Chapter 35 Never Parting
Anna arrived at home.
Daniel was sitting on the sofa, glaring at her with an infuriated expression as she entered the house.
"You still have the dignity to come home?" Daniel fumed.
His ear-piercingly sharp and booming voice reverberated across the vast living room.
Nicole and Chloe were standing beside Daniel. Even they were hanging their heads low, trembling in fear. They stood obediently like women who did not even dare to speak loudly in front of the man of the house.
"Danny, don't be mad. Anna has already explained herself to Madam Dawson. It's not her fault... It's not like she had done anything improper."
"That's right, Daddy. Don't be mad at Anna. She's been through a lot today. Besides, there was no way that Anna invited a man into her room in the Dawson family mansion. She's not that kind of person!" Both Chloe and Nicole were trying to soothe Daniel's anger, pretending as if they were trying their best to defend Anna.
However, it further stoked Daniel's anger. "Who do you think Madam Dawson is! Her husband and son both died young, leaving her to run the entire family
business. She's a strong and independent woman that once swept the entire corporate world off its feet! Do you really think that she believes this is all just a big misunderstanding? That you were at the church in the middle of the night?"
Anna did not say a word.
She did try to explain herself. After all, her father was right.
She knew from the beginning that Grandmother Dawson might not believe her words. She was merely looking for a way to bring closure to this mess.
Nicole spoke again. "Danny, Anna must be tired. Why don't you let her go upstairs and rest? Don't chastise her anymore."
"Tired? Tired from what? Everyone knows about her 'little incident'! When I went to see a client today, he asked me whether my daughter knew the Sanchez family's philandering son!
"He was clearly asking me if there's any illicit relationship between the two of them! I was utterly humiliated! All because of her!"
Having said that, Daniel continued to scold Anna.
"How are you supposed to take over Lincoln Group when you can't even handle yourself well! You are fortunate that news of this incident did not spread too widely. If Lincoln Group's senior investors hear about this, what will happen to their image of you! Do you think they'll still trust you to be the successor?"
Daniel stood up from the sofa and stormed around the living room. "I left the Dawson family mansion early to discuss a contract at the company. Who would have thought that in that short period of time, you managed to screw up so spectacularly! From today onwards, you're grounded! Stay at home and reflect on your actions!"
Chloe went up and grabbed Danial's arm. "Daddy, please calm down. If you lock Anna in the house, everyone will think that something really happened between her and Ryan Sanchez!" Chloe's words successfully added fuel to the fire.
Daniel turned to Anna and roared, "You better make this clear now-what is your relation with Ryan Sanchez!"
Anna shot a cold glance at Chloe. Calmly, she replied," We have no relations."
"That's easy to say! If you didn't know him, why was he sleeping naked in your room!" Overwhelmed with rage, Daniel's body trembled uncontrollably.
Nicole took Daniel's arm and helped him onto the sofa. "Danny, please calm down. All this rage isn't good for your body... What am I supposed to do if you fall ill?"
Nicole's concern brought some relief to his anger, and her caring gaze brought comfort to his heart.
Chloe hurriedly brought a cup of water to Daniel. She, too, showered him with words that filled his heart with warmth.
"Daddy, you must take care of yourself. You are the pillar of this house. What will we do without you?"
Anna had long been accustomed to seeing the motherdaughter duo's fake act of flattery toward Daniel.
Men are creatures of pride. All they needed was some praise and acclamation to feel high and mighty.
The technique was always effective on Daniel. Finally, he took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Danny, I made some dessert just now. Let me bring you a bowl. It'll help cool you down." Having said that, Nicole hurried to the kitchen to grab a bowl of dessert.
Meanwhile, Chloe massaged his shoulders and legs. "Daddy, you've been busy this whole day. You must be tired. Here, let me give you a massage. I learned this just for you, Daddy. Are you enjoying it?" Daniel grinned from ear to ear. "Yeah, it's amazing. Such a thoughtful daughter."
Nicole also had a cheerful smile. As she returned with the bowl of dessert, she joked, "Chloe loves her Daddy the most. She's never been this good to me!" "Mommy, I love you too!" Chloe pouted her red lips." You're talking as if I only have Daddy in my heart, and not you, Mommy! Daddy, she's jealous of you!" Daniel laughed.
Anna gazed at the happy family of three before her eyes. Suddenly, she felt a lump in her throat.
Once upon a time...
She also had a happy family of three with her mother and her father.
Sadly, an accident shattered their happiness.
After her stepmother and stepsister entered the family, the tiny specks of warmth that remained vanished into thin air.
Chloe wrapped her arms around Daniel's neck and said, "Mommy always tells me that Daddy is the greatest man on earth! Daddy, I'm so lucky to have a father as awesome as you!"
Daniel's smile grew even wider. He had completely forgotten about his anger toward Anna.
"Anna, come and have some dessert. I've added some collagen powder to it. It's good for your skin." Nicole brought a bowl of dessert for Anna and placed it on the table. Her expression and tone of voice looked exactly like that of a caring mother.
"I dare not eat the things you've made," Anna said coldly.
She had already figured everything out. At the party, she felt her body burning up after drinking the wine that Nicole handed her. She could not even think straight after that.
Nicole and Chloe had dug a grave for her and waited for her to jump right in, never to resurface.
Nicole's body shivered. Her gaze toward Anna turned dark for a second but turned misty not a minute later. Nicole rubbed at the corner of her eyes.
"Anna, is it because you don't like my cooking? I'll go to the kitchen and make a new batch for you right now!"
Daniel's expression darkened. "Anna, how could you talk to your mother like that? When will you learn to be well-behaved like your sister?"
'Pft! Well-behaved?'
"I'm tired!" Having said that, she stormed upstairs to her room without even glancing back.
Daniel's face turned pale with anger. "Unbelievable!"
"She's all grown up now. It's expected that she won't listen to you anymore. Moreover, in two months, she'll be graduating and taking over the Lincoln Group. You'll have to step down and Anna's status will be high above our heads. She won't have to fear you anymore." Nicole gazed at Daniel with troubled eyes.
"Danny, when you step down from the company, Chloe and I will still be here for you. You'll still have us."
Chloe snuggled up in Daniel's arms. "Daddy, we're a family. We must be together forever, never parting."
The depressing thought of leaving the Hamilton family's enormous mansion and heading back to his old home with Nicole and Chloe suddenly appeared in his mind.
He subconsciously hugged the daughter in his arms. He did not say a word, but a faint look of discontent could be seen in his eyes.