10 Instant Regret

Anna's heart skipped a beat. She did not dare to breathe out loud while meeting her mother's gaze.

As she was guilty, it was hard for thoughts not to race through her mind. She was worried about being found out by her mother and having to disappoint Roy who seemed like 'excuses' did not exist in his dictionary.

After a moment of panic, Anna slowly recovered. Although she did not know what her mother was thinking, she was not about to admit her intentions out loud.

As long as she did not agree, her mother wouldn't have anything to hold onto.

"Mum, I wish I had the time to listen to your thoughts unfortunately, I don't. I need to register a partnership, and my ride is here. I almost missed this important appointment because you put my phone on flight mode."

"Partnership?" Ms. Carter raised a questioning brow, her gaze seemed doubtful. "What partnership?" That word was probably the only thing she could pick up.

"Mum!" Anna stamped her feet like a little child with a hint of annoyance. The only way out to win this battle of wits against her mother was to act childish. And it sure did work.

'This girl!' Ms. Carter berated her in her mind before saying, "Give me a minute." Then she turned and left.

As soon as she was gone, Anna dropped her act and rasied a fist in the air, a sign of victory.

Shortly, her mother returned and handed a yellow booklet to her. "Anna, you owe me an explanation."

Anna reached out to accept it and replied while peeling her gaze off the booklet. "Mum, I will have lunch outside. Don't wait up for me." Immediately she finished, she ran out, regardless of what her mother still had left to say.

For a reason, Anna would rather offend her mother than Roy.

Anna took the elevator downstairs and walked out of the compound before sighting the cab she had ordered.

Greeting the driver, she confirmed her destination before securing her seatbelt.

About ten minutes after Anna left, Ms. Carter felt invincible scales fall off her eyes. 

She felt instant regret for not getting better information from her daughter who just returned home after a major eye surgery and letting her leave just like that.

Her brain doesn't function well under pressure, and despite being aware, Anna took advantage of it. That was her main aim for acting like she was in a hurry and running late for some important meeting.

Ms. Carter began to pace around the living room while trying to reach Anna. Eventually, she sent a text to her. 

'I don't care what you are doing with the household register, don't get married to Sam without my knowledge.'

Jessica Carter did not know what kind of business or appointment it was that needed a person's household register. She was only hoping that it wasn't what she was thinking.

When Anna saw the message, she offered a mental apology to her mother because she knew that even though it wasn't her boyfriend she was getting married to, she would still be furious when she found out about it.

But then again, Anna could still try to use her mother's words to win the argument since the latter had been specific and she adhered to her instructions.

---

Meanwhile, at the other end, Roy, having received all the documents he needed, left his study room ready to close a marital deal.

Roy's Italian black leather shoes knocked hard against the polished concrete flooring of the underground parking lot featuring sleek, well-lit and spacious design elements. 

As he walked behind Zane, he slipped his phone out of his pants pocket. Checking for missed calls and messages from a particular someone and not getting any, he slid his phone back into his pocket, his gaze frosty.

Even until this point, his girlfriend hadn't reached out to him. 

Though he had already found a solution, he couldn't help staying angry. Right when he needed her the most, she went off the radar.

From behind, Mr. Charles who had managed to catch his actions after a peek, inquired, "Sir, Miss Anderson still hasn't reached out to you?"

"I hope she doesn't contact me for a really long time," Roy spat with a dark gaze.

Just then, Zane opened the car door of a black G-Wagon and Roy climbed in. Next, Mr. Charles opened the front passenger door for himself and hot in while Zane went over to the back Prado jeep beside the G-Wagon and climbed into the front passenger seat.

A second later, the two jeeps drove out of the car park with one behind the other.

---

By the time Anna got to the location Roy told her about, he was already there waiting for her. 

She would never have recognized his new car if she hadn't seen Zane standing beside it.

As soon as she paid her fare and got out of the cab, she walked towards the black G-Wagon. Zane quickly opened the car door for her.

Anna nodded to him in greeting before turning her gaze to her right. Roy was sitting at the back with his gaze on her. Two lines were glued to his forehead and his brows were dipped.

Those expressions were enough to let her know that he was offended. 

Although Anna was not quite sure that it had anything to do with her, she quickly greeted him and got into the car before Zane shut the door.

"… I'm so sorry for being a little late."

"Mmm," Roy mumbled and let his gaze access her. He noticed that she was still dressed in the same outfit from their flight. He didn't know what to think.

With his gaze raking her, Anna got a little uncomfortable and couldn't help offering an explanation. "I didn't have the time to change after my call with you."

Roy turned his gaze ahead as the chauffeur drove the car away from the premises. There, Anna noticed that Zane was nowhere to be found. 

With a look of confusion, she turned back and only relaxed when she saw the second jeep behind them.'

"Let me see your documents," Roy said, catching her off-guard. Anna quickly brought them out of her handbag and passed them to it.

Receiving them, Roy took a good look at them one after the other. He wanted to make sure she didn't leave anything out as he would hate for that to happen.

A minute later, he returned the documents to her. Right as she was stuffing them back into her bag, he brought up the concept of their marriage, an important conversation they needed to have prior to registering their marriage.