Chapter 26 The Return
Chapter 26 The Return
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“Dad, Mom, I’ve finished my studies. After I celebrate my birthday with my friends this year, I’ll come home for good. I’ll figure out both love and career–don’t worry!”
“That’s great!”
The moment she said she was coming back, the whole family lit up with excitement. They encouraged her to go after love bravely, promising they’d always have her back.
Completely forgotten was the time when Zacharias proposed, and Anneliese wanted to be with him. Back then, this very same family had pointed fingers at her, calling her shameless and saying she had no self–respect.
Anneliese arrived at the hospital with a sharp–looking attorney by her side.
She had just stepped out of the car and was heading toward the inpatient wing when a familiar Bentley pulled up not far ahead.
Jonathan stepped out first, followed by Zion and two other young men. Anneliese raised a hand to wave, but before she could call out, they were already briskly walking away.
Jonathan led the group with a stern face, his long strides confident and decisive. He occasionally tilted his head to listen to the man beside him, his brows furrowed in concern.
Did something happen?
“Get out! Who said you could come in?”
Crash!
The moment Anneliese entered the hospital room, Melody hurled everything from the table at her, screaming in rage.
Lenora jumped down from the neighboring bed and pointed at Anneliese.
‘Didn’t you hear my mom? Get out! Stand in the hallway and face the wall until she cools off! You’ll be allowed back in when she says so!”
Mother and daughter were identical in their sharpness and superiority–smug, arrogant, and
mean.
Anneliese sidestepped the flying objects, calmly dusted off her skirt, though there was no real dust, then slowly lifted her gaze toward Lenora.
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11:34 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 26 The Return
“Which rabid dog won’t stop barking?”
“Who are you calling a dog?”
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“Whoever answered,” Anneliese replied with a faint smile while looking at her.
Lenora’s reaction came half a second too late, her face contorting with fury.
The dog bite on her leg was still throbbing–doctors said it might leave a scar—and last night, the pain kept her from sleeping. The slap mark Anneliese had left on her face now looked even more dramatic under the daylight.
She thought Anneliese had come to apologize. But instead, Anneliese had walked in and called her a dog.
How dare she?
“Anneliese! I’ll kill you!” Lenora lunged at her, hand raised to scratch her face.
Anneliese caught her swinging hand in one swift motion. At five–foot–six, she stood a good half a head taller than Lenora.
Today, she’d dressed with intention—sleek black heels, a long trench coat, full makeup, and sharply drawn eyeliner.
Her already striking features, bold and expressive, now carried an almost dangerous beauty— intense, commanding, impossible to look away from.
Standing in front of Lenora, Anneliese radiated power. Her gaze was sharp and cold—chilling, almost ghostly. To Lenora, she looked like a beautiful demon who had come to take her soul.
All the fight drained out of Lenora in an instant. She flailed and shrieked, “Mom! She’s gonna kill me! Tell my brother to dump her! I don’t want her as my sister–in–law!”
Melody slammed the nightstand and barked at the nurse and housekeeper. “What are you just standing there for? Help Lenora!”
The nurse and the housekeeper, Joanna, hurried toward Anneliese, but she pushed Lenora
aside.
Lenora stumbled back into Joanna, hitting her injured leg and letting out a sharp scream, followed by a string of angry curses.
Anneliese walked over to the couch, sat down, and crossed her legs. She glanced at Melody and instructed flatly, “Have the nurse and Joanna step out. I need to speak with you alone.”
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11:34 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 26 The Return
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Melody thought Anneliese was trying to act all tough, but in the end, wasn’t she just here to bow her head and beg for forgiveness?
Why else would she ask the nurse and the housekeeper to leave? Clearly, she was embarrassed and didn’t want to lose her dignity.
Melody let out a snort through her nose and gave Anneliese a look of pure disdain.
Lenora was thinking the exact same thing. She let out a mocking laugh and said, “Why make them leave? Anneliese, I want you to apologize in front of them. I want it recorded too–every last word!”
She turned, sat down on the hospital bed, and straightened her spine, her chin lifted like royalty.
One’d never guess that just a few years ago, she was a plain, broke girl who couldn’t even afford her tuition–chasing after Anneliese, begging for a new pair of shoes.
Anneliese stared at her in silence, unblinking. Lenora frowned under the weight of that gaze— she hated it.
It felt like being stripped bare.
Flushed with embarrassment and rage, she lashed out, kicking Joanna in the leg. “What are you waiting for? Start recording! Get her face in the frame—I want tears, snot, and her slapping herself before I’m satisfied!”
Joanna winced but took out her phone.
Anneliese lifted her hand and pointed beside her. “I brought a lawyer with me. Are you sure you want to record a humiliating video like that in front of legal counsel?”
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