Chapter 176 The Balcony
Chapter 176 The Balcony
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“It was my own choice. You’re not to blame. And besides, Anne was too impulsive. Family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public. She-”
“Huh! You’re the ones playing happy family. What the hell do your scandals have to do with me?” A clear, mocking voice cut in.
Zacharias spun around and saw Anneliese standing only a few steps away. She had clearly overheard every word.
His expression shifted, and he strode toward her. “Anne, let’s talk.”
He reached for her hand, but she pulled back sharply, eyes full of loathing.
Selina also stepped forward. “Anne, let the three of us go over there and sort out everything from back then.” Without waiting, she turned and walked toward the balcony at the far end of the second floor.
Anneliese had come that night with divorce in mind. She glanced at Selina’s retreating back, quirked a brow, and followed.
Seeing she was willing to talk, Zacharias felt a flicker of relief and quickly trailed after them.
The night wind on the balcony was sharp with cold. Anneliese folded her arms loosely and glanced down at the garden below. Clusters of colored lights shimmered across the surface of the swimming pool, dazzling in the dark. It was winter, the air freezing, and the pool deck stood deserted.
“Go on,” Anneliese said flatly, her eyes impatient.
Selina lowered her voice, her tone trembling with practiced remorse. “Anne, back then, Grandma loved you wholly. I couldn’t stand the difference, and I couldn’t stand your showing off. In my anger, I did hire someone to scare you.
“But I regretted it immediately, before anything happened. I even sent Blade a message to stop. He ignored it, probably afraid I’d demand my money back. When you didn’t come home that night, I panicked.
“I went out looking for you, and when I couldn’t find you, I rushed home and told our parents and brothers everything. I begged them to call the police, but by then it was too late. You were already in the hospital…”
Her story was partly true, partly false.
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9:40 Thu, Sep 11
Chapter 176 The Balcony
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38
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She really had done it, and Blade had indeed been the useless thug who stabbed Anneliese twice and still let her escape. He had even sent Selina threats afterward, demanding more
money.
That was when she knew she was in over her head. She had deleted the blackmail message, sent a fake text of regret, pretended to worry, and run around in tears. Back home, she had knelt before the family, weeping in confession. And as she had expected, they forgave her and cleaned up the mess.
A shadow flickered in her eyes as she stepped closer to Anneliese. “Anne, it was all my fault. Zach only helped me because I once supported him financially. He felt indebted to me.”
Zacharias moved forward, voice earnest. “Babe, I never told you. From middle school through high school, Selina secretly paid my tuition and living expenses. When my mother had cancer, she even covered the medical bills. Without her, my mother wouldn’t have survived. I owed her that much–owed her my life.
“That night, she had already stopped the deal. She truly acted on impulse. That’s why I helped her. But Anne, you and I grew up together. My feelings for you were never false. Please believe me.”
So that’s how Selina became the love Zacharias could never have.
To Anneliese, it was laughable. She had known he once received a private scholarship, but not that it came from Selina. Charity from the White family’s pampered heiress–money that should have been hers in the first place.
And as for the one who had quietly paid Melody’s surgery and treatment fees–that had been her.
Anneliese turned to Selina. “You paid the medical bills?”
Selina’s gaze faltered. Then she lurched forward suddenly. “Anne, if you’re angry, hit me. Go ahead, hit me! I won’t fight back.”
Her voice rose hysterically as she grabbed Anneliese’s hand, trying to force it against her own. cheek. Anneliese felt as if a snake had wrapped around her, and she yanked back instinctively, struggling to break free.
In the scuffle, they staggered closer to the balcony rail. Selina leaned close to her ear, whispering coldly. “So sure that Zacharias loves you? Let’s test it, shall we? We’ll both fall into the pool–see who he saves.”
The words had barely left her mouth before she lunged, dragging Anneliese toward the railing. Anneliese’s body tilted dangerously, but just before toppling, she shoved Selina hard.
