Annette looked up and said to Lance, "The letter does prove that Sharon did something wrong, but she also mentioned that she wanted to break up with you. So, she knew she had to pay the price for her mistake, which was losing you. Since that was the case, why did you still torture her like that?"
"Because I couldn't live with it. Ann, if you were me, how would you feel? If you loved someone with all your heart and then that person cheated on you, would you be able to walk away just like that? Well, I can't."
"So?" Annette clenched her fists, her lips quivering as she tried to suppress her sadness.
"So, are you saying that I deserved to suffer while it was the problem between you two?"
Lance turned his head and said, "I know that I'm not a good father. But if you want to blame someone, blame your mother."
"Is that so?" Annette wore a sarcastic smile. "It turned out that a man could find any excuses for his incompetence of being a father and detesting his daughter."
She took a deep breath. "What's your purpose in telling me this? Are you asking me to do something for you?"
Lance said, "I want you to come back to the pack and stay with us."
Annette smiled coldly, "What makes you think that will happen?"
"Your identity has been exposed, so, everything is possible. The stock price of the Fisher Group has plummeted. The only solution now is to improve our family's reputation by having you back. Before you become the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, you must stay with the Black Thorn Pack.
Annette began to laugh.
Lance frowned and said, "I know you don't want to do it. But you have no other choice. As I've said, if you don't do as I said, I will let the media know about Sharon's scandal. So, you have two options. Return to the Black Thorn Pack, or ruin your deceased mother's reputation. Make your choice."
Annette stared at the greyish-white ground and struggled inside. She didn't want to choose from either of the options. Lance was a cunning businessman. She was aware that it was a trap, but she had no choice but to jump into it as she still had to consider Sharon's reputation.
Annette was grateful that her relationship with Connor was now in trouble and that Connor would no longer be burdened by her. Lance's plans would ultimately fail.
"Ann, have you thought it through?"
"Mr. Fisher, you are such a lucky man. Before, you used Sharon, and now, you used me as your shield."
Lance turned his head away and said coldly, "As I said, it wasn't my fault."
Annette raised her hand and covered her eyes gently.
She reminded herself to stay strong. Her so-called father was a cunning fox who only cared about his own interests. She couldn't show any weakness in front of him, or she would only suffer more.
She would not become Sharon, and Lance would never meet another Sharon.
"You said you loved my mother. But I don't think so. Love begets hate? How ridiculous. I think you simply didn't want to accept the fact."
"You wouldn't understand my feelings," Lance said coldly.
Annette nodded and said calmly, "That's right. But I know that Sharon never spoke ill of you in front of me. When she and I were in dire straits and begged for your help, you treated us like beggars and chased us away cold-bloodedly. Even so, she never hated you. Every time you got drunk late at night, you would come to her room and force yourself on her. Every time, after you left, she would cry all night. When your mate tortured her, Sharon endured it quietly. You say you loved her, but the pain you inflicted on her far exceeded your love for her. Her depression was caused by you and all the members of the Black Thorn Pack. When she was dying, I begged you for help. But, what did you do? You simply ignored us."
Lance dared not make eye contact with Annette.
"I came to talk to you today not to seek approval for what I did before but just to inform you of the decision of the Black Thorn Pack. Like it or not, you must return. You love Sharon deeply, and I don't think you will let her be criticized. As long as you come back with me, I will keep her betrayal a secret and take on the reputation of cheating."
"Do you think you're so great? Lance, you're so despicable. You just used her as a means to vent your desires."
"No one will care about it. They will just believe that Connor's mate is an illegitimate daughter. Actually, it could have been kept hidden forever. It is Alpha Connor who pushed you to the Black Thorn Pack. You can't blame me for it."
Annette trembled in anger.
She had a better understanding of Lance now. He was a jerk who would do anything to reach his goals.
She held her head high and said word by word, "Fine. You want me to go back to the Black Thorn Pack, don't you? I can grant your wish. I hope you won't regret it."
Annette stood up and said coldly, "Tomorrow, make sure all the members of the Black Thorn Pack are ready at the door to welcome the second daughter of the Black Thorn Pack home."
With that, she turned to walk out.
She thought, 'The second daughter of the Black Thorn Pack? What an ironic title.
Connor, do you know? I hate it the most, but I can't get rid of it. What's done can't be undone, and I don't have a choice.'
Annette knew better than anyone what kind of person Sharon was.
And she knew how Sharon had survived over the past few decades.
Annette recalled her one-night stand with Connor. She believed that even if Sharon had done something wrong back then, there must have been a reason for it.
And Lance must know it, too.
He didn't trust Sharon simply because he didn't want to.
Sharon was far less important to him than he said.
Lance didn't love Sharon that much, so he could torment her for a lifetime.
Love? How ridiculous. That was why Annette never believed in love.
Lance and the Black Thorn Pack destroyed her expectation of happiness and desire to pursue it. So, her relationship with Connor faced so many difficulties.
Whenever her life started to take a favorable turn, Lance would destroy it.
Sharon was dead, and Annette would never allow anyone to slander her.
She thought, 'The Black Thorn Pack. So what?
I've already lost Connor. What else do I need to be afraid of?'
Annette took a taxi and was heading to the cemetery.
Arriving at Sharon's grave, she placed a bouquet in front of the gravestone, gazing at Sharon's smiling face in the photo.
"Mom, we are both silly and don't know how to protect ourselves. That's why we end up in such a miserable state."
Annette covered her face with both hands and sighed.