I Become A CEO After Divorce
Chapter 842: Maybe It'S Fate

Chapter 842: Maybe it's Fate

Listening to Iris's words, Zane let out a chuckle and reached up to extinguish the cigarette butt in the ashtray. "Maybe it's just fate."

Iris couldn't help but agree with what Zane said. There was no other suitable word to describe such an ending.

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Yanis held Anika's arm and hesitated several times before finally speaking up, "Anika, what are your plans with Iris?"

Upon hearing Yanis's question, Anika stopped walking. "Yanis, I'm a little scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

Anika softly replied, "If it were before, I wouldn't have thought much about our relationship. As long as we liked each other, it would be enough. But now, I'm a bit afraid. He's such an outstanding person. How will others see him when he's with me? I might hold him back, and he'll often have to take care of my emotions and state of mind. Worse yet, I'm not sure under what circumstances I might lose control and embarrass him in public."

Anika's voice was as soft as her inner self-doubt.

Yanis turned around and embraced Anika, pulling her close. "Anika, you have to believe that if he's the person you like, then he must be outstanding. But you're also amazing. You're just temporarily ill, and you'll gradually get better. You'll become great too. And what kind of person is Iris? Don't you have any judgment in your heart?"

Anika lowered her head, resting her forehead on Yanis's shoulder. "Iris is fine, but what about his family? What will his parents think? No one would willingly let their outstanding son marry someone with mental and emotional issues."

"That's just your own thoughts," Yanis said softly. "Iris has always lived with Mr. Duncan. Although marriage is a matter that usually involves parents, as long as Iris doesn't mind and the Old Mr. Duncan approves, your relationship is set in stone."

"But what about his parents?"

Yanis didn't want to make any promises on this matter. "Anika, you just need to trust your own judgment and believe in Iris. He will handle and resolve any other issues that arise."

After speaking, Yanis raised her hand and lightly patted Anika's back. "Don't think too much about negative things. Many things can turn out to be beautiful."

Anika nodded. "I understand."

Afterward, Anika straightened up and said, "By the way, I heard from Iris that Neve came to see you after she came out. Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me anything?" Yanis spoke softly, "It's nothing, I'm fine."

"As long as you're okay."

Anika didn't ask a single question about Neve's death, and Yanis naturally didn't bring it up either.

As the two were chatting, they heard footsteps approaching from behind. Yanis turned her head first and saw Iris coming over. She greeted him proactively, "Looking for Anika?"

Zane nodded in response. "Dr. Wood said he goes over every afternoon to have a conversation with Anika."

Yanis hadn't expected Iris to go to such lengths. She used to think that Iris's actions were driven by a sense of guilt towards Anika, but not everything can be sustained by guilt alone. It takes certain intentions to persist.

Now it seems that Iris truly cares about Anika.

When the two of them arrived at the Lawrence's Mansion, Sophia was just about to go out to buy groceries.

"Mr. Lawrence, Mrs. Lawrence," Sophia bowed and opened the door, then turned to look at the two of them. "The Old Mrs. Lawrence said she would call you and ask you to come over after work."

Yanis responded, "We finished our work today, and Zane mentioned that Anika is coming back, so we came to visit."

Sophia smiled and said, "Miss Lawrence is inside, keeping the Old Mrs. Lawrence company. She seems to be in good spirits."

Sophia also felt a deep sense of compassion for Anika and genuinely rejoiced in her recovery.

"Mrs. Lawrence, look who's here." Sophia led the two of them inside and called out.

Upon hearing Sophia's words, the Old Mrs. Lawrence raised her eyes and smiled when she saw Yanis and Zane. "It seems like I'm not as important to you as Anika. I heard that you came as soon as Anika returned, but we called you to come back, and you were reluctant to come for this and that."

As Yanis listened to the Old Mrs. Lawrence's words, she approached and sat down next to her. "Grandma, it's not that we don't value you. We were genuinely busy with some things these past few days, but we'll definitely come back to spend time with you and Grandfather more often."

Actually, Yanis used to come to the Lawrence's Mansion with Zane voluntarily to spend time with the elderly couple. However, since they started trying to conceive and with no progress for such a long time, Yanis now feels a burden when it comes to visiting. She even anxiously hopes to conceive soon, so as not to disappoint the elderly couple.

But being anxious about getting pregnant won't help; it can only happen naturally.

When the time is right, it will happen.

Forcing fate won't do any good.

Having pleased the Old Mrs. Lawrence, Yanis turned to Anika. "Anika," she said.

Anika smiled at Yanis and replied, "Yanis, Grandma is jealous. Why don't you and my brother move back to live here?"

Yanis glanced at Zane's face instinctively upon hearing Anika's words.

Zane responded, "Once you're well and recovered, you can come back home to live. Your sister-in-law and I will come to stay for a while frequently."

Anika looked at Zane and said, "Brother, you know about my condition. I don't know when I'll get better."

"It will get better," Yanis said. "Once you're well, you can stay here, and the house in Linen Bay can remain vacant."

Anika hesitated for a few seconds before nodding, "Okay, I'll cooperate with Dr. Wood's treatment."

In fact, Anika's condition had stabilized to some extent now, but given the special circumstances, there was still a concern about relapse. That's why Dr. Wood suggested waiting for another six months to fully stabilize before making any decisions.

Since Anika was returning, the Old Mrs. Lawrence asked Zane to call Iris and invite her to dinner as well.

In the evening, Yanis and Zane stayed at the Lawrence's Mansion, and at the request of the Old Mrs. Lawrence, even Iris stayed too.

After dinner, Yanis and Anika went for a walk in the front yard. The Old Mrs. Lawrence and the Old Mr. Lawrence invited a few elderly neighbors to join them for a walk, leaving Zane and Iris at home.

"Never thought I'd be living under the same roof with you one day," Iris said, glancing at Zane.

Zane looked up and met Iris's gaze. "What? Living under the same roof with me bothering you?" Iris raised an eyebrow at Zane's words. "I never realized you could be so unlikeable when you speak." Zane chuckled and handed her a cigarette. "Well, Mr. Duncan hasn't seen the less likeable side of me yet." Iris took the cigarette from Zane and lit it herself. "Can you be even more unlikeable?"

Zane took a drag from his own cigarette before speaking. "So, both you and Ivan have to call me 'bro' now?"

Upon hearing Zane's words, Iris stared at him for a while. "Wait, Ivan is with your sister? How many sisters do you have?"

"Three."

"It's only Anika and Phoebe, right?"

Zane didn't explain any further. "Phoebe and Ivan's relationship hasn't progressed that far yet. For now, he calls me 'brother-in-law,' but in the future, it'll be 'brother' regardless."

Iris couldn't get past Zane's words for a while. After a long silence, she finally digested the news. "So... Ivan and Yanis are half-siblings?"

Zane nodded.

Iris finished her cigarette in a few puffs. "I really... don't know what to say."

Extinguishing the cigarette in the ashtray, Iris looked at Zane. "This is quite a turn of events. You've become the winner in life, huh?"

"It's not that big of a deal."

Iris let out a deep breath. "That's why... you're really not likeable at all."

After saying that, Iris looked at Zane and continued, "Ivan and I are quite fated, aren't we? We both had feelings for Yanis before, but neither of us could be the one standing by her side. And now we have to call you brother and sister-in-law? They wouldn't even dare to portray this kind of drama on TV, right?"

Iris nodded and handed Anika a glass of water, then passed her the medicine. "Take the medicine first," she said.

Anika responded with an "Mm-hmm" and took the medicine from Iris. Then she looked at Iris and asked, "Did you tell the Old Mr. Duncan that you won't be going back tonight?"

"He knows," Iris replied. "Drink some more water."

Anika decided to finish the water in the cup.

"Give me the cup, I'll take it inside. You two can talk," Yanis said, reaching out to take the cup from Anika's hand.

Iris looked at Yanis and said, "Congratulations."

Yanis was taken aback by Iris's congratulations. "Congratulations? For what?"

Iris lowered her voice and said, "Mr. Lawrence just showed off that he's a winner in life. So, congratulations on gaining a little brother."

Upon hearing this, Yanis quickly understood. "How did he become a winner in life?"

Iris said, "Turning two former rivals into his brothers-in-law, isn't that being a winner in life?"

Yanis chuckled at Iris's words. "Seems like he's a winner in life."

"You go inside, I'll take Anika for a walk around here," Iris said softly.

Yanis nodded and turned away.

Yanis took a few steps and stopped, turning to look in the direction where the two had left.

If Iris and Anika ended up together, it would be a good thing.

Iris was not the kind of person who shied away from responsibility. Entrusting Anika to Iris was probably the best choice.

"What are you looking at?"

Yanis was lost in thought when she heard Zane's voice from behind.

Yanis shifted her gaze back to Zane and replied, "I was thinking that Anika and Iris make a good match."

After hearing Yanis's words, Zane glanced in the direction where Iris and Anika had gone and said, "He's a good choice."

It was rare for Yanis to hear Zane praise someone. When she heard his words, she reached out and linked her arm with Zane's, saying, "Ivan is also good, and so is Iris."

"Hmm?"

Yanis smiled and continued, "What I mean is that the people who like me are all good people."

Zane squinted his eyes, and although he didn't say anything, Yanis knew what he was thinking.

But he didn't say anything more.

"Yanis."

"Yeah?"

"Did you finish what you were saying?"

Yanis said, "The people who like me are all good people, but Mr. Lawrence is the most special and the best."

After Yanis's words, Zane reached up and held Yanis's chin, lowering his head to kiss her.

Yanis was slightly stunned and quickly pushed him away. "Someone might see us."

Zane's eyes were filled with emotions, but he said, "There's no one at home."

"Sophia is still home," Yanis replied.

"She's busy in the backyard with her plants. She won't come out for a while," Zane said, then he lowered his head and kissed her again.

This time it was even more intense than before, and Yanis couldn't resist it.

Luckily, Zane had some restraint and let her go when she started to lose her balance.

Yanis's face was flushed. "I... I'll go inside first."

After saying that, Yanis turned and walked towards the house, but because she turned too quickly, she stumbled.

Fortunately, Zane was quick to react and reached out to catch her. "Take it slow."

"It's all your fault!"

Yanis's legs were a bit weak from the earlier kiss. If Zane hadn't been holding her waist, she would have fallen.

Zane looked at her flushed face, chuckled softly, and reached out to hold Yanis's hand, leading her inside. "Yes, it's all my fault, my mistake." Actually, Zane had let go of Yanis earlier because he saw the Old Mr. Lawrence and the Old Mrs. Lawrence entering through the front gate. He was afraid that Yanis would feel embarrassed and ignore him, so he let her go.

As Zane and Yanis walked inside, the Old Mrs. Lawrence exclaimed, "It seems like the time to cuddle our great-grandchild is not far away."

The Old Mr. Lawrence nodded in agreement. "I think so too."

Zane and Yanis went upstairs. While Zane helped Yanis prepare the bathwater, he thought about what Albi had mentioned earlier. He walked to the bathroom door, looked at Yanis, who was searching for clothes in the closet, and asked in a low voice, "Did you meet Adam at Banyan Garden today?"