Chapter 14: Divorce Him and Come Back to Me
"You're up so early?" He pulled her back into his arms.
Anna turned to look at him, "Couldn't sleep. Gonna freshen up, you catch some more Z's."
Hearing this, Charles fully opened his eyes, kissed her forehead, and said, "You go freshen up, I'll whip up some breakfast."
Half an hour later, Anna had finished freshening up and changed her clothes. Charles came up to call her down for breakfast, just in time to see her putting the bracelet into a jewelry box.
"Why'd you take it off?" he asked.
"Your mom doesn't have a full picture of our relationship. It's not right for me to keep this bracelet. When you find someone you really dig, give it to her."
After saying that, Anna pointed to the top drawer of the nightstand.
"The property deeds are in the nightstand. Sort 'em out when you get a chance."
Charles's expression didn't change, but the warmth in his eyes faded big time. He licked his lips, his deep eyes locked on her: "So cut and dry?"
"Being clear-cut is a good thing. Given our situation, money shouldn't be involved."
Charles wanted to ask her what she thought their relationship was. But considering it was her first day at work, he didn't want to mess up her morning or start a fight, so he swallowed his words.
At 8:30 AM, Anna had just arrived at Radiant Life Hospital and saw Aurora in the lobby.
"Aurora, what are you doing here?"
"First day at work, came to check on you."
Seeing Anna's rosy face, Aurora leaned in close, lowered her voice, and teased, "Anna, don't burn yourself out, and don't overindulge."
"Get lost!"
Aurora immediately jumped back two steps, suppressing a smile, and walked out briskly, "Alright, I'm outta here."
At the same time.
The Tudor Group.
Michael asked Nolan, "Did she go to the hospital?"
Nolan immediately replied, "According to folks at Radiant Life Hospital, Mrs. Howard's already there and is now in the dean's office."
Michael stood up with his coat, "Cancel all my appointments for this morning."
"Yes, sir!"
At Radiant Life Hospital.
Chief physician Ryan Gray, who was leading Anna's orientation, led her to her office.
"Dr. Howard, your department's in room 308. According to the on-duty nurse, there's already a patient waiting for you."
Two minutes later, Ryan pointed to the door of room 308 and said to Anna beside him, "Here it is, Dr. Howard."
"Thanks, Dr. Gray."
After Ryan left, Anna opened the door and saw Michael sitting by the desk. She unconsciously tightened her grip on the doorknob.
Hearing the door open, Michael turned around. His cold, handsome face softened slightly when he saw Anna.
"Anna, aren't you coming in?"
Seeing Michael's familiar expression, Anna instinctively felt repelled. She let go of the doorknob but didn't close the door. She walked straight to the desk and said in a businesslike tone, "Mr. Tudor, what's the issue?"
Michael silently mouthed the title. The warmth on his face faded a bit.
"Anna." He sat down opposite her, his sharp eyes fixed on her. But his voice was soft, like he was reminiscing. "You used to call me 'Michael.'"
Anna's eyes had a hint of mockery. She twirled the pen in her hand, looking indifferent, like the guy in front of her was just some random dude. All that closeness and dependence? Gone.
"Mr. Tudor, you said it yourself. That was in the past." She looked up at him, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Let's cut the crap."
She lowered her eyes, like she couldn't even be bothered to look at him.
"Mr. Tudor, tell me your symptoms. If you don't have any, please leave and don't waste other patients' time."
Michael stared at her for a bit. Just when Anna's patience was about to snap, he suddenly stood up. He walked around the big desk and came to her side.
Grabbing her hand, he pressed it against his chest. Anna immediately tried to shake off his grip, "Michael, let go!"
He didn't let go; instead, he held on tighter.
He looked at Anna, his eyes dark and deep, like an abyss, with a swirling black mist that seemed ready to swallow her whole.
"Anna, it hurts here. It hurts a lot."
Anna's lips tightened, her face unchanged, but her eyes showed a hint of resistance. She turned her face away, trying to pull her hand back, but he held it firmly.
"Sorry, Mr. Tudor. I'm not skilled enough to treat this. Please leave and find someone more capable."
"Anna, after all these years, who knows your medical knowledge better than I do?"
During those eight years abroad, she would share every award she won with him first. To this day, no one understoodAnna's medical achievements better than Michael.
But now, the Anna he fully understood and controlled had become a stranger, breaking free from his grasp.
She didn't even want to see him, let alone talk to him.
Seeing Anna's cold expression, Michael's eyes flashed with a hint of red. He suddenly exerted force, pulling her up by the wrist. Before Anna could react, he held her tightly in his arms.
"Anna," he suppressed all his emotions, speaking almost word by word, "I'm giving you a chance. Divorce him and come back to me."
Anna, completely restrained by him, stopped struggling. Instead, her clear eyes showed even more sarcasm.
"Divorce?" she sneered, "And then what? Go back to you, let you trample on my dignity, strip away my freedom, turn me into your plaything to be toyed with at your whim!"
Meanwhile, neither Michael nor Anna noticed the flash of a camera at the open door.
Earlier that morning, Thalia had gone to the Tudor Group, but Michael refused to see her. Every time Nolan went to inform him, the answer was always that he was busy or unavailable.
After waiting for over an hour, just as she was about to leave the Tudor Group, she accidentally saw Michael and Nolan coming out of the private elevator.
Thalia instinctively followed them.
Outside room 308, at the corner of the stairs, she looked at the photo on her phone, her eyes filled with jealousy. Her sharp nails almost pierced her palm.
She stared at the photo of the two people hugging, her jealousy and anger nearly overwhelming her remaining sanity.
Finally, she saved the photo and then forwarded it to someone.