Married To My Ex's Brother, Reborn Miraculously
Chapter 55: Nothing happened between us.

Chapter 55: Nothing happened between us.

Denis shifted uneasily in his seat. He had been completely unaware that Becca was a corporate spy. He had regretted not dismissing her the moment he discovered she had tampered with Anne’s laptop.

His stubborn desire to break Anne’s resolve and force her into a vulnerable position had blinded him to Becca’s actions. As a result, the project data had been leaked. Now, he couldn’t shake the regret—had he acted sooner, he could have prevented this entire disaster.

"The client is now considering a new partner for the project," Gabriel said grimly. "Several companies have expressed interest, and they have already narrowed it down to two—Brisco and Starlite Corp. But that’s not what concerns me the most. The real issue is that the Sphere Group of Industries recently acquired Starlite Corp., and they have appointed Augustine as the new CEO."

Denis froze in his place, his pupils shrinking in shock. "What did you just say? Augustine is the CEO of Starlite Corp.?"

Gabriel gave a firm nod. "I had suspected when I met Augustine that day that he had changed, that he had powerful backing. But I never imagined he’d be connected to such a massive global conglomerate."

Denis remained silent, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He had underestimated Augustine.

"With backing that powerful, Augustine could become a serious threat to us," Gabriel voiced his concern. "I’m afraid he might take the business from us entirely."

"You’re worrying for nothing," Denis scoffed, his tone icy. "He is just a CEO—easily replaceable." Rising to his feet, he added, "Leave this to me. I’ll speak with the client and try to reinstate the contract. If necessary, I’m willing to pay compensation."

Gabriel sighed heavily, shaking his head. "I doubt that will work. We can’t compete with the Sphere Group."

Denis hesitated for a moment, his mind working swiftly. He knew his father was right; challenging such a corporate giant would be a losing battle. But then, a cunning glint flickered in his eyes.

"If the client refuses to work with us, that’s fine," Denis said flatly. "Instead, we’ll partner with an even bigger company—the Sphere Group itself."

A smirk curled his lips. If he could secure a collaboration with them, he’d find a way to remove Augustine from the picture.

"Do you really think that’s possible?" Gabriel asked, doubtful.

"Of course," Denis said with certainty. "The Sphere Group may be a powerhouse globally, but they are newcomers here. They can’t navigate this market alone—they’ll need a local partner. And they won’t find a better ally than the Beaumont Group. We’re one of the top three companies in the country."

His eyes gleamed with pride as he made his decision. "I’ll try to reach out to the Sphere Group."

Later that afternoon...

Anne met Audrey at a café and shared the news that Denis had finally accepted her resignation. "I feel so relieved," she said, flashing a contented smile.

"That’s great! But what made him change his mind?" Audrey asked curiously. "Last time we talked, he was dead set against letting you go."

"It’s a long story." A wave of nausea churned in Anne’s stomach as she recalled the real reason behind his decision to send her to Mr. Lee.

"I’ve got time. Spill it."

With bitterness coating her words, Anne recounted everything that had unfolded the previous day. "His controlling nature couldn’t stand my defiance. To break me and to make me surrender to him, he sent me to that despicable man. When I found out, I was in utter disbelief. I always knew Denis was domineering and ruthless, but this...this was beyond anything I expected."

Her skin still crawled at the memory of Mr. Lee’s hands on her. "He didn’t care if I was ruined, as long as I gave in to him. I regret for not seeing his real nature sooner."

"That bastard," Audrey seethed, gripping the edge of the table. "You should take legal action against him."

Anne shook her head. "The truth is, I can’t fight him. He is too powerful. Nothing will happen to him, but he could destroy me. I’m just relieved to finally be free of his grasp. From now on, I’ll keep as much distance from him as possible."

"Ugh, let’s not even talk about him. He makes me sick." Audrey wrinkled her nose in disgust. "But speaking of men, tell me about your newly wedded husband. Augustine seems like a great catch." She flashed a teasing smile, changing the topic.

Anne’s cheeks heated as memories of the morning flooded her mind—his bare chest, the red mark on his neck, and that intoxicating kiss. A shy smile danced across her lips as she lowered her gaze to her fingers.

Audrey’s eyes gleamed mischievously at the sight of Anne’s reddening face. "Why are you blushing? Did something happen this morning?"

Anne quickly hid her smile and muttered, "Stop."

Audrey gasped dramatically. "Let me guess—he kissed you, and then..."

"No!" Anne cut her off, flustered. "Nothing happened between us."

Audrey’s playful grin faltered. "Wait...you mean you two haven’t had sex yet?"

Anne bit her lip and slowly shook her head.

Audrey’s jaw dropped in shock. "What? Why? Do you not like him? Or..." A sudden thought struck her, and she leaned in, lowering her voice. "Is it him? Does he, um...prefer men?"

Anne’s eyes widened. "Not at all! He is very much straight."

Audrey exhaled in exaggerated relief. "Oh, thank goodness." But she was still curious. "Then why hasn’t anything happened between you two? Is he in love with someone else?"

Anne hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure if Augustine had feelings for another woman. But when she thought of the way he had kissed her, any lingering doubts vanished.

"Actually, he is holding back because of me," she admitted softly. "We got married in a hurry, and I wasn’t ready for another relationship just yet. He respects that and is giving me time to start over at my own pace."

"I get why you’re hesitant." Audrey nodded, understanding that Denis’s betrayal had left a deep wound in Anne’s heart. "The past isn’t easy to forget, but don’t let painful memories hold you back. Augustine seems like a good man. Give him a chance."

Anne knew that Augustine was nothing like Denis. She, too, wanted to move forward and leave the past behind.

Audrey couldn’t resist offering a warning. "But remember, a man’s patience isn’t endless. If you make him wait too long, he might get frustrated and seek comfort elsewhere. You don’t want to lose someone like him."

Anne’s chest tightened at the thought of Augustine walking away from her. She parted her lips to protest, but before she could speak, her phone rang. Seeing her mother’s name on the screen sent a wave of anxiety crashing over her.

She hurriedly answered, her voice slightly unsteady. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" Patricia’s sharp voice came through the line. "Get to the hospital immediately."

Anne’s stomach dropped. "What happened? Is Papa okay?"

"How could anything be okay when the troublemaker is making our lives miserable?" Patricia snapped, her tone dripping with frustration. "The hospital is refusing to keep him any longer. Come here and settle the bill."

"I—I’m on my way." Anne shot to her feet and ended the call.

Audrey, alarmed, stood up as well. "What’s going on?"

"I have to get to the hospital."

"Wait—" Audrey started, but Anne was already rushing out of the café. She exhaled and shrugged. "I just hope everything is alright."

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