The next day, Dwayne sent Roxanne to the airport in person.
After Roxanne left, Annette was lying on a recliner on the balcony, looking up at the sky.
Connor waited in the living room for a while. Seeing that she didn't come out, he walked into the bedroom.
He went to the balcony and asked, "Are you feeling sad again because you have no home to go back to?"
Annette turned around and looked at him, somewhat surprised.
The last time she sighed about that was when Roxanne left after graduation.
To her surprise, Connor still remembered it after such a long time.
Connor said earnestly, "You have a home too. If you want, I can take you back now."
Annette remained silent.
Connor leaned closer to her and said, "I'm serious."
Annette shrugged and looked up at the sky once again. "I miss the rental house where Sharon and I lived together when I was young. She used to laugh a lot back then, and I loved chatting with her after dinner."
As she spoke, she touched her belly, and the smile on her lips gradually faded.
Connor walked over and reached his hand to stroke her head, comforting her.
Annette looked up at him and smiled.
For some reason, after being pregnant, she always found herself easily falling into a state of sadness.
In the evening, Connor stayed in the apartment with Annette.
Annette knew that he had a reason for driving Roxanne away.
She wasn't surprised about it.
On the fourth day of living in the apartment, Sara called to check on her.
Annette chatted with Sara for a while, and she suddenly recalled Sara's feelings for Zachary.
She looked at the calendar and said, "Sara, tomorrow is Saturday. Do you have any plans? If not, I'll invite Zachary and we can hang out together."
"I don't have anything to do. I just wonder if Mr. Joseph will be busy."
"I'll call and ask him. If he's available, I'll send you a message."
With that, Annette hung up the phone and dialed Zachary's number.
Zachary was free on Saturday, so when Annette invited him out, he agreed.
"By the way, Zachary, if it is convenient, can you help me pick up Sara? She and I made an appointment to have a meal together after I was discharged."
"Okay. Send me her address."
Annette snickered and said, "I only know where Sara lives, but I'm not sure of the exact address. How about this? I'll give you Sara's phone number, and you can ask her directly."
Annette completed the task of exchanging contact information between Sara and Zachary easily.
After hanging up the phone and finishing her task, Annette was feeling happy. The next second, her phone rang.
She saw that it was a call from Austin, and her expression instantly turned serious.
She didn't want to answer it.
Annette only put the phone to her ear when the ringtone was about to end.
"Hello."
"Ann."
Austin called out Annette's name weakly and then fell silent.
Annette frowned and asked, "What do you want?"
"I just want to hear your voice. I'm about to give up."
Annette remained silent.
Austin sighed, "How did we come to this? I shouldn't have been so impulsive. So, I wouldn't lose you. Now, we can't even be siblings, and I'm in a lot of pain."
Annette lowered her eyes and bit her lip lightly, not saying anything.
In the past years, Austin was indeed good to her.
"I wanted to tell you about it when you graduated from college, yet you met Connor, and a lot of things happened afterward. I missed the best opportunity, and I should have remained silent. However, I became impulsive because of jealousy. Ann, do you hate me?"
Annette said calmly, "I don't hate you. I can imagine that you may be feeling upset right now, but I don't know what to say to make you feel better. You should delete my number and move on. It's better for you. You can't be my brother anymore and you should accept it."
"I know, but when I feel lost, I still want to call you out of habit. I thought that maybe you wouldn't answer my call."
"I didn't want to answer, yet I think we'd better make things clear. Actually, who you are doesn't matter to me, since there will be nothing between you and me anymore."
Annette's calmness formed a sharp contrast with Austin's despair at the moment.
Austin remained silent for a long time.
"If there is nothing else, I'm going to hang up," Annette said.
"Ann," Austin said urgently.
Annette nodded. "Yes?"
"Jessica might be sentenced."
Annette looked serious and asked, "Why are you telling me that?"
"I'd like to ask you. Is it what you want to see?"
Annette nodded. "Yes."
"Do you hate her that much?"
Annette said, "I don't want to answer such a question anymore."
"If I get Leslie and Jessica to apologize sincerely to you, will you let her go?"
"I'll let them go if their apology can get Sharon back to life. But, it can't. Please don't try to convince me anymore. My answer remains the same. You have no right to persuade me to be kind without experiencing the despair that Leslie and Jessica have brought to me. I'm kind enough. At least, I did not take their lives."
"Ann, Sharon killed herself."
"Enough. You called me to save Jessica, right? Let me make it clear to you. I will not let her go after what she has done to me. Sharon killed herself, but why did she get so ill? As for Lance, Leslie, and Jessica, they are all responsible. What Jessica has taken on now is far less than the hatred in my heart."
With that, Annette hung up the phone directly.
When she calmed down, she felt sad.
How did her relationship with Austin end up like this?
Connor came back from an errand.
Annette told him she was going to have a meal with Zachary and Sara the next day.
Connor didn't say much.
Annette thought he had agreed and got up to go back to her room.
"That's it?" Connor was not pleased.
"Is there anything else?" Annette asked in confusion.
Connor glared at Annette. "Will you not invite me?"
"Why should I invite you?"
Connor would have shouted at Annette for his hot temper.
However, in the face of Annette, he could not say anything.
"I'm your mate. Aren't you going to invite me when you go out to dinner with another man?"
Annette retorted, "Sara is also coming."
"You know exactly what I mean. Do you have to piss me like this?"
Connor got up and walked in front of her. "Am I becoming less and less important to you?"
Annette was amused to see him angry.
"Then it's your treat," she said, walking past him toward the bedroom.
Connor shook his head and thought. 'She is indeed a quick learner.'