Anastasia stumbled from the shove. The momentum of his push from behind drove the sharp edge of the glass into her palm. The pain shot straight through her fingers, bone-deep and piercing, making her frown. Sebastian stepped in front of Juliana, looking at Anastasia helplessly. "Anna, what are you doing? I really didn't invite Juliana over. Can you please stop making such a scene?" At his words, Anastasia flung the glass aside, her eyes red. "I'm making a scene? Sebastian, do you even want to hear what Juliana just said to me?" Juliana shrank against Sebastian's chest, her tear-brimmed eyes as red as a rabbit's, as though she had been wronged beyond reason. "Don't you dare slander me. What did I say? I only pointed out that Sebastian treats you too well, but you've been sulking all night as if he owes you something. I told you to treasure him while you can, and instead, you lashed out at me in shame and anger." One was a fragile, helpless girl-next-door; the other, a domineering heiress. People instinctively sided with the weak, and Juliana knew exactly where her advantage lay. Not to mention the swelling on her cheek-the handprint across her face was the best evidence against Anastasia. She kept her palm hovering over it, half-covering and half-revealing, as if afraid no one would notice. Anastasia's eyes darkened with cold fury. "Sure, I don't treasure what's right in front of me. But who are you to feel sorry for Sebastian? If he loves being my lapdog, then you can choke on it! As long as I'm still his wife, you'll always be nothing more than the mistress who can't show her face in public!" Her words were harsh, cutting not only into Juliana but stripping Sebastian of his pride as well. But what did his pride matter anymore? He had already betrayed her. But what truly broke her heart was that Sebastian knew exactly what she cared about, knew how to wound her most deeply, knew how much he meant to her after all their years under the same roof. Yet, he chose to stand by Juliana, trampling on her devotion just to please his new lover, throwing away every shred of the bond they once shared. Together, the two of them had betrayed her. Her thoughts tangled in a storm, pressing down until even the air felt suffocating. Anastasia staggered back, her spine striking the cold wall. Under her breath, she murmured, "Anyone who betrays love deserves to choke on broken glass." The heater filled the room with warmth, yet her body felt chilled to the bone. Her lashes lowered, damp with tears that shimmered at the corners of her reddened eyes. Sebastian's chest tightened at the sight of her. Realizing his tone had been too harsh, he reached out, wanting to touch her. They had grown up together-he knew how strong she was. When her father died in a car accident and her mother soon remarried, leaving the vast Abbott family empty except for her, she had not shed a single 1/3 2:00 pm D DD Chapter & Sit Next to Me The still remembered that day he brought her home The house had been dark, and she was curled barefoot in a tim corner. She had been terrified, but when he asked. 'Do you want to come home with me she had tied her fair face and answered primly. Im not your child bride' Of course, she wasn't They had been betrothed since childhood, and after her family hard suffered because of his, he owed her that much. Sebastian knew how deeply her mother's remarriage had scarred her-she had been abandoned. Yet the girl who had never cried in front of him before was shedding tears now, His broad palm landed gently on her shoulder. No longer able to scold her, he softened his voice. Anna, I know you care about me, that you love me. But picking on Juliana like this... It's beneath you. If you're upset, let's talk about it tonight when we're home, alright?" Anastasia jerked as if shocked by electricity and slapped his hand away. Her voice was ice-cold. Juliana already threw her dignity away. Why save it for her?" Sebastian wanted to say more, but she no longer cared to listen. "Sebastian, we're no longer fish swimming in the same sea." With that, she pushed the door open and walked out without looking back. A draft from the hallway slipped through the crack, its chill stinging Sebastian's face. Instinctively, he reached out, trying to grab hold of her, but he was a step too late. All he could do was watch as she walked away. Anastasia made her way down the long corridor and entered another private room. The door was open, so she went straight inside and hurried into the bathroom. The Abbotts and Kairoses have always been close. When her father arranged the engagement, he never could have imagined that one day his most cherished daughter would suffer such humiliation at Sebastian's hands. She pulled two tissues from the dispenser and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, forcing back the ache that welled up inside. What's the point of crying? He's just a two-timing sc*mbag, not worth a single pearl of my tears. My life was never meant to revolve around a man What matters now is selling the company as soon as possible. Only by settling Skycrest's affair will I have the leverage to cut him off completely. She stayed in the bathroom for a full ten minutes before she finally managed to steady herself. What she didn't expert was to find someone already sitting on the couch when she stepped back into the room. She fruze She had come early-an entire hour in advance-to make sure everything went smoothly Even with the delay at Sebastian's side, there was still at least half an hour before the agreed ume, and she was Lertain she hadn't walked into the wrong room Wasn't it said that the one paying called the shots! Why is Concord Capitals representative here so early? Anastasia moved toward him cautiously The man was slouched back against the couch, facing away. tapping out a message on his phone. The screen was frozen on a chat window. 2/3 2:00 pm D D D D. Chapter & Sit Next to Me + Pears After a moment's hesitation, she circled around to face him and began politely, "Hello, Im- but the words caught in her throat. Her reddened eyes widened in shock. Concord Capital's representative is... is... Winston?! Her face was a mask of stunned surprise. Sensing her presence. Winston lifted his head, and their eyes met without warning. His gaze was steady. his features sharp and striking, his bone structure sculpted with clarity. It was a handsome face-too handsome, almost-and yet the tear mole at the corner of his left eye lent him an oddly dangerous allure, seductive in a way that didn't belong. He sat up slowly, a cigarette crushed between his fingers, the paper wrinkled from being toyed with. When he noticed Anastasia settling into the couch across from him, his eyes lingered on her. Then, with that familiar low, magnetic voice that brushed like a whisper between lovers, he said, "Do you hate me that much? Why won't you sit next to me?" 匪 。 3/3 :00 pm The Rose Who Chose His Rival Over Him +8 Pearls