Annette sneered, "Is that how you came to apologize? Do you really think I'll forgive you if you apologize? Well, let me tell you what, there is a price to pay."
Connor pushed Austin and said, "Take your mother away before I change my mind. Or do you want Jessica to take the blame for your reckless behavior?"
Austin knew what was the right thing to do at the moment.
He turned around and dragged Leslie out of the room.
Back in the car, Leslie was unwilling to give up. She called Lance, crying.
Just as Annette was calming herself down in the ward, Lance called.
This time, Annette picked up the phone.
Lance's angry voice came from the other end of the line. "Annette, what else do you want? You won't stop till I use your mother's reputation to blackmail you. Only then will you let Jessica off, right?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"You bet. This is a threat. Ask Connor to release Jessica right now. Otherwise, you know the consequences."
Annette clenched the phone.
"Lance, you really should go this far. You ruined my mom's life, and you are blackmailing me now. Aren't you afraid of karma?"
Annette roared, not feeling better after that.
Lance said, "Those are all your own choices. You're the one who wouldn't let Jessica go. Did it ever occur to you that her life would be ruined if she goes to prison?"
"I wasn't the one who ruined her life. You and Leslie were. It was your arrogance that made her doomed. Why should I pay for what you did? That's impossible. You should have known what it feels like to have your heart stabbed long ago."
"So, does that mean that you will turn a blind eye to your mother's matter? Don't regret it," Lance threatened fiercely.
Annette stubbornly raised her head and said, "Go ahead. I dare you."
Connor figured out what was going on while listening to their conversation.
He stepped forward and spread out his hand in front of Annette.
"Give me the phone."
Annette glanced at him. Just as she was struggling if she should give it to him, Connor had already taken the phone out of her hand and placed it beside his ear.
"Lance, I don't care what you have over Sharon. Go ahead and make it public. Just don't regret it. After all, I also have something over the Black Thorn Pack."
"What do you mean?" Lance was alarmed.
"I believe that Austin's story is going to be the biggest joke in the Black Thorn Pack. Do you think the Fisher Group's CEO, whose father is unknown, is going to hurt the Fisher Group?"
Lance clenched his fists. He didn't expect Connor to find out all about this.
"Mr. Norman, can you please let go of Jessica? If she is sentenced, the press and public opinion will not be kind to Ann. After all, Ann sent her sister to prison. I'm sure it will hurt Ann's reputation too. What do you think?"
"I value her for who she is instead of her reputation. No matter how bad her reputation is, she will be my partner anyway. I'll take good care of her. You don't have to worry about that. You'd better mind that precious daughter of yours."
After Connor finished speaking, he hung up the phone and placed it on the table beside him.
He bent over, pulled a chair, and sat down by the bed, looking at Annette seriously.
Annette frowned and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Tell me. Did you insist on staying with the Black Thorn Pack, because he threatened you with your mother?"
Annette turned her face away and did not answer.
Connor stood up and cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. He said, "Tell me."
"Yes. That's right."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why should I tell you?" Annette said frankly. "Back then, you also crossed the line and hurt me, right?"
She said Connor's biggest concern. "So, you trust me no more, don't you?" he said.
"Will you trust someone who lets you down?"
Connor looked at her, his expression grave. "You disappoint me. Annette, can't you feel whether I'm good to you or not?"
He looked disappointed and Annette felt a little sad.
She bit her lip and said, "I can. That's why... That's why I chose to be frank with you and accept you. That's why I was in so much pain when I found out that you betrayed me."
Sensing her emotions, Connor leaned over and hugged her, stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry. Let's stop being like this anymore, OK?"
Annette raised her hands slightly, trying to hug him.
Yet she didn't.
"It was conceited of me. I should not have taken responsibility for that without considering your position, leaving you to suffer for so long. I won't do such silly things again."
Connor let go of her and held her cheeks. "So, don't hide anything from me anymore. Keep in mind that I am omnipotent. Whatever problem you have, I'll help you out. Even if there's a problem I can't solve, I'll find a way to fix it for you. OK?"
Annette looked at him and said nothing.
"Say something," Connor urged.
Annette nodded.
Connor was a bit thrilled to see her reaction.
For the first time, he forced others to accept him.
Of course, he wanted this from Annette only.
He had always thought that he was the one who was trapping Annette. He never thought that he had already fallen for her.
He kissed her on the lips and released her. "You heard what I said to Lance, right? Now you can relax. He won't say anything about your mother for the sake of the Fisher Group."
Annette lowered her eyes and laughed as she remembered what he had just said.
Connor rubbed her head and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Annette said, a bit frustrated, "I am laughing at myself for thinking I'm smart, while in fact, I'm so stupid."
"Is that so?" Connor asked, intrigued. "When did you realize that?"
She glared at him and said, "Connor!"
Connor grinned and said, "Alright. I'll stop. Tell me."
She said, "I know about Austin's history, too. Why didn't I think about holding it against Lance when he threatened me?"
"Is that why you think you're stupid?"
"No." Annette shook her head seriously. "It's all because I'm not an experienced businessman like you who is full of tricks."
Connor raised his hand and poked her forehead. "You've learned it now."
She proudly responded, "I call that smart."
"You might say you learned from me," he said, patting his chest. "I taught you well."
Annette said helplessly, "Will you stop it?"
Connor couldn't help but grin. Then he said, "What do you want for lunch today?"
"Anything is fine with me. There is something I want to discuss with you."
"Go ahead." He liked it when she discussed things with him. It gave him a sense of accomplishment that he was allowed to be involved in her business.
"I want to be discharged. I'm so bored here."
Connor sized her up and said after a moment, "OK. I'll have Dwayne sort out our room."