Marcus walked in, as Annette came downstairs.
"Annette, I'm here for dinner."
"Okay."
Marcus walked over and saw that Annette's face was flushed, so he asked, "Why is your face so red? Do you feel hot? Is the temperature of the air conditioning too high?"
"No, I didn't feel hot."
"You are not running a fever, are you?" Marcus said and reached out to touch Annette's forehead.
Connor happened to come down the stairs. He saw Marcus' actions and snorted coldly.
Sensing Connor's fierce gaze, Marcus quickly withdrew his hand and leaned close to Annette's ear. "Connor seemed to be angry. What happened?"
"You finally found it out." Annette turned her head aside and whispered, "He was jealous."
Marcus was amused when he heard it.
Connor asked grumpily, "What are you talking about?"
Marcus wrapped his arm around Annette's shoulder deliberately.
"Annette and I are just chatting. Am I right, Annette?"
Annette glared at Marcus and knew he was doing it on purpose.
Connor walked up to them.
He pinched Marcus's hand, which was resting on Annette's shoulder, and lifted it.
Marcus cried out in pain as Connor squeezed his bone.
"Connor, it hurts."
"Oh yeah? Why don't you ask her for help?"
Marcus shouted immediately, "Annette, help!"
Annette lowered her head and snickered, ignoring both Connor and Marcus and turning around to walk toward the dining table.
Marcus complained, "Annette, come on. Connor, let go. I won't dare to do that again."
"Be more specific."
"I dare not to make you mad again."
Connor let go of him. Marcus shook his hand to relax it.
Connor also walked to the dining table.
Marcus followed and sat opposite Connor and Annette.
Connor asked Dwayne beside him, "Did the chef at Marcus' resign?"
"Alpha Connor, he didn't."
"Then drive Marcus out. Don't let him stay here as he will ruin my appetite."
"You are kidding, right?" Marcus said in shock.
Annette remained silent while Marcus pretended to be pitiful and said, "Annette, please say something. How could he be so heartless to me?"
"I won't get involved in between you two."
"You take Connor's side. I won't come if I don't have something important to tell you."
Annette looked at Marcus and asked, "What's the matter?"
Marcus leaned back in his chair and said, "Annette, what I'm about to say may upset you."
Connor said without thinking, "If you know she'll be upset, don't say it."
Annette turned her head and glared at Connor.
Marcus cast a disdainful glance at them.
"Enough. Can you not flirt with each other in front of me?"
Annette said to Marcus, "Just say whatever you have to say."
"There are just about twenty days until Christmas. Lucas came to me today and asked about my plan for the holiday. He also asked me..." Marcus looked at Annette and hesitated to speak.
Connor said coldly, "Go ahead."
"Lucas asked if Annette would be home at Christmas this year."
"Where else can she go if she doesn't stay with me?"
Annette looked a bit embarrassed.
Marcus nodded hurriedly and said, "That's what I said."
After a moment of silence, Annette said, "I'll stay out of his sight. Besides, I'm also not prepared to see him."
Connor stared at her and said, "You don't need any preparation. Just act like usual."
Annette looked at him, and he should have known what she wanted to avoid.
Connor continued, "You don't have to pay attention to those you don't like. I will always be by your side, so don't worry too much."
Marcus nodded and said, "If Connor isn't enough for you, I'll also help you."
Without thinking, Connor said, "Really? You would be more useless."
Marcus stood up and said, "Can you stop belittling me? I think I shouldn't have come here. Dwayne, you don't have to give me utensils. I'll take my leave."
As he walked out, he said, "I'll tell Lucas that the arrangements for this year's Christmas will be the same as before."
Annette shouted at him, "Join us for dinner."
"No thanks. I am afraid that Connor will bite me."
After Marcus left, Annette shook her head and asked Connor, "How could such a lively and cheerful guy like Marcus be born in your family?"
"Because he is still young, and everything in his life goes well."
After that, Connor seemed to have thought of something and added, "So, do you prefer a man like him?"
Annette glared at him and said, "Stop it."
"I'm just curious. Do you like that kind of man?"
"Yes, I do."
Connor pulled a long face.
Annette shrugged and said, "Put that look away. Marcus is a good boy. Why shouldn't I like him?"
"What kind of man am I in your eyes?"
Annette thought for a moment and then said seriously, "You are cunning."
"Well, that's enough." Connor looked at her.
Annette said innocently, "I haven't finished my words yet."
"I don't want to listen."
"No, you have to listen to me." Annette continued, "You are cunning and scheming but also kind and warm-hearted."
Connor's mad face instantly looked relaxed.
"Don't think that a few sweet words can calm me down."
"You were the one who asked for my opinion. Humans are complex. You have experienced so much that you have refined yourself into an outstanding man. Regardless of how others see you, in my eyes, you are kind and warm-hearted. I am not trying to flatter you. It's just how I felt about you."
Connor's lips curled up into a faint smile. "Let's eat."
Annette took a few bites and then turned to him. "I don't want to stay here for Christmas."
"Who are you trying to avoid? Lucas? Or Alina?
"Well, both. It's not that I'm afraid to see them, but that I don't want to see them." Annette took a deep breath and continued, "Lucas hates me, and I just had an argument with Alina. If I meet them on Christmas Eve, it will only make everyone unhappy."
"You don't need to hide from them. This is your home. Even if you can avoid them this year, then what about next year? Lucas is from the Blood Moon Pack, and Alina is his wife. We can't change that, so let's just face it."
Annette lowered her eyes and smiled.
Connor asked, "Why are you laughing?"
"I have to add a little more to my evaluation of you."
"Is it something good? Otherwise, you can just keep it to yourself. I'm in a good mood now."
"It's a good point. You always defend your woman."
The next morning, Annette arrived at the school gate and noticed that Jennifer had not come.
However, at the school gate, there was a pool of blood.
As soon as she entered the office, she heard Alanna gossiping with Eden about that.
"The guard said that her blood had spattered high. Two students wanted to help her cover the wound, but they failed. The scene was horrible."
Annette put down her bag and asked, "Alanna, what happened?"
"Annette, haven't you heard? Jennifer, who made a scene at the gate yesterday, cut her wrists at our school gate?"
Annette asked in surprise, "When?"
"Last night," Alanna said. "The security guard called the police and an ambulance."
Annette felt a little heavy-hearted. What did Jennifer want? Was she going to kill herself just to torment Zachary?
"Did Sara know about it?"
"She just arrived. After hearing about the incident, she left immediately."
Annette took out her phone and dialed Sara's number.