"Getting married?" Audrey blinked, her head snapping toward Anne. "Are you getting married?"
Anne sighed and nodded slowly. "Yes..."
As soon as that word escaped her mouth, Audrey exclaid, "Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell sooner? Who are you marrying?"
"It’s..."
"Stop all this, Anne," Denis’s sharp voice cut through the conversation. The playful arrogance from monts ago was gone, replaced by a cold, simring fury. "Enough is enough. Just admit it—you’re doing all of this to get my attention. First, you lied about this so-called marriage, and now this?" He gestured around them, his lip curling in disdain.
His eyes flicked toward Raoul and Eric, who sat frozen. Denis extended his hand toward Anne, palm open. "Co with . I’ll take you ho."
Anne straightened her spine, the spark of rebellion burning brighter within her. "I’m not going with you."
Denis’s composure cracked. He yanked her up by her arm. "You are coming with whether you want it or not." He hauled her away.
"Let go of !" Anne protested, twisting in his grasp, but Denis was relentless.
Audrey jumped up, voice rising in alarm. "Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Let her go."
But Denis didn’t look back. He continued to drag her away.
"Let go of ," Anne exclaid, struggling to twist her wrist free from Denis’s iron grip. But the more she resisted, the tighter his hold beca.
Her face contorted in pain, but Denis didn’t seem to notice—or care. He dragged her forward, eyes burning with determination.
"Wait. You can’t force her." Raoul moved over and stood in front of Denis, blocking his path. "She ca here willingly. You should respect her decision."
"Yes, we won’t let you take her away," Eric also stood up and joined his friend.
Denis’s anger reached its boiling point. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he growled. His grip on Anne never loosened. "I could make you both disappear without a trace. Now move aside."
But the two n didn’t even flinch. They stood their ground, defiance hardening their expressions. It only stocked his anger. Denis swung his fist. His knuckles collided with Raoul’s jaw with a sickening crack, the force sending him staggering backward.
Raoul stumbled and collapsed against the edge of the sofa. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Eric rushed to his friend’s side, panic flashing across his face as he crouched down. "Damn it, man! Are you okay?"
Audrey, standing frozen nearby, gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Denis stood tall, chest heaving, nostrils flaring like an enraged bull. He sneered, wiping his hand on his jacket. "You dare to stand in my way? I’ll make you pay for that."
No one stood up, too scared to ss with him. Defeated and humiliated, Eric and Raoul hung their heads down.
Denis yanked Anne forward, ignoring her protests, and stord toward the exit.
"Leave my hand," Anne shouted, thrashing against Denis’s iron grip. "I won’t go with you." Her wrist ached from his unrelenting hold.
"Stop struggling," he snapped, dragging her toward the car parked by the curb.
He yanked the door open and shoved her inside the backseat. He slid in beside her, slamming the door shut before she could scramble out.
"Drive," he barked at the driver, who pulled the car into motion.
Denis turned to Anne, his gaze burning with fury. He grabbed her by the jaw, squeezing just hard enough to make her wince.
Denis pinned her against the seat, squeezing her jaw. "How dare you to lie to ? Flirting with other guys! Do you think you can escape ?" He crushed his lips against hers, forceful and punishing.
Anne struggled, fists pounding against his chest, but he was relentless. Desperate, Anne bit down hard on his lower lip.
Denis jerked back, releasing her instantly. He touched his lip, brows furrowing.
"You..." His glare was murderous.
Anne scooted to the farthest corner of the seat, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath.
"What’s wrong with you?" he snapped. "I gave you everything. You have been happy with for the past three years. I am taking care of your father’s treatnt. I made sure of your comfort. And now, out of nowhere, you’re throwing it all away. Why? Why the hell are you so adamant about leaving ?"
"Because I’m tired of being a substitute," she snapped back.
The word substitute was like a stab to his heart. He understood Anne was suspicious about his and Tania’s affair.
"It’s not what you think. Tania and I aren’t together," he quickly explained. "She is struggling to restart her career here. I’m just helping her get back on her feet. That’s all."
"Right." Anne rolled her eyes, a sarcastic snort escaping her mouth. "Helping her career. And sohow, in the middle of all that ’helping,’ she magically ends up pregnant with your child."
Denis froze, speechless montarily. For the first ti, he looked... rattled.
’She knew!’ His mind went blank. It all made sense now—Anne’s sudden determination to break up, her cold defiance, the way she had pulled away from him. She must have overheard his conversation with Tania at the office.
"Listen to ," he urged, reaching out to grip her shoulders. "I can explain."
But Anne recoiled, swatting his hands away. "I don’t need an explanation," she spat. "I know you never loved . It’s always been Tania in your heart. I was stupid enough to think I could carve out a place in your life—that maybe you’d fall for if I tried hard enough. But the mont she ca back, you ran straight to her."
Tears welled up despite her efforts to hold them back. "That tells everything I need to know. I ant nothing to you. My love, my loyalty, my sacrifices... none of it mattered."
Denis’s mouth opened, but no words ca.
"And now?" Anne brushed away a tear that escaped down her cheek. "I’ve finally given up on you. Isn’t that what you wanted? You can be with the woman you truly love."
"That night, I was drunk."
"Save it, Denis," Anne cut him short, holding up her hand. "She is already pregnant with your baby. You should take the responsibility."
Denis’s face darkened. "That’s none of your concern," he hissed. "I don’t need your advice on how to handle my affairs."
He leaned back on his seat, adjusting his coat. "You’re my girlfriend. That hasn’t changed. Forget about Tania—she won’t bother you. I’ll make sure of it."
Anne could only stare, disbelief washing over her like ice water. Did he really think she’d stay, knowing everything?
"Why can’t you understand sothing so simple? I don’t want to be with you anymore."
Denis blinked, montarily speechless. For the first ti, he had a feeling that he was losing her. But he wouldn’t let her go.
"Anne, you’re blowing this completely out of proportion," he grunted. "I’ve already explained everything. I even made it clear that Tania won’t take your place as my girlfriend. What else do you want from ?"
Furious, Anne chuckled. "You’re unbelievable. So full of yourself. Why the hell should I stay with a man who got soone else pregnant?" Her voice rose with each word she spoke. "I DON’T WANT YOU." She emphasized each word. "I don’t want to tie myself into this relationship anymore. Do you hear ?"
Denis scowled at her scowled, trying to process the unfamiliar defiance burning in her eyes. The rage and the determination in her eyes unsettled him. He had never seen her like this before. This wasn’t the Anne he knew. This Anne was totally different from the ek, obedient woman who once hung on his every word.
’Is she serious? Does she really not want anymore?’
No. That couldn’t be true.
His pride reared its head, shoving doubt aside. How could she forget years of love overnight? How could she throw everything away?
"You are lying," he said with conviction. "You can’t stop loving just like that. You’re only saying this because you’re jealous of Tania. That’s all this is—your insecurity eating you alive. Stay with . Obediently. And I’ll make sure you never have to worry about anything again."
He pulled out a black card from his wallet and handed it to her. "Take it," he said flatly. "There are five million on it. Go shopping. Buy whatever you want—clothes, bags, jewelry. Hell, book a spa weekend if that’s what it takes to calm you down. But for God’s sake, stop throwing tantrums. It’s irritating."
Anne stared at the card, then back at Denis, disbelief flickering across her face. He really thought money could fix this. The final thread of affection she’d once held for him snapped clean.
"You really think this is what I want?" she seethed, holding up the card.
"What else? All won like shopping, expensive gifts. You aren’t exceptional," he said with confidence. "Over the past three years, I’ve given you countless gifts. You loved them, cherished them. Now go and buy so new dresses and matching jewelry. Cool down. I’ll take you out on a vacation in a few days, okay?"
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