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Chapter 14
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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
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 19
Brisa answered, "I was the one who asked Nat to come over and keep me company. I haven't seen her in so long, and I really missed her.""Oh, I see..." Isabel nodded, but she still looked a little puzzled. "But there was a well-dressed woman standing next to Gregory. Do you know who she is, Anathea?""A woman?" Brisa's expression darkened instantly.Anathea noticed the shift and tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, but Isabel beat her to it. "Yeah, and she even arrived with Gregory."Brisa's face turned serious as she looked at Anathea. "Wait a minute. I told Arnold to pick you and Gregory up together. How did you get here?"Anathea hesitated for a moment before answering honestly, "I drove myself."Brisa's brows furrowed as she snapped, "Unbelievable! That little brat actually left you to drive here alone?""Grandma, actually—" Anathea tried to explain, but Brisa cut her off. "Don't defend him!"Anathea rarely saw Brisa this angry, so she swallowed her words and stayed
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 20
"But—" Anathea wanted to say that now wasn't the time to expose her status. After all, the last thing she needed was more unnecessary trouble. The abduction incident still haunted her, and she never wanted to go through anything like that again."No buts!" Isabel cut her off without hesitation. "Anathea, you can't back down. Just think about it—you're gorgeous, you've got an amazing figure, and you carry yourself with absolute grace and elegance. That other woman is nothing compared to you!"Before she could continue, the sound of a gentle piano melody floated through the air.In the center of the garden, a woman in an elegant sky-blue gown sat at the grand piano on a stage surrounded by blue roses. Her slender fingers danced effortlessly across the black and white keys, each note forming a melody so mesmerizing that it seemed to take on a life of its own, wrapping around her before drifting outward.The beautiful rhythm resonated through the crowd, captivating everyone who lis
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 21
The crowd whispered among themselves, and someone could be heard saying, "Opening the first dance at Madam Eleanor's birthday party... That says a lot about how much she favors that young lady.""Absolutely. Just look at the way Madam Eleanor looks at her with pure admiration."Another chimed in, "And dancing with Mr. Sinclair himself? That has to mean something, right?""Isn't he a father? No one's ever confirmed who the child's mother is. What if it's her? What if she's the future Mrs. Sinclair?""She's stunning and incredibly talented. No wonder he's kept her out of the public eye. Anyone would want to protect a woman like that." Anathea listened to the speculative murmurs around her, her expression unreadable. However, Isabel was furious. She didn't care how talented or beautiful Natalie was—being a homewrecker was still disgusting.And now, Natalie had the audacity to take Gregory's hand and dance with him in front of everyone, as if declaring herself the rightful Mrs. Sinc
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 22
Isabel frowned when she heard the crowd praising Natalie and Gregory. She glanced at Anathea, only to notice the latter's unfazed expression. It was almost as if she was used to such commentary.An uneasiness settled within Isabel. She felt disgruntled as she recalled the time her ex-boyfriend had cheated on her. If she ever ran into the trollop who'd ruined her relationship again, she swore she'd make her pay.At that moment, Natalie took Gregory's hand and twirled around him before he pulled her in by the waist and dipped her. As she went down, she turned her face to Isabel and Anathea.Anathea narrowed her eyes when she noticed the territorial gleam and provocation in Natalie's gaze. It was as though Natalie was saying Gregory was so taken with her that Anathea no longer meant anything to him.However, Anathea remained straight-faced as she stared at Natalie, looking completely bored with the childish mind games the latter had cooked up.But Isabel's eyes widened, and her voice
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 30
Anathea lowered her gaze. Of course she remembered Evangeline's dream. When Evangeline had first approached her with the grand idea, she'd insisted that Anathea jump on the bandwagon, claiming the idea wouldn't work without a bona fide genius like her.It had been five years since they'd had that conversation, and Anathea had forgotten the details. Even her passion for floral designing had been overtaken by her love for Gregory and Xander. In the end, she'd been left dreamless and scarred.There were times when she desperately wanted to break off her shackles and be free to do what she wanted. "Am I really qualified?"Unfortunately, she spiraled into self-doubt. She took out her résumé and scanned past the awards she'd won five years ago, her gaze landing on the blank space that should have been filled with her working experiences. She confessed, "There's a five-year gap in my working experience."Anathea had to admit that she'd been stuck in the same place for five years while
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 29
Anathea's face darkened. When Natalie spotted her, she stopped fixing Gregory's tie and greeted her with mild amusement. "Ms. Jacobson."Gregory turned around when he heard her and clenched his jaw. "What are you doing here?"He sounded displeased that Anathea had come and ruined things for him and Natalie. Snorting, Anathea handed him the folder and said expressionlessly, "You forgot your documents. Grandma had me bring them to you."Gregory made no reply and reached for the folder, waiting for Anathea to shove it into his hand. However, she turned and handed the folder to Martin instead. She smiled and said, "Thanks for your hard work, Martin."Martin blinked in bewilderment, though he took the folder without question. "All in a day's work, Mrs. Sinclair. Would you like a ride back to the city?""No, thank you. I can drive myself," Anathea answered. She then spun on her heels and returned to the house without sparing Gregory another glance.Martin was puzzled as he watched An
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 28
Anathea didn't want to lose any more family than she already had. Having made her decision, she closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.When she woke up the next morning, Gregory had already left. She paid no mind to it and got out of bed to wash up. She thought he'd left for work, but when she went downstairs, she saw him slowly eating breakfast at the dining table."Good morning, Nat. Come here and have breakfast," Brisa said as she beckoned Anathea over with a wave. She then turned to Gregory and said, "Your wife's here."Upon hearing this, Gregory gave Anathea a cursory glance and returned to reviewing the company's finances. Anathea brushed off his cold indifference; she was already used to it. However, Brisa took offense to his attitude and snapped, "What's the matter with you, you punk? All you ever do is work, work, and work! What, is the company going to collapse without you?"Gregory made no retort and simply listened while Brisa nagged. When she took a break i
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 27
Anathea felt as if her heart might burst from anxiety. She was shivering, though she didn't know if it was because of the cold. The next second, Gregory wordlessly tossed the towel on her, then grabbed his clothes and headed straight for the bathroom.It wasn't until the bathroom door clicked shut that Anathea snapped out of her daze. She let out a breath of relief. Wrapping the towel around herself, she stood up slowly and changed into her pajamas.The sound of running water from the bathroom prompted her to glance at the tightly shut door. Indecipherable emotions flickered in her eyes. Was Gregory planning to stay the night?She didn't dwell on it. It didn't matter where he slept. It had nothing to do with her.Anathea used to wait for him in their bedroom and greet him at the door when he arrived home. She'd take the jacket he shrugged off and hug it close, then run him a bath. Doing all of that had given her a sense of belonging and reaffirmed her role as Gregory's wife.But
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 26
Anathea's breath hitched. She hadn't done anything to deserve such condescension. She was already agitated from what happened earlier that night. It didn't help that Gregory was pinching her chin so hard that it hurt. As if that wasn't bad enough, he had to degrade her with his words, too.Resentment and rage welled up in Anathea. Without another thought, she sank her teeth into the skin between Gregory's thumb and index finger.Gregory hissed sharply as pain and outrage flickered across his face. "Are you rabid all of a sudden, Anathea? Let go!"Anathea ignored his command and bit him even harder as if in revenge. What did he take her for? Even if he hated her, he had no right to degrade her. Tears stung her eyes as bitterness overwhelmed her."Anathea!" Gregory seethed through gritted teeth, clenching her wrist. "If you don't let go the next second, I'll—"He was cut off when a teardrop fell on the back of his hand. He froze, staring at the droplet nestled between his knuckles
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 25
"Mrs. Sinclair, we've straightened up the bedroom. Call us if you need anything else," the maid told Anathea.Anathea nodded slightly in response. When the maids left, she opened the bedroom door.It had been a month since she'd last stayed at the Sinclair residence. She recalled how Gregory had left her alone in the room after he'd gotten a text from Natalie and rushed to the airport to pick up the latter. After that, he hadn't come home for the night.Anathea had even had to cover up for him when Brisa had asked about it, saying he'd gone to take care of urgent matters at the company. Anathea had known that he was catching up with Natalie, rekindling old sparks and setting sheets ablaze with their passion and yearning.Anathea figured Gregory wouldn't return to the Sinclair residence for the night. He was likely guarding Natalie's bedside and nursing her injuries. He probably wouldn't let anyone else take care of his precious first love.She couldn't care less where he spent the
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 24
Isabel hated herself for being so impulsive earlier. Natalie was the homewrecker, but by picking a fight with her, Isabel had made her look like the innocent damsel-in-distress destined to marry Gregory. The incident had also put Anathea in a precarious position with Gregory.But Isabel was sure of one thing—Natalie was the man-stealing whore who'd come between her and her ex-boyfriend. She couldn't believe Natalie would deny having done something like that and still dare to seduce Gregory! She should've known better than to see Gregory as her role model since she was young. Men were all the same after all!"Is Gregory blind or something?" Isabel seethed. "How could he leave an angel like you for a trollop like Natalie? Just thinking about it pisses me off! Ow, ow—Anathea, that hurts! Gentle dabbing, please!"Anathea dabbed an iodine-soaked cotton bud on the cut on Isabel's cheek. When she saw the latter wincing and gritting her teeth in pain, she chuckled. "You need to learn yo
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 23
The sophisticated champagne tower toppled over with a loud crash. The glasses shattered into pieces, and everyone in the crowd watched with abject horror as Isabel and Natalie lay on the ground.Save for a small cut on her face, Isabel was relatively unharmed by the broken glass thanks to her jacket. But Natalie wasn't so lucky; her face was fine, but her dress left much of her skin exposed, and the broken glass had left tiny cuts on her arms.The golden pink of the champagne mixed with blood formed a jarring sight."Nat!" Eleanor cried in alarm as she ran over to inspect Natalie's wounds.Anathea limped over to Isabel, who'd eased herself upright.Isabel seemed shocked as she gaped at Natalie's unmoving form on the ground. It was like she'd passed out. Isabel didn't remember being too forceful with Natalie. More importantly, she'd nearly lost a chunk of her hair courtesy of the latter's vicious grip.And yet, it was Natalie who'd blacked out from the fight, not Isabel. It was
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 22
Isabel frowned when she heard the crowd praising Natalie and Gregory. She glanced at Anathea, only to notice the latter's unfazed expression. It was almost as if she was used to such commentary.An uneasiness settled within Isabel. She felt disgruntled as she recalled the time her ex-boyfriend had cheated on her. If she ever ran into the trollop who'd ruined her relationship again, she swore she'd make her pay.At that moment, Natalie took Gregory's hand and twirled around him before he pulled her in by the waist and dipped her. As she went down, she turned her face to Isabel and Anathea.Anathea narrowed her eyes when she noticed the territorial gleam and provocation in Natalie's gaze. It was as though Natalie was saying Gregory was so taken with her that Anathea no longer meant anything to him.However, Anathea remained straight-faced as she stared at Natalie, looking completely bored with the childish mind games the latter had cooked up.But Isabel's eyes widened, and her voice
