"Okay."
’This isn’t the ti to be driven by emotion.’
After a few more seconds, Annabelle Linton quickly regained her composure. "Ryan has never been short on gifts. What he wants is warmth and attention. Any gift is fine, as long as it’s sothing you picked out with care, Dad. He’ll love it."
"Good, that’s good." William Chapman sounded like a benevolent father, speaking with concern. "It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb you any longer. Get so sleep. Ryan’s coming-of-age ceremony is the day after tomorrow. As his older sister, you need to be there and be at your best."
"Okay."
Just as the call was about to end, Annabelle Linton pressed her lips together and, unwilling to let it go, called out softly.
"Dad."
"Yes?"
Annabelle Linton stood up and walked to the French doors. The faint moonlight washed over her, her slender figure resembling a resilient plum blossom—solitary, cold, and proud, exuding a quiet sorrow and indifference.
Leona Grant saw in Annabelle Linton a kind of noble purity—sothing to be admired from a distance, never to be defiled.
Annabelle Linton gazed out at the mottled darkness of the night and said in a daze, "I dread of Grandfather and Mom yesterday."
William Chapman didn’t respond.
Annabelle Linton fell silent for a mont as well, but finally, she spoke.
Unbeknownst even to herself, a fleeting glimr of hope flashed in her eyes. For once, she found herself saying a great deal.
"Grandfather and Mom are doing well. They told us not to worry."
"Grandfather told yesterday that he’s been feeling uneasy lately, like sothing is going to happen to the Linton Group. It was his life’s work. Dad, is the Linton Group okay right now?"
Hearing this, a dark glint flashed in William Chapman’s eyes.
’Is Annabelle Linton testing ?’
’But the acquisition is happening in just one day. Even if she finds out now, what can she possibly change?’
’The birthday party is just a legitimate-sounding excuse to announce the Linton Group’s acquisition to everyone. Even if Annabelle Linton discovers everything, it will all proceed as planned.’
"Annabelle, the Linton Group is doing very well. Everything is operating normally, profits are steady. I’m managing the company wonderfully. You can tell your grandfather not to worry."
A sharp, violent pang of pain struck in an instant, offering not even a second of buffer or preparation.
Annabelle Linton’s eyes suddenly reddened. She felt as if she were drowning, the suffocating sensation making the very air feel thin.
’Annabelle Linton, didn’t you see through so-called familial love and romance in your past life?’
’Why are you still being so pathetic as to hold out hope for these things?’
The corners of her lips curved into a perfectly rigid arc. She laughed softly. "That’s good, then."
With that, she hung up the phone.
"Heh, heh heh heh heh..."
The empty living room echoed with Annabelle Linton’s desperate, ridiculous, and sarcastic laughter.
She laughed until tears stread down her face.
’Do you know what?’
’When I asked that question just now, I told myself that as long as Dad admitted it, I would accept any consequence.’
’He is their father. As long as he felt even a sliver of guilt or compassion for and my brother, it would an his sins weren’t entirely unforgivable.’
’If he had shown just a hint of remorse, I could have forgiven him, even ensured he had a comfortable old age.’
’But what answer did I get?’
’Heh. Heh heh heh heh heh heh...’
’Fine. This is fine, too.’
’At least, it’s becoming clearer and clearer what I must do.’
Annabelle Linton’s mouth was open in a silent sob, forcing herself not to make a sound.
But she didn’t know that this stubborn display of hers was being witnessed by two people upstairs.
Leona Grant watched Annabelle Linton’s defiant face, and her expression filled with a pang of sorrow.
’Annabelle Linton, are you heartbroken again?’
’Why are your tears so silent, yet they always make one feel the shattering of a heart?’
’Why is the sight of you in such sorrow so painful to watch?’
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