My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)
Chapter 971

I got out of the auction hall, feeling suffocated. I found myself a place to get some fresh air. My annoyance was beyond words.

"Miss Reid!" A voice came from behind. It was Evan.

I looked at him, nodded, and smiled. "Evan."

"Miss Reid, Anne has been brought back by Mr. Roberts to the villa. Everything is fine, but she always asks where you have been." He spoke casually, as if he was just talking about family matters.

I thought he was going to talk about Hendrix, I didn't expect him to talk about Anne.

I was a little stunned, and couldn't help sighing. I asked, "How is Anne doing so far?"

"She always pesters Mr. Roberts about where you have gone!"

I pursed my lips and felt a little bitterness fill my heart. After a pause, I said, "Evan, thank you!"

He lightly shook his head and said, "I don't understand. Deep down, you and Mr. Roberts truly love each other. Since that's the case, why do you push him away?"

"He deserves better!" I answered.

He frowned and said, "What's better? When it comes to relationships, it's all about the heart. When did you start to think of it as a matching game?"

Looking up at Evan, I heaved a slight breath and said, "Evan, people often think that they should be together if they love each other. But in reality, it's rarely that simple."

"He was the reason I unwittingly turned my back on my parents. My mother and I hurt each other and held grudges for so long. I left with Anne because I was afraid of staying by his side. I would have just cycled through my hatred and love for him until I broke down. It's only a matter of time. Four years to let it go, but in the end, it was all in vain."

"When I returned to Jarold City, I had been thinking. If I could let everything that happened go in the name of love, then I would be able to live happily with Hendrix. I want to have a normal, loving, mother- daughter relationship with Valerie. But I saw Valerie's cautiousness and Mr. Moore's concession. My heart ached. I have seen how they loved Andrea. It was simple and straightforward. But when it came to me they were always careful. I still don't blame them, though. It's fate."

Looking at Evan, I smiled bitterly. "Staying by

Hendrix's side means that I will have to suffer this torment and these contradictory feelings in my heart for the rest of my life. I am fragile, and I am afraid and I won't be able to cope with it."

He listened, then sighed, "Mr. Roberts had been trying his very best."

I nodded and smiled faintly. "I know, he has always been very kind. So I don't have to be worried about Anne."

"Are you planning for Mr. Roberts to look after Anne from now on, Miss Reid?"

I shook my head. "I will pick Anne up as soon as possible so that we won't bother him anymore. After all, he has no obligation towards her."

"Then tell me, who should take responsibility?" A voice spoke harshly from behind me, startling me.

I turned to face Hendrix. His face was dark and his eyes flashed with anger. "Is Sebastian going to care for her? Or are you going to find another man to take care of her?"

His sudden arrival astonished me. Evan quietly left in the ensuing silence.

We stared at each other, no one said a word.

After a pause, I tried to diffuse the situation. "Hendrix, thank you for taking care of Anne."

He looked at me and sneered, "You don't have to thank me, Arianna. Don't forget, Anne is legally my daughter. Once we've finalized the divorce, you will be financially compensated. But Anne will never be in your custody."