Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore
Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore
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Anneliese hadn’t expected that after everything she’d done to Zacharias yesterday, he would still show up today.
She supposed her pepper spray hadn’t been strong enough, and that kick to his groin hadn’t been harsh enough either.
“Wow, Mr. Shaw, Clauderias Tech went under, and now you’re just clinging to Annie like some cheap bandage?”
Jessica’s tone was sharp, clearly trying to rile him up. Zacharias‘ expression darkened, and he gave Jessica a cold glance, yet somehow forced himself to sit down nearby.
Jessica rolled her eyes, while Anneliese, concerned about Nishay, barely even glanced at Zacharias. Thinking of Carter, she turned to Jessica.
“I’ll make a call,” she said, rising to her feet.
But Jessica grabbed her and, with a playful wink, called out: “Oh, Annie, you’re calling your husband, aren’t you? Go ahead, right here! Ms. Morris just went in. If they need a signature, it’d be bad if the doctor couldn’t reach you.”
Jessica glanced at Zacharias. As expected, he frowned at them, his handsome face darkening further.
Anneliese paused. There was really nothing to hide–her marriage was open and aboveboard.
She picked up her phone, but before she could dial, Jonathan’s call came in, almost as if they were in sync.
Her eyes
lit up, and she answered immediately.
Before she could even speak, Jonathan spoke first,
“Has Grandma gone into surgery yet?”
She was about to ask whether he had asked Carter to help, but his words made her see there was no need.
“How did you know Grandma was going into surgery?”
“Carter happened to see you at the hospital. Something this big, and you didn’t tell me?”
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12:15 Thu, Sep 18
Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore
His tone was low, tinged with obvious displeasure.
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Anneliese panicked slightly and hurried to explain, “You’re so busy…I just didn’t want to keep bothering you.”
He was silent. Anneliese bit her lip, unsure if she’d said the wrong thing.
Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. “Am I an outsider? I’m your husband.”
Her heart felt like it had been lightly tapped across a thousand miles by him.
She felt like a child caught doing something wrong–confused and uncertain where she’d actually gone wrong.
Wasn’t it just a marriage of convenience?
Or had that changed after that kiss?
“I… I didn’t…”
Her voice was quiet and hesitant. She hadn’t thought about telling him, nor did she know she should.
Jonathan could hear the uncertainty and panic in her voice. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a silent gesture of frustration.
It was precisely because she hadn’t thought to tell him that he felt such a heavy, suffocating mix of anger and worry–though perhaps he was just too impatient.
His business trip had come at the worst possible time.
Nishay was in surgery, and he had called to comfort her, not to scold her.
Yet his emotions seemed just slightly out of control.
He truly didn’t know how to deal with her.
And every word she spoke carried weight he couldn’t afford to misstep.
Jonathan closed his eyes for a moment, gathering himself. When he spoke again, his voice was soft, warm, and tinged with a smile as he sighed.
“My wife… Do I need to punch holes in our marriage certificate and hang it around your neck so you always remember? You’re not alone anymore. You can rely on me–anytime, anywhere.”
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Chapter 285 Not Alone Anymore
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Anneliese listened, stunned. She had grown up relying on herself, solving problems alone, only seeking help when absolutely necessary.
As for the Whites, even if she never asked them for anything, they still found her troublesome.
Even with Zacharias, he had often told her she was an adult now, that he wanted her to be independent. With the company just starting out, with so many people and so much to handle, he couldn’t worry about her.
This was the first time someone had told her she wasn’t alone, that she could depend on him anytime.
And the crucial part–he wasn’t just saying it. He had proven it.
When she needed him, he had flown thousands of miles back and, from afar, arranged everything for her without her asking.
A swell of emotion rose in Anneliese’s chest, a mixture of warmth and something almost too full to contain.
“Anne?”
He called after her, curious when she didn’t respond.
Anneliese sniffed, then murmured in a muffled voice, soft and hesitant.
“My husband… I know I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
Jonathan’s breath caught slightly. This time, her gentle, almost coquettish tone had genuinely made him smile.
“Good. Knowing your mistakes is the first step to fixing them. I’ll reward you when I get back.”
He probably still had work to finish, because he added quickly: “I checked with Carter. Grandma’s surgery will take about five to six hours. Are you scared? Is anyone with you?”
“Jess is here. I’m fine. You focus on your work. I’ll give you the good news as soon as the surgery’s over.”
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