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Chapter 50
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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
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 55
Anathea woke up feeling parched.The heat coursing through her body made her feel like a fish stranded onshore, gasping for water. Every inch of her body ached as if it had been taken apart and put back together again.She struggled to open her eyes, and when she realized Gregory was no longer there, the tension inside her loosened just a little.As she propped herself up, the blanket slid down to her waist. That was when she noticed there wasn't a single unmarked spot on her body.She didn't care. Her gaze fell on the nightstand to find a check for three million there, down to the last cent. There wasn't a penny more. It was as if he was telling her that was exactly what she was worth.Anathea curled her lips slightly. At the very least, Gregory kept his word.To him, three million was nothing. It was just like every check he'd ever given her before—nothing more than a payment after he used her to satisfy himself.Still, Anathea took the check without hesitation. For the sake o
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 56
Anathea felt a chill all over her body, and it only eased a little with the help of a hot shower. After she'd changed into the new clothes, she headed straight to the hospital.Once she paid off the remaining three million in medical expenses and confirmed the surgery date, Anathea finally let out a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "I'll be counting on you for the surgery, Dr. Peltz.""Rest assured, Ms. Jacobson. We'll do our best," Carla replied solemnly. "Mrs. Jacobson is awake now. Would you like to see her?"Ever since Fiona had started receiving the injections, her condition had slightly improved. At that moment, she was sipping the nourishing soup the nurse had brought her. When she saw Anathea at the door, she smiled and waved her over. "You're here.""Hi, Mom." Anathea smiled faintly. But the moment she noticed the thick IV catheter still in Fiona's wrist, her nose stung. "Does it hurt?""Not at all. Don't worry." Fiona raised her hand to
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 57
Anathea didn't know why Fiona had suddenly asked that. But with Fiona's surgery coming up, Anathea didn't want to worry her.Hence, she smiled and replied, "No, he's treating me well."Despite what she said, images flashed through her mind—Gregory gripping her chin, looking at her with pure disdain."I didn't know you were this cheap, Anathea. A mere three million is all it takes for you to sell yourself?""If you're going to sell yourself, then make some noise. Who are you putting on this half-dead act for?"Every word was like a fine silver needle, piercing countless wounds into her heart. The pain seeped deep into her bones, making it hard to breathe.Yet, she still wore a faint smile when she was with Fiona. "I'm telling the truth, Mom. Don't worry about me. I'm doing fine."Fiona didn't speak right away. She simply looked at Anathea, taking in how much thinner her daughter's face had become. Her heart ached, but seeing Anathea still smiling, she nodded."I just want you to
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 58
Anathea let out a breath and was just about to leave. As she lifted her head, she caught sight of Gregory at the end of the hallway, talking on the phone. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting a long, sharp-edged shadow of him on the floor.She paused. Xander had said Gregory brought him here, so of course, he was at the hospital, too.Gregory also looked in her direction. For a brief moment, their eyes met. Anathea's fingers curled slightly at her sides. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she could vaguely sense Gregory's gaze sweeping over her.He was, in fact, looking at her. She was wearing a pure white silk blouse paired with a form-fitting, pale lavender fishtail skirt.He'd picked this outfit. It was a relatively modest design. A scarf covered her neck, and the skirt reached past her knees, concealing every mark he'd left on her.Even so, her figure was undeniably striking. Though she'd lost weight, her curves remained untouched. The soft, fitte
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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
