Anne had sworn she'd distance herself from the Beaumont family, but fate had other plans. The more she tried to break free, the deeper she got entangled—this ti, with Denis's brother.
Augustine leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I've got your back. Don't worry."
Anne offered a faint smile, though it barely reached her eyes. She wished she could turn the clock and rewrite everything. But it was too late.
Augustine slid an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Anne's breathing stopped, her eyes widening. "I liked her the mont I saw her," he said, eyes locking with Denis's. "So, I proposed. She said yes. You'll get our marriage invitation soon."
Denis's face twisted into a sneer. "Marriage? With her? Hah!" He barked out a laugh. "Nice try, Anne. Couldn't find anyone else to ss with , so you chose my brother? Do you really think I'd fall for that? You've loved for years. How could you marry soone else? You're mine, my girlfriend. Stop this nonsense and co here."
He stretched his hand toward her, but Augustine stepped between them. His playful deanor evaporated, replaced by a chilling seriousness.
"She is no longer your girlfriend," he snapped, shoving Denis back. "She broke up with you. Move on."
Tania, who had been quietly observing the standoff, finally lost patience. Irritation flickered across her face as she tugged at Denis's sleeve. "Denis, my stomach hurts. Take to the room."
Denis shrugged her off without so much as a glance. His focus remained fixed on Anne, obsession clouding his judgnt. "I'll say it one last ti," he warned. "Co here and apologize to . I'll forget everything and forgive you."
"You still want to apologize," Anne snapped with indignation. "First off, I never pushed her. If you're so convinced I did, why don't you check the surveillance footage?"
She jabbed a finger toward the security cara mounted in the corner of the hallway, its red light blinking silently.
Denis's mouth opened, but Anne didn't give him a chance to speak. "Second," she continued coldly, "I broke up with you. It's over, Denis. There is no future for us." She looked up at Augustine. "Let's go."
Augustine nodded and held her hand. Together, they turned to leave.
But Denis wasn't done. "You're still my employee!" he barked, his voice echoing off the hospital walls. "I command you to go back to the office. Now."
Anne stopped mid-step, a slow, defiant smirk curling her lips as she turned back to him. "Your employee?" Mockery dripped from her tone. "You haven't checked your inbox. I sent my resignation email this morning. You're no longer my boss. I don't have to follow your orders anymore."
"You..." Denis stepped forward, rage simring in his eyes.
"Denis." Tania tugged at his arm and pulled him back.
Augustine chuckled. "Why not focus on your girlfriend instead of harassing my fiancée?" His gaze flicked pointedly to Tania. "She seems restless. Shouldn't you be taking care of her? Take her back into the room."
"Fiancée? Humph!" Denis's face twisted into an ugly sneer. "Don't make laugh. Anne has loved for years. She'd never be with another man. Don't be fooled, Augustine. She is using you to get my attention. Can't you see that? Stay away from her."
He reached out and grabbed Augustine's collar, yanking him forward.
But Augustine didn't flinch. In one swift motion, he shoved Denis's hands away and took a step closer, his expression darkening. "You're the one who needs to stay away from her. If you co after Anne again, I'll forget we share the sa blood."
Holding Anne's hand, he walked away.
Denis took a step forward, ready to storm after Anne and Augustine, but his assistant hurried over, urgency etched across his face. "Mr. Beaumont, the chairman wants to see you imdiately. It's important."
Denis paused, jaw tightening. His gaze remained fixed on the couple disappearing around the corner. 'This isn't over, Anne. If you think hiding behind Augustine will keep you away from , you're dead wrong.'
His eyes darkened with cold determination.
"Denis," Tania's weak voice broke through his simring thoughts. She clutched her stomach. "My stomach... it hurts."
He snapped his head toward her and glared at Tania, making her recoil. "Did she really push you?" he asked suspiciously.
Tania paled instantly. "Are you accusing of lying? Why would I lie?"
"You'd better not be lying," he warned before striding down the hallway with his assistant scrambling to keep up.
"Denis..." Tania called after him, but he didn't even glance back. She balled her fingers tightly, nails biting into her palms.
As Denis marched toward the hospital exit, he barked a command to his assistant. "Pull the surveillance footage from the waiting area. I want to know if Anne really pushed Tania."
"Yes, sir," the assistant replied, already reaching for his phone.
Denis left the hospital and drove back to the office.
After the doctor finished dressing her wound, Anne and Augustine finally stepped out of the chamber.
Anne slowed her steps and glanced up at Augustine. "Thank you for your help."
His usual playful smirk danced on his lips. "Thanking again? Protecting my fiancée is my duty. You don't have to thank ."
Anne's cheeks flushed a brilliant pink. She ducked her head, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Um... I'm sorry for using you like that earlier."
"I don't mind," he said almost imdiately. "In fact, I like the idea."
Anne lifted her eyes at him, confused.
"Let's get married."
Anne's heart skipped, once, twice—then thundered against her ribcage. "What?" she blurted, eyes wide. Surely, she had misheard him.
"I am serious, Anne," he said earnestly. "I want to marry you."
Cold air filled her lungs as she took a sharp breath, her ears ringing. "Why? I an – why ? Why would you want to marry soone like ?"
Augustine's gaze turned intense as he recalled so incidents in the past. Years ago, when he was still a boy, so goons had kidnapped him. Sohow, he had managed to flee.
While running away from those kidnappers, he had crossed paths with Anne, brave beyond her years. She had pulled him behind a stack of crates in a narrow alley, saving him from those thugs.
He had never forgotten her. How could he? That mont had etched itself into his soul. From that day on, gratitude had rooted itself in his heart. He had wanted to repay her, to protect the girl who had once protected him.
But Anne had been with Denis. So Augustine had stayed away, watching from the shadows. After seeing the rift between them, he saw his chance to finally stand beside her.
"Why I want to marry you is not important," he said, keeping the reason a secret. "What matters is that you would benefit from this marriage. I know Denis has been cheating on you with that actress, Tania. Don't you want revenge? To walk away with your head held high? To show him that you don't need him—that you never did?"
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