Chapter 7: What More Do You Want?

William's eyes widened with dissatisfaction at Anna's actions. He roared at her uncontrollably, "Anna, this was your grandfather's arrangement! How dare you make decisions on your own?"

He felt utterly disregarded as a father, his blood pressure soaring with rage.

His daughter was becoming increasingly intolerable, first ignoring her brothers and now blatantly disregarding him as well.

Now, she had even torn up the agreement right in front of him, as if grinding his face into the dirt!

"Anna, is this enough for you? Today we are celebrating your sister's discharge from the hospital. How can you be so cruel? Why can't you be more like your sister and give us some peace?" .Rosalind’s voice sounded.

Rosalind descended the stairs, berating Anna as she approached.

Then, seeing Thea's tear-stained eyes, Rosalind's heart ached. She hugged Thea gently, comforting her. "Thea, you've just been discharged from the hospital. You mustn't be too upset. It's bad for your health."

Thea nodded obediently, her smile frail.

Rosalind was increasingly dismayed. The family had been fine until Anna returned and turned everything upside down.

She found it hard to feel any affection for Anna, even feeling a bit annoyed.

Wherever Anna was, trouble followed. Nobody in this world could like such a person, whether she was her daughter or not.

Anna looked at this woman who bore such a resemblance to her, feeling her calm heart begin to churn with tumultuous emotions.

She struggled to hold back her tears, realizing that facing Rosalind's criticism still deeply disappointed her.

She recalled falling down the stairs, the scenes before her death flashing before her, almost hearing Rosalind say, “Now that you're dead, your sister finally has a chance.”

Anna couldn't understand why, though she was Rosalind's biological daughter, she always felt like an outsider.

Alexander scoffed, “If only she had half of Thea's sensibility, she wouldn't have done such things.”

Benjamin mocked further, “What can Anna compare with Thea? She doesn't even measure up to one of Thea's fingers.”

Jasper's gaze at Anna was complex. She was different now.

Facing her family's accusations, she remained composed, not even attempting to ingratiate herself.

She had suddenly become defiant, and nobody knew what was going through Anna's mind.

Her expression was unreadable, causing Jasper a vague irritation.

Samuel sneered at Anna, “Anna, do you feel no shame to stand here? Everything was fine before you came back. You return and cause nothing but chaos.”

Faced with these accusations, Anna had no energy left to argue. She was truly exhausted and no longer wanted to stay in this unpleasant place. "Yes, you're right. Thea is the best and the most sensible. I'm the odd one, right? I won't disturb your family reunion anymore. I'm leaving."

As Anna turned to leave, William called out to her, not for anything else but to save his own face. Anna had gone too far this time, and she needed to be taught a lesson. "Anna, you're not going anywhere until we clear this up today."

William, still furious, stopped Anna. She turned around, her eyes slightly red. But no one cared. Everyone's attention was fixed on Thea. Why would they bother about her feelings?

"Mr. Hayes, what do you want to hear? Isn't this what you all wanted? Jasper canceled our engagement, and now Thea can rightfully be with him. What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?" They had been causing such a fuss just for this.

Now that she had stepped back, how had it suddenly become her fault? William had never intended for Anna to break off the engagement. Despite being disappointed in Anna, she was still his flesh and blood. Seeing his daughter feigning strength, he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions and wanted to explain, but the words died on his lips, and ultimately, he said nothing.

Anna's eyes filled with disappointment. As she turned to leave, tears slid down her cheeks, falling onto the back of her hand, cold as ice, just like her heart at that moment.

"Anna, what's wrong with you?" At the gate's corner, she unexpectedly ran into Andrew, who had just returned. Anna turned around and vigorously wiped her tears. She did not want anyone from the Hayes family to see her vulnerable side.

Andrew didn't need to think hard to know what had happened. Anna had clashed with the people inside again. The Anna of now was different. She was no longer the submissive sister she used to be. This new Anna somehow made Andrew feel a pang of sympathy.

He quickly approached her and sighed, "Come on, go and apologize to Mom and Dad. After all, you are our sister. I assure you, they won't make things hard for you."

Anna looked at Andrew with a cold laugh. "You think I'm the one at fault too?"