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Chapter 202
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 1
Anathea Jacobson had spent ten years nursing a crush on Gregory Sinclair and five years as his wife. She'd believed she could eventually thaw his heart, even if it was as cold as forged iron.She'd never expected it to be just wishful thinking on her part.The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Anathea stood by the bed when her phone lit up with a new message.It was a photo taken at Castenea's most exclusive fine-dining restaurant. Gregory sat across from a woman. His gaze was gentle, and his expression was warm.Anathea knew the woman. She was Natalie Whitman, Gregory's ex.Natalie had just returned from abroad last month. The very night she came back, Gregory had left Anathea behind to see her.To Gregory, Natalie was his flawless first love, while Anathea was nothing more than an unsightly stain on a white wall.The bathroom door swung open. Gregory stepped out in a bathrobe, steam rolling off his skin.Anathea put her phone down and turned around, only to f
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 2
Anathea's outstretched hand grasped at nothing, and her elbow slammed against the hard floor. A sharp pain shot through her arm, forcing a hiss from her lips.Xander just stood there without any expression. There wasn't a trace of concern in his eyes.Anathea had nearly lost her life giving birth to him. Yet now, he watched indifferently as she lay on the ground writhing in pain.Anathea felt as if an invisible hand was tightening around her heart, making it hard to breathe.Only now did she realize that, apart from a few of her features, Xander was just like Gregory. They were both cold and indifferent.Anathea's eyes burned with a stinging ache before the world around her spun. Then, everything went black. She passed out from the pain.In the end, it was Jenny who called an ambulance and got Anathea to the hospital.…When Anathea woke up, the sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nose."Acute gastritis caused by stomach dysfunction." The doctor delivered the diagnosis and re
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 3
Anathea watched helplessly as Xander, who'd never liked getting close to others, took Natalie's hand. He walked to her side, clinging to her as if seeking protection.He'd never relied on Anathea like that before.At that moment, she felt something inside her shatter.Noticing how her complexion paled, Gregory frowned. "How did you suddenly fall sick?"Anathea lifted her gaze to him, a flicker of emotion flashing in her eyes."Greg and I heard from Jenny that Xander came to the hospital. We were worried, so we came to pick him up. But it turns out you're sick," Natalie said casually as she turned to Anathea with a concerned expression. "Ms. Jacobson, I hope it's nothing serious. Do you need me to stay and take care of you?""It sure is nothing serious. She doesn't need you to take care of her," Gregory replied flatly.Anathea's gaze dropped again. Her eyes darkened further.How pathetic. Had she really thought Gregory had come to see her because she was sick? That he actually c
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 4
Natalie's soft words felt like a sharp knife slicing deep into Anathea's heart. "Greg's exhausted from last night and just fell asleep. I don't think I should wake him up. How about you try calling back later?"Anathea's grip loosened. Her phone slipped from her hand, landing on her lap.The two abductors seemed to have anticipated this reaction. They wore smug expressions as if they were watching a show."What the hell? Your husband is sleeping with another woman?" Seamus Boone, the heavyset man, clicked his tongue."It seems you're not important to him at all," Frankie added.His words dug into the wound in Anathea's chest, making her struggle to breathe.Of course. Gregory had always loved Natalie. Wasn't it perfectly normal for them to be together?"Then she's nothing to Mr. Sinclair, right?" Frankie shot Anathea a disdainful glance. "What a hassle. Might as well just let me screw her now.""Don't be in such a rush. We're not done yet." Seamus glanced at the message on his
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 5
Before the Jacobson family's downfall, Anathea had been Adam Jacobson's cherished only daughter. As the child of a high-ranking government official, she'd grown up pampered, untouched by hardship.Yet, after marrying Gregory, she'd been treated like nothing more than a maid. And now, she'd been sold to a place like this to entertain clients.No. Anathea would never accept this fate."I'm Gregory Sinclair's wife! If you dare touch me, he won't let you off!" Anathea shouted.Even now, she clung to the hope that Gregory's name could protect her and get her out of this nightmare."You're Mrs. Sinclair?" The woman, Melissa Stewart, laughed like she'd just heard the best joke of her life.Her tone dripped with mockery as she continued, "If you're Mrs. Sinclair, then I must be the governor's wife! Everyone knows Mr. Sinclair is still single. And you dare call yourself his wife? Are you delusional?"Anathea opened her mouth to argue but found herself speechless.Gregory had never ackno
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 6
Anathea felt like she had a long dream.In that dream, she walked arm in arm with Gregory, stepping onto a flower-strewn path with their friends and family watching.Her face was lit up with joy. At that moment, she believed she was the luckiest woman in the world. She could finally marry the man she'd secretly loved for years.But suddenly, everything around her turned blood red. The flowers beneath her feet withered into rotting, foul-smelling twigs.Before she could make sense of what was happening, Gregory let go of her hand without hesitation. His voice, cold and sharp, echoed in her ears like a curse."Anathea, I'll never love a scheming woman like you."Anathea's eyes flew open. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.What met her eyes was a white ceiling. It wasn't the dark, endless corridor, and there was no rolling thunder and pounding rain.Outside, sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows. The beauty of it all made her heart ache.How
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 7
Before Anathea had married Gregory, she'd signed a prenuptial agreement. Sinclair Group's wealth had nothing to do with her, so she wouldn't get a dime.Not that she cared. If something wasn't hers, she wouldn't take it.After finalizing the divorce agreement, Anathea signed her name without a moment of hesitation.She still remembered how, when she and Gregory had registered their marriage, her hands had trembled so badly from excitement that she'd nearly dropped the pen.Now, she set the pen down without a flicker of emotion. She slipped the agreement into an envelope and tucked it away in a drawer."Thea, are you really divorcing Gregory?" Hannah Cole's surprised voice came through the phone.Hannah was one of Anathea's closest friends. She'd clawed her way up from being a barely-known actress to an A-list star, constantly juggling filming schedules. The two rarely saw each other, but their bond remained strong.It was exactly because Hannah knew Anathea so well that she was
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 8
Anathea hesitated only for a few seconds before slipping off the diamond ring and tossing it into the box.Just then, Jenny knocked on her door. "Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. Xander and Mr. Sinclair are back. Would you like to start preparing dinner for them now?"Anathea had always prepared meals for Gregory and Xander herself, so Jenny simply passed along their requests as usual."Mr. Sinclair wants herb-baked mussels with white wine sauce, and Mr. Xander asked for tomato and ham risotto that's on the sweeter side, not too tangy." Jenny glanced at Anathea. "All the ingredients are ready."Everyone took Anathea's efforts for granted. Yet before she'd gotten married, she'd been a pampered heiress, someone who'd never even stepped foot in a kitchen."Oh, and Ms. Whitman came back with them too." Jenny carefully watched Anathea's expression.Anathea didn't have much of a reaction. She simply headed downstairs.Meanwhile, Xander and Natalie were reminiscing about the fun they had at the amus
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 202
Anathea didn't respond.Actually, she didn't know how to kiss. All these years, every time Gregory kissed her, it had always been one-sided—he never cared about how she felt. He just used her to vent his desire and his temper.Hence, she'd almost never experienced the kind of romantic, lingering kisses they showed in TV shows and movies.In her memory, every kiss between her and Gregory was filled with aggression, dominance, and the metallic taste of blood when her lips were bitten.They were nothing more than bad memories that left her feeling terrible. So, when he asked that question just now, it felt a little ironic to her.She turned her head away, avoiding his fingers. Her breathing was uneven, but her tone was calm. "Since you're here, let's talk business first.""As expected of my wife, you're still so serious even at a time like this."Gregory had gotten what he wanted and was in a good mood. Leaning back against the seat lazily, he uttered, "Go ahead. Name your terms.
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 201
Anathea was wearing a silk dress today. The fabric was thin. When Gregory placed his hand on it, it made her skin tingle slightly.She shifted away a little, but Gregory pressed his hand down on her leg, keeping her from moving."Why are you sitting so far away? You're just putting on some medicine, or do you have something else in mind, Mrs. Sinclair?" Gregory teased with a raised brow."I do not!" Anathea retorted, her cheeks flushing slightly.Gregory looked at how flustered she was, the corners of his lips twitching.Resting his arm across her leg, he uttered, "Then, let's get started with the bandage."At the same time, Martin started the car and headed in the direction of Castenea.Outside the window, the scenery kept sliding past. As they drove through a large birch forest, the trees blocked out the sunlight, making the interior of the car darker.Most of Gregory's face was hidden in the shadows. His features were sharp, striking, and intense.His suit jacket had been t
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 200
In the end, Dominic lost interest and ended things quickly."Next time, don't even think about coming to me for help!" Dominic spat through gritted teeth before storming out and slamming the door behind him.It wasn't until the sound of his footsteps disappeared that Hannah slowly sat up. The strap of her dress slipped off her shoulder, revealing the red marks he'd left on her.She didn't care.She grabbed her phone and called her assistant, asking the latter to send Chloe to Castenea for a while."What about you, Hannah?""Me?" Hannah wiped her lips, erasing any trace of Dominic."I probably won't be landing any big projects for a while. I'm going to stay here and see how things play out."Hannah knew she'd pissed Dominic off. There was no doubt he would start throwing obstacles her way, probably for a long time.Honestly, she cared more about her daughter than her career.If she kept getting tangled up with Dominic, it was only a matter of time before someone found out abou
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 199
Dominic froze for a second, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.He was surprised that Hannah knew he was getting married.But to Hannah, that look was all the proof she needed—he wasn't shocked she knew about the wedding. He was shocked she'd figured out his disgusting plan.So, it was true. He really had planned to make her have his child, then take the kid back and raise them with his precious future wife.Pathetic.She was just glad she'd happened to hear about it during an event with a brand the Lancaster family was working with.If not for that, she would've been completely in the dark and gotten played like a fool.Good thing she was never one of those naive women who would fall for it. She hadn't thought that maybe he still cared about her or that he wanted her to have his child out of love.Hannah laughed coldly to herself.But she still couldn't understand why he was going through so much trouble."Don't you want your wife to have your child?" Hannah's red lips cu
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 198
If Hannah had managed to stall for just another hour, Anathea would have made it to the airport and gotten away."I should've come to pick you up earlier," Hannah said, clearly frustrated with herself.But oddly enough, Anathea actually felt a little relieved. If she'd really left, Adam might have died in prison without her ever knowing. That kind of regret would've haunted her for the rest of her life."Thea?" Hannah called gently when she didn't hear a response."I'm here," Anathea uttered softly."Are you… okay?" Hannah asked."I'm fine. Don't worry," Anathea reassured her. "I'm probably going to head back to Castenea for a while. Thanks for taking care of me these past few days.""Wait, is he forcing you to go back?" Hannah asked, her voice full of anger.Anathea let out a breath and made up a random excuse. "No, there are some issues with the divorce paperwork. I need to go back with him to sort it out."She didn't plan to tell Hannah about Adam because Hannah had already
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 197
In the six years they'd been married, even though Anathea and Gregory had a regular sex life, they'd never actually done that.It was partly because of how she'd been raised—she was still pretty shy about that stuff. Moreover, Gregory was never very patient with her.Whenever they were together, he always got straight to the point. There was barely any foreplay. He was more interested in seeing her hurt than anything else.Only once in a while, when he'd landed some big deal at work and was in a good mood, would he actually slow down and treat her better.He'd asked her to help him out during her period before, but she didn't know how, and Gregory didn't have the patience to teach her. Eventually, it just got dropped and forgotten.She never thought he'd bring it up again now.Anathea frowned at him. One second he said he wasn't that much of a beast, and the next he was acting worse than an animal."What? Don't you want to?" Gregory raised an eyebrow, pinching her chin.Anathea
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 196
Life really had a messed-up sense of humor. Anathea let out a small, bitter laugh. She curled up, resting her hands over her belly.Right now, this baby was the only thing keeping her together.…Not long after, the door to the ward opened again. Gregory came back in, carrying a thermal lunch box."If you're not going to sleep, get up and eat something," he said casually.Anathea didn't want to listen to him, but she was honestly starving. She struggled to sit up.Meanwhile, Gregory opened the lunch box and started taking out dish after dish—all delicate, nutritious meals.Anathea stared for a second, a little dazed.As far as she could remember, Gregory had never brought her food before. This weird change in him made her uncomfortable.Picking a bowl, she grabbed some food and slowly started eating, sneaking glances at him from time to time.Without looking up, Gregory said, "What? Do you have to sneak glances at your own husband because you're scared of directly checking hi
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 195
Gregory said he respected Anathea's decision, but he never really gave her room to decide at all.He was forcing her.How despicable!Anathea glared at him with pure hatred.But Gregory didn't think he was doing anything wrong. In fact, seeing the anger and resentment in her eyes weirdly made him feel even better. At least now, she was pissed at him and wanted to kill him.That was still better than her always trying to run away from him.He'd never thought of himself as someone who would get attached to other people.But when it came to Anathea, there was only one thought in his mind—if he couldn't have her, no one could.Anathea had no idea what he was thinking. All she knew was that his obsession was terrifying, but she had no way out.The gap between them was just too big. Whatever revenge he wanted to take, she wouldn't be able to handle it. And she couldn't dodge it either.All she felt was helplessness and overwhelming sadness.Biting her lip hard, she tried to contro
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 194
Gregory looked at Anathea. "Wesley and his wife are close."Anathea paused for a second, then it all clicked. He was playing to his audience.Gregory had announced she was his wife and crafted this whole "desperate husband chasing after his love" story online just to win Wesley over and seal the deal.Anathea gave a small, bitter smile.Of course. A man like Gregory—who only cared about profits—wasn't going to do anything just for love.Still, she didn't get it."Why me?" she asked.She'd already left him.Gregory could've picked any other woman he liked to put on a show. Why bother going through all this trouble to drag her back?Gregory didn't answer.Honestly, he wasn't sure himself. Maybe it was just habit. When they first got married, Gregory didn't care about Anathea at all. To him, their marriage was just a formality, and she was just… there.He didn't bother with her; he didn't even want to share a room with her.But somehow, over time, he got used to her.He got u
