Chapter 2

Listening to Anne's choked question, Connor found himself momentarily speechless.

Felicia, noticing he was still on the phone, walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "Are you done? I'm hungry."

He instinctively ended the call with Anne.

Staring at the darkened screen of his phone, Connor hesitated for only a moment before pulling down Felicia's hands to hold them. "I'm done," he said.

The dishes he prepared were all Felicia's favorites. Connor watched her eat with a smile, glancing at the clock out of the corner of his eye.

It was nearly ten o'clock at night.

The entrance remained quiet.

At that moment, Anne's car had pulled into the neighborhood, but she sat there, unmoving.

Even though she was Connor's wife, she felt like a thief spying on someone else's happiness.

When she was abroad, she did not actively seek out news about Connor, yet friends would still update her.

Connor had brought Felicia into their social circle. Because of Anne's presence, no one had been willing to interact with Felicia at their first meeting. It was said that Connor smashed a wine bottle in front of everyone to defend her.

Anne had smiled bitterly when she heard this. Connor had always been like that. When he loved someone, he wanted the whole world to know.

In high school, dating was forbidden, so Connor and Anne never officially got together.

There were always admirers confessing to Anne. Once, a boy accidentally brushed her hand, and Connor, upon seeing it, broke that boy's hand.

When he was forced to publicly apologize in front of the entire school, he was utterly defiant. "Anne is mine. We'll be together after we get into university. Anyone who dares to confess to her again will get the same treatment."

Later, Connor's parents had to visit the school and make a donation to avoid him being disciplined.

The two had agreed to go abroad together, but when Connor failed his tests, he backed out and asked Anne to stay for him.

However, going abroad had always been Anne's dream. She was firm in her decision, refusing to change her mind no matter what Connor said.

On the day of Anne's coming-of-age celebration, Connor cornered her in her room.

It was both of their first kisses, yet it was rough and biting. Connor even broke the skin on her lips, his eyes red as he questioned, "You won't even let me touch you, Anne. Did you never plan to be with me in the first place?"

She furiously responded with a slap. Her hands trembled from the force.

Connor stared at her for a long time before turning and leaving with a cold expression.

Anne cried alone for a long time before fixing her dress and going downstairs.

Her mother noticed the mark on her lip, hesitated to speak, and finally just patted her head. "Anne, no matter what you do, your dad and I will always support you."

Years later, the Biddle family faced financial trouble.

Connor called Anne after years of no contact. At first, neither of them spoke.

"Do you need something?" Anne finally broke the silence.

Connor's voice was hoarse. "Anne, if you're going to marry for convenience, would you consider me?"

"You broke up?" blurted Anne.

"Mm." It was a long time before she received Connor's soft reply.

After the wedding, Anne learned the truth.

Connor had taken Felicia on a sea voyage. As the boat neared the shore, she had fallen overboard. Connor immediately jumped in to save her.

The crew, worried for Connor's safety, followed him into the water. He was rescued, but Felicia was never found. Not even her body.

For three years, everyone assumed she had died.

She was finally back, with her memory frozen three years in the past.

Anne sat in the car for a long time, staring at the brightly lit villa from a distance.

She and Connor both preferred dim lighting. The one who liked brightness was Felicia.

Connor had brought her back to their home.

Pain spread through Anne's heart like tiny needles. Just as she was about to get out of the car, the phone in the passenger seat started ringing.