Later that afternoon...
Anne drove Paule to his place. As they approached the entrance, Patricia ca bustling out with a wide smile plastered across her face.
"Anne, you are here," she bead. "Co in, co in, have a seat."
Anne gave a tight smile. Patricia had never greeted her so warmly before. This act of kindness...Anne knew it was because of Paule’s presence. Without saying a word, she stepped in.
Patricia’s eyes darted to the sleek black car parked just outside the gate. "That car looks expensive," she mumbled under her breath, envy glinting in her gaze.
Her mind raced. She had always fantasized about luxury cars, grand hos, designer clothes, and expensive jewelry. For years, she had pinned those dreams on Lorie marrying rich. But now, that plan didn’t work. Her mind shifted to Anne, who was married to a billionaire.
If she treated Anne kindly, maybe she could squeeze so wealth out of her.
"Anne..." Patricia turned back with a practiced smile. "Why don’t you stay the night? Have dinner with us. You should call your husband to co over as well."
"Not tonight," Anne replied coolly. "Another day, maybe. I have to get going."
Patricia’s smile dimd, disappointnt barely masked. "But you just arrived. Leaving already?"
Before Anne could respond, Paule interjected, "Let her go. She has had a long journey. She must be tired."
That seed to silence Patricia. "Fine, fine... I won’t insist. But Anne, do co for dinner with your husband soti."
"I will," Anne said simply, then gave a small wave and turned to leave.
As Anne stepped out of the house, she couldn’t shake the uncomfortable sensation of Patricia’s eyes lingering on her. She exhaled, trying to release the tension, and moved toward her car.
She tapped Augustine’s number and put the phone against her ear. It rang just twice before he picked up.
"My dear wife," his voice ca through, laced with warmth and mischief. "Already missing ?"
Anne’s lips curved into a smile. "What if I say yes?" she replied flirtatiously.
A low groan escaped from him. "Are you trying to seduce while I’m still at work?"
She chuckled softly, then whispered, "I’m heading ho. And I want you there."
"Your wish is my command," he replied smoothly. "See you soon."
With a smile lingering on her lips, Anne ended the call and slipped into the back seat of the car.
"Where to, Madam?" Sam asked, eting her gaze through the rear-view mirror.
"Ho." She leaned back on the seat, turning her face toward the window.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Anne’s heart swelled with a mix of emotions. The revelation about her true family had lit excitent, curiosity, and a long-lost sense of belonging inside her. She couldn’t wait to share it all with Augustine, to see his reaction, to feel his comforting arms around her.
But beneath the excitent, a thread of unease tugged at her. Paule’s warning echoed in her mind, like a shadow over her joy.
What if there were secrets too dangerous to uncover?
She knew one thing for certain. If anyone could help her dig into the past and uncover the reason for her kidnapping back then, it was Augustine. With his power and his connections, he would find the answers.
She let out a deep sigh, pushing the worry away. Whatever truth waited for them, they would face it together. As of now, she was excited about the prospect of finally eting her biological parents and her brother.
Augustine, on the other end, dialed Gustave.
"Co to my office, now."
Minutes later, Gustave stepped inside. "Yes, sir?"
He gestured to the pile of files on his right. "Take them away. I finished checking them. The rest, I’ll check later." He stood up, already reaching for his jacket. "I’m heading ho."
Gustave blinked. "But sir, you have a eting with the Beaumont Group delegates in thirty minutes."
"Postpone it." With that, Augustine walked out.
Gustave didn’t argue. He knew that tone too well. By the ti he picked up the files, Augustine was already gone.
Augustine arrived ho sooner than expected, stepping into the familiar warmth. The mont Anne saw him, her face lit up. She rushed into his arms, wrapping herself around him with a radiant smile.
He held her close as he rested his chin against her head. Her joy was infectious, and his heart softened with affection.
"What has gotten into you?" he asked playfully. "Did your father give you so kind of treasure?"
Anne nodded, her eyes gleaming. "He gave a priceless gift."
Augustine’s curiosity was piqued. At the sa ti, a little jealousy stirred in his chest.
’A priceless gift?’ he thought. ’From Paule?’
He, who had showered her with luxury, who had filled her world with surprises, had never heard her call his gifts "priceless."
What kind of priceless gift could a simple man like Paule offer Anne—sothing that even he, with all his wealth and ans, couldn’t provide?
Trying not to let it show, he forced a smile. "Now I’m dying to know what it is."
Anne turned to the sofa and reached into her bag. She took out the pendant, then she held it out on her palm.
"This?" Augustine raised a brow in confusion. It was a simple, vintage pendant.
To him, it looked nothing like the rare diamonds or exquisite pieces he had gifted her. Yet the reverence in her eyes as she gazed at the pendant surprised him.
Unaware of what was going on in his mind, Anne grinned from ear to ear. "This isn’t just so old piece of jewelry," she said, her voice brimming with excitent. "It holds a secret."
Augustine’s brows lifted with intrigue. "A secret?"
She nodded quickly, her grin widening. "It’s connected to my real family. This pendant is a key to finding them."
The mont she said it, Augustine’s gaze softened. He finally understood why this pendant ant so much to her.
"For so long, I believed my biological parents were gone," Anne continued, her smile disappearing and a flicker of sadness crossing her eyes. "I never let myself dream of eting them. But today changed everything. There is hope now. I can finally reunite with my biological family."
Her sorrow shifted into a radiant smile. "And the most incredible part is—they are looking for . My mother and brother actually ca to Papa, asking about ."
Augustine’s eyes widened, visibly stunned. But then, as the news settled in, a grin slowly stretched across his face. Seeing Anne happy like this filled him with joy.
"They showed Papa a photo of as a child," Anne went on. "He recognized right away. He couldn’t speak then, but he managed to keep the contact number."
She dipped into her bag again, pulling out a business card and offering it to him. "This is my brother’s number."
Augustine took it, but the mont his eyes landed on the na, his expression froze.
’Nathan Granet.’
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