Chapter 721: What If I Don’t Agree to Either?

Chapter 721: Chapter 721: What If I Don’t Agree to Either?

As he spoke, he pulled her back into his arms, kissing her softly. "Annabelle, please don’t go. Every second we’re apart is torture for me. If you’re going to be gone for so long, how am I supposed to live?"

Annabelle Linton’s heart ached at his words, so much so that she couldn’t speak. It felt as if it were being torn apart.

She was a doctor. She’d known how severe the virus was ever since Mr. Holland had run the lab tests.

The chances of recovery were practically zero. It had no incubation period, making it even more severe than diseases like AIDS.

For now, he had Vivian Yates’s medication to delay the progression, but she was convinced a cure had to exist—even if it cost her own life.

She had to go work with Mr. Holland to develop a cure and, in the process, offer herself as a test subject.

’If the tests yield results, that would be for the best.’

’If not, then I’ll just have to die before he does.’

’In any case, I won’t let anything happen to him on my watch.’

Annabelle Linton sighed. "But I already promised Mr. Holland. I can’t go back on my word."

Leona Grant gave her a wounded, reproachful look. "Is a promise to him really more important than us? What could be so urgent? It’s just a few patients, a few cells, right? I’ll just arrange for someone else to go."

Annabelle Linton frowned at him. "So my work is just child’s play in your eyes? Leona Grant, you try to stop me every single time I need to leave. What is your problem? Don’t you just need an outlet? Why bother acting so devoted?"

’An outlet?’

He understood her implication almost instantly, and a sharp pain lanced through his heart.

"Annabelle Linton, you think I married you just for sex?"

"That’s how I see it."

"Say that again!"

"Let’s get a divorce."

"..."

Leona Grant froze, rendered completely speechless.

’Everything was fine yesterday. Why is she bringing up divorce today?’

’I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?’

Leona Grant stared at her, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

Annabelle Linton pulled out of his arms and resumed packing her things.

’The word ’divorce’ was the one thing guaranteed to make him angry, which was exactly why she’d said it.’

Leona Grant watched her pack, dazed. He was baffled, and it was almost laughable.

’She has to be joking, right?’

’I’ve probably been clinging to her too much, and she’s just fed up.’

He put on a smile and squatted down to hug her. A hug always worked. No matter how mad she was, it would soothe her. ’It’ll be the same this time, right?’

Just as Leona Grant went to hug her, Annabelle Linton shoved him away forcefully. "Leona Grant, I’m not joking," she said angrily. "Divorce, or let me go. Pick one."

"And if I refuse both?"

"Then there’s nothing left to discuss. Let’s get a divorce."

Leona Grant’s anger flared. "You at least owe me an explanation, right?" he demanded harshly. "Are you picking a fight first thing in the morning on purpose?"

Annabelle Linton dropped the items in her hands. "I was always planning to go stay at Mr. Holland’s for a few days. We may be married, but that doesn’t mean I have to report my every move to you. I’m not your servant. Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered if I told you, would it?"

Leona Grant’s temper rose as well.

’For her to act like this first thing in the morning... If I’d actually done something to provoke her, that would be one thing, but I have absolutely no idea where I’ve gone wrong!’

’Fine. If I don’t know, I don’t know. Maybe she just had a nightmare. I’ll just have to calm her down. How big of a deal could it be?’

’But this was going too far, wasn’t it?’

’But then he remembered what she’d said about sex, and his heart ached all over again.’