“There’s a banquet at the Hilton Hotel. Go there now.” The man’s voice was cold and indifferent. Anastasia Graves was overjoyed when she received a call from her husband, Christian Patterson. “I am at the hospital…” Christian hung up before Anastasia could tell him that she had come to the hospital to take a pregnancy examination. Christian had been on a business trip for more than two months, and this was the first time he had called her on his own initiative. Although his attitude was as cold as ever, his call was enough to make Anastasia happy. He should have remembered that it was their third wedding anniversary today. He must have let her go there to surprise her. At the thought, Anastasia’s haggard face turned a little rosy. Delighted, she left the hospital with the examination report. She also had good news to tell Christian. They were blessed with two happy events today. As soon as Anastasia got out of the car, she was surrounded by countless reporters. They flocked to her, blocking her way. Anastasia could not conceal her pleasure. It must have been Christian who broke the news of their anniversary, so the reporters waited in particular to send them their best wishes. With that in mind, she happily waved to the reporter. “Mrs. Patterson, you and Mr. Patterson have been married for three years, and Mr. Patterson’s illegitimate child is two years old. Do you know it?” “Mrs. Patterson, what do you think of the illegitimate child? Will you agree to take him back and raise him?” “Are you and Mr. Patterson in a marriage of convenience, where you both pursue your own interests?” “Is the child yours and Mr. Patterson’s? Or is him Mr. Patterson’s illegitimate child?” There had been rumors about Christian’s illegitimate child recently, but Anastasia didn’t believe it. “Christian is very busy. We don’t have children yet, and he doesn’t have any illegitimate children. It’s all rumors. We love each other very much. I believe in my husband.” After three years of marriage, she had become adept at handling such unexpected situations skillfully and decisively. At that moment, Christian stood nearby, his presence commanding attention with his tall and muscular frame. His striking features enhanced his overall appearance, giving him an air of coolness. His eyes and eyebrows added a hint of mysterious aloofness. He exchanged pleasantries with the person opposite him. And when he looked up, he saw Anastasia walking over. Instantly, his smile faded, and his stern face was as indifferent as usual. The next second, Anastasia’s smile faltered a little, her expression froze for an instant, and her step was heavy. She saw a cute little boy in his arms. The child appeared to be around two years old and bore a striking resemblance to Christian. Christian looked down at the child with pleasure, noble and gentle. The woman beside Christian took over the child gently. They behaved like a couple who had been married for many years. The woman was Beatrice Cohen. She was back. The child’s eyebrows and eyes were similar to those of Beatrice and Christian. Anastasia didn’t even believe that the child would have nothing to do with Christian. Clenching her fists tightly, Anastasia tried hard to calm herself down. Three years earlier, Beatrice had broken up with Christian after accepting a sum of money from his mother, Lamia Patterson. After that, she had gone abroad. Christian was heartbroken by his girlfriend’s betrayal. Probably out of revenge on his mother, Christian dated plenty of women from then on. At that time, Anastasia had long been in love with Christian. She had been kidnapped abroad, and it was Christian who passed by and rescued her. Since then, she believed in love at first sight. After returning to her home country, Anastasia deliberately went to work at Patterson Group in order to get close to Christian. But he had forgotten who she was at that time. Therefore, Anastasia could boost her career to attract his attention. It only took her half a year to become the chief secretary in his office. Then suddenly, Christian’s younger sister became seriously ill and needed a bone marrow donation. During a check-up, it was found that Anastasia’s bone marrow typing was a suitable match. That was the first time Christian had come to her because of a personal matter. With a patient demeanor, he asked her what conditions she required to agree to donate bone marrow. Anastasia was willing to donate her bone marrow, but she did not want to get a sum of money in return. In the end, she suppressed her nervousness and tentatively said, “I will agree if you marry me.” Christian paused and responded casually, “Okay.” He seemed indifferent to whom his wife would be. On the other hand, Anastasia was very elated, and she considered being his wife her life’s mission. In the past three years, she had been ridiculed, humiliated, and neglected and had become a topic of gossip. Everyone took it for granted she would be abandoned. Yet, Anastasia herself had always believed that she would never regret marrying him. She believed that she would become a qualified wife. As time passed by, she would prove that his choice was not wrong. She would finally get his attention and make him fall in love with her. However, now, her confidence and determination seemed to have collapsed. Standing on the stage, Christian glanced coldly at the surrounding people, and the hall immediately fell silent. “Thank you all for taking the time to celebrate the birthday of my son, Charlie Patterson. Unfortunately, we are photographed and subjected to baseless speculation today. To avoid any harm to Charlie, I would like to declare officially that he is the son of my wife and me.” Anastasia listened to his words, her mind buzzing. She raised her head to look at him with a stiff and embarrassed expression. Her face was pale. The reporters at the gate had not gone far. So, they definitely heard Christian’s words. Anastasia had firmly denied Christian’s relationship with that child in front of the reporters just now. Unexpectedly, Christian admitted that it was his child in the next second. Obviously, Christian wanted the public to know that the child was his while he had nothing to do with Anastasia. She seemed to have been slapped twice in public. The scorching heat enveloped the top of her head, and her cheeks were so hot that they were about to burn. Anastasia couldn’t believe that her husband would announce such an event on their wedding anniversary. Perhaps, he forgot it was their wedding anniversary today. He prepared the banquet to announce the child’s identity, and he simply informed her to attend it. Tears welled up in Anastasia’s eyes, blurring her vision. Everything in front of her exposed the façade she had desperately maintained in her marriage, shattering all her perseverance and self-esteem. When Anastasia took a deep look at Christian, he was still waiting for her to express her cooperation. Realizing that he put her in such a situation regardless of her feelings, Anastasia was overwhelmed with embarrassment and humiliation. His icy, piercing gaze revealed his menacing intentions. A sharp ache weighed on her heart. Now, he not only embarrassed her but also shifted the blame onto her. Anastasia found it utterly absurd. It seemed that there was no way to soften his heart of stone. She had been too naive, and now she had to admit defeat. It was time to put an end to everything. She took hold of the microphone and smiled slowly. Her voice came out rough and slow. “Mr. Patterson, you’ve made a mistake. I have no connection to the child. I too am curious about who the child’s mother is.” The hall erupted in chaos. Everyone exchanged shocked glances. Anastasia’s clear eyes locked with Christian’s furious gaze. She sensed his anger and restraint. His expression turned icy. He lowered his voice and said, “Anastasia, what are you causing a scene for? Can’t you grasp the seriousness of the situation? Remember your promise.” She had promised that once he married her, she would be a devoted wife and never bring disgrace to the Patterson family. Letting out a bitter laugh, she suppressed her disappointment and narrowed her eyes. Her gaze gradually turned cold. “Am I causing a scene for no reason, or have you gone too far?” Anastasia’s eyes were filled with disappointment and desolation. As a final attempt not to embarrass him too much in public for his own sake, she lowered her voice. “Christian, let’s get a divorce!”
After that, Anastasia threw the microphone on the ground, turned around, and left. There was a dead silence in the venue. Anastasia and Christian had been married for three years, yet his illegitimate child was two years old. In other words, in the past three years, Christian didn’t come home these three years because he had to care for another woman and their child, not because he was busy with work. He said he didn’t like children and didn’t allow Anastasia to bear one. It turned out that he didn’t want her to be the mother of his child. Thinking of that, Anastasia found that she was a fool in the past few years. She even tried her best to maintain the façade of a happy marriage. When she walked out of the banquet hall, Anastasia stopped and looked back. She saw Beatrice go up to comfort Christian with the child in her arms. Beatrice said to him gently and slowly, “Christian, why did Anastasia leave? Does she not like Charlie?” Christian said coldly, “Ignore her.” Hearing that, Anastasia sneered. Christian’s indifferent voice seemed to have driven her into an abyss covered with thick snow, torturing her. To him, she was only a woman who had taken advantage of him to marry him. Now, she took the initiative to divorce, which was a correct decision, and it was a relief for him. Anastasia snorted. She looked desperate and decisive with her eyes red. Turning her head, she strode away from the hotel without hesitation. Anastasia liked Christian, but it didn’t mean he could trample her again and again. She would not go down without a fight when her self-esteem was trampled on. Divorce was not shameful. But it would be shameful that she still tried to help him cover it up when she was aware of his affair and his illegitimate child. It was really ridiculous. Anastasia had made up her mind that she would fix everything. *** Anastasia returned to the villa they shared after their wedding. She had carefully arranged the furnishings to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for Christian when he returned to the villa. But now, the huge villa felt empty and devoid of life. Anastasia remembered how Christian had stayed for just one day and left in a hurry last month. His return today took her by surprise, as it was a rare occurrence. Over the past three years, he should have been with Beatrice and their child. The thought made her feel sick. She went upstairs to pack her belongings when she heard a knock on the door. “Mrs. Patterson, Brian is here.” Hearing that, Anastasia paused for a moment before going downstairs. Beside Brian Vega stood a suitcase, indicating that he had just arrived. He held a jewelry box and a bouquet of flowers, offering them with a smile. “Mrs. Patterson, these are gifts that Mr. Patterson prepared for you to celebrate your anniversary.” Anastasia hesitated for a moment before looking up at him. It suddenly struck her that Brian had always been the one to deliver the anniversary gifts. Now that Christian was busy celebrating his illegitimate child’s birthday, it was impossible for him to have have prepared these gifts. Anastasia sneered but didn’t reach out to take them. With disappointment piling up, she had no choice but to accept her own defeat. “Brian, Christian doesn’t even remember what day it is today. You prepared these gifts, didn’t you?” As soon as she finished speaking, Brian’s smile faltered for a moment. Struggling to maintain it, he stuttered, “Mrs. Patterson, it’s, it’s…” His reaction confirmed her suspicions. Anastasia felt a weight lifted off her chest as she let out a sigh of relief. She was relieved to have her answer. She had once been so happy to receive these gifts, but now it all seemed so ridiculous. She had been too blind to see the signs. Without saying a word, Anastasia turned and went back upstairs. She took out her phone, contemplating whether to contact her family, but hesitated. Three years ago, she married Christian against her family’s wishes, and now she believed she deserved what had befallen her. Tapping the screen, she was greeted by news from the internet. The headlines were buzzing with scandalous claims. “Shocking! Anastasia used to be a mistress and had an abortion before marriage, rendering her unable to conceive!” “Why can’t the Pattersons have children of their own?” “Christian is so pitiful! He married someone who can’t bear children!” “Christian and Beatrice are a perfect match!” “Anastasia’s indiscretions revealed after marrying into a wealthy family!” The internet was flooded with such headlines. Anastasia was clearly the victim, yet they were all slandering her. As she held her phone, Anastasia’s hands trembled Tears welled up and fell onto her hands. In her heart, she sneered, “Christian, you’re so heartless! Is this your way of punishing me for not cooperating with you? Fine! Thank you for removing any lingering feelings I still had for you!” With a wry smile, Anastasia wiped away her tears, her eyes turning cold and resolute. Her belongings were packed, leaving only the things she had brought with her. She was waiting to cut off all her ties with Christian after completing the necessary procedures tomorrow. *** At midnight, Anastasia fell into a drowsy sleep, oblivious to the faint sound of a car outside. Soon enough, heavy footsteps echoed outside the bedroom. Anastasia’s bedside sank as a cold hand touched her soft skin. She trembled violently, instantly jolting awake. With great effort, she brushed away his hand and protected her belly. In the darkness, the atmosphere froze. When Anastasia caught a whiff of the familiar yet unfamiliar cold scent mixed with a slight hint of alcohol, she knew it was Christian. His sudden appearance was indeed a surprise.Upon further consideration, she suspected that he had come to settle the score for what had transpired at the daytime banquet. Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, she distanced herself from him with an air of indifference. In the next moment, a warm light filled the entire room. Anastasia was confronted with the towering figure of Christian. His face was icy, and his cold gaze fixated on her. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Did he think her reaction earlier was unwarranted drama? Anastasia lowered her gaze, concealing her sadness, and mustered a faint smile. She said, “I’m serious about getting a divorce.” Christian’s eyes remained icy and locked onto her, as if he were holding back his anger. “You’re insane. You’re afraid the child will affect your status, so you’re purposely seeking my attention by asking for a divorce, right?” With that, he observed Anastasia’s pale face and shocked expression for a moment, believing he had seen through her ploy. A moment later, he sneered dismissively, “Let me tell you…” But before he could finish speaking, Anastasia jumped out of bed, swiftly headed to the closet to grab her coat, and emerged with a packed suitcase. Christian froze, squinting his eyes. He stared sharply and coldly at her, who was ready to leave at any moment. Anastasia stood there in her windbreaker, her eyes profound as she looked up at him. Her gaze exuded nothing but coldness. She knew Christian would only view her with the utmost malice. “Christian, if you don’t show up at the court to finalize the divorce proceedings tomorrow, I’ll expose all the dirty secrets about your family to the media.” She knew what he detested the most, thus she resorted to this tactic. As expected, Christian’s expression turned cold instantly, and his gaze remained as sharp and dangerous as ever. Now, Anastasia had nothing to fear. She was no longer afraid of losing him after accepting the failure of their marriage. Though her heart was still shrouded in sorrow, she believed that everything would be alright as time went by. Anastasia couldn’t stay any longer now. Pushing the suitcase, she turned around and left. Christian glanced down at her and grabbed her wrist. His eyes were gloomy, his voice cold. “Anastasia, don’t regret it!” Of course, she would not regret it, so she was resolute in her decision to leave. With the arrival of early autumn, the night grew pitch-black, accompanied by a subtle chill. As soon as Anastasia stepped out of the villa, her eyes welled up and her vision blurred, tears silently streaming down her face. Her suppressed emotions seemed to have found an outlet. She let out a soft laugh, took out her cellphone, and called her friend, Eleanor Duncan. “Come pick me up, Eleanor.” Eleanor paused briefly, then replied calmly and swiftly, “Wait for me. I’ll be there right away.” Eleanor had been Anastasia’s friend since childhood. She was the one who had voiced the strongest opposition to her marrying Christian back then.However, Anastasia stubbornly ignored her advice and insisted on marrying him. It wasn’t until the failure of her marriage that she realized who truly cared about her. For the past three years, Anastasia purposely distanced herself from her friends, afraid that they would find out about her struggles and cause trouble. And now, she felt foolish. In less than ten minutes, Eleanor arrived. When they saw each other, their eyes were teary. Eleanor glanced at the suitcase next to Anastasia and suddenly understood something. She clenched her teeth, filled with anger and distress, saying, “Let’s go back to my apartment first.” The Duncan family was known for their wealth in Amarilla City. Therefore, Eleanor, the eldest daughter, had the means to be extravagant and arrogant. Half an hour later, they arrived at a luxurious downtown apartment. As soon as Eleanor stepped inside the apartment, she couldn’t help but curse, “I wanted to curse him when I read the news earlier today. That heartless jerk! How dare him?! Having the audacity to bring his illegitimate child to you and forcing you to accept him!” Originally, Anastasia thought she would be heartbroken when hearing Eleanor’s words, but the truth was, she felt nothing. It was as if everything about Christian had become a distant memory. She shook her head with a bitter smile. “We’re getting a divorce tomorrow.”
Eleanor paused. “That’s great. That’s more like it, girl! I would disrespect you if you still hung on the thought that he would fall for you one day!” As she spoke, Eleanor walked over to help Anastasia unpack her belongings quickly. There was a moment of silence. Eleanor turned her head and embraced Anastasia to offer comfort. “It’s good that you’ve come back. You’re not allowed to fall for that jerk again in the future. I’m warning you!” Tears welled up in Anastasia’s eyes. Blinded by love, she had wasted too much time on Christian. Then she answered with resolution, “I won’t. I promise.” Then Anastasia took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. When telling Eleanor she wouldn’t fall for Christian, she was actually warning herself not to be so stupid again. It was gloomy and stifling the following day. Anastasia abandoned her regal style of dressing and her dignified image as Mrs. Patterson. She chose a green off-the-shoulder gown that she hadn’t worn in three years, which accentuated her delicate and radiant skin. Then Eleanor drove Anastasia straight to the court and waited in the car. They waited for a long time, but Christian didn’t show up. Anastasia called him three times in a row, and he rejected her calls. Looking at the rejected calls, she quickly found the phone number of a reporter who had a good relationship with the Patterson Group. With a calm smile, she got straight to the point as the call was answered. “I have evidence of Christian’s infidelity. How about I give it to you for free?” Taken aback, the reporter quickly exchanged a few words before hanging up. Eleanor gave Anastasia a thumbs up, and Anastasia adjusted her hair. She casually said to Eleanor, “Wait a little longer. He’ll be here soon. By the way, anything interesting happened lately?” Eleanor pondered for a moment and smiled, “Last month, the Graves Group unveiled groundbreaking bionic technology that shook the world. It has successfully dominated the international market. People say that the Graves family may seem low-key, but they’re actually quite wealthy!” As soon as Eleanor finished speaking, Christian called. Anastasia chuckled softly. As expected, her strategy worked. She answered the call calmly, hearing his angry voice. “Anastasia, stop being so full of yourself. Even if you do have evidence, no reporter would dare to publish it.” Anastasia knew that with the powerful influence of the Patterson Group, those reporters wouldn’t dare to offend him. But she had to use this trick to make sure the divorce would go smooth. She smiled lightly, her voice indifferent. “Mr. Patterson, I’ve been waiting for you at the court. Since you didn’t show up, I had to resort to necessary measures.” Christian fell silent for a moment. A while later, he replied in a cold and harsh voice. “I don’t have time to play games with you. You better get to work at the company on time, or I’ll fire all the incompetent employees in your team.” With that, he hung up the phone abruptly. Anastasia’s face froze. She wondered if he despised her so much that he would take it out on innocent people. After thinking for some time, Anastasia asked Eleanor to head back to her apartment first. After that, she hailed a taxi and went to the Patterson Group. The employees in the company were shocked when they saw Anastasia. They hadn’t expected her to return so soon. What shocked them even more was that she looked more radiant than before. Anastasia went straight to Christian’s office with the divorce papers and resignation letter she had prepared long ago. She just wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. When she reached the floor, she didn’t bother knocking on the door, but instead pushed it open and walked in. To her surprise, Beatrice, looking frail and pitiful, was sitting next to Christian. The two of them were huddled together. Their heads lowered as they were engrossed in discussing the documents, appearing quite intimate. Anastasia’s face darkened slightly. She hadn’t expected to see Beatrice there. But then again, it wasn’t all that surprising since they had a child together. Clearly, Beatrice’s presence disrupted their harmonious atmosphere. Disdain flashed in Anastasia’s eyes as she spoke directly, “I had originally planned to finalize the divorce proceedings before resigning. It seems I’ll have to resign first.” Christian looked up at her, his expression somewhat distant. His shirt was perfectly pressed, and he emitted an icy aura. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll fire them if you make such a fuss?” He knew that Anastasia had trained the secretaries herself and cared deeply about them. In response, Anastasia sneered, “Then I’ll take all of them with me.” The atmosphere froze for a moment. Upon hearing this, Beatrice averted her gaze and smiled faintly. She then pulled out a gift box from the drawer, and handed it over. “Ms. Graves, are you still upset about what happened yesterday? I’m sorry. I heard it was your third wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, Christian has been busy taking care of me and our child, so he forgot about it. This is the gift I picked out for you together with him. I hope you like it.” Beatrice approached and whispered in Anastasia’s ear. “By the way, I also have a necklace just like this one!” She stared at Anastasia, her eyes full of provocation and sarcasm. Did Christian prepare the gift with Beatrice? Did he even give her the same necklace as Beatrice’s? It sounded absurd! Anastasia couldn’t put her feelings into words. It was as if she had stepped on a pile of poop when she went outside. She glared at Beatrice coldly. In the next moment, she raised her hand abruptly and knocked the gift out of Beatrice’s hand, saying, “Save it, Beatrice. I know what kind of person you are.” Beatrice’s face turned pale, and she looked at Anastasia with a pitiful expression. She said, “I know you’re angry with me, but Charlie is innocent. Can you please take him in and raise him like your own child?” Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed. “Anastasia, what are you doing?” Christian’s voice was indifferent as he stood up with a gloomy expression. Seeing the gift box on the floor and Beatrice sobbing, he was annoyed. He couldn’t believe that Anastasia actually had the guts to bully Beatrice in front of him. With tear-filled eyes, Beatrice clung to his arm, whimpering, “Ms. Graves has every right to be angry at me. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t like the gift I chose. I just want to beg her to treat Charlie better. I never intended to ruin your marriage.” Christian looked at Anastasia, his brows furrowed. And his deep eyes were filled with coldness. Anastasia watched Beatrice’s performance and couldn’t help but get impressed her acting skills. Seconds later, she smiled lightly and spoke in a cold tone, “You became a mistress and even had an illegitimate child. Why are you pretending to be innocent? Don’t you think it’s ridiculous?” Beatrice’s face turned pale. She weakly leaned against Christian’s body, tears streaming down her face. Christian’s face grew cold, and his eyes filled with angry gloom. “Anastasia, don’t be harsh. She is not the other woman. You better show her some respect.” Watching him defending Beatrice as if she were his beloved, unwilling to let her suffer even the slightest grievance, Anastasia felt like a villain who was tearing a couple apart suddenly. Anastasia’s eyes turned sharp, and she looked at the man in front of her with a sneer. “You want me to respect her? Does she deserve it?” Anastasia suppressed the disgust in her heart and glanced at Christian, her eyes filled with indifference. As Christian observed her face, he felt a strange sensation in his heart. But he quickly pushed it down. He heard Beatrice crying pitifully, and it only made him feel sorry for her. “Anastasia, apologize to Beatrice!” “Apologize?” Anastasia paused for a moment, looking at him with a sense of absurdity. In that moment, Beatrice bit her lower lip, took a cup of coffee from the table, and approached Anastasia. “I’m sorry, Ms. Graves. I should apologize to you.” She attempted to hand the cup of coffee to Anastasia. Just when coffee was about to spill onto Anastasia, she quickly dodged backwards and slapped Beatrice hard across the face even when anger took over her mind. Clap! The impact of the slap resonated with the sound of the cup shattering. Anastasia shook her numb hand, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Shocked, Beatrice kept playing the victim card. When she covered her rapidly reddening and swelling face, tears dripped down her frightened eyes. Christian, in disbelief, stared at Anastasia. Ignoring the mess on himself, he shielded Beatrice behind him. His gaze turned instantly menacing. “Anastasia, have you lost your mind?!” He snapped.
Since yesterday, Anastasia had undergone a complete transformation. With a scornful expression, she faced Christian’s angry gaze and threw the resignation letter and divorce agreement that she had prepared a long time ago in his face. “Christian, shame on you! You manipulated public opinion and bought over so many social media to slander me. You seriously think I will forget that?! Don’t expect me to have any respect for you. You disgust me!” She smirked coldly, took a step forward, and approached Christian without fear. As she looked into his sharp eyes, Anastasia was unfazed. Grabbing Christian by the collar, she pulled him towards her with force. While his handsome face was getting closer, her voice remained icy and threatening. “Mr. Patterson, you know perfectly well how capable I am at my job. If you don’t want to embarrass yourself, sign the agreement and have a peaceful divorce with me. Otherwise, I will sue for divorce and expose all the scandals of the Patterson Group to the public.” After finishing her speech, Anastasia gave them a cold glance, released her grip in disgust, and walked away. And she felt surprisingly relieved after that. Christian stared at her retreating figure with deep, furrowed brows. His expression turned cold and complicated. Earlier, when she grabbed his collar, it felt as if she had also grasped his heart tightly. His heart raced wildly, making him feel somewhat anxious. He didn’t have any affection for Anastasia, but he was satisfied with her. After marrying her, Christian’s life had been worry-free because she was obedient and didn’t cause any trouble. Also, she had been even more helpful than he had expected. And Christian had never seen this side of Anastasia before. Angry, clear-headed, rational, and indifferent, she seemed like a little beast that had been pretending to be a mellow sheep. And she finally revealed her true nature when being threatened. An indescribable strange feeling surged within Christian’s heart, and he couldn’t control it. The calm and indifferent gaze she had just shown replayed in his mind. He felt incredibly restless, dying to know why Anastasia would assume that he slandered her by bribing the media on purpose. And what he did know was that he realized that he didn’t actually want a divorce. Beatrice cautiously sobbed, reaching out to hold his arm. She said, “Christian, should I find an opportunity to explain the whole thing to Ms. Graves?” Christian evaded her touch, pressed his lips together tightly, and gazed at her slightly swollen face. “No need. Don’t blame her.” Beatrice’s face turned pale, and she weakly smiled, understandingly. “Of course, I won’t.” Meanwhile, a trace of wariness flickered in Beatrice’s heart. She wanted to know if Christian still cared about Anastasia. As soon as Anastasia left, her colleagues surrounded her, expressing their sympathy. “Anastasia, you’re Mrs. Patterson. You’ve sacrificed so much. Are you really going to step aside for the other woman?” “That’s right. According to what Brian said, they plan to assign that bitch to the secretary’s office. Are they trying to push you out?” “Mr. Patterson must be blind. In terms of ability and beauty, that woman is nothing compare to you!” Anastasia smiled reassuringly. At this point, she had nothing to worry about. “Don’t worry about me. I would be insane if I didn’t give up on this marriage. DOn’t you think?” With that, she displayed a nonchalant smile. “Oh, by the way, Mr. Patterson might take out his anger on you because of me. If you ever want to leave the company, you can come to me anytime.” After working with them for three years, Anastasia had developed a strong bond with her colleagues. If Christian fired them because of her, Anastasia wouldn’t mind recommending them to the Graves Group. Even if Christian banned any of them in the industry, she could handle the consequences. After saying her goodbyes, Anastasia left the office with her belongings. Later on, Christian sent someone to investigate the incident of slander against Anastasia. Soon, Brian had the results, and the PR manager came to report on the incident. “You ordered us not to involve Mr. Charlie in the rumors, especially about his background, so… We had to expose Mrs. Patterson’s past to divert attention.” Christian’s face turned serious. “What past?” “It’s… about her indiscreet personal life before marriage. She had multiple abortions and was unable to conceive.” Upon hearing this, Christian slammed his cup to the ground. His face immediately darkened, and he looked at the manager coldly. “Who told you that?” He was furious. Christian knew what kind of person Anastasia was. She was still a virgin when she married him. So, the rumors couldn’t possibly be true. The office fell silent. The PR manager wiped his sweat when explaining, “Someone sent us the news about Mrs. Patterson anonymously, and Ms. Cohen also asked us to protect Mr. Charlie at all costs…” At that moment, sensing Christian’s anger, the manager didn’t dare to hide anything. Christian’s eyes instantly darkened, and his face turned cold and angry. “Go back and pack your things. You’re fired.” The PR manager begged for mercy, but it was in vain. He was eventually dragged out by security guards. Christian had been careless this time. The strange feeling in his heart for Anastasia grew stronger, and he couldn’t shake it off. For several days, Anastasia ignored any calls from the company. A week later, she got a call from the hospital, reminding her to go for a pregnancy check-up. Only then did Anastasia remember that she was pregnant. If it were the old Anastasia, she would have been happy to have an unbreakable connection with Christian in this world now that she had his child. But at this moment, Anastasia couldn’t bring herself to be cheerful. Christian had another child outside of their marriage, so what did her child mean to him? It felt like God was playing a trick on her by giving her a baby unexpectedly. And Anastasia knew she had decide whether to keep the child or not. Later on, she went to the hospital alone without telling anyone. In the ward, the doctor examined her. Seemingly sensing her hesitation, he gently told her, “The fetus is very healthy. If you don’t want it, you need to make a decision soon.” Anastasia hesitated and smiled weakly. “Thank you. I’ll think it over.” She then stood up and left. Lost in thought, she walked to the gate. Her figure was slender, and her head was slightly lowered. She appeared gentle but lonely. While Anastasia was still in a daze, a child suddenly bumped into her leg out of nowhere and fell to the ground. The next second, he clutched his forehead and cried in distress. Anastasia was about to bend down to help him up when she froze at the sight of the child’s face. Then she heard Beatrice’s anxious and worried voice nearby, “Charlie!” Beatrice quickly ran over, glanced at Anastasia, hugged Charlie in her arms, and cried. She acted like Anastasia had hurt her son. The crying of the mother and son soon caught the attention of many people. The next moment, Christian also ran over from the side with his sleeves rolled up, his aura cold and stern. The scene made his face turn livid instantly, and his sharp eyes were fixed on Anastasia.With tears streaming down her face, Beatrice pleaded, “Ms. Graves, I’m sorry, but please don’t harm Charlie. He’s just a two-year-old child. Please let him go!” Anastasia watched this scene in disbelief and couldn’t help but feel ridiculous. Was Beatrice some kind of drama queen? Dealing with Beatrice’s tricks was becoming tiresome, and she found them incredibly dull. Christian held Charlie in his arms, comforting him silently with a tender and loving gaze. When he looked at Anastasia, his eyes were sharp, and he frowned slightly. “Why are you here? Are you following us?” He questioned angrily. Anastasia’s heart skipped a beat, her mood worsened. She scoffed lightly, “What makes you think I would follow you? You think too highly of yourselves.” Gradually, Charlie stopped crying in Christian’s arms. He relied more on his father. Watching this, Anastasia only felt irritated. When she thought of the purpose of her visit, she became even more annoyed. It felt as if her airway was blocked, making it difficult to breathe. The struggle to breathe even caused a slight pain in her lower abdomen, as if something had fallen. Softly, Beatrice said, “Charlie had a fever. Christian and I brought him to see a doctor, but to our surprise, he went missing when we turned around. Ms. Graves, I didn’t expect to find you here. What are you doing?” She seemed to accuse Anastasia of taking Charlie away.
Anastasia sneered and snapped, “He bumped into me himself! I didn’t even touch him. Surveillance cameras are a great invention. Use some common sense. Look at the footage before accusing others of something they didn’t do.” Beatrice’s face stiffened, and her sobs stopped. She seemed to have forgotten about the surveillance cameras. So, her previous accusations could easily be disproven. She was about to say something to clear the air when Anastasia turned away with her bag. Christian frowned and quickly handed Charlie to Beatrice. “Wait for me here.” He hurriedly caught up with Anastasia. He couldn’t quite decipher his feelings, but Anastasia’s differences and the subtle changes in his heart made him uneasy. When he caught up with Anastasia, she was waiting for a car outside. Christian stood there with a conflicted expression. His tone was cold. “Why did you come to the hospital? Are you sick?” Anastasia gave him a puzzled look. He had accused her of following him here, and now he seemed concerned about her? Why would Christian be concerned about her? Of course, Anastasia wasn’t about to let Christian know about her pregnancy, so she replied indifferently, “I came here to visit a friend.” After all, Christian didn’t know who her friends were. Christian’s face tensed up. “Where have you been staying these days? Why haven’t you come home?” Anastasia glanced at him coldly, her voice extremely indifferent. “Why do you care? Since I’ve moved out, you can bring your lover and illegitimate child to live there!” Christian raised an angry eyebrow. Anastasia chuckled. “Right, Mr. Patterson, you have so many houses. How could you make them live in a second-hand house? Their existence is no secret.” Christian suppressed his anger, silently enduring it. His voice turned cold. “I always thought your character had no flaws. Can’t you even tolerate raising Charlie and treating him like your own?” Anastasia’s heart trembled, and she tightly clenched her fists. Did she have to tolerate the child of him and another woman? Was she to blame for being narrow-minded? She smiled slowly, a touch of coldness in her expression. “Christian, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. You’ve seen the divorce agreement. Besides going through the formalities, don’t bother me with anything else.” The car pulled up in front of Anastasia. She glanced at the license plate number, got into the car, and closed the door. She didn’t even spare him another glance. It was ridiculous. Did he think she should naturally take care of his mistress and illegitimate child? Was she supposed to degrade herself like that? Looking at her indifferent face, Christian remained outwardly calm but internally flustered. He hadn’t told her that the public incident last time was orchestrated by the PR department. But even if he did, she might not believe him. Somehow, he felt like something was quietly slipping away from his heart, and he was too powerless to stop it. At that time, Beatrice approached from behind with a crying Charlie in her arms and asked cautiously, “Charlie is crying again. Is he still running a fever?” Christian snapped out of his thoughts. His face remained cold. Suppressing his icy aura, he turned around and looked at the adorable Charlie gently. “Don’t worry. The doctor will have a solution.” Beatrice smiled weakly and looked at him tentatively. “I saw your divorce agreement. Christian, are you really going to get a divorce?” Christian’s smile froze. His eyes turned cold in an instant, and he looked at her nonchalantly. “No, she will always be Mrs. Patterson.” Beatrice’s disappointment was evident. She forced a fake smile, her lips stiff and her eyes cold. “That’s good. Otherwise, I would feel sad and blame myself,” she added as Christian walked in with Charlie in his arms. Christian remained silent and walked past Beatrice without acknowledging her. Beatrice lowered her gaze, her eyes betraying her resentment and unwillingness. Christian didn’t want a divorce, so Beatrice had decided to target Anastasia. *** Back at home, Anastasia received several text messages from strangers. They contained intimate photos of Beatrice and Christian, along with insults about Anastasia’s fertility issues. She didn’t need to think twice to know who was behind these messages. Anastasia saved all the messages as evidence for her divorce, which she had been handed on a silver platter. During this time, Anastasia enjoyed good food and had fun with Eleanor. She felt more relaxed and in a better state than before. That night, Eleanor took her to a club to meet some friends. Anastasia didn’t refuse the invitation. She laughed and chatted with her friends, feeling like she had returned to the carefree days before getting married. Halfway through the gathering, Anastasia excused herself to go to the bathroom. To her surprise, she bumped into Beatrice there. Anastasia looked away and took out her lipstick to touch up her makeup, treating Beatrice as a stranger. Beatrice observed Anastasia, who looked radiant and charming, and couldn’t help but feel jealous. “Ms. Graves, I didn’t expect to find you enjoying yourself at the club. Christian and I are having a great time here. Would you like to come and say hello?” Anastasia could sense Beatrice’s attempt to show off. She smiled indifferently and glanced at Beatrice’s pretentious face in the mirror, her tone cold. “If you’re capable, ask Christian to divorce me. Don’t bother me, or I’ll slap you.” Anastasia warned Beatrice fiercely, giving her a cold gaze, and then turned to leave. As she walked away, a piece of paper accidentally fell out of her bag. Unaware of it, Anastasia continued on her way. However, Beatrice bent down and picked up the paper. It was an examination report. As she read the results, she was shocked. Anastasia was pregnant! Beatrice tightly clutched the report, feeling a surge of unease and growing nervousness. She struggled to breathe. If Christian found out about Anastasia’s pregnancy, all her efforts would be in vain. And her hopes of becoming part of the Patterson family with Charlie would be shattered. Beatrice’s eyes turned dark and filled with determination. She would never let anyone stand in her way! Anastasia returned to the private room, where everyone was almost drunk. Eleanor called an end to the gathering, and Anastasia went outside to wait for Eleanor and the designated driver. Standing at the intersection, surrounded by dim streetlights, Anastasia gently smiled, placing one hand on her lower abdomen. She seemed to be talking to her baby. In that instant, Beatrice’s anger and ruthlessness erupted. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her eyes filled with malice and fury. There was only one crazy thought in her mind. She wanted to drive over and kill Anastasia’s baby! She couldn’t allow Anastasia and her baby to become obstacles. If they were eliminated, no one would steal Christian from her. Everything should have been hers! In her heart, she cursed, “Anastasia, go to hell with your baby!” Beatrice was tense all over. Gritting her teeth, she slammed on the accelerator. Go to hell!As Anastasia looked up, she was met with a fierce glare from the opposite side, making it impossible for her to even open her eyes. Then, with a harsh grinding sound, a car came rushing toward her at high speed. In that moment, her mind went blank, and her limbs turned cold. As the car collided with her, she saw clearly who was behind the wheel. It was Beatrice. The sharp sound seemed to pierce through the silent night sky. With a loud crash, Anastasia was sent flying through the air and landed heavily on the ground. Intense pain surged through her body, as if every bone had shattered, and then all the pain concentrated in her lower abdomen. Warm liquid flowed from her body, as if something was slowly leaving her. Her heart constricted, and fear and excruciating pain overwhelmed her. Anastasia couldn’t move a muscle. She felt abandoned by the world. Save her baby… She had made up her mind to raise the baby alone. But now, she was on the verge of losing her child. She was helpless. Tears and blood mixed together, streaming down her face. In great pain, she couldn’t a single word. The harsh light ominously filled her surroundings. The smell of blood filled her nostrils, and her vision grew increasingly blurred. The three-year marriage had left her with nothing. Her heart felt like it was being crushed in someone’s hands. The pain spread through every nerve in her body. There was a deafening silence all around. But Anastasia could almost hear Eleanor’s panicked and hysterical cries. Gradually, the ringing in her ears faded away… Soon, she passed out.
People rushed out of the club, making it a chaos. An ambulance quickly arrived. Eleanor finally let the doctor take away Anastasia and stood up. She rushed towards the car, picked up a nearby brick, and fiercely smashed Beatrice’s car window. Beatrice seemed frightened and trembled uncontrollably. The car window shattered, so Eleanor opened the car door from the inside and grabbed Beatrice by the hair, pulling her out of the car. She forcefully kicked her and followed it up with a slap. “Smack!” The sound of the slap was crisp and loud, shocking everyone present. Eleanor tore at Beatrice’s hair, seething with anger. “Do you know who she is? How dare you harm her…” Beatrice’s face was pale as she regained her senses. She pushed Eleanor away and threw herself into Christian’s arms, crying in terror. “I didn’t mean to, Christian! It was too dark, and I didn’t see she was there…” Christian furrowed his brow and watched the chaotic scene with a gloomy face. As he came out, he witnessed the medical staff lifting a stretcher onto the ambulance. When he saw the dark red puddle on the ground, he felt panic and that something bad had happened. Eleanor coldly watched the guilty couple as her hatred grew. “Christian, Beatrice, you will pay for this with your lives!” After the curse, Eleanor jumped into the ambulance and left with Anastasia. Christian felt unusually uneasy and wanted to go after them, but Beatrice clung tightly to him, not letting go. “Help me, Christian. I really didn’t mean to…” Beatrice pleaded desperately. Christian’s brow furrowed with coldness as he pushed her away. “What exactly happened?” Beatrice cried pitifully, clutching onto his clothes. “I just returned and haven’t adapted to driving rules here. And it was so dark that I didn’t see someone standing there. Christian, Charlie can’t be without a mother…” Christian’s expression softened slightly at the mention of Charlie, and he tried to get back his composure. He remained silent for a few seconds before patting her shoulder and comforting her. “I understand. I will have my lawyer help you. Everything will be fine.” Beatrice cried and laughed with relief, embracing him once again. “Thank you, Christian. I knew you wouldn’t abandon Charlie and me.” The restlessness remained. He immediately called Brian. The police arrived quickly, and Brian and the lawyer arrived soon after. After gathering evidence, the police asked Beatrice, “Do you know the person who was hit?” Beatrice weakly leaned against Christian’s chest, shocked and bewildered, shaking her head. “It was too dark. I couldn’t see anything clearly.” After they finished questioning her, Christian instructed Brian. “Negotiate with them for any amount of compensation. Minimize the impact of this incident.” Brian nodded and went with the lawyer to accompany Beatrice to the police station. Inside the hospital. The doctor came out of the operating room with a grim expression. “We couldn’t save the baby. Please have the family of the patient come.” Eleanor stood at the door in shock. She took out her phone, crying as she spoke. “Mr. Baxter Graves, Anastasia has been in an accident…” In the early morning of the next day, Brian and the lawyer obtained Beatrice’s release from the police station and took her to Christian’s place. Then the police and Brian went to the hospital to discuss compensation matters. However, only Eleanor and the lawyer were waiting when they arrived at the hospital. Brian found Eleanor somewhat familiar but couldn’t remember where he had seen her before. The police approached for questioning. “What is your relationship to the injured person?” the officer asked. “A friend,” Eleanor replied. “What is the name of the injured person?” “Anastasia Graves.” As soon as Eleanor spoke, Brian’s face changed as he stared at her in shock. Eleanor looked at Brian with a cold smile, then threw the surgical examination report to him. “You want to negotiate? Ask Christian how to settle the debt that Beatrice, that wretched woman, has caused by killing Anastasia and his baby. How should we account for it?” Eleanor said. Brian hastily picked up the report, and his face turned pale. He didn’t say a word, immediately turned around, and made a phone call to report the situation. Anastasia was pregnant, but none of them knew! The victim was Anastasia, and on top of that, the baby was gone. This made the situation even more complicated! However, when he tried calling, there was no answer at all. Two words echoed in his mind. “It’s over!” Christian put his phone on silent mode as he accompanied Charlie to sleep. Beatrice intermittently cried throughout the night. Christian couldn’t leave right away, so he stayed until dawn. When Brian finally reached Christian the next day at noon. Christian’s voice sounded tired and hoarse and was even with a hint of impatience. “Has it been resolved?” Brian hesitated for a moment and replied, “The victim won’t come forward, so we can’t negotiate compensation.” “And what about the person? Is it serious? Offer more money.” Christian’s voice turned cold and grave. Brian paused momentarily. “Mr. Patterson, the victim was Mrs. Patterson, and…” He took a deep breath, then continued. “Mrs. Patterson was pregnant, just one month along, and now the baby is gone!” Silence enveloped the call…
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