Anne waited for Cheyenne at home, wondering if Sarah had said something that upset Cheyenne. Noticing she was late for work, she went ahead and applied for a half day leave.Her reputation was in the dirt in the Aesthetic Clinic regardless of what she did, so it would not make any difference if she was absent for another day.She waited for hours, but Cheyenne had not returned, she then called the school to check, yet there was still no news of her mother.When she tried to call Cheyenne again, Anne found out that her phone was turned off and instantly realized the severity of the situation.No matter how upset Cheyenne might be, she would not possibly be absent in school when she had only started working there. She seemed so happy when she got the job that it wasn't possible for her to not show up at work out of the blue.Anne hurried to the school to ask the guard about it. The guard had not heard of Cheyenne, but agreed to help check the surveillance footage, which showed that
The bad feeling in her guts simply would not go away.The police officer asked his colleague to pull out the surveillance footage and Anne watched as Sarah's car appeared, but then disappeared around the corner shortly after."Why can't I see the car after this?" She asked."There are no cameras there."She scowled. This meant that she could not see her mother getting out of the car or where she had gone after that. Though they eventually saw Sarah's car driving out of the other end of the road, there were multiple alleys along the way with little to none cameras, so there was no way for her to investigate any further."Just wait. Maybe she's already back," the officer said.The officer's words ignited the hope within her and she thought to herself, 'That's right. Maybe she's already back!'She turned around to leave and almost bumped into someone else. She steadied herself and realized she had run into Oliver.Surprised to see her there, Oliver blurted out, "Miss Vallois?"Sh
Anne crouched and petted them on the heads, uncertain as to how she could explain what had happened because she wanted her children to live their lives free of concerns."We are not going out to play. I just came here to see you. I have work later tonight and Grandma can't come as well…"The triplets pouted with resignation.Overwhelmed by guilt, Anne added, "Once I get everything done, I will take you guys out to play."A boy approached Anne and asked, "Miss, can they stay overnight at the school with us?"The triplets hesitated."Do you three want to stay?" She asked."We do!" They replied in unison.Anne thought it was a good idea. After all, it was best for her children to spend more time with their playmates. She went and informed the teacher about this, before turning to leave.She still could not reach Cheyenne's phone. Just as she was rendered helpless, a car stopped next to her.Lucas stepped out of the car. "Why are you here at this time?"She smiled. "Here to chec
"Mr. Newman?" The officer was slightly surprised to see Lucas there. After all, Lucas was a known professional in the education industry and because the officer was of a higher level, he naturally knew about Lucas.Lucas nodded. "Miss Cheyenne worked at our school and we cannot escape the blame when she encountered such a thing on her way back from school.""If Mr. Lucas is willing to make compensation for the loss, you may proceed to discuss this with Miss Vallois here, okay?" The officer said.Anne immediately objected to the idea. "It's fine. This has nothing to do with the school. My mom got off work as usual and was taken away by my aunt. How could the school be to blame in any way?" She turned around and looked at Lucas with blood-shot eyes with tears threatening to drop. "Thank you for sending me here, Mr. Newman. I won't take up any more of your time.""…I'm sorry for your loss." Without another word, Lucas gave her a sympathetic look and turned to leave, but the police sto
There were tear marks across her face and as she looked at Anthony, she realized that one could become courageous not only when they were drunk, but also when they were grieving."What do you want?""Come dine with me.""You could have gone to any woman. I'm sure Michelle would love it. Why me? Why today? Do you really hate me that much?""Devastated?" He questioned coldly, rendering her speechless. "That's your family. To be honest, I can't empathize.""That's because you don't have a heart to begin with! You are cold and vicious not only to the outsiders, but to your own family as well. I'm curious but is there anyone in this world who cares about you for just who you are, instead of your status and wealth?""Say that again!" He roared darkly.She trembled and bit her lip in fear. When he pressed himself against her, she shouted, "Ah!"He pinned her against the chair and gritted out, "Cat got your tongue?"She struggled to breath, unable to say another word."You should be
Pain shot up Lennon's body from his wrist and before he realized it, all strength was drained from his arm, forcing him to let go of Anne.Anthony twisted his arm in one smooth motion and it was followed by Lennon's wail and the sound of bones cracking."Scram!"Lennon had not expected to run into Anthony once again, and immediately crawled away.Anthony turned to look at Anne's wrist and she inched away from his touch. "I don't need your concern! All of this is because of you, isn't it? You must be pleased now that everyone thinks that I'm a prostitute and tried to humiliate me every chance they get!"His expression darkened."Well, it's just my luck, I guess," she muttered sarcastically, before walking into the ladies' room.She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her tears were threatening to fall once again, so she looked up to try and reel in her emotions.By the time they left the restaurant, the sky had already turned dark.Anne stared outside the car window along t
Anne could not bring herself to enjoy it and it felt as though she was stuck in her own world, unable to fit in.'Did Anthony bring me here just to watch them drink? He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would do something this unnecessary.' She thought.Lucas, on the other hand, was his usual self, well-mannered, casual yet charismatic."Why aren't you drinking?" Anthony turned to stare at her.His eyes were the darkest shade of black, which sent chills down her spine. She looked away and whispered, "Can I go home? I'm not interested in this kind of scene."She preferred to remain by her mother's side."There's no rush. The fun is about to begin."She twisted in fear. Before she could ask what he meant by that, the door to the private room was opened and the bodyguard walked in. He bowed respectfully and said, "Mr. Marwood, they are all here.""Okay." Anthony shot the bodyguard a knowing look, and the bodyguard immediately exited the room.Feeling increasingly anxious, Ann
None of them could keep drinking and were all unsure if they should set their glasses down when they realized that this was all for show to warn them.Lucas was comparatively calmer than the rest, he did not give much of a reaction apart from frowning in disgust.Unable to stand it any longer, Anne shouted, "That's enough!"She had thought that this was yet another plan he had to humiliate her, but she had never imagined to see something so violent and she could not take it.Anthony's expression remained cold. "No need to ask for mercy for them. Carry on!"Wailing rose and fell and Mr. Moore fell onto the ground holding his mostly severed palm, while Mr. Pat had a dagger buried deep into his hand, pinning him down to the floor.The screams inside the room sounded as though they were coming from a slaughterhouse.The floor was soon tainted in crimson and the bodyguards dragged the men outside once they were done.The scent of blood filled the air and not even alcohol could overp
At first, Corentin was stunned. Then, he said, "Who have I killed? Ash, you've misunderstood. I've changed now. It's true. Hurry up and come down. The ravioli is getting cold.""Don't come over! I'll jump if you get any closer!" Ashlynn shouted hysterically."Alright, alright. I won't go over!" Corentin did not dare to take another step further. "Ash, I'm telling the truth. I didn't kill anybody. Come down, and I'll explain to you. It's all a misunderstanding.""Actually, I've felt it was strange since the beginning. It's just that Anne's reassurance dispelled my suspicion about you." Tears filled Ashlynn's eyes, but they did not stream down her face. She looked at Corentin and said, "But I know everything now. I don't have evidence, but you are Salvatore Yeager. At first, I thought you would change for the sake of the child. In the end… In the end, you didn't even spare the child's grandparents. Salvatore, are you even human? Why would a monster like you exist?""Ash, come down, a
After Ashlynn was discharged from the hospital, she called Anne when she was alone in the room."Anne, are you alright? I heard you were taken by Tommy and were later saved by Anthony.""Mmhmm. I'm fine. I've gotten home safely.""That's wonderful," said Ashlynn.Anne could tell that Ashlynn was not feeling alright, so she asked, "What's the matter? Are you not in a good mood?""I've found out about my parent's passing," said Ashlynn.Anne was stunned. She found out? "I'm sorry, Ashlynn. I've kept it hidden from you.""It's fine. I know you're being considerate to me and the child." Ashlynn took a pause before asking again, "Was Tommy killed by you guys?""No. He fled the cruise ship back then. When we found him, he was already killed by somebody. His body was pulled up from the sea.""Corentin was there as well, wasn't he?""That's right. Did he tell you that?"Ashlynn's eyes looked emotionless. "Have you guys ever suspected Corentin?"Anne immediately got so nervous tha
Corentin hugged Ashlynn. "I heard that Tommy's dead, so your parents' murders have been avenged. Now, they can only rest in peace. Calm down."Ashlynn collapsed in his arms as she cried. Then, she started to feel waves of throbbing pain in her belly, and her face turned pale.Corentin noticed something was not right with her, so he hurriedly roared at the driver, "Go to the hospital now!""Hurry up!" Jeremy urged. He held Ashlynn's hand and realized that it was freezing. "Ashlynn, you have to be alright. You still have me! Hang in there, Ashlynn!"Ashlynn looked at him with tears in her eyes. She was extremely saddened. She could not understand why things would end up like that. Did she not deserve to have parents?When Ashlynn woke up, she was already at the hospital.She subconsciously touched her belly, but Corentin grabbed her hand. "You're showing signs of miscarriage, so you need to recuperate."Ashlynn scanned around the room and asked, "Where's Jeremy?""He's outside. H
"I know…" Jeremy looked up and saw Ashlynn standing at the entrance. He was so shocked, and he immediately stood up. "Why…are you here?"Ashlynn stood there dazed. She looked at Jeremy, then the person who spoke earlier. "What do you guys mean when you talk about my parents' soul resting in peace?""Nothing. We were talking about someone else."Ashlynn could tell from their faces that they were clearly panicking. She was not deaf. She heard what they said clearly.Her face turned pale, and she immediately searched for her phone. She did not have it on her, so she rushed to the car."Ashlynn!" Jeremy ran after her and stopped her. "What are you doing?""I'm going to call Mom and Dad.""They are traveling. Don't disturb them."Ashlynn looked at him. "Jeremy, tell me honestly, why aren't Mom and Dad coming home? Don't lie! I have always felt it was strange. Why haven't they come home when I'm already so far along? Something is wrong, isn't it? Did something…really happen to them?"
Corentin came forward and asked, "Anne, are you alright?"Anne nodded."You don't look too well. What happened?""Tommy's dead," said Anthony."Have you found the cure?" asked Corentin.Anne shook her head."Unfortunately, the infected people would have to endure it a little longer."Anne suddenly thought of something, and she immediately pushed Anthony away. "Don't touch me."Only then, Corentin noticed a small patch of ulcer below Anne's cheek. "Anne, did Tommy drug you?"Anthony frowned. "I don't mind.""I do. Both of us would not be able to have contact with the children, and they will worry." Anne rejected his touch.Anthony had been touching her the whole time. It was unclear if he had been infected. Anne was very worried."It wouldn't make a difference now. If anything, I would have already been infected just now," said Anthony.Anne still refused to listen. "That's not necessary. Just don't touch me. We still don't know where the cure is, and Tommy died so suddenly
Just as Tommy finished his sentence, he heard a commotion behind him.Ivan was fighting with the assassin, and every strike he delivered was fatal. If Ivan were not skilled in combat, the professional assassin could have killed him in just a few moves.Tommy realized something was up, so he immediately wanted to grab Anne.While Anne retreated, she was pulled into a person's arms."Let me go!" She thought it was a man she did not know, so she hated to be touched like that."Anne."Anne was stunned. She looked up and felt happy to see a familiar face. "Anthony?""It's me."Tommy was infuriated as he watched the two of them looking lovingly at each other, Tommy became infuriated."As expected, Anne, you did leave a trace for Anthony." Tommy's expression darkened."You're the one who took me too lightly," said Anne.It was because she had always wanted to run away from Anthony in the past that he had the wrong impression, was it not? "So what? You want to kill me? With just t
Anne was drugged at that moment, and there were surveillance cameras all over the cruise ship. She saw a surveillance camera over her head when she was returning to the room. Therefore, it was impossible for her to sneak around in the middle of the night if she wanted to.Tommy had long been guarding against her.However, Anne still left Anthony some clues before she left him. She believed Anthony would find her very soon, but she never expected that he would do it so quickly.At daybreak, she seemed to have heard the rumbling of a helicopter above her. Then, the door swung open. Before Anne could make sense of the situation, she was picked up. "How did you get the message out?" Tommy said. He even searched Anne's body after that."Ah! Are you crazy? I don't have a phone!""Don't think Anthony can take you away just because he's here. If I'm going to hell, I'm dragging you along with me! Let's go!""You…" Anne had no strength, so she was dragged out of the room by him.He thre
Anne ignored him.If she were not afraid that Tommy would pull some tricks behind her back, she would have slept with her back facing him."Do you remember running to my home and sleeping on my bed when Anthony bullied you as a child?"I don't.""I know you do. I truly wanted to help you back then," said Tommy.Anne knew he was speaking the truth, so she did not refute him. She stared at the ceiling and said, "I think the past Tommy died a long time ago."Tommy's expression was mixed, and he asked, "Are we not able to go back anymore?""Instead of asking me this now, you should've gone to hell after you killed the people I cared about. No matter how unhappy your childhood was, you can't hurt others for your own pleasure." At that moment, Anne did not pity Tommy at all."Look at you on your high horse. Has Anthony not killed anybody before? Has Corentin not killed anybody before? Why did you forgive them for killing people but not me? Just because the victims were your friends?
Seeing that she did not move at all, Tommy said, "It won't be good for you if you don't eat."Anne thought that he made sense. If she did not eat, she would go hungry and would have no strength later. How could she fight with Tommy then? It was because she refused to eat and only drank water while hiding in her room that Tommy drugged her.After a while, she seemed to have figured it out.She picked up the fork and started eating the fish.Tommy saw her eating and asked, "How was it?""Could it be that you're the one who made it?" Anne looked up and shot a glance at him lazily."That's correct. I am the one who made it."Anne thought, 'Is this something worthy to be praised?'"It must be tough for you to do such a thing on top of everything else.""If you're worried that it's tough for me, why don't you make it with me?""I don't know how to cook.""How great. You just have to enjoy being served." Tommy clicked his tongue, but he was looking at Anne with a doting gaze.Anne