Ch. 371..380

Chapter 371

Not far away, some people were coming toward us. Clearly, they wanted to talk to Michael. Knowing how I hated socializing, Michael got to his feet and whispered in my ear, “Wait for me. I'll deal with them and get back soon.” He then strode away without waiting for a reply.

Gabriella gaped in disbelief as she stared at his departing figure. She tutted and commented in a teasing manner, “Anna, what did you do to Michael? I can't believe he's this affectionate. He used to be an aloof man!”

Knowing it was a joke, I grinned and said nothing else as quiet contentment spread through my entire being.

Michael would only direct his indifference to those who he despised. I was his wife, so he wouldn't give me the cold treatment.

Ronan remained expressionless after hearing Gabriella's words. He glanced at me but stayed silent.

Right then, a young lady made her way to Ronan. She was dressed in a fashionable and expensive outfit. It was obvious she was a socialite born into a wealthy family.

“Mr. Moore,” she greeted Ronan shyly as her cheeks turned rosy.

Gabriella and I shared a knowing look.

I can't believe Ronan's charming enough to attract a young lady to strike up a conversation with him!

“Who are you?” Ronan asked with a frown.

“My name is Alexis Lobston. You probably don't know me before this. My family is involved in the real estate business,” Alexis explained.

As her smile was bashful, it was obvious that she had romantic feelings for Ronan.

“Hello,” Ronan responded with a grin.

Alexis hung her head low and mumbled shyly, “Can we be friends?”

I could tell Alexis had set her eyes on Ronan. My lips curled into a smirk as I thought, Wow, Ronan's charm has attracted a beautiful lady to flirt with him at this event.

“Of course, here is my name card.”

Realizing the young lady's intention, Ronan maintained his smile and fished out his name card before handing it to her.

Alexis accepted the card and almost jumped for joy. She wasn't expecting to get his contact that easily.

After glancing at the name card, she lifted her head and cast Ronan a hesitant look. Her cheeks were flushed in embarrassment.

Standing beside them, I couldn't help but look forward to what would happen next. Deep down, I wanted Ronan to get a girlfriend soon.

“Is there anything else you need?” Ronan gazed at the young lady and urged.

After a long pause, Alexis mustered her courage to ask, “I have a question for you. Do you have a girlfriend?”

Gabriella and I exchanged glances yet again. Finally, she's getting to the point.

“No,” Ronan responded in a calm manner.

He was still smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes. I could tell that was a perfunctory answer.

Alexis could hardly contain her happiness as she queried, “C-Can I treat you to a meal sometime?”

After confirming that Ronan didn't have a girlfriend, her gaze had lit up. She gazed at him and waited for his answer earnestly.

To her dismay, Ronan answered politely, “I'm sorry, but I am a little tied up now. We'll talk about that later.”

It was a clear rejection from him despite the smile playing on his lips.

Hearing that, I exhaled in exasperation. I was wrong to think that Ronan had met his future partner tonight. Why did he reject her? Alexis seems like a nice girl. Why didn't he try to get to know her?

The young lady was smart enough to understand the underlying meaning of Ronan's words. Her face stiffened in dismay before she slumped in disappointment.

“All right. I understand.”

She lowered her head in dejection. Ronan looked like a playboy who loved flirting with women, so she hadn't expected his rejection.

I let out a sigh, for it was game over for Alexis.

“Let's keep in touch,” Alexis said softly.

As Ronan didn't look like he wanted to continue the conversation, she trudged away sadly.

After she left, Gabriella ran over to him and flashed a cheeky smile. “Ronan, you have an admirer!”

She put one arm on his shoulder and glanced at Alexis' retreating figure.

“Scram, brat. You know nothing. I have plenty of admirers.” Ronan slapped her hand away mercilessly, and his voice was dripping with disdain.

“Tsk!”

Gabriella rolled her eyes at him before coming back to me.

“Anna, has Ronan changed? He used to be a womanizer. I can't believe he didn't flirt with her today! Before I left the country, he would never let any pretty woman leave!” she mocked.

Gabriella pretended to be surprised at her brother's change. I knew she had said those words on purpose, but that didn't stop me from giggling out loud.

It felt like Gabriella loved embarrassing her brother on purpose, for she had revealed all his weaknesses.

“Gabrielle, if you continue to talk nonsense, I swear I will pluck your head off and kick it like a ball!” Ronan gritted his teeth as a fresh swell of rage rose in him.

As his expression had darkened ominously, I knew he meant what he said.

“You wouldn't dare to do so!” Gabriella retorted.

She met his gaze smugly and even stuck her tongue out in a provoking manner. She wasn't at all bothered by his threat.

Breathless with anger, Ronan marched over to Gabriella to teach her a lesson.

Gabriella seemed bold, but she immediately hid behind me when Ronan came for her.

“Ronan, if you dare to lay a finger on me, I'll complain to Dad back at home. You'll get punished for sure!” she warned.

Her hands were clutching my shoulders tightly. She refused to give in despite being afraid of him. I could sense her figure trembling and was certain that she was frightened down to the soles of her shoes.

“Gabriella Moore, come out this instance! I shall teach you a lesson!” Ronan roared. He looked like he was about to explode with rage.

He paid no heed to her warning and reached out to grab Gabriella, but the latter was clinging onto my shoulders. As I was standing between them, Ronan couldn't touch her at all.

 

Chapter 372

I'm trapped in the middle of the two siblings and my head was spinning.

“All right. Can you two talk to each other nicely? Others who do not know you might think that you two are enemies. I'm going to puke if you continue this.”

On top of my morning sickness, now I had to deal with the uneasiness caused by the siblings.

Upon hearing what I said, Ronan gazed at me worriedly and stopped the tussle with Gabriella.

“Are you all right?”

Ronan asked in a gentle voice.

“I'm fine. But please, stop fighting. If this continues, I'm afraid something bad might happen to me.”

Although the constant fighting between the siblings could be amusing at times, it was definitely vexing if I was dragged into the fight.

“We'll stop. Drink some water and take a rest.” Ronan's gaze was gentle and loving.

She took a glass of water and passed it to me.

I took a few sips of the water and instantly felt better.

“It's all on you, Ronan. Anna is not feeling well now!”

As Ronan was checking up on me, she conveniently put all the blame on Ronan. I must admit that Ronan looked all worried and concerned.

“Gabriella, shut up. I'll teach you a lesson when we get home!”

Ronan was infuriated as he stared angrily at Gabriella, obviously offended by her statement.

Interestingly, Gabriella seemed to be terrified of Ronan and his threat. Although unwillingly, Gabriella eventually kept quiet and did not utter a single word.

Meanwhile, Michael was done with socializing around and walked toward us. Although we were here for around an hour, it felt forever, and I didn't want to stay any longer.

“What did I say? It's boring, right?”

Michael came by my side and wrapped his arm against my shoulder in a loving manner.

“Right, it's boring. It's more like a socializing club instead of a Gala Night.”

Initially, I thought that the people attending the event were genuinely doing it for charity. However, I soon realized that it was all but a show by the rich and wealthy. In the name of charity, their true intention was to search for business partners.

“You'll get used to it.”

Michael smiled and did not comment anything about my statement.

“Tsk... Michael, you make me feel like a blind bimbo today. Is there something wrong with my eyes? Is this really you? You're speaking in such a gentle manner!”

Gabriella who finally kept quiet for a short while started speaking again. With a bewildered look, she walked toward Michael and tapped on his shoulder.

“A blind bimbo? Why are you describing yourself in such a way?”

Michael however was not a short-tempered person like Ronan. Knowing very well that Gabriella was trying to rile him up, he showed no signs of agitation. On the flip side, he was able to turn the situation around and mock Gabriella.

Truth be told, Michael's knowledge and maturity far exceeded Ronan's.

“Michael, how can you say something like that? I'm just trying to express my shock, you know? What a bummer!”

Gabriella blushed and her eyes widened while she tried to explain herself.

“I'm taking my wife back home. Please excuse us!”

Michael couldn't care less about Gabriella's explanation. He grabbed my hand and pushed Gabriella to the side gently, before leaving together with me.

“Michael, I'm not finished!”

Gabriella called out to Michael, but he acted like he did not hear anything.

I turned my head around at saw Gabriella stomping his feet on the ground furiously. Obviously, Gabriella was triggered by how Michael ignored her.

Beside her, Ronan appeared to be enjoying the fiasco, gloating at his sister in amusement.

They're really interesting...

“Your cousin sure is something, and she's very cute.”

Michael and I were seated in the backseat of the car. Because Michael had to socialize tonight, he asked the driver to come with us.

“She's been like that ever since she was young, a spoiled brat,” answered Michael.

“It looks like you two are quite close. I have always thought of you as a cold and distant person.”

Although Michael did not interact much with Gabriella just now, I was able to tell that Michael pampered Gabriella a lot.

“Do you think I'm a person that's hard to deal with?”

Michael raised his brows and looked at me coldly.

“Uh...”

Immediately, I started to doubt if what I said was appropriate.

“That's not what I mean.”

I waived my hands in protest while my mind was racing to find a way to get myself out of the situation.

The corner of his lips raised and he started inching closer to me.

My heart was pounding rapidly. Before I could react, he kissed me on the lips.

I could vaguely smell the faint alcohol scent in his breath, and it was not too overwhelming. Then, I closed my eyes and kissed him back.

Nowadays, I was starting to get used to the moments when Michael would kiss me randomly.

The driver looked at both of us from the rear mirror before shifting his gaze to the front awkwardly. Perhaps this was his first encounter in his years of experience as a driver.

The kiss lasted for a long time, and I could tell that he was getting into the mood.

Realizing that we were in the car, I forcefully pushed Michael away, worried that he would lose control. I was not prepared to put on a show before the driver.

“Anna!”

Michael stared at me furiously.

“We're in the car. Stop fooling around!” I gazed at the driver before reminding Michael.

Michael quickly came back to his senses, but his gaze radiated displeasure as he stared at the driver.

“Find a quiet spot in front, park the car, and leave us alone after that.”

Michael put up a straight face and instructed the driver.

The driver was stupefied and did not go against Michael's instruction. However, I bet he understood what was Michael's intention.

Knowing what Michael wanted to do, my face immediately turned bright red. We were only ten minutes from reaching home, why couldn't he just wait?

“Michael, can't you wait for a little longer?”

I looked at him and reprimanded him softly.

The driver was not stupid. He would definitely know what was going on.

 

Chapter 373

“Not even a minute.”

Michael did not feel awkward at all, and he spoke normally like his usual self.

I was rendered speechless as I warily looked in the direction of the driver, my face blushed with embarrassment. There was someone in the car and Michael had the audacity to utter those words. Is he not ashamed?

The driver managed to disguise his facial expression well. He said nothing and continued driving the car. When we passed by a junction, he swerved the car into a secluded spot far from the main road before stopping the car.

Without uttering a single word, the driver left the car and walked far away.

Looking at how the driver acted with familiarity, I was starting to guess the frequency in which Michael pulled off the same stunt.

“Now that there's no one here, we can start.”

Michael smirked and started inching closer toward me. I didn't notice that he had already taken off his coat.

“Before we start, let me ask you a question.”

I crossed my hands against my chest to prevent him from coming closer. My eyes were fixated on his eyes.

“What question?”

Michael was displeased by the interruption. However, to ensure that he got what he wanted, he tried to hold off his temper and eventually entertained my question.

“Do you often do this with other girls in the car?”

I knew that the question would definitely spoil the mood. But looking at how things transpired just now, I couldn't help but harbor such thoughts.

Michael's expression fell and he glanced at me unhappily.

“This is the question that you wanted to ask?”

Michael's facial expression and voice turned glacial, obviously displeased by my question.

“Yes, this is the question. Answer me quickly.”

As he was silent and did not answer my question, I asked him again.

Actually, I did not care if Michael had other women before me. After all, he was a man and had his sexual urges. However, looking at how the driver behaved like he was used to Michael's request, I couldn't help but feel troubled.

“Do you really want to know? Are you not afraid that the truth will make you feel even worse?”

Michael did not answer my question directly. Instead, he looked me in the eyes and asked me in return.

My heart sank and my expression fell. It appeared that he was giving a hint that the answer would not be pleasant.

I started to regret asking the question. Although I had hooked up with other men before him, the fact that he slept with other women before still made me feel disappointed.

“You don't have to answer the question. I can understand.”

I lowered my head and said in a disappointing voice.

“You should know that the answer to the question will make you unhappy. Why do you find the need to ask me? Isn't the displeasure self-inflicted?”

The way Michael looked at me showed that he was starting to lose interest in having sex.

I pursed my lips and kept quiet.

“Besides you, I had never slept with other women,” said Michael.

His answer came when I was just about to ignore him. After that, he sighed and looked at me in frustration.

My heart bloomed upon hearing the answer and my eyes widened in shock. However, I was still doubtful of his answer.

“Are you telling the truth? You really did not sleep with any other women before?”

I frowned and looked at Michael in doubt.

“Since when did I ever lie to you? Why do you not trust me?”

Michael did not like being doubted, especially if it was me. The moment I sounded like I did not trust him, his face immediately turned sour and he glanced at me unhappily.

The doubt that I had vanished. Indeed, Michael had never lied to me before in our relationship. He was a person that would never lie.

“How about sleeping with other women in the bed?

My heart felt relieved. Despite feeling better already, I continued asking him such stupid questions.

“Anna, are you really trying to spoil the mood tonight? Why do you want to find out if I slept with other women? Do you really want me to look for a woman and demonstrate it in front of you?”

Michael stared at me furiously. Obviously, he wanted me to stop asking stupid questions.

I pursed my lips and stopped talking. If I were to continue, he would definitely lash out in anger.

“All right, I'll stop asking. Why are you so mad? Are you feeling guilty?”

I lowered my head and ranted softly. I only wanted to know the women in his life before me. Why was

he so angry?

“If you ask this kind of question again, I'll make sure you can't get out of bed. I'll do it every time you ask such a question.”

Michael stared at me while making the threat. However, I must admit that his threat was rather peculiar. It was the first that I had heard.

Be that as it may, the threat was effective against me. Knowing that I had asked him to resist his urges to protect our baby, he used it as a weakness to threaten me. That's preposterous!

“Ok. I got it, I got it. I won't ask again,” I unwillingly replied.

Truth be told, the bigger his reaction, the more I wanted to know about it.

“That's good. Now, can we start?”

Michael smirked and inched closer to me again.

His body reeked of alcohol. However, the captivating scent had the effect of dazing me, and I quickly fell prey to his seductive moves.

Luckily Michael's car was spacious enough for the two of us, or else it would be impossible for a pregnant lady like me to have sex with him. A luxurious car had its benefits after all.

I had no idea how much time had passed, but I was exhausted after the rendezvous and wanted to take a nap.

Michael finally got to unleash his sexual urges. I heaved a sigh of relief after he was done. If we did not stop anytime soon, the driver would be baffled by how wild and crazy we were.

I lay down in the backseat and did not even want to move. Meanwhile, Michael put on his clothes after resting for a while.

 

Chapter 374

I wanted to sit up and straighten out my clothes. Just then, Michael removed his coat and placed it over me. He then gently coaxed me to recline and rest.

After that, he got into the driver's seat and drove us home, leaving the chauffeur behind.

Confused, I asked, “Michael, what about the chauffeur?”

The chauffeur had been waiting for half a day. Michael didn't forget about him, right?

“He'll be fine. He can get himself home,” Michael replied curtly. He continued driving steadily, seemingly unconcerned over ditching the chauffeur.

I sighed in resignation as I stared at his profile.

“Still, that can't be nice of us; he waited for half a day.”

Unlike Michael, I was a softie through and through, and I was uncomfortable about leaving the chauffeur behind to fend for himself.

Michael's tone left no room for argument as he gritted out, “How can I let someone else in the car with my wife looking like this?”

He stared at me briefly, and I read the determination in his gaze.

I returned his gaze wordlessly, only realizing that Michael's possessiveness had fueled his earlier decision to leave the chauffeur behind.

I swear, his jealousy borders on irrationality.

Still, I could not help but find his behavior endearing. I was pleasantly surprised to have underestimated his concern for me.

Once we got back to the mansion, Michael carried me all the way into the house.

After our last argument, Michael showered me with more love than before. He was sweet, considerate, and the picture of an absolute gentleman. I counted my lucky stars to consider him my partner.

As time passed, my belly swelled, increasing my anticipation for the birth of our child.

Josephine still disliked me, but for the sake of my unborn child, she seemed to have called a ceasefire of sorts.

Alas, the peaceful days were too good to last.

My mom called as I was eating breakfast alone in the mansion one day.

Our recent phone conversations revolved around Steven's blossoming relationship and some trivial household updates. Thus, I answered her call with little thought to the presence of any ulterior motives.

I greeted her, “Mom, why are you calling so early today? Have you had your breakfast?”

“I have, I have,” came my mom's reply.

She paused for a moment before continuing, “Anna, your brother is getting married.”

“Really? That's great news!”

I was pleased for him. He was my only sibling, after all.

“Of course. We've fixed the wedding date, by the way. We're planning to have it on the tenth of next month. You must attend with Michael.”

I barely thought twice of her invitation as I replied, “Of course, we'll be there. Steven's marriage is an important family occasion.”

Mom fell into silence once more, sounding like she had more to say.

I prodded, “Mom, what's wrong? Why are you quiet all of a sudden?”

My mom should have been bubbling with joy over Steven's impending nuptials. Instead of being elated, she sounded like something was troubling her.

Finally, she lamented, “Anna, I'm worrying over our finances. Holding a nice wedding isn't cheap, you know, and it's not like your father and I have much savings.”

It was impossible not to catch on to her not-so-subtle attempts at wangling money from Michael.

Fearing her wrath, I replied cautiously, “Mom, what about Michael's betrothal gift? Two hundred thousand is more than enough to hold a lavish wedding.”

After what seemed like an eternity, my mom replied sheepishly, “Well, we've almost spent every dime of that. Your father and I have fifty thousand left.”

“What? It has barely been a few months! How did you and Dad spend everything so quickly?” I exclaimed in horror, my eyes widening in disbelief.

“Steven's girlfriend has a taste for branded goods, you know. They cost a pretty penny.”

My rage ballooned after hearing her explanation.

I sputtered, “Mom, that's a lot of money!. They were only dating when you showered her with such expensive gifts. What will happen after they're married?”

My impression of Steven's girlfriend took a sharp nosedive as I immediately pegged her for a gold- digger.

She must have known about my family's poor roots. Her audacity in demanding lavish gifts irked me, and I suspected that she loved the money more than she did Steven.

“She's dating your brother, and we can hardly be stingy toward his girlfriend. What if she dumps him? He finally brought a girl home after so long. Of course, I want them to get married as soon as possible.”

My mom's indifference toward my concerns exasperated me. Can't she see that Steven's girlfriend only wants his money?

I summoned all the patience I could muster and said, “I want Steven to get married too, but I don't think

he's marrying the right person. I haven't met his girlfriend before, but judging by your description, I don't believe she truly loves him.”

How will Steven ever manage to support her lifestyle if she can squander more than a hundred thousand in a few months?

Mom barreled on, “Anna, I'm calling you today to see if Michael would be kind enough to fork out some money for the wedding. We've already fixed the date, you see, and we can't possibly cancel the wedding now.”

 

Chapter 375

I started to get worked up. Surprisingly, my mother was not infuriated and sounded unusually patient. Even so, I had foreseen something similar would blurt out from her mouth before that.

“How much do you think I need to top up?” I cut to the chase.

Even though I could not resist disliking Steven's girlfriend, it was pointless to say anything as the wedding date had already been fixed. Thus, I made up my mind to give him a hand. After all, I presumed they would not have to spend a lot since the wedding would be held back home. I believe it would be more than enough if I topped up with the money in my account.

“I think around seven hundred thousand,” my mother answered from the other side of the line.

The moment I heard the figure, I thought I was hearing things!

Dumbstruck, I raised my voice uncontrollably. “Seven hundred thousand? Mom, are you pulling my leg? What kind of luxurious wedding are you planning to hold for Steven? How is it possible for a simple wedding to cost around seven hundred thousand?”

By right, two hundred thousand was already more than enough to cover the expenses for a wedding in the village. It never came to my mind that my mother would request such a large sum.

“It's not only for the expenses of the wedding. We need the money to buy a new car too,” she replied sheepishly. It seemed she felt she had requested a bit too much too.

“Money to buy a car? If the wedding costs one hundred thousand, do you need six hundred thousand just to buy a new car?” I questioned her right away.

My frown creased into a scowl as a surge of fury started to well up from within me. Whenever my mother requested me to support them financially, it was always a large sum. No doubt, I should be filial to her; yet, her request was way beyond my ability.

Oh my! How am I going to get her seven hundred thousand within such a short span of time? Should I seek help from Michael again? Does it make sense for him to bear all the expenses for my family after marrying me?

“Steven's girlfriend likes a car that costs more than five hundred thousand, but how can we afford to buy it? Anyway, we're already grateful as she doesn't insist Steven on buying a house. But we fear that she'll break up with him if we can't buy her a car!” my mother whined.

“Pfft! A car that costs more than five hundred thousand? Who does she think she is? How dare she requests to have such a costly car! How about her family? Are they giving her anything as dowry?” I snorted.

Temper flaring, I could barely wait to meet Steven's girlfriend. My goodness! What type of woman is she? How could she have the audacity to request a car that costs more than five hundred thousand?

“Anna, I understand that we're requesting a bit too much this round. But if she breaks up with Steven just because of a money issue, don't you think it is not worth it?” Sensing my reluctance, my mother was obviously trying to talk me into helping them.

“I don't have so much money. Where can I obtain seven hundred thousand? Mom, why are you putting me in a tight spot?” I could not help but let out a deep sigh.

Deep down, I knew she hoped I could help obtain money from Michael. However, I did not wish to request money from him again for the sake of my family.

“Anna, can't you help your brother again this round? After all, the wedding is one of the most important moments in his life. Do you have the heart to see him break up with her girlfriend?” my mother started to persuade me.

Needless to say, I also wished that Steven would have an ideal girlfriend and later embark on his new journey via marriage. As his sister, I would surely lend him a hand if he was short of money for his wedding. But how could I help him for such an absurd reason?

“Mom, since there's still one month to go before the wedding, let's talk about this again a few days later. If there's time, I wish to meet Steven's girlfriend first. They're already in a relationship for quite a few months, but I haven't even met her before!” I said wittingly.

I did not make my promise or reject it right away. At the moment, I was curious to find out what type of a person Steven's girlfriend was.

“All right! I'll ask Steven to make time to meet you with his girlfriend. Please serve her well, okay?” my mother reminded me eagerly. Since I did not turn her down, I presumed she must have seen a ray of hope.

Even so, I only responded placidly before hanging up. Even though I had not yet met Steven's girlfriend, my gut instinct told me that she might be the type of woman good at playing mind games.

As a result, I could not resist sinking into deep thought after the phone conversation with my mother. I

could not fathom why they did not sense anything awry about Steven's girlfriend. Don't they feel that she doesn't suit him?

My parents were not irrational people who acted impulsively. However, they tended to be swayed by emotions whenever it was anything related to Steven. That was exactly what happened again this round.

When Michael came back at night, he was astounded to see me low in spirits while seated on the couch. Sensing something amiss, he walked toward me and sat next to me.

Wrapping his arms around me, he gazed at me and asked gently, “What's wrong? Is anything bothering you?”

I threw him a glance and remained silent. After quite a while, I finally broke the silence by pouring out to him about my mother's words earlier. Nonetheless, I kept mum from him about her request to borrow money. Even though we were husband and wife, I felt bad to keep on asking for money from him.

Michael knitted his brows after hearing what I said. There was an instant flicker of frigidness in his eyes.

Moments later, he seemed to have regained his composure. He looked at me again and asked placidly, “What do you plan to do?”

I shook my head. “For the time being, I have no idea. I feel like meeting the girl first.”

It's inappropriate for me to jump to a hasty conclusion without meeting Steven's girlfriend. Thus, I decided to meet her first.

“I'll accompany you then,” Michael uttered gently as he tightened his arms around me.

“Okay!” I gladly replied.

Undoubtedly, Michael had a clearer insight into everything. I was convinced that he would be able to judge whether the girl suited Steven if he accompanied me to meet her.

A few days later, Steven called me and mentioned that he had made time for her girlfriend to meet me. As it was my first meet-up with her, I told myself to put up a good show regardless of anything. Initially, I planned to choose a nice hotel. Somehow, Michael made a reservation at a five-star restaurant.

I disagreed with him for making such a decision. In my opinion, it was not worth it to spend on that as though we were showing off that we were filthy rich. Not to mention, we were still clueless about what type of person Steven's girlfriend was.

Nevertheless, Michael tried to convince me that there was a reason for him to do so. Even though I could not wrap my head around his stance, I had no choice but to give in to him.

On the day, we reached the restaurant almost twenty minutes earlier. Steven was quite punctual as well. Shortly after, he showed up with his girlfriend.

Tall and slender, she was decked out in designer brands from top to toe. As she was wearing exceptionally heavy makeup, I could not even make out how she actually looked.

“Yvette, this is Anna, my sister. He's Michael, my brother-in-law,” Steven introduced us to her blissfully.

 

Chapter 376

“Anna, Michael, nice to meet you,” Yvette greeted us like how Steven addressed us.

I flashed her a polite smile. Meanwhile, Michael only nodded slightly at her, devoid of expression.

When Yvette looked at Michael, I caught a glimpse of unmistakable admiration that flashed across her eyes.

As I observed her discreetly, I noticed that she had been scanning the whole restaurant excitedly ever since she stepped into the place. It seemed she was over the moon to have the chance for a meal in a five-star restaurant. Apart from that, she could barely take her eyes off Michael.

“Yvette, please take a seat first,” I uttered placidly, breaking her reverie.

Wearing a look of sheer blissfulness, Yvette seemed oblivious to my presence. In an instant, I could not help but dislike her even more.

“Yvette, how old are you? What do your parents do?” I cut the crap right after Steven sat down with her. I put on my brightest smile and tried to look as sincere as possible.

“Anna, aren't we here for a meal? But why do you sound like an officer probing for information?” Steven responded preemptively with a hint of displeasure written all over his face. He was seemingly trying to stop me from asking Yvette all those questions.

I refuted casually, “Take it easy. I'm just chatting with Yvette. After all, it will take quite a while before the dishes are served. Yvette, you don't mind that, do you?”

Shooting Steven a glance, I felt a prickle of annoyance. Hmph! Does he know that I'm sounding her out for his sake? I need to ensure she does not have an ulterior motive to be with him!

“Anna, no issue at all. I'm twenty-one years old, and my parents are just general workers,” Yvette replied briefly.

I could sense she lacked confidence when mentioning that her parents were general workers.

“Oh! That sounds great! We're from the village too.” I sounded casual.

So her parents are just general workers? But how could the daughter of the general workers afford all these branded outfits? I had a feeling that she was a good-for-nothing spendthrift.

Since she's not from a well-to-do family, doesn't she know the importance of leading a simple and practical life? How could she spend extravagantly instead? I bet she must be telling lies or having some personality issues.

“Anna, I heard from Steven that you used to work in this city before marrying Michael?” Yvette switched the topic at once. After flashing a glance at me, she turned to cast a look at Michael.

There was not even the slightest bit of change in Michael's countenance. He lifted the glass of water and took a sip without sparing Yvette a glance.

“Oh yeah! Yvette, I have told you that Michael is a millionaire and possesses a lot of properties before. Joyful Success Advertisements, which is deemed the largest in the city, is one of his businesses. Other than that, he has shares in hotel franchises and real estate too!” Steven cut me off by changing the

topic and babbling about Michael instead.

I furrowed my brows at Steven's impulsiveness. Undeniably, I was displeased when he blabbered about Michael's wealth. No doubt, anyone could get to know more about him by searching online. However, I felt it was unwise to reveal so much to Yvette before we could get to know her better.

“Wow! Michael, you are already so capable at such a young age!” Yvette's eyes lit up in an instant with gleams of wonder.

“Please excuse me. I need to use the washroom.” I glared at Steven and picked up my bag to head for the washroom.

The moment I got to my feet, Yvette gasped, “Ah! Anna, the bag you're holding is the latest design from LV, am I right? It costs almost two hundred thousand! My goodness! You're really rich!”

Her eyes widened in sheer disbelief as she fastened her gaze on the bag in my hand.

Sensing her penetrative gaze, I lowered my head to look at my bag instinctively. However, I had never really been into all the so-called designer brands. Thus, I was unaware that it actually cost almost two hundred thousand! Good gracious! How could such an ordinary-looking bag cost so much!

Undoubtedly, she was a materialistic girl who was a freeloader. If not, how could someone from an ordinary family know that my bag is the latest design of the year with only one glimpse?

“She can easily grab handfuls of bags like this and doesn't even realize how much they cost!” Michael, who had remained silent for quite a while, piped out exaggeratively.

I was startled by his unusual brags. As far as I knew, he had never sounded insolent like someone filthy rich before. It seemed he was doing so deliberately in the face of Yvette.

“Ah! You can easily grab handfuls of these bags! Anna, you and Michael are really rich! I'm envious of you for owning such eye-catching bags!” Yvette heaved a sigh admiringly.

Apparently, Michael's words had whipped her up. When she turned to look at me again, there were inexplicit glitters in her eyes. I could not help but grimace at her repulsive reaction. It was as though she was trying to get closer to me in a way.

“Haha, I'm not really particular with these items. Any brand is fine for me, as long as I like the design.” I chuckled, not knowing what else to say.

“It's really a blessing for Steven to have such a well-off sister like you! If we happen to be in a situation after getting married, you and Michael will surely lend us a hand, won't you?” Yvette asked tactfully.

At the same time, she continued to scan me from head to toe gleefully as she did not sense my displeasure.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement again the moment she caught a glimpse of my dress, but she did not comment anything on that. At that moment, I did not expect that I was wearing a dress that cost a few hundred thousand!

“Of course. Since Steven is my brother, I'll surely lend him a hand if he's in deep water,” I replied matter-of-factly.

Even though Yvette seemed to have a point, I could sense that she was hinting at something. Could it

be she's hinting at me to support them financially?

Moments later, she turned to look at Steven and yelled out, “Steven, you mentioned that it's hard as h*ll to buy a car that costs five hundred thousand, didn't you? But look at your sister! Even her bag costs almost two hundred thousand! I bet it must be easy as pie for her to buy us a car!”

I was utterly speechless. It never came to my mind that she had the audacity to say so in our faces. In an instant, I was even repulsed by her greed. How ridiculous! Why should Michael spend five hundred thousand to buy a car for her?

“Yvette, don't you think that a car that costs five hundred thousand is a bit too costly for villagers like us? I'm sure you know that we can't afford it,” I mocked as I was seated again. As I looked intently at her, there was a flicker of sheer coldness in my eyes.

Hearing that, Yvette was dumbfounded. I bet it never occurred to her that I would throw a wet blanket over her on the spot. Nonetheless, she flashed me a sweet smile and retorted eloquently, “Anna, you're Steven's sister. Not to mention, your husband is the wealthiest man in Avenport. Now that your brother is getting married, won't we become the laughing stock if we don't even have a car? By then, we'll only bring shame to you, and Michael too, isn't it?”

Unable to stifle my simmering fury, I fumed, “Yvette, don't you feel that this is too much? Why should Michael and I give you five hundred thousand to buy a car? In my opinion, you seem to be taking full advantage of us! Do you think you have the right to make us foot the bills for all your expenses just because you're married to Steven?”

Right that instant, I could not resist feeling that her mind was prevailed by her repulsive greed. I even

doubted if she entered a relationship with Steven because of Michael and me. Does she have something up her sleeve all this while?

 

Chapter 377

“I... That's not what I meant. Did you misunderstand something, Anna?”

Yvette looked at me with panic in her eyes when she noticed the sudden change in my expression.

“Yvette, if you genuinely want to be with Steven, the family and I will definitely welcome you with open arms. However, I think you should forget about it if you're doing this with ulterior motives in mind. My husband's quite wealthy, but money doesn't grow on trees. We'll do whatever we can to help Steven if he's ever in any trouble, but we'll not comply with any absurd requests. Do you understand?”

I looked at her and spoke calmly. I wanted to make it clear that Michael and I wanted no part in the car. To me, Yvette was a materialistic woman. There was no telling what would happen if women like her did not get what they wanted.

“What are you talking about, Anna? Why are you talking to Yvette like that!”

Yvette's face paled while Steven stared at me, upset. His voice was filled with reproach, clearly blaming me for my terrible attitude toward Yvette.

“Don't be mad, Yvette. My sister's like this sometimes. Rest assured that she definitely won't turn a deaf ear to me. She'd listen to whatever my parents said back then,” Steven comforted Yvette seeing that she was not looking so good.

That said, what he said annoyed me even more.

“Steven, let's make one thing clear, I'm not buying a car for you, and neither is Michael. If you want the car, buy it yourself. Why do you want us to buy it for you?”

Does he not know that Yvette's dating him just because he has a wealthy brother-in-law and that she merely wants to live a carefree life off him? Why is he still defending her?

“Anna!” Steven stared at me angrily.

“Steven, since your sister put it that way, I don't think there's a need for us to go on. I want to marry you, but if you can't promise me a good life, I have no reason to do that!”

Then, Yvette stood up and turned around before leaving.

“Don't go, Yvette! I can explain!”

Steven chased after her, trying to keep her there, but Yvette never gave him the chance to talk and ran away.

To be frank, it was not unexpected. What Yvette wanted was money. So it was only natural for her to leave Steven if he could not give her what she wanted.

At that moment, Steven looked a bit down after Yvette left, but it did not take long before he stood in front of me once again and glared at me with his faintly red eyes.

“You've crossed the line this time, Anna Garcia! Why did you have to talk to Yvette like that? She's my girlfriend and your future sister-in-law!” Steven roared at me in a condemning tone.

I was not in the best mood myself, seeing that my brother was arguing with me over a woman he had

just met months ago. I'm doing this for your own good! She's not someone you can handle! You'll only get hurt!

“Steven Garcia, can't you see she's just using you? She doesn't love you but money!”

I looked him in the eyes and held my anger at bay when I spoke.

“I don't care. I'm marrying Yvette no matter what. She's my girlfriend, and I love her. You're the one that caused this rift between us, so it's your responsibility to fix it!”

At that point, I doubted that he would listen to anything I had to say as his eyes were completely bloodshot. It looked like he was going to murder me, and I was actually afraid that I was at a loss for words.

“Try shouting at her one more time, Steven! I dare you!”

It was Michael with his chilly voice. He was staring straight at Steven with his cold and piercing gaze.

Anyone could tell that Michael was mad from just the intensity of the pressure he was exuding by merely sitting there.

When Steven heard him, his expression completely shifted as he turned to look at Michael with a hint of fear in his eyes.

“I don't care! You two are the reason why Yvette and I turned out like this. You need to bring her back to me!”

Steven had placed all the blame for Yvette's departure on Michael and me. There was not the slightest sign that he had thought there might just be something wrong with Yvette's mindset.

At the same time, I looked at Steven in silence. I was furious but speechless at the same time. Besides, I figured he would not be able to listen to anything I said since he was deadset on me being the one who had ruined their relationship.

“That's your problem. If you want a car, buy it with your own money. I'm not giving you even a single dime!” Michael exclaimed before he got up and walked straight to Steven.

He stood in front of Steven and looked down at him with an intense air about him.

His dark pupils gradually turned cruel as he watched Steven while his cold voice was rather imposing.

Under Michael's strong presence, Steven could not help but start to panic. He did not even dare look Michael in the eyes. Even though he was angry, he dared not make a sound in front of Michael.

“Listen carefully. If you ever shout at your sister again, there will be consequences. You're welcome to try if you don't believe me,” Michael threatened before he came over and pulled me away.

He did not give Steven any time to react and merely left him standing there, dumbfounded.

Truth be told, I still wanted to say something to Steven but quickly gave up on the notion because I figured he would not listen and would only place more blame on me.

Inside Michael's car, I felt frustrated, at a loss for how I was going to settle that predicament.

“Are you still mad?”

Michael held my hand and looked at me adoringly, seeing that I was quiet. It was a complete shift from how he spoke to Steven just moments ago.

It was a gentler side of Michael that only I got to see.

“Even I could see that Yvette's in it for the money. Surely you saw through it too, right?”

I was not sure what was on Michael's mind since he did not say anything back there.

“Yeah, I knew. That woman's not fit to be married into your family.”

Michael looked relaxed, clearly unperturbed about Yvette.

“But you saw Steven's stance. I don't really know what I should do here. What do I do if Steven insists on marrying that woman?”

It was the first time I had seen Steven hold on to something like that. Has she cast a spell on him?

 

Chapter 378

“Just do what you think is right. If you compromise now, things will become more difficult in the future. Do you think you'll get any peace with a sister-in-law that's just like your other family members?”

Michael looked at me with knitted brows. It was clear that he knew what I was thinking, and he did not agree with it.

“But...”

I looked at him, still wanting to say something.

“No buts.” Michael interrupted. “You need to stand your ground, Anna Garcia. When will you stop being so indecisive!”

He spoke assertively and looked at me with eyes that would not accept no for an answer.

I gulped while I stared at his handsome face. I knew he was right, that I needed to be more decisive.

When the car stopped, my phone rang before we got out. It was my mother, which only meant that Steven had told her about what had happened.

I took a glance at Michael before swiping to pick up. “Hi, Mom.”

“What have you done, Anna Garcia! You said you wanted to meet Steven's girlfriend, but how could you say those things to her! Are you trying to ruin your brother's life!”

My mother's voice blasted out of the phone before I could say anything, almost deafening me through it.

So, I pulled my phone away from my ear with a frown. I knew my mother would be infuriated when she found out about what happened.

“I'm doing this for Steven's sake, Mom. That woman, Yvette, is not the girl for him. It's a good thing if they were to break up.”

I did not apologize to my mother like how I used to but instead told her what was on my mind in a calm manner.

“Good thing? You ruined your brother's relationship, and you call that a good thing? What were you thinking, Anna? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

My mother became even more enraged, seeing that I did not apologize.

“Steven's still young, Mom. He can find someone way better than Yvette. What she wants is not something we can afford. This time, it's a car. Next time, it might be a house for all I know. Are you going to buy that for her?”

Yvette's a greedy girl, so the chance of her asking for a house after they got married isn't actually zero. Our family could never satiate someone like that!

“I don't care! Your brother likes her, so you have to get them back together no matter what! I'll never forgive you if you don't! And don't come back until you do that!”

My mother was practically roaring by then as she chastised me in her high-pitched voice.

I knew what I did was hard to accept, but I also knew what I did was the right thing to do. So, my heart ached a little after hearing what my mother said.

However, before I could reject her, Michael took the phone from me. “This is Michael.”

My mother immediately quieted down even though Michael spoke to her very casually.

“Michael, you two are married now, so Steven's your brother too. I doubt you'll turn a blind eye to the situation, right? five hundred thousand is nothing to you. But to Steven, his happiness is at stake. Can't you just help your brother out?”

My mother spoke as though she had found a lifeline to cling to after she heard Michael's voice.

As I said, my mother had a high-pitched voice, so I could hear everything. What she said got me feeling even more frustrated. Did she just ask Michael for five hundred thousand? Is she really doing anything for Steven now?

“I'm not giving him a single dime! That woman is not suitable for Steven. Breaking up is the best option. On the other hand, I know you're Anna's mother, but she's my wife and is now pregnant with my child. I don't want anything to affect her mood, so please speak to her more politely from now on.”

Michael said that calmly, without a hint of emotion on his face. I knew he was doing that to protect me because he knew I was upset.

When he finished, my mother stayed quiet. I figured it was because she did not expect that from Michael since he was still her son-in-law. Even though Michael was of high social standing, it was still rude of him to treat her like that.

At that moment, I tugged on Michael's shirt and shook my head. I did not want him to speak to my mother like that. Although my mother was being unreasonable, she was still my mother. Things would get awkward if Michael continued the next time they met

Michael looked at me with confusion in his eyes.

“Michael, why would you say that? Anna is my daughter, and I raised her. Does she not need to repay her family in times of need?”

My mother sounded a little angry after the moment of silence.

“Repay the family? How selfish of you to think like that. Steven's just Anna's brother. Legally speaking, she's not obligated to do anything for him, so you should forget about it!”

Michael responded more coldly this time. He was actually angry now. And even though I was worried about how he and my mother would get along after this, hearing what he said made me steel my determination even more.

I should not involve myself with this issue. I need to hold on to my principles. If I do things like how I did back then, it would only get worse.

“You're merely my son-in-law, Michael Shaw. What gives you the right to say that? I raised her. Is it too much to ask her to buy a car for her brother?”

My mother sounded angrier the more she spoke. It seemed like Michael was really getting on her nerves. That said, even though Michael was her son-in-law, my mother knew he was not someone she could easily control.

“It's just emotional blackmail at this point! So enough is enough! My wife and I have other things to attend to, so please refrain from calling us anymore. If you don't, I can't guarantee I won't do something about it!”

Michael furrowed his brows and ended the call as soon as he finished.

After that, he placed the phone in my hand. He looked cold and emotionless, so I figured he was annoyed by what my mother said. It was unlikely for him to ever experience something like that before he met me. But after we met, it felt like an everyday occurrence somehow.

 

Chapter 379

Despite feeling concerned, I could not help heaving a sigh of relief. Since Michael spoke so bluntly, Mom will probably understand how I feel now.

Seemingly sensing my disquiet, Michael held my hand and shot me a reassuring glance.

Mom really did not call me for the next few days. It left me wondering whether the matter would blow over just like that. Meanwhile, it was as if Steven had vanished into thin air.

Although many things still felt up in the air, I could not deny that those few days were much more peaceful. I contemplated calling to ask how Steven and Yvette were doing but later dismissed the idea. In truth, I thought it would be a good thing if they broke up.

It was not because I was against Steven having a family of his own, but because I hoped he could find someone who truly loved him. It was clear to me that Yvette was not that person.

I had hoped we could put everything that had happened behind us, but as it turned out, it would not be that easy. Since I was pregnant and needed to get some moderate exercise, I went out on walks every day.

That day, the housekeeper had something to attend to back home. Hence, I gave her the day off.

I was out taking a walk at a park close by the mansion when my phone rang. It was Josephine. Her calls were usually a sign of bad news, so I was genuinely a little reluctant to answer my phone.

If it were not for the fact that she was Michael's mother, I would have rejected her call. Nonetheless, I answered it in the end.

“Hello, Mom.”

I no longer hoped to have a good relationship with Josephine. As long as she did not deliberately try to cause me trouble, that was enough for me.

“Where are you? Why is nobody at home? You have such a big house, yet you don't have the means to hire a housekeeper?” Josephine asked in an accusatory tone.

I frowned when I heard that. Don't tell me she's at the mansion!

“Mom, are you at the mansion?” I enquired, puzzled.

“What's the matter? It sounds as if I'm not welcome here. Anna Garcia, you'd do well to remember that the mansion you live in belongs to the Shaw family!”

I merely wanted to confirm that she was at the mansion, but it's like she's purposely twisting the meaning of my words. I felt vexed, but I did my best to suppress my emotions.

“Mom, I didn't mean that. I was-”

Naturally, I tried to explain myself. But before I could finish my sentence, Josephine interrupted me impatiently.

“Get back here right now!”

Her tone was commanding, and it irked me. However, she hung up immediately without giving me the chance to say anything.

My brows furrowed as I listened to the dial tone. That attitude of hers really drives me up the wall! I'm Michael's wife now, not one of the Shaw family's helpers. But she always uses that tone when she speaks to me. How irritating! And there's nothing I can do about it. The moment I display any sign of resistance, she'll surely kick up a fuss and blow the incident out of proportion. I'm not afraid of falling out with her. It's just that I don't want the Shaw family to become like mine.

I turned to leave the park and hurried back to the mansion at once. Even so, it took me more than twenty minutes to get home.

I walked into the living room, expecting Josephine to be sitting on the couch like she usually did and glaring at me frostily.

But I was wrong. Josephine was not sitting there. My gaze traveled over the couch until it fell upon something next to it. There was someone sprawled on the floor, lying in a pool of blood. It was Josephine!

“Mom! Are you okay? What happened?”

I could see she was still bleeding from her forehead, and I started panicking because I had never encountered such a situation.

She glared at me and opened her mouth, but no words came out. Finally, her eyes closed.

“Mom! Don't scare me! What's going on?”

I shook Josephine's shoulder, but she gave no response.

The bloodstains on my hands finally jolted to my senses, and I realized that I should be calling for an ambulance.

I took out my phone and made the call. After that, I sat next to Josephine blankly, dazed and pale.

In all honesty, I was terrified at finding Josephine in that state. I could not help fearing for her life. Whatever it is, she's still Michael's mother! What if something happens to her?

At that moment, I inadvertently noticed that Josephine seemed to be gripping something in her hand. I pried it out and saw that it was a black button. It looks familiar. I must've seen it somewhere before. Could this button's owner have something to do with what happened to her?

With that thought in mind, I slipped the button into my bag. Just then, the ambulance arrived. I got in as well, then called Michael to tell him Josephine had gotten into an accident and that we were on the way to the hospital.

I stood outside the hospital's operating theater, staring at the lit-up sign that indicated the operating theater was in use. I was fraught with anxiety, worried about what would happen to Josephine. She got hurt while at the mansion. If she doesn't make it, I'll never be able to explain what happened, no matter how hard I try.

Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps. I turned to look toward the elevator and saw Michael, Lincoln, and Andy rushing over.

“Anna, how's Mom?”

Michael was the first to reach me, and I could see the panic in his eyes. I had never seen him like that before.

The Michael I knew was always steady and mature. Nothing could ever ruffle his calm demeanor. However, with his mother in the operating theater and her fate unknown, he was as alarmed as anyone else.

“I don't know either. Before the doctor wheeled her in, he said it doesn't look too good and asked us to prepare for the worst.”

As I spoke, I gazed at Michael, my face as pale as a sheet. I could not imagine how he would take it if the worst did happen.

“How can this be? What on earth happened? Why did she end up like this?” Michael responded agitatedly, raising his voice as he stared into my eyes, searching for an answer.

Seeing the worry etched across his face, I opened my mouth. However, I did not know what to say because I had no clue what had happened either.

“I don't know...”

I wish I could shed some light on what happened, but what can I say? By the time I got back to the mansion, she was already lying in a pool of blood!

Michael frowned and glanced at me when he heard my reply, but he did not press further. Instead, he hurried to the operating theater's doors and stood there, his distress evident.

 

Chapter 380

“All right. There's no use worrying now. Let's wait and see what the doctor says.”

In comparison to Michael, Lincoln was much more anxious. He began pacing in front of the operating theater as soon as he arrived.

After a long time, the light indicating that an operation was in progress turned off, and the doors to the operating theater swung open. All of us gathered around at once.

“Doctor, how's my wife?” Lincoln asked worriedly.

The doctor gave a long, heavy sigh. He looked at Lincoln with a helpless expression and said, “It's not looking good. She's still in critical condition. Even if she does pull through, she might be unconscious for a long time.”

“How can that be? Doctor, you have to save my wife! Nothing must happen to her!”

Overwhelmed with panic, Lincoln grasped the doctor's hand and pleaded frantically.

Michael was also frowning heavily, looking anxious. They were all so worried about Josephine. Well, even I don't hope for anything bad to happen to her.

“Don't worry. I'll do everything I can. We've completed the patient's operation and will be transferring her to the ward.”

Faced with Lincoln's pleas, the doctor could only promise to do everything he could since he was not absolutely confident of saving Josephine.

Lincoln looked like he wanted to say something, but he forgot all about it as soon he saw the nurses wheeling Josephine out of the operating theater with her forehead heavily bandaged.

Everyone rushed forward, including me. As I gazed down at Josephine's tightly-shut eyes and deathly pale face, uneasiness crept through me.

Once Josephine was in the ward, Lincoln stayed next to her while holding her hand. Everyone was silent.

No one pressed me for further details about the incident. Perhaps it was because they were all too worried about Josephine's condition at the moment.

Nonetheless, I kept puzzling over the matter. I wanted to get to the bottom of what happened.

The following day, news of Josephine's critical condition was splashed in headlines across the globe. Everyone was busy speculating the reason she got hurt.

When I went to visit her with Michael, she was still unconscious.

Suddenly, my phone rang. I took it out and saw that the call was from Steven. Not wanting to disturb those in the ward, I went into the corridor to answer the call.

“Hello?”

From the other end of the line came Steven's voice. As he spoke, he stammered a little. “Hello, Anna...

Is... Is Michael's mother really in such serious condition as reported on television?”

I felt it odd that Steven would suddenly show concern for Josephine, but I replied, “Yes. It's not looking good. The doctor said she's still in critical condition and told us to prepare for the worst.”

Once again, uneasiness washed over me as I recalled how Josephine was still not yet out of danger.

“Is... Is it really that serious? Then... Then have you found out how she got hurt? Has the culprit been identified?”

I did not know why, but I sensed that Steven seemed extremely nervous. I could not help feeling suspicious of his peculiar behavior.

“Not yet. But with Michael's capabilities, it's only a matter of time before we find out everything. The police have also started investigating the matter. As soon as we find out who was behind this, Michael will make sure he gets punished severely.”

Although I had no idea who the culprit was, I was sure that Michael would not spare that person once he discovered the person's identity!

Steven fell silent after hearing my response, which aroused my suspicions even further. In all the time I was with Michael, Steven had never bothered himself about what happened with us. But now, he was suddenly calling to enquire about Josephine's condition. Hence, I could not help but find it surprising.

Seeing that he did not say anything for a long time, I broke the silence by asking, “Did you call me today just to ask me that?”

“Huh? Oh, I just... I just saw it on the news, so... so I thought I'd call and check in on you,” Steven answered, stuttering even harder.

I know him well. He wouldn't waste his time calling me about something that didn't concern him.

For some reason, a thought suddenly surfaced in my mind. What if what happened has something to do with Steven?

“Steven, I have something to ask you. Did you have anything to do with what happened to Michael's mother?” I asked nervously.

Despite my suspicions, I could not bring myself to believe them. Steven was no honorable gentleman, but I did not think he had it in him to be capable of something like that.

“Anna, what... what nonsense is this? How could it have anything to do with me? I... I'm busy. I have to go now.”

As soon as Steven heard my question, he became rattled and gave a flustered answer. Without giving me the chance to respond, he hung up immediately.

I did not know why, but my instincts told me Steven was somehow involved.

Even if he was not the culprit, he had to know something about it.

I put away my phone, unable to compose myself for a long time. What should I do if Steven is really involved in this whole thing?

Standing rooted to the spot, a myriad of countermeasures began formulating in my mind, and I became increasingly suspicious of Steven.

“Who was that? You were on the phone for quite a while.”

Lost in my panicked thoughts, I was startled when Michael's voice rang out behind me. I spun around and found myself staring straight into his eyes.

His piercing gaze seemed like it could see right through me. I did not dare to meet his eyes as I replied, “Nothing... It was just something at home. I've got something to do. I'll be back soon.”

The mere thought of Steven's phone call is enough to make me jittery again. Regardless of whether it has anything to do with him, I have to get to the bottom of this.

“Where are you going?” Michael called out behind me. However, I ignored him and hurried away.

After hailing a cab, I went to Steven's rented house and found that all the doors and windows had been locked. I knew he had not been to work after what happened with Yvette, so I felt sure he was inside the house.

I rang the doorbell and waited for a long time, but no one answered the door. I had even begun to think there was no one home. Nonetheless, I took out my spare key to unlock the door and entered the house.