Married To My Ex's Brother, Reborn Miraculously-Chapter 183: Paule is awake.

At the office...

Augustine was busy in a meeting. Anne sat at her desk, reviewing files he had shared with her. She wore a soft beige blouse, sleeves rolled neatly, composed, thoughtful, fully immersed in her work. She pressed the back of the pen against her lower lip and then marked certain points in the file.

Megan strode up to Anne’s desk. She cleared her throat, demanding attention.

Anne looked up, her eyes narrowing the moment she saw who it was. "You?" She leaned back in her chair, arms folded.

With an air of haughty confidence, Megan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I need to speak with Augustine. It’s about the project."

"He is in a meeting," Anne replied, her voice clipped and cool. "I’ll let you know when he is free. You can go now." She dropped her gaze to the file in front of her, treating Megan like an unimportant interruption.

The dismissiveness struck a nerve. Megan’s jaw tightened, but she forced herself to stay composed. Anne wasn’t just anyone; she was Augustine’s wife. Picking a fight with her could backfire in ways Megan couldn’t afford.

"I’ll wait," Megan said and dragged out the chair opposite Anne. Sat down, legs crossed, posture poised.

Anne’s eyes flicked up in surprise. She hadn’t expected that. She thought Megan, with her unpredictable temper and sharp tongue, would retaliate. But she sat quietly.

Anne studied her for a moment, suspicion prickling at the edge of her thoughts. ’Has she really changed her attitude toward me after knowing my relationship with Augustine? Or is this just a new strategy?’

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Megan scoffed. "Don’t think being Augustine’s wife gives you the right to intimidate me."

Anne let out a dry chuckle, not even bothering to look up. "Whatever," she murmured dismissively as she returned her attention to the file in front of her.

The silence returned, thick and uncomfortable. Megan shifted in her seat, legs uncrossing and recrossing, fingers tapping on the armrest. She glanced at her wristwatch—only five minutes had passed. But it felt like an eternity, each second dragging by like molasses.

Restlessness coiled inside her. She couldn’t bear the quiet anymore.

"You know," she began, trying to sound casual, but her voice carried a sharp undertone, "a lot of women would do anything to get close to Augustine—marry him, be seen with him. And you..." She leaned back slightly, watching Anne for a reaction. "Even after marrying him, you kept it a secret. Why? Embarrassed? Or is it that you don’t actually love him?"

Anne was just about to respond when her phone buzzed sharply on the desk, slicing through the tension. The name Denis lit up the screen, and in an instant, Anne’s expression hardened.

’Why is he calling me now?’ Her lips pressed into a thin line as confusion flickered in her eyes. She flipped the phone over, ignoring the call.

However, Megan had caught the name. Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. She recalled Lorie’s gossip about Anne’s supposed crush on her former boss, Denis—how she had once seduced him, how she might still carry a torch for him.

"Well, well..." Megan drawled, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "Still thinking about getting back with your old boss, Denis?"

Anne lifted her eyes at her once more. A cool, sarcastic smile tugged at her lips. "You seem awfully curious about me and my love life." She closed the file in front of her with a quiet thud and leaned forward slightly. "So let me satisfy your curiosity. I love Augustine. He spoils me rotten. And now... we are going on our honeymoon."

Megan’s composure cracked. "What?" she gasped, her face stiffening, a pang of jealousy coiling in her chest. "Honeymoon?"

Anne’s smile deepened. She lowered her voice further. "Yes. And here is another little secret...He is so in love with me, he can’t spend a moment without me. Not a single night goes by when he doesn’t make love to me."

The words landed like a slap. Megan sat frozen, her insides churning with envy and disbelief. Under the table, her hands curled into tight fists. She couldn’t understand it—what did Augustine see in Anne?

To Megan, Anne was plain, forgettable, the kind of woman who faded into the background. There was no glamour about her, no pedigree, no wealth.

Just an ordinary woman. That’s all Megan saw.

In contrast, Megan considered herself the complete package—strikingly beautiful, polished, from a well-off family. She had charm, presence, and status – perfect for Augustine. She should be the one beside Augustine, not Anne.

She couldn’t hold back her anger.

"Do you really think he loves you?" she spat. "Don’t fool yourself. He is probably just playing with you. When he has had enough, he’ll throw you away."

Anne’s blood boiled, but Megan kept going.

"Men like Augustine don’t settle for women like you. You are a passing fancy, a phase. That infatuation won’t last. Sooner or later, he’ll realize you were never meant to be at his side."

Her words were sharp, piercing Anne’s heart.

Anne ground her teeth as a retort formed on her tongue, burning to be unleashed. But before she could speak, her phone rang again. She glanced down and froze.

It was the hospital.

A chill swept through her body. The tension with Megan vanished in an instant, replaced by a flood of dread.

The last time she had received a call from the hospital, her father had been rushed into the ICU. That terrifying moment still haunted her.

’Not again. Please, not again.’ Her thoughts spiraled.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the phone.

"Hello?" Anne answered, her heart sinking. freёweɓnovel.com

"Is this Miss Anne Clare?" came a gentle female voice. "Your father... Mr. Paule is awake."

For a moment, Anne couldn’t breathe. The words didn’t register at first—they floated in the air, unreal. Then it hit her.

Her father was awake.

"Really?" she gasped as she shot up from her chair, a burst of joy flooding through her. Her legs felt shaky, her pulse thundered in her ears.

"Yes. Can you come to the hospital?" the nurse asked.

"Yes—yes, I’m coming right now," Anne replied, barely able to contain her emotions. Her hands trembled as she ended the call, her eyes shimmering with tears that threatened to spill. With hurried movements, she stuffed the file into the drawer, grabbed her bag, and turned to leave.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Megan’s voice cut in sharply, trying to intercept her.

Anne paused briefly, glaring at Megan. "None of your business." She shoved past Megan.

"Wait—you!" Megan called out angrily. "You can’t just leave like that."

But Anne was already halfway down the hallway, her pace fast, driven by a surge of urgency. She didn’t look back.