Chapter 85: It’s so easy to scare her
A low, sarcastic chuckle rumbled from Daniel’s chest when he noticed the neat line of pillows she had placed between them, dividing the bed as if it were contested territory.
"That’s your side. This is mine. Don’t even think of crossing it," Anna warned, her expression deadly serious.
One brow arched in amusement. "You think these pillows will stop you from rolling over to my side?"
Her glare could have set him on fire. "Gr—" Anna growled, eyes flashing like daggers at his maddeningly calm face. But rather than waste another word on him, she turned her back with a huff, shutting her eyes tightly.
’He’s the one who refuses to let me go,’ she thought bitterly, fuming at his nonchalant remark.
Daniel, however, lay watching her, fighting the urge to sweep the pillows aside and pull her into his arms. His body itched to do it, but he forced himself still. She was finally feeling better, and he wouldn’t risk disturbing her. With a quiet sigh, he reached over, switched off the light, and let the room fall into darkness.
***
The next morning began with something far from usual.
Daniel woke to find himself pinned—Anna clinging to him like a vine, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him. His eyes flickered down to her face, dangerously close to his own. A faint line of drool at the corner of her lips confirmed she was fast asleep.
For a moment, he simply blinked, trying to steady his pulse. Then his gaze softened. She looked so at peace, nothing like the pale, pained woman she had been yesterday.
’It seems you’re the one who can’t stay away from me,’ he thought, his lips curving in quiet amusement.
But when his eyes drifted lower, they caught on her slightly parted lips. His throat bobbed, desire rising unbidden. His heartbeat stumbled into a faster rhythm.
’She won’t even notice if I steal a kiss,’ the thought whispered through him, dangerous and tempting.
His face inched closer, the pull undeniable—until Anna’s eyes suddenly flew open.
Daniel froze, his breath caught. She didn’t blink, didn’t move, only stared ahead.
’Did she just see me?’ he wondered, heart hammering.
Then, just as suddenly, her lashes fluttered, and she rolled away, letting go of him entirely.
Daniel exhaled, the tension breaking into disbelief. He ran a hand down his face and muttered under his breath, "Why does she have to give me a heart attack first thing in the morning?"
Shaking his head, he pushed himself out of bed, pausing only once more to glance at her still figure. His lips curved despite himself. Anna’s sleeping habits might be strange, but they never failed to leave him completely undone.
In the end, Daniel decided to let Anna be. He stepped out of the room quietly, only to halt at the sight of Kira standing just outside.
His expression shifted instantly, his eyes narrowing into a brooding glare. "What?" His voice was so stern that Kira flinched, her grip tightening on the tray in her hands.
Daniel had always found something odd about her. He had ignored it for Mariam’s sake—after all, the girl was her niece. But ever since Kira’s baseless accusation against Anna, he could no longer brush aside the gnawing suspicion.
"Master... Aunt Mariam asked me to bring this tea to the madam," Kira muttered, her gaze dropping, unable to meet the chill in his eyes.
Daniel’s attention flickered to the cup of tea, then back to Kira. His tone left no room for argument. "Take it away. Anna is still sleeping."
He didn’t spare her another glance, turning sharply to head back toward his room.
Left standing in the corridor, Kira’s hands clenched tight around the tray. Daniel’s cold dismissal stung more than she could bear. Her jaw tightened, and with a stormy glare, she spun on her heel and walked away, her steps echoing with suppressed fury.
Anna stirred slowly in her sleep, but the moment her hand reached out and found the other side of the bed empty, her eyes snapped open.
’Huh? Where are the pillows?’
Propping herself on her elbow, she noticed the pillows she had used to build a barrier were now strewn across the floor.
Blinking in disbelief, she pushed herself upright. Daniel was nowhere in sight.
Disappointment flickered across her face, only to shift into shock when her gaze returned to the fallen pillows.
"Did I throw them away in my sleep?" she muttered, her cheeks warming with embarrassment. Daniel’s words from last night echoed mercilessly in her mind—
’You think these pillows will stop you from rolling over to my side?’
Her face flushed red as she covered her mouth. "Don’t tell me... he was right. And I—" She cut herself off, unable to even voice the thought.
Forcing herself to shrug it off, she huffed, "So what if I pushed them away. He’s always the one holding me anyway."
Still, relief washed over her at the thought that Daniel hadn’t been there to witness it—or she’d be dying of secondhand embarrassment.
Shaking off her thoughts, Anna climbed out of bed—only to freeze when a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," she called, expecting Mariam.
But the door opened to reveal Kira, a tray in hand.
Anna’s brows furrowed.
"Madam, your tea," Kira said politely, setting the tray on the table. Yet she didn’t leave. She lingered, standing too neatly, too still.
Anna narrowed her eyes. "Is there something you want to say?"
Kira gave a subtle nod, her face arranged into an innocent mask.
"I wanted to apologize, Madam."
Anna’s frown deepened.
"I know I shouldn’t have accused you before," Kira continued, lowering her head. "I’ve realized my mistake."
Anna let out a humorless laugh and cut her off. "Then why didn’t you say this in front of Daniel? Why only here, to me?"
Kira’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing with panic.
"If you were truly sorry, you’d admit to him that it was you who placed that file in my room, not me. Isn’t that right?"
Kira’s lips parted, fumbling for words, her mask faltering.
Anna remained steady, arms crossing over her chest. "I’ve seen better performances than this. Don’t think I’ll fall for your fake apology."
Kira tried again, forcing tears into her eyes. "I-I’m not lying, Madam. I’m really sorry."
’Why won’t this woman just believe me?’ Kira cursed inwardly, even as she sobbed to keep her act intact.
Anna stepped closer, her gaze cold and unflinching. "You should be thankful I haven’t exposed you, Kira. Think of it as grace—grace only because of your aunt. Were it not for Mariam, you wouldn’t be standing here."
Kira’s eyes widened, her body stiffening under the weight of Anna’s stare. She wanted to protest, but the sharp edge in Anna’s gaze left her paralyzed.
"So, drop the act," Anna warned, her voice firm. "And do your job properly. Now leave—before I assign you something far more tiring."
Startled, Kira quickly turned and retreated from the room, her footsteps hurried.
Anna watched her go, a sly smile tugging at her lips. A small giggle escaped her chest. "Hehe... it’s so easy to scare her."
Shaking her head, she moved toward the bathroom, her mood considerably lighter.
***
Kira stumbled on her feet as she reached a secluded corner of the house, her breath unsteady and her lips trembling.
D-did she already find out the truth?
She shook her head furiously, refusing to believe it. "No... no, she can’t. If she knew, she would have told Master."
But the memory of Anna’s piercing gaze gnawed at her, replaying over and over. The way Anna had refused to accept her apology, the certainty in her words—it hadn’t felt like suspicion. It had felt like knowledge.
Kira’s chest tightened. There was no way Anna could truly know, and yet the possibility unsettled her more than outright accusation ever could.
Her uneasiness grew heavier with each passing second. If Anna had chosen not to expose her, it wasn’t mercy. It was strategy. That thought alone sent a fresh wave of panic through her.
"I need to be careful around her," Kira whispered, her eyes narrowing. "She must not doubt me again."
Still, as she steadied her breathing, a darker resolve crept into her voice. "When the time is right... I’ll make her regret it."
***
[Daniel’s Office]
After wreaking havoc in the conference room the other day, Daniel had unexpectedly approved the proposal—much to everyone’s relief.
"Here," he said, handing the file to Henry. "Make sure everything is carried out exactly as decided."
Henry accepted it with both hands, discreetly wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He forced a weak smile, though inside he was still reeling.
There were times when Daniel’s unpredictable temper left him walking on glass. Today, however, seeing his boss almost relaxed—smiling faintly to himself even—made Henry wonder if his advice had finally started to work.
Maybe I should ask for a half day off, he thought cautiously, now that Daniel’s mood seemed unusually good. He opened his mouth to speak—
But Daniel beat him to it.
"I’ll be taking half a day today. Reschedule the rest of my meetings for tomorrow."
"..."