Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After…

Chapter 620 Taken Away

Anne’s eyes flickered with surprise. She had never expected Dante to show up here so suddenly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Came to be your driver,” Dante said as he opened the car door, his hand braced above her head. “Get out. Someone will drive your car back later.”

Anne hesitated for a moment. Dante added, “It’s a four-hour drive home. Do you really want my daughter crying her lungs out halfway there?”

Hearing that, Anne finally gave in.

On the way there, Bella had cried non-stop in the backseat, but Anne couldn’t comfort her while driving on the highway. It broke her heart.

Yancey stood nearby, watching as Anne prepared to get into Dante’s car. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself. “Anne…”

Dante shot him a cold glance. “Do you think you can call her that?”

With one hand on Yancey’s shoulder, Dante led him a few steps away.

“I told you before, you two live in different worlds. Know your place. You can’t compete with me.”

Yancey’s expression shifted, his eyes full of disbelief. “What are you talking about? Did you… was my father’s debt your doing?”

Dante chuckled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it. He merely tightened his grip on Yancey’s shoulder.

“What does it matter?” Dante said lightly. “This is reality. The gap between us is insurmountable. Think of this as a reminder, you don’t stand a chance.”

Without waiting for a response, Dante turned and walked back to his car.

The vehicle pulled away, leaving Yancey standing there.

In the distance, the sun was setting, casting golden rays across the car’s sleek surface. Strangely, though it was dusk, the light seemed blinding, as if it were swallowing Yancey whole. He watched the car’s silhouette fade into the horizon, unable to move.

His fists clenched tightly, and suddenly, he squatted down and punched the ground with all his might.

Blood dripped from his knuckles, but the overwhelming sense of helplessness was far more crushing. His eyes turned red.

To Dante, crushing him was as easy as stepping on an ant. Yancey didn’t even have a chance to resist.

In the car, Anne sat silently, staring out the window. She looked lost like her soul had been sucked away, or maybe she was just tired.

“Do you want to go straight home, or stop somewhere for food?”

From the rearview mirror, Dante glanced back at her. Anne had moved to the backseat to be closer to Bella.

“Home,” Anne replied without hesitation.

She didn’t want to stay in this place for even a moment longer.

Noticing her exhaustion, Dante didn’t press further.

“There’s a blanket on your left. Close your eyes and rest for a bit.”

Anne didn’t reply. The baby, surprisingly, was quiet the entire way.

Anne slept through the latter half of the journey until the car reached the bustling streets of Kingsdom. The noise of traffic outside woke her up.

Rubbing her eyes, Anne gazed at the familiar crowds through the window. Having grown up in a big city, she had never been to such a desolate place before. Only now, seeing the vibrant life around her, did she feel as though her soul had finally returned to her body.

Instinctively, she looked at her daughter beside her. Bella, at some point, had woken up.

The little girl sat quietly in her car seat, her wide-open eyes fixed on the passing scenery. A two-month-old baby shouldn’t be able to see very far, but Bella seemed completely engrossed, her gaze unblinking.

Anne reached out to stroke her daughter’s cheek. The next moment, Bella suddenly started crying.

She was hungry.

Anne glanced at Dante reflexively. He was focused on driving and didn’t seem to notice them.

Gently, Anne picked Bella up, covered herself with a blanket, and began nursing her.

Unexpectedly, Dante spoke up, “Not bad, you’re starting to look like a mom.”

Anne frowned, immediately turning her body to block his view. She snapped, “Don’t look back!”

Dante chuckled but said nothing more.

By the time Anne finished nursing, the car had come to a stop.

Looking around, she asked in surprise, “Why did you bring me to your place?”

Dante reversed the car into the garage and turned off the engine.

Keeping one foot on the brake, he said, “Anne, I’m very upset that you took Bella to that godforsaken place. Do you remember the agreement we made when I left her in your care?”

Anne retorted immediately, “There was no rule about not taking her out of the city.”

Dante smirked, exuding his usual arrogance. “Then let’s add a new one. Bella is not allowed to leave Kingsdom. You’ve broken the rule, so I’m taking her back.”

“You…” Anne tightened her hold on Bella, feeling that Dante was being completely unreasonable.

“If you want to see your daughter, you can. You can even spend time with her. But you’ll have to stay here under my supervision.”

With that, Dante opened the car door. He grabbed Anne’s wrist firmly. “Don’t worry. I’m not interested in you right now.”

His gaze swept over Anne from head to toe.

Following his eyes, Anne looked down at herself.

The countryside roads had been wet from rain. Her leather shoes were filthy, her calves were caked with dried mud, and her skirt was stained with large splotches of dirt.

Anne, who prided herself on her cleanliness, had never been this unkempt in her entire life. She certainly had never presented herself in such a state before others.

Dante took Bella from her arms and cradled her. “Hurry up and come inside. How long are you planning to stand outside my house? Someone might think you’ve just finished digging coal.”

Anne hesitated. But seeing her daughter now in Dante’s arms and taken into the house, she reluctantly followed.

Early the next morning, Meryl packed a few simple belongings at home and headed to the competition venue.

The composition competition officially began today. Over the next 48 hours, she would be confined to a designated room to work on her piece.

Once the time was up and the judges were in place, all contestants‘ works would be reviewed.

It was said that the judges this time were highly authoritative, and the 50 participants had been meticulously selected.

The rules of the competition were straightforward.

Before starting, each participant would draw a theme for their composition. They could choose to collaborate or perform solo.

On the third day, the judges would score all the works. The top ten would then perform their pieces live with instruments.

While the cash prizes for the top three were substantial, what participants valued most was the fame and recognition that came with winning.

This was considered one of the most prestigious competitions in the industry.

In addition to the top three awards, there was also a special award.

The special award was determined by online voting, chosen by the public.

The top three were typically more professionally oriented. After all, the judges were classically trained musicians who sought works with the most depth.

But the special award was not to be underestimated either, as it reflected market preferences.

In previous years, the special award and the top three prizes had never gone to the same work.

This was because what professional judges admired and what the public liked often differed.

Many talent agencies attended the event, eager to buy the copyrights of winning pieces. They hoped to adapt these compositions for their artists to perform.

After all, these works already had built-in popularity. Who wouldn’t want that?