Chapter 286: Exposed Secrets

Caspian stepped in front of Anna, and kicked Megan to the ground with a swift motion.

His face flushed with anger as he glared down at the fallen Megan. "Your parents kidnapped Louie and nearly killed him. That debt hasn't been settled yet. And now you dare come after Anna? You're playing a dangerous game—keep this up and you might end up locked away yourself!"

Megan slowly rose from the ground, grimacing in pain as she clutched her stomach.

Her eyes glowed crimson with rage as she stared at Anna with a cold smirk. "Quit playing the victim!"

"Why did my parents kidnap Louie? It was because of you!" Megan's finger jabbed accusingly toward Anna, her eyes filled with hatred. "If you hadn't been so determined to investigate what happened that year, my parents would never have resorted to such desperate measures!"

Her words instantly created a buzz among the onlookers. Everyone turned to look at Anna, wondering what "investigation" Megan was referring to.

Seeing Megan's unfiltered outburst, Caspian grew anxious.

He shouted at the receptionist, "Call security right now! Get this madwoman out of here!"

The frightened receptionist rushed to make the call while Megan continued to glare at the composed Anna, her hatred intensifying.

'This bitch,' she thought bitterly. Just moments ago, Hayden had broken up with her. In a single night, her parents had been thrown in prison, and now she'd lost her boyfriend too.

In the span of just one night, she had lost everything. Today, debt collectors had even followed her home and taken over her house. All the Rice family's misfortunes were because of Anna!

Anna had cost her the love of her life and destroyed her family, yet here she stood, completely unscathed. It wasn't fair!

The thought made Megan's hatred boil over. Recklessly, she shouted, "Anna, aren't you just looking for the child you gave birth to years ago?"

"You got drunk, had a one-night stand, and got pregnant. Dad and Mom sent you to that mental facility to cover up your scandal. But how did you repay them? By sending them to prison! You heartless, ungrateful woman! You don't deserve to be a Rice!"

"Shut your mouth!"

Caspian reacted quickly, slapping Megan hard enough to send her tumbling to the floor again.

But the damage was done. Megan's words had already spread throughout the design department.

Everyone had heard what she said.

A child, commitment to a mental facility—this explosive news instantly rocked the department.

People's gazes toward Anna shifted dramatically. Anna had a child with someone—what did that mean for William? What was his position in all this?

"Get this lunatic out of here! Now!" Caspian barked at the security guards rushing toward them.

"Let go of me!" Megan struggled against the security guards while continuing to shout, "Anna, you shameless whore! You had a one-night stand and bore a child, yet here you are deceiving William."

"Anna, don't you desperately want to marry William? But would you dare let him know about your secret? If William learns you've been lying to him all along—that you not only slept with another man but also had his child—do you think he'd still want damaged goods like you?"

Megan's hysterical laughter mixed with tears as she was dragged away. She was determined that if she couldn't be happy, neither would Anna.

After Megan was removed, Caspian nervously glanced at Anna's pale face.

Before he could say anything, Anna turned and entered her office.

"Ask Ms. Thomas to come in, please," she said quietly.

Caspian hesitated, then looked toward Grace in the crowd and waved to her. "Ms. Thomas, Anna would like to see you."

Grace looked startled, glancing uneasily around the room before walking into the office.

Inside, Anna took a deep breath and unclenched her fist, revealing bloody nail marks where she'd dug into her palm. She laughed bitterly to herself.

The sword that had been hanging over her head for so long had finally fallen.

It was time to leave.

"Ms. Rice," Grace said as she entered, her expression complex as she looked at Anna.

"What Megan said—" she began.

Anna cut her off. "She was right. I have a child, but the child's whereabouts are unknown. I've been searching for my child all this time."

She finished with a self-mocking laugh. "I've been so careful to protect this secret. I knew it couldn't be kept forever, and that day has finally come."

She continued, seeming almost relieved. "Perhaps it's for the best that it came from Megan's mouth. Now I can let everything go and focus entirely on finding my child."

Anna looked at Grace. "I'm entrusting everything here to you."

"The clothing brand has launched, the offline stores are operational, and everything is running smoothly. Grace, I'm leaving it all in your hands. Take good care of it and help this brand reach even greater heights."

Grace was stunned that Anna would entrust such an important responsibility to her of all people.

Anna's words gave Grace an ominous feeling.

"Ms. Rice, I—I don't think I'm up to the task."

"You are," Anna said firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I've always recognized your ambition. This will be the first stepping stone in your growth. Handle it well, and your future will be limitless."

Her words ignited something in Grace.

"But Ms. Rice, if you leave, what about William?" Grace asked.

The question struck Anna deeply. 'Yes, William.' She whispered his name, her chest tight with pain.

No matter how detached she tried to be, she couldn't forget William.

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, hiding the reluctance in her gaze.

"William and I... I suppose we were never meant to be."

Her words brought tears to Grace's eyes.

"How can you say that? You know how much William cares for you. If you just leave like this, what will happen to him?"

"His heart has already been broken once. Do you really want to watch him get hurt again?"

Grace's words pierced Anna's heart. Of course she knew, but the happiness William wanted was something she could no longer give him in this lifetime.

Anna straightened her back and turned away, her voice cold. "Do your job well. The design department is yours now."

With that, she opened the office door and hurriedly left with Caspian.

"Anna, if you leave like this, I'll hate you forever!" Grace shouted after her, unable to stop her departure.

But her words did nothing to halt Anna's exit.

When the news reached William, he shattered the teacup in his hand—the first time Kirk had ever seen him lose composure.

It was also the first time Kirk had seen William look so panicked.

By the time William arrived at the design department, he was too late. Anna had already gone, leaving nothing but an empty office behind.