Read Novel Full Chapter 775: Unfamiliar Place
Chapter 775: Chapter 775: Unfamiliar Place
Annie didn’t even spare him another glance. Instead, she immediately turned toward Gwen.
Her previously furious expression softened considerably. “Are you alright?”
The gentle concern in Annie’s voice completely caught Gwen off guard. She subconsciously nodded.
“…I’m fine.”
She hesitated briefly before lowering her voice. “But won’t you get into trouble because of this?”
Annie blinked before suddenly laughing.
“So, that’s why you were quietly enduring it? I was wondering why my little troublemaker had suddenly become so obedient.”
Gwen immediately puffed up her cheeks. “Don’t call me a troublemaker!”
She pointed accusingly at Annie.
“If you keep saying things like that… I’ll slap you again.”
Annie laughed even harder.
“Oh? Go ahead. I’d like to see you try. If you do… I’ll drag you home and give you the spanking you deserve.”
The moment those words left Annie’s mouth, she suddenly realized what she had just said.
Her entire face instantly turned bright red. “W-What the hell am I even saying?”
She covered her burning face in embarrassment before hurriedly pointing at Gwen.
“I-I’m not talking to you anymore!”
With that, she immediately turned around and briskly walked upstairs to escape the awkwardness.
Watching Annie flee so quickly, the guests quietly exchanged amused glances before gradually resuming their conversations as though nothing had happened.
Still, many of them couldn’t help finding the interaction between the two sisters rather unusual.
Despite all the arguing, it was obvious Annie genuinely cared about Gwen.
Meanwhile, Gwen stood there completely embarrassed. Her ears had already turned crimson.
‘Just wait, once we’re back home… I’ll definitely teach this annoying sister of mine a lesson.’
Despite those stubborn thoughts, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
Turning toward Patrick, she casually waved her hand.
“Forget it. I don’t want my mood ruined.”
Without another glance, she returned to chatting with the other guests.
Patrick remained kneeling until Annie completely disappeared upstairs.
Only then did he slowly stand. He quietly let out a long sigh of relief.
However, the relief inside his eyes quickly disappeared. Replacing it was calculation.
After the party ended, Patrick discreetly summoned several of his trusted subordinates.
Within a short period of time, they gathered detailed information regarding Annie and her background.
The more Patrick learnt, the narrower his eyes became.
He had never expected Annie to possess such extensive connections and influence.
His mind immediately began calculating various ways to exploit the situation.
Dark thoughts quietly surfaced one after another.
If he could somehow gain leverage over either Annie or Gwen, he believed he could use that leverage to manipulate or blackmail them in the future for his own benefit.
A cold smile slowly spread across his face as those schemes took shape in his mind.
Meanwhile, neither Annie nor Gwen had the slightest idea that Patrick had already begun plotting against them.
At that very moment, the two sisters had already left the party together and were making their way home beneath the cool night sky.
Gwen wore an awkward expression as they walked side by side through the quiet streets.
Several times, she opened her mouth to speak. Several times, she closed it again.
Finally, after gathering every ounce of courage she had, she lowered her head and softly murmured,
“I…” Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. “…thank you.”
Annie paused mid-step. A mischievous smile slowly spread across her lips. She deliberately tilted her head.
“Hmm? What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”
The moment those words reached Gwen’s ears, her entire face turned bright red.
She immediately exploded in embarrassment. “Don’t expect me to say it again!”
She pointed at Annie with a flustered expression.
“I’m telling you! I’ve already said it once! That is more than enough!”
Seeing Gwen desperately trying to hide her embarrassment, Annie couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.
She looked at Gwen with gentle eyes before saying,
“Can’t you just admit that you’re grateful for once? Why do you always have to pretend that saying ‘thank you’ will kill you?”
Hearing that, Gwen snorted loudly and folded her arms. “Of course it would kill me.”
She turned her head away.
“You’re my rival. My rival in love.”
The moment those words left Gwen’s mouth, the warmth in Annie’s expression disappeared.
A trace of irritation quietly surfaced in her eyes. Without saying another word, she simply continued walking.
Silently. The atmosphere between them immediately became awkward.
Gwen glanced sideways several times. Seeing Annie refuse to respond at all, she gradually became restless. “Hey. I’m talking to you. At least reply.”
However, Annie continued walking without uttering a single word.
Seeing no response, Gwen puffed out her cheeks.
“So, you were pretending all along.”
Still, Annie remained silent.
Deep inside, bitterness quietly spread through her heart. She wanted to explain herself. She wanted to tell Gwen how much those words had hurt.
But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
After a long silence, Annie finally spoke in a low voice.
“You’re the only one who sees me as your rival.”
Those quiet words carried far more sadness than anger. Gwen immediately froze.
She slowly turned toward Annie.
For the first time, she noticed the loneliness hidden within her sister’s eyes.
Yet, neither of them spoke again. The rest of the journey home passed in complete silence.
Soon, they finally arrived outside Annie’s house.
Just as Gwen was about to say something, the front door suddenly swung open.
Felix hurried outside. The moment he saw Annie, relief instantly appeared across his face.
Without hesitation, he walked over and gently hugged her. “Thank goodness you’re back.”
His voice was filled with genuine concern. “I’ve been worried sick.”
He carefully looked Annie up and down before gently adjusting the collar of her coat.
“The weather is freezing. Next time, wear something warmer. What if you catch a cold?”
Annie simply rolled her eyes. “You worry way too much.”
Although she sounded slightly annoyed, a faint smile still appeared on her face.
Standing a few steps away, Gwen quietly watched everything.
The warm interaction between the two, every single scene pierced her heart like countless tiny needles.
A familiar pain quietly spread throughout her chest. Forcing herself to smile, Gwen immediately turned around.
“I… I’ll head home first.”
She didn’t wait for anyone to answer. Annie instinctively reached out.
“Gwen, wait…”
But before she could finish, Gwen had already hurried away.
She didn’t dare stay another second.
Because she hated admitting it, yet watching Felix care so naturally for Annie still hurt far more than she wanted to admit.
Annie silently watched Gwen’s retreating figure until it completely disappeared into the darkness.
She slowly lowered her gaze. A lonely smile appeared on her lips.
“So, she still doesn’t truly see me as her sister.”
…………………………………
Far away from them, inside a brightly illuminated room, a young girl with long pink hair lay restlessly on a soft bed.
Sweat covered her pale forehead.
Her brows remained tightly knitted together as though she were trapped inside an endless nightmare.
Her fingers repeatedly clenched the bedsheets while her body trembled uncontrollably.
“No…” The faint whisper escaped her lips. “Please…”
Suddenly, her eyes shot open. She sat upright abruptly, gasping for air.
Her breathing remained uneven as she stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling.
She slowly looked around the room. Everything surrounding her felt unfamiliar.
Blinking several times, Ivy softly murmured, “…Did I get reborn again?”
Still feeling dizzy, she slowly climbed out of bed. Her legs felt weak beneath her.
She cautiously walked around the room, trying to understand where she was.
Just then, a deafening alarm suddenly echoed throughout the entire house.
The piercing sound startled Ivy so badly that her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
Her survival instincts immediately took over. Without hesitation, she rushed behind a nearby wardrobe and tightly concealed herself.
Her breathing became increasingly hurried.
‘Did someone bring me here? Did those superior beings not sacrifice me and kidnap me instead?’
She hugged her knees tightly as she waited. Every passing second felt painfully long.
Eventually, she cautiously peeked outside.
At that exact moment, the bedroom door slowly opened.
A creak and a familiar set of footsteps echoed through the room.
The rhythmic sound instantly caused Ivy’s body to tense even further.
Then, a familiar figure entered. It was Silas.
The moment she recognised him, all the fear inside her heart collapsed.
Ivy didn’t rush to come out. What if this was some kind of trick?
Her mind was still in complete confusion.
She couldn’t understand how she had gone from entering that mysterious array, having both her soul and body seemingly pulled away, to suddenly waking up here.
Just as countless questions flooded her mind, Silas calmly spoke.
“Ivy. I know you’re hiding. Come out.”
Hearing that familiar voice, Ivy finally let out the breath she had been holding.
A wave of relief washed over her. ‘It’s really him…’
She slowly stepped out. Only then did she realise just how weak her body had become.
Her legs trembled violently beneath her. She barely managed two steps before her vision blurred.