CHAPTER 210: I THINK I’M GOING TO FAINT

[An hour ago]

"Is there any way we can get this taken down?" Daniel asked, staring at Henry with barely concealed frustration.

Henry’s disappointed expression said it all, and Daniel sighed heavily.

"The news has already circulated through every major media channel," Henry explained. "It’ll be a nightmare trying to pull it down now."

The moment the photos leaked, Henry had immediately contacted his tech team to suppress them.

But the damage was done. The pictures spread like wildfire, and soon enough every news outlet was flashing them.

"Damn... Hugo must’ve seen it by now," Daniel muttered under his breath. It was the first, and most realistic, worry that hit him.

"But isn’t it still manageable since your face isn’t visible?" Kevin, Anna’s manager, spoke up.

"The internet is only speculating about who the man is.But they don’t know it’s you. So I think we can relax"

Being responsible for Anna’s public image, Kevin had been summoned on short notice. And by the look of it he realized it wasn’t that worrisome as it seems to be.

For an scandal like this, the public would linger for a few days and then forget it. And since Daniel’s face was hidden by the mask and camera angle, Kevin felt slightly relieved.

"If Daniel had been exposed, the situation would be nearly impossible to control." he added.

Both Henry and Daniel nodded thoughtfully.

"But what about Anna?" Daniel said suddenly, turning serious. "How are we going to clear her name? I don’t want my wifey stressed over this."

He said it so casually—so naturally that both Henry and Kevin froze.

While Henry blinked almost stunned, never imagining of hearing his boss harbour the ability to call someone with such endearment.

Whereas Kevin? His soul almost left his body.

"W–Wifey?" he croaked, sitting stiffly in his chair like someone had unplugged his brain.

"Yes," Daniel replied without hesitation. "And if this news leaves your mouth, be prepared to disappear from the world."

The threat was delivered so calmly that Kevin swallowed hard and nodded instantly.

"Hm... I didn’t hear anything," he said quickly, wiping sweat off his forehead.

While Henry exhaled. Kevin tried to act normal.

And Daniel simply pinched the bridge of his nose. The situation wasn’t as catastrophic as it could have been but he knew one thing for certain-

With those photos now being played across every news channel... Anna wouldn’t just face her fans’ reactions. She would have to face her father.

And that would be far worse.

[Present]

The darkness in Daniel’s eyes only deepened and when he was unable to contain it any longer, he seized Anna’s hand and dragged her toward the main door.

"Daniel—! W-where are we going?" Anna struggled against his grip, but he didn’t slow down.

Didn’t even look back.

"To the Bennett household," Daniel growled, voice thick with barely restrained fury. "How dare Hugo Bennett lay a hand on my wife?"

He was seething. The mere thought of Hugo touching her—hurting her, leaving a mark on her skin made Daniel’s blood boil dangerously.

Had his warning not been clear enough?

He had told Hugo to stay in his place. Warned him once already. And yet the man had the audacity to hit his wife hard enough to leave her flinching at a gentle touch.

"What?! No!" Anna yanked at his arm, alarmed by his words.

"Why should we go there? Daniel, stop! We can’t go there!" Anna tried everything—her voice, her strength, her pleading but Daniel’s rage had swallowed his reason.

Just as they were steps away from the door, she suddenly whined.

"Ah!"

Daniel froze instantly and spun around only to see Anna clutching her head.

"I-I think I’m going to faint," she whispered weakly. "Daniel... please... please take me to our room."

In a heartbeat, all the fury in his eyes flickered replacing by fear, protectiveness, and a frantic concern.

"Anna?" Daniel’s voice cracked slightly as he caught her before she could collapse.

"Anna, look at me. Hey—wifey." But instead she leaned into him, trembling.

"Please," she whispered again, "just take me to our room..."

And for the first time since he’d seen the mark on her cheek, Daniel stopped thinking about Hugo.

Now, his world narrowed to one thing—Anna.

Without wasting a second, Daniel scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs, his steps quick and tense. But the moment they entered their room, Anna slipped out of his grasp and hurried to lock the door behind them.

Click.

She then turned around, dusting her palms with an exaggerated flourish. "Now you’re not going anywhere," she declared, wearing a triumphant smile.

Daniel’s expression didn’t shift much—the darkness still lingered in his eyes, though it wasn’t as suffocating as before.

"I can still get out, you know," he said simply, as if stating a fact.

Anna frowned at him. "But you won’t," she countered, stepping closer. "Because I don’t want you to."

She pouted with her cheeks puffed, brows drawn, and eyes wide. The kind of expression that should’ve been illegal for how disarming it was.

Daniel’s gaze softened instantly, but soon an unexpected laugh rumbled his chest. His head dropped for a moment as if he couldn’t believe himself and continued to laugh.

Anna watched him carefully as the worry slowly creep in.

Was he okay? Was he still angry? Was he about to snap again? She bombarded.

But when Daniel lifted his head, the darkness had melted a little and in its place was an unbelievable, helpless smile that instantly calmed Anna’s heart.

He wasn’t going to explode. Not while she was here grounding him.

"Tell me... does it hurt?" Daniel asked quietly as he cupped her face.

His thumb brushed over the red mark, the same touch that made her flinch earlier but this time, she didn’t.

"So you can go back into your Hulk mode and get ready to trash my father?" Anna joked weakly, trying to lighten the tension. But deep inside... she was still trembling.

Hugo’s slap, his accusation, and the look of disappointment he’d always reserved for her all weighed heavier than the physical sting.

Anna didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. Not when she finally had something peaceful in front of her.

"No, it doesn’t hurt," she lied, forcing a normal tone. But Daniel didn’t look convinced.

"It hurts me," he whispered instead, taking her hand and placing it over his chest. "Here when you lie to me, Anna."

Anna froze as she felt the steady, strong rhythm beneath her palm. But what shook her wasn’t his heartbeat but the pain in his eyes.

"Why would you protect him from me, Anna?" Daniel asked in a low voice.

He wasn’t angry now but rather was hurt.

Daniel knew that her relationship with her family, especially Hugo, wasn’t good.But today, seeing her slapped... seeing her flinch... he wanted her to stop hiding or face everything alone.

For once, he wanted her to open up and to truly let him in. To let him be someone she could lean on instead of fight off.

"Why, Anna?" His thumb traced her cheek again—gentle, pleading.

"I want to understand you. I want you to trust me... even with the parts that hurt," he urged

"Daniel—"

"No, wifey," he cut her off gently, leaning forward until his forehead rested against hers.

His voice dropped to something impossibly soft. "I want to know what’s stopping you from opening up to me. Am I not being careful enough with you?"

Anna’s breath hitched.

"Or..." his voice lowered even further, "would you only believe me if I hurt him?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Anna jerked back, shaking her head frantically.

"You won’t do that. I—I won’t let you leave this room. Even if I have to tie you to the bed," she said innocently, thinking it would lighten the mood.

Instead, Daniel’s lips curved into a slow, tender smile, the kind that melted part of the storm in his eyes.

He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. Then, without another word, he took her hand and guided her to the couch.

"Come. Let me see if it truly hurts or not."

He eased her down gently, then sat beside her close enough that their knees touched.

Up close, he studied her cheek with alarming intensity. Though he looked calm on the outside... But the tempest still churned behind his eyes.

After a long moment, Anna finally spoke.

"He thinks I’m cheating on you," she said quietly, glancing sideways to catch his reaction. "With the man in the photo."

Daniel froze.

"What?" he then blinked in disbelief. "Is that what he came up with? You cheating on her own husband?" His tone dripped with incredulous irritation.

A man who ran a major business, negotiated multi-million deals... who prided himself on his intelligence—couldn’t even recognize the man he’s worked with for years.

Daniel scoffed under his breath, shaking his head lightly. "Your father’s IQ level is either nonexistent... or I’m giving him far too much credit."

Anna couldn’t help it but a tiny, surprised laugh escaped her that melted Daniel’s heart.

"And you didn’t correct him... is that it?" Daniel asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

Anna gave him a sneaky, almost guilty little smile watching the expression on Daniel’s fae change.

"You—" he exhaled sharply, torn between laughing and groaning. "You actually let him think you were cheating on me?"