Anne stared at him, surprised. She hadn’t imagined that Dimitri would have thought of gifting her sothing. Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the box.
Nestled inside was a beautiful cyan-green jade bangle. It was clearly precious, possibly antique.
Her breath hitched. "This is... It’s too expensive," she said, startled, and quickly closed the lid, trying to return it. "I can’t accept this. I’m afraid I’ll break it."
But Dimitri gently pushed the box back into her hands, his fingers wrapping around hers. "No. It belongs to you now. I bought this years ago to give it to Gervis’s wife—your mother-in-law. But I never had the courage. I was afraid of stirring up trouble with my wife."
Guilt flickered in his eyes. "I wasn’t a good father. I didn’t stand up for Gervis. I wasn’t there for his wife when she needed support. I failed them." His voice thickened with age and regret. "But I don’t want to make the sa mistake with Augustine. I want to be by his side, and yours, while I still can."
He squeezed her hand. "This is more than a gift—it’s my blessing. Don’t refuse it."
Anne’s eyes shimred with tears. She couldn’t deny his sincerity. "Thank you, Grandpa," she whispered.
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. Dimitri, stiff for a second, eventually returned the embrace, his heart heavy. But he pulled back quickly.
He cleared his throat and composed himself, hiding his emotions. "Uh, I have sothing for Augustine as well," he said briskly, blinking away the moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes.
He turned toward the butler, who had been standing silently in the corner of the room. "Bring the file," Dimitri instructed.
With a slight bow, the butler walked over to the side table and opened a drawer, retrieving a thin file. He stepped forward and handed it to Dimitri.
"I prepared this a long ti ago," Dimitri said, holding the file out to her. "Give it to Augustine. He’ll understand."
Anne accepted it. Her gaze softened as she smiled. "I will. Thank you. Good night, Grandpa."
She stepped out, closing the door quietly behind her.
Dimitri exhaled deeply, a satisfying smile breaking across his face. His heart felt lighter.
The butler leaned in slightly and said with hushed admiration. "Master, the young madam is very brave. She didn’t flinch when Madam Jeanne challenged her. She stood firm, stared her down, and refused to be intimidated. I was impressed."
Dimitri straightened his back, pride sharpening his features. "She has the spirit."
But the butler’s tone shifted with concern. "The elder master won’t take the incident well. He looked furious. I’m worried he might direct all his anger toward young master Augustine."
Dimitri’s face darkened. He knew Gabriel too well—his pride wouldn’t let this blow pass unpunished. "Watch his every move. And report back to imdiately."
The butler bowed slightly. "Yes, Master."
Outside the room...
As Anne ca out, she found Augustine restlessly pacing back and forth, his brow furrowed with concern. When he saw her approaching him, he paused briefly and rushed forward.
"Anne..." he breathed, his hands flying to her shoulders. "Are you alright? What did he say? Did he bla you for anything? Did he scold you?"
She stopped him with a gentle smile. "Calm down. He didn’t scold . He didn’t bla either. He... actually gave a gift."
She held up the elegant box in her hand.
"And this is for you," she added, offering him the file. "He asked to give it to you. He said he had been holding on to it for a long ti."
Augustine’s expression shifted from worry to curiosity. He opened the file, eyes scanning the papers within. But as he read, the look on his face froze. His eyes began to shimr with unshed tears.
Anne’s expression turned concerned again. "What is it?"
Augustine took a deep breath, blinking the tears away. A smile ford on his lips as he spoke. "He transferred my father’s shares in the Beaumont Group to ."
Anne grinned, her face lighting up. "That’s incredible," she gushed, brimming with joy. "You are officially a shareholder now in the Beaumont Group. Congratulations."
She leaned in and mumbled, "But Denis is going to blow a fuse when he finds out." Her eyes twinkled with amusent. "You’d better watch your back."
He slipped his arm around her waist and drew her close. "You are not allowed to ntion another man when I’m right in front of you," he said possessively, but mischief shone in his eyes. "And don’t forget what I told you—our honeymoon starts right after this party."
Anne’s face lit up, her excitent uncontainable. "I’m so excited," she breathed, practically glowing.
"You have no idea how much I’ve been waiting for this." He bowed, brushing a tender kiss against her lips. "Let’s go ho." His breath was warm against her mouth. "I’ve waited long enough. I can’t hold back any longer."
Anne blushed at the implication of his words. She playfully slamd her fist against his chest. "Why so impatient?"
"Because you are tempting." He whisked her out of the hall.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Augustine pushed her against the wall, his mouth crashing down on hers, devouring her like he had been holding back for far too long. Anne responded with equal hunger, her hands already tugging at his shirt, fingers fumbling over the buttons in her haste.
He groaned into her mouth when her palms slid across his chest. "I’ve wanted you since the second I saw you in this gown," he muttered against her lips. "You looked too good. I was losing my mind."
She chuckled softly, pressing her lips to his neck.
"I wanted to rip the dress apart," he said, shifting slightly to tilt her chin up, "and do exactly what I am going to do now."
Anne pulled his shirt free and tossed it aside, not breaking eye contact. "Then stop waiting."
That was all it took.
He grabbed her hand and led her quickly to the bedroom, his pace fast. As soon as the door shut, his hands were on her again, pulling the zipper down her back. Her dress slid off her shoulders and pooled at her feet. She kicked off her heels, breath coming in short bursts as he stepped in close, his hands firm around her waist, his eyes scanning every inch of her.
She undid his belt with trembling hands, yanked the buckle loose, and shoved his trousers down. There was no teasing, no slowing down—just raw, aching need.
Augustine backed her toward the bed and lowered her onto it, crawling over her as their lips t again. His hands moved quickly, urgently, as if he was afraid she’d vanish if he didn’t touch every part of her right now.
Their bodies tangled, skin against skin, heat crashing against heat. When he entered her, it was fast, deep. They moved together desperately, wildly.
Anne wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper. Her fingers dug into his shoulders.
He gripped her hips, his forehead pressing to hers. "You feel like ho," he rasped, every thrust sharper, every breath shorter.
She couldn’t speak, only gasps, moans falling from her lips.
When release ca, it ripped through both of them, overwhelming their senses. He held her tight as they rode the waves together, limbs locked, bodies trembling.
Augustine rolled to his side, pulling her with him. "Every ti, it’s just mind-blowing," he breathed. "I can’t just have enough of you."
His lips found hers yet again.
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