Ch. 91..100

Chapter 91

I huffed. “I took a day off because my best friend broke up with her boyfriend, and I need time to make sure she's doing alright, okay?”

I couldn't help but wonder whether Michael was trying to start an argument on purpose.

Michael grew quiet. After a few seconds, I heard him hang up on me.

“What the hell?” I stared at my phone with a deadpan expression. He's been acting weirdly irritating these past few days.

Deciding not to pay it much mind, I bought takeaway food for breakfast and went back to Natalie's place. When I first got dumped, she had been there for me all throughout my healing process; now, it was my turn to do the same for her.

Natalie was already awake when I got back, her legs drawn up to her chest as she hugged them and stared off into space.

I set the food down on the dining table and approached her.

“Why didn't you sleep for a while longer?”

“I can't. Every time I close my eyes, the memory of him with that girl resurfaces in my mind.” She gave me a sidelong glance, her eyes starting to grow watery again.

Upon that, I sighed and sat down beside her to wrap my arms around her, feeling slightly at a loss for what to do. “This is all going to pass. Look at me; I'm doing pretty good right now! You'll be able to

forget him eventually; I promise.”

Heartbreak was never a permanent emotion, and scars would fade with time. I still felt uncomfortable whenever I thought about Justin again, but the memory of him didn't hurt as much as it first did when we broke up.

“Have you really moved on, Anna? You really don't feel sad anymore?” Natalie asked curiously.

“Yup! Trust me; you'll be able to move on too. Getting sad over a*sholes like John isn't worth it. We deserve much better than that.”

“But, I don't know...” She clutched onto my arm. “I feel like I've lost everything without him with me. What do you think I did wrong, Anna? What went wrong?”

“He's just a piece of trash, Natalie, and there's nothing you can do to change that! None of this was your fault. He would never appreciate you and cherish you for who you truly are, no matter what you did. You have to wake up and realize the kind of person he is!”

Why can't she see that it's not worth getting all worked up over someone who doesn't deserve her love and attention? Does she still hope to get him back?

Natalie stared at me with wide eyes. After a long while, a veil seemed to lift from her eyes, and her shoulder slumped. I knew that my words had gotten through to her rationality, but they might need some time to get through to her heart.

It was just that the thought of her being this sad over John, who likely didn't even regret his actions,

infuriated me.

Tears ran down Natalie's face, but I offered no more words of comfort, instead opting to pull her to sit down at the dining table.

“Eat something. You shouldn't ruin your body for a man,” I told her, handing her the sandwich that I'd bought.

She hung her head and kept her gaze fixed on the table as she slowly nibbled on the sandwich.

It eventually grew dark outside. Nonetheless, Natalie sat motionless on the couch, not saying a word. Worried that she might do something reckless if I left, I decided to stay and watch over her.

As if reading my mind, she turned to look at me, saying quietly, “You don't have to stay, Anna. I'll be fine.”

“It's okay; I don't have to work tomorrow either. I might as well stay the night to look after you.”

How could I just abandon her when she's in this state?

“I know what you're concerned about, Anna. Don't worry about me. I won't hurt myself over someone who doesn't deserve it. Please go home; I want to be left alone for now.”

It was true that Natalie had calmed down considerably throughout the day. She still looked like a wreck, but at least she wasn't crying anymore.

“Alright then. Call me if you need anything. I'll be here at the drop of a hat.”

Everyone needed time to themselves after a bad break-up. Knowing this, I didn't press the topic any further and left her place.

As I walked back home alone, my phone rang out from my pocket. It was Yuval calling to ask if we could meet up tomorrow, but I rejected his request.

Tomorrow was the weekend, and I had plans to go back to my hometown. I wasn't going to let my parents keep the hundred thousand that they got from Michael.

Ugh... These last few months have been torture.

Michael was already home when I arrived at Birchwood. I wasn't surprised at the sight of him; if anything, I'd gotten used to his presence after having to be with him daily.

I silently changed into my in-house slippers and made a beeline for the bedroom.

“You're back,” Michael suddenly greeted. His tone sounded flat and devoid of any emotion.

“Mm-hmm.”

I made a simple sound of acknowledgment and headed in the direction of the bedroom once more.

“Your best friend finally got dumped?”

I'd expected him to get bored and leave if I just ignored him, but he seemed to have no intention of leaving me alone today. His comments pissed me off greatly. What does he mean by that?

I turned around to squint at him in disdain. “You sound like you're trying to rub salt into the wound.”

“You've always wanted for her to discover his true personality, and she did. Shouldn't you be happy?” he said, playing with the ring on his finger as he raised an eyebrow.

Happy? Has he gone mad? Why would I have been looking forward to Natalie getting dumped?

If anything, I would rather John put on a façade in front of her for the rest of her life than let him break her heart.

 

Chapter 92

“I'm not happy. I just think that he isn't worth getting sad over.”

With that, I turned back around and left the room.

Too many mishaps had happened recently, and I wasn't in the mood to argue with Michael any further.

I took a quick shower and planned on sleeping early tonight. After all, I had to wake up early the next day and take a trip back to my hometown to take back the hundred thousand to return to Michael.

Our first time had merely been a transactional occurrence, but now things had changed.

I came out of the bathroom and was surprised to see that Michael had followed me to my bedroom, sitting on my bed.

“Why are you here?” I asked in irritation. “I want to sleep.”

“Then let's sleep together. I'm tired after a long day as well.”

He wasn't mad. Instead, a hint of smile appeared on his handsome face as he lay down and made himself comfortable on the bed.

“If there's nothing urgent, I'd like you to please leave. I've been in a really bad mood all day.” I stood stiffly, repressing the growing anger within me.

Is he really going to be this childish and stubborn?

“This is my house, remember? Are you trying to chase me out of a room in my own house?” Michael crossed his arms over his chest, staring down his nose at me smugly.

At that, I admit that I had nearly forgotten that I was currently on his territory. I'd also forgotten that I was supposed to tell him my decision after coming back here and that I couldn't stay here any longer.

Though I did feel grateful that he gave me a roof over my head when I had no one else to turn to, I couldn't stay here forever.

“If you're not leaving, then I'll leave,” I declared, digging out my clothes from the closet to change into them later on.

Michael strode over to me, grabbing ahold of my arm and turning me around, cornering me against the closet. Before my mind could process what was going on, he leaned down and kissed me.

My eyes widened in shock, and my mind went blank.

I hadn't been intimate with him in several days. When he told me that he wasn't going to force me, I'd thought that he would keep his distance from me for the time being.

It appeared that everything he said had all been a lie.

He pressed his mouth to mine desperately, his hands traveling up and down my body. I wanted to push him away, but my strength was no match for his.

In the blink of an eye, he'd picked me up and set me down on the bed, hovering over me with both of

his hands on either side of my head. I tried to place my hands against his chest to try and stop him from going any further, but when I looked up, I could see that his eyes were already fogged over with lust.

He furrowed his eyebrows, not pleased at having been interrupted.

“What do you think you're doing?” He growled out, a dark expression on his face.

“You said yourself that you weren't going to force me and that you'd wait for me to make my decision.”

I knew that I was fighting an uphill battle, but it didn't hurt to still try.

As soon as I said that, Michael's eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you using my own words against me?”

“I'm just speaking the truth. Or were you lying when you told me that a few days ago?”

Michael still looked annoyed, but I could see him visibly hesitate.

So he does remember what he said to me. Maybe I still have a chance at persuading him.

Unfortunately, that thought quickly dissipated when I heard what he had to say next.

“You must have misunderstood. I only meant that I wasn't going to force you to make a decision too quickly. I never said that I wasn't going to force you to have sex,” he smirked.

I couldn't believe my ears. This man is really going to insist on having his way or the high way!

“You have no shame, Michael,” I muttered through gritted teeth.

My impression of him had changed once more.

“I'm going to be even more shameless from now on. Would you like to see?”

He'd always had the most patience when in bed. No matter how much I scolded or berated him, he would always brush my insults aside with a proud smile.

This man might have appeared mature and solemn on the surface, but he became a completely different person when it came to his physical needs. In fact, he was almost like an insatiable child.

I glared at him, unable to find anything to reply with. There was no doubt that he was speaking the truth and absolutely planned on following through with his promise.

Upon witnessing my brief moment of vulnerability, Michael raised an eyebrow and pushed my hands away, reaching down to undo the front of my chiffon sleeping gown.

Pushing the fabric aside to reveal my skin, he scanned my body from head to toe, and I awkwardly turned my head to one side to avoid his gaze.

Within seconds, he had undone the rest of my sleeping gown, and I laid bare before him.

His long fingers traced down my neck with a sense of familiarity, his gaze burning with need and want.

When the realization dawned upon me that I was not going to be able to sleep early tonight, I closed my eyes. There was no use trying to refuse him anyway, so I might as well close my eyes and enjoy it

while it lasts.

A satisfied smile tugged at Michael's lips, and he proceeded to leave his mark all over my body.

From a man's point of view, a woman's body was the sexiest thing in the world. Perhaps it was lesser common knowledge that men could use their bodies to easily seduce a woman, just like Michael.

I doubted there was a single woman on earth that wouldn't be attracted to his god-like physique. Every time I laid my eyes on his body, I had to resist letting out a squeal. It was embarrassing, but it was the truth.

Chapter 93

I couldn't deny that Michael was a great partner in bed, and getting to sleep with him was always a pleasurable experience.

Every touch of his hands and mouth left goosebumps in its wake, igniting a flame within me.

In the back of my mind, I thought about ending this relationship and possibly getting married to someone else. I wondered if I and my future husband would be as compatible in bed as Michael and I were.

After all, it was hard to get used to someone new after you had already grown so familiar with a person's body.

Sensing my momentary distraction, Michael paused and knitted his eyebrows together.

“Why do you look distracted when I'm trying to please you? Am I not doing well enough for you?”

Men didn't like it when their partners had the peace of mind to think about anything else except them during sex, and Michael was no exception.

I snapped back to reality, my heart skipping a beat in a panic when my gaze met his icy cold one. How did he even notice that I was distracted?

“No. It feels good,” I hurriedly replied, turning to look at anything but him.

“It doesn't seem that way to me. Looks like I'll need to work harder.”

His movements instantly increased in their intensity, and I had no other option but to take what he was giving me.

I was drained of all energy after several rounds in a row, and I felt him finally release inside me.

He didn't collapse and go to sleep straight away but wrapped me up in his arms and held me as his breath slowly evened out.

It felt nice to be in his embrace like that, and I briefly dreamed of a life where I could fall asleep like this every night.

The idea startled me as soon as it crossed my mind. Since when have I grown to rely on Michael so much? How could he ever be a permanent presence in my future?

I shook my head as if physically chasing all the bad thoughts away. I understood all too well that Michael and I would never be a thing, and I couldn't allow myself to fantasize about it anymore.

“What's wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable?” Michael stared at me curiously.

“N- No...” I quickly denied.

I couldn't let him figure out what I was thinking.

He had told me multiple times before that a relationship between us was impossible.

Thus, if he found out about my feelings for him, who knew what he might think about me.

Michael didn't respond, closing his eyes as if going to sleep.

“Um... I'm going back to my hometown tomorrow.” I spoke up, glancing at him. “I'll be back by nighttime on the last day of the weekend.”

He usually never said a word before disappearing for several days at a time, so I wasn't sure why I felt the need to explain the reason for my own absence tomorrow.

His eyes fluttered open, and he furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at me. “You're staying there overnight?”

“Yeah. I haven't been back home in a while, even though I call my family a lot, and I don't know how my Dad is doing either.”

Of course, the main reason for going back home was to retrieve the hundred thousand, but I wasn't going to tell Michael that.

Knowing him and his temper, he would get angry at me if he discovered the truth.

Besides, we were sharing a rare moment of peace and quiet, and I didn't want to disrupt it.

“I'll have someone send you,” he said.

My heart skipped a beat. Did he come up with that idea because he's worried about me?

For some reason, that revelation made me feel giddy with happiness, although there was a small voice

in the back of my mind that kept reminding me about our current relationship status.

Even if he felt concerned, I wasn't going to accept his act of kindness.

“It's fine. I'll just hail a taxi from the bus station. The drive there is only four to five hours.” I told him, even though my heartbeat was still pounding in my ears.

If he weren't an unattainable CEO and so out of my league, I would have fallen head over heels for him a long time ago.

“Are you sure?”

His eyes looked like they were searching for something as if trying to figure out why I said the things I said and why I did the things I did.

“Yes. I always take a taxi by myself whenever I go home; I'm used to it.”

“Suit yourself.”

Michael gave up after my second rejection, turning his back to me and laying on his side.

Disappointment and guilt welled up inside me when I was ended up staring at his back, but I kept quiet.

I turned over so that our backs were facing each other.

At some point, Michael had pulled me back into his arms in the middle of the night, his face buried into the crook of my neck. Every warm exhale and inhale tickled my sensitive skin.

Despite so, I made no effort to escape his grasp, merely closing my eyes and letting sleep overtake me once more.

When I woke up the next morning, Michael was still there lying next to me, sound asleep. This was the first time that I'd ever seen him upon waking up.

I carefully crawled out of his embrace, lifting his arm up from around my waist and tiptoeing out of bed for fear of waking him up.

I quickly changed into my clothes and was packing my luggage when I heard Michael's sleep-addled, husky voice called out, “You're leaving so early in the morning?”

I whipped around to look at him. He was sitting up in bed, staring at me with those dark eyes of his, completely naked except for the blanket covering the lower half of his body.

My cheeks flushed at the sight, and I quickly turned back around. “Yeah,” I coughed out, returning to my task of packing my stuff. “The drive is a long time, so I want to get there as early as possible.”

Although I only planned on staying for one night, I still needed to bring at least a change of clothes and my toiletries with me.

Michael eventually got up and put on his clothes as well. I was surprised; it was seven in the morning on a weekend, and I thought that he would take the chance to sleep in while he could.

Chapter 94

“Why are you up so early? Shouldn't you try to get a little more sleep?” I asked in confusion when I saw Michael fully dressed and about to go wash up in the bathroom.

I know he's a workaholic and all, but it's the weekends right now, and anyone in their right mind would want to sleep in! This man really is something else...

“I'm dropping you off at the station. After that, I'll head back to the mansion and carry on sleeping.”

His reply had me both surprised and happy at the same time. I didn't think a man like him was capable of being so caring and thoughtful.

“That won't be necessary. I can just hail a cab there.”

As much as I wanted for him to send me there, I decided to refuse his offer out of courtesy anyway. I didn't want him thinking that I wanted to be seen with him in public so I could call myself his girlfriend.

“Give me ten minutes.” Michael shot me a glare before heading into the bathroom.

After taking some time to regain my composure, I dragged my suitcase into the living room and waited for Michael.

As expected, he came out of the bedroom in less than ten minutes. Instead of his usual formal attire, Michael was dressed in a white jersey and a pair of black sweatpants. That was the first time I had seen him in such casual clothes, and he looked so vibrant and handsome that I blushed without even realizing.

Michael drove off without another word after dropping me off at the station, which made me feel a little disappointed.

It took me a moment to recompose myself before heading over to the ticketing lobby. After purchasing my bus ticket, I waited patiently for the bus to arrive.

After spending about half the day on the bus, I finally reached my hometown. As my house was located in the village, I had to take quite a long walk from the bus station to get there.

Since I had given my mom a call before heading home, she was already waiting for me as soon as I entered the village.

“You must be tired after such a long trip, huh? Here, I'll help you with the bags!”

My mom took my stuff over the moment she saw me, including the supplements that I had bought for my dad on my way here.

“How is Dad, Mom? Is he getting any better?”

I began chatting with my mom while walking next to her.

“He's much better after the surgery, so don't you worry! All you have to do is focus on your work, okay? I'll take good care of him!”

The two of us soon arrived at the house after a brief chat.

I took some time to catch up with my dad at home while my mom prepared dinner. My younger brother, Steven, came home in the evening.

The entire living room was filled with the stench of alcohol the moment Steven entered the house, and that smell got even worse as he approached me and asked, “What are you doing here, Anna? How much money did you bring with you?”

I frowned at the sight of his reddened face and scolded him, “Steven, just look at you! You're not a child anymore, for heaven's sake! Why can't you pull your sh*t together and get a proper job?”

My brother dropped out of school at a young age and had spent most of his life hanging out with delinquents. As a result, he often got into fights and frequented brothels as well as gambling dens.

Even so, the village had a very patriarchal mindset, so my parents continued to spoil him while I was allowed to work in the city all by myself.

They never bothered to ask me if I was doing all right or if I had enough money on me. In fact, they would only call me if they needed money for Steven who only knew how to get himself into trouble.

I couldn't really complain much as patriarchy was the norm in the village, and he was my brother. I didn't mind helping him out financially if he was actually working a proper job, but he was wasting his life away fighting, gambling, and drinking.

To make matters worse, the money that I had earned through all of my hard work was mostly spent on cleaning up the mess he made.

I'm no saint, and I have feelings too! Right now, I only have disappointment for Steven.

“You come home, and the first thing you do is lecture me? Jeez, what did I do to offend you, Anna?”

Steven was very hot-tempered, so he didn't exactly appreciate what I had just said.

“Would you take a look at yourself! Do you even care about Dad's health at all? Why can't you just get yourself a proper job and help relieve some of the burden at home?”

The fact that he had it in him to get so drunk despite Dad's condition had disappointed me to the core.

“Dad had his surgery done, hadn't he? Don't worry. He'll be fine!”

Steven let out a loud burp as he said that, and the pungent smell of alcohol in his breath agitated me even further. Mom and Dad loved Steven so much since he was a kid, and yet he turned out to become such a failure!

I shot him a fierce glare and was about to say something when my mom came out of the kitchen. She immediately took his side the moment she saw me scolding him and said, “What are you doing, Anna? Why are you fighting with your brother right after coming home? What did he ever do to you, huh?”

Usually, my mom loved me a lot, but everything would automatically become my fault whenever Steven was involved.

It didn't even matter what he did, because my parents would always blame me for everything anyway.

“Mom, Anna has been scolding me for no reason! I didn't do anything!” Steven said with a sad look on his face as he walked up to our mom.

Given how patriarchal my parents were, nothing mattered more than my brother, and they would defend him regardless of what happened.

“Anna, it's been ages since you and Steven last saw each other. You shouldn't be lashing out at him like this!”

She defended Steven as usual.

On a typical day, I would have backed down upon hearing that. However, I refused to do so that day as I had been through too much and couldn't stand Steven's shenanigans any longer.

Given the amount of love that Mom and Dad had showered him with, shouldn't he be more obligated to help relieve the family's burdens?

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Chapter 95

“Mom, he's like this now because you and Dad have been spoiling him since childhood! Just look at him! He'll doom us all if he keeps this jobless deadbeat bullsh*t up!” I shouted angrily while pointing at Steven who was hiding behind her.

I didn't care if my words would affect my relationship with Steven as I knew for a fact that we would all be done for if we carried on like this.

“How could you say that about your brother?” Mom snapped back at me furiously before Steven could even say anything in response.

She had always defended Steven with a complete disregard for my feelings, and that hadn't changed one bit even with the state that Steven was in.

“I'm saying this for his own good, Mom! He dropped out of school and is now in his twenties without a proper job! Do you really plan on letting him remain a parasite in our family?”

I wasn't comfortable with how Mom was defending Steven like that, but I had gotten used to it over time. All I wanted was for Steven to do his part and help support the family with me.

“That's rude, Anna! How could you call me, your brother, a parasite? Are you implying that Mom and Dad gave birth to a parasite?” Steven retorted as if his actions were completely justified.

“Rude? I wouldn't be saying that if you did your part in supporting this family!”

Steven was an unrepentant person by nature, so nothing I said or did would ever make him change his ways.

“Anna! Don't you say that about your brother!”

Mom stepped in front of Steven and glared at me angrily when she saw that I was still going on about it.

“You need to stop defending him, Mom! He's a grown adult now, and he still doesn't have a proper job! All he does is gamble, drink, and freeload off us every day! We'll be done for sooner or later if he doesn't change his ways!”

Normally, I would've stopped scolding him by then, but I refused to that day.

“Anna, I'm going to get angry if you don't stop treating your brother like this! I know you've had it rough at work and all, but you've already scolded him, haven't you? Why don't you give it a rest now?”

I had wanted to continue scolding Steven, but I knew I wouldn't hear the end of it from my mom if I did.

Having no other choice, I simply shot him a fierce glare and sat down at the dinner table.

Steven turned out like this because Mom and Dad had spoiled him way too much. They never let him do any work at home and basically treated him like a king of some sort.

“My goodness, I could hear you all arguing from outside the house. What's going on?” Dad asked as he came in and shot me a displeased glare.

“It's nothing. Just a little squabble between siblings, that's all!” Mom spoke up before I could say

anything.

“Yeah, it's fine, Dad. It's been a long time since I last saw Anna, so I was having a little chat with her,” Steven chimed in as well.

Although extremely furious, I kept my feelings to myself as Dad had a weak heart, and I didn't want to get into a fight with Steven in front of him.

Meanwhile, Mom had prepared quite a lot of dishes for dinner as I hadn't returned in a long time.

Mom made all of these dishes just for me... Although my parents were always defending Steven and all, they still care about me! I felt a heartwarming sensation at the thought of that.

However, that feeling was gone as soon as it came when my mom said, “Here you go, Stevie! You've gotten so skinny lately, so you need to eat more meat! I knew you were coming back today, so I made these dishes just for you!”

So this meal was meant for Steven, not me... Looks like I've overestimated my place in Mom's heart...

With that in mind, I kept my head low as I finished my meal in silence while Mom continued topping up Steven's plate throughout dinner.

After doing the dishes, I decided to tell my parents about my reason for coming home. Then, I asked my mom for the hundred thousand, so I could pay Michael back.

I waited till Steven had gone to bed at about nine before knocking on my parents' door. They had a habit of sleeping late, so they should still be awake by then.

“Come on in,” Mom called out from inside the room.

I opened the door and saw my dad reading a book in bed while my mom was busy knitting something.

“Oh, Anna, what's the matter?” Mom asked with a confused frown when she saw that it was me.

I simply looked at her in silence as I contemplated on how I should start my sentence.

“You said you had something to tell us, right? Well, what is it?”

Mom stopped her knitting and stared straight at me when she saw me hesitating.

“Mom... I uh... I need you to hand over the hundred thousand so I can pay Michael back.”

I told Mom the reason I had returned. Although my family was short on cash, I couldn't bring myself to accept Michael's money as I wasn't related to him in any way.

Of course, that was just wishful thinking on my part because Mom lashed out at me after hearing what I said.

“You want me to return the money? No way! He gave the money to us, so it's ours now, and I'm not about to give it back!” she shouted angrily while jumping to her feet.

I frowned in frustration at how agitated she was.

I knew Mom wouldn't hand it over that easily, but Michael and I are not a couple, so I can't be accepting

his money like this!

“Mom, this money doesn't belong to us! We should return it to its rightful owner!” I exclaimed anxiously.

“Like I said, he gave it to us, so it's ours now! He has no right to take it back after giving it to us! Anna, you know how difficult things have been for us, don't you? This money didn't come easy, so how could you ask us to just give it up? Do you not care about us at all?”

Chapter 96

I know we're in desperate need of money, but this money belongs to Michael! We can't use it! I frowned in helplessness at the thought of that.

“Don't worry, Mom, I will work hard and provide for our family. This money doesn't belong to us, so we really shouldn't be using it.”

I tugged at my mom's arm and tried my best to explain it in hopes that she would understand.

However, she pulled her arm back and shot me a fierce glare as she replied, “I don't care! This money is in my hands now, so you're not getting it back! Besides, that man is your boyfriend, isn't he? What's wrong with me accepting money that he offered?”

“It's not what you think, Mom! He's just my boss, not my boyfriend!”

I didn't know how else I could explain it to Mom. I don't know who Michael could be dating, but it definitely isn't me!

“Why would he give us a hundred thousand out of the blue, then? Let me guess... You found yourself a rich boyfriend but are afraid of us becoming a burden, right?”

Her eyes were filled with suspicion and anger when she said that. I knew I had pissed her off, but her words hurt me more than I had expected them to.

After everything I've given this family all these years, this is how my mom thinks of me... If what she said is true, then I would've thought of them as a burden a long time ago!

“How could you say that, Mom? I've provided for this family for so many years without a single word of complaint! Haven't you realized that by now?”

Tears formed in my eyes as I stared at my mom in disappointment.

As if her defending Steven wasn't bad enough, she even went as far as denying my contributions to the family.

I noticed a hint of heartache flash past her eyes when she saw how hurt I was.

“That's not what I meant... I know you've had it rough over the years, and it hurts me to see you working so hard every day out there. Now that someone has given us a hundred thousand, you should be happy that your burden has been relieved!”

“Mom! I told you, there is nothing going on between us, so we can't accept his money!”

I grew increasingly anxious when I saw my mom still refusing to hand it over.

Not that it came as any surprise, though, as money had always been as good as gone the moment she got her hands on it.

“I don't care! I'm not giving you the money!”

My mom made it very clear that she would never hand over Michael's money, which added to my exasperation.

“You can't do that, Mom! This money doesn't belong to us! Why must you insist on keeping it?”

I was starting to lose my temper at how unreasonable she was being.

“Why can't I? He's your boyfriend, so I'll just take it as a wedding gift in advance and ask for less when you two get married!”

It didn't matter what I said, because she was adamant about not giving up the money.

“You've gone too far, Mom! I told you, he's not my boyfriend! He's just my boss!”

“I don't care what you say! I'm not giving up the money! Look, your brother got himself into a huge gambling debt a few days ago. I've just paid it off for him, so I don't have the money anyway!”

What the... It's only been a few days, and they've already used up the money to pay off his gambling debt? I was so close to exploding with rage when I heard that.

“How could you do that, Mom? How am I going to pay him back now?”

A hundred thousand was an incredibly huge sum for me, so it would take me forever to pay Michael back.

“He's your boyfriend, so he won't be forcing you to pay him back anyway! Anna, can't you be more considerate towards your parents?”

As if I haven't been considerate enough... Apart from the amount that I set aside for my daily expenses, I have given every penny from my monthly paychecks to the family! I've been paying for everything in

this family for so many years, and this is what I get in return...

Mom's words left me so disappointed and upset that I had to muster every ounce of willpower in me just to keep my anger under control.

“How much did Steven owe?” I asked.

“Sixty thousand,” Mom replied.

Sixty thousand? She used sixty thousand out of the hundred thousand on paying off Steven's gambling debt?

I held my hand out and said, “What about the remaining forty thousand, then? Hand it over.”

Obviously, Mom was too obsessed with money to part with it.

“You'd better not take that forty thousand from me if you still think of me as your mom!”

She was basically forcing me to choose between her and the money, and the fact that she was willing to cut ties with me over forty thousand upset me even more.

“Mom... Does the money really matter more to you than I do?” I asked with an upset frown on my face.

Mom averted her gaze out of guilt when she heard that and avoided my question.

“Whatever, I'm not handing over the money.”

I knew it was pointless to say anything further as she chose the forty thousand over me.

“Fine... Keep the money, then. But know this, you won't be getting any money out of me for a while.”

I turned around angrily after saying that and began walking away.

Damn it, I wouldn't have come home if I knew this was what awaited me! Instead of the money, all I got from Mom was anger, sadness, and disappointment...

“How dare you talk to your mom like that? She's only doing this for the sake of the family! It would take you forever to earn a hundred thousand!”

Dad's voice came from behind when I got to the door.

Although he hardly ever said much, I knew full well that he was on my brother's side as well.

 

Chapter 97

I stopped in my tracks briefly upon hearing that and stormed off without looking back.

I'm nothing but an outsider to this family... No one gives a damn what I say or do. Sometimes, I even wonder if I'm actually adopted...

I couldn't fall asleep after returning to my room as my mom's words from earlier kept echoing in my head.

After a bit of tossing and turning in bed, I decided to give Natalie a call and ask her if she was feeling any better. To my surprise, I saw a text message from Michael when I unlocked my phone.

Curious as to what he sent me, I quickly tapped on it with my trembling fingers.

Michael: Give me a call when you get back tomorrow. I'll go pick you up at the station.

He wants to come pick me up...

I was shaking all over from shock and confusion as to why he was suddenly being so nice to me.

However, there was no denying the fact that I felt happy when I read his text.

I wasted no time and quickly replied: I will, thanks!

The argument with Mom had left me in a very bad mood, but Michael's text removed all of that negativity and made me feel all better.

A smile formed on my face as I placed my phone on the nightstand. Had Michael been an ordinary guy instead of a CEO, I probably would've fallen in love with him ages ago! Sure, he's quite domineering and unreasonable, but he did help me out a lot in life! I know he's not a bad guy at heart. He's just gotten used to being cold on the outside, that's all!

I thought Michael would reply to my text, but that was just wishful thinking on my part.

Eventually, I fell asleep waiting for his reply which never came, and it was already morning when I woke up.

Mom had made us all breakfast by the time I finished showering and brushing my teeth.

Even Steven had sobered up after a good night's sleep, but he still looked as frivolous as ever.

The mere sight of him reminded me of how Mom had spent more than half of the hundred thousand on paying off his gambling debt, and that made me feel like hitting him out of anger.

Of course, I couldn't do that or Mom would definitely cut ties with me for harming their precious son.

Unfortunately, me not hitting him didn't stop him from getting on my nerves. After taking a sip from his glass of milk, Steven shifted his gaze towards me and asked, “I heard you found yourself a rich boyfriend, Anna. Is that true? When are you going to introduce him to us? We can help you assess his character, you know?”

Steven was obviously referring to Michael, but I knew it wasn't Michael's character that he was interested in.

I shot him a glare and said coldly, “No, I don't have a rich boyfriend. Also, drop the act, will you? I know you're only interested in his money, not his character.”

“Must you be so mean to me, Anna? What, I can't even care about my own sister's well-being now?”

Being the hot-tempered guy that he was, Steven got angry and raised his voice at me in response.

“I don't need your concern, Steven. If anything, you should worry about yourself! You're not a kid anymore, for goodness' sake! It's time you found yourself a proper job!” I snapped back at him with a frown.

There's no way he's actually concerned about me! We may be siblings, but he has gotten himself into so much trouble over the years that whatever patience I had left has been completely depleted.

Steven gave Mom an indignant look as he protested, “Do you see that, Mom? She's lecturing me every day when you and Dad haven't even said anything!”

I had been very polite with him earlier as all I wanted was for him to be a little more hardworking.

“Stevie is still young. Give him two more years, and I'm sure he'll turn out just fine! You should stop being such a nitpicker, Anna! Who hasn't made a couple of mistakes in life, right?”

Of course, Mom defended Steven as usual... She would never speak up for me, not even once. Whenever Steven and I got into arguments, I was the one she pinned the blame on. Seriously, does she not realize that Steven turned out like this precisely because she spoiled him too much?

“Mom, he's made way more than just a couple of mistakes! Can you stop defending him already?”

I shot Mom a disappointed look when I said that.

“Anna! What the hell is wrong with you? Steven hasn't done anything to provoke you, and yet you've been picking on him ever since you got home yesterday!”

As usual, she lashes out at me for criticizing Steven... Of course she does... I'm just an outsider to them... Why do my parents treat me so differently when we're both children of theirs? Is it simply because I'm a girl?

With that in mind, I kept my head low and continued eating my breakfast in silence.

“You can head on back to the city after breakfast if you hate your brother that much.”

Dad, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up all of a sudden, but what he said only added insult to my injury.

“Yeah, I'll do that,” I said with tears in my eyes.

Dad's words hurt more than any beating or scolding I had ever received.

When I heard him kicking me out simply because I lectured Steven, I felt a strong urge to just stand up and question them if I was actually their daughter.

Despite how strong that urge was, I managed to fight it back and began packing my stuff as soon as I

finished my food.

“Anna, I know it's really tough working out there all by yourself to support the family, but... Steven is your brother, and he's also the only one capable of continuing the family lineage...” Mom said apologetically when I was about to leave.

I would usually put up with it all after hearing those words from her as patriarchy was the norm in the village. However, I was too upset and disappointed in her at the time.

 

Chapter 98

I remained silent and did not feel like talking.

Without saying a word, I packed my stuff and left home.

While sitting on the bus and thinking about how my parents treated me, I was deeply upset. The way they treated Steven was worlds apart from the way I was treated. I'm not a saint and can't tolerate such unfairness!

They are the people closest to me in the world and my everything, but they only care about Steven. Though I'm their daughter, there's no place in their heart for me!

I was staring out at the scenery flashing past the window with a heavy heart. My eyes reddened, but I tried to keep the tears from falling as I comforted myself.

After so many years, I should've gotten used to it, shouldn't I? So I shouldn't be sad!

After a few hours of bumpy journey, I finally arrived at the bus terminal. I got off the bus and looked at the crowded terminal. Being alone in the crowd gave me a sense of loneliness.

I had been working in this city for so many years in order to provide my parents a better life. Yet, no matter how hard I worked to support my family, they still did not appreciate me.

Feeling depressed, I decided to walk home by myself instead of calling Michael.

Though Birchwood was far away from the bus terminal, I just wanted to be alone.

After a long walk with my suitcase, I couldn't feel my feet at all. Totally drained of energy, I was extremely worn out.

I stood by the roadside and wanted to hail a cab. Unfortunately, all the cabs were occupied, and I failed to get one despite waiting for so long.

I glanced at my watch and grew anxious as the time ticked by.

Suddenly, a Rolls-Royce approached and stopped in front of me, letting out honks.

I frowned, gazing curiously at the car before me. Who's this? And why is it blocking my way?

Seeing that the car stayed put, I decided to walk down the road with my suitcase as I waited for a cab. At that moment, someone lowered the car window and stuck his head out of the window. It was Michael.

“Anna?” He furrowed his defined brows slightly, and there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Immediately, my heart trembled upon hearing that familiar voice. When I saw his handsome face, my eyes widened in shock.

Why is Michael here? I didn't call to inform him that I had arrived, did I?

“M-Michael, why are you here?” I responded awkwardly after keeping quiet for a while.

“Why did you come back so early? Didn't I ask you to call me after you had arrived? You refused to

listen, didn't you?”

Michael opened the car door and got out of his car while walking toward me. He looked solemn in his pure black suit.

When our eyes met, I was so flustered that I did not know how to reply to such a statement.

In fact, I did not forget about calling him; I refused to do so instead. Since I was in a grim mood, I just wanted to be alone.

“I came back earlier, but I was afraid that you were busy, so I didn't bother you!” I explained guiltily as my expression froze.

Upon that, Michael looked straight at me with his piercing eyes. For some reason, I had a feeling he could always see through my lies.

Following that, he responded coldly, “Is this your reason?”

I could hear the icy tone in his voice.

“Yeah...” Right away, I lowered my head and did not dare to look him in the eyes.

“Get in!” Michael frowned and glared at me.

Since he said so, I got into his car immediately as I thought he would be further angered if I refused him on the spot.

I had never seen him driving this car before. After getting into his car, I glanced around curiously. Wow, it's so spacious and comfortable in here! Just how many cars does he own?

Oh well, I'll never understand the rich. A car is just a means of transportation. Why in the world do they need so many of them? It's not like they can drive it all together at the same time!

While sitting in the car, both of us kept mum. The atmosphere grew tense with the awkward silence. I looked out the window, wondering if I should find a topic of conversation to ease the tense atmosphere.

However, I could not even say a word when I stared at his cold and impassive face. I always felt that we had nothing to talk about.

While I was struggling to find a topic, Michael broke the silence and asked, “Why did you come back earlier? Didn't you say you would come back at night?”

His voice was calm and emotionless.

“I didn't feel comfortable at home, so I came back earlier.”

His question reminded me of the way my parents treated me. Once again, my heart sank.

“Why?” Michael turned to look at me with curiosity gleaming in his eyes. He seemed to notice that I was upset.

“Nothing! You wouldn't understand the woes of a commoner!” I turned toward him and met his concerned gaze.

My heart trembled slightly, and I turned away hurriedly, avoiding eye contact.

A man like him must have been pampered by his parents to the core since young, like the way my parents treat Steven. Even if I told him how I felt, he wouldn't understand, so I'd rather keep it to myself.

Much to my surprise, he was not angry, even though I did not tell him the reason. He did not say anything after casting a sideways glance in my direction with his brows furrowed.

“Michael...” After quite some time, I called his name and looked at him.

He responded calmly, “Yes?”

His voice was flat and emotionless.

“Please don't send money to my family anymore!”

There was a sudden load on my shoulders as I thought about the one hundred thousand debt. No, I don't want to owe him any money! I'll work hard to repay it all!

“Anna, are you going to dissociate yourself with me now?”

As soon as I uttered those words, Michael slammed on the brakes and glared at me.

Due to the sudden force, my body was thrown forward abruptly. If it weren't for the restraining seatbelt, my head would have hit the windscreen.

“It's not like that. I just don't think you need to give them money. Besides, they've misunderstood our

relationship, and I'm afraid that they will ask you for more next time.”

I was unsure what would happen if my parents knew about Michael's status. Yet, one thing that I was sure, was that Steven would definitely find ways to get some money from Michael. Unbeknownst to them, Michael and I were merely friends with benefits and nothing more than that. Hence, there was no way that I would allow Steven to take advantage of him.

Chapter 99

After hearing my words, Michael's mouth curved into an ironic smile. He leaned toward me, staring at me. His eyes were dark with unfathomable emotion. “Did you think that I couldn't afford to take care of your family?”

I forced myself to look him in the eye and explained in all seriousness, “What I meant was, you don't need to give my family money. They have misunderstood our relationship, so if you keep giving them money, they will ask you for more next time.”

Well, people are greedy for money, especially my lazy, good-for-nothing brother! I've been settling his problems all these years, and he's getting worse. If he knows he can easily get money from Michael, he will definitely ask for more next time.

After I finished my words, Michael frowned and fixed his penetrating gaze on me.

I stared at him, feeling nervous and having no idea what was going through his mind. Suddenly, a pleased smile flashed across his face. “Anna, are you helping me to save money? Well, other women would definitely wish I could give more money, but you surprised me!”

I had never heard of these scandals about him. However, from the way he casually treated me as a friend with benefits in the first place, I guessed he must have had many sexual partners before.

Is he trying to say that all his previous sexual partners asked him for a lot of money?

I was curious but did not dare to ask him. After all, Michael did not like me asking about his personal matters. Besides, I was not his girlfriend, nor did I have the right to ask.

“I just don't want others to know that we're friends with benefits. Didn't you forbid me from telling others about our relationship? If you keep giving my family money, they'll know about it sooner or later!”

Little did he know that I did not want him to give my family money because it was impossible for us to be together, and I was reluctant to reveal our shameful relationship. Besides, if he kept giving money, I would feel as though he was my sugar daddy!

“Even if your family knew about it, they live in the countryside and can't spread the word. So what?”

Initially, I thought Michael would understand after I explained it to him. Much to my surprise, he did not mind if my family knew about our relationship.

“Well, even if you're not worried, I'll still be worried. You should know we can't be together. Perhaps, you don't know our neighbors in the countryside love gossiping when they get together. What if my parents told them about our relationship? I'll be so embarrassed that I dare not go home!”

Knowing that Michael and I could not be together, I was so worried that my parents had told those neighbors I was dating a rich guy. By the time we end our relationship, how am I going to answer them if they ask me about him? If I tell them we broke up, my reputation will still be tarnished.

Though I was no longer chaste, pure, and clean, I cared about what others might think of me. I did not want them to backbite or gossip about me when I got home in the future.

After hearing my words, Michael remained silent and looked seriously at me.

I knew him well. That man would not simply change his mind just because of my few words. Well, what

else can I do? He's so stubborn!

After a while, he responded, “Alright, I get it!”

Then, he started the car and drove off in silence.

Indeed, his words stunned me, and I could not react. I kept staring blankly at his profile and wondered if he had agreed to it.

With that, we did not talk anymore on the way back to Birchwood.

After we arrived home, I carried my suitcase to the bedroom. When I was about to rest, my phone rang.

It was Natalie, so I immediately answered the call. I did not contact her the whole day and was worried about her.

“Hey, Nat!”

“Anna, are you back?”

Her voice was dull and monotonous. Though she did not cry, I knew she was still sad.

I took a long time to calm myself down when Justin cheated on me last time. As for Natalie, it happened two days ago. Oh dear, she must be heartbroken!

“Yeah, I'm back!” After I replied to her, I asked with concern, “Nat, how're you? Are you alright?”

“Anna, could you accompany me tonight? I don't want to stay at home alone!”

When she spoke, small choking sobs escaped from her as she began to cry.

“Okay, wait for me! I'll come over now!”

Knowing that Natalie was sad and depressed, I could not bear to leave her alone, though I was tired and wanted to rest after the long journey. As soon as I ended the call, I rushed over to her place.

When I passed by the living room, Michael took a bottle of water from the fridge and drank it.

Seeing that I was about to go out, he furrowed his brows and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Natalie just called and asked me to accompany her. I'm going to her place now,” I replied while putting on my shoes in the doorway.

“So you're not coming back tonight?” Michael sounded displeased.

“Natalie just broke up. She's my best friend, so I should accompany her!”

I did not answer his question directly, but I had indicated that I would stay overnight at Natalie's place and would not come back.

“What about me? I haven't had dinner yet! If you're not coming back, who shall I sleep with?”

Michael furrowed his beautiful brows and looked displeased.

Is he freakin' serious right now? Does he always think of having sex when he is not working? It's just one night, for crying out loud!

“Can you bear with me tonight? Natalie needs me!”

Initially, I wanted to roll my eyes at him. Instead, I talked to him nicely when I thought of his bad temper.

Natalie is my best friend! There is no way that I'll leave her alone! I'll definitely accompany her tonight! That's what loyal friends are for!

Michael glared at me. Clearly, he was annoyed. If something crossed him, his expression would darken. Looking at his expression, I sighed inwardly. I really pity the woman who is going to marry him and bear with him! Just the thought alone is tiring enough!

He remained silent for quite a while. When I thought he would not let me go, he suddenly responded, “Anna, this will be the last time. You must stay here tomorrow night!”

 

Chapter 100

Upon hearing Michael's words, joy suffused me. Never had I expected him to agree readily without making things difficult for me. Whoa! When did this drastic change of character happen?

“I got it!”

After saying that, I swung open the door and promptly left.

When I arrived at Natalie's house, she was still crying inconsolably as before. Thus, I comforted her tirelessly, knowing that such pain took time to heal.

Having not seen her for two days, she appeared much more haggard with dark circles under her eyes. It didn't take a genius to know that she had been losing sleep over the infidelity of that scumbag, John.

I coaxed her for a long time before she finally drifted off in my arms. Laying her down on the bed, I lay down beside her and dozed off as well.

Having been truly exhausted in the past two days, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Fortunately, I had already set my alarm for the next day, or I would definitely have overslept.

The moment my alarm rang in the morning, I quickly snagged my cell phone and turned it off, afraid that it would wake Natalie. She had finally managed to get some sleep, so I wanted to let her sleep for a while longer.

After washing up, I prepared a simple lunch for her in the kitchen before leaving a note to remind her to eat it. Then, I left.

When I arrived at the office, I bumped into Michael in the elevator. As we weren't the only ones in the elevator, he merely cast me a placid glance without speaking to me.

With his presence there, I felt that the elevator was going exceedingly slow. As soon as the elevator doors opened after what seemed an eternity, I strode out and swiftly left without a backward glance.

As I sat at my table, my emotions remained a chaotic mess for a long time. I never felt much pressure when I usually interacted with Michael, but it felt truly awkward to pretend that we were strangers at the office when we were as intimate as two people could be.

When it was nearing lunch break, I received a text from Michael, asking me to wait for him in the parking lot.

Puzzled, I glanced at the closed door of the president's office. What is he asking me to meet him? Don't tell me he can't even wait until night and is hoping for a nooner?

At the thought of his desperation, disdain inundated me. Nonetheless, I still went to the parking lot to wait for him during lunch break. Some colleagues invited me to have lunch with them, but I declined.

Most of them went to the company's cafeteria for lunch at noon, with very few going to the parking lot to retrieve their cars. For that reason, it was particularly still when I arrived at the parking lot with nary a person in sight.

The parking lot was huge, so I kept scanning the place for Michael's car. He loved parking his car in the corner every single time, making me tired of searching for it.

Out of the blue, a honk rang out in the parking lot. I looked in the direction of the sound, only to be greeted by the sight of his car. Hence, I hurried over with brisk steps.

Right after I had slipped into the car, Michael pounced on me. Reclining the passenger seat, he pinned me underneath him.

“Ahh! What are you doing, Michael?”

He moved so fast that he accomplished his series of actions in the blink of an eye. My heart lurched, for I didn't even know what was happening right then. I gaped at him.

“Why do you think I asked you out? Of course, I'm doing what I didn't get to do last night.”

With his chest plastered against me, Michael leaned close to my ear, his voice brimming with allure.

So, I guessed correctly, huh? I looked at him speechlessly. He's really desperate that he can't even wait until night!

“It's the middle of the day now, and we're at the office to boot. Aren't you afraid that someone would see us?”

He wanted to do the deed, but I wasn't at all interested since I was far from being in the mood. Besides, I had already decided to inform him of my decision tonight.

“It's now lunch break, so no one is going to come here. Anna, why are you worried when I'm not the least bit worried?”

Michael wore a nonchalant expression, not the slightest bit afraid that his employees might catch him red-handed.

At that, I stared at him dumbfoundedly. Truth be told, I wonder if sex is all he thinks nowadays. He basically has no rationale whatsoever at this point!

“Didn't we agree on tonight yesterday? We didn't say anything about having a nooner during the day.”

With my face a mask of reluctance, I placed my hands against his chest. Well, he has really thick skin, but the same can't be said of me. If someone suddenly appears and catches us going at it in the car, how am I going to show my face in the office anymore? Worse still, he's the CEO. How will my colleagues perceive me? Negative comments are sure to follow.

“I've now changed my mind. We can still do it at night even after doing it in the day. My body can take it.”

The smile on his handsome countenance was as mesmerizing as ever, and the look in his eyes as he regarded me blazed with desire.

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Oh God, I'm really speechless at his shamelessness. How could there be such a brazen man in this world? He has the hide of an elephant!

“Michael, can you please rein yourself in? We're now at the office, and you're the CEO at that. Wouldn't you be utterly mortified if you were caught by an employee?”

I tried my best to dissuade Michael because I was truly not in the mood right then. I would truly be mortified if I were caught doing such a thing in the office's underground parking in the middle of the day.

“Are you being considerate of my reputation?”

Michael abruptly stilled and regarded me with an aggravated expression. His voice turned a few degrees colder.

Seeing that he had stopped, delight imbued me. Could it be that my words earlier worked, and he's planning to let me off the hook?

“Of course, I'm being considerate of your reputation,” I hastily answered in the affirmative.

In truth, I went against my will as I said that.

“As if!” Michael snorted, not believing me at all. “Oh yes, I said I'll give you time to consider two days ago. By now, you must have made up your mind, no? So, what's your decision? Do you want to be my woman for half a year?”

Without taking things further, he suddenly changed the subject to our relationship.

Upon hearing his question, my expression stiffened slightly. When I had gathered my wits about me, I looked at him solemnly. “I've already made up my mind. No matter the benefits of staying by your side and being your woman, I still want to end my relationship with you. Right now, I only want a life of my own. Do you understand that?”

My tone was light and gentle, unlike back when I had a row with him. I knew that he was amenable to

persuasion but not coercion, so I hoped that he would agree if I talked to him nicely this time.

After I said that, Michael said nothing. He merely pinned a cold look on me, his eyes blazing with fury. I could tell that he was likely on the verge of losing his temper once more.

Just when I thought that he was going to lambaste me, he straightened and sat back in the driver's seat.

“From now on, there's nothing between the two of us. Get out of my car!”