Chapter 213You have Nothing to rely on but Me
Jane’s heart skipped a beat. She opened her eyes and saw the reflection of a cold and tall man standing behind her. His gaze lacked the nonchalance she had seen before; it was now calm and empty, radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Jane reached for a tissue to dry her hands, planning to leave, but Anthony suddenly grabbed her wrist. His posture was the same as before as he grabbed her wrist accurately. It was as though his hand had eyes of its own. The warmth of his hand felt scorching on her skin.
“Please let go. I have something to do,” Jane said in a steady voice. It was as though he was just a stranger.
Anthony smiled coldly as he said mockingly, “What? A date?”
The word ‘date’ used to be exclusive to the two of them. However, the word was laden with irony and profound sadness now that he said the word again.
In the past, Jane had believed all her dates would involve Anthony. In the throes of love, she thought her love could remove all obstacles. In retrospect, those feelings were as vulnerable as straws in the wind, fragile and powerless.
Jane smiled. “So you know? Then please excuse me. It’d be rude to keep someone waiting for such a long time.”
‘When did she care whether something was rude or not?’
Anthony scoffed. He lit a cigarette and studied Jane from head to toe. Despite their previous encounters at Rosewood Estate, it seemed he could never get enough of her. Was it a habit? The habit of protecting her, of watching over her, of following her every move.
Finally, Anthony said, “Jane, your judgment has gotten worse.”
Jane did not need any explanation to understand what he meant. She replied, “Although my blind date may not be as handsome as you, nor as tall, fit, wealthy, or even as powerful as you, he treats me well. How has my judgment gotten worse? We might have a future together.”
A future was something she and Anthony did not have.
Anthony lowered his gaze, his expression obscured by cigarette smoke which added to the stifling atmosphere. He put out the cigarette in an ashtray beside the trash can and advanced toward Jane. His military boots thudded on the wooden floor.
The sound seemed to strike Jane's heart. She instinctively stepped back. She had never retreated in front of Anthony, except for that chaotic night two years ago.
Recognizing the difference between then and now, Jane turned to leave, feigning calm. Nevertheless, Anthony could see her hurried steps. His long legs quickly closed the distance. In moments, he had Jane cornered against the wall, her wrists pinned above her head.
"Anthony, let go of me!" Jane demanded angrily, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation, "If you don't release me, I'll call for help. This place is crowded, and this will ruin your reputation..."
However, immediately after that, Jane realized something was amiss. Since she saw Anthony, there had been no other voices or movements. Clearly, he had arranged for everyone to leave!
It was not the first time he had done such a thing. In high school, after she snuck into a club with her friends and he found out, he cleared the venue. He stationed bodyguards outside and confronted her, demanding her to admit her mistake and to promise she would never go to such chaotic places again.
Jane promised him, but she was being perfunctory. Later, she had secretly gone to bars, hoping to attract his attention. Later on, after the incident with the Watkinses, she continued to frequent those places to have fun on her own, but at that time, no one paid attention to her anymore.
"Why are you going on a blind date?” Anthony asked. His authoritative stance was reminiscent of the past.
Jane laughed mockingly before she looked up at him and replied, “Because I’m lonely.”
Flames of fury burned in Anthony’s heart, but his expression remained impassive. He leaned in closer and said, “What else?”
He wanted to hear her speak. It would be better if she could offer some explanation that would extinguish his anger.
However, Jane always had a talent for angering him.
"I’m broke now. I need to save money for my brother, and there are also daily expenses. Besides, my interest in photography is expensive. What’s wrong with finding a man to support me? Moreover, I’m an adult woman with physical needs,” Jane retorted, “Isn’t it normal for me to look for a boyfriend?”
Anthony gritted his teeth. He had left her enough money that could sustain a lifetime of luxury. In fact, after avenging his father’s death, he should not have concerned himself with Jane's well-being any longer. However, he reasoned that Jane was innocent. That money meant nothing to him, but it was lifesaving for this heiress born into wealth.
However, the spendthrift heiress did not touch a single penny of the money he left her, instead, she led a relatively frugal life. Clearly, she disdained his money.
After spending the entire day practicing shooting at the shooting range, Anthony still felt extremely frustrated. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Jane’s waist and gently pressed her against the wall before he said, “If all you want is money and a man, then I can give all of that to you.”
Jane sensed the danger immediately. She could see the obsession in his eyes, and it made her feel panicked. She warned, “Anthony, what are you doing? Stop messing around.”
"After all these years of acquaintance, do you think I’m a man who messes around?” Anthony chuckled.
Jane knew he was not. He had always been the most restrained, disciplined, and self-aware person she knew.
Jane attempted to struggle, trying to free her hands. When it did not work, she tried to kick him. However, before her kick landed, he firmly trapped her legs with his own, rendering her immobile.
“Have you forgotten who taught you to fight? Do you really want to fight me?” Anthony mocked. However, there was also a hint of nostalgia and indulgence that the two of them did not notice.
"Anthony, release me! You are acting like a thug! I’m going to report you!" Jane struggled.
"Whom are you going to report, huh?" Anthony began unbuttoning her shirt, saying, "Jane, Jovan is no longer in the picture. You have no one to rely on but me."
At the mention of her brother, Jane's struggle ceased instantly, and she looked at him blankly.
‘Indeed, who else can I rely on? In the past, when I felt like Anthony bullied me, I would run to my brother for help. But now, who can I rely on?’
Seeing the sorrow in Jane’s eyes, Anthony was overwhelmed with frustration. He wished he could tell her, ‘You can’t rely on Jovan anymore. The only person you can rely on is me! Only me!’
In the next moment, Anthony leaned down and kissed Jane, pulling her back to her senses. She could immediately sense his intense desire for her.
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