INICIAR SESIÓN"Thank you for all your hard work, Erwin." I looked around at my employees, who were all smiling with satisfaction. "To all of you... I'm truly grateful. Enjoy your well-deserved break," I said, earning a chorus of cheerful applause.I also made sure to thank the hotel staff for preparing such an incredible venue for the event. They nodded with broad smiles before returning to clean up the ballroom.When I stepped outside, Anna was already waiting for me, sitting on a sofa with her fingers fidgeting in her lap. The lively voices of my employees lingering inside the ballroom faded as I closed the door behind me.Now, it was just Anna and me.My heart suddenly began to pound as I remembered her request for tonight.For three years, I had kept my distance from her.Tonight, every one of those boundaries would come crashing down.Swallowing hard, I forced myself to walk over to her.She immediately looked up and greeted me with a faint smile."Finished?" she asked."Yeah. They're still dr
"The foreign investors we invited have already entered the ballroom. They said the event is incredible," Erwin said, unable to hide the admiration in his voice.The lively noise on his end of the call brought a faint smile to my lips as I looked into the mirror.I glanced to my side, where Anna stood looking stunning in the dress I had bought for her.As she rose from her chair, the burgundy mermaid gown hugged her figure elegantly, accentuating the curve of her waist. And for some reason, I liked seeing her in dresses that revealed the graceful line of her collarbone, just like this one."Mr. Dylan hasn't even blinked since he started looking at you," the makeup artist teased Anna.They both giggled.I quickly looked away and turned my attention back to Erwin."We'll be downstairs in a few minutes," I said before ending the call.I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment. My gaze drifted across the spacious room before settling on the glittering night view beyond the floor-to-ceiling
DYLANAs I waited for Anna's cotton candy to be wrapped, my phone vibrated in my pocket.Jessy was calling.I answered immediately, taking the cotton candy from the vendor as I walked away. A sense of unease settled over me."Come home now. We need to talk.""About what?" I asked, glancing at Anna, who was still patiently waiting for me on the park bench."Lea... she showed us a letter from her obstetrician," Jessy said quietly.Every nerve in my body went rigid. I couldn't find a single word to say. The cotton candy slipped from my hand. I looked toward Anna, still sitting there with a small smile as she waited for me.My chest tightened. I wanted to go to her, but Jessy's words had already consumed my thoughts. Without explaining anything, I turned around and ran toward my motorcycle.Damn it.I had really left Anna behind without her phone or any money. But I couldn't think about anything else. I had to get home and see that letter with my own eyes."I'll be there soon. Don't let D
When I returned from the hospital, my body still didn't feel like my own. My head felt heavy, and every step drained what little strength I had left.The house staff checked on me from time to time, though the displeased looks on their faces made it obvious this wasn't something they were used to doing.I was certain Dylan had told them to.By late afternoon, I finally started feeling a little better. I saw my father-in-law sitting comfortably in his wheelchair with his nurse. They were enjoying the afternoon in the side garden.The nurse patiently fed Abraham, occasionally chatting with him. I hurried downstairs to join them. The moment he saw me, Abraham greeted me with an indistinct voice. Even though I couldn't make out his words, I knew he was happy to see me."Have you eaten, Dad?"He gave me a stiff nod.Brenda smiled. "Mr. Abraham looks really happy that you came to see him. He's barely said a word all day."
ANNAA painful throbbing pounded through my head. The food on the nightstand sat barely touched. My stomach refused to keep anything down.Just a minute ago, I had thrown up in the bathroom. My stomach cramped so violently it felt like it was being twisted apart. Curled into myself, my gaze fell on the water container Dylan had brought me last night.For the first time since we got married, he had shown genuine concern for me. Even so, last night he had almost discovered all my medication. My hands trembling, I reached for the nightstand and slowly picked up my phone.I didn't think painkillers would help anymore. I needed to tell Vallen about my condition. Maybe he could help me.As I waited for him to answer, I struggled to straighten my weak body. My feet dangled over the edge of the bed while one hand gripped the side of my head.Come on, Vallen... answer.I winced. The pain in my head had become unbearable.The call connected, and Vallen's calm voice came through."What's wrong?"
Anna didn't answer my question. Instead, she pressed the back of her hand against her nose, trying to keep the blood from dripping onto the blanket. I quickly grabbed a box of tissues from the nightstand and handed it to her.She deftly rolled up a tissue and stuffed it into one nostril. We sat in silence for a while. All I could do was watch her sitting there with her head lowered, her face pale and drained of color. The tissue slowly turned red as it soaked through with blood.She pulled out another tissue and repeated the same thing. I frowned. Why hadn't the bleeding stopped yet? Weren't nosebleeds supposed to stop long before this?"If you're sick, we can go to the hospital right now," I offered.She answered with a shake of her head.Anna replaced the second tissue with a fresh one, crumpling the bloodstained one in her hand. "You can go back to your room, Dylan. I'm fine.""Fine? You have a nosebleed, and you still haven't answered my question," I protested, pointing toward the
"Anna, do you really think a pathetic stunt like this will make Dylan change his mind about divorcing you?" Lea sneered, her gaze sweeping over me with open judgment.I swallowed hard.A mocking smile curved her lips. "Do you honestly think Dylan has ever wanted you?"The question cut through my ch
-ANNA-"I agree to divorce you.""Good. I'm glad you've finally changed your mind," said Dylan Danforth, my husband, who was currently sitting beside his lover, who also happened to be my stepsister, Lea G. McCallaway.The blonde woman with striking blue eyes ran a hand across Dylan's chest. Then s
"I'm fine, Father. I bumped my nose earlier," I lied.Fortunately, my father-in-law believed me without much question.Abraham glanced at the unmade bed behind me. His gaze softened. A faint smile touched his thin lips before he quickly pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket."Use this to wipe
"Vallen, just pretend you never saw any of this," I said calmly."Damn it, Anna, what do you mean? How am I supposed to stay quiet after seeing something this unfair? You're fighting a disease while Dylan...""Vallen, this is my marriage."The firmness in my voice silenced him on the other end of t







