ly pull her hand out of Adrian's grip, she

she tried, she co

she finish two full cups of it. Then, without a

upted Annabelle's fear and tangled thoughts. Adr

k your health. You need to take care of yourself a

ka

had to endure. Ther

uit on the table, Adrian continued to watch her, his

rtable, but all she could do was

and the look in his

, and hung up. His expression sharp

ple as before. I'll make sure you can't escape, and you'll have no choice but to stay

mus Cromwell's previous coun

rian would never let anyone who dared

's heart

the incident with Maximus Cromwell, she

ly due to the phone call. S

ng figure, Annabelle final

ssive, making it hard to breat

ld be like when she met her father later.

forever? Her future fe

usly, keeping his head low, not

n instructed

has brought them to the door." An

ght." What was meant to co

handsome and gentlemanly, w

, dressed elegantly

nabelle's half-sister-same

rt churned with

been studying abroad but was sum

ing terrible had happe

magined that everything wo

d told her that her mother

er's body had been

duced his new wife, Cleo, and Aria, who

lue, shattering the happy fami

, leaving Annabelle to wonder-wha

niture in the hous

ded her of her mother

sn't hers anymor

needed the better room to recuperate.

he once kn

e moved on. Her father had married Cleo and brought Aria into their home the

argument, and without a second thought, she sto

ult, she no longer deserved the family's support. Her tuition payments were cut off, forcing her to abandon her studies

he was sick and needed her by his side. For a moment, her heart wavered-but she refused. Yet, he persisted. He needed her to step in for him in a critical business neg

stake-how the company could face ruin if this deal fell through. Reluctantly, she agreed. A

elt her chest tighten. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she

e into an awkward,

" he exclaimed, his voice ti

hand, her smile w

" Her words dripped with false warmth

t to fend for herself-would rise like a phoenix and

us Cromwell , hoping to salvage some of their losses.

g beneath the surface. Why was Annabelle always so lucky

sing through her. Congratulations? Lucky? What wer

scene with quiet disda

abelle's bat

d from Cleo 's grip, her

o Maximus Cromwell ? For being humiliated and used? F

pression tur

onged you, but you have to

ile, her tone dripping

dn't do this, we'd lose everything. You're so kind-he

at family? You only call me family when you need someth

should have known better. For the sake of his new fa