When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese and Zacharias) novel Chapter 536

Elizabeth's eyes flashed with contempt. You've already been betrayed once, yet you learned nothing. No wonder you're so easily manipulated.

"Compared to his flirtatious father, Jojo is loyal and devoted. Too bad he and that girl were never meant to be. Want to hear their story?"

Anneliese forced herself to remain calm, but her steady expression masked the coldness in her eyes as she stared at Elizabeth. "No need. I'll ask Jonathan myself."

She knew Elizabeth's intentions were anything but good—her words were always twisted or outright malicious.

She didn't want to hear anything more.

She just wanted to be alone.

She turned to leave, but Elizabeth called after her, her voice laced with scorn.

"I don't agree with your relationship—not just because your family background is poor, or because you've been married before. As a mother, I refuse to let my son drown in a false, delusional emotion."

False emotion?

Those words told Anneliese that Jonathan saw her as a substitute. He missed the woman he truly loved and married Anneliese as a stand-in, maintaining a false, unreal affection.

Anneliese stiffened but walked even faster.

Elizabeth watched her disappear. Emotions flickered in her eyes.

I speak the truth. They don't belong together.

Jonathan's kindness toward Anneliese comes from guilt. Only guilt.

A marriage built on guilt is doomed to fail. I will never let my son sacrifice himself forever.

Without Anneliese, I'll find someone more suitable—gentle, considerate, someone truly good for Jonathan. As his mother, everything I do is for him.

He tapped his fingers, realization brightening his eyes. "Maybe you're jealous since Grandma isn't around, and you can't stand me being happy with my wife?"

Derek and Penelope had had a disagreement before, and Penelope, in a fit of anger, had taken up residence in Oceaton. If it weren't for the New Year, she probably wouldn't have come back at all.

Derek bristled at his grandson's laughter, wanting nothing more than to kick him. "Stop joking! Marriage is serious. You didn't inform the family and haven't brought her home for months. You think no one can rein you in!"

Jonathan saw his grandpa's beard tremble in fury. Fearing a stroke, he stood, walked behind him, and gently patted his back. "Grandpa, you and Grandma already know what I want. I thought you expected this."

Derek froze.

He, of course, knew that his grandson had always treated a girl differently—and that this girl was the daughter of the firefighter who had saved him during the Baytree incident years ago.

Back then, he went to Baytree to pick up Jonathan and bring him to Halden. The boy locked himself away for two days and nights, silent.

When he finally emerged, the first thing he did was kneel before his grandfather and make a request. "Grandpa, she lost her parents because of me. I can't return them, but I want to give her a home—a life together."