Sam didn't pick up the phone immediately. Instead, he lifted his gaze to stare at Anne. "If you're not
hungry, don't force yourself to eat anything. That'll hurt your body and your mood."
Anne's face and eyes betrayed no emotion. Since he gave the okay, she stopped eating.
But Emily looked at him in disbelief, her eyes wide in surprise. She looked like she wanted to argue
with him. Sam ignored Emily and answered the phone.
"What's the matter?" Sam struggled to keep his cool.
On the other end of the line, Kevin was yelling at Sam, "I need a copy of the test results on my desk the
moment you get it!"
Hearing Kevin's angry voice, Sam resolved to keep calm. His black eyes were horribly cold. "See you
at the Ode To Joy in an hour. I have something to tell you."
"Okay." With a smile at the corners of his mouth, Kevin looked at the sunlight from his office, without
any warmth on his face. "What a coincidence. I have something to say as well."
He hung up the phone right after that, and his head was filled with nothing but rage.
Sam was calm, sitting in his car, acting like he'd just gotten a telemarketer on the phone. Kevin's call
hadn't done anything to sour his mood.
Sam was the kind of person who would not even blink an eye when the sky fell. Kevin couldn't be more
different. Everyone had to show deference to him. He lived to tell people what to do. And if they didn't
do what he wanted, he made sure they would.
He was used to being a strong man, so he didn't allow others to disobey him.
He usually held his emotions in check. But when it came to confrontation, he'd never back down. He
would unleash his full fury on anyone foolish enough to oppose him.
Hearing the explosive shouts from Sam's phone, Anne lost what little appetite she had. She put down
the spoon and looked out the window. There was a touch of sadness in her eyes.
Emily didn't say anything this time, not knowing what to say to make anything better. She took the
takeout box from Anne's hand and sat silently with her.
Sam said nothing as he continued driving the car. Anne didn't really want him to say anything anyway.
When the car arrived at the community, Sam sent Anne inside and talked to Emily. "I'm going out for a
while," he said in a grave tone. "Take good care of her. I have porridge and boiled eggs in the kitchen."
"Okay, I will." Emily nodded earnestly.
After Sam left, Anne didn't eat much. She ate some vegetables and a fruit salad made by Emily, plus a
small bowl of porridge.
Emily's cooking skills were beyond reproach. She was almost as good as Sam, who cooked like a five-
star chef.
After Sam left, Anne felt a little uneasy. She walked from the room to the balcony, and then back to the
living room, frowning the whole time.
"I have to go." She turned and walked towards the door.
Emily immediately came over to block her way and said seriously, "Sam said not to let you out."
"The two of them..." Without knowing how to explain, Anne asked anxiously, "Do you want to see Sam
get hurt?"
Stunned for a moment, Emily shook her head firmly and said, "No!"
"Then I need to get there." Something told her when Sam met Kevin, it wouldn't go well.
And Kevin wouldn't be the one getting hurt. Sam might start something, but Kevin would finish it.
"But... But... " Emily didn't know what to do.
Anne held her hand and said, "If anything goes wrong, I'll take the heat. Just tell him that you couldn't
stop me. Let me go!"
"Well...okay. Just be careful! And I'm going with you!" Anne was not slowing her pace for anything.
Emily, holding her hand, was practically dragged all the way there. She was panting after a bit.
Sam owned the club—Ode to Joy—across from the private hospital. The first floor was a coffee shop,
and the second floor was a tearoom.
He grabbed the test results before he booked a private room on the second floor, waiting for Kevin.
There was a main road that ran though there. Although it was not located in the prosperous city center,
the road was wide and saw plenty of traffic. Twenty minutes later, Kevin arrived at Ode To Joy and
stepped into the private room Sam booked. His aura was anything but warm and friendly.
Anne sped on her way, trying to reach the club before Kevin and Sam. The car roared around corners
at high speed, causing the two to lean into the curves. Anne left the house almost an hour later than
Sam! Emily kept repeating "Slow down! Slow down!" But she didn't slow down at all.
Emily feared for their safety. Thankfully, nothing happened and they arrived safe and sound.
"Take me to your boss's private room," Anne said to the receptionist as soon as she arrived at Ode To
Joy. She was panting, sweating, and out of breath.
"You are..." The waitress stared at Anne and Emily hesitantly.
Anne said with a serious look, "This is a matter of life and death! Just think of what you'll be responsible
for if you don't let me in! Do you want that?"
The receptionist was frightened by Anne's alarming words. Plus, she didn't want to be responsible.
When she was hesitating, a manager came over, stood beside the waitress with a serious face, and
then apologized to Anne, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Anne. She doesn't know you. I'll take you there right away."
In the private room, Kevin and Sam were fighting.
Clenching the collar of Sam with one hand, Kevin glared at him and said angrily, "I'm the kid's dad. Why
are you trying to keep me away?"
The two of them knew that the conversation today would never be pleasant.
But Kevin didn't expect that the first sentence out of Sam's mouth would irk him so much.
Without moving an inch, Sam stared at Kevin. "I'm thinking of her health!"
"Sam, you're full of it, you know that?" Kevin tightened his grip, and at this time, Sam punched Kevin in
the face, "Better than you, asshole!"
Kevin's face was burning. His anger was about to burn the whole room down. He was so furious that
he cocked his fist intending to bring it smashing down onto Sam's face.
Then they heard Anne's angry roar from outside the door. "Open the door!"
The two men, who were at loggerheads, paused because of her voice.
The pause brought the opportunity Kevin was waiting for. While Sam was distracted, Kevin cuffed him
good. He was really pissed off. How could Sam do what he did and claim it was for Anne, and accuse
him of not loving his kid? Why would he say that?
Kevin wanted to teach Sam a lesson and let him know what a loser he was!
Anne heard the crashing in there. She could well imagine the desk being upturned, shelves knocked
over, delicate knick-knacks shattered. She could also hear the impact of fists, and painful grunting.
She slammed her fists on the door and said, "If you don't open the door, I'll ask someone to kick it in!"
Before he entered the room, Sam ordered that if he didn't open the door personally, no one was
allowed in.
He was the only one who had the key to this room. He had brought the key with him. In fact, it was to
prevent Anne from entering.
Emily also helped knock on the door, but there was no response from inside. No response, that was,
except the crashing sounds. The slamming sounds were getting louder and louder, which indicated that
they were fighting more fiercely.
In a moment of desperation, Emily suddenly shouted, "Anne, Anne, are you okay?"
After a second's pause, Anne understood what Emily was trying to do.
She stood still by the door and made no sound, letting Emily continue her performance.
Inside the door, Kevin and Sam were gobsmacked, and they forgot what they were fighting about.
Then Sam let go of Kevin's collar and ran to the door. His forehead was covered with cold sweat, and
his heart was pounding. He didn't know what had happened to Anne.
Kevin was also anxious. But he was not willing to let Sam see Anne before he did, so he grabbed
Sam's collar, threw him against the desk and came to the door first.
When he was about to open the door, he heard Emily's scream again, "Anne... Hold on, Anne! Mr.
Sam! Open the door, Mr. Sam!"
Kevin was even more anxious, but he never reached the door. He felt a pinch in his neck, then his
vision went green, and finally black. He fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Sam frowned and opened the door.
Anne was standing there, without a scratch on her. She looked healthy, but rather pissed. She cast a
cold glance at him.
He was still worried, so he asked, "Are you alright?"
Without a word, she ignored him. Instead, she focused her eyes on Kevin, who was lying on the
ground. Her heart skipped a beat, but her expression was cold. "Will he die?"
"He'll be fine. He'll come around in about twenty minutes or so," said Sam with anger in his eyes.
There was a trace of aggression in his voice. The calm Sam was nowhere to be seen. He then looked
her in the eye, his voice firmer this time. "Come back with me," he said.
Standing still, Anne looked at Kevin and said, "I have to wait here for him to wake up."
Only by clenching his fists could Sam hold back his anger.
How could Anne be so infatuated with him? Kevin had hurt her so much. Why was she still so stuck on
him? Why was she worried about his health?
Just as he was trying to calm down, he heard Anne's measured tones. "If I don't stay, you guys will start
fighting again."
In order to untie the bell, the person who tied it was required. She had probably figured out the reason
why Sam and Kevin fought—for the child.
As soon as she said that, Sam's anger instantly subsided.
There were complex emotions in his dark eyes, pain, confusion, even gratitude.
Although Anne stuck around for him, she also did the same for Kevin.
In the end, he said nothing and waited with her.
Emily and the staff helped Kevin onto the sofa. Sam stood aside coldly and did nothing to help.
The room was a mess. The teacup was broken, shelves were tipped over, and various other things
were broken.
The waiter was about to clean the floor, but was stopped by Anne. "Please wait until we leave."
She wanted Kevin to know that he fought with Sam recently. This was the evidence!
Twenty minutes later, Kevin woke up. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Anne.
He immediately sat up from the sofa and seemed to forget that he had been knocked out by Sam. He
grabbed Anne's hand and asked, "Are you okay? Is there anything wrong?"
Anne stiffened at his touch. She still wasn't happy with him. Stunned for a couple seconds, she
withdrew her hand coldly and said, "The baby is fine."
Kevin was taken aback. Realizing that he was too anxious, he withdrew his hand calmly.
Then he stood up and glared at Sam. "I haven't gotten even with you for that last punch you gave me!"
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda