Chapter 138
Chapter 138:
Anson ignored the teenager entirely. “Claudine is suicidal. Do you know what Dallas did? He destroyed her family’s legacy overnight. The stock is zero. They are bankrupt p>
“That’s not my problem, Anson,” Eliza said, ripping her arm from his grip.
“You have to talk to him,” Anson pleaded. “He listens to you. Tell him to stop the acquisition. Tell him to show mercy p>
Eliza stared at him in disbelief. “Mercy? Why would I help the woman who hired someone to kidnap me p>
“She didn’t know! It was Jared — he went rogue!” Anson said, sweat beading on his forehead.
“She created the hatred that fueled Jared,” Eliza said, her voice cold. “She slapped me. She fed me poison. And you watched p>
“You’re heartless,” Anson sneered, his face twisting. “You’ve changed p>
𝗥о𝗆𝖺ոc𝖾 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝗽а𝘀𝘀𝘪𝗼n 𝗼𝗇
“I grew up,” Eliza said. “Unlike you p>
Anson stepped closer, looming over her — the old dynamic, the old intimidation, flaring back to life. “You belong to the Hydes. You owe us your life. You are nothing without us p>
“She owes you nothing!” Azalea shouted.
Anson raised a hand as if to shove her aside.
Something inside Eliza snapped. The fear vanished, replaced by a white-hot protective instinct. She stepped in front of Azalea, placing her body between the girl and Anson’s outstretched arm.
“Don’t you dare touch his daughter,” Eliza hissed.
“His daughter?” Anson laughed, the sound cruel and hollow. “You’re playing stepmother now? You’re just a contract whore, Eliza p>
“I am Mrs. Koch,” Eliza said.
Her voice rang out clear and sharp above the traffic noise. People on the sidewalk slowed and turned to look.
“Dallas Koch is my husband. And if you touch us — if you so much as look at us wrong — he will bury you p>
Anson froze. He stared at her. He had never seen this fire in her eyes. The terrified girl was gone.
“You actually love him,” he realized, horror spreading across his face. “You’re saying this to hurt me p>
“I’m saying it because it’s the truth, Anson,” Eliza said. She took a step forward, her voice carrying across the gathering crowd. “I am not your fiancée. I am not your ward. I am Mrs. Dallas Koch. I love him, I chose him, and I will never choose you p>
At that exact moment, a city bus roared past, its air brakes releasing with a deafening hiss that swallowed all other sound. A sleek black Maybach pulled up silently behind Anson’s SUV. The two bodyguards — who had caught only her raised, defiant tone, not the specific words — moved in.
“Ma’am,” the lead bodyguard said, his voice low and controlled, his hand hovering near his jacket. “Get in the car p>
Eliza grabbed Azalea by the shoulder and steered her toward the Maybach.
She turned to Anson one last time.
“Goodbye, Anson,” she said. It sounded like a funeral rite.
She got in. The heavy door slammed shut, sealing out the noise, the wind, and the past.
The car sped away.
Inside, Azalea was grinning from ear to ear.
“You called him husband,” Azalea crowed. “You said you love him p>