Chapter 14: Without my approval, you can’t resign.

Words : 1238 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 14: Without my approval, you can’t resign. A soft smile tugged at Augustine’s lips. "Come," he said, gently leading her to the sofa. "Make a wish." Anne hesitated only for a moment before closing her eyes. A while later, she opened her eyes and blew out the candles. She picked up the knife and sliced into the cake, cutting a neat piece before holding it up to Augustine’s lips. He leaned forward, taking the bite, his gaze never leaving hers. A strange heat crawled up Anne’s neck as she met his eyes. Then, as if breaking free from a trance, her thoughts drifted to the past. "I actually don’t know my exact date of birth," she murmured. "I was too young when my foster father found me and took me in. He didn’t know my birth date. So, the day he officially adopted me, he decided that would be my birthday." For years, her life had been full of warmth and joy. But then—everything changed when her father had an accident. "Now, no one remembers it." "I’ll remember it – always," Augustine said. Anne snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Augustine. Confusion and suspicion warred within her. Why was he treating her so well? Was it because of their partnership to take down Denis? Or was there something else—a hidden motive? Before she could dwell on it further, Augustine suddenly stretched a small box toward her. "This is for you," he said simply. Anne blinked in surprise. "For me?" Her eyes flickered with curiosity. "What is it?" she asked, hesitantly taking the box from him. Augustine smirked. "Open it and see." Her heart pounded lightly as she lifted the lid. Nestled inside, against soft velvet lining, was a delicate diamond pendant. The small gem sparkled under the warm glow of the candles. "It’s beautiful," she murmured, brushing her fingertips lightly over the pendant. "Do you like it?" Anne looked up and met his gaze, nodding instinctively. But then, her smile wavered. "It looks expensive," she said cautiously. "When... did you buy it?" Augustine’s lips curled into a knowing smile. He could have told her the truth—that he owned a high-end jewelry brand, that all it took was a simple phone call for any item to be delivered to him in minutes. But he held back, choosing not to disclose that detail just yet. "I actually bought this to give you tomorrow—after we get our marriage certificate. I didn’t know it was your birthday. But now that I do, I’m giving it to you today as your birthday gift. I’ll arrange the wedding gift later." "There is no need for a wedding gift," she said quickly, waving her hand dismissively. A flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. "Why?" Did she regret agreeing to the marriage? "You already spent so much on this," she said, motioning to the pendant. "Why spend even more? We should save money instead." Augustine stared at her, momentarily speechless. Of all the things he had expected her to say—this wasn’t one of them. Anne had no idea that the fortune he had amassed was more than enough for them to live lavishly for generations without ever lifting a finger. Saving money was the last thing she needed to worry about. Her words amused him. And yet, it also intrigued him. He was eager to see what she would do to help him in running their family. Shaking the thought away, he reached for the pendant, lifting it gently from the box. "Let me help you wear it." Anne hesitated briefly before nodding. Augustine moved behind her, brushing her damp hair to the side. His fingers ghosted over her skin as he secured the clasp at the back of her neck. The delicate diamond pendant rested just above her collarbone. His hands lingered on her shoulders. "Now, it’s beautiful." A thick silence settled between them, charged with something unspoken as they locked their gazes, their hearts throbbing in unison. Time seemed to stop at that point. Augustine’s hand drifted from her shoulder, his fingers tracing the curve of her cheek. Anne’s breath caught. His touch was light, teasing, as his thumb brushed the corner of her lips. His gaze darkened, drawn to the soft curve of her mouth. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in. His lips hovered just above hers, hesitant yet aching to close the distance. Anne pressed her hands against his chest, halting him. "I’m tired." Augustine stilled, his gaze searching hers for a moment. Then, with a slow exhale, he leaned back, withdrawing from the tension that had built between them. "Right," he murmured, glancing away, a flicker of awkwardness passing over his face. "It’s late. We should rest." He rose to his feet, his usual composure slipping briefly before he quickly regained it. "Tomorrow, we’ll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau at ten o’clock." And with that, he turned and strode toward the guest room. Anne sat motionless for a moment before letting out a deep, heavy sigh. ’Marrying him...Am I doing the right thing?’ Doubt curled in her chest, but it didn’t last long as she recalled how Denis had cheated on her and how Tania had killed her in her past life. Not only that but Denis had abandoned her on the road without a second thought and put her into danger tonight, leaving her to be nearly raped and murdered. She couldn’t forget. She wouldn’t forget. This marriage—it wasn’t for love. It was for revenge. Anne lifted her chin, her eyes darkening with resolve. "This is a marriage of convenience. No feelings attached. Once I’m done with my retribution, we’ll break up." ~~~~~~~~~ Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau... Anne stood motionless, the small red marriage certificate clutched in her hands. She lowered her gaze to the ring on her finger, her emotions a tangled mess. She couldn’t believe she was married to her ex’s cousin brother. Just days ago, she had been Denis’s girlfriend, blindly devoted to him. And now? She belonged to Augustine. "Ahem," Augustine cleared his throat, trying to grab his attention. "If you don’t like the ring, we can exchange it." Anne blinked, snapping out of her daze. She shook her head. "No, it’s fine," she murmured. Before she could say anything more, her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a familiar name. Denis. Her stomach twisted. The memories of the previous night flashed in her mind—the way he had abandoned her on the road, the way he had chosen Tania over her without hesitation. Her grip on the phone tightened. She had to talk to him. She needed to end this once and for all. "I need to take this call." She stepped aside to answer the call. Anne, the phone pressing against her ear, hissed, "What do you want, Denis?" She had no intention of keeping any contact with him after what had happened last night. He had abandoned her, discarded her without a thought—and now, he had the audacity to call her? From the other end of the line, Denis’s sharp voice bit back. "You haven’t come to the office yet. Files are piling up. Work has been disrupted. And you dare to question me!" Anne’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Didn’t you get my resignation?" she shot back, her irritation flaring. A dry chuckle echoed through the receiver. "Resignation?" Denis snorted. "Without my approval, you can’t resign."

Chapter 14: Without my approval, you can’t resign.

Comments (0)