Chapter 12

"Just because our company's small doesn't mean we can't land good clients. If we go by your logic, we're doomed forever, huh?" "Come on, sis, don't jinx it like that. Can you stop being such a downer all the time?" Emily muttered, not even bothering to lower her voice. "Emily, that's enough! She's your sister!" Lucy suddenly rushed out from the kitchen, still wearing her apron like she didn't even have time to take it off. Emily pouted but stayed quiet, looking like she had just been wronged by the whole world. Michael patted her on the shoulder and looked up at his wife. "Well, she wasn't wrong. Why are you yelling at her?" "Michael..." Lucy's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief. Anna stood in the middle of the living room, head bowed, her fists slowly clenching at her sides. "Anna, don't be upset. Your dad and Emily didn't mean it that way... I made your favorite stew today. Have a bit later, okay?" Lucy shot a look at Michael and Emily, but they didn't budge. She could only go to Anna's side and softly comfort her. Anna forced out a weak smile. "I'm okay, Mom. Not hungry... I just want to lie down for a bit." "Hey, what's going on between you and Ethan lately? Haven't seen him around for days," Michael asked just as Anna was about to enter her room. Ethan... With her back to them, they couldn't see her red eyes. She kept her tone light: "We broke up." Then she quickly stepped into her room and locked the door behind her. Silently counted to three. One, two, three... Right on cue, Michael's furious roar exploded outside the door."Anna! What the hell were you thinking breaking up with Ethan? Do you even realize how rich his family is? You just burned every connection I worked for!" Anna had been feeling really low moments ago, but now... she couldn't help the tiny smirk tugging at her lips. She kicked off her shoes, climbed into bed, and yanked the covers over herself like she was shutting the world out. Whatever yelling was going on outside, she tuned it all out and curled into a comfortable little ball. Her dad had always dreamed of her marrying into money so he could ride her coattails. Well, now that dream was smashed to pieces—he was probably losing it downstairs. "Dad, don't worry, I can take a shot at Ethan," chimed in Emily, eyes practically sparkling with eagerness as she grabbed onto Michael's arm. "I'm not like Anna, acting all above it." That made Michael pause mid-rage, finally calming down a bit. Right. He didn't just have one daughter. But the moment he really looked at his youngest—the one he always doted on—his face went stiff. She shared her sister's bone structure—technically. But the resemblance ended there. Her eyes lacked clarity, her skin tone uneven, lips too full for the rest of her face. Even her freckles felt misplaced, like they didn't belong. Honestly, even "average" would've been a stretch. Would someone like Ethan, who's used to being surrounded by model-type girls, even spare her a second glance? Michael wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but even he knew that was a no-go. Driven by embarrassment and frustration, he grabbed the wine glass and hurled it at the floor. The sharp crack of shattering glass echoed through the house, loud and final. Meanwhile, Anna, moments before drifting off to sleep, curled her lips into a tiny smile. If she wasn't wrong, the guy downstairs was that jacked fitness coach... Wonder if her scumbag dad could handle him. ... After that night, Anna kept having the same dream. Always about that one guy she had only seen once. He stood in the sunlight wearing a black suit, the golden glow wrapping around him like something out of a dream. His chiseled face flickered in and out of the light. With a lazy flick, he tilted her chin up, that minty breath of his brushing her lips as he kissed her—firm but somehow still gentle. He kept whispering her name as he leaned in, long fingers grazing her face. That low, husky voice murmured in her ear, "As you wished, baby." Part of her wanted to scream, to escape, but her body was frozen as he leaned in, completely taking over.