Chapter 270: The Child in Anna’s Belly
In most situations, people would find it unacceptable for a man to hit a woman. But somehow, this scene was oddly satisfying. That slap cleared my mind like a refreshing breeze.
Everyone else was engrossed in the drama, so I picked up a glass of wine. Yet, before it reached my lips, a slender hand intercepted it. “Carl!” he patted my head affectionately. “Be good. Drink at home.” He handed me a glass of orange juice instead. “Drink this,” I sighed. “Fine.” Then, he casually placed a handful of sunflower seeds in my palm. They were meant to serve as snacks while I watched the drama unfold. I couldn’t help but laugh at his gesture. This man truly understood me.
While we enjoyed our tranquil moment, chaos unfolded on the other side—Ashley was delivering his iron-fisted justice. I had noticed his unstable emotions long ago. In the past, he had managed to keep up appearances because of Sadie. But now, upon discovering Anna’s actions, he didn’t care about the crowd. Two resounding slaps landed squarely on Anna’s face. Silas instinctively stepped forward but quickly stopped himself; doing so would confirm his involvement with Anna. He clenched his jaw and endured, watching helplessly as the woman he cherished crumbled under Ashley’s fists.
The Sander family reacted first; Greg and Jake rushed to separate Ashley from Anna. Kate wasn’t present today, so Josh pulled Anna away. After all, with a billion-dollar deal at stake, they couldn’t afford to risk the life of the child she was carrying.
“Ashley, calm down! It’s just a video. It could very well have been fabricated by someone with ulterior motives. Striking someone without proof? What kind of behavior is that?”
The Hudson family wasn’t entirely convinced either. If Anna had been unfaithful with someone handsome or influential, it might have been believable. But the person Sadie pointed out? Other than being tall and muscular, he didn’t have a single redeeming quality. AI-generated content was getting more sophisticated, and without catching her in the act, there was no way to confirm if she had indeed had an affair.
Those slaps left Anna with a bloody nose. Tears streamed down her face, making her look unwell. She wiped the blood from her face and looked at Sadie. “Ms. Gardner, did you record this video?”
“Of course, I did!”
Anna continued, “Then when and where did you record it?”
Sadie froze, clearly not expecting Anna to question her despite the apparent evidence. Only I had anticipated Anna’s nature. That’s why I specifically noted the details when sending out the video. Sadie quickly replied, “The night of December 28th, at Ashbourne Fun Fair.”
Anna smirked. “Ms. Gardner, on the evening of December 28th, I was visiting my grandmother in the hospital with my family. The hospital’s surveillance cameras can confirm this. How could I have been at the Fun Fair at the same time?”
The Sander family promptly chimed in, “Yes, we can all vouch for her. That evening, we were at the hospital visiting my mother, Ms. Gardner. To fabricate such a ridiculous lie is truly laughable.”
Sadie was clearly losing the fight. She was no match for Anna. What an idiot—utterly useless.
I set down my orange juice and spoke casually. “That’s true. On the 28th, the Sander family had a car accident. Mr. Sander certainly wouldn’t forget about that. Sadie, don’t make baseless accusations that could destroy Ms. Sander’s marriage.”
My reminder jolted Sadie into action. “Right! But Anna wasn’t with the Sander family during the car accident. Can you really prove she was with you the whole time? Ashley, do you remember what time she came home that night?”
Ashley had no idea. He’d been out fooling around, which was exactly why Anna dared to act so boldly. Sadie stumbled deeper into Anna’s trap. As long as someone from Anna’s side stepped forward to testify for her, she could clear her name.
Carter spoke calmly, “It’s not hard to resolve. Whether it’s edited or genuine, we can check the Fun Fair’s surveillance footage.”
“Yes, that’s the best approach. Mr. Carter, I’ll need to trouble you with this.”
“It’s no trouble. Given the gravity of the situation, I wouldn’t want Ms. Sander’s reputation tarnished unjustly. Besides, it’s a simple matter.”
As he finished speaking, Damian pretended to search for the footage. I’d bet he had it ready long ago, just waiting for the perfect moment to unveil it.
Sure enough, Damian soon played the footage. Under the surveillance cameras, the truth was crystal clear—Anna and Silas went to the Fun Fair together and eventually got into the same car to go home.
The crowd around them murmured, “Who would’ve guessed? That innocent-looking girl is such a good actress. I almost fell for her act.”
“Right? She chose to ignore the Hudson family’s heir and instead hooked up with a servant. What’s she even after?”
“If I were Mr. Hudson, I’d beat her to death for being such a shameless woman.”
Rumors rained down on Anna like a storm of snowflakes. It reminded me of the scene at Luke’s wedding when he fled, leaving me to face the crowd’s judgmental eyes. Back then, some sympathized with me, some questioned if I had wronged Luke, and others speculated that Luke simply didn’t want me. Harsh words battered me from all directions, making it hard to breathe. Now, the scrutiny was even more merciless, all directed at Anna. Could she feel even a shred of the anguish I went through?
Ashley’s eyes were bloodshot as he struggled to confront Anna. But Sadie delivered another shocking revelation. “Ashley, I know you’re mad, but don’t lose it yet. You might pass out when you hear the rest.”
Ashley glared. “Do you think this is some kind of joke?”
Sadie spoke slowly and deliberately. “Her cheating is nothing compared to the truth about the baby. She lied to you all. The child in her stomach is three months along—and it’s not yours!”