Chapter 422 Do You Treat Me as a Human?
The girl couldn't sit still any longer and jumped up to leave.
As she reached the door, she turned to Anne with a dramatic flair, "You told me to go."
Anne didn't even bother to respond.
Once the girl was out of sight, Anne stood up and looked out the window.
Willard had been staring up at her private room.
Their eyes met.
Willard gave a slight wave.
Anne remained still, her face unreadable.
The girl walked up to Willard, moving slowly to avoid messing up her carefully styled bangs.
"Hello, Mr. Larson."
Willard didn't even glance at her.
His bodyguard stepped in, blocking her a few feet away from Willard.
The girl took a moment to catch her breath and flashed what she thought was a sweet smile. "I'm Anne's good friend. My name is Orla."
Willard gave Quinton a look, and Quinton promptly escorted her away.
Quinton said coldly, "I don't hold back. Please leave."
Orla wasn't about to give up easily. "Mr. Larson, you might not know this, but Anne hasn't divorced yet and has been involved with Ernest. I imagine someone like you wouldn't tolerate infidelity. We can find a quiet place to discuss their relationship in detail."
During the years Anne was away, Willard hadn't intervened or offered help.
But he knew the people she interacted with and the hardships she endured.
Honestly, looking back at her life during that time, he felt like slapping himself.
He didn't know why he had to neglect her back then.
Now, anyone close to her was dealt with harshly.
Willard suddenly asked, "You want me to divorce Anne?"
Orla's eyes lit up. A response meant she had made some progress.
"Of course, I'm not that immoral to ruin someone's marriage. I'm just giving you a heads-up. I'm mainly kind-hearted and don't want someone as good as you to be deceived."
Willard's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. "How do you know I haven't made mistakes?"
Orla replied, "A man of your status is bound to make some mistakes, but Anne shouldn't be involved with another man while still married."
"I saw it myself..." She stepped forward but was blocked by Quinton. She resisted the urge to glare at him and lowered her voice, "One night, I saw Anne enter Ernest's room and didn't leave until the next morning."
Willard's hand slowly clenched at his side.
Anne wouldn't cheat; she had no romantic feelings for Ernest.
But Ernest had feelings for Anne.
A man and a woman alone in a room all night.
Just the thought of it stirred his deeply hidden violent tendencies.
"You saw it with your own eyes?"
Orla, eager to prove herself, didn't notice Willard's eyes growing colder and more sinister in the dim light.
"Yes, I saw it myself. I even have a video. If you want to see it, I can show you. But this isn't the best place with people coming and going. Let's find a room. I have plenty of evidence on my phone."
Willard had heard enough and raised his hand.
Orla thought he was inviting her into the car, but Quinton grabbed her and took her away.
She was in for a rough time, especially since Willard's men were known for their heavy-handedness.
Anne watched Orla being taken away, unsurprised and indifferent.
Someone close to Orla looked worried and asked, "Your husband won't hurt Orla, will he?"
Anne had lost her appetite. She slung her bag over her shoulder and replied indifferently, "Shouldn't you be happy for her? She wanted to get close to my husband. Being taken away should be just what she wanted."
She turned and left.
She met Willard's gaze.
Ernest had just raised his hand to stop her but lowered it when he saw Willard.
Anne glanced at Willard and then walked past him.
Willard didn't stop her but followed her downstairs.
As they exited the restaurant, he grabbed her arm and led her to his car.
Anne didn't even feel like arguing anymore.
It wouldn't lead anywhere.
Willard remained silent until they reached his hotel.
Anne didn't stay there. As soon as the car stopped, she opened the door and got out, heading to the street to find a ride back to her hotel.
A hand wrapped around her waist, forcefully leading her into the hotel.
Anne struggled, and Willard whispered in her ear, "Not many people know me here. I have no reservations. Anne, you can try to provoke me."
Anne looked up, unable to read the emotions in Willard's eyes.
They resembled the Siberian wolves she once photographed.
When two males fought over a female, their eyes looked just like his now.
It was a fierce determination to win.
But he was different, seemingly suppressing something beneath the fierceness.
Lost in thought, she was led into the room.
He pushed her to sit on the bed.
She watched as Willard began to undress.
It was warmer here than back home.
He wore a black suit.
She didn't pay much attention when he took off his jacket, but then he removed his vest.
After loosening his tie, he started unbuttoning his shirt.
Though she hadn't experienced intimacy, she was in her twenties and understood enough.
Finally, she realized what emotion he was suppressing beneath his fierceness.
It was desire.
A desire she hadn't seen even when his mother drugged him.
She always thought she couldn't arouse his desire.
"Willard..."
She had once fantasized about this, but now it wasn't appropriate for them to be intimate.
She quickly tried to escape from the other side of the bed.
But he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back.
Somehow, the tie ended up binding her hands.
He tied a knot she couldn't undo.
Anne said nervously, "If you touch me, you will regret it."
Willard gave a cold snort.
Anne waited for his response but heard nothing.
Only felt him press down on her.
Anne gasped, unable to push him away, so she tried kicking him, forgetting he held her ankle tightly.
There was no space to escape.
Desperate, she said whatever came to mind.
"Willard! I'm telling you, don't think you can keep me with a child!"
"You ignored me for three years. Keep it that way. Why start bothering me now?"
"I will divorce you no matter what!"
"No matter what you do to me, it won't work. I'd rather die than stay married to you!"
Just then, Willard leaned in and kissed her, leaving Anne wide-eyed with surprise.
Anne should have only a vague memory of their last kiss, yet it remained vivid in her mind.
On her eighteenth birthday, Willard had drunk a bit too much.
She had also had some alcohol and, driven by it, lightly kissed his thin lips.
Since then, he had distanced himself from her.
After marriage, he was completely cold.
A kiss was a luxury.
She had never experienced a kiss so fierce and intense.
She didn't know how to breathe during it, hadn't known her breath could be stolen away like that.
When he finally released her, she felt she'd nearly suffocated.
Gasping for air, she was like a fish thrown onto dry land.
Willard looked down at her.
The room was dimly lit, and his lowered eyelashes hid most of his desire in the shadows.
Once Anne's breathing steadied, he leaned down to kiss her again.
"Willard..."
Anne shook her head to avoid him, but his large hand held the back of her head.
She was forced to tilt her pale neck to endure it.
Unable to escape, she frantically waved her bound hands when she couldn't breathe.
Her nails scratched his jaw, leaving three bloody marks.
In that moment of hesitation, she broke free from his grip.
She rolled to the other side of the bed.
Her chest heaved violently.
If you looked closely, there were still traces of moisture on her lips.
"Willard, you bastard!" Anne gasped as soon as she could catch her breath. "Is that how you show your strength? Bullying a woman? Is that all you're capable of?" Her voice cracked. "Do you even see me as a person?" The words caught in her throat as tears spilled down her cheeks.
Willard's heart ached at the sight of her tears, and he finally calmed down.
What that woman said might not be true.
But just the thought of her being close to another man was unbearable.
Yet he had no right to be angry; he had caused all of this himself.
"Ann..."
"Don't call me that!" Anne's voice broke. She bit the tie, trying to untie it, but ended up biting her lip until it bled.
Willard approached, and she immediately backed away.
She grabbed a nearby ashtray and threatened, "If you come any closer, I'll bash my head in!"
Willard raised his hands in surrender. "Don't get agitated. I just want to untie you."
"I don't need you. There are female staff outside."
Anne clutched the ashtray tightly, climbed over the bed, and quickly ran out of the room.
But Quinton blocked her path.
"Mrs. Larson, it's not safe out here, and no one will help you. It's better to stay in the room."
Anne sneered, "I'd rather die outside. I'd rather be with another man than with Willard."
Quinton saw Willard behind her and stepped aside.
Just as Anne was about to leave, a force pulled her back into the room.
The ashtray was taken from her hand.
She was on the verge of breaking down.
She shouted, "Willard, what do I have to do for you to let me go?"
Willard only untied the tie binding her hands.
Seeing the deep red marks on her thin, pale wrists, he cursed himself.
He led her to the sofa, poured a glass of warm water for her to rinse her mouth, and then found the first aid kit to treat her wounds.
"I'm sorry..." Willard said softly.
Anne was unmoved. "You have a lot to apologize for. Willard, since you drew a line between us and defined our relationship as siblings, let's stay siblings for life. Let's get a divorce. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm really sick of it."
Willard didn't respond. He gently applied ointment to her wrists, blowing softly to ease the pain.
But Anne wasn't afraid of pain.
She had endured much worse.
Though she was thin, her shoulders could bear a lot.
Anne slowed her voice and said seriously, "Willard, let's keep some dignity between us. For the sake of my grandfather and yours..."
Aiden had been adrift at sea for a day and a night, reaching the border of Serenity Manor.
Just as he was about to cross, Hayden and his men surrounded him.
Aiden, disheveled, saw Hayden and thought Francis had come. He straightened his dirty clothes and lifted his proud head. "If you're here, come out."
Hayden sneered, "Mr. Peterson didn't come. Catching you doesn't require his presence."
The local police of Serenity Manor also arrived, joining the capture.
Aiden was unwilling to fail like this.
Thinking Jessa was still behind him, he prepared to force his way across the border.
At that moment, a woman rushed into the fray and pushed him across the border.
The woman cast these final words, "Aiden, farewell."She then raised her gun and fired, forcing the police to take action.
Blood splattered across Aiden's face.
It felt like he was back on that day, watching his beloved die before his eyes. He blurted out, "Pippa!"
The woman gave a bitter smile.
In the end, she died for him, but he still thought of his most beloved, Pippa.
She spat out a mouthful of blood and closed her eyes forever.
Aiden glared at Hayden with hatred. "Tell Francis I won't let him off!"
Hayden was indifferent.
In Eldoria, Aiden wouldn't fare any better.
Francis hung up the phone, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Pippa?"
"Yes, Mr. Francis Peterson, the same Pippa who brought Ivan to Mrs. Elissa Peterson."
Francis acknowledged and ended the call.
Elissa hugged him from behind and asked, "Who's Pippa?"
"Aiden's true love."
"Pippa was foolish. Aiden only saw her as a substitute, yet she willingly died for him."
Francis turned to meet her gaze. "It's not worth pitying. She chose her path, even if it was for a bad man."
Elissa nodded and asked, "How did Pippa die?"
Francis wasn't entirely sure, as it wasn't enough to use against Aiden.
Pippa's life was even more tragic than Elissa's.
When Aiden brought her back, her fate was sealed.
"The Wright family did it. Sent to Eldoria, tortured to death, her body never found. She had no family left, no grave. Aiden secretly placed a headstone in the countryside, without a name, fearing the Wright family would find out."
Elissa frowned. "So cruel? No wonder Aiden ran away, abandoning the Wright family."
Francis pulled her into his arms, smoothing her frown with his finger.
"Aiden made a mistake. He brought her back without power, making her his weakness. The Wright family wouldn't allow it. In a way, he sealed his beloved's fate. His later affection was a joke."
Elissa poked Francis's chest. "By that logic, you shouldn't cling to me. What if I end up..."
Francis pinched her lips, laughing at her duck-like expression.
Elissa glared and slapped his hand away, pretending to get off his lap.
Francis held her tight, nuzzling her nose. "Aiden wanted both love and power, but chose power in the end. He could have left the Wright family and lived safely with his love, avoiding tragedy. But I'm different."
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