Chapter 4 You're Having Twins

The computer, unlocked and unprotected, powered up without hesitation. Anna's pulse quickened.

She took a steadying breath, inserted her USB drive, opened her email, and sent the file. Everything went far more smoothly than she expected, and by noon, her work was already delivered.

Relief washed over her as she reached to power down the computer. However, her trembling fingers accidentally brushed a folder on the desktop. The screen filled with documents she had never meant to see. Anna's breath caught and eyes widened in shock as she glimpsed at the screen.

Five minutes later, she left Julian's office, struggling to steady her breathing.

"You see?" Mrs. Miller said with a gentle smile when Anna reappeared. "I told you Master Julian wouldn't be back for a while."

Anna couldn't shake the feeling of fear. It felt as though she had stumbled onto a side of Julian she was never meant to discover, a secret she wished she hadn't seen.

"Are there cameras in his office?" she asked, her voice unsteady.

"No, only outside," the housekeeper replied.

A chill crept down Anna's spine. Julian would know she had been in the room.

Mrs. Miller attempted to calm her down as she reassured her.

"Just be honest with him. You were only there for a few minutes. I doubt he'll be angry with you."

Right then, Anna's phone buzzed. Her classmate had sent three hundred and twenty dollars as payment. The amount astonished her; two hours of work for such a sum! For a brief moment, the money eased her nerves, but the memory of that open folder lingered at the edge of her thoughts.

After lunch, Anna retreated to her room. Sitting before the dressing table, she rested a hand on her belly and whispered, "Little one... I don't want to let you go, but if I bring you into this world, your path will be even harder than mine."

Exhausted, Anna finally drifted into sleep.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door burst open-Mrs. Miller hurried in, her face pale with alarm.

"Madam, did you use Master Julian's computer?"

Anna's heart jumped.

"Is he back? Has he found out?"

"You told me you only needed to send a file!" Mrs. Miller whispered, her voice trembling. "But he says you opened something else. He's furious-I've never seen him like this..."

Anna's face went pale, her eyes filling with tears.

"I didn't do it on purpose. I was trying to shut the computer down, and my hand slipped. I swear, I barely saw anything!"

Mrs. Miller believed her but still shook her head in despair.

"I'm going to lose my job because of this..."

Anna bit her lip, unwilling to let the housekeeper take the blame. She decided to face Julian herself.

She waited in the lobby as the elevator doors slid open. Julian's wheelchair appeared, pushed by his bodyguard. His expression was as cold as stone, his anger unmistakable.

Anna forced herself to step forward, her whole body trembling.

"I'm sorry, Julian. My computer broke down, so I used yours. Mrs. Miller had nothing to do with it, I ignored her warnings...

Anna took responsibility for everything.

Julian stopped directly in front of her, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You saw it all, didn't you?"

he demanded, his voice dangerously low. His hands gripped the armrests so tightly his knuckles turned white. If he still had full use of his legs, he might have lashed out already.

Anna shook her head desperately.

"I barely glanced! I didn't pay any attention, I promise..."

"Enough!" Julian barked, cutting her off with a fierce scowl. "Go to your room. You are not to leave until the divorce is finalized."

Choking back tears, Anna did as she was told. Behind the closed door, his brutal rejection cut as sharply as a knife.

Out in the living room, Julian tried to steady himself.

"No food for her," he ordered coldly.

Mrs. Miller pressed her lips together in silent sympathy for Anna, but no one dared defy Julian. In this house, Julian's word was final.

Two days later, Hilary was finally released from the hospital, her health much improved. Without delay, she returned to the manor.

"My son, how are you? What did the doctor say? When will you be able to walk again?" she asked eagerly with a hopeful smile.

"He told me I'm recovering," Julian replied, his tone neutral. "But, Mom, we need to talk."

The hope faded a little from Hilary's expression.

"This is about Anna, isn't it? I'm the one who arranged your marriage. She's a good girl, and I've always liked her a lot... Please tell me you haven't sent her away."

"No," Julian answered shortly. He then motioned to Mrs. Miller.

Understanding his signal, Mrs. Miller made her way upstairs to Anna's room. For the past two days, Anna had eaten almost nothing, and the housekeeper worried she might find her completely drained.

Standing in the doorway, Hilary caught sight of Anna curled up against the wall, arms hugging her knees. Her hair was unkempt, falling over a face drained of color, and she looked especially small and fragile in the oversized room.

When Hilary called her name anxiously, Anna lifted her head, her eyes clouded and bewildered, as though she were still lost in a fog.

"Anna! What happened to you?" Hilary cried, horrified. The sight before her made her chest tighten. Anna's skin was unnaturally pale, her lips cracked and dry, and her frame looked alarmingly thinner, as though the strength had been drained from her.

Mrs. Miller stepped forward with a glass of warm milk, offering it carefully.

"Drink a little, Madam. There's no need to be afraid... Now that Mrs. Hilary is here, you can eat."

Hilary spun around, her anger flaring.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded. "Has Julian forbidden her from eating? Is he trying to starve her?"

Without waiting for an answer, she stormed into the living room, where Julian sat waiting.

"Julian! Anna is the woman I chose for you," she snapped. "How do you expect me to accept this if you treat her so cruelly?"

Julian met her fury with a cold gaze.

"She made a mistake, Mother," he replied evenly. "Without you, do you truly believe I would have allowed her to stay here at all?"

To him, withholding food for two days had been nothing more than a mild punishment.

"A mistake? What kind of mistake could ever justify treating her this way?" Hilary demanded, her voice trembling.

Julian said nothing. His lips pressed into a hard line, shutting her out. After a moment, Hilary's tone softened, the anger giving way to something close to desperation.

"I know why you've always rejected marriage and children... But you can't go on like this. Even if you feel nothing for Anna, you must keep her by your side. Stay together, if only in name..."

Tears welled in her eyes, and her breathing grew uneven. Before Julian could reply, her body swayed. Half a minute later, she collapsed onto the sofa.

The elderly Mrs. Ashford, barely discharged from the hospital that very morning, was rushed back in an emergency. Watching the chaos unfold, Julian realized grimly that casting Anna aside would not be as simple as he had intended.

In the guest room, Anna managed a few sips of warm milk, strength slowly returning to her. She had heard every word of the confrontation.

"As long as Mrs. Hilary remains here, he won't force you out," Mrs. Miller murmured, gently running a comb through Anna's hair.

Anna shook her head, her gaze steady and resolute.

"I want a divorce," she said quietly. "Whether he agrees or not, I'm leaving."

She no longer wanted to endure a single moment in that hell.

When Julian appeared at the doorway, his cold stare fixed on her without wavering. Anna calmly set her bowl aside, reached for the suitcase she had packed two days earlier, and spoke with quiet resolve.

"Let's get a divorce, Julian. Go and marry someone you actually love."

Julian narrowed his eyes, a dangerous edge flashing across his rigid features.

"Do you despise me that much?" he asked. "Don't you think you were the one in the wrong?"

"Yes," Anna answered evenly. "I was wrong to touch your computer. But I've already paid for that mistake. We're even now. Give me the divorce papers, and this will finally end."

A heavy silence settled between them. Then Julian spoke, his tone merciless.

"Who said your punishment was finished?"

The words drained the strength from Anna's body, as if she had been struck without warning.

"If staying with me feels like such a burden... then you will remain Mrs. Ashford," he continued coldly. "The divorce will happen, but not right now."

He spun his wheelchair and left Anna standing there, trembling with anger and disgust.

A week later, Anna visited the hospital, convinced the baby could not have survived after those days without food.

"Doctor, is my child gone?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"What makes you think that?" the doctor replied.

"I didn't eat for two days... and my health has always been fragile."

The doctor offered a reassuring smile.

"Two days without food isn't unusual. Some pregnant women can't keep eat anything for weeks."

Anna hardly dared breathe.

"So... my baby?"

The doctor's face brightened. "Congratulations. You're not carrying just one child. You're having twins."

Anna's heart missed a beat as shock and disbelief washed over her.