Chapter 2 I Knew You Would Come Back To Us

The atmosphere in the living room had settled heavily over Anna. Her heart pounded nervously, and she felt every gaze fixed on her.

"You are still a college student, are you not?" Enzo's wife spoke with a forced smile. "If you have a child now, it will jeopardize your studies."

Enzo quickly supported her point, eager to strengthen the case. "Yes, Anna is too young to give up her education and stay home with a baby."

Hilary remained composed, as if she could see through their every word. She understood exactly what her son and daughter-in-law were thinking, and that was why she held firm. An heir had to be secured, no matter the cost.

She turned toward Anna and asked her without any pretense, "Are you prepared to give Julian a child? Remember, if you do, you will inherit all of his fortune. You and he will never want for anything."

"Yes," Anna answered without hesitation.

She gave her answer firmly. She would never allow Noah to claim a share of the Ashford estate. And even if she objected, the family held enough influence to force her compliance.

A look of satisfaction brightened Hilary's face.

"I knew you were wiser than all those foolish women who never realized what there was to gain from Julian's death."

After finishing tea, Anna left the old mansion. The sunlight bathed everything in warmth, and the sound of cicadas filled the air. As soon as she stepped outside, Noah appeared in front of her.

The sight of his face twisted something inside her.

"Mrs. Miller, please take these gifts home," Anna said.

The housekeeper nodded, took the boxes, and walked away. Once they were alone, Noah leaned in and whispered, "You're hurting me, Anna! You've never let me get close, and now you're willing to have Uncle Julian's child!"

Anna responded with a cold laugh.

"This child will secure my claim to everything he is set to inherit. Why would I turn down such an opportunity?"

Noah's face lost all color, and his lips trembled as he replied, "You could have my child instead and pretend it was my uncle's! Even if Grandmother discovered the truth, she would never dare force you to end the pregnancy."

Anna's ironic smile faded at once.

"You are acting recklessly, Noah. Chasing ambition without any foresight only ends in disaster. You know just as well as I do that Julian's men show no mercy. Even now, they're waiting for him to return. If you tried to fool them, do you really believe they would let you walk away alive?"

Her cold words struck him deeply. He understood all too well the fierce loyalty his uncle's men possessed. After the accident, they had kept a low profile, but they never truly disappeared.

"I was only joking," he stammered, trying to regain his composure. "It doesn't matter whether the child is his or mine. Once he's gone, I'll treat the child as my own."

Anna sighed and shot back sharply, "That child would be your cousin, Noah. He's your uncle's, after all."

He fell silent, stunned by her words.

"Let's not fight," he insisted, his voice tense. "We can talk about this after he's gone."

"And what if he never dies?" Anna asked with a sharp glint in her eyes. "Will you wait for me forever?"

He could not answer. Anna, brimming with contempt, gave him one last look.

"I have to return now. Your grandmother has already arranged for a doctor to go check on your uncle."

Back at the manor, two medical practitioners awaited her. They hurried her to the hospital for tests.

If she happened to be ovulating, they would collect her eggs. If not, they planned to use an injection to stimulate her body.

"Please do not worry, Mrs. Ashford," one of the doctors said in a calm, reassuring tone. "There may be some pain, but once you deliver Mr. Julian's child, your position in this family will be firmly secured."

As Anna lay on the medical bed, her heart pounded wildly.

"How long will it take for... it to work?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"It's hard to say," the doctor replied. "If you're lucky, three or four months might be enough. Otherwise... it could take much longer."

She paused briefly before adding gently, "You're still young, Anna. Everything will turn out fine."

The weeks passed quickly. Autumn settled over Avonsville, bringing cool showers and golden skies.

One evening, after finishing her shower, Anna stepped out of the bathroom. She sat on the edge of the bed, opened a small jar of cream she had just bought, and gently applied it to her face.

She glanced over at Julian, who remained motionless in his large bed.

"Julian," she murmured, "would you like me to put some on you as well? The air is so dry lately..."

Without waiting for a reply, she moved closer and sat beside him. She dabbed some cream onto her fingertips and gently massaged it into his cold skin.

Right then, his eyelids fluttered, and his eyes snapped open.

Anna caught her breath. She was not unfamiliar with these brief awakenings-he occasionally opened his eyes, but the vividness of his gaze always startled her. Yet this time, something felt different. His amber irises, bright as gemstones, appeared to ignite with a fresh intensity.

"Did I press too hard?" Anna asked, unsettled. "I don't think I did..."

She kept massaging his face, her lips moving with words meant as much for herself as for him.

"I read online that you've never had a girlfriend because of a certain illness... But I have nothing to find fault with. Your arms are strong... your legs are sturdy..."

She gently tapped his limbs, as if to underscore her words.

Suddenly, she thought she heard something-a deep voice, faint but unmistakably real.

Anna froze, her heart racing.

"Julian? Did you say something?!"

She jerked backward, her eyes wide with shock. The look he gave her was no longer vacant. It brimmed with anger, hatred, and suspicion.

"Mrs. Miller!" Anna cried out, breathless as she hurried down the stairs. "Mrs. Miller, Julian is awake! He spoke! He's really awake!"

Her cheeks turned bright red, and her chest heaved with excitement. She felt certain that Julian had truly regained consciousness.

Her shouts stirred the entire house. Mrs. Miller, the doctor, and the bodyguard all rushed in. Before long, the manor was buzzing with activity.

No one had dared to believe it could happen. Yet there was Julian Ashford, his eyes open, breathing, and speaking.

"I knew you would come back to us, my son!" Hilary exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.

"It's a miracle," Enzo added. "You have no idea how terrified we've been... Mother lost sleep, and even her hair turned gray."

After a quick examination, the doctor confirmed the impossible.

"It's truly remarkable. Last time, there were no signs of recovery. Now, with proper rehabilitation, he will regain his strength quickly."

The news came so suddenly that Hilary fainted. Enzo caught her just in time and led her out of the room.

Inside, only Anna remained, frozen by the door, and Julian, propped against the pillow, his eyes cold and sharp.

He fixed his piercing gaze on her.

"Who is she?" he asked, his deep voice laced with contempt.

The doctor froze, his words caught in his throat, and he could not bring himself to respond. Mrs. Miller, with her head bowed, replied quietly, "Master Julian... she's your wife. Mrs. Hilary arranged your marriage while you were ill. Her name is Anna..."

Julian's lips parted only slightly. His voice, icy and emotionless, cut through the silence like a sentence. "Get her out of here."