Chapter 470


    Two hourster, the wreckage of their passion was strewn across the suite. Clothes


    “Mr. Hughes,” Annabelle’s voice was a soft murmurced with exhaustion. Would


    you like something to eat? I brought food from that delicious restaurant we visited


    before.”


    She knew her skills in the bedroom were undeniable. After all, Jeremy wouldn’t keep


    returning for more if they weren’t.


    Jeremy, a cigarette dangling from his lips, exhaled a plume of smoke that obscured his features. He


    didn’t respond, leaving Annabelle feeling increasingly uneasy.


    “Mr. Hughes?” Annabelle asked softly, her voice tinged with sweetness.


    Jeremy stubbed out his cigarette and nced at Annabelle. “Have you gained


    weight recently?”


    Annabelle felt discouraged. She was always conscious of her figure. Even though she knew she


    was pregnant, she didn’t dare to overeat and continued to exercise


    daily.


    “Maybe it’s because I’ve been staying home and eating too much since I haven’t been working. Mr.


    Hughes, do you dislike me now? If you do, I’ll go on a diet.”


    Her belly had indeed grown a bit rounder. It was surprising that Jeremy noticed such


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    a subtle change.


    Jeremy nodded slightly. Then, as if an afterthought, he added, “You don’t need to return to Jipsburg


    City. Stay here from now on.”


    Annabelle’s smile faltered, a flicker of something else crossing her expression. “Okay,


    she said simply.


    11


    After each encounter, he retreated back into his shell of indifference, ever wary of her clinging too


    tightly. His coldness was even more pronounced than she’d anticipated.


    2/2


    “Mr. Hughes,” she pleaded, her voice thick with unshed tears, “could you at least let me know when


    you’reing to Yley City? I could keep youpany, just don’t shut me out. You know how much


    I love you, how sincere I am. Please.”


    Such a humble request was hard for any man to refuse. Jeremy lit another cigarette.


    He took a drag before finally saying, “Alright. Let’s eat.”


    Pushing her away, he wrapped a towel around his waist before striding out of bed.


    Annabelle followed suit and got up as well.


    They ate a few bites of the food Annabelle had brought.


    Afterward, Annabelle took a shower. She didn’t cling to Jeremy or ask for any


    promises. She simply left.


    Once Annabelle was gone, Jeremy called room service to clean the suite.


    The housekeeper, witnessing the disarrayed sheets, couldn’t help but scoff. “The rich sure know


    how to entertain themselves,” she muttered cynically.


    Annabelle, meanwhile, had checked into a different hotel. Despite Yley City being her hometown,


    she had no desire to return. It represented everything she was desperately trying to escape–the


    poverty, the dysfunction. Her sights were set on a different life far above her current station. There


    would be no going back, no falling


    back into the same trap.


    Sitting in her car, Annabelle couldn’t help but recall the night of her 18th birthday. Her stepfather,


    Mason Chavez, had brought her a birthday cake–a rare show of


    affection.


    Blinded by the gesture, she hadn’t been cautious. The cake, sheter discovered, had beenced


    with drugs. While unconscious, Mason had raped her.


    Her mother, Raelyn Hernandez, knew what Mason had done and did nothing to stop it. She even


    said that since Annabelle was going to sleep with other men eventually, she might as well let Mason


    enjoy it first.