Chapter 92 A Near Predatory Desire

Anna glanced at the picture, and when she saw the background clearly, her expression shifted a bit.

Charles lowered his gaze, catching all the emotions on her face.

"Do you know who sent it?" he asked.

Anna's voice turned icy, "Michael."

Charles didn't seem surprised at all.

Only Michael could've taken a close-up like this.

Charles set the phone aside and then pulled Anna into his arms.

Looking into her clear, bright eyes, he asked softly, "Babe, do you think I've been betrayed?"

Anna chuckled at his tone, "By who?"

Charles's lips barely moved as he said, "By you."

Anna smiled, "What if I told you this betrayal is all in your head? Would you believe me?"

Charles held her waist, pulling her closer. "Of course, I would. No matter what you say, I believe you."

Anna leaned against him and explained, "This photo was taken by Michael in my room on my birthday last year."

Charles gently twirled her hair around his fingers.

Listening to her, he asked calmly, "Did Mr. Tudor stay in your room overnight?"

"What are you thinking?" Anna gave him a playful glare. "Every year, he spends some time abroad. During that period, even though we lived in the same apartment, we each slept in our own rooms. On my birthday last year, for some reason, he suddenly proposed to me, but since I hadn't finished my studies, I turned him down. I’m a light sleeper, and any noise wakes me up. That night, shortly after I fell asleep, I heard faint footsteps in my room. When I opened my eyes, I saw Michael at the bedside, holding his phone after taking the photo."

At that time, she asked him why he took the photo.

He said, "You rejected my proposal, so I took a photo of you sleeping. When I return home and can't sleep at night, I can look at it for comfort."

Since she met Michael at fifteen, he had always been very good to her.

Except for constantly emphasizing that she must never leave him and must always stay by his side, he never forced her to do anything she didn't like.

So when she turned down his proposal last year, Anna felt a bit guilty.

Especially seeing the genuine shock and disappointment on Michael's face after she refused, she felt even more at a loss.

But despite that, she didn't change her mind and accept his proposal.

Anna knew very well that if she had agreed at that time, with Michael's way of doing things, he would have immediately taken her back home.

If she had given up her studies and the medical research she had been working on for years, all her efforts would have been in vain.

Her dreams, beliefs, and desire to continue her parents' work would have been for nothing.

So, after considering everything, Anna turned him down.

Because of that guilt, she didn't force him to delete the photo when she saw it.

She never thought that photo would end up being used to mess with her marriage to Charles.

Since coming back home over a month ago, Anna had been feeling a mix of fear and relief.

Relief that eight years ago, she didn't fall for Michael's sweet talk and chose to stay abroad for further studies instead of hiding behind him and becoming someone he controlled.

Relief that a year ago, she didn't ruin her life by accepting his proposal and giving up her dreams halfway.

Anna still couldn't wrap her head around why Michael suddenly proposed to her a year ago.

In his eyes, she was just the daughter of the man who killed his father. First, he lifted her high; then he threw her down hard, making her experience the pain of falling from heaven to hell, which she could understand.

But she really couldn't figure out why he would think of proposing.

Since her birthday last year, Michael no longer acted as if he had no desire for her.

Anna could clearly feel that many times, there was a deep meaning in his gaze.

It was a desire that was almost predatory.

Anna wasn't stupid; she could see it.

But maybe there was always something missing between her and Michael.

So when Michael suggested sharing a room multiple times, she instinctively refused.

During the eight years Michael was with her, for the first seven years, she always saw him as the person she trusted the most. In her heart, he was an indispensable family member.

Later, after Michael proposed a year ago, although she refused, it slowly changed Anna's reliance on him as a "brother."

She began to tell herself that he would be the person she would spend her life with, her future husband, the other half on her marriage certificate.

Over the past year, although Anna refused his request to share a bed, she was mentally accepting him.

If Michael hadn't suddenly torn off his mask a month ago, she thought they would probably be together now.

After all, she came back this time planning to marry him and stay by his side forever.

But looking at it from another angle, Anna was genuinely grateful to her past self for sticking to her principles and always refusing Michael's advances.

Otherwise, with her heart broken, she wouldn't have had the courage to approach Charles and ask him to marry her.

Seeing Anna a bit lost in thought, Charles tightened his grip on her waist. "Anya, does Mr. Tudor have many such photos of you sleeping on his phone?"

She replied, "Just this one."

A year ago, Michael never entered her room at night.

Over the past year, except for that birthday night when he sneaked into her room while she was asleep, he never did it again.

Since then, Anna had developed the habit of locking her door at night.

The reason was simple: having someone silently standing by her bed and staring at her while she slept was too creepy.

If it happened too often, it would probably lead to nightmares.