Henry, an elderly man who had been through a lot, looked at Anna calmly and composedly.
He said, “Since Wayne is deeply in love with you, he’ll definitely marry you. He and Peter, you see, have been feuding for a long time. You’re a wise woman, so you can persuade them to reconcile. That way, Peter would welcome you.”
“Actually, I think you’re overestimating me,” Anna said, frowning, “What makes you so certain that I can persuade them to reconcile with each other?”
“I know Wayne is a cold person, but he would never do such a thing. They are at odds because they rarely communicate with one another. Everything will be fine if you let Wayne agree to explain what happened before to Peter clearly.”
Henry was correct: Anna was the only person who could persuade Wayne. However, he had no idea that Anna had already investigated what had happened three years ago and was as suspicious of Wayne as Peter was.
Meanwhile, Anna was convinced that people changed. As for Wayne, he was like a different person from the one she had first met six months ago. Also, Anna was sure that Wayne wouldn’t do what he used to do anymore.
Three years ago, Wayne was still a man who would do anything to get what he wanted. But now, to Anna, he had become a gentle person who cared about his loved ones.
“Henry, are you really sure it had nothing to do with him?”
“Of course. I’ve taken care of Wayne since he was a baby, so I’ve spent a lot of time with him. You know the fact that he kicked out his mother when he was 13, correct? But, do you know the truth behind this?”
Anna froze, then looked at Henry, perplexed.
“When Jennie was kicked out of the house, she was five months pregnant.”
Jennie and Wayne’s father rarely saw each other, and she’d return to the Wrights’ house to attend his funeral. So, there was a chance the baby she was carrying wasn’t Wayne’s father’s.
Seeing Anna not quite understand what he meant, he explained, “Jennie was Peter’s favorite adopted daughter. If Jennie stayed in the family, Peter would realize that her child was not one of the Wrights. He would let that child disappear for the sake of the family’s reputation and his son.”
“So Wayne kicked his mother out of the house just to protect her child?” Anna froze, asking.
“Actually, Wayne isn’t as cold as everyone thinks he is,” Henry sighed. People may have misunderstood him because he struggles to express himself. If you can help them, he and Peter can reconcile. And things will be easier.”
Anna had very mixed feelings. After hearing about it, she had a different impression of Wayne, but she couldn’t let go of the fact about that incident three years ago.
So, what actually happened back then? Anna thought to herself.
Anna refused Henry’s request, telling him she would consider it later.
When Anna got home, it was completely dark.
Ryan had been looking after the children like a professional nanny since he had stayed at her house. At the time, all three of them were sleeping on the sofa, Tammy and Matthew on either side of him.
Anna placed the dessert she had brought from the cafe on the table and stood there for a long time before deciding to wake Ryan up.
Ryan yawned, rubbed his eyes, and turned to Anna, saying, “You’re back!”
“Yeah, and thank you for taking care of them. You can go to bed now if you want, Ryan.”
Ryan blinked as he smelled the dessert, and exclaimed, “No, I’m good. What is it that smells so good?”
“Oh, I brought some cake and a fruit salad. Have you eaten yet?”
Ryan immediately nodded and said, “No, I haven’t. Every time it was time to eat, the two kids would start playing. And I
had no choice but to watch cartoons with them for a while after I fed them. I remember you telling me not to let them watch too much TV, so I persuaded them to go to bed. But, then they started arguing with me.”
“I’m sorry about that. Could you carry them to their bedroom with me? I’ll make you something for dinner later.”
“Sure, thank you.”
Anna prepared a plate of spaghetti with bacon and tomato sauce for Ryan.
The entire room was filled with the tantalizing aroma of food after she finished cooking. Then, Ryan wolfed down the pasta and got tomato sauce over his face.
He asked, “Why isn’t Wayne back with you? He would have grabbed this plate from me if he had seen it.”
Anna exclaimed when she heard his words, “No way! How could he ever do that?”
Ryan put his plate down, wiped his mouth, and started eating the fruit salad.
He replied, “Don’t you think so? In my opinion, Wayne is a childish but over-confident person who’s not very good at expressing himself. Whenever he tries to do something nice, he starts by saying something very mean. Well, I don’t think it’s difficult to get along with him.”
“Is that your impression of him?” Anna asked, frowning.
Anna had always thought Wayne sucked at getting alone with people because he only had one friend, Karl. Even if someone tried to make friends with him, Wayne would scare them away. Ryan nodded and said, “Yeah! What’s wrong? I feel like you have something on your mind.”
“I’m wondering if we missed any details before,” Anna said after a brief silence. “You know, I’m referring to Matthew’s accident.”
Ryan paused before asking, “Oh? Like what?”
“Like why Mary was so certain that it was Wayne who told her to do it. Well, I don’t think we should just listen to her.”
“She’s already seriously ill, so I doubt she’d lie.” Ryan appeared confident in the clue he discovered and annoyed that Anna questioned him.
Anna then asked, “Is that so?”
In fact, she was pretty sure of the outcome of Ryan’s investigation. However, following her conversation with Henry, she had grown suspicious. She didn’t think they had any evidence of Wayne doing it, so she couldn’t draw any conclusions.
Ryan wiped his mouth and said, “Well, if you don’t believe me, you can go to Leeds and ask them yourself. I can get Mary and Kim to talk about what happened back then and record it. I’m very professional about it, so I can tell if they’re telling the truth.”
“Professional?” Anna inquired, her gaze fixed on Ryan.
“From the viewpoint of a junior at the Military Academy majoring in reconnaissance.”’ Ryan looked at Anna and told her the secret he’d been keeping for a long time. Anna froze for a moment, unsure about what he was saying, and then asked, “Ryan, what are you talking about?”
“My full name is Ryan Tyler, and I’m a junior reconnaissance major at Military Academy. I’ve wanted to tell you about this for a long time, but I’ve never found the right time. So I’m just telling you right now. You’re questioning my conclusions, so it’s the best time for me to tell you who I really am. I can assure you that I am not mistaken.”
The two of them immediately became very serious.
Anna was perplexed after hearing the truth that Ryan suddenly told her. She froze, and then lowered her head in thought for a moment and said, “Actually, you can tell me about this later.”
Ryan was at a loss for words. When he looked up, he noticed that Anna looked at him with a gentle smile.
Ryan asked, “What? Did you already know about it?”
Anna said when shaking her head,”! did, in a way, but I don’t know about those details. All I know is that you may have recovered your memories.”
“What? Then, why did you…”
Anna sighed and said, “Are you wondering why I’m still acting as if I don’t know anything about you having back your memory? Well, that’s because I was the one who hit you. When I took you to the hospital, you were dressed so shabbily that I assumed you were homeless. Besides, you are free to leave at any time. So, you must have your reasons if you keep staying at my house.”
Her words both moved and amused Ryan.
“No, Anna, I’m not a homeless person,” he explained.
Anna said with a wink, “Well, I know. You’re a student at Military Academy, aren’t you?”
Ryan’s heart skipped a beat before he held her hand and said, “Anna, you’re so good to me. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“I know! And you don’t need to remind me of that!” With a chuckle, Anna teased Ryan.
“So, how about you leave Wayne? His family affairs are too complicated and exhausting. Why not be with me? I can support you and Tammy for the rest of my life!”
Anna glared at him, and then withdrew her hand and slapped his, saying, “Ryan, don’t talk nonsense! You’re still a student, and you’re still relying on your parents for money. What makes you think you can support Tammy and me?”
“What? I’ve already started earning my own money since I was a freshman. I am capable of earning my own money.”
Anna furrowed her brow, folded her arms, and asked with suspicion, “Really? Then why are you still staying at my house, eating my food, using my stuff and yet you paid me nothing?”
Ryan immediately responded, trying to defend himself, “Yeah… You’re right. But it’s just temporary. I’ll…”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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