"They got married?" Anne asked.
Her face turned pale as she mumbled, "She must be lying to you… That's impossible. She's ruined… Why would Donovan marry someone like her? I don't believe it… Never!"
"Grace texted me saying they've registered their marriage. Mrs. Kane Senior was so furious that she lost her appetite. Donovan even threatened to cut ties with the Kane family over this."
Anne shook her head repeatedly before collapsing onto the couch.
Just then, the housekeeper came over with a plate of freshly cut fruit and politely offered it to Anne.
As Anne's anger exploded, she smacked the tray away and snapped, "Get out! All of you, get out!"
Startled, the housekeeper rushed to clean up the mess.
After that humiliating breakdown in front of Donovan at the hospital, Anne had promised herself that she would finally let go of the idea of becoming Mrs. Kane. But learning that he had married Giselle so soon after left her reeling.
She thought back to the long and exhausting year since their engagement.
Donovan had kept giving excuses and postponing the wedding date. He had never once put his words into action. Anne had schemed and even rallied the entire Kane family to pressure him, but in the end, Donovan still chose to call off the engagement.
She hadn't expected Donovan to move so decisively. Once he had set his mind on marrying Giselle, he skipped the pomp and went straight to the registry to obtain the marriage certificate.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Renee questioned sharply. "Your father doesn't listen to me, your brother ignores me, and now you too? Keep in mind that everything you have right now took me more than two decades to build. Without me, you'd have nothing. You think you can handle that woman alone?"
Anne took a deep breath before explaining, "Mom, you have no idea what kind of man is right for me. After everything with Donovan, I'm exhausted. I don't want another engagement or marriage with someone I barely know. In the end, I'd just end up having kids and getting a divorce."
"And what exactly do you plan to do? That bitch has married into the Kane family now. If she gets in with Donovan and turns him against you, you're doomed! Even I won't be able to protect you then!"
Anne let out a cold chuckle. "Exactly. That's why I'm not planning to just sit around and do nothing. Don't worry, Mom. I'm not as weak as you think. I know what I'm doing, and I won't let you down."
Seeing Anne's blind confidence, Renee felt a flicker of doubt.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Breaking Mr. Cold (Giselle and Donovan)
Upload sleeping with the wrong man from webfic...