Tanner was stunned. “I know very well how much you loathe and hate me. You’re being nice to me
because you had to. It’s like a task for you to make both our families happy. It isn’t that I have to be
grateful to every man that wants to marry me. I know how bad my reputation is. Even if no one wants to
marry me, I won’t shamelessly stick to you, so you can rest assured.
“After all, I was once loved by all the Santiagos in the past. Even if a storm has ravaged a delicate rose,
you can’t deny that it was once a beautiful flower.
“You reap what you sow. It’s my own mistake for getting myself into my current situation, and I don’t
plan to forget about it.
When she finished speaking, she pushed Tanner away. Pulling her suitcase, she headed out without
turning her head back once.
Tanner stood frozen stiff on the spot as he tightened his fists. When Pearl got in the car, she turned her
head and looked outside through the window. It was not that she was incapable of feeling sad or
disappointed. It was just that she had learned to numb her emotions after suffering something even
more painful than this one. She also felt she did not deserve to shed a single tear.
Several days later, the Santiagos
announced the wedding cancellation between Pearl and Tanner. Antonio just gave a few vague
answers when asked by the reporters and left the press conference.
When Sandy saw the news on the television, a smile hopped onto the corner of her lips. This was what
she wanted to see the annulment of Tanner’s marriage with Pearl.
‘She already has a bad reputation, so what makes her think she can win against me in this match, huh?
Serves her right. It doesn’t matter if I don’t have a good background. As long as I give birth to the baby,
the Hannigans will accept me sooner or later.’
That weekend, at the Topazes…
Naomi stood in front of the full-body mirror to try on one set of clothes after another while Lucy was
urging her by sending messages through the phone.
She chose a thick orange sweater and a plaid skirt in the end. She put on a knit cap and went
downstairs with her bag.
Anthony was talking to someone on the phone in front of the window with a cup of coffee in his hand.
When he turned his head around, he saw his daughter was heading out. He put his phone down and
asked, “Nelly, I thought you were off today.”
“Yeah.” Naomi was putting on her shoes in the doorway. “My colleague asked me out.”
Anthony was stunned for a moment when he heard what she said. After a short while, a smile of relief
appeared on his face as he said, “I see. Then, have fun.”
Naomi smiled and nodded.
The wind was cold, and the sky was gray. There was a layer of dark cloud looming over the city, and it
seemed like it was going to rain at any moment.
Lucy was pacing around in front of the entrance of the Financial Street. People were walking in a hurry
around her. She looked at her phone and waited for a few minutes before seeing a figure rushing
toward her.
“Over here!” Lucy waved her arm. Naomi stopped in front of her, her chest heaving up and down
heavily. She took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry for being late.”
Lucy chuckled. “It’s okay. I can understand.”
She studied her up and down and continued. “You even have put on makeup and a skirt.” Naom was
stunned and averted her gaze.” No, I dress like this every day, don’t l?” Lucy lifted her eyebrows and
said, “No.You look particularly beautiful today.”
Naomi rarely wore a skirt to work, and she would not wear a skirt in winter. Although she was usually
rather reserved on normal days, she became even more gentle than usual when wearing a skirt.
Lucy turned her head around. “Mr. Boucher hasn’t arrived yet. He isn’t going to stand us up, is he?”
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