Chapter 25 Wake–Up Call
Chapter 25 Wake–Up Call
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Anneliese gently patted Jessica’s shoulder. Truthfully, she felt fine. Maybe her heart had already died the day she overheard that conversation outside the office.
Falling in love took time, but falling out of love could happen in an instant.
All the pain that followed–the struggling, the self–doubt, the helpless flailing, the numbness- none of it had anything to do with that man anymore. It was just a lingering grief for her old self. For the girl who had once been stupid enough to love him.
She just needed time now. Time to heal. And she would.
The next morning, Anneliese was jolted awake by a shrill ringtone.
Still half–asleep, she answered, only to be met with a furious scream in her ear.
“Anneliese! You’ve completely lost your mind! Letting your dog bite your mother–in–law and sister–in–law? Do you have any decency or upbringing at all? Do you know Mrs. Shaw is already demanding Zacharias to divorce you?!
“I’m telling you now, the White family has no place for a daughter with such a terrible reputation! If Zacharias kicks you out of the Shaw family, don’t even think about setting foot in our house again!
“I have no daughter like you!” came Timothy’s comment.
Anneliese rubbed her dry, tired eyes, then looked at the screen. Ah. Trash No. 2.
She blinked, trying to figure out how the Whites caught wind of the incident so quickly. Had Zacharias gone tattling on her already? But before she could wonder further, the voice on the other end switched to Melanie,
“Don’t even try to make excuses! Mrs. Shaw and Lenora video–called your sister. Selina saw their injuries! You’ve gone too far! The moment she heard they wanted Zacharias to divorce you, she told us right away.
“She’s only doing it for your own good. I’m telling you, get to the hospital right now–beg, kneel, and apologize, do whatever it takes to get forgiveness. If you wait any longer, it’ll be too
late!”
Anneliese cleared her throat. “Wow. She’s such a dedicated whistleblower, huh? Her kindness
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11:33 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 25 Wake–Up Call
could flood the Pacific.”
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Her voice was still rough and sleepy, tinged with early–morning grogginess. But to the Whites, that laziness sounded like yet another offense.
Perseus slammed his cutlery on the table. “Anneliese Claude! Is that how you speak to your elders?! I know you’re at Riverview Court. I’m sending someone to pick you up and take you straight to the hospital!”
Anneliese knew they were fully capable of following through with that threat. Not that it mattered–she was already planning to go anyway. She held the phone away from her ear.
“I’ll go on my own,” she said flatly, then hung up.
The dining room went silent. Perseus slammed the phone onto the table. “She actually hung up on me!”
Melanie clutched her chest. “She’s such a barbarian! That’s really what you get for not raising your child yourself–no manners at all!”
Christopher tried to comfort his mother. “Mom, we spoiled her rotten. That’s the problem. We gave her an inch and she took the whole d*mn mile.”
Timothy, the head of the family, finally spoke, voice heavy. “Enough. Don’t mention that disgrace again. She’s ruining our appetite. Selina, sweetheart, you must be starving. Come, let’s
eat.”
On the large screen at the end of the table, Selina sat in front of what looked like a dinner spread.
It was already past 7 p.m. where she was. She’d eaten long ago. Everything on the table was just for show. As soon as she took a bite of anything, she turned slightly away from the camera and discreetly spat it into the trash.
All
part of the image she was crafting–the devoted, obedient daughter who was willing to delay her dinner just to join the family for breakfast.
She bit into a sandwich and sighed delicately, “Maybe I overstepped. But I’m sure Anne wouldn’t have let the dog bite unless she had a reason. We shouldn’t just take Mrs. Shaw and Lenora’s word for it…”
“Oh, come on, Selina, you don’t have to defend her,” Christopher cut in. “Enough bad vibes. Let’s just eat, okay?”
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Chapter 25 Wake–Up Call
Selina flipped her hair. “Alright, alright.”
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Perseus suddenly asked, “By the way, any progress in the love department? My sister’s got it all -looks, brains, and now she’s gone all the way to Agylae. That guy can’t possibly stay indifferent.”
Everyone turned to Selina with interest.
She covered her face coyly. “He’s really busy, you know. And I didn’t go there just for him—I went to study, to build a future for myself. Honestly, I’m probably busier than he is. We barely even see each other. He’s not some flaky playboy either. He’s got self–respect.
“I’m not like Anne. I’m looking for something deeper. I want a soul connection, not just some surface–level fling. But don’t worry. I believe in myself. Oh, and guess what–he’s back in the country. He’s taking full control of the family business now.”
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