Attracted By My Ex-wife
Chapter 232 Shackles and Conditions

Kevin took his time to answer. He remained silent as he fiddled with the elegant lighter, rhythmically flicking the metal lid open and close. Small flames came alive only to die as soon as they had flared. As the silence stretched on, Ryan grew more anxious. The small sips of wine that he had taken gradually turned into gulps until there was not a drop left in his glass.

An enigmatic smile curled on Kevin's lips, which only fueled Ryan's growing unease.

"I didn't expect you to take your alcohol strong, Mr. Ryan. Let me refill your glass."

At his words, the waiter attending them poured more of the crimson liquid into Ryan's empty glass. The wine flowed red and thick, following the smooth curves of the goblet.

Anger brewed inside Ryan alongside his discomfort. It was obvious that Kevin was plying him with alcohol, but what was even more irritating was that he was too weak and powerless against the other man to refuse. He let his thoughts drift towards Anne.

Today was the day she would answer him. He mulled over what her decision could be.

As his mind swirled with alcohol and these preoccupations, Ryan excused himself, "Mr. Kevin, I need to go to the restroom."

Inside the restroom, the light burned almost menacingly to his alcohol-addled senses. Ryan had almost flinched at his own reflection as he saw himself against the mirror. His face was flushed, and bloodshot eyes stared back at him as he gripped at the sink in an iron hold.

He splashed cold water on his face and breathed deeply. Soon enough, he was able to regain his composure. Taking out his phone from his pocket, he dialed Anne's number.

If he could just get the shares from her, there would be no need for him to play puppet to Kevin's little games.

The phone rang, but there was no answer. After a few beeps, the call dropped automatically.

"Anne, you little..." Ryan wanted nothing more at that moment than to spew out curses and throw his phone until it smashed into useless pieces of metal, but he bit his tongue and stopped himself. Once again, he walked towards the room where Kevin was.

Cool air blew inside the room. Kevin's tall, business-suit clad figure gave off a detached and forbidding aura.

Anne's phone was in his hand.

The screen showed Ryan's name. Kevin was furious, his hand gripping the cold metal as it rang. He narrowed his eyes at the screen and let the call end. Then, he placed it on the table.

It was only a few seconds later when Anne's phone lit up once again with a message. "Anne, have you made up your mind? As long as you cooperate, I will help you."

At this, Kevin's rage rose to a dangerous height. His jaw clenched as he stared at the message, barely suppressing the urge to rush straight to Ryan and silence him forever.

Anne was too naive. She didn't know when to doubt people, as if suspicion was a foreign and incomprehensible concept to her. Everyone was her friend. And yet, this same woman was so cold to him.

"My apologies, Mr. Kevin. It seems that I am not feeling too well. I hope you excuse my rudeness." Ryan gave him an elegant smile-one that would perfectly cover his true intentions, but Kevin didn't need to dig too deep to replace the real face buried in the facade.

"Since you are feeling unwell, you should rest first. We can talk about business after you recover." With these words, Kevin stood up and walked to the door, leaving Ryan and his deceptively unfaltering smile behind.

His face changed like quicksilver the moment Kevin was out the door. "Bastard, you've gone too far this time," Ryan hissed, his hand slamming down on the table heavily. The wood complained from the impact, and Ryan stewed in his own frustration. He wanted to throw a fit, but he understood his position all too well. He could destroy and trash the room all he wanted, but nothing would change the fact that Kevin had more power than him. There was a bitter taste left on his tongue, and it was not from the alcohol.

It was early evening at lan's house.

The lights were on, but the room almost seemed deserted save for the lone figure slumped on the sofa with a thoughtful expression on his face. According to the people in the hotel, Anne went to the Fu Family's residence with Kevin, but lan didn't know whether he should go there or not.

He couldn't get in touch with Anne either, which could only mean one thing.

She was trapped.

But she had gone there willingly. Otherwise, Kevin wouldn't have had the chance to take her away.

These conflicting thoughts twisted into knots in lan's head, and he grew increasingly frustrated. He didn't have much to work with to form a solid plan. Eventually, he decided to wait. If he still couldn't get in touch with Anne tomorrow, he would face Kevin straight.

It might unhinge Anne's own plan, but that was a minor concern. His foremost priority was her safety. Everything else was insignificant in comparison.

That night, a thick curtain of silence shrouded the East Mountain Villa.

The pale moon hung quietly in the sky. Neon lights flashed in the distance, and the road lamps glowed weakly on the desolate roads.

A Rolls-Royce stopped at the gates. After a few moments, the doors opened and Kevin drove in.

Anne caught the telltale scent of alcohol on him as he entered the house. With yesterday's events still fresh in her memory, she chose to avoid him. But obviously, Kevin would have none of it.

"Anne, don't you want to see the baby?" he sneered, his breath reeking of intoxication.

At this, Anne stopped and asked, "Where is he?"

"If you want to know, all you have to do is tell me what happened between you and Ryan," Kevin said, forcefully raising Anne's chin.

He gazed at her with a chill that sent a shudder through her bones. Anne's heart sank at his words. She already had an inkling of what his words meant. "Kevin, give me back my phone," Anne said, stretching out her hand to take it.

She knew that Kevin habitually put things in his left pocket.

However, before she could reach her phone, Kevin had grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. "What? Are you angry because I saw through your dirty little tricks?" Kevin was smiling at her, but it was full of mockery. His breath fanned over her skin from their proximity. Anne took a deep breath and pushed him away.

"Kevin, don't you think there are more important things you should be asking me? Like why I got engaged to lan."

Kevin froze for a moment at her words, then grew even more furious.

So she had learned to bite back. It came as such a shock that the sweet, naive Anne also could also spit venom. He was caught off guard and didn't know how to refute. What more weapons were she hiding in such a small body? he wondered.

"It doesn't matter. No matter who it is you have a relationship with, it makes no difference in the end. Why don't we make a deal, Anne?" Kevin said.

"Is there still anything to say between us?" Anne answered back.

Kevin had almost chuckled. There it was again. She was baiting him into battle. There was no way he wouldn't engage. "Of course there is. Plenty of things, I might add. After all, it's for the baby," Kevin said, watching Anne's face as if reading every shift in her expression.

Anne knew all too well what he was doing. Kevin was a shrewd businessman, and he knew her weakness. She forced herself to maintain a cool facade. "Tell me your conditions," she said.

"I will let you see Eddy every day if that's what you want, but you have to give me your word that you won't take the child away. Otherwise, I guarantee you that you won't be stepping out of this villa ever again,' Kevin laid out his demands as he looked straight into Anne's eyes and waited for her answer.

"Sure."

"That's not all. From now on, you won't have any contact with other men. Do we have a deal?" he asked.

"That's going too far. I can be with anyone I want, and you have no control over my personal relationships," Anne argued. This was not a deal. It was plain coercion.

"Well then, I guess you will never see your child again." With these words, Kevin turned around. If he stayed here any longer, there was no telling what his fury would do. There was nothing else to say. "Wait a minute."

Kevin paused his steps but did not look back. He stood straight and waited. He knew that this was where she would relent.

"Alright. But there are things I need to take care of first. I need time to sort out my own affairs," she said.

"Don't push it too far," Kevin answered then left the living room, taking the scent of alcohol with him.

When he was gone, Anne breathed a sigh of relief, but the respite was only momentary. The next second, a heavy feeling sank in her chest. How could she explain to lan what Kevin had demanded? True to his word, Kevin returned Anne's phone back to her two hours later.

She checked her messages and saw the ones from lan and Ryan.

She sent lan a message to meet.

Then, she dialed Ryan's number. The moment he picked up, a cold smile came to Anne's lips.

"Anne, have you made up your mind?" Ryan asked, his voice expectant.

"Don't you know that I'm engaged to lan?" Anne had already seen through Ryan. He was a vile and despicable man.

"What? You're engaged to lan? Well, well... Aren't you quite a crafty woman? Even Kevin wouldn't dare become his enemy. No wonder you refused me. It turns out that you have already found someone else to use. How did you do it? Did you convince him in bed?"

Ryan sneered. However, his mockery meant nothing to Anne. She was not unfazed in the slightest at his vulgarity.

"It was a good thing that I didn't agree to work with you," she said. With that, she hung up the call.

In Greenlight Forest.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon.

There was dessert in front of Anne, but the sight of it did nothing to coax her appetite. She was in no mood to eat. She just sat quietly and waited for lan.

lan was the sort of man to always be on the dot. Seeing that Anne was fine, he gave her a relieved smile and held her hand. "I'm glad you're alright," he said.

Even the warmth of his smile could not hide the dark circles under his eyes, nor the slight pallor in his complexion. With just one look, Anne knew that he had been up all night. At once, guilt settled unpleasantly in her gut.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," she said, lowering her head.

"It doesn't matter. What's important is you're here now. The wedding will be on March, just in time for spring. No matter what, I will make you the most beautiful bride in spring." Honeyed words did not come easily to lan. He was not one for flowery words, but it was as if they flowed out naturally in front of this woman. He was speaking in a language he did not know he possessed and he meant every word he said. "Don't say that, lan." Anne smiled.

She looked at the man in front of her, who was aloof and distanced from everyone. Right here and now, there was no trace of coldness in him. His eyes were tender, and he revealed himself to her like the clea waters of a quiet spring.

But all of these only twisted painfully as her guilt spread in her chest. If it weren't for Kevin, she was sure she would have fallen in love with lan. Even now when she knew that she could not give him her heart, she had almost wanted to.

There were conflicting feelings in her that she had not yet untangled.

Sometimes, in front of lan, she would forget that she was alone. He was like a sturdy tree that promised shelter from the heat and rain.

"Okay." lan gazed at her, and although his eyes had remained tender, they held a weight that was not there before. He seemed to have understood something, but there was no sorrow or joy in his expression, just a quiet and calm acceptance, almost as if it was surrender.

"Let's meet in a few days, okay?" All of a sudden, Anne lowered her head. Her eyes trembled and she let her long hair covered them.

"Alright. I have an important business meeting in the United States. When I come back, let's talk again." Without asking anything, lan agreed to Anne's unreasonable request.

Even now, he was giving without demanding anything else.

Anne had to fight from breathing deeply from the twinge in her chest. "Well, it's getting late. Don't worry about me. I'll take good care of myself. I'll see you again soon. Good luck on your business deal," Anne said.

"Okay." lan stood up and walked away. Anne couldn't see his expression, but she could see his face when she closed her eyes.

She wished she didn't.

Anne watched him until any trace of him was completely gone. A stray tear fell from her eye as her gaze lingered on the road. He had given her nothing but goodness, but she had returned it with only pain. If she could, she would have willed her heart to turn to him, but she knew that it would not be fair to ask him to keep waiting for something as unsure as her feelings. He deserved something much more than uncertainty, and it was not something her shackled heart could give. It was sad that she could not completely forget Kevin and start everything over.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐