Chapter 443


    As the disheartening thought festered in his mind, Anthony turned to Nial and firmly stated,” Don’t let


    Charmine know anything about this whole thing yet.” He could not afford to take any risk before


    marrying her. Nial frowned. “Bro… Are you trying to hide this from Charmine?” “It’s not ‘hiding’. I’ll get to


    it.” He would deal with it ordingly. Anthony patted Nial’s shoulder and left. Nial felt uneasy, but he


    hoped that Anthony could hide it from Charmine while he got down on the matter. As they both


    departed from the room, they failed to realize that someone hid in the toilet. It was McKenzie.


    Mckenzie came to Anthony’s office in the morning in an attempt to negotiate a deal with him.’ She had


    photos of him with Charmine, and she would use them as hostages so he would sever their rtionship


    entirely. It startled her that Nial and Anthony came in together, forcing her to hide in the bathroom,


    though she was rewarded with a shocking discovery. Anthony was still looking for the woman from five


    years ago…and that woman was probably Annabel Smith. McKenzie’s eyes hardened in jealousy at


    the thought of her, that penniless girl. Born into a poor farming family, Annabel was pitiable and weak


    with those doe eyes of hers; the kind of eyes that could lure any man’s soul. McKenzie hated that. She


    grew up with Anthony and knew him since the sandbox, yet never once was he impressed with her.


    Worse still, he got unusually close to Annabel when he was 18.


    She joined forces with Mdm. Bailey and sent Annabel away many years ago, but she never expected


    that she would return. Was she truly in Royal Banquet Bar five years ago?


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    If the woman he slept with was Annabel, then she would be Chris’ mother… McKenzie clenched her


    fists tightly. Annabel left Burlington after receiving the five million, yet she gave birth to Anthony’s child?


    As McKenzie thought more into it, Chris’ watery eyes did resemble Annabel’s! Fury slowly built up in


    McKenzie’s being, but her assistant Miranda was quick to remind her,” Madam, please calm down. This


    is a good thing. Think about it: What’ll Charmine do if she finds out about Annabel’s existence?”


    Gradually, McKenzie began to simmer down at Miranda’s spection; she had a point. Knowing


    Charmine, she would do things to Annabel, and even if she would not do anything to her, Charmine


    would not tolerate Anthony for having another woman on his mind. Once Charmine would leave the


    picture, well… Annabel was no threat. She was the epitome of a


    weak and gentle flower that could easily die with just a pinch. “Go check on Annabel,” instructed


    McKenzie, “and get her before Nial does.”


    “Yes, Madam.”


    Meanwhile… Anthony was on his way back to Violet Vi, the scene from 10 years ago still fresh in his


    mind as it unconsciously reyed. Back then, Annabel was often bullied by a few rich teenage boys in


    the university. No matter how much they tried to pay her, she would not give in. She would even fight


    against them. While Annabel was powerless and had nothing, she was firm in her stance and never


    wavered. He had never seen such a determined and strong-minded woman, so he sympathized and


    pitied her. Of course, those feelings had faded throughout the past ten years, and she had never once


    crossed his mind until Nial brought it up. Would Charmine take it wrongly once she heard about that?


    When he got back to Violet Vi, he saw Charmine and Chris both dressed in matching cute pajamas


    as they yed checkers. Thete afternoon sunlight shone on their backs—the sight was beautiful and


    heartwarming. Instantly, all of his doubts vanished as his gaze fixed on Charmine.