Chapter 71

Annie's POV

Philip sat across from me in the café near Howard Technologies. His tie hung loose, dark circles under his eyes suggesting a sleepless night.

A waiter approached with a delicate porcelain cup,steam rising in gentle wisps. "Your jasmine tea, ma'am."

I glanced at Philip, surprised. In six years of marriage, he'd never once remembered my preference for jasmine tea over coffee. The gesture felt calculated, like everything else about this meeting.

"I remember how you used to order this whenever we went out," Phiip said softly, his voice carrying an unfamiliar vulnerability. "The scent... it always reminded me of spring mornings with you."

The lie stung more than any of his previous manipulations. During our marriage, he'd repeatedly complained about the "odd flowery smell"whenever I brewed jasmine tea at home. Now he was rewriting our history,crafting a narrative of attentiveness that had never existed.

"No, you don't," I replied quietly, pushing the cup away. "You used to say the smell gave you a headache."

Phílip flinched as if I'd struck him. "Annie, I know I made mistakes-"

"Why did you want to meet, Philip?" I kept my voice level,professional.

He leaned forward, desperation bleeding into his expression. "How can you be with *him*?Howard Thompson? He's cold,calculating-"

"Unlike you?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, sharp with six years of suppressed hurt.

"I'm trying to understand," Philip pressed on. "What does he give you that I couldn't? A bigger house? More expensive gifts?"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Is that really what you think this is about?Status and money?" I shook my head, suddenly tired. "You still don't see it.do you?"

"Then explain it to me!" His voice rose slightly, drawing curious glances from nearby tables. "Help me understand why you'd choose someone like him."

"Someone like him?" I echoed. "You mean someone who respects my career choices? Who provides a support system so I can pursue my professional goals? Who values my capabilities beyond just being a wife and mother?"

Philip's face darkened. "I supported your work-"

"No, you tolerated it," I corrected gently. "As long as it didn't interfere with managing your household or caring for Brian. But the moment I wanted mnore - when I talked about expanding my illustration work or taking on bigger projects - suddenly it was 'imnpractical' and 'unnecessary."

"That was different," Philip protested. "We had a comfortable life. You didn't need to-"

"It was never about need," I interrupted. "It was about wanting to grow,to challenge myself. Howard understood that from day one."

"Because he's such a perfect man?" Phlip's voice dripped sarcasm. "The prestigious CEO who suddenly develops feelings for his employee? Don't be naive, Annie. Men like Howard Thompson don't change their playboy ways without an agenda."

"Actually," Howard's voice cut through the tension like a blade of ice, "I changed long before meeting Annie." I turned to find him standing beside our table, his presence commanding yet carefully non-threatening. His eyes met mine briefly-a silent question that I answered with a slight nod.

"After my brother and sister-in-law's death," Howard continued calmly, "taking responsibility for Lucy and the company became my priority.Yes, I was once exactly the type of man you're describing. But life has a way of forcing growth when it matters most." His gaze shifted to Philip, cool but not unkind. "Sometimes, Mr. Baker, the best thing we can do is acknowledge when we've lost something precious through our own actions.11

Philip's face contorted with barely contained emotion. "You don't know anything about my marriage-"

"No," Howard agreed. "But I know Annie now. And that's what matters."He extended his hand to me. "Shall we?"

I took his hand, drawing strength from its steady warmth. As we left the café, I could feel Philip's eyes burning into my back, but his gaze held no power over me.

We stood in Howard's office, the morning bringing a different energy to the familiar space.

"Thank you," I said softly. "For what you said back there."

"I meant it." Howard's voice carried an unusual note of vulnerability."About changing after Lucy came into my life."

"Tell me?" I found myself asking, genuinely curious about the man behind the carefully controlled exterior.

He was quiet for a moment, his profile sharp against the morning light. "I was exactly what Philip accused -successful, privileged, used to getting what I wanted. Women, deals, status.. it all came easily." A faint smile touched his lips. "Then suddenly I had a traumatized five-year-old who wouldn't speak, a company in transition, and the weight of my brother's legacy to uphold."

"That must have been overwhelming," I said softly, understanding all too well the pressure of sudden, crushing responsibility.

"I had no idea what I was doing," Howard admitted. "Lucy wouldn't eat unless I sat with her for hours. She had nightmares every night. The company needed critical decisions I wasn't sure I was qualified to make."He turned to face me. "But somehow, we survived. We adapted. Now I can't imagine any other life."

The vulnerability in his confession touched something deep inside me.This was a side of Howard Thompson few people ever saw- the man who had learned to be both father and mother to a grieving child, who had shouldered immense responsibilities without complaint.

"Sometimes," I found myself saying, studying his profile,"seeing someone else's strength makes you find your own."

Howard turned to face me, his expression softening in that rare way that still caught me off guard. "Is that what you see when you look at me.Annie? Strength?"

The intensity in his gaze made my pulse quicken. "I see someone who chose to change," I replied softly. "Who rebuilt himself for the sake of others."

He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him. "And now? What do you see now?"

The air between us felt charged with unspoken possibilities. My heart raced,but I forced myself to step back slightly."I... I think I need some air.Would you mind if I took a short walk before the next meeting?"

Something flickered in his eyes - disappointment? But his voice remained steady. "Of course. Take the time you need."

I nodded. grateful for his understanding. As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me at the door.

"Annie." When I looked back, his expression was unreadable. "Don't go too far."

The double meaning in his words followed me into the hallway,making my cheeks warm.

I'd retreated to the company's courtyard garden after a challenging meeting.seeking a quiet moment to myself.

"How dare you?"

The sharp voice shattered my solitude. Betty Baker stood at the garden entrance, her elegant appearance at odds with the fury distorting her features.

"Mrs. Baker," I acknowledged calmly, though my heart had started racing."This is a private property-"

"Don't pretend you don't know why I'm here," she cut me off,advancing with clicking heels. "First you destroy my son's marriage, and now you're throwing yourself at Howard Thompson? Have you no shame?"

The familiar accusations hit old wounds,but I forced myself to remain steady."I think you're confused about several things, Mrs. Baker."

"Oh? Am I confused about how you've manipulated your way into Howard' s life? Using that poor mute child as your ticket into his world?" Her lip curled in disgust. "Did you think no one would see through your act?"

The attack on my relationship with Lucy sent a surge of cold anger through me. "You're treading dangerous ground, Mrs. Baker."

"Truth hurts, doesn't it?" she pressed on, "A small-town nobody, trying to play in our league. It was bad enough when Philip married you, but at least Sarah knew how to restore proper order..."

"By helping your son betray his marriage vows?" I interrupted, my voice sharp with six years of suppressed hurt. "By manipulating my child against me? Is that your definition of 'proper order,' Mrs. Baker?"

She recoiled as if slapped, but recovered quickly. "How dare you-"

"No," I cut her off, rising to my full height. "How dare∗you∗?You stood by while your son destroyed our family. You encouraged his affair with Sarah, watched him poison Brian against me, and now you have the audacity to question *my* integrity?"

"I'll destroy you," she hissed, masks of proprety finally falling away completely. "You'll lose everything - your job, your reputation, your precious relationship with Howard-"

"You can't take what isn't built on lies," I replied calmly. "Unlike you, Mrs.Baker, I don't need to manipulate or deceive to be worthy of love."

She drew back as if I'd struck her, face contorting with rage and something else-fear,perhaps?

"This isn't over."

I watched her retreat, feeling oddly peaceful despite the confrontation.

Later, in my office, I recounted the encounter, trying to keep my voice light despitethe lingering tension in my shoulders.

"Are you all right?" Howard asked, his eyes searching my face with genuine concern.

"Yes." I replied, surprising myself with how true it felt.

"I have some news you might find interesting," he said, a slight smile playing at his lips.