Chapter 235: I’m not your enemy

Words : 1167 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 235: I’m not your enemy The man turned his head slightly and watched Nathan’s departing form. Once he was sure Nathan had turned the corner and vanished from sight, he stepped quickly and redialed Megan’s number. "He has been here at the hospital," he said in a hushed tone. "Met with the doctor in the Genetic Testing Department." On the other end of the call, Megan sat rigid in her office chair, her gut twisting as she heard the words. Of course, he’d go for the paternity test. But this soon? She slammed her pen onto the desk and stood up in a sharp, agitated motion. "Stay there. I’m on my way." The call ended with a sharp beep. Megan gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with rage and fear. "You think some test will give you a place in this family? Keep dreaming, Anne. I won’t let you set foot in the family." Snatching her handbag, Megan stormed out of the office. Inside Augustine’s office... Augustine sat behind his desk, but his eyes weren’t on the documents in front of him. They were vacant, his thoughts a thousand miles away. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t concentrate. His mind kept circling back to the lunch meeting. He couldn’t shake the unsettling realization that someone within the Granet family didn’t want Anne. And once it was confirmed that she truly was the long-lost daughter, that person would likely make a move. That hidden adversary might try to harm Anne. This thought filled him with unease, leaving him deeply unsettled. "If there is even the slightest threat to Anne, I’ll find it and eliminate it." His mind drifted to Oliver Granet. The man had buried the fire report and shut down the investigation under the guise of protecting his wife’s fragile mental health. Augustine’s instincts screamed that something wasn’t right, yet his rational side hesitated. ’Could a father really go to such lengths to abandon his own daughter?’ He doubted it. Someone else had to be there, lurking in the shadows, pulling strings. "Whoever is behind this, I’ll find them," he muttered under his breath with resolve. He grabbed his phone and swiftly dialed Gustave. "Any news on Oliver Granet?" he asked. "Not yet, sir," Gustave replied. "But I’ll update you as soon as I have something. Also... Nathan is investigating, too. He is trying to track down the officer who led the original case. Want me to follow him?" Augustine considered it for a moment. "Yeah," he said. "Follow him. And if he needs help, give it." "Understood, sir." As the call disconnected, Augustine leaned back in his seat, his expression now grim. "What are you hiding, Oliver?" he wondered, eyes narrowing in thought. Anne stepped out of the house, needing a breath of fresh air to clear her mind. The moment she reached the porch, Sam appeared beside her. "Are you heading out, Madam?" "I want to take a walk," Anne replied, her tone clipped. "You don’t have to follow me." "I’m sorry, Madam." He stood tall, not budging. "It’s my duty to ensure your safety. I can’t allow you to go alone." Anne let out a sigh of frustration. All she wanted was a moment of solitude, to walk freely without eyes on her. But she knew Sam was only following Augustine’s orders. "Alright," she muttered, resigned. "But keep your distance. I don’t want to look like some VIP parading around with a bodyguard." She strode off briskly. Sam followed silently, keeping a discreet distance, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Anne strolled down the quiet street, the chill of the evening air kissed her cheeks and wrapped around, soothing her frayed nerves. The tension in her chest began to ease, her racing thoughts slowing with every step. When she passed a jogger’s park lined with people walking and running along the track, she stopped, her gaze drifting toward the buzz of activity. Her mind wandered back to Nathan’s words, especially that pivotal day in the past. What if her mother hadn’t taken her to the park that day? Would things have turned out differently? Would she have grown up with her real family? Just then, a childlike voice broke through her reverie. "Sister, this is for you." Startled, Anne looked down to find a little girl, no more than nine or ten, standing before her, offering a single red rose. The girl beamed, her eyes bright with innocence. Anne’s lips curved into a soft smile. She assumed the child must be selling flowers. "How much?" she asked gently, taking the rose. The girl shook her head. "No, no... I’m not selling it. That man told me to give it to you." She pointed toward the bend where the street curved out of sight. Anne’s eyes followed the direction, her brows pulling together in curiosity. "Who?" But when she turned back to the girl, she was already gone, vanished as suddenly as she had appeared. "What the—?" Anne blinked in surprise, the rose still in her hand. The mysterious gesture sent a flutter through her heart. Could it be Augustine? He often surprised her in such thoughtful, whimsical ways. Eager and intrigued, she headed toward the curve in the road the girl had indicated. But when she turned the corner, she found no one. Anne scanned her surroundings again, her eyes darting from left to right. There was no one. She looked behind and saw no sign of Sam. Thinking he might have fallen behind, she moved ahead. "Looking for me?" A voice came from the side. Startled, Anne whipped her head toward the sound. There, partially shrouded in shadows, stood Denis, leaning casually against the wall of a narrow alley, one leg bent, foot pressed flat against the bricks. His posture was relaxed, but the intensity in his gaze was anything but. "You?" Her voice barely escaped her lips. A chill swept over her, goosebumps rising on her arms. The rose slipped from her fingers, tumbling to the ground. Denis straightened and began walking toward her with measured steps. "Come with me." It was not a request but an order. Alarmed, Anne instinctively stepped back. But she barely had time to move before his hand shot out and seized her wrist. "Don’t run from me," he said firmly. "I’m not going to hurt you." "Let go of me," she spat, yanking at her wrist, fury flashing in her eyes. "Or I’ll scream." But Denis only tightened his grip. "Listen to me, Anne. I’m not your enemy," he said, desperation bleeding into his voice. "I’m worried about you. You need to leave Augustine. He is not the man you think he is. He is dangerous. His background is dark, deeper than you realize. He is involved with the underworld. If you stay with him, you’ll fall into terrible trouble." Anne stopped struggling, her body going still. ’How does he know?’ That was the first thought that surfaced in her mind.

Chapter 235: I’m not your enemy

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