Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 533

**Chapter 533: The Portrait She Never Knew**

Anneliese lay there, her head nestled against the cushions, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her. Jonathan’s gentle fingers wove through her hair, a soothing gesture that seemed to chase away the shadows of her fatigue.

“Why don’t you take a little rest?” he suggested softly, his voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket. “I’ll come back to wake you for dinner, and then I’ll send you back to Oceaton.”

His words were filled with kindness, and Anneliese felt a flutter of comfort in her chest. She nodded slowly, her eyelids growing heavier as she surrendered to the allure of sleep. Yet, as soon as the door clicked shut behind him, an unsettling restlessness settled over her like a fog. Was it the unfamiliarity of her surroundings that kept her awake, or was it the lingering effects of her earlier nap? Whatever the cause, sleep remained just out of reach.

Just as she began to drift into the realm of dreams, the door creaked open once more, and the sound of light footsteps broke her solitude.

“Honey?” she called out, her voice tinged with hope, thinking Jonathan had returned.

“Anneliese, I’m not Jonathan,” came a bright, melodic voice that danced through the air like a songbird.

Startled, Anneliese shot upright, her heart racing in her chest. A girl stood in the doorway, clad in a vibrant red dress that seemed to radiate youthful energy. She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, with an aura that sparkled with exuberance.

As the girl introduced herself, Anneliese’s mind raced. This must be Felyxia Fullbuster, Jonathan’s cousin, the daughter of his second uncle.

“Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Felyxia. May I come in? I hope I didn’t wake you!” she chirped, her friendly smile illuminating the room with warmth.

Anneliese felt an involuntary smile bloom on her lips in response. “No, I wasn’t asleep. Please, come in,” she invited, her curiosity piqued.

But as she attempted to rise, Felyxia rushed over, her hands raised in protest as if to shield Anneliese from some unseen danger.

“No, no! Stay down! If Jonathan sees you getting up, he’ll be so mad at me!”

Felyxia’s face twisted into a comically fearful expression, her neck shrinking as if she were genuinely worried about Jonathan’s reaction.

Anneliese couldn’t help but chuckle softly, finding amusement in the girl’s antics. “You’re scared of him? He’s really quite gentle.”

Felyxia looked at her with wide eyes, as if Anneliese had just shared the punchline of a cosmic joke.

“Gentle? Jonathan?” she echoed incredulously, disbelief coloring her tone.

Seeing the sincerity in Anneliese’s expression, Felyxia clicked her tongue dismissively.

“He doesn’t throw tantrums, sure, but when he gets angry, even my dad and Grandpa have to tread carefully. Sometimes, even Grandpa gives in to him! If you think he’s gentle, you must be really special to him, Anneliese. How long have you known him?”

Anneliese blinked, a warm flush creeping up her cheeks at the unexpected compliment.

“Why do you think that?” she asked, her heart quickening at the thought of their connection.

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