Chapter 7 Afraid of Getting AIDS

Anna’s inbox overflowed with missed calls and messages from Bryan.

She felt a sharp sting in her heart the moment she saw his name.

[Anna, where are you? I can’t find you anywhere. I’m losing my mind.]

[Anna, please call me back when you see this…]

[Anna, I’m so worried about you. I’ve been looking for you all night. Where are you?]

Anna, Anna, Anna…

These ‘caring’ messages disgusted her to no end.

Just then, a call from Bryan came in again. In a moment of panic, Anna declined the call, switched off her phone, and tossed it away.

Soon after, Jamie found his spare keys and rushed back into the room. When he saw Anna sitting silently on the sofa, he could finally let out a sigh of relief.

He was genuinely worried that after taking two heavy blows in a night, Anna would do something stupid.

Rays of light penetrated the window and shone onto Anna’s fair face, making her skin appear even paler. Even the veins beneath her skin could be seen.

Her long and curly lashes cast beautiful shadows beneath her eyes. She sat on the sofa, lost in thoughts.

Jamie strolled toward her and kneeled down in front of her. His heart ached when he saw the faint blue and purple markings hidden beneath her shirt collar.

In a tender voice, he consoled, “My dear, don’t be sad, okay? You still have me.”

Putting on a playful smile, Jamie took her frigid hands and joked, “You know, we can look at this from a different angle too. It’s not him that bedded you, it’s you that bedded him! Take it as revenge toward that cheating fiance of yours! You should be happy about this, shouldn’t you?”

Anna finally snapped out of her trance. Her gaze shifted onto Jamie’s face that sort of resembled the devil.

Calmly, she said, “I’m afraid of getting AIDS!”

“...”

Jamie was utterly speechless.

Anna grabbed her phone and bag and marched toward the door.

Jamie hurriedly followed behind. “Where are you going, dear?”

Anna stopped in her steps. Her beautiful eyes turned cold. Her lips parted gently, forming only a single word.

“Home.”

Anna had reached home.

The moment she walked through the door, her stepmother, Nicole Baine, rushed to the door and brought Anna her slippers as if she were a maid. Nicole caringly inquired about Anna’s whereabouts the night before.

“Anna, you’re back! Why didn’t you come home last night? You had me worried sick! I couldn’t sleep a wink last night.

“Anna, why do you look so pale? Are you ill?”

Anna did not reply, nor did she change into the slippers Nicole brought her. She went straight into the house, brushing past Nicole.

Nicole ran after her. “Anna, I’ve made you some soup. It’s being heated up in the kitchen. Would you like a bowl?”

Anna climbed up the stairs silently.

She could hear Nicole’s low grumbling from behind. “Tsk, I guess this is the faith of a stepmother. I’m already so old, yet I have to chase this spoiled princess every day and she can’t even show me a smile.”

Anna secretly clenched her fists to hold back the sorrow that filled her heart.

Judging from Nicole’s amiable act toward her, Anna knew that her father was home.

As expected, her father, Daniel Hamilton, came out of the study room and stood at the top of the stairs. His expression was dark. “Anna, where were you last night? Why are you only home now!”

Anna answered softly, “I stayed at Jamie’s last night.”

Annoyed, Daniel scolded, “How many times have I told you not to mingle with that faggot! If news about this gets out, it’ll ruin your name as the eldest daughter of the Hamilton family!”

Anna raised her head. The pair of eyes hidden beneath her black-rimmed glasses were cold and determined. “He’s my best friend!”

Daniel was taken aback. Anna had always been an obedient child—although he knew she was secretly keeping in touch with Jamie, she had never directly talked back to him before!

Daniel wondered what was up with her that day.

He tried his best to keep his composure and spoke earnestly, “I am doing this for your own good! You are graduating soon and will be joining the Lincoln Group, taking over certain aspects of the family business. If any scandals about you break out, it’ll ruin your image in the eyes of our senior shareholders!”

Anna, too, suppressed her emotions. She answered calmly and went to her room.

“Understood.”

Just then, Chloe appeared in front of her out of nowhere. She greeted Anna with much enthusiasm.

“Anna, you’re back!”

Anna felt her chest tighten.

She slowly lifted her head to be met with Chloe’s beautiful face, which was complemented with exquisite makeup. Her bright eyes curved gorgeously as she smiled.

When Anna saw the mini black lace dress Chloe was wearing, the stinging pain in her heart returned again.

Subconsciously, she clenched her fist to the point where her nails dug deep into her flesh.

She would never forget the black lace dress left on Bryan’s staircase the night she barged into his mansion—she was sure that it was the same dress Chloe was wearing right then. Similarly, she would never forget the deceitful words Chloe uttered while lying beneath Bryan’s body: ‘This isn’t fair for my sister.’

Chloe tilted her head, still smiling at Anna. “Anna, what are you thinking about? Your eyes are turning red.”

In truth, Chloe was stunning. Moreover, she knew how to doll herself up. When the two sisters stood side by side, everyone was sure to notice the fabulous Chloe Hamilton first, as opposed to Anna, who only wore white shirts and jeans, paired with her black-rimmed glasses. Compared to Chloe, Anna was truly a dull and boring woman.

As a child, Anna loved to wear dresses and makeup, but Nicole never allowed her to.

According to Nicole, Anna must act like a calm and responsible woman from a young age as she needed to take over her birth mother’s position in Lincoln Group. She needed to maintain this reserved personality so that the shareholders of the family business would accept her as their young leader.

At that moment, Anna had realized that everything Nicole said was utter bullsh*t!

Anna had always known Nicole’s ultimate goal. Her younger sister, Chloe, was not her sister by blood. Daniel was not her biological father, yet she was fortunate enough to take on the Hamilton family name. Nicole needed Chloe to have this name in order to find a good husband for her in the future.

What Anna had not anticipated was that her stepmother would choose Bryan Dawson as her target.

That was her fiance!

They were family, yet Nicole still had the heart to do this to her!

Anna also did not expect her kind and affectionate fiance, Bryan, would turn out to be a two-faced bastard.

“Anna, what are you thinking about? Where were you last night? Bryan was looking all over for you. He even came to our house a few times.”

Her cold eyes were fixed on the fake expression of concern on Chloe’s face.

A hint of uneasiness appeared in Chloe’s eyes, but not a second later, she put on a bright smile again, like an adorable little angel.

“Bryan brought you another bouquet of ninety-nine roses. I’ve already brought it to your room and put it in a vase as you usually do.

“Bryan must really really love you! Every day, he would bring you roses without fail.

“I’m so jealous! I hope that one day, I’ll have someone that loves me just as much as Bryan loves you!”

Anna’s gaze was as cold as ice. Step by step, she approached Chloe…