While Anne recounted her first meeting with Alan until she finally married that man, Erick and Alice didn't speak at all. Both of them didn't expect that Anne was currently married to a really terrible man.

"I don't want this marriage at all, I also made it clear many times to him that I don't hold him accountable.

" Anne repeated the same sentence over and over again when ending her dark story with Alice and Erick.

"So he really isn't Master,

" Erick muttered quietly. Until this moment, Erick still believed that Alan was the master he had served since they were teenagers.

Slap!

A slap landed on Erick's back.

"Don't be crazy, Erick, didn't I tell you from the start that that man isn't Mr. Jack? Why are you still so stubborn? Even though they have the same face, the same posture and the same voice, they are two different people!

" growled Alice to Erick. She was very upset and did not accept that Alan Knight Clarke was called Jackson Patrick Muller. Alice really hated Alan, even though she hadn't talked much with the man. For her, she would hate anyone who had made Anne sad. Alice adored Anne too much as her role model, that was why she didn't accept Alan to be called Jack by Erick.

Erick felt his back which was hot from Alice's slap. He didn't expect that the woman who always lost when she was in bed had extraordinary strength.

Seeing Alice was so angry at Erick's words made Anne smile.

"Alice is right, Erick, that man is not Jack. Jack has always been patient with me. He never touched me even though we were alone in the apartment or when I lived with him before the fateful incident. Jack really respects me. He is a gentle man, he is very different from Alan Knight Clarke.

"

"But Miss...

"

"Alan raped me, Erick, he took my chastity that I kept for Jack. I know who he is, he can't be Jack. That man is different from Jack, so don't call him Jack anymore. I don't want Jack to be equated with that monster.

" Anne screeched loudly to cut off Erick's words.

Erick and Alice immediately froze when they heard Anne's confession. They both didn't think that Anne was still a virgin until Alan raped her.

"They're two different people, Erick, Alan is not Jack ... no,

" added Anne back with a sob.

Without speaking, Alice then hugged Anne tightly. As a woman, she could understand Anne's hatred for Alan. Having her chastity taken by force was the most terrible thing for a woman to experienced, especially when she had taken good care of herself for the man she loved. Seeing Anne crying again made Erick felt even guiltier, he didn't know what to do. Even though Alan Knight Clarke came from a small country, but his family's power and wealth couldn't be underestimated. Actually Erick could have fought him with his current position. However, Erick, who realized that he was only the temporary head of Muller Finance International, didn't want to take the risk of endangering his master's company which he was currently guarding well. That was why Erick didn't want to get into trouble with the Clarke family.

"Honestly, I'm very confused, Miss, I've read the family tree of the Clarkes. I've also been looking into Alan Knight Clarke who was born and grew up in Luxembourg, but somehow I still feel that Alan, who is currently your husband, is Mr. Jack. Maybe because I miss Mr. Jack so much that I don't open my eyes wide enough to see that they are two different people,

" Erick said quietly, explaining why he thought Alan was Jack.

"Or could they be twins? Wouldn't only identical twins be so much like each other? It's possible that Mr. Jack is currently replacing Alan and...

"

Slap!

This time Alice's second slap landed on Erick's cheek.

"Stop your habit of watching detective films, Erick. Since you often watch that movie you've lost your senses,

" Alice said in annoyance after she put her hand on Erick's face.

"Alice...

"

"What? Are you mad at me?

" Alice challenged Erick fearlessly.

Erick massaged his temples which suddenly hurt, thinking that the search for his master for the past two years had made him crazy, especially now that there was a man who looked very much like the master he was looking for. The weight on his shoulders was getting heavier now.

Alice, who was previously annoyed at Erick who always referred to Alan as Jack, felt a little guilty when she saw the man looked down. She knew how much burden Erick had to carry. A burden that showed his loyalty to Jackson Patrick Muller to keep his company from deceitful people who until this moment have tried to take Jack's place in his parents' company. Alice slowly approached Erick and gave him a kiss on both of Erick's limp hands in front of his knees.

Anne finally realized the mistake she had made. She now only added to Erick's burden and it made her feel guilty.

"I'm sorry, Erick, I didn't mean to give you any trouble. I'm really sorry,

" she said softly.

Anne's words succeeded in making Erick lift his bowed head.

"No, Miss, don't talk like that. You're not causing any trouble at all.

"

"It seems that maybe I was destined by God to live with that monster, Erick, maybe it's time for me to forget Jack and accept my destiny together...

"

Anne did not continue her words when Erick suddenly got up from the chair and gripped her shoulders tightly.

"No, Miss, don't lose your faith just yet. You have to keep believing that master is still alive, don't lose hope, Miss. We will surely find master, I'm sure Jackson Patrick Muller hasn't died yet. My master wouldn't have died like that.

"

"Ouch! My shoulder hurts Eric.

"

Erick immediately let go of his hands on Anne's shoulders. He didn't realize that he had overreacted to Anne. During these two years, the only person who had the same belief that Jack was still alive was Anne, which was why Erick reacted immediately.

"Sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to hurt you,

" he said quietly full of regret.

"It's okay, Erick, I know... I just...

"

"Anne...! Marianne...! Where are you?!

"

Alan's shout made Anne stop her words. Her face instantly tensed up. Likewise with Alice and Erick, they were too serious in talking to forget about the existence of Alan Knight Clarke.

"Anne! Stop fooling around with me, Anne!

"

Alan's shout was heard clearly from Erick and Alice's tent. Realizing that Alan was looking for Anne, Erick quickly took out his wallet and gave his business card to Anne.

"My cell phone number is on this card, Miss, you can call me anytime when you get a new cell phone.

"

"New phone?

"

"Yes, I'm sure that man will never let you get your old cell phone back. Save this business card and call me, now you better go out and meet the man. I don't want anything bad to happen to you again,

" Erick answered quickly.

"Relax, Miss, I will save you, believe me.

"

Anne nodded her head. She hurriedly put the business card that Erick gave her into the pocket of her thick jacket. Because Alan's shouts were getting madder, Anne finally decided to get out of Erick and Alice's tent. She didn't want to get the two of them into trouble. When Anne came out of Erick's tent which was not far from Alan's tent, Alan was talking to someone on his cell phone. It was clear from his hoarse voice that he was really worried right now.

"Anne, my love, where are you? You can't leave like this, Baby... I can't ...

"

"Alan.

"

Anne's call sounded soft and faint, but it was enough to stop his heartbeat. Alan immediately turned his head, looking for the source of the sound and was stunned when he saw his woman standing not far from him. Without thinking, Alan immediately ran to Anne, who was standing on the snow-covered path. Because he was in a rush, Alan's footstep was unstable and he fell to the snow. Alan Knight Clarke who had never chased a woman was now even falling when he was in front of her.

"My dear... my love... I thought you have left me,

" Alan said hoarsely, his chest rising and falling as he hugged Anne tightly.

To be continued