Chapter 499


    Johanson saw the disdain in Grant''s eyes whenever Grant looked at Anna, and it made Johanson’s blood boil. He spoke with a


    tone of unquestionable resolve, "Dad, I''m the master of my own life! | decide who | hang out with. And remember, | made a


    promise to Aunt Gabby to look after Anna. Youy a finger on her again, and you''ll have me to answer to!"


    Grant''s temper red like a prairie fire at his son''s defiance. This was all because of that wild girl—it was all her fault!


    Johanson could read his father''s murderous gaze and shot him a cold look before dropping a final word. "Don''t forget the


    promise you made in front of Aunt Gabby, Dad. What goes aroundes around. If you hurt Anna, Aunt Gabby''s spirit will be


    crying from beyond the grave."


    With that, Johanson stormed out, leaving Grant seething. In a fit of rage, Grant kicked over a table and bellowed, "Get out! All of


    you, just get the hell out!"


    Johanson didn''t flinch at his father''s anger and continued out the door until he was out of sight.


    Copsing into a chair, Grant fumed, thinking to himself, “Anna, you wretched girl! If it weren''t for Gabby, I''d have thrown you to


    the wolves by now!”


    After leaving his father''s room, Johanson searched the manor for Anna, asking every maid in sight, but none had seen her.


    Worried sick, Johanson''s forehead glistened with sweat as he thought of what his father might do to Anna.


    “Where are you, Anna?”


    He turned the estate upside down but found no trace of her. His heart sank with each passing moment, bing increasingly


    anxious for her safety.


    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and rity washed over his face.


    Of course, Anna would be there!


    With that realization, Johanson sprinted toward the family mausoleum outside the manor.


    Having thought it through on his way, Johanson figured the lost and helpless Anna had nowhere else to go but to Aunt Gabby''s


    grave.


    As he approached the mausoleum, the setting sun stained the sky red. In the dimming light, he saw a small figure huddled by


    Gabby''s headstone.


    His heart, which had been in his throat, settled as he approached the small silhouette.


    Getting closer, Johanson found Anna lying exhausted in front of the tombstone. Her tiny body was curled up, and her pale face


    was etched with vulnerability.


    “Anna? What''s wrong?" Johanson rushed to her side and lifted her into his arms.


    Anna was burning up, yet her face felt icy to the touch. Johanson knew immediately something was wrong and shook her gently.


    "Anna, are you feeling unwell? Talk to me."


    Anna''s swollen eyes slowly opened, revealing a weary smile. "Johanson, | saw Mommy... I''m going to Mommy now. Isn''t that


    wonderful?"


    Realizing she was delirious from illness, Johanson scolded her softly, "Anna, you can''t run off like this again, okay? | was


    terrified, thinking something happened to you."


    But Anna was far in a world of her own, murmuring, "I''m going to find Mommy, Johanson. It''s going to be okay."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Unable to contain his worry, Johanson carried Anna back to the manor, constantly reassuring her, "Don''t scare me, Anna. We''ll


    see a doctor right away. You have to hang in there, understand?"


    Anna nestled weakly in his arms, her pale, lost face almost ghostly.


    Johanson burst into the doctor''s cottage. "Come quickly, she''s ill! What''s wrong with her?"


    Startled, the doctor took Anna,id her on the bed, and examined her. "She''s overwhelmed by grief, has a fever, and the cold


    ground was too much for her," he concluded.


    Impatient, Johanson demanded a remedy.


    The doctor prepared some medicine. "This will bring her fever down. She''ll recover faster."


    Johanson nodded and turned to Anna, stroking her hair. "Take the medicine, Anna. Tell me, how did you end up at the grave?"


    Anna took the medicine and whispered, "| went to see Mommy. Uncle Grant took my only picture of her. | miss her... | wanted to


    be with Mommy."


    Looking at the forlorn and


    defenseless Anna, Johanson''s heart


    swelled with resentme (towards fils


    n father haloes eves with


    Arna, and his gaze was filled with


    solemn determination. "You stay put


    right here. I''m going to get your


    mom''s picture back from him!"


    Please read the original content at


    .


    With those words, Johanson stormed out of the doctor''s house and quickly made his way to the grand family mansion that was


    his home.


    Before Johanson even crossed the threshold, he yelled out, "Dad? You better give Anna''s mom''s picture back to her, now!"


    Inside, Grant was in the middle of a


    hushed conversation with a burl


    man with a menagiqaetok Gon


    ligation WAS palpable as Johanson


    barged in. "You little brat, where are


    your manners? Come and meet your


    Uncle Joseph!" Please read the


    original content at .


    But Johanson was having none of it. He red at Grant, hands outstretched demandingly. "The picture, Dad. Give it back now!"


    "What picture?" Grant feigned ignorance.


    "The one you swiped from Anna — Aunt Gabby''s picture! Hand it over!" Johanson''s voice was thick with usation.


    Grant’s dignity was teetering in front of the guest as he scrambled for an excuse. "What stolen picture? That picture was rightfully


    mine!"


    "Really?" Johanson''s gaze turned icy.


    "Dad, your ability to lie through your


    teeth is truly impressive. If you didp,


    take Anna''s pi ure meayion bath


    woureeshle!fan to Aunt Gabby''s


    grave? How do you think she''d feel,


    pouring out her heart over the terrible


    things you''ve done? And when your


    timees, how will you face Aunt


    Gabby with such shame?" Please


    read the original content at


    .