Chapter 105

Philip's POV

I stormed into my office, hurling my briefcase onto the desk with enough force to make the windows rattle. The sound startled employees passing by my door, their heads turning in unison before quickly averting their gazes. I didn't care. The hospital visit with Sarah had ignited a rage I could barely contain.

There had been absolutely nothing wrong with her. No complications. No emergency. Just another manipulation that had pulled me away from critical mneetings. I collapsed into my leather chair, massaging my temples in circular motions, trying to calm the pounding in my head.

The shrill ring of my phone cut through the momentary silence. Mother. I stared at her name flashing on the screen, debating whether to answer. On the fifth ring. I reluctantly picked up.

"Is Sarah alright?" Betty's voice carried the unmistakable tone of concern that had become exclusively reserved for Sarah and her pregnancy.

"Just mentioning her makes me angry," I practically hissed through clenched teeth. "But the doctor says the baby is fine. In fact, there was never anything wrong in the first place."

"That's a relief." The tension in my mother's voice immediately dissolved,replaced by her typical authoritative tone. "Philip, I think you should consider reconciling with Sarah. She's carrying your child, after all."

"Absolutely not!" I shot up from my chair, my voice rising involuntarily.The anger bubbling inside me threatened to spill over completely.

"Calm down, Philip," Mother's voice sharpened. "You're always so emotional. You need to think about the Baker family interests first. That means Sarah's baby must be protected at all costs. The Baker family needs an heir."

Her words struck their intended target. I inhaled deeply, fighting to regain control. Brian's estrangement had already been a devastating blow. Could I really risk losing another child?

"I understand." I finally replied, my voice carefully measured before ending the call.

After hanging up, I walked to the window as an overwhelming sense of powerlessness washed over me. Why was I so fixated on having children?This obsession likely stemmed from my mother's influence and family expectations.

The pressure to continue the Baker legacy weighed heavily on me.especially after my failed marriage and estrangement from Brian. For a moment, I felt trapped in an inescapable cycle-my mother's expectations.family pressure, Sarah's manipulations, and my guilt toward Annie.

I shook my head vigorously, trying to dispel these suffocating thoughts.I was Philip Baker,Wall Street elite. I could solve any problem. A plan began forming in my mind-if I could approach Annie through copyright negotiations, perhaps I could salvage something. This thought lightened my mood momentarily, reigniting a small spark of hope.

As I was lost in thought, my secretary knocked gently on the door frame,standing at the entrance to my office. The expression on her face immediately dimmed my newfound optimism.

"Has the copyright purchase from Annie been completed?" I asked eagerly,

leaning forward unconsciously. This question was far more than a business transaction to me-it represented my chance to reconnect with Annie.

"She directed me to contact Howard Technologies' comic department, but I believe she doesn't want to sell the copyright to us," my secretary replied cautiously.

"What do you mean?" I frowned, feeling a wave of disappointment that quickly transformed into indignant anger.

My initial plan had been to offer a low price merely as a legitimate excuse to contact Annie. Now it seemed that approach might not work,but I wasn't ready to give up.

My secretary continued her report: "I've heard her children's book merchandise is selling extremely well through Howard Technologies.Her monthly commissions are growing substantially."

This news stirred complex emotions within me. Instantly, jealousy and regret surged through me-why couldn't this success have happened under my support? Why was it Howard, not me, who provided her the platform to showcase her talent?

"Is that so?" I'responded with feigned composure, though my fingers unconsciously clenched into fists, knuckles turning white. I recognized my own contradiction-never hesitating to spend lavishly on jewelry for Sarah,yet becoming so miserly when it came to Annie's copyright. This disparity filled me with shame, which I quickly masked with arrogance.

"Since she thinks our current price is too low, we can increase our offer," I said, injecting an artificial casualness into my voice, as if this were merely a routine business decision. "As long as the copyright price doesn't exceed

a certain amount, you can continue negotiating with them."

A thought flashed through my mind: if I offered Annie a substantial sum all at once, surely she would be persuaded. After all, who could resist the temptation of a large amount of money? This idea reinvigorated me briefly,but was quickly followed by self-loathing-once again, I was trying to solve problems with money, just as I did with Sarah.

"I'll contact them immediately," my secretary nodded, pulling out her phone to send messages.

I tried to focus on other documents, buit my concentration was completely shot. My fingers drummed incessantly on the desktop, eyes fixed on the clock, each minute stretching interminably. Finally, my secretary returned to my desk.

"Mr. Baker. Tve contacted the copyright manager at Howard Technologies comic department.'

She showed me the entire conversation: first asking if the refusal was due to the price being too low, then proposing a higher amount, and finally offering a substantíal sum. Each response was a rejection, with the copyright manager's final reply being unequivocal: "This isn't about money.

After reading the messages, I jumped to my feet, staring at the phone screen in disbelief. Anger, confusion, and hurt tangled together in my chest.

"That's impossible!" I exclaimed, feeling a rage born of humiliation. "No one turns down an offer like this! I'm willing to provide an extremely generous price, and they still refuse to sell?"

I paced back and forth, fingers roughly combing through my hair,unable

to comprehend the meaning behind this rejection. Did Annie truly hate me so much that she wouldn't even do business with me? Or was Howard interfering, deliberately blocking my attempts to approach Annie?

"Are they trying to drive up the price?" I asked,my voice tinged with desperate hope-if it was merely about price, I still had a chance.

My secretary analyzed the situation with professional detachment. "Annie is earning significant commissions through Howard Technologies.With her income trending upward, she has no financial incentive to sell her copyright, regardless of our offer."

Her words extinguished my anger, leaving only a hollow feeling in its place. I loosened my tie and slumped back in my chair.

"So there's nothing we can do," I murmured.

The realization hit hard. Annie was thriving without me-achieving the success I'd never helped her reach. I'd always assumed she needed me, but the truth was painfully clear: she was better off without me. The thought wounded my pride deeply.

After a moment, I straightened up. "No, there must be a way."

"What do you suggest?" I asked, desperate for any solution that might reconnect me with Annie.

"You have two options," my secretary replied. "Either partner with Howard Technologies, or develop our own competing products."

I fell silent. Her advice made perfect business sense, but I had no real interest in chíldren's books-I only wanted an excuse to see Annie again.Now even that slim chance was gone.

"Is there anything else we could try?" I asked, unable to hide the hope in my voice.

"Yes," she answered simply.

"Oh?" I looked up, a spark reigniting in my eyes. Perhaps there was still a chance to repair my mistakes, to win back Annie's heart. "What is it?"

My secretaryhesitated momentarily. "You could try reaching out to her through her mother."

My expression darkened immediately. "Ruth Miller?"

Yeah. maybe it could work.