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Chapter 10
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 11
Anathea planned to leave right after passing the lunch to Martin Chadstone, Gregory's secretary. But as it was lunchtime, most of the people in the CEO's office had already left, and there was no sign of Martin. There was only an assistant who was tidying up the desks.Anathea went up to her and asked, "Hello, could you help me deliver this lunch to Mr. Sinclair, please?"The assistant paused and gave Anathea a quick once-over. "Are you Mr. Sinclair's chef?"Nobody in the company, besides Martin, knew that Anathea was Gregory's wife.When they'd gotten married, Gregory had said, "I can marry you, but you won't be getting a status." It was the cold and heartless truth. However, she'd been deeply in love with him back then, so despite knowing that, she'd still married him joyfully. As a result, her position as Gregory's wife was pretty much as good as naught.Anathea smiled faintly and gave an ambiguous nod. "Mr. Sinclair is in the office right ahead. You can go and deliver th
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 12
Gregory got out of the car, followed by Natalie.Anathea looked away. Angling her body, she picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip.All the employees in the store stopped what they were doing. Walking to the entrance of the store, they arranged themselves into two rows. Then, they bowed respectfully as they greeted, "Mr. Sinclair."Gregory nodded slightly. The general manager led him and Natalie to the second floor.As soon as they walked away, the employees on the first floor began whispering among themselves.One of them said, "I didn't expect the legendary Mr. Sinclair to be so young and handsome. He's the man of my dreams!"Another replied, "Give up. Didn't you see that young lady next to Mr. Sinclair? Her beauty and demeanor make her a perfect match for him. We have no chance at all."Someone said, "I heard that Mr. Sinclair once spent a hefty sum of 150 million dollars to purchase a famous blue diamond ring at an auction. It was probably meant for that lady!"The ot
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 13
"No, I'm visiting Grandma Fiona." Anathea adjusted the camera. Fiona seemed to have woken up. She was leaning against the bed as she waved at Xander. "Hi, Xander…""Grandma Fiona!" Xander greeted in a sweet voice. Fiona would often sneak him some of his favorite snacks, so he was quite close to her.However, Fiona was always ill, so Brisa forbade Xander from visiting her in case he got sick too. It had been a long time since they'd last met. A radiant smile bloomed on Xander's face as he showed Gregory the screen. "Dad, it's Grandma Fiona!""Yeah."Gregory nodded lightly at Fiona through the screen. Then, he continued striding upstairs. He never said a word to Anathea the entire time. It was as if she'd never existed on the other end of the line.Anathea was used to his coldness by now. She asked Xander, "What's the matter? Did something happen?"Xander immediately apologized to Anathea. "I'm sorry, Mom. I was naughty yesterday."His teacher had encouraged them to be brave c
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 14
Anathea looked in the direction of the voice. Natalie was coming down the stairs, and Gregory was walking a short distance behind her. Their footsteps were almost in sync.It looked like they'd woken up together, washed up together, and then come downstairs together. Sure enough, as Anathea had guessed, Gregory had spent the night in Natalie's room.Anathea averted her gaze away from them.Meanwhile, Xander immediately shifted his attention from Anathea to Natalie. "Good morning, Ms. Whitman!"Picking up the plate of pancakes Anathea had made for him, he ran up to Natalie. He was eager to share it with her. "Mom made this. Try it, Ms. Whitman!""Sure." Natalie glanced at Anathea. Then, she smiled as she picked up a piece and took a bite. "This is nice.""Right?" Xander grinned. "If you like it, I'll ask Mom to make some for us next time. You can eat all the pancakes you want!"Anathea didn't say a word as she quietly ate her breakfast."I didn't expect you to be so good at cook
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 15
Anathea knew exactly what Xander was thinking. To him, she was just an incompetent mother who couldn't compare to Natalie, whom he admired so much. That was why he didn't want her to take him to school anymore. He was embarrassed by her.She didn't call him out on it. Instead, she simply smiled and let Cyrus drive Xander to school. Then, she turned her attention to her own matters.Once they left, the massive estate felt empty again; Anathea had been left alone in the silence. Later, Jenny wheeled a cart filled with fresh blooms into the backyard, saying, "Mrs. Sinclair, here are the flowers you asked for."Jenny had no idea what Anathea planned to do with them, but she'd followed her instructions and bought everything on the list. Still, she couldn't help but feel concerned about Anathea's indifference toward Gregory and Natalie's relationship, as well as her apparent disregard for Xander's opinions.She continued, "Mrs. Sinclair, we can take care of the flowers for you. You
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 16
Hearing Xander's words, Anathea let out a quiet, mocking laugh in her heart. She'd thought that after starting school, he would gradually change. When he'd apologized to her the other day, she'd secretly felt relieved, believing that, at the end of the day, he was still her son—he couldn't possibly be so heartless as to push her away completely.But now, it was clear she'd been too naive. In Xander's eyes, she was nothing more than an embarrassing mother who could never compare to the exceptional Natalie.Anathea didn't answer his question and instead turned to look at Gregory, who was casually flipping through the documents in his hands. He occasionally texted Martin with revisions. As always, he was distant and indifferent, acting as if none of this concerned him.She averted her gaze, already understanding the situation. Gregory had never publicly acknowledged her as his wife, so there was no way he would suddenly start now and let her show up with them. That was also precise
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 17
Gregory glanced sideways at Eleanor, taking in the anticipation on her face.Eleanor said firmly, "That whole situation back then was a mistake. Adam is already in prison and won't be causing any more trouble, while Fiona is too sick to make a difference."Even though Anathea's uncle is still holding things together, the Jacobson family is nothing but a relic of the past. There's no way they'll ever regain their former status."She concluded decisively, "So, you should find a time to finalize the divorce. Once Anathea is out of the picture, you can finally marry Natalie." Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought, and she added, "And if you and Nat could give me another grandchild, that would be even better."Gregory didn't respond. He simply took a glass of wine from a passing server and took a slow sip. Eleanor mistook his silence for agreement, and her smile grew even brighter.Sooner or later, she would make sure Anathea was completely gone from the Sinclair family. .
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 18
Thinking back, Anathea realized that if Gregory ever found out she'd secretly taken photos of them, he'd probably make her delete every last one on the spot. That was how much he avoided being seen with her—whether at their wedding or now, during their impending divorce. It was no surprise that no one ever believed she was actually Mrs. Sinclair. Anathea smirked at the thought, but thankfully for her, none of that mattered anymore. She no longer cared about titles or labels. In a month, she'd be leaving the Sinclair family for good."Here, try my creamy white fish chowder!" Brisa suddenly said. Then, she clapped her hands, signaling a maid to bring over the dish. The rich, savory aroma filled the air immediately.The soup was a velvety blend of flaky white fish and tender potatoes, with hints of leeks and garlic, simmered to perfection in a creamy broth. Crisp pancetta added a subtle smokiness, while earthy mushrooms balanced the flavors. It was garnished with fresh chives.An
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 100
"Ms. Langley…" Anathea murmured, her eyes pricked with tears."Call me if you have issues with the floral design. So what if I said I was busy? You should've kept pushing until I made time. You'll never get anywhere being this sensitive," Aspen chided.Embarrassed, Anathea nodded earnestly. "Understood. Thank you, Ms. Langley.""Don't thank me yet. Thank me when you've got something to show for it. Anyway, I've got places to be. I can't stand around talking all day," Aspen said with a faint smile.The elevator chimed as it reached their floor, the doors parting.At that moment, Gregory walked out of the private room and noticed Aspen, Anathea, and Evangeline together.Aspen caught sight of him but barely spared him a glance before shifting her attention back to Anathea. "Look, I know you might not want to hear this, but I've got to say it anyway."Anathea raised her eyes."Why bother holding onto a jerk like that? What's he good for?" Aspen didn't mince words.Anathea was caug
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 99
All eyes fell on Anathea. The fact that Aspen complimented and critiqued her meant she was no ordinary person!They'd all assumed Anathea was just another pretty face. Only now did they realize she was the brilliant floral designer whose work at the exhibition had received glowing reviews!The change in their gazes was immediate, their earlier contempt giving way to respect and admiration.As all eyes moved to Anathea, Natalie's hands clenched into fists on her lap. She hadn't anticipated Aspen publicly cautioning her while treating Anathea with nothing but warmth!Resentment burned in Natalie's gaze. She darted a look at Gregory, reading his response. He barely glanced at Anathea, his face indifferent, as if she were utterly insignificant.Only then did Natalie exhale in quiet relief, though her glare at Anathea grew sharper with bitterness.Meanwhile, a ripple of emotion passed through Anathea's eyes at Aspen's words. She remained still until she noticed Aspen had left. After a
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 98
"Is that guy still as much of a jerk?" Theo asked, his interest piqued.He'd always had a soft spot for drama."I honestly couldn't tell you if he's still a jerk," Aspen said, her gaze moving across the room before settling on Gregory, her smile carrying a hint of something unreadable. "Mr. Sinclair, what do you think? Is he still a jerk?"The room went silent, the question hanging in the air. No one had expected that, least of all aimed at Gregory. Was he involved in this somehow?At those words, Natalie's expression tightened. A sudden realization seemed to hit her, and she quickly turned her head toward Anathea.Natalie remembered how Anathea had walked in with Evangeline from Eden Studio, which meant she was the floral designer behind "Verdant Blush"!Could Anathea really be Aspen's protégé? If that was true, then everything Aspen had just said had been a subtle jab at her!A cold tension settled on Natalie's face at the thought. But she quickly recovered, a smirk of disdain
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 97
Natalie already had plenty of titles and honors, all adding to the flawless reputation that allowed her to handle any situation with ease.Now, she had fixed her sights on the opening in the local floral design exhibition, determined to be the first to fill it. To succeed, she needed a deeper understanding of the industry.And if she could earn the title of protégé to the nation's most renowned floral artist, her future in the field would look all the brighter.She held her breath, waiting for Aspen's reply. With Gregory's influence behind her, there was little chance Aspen would risk offending him by refusing.The rest of the room, too, watched with open interest.Rumor had it, Aspen's standards for taking on a protégé were so impossibly high that hardly anyone ever made the cut. In all these years, she'd only had one. But that protégé never appeared in public, which left people wondering if Aspen had quietly let them go.So, if Natalie managed to pull this off, there was a good
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 96
"You're too kind, Mr. Wade," Natalie said with a smile as she lifted her glass.Gregory raised his own and took a sip."Let me tell you, Ms. Whitman is remarkable. To pull off that many high-profile exhibitions at her age? She's raising the bar for the entire field!""No doubt about it. Word is, she and Mr. Sinclair went to the same university. And not just any university, a top-tier one. That's some next-level talent.""You're all far too kind," Natalie said with a modest smile before turning to Gregory. "Mr. Sinclair and I may be the same age, but he finished his degree a year ahead of me. I've always admired him!"Two brilliant minds meeting at the top—it was the stuff of true romance.All at once, it seemed obvious to everyone that Gregory and Natalie were meant for each other. After all, who else could possibly match Gregory if not someone like Natalie?And so, eager to win Gregory's favor, they all made sure to sing Natalie's praises."You're just as impressive, Ms. Whitm
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 95
"That's enough." Gregory's even tone brought the discussion to a close.The other guests, who had been pressing Natalie, finally backed off. But those who knew better recognized the truth."Mr. Sinclair's clearly looking out for Ms. Whitman.""No question about it. Keeping things under wraps is for her own good."They could all see that Gregory wasn't about to let anyone think Natalie's exhibit had only succeeded because of him."At this rate, Ms. Whitman might as well have 'future Mrs. Sinclair' written all over her…"Natalie lowered her gaze, a flicker of pride flashing in her eyes.Theo listened to their conversation, his expression stiffening as his gaze moved to Anathea beside him. Her face stayed as unreadable as ever. From time to time, she made small talk with the industry insiders around her, as if none of it concerned her.His expression tightened further, both at the way she carried on and at the sight of the exchange between Gregory and Natalie.Theo grabbed the me
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 94
"Absolutely. Mr. Sinclair went out of his way just for Ms. Whitman. Most people would be lucky to get even a minute of his time.""Sounds like Mr. Sinclair's got quite a stake in Ms. Whitman's exhibition, huh?"A faint smile touched Natalie's lips, her voice softening with practiced modesty. "Oh, Mr. Sinclair's just thorough when it comes to work. He's the very definition of a workaholic."Her tone might have sounded dismissive, but the ease behind it hinted at a closeness with Gregory that didn't go unnoticed. The other guests exchanged glances, knowing smiles passing between them.Tonight was more than just a celebration dinner. It was a networking event Gregory had put together specifically for Natalie.Aspen, meanwhile, took in the conversation without a flicker of reaction and headed to the seat to Gregory's right.Gregory wasn't usually the one to make the first move, but this time, he offered a handshake. Aspen barely caught his fingers before slipping into her seat, her d
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 93
But the two figures had already disappeared by the time Anathea managed to focus her eyes."Nat?" Evangeline waved a hand in front of her face. "You okay?""It's nothing." Anathea turned away with a faint smile.She must've imagined it. Castenea was a big city, after all. What were the chances of running into Gregory and Natalie here?The waiter led Anathea and Evangeline toward the private room reserved for the celebration dinner.Evangeline spent the whole walk gushing about the exhibition. "Seriously, this show is on another level. They even got Ms. Langley's work up. Only a deep-pocketed organizer like the Sinclair Group could pull that off.""Sinclair Group's behind this?" Anathea's steps faltered."Yep, and the curator's one of their in-house collaborators. I've heard she'd studied abroad. She's got an impressive track record, with tons of viral exhibitions under her belt. No wonder they locked her in for the long haul."Evangeline glanced around to make sure no one was n
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 92
The instant Anathea locked gazes with Evangeline, she already knew what the latter was planning.As she expected, after dismissing them, Evangeline sought Anathea out.Evangeline said in a meaningful tone, "Nat, this opportunity is very important to you. Don't worry, I'll definitely leave you—""No need," Anathea refused gently.Evangeline paused in surprise, not expecting Anathea to outright reject her. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.Perhaps Anathea still hadn't adjusted well, so it was Evangeline's own fault for being too hasty. It had only been a short time, after all."If you pick me, I want it to be because of my actual capabilities, so I hope you can be fairer, Ms. Holstrom. That way, the others will find it easier to accept your decision," Anathea explained.For a moment, all Evangeline could do was stare at the small smile on Anathea's face. Then, she regained her composure and let out a laugh. "Alright, I'll definitely be strict!"For the next two days,
