remained steady. He continued methodically, dabbing at the sweat near her temple, folding the tissue, and wiping again with careful precision. Weakness had robbed her of the energy to fight him. Her chest rose and fell, her voice sharp yet powerless. "ttery won''t sway me. I''ll never approve of your rtionship." "But we''re already together." "You!" She choked on her indignation, fury ring. "You destroyed the ude family. What right do you have to ruin my only granddaughter?" Her chest heaved, pain stabbing beneath her sternum. Jonathan''s frown deepened, concerned she might copse. He took her delicate hand and began pressing the acupoints-first ones on the back of her h along the inner forearn then meto calm her racing heartbeat and panic. "If you want to stop us, you need to regain your strength. Lying here won''t change anything." She tried to pull her hand away but failed. Humiliated, she closed her eyes. He continued with steady, skilled pressure, clearly trained by a professional. Nishay didn''t want his gentleness; she didn''t even want to meet his eyes. Yet under his touch, the tightness in her chest eased slightly. Or perhaps the sedative was finally taking effect. "Save your breath. I won''t consent. Anne is my granddaughter. I know her best- she''s obedient. She''ll listen to me." Chapter 559 Jonathan interrupted Nishay before she could finish. "Even if she feels the same about me, you''d still interfere and split us apart?" Nishay opened her eyes, steady and unwavering. "You two aren''t suited for each other. I want you to be the one to end things with Anne." Anneliese had spent many years with Zacharias, and it had been less than six months since their divorce. Her rtionship with Jonathan was still very new, and it couldn''t have developed into something serious yet. To Nishay, Jonathan appeared to be exploiting Anneliese''s vulnerability, using charm to manipte her naive granddaughter. Anneliese carried pride, yet her heart remained tender. Should Jonathan be the one to end things, she would mourn only for a short while before moving forward. She had done the same with Zacharias-her love had been deep, but she had eventually healed and moved on. The pair simply didn''t fit together. There were plenty of other suitable men in the world, and breaking up now would allow space for the right person to appear in the future. Besides, Anneliese had just been crying in the elevator, her eyes red from tears. Clearly, tension already existed. Although the problems could still be fixed, Nishay had decided she would intervene. As Nishay calcted her next move, Jonathan''s voice cut through the tension, low and unwavering, each word deliberate. "I won''t break up with her. If I''m lucky enough to have her, I intend to do it for life." Nishay''s re sharpened, her anger ring. "And you think you deserve her? If not for you, she wouldn''t have lost her parents! You''re guilty. Why should my granddaughter bear the cost of your mistakes!" Jonathan''s tone deepened, controlled but firm. "Ms. Morris, I can distinguish guilt from love. I love her." Nishay hadn''t anticipated such raw honesty. His clear, deliberate confession shook her briefly. Her jaw tightened, the loose skin at her cheeks trembling. After a long moment, it was as if all her energy drained; she sank back into the pillows, breathing heavily. "I don''t believe you. Get out!" Jonathan had never expected immediate trust or eptance. He also feared pushing the elderly woman too far; if she reacted badly, he''d lose even a small chance with Anneliese. He nodded, helping Nishay sit up slightly, removing the throw pillow so she could reclinefortably, and said, "There''s time. I''ll prove it. Rest now." Nishay ignored him, her eyelids unmoving. Jonathan still found a hot-water bottle, quickly warmed it, and tucked it near the quilt to soothe the IV line before leaving. As he opened the door, Anneliese was there, clearly trying to eavesdrop. The movement startled her, and she instinctively shrank back like a frightened kitten. A brief, amused smile crossed bet Jonathan''s eyes. He draped an arm ound her shoulders and quietly dosed the door with the other hand. "Grandma " "She''s asleep. We should talk." Jonathan''s voice stayed low as he guided Anneliese to the guest-room door, knocking gently. Maisie''s assistant responded immediately, heading toward Nishay''s room efficiently. Only then did Jonathan lead Anneliese into the master bedroom. "What did Grandma say? Just now, you two seemed..." As the door clicked shut, Anneliese burst out with her question. She''d beed to listen, fearing a hight might erupt Their voices had remained calm; she hadn''t caught a single argument. Jonathan turned, pressing her lightly against the door, forehead resting against hers his dark eyes fixed hers His voice was rough, almost raw. SWI "She wants me to break up with you. I refused. Honey, are you going to leave me?" His tone blended worry, uncertainty, and quiet pleading. Thest note lingered against her ear, making her chest flutter. Anneliese felt she must be imagining it. This was Jonathan the perfect golden boy, alwaysposed, always in control. She''d never heard him sound this vulnerable, so unsure. Nishay wasn''t cruel, and no one could fairly judge him on a first meeting or demand a breakup right away. She nudged his chest lightly. "Are you serious? Let me go first." Jonathan didn''t relent. He pulled her closer, tightening his arms. "No. I need you to promise you won''t leave. Say it." His handsome face pressed to her neck, rubbing gently, voice hoarse yet insistent. Like a spoiled pet clinging possessively,pletely uncharacteristic for him. Anneliese could barely draw a full breath in his embrace. She tilted her head back, gazing at him. Perhaps his patience had run out. When she didn''t respond, he suddenly took her earlobe gently between his teeth. Chapter 560 Heat and moisture clung to her skin, apanied by the sting of tiny bites and relentless sucking. Anneliese''s strength seemed to drainpletely under his unyielding persistence, leaving her simultaneously helpless and frustrated. Yet her difort only intensified. She ceased resisting, her body gradually softening and stilling against him. "I remember making a promise to you. Did you forget?" At those words, Jonathan finally eased his grip and nced down at her. "I was worried you might have forgotten. But as long as it''s still clear in your mind and you haven''t changed your stance..." Anneliese found herself at a loss for words. "I hit my head and had a concussion for two days, yet my memory''s intact." Of course she remembered. He had convinced her to agree to this less than forty- eight hours ago. And at the moment, he was repeating almost the same lines. The difference this time was that he had already met Nishay, unlike before, when he''d been concerned she would object and force them apart. Now, Nishay had voiced her disapproval inly, insisting he end things with Anneliese. Even if Anneliese were oblivious, the inconsistencies would not escape her notice. So he did know Nishay. He had been aware all along that she would oppose their rtionship. Tilting her head back, her gaze locked on him, Anneliese spoke in a quiet, unwavering tone. "You know my grandma. What''s the deal between you two?" Jonathan caught the usation beneath her calmness and knew evasion was futile. Even if he stayed silent, Nishay would eventually reveal the truth. During the flight back to Oceaton, he had already resolved to confess. But now, under her steady stare, his lips parted, and for the first time, nerves tangled in his throat. His Adam''s apple bobbed noticeably as he bent down, lifting her effortlessly and carrying her toward the dressing room. Anneliese frowned. "Where are you taking me?" He said nothing, setting her down before the ss disy where he stored his watches. His gaze dropped to the center of the cab, his voice husky and low. "The answers you seek are in those two boxes." Puzzled, Anneliese frowned. This was his watch collection, but he told her that the answers were hidden within it. She wondered if he was joking, yet his expression stayed serious, the et closet light unable to the tension in his jaw Following his gaze, she focused on the middle of the cab. Two velvet boxes rested there side by side-one ck, one red-distinctive and impossible to miss. Surrounding them were dozens of watches, each carefully ced in clear slots, visible at a nce. Only that central space contained the two closed boxes, quietly demanding attention. She had noticed them before but never given them much thought, never trespassing into his belongings. Now, staring at those boxes, she felt the weight of hidden significance. Her hand hesitated, unwilling to reach. Jonathan''s gentle smile met her eyes, quiet butforting. Drawing a steadying breath, Anneliese opened the cab and lifted both ornate boxes. "Which one first?" she asked, her nerves creeping back. He shook his head lightly. "You decide." cing the ck box on the ss surface, she picked up the red one. Her fingers traced the fabric absentmindedly before she bit her lip and opened it. She expected a watch or perhaps a piece of jewelry. Instead, a red hair tie appeared the kind made for young girls. It was handmade, red yarn crocheted into a frilled band, with three tiny lily-of-the- valley flowers dangling delicately. The yarn had faded with age, yet something about it stirred a sudden familiarity. This hair tie... Anneliese held it, eyes widening as nostalgia and surprise flooded her. Joy and confusion flickered across her face. "This hair tie... It''s mine! My mom made it for me by hand. There''s no other like it in the world!" When she was eight or nine, these crocheted hair ties had been all the rage in Baytree. Children and adults alike wore them. Almost every girl in her ss had one. Anneliese had been among the first, thanks to her adoptive mother, an elementary school teacher. When she saw a student wearing one, her mom secretly learned tone crochet from a neighbor and made them for Anneliese in secret. She remembered vividly how spotting her ssmate with a hair tie her own mother had crafted left her envious and a little crushed butter, after finishing her homework, a red hair tie slipped from her books into herp-a moment of surprise and delight she would never forget. Chapter 561 "Anne, you should have what the other kids have. Just tell your dad or me whenever you want something, alright?" Anneliese''s adoptive mother gently tied her hair into a neat ponytail using a brand- new scrunchie, caressed her head, and smiled with a warmth that made her heart melt. Flushing, she hugged her mom lightly. The next morning, she arrived at school before anyone else. She raised her hand for every question in ss, wanting everyone to notice the beautiful scrunchie her mom had made. She was certain that no other girl at school owned a scrunchie as exquisite as hers. She cherished it like a treasure. Each night, she carefully ced it under her pillow. She wore it daily for over a year, even recing its stic three times. Yet eventually, she lost it¡ªafter both her parents were gone. She had lost her mom, and with her, the precious scrunchie. Countless times, she cried quietly over it, searching every corner in vain. Anneliese never imagined that more than ten yearster, she wouldy eyes on that scrunchie again. And it happened in the most unexpected way. She gripped the hair tie tightly, turning toward Jonathan, her lips trembling. "Why do you have the hair tie I wore as a kid?" The scrunchie, the portrait in the room that mirrored her so perfectly, and her grandma''s sudden, fiery reaction the instant sheid eyes on him... Anneliese sensed she was grazing the edge of a buried truth, yet her memories instinctively recoiled, retreating behind a shielded nk. Jonathan reached for her hand gently. He pried open her clenched fingers and lifted the scrunchie from her palm. Then he ced a small ck velvet box into her hand. Encouraged by him, she opened the box. What she saw inside struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes burned instantly. Nestled in the brocade box was a blood-stained, charred badge. The name embroidered on it read Frederick ude her adoptive father. Her hands trembled violently. The box slipped, and she staggered, struggling to stay upright. "Honey!" Jonathan''s face tensed. He caught her just in time, one strong hand also rescuing the falling box. Leaning against his chest, she was suddenly flooded with chaotic, painful images. Dark shadows flickered at the edges of her vision. Her face turned ghostly pale, as if all color had been drained. Without realizing it, she bit her lip hard. Blood welled between her teeth and lips, yet she felt nothing. "Honey! Don''t bite yourself!" rmed, Jonathan tilted her chin up, forcing her lips apart. Only then did she return to herself, dragging her mind back from the searing memories. Her gaze locked on Jonathan. He was still breathtaking, but the usual calm, noble demeanor had vanished. Instead, he radiated worry and tension, with a flicker of panie lurking in his dark eyes. It was a strange blend of familiarity and unease. Blinking slowly, she watched the mature man before her merge with the younger; soot-streaked boy she remembered, until their faces ovepped in her mind. "Honey, don''t frighten me..." Her expression was nk, her body rigid. Only the tiny specks of blood on her lips betrayed her pain. Voice tight, he moved to pull her into his arms. But the moment he did, Anneliese jerked away violently, shoving him hard. She threw all her strength into it. Jonathan staggered back, losing his bnce slightly. The force sent her stumbling two steps, her knees buckling as she tumbled to the floor. "Honey! Did you hurt yourself? Let me take a look." Jonathan crouched, reaching to lift her. Instead, Anneliese wrapped her arms tightly around his right leg. He froze but began to help her up. Noticing her hands trembling as she tugged up the hem of his suit pants, he paused, realizing her intent. She pulled his pant leg higher, removed his sock, and stared intently at his ankle. There, on the outer side, a faint crescent-shaped scar appeared. Time had softened it, and he had grown since then. The mark was delicate, easily overlooked by anyone not paying close attention. But Anneliese recognized it instantly. She had left that mark. During the fire, when she had screamed in panic and tried to break through the crowd to find her dad the boy who had been rescued grabbed her to protect her. She had clung to his leg and bitten him, leaving that scar behind. Chapter 562 In that instant, everything finally made sense to Anneliese. Of course Grandma lost control the second Jonathan showed up. Of course she fought so hard to shut down whatever we had. Of course the hair tie I dropped somehow ended up in his hand. Of course he''s been endlessly patient since the first day we met¡ªcalm, gentle, always stepping in like he''s been guarding me forever. And of course a man with his position-someone who could have any woman without even trying-still chose to marry someone like me, with a messy history and a marriage that already failed once. All that talk about his family forcing him, all that so-called contract marriage-it was all just a cover. He came close, protected me, stayed by my side, married me... all because of that night, that fire, that past I never forgot. "Baby, I''m sorry. I never meant to hide it from you. I just..." Jonathan watched Anneliese, who stood frozen with shock. He realized she finally remembered him-she finally recognized him. He used to dream about this moment, imagining she''d recall everything and choose him. But now fear gnawed at him, leaving his voice low and raw, as if speaking too loudly might shatter her. He took her cold fingers and warmed them in his palms. He lookedposed, but the faint shake at the edge of his voice betrayed him. He wasn''t afraid of Nishay, nor of the tragedy from back then. He was afraid of this-afraid of how she would see him now, how she''d see their marriage, their future. Afraid she''d react like Nishay, shut him out, refuse to even look at him again. "You didn''t mean to?" Anneliese finally raised her head, her voice barely above a whisper. Jonathan''s exnation stalled. Her gaze pinned him in ce, his throat tightening until he could barely breathe. In the end, he chose to confess. "Honey, I nned everything years ago. Back then, I wanted to bring you to my family in Halden, to keep you safe, to raise you. That room you saw is the one I prepared for you. Grandpa agreed-he said I could bring you home as my little sister. So when people say I had some childhood sweetheart... that person was you. It was always you." Anneliese stared, stunned. His confession crashed into her like sudden thunder. She couldn''t even sort out what she felt. That year, she''d lost her adoptive parents. She saw her dad''s broken body with her own eyes. When she returned home, she found the bloodstained stairs where her mom had fallen. After the funeral, she spent weeks burning with fever. She drifted in and out, and afterward whole pi¨¨ces of time disappeared-like the face of the boy who survived the family who''d appeared to help She assumed those memories were gone forever. But that boy-he''d been Jonathan. A memory clicked. "Meatloaf..." Jonathan nodded. "Yes. You always wondered why Meatloaf liked me, why he obeyed me. "Meatloaf was the pup of Azuki-my dog. I raised him for six months. That year watched you crumble under grief. I wanted him to stay with you. I was afraid you''d reject the gift if it came from me, so I disguised him as a stray and sent him your way..." Anneliese shut her eyes for a moment. At the moment, it all aligned. Back then, she found Meatloaf wandering outside, brought him home, and loved him dearly. Later, Zacharias told her he had bought the dog for her. He pretended Meatloaf was a stray so she wouldn''t worry about the cost and refuse him. She always found it strange that someone would abandon a purebred golden retriever. When Zacharias offered his exnation, she epted it and felt grateful. The stray part had been real¡ªbut the one who engineered it wasn''t Zacharias at all. It was Jonathan. Her vision blurred. Her chest tightened with too much emotion she didn''t know, if she d should feel relieved or shattered. The revtion struck so hard it felt unreal. Only one thing was clear-she didn''t need his guilt or his long-buried gratitude. Not like this. Herplexion faded. Jonathan looked into her eyes and found no joy, no relief¡ª nothing hopeful. They stood close enough to touch, yet something unseen dragged them further apart. He couldn''t bear that trembling distance, that helpless feeling slipping out of his grasp. He reached for her. "Honey, I..." He wanted to wrap his arms around her, lift her, hold her tight. But before he could, she raised her hand, stopping him. Her body angled back, flinching instinctively. His hand met empty air. He went still, rigid, a sharp crease forming between his brows. Chapter 563 The atmosphere tightened for a moment. Anneliese sensed it, yet she had no bandwidth to deal with anything else. Her thoughts were a snarled mess. She lifted her gaze briefly, only to recoil at the torrent of emotion crowding Jonathan''s dark eyes. Her dampshes dropped instantly as she forced herself to speak. "Sorry. I need a moment alone." Jonathan''s extended hand twitched, then-true to form he ignored her request and swept her into his arms anyway. "You¡ª" Her whole body went stiff. She bit down on her lip and shot him a hard look. Lowering his head, he murmured, "What now? Are you nning to shut me out forever? Try it, Anneliese." Impatience and something darker smoldered in his eyes, leaving his intentions unmistakable. A sinking dread pooled in Anneliese''s stomach, panic spiraling faster than she could catch it. She angled her face away, refusing to look at him again. Carrying her out of the dressing room, Jonathan strode to the bed and gently set her down. His hand wrapped around her ankle. She couldn''t tell if he was burning hot-or if her entire body had turned ice-cold. The instant his skin touched hers, heat shot through her, a jolt racing up her leg. She leaned back, braced on one elbow, and instinctively tried to pull free. His grip tightened, turning from casual to unyielding, keeping her exactly where he wanted her. Her slight movements sent her hem fluttering, a sh of white catching the light. Noticing where his attention darted, a faint flush crept across her pale cheeks-an inconvenient bloom of color. "Let... go." She averted her face, embarrassed. Her voice was cool but unsteady, and the wobble irritated her. Jonathan watched the return of color in her expression-anger mixing with mortification¡ªand something inside him finally loosened. His thumb brushed along the small ridge of her ankle bone, warming her chilled skin, as he spoke in a slow, resonant voice. "When we first crossed paths, you threw yourself at me. You poked at me nonstop. Don''t even think about running now. "Marriage isn''t yacting. You''re bound to me in this lifetime. "Don''t entertain those thoughts. You won''t survive the consequences." Every wordnded with weight, his voice rough and final. His grasp on her ankle felt like an unseen cuff, threatening to lock shut at any second. Even the soft drag of his fingertips spelled out a warning-unmistakable, unrestrained. Anneliese clenched her teeth. Her hands curled tight around the bedsheet. Shivers rippled along her legs, goosebumps erupting without her consent. Anger red through her as she red back. "You deceived me into marrying you!" Her usation sparked a faint, amused glint in his eyes. "Yeah, I went through all that trouble to make you my wife. Why would I ever let you go?" Anneliese was left speechless. She tugged her skirt closer and kicked again. Jonathan didn''t escte. Instead, he slid his palm along her sole, brushing off nonexistent dust from her bare steps, then tucked both her feet under the nket Without another word, he stepped away. . She wanted space. He wasn''t going to force her. The door opened. In the living room, Jessica was still awake, nerves clearly not settled. It was understandable. Couples freshly reunited after a short split tended to ignite easily. And Jonathan had rushed back solely for Anneliese. Jessica assumed he wouldn''t emerge again for at least a couple of hours. She did not expect him to reappear so soon. His gaze drifted toward her, and Jessica rose automatically. "Are you two... alright?" His mouth pressed into a thin line. Oddly, he struggled to answer. He put on a hard front before Anneliese, yet his confidence was hanging by a thread. Because he knew one thing with painful ritypared to the woman who had raised Annelieet for so many years, he would never outweigh her in Anneliese''s heart. Woof! The silence cracked with Meatloaf''s low bark. The golden retriever had sensed the tension too. Irritated at being shut out, he nudged against Jonathan''s legs, tapping him with restless paws. Jonathan bent to ruffle Meatloaf''s head before saying to Jessica, "Go stay with her." Jessica didn''t second-guess it and hurried toward the room-pulse spiking. Whatever happened inside, the atmosphere left her uneasy. Jonathan stepped aside to let her pass. As they brushed shoulders, his eyes drifted -unthinking toward Jessica''s abdomen. Chapter 564 A selfish, shadowed thought sneaked out before Jonathan could stop it. If only Anneliese had carried their child earlier, perhaps he would have had more leverage now. A crooked, self-mocking smile twisted his lips. He chuckled quietly at himself, picturing a child as the key to keeping Anneliese by his side forever. The bedroom door swung open, and Meatloaf barreled in, excitement radiating from every paw. Anneliese sat on the bed, absent-mindedly tracing the frayed edges of her adoptive father''s shoulder badge. Meatloaf pressed his enormous, furry head into her arms. His paws clung to the bed''s edge, tongue lolling, tail swishing energetically. She looked down at him and lifted a hand to smooth his clumsy, affectionate head. "I''m okay, Meatloaf," she murmured. Her fingers ruffled his fur, and a memory surfaced Meatloaf had been a gift from Jonathan back then. When he had first arrived, he broughtughter and warmth to her and her grandma. Over time, he had be family. Through her joys and sorrows, he had never left her side. And all of it hade from Jonathan. A flicker of warmth stirred in Anneliese''s chest, quiet and ndestine. "What''s wrong? Are you smitten and nning to marry Meatloaf instead?" Jessica''s teasing tone broke the moment, and she slid onto the bed beside her. Anneliese shot her a sharp look. "Stop saying nonsense." "Then why are you gazing at Meatloaf like he''s your one true love?" Anneliese blinked. Do I look that in love when I''m staring? Her heart skipped. Deep down, she already knew whom she truly thought of while looking at him. Seeing her fall silent again, Jessica rubbed her forehead, pinched the loose skin at Meatloaf''s neck, and nudged him aside. She sat cross-legged at the bed''s edge, her gaze fixed on Anneliese. "Your eyes are red from crying. Do you want to talk about it?" Anneliese handed over the half-badge she had been holding. "What''s this?" Jessica turned it over, and upon seeing the stitched name and blood type, her hand trembled. Her face went solemn immediately. "This belonged to your dad? Why do you have it?" She stared at Anneliese, shocked, then carefully returned the badge. Anneliese met her eyes, needing to spill everything. "Jonathan gave it to me." "What? How could Mr. ude''s badge..." Jessica froze, bewildered. Then pieces of today''s strange moments clicked-the way Jonathan treated Anneliese. Her eyes widened. "Wait... Jonathan is the boy Mr. ude rescued from the fire?" Anneliese nodded, and Jessica''s jaw dropped for a long beat before she exhaled slowly. "No wonder he''s always so good to you..." Anneliese clutched the badge. Her voice was rough. "So you think he treats me well just because my dad saved him That he feels quitty for what happened to my family Jessica jumped, waving her hands frantically. "No, that''s not what I meant! Did he say that? Did you ask him? Don''t make up terrible stories in your head." Anneliese offered a thin, crooked smile. "It''s not entirely made up. You literally just said the same thing." Jessica smacked her own mouth. "I was rambling! What I mean is he treats you well because fate tied you together over ten years ago. "Sure, part of it may be what happened back then. But he''s the Fullbuster heir. If he wanted to repay a debt there were a thousand easier ways. Why risk his marriage and his entire life? His family even offered money back then, right? "Ms. Morris, refused it and donated it all to Mr. ude''s fire department. That debt was settled. He married you because he genuinely felt for you. End of story Anneliese lowered her gaze. "My dad was just doing his duty. He doesn''t need anyone repaying him." Jessica held her hand gently. "So what really bothers you is whether his feelings are genuine, isn''t it?" Anneliese''s fingers curled around Jessica''s, as if her words struck directly at her heart. Is this really what I care about the most? She frowned. "Grandma reacted so strongly. She won''t let us be together." Jessica studied her restless, tangled expression and pressed further, clearly and directly. "Ms. Morris'' approval is one thing. The real question is you. Can you ept him? Do you resent him?" The one building a life with Jonathan would be Anneliese-not her grandma. Chapter 565 Jessica refused to let Anneliese contort herself for anyone, not even her grandma, or live in opposition to her own desires. They''d endured enough bitterness in their upbringing; it was time to prioritize themselves and embrace self-love. That was the essence of it. Grasping Anneliese''s hand, Jessica looked into her eyes. Anneliese met her gaze, then shook her head slowly. "I never resented him," she whispered. "My dad was just doing his duty back then. Saving him was his responsibility." Her father had died a hero. She believed that wherever he rested, he wouldn''t want her to blindly harbor resentment toward Jonathan, yet she could also empathize with her grandma. Back then, their family had been eagerly awaiting the birth of her baby brother, lives brimming with joy and hope. Then everything had fallen apart-home broken, hopes destroyed. For a parent to bury her children... Even decadester, that sorrow had never really let go. Though her adoptive mother and brother''s deaths were idental, Nishay''s pain and fury demanded an outlet. Without it, she could have spiraled into madness. At that time, Nishay wouldn''t allow the Fullbusters near Anneliese''s adoptive parents'' graves. She refused them even a nce. Any offerings or money they sent were thrown away. Her hatred ran deep, so at the sight of Anneliese now with Jonathan, it was no surprise that Nishay couldn''t ept it. Fortunately, Nishay hadn''t lost control this time. Otherwise, Anneliese didn''t dare imagine the consequences. Jessica said, "If Ms. Morris can''te around, that''s on Jonathan. What matters is that you figure out what you want. That''s all that counts." Anneliese lowered her head, her energy weighed down, tangled in frustration and hesitation. Jessica leaned forward, lifted Anneliese''s chin, held her gaze, and asked directly, "Just say it¡ªdo you love Jonathan?" That was the heart of the matter. Anneliese''sshes fluttered, lips moving without producing words. She wanted to deny it, to argue, yet nothing escaped her throat. Seeing this, Jessica understood instantly. She pinched Anneliese''s cheek. "There it is. Stop frowning. You love him. He loves you. Can''t you both handle one stubborn olddy?" Hearing that, Anneliese felt some tension loosen inside her, though not entirely. Her gaze dropped to Jessica''s belly. "And how about you? Since you''re keeping the baby, when with you tell Zane?" Jessica went silent. It had hit hard-easy to judge others, far more difficult to make her own choice. cing her hands over her stomach, Jessica flopped back and exhaled. "Don''t mock me. I''ll tell him when hees back for New Year''s." Anneliese let out a softugh. "I''ll be watching. Don''t chicken out." Jessica rubbed her belly. "Chicken out? I didn''t trap him. He had his fun, got me pregnant, and now he''d better step up. I''m not raising this kid alone." Anneliese squeezed her hand, silently offering support. They fell into quiet contemtion, each absorbed in her own thoughts. Then, Jessica''s eyes lit up. She turned abruptly toward Anneliese. "Wait. Didn''t Zane mention Jonathan''s long-time, unreachable first love? Are you that first love?" Anneliese recalled Jonathan''s words-if he ever had a first love, it was only ever her. Her expression shifted. Seeing her pause, Jessica shot upright. "No way! Anne, Jonathan''s had you in his heart for over ten years? No wonder he slid in when Zacharias faltered. He''s been nning this forever Listen this guy is a keeper. Don''t let him go!" Anneliese stared, dumbfounded at Jessica''s over-the-top excitement. "Did he bribe you or something?" It almost felt as if Jessica had beenpletely bought over. "He treats you well. He loves you with everything he has. That''s the only kind of bribe that matters," Jessica said, cupping Anneliese''s face raising her brows and giving a yful Wink. Anneliese froze for a moment. She''d always known Jonathan''s devotion was real. Chapter 566 Jonathan always kept his feelings locked up, the quiet type who never said, "I love you." So, was there any love at all? Anneliese used to avoid that questionpletely. And after finding out that he was the same boy Frederick dragged out of the mes years ago, her answer felt even blurrier instead of clear. Yet, Jessica insisted, telling her, ''He''s crazy about you. It''s all you for him.'' Those words hit Anneliese''s chest like a punch. Her heart suddenly forgot how to beat right. She snapped out of it, eased her hands out of Jessica''s grip, acting like it was no big deal. "Yeah, I hear you. I''m gonna see Grandma." Without hesitating, she tossed off the covers, got up, and headed for the door. Jessica stared at her leaving, made a small shrug, and wandered after her. As soon as Anneliese stepped into the hallway, she realized she wasn''t alone. Jonathan stood by the big window in the living room, half-undone from the day. The suit jacket was tossed somewhere, his silk shirt open at the neck, two buttons undone like he''d given up trying to look proper. His tie looked like it had been yanked off carelessly, and a bit of his corbone showed. His sleeves were pushed up in a messy roll, showing slim, toned forearms. A cigarette rested between his fingers, glowing faintly. When he shifted his head toward the sound of her footsteps, a wave of smoke drifted across his face, blurring his expression like a smudged painting. She couldn''t read his mood at all. Still, she felt his attention hit her-direct, heavy, and impossible to ignore. Her feet forgot how to move. Without a word, he flicked the cigarette out and closed the distance between them in a few long strides. "What''s going on?" His voice had dropped, calm and quiet, but clearly worried. Up close, he noticed she didn''t look as drained as before. Her cheeks held a touch of color now, not the scary pale she''d been earlier. At the sight of that, his lips rxed just a little. She tossed him a quick nce, already turning away. "I''m gonna check on Grandma. That''s all." Brushing past him as she headed for the other room, she noticed the smell clung to the air around him-heavy smoke, like he''d been at it for a while, not just one drag. It made her slow for half a second. Then, she turned her head just enough to make ament. "Maybe ease up on the smoking, will you?" She kept walking after throwing the line, but her wrist got snatched in one quick pull. She didn''t even get a chance to resist. When she looked up at him again, his grip tightened just enough, and suddenly she was yanked into his chest, like he''d been waiting for an excuse to do it. His mouth lifted into a slow, satisfied half-smile¡ªtoo amused, too pleased¡ªand his eyes glimmered like he''d just uncovered a secret she didn''t mean to show. "What''s this?" he teased, voice warm. "Afraid I''m gonna wreck my health?" He looked at her like he could see every excuse she was trying to hide. The kind of stare that made her ears heat up for no good reason. "It''s not like I''m looking out for you," she muttered, trying to sound casual. "I just don''t want to breathe that stuff in. And Jess'' pregnant, so she shouldn''t be stuck around it either." Her tone sounded tough, but it was clearly a dodge. Instead of arguing, Jonathan acted as if she''d made a perfectly reasonable statement. His voice stayed calm, almostzy. "Fair. But who gave you the right to boss me around?" She went silent. Her mind also wentpletely nk. Of course, he would pick that part. Herck of an answer clearly entertained him. The smile on his lips deepened, and he bent down just enough that their foreheads lightly bumped together-close enough to feel his breath when he spoke. "I''m picky about who I take orders from," he murmured quietly. "Only my wife gets that privilege." Wife... The word came out warm, carrying that faint aftertaste of cigarettes-bitter, but strangely clean at the edges. As he leaned in, it felt less like he was closing the distance and more like he was testing whether she''d let him. He was careful¡ªsoft steps, steady approach. And Anneliese didn''t flinch or recoil this time. She just let the moment exist. And that tiny bit of cooperation was enough to make his pulse spark with excitement. His lips tilted forward, inches from hers, ready to steal the smallest bit of closeness. Then she pivoted so fast his breath caught nothing but air. "I''m going to check on Grandma." She shot out the line like an excuse she''d rehearsed, nudged him aside in one swift movement, and practically dove for safety behind Nishay''s door-mming the chance shut with it. Jonathan watched her bolt for cover like someone escaping a fire drill, and whatever smile he''d been wearing faded bit by bit until it was gone. Only then did he notice he had an audience. Jessica lounged against the bedroom doorway, arms crossed, expression saying she''d seen the whole show. Remembering how Anneliese''s mood had noticeably brightened, he acknowledged her with a short nod. "Appreciate it." Jessica pushed herself off the frame and sauntered over, hands stuffed in her pockets. "Funny. You''re already thanking me? Already assuming I was out there advertising you?" His expression flicked with mild amusement, "So you did talk me up? I''m ttered." That threw her for a second. "That''s not what you meant?" He shook his head, unfazed. "No. I meant you stayed with her. It helped. She doesn''t look nearly as weighed down as before." She let out a smallugh, almost teasing. "So that''s all? If you''re thanking me for that, then we''re even. When I''m falling apart, Annie sits with me too. If we''re talking about who ranks higher around her, you might not be at the top of the list." Jonathan''s expression didn''t crack, but something in his eyes went dull, as if the lights dimmed a notch. His reply came out quiet, dry with a hint of irony. "Wouldn''t be surprised. All she sees in me now is something she wants to get away from..." He didn''t look depressed, not exactly. But for a man who always projected self- control, that small spark of doubt was jarring. Jessica hadn''t expected it; her yful jab suddenly felt like a punch. She waved her hands, rushing to undo the damage. "Hey, don''t twist it like that. She just needs space." Words tumbled out faster than she meant them to. "Her biggest hang-up is her grandma. She doesn''t want to upset her. And on top of that, she''s convinced you''re only with her to settle some old debt sympathy, quilt trying to pay. something back... she got stuck on that idea and won''t let it go." Chapter 567 Jessica didn''t notice anything wrong at first. The more she rambled, however, the more the scene twisted into focus. Jonathan''s eyes weren''t gloomy at all. Not wounded. Not insecure. In fact, there was a sharp gleam in his eyes, like someone who had just fished up valuable intel. Her expression cooled, eyes narrowing into slits. "So that was all a performance, Mr. Fullbuster? Fishing for information, were you?" Since the mask had already been ripped off, he didn''t bother scrambling to fix it. He practically shrugged with pride. "Your generosity is appreciated, Ms. Sweeting," She nearly choked on pure regret. Why on earth had I wasted sympathy on a corporate shark? Toote to stuff the secrets back into the vault¡ªthe man had pried everyst detail out of her like she was handing out coupons. Annoyed, she spun around, muttering to herself. If she''d known he was this calcting, she would''ve zipped her mouth shut. With acting skills like that, he didn''t even need her help-Anneliese wouldn''t stand a chance against him in a battle of emotional strategy even if Jessica never said a word. Before Jessica could escapepletely, Jonathan called after her, voice calm but carrying the weight of a promise. "Consider this a debt, Ms. Sweeting. If the day everes when you need a hand, I won''t turn you down." A favor from Jonathan was rarer than a discount on Wall Street-nobody passed that up. Her steps halted as the value of that promise sank in. Free advantages didn''t fall from the sky often; she''d be a fool to kick this one away. She pivoted, meeting his gaze with a slow, measured nod. "Fine. I''ll hold you to it." Nishay rested in deep, unshaken slumber, her breathing quiet and steady. Maisie''s assistant remained alert at her bedside like a silent sentry, so attentive that Anneliese had no ce to intervene. There was nothing for her to do but wait. When she was told there''d be no waking until morning, she slipped out, careful not to disturb the room''s fragile calm. When she returned to the master suite, she found it half-lit and silent. Jonathan wasn''t inside. Only the rush of water behind the bathroom door suggested life in the quiet space. She grabbed a pillow and the nket, tucking them under her arms, and headed for the door. She''d barely gone a few steps when the sound of running water abruptly stopped. Her pace quickened, heart thumping, but before she could slip out, a deep, gravelly voice cut through the room. "Where do you think you''re going?" She froze, refusing to turn around. "I''m crashing with Jess tonight. Just gonna talk for a bit." The sound of wet footsteps closed in, deliberate. She forced herself forward, yanking on the doorknob as if ignoring him would make him disappear. But it didn''t. A wet, warm hand pressed against the door, blocking her escape. The steam hit her next, wrapping the room in heat, followed by the sharp, clean scent of minty soap and shower water that seemed to swirl directly from him, pressing in from every side. "Darling... nning to move out on me? And what happens after that?" The words barely registered before her skin prickled the warmth of his breath on the back of her neck sent a shiver down her spine. The weight of him pressing close made her stumble over her words. "I... I''m not moving out. I just... wanted to talk with Jess tonight..." Before she could even finish, a sharp click cut through the air. Jonathan''s hand had threaded past her waist and snapped the lock into ce, shutting her in. She froze, dumbstruck. And yet, he spoke as if nothing unusual had happened, calm and deliberate, "She''s carrying a baby. Pregnant women need their sleep plenty offit if you go in there, you''ll keep her awake. Doesn''t that make sense?" Her words caught somewhere in her throat. Cornered by his logic and his closeness, she had nothing to argue with. Her teeth grazed her lower fip. as she muttered, stay with Grandma. I just can''t rx if there." "F not Jonathan''s tone stayed even, but there was no room for argument. "There''s already a nurse. Maisie is here too. You''re not needed. If you hover, the nurse will get all tense." Her stomach twisted. She was unsure how to meet his gaze, unsure how to respond. Every instinct screamed to slip away¡ªbut he had already cut off every excuse. When silence stretched too long, his handnded firmly on her shoulder, pivoting her gently but with unmistakable force. Instinctively, she hugged the pillow and nket tighter, as if shielding herself. A heartbeatter, they were gone-snatched from her arms with effortless strength and tossed to the floor. "Y-you-" She spun toward him, ready to re, and froze mid-motion. Her eyes widened until they felt like they''d pop. "Oh my-how are you... not wearing anything?!" She let out a startled yelp and yanked her hands over her face, forgetting entirely about the stuff on the floor. Still, the vision seared itself behind her palms. The bedroom was flooded with bright light, every corner illuminated. His feet were bare, nted firmly the floor Water droplets clung to on ten every ridge of his sculpted muscles catching the light as they traced down his taut form. And he didn''t flinch, didn''t even attempt modesty¡ªlegs apart, standing there as casually as if beingpletely exposed was the most natural thing in the world. Even with their past intimacy, nothing had ever hit Anneliese like this. Seeing him so exposed, so undeniable¡ªit stole the air from her lungs. Her face med instantly, heat rushing to her ears. She couldn''t help but suspect he was deliberately teasing her, testing her resolve with a kind of mischievous charm she had no defense against. "My wife''s trying to escape. Do you think I had time to throw on clothes?" Jonathan watched her struggle behind her hands, ears flushed scarlet, and didn''t seem even a little embarrassed. "I said, put something on! I won''t leave this room!" she stammered, panic mingling with indignation. He let a crooked smile curl his lips. "Why so tense? You''ve seen this before." "Enough!" she barked, iling upward to press her palm over his mouth, desperate to silence him. Chapter 568 Anneliese''s eyes were squeezed shut, but her fingers pressed over Jonathan''s mouth with surprising uracy. For a heartbeat, she allowed herself a fleeting victory¡ªhe wasn''t saying anything that could humiliate her further. And then-heat. His lips pressed against her palm, brushing over her fingers. Before she could pull away, a slow, deliberate part of his mouth captured her fingertip, leaving a fire where her skin met his. She jerked back, her heart hammering and mind spiraling. She forced her eyes open, wide and glimmering with rm, tugging at her hand. "No, stop! Let go!" Jonathan''s hold on her wrist tightened, his gaze unwavering as he studied her flustered expression. "It''s just a kiss. Why are you making it a big deal?" Her cheeks med crimson. Blinking back embarrassment, she stomped on his calf in protest. "I am not overreacting!" He barely even registered her weak little kicks, as if they were nothing more than a gentle breeze. "Not overreacting? Maybe you''re just nervous," he murmured, closing the space between them and pressing her gently but firmly against the door. Anneliese refused to look around, only meeting his gaze with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Stop it," she hissed, voice sharp but trembling. He dipped his head, trailing another feather-light kiss along her curled fingers. "Really... you don''t miss me at all, baby?" Every word dripped with huskiness. His eyes, raw with desire, scanned her like a predator closing in. Every nce, every move radiated a dangerous hunger. Tonight, he wasn''t holding back-he intended to im her fully, to bind her sopletely that even if she wanted to resist, there''d be no escaping this marriage. Her breath hitched, the pressure building in her throat until it tasted like the beginning of tears. "I don''t have it in me tonight," she murmured, voice thin and shaky. "Please..... just let me breathe. Don''t corner me like this." Those wavering eyes-wet, unsure, pleading-pulled a sigh straight from Jonathan''s chest, quiet but heavy. Frustration and tenderness mixed in a helpless knot. Without a word, he bent down, lifting her effortlessly. The mattress met her back before she even caught her bnce. A shadow followed -warm, solid, inescapable¡ªhis body lowering over hers like a closing door. Startled, she tried every instinctive escape at once: palms pushing, knees bracing, feet looking for leverage. But his leg slid between hers, anchoring her hips, and his hands found her wrists, weaving their fingers together before pinning them above her head. In one breath, all motion left her. She squeezed her eyes shut, heart hammering with fear and helplessness. She waited for the shove, the grab, the overpowering momentum she feared wasing. However, there wasn''t even a breath of movement from him. Hershes twitched like nervous wings. She dared to peel her eyes open, only a sliver, and instead of some predatory advance¡ªshe met a face frozen in self-control. Jonathan hovered above her like a statue carved out of tension, not desire. His eyes were dark, but the darkness came from holding himself back, not the urge to pounce. When her confusion finally registered, his voice scraped across the space between them. "Rx. I''m not going to do anything to you." A breath slipped out of her-half relief, half mortification. That relief only made her more flustered. She jerked her gaze away refusing to let him see per soften for even a second. "Then get off of me. And put some clothes on," she ordered, as if authority could erase embarrassment. He didn''t budge. Not even a pretend attempt. "I''m fine like this." Her head whipped back around on instinct. Her stare said Are you insane? without needing words. He looked unconcerned, evenzy, a hint of smugness tugging at his mouth. "If I give you space, you''ll bolt out that door." Before she could hurl a single objection, his voice dropped her name into the space between them like amand. "Anneliese ude." The namended with unexpected weight. He''d never spoken it whole-not once. And certainly not here, with her trapped beneath him, breath tangled, skin heating against sheets and skin. Her protest evaporated on her tongue. Instinct, shock, something nameless made her go still, eyes flying to his as if pulled by a thread. A faint satisfaction flickered across his face, and he shifted his grip. Warm skin covered her slender palm, and the roughness of his calluses brushed her like sand dragged across satin. It unraveled her focus for just a heartbeat, enough for her pulse to stutter. And then he tightened his hold. Not enough to hurt, but enough to warn. Enough to make her bones feel caught, imed, held with a strength she couldn''t shake. Her heart lurched as his grip anchored her in ce, and she had no choice but to meet him really look at him. His gaze was a deep, storming sea, heat churning under the surface. A rough murmur scraped through the air, stopping her every thought in its tracks. "Pay attention." It wasn''t volume that struck her-it was the weight. The way the sound seemed dragged from somewhere deep and bruised side him heated with conviction, sharpened like it might cut if she looked away. "What ties me to you isn''t mercy. It isn''t guilt. And I am not trying to repay a debt." The wordsnded too close. Too raw. Hershes trembled once, twice, like her heartbeat had tripped over itself and hadn''t found its rhythm again. He didn''t move away. Warm breath brushed her cheek, sharing the same pocket of air, tension stretching tight enough to choke. "Your foster father died protecting me. Your foster mother broke under the aftermath. Three lives splintered because of choices I couldn''t undo," he continued. "Yes, I carried that weight. Yes, khated that couldn''t change it back then. I regretted it. I agonized over it. But those tragedies are not the reason I stayed close. They''re not why I watched over you. They''ve never been the reason!" Anneliese froze, as if the world had gone silent around her. Jonathan looked back with a gaze so clear it cut like ss-resolute, unshaken, devoid of even a trace of uncertainty. "I''m perfectly capable of knowing the difference," he said, each wordnding with a quiet finality. "Duty isn''t affection. Charity isn''t love. I don''t mistake apologies for feelings." Before the weight of his words could settle, he reached out¡ªnot urgently, but with the calm of a man who would not be questioned. His fingers wrapped around her hand, and he guided it, slow and controlled, until her palm rested over his chest. The heat of him radiated against her skin. Beneath it, his heartbeat mmed forward, relentless, like a drum trying to escape its casing-wild, forceful, as if it intended to abandon his body just to prove itself to her. Chapter 569 Anneliese''s hand felt the relentless thrum beneath Jonathan''s chest, a storm that shook the air around them. His voice cut through it-slow, certain, impossible to ignore. "I''m not confused about this," he said, each word weighted like a vow. "I know exactly what it means to want someone so deeply it carves itself into your bones." He imed it without flinching-what he felt for her wasn''t courtesy, wasn''t obligation, wasn''t even kindness. It was desire etched so sharply that it hurt to name. Anneliese''s breath stuttered, her chest rising and falling as though her own ribs were trying to keep pace with that violent rhythm. She couldn''t separate his pulse from her own; it was impossible to tell who was trembling harder, his body or hers. Her eyes locked on his, stunned and uprehending, voice caught somewhere in her throat. Jonathan didn''t demand a response. He simply leaned in, letting his lips trace soft, lingering paths along her forehead, the bridge of her brow, the corner of her eye. His voice softened, warm and coaxing. "Baby, just feel it. Let it wash over you, alright?" She swallowed, throat dry, her voice tentative as it slipped out. "Feel... how? I... I don''t know how." His eyes darkened, a sh of frustrated longing crossing them. His lips had wandered to her ear, and hearing her flustered, confused reply, he couldn''t resist. Without warning, he nipped at her earlobe, a firm, sharp bite that sent a jolt of heat through her. "Ah!" she gasped, startled, her hands tensing. Finally, he lifted his head, eyes locking onto hers, a smoldering mix of yfulness and intensity swirling in his gaze. Her hair tumbled across the pillow like dark waves, framing that delicate, pale face that had been drained of color all evening. Now, under the soft light, her cheeks bloomed with a shy, rosy flush-whether from his gentle touch or the weight of his words, she couldn''t tell. Those almond-shaped eyes, wide and uncertain, carried a vulnerability that made his chest tighten with a tenderness he hadn''t expected. "You want to know how to feel it?" he murmured, low and steady. "My heart''s right here. You''re not really going to pretend you can''t find it, are you?" "Okay, okay! I get it!" she blurted, flustered. Jonathan had no intention of letting go. Not ever. They hadn''t touched like this in days, and his body ached for her far more than he''d expected. And now, with her lying just beneath him, stepping back wasn''t an option. Every inch of him burned with the need to hold her close. But even with desire wing through him, he wasn''t stupid. If he kept cornering her, this would end with mmed doors, tears, maybe even a furious kick to his ribs. What was he going to do, sulk into a pillow like a wronged teenager? "Alright," he said under his breath, low and stubborn, like a debt being recorded, "I''ll hold you to this." Not tonight, but there would be a night. He nned on collecting every overdue second. Anneliesey frozen under the covers, but hershes wouldn''t stop trembling, quivering like wings before a summer storm. He stared at her for a long moment, heat and frustration simmering low in his chest. Then-finally-he peeled himself away from her warmth. With a single step, he swung those long legs over the edge of the bed, nting his feet on the floor. "Run if you like. Every lock here belongs to me." He tossed the words over his shoulder and vanished back into the steamy bathroom. Water thundered against tile a momentter, loud and relentless. Only when that noise filled the room did her body finally unfreeze. Hershes lifted -slow, wary, as though she were waking from a spell rather than resting on a bed. She stared in the direction of the bathroom. A few minutes before, she had been convinced the smartest move was to slip away, hide with Jessica for the night. But now that felt suicidal. If she tried running now, he''d unlock whichever door she chose to hide behind and march her right back out like a runaway child-probably with Jessica standing there as a horrified witness. The humiliation alone would kill her on the spot. And the worst part? She truly believed he would do it. Because despite his steady tone tonight, despite that gentleness that kept surfacing, there was something off- kilter beneath it. Not cruelty... just obsession with absolutely no brakes. Her mind kept eircling back to his voice-not the words alone, but the certainty in them. Not guilt, not duty, not a debt chained to the past-he''d said itike a verdict, something that couldn''t be appealed. It was a feeling that cuts deep enough to leave a permanent mark What she remembered most wasn''t his words but the pulse underneath them that fierce rhythm mming against her palm, as if his heart was determined to prove it before he did. And the strangest part was: he had no idea that her own pulse had gone just as wild. Like it couldn''t decide whether to run from him or run straight toward him, desperate to match that beat for beat. Almost without meaning to, her fingers drifted up, stopping over her chest. There it was¡ªstill thundering, still disobedient. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. It was just him confessing. She''d heard derations before, nothing earth-shattering about them. And his speech wasn''t even romantic. No flowers. No sweeping vows. Not even a in "I love you." Just blunt honesty, messy and raw. Yet here she was heart buzzing, tongue useless, brain reduced to fog. What was I panicking for? What was I stuttering for? Irritated at her own reaction, she pped her palms over her ming cheeks, as if she could smother the heat back into her bones. Time dragged before the bathroom door finally opened. Cold steam spilled out with Jonathan, like he''d showered in a winter storm. Wrapped in nothing but a towel, he automatically checked the bed. A small mound hid under the nket a certain girl hadn''t tried to escape. A quiet, smug curl tugged at his mouth. Satisfied, he disappeared into the wardrobe, moving with the confidence of a man who already knew she''d stay. By the time he stepped out in a set of silk nightwear, Anneliese had already staked her im. Shey curled on her side, practically glued to the mattress'' cliff edge, bundled in a nket fortress that surrendered not even a corner to the enemy. She gave the performance of deep sleep: breathing steady, back turned, utterly motionless. Only then did he spot the real trick: at some point she''d sneaked out a second quilt, folded with ridiculous precision and spread on his half of the bed. Between them stretched an empty gulf so wide it could have hosted a cavalry charge. His gaze flickered with quiet mischief. One clean pull, and the extra quilt tumbled to the floor without ceremony. He slipped under the covers, stretched out a long arm, and wrenched the stubborn little hedgehog nkets and all-straight into his arms. "Already asleep?" Anneliese kept hershes lowered, stubbornly clinging to the charade. No response, not even a twitch. That silencested exactly one second-until he dipped down, brushing a kiss against her cheek, cool and damp, like a drop of night rain against overly warmed skin. Chapter 570 Anneliese''s patience finally detonated. Her eyes flew open as she hissed, "Are you done?" Jonathan didn''t flinch-if anything, his brows lifted with theatrical innocence. "Honey, I''m freezing." She nearlyughed from disbelief. "I left you a whole nket. Right there. For you." He blinked at her, genuinely-or very professionally-confused. "A nket? I must have missed it." A deep, murderous silence followed. He honestly expected me to swallow that lie? He''d thrown the thing into exile himself, and the evidence was literally lying on the floor like a crime scene exhibit. Yet, he delivered that nonsense with the ease of a man reciting the weather forecast. "Make room," he murmured, not requesting permission so much as announcing an invasion. Before she could tighten her defensive cocoon, he slid close, pressing a chilled jaw into the warm curve of her neck. Anneliese didn''t speak. She just buried herself deeper in the quilt, a silent riot of defiance. He ignored it entirely. Instead, he upped the assault, gently biting the tip of her nose as though marking territory. "Come on, honey. I don''t share a bed with my wife and then sleep under different nkets like we''re strangers." She almost yelped. At this rate, he was going to leave a set of dental evidence right on her face. Tomorrow she''d show up in front of Nishay with suspicious bite marks, and the old woman would absolutelybust. And Anneliese was tired-too tired to keep fighting. Exhaustion and self- preservation teamed up, and eventually she surrendered, loosening the cocoon she''d been clinging to. "Such a well-behaved little treasure." His voice curled with satisfaction before it ever reached a smile. A quick kissnded on her mouth, nothing demanding¡ªjust a im stamped in passing-then he peeled open the covers and slipped straight into the soft warmth that still smelled like her. Warm sheets, her scent, her body close enough to touch. That, apparently, was all the triumph he needed. With the lights cut to darkness, he settled down without trying to conquer new territory, his palmnding on her back in slow, lulling strokes. "Close your eyes," he murmured. "Rest." Anneliese obeyed in appearance only. Hershes lowered, but her whole body stayed tight, every muscle wired awake. Jonathan sensed it instantly. The stiffness, the way she braced like she might bolt if she could. His hand slid down until he caught one of hers, folding her fingers into his warm grip, his thumb stroking gently as if coaxing memories out of her skin. His voice dropped low in the dark. "So... there''s truly nothing left in that head of yours about me?" His words didn''te out angry, but they dragged a bruised ego behind them. He wasn''t exactly wallpaper, after all. ... Back then, Anneliese had already been old enough to keep memories instead of letting them evaporate. Children at ten didn''t live with nk minds, and they''d crossed paths more than once. Yet she stared at him now like he was a stranger pulled from a crowd. Meanwhile, he had carried the memory of her like a stubborn splinter-small, sharp, unforgettable. The disbelief in his tone bled into something almost sulky, a grown man quietly nursing a bruise no one else could see. In the darkness, she couldn''t read his expression. There was a calm, familiar warmth drifting off his skin, a reassuring scent that settled over her nerves. Her muscles uncoiled little by little. "When the funeral ended, I got sick. A long fever. After that... the whole period turned foggy. Like someone wiped the film in my head." The exnation hit Jonathan not like a revtion but like a punch to the gut. Ahis confusion about why she never recognized him, all that faint sting of being forgotten- Crumbled instantly exposed for how small and petty it waspared to what she''d been surviving. She was just a little girl back then, and life had already shoved grief too heavy into her hands. A fever was not just an illness¡ªit was her mind mming every door shut at once, shoving the memories into darkness so she wouldn''t copse beneath them. Her body stepped in where no one could shield her. The realization scraped him raw. Whatever tenderness he had for her before¡ªit warped into something thicker, almost painful, like affection that had been wrung too tightly. "I''m sorry... I should''ve held on more back then." His chin brushed gently against the crown of her head, a soft, grounding touch. "Held on... to what?" Her voice was hesitant, unsure. He leaned closer, lips brushing her temple in a gentle kiss. "I should have insisted youe with me... to live with my family." He could see her in his mind''s eye-fevered, fragile, adrift in a world that had suddenly turned cruel. Her grandmother, crushed by grief and worn by illness, had likely been unable to care for her property. Perhaps the little girl had been the one bending over backward trying to tend to someone who should have been tending to her. But at that time, he had already returned to Halden, oblivious to her fever and suffering. If only he had lingered a little longer in Baytree-even for a few extra days. Even if fate still prevented him from the very least bringing her home, a he could have softened the blow, offering a small measure offort in those dark hours. Anneliese paused, the memory of that princess room beside his bedroom in Fullbuster Residence surfacing unbidden. She hesitated, then asked softly, "You... You actually prepared a room for me?" His words from before hinted at a n¡ªhe had meant to bring me to Fullbuster Residence back then? Jonathan''s brows drew together. Gently, he loosened his arms around her, lowering his gaze to meet hers with quiet intensity. "I had gone to Grandpa back then, asking him to bring you home to live with me. He had agreed. Frederick''s superior even came with him and me to deliver the request but you refused." Nishay had stormed in, scattering the gifts they brought, shooing everyone out with a fierce hand and sharp words. Yet now, seeing Anneliese''s nk expression, it was clear she had no memory of any of it. Her eyes clouded with confusion. She shook her head slowly. "I... I don''t remember." Perhaps the fever had erased it all. Jonathan''s voice turned low, sharp with a mixture of hurt and resignation. "Of course. You''d rather cling to those who ttered and deceived you since childhood ¡ªpretending to care, ying the part of devotedpanions¡ªthan remember me. "Me, the one who never stopped caring, worrying, and keeping you in my heart all this time." Chapter 571 His words were dripping with jealousy. Jonathan truly held deep resentment over this, and the regret in his eyes grew even heavier. He wished that he had insisted on taking Anneliese away back then. If he did that, how would Zacharias ever have a chance? Plus, Anneliese also wouldn''t have had to suffer so much. Hearing his words, Anneliese was speechless. She wanted to argue, but she then realized she had indeed been deceived by Zacharias since she was little, as she thought about Meatloaf. When she remembered how she had indeed forgotten about Jonathan, guilt rose in her chest, and she didn''t know what to say. After some time, she muttered softly, "I remember everything now." "Oh? What do you remember?" Jonathan curled a strand of her hair around his finger and gave it a gentle tug. Anneliese tilted her head and rested her cheek against his chest. Then, she said, "I remember biting you that day, seeing you at the hospital, anding to my parents'' memorial. When I came out of the martyrs'' cemetery, I saw you from far away too..." She remembered it all. In the hospital morgue, her grandmother had fainted from crying over her parents'' bodies. Everyone rushed over in chaos. No one noticed her curled up in the corner outside, hugging her knees and trembling as she cried silently. At that moment, a boy in a hospital gown noticed her. He crouched in front of her and put his hand wrapped in gauze to her. Then, he opened his palm and revealed two pieces of candy. Anneliese looked up and saw it was him. Then, she shoved him away, causing the candies to fall onto the floor. She stood up and stomped on the candy before running off. She still remembered how shocked and sad he was that day when she pushed him over. Thinking of this, she bit her lip in confusion. "I bit you the first time we met. Then, I crushed your candy and pushed you over the second time. Later at the memorial, Grandma drove you out. "On the day of the funeral, you weren''t allowed into the cemetery. After going through all these, shouldn''t you hate me?" Anneliese doubted that Jonathan imed it wasn''t out of gratitude or guilt. After all, she used to treat him like that, so he shouldn''t have had a good impression of her at all. If not for her father saving him or the guilt in him, how could he remember her? How could he possibly have developed feelings for her? Just as Anneliese was deep in thought, Jonathan tugged her hair again. "Maybe it''s because I had never seen such a fierce yet crybaby. That''s why I kept thinking about you." Hearing his words, Anneliese flushed with embarrassment. She swatted his hand away and pulled her hair free from his fingers. Then, she rolled over and said, "I''m going to sleep." Jonathan chuckled softly and rolled over too, hugging her from behind. "Goodnight, my dear." Initially, she thought she wouldn''t be able to sleep, but surprisingly, the moment she closed her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep. She even had a dream. In her dream, Frederick was holding Nak, and Nak was carrying her baby brother. They all looked so happy. She ran toward them, and Frederick caught her. Then, he led her to a handsome boy in a white shirt and ck trousers. "Didn''t you say you wanted a younger and older brother? Now you have a younger brother, Thave found you an older brother too. What do you think of him?" Anneliese looked up and blushed when she saw the handsome boy. "Will you protect me?" The boy took her hand from Frederick and smiled brightly. "I will." Hearing this, Anneliese was delighted. Just as she turned around and was about to share it with her parents that she finally had an older brother she realized her parents, who had been fight beside her were suddenly so far away. They were fading, and their smiles blurred into the distant light. "No! Daddy! Mommy! Don''t go!" She cried and ran after them, but Frederick only waved at her with a gentle smile. "Anne, we are going to live somewhere very far away. Go with your brother." "No!" Anneliese woke up with a startled cry. Jonathan was no longer beside her, and she noticed the morning light seeped through the ckout curtains. It was already morning. She raised her hand and touched the corner of her eyes. It was damp. The dream had felt so real that she was still dazed. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Anneliese quickly got out of bed and walked over. When she opened the door, she found the young nurse standing outside. "Mrs. Fullbuster, the patient wanted to see you." "Is Grandma awake?!" Overjoyed, Anneliese rushed out. However, after taking just two steps, she suddenly stopped. Chapter 572 She looked around but didn''t see Jonathan anywhere, so she asked the young nurse, "Have you seen Mr. Fullbuster?" Hearing her address toward Jonathan, the nurse gave her a surprised look before replying, "Mr. Fullbuster woke up early and cooked some soup for the patient. He is with the patient now." Anneliese jolted at those words. She frowned and regretted that she didn''t wake up early enough. Will Grandma end up fighting with Jonathan? Thinking about it, she hurried her pace and pushed open the door. However, the chaotic scene she had imagined didn''t exist. Nishay was indeed awake and sitting against the headboard. Though she still looked unwell, she already looked far better than she hadst night. Jonathan stood beside her with a white porcin bowl in hand. He was stirring a bowl of vegetable soup. His expression was surprisingly calm, even with a faint smile at the corner of his lips. Hearing footsteps, he looked over and smiled gently at Anneliese. "Morning..." Afraid he would follow up with "dear", Anneliese rushed forward and quickly snatched the bowl from his hands. Then, she nced nervously at Nishay''s expression while whispering, "I''ll do it. You go out first." Jonathan didn''t argue. "Alright." However, when she took the bowl, his fingers brushed her palm, lightly scratching it. The ticklish sensation,bined with the terror of being caught, made Anneliese''s scalp tingle. She nearly dropped the bowl. Only did she shoot him a warning re, then he withdrew his hand. Then, he turned to Nishay and said, "Grandma, I''ll leave some space for you and Anne. Call me if you need something." Nishay frowned and didn''t even spare him a nce as she said coldly, "No need. I don''t want to see you. You are not wee here. Just leave and don''t evere back." She didn''t give him a shred of respect. Anneliese had never seen anyone speak to Jonathan so rudely. Even back in Halden, when Derek constantly nitpicked and criticized Jonathan, he never treated thetter with this kind of hostility. Though Anneliese had never actually seen Jonathan lose his temper, she was still afraid. Just the thought of the thought of being in the middle of Jonathan and Nishay if they got into an argument was terrifying. She red at Jonathan and signaled him to stop talking. Then, she sat beside the bed to block Nishay''s view and said softly, "Grandma you scared me so much yesterday..." As she spoke, she leaned her head on Nishay''s shoulder, rubbing lightly the way she used to as a child. However, Nishay kept her face stern and didn''t stroke her hair as she used to in the old times. All she did was remain silent. As the silence grew, Anneliese became even more anxious. Fortunately, Jonathan had already left and closed the door behind him. When Anneliese raised her head, she was met with Nishay''s piercing gaze. "Grandma..." Just as she called out, Nishay cut her off. "Don''t call me Grandma. Did you think I didn''t see you flirting with him right in front of me?" Hearing her words, Anneliese turned a deep shade of red. She directly shoved a spoonful of soup into Nishay''s mouth. "If f you want to scold me, at least eat first so you have the strength to scold, okay?" Nishay had a mouthful of soup in her mouth, so she couldn''t say anything even if she wanted to. All she could do was re at Anneliese and swallow the soup. Anneliese immediately fed her another spoonful. The soup was delicious, and Nishay finished the entire bowl. Anneliese even fed her a few spoonfuls of side dishes in between Only when Nishaywaved her hand, indicating she didn''t want more, did Anneliese smile and pick up a napkin to wipe her lips. Nishay grabbed the napkin, wiped her mouth, and repeated her words. "Listen to me. Break up with him!" While tidying, Anneliese said, "Does the soup taste okay, Grandma? Jonathan personally cooked it in the middle of the night." Hearing her words, Nishay frowned deeply. Then, she suddenly leaned to the side of the bed, reaching toward the bowl as she shoved her fingers into her throat to vomit. rmed, Anneliese rushed forward to help her sit back properly. Nishay gagged and tried to retch, making her breathing rough and heavy. Cold sweat covered her forehead, and her eyes were filled with hatred. Chapter 573 Anneliese''s limbs became limp, and her face turned pale. "Grandma, do you really hate him that much?" she asked in a trembling voice. Anneliese knew Nishay had a knot in her heart, but she never imagined it was to this extent. Nishay stared at her and said sharply, "Yes! If it weren''t for him, your family wouldn''t be dead! Your mother was about to give birth!" Her voice was hoarse yet piercing. Tears filled the brim of her eyes, and she clutched her chest tightly. Looking at her reaction, Anneliese was terrified. She reached out and wanted to soothe Nishay''s chest, but thetter pped her hand away. Smack! A red mark quickly surfaced across the back of Anneliese''s hand. She ignored it and tried to pour water, wanting to give Nishay some emergency medicine. However, Nishay knocked the water cup away too. "You just have to be with him, don''t you?" Nishay panted, ring at her. Anneliese bit her lips and said, "Grandma, I... Breaking up with him isn''t that simple..." "What do you mean?" Anneliese gritted her teeth and said, "Grandma, we''re already married." Hearing her words, Nishay was in disbelief. She couldn''t believe what she was hearing. Seeing her nk gaze, Anneliese was terrified Nishay would faint from the shock. "Grandma, don''t scare me. I''ll get the doctor..." p! Before Anneliese could turn around, a heavy pnded on her face. Unlike the earlier unintentional p on the hand, the p this time was full strength. In that split second, Anneliese''s cheek instantly stung. She held her face and stared at Nishay in disbelief. Since childhood, neither Nishay nor her adoptive parents had ever hit her. Even during those three years after her parents died, when Nishay''s emotions were at their worst, she neverid a finger on Anneliese either. Although she had been pped many times by the White family, she never knew that being pped by someone you love would hurt like hell. The pain in her heart was far worse than the pain on her face. Feeling hurt, wronged, panicked, and wounded, tears immediately fell from Anneliese''s eyes. Nishay was stunned too. When she regained her senses, she reflexively tried to reach out, but she quickly withdrew her hand and scolded harshly, "I can''t believe you did something like this! Are all men dead to you? Why do you insist on staying with the man who killed your family? You are a traitor! Your parents shouldn''t have adopted you in the first ce! Get out!" Those words were too cruel. Anneliese''s mind turned nk, and her face went as pale as a ghost. It took her a long moment before her voice returned. "Okay, I''ll leave first. Rest well, Grandma. We''ll talk after you have calmed down." Then, Anneliese quickly left the room. In the living room, Jessica was sitting on the couch and replying to Zane''s messages. Hearing movement, she turned to see el.r Annelieseing out with her head lowered. Jessica was going to ask how Nishay was, but she noticed Anneliese immediately headed toward the resting room of Maisie and the others. She asked Maisie to check on Nishay again and O immediately went to the master bedroom before Maisie could say anything. Sensing something wrong, Jessica hurried after her. However, Anneliese wasn''t in the room. After searching around, Jessica knocked on the locked bathroom door. "Annie? Are you in there?" A momentter, Anneliese''s voice came through the door. "Yes. I''m fine." "Do you want me toe in and keep youp....." Before she finished her words, Anneliese''s voice sounded again. "I''m really fine." Then, the sound of running water followed. Everything seemed normal, but Jessica still felt uneasy. She said nothing more and left the master bedroom. Instead of returning to the living room, she went straight to the study room. Just as she knocked, Jonathan''s voice sounded. "Come in." Then, Jessica poked her head in. Jonathan was behind theputer, dealing with documents. When he saw Jessica, he immediately knew that something was wrong. In that split second, his expression changed drastically, and he stood up. "What happened?" "I''m not sure. I just feel that something is off with Annie. Sh came out of her grandma''s coom and locked herself in the master bathroom. You should..." Before she finished, Jonathan rushed past her like a gust of wind, disappearing into the master bedroom. When Jonathan reached for the bathroom door and tried to push it, he noticed that it was locked. Chapter 574 "Open the door!" Jonathan''s voice was deep. "I''m taking a shower." Anneliese''s muffled voice sounded. Jonathan cut her off immediately, not believing a single word. "Should I kick the door open, or should I go ask your grandma myself? You get two seconds to choose. Two..." Soon, the bathroom door opened in front of him. Anneliese''s figure shed past. Jonathan pushed the door open and grabbed her wrist. Anneliese lowered her head, and her long hair draped down. The bathroom was dimly lit, so he couldn''t see her face. She tugged her hand and said, "What are you doing? I forgot to wash up this morning. I was going to wash my face. Let me go." How could Jonathan not see through her cover-up? He pulled her in front of him and carefully lifted her chin. Anneliese couldn''t avoid him. Her small face-marked with a clear handprint-was forced into his line of sight. In that split second, Jonathan''s eyes were filled with deep regret, and his expression went cold. Jonathan felt his heart ache as he looked at the bright red handprint on her cheek. If it had been anyone else, he would''ve broken their hand on the spot. However, the one who struck her was the only family Anneliese cared for. Moreover, Nishay was Frederick''s mother-inw; he couldn''t bring himself to hold any resentment toward her, not when Anneliese treasured her so much. A fire he couldn''t vent burned fiercely inside him. His gaze was too deep, and Anneliese couldn''t handle it. She didn''t want him staring at her in such a pathetic state. Hence, she pushed him and tried to turn away. However, Jonathan tightened his grip on her chin, tilting her head up higher. The next second, an extremely cool breath brushed against the burning skin of her cheek. Anneliese''s eyshes trembled. She didn''t move and allowed him to childishly- and yet tenderly-blow on the swollen spot. Without noticing, her fingers clenched her clothes, hershes fluttering as waves of grievance surged up again. Although she had calmed herself moments ago, her emotions rose again. After blowing for a long while, Jonathan looked at her reddened eyes and said hoarsely. "I''m sorry. It''s my fault." His expression was grim, but his voice was filled with apology. After all, Jonathan had promised himself that he wouldn''t let her suffer even the slightest grievance once he was with her. Yet, because of him, she ended up hurt and had such a terrible New Year. He had failed to handle things properly. Initially, he had nned to slowly approach Nishay before their rtionship became public te wanted to let Nishay let go of the past and reduce her hostility toward him. That way, it would be easier to discuss his rtionship with Anneliese with Nishay. However, Nishay suddenly had a heart attack and was brought to Oceaton for surgery, which ruined his n. He didn''t do approach her as he was afraid of triggering her condition. Yet, everything was exposed to Nishay in the worst possible way. Content b¨¦tongs It was the worst-case scenario. "Don''t cry, okay? When you cry, I feel like stabbing myself..." Just as Jonathan was drowning in self-me, Anneliese''s tears silently fell. At that moment, hisposure vanished. Panic and helplessness filled his face, and he gently stroked the corner of her eyes, coaxing her softly while cing kisses along her tear-streaked cheeks. His lips were filled with the salty taste of her tears. Jonathan felt his heart aching bitterly. Anneliese said nothing, but the tears just wouldn''t stop. Jonathan lifted her by the waist and ced her on the sink. He kissed her and asked, "Don''t cry. Does it hurt a lot? Are you hurt anywhere else? Tell me please Im sorry, baby. If you''re upset, hit me or scold me. Just don''t cry, okay?" In that split second, Jonathan hated himself for being so clumsy with words. He had no experience coaxing women. Thus, all he could say over and over was "don''t cry," and he didn''t know what else to do tofort her. Seeing Anneliese still crying nonstop, Jonathan panicked. Then, he said, "I''ll go talk to Grandma again." He was furious. He felt that Nishay should have taken her anger on him instead of Anneliese. He knew Anneliese must have disobeyed Nishay to provoke that p. Chapter 575 Even though this was exactly what he had once hoped for, he couldn''t feel a trace of happiness in his heart now. The moment Anneliese heard his words, her tears stopped abruptly, and she grabbed his shirt tightly. "Don''t go! I have something to say." Jonathan halted and looked at her silently. He sensed something bad was going to happen. Anneliese''s lips trembled as she said, "Jonathan, I think we should take a break for now. I..." Before she could finish her sentence, she was frightened by the sudden icy expression that overtook Jonathan''s face. Her voice quivered, and she bit her lip. Jonathan only stared at her. His hands, braced on either side of the sink, were clenched tightly as he struggled to contain the emotions that were threatening to break loose. He said nothing, and his expression was unreadable, but the heavy rising of his chest was full of suppressed fury and pain. Something about it scared Anneliese, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at him. Silence hung between them like a standoff. Jonathan stared at Anneliese, who wouldn''t look at him and seemed to have already made up her mind. He pursed his lips and said, "I''ll pretend I didn''t hear what you just said. I''ll give you a chance to say it again." Anneliese bit her lip hard. Then, she raised her head and repeated. "I said, I think we should take a break for now." Jonathan gritted his teeth, and his breath was unsteady. Then, he smiled coldly and said mockingly, "Is that the conclusion you came to after thinking all night?" Anneliese lowered her head and said nothing. The atmosphere sank into an even longer deadlock. Eventually, it was still Jonathan who broke the silence. He grabbed her chin and forced her face upward. Then, he red at her as he said coldly, "Tell me, how long is the break? Hmm?" Anneliese opened her mouth, but no words came out as she met his cold eyes. "I..." She didn''t know either. They both knew that this was just another way of saying goodbye. The oue under these circumstances was obvious. Between him and Nishay, she had chosen to obey Nishay and give up on him. "I''m sorry, I..." She didn''t dare meet his gaze, but better a short and sharp pain than a long one. However, just as the words left her lips, Jonathan cut her off. His voice suddenly softened, unexpectedly calm. "I agree." "What?" Anneliese looked up at him in shock. Jonathan exhaled slowly and said coldly, "I agree to your suggestion. We should take some time off from each other." Anneliese stared at him nkly, stunned. Jonathan no longer looked at her. He grabbed a towel, soaked it in cold water, wrung it out, and pressed it against her swollen cheek. "You kn what I meant... Ouch! It hurts!" Anneliese protested softly. She knew he was pretending not understand her real meaning. However, before she could fine exining the pressure on her cheek suddenly increased. Pain shot through her face, and her eyes watered again. Jonathan red at her. "Shut up. I don''t want to hear you talk right now." "Okay." "Hold it yourself." Anneliese instinctively raised her hand and took the towel from him. Then, Jonathan stepped back, said nothing, and turned to leave. The bathroom door closed with a heavy thud, making Anneliese''s heart tremble along with it. Listening to his footsteps fading, Anneliese lowered her head. He must have left. Although this was clearly the choice she made, Anneliese still felt as though her heart had been torn into pieces, leaving a suffocating ache. Wol She sniffled, and tears began falling again, dripping onto the towel. She bit the cloth to truffle her sobse the broken sounds sull escaped. Suddenly... "Aren''t you the one who wanted to take a break? Why are you crying?" That familiar voice suddenly sounded again from inside the bathroom. Anneliese froze and turned around. She saw Jonathan standing at the doorway, the lighting blurring his expression. Anneliese couldn''t tell if he was mocking her, but his tone certainly sounded like it. Shame and hurt twisted together inside her. She bit her lip, furious and embarrassed, and instinctively threw the towel in her hand at him. "That''s right! You''re f*cking annoying!" She didn''t expect Jonathan to not dodge at all. Just like that, the towel-wet with her tears and snot-hit Jonathan''s face with a loud st. Chapter 576 Anneliese was startled, and her tears stopped instantly. Jonathan grabbed the towel off his face and walked toward her. Anneliese was still sitting on the sink counter, her toes curling involuntarily as he approached. When he came to a stop in front of her, she finally noticed the ice pack in his hand. Only then did she realize that he hadn''t stormed off in anger after hearing her talk about breaking up. Instead, he had gone to get an ice pack for her. "Do you still want to hit me?" As Jonathan nced at her drooping posture, the coldness in his eyes faded slightly. Anneliese nced at him and said, "I didn''t do it on purpose..." Seeing his hair soaked and stered to his forehead, guilt washed through Anneliese, especially when she knew that the towel had been covered in her tears and snot. She wanted to take the towel from Jonathan to rinse it, but thetter didn''t let go. He turned on the faucet, rinsed the towel, and wrung it dry. Anneliese thought Jonathan was going to wipe his face, but he wrapped the ice pack inside the damp towel and pressed it onto her swollen cheek. She nced at him, flustered and unsure where to put her gaze. She turned around and grabbed another towel. Then, she gave him while reaching for the ice pack. "I''ll do it myself. You should wipe your face." However, Jonathan didn''t take the towel from her, nor did he hand her the ice pack. Instead, he leaned forward and braced one hand on the counter beside her. His face drew dangerously close to hers. "You are the one who threw it, so you should clean it." Anneliese paused. Under the pressure of his gaze, she raised her hand and began wiping the water from his face. Once she finished, she reached for the strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead. Just as her fingers brushed his hair, he raised his hand and grabbed her gers. Anneliese wanted to withdraw her hand, but Jonathan inteced his hand with hers. Then, he lifted their sped hands to her eye level and asked in a low voice, "What do you see?" Following his gaze, Anneliese looked down at their intertwined hands. At first, she didn''t understand what he meant until she saw the matching wedding rings on their fingers. Ever since they put the ring on, they had never once been removed. The thought of it made Anneliese''s heart thump, and she breathed softly. "Once you put on my wedding ring, you will wear it for life. Do you think you can leave just whenever you feel like it? I''m not dead, you know." Anneliese''s eyes reddened as she looked at him. "I didn''t..." She had thought it through. Nishay''s reaction had been so intense that it was obvious she would never change her mind. Anneliese had already experienced one failed marriage that wasn'' blessed by her family. This time, not only was Nishay against it but even, Jonathan''s father had only given her reluctant approval, not to mention that his parents were openly hostile too. There were too many obstacles in their way. Even if they insisted on being together, Anneliese didn''t have the confidence that they would truly be happy. She was worried that everything would fall apart, and Nishay''s condition would worsen. Anneliese didn''t dare think further. She feared that by then, not even the good memories between her and Jonathan would survive. She feared that all that was left would only be resentment. "You didn''t? Not even a full day and you''re already giving up on me." Jonathan''s voice was cold. He cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. "Are my feelings cheap and worthless to you?" His usation stunned herpletely, making her feel like she was an awful person. "It''s just temporary. Give me some time, and I''ll talk to Grandma again," she said hastily. Jonathan pressed his lips tightly together, restraining the force of his grip on her chin. When Anneliese said she wanted some time alone, a fire burned ragingly in his chest, almost breaking loose. For a moment, even had the insane urge to throw her over his shoulder and hide her away somewhere, making i impossible for her to leave him. Another part of him wanted to m the door and leave, giving her exactly what she wanted. After all, he wasn''t a man who couldn''t live without her. If she could cast him aside so easily, then he might as well move on too. However, when he saw her swollen cheek and helpless tears, all his anger vanished in seconds. He could only force himself to remember that she was still young, so he couldn''t hold everything against her. O Moreover, it was his fault that she was in such a painful dilemma since he hadn''t protected her well enough. Chapter 577 The moment Jonathan heard her soften her tone, the frost in Jonathan''s eyes melted instantly. He sighed inwardly and felt that he must have owed her from his past life. Thus, he was destined to be helpless against her. "I''m very easy to fool. Let''s go with that." Jonathan raised his brows and nodded. His sarcastic tone made Anneliese speechless and embarrassed. She turned her head away and said, "In that case, we''ve reached an agreement. You should leave first." She feared that Nishay would be even more furious if he were still lingering here. Jonathan nodded. "No rush. Since this is only a temporary separation and we need to calm your grandma first, let''s set some rules." "What rules?" Anneliese blinked in confusion. "We''ll meet once every three days to update each other on progress. You must reply to my text calls. Next, I''ll give you at most half a month. "If you still can''t persuade your grandma by then, you don''t get to stop me anymore. I''ll do it my way." Hearing his words, Anneliese was speechless. At the same time, she felt that he was too good at bargaining. No wonder he is a sessful businessman. If she agreed to all this, how was it any different from not separating at all? It waspletely self-deceiving, which was pointless. However, when she met Jonathan''s steady gaze, she suddenly couldn''t say anything harsher. Thus, she furrowed her eyebrows and said, "Grandma''s emotions are too intense. I need to calm her down first. She''ll definitely be watching me closely these few days, and I don''t want to trigger her again. Thus, three days won''t work. Let''s say about one week." Jonathan frowned, clearly displeased. Anneliese tugged lightly at the hem of his shirt. Only then did he look at her. "I feel like the one you''re trying to calm down isn''t your grandmother but me. You''ve already decided to break up with me, and now you''re coaxing me, trying to fool me into leaving. "Is that right?" "No!" Anneliese shook her head quickly. "What else do you think I could do right now with Grandma being this agitated? Why won''t you believe me?" Jonathan said thoughtfully, "I can..." Anneliese looked at him immediately, and he cupped her face in his hands. "Only if you tell me you love me." She was at a loss for words and stayed silent for a long while. Seeing her reaction, Jonathan made a knowing expression, seemingly as if her reaction meant that she was indeed lying to him. Anneliese never knew Jonathan''s expression could be so rich and dramatic. However, with him staring at her like that, she just couldn''t bring herself to say it. Flustered and embarrassed, she kicked him lightly. "I''m not saying it!" Her kick was soft, making it more like a teasing touch rather than an actual kick. Jonathan''s breath hitched. He reached out and held her leg. "If you won''t say it, then kiss me." Anneliese had no choice. Just the thought of him leaving and not being able to see each other for an entire week Anneliese''s heart, softened. Then, she leaned forward obediently and kissed him. Just as she was about to pull away, he leaned forward. Perhaps afraid of touching the bruise on her cheek, his kiss was light and gentle, yet it made her chest ache. Anneliese tilted her head up and deepened the kiss, her fingers clutching tightly to his shirt. Before leaving, Jonathan stood before Nishay''s door and knocked. Unsurprisingly, the room stayed silent. He nced at Anneliese once before turning to leave. When he reached downstairs, Zion was already waiting beside the car. He had cut short his vacation and flown back overnight from the ind. Seeing Jonathan walk out of the building with such a stormy expression, Zion had a bad feeling. He felt that Jonathan was being kicked out of the house. "Mr. Fullbuster, are we heading back to Halden?" he asked cautiously once they were in the car. Jonathan frowned slightly and said, "Go back to the Banyans first. Check whether anyone has contacted Grandma these past two days. Look into her call logs too, especially if there is anything connected to Zacharias." He had asked Jessica whether Nishay had been acting unusually, and thetter told him that Nishay barged into her room yesterday, asking whether Anneliese was dating someone. However, Nishay was supposed to go to bed early that night. He also reviewed the surveince footage from when Anneliese went outst night. The moment Anneliese stepped out, Nishay also came out of her room and followed Anneliese. Her clothing was neat, which wasn''t someone who had been asleep. "Are you suspecting that Zacharias tipped her off?" asked Zion. Previously, he had made a move against Holf Real Estate ording to Jonathan''s orders. Elizabeth was furious. Since she was unable to reach onathan by phone, she had beer bombarding Zion with dozens of calls. Chapter 578 Zion knew Elizabeth had angered Jonathan because of his connection to Anneliese. Jonathan''s voice was cold. "It better not be him." He was almost certain Zacharias was involved. Otherwise, how could it be a coincidence that Zacharias ran into Anneliese at the hospital, mistakenly thought she was pregnant, and Grandma became agitated right after? The threat in Jonathan''s voice made Zion worry for Zacharias'' safety. ... That day, Nishay didn''t eat at all. By evening, a nurse brought out the untouched tray again. Anneliese took it and knocked before entering the room. Nishayy in bed, eyes closed under her nket. Anneliese set down the tray and spoke softly. "Grandma, I''ve already broken up with him. Please get up and eat." She''d pleaded with her grandmother at noon but got no response. Jessica had tried too, but nothing worked. Now, hearing that Anneliese had broken up, Nishay finally opened her eyes. "Really?" Anneliese nodded. Nishay moved, and Anneliese felt a small relief. She quickly helped her sit up. Once seated, Nishay reached out. "Give me your phone." Anneliese froze. She hesitated at her grandmother''s pale face but handed over the phone. "Are you calling someone?" Nishay stared at the phone. "Unlock it." Anneliese unlocked her phone and handed it over. Nishay opened the contacts. The first was Jonathan, saved as ''Hubby.'' Her gaze lingered on the name, her expression darkening. Nishay''s fingers shook as she tried to block Jonathan, her intention clear. Anneliese instinctively grabbed her grandmother''s hand. "Grandma!" Nishay looked up. "You said you broke up was that a lie?" Anneliese frowned. "It''s really over...but there''s no need to block him. We still have things to sort out." "What things?" Nishay pressed, thinking Anneliese was lying. Anneliese sighed. "This apartment belongs to Jonathan. Since we broke up we have to move out¨ª Also, Swork for both Maisie and the nurse him." . Nishay''s eyes hardened. "Are you mocking me? Living in his house, using his staff, but refusing to be with him?" Her sudden sternness left Anneliese struggling to keep herposure. "Grandma, that''s not what I meant." "Then, block him. We''re moving out now! Take me back to the hospital." Anneliese realized she shouldn''t have mentioned the apartment. "Grandma, it''s New Year''s " "Fine. If you won''t move, I''ll go myself!" Nishay pulled off the nket and tried to climb down, fragile as she was. Anneliese caught her just in time, feeling helpless. Under Nishay''s gaze, Anneliese blocked Jonathan''s contacts. Only then did Grandma eat a little and agree to rest and return to the hospital in the morning. Anneliese left the room, exhausted. Jessica walked with her to the master bedroom. "Are you really breaking up with Mr. Fullbuster?" Anneliese copsed on the bed, not wanting to move. Seeing her like this, Jessica sighed. "Don''t be too pessimistic. Your grandmother isn''t unreasonable. Give her time-she''lle around." She gently patted Anneliese''s shoulder. Anneliese opened her eyes. "But what if she never does?" Her grandmother had always been stubborn. After losing Anneliese''s foster parents, she''d never let go how could she suddenly change now? Jessica''s brow furrowed, then she rested her hand on her stomach, eyes lighting up. "Then, hurry and give Mr. Fullbuster a baby! Once there''s a baby, your grandmother won''t be able to break you up." She grinned, or just tell her you''re already pregnant..." Anneliese rubbed her face. "Don''t push it. What if she can''t handle the shock?" Chapter 579 Right... if anything happened to my fragile grandmother, it would be a disaster. Jessica immediately realized she had suggested a terrible idea, but there was nothing she could do. "Anyway, I''m on your side. If you need anything, just tell me." Anneliese nodded, sitting up. "Let me use your phone for a moment. I''ll call him." "What? Your phone is dead?" Jessica asked, puzzled, then went to fetch it. Anneliese exined, "Grandma made me block him." "Just unblock him and change his contact name. Grandma won''t know. She''ll think it''s permanent and won''t suspect anything." Anneliese blinked, dumbfounded. "You''re supposed to be the one who''s forgetful and scatterbrained when pregnant, but you''re still sharp!" Jessica smiled, rubbing her belly. "I''m smart. I''m going to have a clever baby too." Anneliese chuckled at how maternal she sounded. "You''ve really got the mommy vibe now." Jessica scowled and tickled Anneliese''s waist. "Who are you calling a big mom? Watch your words!" Anneliese rolled on the bed, ying along. Jessica left after a while. Anneliese''s mood improved. She unblocked Jonathan''s phone and WhatsApp, but as soon as she did, new messages popped up. ''You blocked me? How cruel of you.'' ''Just wait! Let''s see how I deal with you next time.'' ''Little liar.'' She thought he might not have noticed, but he clearly had. A question mark appeared in the chat before she could respond, and then his call came. She answered quickly, heading to the bathroom and locking the door. "Grandma was watching me block you. I didn''t lie. As soon as I was out of her sight, I unblocked you," she whispered. Anneliese lowered her voice as she exined, but heard no response from the man. She pressed her lips together. "Are you angry?" His deep, husky voice finally came through. "Did you get hurt again?" She paused, surprised he wasn''t angry but worried about her. The surge of emotion made her want to cry. She sniffled. He caught it immediately. "Zion, turn around!" Anneliese was startled. "No! Don''te back. Grandma didn''t touch me again I told her we brake up She only made me block Don''t worry about me." "Really?" "Yes, you can ask Maisie if you don''t believe me." Jonathan chuckled. "How do you know I didn''t?" He had called Maisie immediately upon discovering he was blocked. Anneliese smiled. "Mr. Fullbuster, openly telling me you had a spy watching me¡ª are you serious?" Hearing herughter, Jonathan finally rxed for the first time in days. The silence that followed felt almost charged, a hidden tension flowing between them. Until she whispered softly, "Jonathan... I missed you." He had been recliningzily, but stiffened instantly, making Zion flinch in the rearview mirror. What could Mrs. Fullbuster have said to make him react like that? Jonathan could hardly believe his ears. Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he finally whispered. "Baby what did you just say ehdn''t catch it." Anneliese hadn''t expected herself to say something like that to him, and it had to be now. She hadn''t meant to, but the words slipped out, leaving her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Chapter 580 "You misheard me. I didn''t say anything." "You did! I heard it! You said you missed me." "Oh... so you did hear me clearly." Jonathan paused, amused by her clever response. He chuckled softly, and Anneliese smiled in response. "You missed me? Should Ie find you?" "No! We agreed just once a week!" she insisted, trying to maintain appearances for Grandma. He sighed, feeling helpless. Trying to change the topic, she asked, "Have you returned to Halden?" "No, still in Oceaton. I''ll go back tonight and let you know my schedule." He reported his movements to reassure her, making Anneliese smile faintly. "Okay, I''ll hang up now." The thrill of sneaking a call like this made her heart race. It was ridiculous. She felt like they were running a secret undercover operation. Jonathan murmured, "Baby... I missed you, too." She hung up, his voice lingering in her ears. She rubbed her tingling ears and looked down, then deleted the contact name "Hubby" from her phone. Suddenly, a scene from many years ago shed through her mind. At her parents'' memorial, he had gone to pay his respects. She led him to the back of the hall and had him offer a bouquet of flowers. At that time, she had also been full of anger and resentment toward Jonathan. If it weren''t for saving him, she wouldn''t have lost her parents and her younger brother. Mr. Belmort, her father''s colleague and closest friend¡ªa firefighter-put an arm around her and said, "Anne, your father was a hero. That boy was someone your father saved with his life. If your father''s spirit is watching, do you think he would want that young man to live a full life, or remain trapped in shadows?" Jonathan wasn''t the only person her father had saved. He had saved many lives, always giving everything he had. Every time her father rescued someone, even if he was bleeding or injured, he would be so happy he could hardly contain himself. Anne knew her father would never me Jonathan. Of course, her father wanted that young man to live well! That was why she brought Jonathan to the memorial, had him offer the flowers, and told him, "You must live, no matter what." Anneliese remembered she had only seen Jonathan two or three times before, and only on this asion had she been kind to him. Could it be that just because of that small act of kindness, I became unforgettable? If so, he really is too easy to deceive. Wait-what am I even thinking? What nonsense-so narcissistic of me. Back then even if Jonathan had wanted to take her into the Fullbuster family to care for her it would have been only to repaVAS debt of gratitude. Anneliese shook her head to stop her wild thoughts, but her fingers moved on their own changing Jonathan''s contact name to "Big Brother" and unpinning him from the top of her contacts. '' Meanwhile, Jonathan put away his phone, his mood uplifted. He felt that perhaps his grandmother''s opposition wasn''t so bad after all. She had never been this openly eager before. Maybe her grandmother did provoke her rebellious streak. Still... Some emotions only grow stronger the more they''re suppressed, restrained, or blocked-they be impossible to control. "Congrattions, Mr. Fullbuster! Mrs. Fullbuster has broken through all obstacles to firmly be with you, which proves she truly loves you!" Zion, seeing his boss struggle to hide his smile, felt as if he had gone from the Arctic to the tropics in minutes. Jonathan looked at him. "Isn''t that obvious? Why do you need to say it?" I''ve known all along my girl truly loves me! Zion was speechless. Earlier, seeing that she had blocked him, he had pounded his seat in anxiety and insecurity. The car slowly stopped in front of a club. Zion said, "Mr. Fullbuster, we''ve arrived." The small smile on Jonathan''s face vanished, reced by a cold, fierce look. He got out of the car and strode into the club. ... The manager came forward, led him ahead, and pushed open the door to a heavy private room. Jonathan stepped in. Four ck-d bodyguards stood around the room. Seated directly opposite the door was a single figure. It was Zacharias. His suit and shirt were a bit disheveled. Rather than being invited by the bodyguards, it seemed he had been forcibly brought here without a word. Chapter 581 Before Jonathan arrived, Zacharias didn''t know who brought him here. When Jonathan walked in, Zacharias'' eyes narrowed he wasn''t really surprised. He smirked. "All this fuss for nothing, Mr. Fullbuster? Let me guess... Anne found out the truth and dumped you?" Now Jonathan''s anger and desperation were in to see. It was clear-Anneliese didn''t want him anymore. Zacharias'' eyes lit up. If Anneliese refused Jonathan, maybe I still had a chance, right? The only issue was that she was pregnant with his child, which gave him an edge. But that didn''t matter. Pregnant women were vulnerable and emotional. If I showed her I didn''t care and treated her well, maybe I could win her over. After all, Jonathan had used her vulnerability to get close to her before. Jonathan nced at Zacharias and instantly knew what he was thinking. The man snorted, took off his watch, tossed it onto the coffee table, and, without another word, grabbed Zacharias by the cor, lifted him off the couch, and punched him squarely in the face. Bang! It was a ruthless punch. Zacharias had spent the past six months in a haze¡ªdrinking, barely eating, and constantly cleaning up after his unstable mother and sister. He''d lost a lot of weight. Jonathan''s punch sent him rolling off the couch, tumbling twice beforending face down on the floor. He tried to get up, but a heavy force pressed down on his shoulders. A momentter, Zacharias'' face was mmed into the floor. He felt his spine might snap. "John... mmph..." Pain filled his vision; he couldn''t even curse. Jonathan let up, giving Zacharias a moment to catch his breath. Zacharias rolled over, sat up, clutched his shoulder, and red at Jonathan with hatred. His face twisted, but he managed grim smile. "Anneliese doesn''t want you anymore. Isn''t that your faur? Why hit me? You lied to her first-you can''t me it all on me." "Shouldn''t you admit your own faults? Jonathan, you''re such a hypocrite!" Zacharias remembered how Jonathan once mocked him for losing Anneliese, which gave Jonathan a chance to step in. The pain in his body was nothingpared to that memory. He wanted Jonathan to feel the same rage and regret he did now, and to taste the suffering he had endured. But to his disappointment, Jonathan''s gaze was icy and calm, showing no sign of pain. It made Zacharias, shouting and iling, seem like a lunatic. As Zacharias'' smug smile faded, Jonathan stepped onto the couch and sat down. He picked up his watch from the coffee table, put it on slowly, then sneered at Zacharias. "Disappointed? My wife and I have a bond that nothing can break. No one cane between us." "Impossible! That can''t be true!" Zacharias clenched his fists, dread filling his chest. He''d provoked Jonathan, risking a beating, but this wasn''t the oue he wanted. "You''re delusional. I know Anneliese her foster parents and grandmother matter more to her than anyone or anything else! She knows you made her lose her foster parents how could she feel nothing? She''d never ept being with someone responsible for their deaths!" Anneliese grew up with Zacharias. He knew exactly how she felt about her family and grandmother. She always listened to her grandmother. When the Whites wanted her back Anneliese didn''t want to return. Her grandmother persuaded her, saying her foster parents always hoped she''d find her real parents one day. She also said she was too old to help Anneliese and didn''t want her to be alone, so she urged her to return to the Whites. When Anneliese went back, the White family treated her badly. She nned to buy a house in Oceaton, so her grandmother could live there with her. Chapter 582 However, to buy a house in Oceaton, one had to have an Oceaton household registration. Anneliese begged the White family to transfer her into the White NFR, but she absolutely refused to change her surname to White. Selina took advantage of the situation by encouraging Timothy to make Anneliese kneel in the courtyard all night. Only then would they allow her to keep her surname. Someone as proud as Anneliese actually knelt the entire night, and her legs remained red and swollen for more than ten days before recovering. Anneliese''s grandmother had hated the Fullbuster family with a passion and would never allow Anneliese to be with Jonathan. With her grandmother against the rtionship and her health fragile, Anneliese couldn''t simply disregard her grandmother''s well-being to be with Jonathan. Absolutely impossible! The more Zacharias thought about it, the more convinced he became that Jonathan was lying to save face after Anneliese''s rejection. Jonathan looked at Zacharias, whose face was full of doubt, and merely curved his lips slightly in a cold, sarcastic smile. "The fire back then was an ident, and the sacrifice of Mr. ude was truly tragic and regrettable. But it was not my responsibility. For you to call me a murderer, an enemy of the ude family, Mr. Shaw, you truly are quick to assign guilt without evidence. You knew her grandmother had just had heart surgery, but you still told her about Anne and me, hoping to provoke her. You used this to try to destroy our marriage. Your actions truly inherit the same lineage as your mother and sister, who are on the verge of attempted murder." Zacharias gritted his teeth, his breathing deep and heavy. "Mr. Fullbuster, you''re really skilled at spinning things to exonerate yourself. The fact is, if Mr. ude hadn''t saved you, he wouldn''t have died, and the ude family wouldn''t have fallen apart. "If you hadn''t deceived Anne and secretly manipted her, I wouldn''t have lost her! I only wanted to stop you from deceiving Anne and her grandmother and tell them the truth. What is my fault?" Jonathan nodded. "If you believe you did nothing wrong, then you shouldn''t mind if Anne finds out what you''ve done, right?" Zacharias'' face darkened. "Jonathan, what do you mean?" He felt uneasy. Of course, he didn''t want Anneliese to know. He still hoped he had a chance to win her back. If Anneliese found out he was the one who told her, she would hate him and never let him get close again. Zacharias forced himself to remain calm and let out a bitterugh. "Jonathan, you''ve deceived Anne, and your credibility in her eyes is already in shreds. Even if you tell her, she won''t believe you; she''ll only think you''re ndering me, won''t she?" "Oh, really?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow and smiled. The next second, he pulled a phone from his pocket. Zacharias saw at a nce that the phone was turned on! Could it be... Zacharias'' uneasy premonition intensified. Sure enough, the next second, Jonathan flipped his wrist. The phone pointed at him, and on the screen, Zacharias saw Anneliese''s icy, cold little face. "Zacharias! You truly disgust me!" Anneliese red at Zacharias, speaking each word slowly and deliberately. Just now, after Jonathan hung up with her, he quickly initiated a video call. When she answered, the screen was still ck and shaky. At first, she thought Jonathan had dialed her by mistake. Soon after, she heard Jonathan and Zacharias talking. These past few days, she had been grandmother and had been fully absorbed by the truth about Jonathan being that older brother from the past. She hadn''t had time to think much else. It turned out that on her grandmother''s side, it had actually been Zacharias who spilled the secret! Absolutely infuriating! Zacharias met Anneliese''s gaze, filled with hatred and cold contempt, and felt his chest tighten in anger. D*mn Jonathan, setting me up like this! His expression faltered, and he tried to exin. "Anne, listen to me, I¡ª" But before he could finish, Jonathan twisted his wrist, cutting off his chance to speak to Anneliese, and said to her instead "Honey don''t look at him. His swollen bruised face is painful to the eyes. Look at me instead, hmm? I''ll purify your eyes." Zacharias froze. D*mn... how had my face ended up so bruised? On the other end, Anneliese was slightly amused by Jonathan''s words. Thinking about Zacharias'' current state, she felt even more satisfied, curling her lips into a smile. "Yes, honey, you''re the most handsome!" Her voice was sweet and soft. Even though Jonathan knew she might have been intentionally teasing Zacharias after hearing his words, he couldn''t contain his excitement. Being praised by my wife, and in front of her ex-husband, no less! Complete victory-could anything feel better than this? He immediately lifted his eyelids and threw Zacharias a triumphant, "See that?" look. Chapter 583 Zacharias thought Jonathan was lying, but Anneliese''s words made him nearly pass out with anger. His face turned ashen. "Anne, this isn''t fair! Jonathan lied to you, too¡ªhow can you not care even a bit? Have you forgotten how cruelly your foster parents died? How tragic it was! You... ugh¡ª" Bang! Before Zacharias could finish, Jonathan shot him a chilling nce. The bodyguards stepped forward and shoved a torn cloth into Zacharias'' mouth. "Honey, don''t listen to him barking. Let''s hang up now and talk tonight?" Jonathan''s gaze toward Anneliese was already gentle, like still water. Anneliese nodded and hung up first. But she still couldn''t fully rx, so before leaving, she sent Jonathan a WhatsApp message. ''Be careful, don''t dirty your hands over unnecessary people.'' Seeing the message pop up, Jonathan''s thin lips curved slightly. My wife cares about me! I really wanted to show Zacharias, but never mind-he wasn''t worthy. Anneliese had never been a pawn for me to unt. Jonathan turned off his phone and stood, stepping toward Zacharias, whose hands were bound behind him by two ck-d bodyguards. The shadows seemed to darken as Jonathan approached. Muffled, Zacharias could only struggle silently, his bloodshot eyes ring coldly at Jonathan. Jonathan smiled. "You''ve been too rude to Mr. Shaw. Let him go." Only then did the two bodyguards release him and step aside. Zacharias ripped the cloth from his mouth, ran to the coffee table, and vomited into the trash can. After emptying his stomach, he took a tissue to wipe his face and turned around in anger. Though furious, Zacharias realized he couldn''t do anything. He left silently, enduring humiliation. But Jonathan suddenly spoke, light and seemingly casual, yet sending a chill down Zacharias'' spine. "Did I say you could leave?" Two ck-d bodyguards blocked the door simultaneously. Zacharias clenched his fists and turned back. "Jonathan! Don''t push me too far!" Jonathan pursed his lips and stepped closer. "Mr. Shaw, there''s still one matter I''d like your advice on today." Zacharias narrowed his eyes, suspicious, and sneered. "Your way of asking questions is certainly unique. I''ve noted it." Jonathan ignored him, voice low and serious. "Roretha Smith-you should know this person, right?" Zacharias frowned. "Roretha Smith? I don''t know anyone by that name." "That''s strange. She used to live upstairs from your old home." Zacharias thought for a moment, eyes shing. With that hint, Zacharias remembered. Roretha was the grandmother of a family upstairs from their old home. Over ten years ago, she was in her sixties or seventies. Anne and Zacharias called her Madam Stone, which is why Jonathan''s use of her real name was confusing. "What about her?" Zacharias studied Jonathan, wary. Why mention such an irrelevant person now? Jonathan''s gaze turned slightly cold. "When my father-inw died, the officials on-site, knowing my mother-inw was about to give birth, deliberately withheld the news. "Yet strangely, my mother-inw received the news immediately and ran from home, falling down the stairs inbor, resulting in the death of both her and the child. "Now, consider this, the person who informed my mother-inw-do you think it was deliberate or idental? If they deliberate, and they saw her faff Without helping, wouldn''t that make this person my grandmother''s daughter''s murderer?" Zacharias'' expression darkened as he listened. He frowned. "Back then, the police and fire department leaders investigated¡ªit was purely an ident. Why bring up Roretha now? Are you saying she''s involved?" Over the years, Jonathan had been investigating who spread the news. Progress had been slow, but recently, a clue had emerged¡ªlinked to Roretha. Jonathan stared at Zacharias, catching every flicker of expression, and said with earth-shattering weight. "Roretha imed that half an hour before my mother-inw''s ident, she saw someone rush out of my mother-inw''s building in a panic. That person she said was your mother, Melody." Chapter 584 Zacharias froze, his breathing catching, eyes wide in shock. After a moment that felt like an eternity, his shock gave way to a furious outburst. "Impossible! Jonathan, you''re talking nonsense! You''re framing me!" Zacharias couldn''t ept it. "My grandmother hated you and refused to ept you as her grandson-inw, so now you want to transfer her hatred onto my mother and family? Don''t even think about it!" How could my mother be involved? She had always been close to Anneliese''s mother-surely she would never have done such a thing. Jonathan must be lying,pletely shameless. "Are you angry because you''re embarrassed or because you can''t ept the truth?" Jonathan sneered. Zacharias swung at him. "Ridiculous!" Jonathan sidestepped, catching Zacharias'' fist in hisrge hand. His sleeve strained over defined muscles. "I only say this because Roretha can serve as a witness." Jonathan caught Zacharias'' punch and pushed it back firmly. Zacharias staggered, pale, startled by Jonathan''s certainty and the terrifying possibility he had just revealed. Suppressing his shock and anger, he spoke coldly. "Hah! If you bought one or two witnesses, they''d say whatever you wanted. If this were true, why didn''t Roretha speak up back then? Ridiculous! If you had proof, you could have called the police directly!" Exactly. If Jonathan had proof, he would have called the police long ago to clear his name with my grandmother. Why use my family now? What''s his motive? Is he trying to alert the enemy? No-there''s definitely no such thing. "I will report it to the police. So, you''d better take good care of your mothertely. After all, the attempted murder of my mother-inw resulted in two deaths. I''m just kindly reminding you¡ªthe good days like this won''tst long." Zacharias ground his teeth, ring at Jonathan. "Hah! Framing, ying tricks¡ªit''s all misdirection! I''ll wait!" He turned and strode away. Jonathan raised his hand at the bodyguards by the door, but they did not stop Zacharias this time. Zacharias left, disappearing into the private room. Only then did Zion step in and nod toward Jonathan. "Everything''s fine, Mr. Fullbuster." Zacharias sped off, running red lights to get back to his vi. The servants rushed over in rm, seeing his disheveled clothes, bruised face, and overall battered appearance. "M-Mr. Shaw, do you need the police?" Zacharias didn''t even look at them, storming upstairs with a dark expression. He paused, then turned back and ordered the servants, "You''re not needed here today. Go home immediately!" Seeing his icy expression, the servants nodded without question, removed their aprons, and left. Upstairs, Melody and Lenora were in Lenora''s room. Lenoray crying on her mother''sp. Though they had been bailed out from detention, the case still loomed over them¡ª they weren''t allowed to leave Oceaton. Lenora had reached her limit. Today, she had gone to meet a few so-called friends, only to be mocked mercilessly. Everyone looked at her with disdain, as if she were a criminal. Trying to please them, she had spent a lot of pocket money buying each a urse Yet when Yet when she returned from the bathroom, they were publicly humiliating her. "A prospective criminal thinking she''s ady, howughable." "The Shaws have no real background. She''s just a nouveau-riche younger sister. Do you think we haven''t seen the World? you think why ess¡¤uld ven That bags worthless wouldn''t even give it to our maid." "I heard ever since Anneliese divorced Mr. Shaw, uderias Tech has been declining." "Yes, Mr. Shaw has repeatedly made poor decisions, losing several big deals. Alpetition is fierce these years the Shaws won''t stay prominent long Chapter 585 "I agree. Everyone in Oceaton knows Mr. Fullbuster and Zacharias don''t get along. Anyone thinking of cooperating with uderias Tech has to think twice. If the Fullbuster family retaliates, it''ll be a huge loss." "Huh? Where''s Lenora? Did she slip away knowing we disdain her?" "If she ran, maybe she would understand her shame. If she''s sentencedter, her disgrace could affect us too. She''s ruthless-no wonder she did such terrible things!" Hearing the cruel mockery, Lenora couldn''t bring herself to go inside. Overwhelmed, she cried all the way home. Melody tried tofort her, but in the same situation, she felt powerless herself. She could only say, "Lenora, hold on a little longer. Your brother won''t abandon us. He''ll find a betterwyer and protect us. Ignore what they say. "They''re just jealous of your brother, who umted in a few years what others never could. Their harsh words don''t matter." Doesn''t matter? Lenora thought, feeling suffocated. She remembered Anneliese from the past. Wherever Anneliese went, she faced mockery and scorn. She was never as good as Selina, and her personal life was always under scrutiny. People said marrying Zacharias made her seem more human, but being childless meant they''d eventually cast her out. Lenora sometimes knew Anneliese was nearby and would provoke others into speaking ill of her. Each time, Anneliese stood up to them-sometimes she won, and sometimes their mockery grew. Even when she won, she rarely seemed happy. Back then, Lenora, watching coldly, felt satisfaction. Now, she was the one being humiliated, and the pain was unbearable. Lenora had relied on sleeping pills and antidepressants. Watching Anneliese endure hardship made her strangely envious. Just then, bang-the door was kicked open with force. "Zach, what are you doing! You scared me!" Lenora screamed and dove into Melody''s arms. Zacharias dark expression unsettled her. Once her brother had protected and loved d her but now, after all Anneliese had done, he only got them bailed out and found a Zacharias ignored Lenora entirely. He yanked her from her mother''s arms and said coldly, "Get out! I need to speak with Mom!" Lenora rubbed her arm, staggered, and said, "Zach, you hurt me! What are you talking to Mom about? This is my room how can there be anything I shouldn''t hear?" Zacharias'' eyes turned sharp. "Out! Don''t make me say it a third time!" Frightened by his rage, she ran out, forgetting to close the door, her footsteps thudding down the stairs. "Zacharias, why are you so harsh with your sister? She''s already upset what if something happens?" Melody got up, worried, but Zacharias blocked her, demanding, I need to ask you something!" She looked puzzled-then noticed his bruised face. "Zacharias, your face..." He cut her off, asking directly, "Mom, tell me honestly-did you have anything to do with Anneliese''s foster mother''s death?" Melody hadn''t expected him to bring it up. She froze, then instinctively shook her head. "Zacharias, what nonsense are you talking about? Her foster mother died so many years ago I''ve nearly forgotten her How could I possibly be involved?" Though she spoke calmly and convincingly, he noticed the flicker of guilt and evasion in her eyes. Chapter 586 His chest tightened, and he spoke sharply, "Then, exin this to me. If you really had nothing to do with it, why did Roretha, who lives upstairs, say she saw you running out of the building looking all flustered right before Nak''s ident?" Melody''s eyes went wide in shock, and she staggered backward, copsing onto the bed. "Mom! Don''t tell me you really went to Nak and told her about Frederick''s death. Is that why she fell down the stairs and lost the baby?" Zacharias took a step closer, staring at Melody with disbelief and usation in his eyes. She shook her head, clutching the nket tight. "Of course not! Zacharias, I''m your mother! I gave birth to you and raised you. How can you trust someone else over me? And now you''re using me of murder? "After all I''ve done for you, is this what I get? What could you possibly gain from your mother being used of such a crime?" She straightened her body and argued, sounding aggressive instead of guilty. Zacharias frowned. Since there was no one else around, there was no reason for Melody to lie. He said, "Jonathan told me. Roretha ims she saw you that day, and she''s willing to testify. "Mom, this is serious. You''d better be straight with me." Her grip on the bedsheet got tighter, but her tone was impatient. "Zacharias, how could you trust him and not me? If what Jonathan said were true, he would have called the police and had me arrested already! "As for Roretha, you know she never liked us. If she really saw me, why didn''t she report it back then? "And besides, Nak was the only person who actually helped us back then. I was close to her, remember? I even promised I''d help her with her baby after she gave birth. Why would I ever hurt her?" Zacharias thought about it-Melody was right. Roretha had always been at odds with their family. Back then, his father, Richard, was always violent, creating chaos at all hours of the day. Roretha lived right above them. Once, he beat them so badly that Melody and the kids ran up to Roretha''s for help. Roretha let them in, but Richard followed and wrecked a bunch of her things. After that, she kept her distance, hoping Melody and her kids would just move away. She was always cold and sarcastic whenever she saw them. Zacharias figured Melody made sense. If Roretha really had seen anything, she wouldn''t have kept quiet all these years. Sure enough, it''s Jonathan stirring things up. What a snake, trying to pin Nak''s death on my mom! "Zacharias, Jonathan must have bribed Roretha. What do we do? He''s definitely going to try and frame me for this!" Melody clung to Zacharias'' arm, clearly panicked. Zacharias patted her hand. "Mom, if you didn''t do it, it''s not so easy for Jonathan to make it stick. He can use anyone, but proving murder is a lot harder, especially since the cops can''t just fabricate evidence Besides, this happened more than ten years ago. Don''t worry." If Jonathan were really nning to frame Melody, he wouldn''t have told Zacharias any of this tonight. It showed Jonathan just wanted to stir up suspicion with Nishay and Anneliese, so they''d turn some of their anger onto Melody. That would take the heat off Jonathan. He really is cunning! What Zacharias didn''t see was that after he left Melody''s room, she started shaking vigorously. She only stopped when she sfid from the bed to the floor. She hugged herself, terrified, and her mind shed back to those years. Nak had been a teacher-gentle and kind. She was Melody''s best friend back then, and she always showed sympathy for her and her children. Whenever Richard lost control, Nak was the first to help. She''d called the police for Melody more than once, gone to the neighborhoodmittee with her, and even taken the kids in at the ude Residence. Because of Nak, Frederick even stood up to Richard several times, sometimes fighting so hard that the neighbors would all gossip. Chapter 588 Since it was just an audio recording, there was no way to see Melody''s face or read her expression. They couldn''t tell if she was nervous or lying. Jonathan already felt pretty sure Melody was involved in Nak''s death, but he needed solid confirmation before making a move. Otherwise, everything he had done until now would be a waste of time. The audio didn''t sound suspicious to them, but a professional could pick up on subtle pauses, breaths, and tone shifts that reveal if someone is lying, and give them a more urate assessment. "Understood, Mr. Fullbuster." Zion knew Jonathan was always careful about everything, so he didn''t say any more. He took the tablet and left. With Zion gone, Jonathan was alone in the huge living room. The Banyans was a five-story vi, and since he nned to move in with Anneliese after the new year, Jonathan had the whole ce remodeled. He had everything decorated to match Anneliese''s taste-low-key luxury, elegant and refined. When Anneliese transferred the Maple Bay apartment to Sylvia, she packed up all her things. Some of her belongings were brought upstairs, and the rest were delivered to this floor. Two of Anneliese''s things now sat on the shelf across from the couch. One was an Emerald Meadow vase, filled with green lisianthus. It stood out as a decorative piece-impossible to miss. Jonathan stared at it for a moment, then sighed, leaned back, and rubbed his brow. Some things just don''t go ording to n. Who knows when I''ll finally have her here as thedy of the house? His phone rang. Jonathan opened his eyes and checked the screen. It was Penelope. He quickly pulled himself together and answered. "Grandma." Penelope asked, "Jonathan, is Anne feeling better?" Jonathan rubbed his brow. He honestly didn''t know how Anneliese was doing. But when they left Maple Bay, she just looked a little pale. Other than that, she didn''t seem too unwell. "She''s fine now, Grandma. Don''t worry." "Then put Anne on the phone. I want to hear it from her." Penelope insisted, so Jonathan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Grandma, she''s in the shower. It''s not a good time..." Before he could finish, Penelope cut him off. "You think i''m senile? Showering in the middle of the day? At least make your lies more convincing! Don''t fry. me to fool me. Felyxia already to everything!" Jonathan had rushed back to Oceanton, and Penelope thought it was because he was worried about Anneliese''s health and wanted to take care of her. Felyxia never expected things to get so out of hand. She was worried Jonathan mighte after her for it, and the guilt kept her on edge. After two days she couldn''t hold it in, amy longer, so she went to Penelope and confessed how she''d said the wrong thing and might have caused a falling-out between Anneliese and Jonathan. Penelope got worried and checked with the staff at the main house. The maids told her about Jonathan''s temper and how he grilled everyone the other day. Plus, the Holfs couldn''t get through to Jonathan, so they came straight to Derek and Penelope for help. That was how Penelope learned what really happened. Back when Jonathan got in trouble in Baytree, Penelope wasn''t even in Lunasia. Her own mother was seriously ill, and she''d been in Stravion with her. By the time her mother passed away and she returned to Lunasia, half a year had gone by. It had been months since the incident. All Penelope noticed was that her grandson had be withdrawn. She''d asked Derek about it, and he''d only mentioned Baytree¡ªnot Anneliese''s name. Penelope had no idea there was such a deep connection between Anneliese and Jonathan. She''d liked Anneliese from the start-she was sweet, gentle, and beautiful. And since Jonathan cared about her, that was good enough. She never expected there was so much more to the story. No wonder Jonathan had changed so much overnight. Jonathan gave a helplessugh when his grandmother caught on. "Grandma, did you just call to rub it in?" Penelope actuallyughed. "Anne isn''t with you right now, is she? Serves you right! you tried to hide something so big. That''s basically tricking her into marrying you. No wonder Anne is mad at you!" Chapter 589 Jonathan really didn''t know whether tough or cry. "Grandma, whose side are you on?" Penelope gave a little snort. "Of course I''m on Anne''s side. I''ve always liked that girl. Now that I know you lied to her and owe her so much, don''t even think about getting ahead of Anne in this house. You''d better have some self-awareness." Jonathan was speechless. Noticing the silence, Penelope spoke up again. "Why so quiet? Did your wife really leave you?" Jonathan felt like Penelope''s words had stabbed him in the chest like daggers. He loosened his tie and answered. "No, Anne loves me. We''re fine. But her grandmother found out about the incident and can''t ept me. Her health isn''t great, so she can''t take any more stress..." Penelope rolled her eyes when Jonathan spoke so confidently about Anneliese loving him. But since he seemed so sure, Penelope felt reassured that their rtionship hadn''t actually been affected. She smiled a little. She''d really been worried that Anneliese might leave Jonathan for good-he''d probably lose his mind. "It''s not strange that Anne''s grandmother can''t ept it. She lost her only daughter, after all. "These things can''t be rushed. Anne is close to her grandmother, and I am sure her grandmother cares deeply for her, too. Any grandparent just wants their grandchildren to be happy¡ªnothing else matters. "In time, her grandmother will understand. Be patient, and show her your sincerity. The most important thing is to show her how much you love Anne." After Penelope finished, Jonathan rxed a little. They exchanged a few more words, and he hung up. Penelope sat with her phone, then called a maid over. "Pack my suitcase. I''m going to Oceanton tomorrow." The maid answered right away and went to get the suitcase. Derek came in from outside and frowned when he saw what was happening. "Are you leaving me alone for the holidays again?" Penelope nced at Derek and waved for the maid not to worry about him. "Just go pack." Once the maid left for the closet, she said, "I''m going to Oceanton tomorrow." Derek''s frown deepened. "Why do you keep running off to Oceanton? I let you go before because you wanted to get some fresh air, but now the holidays aren''t even over. I don''t want you to go!" If she weren''t so old, Derek would have suspected she was hiding a lover there. Penelope and Derek had a fightst time because Derek was getting more stubborn with age. Now, hearing him refuse without even asking, she was in no mood to humor him. She''d already decided to go help her grandson, no matter what Derek thought. She fixed Derek with a look. "You do know the princess room next to Jonathan''s bedroom is for Anne, right?" Derek was thrown by the sudden change of subject, but he nodded. "Yeah, I know. Why?" Previously Jonathan had suddenly announced he was married but never brought his new wife home so Derek had already looked into Anneliese''s background. Jonathanter brought Anneliese home, so he and Derek had talked about it. Penelope snorted. "Great, so you two teamed up and kept it from me." When she realized that, she didn''t feel like going to Oceanton anymore. Derek was a little surprised to see Penelope upset. "Jonathan didn''t tell you? I thought he already did, so I never mentioned it to you." Penelope shot him a re. You old geezer, you sure are quick to throw your grandson under the bus when things get tough. She let it go, though, and just asked, "How did that fire start all those years ago? Did anyone ever figure it out?" Derek limped over and sat down on the couch, frowning at the question. "Why bring that up now?" "Anne''s grandmother won''t let your grandson be with Anne, and she''s dead set against it. If we don''t do something, your granddaughter-inw might walk away for good." Derek''s grip tightened on his cane. His voice sounded weary as he spoke, "When we visited Anne''s grandmother all those year ago she didn''t like us them. She''s stubborn as can be. Even after all these years, she still can''t let it go." C¨®ntent Chapter 590 Penelope shot him a re. "What are you even saying? She only has one daughter. She went through so much just to raise her. When a parent loses a child, it''s not something you can move on from, not even after decades." As a mother and grandmother herself, Penelope truly understood what Nishay was feeling. If she had been the greedy type, she would have found a way to demandpensation from the Fullbuster family, bleeding them dry. Honestly, just asking for a few million would set them up for life, and the Fullbuster family wouldn''t even refuse. But Anneliese''s grandmother was a tough one. Maybe she was a bit extreme or stubborn, but it only showed how deeply she cared. Penelope actually felt sorry for her. So when Penelope heard Nishay refused to acknowledge Anneliese''s rtionship with Jonathan, she didn''t feel offended or think she was being unreasonable. All she cared about was how to help her own grandson get this solved-she was hoping for Jonathan and Anneliese to give her a great-grandchild. Derek noticed Penelope''s re and just snorted. "That olddy is just being unreasonable. Jonathan wasn''t the one who killed her daughter! With everything Jonathan has going for him, why should she be so picky? Her granddaughter has been married before, and did Iin when Jonathan brought her home?" Penelope found his rant tiresome and waved him off. "That''s enough. What age are we in? So what if a woman''s been married before? That just means she has more life experience. I think you''re the one stuck in the past. Honestly, I can''t even talk sense into you. Just tell me, did they ever figure out what caused that fire all those years ago?" Derek''s grip on his cane tightened. "It''s been so many years. How would I remember? But it was just an ident." Penelope nodded and let it go. "I still haven''t bought my ticket to Oceanton. I''ll have someone get it for me." Derek said, "Book two." Penelope turned back in surprise. "You''reing too?" Derek stood up. "I want to see what''s so great about Oceanton that you keep running off there and never want toe home!" With that, he huffed out, leaning heavily on his cane. Penelope knew exactly what Derek meant he just didn''t want to be separated from her anymore. But after all these years, she knew he could never say anything nice. Stubbornness was just part of who he was. Penelope didn''t bother to argue with him. She just went off to arrange the tickets. Nishay only rested one night at Maple Bay before she had Anneliese take her back to the hospital. Before she left, she insisted that Anneliese take her bank card and withdraw some money to give to Maisie and her assistant. Anneliese didn''t dare argue and took her grandmother back to the hospital. After she settled all the paperwork for admission, she heard her grandmother say, "I don''t need you to stay with me Go back, Go back, pack you things, and move to Jess ce. Call me on video once you''re settled." Anneliese''s old apartment had already gone to Sylvia, and her grandmother wouldn''t let her live at Jonathan''s ce anymore. She suddenly had nowhere to stay. She told her grandmother she''d just crash with Jessica for a few days. Of course, she knew the whole video call thing was just her grandmother''s way of making sure she didn''t sneak back to Jonathan''s. Pushing down her frustration, Anneliese nodded. "Okay, I''ll call you once I''m moved in." She picked up her bag to leave, but her grandmother''s voice stopped her again. "Anne, don''t me me. I just can''t ept you two being together. Every time I see him, I remember the sight of your mother covered in blood back then. But it''s not just that, either. "You and Jonathan are from totally different worlds. Families like the Fullbusters are out of reach for people like us. "Zacharias was just the boss of a listedpany, yet Melody and Lenora already made things hard for you. Still, that''s nothingpared to a family with as much power as the Fullbusters. They''ve been established for generations. "They might seem kind and weing on the outside, but once you actually marry in, you''ll see the truth. "They may act like they ept you because your dad saved Jonathan, but in their hearts, will they see you as someone cashing in on a favor? What will outsiders think? "No one will say Jonathan married you for love, or that he married you because you''re outstanding¡ªthey''ll just say our family used your parents'' deaths tond this marriage. "Besides, Jonathan could have any woman he wants. Why is he so set on you, a divorc¨¦e? "Are you really sure it''s not out of guilt over what happened to your parents? Maybe he''s just trying to make things right. "But guilt is a double-edged sword. With so much baggage at the start, your rtionship is never going to be pure. Over time, his feelings will change The longer this goes on, the more things will fall apart between you." Chapter 591 Anneliese turned and looked at Nishay, who was slumped on the hospital bed, looking tired and worried. Nishay''s words had been earnest and heavy. There was truth in them. But... Jonathan had always been innocent. He never really did anything wrong. The only questionable thing he''d ever done was hide his identity when they first met. But even that wasn''t out of any bad intention. Whenever Anneliese thought about him, all she remembered was the way he always protected and supported her, as well as the endless patience he gave her... Even if he hid who he was, it was just because he was worried she''d refuse his help if she knew the truth. She couldn''t possibly turn around and me him for being deceitful after everything he''d done for her. That would just be selfish. Back when her grandma was dead set against their rtionship, she''d even thought about breaking up. She brought up the idea of taking a break. But the moment Jonathan disappeared, she was devastated and immediately regretted it. That''s when she realized she''d already fallen for him without even noticing. She didn''t want to just let him go and give up without a fight. Jonathan said what he felt for her wasn''t guilt or repayment. He said he knew exactly what true love was, and Anneliese chose to believe him. As for all that stuff her grandmother said about family status and outside opinions, she was willing to face them with Jonathan. After all, she''d dealt with plenty of rumors in her life already. She''d stopped caring so much about what people thought a long time ago. When she''d been with Zacharias, all the drama and finger-pointing left her feel unworthy and insecure. She always felt like she didn''t deserve him. She bent over backwards and swallowed her pride, thinking it would buy her a stable marriage, only to find out it was all a lie in the end. She would never make that mistake again! Jonathan''s every action told her she was worthy and enough. He had been the one helping her rediscover herself and be her best self. Her grandma might think she didn''t measure up to Jonathan, but she didn''t want his money or status. She was just as good as anyone else. He was the kind of partner who helped her learn to love herself. So far, Jonathan hadn''t let her down, and she wanted to do right by him, too. And if one day, he did hurt her or disappoint her, she was sure she''d have the courage to start over. Like Jessica said, she was only 23 years old. She had plenty of time to make mistakes. If she did end up divorcing Jonathan, maybe she''d even vel be the richest woman around thanks to a settlement What did she have to fear? Of course, these were all things she could never say to Nishay. For one, she''d already told her grandma she and Jonathan had broken up. She couldn''t tell if Nishay was baiting her to admit the truthy and then would blow up at her. And even if she tried to exin now, Nishay wouldn''t listen. So Anneliese simply walked back to the bed, gently took her grandma''s thin, cold hand, and tucked it under the nket. She said softly, "Grandma, I hear you. I''ll really think about what you said. I''m not mad at you, I promise. You have to promise me you''ll take care of yourself, too and stop worrying so much." If she had gotten emotional and argued, Nishay would have worried she hadn''t listened at all. But seeing Anneliese stay so calm and say she''d think it over, Nishay finally rxed a little. She nodded. "As long as you understand how much I care." After leaving the hospital, Anneliese returned to Maple Bay, packed up two suitcases, and wheeled them to the door. "Meatloaf? Come on out." She called out, but Meatloaf seemed to know something was up. She crouched inside the door, refusing toe out. Anneliese turned and called again, but Meatloaf went from crouching to lying down, tucking her head in. She clearly wasn''t going anywhere. "Meatloaf,e on. If you keep this up, I''ll leave without you." She tugged on her leash, and finally Meatloaf lifted her head and gave her two low whimpers. She looked just like a kid with divorced parents. She was scared that leaving home meant nevering back. Anneliese suddenly felt her eyes sting. She set her suitcase down, crouched beside her, and patted her head. She murmured, "We''re only leaving for a little while. I''m not really breaking up with him." Of course, Meatloaf couldn''t understand. Instead, she bit Anneliese''s pants leg and pulled back, as if trying to drag her back inside. She might be an old dog, but she still had plenty of strength. Chapter 592 Anneliese let herself be dragged down into a crouch and shuffled forward a few steps before finally caving in. "When we get to Jess'' ce, I''ll video call Jonathan so you can ask him yourself, okay?" Clearly, Meatloaf trusted Jonathan more than her. Whether Meatloaf really understood this time or just heard Jonathan''s name and got the idea, it worked. Meatloaf wagged his tail and let go of Anneliese''s pants. Anneliese was left speechless, but at least she finally managed to coax the dog out the door. She dragged her suitcase and led the dog, feeling unreasonably frustrated and restless. Suddenly, she felt like she really was at the bottom of the food chain, forced to be everyone''s emotional support. Her grandma needed her tofort her, Jonathan needed her to reassure him, and now even Meatloaf had to be cajoled. But who''s going to cheer me up? Anneliese stepped out of the elevator, only to spot a familiar face heading toward her. It was Zaxton. "Mrs. Fullbuster, Mr. Fullbuster sent me to help you move. I''ll take care of the luggage. Just keep an eye on Meatloaf." Zaxton stepped up and took both heavy suitcases from her hands. "How did he know?" Anneliese was genuinely surprised. She hadn''t told Jonathan she was moving out of Maple Bay. So how did Jonathan know, and why did he send Zaxton to wait for her? Zaxton hurried to exin, "Mrs. Fullbuster, don''t get the wrong idea. Since you didn''t like me following you, Mr. Fullbuster had already told me to go home. But after you sent Dr. Landis and the others away this morning, she told Mr. Fullbuster that your grandma had gone back to the hospital. "That''s when Mr. Fullbuster figured your grandma must have learned the apartment belonged to him. Since she wouldn''t want to stay here anymore, she''d definitely want you to move too, so he told me to wait here and give you a hand if you moved." Anneliese didn''t reply for a moment, but all her frustration faded away. She felt a little pathetic-Jonathan didn''t even have to show up in person, and she was already in a better mood. Once in the car, Meatloaf seemed to catch Jonathan''s scent and got all excited, thumping his paws on Anneliese''s leg as if urging her to start a video call. Anneliese took out her phone and dialed Jonathan. He answered almost instantly. Anneliese was caught off guard. She stared for a second, and Jonathan smiled, "What''s with that face? Did you get so into character that you your husband Before she should respond, Meatloaf shoved his head into the frame, bumping Anneliese aside, and panted happily at the screen. Jonathan blinked, and suddenly his beautiful wife was gone-reced by a big, silly dog. He frowned, raising his voice, "Meatloaf, down! You''re blocking my wife!" Meatloaf whimpered, feeling wronged. Jonathan was so harsh. She was heartbroken. She had lost all love for him! But dogs are born to obey, so Meatloaf slumped down onto the carpet. Anneliese saw the dog hanging her head and shot Jonathan a reproachful look. "You''re too rough on Meatloaf. She wouldn''t evene out earlier, and only agreed when I said we were going to see you." Jonathan lifted his brows. "Alright, I hear you. I apologize to Meatloaf, officially." Anneliese bent down and patted Meatloaf''s head. "Did you hear that, Meatloaf?" She even aimed the phone at the dog, but Meatloaf just twisted around andy down with her back to the camera. Anneliese finally turned the camera back to herself. "She''s mad at you." Jonathan grinned. "Please, Mrs. Fullbuster, put in a good word for me." Noticing his background was clearly the office, Anneliese was surprised. "You''re at work? Aren''t you going back to Halden?" The holidays weren''t even over, and the CEO was already back at thepany- she almost pitied the staff at AeroAir. Jonathan didn''t want to work overtime either, but he couldn''t stand being alone in that big, empty vi at the Banyans. His grandma had already told him she''d bought a ticket to Oceanton and was flying in soon. So he had no ns to go back to Halden-since he couldn''t be with his sweet wife, the holidays lost their charm. He''d gotten plenty of invitations, but none interested him. He truly had no idea what else to do but work. "Oh, I already booked a flight for Carter. He''s on his way to Oceanton, and he will check on your grandma at the hospital when hends. Don''t worry too much." Chapter 593 Anneliese hesitated. "Wouldn''t it be too much trouble for Dr. Chevalier? My grandma''s condition actually seems pretty stable. It doesn''t feel right to bother him during the holidays." "It''s fine. He''s just happy to have an excuse to get out of the house and avoid his family pressuring him to get married. Coming to Oceanton is a relief for him," Jonathan lied with a straight face. Anneliese smiled a little. "Thank you." Her grandma had been so harsh to him, yet he never showed any resentment. Instead, he''d quietly taken care of everything for her. She really didn''t know what else to say besides thank you. But saying thank you felt way too formal. With their rtionship in such a sensitive ce, Jonathan would definitely get the wrong idea if she put it that way. Jonathan watched her gentle expression on the screen for a while before his lips curved up. "Just don''t run away at thest second again. That''s the best thank you you could give me." Anneliese red. "We''ll see how you behave!" Jonathan made a "got it" gesture, and both of them ended upughing. After the call ended, Jonathan felt great. But before he could even put down his phone, the group chat notifications kept popping up. Carter, who''d just been forced onto a ne, wasining nonstop about how Jonathan made him travel to Oceanton during the holidays. Jonathan scrolled through the chat, skipping Carter''sints and jumping to the newest messages. "Jonny the Scoundrel finally got his wife back, and it''s all thanks to me!" Jonathan tapped the screen slowly. "Who are you calling Jonny the Scoundrel?" Carter immediately backed down. "Everyone, check out how desperate someone looks when he''s begging for help!" He made sure to tag Zane and Joel as well. Zane was quick to jump in for the fun. "Jonathan, beg nicely, and I''ll get my girl to put in a good word for you." Jonathan remembered Jessica''s pregnancy and stared at Zane''s avatar, thinking about what he''d overheard in Halden the other day. "Who says she''s your girl? I heard you''re about to get engaged, and your fianc¨¦e doesn''t get along with my wife at all." Everyone knew the Shaymans and the Malones were nning a marriage alliance, and Zane had been dragged to a movie date with Gianna by the elders on New Year''s Day. Gianna had been into Zane for ages-everyone knew it. Jonathan brought it up on purpose, giving Zane a little warning. Things were tense enough on his side. If Zane started drama with Jessica now, Jonathan would definitely get caught in the crossfire. "What engagement? News to me. Jonathan, since when do you just believe rumors?" "They better be rumors. Just saying, you''d better handle things right, or you''ll regret it." Jessica was pregnant, and if things blew up, someone could really get hurt. Jonathan was hinting at Zane to be careful. Zane looked at Jonathan''s texts, reading between the lines, and replied only after looking them over twice. "Since when do you care so much about my love life?" "Don''t tter yourself. My wife is living with Jessica now, so don''t upset her. It''ll affect my wife." Zane was speechless. He immediately sympathized with Carter. Who let this lovesick fool into our group chat? Joel, who''d just been lurking, finally chimed in. "Mr. Fullbuster, I have a new nursing home project. Want to hear about it? I think it''d be perfect for Anneliese''s grandma." "Send me the details." "You got it!" Joel was all smiles, thinking a lovesick buddy was great for business-get on his good side, and you can start the year off strong with new deals. Joel was happy. Carter was not. Gritting his teeth, he changed the group chat name to "Jonny the Scoundrel''s Wife-Chasing Club." Meanwhile, over at the Shaw Residence, Melody was in a panic. Ever since Zacharias told her Roretha was under, Jonathan''s control, she had been able to calm down. She reached out to several old acquaintances, trying to find out what had happened to Roretha. The word was that Roretha''s whole family had been picked up in a luxury car just before the holidays. No one knew what connections she''d pulled. Melody felt a chill run through her. There was no way to rx now. She could already picture herself on trial for murder, with the judge sentencing her to life in prison. That was absolutely not going to happen. She''d worked so hard to see her son be a big shot. She hadn''t even enjoyed her good life yet. Prison was out of the question. The police wouldn''t just take Roretha''s word for it. They''d need real evidence. There was no way they had it¡ªbut Jonathan always found a way. If he''d managed to track Roretha down after all these years, what if he had more evidence? Or just made some up Zacharias was made na?ve onathan had used his influence before, keeping hecand Lenora locked up for days without proof. For a guy like him, forging evidence was child''s y. She absolutely could not just sit around and wait. The more Melody thought about it, the more terrified she became¡ªuntil a dangerous idea started to form in her mind. Chapter 594 Melody thought it over. It didn''t matter whether Roretha had actually seen her back then or if Jonathan had paid her off to say so. If Roretha disappeared for good, then her problems would be solved once and for all. It was risky, and she knew snatching someone from Jonathan wouldn''t be easy, but she had no choice. Last time, she and Lenora had only upset Anneliese''s grandmother enough tond her in surgery, and Jonathan wanted both of them in prison for it. Back when Nak died, it had been two lives lost. If Melody were convicted for that, the lightest sentence would be manughter. Still, Melody had the recklessness of someone who didn''t know any better. Once she made up her mind, she figured Jonathan was just a guy in his twenties. If she spent enough on some pros to tail him and track down Roretha, she could handle the rest. A cold look shed in Melody''s eyes as she sprang into action. She gathered up her savings. On top of that, she even packed up the clothes, purses, and jewelry she''d gotten Anneliese to buy for her over the years, ready to sell everything for cash. What she didn''t know was that Jonathan already had people watching her every move. As soon as she reached out to a reseller with her armfuls of luxury goods, word got back to Jonathan. "Mr. Fullbuster, what''s up with Melody? Do you think she''s selling everything so that she can run off to another country?" Zion guessed. Jonathan gave a littleugh. "She barely finished middle school, and she has no connections or experience to survive overseas. Leaving the country? She wouldn''tst a day. Besides, she''d never give up all herfort and risk not being able toe back to Lunasia." He bet Melody still thought she could get a light sentence for what happened to Nishay, and that Zacharias could pull some strings to get her probation-then she could go back to living in luxury. Zion caught on right away. "She must be trying to find Roretha and shut her up for good." Honestly, Melody''s got guts. She actually thinks she can kill someone right under Mr. Fullbuster''s nose. She must have a death wish. She really is vicious, too. Mrs. Fullbuster''s adoptive mother and Melody used to be neighbors. Mrs. Fullbuster treated Melody so well, only to be killed by her in the end. Maybe Mr. Fullbuster always knew Melody would try something like this, which is why he baited Zacharias in the first ce. As Zion was thinking all that, Jonathan gave an order. "When the timees, leak Roretha''s location to her. Make it obvious enough, but don''t spook her before we catch her." "Got it, Mr. Fullbuster. Don''t worry, we''ll catch her red-handed. There''s no way she''ll talk her way out of this." There had never been hard evidence against Melody for her crimes back then, but her guilty conscience was about to do her in¡ªshe''d deliver the proof herself. Days passed in a blur as the holidays came and went. Anneliese hadn''t seen Jonathan in days¡ªnot that she really had a chance. Before, Nishay always worried about getting in the way of her work and life, so she''d assure her that the caretakers and nurses were taking great care of her and there was nothing to worry about. Whenever Anneliese came to the hospital, Nishay would urge her to leave early. Buttely, Nishay said caretakers cost too much during the holidays, and she could take care of herself. Anneliese knew exactly what was going on. Her grandmother just wanted to keep her close and watch over her personally. She didn''t confront her about it. Instead, she yed along-staying in the hospital all day so Nishay could see she really had split with Jonathan and finally rest easy. It worked out, since Anneliese''s nextpetition wasing up after the new year, and she needed some quiet time. She spent her days in the hospital room, typing proposals on herptop or scribbling notes on thick printouts, barely saying a word all day. Nishay sometimes looked at her with aplicated expression and let out a sigh. But she figured since Anneliese and Jonathan couldn''t be together, it was better to end things quickly rather than drag them out. She had no ns to change her mind. One day, Jessica stopped by to visit Nishay. After chatting for a bit, Anneliese walked her out. Nishay was tired from lying in bed all day, so she gathered a basket of fruit to take to the nurses'' station. There was just too much fruit, and she didn''t want it to go to waste. But before she got close, she overheard a group of nurses chatting away. "What''s the story with Dr. Chevalier and that olddy in Room 1223? Even during the holidays, he keepsing by to check on her himself." "Yeah, I''ve been wondering about that too. mean, it''s Dr. Chevalier for god''s sake. Someone of his caliber barely sets foot in the hospital two or three times a year, and now he''s here all the time..." Chapter 595 "Is Dr. Chevalier dating that olddy''s granddaughter? I saw them walking together twice, and they really looked good together!" "No way! Dr. Chevalier is single, and he isn''t courting Ms. ude either. I even heard him call Ms. ude'' Mrs. Fullbuster'' or something." ... Nishay''s expression changed after overhearing their conversation. She turned around and went back into the hospital room. Up until now, she''d left everything to Anneliese, letting her handle the doctors and all the arrangements. She had no idea Carter was some kind of medical big shot and always thought he was just a young, regr doctor at the hospital. "Come with me tonight, okay? I need some backup," Jessica pleaded, holding Anneliese''s hand. She was there to visit Nishay, but also to talk to Anneliese about something important. Zane arrived in Oceanton today, and Jessica was finally ready to tell him about the baby in person, but he had ns for dinner with friends and wanted Jessica toe along. Jessica agreed, but she was still nervous, so she begged Anneliese toe, too. "Of course I''ll go with you," Anneliese promised right away. She saw Jessica off, then turned back toward Nishay''s hospital room. She had just reached the door when she saw Cartering out, looking frustrated. "What''s wrong? Is it Grandma..." Seeing his expression, Anneliese started to worry, thinking Nishay''s condition had worsened. Carter shrugged. "Your grandma''s fine. I just got rejected as her doctor, which is a first for me." It was quite an unusual situation for him. He was used to people begging him for a consult or surgery. He had never had a patient refuse him and request someone else. Anneliese was stunned. Clearly, Nishay had figured out that Carter was her attending physician because of Jonathan. Anneliese gave Carter an apologetic smile. "Sorry, my grandma''s been in a moodtely. If she said anything harsh, I apologize for her." Carter shook his head. "Not at all. Actually, she was too polite-she kept thanking me and saying she didn''t want to trouble me any further." He''d treated her for a while, and because of Jonathan, he''d alwamet been extra patient and attentive. Nishay had ever liked him Theyd gotten along fine until today Just now, she had kept insisting she didn''t want to trouble him anymore, even apologizing for the inconvenience. This olddy is tough to deal with. She seems determined to break up the lovebirds. I''m worried for Jonathan. He used to watch Jonathan and Anneliese together and think they looked sweet enough to make anyone want to fall in love. Now, with Nishay in the mix, all the romantic feelings had fizzled out. Romance is never easy. Best for me to stay out of it. Yet, he had never imagined Jonathan and Anneliese would end up as star-crossed lovers. He wondered how long this drama would drag on. I wish I knew how Jonathan nned to fix things. Anneliese managed another apologetic smile. "We''ll switch her to a different doctor. Thanks for everything. Grandma''s stable now anything changes I''ll let you! know. If Let me take you to dinner sometime to thank you." Carter lowered his voice as he nced toward the hospital room. "If it''s just you, I''d better not. Jonathan would have my head if he found out." Anneliese whispered back, "He''lle with me." He raised an eyebrow, ready to agree, but the door opened just then. Nishay stood there, stone-faced, watching them. Anneliese wondered if she''d overheard, her heart pounding, but their voices had been so low-she probably hadn''t heard. In a sh, Annelieseposed herself and helped Nishay back inside the room. Nishayy down, but kept her eyes locked on Anneliese. While Anneliese poured water, she suddenly heard Nishay asking, "When did you and Jonathan start seeing each other?" Anneliese frowned. "Why bring that up again? We''re not together anymore. It doesn''t matter now." "Doesn''t matter? Just tell me the truth. Were you with Jonathan before your divorce from Zacharias? Was he the reason you left Zacharias?" Chapter 596 Anneliese''s hand shook, causing the hot water to spill and ssh across the back of her hand. She didn''t register the sting. Instead, she just stared at Nishay in disbelief, her eyes taking in Nishay''s harsh re. "Grandma, what are you saying? You think I cheated with Jonathan while I was still married?" she asked tremulously, barely able to keep her voice steady. Her grandmother replied icily, "Jonathan hired Dr. Chevalier to treat me. However, you were still living with Zacharias when I had my first surgery." "Grandma, you knew Zacharias was the one who cheated on me! We were already divorced then! I only moved back in with him because I was afraid the truth would upset you. "I pretended we were still happily married so you wouldn''t be rolled into the operating room in despair! Jonathan''s a good and honest man. He didn''t do all these things just to get into your good graces. "How could you see plots when there aren''t any when ites to him? How could you demean him like that? Our rtionship is one built out of genuine respect and love!" Anneliese''s emotions were aplete mess in the face of Nishay''s suspicions. s, Nishay wasn''t the least bit convinced as her eyes only sharpened in displeasure. "Are you trying to tell me that I''m the viin of your love story? Is that it? You two never did end things, did you? Let me guess, you regret listening to me, too. "You also wish that an old maniptive crone like me, the same old fart who has ruined your wonderful love life, would just die on the operating table too, didn''t you?" Nishay''s usations felt like a stab through Anneliese''s heart. She had never imagined Nishay would humiliate her like this. Her eyes turned red-rimmed. "Grandma, calm down. You know what? Let''s all take a quick break." She turned to leave before she could do or say something she''d regret. However, she had just ced her hand on the doorknob when she heard a heavy thuding from behind her. Anneliese immediately spun around, her face turning stark white. Nishay had fallen from the hospital bed as she clutched her chest with a grimace. "Grandma!" Anneliese rushed to help her up before frantically pressing the call button. Nishay weakly pushed her hand away from the remote and leaned back onto the bed. "I''m fine. Don''t bother the doctor. I just got anxious when you were leaving, so I fell." Anneliese''s nose stung when she heard that. Her hurt and anger slowly ebbing away as sheid her eyes on Nishay''s pallid face. "The doctor still has to give you a quick checkup regardless of whether your heart''s working fine. What if you hurt something?" "I''ll be fine as long as you aren''t angry with me." Anneliese fell silent. Nishay noticed and let out a weary sigh. "I got worked up and ran my mouth. Your parents raised you well. How could I not know that? I was there when you were toddling around and now... "Now, you''re a grown woman. I know exactly what kind of person you are. I was too harsh on you." Nishay lowered her head and apologized. The guilt in Anneliese''s chest only grew heavier. She shouldn''t have argued with Nishay. After all, her health was frail, and she had a good reason to resent Jonathan''s family. So, she leaned gently into Nishay''s embrace just like she used to when she was a child. "Then, I should apologize too. I shouldn''t have argued or said those hurtful things in a fit of anger. I''ll be good and listen to you." Nishay ran her fingers through Anneliese''s hair. "Will you really listen to me?" "Yes." Anneliese nodded. Then, Nishay immediately said, "Good. Then, you should divorce Jonathan. I want to see the papers once you have them." Anneliese froze. The warmth she''d felt from moments ago evaporated instantly. Her nails dug into her palm as she slowly raised her head to look at Nishay. "Grandma, is this really necessary?" "You said you''ve already ended things, remember? If that''s the case, you might as well legalize it. Get the divorce," Nishay insisted, meeting her gaze with a resolute one. Anneliese''s face turned pale. Suddenly, she felt a wave of bone-deep weariness threatening to drown her. Her lips trembled, her throat constricted with all the words she couldn''t say. She couldn''t bring herself to lie to Nishay, but she also couldn''t ask Jonathan for a divorce. It didn''t even matter whether he would agree with it because she knew he wouldn''t. Just then, someone knocked on the door. She immediately jerked to her feet, grateful for the timely interruption. "I''ll get it." She hurried to the door and opened it. s, her blood froze in her veins when she saw the people standing outside, her heart clenching in fear and anxiety. It was Penelope and Derek. They had also brought their chauffeur, who was holding several gift bags in his arms. "Old Mr. and Mrs. Fullbuster, what brings you here?" She was caught off guard as her nerves pulled taut. Penelope recognized that she was being mindful of Nishay, who was still being hospitalized. So, she didn''t mind the distant way Anneliese was addressing her Instead she looked at Anneliese with sorrow and heartache. "Anne, how are you so skinny after just a few days? Have you not been eating while you''re taking care of your grandmother, she crooned Softly as she took Anneliese''s hand in hers. Anneliese winced, finally feeling the sting from the burn when it was touched. Penelope''s eyes instantly shot to her hand. Chapter 597 "How did this happen?" "It''s nothing. I got clumsy and some of the hot water sshed on my hand," Anneliese exined as she squeezed a lighthearted smile on her face. Penelope saw right through her. "You still have to treat it properly." Then, she turned to the chauffeur and ordered, "Walter, take her to the burns and trauma unit to get it checked out." So, he quickly set the gift bags aside and said to Anneliese, "Mrs. Fullbuster, shall we?" Anneliese instinctively shot a nervous look at Nishay when he addressed her as "Mrs. Fullbuster." To her surprise, Nishay didn''t even flinch. It seemed that Penelope and Derek''s arrival had settled her somehow, as she didn''t get agitated. Instead, she even nodded at Anneliese and said, "You should''ve told me that you''re hurt. You should go and get it treated." Unfortunately, Anneliese only grew more anxious in the face of Nishay''s odd calm. If anything, she wanted to stay right here to prevent them from arguing. Penelope knew what she was worried about. So, she gave her a reassuring smile and patted her arm gently. "Go on, it''s fine. We only want to have a quick chat with your grandmother. You have nothing to worry about. You''re a pretty girl. Yet, look at you now, wasting your looks with that frown on your face." She even reached out to pinch Anneliese''s cheek lightly, teasing her. Anneliese flushed with embarrassment. She cupped her jaw and thought to herself, My chin does feel sharper... Maybe I really have lost weight. It was only to be expected since she had been running herself ragged as she cared for Nishay and prepared herself for thepetition. She hadn''t had any time to rx for quite some time now. She didn''t even have time to process her trauma after getting abducted because Nishay found out about her and Jonathan. She was on the verge of a meltdown, but she''d been able to keep standing strong. Yet, she found herself feeling the burdens weighing her down as she met Penelope''s warm and motherly gaze. Honestly, she hadn''t realized that Penelope, of all people, would be the first to notice the chink in her armor. She also never expected that Penelope would offer such gentlefort. A sense of warmth surged through her veins. She was so dazed with it that she didn''t even realize when her feet had taken her away from the ward. It was strange, but she trusted Penelope. Penelope was kind, wise, and steady. She would never be the source of tension between two families. In fact, she might even be able to mend things. "I''ll get this burn treated, then." After Anneliese left with the chauffeur, Penelope finally turned to Nishay with a gentle smile on her face. "We''re Jonathan''s grandparents. We should''ve visited you years ago, but... we couldn''t. I apologize for being so rude anding here unannounced." Penelope had been abroad when the ude family was struck with tragedy. At the time, Derek himself was also overwhelmed with Fullbuster Group affairs. Back then Fu Sheng and Elizabeth were the ones who had been by Jonathan''s side in Baytree. They''d been the ones apanying him until the end of the funeral, when Derek and Penelope had been away. us Nishay''s face turned cold as she forced out the words, spitting, "The Fullbuster family is a prestigious household. People as lowly as could never dream of such honor. You didn''t show yourselves back then, so there''s no need for any of that now. "I appreciate the thought, but please take your gifts and leave." Derek frowned. He rarely experienced such a cold reception after climbing up to the top. He was just about to respond when Penelope subtly nudged him to keep his mouth shut. Before they came here, she''d repeatedly warned him, If you get worked up, just think about our future great-grandchildren. Don''t you dare speak unless absolutely necessary. We''re here to help Jonathan, not make things worse. So, Derek pursed his lips and forced himself to stay silent. Penelope promptly took the lead as she started, "What happened back then was a tragedy. My husband and I deeply regret not being there and are profoundly grateful for everything you did. "We should have gone to Baytree ourselves to offer our condolences. However, my mother was stuck abroad and critically ill while Derek had been busy chasing the sharks away from thepany. "Regardless, it is undeniably our fault for not affording the ude family the most basic respect. However, perhaps our rtionship as future inws is a chance for our families to make amends." Her words were sincere and respectful. It genuinely sounded like she meant every word from her lips. s, Nishay wasn''t buying any of it as she cut her off, "Please stop. Old Mrs. Fullbuster, my family is of humble stock. We could never dream of bing inws with the Fullbuster family. "Also, Anne has already promised me she would divorce your grandson. So, all talk of being inws should end here." Derek could no longer restrain himself as he barked coldly, "She wants a divorce?" His expression darkened, and it was clear for all to see that he was immensely offended. Nishay knew what he was thinking. He felt snubbed. Of course, he did. In his eyes, the ud family''s end might be tragic, but it also meant that it was their fate to die. Derek was a wealthy man who had power right at his fingertips. So, why would he ever care about their pains and hurts? Chapter 598 In Derek''s eyes, Anneliese should be thankful that Jonathan fancied her, giving her the chance to marry into the Fullbuster family. So, how could Anneliese even think about bringing up divorce? Nishay felt the knot in her heart ease upon sighting the scowl of displeasure on Derek''s face. So, she nodded and said, "I raised my darling Anne to be a loyal and filial child. She will always listen to me. I don''t care what you think, but it''s a fact that Jonathan''s the reason why the ude family is in shambles. "Frederick wouldn''t have died if he hadn''t gone out of his way to save Jonathan. My daughter and unborn grandchild certainly wouldn''t have lost their lives if Frederick were still here. Anne has never been an ungrateful child, so she''ll always remember that. "Jonathan and Anneliese aren''tpatible, so you should leave and forget that any of this has ever happened." Derek felt his frustration build in the face of Nishay''s unrelenting demeanor. "Marriage isn''t a game. Fullbuster Group has already announced that Jonathan is now a married man since their marriage. How could they end their marriage so carelessly? "Do you even remember the principles of being a firefighter''s family when you said your piece?" Nishay knew what Derek was implying. He was upset because he feared the Fullbuster family name would be tarnished and that Jonathan''s reputation and future would be affected once they went through with the divorce. She should have known. Businessmen were basically coyotes in suits. Why would he even care about Anneliese and her feelings? Did he even see her as his granddaughter-inw? So, her lips pulled into a frown. "Anne won''t take a single dime from your family. The Fullbuster family didn''t publicly acknowledge her anyway, so you have nothing to fear. "Since it''s been kept under wraps, the Fullbuster family wouldn''t take a hit. If you''re truly worried about your family''s reputation, then just find Jonathan a wealthy heiress and register their marriage. "I''m sure when that happened, no one would know that you guys have pulled a switcheroo." Derek sneered and parted his lips to speak. He was just about to say that Nishay raised a good point and that there were plenty of wealthy socialites lining up to marry Jonathan when Penelope nudged him. Then, she interjected, "Why don''t you check on Anne and see whether her hand''s alright? I''d like to speak with Nishay privately." Penelope knew right then that she really should''ve gone with her gut earlier. Derek was only going to make things worse if he stayed here! Honestly, why did she even say yes to him apanying her to Oceaton? Anneliese was slipping through their fingers, and he couldn''t even get his priorities straight! Was the Fullbuster family''s image more important right now? No! Derek didn''t want to leave. After all, he had never suffered such indignities until today. So, he certainly couldn''t just swallow his pride and sweep things under the rug. However, Penelope was already ring at him, making him hesitate as he recalled how she''d left for Oceaton for nearly half a year after they fought. She''d even refused to return to Halden! She was getting even more short-tempered with her age. So, he was well aware that she would likely get the earliest ticket abroad and never return if he ruined this for Jonathan. In the end, Derek hobbled off huffily, his cane thumping against the ground as he vented his anger. Penelope watched him leave, only letting out a sigh once he was truly out of sight. Then, she massaged her legs and joked, "I hope you don''t hold this against me, but my old bones aren''t what they used to be. So, standing for so long has really worn me out." Nishay didn''t have the heart to rebuff her when she saw the sweat on Penelope''s brow. So, she nced at the couch across the hospital bed and gestured. "Sit." However, Penelope didn''t choose the couch. Instead, she opted to drag a chair over to the bedside before sitting down. "Jonathan suddenly fell ill after the funeral. He had a high fever that refused to break. The doctors said it was the fear and guilt that were causing this. "He was given antipyretic injections for two to three days, but his temperature still wouldn''t go down. Jonathan refused to leave Baytree, so Derek took a private jet overnight to drag him back. "When the fever finally subsided, Jonathan got out of bed, knelt in front of his grandfather, and begged him to adopt Anne. He even asked us to bring you to Halden soyou''d be able to livefortably. "I''m not telling you this for brownie points. I just want you to know that Jonathan had also suffered when tragedy befell the ude family. He wa?nice spectator, he was a vid vietim, too. So, why cant we move beyond past pains and live in the future? "The dead can never return. Anne''s parents were such kind people. I believe they''d rather the ude and Fullbuster families be friends because of them and not end up like this." Penelope''s words struck a chord in Nishay. Her hands, hidden under the nket, slowly balled into fists as her chest heaved with emotion. After a long time, she finally choked out hoarsely, "It''s easy for you to say. You weren''t the one who lost your family overnight." Penelope sighed inwardly. She had expected a response like that. Jonathan would''ve had this handled if Nishay could be easily swayed. Instead, it''s been nearly six months, and they were still stuck in this negative loop. Nishay was suffering from a pain that was etched into her soul. Time might be able to heal all wounds, but it also ran the chance of turning them into a festering wound that could never be touched. It wouldn''t be easy for Nishay to forgive or forget. Penelope only curled her lips into a gentle smile. I really do like Anne. She''s perceptive, brave, kind, gentle, smart loyal and proud in all the right ways Youtaised her well she''s a perfect match for my aloof and workaholic grandson. "Jonathan hit the jackpot with her." Nishay wasn''t about to soften so quickly. "You shouldn''t joke about things like this, Old Mrs. Fullbuster. Jonathan is a lucky star, whom even God wanted to save. How could a man like that have ws? "Anne just isn''t a good fit for him." Chapter 599 Nishay''s cold demeanor didn''t bother Penelope. She had met too many people and endured too many things in her life to flinch at something like this. Besides, a little barb here and there was nothing if Jonathan and Anneliese could be happy. So, she beamed and said, "I''m d you don''t dislike Jonathan for his ws." Besides, she also got something out of this. Nishay had no other objections to Jonathan aside from the fact that Frederick lost his life to save him. That was one silver lining they could use. Although Nishay was far from an enthusiastic conversationalist, Penelope wasn''t deterred as she continued, "Speaking of Jonathan... You probably think he wanted for nothing growing up. You''d be right about that. "However, his parents were stuck in an unhappy marriage, and he was raised in that environment. Derek and I ended up raising him. You''ve seen how my husband is. He''s strict, harsh, and prideful to the bone. "Jonathan never had much of a carefree childhood because of that. Naturally, he became quiet and withdrawn. Back then, I wanted his parents to reconcile, so I suggested they take him on a trip. "Jonathan was reluctant to go, but I persuaded him to be the mediator between his troublesome parents. Being the good, filial child he was, he agreed. Who knew those two idiots couldn''t even look after their own son properly? "And then the tragedy happened... So, I share some of that responsibility too." Nishay''s eyelids fluttered. She hadn''t expected Jonathan to have grown up in such a household. Unbidden, an image flickered in her mind of the teenage Jonathan she had seen in passing. She remembered how pale he was and how his straight-backed posture only highlighted how thin he was. He''d been so withdrawn with his head lowered as he stood to the side. She saw no trace of an arrogant scion in him. She scowled and forced herself not to dwell on it. However, Penelope noticed the change in her. So, she gently held her hand and earnestly added, "Nishay, if you must me someone, then me me instead. We''re already in our twilight years. We can handle the lemons life throws at us." "Meanwhile, our grandchildren are just starting out. The decision we make will affect their happiness for the next 50 to 60 years. What if we ruin that for them because of our stubbornness? "We already have so many regrets in life. Don''t you think we should try our best not to add on to that pile, especially when it affects our grandchildren?" Anneliese didn''t go to the burn unit. She just asked a nurse for some burn ointment and applied it to her hand before rushing back to Nishay''s ward. When she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Derek leaning on his cane, staring boredly at an emergency-aid poster on the wall. Anneliese quickly approached him. "What are you doing here, Old Mr. Fullbuster?" Derek turned his head to look at her, his cheek twitching. "What did you just call me? Did Jonathan pocket the gifts I sent when you got married? What happened to ''Grandpa''?" Anneliese remembered the night Jonathan brought her back to Oceaton. It was very memorable as he had handed her a mountain of pricey gifts to sort and organize. He had said they were newlywed gifts, New Year gifts, and other knick-knacks from his family. Back then, she assumed that he was still pining over his first love and suspected that she was just a recement for that first lo So, she used Nishay as an excuse to decline the gifts. However, she knew what Derek was trying to say. So, she corrected herself and murmured, "Grandpa." Only then did Derek nod in satisfaction as Anneliese offered an arm out to him, tentatively inquiring, "Why are you out here alone? Did my grandmother say something ng unpleasant to you? '' "She''s been in the hospital and hasn''t been in a good mood. If she¡ª" Derek cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Your father is Jonathan''s savior. She can say whatever she wants, and we won''t take offense. The Fullbuster family isn''t filled with ungrateful beasts. We can be patient. Rx." Anneliese hadn''t expected Derek tofort her. She could tell Derek wasn''t very satisfied with her when Jonathan brought her to the Fullbuster Residence. She wasn''t the granddaughter-inw he wanted. Derek had given ve Jonathan a call before they even went to the Fullbuster Residence. She hadn''t heard the entire conversation, but she''d heard enough to know that he was displeased with her. Honestly, she was already shocked that they would even deign to visit Nishay. So, she genuinely didn''t expect Derek to be this nice to her. He snorted when he saw the wide-eyed look on her face. "You don''t have to look so shocked. Jonathan got into a fight with me and said that he will never take anyone but you as his wife in this lifetime. What else was I supposed to do?" Anneliese''s eyes widened further, her lips parting in astonishment. She could feel her face exploding with embarrassment. Did he really say that? How could he say something like that? Derek might think she was some vixen who''d enthralled him! "I-I didn''t think..." she stammered, unable toe up with a proper response. Derek''s expression hardened as he interrupted her. Chapter 600 "How could you not know this would happen?" Anneliese felt the heat leeching off her face. Oh, God. He looks pissed. Before she could start spiraling, he suddenly said something that she never sawing. "You must believe that it happened!" "Huh?" Anneliese couldn''t keep up. Derek patted her arm, not at all shy about spelling things out for her as he continued, "Jonathan is never one for frivolous words. He always says what he means and means what he says. "He ispletely devoted to you and only you. You need to trust him! You can''t just run away and hide because of a little bump in the road. You''ll only hurt him that way. "You''ll also disappoint both Penelope and me. Do you understand?" Anneliese nodded resolutely under Derek''s searching gaze. "I understand, Grandpa." "Good. I always knew you were the sensible sort." Derek patted her arm again. He''d had his grief when it came to Anneliese, but that was all in the past. After all, she was legally married to Jonathan, which makes her one of them. Her identity as the Fullbuster family''s granddaughter-inw was written in ck and white. So, they shouldn''t be wasting their time with internal conflict. Instead, they should be pointing their swords at their enemies, together. Besides, Jonathan had his heart set on her. He''d even gone to great lengths just to marry her. Derek knew right then that he could never win that tug-of-war. Fortunately, he discovered that Anneliese had some redeeming qualities after spending some time with her. Sure, she was still rather na?ve and green around the edges, but she had good character, so he was confident that a diamond in the rough like her would shine in the future. Penelope had her hands full with Nishay, and he wasn''t about to dodder around doing nothing. He was certain he could get Anneliese to see things his way. It''d be a piece of cake, really. Hmph. Jonathan should thank his lucky stars that he has a grandfather like me. "But your grandmother is very stubborn," Derek continued. "Do you have a n to win her over?" "Time," Anneliese answered. "She''lle to ept it if I give her time to think it over." "I doubt that''d work." Derek shook his head. "But I do have an idea. Do you want to hear it?" Anneliese nodded eagerly, her eyes bright with hope. With Derek''s experience in life, she was sure he''de up with a ster n. s, her hopes were dashed when he said, "You and Jonathan should hurry up and have a child." Anneliese was rendered speechless. Was he serious right now? He sounded just like Jessica! Nishay and Penelope were no longer chatting by the time Anneliese and Derek returned to the ward. Still, Nishay looked rtively calm even though she had her eyes closed. Penelope was still all smiles, and it seemed that things had gone well. When she say Anneliese return, she waved her over and checked her burned hand again before nodding in satisfaction upon seeing it properly treated Then she exchanged a few pleasantries before leaving with Derek. Anneliese walked them to the door. As the door swung shut, she turned to look at Nishay, a question on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to know how their conversation had gone. Nevertheless, she wisely kept her lips sealed when she saw the deep furrow between Nishay''s brows. It didn''t help that her lips were still pursed with displeasure. So, she was surprised that Nishay never brought up the divorce topic for the rest of the day. She didn''t even say anything when it was time for her to leave. In fact, the gifts Derek and Penelope had brought were still sitting in the ward. She didn''t even ask Anneliese to get rid of them. Anneliese couldn''t help but feel relieved at Nishay''s eptance, no matter how begrudging. She was in such a good mood about it that Jessica, whom she''d gone to pick up, noticed it immediately. "I guess life''s treating you well, huh?" she remarked, not seeing the furrow between Anneliese''s brows. Anneliese smiled as she told Jessica all about Penelope and Derek''s visit. "I think Grandma''s softening up." Jessica beamed. "Well, Derek and Penelope visiting personally proves they value you. Your grandmother objected to your union with Jonathan because she thought you and Jonathan weren''t a good match. "She was worried that his family would look down on you or that they''d mistreat you. Now that she sees that her worries are unfounded, it''s only natural for her to ease up on the objections, I''m really happyfor you." Honestly, Jessica had shared those same concerns before. After all, Elizabeth was difficult to please, so she felt her worries ease now that she knew how much Penelope and Derek cared about Anneliese. After a beat, shemented, "I told you that you should find someone reliable, didn''t I? It''d be so much easier to navigate difficult inws when your husband is a dependable man. "But if he isn''t... God, you''re better off praying for an early death to your marriage." Anneliese''s smile deepened as she recalled Derek telling her how Jonathan had insisted that she was the only one for him. She knew very well she wasn''t easy to love. She was only human and had plenty of ws. The only reason Derek and Penelope were being so nice to her was because of Jonathan. They had chosen to treat her with respect because he''d made his stance clear right from the start. Chapter 601 Anneliese couldn''t help but think of Zacharias. The constant provocations she endured from Melody and Lenora were influenced by him. After all, he never tried to solve them whenever conflicts happened and only told her to give in. Thus, under his indulgence, his mother and sister became more arrogant each time. Comparing that to Jonathan, his gentleness and support became even more precious. Hence, it was only normal that she would fall in love with him since he was someone worth loving. That was why she couldn''t bear to let go. Suddenly, Anneliese missed Jonathan terribly. Counting the days, it had been about six days since theyst saw each other. Her grandmother kept a close watch on her, and even their daily calls barelysted a few words. Driving, Anneliese felt a pang of mncholy as she thought about how they had agreed to meet once a week. Back then, he had objected, but in the end, he didn''te to see her at all. ... Half an hourter, the car pulled into the parking lot of a private garden restaurant. She and Jessica got out and walked along the cobblestone path toward the restaurant. Just as the waiter led them to the private room that Zane had reserved, Jessica suddenly tugged at Anneliese, saying, "I need to use the restroom." In truth, she was a little nervous. Though she had been with Zane for some time, she had previously defined their rtionship as sex partners, and she guessed that Zane likely felt the same way. They had never walked hand in hand in public like a couple, nor watched a movie together. They didn''t even have a proper meal in a restaurant together. This time, when she told Zane she wanted to meet, he agreed immediately, but said he had a few friends over for dinner and invited her to join them, saying they could talk afterward. Jessica didn''t know if he intended to introduce her to his friends, nor did she know how he would react if she told him she was pregnant. The closer they got to the private room, the tenser Jessica became. "Do you want me to go with you?" Anneliese asked. Jessica shook her head and smiled faintly. "No, I''ll be quick." Anneliese nodded and watched as Jessica walked toward the restroom. Then, she turned to the waiter and said, "The private room is just around the corner, right? You can go now, thank you." The waiter smiled and left. Then, Anneliese pulled out her phone and sent a message to Jonathan as she strolled forward. ''Your grandparents came to visit my grandma in the hospital today. Did you know about it?'' As she typed those words, she hesitated since she felt that her message sounded cold. Hence, she began deleting it word by word. She furrowed her eyebrows and decided to send a cute emoji first to test if he was busy. Just as she sent a cute cat emoji, the light in front of her shifted, and she suddenly bumped into someone. "Sorry..." Anneliese instinctively apologized without looking ahead. However, she quickly realized something was wrong. There was no one in this corridor, so ket it had a wide path. She hadn''t been watching where she was walking, but surely the other person hadn''t missed seeing her either. Thus, there was no way they could have avoided her.. As she thought about it, she frowned and was about to look up when someone suddenly grabbed her waist. The small distance she had just stepped back was closed in an instant. Her forehead pressed again against a man''s firm chest, and she caught a familiar scent. At the same time, a notification sound rang from the phone in the man''s pocket, confirming her suspicion. Anneliese looked up in surprise and met Jonathan''s eyes. For a moment, both of them froze as they stared at each other in silence. Only when the private room door opened beside them did Jonathan smile and quickly kiss her forehead. Holding her close, he took two brisk steps forward and led her into the nearest private room. The heavy door closed silently behind them. Outside, the sky darkened. The dim light could not conceal the light in Anneliese''s eyes. "Why are you here?" Anneliese was surprised to see the person she missed appear before her all of a sudden. It was as if he knew exactly what she was thinking and always gave her the most fitting response. Jonathan stared at her face without answering her question. In fact, he wasn''t here by coincidence-it was simply because she was here. Chapter 602 Jonathan caressed Anneliese''s cheek and said, "You seem to have lost a bit of weight. Did you miss me?" Anneliese huffed and tilted her head to the side as she nuzzled against his palm. "You are just like Grandma," she said. After all, their first concern when seeing her was that she had lost weight. She felt that Jonathan was truly raised well by his grandmother-the priorities were the same. As she thought about it, she felt warmth in her heart. She knew very well that only someone who truly cared about her would notice something like this first. Jonathan raised an eyebrow and said, "Making fun of my motherly nagging, are you now?" Anneliese smiled and suddenly reached out to hug his waist, pressing her face against his chest and rubbing herself against him. "I just missed you. You have to take responsibility for it!" "What?" Jonathan instinctively asked. In that split second, he stiffened slightly, and the smile in his eyes was momentarily frozen with surprise. Hearing that she had answered his previous question, admitting that she missed him, Jonathan almost doubted his own hearing. After all, just a week ago, he had spent a lot of effort-practically pestering her just to prevent her grandmother from cutting things offpletely with him. They hadn''t met all week, and their contact had been minimal. He had even worried that Anneliese''s grandmother might have brainwashed her by now. His expectation for this meeting was simply to maintain what they had. He hadn''t expected this delightful surprise from her. Hearing him y dumb, Anneliese felt her cheeks heat up, and she gave his side a yful squeeze. "What kind of reaction is that?! That''s just awful!" Only then did Jonathanugh under his breath. In that split second, he bent down abruptly and carried her legs. Anneliese instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and looped her legs around his waist, hanging onto him. Their eyes met, and their breaths intertwined. Jonathan''s Adam''s apple moved as he stared at her flushed face. Anneliese felt a little uneasy under his intense gaze and instinctively wanted to turn away. "Don''t move," the manmanded huskily. "Let me take a good look." Blushing, Anneliese blinked. "Look at what?" "To see if someone has swapped out my wife. How did she suddenly turn into such a big sweetie?" Hearing his words, Anneliese pouted and red at him. "What do you mean by that? Was I bitter before?" Jonathan studied her animated expression and nodded thoughtfully. "Weren''t you bitter that time when you chased me out of Maple Bay?" Back then, her eyes had been swollen from crying, and her face was still marked with ps from her grandmother. She looked utterly dispirited. He hadn''t even had the chance or the right to stay andfort her. He had been so worried and helpless. He never imagined that she would greet him like this after a week apart. "You are the bitter one! I''m going to bite you!" Anneliese rolled her eyes and actually lightly bit his jaw. Jonathan didn''t move and watched as she made a cute little fuss. He lowered his gaze, thinking how adorable she looked from above. Anneliese left only a faint mark on his jaw before pulling back. The next second Jonathan leaned down and bit her neck¡ªnot too gently, but clearly with a mere intense and possessive hunger. Anneliese whimpered softly. Her hands twisted into his hair, tugging lightly as if in pain yet unable to resist. Jonathan inhaled her scent deeply and released his bite. Yet, he didn''t lift his head. Instead, like an addict, he buried himself in her neck, greedily inhaling the sweet scent. "Baby girl, I''m so happy," he said in a deep voice. Jonathan was happy that she was more certain of her feelings. He was even happier that her heart belonged to him. Initially, he had always been secretly jealous of Zacharias since Anneliese had once done so much for Zacharias that she hadn''t done for him. He felt that when with Anneliese, he was always the one forcing her to love him. Chapter 603 Anneliese had always been passive, epting his help. She had unknowingly been taken advantage of when they registered their marriage, as he had even tricked her into confirming it. He had always believed that even if she liked him, she would never love him aspletely as she had loved Zacharias. Every time Jonathan thought about this, the jealousy in his heart had almost turned into venom, and he had to summon all his self-control just to avoid losing it and harming Zacharias. However, at this moment, he suddenly felt no jealousy at all. He felt that the rose he had carefully nurtured was finally giving him the best possible response. His warm breath brushed against Anneliese''s neck, making her tingle. Anneliese did not pull away. She stroked his hair and smiled. "I''m happy too." She was also very happy-btedly, but genuinely. After all, he didn''t have rtionships with other women. Instead, he had already kept her in his heart for a long time. As thest rays of sunset slipped through the window, they cast the entwined silhouettes of the two across the screen. On the other hand, in the restroom. Jessica stood at the sink and was tidying her hair. Looking at the mirror, she felt that her reflection looked too in. Ever since she was pregnant, she hadn''t been using makeup. Today, she had only done basic skincare, and her dark circles were noticeable. Her outfit didn''t seem quite right either, as it was a ck off-shoulder knit dress with t boots. Jessica felt that she looked slightly inappropriate to meet Zane''s friends in this state. As she washed her hands, she was considering putting on a little lipstick of some color when three young women who were dressed elegantly entered. "Gianna, I really envy you! This year has been a double win for you since you have achieved both career and love!" "With her getting into the topb and soon marrying Zane, she is a winner." "That''s why I said she''s getting more beautiful. Having both a career and love is the best makeup for a woman." Jessica froze mid-handwash at the mention of Zane and instinctively looked at the girls in the mirror. Looking at the girl surrounded in the center, who hadn''t spoken a word, Jessica guessed she had to be the heroine they were talking about. The girl''s long curls tumbled freely down her back, and she wore refined makeup. She carried herself with natural elegance and ease-a true pampered youngdy of wealth. In that split second, Jessica curled her fingers slightly. She wondered if the Zane they were talking about was the same person she had in mind. The girls clearly entered the restroom to touch up their makeup as they lined up at the sinks. Although the space was spacious, five people side by side were still tight. "Are you done yet? Please move." The girl next to Gianna squeezed the edge and nced at Jessica Seeing her in attire disdain filled her eyes. Then, she pushed Jessica aside. SUM Jessica was in a daze when she was suddenly shoved aside, causing her to stagger. She raised a hand steady herself on the wall and felt slight pain in her wrist. She sucked in a deep breath and red at the woman. The woman who had pushed her, Anahi, nced at her and said, "Sorry." Then, she took out lipstick and touched up her makeup. Anyone could tell that she was not sorry at all. Seeing Jessica like that, Anahi assumed she was a part-time worker at the restaurant. Thus, she felt that Jessica deserved the fall. However, in the next second, she was doused with water, and her elbow that was holding the lipstick- was bumped hard, causing lipstick to smear across her chin. "Are you crazy?" Anahi screamed as she turned around and red at Jessica. Jessica shook the water off her hands without even looking at her and casually replied, "Sorry." Anahi looked at her ruined makeup in rage. As her face twisted in anger, the lipstick mark looked even more grotesque. "Stop! I know you did it on purpose!" Gianna and the other two were startled and quickly blocked Jessica''s path. Jessica looked innocent as she met with Anahi''s furious gaze. "No, I didn''t. I apologized, didn''t I? I don''t even know you, so why would I bump into you on purpose?" Chapter 604 "Stop making excuses! You did it on purpose just because I bumped into you!" Anahi snapped and wiped the lipstick from her face with a tissue. Jessica crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you admit it was you who bumped into me first." Anahi was momentarily speechless when she realized she had fallen into Jessica''s trap. Humiliated and enraged, she snorted coldly. "Even if I did it on purpose, so what? Who do you think you are, daring to argue with me?" Jessica sneered and retorted, "Who are you then? An Empress? Even if you were, your time is long gone." As she spoke, she rolled her eyes at them and stepped forward. She was fairly skilled; even if these pampered youngdies teamed up, they weren''t necessarily her match. "You b*tch!" Anahi was furious. Just then, she grabbed Jessica and raised her hand to p her across the face. However, Jessica grabbed her wrist firmly and twisted it. "Ah!" Anahi screamed as she was flung to the ground. "Anahi! Oh my god, you are bleeding!" The woman who tried to help Anahi shouted when she saw blood trickling from Anahi''s forehead. Looking at the scene, Jessica frowned. She hadn''t expected Anahi to be so fragile. After all, she had only lightly flicked Anahi''s hand, yet thetter had fallen and hit her head on the sink, which would make things troublesome. Jessica instinctively stepped closer to check the situation. In that split second, a glint shed across Gianna''s eyes. She stepped in front of Jessica and said to her friends, "Call the police now." The woman beside her immediately took out her phone and red fiercely at Jessica. Seeing that they were actually going to call the police, Jessica frowned and said, "Is that really necessary? I can apologize and take her to the hospital." After all, it was her responsibility that Anahi had fallen and hit her head. "Do we look like we can''t afford to go to the hospital?" Gianna said coldly, her disappointed gaze sweeping over Jessica. Earlier in the private room, she had overheard Jonathan and Zane talking and realized that Anneliese would be bringing Jessica along tonight. Jessica seducing Zane was one thing, and Gianna had assumed it was just a fling. However, she hadn''t expected that Zane would introduce Jessica to everyone. There was no way she would allow Zane to show Jessica in the open. ?P This year, both the Shayman and the Malone families had been pushing for a marriage between her and Zane, which meant they might be engaged soon. Hence Gianna would not allow Zane to have another woman by his side at this moment. She had been watching Jonathan and saw him leave the private room, confirming that Anneliese and her friend had arrived. From her perspective, Jessica was average-looking and utterly crude in personality, which she found disappointing. She wondered how Zane could tolerate Jessica. In the meantime, Jessica also studied Gianna. By instinct, she immediately felt Gianna''s hostility toward her. If she had not yet been certain if the Zane they spoke of was who before, she clearly knew now. She was certain that this encounter had been deliberately arranged as part of some scheme. "I thought it was an ident, but it turns out to be staged," Jessica said with augh as she looked at Gianna. Gianna was surprised at how quickly Jessica had caught up with the situation. Still, she feigned innocence and said, "How can you me us when you are the one who injured our friend?" Anahi, now supported by her friends, stood up and clutched her injured forehead while ring fiercely at Jessica. "Gianna, there''s no point in talking to someone like this. I''m calling the police! Let''s see how stubborn she''ll be at the station!" Realizing there was no way to smooth things over, Jessica took a step back and pulled out her phone, intending to call Zane. Noticing her reaction, Gianna signaled to her friend, who immediately snatched Jessica''s phone. "Give it back!" Jessica lunged for the phone, but the woman threw it into the sink that was filled with water. The phone flickered twice before shutting down. At that moment, the manager arrived with two security guards. Jessica and Gianna''s group were escorted to the lobby, and the police, who had been called, soon arrived. Meanwhile, Anneliese had no idea that Jessica had already been set up in such a short time. After a week apart from Jonathan, Anneliese had gone through many emotional shifts in that week. Now, the reunion made them grow even fonder of each other. Chapter 605 Jonathan pulled Anneliese onto hisp. The ribbon on the front of her silk blouse had been tugged loose, causing her cor to hang askew and revealing her fair shoulder and red marks left on her skin by his burning kisses. "Hey... Stop messing around. Jess and the others are waiting..." Anneliese still held onto a shred of rity and pushed Jonathan''s lightly. Hearing her words, Jonathan raised his head. However, he pressed another hungry kiss to her flushed lips. His breath spilled out hot and heavy, barely restrained. "Let them wait..." he murmured. Then, as if displeased by her distraction, he bit her lower lip lightly. Anneliese let out a soft whimper. Hearing her soft voice, Jonathan was momentarily stunned before suddenly gripping her waist tightly and kissing her more fiercely. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the private room, along with faint noises of an argument. Anneliese jolted by themotion and instantly sobered. She was convinced someone might barge in at any moment. This time, she pushed him with more strength and bit him. Jonathan sucked in a breath of pain and finally pulled away from her. "That hurts..." heined. "You said you missed me so much, yet you want to bite me to death?" Hearing his slightly slurred tone, Anneliese was taken aback and wondered if she had bitten him too hard. Instinctively, she cupped his face and said anxiously, "Let me see." Then, she realized the lights in the room were still off, so she could barely make out the hazy outline of his handsome features and deep eyes. "I''ll turn on the lights." She pushed him gently and hopped off hisp. Jonathan didn''t want to let her go, but he also knew this wasn''t the ce. As he released her, Anneliese quickly flicked on the lights. The sudden brightness stung her eyes. She blinked and turned around, only to find the scene before her to make her flush in embarrassment. Jonathan sat with his legs slightly apart. The first half of his white shirt was unbuttoned, and his ck tie hung loosely across his chest. His suit pants were creased badly. More importantly, across his open cor was a distinct scratch mark from her fingernails. His posture waszy as he leaned back against the chair. His usually tidy hair had fallen in unruly strands, framing his slightly bitten lips and adding a wild sex appeal. She couldn''t believe that she had made him into this state. At that moment, Anneliese felt a rush of heat and wanted to escape. Her gaze darted away, suddenly embarrassed to walk back toward him. A part of her even wanted to turn around and flee. Jonathan found it amusing as he watched her freeze at the doorway, clearly shy. "I dare you to run, nowe here." Feeling embarrassed, Anneliese forced herself to walk toward him, refusing to admit her earlier cowardice. "Why would I run? Didn''t you say your tongue got bitten? Open your mouth and let me check." Standing before him, she bent down slightly, and worry filled her heart. She didn''t think she would bite him that hard, yet his lip was clearly torn. Did I really hurt him badly? she thought. However, Jonathan didn''t open his mouth. His gaze darkened, and his breathing roughened. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you sure you want to examine me like that?" Hearing his words, Anneliese followed his gaze downward and realized her own clothes were in even worse disarray than his. Thank goodness I hadn''t panicked and opened the door earlier. Otherwise, people might call the police. Then, Anneliese turned away and fixed herself, but he caught her wrist. With one gentle tug, she fell back into hisp. As Jonathan lifted his hand, Anneliese instinctively flinched back and red at him shy?y. CUMS "Don''t!" "Don''t what?" Jonathan chuckled. As he spoke, his fingers lowered to her cor-only to gently pull it together. He began tidying the mess across her chest. Initially, Anneliese had thought he was going to continue what they were doing cartier. Realizing she misunderstood him, she became shy and said, "It''s nothing. I can do it myself." Jonathan was buttoning her blouse clumsily. His knuckles brushed her soft skin again and again, yet his gaze was focused, seemingly as if he waspleting something serious. Chapter 606 Whether it was his movements or his gaze, everything about him made her unbearably flustered. "Don''t move." Jonathan''s voice came out low and hoarse. Hearing the danger in his tone, Anneliese bit her lip and turned her head away. Their clothes rustled softly. Clearly, he was helping her get dressed, yet somehow Anneliese felt even more embarrassed than when he had been undressing her moments earlier. "I''ll help you too." She took a deep breath, turned back around, and reached out to straighten his clothes as well. Jonathan raised a brow and said, "That''s very considerate of you." Anneliese shot him a re. Her hands were far more nimble than his; she quickly fastened two buttons for him. "I''m just worried about Jessica. By the way, who did Zane invite tonight?" Carter, Joel, plus two partners from Zane''sw firm. When they arrived at the restaurant, they happened to run into Adrian and Steven, along with some executives of the Malone Group. Adrian had told Steven to bring the younger ones and join their room. However, Jonathan had zero interest in letting Anneliese''s attention drift to anyone else. Hence, he pressed her waist and said, "You''ve been with your best friend all week, isn''t that enough? I guess a man''s greatest romantic rival is his wife''s girlfriend." Hearing his words, Anneliese was speechless. She wondered where he picked up such ridiculous logic. "Mr. Fullbuster, are you seriously jealous of Jessica?" Jonathan nodded without hesitation and said, "Can''t I be? Don''t go home tonight, alright?" As he spoke, he caressed her waist. Anneliese bit her lip and shook her head. "No. Grandma might video call Jessica and meter." Jonathan pursed his lips together and said, "Why does this feel like I''m dating a minor?" After all, he had to be worried about parental supervision and sneaking around all the time. Afraid he''d get upset, Anneliese tugged lightly on his tie and asked, "Are you upset?" Jonathan could never stand seeing her anxious. He smiled and said, "No. This hidden rtionship is kinda interesting too." Anneliese''s face burned at his words. She wanted to be angry, yet when she thought of how they''d just been kissing wildly in the dark and still tangled up even now, she had to admit that it felt as if they were having a secret affair. As she thought about it, her cheeks flushed even redder. She tightened her hand, and the tie snapped taut in an instant, tightening Jonathan''s cor sharply. "Are you going to kill me right after our affair? That''s just ruthless." Not wanting to deal with the nonsenseing out of his mouth, Anneliese loosened the tie, slid off hisp, and pulled him up with her. "Hurry!" Seeing she was truly anxious, Jonathan stopped teasing her. He held her shoulders, looked her over carefully to ensure her clothes were neat, before leading her out. Anneliese didn''t see Jessica in the hallway. She tried to call her, but the call didn''t go through. "She probably went ahead on her own." Anneliese guessed. Jonathan nodded and led her toward the private room. When the two stepped inside together, the room abruptly quieted down. Everyone stopped their conversations and looked over. There were fewer people than Anneliese expected. Besides Joel and Carter, there were three other young men she didn''t recognize, all clearonathan''s social circle, from as every of them was polished and imposing. However, there was no sign of Zane or Jessica. As Anneliese swept her gaze across the room, she was met with a clear gaze. The man wore gold-rimmed sses, and his well-made dark navy administrative jacket gave him a air distinctly different from the others in the room. It was Steven, whom she had met once before. Anneliese''s eyes brightened at the sight of him. After all, she was half a fan of his. In that split second, she smiled instinctively. Steven looked at her for a moment, feeling a sense of familiarity. However, the moment Anneliese smiled, she regretted it as she recalled Gianna''s hostility toward her. Steven was Gianna''s brother and India''s cousin. For all she knew, ke might be just like Gianna-believing she was a mistress who sabotaged. the Malones and Fullbusters marriage alliance. If Steven gave her the cold shoulder in public, that would be mortifying. Thinking about it, Anneliese felt nervous, and Jonathan noticed it instantly. Then, he slid her hand to her waist. Under everyone''s eyes, he pulled her tightly into his arms and nced at Steven with a cold expression. Chapter 607 Aside from Carter and Joel, no one had ever seen Jonathan being so possessive as he hovered protectively around Anneliese in his arms. In that split second, a wave of whistles rose around the room, and even more curious gazes fell on Anneliese. At that moment, Steven snapped back to his senses and gave Anneliese a polite smile. "Jonathan, aren''t you going to introduce her?" someone joked. Jonathan kept his arm around Anneliese as he led her forward. "This is Anneliese, my wife." Then, he introduced the few young men she hadn''t met before. Anneliese greeted them all with a smile. Although everyone teased her a bit, no one went overboard. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful. Jonathan sat down with Anneliese tucked beside him. On her other side sat Steven. Before she could greet him again, Steven picked up his wine ss and raised it toward her. "I''ve been wanting to thank you for taking care of Elliest time, but I never had the chance. A toast to you." Then, before Anneliese even had time to react, he tipped back the ss and downed it in one go. Anneliese immediately recalled finding Ellie in the restroom that night and bringing her back to the banquet. She even helped her tease Selina that evening. As Anneliese remembered that night, she smiled and quickly lifted her own ss. "It was Ellie who helped me that night. I really like her. She is adorable." Mentioning his daughter softened Steven''s gaze. "Ellie likes you too, Mrs. Fullbuster. She has aphasia. Otherwise, she would be calling you every day." "Really? I thought she''d forgotten me already." Anneliese was surprised and delighted. After all, she had left her number with Ellie, but the little girl never called. Steven smiled faintly and tapped on his phone. "It''s true. She drew several pictures for you. She''s been staying at the Malone family''s residence in Halden recently, and she kept all the drawings carefully, saying that she wanted to give them to you when she returns to Oceanton." Whenever Steven talked about his daughter, he became gentle and talkative. Soon, he showed her several children''s drawings. They were bright and colorful. The style was childish, but surprisingly vivid. Anneliese immediately recognized herself and Ellie in the drawings since the clothes and hairstyles were exactly what they wore that night. She found that Ellie''s observational skills were remarkable. "She draws so well!" Anneliese eximed in genuine admiration. Steven had heard people praise his daughter before, but Ellie''s aphasia meant manypliments were superficial-just mere courtesy. However, he could tell Anneli truly liked Ellie and truly thought the drawings were wonderful Perhaps that was why she felt inexplicably familiar and warm to him. Because of this, his smile deepened with sincerity. "Ellie will be back in a couple of days. Could I trouble you to meet her if you have some spare time?" Ellie didn''t have a mother or a close female role model. Since she adored Anneliese, Steven didn''t want to deny her such a small wish. Though he knew it was rather abrupt to ask a near-stranger to help with @child, Anneliese''s genuine affection made the words slip out naturally. "Of course. I''d be happy to." Anneliese nodded and smiled, showing no sign of reluctance. The two chatted pleasantly, and while they admired the drawings together, their heads unconsciously leaned closer. Jonathan had been pulled aside by Joel and two others to discuss something. When he turned back, he saw Anneliese''s whole body was leaning toward Steven. He instantly draped his arm possessively over the back of her chair as he leaned in. Then, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the hand she used to hold her wine ss. "What are you and Steven talking about, honey?" he asked in a low voice. Anneliese didn''t sense anything amiss as she turned to him with a bright smile and said, "We''re looking at the drawings Ellie made for me. They are adorable!" As Jonathan nced toward Steven''s phone screen, his gaze darkened. In one of the pictures, there were three people. The woman and little girl riding the carousel were clearly Anneliese and Ellie. However, the man who wore sses was not Jonathan but Steven. Chapter 608 No matter how he looked at it, the drawing resembled a family of three. In that split second, Jonathan felt ufortable, especially when he recalled that the moment Anneliese walked in earlier, the first person she saw and greeted was Steven. Ellie was still a child, so it was normal that she would misunderstand things. However, he didn''t know what Steven was doing by showing this kind of drawing to Anneliese. Moreover, he knew that Steven was not someone easy to approach, nor did he talk much. Yet, he was now chatting with Anneliese so warmly. "That''s cute." Jonathan nodded. Then, he leaned in and whispered in Anneliese''s ear, "Say, how about we have a baby too? Preferably, a little girl as adorable as Ellie." Though he kept his voice low, Steven would definitely still hear him from such a close distance. Anneliese hadn''t expected him to suddenly bring up this subject. Her ears reddened, and she shot him a re. Jonathan pretended not to understand her warning as he leaned closer again and murmured, "Don''t be shy. Maybe they really do have some secret to having daughters." Anneliese was at a loss for words. She couldn''t hold back as she reached down and pinched his thigh. On the other hand, Steven could see through Jonathan''s little ploy. After all, the jealousy and possessiveness rolling off him were practically tangible. He was nothing like the Jonathan he used to know. No wonder he got married so quickly, thought Steven. Steven was genuinely surprised. He hadn''t expected Jonathan to be the one who cared more in this rtionship, which was interesting. Anneliese didn''t dare let Jonathan keep talking nonsense, so she hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, where''s Zane? I haven''t seen him at all." She was still thinking about Jessica''s situation. She had assumed Jessica dragged Zane out to talk, but so much time had passed, and neither had returned. Jonathan had just asked Joel earlier, so he exined, "He got a call and stepped out, saying that he had something to take care of. They haven''t seen Jessica either." Could it be that Jessica had called Zane out? Thinking about it, Anneliese took out her phone and sent Jessica a couple of messages, but received no reply. Maybe they were in the middle of talking. Still, she couldn''t feel at ease. She was afraid Zane might hurt Jessica''s feelings. Although Jessica might look carefree on the outside, she was actually very fragile. As she worried, Jonathan slipped an arm around her shoulders and gently stroked her back. "Don''t worry," he reassured. "From what I know about Zane, he''s responsible and dependable." Hearing his words, Anneliese felt a little better. She agreed with Jonathan''s words. After all, awyer with no sense of responsibility probably couldn''t have achieved his reputation. Besides, one would be like the people they surrounded themselves with. She trusted Jonathan''s characterpletely, so she felt that anyone who got along well with him wouldn''t be too bad either. However, as another half hour passed, there was still no sign of Zane or Jessica, and her messages to Jessica remained unread. At that moment, Anneliese felt that something wasn''t right. Then, she told Jonathan about it before stepping out of the room with her phone. She called Jessica, but the call wouldn''t go through. It was as if her phone was off. However, Anneliese clearly remembered that on the way there,Jessica had shown her some baby clothes, and Anneliese saw that her phone battery was full. In that split second, a sinking feeling hit her. Then, she immediately sent Jonathan a message. Soon, Jonathan came out of the room. Anneliese rushed to him and said, "Call Zane right now. I tried calling Jessica, but her phone is off. Something must have happened." Anneliese was anxious. She shouldn''t have assumed the two were just talking. Seeing her distress, Jonathan wrapped his arm around her waist. Then, he took out his phone and dialed Zane''s number. In the meantime, he said to Anneliese, "Calm down. If Zane doesn''t answer either, I''ll get someone to pull the security footage." Anneliese nodded, feeling slightly better. Fortunately, Zane picked up quickly. Jonathan didn''t waste time and asked, "Where are you? Is Jessica with you?" He lowered his head and turned on speaker mode. Chapter 609 "My mom just called. She said my grandma suddenly fell at home, so I''m on my way to the airport. Isn''t Jess with your wife?" Anneliese instantly frowned and couldn''t stop herself from cutting in. "Didn''t you see her? You were the one who invited her, yet you suddenly left and didn''t say anything to her? She''s not with me at all!" A screech of brakes came from Zane''s side. "She hadn''t arrived yet when I left. I called her, but she didn''t pick up, so I sent a message. What happened?" Anneliese wanted to know too. Right now, her anxiety and anger were tangled together. Jonathan said, "Focus on driving. We''ll check the surveince here." Then, he hung up immediately. Anneliese followed Jonathan to find the manager, but before the surveince could even be pulled up, the manager told them the police had just been there. He also mentioned that four girls had gotten into a conflict with another girl and were all taken away by the police. The manager had even snapped a photo. When Anneliese saw the photo, she immediately spotted Gianna supporting someone and Jessica being escorted separately by an officer. By the time they rushed to the nearby police station, Zane called again. Jonathan answered. "Did you find her?" Zane asked hastily. Jonathan didn''t respond. Instead, he looked at Anneliese. Anneliese was furious. There were no cameras in the restroom, but she could already guess what had happened. Gianna definitely ganged up with her clique and targeted Jessica on purpose. After all, a domineering troublemaker like Gianna, who also liked Zane for years, anyone could guess her motives. She didn''t know why Zane would still call Jessica over when he knew that Gianna liked him. If he was going to invite her, he should''ve handled things properly. But he just left. Even a simple reminder to Joel or Carter to look after dessica would''ve preventiet this if he did any one of those things, Anneliese wouldn''t have waited so long without realizing Jessica was in trouble. As she thought about it, anger surged through her body. Then, she snatched the phone right out of Jonathan''s hand and said, "Since you''re so busy, please continue being busy. Jess doesn''t need your fake concern Then she hung up immediately, t?ssed Jonathan''s phone back to him, and ran toward the police station. Jonathan''s phone buzzed again right away. He nced at the name and at Anneliese before declining the call. He felt that it was better not to intervene in this matter. After all, he " was still in the "probation period." Anneliese got upset with him, her grandmother might easily persuade her. Thus, Jonathan decided to let Zane panic on his own since he did this to himself Besides Jonathan felt that the timing of Zanes mother calling him home tonight was a little too convenient. As he thought about it, he quickly followed Anneliese into the police station. From afar, sharp female voices cut through the air. "My friend''s forehead is ruined! It''s definitely going to leave a scar! We refuse any settlement!" "She was the one who hit first! She did it on purpose! Officer, does she have some kind of violent disorder? People like her are a danger to society, you can''t let her off!" "Okay, no settlement. We''ll handle it strictly. Don''t worry, Ms. Malone, we''ll lock her up for at least three days and give her a proper lesson." A middle-aged officer stood before Gianna and her friends, his face full of ingratiating smiles and his hunched posture all but shouting that he was bowing to power. Anneliese strode forward and said, "Did you even figure out what happened yet? How can you already be talking about punishing my friend?" Her voice was filled with anger. Hearing her voice, the officer talking to Gianna frowned and said, "Who are you? This is no ce to cause trouble." When Gianna saw Anneliese, annoyance filled her eyes. She had already pulled strings and synchronized their statements. She wasn''t worried at all and intended to teach Jessica a lesson. She wanted Jessica to stay locked inside the police station for a few days and see clearly just what kind of a nobody she was. Chapter 610 People like them were simply not in the same social ss. Hence, Gianna wanted Jessica to have a clear understanding of herself and stop clinging to Zane. There was nothing Anneliese could do. Besides, she wasn''t anyone with authority. Gianna guessed that Anneliese had used some way to climb into Jonathan''s bed. She doubted Anneliese could keep her position as Mrs. Fullbuster and would be kicked out within a year. After all, Derek favored India, so there was no way he would ever approve of someone like Anneliese, who was a divorced woman. "I''m just an ordinary citizen protected by thew. What''s wrong? Does someone like me not deserve to speak to the police and express my opinion inside a police station?" Anneliese raised her voice slightly, which drew a lot of attention. In that split second, the police officer''s expression turned ugly. He had seen plenty of women like Anneliese and thought she was also someone who would be intimidated by the police. Usually, all he needed to do was frown and scold them a bit, and they''d immediately cower. However, he didn''t expect Anneliese to counter back at him. "Stop twisting my words! Leave now, or you''ll regret it!" he barked and strode toward her. "What exactly do you want my wife to regret?" Jonathan''s voice wasn''t loud, but it rang through the hall. As his voice fell, he quickly walked in and pulled Anneliese into his embrace. His tall figure cast a shadow that enveloped the approaching middle-aged officer. In that split second, the officers felt intimidated, and his bravado vanished instantly. He quickly examined Jonathan and, in an instant, judged that this was someone who absolutely couldn''t be provoked. "Who are you?" he asked with a bad feeling in his gut. Jonathan lowered his gaze toward Anneliese and said, "I''m just an ordinary citizen." Seeing the officer choke in embarrassment, Anneliese couldn''t help wanting tough. "Jonathan, why are you here?" At this moment, Gianna stepped forward while tightening her grip on her handbag. She never expected such a small matter to rm Jonathan. Earlier in the room, she had clearly overheard Carter and Joel saying that something had happened between Anneliese and Jonathan, and they might even be getting divorced. When she heard about it, she was thrilled. After all, if Anneliese and Jonathan split up, she could immediately kick Anneliese out of theb and Jessica would be nopetition at all. That was why she didn''t consider Jonathan at all when acting tonight. However, she didn''t expect Jonathan to treat Anneliese like they were still a couple. Upon hearing Gianna''s words, Jonathan looked at her coldly and said, "What is it? Are you the only one who could enter the police station, and we can''t just because we are ordinary citizens?" Gianna was speechless when she heard Jonathan addressing himself as an ordinary citizen. She felt that he was in delusion for saying that especially, when his custom suit was worth hundreds of thousands, and the limited-edition watch on his wrist was worth tens of millions. The atmosphere froze. Even the police officer who had been so arrogant moments ago didn''t dare speak. Anneliese nced at the two of them and felt a little bitter. Is the difference between Jonathan and me really that huge? No one took me seriously when I called myself an ordinary person, but no one believed Jonathan when he said the same thing. She looked up at him without thinking, and as if sensing her shift in mood, Jonathan gently patted her head. Anneliese pouted and finally broke the silence. "Where is Jessica? Why isn''t she here? Since there was conflict on both sides, there''s no reason for them to be treated differently." Gianna frowned and said, "Anneliese, it was your friend who attacked someone. Anahi fainted and had to be taken to the hospital. Shouldn''t she be punished?" Anneliese sneered. "Are you filming a show? Call me Mrs. Fullbuster. We''re not that close." Gianna''s face stiffened. Her eyes reddened as she turned to Jonathan and said, "Look at her, Jonathan. She dares to bully others just because she has you backing her!" However, Jonathan only lowered his gaze, eyes brightening slightly as he looked at Anneliese. He even gently patted her head again. Clearly, her words were exactly to his liking. He smiled and looked at Gianna. "I do have influence, and it''s for my wife to use. Do you have a problem with that?" Chapter 611 Gianna choked on his words. She then heard the edge in Jonathan''s voice as he continued, "You''re also relying on your family''s power, so it makes sense for my wife to rely on mine. That said, it might not be so proper for you to rely on the Malone name, though." She frowned, not understanding the matter. She was the Malone heiress, so how was it not justified for her to make use of her family''s influence? She felt there was a deeper meaning in what Jonathan said. Anneliese was worried about Jessica''s condition. Jessica was pregnant. She was still in the early, unstable stage. If something happened to her, it would be serious. This was especially true since Gianna had used underhanded methods before. "Hubby, let''s see Jess first," Anneliese said as she tugged on Jonathan, who nodded. "We can''t judge based on one side. Bring Ms. Sweeting over and let her exin everything clearly," he told the middle-aged police officer who was clearly in charge of the case. The officer looked toward Gianna, knowing that the Malone family was influential and even promising her that Jessica would be punished. It was also clear that Gianna was wary of the man in front of her. He didn''t know what to do. Then, he heard Jonathan''s words. "What''s wrong? Do you need me to call your chief?" The officer didn''t doubt him at all. He responded right away, "I''ll go bring her over now." Then, he turned and left quickly. Still feeling uneasy, Anneliese followed after him, only for Jonathan to naturally follow suit. Gianna''s face changed. She frowned and followed them as well. They soon saw what was happening inside the temporary holding room. Two fierce-looking men had Jessica pinned against the wall. A woman with pink- dyed hair, a nose ring, and a leather skirt raised her hand and pped Jessica across the face. Jessica''s right cheek had already been hit twice. Blood stained the corner of her lip, making her look like a mess. "Stop it!" Anneliese shouted. Her eyes burned with anger as she rushed forward. The holding room door was thick ss, and it was locked. Jonathan fixed a sharp look on the middle-aged officer. "Open the door." The officer finally felt the pressure from Jonathan''s presence. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he rushed over and unlocked the door without hesitation. Jonathan went in first. He took down the two men holding Jessica with swift moves. "Jess!" Anneliese ran over and wrapped her arms around Jessica. Her heart ached as she lifted her hand, but she didn''t dare touch her swollen face and asked in a rush, "Are you hurt anywhere else besides your face?" Jessica had still been stiff and cold just moments ago. Now her eyes turned red in an instant. She held back her tears and shook her head at Anneliese. "I''m fine." Anneliese nced at her stomach. After hearing her say she was fine, her expression finally eased a little. "Let''s go outside." Anneliese supported Jessica as they walked out. Gianna had followed them in. When she saw this, she parted her lips as if to speak. After ncing at Jonathan, she said nothing in the end. She lowered her eyes in frustration. With him here today, there was no way she could keep Jessica in the station. Zane is already back in Halden, while Jessica''s already been beaten. At least I didn''t go through all this trouble for nothing. With that thought, Gianna stepped forward. Since Jessica is also hurt now, we can say she''s been taught a lesson. It bnces put Anani''s injuries. I''ll call Anahi and ask her to agree to a settlement." She was backing down on purpose. If she said this, the matter would seem settled, and both sides would let it slide. She had just taken out her phone when Anneliese spoke coldly, "Hold it. We haven''t even figured out what caused this yet. She was beaten for no clear reason inside the station A settlement? Keep dreaming." "Anneliese, don''t push your luck!" Gianna clenched her phone. Anneliese didn''t look at her. She quickly pulled out a wet wipe and gently cleaned the blood from Jessica''s lip. "Why are you getting nervous?" "Who says I''m nervous?" Gianna answered as she frowned. At that moment, footsteps came from nearby, followed by someone''s voice. "What''s going on here?" The middle-aged officer''s face changed as he hurried over, greeting, "Chief Campbell, why are you here?" Anneliese looked over and saw a man in uniform. His temples were streaked with gray. His face looked serious. Steven walked one step behind him as they approached together. The officer was already exining the situation to the chief, Howard Campbell, in a nervous voice. When Gianna saw Steven, her eyes lit up. She rushed over and held onto his arm. "Steven, why are you here?" she said. Her tone sounded both wronged and relieved. Chapter 612 Gianna believed that once Steven arrived, he would protect her. The Malone family could not afford a public embarrassment. She had also been afraid that Jonathan might be influenced by Anneliese and insist on making things ugly. Steven and Jonathan were close friends. Even for Steven''s sake, Jonathan wouldn''t let Anneliese stir up trouble. But Steven''s expression turned serious. "Jonathan called me," he said. "What''s going on?" He asked Gianna directly. Anneliese nced at Jonathan. No wonder he had entered a momentter. He had been calling Steven. But would Steven really not take his own sister''s side? Gianna had already started exining. "We went to the restroom to touch up our makeup," she said. "Anahi had a small argument with Jessica. Ms. Sweeting pushed her without saying a word. Anahi hit her head and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. She lost a lot of blood." She continued calmly. "Ms. Sweeting has a very impulsive personality. Even after she was taken back to the station, she still got into another fight. The injury on her face has nothing to do with us. Still, since she''s injured, I have already agreed to persuade Anahi to settle this peacefully. I just didn''t expect Ms. Sweeting to be Mrs. Fullbuster''s friend. Since we all know each other now, it''s better not to make things worse." The way she told it, it sounded like the whole thing had nothing to do with her at all. It was only a fight between Anahi and Jessica. In the end, she was even the one who nned to help settle things. Anneliese was supposed to owe her a favor. Anneliese let out a coldugh and helped Jessica walk forward. "Listening to only one side isn''t enough," she said. "Jess, you tell them what really happened." Jessica took a breath and stared straight at Gianna and the others. "They were the ones who suddenly walked into the restroom," she said. "All four of them. They picked a fight first. The injured woman bumped into me on purpose and cursed at me. I talked back twice. She tried to p me. I blocked her. Then she threw herself backward and smashed her head on the sink. That''s how her forehead got split open." Her voice stayed steady as she continued. "After I was brought to the station, no one listened to my side at all. I was locked up right away. Then two men and one woman came looking for trouble. They rushed me and beat me." She paused for a moment. "Oh, right, back in the restroom, I wanted to contact Zane. They grabbed my phone, ran it under the sink, and threw it into the trash." Anneliese knew it right away. Jessica sometimes acted loud and reckless, but that was just a front. She had grown up with no sense of security. She always acted tough to protect herself. She was not someone who caused trouble for no reason. Gianna stared at Jessica in disbelief. "Ms. Sweeting, how can you twist the truth like this?" she said. "You were the one who pushed Anahi first. All of us can prove it." The two women behind her spoke up right away. "That''s right. She hit first." "She has a terrible temper. She attacked out of nowhere. Look at the blood on my hand. It''s all Anahi''s. Anahi is still getting her wound treated right now." Jonathan clicked his tongue. "Chief Campbell," he said, "they''re all together. Do their words even count as proof?" Howard stepped forward at once. "Don''t worry, Mr. Fullbuster," he said. "We won''t rely on just one side." He then turned to the officer. "Erick," he said, "this youngdy says you never asked for her side before locking her up. Is that true? And what about those three people she mentioned?" Erick saw how politely Howard treated Jonathan. One sentence from Jonathan was enough to make Howard take a clear stand. His heart sank at once. Earlier when the Saw Howard arrive with Steven, he had finally felt relieved. "I-I hadn''t gotten to question Ms. Sweeting yet," Erick said nervously. "After all, the victim, Ms. Baker, had already been sent to the hospital." Anneliese smiled. "To me, my friend sounds more like the real victim," she said. "So this is how the police handle cases now. Whoever has more people and power decides the truth. No one. even checks what really happened." Her voice turned colder. "When I came earlier, Officer Parsons clearly told Ms. Malone that my friend would be punished hard He said locking her up for three days and nights wouldn''t be enough He even said he would specially arrange a ceil to teach her a lesson His efficiency is really impressive. Before my friend even entered a cell, she''d already been taught a lesson." Erick''s face changed. He frowned at Anneliese. "Ma''am, you must''ve heard wrong," he said. "I never said anything like that." In a situation like this, there was no way he would admit it. He turned to Gianna. "Ms. Malone, you have to speak up for me." Gianna quickly said, "Mrs. Fullbuster, I know you''re angry because your friend is hurt. But you can''t just make things up. None of us heard Officer Parsons say anything like that." Chapter 613 She looked back at the two girls behind her. They both nodded at the same time. "Officer Parsons said he would check the situation and then tell us the result." "Mrs. Fullbuster, I didn''t hear any of the things you said." Anneliese almostughed. This really showed how tightly they were sticking together. She sneered and took out her phone. She tapped the screen twice and turned the volume all the way up. Erick''s arrogant voice rang out. "Alright. No settlement. We''ll handle it strictly. Ms. Malone, don''t worry. We''ll lock her up for three days and three nights. I''ll also arrange a proper cell to teach her a lesson." Erick stared at Anneliese in shock. He never expected her to have a recording. She looked young, yet she was calcting. He had always been the one setting traps for others. This time, he got caught. Howard''s eyes turned sharp as he looked at him. Erick''s face went pale. He stood there, not knowing what to say. Anneliese already knew before she came that Gianna was behind this. That was why she prepared evidence in advance. She started recording the moment she got out of the car at the police station. It was just in case, and she didn''t expect to use it so fast. Jonathan gave Anneliese a look of approval. He then turned his gaze to Howard. "Chief Campbell, Officer Parsons'' way of handling cases is impressive. He is very skilled at this. Do you want me to help check his bank ount for you?" Erick''s legs went weak at once. Howard felt embarrassed. He shot Erick a cold look and spoke in a serious tone. "Mr. Fullbuster, rest assured. I''ll check this right away. If there is anyone corrupt in the team, I''ll deal with them strictly." He knew that if Jonathan investigated this himself, the situation would only blow up and be even more embarrassing. Jonathan nodded. Just then, Zion hurried over. "Mr. Fullbuster, take a look at this." He walked up and handed his phone to Jonathan. Jonathan only nced at it twice before lifting his eyes and handing the phone to Steven. "Take a look." Steven took it and saw two photos and one video. In the photos, Anahi was wearing a tight dress. There was only a small bandage on her forehead. She wasughing and talking with several men and women in a bar. The video showed Anahi on a stage, swinging her hair and twisting her waist around a pole. Gianna sensed that the phone held something bad for her. She quickly leaned over to look as well. When she saw Anahi in the video, her face twisted with anger, and she nearly lost control. She told Anahi to go to the hospital and fake serious injuries. Instead, Anahi ran off to a nightclub. She was aplete idiot. Steven looked at Gianna. "Didn''t you say Anan was badly hurt after being pushed and was in the hospital, getting emergency treatment?" Gianna looked shocked. "Were these taken today? I don''t know anything about this. At that time, Anahi came out of the restaurant with her face covered blood told the driver rush her to the hospital. What''s going on? I''ll call Anahi and ask her. How could she do something like this?" She moved to take out her phone. Steven looked at her with a dark gaze and said nothing. He only handed the phone to Howard. "Chief Campbell, please take a look. The girl in this is the other person involved tonight, Anahi Baker." Howard took the phone and checked it. He then gave orders to the officer beside him. "Go bring Anahi in for questioning." He then looked at Jessica. "We''ll investigate this case and the assault on Ms. Sweeting in the holding room. We''ll give her an answer." Jessica''s injuries were severe. Anneliese saw that her face was pale and worried about the baby. She said to Jonathan, "Let''s send Jess to the hospital first." This matter was connected to Gianna, but she wouldn''t admit it. They also had no solid proof. For now, this was all they could do. If Howardter found evidence that Erick had taken bribes from Gianna, or if Erick confessed, Gianna might still be held ountable. > Jonathan nodded. "Let''s go." Anneliese quickly supported Jessica and walked outside with her. Gianna stared at Jessica''s back with unwilling eyes. "Steven, let''s go too." She linked her arm around Steven''s. Steven pulled his arm away from her. Gianna''s heart sank a little. Steven didn''t answer her. He turned to Howard and said, "Handle this however you should. There''s no need to worry about my family." Howard looked at the three of them and gave orders to another officer. "Officer Walker, this is yours. Get everything clear." Nichs Walker acknowledged and said to the three of them, "You still can''t leave. Please move over and make detailed statements." Chapter 614 Gianna couldn''t believe it. Anneliese had already left with Jessica, yet it was her group that was told to stay behind for questioning. It feltpletely unfair. The two friends behind her turned pale, and both looked at Gianna. "Gianna, I still need to rush home. If I''m not back by 10 p.m., my parents are definitely going to punish me." The other friend looked irritated and angry. "Yeah, Gianna, we all¡ª" "Shut up!" Gianna snapped before she could say anything more. She shot her a warning look, then forced her expression to soften. "We just need to exin what happened more clearly." Her eyes reddened as she looked at Steven. "Steven, can you stay here with us?" Steven replied, "I still have things to handle. Cooperate." After saying that, he turned around and walked away without hesitation. Gianna stared at his back. The anger and frustration built up in her chest until she felt like she might explode. Steven was not stupid. Gianna had liked Zane for many years. Earlier that night in the private room, before Anneliese and the others arrived, Gianna had suddenly left with her three friends. Then this mess had happened. Later, Zane had also been called away by a family matter. As for Anahi and the other two, their fathers were all executives in Adrian''s logistics group. To put it inly, they all depended on the Malone family to survive. So whatever Gianna said was what went. Before this, he had only thought his younger sister was spoiled and a bit willful. He never expected that she could go so far as to set someone up like this. What shocked him even more was that she dared to use the family''s name to pull strings at the police station. She hadpletely crossed the line. Let her stay here and deal with this on her own. She needs to face it and think it through. In the back seat of the Anneliese held an ice pack and gently pressed it ainst Jessica''s face. Jonathan sat in the front passenger seat with his head lowered as he looked at his phone. The buzzing vibration did not stop. Jonathan nced at it and turned his head. "Zane keeps calling. Do you want to answer it?" He tilted the vibrating phone toward Jessica. Her eyes fell on the screen. The faint light from the phone lit up the bruise at the corner of her lips. She tugged her lips lightly. "Where is he?" After everything that had happened, Zane still had not shown up. Jessica felt it was painfully ironic. "He''s probably already on the ne. His grandmother fell, and he rushed back," Anneliese exined. She found the timing suspicious. Nothing had been confirmed, so she did not want to jump to conclusions. Jessica had already been through enough. She did not want to add to i. sw?ovels Even so, Jessica had clearly thought of it herself. Her eyes stung as she turned her head away and spoke. "Mr. Shayman is Mr. Fullbuster''s friend. You can decide what to do My matters have nothing to do with him anymore Please don''t tell him, too much Thank you. When Jonathan heard her say that everything between her and Zane was over, he raised his brows slightly. It seemed that after everything she suffered that night, all of Jessica''s pain and anger had turned toward Zane. He did not say anything to defend Zane. Zane had handled today''s incident poorly. For example, when they ran into Adrian and his group at the restaurant earlier, Gianna had insisted on eating together. Zane had agreed to it back then. Jonathan turned back around and casually swiped to hang up Zane''s call. He then opened his WhatsApp chat with him. On the screen was the message he had sent earlier when he found out Jessica was in trouble and had rushed out of the restaurant. ''You''d bettere back.'' The reply below it read, ''My grandma fell. I have to go back. I''m boarding now.'' Another line followed, ''Find Jessica and let her call me.'' Looking at the messages, Jonathan felt helpless. Zane''s call came in again. Jonathan felt annoyed and swiped to answer it. "Jonathan, did you find Jessica?" "Yeah, we found her." In the back seat, Jessica leaned against Anneliese''s shoulder. When she heard that, her body stiffened. Anneliese held her cold hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. She trusted Jonathan. Since he had promised Jessica not to tell Zane about her situation, he would keep his word. On the other end of the phone, when Zane heard that she had been found, his posture, immediately rxed as he leaned back into the wide first-ss seat. He tugged at his tie and said, "knew it She''s fine Sh? never just takes a loss quietly. What''s wrong with her phone? I couldn''t get through at all. Hand the phone to her. I want to talk to her." Chapter 615 The car was very quiet. Zane''s voice came through clearly, and Jessica heard every word even with her eyes closed. Hershes fluttered. A bitter, self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of her dark, pale lips. Not the type to quietly take losses? So even though he knew she was missing, he wasn''t worried at all. No, it wasn''t that he didn''t know how to worry. When he heard that his grandma had fallen, he had acted right away. In the end, it was simple. Jessica had never truly mattered to him. "She can''t talk right now. I''m hanging up," Jonathan said, then ended the call. The car fell into silence. At ten thousand meters in the air, Zane frowned slightly. He lowered the phone and looked at the ended call. "What a temper," he said. He spun the phone in his palm twice and didn''t think much of it. Since she had been found, she had to be with Anneliese now. Jonathan stayed glued to Anneliese. With that couple around, Jessica should be fine. Still, before putting his phone away, he opened WhatsApp and sent Jonathan a message, ''Help me look after her,'' Jonathan tapped a quick reply, ''I only look after my own woman. Come back and take care of her yourself. If you don''t, you''ll regret it.'' Right after Jonathan sent it, the back of his seat was kicked, not lightly and not too hard. He felt the clear pressure from Anneliese behind him. He shut off the screen at once, spun the phone in his hand, and slipped it into the inner pocket of his suit. Anneliese noticed Jessica''s hand was soaked with cold sweat. Her face had turned even paler. Anneliese urged Zion right away. "Zion, can you go faster?" Zion looked back. When he saw Jessica''s tightly shut eyes and the cold sweat covering her head, he was startled. "Okay," he said. Ten minutester, they arrived at the hospital. One of Jessica''s hands pressed against her stomach. The other clutched Anneliese''s hand tightly. "Baby... Anne, my baby..." The pain suddenly worsened. Anneliese panicked and rushed tofort her. "Don''t worry. I know. The doctors will save the baby." Jessica was rushed into the emergency room. Only then did Anneliese''s tears fall. Jonathan wrapped an arm around her. "She''ll be fine. Sit for a bit." He helped Anneliese to the waiting area. He took the water Zion handed over, twisted the cap open, and gave it to her. "Drink some water and calm down." Anneliese took it but only drank a small sip before she snapped in anger. "If Zane wants a business marriage, then he should stop stringing Jessica along. When something really happened the vanished fles such trash. I even thought he was decent before. I was blind again and again. Men are all trash!" Jonathan ended up dragged into it without meaning to. He gently rubbed her tense shoulders. "Honey, I''m a man too. Aren''t I good?" Anneliese looked at him. He puffed his cheeks on purpose and looked wronged. He actually looked a little cute. Her anger eased a bit, but she still reached up and pinched his face. "You hang out with a friend who''s so good at ying both sides. That doesn''t say much about you either. Who knows if you''ll turn bad from being around him!" Jonathan felt helpless. Even though he tried to stay out of it, he still got pulled in. He pulled her hand down and held it in hisrge palm while gently rubbing it. "Yeah, I really am good at ying both sides." Anneliese widened her eyes. Now she was the one who was puffed up with anger. He held both her hands, his gaze serious and focused, like he was holding something precious. Then he added, "But that''s because I only ever do that for you. If you''re cold, I''ll war you up if you''re hot coo you down: I''ll make sure everything stays just right." Warmth spread over Anneliese''s cheeks and all the way to her chest. She snorted softly and shot him a look. "You''re getting slick with your words now." Before she could finish, Jonathan lowered his head and kissed her lips twice. "What are you doing?!" Nurses and patients were passing by nearby. Anneliese pushed him away in a hurry. Jonathanughed softly. "I''m just proving that I''m not all talk. Everything I said is true." Anneliese didn''t know what to say. She suspected he had been attending some kind of husband-training ss these past few days. Sweet words kept slipping out of his mouth, and she could not handle it at all. She lightly twisted his arm in warning and changed the topic. "Gianna did something like this. She relied on the Malone family for everything. Will Steven protect her?" Jonathan pulled Anneliese into his arms. "Steven has his own standards for how he handles things. He reached his position at such a young age because he''s strict with himself and keeps his family in check. The Malone family cares about their reputation. As the next head of the family, even if he dotes on Gianna, he won''t let her act however she wants." Chapter 616 Anneliese nodded without saying much. She had met Steven before. Last time, Steven and Gianna''s mother, Wendy, had even saved her. She also liked Ellie a lot. Even India, who could have been considered a love rival, had never given her a bad feeling. Her overall impression of the Malone family was still good. Only Gianna stood out. Her personality and the way she handled things were nothing like her mother or brother. Anneliese found her truly annoying. "If anything happens to Jess'' baby, I''ll make her pay for it," Anneliese said. A cold look shed in her eyes. Jonathan lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Yeah. I''ll help you." "You''re the best," Anneliese said. She lifted her head and wrapped her arms around his waist. Just as their eyes met, a familiar and angry voice suddenly sounded from not far to their side. "What are you two doing?" The moment Anneliese heard that voice, her whole body stiffened. Her scalp went numb. Jonathan felt her tense up and pulled her closer to himself without thinking. Anneliese suddenly pushed him away. She stood up fast and turned her head. She saw Nishay standing not far away while still wearing a hospital gown. Anneliese''s face turned white. "Grand... Grandma... Why are you here?" They were in the emergency area of the obstetrics department. Earlier, Jonathan had chosen a restaurant near the hospital only because it was convenient for Anneliese to go back and forth. He had asked Zane to book it near the hospital where Nishay was staying. No one expected Jessica to suddenly get into trouble. She had been sent to the nearest hospital, which happened to be this one. She had run right into Nishay. When Nishay walked over, Jonathan also stood up. He moved slightly in front of Anneliese without thinking. He stood in a position where he could pull her behind him at any moment. His attitude stayed polite. "Grandma." Nishay''s eyes swept over the two of them. This time, she didn''t react as strongly as before. In the end, her eyes settled on Anneliese''s stomach. Her voice shook. "Anne, are you pregnant with his baby?" Anneliese froze for a second. She stayed speechless. When Nishay saw that Anneliese didn''t deny it at all, her vision went dark. Her body swayed. "Grandma!" Anneliese cried out. Jonathan had already stepped forward. He held Nishay steady. His voice was calm and firm. "Grandma, Anne en pregnant. We came with a friend. Please don''t worry. Without your permission, I would never let Anne get pregnant. She''s still young. We also don''t n to have a baby anytime soon." After hearing his words, which sounded both like a promise and reassurance, the dizziness in her head eased a little. She pulled her arm back and shook off Jonathan''s support. She said angrily, "That sounds nice. Didn''t you already go behind my back and trick Anne into marrying you?" On this point, Jonathan had nothing to say. He fell silent. When Anneliese saw the tension rising, she rushed over and supported Nishay''s other arm. "Grandma, I really am not pregnant." Even though Jessica and Derek had mentioned ways to get pregnant before, Anneliese had never truly thought about having a baby. Getting pregnant now would only make the conflict worse. On top of that, she wanted to work harder on her career for the next two years. Having a baby wasn''t in her ns Jonathan also didnt look like he was in a rush to be a father. After hearing Anneliese''s words, Nishay believed that she wasn''t lying. Still, she didn''t feel happy. She clearly remembered how the two of them had just been hugging and acting close without any hesitation. "So this is what you call breaking up? Anne, you never used to lie to me. Look at what you''ve be now." She looked at Anneliese with deep disappointment. Anneliese felt her breathing slow for a moment. Jonathan couldn''t stand seeing her scolded like this in public. He spoke in a low voice. "I was the one bothering her the whole time..." "Be quiet!" Nishay snapped. She grabbed Anneliese''s hand. "You''reing with me." Anneliese didn''t move. "Grandma, something happened to Jess. She''s still in the emergency room. Can you go back to your room first? promise that once Jess is okay, I''lle and exin everything to you." Nishay frowned. When she heard that Jessica was the one in trouble, she didn''t insist on dragging Anneliese away. She let go of her hand. Her face stayed dark. "Remember what you just said." She turned and walked toward the elevator. Jonathan nced at Zion beside him. Zion hurried to follow her. Once Nishay left, Anneliese''s shoulders slumped. Now Nishay knew that they had not broken up at all. Anneliese didn''t even know how angry she would be this time. Chapter 617 "Baby, you''re going to turn into a little olddy." She felt a gentle pressure between her brows. Jonathan''s voice stayed calm and steady. His thumb brushed over her forehead as he smoothed out the deep crease there. Anneliese felt his mood steady. The tight ache in her nerves finally began to ease. She let out a soft breath. He rubbed her forehead as he mentioned, "There''s great news too. Grandma didn''t have an episode this time, and she didn''t scold me either." She nodded. "You''re pretty optimistic, you know." The corner of Jonathan''s lips lifted. "Maybe I still have my trump card." She watched him and couldn''t tell whether he truly had a n or only acted calm tofort her. Either way, her emotions fully settled. She curved her lips into a small smile and rose on her toes to kiss his chin. "Good luck, hubby." That gentle and innocent kiss still stirred him. He reached out to pull her closer by the waist. At that moment, the door to the emergency room opened. Anneliese quickly grabbed Jonathan''s hand and walked over. "Doctor, how is my friend?" she said. "It was a threatened miscarriage. We already gave her a shot to help protect the pregnancy. She''s stable for now. She needs to stay in the hospital for three days so we can keep an eye on her. "The most important thing is that she stays calm. She can''t get upset again, and she really needs to stop overthinking and worrying." When Anneliese heard that the baby was safe, she finally rxed. "Thank you, doctor. When can my friende out?" she asked. "She can be moved to the ward right away," the doctor replied and left. ... Jessica was then pushed out in less than two minutes. She was awake, but her face still looked pale. Anneliese held Jessica''s hand. "The baby is fine. Don''t worry." Jessica moved her lips into a weak smile. The sight made Anneliese''s chest ache. She stayed with Jessica and went into the ward with her. They were at the obstetrics ward, so it wasn''t convenient for Jonathan to go in. He closed the door for them and turned toward the elevator, after which he entered Nishay''s ward. When he walked in, Nishay was sitting on the bed and leaning forward to reach for the TV remote on the table beside her. She wanted to turn off the TV because the noise annoyed her. Her fingers trembled, causing her to miss by a little. She was about to shift her body to reach again. At that moment, a well-shaped hand picked up the remote and turned off the TV. She looked at Jonathan and snapped in anger. "Who allowed you toe in? Who told you I wanted to turn off the TV?" Jonathan n''t react to her anger at didn''t all. His voice stayed gentle. "Grandma, knocked You didn''t hear I me worried that your good faight affect your health, so I came in on my own. If you still want to watch TV can turn it back on." Her angernded like weak punches, making it feel like there was no resistance whatsoever. She leaned back against the headboard and turned away from him. "My mood gets worse when I see you. Get out." Jonathan ced the remote where she could reach it easily. He pulled a chair over and sat beside the bed. He picked up an apple and a fruit knife. He lowered his eyes and began to peel it, saying, "As you can see, Anne and I didn''t separate. This isn''t because we don''t respect you your opinion. It''s because bot she and chose each other. We can''t do what you asked. I''m sorry Nishay turned back in disbelief. "Are you provoking me or showing off?" she said. Jonathan continued to peel the apple. He smiled faintly in helplessness. "Grandma, I''m not provoking you or showing off. I''m only stating the facts. I want to get along with you calmly. I respect you, and I also don''t want Anne to suffer. She lost weight over the past few days. Doesn''t that leave you hurt?" Nishay had seen Anneliese''s struggle and exhaustion. She wasn''t blind to it. Still, she felt just as upset and tormented. Why can''t Anne listen to me and leave this man? "If you don''t want her to suffer, then stay away from her yourself," a stubborn Nishay insisted. "Don''t say anything else. I don''t want to hear it." When Jonathan fell silent, she spoke again. "All of Anne''s suffering right now is your fault. If you hadn''t hidden the past and approached her with lies if you hadn''t tempted her, would she be trapped in this situation now? Don''t push all the me ontome. I cherish my granddaughter just can''t watch her get fooled by a scheming man like you." He had no way to deal with her stubbornness. He only cut the peeled apple into slices and handed one to Nishay. Chapter 618 "Grandma, why don''t you take a break and enjoy a piece before you continue scolding?" Jonathan suggested. There was no way Nishay would touch the fruit he had cut. "I''m not eating. Leave me alone!" He didn''t take offense. He popped a piece into his mouth, the crunch resonating as he bit down. Then, he remarked, "It tastes pretty good." She was so exasperated that she closed her eyes and refused to acknowledge his presence. Only then did he speak again. "Grandma, whether you ept it or not, I genuinely love Anne. She''s the only one for me in this lifetime. The reason I won''t let her go isn''t out of possessiveness, guilt, or the need to make amends. "It''s because I''m confident I can bring her happiness¡ªand because I don''t trust any other man to care for her the way she deserves." His words struck firmly, causing her heart to skip a beat. Nishay still kept her eyes closed, but the slight twitch of her nose and eyelids revealed that she wasn''t entirely unmoved. After a lengthy pause, she turned away from him and replied coldly, "We have such a long life ahead of us, and you have quite the ego!" Jonathan chuckled, never expecting Nishay to immediatelye to terms with things. In truth, he was somewhat surprised, and he thought, At least now, Grandma is willing to hear me out. A few days ago, she would''ve snapped the moment I opened my mouth and tossed me out before I had the chance to push my luck. He leaned down to adjust her nket. "Take care of yourself, Grandma. Live a long, healthy life and wait to see if I can prove myself." He turned and exited, carefully closing the door behind him. On the bed, Nishay''s chest rose and fell once before she let out a heavy, muffled sigh. Over in the obstetrics ward, Anneliese ced her hand on Jessica''s belly. "Baby, please don''t rm your mommy and Godmom like that again, okay?" Jessica''splexion seemed slightly better. "I''m fine. You don''t need to stay here. Go check on Grandma and then head home to rest." Outside, the sky had already bepletely dark. Anneliese still felt uneasy. "Are you sure you''re okay? Do you want a supporting hug?" Jessica smiled, though the smile didn''t reach her eyes. It appeared she had made up her mind. "Annie, I don''t want to tell Zane about this baby. I no longer want to have anything to do with him." Anneliese had reassured her multiple times that they could raise the baby together that there was no need to be afraid. However, now that Jessica had truly decided to be a single mother, and an unmarried one, Anneliese couldn''t help but feel a mix of heartache and worry. There was no judgment in her mind towards single mothers-in fact, she held a deep admiration for their bravery and strength. However, the journey was undeniably challenging. To nurture a child was no small feat, and the assistance one could receive from others was always limited. Only mothers truly grasped the magnitude of bringing a child into the world and raising them to be strong. Anneliese genuinely felt a pang of sympathy. In contrast, she offered a small smile. She rested her hands on her belly, feeling the little life growing within her. Her eyes became more determined by the moment. "Annie, do you have any idea what it''s been like to finally break away from the Johnson Family these past few months?" Anneliese softly shook her head. She smiled again, though there was a fleeting bitterness in her expression. "Initially, I was so joyful¡ªso relieved. It was as if I could finally inhale fresh air, instead of hiding like a mouse in a shadowy corner, constantly on the run. "But it didn''t take long for me to feel lost and drained. It was as if my life suddenlycked direction. I didn''t know what I was striving for anymore. On some nights, I would lie in bed feeling unbearably lonely and helpless." Anneliese leaned in and embraced Jessica tightly. "I''m so sorry." Since she became involved with Jonathan, she hadn''t been able to be there for Jessica as she once was. Jessica had never brought any of this up. She was always bright-full of life-so Anneliese thought that after escaping the Johnson Family, she''d been living happily and freely. Annelise had overlooked one crucial thing, though. Jessica never had any family. It wasn''t until she noticed the profound solitude surrounding her now that Anneliese understood she hadn''t been a very good bestie. Jessica gently stroked her back. "What do you have to apologize for? I''m just being overly dramatic." She let out a soft sigh. "But since I chose to keep this baby. It''s as if everything has transformed. Suddenly, I''m filled with thoughts, ns, and a newfound strength. "Honestly, Annie. This little one is the only person in this world who shares my blood. He''s my strongest link to this life. I''m determined to create a better future for my baby, and I aspire to be a better version of myself because of him." Anneliese chuckled. "Look at you-morphing into a fierce mama already. Is pregnancy truly this enchanting?" Her gaze wandered to Jessica''s abdomen-still t and unchanged. It was hard to believe that something so tiny could altera woman''s entire perspective like this. It made Anneliese ponder what motherhood felt like-filling her with a sense of wonder at the miracle of new life. Chapter 619 Jessica chuckled softly. "Yeah. My stomach suddenly cramped up in the car just now, and I was scared¡ªscared of losing my baby. So even if that unreliable man isn''t dependable, it doesn''t change the fact that I''m having this child. He''s my baby." Anneliese held her hand. "I told you I''ll be there for you no matter what you choose. But, are you truly certain you won''t tell Zane?" She shook her head. "I''m certain. He doesn''t care about me that much, and his family would never ept me. I was too na?ve before. The reality is, he and I were never meant to be." She thought, I have always known that Zane and I aren''t meant for each other. But once I be pregnant, I start hoping again-hoping that I can fight for a future for myself and my child. But reality hits me hard. If Anneliese hadn''te tonight, I wouldn''t know how long I might have been trapped at the police station, or what could have happened to me. My baby might not have made it. And I can''t rely on Anneliese every single time. Whether Zane is misled into leaving or his grandmother really has an emergency. The truth is the same: he knows I''m missing and still walks away without a second thought. Ultimately, he just doesn''t care enough. I am done risking myself and my child''s future on a man who doesn''t value them. Things haven''t even gone that far yet, and Gianna has already taught me such a harsh lesson. If Gianna ever finds out about my pregnancy, am I really expected to depend on Zane to take care of the baby and me? She had thought it through. It''s time to remove the father from the equation and focus on the child. Anneliese noticed Jessica''s reddening eyes, feeling a pang in her own heart. "Jess, Jonathan mentioned that when Zane was younger, he was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather passed away, and he was very close to his grandma. It makes sense that he was anxious when he heard she had fallen. And he and Gianna-they''re not officially engaged yet. Nothing''s set in stone," she exined. Jessica still shook her head. "If it''s not Gianna, it''ll be Gianna Hart, Gianna Bet, Gianna Sinir, and there will always be someone else. It''s just not worth holding on any longer. It''s not like I can''t survive without Zane." Jessica lifted her shoulders. "Nowadays, many women decide to have children without wanting the man involved. And honestly? Even a sperm bank can''t guarantee that you''ll find a donor with genes as good as his. So if you look at it that way, I''m really not giving up anything, am I?" She gave Anneliese a yful wink. Anneliese realized that she had truly made up her mind and simply nodded, letting the matter rest. "You''re right. We won''t tell him, then. So¡ªwhat''s your n?" Anneliese inquired. She thought, There''s no way Jessica can hide a pregnancy forever. Sooner orter, her belly will show. And even though Zane''s family lives in Halden, hisw firm is in Oceaton¡ªthat''s where he spends most of his time. If Jessica wants to raise the baby on her own, staying in the same city as him clearly isn''t an option. A faint excitement flickered in Jessica''s eyes. "Annie, I''ve saved up a bit over the past few years. I want to study abroad-pick up the dream I had before everything fell apart. Will you help me?" Anneliese''s smile softened, seeing the color return to her face. "Of course I''ll help you. You''re thinking about studying interior design overseas, right?" Her mind drifted back to that summer after their SAT exams-Jessica leaning on her shoulder as they sat on the bleachers, staring up at the endless night sky, dreaming out loud. "Annie, one day I''m going to be an interior designer!" Jessica shouted. Anneliese knew she had never really had a home of her own. She''d always yearned for one. Maybe that was why she wanted so much to create homes for others. Jessica had scored well on her SAT exam and got into Briarwood University''s architecture program. But just when she thought she''d finally escaped the suffocating Johnson Family and could chase her dreams, reality hit brutally. The Johnson Family had quietly tampered with her college applications¡ªand she didn''t even get a single day of university before her life became one long escape. "Annie, do you really think I can do it?" Jessica''s voice trembled. She''d lost so many years, and now she was pregnant. Her confidence was barely hanging on. But she also knew she couldn''t go on living like this. Jessica wanted to change. She wanted a future she could actually see for herself-even if the road ahead was covered in thorns. She wanted to prove she sn''t infere to anyone. She wanted her baby to be proud of her someday. Anneliese pulled her into a warm hug. "I think you can absolutely do it. Look at the apartment you''re renting you decorated it so well thendlord took pictures and posted them in the neighborhood group chat. People keep stopping by to ask for advice! And hey, I lost my way I for years too. But here ram, back on track. Let''s chase our dreams together!" Chapter 620 The light in Jessica''s eyes grew even brighter. She smiled and leaned against Anneliese''s shoulder. "Honestly, I''ve been quietly teaching myself some professional courses these past few years. It''s not formal training, but I''ve sketched numerous design drafts. I can scrape together a decent portfolio. I know I won''t be able to get into a top international university anytime soon, but I should be able to find a university willing to ept me. I just need a rmendation letter," she dered. Anneliese nodded. "Leave that to me. Right now, your only job is to rest. You need to be healthy before you can handle anything else!" She nodded again. She finally felt herself rx with Anneliese helping her sort out her thoughts and resolve the biggest obstacle in front of her. Just then, a knock came at the door. Anneliese helped her to lie down properly before walking over to open it. The person standing outside was Zion, holding an insted food carrier in one hand and a phone box in the other. "Mrs. Fullbuster and Ms. Sweeting haven''t had dinner yet. Mr. Fullbuster had nutritious meals prepared from Moonstone Pavilion. Ms. Sweeting is expected-she can''t go hungry. Please eat something before resting." He set the tworge food containers on the bedside cab, then lifted the phone box. "We found Ms. Sweeting''s phone, but it was damaged. So we reced it with a new model. The SIM card is already installed." He handed the phone to Anneliese, who epted it. Anneliese hadn''t expected Jonathan to be so thoughtful and meticulous, and her smile softened. Jessica smiled too, shooting her a look filled with pure envy. "Make sure you thank your husband for me." Then she turned to Zion. "And thank you as well, Mr. Hand. It''s sote now, and you still had to handle all this for me." "It''s no trouble. Mr. Fullbuster pays very well for overtime. Ms. Sweeting, take care of yourself and recover soon. I''ll head out first," Zion replied. But Anneliese looked up at him and questioned, "Where is he?" Zion hadn''t mentioned that Jonathan had gone downstairs to meet Anneliese''s grandmother. He wasn''t sure his boss wanted her to know. "Mr. Fullbuster likely had something urgent to deal with. Mrs. Fullbuster, please have dinner before it gets cold." Anneliese nodded. She stayed with Jessica while they ate, cleaned up afterward, and only left when Jessica practically pushed her out. When the room fell silent again, Jessica rested a hand on her belly and closed her eyes, though sleep refused toe. She powered on her phone, and a wave of missed calls and messages flooded the screen. Zane had called eight times and sent four or five WhatsApp messages. She couldn''t tell if he was always this busy-or if she simply wasn''t important to him. She cleared the missed-call alerts, and she felt utterly numb. Then she opened WhatsApp. His most recent messages said nothing meaningful¡ªjust that he had to return to Halden unexpectedly, and a vague question about what was going on with her. Thest message had arrived only thirty minutes earlier: ''Good as long as you''re fine. I''ll talk to you when I''m back.'' Cold and mechanical. He hadn''t asked what had happened or whether she was really okay. And he definitely hadn''t apologized for bailing on her tonight. From just a few scattered clues, the truth of their rtionship was obvious. He had always stood above her-distant, detached, andpletely out of reach. Jessica scrolled through their old messages and finally saw it clearly. She thought, He never texts me just to talk, never bothers to ask about my life or how I''m doing. Almost every time he reaches out, it''s to hook up. And on the rare asions he isn''t avable, he just flirts a little and leaves it at that. It''s embarrassing, honestly. I once convinced myself that Zane might actually care about me-that having his child might somehow keep Sve. Content whatever we had A sudden, piercing pain tightened in her chest, as if even Jessica''s own heart was mocking her for being so na?ve. She shut off her phone and drew in a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself but the tears slipped out anyway-quiet, unstoppable, tracing down her cheeks. When Anneliese stepped into her grandmother''s hospital room, Nishay was already lying down. Relieved, she tiptoed closer to pull the nket up only for Nishay''s eyes to open abruptly. "Oh, Grandma, you''re still awake?" She nearly jumped. Her grandmother gave her a pointed look. "That guilty face of yours says it all." She instantly wilted. "Grandma, I didn''t mean to keep it from you. I tried to break up with him truly¡ªbut I just couldn''t." Anneliese clung gently to her grandmother''s sleeve. She pleaded, "Grandma, is it really impossible? What do you need from him-what would it take for you to give him, give us a chance? Even people on death row get a few years for rehabilitation. You can''t just sentence him on sight." Chapter 621 Anneliese looked at Nishay with hopeful eyes. In truth, she hadn''t expected her desperate plea to work at all-yet, to her astonishment, Nishay slowly reached out a trembling hand toward her. "You want to give him a chance?" she said quietly. "Fine. Then, I''ll give him that chance. Help me sit up." Anneliese froze for several seconds before quickly rushing forward to support her. Her heart pounded. She insisted, "Grandma, are you serious? Or are you just saying that tofort me?" Something about Nishay''s attitude tonight felt strange-unsettlingly calm. She had been fully prepared for an explosion of anger after being caught sneaking around with Jonathan. Instead of fury, Nishay was instead talking about giving him a chance. Once Nishay was sitting upright, Annelise carefully propped a pillow behind her back. She patted the edge of the bed. Anneliese sat down beside her with lingering unease. After a long silence, she spoke, her voice low and heavy. "Do you think I''ve been unreasonable all these years? Too harsh and too heartless?" Anneliese shook her head immediately. "No, Grandma. I know you''ve never been able to let go of what happened to Dad." She slowly shook her head. "What if I told you that the real person responsible for your father''s death has never been brought to justice?" Anneliese''s body stiffened. Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the bedsheet. "What do you mean?" she asked softly. "Haven''t you always believed it was all because of Jonathan? That''s why you refused to ept him and hated him." A coldugh slipped from Nishay''s lips. "He was at fault. That night, your father could have escaped safely. He had already carried Jonathan out of the fire. But Jonathan told him that there were still people trapped inside the vi. Your father handed him over to Mr. Belmort without hesitation and rushed back in." Her voice trembled slightly. "And then the explosion happened. The only one who died was your father. There wasn''t a single other person inside that fire. Tell me¡ª how could I not hate him? If he hadn''t said those words, would your father have thrown his own life away?" Anneliese''s hands twisted together tightly, her chest aching as if something were strangling her heart. She had been too young back then. No one had ever told her the truth. She never knew things had happened this way. The thought that my father might still be alive-if not for that one sentence... No. I can''t let myself sink into Grandma''s hatred. I can''t let myself drown in that resentment. "Grandma." She tried to speak, but Nishay cut her off again. "Your father''s body waspletely destroyed in the fire. Don''t you think the truth behind his death deserves to be uncovered? And if someone truly bears responsibility¡ªshouldn''t they face thew?" Nishay insisted. She lowered her gaze and nodded slowly. "Of course." Nishay''s eyes hardened, turning cold and razor-sharp. "But the investigation back then concluded it was an ident caused by faulty wiring. Yet that vi had been built less than five years ago." She frowned, her face paling. "Grandma, wiring can still deteriorate within five years if the environment is bad or if it''s misused." "The vi was barely lived in and was meticulously maintained. Poor conditions? Impossible." Nishay''s voice grew sharper. "Baytree even suffered a flood that year, but personally checked¡ªthe vi stood on high groun of water und. Not a drop reached it. "I was dissatisfied with the results and reported it to your father''s superiors. And what did I get in return? Vague excuses and deliberate evasions! Hah, the Fullbuster family in Halden-so-called pirs of virtue!" she shouted. A chill seeped into Anneliese''s limbs as she stared at Nishay in disbelief. "You believe the fire was deliberately set, and the only ones capable of doing it were the Fullbuster family And they even helped the culprit escape punishment." Tears streamed down Nishay''s face, her voice breaking into a hoarse cry. "Anne, your parents and your brother died so unjustly. So painfully unjustly!" She clutched at her chest and struck it with trembling fists, overwhelmed by grief and agony. Anneliese''s tears fell instantly. She quickly grabbed Nishay''s hands and leaned in hugging the frail, shaking woman tightly. "Grandma, don''t? worry will find out the truth. Whoever deserves punishment will not escape I swear will never let the person responsible for my family''s deaths walk free!" Rage burned in Nishay''s heart¡ªrage that her family had been robbed of justice, rage that power and privilege had shielded a murderer. She thought, How can a family like the Fullbusters-hiding corruption beneath a righteous fa?ade ever be trusted? Anneliese gently patted her back, her own voice trembling yet resolute. Only after a long while did she slowly calm down. She wiped away her tears and said softly, "Fine. If Jonathan can hand over the arsonist and make sure they''re punished, then I will give him a chance." Anneliese nodded and carefully helped her lie back down. "Grandma, you''re not feeling well. Get some rest. I understand." She tucked the nket around her, turned off the light, and held her hand, gently patting it. Nishay''s breathing gradually steadied. Just as Anneliese was about to loosen her grip and leave, she suddenly grabbed her hand in return. Her voice was faint-yet chilling. "What if the one who caused the fire was Jonathan himself?" Chapter 622 Hearing those words, Anneliese felt the blood in her veins turn to ice. She instinctively denied the possibility. Her grandmother continued to press her, unyielding. "Well?" "If it''s him, I would never be with him." Her throat constricted, burning as the words escaped her lips. "Don''t forget those words." At the police station, Gianna and the three other women, including Anahi, found themselves confined to the same holding room that had once held Jessica. They had each been interrogated separately for an ufortably long time before being reunited. At this point, whatever mour or arrogance they once carried had drained from their faces. They looked utterly disheveled, theirplexions as pale as ghosts. "Why won''t they let us make any phone calls?" one of them sobbed. "Please, Gianna, can''t you call your father or your brother? We can''t spend the night here!" "There isn''t even a chair to sit on in here! You have to do something, Gianna! We only did this for you!" "You said Jessica was just a nobody! Gianna, you''re the heiress of the Malone family-how could you not even deal with her? And now you''ve dragged us down with you... If we had known..." "Are you done?" Gianna snapped, cutting them off irritably. Like the other three, her nerves were frayed to the breaking point. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to call for help. She had tried, but the police had refused to let her contact her family, clearly acting under strict orders to cut them off from the outside world. Her brother had known she was being held at the station¡ªand to her horror, he had done nothing to help. If her brother ignored her, and she couldn''t contact her father for help... She didn''t even dare to imagine the consequences. No. Absolutely not. I have to save myself. Reaching out, she grabbed Anahi by the cor and hissed in a low voice, "This whole mess is your fault in the first ce! If they question you again, you''ll tell them it was your idea. You''re the one who couldn''t stand Jessica. You were in a bad mood when she offended you, so you decided to teach her a lesson. And you''re the one who bribed Erick to help us. Do you understand?" Anahi''s face went white with fear. "What? You know that''s not true! And bribing a cop would give me a criminal record! I..." Gianna snarled coldly, "Shut it. If you hadn''t refused to inflict an actual injury on yourself and instead chosen to barely scrape your skin-then run off clubbing afterward¡ªwe wouldn''t be stuck in this position! "Listen carefully. If you don''t do exactly as I say, I''ll have your father kicked out of the Malone Group the moment I''m out of here. Think about how fell punish you then Maybe hell really send you off to marry Mr. Bowers, hmm?" Thest traces of color quickly drained from Anahi''s face. Her father had always valued sons over daughters to an extreme degree. It was no exaggeration to say he cared nothing for her. He had even arranged to marry her off to Ignacio Bowers, a business partner of the Malone Group¡ªan aging man well past fifty. If she hadn''t clung desperately to Gianna, proving to her father she still had some worth, she would''ve been forced into that marriage long ago. The thought filled her with dread. She couldn''t afford to offend Gianna. If she caused her father to be kicked out of the Malone Group, she didn''t dare imagine what would happen to her afterward. But why? Why should she take the me? It had all been Gianna''s doing! In the end, she bit her lip and nodded reluctantly. But her lowered eyes were red, filled with humiliation and resentment. Gianna wasn''t released from the police station until noon the next day. The ring sunlight stabbed at her eyes. After a sleepless night in the holding cell, her eyes were burning and swollen. Shame and fury burned in her heart. Steven''s driver was waiting outside the police station. Stepping forward, he opened the car door and said, "Ms. Malone, Mr. Malone has instructed me to send you home so you can reflect on your actions." She had her own residence in Oceaton. Since she loved the party scene and despised being restricted, she had avoided living with her elders. She preferred to live on her own, frequently staying out all night with her friends. The driver clearly meant to send her back to her own residence. She stared at him in disbelief, acting almost as though he had pped her in the face. "I''m not reflecting on anything! He''s the one who should reflect on his actions! Get lost!" After yelling at the driver, she stormed away and gged down a cab. Then, she left without a backward nce. The driver was just one of the many employees in the family. Powerless against his employers, he could do nothing but endure her temper. He immediately called Steven to report, "Mr. Malone Ms. Malone has refused to enter the car. She left in a cab. She also said..." His words trailed away as he hesitated to continue. Steven was working at the Oceaton sub-bureau. He didn''t even nce away from his paperwork while listening to the report. "Say it." "She said the one who should reflect isn''t her, but you." The driver had no intention to cover for Gianna, though he didn''t bother exaggerating her words either. Steven signed the file, then closed it. Tapping his pen against the paper, he sank into thought. The punishment had clearly been too light. Gianna showed no awareness of her wrongdoing and now, she was resentful as well. Gianna took the cab directly to the most luxurious gated enve in Oceaton. Nestled between mountains and water, the area was serene and lush Vis were scattered throughout like stars among the dense greenery, and from the outside, it was impossible to even glimpse any of the residents within. Chapter 623 The Malone family''s residence in Oceaton was located here. Gianna hurried into the vi. Adrian happened to be lounging in the living room, engrossed in the financial news on his iPad, when her hurried, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. The sound made him look up in surprise. "Gianna? What happened to you?" She looked utterly disheveled her clothes rumpled, her hair tangled, and her face drawn and haggard. Before entering the house, she had deliberately messed with her outfit, tousled her hair, and scratched her face, leaving two bright red welts on her cheek. Her appearance was aplete wreck. "Dad!" she wailed, sobbing, tears streaming down her face. "Dad, I''ve been bullied!" He sprang to his feet, rmed. Without a moment''s hesitation, she threw herself into his arms, and he held her close, patting her back gently as he tried to soothe her. "Hush, don''t cry. Tell me, who bullied you? I''ll definitely make them pay!" At that moment, Pepper walked out carrying a te of freshly cut fruit, dressed in casual loungewear that made her seem gentle and soft. The sight of Gianna sobbing in her father''s arms startled her. She immediately set the te down on a nearby table and hurried over. "What''s going on?" Her voice overflowed with concern. "Aunt Pepper!" Throwing herself at Pepper, Gianna broke into huge sobs. It took a long time of coaxing before she calmed enough to choke out the story. "That woman was the one who shoved Anahi first! "At the time, Anahi was bleeding so badly. It was terrifying. I was so shocked by the blood that I didn''t even realize she was only pretending. When we were brought to the police station, I just wanted to stand up for my friend, and I admit¡ªI may have been a little harsh with my words. "It turned out she''s a friend of Jonny''s new wife, Anneliese. The two of them were so slick and persuasive, speaking so charmingly that Jonny believed everything they said. They even managed to fool Steven! He didn''t help me, even when he arrived at the station." Her tears fell harder, her voice thick with unspoken grievances. "I was held at the police station for nearly an entire day and night!" "Anneliese?" Adrian frowned. He knew Jonathan had married recently, though little was known about the bride¡ª her background was obscure, her origins aplete mystery. He could never have guessed that she possessed such cunning. "I met Anneliese when I was visiting my sister the other day." Pepper gently dabbed at Gianna''s tears, her voice soft andforting. "She is quite a troublesome woman indeed." He nced at her, slightly astonished. "Why was she at your sister''s ce?" "She fainted after walking into my sister''s car. You know my sister''s personality-she''s always so trusting never wary of others. She gave small sigh. "She brought Anneliese home and even called a private doctor to treat her "Gianna and Lhappened to drop by at the time Anneliese, exploiting my sister''s fondness for her, was shockingly rude to us behind her back. I don''t know, now, but she managed to gain my sister soplete trust-and even made Gianna cry. She truly is a very crafty woman." Though she didn''t say anything outright, her words strongly suggested that Anneliese had recognized Wendy and intentionally orchestrated the ident to get closer to her sister. His frown deepened at those words. "Jonathan has always been shrewd and ruthless in business¡ªbut I never expected him to be such a mess in his personal life." She sighed again. "It''s only natural that you can read a woman''s intentions at a nce, Adrian. Mr. Fullbuster is simply too young to have developed that level of insight. And, of course, Anneliese is very beautiful." As soon as he heard that Anneliese was gorgeous, his irritation spiked. "I''ll call Steven immediately and give him a proper scolding! How could he fail to protect his own sister and side with someone else instead? Adrian grabbed his phone to dial Steven''s number, but Gianna quickly rushed over and grabbed his arm. "Let it go, Dad. Steven''s working right now anyway. His only fault was trusting Jonny too much and thinking that disciplining me was the right move. I won''t hold it against him. "Besides, Jonny has assigned Anneliese to the sameb as me. Soon, she''ll even bepeting in thepetition you''re sponsoring the same me I''m entering. We''ll be seeing each other all the time. I don''t want to make a scene; it could hurt the rtionship between the Malones and the Fullbusters." Rubbing her swollen eyes, she made herself appear as pitiful as possible. "It''s alright now, Dad. I''m feeling better after crying it out. I''m exhausted, so I''ll head to my room to rest." Her wilted posture desperately enduring the grievance for the sake of peace- stabbed him deeply. He thundered, "She was even assigned to yourb? We can''t just sit back and do nothing. If we don''t teach her a lesson, she''ll think the Malone family is an easy target. She''ll just keep bullying you!" Grabbing his phone, he barked instructions to his assistant, "Check whether there''s a contestant named Anneliese ude in the uingpetition, and cancel her eligibility immediately!" "Dad....." She squeezed his hand tightly. "Won''t Jonny get mad? Anneliese is good atining." He grunted coldly. "No matter how capable he is, he''s still younger than me. Do you think I''d be helpless against his wife?" "You''re the best, Dad!" Snuggling into her father''s arms, she affectionately nuzzled him. Chapter 624 Adrian patted Gianna on the back affectionately. "Oh dear... are you saying I don''t love you?" Pepper joined them with a mischievous grin. Spearing a piece of mango, she brought it to Gianna''s lips. Gianna eagerly took a bite. "Yum, it''s so sweet! You''re the best, Aunt Pepper! I know how much you love me. Dad, you should try a bite too!" Picking up another piece of mango with a fresh fork, Pepper brought it to Adrian''s mouth. Adrian reached out to take the fork, but Gianna was clinging to him so tightly that he couldn''t move his arm. In the end, he could only open his mouth and ept the mango directly from Pepper''s hand. Pepper smiled. "Is it sweet? I know how much you love mangoes, Adrian, so I picked these specially for you. The ripeness should be just right." "It''s not bad." He nodded. "Thank you. You''re really thoughtful." Hearing his praise, she pressed her lips together, trying to hide the smile that threatened to escape. Gianna''s gaze flicked between the two of them, then she covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. "We look like a family of three right now." Pepper blushed, but before she could say anything, Adrian scowled darkly. "Gianna!" he scolded, his expression stern. "Why are you snapping at me, Dad?" Gianna flinched, the color draining from her face. "Is it wrong for me to want a warm, happy family? Mom would rather protect a stranger than care about me! Aunt Pepper is the only one who shows me any motherly love!" Tear welled again in her swollen eyes. Heartbroken, she leaped to her feet and ran upstairs. "Don''t be mad at Gianna, Adrian. She''s just a child." Pepper fought hard not to cry. Her face had gone pale, and her body trembled as though she might copse at any time. "It''s all my fault..." Seeing her about to faint, Adrian instinctively stood to support her. "Adrian..... was I wrong?" she whispered, leaning against his shoulder, tears blurring her vision. He patted her shoulderfortingly. "You said it yourself¡ªshe''s just a child. Don''t take her words to heart." "I just felt sorry for her," she murmured, nodding quietly. "She has always longed for parents who loved each other¡ªfor a warm,plete family. But that wish..... will nevere true." Thinking of Wendy, his eyes darkened with gloom. He gently released Pepper, then sank back into his seat and crossed his legs with a weary sigh. "Yeah... I don''t even know if I''ll ever win your sister back." She secretly clenched her fists, nails digging into her palm. Her eyes burned with frustration and resentment. Her words were meant tofort him-not remind him of her sister. Why? After all these years... I''m the one who stood by his side, offering him warmth and care. I''m the one who stayed through thick and thin. Yet... why? Why does he only have eyes for her? "I''m sorry, Adrian. I didn''t mean it that way..." Her expression softened with worry as she moved to sit beside him, her voice warm and soothing. "Please don''t be upset. I really don''t understand how my sister can be so cold hearted. It''s been so many years. Even as a bystander, I was moved by your sincerity. Yet she stil refuses to see how much you''ve done for her." She reached for his hand, but he withdrew his hand. "I''m fine. How did it end up with youforting me instead?" His voice was soft and gentle. Her fingers stiffened for a moment before sheposed herself. Then she smiled and mock-scolded him, "See? It just proves how bad you are atforting women." A bitter smile tugged at his lips. If I''d been good atforting women, then I would''ve soothed the hurt I caused my ex-wife and coaxed her home by now. Feeling slightly down, Adrian decided to change the topic. He didn''t want to continue talking about his ex-wife. Taking a bank card from his wallet, he handed the card to Pepper. "There''s ten million on the card..." Pepper blinked in shock, then she hurriedly grabbed his hand and tried to refuse. "What are you doing, Adrian? You''ve already helped me so much over the years. I can''t take this money!" "It''s not for you. Gianna must be feeling upset after being wronged, so I hope you''d spend some time with her." Her gaze softened immediately. Moved by his actions, she squeezed his hand tightly. Tears shimmered in the depths of her eyes. Gianna lucky to have you as her father. I take back what I said earlier." He simply pushed the card into her hand. "It''s alright. You should go check on Gianna." Nodding, she tucked the card away and moved the te of mangoes closer to him. "Have some more. I prepared them myself, so don''t let them go to waste." He nodded. Then, she went upstairs. ... Upstairs. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Gianna finally restored her usual polished appearance. The disheveled mess from earlier was trace Sitting on her, gone without a bed, she dialed Adrian''s assistant. "About Anneliese ude... You received my father''s instructions, right?" The assistant confirmed quickly, assuring her that he was already making the necessary arrangements. She smirked, a twisted pleasure curling at the corners of her lips. Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, she added, "Don''t notify her yet. Wait for my call. Understand?" It wouldn''t be fun if she discovered so quickly that her ce in thepetition had already been taken from her. Chapter 625 Anneliese would definitely go crying to Jonathan if she knew in advance. No. It''s better to let her get all dressed up, only to be denied at the door when she shows up for thepetition. That would be satisfying to watch indeed. "Understood, Ms. Malone." Much of the frustration in Gianna''s heart dissipated when she heard the confirmation from her father''s assistant. She hung up the phone and turned to see Pepper standing there. "Aunt Pepper?" She wasn''t worried that her aunt might have overheard the phone call. Compared to her mother, who was always cold and strict, her aunt had always loved her and spoiled her even cleaning up countless messes on her behalf. Five years ago, when she was still in high school, she had once "taught a lesson" to an annoying girl. Who could have predicted the girl''s psychological state would be so fragile? It had been just some mild bullying and istion, but the girl spiraled into depression and threw herself off a building. Though she survived the fall, she ended up paralyzed from the chest down. Her family had threatened to make a huge scene over the incident. Gianna had been terrified, certain her parents would learn about what she had done. But, in the end, it was her aunt who quietly "handled" everything. After that incident, she became even more dependent on her aunt. "Are you still feeling upset?" Stepping forward, Pepper embraced Gianna. Her hand gently caressed her niece''s cheek, which looked haggard fromck of sleep. Gianna gritted her teeth in fury. "That d*mned Anneliese and Jessica! They''re nothing but bottom-feeders from the slums. They''re absolutely disgusting! Why are Jonny and Zane attracted to trash like them? And my brother too-he even helped them bully me! I''m starting to wonder if he even considers me his sister!" Aplicated expression flickered through Pepper''s eyes¡ªstruggle, pain, conflict. Of course, she wasn''t Steven''s sister. She''s my daughter... and Steven''s cousin. How she wished she could tell Gianna the truth and openly acknowledge her daughter..... but the time wasn''t right. She silently reminded herself, Patience. I just need to wait until I''vepletely won over Adrian... then we''ll be a real family. "Gianna, Jessica isn''t worth your time. Getting your hands dirty fighting her will only lower your own worth. It''ll also make Zane think poorly of you. Focus on the man you love. As long as Zane favors you, other women don''t matter. Don''t lose sight of what''s important." Gianna pouted, sulking. "I want Zane to love me, I really do. But he''s always so busy! I barely see him! And he keeps treating me like a little sister. Now he''s distracted by that little tramp Jessica... I can''t get close to him at all!" "Then make her disappear." Pepper stroked Gianna''s hair gently. "Take advantage of the situation. When Zane starts feeling empty, you can step in and keep himpany instead." Gianna brightened at the suggestion. "How can I make her disappear?" "Don''t worry about that." Pepper smiled faintly. "I''ll figure it out." "Aunt Pepper, you''re the best! I love you the most!" Anneliese had been staying with Jessica for the past few days. But now that Jessica was hospitalized, she had to spend the night alone. She had not driven today¡ªJessica had, and her car was still parked by the restaurant. She didn''t bother calling a cab as she left the hospital. Strolling down the sidewalk, her mind reying everything her grandmother had said. The words echoed relentlessly. Was there really something more to the fire back then? Her thoughts spun wildly, a chaotic mess she couldn''t contain. Taking out her phone, she dialed the number of her father''s colleague, Brody Belmort. Brody had served as the deputy captain at the time, apanying Frederick on that mission Ten years. ago, he was promoted to the Chief of the fire department''s sub-bureau, but he had since retired. As the dial tone beeped in her ears, she suddenly realized it was already close to ten at night. The elderly often slept early. Knowing her timing wasn''t appropriate, she moved to hang up-but the call connected. "Anne? Is that you?" "Yes, it''s me, Mr. Belmort. I''m sorry for calling sote. I hope I didn''t disturb your rest." They briefly exchanged some polite greetings, then Brody got straight to the point. "Anne, you only call me when something''s wrong. What''s going on?" "I can''t hide anything from you, Mr. Belmort." She gave a smallugh nodding slightly. "I wanted to ask about the fire... the one where my father died. I want to know the details. He paused. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?" "I have my reasons, Mr. Belmort. If it''s not too much, could you tell me what happened?" Though he sighed, he began recounting the events. "So... the only people inside the vi that day were Keh Fullbuster, Elizabeth Holf, and their child, right? No one else came or went?" "Yeah, that''s right." "I heard from my grandmother that... the investigation concluded it was an idental fire." A long pause followed her question. His hesitation was obvious, but he eventually answered, "Anne, it''s been so many years. Digging up the past won''t change anything Neither you nor your grandmother should remain chained to that incident forever. "By the way, I heard your grandmother''s health has been declining recently, so you brought her to Oceaton to look after her. How is she doing now?" Chapter 626 Brody''s obvious attempt to change the subject was both abrupt and clumsy. If the fire had truly been an unambiguous ident, he would have just told her the truth directly. Instead, his roundabout assurance made him seem evasive, as though he was deliberately hiding something, hoping she wouldn''t notice. Anneliese continued chatting for a few more minutes before gloomily ending the call. Standing on the dimly lit street, she was overwhelmed by a wave of dizziness. She leaned against a tree to steady herself, her breathing fast and shallow. The branches above swayed in the wind, casting eerie shadows across the pavement. A sudden sense of being watched prickled her skin, sending a chill sliding down her spine. She whipped around in panic, heart hammering in her chest. But the sidewalk was empty. Only two figures appeared in the distance. Judging by their pace and posture, they were nothing more than random pedestrians passing by. However, she couldn''t calm down. Quickening her pace, she pulled out her phone to hail a cab. It didn''t take long for the ride-hailing app to show that a driver had epted her request. Then she reached into her bag for the pepper spray. Wrapping her fingers around the small canister in her hands made her feel just a little safer. At that moment, she noticed a shadow approaching from behind. She immediately lengthened her strides, but the shadow gained on her with rming speed. A hand shot out, reaching for her. The moment she felt something touching her shoulder, she screamed in panic and wildly sprayed the pepper spray behind her. Strong arms locked around her waist despite her resistance. She struggled frantically, thrashing around in fear when a low, familiar voice entered her ears. "Shh! It''s me!" She froze, then slowly turned around. It really was Jonathan. He was looking a little worse for wear. In holding back to avoid hurting her, he had left himself exposed, which meant he couldn''t defend himself against her assault. More than half his face was now covered in the harsh, stinging spray. His right eye was so swollen he could barely even open it. "Did it get into your eyes?" Flustered and angry at herself, she quickly grabbed a tissue and gestured for him to lower his head. "What were you thinking? Why did you sneak up on me like that? Couldn''t you have said something first?" He gave a helplessugh. "I didn''t think you''d react so strongly. Were you trying to murder your own husband?" Eyes closed, he obediently allowed her to hold his chin with one hand and wipe his face with the other. Just then, Zion brought the car over. Seeing what had happened, he quickly rushed over with a bottle of water. Anneliese deftly cleaned Jonathan''s face with some tissues and water until he could finally open his eyes again. He blinked slightly, then took her hand and led her into the car. Zion tactfully raised the divider. "Does it still hurt?" Anneliese leaned over to check on Jonathan''s eye. An arm looped around her waist. Jonathan lifted her lightly, rearranging her position so that she straddled hisp. His shirt cor was open; his white shirt was stained with residue from the pepper spray. His temple and forehead were damp. Even his, usuallycold dark eyes were reddened, the corners flushed, giving him a vulnerable charm. On anyone else, this appearance might have seemed weak and pathetic. But with his striking feature, illuminated by the flickering neon lights outside the window he exuded a fragile allure that he ry possessed instead. Looking at him sent a sudden rush of heat to her cheeks, making her pulse race uncontrobly. He leaned back into his seat, his voice tinged withint. "My eyes still hurt." Guilt instantly flooded her. Leaning closer, she cupped his face. "Should I blow on them for you?" She gently blew on his eyes. "Hiss..." He gasped in pain, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. His eyes reddened further. She pressed her lips together, annoyed at herself. When heined that his eyes hurt, she had instinctively blown on them. Though she was trying to help, she had forgotten injury wasnt cut blowing on his eyes only worsened the irritation. He grabbed her chin. "Was that on purpose?" "No, it really wasn''t!" She shook her head frantically. He raised an eyebrow. "Call me Hubby, and I''ll believe you." Sliding her arms around his neck, she whispered into his ear. "I''m sorry, Hubby." Her voice was soft and yful, utterly enchanting. It had been so long since they were together... His breath hitched, desire flooding through his body. His hand mped down on her waist, and suddenly, the world seemed to spin around her. When she came back to her senses, she found herself lying across the rear seat. His body pressed down on her as he kissed her fiercely. His breathing became ragged. One hand cradled the back of her head, the other reached into her shirt. He massaged her back with heated intensity, almost as though he was trying to press her into his chest. The kiss was intense, fueled by pure passion. His advances grew increasingly heated. Swept away by her own rising desire, she responded with the same urgency-until the sharp click of a belt buckle snapped her to her senses. Chapter 627 Startled, she suddenly opened her eyes and reached out to stop his hand. "No!" Jonathan looked at the woman beneath him. Her small face was flushed, and she looked at him with her misty eyes filled with desire and a hint of panic. He knew she was still young and easily embarrassed. If he really ignored her wishes and went too far, she wouldn''t dare look Zion in the eyes ever again. Jonathan gulped before leaning down, rubbing his face against the hollow of Anneliese''s neck before speaking in a hoarse voice. "You were the one who started teasing me first. Now, you won''t take responsibility." Anneliese was mortified, her voice trembling. "No, I didn''t... Hurry up and sit up straight..." Jonathan nipped her small, delicate earlobe again. "Next time, let''s go somewhere with mountains and rivers, somece beautiful. I''ll drive instead. Deal?" Anneliese''s whole body flushed red. She bit her lip and finally nodded. "Just get up already." Jonathan buried his face against her chest and took a couple of deep breaths. Only then did he sit up, reaching out to pull Anneliese¡ªwho was still limp in the seat¡ª back up with him. Anneliese lowered her head, her breathing uneven. Neither of them spoke again. They sat in silence, holding each other. Jonathan rolled down the window a little, letting the cool night breeze brush against their faces. After a long while, he finally looked at the woman in his arms and asked softly, "Did something happen tonight? You seem distracted." When he had caught up with her earlier, she seemed quite shaken. Anneliese lifted her eyes and met his gaze. Her fingers tightened around his shirt without thinking. Two more buttons from his messy shirt popped open, fully exposing his chest and revealing his faint abs. Jonathan caught her restless hand. "Are you going to keep going?" Anneliese quickly shook her head. Thinking of what her grandma and Brody had said, she wasn''t in the mood. She stared at Jonathan, thought for a moment, and chose to ask him directly. They had been through so much together. Since she had chosen him and was determined to walk this road with him, she ought to trust him more and work things out. "Grandma was..." But before Anneliese could finish speaking, the divider lowered all of a sudden. "Mr. Fullbuster..." Zion''s voice suddenly rang out, and Anneliese froze in shock. After all, she was still curled up in the man''s arms, and Jonathan''s shirt was loosely unbuttoned. Anyone could tell what they''d been up to. "Ah!" Anneliese let out a small cry and instinctively scooted away, sitting up straight and lowering her head. She then adjusted her posture. Jonathan watched her unnecessary attempt to tidy herself up and found it amusing. It was just the two of them. Did she really expect Zion to imagine a third person and think someone else had turned him into a disheveled mess? Jonathan raised his hand unhurriedly and began buttoning his shirt, ncing at Zion. "What''s the urgent matter?" "There''s movement over at Silver Spring Estate," Zion said, ncing toward Anneliese through the rearview mirror. Silver Spring Estate was where Jonathan had temporarily ced Roretha. Over the past two days, Melody had been secretly selling off her jewelry and other valuables. Afraid that Melody wouldn''t be able to scrape together enough money, Jonathan had even asked him to make things easier for her, buying out several pieces of her jewelry as well. They set another trap for Melody, helping her obtain enough money to hire a hitman. Once Melody received the funds, she acted immediately. Meanwhile, they deliberately leaked Roretha''s hiding ce to the killers, and Zion received news that these people were going to make their move tonight. Since Jonathan took this matter very seriously, he didn''t dare stall. After all, it could make or break Jonathan''s chances of winning Anneliese''s family''s approval. As soon as he heard the news, he interrupted the pair, even though it was bad timing. Jonathan''s expression darkened slightly at his words. He sped up the motion of fastening his buttons and ordered, Change of ns. Let''s head to The Banyans." "Right away, Mr. Fullbuster." They weren''t far from The Banyans. On the contrary, heading to Jessica''s rented ce would take them half an hour. Zion immediately turned the steering wheel. Anneliese froze and looked at Jonathan. "What''s the matter? If it''s work, you can just drop me off somewhere. I''ll take a cab." She could tell that Jonathan needed to deal with something. Anneliese didn''t want to slow him down, but she didn''t want to go to The Banyans. Even though her grandmother already knew they hadn''t broken up, if she found out that Anneliese had moved back in with him, it would be another disastering to happen." Since Jonathan took this matter very seriously, he didn''t dare stall. After all, it could make or break Jonathan''s chances of winning Anneliese''s family''s approval. As soon as he heard the news, he interrupted the pair, even though it was bad timing. Jonathan''s expression darkened slightly at his words. He sped up the motion of fastening his buttons and ordered, Change of ns. Let''s head to The Banyans." "Right away, Mr. Fullbuster." They weren''t far from The Banyans. On the contrary, heading to Jessica''s rented ce would take them half an hour. Zion immediately turned the steering wheel. Anneliese froze and looked at Jonathan. "What''s the matter? If it''s work, you can just drop me off somewhere. I''ll take a cab." She could tell that Jonathan needed to deal with something. Anneliese didn''t want to slow him down, but she didn''t want to go to The Banyans. Even though her grandmother already knew they hadn''t broken up, if she found out that Anneliese had moved back in with him, it would be another disaster waiting to happen. Since Jonathan took this matter very seriously, he didn''t dare stall. After all, it could make or break Jonathan''s chances of winning Anneliese''s family''s approval. As soon as he heard the news, he interrupted the pair, even though it was bad timing. Jonathan''s expression darkened slightly at his words. He sped up the motion of fastening his buttons and ordered, Change of ns. Let''s head to The Banyans." "Right away, Mr. Fullbuster." They weren''t far from The Banyans. On the contrary, heading to Jessica''s rented ce would take them half an hour. Zion immediately turned the steering wheel. Anneliese froze and looked at Jonathan. "What''s the matter? If it''s work, you can just drop me off somewhere. I''ll take a cab." She could tell that Jonathan needed to deal with something. Anneliese didn''t want to slow him down, but she didn''t want to go to The Banyans. §Ö§ä Even though her grandmother already knew they hadn''t broken up, if she found out that Anneliese had moved back in with him, it would be another disaster waiting to happen. Since Jonathan took this matter very seriously, he didn''t dare stall. After all, it could make or break Jonathan''s chances of winning Anneliese''s family''s approval. As soon as he heard the news, he interrupted the pair, even though it was bad timing. Jonathan''s expression darkened §Ö§ä slightly at his words. He sped up the motion of fastening his buttons and ordered, Change of ns. Let''s head to The Banyans." "Right away, Mr. Fullbuster." They weren''t far from The Banyans. On the contrary, heading to Jessica''s rented ce would take them half an hour. Zion immediately turned the steering wheel. Anneliese froze and looked at Jonathan. "What''s the matter? If it''s work, you can just drop me off somewhere. I''ll take a cab." She could tell that Jonathan needed to deal with something. Anneliese didn''t want to slow him down, but she didn''t want to go to The Banyans. Even though her grandmother already knew they hadn''t broken up, if she found out that Anneliese had moved back in with him, it would be another disaster waiting to happen. Chapter 628 Jonathan flicked Anneliese on the forehead lightly. "Weren''t you being a little coward just moments ago?" With Melody making her move tonight, he didn''t feel safe leaving Anneliese alone in an old apartment block. The security at The Banyans was tight. Anneliese looked at him, feeling irritated. "How dare you!" Nheless, she didn''t want him worrying either. She snorted and allowed Jonathan to take her back to The Banyans. In just a little over ten minutes, the car entered the front courtyard of an elegant vi and stopped beside a ssic fountain. "From now on, this will be our home. I meant to show you around personally," Jonathan said with a twinge of regret as he stepped out of the car and opened the door for Anneliese, helping her out of the vehicle. He''d seen through the renovations and furnished the ce himself. After all, it was meant to be a surprise for her. Unlike Maple Bay, this was their forever home. He had imagined carrying her across the threshold, holding her hand as they walked through every room together, then watching her slowly fill the empty spaces and turn the house into something they both loved. Who would have thought those ns would fall apart after her grandmother discovered their rtionship? He ended up bringing her here in a rush, and he didn''t have time to show her around the ce. Anneliese closed her eyes and tilted her head. "I won''t look around, then. I''ll wait for you toe back, then we''ll have a house tour, okay?" As she spoke gently, she seemed so obedient it was almost unreal. Jonathan suspected she was deliberately trying to make it impossible for him to leave. Needless to say, his self-control wa being seriously tested. He smiled before lowering himself to give her a kiss. "Deal." Anneliese smiled and nodded. "Go on, then." While getting back into the car, Jonathan said, "I''ll probably be homete. Don''t wait for me, alright? Go to bed early." With that, the car sped away. "Greetings, Mrs. Fullbuster. I''m Margot. It''s rather windy outside, so pleasee in. Are you hungry? Should I make you something?" Jonathan had already called ahead to inform the housekeepers. Margot hurried over, speaking respectfully. Anneliese turned and smiled. "It''s alright. Just tell me where the bedroom is. I can manage myself, and you should get some rest too." "You''re so kind and beautiful, Mrs. Fullbuster. No wonder Mr. Fullbuster''s head over heels for you," Margot answered with a smile. Anneliese was both surprised and embarrassed. "How do you know that?" Seeing her shy reaction, Margot smiled like a proud fangirl shipping her favorite couple. "Few nights ago, I got up in the middle of the night and spotted Mr. Fullbuster on the couch. Instead of sleeping, he was looking at photos of you on his phone. He gave me a scare, to be honest." Anneliese''s cheeks turned pink. "How did you know they were photos of me?" Margot said, "I asked him, and he showed me. He''s got a photo of you on his lockscreen too. "He even asked if I thought you looked pretty. Now that I''ve seen you in person, photos don''t do you justice!" A quiet smile spread across Anneliese''s face. She hadn''t known Jonathan kept photos of her in his phone. She imagined him sitting on the couch in the middle of the night, staring at her photo. No matter how she pictured it, he looked like a total lovesick fool in her mindpletely at odds with his usual image. The scene was so aut of character that she couldnt even picture it clearly. Still, her heart fluttered, as though a tiny flower had opened inside her, rocking gently in the sunlight. To make it easier for Melody''s hitmen to make their move, Jonathan had chosen an old. residentialplex at Silver Spring Estate, where most of the security cameras were broken. Roretha had also been arranged to live on the second floor, making it easy to climb up from the balcony. At 3 a.m., three figures stepped out of a in, unmarked van parked in the shadows. They had clearly scouted the ce before. Moving quickly, they avoided the cameras that were still working, kept low, and rushed to the wall, climbing up to the second floor. One by one, they jumped onto the balcony effortlessly, taking out the tools they had prepared. One of them quickly worked on the balcony door, and the trio slipped inside. In the living room, a guard on duty was sleeping on the couch. One of the shadows moved fast, pressing a towel soaked in ether over the guard''s face. Just then, the guard''s eyes flew open. He grabbed the masked man''s wrist in one swift motion, springing up like a hunting leopard. "Something''s wrong! Run!" shouted one of the hitmen. The other two tried to flee, but the door mmed shut with a bang. A brief scuffle followed, ending within two or three minutes. When Jonathan walked into the apartment, all three men were already kneeling on the floor. They didn''t look seriously injured, but their faces were pale, and their expressions were filled with fear. Chapter 629 Jonathan sat down on the couch and crossed his legs, staring coldly at the three hitmen. "Take a look," he said, looking toward Zion. His assistant immediately tossed a stack of investigation files in front of the three men. Upon taking a look, their faces turned even paler. The files were filled with detailed information about themselves. Every crime they hadmitted over the years had been documented, along with information about their family members and where they lived. That alone was enough to get them locked up for ten to twenty years. Moreover, it was clear that their families wouldn''t be spared if the man in front of them decided against it. It was obvious now that they had been discovered long ago. Tonight had simply been a trap, and now, the noose had tightened around their necks. "Who are you?" asked the leader, trembling. He hadmitted the most crimes out of the three. He knew they were truly finished this time, and they had provoked someone they shouldn''t have. Jonathan didn''t even bother answering him. "That doesn''t matter. What matters is what you n to do next," Zion said coldly. The leader gulped and clenched his fists. "What will it take for you to let us go? Zion chuckled. "You guys were attempting murder, and there''s no such thing as getting away with it. But if you do as you''re told, I can guarantee that your families won''t be dragged into this. If they run into trouble, we might even offer a little assistance." Hearing there was no way out, all three of them went weak and copsed onto the floor. But with the situation as it was, they had no other choice but toply. "We''ll do whatever you say!" Finally, the leader gave in. Hearing this, Jonathan gave Zion a small nod. "Make the arrangements for their families." With that, he stood up and left. The night was dark and gloomy. Melody, however, was still awake and glued to her phone. The hitmen she hired promised they would be acting tonight, and she even paid them a one-million deposit. As agreed, once Roretha was dead, she would pay the remaining bnce. Hours had gone by, and she still hadn''t heard a thing from them. Melody paced restlessly around the room while clutching her phone. Just as she was about to lose her mind, her phone started ringing. Her palms were slick with sweat as she hurried to pick it up. "Did it go well?" She used a voice-changing device to disguise her voice as a gruff man''s. "Of course." The voice on the other end delivered news that made Melody both relieved and excited. She trembled in excitement. "She''s dead, right? Hurry up and send me a video! I''l transfer the rest of the money to you immediately!" It had been agreed beforehand. Once they dealt with Roretha and sent her the video of how they handled the body for confirmation, she would pay the remaining bnce to the designated ount. The deal would beplete, and both sides would reap the benefits. Melody thought everything had gone smoothly, but the callerughed coldly. "What''s the rush? We''ve already taken her out. She''s in our hands right now, but the n''s changed." Melody''s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" "We want you toe to this address and finalize the deal." Melody shrieked, "Why are you doing this? We already agreed there was no need to meet! That was better for both of us!" She had found these people through certain channels and never expected something like this to happen. It was her first time doing something like this, and she began to panic. The man sneered. "This is murder. The risk my men and I are taking is huge. We need to know whether you''re human or a ghost, Otherwise, if you stabus in the backerwise, knows if we''ll end up dead? Besides, if you don''t see us handle that old woman with your own eyes, would you truly feel at ease?" Well, he had a point. Melody thought about it. If these men were just pretending and hadn''t actually killed Roretha, and only sent her a fake video to trick her, then all her effort would be for nothing. The trouble would onlye back to haunt her. But the thought of going to meet these desperate criminals still terrified her, and the sudden change in their demand made her suspicious. When the other party realized she was hesitating and reluctant to agree, he seemed to grow impatient. "We''ve already kidnapped her for you. You and us are in the same boat now, so what are you scared of? Or were you nning to screw us over all along? I''m telling you this if you dare try anything funn we won''t spare you either. Worst case, we''ll all go down together!" Chapter 630 "Let''s not waste time on her, boss. If she doesn''te, we''ll just let the old woman go!" A voice suddenly cut in from the side. The moment Melody heard that they might back out, even potentially releasing Roretha, she panicked. If Roretha escaped and went to the police, wouldn''t that make everything worse for her? She hurriedly answered, "Alright, I''ll be there! Send me a video of Roretha. I need to confirm that you really have her!" The other side hung up. Soon, Melody received a video. It was filmed in a filthy, messy factory building. Roretha''s hair was inplete disarray, her body tied up. Her aged face was covered in tears and mucus, and her mouth was sealed with ck tape. She kept making muffled sounds at the camera. After confirming it was really her, Melody got dressed, put on a mask, and quietly slipped out of her home. She arrived at the address they sent about forty minutester. When she walked into the factory, she saw Roretha tied up and curled on the ground. Three other men were there as well. They were smoking, casually ying with cold, sharp knives in their hands. They looked like desperate criminals. When Roretha saw Melody enter, her eyes widened as she struggled desperately. "Go ahead and check," the leader said, pointing at Roretha with his knife. Since Melody was there, she had to make sure. She rushed forward, tore the tape from Roretha''s mouth, and brushed the messy hair away from her face. Roretha stared at her with hatred and fear. "So it was you! Were you trying to silence me? You''re a vicious woman, Melody!" Melody felt guilty and scared, shrinking back slightly. However, her anger quickly took over. "You were the one who tried to harm me first, you old woman! Don''t me me for being ruthless!" She spat. "I saw it with my own eyes. When Nak died, you ran out of her apartment building in a panic. You were the one who caused her death! I regret not exposing you back then! You''ll die a horrible death, you evil woman! "Nak''s family treated you so well. Aren''t you afraid that she''lle for you one night, together with her husband and child, to take revenge?" Melody''s face turned pale, her eyes filled with fear. But she quickly forced herself to calm down. "Shut up! I only told her out of kindness that her husband had died. She was the one who panicked and fell down the stairs. What does that have to do with me? It was just bad luck on her part! That''s right. She was never meant to have a son! If she hadn''t been pregnant, one fall wouldn''t have killed both of them. None of this is my fault!" Melody yelled. Roretha stared at her. "You''re talking nonsense! You saw her fall down the stairs with your own eyes. She must have been crying and begging you at the time. "If you had called for help, she would''ve survived. You ran away, didn''t you?" In Melody''s mind, she saw Nak lying in a pool of blood, trembling as she reached out with pleading eyes. She had been in so much pain that she couldn''t even cry out. Melody''s breathing grew rapid, and she didn''t want to think about it. "Why should have saved her? If she got saved and med meter, what would happen? Also, what right do you have to criticize me? Back then, you watched our family suffer more than once. You never helped ust She psyched herself into thinking she''d done nothing wrong. Nak had fallen down the stairs herself. That made it an ident. It had been years since the incident. Why did Roretha have to return and drag her down over something trivial? Since they were the ones who wouldn''t let her go, she wouldn''t show any mercy either. "Why aren''t you doing anything yet? Hurry up and take care of her! Shut her up!" With her hands shaking, Melody pped the ck tape back over Roretha''s mouth while ordering the hitmen around. The leader stepped forward at once, holding the knife against Roretha''s neck. "Pay the remaining bnce. Once it''s in, the job is done." Melody immediately lowered her head and started making the transfer Just as the payment went through, a sharp, piercing police siren sounded outside the factory. Melody froze. For a moment, she thought her nerves were ying tricks on her. But very quickly, she realized it was real. The sirens grew louder, and shing lights were already visible outside. "What''s going on? What is happening?" Melody screamed and turned to run. She took two steps before realizing the entrance had already been surrounded. She then tried to head for a window, but her legs had gone weak from fear. Before she could reach it, she stumbled and fell to the ground. At the same time, a group of police officers rushed in. Cold handcuffs snapped around her wrists. Two officers pulled her up and dragged her toward the exit. She was finished. This time, it was really over. Anneliese, however, knew nothing about this, taking in the new household. Chapter 631 She thought she would struggle to fall asleep, but maybe it was because she knew Jonathan had put so much care into this ce for them. Or maybe it was because the sheets and pillows carried his clean, masculine scent. Anneliese sank into the bed and drifted off within moments. Her sleep was deep and sweet, undisturbed by dreams. The sound of birds outside stirred her awake. Still half asleep, she rubbed her cheek against what she thought was a soft pillow, but the texture wasn''t right. It was firm and warm, with a hint of muscle beneath it. Her eyes flew open. She realized someone''s arm was wrapped around her waist, her body pressed against Jonathan''s chest, her face resting against the steady warmth of his skin. She drew a slow breath, surrounded by his scent, when his low, husky voice brushed against her ears. "Up this early and already trying to get me worked up? You better n to make it worth my while, baby." He had clearly been woken by her movement. His voice was rough with sleep,ced with a faint exhaustion. Anneliese raised her head a little. "What time did you get homest night?" "A bit after six." Jonathan''s chin brushed softly against her forehead. The light stubble on his jaw scraped her skin and made her flinch with a ticklish ache. She tucked herself closer into his chest and whispered, "You should sleep some more." She lifted her hand and covered his eyes. Jonathan caught her wrist, pulled her hand down, and kissed it twice before opening his eyes. "You''re not even a little curious about what kept me out all night?" His wife was right there, warm and soft in his arms, and temptation made it impossible for him to close his eyes again. All he wanted now was to tell her what he''d found and enjoy her reaction. Anneliese was curious, of course. Jonathan was always busy, but he was also disciplined. He never stayed upte, not even for work, and he exercised every morning without fail. So, when he disappeared all night and came back only after sunrise, how could she not wonder? Anneliese lifted her head again. "Can you tell me?" Jonathan''s arms tightened around her. He pulled her closer and patted her back gently before answering. "It''s about what really happened to your mother, Nak. You should prepare yourself." Anneliese froze, her whole body going still. It took several seconds before she yanked herself out of his arms and sat up straight. "What did you just say?" Jonathan sat up too and brushed a hand across her pale face. "Did I scare you? Take it easy. I''ll exin everything." But how could she possibly take it easy? Her head rang, her thoughts scattering like shattered ss. "What do you mean, the truth behind my mother''s death? Are you saying it wasn''t an ident? That someone pushed her?" Her voice cracked, trembling harder with every word. Jonathan couldn''t stand watching her sit there, tense and confused. He reached for the phone on the nightstand, unlocked it, and yed a recording. "Listen to this. You''ll understand everything." Anneliese took the phone from him, her eyes searching his. He gave a short nod. She pressed y. "I saw it happen. When Nak died, you came running out of her building like a maniac. You killed her! Shut up! I just told her her husband was dead. She freaked out and fell down the stairs. That''s not my fault!" came the voice on the recording "If you''d called someone-if you''d called an ambnce-she might''ve lived. But you didn''t, did you? Why would I save her? What if she survived and med me? Shut up!" Roretha and Melody''s voices filled the room. Each word dug into Anneliese like ss. The truth she''d never known red up inside her like fire, scorching her chest with anger, grief, and disbelief. Tears slipped down her face. One hand gripped the phone so tightly it shook, while the other clung to the fabric of Jonathan''s shirt. Her whole body trembled. Jonathan''s chest ached at the sight. He pulled her close and pressed soft kisses against her wet cheeks. "Hey, don''t ery sweetheart. Melody''s already in custody. She''s being questioned right now. She''ll pay for what she did." The recording had been arranged by Jonathan, made by the three aplices before their arrest. They''d done it out of fear, worried Melody might betray them first. Now, with the recording, the transaction logs, and evidence in hand, there was no way Melody could escape justice. Chapter 632 Anneliese nodded and threw her arms around him. "I can''t believe it was her! How could she do something that awful? My mom treated her like family. How could she turn into such a snake?" Years ago, she and her grandmother had searched for the person who told her mother about her adoptive father''s death. They''d asked so many people and found nothing. They''d assumed her mother had overheard someone talking. But now, it was clear. Melody had gone there on purpose, full of spite. And when her mother had fallen, bleeding and gasping for life, Melody had just stood there, watching her die. Anneliese''s chest rose and fell sharply. Hatred burned in her throat, but shame burned deeper. "How could I have been that blind? All these years, and I didn''t see it! I even called that woman my mother-inw for two years. That''s no different from loving my mother''s murderer. My parents must be furious with me for being this stupid." The thought of those years with Zacharias made her stomach twist. She had served Melody like a dutiful daughter-inw,pletely unaware of the monster behind the mask. She clenched her fist and lifted it toward her chest, but Jonathan caught her wrist. He guided her hand to his chest instead, his voice calm and warm. "This isn''t on you, baby. "There are just people out there who are cruel to the core. You, your grandma, your parents¡ªyou''re all kind. You couldn''t have known someone like Melody could be that venomous." "If anyone''s to me, it''s me. If I''d dug deeper back then, maybe she wouldn''t have gotten away with it for so long." Jonathan''s regret cut deep. If he had just pushed harder back then, maybe he could''ve exposed Melody years ago. If that had happened, Anneliese wouldn''t have been fooled by Zacharias. Her grandmother might''ve agreed to let him take little Anneliese back to the Fullbuster family. He would''ve protected her, raised his little rose with his own hands. But life didn''t give second chances. Hearing the guilt and sorrow in his voice, Anneliese forgot her own pain. She threw her arms around his neck and brushed her cheek against his shoulder. "That''s not true. You were just a kid. How could you have known? You didn''t even know who Melody was or what kind of person she''d be." Jonathan smiled faintly and stroked her hair. "You were even younger than me, so stop ming yourself." Anneliese lifted her head from his chest. Her eyes, red and glistening, locked on his. "Jonathan, how are you always this nice to me?" He always caught her right before she broke, never letting her drown in her sadness. "Your face softened, a spark "You''re only realizing that now?" His yfulness flickering iniis eyes the moment she praised him. > Anneliese cupped his face and nodded with a bright grin. "You''re perfect. Handsome, strong, smart, rich, from a great family each one''s a win on its own, but you''ve got all of them. And you still give me emotional stability too Seriously, I hit the jackpot! Her tone was half-teasing, half-sincere as she squeezed his face in her hands. Jonathan''s lips twitched. A little praise he could take, but too much made him uneasy. He tilted his head and muttered softly, "You''re starting to scare me when you talk like that." Anneliese held his face tighter. Watching someone usually soposed act shy in her palms sent a rush of heat up her arms. Her pulse jumped. She was sure he was doing it on purpose, trying to charm her by pretending to be bashful. It wasn''t fair. She pulled her hands back and rubbed her flushed cheeks, ring at him in mock annoyance. "Then get used to it, because I''m not stopping anytime soon!" Jonathan turned his head away,ughing quietly under his breath. God, she was too cute for her own good. Anneliese caught his smile and couldn''t help smiling too. Just then, her phone rang. She grabbed it without looking, her mind still half on him, and answered right away. She didn''t expect the voice that came through. "Anneliese! How can you be so cruel? You really want my mother dead? What happened to you?" It was Zacharias. Anneliese froze for a beat, her mood turning dark. Her tone turned icy. "Zacharias, is your brain full of trash? Your mother''s a murderer. If you still want to defend her, fine, that''s your problem. But don''t expect the test of usto treat her like she''s some saint." Chapter 633 "Melody murdered my mother. Because of her, my mom died carrying my baby sibling. She never once felt guilty. Then she tried the same disgusting tricks again and almost killed my grandmother. Grandma barely survived after fighting for her life in the hospital for over twenty hours. And now Melody''s hiring people to kill the witnesses." Anneliese''s voice shook with fury. "For someone who treats human life like garbage, how did your abusive father not beat her to death back then? She deserves every single thinging her way. And you-what the hell makes you think you have the right to call me and say something that twisted?" Her rage exploded, every word like a p. If she could, she''d have hit Zacharias across the face through the phone. Outside the police station, Zacharias looked nothing like the powerful CEO he once was. His suit was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and his face pale with exhaustion. He hadn''t been home the night before. For half a year, hispany''s numbers had been plummeting, and multiple partners had already pulled out. The shareholders were livid. To save a contract, he''d spent the night drinking and ttering two clients. But those men had been impossible to please. They''d pushed prices lower, mocked him openly, and even brought up Jonathan''s name more than once. It was obvious they knew Jonathan had married his ex-wife, and they enjoyed rubbing salt into that wound. By morning, he had achieved nothing. He was about to go home, clean up, and rest before heading to work when the police called. That was how he learned the truth about Melody. The moment he heard it, his world went ck. He stumbled out of the station, too shaken to think. Acting on impulse, he borrowed a phone and called Anneliese. But her voice was cold, sharp, and merciless, cutting him open with every word. His anger vanished, leaving only despair. His voice cracked. "Anne, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have said that. No matter what she did, she''s still my mother, I just¡ª" Before he could finish, another voice interrupted, low and smooth, from the other end. "Babe, who''s bothering you this early? Come back to bed." Then the call cut off. Right before it did, Zacharias heard a soft, startled sound from a woman. It was faint but intimate. He froze, gripping the phone so tight it hurt. It took him a while before he tried calling again, only to find his number blocked. His body trembled with rage. The phone creaked in his hand, seconds away from shattering. The woman who had lent him the phone had only done it because he was attractive, hoping for his numberter. But when she saw his face twist with fury, she panicked, snatched her phone back, and bolted as if her life depended on it. Zacharias stared at her retreating back. Anneliese''s disgusted tone echoed in his head. A bitterugh escaped him. Heughed harder and harder until tears streaked his face. People passing by stared, whispering, but he didn''t care. When Jackie arrived, he saw his boss standing thereughing like a man who''d finally broken. Jackie''s expression turned pale. "Mr. Shaw, what happened? Are you alright?" Zacharias stoppedughing, his shoulders shaking. He staggered, and Jackie grabbed his arm. Zacharias shoved him away, then clutched Jackie by the shoulders, his voice raw. "You think I''m pathetic too, don''t you? You think I had thising? You''reughing at me just like everyone else, right? You''re d*mn right I''m a joke. My life''s fallen apart. Tell me how the hell did get to this?" Sweat ran down Jackie''s forehead. He was terrified, but he knew Zacharias couldn''t afford to fall apart now. "Mr. Shaw, listen! Your mother''s crimes are all over the inte. It''s everywhere: uderias Tech''s stock is tanking, and thepany''s in chaos. You have to go back right now and take control before everything copses!" "What did you just say?" Zacharias'' face hardened, his pupils tightening like pinpoints. Jackie shoved his phone toward him, his hands shaking. "You need to see this." On the screen, Melody appeared pale and terrified as two officers shoved her into a police car, handcuffs glinting under the shing lights. Below the footage were videos of Melody and Lenora dressed in morous.evening gowns, strutting through high-profile events with smug expressions. In one clip, Melody proudly introduced herself as the mother of uderias Tech''s CEO, Zacharias, and called Lenora his sister. The video quality was sharp, every frame clear. The resemnce left no room for denial. Chapter 634 It was undeniable. "Mr. Shaw, the whole inte''s against you," Jackie said in a rush. "They''re saying your mother''s a murderer and that you''re no better. They''re using uderias Tech of being corrupt, saying your products are full of malware, your clients'' data''s leaking everywhere, and that you''re probably using it for something illegal." Jackie''s words came faster and faster. His panic was written all over his face. This wasn''t just a scandal. It was a full-blown disaster. If handled right, they might survive. If not, thepany would be eaten alive, and bankruptcy was practically guaranteed. "Mr. Shaw, you need to act now." Zacharias'' eyes stayed glued to the flood of headlines screaming across the screen. His jaw clenched tight as he forced out a single name. "Jonathan Fullbuster!" Melody had only been arrested two hours ago, yet the news had already exploded everywhere. There were high-definition videos of her arrest circting online, and the trending searches were filled with outrage. If this wasn''t Jonathan''s doing, then coincidence didn''t exist. He wasn''t an idiot. It all made sense. The day Jonathan brought up Roretha in that private room, he had already been digging a trap. Zacharias had been reckless. He''d trusted his mother, convinced she''d never hide something this big. With hispany falling apart, he''d been too distracted to notice the storm building around him. But Jonathan''s revenge was merciless. All he''d done was tell Anneliese''s grandmother that Jonathan and Anneliese were together. And this was the payback-Jonathan had crushed his entire family. Jonathan Fullbuster! The name ripped through his thoughts. His rage surged until a stabbing pain hit his chest. Blood filled his mouth and spilled out in a sharp burst. Inside The Banyans, Jonathan plucked the phone right out of Anneliese''s hand. She stared at him, startled, as he murmured a few smooth, mocking words into the receiver before casually blocking the number. Before hanging up, he pulled her against him and brushed his lips along the sensitive skin behind her ear, biting down gently. Her breath hitched, the sound soft and quick. When he tossed the phone aside, she tapped a finger against his face and teased, "You just made him lose his mind. You shouldn''t be sulking anymore." Jonathan leaned in, his voice low and rough. "I''m still in a terrible mood. What do you think I should do about it?" Anneliese knew exactly what he was up to. He was being his usual smug, sulky self. She grabbed Jonathan by the cor of his pajama top and yanked him down to her level. Hisshes flicked, his lips curved, and his head tilted slightly, ready for the kiss she was about to give. But instead of kissing his lips, she caught his throat between hers. Jonathan froze for a heartbeat. Then his pulse surged, his breath hitched, and heat spread fast through him. The muscles in his neck tightened as her tongue brushed over him. That was all it took for his restraint to break. He flipped her onto her back and pinned her to the bed, his self-control gone. Anneliese melted under his touch. She clung to him, lost in the heat of it, but the moment wasn''t meant tost. Her phone started ringing again. The first time, neither of them moved. The second time, she faltered and turned her head slightly, wondering if it might be important. Before she could check, Jonathan frowned at her distraction, reached over, and flipped the glowing screen face down. At the same time, his hand slid lower, and her breath hitched, her eyes clouding over. Then, suddenly, the phone rang again, louder, sharper. And this time, his own phone started ringing too. Anneliese''s breathing quickened. Worry flickered across her face. She pushed lightly at his chest and gasped, "Answer What i its urgent? Jonathan''s jaw tightened. He was starting to think he''d never look at a phone the same way again. Anneliese had already rolled over and grabbed hers. Jessica''s name shed on the screen. She swiped to answer. At that exact moment, Jonathan lowered his head and bit the soft skin of her shoulder. A startled sound escaped her. "Annie, you¡ª" Anneliese''s gasp collided with Jessica''s voice on the line. Jessica froze. Then she blurted out, "Oh my god, did I just interrupt something really shouldn''t have Did just destroy a perfectly intimate moment?" Anneliese''s face flushed deep red. She red at Jonathan. But Jonathan just said coolly, "Good. Now you know. Don''t call in the mornings again." Anneliese stared at him. Jessica fell silent, stunned. His smugness was almost unbearable. Anneliese kicked him lightly. Only then did he grab his still-ringing phone and slide off the bed. Chapter 635 Without a nce back, he pulled off his robe and walked straight into the bathroom. "Jess," Anneliese said, clearing her throat, "what''s the matter?" Jessica finally spoke again, her voice small and unsure. "So, you really don''t want me to hang up? I can call back in half an hour¡ªor maybe two hours." Anneliese rubbed at her warm ear. "He''s in the shower." Jessica sucked in a breath. "Oh, that''s bad. You made the big guy switch from autopilot to manual. He''s not gonnae after me, is he? I''m hanging up!" Anneliese''s voice carried enough embarrassment to make Jessica quickly switch gears. "Melody''s in serious trouble! She got caught hiring a hitman, right there on the spot!" Anneliese''s eyes widened. "How do you even know that?" Jessica had just seen the story blowing up online and had been so stunned that she''d called immediately. The article only mentioned Melody''s crime, not the reason behind it. But from the sound of Anneliese''s reaction, Jessica knew she was already aware. "It''s everywhere! Even the arrest video''s out. What the hell happened?" Anneliese gave a quick rundown of what had gone down. Jessica went quiet, too shocked to respond at first. Then she muttered, "Honestly, she got off easy. After living so freely all these years? Maybe now your grandma won''t hate Mr. Fullbuster anymore. Maybe she''ll finally stop fighting your rtionship." Anneliese sighed softly. "I don''t know. It''ll probably hurt her all over again." Jessica knew Anneliese was with Jonathan, so she didn''t press. She hung up soon after. Anneliese opened the trending search list and saw Melody''s name buried under a flood of hate. Zacharias and uderias Tech were being dragged into the chaos too, and that finally put her at ease. The sound of running water stopped. Momentster, Jonathan came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped low around his waist. Anneliese lifted her phone toward him. "You''re the one behind the trending mess, aren''t you?" Jonathan didn''t bother denying it. He rubbed a towel through his damp hair. "Yeah." Anneliese nodded slowly. Jonathan studied her face. "uderias Tech''s taking the hit for this. You''re not upset about that?" "Huh? Why would I be upset?" She blinked, surprised. Jonathan sat on the edge of the bed. "You built thatpany with him. It''s like your baby. Thought you''d care a little." Anneliese narrowed her eyes. He was absolutely fishing for attention, just to make herfort him. She had no proof, but she didn''t need it. Besides, he''d just helped her send her mother''s killer to prison. How could she argue with him now? She dropped to her knees on the bed, gazing up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Babe, don''t say stuff like that. What baby? However even slept with How could fevere We ave a baby? have kids, it''ll only be with She really did know how to handle him. Jonathan tossed the towel aside and leaned down, catching her chin between his fingers. "Say it again. Only with who?" Her ears burned bright red under the weight of his teasing, dark stare. Her lips parted slightly. "With you. Only with you." Jonathan''s breath hitched. The cold shower he had just taken might as well have been for nothing. His voice came out low and rough. "When are we having one?" Anneliese froze. She couldn''t tell if he meant the process of making a baby or actually having one. Either way, she was in over her head. Hershes fluttered as she bent down and picked up the towel he''d thrown aside. "Honey, let me dry your hair. You''ll get a headache if you don''t." Jonathan pinched her cheek. "You''re always full of sweet talk." Annelieseughed and jumped up. She nudged him gently until he sat on the edge of the bed, then began drying his hair with the towel. "Let''s go see Grandmater, okay? We should tell her about Melody ourselves." "Alright," Jonathan said. The old woman barely used the inte, so she probably hadn''t seen anything yet. And this wasn''t something she should find out from anyone else. Jonathan suddenly winced. "Ow. Baby, who are you thinking about?" Anneliese had tugged on his hair too hard. She''d drifted off, reying what her grandmother said about the firest night, and her hand had moved on its own. Realizing what she''d done, she quickly checked his scalp. When she saw a faint redness near the roots, she nervously brushed his hair back into ce. Luckily, it was thick enough to hide it Then she looked down at him. "Honey, when your family''s mansion burned down, it was just you and your parents there right? Do you know what caused it?" Chapter 636 Jonathan leaned his head back, his eyes lifting toward her as she knelt behind him, still running the towel through his hair. "Why are you asking me that now?" His gaze was sharp and questioning, studying her face. Anneliese met his glistening eyes, still damp from his shower. Her fingers tightened slightly around the towel. Last night, after hearing what Nishay said, she had considered digging into the truth about that fire on her own. But when she''d been terrified and cornered, and realized the man chasing her had been him, the feeling of safety that washed over her made her understand something deep down. She trusted him. She truly believed Jonathan could never have been behind that fire. His integrity, his strength, his honesty-she believed in them all. He wasn''t someone who''d ever run from what he''d done. Even the younger version of him wouldn''t have. Because she trusted him that much, when Nishay asked what she''d do if it really had been him, she had said firmly that she could never stay with him if it were true. But that night, only Jonathan and his parents had been in that mansion. Now she couldn''t stop wondering. Compared to them, how much did she really matter to him? And if the truth ever came out, what would he choose to do? If the fire really had been caused by his parents, would he actually stand by her side and fight for what was right? Even if he helped her and Nishay get justice, wouldn''t that just create new wounds between them? What kind of future could they possibly have after that? Every bit of her fear and heartache came down to one truth-she was terrified of losing him. "What''s wrong?" Before she could answer, Jonathan slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her onto hisp. He brushed his thumb over the tip of her reddened nose. She had been crying hard earlier, and now her tear-streaked face made her look so soft and vulnerable that it almost broke him. He sighed. "Baby, maybe we should have a son one day." "Huh?" Anneliese blinked. She was still reeling from how easily he had just pulled her into his arms. She''d been about to bring up what Nishay suspected, and then he came out of nowhere with that line. She stared at him, confused, her eyes still puffy and wet. She looked so sweet and fragile that he didn''t even know how to love her gently enough. Jonathan leaned in and kissed the corner of her damp eye. "One little princess like you is already a full-time job." Another one and he''d be finished. He figured he might as well raise her like his own spoiled daughter and have a son to help him keep her safe. Anneliese hit his chest twice in protest. "So you''re saying I cry too much?" Her cheeks puffed up, like she was silently daring him to agree. Jonathanughed quietly and pressed his forehead against hers "Baby, it''s not that you just look too d*m pretty when you cry. Makes me want to kiss you and..." He shifted slightly, and she felt herself sink lower in hisp. The heat of his reaction pressed against her, undeniable. "That shower was a waste. Do you know how many times it''s happened this morning already? Babe, you''re going to ruin me." His tone was half helpless, half teasing. Anneliese''s face turned crimson. "How is that my fault? I didn''t even do anything!" At this point, she didn''t know whether tough or cry. One thing was certain¡ªshe needed to stop talking about serious things while still in bed with him. Nothing ever stayed on topic. She shoved at his chest and scrambled off hisp like a startled rabbit, rushing to the couch across the room. She lifted both hands defensively. "Stay right there! We''re keeping this distance while we talk." Jonathan looked at her stern little face and chuckled. "Alright, we''ll talk." Anneliese opened her mouth but wentpletely nk. She smacked her forehead lightly, trying to restart the thoughts he''dpletely scattered. "I just want to understand how that fire really started, and how it spread so fast. Do you actually know why?" Jonathan''s expression hardened. "That year, I went to Baytree with my parents. The vi there belonged to my family. It had been empty for years. "My parents didn''t get along. Even on that trip, they argued nonstop2 When we were close to Baytree they got into another fight My mom took me and left first. We reached the vi before my dad did. "She was in a terrible mood for days, breaking things, throwing things. I didn''t want to deal with her, so I went upstairs early that night, put on my headphones, and fell asleep. When I woke up and realized there was a fire, the mes had already reached the second floof?" Chapter 637 He paused for a moment. "I never found out how it started. But the investigation back then ruled it an ident." He''d been just a teenager at the time. After surviving something that terrifying, digging into it hadn''t even crossed his mind. Later, he never revisited it, but he vaguely remembered his grandfather saying it was an idental fire. Now, hearing Anneliese bring it up, Jonathan''s brows drew together. "Why? Is there something wrong with that?" Anneliese nodded. "The report said the fire started because of faulty wiring in the kitchen. But Grandma never believed it. She looked into it herself. The vi was fairly new and had routine maintenance. The chance of wiring failure was extremely low. I also asked one of my father''s old colleagues a man whoter became a police chief. He was evasive. So I''m sure the fire wasn''t that simple. If..." Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip, unsure how to continue. Jonathan seemed to understand what she was afraid to say. He reached out his hand. She gave him hers and walked closer. He held both her hands and looked up at her. "If the fire really was caused by someone, you don''t have to worry. No matter who''s responsible, I''ll find out. I''ll never hide the truth or protect anyone." His voice was steady and low, every word certain. It wasn''t just a promise to her. It was a vow to the dead. "Do you trust me, babe?" Anneliese lowered her eyes and nodded firmly. "Of course I do." She wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Thank you." Jonathan pulled her back onto hisp and said softly, "Don''t thank me. Your father gave his life to save mine. If I can''t even do this much, I''d be no better than a monster. I''d have no right to face you, let alone marry into your family." He said it like it was nothing, like it didn''t weigh a thing. But Anneliese knew it wasn''t that simple. People were selfish. They always protected their own blood first. Plenty could talk about honor and justice. Very few could actually live it when it came to their own family. And those who did often got condemned instead of praised, branded heartless for doing what was right. He made it sound easy, but his words went straight to the softest part of her heart. She held his face between her hands, her eyes glimmering. "From now on, I''m calling you Mr. Dreamy." Jonathan arched a brow. Anneliese''s lips curved. "Because you''re exactly what I used to dream about. You meet every hope I''ve ever had. You never disappoint me. You make me fall for you a little harder every single day it''s like you walked straight out of my dreams." Jonathan''s hand slipped behind her neck, and he pulled her in for a kiss. His warm lips captured hers, teasing and tasting until his tongue parted her lips and tangled with hers in a slow rhythm that made her lose herselfpletely. Her mind went hazy, but then he suddenly bit her. "Ow! That really hurt!" She pulled back, pouting as her eyes watered. Her re was more wounded than angry. She''d bitten him before, but this was the first time he''d ever done it to her and he hadn''t held back. He''d done it right when she was most lost in him. Jonathan met her stunned gaze, his eyes glinting as he pinched her cheek. "You just called me dreamy. I just wanted to make sure you could tell the difference between a dream and the real thing." Anneliese huffed. "You really can''t take apliment, can you?" Jonathan chuckled and squeezed her puffed cheeks again. "I n on spending my life with you. And I''m very real. I''ve got bad habits, worse moods, and plenty of ws. o my dear, don''t expect perfection. You''ll only end up disappointed. She finally understood what he meant and nodded with quiet seriousness. "Then you need to show me the real you too. You don''t have to keep everything bottled up on try to protect me all the time. If you''re tired or upset, I want to know. Let me share that load with you." She could feel how much he pampered her, how he always put her first. It had to be because of what happened between their families. He still carried that guilt and tried to make up for it by taking care of her in every way. Jonathan studied her earnest little face, and his heart softened. He raised a brow and smirked. "Whatever you say, honey." Chapter 638 He leaned back against the headboard. "Didn''t get much sleepst night. I''m exhausted. Be a good wife and grab me something to wear while I make a quick call." Anneliese gave him a mock salute, shing a grin before running into the walk-in closet. She picked out a crisp shirt, a pair of cks, and his favorite watch. When she came back, Jonathan was still lounging against the bedframe, one leg crossed over the other, phone to his ear. "Check whether the builders cut corners when constructing that vi." He spotted her in the doorway and ended the call quickly. "As soon as possible," he said before hanging up. Anneliese had caught enough to know he was already looking into the cause of the fire. She walked over and set his clothes on the bed. "Want me to help you get dressed?" Jonathan''s lips curved in amusement. "Go wash up. You can help me with my tie after." His reminder made Anneliese realize she hadn''t even brushed her teeth yet. He''d kissed her half a dozen times that morning, and she hadn''t freshened up once. She gave him a teasing re before darting into the bathroom, the sound of her quick footsteps echoing on the floor. They shared breakfast afterward. Margot''s cooking was simple but vorful, the kind that tasted warm andforting. When they finished, Margot appeared with two insted food containers in her hands. "Ma''am, this one''s for Nishay," she said. "It''s got chicken breast with greens and assorted mushrooms. They''re great for heart health, and I kept the oil and salt light. The pink container''s for Ms. Sweeting. I made seafood. The seafood''s chopped fine ¡ªit''s good for both her and the baby." Anneliese blinked. She hadn''t told Margot to prepare any of that. Her eyes shifted to Jonathan, but he said nothing. He just reached over and picked up the containers. Beside them, Alice smiled warmly. "Mr. Fullbuster told me early this morning to have everything ready. It was short notice, but I''ll make something fancier next time. Don''t ever feel shy about asking for anything, ma''am. The sry he gives me is more than generous, and he even helped my grandson get into school." Anneliese had only met Alicest night and still felt awkward about giving orders. Jonathan, however, clearly knew she''d be visiting Jessica and Nishay today. He''d already arranged everything for her. "Thank you," Anneliese said with a smile. "It''s already wonderful." She slipped her arm through Jonathan''s, and they walked out together. Alice watched them leave, her heart softening at the sight. Ah, young love, she thought. So sweet it could rot your teeth. Even she felt younger just looking at them. Their first stop was Jessica''s room. After a full night of rest, Jessica looked much better. Her face had color again, though the doctor bad told her to stay in bed for two more days. When Anneliese entered, Jessica was sitting up, scrolling through nastyments about Zacharias and liking each one with visible satisfaction. She was also browsing information about studying abroad on her phone. When she leaned forward to peek at the food Anneliese brought, she carelessly set her phone on the bed. As Anneliese poured soup into a bowl for her, Jonathan asked in his usurat cameronanathan asked in Ins usual calm tone. So you''re nning to go abroad and not tell Zane about the baby?" Jessica froze, then turned to re at Anneliese, who quickly lifted her hands. "Don''t look at me. I didn''t tell him anything." Jonathan tilted his head toward the glowing phone on the sheets. That''s when Jessica realized she''d been caught by her own screen. Her shoulders slumped. His perception was too sharp. She picked up her phone and gave him an embarrassed grin. "I''m six months older than Anne. Either way, that kind of makes you my brother-in- Jonathan''s lips twitched in quiet amusement. He didn''t mind the title one bit. He and Zane were friends, but their lives were too hectic. They rarely met and never bothered to pry into each other''s rtionships. Jonathan didn''t really know how things had begun between Zane and Jessica, or what their rtionship had been like. He didn''t n on digging into it either. But seeing Jessica determined to walk away while pregnant, he felt obligated to speak up as Zane''s friend. "The Shaymans don''t have many heirs. Zane only has one brother. If there''s a child, they''ll acknowledge it. Are you sure this is what you want?" Jessica didn''t flinch. She smiled and nodded. "I''ve thought about it carefully. I apprecia the concern, but I refuse to live my life branded as a woman who used her child to climb thedder. "If you tell Zane and I end up having to stay with him just to keep the baby, then I''ll have no choice but to end the pregnancy." Her voice stayed steady, her eyes clear. She wasn''t bluffing. She meant every word. The Shaymans wanted someone like Gianna for a daughter-inw. They cared more about money and status than character or love. Chapter 639 Even if they epted her because of the baby, what would they really think of her? They''d tolerate her, not respect her. And she knew that tolerance would one day turn into resentment. She had no interest in reliving that kind of life. She''d already spent enough years suffocated and controlled while she was with the Johnson family. If she stepped into another cage like that, she''d only end up despising herself. "Alright. I won''t say a word." Jonathan nodded, understanding her resolve. She had made herself clear. There was nothing left for him to argue. If he told Zane and she followed through on her threat, both Zane and Anneliese woulde after him. It wasn''t a position he wanted to be in. When he and Anneliese reached Nishay''s hospital room, she stopped abruptly and turned toward him. "What is it?" he asked, his gaze soft but questioning. Anneliese held out her hand. "Give me your hand." Jonathan looked down at her small, outstretched hand. A faint smile touched his lips as he ced his palm against hers. Anneliese''s fingers instantly closed around his, holding tight as she met his eyes. "Mr. Fullbuster, I''m sorry. I wasn''t brave enough before. I won''t make that mistake again." When Nishay had ordered her to break things off, she had hesitated. She''d even told him to leave Maple Bay. But deep down, she knew he had never once let go of her hand. Compared to his unwavering strength, she hadn''t measured up. But now, she promised herself she would be just as steadfast as he was. Jonathan watched the faint curve of her lips and the fierce resolve in her eyes. He had a feeling that if he even hinted at disbelief, she''d swear right then and there to prove him wrong. A smile spread in his eyes, slow and deep, impossible to hide. He pressed his palm to hers, their fingers sliding together until they fit perfectly. The second their hands locked, he leaned down and kissed her, quick and deliberate. "Deal sealed," he murmured. "I''ll remember. And if you ever think about running again, I''ll..." Anneliese arched a brow. "Break my legs?" Jonathan shook his head, silent. He could never do that. Just the idea hurt to imagine. But she didn''t need to know what he might actually do if she ever tried. His gaze grew darker, and Anneliese felt her legs weaken. She didn''t ask what that look meant. Instead, she turned pushed the hospital door. open, and smiled. "Grandma, we''re here." Nishay stood by the tall window, speaking softly into her phone. reyes/a When she turned, on the two of them standing in the doorway, still hand in hand. Anneliese wore a pearl-pink blouse tucked into a high-waisted aqua pencil skirt, paired with nude ankle boots. With the warmer weather, she had added only a mist-blue cashmere cardigan. Her wavy hair fell around her shoulders, giving her an air of quiet sophistication. Jonathan stood beside her in a blue dress shirt and a dark navy pinstriped suit. His shade of blue was several tones deeper, yet together, they looked perfectly coordinated, almost like they''d nned it. His calm,manding presence made her seem even softer and more refined. Anyone who saw them would have thought the same thing: they were the picture of perfection. Nishay''s eyes lingered for a moment before dropping to their joined hands. Her expression flickered as she spoke into the phone, "I''m not sure what''s going on. Anne just got here. I''ll ask her." She ended the call just as Anneliese led Jonathan farther into the room. "Grandma, who was that? What did they want to ask me?" Nishay turned toward her. "It was Artrisha. She heard Melody got arrested for hiring someone to kill." Artrisha had been their neighbor back in Baytree and had always kept in touch with Nishay. Baytree wasn''t a big ce, and not many people from there had made a name for themselves. Zacharias had be the CEO of a majorpany and spent the past few years showing off his wealth and donating publicly to his hometown. Melody and Lenora weren''t exactly the subtle type either. Every time they returned, it was a full-blown spectacle. Now that Melody''s arrest for attempted murder had made headlines, it wasn''t shocking that the story spread back to Baytree. Even Artrisha who barely used a cell phone, had caught wind of it. Anneliese nodded. "Yes, it''s true. I brought Jonathan with me today because I wanted to talk to you about it." Nishay frowned slightly, realizing there was probably more to this story than she wanted to hear. Chapter 640 She looked at Jonathan, then down at their still tightly sped hands. "This is what you call respecting me? Respecting my opinion?" "Grandma, he¡ª" Anneliese stepped forward, her voice tense, trying to defend him. Before she could finish, Jonathan gently pulled her back. He moved in front of her, shielding her with his body. "Anne is my wife," he said in a calm, steady voice. "No matter what happens or where we are, I''ll never let go of her. Treating her as my only one is the best way to honor her¡ªand the best way to show respect to the woman who raised and loves her. Don''t you agree?" Nishay''s gaze flicked to the part of his shoulder blocking Anneliese from view. Anneliese hadn''t noticed it, but Nishay did. Ever since that day she had pped Anneliese, Jonathan always positioned himself between them, consciously or not. Was he worried she''d hit her again? A strange, heavy feeling settled in Nishay''s chest. Her lips trembled before she spoke coldly. "You''re quite the talker, aren''t you?" Jonathan smiled,pletelyposed, and picked up the insted food container. "There''s something important we need to tell you," he said evenly. "Why don''t you sit and eat first? You can listen¡ªor keep scolding us either works." Anneliese feared Nishay had lost her appetite since hearing about Melody''s arrest. She slipped her arm through Nishay''s and spoke softly. "Please try the food I brought. It smells amazing." Nishay let her guide her to the couch. Jonathan was already opening the container. Anneliese hurried to unpack the three tiers, setting them neatly on the table. Shedled a bowl of soup and carefully handed it to Nishay. When Nishay took it, Anneliese finally breathed a little easier. Then came a sharp thump as Nishay set the bowl back on the table. The sound broke the silence. Nishay''s gaze locked on her. "Where did you sleepst night?" Anneliese froze. She had to admit, Nishay''s intuition was razor sharp. There was no hiding anything from her. "I" Before she could exin, Nishay cut her off. "You clearly didn''t take a single thing I saidst night seriously!" Anneliese''sshes fluttered. "Grandma, I did listen¡ª" "I was the one who brought her home," Jonathan interrupted. "Anne told me everything you said. I''ve already sent people to look into the cause of the fire back then." Before he could finish, Nishay''s expression turned darker, filled with anger and disappointment. She let out a bitterugh and looked at Anneliese. "Perfect. This is your idea of getting to the truth?" She pointed at Jonathan. "You let him investigate? How is that different from asking the thief to solve the robbery? What could he possibly uncover?" Her face was tight with fury. "You''ve really let him fool you, haven''t you? You''re helping him bury the truth even deeper! I never should''ve trusted you." Anneliese had known Nishay wouldn''t trust Jonathan, but the sting of those words still left her pale. "Grandma really do trust him," she said softly. "Just like you trust me. I believe he''ll find the truth and give us real answers Please just be patient Wait for the results before deciding anything." Nishay''s face hardened, all warmth gone. It was clear she had lost every bit of faith in Anneliese. She turned away without a word. "Grandma please," Anneliese said softly, her voice almost pleading At least listen to what happened with Melody. Maybe you''ll see it differently. She exhaled her shoulders tense. The hospital door burst open. A figure stormed in without warning. Anneliese''s eyes snapped toward the door, her brows furrowing tight. She shot to her feet. "What are you doing here? You''re not wee!" Zacharias stood there looking like a wreck. His hair was a mess, his face pale and furious He didn''t even took at her. His bloodshot eyes locked straight on Jonathan. "You paid Roretha to frame my mother! You''ll do anything to cover your own guilt, won''t you? You''re sick!" His words came out like venom as he grabbed Jonathan by the cor and swung his fist at him. Jonathan didn''t move. He didn''t even try to block it. A heavy sound filled the air as the punchnded against the corner of his mouth. The impact echoed in the quiet room. "Zacharias! Have you lost your mind?" Anneliese''s fury red. Without thinking, she snatched the bag from the chair and rushed at him, swinging it over his head. The metal-cornered bottom cracked against his forehead with a harsh sound, leaving a fresh gash across his skin. Chapter 641 Zacharias yelled in pain and let go of Jonathan, reaching toward Anneliese. Before he could touch her, Jonathan pulled her back and held her close. His arm wrapped around her protectively. Then, his leg came up fast. His foot drove hard into Zacharias'' stomach, forcing him backward a few steps. Zacharias clutched his bleeding forehead, his eyes zing red with rage. "You hit me for him?" There had been no hesitation in her movements. Her blows had been fast and sharp. If she''d had anything heavier in her hand, Zacharias knew he''d be on the ground by now. His skull would''ve cracked. Anneliese didn''t even nce his way. Her attention was locked on Jonathan, her eyes full of worry and fear. Zacharias saw it. The sight burned through him like acid. The taste of blood filled his mouth again. "Why didn''t you move? Are you hurt?" "I''m fine." Jonathan gave her hand a squeeze and finally turned his gaze to Zacharias, his voice low and cold. "Mr. Shaw, what''s this? Trying to follow your mother''s example and get yourself arrested too?" Rage red in Zacharias'' eyes as he turned toward the frozen Nishay. "Nishay, you''ve always been against Anne and Jonathan being together. To keep you from ming him for Nak''s death, he bribed Roretha to frame my mother!" Anneliese''s anger boiled over. She red at him, furious at the lies he was trying to feed Nishay. "Shut your mouth! Twisting the truth? If Roretha had lied about Melody, do you really think she''d have gone so far as to hire someone to kill? Your mother is a murderer- she''s killed more than once! The police already have her in custody. You can''t just flip the truth because it suits you!" Nishay''s face went pale. Her voice trembled as she looked between them. "Anne, who did Melody kill? And what does he mean by ming your mother''s death on her? What is this?" Anneliese saw her wavering and rushed to steady her. "Please don''t listen to him¡ª" Zacharias gave a short, sharpugh. "Don''t listen? Jonathan knows d*mn well what I mean. If this wasn''t a setup, why didn''t Roretha ever stand up for my mom? "My mother didn''t hire anyone to kill her. She only wanted to save Roretha from Jonathan''s control. He bought her off and nned to use her as a fake witness in court. My mom just wanted to help her wake up ande to her senses!" ... When Zacharias got back to uderias Tech, the board was in chaos. The media was tearing him apart, and there was no silencing it. He''d been forced to promise the shareholders he''d handle it. The only way out was to keep Melody from being convicted of murder. Hiswyer had already told her what to say-deny everything. She was to im she''d only hired those men because she was scared of being framed, that she''d wanted to talk Roretha into telling the truth. The three kidnappers would never admit they''d been hired to kill anyway. As long as they stuck to the same story, there was still a chance to walk free. And if they could make it look like Jonathan had been behind it all, why not? Anneliese let out a humorlessugh. The corner of her mouth curved with open disdain. "Zacharias, are you really that foolish? You think your mother can lie her way out of this? You actually believe that?" The look she gave him made his gut tighten. Did they already have evidence he didn''t know about? Jonathan''s eyes flicked toward him briefly, cold and calm. He said nothing. He picked up a ss of warm water, opened the nightstand drawer, and took out a bottle of pills. "Have Nishay take two," he said quietly. Anneliese took them and nodded before hurrying to prepare them. "Grandma, take these first." Nishay did as she was told, swallowing the pills and holding the ss between her hands. Her eyes lingered on Jonathan, her expression shifting slightly. He hadn''t spent much time in her room, yet he knew exactly where her medication was kept. He must have asked about her condition before. Nishay tried not to think about it, but it was always the smallest details that hit the hardest and refused to be ignored. After she took the pills, her face began to regain some color. Only then did Jonathan start speaking. "Melody went to the udes'' ce back then and told your daughter about her husband''s death Nishay When your daughter fell down the stairs, Melody was there. "She ran from the scene, and Roretha saw her. Roretha agreed to testify thcourt Ferrified of being exposed, Melody sold her jewelry and hired someone to silence her. The police caught her in the act." Chapter 642 When Nishay heard that Melody had provoked her daughter and witnessed the fall, her mind exploded like static. Her mouth opened and trembled, but no sound came out. Anneliese held her tightly, calling her name over and over until she finally came to. Her clouded eyes locked on Zacharias. "Melody''s behind it all? That witch! Let her rot! She deserves to die!" Her voice rasped with fury. Zacharias felt the weight of her hatred like a punch to the chest, his breath catching. "Nishay, think about it. If that were true, why didn''t Roretha say anything back then?" Jonathan''s voice was calm but firm. "Because she lived upstairs from your family. She was afraid another death in that building would make it a crime scene. Everyone already knew your mother-inw had been killed. If another murder happened there, her apartment would lose its value. That''s why she stayed quiet." "That''s just your version!" Zacharias shouted, still grasping for denial. Jonathan let out a sharpugh and took out his phone. He tapped the screen and held it out. "Then listen to this, Mr. Shaw. Let''s see if you can still twist the truth after hearing it." The hospital room filled with the audio Jonathan had yed for Anneliese earlier that morning-the recording of Melody arranging the hit. Her voice was clear as day. Every word exposed the truth. Zacharias had always known his mother could be impulsive and thoughtless. But this level of stupidity stunned him. As the recording continued, his expression fell apart. The metallic taste of blood rose in his throat, and he forced it down. He knew it was over. Completely over. He should have seen iting. Jonathan neverid a trap without covering every detail. There was never going to be a way out. "Zacharias, what do you have to say now?" Anneliese held Nishay''s cold hands tightly, her re sharp and merciless. Zacharias met her eyes. He thought he was used to her disgust and distance. He thought he''d gone numb to it. But the pain hit him all over again, sharp and deep, like his chest was being split open. He opened his mouth. "I''m sorry. I... I made a mistake. I shouldn''t have doubted. I didn''t think my mom would do something like this. She swore to me she didn''t. I didn''t think she''d even lie to me. I¡ª" Anneliese''sugh cut through his words, cold and scathing. "You didn''t think she would do something like that? That''s your excuse? She hired someone to kill, and you call that a misunderstanding. "You know exactly what kind of person your mother is. Don''t act like you don''t. Your tried to cover for her and now that you he caught, you call it a mistake? Do you really think I''m still the fool your family used to y?" Zacharias froze. Her words hit him like a p. His face turned pale, his shame burning under his skin. It felt like his pride had been stripped from him, leaving nothing but raw humiliation. Anneliese gave a cold, cutting smile. She was about tosh out again when she noticed Nishay trembling as The slowly pushed herselfup the chair. "Grandma?" Anneliese rushed forward, worry tightening her voice. But Nishay brushed her hand aside and took a shaky step toward Zacharias. He couldn''t move. His eyes followed her, his body locked in ce. He didn''t dare meet her gaze, not when those eyes burned red with rage. "Nishay, I¡ª" A hard p broke through the silence. The sound was sharp and final, echoing through the room. She cut off his apology. Nishay had used every bit of strength she had left. Zacharias stumbled back from the impact, and her body swayed, losing bnce. "Careful!" Startled, he reached out on instinct to steady her. But she recoiled, shoving him away with disgust. Her body tilted, seconds from falling, when a pair of firm hands caught her and held her.. upright. She gripped the arm that supported her without even thinking. It was Jonathan. He looked down at her trembling hands clutching his sleeve. For the first time that day, the tightness in his chest eased. A small, triumphant smile tugged at his lips as he looked over at Anneliese. She was still shaken, her pulse racing from almost watching Nishay fall. As she stepped around the table, she saw Jonathan holding Nishay steady. Before she could catch her breath, his gaze met hers-warm, confident, and a little proud. She caught the unspoken message right away. Chapter 643 ''Look, honey. Nishay''s finally letting her guard down. I did good, didn''t I?'' Anneliese shot him a look of mock annoyance, but her lips betrayed her, curling into a soft smile. Their eyes met for only a second before parting, but when Jonathan turned again, Zacharias was staring at him with murderous fury. Zacharias had seen the entire silent exchange. He knew Jonathan was enjoying this. He''d not only earned Nishay''s trust but had also redirected all her anger toward him. Jonathan''s lips lifted again, this time into a slow, dangerous smirk. The warmth was gone. What reced it was sharp and predatory, like a beast finally baring its teeth. Zacharias was so furious he nearly choked on his own rage. "Nishay, even if my mother was wrong, Mr. ude died saving Jonathan first! You can''t hate me and then suddenly ept him!" He couldn''t stand it. Watching Nishay turn toward Jonathan felt worse than dying. It was like she was crushing his bones just to lift that man higher. Anneliese saw through him instantly. Even now, he was trying to pit them against each other. Fury burned through her as she stepped forward, but before she could speak, Nishay''s rough, trembling voice cut through the room. "I must''ve been blind back then. How could I ever have let Anne marry someone like you? A man with the face of a human but the heart of a monster. I handed her to a pack of greedy leeches." She clutched Jonathan''s hand tight. "He''s ten times the man you''ll ever be." Zacharias froze. The words hit harder than any blow. He had tried to manipte her and ended up hearing her praise his enemy instead. His knees nearly buckled as he staggered back. "Nishay..." "Keep my name out of your mouth!" she snapped. "I feel sick hearing it from you!" Her fury red, and her body swayed. The color drained from her face as her knees weakened. Jonathan caught her before she fell. Anneliese hurried to support her other side, her voice shaking. "Grandma, please. You need to lie down." She tried to take Nishay to her bed. Nishay could barely move. Her vision blurred, and her steps faltered. Jonathan didn''t wait. He bent down, lifted her into his arms, andid her gently on the bed. Anneliese quickly tucked a pillow behind her to steady her. Zacharias watched them, frozen in ce. The way they moved together, in sync and protective, made his stomach twist. They looked like a real family¡ªunited, solid, untouchable. His heart sank as he stumbled back a step. When Nishay caught her breath, she red at him again, her voice raw with pain. "Melody fooled my daughter years ago. My sweet, kind girl helped your family again and again, and what did you alt do? You turned on her. You dragged wolves into our home and tore her apart unti nothing was left. 1.n "Your mother killed her. And yet you still have the audacity to feed off us-to bleed the weak dry! You even conned me into handing over Frederick''s pension to clean up your family''s mess. If you had even a shred of decency you would''ve treated Anne right. But what did you do instead? You acted like an animal." Nishay''s voice cracked, her breathing uneven. Anneliese reached for her, trying to calm her down. "Grandma, don''t waste your breath on someone like him. He''s not worth it. We''ll settle this in court." Cold sweat ran down Nishay''s face. The truth had drained every ounce of strength she had left. She shut her eyes as tears slid down her cheeks. Anneliese turned to Zacharias, her voice sharp. "Get out." He hesitated, taking one slow step forward, but Jonathan didn''t give him the chance. He grabbed Zacharias by the cor and yanked him out of the room. Outside, Jonathan''s fist came fast and hard. The crack of the hit echoed down the hall as his knuckles mmed into Zacharias'' face¡ªa clean payback for the blow Zacharias had thrown earlier. Zacharias mmed against the wall and dropped to the floor, limp and trembling, blood spilling from his mouth. He sat there in a daze, leaning against the wall, his head hanging low. Nishay''s words reyed in his mind over and over. They cut deeper than Jonathan''s punch ever could. Shame and regret ate at him until there was nothing left inside but emptiness. The memories hit him all at once. His father, drunk again, staggering through the door while screams filled the house. He saw Melody rushing him and Lenora to the udes'' home, where the air always smelled and safety Anneliesefort slip candy and cookies into their hands, her voice soft as she whispered, "Zacharias, try these. They''re sweet. You''ll feel better after you eat them." Nak would hold a cold towel to his swollen cheek, her voice trembling with anger and pity as she urged Frederick to confront Zacharias'' father. From the kitchen, Nishay would emerge with a steaming te of tiny pies, muttering that it was a shame, and join Nak in begging Melody to find a way out. Back then, the udes'' home had felt like the only ce in the world that was warm and safe. He had sworn to himself that one day, he would repay their kindness. That he would treat Anneliese better than anyone ever could. So how had everything fallen apart like this? He never thought it would end this way between them. Chapter 644 Jonathan had been about to warn Zacharias, but when he saw him sitting motionless on the floor, it was like the life had been drained right out of him. Jonathan lost all interest in speaking further. There was nothing left in Zacharias worth his attention. Disdain flickered through his eyes as he turned, opened the hospital door, and stepped back inside. The door clicked shut behind him. Zacharias didn''t move. His shoulders started to tremble, barely at first, then harder, though no sound came from him. Only the soft stter of tears hitting the floor broke the stillness, unnoticed by anyone. Inside the room, Anneliese sat by the bed, her hand still holding Nishay''s. When she heard the door open, she turned and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Jonathan to stay quiet. "Is she asleep?" Jonathan whispered as he approached. Anneliese nodded. "She''s exhausted. I''ll stay with her tonight. You should get some rest. You barely sleptst night." Jonathan shook his head. "I''m fine. I''ll stay." Then, a faint voice broke the silence. "You both should go. I''m fine..." Anneliese turned quickly. "Grandma, you''re awake!" Nishay''s eyes opened, dull and heavy with sadness. "The nurses and attendants will take care of me. I just want some time to myself. Go on." She patted Anneliese''s hand gently. Anneliese hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave. Then, Nishay''s tired gaze shifted to Jonathan. He stepped closer and ced a steady hand on Anneliese''s shoulder. "Anne, if that''s what she wants, maybe we should let her rest." Sometimes, he thought, it was easier for someone to breathe when everyone else stepped away. Anneliese rose from her chair. "Get some rest, Grandma. Tell me what you''d like to eatter, and I''ll bring it to you." Nishay''s eyes drifted, her voice faint. "Vegetable pie." Anneliese froze mid-motion, her fingers still holding the nket. Her throat tightened, and heat welled behind her eyes. "Alright," she whispered. "I''ll make it for you." ... When she and Jonathan stepped out of the hospital room, Zacharias was gone from the hallway. Anneliese didn''t care where he had gone. She walked beside Jonathan, his handced with hers, until they reached the elevator Then, something struck her, and she looked up. "Can you send a couple of guards to watch the hospital? I''m worried Zacharias might try toe back." Zacharias might have been awful, but his loyalty to his mother and sister had always been real. With Melody now facing prison, if he could convince the family to forgive her, it could make a huge difference in her sentence. Who knew if he woulde back to beg¡ªor if Lenora might show up and cause a scene? Jonathan nodded. "Alright. Don''t worry. But I want two people with you too. If he loses it, I don''t want you anywhere near him." Anneliese didn''t want him to worry more. She almost brushed it off, then changed her mind and nodded quietly. He guided her into the elevator. Seeing the tension on her face, he gave her hand a light shake. She looked at him, puzzled. Jonathan smiled. "Did you catch that Nishay told me to take you with me?" She blinked, only now realizing what he meant. "She told me to take you with me. That basically means she''s handed you over to me. So, does this mean I finally got official approval, honey?" Anneliese blinked again, amused. "I guess it does." When she saw how his eyes lit up, she couldn''t help but smile. "Or maybe she''s just too tired to fight you right now," she teased. Jonathan gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You really know how to kill the mood." Annelieseughed. "You want her approval that badly? You already have me. Isn''t that enough?" He slipped an arm around her waist and looked down at her. "Of course it matters. Nishay''s your only family. Our marriage deserves her blessing. I want you to feelpletely safe being with me." "Okay," she murmured. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face to his chest, listening to his heartbeat thudding through his shirt. They stayed quiet, wrapped in soft warmth as the elevator hummed around them. Then, Anneliese suddenly gasped. Jonathan looked down. "What happened?" §Ö§ä Anneliese groaned, smacking her forehead. "I told Grandma I''d make her vegetable piel But can I ever find the ingredients right now? It might be too early in the season Jonathan stared for a second, then almostughed. For a moment, he''d thought it was something serious. Chapter 645 He brushed his hand over the girl''s head. "I''ll have someone find it. Even if Oceaton doesn''t have any, I''ll make sure it''s delivered from somewhere else soon." Anneliese nodded, her eyes lifting to his with a smile full of warmth and trust. "If you''re not too busy, help me make some. We can make extra and bring a few to Derek and Penelope." Derek and Penelope hade all the way to Oceaton because of them, and Anneliese naturally wanted to do something for them. Jonathan raised an eyebrow, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Okay." Anneliese smiled again. "I remember when Mom was in herst trimester, her favorite thing was Grandma''s vegetable pie. "Back then, I hated it. I thought it smelled weird. I only liked meat pies. Every time Grandma brought food to Mom, she''d make a separate batch just for me. "That day when Mom was taken to the hospital, Grandma was still at home making pies. But Mom never got to eat them again. Grandma must be missing her." Jonathan tightened his hold on her. "When this is over, and Melody finally faces justice, we''ll make vegetable pie with Nishay again. Then, we''ll go to Baytree and take some to your parents. You can introduce me to them, alright?" Anneliese''s throat tightened. She buried her face against his chest, her voice muffled. "Alright." The elevator opened. Hand in hand, they stepped out and walked toward the hospital''s main doors. Behind a marble column in the lobby, a figure stood hidden, watching until they disappeared from sight. The woman''s eyes followed their backs, cold and intent. The maid beside her spoke in confusion. "Ma''am, what''s wrong?" The woman, elegant and middle-aged, slowly pulled her gaze away. "Nothing. Let''s go. Make ure you do exactly what I told you." The maid nodded quickly. "Yes, ma''am." They entered the elevator together and exited on the maternity ward floor. The maid walked ahead, leading the way to Jessica''s room. She knocked lightly but didn''t wait for an answer before opening the door. Jessica sat upright in bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked up, frowning. "Who are you?" The maid didn''t reply. She nced at the namete by the bed, then turned to the doorway. "Ma''am, this is the right room." Jessica''s frown deepened. She looked toward the door and saw a woman step in wearing a tailored dress and a full set of sapphi Jewelry Her presence filled the room, refined yet intimidating. The woman''s sharp eyes swept over Jessica from head to toe, assessing her without a hint of restraint. "Who are you people?" Jessica straightened, tension creeping into her voice. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, her expression guarded. The woman didn''t respond. She walked closer to the bed while the maid hurried to pull a chair into ce. The maid quickly pulled a tissue from her bag, wiped the seat clean, and stepped aside. "Please sit, ma''am." The woman sat down with effortless grace, her eyes coldly settling on Jessica. "How far along are you?" Her gaze lingered on Jessica''s stomach, sharp and unrelenting. A chill spread through Jessica''s body. She folded her hands protectively over her belly, but the unease didn''t fade. Her knees drew up, a quiet instinct to shield herself. "Ma''am, I have no idea who you are, and how far along I am isn''t your business. If you''ve made it this faran life without learning how to troduce yourself maybe take a right turn out that door and head to the neurology ward on the eighteenth floor. They''ll help you." The woman''s intentions were hostile, and Jessica wasn''t in the mood to y nice. Her expression stayedposed as her eyes moved over the woman in front of her. She was beautiful and polished, her makeup soft and refined, but the chill in her gaze stripped away any hint of warmth. Zane must have looked like his father. Jessica couldn''t see a trace of him in this woman. "You''ve got quite the mouth," the woman said tly. "If your child is Zane''s, then as his elder, I have every right to ask." Jessica''s fingers clenched around the edge of her hospital gown. The woman noticed, her voice softening just enough to sound patronizing. "Ms. Sweeting, the Shayman family has its principles. We don''t tolerate an unwed woman bringing an illegitimate child into this world. Zane has had rtionships before. "I wouldn''t say he changes girlfriends twice a year, but you''re certainly not the exception. With his background and looks, it''s no surprise women throw themselves at him." Chapter 646 Her tone was calm, but every word hit like a knife twisting deeper. "The family never interfered with his dating life. We only reminded him to treat those girls well while itsted. "But that courtesy ends when the rtionship does. He knows his limits. That''s why his previous girlfriends neversted more than six months, and each one left with a generous settlement. "There was never any drama. Zane has taste, and those girls had enough sense to walk away quietly. "But this time, it seems he made a mistake. Ms. Sweeting, tell me what did you do to end up carrying his child?" Mary rk''s voice never rose, but the softness in it made every word sting sharper than a shout. Jessica had known Zane dated before. She''d assumed the breakups were due to work or personality differences. Now she saw the truth. Those women had never mattered to him. They were just ceholders. He was awyer, one who needed a spotless public image. Having a "girlfriend" had been nothing but part of the show. And she, Jessica, wasn''t even that. She was something less. No one was told that she was his girlfriend. Her face drained of color. Her fists tightened, her throat closing up. "I didn''t manipte him," she said hoarsely. "This baby was an ident." Zane had always been careful with protection, so Jessica never imagined she''d end up pregnant. She hadn''t nned to justify herself, but Mary''s words were pure venom. The woman clearly believed she had trapped Zane on purpose, maybe even sabotaged the protection to get pregnant. "If you say it was an ident, then fine, it was an ident," Mary said, her tone cold and measured. "But there''s no point in dwelling on it now." She nodded once, then continued with practiced indifference. "Since it was an ident, it should be handled like one. I''ll arrange the best doctor for you. We can have it taken care of this afternoon." Jessica''s whole body went cold. In Mary''s eyes, what was her baby-just a problem to erase? A mistake that didn''t even need her consent to be destroyed? Her chest tightened as she forced herself to breathe. "Does Zane even know you''re here?" Mary''s lips curved into a faint, polished smile. "Ms. Sweeting, Zane left for Halden and hasn''t returned Yet here Tam Do you think that''s Coincidence? He hasnt chat''s called you today, has he? Some things are better left unsaid. Asking too much only hurts you." Jessica almostughed at the absurdity. She had actually nned to tell Zane about the pregnancy face-to-face. Even when Gianna''s interference had stopped her from seeing him, she tossed and turned all night, wondering if Zane would be happy to hear he was going to be a father. She had thought maybe he''d want to be one. But now she knew better. He already knew¡ªand instead ofing himself, he had sent his parents to erase the problem. Her teeth sank into her tongue until she tasted blood. Her eyes dropped to her stomach, then lifted sharply to meet Mary''s cold gaze. "Mary, the Shaymans are supposed to be a family ofwyers. Don''t you know you have no right to force me into an abortion? Or do you believe your family''s above thew now?" Mary''s smile barely shifted. "You don''t need to put on a performance." She reached into her purse, pulled out a card, andid it on the table in front of Jessica. "You worked hard to get pregnant. I won''t let that effort go to waste. There''s three million here¡ªcall it a recovery allowance andpensation for emotional distress. "You''re young. End the pregnancy, take the money, buy yourself a small ce, and find a man who actually fits your level. It''s the smart choice." Jessica stared at the card and gave a short, bitterugh. She pped once, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Mary, are you e seriously recycling storylines from. old soap operas? This is anerent. And three million? That''s what you think I''m worth?" She covered her mouth andughed harder, shaking her head. "Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable." Mary''s expression hardened, and the maid behind her stepped forward, jabbing a finger toward Jessica. "Three million is too much for someone like you! You''re a nobody! Ourdy meeting you in person is more respect than you''ll ever deserve! You should be¡ª" Chapter 647 Before she could finish, Jessica grabbed the ss of water from the nightstand and hurled it. The ss hit hard, sshing water straight into the maid''s face. The sound of it filled the room. The maid screamed, stumbling back, while Mary caught part of the spray herself. She shot to her feet, patting at her soaked clothes as the chair ttered to the floor. Herposure snapped. "How could Zane ever get involved with someone like you?" she spat, her refined mask crumbling. Mary dabbed her wet clothes with a tissue, ring at Jessica with open disgust. Jessica''s lips curved upward, her smile widening. "Mary, you''ve done your digging, haven''t you? I''m an orphan. No family, no background. Just some girl from nowhere. People like me don''t fear people like you." Her palm brushed her belly. "Since you think I plotted to have this baby, why wouldn''t I keep it? I can always negotiate with your familyter. "I heard illegitimate children now have the same inheritance rights as legitimate ones. And I''m carrying your family''s first grandchild. "If I wait a year, forget three million. I could ask for thirty million, three hundred million, maybe even three billion. Your family cares about appearances, don''t they? "I doubt you''d want me showing up on a talk show with your family''s heir in my arms, right?" "You filthy b*tch!" the maid shouted, stamping her foot. Jessica turned her head, her cold eyes sweeping over the maid''s drenched, messy face. "Mary, I suggest you keep yourpdog on a short leash." Mary drew a slow breath, forcing herself calm, but her tone dropped low. "What will it take for you to get rid of it?" Jessica rested her hand protectively over her stomach. "Nothing will make me do that. This baby is mine. Mine alone." Her voice was unwavering, every word deliberate. Mary frowned. "Yours alone? What does that mean?" "It means I''m keeping him. If your family doesn''t want him, then act like he doesn''t exist. I won''te knocking on your door." Jessica wasn''t foolish enough to fight Mary head-on. She was alone, with no power, and even if Mary couldn''t legally force her into an abortion, there were still plenty of ways to ruin her life. She needed to y smart. Mary gave a cold, mockingugh. "Sure. You say that now, but once the baby''s here, you''lle back begging for money. Women like you can''t be trusted." Jessica tilted her head slightly. "Twenty million." Mary blinked. "What?" "Give me twenty million, and I''ll sign a legal contract today. I''ll never approach your family again. The child will renounce every right to inheritance. You''ll never hear from either of us again '' She lifted two fingers. Maryughed, her voice dripping with scorn. "Twenty million? You''ve got some nerve." Jessica leaned back against the bed, her tone steady and cool. "Twenty million for the Shaymans'' first grandchild''s inheritance rights? Honestly, that''s a bargain. "If you pay your son will know I took the money to cut all ties. You won''t have to worry about me showing up again or him getting softter. Clean and simple, don''t you think?" Mary stared at her in silence, weighing her words. Jessica didn''t push. She dropped her gaze to her nails, studying them with quiet patience. After half a minute of silence, Mary''s voice came out cold and sharp. "Fine. I can agree to that. But there''s one condition. Once you take the money, you leave the country within three days." Jessica lifted her gaze. "Deal." Perfect. Exactly what she wanted. She almost found herself liking Mary for making it so easy. Mary gave a curt nod. "I''ll make a call." She grabbed her phone and stepped outside, likely to arrange the transfer of the twenty million. The maid red at Jessica on her way out before following her boss. The moment they left, Jessica''s rigid shoulders sagged. Tears slipped down her face faster than she could stop them. She tilted her head back and wiped them away with her sleeve. "Come on, little one," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "No crying. We''re about to have enough money to start over somewhere new. No Sever going to hurt you ag That''s a good thing, isn''t it? From now on, it''s just you and me. That''s better. That''s perfect." With this money, she could study overseas, build a life, and never look back. If the Shaymans wanted to buy her off, then fine. She''d take it all. Once she epted it, everything between her and Zane would be finished. No more illusions. No more second chances. This was good. Jessica fanned her face with her hand, brushing away the damp heat in her eyes before forcing a faint, determined smile. About ten minutester, Mary walked back into the room. She tossed a bank card onto the bed. "There, twenty million. The password''s today''s date. Check it. Then sign the contract." Chapter 648 A printed draft followed,nding beside the card. Jessica picked it up and looked at Mary. "Are you serious right now, Mrs. Shayman? What happens when I take the card, and you use me of extortionter? It''s going to be your word against mine." A flicker of annoyance shed in Mary''s eyes. She hadn''t expected the girl to be this sharp. "You''re imagining things," Mary said tly. Jessica crossed her arms. "Then bring awyer and a witness. Have the money transferred as a gift, with a use stating you''ll never take it back for any reason. Once that''s in writing, I''ll sign your agreement." Mary''s chest rose and fell, her lips pressed into a thin white line. She red at Jessica for several seconds before turning away to make another call. Thirty minutester, the twenty million hit Jessica''s ount. She signed the agreement that Mary had given her. "Happy now, Mrs. Shayman?" Her hand trembled with thest stroke, pressing so hard it tore the edge of the paper. Mary looked it over and gave a thin nod of approval. "Now press your thumbprint." She turned to ask thewyer for an ink pad, but Jessica grabbed the fruit knife from the nightstand and sliced a small cut across her thumb. She pressed it firmly over her signature, the red mark sinking into the paper. She tossed the contract toward Mary. "Take it. I need some rest." Mary picked it up, scanned it, and slid it into her bag. "Don''t forget to leave within three days. I''ll have someone watching you." Jessica didn''t answer. Shey down, turned her back to the door, and faced the wall. Mary paused for onest cold nce before walking out with her people. Jessica curled in on herself, gripping the bank card until her fingers hurt. Blood seeped from her thumb, smearing across the card until the numbers faded under the stain. Inside the car, the maid spoke carefully. "Madam Chalmont, giving her twenty million and letting her keep the baby seems too generous." Pepper Chalmont gave a faint, icy smile. "That depends on whether she survives long enough to have it." She wasn''t Mary at all. She was Gianna''s mother, Pepper. She had promised her daughter she would take care of Jessica. But after digging deeper, she found out Jessica was already in the maternity ward, on bed rest, trying to save the pregnancy. The country had too many restrictions, so Jessica had to be sent abroad as soon as possible. Pepper had already used a few tricks to keep Zane upied, but if Jessica stayed in Oceaton, the Shaymans would eventually learn the truth. So Jessica had to leave immediately. Once she was out of the country, it would be easy enough to make her lose the baby-or disappear altogether. A faint smirk tugged at Pepper''s lips. That twenty million wouldn''t be easy money to keep. Jessica might have taken it, but whether she lived long enough to spend it was another matter. Even if that little tramp somehow gave birth, she had signed the agreement. She would never be able to threaten Gianna''s ce again. Meanwhile, Anneliese and Jonathan had stopped by both the supermarket and the local farmers market, but as expected, wild greens were out of like shepherd''s purse season and nowhere to be found. Jonathan made a quick call, ordering Zion to find some by any means necessary. Then he drove Anneliese back to The Banyans. "Didn''t you sayst night you wanted to see our new home together?" The Bentley pulled up beside the Western-style fountain. Jonathan stepped out, walked around the car, and opened the passenger door. He and hese''s hand as she took climbed out, then lifted his chin slightly toward the house. "After you, honey." Anneliese held his hand and followed him into the vi, a soft smile curving her lips. She hadn''t seen the ce at allst night. They had gone straight to the bedroom the moment they arrived. They had promised to explore it together today. As she walked beside him, she tilted her head up. "You barely slept two hoursst night. Why don''t you rest first? You said this is our home now. We''ll have all the time in the world." Jonathan looked down at her and slipped an arm around her waist. "I can''t wait. Don''t you want to help me make it perfect?" He couldn''t wait to show her everything. He couldn''t wait to make every part of this house theirs. Only when she was part of it would it truly feel like home. A home that was theirs. Anneliese caught the meaning in his eyes, her gaze brightening. "I just didn''t want you to exhaust yourself." Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "You doubt my stamina." Two hours of sleep was plenty for him. Chapter 649 When work got busy, he''d gone three straight days with barely five hours of rest. Before she could say anything, he bent down, swept her off her feet, and carried her toward the house in long strides. "We''ll n the gardenter. Swings, greenhouse, whatever you want-we''ll figure it out. Let''s see the inside first." Anneliese nodded. "Alright." The garden really was huge. Even in the darkst night, she had noticed that the frontwn had three sections, and the back garden stretched all the way to theke. It would need some serious thought before arranging anything. "Mr. and Mrs. Fullbuster, wee back!" Anneliese looped her arms around his neck, her gaze meeting his as they stepped into the vi together. Margot''s voice caught her off guard. Only then did she remember there were still people in the house. She shot Jonathan a teasing re and shifted in his arms, hinting for him to set her down. He didn''t seem the least bit bothered. He just nodded at Margot. Margot, sharp as always, quickly ced their slippers by the door with a smile before slipping away to the staff quarters. Jonathan set Anneliese on the entryway cab, knelt down, and took off her shoes. He slid the slippers onto her feet himself, his movements calm and deliberate. With him, even something so simple never looked submissive. Every move carried an effortless elegance, a quiet control that made her pulse race. Heat crept up her neck. She swung her legs gently, ncing down at the pink slippers. "You''re surprisingly good at this, honey." Jonathanughed softly, ruffling her hair before putting on his own slippers. Anneliese''s eyes dropped to his feet, and her expression froze. "Wait. Are these matching slippers?" She noticed his ck pair was the exact same design as her pink ones. Anneliese noticed the couple slippers and thought they were adorable. She reached out a hand toward Jonathan. "Wait, hang on. Help me down." Jonathan slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her from the cab with ease. The moment her feet touched the floor, she stepped closer and ced her right foot beside his left. Her eyes lit up when the half-heart on her slipper lined up with the half-heart on his, forming one perfect pink heart. She covered her lips andughed, looking up at him like a kid who had just discovered candy. "Did you buy these?" she asked. She could hardly believe it. Jonathan, the detail-oriented type? No way. He must have told his assistant or a housekeeper to get them. Jonathan reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Instead of answering, he asked softly, "Do you like them?" Anneliese nodded. "Of course I do. They''re adorable. It''s such a sweet surprise." She took out her phone. "Don''t move. I need a picture." Jonathan smiled and stayed still while she took photo after photo, changing angles each time. When she was finally done, he took her hand and led her inside. "If you don''t like the furniture, the curtains, or the lighting in the living room, we can change them," he said. Anneliese looked around the space, her eyes scanning every corner. "Everything''s great. I love it. I might add a few throw pillows, maybe a rug, and some small decor piecester But tell me the truth-did you get help from a female friend? The ce looks way too aligned with a woman''s taste." Jonathan lightly tapped her forehead. What are you thinking? This is our home. Why would let another woman have a say in it? Even the interior designer was a man, you jealous little thing." Anneliese blinked, a shy flush rising in her cheeks. He''d caught her easily. Maybe her marriage to Zacharias had left too many scars. Selina had been to their house more than once. Back when she and Zacharias were buying their home, she hadn''t known anything about his affair with Selina. When they got the keys Zacharias even invited the Whites toe see the ce. She remembered Selina suggesting all sorts of design ideas, and Zacharias had agreed with every one of them. She''d been such a fool, blind to it all. Now, as she looked at Jonathan, her chest grew tight. That was what love looked like the difference between a man who cared and one who never did. A man who didn''t love you could lie to you, humiliate you, and even bring another woman home just to feel something. But a man who truly loved you didn''t need to be told. He already knew what mattered to you and cared about every single detail. Chapter 650 Jonathan''s love felt like warm water running over her skin. It surrounded Anneliese, soft and steady, keeping her safe. Sometimes, though, that warmth red up without warning, deep and consuming. She took a step forward, stood on her toes, and pressed her lips against his. Jonathan''s brows lifted slightly, a faint smile curving his lips. He didn''t kiss her back, but he let her linger, savoring her sudden affection. Anneliese thought he wasn''t cooperating at all. With her slippers on, their height difference felt even more obvious. She looped her arms around his neck, stepped right onto his foot with her soft pink slipper, and kissed him harder, her tongue tracing into his mouth just like he always did to her. Jonathan''s Adam''s apple moved as his breath deepened. His hand slid around her lower back, pressing her against him until she had to gasp and push him away. Hershes were wet, her eyes tinted red, and she tilted her chin up at him, her voice soft but sharp. "Yeah, I''m jealous. So you''d better keep your boundaries in check." The vi was big, with too many rooms to count. It took them half an hour just to finish looking through two floors. Anneliese pulled out her phone and opened her notes app, typing down everything she wanted to add, change, or buy. That was when Zion showed up, actually bringing the greens he''d mentioned earlier. They decided to leave the rest of the house for another time. Jonathan went to the study with Zion to talk business, while Anneliese followed Margot into the kitchen to make pies. Anneliese was mixing the filling when the doorbell suddenly rang. "I''ll get it," Margot said quickly, setting down the bowl and untying her apron before hurrying away. A momentter, Anneliese heard hering back, her steps quick and uneven. Anneliese looked up. Margot pointed toward the entrance. "Ma''am, it''s Mr. Fullbuster''s mother. I already opened the gate. You should go greet her." Elizabeth was here. Anneliese untied her apron, washed her hands, and walked out of the dining room. At the entryway, a silver Cayenne rolled into the courtyard. The driver stepped out and opened the back door, and sure enough, Elizabeth emerged. Anneliese turned to Margot. "Go upstairs and tell Jonathan his mother''s here." Margot nodded and headed up, while Anneliese stepped outside to meet Elizabeth herself. Elizabeth paused when she saw her, hesitating for a brief moment before walking up the stairs. She looked almost the same as she had at the Fullbuster estate¡ªelegant clothes, diamonds, and all that quiet wealth. But on closer look, she seemed older, worn down. The makeup couldn''t hide the wrinkles on her forehead or the dark circles under her eyes. Her gaze wasyered now, full of something tangled and uncertain. Anneliese stood still, her posture calm, her expression polite but unreadable, with only a faint, courteous smile. She said nothing. Elizabeth reached the top of the steps, stared at her silence, and felt her chest tighten. Thest time they''d met, Elizabeth had led Anneliese to that pink "princess room" and dropped those cruel words on purpose. She''d wanted Anneliese to walk away from Jonathan. Yet here this woman still stood. And because of it, Jonathan had cut off one of the Hoff family''s biggest partnerships. For days, Elizabeth''s brother and sister-inw had been pressing her for answers. She''d called Jonathan again and again, but he never picked up. She''d even called Zion, who gave her the same rehearsed response every time. The messages she''d asked him to pass on clearly never reached Jonathan. Even Penelope and Derek had flown to Oceaton in person¡ªall because of Anneliese. Elizabeth had been so wound up this past year that she was on the edge of losing control. With no other option left, she came herself. And now, how could she not be furious? She stared at Anneliese''s calm, unreadable face and felt her silence like a p, a quiet provocation wrapped in poise. Elizabeth''s voice went cold. "I heard your grandmother was hospitalized around New Year''s. I thought you''d finallye to your senses about Jonathan. But you''re still here Quess there really is a difference between blood and adoption." She moved to walk past, but Anneliese''s voice stopped her. "Mrs. Fullbuster, why are you so against Jonathan and me? I''m genuinely curious." Elizabeth froze. Her eyes narrowed, and her tone turned sharp. "You really don''t know your ce, do rel you? You''re divorced. Your background, your reputation, your capabilities-none of it matches him. I''ve even heard you can''t have children. How could someone like you ever be worthy of my som Tell me, isn''t it perfectly reasonable that I disapprove?" Chapter 651 Elizabeth''s list of reasons sounded neat enough, but none of them felt real to Anneliese. She met Elizabeth''s eyes. "Oh? That''s strange. You used to favor Selina, didn''t you? Don''t tell me you never saw what she really was." Her tone stayed steady, but there was an edge beneath it. "Selina''s an illegitimate daughter who faked her way into a wealthy life. Her looks and skills are below mine, and her background and morals are worse. Yet you were satisfied with her. So let''s not pretend those reasons you just gave are the truth." Elizabeth hadn''t expected her to hit that hard. Her gaze faltered for a split second. Anneliese took a step forward. "Seems to me, you prefer a daughter-inw you can control. Someone soft, someonepliant. If that''s the case, my past and my background should make me a perfect fit. But you still want to tear us apart. Why is that?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Or maybe, Mrs. Fullbuster, you''re scared. What exactly is it that you''re afraid of?" Elizabeth gave a short, icyugh. "Afraid? Don''t tter yourself. I just don''t like you. You''ve got a sharp mouth and no respect for me. Why would I keep someone like you around to irritate me?" With that, she walked right past and into the vi. Anneliese''s brow furrowed as she watched her go. She had been studying every flicker of expression on Elizabeth''s face, but there wasn''t a trace of panic or guilt. Back when the fire happened, there had only been three people in the vi¡ª Elizabeth, her husband, and Jonathan. If Elizabeth had nothing to hide, why get so defensive? Why push so hard to break her and Jonathan apart? That made her very suspicious, though; it was still possible that Elizabeth just despised her. Anneliese stepped inside as Jonathan came down the stairs with Zion. "Jonathan, I need to speak to you privately. Let''s go to the study," Elizabeth said as she moved toward the staircase. Jonathan raised his hand, stopping her. Elizabeth frowned, puzzled. He didn''t even look at her. His eyes went straight over her head, locking on Anneliese instead. "Baby," he said, his tone low but firm. "Come here." Anneliese picked up her pace. As she reached him, Jonathan extended his hand. She ced hers in his, and he immediately drew her in watil she stood right beside him, shoulder to shoulder. He turned his gaze to Elizabeth. "If you''ve got something to say, we can talk in the living room. I still need to help my wife with piebakingter." Elizabeth''s expression hardened. "Jonathan, is this really how you treat your own mother?" Jonathan''s tone chilled. "If you can''t stand being here, leaving is always an option." Elizabeth hadn''t expected him to humiliate her like that, not in front of Anneliese and Zion. Her throat tightened, the words stuck like a heavy stone she couldn''t swallow. But she forced herself to remember why she came. It was for the Hoff family. Without Fullbuster Group''s backing, they wouldn''t even be able to keep up their polished fa?ade. She swallowed her pride and turned to Anneliese. "Get us some refreshments." Anneliese thought that as thedy of the house, it was only polite to treat Elizabeth like any guest and offer her tea. She took a step forward, but Jonathan slipped an arm around her waist and stopped her. He guided her down to sit beside him on the couch, while Elizabeth froze at the foot of the stairs. After two seconds of tense silence, Elizabeth turned and sat stiffly in the single armchair opposite them. Her cold gaze fell on Margot, then on Zion. Sensing the tension, Margot quickly headed toward the kitchen to prepare tea. Zion nced at Jonathan, who gave him a slight nod, and Zion followed her out. Only the three of them remained. Elizabeth parted her lips, but the humiliation was thick in her throat. Jonathan''s hand stayed firm on Anneliese''s waist, his expression calm andposed. Anneliese sat straight beside him poised and confident, perfectly at ease in her role as mistress of the house. The idea of having to humble herself in front of a daughter-inw she despised made Elizabeth''s chest tighten. She adjusted her face and spoke again. "Jonathan, you should have gone to your uncle''s for New Year''s They even hosted a banquet for you. They were disappointed you didn''te, but they still care. They sent you a gift through me." She reached into her purse, but before she could take anything out, Jonathan''s cold voice interrupted. Chapter 652 "That''s unnecessary, Mother. I''m not a child anymore. You can''t win me over with candy." Elizabeth froze, frowning as she tried to cover her sh of embarrassment. "Jonathan, what are you saying? Your uncle and aunt have always sent you gifts. They care about you. They call often just to check in¡ª" Jonathan''s lips curved slightly, his tone cutting. "Their gifts alwayse with a price tag. It''s very much like you. I guess it does run in your side of the family." The Hoff family''s kindness was all surface. Every time his uncle called, it was just to find a way to carve something off the Fullbuster Group. And Elizabeth, the mother who imed to care, was no different. If he hadn''t been the heir to Fullbuster Group, if he hadn''t brought her the wealth and status she unted, she wouldn''t have even remembered to call him her son. The tension around Jonathan felt thick and cold, and Anneliese sensed it more than anyone. Worried, she leaned closer and slid her hand into his, resting on his knee. Jonathan looked down. Her small hand covered his, trembling slightly as she tried to hold on, to give him warmth. The ice in his eyes softened for a moment. He turned his palm over and held her hand instead, his thumb brushing across her skin in a quiet promise that he was all right. Elizabeth''s face drained of color. Her eyes reddened, her pride stung by his cutting words. It took her a moment to find her voice. "Jonathan, what do you mean by that? I''m your mother. I carried you, raised you. All I did was point out what''s wrong with your wife, and this is how you treat me?" She pointed straight at Anneliese, making it clear who she med for Jonathan''s coldness. Anneliese had been silent the entire time. She hadn''t expected Elizabeth to turn her fury on her so suddenly. She didn''t even understand what was happening or why Elizabeth hade at all. Jonathan''s arm tightened around her waist. His gaze darkened as it fell on Elizabeth''s raised finger. His voice turned hard. "All you did was point out what''s wrong? That''s what you call it? My wife is right here. Do you want to say it to her face?" Elizabeth had chosen her words carefully before, trying to drive a crack between them. She knew Jonathan must have already uncovered what happened at the family estate, which exined why he had gone after the Hoff family. But now, in front of Anneliese, he had stripped away her liespletely, leaving her with nothing but humiliation. How could she ever demand respect from her daughter-inw again? Jonathan had shredded what was left of her authority and dropped it right at Anneliese''s feet, making sure she''d never hold that power again. Elizabeth''s chest rose and fell sharply Her breathing quickened her vision darkened for a second. Her palm struck the armrest with a dull thud that filled the silence. "I just didn''t want you to marry a divorced woman and be a joke! Wasing it for your own good! There are plenty of women inthis city who are better than her! You-" Jonathan cut her off, frowning as he pulled Anneliese up beside him. "The woman I married is the best." He instantly regretted letting Anneliese hear even a second of Elizabeth''s venom. Even with him there, Elizabeth hadn''t bothered to hide her disgust. He could only imagine what she''d said when Anneliese was alone with her. Compared to this, the distance he once felt from Anneliese''s family seemed meaningless. "Margot, see her out," Jonathan said tly. Margot hurried in from the kitchen. Elizabeth saw him holding Anneliese''s hand, ready to leave, and she jumped up, blocking his path. She took a shaky breath, forcing her tone lower even as her words bit like steel. "Fine. I get it. She''s your precious treasure, untouchable. But you can''t destroy every contract between Fullbuster Group and the Hoff family because of her content "I''ve wasted enough breath worrying about you. I won''t interfere again. But you''ll pick up the phone right now and fix that deal!" Jonathan''s decision hit her like a jolt. Anneliese looked up, stunned. She hadn''t known he''d canceled the Hoff family''s contract. He''d never mentioned it before. Now it was clear why Elizabeth had chased them all the way to Oceaton, her face stormy and furious. Chapter 653 Anneliese''s fingers shifted slightly in his grasp. Emotion stirred in her chest, though a trace of unease followed. He didn''t have to go this far for her. Jonathan noticed her movement, nced down, and caught her eyes. He gave her hand a small, steady squeeze. Then he turned back to Elizabeth. "Both projects have already been reassigned. The contracts are signed. There''s nothing to change." Elizabeth''s expression faltered. Her earlier words had been a subtle way of admitting fault. She''d thought that backing down and promising not to bother Anneliese again would satisfy him. But Jonathan didn''t budge. Anger boiled through her veins. Humiliation settled in her chest as she realized the truth. Without those contracts, the Hoff family wouldn''tst. Once they fell apart, she would be the one everyone mocked. And when people learned that her own son had been the one to cut off the family''s financial support, her reputation would be ruinedpletely. All the appearances she''d worked so hard to keep up would crumble. Fury surged in her. She red at Jonathan and snapped, "You ungrateful son!" before swinging her hand toward him. The p nevernded. A sharp cry escaped her instead as she stumbled backward and crashed into the couch. The sound echoed through the room. Her once-perfect hair came undone, strands falling loose across her face, leaving her disheveled and stunned. She stared at Anneliese, eyes wide. "You pushed me!" Anneliese had barely said a word the entire time. Elizabeth had thought she was just acting meek for Jonathan''s sake. She hadn''t expected her to actually fight back. A daughter-inw having the gall toy a hand on her mother-inw right in front of her husband¡ªit was unthinkable. Anneliese pulled her hand back. Seeing Elizabeth''s wild, furious face, she didn''t regret it, though guilt still pricked at her chest. She''d been taught all her life to respect her elders. And Elizabeth was Jonathan''s mother. What if he minded? Quickly, she tucked her hand behind her back, as if hiding the evidence. But the gesture was too obvious, and it only made her look guiltier. Jonathan caught every subtle move from the woman beside him. He couldn''t help it; his lips curved into a small smile. He reached out and ruffled Anneliese''s hair, a gesture that felt like bothfort and praise. He turned to Elizabeth. "My wife was defending me. Is that a problem with you?" Elizabeth''s chest tightened. She wanted to snap back, but when her eyes met Jonathan''s, she froze. His gaze was cold and distant, stripped of any warm It was the look a man gave to a stranger, not his mother. The words stuck in her throat. By the time she recovered, Jonathan was already leading Anneliese upstairs by the hand. Therge living room fell silent. Elizabeth sat slumped on the couch, humiliated and alone. Her hands and feet were cold as ice. She clenched them tightly, only now realizing that whatever fragile tie she still had with her son had been still severedpletely-because of the way she treated Anneliese The scene turns to the second floor. Anneliese stayed quiet as Jonathan led her into the main bedroom. When the door shut behind them, she looked up carefully. "Are you okay?" Jonathan brushed her nose with his finger. "She didn''t hit me. I wasn''t hurt. Thank you, sweetheart." He hadn''t nned to dodge earlier No matter how strained things were, Elizabeth was still his mother. I she wanted to hit him he wouldve let her If Anneliese hadn''t stepped in, that p would''vended. He''d been ready for it. What he hadn''t expected was for her to act so quickly¡ªand push Elizabeth away. Anneliese looked at the faint smile on his lips and ced her hand on his chest. "What about here?" She knew that kind of pain. The sting of being mistreated by your own parents. Back when she lived with the Whites, before she learned they weren''t her real parents, she''d been scolded and pped more times than she could count. Every time, no matter how fierce she acted, the ache inside was something only she could feel. Jonathan, though, felt nothing. He was a grown man, long past needing affection from his mother. And he had known for years that Elizabeth never loved him. Chapter 654 His heart had turned to stone long ago. Very few people could stir it now. Elizabeth was definitely not one of them. But when he saw the worry in Anneliese''s eyes, something in him cracked a little. His gaze darkened, and after a pause, he sighed, like he''d been caught pretending. "My chest feels tight. It hurts. Maybe you should rub it for me." Anneliese didn''t hesitate. She started to move her hand, but Jonathan caught it, guiding her to unbutton his shirt. "It doesn''t work through fabric," he said softly, bringing her hand under his shirt and pressing it against his chest. Anneliese''s heart ached for her husband, and she did whatever he asked. Her small hand moved gently across his chest while her eyes searched his face. "Does that feel any better?" Jonathan frowned and let out a quiet sigh. He leaned down until his chin rested in the curve of her shoulder. "Yeah, a little..." His voice sounded muffled and low, nothing like someone who was truly fine. Anneliese''s chest tightened. Thinking about how he had just fought with Elizabeth¡ª and how all of it had been because of her-made guilt twist in her stomach. She had no idea how to make it better for him. Her hand kept rubbing slow,forting circles over his chest. Tilting her head, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "Would this help more?" Her touch grew even softer, as if she feared pressing too hard might hurt him. The motion became more like a caress, and as she leaned closer again, the faint sweetness of her scent brushed past his nose. Jonathan''s gaze darkened. Heat stirred in his eyes, and in the next instant, he pulled her into his arms and lifted her, turning toward the bed with sudden strength. "Hey, what are you doing?" Anneliese gasped in surprise. She couldn''t believe that the man who looked so worn out seconds ago now moved with such energy and purpose. Before she could react, hey her down on the bed, his body hovering above hers. Jonathan caught her hand again and pressed it back against his chest. His voice was rough, his eyes dark and focused on her face. "Let''s try another way to make me feel better. You''re smart. You will figure it out." Anneliese froze. The warmth beneath her palm spread ret quickly and when she met his leasing, gaze, she realized he''d been pretending all along. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She pushed at his shoulders, kicking her legs in protest. "Jonathan! Get off me! I was actually worried about you, and you-you-" Her words cut off when his lips found hers. He kissed her deeply, stealing every breath until she melted beneath him. His fierce wife, who had defended him so fiercely, tasted even sweeter than he''d imagined. Anneliese''s body turned weak under the heat of his kiss, though her mind stayed faintly clear. She hadn''t forgotten that Elizabeth was still downstairs. What if she came back? She gripped Jonathan''s head and pushed gently, panting as she spoke. "Your mom hasn''t left yet..." "She''s gone. I heard her car." Anneliese''s eyes widened. "No, no, I still have to help Margot with the pies!" Jonathan''s teeth grazed Anneliese''s corbone, his displeasure written all over him. He was a grown man, full of heat and passion, yet somehow he was losing to a batch of pies? "Margot''s perfectly capable. She can manage on her own." Anneliese said nothing. "Sweetheart, you really can''t tell? I need you more right now." His low, coaxing voice broke through every wall she had left. By the time they made it downstairs, two whole hours had passed. When Anneliese entered the kitchen, Margot bad already finished e pie. She smiled and pointed aer neatly arranged trays. "Ma''am, I''ve sorted them all. These are for you to take to the hospital. These are for the Mr. Fullbuster''s grandparents. And these are for you and MD Fullbuster to have fresh When would you like me to start cooking them?" Anneliese flushed with embarrassment. She''d promised to help, but Margot had ended up doing everything herself. And it was painfully clear that Margot knew exactly why they had been gone for so long. Anneliese turned to re at the man beside her before looking back at Margot. Chapter 655 "Thank you, Margot. You''ve worked hard. Get some rest. I''ll do the cooking." Margot shook her head. "It''s just a few pies, ma''am. It''s no trouble at all." Seeing how close the two stood together, Margot knew better than to stay. She slipped off her apron and left the kitchen quietly. Anneliese walked to the counter. "Do you like the spinach filling? How many can you eat?" She reached for a pie to cook, but Jonathan''s arm slid around her waist, pulling her back against him. "You said you were too tired to move. You begged me to stop earlier. You little liar." Anneliese pinched his side and shot him a re. His energy was ridiculous. She was younger and supposedly had more stamina, yet somehow he was the one still full of strength, while she felt like the one who hadn''t slept at all. Ever since the kidnapping, they had barely had a moment alone. First came her injuries, then Nishay''s discovery. For a man who''d finally gotten a taste of what he''d been denied, those weeks had been hell. When he finally got his chance earlier, Jonathan hadn''t wanted to stop. He''d had the drive of someone who could keep going until morning. Anneliese''s legs were still weak. Leaning against him, she gave him a small shove. "Bake the pies." Jonathan obeyed happily. He bent down, kissed her cheek, and lifted her onto the counter. "Be a dear and give me some instructions." He turned on the stove and poured in water while Anneliese sat nearby, swinging her legs and watching him. The water began to bubble. Steam rose and softened the sharp lines of his face as he stood there stirring the pot of pie filling with a spoon. For a second, she saw another kitchen-Frederick at the stove, making pie for her and her mom. Back then, her mom would pull her close, brush a hand through her hair, and smile as she said, "Anne, someday you''ll meet a boy who''ll make you pies and eat them with you, just like this." Anneliese pressed her fingers against the corner of her eyes and thought, Dad, thank you for bringing him into my life. At the hospital, Anneliese and Jonathan walked into Nishay''s room. Nishay looked better, her gaze lost on the view outside the window. "Grandma, we brought vegetable pie," Anneliese called out with a smile. Nishay turned her head. Jonathan passed her the insted container. Anneliese carried it over to the bed and opened the lid. "Smells good, doesn''t it?" She held it closer. Nishay nodded. "Then, I''ll give you a little more," Anneliese said softly. As Anneliese served, Nishay replied, "That''s too much. Share some with me." "Of course Anneliese had eaten less at The Banyans earlier, hoping that sharing the pie might help Nishay eat more. She filled a te f?r Nishay and left it to cool before Scooping some for herself There was still a bit left in the container. She was about to close it when Nishay spoke again. "If you cover it, it''ll get soggy. Share it with someone who''ll actually eat it." Anneliese froze, then realized what Nishay meant. Only three people were in the room-her, Nishay, and Jonathan. It had to be Jonathan. She turned toward him. He looked just as startled, standing near the couch. A man who could sign billion-dor contracts without a flicker of hesitation and stay calm midair during any crisis now seemed uncertain. He reyed Nishay''s. words in his ming questioning its he''d understood right. Then, he met Anneliese''s bright, hopeful eyes and knew. Nishay was showing him a sliver of kindness. Jonathan stepped forward, took the container from Anneliese, andplimented, "It smells incredible. Thanks, Nishay." Nishay gave him a short look. Her face stayedposed, but her tone softened. She even gave a small nod. That quiet approval was enough to leave Jonathan caught between surprise and gratitude. ... The three of them ate in calm silence after that. Nishay didn''t say much, but a gentle warmth lingered in the room. After dinner, Anneliese started cleaning up and was about to wash the dishes when Jonathan walked over He took everything from her hands. Chapter 656 "I''ve got it. Stay here and keep Nishaypany." Anneliese didn''t stop him from putting on a good show in front of Nishay. She handed the dishes to him and smiled. "Take your time. Grandma and I need some girl talk." Jonathan raised a brow and gave her a quick grin. "Alright." When he disappeared into the bathroom and the door clicked shut, Anneliese turned to Nishay with a soft, curious smile. "Grandma, did you ept him?" she asked quietly. Nishay looked into her hopeful eyes, then sighed. "Do you really like him that much?" Anneliese''sshes fluttered. Her cheeks turned pink as she nodded. "Grandma, I think I''ve fallen in love with him." The color in her face deepened. Saying something like that out loud, especially to someone so close, made her blush harder. But she held Nishay''s gaze, wanting her to see the truth in her heart. "Grandma, I really hope you can ept us and give us your blessing." Nishay studied her, remembering the time Anneliese had wanted to be with Zacharias. She had asked her for advice then, too. Back then, Nishay said Zacharias carried too many burdens. She asked Anneliese what she would do if she didn''t agree. The girl had answered earnestly that if Nishay didn''t approve, she''d wait. She said she''d wait until Zacharias was in a better ce before being with him. She said she''d listen to whatever Nishay thought was right. It was Nishay who, after thinking long and hard, had told her that sharing hard times might make love stronger. So she gave her blessing. But now, Nishay felt she must have grown foolish over the years. How else could she have been blind to Melody and her family''s deceit and cruelty? And now, even though Anneliese had gone against her wishes to be with Jonathan, the truth was right in front of her. Jonathan was far more reliable than Zacharias ever had been. Nishay sighed deeply. She turned her hand and gently sped Anneliese''s fingers. "I''m old, and my judgment isn''t what it used to be. If you''ve made up your mind about him, then hold on to it and make it work." Anneliese''s face brightened in surprise, but before she could respond, Nishay continued. "But even if he helped uncover what happened to your mother and cleared her name, that only means owe him my gratitude. If he wants my fut approval, that depend on what he does next. I''ll need to see if his family truly respects you. And as for that fire, he''d better not think he can just sweep it under the rug." Anneliese nodded and was just about to speak when Jonathan''s deep voice came from behind her. "Nishay, don''t worry. I''ve already sent someone to look into the fire. We''ll know soon. And I promise, if there''s more to it, I''ll make sure you and Anne and her parents get the answers you deserve." Nishay turned to look at him. Jonathan stood there without his jacket, his white shirt sleeves rolled up, the dishes in his hand still dripping with water. Even so, he stood tall and confident, his steady tone carrying a kind of authority that made people want to believe him. Nishay gave a small nod. "Then, I''ll wait and see. Don''t make me regret it." Jonathan nodded once and stayed silent. When he and Anneliese stepped out of the room, she closed the door and immediately spun around. Excitement lit up her face as she jumped into his arms. "Oh my god, Grandma finally agreed to let us be together! Honey, you''re incredible! You''re amazing!" Jonathan caught her instinctively, his hands looping under her knees as he lifted her off the ground. Anneliese clung to him, arms around his neck, herughter bright and uncontroble. She kissed him twice on the lips, glowing with joy like sunlight breaking through clouds. Jonathan''s mouth curved into a smile. Her happiness was infectious, and he couldn''t resist spinning her in a circle. Then another. But happiness had its price. Anneliese kicked her legs in delight, and the insted container Jonathan had been barely holding slipped from his hand. It hit the floor hard, sending a sharp metallic crash echoing through the hallway. The sound drew an immediate reaction from the nurse''s station nearby. "Young people, keep it down! This is a hospital!" Clearly, the head nurse didn''t recognize Jonathan. Her tone was strict and unyielding. Anneliese''s face turned crimson. She buried her face in Jonathan''s shoulder and quickly pressed a hand over his face. "Oh my god, this is so embarrassing! Let''s go, move!" she whispered, panicking. Jonathan chuckled. "Baby, if you cover my face, I can''t see where the container went." Chapter 657 Anneliese quickly leaped onto the floor. Jonathan took one long stride, grabbed the thermos, and before he could say a word, Anneliese snatched his hand and dragged him into the elevator with her head down. She still needed to visit Jessica, and Jonathan had his own errands. They split up once the elevator doors closed behind them. When Anneliese reached Jessica''s room, the pies she had brought were already gone. Jessica was packing up, the tray wiped clean. Anneliese froze. Jessica had already changed out of her hospital gown. She was wearing a sweater and sweatpants, shoving towels and toiletries into her bag. "Hey, aren''t you supposed to be discharged tomorrow? Why are you packing now? What''s the rush?" Jessica was supposed to stay for a three-day observation. It hadn''t even been that long. Jessica spotted her, smiled, and gently brushed aside Anneliese''s hand as she kept packing. "I''m fine. I can tell how my own body feels. The baby''s sitting pretty steady in here. I already signed the discharge papers." "Are you sure? Maybe listen to the doctor? And don''t tell me you''re trying to save money just because..." Anneliese clearly thought Jessica was rushing out because of her n to study abroad, scrimping wherever she could. But that wasn''t why Jessica was leaving, and she didn''t hide it. She opened her bag, took out a document, and handed it over. "Take a look." "What is it?" "A breakup settlement. The very expensive kind." Her smile was bitter. Anneliese frowned, scanning. Jessica had agreed to take twenty million. But if she ever reached out to Zane again ¡ªif she ever brought the child to the Shaymans'' door¡ªshe would owe ten times the amount. Anneliese clenched the papers. "Someone from the Shaymans came? Who?" Jessica had signed it, but the other party''s name was left nk. Jessica shrugged. "Mrs. Shayman, who else?" Anneliese looked down at the agreement again. "She knows you''re pregnant. She''s letting you have the baby, but she''s not acknowledging the child?" Something about it felt wrong. A family like the Shaymans¡ªwould they really let their own bloodline drift outside their walls? Jessica rested a hand over her belly and sat on the bed. "Looks like it. And honestly? Mrs. Shayman was surprisingly decent. She knew wanted to leave, knew I wanted to study abroad. She solved the hardest part-the money She, drant force an abortion didn''t try to take the baby away. I guess I walked away with a pretty sweet deal." She was smiling, but the sight made Anneliese''s chest tighten. "Jonathan said the Shaymans are the kind who take responsibility when there''s a child involved. So why..." Jessica tucked the agreement back into her bag and let out a smallugh. "This is normal. Families like theirs talk big about never letting their bloodline fall outside the house, but trust me there are plenty of legitimate kids who never ne imed. It''s just not public knowledge. Now the baby ispletely mine. I won''t have to worry about giving him a good life." "But-" Jessica squeezed her hand, cutting her off. "No buts. Zane and I should''ve ended ages ago. I already promised Mrs. Shayman I''d disappear within three days. Annie, I need your help." Anneliese looked into Jessica''s steady, resolute eyes. She had made up her mind. And Anneliese had promised-she would respect every choice Jessica made. She nodded. "Tell me what you need." "I want to leave tomorrow. At first, Mrs. Shayman tried to pressure me into a termination. I only got her to back off because I signed this and agreed to leave for good. But I still don''t feel safe don''t want anyone knowing where I''m going. And I can''t disappear on my own." Anneliese took Jessica''s cool hands in hers. "You''re afraid she hasn''t given up. That she might stille after you and the baby." Jessica stroked her belly and lifted her gaze. "Annie, this baby only has me. And I only have him. I will protect him with everything I''ve got. Right now, you''re the only person I trust." Anneliese''s lips curved gently as she pulled her into a hug. "Okay. I''ll find a way to get you out of the country immediately. Not even Jonathan will know where you go. You''re safe." Jessica leaned her head against her shoulder, eyes burning, and answered with a soft, trembling hum. Chapter 658 "I''ll thank you on the baby''s behalf." Anneliese smiled as she gently patted Jessica''s back. Mary was able to track Jessica down through the hospital and find out about the pregnancy. As such, Jessica no longer felt safe staying there. She wanted to go home, get some rest, and leave the country as soon as possible. Anneliese didn''t try to talk her out of it. She drove Jessica home. Only after watching her fall asleep did she quietly close the bedroom door and call Nicole. "Ms. Horowitz, I need a favor. Are you free? I''ll treat you to afternoon tea." The Horowitzes were in legitimate import-export now, but that was after they''d cleaned up their history. Their past wasn''t exactly spotless, and they still had ess to certain channels. Getting Jessica a new identity would be easy for them. Nicole was in the middle of a private manicure appointment when she got the call. She lounged on the couch while a handsome man with wless skin knelt at her feet. He wore only a tank top and a floral apron, carefully painting tiny designs on her glossy nails with the devotion of a very obedient service provider. But the moment she heard Anneliese''s voice, Nicole lost all interest in flirting. "Oh, don''t call me Ms. Horowitz. Mrs. Fullbuster, you''re the one doing me a huge favor today. How could I possibly turn you down? I''ll head out now-just send me the address." Anneliese didn''t mind the sarcasm. She''d owed Nicole a meal for ages and had even promised to introduce her to Jonathan, but she''d kept getting pulled into emergencies and never made good on it. Nicole had invited her out shopping before, and Anneliese had declined then too. "Okay. I''ll pick the spot and send it to you. And I''ll apologize properly when we meet." After the call ended, Nicole tapped the man''s thigh with the toe of her crossed foot. "Wrap it up. I''m going out to hear some gossip." Just days earlier, she''d heard that the pretentious Selina had been arrested. Nicole had wanted all the details from Anneliese, but Anneliese had practically vanished. And recently, she hadn''t posted a single update online. Now, Melody''s attempted murder charge was still blowing up the news cycle, and Zacharias hadn''t managed to bury it. uderias Tech was in chaos. Zacharias was overwhelmed, and half the industry was circling like sharks, waiting to tear off a piece of thepany. He''d been one of the hottest rising stars in recent years. For things to explode this badly, that took serious firepower. Nicole would''ve bet money Jonathan was behind it¡ªjealous, furious, and absolutely done with Anneliese''s ex. He must''ve decided to crush himpletely. With a spectacle this entertaining, and a chance to hear things straight from the source, there was no way Nicole wasn''t showing up. The handsome man held her hand gently. "What kind of gossip? Is it better than seeing me? Why don''t you bring me along? Youdies can chat while I keep taking care of you" Nicole saw right through him. He''d realized Anneliese was someone significant and was hoping to get introduced. Bold move. Not much brain behind it. Nicole slid her hand away and patted his cheek. "Do you even know whose wife she is? Trust me-you don''t want to." Then she stood, grabbed her purse, tossed a generous stack of bills onto the table, and headed out. Anneliese had suggested a newly opened high-end dessert shop in Oceaton. The ce was romantic and beautifully decorated, with great reviews and prices so steep that the room stayedfortably empty. They took a window seat on the couch. Anneliese handed Nicole a gift and told her about Jessica. Nicole turned the gift over in her hands-a limited-edition, fully diamond-studded bracelet worth more than two hundred thousand. It was the one she''d failed to buy and had vented about on social media. Without hesitation, she made a quick call and issued instructions. When she hung up, she looked at Anneliese with a bright, hungry smile. "I appreciate the gift, but what I really want is the story. I believe Selina hired a hitman-she''s been vicious, fake and maniptive since childhood. Nothing that woman does would surprise me. "But your former mother-inw? She was only tough inside her own house. What pushed her to hire someone to kill? And don''t tell me you don''t know. I won''t believe you." Nicole even shoved her dessert aside, fully locked in, ready for every juicy detail. Anneliese had suggested a newly opened high-end dessert shop in Oceaton. The ce was romantic and beautifully decorated, with great reviews and prices so steep that the room stayedfortably empty. They took a window seat on the couch. Anneliese handed Nicole a gift and told her about Jessica. Nicole turned the gift over in her hands-a limited-edition, fully diamond-studded bracelet worth more than two hundred thousand t was the one she''d failed to buy and had vented about on social media. Without hesitation, she made a quick call and issued instructions. When she hung up, she looked at Anneliese with a bright, hungry smile. "I appreciate the gift, but what I really want is the story. I believe Selina hired a hitman-she''s been vicious, fake, and maniptive since childhood. Nothing that woman does would surprise me. "But your former mother-inw? She was only tough inside her own house. What pushed her to hire someone to kill? And don''t tell me you don''t know. I won''t believe you." Nicole even shoved her dessert aside, fully locked in, ready for every juicy detail. Chapter 659 Nicole, looking as if she might flip the table¡ªor, worse, use a dessert to pie Anneliese''s face¡ªif she didn''t get the juicy gossip, leaned forward expectantly. With Melody''s trial just a week away, Anneliese had no reason to hold back. She considered her words for a moment, then simply and concisely exined the whole dramatic backstory. Nicole listened, wide-eyed and utterly enthralled. "Wait, so your connection to Mr. Fullbuster actually began over ten years ago? And your foster father died saving Mr. Fullbuster? And Melody killed your foster mother and then tried to silence a witness?" Anneliese nodded. Nicole gulped, realizing the sheer intensity of this scoop. After a long pause, she gave Anneliese a thumbs-up. "You are incredible," she dered. "Seriously, you are the first love of Jonathan Fullbuster, the Prince of Halden. My deepest respects." The teasing warmth in Nicole''s eyes made Anneliese blush, and she nervously stirred her coffee. Nicole, resting her chin on her hand, scooted closer. "But something doesn''t add up," she mused. "If Mr. Fullbuster has been pining for you all these years, how did he let Zacharias sweep you off your feet?" Anneliese paused. She and Jonathan hadn''t actually discussed that gap in their history. But she recalled that Jonathan had been out of the country when she and Zacharias started dating. She shook her head, about to voice her thoughts, when a soft, doughy little creature suddenly darted over and threw herself against her, wrapping her arms around her leg. Anneliese froze, looking down at the tiny tot buried in herp, clinging to her leg. It was a little girl with two small pigtails sticking straight up, her face hidden. Anneliese instinctively nced around the room, searching for the girl''s family. Across from her, Nicole''s eyes went huge. "No way! Don''t tell me you and Mr. Fullbuster are secretly hiding a daughter this big?" Anneliese was speechless. "What are you thinking? That''s impossible!" Nicole had to admit it was a long shot, but after hearing about the mix-up with the genuine and fake heiresses, the discovery that hermet childhood sweetheart was from the family that killed her mother and now finding out Anneliese was the Prince of Halder''s first love all these unbelievable twists had happened to Anneliese. Could a secret daughter really be that much of a stretch? "Sweetheart, why are you running around all by yourself?" Anneliese gently stroked the little girl''s hair. The girl finally lifted her head from Anneliese''s embrace. Her delicate, doll-like face held a pair ofrge, watery eyes shimmering with unshed tears She looked up,- seemingly using Anneliese of not recognizing or remembering her. When Anneliese finally got a clear look at the little girl, a delighted gasp escaped her lips. "Ellie! Is that you, you little rascal!" Recognized atst, Ellie took a shaky breath, blinking her eyes to keep the tears from falling. She suddenly became shy, rubbing her little cheek against Anneliese''s arm, her expression a mix of affection, dependence, and pure happiness. Anneliese''s heart melted. She gently lifted Ellie and ced her onto herp. She then pulled over the small cakes and exquisite cookies she had ordered. "Ellie, which one do you want?" Ellie''s eyes scanned the sweets and finally settled on the mango pancake. Anneliese handed it to her. Ellie epted it without hesitation and, sitting sweetly on Anneliese''sp, began eating it in neat, tiny bites. Nicole watched them from across the table, clicking her tongue. "Are you sure this isn''t your daughter with Mr. Fullbuster? That little girl is practically the mini version of you." Anneliese shot her a warning re. "Stop with the nonsense. This is the little princess of the Malones. Her dad is someone look up to Don''t you dare start a rumor! Besides, you saw her at the Goldings'' part you?" didn''t Nicole truly felt Anneliese and Ellie looked like mother and daughter, especially when they were viewed in profile¡ªthe resemnce was uncanny. However, Anneliese''s reminder jogged Nicole''s memory. There was a little girl who had been glued to Anneliese at the previous dinner party, and it must have been this one. That night, Anneliese had worn heavy makeup-eyebrow filler and eyeliner-toplement her gown, which had obscured the simrity. But today, Anneliese waspletely bare-faced, and the likeness to Ellie in her arms was undeniable. If Anneliese didn''t look so young-hardly old enough to have a child of Ellie''s age¡ª- Nicole would have absolutely suspected Anneliese was lying to deny her daughter. Chapter 660 To prove she wasn''t just talking nonsense, Nicole grabbed her phone and snapped a quick photo of Anneliese and Ellie together, then immediately handed it to Anneliese. "Take a good look for yourself. Tell me I''m wrong." Anneliese took the phone, shaking her head with an amused sigh of surrender, but the moment she saw the picture, she genuinely paused. There was, surprisingly, a striking resemnce. Whether it was the curve of their eyebrows and eyes, the prominent bridge of their noses, or the delicate lines of their jaws, the simrity was undeniable. Seeing Anneliese''s stunned expression, Nicole raised an eyebrow triumphantly. "See? I wasn''t making it up. Wait, since the Whites aren''t your real family, then where are they? You really might have some kind of blood rtion to this little girl. Maybe the little girl''s mother is your sister?" Anneliese had never met Ellie''s mother, but she felt the child stiffen in herp the instant Nicole mentioned her. Ellie immediately drew her body closer to Anneliese and buried her head even lower. Sensing the little girl''s sudden distress, Anneliese shot a look at Nicole, silently urging her to stop. She sent the photo of herself and Ellie to her own WhatsApp number, returned the phone to Nicole, and gently asked Ellie, "Ellie, who did youe here with?" Ellie clearly didn''t want to say, as if she feared that if Anneliese knew, she would be sent away immediately. She wiggled her bottom on Anneliese''s thigh, snuggling even closer. Then, she scooped a tiny spoonful of mango pancake into the air and held it right up to Anneliese''s mouth, watching her with big, obsidian eyes that blinked innocently. Anneliese chuckled, leaning down to eat the dessert the little girl had fed her. She lightly tapped the tip of Ellie''s nose. "You clever little thing, batting those eyes won''t work. Your dad is going to worry sick when he finds out you''ve run off again." As Anneliese finished speaking, she pulled out her phone, intending to look for the contact information Steven had given her before. Yet, before she could dial, the sharp, slightly erratic sound of high heels rapidly approached. In the next moment, a familiar and utterly unwee voice cut through the air. "Anneliese, why are you everywhere? Have some dignity! Are you really so shameless that you''d use a child this small for your schemes?" It was Gianna. She was dressed in a vibrant red suit, with equally striking, heavy makeup. Yet, the faint dark circles under her eyes diminished the overall effect of her bright, aggressive look. Before, Gianna put on a facade of harmless innocence in front of Anneliese. It was clear, however, that the incident with Jessica, which resulted in Anneliese getting her locked up in a police station overnight, had thoroughly fueled Gianna''s hatred. Now, she couldn''t even manage basic courtesy. As she spoke, she rushed forward, reaching out to grab Ellie, who was seated in Anneliese''sp, her face twisted in a sneer. "Ellie, get over here! What is wrong with you? Why are you eating whatever disgusting things strangers hand you? Have you forgotten everything you were taught? Aren''t you afraid of being poisoned or kidnapped?" Ellie obviously had no intention of leaving or letting Gianna catch her. The little girl was surprisingly fast. With a twist of her hips and a pivot of her legs, she mbered off Anneliese''sp and onto the couch cushion behind her,pletely sheltering herself on Anneliese other side, out of Gianna''s reach. "Ellie!" Gianna shrieked in anger. Anneliese raised an arm and shifted her body, using herself to shield Elliepletely. With her other hand, she reached out and firmly gripped Gianna''s wrist, stopping her from trying to grab Ellie again. "Gianna, Ellie is terrified of you when you act this cruel Don''t you see that? Or do you, as always simply refuse to acknowledge when people dislike you?" Anneliese''s words were clearly loaded with deeper meaning. Gianna immediately suspected Anneliese was mocking her for desperately pursuing Zane, a man who clearly didn''t want her. Gianna had been nursing a burning resentment ever since Anneliese had derailed her n to ruin Jessica and caused her to suffer the consequences. At this moment, the umtion of old grudges and new insults boiled over simultaneously. Furious, she snatched a cup of coffee from the table, intending to ssh it right into Anneliese''s face. Anneliese, with one hand gripping Gianna''s wrist and the other shielding Ellie, had no time to stop her. As Anneliese instinctively turned her head, bracing herself for the humiliation of being drenched in coffee, she heard a sharp gasp of surprise. It was Gianna''s own startled cry. Anneliese turned and saw that the entire cup of coffee had been spilled down the front of Gianna''s own chest. Nicole, who was now holding a dessert te out and had managed to block every drop of coffee from hitting Anneliese, met Gianna''s. murderous re with apletely innocent expression. "I just had reflex We were ying a ridiculous game yesterday where I had to blo?k things. Total ident, do you buy it?" Gianna was shaking with rage, on the verge of a full-blown scream. "Gianna, what in the world is going on here?" came someone''s question. Chapter 661 At that moment, a tall figure strode over and asked in a deep voice. Anneliese looked up and saw a man in his forties approaching. He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, his whole presence calm, refined, and unmistakably that of someone in a position of power. Although time had left its marks on his face, it only added to his maturity. A clearly visible streak of undyed white hair wasbed back at his forehead, signaling that he was no longer young. He was obviously very disciplined. His posture was straight and proper, the result of years of regr exercise. He did not have the greasy sheen that middle-aged men often had. At this moment, however, the way he looked at Gianna was filled with concern. The slight furrow between his brows carried a sharp, serious edge. Gianna immediately reined in the somewhat twisted anger that had been on her face. Her eyes reddened, and she turned her head away. "Dad!" She looked exactly like someone who had suffered a great injustice and, upon seeing her support arrive, was ready toin. She had not even said anything yet, but Anneliese and Nicole both felt a strong wave of malice. Anneliese nced at the middle-aged man and quickly exchanged looks with Nicole. Nicole was clearly flustered and nervous. The Malone family had ties in military and political circles, and Gianna''s father had entered the business world and be a giant in the logistics industry. They were a family with real standing in the capital-far beyond anything the Horowitz family, a second- or third-tier family from Oceaton, could offend. She had stepped in to help Anneliese just now, partly out of instinct. After all, there was no way the two of them could just stand by and let Gianna bully Anneliese alone. Another reason was that she had just heard Anneliese and Jonathan''s love story. Nicole knew that Anneliese carried herself with confidence as Mrs. Fullbuster. There was no need to feel inferior to the Malone family''s young heiress. But the head of the Malone family had arrived. Gianna''s father was a major figure in the business world whom even her own father could not hope to have connections with. With the Fullbuster family backing her, Anneliese would probably be fine. But if she offended Adrian, he could ruin the Horowitz family with a single move. Seeing Nicole''s face turn pale, Anneliese gave her a reassuring look and stood up first. "What happened here?" Adrian asked, his face darkening slightly as he looked at the messy coffee stains on Gianna''s clothes and her visibly reddened eyes. "How did things end up like this?" Gianna hesitated, then pointed at Anneliese. "Dad, that is Jonathan''s new wife. We had a bit of an unpleasant exchange just now, and I didn''t expect her to suddenly¡ª" She lowered her head and tugged at the front of her stained clothes, stopping mid- sentence as if reluctant to say more. Earlier, she had already had a run-in with Anneliese that involved the police, and she hadined to Adrian about it at home. Adrian did not have a good impression of Anneliese in the first ce. Now that Gianna immediately identified her as Jonathan''s wife, his opinion of Anneliese worsened even further. He naturally assumed that, Anneliese was once again using Jonathan as backing to bully Gianna. Sure enough, Adrian pulled Gianna closer to his side and fixed Anneliese with a dark, scrutinizing gaze. He had previously heard that Jonathan''s wife had no real background and was a divorcee. He had also listened to Gianna and Peppensay a few unttering things about Anneliese, so he had already formed a rough image in his mind. Adrian had imagined a stunning but scheming woman in herte twenties or early thirties, smooth and calcting in every interaction. Yet, the young woman standing before him now looked as if she might even be younger than Gianna. She was undeniably beautiful, clean, and gentle. Anneliese stood there calmly and gracefully, not rushing to argue or defend herself. She did not match his assumptions in the slightest. Even though he had thoroughly dismissed Anneliese before ever meeting her, looking this young woman now did not stir much dislike at all. Instead... "Dad!" Gianna''s displeasure was obvious. The father who always spoiled her hadn''t gone after Anneliese at once, and panic suddenly crept in. She gently tugged at Adrian''s sleeve pitifully. Only then did Adrian speak, his voice low and heavy. "Even if your father-inw, Keh, were standing here, he''d have to show us some respect," he said coldly. "Youngdy, marrying into the Fullbuster family doesn''t mean you can do whatever you want. I won''t make things too difficult for you, though. Just apologize to Gianna." Seeing Adrian finally take Anneliese to task, Gianna''s expression immediately eased. She looked at Anneliese and raised an eyebrow slightly, the mockery and arrogance in her eyes in to see. Faced with Adrian''s rebuke, Anneliese did feel somewhat pressed by the force of his presence almost to the point of being short of breath, but her expression showed no real panic at all. Chapter 662 What made it even more unpleasant was that he had not bothered to understand what had actually happened before telling her to apologize. Just moments ago, Anneliese had thought he was a handsome, older man who kept himself well-groomed. Now, she didn''t think too highly of him. She looked at Gianna. "Mr. Malone, don''t you realize the coffee cup is in your daughter''s hand? If we''re talking about who made the first move, then Ms. Malone started it. Also, this dessert shop has security cameras." As she spoke, Anneliese raised her hand and pointed toward the surveince camera mounted overhead not far away. Given its position, it should have captured everything that had just happened here. Gianna never imagined that, faced with Adrian, Anneliese would still refuse to apologize and even boldly argue back. She tugged at Adrian''s sleeve again. "Forget it, Dad. I don''t care about getting an insincere apology from her. Also, she''s getting in our way of buying Mom those desserts..." How could Adrian allow his daughter to be wronged like this right in front of him? Just a moment ago, he thought Anneliese looked gentle and not particrly annoying. But seeing her speak so forcefully even toward him, an elder, he immediately felt that appearances could be deceiving. His impression of her worsened at once. In a low voice, he said, "It seems I''ll have to have a proper talk with the elders of the Fullbuster family about this matter." If such a small issue escted to the elders, it would make Anneliese seem immature either way, even if she wasn''t at fault. Adrian was trying to pressure Anneliese into apologizing. She did not want to make things too ugly either. After all, the Malones and Fullbusters were on good terms. Besides, Gianna had indeed suffered a loss after getting sshed with coffee. Saying a simple apology would cost her nothing more than a few words. Anneliese looked at Gianna. Just as she took a deep breath and was about to apologize, a small figure suddenly darted out from behind her, charging straight at Adrian like a tiny cannonball. It was Ellie. The little girl was quick and agile. Before Adrian could even react, his granddaughter rammed into him with her head, making him stumble back a step. Gianna, who was standing beside him, was also caught off guard. Her high heel twisted, and she nearly fell. "Ellie, what are you doing? How could you run into your grandpa like that?" Gianna eximed. "Dad, are you okay?" Steadying herself against the table, Gianna shot a re at Ellie before hurrying over to support Adrian. Adrian regained his footing and stared at the little girl who had suddenly appeared, still looking somewhat stunned. By then, Ellie was already standing in front of Anneliese. Although the child could not speak, she stretched out her short little arms and nted herself in front of Anneliese, puffing. up her cheeks as she ted angrily at Gianna. Her stance made it unmistakably clear whose side she was on. Adrian had not noticed Ellie earlier at all, for she had been hiding behind Anneliese the entire time. Now, seeing his granddaughter suddenly rush out from behind Anneliese, looking furious and determined to protect the woman no matter what, truly shocked him. Ellie had been diagnosed with autism since birth. Over the years, the Malone family had poured immense effort into her care, seeking doctors everywhere and sparing no expense, doting on and coaxing her in every possible way. At best, they had only helped Ellie ovee her fear of going outside. Beyond the Malone family, she had never shown genuine warmth to anyone else. But now, what Ellie was showing toward Anneliese went far beyond simple closeness. "Ellie?" Adrian looked from Ellie to Anneliese and back again, still feeling as if he were seeing things. Gianna quickly reached out toward Ellie, putting on a gentle smile. "Ellie has always been a good girl. You love Grandpa the most, don''t you? How could you bump into him like that? Come over here." Her words were clearly meant to suggest to Adrian that Ellie had always adored her grandfather, and that the only reason she would act against him now must be because Anneliese had influenced her. Meanwhile, Ellie had no intention of going over to Gianna. Compared to her aunt, she liked Anneliese much more. Whenever Gianna spent time with her, she''d impatiently brush her off. Only in front of her grandparents and father did Gianna treat her differently. Anneliese was not like that. She was always gentle and patient with her. For some reason, Ellie felt that Anneliese was more like a mother. Her own mother must have been like Anneliese too, pretty and gentle. Earlier, she had been the one who ran over to Anneliese on her own. Gianna had chased after her, shouting at Anneliese and even trying to grab her. Although Ellie could not speak, she wouldn''t allow Adrian to bully Anneliese because of her. Not only did she ignore Gianna, but she turned around and hugged Anneliese''s leg again. Even the back of her head seemed to radiate stubborn defiance. Chapter 663 It was as if she were saying that Adrian and Gianna were bullying the prettydy she liked, and she refused to pay them any attention. "Ellie!" Gianna snapped. Feeling embarrassed and remembering that today''s humiliation had all started because of Ellie, she lost control of both her volume and her temper. At once, everyone in the dessert shop turned to look. Anneliese immediately noticed how Ellie began trembling under all the attention. "You''re so brave, Ellie! Thank you for protecting me!" Anneliese quickly crouched down and pulled Ellie into her embrace. She gently patted the child''s back and spoke in a soft, soothing voice. Held in Anneliese''s arms, breathing in her warm, pleasant scent, Ellie''s trembling soon eased. She only burrowed even deeper into Anneliese''s embrace. Seeing his granddaughter frightened, Adrian stepped forward with concern, then swept his gaze sharply around, forcing those staring eyes to back off. When he turned back, Ellie had already calmed down. In the past, whenever his granddaughter was frightened, she would lock herself in a closet and ignore everyone, sometimes refusing to eat or drink for an entire day. How did Anneliese manage to soothe her so easily? "Dad, Ellie is just..." Seeing this, Gianna felt both disbelief and a renewed surge of that deep, uneasy panic. She hurriedly looked at Adrian. As expected, she saw him staring at Anneliese with clear astonishment, and the stern anger from earlier had vanished. Gianna immediately spoke up. Before she could finish, Adrian cut her off with a look. "That''s enough, Gianna." Seeing the positive effect Anneliese had on Ellie, Adrian intended to end the matter here and not make things difficult for Anneliese any further. Gianna was exasperated, but she also knew there was no point in pressing the issue anymore. Looking like she''d been treated unfairly, Gianna said, "If Ellie likes her this much, then I''m willing to let bygones be bygones. I just hope she''s willing to spend more time with Ellie." "Good. That''s nice of you," replied Adrian as he patted Gianna on the shoulder, though his gaze remained fixed on Anneliese and Ellie. Compared to the small grievance his daughter had suffered, his granddaughter''s condition was far more important. If Anneliese could truly help his granddaughter ovee her autism then no matter what Anneliese had done in the past, the Malone family would be willing to treat her as an honored guest. Seeing that Adrian did not even spare her a nce and had eyes only for his precious little granddaughter made Gianna feel even worse. She had once been the Malone family''s only little princess, and everyone doted on her since childhood. But ever since Steven brought Ellie home, everything had changed. Ellie was the only grandchild and also a sick child, so more and more of the family''s attention shifted to her. Even Gianna, simply because she was the aunt, was expected to give in to her and dote on her. The day Steven carried Ellie home had even coincided with Gianna''sing-of-age ceremony. The long-anticipated banquet meant to celebrate her adulthood ended up marred because of that. From then on, Gianna could not bring herself to like Ellie. What was more, Ellie was nothing more than an illegitimate child with an unknown mother. The fact that she could return to the Malone. family was already pure luck, so why should she be the family''s treasured darling? At this moment, Gianna felt so sick with anger that she could hardly stand it. She lowered her gaze, watching as Anneliese held Ellie with cold hostility in her eyes. Sure enough, every one of them was equally detestable! Having been soothed by Anneliese, Ellie rubbed her small face against Anneliese''s chest, as if reassuring the woman that she was fine now. It was also as if she felt a little shy, embarrassed by her own actions. Anneliese''s eyes were full of warmth. While holding Ellie, she stood up and finally turned to look at Adrian. Adrian asked curiously, "Have you met Ellie before?" His voice was noticeably gentler, and the sternness from earlier was gone. Anneliese remained calm and nodded. "We met at Mr. and Mrs. Golding''s Silver Anniversary. Ellie is very adorable, and we get along well." Adrian did not know about the incident where Ellie had gotten lost that day, and how Anneliese had found her. He was surprised to find out it was only Anneliese and Ellie''s second encounter. For Ellie to depend on her like this after only a second meeting-if Anneliese had not already married Jonathan, seeing her holding Ellie like that almost made Adrian want her to give things a try with Steven instead. "Ellie, do you really like her?" Adrian asked gently. Still remembering how Adrian had demanded an apology from Anneliese, Ellie shifted her little bottom, turned her head, and shot him a re. She then turned around, wrapped her arms around Anneliese''s neck, and buried her small face against Anneliese''s shoulder. Chapter 664 Not only did Adrian fail to get angry, but he instead looked at Anneliese with a thoughtful expression. Gianna clenched her fingers, lifted her wrist, and nced at her watch. "Dad, I told Mom we''d be there in half an hour. She should be waiting for us by now." Seeing that Adrian seemed inclined to continue talking with Anneliese at length, Gianna immediately stopped worrying about finding more trouble for Anneliese and hurried to remind him that it was time to leave. In fact, Adrian wanted to talk more with Anneliese about Ellie. Hearing Gianna''s words, he remembered they were heading to meet Wendy. He couldn''t pass up on the opportunity. Still, his granddaughter''s situation was just as important. Thinking of something, Adrian looked at Anneliese and said, "Would you like toe along as well?" Adrian remembered Gianna mentioning that Anneliese had once been saved by Wendy. Since they all knew each other, bringing Anneliese along did not seem inappropriate. "What?" Anneliese waspletely taken aback. Gianna clenched her fists and immediately tugged at Adrian again. "Dad, it''s supposed to be a family get-together. It''ll only be awkward for Mrs. Fullbuster. Besides, isn''t she still with a friend?" Adrian agreed that he might''ve acted on impulse. Ellie''s condition would not improve in a day or two, nor with just one or two encounters. Now that he knew Anneliese could soothe Ellie and that the little girl was especially attached to her, he could always find time and opportunitiester for them to spend more time together. Adrian nodded. "The Malones and Fullbusters have been close for generations. Steven and Jonathan are also good friends. Gianna is still young-she''s lively, innocent, and speaks her mind. I''m sure there aren''t any deep grudges between you two, right? It would be best to clear up the misunderstanding and get along well in the future. What do you think?" Adrian looked at Anneliese. Although he was no longer pursuing the matter of the spilled coffee, his words clearly implied that Gianna was not really at fault¡ªand that even if she was, others should be the ones to amodate her. Anneliese smirked, feeling somewhat displeased, but she didn''t bother arguing. She merely smiled and looked at Gianna. "As long as Ms. Malone doesn''t go looking for trouble, we''ll have no issues." Gianna let out a light scoff. "See, Dad? She doesn''t even respect you." Seeing that the two truly could not get along, Adrian felt a headacheing on. As an elder, he could not overly interfere in the interactions and disputes between young women. As long as Anneliese did not vent her frustrations with Gianna onto Ellie, that was enough. From what he had seen, Anneliese was actually quite caring and affectionate toward the little girl. Adrian nced at Gianna and said nothing more, thinking he''d tell Steven about thister. Steven could worry about his own daughter, and he wouldmunicate with Jonathan himself. Meanwhile, Jonathan would surely have Anneliese cooperate in Ellie''s treatment. "Ellie,e to Grandpa. We''re going to see Grandma now," Adrian said, reaching out to Ellie. Ellie did not want to leave at all and tightened her hold around Anneliese''s neck. Feeling a little helpless, Anneliese patted Ellie''s small bottom and leaned in to whisper a few gentle words to her. Ellie loosened her grip and turned to look at her. As if confirming something, she watched Anneliese closely. When she saw Anneliese nod at her, Ellie blinked, then obediently turned and stretched her hand out toward Adrian. Adrian quickly took his granddaughter into his arms. He gave Anneliese another long look, then nodded, holding Ellie as he left together with Gianna. "Gosh, that just scared me to death." Nicole, who had been carefully keeping a tow profile the entire time, afraid of catching Adrian''s attention, finally rxed once they were gone. She patted her chest and plopped back down on the couch. Anneliese smiled at her. "We''re at a cafe. Even if he''s the president of apany, what can he do to us?" Nicole snorted. "That''s easy for to say. You''re Mr. Fullbuster''s treasure so you don''t have to afraid. The Horowitz family can''t afford to offend the Malone family." Anneliese raised her brows slightly. "Thanks for earlier." Nicole was clearly afraid of offending the Malone family, yet she had still stepped in when Gianna sshed coffee on her. Anneliese appreciated that. Nicole blinked and was about to say something when her phone rang. She answered it and quickly hung up, then said to Anneliese, "Since it''s settled, let''s hang around for longer. I''ve had someone bring over the new identity documents." Meanwhile, as soon as Ellie got into the Rolls-Royce, she grew sleepy and fell asleep leaning against Adrian''s shoulder. Gianna had yet to change out of her stained clothes. Holding a towel, she wiped at the mess on the front of her outfit and frowned as she looked at Adrian. "Dad, Ellie is only like this with Anneliese. Aren''t you worried Anneliese might''ve done something to her?" Chapter 665 "Ellie is still so little, and she can''t speak. Even if Anneliese said or did something to her, we wouldn''t know. "In my opinion, your decision to let Anneliese spend more time with Ellie is still too hasty." Adrian gently patted Ellie''s back. "Ellie is very sensitive. If Anneliese had any ill intentions or treated her badly, Ellie wouldn''t trust her or be this close to her." With a child like Ellie, she was never without caretakers, nannies, tutors, and psychologists around her. Even though everyone in her circle had been carefully selected by the Malone family, it was still possible for someone with bad character to slip through. When Ellie was just over two, there had been a nanny skilled at deception who secretly beat and scolded her. Ellie had resisted her strongly and would hide behind adults in terror whenever she saw her. Last year, a private tutor had spent a long time teaching Ellie to ept her. But within two months, the tutor''s ulterior motive was exposed, and Ellie realized she wanted to get closer to Steven. The tutor had sneaked into Steven''s room, and Ellie had broken a vase, making a hugemotion. Although Ellie had autism, she was sensitive, perceptive, and able to protect herself. Adrian knew all of this, so he trusted his own judgment and didn''t easily believe what Gianna said. Gianna pointed at the stains on her clothes. "But Dad, you saw it yourself. Anneliese isn''t exactly a patient person. She may be nice to Ellie now, but who knows what her intentions really are? If she ends up hurting Ellie, it would be toote. "Ellie just started trusting people. If she finds out that Anneliese has some hidden ulterior motive, she''d feel hurt. Have you forgotten what happened with that female tutorst year?" Although that tutor was eventually fired, Ellie''s autism had worsened significantly during that period, and it took multiple visits to a psychologist before she gradually improved. Adrian recalled all of this. His brows furrowed slightly as he nodded in acknowledgment. "You make a fair point. I''ll have someone look into Anneliese," Adrian responded. Then, he looked at Gianna. "It''s good of you to think so much about Ellie." Gianna snorted. "Dad, I''m Ellie''s real aunt. Haven''t I always cared about her?" Adrian smiled and ruffled her hair. "My bad. Today, because of Ellie, you had to put up with all that drama." Gianna snorted again. "Fine. If Anneliese is able to help Ellie, this little grievance of mine isn''t a big deal." She looked out of the window, her eyes slightly red at the corners. Adrian, who had been thinking about Ellie, recalled that he had once seemingly instructed his subordinates to revoke Annelieses Competition qualifications. He wondered if he should withdraw that order. Seeing Gianna looking so wronged, he decided to let it go. When the time came, and Anneliese discovered that her qualifications had been revoked, she would naturally seek help from the Malone family. Restoring her qualifications then would create a sense of obligation, making it easier and more na Ellie for her to spend more time and cooperate in her treatment. Gianna, staring at her reflection in the window and the mess on her clothes, felt a rising sense of malice. Anneliese had treated her so badly, yet Adrian hadn''t stood up for her at all. Instead, he only thought about his little granddaughter! Was she even his biological daughter? How could he be so biased? Her mother had also defended Anneliesest time, leaving Gianna at home to cry in frustration. Both her parents had stood up for someone else... Gianna clenched her fists, and the faint, uneasy feeling rose again. Soon, the car arrived at Wendy''s vi, and Adrian stepped out with Ellie in his arms. Hearing themotion, Wendy came out from the living room to greet her little granddaughter. She was dressed in a plum-colored outfit, her hair tied in a low bun with a single wooden hairpin, looking elegant and gentle. Her smile, however, faded when she saw Adrian holding Ellie. "Did you receive my New Year''s gift, Wendy?" Adrian didn''t seem to notice her cold attitude, and he smiled warmly. He made it a point to give Wendy a gift every holiday. Even though she returned them every time, he still believed that if he persisted sooner or fater she would ept his gifts-and perhaps return to his side. Wendy reached out for Ellie, her voice cold. "I''ve sent it back. Hand over Ellie, and you may leave." There was no way Adrian would leave. Chapter 666 Adrian did not release his grip on Ellie. On the contrary, he shifted sideways to avoid Wendy, causing her outstretched hands to brush past his neck as she reached for the child. A flicker of amusement crossed his face. Wendy quickly withdrew her hands with a deep scowl, reacting as though she had been burned. "Don''t get mad, Wendy. Ellie has just fallen asleep. I''m sure she isn''t sleeping soundly yet. If we switch now, she''ll probably wake up again. She had a rough night yesterday, so just let me take her to bed myself." Due to Ellie''s condition, shecked a sense of security. She often suffered from nightmares, jolting awake at night, trembling, and unable to fall back asleep. Hearing his exnation that their granddaughter hadn''t slept well the previous night, Wendy couldn''t help but feel worried and distressed. Yet, she didn''t fully believe him and turned to look at Gianna instead. Gianna immediately nodded in confirmation. "Mom, Ellie might have been spooked by the sound of fireworks the other day. She hasn''t been sleeping well these past few days. Steven wasn''t homest night, so Dad was the one who held her throughout the night to calm her down." Hearing that, Wendy finally stepped aside and allowed Adrian to enter the vi with Ellie in his arms. Then, she turned back to Gianna. "What happened to your clothes?" Gianna was wearing a white top today, making the coffee stains sshed across her front especially conspicuous. After they left the cafe, Adrian asked whether she wanted to head to the upper floors of the shopping mall to buy something to change into. But Gianna had refused, saying she didn''t want to keep her mother waiting. She had deliberately not changed her clothes-it was meant for Wendy to see. Now that she was asked about it, she simply shook her head morosely. "It''s nothing." Though she said nothing, her slightly reddened eyes and the wounded expression on her face clearly suggested she had suffered some sort of grievance. Wendy thought it was strange. Adrian doted on his daughter quite extensively. What''s more, Gianna had a proud, fiery temper; she was not one to ept mistreatment quietly. With Adrian around, who would dare to bully her? She pressed again, "What actually happened?" Only then did Gianna relent. Linking her arm through Wendy''s, sheined in a petnt tone, "Who else could it have been? It was Anneliese ude. She... Forget it. You''ve always thought she was an angel. It doesn''t matter what I say; you wouldn''t believe me anyway." Hearing that Anneliese was involved, Wendy paused. Her curiosity was piqued. "Tell me." She recalled Gianna''s previous failure to gain the upper hand against Anneliese, which only deepened her curiosity about what had happened this time. "Dad and I took Ellie to buy some desserts for you. These ones, see?" Gianna lifted the exquisite dessert box in her hand before continuing, "I was choosing some pastries for you, and when I turned around, Ellie was gone. "I didn''t know he how it happened, but when I finally found them, Anneliese was hiding Ellie behind her back, was so anxious and angry that naturally went over to question her. Then, she sshed coffee albover me." As soon as she finished exining, she handed the dessert box to a servant nearby without waiting for Wendy''s reaction. "I feel really gross. I''m going upstairs to take a shower." She then walked off quickly, as though she had only been casually recounting the incident rather than deliberatelyining. Wendy watched Gianna head upstairs for a moment before lowering her gaze and opening WhatsApp on her phone. She had previously exchanged contact information with Anneliese. Anneliese had even sent her a holiday greeting during the New Year. It hadn''t been a mass-forwarded message. The lines were simple and sincere, filled with genuine blessings and gratitude. Wendy had always had a good impression of Anneliese. Just as she was considering whether to ask Anneliese about the incident, she heard Adrian calling for her from the stairway. "Which room does Ellie sleep in?" Quickly putting her phone away, she hurried over to lead the way. Adrian carefullyid Ellie on the bed. However, the little girl seemed uneasy after a change of environment and squirmed slightly. Bending down, he immediately knelt by the bedside and gently parted her back to sleep. She gradually calmed down after some time. Despite rising to his feet again, he did not move. His gaze was fixed intently on her sleeping face. It wasn''t until Wendy was tucking the nket around Ellie from the other side of the bed that Adrian suddenly spoke in a low voice. "Our daughter siever even had these chance to see her. Did she look like Elfie?" His voice was muted, but talking about something so painful made it sound even rougher and rawer. Hisplexion grew pale, shadowed by grief. Wendy froze. When she raised her head again, her expression was icy. "Don''t you dare mention our daughter. You''re not worthy of it! That''s enough-leave now!" Withdrawing her gaze, she turned around and headed for the door, as though even looking at him for a moment longer would be offensive. But just as she reached the doorway, he caught her arm. "Let''s talk, Wendy." "There''s nothing left to talk about with you. Let go!" she snapped, struggling to pull her arm free. He didn''t let go. Sighing helplessly, he added, "It''s about Ellie''s condition. I''ve made some discoveries today. As her grandmother, I''m sure you want her to recover as soon as possible, don''t you?" Chapter 667 Wendy paused. Hearing that the topic concerned Ellie''s condition, the coldness in her expression eased slightly. "Come with me." Breathing a small sigh of relief, Adrian quickly followed her toward the end of the corridor. Meanwhile, Gianna finished changing her clothes and emerged from her bedroom. Since she had not heard the sound of a car engine, she knew Adrian was still around. Over the years, Wendy had rarely allowed Adrian into the house. Yet today, she not only allowed him inside but also hadn''t kicked him out, even though he had been there for some time now. It was a new development. However, Gianna did not actually want her parents to reconcile. Her mother had always been distant with her. She feared that if her mother remarried her father, her father''s attitude toward her would be influenced as well. Walking over to Wendy''s room, she pressed her ear to the door and listened, but heard nothing. She knocked lightly, but there was no response either. In the end, she pushed open the door and went inside. The bedroom was unmistakably empty. After taking several steps inside the room, she confirmed that neither of her parents was there. She was about to turn and leave when she noticed Wendy''s jacket lying on the floor beside the couch. She casually bent down and grabbed the jacket to ce it back on the couch. As she did, a yellowed piece of paper suddenly slipped out from a pocket andnded at her feet. The paper was faded, its edges frayed. From its worn appearance, she could tell it had been taken out and examined many times over the years. More importantly, it had been carefully tucked in her mother''s pocket-it was clearly an important keepsake. Driven by curiosity, Gianna unfolded the paper and froze. The paper turned out to be an ultrasound report from a prenatal appointment. A mixture of shock and confusion filled her when she noticed the name and date on the report¡ªWendy''s name, and a date from the same year she was born. Based on the year, it should have been an ultrasound report from when Wendy was pregnant with Gianna. But... why would she treasure the report so much, let alone look at it so often? After all, she had always been indifferent toward Gianna as a daughter. Is this really some sort of keepsake something she kept out of motherly love? How ridiculous. Just as Gianna was feeling puzzled, her gaze suddenly stiffened. Even her breathing seemed to stop. There was something wrong with the report. The examination date and the gestational age shown didn''t match her birth month. ording to the gestational age listed on the report, Wendy should have given birth in June that year. Even with ate delivery, it would have been impossible for the birth to ur in July. But... Gianna was born in September. How is that possible? Gianna''s fingers tightened around the paper. Her long, sharp, manicured nails identally pierced the brittle sheet, leaving an obvious hole. The sound of tearing paper and the sudden loss of resistance jolted her back to her senses. Startled, she dropped it. The paper fluttered to the ground as she turned and hurried toward the door, her steps shaky. But when she reached the door, she caught herself and spun around again. She quickly backtracked and scooped up the ultrasound report. Pulling out her phone, she tooka photo with trembling fingers Then she folded the report neatly and carefully slipped the paper back into Wendy''s jacket pocket before scurrying out of the room. Wendy''s home office was at the end of the corridor. Although she told Adrian to sit on the couch, she did not sit beside him. She settled behind her desk instead, keep distance of more than thirty feet between them. Her expression was frosty as she urged him, "You can talk now. What''s going on with Ellie?" Adrian did not like the distance or how the conversation started. It felt cold-as though they were in a business negotiation. He loosened his tie slightly. "Wendy, shouldn''t you at least offer a ss of water when entertaining a guest?" She replied bluntly, without the slightest hint of courtesy, "My daughter came into the world without taking a single sip of water before she left it again. What were you doing when she closed her eyes forever? "Oh, right! You were dancing with your childhood sweetheart, the same woman who caused our daughter''s death. "Water? Do you think you deserve even a sip of water?" He wanted to talk about our daughter, didn''t he? Fine. We can talk about her-but I''ll make sure it hurts. The blood instantly drained from his face. Seeing his body stiffen at her words, she curled her lips coldly. Back when Wendy first married Adrian, Anastasia Quimby¡ªhis childhood sweetheart from the Quimby family¡ªhad repeatedly provoked and schemed against her, constantly causing trouble for her. Yet he always believed that Anastasia wasn''t a bad person by nature; she had merely pulled some minor, if slightly improper, stunts. It wasn''t until Steven was born that Wendy''s position in the Malone family finally stabilized. Seeing that there was no longer any chance for Adrian and Anastasia to get together, the Quimby family eventually forced Anastasia into an arranged marriage. Her husband was from Southvale, so she had to leave Oceaton once she married. Wendy finally enjoyed several years of peace after that. She never imagined that, not long after she became pregnant with her second child, Anastasia would get divorced and return to Oceaton¡ªonce again barging into her previously calm life. Chapter 668 Adrian had been aplete disaster. He cheated on her and beat her. Anastasia suffered a lot during the marriage, and the Quimbys genuinely pitied her for it. They grew increasingly indulgent, always making excuses for her. Adrian, too, felt even more tenderness and sympathy toward Anastasia because of everything she had endured. When Wendy was in thete stages of her pregnancy, she went back to her hometown to attend her cousin''s wedding. That trip turned into a nightmare. She was kidnapped, and the trauma caused her to go into prematurebor. She never forgot that filthy basement. She never forgot how she had struggled in despair, writhing in pain as she brought her daughter into the world. Her baby was unbelievably gentle and well behaved, as if she somehow understood the impossible situation Wendy was trapped in. That little girl seemed to ache for her mother. Even with no one there to help and being born too early, she did not put Wendy through prolonged agony. She came into the world quietly and safely. She had been so tiny. She did not cry or fuss. She only stared at Wendy with wide, dark eyes, as if she were telling her not to be afraid, as if she were promising to stay with her. That child even brought Wendy a stroke of luck. On the night she was born, a massive earthquake struck the neighboring county. The tremors were strong where they were hiding. Chaos erupted outside. The kidnappers panicked and bolted, fleeing for their lives. Wendy clutched her baby and escaped in the confusion. She had barely made it far before her vision darkened. Her legs felt like lead. In her panic, she ran straight into traffic and was struck by a car. As she was thrown aside and slipped into unconsciousness, her only thought was to hold on to her daughter. Even so, she felt the bundle torn from her arms. When Wendy finally woke up in the hospital, an entire day and night had passed. The first thing she was told was that her newborn daughter, so sweet and beautiful, was gone forever. The baby had even been run over. There was nothing left to recognize. When all of this happened to Wendy, Adrian was overseas. He was attending a celebration banquet for Anastasia, the very person responsible for everything. He was standing proudly at her side as she epted a design award. He even danced the opening dance with Anastasia. By the time Adrian rushed back, his daughter''s body had already gone cold. Later, he did uncover the truth and traced everything back to Anastasia. He sent her to prison and used his influence to make sure she lived in misery behind bars. The following year, she took her own life in prison. The Quimbys and the Malones became sworn enemies as a result. The Quimbys vanished from Halden''s upper social circles altogether. None of that eased the hatred Wendy carried toward Adrian. For more than twenty years, he never remarried. He spent all that time trying to mend things with Wendy. People around them kept telling her that Adrian was deeply devoted. They said he had been kept in the dark at the time. They also said he had lost a daughter and was victim as well-just like her. They urged Wendy to let it go to stop. dwelling on the past, and to forgive him already. They imed he had suffered enough and regretted everything. To Wendy, those words sounded cruelly ironic. "Wendy, I..." Adrian met Wendy''s cold, mocking gaze and felt as though even breathing was a sin. His throat tightened, and his Adam''s apple bobbed as he forced himself to speak, only to be cut off. "If you are not here to talk about Ellie, you can leave right now." It was obvious Wendy had no interest in hearing him repeat the same tired apologies, regrets, or talk of making amends. Every time I hear it, my mind goes straight back to that filthy, pitch-dark basement where my daughter was born. I see her again, so soft and so tiny, opening her eyes just once to look at me, her useless mother, before she leaves this world in the most miserable way imaginable. I think about how she does not even have a proper nket, how she is wrapped in my torn, dirty clothes when she dies. I think about the moment she is crushed under those wheels and how much that must hurt. This pain is something I can never escape for the rest of my life. Even if Adrian is not the one who kills her with his own hands, he is still an aplice. What right does he have to talk about my daughter? He does not even deserve to repent. Clearly, Adrian knew Wendy had zero patience for him. If it had not been for Ellie today, Wendy would not have said a single word to him. He swallowed his emotions and went straight to what he had seen earlier at the dessert shop. "I have never seen Ellie cling to anyone like that. She was unusually close, unusually dependent. Gianna mentioned you once saved Anneliese?" Wendy already understood what Adrian was getting at. She did not answer his question and only said, "I know. You can leave now." He did not want to leave yet. It had not been easy for him to get in here at all, let alone manage a few sentences with her. But he also knew exactly why she was ring at him now. Earlier, he had let his emotions slip while watching Ellie sleep and ended up mentioning their daughter. That alone was enough to make him unbearable in Wendy''s eyes. If he lingered any longer, he would only push her into irritation and anger. He let out a heavy sigh and stood up. "You look worn out. Work never ends. Get some rest," he said quietly. With that, he left the workspace. After their daughter died, Wendy had firmly insisted on the divorce. Not long after, she fell into depression and spent over a year in treatment before she finally recovered. Chapter 669 From that moment on, Wendy had poured almost everything she had into her career. Even now, when the bridal brand she founded had grown into a world- famous luxurybel, she still never slowed down. Adrian knew the truth. After her second pregnancy, Wendy never had the chance to recover appropriately. Her body took a real hit, and her health had been fragile ever since. Wendy, of course, did not respond to a single word he said. The door closed behind her. Only after a long pause did a quiet scoff slip from her lips. She worked herself this hard because she had never escaped the pain of losing her daughter. What she hated even more was her own helplessness at the time. She wanted power. She wanted strength. If she had possessed her current status, background, and wealth back then, Anastasia would never have dared to touch her daughter. What she despised most was herself. She had married Adrian and willingly became a full-time housewife. In the end, she had earned that oue. She could not even protect her own child. Almost without thinking, Wendy slipped her hand into her pocket, reaching for the pregnancy checkup slip she had carried with her all these years. It was the only thing she had left. The closest thing she still had to a photograph of her daughter. Whenever her fingers touched it, she felt as if her daughter were still beside her. Her heart would finally settle. But this time, her hand came up empty. Panic mmed into her chest. Wendy shot to her feet, instinctively, and started searching her pockets in a frenzy. No. That''s impossible. How could it be gone? Wendy''s face went ghostly pale before it hit her. She had changed jackets earlier. The moment that important call came in, she rushed out and never took the pregnancy checkup slip out of her pocket. She hurried toward the bedroom. Her steps were uneven and rushed. When she pushed the door open and saw the jacket still tossed on the couch, she finally breathed a little easier. Only after she reached into the pocket and felt the pregnancy checkup slip did a faint smile return to her expression. That smile vanished the instant she unfolded it. Arge hole was punched straight through the pregnancy checkup slip. Worse, it lined up exactly with the position of the fetus in the womb, as if some cruel hand had once again crushed her daughter without mercy. Wendy''s heart clenched violently. Pain twisted through her chest. Her vision darkened, and she copsed onto the couch. It took a long moment before she could steady herself again. Clutching the damaged pregnancy checkup slip, she stumbled out of the bedroom. "Mira!" Wendy shouted. Her voice was sharp with panic, calling for the maid Mira Gilmore. Mira quickly came out of the kitchen and headed upstairs. "Mira, who went into my room just now? Who touched the clothes I left on the couch?" Wendy demanded, barely holding herself together. In Mira froze. She had no idea what had happened, but one look at Wendy''s ashen expression told her this was serious. She answered quickly "Madam Chalmont, I did not go upstairs at allust now aside from you and Mr. Malone, the only other person upstairs should have been Ms. Gianna. And besides, without your instructions, I am not allowed to touch your clothes, let alone wash them. I have always kept that rule in mind." That is precisely why I worry about the staff touching my things, or tossing my clothes into the wash, and identally losing or damaging the pregnancy checkup slip. That is why I set this rule for every single servant in the house. Mira may be young, but she does her job correctly and takes her responsibilities seriously. She has never made a mistake, not even once. Which means the only person who could have damaged the pregnancy checkup slip is Gianna. Wendy closed her eyes for a brief moment, steadying herself against the railing before asking, "Where''s Gianna?" "Ms. Gianna didn''t say a word. She just suddenly ran out," Mira replied. That answer only made Wendy more certain it had been Gianna. She turned back to the workroom, grabbed her phone, and called Gianna right away. But Gianna did not pick up. No matter how many times Wendy tried, the call went unanswered. Wendy had no idea what she was doing or where she had gone. ... Meanwhile, after helping Jessica secure a new identity, Anneliese went straight to Jessica''s ce. She handed over the documents, then gently held Jessica''s hands. "Have you decided when you''re buying the ticket? Do you know where you want to go?" Jessica clutched the new ID card, and for the first time in ages, her heart finally felt steady. She smiled, then pulled Anneliese into a tight hug. "The longer I wait, the more can go wrong. I''m leaving tomorrow morning. I''ll go to Harborview first. Annie, thank you." Anneliese let out a soft sigh and hugged her back. "If you''re thanking me, then promise you''ll take good care of yourself and my godbaby. And live well. Really live." Jessica nodded over and over again, forcing her lips into a smile even as tears slipped down her face. She bit down hard, refusing to let a sound did not notice. escape Anneliese Jessica quietly After a long moment, wiped away the tears and said, "Help me pack, okay? And... can you stay with me tonight?" Anneliese pulled back slightly and smiled. "Of course." Jessica blinked at her. "Are you sure? Your Mr. Fullbuster won''te storming over to murder me, will he?" "He won''t. My Mr. Fullbuster is very reasonable and extremely understanding," Anneliese said with augh. Besides, I''ve been living here anyway. Grandma might not be against Jonathan and me anymore, but she never said I could move in with him. He''ll get it. I''ll give him a call." Chapter 670 Anneliese lifted her brows, and the moment Jonathan''s name came up, her eyes softened and practically lit up. Jessica was happy for her, but deep down, she honestly felt that Anneliese had a serious filter on when it came to Jonathan, and a pretty big misunderstanding to go with it. She made a small, inviting gesture, entirely at ease, and watched as Anneliese took out her phone. Anneliese dialed the number. Jonathan picked up almost instantly. He had set a special ringtone just for her, so the call barely rang once before he was already on his feet, one hand raised to pause the first executive meeting after the New Year. "Honey, are you done yet? I still need about ten more minutes here. Want me toe pick you up after?" Jonathan asked as he stepped out of the conference room and stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. He was not at AeroAir''s main office building. He was at the AeroAir operations campus instead. From where he stood, he could see the sleek curves of the airport terminal roof outside and a ne cutting cleanly through the sky. His thoughts drifted. Maybe it is time to reshuffle my schedule for the year. It feels like I can finally move the wedding date, and the honeymoon too higher up on the priority list. Anneliese had confidently told Jessica that Jonathan was incredibly considerate. Yet hearing him offer to get her now made her feel oddly guilty. "If you''re busy, then..." She cleared her throat before finishing, but her shifting gaze met Jessica''s all- knowing look head-on. Jessica even moved her lips, silently forming a single word. Coward. This is seriously unbearable. Anneliese thought. Anneliese shot Jessica a sharp look, then bit her lip and shifted gears. "Honey, I think I''ll stay at Jess'' tonight. She just got out of the hospital, and I can''t leave her alone." After she said that, the line went quiet. Anneliese noticed her own breathing getting lighter. "You mad?" Jonathan wasn''t exactly mad. It was just that he had finally managed to sort things out with Nishay. Now Nishay was letting him slide, looking the other way so he could bring Anneliese back to his ce. And yet, before he even got her fully through the door, she was already being swooped up by someone else. Anyone in his shoes would feel tangled up and disappointed. He pressed his thin lips together, deliberately staying quiet for a long moment. Hearing Anneliese''s quickened breathing on the other end, he couldn''t bear to let her worry. He exhaled. "Not mad, just..." "Mm?" "It''s like I haven''t even made it to the spotlight and I''m already getting sidelined." His voice carried nothing but helplessness. Anneliese couldn''t hold it in and let out a softugh. Then, feeling the chill from the phone in her hand, she quicklyposed herself. "Not that bad, I....." Jessica was still nearby, and Anneliese felt a little embarrassed. She covered her mouth with her hand and casually walked a few steps toward the window before saying, "Love you the most, honey." Jonathan heard her low voice whispering those words, soft and tender, the way the ending curled just right into his ear. For a moment, it felt like his heart had melted halfway into a puddle. The little troublemaker can''te over to keep mepany, and she''s still teasing me like crazy! Jonathan''s eyes darkened. "You little heartbreaker." Anneliese froze, entirely at a loss for words. I''m really trying to sweet-talk him, so why am I getting called a little heartbreaker? She bristled, letting out a snort. "Hey, cut it out!" Jonathan clicked his tongue. "Just you wait." Wait for what? Anneliese didn''t even get what he was saying before Jonathan had already hung up. She let it go and put her phone away, turning her head, only to catch Jessica sitting on the edge of the bed, folding the nkets with that mischievous grin, perfectly nailing the clip-on voice. "Love you the most!" s?novels Goosebumps ran up Anneliese''s spine in an instant. She wasn''t talking like that just a second ago! "Jessica! I''m telling you, be good. The little one in your belly is watching and listening, you know." At that moment, back at the AeroAir operations campus, Jonathan ended the call and strode straight back into the conference room. He imed the first seat, his voice low and measured. "Go on. I''ve heard enough of the same old I es you were spouting just now. This time, I want something fresh, something with a spark." The tension in the room thickened, heavier than it had been before. Feels like Mr. Fullbuster just got off the phone and is walking around frustrated or something. Middle of the day, so we''re probably just overthinking it. Gotta stay sharp. I don''t want to be the first casualty of AeroAir this year. The ce was a pretty chill little bar, not crowded at all during the day, with soft music driftingzily through the air. But at the counter, Gianna was already way ahead of schedule on her drinking. She had bolted out from Wendy''s side,pletely rattled by that pregnancy checkup slip. For a moment, she even tried to convince herself the date on it had to be wrong. But in the car, she zoomed in on the photo she''d taken. Her phone practically red back at her, leaving zero room for mistakes. s?novels for any Chapter 671 Gianna kept thinking about calling Adrian, but every time she picked up the phone, she froze and never actually dialed the number. Everything that used to baffle her suddenly fell into ce. Wendy''s coldness finally made sense in that moment. So, it''s not that Mom only cares about her career after the divorce and doesn''t care about me. It''s that I''m not her biological daughter at all. Then, who am I? Gianna ended up calling Pepper after all. She just had this feeling that Pepper would know the truth. ... When Pepper got the call, she rushed to the bar, only to find a row of empty sses in front of Gianna. She was slumped over the counter, her hair spilling over her face like a curtain. Pepper''s heart twisted at the sight of her like that. She hurried over and gently lifted her. "Gianna? How did you drink all this? Didn''t I tell you to wait for me?" "Aunt Pepper..... am I really not Mom''s daughter?" Gianna clutched Pepper''s arm, her eyes red and raw. Pepper nced at the bartender behind the counter before helping Gianna to her feet. "Come with me. Whatever you want to know, I''ll tell you." She guided Gianna out of the bar and up to a hotel upstairs. Once inside a room, she wrung out a towel and wiped Gianna''s face before sitting down beside her. "Gianna, you really aren''t Wendy''s biological daughter." Gianna had already kind of epted it, but hearing it said out loud with that certainty still made her feel absurd and lost. She stared at Pepper. "So... I''m a b*stard?" it because Adrian cheated and has an illegitimate daughter that Wendy divorced him? Then, where did her own child go? Gianna had always carried herself with pride. She had grown up believing she was the Malones'' golden girl, the one everyone adored and protected. Steven, her full-blooded brother, had a future that looked limitless as the head of the Air Traffic Control Committee. Adrian and Wendy might have divorced, but each of them still ran publicly listedpanies of their own. Gianna was the textbook definition of a wealthy, beautiful heiress. The people she looked down on the most were illegitimate children. She had never imagined that one day, she would be told she was one herself. The thought was unbearable. As Pepper watched the confusion and pain wash over Gianna''s expression, her own eyes slowly filled with tears. Her throat, tightened Without thinking, she pulled Gianna into a hug. "Gianna, you''re not Adrian''s illegitimate child," she said, her voice trembling. "You''re my daughter." After saying it, she forced herself to steady the emotions surging in her chest and looked at Gianna with hopeful eyes. She had wanted to acknowledge Gianna as her child for so long. She had been waiting to see the same excitement and joy reflected in Gianna''s expression. Instead, Gianna stood frozen, as if it took her a long moment even to process what Pepper had said. Her expression changed instantly. She shoved Pepper away and frowned. "Aunt Pepper, what are you talking about?" she asked. "This is ridiculous." She stood up as she spoke, convinced she must have had too much to drink to be hearing something this absurd. Seeing Gianna retreat like that made Pepper''s heart sink. She got up and grabbed Gianna''s arm. "Gianna, I really am your mother she sa urgently haven''t you said it yourself before? You said I was the only one who ever made you feel a mother''s love and warmth. You even said you wished I were your mom. You..." Pepper had heard Gianna say those words more than once. That was why she had told her the truth without hesitation. She had believed Gianna would be happy to learn they were mother and daughter. Instead, Gianna''s reaction was theplete opposite. "Don''t touch me." She snapped, shaking her head. "How could I possibly be your daughter?" She kept shaking her head, utterly unable to ept the reality in front of her. I do remember thinking, more than once, that I wished Pepper were my mother. But that was only because I had always believed Wendy was my real mom. Even if Wendy is distant and never particrly warm with me, I still would not trade her for a mother who cannot offer me anything beyondfort and emotional safety. Compared to having a mother who controls a business empire, I do not want someone who cannot support me in terms of status or material power. Next to a woman like Wendy, who has real name recognition in the international bridal and fashion industries, Pepper simply does not measure up. She relies on the Malones and runs a dozen or so chain clothing stores. The gap between them is enormous. And there is something even worse. If I am Pepper''s daughter, then what does that make her rtionship with Adrian? That would be incest. I would rather be nothing more than an illegitimate child than live with something like that. "You and my dad... How could you even..." Gianna shook her head, lookingpletely pale. Seeing the misunderstanding, Pepper rushed to exin. "No, Gianna. Your birth father is someone else. You are not Adrian''s daughter. Back then..." She was about to tell Gianna the truth about what had happened all those years ago. However, the moment Gianna realized she was never Adrian''s daughter at all, that she had nothing to do with the Malones, shepletely fell apart. Chapter 672 Gianna shouted in anger, "Shut up!" She never should''ve called Pepper. She was a youngdy of the Malone family. How could she not be Adrian''s daughter? Then, who was she supposed to be? Just the niece of Adrian''s ex-wife? That status was even worse than being an illegitimate child. "This can''t be true! It just can''t be." After saying that, Gianna turned and stumbled toward the door. She didn''t want to hear Pepper say anything else about her background. She knew none of it would be what she wanted to hear. She refused to believe the truth and wanted to get Adrian''s hair and do a DNA test. Her dad spoiled her so much as she had grown up in the Malone family, so she had to be his daughter. "Gianna!" Pepper was shoved aside again and again. It felt like someone crushed her heart and rubbed broken ss into it. The pain was unbearable. She stood there for a long moment before she reacted. When she saw Gianna rush out, she hurried after her. Gianna ran onto the main road in a mess. A blinding beam of headlights shed in front of her, and she froze in shock. She wanted to run, but her body didn''t respond. Someone yanked her hard from behind, causing her to fall back awkwardly. The speeding car rushed past. The man in the passenger seat leaned out and cursed loudly, "Are you crazy? If you wanna die, jump off a building!" Gianna was dragged aside, but she and the person behind her both fell to the ground. Her heart was pounding. Her hands and legs felt weak. She had just lifted her head when a pnded on her face. Pepper pped her so hard that blood appeared at the corner of her mouth. "Have you regained yourposure?" Gianna was nowposed. She clenched her teeth, pushed her messy hair aside, and stared at Pepper with red eyes. When Pepper saw her swollen cheek, pain filled her eyes. She reached out to touch her, but Gianna turned her away. Then, she pushed herself up in the silence and turned in the direction of the hotel. ... They returned to the same room as before. Gianna sat on the couch. She took the ice pack from Pepper''s hand and pressed it against her swollen face. Her voice sounded hoarse. "Go on. I''m listening." Only then did Pepper sit down beside her. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to hit you just now. I was just¡ª" Gianna cut her off. "Cut to the chase." Seeing that her daughter had no interest in bonding with her at all, Pepper paled. She pressed her lips together before speaking. "Back then, when your aunt was heavily pregnant, she was kidnapped During that time, she gave birth to a baby girl. That baby died after being run ove by a car While your aunt was trying to escape. The person behind the kidnapping was Adrian''s childhood friend. Because of that, your aunt divorced Adrian." Gianna frowned. "What does that have to do with me?" Pepper''s eyes reddened as she drifted into her memories. "Of course it has something to do with you. When that baby died, I was already seven months pregnant with you. As for your biological father..." When Pepper thought of Gianna''s biological father, she frowned slightly. Back then, when Wendy married into the Malone family, she lived in total luxury. Pepper was her younger sister. She had seen the Malone family''s wealth with her own eyes. She had seen how the refined young man of the Malone family loved, protected, and pursued her sister. There was no way she could ept marrying an ordinary man. With the help of the Malone family''s connections, she managed to get close to the Lewis family''s youngest son. They were considered the upper ss in Halden at the time. She even got pregnant. She dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family and living well because of her child. But her luck was terrible. The Lewis family backed the wrong side and copsed overnight. The youngest son of the Lewis family ran overseas. At that time, Pepper was heavily pregnant with Gianna, being over six months along. An abortion would''ve been too damaging to her body, so she could only give birth. She had nothing left as she lost everything. She became a single mother, pregnant and alone, enduring strange looks and open contempt. At the same time, Wendy was the matriarch of the Malone family. She had a sweet, well-behaved son. Her husband was gentle and caring. She was about to have both a son and a daughter. They were sisters, yet their lives turned outpletely different. Pepper felt that anyone in her position would''ve struggled to ept it and would''ve carried quiet jealousy. Then, one monthter, something happened to Wendy. "My biological father did what?" Gianna asked impatiently when Pepper stayed silent for too long. Pepper snapped out of her memories and looked at Gianna. He doesn''t matter. What matters is that after your aunt lost her daughter, she fell into depression gave birth toyou around that time. "During that time, Adrian brought your aunt to the hospital to visit. After losing her child, she didn''t speak didn''t cry, and didn''t smile. When she held you in her arms, she suddenly broke down crying." Chapter 673 "She held you and cried until she passed out. She never let go. After she woke up, her condition improved a lot. The therapist said your presence eased her illness. "You and your aunt were blood-rted after all. At the time, your aunt treated you as a recement for her daughter who had died. That was understandable. She insisted on taking you and raising you herself. "Adrian wanted to make it up to her and fix the marriage, so he weed the idea. He wanted to bring you to the Malone family and raise you as his own daughter. "On one side, there was the Malone family''s little princess. On the other side, there was me, a single mother with nothing. In the end, your mom chose to send you away, even though it broke her heart. "Gianna, can you please not me me? It was your aunt who took you. With her condition, I couldn''t just watch her depression get worse until she tried to kill herself. I''m her younger sister. "I also didn''t have the ability to give you a good living environment or proper education. I had no choice." Pepper hugged Gianna and cried as she begged her daughter to forgive her. However, her eyes flickered. She didn''t tell the full truth. Back then, Wendy did hold Gianna and cry until she lost control. She mistook Gianna for the daughter she had lost. But after Wendy woke up, she became clear-headed. Pepper was the one who carried Gianna to Adrian. She knelt down on her own and persuaded him to take the child away. "Adrian, this child wasn''t born because I wanted her. Daniel forced me. If it weren''t for the fact that I couldn''t get rid of the pregnancy, I wouldn''t have given birth to her. Seeing her makes me feel miserable. "Adrian, if the child can ease Wendy''s illness, that is the best fate she could have. Maybe this is God sending your daughter back to you and Wendy. "Adrian, take her with you. Being a daughter of the Malone family, being your daughter and Wendy''s daughter, is her blessing." That year, Pepper used those exact words. She held Gianna in her swaddling nket and knelt by the hospital bed as she begged Adrian. At the time, Adrian was desperate to make it up to Wendy and cure her. Wendy refused to see him at all. Adrian felt that Gianna could be a bridge between him and Wendy. He also felt that treating Wendy''s niece as a daughter might stop his guilt and regret from eating him alive. In the end, Adrian brought Gianna back to the Malone family. He also shifted the guilt he felt toward his biological daughter onto Gianna instead. "So all these years, Dad''s love and everything he gave me were because I was a recement for the Malone family''s short-lived heiress." Giannaughed in mockery. Herughter grew sharper and harsher. No wonder that when she got sick as a child, Adrian always pushed her to call Wendy. He told her to act sweet and coax Wendy intoing to see her. Whenever there were parent-child events at school, Adrian treated them like a big deal. Even when the school didn''t require both parents to attend, he still told her to act spoiled and ask Wendy toe. She used to think those actions meant Adrian cared deeply about her. Now she realized it was all her own wishful thinking. She was just a tool. The family background she was proud of and the love she believed in were all fake. She felt like the biggest joke of all. When Pepper saw herughing with tears streaming down her face, her heart twisted in pain. She held Gianna tightly. "Gianna, don''t do this." Gianna struggled hard. "Let go of me! You threw me away when I was little. Now you''re acting like a loving mother. It''s disgusting!" "That''s not true. It really isn''t. I love you. I just wanted you to have a better life and a stronger background. Gianna, all these years of being by your side but not being able to acknowledge you, don''t you feet even a bit of that pain?" Pepper cried uncontrobly. Gianna pushed her away even harder, her eyes full of ridicule. "Aunt Pepper, do you think I''m stupid? Adrian treated me as a tool to get his wife back and ease his guilt. Didn''t you also use me as a tool to get close to Adrian?" Gianna saw Pepper''s feelings for Adrian very clearly. Back when she gave Gianna to Adrian as a daughter, Pepper had already set her sights on him. That was exactly the case. Raising a baby was never easy. When Gianna had a fever or felt unwell, it was only natural for her biological mother to want to care for her. Adrian was a grown man. He couldn''t properly care for a baby girl. Wendy stayed cold and refused to help. Pepper, her real mother, stepped in and offered to take care of Gianna. Adrian was more than happy to ept it. As Pepper cared for her again and again, she slowly developed feelings for the daughter she once resented. She appeared at the Malone Residence more and more often, and it all feltpletely natural. Chapter 674 Just like that, Pepper became the woman who went in and out of the Malone family the most and stayed over the most. It was just a pity. For more than twenty years, Adrian had noticed her feelings long ago, but he kept pretending not to know. He never wanted to let Pepper get what she wanted. Pepper was also afraid of pushing too hard and ruining everything, so she didn''t dare use more extreme methods. That was why, even now, she still hadn''t be Mrs. Malone. Still, Adrian was never going to get back together with Wendy. There was also no other woman around him who was closer than Pepper. Sooner orter, the position of Mrs. Malone would be hers. At that moment, after being used by Gianna, Pepper grabbed Gianna by both shoulders and spoke sharply. "Gianna, I admit what you said. But you are the only daughter I''ll ever have in this life. If I don''t love you, who should I love? Haven''t I let you enjoy the best life as the Malone family''s heiress for more than twenty years? "You''re the one who benefited from all of this. Anyone else can point at my back and curse me, but you can''t! Besides, once I marry Adrian and be Mrs. Malone, we''ll be a real family. Your status as the Malone family''s heiress will bepletely secure. What''s so bad about that?" Gianna froze slightly. The sharp and mocking look on her face slowly faded. Seeing her soften, Pepper curled her lips into a smile. "Gianna, Jessica willpletely disappear tomorrow. She won''t be able to threaten you ever again." When Gianna heard that, her eyes lit up right away. "Really?" Before this, Pepper had said she would help her deal with Jessica, but Gianna hadn''t held much hope at all. After all, Jessica and Anneliese were so close that they were like one person. Anneliese also had Jonathan wrapped around her finger, and he was willing to do anything for her. Even Gianna herself had suffered when she tried to mess with Jessica. What could Pepper possibly do? She never expected Pepper to actually seed. "Really? Gianna, when have I ever lied to you?" Gianna stiffened for a moment. Then she leaned forward and rested against Pepper''s shoulder. "What did you do?" Pepper knew that meant she had epted her. Her face immediately filled with joy. "You don''t need to know. You just need to know this. As long as it''s something you want, whether it''s a person or an object, I''ll help you get it." "Mmm," Gianna responded softly. Then a ruthless look slowly appeared in her eyes. "Mom, I''ll help you too!" Just like Pepper said, only by helping her marry Adrian could her identity as the Malone family''s heiress bepletely secure. There was no point worrying about love anymore. As long as Pepper could help her, Gianna would stand on Pepper''s side. Anyway, Wendy had carried the title of her mother for over twenty years, but she never truly cared about her. Gianna had called her Mom for so many years. Yet, in Wendy''s eyes, she was not even as important as an undeveloped embryo on a pregnancy test report. When Pepper heard Gianna call her Mom, she was so happy that tears filled her eyes. "Good, good, good. Gianna, the two of us will both get what we want." At Riverview Court, Jessica had decided to leave in a hurry, so there were a lot of things to pack. Even though the apartment was rented by Jessica, she had lived there for over three years. She had even paid for the renovations herself. Everything inside belonged to her. Jessica and Anneliese spent more than three hours organizing everything before they finally finished. Tomorrow, Jessica would take two would be moved to The Brest fet where Anneliese would store them for now. After everything was packed, Anneliese copsed on the living room couch,pletely exhausted. "Good job, Anneliese. Have some water," Jessica said. She poured a ss of water and held it up to Anneliese''s lips, acting overly attentive and a little silly. While packing, Anneliese was most of the work. Jessica was pregnant and had just been discharged from the hospitals Anneliese didn''t dare let her overdo it. sw?ovels Anneliese took a couple of sips from the ss Jessica was holding. Then her stomach growled a few times. "I''ll go cook," Jessica said as she stood up and headed for the kitchen. Anneliese quickly grabbed her. "I''ll do it. You just sit tight and carry my godchild. That''s already a huge help." She pushed Jessica back onto the couch, stuffed a pillow into her arms, and walked toward the kitchen. But when she opened the fridge, she found itpletely empty. There were only two sad-looking bottles of mineral water in the corner. That was when she remembered. A few days earlier, both Nishay and Jessica had been hospitalized at the same time, so no one had restocked any food. Chapter 675 Anneliese closed the fridge and walked back out. "Let''s just order takeout." She was about to look for her phone when the doorbell rang. Jessica hugged the pillow tighter without thinking. She saw Anneliese already walking to the door to open it, so she raised her voice. "Who is it?" Her voice sounded a little tight. She had always been afraid the Johnson family would find her. She had been very careful about making friends. Other than Anneliese, she never brought anyone home. Because of that, there were usually no visitors here. Aside from Anneliese, only Zane hade by a few times before. Anneliese paused with her hand on the doorknob and turned to look at Jessica. Once she understood where the tension came from, she frowned slightly. There was no video doorbell at home, so they couldn''t see who was outside. Can it be that scumbag Zane, who had disappeared for days, is back now? Anneliese was about to look through the peephole when Jessica rxed again. She waved her hand like she didn''t care. "Just open it. It doesn''t matter." Even if it really was Zane, everything was already settled. Nothing could change anymore. Anneliese checked Jessica''s expression and saw that she looked fine. She didn''t say anything else and opened the door. A man stood outside in a dark gray suit. His posture was straight, and even the narrow, dim hallway couldn''t hide his calm, confident presence. It wasn''t Zane. It was Jonathan. Anneliese was surprised. "Why are you here?" Jonathan lifted his arms a little. Only then did Anneliese see that he was holding takeout bags in both hands. The smell of food drifted toward her as he moved. "Feeding a runaway wild cat," the man said. His voice was low, and he raised his brows slightly. "Ah, you really came at the perfect time." Anneliese reacted right away. She took the bag from his right hand and hooked her arm around his. She dragged him inside. Jonathan must have guessed that Jessica didn''t have much food at home, so he came over at just the right time with food. Anneliese felt touched. She stood on her toes and kissed his lips. She turned her head and realized Jessica was still sitting on the couch watching them. Meatloaf had been excited when he saw Jonathan and had wagged his tail as he was about toe over. When he saw Anneliese hugging Jonathan and kissing him, Meatloaf looked like he couldn''t stand watching. He turned around andy back down by the couch. Anneliese held back the heat creeping up her ears and lifted her chin toward Jessica. She looked a little proud. She knew Jessica wanted to see her and Jonathan being sweet. That way, Jessica could leave with more peace of mind. When Jessica saw it was Jonathan, she couldn''t tell if she felt relieved or if everything felt even heavier inside. Her fingers tightened around the pillow, then slowly rxed. Watching Anneliese and Jonathan together, she felt both envy and reassurance about her choice to leave. Love should look like this. Two people choosing each other, with their feelings clearly in sync. A single look or shared nce filled the air with warmth. Compared to them, what she had with Zane felt ridiculous. There was no reason left to hold on. "Hubby, do you want to eat a little with us?" Anneliese brought the two bags to the coffee table and started taking out box after box of hot food. It was from a famous private restaurant in Oceaton. Even eating there in person usually meant waiting a long time. They didn''t normally do delivery. The food looked amazing. "I already ate. This is all for you," Jonathan said. He watched Anneliese looking like a greedy little cat and smiled. He walked over and bent down to help her open the containers. Jessica had already shifted her seat and was ready to eat. She smiled at Jonathan. "Thanks, Jonathan." Jonathan looked at her. When he heard bet say his name like that, the share his expression eased. A small smile appeared. Content ¡¤ "Do I qualify to be the baby''s godfather?" There was no need to exin whose baby he meant. Anneliese already saw herself as the godmother by default. Jessica thought the same. Still, just because the baby had Anneliese as a godmother didn''t mean Jonathan would automatically be epted as the godfather. Jessica didn''t dare let her baby get that close to someone like Jonathan. She didn''t expect him to ask for it himself. Jessica froze for a moment and looked at Anneliese. Anneliese smiled and nodded at her. "Say yes. Let him try being a godfather first. I want to see if he has any talent for being a good dad." Jessica knew very well that the more powerful the family, the more cautious they were about being godparents. Chapter 676 People only became godparents for the exchange of resources. They were serious about treating each other like family and sharing contacts and connections. Jessica knew very well what it meant for the baby in her belly to have Jonathan as a godfather. She wasn''t clueless about that. She also understood that everything Anneliese said was just an excuse to get her to agree and to back her up. Jonathan loved Anneliese deeply. There was no way he wouldn''t love their baby or fail to be a good father. Jessica lowered hershes and pressed down the heat in her eyes. Then she smiled at Jonathan. "Just for this hot meal alone, the baby would definitely be willing to call you godfather." Jonathan raised an eyebrow. He treated Jessica well for one reason only. It was because of Anneliese. Since Anneliese wanted to be the baby''s godmother, the godfather role was his for sure. When he thought about Zane''s future child calling him godfather first, he felt this deal wasn''t a loss at all. "You two take your time eating. I''m leaving." Jonathan nodded at Jessica and rubbed Anneliese''s head. He walked toward the door, but his eyes swept across the small two-bedroom apartment. He quickly noticed that everything had been packed up. Tworge suitcases sat openly in the corner of the bedroom. "Hubby, drive slowly on the way." Anneliese followed him to the door. She quickly kissed his chin again and whispered in his ear. "You''re the best, Hubby. Thanks, hehe. I''ll be home soon!" She leaned against the doorframe and waved at him with a bright smile. His gaze darkened a little, but he didn''t grab her. He nodded and turned toward the elevator without a fuss. Anneliese felt a bit confused. Is he really just here to drop off food? Jonathan really did seem like a delivery guy. His figure had already disappeared into the elevator. As soon as the elevator started going down, his phone rang. Jonathan took it out and saw a video call from Zane. He didn''t hesitate and epted it. Once the call connected, Zane appeared on screen in ck pajamas. He held a ss with halfa cup of milk. His hair was messy falling naturally over his forehead. He looked more rxed and tired than usual. s?novel This time, after returning to Halden, he went straight to the hospital to visit Mary after her fall. She was fine and had no serious injuries. Out of respect, he stayed with her until she was discharged. He had nned to return to Oceaton, but an urgent international economic case came up. It involved personal favors and couldn''t be turned down. After that, he stayed busy with his team on the case. They finished collecting all the key evidence a little. past two in the morning. They made sure the hearing that morning would be a guaranteed win. After the team leftst night, Zaney down and fell asleep. Over the years, he formed a habit. He pushed himself hard before a hearing, then rxed a bit right before it. That made his thinking sharper during the hearing itself. He had just sat down at the breakfast table and called Jessica. Her phone couldn''t be reached at all. He then sent her a message on WhatsApp. A system error symbol popped up. He realized Jessica had blocked him. That was when he called Jonathan on video. He wanted to ask if Jonathan was with his wife. When he clearly saw the background on Jonathan''s screen, Zane narrowed his eyes slightly. It was obviously an elevator. It looked old and cramped. This wasn''t a ce Jonathan would typically be in. As a topwyer, Zane took pride in his memory. Any ce he had been to or any person he had met could be pulled up from his mind right away. He had been to Jessica''s ce more than once. Even though there were no clear signs or special marks inside the elevator behind Jonathan, Zane still recognized it. "Jonathan, why are you at Jessica''s ce?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow at the screen. "Since when do I need to report to you where I go?" His tone was sharp and clearly annoyed. If Zane hadn''t messed things up with Jessica, Anneliese wouldn''t have spent so much time and energy worrying about her. That left him feelingpletely ignored as her husband. Zane felt irritated by Jonathan''s sudden anger. He frowned. "Anneliese is staying with Jessica? Tsk. Even if she''s fighting with you and living apart, you shouldn''t take it out on me." Jonathan was at Jessica''s ce for one reason only. Anneliese was there. Chapter 677 By then, it was already dark in Oceaton. It was obvious that Anneliese was staying at Jessica''s ce. Zane had guessed most of it right. What he never expected was that Anneliese was not staying there because of Jonathan, but rather, it was because of him. Jonathan let out a coldugh at Zane. "My wife and I are doing great. We''re happy together." Zane took it as him being stubborn andughed it off. "Alright. Then, help me to ask her why Jessica blocked me. Better yet, hand your phone to Jessica so I can ask her myself." At that moment, the elevator reached the first floor, and the doors opened. Jonathan ignored himpletely. He took a long step out of the elevator. "I don''t have time." Zane got anxious and put down the milk he was holding. "Don''t leave. Go back up once more. It''ll only take three to five minutes. I swear. D*mn it, do you even hear me? Why are you walking faster? Are you seriously showing off those long legs to me right now? "Jonathan, you can''t do this. Are we still friends or not? You''ve got no loyalty at all. Fine. I''m begging you, alright?" He kept shouting, and the screen shook wildly. Jonathan walked out of the apartment building, got into his car, and mmed the door shut. He didn''t agree, nor did he hang up either. Zane started to wonder whether he had offended Jonathan somehow, and the man was doing this on purpose. Jonathan heard the clear edge of panic andpromise in Zane''s voice. He finally lifted the phone again. He sat in the driver''s seat and leaned back. He loosened the Windsor knot of his tie before speaking. "Zane, if you''re not serious, then stop messing with Jessica. Otherwise, we won''t even be able to stay friends." He said it harshly. Zane froze. "What do you mean? How does the situation between Jessica and me affect our friendship?" "You know what I mean," Jonathan said in a low voice. Zane knew very well about the rtionship between Jessica and Anneliese. He also knew how important Anneliese was to Jonathan. Nothing could shake that. If Zane truly cared about Jessica and valued their friendship, he wouldn''t mess with her so casually. Because of that, Jonathan hadn''t hesitated at all these days as he was on Jessica''s side. It was only when he saw that she had already packed her bags and was ready to leave with the baby that Jonathan decided to give Zane onest chance. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have said any of this. On the other side of the screen, the careless look on Zane''s face slowly faded. He felt oddly frustrated and irritated. He stayed quiet for a few seconds before speaking. "No, what more do you want from me? I haven''t been with any other woman since I got together with her. "I turned down every blind date my family set up. You can''t expect me to marry her, right? We''re not at that point." Jonathan answered sharply. "If this keeps going, did you ever think about marrying her?" Zane froze again. He really had never thought about that. Things had started with a drunken night. On top of that, Jessica was breath of fresh air He had helped her deal with issues involving the Johnson family a few times. Without realizing it, he started to feel protective toward her. Their bodies were also in sync with each other. Because of all that, he contacted her more and more. He couldn''t deny that he was happy with her. He probably did like her, but she didn''t have a college degree. She had only finished high school. She also didn''t have a proper job. Those were facts he couldn''t ignore. That bit of affection clearly was not enough for Zane to give up everything and marry Jessica. That was why he had never thought about marriage. Even the image of the wife he imagined was definitely not someone like Jessica. Zane frowned. "Jonathan, did something happen?" He avoided answering the question directly. Jonathan understood that clearly, so he didn''t answer either. He asked instead, "Is the case settled?" Zane saw him change the topic. He assumed Jonathan didn''t want to talk about Jessica anymore after hearing that he had no ns to marry her. He nced at the time. The hearing is in two hours There''s a celebration event this afternoon. If everything goes smoothly, I''ll fly back tonight." Jonathan gave him onest reminder Changingwyers shouldn''t pose much of an effect. If you want to know what happened, you cane back now and ask Jessica yourself Chapter 678 If Zane returns now, he might see Jessica. If he waits until evening, it will be toote. ... Zane frowned. "What do you mean? Exin¡ª" Before he could finish, Jonathan lost patience and hung up. Zane''s brow furrowed as he instinctively dialed again. Jonathan hung up for the second time. On Zane''s third try, an exmation mark appeared on screen. Zane froze, thinking, Jonathan wouldn''t act this way unless something is wrong with Jessica. Instinctively, he pushed back his chair and stood up. He hurried to the restaurant where two assistants entered, holding documents. "Mr. Shayman, our first review found no loopholes. Last night, we found something new." The assistants'' words stopped Zane. He reached for the documents. After their exnation, he traced the suspicious transaction. "This is unusual. Let''s visit Hunts Group before the hearing." Ten minutester, Zane was dressed and sitting in the car. As the car pulled out, he paused. The assistant looked surprised. "Mr. Shayman?" Zane pressed a hand to his chest before continuing with his instructions. Just now, my heart raced, unsteady and chaotic, he thought. My mind went nk for over ten seconds. Yet, this case has been taken as a favor. I can''t fail. Even if I''m a dayte, it''s fine. Anneliese is there, and Jonathan can help. Nothing serious will happen. Once his thoughts settled, Zane regained his usualposure. He didn''t know he was about to miss an opportunity he would regret forever. ... Meanwhile, at Riverview Court, after eating, Anneliese and Jessica changed into matching sleepwear and settled on the bed to chat. However, Meatloaf prowled under the window, wing at the wall and pawing at the ss. "Meatloaf, didn''t we go for a walk this afternoon? Why do you night stroll?oneet t be the wildest old dog ever!" Anneliese got out of bed and rubbed Meatloaf''s head to calm him. Meatloaf pawed at the window, tearing a gap in the curtains. Anneliese squinted outside. She noticed a familiar Cullinan under the tree, with a shadow in the driver''s seat. "What''s wrong?" Jessica noticed Anneliese lingering at the window and sat up. Anneliese closed the curtain. "Nothing." She returned to bed with Meatloaf and opened her WhatsApp chat with Jonathan. ''You didn''t leave?'' The message was sent, but no reply came. Uneasy, Anneliese nced at Jessica. "Jess, I''ll take Meatloaf out again, or he''ll disturb your sleep." She left with Meatloaf. Jessica started to speak, nced at the window, and stayed silent. After the door closed, she got out of bed and peeked through the curtains. She clicked her tongue. So, Jonathan''s been waiting here. And Anneliese calls him understanding? She underestimates how possessive her husband is. Downstairs, Anneliese ran to the Cullinan and knocked on the passenger window. The car was silent. She circled the car, saw Jonathan inside, then knocked on the driver''s side. Chapter 679 Jonathan, finally getting the reaction he was waiting for, slowly opened his eyes and rolled down the car window. His gaze was still hazy from sleep but quickly shifted to surprise. "Honey? Why are you out here?" "And why are you sleeping in the car?" If I hadn''te out, how long would he have kept sleeping? Though the weather has warmed, the night is still cold. He even left the air conditioner on. How dangerous! Anneliese looked annoyed. Jonathan opened the car door and pulled her to him without answering. "Get in first. How can you be out here without a coat?" Before she could protest, he scooped her up, opened the rear door, and set her inside. Meatloaf wagged his tail, trying to squeeze in after her. Jonathan shut the door, walked around, put Meatloaf in the passenger seat, and joined Anneliese in the back. He pulled her into his arms, rubbed her cold hands, and yawned. "Since my grandmother opposed us, I haven''t slept well. I nned to leave when your lights went off, but I fell asleep." Anneliese saw his fatigue and her anger faded. How can I stay mad? She hugged Jonathan, pressing her face to his neck and speaking softly. "It''s my fault. I should have told you sooner. We won''t be apart¨D-I can''t live without you!" She couldn''t see Jonathan''s face. He wasn''t worried; he only smiled teasingly. He held Anneliese close, took two deep breaths, then let her go and smoothed her hair. "I know, baby. Don''t worry, I''m fine. Don''t keep Ms. Sweeting waiting-go upstairs." He draped his jacket over her shoulders, buttoned it, and opened the car door, escorting her inside. Anneliese grabbed his hand. He smiled yfully. She hugged him, pressed her cheek to his chest, and was reluctant to part. "Can we stay a little longer?" Her subtle movement made him chuckle. Anneliese nudged him, smiling. Jonathan said, "If you don''t want to go upstairs, let''s do something meaningful." She looked up. "Meaningful... what?" Before she could finish, Jonathan leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her gently at first, savoring her like a delicate dessert, until she instinctively parted her tips and yfully flicked out her tongue. He held her neck, deepened the kiss, and drew her closer. The car filled with the quiet sounds of their closeness. Suddenly, a wet tongue flicked her temple. Anneliese blinked in shock. A dog''s head was right in front of her, eyes wide and excited. Meatloaf squeezed between the seats, wagging his tail, wanting to join in. She almost screamed in fright. Before she could push Jonathan away, he noticed too. As Meatloaf tried again, Jonathan gently pushed his head back. Whine! The dog protested, as if wanting his own kisses. "My wife!" Jonathan tugged at Meatloaf''s fur, warning him. Anneliese, initially startled, help butugas she watcouldn''t hanpete with I Jonathan returned Meatloaf to the passenger seat, then looked down at her. "Is this old dog still good to eat?" He wants to steal my wife¡ªcan''t allow it. Howl! Meatloaf rested on the seat, whined, and nudged his head forward. She giggled, and patting Meatloaf''s head nce Contentel.ne and giving Jonathan a yful, scolding Chapter 680 "It understood me!" Jonathan looked at the dog. Meatloaf saw the mistress was on its side, flicked its head proudly, then retreated. Jonathan wiped Anneliese''s face with a tissue, then checked his watch. "It''s been nearly forty minutes. Jessica must be asleep. If you go up, you might wake her. Should I bring you over in the morning?" Anneliese remembered how drowsy Jessica looked, yawning as shey down. She is likely asleep. She hesitated, then took out her phone. "I''ll message her to see if she''s asleep." What if Jessica is still waiting for me? She unlocked her phone and saw Jessica had sent a WhatsApp message half an hour ago. ''I know your man distracted you. I''m going to sleep, don''t text.'' Anneliese looked amused and exasperated. Jonathan nced at her. "What''s wrong?" She handed him the phone, squinting. "Are you deliberately staying in the car to flirt with me?" He shook his head. "I just fell asleep by ident. How was I supposed to know you''d see my car downstairs?" I can''t admit it was on purpose. If she mes and avoids me, it''s a disaster. Seeing his sincerity, Anneliese remembered how hard it was to get his attention through the car window. With half-lidded eyes, he looked almostical. If Jonathan could act, he''d be a movie star. She shook off her thoughts and patted his face. "Let''s go home." Jonathan smiled, opened the car door, and stepped out. Finally, I can take my wife home. Jessica is thoughtful-a good girl. Zane will regret it. By the time the car entered The Banyans, Anneliese was slumped in the back seat, already asleep. Jonathan drove slowly. The forty-minute trip stretched to an hour and a half. When the car stopped, Margot waited in the courtyard with a cashmere nket. She had been notified. Jonathan got out, took the nket, opened the rear door, wrapped Anneliese, and lifted her out. He closed the car door with his knee and walked toward the vi. In the passenger seat, Meatloaf looked out, confused. No one opened his door. Both humans had ignored him. Woof! I just licked my mistress once, and now the master wants to trap me in the car. How cruel. Bang! Bang! Bang! Luckily, Meatloaf''s pounding caught Margot''s attention, saving him. Upstairs, in their room, Jonathan ced Anneliese in bed. Exhausted by all that had happened, she fell instantly asleep. Jonathan helped her undress. She cooperated, eyes closed, curling into the nkets once naked, her small face nuzzling to the side as if searching for something. Not finding it, she furrowed her brows. Jonathan returned his hand. She sniffed his familiar scent and pressed against it. Satisfied, she wrapped his arm and rxed into deep sleep. He knelt by the bed, her hands holding his arm. He leaned over, watching the subtle changes in her sleeping face, his eyes tender. He stayed like that a long time, withdrawing his arm only once she was deeply asleep. He tucked the nket over Anneliese and left the bedroom. His phone had vibrated several times. In the study, he retrieved it. It was Zion who had called twice. Jonathan returned the call, put it on speaker, and unbuttoned his cuffs. The call connected. Zion got straight to the point. "Mr. Fullbuster, we''ve made progress on the fire investigation." Jonathan had ordered an investigation into the Baytree fire Because it happened during the New Year two key investigators had returned home, leaving only records for reference. All files recorded the fire as idental, ruling out arson. Jonathan told his team to keep digging. Hearing about new leads, he paused mid- cuff, ncing at the phone with interest. Chapter 681 Jonathan spoke into the phone without preamble, "Spill." Zion''s voice came through steady, stripped of excess emotion. "After the vi fire years ago, the first specialized responders apart from local fire and police¡ªwere from a city-level ident review unit. "Their lead investigator at the time was a man named Hanston. He retired years ago and relocated out of state to be closer to his children. Our team recently managed to track him down. He avoided us at first, but persistence paid off. Eventually, he shared something he never forgot." Jonathan moved toward the ss wall overlooking the city. Neon lights shimmered below, distant and impersonal. His reflection stared back at him, hard-edged and unreadable. "What did he remember?" Zion replied, "Hanston noticed something wrong when the site was cleared, particrly around the first-floor wine storage area. The remaining metal showed damage consistent with extremely high temperatures. It didn''t match the profile of an idental residential fire. "He also retrieved a small metal piece from the debris. It was heavily burned and nearly unrecognizable, but he thought it looked like part of a manual mechanical timer-an old, simple device that you wind by hand. Although outdated, it was dependable enough to dy ignition. "In short, the fire wasn''t caused by faulty plumbing or aging infrastructure." Jonathan felt his focus sharpen. "Then, why did the official conclusion stay clean?" Zion exined, "Hanston sent the fragment to Forensics for analysis. Theb returned a report, iming it was nothing more than melted metal, nothing worth noting. "Hanston challenged the findings and even confronted them directly. Forensics refused to budge. "Around the same time, pressure began to ease from higher levels. The Fullbuster name was involved, and no one wanted public scrutiny or spection. Orders were issued to close the case quickly. The incident wasbeled an ident, and the evidence was destroyed following protocol." "Higher levels?" Jonathan''s voice dropped, cold and precise. "Who applied the pressure?" "He doesn''t know," Zion answered. "That part seems genuine." Jonathan turned away from the window, his jaw tightening. "Dig deeper. Check whether any long-term rivals or hostile business connections were in Baytree during that window. I also want to know who my parents were meeting around then." If the fire wasn''t an ident and we were all inside, then this wasn''t a warning. It was meant to finish us. Another thought followed, heavier and far more ufortable. What if nobody outside covered it up? What if Dad and Mom did? Jonathan had been young at the time, shielded from corporate feuds and quiet vendettas. Keh had been present throughout the investigation. He would have known what questions to pose and wouldn''t have overlooked any signs of sabotage. Either the person behind it had been untouchably clever, or Keh himself had forced the truth underground. Zion caught the direction of Jonathan''s thinking and hesitated. "Mr. Fullbuster, your father escaped with serious burns to his back and arm. Your mother was injured as well, though not as badly You were the most severely hurt. Under normal circumstances, no one would protect the person responsible; they''d want blood." If a timer had been involved, then his parents couldn''t have done it. No one sets that kind of trap with their only son still inside, he thought. Jonathan lifted his phone, a faint smile curling on his lips. "Normal doesn''t apply here. Never assume limits where none exist." Self-preservation had alwayse first for his parents. Expecting anything else had been a mistake he made only once. The edge in Jonathan''s voice made Zion grimace inwardly. Only now did he fully grasp what that fire had meant. The deeper the investigation went, the clearer the picture became. When the mes broke out, Keh and Elizabeth ran before help arrived. At that moment being parents never crossed their minds. No one went upstairs, checked the bedrooms, or left when it became obvious that Jonathan was still inside. The realization clenched Zion''s chest. One decision. One pause. That was all it would''ve taken. If Mrs. Fullbuster''s foster father hadn''t gone back into that burning house, Mr. Fullbuster would have died there¡ªalone, trapped, and forgotten by the people who should have mattered most. The injustice of it sat heavily. What a d*mn loss. If that man were still alive and could see the two of them together, he''d be happy-no doubt about it. "I understand," Zion replied. The call ended. Jonathan remained still, staring at his phone as his fingers tapped once, twice, then stilled. His thoughts cooled into something deliberate and unforgiving, like embers waiting for air. Chapter 682 Back then, Jonathan had nearly died in that fire. Derek must have investigated the cause thoroughly. My grandpa is not someone who could be fooled so easily. If the fire had not been an ident, did he already know the truth? ... The next morning, Anneliese woke to a familiar scent that was clean, steady, and safe. She was held tightly in a man''s arms, her cheek pressed against his warm, solid chest. Beneath her ear, his heartbeat sounded calm and strong, a slow rhythm that made it impossible not to rx. Under the covers, there was nothing between them. It was her bare skin against his. Her memory caught up with her. She had fallen asleep in the carst night, which meant he had carried her inside, undressed her, and put her to bed. And she remembered absolutely none of it. Anneliese had the sudden urge to hide her face. At this rate, she felt even more like a pregnant woman than Jessica did. She shifted slightly and lifted her eyes, studying the man beside her in the hazy morning light. Jonathan was fast asleep. Even her slightest movement failed to disturb him. His sharp features were softened in rest, the tension she was so used to seeingpletely gone. It startled her. This was the first time she could remember sleeping less deeply than he had. Without his usual aura of control and pressure, his good looks were almost unfairly clear. He looked like a prince from a fairytale, handsome and disarmingly harmless. The contrast was almost cute. She watched him shamelessly, unwilling to look away. One finger lifted, tracing the air above his brows, the bridge of his nose, drifting toward his lips. Arge hand then closed around her fingers with unerring precision. Before she could react, her fingertipnded against his lips, and he kissed it. "Did I wake you?" she asked lightly, tapping his mouth as she smiled. Jonathan opened his eyes and tightened his arms around her. Sunlight slipped through the narrow gap in the curtains, quietly filling the room, scattering warmth over the tangled figures on the bed. He looked down at her, voice low. "Yeah. And not just me." She barely had time to register the question before the hand at her waist pulled her firmly against him. Understanding dawned on her instantly. His warmth transferred to her with ease, and when the man leaned down to kiss her, she panicked and turned her head away. "No means no. I really have something important today..." Jessica''s flight was around 10 a.m. If she failed to send her off, Jessica would absolutely hunt her down. Unfortunately, right now, it felt like Jonathan was the one hunting her. Only at this moment did Anneliese fully realize that he was truly a menace. In her desperation, she even reminded him that Jessica was leaving today, that she had to drive her to the airport, hoping he might show at least a shred of restraint. She softened her voice, begged him to hurry. Instead, Jonathan was utterly shameless and had the nerve to murmur, "Sweetheart, don''t beg. The more you do, the more excited I get..." What followed was a parade of scandalous words, coaxing her into a level of initiative she had never reached before, along with two difficult positions. ... By the time he finally showed mercy, Anneliese''s arms were trembling as she reached for her phone, one hand bracing her aching waist. The moment she saw the time, her face burned. Furious and humiliated, she kicked him. "This is all your fault! Now, I''m definitely not making it to pick Jess up." Jonathan caught her foot easily, his palm warm as it squeezed, his brows lifting withzy confidence. "You''re still kicking pretty hard. Seems like you didn''t give it your all earlier. Can''t me me for taking my time." He is absolutely unbelievable. She shot him a re, only for him tough softly and scratch the sole of her foot. Anneliese dialed Jessica''s number, but the moment the call connected, Jonathan ambushed her with another beklish touch. She let out a Soft, breathy sound without meaning to, her voice still tinged with O lingering warmth. Jessica''s t, unimpressed voice came through the line. "Girl, I know we''re close, but not close enough for me to overhear your bedroom activities." Anneliese was stunned into silence. Her ears went hot. She yanked her foot free and cleared her throat. "Uh-cough¡ªI''m on my way now. I''ll take you to the airport..." She gathered the nket and moved to get out of bed, but Jessica cut in immediately. "You haven''t even climbed off Mr. Fullbuster''s bed yet, have you?" Anneliese wanted to hide her face. "I''m already off it!" To prove her point, she shoved her feet into her slippers and stomped hard on the floor. Jessica snorted, clearly picturing everything effortlessly. "If I wait for you, I''m not boarding today. Good thing know you so well, you softie There is no chance you can resist your man''s allure. I already knew you''d bail on me." Chapter 683 Anneliese was speechless. Am I really like that? A big softie? She instinctively turned her head and immediately caught sight of Jonathan standing by the bed, calmly stepping into his trousers. ck cks settled snugly around his lean waist, outlining a wless inverted triangle that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. He bent to retrieve the shirt from the bed and gave it a light shake. Sunlight streamed through the window, turning the white fabric almost translucent as it draped over his shoulders, just long enough to conceal a glimpse of powerful back muscles that made one want to whistle outright. Wow. It seemed Jessica hadn''t exaggerated at all. Anneliese flushed, snapping her gaze away as she lifted a hand to the corner of her mouth. Thank goodness I''m not drooling. "I left half an hour ago. I''m already on my way to the airport," Jessica said briskly over the phone. "Juste straight there. We''ll meet at the terminal." Before hanging up, she added a warning with lethal emphasis, "If you miss sending me off again, you are dead." The call ended, and Anneliese immediately sprang into action. She and Jonathan headed downstairs together. Breakfast had already been prepared and kept warm by Margot. Anneliese ate quickly, barely tasting it, then stood up. "I''m heading out." Beside her, Jonathan wiped his lips unhurriedly. He rose and reached for a napkin. "I''ll take you to the airport." As he spoke, he rested a hand on her shoulder and gently dabbed at her lips, wiping away the faint sheen of oil left behind by a custard bun. Anneliese looked up at him. "Are you sure you want to?" "Why wouldn''t I?" he replied calmly. "I''m heading to the operations center anyway. Come on." They really were short on time. He''d lost a bit of control this morning. And with her this flustered, there was no way he''d feelfortable letting her drive alone. Anneliese shrugged lightly. "I was just thinking that it might be awkward exining things to your best friendter. I mean, if you don''t go see her off, you could still tell Zane you had no idea Jess was leaving. See? I''m thoughtful, right?" Jonathan studied the sly glint in her eyes and snorted inwardly. She thinks I can''t hear the trap beingid? He was certain that if he so much as followed that logic, she''d immediately lump him and Zane into the same category of irredeemable scumbags. He picked up his suit jacket, took her hand, and guided her toward the door. "Don''t worry, Sweetheart," he said Anneliese rose onto her toes and nted a satisfied kiss on his sharply defined cheek. "Honey, you really are pure as theye." On the drive to the airport, Jonathan loungedfortably behind the wheel, eyes rxed, mood visibly content. In the passenger seat, Anneliese was in a frenzy, scrambling to do her makeup. Concealer was absolutely non-negotiable. The marks on her neck and behind her ears were far too obvious. Every time they stopped at a red light, Jonathan would tilt his head and openly watch her as she applied her makeup. She shot him a look. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Doing makeup under that kind of gaze is stressful, okay? His lips curved. "Because you''re beautiful. The kind I could look at every day and never get tired of." He meant it. Truly. If every morning began with watching her sit there, focused and glowing as she did her makeup, his entire day would feel lighter. What does a man work so hard for, after all? Isn''t it so the woman he loves could live beautifully? Watching her like this felt peaceful, it was as if time itself had slowed down. Anneliese snapped herpact shut, reached out, and brushed her fingertip across his lips before pulling back and turning her face toward the sunlight streaming through the window. "What are you looking at?" Jonathan asked knowingly. She wiggled her finger. "The grease on your lips. See? My fingertip''s shiny." Jonathan raised a brow. "Are you sure that wasn''t because you''ve been touching me so much you''ve practically worn me smooth? You slept like a jogst night, yet you didn''t even leave my abs. Anneliese was too shy to speak. Trading banter the entire way, they arrived at the terminal with just half an hour to spare before Jessica had to board. Anneliese grabbed Jessica''s hands andunched into her final round of instructions. "Call me the moment yound in Harborview. As soon as you get a new SIM, contact me again. If anything happens, tell me immediately. And if things get hard out there, youe straight back. "I swear that even if Zane tries to take the baby, I''d sell myself before I let anything happen to you or our little one. "But honestly, I hope you fly free out there. And if you happen to meet a few blond, blue-eyed guys-older, younger whatever and fall into a couple of passionate romances, that wouldn''t be bad either." Chapter 684 Leave the trash behind. Far behind. Jessica listened to Anneliese''s nonstop reminders, her eyes quietly filling with tears. She didn''t want this goodbye to turn heavy. Even less did she want Anneliese to see how close she was to losing control. She pulled Anneliese into a tight hug. "Don''t worry. I''lle back. Just wait for me." She woulde back, she was certain of that. There were still ties here that mattered to her. But those ties had nothing to do with Zane. Silently, she made herself a promise. Jessica Sweeting, get it together. When you return, never let yourself be this miserable again. Just then, the boarding announcement sounded. Anneliese loosened her grip. Jonathan, who had been waiting a short distance away, walked over. He slipped an arm around Anneliese''s shoulders and looked at Jessica steadily. "If you ever need help, say the word." Jessica met his gaze. "Annie''s already suffered enough. If you ever hurt her in the slightest, I''ll lure her overseas and steal her away." "You won''t have that chance." Jonathan''s reply was calm, confident, and absolute. Jessicaughed, reached out, and pinched Anneliese''s cheek. "I''m going." Anneliese watched her disappear down the boarding corridor. In the end, she still couldn''t stop the tears from falling. Jonathan drew her into his arms. "Alright. One tear is enough. Any more, and I''ll start getting jealous." As he spoke, his thumb brushed away the moisture at the corner of her eye. The lingering ache of separation and worry was instantly disrupted by his unfiltered possessiveness, leaving her half exasperated, half amused. She poked his waist. "Let go. People will see." She hadn''t forgotten that this man was the CEO of AeroAir. In an airport like this, anyone passing by was either his employee, his subordinate, or a rival from apeting airline. Does he seriously not care about his image? Just earlier, while she''d been talking to Jessica, Jonathan had stood off to the side. She''d clearly seen two staff members approach him nervously to greet him. And now he is holding me this openly? Seeing she still had the energy to worry about such matters, Jonathan chuckled and finally released her, lowering his gaze to meet hers. "Mrs. Fullbuster," he said mildly, "am I somehow not presentable? Or when exactly did I give you the impression that we''re secretly married?" What is wrong with showing affection? He wasn''t wearing a captain''s uniform. He wasn''t on duty either. At this moment, his only identity was her husband. He could dote on his wife however he pleased, preferably in public. Free publicity never hurt. After all, AeroAir employees had been curious about the elusive CEO''s wife for ages. Anneliese twisted his side lightly. "Why do you always twist my meaning? You''re too presentable, okay? Were so obviously in love that people will get jealous. That''s exactly why we need to keep it low-key. Haven''t you heard? Couples who show off don''tst." More importantly, she''de today to see Jessica off. She hadn''t wanted Jonathan inside the terminal at all. He drew attention far too easily, He was practically a ng beacon. Unfortunately, she hadn''t managed to get rid of him. Just then, she spotted a flight crew moving briskly in their direction. The captain at the front wore the same uniform Jonathan did. It was clearly an AeroAir crew. Anneliese grabbed his hand and dragged him straight into the crowd. Jonathan let himself be pulled along obediently. If she hadn''t been coaxing him so sweetly, he would have picked her up and spun her around on the spot. Mr. Fullbuster has been waiting a long time for a chance to show off his wife, alright? After they slipped away, one of the flight attendants in the approaching crew rose onto her toes and gasped. "Wait! I think I just saw Mr. Fullbuster!" "Where? Where? I haven''t seen him since the new year. Bet he''s even more handsome now!" "It''s my first day back at work! If I run into the big boss, does that mean a promotion, or... never mind, definitely a promotion! But where is he?" The chatter instantly spread among the nearby attendants. Even the middle-aged captain at the front subconsciously lowered his head to straighten his uniform. The round-faced attendant who''d spoken first pointed toward the direction Anneliese had vanished. "He was just over there! Mr. Fullbuster was hugging a total stunner. Blink once, and they were gone." Everyone looked, but all they saw was a dense, bustling crowd. "No way. Mr. Fullbuster is basically immune to women. He''s cold, aloof, untouchable. A monk like that. C doesn''t fall into romance, especially not in a packed airport." P]TY "Yeah. You must''ve imagined it." Chapter 685 "False rm. Move along, move along." The round-faced flight attendant opened her mouth in frustration. She knew she hadn''t imagined it. Besides, Mr. Fullbuster is already married, isn''t he? Even though Mrs. Fullbuster had never appeared publicly, she had stirred up more than a few waves inside AeroAir. Not long ago, there had been whispers that Mr. Fullbuster''s wife had visited him at work, and that he''d personally gone to the staff cafeteria to get food for her. So maybe what she''d just seen really was the mysterious Mrs. Fullbuster. She was an absolute beauty. But she looked a little young. So, what is it? Is Mr. Fullbuster robbing the cradle, or is he, like most men, keeping someone on the side? Meanwhile,pletely unaware they''d been spotted, Anneliese dragged Jonathan straight out of the terminal and into the car. "You have to remember to deal with the airport surveince," she said seriously. Zane might not go out of his way to track Jessica down, but anything that could leave a trail still needed to disappear. Jonathan leaned over, fastened her seat belt for her himself, and stole a kiss while he was at it. Her lips flushed instantly under his deliberate teasing before he finally pulled away. "Strawberry-vored payment," he saidzily. "I helped myself." She hadn''t worn lipstick today, just a swipe of strawberry lip balm. Now it waspletely gone. The car rolled slowly out of the parking structure. Above them, a southbound aircraft cut cleanly through the sky and vanished into the clouds. For Jessica, it was her first time flying first ss. The cabin was quiet, spacious, andfortable. Before takeoff, the lead flight attendant approached, crouched beside her seat, and spoke gently. "Ms. Sweeting, if you feel unwell at any time, please let me know right away. We''ve prepared motion-sickness patches that are safe for pregnant passengers and can assist you at any moment." Jessica paused, then met the woman''s warm, attentive gaze. She understood immediately. This had Jonathan''s hand written all over it. After thanking the attendant, Jessica picked up her phone. She sent Anneliese onest message to say she''d boarded safely and would taking off shortly Then, without a moment''s hesitation, she logged out of WhatsApp and deactivated all her social media ounts. Almost at the same moment, Zane arrived at the international airport in Rugreica. Before boarding his own flight, he called Jessica again. The call still wouldn''t go through, which wasn''t a surprise at all, but the unease in his chest suddenly doubled. He frowned sharply and extended his hand to his assistant. "Your phone." "Huh?" The assistant blinked, confused. Zane didn''t wait for rification. He grabbed the phone straight from his hand, keyed in Jessica''s number, and dialed. Jessica didn''t have his assistant''s contact information. She didn''t know anyone around him. By all logic, the call should have gone through immediately. Instead, a cold mechanical voice answered, "The number you have dialed is powered off." Zane''s brow knit tightly. At this hour, back home, it was the busiest part of the morning. Why would her phone be turned off now? He yanked at his tie, hard. The creeping panic finally solidified into something darker, turning into an unease he could no longer dismiss. At dawn, Gianna returned once more to Wendy''s vi at dawn. There was no trace of anything amiss in her expression. Just as usual, she greeted Wendy with a bright, innocent smile, carrying a box of pastries in one hand and cradling arge bouquet of fresh flowers in the other. "Mom, I got an emergency call from a friendst night, so I left without saying anything," she exined softly. "She was in a minor car ident, and her parents wel overseas. I was busy helping her only saw your two missed calls when I got back. It was alreadyte, and I didn''t want to disturb your rest. You''re not upset with me, are you?" Gianna wasn''t sure whether Wendy had already discovered that she''d seen the pregnancy test report. So, she chose to keep everything exactly as it was. After all, Adrian had spent years trying to win Wendy back, using her as the perfect intermediary. If she tore away that thinyer of pretense now, she''d lose her value. And if that happened, there was no guarantee Adrian would continue treating her like a cherished daughter? She studied Wendy''s expression carefully, and still couldn''t find the slightest clue in her face. Wendy had her head lowered, flipping through the newly delivered swatch book of wedding dress fabrics. Her expression was focused, her emotions as calm as ever. It was impossible to tell whether she''d even been listening to what Gianna was saying. Chapter 686 Gianna waited a moment. All she received was an indistinct hum from Wendy. She puffed out her lips, halfining, half-yful. "Mom, what''s so interesting about fabric swatches? Are they really prettier than your daughter? Look, I even lined up to buy Palmier from Rise & Shine, that old bakery. Do you want one now?" She slid into the seat beside her, leaning in close. She ced the pastry box on the table and looked at Wendy expectantly. Only then did Wendy lift her gaze from the fabric catalog. When her eyes met Gianna''s bright, eager stare, her lips curved faintly. Gianna smiled without thinking. She reached to open the box when Wendy spoke up calmly, "I already had breakfast. Leave it forter." It was like a ssh of cold water to Gianna. Her smile stiffened before she forced a pout. "Oh, okay. Look, I brought you flowers too. Aren''t they beautiful? I picked every single stem myself." She drew out arge bouquet from behind her back. It was a bouquet of carnations inyered hues, the colors elegant and carefully bnced, eye-catching without being loud. She looked at Wendy with cautious devotion, softening her voice into a coaxing whine. "Mom, can we arrange them together?" Wendy''s gaze drifted to the bouquet without conscious intent. Carnations were flowers meant for mothers. She studied the bouquet. The carnations were fresh, dewy, and clearly prepared with care. Her eyes slowly lost focus. In this lifetime, she had given birth to one son and one daughter. Her son had never been the romantic type; his gifts were always practical luxuries like jewelry, shoes, and purses. Once, on her birthday, he had even given her a full medical checkup package. Carnations had nevere from him. Gianna, on the other hand, brought them every year. Wendy lifted her eyes to Gianna''s face, which was filled with cautious admiration. A thought slipped through her defenses. If my daughter were still alive, would she be like Gianna now, as lovely as a flower, gazing at me with the same longing affection, holding out a bouquet of carnations meant for her mother? Yet, she knew the truth with brutal rity-her daughter was gone. No matter how convincing Gianna tried to be, no matter how skillfully she blurred the lines, she was not her daughter. Gianna was nothing more than the sugar-coated bullet Timothy White had delivered straight to her doorstep. Does he really think Gianna can be a substitute for my lost daughter, or a cure to help me forget? Well, dream on! The pain of losing a child was carved into bone, gouged into the heart. It could not be reced, softened, or healed away. Wendy felt a sharp ache in her chest. The warmth in her eyes cooled instantly. When Gianna reached out to pull the fabric catalog from her hands, Wendy tightened her grip without warning. Gianna froze, startled, and looked up. Wendy stood. "Gianna. Come with me." She turned and walked upstairs without another word. Gianna''s expression flickered, resentment and darkness shing beneath the surface, before she carefully masked it and followed. Inside the study, Wendy opened a drawer, took something out, and ced it on the desk. "This was you, wasn''t it?" Gianna looked down, and her heart sank. It was the pregnancy test report. Unlike yesterday, it had been sealed in stic. The small tear she had identally made before had been painstakingly repaired, but the damage was still visible. It could no longer be tucked away and carried close like before. Wendy''s expression was calm, but Gianna''s palm was filled with cold sweat. "Mom, I¡ª" Wendy raised a hand, stopping her. "Gianna, don''t call me Mom anymore. You know very well that I''m not your mother." During the first two years after Gianna was born, she herself had been barely holding together. She had divorced Adrian. Her mental illness came in waves, sometimes manageable, sometimes crushing. There were weeks when she barely spoke at all. Back then, Wendy''s sister¡ªthat would be Pepper-had handed her daughter over to Timothy. He raised the child as his own and never ??? rified Granna''s true identity to the outside world. Wendy''s second pregnancy hadn''t gone smoothly either. She kept to herself rarely appearing in public. So, people only knew she was wase pregnant, but no one knew how far along she was. Gianna was born two or three months after Wendy''s daughter. Even if a few familiar families sensed that the timeline didn''t quite add up seeing Adrian holding Gianna and introducing her as his daughter they assumed their memories were wrong. And just like that, Gianna grew up in the Malone household as the eldest daughter. By the time Wendy slowly wed her way out of the fog, Gianna was already toddling on unsteady legs, calling her ''Mom'' in a soft, clinging voice. Adrian had brought the little girl to her. She wobbled toward Wendy, arms outstretched, calling her ''Mom''. After all, Gianna was her own niece. Wendy could not bring herself to shatter a baby''s fragile heart, so she neither exined herself to others nor personally refuted anything. Chapter 687 Adrian was willing to raise her, but that was entirely his business and had nothing to do with her. She thought that even if her own daughter had still been alive, she would never have wanted such a selfish and cold father. Her daughter wouldn''t have cared about being the eldest heiress of the Malone family either! She epted that Gianna held the status of the Malone family''s eldest heiress, but she could never give Gianna a mother''s love. She simply could not do it. "Mom..." Gianna''s eyes turned red, her voice trembling as she looked heartbreakingly hurt. But Wendy just sighed. "You''d better call me Aunt." She hadn''t been able to reach Gianna by phone yesterday, so she had already asked someone to look into it. She knew that after leaving her ce, Gianna had gone to meet her younger sister, Pepper. Gianna was devastated. She threw herself down at Wendy''s feet, wrapped her arms around her leg, pressed her face against it, and silently let her tears fall as she cried with real emotion. "No! You''re my mother. I''ve called you Mom since I was little. Mom, are you not going to want me anymore?" She and Pepper had already discussed it and decided to keep things the same for now. After all, Wendy was no ordinary woman. After the divorce, Steven was set to inherit everything from the Malone family. In that case, the huge business empire Wendy had worked so hard to build for so many years needed an heir as well, and a wedding-dress empire was obviously more suitable for a girl like Gianna to inherit. More importantly, everyone in their social circle already assumed this. People all believed that Wendy''s high-end Nuaine brand would one day belong to Gianna. That was why Gianna could be so highly regarded in elite society. Pepper didn''t mind Gianna still calling Wendy her mother. Wendy, however, simply gave her a tissue and pulled her leg back. "Gianna, I''ve only got one daughter." Gianna''s tears had already soaked through the velvet skirt at Wendy''s knees. She thought she had finally moved her. She never expected Wendy to be this hard- hearted and ruthless. Once again, Gianna felt like a joke¡ªa pathetic stand-in desperately clinging on, only to still be rejected and pushed away. She clenched the tissue tightly, wiping her tears as she hid the burning humiliation and rage in her eyes. She slowly stood up, her eyes red as she looked at Wendy. "If you don''t want me to call you that, I''ll respect your decision. But in my heart, you''ll always be my mother." She sounded heartbroken. After saying that, she turned and ran out. Wendy smoothed her wrinkled skirt, then her gaze fell on the pregnancy test report in front of her. She sat there for a long time. It wasn''t until a small hand rested on the hand she had ced on her knee that she snapped out of it. She lowered her head to find Ellie. Ellie was wearing a green dinosaur onesie as she stood beside the older woman holding her hand with her tiny fingers. She tilted her small face up, quietly looking at her. The little girl couldn''t speak, but her big eyes seemed to be filled with worry. Wendy smiled and lifted Ellie onto herp. She smiled as she said, "Ellie, do you like Ms. Anneliese? Shall we give her a call?" Yesterday Adrian mentioned that Anneliese treated Ellie differently but because of what happened to the pregnancy report, Wendy had been in a terrible mood and hadn''t had time to think about that. Now that she was holding Ellie, for some reason, she wanted to talk to Anneliese. Ellie stared at her with wide eyes, looking a bit confused, as if she didn''t know who this Ms. Anneliese was. Wendy gently tapped her little nose andughed. "Ms. Anneliese is the prettydy we met at the dessert shop yesterday." Ellie''s eyes brightened, but she turned away. Just when Wendy thought she wasn''t interested, and that Adrian had once again exaggerated, Ellie suddenly grabbed the phone from the table and shoved it into Wendy''s hand. Her little granddaughter was urging her to hurry up and call Anneliese. Wendy froze for a moment. Ellie rarely showed such a strong emotional reaction. Smiling, she opened WhatsApp, found Anneliese''s number, andunched a video call. At that moment, Anneliese had already arrived at the hospital and was massaging her grandma''s leg in her ward. The olddy''s leg had cramped earlier that morning. When the phone rang, Anneliese said, "Could you help me answer that, Grandma?" Her grandma moved her leg. "Let''s stop here. The cramp is long gone. I''m tired, so you answer it yourself..." Anneliese pressed her leg down gently. "You need to loosen the musclepletely. Don''t waste all the work I''ve done. Come on, answer it!" Her grandmother had no choice but to pick up the phone and answer the call. She never expected a chubby little face to suddenly pop up on the screen. Chapter 688 Her big, round eyes were dark and shiny, her eyshes were long, and she looked fair, soft, and adorable. She was an extremely pretty little girl. Why did she look so familiar, though? While Nishay was still stunned, Ellie became terrified as well. She turned her little face away and hid in Wendy''s arms. Seeing the elderlydy on the screen, Wendy quickly reacted and smiled. "You must be Anneliese''s grandmother, right? Hello there." Hearing Wendy''s voice, Anneliese immediately stopped what she was doing and leaned toward the camera. "Ms. Chalmont, this is my grandmother. Grandma, she''s the person who saved me from Timothy back then." She briefly introduced them, and Nishay thanked her gratefully. Wendy smiled and waved it off. "It was nothing, really. You don''t need to be so polite. Besides, I feel a real connection with Anneliese. She shares a deep bond with my family, and my granddaughter is very fond of her." As she spoke, she lowered her head and gently rubbed Ellie''s hair. "Ellie, the prettydy is here. Aren''t you going to say hi?" Ellie was a little frightened by the unfamiliar face. Her little head moved slightly, as if she was struggling inside. Grandma didn''t know about Ellie''s psychological condition, so she simply smiled and said, "So this is your granddaughter. She''s really beautiful. At first nce, she looked like Anneliese when she was little." Wendy paused. "Ellie looks a lot like Anneliese when she was young?" "Of course! I was surprised by their resemnce. It''s a pity I don''t have Anneliese''s childhood photos with me; otherwise, you''d definitely be shocked too. No wonder they get along so well." Grandma nodded earnestly. She remembered when Anneliese had just been adopted, looking rather thin and frail. After two months of good care, she had be incredibly pretty, though her personality had stayed introverted and shy. Whether it was her looks or her timid expressions, she looked exactly like the little girl on the screen. Anneliese alsoughed, touching her own face. "Yesterday, my best friend told me our side profiles look the same." She then spoke to Ellie, who was still hiding her face. "Ellie, why don''t you show your face? Let''s see if we really look alike, okay?" No one knew whether Ellie was really curious or if she simply rxed when she heard Anneliese''s voice. The little girl quietly came out of her grandmother''s arms and looked at the screen. Anneliese blinked at her yfully, then turned her head left and right, adjusting her face so Ellie couldpare. "What do you think? Do we look alike?" Ellie stared seriously at Anneliese, her little face pink with blush. Wendy also looked at Anneliese on the screen, then lowered her head to nce at her granddaughter in her arms. She, too, was shocked by how simr they looked. Ellie''s features hadn''t quite matured yet. Even with attentive care, hers autism had affected her. appetite leaving her brows faint and yellowish and her hair thin and pale. Meanwhile, Anneliese looked striking. She was a stunning beauty with well-defined features, especially her thick, natural brows and her long, dark, glossy hair. Because of that, no one ever noticed that Anneliese and Ellie shared a bit of resemnce. But now, looking carefcilly andparing them side by side, the simrity only grew stronger the more they looked. What was more, Wendy found Anneliese''s face familiar to begin with. Now, that sense of familiarity was impossible to ignore. But this familiarity wasn''t because she looked like Ellie. It was like she resembled someone else, as if she had seen her somewhere before. Just as Wendy was frowning and thinking, she suddenly heard a soft childish voice from the little one in her arms. "We do..." "You see? Even Ellie thinks they look alike!" Wendy nodded and echoed with a smile. But then... Wait! Who had just spoken? She suddenly looked down in shock at the little girl in her arms. Had Ellie spoken earlier? Was she imagining things because she wanted to hear Ellie speak? Wendy quickly looked up at Anneliese on the screen. Anneliese had also juste back to her senses. Meeting Wendy''s gaze, she gently nodded, giving her a definite answer. In an instant, Wendy''s eyes turned red with joy. She hugged little Ellie tightly, her voice trembling with excitement. "That''s wonderful! You''re finally speaking! Ellie, can you call my name?" She looked at Ellie with hopeful eyes. Being stared at like that, Ellie''s little face turned red. She opened her small mouth, but she couldn''t utter a word. Unconsciously, Wendy clenched her fists nervously, her whole body tense as she held her breath. Seeing that Ellie still couldn''t make a sound after a long while, she instinctively turned to Anneliese on the screen for help. Chapter 689 Anneliese understood, smiled reassuringly, and pped gently. Ellie looked at her. Anneliese said softly, "You''re amazing and brave, Ellie. This is for you!" She pped a few more times and gave Ellie a thumbs-up. Ellie shyly smiled. Her big eyes sparkled, making her look even softer and cuter. She could speak now, and clearly, the little girl herself was happy too. But she didn''t know how she had managed to make a sound just now. Anneliese smiled warmly. "We all heard how beautiful your voice is. Right, Grandma?" She looked at her grandmother, and Nishay quickly nodded. Nishay hadn''t even known before that such a pretty, adorable little girl couldn''t talk. She hurried to encourage her, saying, "It sounded lovely." Wendy nodded as well. "That''s right. Your voice sounds lovely. Let''s hear it again!" Encouraged gently by the elders, Ellie seemed to gather her courage again. She opened her little mouth, but still couldn''t make a sound. Worried she might feel pressured, Anneliese quickly said, "Ellie, would you like to meet tomorrow? I still haven''t done what I promised you yesterday." Ellie had just been feeling lost and upset because she couldn''t speak again, but now, her attention was instantly pulled away by this new topic. She turned to look at Anneliese and nodded excitedly. Of course she wanted to see her! Yesterday, Anneliese had promised to make delicious little cookies for her. Only then had she agreed to leave with Adrian. She hadn''t expected to get to see Anneliese again so soon. Only then did Anneliese look back at Wendy, giving her a calm, reassuring look so she wouldn''t get too anxious and scare the child. She then asked, "Ms. Chalmont, I''m going to take part in the National Low-Altitude Logistics Algorithm Challenge tomorrow. Each participant can invite two family members or friends to watch. If you and Ellie are free tomorrow, would youe cheer for me?" Nishay was hospitalized, and she couldn''t go anywhere crowded. At first, Anneliese had nned on inviting Penelope and Derek. But when she called Penelope that morning, she found out the two of them were visiting friends at a resort outside Oceaton and wouldn''t be back for two days. Instead of telling them about it, Anneliese simply had a chat about their health and hung up. She thought about voiding the invites, for she didn''t really need anyone to cheer her on. But after seeing Wendy and Ellie, she wanted to invite them. She wasn''t sure if Ellie would feel ufortable in such a crowded ce, but she remembered how they''d first met at the bustling banquet hall, and Ellie had handled it well. Thinking of this, she assumed it wouldn''t be an issue. "That would be wonderful. We''ll be there!" Wendy agreed immediately. She actually had a few ns for tomorrow, but she could always reschedule. She suddenly remembered something and turned to Ellie. "Ellie, would you like to go with Grandma to support Ms. Anneliese tomorrow?" The psychologist had said they should encourage Ellie to go out more and interact with people. But Ellie didn''t like going out. Every time they took her out, the family had to coax her beforehand. They were afraid of Bringing her to ces that were too crowded or chaotic too However, if Ellie agreed willingly to go out, she usually behaved well. Of course, if they forced her, it would only backfire. Wendy for Infelt grateful to Anneliese for inviting Ellie like a friend, thinking the little girl wouldn''t refuse. Cont Sure enough, Ellie barely hesitated before nodding firmly. "Great. Tomorrow, we''ll visit Ms. Anneliese and cheer her on!" Anneliese immediately smiled. "I''m really looking forward to it!" Then, she said to Wendy, "I''ll send the invitation overter by courier." Wendy quickly waved her hand. "There''s no need to trouble yourself. I''ll have my assistant pick it up." After they hung up, Ellie jumped down from Wendy''sp, held her hand, and led her out of the study. "Ellie, where are you taking me?" Wendy followed her as Ellie pulled her to the wardrobe in the children''s room and opened it. Wendy instantly understood. "You want to pick your outfit for tomorrow, don''t you? Alright, I''ll help you!" Chapter 690 Wendy picked through the clothes, but her eyes were full of surprise. She had never seen Ellie so eager to go out before. As expected, Anneliese really had some kind of magic over her. Maybe this really was fate. After choosing Ellie''s outfit for tomorrow, Wendy left the child''s room, returned to her own, and immediately called Steven. Steven had already finished his New Year break and was back at work, currently leading the first meeting of the year. He took out his phone, nning to decline the call, but when he saw it was from his almighty mother, he had no choice but to stand up and pause the meeting. If his mother called at this time, it was usually something important. He walked quickly out of the conference room and answered the call. The moment he held the phone to his ear, his mother''s excited voice burst out. "Steven, something amazing just happened. Guess what?" It was rare to hear Wendy speak in such a tone. Steven froze for a moment, his curiosity piqued. "Did your wedding gown collection fromst year win another international award?" "No! Use your imagination. Think bolder!" "You''re getting married again? I''d like that." Wendy was speechless. "What are you talking about? Are you only going to feel at peace once you marry your own mother off?" He''d been talking about it several times this year. "Well, I''d be fine even if your husband ends up being younger than me." Realizing that the conversation was getting out of hand, Wendy tried to salvage it. "Hurry up and guess again." Steven felt helpless. "Mom, I''m in the middle of a meeting." "It was your daughter. She just spoke!" Even Steven needed a moment to react, for he could hardly believe it. "What did you say?" His fingers tightened around the phone. He had raised his daughter all on his own, being both father and mother to her. Because of her autism, she had never spoken a single word since she was little. He had taken her to countless renowned doctors, but all of them said the same thing. There was nothing physically wrong with Ellie, and her silence was purely psychological. He''d brought her to so many psychologists too, but nothing ever changed. And now, his mother was suddenly telling him that his daughter had spoken! Steven pressed his lips together. "Mom, was it just a dream?" Wendy wanted to reach through the phone and w him. She hurriedly described everything that had just happened. When Steven heard that it was Anneliese who managed to get Ellie to speak, only then did he truly believe his mother wasn''t dreaming in broad daylight. His breathing turned unsteady for a moment, and guilt slowly crept in. A few months ago, when India told him that Anneliese had found Ellie and even taken care of her for a night, he should''ve taken it more seriously. But he hadn''t. He quickly brought his daughter back to Halden and never gave Anneliese another chance to spend time with Ellie. Anneliese had only met Ellie twice. And yet, on their third encounter, she''d actually managed to make the child speak through a video call. This was unbe le. If he''d known earlier, he would''ve arranged for them to spend more time together months ago. By now, perhaps his daughter might be telling him bedtime stories instead. "I''ll contact Dr Maguireter and DEA have him take a look. Mom, please help me pick out an appropriate thank-you gift. I''ll personally bring Ellie over to express our gratitude," Steven said once he''d calmed down and started making arrangements. Rupert Maguire was Ellie''s current psychologist. With something this significant happening, they needed to consult him as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Anneliese had promised Ellie she would personally bake cookies for her. There weren''t any baking ingredients at The Banyans, so after leaving the hospital Anneliese stopped by a supermarket to buy the ingredients. and some small molds before hurrying back. She hadn''t expected that as she drove into the courtyard, Jonathan''s car would pull in right behind hers. She got out of the car and opened the trunk, but before she could reach for the bags, a familiar slender elegant hand appeared from the side and carried them away for her. A cool, refreshing scent brushed past her nose. Anneliese turned her head toward the man. "You''re home, Mr. Fullbuster." "Indeed I am, Mrs. Fullbuster. Hope you had a great day." Jonathan grinned as he leaned down and ced a gentle kiss between her brows. The sky was clear, the warmth of spring had returned, and even the evening breeze was gentle. The feeling ofing home from work and seeing his wife waiting for him was indescribably wonderful. To him, no scenery in the world couldpare with the sight of her stepping out of the car beneath the zing afterglow of the sunset, wind teasing through her hair. Only when his wife was around did this ce truly feel like home. Chapter 691 They bothughed as their eyes met. Jonathan closed the trunk, juggling a shopping bag in one hand while holding Anneliese''s hand with the other as they walked toward the vi. Margot, standing on the porch, heard the noise and watched them, thinking the scene was downright heartwarming. But Anneliese felt something different. She nced down at the hand Jonathan was holding and then up at him, a smile spreading across her face. "Why does this suddenly feel like we''re an old married couple?" Jonathan looked down at her. "Old married couple sounds perfect. It means we don''t have to adjust to each other. We fit together like puzzle pieces, meant to grow old side by side." Anneliese curved her lips but shook her head. "No way. Which couple never argues? We need to make time for a proper fight. I''ve heard couples actually get closer the more they fight." Come to think of it, Jonathan and I really never argue. The only time we experienced tension was when Grandma discovered us and the truth came to light. But that didn''t even count as a real fight. Then I think about my dad and mom, who adopted me when I was little. They love each other deeply and are incredibly close, but they do argue from time to time. Somehow, though, it''s always Dad who ends up giving in to make Mom happy. Jonathan gave Anneliese''s hand a yful squeeze. "Ever wonder why couples can still feel close even after a fight?" "Why?" Anneliese looked at him instantly, curious. Jonathan leaned in, a teasing smirk on his lips. "You little dummy, never heard of settling the messy stuff up front and saving the sweet part forter?" He bent closer, his voice brushing against her ear. "We don''t need to argue. We can just make up somewhere more... private." Anneliese blinked at him, speechless. She was just about to punch him for being ridiculous when a harsh roar of a car engine cut through the air, growing louder as it approached and finally stopped outside the yard. Both she and Jonathan froze, ncing back just in time to see a silver-blue sports car. The door swung open, and a tall figure stepped out. The man wore a ck suit, with his tie loosened and his shirt unbuttoned at the top two buttons. Somehow, it didn''t make him look sloppy. Instead, it only amplified this rugged, slightly dangerous charm he carried naturally. It was Zane. He strode toward them with long, deliberate steps, radiating a bad mood and a stormy temper. Jonathan put an arm around Anneliese''s shoulders, his eyes darkening slightly. "You want to go inside first? I can deal with him." Anneliese shook her head. "It''s not like I did anything wrong. If he dares show up, I''m not hiding from him." Jonathan wasn''t worried about Zane facing Anneliese. He just didn''t want her to see someone she didn''t want to see getting angry. But since she refused to retreat, he let it go. "Where is Jessica? Are you hiding her somewhere?" Zane was almost in front of her now, his tone sharp. Jonathan''s eyes narrowed. "Watch your tone!" Zane had justnded at Oceaton and had borrowed two phones to call Jessica, but they were all out of battery. He hade straight from the airport to Riverview Court, thinking maybe she wasn''t home. But before long, thendlord came by with two girls to show a Tenant the ce. That''s when Zane realized Jessica no longer lived there. Naturally, he got nothing out of thendlord. Stepping out of Riverview Court, he called Jessica once more, his voice tighter with urgency. However, the line cut him off, informing him that the number was no longer valid. Panic hit him, Standing there, Zane realized he didn''t even know where to start looking for her. He''d never really tried to understand Jessica-what friends she b besides Anneliese, what shed liked do where she hung out. Once she stopped contacting him, he couldn''t even catch a trace of her. Desperate, Zane headed to The Banyans, hoping Anneliese could give him some clue. He tried to calm himself, preparing to apologize to her. Instead, Annelieseughed, her amusement sharp and teasing. She lifted an eyebrow at Zane. "Well, who''s this? And who exactly are you to Jess? Zane, what gives you the right to question me? Is it because you used to be herwyer or something?" Zane''s brow furrowed. For a brief second, he looked genuinely taken aback. What am I to Jessica, anyway? Zane had never really thought about this before, but under Anneliese''s relentless questioning, he blurted out without thinking. "She''s my girlfriend. Since when do I not get to ask where she''s going?" Chapter 692 Anneliese''s expression sharpened with sarcasm. "Oh, really? So Zane is Jess'' boyfriend now?" She nced at Jonathan sitting beside her. "Honey, you knew about this, right?" Jonathan, of course, sided with Anneliese and shook his head in agreement. "Nope, didn''t know." "What a coincidence, neither did I." Anneliese shrugged before turning her gaze back to Zane. "I''m Jess'' best friend. And my honey''s basically your buddy too, right? None of us had a clue about this. It seems like your dating life is as secretive as that of a top celebrity''s. Or have all your ex-girlfriends been kept in the shadows like this?" She let out a short, mockingugh and then added slowly, "Really something." Her words dripped with sarcasm. Zane''s expression tightened. He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. He hadn''t introduced Jessica as his girlfriend to anyone. Hell, he hadn''t even clearly defined the rtionship with her privately. But Jessica had never acted like she expected anything from him either. He pushed down the irritation and guilt rising in his chest. Frowning, he spoke in a low voice. "I was actually nning to bring Jessica around that day, introduce her to everyone, but then I got ast-minute call from home and-" Anneliese couldn''t believe he still had the nerve to bring up that day. Before Zane could finish his sentence, she raised a hand and cut him off. "Yeah, that day you were the one who set up the meet with Jess. And you bailed without a second thought, disappearedpletely. If you even cared a little about her, you wouldn''t have done that!" Even less so. He still has no idea what actually happened. He is not even aware of the entire situation. Zane is awyer. If he wanted answers, he has more than enough channels and ways to dig them up. Not knowing the details is just an excuse. It alles down to one thing. He never truly put Jessica first. So what is he doing now, standing here acting all anxious and deeply devoted? Anneliese shot Zane another look, saying everything she wanted to say without opening her mouth. Ugh. What a trashy jerk. Go to hell. She looped her arm through Jonathan''s and said sweetly, "Honey, I want to bake some little cookies. Help me out, okay?" Jonathan lifted an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity and genuine anticipation crossing his expression. "Sure. You bake now? I had no idea." Anneliese blinked, looking pleased with herself. "Oh, I can do a lot more than that." Jonathan slipped an arm around her slim waist and nced at Zane, whose expression had clearly soured. "You heard her. I''m going to bake with my honey. It sounds like fun, so I won''t be seeing you out." Zane found himselfpletely at a loss for words. Jonny the Scoundrel, does he really have to show off right now? After Jonathan finished speaking, he did not bother sparing Zane another nce at his pitch-dark expression. He wrapped an arm around Anneliese, turned on his heel, and walked straight into the vi with her. Zane could tell by now. Anneliese''s attitude toward him had changed entirely, and the hostility was apparent. Jonathan was firmly on Anneliese''s side now, breathing the same air she did. He would not dare go against her even if he wanted to. A full-fledged wife guy through and through. There was no way Zane was getting anything valuable out of the two of them. He took a deep breath, chose not to press the issue, and turned away, striding off without another word. He mmed the door of his sports car shut and immediately made a phone call. He told the person on the other end the name of the restaurant and the time from the night he left. His voice was cold and clipped as te gave the order. "Check whether anything happened at that restaurant that night. Use every connection we have, and find out where Jessica is." Everything started going wrong that day. I need to figure out exactly what happened first. Anneliese and Jonathan walked into the house side by side. She still looked visibly annoyed, so he reached out and took her hand. "Why the sudden urge to bake cookies?" he asked, lifting a hand to stop Margot, who was about to bend down to fetch their slippers. He got them himself, then crouched and ced the women''s pair neatly at Anneliese''s feet. She looked down at the dark, thick crown of his hair, and thest trace of irritation on her expression quietly melted away. She did not brush off his kindness. She kicked off her heels and slipped into the slippers. The moment Jonathan finished changing his shoes and fooked up, she spun lightly on her foot, slid right up in front of him, grabbed thepel of his suit, and tugged him down toward her. Jonathan had not even begun to process what was happening. He bent instinctively to follow her pull and her soft, warm lips were already on his pressing and lingering. She parted her lips just enough to murmur, "A kiss from honey cheers me up way better." Cont¨¦nt There was no way he could resist an invitation like that from Anneliese. The shopping bags slipped from his hand as he wrapped an arm around her slim waist and kissed her back without hesitation. Hearing the noise from the entryway, Margot thought something had been knocked over and rushed out of the kitchen to check. Chapter 693 As soon as she stepped out, Margot saw the usually cold and reserved Jonathan holding Anneliese tightly, pinning her against the entryway cab and kissing her like he couldn''t get enough. Oh my gosh. Is this really something I''m supposed to be seeing? Margot pped a hand over her eyes and bolted back to the kitchen. Yet, before ducking out of sight, she couldn''t help peeking through her fingers twice more. It was such a sight that her heart started pounding, and she wondered if she should go home early tonight and set up a date with her husband. Jonathan''s earlier question only got answered after dinner, when Anneliese pulled him into the kitchen to bake cookies together. While they worked, she told him about running into Ellie at the bakery, promising to bake her cookies, and how today she''d heard Ellie''s voice on video for the first time. "By the way, Grandma and Nicole both say Ellie and I look a bit alike. What do you think?" Jonathan, following Anneliese''s instructions, stopped stirring the butter and powdered sugar and looked up at her, still wearing the pink checkered apron she''d forced on him. He pictured Ellie, since he''d known Steven for years and watched the girl grow up. In his mind, Anneliese was always one of a kind. There was noparison, but after thinking it through, he realized there really was a resemnce. No wonder he''d always thought Steven had good genes. Ellie was much cuter than most kids. He nodded. "You two do look a little alike." Anneliese smiled. "Maybe that''s why Ellie thinks of me as her mom." It would exin the way Ellie acted around her. Before she could finish the thought, Jonathan tapped her lightly on the head. "Ow, what was that for?" She red at him, rubbing her head. Jonathan''s expression turned serious. "What do you think? Only our own kids can call you Mom. You''re only allowed to have kids with me." Anneliese was speechless. How can this man be jealous over something like that? She brushed it off, but Jonathan couldn''t help remembering how she always looked up to Steven and admired him. Suddenly, he felt rm bells go off inside. "Whenever you meet with Ellie, let me know first," he said, his voice low. Anneliese couldn''t helpughing. "You want toe along?" "Do you have a problem with that?" Jonathan raised a brow, clearly daring her toin. She immediately replied, "Of course not. That''d be perfect." Only then did he look away and return to mixing the dough. Anneliese watched him, amused, before asking, "Do you know who Ellie''s mom is? And why she has autism?" She''d always been curious, but out of respect for privacy, had never asked anyone. Now, since she''d had a positive effect on Ellie, she wanted to know more. Maybe she could really help the little girl get better. Jonathan shook his head. "I have no idea. Steven''s never dated anyone publicly, and no one''s ever seen him with a woman One day fejust showed up with a baby girl and said she was his daughter." Steven was the golden boy of their social circle. He was talented in everything since childhood. He earned double master''s degrees in ??? He''d never married, and the mother of the baby was unknown¡ªthe gossip never stopped since then. Anneliese was shocked. "Seriously? With Mr. Malone''s position, wouldn''t having a child out of wedlock mess up his political future?" "The Malones could handle it, but it still hurt his career a bit. Otherwise, Steven would be further along by now, not just director of the Low-altitude Economy Department at thirty." Anneliese was speechless. Figures¡ªthe world of the elite is out of my league. She was about to ask more when Jonathan dipped his finger in butter and dabbed it on her nose. "Are you really that interested in him?" Clearly, he was annoyed. Resigned, she exined, "I only feel a connection to Ellie and Madam Chalmont, so I want to know more about them, that''s all. There''s only one man in the world I''m ever¡¢ curious about. Hrom wonder who that is?" Chapter 694 Anneliese is such a natural at coaxing me. She doesn''t even need a script. Jonathan watched as she blinked those sly, sparkling eyes at him, and all the awkward jealousy he''d been feeling dissolved into a sweet warmth that filled his entire body. The next day was the official start of the National Low-Altitude Logistics Algorithm Challenge. Anneliese got a call from Alexander early that morning. He told her to do her best and said he''d be watching the livestream with her seniors, rooting for her. A few days ago, she''d heard from Clement that Alexander had actually been invited to serve as a judge for thepetition. But since she waspeting, he''d turned it down to avoid any conflict of interest. Her voice rang out clear and bright as sheughed, "Prof. Clocke, just wait¡ªI''lI bring you back that gold trophy." Alexanderughed heartily over the phone. "Getting a little cocky, aren''t you?" Standing in front of the mirror, Anneliese made a final adjustment to her shirt cor before replying, "Of course! Just look at who my mentor is." "Then your seniors and I will be waiting," he replied with a hearty chuckle. After hanging up, Anneliese checked her bag to make sure she had all her documents and then headed out. She walked downstairs, and when Jonathan heard her, he stood up from the living room couch and looked over at the staircase. His gaze sharpened, and a sh of amazement flickered in his deep eyes. Anneliese looked nothing like her usual self. Normally, she dressed casually andfortably. But now, to match the asion, she wore a crisp, simple suit-a in blue shirt, a sharp white zer, and matching tailored pants. Her hair was pulled back in a low bun, with a few wisps left loose at her cheeks. Her makeup was barely there, and she wore no jewelry. She still had her slippers on, but her presence wasmanding. She had a confidence and poise that Jonathan had never seen in her before. "Hey? I thought you left for work. What are you doing here?" Anneliese looked at him in surprise. Thepetition didn''t start until 10 a.m., so she didn''t have to leave early. Jonathan had left for work a little after 7 a.m., and she''d seen him out herself. She hadn''t expected him toe back. Meeting her surprised gaze, Jonathan just crooked his finger at her. "Come here." Anneliese hurried downstairs and walked over. He took her hand and gave her shoulder a gentle push, making her sit on the couch. "What are you doing?" she asked, confused. Jonathan straightened his suit pants and, in the next moment, dropped to one knee beside her. Before she could react, he pulled out a pair of shoes from behind his back. "You''repeting today. As your husband, it''s only right that I put on your battle shoes myself." Anneliese''s gazended on the shoes in his hands-a pair of mistet blue handmade loafers The leather looked soft and the heel was low Coincidentally, they matched her blue shirt perfectly. She was pleasantly surprised as Jonathan carefully slipped the shoe onto her foot. "How does it feel?" He rested her foot on his knee so she could check. She flexed her foot. "It''s superfy. Fits perfectly." Satisfied with herments, Jonathan put on the other shoe and helped her to her feet. "Take a few steps and see." Anneliese strutted back and forth in the living room, then dashed over to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Honey, thank you for the surprise! love them Wearing these, I feel unbeatable, like I''ve got a fulll of positive buffs! Jonathan''s smile deepened at her radiance. He said in a deep voice, "I''lle back for my reward tonight." Anneliese''s eyes sparkled. "Sure." He gently removed her hands from around his neck and held them. "Let''s go. I''ll drive you there." He''de home just to send her off to thepetition. If he stayed any longer, he might really lose control. Hand in hand, Anneliese followed him out, ncing down at their joined hands and smiling. Watching their shadows stretch across the floor, she followed him, feeling like a little girl being dropped off by her dad for a big exam Chapter 695 She felt at ease being doted on by him. This year''s National Low-Altitude Logistics Algorithm Challenge was set up as a solo contest. It was co-hosted by the government, top universities, research institutes, and the tworgest logisticspanies in Lunasia. The venue was none other than Oceaton University. Jonathan drove Anneliese to the campus. From a distance, she could already see the crowds of cars and people bustling at the gate. There were even several media crews hauling their equipment. Anneliese nced over at Jonathan behind the wheel. "I bet they won''t let outside vehicles in. You should park here. I''ll walk in from here..." Jonathan just tapped the wheel, kept his eyes on his watch, and didn''t even look over. "We have time. What kind of husband ditches his wife before she gets to the door?" Before Anneliese could argue, their car had already joined the long line at the gate. There was no turning back, even if she wanted to. So she didn''t press the issue. Fortunately, the line was moving quickly. The university clearly had everything organized. The security guards were smoothly directing traffic and letting cars in efficiently. Soon it was their turn. Anneliese had worried they wouldn''t get in, but when their car reached the front, Jonathan didn''t even roll down the window. They were waved through immediately. The security staff outside even hurried the cars in front along for them. Jonathan''s Bentley cruised right onto campus. Anneliese stared, a little shocked. "Why didn''t we have to register or show any kind of pass?" She looked over at Jonathan, confusion clear on her face. Jonathan''s lips curved into a helpless smile. He nced at her. "Baby, you graduated from Oceaton University. Did you ever bother to learn the names of the various foundations and buildings on campus?" "Huh?" Anneliese blinked. Jonathan sighed. "The Fullbuster Group donates to Oceaton University every year. They used our money to establish two schrships and a medical research fund. The College of Aerospace''s main building is called Derek Fullbuster Hall¡ªthat''s named after my grandfather. "AeroAir also donated 50 million this year for a new research building. The university even gave me an honorary doctorate. Getting through the gate isn''t exactly a problem." He turned his head, giving Anneliese a slow look. "Honey, what did you even do when you were a student here?" Anneliese immediately felt a wave of guilt. She wanted to p herself. Back in school, she spent all her time either in ss or hanging out at Zacharias'' campus, helping out with his startup always running errands for him. She had always known the College of Aerospace''s main building was called Derek Fullbuster Hall, but she never wondered whichpany had donated it. She''d always addressed Jonathan''s grandfather formally and had never realized his name was Derek Fullbuster. No wonder she never connected the dots. Besides, the Fullbuster family kept things very low-key. When Zacharias'' oldpany went public, to his alma he donated million to 3. mater, Crownvale Academy, and made sure it was all over the news. He disyed his honorary certificate front and center in his office. Anneliese had been to Jonathan''s office, but never saw anything like that. So it wasn''t really my fault for not knowing... right? But Jonathan nced at her again "Seems like my wife doesn''t pay much attention to me She has no idea what I''ve achieved or what awards I''ve received." His voice grew softer and softer, every word drifting through the car, but to Anneliese, they felt heavy as stones weighing her down. Her head drooped; she couldn''t even keep her back straight. "Sigh..." Jonathan gave a deep, heartbroken sigh, and Anneliese couldn''t take it anymore. She grabbed his suit jacket with both hands and gave it a little shake. "Honey, this is all my fault! I promise I''ll go home and study your whole life story and all your awards, memorize everything by heart... Ouch!" Before she could finish, he flicked her on the forehead. She clutched her head and gave him a pitiful look. Jonathan finally parked the car and looked at her. "No need to rack your brains over it. You can just make it up to me in bed..." Anneliese rolled her eyes at him. "I could do that, but you''re not allowed to guilt-trip me about this ever again!" Jonathan yed dumb. "Did I say anything? I don''t remember a thing." "Fine, it''s all my guilty conscience, okay?" She shot him another yful look, then jumped out of the car and hurried away. Chapter 696 Jonathan barely stepped out of the car when he bumped into someone familiar. "Mr. Fullbuster? Are you here for today''spetition, too? Is AeroAir involved in this year''spetition?" A man in sses and a navy suit, with salt-and-pepper hair and a schrly vibe, strode over and greeted Jonathan with genuine surprise. Jonathan recognized him right away. He nodded politely and reached out to shake hands. "Dean Baltimore, yes, I''m here for thepetition at your university today. But AeroAir isn''t participating this time¡ªI''m just here personally, to see my wife off for her contest." "Hmm?" The man clearly froze for a second, as if the words didn''t quite make sense. Then he saw Jonathan turn and wave to Anneliese on the other side of the car. "Anne,e here." Anneliese was caught off guard, too. She hadn''t expected to run into someone she and Jonathan both knew. She recognized the man immediately-Justin Baltimore, the dean of the College of Aerospace. Back in her college days at Oceaton University, Joseph Baltimore- Justin''s younger brother was the one who rmended her to join Alexander''sb. Anneliese quickly walked around the car to Jonathan''s side. Jonathan slipped an arm around her shoulders and introduced them. "Dean Baltimore, this is my wife, Anneliese. Anne, you know Dean Baltimore, right?" Justin finally seemed to regain hisposure, now eyeing Anneliese with real curiosity. She was gorgeous, with an elegant presence that made her and Jonathan seem perfectly matched. But she looked so young that, without an introduction, he might have thought she was still an undergrad. Yet, there was something about her that seemed oddly familiar... While Justin hesitated, Anneliese gave a polite little bow. "Hello, Dean Baltimore. I''m Anneliese ude, a graduate of the College of Aerospace." Justin''s face lit up, and he pped her on the shoulder with delight. "Anneliese, of course I remember you! Our youngest-ever graduate in the College of Aerospace. I handed yout e honorary certificate at your drone patent donation ceremony le never expected... well, after that..." A trace of regret crossed Justin''s face. The college had ced so much hope in her, but Anneliese had left the field soon after graduation. He''d never expected to see her again like this. Justin clearly remembered her, but hadn''t realized she''d married Jonathan. Realizing that he probably shouldn''t bring up the topic, Justin quickly changed the subject. "Mrs. Fullbuster is actually participating in thepetition this year? Are you getting back into the drone industry?" Anneliese nodded. "You can call me Anne, Dean Baltimore. I''m with Professor Clocke''sb now. She rmended me for this individual challenge." "That''s great! have high hopes for you, Anne. Oh, Mr. Fullbuster, do you remember when the Fullbuster Group established the Soaring Schrship at our college? Ange won the gold award in the first year. You were supposed to present her with the certificate yourself. Anne, think you missed the ceremony because you were... sick, wasn''t it?" Anneliese nced at Jonathan, shock rippling through her. She remembered that schrship from her freshman year. She did win the gold award, but she hadn''t missed the ceremony because she was sick. She''d gotten a call from Zacharias as she was heading to the hall. Melody had brought Lenora to Oceaton for a visit, but Lenora got lost at the train station. She''d been so worried about Lenora that she''d ditched the ceremony entirely. She asked a ssmate to cover for her, then ran off to help look for Lenora. She remembered searching all day, skipping lunch, and even making two trips to the police station. In t end, they found out Lenora had purposely hidden in neart inte caf¨¦, hoping to avoid being sent home so soon. Anneliese thought about how foolish she''d been back then. She cringed thinking about it now. But the thing that really got her was realizing Jonathan had been at Oceaton University that day, too. Chapter 697 He had been there in that event hall, meant to present her with the award. That day, she missed the chance to meet him. And him... Had hee just for her? Jonathan saw the storm of emotions flickering in Anneliese''s eyes-regret, shock, guilt, heartache... Her gaze shimmered with all thatplicated feeling, but he only offered a gentle, reassuring smile and squeezed her hand infort. Justin, of course, didn''t notice the shift between them and kept talking. He kept on talking, "Did you two end up meetingter on? Is that how you first got to know each other? If so, the College of Aerospace should really get the credit for ying matchmaker between Mr. Fullbuster and Anne!" Jonathan looked over at Dean Baltimore and smiled, denying it. "Anne and I actually met even earlier than that." Justin grew even more curious, but Jonathan clearly didn''t want to keep talking about it. He wrapped things up. "You''ll be involved in thepetition yourself, right, Dean Baltimore? So we won''t walk over with you, just to avoid any misunderstanding." Justin finally remembered his own duties and sensed the couple still had things to say to each other. He nodded, shook Jonathan''s hand, offered a few words of encouragement to Anneliese, and left. Anneliese immediately hugged Jonathan and looked up at him. "You never told me we missed each other that day..." A sh of sadness crossed Jonathan''s eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He smiled. "There''s no point bringing it up." He never would have said anything at all if Justin hadn''t let it slip... He hadn''t wanted Anneliese to feel any guilt or feel like she owed him something. But Anneliese had caught that fleeting sadness. Her heart clenched, and she gripped his hand. "Did you... Were you really there just to see me? Did you know I wasn''t really sick that day, that I was-?" Jonathan had indeede for her. He''d even been the one who suggested the Fullbuster Group set up the Soaring Schrship at Oceaton University, all because she''d gotten into the College of Aerospace. He wanted to check on her himself, to see if she remembered him. Back then he''de to Oceaton three days early. He prepared a cake and a small gift and waited anxiously in the event hall, only for her not to show up. fo When he heard she was sick, he left before the ceremony ended. He even asked his assistant to check the medical office. But she wasn''t there. He learned no one named Anneliese had gone for an IV that day. Worried something had happened, he sent his assistant to check and finally learned she''d gone to help Zacharias. That same day, he left Oceaton and Lunasia. "Didn''t you say earlier I can''t dwell the past? You''ve got apetition focus to talk about this when we''re home, okay?" Jonathan said, gently patting her back. Even though he didn''t say anything, Anneliese understood he hade just for her, and he''d known where she went that day. She couldn''t even imagine how disappointed he must have felt not seeing her. If she was feeling regretful and guilty now, he must have felt just as disappointed back then. Anneliese''s big, round eyes went misty as she hugged Jonathan tight. "I''m sorry..." She had been so foolish, missing out on a good man for someone like Zacharias. She even hurt Jonathan all those years ago, without realizing it... Jonathan held her close and kissed the top of her head. "It''s fine, you were so young back then. Even if we''d met, you might have just thought of me as your "brother Now everything''s perfect t worked out as it should." Back then, he''de to see her with the mindset of a brother. If they had met, maybe their rtionship really would have ended up as nothing more than a purely tonic rtionship. First impressions really did matter. So Jonathan truly had no regrets. He never cared about her past¡ªonly her present and future. Anneliese understood, but she still felt a pang of sadness and regret. She lifted her head. "Who says so? I know that no matter the time or ce, I will always fall for you." He was so handsome and wonderful. She fell in love with him all over again every day, and nothing could ever change that. At her words, something darkened in Jonathan''s eyes. His arm tightened around her, as if he could never get close enough. Chapter 698 He stood there for a long moment before he closed his eyes,posed himself, then opened them again with a resigned sigh. "You''re driving me crazy. Are you even going to thepetition or not?" She was so good at making him lose his resolve. All he wanted now was to take her home, show her how much he loved her, and ignore everything else. "Of course I''m going! Hurry up and get to work. Honey, thank you for driving me here." Anneliese caught the look in his eyes and felt a little spooked, like a rabbit sensing danger. She quickly slipped her hand out of his and took a small step back, waving at him. Jonathan didn''t tease her any further. He just nodded. "I''ll watch the livestream. Good luck, honey." Anneliese waved at him, then turned toward Oceaton University''s main gym where thepetition was held. She reached the check-in point forpetitors at the gym''s entrance and gave her name and ID. She didn''t expect the staff to frown after checking her info on theputer. He nced at another male supervisor and started whispering. Anneliese sensed something was wrong. "Is there a problem?" The supervisor looked up and handed her back her ID and entry slip. "There''s no record of your registration in our system. We can''t let you in." "That''s impossible." Anneliese frowned and held out her digital confirmation. "I have my registration receipt right here. How could there not be a record?" She repeated her personal andb information. "Please double-check." The staff checked again and shook their head. "Still nothing. The event''s about to start. Please step aside so other participants can check in." The supervisor shoved her ID back at her and motioned for her to move on. Two other participants behind her started urging her to hurry up. Anneliese was jostled by the girl behind and nearly stumbled. She steadied herself against the desk and shot the woman a re, but she kept her cool. She needed to figure out where the problem was. She pulled out her phone, logged into her email, and waited until the girl behind her finished registration. Then she handed over her phone again. "This is my confirmation email and registration number, plus the official invitation..." e screen toward the She turned the staff, but the supervisor barely nced at it and replied in a bored voice "We checked twice already f your into''s not in the system, you''re just not registered. The no He waved for the nextpetitor and muttered, "You don''t even look like a serious contestant anyway..." That attitude set Anneliese off. Her expression turned cold as she pped her hand on the desk and raised her voice. "Ipleted every step of the registration and my invitation is right in front of you. Are you nex you can''t solve this, get your supervisor out here. Stop giving m? the runaround! And what do you mean by saying I don''t look like a real contestant?" Content The sudden chill in her tone and sharp re gave her the same intimidating vibe Jonathan had. People nearby stopped to watch, and the supervisor flinched, his voice faltering. "We... we''re just following the rules, you..." Just then, a familiar, rather annoying voice cut in behind her. "What''s going on? Why''s the entrance all blocked up?" Anneliese turned to see Gianna in a white business suit, with Pepper by her side in a matching outfit and a ruby ne. Gianna spotted her and feigned surprise. "Anneliese?" The supervisor immediately came out from behind theputer. "Ms. Malone, here''s your number. Please head in This problem will be sorted out soon dont let it affect your mood or your focus. You''ve got this, Ms. Malone-first ce is yours for sure." Chapter 699 The supervisor hunched over, his attitude respectful and eager to please¡ªpletely different from the dismissive impatience he had shown Anneliese earlier. Gianna took the number tag, nced at Anneliese, and asked, "She''s a senior I know. What''s going on?" The supervisor quickly exined that he couldn''t find her registration details, and Gianna frowned. "Can''t you make an exception?" "That''s absolutely not possible. Thepetition is about to start, and all thepetition devices are already set up. There''s no way to add anyonest minute, Ms. Malone, please don''t make things difficult for us..." Gianna turned to Anneliese, giving her a regretful look. "Anneliese, I really wish I could help you, but I''m sorry, there''s nothing I can do. This staff member is just following the rules. I know you want topete, but I don''t think you''d me the staff for a mistake on your end, right?" There was mockery and contempt in Gianna''s eyes. She''d had a rough couple of days, so picking on Anneliese made her feel much better. With thepetition about to start, even if Anneliese went toin to Jonathan now, there just wasn''t enough time to fix this. She was definitely going to miss her chance. Last time, Anneliese had been used of using her looks to get into a topb, but somehow she came out clean. This time, Gianna had already arranged for media coverage, ready to paint Anneliese as eye candy with no real skills-washed up after years out of the field, all talk and no talent. She''d be branded as a coward who ran away at thest minute. Once Gianna won the championship, Anneliese would be the perfect contrast and her stepping stone. "I didn''t know you werepeting too, Ms. Malone." Anneliese saw Gianna and knew right away where the problemy. Gianna had always had it out for her. With Adrian''spany being one of the event''s two main sponsors, it would be easy for her to get Anneliese''s entry revoked. Gianna smirked, "Unlike you, Anneliese, I''m always low-key. Prof. Clocke expects so much from you, but you even messed up your registration. He''ll be so disappointed." "Enough, Gianna, thepetition is about to start. Let''s go get ready," Pepper said, stepping forward. Gianna shrugged and tried to walk past, but Anneliese blocked her path and grabbed her wrist. Gianna tried to pull away and red at Anneliese in anger. "What are you doing? Let go!" Anneliese leaned in and said coldly in her ear, "Gianna, this was all your doing, right? You really think that canceling my registration mea you''re guaranteed to win? You''re too scared topete against me, huh? Is that the best you can do?" "Don''t try to provoke me. I¡ª" Gianna gritted her teeth, but Anneliese cut her off. "You''re so petty and low, no wonder Zane doesn''t want you! Madam Chalmont is amazing. There''s no way she could''ve given birth to someone like you." Every word hit Gianna right where it hurt, and she red at Anneliese, her voice cold. "So what if I stopped you frompeting? Anneliese, who do you think you are? You only get by because you seduce men... Ah!" Gianna didn''t expect Anneliese to p her hard in front of everyone before she could finish. Smack! The pping sound was crisp and sharp. Gianna was so stunned that she just stood there, holding her face. Pepper reacted fast and lunged at Anneliese, yelling, "You bitch!" Anneliese raised her hand, caught Pepper''s wrist, and shoved her away. Pepper stumbled back a couple of steps, crying out in shock. Themotion drew a crowd, including several reporters waiting nearby. The quicker ones already had their cameras trained on the scene. Gianna lowered her hand, showing off the p mark on her face, and stared at Anneliese with red eye "Anneliese, you couldn''tpete, so now you''re stopping me too?How could you do this?" Pepper frowned. "Ms. ude, you and Gianna are both in Prof. Clocke''sb. He favors you and rmends you for this challenge. Gianna had to work hard to get her spot. Now you missed your chance to register, and you''re just afraid Gianna will do better than you in theb. Still, that''s no excuse to hit someone in public." Chapter 700 Pepper and Gianna twisted the story and used Anneliese first. Once the crowd heard their version of events, they immediately looked at Anneliese with disdainful, condemning expressions and murmured among themselves. Pepper shot a look at the staff, signaling them to hurry up and clear Anneliese out to restore order. The staff quickly stepped forward and spoke harshly to Anneliese. "If the system doesn''t have your information, then you''re not registered! Making a scene won''t change anything, and you definitely don''t get to steal someone else''spetition spot. Leave immediately, or we''ll call security to remove you by force!" Hearing even the staff say this, the crowd became even more convinced that Gianna and Pepper were telling the truth. Looking at Anneliese''s strikingly beautiful face, people began to assume she was the type who used her looks to charm professors and steal opportunities. They just assumed that she had failed to evenplete her registration properly and was now throwing her weight around to take someone else''s ce! Listening to the criticism aimed at Anneliese, Gianna felt like the sting on her face mattered less. She watched Anneliese coldly, waiting for her to leave in humiliation. Instead, Anneliese showed no panic and remained calm as she took arge step toward the crowd. A sudden sense of unease hit Gianna, and Pepper reacted even faster. She couldn''t let Anneliese speak. Pepper snapped at the stunned staff, "What are you standing around for? Are you waiting for her to lie and disrupt thepetition?" Unfortunately, she was still toote. Before the staff could drag Anneliese away, Anneliese''s clear voice rang out. She pointed straight at Gianna. "Let me introduce her to everyone. She is Gianna Malone, the heiress of CM Logistics, one of the two main sponsors of thispetition. "Ms. Malone personally admitted that she canceled mypetition eligibility on purpose. That''s why I finally lost my patience and pped her." The crowd exploded. All the looks of disdain and condemnation that had been aimed at Anneliese instantly turned toward Gianna. Compared to one contestant being barred frompeting, someone openly abusing power and rigging the rules in a national-levelpetition was far more shocking and infuriating. Anneliese was not afraid of esction. Media reporters, participants, and influential figures were all present. If Gianna dared to pull something like this, then Anneliese would make sure she became famous for it. "You''re talking nonsense! You..." Gianna''s face went pale as she rushed forward, trying to argue. Anneliese raised her voice and cut her off. "Aren''t you the heiress of CM Logistics? One of the two main sponsors of this event?" "That has nothing to do with your participation or your unreasonable behavior right now!" Gianna shouted. Anneliese spread her hands and looked toward several contestants in the crowd. "Then, let''s be clear. With Ms. Malone here, anyone she allows maypete, and anyone she doesn''t approve has no eligibility at all. In that case, thispetition isnt even worth entering She then looked at the staff who were about to grab her. "Don''t bother chasing me out. I''ll leave on my own!" With that, she turned and started to walk away. However, Gianna felt the looksing at her from every direction grow sharper and more suspicious. She nearly choked on her anger. If Anneliese really walked away now, it would look like proof that everything she said was true. Gianna was still aiming for first ce. Even if she won now, the doubts would be even louder. D*mn you, Anneliese. The crowd buzzed with discussion, and reporters blocked Anneliese''s path. "Was yourpetition eligibility really canceled maliciously?" "Are you saying Ms. Malone is already the predetermined winner?" "Can you exin exactly what happened?" "Do you have any evidence that thepetition is rigged?" "What''s going on here?" As the chaos escted, a group of people approached. They were the leadership from the organizing parties of thepetition, including the president of Oceaton University, several city officials, and the CEOs of the two major logisticspanies sponsoring the event, Adrian and Preston Moore. Among them was Steven, attending as a representative of the National Air Traffic Control Committee. The moment they appeared, the reporters immediately shifted targets Cameras and microphones od over, focusing especially on Adrian at the front. "Mr. Malone, is contestant number 28 your daughter?" "Are all winners in thispetition truly selected under fair and transparent principles?" "Is thepetition rigged? Have the top three already been decided?" Chapter 701 Adrian''s expression did not change much, but when he nced at Gianna and Anneliese, he more or less guessed what had happened. Of course, he still remembered it clearly. Earlier, after giving in to Gianna''s persistent demands, he had called his assistant and instructed them to cancel Anneliese''s qualifications to enter thepetition. He had assumed that even if Anneliese felt wronged, she would go to Jonathan, or privately get Steven or Wendy to help resolve the issue. In any case, the upper hand would remain firmly in the Malone family''s hands. He had not taken this matter seriously at all. Little did he expect Anneliese to make such a huge scene out of it, questioning why her participation had been revoked. Adrian''s gaze shifted to Anneliese and Gianna standing there. The p mark on Gianna''s face was still visible, and her eyes were red, looking incredibly aggrieved and flustered. In contrast, Anneliese appeared calm andposed, poised and dignified, as though none of this had anything to do with her. Adrian frowned slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with Gianna. He had instructed long ago for Anneliese''s eligibility to be revoked, deliberately leaving a buffer period so Anneliese could learn about it and deal with the matter privately. As long as Anneliese came to them for help, the Malone family would gain the upper hand. Whether it was having Anneliese provide more treatment for Ellie or making her apologize to Gianna and reconcile, everything would follow naturally. It would also serve as a small lesson for Anneliese. However, it was obvious that Gianna had used some kind of tactic, causing Anneliese to only find out about the disqualification on thepetition day itself. That alone would have been fine. If Gianna had been able to control the situation and truly force Anneliese to swallow this loss in silence, it would have proven that the Malone family''s heiress was a smart, capable one. Instead, Gianna had allowed things to escte to this extent,pletely letting Anneliese seize control through the media and public opinion. This deeply disappointed him. No matter how dissatisfied or disappointed Adrian felt toward Gianna, she was still his daughter. He could not allow her to truly be the so-called mastermind behind an unfair scheme. Adrian stepped forward and raised his hand, pressing down slightly on the waves of noise and questions. His voice was low and steady as he spoke. "Everyone, Gianna is indeed my daughter." As soon as he admitted this, another wave ofmotion broke out. Vel Adrian raised his hand again before continuing, "CM Logistics is honored to serve as the organizer of this year''s National Low-Altitude Logistics Challenge. As both organizer and the parent of a participant, understand better than anyone the public''s sensitivity and expectations regarding fairness at this moment. "Here, I would like to assure everyone that thispetition is absolutely fair and impartial. There is no hidden agenda or maniption involved. As for my daugh ghter''s participation, as her father, Tam proud of her courage. But as the person in charge of this event, I will hold her work to even stricter standards. "If there are ws in her algorithm, I will be the first to point them out. And if her solution stands out, it will only be because its outstanding performance metrics can withstand scrutiny andparison against every other entry. also wee all participating teams here today a well as the public watching through the live broadcast, to supervise us at all times." Adrian''s words were firm and resolute, righteous and convincing. He truly had strong control over the situation, and his stance was clear. Once the questioning voices were suppressed, Adrian finally turned his gaze toward Anneliese, who was standing nearby, and spoke. "As for Ms. ude''s participation being revoked, neither my daughter nor I was aware of it beforehand. I believe there must be some misunderstanding involved." At once, everyone''s attention shifted back to Anneliese. One of the reporters asked, "Ms. ude, you just imed that Ms. Malone can decide who gets topete and who gets disqualified at will. Do you have any evidence to support this statement?" Gianna lowered her head, a trace of coldness shing through her eyes. Anneliese had only just learned that her participation had been revoked. Gianna did not believe for a second that she could have any concrete evidence in hand. If she could not produce proof, then Anneliese would be deliberately disrupting the event and making false usations. She had only been caught off guard earlier by Anneliese''s sudden outburst and actions. Surrounded by doubts and media cameras, she had panicked, which was why she ended up looking so flustered. In truth, she never should have been afraid in the first ce. What was more, Gianna had her father backing her. What did she have to worry about? With that thought, Gianna raised her head, her eyes reddening as she spoke. "Anneliese, it''s all just a misunderstanding. Wee from the same researchb. We should be standing together and striving forward as one, bringing honor to ourb. Why would I want to harm you? "Besides, if there really were any hidden dealings, and if I were truly the predetermined first-ce winner, why would I need to revoke your eligibility at all? Wouldn''t that be contradictory?" Chapter 702 As she spoke, Gianna deliberately angled the side of her face that had been pped¡ªstill red and swollen¡ªtoward the reporters, letting it drift in and out of their view. Feeling the camera shes going off nonstop, she could not suppress the excitement rising in her chest. "That makes sense. If the rankings were already decided, wouldn''t Ms. Malone be going out of her way for no reason?" "Also, thispetition isn''t sponsored by CM Logistics alone. There are plenty of other organizers involved as well..." Listening to the murmurs around her, Gianna lowered her head, hiding the smile in her eyes. However, at that moment, Anneliese spoke up, unhurried and calm. "But if Ms. Malone did not use her privilege to cancel my eligibility, why did she admit to it earlier?" "You''re talking nonsense! When did I ever say that?" Gianna stared at Anneliese in shock, looking like she''d been falsely used. At the same time, she clenched her fists, rapidly reying everything that had just happened in her mind. Anneliese looked far tooposed, far too confident. Could it be that..... Suddenly realizing something, Gianna''s expression shifted slightly, her palms damp with cold sweat. Anneliese blinked at her, as if having anticipated her reaction. The next second, she took out a voice recorder and pressed y, bringing it closer to one of the microphones. A somewhat faint voice was broadcast through the sound system. "So what if I was the one who stopped you frompeting? Anneliese, who do you think you are?" It was only that single, brief sentence, cut off abruptly. Even though the speaker spoke in a low voice, everyone could tell that it was Gianna. Anneliese looked at the crowd, then took out her phone and held it up toward the cameras. "This is my registration process and confirmation receipt, as well as the invitation letter I received after sessfully signing up. Every step was clear, proper, and inpliance with the rules. Yet, I waster told there was no record of my registration in the system, and the organizers could not give me a reasonable exnation. Later on, Ms. Malone said something like this to me." She paused slightly before continuing, her tone steady. "Under these circumstances, I had my doubts and requested that the organizers conduct a thorough investigation and give me a fair exnation. I''m not being unreasonable, am I?" she asked. Earlier, she had deliberately said many provocative and unpleasant things, all to anger Gianna, make her lose control, and say those words. Did Gianna really think she would dare p her in public, alert the media, and make such a scene without having any evidence at all? Gianna had deliberately lowered her voice earlier Recording it clearly on a phone would have been impossible, but Anneliese''s recorder was high precision device, much capable of picking up Gianna''s voice. s?novels Gianna had no idea that Anneliese still managed to record their conversation, even though she had deliberately kept her voice low. Her face turned slightly pale, yet she shook her head in denial. "No! Anneliese got the wrong idea first and pped me. I felt humiliated and furious, and that''s why I spoke without thinking!" Of course, she could not admit that this matter had anything to do with her. Butpared to the recording Anneliese had produced, Gianna''s exnation sounded weak and unconvincing. Adrian frowned slightly. "Gianna, does this really have nothing to do with you?" "Of course it has nothing to do with me, Mr. Malone. I only said that out of anger," she replied. "I want a proper investigation to find out exactly what happened. Get all the staff involved in the registration process here, right now." The acting as the host who had provided: the venue, stepped forward and spoke. president of @ceato tion Soon, the relevant personnel were gathered. After checking the records, a bespectacled technician stepped forward nervously. "We''ve found the issue. I''m very sorry, Ms. ude. You didplete the registration process. We carried out a system upgrade earlier, but I had an urgent matter to attend to and shut the system down before the upgrade was fullypleted. I didn''t expect to lose the data, and your registration was deleted along with it. I''m very, very sorry..." It was obvious that this person had been used as a scapegoat. However, Anneliese did not have any further evidence to directly prove that Gianna had interfered behind the scenes. She nodded, barely epting this exnation, then looked toward Adrian. "Mr. Malone, since this was an error on your staff''s part, do I still get to participate in thepetition?" With so many representatives from the organizing parties present, Anneliese deliberately directed the question solely at Adrian. Anyone who understood the situation would know what she was implying. She was clearly suggesting that the incident had been orchestrated by Gianna, with Adrian''s tacit approval. Yet faced with the many spective gazes around him, Adrian had little choice. He could only smile and say, "Naturally. Mr. Dathce, what do you think?" Franklin Dathce and the others all nodded in agreement. In circumstances like these, if Anneliese were forbidden from participating, thepetition would not be able to proceed at all. Chapter 703 Staff members immediately went inside to arrange Anneliese''spetition equipment and setup. Meanwhile, Steven nodded in Anneliese''s direction and, as an official representative, delivered the final remarks to the media and reporters. "I would like to assure everyone that the entirepetition process will be livestreamed. All submitted works will be encrypted and assigned anonymous identification numbers for blind review. The judges will see only the code logic and the execution results. "The key scoring stages will be reviewed by multiple experts, and all evaluation criteria will be fully quantified and announced in advance." As Steven spoke, his gaze fell on Gianna, who was still standing beside Anneliese. His voice grew slightly heavier as he continued, "Furthermore, no one will receive any additional data, hints, or priority in the review process. We will ensure that thispetition is fair and impartial. I also wish all participants the best of luck and hope you can all push beyond your limits during thepetition." To Gianna, it felt like Steven was calling her out in public, which was a huge p to her face. She forced herself to maintain a calm expression, but her teeth were clenched so hard they ached. D*mn it, Anneliese! It was all her fault for making things so humiliating for her. Gianna refused to believe that Anneliese, after leaving the industry for so many years, could still outperform her. Once they were in thepetition arena, she would make Anneliese pay. If only she could crush Anneliese under her heel... Furthermore, given how Anneliese made such a huge scene, she''d be the real joke if she walked away from thepetition without any ranking at all. When Steven finished speaking, apuse erupted. The staff began reorganizing the contestants and media in an orderly manner, guiding everyone back inside. Anneliese waited off to the side, standing by for her assigned number. At that moment, Wendy finally appeared from the back of the crowd, holding Ellie''s hand as they walked over. "Ms. Chalmont? Ellie? You guys made it!" Seeing them, Anneliese''s eyes lit up slightly. She bent down, her eyes curved in a gentle smile, and held out her hand to Ellie. "Thank you foring to cheer me on, Ellie." Almost instinctively, Anneliese reached out to pick the little girl up. However, Wendy smiled and gently pulled Ellie back to her side as she said, "It wasn''t easy to secure this chance topete. Focus on thepetition, and don''t mess up your outfit." Anneliese paused slightly and nced at the white suit she was wearing. "It''s fine to hold her for a moment," she said with a smile, then added a little awkwardly, "You saw what happened earlier too, Ms. Chalmont?" She was, of course, referring to her confrontation with Gianna. With everything that happened earlier, it had surely caused some negative impact on Adrian''spany as well. After all, Gianna was Wendy''s daughter, and Adrian was Wendy''s ex-husband. The fact that Wendy had brought Ellie straight over to her still came as a surprise to Anneliese. Wendy gave Anneliese a reassuring smile. "You did the right thing by standing up for your own rights. As for Gianna, she''s been spoiled silly." Anneliese let out a sigh of relief. Toward Wendy, whom she had only met a handful of times, Anneliese felt an instinctive sense of closeness and respect. Meanwhile, Ellie made her feel especially tender and protective. If her rtionship with Wendy and Ellie had been affected because of Gianna, Anneliese would have truly regretted it. Fortunately, Wendy was not someone who ignored right and wrong or blindly favored herown children. Anneliese smiled at Wendy, who returned the look with gentle warmth. However, when this scene fell into Gianna''s eyes from not far away, it felt like a sharp stab, so painful it made her throat taste of blood. Anneliese had pped her, and she was the one who pressed the issue relentlessly and publicly embarrassed both her and the Malone family. Yet, Wendy not only failed tofort her own family member or keep her distance from Anneliese¡ªshe had even gone over to chat andugh with her. "She''s been my mother for over twenty years. Even if we''re not mother and daughter anymore, I''m still her own niece. How can she favor an outsider like this?" Gianna''s voice trembled with anger. Beside her, Pepper was holding an ice pack wrapped in a scarf against Gianna''s face. Hearing this, Pepper turned her head and nced toward Anneliese and Wendy, a fleeting glint shing through her eyes. She turned back and spoke gently to Gianna. "Don''t get angry. Focus on thepetition. Perform well and secure a good ranking-that''s the only way to silence everyone and fet your father see how capable you really are." Gianna nodded. "I know." A few days earlier, Pepper had already said the same thing to her. Now that Wendy hadpletely torn away the facade of a mother-daughter rtionship with her, Adrian would soon find out about it as well. Judging by Wendy''s cold and resolute attitude, Adrian would quickly realize that trying to use Gianna to soften Wendy''s stance was no longer possible. Chapter 704 When the time came, if Gianna wanted to secure her ce in the Malone family, the only way forward was to show everyone just how outstanding she was as the Malone family''s eldest daughter. Only if she performed well enough, brought honor to the Malone family, and proved her worth after being raised by them for so many years, would the Malone family not cast her aside so easily. Thispetition, for Gianna, was the best opportunity to prove herself. To ensure nothing could go wrong, Pepper had even used unknown means to help Gianna obtain the problems in advance. Over the past two days, Gianna had given up her rest time and prepared thoroughly. Yet, no matter how she thought about it, she never expected Anneliese to corner her right before thepetition. Not only had she failed to stop Anneliese frompeting, but it had even backfired and gotten herself into trouble. Still, what her mother said was right. Gianna believed that once they were on thepetition floor, she would definitely crush Anneliese and stun everyone. Meanwhile, Anneliese had been talking with Wendy when she noticed Adrian and Steven approaching them. She knew they were probablying to see Wendy and Ellie. She had invited the two of them only because Wendy had saved her before, and because Ellie now needed her help. Taking all that into consideration, she had extended the invitation. She had no intention of getting involved with Adrian and his son, especially under circumstances like today. What was more, things had just turned unpleasant earlier, and she had no idea how many eyes were watching her now. Anneliese immediately said to Wendy, "Ms. Chalmont, it''s time to get ready for thepetition. Once it''s over, I''ll treat you and Ellie to a meal. I''ll bring the cookies I made for her as well." After speaking, she gently patted Ellie''s head and turned to leave. However, Wendy had also noticed Adrian and Steven approaching and unexpectedly reached out to stop Anneliese. Anneliese looked at Wendy in confusion. The older woman gave her a reassuring smile but did not let go of her hand. Anneliese had no choice but to stay where she was. By then, Adrian had already walked up to them. He looked at Wendy with a hint of surprise. "You''re here, Wendy! You didn''t tell me ahead of time; otherwise, I could have arranged for someone to bring you and Ellie inside the venue first." He had thought the outside would be chaotic. Wendy preferred quiet, and Ellie, who had autism, would feel ufortable in a crowded space. He could have arrange for someone to take them inside through a special route. But obviously, Wendy was not interested. She held Anneliese''s hand, her expression calm and detached. "Ellie and I are here to cheer Anne on. There''s no need to use any connections. Infacto someone alrnost tried to pull strings earlier, and it nearly ruined our trip for nothing." Earlier, a staff member had stepped forward to admit to the oversight, but any observant person could see that Gianna had been involved. And behind her, naturally, was Adrian. Anneliese didn''t know Wendy had kept her here to back her up. A warm feeling surged in her chest, and she looked at Wendy with genuine admiration. She respected Wendy''s clear sense of right and wrong, her fairness, and her refusal to favor her own children unjustly. If Gianna had been raised under Wendy''s guidance, she would not have turned out so spoiled. It was obvious that Adrian favored and pampered Gianna. But Adrian, despite Anneliese''s limited contact with him, gave off the usual sense of someone high above others-an authoritative mindset the type of thinkingmon to those in power. Because of that, Gianna had clearly gone down the wrong path. Anneliese didn''t know whether that was Gianna''s luck or misfortune. Meanwhile, Adrian didn''t know Wendy and Ellie hade solely because of Anneliese''s invitation. After he had casually mentioned to Wendy how much Anneliese had helped Ellie, Wendy had acted immediately. This made Adrian happy and somewhat thrilled. All these years, Wendy had never once taken any of his advice. That day, they had parted on bad terms again, but she still listened to him... Did this mean that Wendy still held some lingering feelings for him and was willing to trust him again? A faint smile appeared on his face. Yet, when he thought about how Anneliese had almost been barred frompeting, his expression turned a little sheepish. Still, he turned to Anneliese. "We will take the earlier incident seriously and hold the staff responsible for their mistakes. I hope it won''t affect your performanceter." Before Anneliese could respond, Wendy added, "You know clearly what happened. Blind protection and indulgence will only lead to bigger trouble sooner orter!" Adrian had not expected her to chew him out like that. But he was used to her cold treatment, so after faltering for a bit, he leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice. Chapter 705 "Gianna is our daughter. Isn''t it natural to spoil her a little? Especially since she just got pped in public..." He spoke quietly, his voice so low that even Anneliese barely caught it. Wendy tilted her head to avoid him. As she looked at him, the woman merely scoffed in response. "Wendy, I''m just extending my love to everyone under my roof..." Adrian''s exnation only made Wendy''s expression turn icy. She stepped aside to put distance between them, the corners of her eyes and mouth twitching in fury. Extending love to everyone under his roof? Their daughter had never once been truly cherished by her father. What was he talking about? It was ridiculous! Anneliese felt the atmosphere grow awkward. At the same time, Gianna and Pepper ¡ªthe actual mother and daughter-did not want Adrian and Wendy lingering together, so they walked over as well. "Mom, did you and Elliee to watch mepete?" Gianna smiled, her expression overflowing with joy, and casually moved close to Anneliese, bending slightly to reach for Ellie''s face. But the little girl shifted and hid behind Anneliese instead, causing Gianna''s smile to stiffen. What made her even more embarrassed was what Wendy said beside her. "We came to watch Annepete. She''s the one who invited us." Gianna lifted her head, a little hurt, and forced a pale smile as she looked at Wendy. "I''vepeted in so many contests since I was little. Every time, I hoped to see you in the audience, cheering me on, being proud of me... "I thought you didn''t like joining in on the excitement. If I''d known you and Ellie were willing toe, I would have invited you instead..." Her eyes were full of yearning, grievance, and confusion-a painfully vulnerable look of a child who has always longed for a mother''s recognition and love but never received it, only to see her mother at thepetition, yet not there for her. Her disy naturally made Anneliese feel awkward. Anneliese pressed her lips together, while Pepper stepped forward, looking earnestly at Wendy. "Wendy, Gianna has been hoping for a day like this. Since you''re here, why don''t you fulfill her wish? Ms. ude, if no one else is here to cheer for you, I''m willing to do so." She was clearly implying that Anneliese had overstepped. She had essentially stolen someone else''s mother to be her cheerleader, while the girl''s own daughter was stillpeting. Meanwhile, Anneliese had no idea that Gianna had also signed up for thepetition before today. Had she known in advance, she would never have invited Wendy yesterday. Anneliese looked at Wendy, feeling she should exin herself. Otherwise, anyone who didn''t know might think she was deliberately trying to go against Gianna. "Ms. Chalmont, I didn''t know Ms. Malone would bepeting too. If you and Ellie would like to cheer for her, I''m more than happy to¡ª" Before she could finish, Wendy smiled and interrupted her. "What nonsense are you talking about? Ellie and I are here for you." She squeezed Anneliese''s hand once more, then turned to Gianna. "I''ve told you before, Gianna. Since you and your mother have acknowledged each other, I''m your aunt now." At those words, Gianna''s face drained of itsst bit of color in an instant. She stared at Wendy in disbelief, never expecting her to reveal this so openly in public. For over twenty years, Wendy had quietly allowed her to believe she was her daughter. And standing beside Giannatin.equat shock was Of course Adrian. He looked at Wendy in surprise, then at the pate-faced Gianna. "Wendy, how could you..." Wendy didn''t want to speak with him outside. Before he could finish, she grabbed Anneliese''s hand. "Let''s go. They''ve already prepared your spot. Elle and will walk with you. Come with us, Steven. I have something to teft you." Steven, who had been standing silently nearby, stepped forward, picked Ellie up, and followed them into the venue. Adrian was clearly sidelined. He wanted to follow, but Gianna''s eyes were red as she looked at him. "Dad..." Pepper looked at him too whileforting the heartbroken young woman. "Adrian, Gianna is very upset. Why don''t you offer her some words offort? She still has topeteter, and if this affects her mindset it could be a problem. It''s my fault, but Wendy''s taking it out on her at this point." Chapter 706 Adrian stopped in his tracks. He had wanted to ask how Wendy had suddenly revealed the truth to Gianna. But seeing Gianna so deeply shaken, and hearing Pepper exin that she had topete soon, he sighed and decided not to press further. Instead, he patted Gianna''s shoulder andforted her. "Gianna, no matter what, you are still the heiress of the Malone family. Focus on thepetition." Gianna''s pupils trembled, and the tears she had been holding back rolled down instantly. She quickly lowered her head to wipe them away. When she looked up again, she was sniffling, smiling with a mix of emotion and joy. "Dad, do you still want me as your daughter?" Her eyes were full of hope. Adrian nodded and patted her shoulder again. Only then did Gianna break fully into a smile, wiping away thest of her tears. "Dad, I''ll do my best in thepetition. I''ll make you and the Malone family proud! Can I go get ready now?" "Go ahead. I believe in you." Seeing her both crying andughing, with the p mark on her face still faintly visible, Adrian pitied her. Gianna stepped forward and hugged him. "Thank you, Dad." She said it quickly, then turned and walked into the corridor. Pepper brushed at the corner of her eye, watching Gianna''s figure disappear, then looked at Adrian with a faint, grateful smile. "Adrian, you told the media that you''re Gianna''s family member. Could youe with me and cheer for Gianna from the stands?" Adrian frowned slightly, but Pepper continued, "I''ve something to tell you about my sister, and about Gianna and my sister revealing their rtionship....." Hearing that it involved Wendy, and wanting to understand why Wendy insisted Gianna was now her niece instead, he paused before nodding. "Let''s go." Inside the stadium, Anneliese stood at the individualpetition station assigned to her, with less than five minutes remaining before the start. She quickly checked all the equipment at station 45, making sure everything was functioning properly. Only then did she take a deep breath. Raising her eyes, she saw Wendy in the front row of the stands directly in front of her, holding Ellie. They were impossibly conspicuous. Seeing her nce their way, Ellie excitedly clenched her tiny fists and waved. Anneliese''s eyes curved in a gentle smile before she looked away, lowering her gaze to focus. As the giant electronic screen began the one-minute countdown, the massive stadium instantly fell silent. The air in the arena was filled with the low hum of processors, the rapid vibrations of drones, and an almost tangible tension. ex After the host delivered a fluent opening speech, the huge screen disyed high-definition footage thepetitors. Whether it was intentionaf or not the cameras lingered unusually long on Gianna and Anneliese-and, notably, their shots were shown side by side. Gianna''s face was freshly made up, a thickyer of foundation carefully covering the p mark from earlier. She faced the camera, confidently lifting the corners of her lips into a perfectly sweet, practiced smile. "Wow, contestant #37 is truly a sight to behold! A perfectbination of beauty and talent." A ripple of praise went through the crowd. Most of thepetitors shown so far had been boys, and though a few girls had appeared, none had stood out like this. Gianna seemed to radiate her own aura, and she appeared younger than her years. She clearly enjoyed this moment in the spotlight, smiling gracefully at the host with effortless poise. At that moment, the camera shifted to Anneliese. The host seemed slightly taken aback for a moment before exaggerating. "Contestant #45, are you sure you didn''t wander here from some celebrity reality show?" he asked teasingly The camera, almost as if favoring her, gave Anneliese a close-up shot, holding her wless face on screen. Unlike Gianna''s meticulously sculpted beauty, Anneliese''s long hair was casually tied, her makeup minimal, her features crisp and clear. She stood quietly, like a mountain stream formed from freshly melted snow. At first nce, her presence seemed to exist on a different ne than the other contestants. Yet, the calmness she exuded felt so natural that, upon a second look it blended perfectly with the scene around her After a brief moment of silence, the crowd''s reaction grew even louder. Gianna clenched her fists while lowering her gaze, her eyes full of jealousy. How dare Anneliese steal her spotlight! Chapter 707 "Guess we don''t just recruit brains anymore," the host joked. "This year''s lineup could pass for a magazine cover." He tossed out a handful of jokes, coaxing a fewughs before building anticipation for thepetition''s kickoff. The co-host followed up with a clean breakdown of the rules. Three rounds stood between the contestants and victory. The first two were ruthless eliminations, offering no mercy and no second chances. Each round released a technical problem. Submissions were ranked by solution quality andpletion speed. The top twenty advanced from the first round. The second round cut that list to ten. Only those ten moved on to the final challenge. With the rulesid out, Round one snapped into motion. "Please wee Steven Malone of the Air Traffic Control Committee to select today''s opening challenge," the host announced. Steven strode onto the stage, cameras tracking his every move. He pressed the selection button, and the digital question bank spun through scenarios in a blur before freezing on the final prompt overhead. The host scanned the text. "This round features arge-scale route optimization problem. Each contestant receives 1,000 delivery orders and operational data for 100 autonomous drones. The goal is to calcte the most efficient routing solution within restricted airspace." He raised his hand. "The clock starts now. Three. Two. One." As the timer struck zero, a storm of keystrokes swept through the hall. Gianna grinned. Ha! Everything''s falling into ce. The setup could not be better. I need to secure first ce here and use that momentum to shake Anneliese''s confidence, crush her, and push her just close enough to slip past. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, swift and sure, not a hint of hesitation slowing her down. Pepper had orchestrated every advantage for thispetition. A private analysis team worked in the shadows, a powerfulpute cluster stood ready, and hours had been poured into perfecting solutions for challenges just like this. Gianna was certain no one could keep up with her. She entered the finalmand and hit submit, her fingertip trembling as the mouse clicked beneath her. Then, a piercing electronic tone sliced through the auditorium¡ªthe submission alert. A triumphant smile crept onto her lips. That''s it. I have taken first. She lifted her chin, ready for the crowd''s reaction. Yet as her gaze locked onto the screen overhead, her confidence evaporated. It read, ''Contestant 45-Anneliese ude.'' It wasn''t her. Gianna''s eyes dropped to her monitor, and she realized the situation. Her program was still in validation, with the final run iplete. The leaderboard. wouldn''t update until all calctions were done and the final score was posted. There was only one exnation: Anneliese had not just beaten her by a hair-she had finished well before Gianna even submitted. Her stomach dropped. How''s that possible? Gianna turned to look at Anneliese, their stations separated by only a few feet. Anneliese lookedpletely at ease, shoulders rxed, her expression calm. She nced over, as if she could sense Gianna''s gaze. Another submission alert rang through the room. The leaderboard updated, and Gianna''s name appeared on the second row. Anneliese smiled and offered a gentle nod. Gianna gripped the edge of the table, her face a mask, not even pretending to smile. To Gianna, that smile felt mocking. It was less a gesture of courtesy and more a subtle taunt. Suspicion even crept in despite herself. Did she know I got the challenge and prep for this in advance? The suspicion was stung enough to make Gianna instinctively look away. Submission alerts echoed through the hall, but she barely flinched. Her brow furrowed, her focus unshakable. She had nevere to outdo the crowd-only to defeat Anneliese. The rest of thepetitors faded into the background. Gianna''s preparation was too meticulous for distractions. Every scenario had been anticipated; no one else mattered. Anneliese was never supposed to be here. The disqualification should have cleared the way for Gianna''s victory. She had nned to reveal herselbas the Malone heiress at the perfect moment, the win serving as her grand finale. s?novels However, everything had unraveled outside the venue. UT That humiliating moment clung to her, impossible to shake. Her reputation was already bruised, and losing to Anneliese would be ruinous. Gianna could not imagine how fast public opinion might turst once the story broke. howt?st.public.opinion.m????????? Chapter 708 A wave of panic began to rise in Gianna, threatening to drown out her focus. The first round passed in a blur, over almost before it began. Once submissions closed, the judges immediately began reviewing every entry. Momentster, the results shed across the screen. As a leading sponsor, Adrian was called onstage to reveal the results together with the host. Holding the microphone, Adrian smiled as he spoke, "First ce goes to Anneliese ude. She recorded the fastest submission time, and herpletion score is the highest overall. Her routing strategy is exceptionally clean. All 100 drones rotated efficiently andpleted 1,000 orders without a single error. An undisputed first ce. Congrattions." Adrian nced in Anneliese''s direction. She offered a faint, polite smile in return, her calm soplete it bordered on serene. No hint of excitement or nerves showed. That unwavering poise sparked a glimmer of respect in Adrian''s eyes. "Second ce goes to Gianna Malone," Adrian continued. "Her submission time is only one minute and twenty-seven seconds behind first." His smile softened as he looked toward Gianna, pride clearly showing. That look was exactly what Gianna had been waiting for. Yet when their eyes finally met, the weight of his gaze felt weighty and unrelenting, not uplifting her mood. She swore she could not-would not let herself lose to Anneliese again. However, reality refused to cooperate. The second round brought another loss for Gianna, the gap this time shrinking to less than two minutes. All color vanished from her face, and this time, she could not mask her shock. Fortunately, thepetition took a scheduled break after the second round. The third, most demanding round would also be the longest. Gianna trudged away, defeat etched into every step. Pepper stood waiting, ready to catch her. "Mom..." The word slipped out before Gianna could stop herself. Pepper swiftly grasped her hand and gently patted it tofort her. "It''s okay. Take a few sips and get a moment." She pressed a cup of water into Gianna''s hand. One look at her daughter''s face revealed a mind in turmoil. This was not the oue Pepper had so carefully orchestrated. Every detail had been nned for Gianna''s sess. It should have been as simple as filling in answers on a multiple-choice test she had already memorized. All Gianna needed to do was show up. Yet somehow, Anneliese still finished ahead. Pepper had never considered that possibility. Now wasn''t the moment to add pressure, so she deliberately kept her tone gentle. "The first two rounds are only eliminations This isn''t a best-of-three format. The rankings don''t really matter yet. Anneliese might be showing off too much early on. That isn''t always a good thing." The reassurance helped. Gianna quickly drank half the cup before frowning. "Mom... do you think Anneliese knew the questions beforehand?" She couldn''t bring herself to ept that Anneliese''s raw ability alone could be this frightening. Pepper nodded. "It''s possible. She''s Jonathan''s wife now. If he wanted to help her ess the questions, it wouldn''t be hard." AeroAir wasn''t participating in thispetition, but thepany worked closely with numerous logistics firms. Their connections ran deep. Obtaining the questions in advance would be all too easy. Relief washed over Gianna. If Anneliese knew the questions as well, then this loss isn''t really on me. "If that''s the case," Gianna started, anxiety rising again, "then what advantage do I even have in the third round? I¡ª" Pepper squeezed her hand again, ready to reply. Adrian walked over at that moment. Pepper stopped right away, turned to him, and smiled. "Adrian, tell her she did great. Our Gianna is so nervous, her hands are cold and sweaty." The words "our Gianna" painted a picture of the three of them as a family, Gianna at the center as their shared child. Adrian had never thought much of it before. In his heart, Gianna had always been the daughter he shared with Wendy. Back then, Pepper hadn''t wanted to raise her. Yet the first time Wendy met Gianna; she held her and broke down in tears. That moment shook Adrian deeply as Gianna felt like the daughter they had lost and finally found again. As long as Gianna served as the link between them, Wendy was bound toe back to him eventually¡ªat least, that had always been his belief. Then his mind drifted to what had happened just outside the venue. Wendy had clearly asked Gianna to stop calling her "Mom." Because of that, hearing Pepper refer to her as "our Gianna" now felt off. Adrian nced at Pepper. Her face was dram tight with worry, every bit of it aimed at Granna. After a moment, he decided he was overthinking it. Chapter 709 Adrian convinced himself that Pepper''s words were just an attempt to calm the room and soothe Gianna''s frayed nerves. He knew another defeat to Anneliese would sting-not just for Gianna, but for thepany''s image. Bad press was thest thing they needed. Turning to Gianna, he spoke with an encouraging smile, "Don''t be so hard on yourself. You did great. You stayed calm out there." In the first two rounds, Anneliese posted the fastest times with nearly wlesspletion scores. Yet, Gianna''s performance was on par with Anneliese''s in quality. Moreover, everyone knew the first two rounds were merely a warm-up¡ªthe real test was still toe. The third round was imminent, expected to be the most difficult and intense. Everything would be decided there. "Dad, really?" Gianna asked softly. "I worried you might be disappointed in me. I was so nervous up there, constantly fearing I would screw it up and make you look bad." Her eyes welled with tears, and her gaze-so careful and trusting-sent a sharp ache in Adrian''s heart. He had loved her like his own for years, never hesitating to regard her as his daughter. Earlier, he was upset about the tension between Gianna and Wendy, especially after Wendy stopped Gianna from calling her "Mom." Adrian felt Gianna hadn''t handled it well. After all, he saw Gianna as a buffer or a cover-up. As long as she kept calling Wendy "Mom," he could pretend everything was okay and continue fooling himself. Now, with thatst illusion stripped away, Adrian felt lost. The weight of helplessness pressed down on him, leaving him searching for a way to reach his wife. Looking at Gianna, he saw the truth: she genuinely leaned on him, loving him as her father. Beneath her confident exterior, she was still searching for his reassurance. Adrian reached out, ruffling her hair with a warmth that softened his features. "You''re doing wonderfully. I believe in you. Give it your all in the final round. No matter the oue, I''ll always be proud of you." Gianna had been terrified that losing to Anneliese again would make Adrian me her. His words melted the tension inside her. Relief and gratitude shimmered in her eyes as a genuine smile broke through. "If I win," she asked softly yet cautiously, "can you promise me something?" "What is it?" Adrian replied. After all these years, indulging her had long since be instinct. Gianna''s smile grew broader. "Can you throw a big celebration party for me? Will you?" If she took the championship, she would ensure everyone in her social circle knew about it. She wanted everyone to recognize her brilliance, especially since this contest was directly linked to Adrian''s logisticspany. A key highlight of the contest was that the third-round finalists received offers from two top logisticspanies, both offering attractive sries. If Gianna imed first ce, joining CM Logistics would be inevitable. She wouldn''t have to begin at the bottom. In her ideal vision, Adrian would announc at the party that she was starting her training at thepany. If he threw in a bit of equity that would be the cherry on top. Gianna had everything figured out. She would invite Zane and his family to see firsthand how impressive she was and how right they looked together. The idea made her eyes sparkle with anticipation. As expected, Adrian didn''t refuse. He simply smiled and agreed, "Of course." Ultimately Gianna''s victory would generate excellent publicity for the group and boost the Malo family''s reputation, so there was no reason to refuse. "Dad, you''re the best!" Gianna clenched her fists, her energy reigniting. "I''m giving it everything I''ve got!" Meanwhile, Anneliese rxed and casually chatted with Wendy and Ellie nearby, keeping the little girlfortably cradled in her arms. Ellie saw Anneliese secure first ce in both rounds, her cheeks glowing with excitement. She threw her arms around her neck and gave her twor quick kisses, one on each cheek. Anneliese chuckled and teased, "Let me guess that''s my reward? So whenever I win, I get your kiss?" Ellie nodded shyly, then lifted both thumbs enthusiastically. Anneliese gently squeezed her tiny fingers. "Oh no. What if I win againter? You won''t have enough thumbs to show at once." Ellie simply shook her head instead. Anneliese blinked in confusion while Ellie kicked her legs joyfully, as if proudly reminding her that she still had two big toes to cheer with. Anneliese and Wendyughed. Anneliese tapped Ellie''s nose lightly. "You little genius." Then Ellie''s eyes brightened as she moved past Anneliese''s shoulder. Anneliese turned around as Steven-tall andposed approached them. Chapter 710 Steven gently lifted Ellie, giving her a secure hold before offering Anneliese aid- back grin. "You crushed thatst round. Round three''sing up. Ellie, be patient and let Ms. Anneliese catch her breath." Anneliese smiled back, bright and easy. "Ellie''s adorable. Being with her is how I unwind." Ellie averted her gaze from Steven and let out a dramatic huff. Steven chuckled, surrendering with a shake of his head. "Okay, I take it back. Looks like Ellie''s already got this covered." Ellie raised her chin with a tiny, smug smile. Wendy and Anneliese couldn''t help but smile with her. Wendy and Steven shared a nce, a quiet rush of relief passing between them without a word. As Ellie''s grandmother and father, they felt the change immediately. Ellie carried a brightness they hadn''t seen in so long. If she could speak as easily as other children, she would have blended in without standing out at all-just another kid enjoying an ordinary, carefree afternoon. And all of it traced back to Anneliese. A gentle warmth settled over their corner of the venue. The four of them stood together, wrapped in a quiet harmony and effortless closeness that spoke for itself. Then the third round began. This round, the challenge soared. Orders flooded in, drones swarmed, and delivery zones stretched wider than ever. To top it off, fierce dynamic interference swept through the system. With every tick of the clock, the system hurled new surprises: sudden orders, wild weather shifts, and no-fly zones popping up out of nowhere. The modules required continuous real-time adjustments, prompting contestants to update their settings quickly. The pressure was intense: no time to breathe and no margin for error, all while ounting for total operating costs, drone performance, and multiple secondary factors simultaneously. This round demanded more than simple coding; it assessed modeling skills, rapid decision-making, and practical engineering all at once. As the match started, Anneliese retreated into her own zone. Her fingers skillfully navigated the keys while her eyes tracked the swirling data and shifting modules. The host''s voice and the crowd''s noise faded into a distant hum. She managed the first two surprise events smoothly. Meanwhile, thepetitors on either side of her struggled to keep up. One stip from the male contestant to her right set off domino effect-drones crashed mid-air, and sweat streamed down his face as he fought to regain control. Even with all her preparation, Gianna faltered as well. The disruptions came out of nowhere, impossible to predict. She had no choice but to improvise. Fortunately, Granna had studied intensely over the past two days. The people assisting her with cheating had drilled this module into her and simted various possible scenarios. All she had to do was follow their framework, and adapt at the right moment After weathering the second surprise, she finally exhaled and nced around almost on instinct. The male contestant next to her frowned deeply, his hands trembling on the keyboard. The sight loosened a knot in her chest. Her gaze sharpened and slid toward Anneliese. One nce, and Gianna almost choked on her own anger. Anneliese remained utterly focused and calm, with a subtle smile suggesting a quiet, absorbed happiness. She wasn''t struggling. She was gliding through it all. Gianna red at her before forcing herself to look away and refocus. Then, the challenge surged to a new level. The system caused multiple major disruptions. A strong east wind blew through. Soon after, orders were suddenly canceled in various regions. Gianna had little time to handle one crisis before another emerged. She had no time to prepare for what wasing next. Frustrated, she rushed to adjust her module but issued the wrongmands. The massive framework also slowed her down, making every modification painfully slow. On the screen, her drones disintegrated as a team. They skirted the eastern winds, then diverted onto a longer route that inted costs and dyed deliveries. Gianna turned pale. As she attempted to fix the situation, the chaos worsened. She watched helplessly while her drones dispersed like headless flies, with cold sweat prickling her brow. Anneliese never took her eyes off her own disy. She met every new disruption with calm precision, never missing a beat. Before the allotted time expired, shepleted every order within the assigned region and time window. Chapter 711 As the final round drew to a close, the big screen remained stubbornly ck. Unlike before, this time, the results lingered in silence. Now the judges would analyze each solution in detail using advanced, multiyered methods, examining how each algorithm responded under constant pressure and bncedpeting objectives with apparent intelligence. After two elimination rounds, just fifteen contestants remained. Each had earned their spot. Some stood stiff with nerves, others rxed with confidence, and a few practically shook with anticipation as they waited for the results. Anneliese felt a sense of fulfillment and total harmony within herself. She had pushed herself to her limits. In that moment, the result suddenly seemed almost insignificant. Her shoulders rxed as a subtle smile formed on her lips. She saw Wendy and Ellie in the crowd and yfully winked at them. Ellie quickly stood up and responded with a big thumbs-up and a wave. Today, the young girl wore a bright red cape that was hard to miss. Anneliese''s smile grew even warmer. When she looked away, her eyes briefly met Gianna''s across the aisle, where she was seated two seats away. Gianna appeared utterly exhausted, with smudged makeup and a piercing, almost confrontational stare. To an outsider, it might seem as if Anneliese had taken her mother away. However, Anneliese found this reaction odd and chose to look elsewhere. Earlier, outside the venue, Ms. Chalmont tells Gianna to stop calling her "Mom." I stay close enough to hear her words, though the rest fades into background noise. One thing remains clear: Gianna isn''t Ms. Chalmont''s daughter but her sister''s. Then, a prickly question began to stir inside her. Then why is Gianna still the Malone heiress? Did Mr. Malone have something going on with Ms. Chalmont''s sister, and is this the result? If so, that really changes how I see him. She sighed. This kind of mess isn''t exactly rare in wealthy families, but Ms. Chalmont deserves better. Soon, her thoughts were interrupted by the host''s voice. The host dered that the big screen would soon reveal a visual breakdown of each contestant''s final solution, one after another. As those words echoed, Gianna''s world lurched sideways. Her fists tightened. This isn''t what I''ve been told. Only the top three are meant to be showcased. Why are they exposing everyone? No one understood better than Gianna just how badly her final round had gone. To disy it now felt like a public unmasking. Panic surged as she desperately searched for any escape. There was none. The big screen lit up. Her solution appeared first. Initially, her module appeared intact-organized and somewhat optimistic. However, when veget unpredictable disruptions urred, the framework fell apart. Connections became strained, pathways crossed and ovepped, and the entirework descended into disarray. The umtion o conflicts eventually led to the system''s copse. On the screen, her routing looked like a ball of yarn torn apart by a rampaging cat. The failure was visible to everyone, and Gianna pressed her nails into her palm, her face going ghostly pale. She even sensed the audience''s gaze change admiration dissolving into regret, then doubt, and finally hint of smug smug satisfaction. She couldn''t look at Adrian or Pepper. Disappointment was hard enough, but contempt would be too much to bear. The judges''mentary was faintly audible to her. She only managed two stiff nods; that was all. The sequence of showcases made one clear truth painfully obvious: theter a solution emerged, the more impressive it was. Gianna quietly wished Anneliese''s module would appear sooner, but luck wasn''t on her side. Even when the second-ce module shed onto the screen, Anneliese''s name still didn''t appear. There was only one exnation. Anneliese had taken first. When her solution finally appeared, a ripple of genuine awe swept through the hall. Her routing visualization wasn''t just effective; it exuded elegance. The system operated seamlessly start to finish. Even in hig conditions, with sudden cancetions and unexpected surges in orders, the drone swarms stayed resilient. It was almost as if the system could predict issues before they happened Some of the fleet had already switched to backup routes-slightly longer but more reliable and secure. Chapter 712 The module thrummed with energy, alive and vignt. Every pulse sent it stretching to its limits, only to snap back with a rhythm as sharp and unstoppable as a drumbeat. There was no contest. She proved to be the best, securing a decisive victory. Adrian took the stage with a director from another leading logisticspany to share the results. "Now," they announced, voices ringing through the hall, let''s reveal the champion of the National Low-Altitude Logistics Challenge..." The spotlight cut down hard. Anneliese''s face filled the giant screen, luminous and unblemished. She could have eclipsed any starlet, but her beauty was understated, her smile genuine and unforced. "She is contestant No. 45," Adrian continued, leaning toward the microphone. His eyes flicked briefly toward Anneliese, something unreadable passing through them before he finished, "Anneliese ude." The apuse was immediate and thunderous. At the host''s signal, Anneliese moved gracefully to receive her award. Her smile remained steady, her walk confident, and her aura exuded natural elegance. Gianna watched her pass. She had braced for a smug grin, a sharp nce, or any small gesture that might salt the wound of loss. Yet, nothing came. Anneliese didn''t look at her at all, not even a nce or a sign of noticing. She just walked by without any acknowledgment. Gianna''s nails sank into her hand as her eyes dropped. Being ignored outright hurt far more than any sneer ever could. That kind of indifference cut the deepest. If this hadn''t been live, she would have turned around and walked out. She had never felt so publicly humiliated, never been overshadowed sopletely by someone else. By then, Anneliese had stood next to the hosts. She responded to their two questions with a natural sense of humor, establishing a rxed atmosphere. Then one host smiled and announced, "All right, we now wee our special guest to present the trophy to our champion." Anneliese wondered, Huh? The Oceaton University president just handed out the second- and third-ce trophies. No one ever mentioned a special guest. She followed the host''s gaze and froze. The man stepping forward wore the same ck suit from that morning, but his tie w was now a soft blue. His shirt shone brightly, and his Windsor knot was perfectly neat. Under the stadium lights, he appeared to stand our with the crowd''s rojse facing into the background as a subtle glow traced his silhouette, leaving everyone briefly captivated. Then his eyes found Anneliese. The distance disappeared. His expression softened as his lips curved naturally, the sharpness fading into something gentle, elegant, and quietly proud. Anneliese''s eyes widened. Jonathan? On the way there, he mentioned he was busy chairing an important meeting and joked about sneaking a peek at the livestream if possible. At a red light, he apologized and said he hated missing her first contest since their wedding. Then, he drew hernear and kissed her gentle yet tinged with guilt, as if he genuinely meant it. Now, he was standing there as the special guest. So much for that meeting; he hadn''t gone anywhere at all. If not for the cameras trained on her from every angle, Anneliese would have swung a yful fist at him on the spot. He teased her with every step, and her heart pounded with restless anticipation as he approached. She nearly let herposure crack, right there before the entire crowd. Jonathan noticed the look in her bright, expressive eyes-half using, half amused¡ªand couldn''t help but smile. As he grabbed the microphone from the host, his other hand casually brushed against the hand resting near Anneliese. Her heart skipped a beat as she kept her eyes fixed on him. The host obviously noticed the chemistry between the special guest and the champion. Quickly, he looked away with a smile and "It seems our champion is quite captivated by Mr. Fullbust quiet? Honestly, with our finalists and guests, tonight has been genuinely charming." She added, "Mr. Fullbuster isn''t only the CEO of AeroAir; he''s also an honorary trustee at Oceaton University, making him ideal to present tonight''s trophy. Mr. Fullbuster, would you like to say a few words to our champion?" Jonathan epted the trophy from the usher and turned back toward Anneliese. Crystal lights scattered shards of brilliance across the stage, but none could rival the warmth shining in his eyes as he gazed at her. Chapter 713 Jonathan didn''t hand over the trophy immediately. He held the trophy steady between them, leaned slightly forward, and moved the microphone closer to enhance the moment. "First things first, congrattions to our champion. Three rounds, three wins. You were amazing out there." His soft and steady voice resonated throughout the venue, radiating a calm authority that quieted the crowd and captivated them. No one imagined someone so polished and reserved could sound so easygoing and yful. When he echoed the host, calling Anneliese "our champion,"ughter rippled through the crowd. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, gentle and sweet, tinged with surprising intimacy. Online, the livestream burst into chaos. Screenshots shed across timelines,ments poured in, and fans flooded the chat with capital letters. When Jonathan finished, he turned to her. A blush spread across Anneliese''s cheeks as she avoided his teasing eyes, sending him a subtle look that clearly meant "enough." Only then did he finally offer her the trophy. As she reached for it, they both leaned in, their hands meeting. His fingers brushed hers, and he bent close enough to whisper in her ear, "Congrattions, honey. I''m proud of you." A shiver ran up her spine as warmth spread from her cheeks and flowed down her neck. Jonathan quickly withdrew, creating space immediately upon noticing her flustered response. After stepping off the stage, Anneliese''s phone kept buzzing with nonstop notifications. Alexander and several senior colleagues called in quick session, their voices enthusiastic and praise-filled. Alexander sounded especially pleased. Heughed loudly and remarked, "I knew you had it in you. Thatst solution was sharp. You opened a new angle on fixed- route optimization¡ªsomething I hadn''t even thought of. We''ll tear it apart properly once you''re back in theb." Annelieseughed, nodded, and exchanged a few more words. When she raised her eyes, Jonathan stood waiting at the far end. Jonathan headed toward her the instant he saw her. Anneliese smiled, finished herst congrattory call from George, and tucked her phone out of sight. "Tired?" he asked softly, as though the rest of the world had fallen quiet. He smoothly took the trophy from her hands and reced it with a bouquet of midnight velvet-colored roses. "Flower?" She leaned in, inhaling their scent, her eyes rising to meet his with a smile. "Apuse and flowers are a must," he replied lightly. "The trophy was presented by the special guest. The flowers are from your husband-custom-ordered." Anneliese chuckled softly, blinking at him. "So sure I''d win? What if I hadn''t? Would that have been painfully awkward for you, Mr. Special Guest?" From the very beginning, he had been confident she woulde out on top. That certainty was what led him to arrange to be the special guest. She hadn''t even been that sure herself. Jonathan, on the other hand, had acted as if the oue were set in stone. He held her hand and raised an eyebrow. "Come on. Whose wife are you?" His confident tone and steady gaze made her feel as though victory was always meant to be. Holding the bouquet Anneliese experienc warm gentle, timinous sensation spreading through her chest dike flowers blooming in sunlight. She tilted her head, studying him for a long, unguarded moment. "Hm?" Jonathan lifted a hand and gently tucked a wind-tossed strand of hair behind her ear. Only after that did she regain her,posure. She embraced him around the waist and leaned into his chester voice became softer and warmer. Thanks for the trophy. That old regret... It''s gone now." Jonathan puzzled. Then he understood. Earlier that day, Anneliese encountered the dean of the College of Aerospace. She recalled missing Jonathan during the schrship ceremony years ago-an unresolved, faint ache she could never fully fet go of. Now, that moment reyed, but this time he was standing right here. A sensation pulled at his chest as he gazed down at her, warmth shining in his eyes. Of course, he understood. If that regret still mattered, it was because she had cared deeply about who he was at that time, too. He smoothed a hand over her hair. "We just got lucky. Fate lined things up so I could see you like this right at your brightest. So don''t hang on to the past anymore, okay?" Anneliese raised her head and looked into his eyes, quiet and resolute. "It''s not that you saw a better version of me. Being with you is what made me better." Jonathan smiled, the distance in his expression gone. "Same." Chapter 714 "You two might want to dial it back," a cool voice teased from nearby. "At this rate, you''ll be trending before the night''s over." The words danced with yful mischief, aimed at the couple whose closeness drew the air around them, their focus on each other nearly electric. Anneliese turned her head. Steven stood nearby, with Ellie in his arms and Wendy by his side. Their attentive watching made it clear they had been there for some time. The corridor buzzed with life, but every passerby slowed, curiosity flickering in their eyes as they stole nces at the scene unfolding. Anneliese had imed first ce, and Jonathan presented her award in front of a buzzing crowd. Their earlier appearance had already set the inte alight. Now, side by side, roses in Anneliese''s arms, their closeness was impossible to ignore. They were the center of every gaze. Anneliese''sshes fluttered as a blush crept across her cheeks. She eased from Jonathan''s embrace, only for his arm to find her waist again, steady and sure, silently dering his ce at her side. Only after that did he look at Steven and say, "Sounds like someone''s jealous." He thought, Jealous, huh? I have my wife right here in my arms, while your little girl keeps growing, and your wife is nowhere to be seen. Anneliese gave Jonathan''s sleeve a gentle tug, a quiet reminder that elders and a child were watching. Steven didn''t bother responding. He merely lifted an eyebrow, unimpressed. Ellie, however, reached toward Anneliese. Anneliese passed the roses to Jonathan and stepped forward, lifting Ellie into her arms. Ellie recalled the promise she made during the break. When Anneliese picked her up, she immediately hugged her, gave her a loud kiss on the cheek, and showed a triumphant thumbs-up. Anneliese smiled gently, her eyes warm. "Thanks for cheering me on. Want to see my trophy?" Ellie''s eyes widened instantly. She nodded hard, lips parting. Anneliese''s attention snapped to that tiny mouth. Steven did too. Ellie''s lips moved, but no sound followed. Nevertheless, they both saw it clearly. The shape was unmistakably an "Okay." Thest time Ellie spoke, Wendy had told Steven about it. Since he hadn''t witnessed it himself, it never truly felt real. Now he was watching it happen. Though Ellie didn''t manage to speak, it was her first real step toward finding her voice. That alone was enough. Steven''s gaze lingered on Anneliese, admiration unmistakably brightening his eyes. Suddenly, a cascade of roses swept into view, a flood of crimson petats filling Steven''s vision. The heady scent washed over him, dizzying.in Sintensity. Steven instinctively took a step back. When he looked up again, Jonathan had already moved into the ce he''d just vacated. One arm wrapped confidently around Anneliese, while she extended the crystal trophy toward Ellie. Ellie nestled safely in Anneliese''s arms, Jonathan''s embrace gathering them both. The three stood together as if they had always belonged, a portrait of family-whole and undeniably united. S to'' Steven sneered. Only now did he see just how sharp and delightfully petty Jonathan could be. "Anne, let''s go celebrate with dinner," Wendy suggested with a smile as she watched them. "I also want to discuss wedding dress ideas with you." Of course, Anneliese hadn''t forgotten; Penelope had already employed Wendy to design her wedding gown. She nced at Jonathan. He saw it too¡ªhow naturally Anneliese fit beside Wendy and Ellie, how genuine Wendy''s care was. Anneliese didn''t have much family. Jonathan didn''t mind her gaining a few elders who cherished her. He nodded. "That was already the n. Everything''s arranged." Wendy''s smile brightened. "Perfect. Let''s go." Anneliese stepped forward. Jonathan reached toward the child in her arms. "Ellie, want me to carry you?" He was thinking of Anneliese. The heels she wore made every step harder than it looked, and even little Ellie would tire her arms soon enough. Anneliese, knowing Ellie well, was about to decline. Ellie, however, looked from her to Jonathan, hesitated, and then reached out. Jonathan gently moved her into his arms in a seamless motion. Chapter 715 Anneliese and Wendy walked ahead. Jonathan followed, carrying Ellie and Steven. Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "See? Your girl''s enthusiastic." Steven said, "Ellie naturally likes people close to those she cares about." Before, Ellie saw Jonathan as just another adult. Now, she willingly let him carry her. Clearly, it was because of Anneliese, not Jonathan''s appearance. Jonathan scoffed, ncing coolly at Steven. Earlier, Steven watched Anneliese closely while she held Ellie. The scene irritated Jonathan. If Jonathan hadn''t seen that Steven''s gaze was innocent, he''d have been suspicious. How could Steven not know what he was thinking? He patted Jonathan on the shoulder. "I haven''t congratted you. I specially prepared a wedding gift a few days ago. I''ll have someone deliver it to you and your wifeter. Anyone Ellie likes is a good pick. You''re lucky." Jonathan finally looked away. He guessed Ellie saw Anneliese as her mother, since she''d never met her real one. He didn''t mind; Ellie was too endearing to argue with. Still, he couldn''t help but feel possessive, though Steven''s words were reasonable. Jonathan nced at Anneliese''s back, lips curving slightly. "Good fortune. Not something you can envy." Steven froze. So he''s showing off-saying my luck doesn''t stack up. Yet as he looked at his daughter in Jonathan''s arms, her expression still innocent and confused, a certain memory surfaced, and Steven''s eyes dimmed slightly. D*mn it. Looks like my luck''s nothing next to his. ... As the group left, Gianna and Pepper also emerged from the sports arena. Unlike the rxed atmosphere on the other side, Gianna''s eyes were red and swollen¡ª clearly, she had cried again. Pepper looked equally upset. Even with advanced questions, Gianna had still failed. She thought about Gianna. Gianna had returned from an elite Ivy League school overseas and joined Alexander''s researchb. But her time abroad was spent livingvishly-clubbing, attending parties, and watching fashion shows wherever she went. Gianna''s grades were bought, her coursework done by others. Pepper could only sigh. She spent a long timeforting Gianna, telling her that now was not the time to vent her anger or despair. What mattered most was calming Adrian down quickly. Only then did she finally regain herposure. The mother and daughter caught up with Adrian and spoke to him one after another, leading him to believe that Gianna''s poor performance stemmed from her deep care for Adrian and the Malone family''s reputation. She was terrified she might not truly be Arian''s daughter. She feared losing her father''s love if she failed thepetition. That fear became overwhelming Under pressure her nerves spiraled out of control Everything fell apart. Adrian had already been feeling deeply embarrassed. Before thepetition, the fact that Gianna was his daughter had been exposed. On top of that, Gianna had caused him trouble. People started to specte that he manipted things to get her the win. Some thought he revoked the defending champion''s qualification. Gianna''s deadst ranking in the third round was like a silent p across Adrian''s face. He truly felt humiliated and had even been mocked a couple of times by Levi Dathce from a rivalpany just moments earlier. His face dark, he had nned to scold Gianna severely. But with her swollen eyes and repeated cries of "Dad, I''m sorry," "Dad, dont be disappointed in me," and "Dad, are you going to abandon me?", most of his anger dissipated. Pepper mentioned that she had booked a restaurant and invited Adrian to join. She said they could discuss how to persuade Wendy over dinner. Adrian agreed. When they arrived, they saw Anneliese''s group had already arrived. He spotted Wendy and walked over, leaving Gianna and Pepper. "Wendy, are you eating here too? Let''s eat together." He knew Wendy would likely refuse, so he turned to Jonathan. "Perfect timing. AeroAir and CM Logistics are discussing cooperation. Jonathan, let''s talk about the details. Anneliese, your model impressed me today. "I think we could integrate it with our system and optimize further. Interested, Anneliese? You won''t lose out." Chapter 716 Gianna and Pepper hurried forward, overhearing Adrian invite Anneliese to coborate. Gianna couldn''t tell if Adrian respected Anneliese or just wanted to please Wendy. But the scene provoked her. Gianna forced a smile. "Congrats, Anneliese. With Mr. Fullbuster backing you, you get whatever you want." Anneliese only performed so well because Jonathan got her the questions in advance. How else could Jonathan be the special guest presenting the final award? I only lost because I was one step behind. Clearly, the people Jonathan secretly hired for Anneliese are more capable than anyone on my side. Anneliese heard the sarcasm. Before she could reply, Jonathan''s face turned cold. "My wife won because she''s intelligent, diligent, quick-thinking, and uniquely gifted. She earned it herself." Despite not being someone who blushed easily, Anneliese still felt her face warm at his words. It felt like self-promotion. She nced at him, signaling restraint. He looked at her,pletely serious, as if he truly believed every word. Anneliese''s ears burned. She straightened, epting her husband''s public praise with a smile. Gianna didn''t expect Jonathan''s strong reaction. When the others looked at her, her face turned pale. "I... I..." she stammered. Jonathan''s cold gaze swept over her. In an instant, the excuses she had been about to give vanished from her mind. She stumbled over her words twice but couldn''t say a singleplete sentence. Jonathan curved his lips into a smile devoid of warmth. He wrapped an arm around Anneliese''s shoulders, the gesture intimate yet carrying unquestionable authority. "As for backing¡ªyes, I am her supporter. But all I did was trust she''d silence every doubter herself." He paused slightly, his voice dropping even lower. "Just like now." Gianna''s lips trembled. "I''m sorry, I''m really sorry. I truly didn''t mean to question anything I just don''t express myself well and made ye etand me, Jonathan..." misunderstand me, Jonathan..." Her eyes reddened, and her shoulders shook. She looked so fragile that it almost made Jonathan seem like a bully. Jonathan couldn''t push further, or it would look like bullying. But Anneliese wouldn''t let her man be framed. Anneliese tugged Jonathan''s sleeve. "Let it go, Hubby. Gianna''s upset and spoke thoughtlessly. It happens." Gianna had already lost badly. Anneliese''s words only stung more. Her face flushed. The worst part was that everyone watching was family. Still, they just watched as Anneliese humiliated her. Gianna bit her lip in fury and stared at Anneliese. "I didn''t mean that. Why twist my words?" She kept ying the innocent victim. Anneliese could y that role too. She walked over with a tissue, speaking gently. "We''ve exined it, Giannazkou were upset and misspoke. We understand please don''t cry, or it''ll seem like we''re bullying you." She lifted the tissue to wipe Gianna''s tears, looking like a caring sister. Does she even listen to what she''s saying? I only made one sarcastic remark, and yet they-Jonathan and Anneliese¡ªtake turns unloading dozens of cutting words on me, leaving mepletely humiliated. And now I''m supposed to believe they haven''t taken it to heart? Jonathan looked down, hiding a smile. He couldn''t watch Gianna''s expression get worse. Even Steven, nearby, smirked he wasn''t going to help Gianna. Chapter 717 She was never his blood sister, but as a child, she was cute and always clung to him. Even though she wasn''t his real sister, she was still a cousin, and what had happened back then had nothing to do with Gianna. Steven disliked Adrian bringing home a ''recement daughter'', but never med Gianna and had always tolerated her. Recently, Steven noticed Gianna''s temperament worsening. He once thought her simply willful, but herst police station incident showed clear arrogance. Steven almost weed Gianna facing setbacks. If she''d learned humility before, Anneliese and her husband couldn''t humiliate her now. As he watched the woman beside him speaking calmly and confidently, a trace of admiration shed through his eyes. Anne''s never been the kind of fragile person who needs me to shield her every second. She''s got her own edge, her own strength. Gianna lost patience and tried to scratch Anneliese''s hand. But Pepper, who stood beside her, suddenly reached out and grabbed Gianna''s wrist. At the same time, Pepper took the tissue from Anneliese''s hand and said, "Gianna wasn''t well during thepetition. She''s young and upset. The Malone family always doted on her-this is her first setback, so her words went too far." She turned to Adrian as she spoke. "Adrian, why not treat everyone to dinner as Gianna''s apology?" Gianna''s impulsive words made things awkward. With Jonathan refusing to let the matter go and Anneliese clearly not someone who would swallow insults, if Gianna had been smart enough, a calm, straightforward apology would have ended things. Instead, she insisted on ying the innocent victim, making even Wendy feel embarrassed. Adrian was unhappy; that''s why he stayed silent. Pepper stepped in, acting as thedy of the house and unconcerned about Adrian''s displeasure. For one thing, she was Gianna''s mother. When her daughter caused trouble, it was only right for her to step forward. For another, Adrian wanted everyone to have dinner together anyway. By doing this, she was helping him achieve that goal. At least it meant Gianna hadn''t lost dignity for nothing. Adrian nodded. "Jonathan, you won''t refuse, will you?" Adrian was an elder. Jonathan couldn''t refuse. The two groups ended up sharing a private dining room. Anneliese sat between Jonathan and Ellie. After Ellie sat, Wendy turned to sit, but someone moved her chair for her. Wendy saw Adrian smiling at her and didn''t want to sit anymore. But since she wanted to sit with Ellie and Anneliese, she calmly withdrew her gaze, pretended she hadn''t seen the person behind her, and sat down At the same time, she called Out to Steven, Stevene sit here, and look after Ellie." Adrian tried to sit next to Wendy, but she called Steven instead. Adrian gave Steven a pointed look. Unfortunately, this son had never been reliable. From childhood to adulthood, he had never acted as a bridge between his parents-only as someone determined to oppose them. As if he hadn''t noticed Adrian''s gaze at all, Steven pulled out a chair and sat down on Wendy''s other side. He even turned to Adrian behind him and asked feigning ignoranc What are you standing there for?" Adrianughed coldly, but Gianna pulled him aside, saying, "Dad, didn''t you want to discuss business with Jonathan?" She guided Adrian to sit beside Jonathan. By then, Pepper had already taken her seat-right on Adrian''s other side. That left only one seat remaining, which Gianna and Steven ended up sharing. She had always been a little afraid of this eldest brother. Ever since the incident at the police station, when Steve hot helped her at all, b?r¡± warness toward him had only grown. Now that she knew she wasn''t even his real sister, sitting next to him made the sense of distance and coldness around Steven feel even stronger. But she had already lost face today, and Pepper had made it clear-the priority now was to stabilize her position in the Malone family. She needed to win over Adrian and Steven for reassurance. Gianna leaned closer to Steven and spoke quietly. "Steven, did I do terribly today? Can you check what people are saying online? I''m afraid to look." Chapter 718 Gianna unlocked her phone and pushed it toward Steven, sping her hands as if begging, ying up the vulnerable angle. She was referring to the online chatter-people doubting her abilities and specting she had manipted the game to hold Anneliese back. In reality, she had already shed tears over it in the car, right in front of Adrian on the way here. Adrian had instructed the PR team to manage the gossip and contain any coverage outside the venue, ensuring nothing damaging reached her. With Adrian handling it, Gianna wasn''t concerned about the situation spiraling. Her aim was simply to get Steven''s pity-and maybe a bit of affection. Since Anneliese was involved, she assumed Steven would automatically take her side, perhaps even resent Anneliese. But that didn''t happen. She pressed her hands together, looking pitiful, yet Steven ignored the phone. He turned to face her, his eyes cool andposed behind the sses, radiating a calm authority that made Gianna''s chest tighten. His tone was icy. "If you''re going to do something, take responsibility. Don''t leave openings for others to exploit. Thinking everyone''s a fool doesn''t make you clever¡ª it makes you a fool." Gianna''s cheeks med. She gripped the edge of the table just to keep from springing up and stomping out. ... Meanwhile, even though the restaurant charged at least five figures per guest, Anneliese stuck to her habit of rinsing utensils carefully, especially with Ellie beside her, who required extra attention. Just as she lifted the pot, a slender, long-fingered hand reached for it effortlessly. Jonathan had removed his jacket, revealing the elegant line of his shirt cuff. His eyes focused on the task. His long fingers steadied the cdon pot as he poured fresh water, rinsing tes, bowls, and cups in sequence. Steam curled around him, softening his sharp profile. He ced the cleaned set before Anneliese with his usual poise,pletely at ease despite the onlookers. Anneliese offered a small smile and transferred the set to Ellie. She then ced Ellie''s original set in front of Jonathan, silently inviting him to continue. "Didn''t see thising, Jonathan. You''ve got a real nurturing side," Adrianmented from across the table, unable to resist teasing after finishing his discussion with others. Jonathan gave a small nod. "My wife is mine to pamper. If she storms off, who else am I supposed toin to? Right?" Adrian sensed the sarcasm, though he couldn''t call it outright. He instinctively nced toward Wendy, sighing. "Fair enough. If only I had been as sharp back then things might have turned out differently..." It was clearly a jab aimed at Wendy, looking for a reaction. However, Wendy kept her eyes on her phone, scrolling steadily, offering no response. Adrian felt slightly ufortable. Next to him, Pepper quietly set a rinsed set in front of Adrian "Adrian, your stomach was upset a couple of days ago. Take it easy." > Adrian diverted his gaze from Wendy and gave Pepper a small nod. "Appreciate it." He epted her gesture without protest. Anneliese couldn''t figure him out. He''d just been cozying up to Wendy, appearing to want reconciliation. Yet momentster, he was being called "dad" by Pepper''s daughter, moving freely around her, showing closeness publicly. What exactly is he trying to do? "Careful, it''s hot," Jonathan warned, sliding thest cup forward and filling it with water. Anneliese came back to reality. She touched the cup, feeling the warmth seep through the porcin. Perfect. "Thanks, Hubby," she said with a smile directed at Jonathan. The contrast struck her-her luck had finally shifted. She had truly found a treasure. Her eyes gleamed, emotions written clearly on her face. Jonathan raised a brow, leaned in slightly, and spoke in a lowered tone. "Honey, take it easy." That yful look of hers stirred heat in his chest, making him want to pull her close and kiss her immediately. Gianna sat stiffly, her mood plummeting. Watching Anneliese and Jonathan exchange nces openly. Seeing a man so cold and untouchable, the ong who usually stayed distant, lowered himself to care for Anneliese like this. Chapter 719 Even if Gianna didn''t harbor any romantic feelings for Jonathan, watching Anneliese ¡ªa woman who had constantly shed with her im a man at the very peak of power ignited a fire of jealousy within her. Why does Anneliese always seem to get her way, while I stumble at every turn? Her professional achievements were constantly eclipsed by this rival, the man she secretly admired was caught up with Anneliese''s tacky friend, and now even her family appeared to favor Anneliese openly. It felt as though this woman existed solely to ruin her. When Wendy picked up her phone, leaned over to show Anneliese something, and smiled while they exchanged words, their heads nearly touching as they viewed the screen, Gianna could no longer contain herself. With a sharp scrape, she dragged her chair back and stood, drawing every eye in the room. She moved behind Ellie''s seat, curiosity thick in her tone. "Mom, what are you and Anneliese sneaking a look at? Can I take a look as well?" She leaned in, her expression innocent and inviting, making it awkward to exclude her. Anneliese replied casually, "It''s a wedding dress design Madam Chalmont made for me." Truthfully, Gianna didn''t even need the answer-her eyes had already taken in the sketch. Though unfinished, the design clearly reflected careful thought, and one nce had Giannapletely captivated. Soft gray watercolor shaded the base, shaping a sweeping A-line gown. On pearlescent fabric, thousands of tiny pearls formed delicate vine patterns, tracing the curves of the figure. Below the high waist, the skirt flowed like fog, falling with the luminescence of moonlight. Eachyer of the tiered design would be studded with miniature teardrop diamonds, sparkling as the bride moved. Gianna''s fingers clenched the chair behind her, her breathing growing shallow. The sketch stirred a memory. She realized instantly that she had seen it before¡ª back when she had just turned eighteen. She had wandered into Wendy''s studio by chance and spotted the sketch lying on the desk, and had been entranced. It was breathtaking, the kind of dress any young woman would dream of elegant, romantic, both alluring and pure. She had picked it up, unable to tear her eyes away. "Mom, is this yourtest design? It''s stunning!" Wendy, who was adjusting a veil on a model, noticed her and caught sight of the sketch in Gianna''s hands. Her expression darkened as sh? hurried over, snatching it back like it was priceless. Gianna had been disappointed, pouting and pleading. "Mom, I love this one! Is it meant for a client? Make another for them-keep this one for my wedding! Please, I adore it." She clung to Wendy''s arm, but Wendy tucked the sketch into a drawer and closed it firmly. "No. This isn''t for you." "Why? I''m your daughter. Don''t you want me to wear your finest design as a bride?" She begged, her heart on her sleeve, but Wendy refused. She said Gianna was too young that the piece wasn''tplete, and swiftly changed the topic. IMS Over the following year, Gianna kept watch, curious to see who might eventually wear that dress. No one ever did. Wendy had preserved the design in secret, refining it over time¡ªand now, she was giving it to Anneliese. Gianna stared at the screen, her eyes radiating a venom that could almost burn through the disy. Thank heavens she was standing; her loweredshes masked the fury inside. "Mom..." Hershes fluttered, misted with hurt, as her words lodged somewhere in her throat. She wasn''t Wendy''s biological daughter, fine. But they were family, and stre had looked up to Wendy as her mom for over twenty years. Could I really be worth less than Anneliese, who has hardly spent any time with Mom? She couldn''tprehend how Wendy could hand this treasured wedding gown to Anneliese instead of saving it for her. The pain was sharp, stabbing. Gianna thought that even if she endured it in silence, Wendy would sense the full weight of her anguish and resentment. Chapter 720 Gianna lingered, hoping Wendy would show remorse and soften toward her. If Wendy retracted the design sketches, there was still a chance to forgive her misjudgment and recklessness. Yet when Wendy met her gaze, already glistening with hurt, she merely furrowed her brow slightly and said, "Gianna, I told you just call me Aunt Wendy from now on." Gianna froze in ce. She bit her lip as tears slipped down her cheeks, one by one. Her voice quivered as she murmured, "Okay... Aunt Wendy." She had ced so much meaning in that single title. Thest word trembled with pain and resentment. Ovee, she wiped her face roughly and bolted toward the door. Her outburst had drawn attention; everyone in the private room was watching. Pepper''s eyes reddened as well. She rose quickly, anxiety and sorrow evident on her pale face as she faced Wendy across the table. "Wendy, you know Gianna looks up to you. She''s been like that since she was a child. She hasn''t done anything wrong. She just can''t ept this sudden change. Even if you can''t love her like a daughter, you don''t have to humiliate her in front of the outsiders." Adrian''s brow furrowed slightly. He silently agreed with Pepper. How can Wendy be so heartless? After everything, Gianna hasn''t softened her in the slightest. Adrian realized that if Wendy treated Gianna this way, he himself would be met with even greater distance. He felt Gianna''s bitterness deep in his chest-raw and stinging. Pepper''s words seemed entirely justified. Anneliese observed the tension, frowning in concern. She didn''t know the full story between Wendy and Gianna, but it was obvious that Pepper wasn''t treating her sister fairly. On impulse, Anneliese reached across the table and sped Wendy''s hand. Wendy blinked, then nced at Anneliese with a look that silently said, I''m okay. Ellie noticed the subtle gesture, herrge, round eyes widening. She slid her small hand between the two, resting it gently atop them. A warmth spread through Wendy''s chest. Seeing the three hands together-two small, one grown-her throat tightened unexpectedly, and her vision blurred slightly. "Wendy? You..." When Wendy remained silent, Pepper''s face grew even paler. Adrian, realizing Pepper seemed unyielding, was about to pull her back into her seat when Wendy lifted her head instead. She picked up her coffee, sipped lightly, and said to Pepper, "Outsiders? Jonathan practically grew up under my watch and h and Steven are inseparable tike brothers. I''ve connected with Anne too I was going to ask her if she''d like me to be her Godmother. To me, they aren''t outsiders at all." She meant it¡ªAnneliese and Jonathan were part of her inner circle. Anyone else was an outsider. That included the trio who had barged into the private room-Adrian and hispanions. Pepper''s gaze flicked between Wendy and Anneliese. "Wendy, Gianna is already falling apart. All she wants is a mother''s affection and your approval. Naming Anneliese your goddaughter right now would destroy her." Pepper''s nails dug into her palms. She hadn''t anticipated that Wendy might want to make Anneliese her goddaughter. No way! Wendy let a small, amused smile curve her lips. "Gianna wants a mother''s love? Isn''t that your job? You''re her mother. You abandoned her, and now you expect me to make give you up for what you could failed as her birth mother How can you possibly me me for that?" Pepper froze, staring at Wendy in stunned disbelief. All these years, Wendy had witnessed everything¡ªand had remained silent. Pepper had assumed Wendy epted the situation and would always remain quiet. She never expected her to strike back now, ruthless and unyielding. "Wendy, how can you say that? You know that back then I..." Her words trailed off, tears welling as her body trembled. At that time, she had tried to marry into a wealthy family and failed, and then couldn''t terminate her pregnancy. She had framed her situation as forced uponert circumstances, making it seem as though Gianna''s existence was the result of coercion. This painted her as a victim and lessened the cruelty of sending her child away, eliciting Adrian''s sympathy. Adrian had taken Gianna in and raised her as his own, forging an unbreakable bond. Raising a child nurtured a deep attachment. Blood ties proved unnecessary. Over time, even a child not born to him coulde to feel closer than one''s own. Chapter 721 Adrian''s affection for Gianna extended naturally to her biological mother as well. Got to admit, Pepper had nailed him perfectly. Over the years, Adrian had always treated her with a subtle difference. At least he never restricted Pepper''s visits to the Malone Residence and helped her whenever possible. Watching Pepper suffer humiliation now, Adrian set his cup down with a soft thud. "Wendy, if you have grievances, take them out on me. Pepper and Gianna haven''t done anything wrong, and they''re the ones closest to you. Don''t aim your frustration at them." Wendy finally gave him a frosty nce, paired with a faint, detached smile. "I''m not aiming my anger at them. She''s the oneining her daughtercked a mother''s love, isn''t she? I returned Gianna to her real mother. I made it happen. How is that suddenly my fault? If you think I haven''t done enough¡ªthat Gianna deserves a moreplete, happier family¡ªthen fine, I genuinely wish you¡ª" Before she could finish, Adrian identally knocked the water ss over. Scalding water spilled onto his legs, and the cup hit the floor, ceramic cracking and sliding, cutting Wendy''s words in two. "Oh no! Adrian! Are you burned?" Pepper panicked, grabbing a napkin to dab at his soaked pants, tugging at the damp fabric. Adrian pushed back his chair, frowning as he gently blocked her hands. Instinctively, he looked toward Wendy, hoping to catch even a flicker of concern. There was none. Wendy spun the cdon cup idly, seemingly far more interested in its pattern than in his burn or Pepper''s fussing. She didn''t even nce at him. Adrian''s face paled. He gently pushed Pepper aside, who still wanted to check him, and said, "I''m fine. Go find Gianna. Make sure nothing else happens to her." Pepper opened her mouth to argue but froze when she met the steely look in Adrian''s eyes. She could only nod. "Alright, I''m going. Adrian, have Steven take you to a doctor immediately. That coffee was boiling." She grabbed her bag and hurried off to find Gianna. Adrian was a mess; everything was already ruined. Steven couldn''t ignore his father. He stood and moved closer. "Come on, let''s get you checked." Jonathan rose as well, grabbed his suit jacket, and said to Anneliese, "I''ll go with them. You eat and rx. I''lle back for youter." Anneliese nodded, feeling a little guilty that her man might miss his meal. As for Adrian, she had zero patience for him. Still unwilling to relent, Adrian approached Wendy. "Wendy, can we speak privately?" His right hand was flushed and blistering. He hoped she''d notice, see his pain, and relent. Wendy didn''t budge. Her gaze fell on his injured hand. "There''s nothing to discuss. Go get treated." Her icy refusal pricked his chest, yet the fact that she insisted he get medical attention sparked a tine? glimmer of hope. t? He held onto the belief that Wendy still cared, even if only a little; her years of remaining single were proof enough. But that fragile hope crumbled the instant she spoke again. "You caused this yourself. Don''t ruin my son''s dinner with Jonathan. They''re not like you they have people who genuinely care Ellie backed her grandmother wlessly, kneeling on the chair and puffing her cheeks at Adrian. Clear enough-Steven might miss dinner, but his daughter and mother were concerned. If Jonathan missed his meal, Anneliese cared. Adrian was the only one in that room, with nobody to notice him. It was a harsh reality. He remained silent, forced a tight, bitter smile, and exited. Quiet returned. Anneliese still held Wendy''s hand. Wendy flipped her grip and gave a squeeze back, smiling. "Sorry you had to witness that." At first, Anneliese felt awkward, like she''d intruded on a private family moment¡ªbut the scene quickly turned amusing. Especially watching Gianna sulk¡ªit honestly lifted her mood. She shook her head with a smile at Wendy. "You told me I''m not an outsider, so why would you say th Madam Chalmont I actually find you really kind and approachable too." Chapter 722 Anneliese''s voice carried a gentle warmth that wasn''t intentional, yet Wendy felt it deeply and found herself smiling. Ellie had no clue what was amusing everyone. She wiggled her little bottom and joined in theughter anyway. Just then, the server arrived, carrying the food. Anneliese''s lips curved into a smile. "Madam Chalmont, there''s far too much here. We won''t be able to finish it. How about we pack some for Steven and Jonathan, so they won''t have to wait when they get back?" Hearing that, Wendy felt even more at ease, realizing Anneliese didn''t treat her as an outsider. She nodded in agreement. "You really know how to care for people. Jonathan is lucky to have you." Anneliese stayedposed despite the teasing, smiling gently as she asked the server for a few takeaway containers. The trio-Anneliese, Wendy, and Ellie-ate quietly, asionallymenting on the dishes, teasing Ellie a bit, and finishing the meal in high spirits. Yet Steven and Jonathan had still not returned. Ellie sat in the private room, absorbed in a puzzle the server had brought for her. After the meal, Anneliese and Wendy shared some fruit and then settled on the couch by the window, chattingfortably. "Madam Chalmont, is there something special about that wedding dress design?" Anneliese had noticed the subtle shift in Gianna''s expression when she first glimpsed the sketch-shock mixed with envy. It was obvious the dress design wasn''t ordinary. Wendy pulled up the sketch on her phone. As she looked at it, her face softened, tinged with sadness. "This sketch... it wasn''t drawn recently. The concept and first draft were made five years ago. I designed it for my daughter." "Oh..." Anneliese''s surprise left her momentarily speechless. She hadn''t known Wendy had a daughter. The Malones were only supposed to have Steven and Gianna. Wendy clearly had no child with her, and the daughter she mentioned wasn''t Gianna. Anneliese didn''t fully understand but could sense the grief that suddenly shadowed Wendy. She reached for Wendy''s hand. "Madam Chalmont, if it''s too painful to talk about, I Wendy gently shook her head, stopping Anneliese. She looked at her with quiet resolve. "It''s fine. My daughter left me soon after birth because I wasn''t enough. Would that change your opinion of this wedding dress sketch?" Her daughter had passed away, and the design had been inspired by her-made with her in mind. The sketch was born from longing. Wendy imagined her daughter grown, eighteen, wearing the most exquisite wedding dress she could design. She dreamed of seeing her daughter as a radiant, happy bride. But that blessing would nevere, and Wendy would never have that chance. So the sketch remained hidden. Wendy never expected it would be used in her lifetime¡ªuntil she met Anneliese. They had an unexinable connection. Despite Gianna''s Fol constant pleading, Wendy refused to let ber near the sketch yet she wanted Anneliese to wear it. Perhaps it was because Anneliese resembled Ellie-sweet, beautiful, and kind. Wendy imagined that if her daughter had lived, she might have been like Anneliese. Moreover, the dress genuinely suited Anneliese''s aura. But Wendy wasn''t certain whether Anneliese, if she learned the dress had been created for her deceased daughter, would view it as a bad omen. A wedding was meant to be one of life''s happiest moments and linking it to someone who had had already passed away could easily be seen as inauspicious by most people. Wendy held Anneliese''s hand firmly. "If it''s not to your taste, I can show you other drafts. I drew two more, but none of them captured the essence like this one Thesitate much before deciding to share it with you..." so Her words were cut short by a gentle, tender hug that wrapped around her. Wendy stiffened for a moment. Anneliese leaned close, embracing the grieving woman softly. Patting her back likeforting a child, she smiled. "Madam Chalmont, I see how much love went into this design. No wonder it''s stunning. I''m honored-why would I ever mind?" Wendy hadn''t expected such reassurance. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Though she had lived more than half her life, the simple warmth of a younger woman''s hug made her want to cry unexpectedly. Chapter 723 Wendy reached out and gave Anneliese''s arm a gentle tap as well. After Anneliese withdrew, Wendy examined her expression with quiet attention. "Are you certain you''re not pushing yourself?" A faint smile touched Anneliese''s mouth, her gaze open and steady. "Madam Chalmont, I grew up without a mother. On a day as meaningful as a wedding, I want to receive family blessings too. All the love and expectations you once had for your daughter were stitched into that dress. When I put it on, I can feel how deeply treasured it was. I should be the one thanking your daughter. Truly, I''m not bothered at all." The moment Anneliese mentioned her daughter, a dull ache tightened in Wendy''s chest. For years, the loss of that child had be an unspoken rule. Even Adrian and Steven avoided the topic, fearful of reopening Wendy''s wounds. In their hearts, they even wished that child had never existed, hoping Wendy could erase the pain entirely. Yet her daughter had done nothing wrong-still, she was treated like an ill omen, a name no one dared say aloud. And now Anneliese spoke of her so calmly, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. Emotion welled up in Wendy. She sped Anneliese''s hand, recalling how earlier¡ª overwhelmed and restless¡ªshe had impulsively said she wanted Anneliese as her goddaughter. At the time, it was a spur-of-the-moment thought. Now, it felt unexpectedly right. She was just about to ask Anneliese how she felt when Ellie, who had been sprawled on the floor piecing together a puzzle, noticed them embracing and caught sight of Wendy''s reddened eyes. Ellie scrambled up, squeezed between them, and wrapped her arms around Wendy. Wendy chuckled and gently pinched her granddaughter''s plump cheek. "I''m just feeling happy." Ellie blinked, unable to figure out why happiness made Wendy''s eyes turn red, or what exactly she was so happy about. Wendy looked from Ellie to Anneliese. "I love you, Ellie, and I love Anneliese too. With both of you here with me, I feel content." ... While warmth filled that side of the room, chaos was unfolding elsewhere. Pepper found Gianna by the curb, locked in a heated argument with a delivery rider. Gianna had suddenly rushed out into the road. The rider swerved to avoid her, lost control, and crashed his bike sliding across the pavement as the cake he was delivering shattered into a mess. Gianna didn''t even offer an apology. She cast him a contemptuous nce and tried to leave. Naturally, the rider grabbed her and demanded she pay for the damage. Under normal circumstances, Gianna despised wasting words on people she considered beneath her she would have tossed some cash and walked away. But today her temper was already shot. She''d stormed out without her purse. Unable to pay, she jabbed finger at the rider and started shouting, using him of running a con, hurling insults, calling him trash and wishing him dead the confrontation quickly escted. Her words were vicious, dripping with disdain. Bystanders had seen everything clearly. Gianna had dashed out first, and the crash happened because the rider tried to avoid her. The crowd began openly criticizing her. "Get away from me! Don''t touch me with those filthy hands. Do you have any idea how expensive this dress is? You could break your back working and still never be able to pay for it!" Pepper pushed through the onlookers and arrived just in time to see Gianna fling her arm away, while the rider''s face flushed red, veins standing out as his fists clenched. Pepper hurried forward, yanked Gianna back, swiftly transferred three thousand to the rider to settle the matter, then dragged Gianna away. "Let go! Why did you pay him? Can''t you see he was trying to scam me? So even you think I deserve to be picked on that no matter what I do, I''m always wrong?" Gianna was still seething, her voice shrill. Pepper''s expression hardened as she dropped her voice. "Gianna, that''s enough. Haven''t you embarrassed yourself enough? Do you want to end up in the gossip headlines again?" Gianna nced around and finally noticed the crowd-and the phones pointed straight at her. Only then did her anger ebb. She lowered her head and let Pepper pull her away. Pepper took her directly back to the Malone Residence. In her bedroom, Gianna stripped off her jacket and threw it into the trash b?f?re. copsing onto the bed, her face dark with fury. Le Pepper poured her a ss of water. Gianna took it, swallowed a couple of mouthfuls, then looked up, eyes zing again. "Five years ago, I cried and begged her for that design draft, and she refused. Now she hands it over to Anneliese instead! Even if I''m not her biological daughter, I''m no different in practice, am I? To put it bluntly, if she dropped dead today be the one wearing mourning-not Anneliese!" Pepper sat down beside her and rubbed her shoulder infort. "Alright. It''s just a wedding dress sketch. If she wants to give it away, let her. When it''s your turn to marry, you''ll have something even better." Gianna scowled. "Mom, do you really think I care about a scrap of paper? What I care about is Aunt Wendy''s attitude. Didn''t you hear her? She wants to make Anneliese her goddaughter." Chapter 724 Gianna added, "Anneliese has only crossed paths with her a handful of times, yet Aunt Wendy treasures her to an absurd degree. If she truly acknowledges Anneliese as her goddaughter, and Ellie''s illness is cured with her help, then where does that leave me in Aunt Wendy''s heart?" Gianna had been coveting Wendy''spany for years. She had once believed Wendy to be her actual mother and had long behaved as though the bridal business already belonged to her. Even after learning the truth-that she wasn''t Wendy''s biological daughter-the reality remained that Wendy had no real daughter, while Steven had chosen to devote himself to politics. That left Gianna as Wendy''s sole niece, a daughter in everything but blood. By all logic, thepany should have ended up in her hands. Anneliese, aplete outsider, had no right to interfere. What troubled Gianna even more was Adrian''s deep respect for Wendy. If Wendy began treating Anneliese as her own child, Adrian''s attitude could easily shift as well. If that happened, Gianna''s position would only grow more precarious. These were the dangers Gianna fixated on-obvious, immediate threats already looming before her eyes. "D*mn it," she cursed aloud. "What exactly is so special about that b*tch Anneliese? She grew up in an orphanage, and she''s divorced¡ªused goods. Fine, maybe Jonathan fell for her act, but why are Aunt Wendy and Ellie acting like they''re under a spell too?" Her grip tightened around the ss until liquid sloshed over the edge, sshing onto her hand as it shook. Pepper''s gaze darkened. She calmly took the ss from Gianna, ced it on the bedside table, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped Gianna''s fingers before speaking. "They haven''t even acknowledged each other yet," she said quietly. "Why panic now? Losing yourposure won''t help. I won''t allow that oue." Pepper spoke with such certainty that Gianna finally steadied herself and turned to look at her. "Mom, what are you nning to do?" Pepper gave her hand a reassuring pat. "There''s always a solution. Now go wash your face. Once you''ve settled down, we''ll head to the hospital." "The hospital?" Gianna frowned. "Why are we going there?" She had no idea that Adrian had been scalded after she stormed out earlier. Wendy had informed her, "Your dad was injured. This is the perfect moment to show concern. Don''t let the opportunity slip." Those words immediately lifted Gianna''s mood. She stood up at once and hurried toward the bathroom. Adrian''s burn was minor. The doctornced the blister, applied medication, and wrapped it neatly before discharging him. Jonathan and Steven escorted Adrian Out of the emergency room. That was when Gianna and Pepper arrived in a rush, their expressions strained with anxiety. Gianna''s eyes were bloodshot as she seized Adrian''s wrapped hand, tears streaming down her face. "Dad, I''m so sorry¡ªthis is all my fault," she sobbed. "I acted immaturely and ruined everything, and you ended up hurt. Is it serious? Does it hurt a lot?" Her distress looked sincere, her face filled with genuine fear. Since the injury, Adrian had been met with nothing but indifference. Even Steven, who had apanied him to the hospital, had spoken coldly. Now, seeing Gianna''s remorse and concern, Adrian felt a rare sense offort. At least this daughter hadn''t been raised in vain. Warmth spread through him, washing away his earlier resentment. He lifted a hand and gently patted her shoulder. "I''m fine," he said. "I knocked the cup over myself. How could that be your responsibility? Don''t me yourself." Pepper stepped forward as well. "You haven''t eaten yet," she said softly. "I had the maid prepare something light. You and Steve should head home to eat and rest And Mr. Fullbuster-sorry to trouble you. Would you join us?" Adrian nced at Pepper with appreciation. "You''re always so thoughtful. You''ve already been busy all morning-you didn''t need toe all the way here." Pepper smiled faintly. "If I don''t see you myself, I can''t feel at ease. What if you''d needed to be hospitalized?" "It was just hot water," Steven cut in coldly. "How fragile would he have to be to end up hospitalized over that?" His expression hardened, clearly unwilling to listen further. Pepper maintained her gentle, obedient demeanor. "You''re right," she said softly. "I let my worry get the better of me." She even offered him an apologetic smile. Adrian shot a sharp look at Steven. "Enough. You don''t care whether I''m hurt, but you won''t even allow your aunt and sister to show concern?" Steven raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. Go home and enjoy that family warmth." With that, he turned and walked away without another nce at Pepper or Gianna. Jonathan''s patience was thinning. He gave a quick nod. "My wife''s waiting. I won''t trouble your family any longer." He followed Steven out. Watching them leave, Adrian clenched his fist¡ªonly to feel the burn re with renewed pain. Chapter 725 Thoughts of Wendy lingering in the restaurant spurred him into action. Gianna and Pepper nked him, guiding him toward the car with gentle coaxing and firm hands. ... Jonathan climbed in beside Steven, shooting him a pointed nce. "Keep spoiling that sister of yours. Don''te crying when your family gets cleaned out," he warned. Steven let out a frostyugh. "Family? That doesn''t exist anymore." When he was nine, his infant sister had died the day she was born, sending his mother into near madness. That day, his family ceased to exist. It wasn''t that he couldn''t see through Pepper''s feigned sobs and little tricks. He simply didn''t care to engage. Jonathan studied him for a moment, realizing Steven had his own boundaries, and decided to leave it alone. He wasn''t one for other people''s family dramas; his only concern was that Anneliese and Wendy got along. By the time the two returned to the restaurant, Anneliese and Wendy had joined Ellie on the floor, arranging puzzle pieces together. Noticing theme back, Anneliese touched the stacked dishes to test the warmth. "Still nice and warm. Do you want to eat these, or would you rather order fresh?" Jonathan gave a small nod, slid an arm around her waist, and, as if the world had disappeared, kissed her forehead. "No need. Whatever you set aside for me is perfect. My wife really spoils me." She had prepared a meal for him, intentionally. Anneliese flushed and gave him a teasing re. Steven was easygoing, too. He shrugged off his coat, picked up a fork, and thanked Anneliese. They ate and talked casually. Nobody asked about Adrian''s well-being; nobody mentioned it. Two grown men ate quickly. Within half an hour, they were ready to leave. Steven had a pile of work waiting, and Wendy had a major event scheduled for the next day. Ellie was originally supposed to be sent to Adrian that day, but when Anneliese heard this, she arranged with Wendy that tomorrow she would pick Ellie up and bring her to The Banyans. Ellie''s excitement was palpable. She had never gone alone to a friend''s home before, her eyes sparkling as she nodded. Before leaving, Anneliese tapped her head. "Pinky swear. Wait for me tomorrow, okay?" In Steven''s arms, Ellie reached out, linking pinkies, her smile stretching her eyes into crescent shapes. Once they drove away, Jonathan drew Anneliese close. "So you''re really fond of that little one, huh?" "She''s adorable, isn''t she?" Anneliese lifted her face. Jonathan lowered his head, brushing his lips near her ear. "Not as much as our future child. Honey, shall we have one?" Anneliese froze, speechless. She had never seriously considered having a baby, and Jonathan hadn''t seemed interested before either. She leaned back slightly. "Are you serious?" Jonathan hesitated. He had assumed Anneliese was still focused on her career, making up for lost time, and their two-person world was enough. Children had never been part of the n. But watching her interact with Ellie, that effortless, gentle side she rarely noticed, made the idea of a baby suddenly appealing. Besides, Zane already had a child, even if he didn''t know it yet. Jonathan was the first among them to marry, yet somehow he felt behind. It irked him, just a little. He raised a brow. "No rush. But maybe we should start thinking about it." They had secured their marriage certificate quickly, with no formal ceremony yet. Whatever the reason, he felt he owed her something. He wasn''t one to follow convention, but for this, he wanted to do it right. He wanted dates that felt romantic, a proposal she would never forget, and a wedding that would astonish everyone. He envisioned blessings from loved ones maybe even a honeymoon baby letting the child witness most passionate love imaginable. The thought alone stirred him. Gianna and Pepper escorted Adrian back to the Malone Residence. As soon as they entered the foyer, a maid rushed forward. "Mr. Malone, Mr. Zane has arrived_" Before she could finish, Gianna''s eyes lit up. "Wait, who did you say? Zane''s here? He must be here for me!" she squealed, certain he hade for her. She didn''t even remove her shoes, darting straight into the living room. There he was: tall, familiar, reclining on the couch. Zane wore a long ck trench coat, lounging against the cream leather. The elegant decor could not diminish the intensity he radiated. When his gaze met Gianna''s, it was sharp and dark enough tomand the light. Her surprised smile faltered without her realizing it. Chapter 726 "Zane, did you actuallye back just to watch mepete? I... I feel awful. Ipletely messed it up...'' " Gianna remembered that Zane had left for a business trip across the border a few days ago. She had sent him an invitation for today''spetition and even called him multiple times, whining and pleading for him to attend. During the event, she scanned the stands, hoping to spot him. He wasn''t there, and a pang of disappointment hit her. Still, after performing so poorly, she felt a strange relief that he hadn''t witnessed her failure firsthand. And now, unexpectedly, Zane appeared at the Malone Residence, though he was supposed to be overseas. He must have hurried back for her match, missed it, ande here to offer support. That was the only exnation she could think of. Her heart softened, and a sweet, bright smile spread across her face. Atst, something positive had happened today-something that genuinely deserved a smile. "Zane, I''m so d you " Gianna moved around the coffee table toward the couch, ready to sit beside him, curl against him, and soak up his warmth andfort. She never got the chance. Zane suddenly rose and gripped her wrist with sudden force. "Where did you take her?" "Ah!" She hadn''t anticipated it. His hold was so tight it felt as if he might crush her wrist. The pressure lifted her toes from the floor. She yelped, shocked and in pain, ring up at him. "Who? You''re hurting me, Zane. Let go!" "Gianna!" At that moment, Pepper and Adrian walked in, just after changing their shoes. Pepper froze at the sight of Gianna being yanked by her wrist, gasping before rushing to her side. Adrian''s expression hardened instantly, and he barked, "Let go of her! Zane, you have no right to hurt anyone here!" Zane finally loosened his grip. Gianna sagged onto the couch, her legs trembling. Pepper held her gently, examining her wrist. Adrian stepped forward, noticing the angry red marks, and his fury red. "Zane, I expect an exnation!" Zane remained emotionless. He had already pieced together what happened the day he left Oceaton-the restaurant incident. He knew Gianna had framed Jessica, leading to Jessica being taken to the station. If Anneliese and Jonathan hadn''t intervened, the situation could have been far worse. He understood why Jessica had been acting strangely afterward. And now, with Jessica missing, there was no way Gianna wasn''t involved. "Mr. Malone, perhaps you should ask your daughter what she did to my girlfriend," Zane said coldly. Adrian''s brow furrowed. "Girlfriend?" Gianna froze. Hearing Zane call Jessica his girlfriend made her heart plummet. He had admitted it-right there in front of her and her father, leaving herpletely unable to process it. Tears rushed back, and she shoved him, voice breaking. "Zane, our families are negotiating our engagement. I even spent New Years at your ce your grandpa and everyone adored me. I''m about to be your fianc¨¦e. How can you do this to me?" Adrian hated seeing her so distraught, almostshing out at Zane and losing allposure. He looked at Pepper. Pepper quickly pulled Gianna back. "Breathe, Gianna. Your dad''s right here. Nobody cane in and hurt you in this house." Gianna sank to the side, wiping her tears, silent but burning with suppressed anger. Adrian sat down firmly. "Zane, you will not leave this house without answering me." Zane met his gaze, standing tall before the couch. His broad shoulders blocked the light, his presence dark and imposing. "Mr. Malone, I never consented to any marriage between our families. And now my girlendis missing because Ms. Malone set her up. If anyone owes an exnation it''s her to me." Adrian''s eyes turned cold as ice. "The elders from both families already agreed to this. And now you im you don''t ept it? Do you think my family is here to entertain you?" Zane''s lips tightened, and he nced at Gianna briefly. "My marriage is my decision, not theirs. Forcing me into a marriage is illegal. I''m awyer-being shoved into an arranged engagement would be ridiculous." Chapter 727 Adrian yanked at the top two buttons of his shirt, his voice rough with irritation. "If you weren''t on board from the beginning, you should have said so to your parents right away." Zane faced Gianna, his expression sharp. "Ms. Malone, you''ve always been like a little sister from a long-time family friend. Nothing''s ever going to happen between us. How many times have I said no-eight, nine, maybe ten? Haven''t I made myself clear?" Gianna had never imagined Zane would speak so bluntly, right in front of her parents. It felt as if someone had shredded her pride into pieces. For years, she had followed him relentlessly, always chasing after him. And yes, he had refused her every single time. But that had always been behind closed doors. Zane had spared her some dignity in private. Because of that small mercy, Gianna had continued pursuing him without restraint until everyone around knew she had a crush on him. Even the elders had noticed and, naturally, tried to nudge them together. She had practically marked him as hers. Any girl Zane dated was temporary-never serious, never aligned with his family, never marriage material. Among the young heiresses, it was assumed that Gianna and Zane would eventually be engaged. Out of respect and social etiquette, no one dared to approach him seriously. And if some naive girl tried, Gianna would make sure she backed off. That made her the only one close enough to Zane in their circle. In her mind, it was only a matter of time before he fell for her and agreed to marry. She had even tracked down his previous girlfriend and humiliated her until she left. When Zane learned of it, he had barely reacted. Yet this time, he dragged the Malone family into the mess over that awful Jessica and spoke mercilessly, showing no hesitation. "Gianna! Is he serious?" Gianna flinched at Adrian''s icy tone, still stunned. Her eyes, bright red with emotion, met his. "No... he might have said those things, but if he really didn''t care about me, why would he have tolerated me chasing him all these years? Why would he let mee and go at the Shaymans'' during New Year and other holidays?" Zane cut through her denial like a de. "I never allowed you to chase me. And the Malone and Shayman families never cut off ties." In other words, he had been clear in his rejections, but Gianna had persisted. He hadn''t been able to stop her. And because the Malones and Shaymans were old family friends, there was no way she could be forbidden from visiting during the holidays as a younger member of the family. His gaze was cold and mocking, striking her chest like a knife. Her face med. Tears slipped out before she could stop them. "No! I..." She tried to protest, but Adrian''s voice dropped with finality. "Enough. Haven''t you humiliated yourself enough? You''re my daughter. You will have plenty of admirers. Let him go!" Gianna froze sopletely that the tears stopped. The moment Adrian told Zane to leave, she realized-if Zane walked out now, everything between them would end. She had spent years chasing him and couldn''t bring herself to give up now. "Dad..." she pleaded, her voice trembling, but Pepper pulled her back. Gianna spun toward Pepper, who shook her head. Adrian valued reputation above all. He had already made his position clear. If Gianna wanted to remain his daughter in his eyes, she couldn''t continue acting so recklessly. Zane hade to reject her in person. If she persisted, it would only humiliate Adrian further and deepen his disappointment. If she were his biological daughter, a few mistakes might be forgiven. But she wasn''t. She had already failed him too many times today. With Zane standing firm, continuing to chase him would. yield nothing except more disgust from Adrian. Gianna knew it. Meeting Pepper''s warning gaze, she wiped her tears, shrugged off Pepper''s hand, and ran upstairs. Zane blocked her path. She thought maybe he had softened, seeing her shattered state. But when her tearful eyes met his, his voice was icy. "Answer me first. Where did you send my girlfriend?" Another stab straight to her heart. Her vision blurred and her eyes reddened. "How would know? You probably dug up what happened that night. I was med and stuck at the station all night, okay? I haven''t seen her since Maybe she ran off while you were abroad with some sleazy guy. If you care that much, go find her yourself." Chapter 728 Gianna screamed, broke down sobbing, and bolted for the stairs. Pepper rushed after her, intent on soothing her, but Zane lifted his arm again and stopped her cold. "Do you honestly have no clue where my girlfriend disappeared to?" Pepper''s heart jolted. Has Zane already uncovered that I impersonated Mrs. Shayman to get close to Jessica? If that''s true, then he must know about the pregnancy as well. Still, Pepper wasn''t as easy to corner as Gianna. She steadied her expression, feigned shock, and met Zane''s eyes without flinching. "Mr. Zane, I don''t even know who your girlfriend is, much less where she went. How could I possibly know? Are you using me of hiding her? That''s far too much credit to give me." Zane studied her closely, searching for cracks, but her face remained unreadable. He gave a harsh, humorlessugh. "You were the one who steered the Abbott family''s financialwsuit to me, weren''t you? You went out of your way to send me overseas-what was the real reason?" The case that had taken him abroad belonged to the Abbott family. Their current patriarch had already been negotiating with anotherwyer. Then Esme Grubbs, the patriarch''s mother, stepped in, contacted the Shaymans, and personally invited Zane to take over the case. The Shaymans owed Esme a debt and couldn''t turn her down. What bothered Zane was that Esme had met with Pepper before approaching the Shaymans. Meanwhile, every trace of Jessica''s location had been deliberately erased. After two full days of searching, Zane had found nothing. He didn''t believe in coincidences. Pepper had pushed him out of the country-there was no way she hadn''t interfered with Jessica''s disappearance. Everything about this situation pointed back to her. "Mr. Zane," Pepper said tightly, "I did suggest you to Madam Grubbs-but only because Gianna wanted to be engaged to you. Winning that case would''ve raised your profile and your earnings. I simply mentioned it. Nothing more." She frowned, clearly irritated at being used when she believed she had done him a favor. Zane knew she wouldn''t confess. He let out a cold chuckle. Adrian suddenly struck the couch with his palm. "That''s enough. Zane, don''t go any further." Zane finally dropped his arm and inclined his head slightly toward Adrian. "Mr. Malone, you''ve spent years chasing your ex-wife without ever giving up, I''m sure you understand the fear of losing the woman you love, of not being able to find her. L apologize for causing trouble today. I''ll host dinner another time as an apology." The words sounded polite, but they cut deep. Adrian''s expression darkened. He spat out a singlemand. "Leave!" "Understood, Mr. Malone." Zane replied lightly, said nothing else, and walked straight out. ... Upstairs, Pepper pushed open Gianna''s bedroom door, only for a vase to shatter on the floor right in front of her. She let out a tired sigh, stepped over the broken pieces, and moved toward the bed. Giannay buried in the nkets, sobbing. Pepper pulled the covers back. Gianna red at her with bloodshot eyes and snarled through clenched teeth. "Mom, he''s cruel! How could he treat me like this over that sl*t? If he wants me to suffer, I''ll make him suffer too. I want that b*tch dead!" Pepper''s expression turned just as grim. She gently patted Gianna''s back and spoke in a low, icy tone. "She''s hiding in Harborview right now. Don''t worry. I already have people watching her. In a few days, she''ll face the consequences." Ending a life without leaving a trail wasn''t simple. But getting rid of a child that hadn''t even fully formed yet was easy. All it took was one small "ident," and everything would be reduced to blood. As for Jessica herself, acting too soon would draw attention. Give it six months, or a year-alone in an unfamilia young woman could um into a thief, a predator, or fall into addiction. Any of it was possible. In the end, if Gianna couldn''t have him, no other woman would be allowed to either. Chapter 729 "Mom, are you being serious?" Gianna''s tears stopped instantly when Pepper mentioned that Jessica would pay¡ª and that she even knew exactly where Jessica was hiding. She lifted her chin, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Pepper, utterly untroubled by the thought of someone else suffering. In fact, a thrill danced in her gaze. Jessica had crossed the wrong person. That was on her. "Of course it''s real. Don''t feel sad. Since Zane clearly isn''t paying attention, maybe you should consider someone else, Gianna..." Pepper tried to steer her toward a new target, but Gianna cut her off sharply. "No way. If I want a man, I''m going to get him." She had been chasing Zane for years and wasn''t about to give up now. Besides, everyone around them already knew Gianna had a thing for Zane. If she suddenly changed her focus, it would make it obvious that she had thrown herself at him and failed. She refused to be the joke, and she certainly wouldn''t let some nobody like Jessica ¡ªan uneducated, low-ss girl¡ªoutdo her. "Gianna, Zane waspletely set today. You can''t force it. Listen to me..." Pepper tried again, but Gianna pushed her away, seething. "I said no! You can''t judge a fire by how it sparks at first. He''s just caught up with that b*tch for now. Give it time. Once the heat dies down, he''ll see I''m the one for him." Seeing Gianna wasn''t listening, Pepper let it go. She didn''t want their newly repaired mother-daughter bond to fracture again over this. "By the way, Mom, Ellie clings to Anneliese like crazy. Could Anneliese be her birth mother? Otherwise, how could they look so much alike? There has to be some blood connection for them to be so close for no reason, right? Just like us¡ªeven before I realized you were my mom, I already felt how close we were." Gianna had never been able to figure it out, so she threw the idea into the air. Back then, even when their grandpa punished Steven-making him kneel in the family hall for two days straight and hitting him¡ªSteven never admitted who Ellie''s birth mother was. Pepper''s brow twitched as she held Gianna''s shoulders tightly. "She''s not Ellie''s mom. Trust me. Stop overthinking it." Gianna looked up, rolling her shoulders as Pepper gripped too hard, making her wince. "How do you know for sure? Maybe she is. Look at Anneliese-she has that irresistible, sly kind of charm. Steven treats her differently. At the stationst time he clearly took her side." Pepper realized she''d lost her temper. She released her grip with a sigh. "How old was Anneliese four or five years ago? She wasn''t even eighteen. There''s no way she could bright under everyone''s noses in Oceaton those years. There''s no chance she got pregnant in secret. You''re imagining things." have had Ellie. Plus, she living Gianna knew about Anneliese''s past too, and it did seem impossible. Still, a nagging doubt lingered in her chest. After Pepper left, the frustration from earlier returned, sharp and insistent. She needed an outlet. Her eyes glimmered with resolve as she grabbed her phone and made a call. Meanwhile, at the Banyans, Anneliese and Jonathan had just returned when someone knocked at the door. At that moment, Jonathan had Anneliese pressed against the wardrobe, her legs wrapped around his waist, their mouths locked together. His kiss was deep and demanding, his lips coaxing hers with a gentle intensity. "Do you really think you owe me?" He was talking about giving her the award on stage today and reminding her of the times years ago when she had missed out on him. She admitted feeling guilty and wanting to make it up to him, wanting to please him. Her eyes shimmered with the reflection of his gaze, which seemed to hold only her. She nodded, her fingers tracing the curves of his brow andshes. ??? Jonathan raised a brow, smiling. "They say love always leaves you feeling a little indebted. Seems my baby''spletely fallen for me, bun?" Anneliese''s lips curved into a soft smile as she hummed and tugged gently at his short, stiff hair. "Why are you still doubting me? You''re going to make me mad." Chapter 730 Jonathan observed her effortless shifts between sweet innocence and yful teasing. His grin widened. He leaned in, brushing the tip of his nose against Anneliese''s, his voice low and inviting. "I''m not questioning you," he murmured. "I just want to hear it from you-my baby saying it, for real." Anneliese''s eyes fluttered, her cheeks flushing. Under his intense gaze, she pretended to be coy. "Say what?" she asked, voice light. "You know what," he replied. As a teasing gesture, he bounced her lightly in his arms. Her small frame dipped slightly, and she squeaked before he caught her securely. She clung to him even tighter. A mischievous spark lit her eyes. "I have no clue. Care to give me a hint, Mr. Fullbuster?" Jonathan clicked his tongue, pressing his palm firmly against her curves. "Three words. Say them. Now." She had never admitted her love to him directly¡ªnot with that burning intensity. But such words weren''t meant to be forced; they had to emerge naturally, whenever the heartpelled them. Staring a woman down to make her confess was absurd. Anneliese parted her lips, warmth spreading across her cheeks, yet instead of speaking, a softugh slipped out. Jonathan''s eyes flickered with warning. She cleared her throat, bracing herself to finally say it- A sharp knock at the bedroom door cut through the moment. "Mr. Fullbuster, Mrs. Fullbuster, you have a visitor. It''s Mr. Zane," Margot''s voice called from outside. Anneliese nced toward the door. Zane is here? Has he found out what happened ande looking for Jess? "Forget him. We''re not done," Jonathan murmured, noticing her momentary distraction. He tilted her chin back and held her gaze, insistence in his eyes. Half exasperated, half amused, Anneliese rolled her eyes. Outside, Margot must have assumed no one heard her. She knocked again, louder this time. "Mr. Fullbuster, Mr. Zane is already waiting in the living room. He seems urgent. Mr. Fullbuster?" The mood shattered with yet another interruption. Jonathan''s irritation red, sharper than any forceful pull from the bed, and his voice dropped into a chilling, cold edge. "Let him wait!" Outside, Margot froze. She had worked there for years and never heard Jonathan speak so sharply. Realizing she''d intruded she pressed a hand over her mouth, stayed silent, and hurried downstairs. ???? In her mind, she mused, The young couple is clearly inseparable. They''ve just returned and can''t bear to be apart. Mr. Zane has chosen the absolute worst moment. Back in the bedroom, Anneliese wriggled free of him. His expression was stormy, but she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a quick kiss to his tense lips. "I''ll make it up to you tonight," she whispered. His temper softened slightly. As she tried to slip away, he grabbed her waist, bent down, and kissed her deeply before they descended the stairs together. In the living room, Zane was standing, brows furrowed in concern. Hearing footsteps, he snapped his head up. "I know what happened that night," he said, voice tense. "I just left the Malone Residence." Anneliese stopped on the stairs, her stance firm. "So?" Zane exhaled heavily. "I know I handled things poorly. I refused Gianna multiple times-I never expected her to do something so reckless. I''ve made myself clear. Now, can you tell me where Jessica is?" s?novels He looked exhausted, his eyes rimmed red, anxiety and anger etched across his face. It almost seemed as though he truly cared for Jessica¡ªbut that notion meant nothing to Anneliese. She felt the urge tough. If he genuinely cared, Jessica wouldn''t have felt unsafe and hopeless enough to leave. A woman carrying his child, abandoning everything¡ªthat proved her heart was already broken. "Zane," Anneliese said firmly, "all I can tell you is that Jessica has left Oceaton. She doesn''t want anything to do with you. Stop looking for her will not reveal where she went ?f that''s why you came, please leave." She turned to ascend the stairs. Panic shed across Zane''s face as he stepped forward, reaching for her. Jonathan moved instantly, positioning himself between them. There was no way anyone would touch his wife. Chapter 731 He raised his hand and mped down on Zane''s wrist. "Isn''t my wife''s words clear enough?" Zane was irritated and snarled. "Jonathan, are you still my friend?" Hearing their argument escte, Anneliese turned around with a worried look on her face. However, Jonathan gave her a reassuring look and said gently, "I''ll handle this. You should go and get some rest." She nced at Zane once more. She didn''t want to get entangled with him any further since there was no way she would tell him where Jessica had gone. She trusted that Jonathan would keep his word and wouldn''t reveal anything to Zane either. Then, she nodded and turned to go upstairs. Only then did Jonathan release Zane. He walked over to the bar, poured Zane a ss of wine, and slid it across the counter before speaking, "We are friends, but please don''t make things hard for me either." Zane drank it in one gulp before mming it heavily back onto the counter. "That''s easy for you to say. It''s not your woman who went missing!" Hearing his words, Jonathan smiled slightly and said, "I love and care for my wife. She also does the same to me. Hence, how could she ever disappear?" "F*ck you!" Zane couldn''t help but curse under his breath. "Stop being a pain in the *ss now, Jonathan!" Jonathan calmly poured himself a ss and topped up Zane''s ss as well. Then, he clinked his ss against thetter andmented, "She is already gone. Isn''t it obvious as to what she is implying? Plus, you weren''t there when she needed you." The only thing Jonathan could do now was drink a few more sses with Zane. After all, he didn''t want Zane to get Jessica back only for his own wife to run off instead. Jessica was a fiery woman. With Zane in his current state, if he really did find her and something went wrong, Jonathan was certain that Anneliese would skin him alive. "Even if she wants to break up with me, she should have told me in the face. Things shouldn''t turn out like this." Zane clenched his fist, his voice rough and hoarse, as if scorched by the alcohol. Seeing how agitated Zane was, Jonathan patted his shoulder and tried to calm him down. "Are you hearing yourself? If I didn''t know any better would have thought that you two had some earth-shattering romance. We didn''t even know Jessica was your girlfriend back then. Only now did you admit it after she left you. Just let it be." His words stabbed straight into Zane''s heart. Zane opened his mouth but couldn''t find anything to refute. After all, it was true-he hadn''t treated Jessica like a girlfriend before. That was a fact. However, that didn''t change the fact that Jessica was his. He''d only gone on a business trip, yet Jonathan had teamed up with Anneliese to hide Jessica away from him. Thus, he med it all on Jonathan. Thinking about it, Zane grabbed Jonathan by the cor and said, "I refuse to let things end!" Jonathan snorted and brushed his hand away. "Why bother? Didn''t you end things with your other exes on decent terms and even stay friends? Jessica is my sister-in-w. At the very least, she was with you once and doesn''t owe you anything. She almost ended up going to prison because of you¡ªthat''s bad enough. "For the sake of our friendship, I advise you to let her go and stop making things difficult for her." As Jonathan spoke, he swirled the wine in hisss and continued, "Besides, you''re not nning to marry her anyway, so why do you want to look for her? Just to say goodbye in person? Is that really so important?" Zane tipped his head back and downed another ss. A faint flush of drunkenness crept onto his face, and his expression grew even more painful. He''s right. Why am I so determined to find Jessica? He had never been the type to cling desperately to a woman. Since Jessica didn''t want to see him anymore, he should have just let her go. Yet, just the thought of her vanishing¡ªdisappearing from his life¡ªhad left him feeling restless. He thought that it must be because he was unwilling to ept the fact that she had left him while he was abroad, when everything was fine by then. Moreover, he had even been thinking about introducing her to his friends. This feeling of being dumped by force was unbearable, and that was why he couldn''t let it go. Zane stared at Jonathan and said, "After Jessica left the police station that day, I couldn''t trace her whereabouts at all. Her information was even officially cancelled. This clearly means that she had changed her identity. Not only did she leave Oceaton, but she also went abroad, right?" Chapter 732 Zane had also checked recent airport records over the past few days, yet he hadn''t found a single lead. With the traces erased so cleanly, Anneliese couldn''t have done it alone-Jonathan must have been involved as well. Thus, he knew that Jonathan definitely knew where Jessica had gone. Zane stared fixedly at Jonathan, trying to find even the slightest change in his expression. However, Jonathan was far too calcting and long ustomed to concealing his emotions. Zane couldn''t read anything at all from his face-he couldn''t even be sure whether Jessica had truly gone abroad. What was worse, he realized just how little he knew about Jessica. He didn''t even know whether she spoke any foreignnguages. He wondered if she would really choose to go overseas if she couldn''tmunicate. Seeing the dazed look on Zane''s face, Jonathan shook his head and poured him another ss of wine. "Finish this and get a good night''s sleep. It''ll pass." Jonathan could tell that Zane himself wasn''t firm enough. Thus, there was no way Jonathan would risk upsetting Anneliese and help him. Zane had been on a business trip abroad for several days. When he returned, he had been busy searching for Jessica, so he didn''t get any rest. His mood was stifled. Between Jonathan''s persuasion and provocation, Zane drank more than half a bottle and ended uppletely drunk. Jonathan didn''t bother dealing with him any further as he simply called in the bodyguards to haul Zane away. Then, he went upstairs to continue keeping Anneliesepany. In the meantime, Anneliese was on the phone with Jessica. "Do you feel ufortable anywhere right now? Is someone taking care of you? Tell me the truth!" Jessica was still in Harborview, stopping there temporarily. She had changed her identity and gotten a new SIM card this was only the second time Anneliese had managed to contact her. At the same time, Anneliese had just learned that Jessica had been targeted as soon as she checked into her hotel. An hour earlier, Jessica was nning to go shopping. She had barely stepped out of the hotel when a car almost hit her. Thankfully, she was alert enough to sense something was wrong in advance and narrowly avoided the ident. Then, she managed to shake off the people following her and bribed a hotel staff member to let her retrieve her luggage while avoiding their eyes. Now, she had moved into a small homestay and was safe for now. "Don''t worry. The baby isn''t being fussy at all. The homestay''s owner is a kind and warm-hearted grandmother. She lives here with her granddaughter. Her granddaughter and I get along really well¡ªshe even brought me food just now. I''m doing fine." Jessica tried to reassure Anneliese, but how could Anneliese possibly be at ease? After all, Jessica had never even been to Harborview before, let alone had any enemies there. Yet, by the time she arrived there, she was nearly run down by a car. It was obvious that someone had been watching Jessica and had followed her from Oceaton all the way to Harborview. Besides Zane''s mother, who had previously gone to the hospital to see Jessica, there was no one else who knew about Jessica''s whereabouts. Anneliese didn''t understand why Mary would push things this far. After all, the child in Jessica''s womb was still of the Shayman family ne blood. Moreover, essica had already taken the child far away and even promised she would never show up at their doorsteps again. Hence, Annelise felt like trying to kill Jessica was unnecessary. "You should still send me your current address. I..." Anneliese wanted to say that she would have Jonathan reach out to contacts in Harborview and arrange for some trustworthy people to protect Jessica. However, before she could finish her words, Jessicaughed and interrupted her. "Annie, there''s no need for that. Trust me J wont risk Airustiniel v own life or the baby''s: "I''m hiding very well right now, and I''ll be leaving soon. You guys have already helped me, and I can handle the rest myself. Just believe in me." Jessica didn''t want to rely too heavily on Anneliese. Besides, for Anneliese to help her meant troubling Jonathan, and Jonathan happened to be Zane''s close friend. It wasn''t that Jessica didn''t trust Jonathan, but it was simply that she felt like she was burdening Anneliese too much. Hearing the firmness in Jessica''s voice, Anneliese parted her lips but didn''t insist further. She said gently, "Let''s keep in touch then. If you need anything, just tell me. You don''t have to carry everything on your own." "Okay, I know." The two chatted for a while longer. Initially, Anneliese thought Jessica would indirectly ask about Zane after his return. However, she realized that Jessica didn''t probe at all. She seemed to have truly cast aside everyone and everything from O?eaton after arriving at Harborview. Chapter 733 Anneliese had originally hesitated over whether she should tell Jessica that Zane hade back-how he had gone to the Malone family to make things clear with Gianna, and how he had been searching everywhere for her. However, she decided not to mention any of it after seeing that Jessica didn''t ask even once, and even learning that Mary had sent people to kill her in Harborview. With the Shayman family taking such a stance, Jessica couldn''t turn back. Hence, bringing up Zane would be meaningless anyway. After hanging up, Anneliese let out a sigh. Then, she saw Jonathan walk out from the dressing room, having changed into loungewear. "Did you get rid of that Shayman?" Seeing that she wouldn''t even say Zane''s name, Jonathan knew something must have happened on Jessica''s end. After all, he could sense her resentment toward Zane was even deeper now. As Jonathan thought about it, he sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders before replying, "I got him drunk and had him thrown out. What happened?" Anneliese didn''t hide anything and told him about how Jessica had been followed and even nearly been run over. Then, she looked up at him. "Is Zane''s mother really that unreasonable?" They had clearly reached an understanding before, yet now she was chasing Jessica all the way to Harborview. That was far too ruthless. After hearing what Anneliese said, Jonathan frowned slightly. He pursed his lips together and said, "Wait a moment." Then, he took out his phone and called Zion. "Check Mrs. Shayman''s movements over the past week." After Zion got into action, Jonathan hung up and looked at Anneliese. Seeing his reaction, Anneliese realized something and asked, "Are you suspecting that the person who went to Jessica''s ward might not be Mrs. Shayman? And that the one trying to harm Jessica might not be her either?" Jonathan gently brushed the crease between her brows and said, "Smart." At that, Anneliese sat up abruptly from his arms. She grabbed his arm and said urgently, "Why make it soplicated? Do you have a photo of Mrs. Shayman? Send it to me right now, and I''ll forward it to Jessica to have her identify it." "I don''t have a picture of her." Jonathan shook his head. Anneliese held up her phone and asked, "Can we find one online?" "Probably not. Mrs. Shayman keeps a low profile. Families like the Shaymans inevitably offend people, so they''re very careful about protecting their family members. Thus, not many photos would be shown publicly." Anneliese frowned. "If that is so, howe you suspect that person wasn''t Mrs. Shayman?" "The Shayman family doesn''t have many family members. Zane is only about three years older than me, and he''s already thirty. Mrs. Shayman has been nagging him to have family for years. Logically speaking, event she were dissatisfied with Jessica, she wouldn''t go so far as to eradicate the child in her womb. What''s more, the Shayman family''s principles are rtively upright. Even if they didn''t want the child to be born, they''d find a way through legal channels to force an abortion. Using a car to run someone down doesn''t fit the Shayman family at all." Anneliese nodded. The Shayman family was rooted in the political industry, so suchwless behaviors really didn''t match their style. Besides, if the Shaymans were the ones behind this wouldn''t they fear, the bacsh if things went wrong and the scandal implicated the family''s reputation? "If it wasn''t Mrs. Shayman..." As Anneliese followed this line of thought, a hypocritical face shed before her eyes almost instantly. She thought about Gianna''s biological mother, Pepper. That woman was full of false benevolence, insidiously malicious in the same vein as her daughter. Gianna had just caused Jessica to be hospitalized, and Mary appeared at the hospital the next moment. Anneliese felt that the news traveled far too quickly. In fact, Pepper was farmore likely to have heard about it. As she thought about it, her eyes widened. She tightened her grip on Jonathan''s hand as she eximed, "I think I know who it is!" Jonathan smiled and raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "You thought of it too, didn''t you?" Anneliese asked. Jonathan had indeed reached the same conclusion. He ruffled her hair and said, "Looks like Zion won''t need to work so hard on checking Mrs. Shayman. Today''s news should have photos of Pepper." "Right, I''ll look for it now." Anneliese nodded and immediately unlocked her phone. Chapter 734 Before the challenge match, she had gotten into a public dispute with Gianna outside the stadium. There had been plenty of reporters present at the time, and Pepper had been standing beside Gianna the entire time. If it was reported online, there had to be photos of her. Anneliese searched online, but the results disappointed her. There were no reports at all about her conflict with Gianna, and she knew that Adrian must be the one who suppressed the news. It had to be said that Adrian was clearly very experienced at cleaning up Gianna''s messes. Such an ugly scandal hadn''t caused any stir online at all. No wonder Gianna dared to keep stirring up trouble-someone was always there to back her up. Seeing Anneliese was deep in thought with a frown, Jonathan asked, "What''s wrong?" "It''s nothing." Annelise shook her head. "It''s hard to find online. I''ll check Madam Chalmont''s WhatsApp." As she spoke, she opened Wendy''s WhatsApp moments. Wendy didn''t post often, so there weren''t many photos. It didn''t take long before Anneliese found one photo with Pepper in the background. It seemed to have been taken at Ellie''s birthday. Then, she saved the photo and immediately sent it to Jessica. ''Jessica, take a look at it. Is Mrs. Shayman the woman in the blue dress who came to your hospital room?'' Jessica might not have had her phone nearby since Anneliese waited for a long time without receiving a reply. Just as she was about to call, Jonathan reached over and took the phone from her hand. Anneliese looked up in surprise, but Jonathan tossed the phone aside and grabbed her chin as he leaned in. "Honey, don''t you think you''ve been ignoring me for far too long?" Hearing his words, Anneliese blinked and wondered if she had. However, when she met his gaze, which was clearly filled with dissatisfaction, her heart softened. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. She realized that Jonathan was bing frighteningly good at getting under her skin. Before the kiss could end, the phone that was being tossed aside rang. Still lost in the moment, Anneliese opened her eyes almost immediately and pushed Jonathan away as she tried to reach for the phone. However, there was no way Jonathan would let her do so. He felt that his charm had just suffered an unprecedented challenge. Thus, not only did he refuse to release her, but he gripped her waist and pulled her straight onto hisp, catching her retreating lips. Anneliese whimpered softly as she couldn''t quite take the intensity. She looked at him pitifully and tugged lightly at the cor of his pajama, signaling that she had something to say. Jonathan''s gaze was dark as he stared at her for a moment before finally easing back a little. Anneliese leaned close to his ear and pleaded softly, "Husband, I love you. Please let me go..." Her voice was sweet and soft, ? breathy as it brushed against his ear, like a spark of fire. In an instant, something shapped in donathan, Teaving his entire body numb and his reactions slowed. By the time he came back to his senses, Anneliese had already slipped off hisp, picked up her phone from the bed, and run toward the balcony to answer Jessica''s call. Before closing the ss doon she even turned back and win winked at Jonathan, who was still sitting dazedly at the edge of the bed. After the balcony door closed, Jonathan''s gaze remained fixed on her silhouette outside. He lifted a hand and rubbed his ear as the corners of his lips curved into a smile. On the balcony, Anneliese answered the call and immediately asked, "Did you look at the photo I sent you?" "I did. The woman in the blue dress is indeed Mrs. Shayman. What''s wrong?" Hearing Jessica''s reply, Anneliese knew her suspicion was confirmed. She clenched her phone as anger shed across her face. "Annie?" Jessica heard her breathing grow rapid and asked in confusion. "Jessica, we''ve been ying." "What do you mean?" "The woman you met isn''t the real Mrs. Shayman at all. She is not Zane''s mother." Annelieseid it bare. Jessica had clearly never considered this possibility. She was stunned, confused, and didn''t know how to react. Chapter 735 "If she is not Mrs. Shayman, who is she? She made a deal with me in Mrs. Shayman''s name and transferred twenty million to me. That money is real." Jessica wondered who else would care so much about the child other than Mary. Wait... Could it be? Jessica reacted, and sure enough, she heard Anneliese say, "She is Gianna''s biological mother." Jessica frowned and said, "I thought you said before that you really got along with Gianna''s mother? She even saved you. Isn''t she a good person?" Anneliese didn''t want to go into the Malone family''s mess in detail. Thus, she said, "I was mistaken before. The one who saved me isn''t Gianna''s mother. This woman is Pepper, and she is Madam Chalmont''s younger sister. She impersonated Mrs. Shayman to see you, clearly trying to trick you into having an abortion under Mrs. Shayman''s name. When you refused toply, she tried to make a deal with you, deliberately causing you to resent the Shayman family." Jessica had originally believed that Mary wanted to wipe her outpletely, so she would never consider being with Zane again. Even if she were fortunate enough to give birth to the child, she would keep away from the Shayman family as far as possible. As she learned about this, she realized that Pepper had truly gone to great lengths just to pave the way for her daughter. Jessica clenched the bedsheet beneath her fingers and slowly let out a breath. To be honest, learning that the woman wasn''t actually Mary made her feel a little rxed. No matter what, after all, it was a good thing that the baby''s grandmother didn''t want the baby dead. Otherwise, if the child were to learn someday that their own grandmother couldn''t tolerate their existence and had even tried to kill them and their mother, that would be unbearably cruel. Jessica gently caressed her abdomen as she bit her lip and said, "Gianna again. What a vicious mother-and-daughter pair!" Anneliese agreed wholeheartedly. "Jessica, since the person who threatened and warned you isn''t Zane''s mother, why don''t you reconsider your decision to go abroad? Zane came back from overseas this time and has been looking for you everywhere. He even went to the Malone family and admitted in front of Gianna that you were his girlfriend." Anneliese briefly recounted Zane''s movements over the past couple of days. Although she didn''t think Zane deserved sympathy or Jessica''s love, the child Jessica carried was still his. Even with family support, being a single mother would be hard, let alone doing it alone in a foreign country. Judging by Zane''s current state, he would likely take responsibility for the child if Jessica returned. Anneliese said softly, "Jessica, if you change your mind, I can leak a bit of your whereabouts to Zane. If he truly cares, he''ll look for you. This could be onest chance for both of you and a chance for the baby to baby to have a On the other end of the line, Jessica fell into a long silence. Anneliese could feel her hesitation and struggle. She guessed Jessica must be in denial, so she sighed and said, "Take your time to think it..." Before she could finish, Jessica said firmly, "Let it be like this. I don''t want to go back." Anneliese was taken aback by her words. She could feel that Jessica still had feelings for Zane. Her decision to leave had been driven by "Mrs. Shayman''s" attitude and her belief that Zane was going to marry Gianna. Now that both issues had been resolved, Anneliese hadn''t expected Jessica to still choose to change her name and start over overseas. "Why?" Anneliese asked in surprise. Jessica stood up from the bed and walked to the window. The setting sun melted into gold, and the distant harbor was coated in flowing amber. A warm breeze carried the scent of coffee from a nearby caf¨¦, mingled with the salty tang of seawater. Jessica tilted her face toward the sunset, squinting slightly as she rested both hands over her belly and smiled gently. "Annie, I''ve lived in a daze for so many years. First, I was trapped in the Johnson Family. Later, I hid like a the Jainsoter cutting rat in the gutter Even ties with family! couldn''t find my ce in the world. I couldn''t see my future." Chapter 736 "This time, I no longer feel suffocated after leaving Oceaton. Being alone is a bit lonely, but it feels peaceful. For the first time, I can see my future clearly. I want to finish the studies I neverpleted and to see a wider world. The baby isn''t my burden¡ªit''s my courage. Annie, I don''t feel like this is suffering." As for Zane, he didn''t love her that much to begin with. Even now, searching for her everywhere was likely just because he wasn''t used to her sudden disappearance. Moreover, as a man favored by fate, he couldn''t stand having things ended early by a woman he had always looked down on. Jessica wasn''t a block of wood; she could feel the disdain and contempt buried deep in his bones. She also didn''t want other people to think that she tried to raise her status by using her child. Even if the Shayman family and Zane epted her because of the baby, Jessica could already imagine the mess her life would be afterward. Now that she had finally taken this step forward, she didn''t want to turn back again. In truth, she had been alone since the day she was born. She was already used to loving herself, used to struggling just to survive. So why, after meeting Zane, had she begun to hope that this man would love her instead? Listening to Jessica, Anneliese could hear the bitterness and hardship beneath her calm tone. In the end, Jessica was disappointed-being hurt too deeply that drove her to move on without looking back. Anneliese rubbed her slightly reddened eyes and smiled as she said, "I told you before that no matter what decision you make, I''ll always support you. Don''t worry about it. If you don''t want him to find you, I guarantee he won''t. It''s only a pity that Pepper won''t get exposed!" Jessicaughed. "It''s not a pity. Those twenty million are very real." Pepper had handed over the money so readily, probably because she believed she could deal with Jessica sooner orter and take it back. Now that her schemes had failed, she and Gianna would be infuriated when they realized Jessica had vanished without a trace and used the twenty million to live in better conditions while raising Zane''s child. "Protect yourself," Anneliese reminded her. "Don''t worry. I''ve hired two bodyguards myself. I''ll be careful." After ending the call, Anneliese turned around and found that Jonathan had already walked over without her noticing. The balcony''s ss door was pushed open, and he stood there with his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. His gaze was deep and intent as it rested on her. When their eyes met, Anneliese felt as though she might drown in his look. Sheremembered what whispered in his ear before e had answering the call. Now that he was staring at her like this, the shyness of that heartfelt confession rushed back all at once. Her eyes flickered slightly. She lifted her phone and waved it at him. "You heard everything, right? Jessica doesn''t want toe back." Jonathan had already heard it, and he silently spared Zane a single second of pity. One could only deem Zane a failure since a woman carrying his child refused to return to his side. toret However, it was all his own doing, so Jonathan had no extra sympathy to give. Instead, he took it as a quiet warning to himself that there was nothing a man could do when a woman made up her mind. Since he had finally seeded in winning Anneliese back, he needed to discipline himself and never allow himself to follow in Zane''s footsteps. Thinking about it, Jonathan didn''t reply to Anneliese. Instead, he beckoned her. "Come here." Anneliese blinked and obediently walked over. He was tall and broad, blocking the doorway. She didn''t exactly have another option. However, the look in his eyes carried a dangerous intensity, making her heart pound a little too fast. The moment she stepped closer, his hand reached out and pressed against her lower back. "Ah!" Even though Anneliese had been mentally prepared, she still cried out softly as she stumbled straight into Jonathan''s arms. She looked up at him. His palm was warm against her waist, and his gaze dark. Then, he spoke in a low voice. Chapter 737 "I didn''t hear you clearly just now. Say it again." Anneliese red at him and poked his chest with her finger. "Don''t cross the line, Jonathan. Constantly taking without giving isn''t a virtue. Courtesy calls for..." "I love you too." Before Anneliese could finish speaking, Jonathan cut in. His voice was low and gentle. He said it so cleanly and naturally, and Anneliese was still prepared to spar with him for a while longer¡ªyet he simply said it out loud like that. In that split second, she froze. Fingertip against his chest, she could almost feel the rhythm of his heartbeat-steady and powerful, with just a hint of speed. That pulse traveled through her fingertip and connected to her own heart, which was beating even faster, sending waves of electric current through her body. She stood there dazed for several seconds before breaking into a foolish grin. Grabbing the man by the cor, she said, "I didn''t hear clearly just now either. Say it again." As Jonathan looked at her flushed cheeks and bright eyes, he lifted her directly onto his shoulder and strode toward the bed, his voice carrying an unconcealed ease and pleasure. "Baby, no rush." After all, he had plenty of time to discuss this matter with her. The next day, Anneliese woke upte again as expected. When she opened her eyes, Jonathan was already gone from the bed. Remembering that she had made ns with Wendy to go early and pick up Ellie, she quickly reached for her phone to check the time. The moment she saw it, she jolted upright. She waste. Not just a littlete-she was more than an hourte. Standing up to a child, especially one as lovable as Ellie, made Anneliese want to scold a certain someone. As if by telepathy, Jonathan''s call came through at that exact moment. Anneliese hugged the nket and sat up as she answered it. Before she could use him of his crimes, his voice had already sounded. Are you awake? I already called Steven. He''ll make time this morning to bring Ellie over. Just wait at home." Anneliese was baffled by his words. She didn''t know whether to call him considerate or infuriating. "What excuse did you use?" she asked as she felt a bad feeling rising. On Jonathan''s end, the sound of Zion reporting work could be heard. Clearly already immersed in casually, "I told him you were tired and needed more sleep. He understoodpletely." Jonathan felt that Anneliese was already kind enough to help look after Ellie, so he felt that Steven personally go pick the childet shouldn''t still expect her to up. If that was the case, he might as well give Ellie to Anneliese. On the other hand, Anneliese gritted her teeth. They had agreed she would go pick Ellie herself. Now that he suddenly said she was tired and had Steven send Ellie over himself this was tantly telling Steven exactly what they had donest night! "Jonathan!" Anneliese cried out, mortified and annoyed. The man chuckled lightly and said, "It''s normal for newlyweds to be close to each other. You don''t have to be shy about it." What a jealous man! Anneliese was convinced he did it on purpose. Then, she huffed and hung up the phone. Since she no longer needed to go pick up Ellie, Anneliese rxed. She soaked in the bath for a while before heading downstairs. Just as she came down, the sound of a car pulling up could be heard outside. Then, she hurried out to greet them. Initially, she felt a little awkward facing Steven. However, Steven only ced Ellie down and nodded politely toward her from a distance. "Thank you for the trouble," he said before getting back into the car. Ellie, carrying a cartoon backpack, ran toward Anneliese. Anneliese quickly lifted her. By the time she picked Ellie up, Steven''s car had already turned the corner and driven away. Inside the car, Steven stared into the rearview mirror at Anneliese holding Ellie, the two of them pressing their foreheads together and smiling. He didn''t look away for a long time. Seeing his reaction, the driver slowed the car and couldn''t help saying, "Ms. ude and Ms. Ellie really get along well. Why didn''t you thank her in person, Mr. Malone?" The driver had been serving Steven for many years and knew Ellie''s situation very well. Steven had a hard time raising his daughter alone, so seeing how harmonious Ellie and Anneliese were, as well as recalling some unverified rumors e had heard earlier, the driver spoke a bit more. Chapter 738 Steven withdrew his gaze from the rearview mirror and shot a dark look at the driver. "That is Mrs. Fullbuster to you. Do I need to teach you how to address her?" The driver''s heart lurched, and cold sweat broke out on his palms as he said, "Yes, Mr. Malone." Then, he sped up the car immediately. Steven nced at him and said nothing further. After some time, he said in a low voice, "There will be no next time." Jonathan cared much about Anneliese and had even openly shown off their affection during the morning call. Steven knew that it was a warning from Jonathan. He was implying that their marriage was solid and warned Steven not to think about getting close to Anneliese through Ellie. Even though Steven had no such intentions and found it almostughable, he also knew what kind of consequences would happen if Jonathan ever heard what the driver said. At that point, he probably wouldn''t even be able to ask Anneliese to take care of Ellie again, and Steven had no desire to create unnecessary misunderstandings. However, what he didn''t expect was that no matter how deliberately avoided, some things could still be stirred up by someone scheming behind the scenes. Without his knowledge, photos and videos of Anneliese interacting with Ellie at yesterday''spetition venue had begun appearing in several private chat groups, sparking discussion. Someone from their social circle posted pictures of Anneliese and Ellie, as well as group photos of Steven holding the child while chatting andughing with Anneliese and Wendy. ''Is the Malone family about to celebrate something?'' ''Who is this woman? Is she the child''s mother? They look kind of simr.'' ''This gives a family of four vibe. She is probably Steven''s baby mama. She looks so young. ''No wonder he never revealed the child''s mother. Looks like she wasn''t even an adult back then.'' When Ellie was first brought back to the Malone family, it caused an uproar. Steven suddenly having a daughter with the child''s mother remaining hidden had always been a topic of spection. Now that seeing photos of Ellie in Anneliese''s arms and standing together with Steven and Wendy-and with Anneliese and Ellie sharing simr features¡ªthe rumors immediately felt "confirmed," spreading rapidly. Naturally, such gossip avoided the parties involved. It spread quietly in small circles while the people concerned remainedpletely unaware. At the Banyans, Anneliese carried Ellie into the vi. Margot came out of the dining room with a smile. "Is this Ms. Ellie? She is such an adorable child. You don''t say, she actually resembles you quite a bit, Mrs. Fullbuster." Ellie was nervous when she saw a stranger as well as in such an unfamiliar environment. Then, buried her face into Anneliese''s neck. Seeing that she was scared, Anneliese hugged her tighter and said to Margot, who looked a bit at a loss, "Margot, you can go ahead. I''ll take care of her." Margot nodded. "Alright, Mrs. Fullbuster. Call me if you need anything." Once she left, Anneliese lowered her head and spoke softly to Ellie, "I slept in today and haven''t eaten breakfast yet I''m really hungry. Would you help me look for food?" Hearing that Anneliese was hungry, Ellie immediately lifted her head and nodded. Anneliese put her down, took her hand, and walked toward the kitchen. "The kitchen is over there. Let''s go see what food we can find together." I.ne At that moment, Anneliese''s phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was an unfamiliar number, she hung up and con mued taking Ellie into the kitchen. Margot had already prepared breakfast. Anneliese helped Ellie carry the warm dishes to the dining table one by one. She seated Ellie beside her and said, "Will you keep mepany and eat a little? I don''t like eating alone." Ellie nodded with bright eyes. From the first time they met when Anneliese found her-Ellie seemed especially willing to apany Anneliese in everything she did. Anneliese''s heart softened. She patted her head and said, "Which one do you want to eat?" Ellie looked over the table and pointed to the shrimp dumplings. Anneliese ced two on her te, and thetter ate quietly. Chapter 739 Smiling, Anneliese picked up her bowl of chicken porridge and took a few sips before her phone rang again. It was the same unfamiliar number. This time, she answered it. Then, an unfamiliar woman''s voice came through. "Hello, is this Anneliese?" "I am. May I ask who you are?" "Anneliese, sorry to bother you. I''m Aunt Martha. We met at the Fullbuster Residence before. Do you remember me?" Anneliese paused slightly. During thest New Year, Jonathan had taken her to the Fullbuster Residence. At the time, she had been kidnapped and had an injury on her head, so she only met his rtives briefly. She vaguely remembered Martha as a slightly plump woman with a gentle demeanor, but they hadn''t spoken much. However, Martha''s daughter, Felyxia, had been lively and had run upstairs into the room, chatting endlessly with Anneliese. It was Felyxia who had identally revealed that Jonathan once painted a portrait of his first love. Later, Felyxia called Anneliese, crying to apologize that she hadn''t meant it. She alsoined that Jonathan had heartlessly assigned her to work during the New Year because of this. She was sent with the Fullbuster Group to visit nursing homes, forcing her to y the guitar for elderly residents for five days until her fingers turned red and swollen. Anneliese''s impression of Martha wasn''t bad. She also remembered that Martha had given her a pair of gold bracelets as a meeting gift. Although surprised that Martha would contact her, Anneliese still responded warmly. "Hello, Aunt Martha. Of course, I remember you." Martha didn''t engage in much small talk. She said she hade from Halden to visit friends and happened to have some free time, so she asked Anneliese if thetter would like to go shopping together. Her tone was gentle and polite. Anneliese found it hard to refuse and agreed. After quickly finishing breakfast, she carried Ellie and went out. Half an hourter, Anneliese entered the private room where they had agreed to meet. Holding Ellie''s hand, she walked in and saw two women seated at a table near the window. One, wearing a white dress and slightly plump, was Martha. She immediately smiled when she heard the door. On the other hand, the woman sitting opposite Martha had her back to the door. She wore a dark purple cashmere dress her back straight hair in a near bun. Heating the movement, she turned her head slightly. It was Elizabeth. Anneliese''s steps paused. She immediately understood that this wasn''t just a simple get-together invitation. As Martha nced at the unmoving Elizabeth, she silently criticized her stubborn pride. After all, was Elizabeth who had asked he invite Anneliese to ease rtions, so why put on such an act now? However, Martha didn''t have any choice. After all, Elizabeth had offered a painting that she adored, so it was too tempting to refuse. Martha stood up and walked toward Anneliese. "Anneliese, you''re here. Why did you bring a child along?" She smiled enthusiastically, so Anneliese couldn''t exactly turn and leave. Seeing Ellie hide behind her, she crouched tofort the child, using the motion to avoid Martha''s outstretched hand. "This is my friend''s daughter. I''m helping to take care of her for the day." Martha''s smile stiffened for a moment at Anneliese''s cool attitude, but she quickly recovered her fully recovered? Did the injury or your head feave a scar? I own a cosmetic hospital, so you can tell me if you need treatment..." Anneliese smiled and shook her head. "It''s already healed. Thank you for asking, Aunt Martha." As she spoke, Martha guided her to the table. Anneliese seated Ellie on herp and looked up meeting Elizabeth''s gaze. Elizabeth lifted her teacup, took a sip, and said, "Have you forgotten how to greet people?" Thest time Elizabeth had barged into the Banyans, things had ended terribly between her and Jonathan, and she had also humiliated herself in front of Anneliese. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!