20 20. Because she was smiling

Anna had her eyes on the man sitting next to her and for a while, she remained staring into his black eyes.

Oh, he was so handsome, calm, and damn…he understood her so well.

'He'd have doted on me if I had been his wife. Oh, Anna, why didn't you choose a man like George? He has everything a woman would want from a man. Just his lips…they are so dreamy'

'Anna, no! No! I shouldn't be bewitched. I should definitely control myself and yes…we were talking about how he saved me. It is all coming together and making sense'

Anna dragged her eyes away from George's, feeling a bit…defeated?

And that's because George was able to do something she didn't expect from him.

Anna was supposed to cry more as George explained everything to her little by little but she didn't. Anna didn't know why but she just didn't cry and continued to listen to his narration.

'He would have doted on me'

Oh, why can't she get those words out of her mind but Anna knew…Anna knew that she was being Lu Xin and not Anna. It was her real self that was being attracted and touched by the man sitting next to her.

'But no, this isn't my mission. I cannot let a man make me fail. I've experienced something very tragic from Wang Lixin and that wouldn't happen again'

George's smile was calm and influential. When he saw that Anna was already avoiding his gaze, he tilted his head to find her beautiful green eyes. They were magical and if they had ever cast a spell on him…oh, he'd be happy to remain in that spell forever because he loved the color of Anna's eyes.

"Anna, don't cry. Wang Lixin doesn't deserve your tears. You are too beautiful and precious to cry because of him," George said, gently placing his hand on her face and when Anna didn't aggressively respond to him, George covered her small face with his huge hand and then he flashed a smile that caused something to move in Anna's heart.

Anna frowned. "Impossible," she uttered. "Cry for that bastard?" She was pissed off.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Miss," George apologized almost immediately. "You definitely can't cry for a man like that," he mentioned.

"I was just upset because I am being blamed for Shen Xiang's death. It hurt so much when you told me about it," Anna pouted.

"Then we have to clear your name and find the killer. My question is why would they kill Shen Xiang?" George wondered, causing Anna to also question herself.

Silence enveloped the both of them for a while and the silence broke when Anna spoke. "I think you should finish the narration on how you saved me," she said as if suspecting George.

George chuckled. "You are right. I was very angry you know, so angry to the point I planned to set Wang Lixin's car on fire.

But I had to let it go. The helpers that I called for arrived early, almost immediately when Wang Lixin drove away.

With your broken parts, he tied a heavy rock around your body and tossed you into the river. It was more like a burial site for you.

I was scared, Anna. I didn't want you to die. I even planned to report what happened the next day. I was devastated but before I could take a move after saving you and keeping you with Doctor Zhao, you were all over the news.

Shen Xiang's sister was found and forced to give false testimony that you killed her sister. Wang Lixin came to the public saying he had told you many times that nothing was going on between Shen Xiang and him. Your step-sister did the same.

They said you ran away because you were scared of being caught.

Anna, I cried so hard because your name was being destroyed and the innocent you were struggling to live.

I was able to secure your father's business from getting into their hands and that's because I was supposed to marry you.

Anna, every time I see Wang and your step-sister living their lives and urging me to stop protecting the business from them with threats, I get consumed by anger but whenever I reach here, your face calms me down.

I had to move you away from the city because you are being searched for. It's been four years now, Anna.

I lost hope on you and I'm sorry but I'm very thankful that you came back to me. And I'm willing to help you get the justice you deserve even if you don't end up with me in the end.

If we never end up together I'll be very sad but at least I was able to help you get the justice you deserve, right?"

George had lines on his forehead. "But I hope that one day, you'll fall in love with me and see how much I truly love you," he smiled. "I won't force you, no, never."

George squeezed Anna's hands with his, sharing warmth again. "I think I should play now. I don't want you to sulk about what I just told you," George announced and turned to the piano when Anna uttered no words.

Anna watched him with a painful heart. 'How can a man wait that long for a woman who has done nothing but embarrass and mistreat him?'

'Is that how much you love Anna?'

With the pain increasing in Anna's heart, she kept on questioning herself about his existence. 'George, I wish I had met a man like you in my previous life. But even if I did, I'd have treated you the same way Anna did because I wasn't interested in having a man in my life'

And before Anna knew what was happening, she found herself getting lost in the song.

The tune pierced into her heart and it felt as if she was dancing in another world but she remained in that chair.

'How beautiful'

Anna thought. At first, she monitored the way George pressed the keys but soon, she began to close her eyes, falling deeper into that world.

"You play so well, I like it," Unknowingly, Anna said. Her voice reached George and he couldn't help it. George's ear turned red again.

'It feels like a great achievement to hear Anna say that to me' With a big smile on his face, George poured so much effort into what he was doing and soon he got lost in the melody and opened his mouth to sing a beautiful song to Anna.

'Thank you for waking up, Anna. I promise to make this second life of yours beautiful and you won't regret coming back to me'

George glanced at Anna and grinned ear to ear because she was also smiling.