Blinking in confusion, Annie could not imagine any scenario where a cousin like Angela, who had loved her since they were a child, would ever hurt her.
“Angela, you’re confusing me. What could you possibly do to hurt me?”
“Listen to me first.” Of course, Angela did not want to hurt Annie, but the damage had been done and she had no choice but to come clean.
“Just spill it: Whatever the case may be, I will forgive you.’ Annie was ready to listen.
“Remember the night I got home and you cheerfully called to tell me that Grandpa had arranged for you to get married? I was happy for you, but your didn’t tell me the name of your fiancé when we spoke on the phone. Do you remember that?”
“Of course!”
“I was kidnapped the next day. My father hired a bodyguard to keep me safe. This bodyguard is both powerful and intimidating. He took me to a safe location that night to protect me, but he took away my phone and disconnected me from any external contacts.”
“I know it’s Richard,” Annie stated unequivocally.
“Yes, that’s him.”
“That’s the same night we got engaged.. You know, I tried to text and call you, but your phone was out of service the entire night. I guess that explains why now.”
“Hence, when I was sent to the base for protection, I couldn’t contact my family. and I couldn’t contact you, so I had no idea who your fiancé was from the very start. As a result, I had no idea that the person who had been watching over met for over twenty hours was your fiancé.”
“Yes. I was horrified when I heard my parents say that the world was hunting you down.” All of these events were fresh in Annie’s mind. “But I don’t see how any. of this is hurting me! Why are you taking it so seriously, Angela? You’re terrifying me.” She considered Angela’s words and concluded that they were unharmful.
“There’s one more thing. I told you that the base’s conditions are not that great. The bathhouse is shared and my room barely has any place to shower other than a toilet. I was surrounded by four walls and a window. As a result, I had to take a shower in Richard’s room. Furthermore, he is always at the base and I am with him at all hours of the day and night. We even shared three meals a day.”
“And then what?” Annie’s eyes blinked.
“Then After Dexter cheated on me. I was gloomy and I… I fell in love with Richard.” Angela sighed.
With her eyes widened in surprise, Annie questioned, “Angela, do you like Richard as well?
In response, Angela immediately apologized as she looked at Annie in panic, “I’m sorry, Annie. I really didn’t. mean to. I wouldn’t dare to have feelings for him if I knew he was your fiancé. I’m so sorry… Please forgive me.” At this point, Angela was too ashamed to look Annie in the eyes.
However, what resounded in the air was Annie’s fatal question. “Angela, does he like you too?”
Overwhelmed by guilt, Angela lowered her head and nodded lightly.
On the other hand, Annie was stunned and shocked for a few seconds. The last person she would expect was the woman Richard liked to be her very own cousin! This was an unexpected occurrence that rendered her speechless.
Suddenly, they could feel the atmosphere: tensing up as cold filled the air.
Since Angela was ducking her head all this time to avoid looking at Annie, she had assumed Annie was furious with her at this point. “Annie, if you can’t accept. that… I will break up with him,” she continued while raising her head and inhaling a deep breath.
However, what flashed across Annie’s face. was a smile as she reached out to embrace her cousin. “Angela, don’t feel. sorry for me; I’m overjoyed that Richard has become my cousin-in-law.”
Frozen upon her words, Angela could not help but clutch onto Annie’s shoulders as she looked straight into her eyes. “Annie.. what did you just say?”
