chapter 5

“Cohen!”

“Patricia.” Cohen called in a low voice, locking eyes with her in bewilderment.

After a few seconds of staring at each other, Patricia took her eyes away from him.

He released William's hand, and he put his hands in his pocket, looking downward.

Patricia wished to say a word and break the silence, but her mouth betrayed her and refused to pull out a word.

“Mom, I'm sorry,” Williams apologized, explaining, “I mistook him for dad when he entered the hall and I followed him here,”

Williams tinted his lips with a smile, furthering, “he is a nice guy too. He promised to buy me chocolate and help me search for you.”

“Patricia, Is is your son? Are you're-married? When?” Cohen’s questions came, and she looked at him.

Williams looked at Cohen. “Did you know my mom?”

“Yes, she-” Cohen said, wanting to reveal the truth, but Patricia cut him off.

“Yes, Williams. He is just a random person from my past. Though I thought I knew him, but turned out I did not…” she tacitly ridiculed him so Williams wouldn’t understand.

Her words caught him off guard. “Hun!” He sounded stunned.

Patricia bent her neck to stare at Williams’s eye. “He is someone I shouldn't have crossed paths with.”

“Oh,” Williams comprehended. “He is a bad guy. Gosh! He is not like that.”

Patricia nodded. “Yes, he is. And he is nothing good compared to dad.” She analyzed.

“But he looks like a really nice guy.” Williams let out, still not yet convinced by his mother.

“And mum said he is not. Has mum ever lied to you? Won’t you believe mom?” Patricia uttered.

“I will.” Williams accepted.

Cohen densely stared at Patricia and her son debated. He was caught in surprise and didn’t expect such statements to come out of Patricia's mouth.

He never expected her to be so bold to say such to his face. She insulted him in his presence!

“How-” he wanted to talk.

“Will you cause a scene in the present of a kid?” She flung a jaw dropping question.

He sighed. He closed his eyes and opened them before the eyelids could touch each other. He took his right hand out of the pocket and lengthened it forward for a handshake. “Congratulations.”

She snickered. “Why-” she intended to reject it, but her right eye caught a glimpse of Anna walking in their direction.

She stretched her hand out and accepted the handshake with a dazzling grin. “Thank you.”

Patricia brightened her smile and held onto Cohen’s hand till Anna arrived beside Cohen.

Anna thought Cohen was mad at her because she was a bit late. “I’m sorry, dear. It was traffic.” She apologized, gazing at Cohen, paying no attention to the person shaking hands with her husband.

“Hi, madam.” Patricia waved at her, beaming.

Anna looked at the person and seeing Patricia, her heart escaped a breath for a month and she took a step backwards in panic. 

“You!” She shouted.

Patricia separated her hand from Cohen and nodded, still maintaining the stunning smile on her face. “Yes, me.”

Anna pointed at her, still staring at her in disbelief, almost unable to pull out another word. “Pat…”

Patricia drooped her head. “Yes, it’s me. Your ex-friend, Patricia. Are you surprised to see me?” She raised a question, and since it didn’t require an answer, she furthered. “How have you been, Anna?”

Anna’s lips shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was out of shock or fear, but seeing Patricia’s strong reaction, she quickly her timid expression vanished into a thin smile. “I’ve been doing great,” she answered, inquiring, “And you? How have you been?”

Without letting Patricia respond, she mocked. “How do I expect you to be? Your life must have been in a mess already.”

Patricia sighed and grinned with the left part of her lip. “Mess you say?” She repeated in an amazed tone. 

She scoffed and filled her lips with a cute smile Anna has always envied. “I’ve been doing more than you can even imagine.”

Anna put her arm around Cohen’s neck. “How can you do great without a great husband like mine besides you?”

“Your husband?” Patricia was shocked.

“Yes. Cohen is my husband. He finds his happiness in me and wants me to stay beside him forever. I am delighted to tell you we are happily married,” Anna confirmed. “Our marriage is even fruitful already. We are blessed with a beautiful daughter.”

Patricia stared at them, shocked, feeling the sting of heartbreak once more, causing her heart to reel from pains again.

A gentle scoff escaped her lip, and she nodded. “Wow!” She was impressed. She has practiced for days like this. A day when she will cross paths with her enemy.

She polished her face with a smile, determined not to act weak in front of them. “That’s great. Congratulations to you guys,” she split out. “In fact, I am happy for you guys,”

“It’s just a little disappointing that I was absent. You guys should have invited me. I wish I grace you wedding with my presence,” she further act ‘no concern,’ “I might even be the bridesmaid if you want,”

“Hun!” Anna was caught by surprise. She took her hand off Cohen’s neck and gazed at Patricia, frowning her face, confused. 

“Why are you happy for us?” She interrogated. “Shouldn't you be angry?”

“Angry?” Patricia exclaimed, lifting her eyebrows as her head moved back a bit.

She chuckled. “Why will I be angry when I am already blessed with everything I could ever dream of?” She uttered in a questioning tone.

“Anna, you know I’ve always been lucky from the start and that’s why you envied me.” She pointed out.

“I didn’t envy you. I never did!” Anna defended herself. Her high raised a bit in guilt.

Patricia widened her eyes in a questioning manner. “Oh, really?” 

“Yes, all I did was reveal your dirty secrets. And that's because I couldn't watch you continue to cheat on an innocent guy,” Anna expressed. “It’s not as if I made a false accusation. The evidence is cleared. I presented a proof.”

“Okay,” Patricia let out. She understood Anna wanted to drag the conversation, and since she wasn’t in for it, she changed the topic. “Well, that’s now your problem to deal with. Not mine anymore,”

She grabbed Williams’s hand and slightly bent her neck. “I can’t decide yet if it will be nice to see you again and seriously, I can’t say if I want to see you again or not,” she poured out. “Whatever. I will leave you guys because I am quite busy.”

“Are you still flirting around with men?” Anna raised a question, adding, “I guess that's what you are busy with. You can never change.” 

Patricia cracked up. She understood Anna said that to embarrass her, so she wouldn't watch her speak dirty of her. “What makes a difference between us?” She asked and instantly shook her head, correcting herself. “No, there's a difference. I am better than you.”

“How are you better than me?” Anna questioned.

“I mean, if truly I flirt around with men, what would you call yours? You are a husband snatcher man,” Patricia split out. “You have all bad behavior. You're a betrayal, a liar, a traitor, to mention a few,”

“Anna, let me give you a brief definition of who you are. You are the most dangerous human. An animal in human skin,” Patricia continued, seeing the impression she wanted on Anna’s face. “To be frank with you, you have the dirtiest mind for human”

“Your heart is dirty. All you did wasn’t the work of the devil. You are the devil yourself and you need salvation before it’s too late,” she advised. “Though I doubt it’s not late already.”

Anna fixed her eyes on Patricia’s lips, watching her throw those words at her. She was shocked at the new version of Patricia, which was far different from who she knew in the past. 

She never imagined Patricia would retaliate or speak back at her with those harsh words!

Her mind boiled in anger, and she stepped forward. Her hand raised up, wanting to slap Patricia.

Cohen moved closer, attempting to hold Anna back, but another hand reached for Anna first. 

It was Bastian.

“Unh!” Cohen exclaimed. He didn’t expect another guy to stand up for Patricia.

Bastian flung Anna’s hand and walked to Patricia's side. “Are you okay?” He asked. His caring voice matched the concern on his face.

Patricia nodded. “Yes, I am fine.”

“Bastian, sorry for your loss.” Cohen showed empathy, buying himself a gaze from Bastian.

“Thank you,” Bastian responded, turning to him. “Cohen, who is this rude woman?”

“What are you doing with someone like her?” He asked with a belittling tone.

Patricia was pissed off, but she composed herself not to act reckless in Bastian’s present. “I’m his wife,” she introduced, apologizing, “I’m sorry you meet in this situation. This peasant is just rude, and I want to teach her some lessons.”

“You’re his wife? So? What’s special about being his wife? How can you lie that she is rude? I’ve been watching you since you started this fight.” Bastian poured out.

“Actually, you can’t understand…” Anna tried to defend herself, but Bastian gave her no space.

“Stop disgracing yourself in public? Your husband is an influential person. Why are you embarrassing him with your presence?”

“I’m sorry, Bastian. Forgive her on my behalf.” Cohen intervened.

Bastian resorted to his gaze on Cohen. “Cohen, what kind of competent guy would marry this kind of woman these days?” He embarrassed him in a concerned tone. “How can she act like this in your presence and you can't even caution him?”

“Are you blind by love or ignorance?” Bastian asked. He felt so concerned and his mind was boiling with anger, causing him to be splitting out more than he should say.

“What are you talking about?” Cohen questioned.

Bastian discharged a deep breath. “I mean, you are a great guy. Why did you stoop low to marry someone like her when there are many great ladies?” He let out. He wanted to be nicer with his words, but couldn't help it.

Cohen felt humiliated, but since Anna caused it, he has no option but to still apologize. “I'm sorry.”

“For your sake, I will overlook this once. But if she creates a scene or is rude to anybody in my surroundings again, I won’t let it slide.” Bastian warned.

“You're defending this woman because you don't know her past. I am sure you will chase her away if you know what she has done.” Anna bad-mouthed.

“I care less about her past,” Bastian declared. “It’s your problem to battle with. Okay.”

“Are we still welcome here?” Cohen inquired, using the question to change the tune of the conversation. “Is our invitation still valid?”

“It is, but you are only welcome into the bereavement center if you can have your woman in control,” Bastian savaged in simplicity. “Warn her to know her place and stay in her lane.”

“Thank you.” Cohen showed gratitude.

Bastian carried Williams on his shoulder and rounded his arms around Patricia’s neck. “Let’s go.” He said.

Patricia smiled. “Okay.” She let out, and they walked into the elevator, giggling.

Cohen’s eyeballs turned red, watching Patricia walk away in another guy’s arms. 

He didn’t know if he was jealous or angry. All he just wanted was a miracle, which would separate Bastian from Patricia.

He wished he could go after them and flinched Bastian’s hand away from her body or better still, commanded Bastian to take his hand off her.

He couldn't take his eyes off them till they walked into the elevator.

He ground his teeth, watching Patricia’s lips filled with joyous laughter before the elevator closed, and the pain of not being able to take any action saddened him.

Anna traced Cohen’s gaze to Patricia’s face, and she felt discomfort with it. She took a step closer to him. “Cohen,” she called, inquiring, “what are you thinking?”

Cohen turned his face to her and gazed into her eyes. “Anna, will you wait for me in the car or let me have you under my control?”