Chapter 10
Edward’s phone rang. Seeing it was an unfamiliar number, he let it go to voicemail.
Lately, he had been restless. Anastasia had disappeared. After finally tracking down her address, he found the apartment empty.
After a few drinks, he’d smashed the glass in frustration; he had no idea how she was now.
The phone buzzed again–it was Julian.
“You’ve been back for a while. Are you really not coming home? If you don’t want to see me, I won’t go back, but you should check on my parents yourself.
“You’re not getting any younger, and still clinging to the past. That’s not how a mature man acts.”
Edward didn’t reply; he just hung up.
Even after five years of silent treatment with Julian, he couldn’t let it go.
Anastasia’s father deserved punishment–that was a fact. But Julian shouldn’t have exploited his feelings or taken advantage of Anastasia.
He remembered everything clearly from five years ago.
That day, he was busy helping Viviana with an experiment and missed Anastasia’s calls. The next day, she not only trashed her apartment but also publicly attacked someone,
She was always like that–spoiled and proud, unable to tolerate even a
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slight grievance, and acting before understanding.
Viviana had been humiliated, almost to the point of slitting her wrists. If he hadn’t stayed with Viviana, Anastasia likely would have ended up responsible for a death.
Then, a month into the silent treatment, Julian sent Anastasia’s father to prison. The man who always greeted him warmly for meals, the father who doted on his daughter, had committed a serious crime.
Edward had wanted to check on him, but Viviana kept him busy. Julian tried to console him and promised to help Anastasia as much as possible, but his efforts were half-hearted.
The day Anastasia came looking for help, Viviana was in her best mental state. But everything was ruined.
He had broken a pinky finger; Anastasia had a scar.
Seeing her covered in blood terrified him. His first thought was to get her to a hospital.
The Clayton family recorded the scene. They intended to have Anastasia jailed. It took him repeatedly intervening to get her released.
Then, he was forced to go abroad with Viviana to recover and was gone for five years.
When he returned, he found Anastasia working in a bar. She was curled up against the shoulder of a big–bellied man, laughing freely. The man shoved a stack of cash into her chest, and she took it with a smile.
In that moment, Edward felt utterly empty inside. He stumbled out in a daze and then had a car accident, leaving him bedridden for three months.
During those months, he kept seeing her leave the bar in revealing outfits. He called and sent messages, but there was no reply,
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Once he recovered, he couldn’t resist going back to the bar. Sitting behind her in the booth, he overheard her chatting with another hostess.
“Annie, stop drinking. Your body can’t take this. Are you really that short on money?”
“Yeah. As long as they pay, I can keep drinking. I have to make the most while I’m young; what am I supposed to do when I’m old and can’t?”
“But I heard you graduated from a top university. How did you end up here?”
“I couldn’t find work. I’m too pretty–everywhere I go, people push me out. They’re jealous.”
“So… you’re not planning to get a boyfriend to share the load with you?”
“Men? Hmph! You have no idea about my ex–boyfriend. He was a ruthless beast. Thinking of him makes me want to kill him.”
In that instant, Edward’s heart turned to ice.
He downed his drink in one gulp, then left without looking back.
