Mag-log inShare
Chapter 123
Kaugnay na kabanata
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 124
Natalie was the one who'd saved Gregory from drowning?No wonder Gregory was so in love with her.But still, a complicated emotion flickered in Anathea's eyes."Anathea?" someone called, her voice familiar.Anathea looked up to see Natalie sitting in a wheelchair, smirking at her. The nurses nearby all scattered the moment they saw Natalie approach, as if someone had hit the panic button.Anathea looked at Natalie. When she was about to speak, Natalie said, "Let's talk inside."Anathea followed her into the consultation room. As soon as they walked in, the doctor brought out a case and opened it to show Natalie. "Ms. Whitman, this is the medicine Mr. Sinclair arranged for you. It's the last one in the whole hospital.""Did you hear that?" Natalie glanced at Anathea with a soft smile. "He got this just for me. I mean, technically I don't need something this strong for recovery, but the moment I mentioned it, he made sure I got it."Her tone was full of smug satisfaction. It
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 125
Facing Natalie's arrogant stare, Anathea felt as if her legs were bolted to the floor. Her nails dug into her palms so hard they drew blood.People outside the room started craning their necks to watch, clearly expecting drama."What's wrong? You don't want to do it?" Natalie asked with an air of total ease, giving a lazy shrug. "That's fine. I don't like forcing people, anyway. But if you won't kneel, then forget about the medicine."Natalie shut the case and slid it back to the doctor. "I want the injection now.""Understood. I'll get the nurse to prepare it right away." The doctor nodded and was just about to leave with the case.As he reached the door, Anathea shouted in panic, "Wait!"But the doctor didn't stop. He acted as if he didn't hear her. Seeing that he was about to walk off with the medicine, Anathea couldn't take it anymore. "I'll do it! I'll kneel!""Hold on," Natalie said casually, and the doctor immediately paused mid-step.Natalie had total control, and she l
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 126
Anathea hit the floor hard, pain radiating through her body, especially her lower abdomen. But nothing compared to the rage burning inside her.She glared at Natalie, her eyes red. She looked as though she'd just crawled out of hell.For a second, Natalie was caught off guard by the intensity in Anathea's expression, but she quickly snapped out of it and chuckled."Staring at me as if you want to eat me alive isn't going to help you."She looked down at Anathea's trembling hand bracing against the floor. Then, with a flash of cruelty in her eyes, she raised her foot, stomping on Anathea's hand."Ah!" Anathea winced, her face going pale.But Natalie didn't stop. She pressed harder, grinding her heel into Anathea's hand until the skin tore and blood started to seep out. Bits of grit and glass ground into the open wound.Anathea nearly passed out from the pain.Natalie smirked, clearly still not satisfied. She leaned in close, her voice low and venomous. "Tell you what, Greg actua
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 127
Everyone saw the bloodied shard of glass hit the floor and gasped in unison.Natalie had fallen and was twisting on the ground in pain.Anathea was hurting too. When Natalie had tackled her, it had triggered a sharp, searing pain in her abdomen."Ah…" She clutched her stomach, nearly passing out from the agony. She could feel a warm flow pooling inside her body.The bodyguards nearby hesitated when they realized Natalie's target was Anathea. They exchanged uncertain glances. They knew Anathea was Gregory's wife.But after Gregory had left, Eleanor had instructed them to escort Natalie to her follow-up appointment. With everything going down like this, none of them knew what the right move was anymore."What are you standing around for?" Natalie roared, struggling to her feet and pointing at Anathea. "Get her! Now!"Suddenly, she felt a sharp sting on her face. "Ugh…"She froze, catching the strange looks people were giving her. A bad feeling crept up her spine. She slowly reach
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 128
Gregory, in particular, had changed drastically. He was no longer the polite, easygoing guy he used to be. Now, he was the decisive and sharp-edged CEO of Sinclair Group.So much had changed. Nothing was the same anymore."I'm sorry. We should've made sure Adam was buried right along with you," Theo muttered bitterly, his hand brushing over the photo on the gravestone."Adam doesn't deserve that. If he's going anywhere, it's straight to hell. There's no way he'd ever be allowed to meet them," uttered Gregory coldly."But I can't accept that!" Theo snapped, eyes bloodshot as he turned to Gregory. "He should've paid for what he did with his life!"He still hadn't gotten over Gregory letting Adam off the hook—not even in the slightest. And deep down, Theo didn't believe that someone as cold and unflinching as Gregory would've let Adam go just because Anathea had asked him to.Besides, rumor had it Gregory had met with Adam right before the latter had been sentenced. No one knew wh
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 129
A crowd had gathered outside the ward, buzzing with curiosity as they peeked in. A few who didn't know what was going on started asking questions."You don't know about it? Two women started fighting right in the orthopedic wing! It got really intense, and there was even blood!""And I heard one of them was the wife of the CEO of Sinclair Group. The CEO's mother even showed up at the hospital herself and called in a specialist for emergency treatment.""For real? Is it that serious? Whoever hurt her is done for, then.""Of course. The cops are already here. I doubt she's walking away from this."Everyone started chiming in, each adding their version of the story."Seriously? Risking your whole future for some medicine is dumb.""Where did you hear that? I heard they were fighting over a guy. Didn't you catch what they were arguing about? That was no fight over medicine—they were fighting over a man!"As the gossip spread, the truth got more and more twisted."Plus, wasn't the
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 130
Raindrops on the window started out as faint streaks, then merged into steady streams, finally forming a full-on curtain of water.Gregory stared out at the rain, which was only getting heavier. His brows drew together slightly. For some reason, a strange feeling crept into his chest. He felt as though something was missing."Greg? What are you zoning out about?" Adrian rolled up next to him in his wheelchair, curious.Gregory snapped back to the moment. "It's nothing.""Well then, come have a drink already!" Theo waved him over, topping off Dominic's glass while he was at it. ''It's Romanee-Conti. You fine with that?''"Yeah." Dominic nodded, then glanced toward Gregory."By the way, I heard you're planning to develop a new project in Syntherra. Any chance you'd be interested in partnering with Lancaster Group?"Gregory's eyes flickered knowingly.So, it wasn't a coincidence that they'd met up at the cemetery. Dominic had planned it all out, showing up just in time to cross pa
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 131
They'd been married for five years. During the first year, Anathea used to call Gregory like clockwork, always asking if he would be coming home for dinner.But Gregory would either answer with a cold "yes" or "no," or he would just ignore the calls. Eventually, Anathea had stopped calling.He tried to remember the last time she'd actually done it—when she'd gone to Sinclair Group and begged him to let Eden Studio go. Other than that, she hadn't reached out again. There were no more gentle questions about dinner. Nothing.Staring at her missed call, Gregory rubbed his temples and called her back.It rang for nearly a full minute, but there was no answer. He frowned and tried again, getting the same result. So, he called Martin instead.Martin picked up instantly. "Mr. Sinclair! Finally! I've been trying to reach you!"He sounded panicked."What's going on?" Gregory asked."This morning, Mrs. Sinclair and Ms. Whitman got into a fight at the hospital. Things got pretty serious."
Pinakabagong kabanata
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 172
Even as her heart pounded wildly under her ribcage, Natalie maintained her poise and elegant demeanor, looking like a beautiful princess at the top of the castle waiting for her prince to come.When Gregory was less than a foot away, she silently gulped. She put on her most dazzling smile and extended her right hand toward him.At that moment, the world around them quieted. The lights and the audience's unwavering gaze were on them. As everyone beheld the scene on the red carpet, shock colored their faces.Someone exclaimed, "So the bigwig who'd spent millions on Ms. Whitman is Mr. Sinclair, the CEO of Sinclair Group?""No wonder! I've heard that Mr. Sinclair and Ms. Whitman are more than just platonic acquaintances! So she's the future Mrs. Sinclair! Looks like the rumors are true, then. I bet Mr. Sinclair wants to use this opportunity to announce his engagement with Ms. Whitman officially!""Indeed! Mr. Sinclair is the finest example of a rich and adoring husband in all of Caste
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 171
Hannah carefully observed Anathea's expression and found it neutral. It was as if Anathea couldn't care less about what she'd seen on television. Only then did Hannah heave a sigh of relief and let loose a torrent of abuse. "To think that no-good Gregory would bring that hussy to a huge social event so soon after your divorce!"Hannah didn't remember seeing Gregory bring Anathea to any social event. He couldn't have made his double standards any more obvious.In stark contrast to Hannah's outrage, Anathea remained expressionless. She and Gregory were divorced, and he could bring whoever he wanted to to any party. It had nothing to do with Anathea anyway, and she saw no point in dwelling on the past."Gregory?" Chloe was curious about the man Hannah was cursing. "Mommy, who's Gregory?""This guy right here," Hannah said, clenching her jaw as she pointed at the man appearing on camera. "He might look like a decent fella, but he's nothing but a despicable, no-good prick!""Oh, so t
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 170
And yet, the lights that illuminated Presgrave Manor were as bright as day.Macon and Dayanna Presgrave had weathered the odds together for decades and were celebrating their 30th anniversary. Theirs was an arranged marriage between two equally powerful families that had made the Presgraves one of the most prestigious households in Castenea.As such, the dinner party thrown in their honor saw the attendance of many important folks from Castenea. Even the press had been invited to broadcast and photograph the event. With all the major media outlets promoting the luxurious affair, the party quickly became the most anticipated event of that evening.Everything about the party stirred up unprecedented buzz. It was even being broadcast live on television.Anathea was greeted by the live broadcast of the dinner party at Presgrave Manor the moment she clicked on the remote and turned on the television. She also caught the dashing figure in a black suit that appeared on camera for only
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 169
Dominic was well aware that by "someone", Gregory meant Anathea. However, he kept his expression neutral as he met Gregory's gaze, revealing nothing. "Mr. Sinclair, surely you jest. I wouldn't dare hide anyone from you, let alone someone who means something to you."Gregory's lips pressed into a grim line as he stared at Dominic wordlessly. He didn't believe Dominic. With Gregory's forces and the way they worked, it wouldn't take more than two days for him to hear about Anathea as long as she was in Syntherra.However, four days had passed, and there had been no news of her. Gregory doubted anyone other than Dominic could keep Anathea's whereabouts hidden.But Dominic didn't look the slightest bit rattled. "If you've lost someone, Mr. Sinclair, all you have to do is tell me who it is and I'll have my men search for them as well.""As if you'd do that." Gregory scoffed, looking away.A tense silence spread between the two men. Just as Dominic thought Gregory wouldn't say anythi
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 168
"Sweetheart, you're not old." Dominic pinched Hannah's delicate cheek. "You're only 27 and in your prime!""Is this how you treat them as well?" Hannah countered, her tone devoid of emotion.Dominic paused. "'Them'?""Do you call the other women 'sweetheart' if they please you too?" Hannah didn't ask this aloud, not that she planned to, lest she embarrass herself.The flush across her cheeks gradually waned as she calmed down. She shoved Dominic away and urged, "Why aren't you leaving?"However, Dominic's lips curled as he pinned her down, sturdy as a mountain. He even pressed his lips close to her ear and murmured, "I'll stay a little longer to boost our chances of getting pregnant."Hannah fell speechless. Dominic seemed intent on—if not borderline obsessed with—knocking her up.In the past, he'd used protection all the time and even went the extra mile to clean up the trash. He was extremely cautious so as not to create trouble for himself.But everything changed after Hanna
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 167
"Of course not," Hannah said with a smile, not a single crack in her expression. "Do I look like someone who goes back on her word? I'm not even pregnant yet. Once I am, I'll stop working."Dominic narrowed his eyes. "Are you questioning my efficiency?"Hannah was stunned for a moment, thrown off by how fast he'd jumped to that conclusion.He took her pause as silent agreement. With a smirk, he reached over and pinched her cheek. "Don't worry. I'll show you exactly what efficiency means."The moment the light turned green, he shifted his gaze back to the road and hit the gas. The Bentley shot forward like a bullet.As soon as they reached his apartment, even before stepping through the door, Dominic grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. He cupped her chin and lowered his head to kiss her lips.Hannah's eyes widened for a second in surprise. But soon enough, she responded to him.The heat between them rose fast. Hannah, caught in his demanding rhythm, struggled to catch her bre
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 166
This had been the most relaxing day since Hannah had wrapped up her latest project.But the moment she spotted a black Bentley parked just ahead, her heart, which had finally settled, suddenly shot up into her throat. Her grip on Anathea's arm tightened instinctively."What's wrong?" Anathea stopped and looked at her in confusion."I, uh… just remembered I've got something urgent to take care of." Hannah's tone sounded a little awkward.But Anathea didn't think much of it. Given Hannah's line of work, sudden plans were common. "Okay, go ahead. I'll get the markers for Chloe myself.""Oh, can you also take Chloe home? Don't let her sneak out." Hannah grasped her hand, looking serious. "You know how scary some obsessed fans can be. If they found out I had a daughter…""Don't worry. I understand." Anathea nodded. "I'll take her home and be with her. She'll be safe."The apartment's security was tighter than the hospital's."Thanks, Thea." With that, Hannah turned and walked off. S
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 165
Anathea was surprised herself. Before she'd found out about the pregnancy, her morning sickness had been unbearable, but now that she knew, it had gradually faded. And after she'd left Castenea, it had almost disappeared completely.When she was pregnant with Xander, she'd been violently sick. It was so bad that she'd ended up in the hospital multiple times. Toward the end of the pregnancy, it felt like her body was being torn apart by the chaos inside her.So, after seven months of carrying Xander, Anathea had been mostly confined to bed since she couldn't move around much.This baby, however, was far calmer. That was why Anathea guessed that it was a girl.Hannah thought so too because she'd experienced something similar when she'd been pregnant with Chloe."Looks like she's looking out for her mom." Hannah smiled as she glanced at Anathea's belly.After a brief pause, she leaned in closer to Anathea and asked, "She's such a sweet little angel. Are you really going to give he
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 164
The air reeked of blood. Gregory's eyes turned red with fury.Pain was the fastest way to awaken a man's buried hunger. And in that moment, it brought every dark instinct inside him roaring back to life."Anathea."Gregory kept saying her name over and over again, grinding it between his teeth. Even though every syllable scraped raw against his heart, his eyes only burned with growing obsession for her."No matter where you run, I'll be right behind you. I swear it, Anathea. You're never getting away from me."…"Ah-choo!"While working on her floral arrangement at Syntherra, Anathea suddenly sneezed and quickly covered her mouth with her hand."What's wrong? Are you catching a cold?" Fiona asked gently while handing her a tissue."I don't think so. Someone's probably missing me," Anathea joked as she took the tissue."Bingo!" A lively girl's voice rang out.Just as Anathea found the voice familiar, the door to the ward swung open.In walked a girl dressed in a cool little
