Chapter 203 Anne’s Special Day
Downstairs, a Maybach rolled slowly into the compound.
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Jonathan set the freshly sorted documents aside, leaned back, and shut his eyes for a moment to ease the strain. His lips parted just slightly.
“Flare–up again?” he asked, directing the comment at Zion behind the wheel.
Ever since Zion got back from the City Hall, he’s been all twitchy–like he wants to say something but keeps swallowing it down. And the whole drive, I’ve lost count of how many times he’s checked me in the rearview.
Zion was left speechless.
I’m hesitating. Should I tell Mr. Fullbuster that Anneliese and Zacharias never even spent their wedding night together? My first instinct is to spill it–he’d probably be thrilled to hear it. But then I stop myself. That’s Anneliese’s private business. The fact that I happened to stumble across it already feels wrong. Passing it around would just make me look crude.
Besides, Mr. Fullbuster likes her for who she is. That much is obvious. He doesn’t care about that kind of thing. If I blurt it out, Ms. Claude might twist the whole story later. She could easily assume he only fell for her because her marriage was never consummated.
Zion had been torn about whether to speak up, but Jonathan’s jab settled it–he clamped down on the thought and decided to keep quiet.
Forget it–better just to let Mr. Fullbuster stumble onto the surprise himself.
“It’s nothing!” Zion said.
Jonathan lifted his eyes, glanced at him, then dropped the matter without another word.
…
Anneliese was helping the maid set the dishes on the table when the front door opened and Jonathan stepped inside.
“Grandma? What brings you here?” His voice carried genuine surprise,
With her back to Anneliese, Penelope rolled her eyes at Jonathan. Whoever thought it was a good idea to bring her in as backup clearly didn’t know what they were getting into–Penelope was taking her role way too seriously.
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Chapter 203 Anne’s Special Day
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“I came to check if you’ve made any progress. Maybe keeping some pretty girl hidden away like a treasure. But look at this place–no sign of a lady, no warmth, nothing that feels alive.” Penelope’s tone was half scolding, half amused.
“Grandma, is that really meant as praise?” Jonathan asked, baffled.
“You hide someone first, then we’ll argue about whether it counts as praise.” Penelope shot back without missing a beat.
Jonathan let out a helpless sigh and turned toward Anneliese, silently asking her for rescue.
Anneliese hurried over. “I just ran into Grandma in the elevator. She invited me to join dinner with you. Go wash up, it’s almost ready.”
“Alright.” Jonathan loosened his tie with a quick tug and headed toward the bedroom.
When dinner was served, Anneliese and Jonathan took their seats on either side of Penelope. The arrangement left the two of them facing each other across the table.
Penelope smiled warmly. “Today is Anne’s special day. Jonathan, bring out one of the vintage bottles. Let’s raise a glass for her.”
Jonathan stayed put. “Grandma, she’s down with a cold and on medication. She really
shouldn’t drink.”
Penelope’s brows lifted in surprise. She turned to Anneliese, who gave a slight nod. Then her gaze swung back to Jonathan, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. “And how exactly did you know she’s sick and taking medicine?”
Her expression hinted at all sorts of implications. Anneliese, worried Jonathan might say something that only deepened the misunderstanding, jumped in quickly.
“Grandma, Mr. Fullbuster, and I both attended the White Family’s dinner party last night. Something happened on the way back, and I ended up with a fever. He was the one who brought me home.”
That answer softened Penelope’s expression. She nodded in approval, lips curving into a pleased smile. “Good. At least he knows how to look after a girl.” She passed the soup bowl the maid had just handed her straight to Anneliese.
Anneliese was caught off guard by the kindness. She rose at once to accept it. “Let me get a bowl for Mr. Fullbuster, too-”
But Penelope pulled her back. “Drink yours. He doesn’t deserve it.”
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Chapter 203 Anne’s Special Day
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Anneliese paused, lips pressing together. Then she shifted quickly. “Then let me serve you instead. This soup smells wonderful.”
Penelope nodded, brushing her fingers across her cheek. “Ugh, can’t even find Jonathan a partner. Anne, you must think I look worn out and old, right? Guess I need more soup to keep me alive.”
Anneliese froze, not knowing how to answer.
She glanced at Jonathan with a flicker of sympathy. His thin lips were pressed tight in helpless silence. But then he turned and said to Penelope, “If marriage were that wonderful, Anne wouldn’t have gotten divorced.”
The words blindsided Anneliese. Her sympathy evaporated in an instant.
How can he turn around and shove me out front like that?
Beneath the table, she instinctively kicked toward the other side. It was nothing more than a knee–jerk reaction, a tiny, impulsive move. She never expected his legs to be so long, stretched almost to her side of the table.
Her foot actually made contact.
She pulled back in a rush, startled–then froze the next second. Her foot was caught, trapped so tightly she couldn’t move it.
Panic flashed across her expression before she could stop it. She nearly turned to Jonathan, ready to beg him to let go.
But just then, Penelope turned her way and caught her hand.
Anneliese had no choice but to keep her expression calm, pretending nothing at all was happening under the table.
