The butler moved in closer and leaned toward Dimitri. "I believe she is the right one for Augustine," he said thoughtfully.
Dimitri didn’t respond right away. His mind was still caught up in Anne’s fierce, passionate words.
"She didn’t even hesitate to reject the money," the butler continued. "It’s obvious she is not after money. I truly think she loves him."
Dimitri’s sharp eyes shifted toward the torn remains of the cheque lying on the floor. Last night, he had noticed Anne’s quiet strength and determination, but doubts had lingered in his mind. He had deliberately tested her today, offering a sum most would have snatched without thinking. Yet she had rejected it without blinking, without even a flicker of temptation.
Her love for Augustine seed real.
A glimr of newfound confidence flickered across his stern features. He was now certain — Anne would never abandon Augustine, no matter the cost.
"Call Mr. Granet," he instructed. "Arrange a eting."
The butler gave a small, satisfied bow. "Of course, sir."
Outside the house...
Anne stord out through the heavy iron gates, her mind spinning with fury. "I can’t believe he actually tried to buy off," she muttered under her breath. "How hypocritical. Promising Augustine he’d support our marriage, then secretly trying to bribe to walk away. Unbelievable."
She charged down the pavent, every step echoing her anger.
Beep-beep...
A car horn jolted her from her thoughts. Scowling, she cast a quick look over her shoulder. Her steps faltered as she recognized the sleek car pulling up beside her. Her irritation faded into stunned disbelief.
"Augustine," she whispered, wide-eyed, watching him step out of the car and stride toward her with urgency.
Without a word, Augustine wrapped his arms tightly around her. His familiar scent, his warmth, and the sheer strength of his embrace lted away the storm inside her. Anne relaxed against him, her lips curving into a small, relieved smile.
"Are you okay?" Augustine asked with concern as he leaned back just enough to search her face, his hands firm on her shoulders.
Anne gave a quick nod. "I’m fine." She tilted her head, an impish glint flickering in her eyes. "But what are you doing here? I thought you had a eting." She crossed her arms and added with a teasing lilt, "Don’t tell you’ve been secretly spying on ."
Augustine froze, clearly caught off guard by Anne’s sharp deduction. For a mont, he fumbled for words, his hands awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, a sheepish smile forming on his lips.
Anne’s smile faded. A sinking feeling began to grow in her chest. "You had soone tailing , didn’t you?"
"Um... it’s not..." Augustine stamred, clearly flustered.
His hesitation hardened her doubts into certainty. "That explains why you always show up at the right mont. You know exactly where I am because you’ve got soone watching ." She glanced around pointedly. "Where is your spy hiding now? Call him out."
Panic flared in Augustine’s eyes. He quickly reached out, grabbing her hands. "No, no, it’s not like that," he rushed to explain. "No one is following you."
"Really?" Anne arched an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Then tell —how did you know I was here?"
Augustine blinked rapidly, searching desperately for a believable explanation. After a beat of silence, he finally said, "Gustave... He ca back to the office to grab so important docunts. He saw you leaving with the butler and called . I was worried, so I rushed over."
Anne nodded slowly, but there was still a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She tilted her head, studying him carefully. "So, you are telling you abandoned an important business eting because of ?"
"Not exactly," Augustine said hastily, scratching his cheek in embarrassnt. "The eting was already wrapping up when I got Gustave’s call."
Despite his explanation, Anne wasn’t entirely convinced. She narrowed her eyes slightly, watching Augustine with careful precision. His flustered expression, the restless way he shifted on his feet—all of it told her he wasn’t being completely honest. Deep down, she was certain Augustine was hiding sothing from her, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Masking her suspicion, she said lightly, "You were worrying for nothing. I wasn’t going anywhere dangerous. I just ca to the family mansion to et Grandpa. Why are you so panicked? You’re hiding sothing from , are you?"
She watched him carefully for any reaction. She was eager to find out what Dimitri had actually told Augustine the previous night. Had the old man urged him to leave her? Or had he genuinely promised to announce their marriage during the engagent party?
Augustine straightened his back and forced a reassuring smile. "No, I’m not hiding anything. I was just worried when I heard the butler had co to pick you up. You were alone, and I was afraid Jeanne or Gabriel might show up at the mansion and try to make things difficult for you."
Anne studied him for another long mont, noting the slight strain in his voice. "They weren’t there," she replied calmly. "It was only Grandpa."
At her words, Augustine’s body visibly relaxed, and a relieved sigh escaped his lips as the tension drained from him. "What did he say? Why did he call you to et him alone?"
For a fleeting mont, Anne nearly spilled the truth — the humiliation, the torn cheque, the bitter confrontation inside the mansion. But she swallowed it back. No, not yet. First, she needed to uncover exactly what Dimitri had told Augustine last night behind closed doors.
"Nothing important," she said lightly, masking the turmoil brewing inside her. "Grandpa just asked so questions about my family. Maybe he is still hesitant... maybe he thinks I’m not good enough for you."
Augustine’s arms tightened around her as if sensing her distress. "That’s not it," he said with quiet fierceness. "Last night, he told himself — he has no issues with your background. He only asked whether you were willing to stay by my side."
He pulled back slightly, cupping her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "Even if he hadn’t accepted you, it wouldn’t have changed a thing. You are all that matters to . Your happiness is my only concern. Nothing else."
Anne closed her eyes, letting herself breathe in his warmth, his sincerity — the very love Dimitri had tried to wrench away. Her chest tightened.
Augustine truly believed they had Dimitri’s blessing. He had no idea how deep the old man’s betrayal ran.
’He is trying to crush Augustine emotionally,’ Anne thought bitterly, tears stinging the back of her eyes. ’Just like in the past. He only cares about his elder son and the family’s reputation.’
Anne’s determination hardened. She wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt Augustine again.
"Let’s go ho," she whispered, feeling exhausted from the emotional battle.
"We’ll go ho," Augustine said warmly. He guided her into the car, got into the driver’s seat, and sped off toward the place they called ho.
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