The confusion on Ryan's face doesn't disappear even after Milly's explanation. The look on his face tells me that Milly is rarely ever really excited like this and that she has no friends often. Isabella watches on with annoyance written all over her face. Her child was happy, should that not be the conclusion of the matter, what she care if her child smiled at the very woman she probably hated the most, what should matter should be that her child was happily and freely smiling without anything holding her back. Isabella walks up to Milly, dragging her away from me like I was virus she needed to get her child away from. I refrain from openly rolling my eyes at her ridiculousness. “Goodnight Milly.” I smile at her turning to glance at Ryan, giving him enough hint to let go of my waist. I was busy having an entire eye contact conversation with Ryan, an aggressive one at that when the last voice I wanted to hear for today screeches at me. “Ana?” Bianca screeches, I heard her b
“I'm leaving.” I announce standing up to go, Scarlett races towards me in seconds and I watch her in scrutiny trying to figure out. I had expected her to drop the act by now but she was still desperately holding on to it. She has shown and said everything she needed me to know in this last hour I have listening to her speak on mute. If I didn't fully listen, atleast I heard the summary of it all. “The best part is yet to come Ana, it's your brothers wedding tomorrow, why are you in such a hurry.” Scarlett says sweetly, way too sweetly, that was the indication to know that she was definitely up to no good together with this much act she has put into getting under my skin. Unfortunately for her, I was too used to all of this to be affected by their games anymore. I was trying to save her marriage here. Even if Maxwell was no longer in love with me. Finding me pregnant with the same child I had told him I aborted would either out her wedding or hold or cause chaos through the
“I told you, I’m leaving,” I repeat, more firmly this time, and start heading for the door. Scarlett moves quickly, grabbing my arm.“Wait, Ana, please don’t go like this.” Her voice is drenched in sweetness, but I can see right through it. She’s trying to keep me here, but I won’t give her the satisfaction.I pull my arm free and take a deep breath, my patience wearing thin. “I need to rest,” I say again, this time with more finality. My heart races, not just from the confrontation but from the growing need to avoid Maxwell. I can’t let him see me like this. I don’t want him to know about the baby—not now, not ever.Scarlett smiles, but it’s laced with something cruel. “Are you sure you want to leave before your brother’s big day? You wouldn’t want to miss the wedding, would you?”I narrow my eyes at her. She knows exactly what she’s doing, pushing all the right buttons to make me stay. But I can’t, not when every second here is like a ticking time bomb. If Maxwell sees me, if he rea
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask Maxwell the moment I get into a seperate room with himanxiously. I rub my palm together urging him to hurry up and for me to be quickly out of here.“I'm sorry I didn't bother to come see you after the incident the last time.” Maxwell tells me lookingequally nervous.My brows crease at him, was this why he wanted to see me?“It's fine, I don't blame you, I will get going now if that's all.” I tell Maxwell, hanging my bag in front ofmy belly tightly.“why did you really abandon me?” Maxwell asks me and I stop right in my tracks.“I told you.” I say to him, rehearsing my words carefully. “I realized we were both not meant to be, Ryanis the perfect man for me.” I tell Ryan, not turning to look at me.“Was that why you made sure to eliminate my child too?” Maxwell says and even without looking at him,I can feel the rising anger in his voice and the higher suffocating tension that begin to fill the room up.I have no idea what he hoped by bringi
I fall to the ground breathing so hard and holding back tears, I do not deserve to cry. I continue to whisper to myself.I get up to leave, feeling so suffocated in the room, I stagger to my feet to leave the room.The hallway is empty as I head upstairs, I wipe my eyes and sniffles, this was good, I could sneak out without encountering anyone on my way out.I head out the hallway, I walk dizzily out the apartment that Scarlett dragged me into, I get to the corner, about to burst out outside to all the loud cheers and laughter that I could hear all the way from hallwaywhen someone drags me from behind. It all happened too fast and in seconds I'm thrown onto the ground and I hear the clicking sound of a door being locked.I raise my head from the floor with a groan, I check the pain on my head and I know that's going to bruise by tomorrow, I look around me and the room I have been thrown into looks like the janitors closet in highschool.What the fuck?My eyes try to find the door, ev
I have lost count of the time of the day, I have no idea what time it is, my phone battery had gone off before I had arrived her with Milly last night so I couldn't call anyone and even if I could call someone, who do I call? I lay on the floor feeling more miserable than ever and wallowing in my disgusting self pity. From my guess, it would be late late noon by now from the low glow coming through the tiny window hole. The clicking of the door pulling open fills the room and the sound of a pretentious gasp fills my ears and I ignore it. I do not move an inch, trying to gather my stuff muscles from laying on the cold floor for too long. “Oh my God, what are you doing in here? Have you been in here all along.?” Bianca's loud voice reaches my ears and I gather myself from the floor. Staggering to my feet, my entire back ached and the ache was worse now standing up than I anticipated it to be while laying down all night. I rub my belly to assure my unsettled baby that everything was a
Beatrice watches me in confusion and as though realization hits her, fear overtakes her features. “You have no idea?” Beatrice asks and I hesitate before giving her an answer, deciding to be honest, I had no intention of deceiving Beatrice to getting my way. I shake my head at Beatrice, “Idea about what?” I ask her her more than curious to know. “I will get killed if I say anything to you without permission Ana.” Beatrice tells me in fear looking so helpless. “What do you mean you will get killed?” I ask Beatrice, my heart racing hard. “I will get my head cut off Ana.” Beatrice says standing up anxiously, the air around the room begin to get tense. “What do you mean you will get killed, what is that about?” I ask her, equally anxious and tense. This could not all be real in any form or way. I decide to ask her the one other question that has been bothering, the name I could not seem. to forget. “Dominic Garcia, do you know anything about Dominic Garcia?” I ask Beatrice. If I th
We get into the most expensive and and secluded restaurant in the whole of the state. Dominic Garcia's personal assistant left me this address as at yesterday. I let out a shaky breath as Jersey gets in front of me the moment we reach the receptionist table. “Dominic Garcia's reservation.” Jersey says in a low voice and suddenly it sounded like calling his name out openly was a crime and sin of some sort. The receptionist continue to stare at Jersey and I awkwardly and Jersey turns to me, her earlier excitement has tuned down a whole notch ahead, she looked more nervous now than before. “It's time and it's happening.” The receptionist leads us to an even more secluded part of the restaurant, the area was a total out of sight one. “Are they going to kill us and throw out bodies in a dump yard?” Jersey whispers from beside also observing how deep into the restaurant the receptionist was personally leading us into. I rub my belly in distress, I was very scared and worried about this
“I'm so sorry Anastasia.” I hear Maxwell whisper, still not looking at me but I can see the glistening oftears in his eyes. “You might never forgive me but I'm so sorry Ana, I should have known you wouldn'thave done something like that, I should have trusted you.” Maxwell says and I wanted nothing more thanto be in his arms in these times.“No, I lied, you were in pain and you were being manipulated.” I say, I was hurt and I wasn't about to healanytime soon but Maxwell was as much as a victim in this, I have no idea how he must have felt all thetime he spent thinking the woman he loved killed his child.1“Thank you so much Ana, he's the greatest gift and redemption.” Maxwell says sniffling so hard.I hold my hand out towards him. “Come here.” I whisper, my own eyes glistening with tears.Maxwell slowly walks towards me like he was carrying the whole world on his shoulders. He kneels infront of me.I hold his broad shoulders closer to me and Maxwell looks like a child whose guil
“Oh God,” I mutter to myself when I suddenly feel a hard push on my abdomen.“You have got to be kidding me.” I whisper to myself when I feel water underneath my thighs.What was happening? Panic suddenly filled my every pore. I felt more fear than I did the overwhelmingpain in my very gut.I needed help and fast, the baby was coming. I groan out loud and try to push myself up when another bultof pain decided to rack through my body.“Ana? Ana!!” I hear screams of my name coming from outside of the house, my already pulsing heartnearly stopped the moment I recognized who the voice belonged to.“Maxwell.” I whisper to myself, too weak to speak any louder.“Ana.” Loud footsteps march past the open wide doors and a disheveled looking Maxwell stands directlyin front of me.Confusion takes over his features first and then shock as his eyes access the situation and mess in theroom and then fear as he watches me bleeding out on the floor.“Ana?” He calls running towards me. “What happen
“What did you just say to me?” Ryan asks, clicking the gun at me.“What, you can dish out food but you can't eat it?” I ask him. “I said you are a daddy pleasing bastard youknow that or don't you?” I say and Ryan angrily takes long strides towards me, pointing the gun directlytowards the side of my head and I glare at him instead of shrinking away in fear.“Do you know what will happen to entire family if Dominic Garcia finds out something happened to mein your home, you could have it all covered up with the law but he will find you at the end of the day andhe won't stop until you are rotting six feeth underneath.” I stubbornly state, I wasn't so sure about all that Ijust said but one thing I knew was Dominic Garcia was immensely protective for a reason quite unknownto me.Ryan needed me so I knew he wouldn't pull the trigger unless his bipolar self and easily angeredtemperament was too much for him to handle.“Ryan please stop.” Beatrice begs coming to put a hold on Ryan's sho
“That's good.” I mutter tiredly, seeing them all go down the drain was all I wanted but now it's actuallyhappening, I'm not that too interested.“I think a warrant should be going out for both your mother and step father any moment from now. This isbig Ana. Are you okay?” Jersey asks me in concern.“Yeah I guess.” Jersey says.“I'm going to bed.” Jersey says and I know she's only saying that because she feels the need to give mespace.“Thank you Jersey.” I tell her as she walks away and she gives me a smile.“Anytime Ana.” Jersey says.The next morning, I make up my mind but first, I'm making sure to get an official divorce from Ryan, Idon't want to forever feel like I'm in a bondage no matter how far I run. I want to be certain nothing holdsus together anymore.“Jersey I'm going out.” I tell her, getting my keys.“Where are you going?” Jersey asks knowing the store was closed for a long while.“To Ryan's, I'm going to get a divorce.” I tell Jersey determined as I step out of the
“What did you just say to me?” Ryan asks, clicking the gun at me.“What, you can dish out food but you can't eat it?” I ask him. “I said you are a daddy pleasing bastard youknow that or don't you?” I say and Ryan angrily takes long strides towards me, pointing the gun directlytowards the side of my head and I glare at him instead of shrinking away in fear.“Do you know what will happen to entire family if Dominic Garcia finds out something happened to mein your home, you could have it all covered up with the law but he will find you at the end of the day andhe won't stop until you are rotting six feeth underneath.” I stubbornly state, I wasn't so sure about all that Ijust said but one thing I knew was Dominic Garcia was immensely protective for a reason quite unknownto me.Ryan needed me so I knew he wouldn't pull the trigger unless his bipolar self and easily angeredtemperament was too much for him to handle.“Ryan please stop.” Beatrice begs coming to put a hold on Ryan's sho
“You fucking bitch, you really are out of your mind.” Ryan shouts at the top of his voice.“Do you have any idea what you have done, my entire life and family is in jeopardy, you will fix thischaos as soon as possible.” Ryan yells. “Your parents have been arrested, what kind of daughter are you?”Ryan asks staring at me in disbelieve and I scoff out loud.“You must have some sort of fucked up audacity to that to me Ryan.” I hiss at him. “You all used me tothe very last drop and then you framed me up to leave me to rot away and you thought I was going to sitby and watch it all happen, you fucking bastard.” I calmly tell Ryan.“Did you fuck him? Is that how cheap and desperate you were.” Ryan accuses.“I owe you no sort of explanation Ryan, you think whatever you want to, that's your problem. Sign theGoddamn papers.” I instruct pushing the papers towards him.Ryan picks the paper up, tearing it up into pieces while glaring harshly at me.“You are still my wife Ana, and you belong to
"That's good," I mutter tiredly. Seeing everything fall apart was all I wanted for so long, but now that it's actually happening, I find myself less interested than I expected.Jersey, standing across from me, studies my face carefully. "I think a warrant should be going out for both your mother and stepfather any moment now," she says quietly, her voice carrying a seriousness that matches the situation. "This is big, Ana. Are you okay?"I shrug, unsure how to answer. The truth is, I don't know what I’m feeling anymore. "Yeah, I guess," I say after a moment, trying to convince myself as much as her.Jersey doesn't seem to buy it. She watches me with concern, her brow furrowed. “You sure? It’s okay if you’re not, you know. This is... it’s a lot.”"Yeah," I repeat, softer this time. “I’m fine.”There’s a pause, thick and uncomfortable. Jersey looks like she wants to say something more, but instead, she rubs the back of her neck awkwardly. "I'm going to bed," she announces, and I know sh
“I would love to come along with you Ana, I don't think I've told you this before but I love to explore, I'vealways wanted to leave the country, relocate somewhere else, besides it's not like I have anything backhere or a family I'll miss. My job is the only thing I have and my job lies with you.” Jersey says chucklingand I let out a sad chuckles of my own.“But what about the business?” Jersey asks and I shrug in answer.“I have no idea but each step at a time, if I do decide to leave, we'll figure it out, together.” I say holdingJersey's hand closely to mine. I cannot possibly explain the relieve and joy that came at her answer, I feltwarm all over. I just needed Beatrice to also agree to come with me, I was not sure I was comfortable withleaving her behind with Ryan. She had motherly affection for Ryan so I would respect whatever decisionshe would make.Another thought immediately crosses my mind and I turn to Jersey with a mischievous smile on my face.“You know, I was also
Another thought immediately crosses my mind, and I can’t help the mischievous smile that spreads across my face. Jersey notices, raising an eyebrow slightly as I turn toward her. "You know," I begin, "I've been thinking." My voice has a playful lilt to it, though what I’m about to say is anything but a joke. "You’re really good at what you do in the jewelry business. Like, really good. You’ve been doing this longer than I have, and you know more about the inner workings than I ever could."Jersey's expression remains calm, though I can tell she’s wondering where this conversation is heading. She nods, a quiet acknowledgment of the compliment, but it’s clear she’s holding back a response, waiting for me to get to the point."You've taken care of the store long before I ever set foot in it," I continue, "and on top of that, you’ve always been the one looking out for everyone. You care so much about this place and the people in it." I pause, letting the words settle for a moment. “With