Chapter 295: The murder
"I have something for you," Paule said quietly, his hands still trembling as he reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a jewelry box. "It’s just a small gift, but we chose it with love. I hope you’ll like it."
For a moment, his fingers brushed the smooth surface. Then he extended it to Anne. "Here. Take a look."
Anne accepted the box, curious as to what Paule had brought for her. She opened with anticipation brimming in her eyes. Inside, nestled in velvet, was a simple gold bracelet.
Unlike the grand, dazzling gifts she had received earlier, this one was modest, yet it stirred deep emotions in her. She couldn’t begin to imagine how Paule had managed to set aside his hard-earned money just to buy it for her.
Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. "I love it," she whispered, smiling through the tears. She lifted the bracelet from the box. "Will you help me put it on?"
Paule nodded and fastened it around her wrist.
Anne looked down at the bracelet, turning her wrists. "This is one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received."
Paule and Patricia beamed as they watched Anne admire the bracelet. Her reaction, so full of emotion, chased away every trace of their earlier doubt. All the anxiety they had carried into the evening melted in that single moment of warm acceptance.
But off to the side, Oliver stood still, his face bleak. A tight knot coiled in his chest as he watched Anne’s eyes light up.
His thoughts drifted back to that morning, when Anne had first arrived at the mansion. He had gifted her an exquisite diamond necklace. She had smiled and thanked him, saying she liked it. But there had been a noticeable absence of warmth in her eyes.
Now, watching her gaze at Paule with such pure affection, watching her face glow with joy and gratitude, Oliver understood that the connection she had with her foster father ran deeper than he had expected.
To Anne, Paule wasn’t just the man who had taken her in—he was her father.