Chapter 139: The one I love is Augustine, not Denis.
Anne stood frozen, her face unreadable, but her eyes, burning with restrained fury, stared straight into Jeanne’s. She had taken enough. And she wasn’t going to stay silent much longer.
"The one I love is Augustine, not Denis," Anne said with barely contained emotion. "Open your eyes and look carefully before throwing around accusations. Sometimes when something is too close, you are blind to it."
Jeanne’s face twisted in fury. She hadn’t expected Anne to fight back — not like this. Her whole body seemed to tremble with the force of her rage, itching to lash out, to punish Anne for daring to challenge her, for daring to speak with such boldness.
"This insolence—" Jeanne growled, her words grinding out through clenched teeth.
But before she could unleash her wrath, Augustine’s voice cut through the tension.
"Anne..."
Anne’s heart lifted at the sight of Augustine. She rushed to him, forcing a smile to her lips as she tried to shake off the anger and humiliation of moments before. But the pain in her eyes was still there, and Augustine caught it instantly.
Instead of smiling back, he gently took her hand, concern clouding his face. "Are you alright? Did someone say something to you?" He shot a sharp, accusing glance at Jeanne.
"I’m fine," Anne replied softly, wanting to ease his worry.
"Are you really?" Augustine pressed, his suspicion unwavering.
Jeanne, swallowing her fury, stepped in with a syrupy smile. "Augustine, you worry too much. We were just having a little chat. Who would bully anyone here? We’re all family, after all."