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Chapter 32
Annie and her acquaintance had crossed paths just once since their graduation, but now, she had a special request for her friend.
With meticulous attention to detail, the assistant delved into the mystery surrounding their long–awaited reunion. He tirelessly reached out to every individual who had attended the event, determined to unravel the truth. And then, like a treasure hunter unearthing a hidden gem, he stumbled upon a crucial clue. With great respect, he finally presented a photograph.
A sense of unease settled upon Drake as he furrowed his brows, his eyes twitching involuntarily. Deep within him, a brewing storm of anger threatened to burst forth.
The image showed Annie, who was in a state of drunkenness, hastily withdrawing a stack of cash from her bag and pressing it into the hands of an unknown man. The significance of the photograph hit Drake like a punch to the gut, filling him with a mix of betrayal, confusion, and simmering fury.
“This was accidentally photographed by Annie, who was drunk and forgot to turn off her camera,” the assistant spoke at precisely the right moment, breaking the tense silence that hung in the room.
“Track down the man in that photo!” Drake commanded with a somber tone, his voice was nearly icy.
“I’m already on the hunt,” the assistant promptly replied.
No longer burdened by doubts, Jane nonchalantly relinquished the matter to Drake’s capable hands. If he couldn’t conjure up a flawless solution, she was more than ready to put her own plan into action.
Exiting the building with a sense of detachment, Jane’s departure became quite the topic of conversation among the coworkers, stirring up a buzz within the office.
However, she paid no heed to the chatter and instead drove to the Warner Crest Estate. When she arrived, she spotted Annie there. She was holding a bowl of soup, ready to feed
Zac.
“Zac, what’s your deal? I went through the trouble of cooking this soup just for you. It’s cool if you don’t want it, but seriously, why are you being so heartless? Don’t you even care about your own mom?”
Zac plopped himself down on the couch, a bandage wrapped around his leg. Despite his immobility, he exuded a strong presence.
“Ever seen a mom who’s dead set on making her son do something he’s totally against? I already told you, I don’t want the soup, and yet you still insist on shoving it down my throat. And then you go ahead and throw the bowl, and somehow it’s my fault?”
“I’m not doing this to be mean. I figured if I tended to your wound, it would–heal up quicker.” Annie’s mind raced with guilt over her impulsive actions, contemplating the secret ingredient she had added to the soup.
“Then why didn’t you climb the mountain to come find me yesterday? If you had come
Chapter 32
earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” Zac had also heard that besides him and Zane, the two kids who got lost yesterday were still missing.
Zac stared at Annie, seeking answers. It bothered him that she didn’t even bother looking for him when his dad brought him back. He couldn’t comprehend her behavior and couldn’t fathom how she could claim to be his mother.
He was left speechless for a moment, while Annie simmered with bitterness in her heart. She secretly wished something terrible had befallen that little rascal in the mountains. How could she possibly go up there to find him?
“Beautiful teacher, you’re here…” Just as she pondered ways to rid herself of Zac, he turned his gaze toward Jane with astonishment.
Annie, overhearing Zac’s words, shot an angry glance back at Jane.
Jane responded defiantly, her gaze unyielding. She was no longer the meek Jane from five years ago, so naturally, she didn’t fear Annie’s piercing stare.
After Drake got hold of the investigation materials, he instructed his assistant to round up witnesses and track down Annie’s old junior high school friend who had been in touch with her. Once all the evidence was prepared, he dialed Annie’s number.
In the midst of her fiery confrontation with Jane, Annie’s phone suddenly buzzed, filling her with an overwhelming sense of joy. She hastily answered the call.
“Drake…” Annie began, eager to pour out her grievances about Jane’s animosity towards her. But as she listened to Drake’s voice, she was taken aback by his detached tone.
“Where are you?”
Sensing the chill in Drake’s voice, Annie swallowed her complaints and remained silent.
“I’m at Maplewood Mansion, Drake. Isn’t Zac hurt? I came here to look after him.”
“Haven’t I told you before? If you don’t have any business, don’t come over. Dr. William is taking care of Zac’s injury. You’re not a doctor, so there’s no use in you being here.”
Annie’s heart sank upon hearing those words. She couldn’t fathom why Drake was treating her with such indifference. Thankfully, in the next moment, Drake uttered something that lifted her spirits.
“You wait at the villa. I’ll be back soon.” With that, he abruptly ended the call.
After hanging up, she shot Jane a triumphant glance. “Just you wait, Drake will be here in no time.”
Jane glanced over at Annie, her face adorned with a smug grin, and couldn’t help but find it utterly absurd. She doubted Annie truly understood why Drake was seeking her out, which made her apprehensive.
Disregarding Annie’s smug expression, Jane quietly made her way to Zac’s side and inquired about his injury. Zac patiently answered each question she posed. Annie observed the interaction between the two, and a heaviness settled in her heart once more.
She felt like a stranger. Over the past five years, despite her lack of genuine affection for Zac, she had showered him with numerous lavish gifts. She had never mistreated him. However, Zac seemed indifferent to her role as his so–called mother.
Chapter 32
Damn it!
Suddenly, the sound of a car engine rumbled from outside the door. A scornful smirk curled at the corner of Annie’s lips. Swiftly, she darted into the kitchen and emerged with a steaming bowl of soup.
Jane remained engrossed in her conversation with Zac, oblivious to Annie’s discreet actions.
“Zac, you must be exhausted from catching up on your classes. Let’s have some soup. Come on, Mommy will feed you. Open wide…”
Zac had been engrossed in something important when Annie’s interruption shattered his train of thought. Instinctively, he extended his hand to push her away, exerting only a slight force. However, Annie lost her balance and tumbled to the ground.
The scalding soup splashed onto her hands, eliciting a shriek of pain. Her hands immediately reddened and swelled up.
At that moment, Drake walked in through the door and witnessed the scene before him.
“Drake…” Annie’s tear–stained face conveyed the burden she had been carrying.
“Drake, this is ridiculous. It’s all my fault. I thought Zac was tired from studying and injured, so I wanted to feed him some soup. I didn’t expect…”
Though he hadn’t heard the scream, the sight of Annie’s crying face left Drake unable to resist. He knew all too well that Annie often framed Jane with her feeble acting skills.
“Since you know Zac needs to focus on his studies, you shouldn’t interfere. Blaming a child. for getting hurt is shameless,” Jane couldn’t stand Annie’s fake behavior, so she stood up and spoke sarcastically.
“Drake, I really didn’t mean to. I know Miss Jane has her opinions about me, but is it wrong for a mother to care about her child? Miss Jane is a teacher. Naturally, she only cares about his academics, not his well–being. But as Zac’s mother, all I want is for my child to be healthy.”
“Really? If you care so much about Zac, why did you orchestrate the accident from yesterday?”
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