Chapter 10
Anna Ross's hand froze mid-air.
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
She looked up at her mother.
Her voice was soft.
"Nothing."
"Nothing happened between us."
Vivian Lowell wanted to ask more.
Anna gently interrupted.
"Mom."
"Let's run away."
This life was too unbearable.
Adrian Sinclair's icy gaze.
Her stepfather's endless schemes.
Howard Lowell's abuse toward her mother.
Each burden pressed down until she could barely breathe.
Vivian paused.
She reached out to tidy Anna's stray hairs.
"Anna..."
"Why say that so suddenly?"
Anna forced her tears back.
She swallowed all her grievances.
Her mother had suffered enough.
She couldn't add to her troubles.
She held Vivian's hand.
Her eyes were determined.
"Mom."
"We can live well without Howard Lowell."
Her voice lightened slightly.
"The jewelry and money he gave you before."
"You saved it all, right?"
"It's enough for us to start over somewhere else."
Anywhere would do.
As long as they escaped this living hell.
Vivian nodded gently.
Howard had been generous early in their marriage.
Expensive jewelry.
Large sums of cash.
She had secretly saved several hundred thousand over time.
This money was her secret safety net.
Originally meant as her daughter's escape route.
She feared something might happen one day.
Leaving her daughter with no one to rely on.
Anna's eyes brightened.
Her mother agreed.
She had no more reservations.
"I'll start preparing in the next couple days."
"We'll leave as soon as we get a chance."
Her work skills were solid.
Supporting her mother would be more than manageable.
But Vivian lowered her gaze.
Her expression dimmed.
Anna anxiously gripped her hand.
"Mom?"
"Are you feeling unwell?"
She carefully checked her mother's body.
Worried there might be other injuries.
Vivian gently stroked her hair.
Her voice was soft but firm.
"Anna."
"We can't leave yet."
Anna's fingers trembled.
Why endure any longer?
"Mom..."
"Why?"
Vivian looked at her with heartache.
Her pale lips parted slightly.
"Trust me."
"I will take you away when the time comes."
Anna wanted to press further.
Vivian suddenly broke into violent coughs.
Anna swallowed her questions.
Her mother's health was too fragile.
She couldn't add more pressure.
Since her mother said so.
She would wait a little longer.
She forced a smile.
"I'll listen to you, Mom."
Vivian's heart ached.
She pulled her daughter into an embrace.
"My good girl..."
"You've suffered too much."
Anna patted her back gently.
Just a little longer.
She could endure it.
After putting away the medical kit.
Anna had calmed down.
"Mom."
"I'll get warm water to clean you up."
Vivian nodded.
Watching her daughter's retreating figure.
She sighed helplessly.
Anna changed into simple home clothes.
She tied her hair up casually.
Without any makeup.
She was still stunningly beautiful.
She carried hot water through the living room.
The servants watched with cold eyes.
Some even whispered mocking laughs.
Since the fake pregnancy incident was exposed.
No one respected them anymore.
Anna gripped the basin edge tightly.
She hated their snobbery.
But felt powerless.
In this house.
Without Howard's permission.
No one cared about their well-being.
She ignored their stares.
Walking straight into her mother's bedroom.
Vivian lay on the bed.
Her eyes empty.
Seeing her daughter.
She finally smiled.
"Anna."
"Go rest."
"You don't need to do this."
Anna's heart ached.
Those servants wouldn't come anyway.
She shook her head.
"I don't trust others to care for you."
"I want to do it myself."
Vivian smiled helplessly.
Having such a daughter.
Made her life worthwhile.
Anna helped her sit up.
Gently wiping her wrists with a warm towel.
After settling her mother to sleep.
She tucked her in properly.
"Mom."
"Rest well."
Vivian nodded with a smile.
Anna kissed her cheek.
Turned off the light and left.
The moment the bedroom door closed.
Her smile vanished.
"I can't let Mom get hurt again."
She clenched her jaw.
Gently shutting the door.
Phone in hand.
Anna looked toward Howard in the living room.
Howard enjoyed his tea leisurely.
Legs crossed arrogantly.
Seeing her.
He shot a disdainful glance.
"Your wretched mother isn't dead yet?"
Anna's nails dug into her palms.
The pain came.
But she felt nothing.
The power imbalance was too great.
She couldn't touch him now.