When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese and Zacharias) novel Chapter 764

But now that Gianna's secret was out, Wendy grew distant and cold.

Adrian massaged his aching temples and snapped, "Do whatever you want."

Pepper immediately smiled brightly.

"That's wonderful. Thank you, Adrian. I…Ah!"

Overexcited, she fumbled with the dishes and dropped a bowl.

Hot soup splashed across her blouse as the bowl shattered on the floor. Pepper cried out in shock.

The soup was scalding. Adrian quickly pushed back his chair and pulled her toward the private lounge behind the office.

"How can you be so careless? Hurry and rinse it with cold water. I'll get the burn ointment."

He led her to the bathroom attached to his private lounge and motioned for her to wash the burn under running water, then turned to retrieve the ointment.

As he left, determination flickered in Pepper's eyes.

I'm running out of time. I have to act soon.

In the bathroom, she turned on the faucet. Instead of treating the burn, she splashed water on her cheeks and neck, deliberately mussing her hair to look artfully disheveled, then finally rinsed the burn.

Since she had come to deliver the ointment, Adrian returned quickly with it in hand.

He stopped only at the bathroom door and knocked once.

"Pepper, I left the ointment on the cabinet by the door. I'll have my secretary bring you a change of clothes. Take your time."

"Okay, Adrian. You can go back to work, I—ah!"

Just as Adrian set the ointment down and turned to leave, he suddenly heard a heavy thud followed by a woman's cry of pain.

"What happened?"

Frowning, he asked the question, but no answer came from inside.

Alarmed, he immediately pushed open the bathroom door.

Pepper was sprawled on the floor, clutching her head, writhing in pain.

Puddles on the floor made it obvious she had slipped while rinsing.

For years, since Adrian had never truly let go of Wendy, Pepper never dared act recklessly and always behaved carefully.

Whenever she visited the Malone Residence, she made everything seem for Gianna's sake. She even repeatedly encouraged Gianna, in front of Adrian, to spend time with Wendy and help reunite Adrian and Wendy.

After maintaining that image so carefully for years, Adrian wouldn't easily grow suspicious of her.

But now, Gianna's identity was exposed by her own hand. Adrian's hope of using his "substitute daughter" to win Wendy back had collapsed. Steven only brought him frustration and disappointment.

Neither mother nor son seemed to care much about him anymore.

Adrian felt lonely and suffocated, and Pepper believed this was finally her chance.

…

Meanwhile, at the Malone Residence, the luxurious living room glowed brightly as a recently popular variety show played on television.

Laughter filled the room, but Gianna barely paid attention to it.

To her, the gossip spreading through phone group chats was far more entertaining.

With a fake account, she slipped into more than a dozen groups. As she scrolled through wild rumors and nasty speculation about Anneliese, Ellie, and Steven, her legs swung contentedly. She was in an exceptionally good mood.