Chapter 302 Sending Anne Away
Nicholas's actions freaked Anne out and scared the other women into silence. They exchanged nervous glances, each one desperately wanting to bolt.
I was confused: Did Nicholas call me here to see this? But I kept my cool, waiting for Nicholas's next move.
Anne, crying, dropped to her knees and crawled to Nicholas, clutching his leg and begging loudly, "I messed up, I was misled into making so many bad decisions. Edward doesn't care about me anymore, and I don't know how to live alone. I truly know I was wrong. Please forgive me, just one more time."
Anne was a wreck, her face streaked with tears and snot. The usually meticulous Anne didn't care that her makeup was ruined.
But Nicholas kicked her in the chest, and she crumpled to the floor.
"You don't need to beg me," Nicholas snapped. "You should be begging Diana for forgiveness. If she forgives you, that's fine with me. But if she doesn't, then you might as well get ready for jail!"
With that, Nicholas pulled Daphne, who had just been hit, back onto his lap. Daphne, clearly not used to Nicholas's violent side, sat still, not daring to move.
Anne, used to Nicholas's abuse, didn't find this humiliating. She crawled over to me, clutching my leg and sobbing, nearly hysterical. "Diana, I know I was wrong! I shouldn't have hurt you. Please forgive me, give me a chance to live! I don't want much—just to stay in Wind City and be with Nicholas. I'll do anything you ask!"
I looked down at the sobbing Anne, unsure of what to do.
At that moment, Daphne, sensing a threat from Anne's plea to return to Nicholas, twisted her slender waist and gently rubbed against Nicholas's leg. She carefully picked up a wine glass and brought it to Nicholas's lips, speaking sweetly, "Nicholas, please don't be upset. Why don't you have a drink to help you relax?"
Nicholas, pleased with Daphne's compliance, took a sip. Then he leaned in to kiss her, and she quickly responded, their lips meeting for a long moment. Watching this, I felt a wave of disgust.
This scene was beyond anything I had imagined, and I found it hard to bear.
Suddenly, Anne stood up, pointing at Daphne and shouting, "Slut, do you think you're any better than me? Let me tell you, I played all these games long before you!"
Daphne, unfazed, continued to sit seductively in Nicholas's lap.
She said, "Nicholas, look at her."
Nicholas's face darkened, and he threw his wine glass at Anne.The glass hit Anne's face, shattering on the floor. Blood trickled from a cut on her cheek as she crumpled to the ground, the room falling into a tense silence, broken only by Anne's weak sobs.
Nicholas stood up, with Daphne quickly helping him, and walked over to me.
"Diana," Nicholas said, "whether to forgive Anne is up to you. If you don't want to forgive her, I can send her to jail right now."
This time, Anne didn't argue, just knelt there, crying softly. For some reason, seeing her like this reminded me of when she first joined the Howard family, timid and eager to please. Did she used to be just as careful in trying to please Edward and Hayden back then?
Suddenly, my phone's ringtone jolted me out of my chaotic thoughts and brought me back to reality. I quickly grabbed my phone to check, and to my surprise, it was Melissa calling. That was when I realized how late it had gotten.
On the screen was Skylar's sweet face. "Mommy, where are you? Are you still working? I don't want to sleep alone," she said in a soft, dependent voice.
Looking at her, I said gently, "Skylar, be good. Let Melissa help you with your bath. I'll be home soon to tuck you in, okay?"
Skylar nodded seriously. "Mommy, you promise?"
I said, "I promise. I'll be there when you get into bed."
Skylar hung up the video call, feeling completely satisfied.
I put my phone away, noticing everyone waiting for my decision.
I walked over to Anne, looking down at her coldly. "Edward wanted to send you abroad several times, but you kept refusing, making one mistake after another. Now, I'm giving you a choice: take some money and leave, or face jail time."
The room fell silent, except for Anne's quiet sobs.
I continued, "As a lawyer, I can tell you, this time, your sentence won't be shorter than the last."
Terrified of prison, Anne clung to my leg, begging, "Diana, I don't want to go to jail. Give me money, let me leave. I'll go anywhere, just not jail."
Looking at the tear-streaked, desperate Anne, I felt no satisfaction.
"If you choose to leave, don't come back." With that, I pulled out a prepared document.
I said, "This is an agreement. Sign it, and the money will be in your account. But you must leave Wind City within 24 hours."
Anne, hands shaking, signed without reading. After she left, the tension lingered in the room.
Nicholas, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, "Diana, your decision was quick. But if Anne comes back..."
"Godfather, are you reluctant to let her go?" I teased.
"You've become quite bold." Nicholas awkwardly touched his nose, trying to hide his embarrassment.
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