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Chapter 92
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Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 93
But the two figures had already disappeared by the time Anathea managed to focus her eyes."Nat?" Evangeline waved a hand in front of her face. "You okay?""It's nothing." Anathea turned away with a faint smile.She must've imagined it. Castenea was a big city, after all. What were the chances of running into Gregory and Natalie here?The waiter led Anathea and Evangeline toward the private room reserved for the celebration dinner.Evangeline spent the whole walk gushing about the exhibition. "Seriously, this show is on another level. They even got Ms. Langley's work up. Only a deep-pocketed organizer like the Sinclair Group could pull that off.""Sinclair Group's behind this?" Anathea's steps faltered."Yep, and the curator's one of their in-house collaborators. I've heard she'd studied abroad. She's got an impressive track record, with tons of viral exhibitions under her belt. No wonder they locked her in for the long haul."Evangeline glanced around to make sure no one was n
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 94
"Absolutely. Mr. Sinclair went out of his way just for Ms. Whitman. Most people would be lucky to get even a minute of his time.""Sounds like Mr. Sinclair's got quite a stake in Ms. Whitman's exhibition, huh?"A faint smile touched Natalie's lips, her voice softening with practiced modesty. "Oh, Mr. Sinclair's just thorough when it comes to work. He's the very definition of a workaholic."Her tone might have sounded dismissive, but the ease behind it hinted at a closeness with Gregory that didn't go unnoticed. The other guests exchanged glances, knowing smiles passing between them.Tonight was more than just a celebration dinner. It was a networking event Gregory had put together specifically for Natalie.Aspen, meanwhile, took in the conversation without a flicker of reaction and headed to the seat to Gregory's right.Gregory wasn't usually the one to make the first move, but this time, he offered a handshake. Aspen barely caught his fingers before slipping into her seat, her d
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 95
"That's enough." Gregory's even tone brought the discussion to a close.The other guests, who had been pressing Natalie, finally backed off. But those who knew better recognized the truth."Mr. Sinclair's clearly looking out for Ms. Whitman.""No question about it. Keeping things under wraps is for her own good."They could all see that Gregory wasn't about to let anyone think Natalie's exhibit had only succeeded because of him."At this rate, Ms. Whitman might as well have 'future Mrs. Sinclair' written all over her…"Natalie lowered her gaze, a flicker of pride flashing in her eyes.Theo listened to their conversation, his expression stiffening as his gaze moved to Anathea beside him. Her face stayed as unreadable as ever. From time to time, she made small talk with the industry insiders around her, as if none of it concerned her.His expression tightened further, both at the way she carried on and at the sight of the exchange between Gregory and Natalie.Theo grabbed the me
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 96
"You're too kind, Mr. Wade," Natalie said with a smile as she lifted her glass.Gregory raised his own and took a sip."Let me tell you, Ms. Whitman is remarkable. To pull off that many high-profile exhibitions at her age? She's raising the bar for the entire field!""No doubt about it. Word is, she and Mr. Sinclair went to the same university. And not just any university, a top-tier one. That's some next-level talent.""You're all far too kind," Natalie said with a modest smile before turning to Gregory. "Mr. Sinclair and I may be the same age, but he finished his degree a year ahead of me. I've always admired him!"Two brilliant minds meeting at the top—it was the stuff of true romance.All at once, it seemed obvious to everyone that Gregory and Natalie were meant for each other. After all, who else could possibly match Gregory if not someone like Natalie?And so, eager to win Gregory's favor, they all made sure to sing Natalie's praises."You're just as impressive, Ms. Whitm
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 97
Natalie already had plenty of titles and honors, all adding to the flawless reputation that allowed her to handle any situation with ease.Now, she had fixed her sights on the opening in the local floral design exhibition, determined to be the first to fill it. To succeed, she needed a deeper understanding of the industry.And if she could earn the title of protégé to the nation's most renowned floral artist, her future in the field would look all the brighter.She held her breath, waiting for Aspen's reply. With Gregory's influence behind her, there was little chance Aspen would risk offending him by refusing.The rest of the room, too, watched with open interest.Rumor had it, Aspen's standards for taking on a protégé were so impossibly high that hardly anyone ever made the cut. In all these years, she'd only had one. But that protégé never appeared in public, which left people wondering if Aspen had quietly let them go.So, if Natalie managed to pull this off, there was a good
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 98
"Is that guy still as much of a jerk?" Theo asked, his interest piqued.He'd always had a soft spot for drama."I honestly couldn't tell you if he's still a jerk," Aspen said, her gaze moving across the room before settling on Gregory, her smile carrying a hint of something unreadable. "Mr. Sinclair, what do you think? Is he still a jerk?"The room went silent, the question hanging in the air. No one had expected that, least of all aimed at Gregory. Was he involved in this somehow?At those words, Natalie's expression tightened. A sudden realization seemed to hit her, and she quickly turned her head toward Anathea.Natalie remembered how Anathea had walked in with Evangeline from Eden Studio, which meant she was the floral designer behind "Verdant Blush"!Could Anathea really be Aspen's protégé? If that was true, then everything Aspen had just said had been a subtle jab at her!A cold tension settled on Natalie's face at the thought. But she quickly recovered, a smirk of disdain
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 99
All eyes fell on Anathea. The fact that Aspen complimented and critiqued her meant she was no ordinary person!They'd all assumed Anathea was just another pretty face. Only now did they realize she was the brilliant floral designer whose work at the exhibition had received glowing reviews!The change in their gazes was immediate, their earlier contempt giving way to respect and admiration.As all eyes moved to Anathea, Natalie's hands clenched into fists on her lap. She hadn't anticipated Aspen publicly cautioning her while treating Anathea with nothing but warmth!Resentment burned in Natalie's gaze. She darted a look at Gregory, reading his response. He barely glanced at Anathea, his face indifferent, as if she were utterly insignificant.Only then did Natalie exhale in quiet relief, though her glare at Anathea grew sharper with bitterness.Meanwhile, a ripple of emotion passed through Anathea's eyes at Aspen's words. She remained still until she noticed Aspen had left. After a
Why the Crocodile Tears? Chapter 100
"Ms. Langley…" Anathea murmured, her eyes pricked with tears."Call me if you have issues with the floral design. So what if I said I was busy? You should've kept pushing until I made time. You'll never get anywhere being this sensitive," Aspen chided.Embarrassed, Anathea nodded earnestly. "Understood. Thank you, Ms. Langley.""Don't thank me yet. Thank me when you've got something to show for it. Anyway, I've got places to be. I can't stand around talking all day," Aspen said with a faint smile.The elevator chimed as it reached their floor, the doors parting.At that moment, Gregory walked out of the private room and noticed Aspen, Anathea, and Evangeline together.Aspen caught sight of him but barely spared him a glance before shifting her attention back to Anathea. "Look, I know you might not want to hear this, but I've got to say it anyway."Anathea raised her eyes."Why bother holding onto a jerk like that? What's he good for?" Aspen didn't mince words.Anathea was caug
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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
