Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 535

**Chapter 535: The Door to the Truth**

Elizabeth’s expression twisted into a frown, her eyes narrowing at Anneliese with a mix of disdain, mockery, and suspicion—she regarded her as if she were a common thief caught in the act.

Anneliese remained silent, her lips pressed together, which only fueled Elizabeth’s irritation. With a sharp exhale, Elizabeth let out a cold snort, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Didn’t you just claim that you were hurt and could barely walk? Yet here you are, sneaking around in someone else’s home. It’s your first visit, and you’re already wandering about like you own the place. Lucky for you I spotted you. Anyone else might think the Fullbuster family has taken in a petty thief.”

Anneliese slowly relaxed her grip on the doorknob, turning to face Elizabeth. “Mrs. Fullbuster, may I inquire—what identity did I come here with?”

Elizabeth’s gaze sharpened, realizing she had cornered Anneliese, yet the girl stood her ground, unfazed and even bold enough to retort.

“Ha! You believe that just because you’re the granddaughter-in-law of the Fullbuster family, you can—”

Anneliese cut her off, her voice steady. “Yes. Since you acknowledge my status, does that imply that a granddaughter-in-law isn’t permitted to simply walk around? Jonathan never instructed me to confine myself to his bedroom. If you think it’s inappropriate for me to explore, why not summon him here and ask him yourself?”

Elizabeth scoffed, her expression hardening. “Don’t think you can use Jojo to pressure me. That’s the only trick you seem to have up your sleeve.”

A small smile tugged at Anneliese’s lips. “A little trick can be quite effective—especially if it works.”

Elizabeth’s face darkened, her fury palpable. A flicker of mockery danced in her eyes as she leaned in closer, her voice dripping with disdain. “You really believe my son loves you? That he truly cherishes you? How naïve can you be?”

Anneliese understood that Elizabeth harbored a deep-seated dislike for her; nothing kind would ever escape the woman’s lips. A dull throb pulsed in her head, and she chose silence, turning her back on the confrontation.

I shouldn’t have dashed out so impulsively. It was reckless.

Yet before she could take two steps away, Elizabeth blocked her path, her presence imposing. “You think I don’t know what you’re after? Follow me.”

With an air of reluctant compliance, Anneliese trailed behind Elizabeth.

At the end of the corridor, Elizabeth halted abruptly, standing before a door that seemed to loom ominously. She stepped aside, gesturing for Anneliese to approach. “It’s not locked. Everything you seek to uncover is behind this door.”

Her voice dripped with mockery, as if she were certain that whatever lay beyond would shatter Anneliese’s resolve.

Anneliese shot her a quick glance before grasping the doorknob, her heart racing but her determination unwavering.

Elizabeth’s next words confirmed Anneliese’s suspicions. “This room—aside from the maid who cleans it—Jojo hasn’t allowed anyone else inside. For over ten years, whenever he traveled or found something he thought a girl would adore, he brought it back and placed it here himself. Look how full it is.”

Full indeed. The room overflowed with a decade’s worth of Jonathan’s affection and longing for another girl.

Anneliese’s eyes were drawn to a large framed photograph hanging on the wall opposite the door.

In it stood a young girl with a simple ponytail, dressed in a white dress, her smile radiant as she basked in the sunlight. Beautiful. Luminous.

And she bore a striking resemblance to Anneliese.

A chill crept along Anneliese’s fingertips, and she hesitated at the threshold, her heart pounding. In a sudden rush of clarity, she sharply pulled the door shut, turning back to face Elizabeth. The older woman wore a faint, mocking smile, as if to say, “See? Isn’t it pathetic?”

Anneliese felt a wave of determination wash over her. She would not allow herself to be crushed by the weight of this revelation.

**Chapter 536: Anneliese’s Heartbreak**