The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 49

After a long while, he finally let out a slow sigh.

The sound carried the weary, earnest resignation of an elder.

"Annelise, you've been married into the Lehman family for four years now."

"And there has been absolutely no news of a child between you and Hackett."

"This matter... your mother is very anxious about it." He looked at Annelise, his gaze turning complex. "You know our family's traditions. Having no heir is a serious issue."

His words were like an iron hammer wrapped in velvet, slamming heavily against Annelise's chest with every strike.

"If eventually..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the unspoken implication hung over her head like a gleaming blade.

If she remained childless, her status in the family would be in constant peril.

Handing over the shares was perhaps the only 'bargaining chip' she had left to maintain her hollow title as a high-society wife.

It was a transaction.

Trading the last safeguard her father had left her for a precarious, easily revocable position in a billionaire household.

Annelise was just about to counter with another prepared argument to shut down this blatant threat.

Just then, a sharp knock sounded on the lounge door.

Felix pushed the door open, practically rushing to Barnum's side, and whispered a few urgent words into his ear in a hushed tone.

Annelise watched as Barnum's expression drastically changed in a split second.

For the first time, his perpetually calm, fathomless eyes flashed with utter shock and disbelief.

*Bang.*

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify