Chapter 40

Regarding Justin with derision etched on my face, I deliberately said all that to hit him where it hurt. After all, he was an arrogant person who felt that he was very capable. As expected, his expression instantly darkened when I compared him with Michael.

Men were creatures with fragile egos, especially when they were compared to someone else. In comparison with Michael, Justin was far beneath him in terms of both looks and financial capabilities. He was merely an insignificant department manager in one of Michael’s many companies, so he didn’t even hold a candle to Michael.

“Anna, I know you’re only saying this because you’re angry at me. It’s okay. But do you know what kind of person Michael Shaw is? Do you know how many women he has? A man with his identity and status will never promise you forever. So wake up, won’t you?” Justin urged with feigned sincerity.

Conversely, his concerned expression amused me. With a derisive sneer on my face, I couldn’t help retorting coldly, “No matter what kind of person Michael is, he is still better than you. Even if he has countless women, I believe that he’ll never make a move against my best friend. He still has that much decency, unlike someone who’s really shameless to no end!”

There was an underlying meaning to my words. Naturally, Justin could tell that I was snubbing him and with such harsh words at that.

His expression stiffened, and rage burned within his eyes. Evidently, my words had thoroughly inflamed him.

“You’ve gone too far, Anna Garcia! Yes, I was at fault for having betrayed our relationship, but you don’t need to keep harping on that!”

Justin’s voice went up several decibels. There were only a few pedestrians since it was nighttime, so he wasn’t particularly worried about others overhearing our conversation.

“Since you’ve betrayed me, stop pestering me, then. Didn’t you tell me that you and Mabel love each other? So why are you still harassing me?”

Hah! I still remember vividly how he thanked me when I called off the wedding and set him free to be with Mabel. My heart was completely shattered then. It’s already incredibly kind of me to put things so tactfully right now. What right does he have to criticize me for harping on the issue when he didn’t experience the excruciating pain I felt back then?

Justin hesitated as he stared at me. The wrath on his face promptly faded, but a long time passed before he lifted his head. Looking right into my eyes, he sincerely said, “Anna, I know I was at fault in that matter, and I know I hurt you. But while we were apart, I realized that it’s you I love, not Mabel. I was just blinded for some reason back then, and I’m really sorry…”

His tone was exceedingly solemn, and his apology sounded very sincere. However, I couldn’t help sneering at his words.

Pfft… Why didn’t he realize that it was me he loved when he hooked up with Mabel back then? They’d been having an affair behind my back for so many years, after all. Even their child is already a toddler, yet I’d always been kept in the dark, assuming that Reese is Mabel’s illegitimate child with another man. I thought it was an open wound of hers, so I never dared mention anything about the child’s father before her.

Lo and behold, the child’s father turned out to be Justin, my ex-fiancé. Ah, how ridiculous! When I learned of the truth, I felt that I was the most hilarious and pathetic woman in the world!

“It’s too late for apologies now, for it’s no use even if you say sorry. I’m leaving, so please stop badgering me!”

Unfortunately, his apology had no effect on me. I didn’t feel moved to forgive him. Instead, I found it utterly hilarious.

I spun around to leave, but Justin hugged me tightly from behind, his arms banding around me like steel chains.

Sensing his touch, panic struck me. On the heels of that, rage and repulsion inundated me. Oh my God, he actually dares to hug me!

I struggled wildly, but my puny strength was negligible compared to a man’s brute strength. No matter how I struggled, I simply couldn’t break free, leaving me livid and frustrated. How I wished to slap him hard across the face, yet I couldn’t even break away from his hold.

“Let go of me, Justin Xenakis! I’m going to shout for help if you continue restraining me!”

I struggled desperately as fury blazed within me. I hated him, and his touch repulsed me.

“Why won’t you talk to me nicely, Anna? Was your love for me in the past all a lie? You won’t even speak to me properly now! Must you talk to me with such coldness and hostility?”

Justin was also seething as he hugged me tightly, his voice no longer as gentle but colored with a trace of impatience.

“Why should I talk to you nicely? What right do you have to demand that of me? It’s over between us. It’s over! Do you hear me? Whatever you’ve got to say, just say it to Mabel. Stop pestering me!” I roared as I struggled with all my might.

Despite the aggravation within me, I was still helpless as I simply couldn’t break his grip on me.

“Anna…” Justin showed no signs of letting me go anytime soon. I was just about to lambaste him again when twin beams of glaring light shone at us a near distance away.

We both lifted our hands to shield our eyes in concert. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly put some distance between us and took off since I didn’t want to continue getting entangled with him anymore. To me, he was the most revolting man in the entire world.

As I sprinted, I glanced over my shoulder in fear that he would chase after me. But before I had gone far, I ran smack into a man.

“I’m sorry, excuse me…” I frantically apologized.

Moving around the man I had bumped into, I wanted to continue running, but the man grabbed my arm.

“Why are you running, Anna?”

Upon hearing the voice above my head, I jerked my head up, only to be greeted by Michael’s handsome profile. All at once, trepidation struck me. For some reason, I felt a touch aggrieved right then.

I threw myself into his embrace, my nose stinging inexplicably. “Why are you here?”

My action stunned Michael slightly, but he hugged me tightly in the next second. “Didn’t I say I was coming to pick you up earlier? Why are you still here at this hour?” He engulfed me in his embrace.

I didn’t know whether I was reading too much into things, but I actually sensed concern in his voice.

“Well, there was a scumbag pestering me.”

While saying that, I shot Justin a glare. Recalling that it was because of him that I missed the taxi, I instantly saw red.