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Chapter 46
Bab terkait
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 47
"What's going on in your head all day?" Ten minutes earlier, as soon as Lena and Anathea had arrived at Aetherbrook Hotel, the manager berated them without hesitation. "Didn't I tell you to replace the flower arrangements in the private suite with the freshest ones by this afternoon? Look at the time now! Do you have any idea how late it is?"Lena adjusted her black-framed glasses and mumbled, "But… you sent a message saying it was for tomorrow afternoon…"Moreover, the schedule had undergone several changes. Just when they had finally agreed on a time, it d been unexpectedly shifted to this afternoon. By the time Lena had completed her other responsibilities and noticed the message, she felt overwhelmed.The manager pointed at her angrily. "You still dare to argue?" Frightened by his aggressive demeanor, Lena instinctively hid behind Anathea. "That's enough. Instead of wasting time here, we should replace the wilted flowers before the guests notice. Otherwise, if they bring
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 48
Theo glanced at Anathea, who was trimming the flower branches, and let out a light chuckle. "Treasure? I don't think so. She just used some underhanded tricks to get Gregory to marry her, that's all. And she's quite the restless one. Otherwise, she'd be staying at home instead of coming out here to be an eyesore. Who knows if it's intentional or just coincidental?" There was a faint trace of mockery in his tone.Hearing this, Anathea paused momentarily before snipping off another branch.The others barely grasped Theo's words and turned to look at Gregory. Yet, Gregory's expression remained calm as he continued playing the game.Seeing Gregory's indifference, Theo took the opportunity to add, "Gregory, you should just divorce that scheming woman. What's so great about her, huh? Everyone knows Ms. Whitman is a much better match for you—"Before he could finish, Gregory calmly laid down his hand. "Royal flush." "Fuck! You were just waiting for me to take the bait, weren't you
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 49
That was the exact response Theo had been waiting for. His gaze swept over Lena and Anathea with amusement. "Oh? What do I want? Thanks to your flower arrangement, my luck's been wrecked, and I've lost millions. So tell me. How exactly do you plan on making up for my loss?"When Lena heard "millions," her fingers clenched and trembled. She could never make that kind of money, yet Theo had just blown it in a few rounds of poker. "I… I don't know."She truly had no idea. If he expected her to repay him, that wasn't possible."Don't know?" Theo chuckled lightly, then turned to those escorts. "What do you all think? How should we handle this?" The escorts exchanged glances, their lips curling into playful smiles. In a teasing tone, one of them cooed, "Mr. Harrington, what's the fun in just playing cards? Why not have a drink instead?" "Great idea!" Theo exclaimed, signaling someone to bring the drinks. Red and white wine were mixed together in a delightful blend, overflowing into
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 50
Theo's smile was faint, but it held the cold cruelty of a devil. He loomed over Lena, watching her condescendingly."I..." Lena's voice trembled so badly it barely formed words. Her legs threatened to give out.However, Theo wasn't about to let up. He dragged out each syllable, his smirk deepening. "Are you drinking or not?" The other escorts, clearly enjoying the spectacle, urged her. "Come on, answer! Are you drinking or not?" Lena's face burned red, then drained pale. The pressure and the fear all became too much. A dizzying wave of panic washed over her, and she collapsed.Anathea reacted instantly, catching her just before she hit the ground. "Lena!"Lena's face was streaked with tears. "It's over… Nat, I'm done…" It wasn't just the scorpions that terrified her. She was also allergic to alcohol. Drinking that would be a death sentence. Adrian watched the scene unfold, unease creeping into his expression. He was just about to step in and put a stop to Theo's game when
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 51
"Theo, that's enough." Gregory's voice was devoid of emotion. Yet, there was no room for negotiation.Upon hearing it, everyone turned to look at him, surprise flickering across their faces. Gregory had never cared about anyone else's well-being. However, he'd just intervened to stop this.Theo froze for a moment, feeling complicated. He'd never expected Gregory to ultimately help Anathea. In the past, Gregory had never once hidden his contempt for Anathea. Theo still couldn't believe that Gregory would step in.Anathea was somewhat surprised when she heard Gregory's words. However, she still didn't put down the wine glass. As long as she finished this last glass, she would receive three million dollars, which was enough to cover Fiona's medical expenses. Thus, after just a brief pause, Anathea tightened her grip on the glass and raised her head. But in the next moment, a tall and imposing figure stepped in front of her. A strong hand grasped her wrist and snatched the glass a
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 52
"No, I can't leave!" Anathea refused, clutching onto the sink. Her voice was hoarse due to the alcohol. "I have to go back. I haven't finished drinking…""Anathea! Do you love drinking that much?" Gregory's voice turned cold. The moment he heard she wanted to go back for more drinks, a surge of anger welled up in his chest.Anathea shook her head. She didn't love alcohol—she just couldn't bear to watch the three million slip through her fingers. "Three million…""Three million?" Gregory let out a sharp laugh.He grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him, gripping her chin. "Are you really that desperate for money?"He prided himself on not mistreating her financially. Sure, he hadn't given her an excessive amount because in his mind, the fact that he'd agreed to marry her was already more than generous.She had no right to ask for more. But he'd never deprived her either. Everything she ate, wore, and lived on was up to the standards of a wealthy wife.And yet, she'd stooped t
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 53
Anathea froze for a moment. Did Gregory just say he would give her three million?But when her gaze met his deep, unreadable eyes, a faint tremor ran through her chest.She knew very well that Gregory was a businessman who only dealt in profit and loss. If she wanted something from him, there would always be a price to pay. And that price…Gregory's eyes were like those of a hawk; he looked at her as though she were prey. But Anathea had no other choice."I'll give you five seconds to decide."The faucet dripped, each droplet echoing like a hammer against her heart."Yes," Anathea said, her voice barely a whisper. It was a difficult decision. Gregory let out a mocking laugh, amusement filling his eyes.She didn't need him to tell her what to do next as she drew back her hand from his chest and slowly reached out to him.Seeing her slightly trembling fingers, Gregory curled his lips and yanked off his tie. He grabbed her wrists and bound both of her hands together, giving her
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 54
Gregory pulled the blanket over Anathea's exposed shoulder before getting up. He stepped over the pile of clothes on the floor, walking toward the living room.Just as he was about to sit down, there was a knock at the door, followed by Theo's voice. "Gregory!"Gregory opened the door for him.The moment Theo saw the scratch marks peeking out from under Gregory's loosely draped robe, he clicked his tongue. "It seems you had an intense time.""If you have something to say, just say it." Gregory wasn't in the mood to waste time, especially since he'd already caught the emotions flickering in Theo's eyes—undeniable resentment and frustration."Why did you help her? You never used to be like this.""That's none of your business," Gregory replied flatly. He didn't owe anyone an explanation, least of all for this. Besides, he himself wasn't entirely sure why he'd spoken up for Anathea in the first place.And now that he had, he'd undoubtedly drawn suspicion from Adrian and the others
Bab terbaru
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 112
Since Thomas put it that way, Anathea didn't want to turn him down. "Alright. What do you feel like eating?""Hmm…" Then, his gaze landed on a sleek silver-and-black Maybach ahead of them. "How about Frevancian? Is that okay with you?""Frevancian?""Yeah, you're not going to say it's too pricey, are you?" Thomas chuckled. "If it is, we can choose somewhere else.""No, Frevancian is fine."Anathea never liked owing people favors, anyway, so footing the bill for something nice actually made her feel less burdened.While driving, Thomas glanced at her and smiled before stepping on the gas and following that Maybach straight to one of the most well-known Frevancian restaurants in Castenea.As soon as they walked in, Thomas pulled out a chair for Anathea and poured her a glass of water. "Thanks to you, I get to enjoy a fancy dinner tonight.""I should be the one thanking you." If it weren't for him, Anathea would probably still be stuck in the hospital parking lot. Handing Thomas t
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 111
"Mrs. Sinclair?" Thomas stopped in front of her with a smile. "It is you. I thought I was seeing things.""Tom..." Anathea let out a small breath of relief. "What are you doing here?""Oh, I was just picking up some herbal medicine for my mom." He held up a bag of herbs for her to see. "Are you heading home?"She nodded, glancing awkwardly at her car. "I was but then my car suddenly broke down and won't start."Thomas crouched down to take a quick look at it. "I think it's an engine problem. You'll need to take it to a mechanic. Luckily, I've got a friend who runs a repair shop. I'll call him and ask if he can come tow your car."He didn't wait for her to respond before pulling out his phone.On the call, he gave his friend the address and sorted all the details before turning back to look at Anathea. "I'll need your number so my friend can contact you when your car's fixed."Anathea gave him her phone number."Alright, it's all been sorted out." Thomas hung up and gave her a
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 110
"Nothing," Anathea replied calmly."I don't buy that," Evangeline uttered. "If nothing's going on, why would he throw such a huge order at you out of nowhere?"Anathea didn't respond. Honestly, she had no idea what Theo was thinking either. He'd given her a big order and handed her an insanely expensive bag. None of it made sense.But she didn't want to dwell on it. Once her divorce from Gregory was finalized, she and Theo wouldn't have any reason to cross paths again."Nat?" Evangeline's voice pulled her out of her thoughts."Hmm?" Anathea blinked and looked over. "What's up?"Evangeline glanced at the time. It was already 4:30 pm. "You've been looking pretty drained lately. Why don't you just call it a day and head home early?""But—" Anathea started to protest, but Evangeline was already ushering her toward the door."I've got the rest covered. Go on. Oh, and say hi to your mom for me. I'll visit her when I get the chance."Anathea could feel the genuine kindness in her wor
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 109
Anathea immediately felt as though the bag was burning her hands. "Mr. Harrington, my purse is not that expensive. You really don't need to replace it."She put the bag back in the box and pushed it toward him.Even though the Jacobsons used to be wealthy, they were never flashy. That was why Anathea had always preferred practical and comfortable things. She'd never carried anything this extravagant.And now, Theo had just casually handed her a luxury bag, which completely caught her off guard."I'll decide if it's expensive or not," Theo said, not giving her a chance to refuse. "Just take it.""Thank you, Mr. Harrington, but I really can't," Anathea replied calmly.Her wariness toward him had grown ever since the whole scorpion liquor incident. Something about him always kept her on alert.Theo picked up on her cautious behavior instantly. As he realized how reckless he'd been before, his head throbbed.Rubbing his forehead, he said awkwardly, "About last time… I owe you an ap
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 108
Anathea finished the last bite of her breakfast and drove to the studio for work that day.Although her floral designs had been removed from the upcoming exhibition, one day had been enough for her designs to attract the attention of many. As a result, Eden Studio had gained newfound fame, albeit on a lesser scale, following the exhibition.The studio had received a huge number of orders. Anathea had also been appointed by name enough times for her orders to overwhelm the studio."Nat, you're getting a little too famous for us!" Evangeline was grinning from ear to ear. "I knew you could do it! Screw the guy who said you weren't a 'good fit' for them!"A good-natured laugh escaped Anathea's lips."By the way, I know you'll have a tough time taking on all these orders, so just pick the ones you want to work with. As for the rest, I'll take care of turning down the orders on your behalf," Evangeline said thoughtfully.With Anathea gearing up for the International Floristry Competiti
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 107
Gregory barked in the direction of the door, "Get out!"Only then did Cyrus stop pushing the door wider and immediately back up, but he couldn't help glancing at the large bed, where Gregory had pinned Anathea under him. While Cyrus couldn't see Anathea, he could make out Gregory's loosened tie and open shirt collar, looking like he was raring to go.Shocked, Cyrus quickly backed away from the bedroom door. So, Gregory and Anathea were getting down to business. But couldn't they have been quieter about it? Anyone who didn't know better would think they were fighting. He'd thought they were close to tearing the walls down!At the thought of this, Cyrus hurried off.Anathea was still shaking even as the bedroom door fell shut. Her emotions were in a clamor as she stared at Gregory hovering over her. She'd calmed down after lashing out at him earlier. Admittedly, she'd been too impulsive and lost control of her emotions.No longer emboldened or spurred on by rage, Anathea felt he
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 106
Gregory was so rough with Anathea that, for a moment, her gaze became unfocused. He leaned down and bit the shell of her ear and said in a voice so low it was spellbinding, "Remember this, Anathea—you owe me! You have no right to refuse me unless I refuse you!"With that, he removed Anathea's final piece of clothing. But at that moment, she snapped out of her temporary daze. Hatred filled her, prompting her to bite his neck.A hiss escaped Gregory, and the pain had him releasing his grip on her. Anathea reached out and pushed the bedside lamp to the floor.There was a loud crash as the lamp hit the ground and shattered into pieces.The heat and lust vanished from Gregory's eyes, replaced by burning rage when he saw the repulsion and hatred on Anathea's face. His fingers clenched around her throat as he growled, "What the hell do you think you're doing, Anathea?""I don't owe you anything!" Anathea retorted loudly even as her voice came out choked and hoarse.This was the first
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 105
Anathea was a married adult; she knew perfectly well the meaning behind Natalie's photo. For the latter to post such a suggestive photo on social media meant she'd gotten Gregory's permission. It seemed they were having a beautiful night together, indeed.The comments section under the photo was a riot of guesses about who Natalie was spending the night with.Natalie's answer was the same to everyone. "Stop guessing, guys! You'll be the first to know the good news if I have any."Someone even teasingly asked if the mysterious man Natalie was spending the night with was any good in bed. Natalie replied with a blushing emoji and a bashful, "Yes, he's amazing!"Anathea locked her phone and numbly stared out the window at the same moon. She took deep breaths and calmed herself, blocking out any thoughts of Natalie and Gregory. Then, she turned off the lights and slept.She thought she'd be tossing and turning that night, but it turned out her body was more exhausted than she believe
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 104
Jenny lifted her gaze to Anathea. For a moment, she was at a loss. "Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. Xander…"Anathea said nothing. She looked at the cookies she'd made despite her exhaustion, only for them to be knocked over by Xander. Pursing her lips, she had Jenny clean up the mess on the floor while she resumed packing the remaining cookies and sweets.Jenny was upset to see Anathea holding back her emotions, but there was nothing she could do other than lend Anathea a helping hand.It was nearly 11:00 pm when Anathea finished packing all the snacks into a container."Mrs. Sinclair—" Jenny hesitated as she tried to make up an excuse for Xander's behavior.However, Anathea cut her off, "It's late, Jenny. You should call it a night."Jenny opened her mouth to argue. However, she swallowed the rest of her words and turned to leave.At that moment, Anathea's phone beeped with a new message. She unlocked it to see that Natalie had sent her a video of Eleanor, Gregory, and Xander.Xander happ
