Chapter 229: You will reunite with your family.

Words : 1124 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Chapter 229: You will reunite with your family. A flicker of disbelief flashed through Augustine’s eyes. Then realization dawned. It all made sense now why Nathan had been so desperate for his appointment. He hadn’t been chasing a business opportunity. He had been trying to talk about Anne. "But Papa warned me about something," she said quietly. His brows furrowed as he turned toward her fully. "What did he say?" Anne hesitated only a moment before recounting her father’s concerns. She laid it all bare: the uncertainty, the fragments of doubt he had planted, the possibility that danger might still be lurking in the shadows of her past. "I don’t know what the truth is," she said at last. "I don’t know if there really is some hidden enemy out there... I just want to meet my family." Augustine didn’t speak right away. Instead, he reached out and gently took the pendant from around her, closing it in his palm like a vow. "You will reunite with your family," he said firmly. "And whatever happened back then, whatever secrets are buried, I’ll uncover them. If there is someone out there to hurt, I’ll find them. And I’ll make sure they never touch you again." Anne’s shoulders relaxed at his words, the knot of uncertainty within her finally beginning to loosen. That was exactly what she needed. "Thank you," she said softly. But Augustine simply smirked. "Thank me later. Right now, I want food. I miss your cooking. Why don’t you make something for me?" Anne’s face lit up instantly. "What do you want to eat?" "Anything will do as long as you cook it." A laugh escaped her as her eyes crinkled at the corners. "Fine. Go freshen up. I’ll have dinner ready soon." She turned and disappeared into the kitchen with a bounce in her step, sleeves rolled up, her energy renewed. But Augustine didn’t move. He remained rooted there, his gaze fixed on her. His thoughts drifted to the past. The Granet family had been close to the Beaumonts for generations. But Augustine had grown up outside that circle, separated from the family’s inner politics and carefully guarded secrets. He remembered vaguely about a young girl from the Granet family kidnapped. The incident had faded from the public eye over time, and the girl wasn’t found. But now... all the signs seemed to lead to one truth — Anne was the long-lost daughter of the Granets. He hadn’t anticipated that Anne could be that girl. She had lived her whole life in the same city as the Granets, raised by an ordinary, humble family. And yet, despite their immense power and influence, the Granets had failed to locate her for two decades. Or perhaps... they hadn’t truly tried to find her. So why now? What had suddenly driven Nathan to search for her? Something didn’t add up. Paule’s unease wasn’t without reason. The man had sensed a deeper plot behind her disappearance, a conspiracy that had never come to light. Augustine was starting to feel the same way. His jaw tightened slightly as he looked back at Anne, who was humming softly while chopping vegetables, seemingly excited about the prospect of reuniting with her family. A shadow passed over Augustine’s face. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. His thumb moved swiftly across the screen as he dialed Gustave. As the line rang, he began walking toward the bedroom. When Gustave picked up, Augustine said in a serious tone, "There is something I need you to investigate thoroughly." He paused for a beat before continuing, "Look into the kidnapping of the Granets’ daughter. What exactly happened back then? Who handled the case? Was there any trail, any loose ends? I want everything, every single detail." "Understood, Sir," came Gustave’s crisp reply. "I’ll start immediately and update you as soon as I have anything." "Do it fast," Augustine pressed, every word clipped with urgency. "I get it, sir." With that, the call ended. After freshening up, Augustine changed his clothes and came out of the room. Anne was still in the kitchen, engrossed in cooking. Her hair was tied up into a bun. The kitchen was alive with the sizzle of garlic hitting the hot wok. "Do you need help?" he asked, approaching the kitchen. "I am almost done here," she said with a smile as she tossed in vermicelli noodles, sautéed onions and tomatoes, and added a handful of prawns, letting their sweetness seep into the sauce. A swirl of ketchup, a dash of soy sauce, and a spoonful of chili paste turned the mixture rich and glossy. She cracked two eggs, scrambling them into the noodles, the aroma already mouthwatering. "Wow, it looks amazing," Augustine said, peering into the wok through her shoulder. "I suddenly feel like I am starving." She laughed. "Then go and sit down. The food will be served soon." "Sit down. I’ll serve the food." "Okay." He obediently walked out of the kitchen and settled at the dining table. He placed a quick dessert order on his phone. He timed it perfectly, knowing her dish wouldn’t take long. It was one of her favorites — a box of molten lava cakes with a side of vanilla bean ice cream from the patisserie she adored. By the time Anne finished cooking and served the noodles, he was already pretending he hadn’t done a thing. Augustine took a mouthful and hummed dramatically. "I didn’t realize I married a chef disguised as a heart thief." Anne raised a brow, amused. "Heart thief?" He leaned closer, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Yes. First, you stole my peace of mind, then my patience, and now this... my self-control." She tried to hide her blush behind a forkful of noodles. "It’s just fried noodles, Augustine." "Wrong," he said, pointing his fork at her. "This is culinary seduction. You could make a man fall in love all over again by cooking for him." "Is that so?" she smiled, playing along. He moved his chair closer to her, lowering his voice into a seductive murmur. "Absolutely. If you keep cooking like this, I’ll be begging for dinner and breakfast." He brushed his finger teasingly over her arm. She laughed, swatting his hand. "You are impossible." "And you are irresistible." He grinned. "And currently, madly in love with both the chef and the noodles." They continued teasing and flirting with each other. Now, with their plates empty and Anne leaning back, flushed from laughter and full from her own food, there was a soft knock at the door. She frowned. "Are we expecting someone?" Augustine got up smoothly. "Just a little surprise," he said, going to answer the door.

Chapter 229: You will reunite with your family.

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