Anna was silent, trying to hide the truth. But Benita wasn't stupid. She laughed coldly, then stepped closer with a wicked smile. "Then I'll have to make sure you don't have any reason to survive."
Benita tried to attack again, but Anna backed away to protect herself and the baby she was carrying. Anna knew she had to escape this situation as quickly as possible before Benita hurt her.
Anna succeeded and wanted to run away, but Benita blocked her way.
"So, you want to challenge me, Anna?" Benita grabbed her; then she slapped Anna hard on both cheeks, then she took off her high heels and slapped them hard on her calves; only a soft moan escaped her lips. Benita did that while grinning at Anna like a person losing her mind.
"What are you doing? Stop now!" shouted Anna. But Benita ignored her.
Anna stood transfixed in the bathroom corner, holding her breath as Benita began to scream for help. Her face was full of pretence, and her body was deliberately lying on the floor as if she had just been assaulted. Benita's screams attracted the guests' attention, who immediately swarmed to the bathroom door.
Anna felt her blood boiling. She wanted to scream and tell the truth but was tongue-tied. The guests who saw the scene immediately cast accusatory glances in her direction.
"How could you treat Benita like this?" someone whispered from the crowd.
"Benita is so nice, and you attack her? How clueless," said another sarcastically.
Ivan appeared before Anna could explain, with a worried look on his face. He went straight to Benita, who was lying on the floor.
"What happened here?" he asked coldly, staring at Anna momentarily before kneeling beside Benita.
Benita burst into tears, playing her role perfectly. "I just wanted to be nice to her, Ivan. I even forgave her for ruining my dress, but Anna suddenly pushed me. I don't know what I did wrong." Benita acted like she was crying.
Anna clenched her hands into fists, holding back the almost overwhelming emotions. "That's a lie! I didn't touch her at all!"
Ivan, however, wasn't listening. He lifted Benita gently, carrying her like a hero rescuing the king's daughter. Anna could only stare with her heart torn to shreds.
"I'll take her to the dugout," Ivan said firmly. Then, he looked at Anna coldly. "You're coming with me."
Anna wanted to refuse, but Ivan's footsteps forced her to follow. They arrived in a quiet room upstairs. Ivan attentively placed Benita on the sofa, then fixed Anna with a sharp gaze.
"Explain what happened!" Ivan ordered.
Anna shook her head firmly. "I didn't do anything to her, Ivan. She started it all. She-"
"There's no need to lie anymore, Anna," Benita interrupted in a low voice as if she was enduring pain. "I tolerated your behaviour, but you attacked me instead. I don't know why you hate me so much."
Anna felt her body trembling. "Ivan, it's not what you think. Benita lied!”
"That's enough!" Ivan snapped at her, making Anna pause. "Apologize right now!"
Anna's eyes widened in surprise. "I won't apologise for something I didn't do!"
Ivan's face flushed with anger. "Anna, don't make things difficult for me. If you continue like this, I'll have no choice but to leave you."
The threat made Anna's chest feel tight, but she remained firm. "Then just leave me, Ivan. Do you see our relationship as just another lie?"
"You just need to admit it. I'm not asking you to do anything complicated. Why are you testing everyone's emotions?”
“I won't do anything!" Anna walked towards the exit.
Ivan's anger reached its peak. He blocked Anna's movement, then pushed Anna roughly towards Benita. Anna lost her balance and fell. Her head hit the corner of the table, leaving a gash that immediately bled.
Ivan looked shocked. He approached Anna in a panic. "Anna... I didn't mean to. I-"
However, Anna brushed off Ivan's hand and tried to help her up. With a cold gaze full of wounds, she stood up on her own, although her body felt weak. "You've hurt me enough, Ivan. Stop it, or I'll hate you so much!”
“Never mind, Ivan. Let him be. I should get out of here. You take care of your fiancé." Benita walked with a limp.
"I'll take you home." Ivan picked Benita up again. He turned to look at Anna, who was covering her wound with her hands. "I'm disappointed with you, Anna. Go home and reflect on your mistake."
Without waiting for a response, Ivan left.
Anna left the room. Her tears spilt over as she stepped out of the party that had broken her heart.
She cried all the way. Regretting this day. She should have had the courage to refuse to come.
Ivan's words had been so harsh and also conscious when it came to hurting her. Anna couldn't take it all anymore. Her heart was too fragile to accept such inner torment.
Anna got to the mansion and walked to her room, but her steps stopped when she got a call from an unknown number. She ignored it, but the number sent a message instead.
"You don't have to wait for him to come home. I'll make Ivan exhausted on the bed."
Another message arrived. A video that Anna clicked on immediately. It showed Ivan and Benita making love. Their bodies were clearly exposed without a single thread. Not having to wait for the video to finish, Anna immediately pressed the pause button.
Nika looked at Anna anxiously. "Miss Anna, what happened? You hurt your forehead!"
"It's okay," Anna replied briefly.
Anna went to her room to pack her clothes. However, when she opened her closet, she found her pregnancy test results file.
Anna sat on the edge of the bed. "Daddy doesn't want to be with us." She stroked her stomach. Then she crumpled up the letter and threw it into the trash can
