Chapter 357

Anna Ross instinctively stepped back.

She forced herself to halt.

Her gaze collided directly with Howard Lowell.

Her heart sank heavily.

Her expression instantly turned cold.

Her voice was laced with suppressed anger. "You promised not to touch my mother."

"Now you're going back on your word?"

She wanted to slap herself.

How could she have ever trusted someone like him.

She turned to leave.

She never wanted to help him again in this lifetime.

Howard Lowell immediately panicked.

He rushed over and grabbed her arm.

"Anna, you have to help me."

"These ledgers are yours once I give them to you."

"I swear I will never interfere again!"

The surroundings fell into dead silence.

Distant,muffled voices could be faintly heard.

Anna stared at the stack of ledgers.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

These things were far too important to her.

"There's one more thing I haven't told you."

Howard lowered his voice.

"Your mother's illness could trigger other symptoms."

"Without sufficient funds for treatment..."

He deliberately paused.

Anna's breath hitched.

She didn't dare to think further.

Howard seized the chance to shove the ledgers into her hands.

"You definitely can't come up with that much money."

"But I can."

"How about we make a deal?"

A heavy weight pressed on Anna's chest.

Anger was completely replaced by anxiety.

If something happened to her mother...

She couldn't even bear to imagine it.

Howard gave her no time to think.

"I already have a plan."

"You just need to cooperate with me."

Anna looked up blankly.

Her voice was hoarse. "What do I need to do?"

"I'll tell you when the time comes."

A flash of excitement gleamed in Howard's eyes.

His hands clenched and then relaxed.

Anna silently took the ledgers.

She turned and walked away expressionlessly.

Her mother was already asleep when she returned to the hospital room.

She sat by the bed, gazing at her mother's pale face.

A sharp pain pierced her heart.

Her mother had been the only one by her side since childhood.

She supported her studies and sacrificed everything for her.

Yet now, there was so little she could do in return.

"Mom, I think I'm becoming a bad person."

Anna whispered softly.

Her eyes fell upon the ledgers.

Tears slid down silently.

Leaving dark, damp stains on the paper.

The empty hospital room offered no response.

She didn't know what to do.

。。。。。。

It was almost time to leave work when Anna returned to the company.

She tidied her desk briefly before heading to the bar.

The weather was growing colder, but the bar remained lively.

Her salary had also increased significantly.

"Anna!"

She had just finished singing and stepped off the stage when she heard a familiar call.

Mia Lawrence was waving vigorously from below.

Someone else stood beside her.

It was only when she got closer that she recognized Julian Garnache.

Her best friend's eyes were curved into happy crescents.

"Anna, you were amazing today!"

Mia glanced behind her.

Several guys were still loudly calling her name.