“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,
“So what do you think?” Lilith held up two sheets each showing opposing designs. “In my opinion, these are the best of the bunch. But I have a hard time choosing between the two.” Andrea still couldn’t believe Sebastian would ditch her like that. She thought they had an agreement and that she was going to have her fitting next week. Why was it so easy for him to place Lilith first? “Earth to Andrea,” Lilith’s ethereal voice brought her back to reality. “If you’re not feeling well, just tell me. Trust me, I of all people would understand.” The mistress of the house wanted to agree for the visitor to take her leave. If only her husband hadn’t sent that message. “Hey, Lilith told me she’s coming over to the house to visit you. Hope you make her feel welcome.” Why, of course. It’s not like her arrival wasn’t straining their relationship, right? “Oh no, I, I’m fine. Just a-a little taken aback by those dresses,” Andrea stuttered, plastering a fake smile on her tensed face. “Aw, thank y
Despite how delectable Lilith’s edible arrangement was, Andrea couldn’t find herself taking even just one bite. For some reason, it was nauseating for her. But she looked up at the table and saw how Sebastian enjoyed them greatly. He seemed to revel in each bite.“You should try some, they’re really good,” he encouraged her. He smirked at the food as if realizing a hidden joke that his first love placed somewhere in the arrangement.An inexplicable sense filled Andrea’s whole body that it made her fingers tingle. She replied robotically, “You can have all of it. I have to get ready, Ren’s picking me up to go to the hospital.” She got up from the chair opposing her husband’s and proceeded to the stairs.“Wait, I’ll do it.” Andrea still hadn’t decided on when and how she’d tell the father about her pregnancy. And she was feeling quite petty about Sebastian making decisions for her. So going to Hopedale Hospital for her prenatal checkup was not something she’d rope Sebastian into going.
Andrea let out a shaky breath as she stood before the door of the psychiatrist Doctor Abel recommended. ‘Dr. Michelle Carlson’ was spelled in golden letters onto the wooden board. She looked around once more to make sure no one was there aside from her guard. The halls were empty. So she knocked softly, three times, before a woman’s steady voice answered, “Come in.” “Ah, Miss Andrea, welcome,” the older woman greeted Andrea as she shyly entered the office. Dr. Carlson, from her desk, motioned for her to sit on a plush chair. The actress obliged. “So, I’ve followed the protocols from the NDA and made sure that no one would be here during your visits. And that we would be using the excuse of physical therapy for your shoulder,” the psychiatrist informed Andrea as she got up from her office chair and moved towards her. Dr. Carlson took a seat on the chair in front of her. Andrea chuckled awkwardly, “Oh, thank you so much.” When she told Ren to make sure this was kept secret, she wasn’
The three-day business trip felt like an eternity for Sebastian. He watched from outside his private jet as the clouds cleared to reveal his home city. Where an important person was waiting for him. “What the fuck do I do?” Lately, the billionaire had been entertaining the thought of staying married to Andrea more than he could imagine. But as shitty as it sounded, he felt like he was cheating on Lilith even if they haven’t really established the kind of relationship they had. Yes, he and Lilith had gone on harmless ‘dates’, they’d spend their time talking, and they’ve never gone beyond physical except for a hug. That was all there was to it. So why would Andrea get upset at that? It’s not like they had something other than a business arrangement, right? “God, who am I making excuses for?” He groaned in his seat, covering his face with his hands. “Sir? Is everything alright?” Robert spoke up from behind him. The assistant was busy cross-checking the CEO’s upcoming meetings when he
Andrea appreciated the fact that Sebastian chose the Grand Dolion for them to meet. Being very well known for holding their customer’s privacy in high regard, the place was a great spot for people hiding from the public’s eye. It’s why it’s a nightmare for the paparazzi. “How can I help you?” The receptionist’s red lips broke into a smile as she recognized the actress approaching her. “Uhh, Room 1007?” Andrea asked. There really wasn’t any instruction on the letter except to dress up and go to that specific room. The receptionist looked at her computer screen and typed some letters before saying, “Here is your keycard. He’s waiting for you there.” Her smile grew wider as she handed it to Andrea. Why did Andrea feel her expressions as slanderous? All the actress asked for was the room to where her husband was. Why did that woman look at her like she was asking for another man’s phone number? “You’re just reading too much into things again, Andy,” she scolded herself as she waited f
“What the fuck?”After his initial reaction, it took every ounce of self-control for Sebastian not to rip his wife off the man and crush his head. When he reached the tenth floor, he was relieved to see the room’s door ajar. It must be housekeeping so that meant it was a prank after all.But the scene that was laid out for him was far from a joke. And the adrenaline that was pumping in his veins earlier was all but drained now.He didn’t notice the two people at first as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. But the candlelit setting decorated with flowers let him know that it was for a romantic night. The ideas that he had been imagining in the car were one by one starting to come to life.Then the second thing that took his attention was the sound of what were obviously two people kissing. And that’s where his heart dropped. The woman’s back was facing him, but the familiar dark brown, wavy hair and Andrea’s favorite dress gave him an idea of who it was. The midnight blue dress that sh
“Sir, what do you mean get a divorce lawyer?” Robert repeated his boss’ words. He wished this was just a prank call that Sebastian did because he was bored.Robert looked at the person in front of him. Ren, likewise, had a puzzled expression on her. The two were enjoying their dinner date, thinking their employers were having the same thing when Sebastian suddenly called.“Just do it, Robert.” But the assistant recognized that tone all too well. Sebastian was being serious. And more than that, he was extremely furious.“Did you just say, divorce lawyer?” Ren dropped the fork and knife she was holding and ran to her bag. There, she fished for her phone and quickly dialed Andrea’s number. But all the answer she got was, “Hi, this is Andrea. I’m currently busy so just leave a message after the tone. I’ll try to get back to you soon.” A short, high-pitched beep followed.Ren was dumbstruck. “How did it come to this? Just this afternoon I called Andy to make sure she was going to the psych
“This, so far, is what I’ve decided to put in my book. If you’re reading this right now, then that means that I finally chose to let the world know my story. You may or may not have heard of me. I’ve been introduced to many names. Cobbett, Scout, Adams, and Fray. But I don’t want to let any of those affiliations define who I am. What I choose to do after everything that happened to me is what I believe determines me.” “Andy! Darren just texted. He and his wife are almost here. We can't miss your second Oscar nomination together!” Sebastian called out from outside the study. It was funny how in the end, Darren became much closer to Sebastian that it made Andrea jealous rather than the other way around. “Coming!” Andrea answered as she contentedly sealed the paper and placed it on top of a hardbound, azure book. She looked at it for a few seconds, getting lost in every letter. “Momma! Auntie Wen said to come quick!” A small boy with curly hair and brown eyes with golden flecks grapple
They couldn’t fully put everything behind them as Lilith was still nowhere to be found, but Sebastian and Andrea knew that it was time to move on. Maybe it was true what other people said about her. Maybe Lilith had found a reason that made her leave her life.After more than a year of coming to terms with their tragic past, Sebastian once again popped the question. He had flown everyone to the private island in the Maldives that he had rented before.“You bought it?” Andrea almost screamed when she learned that Sebastian didn’t rent the island for their honeymoon. Instead, he made it seem like he just leased it.“Yeah, I didn’t want to say anything because you were so judgemental of rich people. I didn’t want your first impression of me as your husband to be that of someone who buys things excessively,” Sebastian fibbed.He had already talked to everyone about his proposal except of course with Andrea. Eugene immediately agreed while Madeline gave him a stern warning and advice.So t
Weeks turned to months and no sign of the wanted criminal had emerged. Despite all their efforts, she was too slick in evading and hiding from authorities.But finally, the Adams, Frays, and their loved ones had slowly started to build a semblance of a normal life.After her warrant was sent out, Sebastian had also released his statement regarding the matter. He explained to the public how and why this all went down. They decided to keep it vague, not wanting to share every small detail. But enough for the people to understand what happened.And in this duration, the same people who hurled hateful comments at the actress now give her support. As they began to understand that the information they’d been fed was lies, they turned against the source of these. Lilith Quinn.And now, Andrea Fray had the opportunity to tell her story in her own words.Sat on a powder blue couch and facing a whole group of lights and cameras from all angles, the actress recounted the stories that she chose t
“He’s a good man, Harris,” Sebastian told Andrea who was cuddling against his chest. The two sat in her yard, enjoying the light sea breeze that passed by.“I know, that’s why he became my friend, “ she replied. “Look at you, getting all warmed up with Darren.” He didn’t know but Andrea was ecstatic that her partner and her closest male friend would be on good terms.“I’m not,” Sebastian tried to deny. “It’s only because he told me about you going to Clayton by yourself and the other stuff he did for you.”“That’s why I wish he could find his own happiness.” Andrea looked up at the sky and coincidentally, found a shooting star. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and made the exact wish.“Why didn’t you wish for yourself or for me?” Sebastian questioned her with a sulky expression.“Are you kidding? I’ve already found my happiness.” Andrea gestured at where they were and who they were with.In front of them was Anastasia. The toddler was so engrossed with the film that was playing
“You are not your fear, Andrea. You are not your trauma,” Andrea said her usual chant as she got out of her car and faced the menacing high, concrete walls of Fort Havenshaw.“I can do this, I chose to do this,” she whispered with eyes shut. The dread had finally caught up to her. Andrea’s bravado had waned the nearer she was to that person.When she told the hesitant Darren that she could do it, Andrea thought that she could. But now, she’s convinced that it was just false toughness.Andrea couldn’t feel the tip of her fingertips as her whole body had turned rigid. As opposed to the bright, sunny day that graced them, an unknown source of penetrating cold had entered her body. It didn’t plan to leave anytime soon.A part of her said, “It’s not too late to turn back. You still haven’t gotten inside the prison.”Andrea’s eyes went back and forth, from the fort entrance to her car handle. A drop of sweat had begun to roll down the side of her face. “Shit!” She exclaimed as Andrea reache
“You heard what Monique said. We can only secure Lilith’s conviction if we get a confession. I know it’s a shot in the dark. But if there’s a possibility of Alvis having a recording of Lilith, then it’s worth it,” Andrea firmly said.It made Darren sigh heavily. He scratched his nape, daunted by Andrea’s strategy. He asked, “And you’re not having any second thoughts about this?”She nodded her head sharply. “I’m a hundred percent sure. Sebastian could only hold off Lilith’s scheme on the wedding for so long.”“What does he think about this?”He noticed her flinch when he asked the question. “He doesn’t know,” Darren answered for himself.Andrea grimaced at the fact and said, “I’ll tell him once it’s done. That way, we could save ourselves the trouble.” She only confided with Darren about her plan because he was the most understanding of all her friends.“I’ll go with you,” Darren insisted. These past days of hanging out with just the two of them brought him back to the past. Back when
“The evidence you gave us is very good. But a confession from Quinn would solidify this case so that the jury doesn’t find reasonable doubt to convict her,” the counselors and detective working on Lilith’s case told Andrea’s group.“We can arrest her now on these grounds, but we’re very sure that she would clam up and call the best lawyers their money could buy. And we all know how that will turn out.”They became familiar with the process. Lilith’s lawyers would talk directly with the court that she was not being lawfully held despite the mounting evidence against her. She wouldn’t even spend a night in jail because of who she was. A millionaire heiress so of course, the judge would favor her. Then she’d get out and wreak havoc into their lives as if nothing happened.Their hearts sank after hearing that all their efforts could do was a small dent in Lilith's case.“There’s a possibility that we can win this case,” the lead prosecutor, Monique Perrin, informed them. “But her admittin
When Sebastian heard Andrea yell out, he was ready to attack the person and run amok in her house. But when she turned to see who it was, Andrea was already squeezing the guy with a bear hug. “Oh, it’s you! Gosh, I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t!” She blurted out, her chest still heaving at high speed. “I’m sorry, Andy. I was rushing because I thought I was late. They told me to be here hours ago, that’s why I just barged in like that. Sorry,” Darren replied, giving her a light, comforting pat on the back. Sebastian’s posture stiffened as the Simon couple eyed the three of them cautiously. Robert was about to get up from the couch to be beside his boss, in case worse came to worst. But Ren quickly pulled her down. “You disrupt this drama, I will go on a rampage,” she warned him. Still oblivious to the brittle atmosphere that was created by Darren’s sudden arrival, Andrea continued to face her friend while holding both his hands. She began to bombard him with apolog
“So I’m guessing you two are on good terms now, huh?” Ren mused after seeing Andrea and Sebastian share another glance that could only be described as coy. The billionaire was visiting the Fray house and at the moment was spending his after-work time with his daughter.“Put it on top. There. Not the owange one! It has to be bwue!“ Anastasia pointed and ordered Sebastian and Robert where to place the blocks as they assembled a building that replicated her father’s company.Andrea giggled at her daughter’s bossiness. Who else but her father would she get that kind of attitude from?She scoffed at her best friend, “Of course, we should be for Ana’s sake.” It had been days since they got back together again. Though the two chose to keep their relationship hidden for a while, at least until they’ve sorted out the Lilith issue.Ren rolled her eyes and sighed, “Oh please, Andy. Even a blind person would easily know that you two are on more than good terms. If you know what I’m saying.” She w