"Thank you, Mom," Anna was so worried, her mother's support was a great comfort.
"Anna, I don't think you need me to teach you how to seduce Joseph. Try your best to have his baby before Kate. When you have his child, Cassie will finally have to accept you," Dora suggested.
"I…, I have tried to have sex with him since I have been back, but he…he refuses to touch me. I even heard that he and Kate are trying to have a baby," Anna moaned.
"You should have done this before. I got your father to marry me with that excuse. I think Joseph would also fall for it; you need to take action now."
"I see," Anna also knew she did not have another choice. She faced the reality that she had to have a baby before Kate.
**
Kate's colleagues were holding a dinner and invited her along. Though she didn't care much for socializing, she agreed to join them because she had declined several times before. She worried that if she continued to decline their offers, they would start to gossip about her.
The dinner was on the twentieth-floor balcony of a famous hotel in Aubi City. Kate stood looking out over the city at the beautiful lights, enjoying the gentle breeze.
"Kate, all of the employees in our department are very nice. You will know I am correct after you get to know them," May whispered to her.
She shifted her focus to May and smiled at her.
"Attention, everyone. Let's toast to Kate. Welcome her to our group," Albert said and then raised a glass in the air.
"Thank you!" Kate said, blushing.
Then a male colleague walked toward her and said, "You are really a nice person. I am sorry about the misunderstanding last time. I hope we can work together again in the future."
"I am sure we will," Kate smiled and nodded.
Kate was sure that her colleagues trusted her, and only by trusting them could they make more of a contribution to Symantec.
After dinner, someone suggested going to the bar to sing karaoke since it was in the same hotel. Kate agreed to go with them and put her bags in the corner before she went to the washroom.
"What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here!" Kate heard Anna exclaim when she came out of the washroom.
Kate did not believe it was a coincidence at all. She ignored her and tried to walk away, but Anna put her arm out to stop her, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
"Should I stay here and wait for you to slander me again?" Kate said, staring into Anna's deceitful eyes.
Anna was irritated by her. She suddenly showed her anger and asked fiercely, "Did you say something bad in front of Joseph?"
"I don't need you to remind me," Anna was enraged, she pushed Kate to the ground and yelled, "Come get her!"
A tall and muscular man with scars on his face stepped out from around a corner.
"We are out in public. What do you plan on doing?" Kate questioned Anna.
"Kate, you hurt my head, and Joseph ignored me. It's all your fault, and now you have to pay the price."
Then Anna told the man, "Slap her!"
"You really want to do this?" Kate pretended to be not afraid, but actually, she glimpsed at the door, hoping someone would appear to help her. When she turned to run away, the man seized her shoulder and pushed her back to the ground. The man slapped her and then Anna kicked her in the back.
"Ouch…" Kate felt severe pain in her back. She gathered all the strength she could to stand up, but she wasn't able to.
Seeing Kate being beat, made Anna feel proud. She threw her phone toward Kate and scoffed, "Why not call Joseph to save you? Do you think he would come? Don't waste any more time dreaming. He will not believe anything you say."
Anna kicked her again, and Kate screamed out in pain.
"Stop!" Samuel yelled. He pushed Anna and the man away, then saw Kate lying on the ground.
Kate prayed that someone would save her, but she didn't expect that it would be Samuel. She was stunned but then tried to climb to her feet.
Samuel reached out to help support her and asked caringly, "Are you hurt?"
"Samuel, it's none of your business. You'd better get out of here immediately," Anna warned him.
Samuel stood in front of Kate to protect her and replied, "As long as it is related to Kate; it's my business."
"Haha… You forgot what happened two years ago? Kate is now Joseph's wife. If you protect her in public, don't you fear that the rumors will spread again?"
"You…" Samuel was too angry to say a word.
"I'm not the only one saying so. Many people and even your family members said you had an affair with Kate. Maybe I should remind you that it would undoubtedly ruin the reputation of the Smith family, the most well-known family in Aubi City."
"Since your parents haven't taught you any manners, I will!" Samuel lifted his hand and was about to slap Anna when a voice echoed down the hall.
"Samuel!" Joseph yelled. He was walking toward them with a serious expression on his face. No one dared to speak when they saw him.
Anna rushed to Joseph, pretending to be frightened. She hid behind him and cried, "Thankfully, you showed up. Otherwise, Samuel would have beat me!"