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Chapter 15
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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
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
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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,
