Chapter 175 The Price of Silence
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No new WhatsApp messages had come through. The last chat still sat there–Anneliese’s selfie wearing the ruby jewelry set. Above it was the mirror selfie he had sent her that same morning. They had traded photos back and forth. It felt good.
Jonathan tapped open her selfie once more, staring at it for a moment before lifting his eyes.
“Drive faster.”
In the Whites‘ study, Anneliese urged Perseus to draft the share transfer agreement on the spot. After signing her name, she handed the fresh document back to him. “Please take this down for Mr. White’s signature.”
Perseus‘ jaw tightened, his face darkening. What was he, her errand boy? She had just secured a sizable piece of the family’s wealth, yet wouldn’t even call Timothy “Dad” or him “big brother”
now.
The memory of her tearing the family’s dignity in front of the guests burned in his mind. Fury surged, and he slammed his palm against the desk. “So eager, aren’t you? Look at yourself, Anneliese–greedy and vicious.”
Anneliese let out a cold laugh. “If you’re not greedy, hand me your 5% of the shares.”
“Unbelievable!” Perseus barked, livid.
She sneered. “If you won’t deliver it, I’ll go myself. I’ll also ask Mr. White whether these shares are just hush money for deleting my recording.”
The threat hung blatantly in the air.
Perseus barely restrained himself from hurling the contract at her head. Instead, he shoved another document across the table. “Sign this one first.”
Anneliese picked it up, her lips curling with bitter amusement. It wasn’t another transfer but a declaration–she would promise never to pursue the truth of that night four years ago, never to mention it again. Clearly, Timothy had put Perseus up to it.
So, this is the catch. These 5% aren’t for nothing.
She raised her eyes, voice icy. “Hush money, huh? In your eyes, the two knife wounds I took, my brush with death, are worth just 5%?”
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9:39 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 175 The Price of Silence
9:
Of course, Timothy had seemed so generous. He had been waiting for this moment.
38
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Perseus frowned at her sharp words. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You’ve gotten your compensation–stop playing the victim. As for that night, yes, Selina was wrong, but it was justifiable.
“You caused a scene today, dragging the family into disgrace in front of all those people. And to think Dad wanted all of us to apologize to you! If you ask me, it was pointless.”
Anneliese shot to her feet and flung the paper back at his face. “My life may mean nothing to you, but it’s not that cheap. I’d be insulting my scars if I signed that trash.”
“Anneliese! You have no proof of what happened. But these shares are real. Once you walk out that door, it’ll be too late to regret it!” Perseus roared, standing as the papers hit his face.
She didn’t even glance back. The door slammed behind her with a thunderous crack, the gust scattering the unsigned agreement across the floor. Perseus‘ eyelids twitched as rage coiled in his chest. And yet, unbidden, a memory surfaced.
In this very study, years ago, after she had first returned to the Whites, she had learned from the maids that on weekends, he liked to sit here early in the morning, sipping pour–over coffee and leafing through books.
Back then, she would tiptoe in quietly on weekends, brewing fresh coffee with beans she ground herself, and leave it at his elbow. Sometimes, if he was in a good mood, he would lift his head and nod, and the girl would flush pink, her brows arching into a delighted smile as if he had handed her the world.
That timid, thoughtful, gentle girl had vanished without a trace. Perseus clenched his fists and slammed them against the rosewood desk, the weight of his own frustration ringing in the blow.
“Anne’s misunderstanding of me is too deep. I’m the reason you’re dragged into this. I’m sorry. If I had known things would come to this, I never should have involved you. Now everyone suspects me, curses me, and I’ll bear it. But I truly fear they’ll turn their anger on you too.”
At the turn of the staircase, Selina stood in the shadows, eyes rimmed red, her face full of shame as she spoke softly. Her head dipped, revealing the pale, slender curve of her neck, fragile and wounded.
Zacharias stood beside her, his gaze filled with pity as his voice gentled…
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