Chapter 24

After a moment of silence, Jonathan stammered an apology. “Anna, I… it’s my fault. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with someone else. Will you forgive me?”

“I… I’ll do anything—just don’t leave,” he pleaded desperately, but Anna remained calm. She smiled gently, then slowly spoke.

“Alright, I forgive you.”

The unexpected answer nearly overwhelmed Jonathan. He blurted out, not even pausing to reflect on the deeper meaning of her words, “I’ve already made Isabella terminate the pregnancy, and I’ve driven her away. Please, I’m…”

Anna let out a cold laugh. “Isn’t this the answer you wanted? I forgive you for everything that happened in the past.”

“Are you satisfied now? If so, then let’s end it here.” Forgiveness was easy for her—she could say it as many times as he wanted. But if he thought they could go back to the way things were, that was simply impossible. A shattered mirror could never be whole again. Even with glue, it would never look the same. With that, Anna decisively hung up the phone, not giving Jonathan another chance to apologize.

She had once told him she’d stopped loving him, and his suicide wouldn't change that. Jonathan, realizing the weight of her words, recalled this.

He persistently messaged her: “Anna, I’ll buy you your favorite little cakes. Won’t you forgive me?”

For a long time, she replied with a simple, “I don’t like them anymore.”

How could she suddenly stop liking them? Jonathan’s hands trembled so much he could barely hold the phone. How could she stop loving him? He wanted to send another message, but discovered she had already blocked him.

Even her nerve-wracking verbal forgiveness, Jonathan felt no relief. He knew that wasn’t what she truly meant. But she had said it anyway. She no longer loved him. He had completely broken her heart. For the first time, Jonathan truly suffered. Perhaps he had known it deep down the moment Anna left; he had just been lying to himself, pretending not to see it, clinging to the belief that she still needed him and was only waiting for his apology.

Jonathan’s heart felt like it was being torn apart. He could hardly see any hope for the future. How could he win her back? Even meeting her had become an insurmountable challenge, let alone earning her forgiveness. After countless unanswered calls, Anna, fed up, canceled her old phone number and got a new one. Fearing Jonathan might find her again, she flew to Germany. The world was vast, and searching for someone was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Just as Jonathan prepared to chase after Anna again, trouble struck back at his company. After being forced to terminate her pregnancy, Isabella was nearly driven mad. She became a public target, despised by everyone online and in real life. Wherever Isabella went, she was met with disdainful glares. She could find no work and was barely surviving. The luxury bags, jewelry, houses, and other gifts Jonathan had given her were all ruthlessly taken back. Her savings couldn’t sustain the extravagant lifestyle she was accustomed to. She was truly at the end of her rope.

Desperate, Isabella made a bold decision: she filed a public report accusing Jonathan of tax evasion and embezzlement. She also teamed up with several families whom the Texas family had previously suppressed, joining forces to target the Texas family.