Chapter 75: Gustave blamed Anne for Augustine’s condition.

Words : 1082 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 75: Gustave blamed Anne for Augustine’s condition. The next morning... Anne was jolted awake by the sudden ringing of her phone. Her heart pounded as she grabbed it, hoping to see Augustine’s name on the screen. But it was Gustave. She answered immediately. "Hello?" "Sir was hospitalized last night," Gustave informed her gravely. "Come to Northshore Hospital right away." Anne froze. That was the same hospital where her father had recently been transferred. But the news of Augustine being hospitalized sent a wave of shock through her, her heart sinking. "What? Why is he in the hospital? What happened to him?" she asked anxiously. But Gustave didn’t respond. Instead, he abruptly ended the call. "Hello? Gustave?" Anne’s panicked voice filled the silent room, her vision blurring with unshed tears as she stared at the blank screen. A heavy sense of dread settled in Anne’s stomach. ’What happened so suddenly? Is he hurt?’ Her heart pounded with anxiety. Without wasting another second, she sprang out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. She freshened up in record time, threw on the first outfit she found, grabbed her bag, and dashed out of the house. It didn’t take long for her to reach the hospital. She hurried to the VIP ward, her eyes scanning the hallway until they landed on Gustave, seated on one of the lined chairs. "Gustave!" she called out, rushing toward him. "Where is Augustine? How is he? Is he alright?" The questions tumbled from her lips, her worry evident in her expression. "He was taken for further tests," Gustave responded solemnly. His cold demeanor only intensified her unease. "Tell me clearly—what exactly happened to him?" she demanded. Gustave met her gaze, his eyes sharp as a blade. "He is allergic to seafood. Last night, he had a severe reaction." Anne’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock before filling with regret and sorrow. ’Why didn’t he tell me?’ "I—I didn’t know," she stammered, her throat tightening. "If I had known..." Gustave cut her off, his voice firm. "He has always been disciplined and vigilant—never reckless. But last night, he did something completely out of character. And it was because of you. He didn’t hesitate to put himself in danger just because he didn’t want to let you down. It’s unusual." Anne opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Gustave continued, his tone unwavering. "I’ve been by his side for years. I’ve witnessed his struggles, the hardships he has endured. His focus has always been singular—revenge. Until now, he never had a weakness or a distraction. But I see it now. And that distraction is you." Anne narrowed her eyes at him, his words cutting deep. "What exactly are you implying?" she asked, her tone sharper this time. "You know exactly what I mean," Gustave said firmly, rising to his feet and meeting her glare with equal intensity. "He is constantly surrounded by danger. Any weakness could put him at risk. And as his subordinate, I won’t allow anyone to harm him—including you." "You are saying I deliberately hurt him?" she snapped, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Whether intentional or not, you are the reason this happened," Gustave stated without hesitation. "This time, it was seafood. Next time, it could be something else. As long as you are in his life, he will continue to get hurt." Anne couldn’t endure the accusation any longer. This wasn’t her fault. Why was he making her the villain? "I’ll let your words slide because I know you are loyal to Augustine and care about his well-being," she said, her voice unwavering. "But don’t forget who you are speaking to—I am his wife. You should think twice before insulting me. Your accusation is absurd. If I had known he was allergic, I never would have served him seafood in the first place." Gustave’s face twisted with anger, ready to lash out, but the sight of Augustine approaching made him quickly mask his fury with his usual stoic expression. "You are back." He rushed to Augustine’s side, gripping his arm. "Let me help you to your room." Anne turned, her gaze locking onto Augustine’s. Her heart clenched at the sight of his pale face. Fresh tears welled in her eyes. She wanted to run to him, to make sure he was truly okay, but her legs wouldn’t move. The distance between them suddenly felt impossible to cross. "Anne..." Augustine gave her a small smile, gently pushing Gustave’s hand away before walking toward her. Gustave stood rigid, his hands curling into fists. His boss was completely drawn to Anne, a woman he saw as a dangerous distraction. He feared Augustine would only fall deeper into trouble because of her. But no matter how much he wanted to intervene, he felt powerless to stop Augustine from reaching for her. ’How can I make sure she stays out of his life?’ Oblivious to Gustave’s inner turmoil, Augustine closed the distance between himself and Anne. His smile faded the moment he saw her tears. "I’m fine," he murmured, brushing them away with his fingertips. "Don’t cry." "You are an idiot," she choked out. "Why? Why didn’t you tell me?" "I was reckless," he admitted softly. "I should have told you. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?" Anne shook her head stubbornly. "No... not that easily." Gustave’s irritation boiled over. "Madam, don’t be so cruel," he snapped. "He is unwell and has already apologized. What more do you want?" His resentment toward Anne was impossible to miss. "Gustave," Augustine’s voice turned sharp, his expression darkening. "You’ve been here all night. Go home and rest. Anne is here—she’ll take care of me." "But..." Gustave started to argue, but Augustine cut him off with a firm, warning glare. Realizing he had overstepped, Gustave immediately lowered his head. "I’ll leave right away," he said stiffly before turning on his heel and striding off briskly. As Augustine turned back to Anne, his expression softened. "Did I worry you?" Anne nodded, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. Stepping closer, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his chest. "I panicked when I heard you were in the hospital. I rushed here right away, but I had no idea it was because of an allergy. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? And why did you eat it in the first place?" Augustine didn’t offer excuses. He simply held her gently and murmured, "I’m sorry."

Chapter 75: Gustave blamed Anne for Augustine’s condition.

Comments (0)