Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 560

**Chapter 560: A Moment of Surprise**

The air was thick with heat and humidity, wrapping around Anneliese like an unwelcome embrace. Tiny bites peppered her skin, each one a reminder of the relentless nature of her surroundings, pulling at her focus and draining her resolve.

Jonathan’s unwavering persistence seemed to sap her strength, leaving her caught in a web of helplessness and frustration. It was as if each moment stretched on, amplifying her discomfort until it became almost unbearable. Yet, despite her initial resistance, she found herself yielding, her body softening against him, surrendering to the tide of emotions swirling within her.

“I remember making a promise to you. Did you forget?” His words, calm yet firm, cut through the haze of her thoughts.

At the sound of his voice, Jonathan finally relaxed his grip, his gaze drifting down to meet hers.

“I was concerned you might have forgotten. But as long as that promise remains vivid in your mind and you haven’t changed your stance…” he trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.

Anneliese felt a rush of confusion, her mind racing. “I hit my head and had a concussion for two days, yet my memory’s intact,” she replied, her voice steady, though her heart raced.

Of course, she remembered. Just a mere forty-eight hours ago, he had coaxed her into this agreement, his arguments weaving a web of persuasion that she had found hard to resist.

But now, as she looked into his eyes, she realized he was reiterating almost the same lines. The difference this time was palpable; he had already crossed paths with Nishay, and the stakes felt higher. Unlike before, when he had been anxious about her potential objections, he now faced a clear declaration of disapproval from Nishay, who had insisted he cut ties with Anneliese.

Even if she had been oblivious to the complexities of their relationship, she couldn’t ignore the discrepancies. Jonathan had known Nishay’s feelings all along, and that knowledge hung between them like an unspoken truth.

Tilting her head back, Anneliese locked her gaze onto his, her voice low but unwavering. “You know my grandma. What’s the deal between you two?”

Jonathan could sense the underlying accusation in her calm demeanor, and he realized that evasion would lead him nowhere. Even if he chose silence, Nishay’s truth would eventually surface.

He had made a silent vow during the flight back to Oceaton to confess everything, but now, under her steady gaze, he felt the weight of his own hesitation. For the first time, nerves twisted in his throat, making it difficult to speak.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he leaned down, effortlessly lifting her into his arms and striding toward the dressing room.

Anneliese squirmed slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

He offered no reply, setting her down gently before the glass display that housed his cherished watch collection.

Placing the black box on the glass surface, she picked up the red one, her fingers tracing the fabric absentmindedly. She bit her lip, heart pounding, before finally opening it.

Her expectations leaned toward a watch or perhaps a piece of jewelry, something that would resonate with the elegance of his collection. Instead, a red hair tie emerged, the kind typically made for little girls.

It was handmade, crafted from red yarn, intricately crocheted into a frilled band, with three delicate lily-of-the-valley flowers dangling from it.

Though the yarn had faded over time, an unexpected wave of familiarity washed over her. This hair tie…

Anneliese held it in her hands, eyes widening as nostalgia and surprise collided within her. Joy and confusion flickered across her face, creating a tapestry of emotions.

“This hair tie… It’s mine! My mom made it for me by hand. There’s no other like it in the world!” she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and elation.

When she was around eight or nine, these crocheted hair ties had been the pinnacle of childhood fashion. Both children and adults wore them, a trend that swept through her school like wildfire. Almost every girl in her class had one, and Anneliese had been one of the first to sport such a treasure, thanks to her adoptive mother, an elementary school teacher who had secretly learned to crochet from a neighbor.

She vividly recalled the envy that had washed over her when she spotted a classmate wearing a hair tie her own mother had crafted. It had crushed her spirit a little, but later, after finishing her homework, a red hair tie had slipped from her books into her lap—a moment of surprise and delight that had etched itself into her memory forever.