Chapter293 Eager to See the Man?
Anna's recent social media updates and her return to the Stefanelli family stirred up quite a commotion online.
"Stefanelli family's prodigal daughter returns, and the scene is like this?"
"Shock! Cinderella turns into a princess, and the first thing she does is..."
"Miss Stefanelli or Katherine, spot the difference?"
She was left speechless.
Prominent bloggers and news outlets churned out sensational articles to ride the wave of interest.
Curious netizens gathered like onlookers, "Isn't this ceremony too simple?"
"Maybe Miss Stefanelli prefers low-key warmth over extravagance?"
"Country girl turns into a princess, such bliss!"
"I wish I had parents who'd send me to the countryside to become rich."
"Am I the only one who senses a power struggle brewing between her and Katherine?"
"Not at all. Our Katherine is so understanding and tender-hearted! Just wondering about the newcomer's intentions."
"With all this trending, can she really be a good person?"
"Ha, as if she could compete. Katherine's husband is Mr. Vittorio!"
"Hopefully, she knows her place."
"Isn't she the real victim here? Why so much hostility?"
"I agree, twenty years without her real parents, so much more pitiable than Katherine. (No arguing. If you do, you're just proving my point.)"
Beyond the media and the public, numerous brands also slid into Anna's Twitter DMs, seeking collaboration.
[Hello Miss Stefanelli, we're the prestigious brand dl. Would you consider wearing our clothes? We'll gift you a limited edition piece and lifetime membership.]
[Hi, Miss Stefanelli. We represent Lanti skincare. We'd love for you to try our products and accept our gifts.]
[Miss Stefanelli, are you interested in a career launch? Don't lag behind your sister. Seize the opportunity with us, and we'll make you a top-tier celebrity.]
The online buzz about Anna was as intense as any celebrity drama. After all, people fed up with regular entertainment scandals were eager for a glimpse into opulent family affairs.
In Giorgio's private villa, Katherine's eyes narrowed with loathing as she scanned the news headlines.
Anna, who once tried to steal her fiancé, was now stealing the spotlight. How simple could she be?
No matter what, Katherine wouldn't let Anna get the upper hand.
She opened her contacts, messaging her agent: [Get a journalist to buy some dirt on Anna from Wendy without tracing it back to us. Also, manage the online sentiment.]
Agent: [Understood, Katherine.]
The night was tumultuous, shrouded in a restless undercurrent.
Anna had also slept restlessly that night.
Her ideal life was to leave Crownhaven and return to Vista Heights, where she could live peacefully and quietly as before.
But Katherine's news completely derailed her, setting her on a one-way path.
How could she now extricate herself, fade away?
She would likely be under constant scrutiny. Her life spun into sensational stories! If someone carelessly discovered Penny's existence, it would be unimaginable.
A sleepless night indeed.
The following day, Anna woke up groggy, her cell phone ringing incessantly by her bed.
Ding dong, ding dong ding, ding dong.
One after another, the sounds made it impossible to sleep.
"Mommy, answer the phone!" Her daughter, woken by the noise, pressed the phone to Anna's ear.
Reluctantly, Anna answered, her voice heavy with drowsiness, "Hello?"
"It's me. I'm outside. Come out for a bit."
The man's voice was magnetic and unfamiliar, brooking no refusal.
Anna frowned, puzzled. Outside? Who?
She opened her sleepy eyes, glanced at the phone screen, and then saw that it was that same unfamiliar number from yesterday afternoon.
Giuseppe!
‘He had the nerve to call again?’
"Have you resolved your issues? I'm not going to meet you."
Giuseppe seemed to anticipate her response and smiled thinly, "Miss, how can we clarify things without meeting? If you don't come out, it might complicate matters."
A threat.
Anna clenched her fist in anger, "Fine, you want to meet? Let's meet!"
She'd see how she’d confront him face-to-face!
"Mommy, who was that?" her daughter inquired curiously.
Charlie, who was lying on Anna's other arm, looked at her with clear, dark eyes. "Anna, if you don't want to meet, just don't."
"No, I do want to meet him. I can't wait, actually." Anna's words were pointed, her smile like the edge of a blade.
After saying that, she got up, got ready, and left.
In the room, the two kids looked at each other, baffled.
Then Charlie's kiddie smartwatch went off. It was Giorgio.
When they were apart, Giorgio usually called to check on how they slept and how they were feeling.
And he did so today, too.
"How did you sleep last night? Do you want me to come pick you up?"
Charlie frowned slightly, responding without hesitation, "I slept really well in Anna's arms, but this morning, she got a call and said she couldn’t wait to see someone and she got out of bed in her pajamas and left, waking me up."
The child's voice was clear and loud, tinged with a touch of loss, clearly revealing Anna's emotional state regarding that person.
Giorgio's brow arched.
‘Eager? Can't wait? In pajamas?’
"Is that person a man or a woman?"
Charlie replied, "A guy, sounds like it's Giuseppeo."
The moniker "Giuseppe, bro" sounded utterly cringeworthy.
Giorgio thought of Anna and his nephew... A weight seemed to press on his heart, clogging it up.
He said coldly, "Let her be. Kids shouldn't get involved in these things."
"Um, Dad, I was just kvetching. It sounded like you were the one asking."
Giorgio was left speechless.
...
Meanwhile.
Anna stepped out of the Stefanelli household and immediately noticed the sedan parked at the curb.
It was a simple, clean, understated white that exuded quiet sophistication. She didn't recognize the license plate, but she could tell without asking that it was expensive.
She walked over, and the car door opened automatically.
The man sitting inside was dressed to the nines, an embodiment of classic elegance.
Seeing Anna in her pajamas, slippers, and long hair casually falling over her shoulders as she came out to meet him, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Good morning," he greeted, the stiffness seeping through his words.
Anna rolled her eyes at him and reached out to close the car door, standing at the entrance and said, "Listen, Giorgio Jr., I'm not here to make small talk with you. Spit it out. You have three minutes. Once they're up, this tweet in my hand is going live."
As she spoke, she raised her phone to show him.
It was her tweet, ready to send: [I have no ties with Giuseppe, and my previous statement was made under duress. The real story is that he's been messing with his own Katherine! The person in the video is Katherine!]
Every word was sharp and direct, carrying the potential for scandal. Once released, such news would undoubtedly send shockwaves across the internet, leaving both the Stefanelli and the Vittorio family with nowhere to hide. Giuseppe's eyes narrowed.
He raised his hand, reaching out—
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