d heavily over Anna. Her heart pounded nervo

Enzo's wife spoke with a forced smile. "If you h

engthen the case. "Yes, Anna is too young to g

e understood exactly what her son and daughter-in-law were thinking, and t

u prepared to give Julian a child? Remember, if you do, you will i

nswered witho

laim a share of the Ashford estate. And even if she objecte

action brightene

foolish women who never realized what

hed everything in warmth, and the sound of cicadas filled the ai

face twisted some

se take these gift

lone, Noah leaned in and whispered, "You're hurting me, Anna! You've neve

ded with a

verything he is set to inherit. Why w

d have my child instead and pretend it was my uncle's! Even if Grandmother

ic smile fa

You know just as well as I do that Julian's men show no mercy. Even now, they're waiting for him

e fierce loyalty his uncle's men possessed. After the accident,

composure. "It doesn't matter whether the child is his o

"That child would be your cousin, N

nt, stunned

, his voice tense. "We can tal

asked with a sharp glint in her ey

, brimming with contempt,

mother has already arranged for a

ctitioners awaited her. They hurri

d collect her eggs. If not, they planned t

m, reassuring tone. "There may be some pain, but once you deliver Mr.

medical bed, her he

r... it to work?" she ask

ou're lucky, three or four months might be en

gently, "You're still young, Anna

settled over Avonsville, bringi

e bathroom. She sat on the edge of the bed, opened a small jar

ian, who remained motio

u like me to put some on you as w

sat beside him. She dabbed some cream onto her fin

ids fluttered, and h

ned his eyes, but the vividness of his gaze always startled her. Yet this time, something felt

Anna asked, unsettled.

r lips moving with words meant

e of a certain illness... But I have nothing to find fau

s limbs, as if to un

ard something-a deep voice,

, her hear

d you say s

. The look he gave her was no longer vacant.

she hurried down the stairs. "Mrs. Miller,

heaved with excitement. She felt certain t

, the doctor, and the bodyguard all rushed in. B

appen. Yet there was Julian Ashford, h

us, my son!" Hilary exclaimed,

idea how terrified we've been... Mother l

tion, the doctor conf

no signs of recovery. Now, with proper rehabil

ry fainted. Enzo caught her just in

the door, and Julian, propped agains

s piercing

ed, his deep voice l

respond. Mrs. Miller, with her head bowed, replied quietly, "Master Julian... she's

ce, icy and emotionless, cut through the si