Marriage Named Hatred Chapter 06
Annelise waited at the Ryland Group for an entire day. It wasn’t until night had fully fallen that the CEO’s private elevator finally descended.
She looked up and saw Talia step out of the elevator.
Talia paused for a moment, then lifted her brows, her smile carrying a hint of mockery. “You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you? Sorry about that. Bas loses track of time when he gets busy. We were just having dinner together. He insisted I stay with him. I told him it was getting late, but he just couldn’t bear to let me go.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and brushed back her hair. The watch on her wrist caught the light and gleamed.
A limited-edition piece Bastian had given her, worth seven million dollars.
That amount alone could have solved Annelise’s urgent crisis.
Talia waited a few seconds, but when she didn’t get the reaction she wanted, her smile faded slightly.
“Anyway, Bas said you can go straight up. You know where his office is, right?”
Of course, Annelise knew.
In five years of marriage, she had been to Bastian’s office countless times.
Every time, she had come only to deliver something, set it down, and leave. She had never stayed for more than five minutes.
Bastian didn’t like her being there. He found her an eyesore.
Standing at the office door, Annelise saw Bastian smile the moment he noticed her.
“So you finally came. I’ll give you credit, you actually managed to hold out for this many days before coming to beg me.”
Annelise didn’t respond to his remark. She spoke directly, “Restore the funding to my family. I’ll agree to any condition.”
Bastian stood up and walked toward her step by step, the smile in his eyes deepening.
“If you call off the divorce and continue being Mrs. Ryland, I might consider it.”
Annelise froze for a moment, unable to believe it. “It’s that simple?”
Bastian nodded, waiting for her answer.
Annelise hesitated.
She had endured five years in this marriage until she had lost her child, her dignity, everything.
But Miriam was in the hospital, waiting for money that could save her life. What choice did she have?
She had no other option.
In the end, Annelise closed her eyes and agreed.
When she walked out of the building, there wasn’t a trace of relief in her heart. The gaze from upstairs burned into her, leaving her uneasy.
All she could do was stay by Miriam’s bedside every day, waiting for that life-saving money.
But several days passed, and there was no movement from Bastian.
Annelise couldn’t wait any longer. Just as she decided to call him, the monitor suddenly began to shriek.
Miriam’s condition had taken a sharp turn for the worse.
Doctors rushed in. Annelise was pushed aside, left standing among the crowd, staring at the hospital bed from afar.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before everything suddenly fell silent.
The doctor turned around, removed his mask, and walked toward her. “I’m sorry. We did everything we could.”
Annelise shook her head gently and collapsed by the bedside, crying uncontrollably.
She thought of all those years when Miriam had woken up early every day to make her breakfast, walk her to school, and always stood in front of her to shield her.
Yet she hadn’t even been able to save her.
She sat in the hospital room from night until dawn. Only after her tears had completely dried did she stagger to her feet.
She took a cab to the Ryland Group, bypassed the front desk, and headed straight for Bastian’s office.
“Why?” Annelise grabbed his suit, demanding loudly, “I already withdrew the divorce. Why didn’t you keep your word?”
“Did I ever promise you?” Bastian’s tone was indifferent. “I said I’d consider it. I never said I would definitely do it. Even if I lied to you, what can you do about it?
“Annelise, being played like that doesn’t feel good, does it? And I want to see you suffer.”
Annelise froze.
So Bastian had never intended to give the money. From the very beginning, it had all been a trap.
And she had believed him.
She let out a self-mocking laugh, her whole body trembling as tears streamed freely down her face.
“Annelise,” Bastian said coldly, “if you want to lose your mind, do it at home. Don’t embarrass yourself in my company.”
He pressed the intercom, called in security, and had her thrown out.
Annelise looked at his eyes, his face, this man she had loved for 12 years.
She had once thought it was all just a misunderstanding. She had believed that one day he would see the truth.
On the day Miriam was laid to rest, Annelise finally received an email from Paris.
The orchestra had made an exception and given her another chance.
She had died and come back to life, lost everything, and gained something again.
Fortunately, the money left in her bank account was enough to buy a plane ticket to Paris.