CHAPTER 319: AUGUSTINE IS BACK.

Anne thrashed harder. "Let go of me," she cried.

But Denis only tightened his hold. "No," he shouted. "I won’t let go. I can’t just stand by and watch you walk into danger. Augustine can’t protect you. He is helpless. But I can. The Beaumont family can. Don’t let emotions blind you. It’s time you think wisely."

Before Anne could snap back, a voice ripped through the air like a thunderclap.

"Leave her alone."

The command struck Denis like ice water. His arms faltered, his head jerking toward the source of the voice. But before his eyes could focus, a fist crashed into his face.

The blow sent him reeling, his grip finally tearing away from Anne. He staggered backward, clutching his jaw in shock.

Anne stumbled free, gasping. The adrenaline shook through her limbs, leaving her unsteady.

Denis groaned, rubbing his aching jaw, and slowly lifted his head, eyes burning with both pain and fury. His blurred vision cleared enough to reveal the figure standing tall between him and Anne.

It was her bodyguard.

Sam stood firmly, body angled in a defensive stance, his face carved in stone. "Leave now, or you’ll regret it," he warned coldly, fists still clenched, ready to strike again.

Denis gritted his teeth, his eyes stormy as they lingered on Anne. "You are making a mistake. Sooner or later, you’ll understand." Without another word, he slid into his car and sped off.

Sam’s expression softened as he turned back to Anne. "Madam, are you alright?" he asked with concern. Regret clawed at his heart. "Forgive me—I was late. I—"

Anne raised her hand, cutting him off. "Focus on Augustine’s safety. Don’t concern yourself with me. I can handle myself."

"I’ll send you wherever you are going."

"No," Anne denied it. "Augustine needs you here. I can take care of myself. Just stay vigilant."

"Madam..." Sam tried again, but she had already moved toward her car and slipped inside. The next moment, she drove away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anne stepped into the office, only to find both Nathan and Oliver already waiting. A grin spread on her lips unwittingly as she saw her father. But there was a lingering worry in her mind.

"Dad!" she exclaimed in surprise. "You should be resting at home."

Hurrying across the room, she set her bag down and took a seat on the sofa beside them. "You could have just called me—I would have come to see you."

Oliver gave a small shake of his head. "I’m feeling better. There is no need for me to sit idle at home. Besides," his voice softened, "how can I rest when you are carrying so much on your shoulders? Tell me—how is Augustine? Any sign of change?"

Anne’s face lit up with sudden joy. Her lips curved into a wide smile, her eyes bright. "Yes. He responded to me."

Both Oliver and Nathan leaned in, their curiosity piqued.

"I told him to give me a sign if he could hear me," Anne explained breathlessly. "And you won’t believe what he did—he moved his eyeballs."

Her eyes flicked between them as she clasped her hands together. "It means he hears me. He is fighting his way back. I know he’ll wake up soon."

But her expression quickly shifted. The glow in her eyes dimmed slightly. Her smile slipped away.

"He is still in danger," she added grimly. "The ones who attacked us... if they get wind of this, they’ll try to hurt him again. We can’t let them know he is waking up."

She drew in a steadying breath. "Until he opens his eyes, we must keep this to ourselves. No one else can know."

Both Nathan and Oliver nodded understandingly.

"We will keep it a secret," Nathan promised. "Well, I called you here urgently because we have a plan to counter the Beaumonts. Dad has figured out a way to block them from taking over—and more than that, he’ll help Augustine claim half of their property."

Anne blinked, hardly daring to believe it. But a hope surged in her as she looked at her father. "Really?"

Oliver straightened his posture. "Yes," he said with conviction as if he had already known what to do. "With his father’s share, plus the old man’s decision to pass his shares to Augustine’s child, he already holds the greatest portion of shares in the Beaumont Group. That alone makes him the strongest candidate for president."

Anne sat frozen, her mind spinning. A spark of excitement lit her face, but almost instantly, doubt crept in.

"But... how?" she asked. "Augustine isn’t awake yet. And those shares—Dimitri gave them to our child, not to him directly."

"Don’t worry about that," Oliver said. "As the child’s father, Augustine has the right to manage the baby’s shares until adulthood."

Anne grew interested, her eyes reflecting both amazement and cautious belief.

"And you," Oliver continued, "as Augustine’s wife, can act as the caretaker of his assets and shares for the time being. That makes you eligible to become the president of the Beaumont Group until Augustine is awake and fully recovered. Once I prepare the legal documents, your position will be unshakable. No one will be able to touch you."

"Is... is it really possible?" she asked, her voice trembling with wonder and disbelief.

"Yes, it’s very much possible," he said firmly. "Augustine is a Beaumont. Past injustice may have cast him aside, but that doesn’t erase his birth rights. He deserves his place in the family, in the business—and I’ll make sure he gets it."

A sharp gleam flickered in his eyes. "And when they are forced into turmoil in their own company, Denis and Gabriel will have no time left to scheme against Augustine. They’ll forget about everything else, let alone trying to seize what belongs to him."

Anne’s eyes glistened, but she quickly blinked back tears. "Thank you, Dad," she whispered, forcing a smile.

But Nathan shifted uneasily beside them. "This will enrage them," he warned. "Denis is reckless, and Gabriel is far too cunning. They’ll turn their fury on Anne. They’ll try to hurt her."

Oliver’s expression remained calm. "Gabriel is sly, and I don’t have any doubt about that. He can do anything to save his position. But nothing is bigger than the law. I’ll take legal measures to keep Anne safe. If he dares lay a hand on Anne, he will find himself behind bars."

Anne felt comforted by his confidence. She trusted her father’s abilities and was certain he wouldn’t allow Gabriel to triumph this time.

At the hospital...

Augustine’s expression was stormy as Sam informed him about Denis troubling Anne outside. The thought of her being harassed while he lay in bed made his blood boil.

He thought staying there away from home wasn’t safe at all. He wanted to leave.

"Talk to the doctor. I want to go home."

Sam hesitated, his lips parting to protest, but the piercing glare Augustine shot him silenced any objection.

Straightening immediately, Sam gave a firm nod. "I’ll make the arrangements."

He left the room.

Anne was still in deep conversation with her father and brother when her phone chimed sharply from inside her bag.

"Excuse me." She retrieved the phone quickly. Seeing Sam’s name flashing across the screen, her chest tightened with worry. She answered at once, fearing something had happened to Augustine.

"Hello?"

"Madam," Sam’s steady voice came through, "the doctor just checked the reports. Everything looks normal. We can take him home if we want. Do you want me to bring him back? Or should his treatment continue here at the hospital?"

Anne paused, weighing the options carefully. The hospital felt exposed, vulnerable to enemies lurking in the shadows. At home, Augustine would have familiarity, comfort, and above all, security. Perhaps being surrounded by the warmth of his own house and her presence would coax him back from the coma.

"Bring him home," she finally said.

"Sure," Sam replied. "I’ll start the discharge procedure."

Ending the call, Sam turned and met Augustine’s expectant gaze. "Madam wants you home," he reported.

A low hum of satisfaction escaped Augustine as he leaned back against the pillows. ’Soon, I’ll tell you the truth,’ he thought.

~~~~~~~~

Anne arrived home. The moment she stepped into the house, the housekeeper approached quickly, wringing her hands, her forehead furrowed with lines of concern.

"Madam, sir is home," she said in a hushed voice, her eyes betraying both anxiety and fear. "He is still unconscious. Why did you bring him back? Shouldn’t he stay at the hospital until he is awake?"

Anne’s face softened as she met the woman’s troubled eyes. She understood the concern but couldn’t reveal the hidden dangers pressing in on them. Composing herself, she spoke gently, "The doctor assured us he can be home. His vitals are stable, and the hospital isn’t necessary anymore. Here, with family and in familiar surroundings, he will recover faster."

The housekeeper let out a small sigh of relief. "That’s good then. We’ll take good care of him. Hopefully, sir will wake soon."

Anne gave a faint hum of agreement as she moved to step past, but the housekeeper stopped her.

"Madam..." She reached for an envelope resting on the side table and extended it. "This arrived this morning."

Anne’s brows knitted as she read the sender’s name. Dimitri?

What could he have sent?

Perhaps some important papers for Augustine.

She offered the housekeeper a small smile. "Thank you."

With the envelope in hand, Anne walked to the bedroom. Augustine lay motionless on the bed as if lost in a deep slumber. Sam stood beside him, carefully adjusting the blanket.

The moment he noticed Anne at the doorway, he straightened quickly. "Madam, you are back."