Chapter 288 Shattered Illusions

Chapter 288 Shattered Illusions

As William's words hung in the air, Megan broke free from Ivan Franklin's grip.

She rushed to William's side, tilting her face up anxiously. "Anna was drunk that night. She went to the hotel and found a man herself."

"Mr. Sterling, if you locate the hotel guest from that night, you'll find the man." Her words tumbled out rapidly.

Her statement made William suspicious. "Did Anna know who the man was?"

Megan spoke hurriedly, "No, Anna doesn't know. But she's been searching for him all these years."

Searching?

She was still looking for that man?

William felt blood rush to his head, a burning sensation overwhelming him.

Why? Was she still thinking about that man?

Hadn't he given her everything? His heart, his trust—why wasn't it enough? Why would Anna do this?

Seeing William's silence, Megan assumed her words had hit their mark. She continued chattering loudly.

"She's been having Caspian secretly search for the female doctor who delivered her baby. She wants to find her child, Mr. Sterling. Anna never took you seriously. She was only with you for your money."

Money?

William laughed bitterly. He wished Anna had wanted something from him—anything. But during their time together, she had never spent a penny of his money. The gifts he gave her were practically forced upon her.

And when she left, she hadn't taken a single one with her.

This realization made William's heart ache even more.

He clutched his chest tightly, hiding his vulnerability from others.

"Is that all? If so, you can leave now."

Seeing William dismiss her again, Megan grew desperate. "Mr. Sterling, I can help you find Anna. Just please help get my parents out of trouble. I promise I'll find her for you."

Find her—what difference would it make? If her heart wasn't with him, what was the point?

William had his pride. Anna's sudden departure had devastated him.

The day she left, he had searched frantically, desperate to find her.

During those days in the hospital, he had constantly hoped for her appearance. He had planned to forgive her for everything, no matter what had happened, if only she would return.

But after waiting so long without even a glimpse of her, William felt his heart turn to ashes.

Anna clearly hadn't cared about him. Perhaps in her heart, only that child and the man she'd spent one night with mattered.

William couldn't admit defeat, but the pain Anna had caused was unbearable.

This wound could only be hidden away, healed slowly and privately.

William refused to show weakness to anyone, especially not to Megan.

He spoke coldly, "Anna and I have no relationship anymore. Don't play tricks As for your parents—that's a Rice family matter. It has nothing to do with me."

William left without giving Megan another chance to speak, striding away purposefully.

Behind him, Megan's heart-wrenching sobs echoed, but her tears moved no one. Ejected from the building, Megan wandered the streets in a daze, her eyes vacant.

Her home had been seized by creditors, the family company bankrupted. She was truly homeless, with nowhere left to turn.

Megan looked up at the distant sunset and burst into loud, desperate sobs.

Back in his office, William couldn't sit still. Finally, he angrily threw down his pen, his eyes filled with grief and pain.

'Anna, where are you? Why did you leave and never return? Were all those moments we shared just lies?' He thought.



William painfully clutched at his hair, sinking into profound despair.

His heart felt ready to explode. His mind was filled with thoughts of Anna. Only by working himself into numbness could he avoid thinking about her.

But William didn't know how much longer he could hold on. Perhaps one day he would finally break.

Anguished groans escaped from the office. Standing guard outside, Kirk's expression grew grim. Only he knew what William had endured these past days.

Watching William suffer, Kirk silently blamed Anna.

He couldn't understand how she could be so heartless. How could she abandon everything and never look back?

With these thoughts weighing on him, Kirk finally pulled out his phone.

At the Midnight Moonshine Lounge, Kirk met with Lucy.

In a private booth, Lucy was drinking with two male companions.

When she spotted Kirk, Lucy paused momentarily, then smiled and dismissed her companions. Looking at him, she grinned, "Why the urgent meeting, Kirk?"

Seeing Lucy's nonchalant attitude, Kirk felt both angry and disappointed.

So she hired male companions in private!

Kirk's beliefs crumbled in that moment. He suddenly realized that he and Lucy were truly different kinds of people.

His hopes collapsed as he wondered—if Lucy was like this, what about Anna?

Was Anna also this frivolous? Was she hiding somewhere right now, indulging in pleasure?

Perhaps no one truly cared about William at all.

Growing increasingly angry, Kirk slammed his hand on the table. "Where is Ms. Rice? I need to see her!"

Lucy jumped, startled. She frowned, "Why so serious?"

She flipped her hair and sighed, "Don't bother searching. I'm looking for Anna too, but unfortunately, no one can reach her now."

Kirk didn't believe her.

"You're Anna's best friend. How could you not know where she is?"

Seeing his disbelief, Lucy didn't bother explaining further. She pointed at the two men who had just left. "Why do you think I had those two keeping me company? I'm stressed about Anna's situation."

"Don't lie. You wanted their company. Don't blame it on Ms. Rice."

Seeing he still didn't believe her, Lucy reached out and pulled him beside her.

Kirk stumbled, nearly falling into Lucy's arms.

Frightened, he quickly steadied himself, then looked at her with a serious expression. "What are you doing?"

Lucy innocently spread her hands. "Nothing! I just wanted to tell you about what's happened these past days."

Through Lucy's account, Kirk finally learned of Anna's whereabouts after she left Sterling Group.

What surprised him most was how decisively Anna had handled so many situations in such a short time.