Ch. 441..450

“You don't have to worry about this. I'm sure such accidents will definitely not happen in our company.”

Suppressing my panic, I pretended I was not bothered by what Michael said.

“Are you that confident? Do you really believe nothing wrong will happen?”

He raised his eyebrows and shot me a mocking look. His voice was filled with doubt.

The more he acted like this, the more uneasy I became. For some reason, it felt like an accident would occur.

“If you're here today to mess up my thoughts, you can leave now. No matter what you say, I will not change my mind. You're here for no other reason but to snatch my client away. Let me make it clear to you—that is impossible! Mr. Downer is my client. I will never give up on him!”

Since I had snatched his client away, he must be very furious. Although he would definitely think of a way to get his client back, I would never let him have the chance to.

“He's just a small client. Do you think I won't be able to continue just because I've lost a home appliance client? I'm just here to remind you. Don't get yourself into trouble. I can give up a minor client like him for your sake if you'd like me to,” remarked Michael coldly, looking completely nonchalant.

It seemed like he did not mind me snatching his client away. I shook my head vigorously, denying that hypothesis. I did not want to harbor any hope toward Michael now.

“Since you said you can give the client to me, why don't you give all your clients to me? As long as you do that, I'll believe you.”

I did not trust Michael when he said he would give up on the client. Those were just empty promises.

“Sure. As long as you're willing to return to my side, I can give up all of my company's clients to you. How's that?”

He stared into my eyes as he spoke in an abnormally serious tone.

I met his gaze. For a moment, I felt flustered. However, after I returned to my senses, I could not help but scoff coldly. He probably only said that because he knew I would never return to him.

I had to admit that he was really intelligent—he could read my mind very well. When he said that, I was excited for a split second.

“You might as well not say it. After all, you know I'll never return to you.”

I would never be together with him for the rest of my life. Obviously, he was merely saying this to patronize me.

“That's your problem. Since I've said that, I'm being serious. You can consider it. As long as you come back to me, everything I have will be yours. There's no need for you to be so exhausted like now,” said Michael again as he looked into my eyes.

Frowning, I met his gaze. To be honest, I yearned to know whether he was telling the truth. If I return to his side, will he really give all his clients to me? Isn't he scared that I'm manipulating him?

I really did not know how true his words were, so I kept reminding myself not to believe him. Still, my heart pounded rapidly after I heard what he said.

“I don't need that. I'll secure the clients I want through my own hard work. Also, don't you worry. I want all of your company's clients, but I will never return to you.”

The least possible thing that could happen in my lifetime was to return to Michael. I still remembered Lincoln's threats. The more they acted like this, the more I wanted to prove to them I was capable enough to get Amaury back to me.

“Anna, you're crazy!”

After hearing what I said, Michael jumped to his feet from the couch and glared at me furiously.

“I've turned crazy since a year ago. When you forced me to part from my son, I've already lost my mind. Michael, I've become like this all thanks to the Shaw family!”

I still could not figure out what they were thinking. Lincoln ordered me to leave Michael and never appear in front of them again. Yet, Michael kept trying to make me go back to him. I could not wrap my mind around his and Lincoln's attitudes.

To be honest, I think I should hate Lincoln the most. However, for some reason, I always transferred my hatred for him to Michael. Perhaps, I had too high hopes for him. When I needed him the most, he was not by my side. Instead, he joined forces with his father to treat me so cruelly. Till now, that incident remained an incurable scar in my heart.

Looking at how agitated I was, Michael stared into my eyes and frowned. For a long time, he remained silent. To me, he was acknowledging what I said implicitly.

“I don't know what your true objective for coming here. I also don't know if you're aware of what your father told me. However, I'm not the Anna from before. I'm not the weak, manipulatable person that all of you can bully. Also, when you go back, warn your father. If he wants to do anything to me, just come at me! I will never leave unless Amaury returns to my side,” I stated coldly. I stared into Michael's eyes as the memories of Lincoln's warnings appeared in my mind.

“He looked for you? What did he say?”

After I spoke, Michael gave me a surprised look as if he was completely oblivious of his father's doing.

“Michael, can you stop pretending in front of me? You've got such widespread sources. Wouldn't you know if your father looked for me?”

I did not believe that Michael was clueless about Lincoln looking for me. After all, he found out about me snatching his client away on the same night. There was no reason he would not know about the meeting between his father and me.

“Do you think there's a need for me to pretend in front of you? Do you think whatever I do is just an act? Anna Garcia, am I that kind of person to you?” interrogated Michael as he glared at me furiously with a frown.

It was true. He never knew how to put up an act. However, I did not dare to trust anyone now. For some reason, I was starting to believe that everyone around me was a hypocrite and they were all hiding something from me.

I knew my thoughts were extreme. However, this was the thought that kept invading my mind.

 

Chapter 442

“You know very well what kind of person you are. Michael, I just want to focus on my work now and accompany Amaury. If you don't want me to continue hating you, return my child to me. Otherwise, we'll forever be enemies!” I warned seriously as I stared straight into Michaels' eyes.

Actually, the reason I hated them was that they kept me away from Amaury for a year. If they took the initiative to let him come back to me, I would not have hated them like this.

“Will you return to my side as long as I give Amaury back to you? Will you stop opposing me like this?” Michael asked calmly after hearing what I said.

He met my gaze expressionlessly.

When I heard his offer, my heart skipped a beat. Naturally, I wanted to live together happily as a family. But can both of us really return to how we were in the past?

“Anna, as long as you agree to return to my side, you can be with Amaury every day,” added Michael seriously when he noticed my silence.

I frowned. This was a very tempting condition, but I could not overcome my emotional barrier. I could not make myself go back to him.

“I'll never be with you. If you let Amaury return to me, I'll leave with him and never appear in front of you again.” Gazing into his eyes, I replied solemnly.

It was possible for me to stop hating him, but I would never love him as much as I did a year ago.

“Run far away with Amaury? Do you think I'll agree if you want to take him away? Anna, you think I'm a fool!”

A frosty look crept into Michael's eyes. His eyes raged with fury when he glanced at me. Even his tone sounded grimmer.

“This is the most I can do. Don't force me, Michael. If you don't want both of us to become enemies, you have no choice but to agree. Otherwise, I'll never stop my actions!”

Looking at him, I knew that there was no more possibility for negotiation. I was starting to feel angry too. After all, I was the one who gave birth to Amaury, yet the Shaws forced me to part with him. Now, all I wanted to do was to get Amaury back. That was not an excessive request, but they insisted on stopping me. I could not understand why it was so difficult for me to live with my child!

I would be lying if I said I did not hate them. For the past year, I kept dreaming of destroying the Shaw family and having Amaury back.

Michael's abilities were beyond my expectations. Initially, I was very confident. However, after going up against him for so many days, I realized I had a long way to go before I could become stronger than him.

“Let's talk about it after you've reached your goal!”

Michael snorted coldly. Not saying another word, he strode away.

I watched his back, feeling furious and resentful. He was a person who could not be persuaded no

matter what. Is there no other way to keep Amaury with me other than to return to his side and continue being his woman?

Clenching my fists, I was unwilling to give up like that or to admit defeat. Regardless of whether I could defeat him, I would never give up. At the very least, there was still a glimmer of hope now.

I took a deep breath and kept reminding myself not to relent. No matter what happens, I must never give up.

It was a sleepless night. Due to my previous conversation with Michael, I kept feeling uneasy. I started to worry about whether the budget for the project would be like what Michael warned about.

When I left the house in the morning, I saw Nicholas' car parked underneath. I could not help but frown. My mood was already quite bad. It became worse after I saw him.

“Anna.”

There was a faint smile on Nicholas' face. He waved his hands and greeted me.

When I remembered what he did to me a few days ago, I still felt lingering fear. Hence, I did not want to be overly involved with him.

Ignoring him, I walked past his car to drive my car. However, he strode over briskly and blocked my path.

“Anna, are you still angry over that incident? Are you not planning to forgive me?” asked Nicholas softly

as he stood in front of me and looked down at me.

“It's already in the past. There's no need to ask whether I'm angry about it. However, I think that it's better if we remain work colleagues and avoid seeing each other in private.”

Since I had decided not to be involved with him, I had to keep my distance away from him. Only then could I protect myself.

I gazed at him expressionlessly, my eyes showing nothing but indifference. I would be lying if I said that I was not angry. After all, I was sure no one else could pretend that nothing had happened.

This would bother women. If they were pestered by a man they did not like and were forced to do something like that, no one could forgive him so easily.

Nicholas stared at my face. He frowned as a look of disappointment crept into his eyes.

“I know you're saying this because you're still angry. Actually, I'm also very frustrated over what happened that night. I don't know what happened to me. Whenever I think about how you still like Michael, I would go mad with jealousy. Anna, I didn't do it on purpose. Stop being angry, okay?” He gazed anxiously into my eyes.

“Nicholas, can we stop talking about this? It's almost time to start work. We'll be late if we don't go to the office now.”

I glanced at my watch, then back at Nicholas' face. My tone sounded a little more impatient.

Although I already said I did not want to mention that incident, Nicholas insisted on talking about it, as if

he did not hear me.

I opened my car door, wanting to get into my car. However, he stopped me again. I glared at Nicholas coldly, feeling fury surge within me.

How clearly do I have to make myself such that he will stop pestering me? This is not the impression I had of him. Yet, he's pestering me every few days. My impression of him is starting to change.

“Anna, I looked for you today because I wanted to confirm you're no longer angry at me. We can still remain as friends, right?”

 

Chapter 443

He held on to my car door and looked at me. There was a hint of trepidation in his voice.

I frowned and intended to say some heartless words, but I realized that would only make him pester me even more. After much deliberation, I nodded.

“Yes, we're still friends and work partners,” I said casually.

After getting the answer he wanted, a smile appeared on Nicholas' face. He seemed to be more at ease.

“Now that I have answered your question, can I get in the car? It won't look good if both of us are late.”

I pointed at the watch on my wrist to remind him we were running late.

Nicholas had wanted to say something, but after hearing me, he released his hand and said, “Then, I shall see you back at the office.”

I drove off without responding.

As I was driving alone, the thought of Nicholas frustrated me. For days to come, I would still have to see him in the office. It would be very awkward.

Both Nicholas and I arrived at the company at the same time. I glanced at him after I parked my car and left without saying anything.

The first thing I had to do was to take my secretary with me to see Robert because he had promised to

work with us the previous day. Therefore, I needed to seal the deal as soon as possible before we lost the opportunity.

The meeting with Robert went very smoothly, and he was also satisfied with the data that I had shown him. Right there and then, he promised to sign the contract with us the moment his contract with Joyful Success ended.

Poaching the first client from Michael made me very happy. That was a good start after all. I believed things would get easier from then on.

When I returned to the office, Nicholas was also very pleased once he heard the good news. In fact, he allowed everyone to get off earlier and proceeded to arrange a celebration for me.

I had no intention of attending because Nicholas would be there. However, ever since I got back, I had been under tremendous stress. It might do me some good to chill out. Hence, I agreed to it.

That evening, I went back home for a change of clothes before heading out to the venue. Nicholas had picked a high-end karaoke bar. In truth, I was not so keen on noisy and rowdy places. However, Nicholas and the rest of the employees seemed to be pleased with the idea, so I let it be.

It might have been a high-end karaoke bar, but it was still very noisy since people were singing.

I located the private room that Nicholas had booked in advance. The moment I walked in, my ears started buzzing. I never liked places like that, so I was annoyed. Then again, I needed to relax and chill out.

When everyone saw me, they came up to greet me, and someone even handed me a microphone. They wanted me to sing, but I declined.

Sitting on the couch, I watched the couples singing passionately away while I drank.

In the past, I seldom attended functions like that. Perhaps, I was not suited for such occasions.

Just then, Nicholas appeared in front of me with a drink. He raised his glass and toasted me. “Anna, congratulations on securing your first client! Keep up the good work!”

He seemed pleased. After clinking our glasses, I finished my drink in one gulp. It was obviously a happy occasion, but for some strange reason, I was not thrilled at all. I had no idea why.

Nicholas looked at me with admiration in his eyes and said, “Actually, I didn't expect you to be able to poach the first client from Joyful Success so soon. I'm really impressed.”

In the past, I was used to him looking at me that way. Now, I felt so awkward that I wanted to get away from him.

“I just want to get Amaury back as soon as possible. If this drags on, the chance of me being successful will get lesser.”

I kept my head down as I spoke. Presently, I did not want to have too much interaction with him.

“You're walking on the path of success right now. I believe you'll be able to attain your goal very soon,” he said with a faint smile on his face and a gentle look in his eyes.

“I hope so.”

With that nonchalant response, I downed my drink in one gulp.

My alcohol tolerance level was never great, so after a few glasses, I felt like I was floating. The loud noises in the private room made my condition even more unbearable.

I stood up and told Nicholas, “I feel tipsy after having too much to drink; I'd like to make a move first.”

I turned and was about to leave.

“Let me send you back. Your face is all flushed. I don't feel good letting you go back on your own.”

At that moment, Nicholas stood up and offered to send me back home.

“It's fine. I can get home by myself.”

I was still shocked when I recalled what he had wanted to do to me the other night. Therefore, I turned him down without any hesitation.

When Nicholas heard me say that, he frowned and said unhappily, “You have already drunk too much. Yet, you still reject my offer. Aren't you worried you might get into trouble on your way home?”

I knew he meant well, but I did not want to be anywhere near him. Neither did I want him to have any misunderstanding about my feelings for him. He was only a partner at work as far as I was concerned.

“I'm fine. I'm not as weak as you imagine me to be. I'm a very strong woman.”

I chuckled slightly and turned him down again. I will just hail a cab home. Why would I be in any danger? He thinks too much.

“No. I have to make sure that you get back home safely. Otherwise, I won't be at peace.”

It appeared that my rejection was futile. Nicholas grabbed my hand and walked toward the door of the private room.

“Nicholas, let go of me. I said I can go back on my own. I don't need you to send me home!”

Nicholas' touch displeased me greatly. I pulled away with all my might and eyed him with disgust.

Just then, the sound died down in the private room, and a few of our colleagues overheard our conversation. Many of them assumed that Nicholas and I were seeing each other.

Chapter 444

“Ms. Garcia, you have had too much to drink. Why don't you let Mr. Cadman send you back instead? It's very dangerous for a beautiful woman like you to walk alone on the streets.”

“That's right. There are bad people everywhere. Furthermore, you are leaving a karaoke bar. There will be many perverts eyeing you if you are unescorted.”

My colleagues tried to convince me to let Nicholas take me home.

Although I was irritated, I could not very well embarrass him in front of everyone seeing that he was our immediate superior. People might gossip about us in the future if I put Nicholas on the spot. Therefore, I remained silent in spite of my displeasure.

I said with a smile, “Thank you for your concern. Please enjoy yourselves. I'm not feeling well. I'll make a move first.”

After that, I walked out of the private room with Nicholas following behind me.

Once we were out of the karaoke bar, I could not help but shiver when the cold air hit me. Now that it was late, it had become quite cold. I stood at the entrance waiting for a taxi. Since I drank, it was better I did not drive.

When Nicholas saw me shivering, he removed his jacket and placed it on me. In an instant, I was not cold anymore. Unfortunately, the moment he touched me, I instinctively removed his jacket from my shoulders.

“No, I'm good. Thank you.”

Wearing a man's jacket felt too intimate. I had no wish to be so close to him.

Nicholas looked disappointingly at the jacket in my hand.

“Is there a need to be so distant between the two of us? Anna, aren't we still friends? I was worried that you might catch a cold. That's why I gave you my jacket. Please don't think too much. I have no other intentions.”

I could hear the dejection in his voice.

Now that he had clarified himself, it would appear cruel if I refused his kindness. However, I truly wanted to have nothing to do with him.

“I really don't need it. I had so much alcohol earlier on that I am still feeling a little warm. The cool air comes at the right time.”

Despite the fact that I was freezing, I put on a brave front with a smile.

He looked into my eyes, and it was a long while before he looked away. I could sense his despondency.

The cab arrived, and I got in. I thought he would return to the private room. Instead, he got in as well.

I looked at him with a frown and wondered how I was going to get him to exit the vehicle.

It was as if he knew I wanted to say something. Before that could happen, Nicholas said, “I'll only be at ease once you have reached home.”

His tone sounded resolute. It seemed there was no room for discussion.

During the ride back, I became giddier and felt even more uncomfortable. The combination of the alcohol and car ride was giving both my head and stomach a hard time.

I leaned back on the seat and shut my eyes. I was feeling really unwell.

“Are you all right?” asked Nicholas worriedly when he saw me in discomfort.

“I'm fine...”

I tried to suppress the urge to vomit.

The rest of the ride went on in silence. I had no idea how long it took. By the time I arrived home, I paid the cab driver his fare and got out in a daze. I stumbled around unsteadily in my heels; my vision was getting more blurred.

I was starting to regret drinking so much earlier on. Now, I had to suffer the consequences.

It felt as if I was walking on cotton wool. The feeling of falling at any moment was very real.

Just then, Nicholas came up to support me. “You can't hold your drink that well. You shouldn't have drunk so much just now. How much exactly did you drink? How did you get so drunk?”

Although Nicholas sounded like he was telling me off, his eyes revealed the concern he had for me.

“I didn't drink that much. Maybe, my alcohol tolerance level isn't so good. That's why I became drunk after a couple of glasses.” At the present moment, I was not in the condition to remind myself of what he had done to me in the past. In fact, I had forgotten all about it.

With one hand supporting me and the other rummaging for the house keys in my bag, Nicholas managed to open the door.

Once we got to the living room, he left me on the couch and poured a glass of water for me.

Lying on the couch, my giddiness became more severe, and I was unable to think straight anymore.

When Nicholas returned, I mistook him for Michael. All of a sudden, my tears began to flow.

Perhaps, subconsciously, I wanted to see Michael. That was why I mistook Nicholas for him.

“What are you doing here? Why are you in my house?”

I forced myself to sit up and look at him. My emotions were all over the place.

“You had too much to drink, so I sent you back home. Did you forget?”

Nicholas frowned and looked at me helplessly.

“I don't need you to send me home. I also don't need your concern. Stop your act! Don't show up in front of me next time! Since you have chosen to dump me back then, why do you keep appearing in

front of me every other day? What exactly do you want from me? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

I looked up at him with tears flowing down my face. “A year ago, did you know how badly I needed you by my side? Did you know the pain that I was in? Why were you so cruel to me? Why?”

I have concealed this hurt for a year now. In my dreams, I have asked myself countless times. Why was he so heartless to me? What have I done wrong? How could he hurt me like that?

Weren't the two of us very much in love with one another?

Nicholas was initially worried for me. After what I said, his face darkened. I could see the fury in his eyes, but he did not vent it out on me.

“Why won't you answer my questions? Tell me why you had to hurt me. Why did things end up this way for the both of us? Do you know how torturous it has been for the past year? I hate you even in my dreams. Michael Shaw, give me a reason so that I can stop loving you... So that I can stop hating you!”

Chapter 445

I became increasingly agitated. I stood up and grabbed hold of his collar.

Those questions had been on my mind for the past year. I really wanted to know the reason. Every time I saw Michael, I wanted to ask him. Every time, I stopped myself because I did not want him to know I had not forgotten about him. Now that I had some alcohol, I became bold.

“Anna, you had too much to drink. I'm not Michael; I'm Nicholas,” reminded Nicholas as he removed my hands from his collar.

In my current groggy state, I no longer cared what he had to say. All I wanted was to vent my frustration.

“You answer my questions! Answer me!” I grabbed hold of his collar again and yelled.

“Anna!”

He called out my name and wanted to say something. However, it did not matter what he had to say right now. I just buried my face in his chest.

“Do you know how my life has been for the past year? Michael, have you really ever truly loved me? Why would you be willing to hurt me like that...” I mumbled.

With my face against Nicholas' chest, tears began flowing down my face.

His body felt rigid, and he did not speak for a long time. I even started to feel the tension in the air. Then again, when people had too much to drink, their senses tended to become a little dull.

After a long time, he placed his hand on my back and patted me like he was consoling me.

I did not struggle in his embrace and wanted to enjoy the tenderness for as long as I could. Unfortunately, it was short-lived.

The very next second, the room door opened. Before I could figure out what was going on, someone hit Nicholas, and he fell to the ground.

The sudden turn of events woke me up. I stared at Nicholas, who was lying on the floor, and my mind went blank. What exactly is going on?

“Nicholas!”

I staggered my way to him and was worried. In the meantime, Michael was staring at me furiously.

Was I not in Michael's arms a while ago? What is Nicholas doing here? Why are they fighting?

Since I already had some alcohol, I was obviously not in the right frame of mind. Now, I became even more confused. I had no inkling what just happened.

“I'm all right!”

Nicholas stood up, wiped his mouth, and shook his head at me.

My head felt like splitting. I was even more pissed off when I saw the two men that I did not want to

see.

“Anna Garcia! You are getting bolder by the day, aren't you? You actually brought a man back to the house!”

Michael strode in my direction and loomed over me with his eyes blazing.

Faced with his questioning, I frowned in puzzlement. When I finally figured out what he was accusing me of, I flew into a rage.

“What rubbish are you talking about? When have I ever slept around with other men?”

Emboldened by the alcohol in me, I refused to back down. I have always been with him. How dare he accuse of me being with other men! So unreasonable!

“The two of you were hugging each other, and you are still denying it. If I didn't get here in time just now, what was going to happen? Are the two of you planning to have sex?”

Michael got nearer to me. He looked as though he wanted to reduce me to ashes in the very next second with his searing eyes.

I frowned even harder. What's wrong with this man? Since when have I ever slept with Nicholas? What gives him the right to slander me?

“Michael Shaw, watch your words! What gives you the right to insult me like this?”

In his eyes, am I really just a promiscuous woman who will sleep with any Tom, Dick, and Harry? There

was nothing between Nicholas and me. Nothing! Yet, he had said something like that to insult and hurt me!

“I saw it with my own eyes. Yet, you refused to admit to it. Anna, I never thought you were such a hypocrite!”

My words obviously had no effect on Michael. He looked just as infuriated as before. It seemed that he believed his own accusation about me with no regard for my feelings.

I had become a hypocrite in his eyes. Since when am I a hypocrite?

“Michael! You're too much!”

If it was others who had said that about me, I might not be that angry. However, coming from Michael, it pained me.

“Anna, stop talking to him. You had too much to drink tonight. Why don't you rest early? Tomorrow, when you wake up, you will forget about all the unhappy stuff.”

Just then, Nicholas came up to me and eyed Michael with enmity.

I knew Nicholas was concerned about me. However, I was in the midst of an argument with Michael. I wanted to know why he was accusing me!

Both my fists were clenched. Emboldened by liquid courage, I really wanted to fight it out with Michael. What gives him the right to say that about me!

Just as I was about to say something, Nicholas stood in front of me and ordered Michael to leave. “Mr. Shaw, you're not welcome here. Anna needs to rest. Please take your leave.”

Michael was angrier than ever. He stared icily at Nicholas and said, “Who do you think you are? I'm at my woman's place. Since when you get to tell me to leave?”

As Michael was talking, I could feel tension rising in the room. Nicholas, on the other hand, returned his gaze calmly showing no sign of fear.

Nicholas eyed Michael coldly as well when he said, “Your woman? Anna and you are already divorced, and neither of you got married to one another again. How can you say she's your woman? Mr. Shaw, it's good to be confident, but you shouldn't be so arrogant. I think Anna has already told you on more than one occasion that she doesn't want to go back to you!”

Michael had never been a patient man. He smiled coldly, but there was a glint of danger in his eyes. “Don't think I don't know what you are up to. I said before, no one is allowed to touch my woman!”

Before Nicholas could react, Michael punched him in the face. Nicholas fell to the ground once more.

All of these happened too quickly. I did not have the time to figure everything out. When I saw Nicholas get hit again, I panicked. As for Michael, my anger toward him flared up. He had indeed become more and more barbaric. That was already the second time he had hit Nicholas.

 

Chapter 446

“Michael, that's enough! If you want to fight, then please get out of my house! If you act violently here, I will call the cops!”

Even though I did not like Nicholas, he was injured because of me.

“Anna, how dare you shout at me because of another man? Don't forget I am your man!”

Michael's expression went as cold as ice. The next second, he grabbed my arm and started dragging me outside.

I had drunk some alcohol, and I felt dizzy. I had no strength to resist at all as he dragged me away.

Nicholas wanted to chase up and rescue me. However, before he could reach us, Michael pushed me into his car and drove off.

I struggled to open the car door. If he took me away tonight, nothing good would happen. I did not want to suffer anymore.

However, he had locked the car door. No matter how hard I tried, I could not open it. I shot him a furious look. I hated when he treated me so domineeringly. I seemed so helpless in front of him.

“Michael, open the door now. I want to get out!”

What makes him think he can drag me into his car and lock me inside?

“Why would you want to get out? Do you want to go back to Nicholas and have sex with him?”

His tone sounded utterly indifferent.

“It's none of your business! What makes you think you can hit someone as you like? And what makes you think you can drag me away?”

I was enraged as I felt he was treating me like a promiscuous woman. I hated when he talked to me so disrespectfully.

“Anna, you are pissing me off!”

Michael turned around and stared at me wrathfully. My heart skipped a beat as I sensed the hostility in his gaze.

“Michael, what do you want from me? There's nothing between Nicholas and me! Why do you treat me like this?”

Indeed, nothing happened between Nicholas and me. I remembered I was hugging Michael. Yet, he suddenly got pissed. I had no idea what was going on.

My mind was blank due to the alcohol. Even now, I still had not regained my senses completely.

“I saw with my own eyes that you two hugged together. How is it nothing? Anna, don't think of me as a fool!”

Michael's lips curled into a smirk. His gaze filled with disappointment. I could feel how disappointed he

was.

His gaze made me feel as if I had committed adultery. I did nothing, yet he said I was hugging Nicholas. Could it be I wasn't hugging Michael but Nicholas?

I was left in bewilderment upon thinking that. Michael was the one I saw. How could it be Nicholas?

I turned toward Michael again and observed his expression. There was nothing else besides rage. Did I hug the wrong person?

“I drank too much tonight. I think I was drunk. So I had no idea what happened. Even if I hugged Nicholas, I never thought of doing anything with him,” I explained with a meek voice and shifted my gaze toward the window.

I did not want Michael to misunderstand the relationship between Nicholas and me. Even if I would never be with him, I did not want to ruin my image in his heart.

“I only believe what I see! Anna, I will let you know tonight who your man is!”

Upon saying that, Michael stepped on the accelerator and drove off. I could only hold the seat belt tightly. I was frightened to see him driving so fast. At the same time, I blamed myself for making him so angry.

He was overwhelmed with emotions right now, and we might get into an accident. He did not care about anything else when he was angry.

Due to his reckless driving and my drunken state, I felt sick in my belly, and my head ached deeply. It

was the worst feeling in the world.

I closed my eyes and furrowed my brows tightly. I did not feel well. I could not even care about safety anymore.

I had no idea how long the drive lasted. When the car finally stopped, I immediately opened the door and got out.

I knelt by the road and started vomiting. I felt as if I was going to puke all of my internal organs out.

I was never a good drinker. Plus, Michael's reckless driving made my condition worse.

Michael's rage faded a little as he saw how sick I was. He walked toward me and squatted down. Then, he patted my back gently.

I vomited for a long time before I felt a little bit better.

I had never drunk so much alcohol before. It was the first time I knew what it was like to be drunk. It did not feel good at all.

“Why did you drink so much if you couldn't hold liquor? Are you trying to make life difficult for yourself?”

Michael supported me and looked at me with a displeased look. His voice was filled with blame and concern.

I could care less what he said as I was not feeling well. The only thing I wanted was to lie down in bed and rest. I felt like my head was about to explode. Even though I had vomited, the sick feeling was still

there.

“I want to go home!”

I furrowed my brows tightly. I was not in the mood to entertain Michael, and I did not want to argue with him.

He did not utter anything as he lowered his body and carried me up. My body felt drained of all energy, and I could not struggle at all. I let him carry me as I closed my eyes, intended to get some rest.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized Michael had brought me to the house in Birchwood. As I stared at the familiar yet strange surroundings, my heart skipped a beat. He placed me down on the couch and went toward the bathroom.

I had no idea why he brought me here. We used to live together here, and there were many good memories. Every time I came here, I could not help but think about our past.

Chapter 447

I cleared my thought and tried not to think about the past. The only thing I wanted to do now was to get out of here as soon as possible. Since Michael had gone to the bathroom, I figured it was my opportunity.

“You'd better not think of leaving. No matter where you run to, I can catch you back!”

The second I stood up, Michael's voice came from the bathroom. He sounded utterly composed, as though he had predicted that I would escape.

I shifted my gaze toward the bathroom and realized the door was still closed. He was still inside. How could he possibly know what I was doing?

I froze on the spot, hesitating if I should leave. I hated to admit it, but his threat indeed worked on me. I did not doubt his ability.

However, I still recoiled in fear upon recalling his furious look. After pondering for a long while, I decided to leave anyway. I tiptoed to the door, not daring to make a sound.

Before I could reach the door, his voice appeared again. This time, it was right behind me.

“Anna, did you just ignore me? Did you hear what I said?”

Michael glared at me with rage.

My heart jolted as waves of terror rose within me.

Before I could say anything, he stepped toward me swiftly and carried me in his arms. I was shocked, and I responsively wrapped my arms around his neck. My heart started to beat fast as I felt the warmth emitted from his body.

I did not know why but my heart would pound furiously whenever he got close to me.

“Michael, what are you doing?”

I stared at him cautiously as my mind wandered. He is carrying me. Does he want to have sex with me?

“Shut up and go brush your teeth!”

He frowned and looked at me with disgust. It was probably because I had vomited earlier.

Indeed, he was very particular about hygiene. I knew it was challenging for him to pat on my back while I was vomiting just now.

I was somehow displeased when I saw his disgusted look. However, I did not say anything. I would not want him to be disgusted with me either.

He carried me into the bathroom and handed me a toothbrush. He had already put some toothpaste on it.

I grabbed the toothbrush awkwardly and started brushing my teeth. Am I that disgusting? He looks like he despises me so much.

He stood right in front of me while I was brushing my teeth. I felt utterly drowsy. I forced myself to stay awake as he was beside me.

After brushing my teeth, I had reached my limit. I walked past him and wanted to go out of the bathroom. Yet, when I reached the door, he grabbed me again. “Where are you going?”

His brows were knitted into a frown.

“I'm exhausted. I want to get some sleep. If you don't want me to go, can I at least sleep on the couch for a while?”

I was extremely worn out, and I really did not want to quarrel with him.

“Sleep after you take a bath. Your whole body smells awful now!”

He grabbed my hand and did not wait for my response. He started taking off my clothes.

“Michael, what do you think you are doing?”

I was beyond exasperated by his gesture. After all, I could not be blamed for having an inkling about certain matters if a man took off my clothes.

“What do you think I am doing? I am taking you to the showers!”

His hands did not stop. Instead, they worked faster. In the blink of an eye, all the buttons on my lace shirt were unbuttoned, revealing my bra.

Even though we used to be intimate with each other, that was one year ago. He felt like a stranger to me now. To be honest, I was utterly embarrassed when he stared at my chest.

“I can manage myself. I don't need your help. Please leave!”

I rejected him directly when he was about to take off my skirt.

Our relationship was in the past. He had no right to help me take a shower. Plus, I was not handicapped. I did not need others to help me.

“Are you sure you don't need my help?”

His hands paused as he stared at me coldly. His tone was devoid of emotion.

“I am positive. I don't need your help. So please leave now!”

I responded without hesitation as I stared at him with a firm look. Of course, I don't need your help. It would be strange if I said I did.

“Fine then. I will wait for you outside.”

Upon saying that, Michael walked out of the bathroom and closed the door for me.

I somehow doubted if he was the Michael I knew as he seldom behaved so obediently. I thought he would insist on staying no matter what I said.

However, it was better this way. I was too tired to be guarded against him.

The bathtub was already filled with water. I took off all my clothes and went into the bathtub. Leaning against the bathtub's edge, I felt extremely comfortable in the warm bath.

I closed my eyes and indulged. Slowly, I dozed off.

I did not know how long I slept, but I was awakened by Michael. He carried me out of the bathtub and covered me with a towel.

I was in a slumber, and I had no idea what had happened. As I opened my eyes and saw Michael carrying me, my eyes widened in shock.

“What are you doing?”

I remember I was taking a bath. Why am I in his embrace? What is he trying to do to me?

“I should be the one asking you that question. Did I ask you to take a bath or to sleep inside the bathroom?”

Michael regarded me with a darkened expression and fury stoking within his eyes.

“You can't blame me. I am too tired. Can't I rest for a while inside the bathroom?”

Upon hearing his words, I regained my senses. It looked like I had fallen asleep in the bathroom. A trace of embarrassment welled up in my heart.

“Rest for a while? I almost thought you were dead!”

His gaze glared with anger as he shouted at me.

I was stunned momentarily upon seeing his sudden rage. I looked him in the eyes. I did not know why but I felt somehow touched by his gesture.

His tone was rude but it made me feel as if he cared for me a lot. Is he worried that something might happen to me?

“I drank a lot, and I wanted to rest. Yet, you kept me up until now. I think it is reasonable for me to fall asleep in the bathroom. It proves that I was really worn out.”

 

Chapter 448

I lowered my head as I spoke. My tone sounded somehow unnatural.

He was the reason I got so tired. He should be blaming himself.

“Are you blaming me then? Did you blame me for interrupting you and Nicholas? And did you blame me for taking you here?”

Michael felt I was expressing my discontent toward him. He halted in his tracks and squinted his eyes that were brimmed with hostility.

“No, I am not...”

I pursed my lips in displeasure. There he was, mentioning Nicholas again. Even if I really hugged the latter today, that was because I thought he was Michael. That was why I used my drunkenness to express everything I had wanted to say all this while.

I had been expecting an explanation from Michael. Yet, it turned out I got the wrong man. Nevertheless, I did not think I could repeat what I said earlier to him.

“Anna, if you really have sex with Nicholas tonight, I would never forgive you!”

The rage in his eyes was evident as he spat out his words.

“But I didn't. Do you need to be so mad?”

Now I realized he was not just a domineering man, but also a jealous one. The fact was, nothing

happened between Nicholas and me. Yet, he did not stop mentioning the two of us. I did not understand what was playing in his mind.

“Do you mean I should get mad only after you have sex with another man? Anna, when did you become so open-minded?”

Michael placed me on the bed. His eyes were still raging with fury.

I knitted my brows and shot him a look of displeasure. Can he stop being so petty?

“Michael, I've told you that nothing happened between Nicholas and me. Could you stop pressing on this subject?”

I was utterly enraged whenever he misunderstood me with other men. I did not do anything wrong. Throughout this one year, I had no other men. I felt it was unfair for him to keep accusing me.

“That had better be it! Anna, if you had something with another man, I swear you will never see him again!”

His rage obviously faded a lot after hearing my words. Nonetheless, his eyes were still full of hatred.

I knew he was capable of doing what he said. He had the ability to make anyone disappear from my world. Nevertheless, I did not plan to find any man at all. The only person I cared about right then was Amaury. I had not even thought about my future.

I had not even thought if I should raise Amaury alone or I should find a man who treated Amaury like his own.

Even so, I was utterly displeased with Michael's threat. He was the one who abandoned me back then, yet he did not allow other men to get close to me. His possessiveness is extreme!

“Don't worry. I won't be with any man until Amaury gets back to my side. Plus, once he comes back to me, I will take him and leave this place. I won't show up in front of you ever again!”

If it were not for Amaury, I would have already disappeared from his sight!

Upon hearing that, his anger reached its peak. He snapped and began to kiss me madly. He seemed like he wanted to release all of his pent-up wraths on me.

I was stunned by his sudden movement. I widened my eyes and stared at him in disbelief. I could not breathe under his rain of kisses. I was initially dizzy, and now I felt like I was about to lose consciousness.

I tried to push him away, but my strength was nothing to him. He stayed on top of me, not moving an inch.

When I was about to suffocate, he finally let go of me. I panted heavily, catching for air. For a moment, I almost thought he was going to kill me.

My face was initially red due to the alcohol, and it blushed even fiercely due to lack of oxygen. My gaze became unfocused as I stared at him. At that moment, I did not feel like doing or saying anything. I only felt like sleeping.

I closed my eyes, and drowsiness consumed me. The second I closed my eyes, I could still see him

furrowing his brows.

When I had my eyes closed, Michael did not let me off but tugged the towel away from my body, and I felt chilly. I tried hard to open my eyes but to no avail.

It was the worst feeling in the world to be drunk.

To my bewilderment, I could feel his hand fondling my breast affectionately. Even though I could not open my eyes, I could feel his touch.

Then, I felt kisses raining down on my body. I was utterly helpless as my body did not have the strength to reject him. A feeling began to burn within me as I felt his warm tongue teasing me. I had no control over that feeling as it became more and more intense.

I twisted my body uneasily, and my mind went blank. The primitive desire within me was awakened. I wanted more.

I seemed to start to understand the feeling of a one-night-stand. Not only men but women would also become lustful after getting drunk. I never imagined I would be like this.

Usually, I would have been rational enough to reject it. Nonetheless, I did not reject it; I wanted more of it.

The next second, I wrapped my arms around Michael's neck and asked for his kiss. My body uncontrollably leaned closer to him. I would never be so eager if I were sober. Yet, now I acted according to my instinct. I did not want to hold back what I truly felt toward him anymore.

Even though my eyes were still closed, I could feel Michael's breathing become heavy.

 

Chapter 449

Michael slid his hand down my chest and stopped at my stomach. There, he brushed his fingers gently across it. Although I had given birth before, I recovered my figure pretty well. Also, due to how busy I was over the past year, there was barely any fat on my tummy at all.

As he circled his finger around my navel, the lust within me gradually intensified. I couldn't wait for him to enter me any longer.

“Michael...” I called out his name, inviting him to satisfy me.

“Mmm-hmm,” he grunted in acknowledgment with a deep voice.

When there was no further action from him, I began to feel anxious. All this while, he always couldn't wait to enter me. But today, he seemed to be holding back, causing me to wonder if he was doing it on purpose. After all, he knew how unbearable it felt for me.

“Michael...” I called out his name again and rubbed myself against him. At that moment, my intention couldn't be any more obvious.

“Do you want it?” he asked with a gruff voice.

From his tone, I knew that he was already trying hard to suppress his desire.

“Mmm-hmm,” I moaned in response.

At that moment, I had set aside all sense of decency. After having a few drinks, I became a different person where my lust had overwhelmed my rationality.

Michael didn't give in to me. Instead, he leaned into my ear and whispered, “Tell me that you want me, and I will satisfy you.”

“I want you.”

Without holding back, I did as he asked. After that, I wrapped my arms around his neck to invite him to come on top of me.

Having heard what he wanted, Michael stopped hesitating and went on to ravage me.

Due to a night of wild passion, I awoke the next morning with my body aching all over.

When I opened my eyes, I could feel my head hurting, as if the hangover had yet to pass. Moreover, the pain I felt throughout my body seemed to be particularly excruciating.

Just when I struggled to move my body, I realized that I was in the arms of a man. Jolted by the thought, I turned around to look. The moment I saw Michael, my heart skipped a beat. Furthermore, I was puzzled as to why he was lying in my bed.

“Why are you in my bed?” I looked warily at him.

Considering where he was, what happened last night couldn't be any more obvious.

When Michael heard my voice, he opened his eyes slightly and responded in a languid tone, “What do you think?”

Upon hearing his answer, I tried hard to recall the events of the night before. As fragments of memory flooded into my mind, I remembered that both of us had made love...

In fact, I seemed to be the one who lead him on. Embarrassed by the thought, I couldn't help but wish that the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Every time I declared that I wouldn't sleep with him, my lust would end up overwhelming me. It was so bad that I began to suspect that I was a nymphomaniac.

“G-Get out of my bed!”

Regaining my memory of the events caused me to be filled with frustration. Feeling embarrassed, the last person I wanted to see then was Michael.

“Anna, are you trying to get rid of me after using me? Last night, you refused to let me leave when you needed me. And now, you're kicking me out after I have satisfied you,” Michael sneered.

Furrowing his brows, he looked at me with displeasure.

After being accused of being heartless, my cheeks began to blush as I glared at him.

“Since when did I say that I wanted you? You're just putting words into my mouth. Obviously, you're the one that tried to seduce me, for I was already asleep!”

Despite the fact that I couldn't hide my feelings when I was drunk, there was no way I would admit that I wanted him when I was sober.

To be honest, I couldn't believe that I behaved in such a callous manner. All this while, I had assumed that I was a conservative woman. However, my memories from the night before and the sensations my body felt were real. They undoubtedly indicated to me that I was the one who requested Michael to make love to me.

“I took the initiative? Last night, you were the one who asked me for it. Anna, I even managed to record it down. Do you want to take a listen? It contains your sensual moans too.”

He didn't care for my denial at all. At that moment, he took out his phone from underneath the pillow and broke into a mischievous smile.

After looking into his eyes, I turned my attention to the phone, wondering if he was telling the truth or just playing bluff to force a confession out of me.

Even though I couldn't deduce anything from his indifferent expression, I chose to call his bluff in the end. After all, I was confident that he wouldn't be in the mood to make a recording during lovemaking, as he was the one who was always engrossed in it.

“Fine. If you really have the recording, go ahead and play it for me. Coincidentally, it will help me jog my memory as to whether I actually said something like that.”

Despite the smugness I was feeling inside, I gave Michael a calm look. After all, I didn't believe that he had the recording and was waiting for his excuses when he failed to find it.

“Since you want to hear it so much, I'll let you. If you feel the urge again, I no longer have any energy left to satisfy you.”

Cracking a smile, Michael tapped on his phone. Subsequently, I heard my voice.

“Michael, I want you...”

“Michael, move faster...”

The voice that rang out did belong to me. In fact, I was even moaning in the recording. Evidently, both of us were in the midst of a passionate session.

Having heard the recording, my cheeks flushed red. I truly didn't expect that I would be as brazen as to ask him to pick up the pace.

As my moans continued to ring out throughout the recording, I anxiously snatched the phone away from his hands and deleted it.

I didn't expect him to actually possess the recording, especially of me at the height of our passion. Furthermore, I couldn't believe that I actually said something so uninhibited.

“Deleting it is useless, as I have already made copies of it,” Michael commented with a smirk while giving me a strange look.

 

Chapter 450

The recording was now the bane of my existence. Just the thought of him being in possession of it unnerved me. The last thing I wanted was for him to hear my salacious voice again.

“Where is the backup? I want to delete it!” I demanded as I stared into Michael's eyes.

“Do you think I'll tell you? This was the reason I tried desperately to hold myself back last night. Hence, there's no way I'm going to let you waste my effort by deleting it.”

Raising his brows slightly, Michael looked at me with amusement. My embarrassed and angry expression seemed to have cheered him up.

Evidently, he wasn't going to let me delete the recording. As a result, I was infuriated at the fact that he had gone overboard this time. If the recording was somehow leaked, I would no longer be able to show my face in public.

“Where in the world is the backup copy? You have to give it to me at once!”

With my brows knitted intensely, my tone began to grow desperate. The more he resisted giving it to me, the more insecure I felt. After all, he was someone who was capable of anything.

“I told you that I will never give it to you. Hence, you shouldn't waste your time. Also, do you now believe me when I say that you initiated our session last night? To be honest, I like how you behaved unreservedly in bed. Next time, just let me know whenever you are aroused, and I'll satisfy you anytime. As your man, I feel that this is the least I can do. Therefore, there's no need for you to repress yourself going forward.”

As Michael's words rang out in my ear, I was so agitated that I felt the urge to beat him up. After all, his words were getting increasingly brazen, especially when he accused me of suppressing my lust all the time.

Filled with rage, my chest was thumping furiously as I stared daggers at him. At that very moment, I felt that I had had enough of him.

“Michael, I'll repeat it one more time, give me the backup copy!”

Sitting up in bed suddenly, I was no longer able to control my rage. Despite my urge to teach him a lesson, I refrained from beating him up due to our asymmetrical strength.

“And my answer again is no! In fact, I'm going to keep it so that I can savor it in the future. In fact, I feel lust welling up within me just by listening to your moan alone. You undoubtedly never fail to arouse me.”

Ignoring my anger, Michael raised his brow and stared at me with a frivolous expression on his face.

“Michael! You...”

I attempted to grab his phone again to check if the backup copy was on it. After all, other than his phone, he didn't seem to have any other device that had a recording function.

Unfortunately for me, he seemed to have read my mind. Before I could reach his phone, he dropped it into his other hand, putting it out of my reach.

What was even more embarrassing was that the blanket I had wrapped around me dropped onto the ground from my aggressive reaction. Consequently, I had revealed my half-naked body in front of him.

At that moment, his gaze darkened when it fell upon the residual red marks he had left on my body last night.

Trailing the trajectory of his eyes, I could feel my heart sink when I saw the hickeys that covered my chest and stomach. Evidently, we must have had a crazy night given the number of hickeys he left on my body.

Due to having too much to drink, I only remembered that the passionate night did happen but not its details. After seeing the marks on my body, I gathered that our session was a lot more intense than I had imagined.

In the midst of my imagination running wild, Michael's hand was already fondling my breast. Considering that we had spent the whole night making love, I didn't expect him to be aroused again so quickly.

Consequently, I avoided him by reflex, hoping to put some distance between us. Even though the session last night was extremely pleasurable, my body felt terrible once my lust subsided. Thus, I didn't feel like going through it again.”

“Why are you hiding from me? Didn't you enjoy yourself last night? Why have you become reserved again?” Michael snapped, looking displeased when he saw how far I had retreated.

The moment I heard him bring up our session, my face blushed again. I was annoyed at how persistent he was in mentioning our session from the night before. Although I had taken the initiative, I didn't feel

it necessary for him to keep reminding me of the fact.

“Michael, can you stop talking about last night?”

Glaring at him, I gave my blanket a forceful tug and wrapped myself tightly in it.

I was furious at myself for going wild the night before and giving Michael something to blackmail me with.

“Fine, on one condition. If you agree to it, not only will I stop bringing it up, but I'll also hand over the backup copy to you. How about it?” Michael proposed as he looked at me with a deceptive grin.

Even though I knew full well that his condition would definitely not be something good, I was still extremely tempted by the fact that I could get the backup copy from him.

“What's the condition?”

I tried hard to sound calm so that he couldn't detect the desperation in my voice.

“As long as you agree to always take the initiative and be more unbridled during love-making just like yesterday, I'll consider giving you the backup copy.”

Upon hearing his condition, I almost burst a vessel. I was shocked to hear that he wanted a repeat of the night before every time we slept together.

He must be mad. Also, there's no way I'm going to agree to sleep with him in the future. I'm already filled with remorse for not being able to control myself last night. Going forward, I have to make sure

that I don't get in bed easily with him.

“What if I refuse?” I scowled at Michael.

In my heart, I swore at him for being such a shameless man.

“It's fine for you to refuse, as I have many other ways of getting you to sleep with me. However, I wouldn't be able to hand over the backup copy to you. Also, who knows if I might lose it somewhere. In the event Nicholas or someone else in the office picks it up, you might not be able to continue working at Nifty Group. After all, given how self-conscious you are, you will definitely choose to resign,” Michael explained with a faint smile.

At that moment, I felt the urge to simply wipe the smirk off his face.

After all, he was blatantly threatening me and trying to make it sound as if it was for my own good. Consequently, I swore to myself that he was the most despicable man I had ever met.