After hanging up the phone, Annette looked at Connor, who was reading some documents on the sofa.
She wanted to say something to him, but seeing that he was so preoccupied, she remained silent and stared at the ceiling.
Connor looked up at her and flipped through a page as he asked, "Do you want to tell me something?"
Annette was surprised. How did he know that she had something to say?
Seeing that she did not speak, Connor put down the documents and looked at her. "Just tell me."
"Sara is very thoughtful. She said that Zachary's past relationship hurt him a lot. So, she would take her time, and only tell him about her feelings after he got to know her."
Connor nodded and said, "Sara is a smart woman. If she keeps going that way, I think things may work out between them."
Annette shrugged. "Of course. Sara is my friend, and of course, she is smart."
Connor looked at her with a smile.
Annette was a little embarrassed. She said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Connor gave her a thumbs-up and said, "I'm proud to have a smart mate."
"I haven't forgiven you yet. We may or may not be together."
Connor threw the papers on the table and said angrily, "Let me tell you something. Even if you don't forgive me, being my mate is your only choice."
Annette sneered, "Why would I want a man to upset me when I can cook, clean, shop, and work happily all by myself?"
"There are some things you just can't do by yourself."
Annette said disdainfully, "You underestimate me."
"Let's make a bet then. There is one thing. If you manage to do it alone without me, I will agree to let you go. How about that?"
When she heard that Connor was letting her go, Annette's first reaction was not joy, but disappointment.
"I'm listening," she sat up angrily and said. "I wonder what can stump me. I'll do it to prove it to you."
Connor did not say anything. He did not plan to read the documents anymore. Instead, he leaned against the sofa and looked at her leisurely.
"What are you waiting for? Tell me!" Annette was about to be pissed off.
Connor looked at her, and his gaze was like a hook. Annette got the message in his explicit smile.
There was only one thing, which was the only thing she couldn't do by herself. She thought, 'Connor, you asshole!'
Annette's face was red.
"You..."
"I thought you said nothing could stump you." Connor looked pleased with himself.
"Who says women have to do that with men? We can live without it. Besides, it can be done with any man. You aren't necessarily the one."
Annette refused to let him gain the upper hand.
Connor said angrily, "Who else? You can't do this alone, Annette, and you can't run away."
He bent over to pick up the documents and continued reading.
Annette gritted her teeth and said, "Can't you go to work in the office?"
"No. You are hospitalized, and I am not in the mood."
"How can I rest when you keep flipping those papers?"
Connor tossed the papers away and said, "Fine, then I'll be concentrating on looking at you."
Annette choked on his words again. She cursed him silently.
"Go ahead with your work. Don't talk to me." After she finished speaking, she lay down and turned her back to him.
She thought, 'I should go to sleep. If I fall asleep, I can stop looking at him. That way, I won't feel torn.'
Jessica's matter had blown up. Jessica's reputation went down, and the Fisher Group was implicated.
The Fisher Group, which had already been on the ropes, was now almost in ruin.
To save Jessica, Leslie paid a lot of money to hire famous lawyers.
But no matter how hard Leslie tried, the lawyers hired by the Fisher Group were still more or less weak compared to the lawyers hired by the Norman Group.
Leslie knew exactly how bad the situation was for Jessica.
So, to save Jessica and after struggling for almost a week, she finally decided to listen to Lance and Austin and come to the hospital to ask Annette for forgiveness.
Ever since Jessica's attack went public, reporters had been camping outside the hospital to interview Annette.
When Austin and Leslie showed up, they were surrounded by reporters.
The reporters were relentless and asked them all sorts of questions.
Some reporters taunted Jessica, and Leslie wanted to retaliate but was pulled away by Austin.
After entering the hospital, Leslie said unhappily, "Austin, why did you pull me away? Didn't you hear those harsh words the reporters said? Who were they to humiliate Jessica?"
Austin said with a cold face, "Leslie, if that's how you are going to apologize to Annette, then I suggest you leave before you make things worse. Jessica will be the one ending up suffering."
Leslie shut up at once. Saving Jessica beat everything for now.
Arriving at Annette's ward door, Austin knocked on the door and walked in before Leslie.
Austin saw Connor was also in the room and ignored him.
"What are you doing here again?" Connor asked in a masterly manner.
Austin did not respond to Connor. He said to Annette, "Ann, Leslie is at the door. She is here to apologize to you."
Annette frowned and asked, "You brought her here?"
Austin nodded. "Yes. She's freaking out about this whole Jessica thing. Ann, she is Jessica's mother."
"I can't empathize with anyone but Sharon."
"This isn't about Sharon, Ann. I'll bring Leslie in. You..."
Annette said coldly, "You'd better not. I won't forgive her and I won't go easy on her. I'll never forget how she beat my mom before."
Austin was a little embarrassed.
"Ann, maybe you should let go of the past."
"Are these things over in your eyes? Well, as far as I'm concerned, they are always there. They keep haunting and torturing me."
After Annette said that, she turned her head and said, "Take Leslie away. And don't bother me again."
Austin didn't move. He looked at her helplessly and said, "Ann..."
Connor stepped forward, grabbed Austin's shoulder, and pushed him towards the door.
"I think she made herself clear. She told you to stop pestering her. Get lost."
Annette turned anxious. She didn't want them to fight again.
Austin nodded in pain and said, "Alright, Ann. I'll go."
He turned and pulled open the door with a heavy heart.
At the door, Leslie held his arm and asked, "Why are you out? What did that bitch... What did Annette say?"
"Leslie, let's go back and think of some other ways."
Hearing Austin's words, Leslie was furious. She pushed Austin's hand away and rushed into the ward.
"Annette, what the heck do you want?"
After glancing coldly at Leslie, Annette turned to Connor and asked, "Can you kick her out for me?"
When Connor was about to go over, Austin walked in, and stood in front of Leslie, "What do you want to do?"
Annette said unhappily, "Austin, please take your mother away right now."
Leslie cried and said, "Annette, how can you do this? Come at me if you're up to anything. Why did you ruin my daughter?"