Jonathan ignored Anneliese''s desperate pleas and strode straight toward the woman. He grabbed her hand, and together they vanished into the shifting shadows.


    This is such a terrible, messed-up dream.


    Anneliese woke up from sleep with a start, tossing and turning for a long while before finally drifting back off. But once she did, she slept deeply, without any dreams.


    She felt like the weakness and difort that had gued her for the past couple of days had vanished entirely.


    Sitting up, she carefully shook her head-no more dizziness. She stretchedzily, then grabbed the remote and pulled open the curtains.


    The first day of the new year greeted her with bright, warm sunlight.


    She turned on her phone, and a flood of New Year''s messages poured in. But since Jonathan was pinned at the top of her contacts, the six new notifications from him stood out clearly.


    Her gaze lingered on them for a moment, but she didn''t open the messages.


    It was already past ten in the morning, and she and Jessica had agreed to go to the hospital today for a check-up.


    Anneliese quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom. After grabbing a quick bite with Jessica, they reached the hospital around 11 a.m.


    ...


    Thankfully, it was New Year''s Day, and the hospital was practically empty. Anneliese stayed with Jessica for her appointment, the blood draw, and the results. As expected, she was eight weeks pregnant, and everything looked normal.


    Exiting the OB-GYN office with the test results in hand, Jessica seemed calm. She gently touched her belly. "How did you get this big without me even noticing?"


    Annelieseid her hand over Jessica''s, resting both of them on her stomach. "Looks like we''ve got a thoughtful little one who already knows how to take care of you. I just saw a mom rushing in with her family—her morning sickness was so bad she almost copsed, but she didn''t want to waste time. Came straight to see the doctor even on New Year''s."


    I really think this baby is already so thoughtful. Honestly, I, as the mom, feel even more unreliable—how did I not even notice him arriving? I only feel a bit of nausea for about a week, and it''s not even constant. It passes quickly. It''s as if the baby is saying hello, letting me know he''s there.


    As for everything else, there were really no side effects at all, and Jessica felt this tender, bittersweet ache in her chest. "Yeah... my sweet baby who cares so much about me..." she murmured.


    "That''s nice," Anneliese said, brushing her fingers lightly over the back of Jessica''s hand.


    Jessica looked at her and grinned. "Jealous? Go on, pop out one with your Mr. Fullbuster already."


    But suddenly, Anneliese''s smile faded. She pulled her hand back, and her mood drooped. "Maybe... never mind."


    Her thoughts flicked back to that awful dream fromst night.


    Jonathan ditches me and the kid to run off with his first love.


    Jessica blinked, caught off guard.


    It looks like their problems are quite serious this time.


    Just then, the elevator doors slid open.


    Anneliese was about to pull Jessica inside, but the moment she looked up and saw who was standing there, her steps stalled.


    A man stood in the elevator. He was tall and dressed in a perfectly tailored suit.


    Only now the suit looked a little rumpled. He leaned against the elevator wall with a slight slump in his shoulders. His face was still striking, but the faint stubble and the tired, worn-outlook softened that usual polish. It was Zachartas, after what felt like forever.


    Clearly, Zacharias hadn''t expected to run into Anneliese here of all ces.


    His gaze locked onto her with a direct, burning intensity. Those seductive eyes flickered through a mess of emotions before settling into something bright and unmistakably joyful. "Anne..."


    He straightened on instinct and even tugged at his tie as if that could


    steady him. His voice came out


    rough when he called her name. It sounded painfully sincere, like he had carried it around for a long time.


    Anneliese only frowned and stepped back twice.


    What lousy luck. Of all days, I have to run into this mess on New Year''s Day.


    Jessica was speechless, too.


    What kind of cursed fate is this supposed to be?


    She instinctively stepped in front of Anneliese. "We''ll wait for the next one."


    What she really meant was simple. Nobody needed to greet. Zacharias just needed to get lost.


    But Zacharias acted like he couldn''t read the room at all. Instead of closing the elevator and leaving, he actually stepped out.


    "Anne, it''s New Year''s Day. What are you doing here? Are you sick?" Anneliese felt her irritation spike. She rolled her eyes. "Aren''t you here too?"


    Zacharias'' lips curved when he heard that, and his seductive eyes lit up a little. "Anne, are you worried about me? I''m not sick. Something happened to Lenora..." Melody and Lenora had both been having a rough timetely.


    After the holidays, their case about hurting Grandma is going to trial, and there''s nothing my connections can do. Anneliese shows zero interest in settling anything.