Chapter 706 Pride


    After the doctor confirmed that Annabelle Xia was fine, she got discharged right away.


    The moment they made the announcement about the press conference, everyone was just excited.


    They were just curious to find out what happened.


    Before that, Su was having an interview as he was shooting for the set.


    "It was rumored that you are close with Annabelle Xia and Alistair Mu, you were even invited to their


    wedding. Now that someone exposed Annabelle Xia being an adopted daughter of the Xia family, do


    you know anything about that?"


    Su stood amongst the casting crowd. It was supposed to be about the drama and he hadn''t expected


    them to ask this question. The man simply nodded gentlemanly and answered, "Yeah, I saw that from


    the news!"


    "What do you think about that? Is Annabelle Xia the real daughter of the Xia family?" When the


    reporters saw that Su was willing to answer, they decided not to let him off easily.


    Su knew that he couldn''t answer them perfunctorily and he continued, "They will be organizing a press


    conference after sometime, no? You will be able to know it soon!"


    "It seemed that you are close to her!"


    "I do know her for quite some time. And one thing I am confident of, that she is a very strong willed,


    courageous and kind hearted woman. She deserves happiness in life!"


    Su had made his stance clear, that he supported Annabelle Xia.


    When the reporters were about to ask more questions, the manager spoke, "I hope that we can keep


    the questions and interview about the drama…"


    However, the reporters just wouldn''t listen anymore. They kept bombarding Su with questions the man


    simply smiled and said nothing.


    When Su showed his support to Annabelle Xia, it became viral in the Inte. There was both side to it


    but it was definitely more good than bad.


    ……


    The next day.


    The day of the press conference.


    The event was organized in the Xia Group''spany. After all, it was about the Xia group and Xia


    family.


    Thepany personnel was arranging and getting the mediapany seated. Alistair Mu and


    Annabelle Xia was resting in the back stage.


    Annabelle Xia sat on the couch. After Alistair Mu was done with his call, he walked towards her, "How


    was it? Are you nervous?"


    "A little!" It would be a lie to say that she waspletely rxed. After all, Annabelle Xia wasn''t a


    celebrity at all and it was her first time organizing a press conference.


    Alistair Mu was simplyposed, "Don''t worry. All the reporters we invited today are those with better


    reputations. They will not get pushy!"


    Annabelle Xia didn''t know why but the moment she heard that, she burst into a chuckle, "That means it


    is pre-arranged by you?"


    Alistair Mu did not deny and simply sat beside her, "This is just a strategy. Mediapanies nowadays


    just aren''t ethical at all. We have no choice but to do that!"


    Annabelle Xia nodded in agreement. She knew that most of thepany, if not all would do that. At the


    very least, they needed some ethical reporters to report urately.


    When the two of them were talking, the door opened. Teneria Xia and Ralphy Xia walked inside.


    "Everything is ready. We may start soon!"


    Annabelle Xia nodded, "Got it!"


    Teneria Xia looked at Annabelle Xia and the father was showing a gentle yet troubled expression,


    "Annabelle, sorry to burden you with this!"


    Annabelle Xia simply smiled, "We are one family!"


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Teneria Xia smiled heartily.


    Once the press conference started, Annabelle Xia, Teneria Xia and Ralphy Xia walked inside. Of


    course, Alistair Mu escorted his wife and stayed by her side.


    No matter when and where, he would always stay by her side.


    Annabelle Xia was the target of their gossip. She adjusted the mic to her mouth and smiled elegantly,


    "Good day, I am Annabelle Xia. I will be answering your questionster and please be patient with me.


    Now the press conference officially starts and you may begin!"


    The woman''s gentle smile and ssy attitude gained her good review. Now that those reporters that


    prepared all kind of sharp questions just didn''t know how to start off so aggressively.


    However, they knew they must do their job. After all, they came here just do satisfy the audience''s


    appetite.


    "Miss Xia, you are exposed as not being the real daughter of the Xia family. Is that true?"


    The first question was straight to the point.


    Fortunately, Annabelle Xia had prepped herselfpletely. And that question was one of her


    homework.


    Annabelle Xia smiled, "Yes, it is!"


    Once Annabelle Xia answered that, there was a furore in the crowd and there were many shutter clicks.


    Alistair Mu tilted his face and looked at Annabelle Xia. However, the woman simply showed a gentle


    and calmed expression.


    "So the im was true?"


    "That''s right. It is true indeed I am not the real daughter of the Xia family. I do not know who my real


    birth parents are. And I do not know how do you define real family, is it necessary to be tied by blood?


    In my opinion, the Xia family is my family and I am their real daughter!"


    Once Annabelle Xia answered so manneredly, the reporters were influenced and they became gentler.


    Maybe it was the way her speech that influenced them, the reporters started to show a gentler attitude


    towards this strong willed and gentle pregnant woman.


    "Miss Xia, do you mind to tell us in details?"


    "In my memory, I grew up in a happy and most wonderful family. I have found out about this when I was


    eighteen years old. Just like any normal kid, I found it difficult to stomach and I was even more


    rebellious. I dropped my business management course and decided to choose something else.


    Actually, I was a little worried at that time. I was worried that they wouldn''t want me and I was fearful of


    anypetition if I were to enter the samepany as my brother. In the end, I realized that I was


    simply foolish and overthinking. Fortunately, my family wasn''t angry at me and they cared for me. I


    knew how much I wronged them and I am just regretful!"


    "It doesn''t matter if I do not share the same blood as them. In my heart, they are just like my real


    parents and nothing will change it!"


    Annabelle Xia had never said that in front of Teneria Xia and Ralphy Xia. Now that the family heard


    that, they sank to a slow realization of what Annabelle Xia had been burdening herself with all these


    years.


    They looked at her with a heavy heartedness.


    Alistair Mu simply stood on the left of Annabelle Xia. He stretched out his hand and held her hand


    gently.


    The man would keep his heart-felt burden towards her in his heart.


    When Alistair Mu held her hand, Annabelle Xia felt that she had unlimited courage and energy. The


    warmth that travelled all the way to her heart made her rxed.


    That was right. As long as the man was by her side, she could feel an unnamed sense of security.


    "We heard that you have twenty percent of the shares of the Xia Group, is that true?" At that time,


    another reporter asked.


    Annabelle Xia did not deny. After all, it was the truth and they could find out about it sooner orter. The


    woman nodded, "Yes. It was given to me by my parents when I got married earlier!"


    Therefore, all those spections that imed that Annabelle Xia was in conflict with her family was


    If they weren''t close, why would the family give her twenty percent of thepany shares? It was such


    a colossal amount and it is enough for Annabelle Xia to break a leg for the rest of her life!"


    The reporters were stunned.


    At that time, the reporters looked at Teneria Xia, "Chairman Xia, may I ask if you have anything to


    add?"


    Teneria Xia looked at Annabelle Xia and back to the cameras, "Just like what Annabelle said, she is my


    real daughter and that has nothing to do with that. Therefore, no matter what the others say, nothing


    will change!"


    The man had made his intention clear.


    Annabelle Xia looked at Teneria Xia and smiled.


    "President Xia, what do you think about this?" The reporters looked at Ralphy Xia and asked.


    Ralphy Xia simply nced at them and answered with a smile, "Blood ties are not important!"


    The man''s words were clear as well.


    "President Mu, can we ask your opinion on this? Will it affect you if Miss Xia isn''t the real daughter of


    the Xia family? Will that affect your rtionship?" The reporters continued to ask.


    Alistair Mu looked at them there was an enticing smile blossoming on his gorgeous face, "If we were


    marrying because of our identity, how could that affect our ‘rtionship''?"


    "I married the woman, not her identity. It doesn''t matter who her parents are, what matters is that she is


    my Annabelle Xia!" After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Annabelle Xia. The couple


    looked at each other and their eyes were filled with love.


    The reporters liked that they had been answering seriously. As for the rest of the session, they did it in


    a rxed manner.


    For instance, the due date of their baby, their family nning et cetera.


    Inparison to the earlier questions, it was seemingly more rxed. Alistair Mu and Annabelle Xia


    were answering seriously and humorously.


    In the end, they were able to maintain that cheery atmosphere until the end of the press conference.


    Nothing unexpected happened.


    After the press conference ended, they were relieved.


    Annabelle Xia sat in Ralphy Xia''s office and drank a cup of hot water. She didn''t know how things


    would end up, and none of them knew if the press conference this time could solve thepany


    issues. At the very least, they had already given the public an honest answer.


    "All right, it has ended. Just rx for now!" Alistair Mu said.


    Annabelle Xia smiled, "I am fine!"


    Ralphy Xia stood beside them. When he saw how loving the couple was, there was a sh of dejection


    in his eyes. The man simply averted his gaze and looked elsewhere…


    At that time, the door to his office was knocked and his assistant walked inside.


    "President Xia, the share prices are having a rebound!" The assistant said happily.


    When Ralphy Xia heard that, his lips curled up as well. It finally rose back. Even Annabelle Xia was


    relieved.


    If the share prices continued to take a dive, she would feel so guilt ridden. The woman could finally rest


    her heart.


    Alistair Mu didn''t feel anything at all. If it wasn''t for Annabelle Xia, he wouldn''t even bother himself with


    something petty like this.


    Even if the Xia family went down, the Mu family had no problem to support her along with her family.


    However, the man was around all because Annabelle Xia was involved…


    Actually, the moment Alistair Mu attended the press conference with Annabelle Xia, the oue was


    pretty much decided. That the Xia Group''s share prices will definitely rebound.


    ording to general public''s spections, if anything were to happen to thepany, Alistair Mu will


    definitely help them out.


    In addition with the honest effort in organizing a press conference, it was just assured that the share


    prices would rise back.


    Teneria Xia smiled, "Let''s see what this director Wu has to say!"


    "That troublesome fellow, I''m afraid he will need to shut up from hereby onwards!" Ralphy Xia said


    happily. He wouldn''t expect him to keep his opinion to himself forever. However, it is more than enough


    that he received such a humiliation.


    "However it may be, it is good that everything went back to normal!" Teneria Xia was relieved. After


    that, he looked at Alistair Mu. Although he knew that Alistair Mu did not involve himself too much, his


    presence alone had pretty much secured the optimistic oue.


    "Haoyu, we have troubled you for the past few days. If it weren''t for you, I''m afraid things wouldn''t go


    so smoothly!" Teneria Xia said.


    When Alistair Mu heard that, he smiled humbly and gentlemanly, "That has nothing to do with me. I


    didn''t do anything and was simply a disy!"


    Teneria Xia smiled and said no more.


    They understood what happened and there was no need for words of affirmation in the family.


    "No matter what, now that things were settled, I can finally be restful!" Teneria Xia said.


    Annabelle Xia watched from the side and smiled heartily.


    "However, the person that spread the news from behind is still… We don''t know when we will be struck


    again!" Alistair Mu said that and he nced at Ralphy Xia.


    He believed the man could understand him.


    If the next private thing of the family was spread, shit would really hit the fan.


    When Ralphy Xia heard Alistair Mu saying that, his expression changed.


    There was a weird change and tension in the atmosphere.


    Although they didn''ty it out, Teneria Xia could tell that the two of them had a beef…


    At that time, Alistair Mu''s phone rang. He took up his phone and excused himself to answer it.


    After half a minute, he walked back and said, "Dad, there is something urgent in mypany and I


    have to leave first!"


    Teneria Xia nodded, "Okay, you should go if you are busy!"


    Alistair Mu nodded.


    At that time, Annabelle Xia looked at him and said, "I''ll go with you!"


    Alistair Mu nodded as Annabelle Xia stood up and looked at Teneria Xia, "Dad, bro, we shall go back


    now!"


    "Okay, drive safe!"


    "Okay!"


    Annabelle Xia smiled and went out with Alistair Mu.


    On their journey back, Annabelle Xia took a big exhale of relief. The woman was rxed and much


    happier.


    Alistair Mu simply tilted his head and looked at her. When he saw the smile on her face, his lips curled


    up as well.


    "Are you in a good mood?"


    "Just like what dad said, I finally let go of the burden I was carrying all these years. I just couldn''t


    describe that wonderful feeling!" She drew a deep breath and answered.


    When Alistair Mu saw the hearty smile on her face, he smiled as well. The man''s eyes were gleaming


    in gentleness and love towards her. He hoped that she could always stay the same…


    ……


    When Renee An watched the news in front of the television, she didn''t know how she should describe


    her feeling.


    She was worried when Annabelle Xia got admitted into the hospital. But now that everything went well


    and the incident was concluded smoothly, she felt a sense of disappointment…


    No matter when and where, she could always have people around her and helped her out…


    As Renee An was watching the TV, she just couldn''t describe theplication she was feeling.


    At that time, her phone rang.


    When she saw the number, she frowned a little and answered it.


    "Hello…"


    "Are you free?"


    Renee An had a pained expression. Because the person that called was Ralphy Xia.


    The person that she had a love hate rtionship with.


    "Is anything the matter?" Renee An asked coldly. There was a cold chill from her beautiful eyes.


    "Let''se out and have a talk!"


    "About what? There is nothing for us to talk about!" Renee An answered.


    "We should at least be clear if we want to stay together or otherwise. Do you want to keep this on?"


    Ralphy Xia asked.


    Therefore, he invited her out just for the sake of making things clear? Just for the sake of getting a


    divorce…?


    When Renee An thought about that, she felt a heart wrenching pain.


    However, no matter how it may be, she didn''t want to drop her pride. She said smilingly, "Sure, when


    and where?"


    "Now, Blue Jazz!"


    Renee An gripped her phone so tightly and her joints were pale, "Okay!"


    After saying that, she hung up right away.


    As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she told herself over and over again: Renee An, you knew


    that this man doesn''t love you. Do not bring yourself low. Because if you do that, it wouldn''t change his


    feeling and he still wouldn''t love you…


    As she thought about that, she started to get dressed and put on her make-up.


    Even when she knew that he wouldn''t have a change of heart, she wanted to show the best side of


    hers.


    Even if he didn''t love her, he wanted to let her know that she, Renee An, was the one and only in this


    world…


    Half an hourter, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her exquisite face looked like a stranger.


    Just because it had lost the cheer and joy.


    She almost couldn''t recognize herself…


    The woman took her handbag and left her house.


    Blue Jazz.


    When she parked outside the coffee shop, she saw from the car that the man was just sitting in front of


    the French window.


    His sky blue shirt was a great addition to the coffee shop furnishing. He looked so outstanding and


    ssy.


    The moment she saw him, she felt a pain in her heart. Although she had told herself several times not


    to get roused, she still couldn''t convince her subconscious mind and instinct.


    She lowered her head and kept her bitterness. After she parked her car, she took her handbag and


    walked down.


    The woman click-cked into the coffee house with her three inches high heels. The moment she


    entered, Ralphy Xia was the most striking man. She could notice him right away from the crowd.


    Renee An, you can do it!


    No matter what, do not let this man humiliate you again!


    As she thought about that, she strode confidently towards him. There was a hint of pride in her


    exquisite face. However, no one noticed the sorrow and dejection that she hid beneath it…


    She wasn''t a career woman and she simply want to be a meek housewife and have a man that loves


    her. However, that was just too much of a luxury to a certain people. Not just anyone could have it. She


    wasn''t one of the fortunate ones.