Chapter 33: THE TRUTH

"Come back here Anna don't you dare walk away from me." Katherine yelled at the girl who hasn't increased her pace as she walked down the stairs but the elderly woman was finding it hard to keep up with the her.

"Watch your steps Kate we don't want you falling." Grace warned from behind trying to catch up to her sister and niece.

She has told them countless times that Anna was no longer a child and that they could no longer make decisions for her. But both Katherine and their father has refused to listen to her. They both think they can control Anna.

"Let's leave." Anna quickly walked to where Noah was seated calmly as he talked with a male servant.

He had been bored earlier and decided to taunt this male servant to rush time. The man shivered under his scrutiny and he enjoyed every reaction the man gave. He finally turned to look at his wife, a scarce smile gracing his lips the moment he saw her. The woman that has light up his world in an unexplainable way.

The smile that once graced his handsome face fell when he noticed how pale her face had gotten.

Anna's blue eyes were wet with tears. She seemed to be using all of her strength to stop herself from crying. She was hurt. Her family, they didn't believe anything she said and still wants her married to Mack after everything he has done.

"What's wrong with you? Who hurt you?" Noah's voice has turned darker and a bit hoarse, he didn't want to see her in this state. He was ready to kill anyone who has caused pain to his dear wife.

He rose from where he sat and walked up to her. Seeing the man come to stand before her, Anna shifted her gaze from him in an attempt to hide her face.

Noah was the last person she expected to see her in this state but here they were. For days now she had tried to be strong for herself. She had tried not to think about her family, she tried not to think top much about what Mack had done to her.

He humiliated her before her family and they believed him.

Noah caught hold of his wife's cheek before she could hide her face from him again. There was no mark on her body which meant no one had inflicted physical pain on her.

He caught her tears before they would fall with his thumb and at that moment, Katherine and Grace areived at the lounge.

"You stupid child, how dare you..." Katherine's words halted abruptly at the imposing figure standing alongside her niece.

He wasn't just tall; he was colossal, a formidable presence that seemed to cast a shadow over the room.

Noah had the deepest frown on his face. He wanted to kill anyone who dared make his wife cry and something tells him this woman standing before him right now have a hand in it.

"I already told you I'm not getting married to Mack," Anna stated firmly, her blue eyes reflecting both pain and defiance. She took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves, she was hurt by her aunt.

Katherine, now realizing the magnitude of the situation, stammered, "I... isn't it enough that you don't want to get married to Mack? Bringing an assassin to kill us all in our mansion is absurd?" She couldn't hide the intimidation in her voice, her gaze fixed on the imposing man before her and Noah smiled.

Katherine narrowed her eyes at the rude yet handsome man who didn't seem a bit dazed by her words.

Who is he?

What is he doing standing with her niece in a close proximity like that?

He was holding Anna's waist and she let him like it was normal. Katherine gritted her teeth.

"Inviting him to this mansion won't save you Anna. You'll marry Mack no matter what." She turned to Noah.

"Y... You can as well forget about my niece Mr. Anna is engaged to someone else and they would be getting married in a week." Kate stated.

"Is that so?" Noah turned to look at his dear wife who shook her head in denial. She was tired of her aunt forcing her to marry Mack.

"You would save yourself as well as everyone if they know the truth don't you think?" He asked her and Anna pursed her lips. Telling her family the truth wasn't the issue, but she didn't know how they would take it.

"What truth are you talking about?" Grace asked giving both people a suspicious look. There was something about this two that she couldn't quite put her finger around. It felt like they were hiding something, something that could give her a heart attack.

"Forgive me for not coming in time to visit, everything happened so fast." Noah said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The only reason this women were still able to stand before him was because they were Anna's aunt.

He didn't like the way they treated his wife.

Forced marriage was like a tradition in every wealthy family. It's the modern form of Marraige. Rich people don't believe in love, they only believe in power and connections.

Money can buy anything. Including the love others seek. When one have the right connection, the family's well being is set for life.

"What are you talking about?" Katherine asked.

"You can't keep standing if you want to hear what this young man has to stay." General Sui stepped into the lounge with the help of his walking stick.

He has been watching Noah closely and the man looked genuine. He didn't look poor or like a golddigger as he had thought. If his granddaughter says she wants to marry him, it's possible. All they have to do is know him.

"Let's all have dinner shall we." The old man led the way without waiting for them to agree or not.

Tonight is just one of the many crazy nights in the Sui family house. The general, always try to stay out of it. Having so much women in one house was truly chaotic, maybe if his daughters Kate and Grace had agreed to remain married his life would have been more peaceful.

After he lost his son, his family was lost and devastated for years. They lost everything they ever had and had to start afresh again.

Kathy and Grace dedicated their youth to Anna's well being, making sure they took good care of their brothers only child and assisting their father in raising the family again.

Anna grew with so much love from everyone. Though her aunt Kathy could be harsh at times, she still loved her dearly like a daughter.