CHAPTER 316: AUGUSTINE SPENT THE NIGHT WITH ANNE

Late at night...

The hospital corridors outside were silent. A figure in a white coat slipped inside Augustine’s room. The surgical mask hid half of his face.

His gaze went first to the bed, but he found it empty. He looked around and spotted Augustine by the window, looking outside, one hand clasping the other behind him.

The man quietly closed the door and turned the lock with a soft click. Only then did he remove the mask, revealing his face.

"What is the update?" Augustine asked, not bothering to turn and check who had entered. It was as if he had been waiting for him.

"Everything is unfolding as planned," the familiar voice of Gustave replied. He crossed the room and stood behind Augustine. "The spies Gabriel sent after you are now in our control. They’ll only feed him the information we decide to give."

"Hmm," Augustine hummed in acknowledgment.

"Gabriel still believes you are in a coma," Gustave went on. "He is now focused entirely on his ambition—taking over both companies. And with the rising tension among the board members, we are on the brink of losing control. I think it’s time you step in. How much longer will you keep up this act?"

There was a hint of urgency and restlessness in his tone.

"We know who orchestrated the attack," he pressed. "We have evidence against Gabriel. There is no point in waiting any longer—we should bring him down."

Augustine listened in silence. He could hear the concern in Gustave’s voice, but his own mind was already planning something bigger.

There were still pieces of the game left to move. Gabriel and Denis could be handled, but Tania—she was different. Until he understood her real purpose, she would remain a potential threat, ready to resurface even after the others were gone.

"What about Tania? Anything on her parents’ accident?"

Gustave’s gaze dropped to the floor, and a weary breath slipped out. "It happened too long ago. Evidence has been tampered with, and leads twisted out of shape. Tracking the truth now is almost impossible."

He paused before adding, "But I did send the photos of Gabriel with Tania, just like you told me." A faint shift in his tone hinted at a result. "And... the action was seen."

He went on, recounting Jeanne’s meeting with Dimitri at a restaurant. "She seemed upset. I’m certain she brought up the matter with him."

Only then did Augustine turn around and meet Gustave’s eyes. "Grandpa will act. He’ll want to uncover the truth. Send Jeanne another set of photos—this time, make sure Tania’s face is visible."

"Understood, sir." Gustave nodded, though a hesitation lingered. "And the company? The voting is next week."

"Before they can choose a new president, I’ll make my move," Augustine said resolutely. "But first, we’ll turn the heat up on Tania. Force her to show her real intention."

Crossing the room, he sank into the sofa. "Get in touch with the land mafia boss," he ordered. "Set a meeting. We are making a deal."

Gustave knew what his boss was planning. A cunning glint flashed in his eyes. Finally, the Beaumont Group’s downfall would begin.

"I’ll reach out to him soon," Gustave said, tugging his mask back over his face as he turned for the door.

"Wait."

The single word halted him mid-step. He looked back, puzzled. "Do you need something?"

Augustine gave a small nod but stayed quiet for a moment. His mind went to Anne. He couldn’t forget that she had felt the baby move for the first time. The ache to be with her pressed against his chest. He wanted to hold her, to feel the tiny flutter of life himself.

"I want to see Anne," he said at last.

Gustave’s eyes widened. "What? You...this is dangerous. You know we can’t trust everyone in the hospital. If Gabriel has more men watching, and they find out you are awake, our entire plan will fail."

"I know," Augustine replied. "But I’ll be careful. I just... I need to see her. The baby moved..." His voice faltered, his eyes searching Gustave’s. "I missed it."

Gustave let out a long breath with resignation. For a moment, he said nothing, then nodded slowly. "Alright. What’s the plan? How are you getting out?"

"It’s already set," Augustine said. "You’ll stay here tonight, in my place. I’ll have Sam guard you. The doctors have finished their rounds, and most of the staff is asleep. No one comes in this late. You’ll be fine. I’ll go see Anne and be back before morning."

Gustave rubbed the back of his neck, the hesitation clear in his furrowed brow. He knew there’d be no swaying him. "Fine. I’ll stay. But you have to be careful."

"I will."

Gustave shrugged off the white coat and handed it to him. Then, fishing into his pocket, he pulled out a fresh mask. "Here. Put it on."

"Thanks." Augustine slipped into the jacket and drew the mask over his face. Without looking back, he opened the door and stepped out.

The corridors were silent. Augustine moved like a ghost, not making a sound, every breath held, until he slipped out into the night unnoticed.

Before long, he was standing at the front door of his house, his pulse quickening. He let himself in quietly and headed straight into the bedroom.

Under the dimly lit room, he saw Anne curled on her side. The sight of her made something inside him twist painfully.

His legs moved toward her slowly. He saw his photograph clutched tightly to her chest. A lump rose in his throat. Leaning over to gently ease it from her grasp, he set it down on the side table.

Her lashes were still wet. Traces of tears clung to them. He reached out, brushing them away softly.

"You foolish woman," he whispered. "Why cry so much? You should be thinking about our baby."

His gaze dropped to the soft curve of her belly, and his chest tightened. "Baby...I’m sorry. I haven’t been here. I promise I’ll fix this. I’ll be back for both of you soon."

He kneeled beside the bed, one hand resting gently on her stomach. The warmth beneath his palm sent a rush of emotion through him.

Anne shifted, a faint murmur escaping her lips. "Augustine..."

His body went rigid, hand frozen in place, a cold prickle running along his spine. He had planned to slip in, see her, leave unseen. But now she was awake.

Her lips curved faintly before her eyes closed again. "You came back," she murmured. "It must be late, right?"

Augustine studied her face.

Anne looked half-lost in sleep, her lips slightly parted as if caught between a dream and waking.

"Why are you still there?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness. "Come to bed."

He couldn’t shrug off the temptation to be with her. Without a word, he eased onto the mattress beside her. Sliding an arm around her, he drew her in, feeling the warmth of her body seep into his. Her soft floral scent filled his senses, stirring a longing he had been fighting for days.

"I missed you so much," he breathed against her hair.

She answered with a faint hum, her eyes slipping shut again, already sinking deeper into sleep.

He pressed a lingering kiss to the crown of her head. He had thought he wouldn’t stay, that he’d just make sure she was safe and slip away. But lying here, with her in his arms, he couldn’t leave.

"I love you, Anne," he whispered. "And I’m sorry... will you forgive me?"

A faint curve touched her lips. In her dream, she heard the words she had been longing for.

The next morning...

Anne woke up and sat up slowly. She turned her head, half-expecting to see Augustine lying beside her.

Last night’s dream still clung to her like a haze. She had seen him coming home, speaking to her, sliding into bed, and holding her close. She could almost still feel the warmth of his arm around her.

But the space beside her was empty. Cold. The bedspread on that side was smooth, uncreased, the pillows perfectly in place, as though no one had touched them. The sight made her chest ache.

"Augustine..." she murmured. "I’ve missed you so much I’m dreaming you are home."

Tears welled and spilled before she could stop them. She curled in on herself, reaching toward the photo frame on the nightstand. Her fingers halted a breath away.

She remembered clutching that frame last night, pressing it to her chest while she cried herself to sleep. She didn’t remember putting it back.

Her stomach tightened. Who had moved it?

A ripple of unease went through her.

’Did Augustine... really come last night?’

The thought seemed ridiculous—he was still in the hospital, unconscious. If he had woken up, they would have called her immediately.

Still, the question gnawed at her.

Heart pounding, she swung her legs out of bed and moved quickly toward the bathroom. She needed to find out if Augustine was still at the hospital.

At the hospital...

The door to the private room eased open, and Augustine finally stepped inside. Gustave was hunched on the corner sofa, his expression dark, his foot tapping restlessly against the floor.

"You finally came back," Gustave exhaled, tension breaking in his voice. "I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep a wink. Every second, I feared someone to walk in and notice you were gone."

He jumped to his feet. "You said you would come before morning. What took you so long?"

Augustine’s brows lifted. Seeing his usually unshakable assistant rattled was a rare sight. "I fell asleep," he said simply.

Gustave blinked at him, dumbfounded. "You... what?"

"Why are you still planted there?" Augustine asked, his tone deliberately sharp. He shrugged out of his coat in one swift motion and tossed it toward Gustave, who caught it in the air. "Change and get out. I’m tired. Don’t bother me."

He climbed onto the bed, pulling the covers over himself like nothing had happened.

Gustave stared, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly. ’This man actually enjoys tormenting me.’

With a muttered curse under his breath, Gustave yanked the door open, ready to storm out. But his hand froze on the handle when he saw Anne approaching.