Chapter 7 Heartache

Having lost her job right after transitioning to a permanent position, although Annie had a mind to start looking for jobs at once, she did not have the mood to do so. Annie was preparing to go back home to rest for half a day before submitting her résumé to every company she could find. Now, she could only hope the blemish of being fired by Jennings Group would not affect her recruitment attempts. In the end, Annie did not manage to fulfill her desire for a peaceful rest at home. In the home where she should have felt at ease, she saw the person she wanted to see the least. “What did you come here for?” Annie felt the atmosphere was off the moment she entered the rented house. At the side, Sharon was wiping off tears. The man sitting on the edge of the bed was her biological father, James Lane. He was dressed in a high-end suit and sat stick-straight with an elegant pair of glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. His expression was eternally calm, whereas Sharon always acted lowly and inferior in front of him. It was this model of unfair interaction that made Annie exceptionally annoyed. It was James who wronged this mother and daughter, yet he always made it as if Sharon owed him. If not for him betraying Sharon that year, the two of them would never have fallen this low today. “Annie, your dad is here to see us…” Sharon tugged Annie’s arm as she wiped her tears. Although she had pride in her bones, in front of the man she loved, she was always lowly. Looking at her red-eyed mother, Annie finally exploded in anger. “I don’t have such a father. You should leave. We don’t welcome you here. Our house is small too and doesn’t fit your status.” Annie made a “please leave” gesture, but James just kept his eyebrows furrowed. “Annie, it’s I who can’t face you over these years. I know you’re graduating from university this year. If you still haven’t found a job, go to Lane Group then. I’ll arrange a position for you, okay?” James’s tone was very gentle. He had always harbored guilt in his heart, which was why he sent them money every month. Even so, he never thought their life would still be so rough. Faced with James’ sudden goodwill, Annie instinctively turned him down. “No need. Aside from this surname, I don’t want anything to do with the Lanes. Please leave.” If he stayed, he would just be an eyesore. Actually, the words she said made Annie feel uneasy at heart. What daughter did not desire her father’s love? However, Annie did not want to have any more hope. That would only lead to more disappointments. During her youth, she had visited the Lane villa, but she had gotten nothing out of it but shame. It also made Annie realize at a young age that fatherly love was a luxury to her. Seeing Annie’s face of rejection, James took a deep breath. He stood up, produced an invitation from the pocket of his suit, and placed it on the table. “In three days, your sister Sophie will be holding a wedding at Bolin Hotel. I hope you can attend. Attend as my daughter.” James left after saying this. After so many years, he had long lost his love for Sharon and only guilt remained, especially when he saw Sharon’s weathered and abandoned face. He could not muster a single bit of the passion he felt back then even if he wanted to, so when he passed by Sharon’s side, he left without the slightest bit of hesitation. Annie only recovered from the shock after the sounds of Sharon’s low sobs reverberated outside. Sophie was getting married?! Could it be… Annie wildly tore the fancy invitation open. A striking portrait of two people was inside, the large faces of that shameless couple on it, a fancy show of affection… torturing Annie. “Sophie’s getting married? To whom?” Sharon noticed Annie’s unusual expression and quickly wiped away the tears on her face as she walked to her side. She wanted to see the invitation, but it was covered in an instant by Annie. “Someone you don’t know. The invitation will stay with me then.” Annie held back the sour tears welling in her eyes. She ground her teeth and stuffed the invitation into her bag. She did not want her mother to know Mason had backstabbed her. She knew her mom had already suffered enough. She could not let her personal business worry her further. Sharon did not think too much of it either. She sighed and got ready to wash the clothes, but before she took more than a few steps she recalled that today was Annie’s first official day at work. Why was she already off work already? “Annie, why did you come back now? Were you let off work early today?” It was not even noon yet now. Sharon was thinking whether or not she should make lunch, but she received a negative answer. “I left some documents at home. Go ahead and do what you have to do, Mom, I’ll leave after getting the documents.” Annie secretly wiped off the tears at the corners of her eyes and spoke as steadily as she could. “Oh. Be careful on your way back then.” Sharon nodded, her worry subsiding. She turned around and headed outside to continue cleaning the dirty clothes. After Sharon left the room, Annie lay on the bed and bit her lip, leaking tears. The man she had loved for three years was now marrying another woman. How could she accept this?