Chapter 7

"She…"

Connor almost revealed the truth, but seeing Felicia sobbing uncontrollably in his arms, he recalled the doctor's words.

'Her emotions are very unstable right now, and she's heavily dependent on you. Try not to provoke her, or it might lead to psychological issues.'

If it had not been for him taking Felicia on that trip, she would not have gone missing.

In the end, the responsibility still lay with him.

Connor let Felicia cling to him, watching Anne's figure disappear from sight.

Carrying Felicia in his arms, he felt a mix of guilt and irritation. "She has nothing to do with me. Let me take you home."

A flash of jealousy passed through Felicia's eyes, but she obediently wrapped her arms around Connor's neck and nodded.

…

"Are you okay?" Anne pulled some tissues from the car and carefully wiped the corner of Walter's mouth.

"Anne, what Connor said earlier…"

"Walter," Anne interrupted, taking a step back. "How soon can you draft a divorce agreement?"

Her words created an invisible distance between them.

Realizing he had been too forward, Walter hesitated for a moment. "At least two weeks."

Anne nodded. She knew the financial ties between her and Connor were complicated, and it would take time to sort everything out.

…

"Connor, what time are you coming home tonight?"

Outside, Felicia noticed Anne standing not far away and buried herself in Connor's embrace, gazing at him expectantly as she spoke.

Connor's eyes briefly met Anne's cold, indifferent expression. Suddenly, he found it hard to answer.

However, Felicia pressed on, her shallow breaths brushing against his chin. "Connor, I can't sleep without you by my side."

Connor stiffened. Hastily, he placed Felicia into the car and vaguely replied, "I'll be back."

The car sped past Anne and Walter.

Walter clenched his fists and could not help cursing under his breath.

Turning to console Anne, he found her smiling at him as if she had not seen any of it.

"I'll collect the evidence as soon as possible," she said calmly.

After parting ways with Walter, Anne did not return to the office. Instead, she went straight home.

In the master bedroom, a nightgown lay discarded on the bed. It was hers, but it was evident that Felicia had worn it.

The dress had been part of a surprise she prepared for Connor's birthday that year.

Three years of marriage, with both families urging them to have a child, yet Connor always took precautions with meticulous care.

That night, Anne had stopped him. "Connor, let's have a child."

Connor had responded with a cold laugh, kissing her passionately until she was lost in the moment. In the end, he did not follow through with her wishes.

As she looked at the wrinkled camisole dress, Anne turned pale, her mind consumed by images of Connor holding Felicia in his arms as they slept.

She ran into the bathroom, dry heaving into the sink.

After the nausea subsided, she turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, her face was still striking but haggard. Anne suddenly thought of her time studying abroad.

Back then, she had stood in front of a packed lecture hall, speaking with confidence and grace. She had straight A's, and her name still adorned the school's wall of honor.

At a globally top-ranked university, she had excelled academically and achieved outstanding research results.

People admired her, and every day someone new confessed their feelings for her, only to be turned down with the excuse of focusing on her studies.

Was that the real reason?

Anne knew deep down that it was because she could not let go of Connor.

She had never understood why her decision to study abroad, such a minor thing, had elicited such a strong reaction from him.

All that, and within a year, he found someone else.

She realized it was simply because his love for her had never been enough.

A wry smile spread across Anne's face, a smile that marked the moment she truly let Connor go.