Ch. 141..150

Chapter 141

As much as I was against the idea, he was the only one I could rely on until Steven regained his ability to walk. Pursing my lips, I lost myself in a train of thoughts.

Michael broke the silence and repeated himself, “You need to make up your mind soon because you're running out of time.”

I was certain I was about to get on his nerves for real after remaining silent for such a long time. I looked at him and asked in return, “Before I give you my answer, can you answer a query of mine first?”

Michael stood upright and asked with a straight face, “What is it?”

“Of all the women available, why me? Why have you chosen to stay in touch with me when you can get someone else for the role?”

Michael was surrounded by a bunch of exceptional women. More often than not, many of them would try to hit on him, but he had never once taken them seriously.

Truth be told, I was way more inferior to those exceptional women who tried to hit on him. Thus, I couldn't figure out the reason why he would dismiss others without a second thought, and instead, chose to maintain a relationship with me.

Smirking while staring at me in the eyes, he remarked sarcastically, “Will you believe me if I tell you it's just because of your amazing skills in bed?”

I felt a strong urge to throw the pillow I had with me in his direction when I heard his reply.

Has he no shame at all? Is sex all he ever thinks about?

Irked by his remarks, I shot daggers at him and asked, “Michael, can you take this seriously and tell me the truth?”

“What? Are you saying that I lied to you? I am serious and I have told you the truth,” he asserted in all seriousness.

I would have been deceived by him if it weren't because I knew it was just one of his many attempts to pull my leg.

Since he has no intention to tell me the truth, I guess I'll just have to leave it alone for the time being. After all, it's not like I can force him to tell me. I can't risk offending him as of now.

Once again, he urged me to make up my mind, “Anna, instead of bringing up irrelevant topics, why don't you make up your mind now because my patience is running out.”

Staring at him in the eyes, I lost myself in another process of thoughts.

Coming to the conclusion that what he offered seemed to be the only viable option I had left, I announced, “It's a deal, then.”

My mother had been holding a grudge against me ever since Steven was rushed to the hospital. She wouldn't forgive me if anything were to happen to him. In contrast to my relationship with my parents, my dignity and honor were nothing.

I couldn't stand my mother considering me as an outsider. Otherwise, my life would be worse than it already was.

“Great.”

Michael responded with a gleeful smirk and marched his way out of the room as soon as he put on his coat.

I was frustrated by his response. He made it seemed as though we weren't affiliated apart from the time we spent in bed.

In the end, I cursed him over and over again in my mind to vent my frustration.

When I thought he had departed, he entered the room once again and announced, “Since you're still not feeling well, just take it easy for the rest of the day and have a break.”

“I can't. I need to check on Steven. He has just gone through a major operation, and I don't even know if he's fine or not.”

I started searching for my clothes as soon as I finished my sentence.

Now that my mother was already resenting me, if I failed to show up to my brother's post-operation, she might pick on me for not being mindful.

When Michael heard me, he answered with a frown, “Just take it easy. His surgery was successful and I have gotten my secretary to send a caregiver over to look after him. Your parents will be fine without

you.”

Has he gotten everything sorted out beforehand?

Michael's actions had taken me by surprise. As it turned out, he had taken everything into consideration and sorted out everything on my behalf.

Humans would grow fond of those who helped them when they were at their most vulnerable. And that happened to be my case. I felt as though I could resolve everything as long as Michael was around me.

“Thank you, Michael.”

I was glad he had resolved the issues on my behalf when I was in desperate need of help. However, his upcoming reply took me by surprise and sent me into a vicious cycle of despair.

“There's no need to thank me since I'm just returning the favor. At the end of the day, our relationship is nothing more than a deal.”

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach upon hearing that.

He might have deemed our relationship as just another one of his many deals, but that wasn't the case for me.

Although he might see me as just another tool to satisfy his urges and needs, he was an important figure in my life. After all, he had rushed to my rescue twice when I needed someone the most. The sort of affection I had for him was no longer the same after the series of incidents.

As a result of his reply, I felt my eyes prickling as though I was about to weep again. I looked elsewhere because I couldn't stand his cold and emotionless gaze on me.

Michael, who had always been an observant man, noticed the change in my expression, but he chose to dismiss me as though he couldn't be bothered.

“Just get some rest. I'll get my secretary to send you something to eat in the afternoon.”

Once again, he marched out of the room once he finished his sentence.

I didn't hear him leaving the place. Thus, I reckoned he must be in the living room.

As I lay on the bed, I couldn't bring myself to sleep anymore. I was exhausted, but I couldn't shrug Michael's remarks off my mind.

Is our relationship nothing more than a deal for him? Doesn't he feel anything else?

I couldn't get Michael's handsome countenance out of my mind. After some time, I heard someone ringing the doorbell. My first thought was that it was Michael's secretary bringing us something to eat.

A few minutes after the doorbell rang, Michael showed up in the room and saw that I wasn't asleep. He instructed, “Come out and grab yourself something to eat. I'll be leaving for a meeting in the afternoon after the meal.”

After getting dressed, I joined Michael in the dining hall. He started savoring the food his secretary brought us in an elegant manner.

It was a relatively simple meal with a few dishes. Seated opposite him, I started having my meal in silence as there was no topic of conversation that came to mind.

Perhaps it was because of his words earlier, I felt something had changed in the dynamic of our relationship.

Chapter 142

Likewise, Michael kept his head down and simply kept eating without any intention to talk to me.

After finishing his meal, he put on his shoes and left without even a glance.

When we were in bed earlier, he still treated me gently. As such, I was deeply disappointed by his abrupt change in behavior.

Losing all my appetite, I silently tidied up the dining table before heading to the hospital alone.

Since Michael had already left, there was no reason left for me to stay here. Besides, I was still utterly concerned about Steven.

When I arrived at his ward, Steven had already woken up while my mother was feeding him chicken stew. Even though his operation was successful, he still looked frail.

The moment I stepped into the ward, they simply glanced at me without saying a word. My mother's gaze on me was extremely cold.

Their behaviors were reasonable as Steven was in terrible shape. Thus, I forced myself to look past their icy attitude and walked over to my mother before reaching out to get the stew in her hand.

“Mom, you've been up the entire night. Let me take care of Steven. You should get some rest with Dad.”

Staring at me angrily, she pushed me away without a word.

I lifted my head and stared at her, sadness engulfing me. But before I could open my mouth, she spoke in an accusatory tone.

“Why are you here? Is it not enough what you've done to Stevie?”

Evidently, she still blamed me for everything that happened to Steven. But he was the one who got into the gambling debt. How's that my fault? Why does no one try to understand my feelings?

I could no longer suppress my indignance as my eyes brimmed with tears while staring at my mother. “Mom, why are you putting all the blame on me? Steven has completed the operation, and I've paid all the expenses. So why do you still treat me like this?”

I choked on my words while saying that. I used to tolerate everything she said about me, but she had crossed the line that day. After all, I was still a human with emotions.

“Yes, you did pay for the operation, but where did you get that money? Didn't you say that you have no money? The operation cost around a hundred thousand, right?”

My complaint did not seem to touch her at all. On the contrary, she became more enraged as she began suspecting me.

“I...”

I wanted to tell her the truth, but I could not reveal my relationship with Michael. How could I be honest and say that the money came from a man because I slept with him? How could I live with dignity in front of my family in the future if they were to find out?

“Why? Nothing to say anymore? The truth is, you had the money all along, didn't you? You just didn't want to help your brother. If you have taken out the money sooner, Steven won't be lying in bed right now!”

Her words stabbed at my heart like a sharp knife, leaving it dripping blood.

I had shamelessly sold my body to Michael for the money, yet my mother still misunderstood me.

Staring at her, I started weeping. It was only then that I realized what kind of person I was in her eyes. Didn't she see everything that I've done for this family? How could she think of me like that?

“Mom, am I such a cruel person in your eyes? Do you know how much I've sacrificed in order to get this money? Why do you never care for me but instead keep on complaining about everything I do?”

I looked her in the eyes calmly. I really could not wrap my head around how she was treating me. It was as though I was not her biological daughter.

What have I done wrong? I'm your child too. How could you discriminate against me? Is it just because I'm a girl?

Ever since I was young, I had realized my parents' unfair love toward their son. Initially, I thought the care for Steven only exceeded mine just for a little. But as time went by, I found out that I was like a complete outsider in their eyes.

“Do you think it's easy raising you? Isn't it reasonable for you to help the family financially? How could you think that we've wronged you?”

Regardless of how heartbroken I was, my mother did not seem to show any sign of compassion for me. Her gaze toward me was still unyieldingly cold as if I was nobody but a stranger.

“That's not what I meant. It's my obligation to help the family, and I'm happy to do what I can. I just want you to care about me more. Is that too much to ask for?”

As I spoke, tears streamed down my face like water rushing from a broken dam. I looked at my mother like a naive kid, still anticipating her love.

I thought that after my confession and pleading, she would understand my feelings and change her stance. I would be satisfied if she just gave me a word of care.

However, it seemed that my expectation was nothing but wishful thinking. Upon hearing what I said, her expression changed to that of annoyance.

“Your brother is already in such a sorry state, and yet all you're thinking about is yourself? How could you be so selfish?”

That was what I got after pouring out my heart.

“That's enough. Could you two please cut it out? Don't you see Stevie is in pain now? Stop making a fuss around here.”

My father, who was usually the quiet one, had finally run out of his patience.

Hearing his voice, I swallowed all the words I wanted to say and strode toward the bed. Gazing at

Steven's pale face, my heart twitched in pain.

“How are you feeling? Does it still hurts?”

Even though I disapproved of Steven's way of life, he was still my brother. Looking at him in pain, I felt as though a thousand needles were stabbing through my heart.

If he did not start gambling, he would not have been in this state now.

 

Chapter 143

“Get lost. I don't want to see you.”

In his weakened state, Steven still managed to cast cruel words toward me.

I was stunned momentarily as I thought he was the only one who would treat me fairly. Turns out, he was exactly the same as my other family members.

“Steven, I know you're in a bad mood after your operation. But don't worry. I'll take good care of you.”

I responded to him with a faint smile as I tried to comfort myself that he only treated me like this because of his pain.

Even though we used to argue all the time, he was a patient right now, so I decided to look past his temper.

“I ask you to get lost! Didn't you hear me? My legs almost got crippled because of you! What kind of sister are you? Useless wench!”

He stared at me, his eyes filled with resentment.

I froze on the spot, suddenly at a loss for words.

What else can I say at this point to lessen their resentment toward me? How did things end up like this?

“Steven, it's not like what you think. If I had the money, there's no way I wouldn't have helped you. But I

really didn't have the money back then. My heart ached too, you know, seeing you hurt like this.”

Looking at his legs that were wrapped in a layer of thick plaster, tears started welling up in my eyes once again.

“Stop pretending. You never liked me. I guess you're happy now to see me like this! It'll be all your fault if I become a cripple!”

His face was pale and his voice was weak, but his words were chocked full of hostility, deeply wounding me.

Family should be united in times of trouble, but it seemed to me that my family had abandoned me thoroughly.

“Steven, you...”

“Leave now! I'll give you three seconds!”

Right then, Steven pointed at the door rigidly.

“Steven, can you please just listen to me?”

“One... two... three! Mom, what're you waiting for? Chase her out now!”

Seeing how I was reluctant to leave, Steven instructed my mother directly.

Needless to say, she was on his side. Without even an ounce of hesitation, she started pushing me toward the door.

“Mom... don't. Please...”

I tried to break free from her grasp, but at the same time, I was worried about hurting her. In the end, I was pushed out of the ward.

“Leave now! None of us want to see you. I'll just take it as I never had a daughter before!”

Upon saying that, she pushed me out forcefully and shut the door right in my face.

Losing my balance, I thought I would fall to the ground, but someone caught me from behind.

“I'm sorry...”

I pulled away from the stranger's arms immediately as I apologized profusely. Wiping the tears off my face, I tried to make myself look less miserable.

“Miss, are you alright?”

A gentle male's voice traveled into my ears, and it sounded somewhat comforting.

I lifted my head and saw a handsome face. Although he wasn't as handsome as Michael, he did seem like a well-educated gentleman.

“I'm fine. Sorry for bumping into you.”

Trying to recollect myself, I looked into his gentle eyes and apologized once again.

“Don't worry about it. It was an accident.” He flashed a casual smile.

“By the way. Did you just get pushed out from...”

He stopped in the middle of his sentence after probably realizing that it was rude to ask.

“It was nothing. Sorry again for bumping into you. I'll take my leave, then.”

He did not seem to be a bad guy, but telling a stranger about my personal matter hardly seemed appropriate.

After I left, the man gazed at my retreating figure for quite a long while with a smile on his face.

Walking out of the hospital, I suddenly felt like an abandoned child. I felt like there was not a place in this world that I belonged. Although I could go to Natalie's house, it was not my home after all.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an iron vice when I thought of how all my family members hated me.

In the end, I did not get to Natalie's place. Instead, I headed for Birchwood. Right now, all I wanted was some quiet time alone, and I knew for a fact that Michael would not go to that place during the day.

If I went to Natalie's place, I would only cause her to worry about my current condition. The last thing I wanted now was to become a burden to my friend.

After I arrived at Birchwood, I sat down on the balcony decadently, gazing at the scenery. My heart was filled with despair, but there was no one I could talk to alleviate my pain.

I had no idea how things became like this, and I was out of ways to make my family forgive me.

Without realizing it, I sat there for the whole afternoon. As the day began to darken, I felt reluctant to leave the seat. All I wanted was to sit there dazedly nary a thought going through my mind.

It was becoming dark in the room, but I had no intention to switch on the lights.

I did not know how much time had passed until I heard the door opening and footsteps approaching.

A few seconds later, someone switched on the lights in the house. The sudden brightness pierced through my eyes, and I responsively covered them with my hand.

Regaining my sight, I saw Michael staring at me in total befuddlement. “What are you doing in the balcony in complete darkness? You're not thinking of suicide, are you?”

Michael put down his suitcase abruptly and walked toward me, his gaze filled with displeasure.

“Am I such a pathetic person in your eyes? I'm not the type that gives up easily, okay?”

I rose from the seat and stepped toward him. Why on earth would he think that I was thinking of suicide? What a joke. I still have great plans for my future. Why would I end my life?

Michael did not question me further. A moment later, He sat on the couch in the living room and pulled

me toward him before making me sit on his lap.

He leaned close to my ears and asked gently, “Did you go to the hospital today?”

“Yes.”

I tried to answer calmly, but his question reminded me that my family chased me out and despair once again filled my heart.

 

Chapter 144

Michael, being the keen observer that he was, noticed the change in my expression.

“Why the sad face? What happened at the hospital?”

He caressed my back gently as he spoke. Although his tone was placid, I could feel a hint of genuine care for me.

“I got chased out by them.”

I spoke as a wry smile etched itself on my face. Hah! What a joke to be rejected by my own family!

Upon hearing my answer, he paused for a few seconds before resuming to caress my back.

“Why?” He looked at me with a face devoid of emotion.

“They think that I'm the one who caused Steven to become like this. Every one of them is blaming me...”

I wasn't sure why I told Michael everything that happened back at the hospital. After all, he had nothing to do with it, and there was nothing he could do to fix it.

Michael did not say a word after that, but I could see his expression darkening.

“Since you got chased out, there is no need for you to go back anymore. Just stay with me from now on.”

He held me tightly in his embrace and said in a low voice.

Even though his tone sounded extremely possessive, I felt touched by his words.

I hugged him tightly as tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably. I intended to suppress my sadness, but I soon realized I could no longer take it on my own. What I needed at that moment was someone to confide in out and someone to rely on.

“Why do they treat me like this? What wrong have I done? Why must they blame it all on me?”

My tears could not stop as I spoke. I was simply too exhausted from all the burdens and grievances I had been carrying.

Michael furrowed his brows without a word, but I could feel his arms wrapping around me more tightly.

I wept inside his embrace for a long time, until I finally fall asleep.

Even though our relationship was not that close for me to confide in him, I was still grateful and touched that he did not push me away when I was crying my heart out or when I had soiled his shirt with my tears.

After I dozed off, Michael carried me to the bed, and he slept beside me.

The following day when I woke up, my eyes were so swollen, it looked like I was stung by a bee. I turned my body and noticed that Michael was still sleeping by my side.

Seeing that, I recalled that I had cried in his embrace for a long time the previous night. I guess he must be exhausted.

I snaked an arm around him and hugged him. With him by my side, I could feel a rare sense of security. Even though I had already known that there was no future for our relationship, I could not help but keep falling deeper into it.

Apparently, Michael was not in a deep sleep, as he opened his eyes not long after.

After waking up, he hugged me again and asked with a slightly hoarse voice, “Have you finished crying?”

Hearing that, my face flushed red with embarrassment as I recalled how pitiful I must have looked when I was crying the previous night.

“Sorry I got your shirt dirty last night.”

I knew Michael was a clean freak, so I was certain it must have been difficult for him to tolerate me crying all over his shirt.

“So you still remember.”

Michael frowned slightly, scrutinizing me. Displeasure flickered in his gaze.

“I'll wash it for you later. Anyway, can I take leave for today? I plan to go to the hospital again later.”

I had taken leave for two days already, but I was still not in the mood to work. Even though I knew my

family did not want to meet me, I could not let go of my concern for Steven.

“Haven't you had enough of your family taking it out on you?”

Michael stared at me, his expression was that of puzzlement.

“I'm still worried about Steven...”

It was true that every word that my mother said hurt me deeply, but that pain was incomparable to the physical pain Steven must have been enduring.

“I forbid you to go! You'll only be humiliating yourself even more.”

Michael sat upright and commanded me tersely.

Baffled by his sudden outburst, I wondered if I had accidentally offended him with my words or actions.

“But...”

“You don't need to worry about your brother. I'll arrange the best doctor and the best medical care for him. You're free to go anywhere, just not the hospital!”

He did not give me the chance to finish my sentence.

I was a little pissed off as he always dominated my life, yet there was no way I could disobey his decision.

Nonetheless, he would be heading to work shortly. By then, he would not know even if I went to the hospital secretly. All he could do was merely giving me a warning.

Michael seemed to have guessed my mind. He locked his eyes upon me for a moment and said flatly, “I have my men in the hospital. If you try to go there behind my back, I'll definitely know.”

Upon hearing that, frustration filled me. It was somehow terrifying how he seemed to know what was in my mind every single time.

“I got it. I won't go to the hospital.”

I lowered my head and answered, sounding utterly despondent.

Even though I was worried about Steven, I knew that nothing would change even if I went there. I reckoned the outcome would be no different from yesterday if I were to go... Michael is only doing this for my own good.

Satisfied with my response, Michael got up and started getting changed.

I sat on the spot, looking utterly dispirited. It was difficult for me to accept that my parents had forsaken me as I used to rely heavily on them emotionally. The treatment I got from them ever since I was a kid had always been one of indifference. As such, I had been working hard to prove myself ever since. But the more I tried, I realized that something was meant to be and would not change with effort.

I had come to a point where I had no idea what would make them happy.

Just when my thoughts were running wildly, a bank card appeared in my line of sight. Coming back to

my senses, I saw Michael looming over me with his gaze riveted on me.

“What's this?”

Chapter 145

I looked up at him in confusion.

“There's a hundred thousand in this card. Go buy yourself some new clothes or something. You can throw all of your old clothes away if you want.”

Michael's tone was neutral when he said that, but I felt uncomfortable at how he was treating me like a sugar baby.

“Thanks, but I can afford to do my own shopping, so you can keep your money.”

I refused his offer and placed the card on the nightstand.

After all the money Michael had given me so far, I couldn't bring myself to accept any more from him. Although he had paid for Steven's surgery bills because of our deal, I had cost him hundreds of thousands in just a few months.

“You're my woman now, so don't worry about it and just take whatever money I give you. I don't mind giving you money as long as you don't have any ulterior motives for being with me.”

I knew Michael was a generous man capable of offering insane amounts of money like it was nothing, but that last sentence he said hurt me deeply.

What does he mean by ulterior motives? Is it because all the women around him are after his money, so he finds it suspicious that I'm refusing his offer?

“Relax, I know what you mean. You and I are merely f*ck buddies, and nothing more.”

It wasn't the first time Michael had reminded me of our relationship, and I was well aware that we had nothing between us outside of this house.

Right as I thought he was about to leave, he turned around at the door and said coldly, “Oh, and you'd better take care of Yuval as soon as possible. I don't like my women being in messy relationships.”

I looked up in a panic when I heard him mention Yuval, and my gaze was met with a firm look in his eyes.

“I will. I'm going to talk to him about it today.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Whatever it was that I had going on with Yuval had to stop now that I was back with Michael.

Knowing how possessive he was, there was no telling what he would do if he found out that I'm still seeing other men.

Michael left after getting a satisfactory reply from me, and the room fell into silence once again.

I felt my chest tighten as I stared at the door and thought about what he said earlier.

Michael had a tendency to touch my heart with his words, only to send it back to rock bottom immediately after.

I made myself a very simple breakfast and gave Yuval a call afterward to explain everything.

We could no longer be together as I had decided to continue my relationship with Michael, so I had to make it clear to him.

Yuval was a little surprised when he got my call and seemed hesitant in his response. I assumed he thought I was calling him to borrow money or something.

We agreed to meet up at a café, and I had arrived ahead of time. It was usually Yuval who would arrive early for our dates, but he showed up thirty minutes later that day.

“I'm so sorry for being late, Anna. Have you been waiting for long?” Yuval apologized profusely as he sat down in front of me.

“That's okay. You've always been the one waiting for me, so it's only fair that I wait for you this time.”

I didn't really mind him being late as I had made up my mind to tell him the truth anyway. I had agreed to date him in the first place because I thought our personalities complemented each other, but I neglected the fact that he wasn't the kind of guy I wanted to be with.

“So... Why did you want to see me all of a sudden?” Yuval asked after ordering a cup of coffee.

I looked up at him and said calmly, “There's something I need to talk to you about.”

“What is it?” he asked softly while looking me straight in the eye.

“Yuval, I came to break up with you. I don't think we should be seeing each other.”

I cut to the chase without any hesitation as I knew Michael would get mad at me if I didn't cut ties with Yuval.

“Huh? Why do you want to break up with me?”

Yuval looked at me in shock and panic as what I said was completely beyond his expectations.

“I just feel that we're not suitable for each other. I've been giving it a lot of thought and decided to tell you about it today.”

I had actually planned on breaking up with Yuval a long time ago. Whenever those thoughts surfaced, I would remind myself of how hard it was to find someone suitable for marriage and convince myself to stay with him.

“What's gotten into you today, Anna? Why are you breaking up with me all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong?”

That was the first time I had seen Yuval look so anxious.

“It's not you, it's me. I agreed to date you at first because I thought you were a decent match for me, but I recently realized that I only see you as a friend instead of a boyfriend.”

I knew what I said was hurtful, but I had to make a choice between the two of them, and Michael was the only one capable of helping me out.

“I think we're doing pretty fine, so I find your explanation a little hard to believe. Is this because I didn't help you out with your family situation?”

He's bringing up my family, so that means he has been thinking about it. He thinks I'm mad at him for not helping me.

“You're overthinking it, Yuval. We aren't all that close, so you have no obligations whatsoever to help me out.”

Despite what I said, I did actually mind as I was completely helpless at the time, and all he did was give me some useless advice.

Of course, those feelings had disappeared completely after Michael took care of my problems for me, so I didn't feel sad about breaking up with Yuval at all. If anything, I simply found it a shame that I had to let go of a decent guy like him.

Chapter 146

“Anna, I think we...”

Yuval was about to say something further, but he was interrupted by a woman's voice coming from behind us, “Hey, Anna! Long time no see!”

That voice... It's Mabel! I haven't seen her nor Justin in a very long time. Who would've thought I'd bump into her here today...

I frowned as I turned to look at Mabel who had her arms wrapped around Justin's, looking like she was the happiest woman in the world.

A few months ago, seeing them acting all intimate like this would've made me incredibly furious and upset. However, all I felt toward them at that moment was pure disgust.

Since nothing good ever happened with her around, I decided to look away and ignore her.

“What, aren't you going to greet your old friend?” Mabel asked provocatively as she made her way in front of me, clinging tightly to Justin's arm the whole time.

“I don't think we're friends anymore, so there is no need for greetings.”

Mabel was probably the only woman in the world that I would treat so coldly. In fact, I no longer hated her, but I could never forgive her for what she did to me. Judging by the looks of her, it didn't seem like she needed my forgiveness at all.

“Who is he, Anna?” Justin, who had been silent up until then, tried to change the topic when he saw

Mabel taunting me.

Not wanting to entertain a scumbag like him, I simply shot him a glance and kept quiet, much to his chagrin.

The look on his face grew tense as things became awkward.

“My name is Yuval Lambert. I'm Anna's boyfriend.”

Yuval took the initiative to introduce himself when he saw me remain silent, but I didn't like how he called himself my boyfriend when I had come to break up with him.

Justin's expression changed the moment he heard what Yuval said.

Mabel snorted in disdain and said, “Boyfriend? Heh... You sure are fast when it comes to changing boyfriends, Anna! I can't believe you've found yourself a new one in just a couple of days!”

I knew she was trying to make Yuval think of me as a wh*re who keeps getting herself new boyfriends, but I didn't really care.

“The amount of boyfriends I have is none of your concern. I suggest you mind your own business,” I said while glaring coldly at her.

“What, are you afraid of me exposing your past in front of your boyfriend? By the way, where's Michael? Didn't you say Michael was your boyfriend the other day? Why are you with another guy now? Did you get dumped or something?”

Mabel flashed me a contemptuous smile as she deliberately brought up Michael in front of Yuval.

Although I knew exactly what she was trying to do, I couldn't help but feel angry at her nonetheless. What on earth have I ever done to her? She's already dating Justin just like she wanted, so why is she still trying to pick a fight with me now?

“Who I date has nothing to do with you!”

Mabel walked up to Yuval and placed a hand on his shoulder as she said, “Hey, mister! My boyfriend used to date your girlfriend, and guess what? She's surprisingly fast at getting into new relationships! I mean, you're the third guy she's dating!”

She kept her eyes fixated on me the whole time, and they were filled with hatred.

With a frown on his face, Yuval brushed her hand off and said coldly, “That's between Anna and me. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're in the middle of a discussion here.”

Despite his gentle nature, Yuval's expression was as cold as ice when he saw what Mabel was trying to do.

“You two carry on, then. We'll be on our way now,” Justin said while casting Yuval a hostile glare.

He didn't make it too obvious because we were in public, and I probably wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't known him for so many years.

“Hey, let go of me! I'm not done talking here, Justin! Are you feeling sorry for her, huh? Do you still have

feelings for her or something?” Mabel shouted in dissatisfaction as Justin dragged her away by the arm.

I could clearly hear what Mabel said even though the two of them had gotten far away from us, and I knew Yuval must've heard it too.

I wasn't exactly in a great mood to begin with, and that little scene Mabel caused worsened it even further.

“Yuval, I've told you everything I have to say to you, so let's just be friends from now on,” I said in all seriousness while staring him in the eye.

Yuval looked at me anxiously and was about to say something in response, but I cut him off before he had the chance to.

“I know what I said might've hurt you, but we won't be happy together if we don't have any feelings for each other. I'm sorry, I'll be on my way now.”

“Anna...”

I then stood up and left, ignoring what he said behind me.

Stepping out of the café, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. I had always felt this inexplicable pressure whenever I was with Yuval, and getting everything out in the open brought a huge relief.

I soon arrived at a shopping mall and was browsing the women's section in hopes of getting myself

some new clothes. The last time I went shopping for clothes was ages ago, and I had been under a lot of stress lately, so I could really do with a shopping spree.

I picked out a light beige dress in a boutique and was surprised at how well it fitted me after trying it on.

All women want to be beautiful, and I was no exception. I liked the dress for both its design and material, but the hefty price of over two thousand made me hesitate instantly.

After getting changed, I placed the dress back on the rack and stared at it longingly. I really liked it, but I couldn't bring myself to buy something that expensive.

The clothes I owned cost around two to three hundred each, with the exception of the dress Michael gave me the other day.

“What do you think of this dress, miss? I think it suits you very well and brings out your elegance perfectly.”

 

Chapter 147

The salesperson spoke with a smile as she walked up to me with the dress in hand.

“It is a very pretty dress, but it's a little too pricey for me.”

“You get what you pay for, miss. You wouldn't be able to get something of such quality and design for a few hundred, would you? Besides, this dress suits you very well, and I'm sure your boyfriend will love it.”

The salesperson was very good with her words and had managed to persuade me successfully. Michael was the first person that came to mind when I heard her mention the word “boyfriend,” even though we weren't actually a couple.

“All right, then. I'll have this dress.”

I decided to buy the dress in the end, but I paid for it with my card even though Michael had given me a lot of money.

Michael wasn't home yet when I returned to Birchwood, so I took a shower and changed into the newly bought dress.

I felt a little nervous, but I was also looking forward to see if he would notice anything different about me.

Having made dinner, I sat down by the dinner table and waited for Michael to come home. I waited for hours until all the food had gone cold, but he had yet to return, and I received no text nor call from him

whatsoever.

I grabbed my phone and thought about calling him instead. However, when I recalled what he said about our relationship, I decided against it.

He'll probably get the wrong idea if I call him to ask where he is...

Time continued to tick away, and my eyelids grew increasingly heavier as I waited for Michael on the couch.

I fell asleep on the couch at some point and woke up to the sound of the front door being opened much later.

I opened my eyes and looked toward the door, only to see Michael staggering into the house reeking of alcohol.

I could tell he had a lot to drink as he practically rested his entire body weight on me when I helped him to the bedroom.

While we were walking, I caught a faint whiff of perfume on him and began freaking out a little.

Michael doesn't use any perfume, and this one smells like it's for women! No, I shouldn't let my imagination run too wild here... Michael may often be surrounded by women, but he never show any interest in them and always keeps his distance.

The scent of alcohol on him was so strong that I couldn't help but frown and asked worriedly, “Why did

you have so much to drink today?”

Having known him for such a long time, this was the first time I had seen him so drunk.

“It was a social event,” Michael mumbled in his drunken stupor before pulling me hard on the arm.

I fell on top of him, and my heart raced as I gazed deep into his eyes.

After taking a moment to regain my composure, I quickly climbed off him and said, “You're too drunk, Michael. Take off your shirt and get some rest.”

Before I could even stand up straight, Michael grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into his arms once again.

He then gave me a deep and passionate kiss while holding the back of my head, his lips feeling a little warm from the intoxication.

It didn't take long before he began removing my dress, and I quickly stopped him as he would probably tear it with how rough he was.

“I'll take it off myself.”

Michael probably wasn't expecting me to say that and simply stared at me with a faint smile on his face.

I could tell he was really tired, but he pinned me down and got on top of me before I could say anything about it.

Right as I thought Michael was going to ravage me, he stopped moving and simply lay on top of me in complete silence.

“Michael? Michael?” I called out to him when I noticed him breathing steadily.

I pushed him off when I heard no response from him, only to realize he had already fallen asleep.

That came as a surprise to me as Michael had always been quite the monster in bed, so I didn't think he would fall asleep moments before having sex.

Even the great Michael Shaw gets tired, huh?

After changing into my nightgown, I was helping Michael get his shirt off when I noticed a faint lipstick stain on the collar.

I didn't wear any lipstick today, so this is definitely from another woman! I know that Michael and I are simply f*ck buddies and that I have no right to stop him from being with other women, but... for some reason, this makes me feel really uncomfortable... Heh, how silly of me to think that I'm the only woman he sleeps with! I really have to stop overestimating myself. We're just f*ck buddies in the end, so I mustn't fall for him!

I broke into a wry smile at the thought of that and quickly tossed his shirt into the bathroom to get that lipstick stain out of my sight.

 

Chapter 148

I lay down next to Michael after wiping his body down, but I couldn't seem to fall asleep as a bunch of thoughts kept running through my mind. Why does he keep me around if he's sleeping with other women? Does he enjoy having multiple f*ck buddies or something?

The thoughts refused to leave my head no matter how much I tossed and turned in bed. At some point, I even felt the urge to wake him up and question him about what he did and who he was with earlier that night. However, I held myself back as I knew it wasn't my place to do so.

I got out of bed very early the next morning as I could barely sleep at all due to the perfume and lipstick.

I knew I couldn't possibly be the only woman Michael has slept with, but what I didn't know was when my feelings toward him began to change.

Having taken a shower after sobering up, Michael emerged from the bedroom dressed in a robe and was just in time for breakfast.

“I had a bit too much to drink last night,” he said coldly as he sat down at the table.

“Yeah,” I mumbled coolly in response and carried on eating without saying another word.

I had wanted to ask him all about last night, but I held myself back as I knew it wasn't my place to do so.

Michael looked up at me and frowned, seemingly displeased with my response.

“That's it?”

“What else am I supposed to say?” I asked coldly as I stared back at him.

I've made up my mind last night... I'm going to keep my distance from Michael so I won't end up falling in love with him! We are merely f*ck buddies, and our relationship will be limited to what we do in bed.

“I'll drive you to the office later.”

Michael changed the topic after shooting me an unhappy glance.

“No need. I'll take the subway.”

Keeping my distance is a must to stop myself from catching feelings for him. While I can't do much about it during our time in bed, I should at least avoid being around him as much as possible during the day.

Michael frowned angrily when he noticed my dissatisfaction toward him. “What's with that attitude of yours, Anna?”

“Do let me know in advance if you've found yourself another woman, Mr. Shaw,” I said ambiguously before making my way toward the bedroom.

After changing into formal attire, I left the house in a hurry as I didn't want to spend another second around Michael.

The frown on his face deepened, and there was a look of anger in his eyes as he watched me leave.

Although I was the first to leave the house, taking the subway was a lot slower than driving. As such, Michael had already arrived at the office before I did. He was making his way back to his office when he saw me come in, but all he did was shoot me a cold glance in response.

I thought he would try to make things difficult for me at work, but he never once set foot into my office the entire morning. It came as quite a surprise for me, albeit a rather pleasant one.

After lunch, I was the first to return to work. Michael came out of his office and looked straight at me as he said, “I want you to join me in the conference room later to discuss business with Benyx Corporation, so get the documents ready.”

His tone was completely formal and void of emotion.

“Me? I don't think that's very appropriate...”

I stared at Michael in confusion as there was no one else around me at the time.

“This is work, so how is it inappropriate?”

Although I hadn't been direct about it, Michael could tell that I was refusing his request and got angry immediately.

“Got it, I'll start preparing for it right away.”

I couldn't tell if he was being mad at me on purpose for what happened during breakfast earlier, but I

decided to do as told anyway.

After all, he was the CEO, and getting on his bad side would only result in me losing my job.

Michael returned to his office when he saw me begin the preparations, and I shot him a fierce glare while cursing at him in my head.

All of my colleagues in the department stared at me in envy when I went into the conference room with Michael later that afternoon.

The look in their eyes showed how much they wanted to be in my position, and I realized I was the only person who actually wanted to stay away from Michael.

The two of us entered the elevator, and he pinned me against the wall the moment the doors closed.

He seemed extremely displeased as he stared me down and asked, “What the hell is wrong with you today?”

“What do you mean, Mr. Shaw? I think I'm perfectly normal today.”

Of course, I knew exactly what he meant and was simply playing dumb to keep my distance.

“You've been awfully cold to me since morning, and you call that normal?”

Michael narrowed his eyes which were filled with anger and frustration.

“You're probably just overthinking it. This is how I usually am.”

I felt my heart race and tried to avoid his penetrating gaze in my state of panic.

“Stop testing my patience, Anna!”

Michael inched closer toward me and placed both arms on the wall beside me, trapping me in his embrace.

I pushed hard against his chest to keep him from getting any closer as I blurted nervously, “We're in an elevator, Michael! People might see us!”

“I don't need you to remind me of our relationship!”

My protests only seemed to anger him even further, and I panicked in the face of his domineering aura.

 

Chapter 149

While I was panicking and at a loss for words, a ding sounded, followed by the opening of the elevator doors. Taking advantage of Michael's inattention, I swiftly pushed him away.

Michael glowered at me in chagrin when he had gathered his wits about him, his gaze brimming with frustration. Nonetheless, he hadn't the time to teach me a lesson right then since the representative from Benyx Corporation was already waiting in the conference room.

As he strode past me, he shot me a glare before entering the conference room ahead of me. Following behind him, I walked in as well.

The representative was a young and beautiful woman who was dressed fashionably. The moment she caught sight of Michael, her gaze remained riveted on him.

“You're finally here, Mr. Shaw! I've been waiting for ages.”

At once, the woman walked up to Michael and extended a hand to him.

Arching a brow slightly, Michael shook her hand before taking his seat at the head of the table.

“You're indeed young and beautiful, Ms. Linwood.” After complimenting her with a faint smile on his face, Michael took the contract from me and pushed it over to her.

“Here's the contract. Let's sign it right away if there aren't any problems.”

Jane Linwood flipped open the contract. After roughly scanning through it, she looked back at Michael. “The contents of the contract are fine, but isn't the price rather exorbitant? It's just a small-scale

advertisement, yet it costs this much?”

It was more than apparent that she wasn't quite satisfied with the price proposed by our company.

“If it's not to your satisfaction, you can collaborate with other companies. After all, my advertising company has endless projects with far higher prices than this.”

Michael stared at her impassionately, his voice firm without any room for negotiation.

Anyhow, he had the privilege of being arrogant. After all, Joyful Success Advertisements was merely one of his many companies across the various industries, yet it was already the biggest advertising company in Avenport.

Realizing that he wasn't going to budge, Jane's smile stiffened for a moment. Her gaze remained fixated on Michael's face with an unfathomable emotion flashing in them.

“Alright, then. I'll sign it.”

In the end, Jane relented. Taking out a pen, she promptly signed the contract. Subsequently, Michael signed it as well.

Handing the signed contract to me, Michael then extended his hand to Jane. “Looking forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.” Jane hastily shook his hand while gazing at him with stars in her eyes.

As a woman, I could sense that she was interested in Michael. Well, well... She must have taken a fancy to him!

Sure enough, her subsequent action proved me right. “I wonder if you're free tonight, Mr. Shaw. How about having dinner together to celebrate our collaboration?”

Most men wouldn't decline when a woman took the initiative to invite him out for a meal. The case was especially true if the woman was a beauty. Jane wore a confident smile on her face, probably certain that Michael wouldn't rebuff her. However, Michael wasn't the kind of man who played by the rules. He declined without an ounce of hesitation.

“I'm sorry, but I'm otherwise engaged tonight. I believe that you must have a lot of work pending, so I won't keep you any longer, Ms. Linwood.”

Michael's remark was an obvious dismissal. In the beginning, I was worried that he would agree to have dinner with her, but my heart finally settled back into my chest after hearing his demurral.

Having been rejected, embarrassment swamped Jane, and her smile turned awkward.

“Okay, then. We'll have dinner next time since you're not free tonight, Mr. Shaw.”

After saying that, Jane flashed him a smile and left.

While his demurral of her dinner invitation had nothing to do with me, my mood inexplicably took a turn for the better. Hmm... It seems that he's not the kind of man who'll accept any woman who comes on to him.

At that thought, a snicker escaped me. Hearing that, Michael abruptly pivoted and stared at me. “What are you laughing about?”

He glared at me irately, his expression as cold as ice.

“Oh, I'm just happy for you that you're so popular among the ladies, Mr. Shaw.”

Flustered at his oppressive gaze, I quickly made up an excuse. Nevertheless, he could likely discern the mockery in my voice.

“You're happy for me? I never knew that you'd ever be happy on my behalf, Anna.”

Michael stalked toward me with his long and tapered eyes narrowed a fraction, the look in his eyes inquisitive.

Every time I was confronted with his compelling gaze, I felt trapped. It was as though all my emotions were laid bare before him under his piercing eyes.

“Mr. Shaw, I just remembered that I have a few documents to handle this afternoon, so please excuse me.”

Not daring to tarry any longer with his penetrating gaze pinned on me, I swiftly moved around him and left after blurting that.

When I returned to the office, many envious gazes swung my way. Some were even jealous of me since Michael usually couldn't be bothered to spare them a single glance. As such, the opportunity to interact with him closely was out of the realm of possibility.

“How was it when you were with Mr. Shaw alone in the office earlier? Were there any sparks between the two of you?”

Millie leaned close to me and looked at me with a nosy look on her face, her eyes dancing with glee.

Upon hearing that, I gaped at her speechlessly with disgruntlement in my eyes. “Don't you know that he's celibate? How could there possibly have been sparks between us?”

Despite my feigned calmness, I was actually panicking inwardly. Probably no one will ever guess my relationship with Michael, right?

“That's true. I've never seen him with any woman. Logically speaking, there should be many women circling someone so handsome and rich like him. So why haven't we ever seen him with any woman? Could it be that he can't get it up?” Millie whispered into my ear.

As I was drinking water, the water spurted from my mouth when I heard her speculation.

What? She actually thinks that he can't get it up? That's simply preposterous! He's such a beast in bed that no average woman can stand the torment. I wonder if he'll be infuriated if he learns that someone assumes that of him. After all, all men will be humiliated to be regarded as such, much less an egotistical man like him.

“That's impossible! He's definitely not the kind of person who can't get it up,” I countered in his defense without even thinking about it.

For some reason, I didn't want others to have the impression that he had problems in the bedroom.

“How do you know that? Don't tell me you've slept with him?”

As soon as my words fell, Millie regarded me skeptically with suspicion in her eyes.

“I... I simply deduced it. I mean, just look at him. He doesn't seem like a man that has any problems getting it up,” I hurriedly explained, panic assailing me upon hearing her question.

 

Chapter 150

“Bah! How can you be certain that he can get it up when you've never slept with him? Although he appears manly, it's difficult to say when it comes to such a thing.”

Even after I had insisted otherwise, Millie didn't pay it the slightest mind. At that moment, she truly felt that Michael couldn't get it up.

Heaving a sigh, I zipped my mouth shut, knowing that she would definitely suspect something if I were to continue defending Michael. I didn't want her to know about my relationship with him.

After working the entire day, I went to the supermarket to buy some fresh vegetables when I got off work. Then, I went back to Birchwood and started preparing dinner.

While I was cooking, Natalie phoned and asked where I had been in the past two nights. She asked whether I had stayed overnight at the hospital, and I answered her truthfully, telling her that I had been at Michael's place.

Shocked, she kept quizzing me about my relationship with Michael. Nonetheless, I merely gave her a perfunctory reply and promised to explain things to her the next day.

By the time I was done preparing dinner, Michael had already returned. As he gazed at the dishes I cooked, satisfaction manifested on his handsome countenance.

“Since you're home, wash your hands and eat,” I urged mildly, staring at the man who had taken a seat on the couch.

After washing his hands, Michael sat down across from me and started eating elegantly. Meanwhile, I

kept my gaze on his alluring face. When I abruptly recalled Millie's speculation earlier, a bark of laughter escaped me.

At my gaffe, Michael lifted his head and stared at me with a deep frown marring his face. “Why are you laughing, Anna?”

Ever since we arrived at the office that morning, I had been angering him time and again. Irked with me in the first place, his expression darkened further upon seeing me laughing at him.

“It's nothing. I just thought of something funny,” I answered placidly.

Stifling my laughter, I kept my eyes trained on his as I tried my best to feign indifference.

“What was it that amused you so greatly?” Michael questioned intriguingly as he stared at me, no longer eating.

Ironically, his current expression made it seem all the more hilarious to me.

“I heard a female employee talking about you in the office today.”

I stopped at that and fastened my eyes on him to discern his reaction.

“So, what was it about?”

It was as though Michael could guess what I was going to say next, for the interest on his face suddenly vanished. He had probably heard female employees talking about him a lot, commending him

on his striking countenance, wealth, and how he was an eligible bachelor whom they all wanted to bed.

However, those weren't what I wanted to tell him. “There's currently a female employee in the office who thinks that you can't get it up.”

I feigned a calm expression as I spoke. After saying that, I buried my head in the food, saying nothing as I awaited his wrath.

Sure enough, his expression instantly turned grim on the heels of my words. The look in his eyes as he stared at me blazed with fury.

“So, you think that my skills in bed aren't satisfactory, Anna?” he hissed through gritted teeth, his face as dark as charcoal.

No man could accept a woman thinking that their performance in bed was below par, and Michael was no exception. His gaze radiated intense rage.

“I didn't say that! I merely heard that from someone else!” I hastily clarified upon noticing that he had shifted his attention to me.

Good Lord! His skills in bed are top-notch, so I'd never think that he can't get it up. That'd be absurd!

“Then, what do you think? Do you think I can get it up?”

Despite having pushed the blame onto someone else, it didn't seem to work as Michael continued to badger me. There was a strong sense of oppression in his eyes as they bored into me.

“I...”

Helplessness inundated me. If I'd known that he'd blame me, I wouldn't have mentioned it to him! I merely wanted to see his reaction. I never expected it to backfire. Damn it, how unlucky!

“Since you think I can't get it up either, I'll show you my prowess tonight!”

His voice was threaded with distinct anger. Gah! I'm really in hot water now! Why on earth did I open my big mouth and tell him about that?

“That's not what I meant. Truly, I didn't mean that...” I frantically explained.

His skills in bed are already agonizing usually, so how am I going to sleep tonight and work tomorrow if he were to unleash his prowess tonight?

“It's too late for explanations now!”

Snorting, Michael abandoned his unfinished dinner and got to his feet, storming toward the bathroom. Soon after, the sound of running water drifted from the bathroom. Oh God, don't tell me he's already getting ready to torment me?

As that thought occurred to me, I ate at a snail's pace in hopes that I could drag things out. In fact, I was resolved to wait him out in order to escape the torment that awaited me.

After eating and clearing the dining table, I watched television in the living room. When it was about ten o'clock at night, I started growing drowsy.

Hmm... I wonder if he's asleep... It seems to have been a long time since I last heard any sound from the bedroom. Could it be that he has drifted off?

Sheer delight flooded me at that thought. If he has truly dozed off, I'll be spared from his ravishment tonight!

I crept into the bedroom stealthily. Since I didn't turn on the lights, I couldn't really see clearly. All I could see was Michael lying motionlessly on the bed.

His silent demeanor had me all the more certain that he was asleep. Straightening, I warily tiptoed over to him.

Initially, I was planning on moving around him and cautiously lying down on the other side of the bed. Alas, things didn't transpire as I wished. Just when I was about to brush past him, I abruptly sensed someone gripped my arm. In the next second, I was sprawled over Michael.

“Why, did you finally cave?”

Michael's lips curved into a smirk, not at all looking as though he had been sleeping earlier.

Oh my God, he wasn't asleep at all! He was aware of my plan, thus deliberately waited for me to fall into his trap by feigning sleep! How absolutely cunning of him!

“Uh... You must be tired after working for the entire day, so why don't you rest earlier? After all, we still have to go to work tomorrow,” I suggested softly on a sigh, as though looking out for him.

“I feel all worked up right now, so I'm afraid that I really can't sleep without expending some energy.

Luckily, I've got you by my side since some horizontal exercise is essential,” Michael countered, disregarding my comment entirely.

At that moment, he had already started unbuttoning my clothes.

Knowing that I wouldn't be able to escape his clutches that night, I couldn't help mourning inwardly.

But then again, I had no one to blame but myself. Ugh! Of all things, why did I have to say that he can't get it up? Wasn't I just inviting trouble for myself?