Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 61 - Chapitre 70

“You’re staring,” Anna said, pausing with her fork halfway to her mouth. Her gaze lifted to meet Anthony’s, who hadn’t looked away from her once.A slow, unguarded smile touched his lips. “I just miss you so much,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with honesty. His eyes held that familiar warm glow they always carried when she was near — like she was the only light in his world.Anna tilted her head, studying him with a hint of suspicion. “I’m still a little surprised you’re okay with me staying at my mom’s to take care of her.”Anthony reached across the table and brushed his thumb over the back of her hand. “I know how much you love her. She’s not in the best shape right now, and it’s only right that you’re there for her.” He paused, his expression softening further. “Besides… I trust you, Anna. You won’t do anything to break my heart.”He pouted dramatically and pressed a hand to his chest, earning a soft scoff and an eye-roll from her. For a moment, her smile returned — bright

“I’ve got great news for you, Jake,” Luca said, a wide grin splitting his face. He slid his tablet across the desk.Jake picked it up. His eyes widened as he stared at the designs glowing on the screen. Sleek. Bold. Different.“They loved it,” Luca continued. “Said it’s fresh, unique. If this takes off, you might just get that promotion.”A slow smile spread across Jake’s face, warm and real. His chest felt lighter. This was exactly what he needed right now — a chance to rise, to climb higher than he’d ever gone. Maybe high enough to tower over Anthony. High enough for Anna to finally look at him again.“This means a lot, sir,” Jake said, his voice thick with excitement he couldn’t hide.Luca waved a hand. “No need to thank me. You earned this. That design… no one else has anything like it.” His eyes flickered with something sharp. “You know how badly I want to crush the Jeffreys. This could be our way. Mine and yours.”Jake barely heard the last part. All he could picture was his nam

Anna paced the living room, her bare feet silent against the cold tiles. The clock on her phone glowed 11:47 p.m. She refreshed the screen again, as if the numbers might change.“It’s almost midnight and he still isn’t back yet,” she murmured, worry threading through her voice.A soft knock broke the silence. Her lips curved into a quick, relieved smile. “It’s him.”Before she could take a step, the door swung open. Anthony stepped inside, shoulders heavy, movements slow.“What happened? Why are you out so late?” she asked, moving toward him.He didn’t answer.She studied his face under the warm light of the living room lamp. The color had drained from his skin, leaving him pale and drawn. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.“Are you okay?” Her voice softened with concern. “Is there something bothering you?”Anthony’s gaze finally met hers. For a long second, he just looked at her, fear flickering in his eyes — the kind of fear that came with knowing one sentence could unravel everything.

Tears welled up in Anna’s eyes as she stared at her mother. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her own mother had taken Jake’s side and lied right to everyone’s face.“Now you all know that your so-called designer is a thief,” Luca said, his voice thick with irritation. “I spent months preparing for this, and she ruined everything!”Cameras flashed. Reporters pointed their lenses straight at Anna. She stood frozen, helpless, her mind numb, unable to understand how everything had fallen apart so fast. Then she felt a warm hand wrap around hers. She looked up and met Anthony’s eyes. Gently, he brushed her tears away with his thumb.“Don’t cry,” he said softly, a small smile playing on his lips. “I know you. You didn’t do anything wrong.”His kindness only made it worse. Fresh tears slipped down Anna’s cheeks. She felt like she had just dragged Anthony’s reputation through the mud. No matter how hard she tried, the tears wouldn’t stop.“What is this, Mr. Jeffery?” one of the fo

“Anna, look at this,” Vincent said, sliding his laptop onto her desk with a grin that split his face. “Everyone’s talking about you.”Anna leaned in, and the screen lit up with her name blazing across the headline: Rising Star Designer Anna Shines at Jeffery’s. Her own designs filled the page—clean lines, bold colors, the pieces she had poured her heart into late into the nights. A warm flush spread through her chest. She couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed across her lips, bright and unstoppable.“Who did this?” she asked, her voice a mix of bewilderment and pure delight.“Who else would do this for you? I mean, no one truly cares,” Becky muttered, her words dripping with annoyance. Anna barely registered her, the sting sliding off like water.“Anthony did this,” Vincent said.Anna’s smile widened, radiant.“You’re the talk of the town,” he continued, pride ringing clear in his tone. “Soon the whole world is going to know how fucking talented you are. I’ve always walked around this