Thora, however, did not act like the reasonable woman I expected her to be. “I was played for a fool by the two of you. Do you think I’d let you off the hook that easily?” she asked bitterly.
Upon further reflection, I realized that it must have taken a considerable amount of courage and pride for Thora to have arrived at her current position. For her to have cast off the help of the Ziegler family and establish her own business, she must have had an unimaginable amount of perseverance. I knew I should not expect her to back down without a fight, then.
I heaved a sigh. “What does Mr. Ziegler think of this matter?”
At the mention of his name, Thora instinctively started and glanced away. I followed the line of her gaze and realized that she’d been looking at Anthony.
She had her jaw clenched in contemplation. After a while, she said evenly, “I want Anthony to sign a five- year contract. It must clearly state that within the stipulated period, Featherstone Corporation will only collaborate with one of Ziegler Corporation’s construction companies.”
I gaped at her. Thora clearly had no qualms about allowing her personal grievances to interfere with professional matters.
Five years of collaboration with the Featherstone Corporation was a surefire way for Thora to propel her own company to the top. It was the best maneuver the woman could make from unrequited love.
Anthony, however, had no discernible reaction upon hearing Thora’s demand. He nodded, saying gravely, “As long as the work is legal and reasonable, I have no problem with it.”
Despite such an enormous ask, Thora remained discontent. She piped up again, “Furthermore, this scandal put me in a bad light. Both of you will have to find a way to fix my reputation.”
“Don’t take advantage of their kindness! How do you expect them to clean up your mess? Are you expecting Anthony to divorce Sienna to pursue you, then let you dump him this time around?” John retorted heatedly.
Thora, however, remained unflappable. She obstinately stuck out her chin at him before saying haughtily, “That’s just what I’m asking him to do. I’m the only one who should be permitted to dump others, not the other way around.”
Her ridiculous statement made John give a snort of incredulity. “Who do you think you are to make such ridiculous demands? You…”
I hurriedly cut in, “Wait, John.” I glanced at Thora thoughtfully, then said, “I think Ms. Ziegler’s request can be met in another way.”
I was certain that Anthony’s and my divorce was not the only option for Ms. Ziegler to recover her standing.
Thora’s features softened upon hearing my attempt at conciliation. The corners of her mouth twitched before she spoke, “I’ve finally seen for myself today that you’re a practical woman. You’re not the spoilt princess I thought you were, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You really did put up a good performance all those other times we met.”
There was nothing Anthony and I could say to justify ourselves, so I kept my peace.
The next day, the country’s biggest financial news station reported that the Featherstone Corporation’s high- profile investment had incurred a loss of hundreds of millions due to a decisive managerial failure. The Ziegler Corporation, in defense of their own interests, had cut off all collaboration with Featherstone Corporation. Stanhope Corporation, on the other hand, had decided to merge with Featherstone Corporation to bail the latter out.
This piece of earth-shattering news was immediately lit upon by netizens eager to devour the next piece of gossip. They immediately connected this event with Facebook’s top search.
I’ll be damned. Does this mean Mr. Featherstone only reconciled with Ms. Stanhope for money?
I told you all! Thora dumped that jerk because of Featherstone Corporation’s investment failure. His ex-wife had mercy on him and bailed him out despite everything that he did to her! Babes, what a tragedy this is for women everywhere!
Yes, I despise Mr. Featherstone now! What a beastly man he is!
All I have to say is, poor Sienna!
Mr. Featherstone, if you already have a woman that loves you so much, please cherish her!
I’ve always known that what Thora and Mr. Featherstone had was a marriage of convenience! There were never any true feelings involved. I predicted this!
Back in the Stanhope residence, we were sitting in the living room when the news reports flowed in, thick and fast. Anthony and I were scrolling through our phones and scanning the news. The only noise interrupting the otherwise dead silence of the room came from the television.
Anthony sat on the sofa, staring ahead of him, his face devoid of any expression. Ever since he’d returned to K City, Anthony seemed to have lost all purpose.
Even though the latest news reports had thoroughly cast Anthony’s name into disrepute, we had managed to resolve the matter with Thora. As for the Pitcoin projects, we’d managed to tie up all the stray ends during the day. Featherstone Corporation had thus ceased all involvements in illegal activity that day.
Danger or trouble had always been of little concern to Anthony. Even though we had successfully concluded all of Featherstone Corporation’s pressing matters, Anthony did not look overjoyed at all.
I knew then that the Hall family was another burden weighing on Anthony’s mind.
I was about to sit Anthony down for a talk when the maid suddenly dashed into the room. “Mr. Stanhope, a guest is currently waiting outside. He gave his name as Bill Young,” she announced.
Something seemed to reawaken within Anthony. His dark eyes smoldered as he glanced towards the doorway where the maid had just entered from.
The rest of us exchanged looks uneasily. Louis then instructed, “Bring him in.”
The Stanhope family had always been known for its openness. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for us to have turned away a world-renowned philanthropist from our home.
Bill, the man waiting outside, soon hobbled in on crutches. He was accompanied by Tiffany, who had angered Anthony the day before. The woman leaned towards Bill as she helped him in. The closeness between the two of them suggested that they were on rather intimate terms.
Anthony was evidently incensed by Tiffany’s arrival. His face darkened by a few shades, and his eyes flashed with fury.
Bill was getting on in years, but he was remarkably frank in his manner. The moment he’d settled down into his seat, he immediately declared, “I came here today to convey a message on behalf of a friend.”
Bill paused and surveyed the room. He nodded, pleased that all eyes were fixed attentively on him. Bill then continued, addressing Anthony directly, “Mr. Hall has given the matter some thought. Your entire family can return to the Hall family and be reunited as one again. As long as you’re willing, you’ll be welcomed back anytime.”
Did Christopher suddenly develop a conscience and decide to accept Anthony back into his fold? I mused.
Before anyone else could respond, however, Anthony had erupted in anger. He stood up vehemently and bellowed, “Keep your hypocritical pity to yourself! I don’t need it!”
I had rarely seen Anthony lose control of his emotions. His abrupt, violent rage threw the room in disarray. We gawked at him, all equally aghast.
The tension in the room was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. Anthony took a deep breath, rearranging his features into their previous stoic expression before roughly shoving his way past Bill and storming upstairs.
“Anth-” Appalled, Tiffany turned on her heels to go after him, as if fearful of being discarded by the man a second time. “Anthony!” she called out, a desperate plea.
Anthony ignored her. He refused to dignify her with even a backward glance in her direction and hastened his footsteps.
I lunged forward to restrain Tiffany. “Ms. Hall!”
My outburst got her to halt in her tracks but refused to turn back. Seeing her reluctance, I continued kindly, “Anthony doesn’t want to meet anyone who has anything to do with Christopher. Please respect that.”
As I spoke, I strode over to the stairs. Shouldering Tiffany brusquely aside, I said as I ascended, “I need to discuss some urgent matters with Anthony. Please go ahead without us.”
Tiffany had been raised in a life of luxury and pampering. She was thus unused to the subtle emotions that undergirded every social interaction. She was unable to recognize the extent of our loathing for her from my simple, placid expression.
It was undeniably rude of Anthony and I to evade our guests in this manner. However, I believed our behavior was not entirely unwarranted. The guests had to be deserving of our respect as well.
The bedroom door was left open, so I entered cautiously, hearing the sound of water running in the bathroom as I walked in.
I closed the door softly behind me as I entered, then tiptoed towards the bathroom. At the door, however, I found my eyes locked with Anthony’s.
His eyes were wild and bloodshot, and his entire face was dripping with water. He looked both embarrassed and intimidating at the same time. Water was still gushing in torrents from the tap. I looked up to see that a huge crack had split the bathroom mirror. A few shards littered the floor.
I looked down and was horrified to see that Anthony’s hand had suffered a few gashes that were bleeding profusely.
Anthony’s forlorn figure tugged at my heartstrings. I whirled around and hurried to fetch the first aid kit to treat his wounds.
Neither of us spoke throughout the entire process. Anthony merely bowed his head. With his unfathomable dark eyes fixed upon me, he seemed oddly contented at last.
After a long while, when I finally lifted my head to dispose of the used cotton swabs, he said hoarsely, “Why do you care so much for a useless castoff like me?”
I froze upon hearing that, my hands arrested in the act of bandaging. I lowered them, then said slowly, “It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a useless castoff or the epitome of perfection. You’re Anthony. You’re my husband and the father of my children. I chose you because you’re the one I love most. It doesn’t matter what other people think of you.”
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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