The Warriors members only moved away from Chester after Anne gave them orders to stay away, so Chester finally got to Anne who was sitting with Edward.
"You two know each other?" Chester asked quickly, full of inquiry.
Without guilt, Edward immediately put his hand on Anne's shoulder, smiling broadly. "We're on the same campus at UAL, Anne is my junior."
Chester's eyes narrowed when he saw Edward's hand on Anne's shoulder. He was annoyed by it. Chester quickly grabbed Edward's hand from Anne's shoulder roughly. "Watch your attitude, your current college friend is the wife of a very influential man in this country. So don't mess around or you'll make other people think otherwise."
Edward grimaced in pain after Chester released his grip on his hand, while Anne could only smile and silently watch what Chester did to Edward.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Clarke. This cousin of mine has always have no manners, please don't take it to heart," Chester said quietly. Chester deliberately called her formal greeting.
Anne pursed her lips. "It's okay. After all we are really only friends at the same alma mater. Even though I didn't finish my studies and got a bachelor's degree like I always wanted to."
"You don't want to finish your course?" Chester repeated Anne in surprise.
"Why did she finish her studies when there was a rich man who was very crazy about her, until he finally got Anne as she is today," Edward said quickly without guilt.
Chester suddenly gripped his hands tightly. "So you and Jack knew each other when you were in college?"
"Even before they went to college. Jack used to be a barista at Anne's coffee shop in Newcastle upon Tyne." Edward again answered Chester's question which was actually addressed to Anne.
Chester clenched his jaw. "Is your name Anne, Edward? Why did you answer for her?"
Edward immediately raised his hands up, gesturing that he gave up and then immediately got up from the chair away from Anne while smiling broadly towards Chester who looked very angry with him at this time.
Anne chuckled at Edward's funny behavior. Instantly, the memory of all Edward's arrogant attitude when she first met him was gone.
"Is what my impudent brother is true, Anne?" Chester asked quietly.
"Yes, everything Edward said is true. My husband and I met one year before I went to the same college as Edward. At that time, Jack didn't say who he really was, that's why he worked for me as a barista at my simple coffee shop," replied Anne was gentle, her lips were smiling widely as she recalled the ups and downs of her acquaintance with Jack.
"Not only that, Anne even faithfully waited for her husband who was declared dead for 2 years in solitude. Just imagine a girl as beautiful as Anne willingly and patiently waiting for her lover who has been declared dead by the police for almost two years, isn't that great?" Edward answered Anne's words again without fear.
Chester immediately turned to Edward quickly. His eyes were really very unfriendly at this time and Edward, who realized this, immediately chose to leave Chester's presence to play with Charlotte.
"Why did you want to wait for Jack that long in uncertainty, Anne? Did someone tell you that Jack was still alive? Did you wait that long because you didn't want to lose that rich man?"
However, Anne, who already knew Chester's love story with his ex-wife, only smiled. Fortunately, she and Edward had talked for a while previously, so that Anne was not angry when Chester asked her that question.
Anne looked at Chester with a warm gaze. "You know, when Jack disappeared in the English Channel, the night before that incident, Jack and I had tied the knot at York Minster, even though there were no witnesses or priests who witnessed our sacred vows. When Jack was declared dead, I was a wife waiting for the return of her husband. No one knew about it, even my best friend Linda only found out a few months after the fateful incident happened. My feelings started to grow 7 years ago when Jack didn't say who he was. I didn't know he was a CEO of a big company in this country, I also didn't know that he was the only grandson of the Luxembourg nobleman. I liked his personality even though he's often unreasonable at times and it wasn't just once that I got separated from Jack. After we officially remarried and witnessed by many people, we separated again for 3 years due to a misunderstanding until we finally came back together again this year. You know why we can get back together again, Chester? It's because of love. You may not believe in love because the person who was previously present in your life was the wrong person. But believe me, one day a kind woman will come into your life, a woman who is ready to accept you not only because of your position, not because of your money, but because of your heart and personality."
"You..."
"Edward has told me everything, but don't be angry at him. Edward told me that because he cares about you. He asked me to help, at least give you advice, as you had once given your love to the wrong woman. I'm not saying you failed at marriage, because now you have Charlotte to take care of. And believe me, your ex-wife must have some feelings for you because otherwise she wouldn't possibly want to bear the seed of a man she hates," said Anne quietly cutting Chester's words.
Chester was numb. He couldn't answer Anne's words. Chester usually talked a lot in court, but only this time he couldn't reply to someone's words.
"Don't act like you know everything, Anne, that woman doesn't love me. She also doesn't want my daughter, the proof is that he would rather die following his lover than raise Charlotte with me," Chester said curtly.
Anne took a deep breath. "Get rid of all the hatred to your ex-wife, Chester. And use a cool head to remember every moment you spent together. Trust me, if your ex-wife didn't have the slightest bit of feelings for you, then she would have done everything she could to kill Charlotte since she was in her stomach. You know, in a woman's pregnancy, the first three months are the most risky period, if the womb is not strong, then by doing a little activity, the fetus can fall. If you continue to put all the blame on your ex-wife then your hatred will not disappear. Just think about the one kindness that you remember from your ex-wife, your life will definitely be much better. She is indeed guilty of ending her own life. But you have no right to keep judging her because it is not your job to judge your neighbor, there is God who has more power to do that."
Thump!
Chester was silent. His tongue went numb hearing Anne's words. He never expected to meet someone who dared to speak to him like that, after all these years.
After a long talk, Anne felt thirsty. She slowly gave a code to one of her bodyguards to ask for a drink. While drinking, Anne stole a glance at Chester. Because she had wasted a lot of time, she then decided to continue her trip to the mall.
While standing and taking a step forward, Anne gently tapped Chester's shoulder. "You have the right to be happy, don't keep blaming yourself," said Anne softly with a smile.
Not far from where Chester and Anne were talking, a woman in a wedding dress was seen to have taken a photo of them together from inside the car. "I won't give up so easily," the woman muttered in a hateful voice.
To be continued
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