Anna wasn’t sure what to make of Amber’s sudden desire to swear off men. Technically, it wasn’t anything new, as she had been so singrly focused on raising Alice since the ne crash, that she hadn’t given much thought to much else, even with Roman practically throwing himself at her at every turn.


    Yet, she’d never really been able to hide the depths of her feelings from Anna. As her best friend, Anna had always known that Amber loved Julian, even when she’d been unwilling to admit it to


    herself.


    Anna hadn’t really ever approved of the rtionship, annoyed at the way Alpha liked to keep her friend hidden. Anna herself had to swear to keep the rtionship a secret, as she’d been one of the few who actually knew about it.


    So now, she didn’t really want her friend tied back up with a guy who treated her that way, even if they did have a kid together.


    But if Amber wasn’t honest about her feelings for Julian, then it might make things moreplicated long term. She had to confront those feelings to truly defeat them. By pushing them down, she was only causing them to linger, perhaps indefinitely.


    Anna hated seeing her friend suffer, but she couldn’t make Amber’s choices for her. She couldn’t even really fight Amber’s fights, despite how much she wanted to support her.


    The only thing she could do was be there for her friend in time of need.


    And snoop. A little. If the opportunity presented itself.


    Amber had professionalism and pride. If she had been the one to see Beta carrying a suspiciously light looking envelope down the hallway of the hospital, Amber likely would have just turned the other way and thought nothing about it.


    Anna was not <i>so </i>by the book. Seeing that envelope… Knowing they were in a hospital… Knowing Alice’s paternity was in question… Knowing Amber wanted to keep that paternity a secret, especially from Julian, the actual father…


    Well, Anna couldn’t fight all of Amber’s fights for her, but she help to protect Alice.


    So, instead of heading down to the parking garage after leaving Amber’s office after lunch as she nned, the moment she spotted Beta and that envelope, she decided to follow him instead.


    Anna maintained a good distance, always looking busy when Beta looked back. Beta didn’t really know her, so he had no reason to suspect her, so he seemingly did not.


    Anna followed him all the way to theb. There, Anga watched through the window as Beta passed over the hair to one of theb technicians. Fortunately, theb tech was not only one that Anna recognized, it was one she was good friends with. They belonged to the same gym, and over yed tennis together.


    Theb tech had a vicious serve.


    Anna turned waiting near a set of chairs for Beta to leave. The moment she did, she sneaked into theb and approached her sometimes–acquaintance, sometimes–gym friend, sometimes tennis-


    enemy.


    “Anna?” theb tech asked. “What are you doing here?”


    “I have a really big favor I need to ask you,” Anna replied. “I wouldn’t ask but it’s really important.”


    While Anna didn’t disagree that Julian should know that Alice was his father, she believed that Amber should be the one to tell him.


    What would happen if he learned the truth like this? Would he try to get custody of Alice? Would Amber’s whole ns for the future be thrown off–course?


    Julian had made some terrible mistakes in his rtionship with Amber, especially in choosing Olivia over her.


    Anna wasn’t going to let him get away with running Amber’s life any more than he already had.


    Julian’s POV


    I tried not to stress about the test results. What was done was done and the past couldn’t be undone. I didn’t think my feelings for Amber would change overmuch, and I was certain that I’d still feel affection for Alice.