Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Tell Me, Are You Really Leaving? 6

Seven o’clock sharp.

Night was about to fall across the city, but it wasn’t completely dark yet.

The evening breeze drifted by, but instead of its usual pleasant coolness, it carried only the turbulent undercurrents of a brewing conflict.

Two rows of mercenaries, clad in imposing black uniforms, stood expressionlessly with sniper rifles in hand.

Their straight, imposing figures, though expressionless, were enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.

Leona Grant emerged from between the rows of mercenaries.

His gaze swept toward Annabelle Linton, his piercing eyes like daggers stabbing straight into hers, offering no chance to look away.

He was on the verge of laughing out loud.

’On my way back, all I could think about was her. I knew I was too rough this morning, so I bought her favorite pastries to help her calm down.’

’But what had I come back to hear?’

’That she was actually trying to run off with another man?!’

’All the way here, I suppressed my rage, telling myself again and again that it had to be a misunderstanding. Just a misunderstanding.’

’I’ve invested a lifetime’s worth of patience, reason, and time in her. And what has she given me in return?’

Leona Grant’s eyes narrowed at the sight of them holding hands, united against him. The sight made his eyes sting and turn bloodshot.

’Right.’

’I knew locking up Aaron Wyatt would infuriate her sooner or later. That she’d try to leave, to run, to find a way out. It was understandable, a last resort.’

’But this expressionless, fearless look on her face now... what was that supposed to mean?’

’A desperate, last-ditch stand. A righteous, defiant ’do your worst’.’

’Is this what it is? ’Better to die with honor than live in shame’? ’Live together, die together’?’ 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’My men found them today, so at least I get to see her one more time. Otherwise, wouldn’t she have run off with another man without me even seeing her again?’

’Damn it!’

’She deserves to die a thousand deaths!’

Leona Grant strolled over, his pace unhurried. A deceptively understanding smile played on his lips. "Going somewhere? Why run out this way instead of using the front door? If you wanted to leave, you just had to say the word. I would’ve had my men escort you. It’s a long way from here, and you’d have to take a detour."

Annabelle Linton looked at him and said nothing.

Aaron Wyatt gave her hand a subtle squeeze, a silent gesture of comfort, telling her not to be afraid.

Annabelle Linton did not pull away.

Leona Grant stared coolly at Annabelle Linton for a moment but saw not the slightest hint of compromise or guilt in her eyes.

’Right now, if her eyes showed even the slightest flicker of hesitation, I’m sure I could delude myself into believing she wouldn’t leave.’

’But there was nothing.’

Annabelle Linton’s eyes were as still as a stagnant pond, utterly without a ripple.

He suppressed his rage and looked at Annabelle Linton. "Come here."

Before Annabelle Linton could say a word, Aaron Wyatt moved to stand in front of her, looking coldly at Leona Grant. "What do you want? Name your terms."

Leona Grant ignored Aaron Wyatt. His eyes never left Annabelle Linton, and his voice was impossibly cold. "I’ll say it one last time. Come here."

’Of course, Annabelle Linton wasn’t going to go to him.’

’What would going over to him accomplish?’

’Wouldn’t all my efforts tonight be for nothing?’

’Besides, if I went over, Aaron Wyatt would be left isolated and powerless.’

’I’m the one who got him into this mess. Of course I can’t just abandon him.’

A layer of frost seemed to glaze over Annabelle Linton’s eyes. She looked at Leona Grant, her gaze completely devoid of emotion, and her voice was flat and detached. "Leona Grant, we’re divorced. If this was about getting back at Aaron Wyatt for hitting you, consider it done. Let us go, and I’ll never appear in front of you again."

’Let *us* go?’

That one word—"us"—was like another knife twisting in his gut.

Leona Grant scoffed, a sarcastic smile curling his lips. His eyes turned dangerously cold as he finally broke, roaring, "I fucking told you to come here!"