Chapter 69 – His Second Chance Love: The Freezing Silence

Fine. I won’t be getting any sleep anyway if this goes on.

I broke off from his embrace, sat up, picked up the towel he had thrown aside a moment ago, knelt on the bed, and began to wipe his hair.

His upper body was still wet, with water droplets trickling down. I pursed my lips. Doesn’t he know he should dry himself before coming to bed?

“You’re getting water on the bed!” I exclaimed in annoyance, eyes on the damp patch under him. “The next time you do something like this, you’re not sleeping here.”

He chuckled. “Fine. Next time you should help me dry up in the bathroom.”

I pressed my lips together, opting to ignore him.

After I was finished with him, I laid down to sleep. I was unsure what he was up to, but he went out shortly and came back with several ointments.

I was tired, and had no intention to ask.

His cell phone began to ring in that arrogant tone again. He answered in a chilly voice, “Rylee, what is it?”

I did not expect him to answer his phone hands-free, playing the call on loudspeaker. On the other end, Rylee spoke in a low voice, “Anth, come stay with me, please? I can’t stand being alone.”

Hasn’t she gone back to Pear Garden with Cameron? Why is she still broadcasting her loneliness here?

“Call Joe, will you? I have to give Sienna a massage later. She’s pregnant. Her calves and feet have gotten swollen, so she needs to be massaged every day.”

He said it very calmly and soon hung up the phone, not waiting for Rylee to say more.

I glowered at him. “What do you mean my feet have gotten swollen? I’m barely four months along. Why do you say that?”

He smiled faintly, already placing my thigh on his. Next, he began applying essential oils gently on my skin. “Alright, you’re not swollen. You’re just fat!”

I really wanted to punch him.

My temper would rise if I kept this up.

So, I opted to close my eyes and went to sleep, ignoring the idiot.

I had been lethargic recently. I could sleep all day long and still be able to sleep through the night.

I did not know when exactly Anthony fell asleep, but he was no longer in the room by the time I woke up. I knew he would be busy these days, so I did not give it much thought.

I washed up, went downstairs, grabbed something simple to eat, and then left the house.

I was surprised that Cameron and Zachary wanted to meet me, but I knew it would come to this eventually. We had arranged to meet in a coffee shop in the city center.

When I entered the shop, Zachary was gazing at Cameron affectionately as he put a fine gold-rimmed watch on her wrist.

I could tell they were very much in love.

“It looks like I’m late,” I walked to the table and announced my presence with a smile on my face.

When Cameron saw me, she kindly led me to the seat next to her. “What would you like to drink?” she offered.

I put up a faint smile, “Anything, really.”

“I hear their Blue Mountain coffee is great. Care to try one?” Cameron suggested. It would not feel right to refuse, so I nodded, “Thank you!”

After we placed our orders, Zachary’s gloomy eyes fell on me. He sighed, “Ms. Stanhope, you certainly look like Cam in her prime.”

For a moment, I did not know how to respond to that, so I got straight to the point, “Is there something you’d like to discuss with me?”

Since I brought it up, Cameron smiled too and said, “My dear, I haven’t even asked how you’ve been.”

Zachary, on the other hand, spoke up, “It’s like this. You know Cam and I liked you very much from the first time we saw you. We may have gotten our daughter back, but fate had already bound us together. If you don’t mind, Ms. Stanhope, we’d like to have you join our family.”

I knitted my brows. I had a hunch that one would not simply seek out someone else without having an agenda. Thus, I replied, “Meeting you two has been a great blessing. Please, do tell.”

Cameron’s expression shifted, and it was not in a good way. She paused before saying, “Ms. Stanhope, it should be clear to you what kind of relationship there is between Rylee and Mr. Featherstone, am I right?

Is she here to speak on behalf of her daughter?

I grinned and nodded casually, “Yes. Crystal clear, in fact. You want to persuade me to divorce Anthony so that your daughter can marry the one she likes, am I right?”

The two seemed awkward right then, but they were people who practiced self-restraint. Cameron looked a little guilty. “I can understand how you feel, Ms. Stanhope. Zachary and I had not considered this thoroughly, but please think of this as a mother’s fondness for her daughter.”

I nodded. I felt indifferent, actually. “Anthony and I are husband and wife in the eyes of the law, no matter how you put it. It’s certainly inconsiderate of you to try to talk me into getting a divorce. Besides, even if I were willing to let Ms. Lorraine take my place, Anthony would have to agree to that as well. Furthermore, I’m three months pregnant. As parents yourselves, what choice do you think I should make for my child?”

Zachary was a businessman, and profits always came first in his world. After he heard what I said, he placed a gold card in front of me. “Ms. Stanhope, you don’t have to worry about your child’s future. The money I have here is enough for you to purchase a suite in K City. Whatever you need down the road, name it, and I’ll help you.”

I smiled faintly. Wow, they’re certainly all in on this!

I grinned as I examined the gold card on the table. The whole thing was rather absurd. “How terrible it must have been to suffer the loss of a daughter for twenty years. I suppose it must be painful for Ms. Lorraine as well, spending her early years without her parents. You two have gone through this, and it’s certainly not what I want my child to experience. I believe my child would prefer staying with his parents over swimming in luxury.”

After a pause, I went on, “In addition, the Featherstone Corporation’s current financial entitlements may be insufficient compared to what you have, but this doesn’t mean that it will stay that way. You admire Anthony, so you must know that his future is quite promising. If that’s the case, I don’t have to seek farther for what I want.”

Cameron and Zachary exchanged glances, feeling rather embarrassed.

I shrugged as the coffee was served. “I admire the love you have for your children. And perhaps I’m envious too. But that’s all there is. Ms. Lorraine is lucky to have such supportive parents, but I want to secure a better future for my child as well.”

Cameron let out a loose sigh and said, “Zachary and I haven’t thought this through. Please, Ms. Stanhope, don’t take this to heart. As parents, it’s easy to lose our sense of propriety for the sake of our children.”

I nodded, “Yes, of course!”

I have said everything that should be said. I supposed there was nothing more for me to add that would not be a waste of breath.

I grabbed the bag beside me and made to get up, maintaining my composure as I took my leave. “I understand your objective in meeting me today. I’ve also made myself very clear. If there’s nothing else you want to say, I’ll be leaving.”

I had barely taken several steps when Cameron rushed in front of me, looking shaky. “Ms. Stanhope, please take this. You’re still young. You still have plenty of opportunities to have children in the future. Please reconsider. Allow Zachary and I to take you in as our goddaughter, and you can enjoy the same prospects as Rylee does. All you need to do is give up Anthony, and you shall receive tenfold of your current privileges. I know you’ll be mad, but I beg you to think about it.”

This was all quite laughable to me. Looking at the bank card she pressed into in my hand, I grinned, “Ms. Anderson, I’ve always thought of you as someone sensible, empathetic, and governed by principles. But now, you seem quite ordinary to me. You talk about taking me in as a goddaughter, but honestly, even if I were your flesh and blood, I don’t think I’d admit that we’re related. We’d better go our separate ways.”

Cameron looked like she wanted to say something, but I shoved her aside. Humans are really disgusting creatures. We carve out an image to show that we are good and harmless, call ourselves entrepreneurs, and then shamelessly accept the admiration and praise of others. Even so, we aren’t able to conceal our shady nature.

Cameron lost her footing and fell to the ground. Repulsed, I looked on coldly as Zachary helped her up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it,” I said flatly.

“That’s presumptuous! I only hope that Ms. Stanhope won’t think that our methods are too cruel.” Zachary’s anger had begun to show, and his plucky face turned hostile. “Since Ms. Stanhope rejected such a peaceful settlement, we shall resolve this differently.”

“Surprise me!” With that, I left the premises. After experiencing such an ordeal, I couldn’t help but thank my grandmother. She might have been living a hard life all these years, but she had taught me to follow my conscience. Thus, I did not become as corrupted as them.

I exited the coffee shop and headed straight to the company.

To be frank, I was not in a good mood, but I could bear it.

I bumped into Nick downstairs. He seemed to be in a hurry, so I pretended not to have seen him, but he came up to me instead.

He stepped into my path. “I haven’t seen you in a while. What have you been up to these days?”

“Work!”

His mouth twitched. “Come on, don’t be such an ice queen. At any rate, I’m still a fan of yours. Can’t you be a bit friendlier towards me?”

I turned to face him and changed the subject, “Where’s your biological father?” If Cameron is Nick’s mother, where did his father go?

Perhaps the question came up too suddenly, for his face instantly sank. He scowled at me, “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious!” Cameron was a piece of work too. Who knows how many men she has bedded.

“He’s dead.” He dropped a simple reply, then carried on, “Have dinner with me tonight. I will answer all your questions then.”

“Not interested!” I steered away from him and entered the elevator.

“I’ll cook for you,” He added hurriedly.

The elevator doors closed, automatically putting an end to his nonsense.

Back at the office, I called for Stacey, who did not look very well. I couldn’t help but ask, “What happened to you?”

She sighed. “Mr. Featherstone wanted to look at AC’s audit personally. I’m so stressed right now.”

I chuckled. “There’s nothing to be stressed about. He just wants to take a look at it. You know I do that too. What’s the difference? Just dock it like you always do, and there won’t be a problem.”

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