Chapter 136: Dinner at the mansion (Part - 2)

Words : 1216 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 136: Dinner at the mansion (Part - 2) Denis snapped out of his thoughts as his father’s voice hit his ears. He caught her gaze for a second, and it was enough to make his chest tighten. But she looked away quickly, her expression unreadable. His fingers clenched in his lap, the tension in him rising as longing and a feeling of loss settled in his chest. Dimitri’s eyes narrowed with interest. "Is that so? She worked under Denis?" Augustine stepped in without missing a beat. "That’s old news." He wrapped an arm around Anne’s waist and pulled her closer to him. "She works with me now." He turned to Anne with a soft smile, clearly declaring his affection for her. She returned the smile, completely at ease with him. The brief exchange between them said more than words: they trusted each other. Their bond was stronger than anyone inside the room had anticipated. The atmosphere was tense. Dimitri studied them both, his curiosity sharpening, while Gabriel’s expression stiffened. And Denis? He sat rigid, his fists clenched so tightly the veins on the back of his hands stood out. He kept staring at the woman he once had... now belonged to someone else entirely, his teeth grinding silently. Anne looked so comfortable with Augustine, her smile bright, her eyes alive in a way Denis couldn’t recall ever seeing when she was with him. Back then, she had been devoted to him. She followed his lead, supported him without question, took care of everything—his schedule, his stress, his life. Her time, her attention, her quiet smiles had all been his. And now? Now she looked at another man like none of that had ever existed. Like he was nothing more than a passing Chapter. A slow burn of jealousy twisted in his gut. Denis couldn’t tear his eyes away. With each passing second, his restlessness deepened. The way Anne leaned comfortably into another man’s embrace, the way Augustine’s hand settled naturally on the small of her back as if it was where it had always belonged—it made the pressure in his chest tighten unbearably. What did she even see in him? Augustine was just a nerd. He wasn’t the kind of man who filled a room. He was quiet, bookish, and unremarkable on the surface. Certainly not as wealthy or socially connected as Denis. ’He is nothing in front of me,’ Denis thought bitterly. ’No legacy. No power.’ And yet, Anne had married him. Denis’s thought was about to spiral out of control. The possessiveness in his stare hardened. He didn’t want to understand—he wanted her back. Not for love, not for trust. For pride. For possession. For the unshakable need to remind her that she once belonged to him, and that she still should. "I’m just curious about you two," Tania said with fake sweetness, breaking Denis’s thoughts. "How did you meet? Was the decision to get married sudden? Don’t take it the wrong way—I’m just genuinely wondering. Augustine was overseas for so long, then came back and tied the knot almost immediately. It makes me think you might have known each other before." Anne stiffened, the calm expression on her face beginning to crack. A thousand words of retaliation surged in her mind, questions hung on the tip of her tongue. ’Why did you really leave Denis three years ago? How long do you think you can keep pretending you are pregnant?’ But she held it back, barely. Augustine picked up on the change in her posture. Without missing a beat, he answered, "Yes, we’ve known each other since school." Anne turned to him, surprised. She hadn’t expected that response. Back then, she remembered Augustine only as the quiet, studious boy who always topped every exam. He had always had his nose to a book. She had never spoken to him—not once. In her memory, they lived in separate worlds. "I used to see her all the time in the library," Augustine continued, his voice softer now, touched with something nostalgic. "While most girls were hanging out, chatting, flirting—she’d be tucked away in the quiet corners, reading. Focused. Calm. I admired that." He paused, smiling slightly at the memory. Anne blinked, her surprise growing. ’He noticed me?’ she shouted silently in disbelief. Back then, she had thrown herself into studying, all to fit into Denis’s world. In her mind, the only way to earn a scholarship and get into the same college Denis was aiming for was through top grades and relentless focus. But she had never noticed Augustine had been watching her silently all the time. "I never talked to her, but I sat nearby often," Augustine continued. "I just liked being around her." Anne’s heart skipped a bit, taken aback. The look in Augustine’s eyes was steady, sincere—there was no doubt in them. He wasn’t making any of it up. He was telling the truth. He hadn’t just noticed her back then—he had quietly followed her, watched over her from a distance. How had she never realized? "She never knew," Augustine continued with a soft smile. "I always wanted to talk to her, to get close. I just... never had the courage." He let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "I loved her for a long time. And when I finally came back, I knew—I wasn’t going to miss the chance again. I came back to find her... and marry her." Anne’s throat tightened as emotion welled up. Her eyes shimmered, and before she could blink it away, a tear slipped down her cheek. She had no idea he had carried those feelings for so long, quietly, patiently. All the while, she had been chasing someone who never truly saw her. She had poured herself into something one-sided, blind to the man whose love had always been there, waiting. She looked at Augustine, stunned by the quiet intensity of his love—simple, unwavering, real. "And now," he murmured, reaching up to gently brush away the tear from her cheek, "I’m married to the woman I’ve always loved." Anne smiled through the tears, her chest full of love and gratitude. Denis felt a sharp twist in his chest as Augustine’s words sank in. ’This loser had it all planned,’ he thought bitterly, the idea gnawing at him. The realization that Augustine had been waiting, watching, and silently loving Anne all along made him jealous even more. The need to reclaim her—prove she was still his—burned stronger than ever. Tania, on the other hand, grew genuinely curious this time. "Really? That’s interesting. But I don’t remember ever seeing you with her in school." "That’s because you were always busy with your own affairs," Augustine shot back, his tone cutting. "I’m not one to make a show of things." His words hit their mark. Tania fell silent, her smile tightening, irritation flaring behind her eyes. She hated being dismissed, especially in front of everyone. The air suddenly grew thick with tension and unspoken thoughts. Just then, the butler entered the hall and bowed slightly. "Dinner is ready, sir." Dimitri nodded, pressing one hand to the top of his cane as he rose. "Let’s eat." He led the way toward the dining room, and the others fell in behind him.

Chapter 136: Dinner at the mansion (Part - 2)

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