After All The Betrayal We Chose Love

Chapter 5

It was already 3:30 p.m. when Annabel picked up her car keys and prepared to leave the office. Before heading out, she turned toward Debbie one last time.

"Debbie, come here," she called.

Debbie hurried over immediately. "Yes, ma'am?"

"The installation job must begin within the next hour," Annabel instructed firmly. "And I want everything completed in no more than three hours. Hire only well-trained professionals. I don't want a single mistake."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll handle it personally," Debbie assured her.

Satisfied, Annabel grabbed her handbag and left the office.

A short while later, she arrived at a private beauty studio owned by Monica — her personal stylist, makeup artist, and fashion designer.

The moment Annabel stepped inside, Monica's face lit up with excitement.

"Well, look who's here," Monica teased with a huge grin. "What brings you by today? Is there some special occasion?"

Annabel removed her sunglasses slowly and looked at her seriously.

"I need a disguise," she said calmly. "I want to look less like Annabel Dutchman."

Monica blinked in surprise.

"And no questions," Annabel added quickly. "You know exactly what I mean."

Monica studied her for a moment before sighing dramatically.

"Well… I can't exactly question you, can I?" she muttered before immediately getting to work like the professional she was.

Within thirty-five minutes, Monica completely transformed her appearance. The sleek ponytail was gone, replaced with shorter curled hair and subtle makeup that softened and altered her facial features. Even her clothing style had changed entirely.

Annabel stared at herself in the mirror afterward and nodded in satisfaction.

Perfect.

By the time she arrived near Val's Café, it was already thirty minutes past 4 p.m. She deliberately parked her car a block away to avoid drawing attention to herself.

As fate would have it, Jones arrived at almost the exact same moment she did.

Annabel immediately lowered her head slightly and watched carefully from a distance, her heart pounding as she prepared to uncover whatever secrets he had been hiding from her.

"My love, you kept me waiting for almost an hour," Jennifer complained with a pout the moment Jones approached the table.

Jones chuckled softly as he took the seat opposite her. "I'm sorry, babe," he said smoothly. "I had a few things to handle before coming."

He leaned forward and kissed her briefly before settling into his chair.

"So," Jennifer said curiously, crossing her arms, "what's so important that you needed to meet me here?"

Jones glanced around carefully to make sure no one was listening before lowering his voice.

"Here's what's going to happen," he began slowly. "You and Annabel are most likely going to give birth around the same time, right? Since both pregnancies started almost the same day."

Jennifer frowned slightly but nodded.

"If my calculations are correct," Jones paused as if making a mental calculation after fully confirming indeed the wedding night and the night before the wedding were only hours apart he continued, "then on the day Annabel gives birth… I'm going to swap the babies."

Jennifer's eyes widened in shock.

"What?" she gasped, nearly choking on her drink.

Jones leaned back calmly, as though discussing something completely ordinary.

"Yes," he said coldly. "You'll both give birth in the same hospital. After delivery, you'll take Annabel's child… and she'll end up raising ours instead."

Jennifer stared at him in disbelief, both stunned and intrigued.

"Oh my God…" she whispered. "But why would you even do something like that?"

A dark smirk slowly appeared on Jones' face.

"Because Annabel's child automatically becomes an heir to the Dutchman fortune and D-Tech Company," he explained quietly. "If our child is raised as hers, then eventually everything she owns will belong to us."

Jennifer remained silent for a moment, weighing her options.

"And what about Annabel's baby?" she asked cautiously.

Jones shrugged carelessly. "That child won't matter once the switch is done."

Jennifer leaned closer, lowering her voice even further.

"So… what did the doctors find out?" she asked carefully. "Did they confirm everything?"

"Everybody likes money," Jones said coldly, leaning back in his chair with complete confidence. "We'll simply grease the doctors' palms, and their mouths will stay shut."

Jennifer stared at him intrigued but still a little unsure. "So let me get this straight," she said slowly. "Annabel will carry and raise a child thinking it's hers, while I take her actual baby?" Her face twisted with discomfort and anger. "And what happens to my child? You expect me to leave my baby in the hands of that filthy woman? what if she harms h-"

"Jennifer, shut up and listen first," Jones snapped Cutting in impatiently before lowering his voice again. "You're missing the main part of the plan."

Jennifer folded her arms and stayed quiet.

Jones smirked darkly.

"After Annabel gives birth, she'll eventually transfer all her company shares, stocks, and assets to the child she believes is hers," he explained. "Once everything is legally secured, we'll reveal the truth, reclaim our child, and I'll divorce her."

A cruel satisfaction filled his eyes as he continued.

"And when that happens, Annabel will be left with nothing."

A slow smile spread across Jennifer's lips as the plan finally made sense to her.

"You're evil," she muttered admiringly.

Jones only smiled back proudly.

Hidden nearby, Annabel felt the color drain completely from her face.

Her breathing became uneven as every word sank painfully into her chest. It felt as though the walls around her were closing in, suffocating her. Her hands trembled violently, and a wave of dizziness washed over her.

The man her trusted would take care of her… and forced her to marry… had been plotting to destroy her all along.

Meanwhile, Jones and Jennifer continued discussing the details of their cruel scheme as though it were nothing more than a business deal.

But Annabel couldn't listen any longer.

Nausea rose sharply in her stomach, she stood up from where she sat not too far from them her face covering her side profile, fighting the urge to throw up. Barely able to breathe, she hurried back toward her car, Anger rising in her chest