Chapter 6
A passerby took me to the hospital. After confirming there was no serious damage to my bones, I limped onto a plane without looking back, my ankle swollen and red. The next day, news of a flash wedding for the Anderson family heir hit the trending topics. Not long after, messages from the Miller brothers came in.
Benjamin: “Running away from home again? Fine, I forgive you. Now get back here.”
Jensen: “Annalise, where are you? And why does the Anderson heir’s wife have your name?”
I glanced at the red marriage certificate in my hand and blocked both their numbers. Then, reclining on the couch, I posted a photo of my marriage certificate with Philip Anderson on Instagram. My mother, seeing me, gently applied an ice pack to my swollen ankle.
“Look at you, how did you end up like this?”
“The wedding had to be postponed. Fortunately, Mrs. Anderson likes you, or else…
I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about everything that happened with the Millers. Living
under someone else’s roof wasn’t bitter; the bitterness came from the fall from heaven to
hell. I leaned into my mother’s embrace and forced a casual smile.
“It’s alright. Everything will be fine.”
One day, the wounds on my body would heal, and the past would fade. All those entangled
grievances and complex emotions–it was better to let them go and embrace a new life
wholeheartedly.
My mother had our family, doctor examine my ankle. Once he confirmed there was no
serious damage, she took me to meet Mrs. Anderson. The Anderson family, with a legacy
over a century old, was deeply rooted and powerful. Along the way, my mother repeatedly
reminded me of various etiquettes. My heart raced with nervousness, but the moment I met
Old Mrs. Anderson, I felt an unexpected calm.
Old Mrs. Anderson, with her gray hair and kind smile, looked delighted to see me.
“My granddaughter–in–law, I’ve finally met you.”
“All these years, I kept telling your mother to bring you here, to let me see you more often.
But she couldn’t bear to, treating you like a precious jewel she had to keep close.”
I smiled politely. “I’ve been unwell and was recovering in Los Angeles since childhood.”
“No worries, from now on, Philip will make sure you’re well taken care of. He’s been busy lately and might not have much time these days. After the wedding, I’ll have him make it up to you.”
Truth be told, I had yet to even meet this so–called husband of mine. On the day of registration, he hadn’t even shown up, merely sent his assistant to collect my documents. In less than half an hour, the marriage certificate had been delivered to me.
Seeing me lost in thought, Old Mrs. Anderson seemed to think I felt wronged. She
immediately instructed someone to bring out the family’s heirloom bracelet and placed it on my wrist.
