Attracted By My Ex-wife
Chapter 56 Persistent Rivalry

"You don't have to be so polite with me." Sam gazed earnestly towards Anne, the corner of his eyes crinkling.

"I'm just being grateful. You're amongst the very few who care about me." Besides Emily, there wasn't anyone else that worried about her like this.

"I will always care for you..." Sam's heart ached when he noticed how surprised she looked at his response.

He was aware of the mistreatment she had to face, being in the Fu Family. He felt sorry for her since there was nothing he could do to help her.

"Okay..."

She had been pretending to be strong her whole life, but hearing Sam's words made her eyes sting.

She was not unfamiliar to the cold and condescending treatment she had to face on the daily. Despite that she had to face those situations calmly, a word of concern from her friend almost made her tear up. "Anne, It doesn't matter what others think. I will always believe that you are a kind person." She was instantly in a better mood, which only made Sam pity her even more.

Anne had to face so much suffering every day. It made him want to bear some of the pain for her.

"Thank you..." Anne trailed off, unsure of how to respond. "It's getting late, you should head back. I'll go to sleep as well since I feel tired."

She was trying her best to hold back her tears as she rigidly stood in one place, not wanting to give away her weakness.

"Okay. Go to bed early. Call me if you feel uncomfortable."

Then Sam headed back, leaving with the medical kit. Anne watched him walk away, holding her breath.

The moment he was gone, she felt the tough exterior collapse. She kept wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, but her tears would not stop.

After a long and torturous day, she fell asleep quickly. Her face was still flushed as she snuggled into her blanket.

With eyelashes glistening, an aggrieved expression was painted on her pale face, making her look delicate.

The next morning, Anne woke up with her eyes swollen from the previous night.

She stumbled out of bed, limping towards her dressing table. She let out a chuckle when she saw her puffy face in the mirror.

Contrary to the mess she was in, Anne had always thought of herself as strong.

As she staggered back to the bed, she stared down at her sprained ankle. Most of the swelling was gone. 'He is indeed a good doctor!' she thought to herself. "Anne." A voice called out, as her bedroom door slowly opened.

"Emily? Why are you here?" Anne was surprised to see her friend, a hint of joy playing in her eyes.

"Sam told me that you hurt your foot! I came here to have a look. Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

Emily darted her eyes towards Anne's feet, her eyes growing in size as she noticed the reddened ankle.

"It's not as bad as it looks. I'm fine, it's just a sprained ankle." The corners of her mouth turned up when Anne saw the worried expression on Emily's face.

"Anne, you are still pregnant! You can't afford to be this careless!" Emily was now perched up on the edge of her bed, chattering away.

She felt sorry for Anne. She had noticed the silent torment she was enduring on her own. Despite wanting to stand up for her friend, she realized she didn't have the power. She could only watch her friend suffer from afar.

"Well, don't worry. I'll take good care of myself." Anne beamed at her friend, her heart growing soft at her sympathy.

In her heart, she had always viewed Emily as more of a sister than her assistant.

"Have you had breakfast yet? Let me help you downstairs to eat something," Emily asked as she held Anne carefully, leading her outside.

As they stepped downstairs, Kevin and Cherry could be seen sitting at the table. Anne felt revolted at the sight of them feeding each other.

Plastering on a cold face, she walked towards the dining table. She was in no mood to see the two of them, but she couldn't starve for the sake of the baby she was carrying.

"Anne? Why are you downstairs? Does your foot feel better? Does it still hurt?" When Anne showed up, Cherry was quick to come over as if she was concerned.

"I'm much better now, thank you," without sparing a glance, she harshly answered.

Kevin frowned when he noticed Anne's indifference.

"Let me help you sit down. I have asked for tonics to be served to you. I was going to send them up to your room since I wasn't expecting you to come down." Cherry was putting on a fake persona, pretending to care for Anne, but she was rejected coldly.

"Don't bother, cousin. I can walk there myself." Anne gritted her teeth, shaking off Cherry's hold on her hand.

Anne's cold attitude irritated Cherry, but she had to hide her emotions in front of Kevin.

"Anne..." Cherry drawled, glancing at Kevin with a sullen face.

She had managed to tear up, making her look pitiful.

"Anne, what's wrong with you? You should be glad that Cherry is willing to help you. You don't have to be so rude!"

Kevin couldn't help but yell, not being able to see his sweetheart sad.

His eyes were brimming with disgust as he stared at Anne.

If she was not carrying his child, he would have driven her out of his house a long time ago.

Anne eyed Kevin back. She was used to his cruel words. She had heard even worse.

"Kevin, don't say that to Anne! It's my fault..."

Cherry shook her head disapprovingly, as she walked towards him. She seemed to be on Anne's side, but she kept giving Kevin looks as if she was hurt.

"Cherry, you are too kind. Why do you care for someone like her! She can never appreciate a good heart like yours!"

Kevin held Cherry in his arms to comfort her. As he cast cold glances towards Anne, the disgust in his eyes grew more intense.

Although she was riddled with wounds, Anne did not let her indifferent expression falter.

She knew even if she had shown even an ounce of weakness, Kevin wouldn't feel sorry for her. Instead, he would accuse her of playing tricks.

She picked up the chopsticks and started eating quietly. Although the food was tasteless, she forced herself to swallow for her baby.

"Anne, I know you still blame me for Ruth's accident. If thinking that I pushed her will make you happy, then I don't care..."

Cherry looked at Anne pitifully, as if she felt greatly hurt.

Kevin, on the other hand, could not bear to see her suffer any more grievance.

He embraced her, speaking in an affectionate tone.

"Cherry, don't say that again. Do you hear me? What happened to Ruth has nothing to do with you! Why would you take the blame for such a sorry excuse of a woman?" Anne sneered at the couple. 'Her acting is really good!' she angrily thought.

Cherry knew that Kevin would hate her to be wrongly accused, but she still pretended to be anguished in front of him. This way, she could portray Anne to be a heartless woman. 'Cherry is so cunning! What an awful person!' Anne's thoughts spilled out her mouth before she could stop them.

"It's good that you just admitted to pushing Ruth down the stairs!"

Anne felt like she had nothing to lose with these two.

"Anne! Do you have any conscience? Cherry has been willing to do anything to make you happy! How can you even say such things?"

Kevin's eyes burned into Anne's. There was anger in his tone.

He could not believe the vicious accusation this woman was laying on his sweetheart!

"She admitted it herself. Didn't you hear?"

Anne slightly raised her head, her tone still calm.

'Cherry had just said it, on her own free will! Was he deaf?

Or was his love for her making him blind?'

"Kevin, stop! Don't blame her. It was my fault that I impelled her to say such things!"

Tears spilled over her cheeks, as Cherry tightly held onto his arms.

He saw her as kind, someone who would compromise for others all the time. This made him worry about her.

"Cherry, stop saying that. Whoever did it has to be responsible. Since you didn't do it, why admit it?"

Kevin would never allow his woman to be wronged.

Resting her head against Kevin's chest, Cherry peeked at Anne with a complacent look.

Emily stood behind Anne, watching the whole scene unravel. Even though she hated Cherry and thought of her as pretentious, it was not her place to step in.

"Yes, you're right! Whoever did it will be responsible. The person who pushed Ruth will receive their due punishment!"

Anne glared at Cherry. There was no trace of anger in her voice.

Of course, Cherry knew the purpose behind her words. She grew angry, looking back at Anne.

Anne could feel the hostility in Cherry's eyes, but she didn't respond. ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐