Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 659

Nicole, looking as if she might flip the table—or, worse, use a dessert to pie Anneliese's face—if she didn't get the juicy gossip, leaned forward expectantly.

With Melody's trial just a week away, Anneliese had no reason to hold back. She considered her words for a moment, then simply and concisely explained the whole dramatic backstory.

Nicole listened, wide-eyed and utterly enthralled.

"Wait, so your connection to Mr. Fullbuster actually began over ten years ago? And your foster father died saving Mr. Fullbuster? And Melody killed your foster mother and then tried to silence a witness?"

Anneliese nodded. Nicole gulped, realizing the sheer intensity of this scoop.

After a long pause, she gave Anneliese a thumbs-up.

"You are incredible," she declared. "Seriously, you are the first love of Jonathan Fullbuster, the Prince of Halden. My deepest respects."

The teasing warmth in Nicole's eyes made Anneliese blush, and she nervously stirred her coffee.

Nicole, resting her chin on her hand, scooted closer.

"But something doesn't add up," she mused. "If Mr. Fullbuster has been pining for you all these years, how did he let Zacharias sweep you off your feet?"

Anneliese paused. She and Jonathan hadn't actually discussed that gap in their history. But she recalled that Jonathan had been out of the country when she and Zacharias started dating.

She shook her head, about to voice her thoughts, when a soft, doughy little creature suddenly darted over and threw herself against her, wrapping her arms around her leg.

Anneliese froze, looking down at the tiny tot buried in her lap, clinging to her leg.

It was a little girl with two small pigtails sticking straight up, her face hidden.

Anneliese instinctively glanced around the room, searching for the girl's family.

Across from her, Nicole's eyes went huge.

"No way! Don't tell me you and Mr. Fullbuster are secretly hiding a daughter this big?"

Anneliese was speechless.

"What are you thinking? That's impossible!"

Nicole watched them from across the table, clicking her tongue.

"Are you sure this isn't your daughter with Mr. Fullbuster? That little girl is practically the mini version of you."

Anneliese shot her a warning glare. "Stop with the nonsense. This is the little princess of the Malones. Her dad is someone I look up to. Don't you dare start a rumor! Besides, you saw her at the Goldings' party, didn't you?"

Nicole truly felt Anneliese and Ellie looked like mother and daughter, especially when they were viewed in profile—the resemblance was uncanny.

However, Anneliese's reminder jogged Nicole's memory.

There was a little girl who had been glued to Anneliese at the previous dinner party, and it must have been this one.

That night, Anneliese had worn heavy makeup—eyebrow filler and eyeliner—to complement her gown, which had obscured the similarity.

But today, Anneliese was completely bare-faced, and the likeness to Ellie in her arms was undeniable.

If Anneliese didn't look so young—hardly old enough to have a child of Ellie's age—Nicole would have absolutely suspected Anneliese was lying to deny her daughter.