Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Mom wasn't as petty as they think.

Only narrow-minded people like them would think that way.

Mom stared coldly at Henry, her tone unfriendly, "Henry, do you even consider Anna as family?"

She was sick and hospitalized, but she wasn't blind.

She saw clearly how Nola treated me just now.

If Henry hadn't been indulging her, would Nola dare to be so arrogant and domineering toward me?

The more Mom thought about it, the more her heart ached for me, and her emotions grew increasingly agitated.

I looked at Mom worriedly and quickly patted her back.

Seeing Henry about to say something, I worried he'd upset Mom and said coldly, "Shut up. You're not welcome here. You can leave now!"

At these words, Henry's expression changed instantly.

He scolded me sternly, "I'm your brother. Watch your attitude."

"My attitude? Have you forgotten what situation I'm in now?"

My gaze was frighteningly cold as I stared straight at Henry.

He forced me to give up my inheritance rights to the company and took back all the company shares. Wasn't he just trying to completely take over the company?

Did he ever treat me as his sister?

Now he's putting on this act of sibling affection in front of me?

Does he really think he's a king who gets whatever he wants?

Henry was so angry at me that he was shaking all over.

Mom frowned and said coldly, "Leave now."

But Henry still stood there, as if rooted to the spot.

He looked at Mom unwillingly, his tone carrying a hint of threat.

"Are you really not going to care about our family's company? We're family! If the company really goes under, you won't have money for medical expenses either!"

I stood up and positioned myself between him and Mom.

"That's Mom's money to begin with. Who are you to talk? If you don't want to end up with nothing, leave now."

I spoke word by word, silently pressuring Henry.

I knew that although Henry looked down on me, he was afraid of James behind me.

Even if I was just a little pet James bought back for a hundred million dollars, I was still James's person.

Henry finally gave me a deep look and left unwillingly.

Seeing him leave the hospital room, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I didn't expect that while Henry was gone, things weren't over with Mom yet.

"Anna, tell me the truth. Is that ungrateful person paying for my medical expenses?"

Mom frowned, looking at me seriously, "Don't you have company shares? Did they bully you again?"

My heart was racing, but I lied with a straight face.

"How could that be? Mom, don't worry! James is so capable. With him protecting me, who would dare bully me?"

Seeing Mom still looking tense, I continued, "Mom, don't let them fool you. They said that on purpose, trying to upset and provoke you, so we should stay calm and not fall for it! Otherwise they'll get what they want!"

I spoke seriously, nodding emphatically as I talked.

Only then did Mom dismiss her doubts, nodding and snorting.

"As if they could upset me with their little tricks?"

I smiled and didn't argue.

Even though Mom said that, I still felt uneasy inside.

Mom's condition had worsened before because Henry and Nola had upset her.

"Alright."

Mom saw my worry and looked at me tenderly, asking softly, "Anna, don't worry about me. But you, child, they haven't been bullying you without me knowing, have they?"

Meeting Mom's eyes filled with suspicion and speculation, I felt inexplicably guilty.

But Mom kept staring at me, so I had to bite the bullet and speak, "Mom! How could I be bullied? Think about who's behind me? It's James and you!"

At this point, my eyes lit up uncontrollably, and my mood became unusually relaxed and cheerful.

When I was with James, I was always on edge, not knowing when James would come after me.

But there hadn't been any major problems at the Andrew Group yet, so James probably hadn't put pressure on them.

Mom finally believed me.

Without those two annoying people Henry and Nola, my chat with Mom became relaxed and pleasant.

I was chatting happily and didn't notice that someone was standing at the hospital room door.

"Boss, aren't you going in?"

Jesse calmly pushed up his glasses.

James glanced at him coldly, "If your eyesight is bad, go get it treated. Don't you know how to read people's faces?"

"Understood."

Jesse's eyes rippled with amusement.

He'd been following James for years, and this was the first time he'd seen the arrogant James reading someone's face.

In the past, if he didn't like something, he'd have charged in and taken action.

After all, he's a man.

Jesse chuckled to himself.

James didn't notice his expression at all, his gaze locked tightly on me.

Since I came back, I'd never smiled so easily in front of him.

Always talking about "James this" and "James that," looking respectful but actually driving him crazy!

He wanted to teach me a harsh lesson, but when my eyes turned red, he softened.

James sighed inwardly, but his gaze wouldn't leave my face.

The girl he'd cherished so carefully had finally returned. Even if it was in the most ruthless and cold way, he had to keep me by his side.

Even if it meant mutual torture, he wanted to see me day and night, not letting me be with any other man.

James gazed at my smiling face with reluctance, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Jesse quietly stepped back, not disturbing James's interest in watching me secretly.

No choice—the boss was just proud like that.

James watched secretly for a full ten minutes. By the end, even he felt embarrassed.

He'd actually been watching me for so long.

James snorted coldly, forced himself to look away, and strode toward the other end of the corridor.

After briefly learning about Mom's condition and hearing that the Henry couple had visited, James's expression darkened suddenly.

"I said before that without mine and Anna's permission, no one can visit casually."

"We're very sorry, Mr. Smith. It was our oversight. It won't happen again!"

The person in charge turned pale with fear, breaking out in cold sweat.

He kept bowing to James, almost ready to kneel and kowtow.

James gave him a cold warning before leaving.

Jesse followed behind him, glancing at a message he'd just received, "Mr. Smith, don't you really want to know which company Mrs. Smith is working at?"

James stopped and turned around abruptly, "Do you not want this job anymore?"

"Sorry, boss. I was wrong."

Jesse apologized smoothly and skillfully, immediately correcting himself, "I think where Ms. Andrew works isn't important."

James frowned, "Ms. Andrew?"

Jesse corrected himself again, "Mrs. Smith. Where Mrs. Smith works isn't important. What's important is that you have money and can help Mrs. Smith."

Only then did James feel more comfortable.

Sure enough, only people like Jesse were suitable to work under him.

Not like me—I could make him furious with just a few words.

Back at the company, James handled documents while casually asking about the Andrew Group's situation.

Jesse detailed how Henry had been struggling recently.

James's expression grew increasingly pleasant, even joyful.

Others didn't know, but his capable subordinates all knew.

He'd been enjoying tormenting the Andrew family lately, never tiring of it.

The Andrew Group seemed to be operating normally now, but in reality, it was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.