For the first time in weeks, Andrea slept in complete serenity. Her head rested on the coolest side of the pillow. The blanket that covered her felt like warm clouds. And the expectation for tomorrow was bright and promising. Just one thing, or rather person, was missing.But even her subconscious provided it for her, even if it was just in the realm of her dreams.There, she was sent back to the shabby compartment her mother used to lock her in when she didn't follow her extreme instructions. But instead of the peeling walls with cockroaches crawling on them, the space was surprisingly clean. And when she slid the door open, Sebastian was there. And he was smiling. At her.“Honey, did you find what you were looking for?” He donned his usual work clothes, but on top was a pink apron hemmed with ruffles. His whole ensemble made her oddly blush.“Yes,” she replied and held a towel up.“Good, because our breakfast is ready.” Her husband had in his hands a plate of maple syrup-drizzled pa
Andrea thought that two more days would help in making her decision. But the short span of time further spiraled her into confusion. Her injury was now just an afterthought.She now found herself slowly picking the petals off her get-well flowers from her company, Elysian Pictures, and fans. One look at her bedroom and anyone would assume immediately that it was a florist shop with how the plants that varied in kinds and colors filled her room.“I tell Seb and ask him what to do,” Andrea mumbled as she pulled one rose petal. “Or I decide what to do.” She didn’t even have the strength to decide for herself whether to keep the pregnancy or not. But how could she?Who else do women go to when facing this kind of problem? The answer popped up in her mind. “Their mothers.” And it was as if she was punched in the gut.The person who gave birth to her got the right to be called ‘Mom’ for that sole reason. But the woman she truly considered her mother slowly aged in a hospital bed, oblivious
Ren looked around the apartment which felt emptier after her friend and his Grinch of a husband stepped out. She shrugged her shoulders at the neat state Andrea left her bedroom in. A few of the actress’ clothes were left in the closet, her foundation and face cream sat on top of the small vanity table, and the photos of everyone from her welcoming party.“Eh, might as well leave it the way it is.” Although Sebastian made a stand about Andrea never staying the night outside their home, she knew that wouldn’t last long.Ren sighed, “Jesus Christ, Andy. What did you get yourself into?” For a woman in her 20s working in the entertainment industry, getting pregnant was one of the worst things to happen to her. And Ren was familiar with how Andrea loved working.But she also knew all too well Andrea’s greatest weakness.The manager looked at Andrea’s schedule from next week until the end of the year. And although she left Josh’s movie, she still had a lot of engagements and public appeara
Andrea relished in the tranquil comfort she was in. Aside from not being able to move around like normal, there were no other concerns that troubled her. Mainly because she had finally sorted out how she was moving forward. Which would be for her husband and their child in her womb.“Please be patient in the meantime, dearie.” Andrea lovingly rubbed her stomach that had yet to show any symptoms of being pregnant. “Mommy has to find the right opportunity to tell Daddy about you.”Even if she had decided to keep the baby, the actress was still unsure how Sebastian was going to respond to all of this.But something gave her the idea that his reaction might not be all that bad.Andrea sighed as she closed her eyes. Her memory drifted to when Sebastian left this morning. How he put on his authentic smile. She knew that much because of the way the left corner of his lips was higher than the other. The only goofy look he’d ever had.And how he went out of his way to accommodate for her speci
“All the sacrifices I’ve made, just to see you waste them away,” Laura doubled down on her guilt-tripping, watching Andrea squirm in her seat. She let out a few more heavy sighs after each sip of her wine. Becca smirked beside her as she enjoyed the unfolding scene.Andrea cowered on instinct. While she live with her mother, her speeches about sacrifice and repayment were always followed by a few slaps or hits from a belt. She firmly hugged her lower abdomen.“Don’t act like a victim here, Andy,” her mother continued. The tremor in Laura’s voice let her know that she was getting irritated. “When it’s me, your mother, who’s about to suffer because you got lazy.” She pretentiously dabbed a tissue in her eye to wipe a tear.“I don’t know what to tell you, Mom,” Andrea replied in a hushed tone. “I can’t predict what will happen in the coming months.” Depending on Sebastian’s response, it would either be a blissful retirement, or a forceful and humiliating leave from the industry.“And I j
“That piece of work! She must have been bad-mouthing me to Andy!” Laura continued to rant even as they exited from the front gates of the Adams residence. “I knew that girl, Ren, is a bad influence on Andrea. See where she got herself into!”The mother turned to her daughter who had been strangely quiet the whole time. “Hey, Becca. Are you listening to me?” Laura slightly pushed her forward to get her attention.Becca, who had her arms crossed and her face frowning the whole time, exploded into a sudden shriek, “Agh! I hate her!”Laura halted in her tracks as she clung to her bag. Her fuming daughter continued to walk down the pathway, oblivious to her surroundings.“Rebecca Sout! You almost gave me a heart attack!” The mother quickly caught up with her and gave her backside a whack with her bag. “Ouch! Mom, that hurts!” Becca finally addressed Laura.“What’s gotten into you? Ever since we left Andrea’s house, you’ve been acting strange.”Becca stomped her feet and wailed like a child
Droves of maids went back and forth in the dining room as they served their employer’s dinner. The personal chef entered himself to bring the main course. “Herdwick lamb loin with Ramson leaves and flowers,” he announced while setting the plates.“Thank you, Manny. Everything is lovely as always,” Edgar Quinn said, taking in the smell and presentation of the dish with great pleasure. “Am I right, Lilith?” He looked at his daughter who was more interested in whatever was on her phone screen rather than the effort that their chef has put in for her visit to the Quinn estate.“Yeah, yeah,” she nonchalantly replied. Manny could only leave disappointed together with the rest of the staff while they leave the room as the Quinns dig in on their dinner.The faint sounds of silver utensils slicing through meat only lasted a few moments when Edgar said, “Why don’t you stay here with me? This is your house and I could only imagine what you eat while living in that condominium.”“Dad, it’s what I
“Let me read it, Andy,” Ren incessantly demanded. She held out her hand, waiting for Andrea to give her the tablet.“There’s really nothing, Ren. I swear.” Andrea gripped the device close to her chest. She knew very well how her friend was going to react after seeing what was on it. “Just let it be.”Her manager scoffed, “Nothing? Then why were you balling your eyes out before I got here? When we left you after that dinner, I thought everything was good.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Did he tell you to abort the baby? Is that it?” Ren was now huffing extensively.Her presumption made Andrea gasp, “You thought this is about Sebastian? It isn’t!” Her heart clenched just imagining her husband say those horrible words to her.“What?” Ren thought that this was finally the day he got to sucker punch that bastard. “Then why were you crying?”Having no other choice but to absolve Sebastian from Ren’s terrible judgment, Andrea gave her the tablet. “Here you go. But don’t take it to heart,