Chapter 6

Anya POV

The sound of the bodyguards' destructive work continued.

I stared at Ethan, feeling my heart tremble with pain.

Finally, I closed my eyes in a daze.

"Fine, I'll apologize."

Here, the only thing I cherished was my mother, who had always held me gently.

I didn't want my mother's resting place to be disturbed, even in death.

Ethan, seeing me finally relent, let out a sigh of relief.

"Let's go, come home with me to apologize."

I paused, slightly stunned.

"She's already moved into our marital home?"

Ethan also realized his words were inappropriate, his gaze flickering as he explained.

"No, it's because your actions caused her mental breakdown, so I brought her home to calm her down."

"Let's go."

I didn't want to hear any more.

Now, all I could do was to maintain my proud facade.

Pretend I hadn't been crushed.

Stepping back into this house, which I hadn't seen in a week, felt incredibly strange.

White jasmine flowers in a vase, children's toys, books scattered around...

Facing me was Serena, holding an eight-year-old girl.

"Ethan, you're back."

Her smile froze when she saw me.

She lowered her head, looking meek and timid.

"Anya, you're back too."

My eyes, full of resentment and coldness, stared fixedly at her.

"If I didn't come back, this house would be taken over by a cuckoo. Were you hoping I wouldn't return?"

Serena's body trembled; she looked at Ethan with a pitiful expression.

Ethan's brows furrowed when he heard my words.

"Enough. I brought you back to apologize!"

Eight-year-old Lily Hayes immediately understood what was happening and rushed out like a small cannonball.

She pushed me hard.

"Bad woman, you're bullying my mother!"

Caught off guard, I was pushed to the floor, my head hitting the stair railing sharply, sending a piercing pain through me.

"Hiss, you damn kid!"

I scrambled to my feet, ready to teach her a lesson, but Ethan gripped my arm.

"I told you, apologize!"

"Why do you have to argue with a child who doesn't know any better?"

Ethan's voice grew increasingly dark.

I bit my molars in pain, glaring at Ethan.

"Don't forget about your mother's ashes."

Ethan warned.

In the end, I only felt utterly disheartened.

I shook off his hand and looked at Serena.

"I'm sorry."

"Is that enough?"

I dropped those words lightly and turned to leave.

When you no longer cared about anything, an apology didn't sting as much.

Ethan looked at my decisive attitude, paused, and felt an inexplicable sense of panic.

"Where are you going?"

I said nothing, continuing to walk out.

"Ethan, Lily says her stomach hurts!"

Serena, holding the child, looked at Ethan helplessly.

Two women.

One needed him.

One was indifferent to him.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He turned, picked up Lily, and took Serena to the hospital.

Days passed by.

Later, I called Ethan.

"See you tomorrow. You're not going to back out, are you?"

Ethan hadn't seen me for over two weeks, and his temper was getting worse by the day.

"I'll be there tomorrow, but will Richard Reed let you go through with it?"

He hinted at something.

But I had already hung up.

The next day, I was preparing to sign the final documents.

Suddenly, a trending topic erupted online.

"Reed Heiress Plays Performance Art in Abandoned Warehouse! Racy Photos Grab Attention!"

One by one, they were the scandalous photos of me from that day.