During the business meeting, Connor was visibly uninterested.

After being stood up once before, the business partners had a grudge and took every opportunity to urge Connor to drink.

"Mr. Biddle, this isn't very sporting of you," commented one of the partners when Connor only drank half his glass. The man glanced at Anne beside him, still smiling but with a faint hint of displeasure. "If you can't handle it, why not let Ms. Maddison step in for you?"

"Everyone knows how much Ms. Maddison dotes on Mr. Biddle. She always shields you from drinking too much."

Hearing this, Connor's expression softened.

When they first got married, Connor had been in a slump due to Felicia's disappearance, neglecting his work entirely.

It was Anne who held everything together, attending every drinking party herself. Later, when accompanying Connor to negotiations, she would often shield him from drinking excessively, knowing his stomach could not handle it.

Everyone's eyes were on Anne, including Connor's.

This time, Anne simply smiled faintly. "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well."

The partners showed their disappointment.

Dressed in a wine-red gown that set off her snow-white skin, Anne looked stunning. Her cool, striking face remained expressionless, but they could not help imagining how breathtaking she would look with a flush of drunkenness.

Unable to satisfy their unsavory thoughts, they redirected their efforts to Connor, increasing their pressure on him.

Connor was well aware of Anne's condition. Lowering his eyes, he concealed the emotions swirling within them.

One drink after another, he drank, but a restless irritation churned within him, threatening to explode. Connor's hand tightened slightly around Anne's waist.

"This collaboration is important," Anne softly reminded him, leaning close to his ear when she noticed his growing displeasure.

The deal was worth billions, and it mattered greatly to her. After all, it was her money at stake.

Connor stared at her profile for a moment before loosening his tie and exhaling sharply. Forcing a smile, he endured.

They stayed in the private room for a full hour before the partners finally relented and signed the deal.

After seeing them off, Anne returned to the room, only to find Connor passed out from drinking. She gave him a light kick.

"Help me up," Connor murmured, squinting as he reached a hand toward her.

The moment she pulled him up, he collapsed onto her.

The overpowering smell of alcohol made her instinctively pull away, but Connor gripped her chin and kissed her hard.

It was not a kiss; it was more like a bite.

"Anne, are you hiding something from me?"

"No," she replied calmly, her expression unchanged.

Connor stared at her for a long time, feeling like he could no longer understand her. She used to wear her emotions on her sleeve, and her thoughts were easy to guess.

"I feel like you've been a little distant with me lately."

Perhaps because he was so drunk, Connor rested his head on her shoulder, his voice carrying a rare hint of vulnerability.

In truth, it was not just a little distance. He wanted to say it was a lot.

She no longer shielded him from drinking. Their once-weekly moments of intimacy had stopped.

She used to care about the scandals he stirred up, even arguing with him over them. That changed, and she even pushed him toward Felicia without hesitation.

For the first time, Connor felt that maybe, just maybe, Anne did not love him anymore.

"You're overthinking it."

After a moment of silence, Anne helped him out of the room.

As she anticipated, all it took was a single post on her social media, a photo of Connor's hand, and Felicia had already shown up.

"Ms. Maddison, let me take over." Felicia stepped forward, grabbing Connor's hand and trying to pull him out of Anne's hold.

Anne did not let go.

Felicia's gaze swept over the kiss mark on Anne's neck, her smile fading. "Ms. Maddison, I'm his girlfriend."

For a moment, their eyes met.

Anne asked, "Has Connor ever mentioned me to you?"

Felicia's expression remained unchanged. "No, he hasn't."

Anne fell silent, lost in thought.

Connor groggily opened his eyes. When he saw Felicia, he called out, "Felicia."

Felicia's face lit up with satisfaction. Ignoring whether Anne was letting go or not, she managed to pull Connor into her arms.

Seeing the familiar car, Connor instinctively moved to the back seat.

Felicia could not hold him back and grew anxious. "Connor, I called for a car. Just wait a moment."

"What car? This is my car." Connor opened the door and got in, pulling Felicia along with him. Once inside, he rested his head on her lap.

Felicia sighed softly. "Ms. Maddison, could you give us a ride home?"

Anne moved to the driver's seat. "Sure."

Felicia had not expected her to agree.

As she looked down at Connor, peacefully sleeping on her lap, she swallowed hard and leaned down slightly.

"Connor," she called softly, her voice gentle. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Her hand barely brushed Connor's forehead when he grabbed it.

Connor opened his eyes slightly, his thoughts hazy as memories of his past with Felicia surfaced.

Back then, they had been in a car too. Felicia, her cheeks flushed, had perched shyly on his lap. "Connor, I really like you," she had said.

His heart had softened. He had cupped the back of her neck and kissed her.

At this moment, in his half-conscious state, he seemed to relive that moment, pulling Felicia into a deep kiss.

Startled for only a second, Felicia quickly reciprocated, her response growing more fervent, soft moans escaping her lips.

The sound of their intimacy filled the car. Despite steeling herself, Anne bit her lip hard to keep herself from looking back.

Felicia, however, was determined to provoke her.

"Connor, gentler."

"Connor, don't touch there."

"Connor, can we wait until we're home?"

Anne gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

When the car finally stopped, she exhaled the breath she had been holding.

After a few deep breaths, she coldly reminded them, "We've arrived."

"Ms. Maddison, could you help me bring Connor inside?" Felicia asked with an air of triumph.

Anne lowered her eyes. "Of course."

The moment Connor was placed on the bed, he pinned Felicia beneath him.

Felicia turned her head to glance at Anne, pretending to resist. "Connor, Ms. Maddison is still here."

Quietly, Anne placed a tiny hidden camera inside a flower vase.

Her gaze fell on Felicia's face, flushed from Connor's kisses.

"Ms. Yule," she said, her tone calm but cutting, "since Connor has never mentioned me to you, how did you know my last name is Maddison?"