Chapter 132 The Lesson That She'll Never Forget
Chapter 132 The Lesson That She'll Never Forget
CHAPTER 132
The Lesson That She'll Never Forget
Anna stood in the middle of the bedroom like a storm about to break, furiously shoving clothes into her suitcase with sharp, angry movements.
Every zip and snap of fabric felt like a punch. The phone call with William still burned in her ears — Selene’s sultry, fake-hurt voice cutting in, demanding his help like a damsel in a cheap romance novel.
That desperate, scheming bitch. I don’t know what dirty tricks she has up her slutty little sleeves now, but she’s about to find out exactly how far I’m willing to go to protect what’s mine.
She wasn’t angry at William. Not even a little. She trusted him one hundred percent — with her heart, with her life, with their baby.
He would never hurt her by cheating. But Selene? Selene was a different story. That woman never listened.
No matter how many times Anna had warned her to stay away from her husband, Selene kept crawling back like a roach that refused to die.
A sudden wave of nausea slammed into her like a freight train.
Anna dropped the dress in her hands, clapped a palm over her mouth, and bolted for the bathroom.
She barely made it to the toilet before she was heaving violently, throwing up everything she’d eaten that morning until her stomach was empty and her throat burned.
She flushed, rinsed her mouth, and started brushing her teeth.
But when she spat out the toothpaste and caught her reflection in the mirror — flushed cheeks, wild eyes — the memory of Selene’s irritating, fake-hurt voice calling out to her husband made fresh rage explode inside her.
Anna slammed her hands on the counter. “I’ll make sure I give that bitch something to really cry and whine about.”
She stormed back into the bedroom and resumed packing with renewed fury, yanking zippers like they had personally offended her.
The door opened softly. Olivia stepped in with Nyx trailing behind her like a sleek black shadow.
“Are you done, or do you need help with the suitcase?” Olivia asked.
“I’m done.” Anna zipped the suitcase with a decisive snap.
Nyx immediately nuzzled her leg, purring loudly.
Anna bent down, scooped the cat into her arms, and stroked her soft fur, letting the gentle vibration calm her slightly.
Olivia smiled. “Elias just told me the car is ready downstairs.”
“Thank you.” Anna kept stroking Nyx, reluctant to let go.
Olivia dragged the suitcase toward the open door and called out, “Elias, can you take this down to the car?”
Elias appeared, nodded, and lifted the heavy case effortlessly.
Olivia turned back to Anna, voice gentle but firm.
“You can still call William right now and tell him everything — about Selene attacking you at the villa, about the dead birds, about all of it. It would be so much better if he knew. He could get a restraining order, have her arrested—”
Anna shook her head. “I don’t want to drag him into more trouble. Things are already bad enough with Selene in London trying to dig her claws into him again.”
Olivia studied her for a long moment, then sighed. “I know you’re trying to protect him, but you’re pregnant, Anna. This isn’t just about you anymore. Selene is dangerous. What if she tries something worse next time?”
Anna’s inward thoughts were steel.
Anna had told Olivia and the others what she calls a half-truth that Selene was the one who attacked her at the villa and tried to kill her baby.
She also told them Selene had sent the dead birds and threatened to send thugs after her if she told William.
After shedding a few strategic tears and painted the picture just right, they exploded — all three of the girls plus Brandon were ready to have Selene thrown in jail.
Their genuine anger and support felt like fuel. It strengthened her resolve. Selene has no idea how many people are now watching her back.
She met Olivia’s eyes.
“I have a good reason for going to London. I need to handle this myself — face to face. William has enough on his plate with the business. I’ll be careful. I promise.”
Olivia exhaled, clearly worried. “Fine. But if anything feels off, you call me immediately. Day or night.”
Anna smiled warmly and took Olivia’s hands. “Thank you for being so sweet and thoughtful. I’ll be just fine.” She added with a playful glint,
“Besides, I get a whole private plane all to myself. No snoring passengers, no crying babies — just me, some snacks, and total peace. It’s practically a luxury spa in the sky.”
Olivia laughed. “Lucky you. Next time I’m stowing away in your suitcase.”
Anna hugged her tightly, then placed Nyx gently in Olivia’s arms and kissed the cat’s furry head. “See you in three days.”
“Have a safe flight,” Olivia said, squeezing her back.
Anna nodded and headed out the door.
Later that afternoon, Anna sat in the back of a sleek black car gliding through the streets of Manchester, watching the city unfold outside the window — red-brick buildings, modern glass towers, and the occasional glimpse of the River Irwell sparkling under gray skies.
She had slept almost the entire seven-and-a-half-hour flight from New York.
The private plane’s interior had been so cozy she couldn’t help herself.
The flight attendants had been incredibly attentive, bringing her endless snacks and pillows.
The whole journey felt like a strange, luxurious dream.
Her phone pinged. Camille had texted: Have you landed?
Anna quickly replied: Yes, just arrived. I’ll text when I get to William’s house.
She swiped the notification away and, against her better judgment, opened her social media feed.
At the very top was a post from Selene. It was a photo of a daintily bandaged ankle resting on a plush velvet sofa.
The caption read: A little clumsiness in the city. It hurts like hell, but I have my darling here to play nurse and carry me whenever I need. Who needs a doctor when you have him? ❤️
Anna’s grip tightened on the phone until her knuckles turned white.
Her darling? The audacity was almost impressive.
It was a calculated strike, a digital middle finger aimed directly at New York. Selene was a parasite who mistook proximity for possession.
"You really don't know when to call it quits, do you?" Anna whispered to the empty car.
She put the phone away and continued staring out the window, trying to calm the storm still brewing inside her.
Moments later the car slowed to a halt in front of a grand, historic building.
Anna stepped out, the crisp British air hitting her lungs.
The driver unloaded her suitcase with a brisk "Here we are, ma'am," and left it by the door.
Anna took a deep breath, composed her face into a mask of pure sunshine, and knocked.
The door swung open, and there he was. William looked tired, his sleeves rolled up, but the moment his eyes landed on her, the fatigue vanished, replaced by sheer, unadulterated shock.
"Surprise," Anna said, her smile wide and teasing.
William didn't say a word. He reached out, grabbed her waist, and yanked her inside, slamming the door shut with his foot as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. He inhaled sharply, his hold on her almost bruising.
Anna wrapped her arms around him just as tightly, melting into the solid warmth of his body.
He pulled back just enough to cup her face with both hands. His eyes searched hers for a long moment — dark, intense, full of everything he felt for her. Then he kissed her.
The kiss was deep, passionate, and unhurried. His lips moved against hers with slow, claiming hunger, tongue sliding in to taste her like he’d been starving for days.
Anna kissed him back with equal fervor, a soft sigh escaping into his mouth as her fingers curled into his shirt. Heat bloomed low in her belly.
For several long, perfect moments the world narrowed to just the two of them — his hands on her face, her body pressed against his, the familiar taste and scent of him grounding her after all the chaos.
When they finally broke apart, William pressed one more quick, tender peck to her lips.
"God, I missed you," he murmured, his voice thick.
"William," Anna laughed, hugging him back with equal fervor.
"It’s been seventy-two hours, not a decade. You’re acting like I just returned from a mission to Mars."
"Three days without you feels like three years in solitary confinement," William countered, pulling back to cup her face in his large, warm hands.
William’s expression softened, but then it shifted.
He kept his hands on her face, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones, but his eyes turned dark and searching, boring into hers in that way that always made her stomach flip.
Anna gave a small nervous laugh. “Why are you looking at me like that? Is something wrong?”
"Anna... why didn't you tell me about Selene attacking you at the villa?"
The question was a bucket of ice water.
Anna’s breath hitched. "Who... who told you?"
"It doesn't matter who told me," William said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous frequency. "Is it true? Did she put her hands on you? Did she try to hurt our child?"
Anna hesitated. She saw the familiar flash of the 'no-lying' rule in his eyes.
She took a shuddering breath and looked up at him with the most vulnerable, terrified expression she could muster.
"I was scared, William," she whispered, her voice trembling perfectly.
"She told me if I said a word to you, she’d come back. She said she’d finish what she started. I just wanted to keep the baby safe, and I thought if I stayed quiet, she’d just... go away. But then the birds came, and then she followed you here..."
William’s jaw tightened so hard Anna thought it might crack. The protective fury radiating off him was almost physical and Anna loved every bit of it.
"I'm so sorry," she murmured, leaning her head against his chest. "I should have told you at the hospital."
"You’re damn right you should have," William said, his voice a chilling, convicted growl.
He tilted her chin up so she had to look him in the eye.
"Let me make one thing absolutely clear, Anna. Nobody touches a single hair on your head—nobody even breathes in your direction with ill intent—and gets to walk away whole. I am your husband. Protecting you isn't just my duty; it’s my religion."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead with lingering tenderness.
He pulled away and checked his watch, then walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Anna asked, her heart racing. "I just got here."
William paused with his hand on the heavy brass doorknob.
He turned back, and the look on his face was one of cold, calculated execution.
"Rest up, baby. There’s some unfinished business in this city," he said, his voice like velvet over a blade.
"I’m going to go remind Selene why she should have stayed in the shadows. I’m going to teach her a lesson that will be written in bruises she’ll never forget."
He stepped out, and the door clicked shut with the finality of a coffin lid.