Chapter 77: Anne learned Tania’s secret.

Words : 1176 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 77: Anne learned Tania’s secret. "I’m not just saying this to please you," he continued earnestly. "I don’t speak without meaning it. Every word I say—I mean it completely." Still dazed, she whispered, "But why? How? You barely know me." "I know you well enough to have fallen for you—completely and hopelessly." With that, he leaned in once more, capturing her lips in a kiss that was different this time—gentle, lingering, and full of emotion. He teased and savored her, drawing her into his warmth. The last of her hesitation melted away. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Anne surrendered to the moment, responding to his kiss with equal fervor. Just as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, the door creaked open, and a nurse stepped in. Startled, they immediately broke apart. Anne sprang to her feet, hastily adjusting her dress, her face flushing crimson. The nurse froze at the doorway, looking at them awkwardly, clearly caught off guard. "Um...I-I’ll go check on my father," Anne stammered before dashing out of the room. Augustine wanted to stop her, but she was already out of the room before he could call her. As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she grimaced, pressing her hands against her burning cheeks. "That was so embarrassing," she mumbled. "The nurse saw us kissing—she’ll probably tell everyone in the hospital. I just want to disappear." She hurried down the corridor toward her father’s room. But just as she rounded the corner, her steps faltered. Ahead of her, Tania was moving swiftly toward the emergency exit, accompanied by an unfamiliar man. There was something urgent, almost frantic, about their pace. Anne narrowed her eyes at their retreating figures. "Tania?" she whispered, her brows furrowing. "Who is that man? And why was Tania in such a hurry?" Careful not to draw attention to herself, she followed at a distance. The heavy emergency door swung shut behind them with a dull thud, but Anne caught a glimpse of them through the glass panel. They were standing on the landing of the staircase, the man holding Tania’s hands. Tania appeared agitated, her arms moving in sharp, tense gestures as she spoke to the man. Anne couldn’t make out what she was saying, but the stress on her face was unmistakable. ’Something is wrong.’ Curiosity gnawed at her. Holding her breath, she reached for the door handle and turned it slightly, pushing it opened slowly. "...I told you, this is dangerous," Tania’s voice came through in a harsh whisper. "Why did you come? If anyone finds out—" Anne strained to listen, her fingers tightening around the doorframe. ’What is she hiding?’ "I can’t stay away from you anymore," the man said, his voice laced with agitation. "You promised to contact me, but you didn’t. No calls, no messages. I had no choice but to come looking for you." Hearing this, Anne’s suspicion deepened. Tania’s relationship with this man was far from simple friendship. A smirk played on her lips as she discreetly raised her phone and started recording. ’This is going to be interesting. Tania has a lover, yet she is claiming to be pregnant with Denis’s child.’ "I didn’t call you because I didn’t want to alarm Denis," Tania replied in a hushed yet urgent tone. "He is not easy to handle. Even though he wants me back, he still refuses to marry me. I even faked my pregnancy to force him into it, but he won’t budge. I don’t know what else to do." Anne barely stifled a gasp. ’She is not pregnant?’ Her mind reeled from the revelation. In her shock, she stepped back clumsily, her body knocking against the heavy door, producing a sharp sound. Both Tania and the man snapped their heads up instantly. "Who is there?" the man demanded. "If someone heard us, we’re finished," Tania whispered frantically. "Enzo, you have to do something." Panic surged through Anne. Without wasting a second, she turned and bolted, her heart pounding against her ribs. She heard the door creak open behind her, but she didn’t dare to look back. ’I have to get out of here.’ Just as she rounded a corner, a strong hand grabbed her arm and yanked her into an empty room. A startled cry escaped her, but a firm palm covered her mouth and stifled her voice. "Shh, it’s me. Don’t be afraid," a familiar voice reassured her. Anne’s tense body gradually relaxed as she recognized the voice. It was Augustine. Outside the Room... Enzo scanned the hallway, his eyes darting around cautiously. Yet, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. A couple of nurses strolled past, engaged in light conversation. A doctor emerged from a nearby room, followed by a concerned family member. Everything appeared normal—no signs of an eavesdropper. "Did you see anyone?" Tania approached, her anxious gaze flitting around. "No, nothing," Enzo assured her. "I didn’t spot anyone suspicious." Tania, however, wasn’t convinced. A deep sense of unease settled in her chest. Could Denis have sent someone to follow her? "It’s not safe here. You should leave," she insisted. "And don’t call me. If Denis finds out about you, we’re finished." Enzo opened his mouth to protest, but Tania cut him off. "Just go," she ordered, pushing him away. He let out a sharp breath, adjusting his coat. "Fine, I’m leaving. But don’t even think about betraying me. You know what I’m capable of." With that, he turned and strode off. Tania clenched the fabric of her skirt at her sides, her eyes flashing with fury. ’He is becoming a threat. I need to get rid of him.’ But before that, she had a bigger problem to solve. She needed to get pregnant. Without wasting another second, she turned and marched toward the obstetrics and gynecology department. Inside the Room... Anne exhaled a deep breath of relief. "Thank goodness it’s you. I was scared out of my wits. But weren’t you in your room? How did you get out? Didn’t the nurse check on you?" "It was just a routine visit," Augustine replied. "She checked my vitals and left. I went to your father’s room looking for you, but you weren’t there." Tilting his head, he narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "Why were you running around? What’s going on?" "I saw Tania with a man," Anne said, her excitement evident. "I got curious and followed them. You won’t believe what I overheard—Tania isn’t pregnant!" "Really?" Augustine’s frown deepened, clearly caught off guard. "And that man—he seems to be her lover, possibly from abroad," she added. "Here, let me show you something." She lifted her phone and played the recording. "I caught their entire conversation." Augustine watched the video, his expression unreadable. "Tania is unbelievable," Anne scoffed. "She left Denis three years ago and found someone else overseas. Now she is back, trying to reconcile with him—and she is so desperate that she faked a pregnancy. I can’t wait to see how Denis reacts to this."

Chapter 77: Anne learned Tania’s secret.

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