Chapter 462 Let's Have a Child Together
Anne stepped out of the car and walked away, her headphones on but silent. She could hear every word of Willard's conversation with the driver.
It wasn't surprising, really. Willard was just that kind of person—always knowing how to take care of people, create a romantic atmosphere, and do everything to get positive feedback. But apologizing? That was a different story.
He was born at the top and had spent his whole life looking down at others from his peak. He never had to worry about money. When he said, "I'm sorry," it had shocked her. Despite seeing his humility, his pleading, and his remorse, she never wavered. To her, it was just a tactic, not a genuine realization of his mistake.
Willard didn't know that while he was paying, Anne had thought about so many things. Right now, his mind was filled with the driver's words. It seemed that all along, he had never truly apologized. Anyone could say a few words. But it wasn't just about recognizing your own mistake. It was about the person you hurt feeling that you genuinely understood your mistake.
He immediately instructed Quinton to buy some things. But as he walked in, he heard Thora's shocked voice.
"What? Ms. Waverly, are you closing your studio?"
Anne was moving her studio to Maple Valley, so of course, she had to close this one. Before she could explain, she was suddenly pulled over by a force. She looked up and met Willard's eyes. His voice was cold in her ear.
"What do you mean? Why are you suddenly closing the studio you just opened?"
Anne tried to pull her hand back but failed. Her voice was cold too, "My work has nothing to do with you."
"How does it not? I'm an employee here," Willard could feel the rage bubbling up inside him. "I have the right to be informed."
"Fine," Anne said coldly, "I'm informing you now, the studio is closed. Please find another job."
"Let go!" But Willard only tightened his grip. As if by holding on, he could keep her. But he knew deep down, he had already lost her.
"You're breaching the contract, you owe compensation."
Anne had expected this, "I'll pay. According to the contract, I'll pay you three times your salary."
Willard had never felt so powerless. At the negotiation table, he was always in control. He had never lost. Even when he realized he loved her, he hadn't lost his edge. But gradually, as he humbled himself, he found himself completely at a disadvantage, led by Anne.
"That's not enough. My mental health has suffered, too."
Anne looked at him coldly, unhurried, "How much do you want? Name a price."
'Damn.' Willard couldn't help but curse in his mind. This wasn't like firing an employee, it was like dismissing a lover!
"Don't fight..." Thora knew their relationship was bad and tried to mediate, "Let's talk this out... Ms. Waverly must have her reasons for closing the studio. Mr. Larson being informed last minute, it's normal for him to be upset..."
No one listened to Thora. The confrontation continued. Anne demanded Willard let go again, her voice not just cold but angry.
"We're divorced. If you keep this up, I can sue you for harassment."
Willard was unfazed, "Go ahead."
Anne was fed up. "If you've got problems, go see a shrink! Don't take it out on me! I'm not your property to be disposed of as you please!"
She pulled out her phone to make a call. Willard didn't let go, just stood there watching her. But she wasn't calling the police. After she hung up, several tall, strong men entered. Hayes came in too, standing protectively in front of her.
The men didn't touch Willard. The leader spoke first, "Mr. Larson, you should let go. We only take orders from Ms. Waverly. If you insist, we will have to act."
Willard glanced at the badge on his chest that read "Peterson" and cursed Francis in his mind.
Anne checked the time. It was late. She didn't want to waste any more time here. "Do it."
The Peterson family men had to act. They forcibly removed Willard's grip on Anne. But Willard wasn't one to be easily bullied, especially not on his own turf. Soon, the two sides were entangled in a fight.
Anne saw her side losing and was thinking of a way out. Suddenly, she was lifted off the ground. The scene flipped upside down. Willard's broad shoulder dug painfully into her. Her freed hand slapped his back hard.
"Willard!" she yelled, furious.
Willard ignored her, as if the blows weren't landing on him. He strode to the car, shoved her inside, and drove off. Back at his place, he carried her out and straight to his room. Anne was thrown onto the bed, bouncing twice. Ignoring her dizziness, she tried to get up and run. Willard pulled her back and pinned her down on the bed.
Soon, his subordinates brought in some items. When Anne saw them, she was terrified. "Willard, what are you doing! I'm telling you, this is illegal!"
Willard didn't listen, taking the chains and locking her to the bed.
"Mr. Larson!" Quinton returned with the items, witnessing the horrifying scene. He rushed to intervene. No one knew better than him. "Mr. Willard Larson, you can't do this. You'll hurt Mrs. Anne Larson."
Willard seemed deaf. Quinton turned to Anne, "Mrs. Anne Larson, please go along with Mr. Willard Larson for now. His condition is serious. If you keep opposing him, you'll only hurt yourself."
Anne refused to back down. His illness wasn't her fault. Why should he always be in control, doing whatever he wanted to her? Elissa's people wouldn't just watch her be locked up. Even if they couldn't fight Willard, they would inform Elissa. She would get her out.
"I won't."
Quinton saw Anne glaring at Willard, as if she wanted to bite him to death. He broke out in a cold sweat. "Mrs. Larson—"
Quinton cried out, "Just give in a little, so I can persuade Mr. Larson to get treatment. You're only provoking him!"
Then, Anne watched as Willard kicked Quinton out of the room. Quinton knocked on the door, but Willard, annoyed by the noise, locked him out. The items Quinton brought were scattered at the door, knocked over by Willard. The pure white pear blossoms were dirtied. It seemed to symbolize Willard and Anne's relationship. Irreparable.
Anne tried to break free from the chains. But it was impossible. Willard returned, standing by the bed, and began to undress. Anne had never seen Willard like this.
It seemed his condition was worse than before. His dark eyes were filled with a fierce desire. As he leaned down, fear overcame Anne's stubbornness. She softened.
"Willard, I can explain about closing the studio. It's because Elissa is in Maple Valley...!"
The moment his lips touched hers, Anne tasted blood. Her lips stung. She tried to pull away, moving back. Willard followed her, trapping her between the headboard and his chest. The kiss deepened!
When his hot hand landed on her body, Anne's eyes widened. Her whole body started to shake uncontrollably. She tried to bite Willard, but he easily dodged. His response was even more aggressive. Tears began to fall uncontrollably. The kiss tasted of blood. Willard tasted the salty tears and paused. His eyes were dark as he held her chin, kissing her tears. But her tears flowed endlessly.
Willard moved an inch away, his eyes still filled with desire. But the fierceness hadn't disappeared.
"Anne, you can hate me, you can stay away from me, you can refuse to remarry me, but I can't lose contact with you. So, let's have a child together."
"You're insane!" Anne's eyes widened. "Willard, listen to yourself! Do you hear what you're saying? I don't love you. Why should I have a child with you?"
Willard suddenly tightened his grip on her chin. "How can you not love me? Didn't you start liking me when you were a teenager? You even stole a kiss from me. How can you grow up and not love me anymore?"
His voice went from shouting to trembling. Anne was forced to look into his eyes. The situation was beyond her ability to handle, and she couldn't think of a solution. She could only stall for time, hoping Elissa would get the message.
"Wasn't it you who told me not to like you? Wasn't it you who used your actions to make me give up loving you? Willard, I did what you wanted. Why are you doing this? The three-year agreement was your idea. Even if I didn't ask for a divorce, we should have followed your agreement and divorced after three years."
Willard's body trembled. He lowered his head, his forehead resting on her shoulder. His breath was hot, making Anne shrink back.
"Willard... Are you clear-headed now?"
Even in the depths of his mental illness, Willard's mind remained clear. He was fully aware of his actions, his thoughts consumed by the desire to possess her. But in the end, he didn't take any further action. He just knelt in front of her, breathing slowly.
Anne didn't dare move, her tears flowing endlessly, not daring to wipe them away. They stayed like that for a long time. So long that Anne's shoulder started to go numb. She carefully spoke, "Willard, I need to go to the bathroom..."
Willard lifted his head, his eyes still burning with desire, but with a new clarity. He picked up Anne. Anne struggled a bit. "Unlock me, I'll go myself..."
Willard didn't respond. The chain was long enough to reach the bathroom, so he put her down.
"You... you go out..."
Willard glanced around and walked to the bathroom door. But the chain prevented the door from closing. Anne looked down at her disheveled and torn self, hot tears falling on her exposed skin. Shame scorched her. The man who had once been so radiant and noble—the very one who had stirred her heart—how had he come to this?
Anne wanted to scream, to vent her frustration. But in the end, she only cried silently. Willard heard the sobs, each one making his heart ache. They had been so good when they were young. How had it come to this?
Separated by a door that wouldn't close, both were lost in thought. After sitting for a long time, Anne finished in the bathroom. She cleaned up and flushed. Willard turned and came in, bending down to pick her up.
A slap greeted him. Anne's hand was shaking, her palm instantly red. Willard's face bore the mark of the slap and a scratch. The anger and force were evident. She must have used all her strength. Willard just clenched his jaw and carried her back to the bed. Anne had no strength left to resist. She knew resistance was futile. She couldn't break free from him.
"Willard, what do you want?"
Willard shook his head, "I don't know..."
"You do know." Anne exposed him, "You want me to love you again."
Willard held her hand, lowering himself, "Can you?"
Anne looked at him for a few seconds, then asked, "Willard, do you love me?"
"Yes." Willard affirmed.
Anne's tone was mocking, "Willard, you don't love me. You just can't accept that I don't love you anymore, that things are out of your control."
Willard immediately denied, "It's not like that..."
"It is." Anne interrupted him, "If you loved me, you wouldn't have rejected me when I confessed, you wouldn't have distanced yourself after I stole a kiss, and you wouldn't have forced me to sign an agreement after we got married. Finally, you wouldn't be trying to rape me to make me have a child after our divorce. Willard, you don't love me!"
Willard was silent for a long time. Maybe he was convinced by Anne. Or maybe he couldn't find a point to refute. Anne wiped her tears and continued, "Let each other go, Willard. Don't destroy the last bit of affection. At least don't make me remember that I once loved a scumbag."
Willard's hand started to shake. Rage surged, and he suddenly hugged her. Anne thought she had provoked him again, terrified.
"Willard, you..."
Her words stopped. Because she felt wetness on her shoulder. Not from his kiss, but... tears. It seemed like the first time she had seen Willard cry. He made no sound, save for a faint, almost inaudible sobbing, like a child who had just lost his most treasured candy. For a moment, she couldn't tell what she was feeling. Her hand, raised to push him away, froze in mid-air. The quiet room was filled with shallow breaths and muffled sobs.
Suddenly, the door was slammed open, shattering the eerie silence.
"Willard—"
A sharp female voice rang out, followed by a heavy slap. "You bastard!"
Elissa saw the thick chains locking Anne and became even angrier. Francis held her, afraid she would harm the baby.
"I'll handle this..."
"Shut up!" Elissa shouted, "Don't think I don't know you're all in on this! Otherwise, why did your people let Willard take Anne and bully her!"
Francis saw Elissa's red eyes and panicked. In this situation, he didn't dare explain. Seaside City was Willard's domain. He could only grit his teeth and accept the blame, "Don't get upset, it's all my fault. Give me a chance to make it right, okay?"
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