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The blind billionaire's fake finance - Chapter 29


Chapter 29

Annie endured in silence as she took a seat across from Sofia.
"How have things been lately? Has Finn grown tired of that rustic face of yours yet?"
"Has he thrown you out of the house already?"
Sofia's tone was laced with arrogance as she eyed Annie with disdain and curiosity.
"Never. Everything is fine."
"Finn still hasn't realized that I'm just a stand-in for you."
Sofia burst into laughter as if she had just heard the most ridiculous joke.
"Then Finn really is a fool, isn't he? A noble lady like me is being replaced by a pathetic, ignorant girl like you for this long, and he hasn't even noticed a thing."
Annie had no interest in entertaining Sofia's insults. She met her gaze head-on, her voice calm and indifferent.
"Why did you call me here today?"
Sofia wasn't the least bit offended by the interruption. Instead, she smirked.
"Give me some money. Lately, my mom hasn't been as generous with my allowance, and it's hardly enough to take my darling boys on yacht parties like before."
She pouted, clearly displeased. Recently, Calliope had grown stricter, questioning where Sofia's money was going instead of freely giving it away.
Wasn't it just a little money? Why all the fuss?
Even if Calliope gave her a few extra bucks, it wouldn't dent her fortune. Calliope was filthy rich, after all.
Annie's expression flickered with surprise.
"Money? Where would I get money to give you?"
Sofia looked even more shocked than Annie.
"Finn never gives you money? He hasn't handed you a black card?"
Annie shook her head. At that, Sofia slammed her hand on the table, seething.
"You really are an idiot. Do you not know how to milk him for money?"
"Finn may not hold real power in his family, but at the very least, he has money. The fact that he doesn't give you any means you're just too stupid to ask."
"What a useless fool. Why did I even bother meeting you?"
The more Sofia spoke, the angrier she became as if she wanted nothing more than to hit Annie right then and there.
"Hmm, figure something out. Within a week, I expect at least ten thousand dollars."
"You're living with Finn now, aren't you? He's your fiancé-just find a way to get the money out of him."
"You're unbelievably stupid. I've never met anyone as brainless as you."
With clenched fists, Sofia grabbed her bag and stormed off in a huff. Annie sat there in a daze, watching her leave before letting out a weary sigh.
As expected, Sofia's reasons for calling her out were never good. They never were.
That money? Annie had no intention of asking Finn for it-nor did she want to.
She had no choice but to find a way to earn more money.
A former colleague from her old bar job mentioned that a new bar had just opened near Annie's home, offering decent pay. Left with no better option, she applied for a position as a server there.
If luck was on her side, she might be able to scrape together the amount Sofia demanded within a week.
And so, for the next several days, Annie barely had a moment to breathe. She spent her time rushing between shifts at the restaurant and the bar, all while taking care of her mother. As a result, Finn rarely saw her at home.
This did not sit well with him.

Their relationship had only just started to improve, yet now Annie was constantly busy-how were they supposed to grow closer like this?
"You've been really busy lately. What's going on?"
One evening, as Annie was hastily getting ready to leave, Finn spoke from the staircase. His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable edge of dissatisfaction.
Annie's steps faltered for a split second.
She couldn't possibly tell him the truth. Forcing a stiff smile, she quickly came up with an excuse.
"Oh, it's nothing. A friend asked me to shopping with her today, so I thought I'd tag along."
Finn made a sound of acknowledgment, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he descended the stairs, coming to a stop right beside her.
Then, without a word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black card, holding it out to her.
"If you're going shopping, just use this card freely. Buy whatever you like-no need to hold back."
Finn's generosity left Annie momentarily stunned, but she still didn't take the card. After all, she wasn't Sofia.
This card... it was the same one Finn had given Sofia.
"There's no need. I have my own money. If I want something, I'll buy it myself."
She refused, though a flicker of hesitation crossed her gaze.
Finn frowned. "Just take it. I'm not the kind of man who's stingy with his fiancée."
Hearing that, Annie had no choice but to accept. She glanced at the time-it was getting late. After thanking Finn, she hurried out the door.
Finn watched her retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly as his fingers clenched.
Of course, he had already started to doubt Annie's words.
-
It was late at night when Annie finally returned, exhaustion written all over her face. Every step felt heavy, and her body drained from the long hours.
Finn was sitting on the sofa, watching a financial news report when she walked in.
"Back so late? Did you find anything you liked?"
His sharp eyes flicked toward her, observing every nuance in her expression.
Annie shook her head, a trace of avoidance flashing in her gaze.
Her fingers curled slightly as if forcing herself to stay composed.
"No, nothing caught my eye. The new collections from the brands weren't very impressive, so I didn't buy anything."
Annie walked over to Finn, placing the black card back into his hand. Just as she did, Finn caught a strange scent lingering on her-alcohol, mixed with various perfumes.
His brows furrowed instinctively. Where had she been? What kind of shopping trip would leave her smelling like this?
"This is your card," Annie said. 
"I didn't use it, so I'm returning it."
Finn didn't take it back. Instead, he pushed it toward her again.
"What's the meaning of this? Just keep it, Annie. I gave it to you."
"If you didn't buy anything this time, then use it next time. You can spend the money however you like."
Annie simply nodded, choosing not to argue. She was too exhausted after her first shift at the bar, drained of all energy. Without another word, she mumbled something about heading to her room and left.
Finn watched her retreating figure, his lips pressing into a thin line.
Had she been out with some man? Had she spent the night getting close to someone else, draining herself to the point where even exchanging a few words with him felt like a burden?
His fingers curled into a fist.
He had always heard rumors about his fiancée-how arrogant she was, how she switched lovers like changing clothes. He had never cared before.
But now? Now, he did.
Right now, she was his fiancée. How could she so blatantly disregard him and run off to meet some young lover?
This wasn't acceptable. Not at all.
Finn sat there for a while longer before finally heading upstairs. His steps were steady and relaxed-none of the careful, hesitant movements he had when Annie was around.
Sitting on the bed, the first thing he did was reach into the bedside drawer for his phone.
He opened the browser and began searching.
"My fiancée refuses to spend the money I give her. Does this mean she doesn't love me?"
"My fiancée comes home smelling like another man's cologne. What does this mean?"
He read through every result with intense focus. The more he read, the darker his expression became. His jaw tightened, his brows furrowed, and his entire body radiated barely restrained anger.
"Nonsense. Everything online is complete rubbish."
Furious, Finn threw his phone onto the bed, his chest rising and falling sharply.
There was no need for anyone to say it-his mood was absolutely terrible.








Chapter 30

At that moment, the phone rang. Finn impatiently picked up.
"What is it? Make it quick."
His voice was a mix of irritation and impatience, startling even Mike. What had he done to provoke Finn?
"Hey, who ruffled your feathers today? Or is it trouble in paradise with your fiancée, and I'm just the unlucky punching bag?"
Mike shrugged innocently. Finn clenched his fist, his patience wearing thin.
"I'll give you three seconds to say what you need, or I'm hanging up."
Mike quickly pleaded for him to wait, then hastened to explain.
"To celebrate the successful acquisition of Lisa's father's company, I want to invite a few close friends to the bar for drinks. So, how about it? The man who suggested this golden opportunity to me and my business partner-are you interested?"
Ordinarily, Finn did not incline these gatherings and would refuse outright. But his mood was foul today, and perhaps a few drinks would do him some good.
So, he agreed.
"What time? Where?"
Mike was taken aback by Finn's acceptance, blinking a few times before replying.
"Is it going to rain cats and dogs today or what? Since when have you been interested in this sort of thing?"
Mike hurriedly continued before Finn could lose his temper again.
"Come to the bar my friend just opened-it's right near your place."
"To avoid suspicion, I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven."
Finn agreed. After all, Annie was usually out at that time, and staying home alone served no purpose.
...
Meanwhile,
At Annie's place,
She, too, received a call-this time from Sofia.
"How's that money I told you to get coming along? Have you gotten it from Finn yet?"
Sofia admired her freshly done nails, speaking carelessly.
"My new lover is being ridiculously clingy, insisting on a romantic dinner on a yacht. Hurry up and get me the money-I don't have all day to wait."
Annie didn't mention the black card Finn had given her, which she had carefully put away. She had already decided that once she left and returned the title of fiancée to Sofia, she would hand it over so Sofia could spend as she pleased.
Now wasn't the right time. Annie wasn't sure how she would explain it to Finn when a flood of transactions appeared in his account.
"I've taken on extra work. I'll have the full amount for you by the day after tomorrow."
"The deadline is tomorrow anyway," Sofia muttered. "Once I get my paycheck in the evening, I'll transfer it to you immediately."
Annie's tone was soothing, and after a moment, Sofia let out a nonchalant "hmm," seemingly satisfied. She said nothing more before hanging up.
The next morning, Annie made use of her time as usual by working a morning shift at the restaurant. Unexpectedly, Denis approached her again, causing her to instinctively take a step back.
"Hey, even if we're not a couple, we can at least be friends, right? I just want to talk seriously, not bother you, Annie."
Denis scratched his head awkwardly, his voice low in reassurance. Yet, Annie still unconsciously maintained a noticeable distance from him.
Denis sighed.
"My mom-you know her, don't you? She's about to be discharged from the hospital and wants to invite your mom and you for a small family dinner."
"Your mom has already agreed. You haven't been visiting the hospital lately, so she couldn't ask you herself and asked me to relay the invitation."
"This Sunday evening, are you free? Would you mind coming over for dinner with us?"
Denis had already gone to such lengths-Annie found it hard to refuse. She gave a small nod of agreement while a flicker of satisfaction and calculation flashed through Denis's eyes.
...
That evening,
Annie hurriedly ate dinner, preparing to leave for her night shift at the bar. Throughout the meal, she remained rushed, barely lifting her head to look at Finn.
This neglect irked Finn, who was already in a sour mood.
"Annie, can you get me another glass of water?"
Finn tried to draw Annie's attention by pushing his glass forward slightly. Annie looked up, obediently pouring him another glass of water before silently returning to her meal.
"Tonight, my friend invited me out. Do you have time to come along?"
Finn asked casually, but while Annie wasn't paying attention, he stole a glance at her expression.
Without much thought, Annie shook her head.
"I can't. I already made plans with a friend tonight."
"Have fun with your friend, then."
Finn wanted to say more but ultimately held back. In the end, he simply hummed in acknowledgment, letting the conversation drop.
Annie didn't notice Finn's unusual mood. As soon as she finished eating, she tidied up her things and left the house.
...
At the bar
"Come on, let's raise a glass to my and Finn's success! This deal brought in a hefty profit, and it's all thanks to Finn for giving me the lead."
Mike grinned, lifting his glass enthusiastically as everyone toasted. Finn clinked glasses with the group but remained silent. After downing his drink, he fell into a brooding silence.
"Hey, what's with the long face? You came out for drinks, not a funeral."
"Having trouble at home?"
Mike nudged Finn playfully, but Finn narrowed his eyes at him, saying nothing.
Mike smirked, convinced he had hit the mark. He lowered his voice and asked,
"What's going on with you? Did you and Sofia have a fight or something?"
Mike guessed, his curiosity piqued.
"Or maybe you've been too cold, scared her off? Or-" He suddenly smirked. "Did Sofia find herself a new lover and stop paying attention to you?"
The moment the words new lover left Mike's mouth, Finn's expression darkened further. His gaze turned sharp, his voice lowering into something dangerously quiet.
"Got too much time on your hands that you're meddling in my business? Need me to find you some work?"
Sensing Finn's patience wearing thin, Mike backed off, forcing a chuckle. Just as he was about to change the subject, the door swung open, and a server entered with more drinks.
Mike's grin froze the moment he caught sight of the server's face. His eyes narrowed in disbelief, blinking rapidly to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Then, without hesitation, he nudged Finn urgently.
"Hey, put the damn glass down. We've got a problem."
"Now, hurry up."
Finn frowned, not understanding what Mike was about, but seeing the urgency in his expression, he silently obeyed. He set his drink down, narrowing his eyes and lowering his voice.
"What the hell is going on?"
Mike leaned in, whispering next to Finn's ear.
"I should be asking you that!"
"Why the hell is your fiancée, Sofia, working as a server in this bar? Are you kidding me?"
Mike's voice was low enough to stay discreet but still sharp enough to leave Finn momentarily stunned.
What the hell was this?
"Stop talking nonsense. Sofia said she had plans with a friend."
"There's no way she could be here right now."
Finn, of course, refused to believe it, instinctively pushing back against the absurdity of Mike's claim.
And then-
Following Mike's gaze, Finn slowly looked up. At that exact moment, a familiar figure stepped through the doorway.
His breath hitched.
His reaction mirrored Mike's from moments ago-utter disbelief.
What the f** is going on?*
That figure, that face, that expression-there was no mistake.
It was Sofia.
His fiancée.
Standing in a bar.
Wearing a server's uniform.
Finn was so shocked he couldn't find his voice.








Chapter 31

However, Finn's upbringing did not allow him to display anger or any reaction at this moment. He remained silent, merely observing his fiancée from a distance. And for a fleeting second, it seemed that Annie had also noticed him.
Compared to Finn, Annie was far more flustered. A guilty unease flickered in her eyes as she avoided looking in his direction-despite knowing that Finn was blind and could not see her.
Her anxiety made her movements unsteady. As she placed the bottle of wine on the table, her hands trembled so violently that she nearly dropped it.
Just then, a friend sitting beside Mike suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, that's right! Didn't they say Finn's fiancée just moved in with him? When will you bring her over to meet us?"
The man was hearty and straightforward, his words accompanied by a friendly smile as he turned to Finn.
Finn, ever composed, continued playing the role of a blind man-his expression unchanged, his eyes remaining unblinking, exuding an air of serene indifference.
Meanwhile, in a corner where no one was paying attention, Annie's steps faltered.
As she turned to leave, the moment she heard those words, her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed.
Without daring to lift her head, she hurried forward, as though fleeing.
In her heart, she could only pray that no one in the room would realize she was the very fiancée they were asking about.
And that no one would mention to Finn that they had seen her here.
Watching Annie's retreating figure-her hurried steps betraying the guilt of someone caught doing something wrong-Finn's lips curled into a faint smile.
So, she dared to act but didn't dare to face the consequences?
Interesting.
Only after Annie had completely disappeared from sight did Finn leisurely respond to his friend's question.
"My fiancée? You've all met her before."
It was just a matter of whether they had noticed or not.
The group exchanged puzzled glances, none quite grasping his meaning-except for Mike, who chuckled and shook his head. It seemed clear that tonight, there was bound to be some tension between Finn and his fiancée.
"Oh, come on, no need to press further. If Finn says we've met her, then we have. We didn't pay enough attention."
"Tonight's a celebration! Raise your glasses, everyone! Let's toast to my latest big win."
Mike smoothly shifted the topic, reigniting the lively atmosphere.
But Finn's mood, it seemed, was not so easily lifted.
-
Later that night,
When Finn slowly stepped inside, Annie was curled up on the sofa, watching a film.
The moment she saw him, she tilted her head slightly and then hurried over to his side.
"You're back already? You were out so long-are you feeling tired?"
Annie's voice was filled with concern, unable to hide the worry in her tone. Finn, as usual, held onto Annie's arm as he walked in and settled onto the sofa. Yet he didn't respond to her question; instead, he asked one of his own.
"Why, Sofia?"
His voice was calm, void of any discernible emotion-not accusatory or angry, merely inquisitive.
But even that simple question made Annie's spine stiffen, her attempt to maintain a gentle smile faltering.
She lowered her head, knowing full well what Finn was referring to.
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, Annie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry."
Finn let out a sigh.
"Why apologize? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I just want to understand-why?"
When he saw Annie at the bar, Finn's emotions were a chaotic mix-surprise, shock, anger, and disappointment.
But now, only curiosity remained.
Why would she do such a thing?
"Is there something you can't talk about? Are you in need of money?"
Finn recalled giving Annie a credit card for her to use freely. Moreover, her stepmother, Calliope, was not a stingy woman. So why had Annie ended up like this?
Annie hesitated, struggling to find the right words, and the silence between them stretched.
Then, in a quiet voice, she revealed part of the truth.
"I'm sorry... My mom is sick. She needs urgent treatment. I needed to make money as quickly as possible. I couldn't ask anyone for help. And I definitely couldn't spend your money."
"That's why I resorted to this... because it was the fastest way to earn money."
Finn frowned, skeptical.
"Your mom? Calliope is sick?"
Annie shook her head.
"No. Calliope is just my stepmother. I was talking about my biological mother-Isolde."
"She's ill, and the cost of her treatment is overwhelming. I had to take on extra work to help pay for it."
Finn hadn't expected this answer at all. His hand tightened slightly before he spoke, his voice softer this time.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. And yet, I still blamed you unfairly."
Annie shook her head.
"No, it's my fault. I acted recklessly without telling you anything."
She looked down, guilt weighing on her.
"You must have felt embarrassed in front of your friends, right? Your fiancée working as a bar employee... That must have been humiliating for you."
Her voice was laced with bitterness. The fact that Finn had remained this composed, not losing his temper with her, was already more than she had expected.
But Finn only shook his head.
"No, most of them didn't recognize you. Only a close friend of mine noticed and told me."
"You didn't affect me in any way, so don't worry."
Then Finn continued, his voice calm yet filled with concern.
"Is your mother's treatment expensive? How much have you managed to pay?"
"Do you need help? The card I gave you-does it have enough money?"
He asked a series of questions, genuinely wanting to help, but Annie only shook her head, politely declining his kindness.
"It's alright, thank you. I've already gathered enough money. Plus, my sister, Annie, contributed as well."
"We managed to get everything together. Today was my last day working at that bar."
Annie felt slightly awkward mentioning her name at this moment, reminding herself that right now, she was not Annie-she was Sofia.
But Finn didn't catch the subtle tremor in her voice. 
He simply nodded.
"That's good, then. If you ever face difficulties in the future, just tell me. I don't want misunderstandings or unresolved issues to create distance between us."
His words were sincere. Annie nodded. She didn't want this kind of situation to happen again, either.
Not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, Finn spoke to Annie in a softer tone.
"I know this might be sudden, but... can I visit your mom?"
"She's your biological mother, after all. If she's seriously ill, I can't just ignore it, right?"
Finn's tone was sincere-it was a simple question, nothing more. Yet the moment Annie heard it, her body tensed even further.
"Oh, there's no need for that. It must be inconvenient for you to travel. The hospital she's staying at is quite far from here-it would take a lot of time."
"I can pass on your regards instead."
Finn considered her words but found them far too dismissive. Something about it didn't sit right with him.
"How can that be enough? No matter how far it is, I should still go."
"If I didn't know about it, that would be one thing. But now that I do, it would be heartless not to visit."
"You're my fiancée, Sofia. Shouldn't I at least show some responsibility toward your family?"
Annie bit her lip, her mind racing for a way out.
Was he serious? If Finn went to visit, wouldn't everything be exposed?
If the truth about her and Sofia was revealed, she was done for. Completely.
While she was desperately searching for a way to persuade Finn to stay home, his voice suddenly grew suspicious.
"Tell me the truth, Sofia. Or... are you just making up an excuse to deceive me? Is that why you don't want me to go?"
A shiver ran through Annie's body. She pressed her lips together, realizing she had no choice.
"Alright then. I'll tell my mom that you'll be visiting."
She forced her voice to remain steady, but inside, her mind was in complete turmoil.
How was she supposed to handle this? How could she possibly get through this situation without everything falling apart?








Chapter 32

After Annie and Finn reconciled,
They remained unaware that, elsewhere,
A man stood on a windswept balcony, lazily swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.
He gazed down at the cityscape below, a smirk of disdain curling his lips.
"Oh? Does my dear brother truly care for that foolish and arrogant fiancée of his? Now, that's unexpected."
His voice dripped with mockery. Taking a slow sip of wine, the amusement in his expression deepened.
"Well then, this should be entertaining. I wonder... will my charm be enough to make his fiancée utterly captivated-so much so that she abandons him like a discarded piece of trash?"
His words dissolved into the night, vanishing without a trace.
-
The next day,
During their meeting,
Annie placed a card on the table before Sofia, her tone calm and measured.
"The amount you asked for is all in this card."
Sofia eagerly picked it up, shaking it lightly in her grasp, her voice brimming with delight.
"Right on time, Annie. But I have to wonder-how did a country bumpkin like you manage to get your hands on this much money so quickly?"
She winked playfully.
"Did you beg your powerless fiancé for it? Did you whine, act pitiful, or perhaps even get down on your knees and plead?"
Her words, as always, were laced with ridicule and contempt. But Annie felt nothing. She merely replied with serene indifference.
"No. I took a part-time job at a bar for a week-just enough to earn the amount you needed."
"Rest assured, Finn knows nothing about this. It won't affect you in any way."
Sofia, as if hearing the most ridiculous joke, burst into laughter.
"Oh, really? You worked at a bar for a week and managed to earn ten thousand dollars?"
Her eyes narrowed playfully as she leaned in, lifting Annie's chin lazily.
"And what exactly did you do there, my dear sister? Don't tell me you were sleeping with customers to make that kind of money."
Her crimson lips curled into a scornful smile.
"Well, well... The ever-so-righteous Annie, resorting to such means to get by? How unexpected."
"Truly an eye-opener."
Sofia's laughter was laced with cruelty, her words sharp and taunting, meant to wound. Yet, from start to finish, Annie remained as composed and gentle as ever.
"No, you've misunderstood."
"I really was just working part-time. Nothing dirty."
"Now that you've received the full amount, let's consider this debt settled once and for all."
Annie had no interest in continuing this exchange. Neither of them found any joy in it.
For their sisterly bond to deteriorate to this point... even Annie couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Sofia was momentarily taken aback by Annie's indifference but merely scoffed.
"Fine, you can go. My darling just invited me to dinner on a yacht-I don't have time to waste on you."
Annie nodded, bid her farewell, and quietly walked out.
As she pushed open the door, she nearly collided with someone who was rushing in. Instinctively, she stepped aside.
"Sofia? My dear sister-in-law?"
A deep, husky voice, tinged with surprise, sounded above her. Annie slowly lifted her gaze-only to meet Hubert's fox-like eyes, his lips curving into a faint smile.
"What a coincidence. I was just about to grab a coffee before visiting you and Finn."
"It's been a while, after all. I should check in on my dear brother."
His words carried the warmth of a caring sibling, but Annie knew better. She knew this man's kindness was never genuine.

Lowering her eyes, she stepped forward, intending to ignore him. But Hubert moved deliberately, blocking her path.
"Hey, no need to be so haughty. Fine, I won't get coffee anymore. Let's head back together-it's on the way anyway."
"Did you drive here? If not, why not come with me?"
Hubert stood there persistently, showing no intention of letting her go. Annie crossed her arms and arched a brow at him.
"And what exactly do you want?"
Seeing that Annie had finally acknowledged him, Hubert's smile deepened, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Let's go together, then. We'll head to your home."
Annie scoffed, utterly uninterested in entertaining his words. She sidestepped him with ease and walked past.
"Together? Maybe in your next life."
Without another glance, she stepped into the sleek black car where Finn's private driver was already waiting. With a simple command, the car pulled away, leaving Hubert behind.
Watching her leave, he licked his lips, a slow smile forming.
Interesting.
At first, approaching Annie had been nothing more than a way to irritate Finn-to steal his fiancée just for the fun of it.
But now, for some reason, Sofia seemed rather... intriguing as well.
-
Back home,
Finn wasn't in the living room.
Annie headed straight upstairs, took a long shower, and changed into fresh clothes. Feeling refreshed, she stepped out of the bathroom-just in time to run into Finn as he exited his room.
Without hesitation, she moved naturally beside him, offering her support as they descended the stairs together. Their movements were fluid and comfortable as if second nature.
The atmosphere could have been peaceful, even pleasant-if not for the unexpected sight that awaited them.
There, lounging casually on the living room sofa, watching TV as if he owned the place-was Hubert.
"Hey, finally down? You two sure took your time."
He grinned lazily.
"Finn, your housekeeper isn't very hospitable. I asked her to call you and Sofia down, but she just coldly told me you two were resting and that it wouldn't be appropriate to disturb you."

"Not even a glass of water for me?"
Annie helped Finn settle onto the sofa, her voice cool and detached.
"Considering she didn't kick you out the moment you stepped in, I'd say that's already quite hospitable."
Hubert paid no mind to Annie's sarcasm and continued speaking as if he hadn't noticed.
"It's been a long time since you visited home, Finn. Everyone misses you. Are you not planning on coming back?"
Finn let out a derisive chuckle, his voice laced with mockery.
"Go back? And for what? Is that supposed to be my home?"
"That place belongs to you people. It's never been my home."
Finn dismissed him outright, and Annie treated Hubert as if he were nothing more than air.
Yet, Hubert didn't seem the least bit embarrassed. On the contrary, he carried on as if he were a caring older brother, casually chatting and coaxing Finn.
"You shouldn't say that, Finn. No matter what, we're still family. Our father wants to stay updated on how your company is doing. If there are any issues, he'd be more than willing to support you."
Finn had never been allowed to take part in Ryan Corporation's senior management. Instead, he had established his own subsidiary company early on to build his own path.
Normally, neither Ryan nor Hubert cared about this-they merely used it as an excuse to paint Finn as someone without real power in the family business.
But now that they were bringing it up... something must have happened.
Finn suddenly found himself curious—just what had happened?
Lately, he had been more focused on Annie and hadn’t paid much attention to the affairs of Ryan Corporation.
Annie was about to refuse outright, but before she could speak, Finn lifted a hand slightly, stopping her. More than that—he grasped her hand firmly.
His lips curled into a smirk, and though his tone remained laced with mockery, there was an unmistakable edge beneath it.
"An update on the company? Fine."
"This weekend, I’ll return—with Annie."
Hubert exhaled in relief as if this was exactly the outcome he had hoped for. He was about to say something when Finn’svoice cut in again.
"But since you called it a family gathering, I expect to see only family there. When I bring my fiancée home, I don’t want to run into anyone I don’t consider family."
Finn’s smirk deepened.
"You—I can tolerate if I must."
Then, he chuckled.
"But Tracy? I don’t want to see her."
"After what she pulled last time—trying to strong-arm my fiancée—we might as well consider ourselves enemies now."








Chapter 33

Hubert's words caught in his throat.
He had never expected Finn to act this way.
"Finn, don't go too far."
Finn let out a bitter laugh.
"What does 'too far' even mean? When your mother bullied my fiancée, did any of you think that was too far?"
With that, Finn fell silent. Hubert, too, said nothing, seemingly locked in an internal struggle, weighing the pros and cons. After a long pause, he finally let out a sigh.
"Fine. This weekend, take Sofia home with you. As for the family matters, leave them to me."
Once Hubert had left, Finn turned to Annie and asked in a quiet voice,
"Where were you just now? Were you meeting that friend who recently returned?"
To keep Finn from growing suspicious, Annie had told him that a close friend had just come back to the country, so she had been meeting up frequently to reminisce about old times and show her around the city. Thankfully, Finn didn't seem to question it.
He merely nodded in acknowledgment and said nothing more.
...
Friday.
It was a rare occasion-Finn had set aside time to accompany Annie to visit Isolde at the hospital. The entire time, Annie couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her.
After all, one lie inevitably leads to another, and she feared that at any moment, everything could come crashing down.
Her face paled slightly as the driver pulled up in front of the hospital. A wave of dizziness washed over her, making her vision blur for a moment.
I hope everything goes smoothly, Annie thought to herself as she pushed Finn's wheelchair into the hospital.
A bodyguard followed behind, carrying the gift Finn had asked his assistant to prepare for Isolde. When they neared the hospital room, he stepped forward to hold the door open for her.
Annie took a deep breath, steadying herself before pushing Finn inside.
"Mommy!"
Isolde sat by the hospital window, lost in thought as she gazed at the scenery outside. When she saw Annie wheeling Finn in, her eyes lit up, and a gentle smile graced her lips.
"Ann..."
But she quickly cut herself off, recalling Annie's instructions. Blinking once, she smoothly corrected herself.
"Sofia, you're here! Is that your fiancé, Finn?"
Relief flooded Annie's chest when Isolde didn't slip up. She guided Finn closer to the hospital bed.
"Yes, this is Finn, the fiancé I told you about before," Annie replied.
"He was really worried when he heard you were hospitalized. Since he had some free time today, I brought him along to visit you."
At that, Finn played his part perfectly. A gentle smile appeared on his lips as he greeted Isolde warmly before speaking to her.
"This is our first time meeting. So I may be a little lacking in courtesy. I asked my assistant to prepare some supplements for you-they should help you recover. I hope you'll accept them."
At the perfect moment, the bodyguard stepped forward, bowing slightly as he handed the gift to Isolde. She looked momentarily surprised but soon took it with a kind smile.
"You're too polite. There's no need for gifts-just coming to visit me is more than enough."
After the initial pleasantries, everyone settled in for a conversation. Most of the talking was between Isolde and Annie, while Finn and his bodyguard remained largely silent, mirroring each other's quiet presence.
Perhaps it was Finn's presence that made Isolde somewhat reserved. Before starting any new topic, she would glance at Annie, as if gauging her reaction. Only when she saw no sign of discomfort did she continue.
Annie understood this well and took the lead in starting conversations, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and natural.
"Oh, right! Joyce was discharged the other day. Denis came to pick her up and take her home," Annie mentioned casually.
The mere mention of Denis brought a look of approval to Isolde's face.
"I have to say, that man is truly wonderful. Handsome, well-mannered, and kind-hearted. He took care of everything so thoughtfully-handling all the paperwork and arrangements without Joyce having to worry about a thing."
"He even prepared some freshly cut fruit for Joyce, afraid that she'd have to wait too long."
"She's going to have such a good life as his wife. Marrying a caring man is the best thing that can happen to a woman," Isolde added with heartfelt praise.
Annie simply nodded, listening quietly. Meanwhile, she had no idea that Finn's expression had darkened considerably.
Praising another man so highly-right in front of him, no less-did this mean his future mother-in-law wasn't satisfied with him?
Or was it because he was blind, unable to take care of others the way Denis could? Was she subtly mocking him by using another man as an example?
The more Finn thought about it, the more tangled his emotions became. Even as he returned home with Annie, his mood remained sour.
The moment they stepped inside, Finn immediately reached for the staircase railing and made his way up to their room.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Are you okay, Finn?"
"Are you tired from today's trip? Or did something make you uncomfortable?" Annie called after him, concern evident in her voice.
Finn simply let out a sigh.
"It's nothing. I'm okay."
"I'm just a little tired from the long day."
And with that, he shut the door behind him.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Finn pulled out his phone and, with a serious expression, began searching.
"What does it mean to be a caring man?"
"How to become a caring man who makes his woman happy?"
As usual, he meticulously read through every result, nodding in approval whenever he came across useful advice.
The next morning,
When Annie woke up, she was genuinely startled by Finn.
He sat calmly at the breakfast table, exuding an air of complete ease. The moment he heard movement, he lifted his head and greeted her with a gentle smile.
"You're up? Did you sleep well last night?"
Still groggy, Annie covered her mouth as she yawned, nodding absentmindedly at his question. She was just about to ask Keelin what was for breakfast when-
Before she could even react, 
Finn stood up smoothly, precisely picked up a plate of food, and placed it neatly in front of her.
"Eat up. Keelin made salmon sandwiches this morning-they're delicious."
Without waiting for her to respond, he turned again, walked to the fridge, and poured a glass of milk.
"Drink some milk, too. It's good for your health."
Annie, still half-asleep, blinked in confusion. Tilting her head, she gave Finn a curious look.
"Aren't you blind? How are you serving me food so flawlessly?"
Having long mastered the art of playing blind, Finn remained utterly composed. Sitting back down across from her, he replied smoothly, his expression unchanging.
"Did you forget? I may be blind, but this is my home. Of course, I know my way around everything."
He chuckled lightly.
"Relax, I'm not so useless that I need someone to pour me a glass of water."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he effortlessly shifted the conversation.
"Come on, eat while it's still warm. See if today's breakfast suits your taste."
Finn had thought he was being quite considerate.
In a way, his efforts touched Annie's heart.
After all, he had followed the advice he'd read the night before-wasn't that proof of his dedication? This realization filled him with confidence.
However-
Just as a faint smile played at the corners of his lips, it froze.
Because Annie's response, tinged with a hint of apology, shattered his moment of joyce.
"Sorry, but I'm lactose intolerant."
"If I drink milk in the morning, I get stomach aches."
For a brief moment—
It wasn’t just Finn’s smile that froze.
He could feel his heart shattering into pieces.
Up until now, he had been so sure of himself.
He was so confident that he was doing things right.
But now, he realized—
He was nothing more than a fool.
A clown, dancing around, believing he had everything under control.

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