Chapter 137: We are all family.

Words : 1183 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 137: We are all family. Everyone settled around the long dining table. Augustine quietly pulled out a chair for Anne. She smiled at him as she sat down. The exchange was intimate. Across the table, Denis felt like he was about to explode. Watching Augustine treat Anne with that kind of quiet care, seeing her respond with ease and affection—it hit him hard. His fists clenched under the table. The urge to punch Augustine square in the face, drag Anne into his arms, and declare to everyone that she still belonged to him was almost too much to contain. Tania didn’t miss the storm in his eyes. And it fueled her own resentment. ’What does she have that’s driving both of them crazy?’ she thought bitterly. Needing to break the moment and desperate to pull Denis back to her, Tania suddenly clutched his arm. "Denis, I feel a little dizzy," she said weakly, wincing. All heads turned her way. "Could be the morning sickness?" Jeanne asked with concern. "Denis, sweetheart, take her to the bedroom. Let her rest. I’ll have the food sent up." "I’ll call the doctor," Gabriel added, pulling out his phone. "No!" Tania blurted, panic flashing in her eyes. "I mean, there is no need. Really. I’ll be fine with a little rest." "You are sure?" Gabriel asked, eyeing her closely, worry etched on his face. "Yes, uncle," she said, forcing a reassuring smile. "It’s nothing serious. Just the usual." "She is right," Jeanne said. "It’s just a normal thing during this time. Denis, help her to the room." Denis stood and helped Tania up. They disappeared down the hall, her hand looped in his arm. Back at the table, Dimitri barely glanced up. "Let’s eat," he said, digging into his plate without further comment. Anne watched them leave, her lips curling into a subtle, unimpressed smirk. ’So pretentious,’ she thought. She is playing everyone. But it won’t continue for long.’ "Why aren’t you eating?" Jeanne’s voice cut through the tension, pulling Anne out of her thoughts. "Are you feeling unwell too?" There was a pointed edge to her words, masked under a layer of false concern. Anne recognized that smug tone. Jeanne Beaumont had never once acknowledged her with respect in the past. Nothing had changed. "Or perhaps," Jeanne continued sarcastically, her smile tight, "this rich food doesn’t agree with your taste? Tell me what you prefer. I’ll have the chef prepare whatever you like." Anne met her gaze. "Mrs. Beaumont is very generous," she said with a sweet but clearly fake smile. "But don’t trouble yourself over me. I’m perfectly fine. Your energy might be better spent on your future daughter-in-law. She seemed quite unwell earlier. Maybe check if she needs anything." A flicker of irritation crossed Jeanne’s face. She hadn’t expected a retort. The quiet, obedient girl she remembered was gone. Gabriel looked up sharply. "Your wife has quite a mouth," he hissed, his focus narrowing on Augustine. But Augustine stayed composed. He didn’t flinch under Gabriel’s pointed look. "She is my wife. And I told her never to let anyone talk down to her." Jeanne snapped, "What are you implying? Are you saying I’m bullying her?" Before the tension could rise further, Anne stepped in smoothly, "Please don’t take it the wrong way, Mrs. Beaumont. Augustine is just protective. He wasn’t accusing you—only reminding me of what he once told me in private." Jeanne went quiet, the subtle sting of Anne’s words settling in. Anne was graceful on the surface, but firm underneath. And that made it clear to everyone that this wasn’t the same girl they used to overlook. While Gabriel and Jeanne simmered in quiet frustration, Dimitri remained calm, a faint smile playing on his lips. He watched Anne sneakily. Anne had just handled Jeanne with sharp grace. And for the first time that evening, Dimitri reconsidered his earlier judgment of her. He had assumed she was meek, perhaps too soft for someone like Augustine. But now, he saw something else. Anne had a quiet strength, a fire beneath the calm surface. She wasn’t loud or attention-seeking, but she didn’t back down either. Jeanne, on the other hand, had always carried herself with superiority. As the elder daughter-in-law and someone from a wealthy, established background, she was used to wielding her position like a weapon. In the past, she had often put down Gervis and his wife without consequence, confident in her social standing and the authority she had carved out in the family. Gervis’s wife had endured it all in silence, never daring to respond. But Anne was different. She didn’t raise her voice, but she stood her ground. She knew how to defend herself when pushed. Dimitri had seen the defiance in her eyes. Breaking the growing tension, he cleared his throat and spoke curtly, "Enough talk. Let’s eat." Everyone fell quiet, turning their attention back to their plates. But Dimitri’s eyes lingered on Anne just a moment longer, a trace of satisfaction settling in. Dinner ended in a tense, heavy silence. Plates were cleared, and the staff moved quietly through the room. Jeanne excused herself and headed off to check on Tania. Dimitri stood and called Augustine to join him in the study. Once they walked away, Anne was left alone with Gabrie. A heavy silence settled in the hall. She felt his eyes on her almost immediately. His stare wasn’t overtly hostile, but there was a cold sharpness to it that made her skin crawl. "So," Gabriel broke the silence. "Why did you suddenly resign?" Anne cocked her head slightly, her expression shifting in an instant. "You don’t know?" she asked with a tinge of disbelief. "That’s surprising." A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. Gabriel held one of the highest positions in the company, and yet clearly had no idea what had gone on right under his nose. Or maybe he had known—and simply turned a blind eye. "Someone tried to frame me," Anne recalled sharply. "They accused me of leaking confidential files to the rival company. Do you remember now?" Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as her words sank in. He did remember the incident—vaguely. The company had lost an important client and a major project in the aftermath. A scapegoat had been fired quickly. He hadn’t realized Anne had been at the center of it. "But my boss didn’t even ask for an explanation," Anne continued, her voice tight with quiet anger. "He blamed me even though the culprit was caught red-handed. After that, there was no way I could keep working under him. So, I resigned." She didn’t mention the deeper reasons or the incident with Mr. Lee. "I’m not concerned about why you left." Gabriel shrugged, brushing it off like it didn’t matter. "Whether you work for Denis or Augustine makes no difference. What matters is that we are all family now. And I expect you to remember that." He paused, his tone sharpening further. "I trust you’ll keep company secrets safe. Don’t make the mistake of passing information where it doesn’t belong."

Chapter 137: We are all family.

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