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Chapter 84
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 85
When Anathea still remained unmoving, Martin called out again, "Mrs. Sinclair, it's cold outside. Please get in the car."Only then did Anathea come back to her senses. She headed for the back of the car and opened the door.Usually, she would drive herself, so she rarely sat in Gregory's car.It was so rare that she couldn't even remember the last time she had been in his car. All she could recall was that the back seat featured a classic black night-sky headliner with stars. It fit his cold and aloof demeanor well.However, upon opening the door and entering the car this time, she realized the interior had changed. It was no longer black, and the starry sky had been replaced with blue roses.Anathea paused briefly.The blue roses were incredibly similar to the attire Natalie had worn to Eleanor's birthday party.Natalie's favorite color was also blue.Anathea inadvertently caught sight of a light blue bag, the contents of which were some cosmetics from luxury brands. Since
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 86
Now that there was a successful case, it greatly boosted their confidence in the drug!"That's wonderful!" Anathea grabbed Fiona's hand, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy. "Mom, did you hear that?"This meant that Fiona's surgery was sure to be a success as well!At this thought, Anathea couldn't stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks."Silly girl, why are you crying?" Fiona reached out to wipe the tears clinging to Anathea's lashes, even as her own eyes became red-rimmed. "You've had it tough recently. It's all my fault for being such a burden to you…"If it weren't for her illness, perhaps Anathea could have had an easier life the past few years."Mom, don't say that." Anathea hugged Fiona tightly. "You're not a burden."Her mother wasn't a burden but a safe harbor for her wounded soul to return to.With a successful case as a precedent, she could already see hope for Fiona's recovery. Her heart pounded rapidly. It had been a long time since she had been this happy.
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 87
"I'm not pregnant," Anathea said calmly."Are you a doctor? How are you so certain?" Gregory clearly didn't believe her. He would only trust the truth written in black and white. In other words, a test result.To be more precise, he didn't trust her.Anathea didn't answer his questions, instead retorting, "If I really were pregnant, what would you do?"Gregory fell silent.After all, having another baby was not within his plans, especially since he already had an heir.Besides that…Gregory glanced at Anathea, noting how thin and frail she was. She looked like she would break with the slightest gust of wind. Her face was sickly pale, and even her lips were almost colorless.Gregory's thin lips pursed into a line.When Anathea received no response from him, she scoffed in her mind.They were about to divorce, so it was only natural he wouldn't wish she were pregnant, worried she would use the child to continue tying them together.Besides, he and Natalie were clearly in love
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 88
Thunder boomed as dark clouds gathered in the sky.The Rolls-Royce steadily drove into the parking garage.Cyrus immediately came forward to welcome Gregory home. "Mr. Sinclair."Gregory nodded at him, extending his long legs to get out of the car.After a few seconds of hesitation, Martin plucked up the courage to ask, "Mr. Sinclair, are we really leaving Mrs. Sinclair there? It looks like it's about to rain, and the weather forecast says that tonight's temperatures will be quite low…"Gregory thought back to the thin dress Anathea had been wearing, but his expression remained unchanged. "She can call a taxi."He refused to believe that Anathea didn't know how to call for a taxi. She was, after all, an adult.With that thought, he ignored Martin and took off his coat before tossing it at Cyrus. After that, he headed straight upstairs."Dad!" The instant Xander spotted Gregory, he rushed over and asked in confusion, "Why is Ms. Whitman's room empty?"Here he had been thinking
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 89
Anathea was drenched through, every raindrop feeling like an icy needle pricking against her skin. Her footsteps gradually slowed as her feet felt more and more like lead.The rain continued to grow heavier.Eventually, her vision began to blur.The next second, there was a loud screeching of tires as someone braked. A black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of Anathea.The car window rolled down before Gregory's face appeared.He had already changed out of his stiff and proper suit and was now dressed in loungewear. Despite that, there was no hiding his innate noble air. On the contrary, the casual attire only added to his charm.In comparison, the drenched Anathea appeared to be in a real sorry state. Even so, her back remained straight, and she retained her usual poise.The Jacobson family's teachings had ingrained in her the need to always maintain her composure. No matter where or in what situation, she could never easily show her unease or humiliation.Even when she was shiver
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 90
Gregory was growing softer when it came to Anathea.This wasn't a good thing!And Theo himself had earlier almost done the same.Upon realizing this, Theo smacked the steering wheel in anger before starting the engine. Stomping down on the accelerator, he sped off, spraying water everywhere.…At the Sinclair residence, Gregory parked the car before saying emotionlessly, "We're here. Get out."However, he received no response.Displeased, he turned to look, only to see that Anathea's eyes were tightly shut."Anathea?" Gregory called out.Still no reply.It was then he noticed Anathea's shallow breathing and the unnatural flush to her previously pale face.Expression turning grim, Gregory reached out a hand to touch her forehead. It was burning hot!"Anathea!" Gregory immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and circled the car to pick her up. Then, he strode quickly into the living room."What's going on?" Cyrus and Jenny came over to see what the commotion was about."Anathea
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 91
When Anathea woke up, it was already the morning of the next day.Last night's heavy rainfall had finally stopped, leaving only glistening drops of rainwater on the leaves to slowly drip down.The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains, illuminating the room in a soft, warm glow.As her fever had completely subsided, Anathea no longer felt so uncomfortable.Jenny, who had come in to check on Anathea, smiled when she saw that the latter was awake. She greeted cheerfully, "Good morning, Mrs. Sinclair!""Morning."Anathea slowly propped herself up into a sitting position. As she did, she caught sight of the smooth bed sheet beside her. Not a wrinkle marred the spot next to her on the bed.Gregory hadn't stayed the night."Mr. Sinclair left last night. There must have been an emergency at the company," Jenny explained.An emergency at the company?Anathea thought it more likely that he had gone off to see Natalie.Not a hint of emotion stirred the calmness in her eyes. F
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,
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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
