The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback novel Chapter 186

Felicia bent down and scooped Anne into her arms. Anne just draped herself over Felicia’s shoulder, all sleepy and content.

The nanny watched them with a little sigh. “Miss Anne is usually so picky about who she’ll go to when she wakes up. I’ve never seen her this attached to someone who isn’t family.”

Felicia just gave a small, quiet smile.

A moment later, Max came in through the door and saw Felicia holding Anne. As soon as Anne spotted her dad, she reached out for him, asking him to carry her instead.

Felicia glanced at Max. Neither of them said a word about what had just happened, both quietly pretending everything was normal. Max took Anne from Felicia’s arms, holding her close and gently rubbing her back.

Anne was always clingy right after a nap.

While Max held her, something about him shifted. The usual cold, intimidating vibe melted away, replaced by warmth and a kind of soft, fatherly affection.

“Let’s clean up your face, okay?” Max asked in a gentle voice.

Anne nodded, so he carried her to the bathroom.

The nanny made a cup of milk for Anne and brought it over. Anne stood in front of her dad, both hands wrapped around the cup, sipping quietly through a straw. Max picked up a brush and started combing her hair, tying it into cute little pigtails like he’d done it a thousand times before.

Felicia sat on a chair nearby, just watching the two of them.

Once Anne was all set, she bounced right back to her usual cheerful self, bubbly and bright.

But then Max said it was time to go.

“This is a hospital. You can’t stay here too long.”

Felicia looked at Max, and he met her gaze for a split second.

He was taking Anne away on purpose.

Anne didn’t want to leave. “No, no, I want to stay with Evelynn.”

Max’s voice was soft but firm. “Anne, if you get sick, you’ll have to get shots and take medicine. Then you’ll be stuck at home and won’t be able to go anywhere.”

Anne’s lips trembled. She looked scared. “I don’t want medicine.”

“Then let’s go home.”

Anne turned to Felicia, her eyes pleading.

As soon as she hung up, Jeremy came in. He saw her red, puffy eyes. “What happened? Did they take Anne?”

Felicia nodded. “Max took her.”

Jeremy caught on right away. “Did he say something to you?”

Felicia grabbed a tissue, wiped her nose, and took a steadying breath. “We need to keep a close watch on the follow-up with Westfield Clinical Research.”

Jeremy frowned. “He threatened you.”

Felicia let out a bitter little laugh. “Of course he did. The girl he cares about most just got hurt.”

“This is Autumnridge,” Jeremy said seriously. “He can’t just do whatever he wants here.”

Felicia nodded.

The room got quiet.

Jeremy looked at her, understanding that it wasn’t the threat that hurt the most. What really broke her was knowing that Max probably wouldn’t let her see Anne again.