When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese) novel Chapter 551

Jonathan's brows drew together. "What are you doing now?"

He was buried in responsibilities as the head of the company, while someone else was clearly having a carefree moment.

"What? Nothing."

Zion quickly gestured for the two women beside him to keep quiet. Barefoot, he stepped a few yards away across the sand before speaking again.

"Mrs. Fullbuster..."

He wanted to explain that the Hoff family was collapsing. They were no longer what they once were. These two major projects accounted for nearly half of Holf Real Estate's revenue.

Cutting them would be like severing a vital artery. After all, the Hoff family was connected to Jonathan through his mother.

And with Elizabeth's explosive temper, she would absolutely blow up during the holidays.

Yet, before Zion could finish speaking, Jonathan's voice dropped—sharp and icy. "No excuses. Do it now."

"Yes, Mr. Fullbuster. I'll take care of it immediately." Zion ended the call and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He had no idea what Elizabeth had done this time to push Jonathan this far. And after today, he could already imagine how strained that mother-son relationship would become.

Not daring to delay, he sent out the instructions at once.

…

After hanging up, Jonathan searched for his cousin Felyxia's number and dialed.

At that moment, Felyxia was in a private theater with a few wealthy heiresses—and a couple of attractive male companions—watching a New Year's hit film.

She glanced at her buzzing phone. A chill ran through her, and the beverage she was drinking caught in her throat, sending her into a coughing fit.

"Ms. Felyxia, are you okay? Be careful!" one of the escorts panicked and patted her back.

Her expression darkened. Seeing the caller ID felt like staring straight at the Grim Reaper.

A terrible feeling crept over her—Jonathan must have discovered everything, and now he was calling to settle the score.

But she didn't dare decline. She waved the young man away, stood up, hurried out of the theater, and answered the call.

As expected, the moment the phone reached her ear, Jonathan's deep voice came through. "What exactly did you say to Anneliese yesterday?"

...

Elsewhere, Elizabeth was spending the afternoon at a flower exhibition with several society ladies.

Elizabeth would never allow anyone to suspect that her relationship with her only son was actually strained.

In public, she always maintained the image of a loving mother with an obedient son.

And because Jonathan had stayed single for so many years with no marriage in sight, every mother with a daughter in Halden showered Elizabeth with compliments.

She reveled in it.

But then last year, Jonathan suddenly announced he was getting married.

Just the day before the announcement, Elizabeth had still been telling the ladies she was thinking over her potential daughters-in-law.

His marriage news hit her like a slap.

Now that woman brought it up again—not to offer sympathy, but to stir drama.

She and Elizabeth had never gotten along, and the moment she spoke, everyone turned to watch Elizabeth.

"Mrs. Fullbuster, didn't Jonathan bring his wife home for the holidays? Why didn't you bring her today so we could meet her?"

Elizabeth's expression had already cooled the instant Anneliese entered the conversation. She took two measured sips of her coffee before offering a reply.