Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 313: She lost badly

[Clafford Mansion]

After a few more heated moments, Daniel finally slowed, pulling Anna into his arms and holding her close. The room settled into a quiet warmth, broken only by the steady rhythm of their breathing.

"You are never satisfied, are you?" Anna hissed, wincing slightly as she shifted, the protest dulled by exhaustion.

Daniel chuckled, the sound vibrating against her. "You’re irresistible, wifey. And don’t put this on me. You’re the one who started it," he corrected, earning a sharp scowl from her.

They lay there in silence after that, Daniel’s fingers absentmindedly threading through her hair, a soothing contrast to the intensity that had come before.

After a while, Anna turned in his arms, resting her chin against his chest. "What will you do if the Stewards keep insisting on meeting you?" she asked quietly. "Will you spare them?"

Daniel drew her closer until their bodies aligned, his chest brushing hers as he clicked his tongue thoughtfully. "I’ll let them linger for a while," he said calmly. "Before deciding anything final."

Anna’s eyes narrowed when she caught the faint smile playing on his lips. "I’m warning you now, Daniel," she said, her tone serious. "Fiona may come under the guise of negotiation, but you cannot lower your guard. She’s capable of far more than she lets on."

Daniel’s hand paused in her hair as his gaze sharpened, the amusement fading. "I know," he replied. "And I won’t underestimate her."

Anna relaxed slightly against him, reassured, while Daniel held her tighter, already weighing the consequences of the games yet to come.

She lowered her gaze, her fingers unconsciously tracing slow circles over his chest. The small, absent gesture drew a low rumble from him, one that made her pause.

"Since when did you start thinking so much?" Daniel asked softly, genuine surprise lacing his voice. It unsettled him, the way his wife seemed to hesitate even now.

Anna looked up at him and pouted. "I wasn’t thinking, okay?" she protested. "I was just... wondering." She hesitated for a second before adding, "What made you disclose our marriage to Ethan?"

Daniel held her gaze, searching her face. He could see the doubt lingering there, faint but real. He also knew Ethan was not the threat he had once believed him to be.

"Because you trust him," Daniel said simply.

Anna’s brows furrowed. "Is that all?" she asked, clearly unconvinced.

Daniel almost smiled. Trust was something he gave sparingly, especially when it came to people around her. Ethan, of all people, had once been the last man he would have chosen.

Then he spoke again, his tone calm but deliberate. "I know you had a crush on him."

Anna froze.

Her fingers stilled, her eyes widening as she stared at him, completely caught off guard. For a moment, she was too stunned to react. Daniel frowned slightly, watching her reaction, and she quickly swallowed whatever shock threatened to spill out.

"But he didn’t," Daniel continued evenly. "And that’s what makes him harmless."

Anna searched his face, realizing then that this was not jealousy speaking, but certainty. Slowly, her tension eased, though her cheeks warmed.

"You really noticed everything, didn’t you?" she murmured.

Daniel’s arm tightened around her. "I always do," he replied, his voice steady.

"Still, it doesn’t justify anything," Anna muttered, her voice muffled as she snuggled deeper into his chest, clinging to him like a child who refused to be reasoned with.

Daniel let out a soft breath, more amused than offended. He did not argue. Instead, his arm tightened around her instinctively, his fingers slipping into her hair, tracing slow, comforting patterns that gradually eased the tension from her body.

Her breathing began to even out, the sharpness in her words fading into quiet sighs. Daniel lowered his chin, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head, his smile lingering.

Whatever doubts she still carried could wait.

With his hand still moving through her hair and her weight warm against his chest, sleep eventually claimed them both, leaving the room wrapped in silence and unspoken reassurance.

***

"Hahaha... I still can’t believe she waited the entire night," Betty burst out laughing after Shawn finished his story. "I mean, the brink of dawn? That’s dedication on a whole new level."

Anna shook her head, lifting her coffee to her lips as she took a calm sip, though the corner of her mouth twitched. They were sprawled comfortably in Shawn’s living room, the mood light. With the shoot wrapped up and nothing urgent on her schedule, Anna had happily agreed to meet up.

"She really thought Mr. Clafford would magically appear if she waited long enough," Betty added, wiping at the corner of her eye. "Poor thing left only when the guard told her no one was even inside."

"All thanks to Shawn," Anna said, lowering her cup and shooting him a grateful look, "who warned me in time. Otherwise, that woman would’ve tried pulling one of her wicked plans on Daniel."

She scowled faintly, the amusement giving way to suspicion for just a second. Fiona was not someone Anna could ever take lightly.

Shawn raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I just did my civic duty."

Betty grinned. "More like heroic duty."

Anna huffed, leaning back into the couch. "Laugh all you want," she said, though a smile finally broke through, "but I’m telling you, that woman is trouble."

Betty chuckled again. "Maybe. But last night?" She lifted her cup in a mock toast. "She lost. Badly."

Anna clinked her mug against Betty’s, the fun tone returning. "And may it stay that way."

As the room fell into a sudden lull, Shawn felt it before he fully registered it. Someone was staring at him.

He slowly looked up and met Anna’s gaze. She was watching him far too intently, her eyes narrowed just enough to put him on edge.

"What?" he asked cautiously.

Anna tilted her head, unimpressed. "Are you forgetting something, Shawn?" she said. "I’m pretty sure you’re not about to leave for work without giving me my pay."

Shawn froze for a second before releasing a long breath, his shoulders sagging. His lips twitched despite himself.Is this girl trying to give me a heart attack?

"No, I didn’t forget," he said quickly, then squinted at her. "But if you keep staring at me like that, I might start thinking you’ve lost your mind."

Anna scoffed. "Please. I’m just making sure you don’t suddenly develop selective amnesia."

Betty snorted from the side, barely containing her laughter, while Shawn shook his head, already reaching for his wallet. "You’re terrifying," he muttered.

Anna grinned, completely unapologetic.