Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 543

**TITLE: Created 543**
**Chapter 543: Silent Phones**

“Yeah. My thoughts are all over the place right now. I really need to sort this out, take a step back and think it through again.”

Anneliese gently clasped Jessica’s hand, her grip firm yet reassuring. “I’ll accompany you to the hospital tomorrow for another checkup. It’s important that we confirm everything first before we jump to any conclusions.”

“Okay,” Jessica murmured, leaning her head against Anneliese’s shoulder, finding comfort in her presence.

Just then, her phone erupted into a cacophony of ringing, slicing through the moment.

It rang incessantly, each chime echoing her growing anxiety.

With a reluctant sigh, Jessica retrieved her phone from her pocket.

Zane’s name flashed on the screen once more, a sight that made her stomach twist.

Anneliese turned her head, concern etched on her face. “You’re really not going to answer that?”

The urgency in Zane’s repeated calls struck Anneliese as more than just a coincidence. She sensed that Jessica wasn’t the only one feeling the weight of uncertainty. If Zane had even an inkling that Jessica might be pregnant, he might reconsider his options, perhaps even step up.

Jessica shook her head, her resolve unwavering. Anneliese, not wanting to sway her friend’s decision, decided to distract herself. She pulled out her own phone to check for messages, hoping for a distraction.

But as soon as she did, her phone began ringing too, the sudden sound making her jump slightly.

Jessica glanced over, her eyes widening when she saw the bright word “Hubby” illuminating Anneliese’s screen. She raised her eyebrows, silently communicating her surprise.

In that moment, their eyes locked, and for reasons they couldn’t quite articulate, laughter bubbled up between them. It was a shared understanding, a moment of camaraderie amidst the chaos. They both instinctively reached for their phones, switching them to silent mode, turning off the screens, and tossing them aside like they were trivial distractions.

“Men can be so clueless,” Jessica said, shaking her head with a playful smirk. “On a lovely evening like this, it’s only our girlfriends who truly understand us.”

Meanwhile, across town, Jonathan had returned to the Fullbuster Residence, the familiar surroundings offering little solace. He sat with his family for a while, but his mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with thoughts of Anneliese.

After his plane touched down in Halden, he had sent her a WhatsApp message, a simple check-in to see how she was doing. But the message remained unread, and the silence gnawed at him. He stood up, restlessly pacing toward the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the night sky.

As he attempted to call her, the seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity.

No one answered. Was she asleep? Or perhaps with Nishay, oblivious to the world around her?

The unease in his chest swelled, a tight knot of anxiety that made him feel slightly unhinged.

“I can’t believe Jonathan is still calling Anneliese. I didn’t expect him to be this way after they got married,” Robert commented, his voice breaking the stillness of the living room.

The elders had long since retreated to their rooms, leaving Kenneth’s generation to engage in light conversation. The younger crowd was gathered in the entertainment room, where Robert, the youngest of the clan, was playing pool with Felyxia.

Felyxia’s brow furrowed as she glanced at Jonathan, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. “How do you know Jonathan is calling Anneliese? Did you see it? Maybe he’s just reaching out to an elder to wish them a happy new year.”

“You’re missing the obvious,” Robert replied, gesturing toward Jonathan with a knowing look. “Just look at his face. It’s clear he’s in a bad mood because she didn’t pick up. Who else could affect him like that? It has to be Anneliese.”

Robert wore a self-satisfied grin, unaware that Jonathan’s mood was indeed darkening with each passing second.

“If you don’t believe me, let’s make a wager. When Jonathan comes over, we’ll ask him. If I’m right, your gift goes to me this year. What do you say?”

Felyxia shot him an annoyed glare. “I’m not betting anything. Just leave me alone.”

Robert froze, caught off guard by her sudden irritation. It was evident she was more than just annoyed; she was anxious.

A wave of guilt washed over her as she remembered the nonsensical things she had said to Anneliese earlier. Anneliese had left shortly after, and now, with Jonathan back from Oceaton, his calm demeanor felt like a facade. He checked his phone repeatedly, but no messages came through.

What if Anneliese was deliberately ignoring him?

The thought sent chills down Felyxia’s spine. She could feel the weight of impending doom pressing against her. In desperation, she silently prayed to every deity she could think of, begging for Anneliese to call him back.

Just as she finished her silent plea, Jonathan’s phone rang, breaking the tension in the room.

Felyxia’s eyes sparkled with hope, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

Jonathan’s gaze lifted at the sound, a flicker of relief crossing his features. But as he glanced at the caller ID, his expression darkened once more.

He answered, irritation lacing his voice. “This better be important.”

On the other end, Zane shivered, gripping his phone tightly. “It’s New Year’s Eve! Everyone else is enjoying dinner, and you’re giving me a hard time?”

“If it’s just small talk, I’m hanging up,” Jonathan snapped, unwilling to let Zane monopolize the line.

What if Anneliese chose that exact moment to call back?

“It’s important! Don’t hang up!” Zane hurriedly straightened his tie, urgency spilling from his words. “I just wanted to check if Anneliese is doing okay for New Year’s. She’s probably still awake, right?”