Semua Bab Dear husband I can live without you : Bab 31 - Bab 40

Chapter 32Gerald unbuckled his seatbelt and sat still for a moment. The engine hummed low beneath him, but his thoughts were louder. He exhaled slowly, one hand gripping the wheel, the other resting on his thigh. In all his life, he’d never done what he was about to do—not for any woman. Except one . One he never talks about anymore.“You can do this, Gerald,” he said under his breath. Then he stepped out into the warm California air.The parking lot outside the mall was quiet—blessedly so. No reporters. No flashes. No crowd. That alone was enough to make him sigh in relief.He could’ve sent his driver. That would’ve been the logical thing. But this wasn’t about logic. Not today.The automatic doors slid open, and the moment he stepped inside, heads turned.It was subtle at first—a few sideways glances, a murmur. Then a ripple.“Oh my God, is that Gerald Smith?”“Isn’t he the billionaire CEO?”“What’s he doing here?”Gerald kept walking, ignoring the whispers. His presence always cau

Anna stepped into the corridor, her strides cautious and composed, though her heart thudded wildly in her chest. A part of her wished Gerald wasn’t at the office today; the other part craved the sight of him.She imagined him—immaculate in a tailored suit, sharp jawline, those piercing blue eyes that had been haunting her like a song stuck on repeat since yesterday.Provocative. Magnetic. Dangerous.She swallowed hard. She couldn’t let herself feel the rest. Not now.Get a grip, Anna.Taking a deep breath, she swiped her access card and walked into the office.Empty.No Gerald.She sighed, unsure if she was relieved or disappointed. At least she didn’t have to see those hypnotic blue orbs that turned her cheeks warm like a space heater in January.Guess he’s coming in late today, she thought, sliding into her seat.She booted up her laptop and dove straight into work. She organized files, fired off emails, and updated the day’s schedules. Yet, her gaze kept drifting toward Gerald’s va

Penelope froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes flicked from Margaret to Anna, panic creeping up her spine like ice water. Her heart pounded. No… no… this can’t be happening. “I don’t remember this woman,” Andy said, his voice raw and raspy, barely above a whisper. Then he turned slightly, his gaze settling on Anna. “Sweetheart… who is she?” Anna’s jaw dropped. Her mind reeled. Is this a joke? But there was no mistaking the vacant look in Andy’s eyes. No flicker of recognition. No buried memory fighting to surface. And as wild as the moment was, Anna couldn’t help herself—she let out a breathless laugh. So, Andy doesn’t remember his lover? A twisted smirk played on her lips. The same woman he nearly died for? She turned toward Penelope, her chuckle growing louder. “Of all the people in Andy’s life, his brain chose to forget you,” she said with a sneer. She planted a hand on her hip, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “Now, if that’s not an ironic plot twist

Anna arrived at work that morning looking even more radiant than the day before. She had taken time to thoroughly wash her hair, blow-dry it to perfection, and curl it into soft, bouncing spirals that danced with every step she took. Dressed in a knee-length burgundy dress that hugged her silhouette and a fitted blazer that added an edge of sophistication, she was a picture of poise and power.Vivian had clearly outdone herself curating Anna’s professional wardrobe. Each outfit was sharper than the last, and Anna wore them like she owned the runway.“Wow! You look absolutely stunning,” Bailey, the receptionist, said, her eyes lighting up as Anna strolled into the reception area with a calm, confident smile.“Thanks, Bailey,” Anna replied warmly. “You don’t look bad yourself.”“Coming from you… that’s a big compliment,” Bailey said, beaming.“Ahem... ahem.” Jasmine’s exaggerated throat-clearing sliced through the moment. She eyed Anna with disdain, then threw a sideways glance at Baile

“It’s not a big deal,” he said.Anna blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Gerald’s tone was calm—almost too calm, like he didn’t notice the emotional storm still thundering inside her.“When we’re not in the office,” he said again, “you can call me by my name.”“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”Gerald smiled, not the least bit surprised. He’d met her stubborn streak more times than he could count. He wasn’t expecting her to fold so easily.“We don’t have to be formal when we’re off the clock.”“But I thought this lunch was work-related?” she asked, brows knitting together.He shrugged, leaning back. “Maybe. Maybe not.”“So feel free to call me by my name. The same way I call you Anna, not Mrs. Roberts.”She hesitated, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Alright… Gerald,” she said, the name sounding foreign on her lips, like trying on a coat she wasn’t sure fit.A slow, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “See? Not so hard.”Anna didn’t respond.