The atmosphere in the living room had settled heavily over Anna. Her heart pounded nervously, and she felt every gaze fixed on her.

"You are still a college student, are you not?" Enzo's wife spoke with a forced smile. "If you have a child now, it will jeopardize your studies."

Enzo quickly supported her point, eager to strengthen the case. "Yes, Anna is too young to give up her education and stay home with a baby."

Hilary remained composed, as if she could see through their every word. She understood exactly what her son and daughter-in-law were thinking, and that was why she held firm. An heir had to be secured, no matter the cost.

She turned toward Anna and asked her without any pretense, "Are you prepared to give Julian a child? Remember, if you do, you will inherit all of his fortune. You and he will never want for anything."

"Yes," Anna answered without hesitation.

She gave her answer firmly. She would never allow Noah to claim a share of the Ashford estate. And even if she objected, the family held enough influence to force her compliance.

A look of satisfaction brightened Hilary's face.

"I knew you were wiser than all those foolish women who never realized what there was to gain from Julian's death."

After finishing tea, Anna left the old mansion. The sunlight bathed everything in warmth, and the sound of cicadas filled the air. As soon as she stepped outside, Noah appeared in front of her.

The sight of his face twisted something inside her.

"Mrs. Miller, please take these gifts home," Anna said.

The housekeeper nodded, took the boxes, and walked away. Once they were alone, Noah leaned in and whispered, "You're hurting me, Anna! You've never let me get close, and now you're willing to have Uncle Julian's child!"

Anna responded with a cold laugh.

"This child will secure my claim to everything he is set to inherit. Why would I turn down such an opportunity?"

Noah's face lost all color, and his lips trembled as he replied, "You could have my child instead and pretend it was my uncle's! Even if Grandmother discovered the truth, she would never dare force you to end the pregnancy."

Anna's ironic smile faded at once.

"You are acting recklessly, Noah. Chasing ambition without any foresight only ends in disaster. You know just as well as I do that Julian's men show no mercy. Even now, they're waiting for him to return. If you tried to fool them, do you really believe they would let you walk away alive?"

Her cold words struck him deeply. He understood all too well the fierce loyalty his uncle's men possessed. After the accident, they had kept a low profile, but they never truly disappeared.

"I was only joking," he stammered, trying to regain his composure. "It doesn't matter whether the child is his or mine. Once he's gone, I'll treat the child as my own."

Anna sighed and shot back sharply, "That child would be your cousin, Noah. He's your uncle's, after all."

He fell silent, stunned by her words.

"Let's not fight," he insisted, his voice tense. "We can talk about this after he's gone."

"And what if he never dies?" Anna asked with a sharp glint in her eyes. "Will you wait for me forever?"

He could not answer. Anna, brimming with contempt, gave him one last look.

"I have to return now. Your grandmother has already arranged for a doctor to go check on your uncle."

Back at the manor, two medical practitioners awaited her. They hurried her to the hospital for tests.

If she happened to be ovulating, they would collect her eggs. If not, they planned to use an injection to stimulate her body.

"Please do not worry, Mrs. Ashford," one of the doctors said in a calm, reassuring tone. "There may be some pain, but once you deliver Mr. Julian's child, your position in this family will be firmly secured."

As Anna lay on the medical bed, her heart pounded wildly.

"How long will it take for... it to work?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"It's hard to say," the doctor replied. "If you're lucky, three or four months might be enough. Otherwise... it could take much longer."

She paused briefly before adding gently, "You're still young, Anna. Everything will turn out fine."

The weeks passed quickly. Autumn settled over Avonsville, bringing cool showers and golden skies.

One evening, after finishing her shower, Anna stepped out of the bathroom. She sat on the edge of the bed, opened a small jar of cream she had just bought, and gently applied it to her face.

She glanced over at Julian, who remained motionless in his large bed.

"Julian," she murmured, "would you like me to put some on you as well? The air is so dry lately..."

Without waiting for a reply, she moved closer and sat beside him. She dabbed some cream onto her fingertips and gently massaged it into his cold skin.

Right then, his eyelids fluttered, and his eyes snapped open.

Anna caught her breath. She was not unfamiliar with these brief awakenings—he occasionally opened his eyes, but the vividness of his gaze always startled her. Yet this time, something felt different. His amber irises, bright as gemstones, appeared to ignite with a fresh intensity.

"Did I press too hard?" Anna asked, unsettled. "I don't think I did..."

She kept massaging his face, her lips moving with words meant as much for herself as for him.

"I read online that you've never had a girlfriend because of a certain illness... But I have nothing to find fault with. Your arms are strong... your legs are sturdy..."

She gently tapped his limbs, as if to underscore her words.

Suddenly, she thought she heard something—a deep voice, faint but unmistakably real.

Anna froze, her heart racing.

"Julian? Did you say something?!"

She jerked backward, her eyes wide with shock. The look he gave her was no longer vacant. It brimmed with anger, hatred, and suspicion.

"Mrs. Miller!" Anna cried out, breathless as she hurried down the stairs. "Mrs. Miller, Julian is awake! He spoke! He's really awake!"

Her cheeks turned bright red, and her chest heaved with excitement. She felt certain that Julian had truly regained consciousness.

Her shouts stirred the entire house. Mrs. Miller, the doctor, and the bodyguard all rushed in. Before long, the manor was buzzing with activity.

No one had dared to believe it could happen. Yet there was Julian Ashford, his eyes open, breathing, and speaking.

"I knew you would come back to us, my son!" Hilary exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.

"It's a miracle," Enzo added. "You have no idea how terrified we've been... Mother lost sleep, and even her hair turned gray."

After a quick examination, the doctor confirmed the impossible.

"It's truly remarkable. Last time, there were no signs of recovery. Now, with proper rehabilitation, he will regain his strength quickly."

The news came so suddenly that Hilary fainted. Enzo caught her just in time and led her out of the room.

Inside, only Anna remained, frozen by the door, and Julian, propped against the pillow, his eyes cold and sharp.

He fixed his piercing gaze on her.

"Who is she?" he asked, his deep voice laced with contempt.

The doctor froze, his words caught in his throat, and he could not bring himself to respond. Mrs. Miller, with her head bowed, replied quietly, "Master Julian... she's your wife. Mrs. Hilary arranged your marriage while you were ill. Her name is Anna..."

Julian's lips parted only slightly. His voice, icy and emotionless, cut through the silence like a sentence. "Get her out of here."

Anna instinctively retreated, stunned by the cold fury in Julian's eyes. While he slept, he appeared fragile, but awake, he radiated the silent threat of a predator.

Mrs. Miller quietly closed the door and offered Anna a reassuring look while Anna stood motionless, like a hunted animal.

"Do not be afraid, Ms. Anna. Master Julian has only just returned to consciousness. He needs time to recover. For tonight, please rest in the guest room. We shall see tomorrow. And keep in mind: Hilary holds you in high esteem. You are not without support."

Despite the gentle words, Anna's thoughts raced. She had prepared herself for the possibility of Julian's death, not for his sudden return to life.

"My things are still in his room..." she whispered, uncertain if she should retrieve her possessions.

Julian's hostility had already convinced her she might never belong in this house. She wondered if it was best to leave before being cast out.

Mrs. Miller responded with a tired sigh.

"Leave them for now. I'll collect them and bring them to you tomorrow."

Anna simply nodded, weighed down by a sense of dread.

"Are you frightened by him?" she asked abruptly.

"I have served him for many years," Mrs. Miller replied. "He can be intimidating, yes, but he has never done me harm."

Anna did not answer. She wore his ring, but in truth, this was the first time they truly faced each other. It was only natural for her to feel distant.

Anna barely slept that night. Julian's unexpected awakening had upended everything she had prepared for.

The following day, Mrs. Miller came at eight and handed Anna her belongings.

"It's time for breakfast," she announced. "Master Julian is already at the table. You should join him."

"I doubt he wants me there," Anna replied, unable to hide her bitterness.

"Come anyway. When I mentioned Hilary's fondness for you, he didn't object. Maybe today he'll show some willingness to accept you."

With no other choice, Anna made her way to the dining room. Julian waited, seated in a wheelchair, posture upright and frame imposing despite his condition.

Anna sat down quietly, nerves on edge, as silence lingered between them. At last, he lifted his dark, unreadable gaze to meet hers.

"Morning, Julian. I am... I'm Anna Hart," she managed to say, her voice unsteady.

Julian lifted his coffee and took a slow sip before speaking in a voice as cold as ice. "I've been told you may be carrying my child."

Anna's stomach twisted into a tight knot.

"Which do you prefer? A surgical procedure or medication for the abortion?"

He delivered the words with chilling detachment, and the impact left Anna pale and speechless.

Mrs. Miller quickly stepped in, her tone gentle but firm. "Master Julian, this was all your mother's idea. Anna had no part in the decision."

"Don't use my mother as a tool to sway me," he snapped, shutting down the explanation.

He turned on Anna just as she tried to respond.

"Who said you could use my name?"

"Would you rather I call you 'darling'?" She tried to deflect, half in irony, half in desperation.

Anger flashed in his eyes. Anna, realizing her mistake, rushed to clarify.

"I'm not pregnant. My period started this morning. If you don't believe me, you can ask Mrs. Fisher, the housekeeper."

Julian offered no reply. He simply took another drink of his coffee.

Anna finished her breakfast in silence and stood up, the oppressive atmosphere in the house pressing in on her from all sides.

"Get the paperwork ready. We'll be getting a divorce soon," Julian said coldly.

She halted, unsurprised by the announcement.

"When will it happen?" she asked.

"In a few days," he answered. "Not until my mother's health improves."

"All right. Just let me know," she replied, then quietly returned to her room.

A short while later, she gathered her bag and headed downstairs... only to find Noah standing awkwardly in the foyer.

The young man approached Julian's chair, as tense as a child caught misbehaving.

"Uncle Julian," he said, forcing a respectful tone, "my parents are with Grandma at the hospital. Dad asked me to check in on you. I brought some supplements."

Without a word, Julian gestured to his bodyguard, who accepted the box and promptly tossed it into the trash.

"Uncle Julian!" Noah protested. "Those are high-quality products! If you don't want them, I can bring something else..."

A vicious strike to Noah's legs sent him crashing to his knees.

The sound startled Anna, who flinched in alarm.

Julian, holding a cigarette between his fingers, gazed down at his nephew with icy detachment.

"Are you disappointed to see that I survived?" he asked.

Noah began to tremble.

"N-no, of course not! I'm actually relieved..."

"So you're contradicting me now? Julian interrupted, his tone deceptively calm but dripping with menace. "Do you also deny paying off my lawyer?"

He let the ash from his cigarette fall, watching as it landed on Noah's pale face.

"Leave. If you test my patience again, I'll feed you to the dogs."

Panic seized Noah and he staggered out of the manor in terror.

Anna, left reeling by the harsh encounter, felt a wave of fear sweep through her. Even someone as repugnant as Noah had become utterly powerless before Julian. She silently vowed never to draw his wrath.

Clutching her bag, Anna hurried out of the house.

At the hospital, she confessed to her doctor that her period had been late and oddly light. The doctor ordered an ultrasound for her.

An hour later, Anna received the results.

There was no sign of uterine bleeding, but the ultrasound revealed a gestational sac.

Anna stared at the screen, frozen in disbelief.

She was pregnant.

The diagnosis struck her like a blow: since she had experienced some bleeding, steps needed to be taken to safeguard the pregnancy.

"Doctor, what if I don't want to keep the baby?" she asked, panicked.

The prospect horrified her. With divorce looming, the idea of carrying Julian's child felt like the worst possible outcome.

The doctor fixed her with a serious look.

"Do you know how many women long for a pregnancy and never get the chance? Why would you turn away from what life has given you?"

Anna lowered her gaze, at a loss for words.

"Where is your husband?" the doctor pressed. "Even if you don't want the child, you should discuss it with him."

Anna's brow furrowed in frustration.

"You're only twenty-one," the doctor continued, glancing at her file. "Are you not married?"

"I'd rather not be," she whispered under her breath.

"In any case, an abortion is never a trivial procedure," the doctor said calmly. "You need to think very carefully before deciding. No matter what your relationship with the father may be, the child is innocent."

He handed her the medical file and concluded, "With this bleeding, the outcome of the pregnancy is still uncertain. If you wish to protect the baby, I can prescribe treatment. However, you will need to remain on bed rest for an entire week and then return for a follow-up examination."

Anna hesitated, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

"What do I need to do to save them?" she finally asked.

The doctor allowed himself a faint smile.

"That sounds like a change of heart. You're young and healthy, and your child will likely be just as strong. Take the medication, get plenty of rest, and we'll see how things progress."

Beneath the harsh glare of the sun, Anna stepped out of the hospital, drained and soaked in cold sweat. She wandered without direction, her thoughts in chaos. One truth settled heavily in her mind: Julian could never find out about the pregnancy. If he did, he would not hesitate to force her onto an operating table.

She took a taxi to her Uncle Morgan's house. After her parents' divorce, her mother, Ambre Garcia, had moved in with her brother.

Zoé, Morgan's wife, met Anna at the door. Her welcoming smile vanished the instant she noticed Anna had arrived empty-handed.

"Really? Not even a small present?" Zoé scoffed. "I heard you spoiled your father with expensive gifts, but you show up here with nothing?"

Anna's cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Zoé. I'll bring something next time."

"There's no need!" Zoé snapped, her voice cold. "The Ashfords must have cast you out. If Julian actually cared about you, you wouldn't be running back here for shelter."

Ambre quickly stepped in to defend her daughter. "Even if Anna left that family, that's no excuse to humiliate her!"

Zoé shot back, "Oh, spare me, Ambre. You're living in my roof. If you're not happy, the door is open."

Ambre's face flushed with anger, but she kept quiet. Anna, distressed by the argument, leaned close to her mother.

"Mom, maybe it's time for you to find a place of your own. I have some money saved..."

Ambre didn't hesitate. "Alright. I'll start packing my bags now."

Within half an hour, the two of them had left the house and climbed into a taxi.

"Don't worry about me, Anna," Ambre said bitterly as they rode away. "I've got some savings put aside. The only reason I stayed there was because your grandmother wanted someone to care for her. Otherwise, I would have left ages ago."

Anna stared down at her hands.

"Aunt Zoé wasn't completely wrong. I'll be divorcing Julian in a few days."

Ambre looked stunned for a moment, then gently squeezed her daughter's hand.

"It's not the end of the world. You still have your studies. Once the divorce is final, you can focus on your degree."

Anna nodded. "Yes. And I'm not going back to the Harts. From now on, it will just be us—living together."

Anna kept her pregnancy secret, determined not to burden her mother with any more worries.

When she returned to Ashford Manor that evening, she found the house shrouded in a strange, oppressive quiet. Mrs. Miller emerged unexpectedly from the shadows, causing Anna to jump in surprise.

"Have you had dinner, Ms. Anna? I left some food out for you. I also brought you a few tampons, just in case."

"Thank you. I've already eaten. Why is it so quiet tonight? Isn't Julian here?"

Mrs. Miller shook her head. "No, he's not. The doctor told him to rest, but as usual, he ignored the advice. No one can control him."

Anna nodded, already well aware of Julian's stubborn pride and refusal to listen to anyone. Any sympathy she once felt for him had long since vanished.

That night, she lay awake, turning over thoughts of the child inside her. Her worry only grew deeper.

The next morning, Anna avoided leaving her room, afraid she might run into Julian. At half past nine, Mrs. Miller came to her door and knocked gently.

"He just left, Ms. Anna. You can come down for breakfast now," Mrs. Miller informed her.

Anna couldn't help but smile, grateful for the housekeeper's kindness.

After eating, she received a call from a classmate who needed an urgent translation. The payment was generous, but the job had to be finished by noon. Anna accepted without hesitation.

By eleven thirty, she had completed the work, reviewed the file, and was about to send it off. Suddenly, her laptop froze, the screen flashed blue, then faded to black. The entire system crashed.

Luckily, Anna had saved the document on a USB stick. All she needed was access to another computer.

She hurried to Mrs. Miller and explained, "My computer just broke. Is there another one I could use in the house?"

"Yes, but it's Master Julian's," Mrs. Miller replied.

Anna's heart went cold at the thought.

"It will only take a minute to send it. I doubt he'd mind if it's just for a moment." The housekeeper tried to reassure her, sensing her distress. "You're pressed for time, aren't you?"

Anna glanced at the clock—eleven fifty.

Determined, Anna climbed to Julian's office. The room had been left undisturbed, locked away throughout all the months of his coma. Her hands shook as she powered on the computer.

To her astonishment, it didn't ask for a password. The screen flickered to life right away.

The computer, unlocked and unprotected, powered up without hesitation. Anna's pulse quickened.

She took a steadying breath, inserted her USB drive, opened her email, and sent the file. Everything went far more smoothly than she expected, and by noon, her work was already delivered.

Relief washed over her as she reached to power down the computer. However, her trembling fingers accidentally brushed a folder on the desktop. The screen filled with documents she had never meant to see. Anna's breath caught and eyes widened in shock as she glimpsed at the screen.

Five minutes later, she left Julian's office, struggling to steady her breathing.

"You see?" Mrs. Miller said with a gentle smile when Anna reappeared. "I told you Master Julian wouldn't be back for a while."

Anna couldn't shake the feeling of fear. It felt as though she had stumbled onto a side of Julian she was never meant to discover, a secret she wished she hadn't seen.

"Are there cameras in his office?" she asked, her voice unsteady.

"No, only outside," the housekeeper replied.

A chill crept down Anna's spine. Julian would know she had been in the room.

Mrs. Miller attempted to calm her down as she reassured her.

"Just be honest with him. You were only there for a few minutes. I doubt he'll be angry with you."

Right then, Anna's phone buzzed. Her classmate had sent three hundred and twenty dollars as payment. The amount astonished her; two hours of work for such a sum! For a brief moment, the money eased her nerves, but the memory of that open folder lingered at the edge of her thoughts.

After lunch, Anna retreated to her room. Sitting before the dressing table, she rested a hand on her belly and whispered, "Little one... I don't want to let you go, but if I bring you into this world, your path will be even harder than mine."

Exhausted, Anna finally drifted into sleep.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door burst open—Mrs. Miller hurried in, her face pale with alarm.

"Ms. Anna, did you use Master Julian's computer?"

Anna's heart jumped.

"Is he back? Has he found out?"

"You told me you only needed to send a file!" Mrs. Miller whispered, her voice trembling. "But he says you opened something else. He's furious—I've never seen him like this..."

Anna's face went pale, her eyes filling with tears.

"I didn't do it on purpose. I was trying to shut the computer down, and my hand slipped. I swear, I barely saw anything!"

Mrs. Miller believed her but still shook her head in despair.

"I'm going to lose my job because of this..."

Anna bit her lip, unwilling to let the housekeeper take the blame. She decided to face Julian herself.

She waited in the lobby as the elevator doors slid open. Julian's wheelchair appeared, pushed by his bodyguard. His expression was as cold as stone, his anger unmistakable.

Anna forced herself to step forward, her whole body trembling.

"I'm sorry, Julian. My computer broke down, so I used yours. Mrs. Miller had nothing to do with it, I ignored her warnings...

Anna took responsibility for everything.

Julian stopped directly in front of her, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You saw it all, didn't you?"

he demanded, his voice dangerously low. His hands gripped the armrests so tightly his knuckles turned white. If he still had full use of his legs, he might have lashed out already.

Anna shook her head desperately.

"I barely glanced! I didn't pay any attention, I promise..."

"Enough!" Julian barked, cutting her off with a fierce scowl. "Go to your room. You are not to leave until the divorce is finalized."

Choking back tears, Anna did as she was told. Behind the closed door, his brutal rejection cut as sharply as a knife.

Out in the living room, Julian tried to steady himself.

"No food for her," he ordered coldly.

Mrs. Miller pressed her lips together in silent sympathy for Anna, but no one dared defy Julian. In this house, Julian's word was final.

Two days later, Hilary was finally released from the hospital, her health much improved. Without delay, she returned to the manor.

"My son, how are you? What did the doctor say? When will you be able to walk again?" she asked eagerly with a hopeful smile.

"He told me I'm recovering," Julian replied, his tone neutral. "But, Mom, we need to talk."

The hope faded a little from Hilary's expression.

"This is about Anna, isn't it? I'm the one who arranged your marriage. She's a good girl, and I've always liked her a lot... Please tell me you haven't sent her away."

"No," Julian answered shortly. He then motioned to Mrs. Miller.

Understanding his signal, Mrs. Miller made her way upstairs to Anna's room. For the past two days, Anna had eaten almost nothing, and the housekeeper worried she might find her completely drained.

Standing in the doorway, Hilary caught sight of Anna curled up against the wall, arms hugging her knees. Her hair was unkempt, falling over a face drained of color, and she looked especially small and fragile in the oversized room.

When Hilary called her name anxiously, Anna lifted her head, her eyes clouded and bewildered, as though she were still lost in a fog.

"Anna! What happened to you?" Hilary cried, horrified. The sight before her made her chest tighten. Anna's skin was unnaturally pale, her lips cracked and dry, and her frame looked alarmingly thinner, as though the strength had been drained from her.

Mrs. Miller stepped forward with a glass of warm milk, offering it carefully.

"Drink a little, Ms. Anna. There's no need to be afraid... Now that Mrs. Hilary is here, you can eat."

Hilary spun around, her anger flaring.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded. "Has Julian forbidden her from eating? Is he trying to starve her?"

Without waiting for an answer, she stormed into the living room, where Julian sat waiting.

"Julian! Anna is the woman I chose for you," she snapped. "How do you expect me to accept this if you treat her so cruelly?"

Julian met her fury with a cold gaze.

"She made a mistake, Mother," he replied evenly. "Without you, do you truly believe I would have allowed her to stay here at all?"

To him, withholding food for two days had been nothing more than a mild punishment.

"A mistake? What kind of mistake could ever justify treating her this way?" Hilary demanded, her voice trembling.

Julian said nothing. His lips pressed into a hard line, shutting her out. After a moment, Hilary's tone softened, the anger giving way to something close to desperation.

"I know why you've always rejected marriage and children... But you can't go on like this. Even if you feel nothing for Anna, you must keep her by your side. Stay together, if only in name..."

Tears welled in her eyes, and her breathing grew uneven. Before Julian could reply, her body swayed. Half a minute later, she collapsed onto the sofa.

The elderly Mrs. Ashford, barely discharged from the hospital that very morning, was rushed back in an emergency. Watching the chaos unfold, Julian realized grimly that casting Anna aside would not be as simple as he had intended.

In the guest room, Anna managed a few sips of warm milk, strength slowly returning to her. She had heard every word of the confrontation.

"As long as Mrs. Hilary remains here, he won't force you out," Mrs. Miller murmured, gently running a comb through Anna's hair.

Anna shook her head, her gaze steady and resolute.

"I want a divorce," she said quietly. "Whether he agrees or not, I'm leaving."

She no longer wanted to endure a single moment in that hell.

When Julian appeared at the doorway, his cold stare fixed on her without wavering. Anna calmly set her bowl aside, reached for the suitcase she had packed two days earlier, and spoke with quiet resolve.

"Let's get a divorce, Julian. Go and marry someone you actually love."

Julian narrowed his eyes, a dangerous edge flashing across his rigid features.

"Do you despise me that much?" he asked. "Don't you think you were the one in the wrong?"

"Yes," Anna answered evenly. "I was wrong to touch your computer. But I've already paid for that mistake. We're even now. Give me the divorce papers, and this will finally end."

A heavy silence settled between them. Then Julian spoke, his tone merciless.

"Who said your punishment was finished?"

The words drained the strength from Anna's body, as if she had been struck without warning.

"If staying with me feels like such a burden... then you will remain Mrs. Ashford," he continued coldly. "The divorce will happen, but not right now."

He spun his wheelchair and left Anna standing there, trembling with anger and disgust.

A week later, Anna visited the hospital, convinced the baby could not have survived after those days without food.

"Doctor, is my child gone?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"What makes you think that?" the doctor replied.

"I didn't eat for two days... and my health has always been fragile."

The doctor offered a reassuring smile.

"Two days without food isn't unusual. Some pregnant women can't keep eat anything for weeks."

Anna hardly dared breathe.

"So... my baby?"

The doctor's face brightened. "Congratulations. You're not carrying just one child. You're having twins."

Anna's heart missed a beat as shock and disbelief washed over her.