Chapter 64
The man moved like lightning. Annabel thought about chasing him, but with people already watching, she hesitated and decided against it.
The scream had come from a middle–aged woman holding the leash of a tiny poodle. The little dog wagged its tail furiously, as if trying to get Annaber’s
attention.
Annabe! gave the poodle a quick glance but didn’t stop to talk to the woman. She jogged away, her mind elsewhere.
It was clear–the man’s actions were aimed at her and had nothing to do with anyone else.
The sun was just beginning to rise when Annabel arrived at the White residence. Most of the household was already up.
Beatrice set down her glass of water and smiled warmly. “Annabel, did you go for a run this morning?”
Annabel replied coolly, “Yeah.”
By now, Beatrice had almost gotten used to Annabel’s distant demeanor, chalking it up to just being her personality. Still, muttering curses at Annabel’s back when she wasn’t looking had become a habit of hers.
Annabel returned to her room, took a quick shower, and pulled out the first aid kit.
Earlier, during her fight with that man, neither of them had come out on top, but both had ended up with a few minor scrapes.
After treating her wounds, she stepped out of her room and ran into Walter. “Annabel, heading out already?” he asked.
Annabel realized it had been a while since she and her grandfather had shared a meal together. She stepped forward to support him, her smile soft and obedient: “I’ll stay and have breakfast with you first, Grandpa, before heading out.”
Walter’s face lit up with a pleased smile.
Not long after the two entered the dining room, Victor arrived. However, there was no sign of Beatrice; apparently, she had already left the house.
Annabel recalled brushing past Beatrice earlier and catching a whiff of an alluring, almost predatory perfume. Her thoughts stirred.
edcopy red!
‘Beatrice went out for a date? With whom?‘ she wondered.
As Annabel was mulling over this, Victor’s voice suddenly cut through her thoughts, his tone laced with irritation. “Lillian got married to help the family, and look at you? Useless at everything. Last time, I introduced you to Mr. Kent. He’s wealthy and well–established. Marrying him would have guaranteed you a worry–free life, but you refused.”
Victor’s tone made it sound as if Annabel had been ungrateful, squandering what he considered a golden opportunity.
Annabel scoffed inwardly, her lips curling into a faint smirk as she prepared to respond. Suddenly, a loud smack echoed through the room. Walter had slammed his fork onto the table with force. “Enough is enough.”
Walter’s face was stormy, his aging eyes blazing with anger. “Not a single one of them is worthy of my Annabel.”
Victor sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “With the way she is, even finding someone halfway decent is a long shot, let alone-”
Before Victor could finish his cutting remark, Walter shot him a piercing glare that made him swallow his words mid–sentence.
Still unwilling to back down, Victor glared at Annabel, his resentment practically radiating off him.
Unfazed, Annabel placed a healthy flatbread on Walter’s plate. “Grandpa, this is good for your health.”
Walter noticed how composed Annabel remained despite Victor’s hostility. A mix of relief and guilt flickered across his face as he smiled warmly. “Thank you, Annabel.”
1/3
Chapter 64
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the bandage wrapped around her wrist. “Ahnabel, what happened to your hand?
Victor snorted dismissively, his voice laced with sarcasm. “She probably got herself into trouble
again,
Annabel ignored Victor entirely, glancing at her wrist with a faint smile. “Just a small scratch from a leaf while I was jogging
She added with emphasis, “It’s nothing serious.”
Walter nodded, though his concern lingered. “Be careful next time. Slow down when you run.”
Annabel replied softly, “I will.”
With Beatrice and Lillian absent and Walter keeping Victor in check, the meal passed in relative peace. Once they finished, Annabel stood up, ready to go to Aether Studios.
Mason strode into the office not long after Annabel arrived, his tall frame exuding confidence, though his handsome face was frosty.
“Annabel, I’ve got the results from the investigation you asked for last night. Turns out Sutton has been deliberately spreading rumors about you, e
said.
Mason let out a cold laugh. “But he probably doesn’t even know you actually have the red diamond. He’s just trying to stir up trouble and use others to do his dirty work—just as sneaky and ruthless as his cousin Beatrice.”
Annabel nodded in acknowledgment.
She was certain the assassin she encountered this morning was also after the red diamond, but she chose not to share this with Mason. Instead, she shifted the topic. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
Mason, still uneasy, pressed on. “What about Sutton’s antics? What’s your plan?”
“Spreading rumors alone won’t be enough to hurt me. For now, I’ll wait and see. I have a hunch he and Beatrice are plotting something bigger,” she said.
Lowering her gaze, Annabel masked the calculating glint in her eyes before asking, “Do I have any scenes to shoot today?”
“Yes,” Mason confirmed with a nod.
As Annabel stood up, her eyes fell on her wrist. After a moment’s thought, she grabbed a long coat to cover it.
Walking toward the door, she casually asked Mason, “Did Carlos béhave himself yesterday?”
“More or less. Though he had the audacity to ask about you. Unbelievable.” Mason sounded annoyed but didn’t elaborate, his concern for Annabel
evident.
Annabel didn’t press further, and the two soon made their way downstairs.
Their presence turned heads as they walked through the building–him, strikingly handsome; her, effortlessly elegant. Together, they drew attention, with people whispering about how perfectly they complemented each other.
Many employees in the company were fans of the icy boss Annabel and the equally frosty actor Jonathan.
As Annabel stepped into the studio, Jonathan emerged from the elevator. His sharp eyes darkened with intense displeasure at the sight of the two walking side by side, as if a storm was brewing inside him.
Behind him, Carlos shivered involuntarily, a chill running from the base of his spine to the top of his head.
‘What now? I’m sure he hadn’t done anything to upset Mr. Turner today, right? he wondered.
Unaware of the tension, Annabel and Mason continued discussing work. It wasn’t until Annabel picked up the script to rehearse her lines that a shadow loomed over her, blocking her view.
2.36 Sun, 8 Jun
Chapter 64
GRA
She frowned slightly and looked up, her brows furrowing even deeper. “You? When did you get here?”
Jonathan’s gaze flicked briefly to Mason, who had already stepped aside. The frost on his face remained, and his thin lips were pressed into a fight the
“I warned you to stay away from other men. Did you think I was joking?” he said.
Annabel let out a derisive laugh. “And I’m supposed to listen to you? Who I spend time with is none of your business.”
“None of my business?” Jonathan repeated the words slowly, his voice laced with menace.
He stepped forward, his towering figure casting a shadow that seemed to engulf Annabel entirely. “Little Wildcat, what am I to you?”
Annabel wanted to say “a colleague“, but she had no doubt that such an answer would send Jonathan into a full–blown rage, right here and now
She bit her lip, hesitating for a long moment before finally replying, “You’re someone special, I guess.”
Someone special? Though the answer didn’t fully satisfy him, it was enough to douse much of the anger that had been threatening to boil over.
Jonathan reached out and took the script from her hands, but in doing so, he noticed her arm move unnaturally. The slight wince and sharp intake of breath didn’t escape his attention.
Concerned, he tried to grab her hand. “You’re hurt again?”
Annabel immediately pulled away, her voice turning cold. “Mr. Turner, if you’re not here to work, you can leave right now.”
“Leave? Do you really think I have nothing better to do than hang around here?” he said.
Jonathan’s voice was icy as he retorted, his narrow eyes flashing with a hint of danger. “Did Victor hurt you again?”
“No.” Annabel denied it outright, then raised an eyebrow. “And besides, Victor is my father. Why would you even think he’d hurt me?”
AD
ift
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.