Chapter 133

Philip's POV

I parked my car at the street corner near Howard's mansion, killing both the engine and lights. Night had fallen, with only a few streetlamps casting their silent glow. My eyes remained fixated on that magnificent building.particularly on the second-floor balcony bathed in soft light.

Suddenly, I saw her-Annie. My heart skipped a beat. She stood on the balcony wearing only a thin white dress that fluttered gently in the evening breeze. She looked more beautiful than before. My throat tightened.and an irrepressible longing washed over me.

Then Howard appeared, embracing her from behind. My fingers dug deep into the steering wheel. He kissed the side of her neck, and I watched Annie tilt her head back, her expression revealing pure enjoyment. An expression I'd never seen on her face before. Throughout our six years of marriage, I'd treated every intimate moment with her as an obligation.Now, in another man's arms, she radiated happiness and desire I'd never witnessed.

"No..." I whispered, my voice sounding unnaturally hollow inside the car.

Howard's hands began to wander, and Annie responded eagerly. I should look away, I knew that. But my gaze remained fixed, as if witnessing a car crash-knowing it would cause pain, yet unable to resist watching until the end.

He turned her around, pressing her against the railing. From a distance, I thought I could hear Annie's laughter. That laughter was like a sharp

dagger piereing my heart. I had never made her laugh like that.When she was with me, she was always cautious, always considering too much.

Their movements grew increasingly passionate, their clothes disheveled.My vision blurred as tears welled up uncontrollably. I quickly wiped them away with my sleeve, unwilling to miss a single moment, even though each image was torturing me.

"Annie..." I called out softly, my voice choked.

A storm of emotions swept through me: regret, jealousy, pain, anger... and a profound sense of loss. When Howard lifted Annie intohis arms,my fist unconsciously pounded the steering wheel, producing a dull thud.Through my dizziness, I realized this was likely how they spent every night together. And me? I was left with a cold bed and endless nights.

They eventually disappeared from the balcony, presumably returning to the bedroom. I sat motionless in my car, feeling as if my chest had been hollowed out. This was the first time I truly realized I had lost her. Not because of the divorce papers we'd signed, but because her heart and body now belonged to someone else.

Tears rolled down silently, and I didn't even have the strength to wipe them away.

I don't know how long I sat there before finally driving back to my apartment. The moment I entered, the empty rooms reminded me of my bleak reality. No welcoming Annie, no Brian's laughter, just the echo of my own footsteps.

I mechanically removed my coat and walked to the living room bar,pouring myself a glass of whiskey. The alcohol burned my throat but couldn't warm my cold heart. I collapsed heavily onto the sofa, the glass

tilting dangerously in my hand.

My mind couldn't shake the image of Annie in Howard's embrace. Once upon a time, she had tried to embrace me with the same passion. And what did I do? I always found excuses to push her away: too busy with work.too tired, or simply pretending not to notice her hints.

"What have I done?" I asked the empty room, my voice echoing off the walls.

I had invested all my emotions in the fantasy of Sarah, that so-called"unattainable love" from my college days. I thought being with her would make my life perfect. But the reality was that an unbridgeable gap had always existed between us. And by the timne I realized this, Annie had already left my life.

I gulped down the remaining whiskey, the alcohol beginning to take effect,making my thoughts more chaotic yet somehow bolder. Howard also had his own "unattainable love"-my private investigator's information was absolutely certain about this. When that woman returned, Howard would inevitably abandon Annie for her. When that day came, I would be there,waiting to comfort Annie, to win back her heart.

I needed to ensure Annie remembered my existence. Not as the cold husband I once was, but as the Philip who could give her happiness.

Suddenly,an idea flashed through my mind-Sarah's comics! Since her work had been signed to my company, I could use this as a pretext to frequently visit Howard Technologies, to report progress to Annie. This way,I could not only see her but also demonstrate how generous my support for Sarah was.

When Annie compared me to Howard, she would realize I was the more

reliable choice. This plan was flawless!

I picked up my phone and dialed Sarah's number. The ringing tone sounded several times before she answered.

"What's the matter, calling so late?" Sarah's voice revealed impatience.

I asked directly: "How much funding do you need to promote your comics?

"How much?" I could hear the surprise in her voice.

"Give me a number," I urged, "enough to make your comics surpass Annie's in scale."

There was silence on the other end of the line. I could imagine Sarah calculating in her mind.

"A fairly... substantial figure," she answered cautiously, seemingly testing my limits.

"Be specific."

"If we're talking about comprehensive promotion, including online and offline channels, merchandise development, and international markets..."her tone gradually becamne excited, "it would require a very significant investment."

I understood her implication. "Then I'll give you enough funding to ensure your comics are more successful, more popular than Annie's."

Another silence followed, then Sarah asked in a tone I'd never heard before,filled with longing: "Can you really give me that much?"

"I can, but there are conditions," I said coolly. "This money must be used

entirely for your career development. You'll be fully responsible for promotion and production, and you won't ask me for additional funds."

"Of course!" Sarah immediately guaranteed, her voice barely concealing her excitement. "I'll make my work the national focus! People will see how good your investment vision is, how the projects you support are more successful than Howard's!" She paused briefly. "Annie will see it. She'll regret it!"

Her words hit the mark perfectly. "Go to the company tomorrow, and I'll have the finance department arrange the transfer," I promised.

As our call was about to end, Sarah suddenly spoke in a vulnerable voice:"Philip... even in the end, the person you love is stil1 Annie."

This change caught me off guard.

"But I still love you," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of choking emotion. "I just want you to find happiness, even if the future doesn't include me."

This unexpected tenderness moved me somewhat. "Don't worry, even if Annie and I reconcile, I won't abandon you and the child."

"But if you still have contact with me, Annie will be unhappy," Sarah said softly. "For your future.,. perhaps you should keep your distance from me.

"What about the child?" The question naturally slipped out.

"You can visit occasionally... but it's best to completely sever ties. That way,Annie won't have doubts or jealousy."

I fell into deep thought: "Give me some time to consider this issue."