Anne’s phone buzzed inside her bag. She sniffled, swiping quickly at the dampness on her cheeks before digging through the bag.
The screen lit up with a familiar na—Nathan.
For a second, she thought about ignoring it, but the phone kept vibrating insistently in her palm.
She drew a shaky breath and pressed the green button. "Hello?"
"Anne... can you co to the office?" Nathan asked almost apologetic tone. "I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important."
Her eyes darted to Augustine. She didn’t want to leave him, but she also knew Nathan wouldn’t have called her if it wasn’t important. "I’ll be there shortly," she finally said with reluctance.
The line clicked off.
Anne slipped the phone back into her bag and turned toward Augustine again, her heart aching. She brushed her fingers lightly over his hand.
"I need to go," she murmured, guilt pulling at her voice. "But I’ll co back in the afternoon." Leaning close, she pressed her lips gently to his forehead, lingering there for a while. "I love you," she breathed. "Please co back to ... I can’t bear this wait anymore."
Her lips hovered a second longer before she finally drew back. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she stood up and walked out.
As soon as the soft click of the latch reached his ears, Augustine opened his eyes and looked at the closed door. Slowly, he lifted his hand, touching the spot on his brow where her kiss still seed to burn. His fingers trailed down, resting against his lips.
"I love you too," he whispered. "Just a little longer, my love. Soon, I’ll be with you." His eyes darkened with resolve.
Anne walked briskly across the parking lot toward her car. She was reaching for her keys when a voice cut through the quiet.
"Anne..."
Her steps faltered.
That voice. Her shoulders tensed, and she turned around frantically.
Denis was striding toward her, his expression painted with concern.
A wave of bitterness washed over her chest, souring her already frayed mood.
Denis and Gabriel had been scheming to seize control of the companies while Augustine lay in this condition. Anne suspected they might have orchestrated the accident. It all seed calculated, a plan to eliminate Augustine and snatch his business. But she refused to let that happen.
With her brother, she had been fighting to block their every move. She was certain they could stop them from getting their hands on Starlite Corp.
"What are you doing here?" she asked sharply.
Denis slowed his steps, his face tightening with worry. "How are you?" he asked gently.
Anne’s lips curled in a cold, humorless smile.
Hypocrisy. That’s all she heard in his voice. He, who had done nothing but sche against Augustine, was now pretending to worry about him?
"Why?" she asked with biting sarcasm. "Are you disappointed to see still alive?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" he snapped, irritation breaking through his calm front. "I’m worried about you. I ca to check—"
"To check if Augustine is still breathing?" she cut in contemptuously. "You’ve always despised him, always wanted to bring him down. And now that he is in a coma, you think it’s the perfect ti to strike. You are eager to push him out of the company. Isn’t that right?"
"Anne, listen to carefully. This—this is getting dangerous," Denis said, lowering his voice as though trying to reason with her.
"I know." Her gaze sharpened with steel. She lifted her chin, refusing to let her tears fall, though they burned at the corners of her eyes. "I know that was no accident. It was an attempt to murder. Augustine reacted fast and saved . But..."
Her throat tightened, the mory almost breaking her composure.
She blinked away her tears, and when she looked at Denis again, her face was fierce, unyielding. "But hear well: as long as I’m alive, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on Augustine. You and your father can sche all you want, but you’ll lose. I’ll make sure of it."
Anne’s hand clenched around her car keys, her body taut with defiance.
Anne’s steps froze as Denis’s voice cut through the air, carrying a warning tone.
"Don’t act recklessly," he said with urgency. "You’ll only bring trouble on yourself. The people who attacked you... They are dangerous. I’m telling you, Anne, they won’t stop here. They’ll co after you again."
Her features tightened with suspicion. She had been convinced Denis and his father were the ones pulling the strings, eager to crush Augustine while he was helpless. But the way Denis spoke now, the fear in his voice, made a sliver of doubt creep into her mind.
Did he know sothing she didn’t? Did he know who was really behind the accident? But she wouldn’t let him deceive him and manipulate her thoughts.
"You and your father are the worst enemies," she spat bitterly. "Who else could it be? If Augustine and his child were gone, no one else could claim their share of the fortune. Everything would be yours. Who stands to gain the most? You. So don’t dare deny it."
"No..." Denis burst out. "I would never do that, knowing you were in that car." He grabbed her shoulders firmly with desperation. "Anne, I love you. I could never bring myself to harm you."
His words added to her fury. Her hands flew up, shoving his arms away with force. "You have already hurt enough," she exclaid, her eyes blazing.
Denis faltered, his expression clouded with regret. He had broken her once, destroyed whatever bond they had shared. Yet with Augustine lying unconscious, he saw it was a chance to win her back.
"I’m sorry," he whispered hoarsely. "I made mistakes... too many. But let atone, Anne. Let spend the rest of my life making it right. Give one last chance... please."
His hand reached for hers. Anne tried to jerk free, but his grip only tightened, refusing to let go.
"I told you – Augustine’s background is shady. His enemies are dangerous. They can do anything—they don’t hesitate to kill. I’m afraid you’ll get hurt."
His face was taut as if he carried the weight of looming danger. He had his suspicion that his father could be the one who had plotted the accident, waiting patiently for the right mont to end Augustine’s life. Although Gabriel was his pri suspect, he still believed it wasn’t her father and that Augustine’s enemies were behind the accident.
"I have no idea how Augustine offended them," he added. "But they won’t stop until they finish what they started."
Anne’s heartbeat quickened in dread. The mory of that night on the island ca rushing back, vivid and brutal—the masked faces, the shootout, the raging flas, and the cold fear that had lodged deep inside her bones.
A shiver ran through her. What if those sa people were still hunting them?
"Augustine’s enemies aren’t ordinary business rivals," Denis pressed on. "They are not just interested in stealing contracts or sabotaging the business. They are capable of far worse. And as his wife, you are a target too."
Anne’s eyes sharpened as she looked up at him.
Denis held her stare. "I know this is a difficult ti for you," he said carefully. "But you have to be wise. Think about your safety first." He hesitated, then the words slipped out. "Leave him."
Anne recoiled as though he had struck her, anger flashing across her face. "Are you out of your mind?" she hissed, her lips curled into a sneer. "He is lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, and you expect to abandon him when he needs the most?"
Denis’s composure finally cracked. "You are not understanding the gravity of this," he snapped, his voice rising. "He is in a coma. No one knows if or when he’ll wake up. anwhile, his enemies are circling. They’ll strike again, and when they do, he won’t be able to lift a finger to save you."
His face twisted with frustration. "He can’t protect you in this condition—so tell , how are you going to protect yourself?"
His words were bitter with impatience.
Anne had had enough. Defiance glinted in her eyes. "It’s none of your business," she cut in coldly. "I’m not the fragile woman you used to know. I have my family, who love and stand by . They are here with , praying for Augustine. And I know he’ll wake up soon."
She took a step toward him, jabbing a finger against his chest. "You should be worrying about yourself. You and your father conspired against him, causing trouble in his business. Think about what he’ll do when he cos back."
Her glare burned into him before she turned away to leave.
In a desperate move, he lunged forward, grabbing her arm. He yanked her back and, in an instant, his arms locked around her from behind, clutching her to his chest.
"Anne," he said desperately, almost begging, "co back to . I’ll protect you. I’ll keep you safe. Divorce Augustine. You wanted to marry once, didn’t you? I’ll give you the wedding you dread of. Please give a chance."
She struggled, her body stiff against his hold, her hands pushing against his arms. Fury and disgust laced her voice as she spat, "Leave alone."
Denis clung to her, his arms tightening despite her frantic struggle.
"If you think I won’t love your baby, you are wrong," he insisted. "Your child is my child—ours. I’ll treat it as my own. Just give a chance, Anne. I’ve missed you more than you know."
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