《PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT STAND》


 [1]

    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant,¡± I said without hesitation. I gently swirled the contents of the ss I was examining. Ripples formed inside it, but nothing spilled out. The background noise I was facing was as turbulent as the liquid I was observing. Murky. Or rather, noisy.


    I usually came to this club just to unwind, but this time, even unwinding felt pointless. For me, it was just a routine visit, hanging out with my two incredibly talkative friends, whom I only agreed toe along with.


    ¡°Dang! Don¡¯t y around, Anya,¡± one of them eximed.


    ¡°Shut up! If you want to joke, don¡¯t be that foolish!¡± Obviously, it wasn¡¯t my shout, but Doni¡¯s, who turned into Dona whenever he was with me. My male friend, who we often called Dona, never got offended by the nickname. He even joked that maybe in his previous life, he was indeed a Dona, minus the sideburns that asionally grew around his jawline.


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± I replied wearily. My gaze now focused on them, observing how their faces disyed shock and fear. They were both terrified; how about me? As I found out from the pregnancy test result and the series of examinations this afternoon, I no longer knew the color of my face.


    Perhaps pale like a corpse.


    I, Anya Joice, want to carry a child. In a legitimate bond ording tow and religion, that¡¯s an absolute requirement. Not like this. Damn it!


    ¡°Do you know who the father is?¡± Dona asked, immediately grabbing my hand. Maybe he needed something to hold onto, unlike me, who felt like I was floating away.


    ¡°I do know,¡± I replied weakly. As I was reminded of the person who continued to knock on the doors of my mind, I suddenly felt shivers down my spine.


    Around me, it was seriously so noisy. The DJ¡¯s music that always livened up our nights disappeared from my life. My body was here, but my mind seemed to have wandered off. Most importantly, I was thinking about another life within me.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Naomi, my female friend, held both of my hands. ¡°You can tell us. What¡¯s going on with you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Anya. You usually talk a lot when something happens,¡± Doni Andrean, his full name, but both Naomi and I mostly called him Dona, added sympathetically. He embraced me, trying to contain part of me in his arms.


    Could I hold back my tears? No.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    So, I let these tears flow in front of them. I shared my doubts, worries, and other negative thoughts with the two people closest to me. In Washington DC, they were all I had. In this transient world, I was all alone. My parents had long passed away. Their bodies weren¡¯t buried in the ground; in my heart, their existence was no longer there. So, I guess I consider them dead.


    ¡°Who?¡± Naomi asked softly.


    I was confused myself, wondering why I could be so foolish. I¡¯m not a saintly woman, I apologize. But I¡¯m not the kind of woman who opens her legs for just any man. No, I¡¯m still sane, except maybe two or three months ago, right? I¡¯m a bit forgetful, but I remember vividly, even under the influence of vodka, who was on top of me.


    Ah, my goodness! I¡¯m so stupid.


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I whispered softly.


    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Dona cursed. ¡°Why did you mess around with the office boy?!¡±


    I closed my eyes. If I had known, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have done it!


    ¡°Anya¡­¡± I shuddered when Naomi spoke so softly and sharply. I knew I wouldn¡¯t be able to resist her. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions. Cedric is a good guy, Anya. You know that.¡±


    ¡°I feel so stupid, Naomi?¡± I felt cornered now. ¡°You talk like I¡¯m the one who seduced Cedric.¡±


    I heard Naomi sigh. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. You know what I¡¯m trying to say, Ya. If you had said you were pregnant with Dewangga¡¯s child, I¡¯d believe you. Or even Kelvin¡¯s.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Yeah, right. They¡¯ve been aggressively pursuing me.¡±


    ¡°There you go!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, true.¡± Now, Dona joined in. ¡°And why did you say you were pregnant with Cedric¡¯s child? You¡¯ve rejected Dewangga or Kelvin, who are clearly shining like gems.¡±


    I just rolled my eyes in annoyance. I knew the two men they were talking about. One is the IT manager at my workce, Kelvin Sturborn. The other is the store manager of a caf¨¦ across the street, where we asionally hang out to unwind after lunch, Dewangga Obrey.


    As Naomi said, both of them have beenpeting for my attention. I¡¯m not trying to act like I¡¯m something special or anything. For me, they both treat me like a dessert. I need more than just sweetness to be enticed. I¡¯m not blind to that. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been trying to avoid them as much as possible. It¡¯s challenging, but at least, I still had my dignity.


    And now, my dignity haspletely disappeared.


    In the silence we shared, my mind was so loud, trying to figure out how I would get through the next day.


    ¡°Does Cedric know?¡± Naomi asked. This question struck me multiple times. Since the first andst time we met and did it, we haven¡¯t seen each other again. Except at the office, of course.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t know yet, Naomi,¡± Dona said to Naomi. ¡°When did you check for pregnancy?¡±


    ¡°This afternoon.¡± My shoulders slumped. The tissue I used to wipe my tears now covered the table, soaked with my tears. This time, we sighed together.


    ¡°You have to talk to him. Cedric has to take responsibility,¡± Naomi emphasized the word ¡®responsibility¡¯ in her words just now. ¡°But before that, you have to tell us. Why did you let yourself go with Cedric, but rejected Dewangga or Kelvin, who are obviously dazzling?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all vodka¡¯s fault.¡±


    The next definition of being a jerk is when you¡¯re hit by a disaster and your two friendsugh at you with great satisfaction.


    Just like what I¡¯m experiencing now.


    ***


    I looked at the ultrasound result sheet that I had done earlier this afternoon. Then, I gently rubbed my still-t belly. I felt like an incredibly wicked person considering getting rid of the life inside me. But it¡¯s not because of money. My sry and position are more than enough to meet its needs. I¡¯m sure of that.


    What I meant by ¡°capability¡± is about many things. Especially raising and educating a child. Okay, I know I made a mistake. Naomi was right; I can¡¯t just open my legs for anyone. Not to mention the consequences I would face. My job, my life, my habits, and I have to start learning to ept the presence of a little creature called a baby around me in the future. All of that is at stake. I already have to count down how much time I have until my t belly bes bigger.


    I¡¯ve already set aside any thoughts about love. What¡¯s love got to do with it when Cedric and I only meet asionally at the office in this case? We just greet each other when Cedric brings me a cup of sweet tea and a full bottle of water. I sigh in frustration afterward. Why did it have to end up with Cedric?!


    God, why is my punishment like this?


    I can still vividly remember how it came to this. Naomi was right when she said that vodka and I are a crazybination that should be avoided unless we¡¯re having a party together with them, or at least, Dona apanies me. At that time, I did ask Dona to apany me, but he had a date. I didn¡¯t want to bother him. I¡¯m self-aware enough.


    As for Naomi, she was in Bandesh for work.


    Besides vodka, I also feel like ming my direct superior, Krystal xton. The woman, who is nearing forty, loves to torture me with ever-changing agendas. I¡¯m her secretary, and she¡¯s the big boss at my office. It¡¯s apany that provides shipping services with awork as vast as the ocean.


    The ce where I work is considered quite elite. Almost all emerce and small torge-scale businesses use our services. All because of Krystal, who dares to take action. To me, Krystal is a role model for a sessful independent woman in her career. Minus her tendency to torment her subordinates. Especially me. She said, ¡°You¡¯re so smart, Anya. Think about that. Don¡¯t tell everything to everyone, be creative, Anya.¡±


    Not to mention, ¡°Anya, you know, your face makes me angry. Don¡¯t show me your face like a duck. Smile, Anya. Smile.¡±


    But I had to carry out a pile, oh, not just a pile, two boxes of work fromst year that I had to go through one by one just because there was an agenda she missed. Even though I had already told her a simple way to handle it. Krystal is always right, but I can¡¯t refuse to do what she asks.


    The peak of it all was when ourpany was periodically audited externally. And Krystal is a woman with an extremely high level of perfectionism. I¡¯m the one who experienced the effects of it first. Until my stress level facing Krystal was transferred to vodka.


    It¡¯s understandable, right? I me Krystal.


    Iughed, more towards being pathetic. Cursing myself for this impulsive act that has caused me so much harm.


    My phone rang, and when I looked at the clock on the wall of my apartment unit, it was already 2 am. I furrowed my brows. Who could it be at this hour?


    Krystal: Don¡¯t bete tomorrow. Anya has a meeting at SunCity Tower.


    A hardworking person at god-level!


    ***

 [1] b

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, where¡¯s your key?¡±


    I hupped. My eyes wandered around for a moment to make sure this was the corridor I recognized. As far as I can remember, I was near the table next to the bartender. I don¡¯t know how many drinks I¡¯ve had that made me feel so dizzy. ¡°The key, right?¡± I reached into the bag I was carrying. ¡°Where is it? I forgot.¡± I grinned.


    Even half-conscious, I heard him sigh. ¡°Ma¡¯am, if you¡¯re not feeling well, just sit here for a moment. I¡¯ll look for the key.¡±


    Then what I remembered was him slowly emptying my bag¡¯s contents. I saw him searching here and there. In my wallet, makeup bag, or the Stitch-patterned coin purse. Those cute little blue aliens.


    ¡°Found it, Ma¡¯am.¡± He showed me a single key with a small keychain. The ess card to my apartment unit, I saw that he hung it together with my unit key. ¡°Next time, just like this. So you won¡¯t have trouble.¡±


    Iughed again. Trying to stand up, I ended up falling into the embrace of the person who was my conversation partner. He grumbled irritably. Maybe he was tired, carrying me who was stumbling. I think so. That¡¯s why I feel so light when I walk.


    He opened the door. And he carried me again. All the contents of my bag returned to their ce, even though I¡¯m sure they were all messed up. I didn¡¯t care. My thought at that time was that I felt light. No Krystal¡¯s angry voice because I made a mistake in the schedule. The one who almost missed a meeting worth a billion in revenue. Even though it was her fault, I was only doing what she wanted. Why was I the one who got the coaching? It¡¯s pointless if I can¡¯t ept it.


    Queen Krystal and all her authority! That¡¯s what made me drive my car to the usual club. Even though I¡¯m alone, at least I know some people there. Including Adi, the bartender.


    As I passed the toilet, suddenly, I really wanted to empty whatever was in my stomach. Half-running and causing amotion by bumping into a disy near the wardrobe, at least I wasn¡¯tte. I vomited some, I don¡¯t know, of what was in my stomach into the toilet. Damn vodka!


    I felt slightly cold fingers on the back of my neck. At first, I was about to snap, but the fingers stayed. Massaging gently and offering a box of tissues.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said as I slowly got up. He still helped me walk towards the sofa. When he sessfully sat me down there, he fetched a drink for me.


    Even though I was still half-conscious, I knew who this guy was. Cedric. He works as an office boy at my office. But I wonder, is this the effect of alcohol, or does he really look different from usual? Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m used to seeing him in the typical OB uniform, but now, sitting in front of me is a guy looking rxed in a ck shirt rolled up to his elbows paired with ck pants.


    I don¡¯t know.


    I feel like Cedric is different tonight.


    Next thing I know, I¡¯m in hisp. But seeing the surprised look in his eyes, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not Cedric who¡¯s holding me close to him. It¡¯s actually me who¡¯s getting close to him.


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I gaze straight into his eyes. My fingers trace his jawline slowly. He grumbles irritably and stops my actions.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s better for you to sleep. Anya wants to go home.¡±


    ¡°Why the hurry?¡± I ask with a small smile. Then, I get close to him again, very gently. ¡°Be honest with me, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°After I¡¯m honest, I get fired.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to imprison you.¡± Iughed amidst my giggles.


    ¡°Who¡¯s prettier, me or Ms. Krystal?¡± I yfully wag my finger in front of his nose. My vision is a bit blurry, but I can see him closing his eyes. Maybe he¡¯s frustrated with my behavior. I don¡¯t care, really. I need him to answer.


    Actually, this is not really important, but I¡¯ve heard a lot of gossip that Ms. Krystal is jealous of me because of my beauty and charm. That¡¯s why she often gives me more work than I should have. Torturing me under her control. So, I need another opinion. Maybe Cedric¡¯s opinion.


    ¡°Anya is the prettiest,¡± he says.


    Do I believe him?


    No.


    Instead, Iugh. ¡°Cedric, Cedric, that¡¯s a pretty good lie. I¡¯m not angry, you know, if you¡¯re honest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± He lowers my finger. ¡°Now, I want to go home. You¡¯ve arrived at your apartment. Go to sleep.¡±


    When he starts to move away, I hold him back. I don¡¯t want him to leave. Just who does he think he is?


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± he grumbles. He locks my hands behind him. His face turns red. Maybe he¡¯s annoyed because I¡¯m in hisp and now I¡¯m moving on top of him.


    ¡°Let go,¡± I say teasingly. I¡¯m a bit confused myself about why I¡¯m acting like this. But it feels nice. Teasing Cedric, who¡¯s now really angry. I move slightly restlessly because Cedric¡¯s grip is quite strong.


    ¡°You said I¡¯m pretty?¡±


    He lets go of my hands. Maybe it¡¯s because of my restless movements on top of him.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re the prettiest, Anya.¡±


    Do I trust that?


    No.


    I justugh. ¡°Cedric, Cedric, if you want to lie, do it better. I won¡¯t be mad, you know, if you¡¯re honest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± He gets up, and I hold him back again. I won¡¯t ept it. Seriously, I won¡¯t ept it. It feels like I¡¯m being rejected outright!


    ¡°Fine. Go ahead and leave then.¡± I get up. But I grab the bag I had left near the shoe rack. I also grab my shoes without much thought and put them on just as carelessly.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Move aside. I want to have some fun again.¡±


    Even my walking is stumbling. But I don¡¯t care.


    ¡°What kind of fun, ma¡¯am?¡± He pulls me back before I reach the door. ¡°You¡¯re drunk. It¡¯s better for you to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Who told you to boss me around?¡± I look up because he¡¯s very close to me. His ck eyes now staring at me. His gaze is sharp, intimidating, but I can¡¯t be afraid. Why should I be afraid? Who is he, anyway? He¡¯s nobody, right?


    In one swift motion, he brings me closer. Our breaths collide. A mix of nicotine, mint, and a hint of c. Maybe. And then, what I think are his lips touch mine.


    ¡°Is this enough?¡± I blink as he breaks the kiss.


    ¡°If I continue, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Iugh.


    ¡°Anya won¡¯t stop even if you ask me to.¡±


    I tilt my head. Stillughing at his words. ¡°What are you going to do, huh?¡± I use my index finger to trace his jawline again. Making him grumble harder than before.


    ¡°Never regret it, Anya. Never.¡±

 [2] a

    Luckily, I didn¡¯t oversleep. I don¡¯t know when I fell asleep, but one thing¡¯s for sure, tonight I didn¡¯t sleep peacefully. Ever since I found out about the other life and a ton of burden suddenly fell on my shoulders, I couldn¡¯t sleep soundly anymore. My mind became chaotic. Even though I was attacked by drowsiness, I didn¡¯t want to close my eyes.


    To make matters worse, the events of that night reyed, albeit somewhat blurry. Now I understand what Naomi meant when she said that yesterday. Clearly. I was the one teasing Cedric. At first, I wanted to deny it and would continue to deny it. But in the end, I gave up. I did tease Cedric. Who wouldn¡¯t sumb to temptation when I waspletely unaware, supposed to be more cautious than usual?


    A ck dress above the knees with a high neckline. And to top it off, I was drunk. Is there anything else I regret? Plenty.


    That night wasn¡¯t the first time I did it. With Cedric, I mean, it was the second time. Back when I was still in college, I felt sad and deeply regretted my actions. Fortunately, we were safe. At least there was nothing that would be my responsibilityter. Since then, I never wanted to be trapped again in fear and excessive worry about the consequences.


    But the foolish part is that I was careless this time. My brain seemed to have been left in the office toilet. There¡¯s no logical thinking like usual. It seemed like I truly became a seductive woman. I don¡¯t know if I should feel sad, scared, worried, hurt, or what. But one thing is for sure, regret alwaysester.


    And now I¡¯m supposed to ask Cedric to take responsibility? That¡¯s insane!


    When I opened my eyes the next morning after falling asleep exhausted that night, I sat at the edge of the bed, gathering my sanity and memories. When I looked to the other side of the bed, I wished I could rewind and fix it so that I didn¡¯t have to face what I¡¯m facing now. Cedric was there. Sleeping soundly shirtless. As for me? Don¡¯t even ask. I just wrapped my naked body with a nket. Massaging my temples quite hard, I still felt the headache.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± he called with a slight groan. Cedric was already fully dressed. He walked towards me and awkwardly sat at the dining table. Right in front of me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk. I don¡¯t want to talk aboutst night.¡± I ced a cup of warm jasmine tea that I liked.


    ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°Please, Cedric. Let¡¯s forget it. Pretend like nothing happened.¡± I got up. ¡°After finishing your coffee, please go home immediately. I still want to sleep.¡±


    ¡°If something happens to you, I take responsibility.¡±


    I chuckled softly. ¡°I remember what you saidst night. It¡¯s impossible to get pregnant from just one night.¡± And I also vividly remembered, even though I was still under the influence of vodka, we did it three times. And without protection. Impressive, right? How stupid of me, Anya!!!


    I don¡¯t know if my words offended him or what. He just stared at me intensely. Then, without asking for permission, he left. mming the door quite hard behind him.


    For the first time in my life, I cried about what I had done.


    ***


    ¡°Anya, are you okay?¡± Krystal¡¯s voice startled me, breaking my reverie. I blinked slowly and refocused on my work. ¡°Sorry, ma¡¯am,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Have you had breakfast? If not, there are some sandwiches on my desk. We¡¯re going to face a long day,¡± Krystal gestured for me to follow her. The sound of her expensive high heels echoed, along with the tapping of my own shoes, as I followed her lead. A small te with a few sandwich pieces and three stacked folders were handed over to me. Krystal could be both kind and ruthless. I couldn¡¯t refuse, so I smiled as sweet as honey and thanked her.


    I stared at the cup of warm jasmine tea with a troubled expression. My mind wandered off to who knows where, thinking about my situation for the next few months. Truth be told, I couldn¡¯t sleep for more than an hour or two before dawn. Luckily, I was skilled with concealer and foundation. Otherwise, Krystal would be asking me why I had dark circles under my eyes.


    Ever since that night, Cedric and I acted like strangers to each other. Limited greetings were all we exchanged. I guess he had a lot of work too. As for me, eating lunch on time was an asion to give thanks. Sometimes, Cedric would buy me lunch, but that was because he often had his lunch ordered and delivered here. The days following that night, everything was just normal. No burden whatsoever.


    Except for this morning.


    Everything changed because now I wasn¡¯t just taking care of myself. There was Cedric¡¯s blood flowing in the fetus I was carrying. When I caught him cleaning my desk andputer screen earlier this morning, I froze. Normally, I¡¯d just smile briefly and sit at another chair, waiting for him to finish his work. My thoughts drifted to how he could possibly take responsibility for us-me and our future child.


    Oh God! What should I do?


    Last night, I went through my work documents. I read the smallpany rules book. ording to thepany rules, there was a three-month maternity leave. But most of the staff here were married. As for me, I wasn¡¯t even married. There¡¯s no way HR would give me three months of maternity leave, or even just one full month, and still pay me. Impossible. Also, my child wouldn¡¯t get any insurance benefits from thepany since there was no clear proof of my marriage.


    I sighed in frustration. When my eyes fell on a box of business cards with my name on it, the feeling of pressure intensified.


    Anya Joice, S. I. K


    Secretary to the Board of Directors


    xton Express


    Batavean Disrict, Koil Tower lot 4


    And all of this was at stake. Should I just terminate it all?Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ***

 [2] b

    ¡°Anya?¡± I flinched. The sheet I was supposed to work on was still nk in my hands. I winced at the thought of my boss turning into a tiger.


    ¡°Be focused.¡±


    I nodded, unsure of where the conversation was heading.


    ¡°Do you have a problem?¡±


    Hastily, I shook my head. Only Naomi and Dona knew about this issue. Krystal? I hoped not! My image would be shattered in an instant, and I wasn¡¯t prepared for that. Krystal often praised my performance and skills, and I didn¡¯t want that to change just because I was¡­ pregnant.


    No.


    No.


    We were close, but also distant. She easily asked questions and always got answers, but no one dared to ask her questions in return. Even if someone did, Krystal would just smile in response.


    Her fortress was too high, and maybe that¡¯s why I got used to it. I emted how a career woman should act. Only to certain people would I open up about who I truly was. But that didn¡¯t apply to Krystal. She remained an untouchable woman.


    And I should be like that too, right? Oh God! Anya, I swear¡­ I¡¯m incredibly stupid!!!


    ¡°Yes, you do.¡± My reverie broke, and Krystal held up a bundle of red folders that I had given her earlier. It contained the key points for our coboration with the Emerce department. My brows furrowed; I couldn¡¯t find any issues there. I had double-checked everything.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Fix it.¡±


    And Krystal left just like that. I quickly skimmed through the pages, stealing nces at the clock on myputer¡¯s toolbar. I felt frustrated because I only had thirty minutes. Oh my God! The dyed meeting time was helpful, but having to fix the key points in just thirty minutes?


    My eyes scanned the pages frantically, and finally, I noticed the mistake. Oh my God! Krystal was questioning my focus! No time to waste; I immediately corrected the error. It was about the budget, and I had already agreed with the finance department. This was a critical point that we would consider in the meetingter. Why did this have to be wrong? Oh my God!


    The printer hadn¡¯t even finished printing the revisions, and Krystal had already left the room. This made me feel even more flustered as I scrambled to put on my high heels.


    ¡°Ready, Anya?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    She simply nodded and started walking without caring if I was ready. For her, time was money, and opportunities should never be wasted. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t leave me behind in the elevator.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose focus, okay? How long have you been working with me?¡±


    I chose to purse my lips.


    When the elevator doors opened, the sound of our high heels tapping echoed. Some people turned and gave us fake smiles, especially towards Krystal. As usual, my boss only gave a small smile. She wore an army green slit pencil skirt, paired with a long-sleeved shirt that highlighted her long neck. Her long hair cascaded freely. Hermes was always Krystal xton¡¯s favorite brand.


    Like a model, she always managed to captivate almost everyone¡¯s attention in the lobby. She was my reflection. Until yesterday, that is. Because now, I felt like I was plummeting into the void. Ah, minus zero even.


    Charismatic, independent, smart, beautiful, elegant, polite, and actually¡­ kind. She was just an over-perfectionist. I always took Krystal as my role model. Seven years working under the same g, with thest four as her secretary. It made me learn so many styles and positive auras that Krystal presented in front of a crowd, especially in business meetings.


    But now? Everything feels pointless.


    ¡°Anya, seriously. Do you need to take leave next week?¡± Krystal asked.


    I blinked slowly, trying to gather my thoughts after daydreaming.


    ¡°Did you hear what Anya just said?¡±


    ¡°Leave?¡± I mumbled.


    Krystal got into her luxurious sedan with a very distinct huff. I was sure it was directed at me. As my behindnded on the plush leather seat of her car, she was still not done making me feel foolish today.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you talk to me? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Krystal shot at me, her eyes sharp.


    ¡°Because, I need your focus, Anya. Don¡¯t mess up this meeting. You know what I mean, right?¡± I strengthened my resolve. ¡°I don¡¯t have any problems, ma¡¯am. Maybe it¡¯s just because I didn¡¯t get enough sleepst night.¡±


    I heard her sigh, her hands now in a rxed position. ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t be like this again.¡±


    ***


    The meeting went just as Krystal wanted, leaving a pile of work for me. We returned to the office at five o¡¯clock. Office hours officially ended, but for me, not yet. I refused to leave any work unfinished today. Tomorrow¡¯s business can wait. Today¡¯s tasks must be done today. It wasn¡¯t too much work anyway. If my calctions were correct, I should be out of the office by seven.


    Krystal¡¯s back disappeared behind her office¡¯s ss door. I quickly ced the documents and my bag down, then sat back, leaning against the chair. Today had been tiring for me. Maybe washing my face to feel fresh again wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. So, I acted on my intention, exchanging my heels for pink fluffy sandals forfort.


    Indeed, it was not a bad idea at all. I felt refreshed and ready for overtime. For a moment, I forgot about the overwhelming thoughts of what was inside my womb. When I returned to the room, Cedric was there, just stepping out of Krystal¡¯s office.


    I don¡¯t know why, but my body tensed up. As if everything that happened between Cedric and me automatically yed in my mind.


    ¡°Ms. Anya?¡± I didn¡¯t know how long I had been daydreaming. What I knew was that Cedric was now standing in front of me, looking confused. I cleared my throat briefly and chose to walk past him, ignoring his presence.


    ¡°Are you workingte, ma¡¯am?¡±


    Usually, he often asked this question to employees who left the officete. Some of them would request a cup of coffee or warm tea and snacks. ¡°Ah, yes. Anya is working overtime.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to make you tea as well?¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    ¡°Ms. Krystal also asked for tea. Maybe Ms. Anya wants some too?¡± Cedric seemed to be looking down when I nced at him. I don¡¯t know why.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    He only nodded briefly and disappeared from my view. I had topletely ignore his presence, forget about what happened over the past two months, and pretend that what was inside me didn¡¯t exist. Or maybe I should just get rid of it? It¡¯s distracting my concentration, after all.


    Really.


    Oh well, this time, I better stayte. Krystal hadn¡¯t shown any signs of leaving yet. I could still hear her voice, probably on the phone with someone.


    ¡°I put it here, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Maybe because I was too focused and immersed in my work, I just nodded without looking at Cedric again. Slowly, the scent of jasmine tea and salty cheese reached my nose. I nced at the tray that Cedric had ced on the nearby table.


    I hope you like it.


    Cedric

 [3] a

    ¡°Anya, aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Naomi asked, looking puzzled, I suppose. My best friend seemed to be helping Dona destroy my kitchen.


    Speaking of the two of them, don¡¯t forget about Dona, who now ruled my kitchen as if she owned it. They dropped by after work, uninvited. I didn¡¯t want to entertain any visitors, but what could I say when they were already in the lobby asking to be picked up.


    ¡°Later,¡± I repliedzily. I preferred to sit back as I was still tired. Plus, I suddenly felt annoyed. I quickly opened my bag and took out the paper with Cedric¡¯s name on it. That darn guy!


    I crumpled the paper and immediately threw it into the trash can near the TV. ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Why are you upset?¡± Dona asked, approaching me with a te of freshly fried potatoes. The hot aroma still wafted, indicating that they had just been taken out of the frying pan. ¡°I¡¯m really hungry. Anya didn¡¯t want to get food first. She said she was afraid you¡¯d faint.¡±


    I rolled my eyes irritably. ¡°Both of you are so annoying.¡± I grabbed the fries without bothering to wash my hands. As a result, Dona patted my hand¡¯s back lightly, giving me a look of disdain. With a hiss like a snake, she told me to wash my hands.


    Seriously, I felt too tired to move. Maybe I was just too exhausted, which made me like this.


    ¡°You were cursing someone earlier,¡± Naomi said, sitting beside me. She ced a tray with three cups of cold juice that looked refreshing. Before I could even think about grabbing one, Dona was still giving me a cynical look.


    ¡°Anya, don¡¯t be gross! Wash your hands!¡±


    I pouted afterward.


    ¡°How was your day?¡± Between the two of them, Naomi was the one who cared most about my life. She always acted as an older sister to me, as well as a pal to her jerk friend, Dona. Questions like this sometimes made me feel like I wasn¡¯t so alone.


    ¡°Just normal, you know how Queen Krystal is.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Naomi nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I met Cedric earlier,¡± Dona said while munching on the tomato sauce-covered fries. She was the number one fan of tomato sauce. Since they both often dropped by here, I always had enough stock of that sauce. No matter what kind of food, Dona would always dip it in tomato sauce. I was amazed, a guy who likes tomato sauce?


    I slowed down my juice intake.


    ¡°We work in the same office, so it¡¯s normal to meet. If suddenly you don¡¯t meet Cedric, that¡¯s what¡¯s suspicious. Unless he suddenly resigns because he was told you¡¯re pregnant, Anya.¡±


    Dona burst intoughter. ¡°I agree with you, Nao.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if he resigns. It has nothing to do with me,¡± I retorted. And it was true, right? What did I care? Nothing. All day, I only thought about what was in my belly. Not Cedric. He didn¡¯t even have the intention to tell me he was pregnant, let alone anything else. So, what fundamental reason did I have to think about him?


    None.


    Suddenly, a sofa cushionnded perfectly on my shoulder, almost hitting the side of my head. Oh, my goodness! Naomi!!!


    ¡°How long are you going to dy, Anya?¡±


    I sighed softly as I put the cushion back in its ce. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to tell him.¡±


    Dona choked on the fries, probably because she quickly grabbed her ss and greedily gulped down its contents. ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy! Your child needs a clear status, and a clear father, Anya!¡±


    ¡°Dona is right. Don¡¯t be selfish,¡± Naomi added.


    ¡°What should I hope for? Is he going to take responsibility? If he does, can he bnce my life right now? Cedric is just an office boy, you know?¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy!¡± Dona half-shouted. ¡°You haven¡¯t even talked to Cedric yet, and you¡¯re already underestimating him.¡±


    ¡°Not like that, Don. Well, I¡¯m just being realistic. In terms of sry, I¡¯m clearly different from him, right?¡±


    Dona went silent.


    ¡°In terms of position, okay, I¡¯m just an ordinary employeepared to Queen Krystal. But at least my position is decent. And now, my position is threatened because of the pregnancy. If I get fired, is Cedric going to take responsibility for him as an OB? Is that it?¡± I said with frustration. I didn¡¯t care how my words reverberated perfectly in my apartment.


    Dona looked at me, not with an emotional gaze but with a look of concern. Maybe she was already thinking, what about me now? The one facing it directly? Okay, this is my fault. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m no longer thinking of finding a way out, right?


    Naomi seemed to be stressed as well. The proof was that she kept sighing, rubbing her nose. ¡°So what are you going to do now, Anya?¡±


    ***


    I didn¡¯t know what to do this morning. I woke up too early; I usually wake up at five, but this time, my eyes refused to close even though it was only four. When I sipped the warm tea, it led me straight to the toilet. I sat there silently, trying to calm down my upset stomach.


    The feeling? Not good at all! Even the thick and bitter liquid felt ufortable in my throat. Oh God! I had no idea why this was happening! I couldn¡¯t even manage to get up and wash my face. But I couldn¡¯t stay like this, right? With whatever energy was left, I left the toilet. My goal was to reach my phone. At least, I needed to inform Naomi or Dona. Fortunately, they could stop by first, and I could catch a ride with them. There was no way I could drive in this condition. I still valued my life.


    My phone¡¯s digital clock showed six in the morning. That meant I had spent almost an hour in there, getting rid of everything inside me. No traces remained, I believed. No wonder I felt so weak and powerless.


    Anya P: Naomi, can you drop by? I¡¯m vomiting.


    After managing to send that message, I decided to close my eyes for a moment. I tried to normalize the uneasy feeling and the urge to vomit again. The vibration of my phone interrupted me.


    Naomi: On the way.


    At least, among the many things that made me feel alone, I still had Naomi. Maybe Dona too.


    ***

 [3] b

    I forced myself to work, ignoring Naomi¡¯s nagging all the way to the office. Well, I felt much better now, even though I hadn¡¯t taken a shower. Trust me; I didn¡¯t smell bad. I just wiped my body with warm water, no shampoo. It¡¯s okay for just today. Usually, I¡¯m diligent in grooming my long hair.


    ¡°If you faint, don¡¯t ask for my help!¡± Naomi said fiercely as we arrived in the basement. Naomi¡¯s floor was different from mine, although we still worked for the samepany. She was on the 21st floor, while I was on the executive floor, the 22nd floor. On the 21st floor, it was more about the central operations like finance, HR, and finance.


    I just smiled without guilt. Well, since she arrived, I felt a little better, even though I was showered with suspicious looks. She said I was pretending to be healthy just to work. I shook my head in wonder at her thoughts.


    As we walked around the lobby, someone patted my shoulder. When I turned, I found an oriental-looking man with maybe his best smile?


    ¡°I sent you a messagest night. No response,¡± he said as he walked beside me. Oh, I remembered. My phone was indeed demanding my attentionst night, but I fell asleep quickly because I was tired. So, I chose to sleep right away instead of replying.


    ¡°Sorry, Vin. I fell asleep.¡±


    He just shrugged. ¡°Dinner next weekend?¡±


    I slowed down my steps, ncing at Naomi, who seemed indifferent. She continued walking as usual, probably not realizing that I was already far behind.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I have any ns next weekend,¡± I replied to Kelvin. He was the IT manager in my office. As Dona said, if I might be pregnant with Kelvin¡¯s child, he still understood. Considering how often he approached me. However, I often gave signals that I wasn¡¯t interested at all.


    Seriously.


    I don¡¯t know why I felt ufortable every time I was close to this man. He looked good and had a decent position. I guess he could genuinely love someone. But still, I couldn¡¯t feel any romantic vibes. Sounds cheesy, right?


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your update, okay, Anya?¡± He stopped walking just like me. Waiting right in front of the elevator. I nced around slowly so that it didn¡¯t look like Kelvin left me alone.


    ¡°What do you want for breakfast?¡± Naomi asked.


    I let out a relieved sigh. I thought I was alone with Kelvin. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡±


    ¡°You have to eat, Anya. Remember, you¡¯re not feeling well.¡±


    ¡°Are you sick? If you¡¯re sick, why did youe to work?¡± Kelvin asked, his voice sounding slightly panicked. ¡°No wonder you look pale.¡±


    As the metal box opened, we all entered. I myself chose to ignore Kelvin¡¯s words just now. What I wasn¡¯t prepared for was Cedric getting into the elevator too. It left me breathless.


    ¡°Hey, Cedric. I¡¯ll buy breakfast for youter, okay. I didn¡¯t have time earlier,¡± I said, ncing at Naomi standing right beside me. You can guess what¡¯s on my left. There¡¯s Kelvin. And in front of me, standing without hesitation, even though I¡¯m sure his gaze was scanning the elevator floor, was Cedric.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll deliver breakfast to you first, Ms. Krystal,¡± he said, ncing at Naomi while pointing to a paper bag with a cafe logo from across the office. Krystal and her preferences. Wait ¡­ if Cedric bought breakfast for ¡­


    ¡°Is Ms. Krystal already here?¡± I suddenly asked.


    Feeling that no one answered, probably because those insides were confused, the question was directed to whom. ¡°Cedric, is Ms. Krystal here yet?¡± I asked again.


    The man turned to me, and our eyes finally met.


    ¡°Oh, yes, Ma¡¯am. She¡¯s already in her office.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doomed,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Naomi asked suddenly.


    ¡°I have a morning meeting, and ¡­ I forgot.¡± I didn¡¯t know how to face Krystal now. Oh God! I should have realized Naomi¡¯s spontaneous idea of taking a day off. Now, I regret it.


    ¡°Whether you have a meeting or not, you have to eat breakfast first.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re really sick, don¡¯t force yourself to work. It¡¯s dangerous, Anya,¡± Kelvin said, touching my arm. I flinched. Surprised. My mind waspletely elsewhere. My head was nning my morning tasks, matching schedules, especially the copy of the contract draft that Krystal needed to read. After escaping my sight, of course.


    Oh, don¡¯t forget the agenda for the uing week that I hadn¡¯t received from Krystal yet. And it shouldn¡¯t best-minute because I couldn¡¯t afford to be scolded by the top executives again for a sudden canceled meeting. Or worse, a dyed dinner because Krystal got too caught up with work.


    No, that couldn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°Anya? Are you daydreaming?¡±


    No time to answer Naomi; I chose to fiddle with my phone. My important schedule was organized there. The elevator ding indicated that Naomi and Kelvin had reached their destination. Leaving just Cedric and me.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I didn¡¯t expect Naomi to be so blunt. I¡¯ll make sure to get back at herter this afternoon! Damn, she¡¯s such a conniving friend!!!


    ¡°Anya, I¡¯ll text you your breakfast order. I want to know your favorites starting today,¡± Cedric replied positively. As if he never refused when asked for help like that. I red sharply at Naomi, who was grinning like the devil she was! Damn! Damn!


    Cedric moved slightly to the side of the elevator. ¡°What would you like for breakfast, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    I wasn¡¯t prepared at all to face him again. This time, for some reason, I was reluctant to move. I still vividly remembered how his pitch-ck eyes and slightly full lips, dark on the edges, had a hold on me. Uttering his name fully consumed my consciousness, causing me to repeat it several times. If the walls of my apartment could talk, they would probably mock me today.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± he called again.


    Damn! Why did I have to remember that cursed night? I shook my head to push away that damn memory. Ignoring Cedric, who was walking behind me.


    ***


    Cedric did buy me breakfast. Before cing it on the usual spot on the table, where he always put my cup of tea and the teapot, he said that it was Naomi who had sent him. He even refused to take any money from me. I snorted irritably because of his refusal. He never refused before; you know.


    Green bean porridge with perfectly submerged pieces of bread was my favorite. Lucky me, Krystal seemed to still be busy and understood that it wasn¡¯t yet office hours. So, she hadn¡¯t shown her fangs yet. I still had a chance to devour the porridge quickly. Well, at least I had some energy. Naomi was right; I shouldn¡¯t faint. It turned out that my schedule was packed besides this morning¡¯s meeting.


    I ate half of the bowl of porridge. At least, I didn¡¯t feel nauseous. I didn¡¯t feel the urge to vomit anymore. When I saw the tea cup, something seemed off. Why were there lemon slices? I became suspicious. And as expected, when I lifted the small te that Cedric used as a coaster for the tea cup, I found a note tucked inside.


    Anya, I hope you like it.


    Cedric.


    Fuck you!!!


    What¡¯s wrong with Cedric? Oh God!!! Is he seeking attention from me? That¡¯s right!!! Naomi must be involved in this. There¡¯s no way Cedric would suddenly give me tea with lemon slices.


    Anya P: Send a picture (of the tea with lemon and Cedric¡¯s handwritten note).


    Anya P: Do you have anything to do with this, Naomi?


    I didn¡¯t have to wait long for Naomi¡¯s reply. I quickly opened it and felt like exploding with anger.


    Naomi: I just said you needed a refreshing and warm drink. I thought hot chocte would do, but this exceeded my expectations. Good job, Cedric.


    And not long after that, Dona¡¯s message was even more excited.


    Dona: Ooh¡­ I want to be sent notes along with breakfast too. Auw!!!


    ¡°Um, cancel the meetingter. Anya has something to attend to,¡± I was caught off guard when Krystal appeared in front of my desk. I was fumbling and almost dropped my phone that I had been staring at all this time.


    ¡°Canceled? But it¡¯s about to start, Ma¡¯am. The finance department is ready, and I reminded them earlier.¡±


    No matter what, she was still the boss. Krystal just responded with a shrug. ¡°Let¡¯s do it tomorrow morning. I have some errands outside today.¡±


    ¡°But the ag-¡±


    ¡°This is more important than my agenda, Anya.¡±


    I mumbled, ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    Once it was like that, I was left alone in the office for the whole day. Nice? Who said so? Krystal xton, the Board of Director at xton Express, the spearhead of thepany, wouldn¡¯t assign anything that wouldn¡¯t be done. Even when she wasn¡¯t in her office. Only she wasn¡¯t there. Her work? Filling my email inbox back and forth.


    When lunchtime approached, Cedric usually went around the office. Asking if anyone needed him to buy lunch. Although most people left the office, some were toozy to go out, especially when they had a lot of work, like me. But I didn¡¯t want to take the risk of Cedric sending me notes.


    As if! Who does he think he is?


    ***


    Naomi was thoroughly enjoying myints. She said I was being melodramatic, overly exaggerated.


    ¡°Besides, Anya, you¡¯re too confident, you know. It¡¯s not necessarily that Kelvin meant to attract your attention like that. He just wanted to make sure you were okay. Besides, he has ears too. He overheard our conversation in the elevator.¡± Naomi continued to add untrue details to the story. This only made Dona, I was pretty sure, more curious. The proof was that she kept pressing Naomi to tell her more details.


    Annoyed, I went back to enjoying my lunch, which was extra spicy chicken. I don¡¯t know why, but I really wanted to eat this. And it identally popped up when I had already decided not to leave the office. But when Dona said, ¡°The fried chicken looks delicious, Naomi,¡± my brain ordered me to join them. Leaving a pile of work without feeling guilty just to enjoy the spicy chicken.


    ¡°Still feeling nauseous?¡± Naomi asked cautiously. Ugh¡­ as annoying as Naomi could be, she always worried about me. Like right now.


    ¡°Much better, actually.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°I read that eating fruits can reduce nausea, Anya.¡± Dona suddenly showed me an article she read from her gadget. It was about ways to deal with early pregnancy.


    What?!


    ¡°What¡¯s this, seriously?¡± I pushed her away.


    ¡°I¡¯m just telling you so you can stay healthy, Anya!¡± Dona probably didn¡¯t appreciate how I treated her, but I didn¡¯t care. Dona rarely stayed mad for long; only her lips formed an incredibly sharp line like a razor.


    ¡°Well, the longer you dy telling Cedric about this, the worse it gets,¡± Naomi spoke to me, but her gaze turned cold. That meant she was serious. I couldn¡¯t deny it in a heartbeat. But seriously, I didn¡¯t want to talk about this issue right now.


    My head was still filled with many bad possibilities, like the father of what was in my stomach being Cedric, the office boy. Oh God! My luck is so bad!

 [4] a

    Every time I stepped into the office; I could always smell the damask rose aroma from a well-known brand¡¯s scent diffuser. It¡¯s because Krystal loves roses so much. I didn¡¯t mind it because it was refreshing and made the whole room smell nice. That¡¯s why I also stocked up on many room fresheners for my apartment.


    The scent I chose was more of spices and woods. It made me feel like I was in a pine forest-peaceful and serene.


    But this time, despite feeling perfectly fine in the morning-no weird sensations or sudden nausea-right when I opened the office door after lunch, I felt queasy. I rushed to the toilet and ended up vomiting everything I had for lunch. No leftovers. It seemed like the remnants of breakfast had sessfully upied the toilet too.


    I gasped for breath, feeling like a fish, panting heavily from what I had just expelled without pause or apology. I had no idea how long I had been in the bathroom. Fortunately, no other employees entered. At least no one asked me what was going on.


    I rummaged for my phone in the zer pocket and made a short call to Naomi, the only person who came to mind to help me.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    I sighed with relief. That was Naomi¡¯s voice. When I opened the bathroom stall, she immediately came in to check on me. She supported me to stand near the sink and wiped the corner of my lips, maybe where there were traces of water or something.


    ¡°How did this happen, Anya?¡±


    I shook my head, my eyes teary. It made me weak and pathetic.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating anything else?¡±


    ¡°You know what I ate, Naomi,¡± I said softly. She nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll apply some eucalyptus oil. Maybe it¡¯ll help.¡±


    I just surrendered. After getting her permission, she rubbed the warm liquid around my neck, upper chest, abdomen, and waist. It felt a little better when the scent reached my nose.


    ¡°I want some,¡± I asked her to drop a little on the palm of my hand. I rubbed it gently and inhaled it slowly. It worked wonders, making me feel much better.


    ¡°Take it with you.¡±


    Again, I nodded, trying hard to normalize my upset stomach and sudden nausea. I didn¡¯t realize that tears were already streaming down my cheeks.


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    ¡°I told you. This is making me a burden, Naomi. I didn¡¯t eat anything weird, but it¡¯s tormenting me like this. I¡¯ve never felt so weak before. It¡¯s the second time today, Naomi, in one day.¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to stop crying. I just wanted to cry because I felt¡­ helpless. So pathetic with this condition.


    ¡°Be patient, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Why should I be patient? There¡¯s no point! I¡¯m determined.¡±


    ¡°Before you do anything reckless, you have to tell Cedric.¡±


    I stared at Naomi sharply. ¡°Why do I have to tell Cedric? What makes you so eager for me to say I¡¯m pregnant with your child, Cedric? Is that it, Naomi?¡±


    Instead of answering, Naomi hugged me tightly. So tight that I felt half choked. She gently patted my back, trying to soothe me, but I still didn¡¯t want to stop crying. So, I intentionally wet Naomi¡¯s shoulder with my tears and runny nose. I knew she wouldn¡¯t be mad.


    ¡°I just want you not to regret your decision. Whatever Cedric¡¯s response, there¡¯s still a solution.¡±


    I shook my head softly. ¡°And what if I risk everything?¡±


    Eucalyptus oil became my constantpanion as I worked on the remaining tasks. I managed toplete many tasks, even though it was a real struggle. Every now and then, I would inhale the eucalyptus aroma and feel better afterward. Then, when the rose scent started to intrude, I would rub my hands with the eucalyptus oil again.


    I now knew that this room freshener was the source of the problem. But I didn¡¯t dare ask Krystal to change her favorite aroma. Oh, it seems like I need to start stocking up on plenty of eucalyptus oil in my drawer.


    Wait¡­ why? I know I¡¯m so stupid, incredibly foolish even. Doing something I shouldn¡¯t have and it bears fruit too. If I hadn¡¯t gotten pregnant, maybe my mind wouldn¡¯t be so cluttered.


    I¡¯m not sure if Cedric can meet my standards as a partner. My standards are not high. I just want a man who will spend the rest of his life responsibly with me. It¡¯s not just about money. Maybe we can find money together. Hard work and, well, maybe I should start saving money myself.


    But is there any guarantee that one day, Cedric won¡¯t leave me? With his child? Just the two of us? I don¡¯t want that to happen in my life. Again. I still remember clearly when this very mouth uttered the noble call of ¡®daddy.¡¯ He left me with Berry, my beloved teddy bear, on the terrace. I cried loudly then, but my father still left. He didn¡¯te back.


    I didn¡¯t cry when my mother left. Who knows with whom at the time. My father said, my mother left with a crazy person. But I still had my father. So, let my mother go with that crazy person. I didn¡¯t care. But when my father left, who do I live with then?


    Although my father is my love, he heartlessly left me. And with Cedric? Is there a guarantee that he will stay by my side? Not necessarily. And I don¡¯t want to take that risk. Especially since our rtionshipcks any romance.


    ¡°Ms. Anya.¡±


    I looked up, feeling my cheeks wet. I quickly wiped them away because Cedric was in front of me. Tck! What does he want? Why does he always show up whenever I think about this simple man? Does he have some kind of radar?


    ¡°Are you working overtime, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    I blinked. I nced at the clock on myputer¡¯s toolbar. I closed my eyes for a moment, and it was already five in the evening.


    ¡°I¡¯m not working overtime.¡±


    Cedric just nodded briefly. I let Cedric enter Krystal¡¯s office. I quickly packed up all my belongings, checked my emails one more time in case there was ast-minute message from the boss. Fortunately, there was none.


    I also typed a message saying that I had finished my work for the day and shared all the schedules with her. Not long after, I received a reply notification.


    Krystal: Alright, Anya. Thanks for today.


    I smiled. Regardless of how much Krystal pressures me about work and her desire for perfection in everything, I always admire her. Including the way she appreciates my efforts at work.


    ¡°Ms. Anya.¡±


    I stopped in my tracks as I was about to leave the room. I didn¡¯t need to look back because I knew who was calling me.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Did you like the lemon tea this morning? If you-¡±


    ¡°No. I would like regr tea,¡± I said, trying hard not to approach him. I preferred confronting the person who took the liberty to leave me notes that made me feel like he was trying to get my attention. But I held back.


    ¡°Oh. Alright, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°And one more thing, I don¡¯t like you leaving notes like that.¡± I nced briefly at him, giving him a sharp look to make him understand what kind of woman he was dealing with.


    Without needing to hear his reply, I walked away.


    ***

 [4] b

    The mug I held warmed me up perfectly as I stood on the balcony, feeling a bit chilly. I let the night breeze mess up my hair. asionally, I took a sip from the mug, jasmine tea, savoring each sweetness that touched my taste buds. I didn¡¯t care if I caught a coldter.


    My thoughts drifted to everything that was happening right now, including my conversation with Naomi on the way home from work. She scolded me harshly, even called me stupid. When Naomi used harsh words, it meant she was very angry.


    ¡°I might just terminate it. It¡¯s not big yet,¡± I said lightly, not looking at Naomi who had been silent since she got into the car. She had asked about my condition earlier, and I had only answered that I was feeling better thanks to the eucalyptus oil.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She said it was possible that I couldn¡¯t handle strong fragrances. She also added that hormones of young pregnant women were indeed weird and unpredictable. I knew for sure she was telling me that from an article she had read. Just like Dona.


    And I felt like it was right to talk to her about my decision and the future of this new life in my body. I didn¡¯t mind bringing Dona into this conversation, but I felt morefortable talking to Naomi. She was two years older than me. I considered her like my sister here, in Washington DC.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Naomi asked, ncing at me. I could see from the corner of my eye that her aura immediately turned gloomy. The way she talked had changed too. This made me see her as an older sister. Naomi had an aura of intimidation that made both me and Dona often obey her orders.


    ¡°I might just terminate it.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    I remained silent.


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t be absurd. Apart from your foolishness with Cedric, the baby is innocent. If you intend to do that, you¡¯re a murderer, Anya. Have you thought about it? The guilt that will haunt your life? Your whole life, Ya. Your entire life!¡±


    I had thought about it. Regardless, I was the one at fault. Because of my stupidity, I got pregnant. There was a living being breathing through my life.


    ¡°You talk to Cedric. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll take responsibility. He seems like a good guy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not just looking for someone to take responsibility, Naomi.¡±


    I heard her sigh of frustration. ¡°What then? Love?¡±


    I shook my head firmly and decisively at Naomi¡¯s words just now. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking in that direction. My love is also dead.¡±


    Naomi scoffed. ¡°Talk to Cedric. Discuss the way out. At least, so that the baby won¡¯t be born without a father, Anya.¡±


    ¡°What are you even thinking about, Naomi?¡± I dared to look in her direction. I no longer cared how emotional I had betely. I could cry again. ¡°Are you thinking about my life? Everything I¡¯ve achieved now? What will my life be like in the future?¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of being poor because of having a child?¡±


    I shook my head again. ¡°I¡¯ve been poor for a long time, Naomi. I live afortable life now because of hard work that knows no time. And I appreciate it all. All of it, without exception.¡± Tears continued to flow. ¡°Then, I have topromise because of this baby? Is that it?¡±


    Naomi fell silent. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, I could see that.


    ¡°And I can¡¯t guarantee that Cedric will stay with me forever. With me being like this. I don¡¯t know why, but I believe Cedric has a great potential to leave me. I¡¯ll end up living alone with my child. I¡¯ve had enough of being abandoned, Naomi. I¡¯ve had enough.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s this decision that you¡¯re making, Anya? You can live together with your child. Hap-¡±


    ¡°Which happiness are you talking about? Every time my child asks where their father is? Where he works? What he looks like? What do I answer, Naomi? What? I don¡¯t want to answer all those questions if Cedric leaves me someday. It¡¯s better to go back to the beginning. There won¡¯t be a baby, and I¡¯ll only know Cedric to a certain extent. Simple, right?¡±


    ¡°You know, Anya, your mind is too overly negative.¡±


    I turned my face away, letting Naomi focus on the steering wheel again, although she asionally tried to engage me in conversation, I refused. I felt my decision was very right. No party will be harmed, right? Neither me nor Cedric. Instead of letting this drag on, I might as well inform Cedric.


    Oh, I¡¯m not ready at all to face so many fears that will directly target me. It¡¯s possible that rumors will spread that I¡¯ll marry Cedric. The office boy. Not to mention the judgment about how unbnced we are in thepany¡¯s organizational structure. Let¡¯s not forget Krystal, my boss.


    No. No. It¡¯s an extremely risky choice. I already dipped myself into foolishness once. For this time, I am sure my choice is not wrong.


    ¡°I hope you reconsider your intention. I¡¯m serious, Anya. A child cannot choose whose womb they are born from. Right now, you are bestowed with the most prideful thing for a woman. Think about that.¡±


    I just nodded, letting Naomi¡¯s car leave the lobby of my apartment.

 [5]

    ¡°Damn it!!!¡± I cursed while hitting the steering wheel. Ignoring the slightly painful and definitely reddening hand, I quickly removed the car freshener as soon as my stomach started acting up. I threw it away in a rush, feeling confused about how I would get to the office now.


    Should I hang a eucalyptus oil bottle here? Ugh, so inconvenient!!!


    I massaged the bridge of my nose, trying to regte my breathing and asionally inhaling the scent of eucalyptus oil. I desperately tried to keep my stomach from acting up in the basement. I was sure I¡¯d pass out if I vomited again.


    ¡°Miss Anya? Miss¡­ are you okay?¡±


    When I turned around, I found one of the building security guards looking at me with concern. Before I could answer his question, my phone rang loudly. I nodded briefly at him, prioritizing the phone call over his question.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡±


    I blinked, hearing the familiar voice on the other end.


    ¡°Alright, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m on the way.¡±


    Now I was in a dilemma about how to get to the office. There¡¯s no way I could take my car with such a strong scent lingering. I might not even make it to the office. And what about using a ride-hailing service? Would I need to use the car freshener again? I¡¯d just be bothering someone else, right?


    Shit! Shit! Shit!Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Alright, instead of getting yelled at by a Krystal-like tigress, I chose to book a ride-hailing service. I ignored the fact that my tight skirt would make it difficult to move around.


    I reminded the driver multiple times to drive carefully. What can I do? In this situation, I was contemting death. There¡¯s no such thing as a friendly road in Washington DC, right? Honking everywhere, not to mention other motorcycles swerving all over the ce. Not to mention the cars that stopped abruptly, making me anxious.


    The solution was to buy eucalyptus oil in bulk and douse myself with it when I got home. Let it be. I didn¡¯t want to risk getting into an ident because of a ride-hailing service.


    Arriving in the lobby, it seemed like the universe was still ying with my life. Let me list them. First, instead of waking up fresh, I was vomiting heavily. Even warm tea didn¡¯t alleviate the nausea in my growing stomach. But I started ignoring it when I remembered that I had a busy schedule this morning. Second, my car was still filled with the lingering scent of a car freshener, making me even more nauseous, dizzy, and wanting to throw up. Third, I had to use a ride-hailing service while sitting awkwardly. I didn¡¯t want to waste time changing my outfit at that moment.


    This time, thest bit of misfortune. I crossed paths with Cedric. The thing that came to my mind this time was my appearance. Usually, I always looked neat and tidy. But this time, there was no guarantee, right? When I nced at the mirrors along the lobby corridor, I felt like burying my face in the sink!


    I was a mess!


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, a familiar voice echoed through the lobby. Kelvin.


    ¡°Next time, ask me to pick you up, Anya.¡± Kelvin said again, there in the elevator! I knew I was being approached by him, but his approach was a bit too direct, and I, myself, wasn¡¯t very responsive from the beginning. What could I say? I wasn¡¯t feeling it. You can¡¯t force the heart, right?


    Inside the elevator, Cedric was there too, carrying the same paper bag as yesterday. That meant it was breakfast for Krystal. Some other staff members from the finance department were also there, whom I recognized by name but didn¡¯t really know personally. So when they exchanged some small talk, I just smiled in response.


    Dona said it had be public knowledge that Kelvin was getting close to me. However, I often set boundaries. That¡¯s why I ended up with thebel of ¡°ying hard to get.¡± So, what should I do now? Should I respond to Kelvin¡¯s words just now?


    ¡°Sure?¡±


    I closed my eyes for a moment. Kelvin wasn¡¯t the type to give up easily in getting an answer, for example, now.


    ¡°Yeah, next time if I need a ride. Thanks for the offer, Kelvin.¡±


    As I waited for the elevator, hemented on me. He said I didn¡¯t seem like myself. Maybe it was because my hair was no longer neatly arranged, or maybe because I was foolish not to wear a jacket to cover my shirt and avoid the pollution smell on the road. Oh, damn it, this morning! If Naomi weren¡¯t on leave today, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d be free from this situation.


    Fortunately, Kelvin didn¡¯t say much more. At least I could breathe a sigh of relief. My mind could start working to organize what I needed to do. And when the elevator stopped at Kelvin¡¯s and the other staff members¡¯ floor, I just smiled a little in response to their greetings. The elevator doors closed, leaving me and Cedric.


    This time, I felt something different about the guy. But so what? It didn¡¯t matter. So I just ignored him, whether he remained silent or suddenly became chatty. It wasn¡¯t my concern. My concern here was working. Just like him.


    After making sure I looked as usual, I sat back at my desk and organized the things I had scattered around earlier. The most important thing was that I had already signed in, and my boss knew I had arrived. But as I was about to start by turning on theputer, two sandwiches with chocte filling wereid out. Along with lemon tea, which I knew who had prepared.


    The difference this time was that there were no notes.


    ***


    It¡¯s a crazy day¡­ I guess. I want to cry, but I can¡¯t. Usually, I¡¯m not bothered when Krystal starts acting up, especially when things don¡¯t go her way. Like now. In her office, my boss is discussing financial matters with Mr. Sarman. It¡¯s been almost an hour, and no one hase out yet.


    I¡¯m nervous because I feel a strong aura of hostility from my desk. Krystal is observant and always focuses on one point every time she asks, even if the type of question is different. Basically, when talking to Krystal, I have to stick to the facts. If not, I¡¯ll be torn to shreds.


    The consequence for me? Oh, it¡¯s there. I¡¯ll be asked to get data that matches her desires precisely, regardless of the division ites from. I¡¯ve done it before, and every time I ask for data, they alwaysin. Comining to me is pointless, as I also work under Krystal, just like them.


    ¡°Anya,¡± she called.


    I had already known, and I was just waiting for the moment the voice woulde out. My feet spontaneously moved along with my notes and pen. I didn¡¯t want to miss these two things. It was crucial to jot down all of Krystal¡¯s words, which sounded like a speeding train. ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± I knocked on the ss door politely and gently pushed it open after receiving permission.


    ¡°Anya, take notes.¡±


    I was ready to take notes while walking. Krystal wouldn¡¯t give me a break to sit down.


    ¡°I¡¯m requesting the financial data for the first andst half of 2018 from Mr. Sarman. You double-check everything, and I¡¯ll forward which ones you need to verify. I¡¯ll use them as the base for the meeting with themissioners and shareholders in a month.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°And for Mr. Sarman, make sure the data is urate this time. I don¡¯t want to be embarrassed because of it,¡± she joked. But I knew the type of jokes Krystal made was actually biting sarcasm. There¡¯s no way Mr. Sarman would be held up that long if his report was in order. I was sure something was wrong.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the man replied with a wry smile. I nced at him briefly. Mr. Sarman¡¯s once-friendly face was no longer amiable. Then he roughly pulled out a bundle that I was sure contained his report. ¡°If that¡¯s all, ma¡¯am, I¡¯ll excuse myself.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mr. Sarman.¡±


    Impressively, Krystal always smiled politely even when I knew her mind was at war. I followed Mr. Sarman with my peripheral vision as he disappeared through the ss door.


    ¡°Anya,¡±


    I immediately turned and prepared to take notes again.


    ¡°I want indicators and tables ording to the ones I forwarded to you earlier. You need to get the actual data. If necessary, conduct a surprise inspection. If Sarman refuses, tell him it¡¯s my order.¡±


    I swallowed hard. ¡°Okay, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s amazing how I¡¯m notpletely blind when ites to financial reports. He answers a simple question like that,¡± Krystal grumbled before copsing into her oversized chair. ¡°Do you have any outside-of-the-office ns today, Anya?¡±


    I quickly opened my notes, not wanting to rely on memory even though I was confident in my answer. ¡°No, ma¡¯am. But I have a lunch appointment with Lazade¡¯s representative tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That Crazy Man, right?¡±


    I wanted tough, but I couldn¡¯t. It seemed like Krystal didn¡¯t like that agenda, but she couldn¡¯t avoid it. I was sure of that.


    ¡°Well, just tell Crazy Man¡¯s secretary to have lunch at Mandarin Hotel.¡±


    I responded with a nod. I thought there was nothing else I needed to do here. Because I was certain that the task I had just been assigned would make me work overtime for days. Not to mention keeping up with her activities outside the office. Checking financial reports before handing them to a Krystal required concentration. It couldn¡¯t be done haphazardly. She might scold me if I didn¡¯t do it properly.


    My suspicions were confirmed when I opened the email that was supposedly sent by my boss. I could only let out a soft sigh. This was torture. I looked at the clock on theputer, and it was already lunchtime. I decided to have lunch outside so that I wouldn¡¯t feel overwhelmed and could recharge with positive energy to work on this report.


    I grabbed my phone and typed a message to Dona. Let¡¯s have lunch together. Sometimes Dona would go wherever she pleased if I didn¡¯t inform her first. But when having lunch with Dona, we rarely ate in the cafeteria. That part-time guy preferred to eat at the restaurant across the office, which also had a coffee shop.


    Dona: They have a new menu, and I want to try it. I also got a discount. Just join me. I don¡¯t feel like going to the cafeteria.


    I could do nothing but follow her. It was better than staying here or epting Kelvin¡¯s lunch invitation. Speaking of Kelvin, I used to respond to his invitations a few times. But I don¡¯t know why I feelzy about it now.


    But if I eat there, it means I¡¯ll see Dewangga, right? Oh my God!


    ¡°Thank you, Dewa, for treating us. Do this more often,¡± Dona said enthusiastically. I felt like changing my face or covering my face with a stic bag just like Dona did. Embarrassing.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Doni. Just invite Anya here more often. I¡¯ll treat her next time,¡± Dewa replied.


    Donaughed. Damn! So, this was just Dona¡¯s scheme, huh? I had been avoiding Dewa for a long time too. The guy who was not far from me only smiled a little when we met face to face.


    ¡°Anya¡¯s getting harder to approach. Got a boyfriend?¡± he asked bluntly. I winced at his words.


    ¡°Oh, Anya doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend yet. She¡¯s the one ying hard to get. I¡¯ll give you a recipe to-¡±


    ¡°Dona, that¡¯s enough,¡± I said while pinching her waist. ¡°Thanks for the lunch, okay?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Anya.¡±


    I immediately grabbed Dona¡¯s hand to stop her from continuing her senseless rambling. But before I could take a step away, Dewa called me again as he approached.


    ¡°After work, I¡¯ll wait for you. Don¡¯t avoid me forever.¡±


    My mind told me to just ept his invitation. After all, I didn¡¯t bring my car today. It¡¯s better to go with Dewa than going home with Kelvin, who might annoy me with his words. Just as I was about to nod in agreement, I saw Cedric walking in the distance. He was heading towards the office lobby, but I was sure he briefly looked at me. I didn¡¯t know what happened to me. I felt like his gaze was speaking without words and full of questions. I didn¡¯t understand what it meant.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Dewangga interrupted.


    ¡°But I have to work overtime today. What about you, Dewa?¡±


    Dewa chuckled. ¡°When did I ever refuse to wait for you during overtime?¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    ¡°Reply to my message, Anya.¡±


    I grinned. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Ahem. Did you forget about me, Anya?¡±


    Iughed softly. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the office, Dewa.¡±


    The man nodded and smiled. One thing I liked about Dewangga, the Store Manager whom Dona said was devastatingly handsome, was his smile. His row of white teeth clearly showed that he was a humble and sociable guy.


    ¡°Damn, if you weren¡¯t pregnant. Seriously, Anya, I would prefer you to be closer to Dewa.¡±


    I pinched Dona¡¯s waist even harder without mercy. Making her scream in pain, but I didn¡¯t care! Crazy of her to say that? What if someone heard?!!!

 [6]

    I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and began to smell the scent of eucalyptus oil on the tissue, bit by bit. I did it intentionally because the rose scent in this room was so torturous. When I came back after lunch, my stomach was churning. I felt like vomiting, but I held it in. I chose to rub my nose with my damp fingers that had the eucalyptus oil.


    I rubbed the back of my hands, my neck, and even my throat with the oil. Also, the tip of my pointed nose. Can I ask Krystal to change the scent? But I wouldn¡¯t dare say that to her.


    ¡°Anya,e here for a moment.¡±


    I flinched. My boss¡¯s face disappeared from behind the door of her office. I quickly put my high heels back on and headed to Krystal¡¯s room. I thought my boss had gone out for lunch and would take a while to return. Maybe she had a lot of work, so she chose to eat in her office. I didn¡¯t ask.


    During lunch, I just told her that I would be leaving. I asked if she wanted me to buy her some food, but she just smiled. So, I assumed she didn¡¯t want to eat out and didn¡¯t have any lunch appointments with her clients. If there were any, I would be the first to know.


    ¡°Mrs. Krystal.¡±


    The beautiful woman looked up, smiled a little, and asked me to sit in the chair right in front of her desk. Iplied.


    ¡°Look.¡± Krystal shifted herptop disy towards me. I couldn¡¯t help but focus on everything there. The more I understood, the more I was amazed. Seriously?


    ¡°Seeing your reaction, I assume you agree with me, right?¡±


    I chuckled, returning theptop screen to its original position.


    ¡°So, you know how amazing this Lazade project is, right?¡±


    Yes, Krystal was absolutely right. If we settled the pricing and the way of coboration that would be established, I was sure this would be an extraordinary achievement for this semester. ¡°What more do we need, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Good question.¡±


    Working with Krystal made me understand a bit about how she worked.


    ¡°Actually, we don¡¯t need much more. It¡¯s just that the finance department feels like they will incur losses if we close the dealter. Their calctions don¡¯t match with yours, right? You, on the other hand, just like to be spontaneous¡­ let¡¯s get started. After all, when you break down, it¡¯s not a significant loss.¡±


    Krystal and her boldness.


    ¡°I agree with you, Ma¡¯am. We have manypetitors. We shouldn¡¯t let ourselves be overtaken continuously. If possible, we should create unique promotions as well. I saw that you have many meetings with Emerce clients this month.¡±


    ¡°Marketing is ready for this, Anya. They are enthusiastic, and well¡­ we¡¯ll be working overtime to discuss many other coborations. We can¡¯t apply a one-size-fits-all approach, right?¡±


    I nodded, furrowing my brows slightly. If the team that will be the spearhead is ready, what¡¯s holding us back? Krystal is a decision-maker. So? But it seemed like my boss didn¡¯t want to say more. She chose to y with her pen.


    ¡°I¡¯ll excuse myself, Ma¡¯am, if there¡¯s nothing else to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Ah, okay. I just wanted to inform you about that. Don¡¯t forget about the one this morning.¡±


    I nodded in response. When I left the room, I quickly sniffed my palm, hoping that there was still a hint of eucalyptus oil there. I found someone¡¯s shoe right in front of Krystal¡¯s office. When I looked up, our eyes met. I didn¡¯t prepare for this; Cedric smiled at me.


    ¡°Mrs. Anya,¡± he greeted.


    I responded with a brief nod.


    ¡°Is Mrs. Krystal in?¡± he asked, and I knew it was just a pretext. I¡¯ve known Cedric for a year now, and he only started working here recently. While working, I¡¯ve seen that he¡¯s always polite and well-mannered. He rarely engages in prolonged eye contact. But this time, my gaze got lost there. Fortunately, my rationality returned quickly. I quickly ended our eye contact.


    ¡°She¡¯s in.¡±


    I confidently walked to my desk. I didn¡¯t care if Cedric seemed strange to me earlier. I sat firmly in my chair and started working. Ignoring the sound of Cedric¡¯s footsteps entering Krystal¡¯s room. Only the sound of the automatic closing door remained.


    I never knew, except when I suddenly felt like drinking water. On the small table where my snacks were ced, there were sandwiches again that I had eaten in the morning. I groaned, holding myself back. What did it mean? Did he want to approach me? Oh my God!!!


    It seems like I need to talk to Cedric. I don¡¯t like the way he¡¯s treating me like this. After all, he¡¯s never done anything like this before. So why now? What¡¯s the meaning of it? What if, maybe, Naomi told Cedric about my situation? Oh God!Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Dewangga: Anya, I¡¯ll wait for you. Don¡¯t tell me you forgot that we¡¯re going home together.


    I forgot that Dewa invited me to go home together. My mind was busy with strange assumptions and suspicions that were only making me lose focus. I checked one financial report repeatedly, but it still didn¡¯t match. And I knew it was all because of Cedric!


    I quickly replied to Dewa¡¯s message, letting him know that I¡¯d be done in thirty minutes. I still sat at my desk, not moving at all even though I wanted to. I couldn¡¯t concentrate, and I didn¡¯t want to try to work on more than this. Instead of ending up with a mess, it¡¯s better to take a break for a while. I¡¯ll work overtime tomorrow. It¡¯s not a problem.


    ***


    When I was getting ready to leave, saying goodbye to my boss who was still in her office, I felt dizzy and had to hold onto the edge of my desk to avoid copsing. Coincidentally, Krystal came out of her room.


    ¡°Anya? Are you okay?¡±


    I could sense the concern in her tone. I recalled the work I did in the afternoon, although I wasn¡¯t fully focused. I went back and forth between the second floor and the finance division to borrow some folders I needed. I didn¡¯t want to ask for more help, especially to carry a few folders. Usually, other staff members often asked Cedric to help them. But I didn¡¯t want to.


    I chose to do it myself, especially considering the two sandwiches he gave me today. If I asked him for help, I was sure he¡¯d pay even more attention to me. Right?


    I wanted to answer that I was okay to Krystal, but darkness greeted me instead.


    ***


    When I first started working at xton Express, I fainted. The doctor said it was due to exhaustion, but I didn¡¯t think about that at the time. I had just moved to an apartment and worked overtime for two consecutive days. Well, the doctor was right. I was exhausted. I exerted too much energy without considering that my body also needed rest. I was hospitalized for two days and went back to work on the fourth day. My boss, Mr. Soleh, scolded me at that time.


    Before bing Krystal xton¡¯s secretary, I was an administrative staff in the Finance department. I inputted a lot of data and handled iing payments. Until now, Mr. Sonu still held an important position in the office. I had met him several times, and he always praised my performance.


    Perhaps that was the basis for Krystal to ask me to help check the financial reports because my initial work was under Mr. Sonu. I also didn¡¯t understand why Krystal conducted a selection process and Mr. Sonu rmended my name.


    Speaking of fainting, this time I found myself in a hospital bed. The sudden headache after I opened my eyes was quite intense. It made me weakly massage my forehead. My hands had difficulty moving. When I nced, the IV tube was attached perfectly. Oh my God! And my mind went back to Krystal.


    Yes, Krystal, who shouted when darkness first received light from my eyes.


    ¡°Anya, are you awake?¡±


    Dona¡¯s voice sounded somewhat trembling. I thought she was crying, but I would confirm it myselfter. I adjusted to the lighting and tried to make peace with the lingering headache.


    ¡°I fainted?¡±


    ¡°You did¡­¡± Dona with her exaggerated tone. ¡°Can¡¯t you make my heartbeat normal?¡±


    I chuckled softly. ¡°How long was I unconscious?¡±


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    I never expected Krystal to still be here. When we faced each other, she sighed. Maybe she was relieved or to avoid feeling guilty; I didn¡¯t understand either way.


    ¡°If you¡¯re sick, it¡¯s better to ask for leave than fainting like this, Anya,¡± she said bluntly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am.¡± I shifted a bit, supported by Dona so I wouldn¡¯t copse. I immediately felt guilty when Krystal¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t shift elsewhere but focused solely on me.


    ¡°Get enough rest. And you, Doni, call the doctor to check on Anya again.¡±


    Dona nodded immediately and left. Leaving me alone with Krystal. I didn¡¯t know why the atmosphere suddenly felt more tense than when I faced Krystal for making a mistake or when she was angry because I hadn¡¯t reviewed the reports she received.


    ¡°We need to talk, Anya.¡±


    Sometimes, I wondered about the romance novels¡¯ descriptions of lightning striking in the middle of the day. This time, I felt it. It shook me so much. My mind immediately flew everywhere, recalling everything that had happened and that I had done, all rted to my boss. I still loved my job, and I didn¡¯t want to be handed a termination letter.


    But what? What did Krystal want to talk to me about? My heart suddenly felt uneasy. The beautiful woman gently patted my shoulder and then walked away after excusing herself. Leaving me stunned with her actions.


    Before my surprise could subside, the door opened. I thought it was the doctor or Donaing to check on me.


    ¡°Mrs. Anya.¡±


    I closed my eyes. Why did Cedric have to be there?


    ¡°Is everything okay, Anya?¡±


    Even his formal address immediately changed. Oh God! I really needed to give him a serious warning. And what I hadn¡¯t calcted was that he satfortably at the edge of the bed, taking my hand and holding it.


    ¡°What the hell, you! So rude!¡± I pulled my hand away, ring sharply at him without any restraint. Oh Lord! He was so shameless! No sense of shame at all! His presence only made my headache worse.


    ¡°You scared me, Anya.¡±


    Seriously, I wanted to scold Cedric. But before I could even open my mouth, the doctor and Dona entered the room. Cedric slightly moved away as soon as he saw the doctor and her assistant approaching. They asked me a few questions, and I answered as best as I could.


    ¡°Fortunately, the baby is fine, Ma¡¯am. You¡¯ve been working too hard. Until you¡¯re dered fit, you can¡¯t leave yet. Don¡¯t ask to leave early,¡± the doctor smiled, perhaps reading my facial expression that wanted to object.


    I was sure my face had lost all its color. My lips didn¡¯t know what to say or how to respond when the doctor said that. Then her assistant just reminded me to take the prescribed medication regrly.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Dona called softly because I didn¡¯t say anything. Even after the doctor and her assistant left the room, I still remained silent.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Dona called again.


    ¡°Does Krystal know I¡¯m pregnant?¡± I turned to Dona, who seemed flustered by my previous question. I pressed Dona again. ¡°Don.¡±


    She winced softly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°SHIT!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Anya.¡±


    I forgot that Cedric was there.


    ¡°Can we talk? Just the two of us?¡± he said, ncing at Dona. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Doni.¡±


    Dona quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. If Anya scratches your face, you¡¯ll deal with the consequences.¡± Then she left whileughing, as if what she said was a joke.


    Damn Doni!


    Again, he took my hand and held it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Anya.¡±


    No matter how he apologized, I couldn¡¯t ept it. I had a share in it, but I clearly wouldn¡¯t admit it to him. I chose to pull my hand away and act defensively towards Cedric.


    ¡°I should have known earlier and asked Mrs. Krystal more often. I never forgot what happened that night, and I feel responsible.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying that?¡± I said dismissively.


    ¡°You pregnant my child, right?¡±


    ¡°Confident as always, Cedric.¡±


    He fell silent. His eyes looked at me with disbelief. I rolled my eyes. Then I heard the man, still wearing his uniform even though he had a sweater over it, sigh deeply.


    ¡°Okay then. Mrs. Anya, please get some rest. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    I heard the sound of a chair being moved, and my headache and nausea seemed to worsen with his departure.

 [7] a

    This is already my second day in the hospital. Dona and Naomi take turns taking care of me, even though I don¡¯t want to trouble them. I feel guilty if one of them has to stay overnight to look after me. Although my headache is subsiding, the nausea keepsing and going. The doctor said it¡¯s normal for the first trimester of my pregnancy.


    Talking about being pregnant makes me more determined. I feel a bit tired and I¡¯m being taken care of. I feel a little nauseous, with an endless headache, and everything I eates out without exception. My activities are limited, and on top of that, the doctor says I have to do this and that. I feel exhausted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t space out, Anya.¡± Naomi breaks my reverie. She came straight to the hospital after work this evening and stayed in my hospital room. She said Cedric wanted to visit, but I refused. Allowing Cedric to visit would be like allowing him to get closer to me. My mind wanders in all directions. What if I let him visit? He might not just leave me a note; he might be waiting for me at the elevator to go home together. It¡¯s possible, right? No, no. I don¡¯t want to think about that possibility.


    ¡°I¡¯m not spacing out, by the way.¡±


    Naomi just chuckles. ¡°The doctor said you can go home tomorrow afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Can I go back to work right away?¡±


    Naomi yfully flicks my forehead, causing me to wince in pain. She never ys around when ites to hurting me. ¡°Think about your baby, Anya.¡±


    I sigh softly while rubbing the spot where she flicked me. I¡¯m sure my forehead is red. ¡°If the doctor says I can go home, then I¡¯m fine, Naomi.¡±


    Naomi stands up, ignoring me. I don¡¯t try to stop her; maybe she needs some fresh air. I wasn¡¯t talking about trivial matters anyway. I can¡¯t rest for too long. I¡¯m used to having a full schedule with meetings and agendas, always following Krystal around.


    I feel guilty when, in thest few days, Krystal always added, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to rest, Anya,¡± at the end of her messages. After that, my boss didn¡¯t bother me again. She didn¡¯t call or message me about things she didn¡¯t know. My days are truly filled with rest and regr meals, while asionally checking Krystal¡¯s schedule. At least when I return to the office, I won¡¯t fall behind much. During my hospital stay, my mind never stops thinking about how to face Krystal, who already knows I¡¯m pregnant. And I¡¯m not thrilled about living the days with this unwanted fetus.


    It¡¯s not a matter of not wanting to get pregnant and then exposing myself to just anyone. No, I¡¯ve given it a lot of thought, about how this child¡¯s life will be in the future. I still doubt if Cedric can take responsibility. It¡¯s highly doubtful, especially when ites to money.


    If I work too hard, it could affect my baby. There are many activities beyond my control that don¡¯t seem to consider that I¡¯m in early pregnancy. The doctor also said yesterday that being too tired could be dangerous for this young fetus. So the possibility of miscarriage due to extreme fatigue is significant.


    Am I just tired?


    ***


    ¡°Why does he have to be here?¡± I¡¯m angry. How can I not be? Naomi and Dona seem to be conspiring. They must have nned this. I¡¯m 100% certain it¡¯s true and valid.


    ¡°I have to take care of Dad, Anya.¡±


    Whenever Naomi uses that excuse, it shuts me up. Then I look at Dona, who¡¯s showing a annoying grin. It¡¯s useless to get angry, it seems.


    ¡°Sorry, I have a date. Just today. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll apany you again, okay, Anya?¡±


    I pout. Naomi and Dona are still visiting me during lunch. They make sure I eat everything avable, along with my medication and vitamins. I just follow their instructions; I¡¯m toozy to listen to their nagging. My n is firm and it¡¯s not something I can execute now. It¡¯s impossible.


    They don¡¯t say anything about who will take care of me tonight. Then, out of the blue, when they leave, Cedric joins in. To make things worse, he acts as if nothing¡¯s wrong when he faces me.


    It seems like my strength to argue disappears. So, I let them do whatever they want. Especially Cedric. Naomi and Dona don¡¯t stay for long and I ignore them. I want them to know that I¡¯m angry. Damn Dona even says, ¡°Geez, don¡¯t sulk like that, Anya. It¡¯s unattractive.¡±


    It¡¯s better to continue reading the novel rather than speak to Cedric. Ignoring his presence is the best thing I can do. From the corner of my eye, I observe him take off his jacket, revealing a more casual ck shirt paired with slightly loose jeans. Cedric then sits next to me without doing anything inappropriate, like he did when he first started taking care of me.


    ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡±


    I put down the book and look at him. His ck eyes stare at me warmly, making me feel nervous. I start getting flustered on my own. I roll my eyes as a response to his question.


    He nods. ¡°Okay then, may I sleep? I¡¯m really tired.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re tired, just go home. I don¡¯t need yourpany,¡± I say sternly. He acts like it¡¯s such a burden to take care of me. I never asked for it.


    He smiles instead. ¡°No matter how tired I am, if I have to take care of Mrs. Anya, the tiredness goes away.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you say you were tired earlier?¡± I still don¡¯t want to be soft when talking to Cedric.


    ¡°When I talk to you, the tiredness disappears.¡±


    Damn it!!!


    I remain silent for a while, allowing Cedric toy down on the carpet that Naomi brought. I see him close his eyes. Is he asleep? Watching his chest rise and fall, it seems like his breathing is regr, and I assume Cedric has flown into dreand.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    From where I¡¯m lying, I¡¯m actually quite satisfied watching Cedric with his eyes closed. Trying to divert my gaze elsewhere is useless. My eyes arepletely betraying me. asionally, I nce at Cedric. Since he¡¯s asleep, he won¡¯t know that I¡¯m watching him.


    I still remember when he was on top of me. asionally, his forehead furrowed with sweat dampening his front hair. His ck eyes truly mesmerized me, as did his hoarse and slightly heavy voice.


    ¡°Call my name, Anya.¡±


    At first, my lips just sighed and asionally let out small screams, but once Cedric¡¯s voice filled my mind, Iplied.


    ¡°Touch me, Cedric. More¡­¡±


    Damn it! Why do I have to remember that! I quickly reached for the book next to me, but unfortunately, it fell. It made quite a noise in this quiet hospital room, as well as Cedric.


    ¡°Ms. Anya? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Wherever you want, Anya.¡±


    I closed my eyes for a moment. ¡°Everywhere, Cedric. It¡¯s up to you.¡±


    ¡°With pleasure.¡±


    What¡¯s going on in my mind right now? ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. My book fell.¡±


    He gave a small smile and picked up the fallen book. ¡°It¡¯ste. You¡¯d better get some sleep.¡±


    I just cleared my throat softly.


    ¡°Get plenty of rest so you can recover quickly. Or do you want some snacks? Naomi left some fruits on the shelf. Want any?¡±


    ¡°An apple.¡± I deeply regretted saying that, but for some reason, I really wanted an apple. Everything feels so spontaneous. What¡¯s wrong with me?!


    ¡°Just a moment.¡±


    With agility, he fetched two apples and carefully peeled them because I don¡¯t like apples with the skin on. I protested when he cut them into pieces with the skin on. When he handed me the sliced fruit, it felt amazing, like my stomach was beingforted by the apple¡­ peeled by Cedric.


    Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!


    ¡°Anya,¡± he called.


    My chewing motion slowed down. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°May I touch your belly? Just for a moment.¡±


    ***

 [7] b

    Wee back home, Anya. I screamed with joy inside. Once the doctor gave me the green light to go home, the main thing I¡¯ll do is take a bath. Soak in the warm, foamy water in my bathroom¡¯s bathtub. And enjoy the friendly aroma therapy. I also haven¡¯t had time to find something that won¡¯t make me nauseous, so maybe I¡¯ll stick to using eucalyptus oil for now. That¡¯s fine.


    My two annoying best friends escorted me all the way to the front door. They were the ones carrying my bags and taking care of everything. I epted their help gratefully, even though they really tested my patience.


    Besides the two of them, there¡¯s Cedric too. I could protest, but it¡¯s pointless. It¡¯s a Saturday, so no one is working, and they don¡¯t have the excuse of their work schedules being disturbed because of me. Damn it, they¡¯re so annoying!


    I still remember the night when Cedric stayed overnight. Not for a second did he take his attention off me. Whatever I needed, he went to great lengths to fulfill it. He even insisted on helping me go to the bathroom, even though I didn¡¯t really need it. I could still walk on my own; the only thing bothering me was the IV tube. I sent him away at 5 in the morning since he had to work, right?


    At first, Cedric insisted on waiting until breakfast arrived. He wanted to make sure I finished all the breakfast provided. Did he think I had a bottomless pit for a stomach? Eating so much? Crazy! I refused, firmly rejecting his offer because, besides him needing to work, I didn¡¯t want to spend too much time facing him.


    We didn¡¯t talk much during my hospital stay. I set many boundaries and answered his questions very briefly. I wasn¡¯t ready to chat or, in fact, I¡¯ve made up my mind. I don¡¯t need Cedric¡¯s approval. I¡¯ll carry out my n once I return to work actively. Krystal¡¯s business, I¡¯ll be honest if asked.


    Facing Krystal is a different story from facing Cedric.


    ¡°Anya, I¡¯ve put the food in the fridge. You just have to warm it up. What do you want to eat now?¡± Naomi asked after putting a ratherrge bag into the room. I¡¯m not allowed to do anything, and Dona is restraining me on the sofa. Naomi just ced the bag and ordered Cedric here and there.


    Cedric? He¡¯s so delighted to be asked for help like this. I wonder why. Not to mention his smile hasn¡¯t faded away! What¡¯s he doing?! Working, just work! Why does he have to smile like that? Trying to get my attention or something?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± I¡¯m being honest. I¡¯m still full. Besides, if they linger here, I won¡¯t be able to carry out my n to take a bath, will I?


    ¡°Come on, Anya, you have to take your medication and vitamins obediently.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± I chose to grab my gadget from my pouch. I read many messages from Dewa and Kelvin. Those two wanted to visit me, but for the sake of my peace, I banned them froming.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be checking on you frequently, Ya,¡± Naomi followed me to sit on the sofa. ¡°If you misbehave again.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow challenging Naomi¡¯s gaze. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°For sure! I¡¯ll be your enemy.¡±


    I burst intoughter. ¡°You both act like children.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the child here. You can¡¯t take care of yourself at all.¡±


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance. ¡°Please, Naomi. I¡¯m being hunted down by Krystal. That¡¯s why I have to move quickly. And do you really think I¡¯d let myself faint like that? No way.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really hard to argue with you.¡± Naomi then got up, leaving me puzzled. Although I do want them to leave me soon, it doesn¡¯t mean this quickly.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I finally asked. Especially seeing Dona giving more instructions to Cedric. What¡¯s the point?


    ¡°We¡¯re going home. You¡¯re in Cedric¡¯s care.¡±


    ¡°NO!!!¡±


    ***


    ¡°I don¡¯t know which one you like. I bought them all,¡± Cedric offered several bottles of aroma therapy. From red, soft purple, cream, white, pink, and oh my! Yellow? Seriously! That¡¯s just not right!


    Initially, I was forcing Cedric to just go home with Naomi and Dona. But my friends are incredibly annoying. They keep nagging and make it impossible for me to reject their help, so I decided to take a shower. I don¡¯t care if Cedric wants to go home or stays in the living room. I just want to soak in the bath.


    My intention to rx was not fully realized as I suddenly felt intense nausea. Entering the bathroom with its woody scent made me dizzy all of a sudden, causing Naomi and Dona to change their minds about leaving. They diligently helped me clean up the mess. Dona promptly threw away anything rted to the aroma therapy I liked.


    ¡°If you leave her alone, what would happen? Turn into a corpse?¡± Naomi is sadistic when she talks like that. I just stayed silent.


    ¡°Are they all thrown away, Dona?¡±


    ¡°All done, Nao. Anya is so irritating. Let¡¯s not use those aromas anymore.¡±


    ¡°I was nning to take a bath, Dona. I thought it would be pleasant andfortable,¡± Iined while sniffing the scent of eucalyptus oil again. ¡°Who knew I couldn¡¯t handle it.¡±


    ¡°Buy Anya some aromatherapy scents, but not the floral ones or the ones she tried earlier. She kept vomiting. Poor thing,¡± Dona advised.


    ¡°Yes, Doni.¡± Cedric quickly grabbed his jacket, even though he had just finished cleaning my bathroom.


    I felt uneasy about this. ¡°Cedric,¡± I called before it was toote.


    He nced back briefly but continued moving.


    ¡°No need. I don¡¯t need it.¡±


    What I hate most about Cedric right now is his smile. Yes, at this moment, he smiled at me without any burden. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Anya. As long as it makes youfortable, I¡¯ll stick to using only the aroma therapy.¡±


    As his back disappeared behind my unit¡¯s door, Dona immediately taunted me mercilessly. ¡°Such a hypocrite!¡± she said.


    Damn it!


    ¡°He knows you¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    I turned to Naomi, who seemed to be casually talking.


    ¡°The question is simple, Nao. Did Anya tell Cedric that she¡¯s pregnant?¡± Dona chimed in.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Naomi now looked at me with a slightly sharp gaze. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So? What?¡± I asked, pouting. ¡°You two would be the only ones I¡¯d tell if I were pregnant.¡±


    Naomi chuckled. I became suspicious. ¡°Right?¡± I asked, confirming.


    ¡°Uhm¡­ how should I exin it, Don?¡±


    Dona nowughed with satisfaction.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I became even more suspicious. There must be something they¡¯re hiding. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°When you went to the hospital, Krystal and Cedric took you there. We followed after Krystal told us. When I got there, Cedric defended you gently in front of Krystal.¡±


    Furrows appeared on my forehead. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Enough, Nao. Let Anya have something to talk about with Cedric.¡±


    I threw a sofa pillow, hitting Dona¡¯s face squarely. I was so annoyed by her words just now! Some friend she is, huh?

 [8] a

    ¡°Miss,¡± Cedric called, snapping me out of my daydream. The bottles of aroma therapy were already in front of me. I chose to sniff each one of them. As for the ones with flower images, I set them aside. They would make me nauseous for sure.


    My choice fell on the ones with a lot of Eucalyptus and Ginger. At least, their scent was rxing when I inhaled them. Once I made my selection, Cedric smiled again. I couldn¡¯t ignore his effort, right? So, as an appreciation, I thanked him.


    ¡°I¡¯m d I can be of use to you, at least.¡±


    I was taken aback for a moment. ¡°Why?¡±


    I saw Cedric blink and look a bit embarrassed. I sat up straight on the long sofa while he chose to sit on the single one, right across from me.


    ¡°Uh¡­ because you¡¯re pregnant, so I feel responsible for you.¡±


    ¡°So, if I weren¡¯t pregnant, you wouldn¡¯t be like this?¡± I don¡¯t know why I asked this way. It only made Cedric stare at me intensely. Ugh, why did I say that, Anya?!


    ¡°Let¡¯s forget about that. Just answer my question honestly.¡± I waved my hand to dismiss my own awkwardness and said, ¡°What did you talk about with Krystal when I was at the hospital?¡±


    His brow furrowed, and his expression showed that he was thinking. ¡°Talk?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on. Just answer.¡±


    ¡°I said we were in a rtionship but kept it professional at the office.¡±


    ¡°WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished, Miss.¡±


    I was shocked. Half-dead!!! I took as much air as I could and tried to calm myself down, although it was really hard.


    ¡°If not that, your reputation would be ruined in Krystal¡¯s eyes. At least, you could me me. Because I was the one tempted.¡±


    This conversation was making me even more insane! I don¡¯t understand where Cedric gets such an immense amount of confidence! Krystal, you know! He faced Krystal. Okay, Krystal is not my mother, but I have so much respect for her. I consider her a role model and a mirror in all my life¡¯s achievements.


    Rather than continuing and making myself emotional, I need a lot of energy to just curse Cedric out. So, I took my chosen aroma therapy bottle and headed for the toilet. I couldn¡¯t bear to keep facing Cedric. It would give me a headache.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a bath!¡± I snapped.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside the toilet door.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± Seriously, Cedric¡¯s brain doesn¡¯t exist!


    ¡°Just in case something happens to you.¡± Cedric spoke with concern in his tone. I could see it, but no! I wasn¡¯t having it!


    ¡°My toilet door is made of ss, and you know that clearly.¡±


    He still smiled! ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to peep on me or what? You¡¯re such a jerk!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen you naked before.¡± His smile still adorned his lips. ¡°I could never forget that.¡±


    The perfect definition of a jerk, I must say! Right?


    ¡°I¡¯m not that perverted to spy on you while you bathe. Why would I? I just want to see only if the owner of the body allows it.¡±


    I didn¡¯t feel like dealing with this. I was just cursing Cedric in my mind perfectly. Later¡­ter, I would surely get back at him.


    ***


    I felt energized. It was refreshing to soak in the foamy water with the scent of ginger filling the room. I enjoyed it. When I got out, Cedric wasn¡¯t at the door. I knew he was there since I entered the bathroom. His silhouette was evident, not facing towards me. Not at all.


    He leaned against the ss, probably scrolling through his phone, killing time while waiting for me. I didn¡¯t ask. I really didn¡¯t care about Cedric¡¯s presence when I bathed. What I wanted was to rx. As I started drying my hair, I saw him stand up and not return. I guessed he knew that I had finished my bath.


    Since my energy was fully restored, I was ready to scold Cedric to retaliate for his words earlier. Rxing didn¡¯t mean I forgot, but what he said could be forgiven. However, my intentions vanished into thin air when I stepped out of the room. The aroma of delicious soup filled the kitchen. I imagined hot soup poured over rice with extra meat and crunchy crackers. Don¡¯t forget the chili and freshly squeezed lime juice for added vor.


    Suddenly, I felt hungry.


    ¡°Miss.¡±


    This was the first time I saw Cedric wearing a pink apron. Yep, it was clear. It was also his first time invading my kitchen. The apron belonged to me and I often used it when I wanted to cook something.


    ¡°I¡¯m heating up the soup we bought earlier. The rice is almost done. Can you be patient a little longer?¡±


    I might have drooled. I felt embarrassed. ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    ¡°I apologize if it seemed impolite.¡±


    Ah, I just realized I wanted to scold Cedric. Why did I forget? ¡°Yeah. You reallyck manners with me.¡±


    And once again, he did something I hated. He smiled.


    ¡°Shall I make you some warm lemon tea?¡±


    Damn it, I nodded. And foolishly, I approached. I sat on the kitchen chair, not far from where Cedric stood, a minimalistic space for eating. My apartment wasn¡¯t big, but it was more than enough for me alone. Two bedrooms, a toilet near the kitchen, and a private one in my room. The kitchen area wasn¡¯t toorge, but it could amodate four people.


    The living room only had a sofa and a t-screen TV that I didn¡¯t remember when Ist turned on. I rarely watched TV. Maybe because I was too tired, I preferred to spend time in my room. The part of this apartment that I liked the most was the balcony. I could ce a small table and two chairs there, perfect for rxing while feeling the gentle night breeze.


    Cedric was quick to prepare dinner for me. It was just as I had imagined, and it was amazing.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± I realized that the bowl he had prepared was only for me.


    ¡°No. You should have it, Anya.¡±


    I shrugged my shoulders. It wasn¡¯t my concern if he didn¡¯t want to eat, right? After all, I was sure the heated Soto was more than one portion. It should be enough for him too.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m d that you¡¯re eating regrly these days.¡±


    My spoon froze in the air. I lost my appetite again upon hearing his words.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you continue?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it,¡± I said, wiping the corner of my lips from the Soto broth. I was hungry, but Cedric¡¯s words, which seemed like an excuse to pay more attention to me, made me ufortable.


    ¡°You need to understand my situation as well. I don¡¯t need your protection to face Krystal, and I personally don¡¯t n to stay in this belly for long.¡±


    I could see the change in Cedric¡¯s expression. The smile that had been on his lips disappearedpletely.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sacrifice many things I have. Consider this the biggest mistake in my life, and I don¡¯t want you involved in it.¡± I wasn¡¯t afraid to challenge his ck eyes, which gradually lost their luster and were reced with disappointment.


    ¡°I want to take responsibility, Anya. I won¡¯t run away.¡±


    I sighed softly. ¡°It¡¯s not about responsibility, as you know.¡±


    I let there be a brief pause before continuing. ¡°It¡¯ste. I want to rest. You can go home.¡±


    ***

 [8] b

    I knew I was being cruel when I spoke to Cedric like that. Even his disappointed expression became the night¡¯s luby for me. But what else could I do? I had to talk about it. I couldn¡¯t let myself get carried away. I was already foolish enough to undress in front of him, and then I got carried away by his sweet demeanor.


    No, I couldn¡¯t let that happen again.


    As soon as I finished talking, Cedric left without saying goodbye. It felt worse than waking up in the middle of the night. I regretted it a bit, but then I thought, why should I regret it? This was what I wanted, right?


    Let Krystal be the one to judge me for what happened to me. If Cedric boldly imed that we were in a rtionship and ended up with me being pregnant out of wedlock¡­ ugh, I couldn¡¯t imagine facing Krystal on Monday. Why did Cedric have to talk like that? Was there no other way? And why was he so confident that I was pregnant with his child?


    But indeed, it was his child.


    I wasn¡¯t an easy woman. Just because Kelvin and Dewa approached me didn¡¯t mean they could freely spend time with me. I often rejected dinner invitations. This was where I was foolish. If I didn¡¯t grant Kelvin and Dewa ess, why did I give it to Cedric?


    Damn it! Where did my brain go that night? Vodka! ming vodka multiple times was useless. It was just my stupid behavior!


    Looking at the clock on the wall, it was already 2 a. m. I couldn¡¯t sleep at all. Even after snuggling up with a nket, drinking warm milk, rubbing my hands and feet with eucalyptus oil, and lighting aroma therapy candles, everything was in vain. I wasn¡¯t even hungry. Snacks didn¡¯t cross my mind.


    Cedric.


    Damn it. Why did he keep popping into my head? What was I hoping for? He said he would take responsibility, and I knew from his serious expression that he meant it. But really, this was more than just about responsibility.


    My biggest fear was that one day Cedric would leave me. With his child. During that time, there was no guarantee that I wouldn¡¯t fall in love with Cedric. I was sure he cared enough, willing to get involved in small matters. Like earlier, he prepared dinner for me without being asked.


    And then there was the matter of the child. Could Cedric raise a child if he truly took on that responsibility? A child required significant expenses, from my calctions. My savings might be enough to put the child through elementary school. What about college? And their life? Their social life?


    This was Washington DC. I had emphasized that, right? It wasn¡¯t cheap. Everything was expensive. Especially now that Krystal knew about my situation. What would happen if this fetus kept developing? If Krystal still allowed me to work under her, then what? But if not? My future would be ruined. I couldn¡¯t possibly find a job in this condition, right? Okay, maybe I could ask Krystal not to fire me until the time of delivery. Then what?


    Is it easy to find a job in Washington DC? Even though I have substantial experience, it¡¯s not like I¡¯ll be instantly epted at a new ce, right? And what about Cedric? I¡¯m not underestimating him, but¡­ I¡¯m just trying to be realistic.


    I don¡¯t want to have a child when I¡¯m not ready. I also don¡¯t want my future child to question where my love for them is. Maybe because I¡¯m too busy making money. Or maybe because I¡¯m selfish and don¡¯t want to be approached, considering them a hindrance to my aspirations.


    It¡¯s giving me a headache. I pull the edge of the nket up to my chest, mumbling prayers and counting sheep. Maybe one of them could make me fall asleep. I don¡¯t want to face Sunday with dark circles under my eyes.


    ***


    ¡°Yeah, one moment.¡± I feel like cursing anyone who disturbs my morning this week. Even though it¡¯s already 10 in the morning, I still consider it early. The apartment bell rings again. This guest is so impatient. I guess it¡¯s Dona visiting if it¡¯s not Naomi.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    A nuisance!


    As I expected, there they were, the two people who had been grinning without any clear reason behind my apartment door.


    ¡°Oh, a pregnant woman should smile a lot, Anya,¡± Dona said without beating around the bush. She just entered without waiting for my invitation. The same goes for Naomi. Well¡­ whatever. These two friends of mine can¡¯t seem to leave me alone. So rather than wasting time, I choose to return to the kitchen. Continuing to stir the sweet and sour soup to drizzle over the fried carp for this meal.


    ¡°Is Cedric staying over?¡± Naomi suddenly asked, making me stop my movements.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    I hear Naomi let out a soft sigh. ¡°I¡¯m the one who asked him to stay here. To look after you, Anya.¡±


    I can only shake my head in surprise. Am I a baby that needs extra care? No. I see Naomi sitting at the kitchen table. Her eyes don¡¯t wander except towards me. I feel like she¡¯s watching my every move in the kitchen.


    ¡°Naomi, I know you mean well. But I feel like that¡¯s crossing some boundaries. I¡¯ve only allowed Cedric to step into my ce, you know. And I don¡¯t want him to be too involved in my life.¡± I slowly pour the sweet and sour sauce. Then, I bring it to the dining table because I feel like I need to eat rice today.


    Naomi seems to be listening to my words earlier. Once again, I hear her let out a sigh.


    ¡°I love you, Anya. I consider you like a sister. You live alone in Washington DC, with no support system. I also know a bit about your past. Am I wrong for wanting a good guy to look after you?¡±


    I smile sadly. ¡°And you feel¡­ that guy is Cedric?¡±


    Naomi nods without hesitation. ¡°I can see it clearly, you know. Cedric is kind and genuine.¡±


    It¡¯s still not enough for me, Naomi. But I don¡¯t voice my thoughts. I choose to sit and enjoy my meal.


    ¡°Did you talk about your pregnancy with Cedricst night?¡±


    I raise my gaze. ¡°Isn¡¯t he already aware that I¡¯m pregnant with his child?¡±


    Naomi gives a small smile. ¡°I mean, did you talk about responsibility?¡±


    Naomi¡¯s nod I ept as an answer.


    ¡°I did. But I don¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any responsibility from Cedric. I also don¡¯t want to sacrifice what I¡¯ve achieved all this time, Naomi.¡±


    ¡°Crazy!¡± The perfect cursees from Dona¡¯s lips. I don¡¯t know when she sat next to Naomi. Her eyes re sharply at me. Angry.


    ¡°A baby is innocent, Anya! Don¡¯t mess around! Once is enough for you to make a mistake with this baby. Don¡¯t add more by having these crazy intentions!¡±


    I spoon a mouthful of rice and fish. ¡°Who guarantees me that, moving forward, Cedric will be like that? Let¡¯s be realistic.¡±


    Naomi shakes her head in disbelief at what I said, and so does Dona. But my mind is made up. All night I¡¯ve been thinking about the risks and other possibilities. And this is my choice. Exactly as I told Cedric.


    ¡°Whatever. Just don¡¯t have any regrets, Anya.¡±


    I¡¯m unprepared for the moment Naomi and Dona choose to leave me while I¡¯m not finished eating. Without saying goodbye.

 [9] a

    I took a deep breath inside the car, making sure to rece the air freshener with a scent I like. I don¡¯t want to risk feeling nauseous or dizzy because of a scent I dislike. Oh goodness, seriously. This makes me feel like I¡¯m changing my habits a little-or rather, a lot. Even when ites to food, I¡¯ve be picky. I¡¯ll only eat what I have in mind. If not, well¡­ don¡¯t expect me to touch it.


    I arrived at the office basement earlier than usual. I need to prepare because I¡¯m sure Krystal will ask all sorts of questionster. And I have to answer honestly, right? I¡¯ll just leave out the part about my ns. I¡¯ll make it seem like it¡¯s due to work exhaustion. Easy, right?


    Even if Krystal decides to fire me, by then, maybe the fetus in my womb would have naturally disappeared. Starting today, I¡¯m determined to make it vanish as soon as possible. No need for pills or anything. Since my return, I¡¯ve read many articles about the dangers of aborting at such an early stage. Especially with the use of drugs. It could have serious consequences for me as the pregnant woman.


    No. No. I¡¯m already making myself tired enough. The effects of exhaustion can be a frightening specter for most early-stage pregnant women. Including me. While others are careful to avoid exhaustion, what am I looking for in the ends of the earth? What does exhaustion even look like?


    I nced at my reflection from the rear-view mirror. Not bad. I managed to cooperate this morning, meaning I didn¡¯t feel nauseous. My belly is still somewhat t, but I¡¯m being cautious. I wear a knee-length dress paired with a formal zer so it doesn¡¯t look too casual. I tied my long hair up high. My makeup is of the natural kind. I don¡¯t like overdoing it.


    I¡¯m ready.


    Well, not really, but I can¡¯t dy it anymore. It¡¯s a workday. I already replied to Krystal¡¯s message hours ago, letting her know that I coulde in on Monday. I try to motivate myself by gripping the straps of my worn-out bag on my shoulder tightly. I walk as usual.


    ¡°Hi, Anya.¡±


    My heart feels like it¡¯s about to leap out of my chest. When I turn around, I finally let out a relieved exhale. I was too preupied with thoughts of Krystal that I didn¡¯t notice who was calling me. ¡°Hi,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Are you feeling better? You still look pale, though.¡± Kelvin walks beside me. From his facial expression, I know he¡¯s genuinely concerned about me. Which means he¡¯s being sincere.


    I chuckle softly in response. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Staying too long at the hospital didn¡¯t help with my recovery.¡±


    ¡°Because I didn¡¯t visit, right?¡± he jokes, and I wee it with a smallugh. ¡°Why can¡¯t I visit? I won¡¯t disturb you, seriously. But I was really worried, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Vin. But I really needed the rest.¡±


    Now it¡¯s his turn tough, making his eyes squint.


    ¡°Not because Naomi forbade it, right?¡±


    We bothugh together again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t keep rejecting me, huh? At least let me be your friend. You can be friends with Doni, so why not me?¡±


    Oh gosh! Doni is a big exception in my life, you know! But I¡¯m reluctant to respond to Kelvin¡¯s words. I choose to smile instead of answering.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret it if I¡¯m no longer here.¡±


    Huh?!


    I turn to him, furrowing my brow. ¡°Why?¡±


    He just smiles in response, then gestures for me to enter the open elevator first.


    ¡°You¡¯re not usually with Naomi or Doni. Where are they?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Hey, have you had breakfast?¡± Krystal suddenly asks as I return from the restroom. After putting my bag down, I headed to the restroom because I suddenly felt an urgent need to pee. As if something is pressing too tightly on my abdomen. I¡¯m confused myself. Is that normal?


    ¡°Yes, I have, Ma¡¯am.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Krystal gives a skeptical look. ¡°Just eat, okay? Don¡¯t faint again here.¡±


    I stay silent, epting a full te of sweet-smellingyer cakes that she handed me. Then the woman with ck hair returns to her office without saying anything else to me. Part of me says it¡¯s still too early to initiate a heavy conversation like my case. Another part is grateful that at least Krystal isn¡¯t giving me any weird looks.


    The day goes smoothly, too smoothly. Krystal doesn¡¯t bother me too much. My work fromst week was done perfectly. I just need a bit more data from the finance department for the report that Krystal requested before the incident where I fainted. I don¡¯t want to waste the time I have. Because who knows, even if I¡¯m rxed now, tomorrow I might be swamped with piles of documents and meetings outside.


    Who knows? I, who hold Krystal¡¯s agenda, can twist and turn to bnce it. When I look, it¡¯s five minutes to lunchtime. I¡¯m grateful that I¡¯ve managed to get through the day without any weird feelings, even though I have to smell the scent of eucalyptus oil quite frequently. I suddenly remember Kelvin¡¯s words from earlier. Normally, Naomi would have been busy chatting with me since morning. Or Dona would have been making a fuss, asking for breakfast or at least asking what I want for breakfast.


    This time, my phone is quiet without any notifications. Are they both mad? Why? Because of my decision? Is that it? I¡¯ve analyzed and thought about it thoroughly, weighing the pros and cons and my future ahead. The choice I made is the best path.


    Maybe there¡¯s no harm in sending them a message first. But before I could even reach for my phone, the inte buzzed.


    ¡°Hello?¡± I know who¡¯s calling. The number zero on the button lights up, indicating that Krystal¡¯s extension is connected to mine.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch outside, Ya. Bring yourptop, we might be here until evening. I have an appointment afterward.¡±


    I tried to recall all of Krystal¡¯s agendas for today. None of them indicated that she had an appointment after lunch. And with me, too. Suddenly, my heart started pounding rapidly. Is this when Krystal will talk about what she mentioned at the hospital the other day?


    ¡°Alright, Ma¡¯am,¡± I replied weakly. Despite that, I can¡¯t waste time dwelling on the worst possibilities I might face. I have to quickly tidy up my things and grab myptop. I double-checked the contents of my bag to make sure I didn¡¯t leave anything behind. Then I put on high heels. I¡¯m sure Krystal will be meeting with a client somewhere in a building.


    ¡°Ready, Anya?¡±


    I jump in surprise to find Krystal already standing in front of my desk.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    I submit.


    ***

 [9] b

    I copsed on the bed in my room. I massaged my temples while sighing repeatedly. My mind is upied. How can it not be? Ever since Krystal brought up the lunch n, I¡¯ve been on high alert. Afraid and worried about my future if Krystal does indeed know about my pregnancy and my rtionship with Cedric, as that man imed. Damn Cedric!


    During the ride in Krystal¡¯s luxury sedan, she only talked about work-rted matters, which I responded to professionally, as usual. I also noted down the key points, just as I always did before. Krystal mentioned that after lunch, she¡¯ll be meeting with the Crazy Foreigner, who I¡¯m sure is a high-ranking Lazade executive.


    I asked if the meeting was rescheduled fromst week. Krystal chuckled softly in response.


    ¡°Anya doesn¡¯t like to meet him alone. If there¡¯s someone else, the Crazy Guy won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    Actually, the man Krystal referred to as the Crazy Guy has never done anything strange whenever I¡¯ve met and interacted with him. Well, it¡¯s not that frequent. I meet him when Krystal has some business with their side. But from what I can tell, James Andrew Wim is a gentleman. Handsome, authoritative, not much of a talker, and I think he likes Krystal.


    Well¡­ they do seempatible.


    ¡°What do you want to eat, Anya?¡±


    I blinked slowly. I couldn¡¯t look away as Krystal stared intently at me. I nervously swallowed my saliva. Krystal had never asked me about my food preferences before. And fortunately, I wasn¡¯t picky when it came to food. Before. Now? Don¡¯t even ask.


    ¡°Anything is fine, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±


    She smiled faintly, gently touching my arm with her slender and soft-as-cotton fingers. I¡¯m sure 100% that Krystal has never touched a kitchen or even held a broom or mop in her life. Her hands are so refined. ¡°Pregnant women usually crave for strange things, Anya.¡±


    I choked on my own saliva. This made Krystal panic and offer me a drink. I quickly finished the mineral water she gave me. Once I was sure there were no drops left on my lips, I mustered the courage to meet my boss¡¯s gaze. ¡°You know?¡±


    ¡°Thank your fainting spell for that, you created quite a spectacle.¡±


    I felt like crying. Truly. In my 27 years of life, I¡¯ve shed tears a few times. Several times, but the most heart-wrenching was when my grandmother, who raised me, passed away. That was when I was neen. When my mother left, I cried all day. The day after, I started forgetting because my father was still there. But when my father left, I cried for two days and two nights.


    Maybe my teary eyes have lost their sense of propriety and decided to release what I¡¯ve been holding in so strongly. I softly sobbed with a torrent of emotions that overwhelmed me, not caring that Krystal was right beside me, the woman who is my role model.


    ¡°Why are you crying, Anya?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s very confusing,¡± I whimpered.


    Krystal patted my shoulder gently, as if providing a different kind of energy that I considered eptance. ¡°Take care of your pregnancy, Ya. Don¡¯t stress too much. We¡¯ll have someone to help you soon.¡±


    I became even more agitated. Letting even more tears fall. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t handle the workload alone, Anya. Unless you provide a copy of your marriage certificate for maternity leave. Maybe I can back you up.¡±


    Krystal xton, a Board of Director, a high-ranking executive in thepany where I earn a living. She spoke so lightly, making me feel¡­ noticed. My heart suddenly warmed.


    ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am. Thank you.¡±


    Krystal then smiled and held my hand, stroking it with her index finger, which was painted with peach-colored nail polish, matching the essory she wore today. ¡°Take care of your pregnancy, Anya.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t respond to her words. I chose to remain silent throughout the journey to the restaurant Krystal suggested. Ah, that¡¯s just the beginning.


    After lunch, apanying Krystal to meet the handsome Crazy Foreigner, I returned to the office to finish all remaining tasks for the day. Even though Krystal asionally reminded me to have snacks, she even specially bought me various types of dry cakes and put them in jars. She said she was afraid that I might want to eat something. Truly, I felt ufortable. I couldn¡¯t even refuse. Krystal seems overjoyed with the news of my pregnancy.


    Oh God! I suddenly have a headache.


    When office hours were over, Krystal said, for the first time, ¡°No more overtime starting today. I won¡¯t have overtime until you have an assistant, Anya. Let¡¯s go home now. Did you bring your car?¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I feel like my pretty boss has been possessed.


    As soon as we entered the elevator, the only person I don¡¯t want to meet steps in without hesitation. Strangely, he¡¯s wearing a cap that seems to intentionally obscure part of his face. He greets Krystal politely and then nces at me.


    ¡°Cedric can drive you, right?¡±


    Suddenly, something feels off.


    ¡°I can, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Good. Cedric will safely drive Anya. Don¡¯t let her drive. Be responsible, Cedric.¡±


    The man nods obediently. I¡¯mpletely baffled.

 [10]

    I even remember Cedric¡¯s words clearly, despite his face being partially covered by the cap. I don¡¯t know what he meant. Embarrassed? I¡¯m the one who should be embarrassed! Not him! It just makes me angry!


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you do anything strange, Miss.¡±


    I pout. Especially when we arrive at the parking slot, annoyingly, he opens the car door for me, makes sure I wear my seatbelt, and adjusts the seat to make mefortable. I don¡¯t want to thank him for his actions. This is my car, after all.


    I spend the time during the drive replying to iing messages. It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to reply earlier, but I felt so flustered by Krystal¡¯s behavior. My phone was forgotten when I wanted to send messages to Naomi and Dona. When I checked, there were many notifications from them in our ¡®DEWI KERANG¡¯ gossip group. The three of us are in the group.


    Naomi: Anya, eat already.


    Dona: Anya, do you want to get something for us?


    Naomi: Anya, answer, hey.


    Naomi: Should I buy some fruits?


    The messages were sent around lunchtime, and I only read them now. Guilt immediately washed over me. I quickly made a phone call to Naomi. She¡¯s my closest friend and understands me the most.


    ¡°I¡¯m driving, Anya.¡±


    I grimaced. ¡°I forgot, sorry. I just saw the group chat. I had lunch with Krystal and had a meeting.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. Okay then, take care. Don¡¯t speed. Let me know when you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    I ended the call immediately. When I identally looked over, I clearly saw a bruise on Cedric¡¯s face. What could it be from? Was he beaten? Why? No wonder he doesn¡¯t look like his usual self. Earlier this morning, when he brought lemon tea for me, he seemed fine. So the bruise must be recent? Or did I not pay enough attention?


    ¡°Are you okay, Cedric?¡± I suddenly asked.


    ¡°What?¡± He turned to look at me.


    ¡°Take off your cap.¡±


    Cedric hesitated. It means something did happen to his face. Was he punched? Why? That¡¯s probably why he¡¯s not dressed as usual. Earlier this morning, when he brought me lemon tea, he seemed fine. So, the bruise must be recent? Or did I just not notice it clearly?


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Anya.¡±


    I insisted. ¡°Take it off, Cedric.¡±


    I could clearly hear him sigh softly. Then he took off the cap that had been hiding part of his face, making me wince at what greeted my eyes. In addition to the bruise on his cheek, the corner of his lips was also injured. There were traces of dried blood still visible.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    Cedric shook his head.


    Somehow, I had this urge to touch the wound and treat it. But damn, he brushed my hand away. It surprised me.


    ¡°Sorry, Miss. I¡¯m driving. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose focus and put you in danger.¡±


    I snorted and immediately red at him disapprovingly. And yet, I had good intentions, right? Rejected! Bastard. Not only was I already annoyed because he intervened with my car, but when I asked about his injury, he wouldn¡¯t answer, and when I wanted to treat it, he pushed my hand away.


    I carried my annoyance until we arrived at the apartment basement. I quickly asked for the key and told him to go home, not caring how he would get back to his ce. But what annoyed me even more was that he just smiled. He followed me inside the unit. Then he suddenly pulled me into the living room and seated me right beside him, firmly holding my hand without any intention of letting go. Even though I protested and asked him to release me.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you want to treat me. Here. Not in the car.¡±


    I turned my face away.


    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, Anya. Your safety is my priority now.¡±


    My silence was still his answer. Then I saw him stand up and walk towards the first aid kit that I kept not far from the kitchen area.


    ¡°Treat me, Anya.¡±


    Nuts!


    ***


    Cedric went home after making sure everything was in order, including the vitamins I have to take regrly every day. I wanted to scream when he waited for me to drink them. I really wanted to press on his injured lip. Let him learn his lesson.


    He looked like a little child as I cleaned and treated his wound. My sharp scolding only elicited a smirk from him. ¡°It stings, Anya,¡± heined when I applied antiseptic on the injured area.


    ¡°Endure it.¡±


    Again, he smiled.


    ¡°No need to smile like that. It annoys me.¡± I quickly put away all the first aid items. ¡°Put them back where they belong.¡±


    His response? A smile with a smirk. So irritating.


    ¡°Thank you, Miss, for treating me.¡±


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯m going home now.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t linger here too long. I want to rest.¡±


    Instead of leaving immediately, he made sure of many things, including the balcony door. He warned me to always lock it, even though we were on a rtively high floor. It¡¯s better to be cautious, he said. I let him fuss around. I didn¡¯t ask or tell him to do it anyway.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m really going home now.¡±


    I just nodded.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    I saw Cedric walk closer to where I was sitting casually on the sofa. He had already prepared to put on his shoes. This suddenly made me feel wary. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Can I touch your belly again, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    Oh God. Can¡¯t I get rid of Cedric from my life?


    ***


    ¡°Anya, have you heard the rumor?¡±


    I chewed my chicken soup a bit slower and looked at Dona with a questioning gaze. Usually, without needing to ask like that, Dona would already start bbering non-stop, telling me all the information she knew, and adding her own opinions on the matter. She loves spicing things up.


    We were having lunch in the cafeteria, a forced choice by Naomi since Dona prefers the restaurant across the street. She said she wanted to see Dewa. Personally, I¡¯m not toofortable with that. I feel bad because I keep rejecting Dewa, who wants to get closer. Especially when he said he was waiting for me to go home together, which ended with me fainting in the office.


    Naomi didn¡¯t seem to be affected by Dona. Maybe she already knows?


    ¡°What?¡± I asked as Dona hadn¡¯t continued her sentence.


    ¡°Kelvin is resigning.¡±


    Fortunately, I wasn¡¯t drinking or eating anything at the moment. Myst bite had sessfully passed through my throat. Otherwise, I¡¯m sure I would have choked upon hearing Dona¡¯s words.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± I quickly grabbed a ss of orange ice and sipped it mercilessly, leaving only a little inside.


    ¡°Yes, seriously. I heard from HRD, and they already have a recement ready for the handover.¡± Naomi added. There you go. My suspicions were correct. Naomi must have known. They share the same floor with HRD, and they probably hear office regtions gossip first. Especially Dona, who is an HRD staff. She wouldn¡¯t miss out on juicy information like this.


    I started to recall myst conversation with Kelvin. What does this mean? Is he really resigning?


    ¡°Is he getting a new job?¡±


    Dona shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. When asked, Kelvin just smiles.¡±


    I chuckled.


    ¡°But if he gets a new job at the same level, I think, dear, he must have been hired for a promotion somewhere else.¡±


    I agreed with Naomi¡¯s statement. Kelvin¡¯s career has been quite impressive. At his young age, he¡¯s already a manager. Dona once spilled his sry to me when she found out that Kelvin was getting closer to me. ording to Dona, it was also a consideration in case I thought about the future with Kelvin. Dona always has her ways.


    ¡°I know who¡¯s happy about this news.¡± Dona winked mischievously at me. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I¡¯m really amazed by her way of thinking. Plus, Naomi couldn¡¯t help butugh at her.


    Before all the teasing could continue, the universe joined in. Kelvin walked over to our table, still with that smile that most of the women in our office would be mesmerized by. His well-proportioned body, impable style, and always perfect look, not to mention his somewhat oriental face that still managed to make him part of the popr guys in the office. I can¡¯t deny that about him.


    However¡­


    ¡°Hi, Anya.¡± I smiled slightly in response.


    ¡°Doni and Naomi are here too.¡±


    ¡°I thought we didn¡¯t get a greeting from you, Vin,¡± teased Dona, earningughter from Naomi.


    ¡°I¡¯m really happy to see you in good spirits.¡±


    Kelvin is always straightforward when he approaches his target. He doesn¡¯t beat around the bush and always makes it clear that the girl in front of him is within his reach. Possessive, right? That¡¯s not all. In our limited conversations, since I often avoid him, he always makes me ufortable.


    His discussions usually revolve around his life achievements, his opinions on things that don¡¯t meet his standards, and snide remarks about things he thinks can be achieved better by the person he¡¯s talking about. As if he¡¯s the epitome of sess in life.


    I can¡¯t keep up with someone like Kelvin. Not because I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll find out about my past, left by my mother and father, but because I don¡¯t want him to get too involved. I¡¯m not ready for it, and he¡¯s already made too many interventions in my life. I want to be free, not tied down by a bunch of rules that only make me feel smaller.


    I thanked him for his earlierment. Then, I continued with my meal. I don¡¯t know why this chicken soup tastes so good that I wanted to order more. ¡°Naomi, do you mind helping me with another bowl of chicken soup?¡± I asked.


    Naomi looked at me with a horrified expression. ¡°Not enough?¡±


    I grinned.


    ¡°Order a half portion,¡± Dona suggested, which Naomi agreed to immediately.


    ¡°Are you still hungry?¡± Kelvin asked, looking at me in amazement.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± I couldn¡¯t care less about his judgment. All I knew was that I still wanted more chicken soup.


    As soon as Naomi¡¯s half portion of chicken soup arrived, I wasted no time in devouring it. The hot broth and the smell of tomatoes mixed with the soup made my mouth water.


    ¡°I noticed you¡¯ve gained some weight, Anya.¡±


    I stopped moving my spoon, which was filled with vermicelli and chicken slices. Did he really just say that?

 [11]

    Earlier, I went to work with Naomi. The same goes for the trip back. I often give Naomi a ride too. Our homes are in the same direction, but Naomi prefers staying in a boarding house rather than an apartment. As for me, I don¡¯t know why, but I feelfortable living in a ce like this. Dona, on the other hand, lives in apletely opposite direction, but she always keeps an eye on us no matter where we go.


    Including today.


    ¡°I want to hitch a ride to Anya¡¯s apartment. Yesterday, I bought lots of French fries and sausages in Anya¡¯s fridge,¡± she said before leaving this evening. Naomi just shook her head and didn¡¯t object. Why would she?


    Throughout the day, Cedric was as usual. Nothing had changed, except for him slipping notes between my coffee cups. He said he wouldn¡¯tply with my requests. Well, it¡¯s just some notes, so I don¡¯t care. There¡¯s no point in prohibiting him because he¡¯ll do it again anyway.


    ¡°When I was on a coffee break, I bumped into Dewa,¡± Dona proudly eximed from the backseat. I could see her raising her eyebrows at me through the rearview mirror, teasing me.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s your favorite thing to do,¡± I chuckled, agreeing with Naomi¡¯s recentment.


    ¡°Yeah, I guess. When he looks at me¡­ my heart beats faster, like a drum ready for battle,¡± Dona sang her words, turning them into a yful tune. My friend here is quite fond of singing little snippets like this.


    ¡°But, Anya, I¡¯m curious,¡± I responded with a small yawn. ¡°If you don¡¯t like Kelvin, we all know the reasons. He¡¯s so annoying. I¡¯d feel ufortable too if I were approached by someone like Kelvin.¡±


    Naomi nodded in agreement, saying, ¡°I agree with you this time, Don.¡±


    ¡°But what about Dewa? Why?¡±


    I didn¡¯t feel like exining why my heart didn¡¯t lean towards Dewa. Despite Kelvin having both visual appeal and attitude, Dewa was even more outstanding. I just smiled in response. Plus, my phone demanded attention.


    Cedric K: Miss, I¡¯ming to your apartment. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll bring it.


    ¡°Why on earth is he bothering me? Can¡¯t he see?¡± I muttered, unintentionally making Naomi, who was driving, turn her head towards me.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Anya? Why are you getting mad for no reason?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Cedric. He has nothing better to do thane to my apartment. What¡¯s the point?!¡±


    It might be a good idea to give them both a nickname as well. Dona and Naomi burst intoughter because of myints. Naomi even teased me relentlessly.


    ¡°You and Cedric are connected, you know. Whether you like it or not, you can¡¯t deny it anymore. Just ept that there might be a sequel to the military invasion.¡±


    Damn it!


    ***


    ¡°Oh, Cedric. You¡¯re so skilled in the kitchen,¡± Dona praised, and I felt like stuffing her mouth to stop her constantpliments about Cedric. That¡¯s not all; even Naomi was amazed by this guy who didn¡¯t allow me, Naomi, or Dona to enter the kitchen.


    We were asked to sit and watch him like he wanted to show off his cooking skills. I don¡¯t know, but I was incredibly annoyed. Just being forced to sit on the visitor¡¯s sofa in the lobby was enough to get on my nerves. And now this. I thought to myself that I should tell Cedric not to smile so much.


    I hate it!


    His cooking was simple, just fried rice with sliced cabbage and Chinese cabbage. It was Naomi¡¯s special request; she said she wanted to eat that. But hey, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s pregnant here. Why does Cedric have toply with Naomi¡¯s request? Cedric did ask me what I wanted to eat. It¡¯s true that I didn¡¯t answer right away, but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t have my own desires, right?


    ¡°No, thank you, Mas. But I usually cook at home,¡± he said, smiling. I pouted in frustration. Seriously, Cedric!


    ¡°Wow, where do you live, by the way?¡±


    ¡°Diamond Road, Miss.¡±


    I live in the Boulevard Avenue area, not too far from the office. Naomi lives on Palm Street. It¡¯s different for Dona; she chose to live with her sister in the Rose Street area. I thought about it, and Diamond Road, where Cedric lives, is quite a distance away.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Just for Anya, huh, Cedric? That¡¯s quite amitment.¡±


    Cedric only responded with a small smile that made his hidden dimples-didn¡¯t know he had those-clearly visible.


    ¡°You¡¯re so childish,¡± I told Naomi, and she responded by sticking her tongue out.


    ¡°Do you go to college, Cedric?¡± Dona asked suddenly. This made Cedric, who was probably stirring the sauce to make it even, pause. ¡°Uh, sorry. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±


    The guy, now wearing a ck cored shirt, seemed reluctant to respond. He chose to continue his work.


    ¡°Here it is. I¡¯ll put it on a big te for you, Miss Anya. Should I bring it-¡±


    ¡°I can get it myself,¡± I retorted, receiving a sharp look from Naomi. I didn¡¯t care. Right now, Dona¡¯s unanswered question was dominating my thoughts. Why? If he¡¯s attending college, just say it. Is there a restriction? I don¡¯t think so.


    I wonder if he¡¯d answer if I asked him the same question?


    The four of us had dinner together. Dona and Naomi controlled the conversation, conducting an interview session about Cedric¡¯s life. I learned that he had been called to the club with his band a few times, which probably exins why I saw him there when I visited the bar.


    Then they asked about his family. Naomi and Dona thoroughly delved into every detail. I just listened because I didn¡¯t feel like asking. I preferred sitting with a te of warm French fries. Even though Cedric works under xton Express, he¡¯s just an outsourcing employee.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s gettingte. Anya must be tired,¡± Dona finally realized. I responded with a small smile, ¡°Yeah, I should go home.¡±


    Theyughed at my joke. But I was d they were here; at least my mood wasn¡¯t too bad. The feeling of nausea and wanting to vomit slowly diminished.


    I noticed that only the two of them said goodbye and left, while Cedric remained here. Naomi even casually said, ¡°You can stay over, Cedric.¡± Then she mischievously winked at me, as if Cedric was truly epted into our circle.


    Gosh! I can¡¯t understand what Cedric did to make Naomi and Dona act like that. Is it because he made me pregnant? Or is it the perfect words and gestures that made them think he¡¯s taking responsibility for me? Seriously?


    ¡°You should go home,¡± I said curtly, reminding myself of my friend¡¯s behavior, making myself angry again.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll go home soon. In a bit.¡±


    Cedric was once again making a sweeping move. I hated to admit that what Cedric did was effective, but he didn¡¯t enter my room. It seems like he knows his limits.


    ¡°Can I pick you up tomorrow morning?¡±


    ¡°On a motorcycle? You know I¡¯m pregnant, right? I¡¯m going to the office by car.¡± Seriously, I don¡¯t mean to offend or anything. It¡¯s just¡­ can you imagine me riding a motorcycle with Cedric? Oh dear¡­


    I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, right? I asked him first. If he feels ufortable, well¡­ it¡¯s not my fault.


    He just smiled. ¡°As long as you permit it.¡±


    ***


    Cedric showed up at my apartment. I made him wait for thirty minutes after my phone kept ringing incessantly early in the morning. The receptionist said Cedric was there. I was startled because I didn¡¯t expect that annoying guy to carry out his n.


    And when I looked at my phone, there was a pile of messages from Cedric. Incredible. But that didn¡¯t make me hurry to go down. I intentionally slowed down, wanting to see if he¡¯d be more anxious about my arrival or not. Besides, he had work in the morning. Why would he bother picking me up from the office? It¡¯s just a waste of time.


    When we faced each other, he immediately stood up and approached me, smiling as if the time he spent waiting meant nothing when he saw me walking towards him.


    ¡°Morning,¡± he greeted. I didn¡¯t respond. What¡¯s the point?


    ¡°I parked the car in the visitor¡¯s area.¡±


    As if it matters, it¡¯s right in front of the lobby. Security could tow it away. But¡­ Cedric actually droves a car? Seriously! I didn¡¯t take it too seriously when I mentioned it yesterday. I even brought a thick jacket neatly folded in a paper bag, just in case Cedric was on a motorcycle.


    Cedric asked me to get in slowly. I was a bit worried about the unfamiliar car¡¯s scent. I didn¡¯t want to feel nauseous and make thingsplicated. However, my fear disappeared when my senses picked up the soft scent of Eucalyptus.


    The car¡¯s interior was ordinary, like most other cars. Maybe I¡¯d say it¡¯s like a ride-sharing car. Yeah, something like that. Is Cedric doing a side job as a driver?


    ¡°Whose car is this? Yours?¡± I asked without beating around the bush as soon as Cedric got into the car and buckled his seatbelt.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s thepany¡¯s car. Today, I have a task to pick up some managers.¡±


    ¡°So, because of this, you had the guts to pick me up?¡±


    I heard him chuckle softly. ¡°I¡¯ll exchange it for my personal car someday. For you, Anya.¡± Cedric nced at me briefly before starting the car¡¯s engine. ¡°Just pray that it¡¯ll happen soon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking as if we have an intimate rtionship.¡±


    ¡°I hope for that very much.¡±


    I gave a sardonic smile. ¡°I already said you don¡¯t have to bother. I know it was a huge mistake, but I never asked you to take responsibility. I also haven¡¯t allowed you to get too close, Cedric.¡±


    He nodded, seemingly understanding what I said. ¡°In that case, may I have your permission to get closer?¡±


    ¡°I refuse,¡± I replied quickly without much thought.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t refuse, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Pushy!¡± I red at him sharply. My hands also instinctively sped in a defensive manner.


    ¡°In this matter, I¡¯m not afraid to be persistent with you, Anya.¡±


    ¡°As long as you know, Cedric. My mind is made up and not swayed at all. It¡¯s up to you how you want to perceive me; it¡¯s none of my concern. What matters is that I don¡¯t want my life to get even more chaotic. Understand?!¡±


    Once again, Cedric smiled. Oh my gosh! I¡¯m still talking, you know! He¡¯s not deaf, right? Why does his response always involve smiling, constantly smiling, like there¡¯s nothing else he can do but smile? It¡¯s really puzzling!


    Instead of getting more annoyed talking to Cedric, I decided to focus on the road. It¡¯s more productive. The roads in Washington DC weren¡¯t too crowded this morning. I¡¯m grateful for that; at least I could get to the office quickly and avoid being close to Cedric again. Wait, it seems like I missed something.


    ¡°Earlier, you mentioned picking up managers?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss. I have to be at La Meridien at nine o¡¯clock.¡±


    I furrowed my brows. ¡°What¡¯s the asion?¡±


    ¡°Miss Krystal said it¡¯s an office tour,¡± he said with a chuckle.


    I don¡¯t really care about that information, but what concerns me is the office tour this time. How did I miss this? Damn! Krystal had mentioned that there would be visits from branches all over Indonesia in the near future, but what I didn¡¯t know was that the visit was scheduled for now. Normally, Krystal always asks me to oversee the progress of such visits, just like in previous years.


    Did Krystal lose faith in me? Suddenly, I felt sad. What if the assistant who helps me is more capable and skilled? Will Krystal then prefer them and¡­ remove me from the position? Is that it?


    ¡°Have you had breakfast, Miss Anya?¡±


    For some reason, my heart felt so heavy. Could it be that I¡¯m about to be reced by Krystal? But yesterday, Krystal said she liked the way I work. What¡¯s going on now? I have no idea about this.


    ¡°Miss Anya?¡±


    A sob escaped me.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss Anya? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    I shook my head but kept my gaze down. Thinking about all the possibilities at work only made things worse. Tears flowed uncontrobly.


    ¡°Anya? What¡¯s happening to you?¡±


    Maybe Cedric pulled over the car; I¡¯m not sure. What I do know is that he gently pulled me into a hug, something I wanted to reject, but I couldn¡¯t.

 [11] b

    Now? It¡¯s different. In fact, most of the chats are initiated by Cedric. I only reply briefly. Besides beingzy, I also limit myself from him. I don¡¯t want to get too involved, and I¡¯m afraid that I might waver.


    I quickly replied to the message.


    Anya. P: No prob. I¡¯m with Naomi.


    Then I asked Naomi for a ride. She¡¯s always the fastest when I need help. But looking at her response, I felt reluctant to praise Naomi¡¯s kindness.


    Naomi: With my pleasure


    Naomi¡¯s message came in at the same time as a message from Cedric.


    Cedric. K: If it¡¯s not a bother, can I stop byter?


    I¡¯m surprised. I warned him earlier. Why isn¡¯t he listening? He¡¯s so persistent. Just as I was about to type a reply to Cedric, Krystal called me. I didn¡¯t even realize that she hade into my office and was now standing in front of my desk. I was flustered. Since when has she been here? I didn¡¯t even hear her footsteps.


    ¡°Anya, tomorrow I¡¯ll join Kelvin. Did you already tell him that I canceled?¡±


    ¡°I already told him that you won¡¯t be attending the event tomorrow.¡±


    Krystal nodded slightly. ¡°tell Kelvin that you and I will be attending. Both of you.¡±


    I sighed. I nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s Kelvin¡¯sst project before he resigns.¡±


    When Krystal speaks like this, it¡¯s not just gossip anymore. It¡¯s reality. Thest time I had lunch with the narrow-eyed guy, we didn¡¯t talk about the rumors surrounding him at all. I felt that was his private matter. ¡°Alright, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll inform Mr. Kelvin right away.¡±


    ¡°No need to work overtime today, Anya. You can finish it tomorrow.¡±


    I responded with a small smile. ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± I don¡¯t know why, but I didn¡¯t like what Krystal said just now. My mind is now filled with negative thoughts, afraid of what might happen in my life in the next few months.


    I saw my boss leave, her bag and paper bag in hand. The door was tightly closed. If she needed me to check her office, I usually swept my gaze over the room with plenty of ss windows. If not requested, it meant Krystal didn¡¯t leave anything important behind.


    Instead of staring at her office for too long, I decided to pack up my bag and belongings. I headed home, downstairs to where Naomi and Dona were. I also didn¡¯t forget to inform Kelvin about the change in Krystal¡¯s agenda tomorrow.


    Kelvin: Okay, Anya. It¡¯s nice to be able to leave the office together, even if the boss is with us.


    I didn¡¯t reply to that message. What¡¯s the point?


    Just as I arrived on the floor where Naomi¡¯s office is, coincidentally, Kelvin came out.


    ¡°Wow, you even have to go up to the first floor, Anya.¡±


    I justughed.


    ¡°Are you going home together?¡± he offered.


    ¡°With Naomi.¡±


    He sighed softly. ¡°Always, always, and always. Always rejected. Just once, Anya.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°I promised Naomi to go home together.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡±


    Oh my, he¡¯s not giving up, is he? It¡¯s so obvious that I don¡¯t want to be approached. Not just today, but I¡¯ve rejected him countless times before, in various ways, whether subtle or straightforward.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to reach you, Anya.¡±


    Just as Kelvin said those words, Naomi and Dona approached. ¡°Hi, Sir. We¡¯ll leave first.¡± Naomi immediately took my arm. I only nodded as a sign of farewell. Who waved at Kelvin? Dona. My friend doesn¡¯t know the meaning of shame.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    We walked casually towards Naomi¡¯s parked car. The topic of our conversation this time was Kelvin. I was just a good listener because what¡¯s the point of asking? Dona and Naomi were giving me straightforward information. The main point was that Kelvin¡¯s recement would start next week. There would be a full month of tandem work with Kelvin, then a handover of files because Kelvin¡¯s position was quite crucial. He couldn¡¯t just resign immediately.


    ¡°But I heard Kelvin¡¯s recement is from Caraka Group.¡±


    I was quite surprised by Dona¡¯s words. ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    Dona shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m confused too. The one who made it hot news was the one who executed Krystal¡¯s application. And she wasn¡¯t even at the office.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± I didn¡¯t believe it at all. I always thought that Krystal was well-organized in her work, and her level of professionalism was high.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s to avoid any negative implications since Caraka and ourpany are fiercepetitors.¡±


    I agreed with Naomi¡¯s opinion.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wait and see how Krystal moves.¡±


    There¡¯s one point where Krystal is truly an outstanding decision-maker. I¡¯m sure my beautiful and perfect boss has her own reasons for making this decision. I wonder why she chose to do this, and there must be a solid basis for it.


    ¡°By the way, what do we want to eat for dinner?¡± Naomi suddenly asked. I was already seated in the passenger seat with my seat belt on, and Dona had just closed the back door.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we having Chef Cedric again?¡±


    Naomiughed. ¡°Anya?¡±


    I scoffed at Naomi¡¯s response. Before the lingering feeling could subside, my phone started ringing loudly. I panicked, thinking it might be an important call. When I saw the caller ID, my annoyance took over my heart.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked curtly.


    ¡°Are you on your way home?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your business?¡±


    I¡¯m sure he¡¯s smiling on the other end of the line.


    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll wait for you in the lobby. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to drive them home again?¡±


    ¡°Already done. I can leave now. Want beef steak?¡±


    I don¡¯t know what kind of conspiracy my baby has with Cedric¡¯s voice, but it makes me imagine slices of grilled chicken marinated in soy sauce


    and drizzled with peanut sauce, making it suddenly very appetizing. Maybe my saliva is already dripping at the thought of the taste that will tantalize my taste buds.


    ¡°I do. Double portion, please. Get some for Naomi and Dona too.¡±


    After getting his approval, I immediately hung up the phone.


    ¡°You seem so happy to get a call from Cedric.¡±


    ¡°Anya is finally opening up. Not just undressing in front of Cedric.¡±


    They¡¯re all my friends. But why are they acting so damn annoying?

 [12] a

    My sadness lingered as I sat down at my work desk. Even when I tried to turn on theputer, I still couldn¡¯t stop thinking that Krystal would soon rece me. If that happens, what job will I have? Especially with my current condition!


    I even mentioned that terminating this pregnancy was the best option. My job would be secure, my financial situation would be stable, and Krystal wouldn¡¯t rece me so quickly. I¡¯ve dedicated myself to every task all this time. I don¡¯t want everything to just fade away. No. No.


    So, right now, I¡¯m truly determined. In the past, I had some doubts, weighing the pros and cons, but seeing this situation so clearly in front of me has erased any doubts. I want Krystal to understand that I love my job. Sure, she seemed attentive yesterday, but I don¡¯t like it when attention is given just to please me. Then, I might end up being reced. I don¡¯t want that.


    I¡¯d rather be overwhelmed with numerous orders than presented with a lot of snack jars.


    I wiped away the lingering tears, though they were not as frequent as before. I decided to wash my face to freshen up and reapply somepact to look more presentable. Krystal is perfectly beautiful, and every time we meet clients, they alwayspliment her. I get somepliments too because I always pay attention to my appearance. I don¡¯t want my boss to be embarrassed to have a shabby and unkempt secretary.


    ¡°Morning, Miss,¡± I greeted her with a small smile. I don¡¯t want to be fake because I know Krystal quite well. She¡¯s perceptive and can sense when something is off.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hi, Anya. You look more refreshed.¡±


    I smiled in response to her praise. Then, I followed her as she entered the office. I arrived early this morning, even though I was sure I left a bitter than usual. Maybe Krystal leavester than usual. ¡°By the way, do we have an office tour on the agenda today?¡±


    I could see she was a bit surprised by my question. Ah, I was right. For this agenda alone, Krystal no longer trusted me to handle it.


    ¡°Yes. We have an office tour, and you¡¯ll be coordinating it with Hanni. She¡¯s in charge of this.¡±


    I simply nodded, feeling a bit weak. So, Hanni is handling this. It¡¯s true that Hanni is a suitable person to organize this office tour. She works in public rtions and knows all the data about the employees here. But still¡­


    ¡°But before that, we¡¯ll have a meeting. Did you inform everyone?¡±


    I nodded again, letting my boss take her seat behind her desk after cing her branded bag, which is always a fashion essory. Feeling like I had nothing else to say and hearing her instructions, I chose to step aside.


    But before I could fully leave her office, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, absorbing every word my boss said.


    ¡°Anya, you¡¯re pregnant. Don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡±


    I don¡¯t know if the warmth that suddenly enveloped me is a kindness or more like a time bomb ready to explode soon.


    ***


    Hanni is good at guiding and giving directions. I agree with Krystal¡¯s assessment during the office tour. We followed behind, and asionally, I joined in exining things as Krystal¡¯s representative. My boss? She smiled elegantly, as usual. Luckily, my stomach didn¡¯t act up today. I entered and left various rooms with different smells. Maybe she¡¯s aware that I need to perform well in front of everyone here.


    We finished not long after the brief introductions and presentation of visions and missions from the new managers. I still have a lot to do, including synchronizing financial reports, which maye with some surprises. I¡¯m not sure yet. I¡¯ll do my best, though, with precision and attention to detail.


    ¡°What¡¯s on my agenda for tomorrow, Anya?¡±


    I looked up to find my boss standing in front of my desk, busy with her gadget. I quickly opened theputer screen showing all of Krystal Kesuma¡¯s schedules.


    ¡°Tomorrow, you have a meeting at the office, but there¡¯s also a lunch meeting with the Long Globe team and Mr. Kelvin. It¡¯s about discussing the system, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Krystal nced at me, her face showing deep thought. ¡°If I¡¯m not able to attend, it won¡¯t be a problem, right? The one who¡¯s concerned is Mr. Kelvin, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s possible, ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll let Mr. Kelvin know that you won¡¯t be able to attend the meeting tomorrow.¡±


    My boss nodded slowly. Then she walked away, leaving behind a faint knock that faded away when the ss door closed. I checked the time, and lunch break was less than thirty minutes away. Having lunch with Naomi and Dona wouldn¡¯t hurt, right?


    Apparently, they had already nned to eat together. The choices weren¡¯t far from the cafeteria and a cafe across the street. Dona insisted on going to her favorite cafe. I responded casually. What¡¯s important is that I want to eat something warm. Maybe beef soup?


    Before I left for lunch, I prepared the work I would continue. I ced it close to theputer for easy ess. When I went to take a sip of water, I noticed my tea cup was still full. For some reason, it brought a smile to my lips.


    ¡°For Anya.¡±


    I just stared into his ck eyes as he gave me a small smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad anymore, okay? I¡¯m confused.¡±


    Didn¡¯t I say that Cedric is an annoying type of guy?


    ***


    Cedric. K: Sorry, Ma¡¯am. Can¡¯t take you home. The guests want to go sightseeing. (sad emoji)


    I had just finished closing theputer screen when Iughed reading Cedric¡¯s message. No wonder he wasn¡¯t around all afternoon. Oh, maybe he¡¯s been busy since lunchtime. When there are guests like this, the front office is always busy. But what makes me think that Cedric falls into the category of good guys is that during lunch, he still managed to ask how I was doing.


    It was just a simple inquiry, not an interruption, like ¡°Don¡¯t forget to eat, Anya.¡± Or, ¡°Please remember, you¡¯re pregnant. Take care of your eating habits.¡± Not like that. Cedric¡¯s message to me earned its own special ce in our chat history.


    ¡°I hope Anya has eaten because I¡¯ve already had my meal.¡±


    I scrolled through our previous chat history, and it was all about sharing food or breakfast. Nothing more than that. Even since that fateful night, I haven¡¯t received any strange messages from Cedric. We¡¯ve been interacting as usual. Because back then, I considered it just a passing moment.

 [12] b

    Cedric. K: Sorry, Ma¡¯am. Can¡¯t take you home. The guests want to go sightseeing. (sad emoji)


    I had just finished closing theputer screen when Iughed reading Cedric¡¯s message. No wonder he wasn¡¯t around all afternoon. Oh, maybe he¡¯s been busy since lunchtime. When there are guests like this, the front office is always busy. But what makes me think that Cedric falls into the category of good guys is that during lunch, he still managed to ask how I was doing.


    It was just a simple inquiry, not an interruption, like ¡°Don¡¯t forget to eat, Anya.¡± Or, ¡°Please remember, you¡¯re pregnant. Take care of your eating habits.¡± Not like that. Cedric¡¯s message to me earned its own special ce in our chat history.


    ¡°I hope Anya has eaten because I¡¯ve already had my meal.¡±


    I scrolled through our previous chat history, and it was all about sharing food or breakfast. Nothing more than that. Even since that fateful night, I haven¡¯t received any strange messages from Cedric. We¡¯ve been interacting as usual. Because back then, I considered it just a passing moment.


    Now? It¡¯s different. In fact, most of the chats are initiated by Cedric. I only reply briefly. Besides beingzy, I also limit myself from him. I don¡¯t want to get too involved, and I¡¯m afraid that I might waver.


    I quickly replied to the message.


    Anya. P: No prob. I¡¯m with Naomi.


    Then I asked Naomi for a ride. She¡¯s always the fastest when I need help. But looking at her response, I felt reluctant to praise Naomi¡¯s kindness.


    Naomi: With my pleasure


    Naomi¡¯s message came in at the same time as a message from Cedric.


    Cedric. K: If it¡¯s not a bother, can I stop byter?


    I¡¯m surprised. I warned him earlier. Why isn¡¯t he listening? He¡¯s so persistent. Just as I was about to type a reply to Cedric, Krystal called me. I didn¡¯t even realize that she hade into my office and was now standing in front of my desk. I was flustered. Since when has she been here? I didn¡¯t even hear her footsteps.


    ¡°Anya, tomorrow I¡¯ll join Kelvin. Did you already tell him that I canceled?¡±


    ¡°I already told him that you won¡¯t be attending the event tomorrow.¡±


    Krystal nodded slightly. ¡°tell Kelvin that you and I will be attending. Both of you.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I sighed. I nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s Kelvin¡¯sst project before he resigns.¡±


    When Krystal speaks like this, it¡¯s not just gossip anymore. It¡¯s reality. Thest time I had lunch with the narrow-eyed guy, we didn¡¯t talk about the rumors surrounding him at all. I felt that was his private matter. ¡°Alright, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll inform Mr. Kelvin right away.¡±


    ¡°No need to work overtime today, Anya. You can finish it tomorrow.¡±


    I responded with a small smile. ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± I don¡¯t know why, but I didn¡¯t like what Krystal said just now. My mind is now filled with negative thoughts, afraid of what might happen in my life in the next few months.


    I saw my boss leave, her bag and paper bag in hand. The door was tightly closed. If she needed me to check her office, I usually swept my gaze over the room with plenty of ss windows. If not requested, it meant Krystal didn¡¯t leave anything important behind.


    Instead of staring at her office for too long, I decided to pack up my bag and belongings. I headed home, downstairs to where Naomi and Dona were. I also didn¡¯t forget to inform Kelvin about the change in Krystal¡¯s agenda tomorrow.


    Kelvin: Okay, Anya. It¡¯s nice to be able to leave the office together, even if the boss is with us.


    I didn¡¯t reply to that message. What¡¯s the point?


    Just as I arrived on the floor where Naomi¡¯s office is, coincidentally, Kelvin came out.


    ¡°Wow, you even have to go up to the first floor, Anya.¡±


    I justughed.


    ¡°Are you going home together?¡± he offered.


    ¡°With Naomi.¡±


    He sighed softly. ¡°Always, always, and always. Always rejected. Just once, Anya.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°I promised Naomi to go home together.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡±


    Oh my, he¡¯s not giving up, is he? It¡¯s so obvious that I don¡¯t want to be approached. Not just today, but I¡¯ve rejected him countless times before, in various ways, whether subtle or straightforward.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to reach you, Anya.¡±


    Just as Kelvin said those words, Naomi and Dona approached. ¡°Hi, Sir. We¡¯ll leave first.¡± Naomi immediately took my arm. I only nodded as a sign of farewell. Who waved at Kelvin? Dona. My friend doesn¡¯t know the meaning of shame.


    We walked casually towards Naomi¡¯s parked car. The topic of our conversation this time was Kelvin. I was just a good listener because what¡¯s the point of asking? Dona and Naomi were giving me straightforward information. The main point was that Kelvin¡¯s recement would start next week. There would be a full month of tandem work with Kelvin, then a handover of files because Kelvin¡¯s position was quite crucial. He couldn¡¯t just resign immediately.


    ¡°But I heard Kelvin¡¯s recement is from Caraka Group.¡±


    I was quite surprised by Dona¡¯s words. ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    Dona shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m confused too. The one who made it hot news was the one who executed Krystal¡¯s application. And she wasn¡¯t even at the office.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± I didn¡¯t believe it at all. I always thought that Krystal was well-organized in her work, and her level of professionalism was high.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s to avoid any negative implications since Caraka and ourpany are fiercepetitors.¡±


    I agreed with Naomi¡¯s opinion.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wait and see how Krystal moves.¡±


    There¡¯s one point where Krystal is truly an outstanding decision-maker. I¡¯m sure my beautiful and perfect boss has her own reasons for making this decision. I wonder why she chose to do this, and there must be a solid basis for it.


    ¡°By the way, what do we want to eat for dinner?¡± Naomi suddenly asked. I was already seated in the passenger seat with my seat belt on, and Dona had just closed the back door.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we having Chef Cedric again?¡±


    Naomiughed. ¡°Anya?¡±


    I scoffed at Naomi¡¯s response. Before the lingering feeling could subside, my phone started ringing loudly. I panicked, thinking it might be an important call. When I saw the caller ID, my annoyance took over my heart.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked curtly.


    ¡°Are you on your way home?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your business?¡±


    I¡¯m sure he¡¯s smiling on the other end of the line.


    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll wait for you in the lobby. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to drive them home again?¡±


    ¡°Already done. I can leave now. Want beef steak?¡±


    I don¡¯t know what kind of conspiracy my baby has with Cedric¡¯s voice, but it makes me imagine slices of grilled chicken marinated in soy sauce


    and drizzled with peanut sauce, making it suddenly very appetizing. Maybe my saliva is already dripping at the thought of the taste that will tantalize my taste buds.


    ¡°I do. Double portion, please. Get some for Naomi and Dona too.¡±


    After getting his approval, I immediately hung up the phone.


    ¡°You seem so happy to get a call from Cedric.¡±


    ¡°Anya is finally opening up. Not just undressing in front of Cedric.¡±


    They¡¯re all my friends. But why are they acting so damn annoying?

 [13] a

    Cedric truly followed through with what he said. He was waiting for me in the lobby. I didn¡¯t want to ask how long he had been waiting; only Dona inquired, but my ears could clearly hear Cedric saying that he hadn¡¯t been waiting for too long.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I chose to lead the way to my apartment unit on the tenth floor. Once we arrived, we all went inside, and Cedric locked the door. I didn¡¯t care. I preferred going into my room and changing clothes, leaving Dona or Naomi to rx in the living room or fight over the remote since Naomi¡¯s favorite series was on while Dona¡¯s favorite drama was also airing.


    I wonder why they always act like children?


    Somehow, I didn¡¯t want to linger in my room for long. I quickly removed my makeup, washed my face again, and put on loose clothes. I was already fantasizing about enjoying the beef steik, so I wanted to be in the kitchen as soon as possible.


    As soon as I opened the bedroom door, the aroma of beef steak drizzled with mushroom sauce filled the room. My stomach growled even louder. I immediately took my ce, while Naomi and Dona were still busy with the series.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, would you like potatoes or rice?¡±


    ¡°Potatoes. You bought a double portion, right?¡±


    Cedric nodded and¡­ smiled.


    ¡°Is there any chili sauce?¡±


    ¡°There is. Everything is ready.¡±


    Cedric skillfully served everything, including briefly heating it in the microwave. Honestly, seeing all this, my appetite skyrocketed. I wanted to devour everything. Cedric even prepared dinner for me, asionally asking if the portion was enough or if I wanted to add other dishes.


    For some reason, it¡¯s as if he understands that I really want to enjoy the warm beef steak.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you two eating?¡± I just realized that Naomi and Dona hadn¡¯t moved towards the kitchen area since earlier.


    ¡°We¡¯re watching an exciting drama. Right, Nao?¡±


    Naomiughed. ¡°So exciting. It beats my favorite series.¡±


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance. You two are really sarcastic, huh? But I didn¡¯t bother responding. I¡¯d rather quickly enjoy the sate served before my appetite disappears, right?


    Naomi and Dona joined me when my te of potatoes was almost empty.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating, Cedric?¡± Naomi, who was now sitting next to me, asked. I only nced briefly at her. I was so engrossed in eating that I didn¡¯t really pay attention to whether Cedric was eating with us or not.


    ¡°I already ate, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Just eat again. Oh no, Anya¡¯s finishing it all, Nao.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still some left.¡± I proceeded to cut another piece.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am is pregnant, Don. Just let her eat.¡±


    I lost count of how many times I rolled my eyes and sighed in annoyance at their words. Especially since Cedric had a smile on his lips, which only made me more irritated. ¡°Don¡¯t finish all the sambal, Dona!¡± I shouted as I saw Dona pouring a lot of chili sauce onto her te.


    ¡°Oh my goodness! You shouldn¡¯t eat too much, Anya. You¡¯ll get a stomachacheter!¡± Dona warned. I didn¡¯t care. I immediately grabbed the small bowl of sambal and brought it closer to me.


    ¡°Come on, you two, eat. So we can go home quickly.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re being kicked out, Nao. She wants to date.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and eat,¡± I said bluntly. Dona immediately covered her mouth with her hand, as if zipping her lips. Meanwhile, Naomi burst intoughter. Our friendship is truly something else. Since I already have a soft spot for both of them, I just made a sulky face to show my displeasure.


    When we finished eating, Naomi and Dona took turns cleaning up. They told Cedric to keep mepany in the living room. Upon hearing that, I chose to retreat to my favorite area. The balcony.


    ***


    I must not be weak. It¡¯s not that easy. There¡¯s so much at stake if I continue this way. I can already feel that Krystal is starting to push me away. Then what else is keeping me here? There¡¯s nothing. Love? With whom? Cedric?


    Big no! It¡¯s a stupid thing¡­ I guess.


    If I can¡¯t work overtime at the office, then¡­ I¡¯ll just do the remaining work at home. It¡¯s not wrong, right? I can just copy and paste all the work I need to do. Besides, most of my work is on myptop. So I can bring it home without Krystal knowing. I¡¯ll go home once my boss is confirmed to have left the office and arrive at least thirty minutes earlier.


    Smart, right? My work will be done, I can work overtime at home, Krystal can still rely on me, and who knows, by then I might be tired enough to forget about my usual days. Or on the weekends, I¡¯ll do some exercises? Hmm¡­ that¡¯s an interesting idea. Going up and down the stairs is also allowed. Not bad, right? Floor ten of the apartment is quite high. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to forget, without needing drugs or a doctor. That would be thest resort, only if it¡¯s absolutely necessary.


    I pulled the nket, ready to sleep. I arranged everything in the room to make myselffortable and easily drift off. Maybe it was due to my full stomach or the ss of milk Cedric forced me to finish, I don¡¯t know, but sleep came quickly, and before I knew it, I was already dozing off.


    However, I was suddenly awakened by a vibrating and loud ringing noise. A headache immediately hit me as I woke up abruptly. Looking at the wall clock in the room, it was still 2 in the morning. Good grief! Who could be disturbing at this time of night?


    Krystal. K: Oh, Anya forgot to mention. Your assistant ising tomorrow. She¡¯ll have an interview together with you. Sorry for texting sote. I just remembered.


    My heart suddenly ached. All the thoughts I had been considering, though not many, faded away. My determination was solid; I didn¡¯t want to be easily reced by someone new. It took a long time for my work to earn Krystal¡¯s genuine smile. I wasn¡¯t willing to give it up so easily to a neer.


    No, I won¡¯t.


    The next morning, I put on a slightly thickeryer of makeup. I felt my eye bags were too obvious. My lips looked pale, and my eyes seemed somewhat dim. Should I wear contact lenses? To look brighter? Not a bad idea, right?


    I applied a bit more blush than usual and chose a bold lipstick color. A Krystal¡¯s assistant must not be stiff, but rather beautiful and smart, and don¡¯t forget, elegant yet simple. And all that is in me.


    Yes. That¡¯s me. I saw how God gave me everything, except¡­ when my eyes fell on my stomach. I touched it for a moment; it was a bit rounder than usual. My cheeks were a bit chubby too, and it seemed like I was gaining weight. I shook my head and quickly looked away from my reflection in the mirror.


    I grabbed the digital scale and made sure that my morning fear wouldn¡¯te true. Damn it, the scale never seemed topromise with a woman¡¯s body. Whenever we tried not to let the number go up, it just rolled up sharply. But when we wanted to see the number increase, it moved as slow as a snail traveling around the world.


    I rubbed my face in frustration. The clothes I picked matched my newly applied makeup perfectly. Should I change my outfit? What if I¡¯mte? Oh, I know! I still remember buying that corset from a TV shopmercial. Naomi and I ordered it because we were tempted by the advertisement.


    In reality, there weren¡¯t any significant results except for a t stomach while wearing it. That¡¯s it. Once removed, the stomach returns to not being as t. Maybe now is the time for that expensive corset toe in handy.


    I smiled satisfactorily afterward. My confidence increased as my appearance was almost perfect. I quickly grabbed my bag and phone. A message hade in thirty minutes ago.


    Cedric. K: I can¡¯t pick you up, even though I brought the car. The managers are leaving today, and I have to take them to the airport early in the morning. I¡¯ll be able to take you hometer when Ie back.


    I immediately put my phone back in my bag. There¡¯s no need to reply. After all, I won¡¯tply. Today, I¡¯ll drive myself. I¡¯ll make sure the assistant that Krystal touted to be formidable will change her mind about joining us.


    Krystal doesn¡¯t need her, nor do I.


    ***

 [13] b

    ¡°Morning, Ma¡¯am,¡± I greeted politely. I arrived exactly as nned, twenty minutes before Krystal¡¯s arrival. When she saw me, she seemed to frown. Is there something wrong? Before even sitting at my desk, I had checked my appearance multiple times. Nothing was wrong, and it seemed perfectly fine.


    ¡°Morning, Anya.¡± Krystal smiled sweetly. I recognized the Christian Dior Rouge lipstick she was wearing; it¡¯s her favorite brand. Sometimes, when meetings or gatherings are held at the Washington DC mall, Krystal would pull me aside and we¡¯d visit the store. Some of my collections are from there as well.


    ¡°You look¡­ different,¡± she said again. I didn¡¯t know how to respond; my mind was telling me this was a bad sign.


    ¡°Good or not?¡± I asked softly. Actually, I rarely seek Krystal¡¯s opinion because this beautiful woman in front of me always has a way to make the person she¡¯s talking to spill everything on their mind.


    Krystal simplyughed and walked into her office, leaving me feeling weak and more convinced that my position will soon be reced. Oh God! My luck is just so terrible!


    My spirit vanished into thin air, and I only knew one thing to do: continue with my routine. I would work tirelessly, and somehow, things would fall into ce. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I repeated this process several times to not be too carried away by the situation. Inside, I feltpletely lost.


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    Huh? Reflexively, I wiped the tears that I didn¡¯t even know when they had started to fall. I cleared my throat briefly and challenged the eyes of the person standing in front of me. Cedric stared at me with a puzzled look.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°None of your business,¡± I retorted sharply.


    ***


    ¡°Are you sure about hiring Anna?¡± I asked to make sure. The interview session had ended five minutes ago. Once again, I carefully read Anna¡¯s CV, a twenty-two-year-old girl. Personally, she seemed intelligent and could work quickly. Her demeanor was friendly, and well, I thought she would be a good fit working with Krystal.


    ¡°Are you alone?¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. For me, havingpetition meant that I didn¡¯t want Anna to be here. Sharing my workload with her sometimes made me feel nauseous. But for now, I didn¡¯t want to throw up because of work. Rather than being discarded again, ¡°I¡¯m confused, Ma¡¯am,¡± was my answer.


    Krystal chuckled. ¡°Oh, Anya, you¡¯re something else. I want someone new to help you, you know, so your workload can be lighter. The tasks that can be done at the office, let your assistant handle them.¡±


    I became even more puzzled with Krystal¡¯s thoughts. Then what about me? What am I supposed to do here? Stand idle? Be a figurehead? Is that it?


    ¡°Think carefully about Anna¡¯s qualifications. If she fits, let me know, and we¡¯ll arrange for HR to set up a psychometric test.¡±


    I nodded in response. Feeling like there was no longer any importance in this room, I chose to step back. But before I could fully walk away, Krystal¡¯s words froze me.


    ¡°Pregnancy hormones are indeed different, right, Anya? You look so beautiful today, I¡¯m amazed. Feeling like I¡¯m losing inparison.¡±


    Aughter escaped Krystal¡¯s lips. I blinked in confusion.


    ¡°You¡¯re just too much. Everyone agrees that you¡¯re the most beautiful one here.¡± I spoke honestly.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to see you smile like that, Anya. I read that pregnant women need to have positive energy. Smiles can transmit positive energy.¡±


    If Krystal only knew why my thoughts were always negative. I mustered a smile in response to her words, then excused myself from the room, carefully closing the ss door behind me. My face, which was initially beaming, became tense. This didn¡¯t feel right. It¡¯s like Krystal was deliberately ying with me, right?N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    As I returned to my desk, a message came in. Initially, I didn¡¯t want to open it, but soon enough, my group chat became active.


    Dona: We¡¯re eating there, no doubt. I¡¯m so bored with the canteen food. Ew!


    Naomi: You¡¯re so loud! Anya, what do you want to eat? Dewa said we get a discount.


    Naomi: He¡¯s been texting you, but you haven¡¯t replied. Are you too busy?


    Naomi: Hey! Don¡¯t take too long to decide where to eat. It might get full.


    Dona: Anya! Oh my god!


    Dona: She¡¯s not going on a date with Cedric again, is she?


    Naomi: Krystal¡¯s going to chop her offter.


    Dona: Yeah. The devil can¡¯t stay still now. More trouble and annoying.


    I smiled as I read the series of messages. I sometimes wonder why they refer to Krystal as the devil. Wait, I¡¯m part of this group too, which means I must agree that Krystal can sometimes transform into a devil. Lately, though, her behavior has softened toward me.


    Anya, please! Don¡¯t be naive! You¡¯re going to be reced! I closed my eyes and silently agreed with my previous thoughts. I quickly replied to the messages.


    Anya P.: I¡¯m good. Dewa¡¯s ce is fine. I want strawberry smoothies.


    Naomi: Okay.


    Then I promptly replied to Dewa¡¯s message. It didn¡¯t seem fair for me to read the message and not respond, as if I were being arrogant.


    Anya P.: Sorry for thete reply. I was busy earlier. I¡¯lle with the kids. Does the discount still apply? (smiling emoji)


    Not long after, Dewa replied:


    Dewa: Sure. It¡¯s on me for Anya.


    I went back to focusing on my work. I put Anna¡¯s application letter in the top drawer. Maybe I¡¯ll reread it and make a decision during lunchtime. Should I talk to Krystal about it? In reality, I don¡¯t need an assistant. It was Krystal¡¯s idea. I¡¯m not that burdened right now, am I? Well¡­ it¡¯s a bit troublesome, but I can still handle it. My work is organized and well-structured. Oh, whatever. It¡¯s better to finish the remaining tasks today because as soon as I refresh my email, there¡¯ll be many new messages that need to be answered.


    Someone approached and entered the room, causing me to look up in their direction. When I realized it was Cedric, I returned to my tasks. Who is it? In this BoD room, only I, Krystal, Cedric, and the cleaning staff cane and go freely. For other staff or employees, even managers, they must make an appointment beforehand or if Krystal needs them for a meeting inside.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Cedric greeted, and I gave him a sharp nce. ¡°Wanna have lunch delivered?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m taking my friends out.¡±


    Wait¡­ why did I have to tell Cedric about our lunch ns? It¡¯s not important, is it? I rubbed the tip of my nose to reduce my anxiety. Damn you, Cedric, when I nced at him earlier, he smiled.


    His signature smile that always managed to make me annoyed and irritated at the same time.


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Then he entered Krystal¡¯s office. It took quite a while, and I marked about twenty minutes Cedric spent in there. I became suspicious. But Cedric wouldn¡¯t do anything wrong. Krystal¡¯s office is filled with many CCTV cameras; she¡¯s a beautiful woman who is also the boss here. The ruler.


    We all submit to her and follow her orders andmands, including Cedric. But honestly, it doesn¡¯t reduce my curiosity. If anything, it only intensifies. asionally, I nce toward the ss room. Most of it is covered with wallpaper, but I can still observe the movements of people inside.


    Cedric stands near Krystal¡¯s desk while my boss seems to be talking, but I can¡¯t hear what they¡¯re saying. Ah, why am I so curious about this?! Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I focused on finishing my work today, and then work overtime tonight toplete the financial reports that need to be done soon?


    Just as I start to focus, the sound of the door opening interrupts me. I don¡¯t know why, but I turn my head in that direction. Two figurese out of the room, with Cedric now looking a little downcast.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take my leave, Ma¡¯am,¡± he says, and I can hear it clearly.


    ¡°Of course, Cedric,¡± Krystal replies, patting his shoulder gently. Cedric¡¯s steps move away while she heads toward my desk. I¡¯m not prepared and end up panicking when Krystal pulls a chair and sits in front of me.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Anya?¡±


    ¡°Me? Nothing¡¯s wrong, Ma¡¯am.¡± I¡¯m puzzled by her question.


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡±


    Oh my goodness! Where on earth did my boss get such an idea?

 [14] a

    ¡°You seem different.¡±


    I just give a small smile to Dewa, who hasn¡¯t stopped staring at me since I sat in one corner of his caf¨¦. Finally, the four of us are having lunch together. I couldn¡¯t avoid it because Dona was insistent on eating here. More urately, she missed being with Dewangga.


    Luckily, Dewa isn¡¯t annoyed by Dona¡¯s antics.


    ¡°Yeah, Anya looks stunning today. wless, right, Nao?¡± Dona says, giving me a mischievous wink. I know what she means. Fortunately, I have excellent self-control. Otherwise, I would have snatched Dona¡¯s favorite French fries by now.


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯m amazed too. Is there something in the air?¡± Naomi has no shame when ites to asking such questions in front of Dewa. I don¡¯t want her to think that what I¡¯m wearing today is something special to him.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m having lunch with Dewa, that¡¯s why.¡±


    Ugh, I feel like I want to drown Dona in the pond near the office lobby! Why did she have to emphasize that?


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. Anya is always beautiful in my eyes.¡±


    While Kelvin often brags about his aplishments, it¡¯s different with Dewa. For someone who dislikes men¡¯s sweet talk, Dewa is a master at delivering charming words. I find it quite annoying.


    Back when I was a teenager, my paternal grandmother, Nenek Sumi, took care of me until her passing. I wanted to make Nek Sumi happy, like buying her a new TV so she could watch her favorite dramasfortably. Nek Sumi once said, ¡°Don¡¯t believe everything men say. You can¡¯t trust them 100%, dear. As a woman, you have to look out for yourself.¡±


    At that time, I just nodded without really caring. Her words seemed like the wind, and I thought that even without Nek Sumi saying it, I wouldn¡¯t easily believe what men said.


    To me, everything is a lie. I still vividly remember how my father promised me he would be back soon. But what happened? He hasn¡¯t shown up until now. He might as well be dead. I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t care.


    In my every prayer, I only mention Nek Sumi as my parent, my grandmother, the person I love most in this world. So when I meet a guy like Dewa, I¡¯m not surprised at all and don¡¯t easily believe in him.


    Maybe that¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to get to know Dewa¡¯s personal side too much. In response to hispliment earlier, I give him a small smile and continue to enjoy my meal. I ordered beef ribs soup. Naomi has her favorite grilled chicken, and Dona, spaghetti.


    The restaurant where Dewa works offers a prettyplete menu. The back area is reserved for the restaurant, while the front part is dedicated to rxed sitting for coffee or hot chocte. They also serve sweet treats. The coffee avable here is quite delicious.


    Now I crave it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s buy coffee on the way back, okay?¡±


    Naomi almost chokes, and Dona scolds me, ¡°You¡¯re enemies with coffee, Anya! Don¡¯t even think about it!¡±


    ¡°But I want it, Naomi,¡± I whine shamelessly. ¡°I can smell the coffee from here, and it¡¯s so good.¡± I instinctively rub my belly. ¡°Seriously, I really want it.¡±


    ¡°And what if you get into troubleter? Who¡¯s going to take responsibility?¡±


    I pout, impatiently spooning the hot soup. This makes me struggle because the heat sticks to the tip of my tongue, making me panic.


    Dewa, who sits beside me, quickly offers help. He hands me a ss of mineral water. Ah, it¡¯s so relieving!


    ¡°Thanks, Wa,¡± I say as I put the ss down. What I didn¡¯t prepare for was Dewa casually touching the corner of my lips with the tip of his finger wrapped in tissue. I widen my eyes. At the same time, Cedric appears at the cashier¡¯s table, looking at me with a disappointed expression?


    ***


    I can¡¯t concentrate on my work at all. When I returned from lunch, with the intention of not thinking about Cedric¡¯s gaze at me earlier, I found Krystal¡¯s office empty. I thought my boss was having lunch outside, but no. Herptop, notes, heels-everything is ready. Even my makeup has been retouched.


    Killing time, I try toplete as much work as I can because there¡¯s a lot to do. Not to mention the ongoing meetings with Lazade. Krystal was right; dealing with Pak Andrew drives me crazy. He never seems satisfied. There¡¯s always something he wants to change or adjust.


    Oddly enough, my boss tolerates his oddness as long as that handsome guy is in front of her. But after the meeting, don¡¯t expect any sweet and polite words from Krystal. Swearing directed at that Andrew bursts out loud and clear.


    As the clock hits two, a messagees in from Krystal.


    Krystal. K: I¡¯m having a meeting outside with Kelvin. I¡¯m postponing all my schedules for this week, except the one with Lazade.


    I remember today, there was a meeting with Globe alongside Kelvin. Krystal informed me that I wouldn¡¯t be attending after one hour had passed? It really hurts my feelings. Krystal really doesn¡¯t want me to work with her for long. Maybe because this time she feels sorry for me now that she knows I¡¯m pregnant. That¡¯s why she¡¯s asking for someone to apany me from now on, who can rece me at any time without notice.


    Suddenly, my mood turns sour, and for some reason, my stomach cramps. It hurts a lot, and I grimace in pain. But I can¡¯t give in to this. Even though my tears are welling up again, I have to rearrange all of Krystal¡¯s schedules. I also need to reschedule with the many people I have to contact regarding her agenda.


    Why am I suddenly feeling so emotional? It¡¯s like I¡¯m not myself! But what can I do? This really makes me sad to no end. The cramps intensify, but I ignore them. I have a lot of work to do. I must show outstanding performance to Krystal, far beyond what I usually do.


    I have to.


    That¡¯s why, when office hours are about to end, I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t allow overtime, so I quickly tidy up the things I brought home. I¡¯ll work on them at the apartment after dinner. Sleepte and wake up early if necessary. Can¡¯t I do something like that?


    Before I can step out of the room, Cedric enters, startling me, and I take a few steps back.


    ¡°Do you want to kill me?!¡± I exim, shocked.


    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I continue walking after calming my racing heart.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home together, Anya.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still working, right? Just focus on your work.¡±


    Cedric holds my arm immediately. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡±


    I look at him skeptically. ¡°Using thepany car again? Are you trying to get fired?¡±


    Once again, he smiles. I remember his wounded lip. As I observe, the injury is starting to dry up and is less noticeable now. No wonder he¡¯s not wearing a cap anymore. Master of camouge, indeed!


    ¡°Where¡¯s your car key? I¡¯ll drive.¡±


    For some reason, Iugh. Yes, I justughed at what I heard. ¡°You¡¯re crazy, you know that? I¡¯ll take my car back home.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to ride on my motorcycle, seriously, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Putting my life in danger?¡±


    ¡°Why would it be dangerous?¡± Cedric¡¯s eyebrows knit.


    ¡°You want to go fast and make me crash?¡±


    For the first time, Cedricughs, albeit softly. Revealing his white teeth, including the crooked one on the left side. I was amazed for a moment, but quickly regained my senses. Fortunately. So I put on my guarded face again.


    ¡°I won¡¯t take you on a speedy ride; I want to take you home together. It¡¯s lucky if you¡¯re willing to ride on my motorcycle.¡±


    ¡°Look at me. Do you think I¡¯ll ride a motorcycle wearing a skirt like this?¡± I protest smoothly. Again, he smiles, although I thought he wouldugh.


    ¡°You can sit sideways. Do you have a jacket?¡±


    ¡°My files?¡± I point to myptop bag and a tote bag with copies of the documents I need.


    ¡°We can arrange it.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a spare helmet?¡±


    ¡°Always. Who knows, maybe Anya will agree to ride with me.¡±


    I roll my eyes in exasperation. ¡°Your smooth-talking lips are incredible.¡±


    ¡°You also have the ability to sweet-talk me.¡±


    ttered? Not at all! Instead of entertaining him, I choose to continue walking towards the time clock machine. I¡¯m sure Cedric is following me. After finishing the attendance record, I head to the elevator, and damn, there are only two of us. Where did the other employees go?


    ¡°Here, take this!¡± I hand my bags to Cedric a bit roughly. Instead of getting angry, he happily takes them.


    ¡°Are you serious about riding on my motorcycle together?¡±


    ¡°Are you asking again? I canceled the n for you to pick me up this afternoon.¡±


    ***

 [14] b

    I might as wellbel myself as crazy too. I¡¯m really sitting on Cedric¡¯s red motorcycle. He drives it carefully, rarely overtaking other cars or motorcycles, waiting for vehicles in front to turn if there¡¯s a speed bump or pothole, he doesn¡¯t press the brakes too hard. asionally, he asks how I am behind him.


    I enjoy it. Honestly. Sitting sideways with some of my legs covered by a pashmina, my body wrapped in his scented jacket. I¡¯m confused; even though the jacket was inside the motorcycle seat, its smell is still pleasant. I like it. Well¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t really smell the usual vehicle odors even though I¡¯m wearing a mask.


    The helmet I¡¯m wearing is also clean, with no dust on it. Shiny. I guess Cedric is the type who takes good care of his belongings. His motorcycle is spotless.


    ¡°Do you want to eat at the apartment or outside?¡±


    I flinched. ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t hear.¡± I held onto the metal at the back of the motorcycle. I didn¡¯t want my hand to touch Cedric; he might get even more conceited. Damn, the motorcycle stopped on a not too busy side of the road.


    ¡°Do you want to have dinner outside or at the apartment?¡± Cedric turned towards me, opening the visor of his half-face helmet. ¡°Don¡¯t sit too far from me. It¡¯s heavy, Anya.¡±


    I pouted. ¡°Are you asking me to sit close to you like that? You¡¯re so sly!¡±


    I¡¯m sure that behind his mask, he¡¯s annoyingly smiling in response to my remark.


    ¡°Not like that. It¡¯s heavy if you¡¯re holding onto the metal at the back of the motorcycle.¡±


    ¡°So I have to hold onto you?¡± I red at him in anger.


    ¡°Whether you like it or not.¡±


    ¡°Why are you so irritating?¡±


    ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡±


    Cedric is really crazy!


    ¡°Tomorrow, don¡¯t wear a skirt or bring pants. It won¡¯t be difficult to ride the motorcycle then. If you wear pants and don¡¯t hold onto me, it¡¯s also fine.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I rolled my eyes to indicate that I didn¡¯t want to talk about it any longer.


    ¡°Just get mad; you look pretty that way. Oh, I¡¯m really crazy around you.¡±


    ¡°Are you just realizing that?!¡±


    Cedric restarted his motorcycle. Preparing to hit the road again in Washington DC. ¡°Let¡¯s eat at the apartment, then. Tell me what you want to eat, and I¡¯ll get it.¡± Before Cedric could speed up, his fairlyrge hand grabbed mine and ced it on his abdomen. When I tried to protest, he stopped me.


    ¡°Stay here. For safety.¡±


    In the end, I gave in. Allowing his other hand to hold mine, right above his waist. Staring at his broad back from such a close distance, I deeply inhaled the sweet perfume mixed with a hint of nicotine.


    ¡°Hold the handlebar properly. It¡¯s dangerous,¡± I whispered.


    I¡¯m not sure if he smiled orughed behind his mask. Either way, I didn¡¯t intend to retract my hand that had already circled around his waist to his abdomen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let go of your grip.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re annoying!¡±


    In the past, I was infatuated with a certain guy. He didn¡¯t speak sweet words and had principles that made me cringe at his challenging views of the world. He also had a distinctive face, a mischievous but charismatic boy. In my high school days, who wouldn¡¯t fall for someone I still remember to this day?


    But in the end, I decided to part ways. There was no drama or anything. I chose to work in Washington DC, and he went to New York. He joined his sibling¡¯s business there. Neither of us came from affluent families. We only had the opportunity to study up to high school. But my dreams were big, especially because of the promise to Nek Sumi. I had to earn a bachelor¡¯s degree and be proud of it.


    Maybe he had simr ambitions. What¡¯s clear is that he wanted to elevate his parents¡¯ status. The mischievous boy who loved his parents dearly. I admired him for this. I was charmed to the point of being naive and reckless. Experiencing being abandoned by my father, then finding a recement whom I thought could stay with me without facing any resistance, and enjoying countless opportunities for young love at that time.


    I chuckled at how funny it was for me to fall in love. Unknowingly, the red motorcycle had entered the guest parking area next to the apartment building where I lived.


    ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ve been waiting, and you didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Indeed, Cedric managed to make me feel embarrassed. When I got off the motorcycle, he slowly unbuttoned his helmet and helped me take off my jacket. He tidied up my slightly messy long hair, making me feel like a statue. I didn¡¯t move at all.


    My experience with men was notcking at all. However, maybe it was because of my personal choice to maintain distance when I sensed something I didn¡¯t like about a guy approaching me. For example, Kelvin. Sometimes, when we had dinner together, I felt like I had to act like a woman swooning in his arms. As if Kelvin was the perfect person to receive my coquettishness. But I didn¡¯t want to do that at all.


    Or Dewa. His sweet talk often gave me a headache. It didn¡¯t mean I liked it. No. Oh, no¡­ not at all. I just felt like, oh dear¡­ is there anything else he could say apart from those weird things? It¡¯s fine for a woman to enjoy sweet talk, but not excessively, right?


    As for Cedric¡­


    ***


    ¡°This is delicious,¡± he said, causing me to pause my spoon in the air. I wanted to savor the fried rice I made while it was still warm. The sweet and savory aroma,bined with the eggs in the fried rice, made my stomach crave for arger portion.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± I resumed chewing and took a piece of tomato as a side dish.


    ¡°I¡¯m really lucky to be able to eat your cooking.¡±


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m talking to a kid.¡±


    He only chuckled. ¡°Is it okay if I call you something else?¡±


    ¡°Sure. This isn¡¯t the office.¡± I¡¯m right, right?


    ¡°Can I call you Joice?¡±


    I choked. Damn Cedric! Out of all the nicknames he could have used, why Anya?


    ¡°Not allowed, huh?¡± Cedric quickly handed me a ss of water, helping me drink until it¡¯s almost half gone.


    ¡°If you¡¯re just going to be honest, Cedric!¡±


    My remark received a loudugh from Cedric. Even the corners of his eyes disappeared slightly fromughing so hard. I saw himughing and wanted to join, but I felt embarrassed, so I chose to look at him sternly and dismissively.


    At the end of hisughter, Cedric said, ¡°Anya can be funny too. I thought you could only be serious.¡±


    My lips tightened. Even my gaze changed without an aura of animosity.

 [15] a

    ¡°Morning, Anya,¡± greeted Krystal, causing me to look up from myputer screen. Today, Krystal arrived a bitter than usual. She had already informed me.


    ¡°Morning, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Red lipstick really suits you.¡±


    Unconsciously, I touched my lips adorned with red matte lipstick. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Serious. It looks good. Bold. Fresh. Beautiful too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve alreadyplimented me twice, Ma¡¯am. I feel ufortable, Krystal.¡±


    Krystal furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Why? I¡¯m being honest.¡±


    I smiled. Krystal and her straightforwardness. ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m ttered.¡±


    ¡°Be positive, Anya. Your aura will spread everywhere.¡± Then, Krystal walked into her office, leaving me with various questions about what she meant by that. Before her figurepletely disappeared, she turned back, standing right at the ss door¡¯s edge.


    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s meeting results, Mr. Kelvin said he already emailed them to you. Please check it again and send the meeting minutes there. There are some important points that still need to be discussed.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    As soon as Krystal disappeared behind her ss door, I quickly grabbed the mirror that was always within reach of myputer screen. I gazed closely at my reflection. I felt like my makeup was just average. Comparatively, it was even more natural today than yesterday. I only made my lips stand out with bright red lipstick.


    I¡¯m confused as to why Krystal said that about me. My face isn¡¯t exceptionally pretty; it¡¯s just average. My slightly upturned nose is my only saving grace. If it weren¡¯t for that, I think I¡¯d be just an ordinary woman here. My overall appearance isn¡¯t daring in any way. Just like a professional assistant. A knee-length skirt with a fitted shirt, or dress pants with a short-sleeved blouse. No unbuttoning a few buttons to draw more attention. No, that¡¯s not me. I¡¯m not that kind of woman. Sure, there are times when I feel the need to show that women appreciate being noticed. But only for certain asions.


    For example, apanying Krystal to dinner, a meeting with important clients that can only be done after 7 p. m., or Krystal¡¯s colleague¡¯s party with a guest list that gives me a headache. Not to mention that I feel like a bodyguard because Krystal is genuinely cautious about drawing too much attention.


    ying it safe, as Naomi would say about Krystal¡¯s behavior, who prefers to hold my hand rather than invite her male friends.


    Ah, why am I thinking about Krystal? I¡¯d better continue working and do what my boss asked earlier. It took a while to summarize everything due to the numerous points, and some of them I didn¡¯t quite understand. I had to direct call Kelvin several times. I¡¯m sure he was there with a mischievous smile while teasing me between questions about yesterday¡¯s meeting.


    ¡°Having lunch together?¡± he asked at the end of the phone call, for the umpteenth time.


    ¡°I have a lunch appointment already.¡±


    ¡°Come on, cancel it. Anya knows I¡¯ll be resigning soon. Don¡¯t you want to have a farewell lunch?¡±


    I chuckled softly. ¡°A promise is a debt, right?¡±


    ¡°But for the farewell party I¡¯m throwing, you muste.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± I still felt uneasy about constantly rejecting him. Anyway, I¡¯m sure many other coworkers will attend the farewell event, not just the two of us.


    After the call ended, I continued with my work. Before lunchtime, the group chat became noisy. Even though Naomi and Dona weren¡¯t sitting too far from me, they made a fuss in the group just to choose a ce to eat. By the way, regarding the lunch invitation from Kelvin, I lied. I didn¡¯t have any lunch appointments today. I just really wanted to avoid him.


    I quickly responded to the group chat that suddenly got filled with numerous messages. I didn¡¯t need to read each one individually because I was sure they were debating about something unimportant.


    Anya P: Let¡¯s eat at the cafeteria. I want pizza.


    Naomi: Youe in and immediately ask for pizza. Read the previous messages first. ssic Anya!


    Dona: I know, right? Even though we were gossiping about her. Doesn¡¯t she sense it, Nao?


    Naomi: (emojisughing as much as possible)


    I furrowed my eyebrows. Finally, I read each message above, and to my surprise, Naomi sent a photo to the group.


    Anya P: WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?!


    Dona: Anya¡¯s caught!


    I don¡¯t know if I should put on or, better yet, change my expression, huh? Naomi sent a photo of me and Cedric from the parking lot earlier this morning. I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s from Naomi¡¯s phone; there¡¯s even the brand name on it. Only Naomi would be so tacky with her camera settings.


    Naomi: If you don¡¯t want it to spread, treat us to lunch. Oh, marriage tax. Cedric should marry you soon, Anya.


    My head suddenly felt stiff. Why is she talking about marriage? It¡¯s true that in the photo, I couldn¡¯t avoid the fact that this morning, Cedric once again gave me a ride. We went to the office on his motorcycle. And well, I followed his advice and wore trousers. It made my movements on the motorbike morefortable, and I didn¡¯t have to hold on so tightly.


    I allowed him to pick me up just because I felt like it. Nothing more. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll drive myself again. The offer of having porridge and chicken liver satay for breakfast was very tempting when I opened my phone at 5 a. m. Cedric said it¡¯s a regr customer of his whenever they have porridge, and he wanted me to try it. I threatened him that if it wasn¡¯t good, I wouldn¡¯t let him give me a ride hometer.


    ¡°Guaranteed, you¡¯ll like it, Joice.¡±


    Speaking of the name, I didn¡¯t expect Cedric¡¯s reason for wanting to call me that.


    ¡°If I may ask, what does the name Joice mean?¡± he inquired while still looking at me.


    ¡°ce to return home,¡± I replied. Then I continued with the dinner that had been postponed earlier. I thought he would respond to the meaning of my name, but he didn¡¯t. He just carved a small smile at the corner of his lips. Then, like me, he continued enjoying the meal.


    What was I hoping for? Cedricplimenting the meaning of my name? Crazy! The rest of dinner ended with Cedric cleaning up the kitchen. He told me to sit on the living room sofa with a cup of jasmine tea to rx.


    I pretended not to care, going back and forth with the TV remote to kill time before Cedric left. I did n to work overtime afterward. It¡¯s useless to carry so many files and aptop if I don¡¯t follow through with my ns.


    It seems Cedric knows when to stop. After he felt everything was done and to his liking, I didn¡¯t ask many questions about this. It didn¡¯t endanger me; in fact, I felt safer. He finally bid goodbye.


    ¡°So¡­ can I call you Joice?¡± he asked when he was at the front door. Why didn¡¯t he ask earlier? It made me wonder. Is Cedric¡¯s mind that messed up or something?


    ¡°Whatever,¡± I replied.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He smiled annoyingly!


    ¡°Can I touch your belly again?¡±


    And there¡¯s this behavior of his! But I couldn¡¯t refuse him. Well¡­ I¡¯m just getting angry with myself.


    ¡°Alright, take care of yourself, Mami,¡± he said. I only responded with a stiff nod.


    ¡°Close the door and lock it.¡±


    When I came back to my senses, I just snorted at what he said just now. ¡°Yes, I know! Go home!¡±


    ***

 [15] b

    ¡°Delete it, Naomi,¡± I said during our lunch break. Naomiughed contentedly. Although when we met in the elevator, she was already smiling inexplicably, causing some of the people inside the lift to look at Naomi with puzzled expressions. They might have been confused because someone was behaving strangely.


    ¡°Oh, this is concrete evidence that Anya Joice wants to get close to Cedric.¡±


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with your closeness. You¡¯re both human. Unless Cedric is a ghost, maybe I¡¯ll stop you, Anya,¡± Dona added, and Naomi immediately agreed. My two best friends are exceptional at cornering someone.


    ¡°Do you even think about who Cedric is?¡±


    ¡°I know. A human,¡± Dona answered nonchntly. She then enjoyed the cold fruit she ordered after finishing her bowl of corn soup with carrot.


    ¡°Office boy,¡± I whispered. This is the cafeteria, and I don¡¯t want my words to be overheard and misunderstood. I didn¡¯t mean to disrespect him. Since I got to know him recently, I eventually learned and became somewhat sure that Cedric is a good guy. He¡¯s genuine and responsible.


    But,e on¡­ I still think realistically, right?


    ¡°Have you talked about this with Cedric?¡± Naomi asked bluntly, making me slightly flustered, but I tried to control it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to expect too much. And besides, I won¡¯t deviate from my ns.¡±


    ¡°Just wait and see, Dona. Who will lose? The foolish determination or Cedric¡¯s charm.¡±


    I hated hearing that. As if I¡¯d be attracted to him? No. I can be very clear about that.


    ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t be sad if you suddenly realize how you feel,¡± Dona said, always managing to ally with Naomi through her words.


    ¡°Moreover, there¡¯s nothing you can avoid if Cedric is the one who got you pregnant. Whether he¡¯s an office boy or a manager. Don¡¯t let your pregnancy be a burden to the point of harming the fetus. That¡¯s all I can say. You¡¯re an adult. You know the difference between right and wrong. There¡¯s no point in being stubborn about it, Anya. So I hope you handle what¡¯s happened in your life wisely.¡±


    I chose to finish my order. I didn¡¯t want to pay attention to Naomi¡¯s words, although they were pounding hard on my heart. Naomi is my closest friend, but can she understand how afraid I am if this bes more public?


    All my worries have truly shredded my sanity. This is for the best, and I wholeheartedly believe it. I executed the nst night. I stayed upte, making sure Cedric got home safely. It was around two in the morning when I finally fell asleep.


    My office work was finished by half-past midnight. I deliberately checked again to make sure nothing was missed for the data on the early 2018 mid-semester. Once I confirmed that everything was in order, I packed up, including the bag I would take with me the next day. I set my rm half an hour earlier than usual.


    I really started to exhaust myself slowly. It wouldn¡¯t be too noticeable after just one day. But if I kept up this routine, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d burn out within a week. I haven¡¯t been taking my vitamins regrly either.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Nao. It¡¯s Anya¡¯s business. We¡¯ve warned her,¡± Dona said.


    Naomi nodded silently.


    ¡°Hey, have you heard thetest gossip?¡± Doni Hasta always has a way of steering the conversation back to a rxed atmosphere. Not as tense as before. For me, Dona is the mediator when Naomi and I have a disagreement. Dona and Naomi rarely argue, except for trivial things. Afterward, they always reconcile.


    ¡°Kelvin is going to throw a farewell party,¡± she said with sparkling eyes. Oh, dear. I wonder what kind of information she¡¯s bringing and presenting. Actually, I already know about it. Kelvin himself informed me, though the location is still vague to me.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have it at our regr club for dancing.¡±


    I closed my eyes. The image of wearing a ck dress again started to whirl uncontrobly in my mind.


    ¡°I also heard he rented a venue just for us.¡±


    ¡°Crazy. He¡¯s not holding back with this event,¡± Naomimented, impressed or something. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed toe,¡± she warned me directly.


    I just snorted quietly. ¡°Not interested anyway.¡± That¡¯s the truth. Usually, for events like this, Dona and I are the most enthusiastic. We¡¯d then persuade a somewhat sober Naomi when we were drunk together to be our bodyguard. But this time, I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m not interested at all.


    ¡°But I think you won¡¯t be able to avoid it.¡±


    I looked at Dona with a puzzled look. When I followed the direction of her gaze, I finally understood.


    ¡°Hi, Anya,¡± he greeted. Then he sat down without asking first. Well, this is the cafeteria. Anyone can sit anywhere they like. It¡¯s just that¡­ it shouldn¡¯t be at our table, right?


    I just gave a small smile, as usual.


    ¡°I thought you had a lunch appointment with someone. Turns out it¡¯s with your friends,¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re always together.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I felt likeughing when it was Kelvin who responded instead of me.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Hey, do you know about the event I¡¯m organizing? The invitation will follow, but all staff, including Ms. Krystal, must attend. Especially you, Anya.¡±


    I always manage to keep myposure in front of Kelvin. Maybe because I understand how to deal with a show-off like him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure my boss attends, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    He nodded in response. ¡°You should also be there with your full team. When else can we party together, right?¡±


    The show-off will always be a show-off.


    ¡°True. Especially when there¡¯s Vodka and its friends, right, sir?¡± Dona retorted with a tone of feigned enthusiasm. I¡¯m pretty sure she¡¯s mocking me. Out of all the alcoholic names, why mention Vodka? Why not Tequ?


    ¡°Whatever you want. Just don¡¯t cause a ruckus,¡± Kelvin quipped with augh.


    ¡°The one who gets rowdy when drunk is Anya, Vin,¡± Naomi said, making me give her a sharp and suspicious look.


    Kelvin immediately turned to look at me, as if asking me to respond or at least refute Naomi¡¯s statement. But no. I don¡¯t want to get caught up in this teasing game.


    ¡°When Anya¡¯s drunk, she kisses people indiscriminately,¡± Naomi satisfied her thirst for teasing me to the max.


    ¡°Really?¡± Kelvin looked back and forth between Naomi and me. ¡°Well, in that case, I should stay close to Anya all the time. So if Anya gets drunk, she¡¯ll kiss me.¡±


    ¡°Do you wish I would kiss you when I¡¯m drunk, Kelvin?¡± I said as I finished thest of my strawberry juice. Wiping the corner of my lips with a tissue, I got up and walked away from them.

 [16] a

    ¡°Anya, how¡¯s Anna? Are you getting along well?¡± I turned and blinked in confusion. We were in Krystal¡¯s office discussing the points she requested. Since I didn¡¯t attend the meeting and asked Kelvin directly about some things, it might not be in line with my boss¡¯s expectations. She crossed out some points and asked for revisions. Krystal said it was for a discussion a week after Kelvin¡¯s recement.


    ¡°Um¡­ honestly, Ma¡¯am, I can handle all the tasks.¡±


    I heard her sigh softly. ¡°I never doubted that. The purpose of having Anna is to assist you temporarily. I don¡¯t want a repeat of you fainting due to exhaustion. Next quarter, we¡¯ll have a lot of deals with Emerce. Online shopping is bing more popr, and we¡¯re going to be really busy.¡±


    I nervously swallowed and no longer dared to challenge her gaze. I chose to focus on taking notes and marking the important points she requested.


    ¡°By the way, the recement for Kelvin will probably start being active tomorrow.¡±


    I furrowed my brow. ording to the rumors I heard, one weekter meant next week, and that¡¯s when the new person should start working. Why is it elerated? What¡¯s going on? But all those thoughts were spinning in my head, and I didn¡¯t dare to voice them. Once Krystal makes a decision, it can¡¯t be challenged, and I always believe that she must have her reasons.


    ¡°Should I also send a copy of this to Mr. Kelvin?¡± I asked Inggid.


    She shook her head. ¡°Just send it to me.¡±


    One hundred percent of my suspicion went up. There must be something between Kelvin and Krystal. Should I try to find out on my own? But what¡¯s the point? It¡¯s not essential to my life. So instead of letting my mind wander to things that shouldn¡¯t be in my head, I chose to leave the room immediately.


    Krystal didn¡¯t stop me, meaning there was nothing else she needed from me. As soon as my behindnded on my beloved chair, I immediatelypleted what Krystal requested. There were still many other tasks that needed to be done. And well¡­ I¡¯d still be working overtime at the apartment. No need for anyone else to know.


    To hell with overtime pay or anything else. My goal is to exhaust myself. It¡¯s a big bonus for my life right now. Perhaps because I was so immersed in my work, I didn¡¯t realize the time had already reached four in the afternoon. Somehow, I really wanted to have Regal biscuits drizzled with honey.


    Oh no! I couldn¡¯t resist this desire! The crispness of the Regal and the sweetness of honey were already imagined to greet my tongue. I had to keep swallowing saliva several times just by thinking about it. Damn! What¡¯s wrong with me?


    Ah, I remember! Naomi must have some snacks. I immediately typed a message to Naomi, hoping she still had cookies. The two jars that Krystal gave me were gone, eaten by me, I don¡¯t know since when. Because the jars were nice, I kept them in case someone needed them.


    Naomi: Alright. I¡¯ll bring it to youter. I need Krystal¡¯s signature.


    A smile spread across my face. My friend is indeed the most reliable one. I felt a bit calmer and regained control. I continued working with the thought that my snack would arrive soon.


    ¡°Ms. Anya, here¡¯s your snack.¡±


    I was genuinely shocked. My concentration was broken the moment I saw Cedric standing in front of me, holding a tray with the biscuits I was craving and a small bottle of honey. Not to forget, a cup of hot tea was also prepared.


    Damn you, Naomi!!!


    ¡°I¡¯ll ce it on the table, alright?¡± I didn¡¯t even have time to say anything, just stared at his back as he suddenly disappeared from my sight. This is not right at all! I must protest to Naomi about this!


    Anya. P: Why did Cedric deliver my order?!


    Not long after, my message was replied.


    Naomi: Sorry. The boss didn¡¯t give me a break. I asked Cedric for help. The important thing is that you eat.


    Oh well, there¡¯s nothing I can do now. Being angry and annoyed would be pointless. Cedric had already bought it for me. Judging from his rushed manner, he might have other work to do. But it ended up causing inconvenience to him. I should warn Naomi about this.


    Anya. P: Next time, don¡¯t ask Cedric again. He seems busy.


    I was being good with my slightly positive thoughts, right?


    Naomi: Someone is starting to pay attention to Cedric. Big gossip. I¡¯ll tell Donater!!!


    The most infuriating definition is always with closest friends like them.


    ***


    ¡°Anya, are you sure you don¡¯t want to buy something?¡± Cedric asked to confirm. I, sitting behind him on the motorcycle, rolled my eyes in annoyance. I don¡¯t know how many times he¡¯s asked this question already.


    ¡°No,¡± I replied shortly.


    ¡°But I¡¯m hungry. Just a quick bite, okay? I can¡¯t take it anymore. I¡¯ve been busy helping Mr. Sarman.¡±


    Suddenly, I felt sorry for him. He must be exhausted from focusing on driving the motorcycle carefully all day. I know Sarman¡¯s work habits. He always wants everything perfect and praises from Krystal. But the report I was studying had a lot of lies. Still, I can¡¯t talk to Cedric about this.


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± I asked, leaning closer to him. The noise from other motorcycles made me do it. Sometimes I wonder if that¡¯s just like noise pollution, right? Weird!


    I¡¯m quite affected by the scent of Cedric¡¯s jacket, whether it¡¯s perfume or just a fragrance. It makes me feelfortable staying near him. Usually, I¡¯d feel nauseous if there¡¯s a strong scent, but that¡¯s not the case with Cedric¡¯s jacket. Why, I wonder? Should I ask him what perfume he¡¯s using?


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°I hate it when you answer with another question,¡± I grumbled. I¡¯m serious about this. Who asked for food? Me?


    ¡°Who knows, maybe you have some ideas. How about toasted bread with warm chocte?¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Sure,¡± I replied suddenly excited.


    ¡°But it¡¯s a small portion. Are you sure it¡¯s enough?¡± Cedric could really ruin my mood, couldn¡¯t he!


    ***


    At first, I didn¡¯t want to eat. It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to, I just didn¡¯t feel like it. It¡¯s not about the ce either. The cafe that serves Cedric¡¯s choice of toasted bread seems different. It¡¯s more private and not too crowded. When I saw the prices on the menu, I thought they were quite normal. It¡¯s not a ce where you have to spend a lot of money just to enjoy honey-drizzled toasted bread with warm chocte. But the atmosphere¡­ made me feelfortable.


    Where did Cedric get the reference for this cafe?


    ¡°Do you want more?¡± Cedric asked, handing me a bottle of mineral water. He had already opened the cap so I wouldn¡¯t have trouble.


    ¡°Making fun of me?¡±


    He smiled. ¡°No, not making fun of you. If you¡¯re not full, you can have more while we¡¯re here.¡±


    I pouted. This was already my third te; how could I not be full? Is my stomach made of rubber? No way!


    ¡°Any other types of bread?¡±


    I shook my head quickly, not really refusing.


    ¡°Alright then. Shall we go home or is there anything else you want to buy?¡±


    ¡°Just go home. I¡¯m tired.¡± Again, Cedric responded with that annoying smile of his. When does he not do that? I don¡¯t like it! It¡¯s better to leave Cedric to handle the payment rather than grumble in my heart because of that smile.


    I took out a red bill to pay, but Cedric firmly refused. It¡¯s not that I intended to belittle him, but he already bought a lot of steak yesterday. There¡¯s nothing wrong with me paying for our dinner today, right?


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Joice. I have money to pay for dinner tonight.¡± He returned the money I offered and folded my palm with his hand. He patted it briefly before calling the waiter.


    Fine, I won¡¯t insist. It¡¯s quite dramatic to argue about who¡¯s going to pay for a meal. I already offered and knew my ce. Rejected? Fine, I¡¯ll put it back in my wallet. It¡¯ll be enough for tomorrow¡¯s lunch. I walked slowly towards Cedric¡¯s red motorcycle Once I was close to it, I picked up the jacket he intentionally ced near the handlebars. I put it on to keep warm on the road.


    I had barely finished zipping up the jacket when Cedric took over and startled me. I couldn¡¯t stop him; I couldn¡¯t refuse. He stood so close to me. Very close. It reminded me of how close he had been before. On that damn night that I can¡¯t forget.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t zip it up properly, Joice. It¡¯s cold.¡±


    I knew, okay? He didn¡¯t have to do it himself. Seriously, this made me ufortable, especially with his perfume lingering in the air.


    ¡°I can do it myself,¡± I said, coughing softly. I quickly grabbed the helmet Cedric was about to hand me. I didn¡¯t want him to act all gentlemanly and put it on for me. Are my hands paralyzed or something?


    As usual, Cedric drove the motorcycle at a moderate speed. I was enjoying the night air, not knowing how I truly felt. The guy in front of me, who had been pushing to get close to me in the past few days, seemed straightforward. It didn¡¯t seem like he had any ulterior motives. Perhaps his life was just straightforward without any weirdness.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His way of speaking was polite, and he didn¡¯t say much unless I did something that seemed dangerous or careless. But I was curious how Cedric, whom I considered straightforward, could be in a club. Does that mean he¡¯s one of those guys who¡­ need some entertainment too?


    Should I ask? But if I ask, it¡¯ll probably end up leading to a conversation about my pregnancy, right? No way. I¡¯d rather keep it to myself or forget about it altogether. The distance from the restaurant to the apartment isn¡¯t too far, so I won¡¯t spend too much time with Cedric anyway. Thoughts like these can easily disappear. It¡¯s just a bit strange that someone like Cedric would be in a club.


    ¡°Uh¡­ I won¡¯te in, okay? I still have something I need to do.¡±


    He slowed down his movement of unzipping his jacket on my body. Not because I didn¡¯t like it or anything, it was just¡­ strange.


    ¡°No prob,¡± I said, giving him a small smile. After making sure I didn¡¯t leave anything on his motorcycle, I walked away. But just as I took five steps, Cedric stopped me. It made me turn back, not prepared to run into his chest. What¡¯s the deal?


    I red angrily at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stay up toote, okay?¡±


    I rolled my eyes in response. And damn it, he smiled again. ¡°Can you stop with those vague smiles?!¡± I finally protested.


    Cedric blinked, probably confused by my earlier remark. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Nothing! But I just don¡¯t like the way you smile at me! That¡¯s only in my mind, I won¡¯t say it out loud. I just returned his gaze. ¡°Do you have any more messages for me?¡±


    This time, Cedric didn¡¯t smile, but heughed. ¡°Like what?¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°How would I know? You¡¯re the one who often sends messages to me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it. If you have quality sleep, everything will be fine.¡± And with that, Cedric tucked a strand of hair that was slightly obstructing my face. ¡°Good night, Joice.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond, choosing to turn around and quicken my pace. I didn¡¯t want to look back, even though my mind was telling me to do so for just a moment. But no, what¡¯s the point, right?

 [16] b

    As I arrived at the elevator door leading to the lobby, I thought, this is a good opportunity, right? No one is following me home as usual. I can finally execute my n to take the emergency exit stairs when Ie home from work. Not for exercise, but to make my body tired. So, I decided to push the emergency exit and climb the stairs one by one.


    Myptop bag, work bag, and a tote bag filled with financial documents were hanging on my finger, and don¡¯t forget my other hand that was already crowded with stuff. I carried my high heels. Slowly, I walked in this rather dirty stairwell. When I saw the floor sign in the corner, it showed number five. I was halfway there to the tenth floor.


    My breath only reached my throat. My forehead was drenched in sweat. asionally, I wiped it with the back of my hand that held theptop bag. I was certain that my shirt and bra were soaked. Sticky, due to the sweat that hade out. There was no fresh airing in and out here, right? It was stuffy, hot, and the struggle was entangled within me.


    But I couldn¡¯t give up. I kept taking slow steps because this was what I wanted. The silence here made me shiver a bit, though. But I was sure nothing weird was going on. It was just quiet, and the sound of my heavy breathing probably made me a little scared. When I saw the number nine as the indicator of one more floor to go, I sighed in relief.


    Although tired, I was still d that I could do it. Now I just have to feel the effects of this crazy activity. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll do it again as often as I can. I¡¯ll just pray that Cedric won¡¯t escort me all the way to the door. Why didn¡¯t I just kick him out? Well, in the past few days, the situation didn¡¯t allow for it. Dona and Naomi were there. I couldn¡¯t just kick Cedric out like that.


    Well, it¡¯s not a bad idea as long as I can carry out my n. I tilted my head back slightly when I reached thest flight of stairs leading to the tenth floor. I didn¡¯t count how many steps there were in one floor. All I did was recite a strong mantra to get to my destination. I smiled triumphantly. I wiped the sweat that was dripping slowly.


    As soon as I saw the steel emergency exit door, I immediately pushed it with all the remaining strength I had. But it didn¡¯t open. I pushed it again, but the door didn¡¯t budge at all. Panic started to set in. My mind suddenly thought of strange things. I put down all my belongings so I could push it more freely. Still, it wouldn¡¯t open. Oh my God! What¡¯s happening?Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I continued to exert all my strength to push it, but it was futile. Panic began to overwhelm me. There¡¯s no way I slept in here, right? Or maybe the security has started locking each exit door? They never do that, though. I¡¯m sure of it.


    Wait¡­ am I just being presumptuous?


    What should I do? Seriously, I¡¯m starting to panic.


    ***


    ¡°Thanks, sir. Sorry to bother you,¡± I said with a relieved smile. The security guard on duty tonight did the same. Maybe it¡¯s part of their responsibility while working.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. If you want to exercise, just go to the park at the back,¡± he joked.


    I chuckled. Honestly, this is such an embarrassing situation for me. It¡¯s embarrassingly awkward. I¡¯ve tried pushing the door multiple times, but it didn¡¯t budge. I suspect it¡¯s locked. At first, panic immediately struck me, and I thought about going back downstairs to the lobby.


    But that¡¯s just silly. Even though I might get tired, I don¡¯t want to end up fainting in the apartment lobby. That would cause amotion. After calming down a bit and my mind is notpletely nk, I called the reception desk. The residents of this apartment must have their phone numbers.


    I informed them that I¡¯m trapped in the emergency exit on the tenth floor. Desi, the friendly receptionist I know, was surprised by the news, but I didn¡¯t care. The most important thing is that someone opens this door, and I can get out soon.


    And here I am now. I¡¯ve made it back inside my unit. After making sure the two security guards turned away and left, I closed the door with a sigh of reliefpared to when they confirmed that I was behind the locked door. Thankfully, I didn¡¯t go overboard and scream as if I were in great distress.


    I don¡¯t really care about my belongings right now. I just left everything on the sofa and decided to head to the fridge. One ss, or maybe two sses of cold water, would help ease my fatigue a bit. And it did help; my thirst was quenched. Then I plopped down on the carpet near the sofa. My feet were a bit stiff, and my heels hurt.


    I guess that¡¯s because I¡¯m not used to moving around and then climbing so many stairs all of a sudden. I did consider this possibility, but now that I¡¯m experiencing it, I slightly regret it. It¡¯s almost like self-torture, isn¡¯t it? Even reaching for the bottle of eucalyptus oil in my bag was so tiring. So, I chose to massage my feet gently without any ointment, hoping that the pain would subside.


    Gradually, the living room started to feel cool with the air conditioning on. My clothes were wet from sweat, making me feel sticky. So, I decided to unbutton my shirt and remove my bottoms. It seems like I need to take a shower. My shirt is damp, and I¡¯m sure my bra and underwear are wet from the sweat too.


    Reluctantly, I dragged my stiff feet to step into the bathroom. I filled the bathtub with warm water, sprinkling some bath salts, and lit scented candles. But I didn¡¯t immediately get in; my body was still damp, and I needed to remove the remaining makeup from my face. I also had to tie my hair properly because I didn¡¯t want to go to bed with semi-dry hair.


    After ensuring my face was clean, I started to get into the bathtub. I dipped my toes into the warm water I had prepared. Inhaling deeply the soothing aroma to calm myself. Ah, I even yed some calming music, Kenny G, to apany me. I¡¯m not a big fan of him, but I appreciate how he ys instruments and produces melodies that make me feelfortable.


    Iy back, supporting some part of my neck and head with a small pillow. Closing my eyes, I felt the warmth enveloping my skin. asionally, my palms yed with the foam in the water. Ah, it was truly an activity that made me so much more rxed, and my fatigue suddenly vanished.


    In my head, ns started to form about what to do next. Maybe a ss of milk and a couple of slices of bread would be nice to apany me while I workte. This afternoon, I already sorted out some parts of the report I brought home. Tonight, I will review it more thoroughly. It¡¯s not easy, considering therge amounts and various items that need checking in one table.


    I wouldn¡¯t be able to do double-checking at the office. Krystal would probably call me for this and that. So, rather than taking any risk, it seemed better to bring the report back to the apartment.


    I ended the soaking session after ten Kenny G songs had yed. That meant I had been in here for more than twenty minutes. As I stood up, I felt a strong earthquake strike. My hands gripped the edge of the bathtub tightly. My heart raced, thinking I wouldn¡¯t survive this.


    But before I could recover from the shock of the earthquake, my stomach was suddenly overwhelmed by intense nausea. I staggered, trying hard to get to the sink quickly. I vomited, not caring about the earthquake. This was more important!

 [17]

    Thest thing I remember is there was an earthquake that made me stumble. I felt nauseous and vomited uncontrobly until I became weak. I even rolled up the bathrobe I was wearing, my body still wet. My exhaustion suddenly overwhelmed me, and I couldn¡¯t think anymore whether it was an earthquake or something else. All I knew was that as soon as I saw the bed, I copsed onto it.


    I pulled the nket to cover my naked bodypletely, closing my eyes to dismiss the difort caused by the turmoil in my stomach, which left me powerless. One thing I¡¯m sure of is that I locked the apartment door. Other than that, I didn¡¯t go anywhere and didn¡¯t touch anything.


    Unconsciously, I fell asleep and forgot that I had to work overtime.


    What woke me up was the continuous ringing of my phone. I remember setting an rm on my phone, and this wasn¡¯t the rm sound. Once again, the ringing continued. Oh, and my apartment¡¯s doorbell joined in the interruption. The phone could wait; I chose to open the door for the rude guest who had disrupted my peaceful sleep.


    As I peered to see who the culprit was, I sighed with annoyance. Cedric was standing there, looking concerned. I noticed the phone near his ear. So, I found the corrtion of who disturbed my night.


    I felt like I had every right to scold him. But then I started thinking, how did he get permission toe up to the tenth floor?


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± He gently pushed me when I finally opened the door, not allowing me to brush his hands away, which were slightly gripping my shoulders. He looked at me with a worried face and suspicious eyes. I couldn¡¯t resist his actions as I was still feeling dizzy myself.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Gathering the remaining traces of consciousness that were floating somewhere, all I could recall was falling asleep after soaking in the bathtub. Did I fall asleep? I didn¡¯t understand. All I felt was that it was still nighttime, maybe midnight.


    ¡°I¡¯m still sleepy. Move aside,¡± I grumbled when Cedric¡¯s hands cupped my waist without permission.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you working?¡±


    Suddenly I snapped back to reality. My brain processed wlessly, reminding me that today was a workday. And what time was it now? I was flustered. Without realizing it, I half-ran. The first thing I looked for was my phone, which I had put on the kitchen table.


    Six o¡¯clock in the morning.


    I quickly smoothed my hair.


    ¡°Um¡­ Anya,¡± Cedric called, demanding my attention.


    ¡°What?¡± I replied sharply. I was confused about what to do first. It was already toote for me. I hadn¡¯t even had breakfast. Not to mention a shower!


    ¡°You slept like that?¡±


    I nced at my body and then looked at Cedric, who seemed awkward after realizing I wasn¡¯t appropriately dressed. My kimono was disheveled, and my shoulder was half exposed, making me quite sure that my breasts were visible. And the kimono only reached my mid-thigh.


    Oh God! Could it get any worse than this?


    ***


    I walked a little faster than usual. The main reason being that I didn¡¯t want to spend too much time with Cedric. No way! I still had some sense of shame! God! Even though my mind drifted somewhere during the night with Cedric, it didn¡¯t mean I wanted to flirt with him again. I still remembered Naomi¡¯s insinuations that I was the one seducing Cedric.


    Damn, she was right. And this time, I didn¡¯t want to bebeled like that again.


    It didn¡¯t matter if someone saw me walking with Cedric in the lobby. We had crossed paths a few times before. There was no awkwardness or any particr feelings. Cedric was also often seen with other staff members. Maybe because we were in the same environment, it wouldn¡¯t be evident if there was something suspicious going on.


    But this time, I decided to distance myself. Even during our walk, Cedric tried to engage in conversation, and I only responded with short answers. After making sure I wasn¡¯t too surprised by his presence, myte wake-up, and my rather minimal outfit that probably disturbed him, Cedric took charge of the kitchen. He reminded me to take a shower and get ready.


    Fortunately, I didn¡¯t unpack my work bagst night, so I just grabbed it without having to check again. I ced the phone I had ignored earlier for a moment. When I finished getting ready as quickly as I could, Cedric had already prepared breakfast for me, just as I had wishedst night.


    A ss of warm milk and two slices of bread, which I was pretty sure had my favorite strawberry jam spread on them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush eating, Anya,¡± Cedric cautioned. Maybe because I chewed too quickly, and the milk disappeared in a few gulps. It made him look astonished mixed with concern, fearing that I might choke. It¡¯s possible, right?


    ¡°I¡¯mte. You eat quickly too.¡± I rushed to grab the matching high heels to go with my trousers. Today, I dressed quite formally. While showering, I remembered there was a follow-up meeting, who knows how many times, with Lazade.


    As I turned, Cedric just smiled slightly while shaking his head. I wondered what he was thinking. As I was about to grab all my belongings, he stopped me.


    ¡°Let me handle that. Anything else? Check first in case you left something behind.¡±


    I just snorted, but what Cedric said did make sense. Quickly, I checked one by one the contents of my bag and also inspected the room in case I left something behind.


    ¡°What if I wear a different pair of shoes?¡± Cedric suddenly asked, stopping my steps. Then my eyes automatically nced at the high heels I was wearing and Cedric¡¯s earlier words.


    ¡°I have a meeting.¡±


    He didn¡¯tment anymore. He chose to follow me to the elevator. Even when locking the door earlier, Cedric did it for me. I truly only carried my body.


    ¡°How did you manage toe up earlier?¡± I asked suddenly. The metal box had started to descend to our destination, the basement where Cedric¡¯s scoopy was parked. From the reflection inside the lift, I could see Cedric scratching his head while looking down.


    ¡°I asked for help from the receptionist. You know, I¡¯ve waited in the lobby a few times, so he recognizes me from our encounters with you.¡±


    His exnation made sense. ¡°Cedric, I forgot to bring my jacket!¡± Oh God! Why did Ipletely forget that I was going to work with Cedric today?


    ¡°I brought it.¡±


    His words made me turn around. ¡°The jacket fromst night?¡± For some reason, I felt like it must be dirty already. Should I wear it again?


    He smiled faintly, gesturing for me to go out first. Then he stepped wide and hurriedly opened the ss door leading to the parking area. Just like a lover looking after their partner. Wait! I don¡¯t want that kind of rtionship with Cedric. Oh my gosh!


    When we reached where his motorbike was parked, Cedric immediately ced my belongings in front. He took out the helmet and jacket from the bike¡¯s seat. ¡°This is a new jacket, by the way.¡±


    As I opened the stic wrapping, Cedric¡¯s unique scent filled the air.


    ¡°Ready?¡± he asked, already seated on the motorbike while I was still putting on the jacket slowly. I must be going crazy. Why would I enjoy the scent of Cedric¡¯s perfume or cologne?


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you put on the helmet?¡± Cedric got off the motorbike again. In one swift motion, he gathered all my hair into a bundle and tied it gently. Making sure the jacket was perfectly in ce, he then put the jacket¡¯s hood on to cover my hair and head. Only then did he put on the helmet that I had ced on another bike. Locking it in ce gently.


    ¡°Now, this is safe.¡±


    With the proximity we were in just now, I waspletely speechless. I couldn¡¯t do anything but let the man¡¯s hands move skillfully to ensure that I wasfortable wearing everything he had brought.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. You said you were in a hurry.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Anya?¡± Krystal called, making me look up. I must have been so focused that I didn¡¯t realize my boss had arrived.


    ¡°Oh, ma¡¯am. Morning.¡±


    Krystal smiled. ¡°You¡¯re so enthusiastic about your work. Have you had breakfast?¡±


    I nodded as an answer. ¡°By the way, ma¡¯am. Will the meeting with Lazade still happen?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But the time has been postponed. Andrew has a meeting. We¡¯ll have lunch and the meeting togetherter.¡±


    Once again, I nodded.


    ¡°How¡¯s the financial report from Sarman?¡±


    ¡°On progress, ma¡¯am. I found something suspicious, so I bought some notes and I¡¯m currently searching for evidence to match it. If there¡¯s no proof, it could be embezzlement.¡±


    Krystal nodded. ¡°Alright then. Please be very thorough, Anya. We¡¯ll discuss it thoroughly.¡±


    Then my boss stepped into her office, and I began to refocus so I could finish my work quickly. I checked my emails again in case there were responses from people I needed data from.


    As I nced at my desk, which usually had a cup of tea and a water bottle, I saw snacks there. Quite a lot, including Regal biscuits and honey. Even without notes, I knew it was all from Cedric. Suddenly, my heart warmed, I don¡¯t know why.

 [18] a

    Actually, I personally find it confusing that during the meeting with Lazade, something made my boss furious. But it¡¯s not like that, though. Maybe it¡¯s because of the behavior of their leader named Andrew, but in my opinion, it¡¯s not the case. Mr. Andrew can still be professional during meetings, even though the hostility is quite evident.


    ¡°Sir, please drive faster. I want to arrive at the office soon,¡± ordered Krystal, making me turn around. From her facial expression, I could see how she was holding back her anger, ready to explode at any moment. I myself didn¡¯t understand which part of the meeting made Krystal xton so angry.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± she cursed, closing her eyes. She intentionally mmed her body back on the seat, making me flinch. I¡¯m used to seeing Krystal angry, but¡­ this time, she¡¯s angry without any apparent reason. It makes me suspicious.


    Along the way back to the office, no one spoke, and I personally didn¡¯t want to start a conversation. My mind wandered everywhere because there¡¯s so much I need to do once I arrive at the office. My work n is clear, but I¡¯ll need to work overtime. Given Krystal¡¯s warning, I don¡¯t dare to ask for overtime permission.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling nauseous, Anya?¡±


    I was startled. Out of all the things Krystal could ask me, why did she ask about my pregnancy? I turned to look at her, and she was gazing at me with interest. As if waiting for me to talk about what I feel.


    ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡± I lied. The nausea is still there, but not as bad as before. I¡¯ve found something effective to relieve the nausea during my daily activities at the office. It¡¯s a eucalyptus oil aroma.


    ¡°Thank goodness. I was worried you might faint again,¡± Krystal said with a sincere smile. She then took both of my hands, holding them and gently stroking them. Like an older sisterforting her younger sibling who¡¯s troubled. This? Krystal isn¡¯t possessed, right?


    ¡°Take care of yourself, okay? Don¡¯t overexert yourself because of work. Call Anna and split the workload.¡±


    Sometimes, when you hope that someone would understand your biggest concerns even just a little, that person is the one who pushes you down and causes you to get hurt. Just like what Krystal did to me. Despite my efforts since I left the hospital to prove that Anna isn¡¯t needed.


    If I really want to be disposed of, I don¡¯t need to wait any longer. I just need to say when I need to submit the resignation letter that¡¯s already saved in one of my personal folders. Ready to be printed and signed.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, don¡¯t you want anything?¡± Krystal furrowed her brow. ¡°I have a friend who got pregnantst year, and her child is so cute now. During her pregnancy, there were always things she asked for. Even Anya was bothered.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Aren¡¯t you wanting anything?¡±


    In the end, I gave her a sad smile. Why does my boss have to ask this kind of question? Why not discuss the meeting or its results? Or any additional points as she usually asks me to include in the meeting summaries.


    ¡°No, ma¡¯am,¡± I answered because it seemed like Krystal was waiting for me to speak.


    ¡°If you want something, let me know, Anya. I want to be bothered by a pregnantdy.¡±


    Honestly, I don¡¯t understand Krystal¡¯s thought process right now. Getting to know her closely but still keeping a distance as her secretary in her office, it makes me feel a little uneasy. I¡¯m sure Krystal won¡¯t act strangely. It¡¯s just that she¡¯s behaving like someone else.


    Serious.


    The beautiful woman I know is always focused on her work. Her head is never filled with anything other than reports, meetings, discussion oues, key points, and not to forget the list of questions that go around in circles but lead to one point. It makes her conversation partners unable to do anything but follow her wishes.


    She is dedicated to her work. I don¡¯t even see any w in Krystal¡¯s personal life. I only learned about the story of her friend now. And I never noticed when she was bothered by her friend. Her days are mostly spent at the office and working overtime. Ah, maybe on weekends, yes. I don¡¯t know what she does on weekends.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll just make things difficult for you, ma¡¯am.¡±


    You know, I already said it. Krystal is getting weirder. The woman even giggled, showing her white teeth. It contrasts sharply with the maroon lipstick she¡¯s wearing on her quite plump but, in my opinion, very sexy lips.


    ¡°You are like family to me now, Anya.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Are you feeling sick?¡± Cedric asked after pulling over his motorcycle. We were on our way home. He sabotaged my n to hitch a ride with Naomi. As soon as she saw me in the parking lot, she immediately pushed me towards Cedric. Naomi also added that she wanted to go somewhere. No room for me to hitch a ride with her.


    I sulked afterward. Dona wasn¡¯t supporting me either. She sided with Naomi. These two friends of mine are the ones who can make me feel the most miserable.


    Then I reluctantly epted the jacket, helmet, and Cedric¡¯s little attention as I was about to get on his motorcycle again.


    ¡°No,¡± I replied shortly.


    I heard him sigh softly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said earlier? I asked what you wanted to eat.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I shook my head in response. I didn¡¯t hear any of it, to be honest. Maybe because my head was upied with many possibilities that have been happening in my lifetely. My pregnancy. Krystal¡¯s excessive attention towards me. Cedric¡¯s behavior that¡¯s making me more confused.


    I feel like going back to the night before all this happened. So everything can go back to normal. Nothing changed. Even this pressure is driving me crazy.


    ¡°You¡¯re daydreaming.¡±


    I don¡¯t care. I diverted my gaze that was initially directed at Cedric elsewhere. Perhaps because of my attitude, Cedric finally gave up. He started the engine again and continued on the way to my apartment.


    But I never expected that Cedric would take me somewhere. Just like any other couple who spends a little of their time in between their activities. We went to the park.


    ¡°Why are we here?¡± I protested, not epting it. But still, I took off Cedric¡¯s helmet and jacket.


    ¡°To get rid of the boredom.¡±


    ***

 [18] b

    ¡°I¡¯m tired. You should just go home.¡± I firmly kicked Cedric out. This guy isn¡¯t paying any attention to what I want. He chose to walk ahead of me without caring that I was already pouting because of his behavior.


    We spent thirty minutes in the park without any conversation. Just sitting near the quiterge fish pond which¡­ oh my God, why did Cedric take me here? I let Cedric rx for a moment with his ck coffee, sipping it slowly. I umted anger because of his arrogance. He¡¯s getting bolder, huh? I don¡¯t like how he¡¯s starting to intervene in my life.


    Just because I¡¯m pregnant with his child? Seriously? He¡¯s got it easy. It¡¯ll be gone soon. Just wait and see! Then everything will go back to normal. Krystal won¡¯t give any weird attention or ask about an assistant for me. Naomi and Dona will be back to take me to the club without alcohol, of course. And Cedric. He¡¯s the most important one.


    ¡°I said I want to rest,¡± I said sarcastically right next to Cedric. We were in front of the elevator that would take us to the tenth floor.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the ess card?¡±


    ¡°I told you to go home!¡±


    He just smiled! This Cedric is crazy!


    ¡°Later. I want to make sure you¡¯re inside first. Not acting silly by taking the emergency stairs.¡±


    My eyes widened in surprise. My mouth was wide open. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°I know? Yes, I know.¡±


    ¡°None of your business, Joice. Why should you care?¡±


    Damn, Cedric smiled, but it¡¯s not the kind of smile he usually gives. ¡°It¡¯s not. You¡¯re the one who¡¯ll lose, you know.¡±


    I immediately snatched my belongings from his hand. This surprised him, and he looked at me with a puzzled expression. ¡°I can handle it myself.¡± As soon as the elevator opened, I got in. I scanned the ess card and pressed the close button on the panel, leaving Cedric still standing in front of the door with a somewhat¡­ annoyed look?


    I should be the one annoyed! Why is he looking at me like he¡¯s angry or something? Cedric is really getting audacious! Throughout the ride home, even when I apanied him for a coffee, he didn¡¯t bring up this issue at all. Why suddenly say something annoying like that?


    Besides, who does he think he is, to know everything I didst night? Is it because of that he kept calling me non-stop and ringing the doorbell as if a thief was chasing him? No wonder, right? That¡¯s why I said Cedric is crazy.


    I walked half stomping due to the frustration that just hit me. The feeling wouldn¡¯t just disappear. I¡¯ll get back at Cedricter. You¡¯ll see. How dare he act that way with me? Once I arrived at my unit, I quickly opened the door, entered, and locked it behind me. I dumped my belongings on the sofa and threw myself on the other side of the sofa. My hands worked to rummage through my work bag, searching for my phone, and when it greeted my palm, I immediately snatched it and made a call.


    ¡°Unusual for you to call,¡± a voice said on the other end.


    ¡°I¡¯m so mad! Damn Cedric!¡±


    Naomi chuckled on the other end. ¡°What did he do?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯tugh like that! I¡¯m really upset,¡± I grumbled while unbuttoning my shirt.


    ¡°Do you want me toe over?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying at Dona¡¯s ce tonight.¡±


    ¡°All right. Wait for us then.¡±


    No matter how annoying my two friends can be, I can always count on them. Especially when I need more than just a venting session.


    ***


    ¡°Anya seems to be going crazy, huh?¡± Dona eximed amid the booming music. We didn¡¯t go down to the dance floor. My hands were fully restrained by Naomi, even though I really wanted to dance. I just wanted to let off some steam since this lingering annoyance was bothering me so much.


    I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m behaving like this. Dona couldn¡¯t say anything when I was already preparing with my sleeveless navy dress, hugging my body perfectly, showing off my long legs and neck. I even curled the ends of my hair slightly to make it look different than usual.


    ¡°Damn, Anya, you¡¯re really determined,¡± Dona said when she arrived at my apartment two hours ago. Naomi didn¡¯t want to apany me at first, but I threatened to go alone. I¡¯m sure none of them genuinely wanted to apany me tonight. Whatever! As long as my annoyance disappears tonight.


    I tried soaking in a bath to rx more, but Cedric¡¯s stare when the elevator doors started closing bothered me so much. It¡¯s like I¡¯m totally wrong in his eyes. Why didn¡¯t he bring up that issue during the drive?Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sit down,¡± Naomi said with her deadly stare. Fine, I don¡¯t dare walk away to the dance floor. Not because of anything else, but when Naomi res and uses that scary tone, I¡¯m in awe.


    ¡°We agreed to apany you here, but not for any hanky-panky. Sit down and enjoy your juice.¡±


    My lips pouted, but Naomi was firm. Luckily, the table we picked wasn¡¯t too far from the dance floor, so I could still enjoy watching people casually dancing there.


    Fine, I give up. At least this already reduced the annoyance in my heart considerably. I haven¡¯t detailed what happened between Cedric and me. My God! It sounds ridiculous, right? But really, I didn¡¯t do anything, I¡¯m just upset with him.


    ¡°So?¡± Dona kindly asked. Besides ordering juice for me, she also ordered some snacks. At least, my mouth can still chew food. ¡°Is this a sudden whim for you?¡±


    Iughed. ¡°I¡¯m just fed up.¡±


    ¡°Damn, baby, I hope your behavior won¡¯t be like your mom¡¯s in the future. Aunt Dona will definitely take care of you with all my heart, body, and soul.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being a jerk, right, Don?¡± I asked while blinking my eyes, trying not to get offended, but I admit I¡¯m more of a jerk than just a pregnant woman who wants to spend time at a night club.


    ¡°No. You¡¯re just lost.¡±


    Dona¡¯s answer was rewarded with a gentle pat as if pping her from Naomi. Over the top, Dona winced in pain. It made meugh.


    ¡°Lost but inviting us. Lost together, right?¡± Naomi chimed in.


    ¡°Like you guys are so good!¡± I protested.


    ¡°So why is our pregnant friend feeling upset? Are you fighting with your fianc¨¦?¡±


    I pouted. I didn¡¯t want to challenge Naomi¡¯s eyes, which were now ncing mischievously at me. Neither did Dona. She drew my attention by poking me like I was a soap bar.


    ¡°Since when did he be my fianc¨¦?¡±


    They bothughed heartily. ¡°Soon, Anya. Very soon.¡±


    I don¡¯t want to agree with their words. Not at all!


    ¡°Hey, guys, wait a moment,¡± Dona suddenly pointed her finger to a table across from us. I was curious, and so was Naomi. We followed the direction she meant.


    I wasn¡¯t mistaken. Even Naomi covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes kept darting back and forth, looking at me with concern.


    Cedric was there, sitting casually and being fawned over by two beautiful women. Unconsciously, my fists clenched.

 [19] a

    I ignored numerous calls and doorbells that kept bothering me. Breakfast wasn¡¯t enjoyable at all since I felt rushed. When I finally opened the door, Cedric was standing in front of me, his gaze fixed on me. Even though I was all dressed up and ready to leave, I didn¡¯t give Cedric permission to enter.


    Even when he greeted me and asked me questions, I didn¡¯t feel like talking. Instead, I pressed my lips shut and blocked out the world with my earphones. I didn¡¯t care about his puzzled look. Honestly, I was surprised by my own audacity, acting like I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.


    Damn it! What was I hoping for?


    ¡°Anya, why have you been acting so strange?¡± Cedric stopped my steps, making me flinch and re angrily at him as I stood right in front of him in the parking lot, heading to my parked car.


    ¡°I have work.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know you have work. That¡¯s why I came to pick you up. But you¡¯ve been silent the whole time. Is something wrong?¡±


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Move aside.¡± I brushed off his hand. Fortunately, Cedric didn¡¯t hold on for too long. I walked confidently towards my car, ignoring his strange gaze. Why should I bother looking at him? A damn guy!


    Exactly, wasn¡¯t my decision to terminate this pregnancy the right one? He just pretended to be responsible, but where was the actual responsibility? What has he been doing this whole time? Damn it!


    That¡¯s not responsibility at all. For me, what Cedric did was just a way to get my attention. So that I would soften towards him and he could carry out his mysterious n, whatever it was. He probably wanted to marry me just because of the child in my womb. No, I didn¡¯t want something like that to happen in my life. I¡¯m pretty sure Cedric is nning something.


    After he seeds? Then what will happen to me? Misfortune. Especially after witnessing how affectionate Cedric was with those two women whose faces I couldn¡¯t forget.


    The image of the good and straightforward guy version of Cedric that I used to know vanished into thin air. Damn it, I was a bit deceived. Although I can still carry out my n with not fully satisfying results, at least I didn¡¯t lose focus. Now, my determination is resolute without any excuses.


    Damn it!


    I was so frustrated that I identally hit the steering wheel. The honking sound startled the motorcyclist in front of me. He turned and gave me a sharp look. I grimaced at him and apologized. Although it was through the car window, at least my intention was good. I apologized for this unintentional ident.


    Arriving in the lobby of the building, I didn¡¯t go straight to the floor where I work. I chose to cross the street to get some hot chocte and croissant or chocte donuts aspany. At least, when I meet Dewa, I won¡¯t have any anger in my heart towards him. At most, I would feel bad for not having to pay for my order.


    ¡°Anya, it¡¯s been a while since you ordered breakfast here,¡± Dwi, the cashier, greeted me. I just smiled. Dwi was right; it had been a long time since I visited this ce in the morning.


    ¡°Hi, Anya.¡±


    When I turned around, Dewangga Obrey stood not far from me. I smiled back at his greeting. And indeed, I wasn¡¯t allowed to take out my wallet. He said this breakfast was special from him.


    ¡°Thanks, Wa. You¡¯re so kind.¡±


    ¡°Feel free toe often. As long as youe alone.¡±


    Again, I just smiled.


    ¡°Wanted to invite you for dinner, but afraid of being rejected. It¡¯s a burning desire.¡±


    ¡°Tonight?¡±


    Dewa looked at me as if in doubt. ¡°If you¡¯re okay with it.¡±


    ¡°Bring your car, but¡­ It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t have to work overtime tonight.¡±


    Dewa¡¯s smile appeared. Well¡­ consider this as returning the breakfast that was now inside the paper bag. I wasn¡¯t taking advantage of the moment anymore. That¡¯s not true. I ignored Cedric because that¡¯s what I should do, right? Maybe God is opening my eyes wide, that the guy who imed to be responsible for me is not that good after all. Yeah¡­ it¡¯s the same with me; I¡¯m not a good woman either.


    But I¡¯m trying to be as careful as possible-except for tonight. I ignore Kelvin¡¯s and Dewa¡¯s bright eyes because I feel we¡¯re not a match. It doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m giving Cedric much leeway. No. Until this moment, I haven¡¯t said or asked Cedric to take responsibility.


    Not at all.


    So I thought it would be enough if Cedric wanted to get close. I had already made my decision, and there was no strong reason to let hime near me.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Okay. See youter, Ya,¡± Dewa said affectionately with a smile. I just nodded. As I left the cafe, I saw Cedric. As we met, he took wider steps towards me. I tried to act normal because we were in the workce. At least I had to maintain myposure, right?


    ¡°Good morning, Ms. Anya,¡± Cedric greeted when he was about three steps in front of me. The scent that usually apanied my journey home from the officetely greeted me gently.


    ¡°Good morning.¡± I walked confidently towards the corridor where the elevator was located. We joined several other employees from differentpanies, some of whom I recognized from previous encounters. Including Cedric. I was sure he was following my steps.


    Together with other employees, whose names I knew from the name tags hanging around their necks, we entered the metal box. I pressed the first floor while others pressed various floors. I didn¡¯t care. The most important thing was that my destination floor was already selected.


    One by one, the elevators stopped and opened on the chosen floors. It didn¡¯t take long for me to arrive at my destination floor. The sound of high heels tapping echoed in tune with my steps, heading towards the corridor where my office was located. I was sure I heard Cedric¡¯s shoe taps too.


    When I entered the room, Krystal hadn¡¯t arrived yet. I was relieved after all. So I still had time to enjoy the warm chocte and the pastries I bought earlier.


    ¡°Are you angry?¡± Cedric suddenly asked.


    I red angrily at him, and he seemedpletely unfazed. Even the shy gaze that I used to remember, the one that didn¡¯t always meet mine, was gone.


    ¡°I need to know what¡¯s going on with you. If I-¡±


    ¡°Just shut up and go away for me. This is the office. I don¡¯t want any misunderstanding here. You and I are different,¡± I said, holding back my very evident anger.


    I could see that Cedric didn¡¯t take well to what I said. I didn¡¯t care. The most important thing was that he moved away from me right away.


    ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    Before his scent could fade awaypletely, my stomach acted up. I winced in pain. Why, of all times!!!


    ***

 [19] b

    I managed to deal with all the pain by drinking hot chocte. It didn¡¯t alleviate it much, but at least I could finish some work. Fortunately, there were no ns today that required me to leave the office with Krystal. However, I wasn¡¯t entirely sure, considering Krystal¡¯s habit of changing her schedule.


    Honestly, the chocte I bought at the caf¨¦ downstairs was really helpful. I was surprised that my stomach suddenly felt tense and ufortable. Was itmon for young pregnant women to feel like this? I had no experience, and there was no one here who was pregnant like me. Besides, there were only a few people who knew about my pregnancy, and I thought that was enough. I didn¡¯t want to add new people to the list who knew what I was hiding.


    My phone vibrated, and a message from Cedric appeared. I didn¡¯t feel angry about what I sawst night. It¡¯s just that I started to doubt him, his ims of being responsible. How could he be responsible if I saw him, spending money carelessly? How much was his sry anyway? To hire two women at once.


    Forget it. Thinking about Cedric gives me a headache.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Krystal called out as she was now in front of me.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Join me for lunch, okay?¡±


    I blinked slowly. ¡°With a client?¡±


    Krystal grinned. ¡°Just apany me.¡±


    When it¡¯s like this, I knew for sure who the client she meant was. It was none other than that Mr. Andrew. I was apanying her as a shield. ¡°Alright, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Do you have ns for lunch outside?¡±


    I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°Like with Cedric?¡±


    I closed my eyes. I forgot that my boss knew who the father of my child was. ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°He never invites you to have lunch together? He should be attentive to you. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    I really didn¡¯t understand the thought process of Krystal xton. Why was she making a fuss and getting angry about this? I¡¯m not even angry, and it looks like I¡¯m avoiding Cedric. Now, why is she acting like this? I even distinctly heard her frustrated sigh before she turned away and headed back to her office. I felt relieved after making sure Krystal was about to be swallowed by the ss door.


    ¡°We leave in an hour, Anya,¡± she said.


    I just nodded. I checked the time; it was already fifteen minutes past ten. I couldn¡¯t rx so easily. What about my report? Even though Krystal invited me to lunch outside, I still had to finish my work before I left. Hopefully, I could do it quickly.


    Unknowingly, time flew by quickly. Luckily, I only had to arrange one more section before it could be rechecked. After lunch, I could send it directly to my boss¡¯s email. I quickly packed up my belongings, not entirely sure whether to bring myptop or not, but I prepared it anyway. If Krystal said to bring it, I¡¯d just carry it.


    When I opened the third drawer, which was quite spacious and used to store spare high heels, the book that I had been hesitant to throw away appeared. The book that the hospital gave me as a reference for pregnancy and notes about the changes and medication I received, all written there.


    My fingers trembled slightly as I picked it up. There were also photos from the ultrasound. Unconsciously, I gently brushed them. My thoughts were in turmoil. But no, this was final. I had been wavering before, just having intentions in my heart. The first attempt tired me out, but there were no results. Then I remembered Cedric¡¯s expression, whatever you want to call it-disappointment, anger, or something else-when he saw me. It annoyed me.


    Before, I was considering reevaluating my n to terminate the pregnancy.


    Before, I started to think maybe Cedric was a good person.


    Before, I hoped that, even without love, I could still ept it.


    But seeing Cedric at the clubst night erased any doubts and reconsideration from my mind. There was no more deviation from my original n. Indeed, the heart knows best, and I believe this is for the best.


    ¡°Can you believe it, that Andrew has no brains?¡±


    Can Iugh? Is it a sin to find it amusing that Krystal xton is furious after our lunch today? We leisurely walked without carrying anything, and our intention was simply to have lunch. Just lunch. But privately, we ended up in one of the upscale hotel restaurants. I don¡¯t know, maybe it was initially nned as a romantic lunch or something, but it definitely failed.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Maybe because of me. However, Mr. Andrew himself also invited his assistant, Gina, her name. Fortunately, we managed to eat separately and had a lot of chat. Gina was fun to be around, actually. Sometimes sheined about her boss, who seemed to have a big ego. Lucky for me, even though Krystal could be annoying, I still admired her.


    And because Krystal was in a bad mood, I got the chance to apany her wandering around the mall. I was also carrying some makeup items, for some reason, I felt like Krystal was going crazy for them. She didn¡¯t choose orpare one with another. She just grabbed them, checked the brand, and paid. Although I got the chance, it still wasn¡¯t Krystal.


    I became curious, what were they talking about that made my boss so angry? But it¡¯s not something I could do. It would vite her privacy, and I was sure Krystal wouldn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°Anya, are you even listening to me?¡±


    I grimaced. ¡°I am, Ma¡¯am. Your question is just strange, and I don¡¯t know how to answer it. If Mr. Andrew had no brains, he wouldn¡¯t be a top executive at Lazade.¡±


    ¡°I know he¡¯s smart, but oh¡­ he¡¯s just too much. You¡¯re lucky you have Cedric, who¡¯s not into sweet-talking. But Andrew? Oh my God! He¡¯s all about sweet words!¡±


    Wait¡­ something feels off here.


    ***


    ¡°Anya, you¡¯ve been daydreaming all this time. Is something bothering you?¡±


    I blinked. Realizing that Dewa was seeking attention, I just gave him a small smile. ¡°Oh, just stuff to work on, you know? I have a report that¡¯s been pushed to be done urgently,¡± Iined, pretending. Well, what can I do? Lying for the greater good is better than saying there¡¯s nothing to worry about. It wouldn¡¯t make sense, right?


    ¡°Being a secretary is really busy, huh?¡± he said.


    I just responded with a chuckle. We ended up at a seafood restaurant near the apartment area. Dewa had been waiting for me after confirming through his message at four in the afternoon. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to refuse him again. And well¡­ I had promised in the morning, right?


    ¡°You¡¯re also busy as a cafe manager,¡± he continued. I chose sweet and sour squid for my menu this time. Just by looking at the photo on the menu, my mouth started to water. When it was served, it tasted just as I imagined. I even asked for an extra portion. Luckily, Dewa didn¡¯t suspect anything. In fact, he seemed happy that I ate a lot.


    Is it not allowed for a woman to eat a lot? I wonder why.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s busy, but you know, when you¡¯re in love, what can you do? Oh, I need the money too,¡± Dewa said while looking at me without a break. ¡°Want to add some shrimp?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Two portions of this and grilled fish. Do you still want to add more? My stomach is not a bottomless pit, you know?¡±


    Dewaughed quite loudly. I didn¡¯t mind; after all, he became the subject of other customers¡¯ nces. I remained rxed, enjoying my meal.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for a moment like this, Anya.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I understood exactly where his conversation was heading. However, as a woman, I still wanted to see if I could make this guy in front of me blush with my apparent insensitivity when he moved closer.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we had dinner together and went home together. I don¡¯t know why you keep avoiding it.¡±


    ¡°Busy, that¡¯s all. Not avoiding.¡±


    Dewa just shook his head. ¡°Your reason is always the same. ssic.¡± I saw him finish thest bit of his orange juice. ¡°My request never gets an answer.¡±


    Memories of Dewa since I first met him two years ago came flooding back. At first, we were just normal friends. Maybe because of myck of sensitivity or something, but a yearter, Dewa began to act differently toward me. Naomi said it seemed like Dewa had a crush on me but was too afraid that I would avoid him if he made a move. Until one day, when he drove me home, Dewa finally mustered up the courage to ask me.


    ¡°If I approach you not just as a male friend, is it okay?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re already close, right?¡±


    Dewa chuckled. ¡°Not close like that, Anya. Getting close where there¡¯s an attraction that leads to a love story. I¡¯m interested in you, and you feel the same.¡±


    ¡°Are you confessing your love to me, Wa?¡±


    We bothughed. I didn¡¯t directly say that he could get close. No, I didn¡¯t. At my age, twenty-nine years old, I¡¯m selective about who I get close to. Especially with the opposite sex. I let it be while assessing what Dewa would be liketer on. But instead of adding positive points, my perception of Dewa had been eroded.


    I¡¯m not picky. But can you imagine how it feels when his lips are always sweet-talking and saying things that make me cringe? That¡¯s not all. Sometimes, Dewa would be overtly possessive of me, as if I were already bound to him.


    Oh my God!


    ¡°Can I ask for a closer friendship?¡± I asked during this unfinished meal.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re already close, Wa.¡±


    ¡°But I want a more serious rtionship, Anya. Like dating.¡±


    I chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯m too old to date.¡±


    ¡°Same here. Or do you want to go straight to engagement? I¡¯m okay with it as long as it¡¯s with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Dewa, you¡¯re a master with words.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re even better at ying with my heart.¡±


    I chuckled, but Dewa didn¡¯t. Instead, he looked at me with a look that I couldn¡¯t interpret its meaning. Even the movement of my hand feeding me, I felt a bit intimidated by his behavior.


    ¡°For that, honestly Dewa, I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± he asked immediately. I don¡¯t think he thought it through.


    ¡°I tried to open my heart, to ept that you¡¯re also around me. You know, I rarely refuse you unless I¡¯m really busy?¡± I saw him nodding, meaning he agreed with what I said. ¡°But it¡¯s just not possible, and I can¡¯t force it, Wa.¡±


    ¡°So, my wait has been in vain all this time?¡±


    I gave him a small smile. I rubbed his arm gently. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re friends. We have dinner together, have lunch together. Sometimes, we have fun, right? Same with Naomi and Dona.¡±


    ¡°Is there something missing from me? Are my standards not met as your future husband? Do I have to dress up like Kelvin?¡±


    I was quite surprised that Dewa brought up Kelvin¡¯s name. ¡°Why Kelvin?¡±


    Dewa snorted in annoyance. I¡¯m sure of that. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m not blind every time I see Kelvin looking at you. He¡¯s just like me, interested in you. Does Kelvin meet the criteria for a potential fianc¨¦? Maybe he¡¯s closer to bing your husband.¡±


    Ah, Dewa. If only you knew what happened to me. You¡¯d be more determined not to be interested in me, right?

 [20] a

    We agreed to go home separately. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want Dewa to drop me off; I brought my car. So, after finishing our meal and I also resolved whatever was bothering Dewa, we parted ways. Dewa seemed to be prepared for me to say something ording to his prediction. It amused me.


    ¡°We¡¯re better off as friends, Wa. You¡¯re funny, and sometimes I need entertainment from the way you talk.¡±


    He nodded eventually. Then, Dewa smiled as usual and said, ¡°Even if you change your mind, my heart will still be set on you, Anya.¡±


    I didn¡¯t feel like responding to that. I just replied with a smile and a slight nod. ¡°Thanks for your attention. I¡¯m touched.¡±


    And this lightened my burden. Looking at Dewa, he¡¯s attractive. Handsome like Kelvin. But still, I can¡¯t force my heart to anchor anywhere, right? As apanion on my way home, I turned on the car audio again. Raisa¡¯s beautiful voice filled the car.


    It didn¡¯t take long for my car to reach the apartment basement parking where I live. I felt light on my feet, probably due to the full stomach and thinking about resuming my ns. That¡¯s why I¡¯m so happy. I just need to wait for the right time, right?


    What I didn¡¯t prepare for was when I picked up a package from an online shop that was left at the reception desk, and Cedric was there. Damn it, he saw me and without hesitation approached me. I didn¡¯t want any trouble, so I just stayed quiet as he forcibly took my belongings.


    I rummaged through my bag to find the ess key and he roughly grabbed my arm. I still let him do it. I just followed his steps as if I had a possessive boyfriend who couldn¡¯t be left too far behind. Cedric didn¡¯t say anything, and neither did I. What¡¯s the point? I would just kick him out when we arrived in front of my unit. He¡¯s a pest, an annoying intruder who must be expelled.


    Once the elevator reached the tenth floor, Cedric still didn¡¯t let go of my hand.


    ¡°Leave. I want to rest,¡± I said as I pushed his hand away. He didn¡¯t even flinch. Damn, does he have no ears?


    In front of my unit, he immediately used the key and pushed me in a little. ¡°Do you have any manners? You¡¯ve gone too far!¡± I said, feeling upset. I had hoped to avoid any trouble, but clearly, this guy has no respect!


    Not even a minute passed before Cedric¡¯s lips were on mine. I pushed him away with a p as soon as I regained my senses. ¡°ARE YOU CRAZY? LEAVE!¡±


    ¡°No! I¡¯m here. You drove me crazy all day, Joice.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t seem to care that his cheek turned red from the force of my hand. With all the anger building up inside me, I moved my hand again.


    ¡°Go away!¡± I meant every word I just said.


    Cedric shook his head. ¡°After you went out with Dewa?¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°You went out and had dinner with Dewa, right? I know. I¡¯m not mad.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I let out augh. It sounded scary, and it should¡¯ve made my hair stand on end. Seriously, Cedric was getting crazier by the minute. ¡°You want to be mad at me? Who do you think you are?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the right now. I know that for sure. But I¡¯ll soon fulfill what I¡¯m obliged to do, Joice.¡±


    It¡¯s better for me to get away from him. I¡¯m starting to get high blood just dealing with him.


    ¡°And I won¡¯t let you go out with another guy except me.¡±


    I turned to face Cedric, and he was staring at me with an intense look. It¡¯s not the usual Cedric. The friendly Cedric was nowhere to be found. Neither was the path he was heading towards me. There was no doubt in him, and his intimidating aura was palpable, making the atmosphere tense.


    I was scared, but if I looked away for even a second, I would lose. No way. Not a chance. What can he do?


    Now, he was standing right in front of me. His breath was heavy, his eyes locked on mine, and his fists clenched. It seemed like he was really angry. And then, before I could stop him, and really¡­ what he did left me frozen.


    He rested his forehead on my shoulder. ¡°What did I do wrong to make you like this?¡±


    I blinked in surprise at the weight Cedric dropped on my shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me feel like I¡¯m some bad person getting angry at you, Joice. I¡¯m not good at controlling my emotions,¡± he said, his voice trembling. I don¡¯t know why this had such a powerful effect on me. My towering anger slowly subsided, and my body rxed.


    ¡°It¡¯splicated, Cedric.¡±


    Instead of letting go, he hugged me tightly. And what¡¯s even worse, my body didn¡¯t want to let go or push Cedric away. My hands were the biggest traitor. Softly, I stroked his back. Damn it, Cedric!


    ¡°Let go, Cedric,¡± I said softly. ¡°It¡¯s suffocating. I feel uneasy.¡±


    ¡°Just a little longer.¡±


    I remained silent.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I did wrong, but please forgive me.¡±


    Should I tell him what I saw? Do I sound jealous? But Cedric and I have no rtionship whatsoever. So shouldn¡¯t I just tell him as a matter of fact?


    ¡°Last night, I saw you at the club.¡± I finally said. The inner battle was too much, and I couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°And you were with a girl.¡±


    He immediately released me from the hug. His eyes stared at me with disbelief. I just sighed. Did what I said sound like a lie? Oh my god!


    ¡°You went to the club?¡± It was Cedric who said that instead of giving me an answer to what I saw. It made me annoyed with myself. I pushed Cedric¡¯s chest hard enough so he would step back. I took off the zer I was wearing. It¡¯s better for me to take a bath than to talk to Cedric.


    There¡¯s absolutely no benefit to it, right?


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Cedric held me back again.


    ¡°To take a shower!¡± I replied, pushing his hand away rather roughly as he tried to hold onto my arm.


    ¡°Shall I make some tea for you?¡±


    Before my steps fully entered the room, I nced back slightly. ¡°Just hot chocte. It¡¯s on the top shelf.¡±


    I don¡¯t know how long I spent soaking in the bathtub. Honestly, I found itforting, and this time my mind was a little calmer. Let Cedric wait if he wants; it doesn¡¯t bother me at all. Besides, I¡¯m used to being alone, sometimes apanied by Naomi and Dona. So, whether Cedric is here or not, it doesn¡¯t really matter to me.


    When I came out of the room, Cedric was sitting on the sofa with his hands sped. His chest was rising and falling rhythmically, and his eyes were closed. A cup of hot chocte was already served there, but I couldn¡¯t tell if it was still hot or not. My traitorous eyes enjoyed looking at Cedric, who seemed to be sleeping. Even though his face was slightly down, I could still see that his cheeks were a bit flushed. I winced, it must have hurt a lot earlier. But whatever. He deserved it.


    Well, let him be. If he doesn¡¯t wake up in the next hour, I¡¯ll kick him out. I don¡¯t want Cedric staying overnight here. No way!


    I picked up the mug with the hot chocte. Even if it¡¯s not too hot anymore, I can still enjoy it. The night air on the balcony is the perfect choice while sipping this chocte. After finishing the chocte, I intended to sleep. I don¡¯t want to stay up toote even though I¡¯d like to work overtime. Cedric is here. It won¡¯t be possible.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t wake me up?¡±


    Luckily, I didn¡¯t drop the mug! Cedric is bing like a demon or something, always trying to startle me.


    ¡°Go home,¡± I dismissed him without bothering to look at him for too long. But Cedric, being stubborn as he is, instead of moving away, he moved closer to me, though not too close, but close enough for me to catch a whiff of his cologne. Damn, he¡¯s distracting me!


    ¡°I just wanted to say that I was actually working at the club yesterday. Well¡­ trying to earn some extra money.¡±


    At that moment, I turned to look at him, immersing myself in his pitch-ck eyes. The night breeze messed up his slightly curly and thick hair. I knew that because I had experienced it before.


    ¡°But you were close to beautiful girls there.¡± I¡¯m not jealous, really. Not at all. I¡¯m just asking to get rid of all the curiosity that¡¯s been bothering me sincest night, I admit.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, well¡­ I work there.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re a gigolo?¡± I don¡¯t know why that question came out just like that. When I nced quickly, Cedric seemed to look at me in disbelief.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a worse usation than that?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ who knows, right?¡± I shrugged while trying to steady my heartbeat.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Well, I didn¡¯t respond anymore. He said he was working there to earn some extra money. Whatever, if he¡¯s lying, it¡¯s not my problem.


    ¡°I was just helping out there, but I was offered a part-time job eventually. It¡¯s a good way to save money.¡±


    I let the wind mess up my hair intentionally.


    ¡°Especially now that I have responsibilities. I know I¡¯m not worthy to be with you right now. But at least I can still fight, right?¡±


    ***


    I must sound crazy. I couldn¡¯t sleep wellst night. Cedric¡¯s words kept me awake. They kept ying in my head like a broken tape. It¡¯s like what happened inside me was really making him have to put in extra effort. A burden, I guess?


    It doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t appreciate Cedric. Not at all. I feel like he¡¯s too hard on himself in life. Well¡­ even though I don¡¯t know for sure if he only works part-time there? Because, when I examined and tried to recall Cedric¡¯s appearance two nights ago, it was very different.


    Cedric¡¯s appearance was far from that of an office boy. I¡¯m serious. Even the ck shirt he wore when he dropped me off three months ago was much less cool than Cedric surrounded by beautiful women. So, if I suspect that he¡¯s some women¡¯s ything, wouldn¡¯t it be reasonable?


    I nced at the wall clock, and it was already three in the morning. Damn it. My head suddenly felt dizzy. Can I take medicine with a drowsy effect? But I need to sleep now. Ah, I don¡¯t care if my body feels a bit feverishter. I reached for the eucalyptus oil that was always avable on the nightstand. I applied it to my feet, hands, and neck. The aroma had a strong effect.


    Strange, right? But I liked it. I started to rx little by little. And before I knew it, I fell asleep, and the ringing of my phone made my pounding head even worse. I held on to the edge of the bed to keep from falling.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± I answered softly.


    ¡°Did you just wake up, Joice?¡±


    My forehead furrowed. Who¡¯s bothering me at this hour of the night? And why does my head hurt so much, and why does my body feel like I just finished running around Monas ten times?


    ¡°I¡¯m in front of the door, Joice.¡±


    Oh, there¡¯s only one person who calls me like that. Cedric.


    ¡°It¡¯s still night. You¡¯re so annoying, you know!¡±


    Then, the doorbell sounded even louder and clearer. Cedric is really annoying!


    Slightly staggering, I walked out of the room. My vision was slightly blurry, and the light in the living room suddenly turned yellow. I didn¡¯t change themp setting. It should be bright, right? Not to mention, the headache intensified. Moreover, the apartment¡¯s doorbell didn¡¯t seem to lessen its existence.


    As soon as I opened the door, Cedric red at me, and the next thing I remembered was my phone slipping from my grasp.


    ***

 [20] b

    I don¡¯t know how long I dozed off, but when I opened my eyes for the first time, I was greeted by the smell of disinfectant and medicine that made my nose scrunch up. Where am I? Wasn¡¯t I just sleeping?


    My memory reyed the recent events. Waking up to the phone and apartment bell ringing, Cedric being there, and then I don¡¯t remember anything. Did I¡­?


    As I suddenly sat up, the pounding in my head intensified, making me wince in pain.


    ¡°Anya, are you awake now?¡±


    Dona¡¯s voice was like a breath of fresh air in the desert. I was so happy when I looked around and saw not just Dona but also Cedric and Naomi. Wait, aren¡¯t they supposed to be at work?


    ¡°Are you trying to give me a heart attack, Anya?¡± Naomi eximed suddenly. My friendcks manners or something. I still didn¡¯t realize what happened, and here she is scolding me. Did I do something terribly wrong?


    ¡°Come on, Nao, stop it,¡± Dona intervened. ¡°Anya just regained consciousness. Be kind, okay?¡±


    I saw Naomi rubbing her face with frustration, her face turning red. I¡¯m sure she was trying not to get too angry.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± I asked weakly. I briefly massaged my temples hoping to alleviate the headache, but it seemed to be in vain. ¡°I feel so dizzy.¡±


    ¡°You fainted earlier, Anya.¡± Now Cedric approached me. From the corner of my eye, I could see Dona giving him space so that he could be by my side. At this point, I don¡¯t care. I just need to know my condition. ¡°How do you feel now?¡±


    ¡°Nao, can you call a doctor? Seeing lovebirds, I want to go home. I miss being cuddled.¡±


    If I were healthy, I¡¯m sure I would¡¯ve punched Dona¡¯s shoulder. Instead, this is represented by Naomi, who looked annoyed by Dona¡¯sment. But it didn¡¯t deter her from leaving me alone with Cedric. I don¡¯t want to be trapped in this situation, but what can I do? I¡¯m powerless.


    ¡°You worried me,¡± Cedric said as he tidied my hair that was obstructing my view. I flinched in surprise, not liking him touching me suddenly like that. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Miss Krystal!¡± Suddenly, I remembered my beautiful boss¡¯s face. I hadn¡¯t given her any updates. My mind was filled with today¡¯s schedule, which just passed by, and financial reports that were part of my overtime tasks. But it¡¯s not umon for me to forget things like this. Oh my gosh!


    The brink of termination for Anya Joice is right in front of me. I¡¯m flustered, and my only goal now is to find my phone, which I apparently forgot where I ced it. No, not forgot. I don¡¯t know where my phone is. This is causing me to panic even more. The headache in my head is nothingpared to the fear and panic that now reigns in my heart. Seriously, I¡¯m sure Krystal must be looking for me.


    What time is it now? Oh my gosh, why is this happening to me again? Usually, I¡¯m not this stupid. Last night, I couldn¡¯t sleep until three in the morning. Then, all of a sudden, my head started pounding like crazy.


    ¡°I told Miss Krystal that you¡¯re in the hospital.¡±


    My movement to get out of bed and find my phone halted. My eyes looked at Cedric in suspicion. Then, a t, soft pink object was handed to me by Cedric.


    ¡°Miss Krystal called not long after you fainted. Once she heard about your condition, she immediately told me to bring you to the hospital.¡±


    What was I hoping for? Cedric, who took the initiative to bring me here? That can¡¯t be, right? The truth is, if Krystal didn¡¯t call me in the morning, then by some twist of fate, Cedric would be there. He saw my condition and surely told Krystal about it. That¡¯s why my boss ordered him to do it.


    It¡¯s not because Cedric was worried about me, right? It¡¯s because of Krystal.


    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± I said softly. Then, I unlocked my phone screen, feeling like it could slip from my hand and fall to the floor. I checked my precious gadget¡¯s condition. Luckily, nothing was scratched. I decided to inform Krystal directly because it wouldn¡¯t be fair if only Cedric knew about my situation.


    Anya P: Miss, I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t be able toe to the office today.


    There were many messages I wanted to send her, especially my apologies for not being able to work today. It¡¯s not like me, as during my time working with Krystal Kesuma, I rarely missed work due to sickness. And usually, when I do take leave, I apply for it a month in advance.


    Not long after, Krystal¡¯s ID caller appeared on my phone screen. I hesitated to answer, but I must apologize to her directly, right?


    ¡°Miss¡­¡±


    ¡°But are you okay now, Anya? How do you feel? Dizzy? Did you not eatst night? I told you it¡¯s better to have Anna at the office. It¡¯s for your own help.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond to Krystal¡¯s barrage of questions.


    ¡°I¡¯m on the way to the hospital. What do you want me to bring you? Fruits? Milk? Bread?¡±


    Krystal and her peculiarities, I didn¡¯t know how to respond to all her remarks.


    ***


    Everyone lectured me today, not stopping until they reached Dona and Naomi. When Krystal arrived, both of them stepped aside, but Cedric stayed. Maybe he wants to be the hero protecting me from Queen Krystal¡¯s wrath. I don¡¯t care. My head is still spinning, and when I tried to eat, I ended up vomiting everything. It only made me lose my appetite even more, and I could barely finish the apple slices Cedric peeled for me.


    ¡°Sorry, Miss,¡± I said as Krystal sat next to my bed. I could see her worried expression slowly fading. I still can¡¯t shake off this guilt I feel towards Krystal. I¡¯m sure she had a busy day without my help.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Anya, but what did the doctor say?¡±


    Before I could reply to Krystal¡¯s question, Cedric¡¯s voice cut in. ¡°The doctor said Anya is just exhausted. But the baby is fine. She just needs more rest.¡±


    ¡°Make sure she gets that, Cedric.¡±


    I stared wide-eyed. ¡°But, Miss Krys-¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m already spoke to HRD about confirming Anna. Do you know where her resume was stored yesterday?¡±


    When it¡¯s like this, there¡¯s nothing I can do. I feel so suffocated. I rarely get sick to the point of fainting and needing to be hospitalized. This is the second time in a short span just because I was exhausted. Why couldn¡¯t I have a miscarriage instead?!


    ¡°It¡¯s in the first drawer of my desk.¡±


    Krystal nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave then.¡±


    I just nodded. What I never expected was Krystal approaching me. At first, I thought she was going to hug me, but no. Instead, she gave me a small kiss near my head, as if our rtionship was much closer than that of a boss and her secretary.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always thought of you as my little sister, Anya. Take care of yourself. Don¡¯t overwork.¡±


    Tears welled up in my eyes. My emotions were in turmoil. I¡¯m so happy to receive such warmth from someone I look up to, but on the other hand, I¡¯m also filled with great fear. Krystal herself has decided to hire someone else to assist me, and the chance of me being reced is around 85%.


    What will happen to me next if ites to that? As I watched Krystal leave my hospital room after making sure of this and that with Cedric, I couldn¡¯t help but cry. Even Cedric was confused about how to approach me. I¡¯m confused too, why am I being so weepy? Before long, Naomi and Dona entered the room along with the doctor. Trying to wipe away my tears would be useless; they already knew.


    ¡°It hurts a lot, doesn¡¯t it?¡± the doctor asked as he examined me kindly.


    I just nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s because your body has been working too hard. The first-trimester of pregnancy can make your condition easily drop. Have you been taking your vitamins regrly?¡±


    I remained silent.


    ¡°Taking prenatal supplements is not a problem. Make sure your diet is carefully observed, okay?¡±


    ¡°How long will I be like this?¡±


    The doctor gave a small smile. ¡°Maybe two or three more months. It depends on your body¡¯s condition.¡±


    Then the doctor asked for permission to examine me here and there, asking a bit about myints before and after fainting. He also mentioned that the baby¡¯s condition is good, but it¡¯s my body that easily gets tired. After telling me what I should do, he excused himself and left me with the three others.


    ¡°Did you hear that, Anya!¡± Dona said sarcastically.


    ¡°Earlier, I got angry with Anya, and you scolded me. Now you¡¯re getting angry at Anya. Are you losing your mind?¡± Naomi asked, met with a grin from Dona.


    ¡°My lips were itching to scold Anya.¡± Then Dona shifted her gaze to Cedric, who stood to my right. ¡°You too, Cedric. I introduced you to my friend, not to treat Anya like this!¡±


    You know, Dona is the frontline defender when ites to scolding anyone with ill intentions towards me. Seriously. Once there was a motorcyclist who was driving recklessly when we were having lunch near the back building, which meant we had to walk a bit to get to the cafeteria there.


    At that time, we all walked to the side, giving way one by one. No one stood in the middle or intended to block the way because we knew it was a public road. Suddenly, the motorcyclist grazed me, causing me to scream out of shock. I fell to the ground, luckily wearing long pants. If not, my knees would have had an intimate encounter with the asphalt, leaving scars.


    The motorcyclist? Felt no remorse and just left. Perhaps due to themotion or Dona¡¯s loud shouts, many pedestrians eventually managed to stop him. Dona ran off, leaving me, and Naomi helped me up to make sure no one was injured. Then we caught up with Dona. The guy got furious. He was really angry. I even shuddered at how he used foulnguage.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Don,¡± Naomi said while pulling Dona, whose ears were now red. ¡°Anya is fine. Just a shock.¡±


    ¡°Apologize to my friend, you jerk!¡±


    ¡°Chill out, dude. You¡¯re too worked up!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! You¡¯re wrong. Instead of stopping, you wanted to run away. If you had stopped earlier, I wouldn¡¯t be mad!!¡± Dona used, not willing to back down. Since she didn¡¯t get any response, Dona shouted again, ¡°Apologize, or I¡¯ll drag you to the police!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± the motorcyclist finally walked toward me while gripping Naomi¡¯s arm. His face looked intimidating. I admired Dona for being so brave! ¡°Sorry, miss. I was in a hurry.¡±


    I gave an awkward smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just fell and embarrassed myself.¡± That was the truth, right? During lunchtime, the area around the office building is bustling with employees going to find food. ¡°Next time, be more careful.¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay, Anya? I saw you got hit by a stone. Check your legs, are they bleeding? Do you have any injuries?¡±


    Finally, Iughed. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. I¡¯m really fine. Just got my pants dirty.¡±


    I still remember Dona¡¯s angry gaze, aura, and gestures that I usually knew to be cheerful and talkative. And today, I saw it again. Her eyes were no longer looking kindly at Cedric. But what puzzled me was that Cedric responded with a small smile.


    ¡°Yeah, Doni. Forgive his negligence. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure Anya won¡¯t be like this.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, right! If you keep acting like this, you might get kicked out of Anya¡¯s life for real.¡±


    Cedric still maintained his annoying smile. Yes, that annoying smile!


    ¡°Enough, enough. Maybe it wasn¡¯t Cedric¡¯s fault. We all know Anya¡¯s brain is in her knees.¡± Naomi, always making my mood drop with her words! I pouted because of it. ¡°Let¡¯s get some coffee, Don.¡±


    ¡°Am I being left behind again?¡± I finally spoke up, even though I sounded like a trapped mouse, but at least I couldn¡¯t stay silent. How could Cedric leave me again?


    ¡°Of course, pretty girls don¡¯t bring along people with IV tubes.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ***

 [21]

    After they both left, I was overwhelmed with fear about my world that revolved around my work, activities, and the many things I still wanted to achieve. If I didn¡¯t work, everything would lose its meaning. It¡¯s not about whether I might get another job or that God controls our fortune. I firmly believe in that. But we still need to try our best, right? Not just wait and wait.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Cedric finally asked. Maybe he noticed that I had been silent since my friends left. Cedric had been busy arranging Krystal¡¯s belongings in my hospital room. Also, some clothes prepared by Naomi for me. I didn¡¯t know the story and events that led them to be here at the same time. Aren¡¯t they supposed to be working?


    ¡°What time is it?¡± I asked Cedric in confusion, sounding a bit absent-minded.


    ¡°It¡¯s five in the afternoon.¡±


    So, I fainted for a long time, huh? Should I ask Cedric how long I was unconscious? But it seemed embarrassing. If I woke up at six in the morning, then¡­ I¡¯ve been sleeping for more than six hours. This is not fainting; I just slept!


    ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± As far as I remember, I was holding it earlier. Replying to Krystal¡¯s message briefly, then my boss arrived. After that, the doctor came and examined me. And I forgot where my phone went. Oh, Anya! How old are you to forget something like this?


    ¡°Discharged. Let me get it for you.¡±


    Soon, Cedric handed me back my phone that was previously in my grip. I checked and saw many messages but ignored them. Then came Krystal¡¯stest message, making my eyes well up again. Seriously, this is really hitting me at my lowest point. I feel so useless as an employee. Just because I¡¯m pregnant, I¡¯m struggling. And I didn¡¯t want to be pregnant like this! My job is like my lifeline. If it¡¯s cut off¡­ my life is over. What job can I do as an old pregnant womanter on? Not to mention the baby, who will take care of them while I¡¯m working?


    Would this baby go through the same things I did? Even if I leave them to work, I¡¯ll still be like a mother to them.


    ¡°Joice? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedric asked, and his voice sounded very concerned. Gently, he ced his hand on my right shoulder, probably trying to get me to look at him for a moment. But I couldn¡¯t do that. How could I cry in front of Cedric?


    ¡°Joice? Is your head hurting again?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Is your stomach upset?¡±


    Again, I shook my head.


    ¡°Do you want something?¡±


    Damn, Cedric is so nosy! He¡¯s like a reincarnation of Dona, huh? When we met, Cedric rudely wiped away my tears with his thumb. His eyes didn¡¯t wander anywhere.


    ¡°Are you unwilling to talk?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, annoyed, and rolled my eyes.


    ¡°Cedric.¡±


    I sighed, feeling annoyed.


    ¡°That¡¯s better. If you look fierce, it¡¯s much better than crying. Not pretty.¡±


    ¡°Aish, I¡¯m being wooed by someone like you.¡±


    Cedric chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not allowed, huh? Do I have to be like Mr. Kelvin or Mr. Dewa first before I can woo an Anya Joice?¡±


    His tone was casual, but honestly, it hit my heart hard. I couldn¡¯t resist him, so it¡¯s better to cut off this gaze and direct it elsewhere. That¡¯s better.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s bothering you, Anya.¡± Cedric sat back in the chair next to my bed, cing some of his hands on my right shoulder. He gently stroked it, and I couldn¡¯t resist him.


    ¡°I was really worried about you earlier.¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m pregnant?¡± I hesitated after that. If I weren¡¯t pregnant, I wouldn¡¯t have fainted.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s because it¡¯s you, Joice.¡±


    I¡¯m not stupid to interpret Cedric¡¯s words. ¡°Do you like me?¡±


    He was silent.


    ¡°Since when?¡±


    As he diverted his gaze to somewhere else, perhaps out of embarrassment or something, it made me angry. He¡¯s got nerve ignoring my question.


    ¡°Since when, Cedric?¡±


    He scratched his ear, maybe because it was itchy, or maybe not. Perhaps it was to cover his nervousness. ¡°Since the first day I started working here.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ are you nning to harm me? Stalk me? And when you get a chance, you won¡¯t miss it? Is that it?¡± I didn¡¯t know where this thought came from, but really, I blurted it out without thinking. Making Cedric look at me with a look I couldn¡¯t understand at all.


    ¡°That¡¯s something I would never do to your life, Anya.¡±


    I didn¡¯t fully believe him.


    ¡°And remember, it was you who initiated it, not me. You were the one teasing, and I couldn¡¯t resist. You¡¯re like the unattainable version of myself.¡±


    I was dumbfounded by what he said. Damn it! Why did it all end up being turned back on me?


    ¡°So what do you want?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get married.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Not to insult him or anything, but marrying Cedric would be like digging my own grave!


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about anything else except your pregnancy, Joice. Here,¡± Cedric gently touched my belly. ¡°There¡¯s my flesh and blood in there. And I¡¯ll fight with all my might for both of you.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Now, I work at two ces. You know what my daytime job involves. At night, there are a few ces where I can make some money too.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re a gigolo?¡±


    Cedric shook his head firmly. ¡°No way! Not like that!¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°I y live music there. I y the guitar.¡±


    I furrowed my brow, finding it hard to believe right away. Cedric? ying the guitar? Having a band, you mean? Wait, that¡¯s not too important. The two women are the priority.


    ¡°What you saw the other day was entirely my fault. I should have never epted my friend¡¯s invitation to ¡®apany¡¯ him there.¡±


    ¡°But it still looked like that.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be like that again. I promise. Just ying in a band. The money is good for savings in the future.¡± Cedric raised his pinky finger towards me, fiddling with it for a moment, waiting for us to interlock our pinkies.


    ¡°We¡¯re acting like kids,¡± I wanted tough but held back because of my pride. So, I held it in.


    ¡°If acting like kids in front of you makes you happy, I¡¯ll keep doing it without a problem.¡±


    I made a disgusted expression. ¡°How old are you, anyway?¡±


    Cedric blinked, perhaps not expecting that I would ask such a question. I myself didn¡¯t know why there were so many spontaneous questions about Cedric today. Maybe I¡¯m going crazy.


    ¡°I¡¯m five years older than you.¡±


    My jaw almost dropped; my mouth wide open. If a swarm of flies came by, they would probably fit a lot in my mouth. Oh my God!


    ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°Do I need to show you, my ID?¡±


    Seriously! I can¡¯t believe this! I always thought Cedric was two years younger than me. I¡¯m twenty-nine years old. From his face, I assumed Cedric was twenty-seven, but it turns out¡­ oh my God!

 [22]

    The doctor said my condition is starting to stabilize, and the baby¡¯s growth is healthy. There¡¯s nothing to worry about except one thing ¨C I easily get fatigued. That¡¯s why the doctor suggested not overexerting myself with work and other activities. I followed the advice. I didn¡¯t want to argue, especially when Naomi and Dona were there, rudely following along during the doctor¡¯s exnation.


    They said they are my close cousins. And don¡¯t forget, Cedric was also there. The three of them were like inseparable twins, annoying me. Cool, huh?


    ¡°Well, since Cedric is here, we don¡¯t need to keep youpany,¡± Naomi suddenly said. I looked at her in disbelief, calcting the bill in my mind.


    ¡°Are you serious, Naomi?¡±


    ¡°Is your hearing also affected?¡±


    I pouted. Naomi and her sarcastic lips.


    ¡°Yes, you can have a cozy night at the hospital with Cedric.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    They burst intoughter.


    ¡°But seriously, I¡¯m allowing you to sleep at Anya¡¯s apartment, Cedric. I¡¯m just afraid that you might pass out suddenly. Right, Nao?¡± Dona gave a teasing look, but I could tell there was concern there.


    ¡°True.¡±


    Meanwhile, Cedric didn¡¯t respond at all, as if their words were just passing wind. He smiled in response to Dona¡¯s words. Ugh! I wasn¡¯t expecting anything fancy, but at least Cedric could respond. Did he just blindly follow Dona¡¯s ridiculous request? I¡¯m the one who has control over the apartment; why am I the one who seems to be the guest?


    ¡°I disagree,¡± I said curtly.


    ¡°Your disagreement won¡¯t stop us from worrying about you, Anya. Fine, until you stop vomiting every morning.¡± Dona gave me an annoyed look. ¡°Besides, if Cedric dares to touch you again, it¡¯s not a problem. You¡¯ll end up marrying Cedric. His stock has already risen; only the official approval is left.¡±


    I threw the pillow I had been using to prop up my back at them. It hit Dona right on target, and she burst intoughter. Naomi joined in, watching my reaction with amusement. They¡¯re so disrespectful.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, stop teasing her. Let Anya rest.¡±


    Instantly, theirughter stopped, but I didn¡¯t want to hear what followed. I covered my ears even though I could still hear them shouting.


    ¡°Cedric has turned into Anya¡¯s hero?¡±


    Finally, they left, but I was irritated and unwilling to spend more time with Cedric. Yesterday¡¯s conversation was still fresh in my mind. I was scared that I would be the one to lose in the end, and I still had no idea about my future with Cedric. I couldn¡¯t imagine it at all.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re surrounded by people who care about you,¡± Cedric said, sitting next to me. I only cleared my throat in response.


    ¡°How many siblings do you have, Anya?¡±


    Now my brow furrowed. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Just curious. If you want to know about my family, I¡¯ll tell you. Or¡­ should I tell you first?¡±


    I didn¡¯t want that information to influence my thoughts. But for some reason, I was curious. I was torn between nodding to agree, but it felt embarrassing, or shaking my head because I didn¡¯t want to know but was curious. Oh my God! What¡¯s wrong with me?!


    Seeing my doubtful expression, Cedric smiled again. This time, I didn¡¯t know why his smile seemed different. It felt warmer than usual and¡­ sweet. I couldn¡¯t even blink while looking at it. As his fingers touched my slightly messy hair and tucked it behind my ear, I snapped back to reality, realizing Cedric had been trying to make me aware of his presence.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± I said, stopping his movements.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s probably very difficult for you to ept me in your life. I understand.¡±


    I swallowed slowly, feeling like I was swallowing thorns, feeling the sting as they went down my throat.


    ¡°But¡­ can I ask you not to keep me away from our child?¡±


    So, once again, it¡¯s all about the baby, huh? I closed my eyes for a moment.


    ¡°Because of this baby, I can get so close to the woman I like.¡±


    I remembered Cedric¡¯s words fromst night, before I fell asleep. He did many things before I actually fell asleep ¨C taking his medicine and vitamins, massaging my feet even though I wasn¡¯t tired orining, sitting by my side while I read a novel, making sure the room didn¡¯t smell like carbolic acid or any other strong odor. I felt incredibly pampered by Cedric.


    ¡°Allow me to fight for you both.¡±


    I was immersed in the romance novel I was reading when Cedric said that, but his words instantly distracted me. I didn¡¯t respond to him, but his voice still filled my mind. And now, with his current statement, Cedric was slowly but surely interrupting my life.


    Oh, God, what should I do? Among all my fears, the biggest one that was slowly creeping up was the fear of being abandoned. I didn¡¯t know why, and I had no idea. With Cedric¡¯s behavior like this, I couldn¡¯t deny that someday I might return his feelings.


    Unbelievable, right? Yes. But what could I do? That was the most fundamental reason why I found it difficult to ept other people¡¯s feelings. Naomi said that if I don¡¯t let go of this, I will slowly die. I didn¡¯t care because I didn¡¯t want to experience disappointment again.


    That was just my parents, so what about someone I¡¯ve fallen in love with?


    ¡°Why are you daydreaming?¡±


    I didn¡¯t know why, but my eyes started to well up with tears. I felt so emotional right now.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    I shook my head because I was confused.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let this be a burden, Joice. Everything that burdens you, let me bear it. Just take care of yourself and our child. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯m serious.¡± Cedric pulled me into his embrace without asking for permission. He gently rubbed my back, causing me to break down into tears.


    ***


    I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Today, I was ready to work. My condition was much better, and it seemed like I could cooperate. ording to thest ultrasound results, since I didn¡¯t quite understand it, the condition has been developing well. I just needed to take care of myself and avoid getting too tired, as I was more susceptible. My diet also needed to be monitored.


    Again, I checked all the items in my work bag, making sure I hadn¡¯t forgotten anything. Last night, I had briefly checked Krystal¡¯s schedule for the week. I also startedmunicating with Anna finally. Briefly giving her some guidance when I was in the hospitalst Friday.


    Today, Kelvin¡¯s recement began working. There was still a month before he would leave the IT team in our office for good. I had hardly beenmunicating with himtely, only exchanging greetings when we bumped into each other. I rarely responded to his calls or messages. I didn¡¯t want him to feel like I started paying attention to him after acting cold earlier.


    Saturday and Sunday were truly spent resting, even though my two best friends kept teasing me non-stop. Cedric¡¯s reaction was even worse, smiling annoyingly in response! They were so pleased with themselves, weren¡¯t they?


    Today, Cedric made sure to drop me off and pick me up. I refused at first. As if it were so easy. But with my two very kind and irritating friends¡¯ insistence, I eventually agreed. Besides, they didn¡¯t agree with me riding a motorcycle even though Cedric never rode fast.


    Why did it turn out like this? I was the one who had the car! Oh my God! It didn¡¯t mean I was stingy or anything. Even if I was behind the wheel, being stuck in traffic was still tiring.


    But I couldn¡¯t protest for too long; Naomi was the one who could make me speechless. So, I just went along with their wishes. This morning, I waited for Cedric to ring the doorbell of my apartment. I went down to the parking lot, and we went to work together. Maybe there was an advantage, as I could leave earlier since Cedric¡¯s work started earlier than the other employees. I didn¡¯t mind, actually.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Cedric greeted as I opened the door without any dy. I already knew he would be arriving soon. Without further ado, he immediately extended his hand to take all my belongings.


    How nice. So I just gave them to him without thinking.


    ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Are you going to treat me to breakfast?¡±


    He smiled. Soul-crushing. Did he really expect me to be satisfied just because he smiled at me?!


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°What about sushi for breakfast?¡±


    Cedric furrowed his brow. ¡°Is there even any sushi ce open this early?¡±


    I shrugged. He gestured for me to step into the elevator first. After pressing the button that led to the basement where my car was parked, he spoke again. ¡°Can you hold off until lunch? I¡¯ll buy you some sushi then. I don¡¯t know any ce that¡¯s open for sushi in the morning.¡±


    I wanted tough, but I held it in. From the corner of my eye, Cedric looked funny when he was thinking.


    ¡°No, I want it now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll negotiate something else. I can¡¯t negotiate with you.¡±


    Heughed. His teeth lined up nicely, and one of his teeth slightly ovepped at the corner of his lips. ¡°Not this morning, okay? Or how about tonight? After work, we can go to a sushi ce. How about having chicken porridge for breakfast now? Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°As long as there¡¯s ekstra chilli.¡±


    Cedric nodded.


    ¡°And I want it with hot tea.¡±


    Again, he nodded.


    ¡°And lots of chicken.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Joice.¡± Then, without asking for my permission, he used his other hand, the one that didn¡¯t carry my belongings, to hold my hand. I saw our intertwined hands going back and forth, and Cedric was still looking at the elevator wall. When our eyes met in the reflection on the wall, Cedric smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s only in moments like this that I can hold someone like you, Anya.¡±


    I was annoyed!!!


    ***


    ¡°Morning, Anya,¡± Krystal greeted as she entered our office. I was giving Anna some instructions on tasks she could handle to lighten my workload.


    ¡°Morning, Ma¡¯am.¡± We both spoke at the same time. Krystal responded with a small nod.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°How are you feeling? Feels better?¡±


    I just nodded.


    ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have a long day, Anya. Later, you can assign the tasks that could be burdensome to Anna. Especially any agenda outside the office, so you can stay.¡±


    I swallowed hard. My heart suddenly ached, but there was nothing I could do except nod.


    ¡°Miss Anya, Mrs. Krystal is really kind to you, isn¡¯t she?¡± Anna suddenly said, breaking my reverie. Meanwhile, Krystal had already entered her office, leaving behind the elegant scent of her perfume, giving off amanding presence. Beautiful and intelligent.


    I don¡¯t know why, but I felt like Krystal wasn¡¯t just being kind to me. She seemed to be starting to remove my existence from every task she assigned to me. I saw Anna smiling, probably still preupied with how good our boss was.


    Ah, if only she knew¡­

 [23] a

    ¡°Miss, can I join the introduction with the new IT manager? Because I¡¯m still adjusting to Mrs. Krystal¡¯s schedule.¡±


    I smiled. Anna was probably still having a hard time adjusting to my and Krystal¡¯s way of working. It might take a week for her to adapt fully. I understood, especially since she started when I wasn¡¯t there yesterday. She must have been overwhelmed.


    ¡°Sure, juste along. It won¡¯t take long.¡±


    She nodded. The girl who was supposed to be my assistant worked systematically and meticulously. I liked that. At least, besides being meticulous, she learned quickly and didn¡¯t need me to repeat my instructions too often. She justcked a bit of initiative, but I could still understand that. Once she got used to Krystal¡¯s rhythm, she would know what to prioritize and what not to.


    I chose to immerse myself in the pending financial reports and let Anna handle the rest. There were some benefits to it, but I still felt anxious and leaned more towards resignation. But still, my fears grew. It wasn¡¯t easy to brush this aside, especially since I didn¡¯t know what Krystal¡¯s intentions were with me.


    Indeed, Krystal never mentioned my pregnancy, but she became overly attentive to me. I could feel it. Krystal was inherently kind and caring, but she was not too open or direct. This time, it was different, and it felt strange. Even Naomi and Dona noticed the change.


    I didn¡¯t dare to ask her reasons for treating me like this. I still valued my life and didn¡¯t want this closeness to create distance between us. But my mind was heading in the direction of someone preparing to lose me because this pregnancy couldn¡¯t be hidden for long. Once it became more apparent, the entire staff on the twenty-second floor would know, and maybe even those on the twenty-first floor.


    I didn¡¯t know how this would turn out and who the father of this baby would be. I wasn¡¯t ready to ept it yet. Okay, Cedric might not openly show his feelings at work because I threatened him. That was easy. I still wanted to work here for a long time. But what about his rtionship with Krystal? My boss would never be able to keep it hidden and would fiercely defend me.


    It wasn¡¯t that having pregnant employees here wasn¡¯t allowed. But everyone else was married, while I wasn¡¯t. All the benefits for pregnant women would be provided by thepany. But for me? Maybe like Krystal said earlier, she couldn¡¯t guarantee that I would receive the same benefits.


    Honestly, I didn¡¯t mind, as long as I could still work. But I started thinking, wouldn¡¯t there be gossip in the future? Damn it. Thinking about the future like this was making me unable to focus. How could I execute my n now?


    Regarding my resolution, if Cedric kept hovering around me like this, my n couldn¡¯t be carried out. When would I make my body tired? It seemed impossible. I was sure Cedric wouldn¡¯t leave my apartment right after work. He would probably wait until I entered my room after being fed so much food and milk. Not to mention the vitamins and medications prescribed by the doctor.


    I was so sure of it!


    Forget about anything else, just the thought of moving even slightly that Cedric might perceive as dangerous would make him start nagging. Sometimes, it annoyed me to no end. I felt suffocated at times. So, instead of challenging him, I¡¯d rather sit back and rx in front of the TV. Or lean back while reading a novel.


    I remembered breakfast earlier. Cedric really took me to a porridge ce where I wanted this and that. Before we actually left the parking lot, there was one thing Cedric said that had been reying in my mind like a broken tape.


    ¡°I apologize for still using your car to go to the office. Pray that I can buy a car soon, so I won¡¯t have to use yours.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You¡¯re forcing yourself,¡± I said while buckling my seatbelt. Riding a motorbike with Cedric wasn¡¯t bad, actually. I just didn¡¯t like it when we were behind a truck or car with a cigarette-like exhaust, puffing out suffocating smoke. Other than that, I was okay with it. Cedric always made sure I was safe andfortable when riding with him, anyway.


    ¡°It¡¯s not forcing. I see it as motivation, Anya. You¡¯re used to afortable life. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t put you in an ufortable situation. I¡¯m trying and fighting for that.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    He turned to look at me, then started the car to let the engine warm up first. ¡°Because besides being responsible, I¡¯ve also decided to spend the rest of my time with you.¡±


    ¡°Who says I ept you?¡±


    Cedric chuckled. ¡°You do. Being close to you feels like a dream.¡±


    I grumbled softly, but my heart suddenly warmed in its own way.


    ¡°But I want that dream toe true. So, I¡¯m asking, oh¡­ please, don¡¯t keep pushing me away. Anyway, it seems like the baby in your belly always knows that its father cares for both of you.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond. Letting Cedric press the gas pedal, we left the parking area and headed to the office area for the chicken porridge breakfast I wanted earlier. He made sure it was exactly to my taste. Until I said, ¡°Just eat and stop talking. Otherwise, I won¡¯t eat.¡±


    His lips pursed, and he didn¡¯t say much. During our meal, I didn¡¯t even think about what would happen in the future; it didn¡¯t cross my mind at all. Instead, I seemed to be starting to enjoy being with Cedric.


    Am I being too paranoid?


    As Naomi would say, my mind is filled with too many negative thoughts that I don¡¯t really need and could be discussed. I¡¯m not saying I disagree, but whenever I talk about what¡¯s on my mind, it might not be well received.


    Dona and Naomi sometimes leave me alone, saying, ¡°Just let Anya think. Use her brain to think about her life, not just work.¡±


    Ah, they tend to add more to my thoughts than reduce them.


    My reverie was interrupted when the inte buzzed. I quickly picked it up, and it was the HR department informing me that the new manager had arrived and was getting ready to meet Krystal. I prepared to inform Anna to get ready too.


    Not long after, the inte buzzed again, and the HR department informed me that the new manager had arrived and was getting ready to meet Krystal. I informed Anna to get ready as well.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± I said softly, knocking on the ss door of Krystal¡¯s office. After being allowed in, I confidently walked towards her. Standing not too far from her, I said, ¡°ording to HR, the new manager has arrived, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Krystal nodded. ¡°Sit, Anya. We¡¯ll do the introduction here. We¡¯ll have a meeting tomorrow, and you can take notes on the points to be discussed.¡±


    Again, I nodded.


    Before two minutes had passed, the ss door was knocked, indicating that the new employee had arrived. Krystal weed them in, while I prepared myself. It wouldn¡¯t be right to sit while Krystal stood to wee them.


    What I hadn¡¯t prepared for was that the new manager was someone who once upied my heart.


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    Henry Malverick stood in front of me, looking astonished and surprised.


    ***

 [23] b

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect this,¡± he said with a smile. I responded with a nervous chuckle. This unexpected encounter, the first time since high school, was truly surprising. Even Henry forgot to greet my boss, Krystal.


    ¡°If I had known you were here, I would have epted the job offer without hesitation,¡± he added.


    ¡°You caused quite amotion earlier,¡± I said, not lying about that. Henry forgot to greet my boss and openly said he was lucky to be able to meet me here, working under the same banner, and he even stated that he would give his best to always stay here as long as I¡¯m here.


    Cheeky!


    ¡°You look even more beautiful, Anya.¡±


    ¡°The Cheeky one is at it again.¡±


    Weughed.


    ¡°How have you been?¡± I knew from his tone that there was a lot implied. Perhaps because we were once close, and well¡­ I can¡¯t deny that I asionally feel a longing when I remember the memories with Henry.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing well. And you?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ as you can see, I¡¯m doing well and healthy. SunCity has made me a sane person.¡±


    ¡°Sessful too. But seriously, I thought you¡¯d be running a motorcycle or car workshop or something. Not getting involved in the IT world. It¡¯s not like you, Henry.¡±


    Heughed. Theughter that used to apany me during our grey and white days, still the same. Since then, I¡¯ve admitted that Henry Malverick has a captivating face. And now, with age, it¡¯s not just captivating but enchanting. Especially with his tall figure dressed in a sleek zer that I¡¯m sure is from a top brand.


    ¡°I¡¯m confused myself. I never expected to be interested in this.¡±


    The restaurant staff interrupted. Henry had kidnapped me right at lunchtime, iming that he needed a chat, which I knew was just an excuse.


    ¡°He still likes sds,¡± he protested against the menu I ordered.


    ¡°Eating vegetables is important.¡±


    We spent a lot of time chatting, especially about our high school friends. A had seeded with his bakery here, which I didn¡¯t even know. Or B, who used to be religious and calm, but ended up bing a thug deeply involved in the drug world. Henry said that B had been caught several times with drugs in his pocket. Astounding. That was shocking, to be honest.


    And then there were others from our school days, some married, some with children, and some who suddenly went back to being single. Our lunch was filled with these discussions, and reminiscing about old times with our high school friends injected a positive energy into me.


    ¡°You, on the other hand, don¡¯t y much on social media.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I moistened my throat with the strawberry juice I had ordered. ¡°I do y, but in moderation. My boss is strict.¡±


    Henryughed. ¡°Yeah, I can tell.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s your grandmother, by the way?¡± I enjoyed the juice but suddenly stopped. There was a significant pause before I decided to lift my gaze and lock eyes with Henry. He seemed to be waiting for my response.


    ¡°She passed away before I had a chance to make her happy.¡±


    Henry had a simr reaction. Surprise was clearly written on his face, but he quickly changed his expression. I was sure he didn¡¯t look away from my gaze.


    ¡°I actually had a specific mission when I went to Washington DC.¡±


    I furrowed my brow. What does Henry¡¯s mission have to do with Nek Sumi¡¯s existence?


    ¡°I wanted to prove that I could make you happy.¡±


    My brain suddenly went nk.


    ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a chance for that?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Anya, what do you want to eat?¡±


    I knew Cedric had asked that question several times, but not a single word escaped my lips. Honestly, I was delighted to meet Henry. Maybe because our parting was purely mutual. It wasn¡¯t about hurting or leaving each other; it was more about wanting to prove to ourselves that we could make it.


    Henry in his own way, and me in my own way. Perhaps.


    I¡¯m not the type of person who enjoys snooping around and trying to find someone¡¯s whereabouts through their social media footprints. No, I¡¯ve always believed that if one day my longing for Henry were toe true, it woulde true. We would meet again, regardless of Henry¡¯s condition when the day arrived.


    Maybe God was being kind today. I was reunited with him. But what about me?


    ¡°Joice?¡±


    I turned to Cedric. ¡°You¡¯re so noisy. It¡¯s giving me a headache,¡± I said curtly. My words seemed to silence Cedric. He was now just quiet, enjoying the congested traffic ahead. The rush hour was crucial for workers struggling on the roads.


    ¡°Cedric, I want KFC.¡± This spontaneity surprised even me. As our car passed by the famous fast-food restaurant, the aroma of fried chicken and fries suddenly overwhelmed my senses. Not to mention the sweetness of their soda and float. Oh my! I suddenly felt hungry.


    Cedric tapped the brakes a bit, probably because I felt the car slow down a little. ¡°But it¡¯s one-way, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Turn around.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s jammed. But we just passed there.¡±


    ¡°Fine, just park in front.¡±


    ¡°For take-out, right?¡±


    I looked at Cedric with a silly expression. ¡°Dine-in, please. I don¡¯t want to take KFC home.¡±


    ¡°Let me turn around for a moment. I¡¯ll check if there¡¯s parking,¡± Cedric said, ncing around to see if there was an avable spot.


    ¡°It¡¯ll take too long. I want it now.¡±


    I could clearly hear Cedric let out a soft sigh. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t for me, it¡¯s for your child.¡±


    Damn it! I misspoke!

 [24]

    Cedric gave a small smile as he handed me a tissue. He said there was some sauce on the corner of my lips.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t want to spoil your appetite by wiping it myself.¡±


    I just scoffed and let Cedric watch me eat like a demon. I ordered a meal with two pieces of chicken and fries, and I devoured everything, leaving only the bones.


    ¡°Do you want more?¡± he asked.


    Did he think I had an enormous appetite or something? But I still wanted the spaghetti, so why not? Oh well, I guess I have no shame. ¡°Order the spaghetti and get another float for me.¡±


    ¡°Forget about the float. That¡¯s enough. Choose something else, okay?¡±


    I pouted. ¡°Oh,e on. I still want the float.¡±


    Cedric shook his head and got up to go to the counter to order what I wanted. Throughout the meal, he didn¡¯t say much, just enjoying his own food and asionally asking about my work. I knew he cared about me, but I didn¡¯t like feeling like he was monitoring me and expecting reports like a teacher from his student.


    Maybe it was because this KFC restaurant was located right by the roadside and at a busy intersection, even though it was a one-way street, making it always crowded. When I lined up to buy food earlier, Cedric was also in line now. As I reached for my phone to kill time while waiting for him, my gadget rang first.


    Henry¡¯s ID caller appeared on the screen. During lunch, we exchanged phone numbers and my various social media ounts, even though I only had one, Instagram. Henry had been skeptical because I wasn¡¯t the type of woman who liked showing off on social media.


    ¡°But you know what? That¡¯s Anya. A bit closed off and mysterious, but always full of surprises inside,¡± Henry said, and Iughed at his analogy. Iughed at myself too. Henry¡¯s remarks were a sharp satire, though he didn¡¯t know that they were directed at me. Yes, how could he know that I was pregnant?


    I saw Cedric still waiting in line, so I decided to answer the phone for a moment. After all, I didn¡¯t think I needed Cedric¡¯s permission or why I should worry him. Right?


    ¡°I thought it would take a while for you to pick up.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Not at home yet, huh?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll pick you up. Tell me your address now.¡±


    For a moment, I hesitated. I was delighted to meet him again after all these years without knowing anything about him, and I hadn¡¯t even tried to find out. I only believed in prayers that would somehow be answered. But now that Henry was back in my life and openly expressed his desire to go back to the way things were, I was at a crossroads.


    I didn¡¯t say he could get closer. I was also afraid he might already have a wife. Well, who knows? A man would do anything to get what he wants. Besides, we had just reunited. But I couldn¡¯t deny that I could see the same longing in his eyes.


    ¡°I usually drive myself, you know.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Trying to save money, huh? Where do you live?¡±


    ¡°No need, you¡¯ll be bothered.¡±


    ¡°Ah, do you have a boyfriend, Anya? So you¡¯re rejecting me?¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I fell silent.


    ¡°New boyfriend, perhaps? Or engaged?¡±


    ¡°Slow down, Henry. We just met today, and you¡¯re already pushing so hard,¡± I chuckled, hearing his demanding tone on the other end. By that time, Cedric had returned and sat down after cing my order. He didn¡¯t even look at me.


    ¡°You can¡¯t make me slow down, Anya. Don¡¯t you like it faster?¡±


    Indeed, the cheeky side of Henry had returned. ¡°Shut up!¡± But I wasn¡¯t angry; instead, Iughed heartily at his joke.


    ¡°Some say that if a woman is pretty and you like her, you should make her yours as soon as possible. And my feelings have never changed since then, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Mr. Henry is quite the smooth talker. Did you practice in front of aputer? Theputers these days are quite advanced.¡±


    Heughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Give me your address. I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow. Don¡¯t let me mess up the employee data on the office server.¡±


    I chose to hang up the call on my own. It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want Henry to enter my life now. If only my circumstances were normal, maybe I would fall in love with Henry all over again just like that. After all, I still had some lingering feelings for him. Given time and nurturing, they might bloom again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to add anything?¡± I asked Cedric, who had been silent since I put my phone back in my bag.


    Strangely, he answered with a shake of his head. His mouth had suddenly gone silent, huh?


    ***


    Cedric remained silent. By the time I arrived at the apartment, he still didn¡¯t want to talk at all. He just asked for my belongings, signaling with his hand. Was he angry? Why?


    ¡°I¡¯m going now,¡± he said after preparing the vitamins and medicine I still had to take on the dining table. It was allplete, along with warm water, which he usually brought for me, making sure I drank it properly, as he had been doing recently.


    Strange, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± I asked, causing Cedric to stop putting on his shoes.


    I hate being responded to with a smile. Did he think I understood the answer from his smile now? Clearly not, right?


    ¡°No. Why would I be mad?¡± he asked in return.


    I shrugged.


    ¡°I have to work tonight, that¡¯s why I¡¯m in a hurry to leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take your medicine, Anya.¡±


    My eyes didn¡¯t blink as Cedric quickly walked towards me, stealing a kiss from my cheek, which still had smudged makeup. ¡°See you tomorrow morning, Joice.¡±


    Ugh, that crazy guy! Even if I wanted to get angry, it was useless, as Cedric had already rushed off without knowing that he had really scared me!


    ***


    I was buttering a piece of bread when the doorbell rang. I knew who it was-Cedric, of course. As soon as I opened the door, Cedric and his annoying smile greeted me, along with a paper bag, contents unknown. Seeing my raised eyebrow, he said something that made me pout.


    ¡°Ask the guest toe in first, Anya.¡±


    Usually, he just rushed in without asking. Seeing my displeased expression, he chuckled. ¡°I brought steak, but I¡¯ll warm it up first. I bought itst night and put it straight in the fridge. If it doesn¡¯t taste good anymore, don¡¯t eat it.¡±


    My eyes blinked slowly. My desire to eat steak had disappeared by now. I had said I wanted it at that moment, and if not, the desire might not be as strong. I carefully ced the box from the paper bag down and looked at Cedric, who was already sitting at the dining table.


    ¡°Did youe home earlyst night? Is there anything wrong?¡± I needed to ask this to be sure of one thing.


    ¡°Ehm¡­ well, you know, the band yed. It was scheduled.¡±


    I nodded in response. ¡°Did you buy this with tip money?¡±


    Cedric scratched his neck, covering up his nervousness, I was sure. ¡°Yeah,¡± he answered with a grin.


    Initially, after getting dressed and doing a little makeup so I wouldn¡¯t look too pale, I really wanted to enjoy the buttered bread and a cup of hot chocte. But seeing Cedric¡¯s sincerity in the food he brought, I felt it wasn¡¯t right to ignore it. So, I chose to warm up the box and prepare it for him.


    When I sat down and started to eat my sushi, I noticed that Cedric hadn¡¯t said a word. I suddenly realized that the man was asleep. His head rested on both hands on the table, and his slightly curly hair cascaded, almost touching the table. His snoring was so soft that I hadn¡¯t realized he had fallen asleep.


    Did he y in the band untilte? Did he get too little sleep? Why, I felt sorry for him!


    Finally, the bread that was meant for my breakfast was prepared for Cedric instead. I sprinkled some chocte sprinkles on it, as I wasn¡¯t sure if he liked chocte or sweetness. I also made ck coffee, using Dona¡¯s stock because she was a true coffee lover. She didn¡¯t want sachets; she wanted bottled coffee with creamer. She even told me the measurements. So, this time, I used my knowledge of coffee measurements to prepare it for Cedric.


    It wouldn¡¯t hurt, right?


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I called softly, patting his shoulder. Slowly, his body moved, and when he lifted his head, I almostughed because he almost fell forward. Did I startle him? It didn¡¯t seem like it. I gently woke up Cedric.


    ¡°Did I fall asleep?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Oops, sorry, Anya. I didn¡¯t mean-¡±


    I raised my hand, signaling that he didn¡¯t need to continue speaking. I handed him the te with two slices of bread and a cup of coffee. As for myself, I had the steak, which I had reheated, and just needed to pour the sauce over it.


    ¡°Is this for me?¡± he asked, looking back and forth between the bread and me. I nced at him briefly and smiled.


    ¡°You think?¡±


    Heughed. ¡°I¡¯m really lucky. Getting bread and coffee prepared for me in the morning.¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond, not because I didn¡¯t want to, but because I was a little embarrassed. So, I busied myself with cutting the steak and chewing it.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Come on, finish your breakfast. We¡¯ll bete.¡±


    We fell silent again and immersed ourselves in the breakfast we had. But it didn¡¯tst long. I was quite curious about Cedric, who had slept at what timest night. ¡°What time did you sleep?¡±


    ¡°Three o¡¯clock.¡±


    ¡°Do you usuallye back at that time when there¡¯s an event?¡±


    ¡°Not really. Onlyst night because there was a lot of stuff I had to find out, and it wasn¡¯t easy. There were many missing data that I had to-¡±


    I looked at Cedric, confused. What did he mean?


    ¡°Uh, I mean when there are a lot of guests, I can¡¯t leave right away.¡±


    I looked at Cedric, puzzled. He seemed to be hiding something.


    ¡°The coffee is good, sweet, and the measurement is just right. I like it,¡± Cedric smiled, and I was sure he used that smile to cover his spontaneous response that veered far away from my question.


    ***


    ¡°Are you sure you can drive?¡± I had doubted it since we were in the elevator. I mean, his drowsiness didn¡¯t just disappear, especially after staying up all night.


    ¡°I can.¡±


    ¡°What if something happens to me?¡± I put on my seatbelt as soon as Cedric sat in the driver¡¯s seat. There was no need to adjust the rearview mirror or the seat. He must have done that yesterday to make himselffortable.


    ¡°Your prayers are so bad. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you both.¡±


    I snorted irritably afterwards. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll bete.¡±


    ¡°Roger, Anya.¡±


    I rolled my eyes in exasperation at his words just now. ¡°Hey, you said you yed in a band. What do you do? Sing?¡±


    I asked spontaneously. I don¡¯t know why I felt a bit curious about Cedric¡¯s activitiesst night.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m the vocalist.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Are you not sure?¡±


    ¡°Want me to sing?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Oh, I might get a stomachache.¡±


    ¡°True. You shouldn¡¯t listen.¡±


    My eyebrows furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if you hear me sing now, you might suddenly fall in love with me, and that would be troublesome.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe Cedric could be so confident! Oh my goodness! Where did the Cedric I knew, who was somewhat shy, go?


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, even though that¡¯s what I hope for right now.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Now you¡¯re good at sweet-talking, huh?¡± I pouted and gave him a sharp look. Instead, heughed as if responding to his girlfriend¡¯s sulking.


    ¡°I¡¯m like this only for Anya.¡±


    ¡°Enough. Just focus on driving!¡±


    ¡°If I chat, I won¡¯t feel sleepy, Anya.¡±


    ¡°You came home toote.¡±


    ¡°Well, not really. That was the agreement. But I won¡¯t do it again. It¡¯s too tiring.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn.¡±


    I didn¡¯t realize at all that my desire to remain silent as I had done in previous days with Cedric had disappeared. This morning, the traffic in Washington DC wasn¡¯t too bad, or maybe our conversation was light and fun. Before I knew it, my car had entered the office building area.


    Talking to Cedric wasn¡¯t so bad after all.

 [25] a

    ¡°Morning, Anna,¡± I greeted Anna. The girl really showed remarkable effort,ing in earlier than me even though breakfast was still served at her desk.


    ¡°Good morning, Miss.¡± Anna swallowed her bite of food. ¡°Breakfast, Miss.¡±


    I gave a small smile. Maybe it wasn¡¯t a bad idea to stopbeling her as a potential rival for my job. I¡¯ve been overthinking thingstely, it seems. ¡°I had breakfast at home earlier.¡±


    Anna just nodded and continued with her breakfast while I prepared to turn on theputer. The financial report that Krystal asked for, which was nearing its deadline, challenged me to focus on it more. I couldn¡¯t afford any interruptions toplete this report, which required extra precision. If someone asks why I¡¯m not delegating this task, Krystal always has an answer that makes me think, yeah, why didn¡¯t I think of that?


    ¡°Where do you live, Anna?¡± I asked, breaking the silence. Anna seemed a bit too serious while enjoying her breakfast, and I realized I forgot to ask her about this yesterday. At least, some small talk, even though I could read her CV again, was only natural.


    ¡°I live in Van Vige, Miss,¡± Anna replied with a smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite far from the office, Anna. Don¡¯t you want to rent a ce closer to the office?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to, Miss.¡±


    I nodded as if understanding. Though I didn¡¯t really know how to understand it since I¡¯ve never been forbidden from anything except taking care of myself. And that was from Nek Sumi. Otherwise, I decided how I wanted to live my life. Wasn¡¯t that what I should be doing now, right? Even though my resolve was firm, I didn¡¯t have a chance to act on it. It¡¯s as if the universe and Cedric conspired to prevent my decisions from being realized.


    I suppose I need to think of another way since my shadow remains the same. The darkness I fear is starting to creep into my life.


    ¡°Morning, Anya.¡±


    My thoughts were interrupted as I turned and saw Krystal smiling at me. ¡°Morning, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s on my agenda today, Anya? If I¡¯m not mistaken, it¡¯s a morning meeting, right?¡±


    It¡¯s not like Krystal to immediately ask about her schedule for the day. She usually takes a moment to enjoy her favorite coffee and bread, checking yesterday¡¯s reports and emails, or just making sure that yesterday¡¯s tasks were well-done by her subordinates.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check, Ma¡¯am. There were many changes yesterday.¡±


    She simply nodded and walked towards her office. Before she waspletely engulfed by the ss door of her office, Krystal spoke again, ¡°If there are any offsite meetings, prepare Anna. You stay here.¡±


    If I said it made me feel choked up, it would be an understatement. But what else could I do? Krystal had given her order. When I looked at Anna, the girl looked shocked. Maybe she wasn¡¯t prepared to go outside the office with her new big boss.


    ¡°Miss¡­ Is Mrs. Krystal serious?¡±


    I nodded, leaning more towards resignation. Then Anna rushed to my desk with a sad face.


    ¡°Miss, I¡¯m not entirely sure what needs to be done.¡±


    I used to be in the same position, and no one taught me anything. Everything was self-taught, to the point where I got stressed out from dealing with Krystal¡¯s exceptional work rhythm. Her level of perfection was no joke; it was bordering on obsession. I wanted to give up, but the lips that often wore red lipstick from a famous brand said, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle me, I¡¯ll always wait for your resignation letter. It¡¯s not a problem. But it means you can¡¯t push your limits, Anya. Think about that. Not all jobs are easy.¡±


    Anna was lucky; she still had me to tell her. I wasn¡¯t so cruel as to hide things she needed to know about to keep up with Krystal during meetings outside the office. Anna¡¯s task was to assist me in lightening the workload that I myself didn¡¯t know how long wouldst. Or maybe her presence was to eventually rece me; I still didn¡¯t fully understand that.


    What I know now is that there¡¯s Anna. And I hope my negative thoughts don¡¯t prove anything, especially regarding my job. I can only do one thing to keep it. My intention will be fulfilled. That¡¯s it.


    ***


    For lunch today, I was with Naomi and Dona. I hadn¡¯t heard from them since yesterday, and I wondered why. It turned out they were busy and submerged. Usually, they would chat or gossip, especially during the weing of new people in the office. But not this time.


    ¡°It¡¯s weird that you two aren¡¯t gossiping,¡± I said as I slurped the broth from my meatball soup. I don¡¯t know why, but I really wanted to eat meatball soup with rice. Sometimes, I think my food cravings are so spontaneous and unpredictable.


    ¡°If you go to the second floor, you¡¯ll know what¡¯s going on,¡± Donained unenthusiastically. I furrowed my brow in response to this information.


    ¡°Who¡¯s having a hard time, who¡¯s having bad luck,¡± Naomi said in agreement.


    Seriously, I was way behind on so many things. Before I could ask them both, we were interrupted by Kelvin¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°The boss is about to resign,¡± Dona said with a somewhat sarcastic tone. I was really suspicious of the two of them. What¡¯s going on? I¡¯m missing out on news so much?


    Kelvin justughed. ¡°Once in a while, Doni. When else, Naomi?¡±


    They both sighed in agreement.


    ¡°By the way, the new manager seems nice, right? You¡¯ve met her, haven¡¯t you, Anya?¡± Kelvin asked, and I almost choked. What kind of question was this? Kelvin was clearly present during the introduction yesterday.


    ¡°Is that what you¡¯re into, Anya?¡± he asked again.


    I put down the spoon I had used to eat. My appetite disappearedpletely because of this conversation that didn¡¯t seem to have any direction. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with you two and how it¡¯s rted to me.¡±


    Naomi looked at me strangely. As if telling me it¡¯s better to stay quiet. But I couldn¡¯t, especially when Kelvin looked at me with disdain. What¡¯s going on?


    ¡°Even though I¡¯ve been catching your attention for a long time, youpletely ignored me or responded to me. But when it¡¯s Henry, my goodness! You easily get close to him just like that?¡± Vincent said with frustration.


    ¡°So, you approached me while I was having lunch just to ask something unimportant like this?¡± I replied with an annoyed tone that I couldn¡¯t hold back. I was enjoying my meal, after all.


    ¡°It¡¯s natural for me to ask, Anya.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking as if I¡¯m already in a long-term intimate rtionship or at least a girlfriend. Let me make it clear, Vin. We are colleagues and friends, if I may remind you. You have no right to judge me like that.¡±


    Kelvin fell silent, and I used that opportunity to leave them. I didn¡¯t care about the fresh meatball soup that I could still enjoy. I was still hungry. Before I headed to the elevator in the middle corridor of the building, I stopped by the caf¨¦ across the street to buy something as a snack.


    I really couldn¡¯t understand them. What¡¯s going on, and¡­ Oh my God! It¡¯s so strange to me. I need to find out and ask Naomi and Don to spill the beans. There must be a reason why Kelvin attacked me like that.


    Soon, I typed a message to the group for both of them to read.


    Anya. P: I want you both to tell me what¡¯s going on!All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Naomi: Be patient.


    Dona: That¡¯s your part, Nao. My part is to rant! Damn!


    See, I told you, something is off.

 [25] b

    If you¡¯re wondering why I¡¯m so insistent on getting rid of this fetus, you already know why for sure. Krystal hasn¡¯t softened the torture, not at all. In fact, it has raised a series of question marks that I can never answer. Krystal always has a way of changing course without me knowing, and I can never predict when she will turn, swerve, or dive so sharply. Throughout our acquaintance, Krystal has always been the type of person who, although spontaneous in her actions, has already measured far before she acts.


    She uses her spontaneity to surprise her opponents.


    It¡¯s the same with my fear of work. Even with Anna¡¯s great help, I still have to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Although, I admit, Cedric is starting to interrupt me. There are times at night when I want to sleep, and I find myself thinking about this again. It¡¯s not just a passing thought or a firm resolution. No. It¡¯s reevaluating the dominating ideas in my head.


    Cedric is a good guy; I know that very well. Regarding work, he seems to be a hardworking and diligent type of man. But the kind of work he¡¯s doing now isn¡¯t something he can rely on to sustain his life for too long. If Cedric¡¯s band is no longer in demand, what other side jobs will he do?Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I don¡¯t know.


    Regarding this matter, I¡¯ve never talked to him at length. I¡¯ve only allowed him to enter my life, as if he¡¯s allowed into the yard of my house, but I haven¡¯t invited him inside. I¡¯m more cautious when ites to a rtionship with the opposite sex.


    Ah, it reminds me of Dona and Naomi¡¯s crazy confessions about rtionships with the opposite sex. Kelvin Stubborn, the IT manager, has been acting out since Henry arrived. Especially after he left Krystal¡¯s office. I really don¡¯t know what happened because I was busy working and had a quick lunch with Henry. I thought it was normal since we used to go to the same school.


    What¡¯s strange is that Kelvin suddenly started seeking attention from Henry. Oh God, what¡¯s that about? Seriously, it¡¯s not right! Besides, when have I been that close with Kelvin? Never.


    Although I asionally have dinner with him, it¡¯s only after numerous times of refusing and feeling guilty for constantly rejecting him. That¡¯s it. But just because of that, it doesn¡¯t mean I can bebeled as a woman who¡¯s close to Kelvin, right? I really need to know the full version of this, but I can¡¯t do it now. Damn!


    Besides, Cedric is already waiting for me, and suddenly Naomi had to leave immediately. I understood why. Her father has been experiencing health issues and needs a lot of attention, especially from Naomi. She lives alone with her father. I usually visit her, but for now, Naomi strongly forbids me from doing so. She said I need to get enough rest. Isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated?


    ¡°You¡¯ve been daydreaming, Joice. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedric suddenly asked.


    Maybe he¡¯d been trying to talk to me for a while as he focused on driving my car. I don¡¯t know. I was really absorbed in my thoughts.


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± he asked again. When I noticed, the road I was on was almost reaching the apartment. It wouldn¡¯t be right to ask Cedric to turn around just to eat satay. I don¡¯t know why, but I suddenly wanted to eat satay again with two portions of rice cakes and lots of fried shallots.


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯ll turn backter,¡± I said, and when I turned to look, Cedric was staring at me intensely. What¡¯s wrong with him? I became suspicious. Was there something wrong with my appearance? His gaze made my forehead crease. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I couldn¡¯t resist asking.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just want to see you for a little longer.¡±


    I snorted. ¡°You¡¯re driving.¡±


    Cedric responded with his small smile. ¡°It¡¯s a traffic jam. I know the situation when I want to see you.¡±


    ¡°I want the satay in front of the Penins Hotel. Turn back.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but feel that Cedric was asking for my heart, as if he wanted to have my galldder too! To make his life even more bitter!


    ¡°Alright, ma¡¯am!¡±


    As soon as the car was free from the traffic jam caused by the traffic light ahead, Cedric immediately turned back towards the road we had just passed, but this time turned left at the intersection ahead. If it¡¯s a little congested, it¡¯s fine. I can wait. The thought of satay drenched in peanut sauce made me unable to resist and eat it immediately.


    ***


    I don¡¯t know why this is happening to me again. I was fine after eating the soup earlier; there was nothing wrong. Returning to the car wasn¡¯t a problem either. Chatting with Cedric, who I asionally showered with sarcasm, didn¡¯t make my stomach feel weird. Seriously.


    How is it that just after I ced my work bag, I suddenly felt nauseous? Until I couldn¡¯t help but throw up everything I ate earlier. I felt like I had used up all my remaining energy. I remember holding onto the edge of the toilet because I felt so weak. Luckily, Cedric hadn¡¯te home yet since he felt something was off when I rushed into the toilet.


    He helped me clean up. He didn¡¯t ask any questions and just left me to sit at the edge of the bed. I was still trying to regain myposure, inhaling the scent of the aromatic oil that Cedric gave me. I was very sure that he had rummaged through the bag in the living room. I didn¡¯t care; what mattered now was that I felt a little morefortable.


    Then, rather impolitely, Cedric opened my wardrobe. From his movements, I was sure he was looking forfortable sleepwear for me. I was about to protest, but I gave up because it wouldn¡¯t serve any purpose. I was too weak.


    ¡°Change your clothes, Anya,¡± Cedric said softly. Maybe tonight my appearance was really pitiful. Cedric looked at me with a gaze that¡­ perhaps showed pity? I don¡¯t know, but I didn¡¯t like that look. It made me feel so weak. My heart suddenly felt sad, and without realizing it, I started to sob.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Cedric quickly positioned himself in front of me. I didn¡¯t want to look pitiful in front of him, so I turned my face away. But before I could even aplish that, Cedric¡¯s fingers held up my chin. ¡°It¡¯s my fault that you¡¯re like this. Don¡¯t cry; I feel even more guilty, Na.¡±


    I closed my eyes, and tears kept falling.


    ¡°Change your clothes now. Your shirt is wet.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°You might get sickter.¡± Cedric offered me his choice of clothes again, the one I refused earlier. He tidied up my messy hair and gently wiped away the tears that fell. ¡°Can I make you some hot chocte?¡±


    Again, I shook my head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me force you to change your clothes, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Are you brave enough?¡± I felt like I needed to lecture him a bit more. How could he say such things to Cedric, whom I was very sure would never refuse an opportunity. Right?


    In the past¡­ yes, I was the one who teased him. But if his intentions were not to be tempted, he wouldn¡¯t be, right? Ah, it¡¯s just my own fault feeling so cheap in front of Cedric. Who is he to make me like this in front of him?


    Without needing to say much, Cedric¡¯s fingers began to unbutton my shirt. I didn¡¯t resist, but instead, I paid close attention to how focused he was in undressing me. His intense gaze never diverted anywhere else but on me. When his eyesnded on my slightly bulging stomach, he fell silent.


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked softly. I had no intention of hiding my body that was only wearing a bra in front of him. Cedric responded to my words by gazing into my eyes intensely.


    ¡°My child is inside. I¡¯m sorry if I made you ufortable. Direct your anger at me, not the baby.¡±


    Then he slipped a loose T-shirt over my body, asking me to stand up so he could rece my skirt with knee-length loose shorts.


    ¡°There will be a stain that will never disappear in my life, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°My body won¡¯t be tempting to you anymore.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m always tempted by you, you know. But I restrain myself because I know you still hold on to thoughts that are contrary to mine, Joice.¡±


    We stood very close together. Our breaths fought for space as the air supply around us was so thin.


    ¡°If I agree with you now, what would you do?¡±


    Cedric¡¯s smile emerged, very faint. ¡°First, I would kiss you.¡± And somehow, it wasn¡¯t a push from me, that¡¯s for sure. It must be Cedric¡¯s child. I¡¯m sure of it. He must be coborating with his father to make me let my guard down. Cedric¡¯s lips explored mine once more.


    This time, it was incredibly gentle, and I got lost in it. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding Cedric¡¯s nape to deepen the kiss. Until we ran out of breath, only then did Cedric let go.


    ¡°And secondly, I want us to get married soon,¡± he added, nting a long kiss on my forehead. For a while.

 [26] a

    Damn!


    Stupid and idiotic are definitely words I deserve tobel myself with! Oh my God! What¡¯s wrong with me? Suddenly so emotional, suddenly acting like a cheap woman in front of Cedric, and suddenly so clingy! I feel like it wasn¡¯t me who did all thatst night! Seriously!


    I didn¡¯t respond to Cedric¡¯s words about marriage. That¡¯s too far ahead. There are many things I need to adjust first if we were to consider marriage. I don¡¯t want to rush and say I agree. No. I still have my beliefs, although not as strong as before, that without this child, my life would return to normal.


    ¡°Do you not want chocte milk?¡± Cedric asked, his gaze unwavering. I also remember his tender carest night. Not the kissing part, oh no! Cedric made me a cup of hot chocte and prepared two slices of buttered bread for me. That wasn¡¯t all; he even massaged my feet, especially the soles, saying I should start reducing wearing high heels.


    I don¡¯t want to! My reputation might go downhill if Krystal suddenly asks me to go out after work, even though I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s unlikely to happen. Speaking of my situation at the office, I unconsciously started talking about my fear of Anna.


    Cedric? Heughed. He said I was too negative in my thinking. Things that shouldn¡¯t be thought about too deeply, I always obsess over. I should work better now that Anna is helping me. There¡¯s a lot I can do, Cedric said. After all, Krystal likes my work style. Why am I worrying so much?


    ¡°But what if she still fires me, no matter the reason?¡± This was probably the umpteenth time I asked him this question. If I did it in front of Naomi or Dona, they would probably scold me. Oh, don¡¯tpare myself to them. Maybe Kelvin? But I rarely talk to him. Just listening to Kelvin talk makes me full. So I better keep my mouth shut, be a good listener when I spend time with Kelvin. And that can be counted on one hand.


    ¡°If Mrs. Krystal talks like that, the chances of you being fired are slim. Unless you make a mistake.¡± Cedric looked at me, and I appeared surprised by the talk of making mistakes. Well¡­ this pregnancy out of wedlock, that¡¯s a mistake!


    ¡°I mean, regarding work issues,¡± he quickly corrected. I felt relieved that Cedric saw it that way.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± I took a slow sip of the hot chocte Cedric prepared for me. I nibbled on the pieces of bread that Cedric cut while hoping not to throw up like earlier.


    From the corner of my eye, I could see how genuinely concerned Cedric was. I could feel it. Could¡­ he be my pir?


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I called, making him turn to me. He stopped massaging my feet for a moment. ¡°Aren¡¯t you working tonight?¡±


    He smiled. ¡°No. I have the day off today.¡±


    ¡°If I were to be fired, for whatever reason.¡± I signaled him not to interrupt my words. I saw Cedric¡¯s lips shut again. ¡°Can you guarantee our future together? While¡­ I¡¯m realistic, you and I are different.¡±


    I quickly continued because I didn¡¯t want to offend him in any way. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to belittle you, but is it okay for me to ask like this?¡±


    Cedric nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s perfectly normal for you to be afraid and think that I can¡¯t meet your expectations. Maybe in terms of finances.¡±


    I remained silent because I was sure Cedric wanted to keep talking.


    ¡°As I said before, I won¡¯t stop fighting for both of you. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes for you two, because you are my priorities now, Joice. Maybe in the near future, I won¡¯t be able to fulfill everything you want. Maybe your habits of shopping or having fun with friends, I won¡¯t be able to fully meet them yet.¡±


    Well, if we look deeper into it, I don¡¯t really indulge myself that much. If he meant that I like to shop and spend a lot of money, that¡¯s not true. I buy things that I really need. This apartment is also a rented one. I just wanted a more private atmosphere. But when ites to the number of needs that Cedric will have to fulfillter, that¡¯s true.


    In my economic calctions, we are uneven.


    ¡°If we talk about this, can I have high hopes?¡± I furrowed my brow in response to his gaze.


    ¡°Do you ept us now? Are we in your life? And will you let me fight for you?¡±


    I had no words to reply. I couldn¡¯t nod or shake my head as an answer to his question. He said goodbyest night after making sure everything was fine and that I could be left alone.


    ¡°Tomorrow morning, if you can¡¯t handle work, ask for a week off. Rest.¡±


    I snorted. ¡°I just threw up because I felt nauseous, not because I fainted again.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to take care of yourself, Joice.¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I waved my hand, a sign for him to leave. Not that I wanted to; it was just that the clock near the kitchen showed that it was already eleven at night. What time would he get home? If he stayed toote, it could be dangerous for Cedric. If tomorrow he fell asleep again like this morning? Lack of rest, right?


    ¡°I¡¯m going home. Get some sleep soon, Joice.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    ¡°Do I still need permission to touch your stomach, or are you allowed to do that every time there¡¯s a chance?¡±


    ¡°You wish!¡±


    ¡°Miss Anya, are you daydreaming?¡±


    I was startled, causing the pen in my hand to slide perfectly. I blinked slowly, and the atmosphere of the office took control of me once again. Oh my God! Why do I have to remember what happened herest night?! As if there¡¯s no other ce to daydream about Cedric.


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± I said briefly.


    ¡°Is there something on your mind, Anya?¡±


    This time, Krystal¡¯s voice interrupted. I closed my eyes for a moment. How could I daydream in Krystal¡¯s office? I quickly continued my memory about what we were discussing. I haven¡¯t done much since I asked Anna to pay more attention to Krystal¡¯s orders, and I¡¯ve briefed her on Krystal¡¯s habits.


    ¡°No, Ma¡¯am,¡± I replied when I finally mustered the courage to look at Krystal. I couldn¡¯t possibly ignore her question for too long.


    ¡°If something¡¯s bothering you, you better take a rest. It¡¯s fine. Anna can handle things faster, right? Anya doesn¡¯t seem to be in good condition.¡±


    I blinked softly. Krystal was bing suspicious. It¡¯s like I really have to be careful and avoid doing anything that would make her worry like before. Should I ask her about it?


    Where¡¯s the firm Krystal, intolerant of mistakes without any clear reasons, hardworking, and fond of tormenting me as her assistant?


    ***

 [26] b

    I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my racing heart and the breath that felt like it stopped for a moment. How could I not? I found Henry in the parking lot, probably on the phone. And what added to the shock was that his car was parked just three cars away from mine.


    Since thest time he called me, I ignored all his messages. Not without reason, though. I had too many things on my mind that couldn¡¯t be mixed with the presence of a man who was, in theory, my past.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Cedric¡¯s question brought me back to reality, now that I was in the car with him. A moment ago, I felt like I experienced a time distortion. It was just Henry staring at me with a strange look, and I didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I replied briefly. I looked back at the road ahead, which was starting to get congested. I remembered how Henry asked me this and that. Eventually, he said, ¡®Reply to my messages, Anya. Or else I¡¯ll dare to go to your apartment.¡¯


    Meaning, he knew where I lived. His joke became a reality. Oh my God! I almost forgot that when Henry wants something, he¡¯ll make it happen immediately.


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°Can you just be quiet? My head suddenly hurts a lot.¡±


    ¡°I know this is bothering you, but can I know who Henry is to you?¡± Cedric ignored myint this time.


    Obviously, Cedric would ask that. He wouldn¡¯t pay attention to myints because ever since we got into the car, he suddenly became silent. Although he approached me in the office, even took charge of my things, his lips were still asking questions, especially about my workday.


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡± I replied with a slightly challenging tone. My eyes were no longer on the road ahead but turned towards him. He only nced at me briefly before focusing back on driving. From the side, his facial expression wasn¡¯t usual. Maybe he felt offended, I don¡¯t know.


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious if this time mypetition is too much again. Until thebel of being Anya¡¯s servant is on my forehead.¡±


    His words were soft, apanied by a smile that was filled with sadness.


    ¡°But if you forget, I am the father of the child you¡¯re carrying, Joice.¡±


    A car horn from behind or the side, I wasn¡¯t too sure, made Cedric start driving again. I heard him mutter, even if softly. Maybe the noise bothered him. Even though he was the one who rudely stopped while the car in front started moving, right?


    ¡°Am Ipletely insignificant in your life?¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to answer.


    Until the car was perfectly parked in the basement, Cedric didn¡¯t say a word. He didn¡¯t offer me anything to eat or engage in any conversation, which was usually what he did. I suddenly felt enveloped in a deep sense of guilt.


    He slowly opened the door to my unit, turned on the air conditioner, and ced my belongings inside. ¡°I¡¯m going home,¡± he said without looking at me.


    I looked at Cedric strangely. Somehow, I didn¡¯t like being treated coldly like this. Butst night, oh God, Cedric treated me like a queen.


    ¡°Are you angry?¡± I finally asked before Cedric could close the door to my unitpletely.


    ¡°Why should I be? I don¡¯t have the right to be angry with you.¡± Cedric raised his head and looked at me sharply. I was quite surprised to see how troubled his expression was.


    ¡°But I have the right to be angry with you if you neglect our child.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even ask what I want to eat tonight?¡±


    ¡°Is that all I¡¯m good for? Being your servant?¡±


    I was taken aback. Seriously, that¡¯s not what I meant.


    ¡°Fine. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t feel sincere about it. I don¡¯t want to eat. You can go home if you want.¡± Even though I was slightly afraid of the words that just slipped out, I had the courage to believe that Cedric wouldn¡¯t do anything inappropriate with me. Like yelling at me, for example.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯m going home.¡±


    And Cedric truly acted on his words. It made me gape and blink in disbelief at what was happening. Annoyed, I threw the t shoes I was wearing quite hard, almost hitting the ss door of the balcony.


    Damn you, Cedric!!!


    Anya P: You don¡¯t need to pick me up anymore. I¡¯ll drive myself.


    I sent this message three hours after Cedric returned from my apartment. My frustration was still at its peak. How could he act that way towards me?! Was he angry about what I said to Henry in the parking lot? Well, I guess if I were Cedric, I¡¯d be really upset too. But ignoring me? Seriously?


    Not even two minutester, my phone vibrated, indicating a new message. I quickly opened it because I was waiting for a reply.


    Cedric K: Okay.


    WHAT THE FUCK!!!


    Right now, in front of me, was a te of french fries. These were actually Dona¡¯s stock, but I fried them as a snack because I was hungry. If Dona askedter, I¡¯d just tell her to buy more. After all, it¡¯s my fridge, and I have the right to use it without permission from anyone. I ate the potato pieces with increasing annoyance.


    How could he¡­


    A full te of fries was gone, but my frustration remained. I still wanted to eat more, if possible until my stomach exploded. On the dining table, there were slices of bread, margarine, and chocte sprinkles. Maybe that would reduce this ufortable feeling. Frustrated, I walked to the dining area and spread the bread with chocte spread and margarine one by one. I was so annoyed that I couldn¡¯t even spread the toppings properly.


    I don¡¯t care. It¡¯ll be in my stomach soon anyway. My mind was dragged back to the incident in the parking lot after work. When I got out of the elevator, Henry was there. He was standing with his back to me, his phone pressed against his shoulder.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I had already nned to ignore him and walk as if he wasn¡¯t there, until his voice sessfully stopped me.


    ¡°Are you really busy, Anya?¡± he asked, and I was sure he wasn¡¯t far from where I was, now almost reaching my car. Cedric was leading the way, not too far away. Maybe because he heard someone calling me, Cedric stopped and turned.


    ¡°You¡¯re with¡­ Cedric?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no. He¡¯s just helping me carry my work bag. It¡¯s heavy,¡± I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    The problem with Cedric was that he walked slowly towards me and extended his hand. ¡°The keys.¡±


    I was flustered and quickly searched my bag¡¯s contents.


    ¡°Driving your car?¡± Henry asked, making me turn slightly towards him. I nodded and continued searching for my keys. ¡°Here,¡± I said, handing the car key to Cedric.


    ¡°Cedric doubling as your driver?¡±


    I knew Henry was just asking, but I couldn¡¯t say anything, right?


    ¡°Yes.¡± That was all I could do to answer.


    ¡°Oh, thank goodness. I thought you had something going on with Cedric,¡± Henry said, appearing to let out a soft sigh. ¡°Cedric, you don¡¯t need to drive Ms. Anya tomorrow. I¡¯ll take over.¡±


    The man standing not far from me, I could even nce at him from the corner of my eye, and I could see the change in his facial expression.


    ¡°And you, don¡¯t ignore me all the time.¡± Now Henry moved closer to me, tucking my stray hair behind my ear. His action made me take a step back. ¡°Reply to my messages, Anya. Or else I¡¯ll dare to go to your apartment.¡±

 [27]

    Waking up in the morning with lingering frustration was not pleasant at all. Seriously, everything seemed wrong, and I needed a release! But what could I do when the person who made me upset wasn¡¯t in front of me? I wasn¡¯t waiting for him, but having been used to having Cedric around for the past few days, I felt like something was missing.


    To make things worse, I made coffee too! Ugh!


    Oh well, there was no point in having breakfast in the apartment. I¡¯d better leave soon; maybe a croissant at Dewa¡¯s cafe would help me for breakfast at the office. Just as I opened the door, the person who annoyed me was right there.


    I really wanted to vent all my feelings, but then he might think I was waiting for him. No way! So, I chose to walk past him, ignoring his presence.


    ¡°Where are the car keys?¡± Cedric asked while grabbing my work bag somewhat forcibly.


    ¡°Henry will pick me up.¡±


    His grip on my bag loosened. Luckily, I didn¡¯t let go right away; otherwise, my bag would have kissed the marble floor.


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay? What do you want?¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and finally, I spoke up. Fortunately, we were the only ones waiting for the elevator. There were no other residents around.


    ¡°Pick you up, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    I turned to him. The way he addressed me¡­ changed? Since he stood in front of my unit earlier, he didn¡¯t even look into my eyes as usual. ¡°No need. I can manage by myself.¡±


    ¡°Ensuring your safe arrival is my priority.¡±


    I hesitated. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Cedric shook his head but still stared at the elevator. I could clearly see his reflection in the polished surface. There was no enthusiasm or happiness in his facial expression-just stiffness and coldness. It made me even more upset!


    ¡°I won¡¯t put myself in harm¡¯s way.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°It¡¯d be better if it¡¯s that way.¡±


    ¡°You can leave now. I really can¡¯t stand you today!¡±


    He ignored my words and my push on his shoulder. When the elevator doors opened, he walked ahead, leaving me staring at him. Did he dare to defy me? Seriously, he was crazy!


    ¡°Are you going to work or not?¡±


    I immediately slung my bag over my shoulder and walked angrily. ¡°None of your business!¡± I pressed the button on the panel to the basement, while Cedric didn¡¯t press anything. Whatever!


    As soon as the elevator reached the basement, Cedric followed me outside and headed toward where my car was parked. When I was about to open the driver¡¯s door, he stopped me. ¡°Sit there, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°This is my car. You have no right to boss me around.¡±


    Cedric nodded. ¡°Precisely because this is your car, I¡¯m worried you might get into an ident because you¡¯re upset with me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you realize that I¡¯m upset with you?¡±


    He didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°Move aside!¡± I snapped slightly harshly. What I didn¡¯t prepare for was Cedric unexpectedly lifting me up like in those dramas. Bridal style! How dare he! Even when I struggled, it was useless as he had already unlocked the passenger door and gently ced me inside. He even buckled my seatbelt. Damn!


    ¡°You!¡± I pointed at him with a suppressed growl.


    ¡°I¡¯m your driver. I¡¯m your servant. What else? That¡¯s how you see me.¡±


    Cedric turned to look at me with a very sharp gaze. The glint in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. ¡°So I¡¯ll act that way for you. Today and onwards. Just like you said.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that!!!¡± I yelled in refusal. My breath was getting heavy from all the emotions.


    ¡°But your actions imply that.¡±


    ¡°Now what do you want? I¡¯m not going to say you¡¯re my boyfriend, my fianc¨¦, or worse, my future husband.¡±


    ¡°At least, respect me as a friend,¡± Cedric said, starting the car¡¯s engine. The words came out softly, but they made me fall silent all of a sudden. My anger disappeared, I don¡¯t know where. Even the stack of frustrations I had towards Cedric fromst night vanished.


    ***


    ¡°Miss, Mrs. Krystal said all her appointments are canceled for today. She messaged me thismorning, saying she¡¯ll bete.¡±


    My body frozepletely. I hadn¡¯t evennded on the chair yet, and this piece of information made me feel that Krystal was starting to distance herself from me. Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed with sadness, as if thousands of insects called sorrow swarmed me. ¡°Oh, okay,¡± I replied with little enthusiasm. ¡°Anna, this is for you. I bought too much earlier.¡± I ced a portion of chicken porridge in front of her.


    It wasn¡¯t because there was too much, but I specifically ordered it for Anna. Even though I doubted her intention to get rid of me, I still couldn¡¯t help but care about her. She might have had breakfast already, but there was no harm in refueling. I was sure taking the KRL from Bogor was torturous.


    Despite my mood improving this morning, Cedric¡¯s offer to have porridge together at a ce we¡¯ve visited before contributed to that; it was after our debate ended with him apologizing. I was too proud to admit it, but what he said was actually the truth.


    Why couldn¡¯t I just consider him as a friend? After all, there was nothing wrong with being friends, right? If Henry gave me strange looks, well¡­ that was his problem. In this situation, I was sure Henry¡¯s view of Cedric was limited to just him being an office boy. Just because his job was an office boy, it didn¡¯t mean I could treat him however I wanted.


    ¡°What did you eatst night?¡± Cedric asked while wiping the corner of my lips from the porridge broth. I was already used to his actions, so I only nced at him briefly before getting back to my meal.


    ¡°Fries and bread.¡±


    He smiled.


    ¡°Why are you smiling like that?¡± I was curious! Was there something wrong?


    ¡°No wonder you were so enthusiastic about eating. You were hungry, right?¡±


    Cedric needed scolding from me!


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you alone when you haven¡¯t eaten likest night.¡±


    ¡°Actions speak louder than words.¡± I grumbled in annoyance.


    ¡°Yes. I won¡¯t deny it.¡±


    ¡°Wait and see,¡± I said lightly. I didn¡¯t care. I just looked up and stared at him with a puzzled expression as he suddenly wiped my nose gently. Then he continued eating, and so did I. Like I said, all my anger and frustration disappeared just like that, and I didn¡¯t know why, but I felt happier.


    But it turned out my happiness didn¡¯tst long. The information from Anna made it disappearpletely. My enthusiasm to work on the report that Krystal was waiting for was also wearing thin.


    I thought Krystal was just waiting for the right moment to get rid of me and rece me.


    ¡°Miss,¡± Anna called, interrupting my thoughts. ¡°This porridge is delicious. Where did you buy it?¡±


    I simply replied with a smile.


    ***


    As soon as Krystal arrived at the office, I, who was now double-checking the financial report she had requested, greeted her. My boss still looked beautiful and elegant as always, nothing had changed, except that I felt she was keeping her distance from me. It made me more aware that I wouldn¡¯t stay close to her for long.


    Who would continue to employ an employee who frequently had drops in performance? Just thinking about it made me sad. So sad that it would require a cube root to express it.


    ¡°Anya, can we discuss something?¡±


    I stood up promptly. Earlier, when she just smiled in response to my greeting, she didn¡¯t say anything. Only after she had almost entered her office did she finally speak. Did my boss have a lot on her mind? It felt impossible, considering how incredibly brilliant Krystal was in handling thepany. I was even envious of her sess in managing a wholepany.


    As a response, Iplied with her request. Then she went inside her office, and I used that short time to gather some points I could discuss about my work. I also noticed Anna was busy with Krystal¡¯s updated schedule. My boss had sent her many notes via email regarding her schedule for the next two weeks.


    In this matter, I entrusted the task to Anna. I was sure she would spend more time with Krystal outside office hours. Unlike me, who dutifully maintained and took care of the office. I wanted to protest, but what could I do? Krystal and her orders were a must to be followed.


    Besides resigning myself to the situation, I secretly prayed that my fears wouldn¡¯te true.


    The report was almost 80%plete and in my hands. I wanted to report the progress and the various indications of irregrities that I had marked. I needed more data, but I had to report it first.


    ¡°Mrs. Krystal,¡± I said as I gently pushed the ss door. From inside, I heard Krystal clearing her throat, indicating that I was allowed toe in.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost finished with Mr. Sarman¡¯s report. There are many anomalies, but I haven¡¯t dared to ask for more data yet, Mrs.,¡± I said as I sat right in front of Krystal, who was still busy with her gadget.


    She seemed to nod, as if understanding my report. ¡°Have you tried looking for what you need?¡±


    I shook my head in response. ¡°I intend to ask for the data tomorrow. Today, I will finish the report.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to ask; if they make it difficult, say it¡¯s Krystal¡¯s order.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Krystal gave a small smile. Her lips, painted with lipstick, always seemed to perfect her appearance, regardless of the color she chose, like maroon now.


    ¡°I like it when you look happy.¡±


    Krystal¡¯s words left me perplexed and raised even more questions about her change in attitude towards me. I felt a mix of fear and happiness, all bundled up in my head, begging to be released. But I didn¡¯t dare to say anything. So, I decided to respond with a smile.


    ¡°Do you have a lunch appointment?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, Miss.¡±


    ¡°Not with Cedric?¡±


    Why did she have to bring him up in our conversation? Wait, earlier, Krystal mentioned something to discuss. Why was she asking like this?


    ¡°I feel like having beef rib soup. Apany me.¡±


    Her statement made me frown. ¡°Earlier, you said there was something to discuss. What is it?¡±


    Krystal smiled and tapped the end of her pen. ¡°You already told me earlier. I think that¡¯s enough. I can always rely on you, Anya.¡±


    I had said that I had been working with Krystal for several years. My performance had always been about making her proud, in a positive sense. I didn¡¯t want to earn brownie points just because I was an assistant to the big boss at my workce. That wasn¡¯t who I was. And it wasn¡¯t in my work-life dictionary.


    I always tried my best to utilize everything I had within myself to demonstrate how an employee should work. I had been doing that well so far, even without praise. Yes, a Krystal xton was a boss who was very conservative in givingpliments.


    But this time?


    She praised me?


    Seriously?


    ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s have beef rib soup for lunch.¡±


    I just nodded. I didn¡¯t understand the depths of Krystal¡¯s thoughts. Since we had nothing else to discuss, I excused myself. I guessed Krystal would immerse herself back into her work.


    When I returned to my desk, Anna was still struggling with the schedule. I forgot to ask if she would join us for lunch. If she did, for some reason, jealousy suddenly surfaced even though it might not even be a reality.


    Ah, my negative thinking was getting out of hand!


    ***


    ¡°How far along are you in your pregnancy, Anya?¡± Krystal asked, making me turn to look at her. We were on our way back after having lunch.


    I thought for a moment, trying to remember and calcte since I wasn¡¯t paying much attention. ¡°Probably around three or four months,¡± I replied hesitantly.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Get regr check-ups. Don¡¯t let any issues arise with your pregnancy. It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Krystal said, while gently caressing my arm, and I felt so much warmth and care from her touch. Even when we locked eyes, she looked at me as if I were¡­ a part of her.


    Why was that?


    Throughout my life until this very moment, the only person who treated me so gently was Granny Sumi. Since she passed away, that warmth vanished.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± I lowered my head, feeling a sudden heaviness stabbing my heart. Here was someone else, my boss at the office, who seemed genuinely concerned about my well-being during my pregnancy, wanting to providefort while I spent time at work.


    And me?


    Oh, God! I felt like such a despicable person in this situation.


    ¡°It must feel great when you¡¯re pregnant to have someone show extra care for you. Right?¡± I saw Krystal¡¯s gaze wandering far away, seemingly lost in thought. Her smile wasn¡¯t sad but rather joyful, as if she were the one experiencing the pregnancy, not me.


    ¡°I want to settle down someday, be loved like Cedric loves you. When I get pregnant, he bes even more loving towards me. Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you gotten married yet?¡± Oh no, I misspoke! Krystal turned to look at me with a gaze filled with contemtion.


    ¡°What I meant was, you¡¯ve been sessful in your career, beautiful, and ssy. It¡¯s hard to believe there aren¡¯t many suitors lining up to be your boyfriend or even potential husband.¡± Damn it! It was the first time I said something so foolish in front of Krystal. I was afraid she¡¯d be offended and not want to talk to me anymore.


    Instead of getting angry or offended by my words, Krystal chuckled. ¡°Finding a potential husband isn¡¯t that easy, Anya. It¡¯s not just because my standards are high. I also want someone who truly clicks with me.¡±


    I blinked slowly, processing her words. For the first time in my conversations with Krystal, this was the most intimate one we¡¯ve ever had. She even changed from using a formal address to a more informal one.


    ¡°Like you and Cedric. Right, Anya?¡±

 [28] a

    Henry didn¡¯t reduce the intensity of sending me messages. Sometimes, even if I repliedte, he didn¡¯t hesitate to call me. Although my replies were short and not overly affectionate, I didn¡¯t want to give him the impression that we could be close again.


    But to be honest, I couldn¡¯t deny that I missed him. I also wanted to spend more time with Henry, which only happened once during lunch after a long time of not seeing each other. We exchanged stories and shared many jokes during that lunch. However, I realized that I couldn¡¯t hide my pregnancy from him forever.


    I didn¡¯t want him to get close to me while my heart was still in chaos. I wanted to resolve my issues first, rather than adding more mistakes to my life. Strangely, even though the opportunity was wide open for us to rekindle our past love, it felt like an impossible dream. I wished I could me my foolishness and ept this challenging fate. It wasn¡¯t about struggling or anything like that, but the difficulty in not being able to reach Henry anymore.


    Deep inside, I knew that first love doesn¡¯t easily fade away. Even though we made mistakes, our rtionship wasn¡¯t just a casual affair. Perhaps, if the universe allowed it, I would be Henry Purnomo¡¯s wife now. Maybe. But hoping for that now seemed like the most impossible thing. Personally, if I were to have a serious rtionship with Henry, I would decline.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    It wouldn¡¯t be funny to be in a rtionship with him, especially when I was sure that Henry still had the same feelings for me. He finally found out that I was pregnant. My intention to get rid of the baby seemed to diminish greatly. I don¡¯t know why. Whenever that thought resurfaced, Cedric¡¯s smiling face appeared and became the biggest barrier that made my heart hesitate.


    Everything Cedric had done so far couldn¡¯t be denied. Indeed, my mouth and this irrational mind of mine were always stubborn and resistant. But deep down, Cedric made me forget some of my fears of being left behind. After he left for home every night, I felt safe. Even though Cedric¡¯s physical presence wasn¡¯t in my apartment, his presence was still there.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Dona called, startling me. ¡°Daydreaming, are you?¡±


    I just shook my head. The four of us, me, Cedric, Naomi, and Dona, were waiting for the elevator to take us downstairs. My friends nned to visit my apartment and probably stay over, considering it was still a workday tomorrow. We were used to doing that.


    ¡°What should we eatter? I didn¡¯t have time to eat rice earlier,¡± Naomiined while ncing at her watch. ¡°How about Chicken Care?¡±


    ¡°Are you asking me or Anya, Nao?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking Dona? I asked Anya. She¡¯s the one with theplicated eating habits now, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    I felt like pinching Naomi, but Cedric stopped me just in time. He blocked me with his body because the elevator opened, and a few people entered it. Damn it, Naomi! Just you wait! If there¡¯s an opportunity, I¡¯ll definitely get back at her.


    The metal box we entered became more crowded as it was the end of the workday. We couldn¡¯t talk as freely as before. I used this moment to look at my phone, just to kill time briefly. A new message came from Henry.


    Henry P: When can I take you home, Anya? Tonight?


    I smiled slightly, trying to ept the reality that my longing for Henry Melverick was something I had already put aside and couldn¡¯t retrieve. Even though I had a strong desire to embrace that longing, I had to be realistic. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to get close to him or be approached by him again.


    ¡°Imagine this. Living with a warm family, hearing the children¡¯s voices, and asionally cooking amidst busy work. Because I know you, you probably need a strong intention to stop working. Having a partner who is always willing to work together is more than enough, Ya, to start a new life.¡±


    I vividly remembered Krystal¡¯s words in the car earlier. On our way back to the office after lunch, it made me think whether I should reconsider my intentions. Unconsciously, I gazed at Cedric¡¯s back in front of me. He didn¡¯t look bad, appearance-wise. Always tidy and clean, oh not to mention, he smelled good too. I didn¡¯t know what kind of perfume he used, but it always made me want to stay close to him.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t drop-dead handsome, Cedric had a smile that made me realize he was an attractive person. He was tall; I only reached his shoulders. And one thing I learned slowly was that, no matter how angry Cedric might be, he still cared for me. Well, maybe because I was carrying his child, right?


    If this child didn¡¯t exist, would he be able to control his temper and still care for me? Ah, I¡¯m such a fool! If I weren¡¯t pregnant, I wouldn¡¯t have known Cedric so well. He would just be an office boy in thepany.


    The sound of the elevator bell indicated that we reached our destination. My thoughts were interrupted, and I tried to act normal. I didn¡¯t want anyone to know that since earlier, I was thinking about myplicated problems and contemting many positive considerations. Unlike before, this evening, I felt that what I was thinking had some meaning.


    ¡°Ugh, what should we eat now?¡± Naomi whined again. I think Naomi was really hungry this time. It wasn¡¯t usual for her to whine like that.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have pizza at Anggek Street. I saw some good rmendations,¡± I suggested casually. I didn¡¯t think that my words made Cedric¡¯s steps pause slightly, and he looked at me. Then again, I wasn¡¯t sure if my two friends saw Cedric smiling. But well, he smiled at me, and it made me feel a little awkward. Was it wrong to suggest that? No, right?


    ¡°Anything will do. The important thing is that we all have dinner together.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    They both spoke in unison and walked ahead, leaving me convinced that they didn¡¯t notice Cedric¡¯s smile. I sighed in relief. At least I wouldn¡¯t be teased throughout the journey home this time. I had informed Cedric that they would be spending time at my apartment, whether it ended in a sleepover or not, I didn¡¯t care. Cedric seemed perfectly fine with it, even looking happy about it.


    He opened the car door for me, and I endured teasing whistles from Dona. Even Naomi smirked and teased me relentlessly. Cedric remained quiet, seemingly enjoying the banter. Damn it! Just as I finished fastening my seatbelt, my phone started ringing loudly. I saw Henry¡¯s caller ID on the screen. I had forgotten to reply to his message earlier, prompting him to call me.


    Ignoring Henry wouldn¡¯t work since he was persistent. So, I decided to answer the call.


    ¡°Hello,¡± I replied as quickly as possible. I didn¡¯t know why, but the atmosphere in the car changed. Curious gazes were fixed on me.


    Henry spoke at length about how I seemed to be avoiding him. He said that he only got to meet me once, and afterward, he had to make an effort just to say hello. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Henry¡¯s long-windedint.


    ¡°It¡¯s just your feelings, Henry. I¡¯m here, working just like you,¡± I replied nonchntly. ¡°Uh¡­ gotta go now. I¡¯m on my way home.¡±


    He insisted on visiting me this weekend. I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking about it. Weighing and recalling what I had nned for the weekend. Feeling like there was nothing else on my schedule, I reluctantly agreed to his visit, but I didn¡¯t want him toe to my apartment. It didn¡¯t mean that I wanted to spend time longing for Henry. No, it was just that I couldn¡¯t keep avoiding his intense pursuit.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch outside, Henry.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Finally, the chance to take Anya on a date again.¡±

 [28] b

    Iughed and ended the call.


    ¡°It seems someone has a weekend date, Nao,¡± Dona said with a slightly loud voice, teasing me. I knew that. If I agreed to be taken out for dinner, I would drag Naomi and Dona along. It wasn¡¯t because I wanted to show off, but I wanted them to protect me in a subtle way, even if I waster apanied home by Kelvin or Dewa when they got close to me first. Sometimes, both of these guysined about why they had to babysit me together.


    I just gave them a grin in response. Why bother exining that I didn¡¯t want to be approached, as it would only lead to beingbeled as arrogant. Besides, for the past few days since Henry¡¯s appearance, I had be the center of gossip. I didn¡¯t even know it; I was busy with my own things. But Naomi and Dona responded positively and agreed that it wasn¡¯t good for a pregnant woman to be involved in gossip.


    Well, even though I knew deep down.


    How could it not be chaotic when Kelvin openly asked Henry about our rtionship? Henry was the type of guy who wouldn¡¯t back down, saying that when confronted, he would confront back. Forget it, I was tired of thinking about them. It felt like I was a trophy they were fighting over.


    ¡°Joice, is something wrong?¡±


    I flinched. I didn¡¯t know how long Cedric had been staring at me with a puzzled look. I fixed my hair, which was bothering me by tucking it behind my ear, even though I knew it was futile. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Do you want more?¡± he asked.


    My lips pouted. ¡°No, thank you. My stomach is not a bottomless pit!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better that way, rather than daydreaming. Not attractive.¡±


    Since when did this guy be good at ttery? Could it be that he learned it from Dewa?


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Are you guys full?¡± I stood up and spoke to my two friends who were chatting about something. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re so annoying! I let you date, and now you want to rush home,¡± Dona said,plete with a mocking tone.


    ¡°You have no idea, Don. They¡¯re dating at my apartment. Why would they date here? It¡¯s not fun. Right, Cedric?¡±


    I didn¡¯t care about them. I¡¯d better head to the car, which was parked not far from where we had dinner. The teasing about our rtionship continued in the lobby of the apartment. At first, I wanted to remain silent and give the impression that I didn¡¯t care, but it got irritating after a while. Especially since Cedric didn¡¯t say anything to oppose them.


    Defend me, or something! What should I say? Even better, he kept smiling as if he enjoyed seeing me getting more frustrated.


    ¡°All right, then. Let¡¯se here again tomorrow, Anya. Just make sure you don¡¯t open the door,¡± Dona threatened. I could see her getting ready through the center mirror.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Home, of course! Why would we ride up with you? To see you dating? Ugh¡­ it¡¯s fun to have a live show, but the consequences are unbearable!¡±


    Naomi burst intoughter at Dona¡¯s words. The two of them were really in sync, making me even more annoyed.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading home too, Anya.¡± Naomi also seemed ready to leave. Why were they hitching a ride if they didn¡¯t want toe upstairs? That¡¯s so weird, right?


    ¡°Oh, Cedric, thanks for treating us. Let¡¯s go for friendly meals on the side of the road again sometime,¡± Dona added.


    They truly lived up to their words, going home by ordering an online taxi. They said they just wanted to have a meal with Cedric. They wanted to know how he treated me outside of work hours. And they said all of this right in front of Cedric. What¡¯s worse, they approved of Cedric stepping on the gas pedal to get closer to me, especially with all the times I went back and forth to the hospital. Dona even said that Cedric¡¯s attention to me was clinically proven to be effective in melting my heart!


    How audacious!


    ***


    ¡°Are you pouting like that?¡± Cedric asked as we stepped into the elevator. My belongings were already in his hands, leaving me free to walkfortably without any burden. Well, except for my increasingly restless stomach. When it gets bigger, I might have trouble breathing, right?


    ¡°It¡¯s annoying how they speak without thinking,¡± I scowled at him, only to be met with a grin. ¡°And you too. Why do you always smile? You never defend me.¡±


    I thought Cedric¡¯s brain wasn¡¯t functioning properly. He casually patted the top of my head! Was he not afraid that I might p him or scold him again?!


    ¡°Starting tomorrow, if Naomi and Dona start teasing you again, I¡¯ll defend you. I thought you didn¡¯t want me to interfere,¡± he said.


    I pouted even more!


    Once we entered the apartment, I thought he would stay for a while, but he didn¡¯t. After putting down my belongings, Cedric made sure to check this and that to ensure myfort and safety, ording to him. But I could manage on my own, really.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m going home now,¡± Cedric approached me as I sat down, feeling a bit tired. My feet were sore even though I hadn¡¯t worn high heels today. Cedric allowed me to wear heels up to three centimeters high for work. Instead of listening to a lecture from him, Iplied.


    ¡°Why are you still pouting? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedric asked, aligning his body with my sitting position. I was puzzled; did I really look sulky when he said goodbye earlier? I didn¡¯t think so.


    ¡°I¡¯m not pouting.¡±


    Cedric just smiled, and his hidden dimple was clearly visible in front of me. I blinked slowly.


    ¡°Do you want me to apany you tonight?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re busy, right?¡± I turned my face away. I couldn¡¯t keep challenging his dark gaze. I might lose if I did.


    ¡°No, for you, I¡¯m not busy.¡±


    I remained silent. Feeling that I had no response, Cedric stood up.


    ¡°Okay then. I¡¯m going home.¡±


    Maybe this time, I was the one who went crazy. But for some reason, the urge to hold him back was so strong that my hand reflexively grabbed his arm, making Cedric turn with a questioning look.


    ¡°Stay with me,¡± I said softly. I was acting so crazy!!!


    Once again, Cedric aligned his body in front of me. His eyes were back on me, but I didn¡¯t dare to look at him. I felt embarrassed!


    ¡°Say it correctly.¡±


    He¡¯s starting to be difficult!


    ¡°Cedric, just apany me today.¡±


    I averted my gaze, annoyed. ¡°Go home already!¡± Cedric was so irritating when given any attention!


    I thought Cedric would really leave after hearing my words. Part of my heart didn¡¯t want him to go, for some reason. I must be going crazy. Cedric then got up from his position, and I prepared myself for him to disappear behind the door. But guess what? He didn¡¯t.


    He went to the kitchen. ¡°You usually take a shower before bed, right? Why don¡¯t you go shower while I make some milk for you?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile.

 [29] a

    I spent time watching two action movies. We didn¡¯t talk much except formenting on the films. Cedric sat right next to me, asionally massaging my hands and feet gently. I just enjoyed it, as refusing would be pointless, right? After showering, a ss of milk and snacks were already on the table.


    Sometimes I wonder, who¡¯s the guest here, really? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. I think I¡¯m getting used to having Cedric invading my personal space now.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should go to sleep,¡± Cedric said, breaking my focus on Jason Statham¡¯s action scenes.


    ¡°Are you going back? It¡¯s reallyte now,¡± I replied.


    Cedric just smiled. ¡°Am I allowed to sleep here? I don¡¯t want to be kicked out again.¡±


    This guy always manages to annoy me, doesn¡¯t he?


    ¡°Fine! Just go home!¡± I said without knowing why I said it that way.


    ¡°Do you want me to stay the night or go home?¡±


    ¡°You said you were going home earlier. Fine, just go home!¡± I retorted.


    ¡°I was just asking, Joice. Can I stay the night here? I¡¯m afraid yourfort will be disrupted-¡±Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If you want to stay, then stay! I won¡¯t be bothered or kick you out, okay? Don¡¯t use me of doing things without reason!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not using you,¡± Cedric chuckled. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay.¡±


    Secretly, I smiled with satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a nket and a change of clothes. Dona probably has some here. She¡¯s careless when she leaves clothes around. It looks like I¡¯m keeping a guy at home.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what Cedric was thinking. But one thing for sure, I immediately went into my room, closing the door a bit hard, only to realize, is this serious? Did I just ask Cedric to stay and spend the night here? Damn! I must be going crazy!


    But what can I do? I really wanted him to be close to me now. I don¡¯t even know the reason why. Even when I was soaking in the bath earlier, I wanted to hurry up and sit next to Cedric, enjoy his homemade milk, and maybe chat about who knows what. And it turned out, that made me feelfortable and truly cared for by him.


    Moreover, it¡¯s alreadyte, right? Maybe it¡¯s not a problem for him to go back to his ce, but it¡¯s dangerous, right? What if something happens to him? Oh, no, I shouldn¡¯t think negatively. I quickly opened the closet and took out a spare nket and Dona¡¯s shirt. I hoped it would fit Cedric¡¯s body size. I remembered, his body shape was quite nice.


    His muscles looked perfect on his body. His chest was broad, and he had a six-pack. His skin was also nice, in my opinion. I remembered everything, even when he was on top of me. I felt how his tight abdominal muscles seemed to be formed through regr exercise.


    Wait! Why am I even thinking about that? I quickly shook my head to get rid of those strange thoughts.


    When I opened the bedroom door, I looked around to find Cedric, who was actually on the balcony. I ced the nket and Dona¡¯s shirt on the sofa, hoping he wouldn¡¯t feel ufortable sleeping here all night. I was curious, so I followed him, opening the sliding door slowly so as not to startle Cedric.


    I could clearly see his broad back standing tall. His hair was slightly messy due to the wind, but he seemed focused on his phone. Today, he was wearing a maroon cored shirt. I could still smell his cologne, which I noticed earlier when I sat next to him. Maybe I should ask him what brand he¡¯s using? I was so distracted by Cedric¡¯s cologne.


    I approached him slowly. My hand cautiously reached out to touch his shoulder.


    ¡°You should know what I want! Tomorrow, all the reports should be on my desk. Anya won¡¯t let Krystal handle everything. Got it?!¡± Cedric said with a stern voice.


    I was taken aback. What did he mean?


    ****


    That piece of conversation disturbed my thoughts a lot. Seriously. I rolled around hoping to fall asleep but couldn¡¯t! Not at all! I even remembered Cedric¡¯s casual smile when he said it was nothing.


    Oh my goodness! What kind of man am I involved with?


    He said, ¡°Instead of thinking about my words, you better go to sleep. It¡¯s alreadyte. Do I have the nket and shirt?¡±


    I nodded stiffly, my mind full. His fingers slipped between mine, gently holding them as he pulled me in. He said I was cold and that it wasn¡¯t good for my health. Then, by my bedroom door, he even kissed my visible baby bump, softly stroking it and slightly pushing my shoulder to encourage me to get inside.


    ¡°Sleep, Joice.¡±


    My eyes were still challenging his ck gaze. Curious about everything I just heard. I¡¯m not deaf, but it felt pointless as Cedric only smiled and closed my bedroom door. Damn! I¡¯m so annoyed!


    Well, maybe he had some business with Krystal. But¡­ it¡¯s too suspicious.


    Who is Cedric really?


    I nced at the wall clock; it was already 2 AM. I gave up on trying to fall asleep. I was too curious whether Cedric had fallen asleep or continued that conversation, which I considered important.


    When I opened the door, Cedric was still focused on his phone. He seemed surprised when we finally made eye contact.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t slept yet?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Is something wrong? Do you need something? Is the AC not cold enough? Or is the aroma therapy finished?¡± Cedric got up, leaving his phone behind and approached me with a worried look. Part of my heart, covered by curiosity, warmed a little due to his concern.


    Without saying anything, he touched my belly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t keep Mommy from sleeping, baby. Dad is here, okay?¡±


    Then, his eyes locked onto mine.


    ¡°What do you need? I¡¯ll get it for you. You have to sleep, or you¡¯ll be exhausted tomorrow, Joice,¡± he said again. ¡°Do you often wake up like this at night?¡±


    I nodded slightly. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep; I don¡¯t know why.¡±


    ¡°What can I do to help?¡±


    Forget about who he is. I can¡¯t sleep and need rest to face tomorrow. Whatever his issue is, I¡¯ll interrogate him tomorrow. Tonight, I need him to hold me. Don¡¯t ask why I¡¯m being this vulnerable!


    ¡°Hug me,¡± I whispered.


    I think Cedric didn¡¯t expect me to say that. He even blinked in disbelief. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    I just nodded. That¡¯s what I wanted. Maybe, yes, maybe¡­ a warm hug is what I need.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Cedric fulfilled my request. Under the nket, covering part of our bodies, Cedric hugged me, using his right arm as a pillow for me. If it¡¯s about him taking off his shirt, it¡¯s his son¡¯s desire! Not mine! When we were both lying down, my foolish mouth said I wanted to be hugged by Cedric shirtless.


    I¡¯m going crazy!


    Cedric was amused, making me almost lose my breath because, seriously, his body looked great! I had to bite my lip to avoid touching him even slightly. I just epted the hug Cedric gave, hoping my eyes would close soon, no matter how hard I triedter.


    I could feel Cedric¡¯s gentle strokes on my long hair. His breathing became regr, and I think he closed his eyes. If he¡¯s sleeping, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem if my hand is on his chest, just for a moment.


    ¡°Joice?¡±


    I looked up and found Cedric staring at me intently.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me like that.¡±


    Suddenly, I pulled my hand that was on his chest. Since when was it there!!!

 [29] b

    We really did sleep. Nothing strange happened except for my rude move of touching Cedric¡¯s chest. After that, I don¡¯t know who started it, we dozed off, probably because we were tired and sleepy. Great. And now, I have no idea what time it is. I can¡¯t hear any rms. It is the weekend, yes, but I rarely sleep in.


    But before we slept, we talked about the issues in front of us. I don¡¯t know why, but in this close condition, I feel Cedric is much more caring and understanding than he usually acts. Which, on a daily basis, I admit, makes me nervous, but how about now?


    ¡°Talking about this, I¡¯m really happy,¡± he said.


    I furrowed my brows but stopped because Cedric touched my forehead and caressed it.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get married, Joice. Soon.¡±


    ¡°Are you proposing to me in my own bed, Cedric?¡±


    Heughed. ¡°Am I that bad?¡±


    There¡¯s nothing I can do but nod in agreement with what he said.


    ¡°Just wait, okay?¡±


    ¡°What do I have to wait for?¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He just smiled. Annoying, isn¡¯t he?


    ¡°What kind of wedding do you want, Joice?¡±


    ¡°Have I agreed to it?¡±


    ¡°You will, for sure,¡± he said confidently. So arrogant! Cedric seems to be waiting for my response. The idea of marrying Cedric seems inevitable. Everything. Evaluating Cedric over and over, I can¡¯t find apelling reason to reject this pregnancy.


    Cedric is one of those guys I can¡¯t resist, no matter how hard I try. I¡¯m confused myself about why he can endure my terrible behavior towards him. But maybe, I¡¯ve started to enjoy the role of being a pregnant woman who receives so much love from my close ones.


    Especially from the man still staring at me intently.


    ¡°I want a simple wedding. Not many peopleing, just those who are important to make it intimate, and, well¡­ to be part of our family,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Your parents?¡±


    I grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t know where they are.¡±


    Cedric pulled me gently into his embrace.


    ¡°For me, my family is Naomi and Dona.¡±


    He simply nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to Nek Sumi. My paternal grandmother, but well¡­ she passed away.¡±


    Again, he nodded.


    ¡°What about you?¡± I nudged him slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you to say that, Joice. My parents know I became a naughty son, making their grandchild born out of wedlock.¡±


    I wanted tough but held it back. ¡°Seriously. I was almost removed from the family register. Luckily, I showed them your photo.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°To prove that their future daughter-inw is this beautiful. What would happen to this beautiful woman if she were removed from the family register?¡±


    I pinched his waist mercilessly, making him wince in pain, but I didn¡¯t care. He¡¯s so cocky when talking, isn¡¯t he?! And, as usual, Cedric always enjoys making my heart race. He took my hand, kissing my palm gently, before slowly pulling me into another long embrace, saying, ¡°I love you, Joice. I¡¯m serious about my feelings for you. Thanks for epting me this far.¡±


    I felt like crying, but I held back.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep, okay.¡±


    As an answer, I just nodded softly in his warm embrace. Under the nket, on the bed where it all began, I guess there¡¯s nothing wrong with trying and learning to ept. Right?


    When I woke up, we were still in the same position as when we slept, but I was now closer to Cedric¡¯s bare body. Damn! This is the biggest temptation I¡¯ve ever faced in my life. I remember all of Naomi¡¯s words about seduction. This is so frustrating!


    ¡°Are you awake?¡± Cedric asked in a hoarse voice, his eyes still closed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I moved, wanting to be released from his embrace. But Cedric held me even tighter.


    ¡°Not yet, wake upter.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t breathe, Cedric.¡±


    He ignored myint and rewarded me with a kiss on my forehead, wishing me good morning. I closed my eyes, trying to control the wild pounding in my chest. Oh my goodness! Nothing is more nerve-wracking than this, right?


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± he said after pulling away from the kiss.


    I blushed softly. ¡°Learning to tter, Cedric?¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°No, it¡¯s the truth. You¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still early. You don¡¯t need to sweet-talk me.¡±


    ¡°Last night, why did you touch my chest? Is there something weird?¡±


    Why does he have to bring up this embarrassing topic? I pushed Cedric away a bit roughly, but he held me back. ¡°Let go.¡±


    ¡°Answer me first.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ there¡¯s nothing wrong. Can¡¯t I?¡± I challenged but didn¡¯t dare to look into his eyes.


    ¡°You can.¡± Then he took my hand and ced it on his chest. ¡°I belong to you, Joice.¡±


    This time, I didn¡¯t avert my gaze anywhere. My sight was filled with Cedric, who was also staring intensely at me. I don¡¯t know who initiated it, but our lips met. I could feel the thumping of his chest under my palm. It was firm and thrilling, just like what¡¯s mine now.


    Cedric¡¯s tongue explored every corner of my mouth. asionally, he sucked on my lips with a bit of force. In return, I bit him yfully. I think Cedric winced in between our morning kisses. When the tip of his tongue pushed in, I unconsciously let out a soft moan.


    I have no idea how he ended up on top of me. Our breaths were intertwined, especially when Cedric started nibbling softly on my neck. I didn¡¯t even remember if we had washed our faces or brushed our teeth!


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I groaned for the umpteenth time.


    ¡°Can I?¡± He stopped his activity of ying with the tip of his tongue all over my body. It felt like my bones were about to detach.


    I shook my head hesitantly. ¡°I haven¡¯t asked the doctor about this.¡±


    Unexpectedly, he dropped his head right next to mine. His breath was still heavy with frustration. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have acted like this.¡± Then he stole a quick kiss on my cheek. Without saying much, he got up and left, leaving me feeling dizzy from his behavior.


    Alone. Lying on the bed, half-naked.


    ****


    ¡°I¡¯m cooking fried rice,¡± Cedric said when I came out of the room. It had been two hours since he left me earlier. My face probably turned purple from embarrassment, and I felt like such an idiot! Slowly, I approached the kitchen.


    Usually, Cedric always stared at me, but this time he didn¡¯t. He avoided my gaze. Even when serving this breakfast that I felt was already toote, Cedric kept looking elsewhere. Why is he doing this?


    ¡°After you have breakfast, I¡¯ll head home right away,¡± he said.


    I chose to eat the food he prepared. Whether this was lucky or a misfortune, the apartment¡¯s doorbell rang. I immediately remembered that Naomi and Dona were nning to spend the whole day here. Usually, on Fridays, they would always hang out at my apartment. I don¡¯t know which devil whispered ¡®go home¡¯ to mest night when they were already in the lobby.


    Naomi said, ¡°We know not to disturb you two, Anya.¡±


    Those two are such a pain!


    ¡°Let me open it. You just eat,¡± I said, ready to get up and open the door. As expected, they immediately started making a ruckus when they saw Cedric there. I no longer have the energy to fight. What¡¯s the use, anyway? It¡¯s just pointless.


    ¡°Enough, Cedric. When are we getting invitations from you?¡±

 [30] a

    ¡°Anya, please! Just sit quietly and stop making so much noise! You¡¯re so annoying today!¡± Dona yelled in frustration as I threw one of the sofa cushions. I red angrily at her. Ever since she arrived, there hasn¡¯t been a moment of peace. I really want to keep getting mad at Dona!


    I don¡¯t know why!


    I¡¯m incredibly annoyed with all of them, especially since Cedric left, and that guy seemed to intentionally cause trouble ¨C he kissed my forehead as if to say I belong to him or something ¨C and now I¡¯m constantly being teased. Well¡­ maybe they haven¡¯t seen Cedric being so sweet to me. But being mocked all the time is really getting on my nerves!


    They call me a hypocrite.


    How could those words stick to me when I¡¯m just acting normal? Dona is the number one exaggerator when ites to situations. Right?


    ¡°Anya, just sit down. I¡¯m getting a headache watching you wander around aimlessly. What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Now it¡¯s Naomi¡¯s turn to speak.


    ¡°I just want to walk around here. Why are all of you so uptight?¡± I retorted sharply. Instead of backing down, Naomi forcefully hugged me and made me sit next to Dona, who was ready to hold me back.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re so all over the ce!¡±


    ¡°Ugh! What¡¯s your problem?¡± I rebelled! It¡¯s easy for them! Who¡¯s the one all over the ce? They¡¯re probably the ones who haven¡¯t stopped teasing me!Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Anya?¡± Naomi asked in a softer voice. Her sympathetic eyes fixed on me. I couldn¡¯t deny that something didn¡¯t feel right in my heart,pletely different from usual.


    I¡¯m used to this living room being filled with theirughter, no matter what we talk about. Every weekend, we gather here. Sometimes, if we¡¯re notzy, we go out to sit in a cafe with a cup of coffee for Dona, while Naomi prefers atte. As for me, who doesn¡¯t like coffee much, I go for hot chocte or something else.


    Since I got to know them, I felt closer to these two. We talk about everything, even though Dona doesn¡¯t know much about my past. I only shared that with Naomi. Despite Dona being a half-woman, half-man, I still feel morefortable sharing with Naomi when ites to family matters.


    She knows that my parents abandoned me, the ones who should have been my role models, my support, and the ones who should have showered me with love as their only daughter. But that wasn¡¯t the case. They just left me behind due to their selfishness.


    ¡°I¡¯m annoyed that you keep teasing me like that,¡± I said, pouting. I was serious; it really ruined my mood. From the corner of my eye, both Naomi and Dona looked at each other and finally hugged me.


    ¡°Sorry, Anya. We went too far,¡± Dona whispered. ¡°But, you know, it¡¯s just fun to tease you. When else can we see you being all lovey-dovey with a guy?¡±


    Then the adorable guy in the pink shirt let out a yelp of pain. ¡°Ouch, Naomi, that hurts!!!¡±


    I chuckled softly.


    ¡°I got tempted because Dona teased you, Anya. So forgive me too, okay?¡± Naomi hugged me a bit tighter than before. When it¡¯s like this, I can¡¯t stay mad for long. After all, they are my best friends, always ready to defend me.


    ¡°Alright, then. Let go now. I¡¯m feeling hot.¡±


    In the end, weughed together. Before leaving earlier, Cedric had prepared some snacks. There was popcorn on the top shelf, which he said was for gossip sessions. I chuckled at the memory of him being so rxed in the kitchen area. Ah, why am I missing him now?


    No, no, stop it!


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Anya?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, trying to suppress my nervousness and get rid of Cedric, who hasn¡¯t been gone for even 24 hours.


    ¡°You¡¯re smiling for no reason,¡± Dona replied, poking my cheek. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re like this, I suspect something fishy.¡±


    I was ready to flick Dona¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant! Oh my God, Anya!!!¡±


    ¡°Hey, watch your words. When are you going back to the doctor for a check-up?¡±


    All my annoyance instantly vanished upon hearing Dona¡¯s words. She was right; I remembered my pregnancy book, which I left hidden in the office drawer. ¡°Oh, I forgot. The book is at the office.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow you should get checked, Anya. Stay healthy. You¡¯re taking your vitamins, right? Milk?¡±


    Dona is like that. Her hobby is being sarcastic and teasing, but she¡¯s number one when ites to showing care.


    ¡°Cedric prepares everything for me at night. I have to drink everything he prepares in front of him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Dona is now sitting next to me again, grabbing a bunch of caramel popcorn from the table. ¡°That shows he really loves you, Anya. I¡¯m so happy to see Cedric treating you like that. It¡¯s genuine. As a gentle man whom you can rely on.¡±


    ¡°Are you still thinking about what else you need to do to marry him soon?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°We talked about thatst night.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡± Dona¡¯s excitement ignited as her eyes blinked rapidly.


    ¡°Well¡­ I want to have a small wedding, you know. Just close family. You guys will be there. Your dad, Naomi. Yous mom, Dona. That would make me really happy.¡±


    ¡°What did Cedric say?¡±


    I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. ¡°He said it¡¯s up to me, whatever I want.¡±


    ¡°By Cedric, I meant his parents, Anya.¡±


    Iughed. When Dona gets annoyed talking to me, her frustration is so evident.


    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare myself to meet them, even though Cedric said his parents really want to meet me.¡±


    ¡°At least, you¡¯re starting to stop dwelling on the negative thoughts you had.¡± It was Naomi who spoke, making me fall silent. What she said was true.


    I don¡¯t know since when, but the thoughts of all the bad things have started to fade away on their own. Even though it all started with a mistake, it doesn¡¯t mean that what¡¯s growing in my womb deserves to be punished for it, right? The baby knows nothing. We are the ones who know best what the consequences will be if we¡¯re not careful.


    Cedric himself said that he won¡¯t stop fighting for us. In case I run into problems at work, at least I can rely on Cedric, right? I don¡¯t have extravagant expectations for his life either. It¡¯s not luxurious. I have nice things too after working hard. I¡¯m not born into a wealthy family. I know the meaning of struggling, which Sumi instilled in me since my parents left.


    ¡°My choice isn¡¯t wrong, is it?¡± I asked, considering all the factors.


    In unison, both my friends shook their heads.


    ¡°I think Cedric is the best for you.¡±


    ¡°I agree with Naomi. Although he¡¯s not as handsome as a god or as cool as Kelvin. But Cedric is sweet too. Well¡­ your baby will definitely be beautiful or handsome. Hey, when can you find out the gender? You should do a 4D ultrasound. We¡¯re curious.¡±


    I pouted. Dona always talks with a teasing tone.


    ¡°Oh, when you go for the check-up, we¡¯ll go with you. We want to be good and proper aunties for Baby. So that the mom stays sane, she needs to be apanied by sane aunties. Right, Naomi?¡±


    Naomi nodded enthusiastically.


    Well, that¡¯s enough. They never seem to run out of teasing material for me. So I guess I just have to ept my fate.


    ¡°Anya, your phone is ringing.¡± Dona half jumped and grabbed my phone lying on the table. I didn¡¯t really care. I was enjoying this sweet popcorn and didn¡¯t want to be bothered.


    ¡°It¡¯s Henry, Anya.¡±


    ***

 [30] b

    This is like courting death! But what can I do? The guy who is now leisurely enjoying his meal won¡¯t give me a break for even a moment. My phone has been ringing, I don¡¯t know how many times, which made me finally give in and answer it. I was under the threat of a sarcastic look from Naomi and Dona.


    ¡°Just turn it off! It¡¯s so annoying!¡± Dona grumbled.


    If only that were possible, I would have done it since his name appeared on my phone¡¯s screen. I¡¯m not that heartless to keep ignoring him. Besides, I excused myself earlier to take a shower. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t know what Henry might say.


    That¡¯s what made me finally agree to his invitation. Tonight¡¯s dinner, Henry finally made it happen. Although my two friends didn¡¯t approve, I promised I wouldn¡¯t stay outte, and, well, I let them follow me.


    ¡°We don¡¯t believe that pregnant women always act sensibly. Who knows, you might run off to a hotel and have an affair with an ex.¡±


    I did end up telling them about Henry in the end. Naomi was the least excited. She said it¡¯s no longer relevant to the past. What I should focus on is the baby and Cedric. Also, our life as a family of three and how we n it. Yes, Dona was right, but still¡­


    Oh well. The cat¡¯s out of the bag. I¡¯m already sitting in front of Henry feeling all chaotic.


    ¡°Let it be, Nao. If he acts up, we¡¯ll drag you back,¡± Dona finally said as we walked towards the lobby when Henry said he was already waiting there. I didn¡¯t allow him toe up and visit. It¡¯s for the greater good. If Henry were toe up, I¡¯m not sure these two loudmouths would still consider him a friend.


    ¡°Oh, Naomi and Doni are here,¡± Henry greeted, looking somewhat surprised to see the three of us.


    ¡°Yeah, Sir. It¡¯s a shame, Anya¡¯s going on a date. She was really into her drama series too.¡±


    Henry looked grimacingly in my direction, probably asking for help. I just shrugged it off. If I spoke up, I knew they would start teasing even more. Especially from the corner of my eye, I saw Naomi intentionally turn the car keys, a sign that they were serious about their words.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m intruding.¡± That¡¯s all Henry said, but he immediately put his arm around me as if we were very close recently. ¡°We¡¯ll leave first, Naomi, Doni.¡±


    Neither of them responded at all. The air of hostility was evident. Instead of letting them argue, and well¡­ I really wanted to avoid being the center of attention, so I just followed Henry wherever he took me. I hoped he wouldn¡¯t do anything reckless. Hopefully.


    ¡°Are you spacing out?¡± Henry asked.


    I blinked slowly. My daydream suddenly vanished. ¡°Uh, sorry.¡±


    Henry put down his utensils, wiping the corners of his lips with the napkin. Back when we were dating in high school, Henry used to be messy when eating. I often cleaned up the traces on his lips. Not using my lips, of course, just using a tissue. I¡¯m not that much of a tease. Seeing Henry so neat in his eating habits now made me feel even more distant from being by his side.


    Not that I wanted to get closer. Not at all. I¡¯m self-aware, and again, I don¡¯t know if there have been any changes in his behavior or personality. Time and age can change everything, right? Just like me.


    ¡°You must be thinking about those two friends of yours, right?¡±


    I just grinned.


    ¡°And you¡¯re so hard to get to go out. You¡¯re always busy.¡±


    I chose to cut the meat that I had been neglecting since earlier. Slowly, because I have no appetite, even though it looks delicious.


    ¡°I was serious with what I said, Anya. Is it possible?¡±


    My hand slowed down in cutting the meat. This is what I feared when talking to Henry. Talking about a rtionship that ended years ago. Maybe if my life wasn¡¯t invaded by Cedric¡¯s presence, I would dly throw myself into Henry¡¯s arms at his invitation. Rebuilding what we once had because of our fervent dreams of a better future.


    When that future was finally realized, I¡¯m not hiding the fact that sometimes, I miss the days with Henry. Sweet and carefree, even though there was an abyss in front of us. Until we merged, in a mistake that I will remember for a lifetime. I did it consciously, and I felt that Henry truly loved me with all his heart.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    But it was just that our circumstances didn¡¯t allow us to be together. At that time.


    Now? This man is right in front of me. Already together, stepping into a future that he probably wants, while I have my own achievements. There¡¯s nothing that makes me more proud than being independent through my own hard work and sweat. I¡¯m not one to beg or rely on others, not because it¡¯s impossible, but because I don¡¯t like it.


    ¡°How can it be?¡± I finally responded as it seemed like Henry was waiting. His eyes blinked, puzzled, looking at me. Then the smile that used to fill my gray days appeared on the corner of his lips. Still the same. Sweet and mischievous, just like Henry¡¯s personality back then. A bit naughty but cool at the same time. And now, he looks neat, with a firm face and a jaw adorned with some stubble. Not to mention I feel that Henry¡¯s eyebrows are thicker now.


    Henry surrounded by many girls? No. He was cold and indifferent to pretty girls in our school. Only I had his attention. I even remember the nickname ¡°twin seed¡± was directed at our rtionship back then.


    ¡°You understand what I mean, Anya,¡± he said with a slow breath. We locked eyes after that. In the depth of his firm gaze, I felt the sincerity of Henry¡¯s feelings for me.


    ¡°Maybe next week, we¡¯ll meet my parents, Joice. Are you willing? Not for a hasty marriage, of course. I know. Just for an introduction. Will you?¡±


    I shook my head hard and stood up. I¡¯m still remember what Cedric sayst night. ¡°I need to go to the restroom first, Henry,¡± I said, trying to hold back the sudden surge of emotions. Why did Cedric¡¯s image, speaking with a smile-which made me irritated because he was so carefree in his words-suddenly appear so clearly?


    Intentionally, I stayed in the restroom for a while, luckily it wasn¡¯t crowded. There weren¡¯t many customers at Naomi Steak. Maybe because the ce is quite exclusive or something, I don¡¯t know. My stomach was actually hungry, and I wanted to eat, but not this steak. It tasted different from the ones Cedric usually brings. I had tasted a bit of the sauce with the tip of my fork.


    My phone¡¯s ringing interrupted my hair-fixing activity. I nced at it, and Cedric¡¯s ID caller appeared on the screen. I¡¯ve never been this happy to receive a call from Cedric.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± I answered reluctantly, although I was enthusiastic. Just to avoid bing conceited, I missed his cologne.


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    I blinked slightly. His tone was cold and dominating. ¡°Why?¡± I tried my best not to be influenced by Cedric this time, even though my heart was full of question marks.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Cedric repeated.


    I don¡¯t know why, but something feels strange here.


    ¡°Outside.¡±


    ¡°With whom?¡±


    Should I be honest? ¡°Henry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going out with him? Wasn¡¯t my message clear? You need to rest, Anya!¡± Cedric was still using a different tone of voice. As if I couldn¡¯t argue and instantly shrunk. Maybe if he were in front of me right now, I¡¯m sure I would¡¯ve received his re. Those ck eyes wouldn¡¯t be aimed anywhere else but to make me smaller in front of him.


    ¡°Just having dinner, that¡¯s all. I¡¯ll go home after this,¡± I said softly. Seriously, I usually would¡¯ve been able to respond with a loud voice. Like my usual habit, right? I don¡¯t know why, even though it¡¯s just a phone call, I feel so guilty.


    ¡°One hour from now, I¡¯ll wait in the lobby.¡±


    ¡°But, Cedric¡­ I¡¯m wo-¡±


    ¡°Time goes by, Joice. I¡¯m not a patient person when ites to waiting. Should Ie and-¡±


    ¡°FINE!¡±


    I should be the one to hang up the phone rudely, but Cedric did it! Cedric!!! He¡¯s never been rude to me before!


    Oh my God! What¡¯s wrong with him?

 [31] a

    I don¡¯t know if this is luck or if the universe is being kind to me, but Cedric isn¡¯t in the lobby. It means that maybe his threat was just a bluff. But there¡¯s still a possibility that he mighteter, right? Wait. What day is it today? Oh, it¡¯s the weekend. Cedric probably won¡¯te to visit.


    He once mentioned that his schedule is now filled with manymitments. He never turns down jobs on weekends. Not only because the tips are generous, but also to make up for the days he can¡¯t visit. He said ying in the band brings in a decent amount of money. I didn¡¯t ask for the exact figure, I just listened attentively to his stories because, to me¡­ it¡¯s amazing. It¡¯s not something to be missed, right?


    I heaved a sigh of relief after that. Maybe because of this, Henry looked at me and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Anya?¡± I just responded with a small grin.


    He asked a couple of times about things I couldn¡¯t give answers to. My mind was preupied. I was actually a bit worried about Cedric¡¯s threat earlier. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t really focus on our serious conversation. It was all just a passing wind.


    Initially, Henry still tried to hold me back. He still wanted to take me somewhere, but I insisted on going home. I wasn¡¯t even hesitant to hail a taxi to head straight to my apartment. My heart felt like it was working harder than usual.


    All because of Cedric! I¡¯m sure of it a hundred percent. There¡¯s no doubt about it. But when I saw the figure of the man who, I have to admit, has really been interrupting me, I felt like I¡¯ve be more and more dependent on him.


    Finally, Henry followed my request to go home. But all along the way, he couldn¡¯t stop asking why. I didn¡¯t answer. I let him tire himself out. The most important thing was that I arrived at my apartment and hoped that Cedric wasn¡¯t serious with his words. And vo! I felt so relieved.


    ¡°Henry, just drop me here. I want to rest.¡±


    Henry smiled. ¡°Let me escort you. It¡¯s a bit much to leave you at just the lobby, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Please.¡± I was almost pleading, but it seemed useless. Henry still held my hand and led me to the elevator. My head suddenly felt dizzy. Although Cedric wasn¡¯t there, it didn¡¯t mean Henry could take such liberties with my privacy, right? I¡¯m not the type of woman who enjoys it when another man intrudes on my territory. I guard that closely.


    Didn¡¯t I mention it before? Only Cedric is allowed, and even then, it¡¯s limited to the front yard of the house. Maybe now, it¡¯s extended to the living room. As for Henry? Even though he¡¯s a person from my past, that was a long time ago. There¡¯s still so much I don¡¯t know about him. Yes, right?


    Actually, I¡¯m quite annoyed with the current situation. Why am I so obedient to Cedric¡¯s orders to go home and rest? Just like that? Let me count the number of annoyances I¡¯ve experienced in the past few hours. If I think about it, I could go crazy with this situation.


    First, I¡¯m annoyed because Cedric sessfully made me change my mind in seconds. I followed his wishes as if his words echoed in my ears, telling me not to waste time. As if I already belonged to him. Whether it¡¯s through a dating rtionship or whatever, I¡¯m dominated. By his voice earlier.


    Second, I¡¯m still free, actually. Even if I don¡¯t ept Cedric as my husband, it¡¯s not a big deal. I can support my child on my own. The issue of abortion seems to have disappeared with the passing days. But recently, Cedric¡¯s presence seems to affirm that he deserves to be called a father. With all his attentiveness and care that has unknowingly stolen my heart.


    Third, I don¡¯t know if Henry is forcing himself into my life again. He assumes that I¡¯m single and not in a rtionship with anyone. Especially after the incident when he argued and exchanged snide remarks with Kelvin. Where my name was dragged into their debate. Henry concluded that I rejected Kelvin. He saw that I was always busy with work and ignored Kelvin¡¯s existence.


    But that applies to him too.


    ¡°This is right in front of my unit. Can you please go home, Henry?¡± I was about to reach for the keys hanging together with the ess card, but Henry moved away. It made me growl with annoyance. ¡°Henry, don¡¯t be silly.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Anya. Can Ie in? Is it allowed?¡± Henry chuckled. ¡°Are you living here alone?¡± He even opened the door to the unit.


    ¡°Wait, why aren¡¯t youing in?¡± Henry asked, turning to face me.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I fell silent. My gaze sharp and directed at him. As if not understanding my wishes, Henry just went in. ¡°Henry,¡± I warned.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Anya. I wouldn¡¯t do anything bad to you. I know the boundaries.¡± Henry looked at me tenderly. ¡°Are you afraid?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°I want to rest.¡±


    ¡°I just stopped by for a moment to make sure you¡¯re safe here. It¡¯s not good for you to stay alone. But what can we do, right?¡±


    I feel like Henry is mostly talking to himself. Oh well, I don¡¯t feel like debating with him. It¡¯s better to go inside, maybe prepare a drink and try to get Henry to leave. What I¡¯m saying this time is serious. I really need some rest. I wonder why my stomach feels tight and tense. Is it because I haven¡¯t eaten? Doesn¡¯t it feel painful when you haven¡¯t eaten? It¡¯s not painful, but it feels tight and crampy.


    Back to Henry, acting exactly like Cedric when he checks every nook and cranny. I don¡¯t know why. ording to me, the environment is already very safe. Whatever, I don¡¯t care. Let him do what he wants. Let him be satisfied.


    ¡°It¡¯s safe here.¡±


    I didn¡¯t bother preparing him a drink. My stomach is getting worse, and I really want to lie down. But it doesn¡¯t seem possible with Henry around.


    ¡°Speaking of safety, do you remember when I punched that guy?¡± Henry chuckled, his eyes looking far away. I still remember vividly when someone tried to hit on me while I was buying a drink by the roadside. Henry was still at the mechanic shop because his motorcycle tire was t. I ignored that weird personpletely, but he became more and more annoying.


    I¡¯m not even sure if that weird guy touched my face with his fingers, but he ended up falling down with a cut lip. Henry¡¯s loud yelling resonated around the small shop, drawing the attention of many passersby and locals. Not to mention the coarse curses that perfectly rolled off Henry¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Never dare to bother my girlfriend again! Memorize her face, will you? If you bother her again, it won¡¯t be just your lips that get hurt, but your brain too! Got it?!¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the strange guy to run away in a panic. Henry immediately embraced me, and we walked away while he asked this and that.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said softly, suppressing the pain in my heart from remembering the past.


    Henry walked toward me, and I was a bit startled when he gently stroked my hair. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave then.¡±


    I forced a small smile. Following his steps towards the front door, which I deliberately left open.


    ¡°Whose shoes are these?¡±


    Oh my God! Henry¡¯s eyes are really sharp! I myself didn¡¯t realize that there were a couple of shoes that Cedric usually wears for work. Not just one, but two pairs!


    ¡°Anya?¡± Now Henry turned to look at me, seemingly demanding an answer. My brain was slow to process; what excuse should I use? I can¡¯t possibly say they belong to Dona!


    ¡°Who is he?¡± Henry pressed impatiently. I think he noticed my silence implied something hidden, something I didn¡¯t want to share with anyone, including him. But I forgot, Henry is not the type of person easily fooled.


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you all the details now, Henry. It¡¯s just confusing me too much.¡± This situation is really giving me a sudden headache. ¡°What¡¯s certain is¡­¡± I took a deep breath. I can¡¯t deny this anymore, can I? ¡°He¡¯s, my fianc¨¦.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    My belief in Henry¡¯s extreme surprise at my confession was confirmed. I personally don¡¯t want to keep making excuses every time Henry mentions ¡°getting back together.¡± It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but I can¡¯t have Cedric and his child in my life now. Henry can¡¯t juste in like that, right? As much as I want to return to him, I am self-aware. It¡¯s the most impossible thing I know.


    I heaved a frustrated sigh. ¡°Our past is over, Henry.¡± It hurts so much to say this to him. Especially when his gaze suddenly changed to look hurt. Even though I¡¯m not involved with Henry anymore. I hope not. Because I know my current position.


    Slowly, his grip on my shoulder loosened. I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s a slight red mark there. There¡¯s a little relief that Henry let me go. What I never prepared for was the man in front of me gripping my chin roughly and kissing me mercilessly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. You¡¯re still engaged, right? I¡¯ll break your rtionship! I love you, Anya,¡± Henry said between kisses. I can¡¯t even breathe as I¡¯m not given a chance to take a break. I¡¯m forced to respond.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Cedric walked in. From the look in his eyes that I caught, there was sudden sadness. Also, a great disappointment in Cedric¡¯s eyes.


    ***

 [31] b

    ¡°Anya, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Dona asked as we were having lunch at the office. Since morning, I chose to remain silent. I had no appetite for breakfast or even milk. My enthusiasm for work was all over the ce.


    This morning, Naomi picked me up, using my car, of course. They both conspired against me, so it was their duty to pick me up today. Naomi was being chatty and asking about Cedric¡¯s whereabouts since I let him in. I just had a sandwich for breakfast because I hadn¡¯t showered yet. I even felt like taking a day off, but I remembered there was a report that needed a little more work and should be finished before Monday.


    Krystal wants the report by next Monday, so I have enough time to finish it if I submit it before that. Plus, there¡¯s just one more month until the thorough inspection. Before giving it to my beautiful boss, I will double-check it.


    Along the way, Naomi didn¡¯t stop asking, which made me even more restless. Finally, Dona gave her a warning to stop asking and focus on driving rather than being chatty about Cedric.


    I intentionally didn¡¯t tell them what happened. If I were to talk about it, not only would I be affected emotionally and start crying, I¡¯m a hundred percent sure they would scold and berate me. Yeah¡­ the two of them are experts when ites to scolding and berating. I can¡¯t win against them.


    When I saw Cedric, I pushed Henry roughly and gave him a hard p. I didn¡¯t care if he was hurt or whatever; all I cared about was Cedric. I wanted to go after him, but Henry quickly held me back. If he¡¯s angry, I don¡¯t care.


    ¡°Where are you going? We haven¡¯t finished talking, Anya! You¡¯re lying, right?! Everything is a lie! Right?!¡± Henry shouted loudly. I wasn¡¯t afraid at all.


    ¡°Go away, Henry. Don¡¯t make yourself hated by me right now.¡±


    ¡°Tell me this is just an excuse to reject me. Right?¡±


    I chuckled softly. ¡°Do I need to say that it¡¯s in my belly?¡± I rubbed my slightly bulging stomach. I didn¡¯t care about the consequences I might face. I don¡¯t give a damn. I just want to get away from Henry and, well¡­ maybe catch up with Cedric. ¡°There¡¯s a baby. Our baby, Henry.¡±


    ¡°LIAR!!!¡±


    Honestly, I was trembling. I¡¯ve never experienced this in my life. I avoid getting involved when people are arguing, especially when there¡¯s shouting. But in front of me, Henry was screaming like a madman! I was scared, really! Oh God! Where is Cedric?!


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m lying?¡± I said softly, trying hard not to let my voice tremble. I mustered the courage to keep looking into his eyes, which were slowly losing their emotions.


    Henry¡¯s face changed. I¡¯m sure this information is not easy for him to digest. I myself don¡¯t know why I said it so loudly. But really, in my head, there¡¯s only Cedric¡¯s gaze that keeps bothering me, regardless of whether I did something wicked or not. I don¡¯t even enjoy his kisses, you know.


    Henry rubbed his face roughly and tugged at his visibly thick hair. I don¡¯t care. I want him to leave my unit. It¡¯s also impossible to catch up with Cedric now. I think he¡¯s already gone. If not, why wouldn¡¯t hee in? Ah! Why am I so stupid, seriously! How can hee in when I look like I¡¯m in the middle of some affectionate moment?


    Oh God! Is there anything more foolish than this?


    Without saying much, Henry left. He didn¡¯t even look at me. Everything that happened within a span of not more than four hours really messed me up. All thates to my mind is my phone. I immediately grabbed my bag, reached inside, and searched for the t object. I swiped and made voice calls.


    I don¡¯t know how many times I tried to call him, but it was useless. Cedric didn¡¯t answer my calls. I decided to send him a bunch of messages. But it was the same; he didn¡¯t respond at all. There were just two checkmarks, with no blue ticks as usual.


    My tears welled up slowly. I¡¯ve never felt so ignored, and I think it¡¯s the first time in all my time with Cedric that he¡¯s done this to me. I feel like I haven¡¯t been given the chance to exin. I tried my best toe back home, right? Why didn¡¯t Cedric meet me first? Why did he just leave when he saw me being forcibly kissed by Henry?


    I don¡¯t want that guy to enter freely either. I know my boundaries. But why did Cedric leave? Yes, I know. It must be so painful to see someone you love-I heard Cedric say he loves mest night-hanging out with someone else. But¡­


    Argh!!!


    This is all my fault! Why did I agree to go with Henry? I should have told him directly on Friday afternoon¡¯s call about his invitation. I underestimated Henry¡¯s presence, and well¡­ I prefer to talk about the two of us. It¡¯s my fault. It¡¯s totally my fault.


    Now, what should I do? I¡¯ll start with an apology first, and then I¡¯ll exin everything. I won¡¯t hide anything. I don¡¯t know why I feel it¡¯s necessary to do that, considering what Cedric did to me, but I feel it¡¯s necessary. Extremely necessary.


    I let my cheeks stay wet, damp, and maybe my makeup smudged. It doesn¡¯t matter. I can take a shower. What matters most to me is that Cedric responds to all my phone calls. But once again, all I get is the operator¡¯s voice telling me that the owner of the number doesn¡¯t want to answer. Annoyed, I throw my phone onto the sofa. I roughly wipe away the tear tracks that are still falling.


    With the little energy I have left, maybe once I shower, my appetite wille back. I¡¯ve been ignoring how tense my stomach has been since earlier. It feels more bearable to be ignored by Cedric than the sensations the baby is giving me.


    As I unbuttoned the blouse I wore earlier, a few red marks are clearly visible in the mirror. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll disappear once I apply some bruise cream. What won¡¯t disappear from the reflection in front of me is my disheveled face. My hair is a bit messy because I myself ruffled it out of frustration, my waterproof mascara has smudged due to my tears, not to mention my shiny and moist face because of oil.


    Half-naked, I observe how my body gradually changes. My chest is slightly fuller, but the worst part is clearly the lower abdomen. It¡¯s no longer t, and there¡¯s a life in there. It¡¯s slowly but surely disturbing my sanity to take good care of it, even though I¡¯m still halfwaymitted to doing it. I gently rub my belly, which is starting to bulge. Earlier, I announced loudly to someone who didn¡¯t need to know. But I can¡¯t avoid it anymore. Maybe this way, Henry will stop getting close. After all, our story ended more than a dozen years ago. I personally don¡¯t want to bring it up again, even if I want to.


    It doesn¡¯t feel fair, after everything that happened, to turn to Henry. Meanwhile, Cedric?


    ¡°Baby, your dad is mad at Mama. Mama is really bad, right, dear?¡± Once again, tears flow from my eyes.


    ¡°Oh, Anya,¡± Dona immediately embraces me. I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m crying here, in the cafeteria when the three of us are about to have lunch. My thoughts have been revolving around yesterday¡¯s events, and it feels like they keep tormenting me.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Dona gently releases her hug while Naomi hands me a tissue.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Is it the food? Is your stomach hurting? Or do you want something?¡± Naomi asks softly.


    I shake my head because that¡¯s not what I¡¯m feeling.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Dona¡¯s voice is so soft, full of sympathy. When Dona speaks in that tone, instead of wanting to talk, I cry even harder. In the end, they don¡¯t say much other than gently patting my back and offering their shoulders. My tears soak Dona¡¯s peach-colored shirt.


    ¡°Cedric, Dona,¡± I whisper.


    Slowly, Dona releases her embrace. ¡°What about Cedric, Anya?¡±


    ¡°Uh, talking about Cedric. He¡¯s not at the office today. I actually wanted to ask you, but I didn¡¯t.¡± Naomi says as she helps me get some tissues. ¡°Did you have a fight with Cedric? I¡¯ve been asking you since this morning, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡±


    ¡°Henry,¡±


    Both Dona and Naomi exchange nces. I know it. Even though I¡¯m busy wiping away my tears and trying to control my emotions, I can still see their confusion about my words.


    ¡°What about Henry?¡± Naomi asks.


    ¡°He¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault, Nao! I told you to follow Anya so we could find out what Henry was up to.¡± Dona res at Naomi, annoyed. ¡°What did he do to you?¡± Now Dona¡¯s gaze turns to me.


    I can¡¯t avoid it, right? It feels suffocating to bear this alone.


    ¡°Henry kissed me.¡±


    None of them interrupt or cut off my words because they probably know I¡¯ll continue talking.


    ¡°Right when Cedric showed up.¡±

 [32] a

    As usual, I didn¡¯t wait for Cedric to arrive in front of my desk when office hours ended. He would always be standing not far away. I once asked him about his remaining tasks in the evening, and he said they were taken care of by the other OB. There are two OBs here, but I¡¯m not really familiar with the other one. I rarely go to the twenty-first floor except to prepare for us, the staff here, and clean the area.


    His name is Jack. Since this morning, I¡¯ve noticed him wandering around the twenty-first floor. He¡¯s been called a few times to help with various things, including helping me. I couldn¡¯t carry several folders from the finance division at once, so he assisted me. It seems like Jack is talkative. He always has something to ask, even though I might not always want to answer his questions. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m being arrogant; I¡¯m just not a big fan of small talk unless it¡¯s with someone I know well.


    Jack is rtively new, and even though Cedric has been working here longer, I can¡¯t help but notice Jack more. I let out a long sigh as I nce at the digital clock on my phone. My desk is tidy, myputer is turned off, and Anna left for home several minutes ago. As for Krystal, my beautiful boss, she hasn¡¯t been in the office all day. Anna said she had some personal matters to attend to.


    Since I¡¯m used to Anna rying information about Krystal, I¡¯m not too concerned. Instead, I¡¯m increasingly worried about Cedric¡¯s absence from the office. No news at all. Not a single reply to any of my messages. I¡¯m still making desperate phone calls in between work. I feel guilty and I wish my lips could confess my wrongdoing, but I¡¯m not entirely sure if I¡¯ll be able to do that if I were to face Cedric right now. I hate being ignored like this. It feels ufortable.


    The one thing I¡¯m grateful for after my tearful breakdown, which left my eyes swollen, is that my baby is calm. I call my baby ¡°Baby¡± for now, as we don¡¯t know the gender yet and haven¡¯t decided on a nickname like (Darling) or anything else. This morning, Baby didn¡¯t act up at all. My stomach didn¡¯t suddenly cramp or feel nauseous again. Even the sandwich I had for breakfast, which was just a little, didn¡¯t cause any objections or cravings. It didn¡¯t stimte my brain to request anything.


    Does Baby know that its mother is worried about its father? I let out a soft sigh. This thought makes me sad, and I feel like crying again. I expected Cedric to appear from behind the corridor, but I don¡¯t hear the sound of his footsteps. I nce at my watch; it¡¯s almost six in the evening. Still, there¡¯s no sign of him. I give up and drag my feet with no enthusiasm towards the time clock to clock out. I can still hear some staff lingering, probably working overtime or waiting to avoid heavy traffic. It¡¯smon in Washington DC during rush hour, but it¡¯s manageable.


    This evening, I¡¯ll drive home by myself. Naomi said she had some business at the hospital. I suppose I should schedule a day to visit her father. We¡¯re not very close, but every time I talk to him, it quenches my thirst for a father¡¯s love a little. Mr. Susilo is not one to talk much. When he does offer some wisdom, his words always leave asting impact on me.


    As for Dona, she hurriedly left because her boyfriend was sick in Bandung. I can already predict that she¡¯ll be absent or take sudden leave tomorrow. Well, it¡¯s her business. As long as her performance is good, I don¡¯t think Krystal would mind. It¡¯s Dona¡¯s right as an employee.


    In the elevator, some familiar staff greet me with casual greetings. I smile and respond briefly to their questions. My thoughts are still filled with hope that Cedric might be waiting for me in the basement, standing by the car. Maybe¡­ who knows, right? Anything is possible.


    But hope is just hope. There¡¯s no sign of him when I arrive in front of the car. Before getting in, I take a moment to check my phone. It¡¯s not good to use the phone while driving or responding to messages. It¡¯s dangerous, and I¡¯m well aware of that. When I used to drive alone frequently, my phone would just lie there. Even if someone called me while I was focused on the steering wheel, I¡¯d ignore it. There¡¯s only one exception, and that¡¯s Krystal xton. If she calls, it means it¡¯s urgent and needs a fast response. No time to beat around the bush. If her name appears, I¡¯d pull over if possible. If not, I¡¯d put her on loudspeaker. I don¡¯t really like using hands-free for some reason. I don¡¯t know why.


    I thought there would be a reply there, but there isn¡¯t. Cedric is truly ignoring me.


    ***


    For dinner tonight, I deliberately stopped by a curry rice restaurant. I don¡¯t know why, but I really wanted to eat rice that¡¯s still steaming, topped with yellow curry sauce and vorful spice mix with pieces of meat. Don¡¯t forget the hot tea. Oh my God! Just thinking about it makes me salivate so much.


    While waiting, I pass the time by ying with my phone. I update Naomi on what I¡¯m doing now. Did I mention that girl is chatty? Especially since she knows I¡¯m having issues with Cedric. If it weren¡¯t for her father being in the hospital, she would have surely apanied me to the apartment. But honestly, I don¡¯t really need that from her. I understand that Naomi needs to be with her father.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But when ites to dealing with her stepmother, they never seem to get along. She wants to be dutiful to her father, but her stepmother interferes too much in Naomi¡¯s personal affairs. Especially with questions like, ¡°When are you getting married? Before your father passes away.¡±


    If I were Naomi, I might have already stuck a smelly unwashed sock in that woman¡¯s mouth. Saying she¡¯s a bit much wouldn¡¯t be an understatement. Who does she think she is, deciding when someone should die?


    Naomi: Alright, eat a lot. Buy some fruits or snacks. If you can¡¯t drive tomorrow, I¡¯ll pick you up. Let me know at dawn. Take care. And remember, don¡¯t speed.


    I smile a little reading her message. And right on cue, my order arrives. Well¡­ just as I expected. It looks delicious and appetizing. What surprises me is that I end up finishing two portions of rice and an additional grilled fish. My stomach is surprisingly calm. I¡¯m sure Baby must have been hungry, that¡¯s why we had such a big dinner. I hope it won¡¯t cause any trouble at night. I¡¯m a bit traumatized from eating a lot and then throwing up as soon as I reached the apartment.


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    I turn and am quite surprised to see Dewa here. I¡¯ve already finished eating, and I don¡¯t want to sit too long in the restaurant. It¡¯s a bit stuffy and there¡¯s the smell of cigarette smoke from other customers, which is a bit annoying. Dewa approaches me as I stand, waiting to pay.


    ¡°Wow, didn¡¯t expect to run into you here.¡±


    The guy looks quite handsome wearing that Superman logo t-shirt, and he chuckles. ¡°I should have said the same thing. How have you been, Anya? You rarely have lunch at my caf¨¦.¡±


    Dewa means the caf¨¦ we used to visit often. Among the three of us, only Dona really enjoys eating there. She ims that the taste and portion are just to her liking. But I think it¡¯s just an excuse to ogle Dewa as much as she likes.


    ¡°Busy with work,¡± I say casually. I ask the cashier briefly, order what I want, pay, and then head to my car. I want to go home. I don¡¯t really care about meeting Dewa.


    ¡°See youter,¡± I say after receiving my package from the cashier. Dewa just nods and smiles a little.


    This is better, right? No burdens, and even if we happen to meet again, chat together, or simply sit at the same table sipping a cup of coffee, there won¡¯t be any strange feelings, at least not from Dewa, who has given up on any hope. I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s nothing there anymore. As I¡¯m about to open my car door, I glimpse through the rearview mirror that Dewa is not alone. My heart warms up. At least he¡¯s not drowning in sorrow because of my rejection, right?


    ¡°Baby, if your dad were here, Mama would make him some milk first. And then ask him to take his vitamins,¡± I say softly, focusing on driving. With one hand, I gently caress my stomach. The car¡¯s audio ys in the background, apanying us.


    Thoughts of Cedrice flooding back again. From the very beginning, actually. When he came to rece one of the OBs who left because they had to take care of their sick parents in the vige. I was touched by the story of these young people working hard in the big city, making their parents so proud.


    Unlike me, who was abandoned for who knows what reason.


    If now Cedric leaves me, because I made a mistake, right? Without even asking or hearing my exnation, right? Isn¡¯t it expected in a rtionship to at least give someone a chance to exin when something happens? Even though my mind was messed up when I once wished for Baby to disappear from my womb, I still epted Cedric¡¯s presence, albeit reluctantly at first.


    And now?


    I¡¯m not sure anymore. Will he leave me again just as I¡¯m starting to nurture a glimmer of hope for a new life?


    ***

 [32] b

    I once teased Dona mercilessly for being so sensitive as a guy, even though she¡¯s not really what you would call traditionally masculine. She¡¯s quite sensitive and perceptive to changes in mood. The downside is that she can burst into tears like a flood if her sensitive heart is touched. At that time, her boyfriend was sulking because we worked overtime too much during the weekend. I remember a whole month filled with crowded and directionless activities just because we were going to have a massive gathering.


    The entire staff was in a frenzy and overwhelmed. We had interdivision performances that required us to spend extra time after office hours. It was fun, I can¡¯t deny that. Also, during that time, Krystal was eagerly waiting for the quarterly reports. So everyone in the office was in a rush.


    Time that was supposed to be used for dating or just rxing wasn¡¯t really avable until the event was over. And Dona¡¯s boyfriend at that time was really upset. He didn¡¯t want to be visited by Dona after he made sure she was done with the exhausting but fun event.


    Upon learning that her boyfriend didn¡¯t want to ept her visit, Dona cried. Seriously. Naomi and I were at a loss as to how to convince the guy not to cry. And his crying was so loud; he would call his boyfriend¡¯s name ¡°Aseng¡± repeatedly, offering unclear apologies when Aseng might not even hear him. Not to mention the scattered tissues in my living room.


    Oh my goodness. If I remember it, honestly, it was so disgusting.


    But it seems like I¡¯m cursed. The suffocating and restless feeling Dona experienced then, I might be experiencing it now. And it¡¯s really ufortable. Usually, whenever Ie home, Cedric prepares me a drink while I take a shower. It¡¯s so rude, right? But what can I do? Cedric doesn¡¯t let me mess around in the kitchen. He says I¡¯m tired from work and need to change quickly to feel fresh and keep a good mood.


    Starting from the special chocte milk for pregnant women that he prepares. Once, I tried the vani vor. It really knocked me out and I suddenly felt nauseous and got diarrhea. I was confused, why so sensitive? And it only agrees with the chocte vor. So that¡¯s be the regr one Cedric makes for me before I go to sleep.


    Now?


    The man is not here. My apartment is so empty. There¡¯s no sign of life except for myself as I walk slowly to the living room. I lie down slowly because I realize I can¡¯t move carelessly. I don¡¯t want Baby to get hurt inside. I don¡¯t want that.


    Slowly, I close my eyes. Trying to catch the remaining scent of Cedric, but there¡¯s none. Absolutely none. I can¡¯t forget his perfume¡¯s scent, but it¡¯s not here. Even just a trace would make me a little more at ease. My phone, which I¡¯ve been holding all this time, is still the same. No reply or news from Cedric.


    Where are you, Cedric?


    Doesn¡¯t he know that I secretly miss him?


    My phone rings loudly. I panic because I don¡¯t realize that I¡¯m crying again. I¡¯m such a crybaby! I want to hate myself, but I¡¯m experiencing this thing that I really don¡¯t like. I can¡¯t hold back my tears, can I? They just flow because of the tightness in my chest that won¡¯t ease.


    Full of enthusiasm, I grab my phone, but disappointment strikes again. Naomi¡¯s name appears on the screen. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like being called by Naomi, but I was hoping for a different name to appear.


    ¡°Hello, Naomi,¡± I answer reluctantly. Slowly, I unhook my shoes and blouse. After all, I¡¯ve already locked the door, and the curtains are still as tidy as I left them this morning. So I¡¯m safe.


    ¡°Have you arrived?¡±


    ¡°Just now.¡± I take off my blouse with the phone pinned to my shoulder. ¡°How¡¯s your dad?¡±


    I hear Naomi sigh deeply. ¡°This time he needs to be hospitalized. I¡¯m confused, who¡¯s going to take care of him.¡±


    ¡°Aunt Ira?¡±


    ¡°What! She¡¯s so useless in taking care of my dad. That woman is so damn annoying!¡±


    I feel like hugging Naomi tightly when she swears. Naomi is used to using foulnguage but only in front of me. As much as she dislikes her stepmother, I still have to give her credit. She rarely uses foulnguage or shows her dislikes. She just keeps quiet, not because she doesn¡¯t like arguing, but because she pities her father.


    That¡¯s the only choice she has.


    If she starts swearing, it means she¡¯s already reached her limit. There¡¯s nothing I can do except say, ¡°Be patient.¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing else I can do except be patient, right?¡±


    I wince.


    ¡°You¡¯re alone in the apartment, is that okay?¡±


    Can Iugh? ¡°I¡¯m usually alone, Naomi.¡±


    I hear her let out a loud sigh. ¡°Usually, Cedric is here, so I¡¯m not too worried. Now? You¡¯re alone, Ya. You¡¯re so careless, you know.¡±


    I pout.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually worried about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s worried about you, Naomi. I¡¯ll be fine. I won¡¯t do anything weird. Baby is also calm like this. I think Baby knows I¡¯m alone at home.¡±


    I don¡¯t know if my words sound funny or what, but I can clearly hear Naomi¡¯sughter.


    ¡°Why?¡± I¡¯m confused.


    ¡°Finally, I like this changed version of you, Anya.¡±


    I furrow my brow.


    ¡°You¡¯re starting to ept what¡¯s already destined in your life. No moreining about this or that. You¡¯re starting to enjoy the roles you have. Cherish it, Anya, while you¡¯re still in this world. A mother¡¯s love starts from the moment she knows there¡¯s a child growing in her womb,


    Ya. And that love is not-¡±


    ¡°My mother isn¡¯t like that, Naomi.¡± My eyes raise, afraid that my tears will make my cheeks wet again.


    ¡°That¡¯s why. Never act like your mother. Some mothers aren¡¯t responsible, some struggle with fate so that their children can seed. It¡¯s a choice, Ya. But you¡¯re smart, right? Use your intelligence to do better. Even though it started with mistakes. Besides, her father is good. You¡¯re really lucky, Ya.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the evil one, right, Naomi.¡± I can¡¯t hold back any longer, recalling Mother, hearing Naomi¡¯s words, and remembering the events on Sunday, making me cry again.


    ¡°You¡¯re not evil, just lost.¡±


    I pout a little. ¡°Damn it.¡±


    ¡°And thank God, now you¡¯re sane.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why are you so annoying, Naomi?¡±


    She chuckles. We both end upughing. ¡°Take care there, okay. Don¡¯t forget to rest. Are you taking a day off tomorrow?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Yeah, just for one day. I want to give a lecture to that girl. So she¡¯ll be sane. If I can change you with my lecturing, then she definitely can too. It¡¯s so stupid if she still doesn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Iugh. Naomi is so straightforward, speaking without thinking.


    After the call ends, I feel better. So I decide to take a shower and go to bed immediately. My body is a bit tired. When I enter the bathtub area, as usual, the warm water mixed with aromatherapy makes me rxed. There are also aromatherapy candles lit in the room. They really help me sleep well. Although after showering, I apply some eucalyptus oil on certain areas of my body, not for warmth but because I like its scent.


    But not as much as I adore Cedric¡¯s perfume. I guess I¡¯ll have to ask himter if we make up, whenever that happens. After bathing, I look at the bed, still covered with the same nket that covered our bodies two nights ago. I feel that if I hug it tightly, I can still catch a whiff of his perfume. Hopefully.


    I wrap myself in the nket, searching for a faint trace of Cedric¡¯s scent. Also on the pillow he used. I¡¯m really going crazy, it seems.


    ¡°I miss you, Cedric.¡±

 [33] a

    Longing for Cedric has been driving me crazy and also making me think that he¡¯s starting to ignore me. It¡¯s been three days since the incident that I should have exined first, and afterwards, Cedric himself decides whether to be angry or not.


    I can feel it all. Everything. Ever since I sent him a message after Henry really left, there¡¯s been no response. He hasn¡¯t even read it, but his WhatsApp status always shows he¡¯s online. What else can it be but ignoring? Right?


    Damn it, Cedric has already be a part of my life. Not just leaving a mark in the form of a child. My feelings are starting to waver and always directed towards him. Even before it¡¯s fully grown, Cedric behaves like this. What else can it be but rude and obnoxious?


    If I wanted revenge, this is not the way to do it! I hate it! I really hate it if Cedric is doing something disgusting like this to me. Then all the attention, understanding, and words he said were just lies? Just to please me? So that I wouldn¡¯t carry out my well-nned intention?


    Ck!


    I feel like I¡¯m being deceived by everything about Cedric. And even until this moment, I¡¯m waiting for him to just reply to my message, even if it¡¯s short.


    ¡°Miss Anya? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anna suddenly appears in front of me. I¡¯m confused because I don¡¯t feel like doing anything wrong.


    ¡°You mmed the report on the table quite hard. Why?¡± Anna asked.


    I didn¡¯t realize my frustration could lead me to do that. Even though there¡¯s nothing wrong with the report that I¡¯m going to submit to Krystal this afternoon. Anna said that Krystal, our beautiful boss, won¡¯t be at the office this afternoon. I regrly provide reports, but I didn¡¯t ask further like, ¡°Where¡¯s the boss? Is she back at the office?¡±


    No.


    Krystal had informed earlier that she had very important matters in Surabaya. All approvals are still handled, but through email. For those requiring her signature, I have full authority to affix the official stamp representing Krystal¡¯s name. And that¡¯s not just put on any document. I have to confirm the details rted to Krystal¡¯s stamp.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Reflex. There was a fly,¡± I said. I don¡¯t care even though Anna is still secretly watching me. As long as Anna is here, I feel really helped. A lot of work she finishes on time and neatly. Although some of them need my correction, Anna never stops learning quickly. I think if she¡¯s brought to more meetings outside, her abilities will improve greatly.


    Krystal likes employees with a high level of initiative, especially those within her reach. I¡¯m like that too. So it¡¯s not just about being asked before starting to work. It doesn¡¯t feelfortable, right, to have a coworker like that.


    ¡°Are we ordering lunch delivery again?¡± she asked, realizing that I haven¡¯t moved from my desk. I see her busy marking our boss¡¯s schedule, which she has updated. I let out a soft snort. I thought she was still watching me, being weird like this.


    ¡°Maybe we should order again.¡±


    Anna looks at me, as if wanting to ask but then stops herself.


    ¡°Why, Na?¡±


    She giggles softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go out, Miss. It¡¯s boring staying inside all the time.¡±


    ¡°You can go out if you want, Anna. I won¡¯t stop you.¡±


    Her lips pout, just like a younger sister pouting at her older sister. ¡°What I mean, let¡¯s go eat out. You and me together. There are gossips out there that I hear, saying that Sister Anya is really mean and arrogant. She won¡¯t even go out with her juniors. So, if I eat with you, those gossipers will shut up!¡±


    My mouth gapes in surprise at this information.


    ¡°Seriously, Miss. But you aren¡¯t like that. They don¡¯t even know you, but theirments are so mean.¡±


    Finally, I force a smile. ¡°So, you going out to have lunch with me means that I¡¯m nice and not like what theymented?¡±


    I¡¯m sure the answer will be an enthusiastic nod. And her two thumbs will be raised perfectly. The sparkle in her eyes shows her joy because I guessed right.


    ¡°Anna, let me tell you something. I don¡¯t need that kind of recognition from others. They¡¯re free to say whatever they want about me. They don¡¯t know who I really am here, right? Even if I pay attention to them, I think they¡¯ll find ways to bring me down again. Whatever it is.¡±


    Then the shoulders of the sweet girl slump weakly. ¡°It¡¯s just annoying, Sister. They¡¯re so mean. But you not like that,¡± she said.


    ¡°If you want to have lunch outside, let¡¯s do it. But I won¡¯t do it just to show that I sessfully had lunch with you, okay?¡±


    Anna bursts intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re something else, Miss.¡±


    I guess the idea of having lunch with Anna isn¡¯t bad. Even though my mood is still messed up because of Cedric, maybe it¡¯s a good idea to have lunch outside the office. ¡°Let me ask Krystal for permission first. We¡¯ll go out of the office.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, is the restaurant far?¡± Anna looks confused.


    ¡°Well, yeah. I said I didn¡¯t want to show up if I sessfully had lunch with you.¡±


    Even so, Annaughs again. ¡°Sure. Later I¡¯ll order a taxi online for us.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Just use my car.¡±


    ***


    Being angry is pointless; everything has already happened. Refusing would be impossible, as there were many people in the basement. Henry deserves to bebeled crazy! I didn¡¯t know he was there; maybe he was just going to have lunch or something. I didn¡¯t ask. But as soon as he saw me heading to the parking lot, he followed me. Urging me to sit in the passenger seat and he would drive us wherever we were going.


    Anna was confused. I knew it. She kept looking at me with worried eyes. Maybe to her, I looked scary because I gave Henry a few cynical looks. Even the girl was holding my hand on purpose, not to hide herself but to prevent me from getting angry.


    ¡°Is this the ce, right?¡± Henry asked to make sure. I didn¡¯t want to answer. When he took control of my car, I didn¡¯t say anything. I had already agreed with Anna on the restaurant we were going to. I wanted to have the beef rib soup that Krystal rmended not long ago. I wanted Anna to experience how delicious it was.


    The girl nodded enthusiastically, saying she would order more if it was really delicious. It seemed that someone like Anna could eat as much as she wanted and still stay small. Lucky her, right?


    ¡°Seeing the sign, it should be correct, sir,¡± Anna answered. I didn¡¯t care. In my mind, a warm bowl of beef rib souppletes with tomato slices and apanied by crackers and half a portion of rice was surely delicious, and I would finish it. But with Henry suddenly interrupting and forcing his way like this, my appetite vanished.


    It was annoying because I had already refused him, but that smiley man was being insistent. Henry, pretending to be gentle, wanted to open the car door for me. In my dreams! I had already opened it and got out. I walked into the restaurant, followed by Anna, who I thought was half running to catch up with me.


    I don¡¯t know why I started to hate Henry.


    ¡°Anya? Just stay quiet,¡± he said.


    I was really trying to gather my appetite. I had to fulfill Baby¡¯s nutritional needs, right? Last night, wrapped in a nket still infused with Cedric¡¯s scent, I read many articles about pregnant women. During pregnancy, nutritional intake should be carefully considered. If it¡¯s difficult, it¡¯s okay to change fruits as long as I keep trying. I was lucky that even though Baby sometimes misbehaved, I could still make an effort to eat. It¡¯s just my mood that often-turned upside down and had to be coaxed to gather and chew food.


    And now, this mood is being messed up again. It seems that giving Henry too much space was a mistake.


    ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your business? I want to eat. Can you be quiet?¡± I stared at him with a sharp look. Henry, who was sitting across from me, just chuckled as if he didn¡¯t care that his behavior was making me extremely annoyed.


    At this dining table, none of us spoke. Even Anna seemed to eat in a hurry. I started to feel guilty. Maybe I¡¯ll make it up to her another time. As long as Henry is not there, it will be morefortable and enjoyable. We can exchange stories or whatever; I¡¯m not that close to Anna anyway. Maybe inviting Dona and Naomi wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea, right?


    We didn¡¯t need much time to finish the meal, deliberately so we could quickly return to the office. Not because of my overwhelming workload this afternoon, but I didn¡¯t want to have a debt of gratitude for Henry¡¯s treat. I paid for my and Anna¡¯s meal, leaving Henry¡¯s. In other words, he can pay for himself, right? Anna can, too. I¡¯m not underestimating her, but she¡¯s behind me. Henry isn¡¯t.


    ¡°I should be the one angry, Anya,¡± Henry said as he started my car¡¯s engine. We were getting ready to leave. His words made me turn to look at him. What does he mean? Because of him, Cedric hasn¡¯t contacted me! Making me look like a crazy person heartbroken by someone he loves!


    ¡°But I¡¯ve been observing you every day. I proved it today. You lied to me. You don¡¯t have a fianc¨¦; you¡¯re only close to two people who are no longer near you.¡±


    I was taken aback.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t been watching you sincest week, Anya.¡±


    Fix! Henry is mentally ill!


    ¡°And don¡¯t expect me to believe your nonsense. If you want to lie, make it a bit more logical, Anya. You saying you¡¯re pregnant is already very illogical.¡±


    ***

 [33] b

    I thought Henry¡¯s presence would be limited to lunchtime. I didn¡¯t want any more interruptions. Ever since he appeared at the office, I hardly paid any attention to him. This time was no different. There was nopelling reason for me to let him get close to me again. What¡¯s the point? To me, it seemed that if I could turn back time, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to Henry¡¯s invitation that left me frustrated due to theck of news from Cedric.


    It was a foolish and stupid mistake that I made out of unease. Despite ignoring his numerous messages and calls, he always managed to evoke sympathy from me again-yes, I said it¡¯s because I was uneasy. But it all ended in misery. It¡¯s truly exasperating.


    Why didn¡¯t I take Henry¡¯s presence, who was a part of my past, too seriously? I was too busy with my own affairs. I was troubled by my negative thoughts, which Naomi said had significantly decreased. Also, the assumptions about my boss¡¯s behavior, which Dona said I should be grateful for. Having a female boss who showed extra attention, rather than appearing topete with me.


    Three encounters with Henry were enough for me. I didn¡¯t want any more. Besides protecting myself, I needed to maintain my emotions to stay sane. I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of exploding with anger as Henry kept pushing me with his usations about what I honestly said.


    It¡¯s his business if he doesn¡¯t believe me. The most important thing is that I¡¯ve said it, even though at first¡­ truly, I hesitated. I never thought of sharing my suffering with others outside my personal circle. It¡¯s not easy to utter those words, even though I¡¯m quite sure that until now, Henry doesn¡¯t know who the person is I¡¯m referring to.


    If they met yesterday, I don¡¯t know what kind of scene would unfold in front of my unit. I can¡¯t even imagine, and, well¡­ I¡¯m scared to imagine it.


    So here I am now, in an online taxi that I booked half an hour before the end of office hours. Krystal isn¡¯t at the office. It means she¡¯s been absent for three days. It¡¯s a bit ufortable when the boss isn¡¯t around. All my reports are connected via email, and I¡¯m grateful that there are no major issues. Everything is under control. I did prepare myself in case she intercepts me. Considering that Henry never hesitated to impose his will. In the past, I was fine with it; I even felt ttered. Who wouldn¡¯t like it when their boyfriend is possessive?


    I still remember Henry¡¯s personality to some extent, whether he has changed or not. I don¡¯t want to take any risks, especially since he said he doesn¡¯t believe me and considers what I said about my pregnancy as an excuse to reject him. It¡¯s possible that he will get closer to me.


    I left my car in the parking lot. After all, I¡¯m a regr member and park there every month. I also stayed there a couple of times when I was too tired during overtime. Ah, I suddenly miss overtime. Coming homete, being pressed with work, and being scrutinized under Krystal¡¯sser-like gaze, not to mention her unkindments.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯m amazed at how Krystal changed so much towards me. Well, I guess I should start embracing what Dona said. Be grateful and feel lucky that Krystal is kind to me.


    The journey to the apartment was a bit dyed, longer than usual. Traffic jam. Well, that¡¯s Washington DC for you. It¡¯s not only congested during rush hour but also on holidays. And Anya¡¯s taxi driver drives smoothly, not mming on the gas, which would make my seat ufortable. I¡¯ve experienced a few online taxi drivers who drive rather roughly, either because they were chasing targets or being chased by demons.


    Out of curiosity, I checked my phone again. Maybe there¡¯s a reply from Cedric.


    Anya. P: Cedric, can¡¯t you reply now?


    That was myst message, four hours ago. Still the same. Two gray ticks despite the status being online. It felt like he was that angry. I scrolled through the pile of ignored messages until I reached the day when the incident happened. I sighed softly.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯ve arrived right in the lobby.¡±


    I blinked. I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been daydreaming. It¡¯s fortunate, though, that I didn¡¯t linger too long, and the car finally stopped at our destination. I quickly prepared to get out while thanking the driver.


    I stepped into the lobby area with slightly high hopes. Maybe, Cedric is waiting for me without needing any notice. I sat on one of the guest sofas near the reception desk. I sat casually, as if taking a break for a while, slightly bowing my head. As soon as he saw me enter, he smiled and walked towards me. I nced around, hoping desperately that what I imagined woulde true.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    But all I found was the sofa. There wasn¡¯t a single person I recognized there. Just unfamiliar faces, presumably other guests. Ah, it felt suffocating. Did I have to struggle with tears tonight? Moreover, Cedric¡¯s scent on the nket is starting to fade. It¡¯s reced by the aroma of the therapy scent I always lit to help me rx. Should I turn it off for that night?


    ¡°Mrs. Anya.¡±


    I quickly turned towards the voice. One of the receptionists, whose name I didn¡¯t know very well, called out to me. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a delivery for you.¡±


    I saw her pick up one of the packages from behind the counter. I furrowed my brows. I didn¡¯t order any food. In fact, today, I wanted to have rice with sunny-side-up eggs. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t want anythingplicated, but Baby seemed to want that.


    ¡°From?¡± I asked as I moved closer. I carefully observed the transparent package, in case there was a hidden note, but found none.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ma¡¯am. It was sent through an express delivery service.¡±


    I nodded. It must be from Dona. She had called me earlier in the afternoon and asked about this and that. I asked about Naomi¡¯s well-being through chat, and she seemed to be doing much better. I guessed it was Dona who sent me the food. Once I got upstairs, I should call her. Not only to confirm, but also to express my gratitude, right?


    In a hurry, I headed to the elevator and pressed the floor for my apartment after thanking the receptionist. The aroma of the food started to arouse my appetite, and it was still warm. Maybe I should reheat the broth a bit to enjoy it even more.


    But my assumption waspletely wrong. Neither Dona nor Naomi sent me any food. In fact, ording to Dona, she was so kind to send me food when my sry was barely enough to cover meals. Iughed hearing her confession. If it were Naomi, she wouldn¡¯t even have time to think about ordering food for herself, let alone for me. Although she reminded me to eat, it didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d go through the trouble of ordering food for me tonight.


    The package and its contents werepletely gone, with only traces of spicy broth left in the dirty bowl. I couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to start eating before confirming with my two friends. Ugh¡­ how foolish of me!!!


    I started thinking about the possibility of being poisoned through the food. Oh my god! Why am I so easily believing things like this? I was nning to ask my two friends earlier, but why didn¡¯t I do it?! Oh, God! Where has Anya¡¯s usually brilliant brain gone?


    What if something happens to meter?


    I suddenly shuddered at the thought. Before my fear could fully dissipate, my phone rang. I saw Henry¡¯s caller ID. What does this guy want now?


    I ignored the call once, twice, and even ten times. Yet, it didn¡¯t stop there; I received a message from Henry.


    Henry. P: Anya, did you receive the noodles I ordered? I hope you like them. I was waiting in the parking lot, but you weren¡¯t there. Are you working overtime? Are you at the apartment now?


    A sigh of relief escaped my lips. At least Henry wouldn¡¯t have put cyanide in my noodles. It would be downright rude and impolite if I didn¡¯t say thank you, right? So, I replied to Henry¡¯s message as briefly as possible.


    As I was about to type my response, I noticed Cedric typing a reply to my message! I was stunned. I was in awe that my restlessness was finally going to be resolved.


    I waited for a minute or two.


    He was still typing, but there was no sign of the message he was about to send. Was he going to write a long message? I couldn¡¯t wait to read it. Even if it was a lecture, I would ept it. I wouldn¡¯t put my pride too high to apologize. My message already contained a lot of ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± for him, after all.


    Ten minutes passed, and still, there was no message. The ¡°writing message¡± status disappeared from Cedric¡¯s contact bar. All my messages had been read, but he didn¡¯t respond to any of them. Am I not important to Cedric anymore?


    Have I beenpletely wrong in his eyes?


    He ignored my apologies.

 [34] a

    This Friday was extraordinary. I had decided to make this Friday thest day of working on Mr. Sarman¡¯s financial report. We would discuss it with Krystal on Monday. I only needed one more folder for cross-checking, and after lunch, I thought I could reread everything to make sure my findings were correct.


    Mr. Sarman had been involved in some pretty¡­ immacte fraud. It was not evident at all, and even my boss, Krystal, was caught off guard. The amounts weren¡¯t significant, but Mr. Sarman had been doing it quite frequently.


    ¡°Anna, I¡¯m going to the twenty-second floor first,¡± I said to the girl, who nodded silently. Her eyes briefly nced at me before returning to herputer screen. I could tell Krystal had assigned her a lot of tasks. My boss was in the office this morning after being absent for four days. Her face wasn¡¯t as cheerful as usual, even though she had on red lipstick. I could clearly sense the difference. Although I was curious, I felt it would be too intrusive to inquire about her personal matters.


    Since the morning, Krystal hadn¡¯t left her office at all. I peered through the transparent ss, not covered by any opaque stickers, and saw her engrossed with her phone. She rarely sat still at her desk, surrounded by piles of work, as she usually did. While I had my suspicions, I didn¡¯t think it was appropriate to ask. It was best to focus on my own work and maybe even lighten Krystal¡¯s burden.


    Before I decided to head to Mr. Sarman¡¯s division by myself, I prepared myself to meet Kelvin and Henry. Although Kelvin probably wouldn¡¯t influence me much, considering we didn¡¯t have any personal rtionship beyond friendship and professional work. If other staff assumed otherwise, it was their business.


    ¡°Hi, Rani,¡± I greeted, patting the girl¡¯s shoulder softly. I didn¡¯t want to startle her. I had called her earlier to let her know I wasing, so she wouldn¡¯t have to wait too long. The files were usually kept separately and required some time to retrieve. I didn¡¯t want to linger here too long, even though I really wanted to visit Naomi¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Hi, Miss Anya.¡±


    ¡°Have you prepared the July and August folders for delivery and promotion to Tokepedua? Along with the original documents, please. Stamped invoices.¡±


    As soon as I entered the room with short partitions, everyone was busy working. At least I didn¡¯t get the timing wrong, right? From Rani¡¯s desk, one of Mr. Sarman¡¯s subordinates, I could see Dona and Naomi sitting there. Kelvin and Henry were at a managerial level, and they wouldn¡¯t be ced among the desks with short partitions.


    Just like Rani, the finance department was always bustling.


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s more, Miss. Wait a moment, Anya, I¡¯ll get them first.¡±


    I allowed her to do so. The thing I didn¡¯t prepare for was that Rani¡¯s boss appeared from his office. His eyes stared at me sharply, as if I were his enemy. I wasn¡¯t intimidated, though. It was just usual.


    ¡°It¡¯s unusual for Miss Anya to visit,¡± he said, sounding full of stale pleasantries. I gave a small grin.


    ¡°I need some additional data.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t yesterday¡¯s data sufficient? It was detailed enough.¡±


    I just smiled. I didn¡¯t feel like responding to his intimidating remarks.


    ¡°Besides, Miss Anya doesn¡¯t have enough work to do, huh? That she has to audit our reports herself. Internal audits aren¡¯t asplicated as you make it seem, Miss Anya.¡±


    I kept my smile on my lips, even though I was fed up inside. I noticed Rani looked surprised that her boss was talking like this in front of me. She already had threerge folders in her arms.


    ¡°May I take those files, Rani?¡± Sarman asked irritably.


    I knew the girl was flustered. Apparently, Mr. Sarman was still the same, making things difficult for me, even though it was evident that this was a direct order from Krystal. It was as if something was being hidden, and this middle-aged man didn¡¯t want it to be exposed so easily. Proof of that was how he immediately snatched the folders Rani had brought. And inside, I could find traces that would support Krystal¡¯s suspicions about the fund embezzlement.


    ¡°I asked Rani to get them for me,¡± I said firmly.


    The man chuckled. ¡°I already gave you copies. You can check everything from there. It¡¯s all the same.¡±


    I kept challenging him with my eyes, although his thick-framed sses were blocking his view.


    ¡°All the data that made the copies is from OB, Jack. Call Jack, Rani. Let him be a witness.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep it simple, Mr. Sarman. If the data is the same, why shouldn¡¯t I be allowed to see the original? It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you, right?¡±


    I heard Mr. Sarman grumbling under his breath.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to lend the originals, I don¡¯t mind. Luckily, Ms. Krystal has them at her desk. I could just mention that you¡¯re making things difficult.¡±


    Without hesitation, he pushed the three folders toward me, and I ended up bumping into the edge of the table. It didn¡¯t hurt, but I was startled. Suddenly, I felt a pain in my stomach. The folders had slightly pressed against the lower part of my chest. But I wouldn¡¯t show any signs of pain here. No way!


    I was a hundred percent sure that Mr. Sarman was preparing a way to escape. I needed to finish this and give the folders to Krystal. I wasn¡¯t even sure if these folders hadn¡¯t been tampered with, but I needed to check them directly. If anything had been made to disappear or suddenly appeared, I believed Krystal would already suspect this.


    My boss had only asked for a thorough check.


    ***


    I didn¡¯t intend to work overtime since the financial report was alreadypleted and sent to Krystal¡¯s email. I had checked everything, and indeed, there were some discrepancies. However, I couldn¡¯t prove it; I only had the data, but there were no invoices or payment orders to support the anomalies in the report.


    When I reported to Krystal, she just gave me a small smile and managed to ask about my condition. I took the opportunity to ask about hers.


    ¡°My mother fell ill, Anya.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond. Krystal wasn¡¯t a sentimental person, but when she shared the news, there was a tremor in her voice. It sounded like she was holding back tears and feeling sad.


    ¡°How is she now, Miss Krystal?¡±


    ¡°Thankfully, the critical phase has passed yesterday, Anya. I¡¯m relieved, but¡­ I¡¯m still concerned.¡±


    Now I understood why she had been absent for a few days. If my mother were still by my side, fighting for my life and showering me with the continuous love that I should have received, I would definitely feel worried and sad just like Krystal. Which child wouldn¡¯t be touched if their mother fell ill?


    ¡°Stay strong, Miss,¡± I said, trying tofort her.


    ¡°Thank you. And how about you? Are you still experiencing nausea?¡±


    I blinked slowly. Even in this situation, she was still thinking about me? ¡°I¡¯m doing much better, Krystal. I¡¯ve started to adapt.¡±


    She smiled widely. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Take good care of yourself, Anya. I¡¯m looking forward to you giving birth. I want to hold the baby.¡±


    I just returned the smile. I was a bit confused about how to respond to my boss¡¯s words. After I felt there was nothing else to discuss, I excused myself. I finished the remaining tasks I had and asionally checked Anna¡¯s report, especially Krystal¡¯s schedule for the next week.


    I didn¡¯t realize that the shock from earlier was starting to affect me towards the end of my workday. My stomach felt a bit painful and stiff. Maybe I should take a taxi again? Anna had left two minutes ago, and so had Krystal. There was no reason for me to linger here too long, right?This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Ugh!¡± I groaned while rubbing my stomach gently. ¡°Baby, what¡¯s wrong? Mama worked too long, huh?¡± I remembered that throughout the day, I hadn¡¯t had any snacks. Usually, no matter how busy I was, I always munched on biscuits. Oh no! Why did I forget to eat snacks? Besides my work being too absorbing, my stock of various snacks had run out. My drawer was empty. Usually, it was Cedric who diligently filled it. Ah, talking about him made me irritated and angry.


    For five days, I had been ignored without any news. It was as if everything I did was so wrong in his eyes. Really? Couldn¡¯t he even pick up the phone or reply to my short messages? I started having negative thoughts that kept escting. How could I not? We might not have an official rtionship yet, but if he was responsible, shouldn¡¯t he act differently?


    I didn¡¯t even flirt with Henry anymore. What was the point? I knew my limits. Even if I made a mistake and went out, it didn¡¯t mean he could ignore me, right? Was my fate really that bad this time? I had already started believing in the meaning of love, which was constantly given to me, only to be abandoned suddenly? Was that it?


    ¡°Anya, are you okay?¡± My reverie was interrupted, and I didn¡¯t realize that Henry was standing in front of me. My thoughts had drifted somewhere, but I knew what I had to do. I had already called a ride because I didn¡¯t feel strong enough to drive on my own. I entered the elevator to go down to the lobby, and¡­


    I didn¡¯t notice that Henry was inside.


    ¡°You¡¯re not looking well, Anya. Are you sick?¡±

 [34] b

    I didn¡¯t know whether to call this luck or bad luck. Henry insisted on driving me home, but I refused to use his car. At first, Henry didn¡¯t want toply, but I didn¡¯t force him. I chose to drive slowly rather than share a confined space with a man who was now driving so focused.


    Naomi sent a message saying that she would also work overtime, and Dona apologized for not being able to apany me. Maybe they would onlye to my apartment around 7 pm. I whined, asking to be apanied, but it was okay if I had to go home alone. They agreed since there were some gossip stories to be shared, especially about what happened after I took those folders that caused me pain.


    Throughout the journey, we didn¡¯t talk about anything. I answered Henry¡¯s questions briefly and avoided asking anything in return. Meanwhile, I asionally closed my eyes, trying to bear the increasing pain. A mixture of difort, pain, and cramps was swirling chaotically in my stomach. I didn¡¯t have any problems during lunch or breakfast.


    Maybe Baby understood and knew that her mother was feeling upset because of her father¡¯s actions. That¡¯s why she chose to behave and cooperate this week, not causing much trouble, which relieved me. My intention to maintain a healthy diet and proper nutrition was being carried out. It was all disrupted because of this old man¡¯s behavior. Oh no! Or was I wrong? Maybe inside me, Baby was also in pain?


    Could that be true?


    Oh God! If that¡¯s indeed the case, I won¡¯t forgive that old Sarman! I hope nothing bad will happen to meter. I¡¯m a bit scared too, you know. This pain is different from what I¡¯ve felt before.


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    I saw that the traffic was still congested. Although I thought maybe it would rx him a bit, I just wanted to be home with a warm ss of milk, half-reclined on the sofa, and resting. I didn¡¯t have any malicious thoughts. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t think normally anymore. The pain was bing too much of a concern.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Out of nowhere, Henry touched my shoulder. I jumped in surprise. I immediately pushed his hand away roughly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Your face is getting paler. Are you sick? Should we go to the hospital?¡±


    I shook my head. I just wanted to arrive at my apartment and rest. I was a bit traumatized by hospitals, you know. It¡¯s not like anything. Usually, Cedric apanied me. How could I go with Henry this time? I don¡¯t want that. If I have to go to the hospital again, I want it to be with Cedric. After all, this is his child too. He has to take responsibility! How can he leave me suffering alone?


    ¡°Can you hurry up a bit?¡± I finally asked. I still refused Henry¡¯s invitation to go to the hospital. Threatening to get out of the car worked well. Initially, he really insisted on taking us to the nearest hospital. I just wanted to arrive quickly at the lobby of my apartment building. That¡¯s all.


    Full of irritated grumbling, Henry finallyplied. All I did was hope that the traffic jam wouldn¡¯t be too long. And after we arrived at the apartment, I hoped Baby would be calm again and willing to cooperate.


    Once we arrived in the basement, I firmly refused Henry¡¯s help. However, this time he was stubborn. I only wanted him to stay until we reached the lobby, and then I would shoo him away. Or I would report to security to have him escorted out of the building. I didn¡¯t care if it caused amotion. From the beginning, Henry was the one who insisted oning. If it weren¡¯t for this pain, I would have driven alone.


    I couldn¡¯t possibly endanger myself, especially since Cedric hadn¡¯t appeared with any news. Baby became my most loyalpanion. I should have realized that. I repeatedly apologized to her before sleeping, gently caressing my belly and reading short stories. Aunt Naomi¡¯s careless yet caring attitude, or Aunt Dona¡¯s penchant for witty gossip ountments. Not forgetting the strong and beautiful figure I looked up to, Krystal. Oh, Anna is included too. She¡¯s a good girl, and I like her.


    Even about her father, despite my asional annoyance due to his neglect, I still couldn¡¯t help but talk about the man with dimples.


    ¡°Just stop here, Henry,¡± I said as I reached for my bag. He remained unmoved. ¡°Henry, please.¡±


    We entered the lobby area before heading to the main lift corridor towards my unit. I had never been so relieved by my stubbornness. Which, as it turned out, had its purpose. Cedric was there. Sitting, but as soon as he saw me, his gaze resembled thest time he gave that look.


    ¡°Henry, please. I don¡¯t want any trouble,¡± I hissed, holding back my irritation. Then, I nced at Cedric who was now walking towards us. I felt like pushing Henry into a ck hole to make him disappear, so I wouldn¡¯t have to exin everything to Cedric. That was my goal.


    Not to mention the pain was getting worse, I could feel it.


    ¡°Anya, what¡¯s wrong with me taking you to your unit?¡± Henry stared at me sharply. His hand grasped my arm without warning. ¡°I have no bad intentions. Are you scared? What do you have to fear? Your future husband? Where is he? You¡¯re lying to me, Anya!¡± he added, clearly annoyed.


    Before I could react, Cedric stepped in, holding me firmly with one strong pull, making both Henry and I look at him.


    ¡°Let go.¡±


    I just found out that Cedric could emit such a terrifying aura! Even I shuddered in horror being close to him.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Henry seemed to be in disbelief at what he was seeing. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I said, let go.¡±


    Maybe out of anger or something else, Henry¡¯s grip tightened, causing pain in my arm and my stomach to ache even more, making me grimace.


    ¡°It hurts,¡± I said.


    ¡°You hear that? Anya is in pain.¡± Cedric immediately grabbed Henry and forcibly pushed him away. As soon as Henry¡¯s grip was released, I stumbled towards Cedric. I closed my eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply the scent of his cologne, which I had been imagining all week. Also, affirming that he was indeed real and standing in front of me.


    Cedric embraced me tightly. I could feel his heart pounding fast. I was happy that my eyes didn¡¯t deceive me, and well¡­ I missed him. A lot. So I moved closer to his embrace, seeking protection.


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem, Cedric?¡± Henry asked, trying to reach for my hand again but was blocked by Cedric.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Watch your attitude, sir. Anya said it hurts. Are you deaf?¡±


    ¡°Henry, please,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but intervene. Henry was being stubborn. I didn¡¯t want anymotion, although it seemed like one was about to happen. Several security guards were starting to approach me.


    ¡°Please, just go home.¡±


    He shook his head, his eyes ring at me and Cedric. It was as if he didn¡¯t care that many eyes were witnessing our drama.


    ¡°No! Not until you exin this!¡± he demanded.


    ¡°Henry, please. I don¡¯t want any trouble,¡± I said softly, grimacing again. Reflexively, I held my stomach. ¡°It hurts, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°Where does it hurt?¡±


    I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the sudden pain. It felt like everything around me was spinning. ¡°My stomach, Cedric.¡±


    In the next five seconds before darkness engulfed me, I could still hear Cedric shouting my name. Simultaneously, Henry called out to me too.

 [35] a

    I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been in this ce. What I do know is that my eyes are treated to an incredibly beautiful sight. A garden surrounded by fragrant flowers. I remember that the scent of flowers used to make me feel nauseous. Not this time. Everything makes me feelfortable, including the atmosphere.


    There, I sit on one of the wooden benches. Next to me, a chubby-cheeked little boy sits while munching on popcorn. He says it¡¯s made by his dad and that I can have as much as I want. I chuckle at his innocence. The girl next to him is so pretty. I fell in love with her the moment she looked at me. In the depth of her eyes, I felt neither strange nor lonely, unlike how I¡¯ve been feelingtely.


    She said seriously, ¡°Mama, I¡¯m going to be your number one best friend.¡±


    When she said that, I blinked. She called me Mama. What does that mean? Is she my child? I reach out my hand, wanting to touch her cheek. But she refuses, saying, ¡°Wait, not yet.¡± She only allows me to touch the tip of her fingers. Her smile has captured my heart. I¡¯m convinced, she¡¯s my child.


    But wait, why is Baby all grown up now? When did I raise her? All I remember¡­


    I open my eyes wide. If it weren¡¯t for the sudden dizziness, I might have stood up.


    ¡°Joice? Are you awake?¡±


    Cedric is there, looking at me with concern and worry. He repeatedly kisses the back of my hand. ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor, just wait.¡±


    Before Cedric can stand uppletely, I stop him. ¡°My Baby, Cedric?¡±


    He gives me a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s nothing for you to worry about.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not okay. Tell me!¡± I know that this ¡®it¡¯s okay¡¯ probably means something good. Right? Cedric is too mysterious with his smile. If it weren¡¯t for the IV line that is now reversing the blood flow, I would have scratched him. Just so he knows what I¡¯m going through! I don¡¯t care about any other pain that suddenly strikes me. The only thing I care about is the existence of my child.


    ¡°Cedric?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Joice. I¡¯m serious.¡± Hisrge fingers guide mine towards my pregnant belly.


    ¡°The nickname is Baby,¡± I say hurriedly. As usual, this man just smiles.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Then he proceeds to ce my hand on my protruding belly. ¡°Inside there, Baby is growing well. Everything is developing perfectly, Joice.¡±


    It¡¯s like being sshed with cool, refreshing water. I feel relieved to hear that.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor right away, okay?¡±


    All I could do was nod. Once again, I found myself lying in the hospital bed feeling so weak.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the doctor who usually examines my pregnancy toe into the room. He told us this and that, also about the condition of the baby in my belly. He suggested that I takeplete rest. A week should be enough, but Cedric disagreed and didn¡¯t want to rush to go home.


    I didn¡¯t argue much in the end. Even though I wanted to be cared for at home, the doctor said that routine check-ups were still needed, just to make sure I was really resting. So, there was nothing I could do butply.


    The doctor reassured me with full confidence that the fetus I was carrying was perfectly fine. He answered all my worries with a smile that brought great relief to me. He said I was tired again, as if he didn¡¯t realize that I was pregnant. I wanted to argue, but well¡­ I must admit, I have been careless.


    After the doctor¡¯s visit, Cedric spoon-fed me with a little force, urging me to eat the avable food. Well, I didn¡¯t really have to. I just pretended so that Cedric wouldn¡¯t ignore me like he did yesterday, the day before yesterday, the day before that, basically, for the past few days! I won¡¯t stand for it!


    ***


    ¡°What are you feeling now?¡±


    I stopped chewing slowly. Cedric was peeling an apple for me as an afternoon snack. Since a while ago, he hasn¡¯t been talking much, but his attention to me clearly hasn¡¯t decreased even a bit. I noticed that Cedric looked more tired; his eye bags were darker than usual, the corners of his eyes were slightly reddish, and his appearance was more unkempt than I¡¯ve known him, who is usually neat.


    What¡¯s going on?


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I answered softly.


    ¡°Why do you get so tired?¡±


    I don¡¯t know why, but because of the regretful tone in his voice, I suddenly felt sad. My heart, which has been quite sentimental during this pregnancy, became even more so. I couldn¡¯t answer anything, just sobbed softly.


    ¡°Why are you crying? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedric asked, while gently stroking my disheveled hair.


    Instead of calming down, my sobs just grew louder. I covered my face with both hands, but Cedric held them back. He cupped my tear-streaked face, staring at me so intensely, even though my vision was slightly blurred, I could still meet his gaze.


    His dark eyes didn¡¯t show disappointment like I saw earlier. Instead, a sense of regret was clearly imprinted in Cedric¡¯s gaze, for some reason.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Today¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t even sniff away my runny nose. So, I was like a child trying to pull the mucus away with great effort, making an ugly sound in front of Cedric. I lost track of where my embarrassment had gone. ¡°Today has just been so busy. It¡¯s usually not like this, you know.¡±


    And thus unfolded the story of the entire Friday. Including me, who was slightly pushed due to the heavy files I brought from the finance division. I myself was puzzled, why did I have to tell Cedric such a detailed ount like a report? It all seemed to flow out on its own.


    ¡°If it¡¯s really heavy, why didn¡¯t you ask for Jack¡¯s help?¡±


    ¡°I did ask for help, but he¡¯s currently delivering files for Mrs. Krystal. He said it¡¯s urgent.¡±


    Cedric still kept his gaze on me. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t do something like that again, okay? You¡¯re already tired from work, and then you had to lift something quite heavy. That¡¯s why it happened like this.¡±


    I felt so regretful for doing that! Really, Cedric¡¯s words struck a nerve. Once again, tears welled up in my eyes.


    ¡°I should be the one to me, Anya.¡±


    I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°If I had been by your side, I¡¯m sure this incident could have been minimized.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Exactly!¡± I removed Cedric¡¯s hand from my face. ¡°Where were you? Don¡¯t you care about me anymore? What should I believe from you when suddenly I¡¯m ignored? You¡¯re the one who said you loved me, but where is it now? Lies!¡± I quickly wiped away the remaining tears.


    I was reminded of all the things that drove me half-crazy this past week.


    What I couldn¡¯t understand was that Cedric actually chuckled. ¡°Oh, you weren¡¯t busy spending time with your boyfriend?¡±


    Since I didn¡¯t have my full strength, I pped him with about 50% of my normal strength. ¡°Don¡¯t make baseless usations! If you don¡¯t know the whole story, don¡¯t speak without thinking! I tried to exin everything to you. You ignored all my calls, texts, and messages, everything! I know I made a mistake going out with Henry, but that doesn¡¯t mean you should assume I was having a great time with him! I¡¯m not-¡±


    I didn¡¯t finish my sentence, Cedric!!!


    He was busy kissing me without pause. I didn¡¯t even get a chance to catch my breath! But truly, that¡¯s all I felt when his lips touched my pale and dry ones. Everything stirred up perfectly, as if it was asking for an opportunity to be expressed.


    Through this kiss, I realized one thing. I missed Cedric terribly.


    ¡°Oh my goodness!!! This is a hospital room!!! Why did it turn into a kissing session like this!!!¡±


    ***

 [35] b

    Well, this is the fate of having friends who are expert interrogators. I feel powerless receiving all these relentless questions that seem to corner me. And to add to it, Naomi¡¯s gaze makes it seem like I¡¯m making up stories. If my hand wasn¡¯t hooked up to an IV, I would have surely covered Naomi¡¯s mouth tightly to make her stop talking!


    ¡°Just scold him, Cedric. This time, I¡¯m a hundred percent on your side.¡± Dona said while giving him a thumbs up. ¡°Anya¡¯s brain is missing. I think a shark ate it. She keeps fainting during pregnancy. Isn¡¯t fainting exhausting? She keeps making us worry! She¡¯ll probably make both of us die young, Nao!¡±


    Naomiughed following Dona¡¯s nonsensicalints. They were sitting on the sofa in the corner. Cedric just smiled in response to all their teasing. ¡°She already scolded me earlier. Don¡¯t take too long, or she¡¯ll start crying again.¡±


    Ugh, Cedric is so annoying!!! I pouted as he directed his gaze towards me. We were caught red-handed exchanging kisses earlier, about half an hour ago. And then it continued with Naomi and Dona teasing me mercilessly, and this time, I couldn¡¯t refute at all. So, I hid behind Cedric¡¯s back, feelingfortable.


    With the live show earlier, Dona was even more into bullying me. She said I¡¯m an acute level hypocrite! It was clearly evident and obvious, ording to her. But earlier, Cedric defended me, saying that he was the one who kissed me first. A sick person wouldn¡¯t randomly start kissing people. Whatever. I¡¯m already soaked in embarrassment, so if they push me further to drown mepletely, I surrender.


    ¡°Naomi and I have prepared your clothes and essentials. You¡¯re going to restpletely here. Don¡¯t keep making us worried, okay?¡± Naomi walked closer to me. ¡°Luckily Cedric was there earlier, what if he wasn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Hey, how¡¯s Henry doing?¡± Dona suddenly asked. I felt like sinking into the ground! Why did she have to ask that? But I was also curious, though. Cedric hasn¡¯t mentioned anything about Henry since earlier. I personally felt a bit scared, for some reason.


    ¡°Sorry, Cedric. Anya told us that she came here with Henry,¡± Dona said, unable to contain her excitement. ¡°But it¡¯s really sweet of you, Cedric. I¡¯m so annoyed with Henry. He¡¯s so pushy. Anya is a bit naive too, allowing him to get close all the time!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not naive. I don¡¯t want him to get close all the time. He¡¯s the one pushing himself on me,¡± I said, defending myself. As if they can tease me about my romance with Cedric, but when ites to Henry, it just irritates me.


    ¡°Did Henry finally find out that you¡¯re pregnant, Anya?¡±


    I sighed softly. ¡°I was honest, you know, that Sunday. He didn¡¯t believe me; said I was making up excuses to reject him. Well¡­ that¡¯s up to him. I¡¯m not forcing him to believe anything. I don¡¯t know what he knows now after this incident.¡± I shrugged.


    That¡¯s true. I don¡¯t know if Henry truly understands that what I said wasn¡¯t a joke. I don¡¯t feel like discussing Henry with Cedric either. To be honest, my courage hasn¡¯t fully grown yet. Especially after meeting him again and then fainting like this. It seems like I can¡¯t take care of myself properly, you know?


    ¡°He knows now,¡± Cedric said calmly. ¡°That¡¯s why he went straight home after the doctor exined in detail about your condition.¡±


    Both Naomi and Dona burst intoughter. ¡°Serves him right! That¡¯s what happens when you y with people¡¯s feelings!¡±


    I guess Dona has a personal grudge against Henry. Hearing Cedric say that with such confidence, I feel relieved. I don¡¯t have any feelings left for Henry. It¡¯s over.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. So, you two are safe alone. Right, Don?¡± Naomi asked while hugging Dona who nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll leave now. We¡¯lle back tomorrow. I¡¯m really tired. I want to sleep.¡±


    I smiled faintly. ¡°Who told you toe here?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so ungrateful, Anya!¡±


    Naomiughed while I pouted. ¡°You¡¯re annoying,¡± I said to Dona who stood beside me. ¡°Take care, Naomi. You too, Dona,¡± I added because I feel like I¡¯ve burdened both of them enough.


    They chuckled and came closer to me, giving warm hugs that I always enjoy. Cedric escorted them to the front door, tidying up the belongings that Naomi left near the sofa. I¡¯m sure Cedric told them about what happened to me. I never imagined that the three of them wouldn¡¯t be in my life. Perhaps the loneliness that keepsing won¡¯t go away far.


    Just having Naomi and Dona makes me so happy. The three of us never hurt each other. Maybe it¡¯s because our friendship is genuine, so we always try to support each other in any way possible. Maybe it¡¯s because of our backgrounds that make us stick together. I don¡¯t know. I just hope this friendship willst until we grow old.


    Now, there¡¯s Cedric. Can I say that I¡¯m quite lucky in life? Though, well¡­ I doubted it at the beginning. Everything seemed to be heading in a bad direction. What can I say? I¡¯m a realist. But seeing Cedric¡¯s sincerity, I¡¯m confident that I made the right decision.


    ¡°Why are you daydreaming?¡± Cedric teased, now sitting beside me. ¡°What do you want to eat? Or do you need something?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°Just eating all the time. I¡¯ll get fat.¡±


    Cedric just smiled. He took both of my free hands and entwined his big fingers with mine. ¡°So¡­ do you want to exin more about Sunday?¡±


    ¡°I already told you everything in the message. Isn¡¯t it clear?¡±


    Cedric can be so annoying! He shook his head instead. ¡°Not clear, Anya, try exining it again. So I can understand.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sick, I need a lot of rest,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Rest from what? Talking or kissing?¡± he teased.


    ¡°Cedric!!!¡± I red at him, and he rewarded me with a quick kiss on the forehead.


    ¡°I know, I¡¯ve read everything,¡± he said.


    ¡°And then?¡± I asked.


    His forehead creased. I was getting frustrated. ¡°What do you mean, Joice? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Ugh!¡± I tried to free my hands, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Cedric held onto them.


    ¡°Joice, your hands have the IV tube. Even I handle them carefully. Don¡¯t pull like that.¡±


    I got even more annoyed! It¡¯s my hand, not his! Why is he the one getting troubled by it? Because Cedric didn¡¯t let me move freely, I gave in. After all, I feltfortable with both our hands interlocked.


    When he gazed at me, I knew I couldn¡¯t turn away. Even if Henry interrupted so loudly, I realized that Cedric had already be too deeply involved in my life. I owe him an apology, regardless of what happened today. It all started with me. If only I could control my unease around Henry, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. Right?


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I said softly.


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°About what happened on Sunday.¡±


    ¡°Why apologize?¡±


    ¡°See! It¡¯s hard for me to say sorry!¡± I eximed.


    Cedric smiled sweetly. ¡°You¡¯ve been so gentle with me; I¡¯ve already forgotten about what happened on Sunday. Even though I got really mad seeing you in an intimate embrace with-¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kiss him! He forced me, you know!¡± I defended myself. It¡¯s the truth. Cedric has to know that I didn¡¯t enjoy that so-called kiss he¡¯s talking about.


    ¡°Besides him forcing a kiss on you, what else did Henry do to you?¡±


    ¡°Are you using me of something with Henry, Cedric?¡± I asked, disbelieving. My goodness! I¡¯m not a cheap woman!


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that. That¡¯s not what I meant, Joice.¡± Cedric suddenly hugged me. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m sure you know your boundaries, especially when your friend said that Henry forced his way into your life. I mean, has he done anything bad to you when I¡¯m not around?¡±


    I shook my head in his embrace. I smelled the aroma I missed so much, inhaling deeply and filling the air to keep it from fading away.


    ¡°Forgive me too. I should have taken better care of you. I will-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make promises you can¡¯t keep,¡± I said, pushing his chest. I didn¡¯t care if my eyes started to get teary. I hate being promised like that. ¡°Just prove it.¡±


    ¡°I will. I¡¯ll make up for this mistake, Joice.¡±


    Then he kissed my forehead.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    For a long time.


    ¡°Now exin, where have you been for the past week?¡± I asked Cedric.

 [36] a

    ¡°Are you going home?¡± I asked, looking at Cedric with, I don¡¯t know¡­ sadness, I guess, if he really has to leave. Who will take care of me tonight? I can still clearly remember that he was the one who would wait for me. But now? Cedric put on his jacket. He must be going, right? Leaving me again, right? I¡¯ve been obedient all day, you know. Why should I be left behind?


    Cedric approached me and kissed my forehead. I feel that since I waved the peace g and epted him, Cedric has never yed around or hesitated to show his feelings for me. There¡¯s no awkwardness at all.


    ¡°No, I just want to grab some coffee at the cafe across the street.¡±


    ¡°Will it take long?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°No, just a moment.¡±


    I can¡¯t hold him back, can I? So I just nodded. Just buying coffee, not what I had thought. I allowed my eyes to satisfy themselves by gazing at Cedric¡¯s back before it disappeared behind my hospital room door.


    I remembered how the story about Cedric ended up with me being introduced by his mother, online through a video call. I never imagined that Cedric could be crazier and more unpredictable than me, who was yearning for him!!!


    Yes, I didn¡¯t misjudge the situation! We greeted each other awkwardly because I thought it was the craziest thing I had ever done in my life! When Cedric saw me with Henry, he decided to step back for a while. He said, ¡°I might lose controlter. So I¡¯ll take a break and clear my mind.¡±


    That¡¯s when the call from his family came. They informed him that his mother was sick and he had to return immediately. That¡¯s why all my calls, chats, and messages-Cedric said he didn¡¯t ignore me, he just wanted to focus on his mother for now. Although he did reply to me and called me back with brief exnations, it was enough.


    He apologized for his mistake. He couldn¡¯t focus at all because he was really worried about his mother. Cedric shared everything openly. His eyes showed deep sadness. He was afraid that something bad would happen to his mother. I let Cedric rest his forehead on my shoulder, as if he was sharing everything, he felt with me.


    I got lost in his sadness too. If only I had known earlier, maybe I could haveforted him a little. Cedric himself didn¡¯t want to talk, right? I assumed he was so angry because he saw me with Henry, who seemed to be intimate with me even though he wasn¡¯t. He ignored me because of those emotions.


    Ah, it was so frustrating!


    And well¡­ Cedric really wanted me to talk to his mother. After I urged him, the situation reversed. His mother, Mrs. Iriana, who supposedly wanted to talk to me because Cedric still hadn¡¯t invited me to visit, was the one who called. It turned out that she was around 65 years old-I only found out after I hung up the phone. I never expected that at all!


    Her graceful features were still there. She just looked a bit pale due to the recovery process, which made her appear older. But indeed, she was older than my initial assumption.


    We only had a brief introduction. Besides, I didn¡¯t want to keep her on the phone for too long so that Mrs. Iriana could get back to resting. She also advised me to take better care of myself. I shouldn¡¯t copse too often and I mustn¡¯t forget to take the vitamins and medication that the doctor prescribed for me.


    One thing that made a warm feeling surge in my chest even more.


    ¡°Anya, take care of yourself, okay? If Cedric can¡¯t take care of you properly, let me scold him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± I swallowed slowly. I never expected such a heartfelt eptance.


    ¡°Get well soon, so we can meet, okay?¡±


    ¡°Take care and get well soon for you, too,¡± I said. Even though I only saw her through the phone screen, her warmth and sincerity reached deep into my heart.


    ¡°Of course, dear. I¡¯ll be fine soon. I¡¯ll have a grandchild in no time,¡± she replied.


    Maybe pregnant women¡¯s hormones are never stable. Just hearing those words made me teary-eyed as I recalled the events that led to my pregnancy. Perhaps, if the baby weren¡¯t there, I wouldn¡¯t be here either, right? But it feels¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am,¡± I said, choked up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if the grandchild¡­¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize, dear.¡± I could clearly see she was still smiling. ¡°It¡¯s me who should apologize. I couldn¡¯t teach my only son properly.¡±


    That made me cry even more.


    ¡°But, Ma¡¯am, Cedric doesn¡¯t regret that I¡¯m the one carrying his child. He said I look beautiful like this.¡±


    I nced at Cedric, who suddenly sat next to me, embracing me affectionately and giving me a peck on the cheek. Shameless!!! Even though I purposely tried to keep some distance from Cedric, I felt awkward talking to his parents in this situation!


    ¡°Enough of you! Do you want to get pinched again?¡±


    Cedric justughed unashamedly. I don¡¯t know, but I felt like I was going to copse? Oh my God!All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alright then. Anya, rest now. I will too. I¡¯ll arrange things so you both can visit me soon. I want to talk to Anya a lot,¡± she said.


    I nodded softly, unable to resist. The time wille when I¡¯ll be introduced to Cedric¡¯s family in his hometown. So¡­ I consider this as the colors of my life. No longer gray but like a rainbow. Mixed and attacked by naivety multiple times.


    After the call ended, we still sat in the corner of the avable sofa. The room was deliberately chosen ording to the benefits of my insurance card. It was also for more privacy because I was sure Dona and Naomi would visit here often, just like they usually did during my recent hospitalization.


    ¡°Thank you for talking to my mom,¡± Cedric said, and suddenly my heart raced uncontrobly. His gaze drowned me, and I couldn¡¯t look away.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad,¡± I replied after hanging up with Cedric¡¯s mother.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    I shrugged. I don¡¯t know. I feel like there¡¯s a ton of fear because our introduction is based on my pregnancy. If not for that, we might not have met, right? I wouldn¡¯t have even looked in Cedric¡¯s direction. I could have gone back to Henry, and who knows what would have happened in that different path of my life.


    Besides trying to enjoy and ept this, what else can I do, right? eptance is part of life, and I know that from my experience with being left by my parents. I often wondered why, but I never found the answer. I was too young back then to be med for school grades or something like that. Why did they leave me? Only they know, and I can only answer that after years of searching for the answer. I guess I just wasn¡¯t wanted by them.


    If I had acted on my evil intentions back then, and if God had granted my wish, wouldn¡¯t I have be like my parents? Abandoning an innocent child for the same reason? If I wasn¡¯t wanted, then why did my mother get pregnant with my father? They acted with full consciousness, right?


    Am I like this? Half-consciously flirting with other men like this?


    I¡¯m lucky to be surrounded by people who care about my well-being.


    ¡°Joice? Are you daydreaming?¡± Cedric asked, making me blink slowly. My daydream shattered.


    ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    ¡°Is there something my mom said that upset you?¡±


    I shook my head firmly. ¡°No, nothing.¡± I immediately heard Cedric sigh with relief.


    ¡°Thank goodness then, Joice. I thought something was bothering you. You seemed quiet after talking to my mom.¡±


    I gave him a small smile. ¡°No, Cedric.¡±


    We both sank into silence. Slowly, I lowered my head to rest on his shoulder, just as my heart slowly fell for him. Even though he¡¯s a simple guy, he has a straightforward life.


    ¡°Cedric, where is your hometown? Is it far away? Do you travel there or how?¡± I asked.


    He chuckled. ¡°My parents¡¯ house is in Cosmopolis. If you n to visit, we¡¯ll ask the doctor if it¡¯s okay for a pregnant woman like you to travel long distances.¡±


    Am I not mistaken? Why does that name sound familiar?


    Krystal.


    Didn¡¯t Krystal¡¯s parents also fall ill? And in Cosmopolis too?


    Is this just a coincidence or more than that?

 [36] b

    I insisted on going home on Monday. I¡¯m already healthy! Cedric is just being too overprotective. Oh, and don¡¯t forget that Cedric¡¯s behavior, bordering on over-possessiveness, is fully supported by Naomi and Dona. They said I needed to rest at the hospital to stay sane.


    As if Henry woulde to pick me up when they¡¯re busy working.


    Crazy, right?


    Isn¡¯t there a better usation than that? I felt like pulling Dona¡¯s hair when she uttered those words without mercy. She was so annoying! I wanted to get angry and vent my frustration, but Cedric held me back. He even threatened me. If I didn¡¯tply, he would kiss me shamelessly in front of them.


    Truly.


    These three people in front of me make my day even more insane!


    ¡°But promise me, no funny business while at the apartment,¡± Cedric said in the end. That was after he asked Naomi and Dona to step out for a moment to mediate our sudden argument about my return home.


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m going to do? Do you also suspect me like they do? That I¡¯m pregnant and flirting with other men? Seriously? Their minds are so small-minded!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Cedric smiled again! That only made me angrier. Argh! Why are they all like this? Can¡¯t anything make me happy even a little?


    ¡°While I¡¯m at work, you really have to rest. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°Where else would I go?!¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re not going anywhere. What I mean is, don¡¯t work at all or do anything at the apartment.¡±


    I turned my face away, furious.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Cedric called softly, tilting my chin so I had to look at him. I was still reluctant. Why does he have bad thoughts about me? I know now who my priority is: the baby. Then Cedric and our rtionship. Then what else? Is it still not enough for him to trust me?


    ¡°Joice?¡± he called again, this time forcing me to meet his gaze. ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    ¡°Figure it out yourself.¡±


    Once again, he just smiled! Did I forbid Cedric from smiling? It momentarily softened my annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask the doctor if it¡¯s really allowed to go home or not. If it¡¯s not, don¡¯t argue, okay?¡±


    Since I couldn¡¯t look away, I just nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± Now Cedric has a new hobby. The most important one that he always does without ever forgetting; he kisses my forehead. Sometimes it¡¯s long, sometimes short. Depending on the need. I¡¯ll tell you about his other hobbiester. For now, he¡¯s indulging in his main hobby with me again.


    Not long after, my two friends entered, recing Cedric who wanted to meet with the doctor to ask if I could really be treated at home or not. Seeing them, I pouted and sulked.


    ¡°Anya looks ugly when sulking,¡± Dona said casually. She immediately sat in the seat where Cedric was sitting earlier. ¡°If you can go back home this evening, I¡¯ll cook Chicken Grill. Do you want that?¡±


    Dona rarely cooks in my kitchen. She only eats what she likes and doesn¡¯t want to be bothered unless her mind is clear. It¡¯s Naomi who often uses the kitchen. She can cook simple dishes like stir-fry or soupy vegetables. Whatever she puts in the dish, she does it as she pleases. She says that what matters most is that it tastes good and is eptable to the stomach. Healthy too.


    However, when Dona decides to enter the kitchen, you can be sure that your taste buds will be pampered. She once told me that her cooking skills were acquired from her mother, who loved asking her to help in the kitchen. One of those times was to cook Chicken Grill. I was in charge of buying the ingredients, which Dona carefully noted down. Naomi was in charge of cooking rice and preparing other things.


    Then we would all eat together, with lots of jokes andughter.


    I¡¯m weak when offered something like this.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go anywhere. You guys will suspect me,¡± I said, still making a sour face. Dona chuckled.


    ¡°Let Cedric do the shopping. Nao will handle the kitchen. Right, Nao?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Finally, I smiled. I couldn¡¯t stay mad at them for too long. I received warm hugs that suddenly enveloped me.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Oh, is it a reunion?¡±


    We were all surprised. When we turned, the doctor who usually examined me smiled as he saw us letting go of each other. And Cedric too.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check on Anya¡¯s condition first. Then I can determine if she can go home or not,¡± he added. I just nodded, allowing my two friends to move aside. They stood not far from where Cedric was.


    asionally, I answered the doctor¡¯s questions with a confident tone, because that¡¯s my current condition. The pain I experienced was gone. No more cramps. My appetite was starting to improve. I took all the vitamins and medications that were rmended. Rested properly and didn¡¯t argue too much or do too many activities. Not to mention doing many activities, I was already eager to step out of the hospital room just to breathe fresh air in the morning, but Cedric forbade me.


    Annoying, right?


    ¡°Anya is allowed to go home now. Her condition has improved a lot. The baby¡¯s condition is also good. Just take it easy on her activities, don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    I smiled contentedly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that I¡¯m already healthy,¡± I said with a satisfied smile. I saw Cedric shaking his head while Naomi and Dona rolled their eyes at me.


    ¡°Being healthy doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever you want, Anya,¡± Naomi said.


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll organize Anya¡¯s things first. You guys can keep herpany,¡± Cedric said as I saw him escorting the doctor¡¯s visit earlier.


    ¡°Oh, staying here for so long makes me miss my boyfriend, Nao.¡±


    ¡°You can still meet your boyfriend. What about me? I¡¯m single!¡±


    Dona burst intoughter, the loudest among us, while I just smiled. Meanwhile, Cedric was confused by the behavior of the three of us. He gave me a questioning look, and I just shrugged my shoulders.


    ¡°That¡¯s your problem, Nao. That¡¯s why you should find a boyfriend. Or you could follow Anya¡¯s way of finding a partner? It¡¯s worth a try.¡±


    I was taken aback as Dona really should have a filter on her mouth! She¡¯s so reckless when she talks! Oh my God!!!


    ¡°If I end up with someone like Cedric, who¡¯s kind-hearted and willing to be bossed around by Anya. What if I end up with a bad-tempered guy?¡±


    Dona burst intoughter. ¡°That¡¯s your misery.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a bad friend. Not a good idea at all!¡±

 [37] a

    Cedric was not letting me do any strenuous activities at all. Earlier in the morning, I had a long discussion with Anna about the tasks that needed to bepleted. Luckily, I had already sent the deadline requested by Krystal on Friday afternoon. At least, my workload wasn¡¯t too heavy because I had to leave my work again.


    So, I could continue resting fairly peacefully. I told Anna not to hesitate to call or message me if she had any difficulties.


    ¡°But don¡¯t feel disturbed, okay? Anna is still very shy about asking directly to you,¡± she said on the phone, with a cautious tone. I couldn¡¯t help but smile, as I was sure that Anna¡¯s face was blushing with a mix of shyness and reluctance.


    ¡°No, just call if you need help.¡±


    ¡°Okay then. Have a good rest. If you¡¯re really sick, you don¡¯t need toe in, so you won¡¯t get even more exhausted.¡±


    Iughed. That was the most appropriate reason I could give to the HRD department as well as Anna. I had to y it safe before delivering even more surprising news. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready for it or not yet. But I guess I can¡¯t avoid it anymore, can I?


    Before calling Anna, I had informed Krystal first. I told her on Saturday so that she wouldn¡¯t be surprised if I suddenly took a day off on Monday. She had even wanted to visit me, but I remembered that she was still busy with her personal matters. Her mother was sick, just like Cedric¡¯s.


    There couldn¡¯t possibly be any connection, right?


    This was just a coincidence, right?


    Thinking about things I couldn¡¯t reach was tiring. So, I let it be. Between Krystal and Cedric, there was no connection except that one was a big boss and the other was just an office boy. My phone rang, one message came in. It was from Cedric. I don¡¯t know why, but I was smiling happily.


    Cedric K: Just remember all my instructions, Joice.


    Cedric¡¯s long list of nagging this morning really annoyed me. I couldn¡¯t sit on the balcony for too long. I couldn¡¯t soak myself for too long in the water because of the fear of catching a cold. I couldn¡¯t even bete in eating various fruits that I used to snack on. And that was not all. I waspletely restricted from doing too much physical activity. I could only sit and enjoy novels or watch drama series.


    It wasn¡¯t really a problem, but it just felt strange. I was used to being active, and now I was limited.


    ¡°Just think about it. Do you love the baby or not? If you love it, then you should think before acting,¡± Cedric said softly before leaving me alone in the apartment. Today, he went back to work. He was already wearing his office boy uniform, just buttoning up his jacket that he usually wore while riding his motorbike.


    ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re willing to take aplete rest as the doctor rmended? For the sake of the baby? You love it, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course, I love it!¡± I almost shouted because Cedric was casually doubting whether I loved the baby in my belly or not. Well¡­ even though I initially didn¡¯t want to ept it, it didn¡¯t mean that the feeling of love didn¡¯t arise, right?


    ¡°If you love it, then you¡¯ll obey what I say.¡±


    I kept staring into his eyes. Not saying anything, just observing him as he got ready to leave. Cedric¡¯s fingers were busy buttoning up his jacket and putting on his shoes.


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I called softly. ¡°What perfume are you wearing?¡±


    He paused. ¡°Don¡¯t like it, huh? Should I change it?¡±


    I shook my head firmly. ¡°No! I like it. I like it a lot, actually.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t like the person wearing it too?¡± he teased.


    I scoffed. That¡¯s enough. Cedric was not an easy person to win over, it was like asking for a heart but receiving a galldder. Annoying!


    ¡°Eh, you¡¯re turning away,¡± Cedric stopped me from moving away. ¡°You haven¡¯t received your good morning kiss yet.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°I already did earlier!¡± I couldn¡¯t ept Cedric saying that! When we woke up, Cedric gave me a long kiss until I was out of breath. And we hadn¡¯t even brushed our teeth or washed our faces! I was annoyed! I felt like I needed to make a special rule about the lip-locking event. It had to be done after going to the bathroom!


    ¡°Not enough,¡± Cedric stood right in front of me, towering over me. I had to tilt my head up to look at him. But from what I remembered; I only reached his shoulders. Why do I feel like such a dwarf in front of Cedric? I¡¯m so smallpared to him. And now, his hands were already wrapping around my waist to pull me closer to him.


    ¡°Your lips always get me addicted, Joice.¡±


    Well, when this man wasn¡¯t making me swoon with his attitude. Instead of pushing him to leave, I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck, giving him even more ess than usual.


    ¡°You¡¯ll bete, Cedric.¡± I took in as much air as I could. My lips were right in front of his. I could feel Cedric¡¯s lips forming a small grin.


    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    As a final touch, Cedric nted a long kiss on my forehead. His first hobby.


    Cedric stayed over at the apartmentst night. Taking care of me. Nothing strange happened, though. We really just slept after exchanging many stories. Anything and everything. Including Cedric¡¯s stories about his mother. I liked the way he spoke about his life with his mom. I could feel that Cedric loved and respected both of his parents deeply. I didn¡¯t ask much about his father, though.


    Cedric just said his father worked. That was it.


    Granny Sumi once told me, ¡°A good man is someone who loves his parents, dear. Look at how a man treats his mother. He will also respect you as a woman and love you wholeheartedly.¡±


    ¡°But, Granny ¡­ My father isn¡¯t like that. He doesn¡¯t love you, right? That¡¯s why he left, just like my mother. He doesn¡¯t love my mother either, right?¡± I was a teenager at that time. My views on parental love had been eroded by the many unanswered ¡®whys¡¯ that I still couldn¡¯t find the answers to.


    ¡°Maybe I also had a part in doing wrong, dear. Forgive your father and your mother.¡±


    I felt sad hearing that. ¡°I¡¯m confused when you say there¡¯s something wrong with her actions. I can feel what¡¯s genuine and what¡¯s not, Granny.¡±


    The old woman, with slightly wrinkled eyes, just smiled. ¡°One day you¡¯ll understand, dear, what I said earlier.¡±


    There was nothing I could do but smile, even though I doubted her hope. It felt impossible, right? If indeed a man truly loved his mother, then he would love his partner wholeheartedly as well. What about my father towards Nek Sumi? He just left her like that? Didn¡¯t he love her? No matter how ugly and wrinkled she was, she was still Granny Sumi, his mother. A mother who deserved the highest respect from her son.


    What did she get? Abandoned along with her child. What did we do wrong? At that time, I let the feeling of frustration take over until I met Henry. Even though he was mischievous and troublesome, Henry loved his parents very much. He tried to fulfill their wishes as much as possible. And in the end, I confirmed in my little heart that Granny Sumi¡¯s words were true.


    Henry truly loved me wholeheartedly, even though we were both far from being mature. And it was that love for his parents that made us decide to separate and pursue our respective dreams. I never med what had happened. What¡¯s the use anyway? No matter how hard I tried, it seemed that God knew that I was powerless against destiny.


    Henry was indeed my first love. The person who upied a part of my heart that craved love. Until I met Cedric.


    I forgot where I read this quote before. I read many romance novels. If I¡¯m not mistaken, the words were like this. Someone else may be your first love, but it doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll be yourst. It¡¯s possible that yourst love is someone so close to you, without you realizing it.


    Simr to my story with Cedric, right?


    Ah, I suddenly want to hear his voice. This time, I¡¯m not ming or dragging Baby into it. It¡¯s purely my own feelings.


    ¡°Why, Joice? Do you need something? Is something wrong with your stomach? Are you in pain again?¡±


    It feels like we¡¯re exchanging lips, not just saliva. Why is Cedric being so chatty?


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it? What¡¯s going on?¡± I can hear a sigh of relief from Cedric on the other end.


    ¡°I miss you,¡± I say softly, closing my eyes. I¡¯m sure my face must be blushing uncontrobly.


    ¡°Come on, Joice. Don¡¯t say that.¡±


    Huh?


    ¡°You don¡¯t miss me too? Really, Cedric?¡±


    I hear Cedricughing. ¡°When you say you miss me in that adorable voice, it distracts me from work.¡±


    My lips pout.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±


    A smile unconsciously forms at the corner of my lips. ¡°Just wanted to say that. Bye.¡±


    I don¡¯t need any response from him because I¡¯m already embarrassed. But this warm feeling creeping into my heart is no joke. Oh¡­ I¡¯m like a teenager in love! The intensity of this love is even stronger than what I felt with Henry. Seriously!


    Cedric. K: I miss you, Joice. Always.

 [37] b

    I tie my hair up for a moment before getting out of the car, but Cedric stops my hand. I furrow my brows and look at him, full of questions.


    ¡°Just leave it untied.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s messy if I do that.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± he says. I pout but don¡¯t argue further. I quickly put on the sweater that was on the back seat. I¡¯m hungry. I really want to eat the famous fried duck in the Radio Dm area. I don¡¯t know why the restaurant sign bothered Cedric when he asked what I wanted to eat for dinner.


    Actually, I feel a bit guilty. Cedric¡¯s face looked so tired just now. But I can¡¯t lie, right? They say when a pregnant woman wants something, it feels sad if it¡¯s not granted. So, when I said what I wanted, Cedric became so enthusiastic. As if the tiredness that was on his face disappeared in an instant.


    And here we are, right in the avable parking area. My wish was granted by Cedric, but it also came with certain terms and conditions. It¡¯s like winning the lottery, right? But I don¡¯t want to argue. The image of fried duck with spicy sambal and warm rice is too tempting to resist. So, I let Cedric be busy with this and that, including picking out clothes for me.


    Before Cedric opens the car door for me, I already step out. When Cedric arrives right in front of me, he grins. ¡°I was going to be romantic and open the car door for my beloved.¡±


    Iugh. ¡°Too slow. I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Madame. You can eat moreter,¡± Cedric says while yfully touching the tip of my nose. This might be his third hobby. I already told you the first one, right? The second one is still a secret, okay? I¡¯ll tell youter if he does it again.


    He holds my hand tenderly. Not too tight, but I can sense his possessiveness. We walk side by side like a loving couple. Even though my logic loses to my emotions, can I still hope that what I believe is true?


    I mean, I can¡¯t deny that he¡¯s an office boy at work. Most people say it¡¯s a lowly job. Maybe it¡¯s true. Or maybe it¡¯s not. Naomi once said, ¡°A man is responsible. With what, Anya? Work. There¡¯s a lot he can do to prove how responsible he is to a woman he loves. Anything. As long as there¡¯s intention and determination to keep moving forward. I value people like that. In your case, Cedric.¡±


    Originally, I ignored it as mere background noise. But over time, its resonance became stronger and made me rethink. Since Cedric entered my life uncontrobly, I could sense that he¡¯s not someone who gives up easily. He¡¯s hardworking, diligent, and willing to work even harder.


    Another important thing is that he prioritizes me. In his presence, I feel like a queen. Not that I always want to be served, it¡¯s just that his attention and affection make me put aside my selfishness about life. It¡¯s as if what Cedric shows and gives me helps me learn a lot about our rtionship.


    I don¡¯t hesitate or feel embarrassed to prepare breakfast and coffee for him. His praises feel so sweet. Even though I genuinely made them without any ¡®Baby¡¯ embellishments, it still feels different. I think such little things with sweet appreciation can maintain our rtionship well.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Are you daydreaming and smiling like that? What¡¯s up?¡± Cedric asked, and I felt flustered!


    ¡°Well, why? Are you sick? But if you were, you wouldn¡¯t be smiling, right?¡±


    I found it better to erase the smile that I didn¡¯t realize was on my lips than to be noticed by Cedric like this! ¡°I¡¯ll just order this.¡± I pointed at the menu randomly.


    ¡°But, it¡¯s chicken. You said you wanted duck!¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s duck. I don¡¯t want chicken!¡±


    Cedricughed at my behavior. Goodness! Why am I acting so silly?! I covered my face because of both embarrassment and being pointless; Cedric was alreadyughing at me like this! So, I pouted!


    It didn¡¯t take long-maybe because Cedric closed his order with a silly remark, ¡°A pregnant woman¡¯s request. She wants it a bit quicker as she¡¯s hungry.¡± The male server who approached our table smiled and nodded, responding to Cedric¡¯s words.


    ¡°All right, sir. I¡¯ll tell the chef to cook it faster.¡±


    I pouted even more while Cedric was quite satisfied with hisughter. My goodness! Why am I behaving like this?! I pinched his stomach slightly. Never mind if there are red marks or even make them blue! I don¡¯t care!


    As expected, our order was ready quite quickly. Sometimes Cedric would remind me to be careful as the fried duck was still steaming hot. I was already unable to resist, especially seeing the sambal! My appetite was fully awakened. I felt like eating quickly, but what¡¯s in front of me had to be finished first, right?


    ¡°How¡¯s your mom?¡± I didn¡¯t know how many spoons it had been; I don¡¯t remember. Seriously, it was so delicious that I forgot to engage Cedric in conversation. Although we rarely exchange stories while eating, I suddenly remembered his mother. It seemed like my brain really had some nerve or synapse connection detachment. Maybe.


    Do I need to see a doctor?


    There it is! As expected, Cedric was surprised by my question just now. I could see him blinking slowly at me while sipping mineral water.


    ¡°Mom?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Your mother. Did I ask the wrong question?¡±


    Cedric smiled again! This time, it even showed his dimples. He rarely does that, right?! ¡°No mistake. I was just surprised.¡±


    I rolled my eyes in annoyance, mostly to cover up my sudden nervousness. But¡­ I don¡¯t think there was anything wrong with my question, right? Why is Cedric acting like I¡¯m weird?


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Because earlier this afternoon, my mom asked about you too.¡±


    ¡°Is she all better now?¡± I was getting embarrassed by his response.


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s taking care of her then?¡± I was quite curious, actually. Even if he said that his father was there, they¡¯re still old. Can they take care of each other like that? Especially¡­ Cedric has limited funds if he has to hire someone to help take care of his mother. Oh, but they live in their hometown, right? I guess there are rtives helping, I suppose.


    I think.


    ¡°They¡¯re in Washington DC, Anya.¡±


    Great, I almost choked!


    ¡°They¡¯re staying at my sister¡¯s ce, so we can keep an eye on them better.¡±


    Cedric never talked about this part, especially about having a brother. As he recounted his absence for a week, I still remember it clearly. It was only about his mother being sick, and he mentioned the hassle of taking turns at the hospital. That¡¯s all.


    As we exchanged information about our families, I only knew that Cedric had moved to Washington DC, lived alone, and had an additional job at a club. That¡¯s it. Any other details, I never remembered him mentioning them in front of me.


    I started feeling like I was in a rtionship with a mysterious person. And stupidly, he was right in front of me. From now on, I didn¡¯t want to be left in the dark anymore. I needed to know in detail who my future husband is.


    ¡°So, if you¡¯re all better, we¡¯ll meet your mother, right? You want that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°How many siblings do you have, actually?¡±


    ¡°Two. I¡¯m the youngest.¡±


    ¡°You never told me about this, I think.¡± I voiced what had been bothering me in the end.


    He just smiled again. Sweet, indeed. It made him even more handsome, but I needed an answer, right?


    ¡°I did mention it before. I think you forgot.¡±


    My eyebrows furrowed even more, making my forehead crease.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter. The food is here now. We¡¯ll continueter. There¡¯s plenty of time for you to ask me many questions.¡± Then he gently caressed my furrowed forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t burden yourself with thoughts. I¡¯m right here beside you.¡±

 [38] a

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± I don¡¯t know how many times Cedric has asked this question. I¡¯m perfectly fine! Seriously! I can¡¯t stand sitting on the couch all the time, limited in what I can do. I¡¯ve already finished reading so many novels from my stack. What else can I do? I just want to do theundry!


    Of course, it¡¯s not like I enjoy doingundry, but I hate having a pile of dirty clothes in theundry basket! Sure, I could hire aundry service, but I had a bad experience once where my favorite blouse got stained with something else. It made me swear offundry services for good. It¡¯s not about the money, it¡¯s the memories attached to the clothing.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that. You¡¯ll be running around, Joice.¡±


    I sigh deeply. Cedric is so weird, you know? ¡°Cedric, I have an automatic washing machine. I don¡¯t need to run around like I¡¯m ironing, if you must know.¡±


    ¡°Still¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡± I pat his cheek gently. I think I can feel some soft facial hair around his jawline, but it¡¯s not very noticeable yet. But it¡¯s definitely felt in the palm of my hand. It makes me want to stroke it longer.


    ¡°Go to work.¡± I forgot, he has to go to work. He¡¯s been staying in the apartment for the past two days. I didn¡¯t ask him to, he wanted to. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to have to doundry like that.¡±


    I roll my eyes in annoyance. ¡°Exaggerating. Now, go to work!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re getting tough again.¡±


    ¡°Go already!¡±


    He chuckles. ¡°A morning kiss first.¡±


    ¡°We already did that!¡±


    ¡°Not twice.¡±


    ¡°Cedric!!!¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going. You can do theundry, but then rest. Don¡¯tin if you feel sick. I¡¯ll be mad.¡±


    ¡°Can you really do that?¡± I challenge him with a little wink. Teasing.


    ¡°I can.¡±


    I thought he would walk closer to me, wanting to give a morning kiss as he said earlier. Not that I¡¯m hoping for it, no! Morning kisses that we do ¨C mind you, after we brush our teeth and wash our faces ¨C I protested fiercely because Cedric always does it right after we wake up in the morning.


    I vividly remember Cedric¡¯s words after the long kiss we shared near the sink.


    ¡°It¡¯s even more addictive after brushing, huh.¡± Cedric holds the back of my neck to keep me close. ¡°Wait. I want more.¡±


    Don¡¯t forget that Cedric¡¯s tongue is incredibly skilled at ying around my neck. I don¡¯t want to see any love marks there. Not that I¡¯m ashamed. It¡¯s a little painful, maybe because Cedric¡¯s suction is too strong or something.


    But, well¡­ no one can resist this, right? So I better go back to wrestling with lips on this peaceful morning. I¡¯m still on vacation; tomorrow I¡¯ll start working normally again. On Saturday, I finally agreed to visit Cedric¡¯s brother¡¯s house and meet his mother directly.


    Oh, not just his mother, but his parents and his brother too.


    I can¡¯t avoid it anymore, can I? After everything I¡¯ve been through, this is what I have to face. I¡¯m willing, really. There¡¯s no hesitation or second thoughts anymore. Last night, after we had the duck dinner, we talked a lot about our future together.


    Well, I did most of the talking, especially about whates after we get married. I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll get married, but Cedric wants it to happen soon. In my opinion, doesn¡¯t getting married require some preparation? When I asked him, he justughed.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll reject you again?¡±


    Hisughter is still on his lips,bined with a soft nod. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. When will you say yes to my marriage proposal?¡±


    ¡°Give it a try. It¡¯s not like you can propose in a woman¡¯s bed. You¡¯re ridiculous. And now you¡¯re proposing in a woman¡¯s car!¡±


    I giggled, remembering Cedric¡¯s various attempts at proposing. It¡¯s not that there¡¯s no seriousness there, it¡¯s just¡­ are these really his serious attempts? When I looked at him, theughter on his lips disappeared. Vanished into thin air. Did I say something wrong? I don¡¯t think so, right?


    When our eyes finally met, Cedric gave a small smile. His gaze was filled with sadness. Suddenly, I felt guilty. ¡°I mean, I didn¡¯t mean to-¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°I understand.¡± I felt his gentle hand caress my head. ¡°Just be patient. Wait for the right time.¡±


    I remained silent.


    ¡°But when that timees, don¡¯t expect to back out.¡±


    I wanted tough again, but I couldn¡¯t. I had too many questions because Cedric¡¯s words held so much meaning. And I couldn¡¯tprehend any of it. Seriously.


    ¡°See, now you¡¯re daydreaming again.¡±


    Really, I¡¯m not daydreaming. Memories just automatically yed in my head. I didn¡¯t even realize that Cedric was standing in front of me. He was looking at me with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Not daydreaming,¡± I said as I pushed his body slightly. Being this close to Cedric makes me feel unwell, I realize. My heart is racing, and I can even feel his heartbeat from the palm of my hand. I can still remember the part of his body that has been hugging me for the past few days, under his shirt.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Cedric chuckles. How silly is this? Without warning, he hugs me tightly. Whispering so softly, but it makes me widen my eyes in disbelief. How could Cedric¡­


    ¡°I always remember your slender fingers tracing my body. Always remember. That¡¯s what made me lose control.¡±


    I paid attention to my appearance this morning. Nothing is wrong. I turn my body around once again; dark gray culottes, a sleeveless shirt with a cor that covers a bit of my neck, and a zer that I deliberately don¡¯t button toplete my outfit.


    The natural makeup is perfectly applied on my face. Nothing iscking. That¡¯s how I feel. This morning, we didn¡¯t wake up together. Last night, Cedric only apanied me for dinner and then went home. That was around eleven o¡¯clock. Crazy, right?


    I had already kicked him out at nine. I meant well, stayingte can be dangerous, right? He evenughed, saying he still wanted to stay longer with me. After a few days of being with me, what¡¯s going on in Cedric¡¯s head, I wonder? Just some silly ploy? Really? Oh, God!


    Oh well, it seems Cedric really enjoys making my heart race. From my perspective, when it¡¯s just the two of us, Cedric gives me his full attention. I mean, besides his sweet words, he does many things that touch my heart. But when my two busybody friends are around, Cedric limits himself. But don¡¯t get me wrong, his eyes! They can be intimidating if I were to do anything mischievous.


    I¡¯vee to understand a thing or two about his habits, especially his behavior. When ites to careless matters, I¡¯m the expert, and Cedric is the one who takes care of everything. Cedric¡¯s attitude when he¡¯s ready to debate with me doesn¡¯t involve long exnations. He gives examples from real situations that we¡¯ve experienced or at least have happened nearby. Not preachy, just so I can see andpare if I choose this path, will I end up freefalling or safe? Or if I choose another option, will it turn out well or will I stumble?


    As long as I¡¯ve known men who approached me, none of them behaved like Cedric. I¡¯m being honest. Cedric¡¯s level of maturity far surpasses my expectations, regardless of his age, which I had no idea about. Oh my, I never expected he was thirty-four years old! If only I had known, at least I wouldn¡¯t have underestimated him based on his age. Maybe it¡¯s because of his age, or maybe it¡¯s because of his work experience. I don¡¯t know.


    As far as I know, maturity can be influenced by the environment we spend time in. Take me, for example. I admit that I¡¯m terrible at maturing myself. I¡¯m selfish and unwilling to give in. And being around my two troublesome friends has spoiled me. They indulge me even if they have to bully me first. And that has greatly influenced my behavior. Plus, I rarely socialize with many people.

 [38] b

    Well¡­ how can I socialize when I¡¯m always overworked and have many off-site agendas? Not to mention Krystal always orders me around with no consideration for the fact that sometimes I really want to be free from the grueling work. Even though I earn a lot of money, sometimes I envy those who can go wherever they want after office hours.


    Me? I have to wait for Krystal¡¯s permission before I can leave.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯m confused. Krystal¡¯s change in attitude is incredible, from a devil to an angel. That¡¯s how I described it, right? It¡¯s what I feel. I want to ask, but I¡¯m never able to. I¡¯m afraid that if I ask, Krystal¡¯s attention will disappear. Even though she¡¯s strict and firm, Krystal is actually kind.


    The inte in my apartment rings. I know who¡¯sing. It must be Cedric. In a hurry, I check my hair once again before I head out. Before, I rarely went back and forth to the mirror. Feeling satisfied with everything, I head to the office. Arriving at my desk, I check again if there¡¯s anything missing or if I¡¯m ready to handle the busy agenda.


    For some reason, I have to do it this time.


    ¡°Good morning, Anya!¡±


    I feel like going back to my room. Why did I open the door with such a wide smile like this? Dona and Naomi barge in without me telling them to. And Cedric? He only gives a small smile as he watches the two of them take over.


    ¡°Hey, Anya. Are you sure you¡¯re ready to work? I don¡¯t want to deal with you passing out again,¡± Naomi says without any regard for me. Meanwhile, Cedric just gives me a quick peck on my temple when I re at him, he chuckles softly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go straight to the office, okay? No need to get dressed up like earlier,¡± Naomiins as she sits on the sofa. ¡°Anya, what did you have for breakfast?¡±


    ¡°I said I would tag along for breakfast and then we¡¯ll leave. Your excuse of taking multiple rides is ridiculous,¡± I scoff at Naomi, who receivesughter from Dona.


    ¡°Serves you right. Anya¡¯s getting strict again, Nao.¡±


    I roll my eyes in annoyance. ¡°I just made spaghetti. That¡¯s all I had time for.¡±


    ¡°I WANT!¡± They¡¯re the most unified when ites to free breakfast.


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat too much! I only made two servings. Dividing it into four portions won¡¯t be enough. My husband and I won¡¯t eat much.¡±


    That¡¯s just words; they don¡¯t listen anyway. Once I serve the spaghetti, they eat it eagerly. I wince because Cedric, who I wanted to prepare breakfast for, ended up with so little! These two!


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Aren¡¯t you still hungry yourself? If you¡¯re still hungryter, we can stop by and get breakfast,¡± Cedric assures me.


    I nod happily. It¡¯s true, I¡¯m still hungry. Luckily, I had milk earlier, or I might have fainted. Cedric probably isn¡¯t full either. He eats quite a lot. The spaghetti he ate was just a few bites; it was probably just to get it out of the way so it wouldn¡¯t dirty his teeth.


    ¡°Why are you pouting again? We said we¡¯d buy you breakfastter.¡± Cedric yfully ruffles my hair, which I intentionally left wavy. Just a small wave ent at the end. Before I could respond to his words, Dona¡¯s voice dominates the conversation. I feel like pping her, but she¡¯s my dear Dona, what should I do?Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°We have to get used to seeing Anya acting all cute with Cedric,¡± Dona¡¯s statement is agreed upon by Naomi. I just shrug it off. I¡¯m used to it, and it has be sort of a routine because these two just can¡¯t resist teasing me.


    ¡°Hey, we haven¡¯t told you about Monday, right?¡± Dona says, but she grimaces for some reason.


    Curious, I look at her, ¡°Why? What happened?¡± I¡¯m starting to suspect that they¡¯re hiding something.


    ¡°Nothing. Monday was just a regr day,¡± says Naomi.


    This only makes me more suspicious, right? As I stare at each of them, no one says anything except the sound of fork clinking and phones vibrating against the tes. Even when we went to the office and bought porridge so that I could have breakfast, they remained tight-lipped.


    Not a single word about Monday. What¡¯s up with Monday? Anna didn¡¯t send me any messages rted to work until today, just asking about some things I didn¡¯t consider crucial.


    I press them for answers, but they just say in unison, ¡°Forget it, what matters is that you¡¯re back to work and ready to face Krystal who¡¯s shining even brighter.¡±


    Isn¡¯t that annoying?


    I definitely need to find out what happened on Monday.


    ***


    I work as usual. I greet Krystal, who wees me with a big smile. Oh, this time she even hugs me! I was standing near Anna¡¯s desk and froze in ce because of her actions.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±


    My hearing isn¡¯t wrong, right? My body isn¡¯t going anywhere, right? I¡¯m still here, right?


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say you¡¯re fine when you¡¯re actually not, okay? You make me worry!¡± Krystal¡¯s eyes are so intense as she looks at me.


    ¡°I understand, ma¡¯am.¡± I dare not challenge her gaze for too long. She¡¯s beautiful, yes, but also full of intimidation as usual. I feel nervous and awkward in this situation. In the past, when I made a mistake, Krystal would reprimand me with a sharp look and an air of authority. I understand that in Krystal¡¯s eyes, mistakes should ideally¡­ ideally, yes, be at a zero scale, meaning there should be no mistakes at all.


    But how is that even possible, right?


    Now, she¡¯s giving me the same intense look, but with a different problem. Even though her tone demands answers, I still feel a sense of warmth in her words. I hear Krystal let out a soft sigh.


    ¡°Alright then, just take care of yourself, Anya. Remember, you¡¯re pregnant.¡±


    I swear my face must have turned purple. Krystal said that so casually right when Anna is within earshot. After that, she walks toward her office, leaving me with no face left in front of Anna.


    ¡°You are pregnant? Oh my God! Why didn¡¯t you say anything? If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered you during break!¡±

 [39] a

    I was eating while giving two people in front of me a rather sarcastic stare. I guess it¡¯s true that they were hiding something from me during my sick leave yesterday. Without beating around the bush, I immediately asked them to spill the beans, even though we hadn¡¯t even sat down at the cafeteria yet. I couldn¡¯t wait. Not at all.


    Even though I tried to shake off my curiosity since I sat in the passenger seat earlier this morning until I returned to work feeling restless due to Krystal¡¯s words, I couldn¡¯t do it. The actions and behavior of my two friends were very suspicious. How could there be something they didn¡¯t tell me? Am I no longer considered part of the group?


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s just like that,¡± Dona said with her shoulders slumped. Her eyes pleaded with me not to suspect her again.


    ¡°Yeah, just like what? I don¡¯t know.¡± I took a bite of my food while Naomi ate calmly. When her eyes met Dona¡¯s, she gave a subtle grimace. See, I was right. They were hiding something.


    ¡°Tell her, Naomi. Can¡¯t I know?¡± I finally urged. Naomi gave in. That¡¯s what I was hoping for. How could she not give in for the sake of a pregnant woman? Besides, I usually know all the office gossip. Why am I not allowed to know this time?


    ¡°Sarman was taken by the police, used of embezzlement of funds since a year ago. The amount is surprisinglyrge.¡±


    This I knew. I had somewhat checked the misappropriation reports as well. On that fateful Friday, I was the one who handed the report to Krystal.


    ¡°But not at the office.¡±


    I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°He was arrested at the airport. It caused a bigmotion on TV. Didn¡¯t you see the news?¡±


    I shook my head. During my break, I watched the series I had left behind for so long. Also, I caught up on the dramas I had skipped because I didn¡¯t have enough time. In other words, I fully used my break yesterday to finish many dramas and novels. There¡¯s no news that I¡¯m aware of.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the story.¡± Dona shrugged. I saw a hint of relief on her smooth face. Then she resumed enjoying her potato soup without interruption from my piercing gaze. But for some reason, my heart wasn¡¯t satisfied, and I still felt that they were hiding something.


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    Naomi nodded enthusiastically. Dona followed suit.


    ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re not lying to me, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Anya! That¡¯s all that happened on Monday when you were absent. There¡¯s nothing special like a new boss we didn¡¯t expect-¡±


    ¡°PAINFUL, Naomi!!!!¡±


    They are all hiding something. Dona can¡¯t keep a secret for too long, especially from the three of us. Her lips are ustomed to gossiping here and there, but it all leads back to us. When ites to others, Dona is merely an information gatherer. She digs as deep as possible before turning it into gossip for us to consume.


    It¡¯s like every time there¡¯s something that she thinks will create a stir in the office. And now, from just a snippet of her words, Naomi is already trying to cover it up.


    ¡°You two aren¡¯t my friends anymore, huh.¡± Naomi nudged Dona, who was sitting right beside her. There you go again. It¡¯s so obvious that they really want to hide something from me.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Naomi still scowled at Dona. I know it all too well because their interaction is happening right in front of me. I waited, half forcing them to spill it out. ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn, Doni!¡±


    ¡°My name is Dona!¡±


    Naomi sneered, ¡°Fine. What is it?¡±


    They both looked at me in unison and sighed at the same time. ¡°We promised not to talk about this. The person involved will be the one to tell youter.¡±


    ¡°What is it, then?¡± Seriously, it¡¯s making my curiosity even more unbearable. ¡°What is it exactly? Apart from Sarman going to jail for his mistakes, what else is there? Is there something even more shocking than this?¡±


    Again, they both nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Fine, then just exin it,¡± I said, almost shouting. I lost my appetite, feeling annoyed.


    ¡°Anya, eat first. You haven¡¯t been eating at all. You might faint,¡± Dona coaxed, pushing the bowl of soup closer. ¡°Come on, Nao. Anya is more important than a promise.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Dona.¡± Naomi seemed frustrated about this. ¡°Alright, fine! But you promise to handle this wisely.¡±


    I remained silent, waiting.


    ¡°And you eat first, Anya. We won¡¯t tell you anything if you don¡¯t eat. It¡¯s a waste.¡±


    Finally, my lips pouted.


    ¡°Hurry up. Do you want to know or not?¡± Dona urged once again, pushing the bowl of meatball soup that I hadn¡¯t touched yet. Giving in, I ate under their watchful eyes.


    ¡°Anya.¡±


    I swallowed myst spoonful of soup as Cedric suddenly sat right next to me. Without informing me that he wasing over for the meantime? In the cafeteria. The cafeteria where many of our office staff also eat. It¡¯s not that there¡¯s anything wrong with it, but¡­


    Oh my goodness! Do we really have to go public right away?


    I mean, I know it¡¯s not possible to keep hiding what I¡¯m going through. I also don¡¯t want to deny anymore who the father of the baby I¡¯m carrying is. I don¡¯t want to act foolishly again and end up with tremendous regret. During my leave, I read a lot of articles about pregnancy and stories about women who were med for not being able to conceive in their marriages.


    Do they want that for us? Clearly not! If the one in charge, God, doesn¡¯t will it, can we force it? Maybe that¡¯s what Naomi meant when she said I¡¯m starting to direct my strange thoughts in the right direction, no longer wandering aimlessly. I¡¯m so grateful to have friends like Naomi and Dona.


    Although it started with a tragic mistake, it doesn¡¯t mean I should me the baby. We were at fault, especially me, who should have let go of my selfishness for the baby.


    ¡°You¡¯re not eating?¡± Cedric approached me, and I resigned myself to the fact that he came over. I also started building a thick wall called ¡®indifferent¡¯ in case I hear any unpleasantments in the office.


    As long as these three people are in my life, it¡¯s enough for me.


    ¡°I already ate in the pantry. I came after you to make sure you¡¯ve eaten,¡± I scoffed.


    ¡°Anya has calmed down, Cedric. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Dona said as she pleased.


    ¡°Now, I¡¯ve finished eating as you ordered. Now it¡¯s your turn to tell me,¡± I said, looking at them, weighing something.


    ¡°Naomi? Dona?¡±


    ¡°Can you hear the storyter? This is the cafeteria, Anya. Gossiping here is so mean,¡± Dona added with an exaggerated tone.


    ¡°Yeah, seriously. This is some juicy gossip,¡± Dona said with a yful voice.


    ¡°You better go back to the pantry. We want to gossip. They probably won¡¯t talk if you¡¯re here.¡± I gently pushed Cedric¡¯s shoulder, trying to get rid of him. I felt confident that Cedric¡¯s presence made those two mischief-makers cancel their ns, as they were now smiling without any clear reason.


    ¡°Pregnant women shouldn¡¯t gossip. Let¡¯s talk about something else. I want to stay here.¡±


    ¡°Cedric!¡±


    ¡°What? I¡¯m here, Joice. Not going anywhere.¡± He chuckled as he saw me giving him an angry scowl. ¡°Oh, I want to order coffee. Do you want some, Doni? Naomi?¡±


    They all shook their heads together.


    ¡°Juice?¡±


    Again, they shook their heads.


    ¡°But I want to treat you guys. Don¡¯t you like it when I treat you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have it, well¡­ Cedric. I want mango juice. Do you want some too, Anya?¡± Naomi¡¯s voice sounded unusual.


    ¡°If it¡¯s juice, I want some. Or I can order it for you, Cedric. What about you?¡± Dona is always theziest when ites to going to the juice or food vendor. She prefers to call the server instead of walking up to them. She says it¡¯s part of the service, but in reality, she¡¯s justzy and doesn¡¯t want to move.


    Now?

 [39] b

    I have to find out more about what happened on Monday. I¡¯ll wait eagerly for the full story from both of them. They¡¯re behaving too suspiciously. I have to do it. If necessary, I¡¯ll use the tantrum technique with Baby. Let them give in to me. No one can resist my whining, right? We¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll definitely find out what happened that day. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m missing out on gossip.


    ***


    Damn, I¡¯m busy. I even left half an hourter than the office closing time. Krystal was waiting for me to finish, checked on me briefly, and then almost chased me away. Anna was also busy, having to change many schedules abruptly because Krystal changed her agenda for the next two weeks.


    I helped Anna, who was swamped with thest-minute changes our boss gave her just two hours before the end of the workday. If it were me doing the work, it would take only an hour to finish. Anna? I think she¡¯ll take a while to get used to Krystal¡¯s whimsical tendencies. I was slow at first too, but experience is the best teacher, right?


    Anna will be able to follow and keep up with our work rhythm. I¡¯m sure of it.


    While I worked on my overdue tasks due to my leave, Krystal didn¡¯t put any pressure on me. She only asked when I could finish everything and which parts she should work on first. I felt guilty for her kindness.


    Especially after lunch today, she gave me a bag full of various fruits. She said she remembered that pregnant women should consume lots of fruits. I kept some in the fridge in the corner of the room. The rest, I shared as an afternoon snack with Anna.


    I don¡¯t know, maybe just saying thank you isn¡¯t enough to express my gratitude to Krystal. During my leave, she asionally called me to make sure I was okay. Even when I was in the hospital, I really hoped that would be thest time during this pregnancy, but she still monitored my progress. I feel like I have an older sister. Really. Her attention sometimes makes me wonder if I deserve it.


    ording to the three of us, it¡¯s indeed excessive.


    Speaking of excessiveness, I felt it again when Krystal made sure I left after finishing my work. She waited until Cedric arrived at the office, not wanting to take my word for it. So, I sent a message to the man who was now focused on driving, telling him toe to the 21st floor immediately. If not, I was sure Krystal wouldn¡¯t leave.


    When I saw Cedric¡¯s figure at the end of the hallway, Krystal finally got up from her seat and left, leaving Anna and me. I couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh. I think Anna felt the same.


    Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?


    ¡°Why are you daydreaming? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedric asked while gently patting my head. ¡°Tired?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s not tired from work, Cedric.¡±


    Heughed. ¡°That¡¯s true. Sleep is tiring too, right?¡± Our eyes met. ¡°But why are you daydreaming like that?¡±


    I just shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to gossip because Naomi and Dona had to work overtime. It¡¯s annoying.¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back my pout, which must have advanced at least five centimeters. If only Krystal hadn¡¯t sent me home, maybe I would have preferred waiting for Naomi and Dona to finish their overtime. I¡¯m so sure that the dyed gossip would be extremely exciting. They couldn¡¯t possibly be hiding something that would make our conversations even more fun, right?


    Right?


    ¡°I feel embarrassed in front of Baby, Joice.¡±


    I¡¯m annoyed! Doesn¡¯t Cedric realize how curious I am? Especially with the suspicious behavior of the two people closest to my life! It¡¯s obvious that I¡¯m incredibly curious and frustrated because I can¡¯t be satisfied.


    To alleviate both my annoyance and frustration, I identally hit Cedric¡¯s waist with my elbow. He winced a little because of my action, but whatever.


    ¡°What do you want to eat? Since we¡¯re outside, we might as well eat something.¡±


    ¡°Spaghetti with melted mozzare on top.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Cedric turned to me, perhaps to confirm if what I said was true.


    ¡°Spaghetti with melted cheese.¡±


    Cedric smiled and then pointed to the tip of my chin. ¡°Is this what Baby wants? Or is it what you want?¡±


    I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°You often say, it¡¯s Baby¡¯s preference. But when is it your actual preference?¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I pouted! Damn Cedric!


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯m going home, okay?¡± I nced at the clock in the living room; it was already ten o¡¯clock at night. Cedric¡¯s face didn¡¯t look like usual. Exhaustion was clearly etched on it. I felt guilty if he had to force himself to go home, but what could we do? He really had to leave.


    I asked if it had something to do with his band¡¯s schedule, but he shook his head. He told me with certainty that his band only yed on Saturdays and Sundays. Fridays were sometimes included, depending on the situation. I just nodded. He seemed very enthusiastic about his side job, saying that it paid quite well.


    I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t want to know too much about it. Isn¡¯t it too early for me to know more details? He already told me about this issue, and I thought it was enough for now. I think we should discuss finances more thoroughly after we get married. It¡¯s not a trivial matter to be talked about. Money matters are sensitive in a rtionship. At least that¡¯s how I see it.


    ¡°There, daydreaming again. Why? Thinking about Henry?¡±


    ¡°As if! Can youe up with a more ridiculous usation?¡± Oh my goodness! Is there a better usation than that?! Where did thate from?!


    ¡°Then why are you spacing out like that?¡± Cedricughed again. Once more, his hand mischievously went to y with my chin. I pushed away his hand that was so freely toying with my face. Annoying.


    ¡°If you want to go home, go ahead. You know where the door is, right?¡±


    Instead of stopping hisughter, Cedricughed even more. ¡°How can I go home if you¡¯re pouting like that? Smile first, then I¡¯ll go.¡±


    I pouted. I¡¯d better go to sleep soon. I still have to work tomorrow. Many tasks are waiting for me, calling out loudly to bepleted, and I want Krystal to have as few obstacles as possible during her meetings with many clients next week. Even though I¡¯m no longer attending the meetings, all the meeting reports go to my email, and Krystal only wants me topile them into one cohesive document.


    Before I could take another step away from the living room, Cedric held me back. ¡°Angry?¡±


    I shook my head. Not angry, just annoyed. There¡¯s a difference.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not angry, why are you pouting?¡±


    I still didn¡¯t want to speak. Instead, Cedric pulled me closer. Since earlier, I¡¯ve been distracted by the scent of his perfume, which he refused to tell me the brand. He said if he mentioned it, I¡¯d go buy it. As if I didn¡¯t have any affection for it anymore because I already found a recement. Cedric¡¯s signature perfume.


    Doesn¡¯t that reason sound unreasonable?


    ¡°Joice?¡±


    Combined with Cedric¡¯s voice, my brain was greatly affected. Especially when he called me with half dominance and half sweetness. It¡¯s hard to turn my face away! Oh my goodness! What is Cedric using? A charm potion?


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry, Cedric,¡± I said, pushing gently on his chest to create some distance. But Cedric tightened his embrace, even more than before. ¡°If you want to go home, then go, I won¡¯t hold you back.¡±


    He nodded softly.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± I added. ¡°It¡¯ste already.¡±


    I don¡¯t know how many times Cedric has a habit of dropping his forehead on my shoulder. Half of his weight falls on me. I could clearly feel the warmth of his breath against my neck.


    ¡°I actually miss you.¡±


    I swallowed nervously.


    ¡°But I have to go home.¡±


    Spontaneously, I nodded before losing focus due to Cedric¡¯s mischief, as he yed with the tip of his tongue. I could feel it getting wet because of his actions.


    ¡°I also wish it was already Saturday.¡±


    Part of my brain went numb from the little bite Cedric gave.


    ¡°So you can meet Mom and discuss wedding matters.¡±


    Damn it! A sigh escaped as Cedric ended his little game with a gentle suck that turned into quite a forceful one. I think it wasn¡¯t just a red mark he left behind but a bruise.


    [40]


    I felt like the two friends I treated were avoiding me. I invited them for lunch, but they said they already ordered delivery. This morning before work, I offered them breakfast from our favorite restaurant, but they didn¡¯t want it. They only replied to my messages with short and often repeated responses, so I wonder, did I do something wrong?


    It doesn¡¯t seem like it.


    We¡¯re still on good terms. We haven¡¯t had any arguments or debates. Is it because I pressed on the gossip issue? So what? I just want to know! Could they really just leave me hanging like this? It¡¯s strange!


    ¡°Anya, we¡¯re going out until evening,¡± my boss informed me. She was getting ready with her Hermes bag, while Anna was still rushing to keep up with Krystal. There was a meeting scheduled for this afternoon, and originally, they nned to have lunch together. But Krystal refused, ording to Anna, who was worried about being asked many questions by the client about why her boss declined the lunch invitation.


    In my mind, I was certain that Krystal didn¡¯t want to spend too much time with that crazy Andrew again. Even if Annamunicated with her personal assistant, there would still be a barrage of questions about why she wasn¡¯t having lunch together. Why she was stalling. Why she didn¡¯t just meet outside the office.


    Something like that, probably.


    Because I knew their habits, one chasing with enthusiasm while the other avoiding because she didn¡¯t want to. I always said, ¡°Ma¡¯am has given her orders. I¡¯m just conveying them.¡±


    Anna didn¡¯t dare speak like that; she was afraid, she said. I justughed when sheined two hours before Krystal decided not to have lunch with a high-ranking Lazade executive.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I replied with a slight smile. I had to get used to this even though it was difficult since I wasn¡¯t apanying Krystal to meetings anymore. I couldn¡¯t be selfish, right? I should be grateful that Krystal understood my situation. I shouldn¡¯t force myself to go here and there and exhaust myself again. The foolish things I did some time ago were enough.


    Thank goodness, Baby is fine.

 [39] c

    Krystal walked gracefully and beautifully. When is she not beautiful? Always perfect. Her wide-leg trousers almost brushed the floor, covering part of her high-heeled shoes,plemented by a matching zer. The standout of her appearance today was her hair. Perhaps she had sharpened the highlights. I don¡¯t know. What¡¯s certain is that it looked more defined, adding to her beauty.


    Then there¡¯s Anna. The girl smiled awkwardly, looking down, maybe feeling shy. I gave her an encouraging smile. ¡°Take care, Anna. You can do it,¡± I said. Her eyes blinked slowly, and a smile finally appeared on her lips. Maybe she felt relieved, the ufortable feeling of taking over my responsibilities slowly fading away.


    I¡¯m not too concerned if Krystal doesn¡¯t invite me out for meetings. Instead, I¡¯ve be more afraid and started taking better care of Baby. I don¡¯t want any unwanted incidents to happen. If the worst-case scenarioes true, and I get fired for breaking the rules, while Krystal can¡¯t defend me because it would sh with the rules, I¡¯d just ept it.


    I haven¡¯t discussed this yet, but I keep thinking about Cedric¡¯s wordsst night. It makes me want to smack or strangle him! Because of him, I¡¯m wearing a shirt with a slightly higher cor! Otherwise, his marks would be so obvious! It might be embarrassing, but I¡¯m enjoying it.


    Tomorrow is the day when I agreed to meet his mother, or rather, his family. To formally introduce ourselves and Cedric wants to discuss our marriage. The four of us with both his parents. I can¡¯t avoid this anymore, can I? Well, I can no longer deny that Cedric¡¯s name has found a ce in my heart, unlike Henry¡¯s, which belongs to the past and doesn¡¯t need to be remembered.


    I¡¯ve never visited a boyfriend¡¯s house before. I¡¯ve never been in a serious rtionship either. Maybe because none of them have really clicked with me, and well¡­ I¡¯m too picky. Maybe that¡¯s what God is punishing me for. So I won¡¯t judge someone based solely on one aspect.


    Cedric¡¯s ws? Many. Mine? Even more.


    But as I¡¯ve gotten to know him better and slowly opened up, he also pushes me in an unusual way. Making it impossible for me to turn away. Anyway, why am I thinking about someone who¡¯s with me every day? If I keep thinking about him, I won¡¯t be able to concentrate on work. Krystal is waiting for my report, even though she¡¯s not in the office.


    While I work, I asionally check my phone. Maybe someone will identally tell me some gossip. But it seems not. They seem busy. Oh well. I¡¯ll invite them over on Sunday and let them know what I might miss when visiting Cedric¡¯s house. So our conversation will be more lively. Right?


    So I¡¯ll use the remaining time to finish all the remaining work. Let my two friends who are still unwilling to share information take a break for a moment. Also, let go of my thoughts about Cedric. So I can finish quickly and go home on time. When I left, Cedric advised me not to overwork. I¡¯m confused; I know my limits better than anyone else.


    I¡¯m actually strong enough to carry those three folders, but Sarman pushed me, causing the pain to return. If it weren¡¯t for that, I wouldn¡¯t have ended up back in the hospital again. I¡¯ve exined to Cedric many times, but he still doesn¡¯t understand. He says I¡¯m careless. Agreeing with my friend¡¯s criticism of me.


    ¡°Anya?¡± Cedric called, making me startle. The man who dominated my thoughts-although I quickly shifted my focus back to work-is now standing in front of me. Since when did hee in? Did I not notice his steps?


    ¡°What time is it now?¡± I don¡¯t need him to answer; I nce at the digital clock, which shows five o¡¯clock. Also, a message came in about half an hour ago. From Krystal.


    Krystal. K: Anya, I¡¯m going straight home. Anna too. You should head home after finishing sending your report. You don¡¯t have to work overtime.


    ¡°It¡¯s already five o¡¯clock, Joice,¡± Cedric says while pulling a chair in front of Anna¡¯s desk and sitting at a distance from me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you finishing your work in the afternoon?¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    He just smiles. ¡°Let Jack handle it.¡±


    I furrow my brows. Usually, even if I leave with Cedric, he would finish his evening tasks first. I¡¯m not sure what it is, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s far from cleaning up the area he works in. I don¡¯t mind, though, if he wants to finish it first.


    After all, I¡¯m not fully ready to go home.


    ¡°Why are you with Jack? Isn¡¯t his area on the upper floor?¡±


    He smiles again. ¡°Haven¡¯t you finished your work yet?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I just need to save a few files. Give me a moment. I¡¯ll get ready first.¡±


    It doesn¡¯t take long for me to get ready. I notice that Cedric is busy ying with his phone, but his expression looks serious. I wonder what he¡¯s doing. Usually, when men wait for women, it¡¯s not far from ying online games. Maybe Cedric is like that.


    My bag and belongings be Cedric¡¯s loyalpanions. I¡¯m not allowed to carry them at all. He says they¡¯re heavy. At first, I didn¡¯t care and let Cedric carry them. I didn¡¯t mind. But the longer it goes on, the more I feel sorry for him. So now, I want my bag back, but I can only ask for it when we arrive at the apartment.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your uniform, Cedric?¡± I ask suddenly. I just realized that the uniform he wore this morning has changed to a different dark-colored shirt. Almost the same color as his uniform.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Cedric smiles again. ¡°It¡¯s in the pantry.¡±


    I just nod. Maybe because his work hours are over, he¡¯s free to change out of his uniform. But before I was hospitalized, Cedric rarely changed his uniform.


    Strange, isn¡¯t it?


    When I recall today, he only brought me a cup of lemon tea all day. Not for Anna. He didn¡¯t even use the tray he usually pushes to deliver drinks this morning. I just noticed it today.


    Was it the same yesterday?


    ***


    I¡¯m nervous. Very nervous. Well, of course! It¡¯s my first time visiting a guy¡¯s parents¡¯ house! To formally introduce ourselves. And I know it¡¯s because of, well¡­ one of my mistakes. But I can¡¯t back out now, can I? Not because it¡¯s toote or anything, but because it needs to be done soon.


    It¡¯s not right to give in to selfishness, especially pretending to be brave and taking on the challenge of raising a child alone. The problem isn¡¯t about money or anything; it¡¯s about love and affection. Naomi was right, it deeply affects me when ites to the meaning of love. I was born out of love but neglected due to selfishness.


    I don¡¯t want Baby to experience the same thing. It¡¯s not their fault. It¡¯s ours. I¡¯vee to realize that, and well¡­ I feel fortunate that Cedric never let me go just like that. He didn¡¯t give up and is determined to prove that everything can be fixed slowly. Although I know our journey ahead is long, at least there¡¯s something that motivates me.


    Baby.

 [39] d

    If his parents question our rtionship, I¡¯ll prepare myself mentally. Cedric never brought up this issue, though. He¡¯s actually really happy that I¡¯m finally willing to meet his mother. He often shows that excitement in front of me. He said his mother can¡¯t wait to meet me and wants to touch my belly. If I hear that, at least I won¡¯t be greeted with scornful looks, right?


    I hope not.


    I check the clock in the living room; it¡¯s already eight in the morning. In the message, Cedric said he¡¯s on his way to pick me up. Last night, when I expressed my sudden doubts that made my stomach ache, he justughed.


    ¡°My mother isn¡¯t as scary as you imagine, Joice.¡±


    I pouted when he said that.


    ¡°Your mind seems to be all mixed up. You need to separate the positive from the negative. There¡¯s too much negative. Try to reduce the negative and increase the positive.¡±


    My lips pout even more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    I look up to reassure myself that there are no lies in his jet-ck eyes. At that time, Cedric was already preparing to leave, but I held him back. Once again, I expressed my fear and was rewarded with a long, tight hug.


    ¡°If your mother agrees, what about your father? Your sister?¡±


    Again, Cedric smiles. He straightens my slightly messy hair. ¡°No, tomorrow you¡¯ll see for yourself how they are. I won¡¯t be far from you. I¡¯ll probably get the harshest scolding over all this.¡±


    I pout again. I realize that¡­ this isn¡¯t entirely Cedric¡¯s fault. So I feel embarrassed for no reason.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look, Joice.¡±


    Huh? I blink slowly. What¡¯s wrong with me? I haven¡¯t done anything; I¡¯m just returning his hug. Wrong? I wait for Cedric to talk or at least tell me what he means by his words. But he just stays silent.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    I hear him sigh softly. ¡°I¡¯m going home now. Being close to you is truly a temptation.¡±


    I growl. I lightly hit his shoulder and push him a bit. What nonsense! I¡¯m not trying to be tempting! I¡¯m wearing decent pajamas. Everything is covered properly. All buttoned up like this, why is he saying I¡¯m tempting? Unless I put on that tight ck dress, which I don¡¯t even know where it is now, maybe then I¡¯ll ept being called like that!


    So, in this case, Cedric couldn¡¯t control himself, right?


    Seeing me irritated, he justughs. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow, okay? Don¡¯t think too much. You need enough rest.¡±


    I just nod. When Cedric speaks like that, I can¡¯t argue anymore. ¡°Be careful,¡± I finally say, releasing the hug around my waist.


    ¡°I miss you being grumpy,¡± he says.


    ¡°And yesterday you said I was sweet and adorable when I¡¯m not grumpy. Now you want me to be grumpy. What do you really want, Cedric?¡±


    ¡°Bnce.¡± He ends his words with a soft, long kiss. He says it¡¯s a goodnight and a luby for me. I smile between our kisses. How could he say something like that to me? Isn¡¯t he the one who wanted to kiss me, after all?


    I twitch when I hear the apartment¡¯s doorbell ring loudly. Maybe because I was daydreaming, that¡¯s why I got startled like this. I prepare breakfast for Cedric. Perhaps he hasn¡¯t eaten breakfast yet, even if it¡¯s a simple menu. A sandwich and a cup of coffee, just like his usual, finishing my homemade coffee before going to work.


    When I open the door, I can¡¯t blink. Is this¡­ Cedric?


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re not letting me in, Joice?¡±


    I move aside silently, letting Cedric enter while ncing at me asionally. His facial expression looks confused, probably because of my strange look when I see him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the strange one, Cedric.¡± I sit beside him at the dining table since he¡¯s heading there. I believe the coffee cup that I think is specially prepared for him is taken directly by him, slowly.


    ¡°Me?¡± Cedric sips his coffee. He seems to be enjoying the taste as I see him close his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not strange.¡±


    For me, Cedric looks very strange.


    I mean like this. Usually, he only wears regr t-shirts or polo shirts in dark colors. He pairs them with ck jeans. Always ck, never any other color, as far as I remember.


    Now?


    Damn! Cedric is tens of times more handsome than usual. Uh¡­ well, usually, I find him attractive, not saying he¡¯s handsome. ording to me, Kelvin is more handsome than him.


    Now?


    In front of me sits a man wearing a navy blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His long pants are still there, but the color choice is light brown. By Naomi¡¯s standards, I know that these two items are not random brands. Because besides fitting perfectly on Cedric¡¯s cool body-I admit it because my index finger has proven it several times-his appearance is not much different from Kelvin, who prioritizes his fashion sense.


    Even his hairstyle has changed. Usually slicked back as if he just dipped his hair in a tube of hair oil, but seriously, it doesn¡¯t smell. Instead, I find the scent of Cedric¡¯s hair refreshing. As for his cologne, uh¡­ let¡¯s not talk about it. I like it and can¡¯t look away. Now? He just uses a bit-maybe-of hair product or something, allowing it to look messy, which makes him look even cooler.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Joice? It¡¯s weird seeing you stare at me like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you really Cedric?¡±


    Heughs. I even see the corners of his eyes get teary. Maybe my statement is funny to him, but it¡¯s not funny for me. I¡¯m not sure this man is Cedric. The Cedric I know doesn¡¯t look like this.


    Maybe seeing me unresponsive to hisughter, theughter gradually subsides. Cedric pulls the chair next to mine closer so we can be closer.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s different,¡± I say.


    ¡°What¡¯s different?¡±


    Should I say the honesty in my heart? What if he gets a big head? But what else can I say? The reality is, Cedric looks really handsome with this style. I feel his fingers gently stroking my forehead.


    ¡°What¡¯s really weird is you, Joice. What¡¯s wrong? Still scared?¡±


    I shake my head gently.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    In my heart, I pray so much that my lips don¡¯t let slip what¡¯s in my head.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go quickly. Don¡¯t take too long, or your mom will wait for a long time, right?¡± I say quickly. This is the most effective way to keep my mind from thinking about anything other than our purpose today.


    Cedric just smiles. His way of smiling, to me, is different. Very, very different. It adds thousands of times to his sweetness! Oh my goodness, heart! Don¡¯t slip away from my grip, okay! I might die suddenly if you do!

 [40] a

    I felt like the two friends I treated were avoiding me. I invited them for lunch, but they said they already ordered delivery. This morning before work, I offered them breakfast from our favorite restaurant, but they didn¡¯t want it. They only replied to my messages with short and often repeated responses, so I wonder, did I do something wrong?


    It doesn¡¯t seem like it.


    We¡¯re still on good terms. We haven¡¯t had any arguments or debates. Is it because I pressed on the gossip issue? So what? I just want to know! Could they really just leave me hanging like this? It¡¯s strange!


    ¡°Anya, we¡¯re going out until evening,¡± my boss informed me. She was getting ready with her Hermes bag, while Anna was still rushing to keep up with Krystal. There was a meeting scheduled for this afternoon, and originally, they nned to have lunch together. But Krystal refused, ording to Anna, who was worried about being asked many questions by the client about why her boss declined the lunch invitation.


    In my mind, I was certain that Krystal didn¡¯t want to spend too much time with that crazy Andrew again. Even if Annamunicated with her personal assistant, there would still be a barrage of questions about why she wasn¡¯t having lunch together. Why she was stalling. Why she didn¡¯t just meet outside the office.


    Something like that, probably.


    Because I knew their habits, one chasing with enthusiasm while the other avoiding because she didn¡¯t want to. I always said, ¡°Ma¡¯am has given her orders. I¡¯m just conveying them.¡±


    Anna didn¡¯t dare speak like that; she was afraid, she said. I justughed when sheined two hours before Krystal decided not to have lunch with a high-ranking Lazade executive.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I replied with a slight smile. I had to get used to this even though it was difficult since I wasn¡¯t apanying Krystal to meetings anymore. I couldn¡¯t be selfish, right? I should be grateful that Krystal understood my situation. I shouldn¡¯t force myself to go here and there and exhaust myself again. The foolish things I did some time ago were enough.


    Thank goodness, Baby is fine.


    Krystal walked gracefully and beautifully. When is she not beautiful? Always perfect. Her wide-leg trousers almost brushed the floor, covering part of her high-heeled shoes,plemented by a matching zer. The standout of her appearance today was her hair. Perhaps she had sharpened the highlights. I don¡¯t know. What¡¯s certain is that it looked more defined, adding to her beauty.


    Then there¡¯s Anna. The girl smiled awkwardly, looking down, maybe feeling shy. I gave her an encouraging smile. ¡°Take care, Anna. You can do it,¡± I said. Her eyes blinked slowly, and a smile finally appeared on her lips. Maybe she felt relieved, the ufortable feeling of taking over my responsibilities slowly fading away.


    I¡¯m not too concerned if Krystal doesn¡¯t invite me out for meetings. Instead, I¡¯ve be more afraid and started taking better care of Baby. I don¡¯t want any unwanted incidents to happen. If the worst-case scenarioes true, and I get fired for breaking the rules, while Krystal can¡¯t defend me because it would sh with the rules, I¡¯d just ept it.


    I haven¡¯t discussed this yet, but I keep thinking about Cedric¡¯s wordsst night. It makes me want to smack or strangle him! Because of him, I¡¯m wearing a shirt with a slightly higher cor! Otherwise, his marks would be so obvious! It might be embarrassing, but I¡¯m enjoying it.


    Tomorrow is the day when I agreed to meet his mother, or rather, his family. To formally introduce ourselves and Cedric wants to discuss our marriage. The four of us with both his parents. I can¡¯t avoid this anymore, can I? Well, I can no longer deny that Cedric¡¯s name has found a ce in my heart, unlike Henry¡¯s, which belongs to the past and doesn¡¯t need to be remembered.


    I¡¯ve never visited a boyfriend¡¯s house before. I¡¯ve never been in a serious rtionship either. Maybe because none of them have really clicked with me, and well¡­ I¡¯m too picky. Maybe that¡¯s what God is punishing me for. So I won¡¯t judge someone based solely on one aspect.


    Cedric¡¯s ws? Many. Mine? Even more.


    But as I¡¯ve gotten to know him better and slowly opened up, he also pushes me in an unusual way. Making it impossible for me to turn away. Anyway, why am I thinking about someone who¡¯s with me every day? If I keep thinking about him, I won¡¯t be able to concentrate on work. Krystal is waiting for my report, even though she¡¯s not in the office.


    While I work, I asionally check my phone. Maybe someone will identally tell me some gossip. But it seems not. They seem busy. Oh well. I¡¯ll invite them over on Sunday and let them know what I might miss when visiting Cedric¡¯s house. So our conversation will be more lively. Right?


    So I¡¯ll use the remaining time to finish all the remaining work. Let my two friends who are still unwilling to share information take a break for a moment. Also, let go of my thoughts about Cedric. So I can finish quickly and go home on time. When I left, Cedric advised me not to overwork. I¡¯m confused; I know my limits better than anyone else.


    I¡¯m actually strong enough to carry those three folders, but Sarman pushed me, causing the pain to return. If it weren¡¯t for that, I wouldn¡¯t have ended up back in the hospital again. I¡¯ve exined to Cedric many times, but he still doesn¡¯t understand. He says I¡¯m careless. Agreeing with my friend¡¯s criticism of me.


    ¡°Anya?¡± Cedric called, making me startle. The man who dominated my thoughts-although I quickly shifted my focus back to work-is now standing in front of me. Since when did hee in? Did I not notice his steps?


    ¡°What time is it now?¡± I don¡¯t need him to answer; I nce at the digital clock, which shows five o¡¯clock. Also, a message came in about half an hour ago. From Krystal.


    Krystal. K: Anya, I¡¯m going straight home. Anna too. You should head home after finishing sending your report. You don¡¯t have to work overtime.


    ¡°It¡¯s already five o¡¯clock, Joice,¡± Cedric says while pulling a chair in front of Anna¡¯s desk and sitting at a distance from me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you finishing your work in the afternoon?¡±


    He just smiles. ¡°Let Jack handle it.¡±


    I furrow my brows. Usually, even if I leave with Cedric, he would finish his evening tasks first. I¡¯m not sure what it is, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s far from cleaning up the area he works in. I don¡¯t mind, though, if he wants to finish it first.


    After all, I¡¯m not fully ready to go home.


    ¡°Why are you with Jack? Isn¡¯t his area on the upper floor?¡±


    He smiles again. ¡°Haven¡¯t you finished your work yet?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I just need to save a few files. Give me a moment. I¡¯ll get ready first.¡±


    It doesn¡¯t take long for me to get ready. I notice that Cedric is busy ying with his phone, but his expression looks serious. I wonder what he¡¯s doing. Usually, when men wait for women, it¡¯s not far from ying online games. Maybe Cedric is like that.


    My bag and belongings be Cedric¡¯s loyalpanions. I¡¯m not allowed to carry them at all. He says they¡¯re heavy. At first, I didn¡¯t care and let Cedric carry them. I didn¡¯t mind. But the longer it goes on, the more I feel sorry for him. So now, I want my bag back, but I can only ask for it when we arrive at the apartment.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your uniform, Cedric?¡± I ask suddenly. I just realized that the uniform he wore this morning has changed to a different dark-colored shirt. Almost the same color as his uniform.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Cedric smiles again. ¡°It¡¯s in the pantry.¡±


    I just nod. Maybe because his work hours are over, he¡¯s free to change out of his uniform. But before I was hospitalized, Cedric rarely changed his uniform.


    Strange, isn¡¯t it?


    When I recall today, he only brought me a cup of lemon tea all day. Not for Anna. He didn¡¯t even use the tray he usually pushes to deliver drinks this morning. I just noticed it today.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Was it the same yesterday?

 [40] b

    I¡¯m nervous. Very nervous. Well, of course! It¡¯s my first time visiting a guy¡¯s parents¡¯ house! To formally introduce ourselves. And I know it¡¯s because of, well¡­ one of my mistakes. But I can¡¯t back out now, can I? Not because it¡¯s toote or anything, but because it needs to be done soon.


    It¡¯s not right to give in to selfishness, especially pretending to be brave and taking on the challenge of raising a child alone. The problem isn¡¯t about money or anything; it¡¯s about love and affection. Naomi was right, it deeply affects me when ites to the meaning of love. I was born out of love but neglected due to selfishness.


    I don¡¯t want Baby to experience the same thing. It¡¯s not their fault. It¡¯s ours. I¡¯vee to realize that, and well¡­ I feel fortunate that Cedric never let me go just like that. He didn¡¯t give up and is determined to prove that everything can be fixed slowly. Although I know our journey ahead is long, at least there¡¯s something that motivates me.


    Baby.


    If his parents question our rtionship, I¡¯ll prepare myself mentally. Cedric never brought up this issue, though. He¡¯s actually really happy that I¡¯m finally willing to meet his mother. He often shows that excitement in front of me. He said his mother can¡¯t wait to meet me and wants to touch my belly. If I hear that, at least I won¡¯t be greeted with scornful looks, right?


    I hope not.


    I check the clock in the living room; it¡¯s already eight in the morning. In the message, Cedric said he¡¯s on his way to pick me up. Last night, when I expressed my sudden doubts that made my stomach ache, he justughed.


    ¡°My mother isn¡¯t as scary as you imagine, Joice.¡±


    I pouted when he said that.


    ¡°Your mind seems to be all mixed up. You need to separate the positive from the negative. There¡¯s too much negative. Try to reduce the negative and increase the positive.¡±


    My lips pout even more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    I look up to reassure myself that there are no lies in his jet-ck eyes. At that time, Cedric was already preparing to leave, but I held him back. Once again, I expressed my fear and was rewarded with a long, tight hug.


    ¡°If your mother agrees, what about your father? Your sister?¡±


    Again, Cedric smiles. He straightens my slightly messy hair. ¡°No, tomorrow you¡¯ll see for yourself how they are. I won¡¯t be far from you. I¡¯ll probably get the harshest scolding over all this.¡±


    I pout again. I realize that¡­ this isn¡¯t entirely Cedric¡¯s fault. So I feel embarrassed for no reason.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look, Joice.¡±


    Huh? I blink slowly. What¡¯s wrong with me? I haven¡¯t done anything; I¡¯m just returning his hug. Wrong? I wait for Cedric to talk or at least tell me what he means by his words. But he just stays silent.


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    I hear him sigh softly. ¡°I¡¯m going home now. Being close to you is truly a temptation.¡±


    I growl. I lightly hit his shoulder and push him a bit. What nonsense! I¡¯m not trying to be tempting! I¡¯m wearing decent pajamas. Everything is covered properly. All buttoned up like this, why is he saying I¡¯m tempting? Unless I put on that tight ck dress, which I don¡¯t even know where it is now, maybe then I¡¯ll ept being called like that!


    So, in this case, Cedric couldn¡¯t control himself, right?


    Seeing me irritated, he justughs. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow, okay? Don¡¯t think too much. You need enough rest.¡±


    I just nod. When Cedric speaks like that, I can¡¯t argue anymore. ¡°Be careful,¡± I finally say, releasing the hug around my waist.


    ¡°I miss you being grumpy,¡± he says.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°And yesterday you said I was sweet and adorable when I¡¯m not grumpy. Now you want me to be grumpy. What do you really want, Cedric?¡±


    ¡°Bnce.¡± He ends his words with a soft, long kiss. He says it¡¯s a goodnight and a luby for me. I smile between our kisses. How could he say something like that to me? Isn¡¯t he the one who wanted to kiss me, after all?


    I twitch when I hear the apartment¡¯s doorbell ring loudly. Maybe because I was daydreaming, that¡¯s why I got startled like this. I prepare breakfast for Cedric. Perhaps he hasn¡¯t eaten breakfast yet, even if it¡¯s a simple menu. A sandwich and a cup of coffee, just like his usual, finishing my homemade coffee before going to work.


    When I open the door, I can¡¯t blink. Is this¡­ Cedric?


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re not letting me in, Joice?¡±


    I move aside silently, letting Cedric enter while ncing at me asionally. His facial expression looks confused, probably because of my strange look when I see him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the strange one, Cedric.¡± I sit beside him at the dining table since he¡¯s heading there. I believe the coffee cup that I think is specially prepared for him is taken directly by him, slowly.


    ¡°Me?¡± Cedric sips his coffee. He seems to be enjoying the taste as I see him close his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not strange.¡±


    For me, Cedric looks very strange.


    I mean like this. Usually, he only wears regr t-shirts or polo shirts in dark colors. He pairs them with ck jeans. Always ck, never any other color, as far as I remember.


    Now?


    Damn! Cedric is tens of times more handsome than usual. Uh¡­ well, usually, I find him attractive, not saying he¡¯s handsome. ording to me, Kelvin is more handsome than him.


    Now?


    In front of me sits a man wearing a navy blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His long pants are still there, but the color choice is light brown. By Naomi¡¯s standards, I know that these two items are not random brands. Because besides fitting perfectly on Cedric¡¯s cool body-I admit it because my index finger has proven it several times-his appearance is not much different from Kelvin, who prioritizes his fashion sense.


    Even his hairstyle has changed. Usually slicked back as if he just dipped his hair in a tube of hair oil, but seriously, it doesn¡¯t smell. Instead, I find the scent of Cedric¡¯s hair refreshing. As for his cologne, uh¡­ let¡¯s not talk about it. I like it and can¡¯t look away. Now? He just uses a bit-maybe-of hair product or something, allowing it to look messy, which makes him look even cooler.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Joice? It¡¯s weird seeing you stare at me like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you really Cedric?¡±


    Heughs. I even see the corners of his eyes get teary. Maybe my statement is funny to him, but it¡¯s not funny for me. I¡¯m not sure this man is Cedric. The Cedric I know doesn¡¯t look like this.


    Maybe seeing me unresponsive to hisughter, theughter gradually subsides. Cedric pulls the chair next to mine closer so we can be closer.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s different,¡± I say.


    ¡°What¡¯s different?¡±


    Should I say the honesty in my heart? What if he gets a big head? But what else can I say? The reality is, Cedric looks really handsome with this style. I feel his fingers gently stroking my forehead.


    ¡°What¡¯s really weird is you, Joice. What¡¯s wrong? Still scared?¡±


    I shake my head gently.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    In my heart, I pray so much that my lips don¡¯t let slip what¡¯s in my head.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go quickly. Don¡¯t take too long, or your mom will wait for a long time, right?¡± I say quickly. This is the most effective way to keep my mind from thinking about anything other than our purpose today.


    Cedric just smiles. His way of smiling, to me, is different. Very, very different. It adds thousands of times to his sweetness! Oh my goodness, heart! Don¡¯t slip away from my grip, okay! I might die suddenly if you do!

 [41] a

    I insist on stopping by the bakeryter. How can I go to Cedric¡¯s house without bringing anything? That would be so impolite! During the elevator ride down to the basement where my car is parked, I ask a lot of questions about what his mother likes. Even though Cedric said it¡¯s not necessary, I believe it is essential.


    I mean,e on! How can a woman be introduced officially, with a not-so-t belly, and not bring anything? I¡¯m not crazy, right?!


    ¡°Okay, okay. We¡¯ll stop by, alright. Your strictness is getting worse,¡± I grumble in annoyance.


    ¡°Strictness or sweetness?¡± Cedric teases.


    ¡°Yesterday, I said ¡®bnce¡¯, Joice. Bnced.¡±


    I give up arguing with Cedric. ¡°My mother likes cheese brownies. Let¡¯s buy them, and find a store that¡¯s already open.¡± Cedric allows me to step out first, but as soon as I do, I realize this isn¡¯t the basement.


    ¡°We still have one more floor, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°Here, Joice.¡±


    I furrow my brows. ¡°My car is in the basement, you know.¡±


    He just smiles. His fingers slip into the gaps of my hand, holding it tightly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    I¡¯m really confused by his behavior this time. Ah, well, maybe it¡¯s just my presumption. Cedric is still sweet and caring as usual, nothing to be suspicious of except his appearance. Maybe he¡¯s just as nervous as me about introducing the person who will be part of his family.


    His actions prove that he¡¯s still the same, holding my tote bag for me. It¡¯s funny to see him looking so put-together but carrying my soft pink bag. And his grip on my hand never loosens, as if to assure me that he¡¯s always by my side, providing the protection I need. Also, to make it clear that I belong to him.


    My feelings are still the same, mixed up and uncertain. But at least, with Cedric by my side, I feel like I can go through this together. Even though the image of that middle-aged woman¡¯s scornful gaze is haunting me. I never imagined it would happen. Oh, please, let¡¯s avoid that!


    That¡¯s why I want to leave a good impression, right? I can¡¯t juste empty-handed! Especially since I know his mother has just recovered from an illness. At least I¡¯ll bring some fruits, cake, or something. Most guys might be indifferent about this matter, but we, women, get fussy when ites to bringing gifts during visits. Especially when it¡¯s someone important we¡¯re visiting.


    I can say, my future mother-inw. Right?


    As I follow Cedric¡¯s steps, I think about which bakery we¡¯ll visitter. Right at the main entrance, a sleek sedan stops right in front of us. Probably one of the residents of this apartment building. The ce I chose to live in is located in an upscale area. However, my unit is still rtively ordinary. Other towers are considered more luxurious and elite.


    But Cedric doesn¡¯t stop at all! Instead, he approaches the ck, shiny car and¡­


    A man, whom I assume is the driver of the expensive car worth millions of dors, quickly gets out. Then he opens the door for¡­ us?


    Oh, God!!!


    I couldn¡¯t think straight because I was sure he was the wrong person! There¡¯s no way Cedric would rent a car like this, right? What¡¯s the point? But wait¡­ the driver is giving a small, awkward smile and nodding towards Cedric. I keep switching my gaze between Cedric and the well-dressed man. Meanwhile, Cedric just nods back with a small smile. I¡¯mpletely confused, wondering what¡¯s actually happening here.


    ¡°Ladies first,¡± Cedric says, breaking my surprise.


    ¡°Cedric?¡±


    He looks at me with a puzzled expression. ¡°Get in, Joice.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ whose car is this?¡±


    Cedric smiles again. ¡°Cedric? Did you rent this car?¡± I push, too curious to hold back my suspicions about car rentals.


    The man shakes his head slightly, chuckling softly. ¡°This is my car.¡±


    Frowning, I look at him suspiciously. ¡°No way,¡± I whisper.


    Cedric nudges me to get in, but I hesitate. I don¡¯t want to. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Now it¡¯s Cedric¡¯s turn to give a puzzled and displeased look, probably because of my change in tone. I don¡¯t care. I feel like he¡¯s hiding something from me. Stupid me, I¡¯ve just realized it.


    ¡°I have plenty of time to exin,¡± he says.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I ask again, this time in a tone that I know might annoy Cedric a bit.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you inside, okay?¡± Cedric pleads. ¡°There¡¯s another car behind. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to talk about this in front of others.¡±


    I growl in frustration. Reluctantly, I step into the luxury car. The smile, excitement, and nervousness that were dominating me earlier have disappeared from my heart.


    Instead, it¡¯s reced by anger, and I don¡¯t know why it suddenly overwhelms me so strongly.


    ***


    Is my brain just slow to process all of Cedric¡¯s exnations, or am I too shocked to respond? Especially when he said we¡¯ve arrived at his home. When my feet step on the concrete blocks covered with lush grass as a decoration, I realize that Cedric¡¯s words weren¡¯t a dream whisper.


    ¡°I know, I was wrong,¡± he says.


    I remain silent.


    ¡°But everything I¡¯ve done, including my feelings for you-¡±


    ¡°What else are you hiding from me?¡±


    A frustrated sigh is clearly heard as Cedric stands right beside me. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else, Joice. I¡¯ve told you everything.¡±


    ¡°I want to go home,¡± I snap sharply. It doesn¡¯t take long for me to make this crazy decision. I don¡¯t even care if I have to hail a taxi myself. After all, I already have my bag in my hand.


    ¡°Joice, please.¡±


    I raise my hand, signaling that I don¡¯t want any interruptions to my decision. I even reject his attempt to hold my hand again, pushing away his fingers harshly. I don¡¯t want to be touched by him again.


    Among the many things I hate, being lied to is the ultimate one. And Cedric, the damn person who now rules my heart, did just that. Completely, perfectly, and smoothly enough to deceive me. Until I was left speechless after hearing all his exnations.


    ¡°You can be angry with me, but not today, please. I beg you.¡±


    Unconsciously, tears fill my eyes. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re already streaming down my cheeks in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°My mother is waiting for you, Joice. After that, you can punish me. Anything. I¡¯ll ept it. I was wrong.¡±


    Before I can fully process and unravel everything, a very familiar voice greets me cheerfully.


    ¡°Hey, Anya. Come in, Cedric. Don¡¯t take too long out there.¡±


    Krystal. Waving enthusiastically and walking towards me.


    Is there anything more surprising than Cedric? Yes, there is.


    He is the rightful owner of thepany where I work, not Krystal.


    ***


    ¡°Anya?¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to say anything. My eyes were still fixed on the building across the street. I let the night breeze ruffle my hair, ignoring the cold. Even when Dona wrapped a shawl around me, I remained silent. Here, it was just me and Naomi. Dona said she would make ate dinner, but I wasn¡¯t really paying attention. I figured Dona could handle the kitchen, and even if it ended up looking like a disaster, she would be responsible for it. Although, realistically speaking, I knew that was highly unlikely, considering how skilled Dona was in the kitchen.


    ¡°Anya, Cedric said-¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it, Naomi.¡± I didn¡¯t look at Naomi sitting beside me. That¡¯s just how I felt. Everything was turning perfectly, slowly, making me feel like I was so easily deceived.


    I felt Naomi gently pull me into her embrace. ¡°Just cry, Anya.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Everything I held back while being surrounded by a group of kind people, whom I never expected or calcted to be part of my life, made my heart feel suffocated. I ran out of words except to agree with everything they said.


    ¡°Are you also one of the people who hid this, Naomi?¡± I asked spontaneously. Naomi blinked slowly and immediately shook her head firmly.


    ¡°No. I only found out ¡­ on the day¡­ well¡­¡±


    ¡°Monday? You knew exactly who Cedric was on Monday, and you avoided- ¡± I raised my hand to signal her not to interrupt me. ¡°You both avoided my questions, Naomi. You conspired together? For what, Naomi? Why did you do this to me?¡±


    Nothing could hold back the tears that streamed down my face. I was so disappointed. So much.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Even Naomi¡¯s apologies felt meaningless. I hated being lied to, no matter the reason. They knew, and no one wanted to share it with me. Instead, they seemed to avoid it. Everything was perfectly clear in my mind.

 [41] b

    When Krystal gave me the warmest smile, I couldn¡¯t turn away. I hid my anger towards Cedric and put on the fiercest face I could muster. I disguised myself perfectly, even though my heart wanted to explode with all the thoughts in my head.


    ¡°Anya, I¡¯m sure you were very surprised when Cedric just told you about this, right?¡±


    I knew exactly what my beautiful boss meant. I nodded quietly.


    ¡°But I¡¯m also sure that he already told you the reason behind it, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    From my seat in her luxurious car, Cedric did tell me everything. Especially the reason why he kept it a secret. At first, he didn¡¯t want to reveal his identity, exceptter, after we got officially married. Cedric was furious because of Sarman¡¯s slight push that triggered his angerst Monday. All of Sarman¡¯s deception in front of the other top executives was exposed, and Cedric officially revealed his identity. Only I, yes, I, didn¡¯t know who he was. Even though Sarman was arrested not at the office but at the airport, Cedric¡¯s appearance still caused amotion among all the staff.


    Cedric xton, the youngest son of the xton family. The real owner of thepany where I work. Krystal is just running it because her younger brother didn¡¯t want to get involved in the family business.


    ¡°I did all of this for Krystal, Joice. Let alone being a janitor, I¡¯d be willing to be a scavenger as long as it was for Krystal.¡±


    I felt a tug at my heart, but it quickly vanished. The feeling was just a passing moment, and anger once again took control of my heart. If Cedric wanted to protect his sister, why didn¡¯t he just tell me from the beginning? After all, I wouldn¡¯t pose any threat to Krystal, right? I was her assistant, herpanion at work. Have I ever deviated even slightly from her instructions? As far as I can recall from working with Krystal, I have never done anything like that.


    Why didn¡¯t Cedric want to tell me?


    ¡°I also asked Krystal not to talk about who I am. Just keep an eye on us from a distance, although she was really fond of you, who tends to be a bit reckless. Anyway, the child in your belly is her niece.¡±


    Cedric slowly slipped his hand into mine. I didn¡¯t want to look at him even for a second. I let him hold our intertwined hands and gently kissed them. Ipletely ignored it. All that was spinning in my head was his confession about who he was.


    Cedric xton, the youngest son of the xton family, and the younger brother of Krystal xton. He said he didn¡¯t want to get involved in the business world because he felt ipetent in managing thepany. He loved music and cafes more than a career behind a desk with piles of paperwork as essories. That¡¯s what he told me.


    He wanted to get involved this year because there were indications of fraud that happened without Krystal¡¯s knowledge. Maybe because she was handling so many things that she became careless. I remember, a year ago, there were a lot of things I did with Krystal, including aggressive promotions. Krystal herself personally handled many cases that should have been assigned to her subordinates.


    Krystal was the type of boss who was very perfectionist. Even a small mistake would make her upset, and she would handle it immediately. She didn¡¯t care if she needed rest or if something was overlooked because of her busy schedule. Including Sarman¡¯s case. I admit that.


    ¡°Papa said I should help Krystal. I couldn¡¯t let her work alone, right? Even though I¡¯m busy with my own business, as Papa¡¯s child, I want to serve him, so I agreed to do it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, okay? I was wrong, and I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    I still didn¡¯t want to respond until the car entered the tall gate opened by several people. I could clearly see the luxurious white-painted mansion with its grand pirs near the main entrance, a spacious garden, and yes, not far from the main door, Krystal¡¯s car was perfectly parked.


    It confirmed everything that Cedric had told me along the way.


    Leaving me in inner turmoil.


    ***


    ¡°Where are you going, Anya?¡± Naomi asked, immediately pulling back her nket as soon as she realized I was awake. Even though I just wanted to go to the bathroom, did I really have to report it?


    ¡°Anya?¡± she called again.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°To use the bathroom. Do you want toe?¡± I replied with a somewhat curt tone. After crying so much, I wanted to lie down. I ignored Dona¡¯s offer of dinner, but this glowing-faced guy insisted. He even spoon-fed me! My goodness! He said I needed to eat a lot and be filled with healthy dishes. But his own cooking wasn¡¯t that healthy. It was some omelets with noodles mixed with various vegetables from the fridge.


    ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t aware when you woke up.¡±


    I scoffed. When I passed the dressing table with a mirror in front of it, I shuddered a bit when I saw my reflection. Swollen eyes, red-tipped nose, and tangled hair. I looked like Anya, which Dona and Naomi often teased me about.


    ¡°Rx, Anya. You¡¯re still beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Shut up. I¡¯m still mad,¡± I retorted.


    Naomi just chuckled and shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t stay mad for too long. Your husband is really worried; you know?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my husband.¡±


    ¡°Soon to be, Anya. You can¡¯t avoid it anymore.¡±


    ¡°I can. I¡¯m sure I can.¡± I picked up the ointment that might reduce the puffiness in the morning. ¡°Why can¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Cedric said you¡¯re not working at the office next Monday? Filling in temporarily for that jerk Sarman?¡±


    Unable to contain it, I threw the ointment tube at Naomi. She caught it skillfully and burst intoughter, teasing me.


    ¡°Enough, you can¡¯t refuse anymore. You can¡¯t even pretend to be a janitor, and now you¡¯re even going to be the boss. Your life is done, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Geez, you seem so happy seeing me like an idiot, right? Did you know about this too, Naomi?!¡± I said, almost shouting. Perhaps my shouting attracted Dona¡¯s attention, and she entered without permission.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Anya?¡±


    ¡°You too!¡± I eximed.


    Dona looked puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me? I¡¯ve been watching Netflix all this time.¡±


    ¡°You and Naomi are the same!¡±


    Naomi burst intoughter, and Dona¡¯s confusion only grew. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Both of you knew!¡± I used them.


    Naomi managed topose herself and grinned mischievously. ¡°Well, you found out eventually, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but you could have told me from the beginning! I felt like a fool!¡± I protested.


    Dona looked between us, still not understanding what was going on. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, Dona. Just leave us alone,¡± Naomi said, still giggling.


    Dona shrugged and left the room, probably thinking we were just being silly. Once she was gone, Naomi turned to me, her expression softening.


    ¡°Anya, we didn¡¯t want to spoil the surprise. We wanted you to find out in the best way possible,¡± she exined.


    I crossed my arms and pouted. ¡°Well, it didn¡¯t feel like the best way to find out. I felt betrayed, you know?¡±


    ¡°I understand, and I¡¯m sorry for that. But now that you know, aren¡¯t you happy?¡± Naomi asked.


    I sighed, my anger starting to subside. ¡°I am happy, but I wish you both had told me earlier.¡±


    ¡°I promise we had good intentions,¡± Naomi said sincerely. ¡°We just wanted to make it special for you.¡±


    I nodded, realizing that they did it out of love and excitement for me. ¡°Okay, fine. But don¡¯t keep any more secrets from me, alright?¡±


    Naomi held up her hands in surrender. ¡°Deal! No more secrets.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± I replied, finally cracking a smile. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go celebrate together, but first, I really need to use the bathroom.¡±


    Naomiughed and followed me out of the room, and as we walked down the hallway, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future, knowing that I had an amazing support system in Naomi, Dona, and, of course, Cedric. The journey ahead might not be easy, but with them by my side, I knew I could face anything that came my way.

 [42] a

    ¡°Anya is so clueless, it¡¯s like she¡¯s on cloud nine. It¡¯s so annoying! Can I yank her hair? I mean, can you do that to a pregnant woman?¡± Dona said, barely finishing her sentence before Naominded a heavy punch on her head.


    ¡°Dammit, Naomi!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so rude! Geez! Do you want your foulnguage to reach the baby?!¡± Naomi scolded.


    Dona then gently, albeit grudgingly, caressed my belly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aunt Dona, okay? Your mommy can be a bit¡­ difficult. She needs to be straightened out. Let¡¯s just be mad at Aunt Naomi instead. She¡¯s the harsh one, too aggressive.¡±


    Naomi sneered while I immediately moved Dona¡¯s hand away from my belly, although she got a sharp flick from me. ¡°Hurry up! You wanted to tell a story, right? I¡¯m getting sleepy!¡± I said impatiently.


    Instead of sleeping, we ended up having a long pillow talk, something we hadn¡¯t done in ages. After leaving Cedric¡¯s grand house, they arrived not long after. I was sure Cedric must have messaged them about my return, as their timing was too perfect. Who else but Cedric annoyingly thoughtful like that? And he chose to stay away, knowing I was ignoring him ever since we got back into the car to go back to the apartment.


    However, I could still hear him say, ¡°Stay with Anya for now, and if anything happens, message me immediately.¡±


    They obeyed him like he was their boss. It irritated me so much to know that it was indeed true. I didn¡¯t respond to any of his words, sweet nothings, his coaxing, not even when he wanted to touch my belly, something he had done oftentely. I brushed him off. No way!


    He made a mistake, and I had every right to be angry.


    ¡°Can you calm down? If you can¡¯t, I¡¯m out. When you¡¯re angry, you can¡¯t think logically,¡± Naomi said.


    I pouted. ¡°Now you both should think about why I¡¯m so angry. You¡¯re both my best friends. Do I take this friendship more seriously than you do?¡±


    ¡°Why are you saying that?¡± Naomi asked, sounding displeased. I should be the one sounding like that.


    ¡°If you consider me your friend, you should have told me what was going on. At least I could have analyzed it and not be shocked by everything that happened today.¡±


    Naomi seemed like she wanted to argue but stopped. Instead, she moved closer to me and gently rubbed my shoulder. ¡°Cedric himself asked about this, Anya. He wanted to tell you directly without us telling you first.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t refuse. We¡¯re angry at Cedric too. Why didn¡¯t he be honest with the three of us, especially you? We warned him that you would be angry and disappointed if you found out about this sote,¡± Dona added, looking at me.


    ¡°He said he had a special reason that he couldn¡¯t share and was willing to take the risk. Well, here we are,¡± Dona said, nowing closer to me. ¡°I know you¡¯re disappointed and angry, Anya. With us too. But I really wanted Cedric to exin all of this to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Dona went berserk on Monday. He almost punched Cedric,¡± Naomi added.


    I widened my eyes. ¡°Really?¡± I looked at Naomi with disbelief and then back to Dona, in awe. Cedric? Oh my! I was certain that if Dona¡¯s male ego was provoked, He¡¯d go ballistic. Maybe this was what it meant, huh? I don¡¯t know.


    ¡°I¡¯m a loyal friend, Anya, even though my mouth is full of nonsense.¡±


    For a few hours filled with suffocating disappointment and unanswered questions, Iughed. ¡°But I¡¯m still mad at both of you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Anya doesn¡¯t know when she¡¯s fortunate.¡±


    The three of us exchanged nces, and then ourughter filled the room. The slight difort and many questions I had were somewhat relieved. At least, when Dona spoke like that and was responded to by Naomi, it was the truth.


    ¡°But, Anya, did Cedric exin his reasons to you?¡± Naomi continued gently rubbing my shoulder, asionally running her fingers through my hair.


    I nodded softly.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Naomi still continued her gentle caresses.


    ¡°He did all of this for Krystal. His father entrusted it to him, but he refused. Cedric prefers music and said he has other businesses.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask what kind of business it is?¡±


    I shook my head slowly.


    ¡°Are you stupid or what?¡± Dona could use a tone that irritated me and made me regret at the same time. I felt incredibly dumb for not asking that earlier.


    ¡°What if he¡¯s a drug dealer? A mafia? Human trafficking?¡± Naomi grabbed Dona¡¯s slightly long hair yfully. She said she wanted to grow it a little bit to have bangs. She wanted to get some highlights too, after seeing how stunning Krystal looked with her new hair color.


    ¡°Your mouth is full of garbage!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Naomi intentionally wants me to go bald!¡±


    ¡°You should both drop dead!¡±


    ¡°SHUT UP!¡± I shouted. Were they insane? Didn¡¯t they realize that I was pregnant? They could fight or wrestle downstairs!


    ¡°I¡¯m right, Nao! How would Anya react if Cedric¡¯s business is in the dark world? It¡¯s dangerous, right?¡± Dona said.


    ¡°Come on, Dona Te!!!¡± Naomi yelled.


    ¡°My name is Dona Hasta!¡±


    ¡°SHUT UP!¡± I repeated with a louder tone than before. It worked. They both fell silent, staring at each other with a readiness to attack. wing at each other¡¯s faces or even pulling each other¡¯s hair. Just like little kids fighting over something.


    Less than two minutester, they burst outughing together. Indeed, my two best friends deserved to be called the crazy duo. After they calmed down a bit and theirughter subsided, I continued talking. ¡°How could I ask Cedric when I¡¯m still confused and shocked by his exnations?¡±


    ¡°Are you still confused now, Anya?¡± Naomi asked.


    ¡°Yes, still, Naomi. Everything he told me was so sudden. It feels like a dream.¡±


    ¡°How did Cedric¡¯s family treat you?¡± Dona asked. Her question made Naomi put on a serious expression.


    ¡°That¡¯s also like a dream to me, Dona.¡±


    Seeing them silent but looking at me with confusion, I let out a sigh. ¡°They all weed me with open arms. As if they had been waiting for me eagerly. No cynical looks or hatred towards me. You know, typical of wealthy people when their child brings home a pregnant woman. They¡¯re suspicious that I might be deceiving and bing a leech for them.¡±


    ¡°How about Cedric¡¯s mother?¡±


    Again, a frustrated sigh escaped me without my control. ¡°Especially her. Not a single moment passed without me by her side. Always me. Everything was about me. Krystal was pushed aside. I even noticed that Krystal was closer to her father. While Cedric was close to his mother.¡±


    Both of them nodded slowly.


    ¡°They talked about my marriage.¡± My eyes wandered off, and the memory reyed vividly in front of my eyes. Especially the part where Iriana, I finally knew her name, looked at me with happiness. She said I should get married soon so that I could live with her and keep herpany while she was always left alone due to her busy work.


    Thinking about it scared me!


    I didn¡¯t know initially that Cedric was Krystal¡¯s biological brother. My thoughts earlier in the day were about meeting his mother, who was very friendly and was talking about our wedding because Cedric had told her that she wanted us to get married soon. It¡¯s okay, I understand that. I know it can¡¯t be dyed any longer.


    My desires are not extravagant either. Just a simple wedding attended by close friends and family. The essence of a wedding is to make it sacred and legally recognized in the eyes of thew and religion, right? My parents don¡¯t even know where they stand. I can honestly tell the clericter so that someone can act as my guardian during the marriage. That¡¯s it. Not much expense is needed, and we would be officially married. Simple, right?


    Then his mother could return to her hometown and maybe continue whatever they were doing before, of which I had no idea. They would go back to their lives, and Cedric and I would be busy with our work and our new life as husband and wife.


    That¡¯s how it should be, right?


    But what if I suddenly get hit with a nuclear bomb like this? All the images I had earlier were shattered! I couldn¡¯t imagine it anymore, especially when his mother said, ¡°If possible, Anya, you should resign. Let¡¯s both take care of and guide the child with me, okay?¡±


    Naomi¡¯s words had no lies in them. I don¡¯t know how to prepare myself for this, as it is now part of my reality. Cedric was in front of me, and everything I remembered about this man has taken on a new form. Not much has changed, only the brand of clothes he¡¯s wearing now.


    I¡¯m not trying to emphasize materialistic things here. No, I¡¯m not highlighting what Cedric has. Even if he were just an office boy, I would have epted him. If wealth were the only thing that mattered to me in a man, why didn¡¯t I ept Kelvin? From the beginning, I knew he attracted my attention, even though I found him annoying.


    I hate being lied to.


    If Cedric were just an office boy, I would still ept him. In fact, if anything were to happen with my job and it affected Cedric as well, my mind had already considered what we would go through together. It would be a joint decision since we would be living together, right? Raising a child also required an agreement.


    For example, if I needed to use my savings as capital for a business, something we would live on together. Although I wasn¡¯t sure what kind of business I wanted, at least I had a sense of what I wanted to do. All we needed to do was talk it out further and make it more focused, setting aside our egos. I couldn¡¯t talk to Cedric while still prioritizing my own life. There was a baby between us, and I had to bnce Cedric¡¯s needs as well.


    Yes, right?

 [42] b

    I had already thought about these steps and thoughts in case anything went wrong. I didn¡¯t see it as a risk at all. I had already started to ept that this was the path I was going to take ¨C with Cedric and the baby. It was more than enough for me.


    I no longer thought about material things or economic imbnces. No, I had let go of that thought, and I don¡¯t even remember when. In my mind, Cedric would surely fight for us, just like he said he would. I believed in him and his determination to make sure he wouldn¡¯t be underestimated in his efforts.


    But now?


    Everything has vanished.


    And I missed my Cedric the day before that fateful Saturday. Yes, I called it a fateful Saturday because it was the day when Cedric unmasked himself. Everything I had in mind about our future together with Cedric disappeared. It was overshadowed by disappointment and anger that enveloped me. Being deceived hurts.


    ¡°The bag,¡± he said, extending his hand towards me. I intentionally didn¡¯t invite him in. I also had no intention of making him coffee, even though my heart wanted to. As I had been doing recently, I usually prepared breakfast, a cup of coffee, and a ss of milk for myself. We would eat together while having light and rxed conversations. And I hoped for apliment on how the coffee tasted. Cedric never forgot to give sweetpliments, never seemed excessive, and it always made me smile whenever I remembered it. It felt peaceful and happy, right?


    I missed those times.


    ¡°No, sir. I can handle it myself.¡±


    Cedric seemed disbelieving of my words, but I ignored it. I chose to lock the door immediately and walked ahead without caring about the man who was the same but different to me. I got ready to drive by myself. It was better than sitting in his expensive car again.


    As the elevator descended to the basement, he followed, but I kept my distance. I didn¡¯t want to get too close. First, his perfume still smelled the same. I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility that I would sumb to my emotions and throw myself at him again. If it were the previous Cedric, I might have done it. But this Cedric? I needed to think about it.


    Second, he was now a stranger to me. That was enough reason for me to keep my distance. Let Naomi and Dona say I¡¯m foolish, ungrateful, or unappreciative. It doesn¡¯t matter. I had my own thoughts about this.


    ¡°Joice,¡± he called, but I refused to look at him. I walked closer to my car. As I was about to open the door, he stopped me. His body was so close that I could feel his breath on the top of my head. But honestly, I didn¡¯t feel the same heartbeat I used to feel when Cedric was near. He felt like a stranger. Aplete stranger.


    ¡°Joice, I know you¡¯re still angry and disappointed with me.¡±


    I tried to open the car door again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me.¡±


    ¡°Sir, excuse me. I¡¯m going to work. Please sit next to me or in the back. Your choice.¡±


    ¡°Joice.¡±


    I turned around and gave him a sharp look. ¡°Don¡¯t make me use harsh words, sir.¡±


    Cedric stepped back, giving me space to open the car door. But before my body could get inside, I felt like I was floating. When I realized, I was already in his arms.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive,¡± he said. I wanted to object, thinking of my stomach, but I stayed quiet, not wanting to gaze into his face that I had been openly observing these past few days.


    ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡±


    I remained silent.


    ¡°Do you want some porridge at our usual ce?¡± Cedric sat me down very gently, fastening my seatbelt and making sure I wasfortable. ¡°Or carrot soup?¡±


    I pouted, but my brain suddenly wanted what Cedric had just mentioned. A bowl of carrot soup with minced meat, still warm, and a cup of hot tea. Oh my! It must be delicious!


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had breakfast yet, nor had my coffee, Joice. My sweetheart is angry today. It¡¯s a pity, you know. Your smile is gone. You¡¯re not friendly anymore. In fact, you seem ruder than usual.¡±


    I didn¡¯t care about his babbling. I just wanted the carrot soup he offered earlier. But instead of stopping, Cedric pulled my chin up so that he could look into my eyes. He didn¡¯t know that I was very weak when those jet-ck eyes stared at me intensely. They seemed to reach the depths of my soul. Until he realized that I might feel the same way? About the person who was before, not the one he is now.


    A simple and straightforward person who was always reliable and could make me feelfortable. What I knew was that he used to work as an office boy, not like now. Suddenly, his status was on par with Krystal, and I could clearly say that he was my boss. Would he still treat me the same way as before? As the one who introduced myself as an OB (Office Boy)? As the one he fell in love with because of my sincerity?


    It seemed unlikely. He had power. More than I thought.


    ¡°I apologize,¡± he said again. I didn¡¯t know how many times he had apologized since that fateful Saturday. He kept sending consecutive messages. I was still disappointed. I still couldn¡¯t ept or imagine that¡­ that we were different now.


    ¡°What do you want for breakfast, Joice? Don¡¯t forget about the baby. He needs to eat.¡±


    My clenched fists tightened even more. See? He only cares about his child. Not me. I had thought about this before, right? That Cedric only cared about me because I was pregnant, carrying his blood, so he showered me with attention to attract me. But he made me believe that it wasn¡¯t just his child he wanted. He wanted me too.


    Now?


    No, a Cedric xton only cares about his child. Not me. That¡¯s right, isn¡¯t it?All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

 [43] a

    For three days, I ignored, avoided, and disregarded Cedric, I don¡¯t care what you call it. The point is, I treated him as if he didn¡¯t exist, even though he never left my side. He sticks to me at the office like a leech, always following me around as if deliberately showing everyone that I belong to him.


    No one is allowed to get close, and I think now even Henry feels more hesitant around me. I¡¯m okay with that. It¡¯s actually a relief not to have extra burdens on my mind. Our interactions are limited to work-rted matters only, nothing more. Even the messages and calls that used to be frequent are now nonexistent.


    I think what happened on Monday really made Henry realize who he¡¯s dealing with when he approaches me. Maybe. I don¡¯t care to inquire further. I¡¯m still unwilling to face Cedric right now.


    ¡°What do you want to eat, Joice?¡±


    We¡¯ve arrived at the apartment. I didn¡¯t speak throughout the journey back, just like the days before. He chatted away, and I gave half-hearted responses, sometimes only after being asked two or three times. He doesn¡¯t give up trying to engage me in conversation. Sometimes I hear him sigh, probably trying to contain his frustration at being ignored. I couldn¡¯t care less.


    At the office, I try my best to suppress all my feelings towards him, especially my anger. I act professionally as a personal assistant to Krystal xton. Soon, when a new person qualifies to rece Sarman as Krystal¡¯s assistant, Cedric will be moved to the 22nd floor. I¡¯m lucky we won¡¯t be on the same floor anymore. If we were, I can¡¯t even imagine how I¡¯d manage to work peacefully.


    Even on separate floors, I still get bothered by him all the time! I don¡¯t know why, suddenly he¡¯s in Krystal¡¯s room. He spends so much time there, discussing who knows what. And then they call me in. They talk about things that I don¡¯t think I need to be there for, but they insist on making me attend! What surprises me is that Krystal acts like we¡¯re coborating on something important, even though all the decisions still rest with her or¡­ Cedric. Ugh! They¡¯re truly extraordinary!


    I hate being put in such situations! And it¡¯s not just for a day or two, it¡¯s three days in a row, just like when I ignored him.


    ¡°Joice? Are you spacing out?¡± Cedric asks softly. I was going to take a shower, but since Cedric is still in the living room, I decide to postpone it. I don¡¯t want him to linger here for too long. I¡¯m still mad.


    ¡°Go home,¡± I tell him without looking up. I start unpacking my bag and take out my phone. I scroll through social media and read thetest news-some celebrity is being investigated for a scandalous video. Crazy, right? The real crazy thing is the people who are passing judgments, in my opinion. Dona says the celebrity is a victim, but they¡¯re being treated like a criminal. It¡¯s really ridiculous.


    ¡°Your phone looks really cool, huh, that you¡¯re staring at it like that?¡±


    ¡°Well, of course! It¡¯s extremely cool!¡±


    I know he¡¯s smiling, but I still refuse to look at him. Whatever! Suddenly, he pulls me into a half-forced embrace, making me scream in protest and push him away relentlessly. But it seems my strength is nothingpared to his, because instead of letting go, Cedric only tightens his grip.


    ¡°I can¡¯t breathe, Cedric!!!¡±


    ¡°Just be quiet.¡±


    I revolted! He had no right to force me like that! I was already angry, and the scent of Cedric¡¯s perfume never stopped interrupting my thoughts and feelings, not to mention Baby, who seemed to understand and had be his ally, often making me suddenly feel ufortable. But when his father is around, Baby behaves perfectly.


    Isn¡¯t that frustrating?!


    ¡°Joice, please. You¡¯ll get more suffocated like this.¡±


    ¡°Well, if I die, you¡¯ll be the suspect!¡± I yelled while still trying to free myself from his embrace. He relented and loosened his hold, but his hands quickly cupped my cheeks. I couldn¡¯t avert my gaze, only staring into his eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do this. I can¡¯t handle it.¡±


    I remained silent, even though his eyes were starting to influence my brain.


    ¡°I miss you.¡±


    ¡°Move aside!¡± I tried once again to break free.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to forgive me after more than three days? Isn¡¯t this enough, Joice?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡±


    ¡°What if I miss Baby?¡±


    My eyes narrowed sharply at him. I didn¡¯t care that Cedric was looking at me with a mournful expression. ¡°Oh, you only care about Baby, don¡¯t you? Not me. Fine. I¡¯m not stupid, you know. I still have the heart to take care of your child.¡± I emphasized the words ¡°your child.¡± ¡°Is that all you think about?¡±


    I heard Cedric sigh again. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. Baby and you both mean a lot to me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? So important that you couldn¡¯t even be honest with me from the beginning?¡±


    Cedric¡¯s lips seemed like they wanted to say something, but he held back.


    ¡°You yed the role so well, Cedric. Maybe if there was an award for the best actor disguised as amoner, you¡¯d win it hands down.¡±


    I took a deep breath. I couldn¡¯t hold back my frustration anymore. ¡°Can you imagine how hurt and angry I am? To be deceived like this? Have you even thought about it?¡± I wiped away tears that suddenly fell uncontrobly. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°Joice, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°Better go home. I¡¯m still angry.¡± I stood up, ignoring his attempts to hold me back. I pushed away his hands that tried to reach me and sat back down. The pain in my stomach returned, but I ignored it. I felt like Baby knew that I was scolding his father and that¡¯s why my stomach hurt.


    I closed the bedroom door loudly, the sound echoing in my ears. If it broke, I¡¯d ask Cedric to fix it. My anger was caused by him, and he had to take responsibility, right?


    I chose to soak in the bathtub while thinking about what I wanted to eat. When I realized my phone was left in the living room, I was already half-naked. But whatever. I needed to rx my mind first before ordering food.


    It didn¡¯t take long for me to soak in the water. Unlike usual, my anger was slightly alleviated. I needed to be able to sleep. Closing my eyes while my heart was still filled with anger wouldn¡¯t be pleasant. Sleep wouldn¡¯t be restful, and I¡¯d feel unsettled. It had been like that for the past few days. I couldn¡¯t sleep soundly. When I opened the bedroom door, damn, Cedric was still there.


    Sittingfortably while eating pizza!


    Oh, there¡¯s nothing more annoying than this!


    ¡°I ordered lots of pizza, Joice. There¡¯s spaghetti and others too. Come here. Eat first. It¡¯s okay to have junk food asionally.¡±


    The aroma of pizza filling the room immediately assaulted my brain without mercy! Suddenly, my appetite surged so strongly. I wanted the pizza that Cedric was holding! The one he just took a bite of!!!


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat it!¡± I shouted as I walked towards Cedric, who looked at me with confusion. ¡°I want that one.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more.¡±


    I shook my head and immediately snatched the pizza from his hand. I sat down slowly because I remembered I was pregnant, and I needed to take good care of Baby. I didn¡¯t want to bebeled as a careless or negligent mother again. I love Baby, after all. ¡°I want this,¡± I said while taking a bite of the pizza with sausage. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    Cedric smiled. ¡°I like it.¡± He gently patted the top of my half-dried head.


    ¡°Your hands just touched the pizza, Cedric!!! Oh my God! It¡¯s dirty again!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash them tomorrow, okay.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to! After eating, I¡¯ll wash my hair again!¡± I dered.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Wash it thoroughly.¡±


    Again, he nodded.


    ¡°If my hair still smells like pizza, I won¡¯t hesitate to kick you out of my life!¡±


    ***


    ¡°Feeling better now?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°My stomach still feels ufortable.¡± Even though I lied. Baby was fine, actually. Just a bit full. I finished a te of spaghetti and four slices of pizza. Cedric had removed the c, which he said was a bonus for buying in bulk so I wouldn¡¯t drink it. But I wanted to. Just a little.


    Cedric didn¡¯t give in. He just threw it away without even asking me. Suddenly, I started crying, making him flustered. Once he found out the reason for my tears, he didn¡¯t know what to do. He poured the c down the kitchen sink, leaving only the canned bottle. My tears flowed even more.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have given in to your craving for c earlier.¡±


    I red at him and said somewhat harshly, ¡°Do you even know how sad it is for a pregnant woman not to have her cravings fulfilled? It¡¯s heart-wrenching.¡±


    ¡°You can be quite dramatic, Joice.¡±


    I gave his shoulder a hard punch. He winced slightly before resuming his gentle rubbing on my stomach, which was perfectly fine. I did have some c, but only a little. Just to satisfy my curiosity after such a long time without soda.


    ¡°You should get pregnant too, so you¡¯ll know what it feels like when your mood goes haywire!¡±


    Heughed, and the way he yfully touched the tip of my chin with a look of fondness in his eyes annoyed me. I didn¡¯t know why, but my anger returned, albeit slightly.


    Earlier, while feeding me spaghetti, he seemed genuinely remorseful. He apologized repeatedly for keeping things from me. Even though he had a very valid reason, and I knew it for sure, the disappointment was still there. I was just an ordinary woman with a high level of ego. Should I thank Sarman for pushing me a little? If not for him, maybe Cedric wouldn¡¯t have revealed his true self until the time he had nned. When I was officially his wife. He said it was so I wouldn¡¯t be angry for too long. I scoffed and was annoyed at his reasoning.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep.¡± I adjusted myself to lie halfway on the bed. The clock on the wall showed it was already 11 PM. My hair was also dry thanks to the hairdryer. I seriously needed to get it washed again. It was dirty and still smelled like pizza because of Cedric¡¯s hands. So careless!


    ¡°How do I look?¡± Cedric asked while fixing my nket.


    ¡°Go home.¡±


    He pouted. ¡°You got my shirt wet earlier, Joice. Should I go home shirtless?¡±


    I turned away, trying to suppress my amusement. I wanted tough, but then he¡¯d know that I wasn¡¯t too angry anymore. I still wanted to be angry and maintain a grumpy expression toward Cedric.


    I still remembered quite clearly when Cedric followed me to the toilet inside the room. I wasn¡¯t joking about threatening to wash my hair again because I felt it was dirty. Cedric had no say in it whatsoever. He could only surrender after trying to persuade me, which had no effect at all. He said he would redo it in the morning, but I refused! I didn¡¯t like sleeping with dirty hair.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    When we entered the bathroom, I dropped my kimono, which I was still wearing. I was only in my bra and very short pants. Slowly, I approached the dry bathtub. I was just going to wash my hair, right? I didn¡¯t want to risk getting cold from taking a full shower again. Only my hair was dirty.


    ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡±

 [43] b

    I saw that Cedric didn¡¯t divert his gaze anywhere else.


    ¡°Oh, I see. I¡¯m not attractive anymore, right? My belly must be getting bigger,¡± I said teasingly.


    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Cedric took a step closer without hesitation. ¡°Oh my goodness! Are you doing this on purpose or what?¡±


    I looked at him with a confused look, though my heart wanted to burst outughing. ¡°Doing what on purpose? I don¡¯t understand.¡± As I reached the edge of the bathtub, I sat down, making myselffortable. ¡°Hurry up, Cedric. I¡¯ll get cold.¡±


    Cedric rolled up his shirt sleeves. asionally, he let out a soft sigh. He grabbed the shower hose at the edge of the bathtub and started washing my hair gently. I tilted my head back slightly, closing my eyes. I felt the soft touch of Cedric¡¯s fingers on my scalp.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question, Cedric.¡± The warm water flowed gently over my scalp, and the sound of dripping water filled the air.


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this on purpose. What am I doing on purpose?¡±


    The water stopped flowing. I turned to face him and challenged his gaze. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as his eyes wandered up and down my figure. I slowly stepped closer until my half-wet, half-naked body was right in front of him.


    I teased him, really teasing him until he almost lost control. I loved it when Cedric growled slightly against my neck. He left many wet marks there. It seemed intentional. I didn¡¯t forbid it or push him away. Well¡­ what could I do? Being in the same room with a man with such an appealing body. And his gaze pleading with me to reprimand him, even if just a little.


    Once he was given the opening, I was the one who lost control. Even the kiss on my lips felt more demanding than before. Usually, it could make me feel hot and cold, but now? He said that between our kisses, he missed the softness of my lips so much. I pouted. What a lie, right? Just admit that he was tempted to keep kissing me relentlessly. His lips not touching mine for three days, how could he bear it?This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You might get sick, Joice.¡± Cedric released the demanding kiss slowly. I was genuinely struggling to keep up.


    ¡°Who made itst so long?¡±


    Cedric grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t know who started it, me or you.¡±


    His shirt was clearly wet. My body was clinging to Cedric, only separated by my already bulging belly. If not for that, I think I would have beenpletely satisfied being enveloped in his embrace. He took a dry towel for me, and I quickly dried my hair and dressed properly. I didn¡¯t want to get sick because I spent too long in the bathroom like this.


    I justplied.


    ¡°Joice,¡± Cedric called as he gently touched my shoulder. He might have thought I was asleep, but I wasn¡¯t. In my mind, I was imagining Cedric¡¯s body shape, which was clearly visible, even though I had enjoyed being in the embrace of his bare chest several times, it still felt tempting. To be explored with my fingertips, of course.


    ¡°I¡¯m going home,¡± he said.


    I processed his words. Go home? Whose shirt would he wear? It couldn¡¯t be with that wet shirt, right? I turned around and found him still shirtless. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡±


    His forehead creased. ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯m not blind to the clock on the wall.¡±


    Heughed.


    ¡°If Baby makes me ufortable again, what are you going to do? Who will massage me? Take responsibility.¡±


    Hisughter increased. ¡°Can I stay the night again?¡±


    I frowned but nodded slightly.


    ¡°Do you need to wear clothes, or is this fine?¡± Cedric asked.


    Extraordinary, wasn¡¯t he, Cedric? Now it was his turn to tease me like that? Really? Just wait and see. My retaliation would be greater than what he received before.


    ¡°Your body looks good. So it can be used as my living doll for bedtimepany.¡±


    Cedric drowned inughter. ¡°Sure. As long as it keeps youpany.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure. You¡¯re bound to me for life. No way you can stray.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s speed up the wedding, Joice.¡±


    This time, I looked at him with confusion. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I can withstand it today. I don¡¯t know about tomorrow or the day after.¡±


    A faint smile appeared on my lips.


    ¡°You¡­ are the sweetest temptation in my life, Joice.¡±


    ***


    I don¡¯t immediately forgive Cedric, you know. It¡¯s not that easy, actually. Butst night, while I was soaking in the bath before Cedric washed my hair, I took a moment to think. What Naomi and Dona said was worth considering? Although Cedric was wrong, he had his reasons. And his anger towards Sarman was strong evidence that he loves me and Baby.


    ¡°Think about it, Anya, if Cedric didn¡¯t love you deeply, he wouldn¡¯t have gone this far. You can see it, right? Has he ever left you?¡± Dona¡¯s words kept echoing in my mind before we decided to go to bed while they were staying over. And Naomi¡¯s words too. ¡°You don¡¯t need to waste your energy being angry for too long. Just be angry within reason, I know you¡¯re disappointed. But I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t be able to leave, Anya. You two love each other, you just haven¡¯t admitted your feelings clearly. Right?¡±


    I was speechless. Dona¡¯s words kept ying in my mind before we decided to go to bed. And Naomi¡¯s words too. I don¡¯t need to let my anger drag on too long. Just be reasonably upset, and I know that you¡¯re disappointed. But I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t be able to leave. You both love each other; you just haven¡¯t admitted your feelings clearly. Right?


    There¡¯s nothing I can do. It¡¯s true. I have fallen for Cedric. Even though his appearance and now that I know who the real Cedric is, it doesn¡¯t change my feelings just like that. Especially since what has changed is only his appearance and status. His attention, affection, gentle words, and everything rted to me, none of that has changed. It has only decreased, if at all.


    But deep in the depths of my heart, my fear is growing. Even for a Cedric who works as an office boy, I still had doubts in my heart. What about in the future when our circumstances might not be as good as now? Will our love still be able to sustain each other¡¯s presence? Or will we drift apart and I¡¯ll be hurt again because of being left behind?


    And now? Cedric holds the power, far above me. I¡¯ve evene to the realization that Krystal is already amazing enough. How about her sister, who is apparently the one in control? Oh, my list of fears is getting longer, isn¡¯t it?


    I could be abandoned at any time. With Cedric¡¯s power, he could take away my child and leave me. Not to mention, I suddenly remembered that Cedric has been to clubs a few times, right? Oh my God! I forgot to ask if he truly loves the band or if it¡¯s just an excuse to spend a lot of time at the club. And to think¡­ my brain is so slow to process things!


    The incident from the night that I still clearly remember, Cedric was at the club too. Typical of someone who has a lot of money to spend their leisure time. Having fun.


    Oh my God! What should I do?


    ¡°You¡¯ve been daydreaming a lottely, Joice.¡±


    I was taken aback. Cedric was already standing not far from where I was sitting. We were both ready to go to work. Last night, Cedric stayed over after I washed one piece of his clothes. So that it would dry in the morning and I could iron it right away. That was after I persuaded Cedric this and that. Don¡¯t forget, he never let me go easily. He followed my every step. He said he was afraid I would do something even though I was just washing one of his clothes! Amazing!


    I saw Cedric brought two tes of his homemade fried rice. I¡¯m not allowed to touch the kitchen except to make coffee. Well, I¡¯m fine with that since I¡¯m not really good at cooking anyway. But it doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t cook, you know. I can handle simple meals. Well¡­ they taste good enough when eaten when I¡¯m hungry. That¡¯s what Naomi and Dona said, you know.


    ¡°I¡¯m not daydreaming.¡± My smile appeared halfway because of the dishes Cedric brought. It looked delicious, and I could tell from the aroma that my appetite was awakened. ¡°It looks really good.¡±


    Cedric chuckled softly. ¡°Eat as much as you want. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll add more from mine.¡±


    My lips pouted. Damn!


    ¡°What, no morning kiss? Do I have to pout like this to get one?¡±


    ¡°Cedric, please! Tone down the teasing. It¡¯s not funny.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking, Joice. I¡¯m just asking.¡±


    Yeah, yeah, whatever Cedric says. Instead of entertaining him, I chose to enjoy the meal. It¡¯s delicious. Seriously. It¡¯s not too spicy or salty. I tend to misjudge the amount of salt when making fried rice. Oddly enough, Cedric always finishes his meal when I cook for him, even though I rarely spend time in the kitchen.


    We ate in silence. I¡¯m not much of a talker while eating, unless it¡¯s almost finished. Only then do we start chatting about random things thate to mind. Sometimes it¡¯s something trivial, like what to have for dinner, or work-rted topics. Oh, but most of the time, we discuss Baby. Cedric has been a bit worried ever since I decided to go back to work. He¡¯s afraid I might faint again.


    If nothing happens, I won¡¯t faint. I¡¯m being extremely cautious in my actions now. I love Baby, you know.


    ¡°What were you daydreaming about earlier?¡±


    I slowly put thest spoonful into my mouth. I chewed it slowly, savoring the taste, although not really. I don¡¯t want to share my fears yet, even though they¡¯re bothering me. Last night, I slept soundly in Cedric¡¯s embrace, even though my mind was preupied with the same worries.


    My fears.


    Should I talk and start figuring out how we¡¯ll face our future life? Our finances are indeed unbnced, right? I can¡¯t deny that. I¡¯m also starting to worry that their extended family might start looking into my background.


    I¡¯m getting a headache.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re spacing out again. What¡¯s up?¡±


    Now Cedric lifted my chin slowly to meet his gaze. I was going to push him away, but he held firm. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s bothering you?¡±


    I shook my head gently.


    ¡°Last night, you didn¡¯t say much, Joice. Just asking to be caressed. I thought our problem was resolved, but it seems it¡¯s not. Is something bothering you?¡±


    To talk or not to talk?


    I heard Cedric sigh deeply. ¡°I¡¯m not a mind reader. I can¡¯t understand what¡¯s in your heart if you don¡¯t talk.¡±


    Those jet-ck eyes delved deep and seemed to pierce right into my heart.


    ¡°Two-waymunication is necessary. Just like in business. There¡¯s no way Krystal could be this sessful if she didn¡¯t clearly express what she wanted. You, as her assistant, surely understand her performance. Right?¡±


    I nodded in response. Krystal and her transparency.


    ¡°That¡¯s what my parents taught me, even though my dad is a bit rigid, he always talks to my mom. Especially when she¡¯s silent and won¡¯t speak. Dad is sure something must be wrong.¡±


    I still didn¡¯t want to look anywhere else. When Cedric talks like this, I don¡¯t know why I feel like throwing myself shamelessly. I shouldn¡¯t be thinking like this in front of Cedric. Oh, goodness! I feel so cheap.


    ¡°And it seems like this applies to you too. You¡¯ve been daydreaming a lottely. When asked, you always say nothing¡¯s wrong. I¡¯ve been waiting for you to talk, but it feels like forever, Joice.¡±


    Cedric sighed softly, closed his eyes briefly, and then looked back at me. For some reason, I feel like I¡¯m being tossed around by a big wave, tossed aimlessly in a sea called indecision.


    ¡°Am I not valuable enough for your life that you don¡¯t want to share what¡¯s on your mind?¡±

 [44] a

    I feel just like a death row inmate who can¡¯t turn back! All because of Cedric! He had to change our destination. Instead of going to the apartment, we ended up at his house! Just because he received a dinner invitation from his mother.


    Getting angry would be pointless. I was flustered because I felt underdressed. Too casual and, well¡­ just not right! I was wearing a knee-length cotton dress with long sleeves, adorned with a bright yellow flower print. I wore a thin scarf as an essory to cover the traces of Cedric still lingering there.


    My stomach wasn¡¯t too noticeable, probably because I opted for a loose butfortable dress. As for my shoes, Cedric had reced them with ones more amodating for pregnant women. Whatever. Now, my top priority was making sure Baby wasfortable and my ears were at peace without this increasingly talkative man¡¯s scolding. Unfortunately, I¡¯ve already fallen for him. Annoying, isn¡¯t it?


    Oh, back to the sudden issue of going to Cedric¡¯s house. ¡°Cedric, I look so odd like this.¡±


    He justughed at myint. ¡°Odd? You look stunning like that. It was Mom¡¯s request, not mine. As a dutiful son, I¡¯m obliged to fulfill her requests, right?¡±


    My lips pouted. ¡°Why not go with Krystal?¡±


    Cedric smiled, pretending to be mysterious. ¡°She had something to attend to.¡±


    I furrowed my brows. ¡°A meeting? Anna said the meeting ended at four this afternoon. She was asked to go home right away. She told me earlier.¡±


    ¡°No, something with her boyfriend.¡±


    I was way behind. As far as I knew and observed, Krystal didn¡¯t have a boyfriend. Who would be lucky enough to approach her? Just one nce from Krystal and guys would run away in fear. Not to mention how incredibly intelligent she is. Even before anything happens, the confidence of men out there shrinks suddenly.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Oh, there¡¯s only one person I can think of¡­ ¡°Mr. Andrew?¡±


    Cedric didn¡¯t answer my question. Instead, he got busy and pretended to focus on the steering wheel. Annoying, right? ¡°Cedric, are we really going there?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we?¡±


    I felt like crying! ¡°Embarrassing, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°Embarrassed in front of who? My mom?¡±


    I nodded softly. I couldn¡¯t imagine myself sitting there, looking sweet, served with so much food without any help from me. Even when I said I should bring something for his mom, Cedric refused. He said it wasn¡¯t necessary. Where¡¯s the sense of dignity and embarrassment when meeting your future mother-inw, being so rxed like this!


    ¡°Joice, just reduce those negative thoughts. My mom would be so happy to have you there. Having dinner together. She still wants to chat with you a lot. What are you afraid of? Your appearance? Seriously, I¡¯m not lying. You look beautiful.¡±


    I pouted. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of not being well-received, Cedric. I told you about all my fears earlier.¡±


    My head received a soft caress. For a moment, I closed my eyes and absorbed what Cedric was doing to me. Slowly, his fingers descended and held my hand so tightly. While the other one was used to drive. The road ahead was congested, but Cedric could always take advantage of the opportunity.


    Then, the back of my hand received a long kiss from him.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you should reduce those negative thoughts. My mom has been bugging me about you. Since the beginning, I told her about our situation, and she can¡¯t wait to meet you. If not for Krystal holding her back, I don¡¯t know how chaotic it would be if my mom suddenly showed up at the office to meet you.¡±


    My jaw nearly dropped. Is Cedric serious?


    ¡°My mom doesn¡¯t care about your background if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about. I understand and know your fears, Joice. But what can I do? I love you. You, whom I cherish and fight for¡­ you. Especially now that there¡¯s Baby. It makes me even more determined.¡±


    ¡°Especially now that there¡¯s Baby? What do you mean, Cedric?¡±


    He nced at me briefly and then quickly returned his gaze to the road ahead. He released my hand, refocusing on the steering wheel even though we were still stuck in traffic.


    ¡°There¡¯s something you¡¯re hiding from me, Cedric?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ yeah¡­ well, something like that.¡±


    Is Cedric feeling embarrassed, or is there really something he¡¯s hiding? I couldn¡¯t judge someone¡¯s expression when the person I was observing was so focused ¨C or pretending to be ¨C on the steering wheel. ¡°Cedric,¡± I pressed impatiently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll confess after the dinner, alright?¡±


    ¡°Cedric,¡± I repeated. This time, I was extremely impatient. ¡°I don¡¯t like being lied to, and you know that perfectly well. Or do you want me to ignore you again?¡±


    Cedric grinned when he looked at me. ¡°The threat is extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me!¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. But never feel so down on yourself like earlier. I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    I waited for him to speak, not answering his request. That can wait. I wanted to know what he wanted to tell me.


    ¡°Long before the night you got drunk,¡± Cedric nced at me briefly, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly as his eyes seemed a bit shy when looking at me. ¡°I was already captivated by you.¡±


    I blinked softly, rapidly digging into my memories of the Cedric I knew when he first started working here. I didn¡¯t feel anything unusual during our introduction. His gaze was ordinary, not that of a fierce or overly curious man directed at me. I could distinguish how men looked at me, whether during meetings with Krystal or when I had my own affairs outside office hours.


    ¡°You said it was since the beginning of working together. Is that true? I still remember your words.¡±


    He smiled again, making me doubt the words he once said. ¡°Cedric?¡±


    ¡°Long time before that.¡±


    My eyes widened and turned to him. ¡°When did you meet me, Cedric?¡±


    His smile remained on his lips. ¡°Well, we¡¯re already here.¡±


    I suddenly realized that what he said was true. Even the tall ck gate was already open, and Cedric just stepped on the gas pedal gently, entering his luxurious house. The feelings from earlier were still tumbling around. How could we have arrived already? Does Cedric have a Doraemon door or something? It was too quick!


    Suddenly, nervousness overwhelmed me. It was worse than the first time I set foot here. If before, I was filled with anger and disappointment, now my feelings were even more chaotic. And there was no Krystal as a conversation partner, only Cedric.


    Oh¡­ why am I trembling like this?


    ¡°Come on.¡± Since when did Cedric open the door for me? He stood tall in front of me, looking even more handsome. Although I knew he had been busy all day, dealing with many things together with Krystal. I asionally entered my boss¡¯s office just to provide them with whatever they needed. His tiredness wasn¡¯t apparent; his smile never left his lips.


    It seemed like he was delighted to see me so nervous.


    ¡°Joice?¡± he said, extending his hand.


    As I looked up, those eyes once again touched a chord in my heart. This time, with a tone full of trust. His conviction was so strong that I believed him, believed that when I epted his hand, he made sure many things happened in my life. Especially happiness.


    His gaze told it all.


    For this moment, I hoped my fears would start to fade away. Especially with everything Cedric was giving me, encouraging me to trust and cast away my fears. As I touched his hand, he held it firmly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Have some more, dear,¡± Mrs. Iriana said as she offered me the sweet and sour shrimp she had intentionally cooked for me. I was already full, but with this much attention, I felt hungry again. Seriously.


    I couldn¡¯t remember when was thest time I received such attention from a motherly figure in my life. Sure, there was Granny Sumi. She always cared for me, but it still felt different, right? Granny Sumi had to work at her little shop to make ends meet for us. The small shop was inherited from my grandfather, who passed away when I was three years old.


    I also felt my long hair being gently stroked by this still-beautiful middle-aged woman. Her smile reminded me of her son. The difference was in their eyes. One was exceptionally firm, making anyone she spoke to intimidated when meeting her for the first time, and even more so when they found out how terrifying Krystal could be when on a mission. Meanwhile, Mrs. Iriana had a calm and gentle demeanor. So motherly.


    ¡°What kind of food do you like? No restrictions from the doctor, right?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°No, Ma¡¯am. Everything is normal. I can eat anything.¡±


    ¡°Except soda,¡± Cedric suddenly interrupted. I gaped in disbelief as the man across from me spoke like that. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Joice? Did I do something wrong?¡±


    Cedric needed to get his lips sewn shut forcibly! I know about that issue too! I only had a little bit and pretended to be in pain to get pampered! Not to be attacked like this!


    ¡°Yes, you can¡¯t have soda for now. Anya likes it?¡±


    I shook my head vigorously. ¡°Yesterday, I was craving it. Cedric bought pizza and got a bonus c. I wanted some, Ma¡¯em.¡±


    ¡°Cedric.¡±

 [44] b

    I wanted tough but held it back. The tone of his mother¡¯s voice changed, sounding like she was cornering me because of her son, I ended up wanting to drink c. True, isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s the reality.


    ¡°But you¡¯re okay, right?¡±


    Again, I shook my head.


    ¡°Take care of your pregnancy, Anya.¡±


    I blinked softly. This time, his deep and brief voice dominated the room. Since I entered; the solemn handshake, the greeting, the small talk, and even killing the uneasy feeling for not bringing anything except my body, Jonathan xton didn¡¯t say much.


    It was only now that he mentioned something about my pregnancy. Even then, he didn¡¯t shift his gaze anywhere. He remained focused on the dish in front of him. I fell silent for a moment, digesting his words. It seemed stern and rigid, but for some reason, a warm breeze began to seep into my heart, which was so thirsty for parental attention.


    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯m taking good care of myself.¡±


    ¡°Must be. Papa¡¯s future grandchild must grow healthy. His mother also needs to be happy because her influence is significant.¡±


    I swallowed nervously.


    ¡°That¡¯s your responsibility, Cedric. Don¡¯t make Anya sad or go through difficulties. Don¡¯t just think about yourself.¡±


    Luckily, I wasn¡¯t chewing on anything, or else I would have choked. Like father, like son, they often surprised me with their words.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. Cedric will make sure of that.¡±


    ¡°When is your next check-up appointment, Anya?¡± This time, Mrs. Iriana¡¯s gentle voice interrupted. I nced briefly, finding her friendly smile reappearing at the corner of her lips. Her gaze was truly enchanting. I felt that perhaps Cedric¡¯s gaze, which always made it hard for me to look away, came from his mother. Really.


    ¡°In two weeks, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯lle along, okay?¡±


    This time, I sought Cedric¡¯s help with my eyes. Seriously, this would be so awkward! I never imagined being apanied by strangers who, well¡­ would eventually be my family. Ugh¡­ why am I so sure about this? Will they ept me? Sincerely?


    Come on, Anya! Let go of all those negative thoughts! Since you came here, they haven¡¯t shown any judgmental looks or made any unpleasant remarks.


    ¡°Why are you daydreaming, Anya? Is something wrong?¡±


    I fumbled. ¡°Ah¡­ no, Ma¡¯am. Nothing¡¯s wrong.¡± I moistened my throat slightly to cover up my nervousness. ¡°Is it okay for you to apany me?¡±


    The middle-aged woman chuckled softly. ¡°Oh¡­ why would I mind? I¡¯m actually very curious. Papa wille along too, right?¡±


    Considering, hesitating, but extremely curious about the response from the still-handsome man despite his age ¨C I imagined that Cedric would age gracefully like his father, right? If so, I should take good care of my appearance too! He still looks so cool ¨C he gave his response.


    And¡­ he nodded without hesitation.


    That¡¯s it. I¡¯m dead!


    ****


    Ugh, why am I trapped here? I can¡¯t sleep at all! This room is so unfamiliar. The interior is neat, clean,fortable, and well¡­ fragrant. But still¡­ ugh¡­ I never expected that I wouldn¡¯t be allowed to go home. Even Cedric seemed to go along with the charade. Saying he was so tired after all those meetings.


    But he wasn¡¯t!


    All day, he was busy, but not with meetings. Krystal, my boss, was the one who had the meetings! My goodness! He made up an excuse just so I would ept Bu Iriana¡¯s offer to stay here. She had even been busy preparing work clothes for me tomorrow, taken from her daughter Krystal¡¯s room.


    Fine. I¡¯ll just ept my fate and be met with Krystal¡¯s sarcastic looks tomorrow for wearing her clothes.


    That¡¯s not all. She went out of her way to prepare my pregnancy milk, which I usually drink every night. Seriously, I feel so ufortable about it. But on the other hand, I want to cry. Twenty-four years have passed since I was abandoned by my mother, and it¡¯s only now that I¡¯m feeling the warmth of a mother¡¯s love again. Pure. Without any strange looks, weing me so warmly.


    She apanied me for a moment in the room, making sure I wasfortable in the guest room. But before she left, I stopped her for a moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Ma¡¯am. Our rtionship shouldn¡¯t be like this. This¡­ this¡­¡± I choked up. My breath was caught, and the carefully considered words I wanted to say disappeared. My eyes welled up with tears when our gazes met.


    ¡°Anya, I¡¯m not angry. In fact, I would be very angry if I didn¡¯t know that I have a grandchild.¡± Mrs. Iriana gently stroked the side of my head. I truly felt the warmth there. I closed my eyes for a moment, cherishing everything she was giving me right now.


    ¡°In one month, you two will get married. It can¡¯t be postponed for too long.¡±


    Originally, I wanted to voice many things. One month is extremely short for me. But I held back. There¡¯s one thing that bothers me more than preparing for our wedding.


    ¡°But, Ma¡¯am ¡­ I¡¯m¡­ just from an ordinary background. Not like Cedric and his-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that. I don¡¯t like it, and I don¡¯t want to hear it. It¡¯s enough for tonight that Anya questioned who you are in front of me.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    I fell silent.


    ¡°For me, the most important thing is Cedric¡¯s happiness. If he¡¯s happy with you, I won¡¯t stand in the way. Besides, I know you through Krystal. She often tells me how intelligent her assistant is at the office. Knowledgeable in this and that. Not to mention, your ability to keep up with Krystal, who¡¯s super demanding. Even though we just met now, right?¡±


    I felt likeughing, but I couldn¡¯t. I was doubtful at first, really. Well, those negative thoughts kept hammering away. Who wouldn¡¯t have such thoughts? Not being epted, receiving looks as if taking advantage of the situation, and many other things that bothered me due to social status. I¡¯m aware that Cedric and I are mismatched.


    Back then, I assessed it from a different perspective. I was above all positionspared to Cedric. Now, that¡¯s what¡¯s slowly killing me. Karma truly never ys around in its role, right? I shouldn¡¯t judge someone based on one aspect alone. Although I¡¯vee to realize that Cedric is trulymitted to his work, I initially judged the man who conquered my heart poorly.


    ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am, for epting this. I¡­ I¡¯m touched.¡±


    Her soft and delicate hand touched my cheek. I froze. No one else has treated me so gently. Naomi and Dona, they¡¯re in a different category. Nek Sumi? Truly, if I could repay all the kindness she has shown me, I would. Every night, I can only pray for Nek Sumi¡¯s happiness. She no longer needs to worry about how I¡¯m living because it¡¯s thanks to her that I¡¯ve reached this point.


    She¡¯s the one who has made the most difference in my life, recing my mother and father. Although I haven¡¯t been able to repay her with joy and happiness, I believe that God knows how to make that old woman, whom I affectionately call Grandmother, happy.


    Unconsciously, I started crying in front of Mrs. Iriana. Instead, she embraced me tightly. Really tight. While gently stroking my back and trying to calm me down. It took some time for me to calm down a bit. I slowly released the warm embrace I received, and our eyes met. As I was about to wipe away my tears, Mrs. Iriana¡¯s fingers did it first.


    ¡°Cedric told me a bit about you. Consider me as your mother. Never feel lonely again, Anya.¡±


    I blinked slowly.


    ¡°Do you want that?¡±


    As my answer, and this time without hesitation, I nodded. I hugged her again because, truly, this is incredibly moving. There¡¯s someone else who¡¯s been this good to me in my life.


    God is so good to me. Really.

 [45] a

    I suddenly got scared to enter Krystal¡¯s room. Anna said, ¡°The boss is already here.¡± She asked me why I wasn¡¯t at my desk yet. I did inform that I¡¯d being in a bitte and apologized profusely; ming the heavy traffic during mymute to work and the chatty breakfast I had, which also made Cedric, who was driving, take forever to get here even though there was no traffic jam.


    He said I shouldn¡¯t be grumpy in the morning. But what can I do? That guy is so annoying! Infuriating, really! Seriously. If Cedric didn¡¯t keep smiling so sweetly, I¡¯m sure I would have scolded him already. Lately, he¡¯s been so good at irritating and annoying me. Strangely, I can¡¯t bring myself to be rude or give him sarcastic looks anymore.


    ording to Naomi, I¡¯m affected by Cedric¡¯s charm. Geez, I sometimes get confused with the terms Naomi often uses. It¡¯s weird but it makes me smile to myself. I¡¯ll think about thatter; for now, I better focus on reaching Krystal¡¯s room door soon. I take a deep breath and pray that Krystal won¡¯t be angry or give me a disapproving look.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± I call softly. I hear Krystal¡¯s clear voice, giving me permission to enter. I gently push the door while closing my eyes for a moment. I feel it¡¯s better to apologize right away before she says anything, rather than letting the atmosphere get more awkward.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m sorry. I¡­¡± Gosh, I¡¯m scared! As our eyes meet, Krystal stares at me with a sharp gaze, I think. ¡°Once again, I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am, for my attire-¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on. It¡¯s just about the clothes. No big deal, Anya. Just rx.¡±


    I sigh with relief, but not entirely. ¡°And for beingte today,¡± I continue.


    Krystal gives a small smile. ¡°Sit down, Anya.¡±


    This time, I return the smile, but it¡¯s quite awkward. Krystal is beautiful, I know that. Her smile is like a devil ready to devour her opponent who stands in her way. Terrifying. I¡¯m well aware of that. But now? That smile is so sweet and sincere.


    Suddenly, I remember, such a beautiful smile belongs to a gentle and caring middle-aged woman, Mrs. Iriana. It looks so simr, imprinted on those maroon lips.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for noting homest night. I had some business to attend to.¡±


    I¡¯m confused about how to respond.


    ¡°My Mom didn¡¯t ask about me?¡±


    More than just confusion! Hernguage is no longer formal, and it seems like Krystal is genuinely paying attention to me. I¡¯m reminded of all the changes since she found out I¡¯m pregnant. Plus, it turns out I¡¯m pregnant with Cedric¡¯s child. Oh my God! I don¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°No, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Ugh! Don¡¯t call me ¡®Ma¡¯am.¡¯ We¡¯ll be family soon. When it¡¯s just the two of us like this, just call me Krystal.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Krystal raises her hand, indicating that she doesn¡¯t want to be contradicted. All I can do is nod helplessly. My soon-to-be sister-inw smiles with satisfaction.


    ¡°Cedric said you two are getting married next month?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am¡­ I mean, Krystal.¡± Seriously, this is the biggest awkwardness I¡¯ve ever experienced. In the past, during the first interview for the job transfer they offered me, I was indeed nervous and awkward. Because sitting in front of me was a different Krystal. Her gaze was sharp, firm, and she wanted answers that truly represented who I was. Am I suitable and capable of keeping up with her high level of mobility?


    Now? It¡¯s apletely different kind of awkwardness.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go out for lunchter.¡±


    I furrow my brow.


    ¡°I want you to try on some dresses. To match the theme of your wedding. By the way, what theme do you want, Anya? I can¡¯t wait to get involved.¡±


    Huh?


    ¡°Anya, stop daydreaming. This needs to be thought through, you know. In a little while, the wedding organizer will help you with all the arrangements. You just need to choose what you want, where it¡¯ll be held, and what the reception will be like. Let them handle it. It¡¯s just a month away, and we need to move quickly.¡±


    The nerves in my brain suddenly snap.


    ¡°My mom and I will help you, of course. Or if Naomi and Doni want to help, I¡¯d be delighted. Cedric said they¡¯re like family to you, right? They¡¯ll be thrilled to be involved in your big day.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ but I want a simple party.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Simple, but not too simple, Anya. At least a private party. 200 invitations should be enough. I don¡¯t want too many people attending. It¡¯ll be restricted, especially since you¡¯re pregnant. I don¡¯t want Cedric to scold me for making you tired.¡±


    I haven¡¯t fully processed everything Krystal said when Anna knocks on the door and asks for permission to enter. After Krystal grants permission, someone whom I assume is the wedding organizer she mentioned earlieres in as well.


    ¡°Oh my God! Cedric really knows how to pick a wife. She¡¯s so beautiful.¡±


    ¡°He better!¡± Krystal says proudly. ¡°Let me introduce you, this is Ros. The wedding organizer in charge of your event, Anya. We went to the same school.¡±


    I give up. I¡¯ll just go with the flow. I don¡¯t know how to respond to everything suddenly happening in my life. So I just smile in response to the friendly handshake. asionally, Ros jokes about me being lucky to have a future sister-inw like Krystal. But it¡¯s not like that at all!


    ¡°You finally havepetition at home, Krystal.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Theyugh, I don¡¯t. I just awkwardly grimace because those words are too exaggerated. Yes, Krystal and I are worlds apart. One hundred and eighty degrees different.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always prayed for someonepatible with me at home. Someone to have fun with. And¡­ God granted my wish. She¡¯s my assistant at the office, Ros. I¡¯ve told you about her, right? She¡¯s incredibly qualified. Now, meet¡­ Anya. My future sister-inw.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s too much,¡± I say softly. It¡¯s not that I want to interrupt or anything, but seriously, it¡¯s too much. Krystal doesn¡¯t need to say all that about me just because I¡¯ll soon be part of her family.


    Once again, Krystal smiles. ¡°No, it¡¯s not. It¡¯s the truth. I¡¯ve always been impressed with your work, you know.¡±


    Ros, who¡¯s sitting next to me, chuckles. ¡°Krystal rarely praises people. She¡¯s known to be stingy withpliments. So, you must be special, Anya.¡±


    ¡°Oh, why are we making small talk like this? We¡¯re running out of time.¡± I see Ros taking out her tote bag. ¡°So¡­ Anya, what kind of concept do you want? Let¡¯s discuss it now so we can prepare right away.¡±


    ***


    Oh¡­ this is too good and luxurious! I can¡¯t even blink while looking at myself in front of the mirror! How could I not? I look like a sudden Cindere. The dress is only knee-length, but let me tell you, all the ornaments on this outfit are so luxurious.


    And not to mention, the back is open, disying my back quite vividly, even though it¡¯s partially covered with sheer fabric, it¡¯s still amazing. Oh, and don¡¯t forget the front, with its low cut that perfectly entuates my neckline. The design of the dress also cleverly hides my slightly bulging belly. You can hardly tell that I¡¯m pregnant.


    Seriously.


    ¡°You look stunning, Anya, just like I imagined.¡±


    I give a shy smile in response to Krystal¡¯spliment. My boss looks even more stunning herself.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, uh¡­ I mean, Krystal,¡± I¡¯m still not used to this, seriously! ¡°The size fits perfectly. When did you order it?¡±


    She smiles mysteriously. ¡°The important thing is that it looks beautiful on you.¡±


    I¡¯m starting to not understand Krystal¡¯s train of thought now.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, consider this a wedding gift from me. Cedric is my beloved little brother, Anya. I was a bit disappointed when I found out he lost control like that.¡±


    I gulp nervously.


    ¡°Throughout knowing Cedric, I rarely saw him lose control in life. His visions and missions were always clear. As the firstborn, I felt a responsibility to stabilize what was built with great effort. Meanwhile, Cedric served as an advisor besides being with Papa. He worked behind the scenes, Anya. I was the one on the front lines, while Cedric and Papa provided direction.¡±


    Krystal gently pulls me to sit on the plush sofa provided by the boutique. Our dresses are ready, just a few more decorations to be added. Also, they might have to loosen the size a bit for me in case I gain more weight next month. Well, it¡¯s not a ¡°maybe,¡± my weight is bound to increase.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that Cedric really doesn¡¯t want to take control. He wants to be free. ying music and managing his caf¨¦ business. I¡¯m not sure how many branches he has, though. He told you about this, right?¡±


    I just nod. Cedric hasn¡¯t gone into much detail about his activities, especially when ites to the caf¨¦ business. He simply mentioned that he runs it as his own business. While he worked as OB at his brother¡¯s office because Krystal needed extra help, especially during the embezzlement case. He had to monitor things directly and gather solid evidence while Krystal continued to run multiple projects.


    ¡°I was so afraid that the woman he got pregnant was just using Cedric. Well, I know I sound like a possessive older sister, but when I found out that you were the one involved, I felt like pping Cedric as hard as I could.¡±


    When Krystal said ¡®involved,¡¯ I cringed. If only she knew that I was the one who initiated it, I wouldn¡¯t know how to face Krystal xton.


    ¡°Seriously, Anya. It was so unexpected. When I interrogated him with Papa, he just grinned. It was so annoying, right!¡±


    I can imagine how irritating Cedric must have been at that moment.


    ¡°I hope you two will be happy. Even though I¡¯m sure getting Cedric¡¯s heart must have been quite a feat.¡±


    ¡°Did Cedric talk about it?¡± I¡¯m quite curious about this part. Maybe I can shut the annoying guy up with some valuable information. But it seems like Krystal is a truly loyal sibling. She just smiles and yfully pinches my arm.


    ¡°The important thing is that you know Cedric really cares about you.¡±


    I pout.

 [45] b

    ¡°Where are we going, Cedric?¡± I ask curiously. When we returned to the office earlier, Cedric was already waiting for me in Krystal¡¯s room. There was clear restlessness evident on his face, for some reason. When I asked, he said he was worried because he didn¡¯t see me at lunchtime.


    Cedric¡¯s response immediately received a solid punch on his shoulder from Krystal. ¡°Mind your own business! You¡¯re so nosy.¡±


    Cedric just grinned but it still surprised me to hear him say that directly. ¡°It¡¯s just that, Sis. I was just worried that Anya might get tired. That¡¯s all.¡±


    I saw Krystal roll her eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t overdo it, Cedric. You¡¯re exaggerating.¡±


    ¡°Cedric, you¡¯re going too far. I¡¯m not tired at all.¡± I can¡¯t let Cedric use us of doing something that could endanger the baby. Why is he being so annoying?


    Cedric lets out a sigh, looking at me with a resigned expression. ¡°Fine, okay. I was wrong.¡± Then he sits down next to me. He quickly cuts off our eye contact that was initially at odds, then looks toward his sister who¡¯s still focused on herputer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sis.¡±


    Krystal doesn¡¯t even look in her brother¡¯s direction. I¡¯m stuck in the middle, feeling uneasy and unsure of what to do. Cedric is being too much. Yet, his sister is so kind to me, genuinely caring. If I were Krystal, I¡¯d be mad too, feeling used of something that¡¯s not true.


    ¡°Okay. I give up. You and Mom can n our wedding however you want. Just don¡¯t make Anya tired because of the event.¡±


    I blink. What does he mean?


    Krystal immediately turns to me and smiles broadly. ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Suddenly, an ufortable feeling washes over me.


    ¡°And one more thing, Sis.¡± Cedric briefly nces at me, but only for a split second. ¡°I don¡¯t want to receive too many gifts, especially from the wedding.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Krystal asks, but with a slight smile. The suspicious aura between their interactions is so evident, but I don¡¯t understand what they¡¯re talking about.


    ¡°You know exactly what I mean, Sis.¡±


    Krystal waves her hand as if shooing Cedric away. ¡°Go back to work. That¡¯s my business.¡±


    ¡°If you weren¡¯t warned like this, you¡¯d take advantage, Sis.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± I can¡¯t hold back my curiosity any longer. I really want to know what¡¯s happening. What did I get? Cedric asks me to step outside the room. Meanwhile, Krystal justughs, looking quite satisfied.


    As we¡¯re about to return to our desks, Cedric doesn¡¯t let go of my hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going home, Joice.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°But I still have work to do. A lot of it, actually.¡±


    He shakes his head.


    ¡°Cedric, I haven¡¯t asked for Krystal¡¯s permission yet.¡± I¡¯m right, right? This concerns my professionalism at work. I shouldn¡¯t be so casual about it, but Cedric doesn¡¯t want to be argued with. He keeps holding my hand and gently pulls me along. Before I know it, our steps are already in front of the elevator.


    ¡°Cedric, this isn¡¯t right. I¡¯m working, and you are too. We can¡¯t just leave like this, can we?¡±


    ¡°Have you been working all this time? Weren¡¯t you just chatting with Krystal?¡± he says, and I fall silent, and he chuckles.


    ¡°Let it be. Krystal has Anna. My work is done too.¡±


    Annoyed, I give his strong abdomen a hard pinch. Let it be. At most, it¡¯ll leave a bruiseter. He¡¯s so audacious when he talks.


    ¡°Oh, Joice. Instead of using your hands to pinch me, you should use them to caress my chest. It¡¯s more useful.¡±


    I don¡¯t hesitate to hit his shoulder, but it only makes himugh shamelessly. Thankfully, there are no other staff waiting for the elevator with us.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I ask.


    He smiles and tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. It¡¯s tucked neatly behind my ear. ¡°It¡¯s a secret,¡± he says.


    As the elevator opens, Henry¡¯s figure appears. I flinch because I rarely meet him face-to-face since I returned to the office.


    ¡°Oh, coincidentally meeting you, Sir. I¡­¡± I could clearly see Henry ncing at me, even if it was just for a moment.


    ¡°I have some matters to discuss with Sir. Is it a disturbance?¡±


    The elevator doors close automatically, even though Cedric had pressed the panel for it to go down. Maybe because Henry started talking, he decided not to enter the elevator immediately.


    ¡°Oh, no. We just talked about the case earlier, right? To finalize things?¡± Henry nods.


    ¡°Go to my office for a moment, Joice. Is that okay?¡±


    I¡¯m in a situation that I can¡¯t avoid or escape easily. So besides giving a brief nod, I don¡¯t see any other answer I can give. And I just realized that Cedric is still holding my hand firmly. He even asked for my bag and said I just need to bring myself.


    ¡°Anya,¡± Henry greets me awkwardly. I can feel how Henry¡¯s eyes keep ncing at me, but he seems hesitant. I just give a brief nod and a small smile. After all, I do know Henry. I can¡¯t pretend not to recognize him. It¡¯s just that the situation doesn¡¯t allow us to talk much anymore. Cedric blocks the ess immediately.


    I don¡¯t know if he wants to assert his presence to Henry or what, but one thing for sure is that Henry steps back a little. It feels really awkward, and I want Cedric to finish his business quickly. And there¡¯s one thing that I¡¯ll definitely receive. As we walk together to Cedric¡¯s office-formerly Sarman¡¯s office-almost everyone looks at me with hungry eyes. They seem eager to know about my rtionship with Cedric, which has be a trending topic in office gossip.


    Naomi messaged me that almost all the staff are gossiping about this. And yeah¡­ I¡¯ve be the main subject of gossip. After beingbeled as a woman who acts high and mighty, now I¡¯m seen as materialistic. Even though initially, I didn¡¯t know who Cedric really was. I just knew he was an office boy and I fell in love with him as a person. Not the newly revealed Cedric. But in the end, I have to ept that they are the same person, and I can¡¯t deny that the reasons given make perfect sense. Well¡­ whatever. I¡¯m used to being the subject of gossip. Since Kelvin approached me, I¡¯ve never been free from cynical looks and nastyments. And now Dewa openly approaches me too.


    ¡°I just need to check these files real quick. You can sit herefortably,¡± Cedric offers, gesturing for me to take a seat. I nod in response. Before he even sits in his chair, he starts talking again.


    ¡°If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡±


    I give a small nod in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Joice?¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh, Cedric! Enough already. Just focus on your work. I¡¯m right here, you know? I won¡¯t disappear!¡± I half-shout, unable to handle Cedric¡¯s silliness. And damn it, once again, heughs.


    ¡°If Mr. Henry had a future wife like Anya, he¡¯d be overly worried too, right?¡±


    I feel like shoving a smelly sock in Cedric¡¯s mouth!!!


    And damn it, Henry responds. ¡°You¡¯re right. I would act the same way.¡±


    I grumble in annoyance. Instead of entertaining them, I better avoid it. It¡¯s better to wait for Cedric at Naomi or Dona¡¯s desk, right? So I get up, reaching for my bag that Cedric had ced on the edge of his desk. My actions earn a questioning look from Cedric.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait at Naomi¡¯s desk.¡±


    Before I can take a step away, Cedric¡¯s voice stops me. It¡¯s so irritating! ¡°Sit down, Joice.¡±


    When I turn and look at him, Cedric is serious. I scoff but follow what he says and sit back down. I see a slight smirk on his face because I obeyed him. Ugh, Cedric seems to be quite skilled at using his tone of voice. He knows how to make my heart skip a beat, when to make me obey, when to make me want to be close to him, and when to use it to whisper my name in such a sexy way.

 [46]

    ¡°Cedric, I¡¯m serious.¡± This time I whine. I don¡¯t care if he thinks I¡¯m being childish or anything. Since I asked, Cedric has only responded with a smirk or asionally touching my chin. It¡¯s so annoying! The discussion between Henry and Cedric about the new system doesn¡¯t take long. It involves extra funding because it turned out to be beyond the previously agreed estimate when Kelvin and Sarman were still here.


    Speaking of Kelvin, he isn¡¯t involved with Sarman at all. He¡¯s doing well and glowing like his face. Seriously. He got a new job with a promotion to a higher level. Maybe it¡¯s his family background that paved his career path so smoothly. As for that semi-oriental guy, I have no idea how he¡¯s doing. He sometimes sends messages, but I don¡¯t bother replying. Why bother? I¡¯m already busy with my own stuff, you know.


    ¡°Are you serious about marrying me?¡±


    I shoot him a sharp look.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Joice. Seriously! You¡¯re scarier than Krystal.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous!¡±


    He bursts intoughter again. I wonder what¡¯s up with Cedric¡¯s mood? He seems to be overly happy today. Smiling all the time,ughing often, and his tone of speech is more cheerful than usual. Weird, right?


    ¡°Where are we going, Cedric? You haven¡¯t answered me!¡± I say with frustration. I can¡¯t hold back anymore. I¡¯ve asked him several times about our destination, but all I get is a smile and a smirk. Like that¡¯s going to satisfy my curiosity? No way!


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    See? Ah well, talking to Cedric today is so annoying. I choose to brush away his hand that tries to touch my head. Instead, I look out the side window of the car. I can¡¯t be bothered to make eye contact with Cedric when he¡¯s in this irritating mood. Whatever. I¡¯m not easily swayed.


    The guy in the cool blue shirt ¨C I¡¯m a little confused with the specific shade of blue; it¡¯s like the sky but not quite, but it¡¯s blue, how do I describe it? Anyway, he looks good, wearing smooth navy trousers. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up to his elbows, still neatly folded, and he looks far from disheveled.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Cedric never looks disheveled, though. On the neatness scale, when he wears his OB uniform, I¡¯d give him an 80. But now? Perfect! There¡¯s no other word to describe Cedric¡¯s different appearance.


    I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been asleep. Maybe the atmosphere was just sofortable ¨C well, luxury cars do offer testedfort, after all ¨C that I ended up half-reclining in the passenger seat of Cedric¡¯s car. When I open my eyes, the car has already stopped moving, and I have no idea how long it¡¯s been like this.


    ¡°Where are we, Cedric?¡±


    He nces at me briefly. He puts down the phone that was with him and smiles slightly as he brushes the top of my head. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at our destination.¡±


    My forehead wrinkles. I look ahead, and it¡¯s just a parking lot. There¡¯s nothing else here. If we were going to a restaurant, there are no buildings around. Oh, wait¡­ there¡¯s one building in the distance that¡¯s quite bright. Is that our destination?


    ¡°What are we doing here?¡± I¡¯m still a little jetgged, not fully awake from thefortable nap I had earlier. I don¡¯t know why, but maybe during my days off, taking a nap became something that made mefortable, which is why I quickly dozed off like earlier.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to eat.¡± Cedric unbuckles his seat belt and unlocks the door. ¡°Don¡¯t get out until I open it for you.¡±


    I scoff. ¡°You¡¯re being overdramatic.¡±


    He just chuckles. But I wait for him to open the door; not that I can¡¯t do it myself, but it feels nice to linger in the scent of Cedric that I never tire of, to have my hand in his so he can hold it gently, ensuring I walk by his side with careful steps. Just being like this already makes me very happy.


    I hope that if this is the path that God has given me to be with Cedric, this man of mine will always be by my side. Until our baby grows up. Until our hair slowly turns white. Until we spend our entire lives in this world together. And if possible, reunite in heaventer.


    ¡°There you go, daydreaming again.¡±


    I smile when he¡¯s right in front of me. My hand is already in his, and our eyes meet in the air, and well¡­ we¡¯re quite close actually. But it¡¯s so empty here. Like there¡¯s no one else but the two of us.


    ¡°I¡¯m not daydreaming.¡± That¡¯s my first lie. I tighten our grip and, without permission, kiss his cheek. It takes Cedric by surprise.


    ¡°If you miss me, just say so, Joice.¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± That¡¯s my second lie. I do miss being close to him. Last night, I slept alone, and that¡¯s normal, right?


    ¡°Then what was that earlier?¡±


    I just smile. Ignoring him, but it¡¯s confusing because we¡¯re not moving. ¡°So, where are we, Cedric?¡±


    And, once again, I don¡¯t get an answer. Slowly, Cedric guides me, and it seems like I¡¯m right; our destination is the building across the street.


    ¡°Um¡­ if I told you to close your eyes from now on, would you?¡± I shake my head firmly.


    ¡°It¡¯s still daytime, Joice.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, so why would I close my eyes? What¡¯s the point?¡± I narrow my eyes at him, and now I think he¡¯s pouting.


    ¡°Oh, are you nning to surprise me?¡±


    He falls silent. To the point, right?


    ¡°What¡¯s the surprise?¡±


    Cedric doesn¡¯t say anything but sighs.


    ¡°Are you going to propose to me?¡±


    ¡°Joice¡­ oh,e on, it¡¯s not a surprise if I tell you. My intention was to make it more romantic. You close your eyes, and then¡­ Ta-da! That¡¯s the surprise for you.¡±


    Now Iugh. ¡°So it failed because of you,¡± he says softly. Myughter suddenly disappears because Cedric seems less enthusiastic now than earlier.


    ¡°You need to learn one thing about me, Cedric. This is important. I don¡¯t like things that are overly romantic. Just enough is fine. Like you, who¡¯s usually enough for me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, Joice. What you think is normal for me can still make you happy. How about if I go beyond my norm? I want to make this memorable.¡±


    ¡°The proposal was already memorable for me.¡±


    It seems like Cedric understands the meaning and direction of my words. ¡°Please, Joice. You¡¯re the one who creates the atmosphere. Makes my lips ask you to marry me in a ce where it¡¯s not supposed to happen.¡±


    I just smile. ¡°Sure, sure. It all starts with me. I¡¯m the one who teased you. I¡¯m the one who got pregnant with your child. I¡¯m the one who kept rejecting you. I¡¯m the one who kept denying your feelings. What else is about me in this rtionship?¡±


    Strangely, Cedric burst intoughter. He released once, and I saw him wipe the corner of his eye. Were my words really that funny to make him emotional? I don¡¯t think so.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the talker, huh?¡± We continued walking on the grassy path, like a small garden, until we reached the brown-painted building.


    ¡°For me, romance doesn¡¯t need to be excessive. I don¡¯t like it when someone proposes and I have to close my eyes. Even if you¡¯re there guiding me, it¡¯s still ufortable,¡± I said.


    ¡°Have you been proposed to before?¡± I quickly turned to Cedric. From the side, I could sense a change in his expression. I felt guilty, but what could I do? I really don¡¯t like being put in such situations.


    Everything Cedric does is already romantic enough for me. No need for flowers, no need for chocte bouquets. Even a warm cup of lemon tea and biscuits with a note in his handwriting to take care of my health, that¡¯s already more than romantic. Seriously.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been proposed to before, Cedric. Only by you,¡± I said, and a faint grin appeared on the corner of Cedric¡¯s lips. It made me sigh in relief. I thought he would be angry or think I¡¯m difficult to please.


    ¡°So the surprise proposal failed,¡± heined.


    We were now in front of the ss building.


    ¡°Do you know, Cedric, why I¡¯m afraid to close my eyes except when sleeping? Even that takes a long time for me to let go of the bad memories that haunt me.¡±


    I knew Cedric was waiting for me to continue.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that when I open my eyes, the person who was once there with me will be gone. Leaving me alone. Just like my father and mother before. They never came back without a trace, without me knowing anything. Even just to ask, what did I do wrong that they couldn¡¯t stay?¡±


    That¡¯s true. I have my own reasons besides not being a big fan of overly romantic gestures.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Cedric said. Our eyes locked once again, feeling the gentle but cold evening breeze and the warm rays of the sun. I think it¡¯s almost five o¡¯clock. The atmosphere here is so calm, it¡¯s like being in Beverly Hills, if I may guess.


    ¡°Believe me,¡± he continued, taking my hand and gently kissing it while our eyes were still locked. ¡°Because I can¡¯t stay away from you, Joice.¡±


    A shy smile began to appear on my face. At such a close distance, the way Cedric looked at me left me defenseless. I¡¯m drowning in the flood of love Cedric has.


    ¡°Joice, let¡¯s get married.¡±


    Cedric used his other hand to hold my waist. We were standing so close, like an essential oxygen supply between us. My lips formed a smile as Cedric said those words. Unbelievable.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    And Cedric closed the distance between us, and we kissed each other passionately. Savoring every touch we exchanged. Letting the cold wind and air apany our moment.


    ¡°OH MY GOD! WE¡¯VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU AND YOU¡¯RE TOO BUSY PLAYING LIPS!¡±


    Naomi and Dona suddenly appeared near us, yelling andughing.


    ¡°You guys¡­¡± I muttered, trying to hide my embarrassed smile. Cedric justughed and patted their shoulders.

 [47]

    ¡°Anya really needs to be disyed in a museum, Nao.¡±


    Naomi nodded enthusiastically, quickly devouring the fruit pudding that apanied us. ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t have bothereding here,¡± Naomi said with her mouth still half full.


    ¡°To think that a super romantic proposal ended up like this. Is he clueless or what?¡±


    I pouted. As usual, Dona always caught us being affectionate. I thought there wouldn¡¯t be many people inside the building, but turns out¡­ ugh¡­ so embarrassing. I mean, yes, I knew Cedric wanted to propose to me, trying to be all romantic, but it failed. I could clearly see it. What I didn¡¯t prepare for was that Cedric¡¯s proposal would be witnessed by our closest friends and even his parents, Krystal, and oh, Anna was there too. It seems like she can now blend in with my two best friends. Even though I still see a hint of awkwardness on her face. Maybe she¡¯s not used to our way ofmunication. Yeah, right. Dona, the reincarnation of the God Bar-Bar, while Naomi is her loyal follower. Or is it the other way around? Whatever.


    So, when we entered the room, everyone stared at us with teasing grins. I felt like changing my face or wearing a permanent mask. All I could do was hide behind Cedric¡¯s back, which felt wider than usual. Or was it just me now realizing it?


    ¡°Wee to the xton¡¯s family, Anya,¡± Krystal half-squealed since no one said anything after we entered. Then she pulled me gently and gave me a tight hug. Then came her mother. Enough already. I just resigned myself to it. Anyway, it seemed like they understood that the proposal that came out of Cedric¡¯s lips earlier got an extraordinary YES from me.


    Yes, indeed! They all saw how our lips parted from each other. They even reminded us to get rid of Dona when we¡¯re alone. She might catch us in even morepromising situations.


    In front of both of his parents, Cedric ced a beautiful ring on my finger. He said, ¡°My wife soon to be.¡±


    I smiled gently at his words. It won¡¯t be long before my status changes. I just hope there won¡¯t be any significant obstacles to our marriage.


    ¡°Look, Anya¡¯s starting to show signs of madness. Smiling to herself.¡±


    I felt like sewing Dona¡¯s lips together. Wouldn¡¯t that be a good idea? Maybe it would make her ufortable enough to stop teasing me, right?


    ¡°We got assigned tasks from Mrs. Krystal. You were right, she¡¯s a total perfectionist. I mean, it¡¯s a well-known fact, but since I¡¯ve never worked directly with her, it feels strange to deal with all the specific details she wants.¡± Naomi reached for more pudding. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, by the way, and this¡­ is delicious,¡± she added.


    I just shook my head.


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing for bncing her,¡± Dona said.


    ¡°At first, I was shocked too. I mean, I used toin a lot. But because I needed the job, I tried really hard to adapt,¡± Naomi added.


    Theyughed. ¡°Just ept it, Anya. We¡¯re fullymitted to helping you,¡± Naomi said.


    This seemed highly suspicious. I just heard themining, and now they¡¯re all united. It can¡¯t be that easy, right? Although I¡¯m sure both Dona and Naomi aren¡¯t calcting anything when ites to me. Even before I could voice my doubts, Naomi interrupted, ¡°Don¡¯t argue. Pregnant women shouldn¡¯t have many worries. Your concept is simple, right? You¡¯ll see.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Krystal, Dona, and Naomi. I can¡¯t just trust them like that! I¡¯m sure they¡¯re hiding something. I¡¯ve learned from experience! This time, I won¡¯t let my guard down.


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust your mouths anymore,¡± I said sternly.


    Naomi smirked. ¡°Let it be. As long as I¡¯m happy getting involved in the fuss.¡±


    ¡°Anya practically asked to be disyed in a museum, right? I said that from the beginning. No one believed me. But when she gets a diamond ring, she keeps quiet,¡± Dona said teasingly.


    I flicked Dona without hesitation.


    ¡°OUCH, ANYA!!!¡±


    ¡°You really have a big mouth!¡± I scolded her. It¡¯s because Cedric¡¯s family is here. How could she talk like that? I¡¯m not materialistic, okay? Even if he gives me a ring like this, it won¡¯t instantly captivate my heart, even if it shines dazzlingly.


    ¡°What Dona meant is¡­ we warned Cedric that you don¡¯t like these kinds of things. We¡¯ve been friends for a long time, and I know you well. But Cedric didn¡¯t believe us. He said he wanted it to be special. And that¡¯s how it ended up like this,¡± Naomi exined.


    ¡°Besides, Anya, what¡¯s wrong with being romantic on specific asions? It¡¯s not a big deal. This is an engagement, after all. I¡¯m amazed by his mind. Where is it rolling to, really? But you, Anya, your mind is so clever,¡± Dona said.


    I let out a soft sigh. ¡°So, it¡¯s only on certain asions, like anniversaries or birthdays? Other than that?¡±


    Both Dona and Naomi exchanged nces, then looked at me with confusion. ¡°This is different, Anya. This is an engagement.¡±


    ¡°Let me exin it simply to you both. Pay attention.¡± I sipped on the orange juice served as per my order. I just realized that Cedric rented this restaurant specifically for the moment of his proposal to me. The ce was specially decorated and had only three main tables.


    One table was where I sat with my two strange friends. In the right corner, the table was filled with Cedric¡¯s immediate family, and the other one, I wasn¡¯t sure who they were, but I assumed they were Cedric¡¯s rtives. He hadn¡¯t exined the details to me yet.


    It¡¯s a bit sad to be in a moment like this all alone. Carrying my body without any family ties. I meant, no parents. But I don¡¯t really care. Maybe it¡¯s because of the pain and the fact that I¡¯m so used to not having them in my significant moments, so I¡¯m not too sad. If I could ask for something, I¡¯d only want Granny Sumi to be here. There¡¯s no close family member from either my father¡¯s or mother¡¯s side. I was always mocked by others since I was a child. It was only Granny Sumi who protected me, my shield with her wrinkled hands. Ah¡­ I miss her so much.


    ¡°Anya.¡±


    I was startled by Dona¡¯s call. She was looking at me suspiciously. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡­ I remember Granny Sumi.¡±


    Without needing anymand, Naomi embraced me while Dona, who was sitting across from me, stood up and approached to hug me.


    ¡°We¡¯re here for you. Don¡¯t feel alone,¡± Naomi said.


    She¡¯s right. Naomi is right. This time, I won¡¯t be alone. I have them both, Cedric, and also Baby. Oh, not to forget, now I have a brother I never expected before. My boss. And Anna too. It seems that kid can be my friend.


    ¡°For me, romance doesn¡¯t necessarily have to involve getting proposed to on one knee, bringing flowers, and all that stuff. Oh¡­ you both know what I mean.¡± I released each of their hugs. ¡°When Cedric took my hand, ced the ring in front of his parents, and I saw their happy expressions, that was romantic for me. Nothing surpasses the romance of their blessings and eptance of me, Dona, Naomi. Seriously.¡±


    I should be the one teary-eyed or crying. But it¡¯s Dona who suddenly hugged me again, while sobbing. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°If Cedric tries anything, he¡¯ll have to deal with us, Dona,¡± Naomi said.


    The yful guy released his hug for a moment, then nodded in agreement with Naomi¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ll chop him into pieces! Just watch!¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Then I won¡¯t be able to cross my legs again!¡±


    There¡¯s nothing more delightful and joyous than this evening. Even without a formal proposal or a marriage proposal, I¡¯ll still be Cedric¡¯s wife. Not out of arrogance or being overly confident. It¡¯s just that Cedric really can¡¯t stay away from me. The evidence is himing closer to me right now.


    But wait¡­ don¡¯t tell me Cedric is going to sing! He brought his guitar!


    Oh no!!!


    Then all the main lights were deliberately turned off, leaving only dim lighting! Oh no!!!


    ¡°I didn¡¯t really want to show off my skills. The future wife said she¡¯s afraid of falling more in love with me.¡±


    Cheers and apuse apanied Cedric, who was getting closer to me. I sneered but my smile wouldn¡¯t fade. Just when Cedric was in front of me, Naomi and Dona had returned to their seats, and their gazes were solely focused on me.


    This is seriously¡­ I can¡¯t move at all. Even if I try to divert my attention, Cedric is so clear. It¡¯s like his handsomeness is multiplied several times! As the guitar strings were plucked, I just knew I couldn¡¯t help but be impressed.


    When your legs don¡¯t work like they used to before


    And I can¡¯t sweep you off of your feet


    Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love


    Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks


    And darling I will be loving you ¡¯til we¡¯re 70


    And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23


    And I¡¯m thinking ¡¯bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways


    Maybe just the touch of a hand


    Oh me I fall in love with you every single day


    And I just wanna tell you I am


    Cedric¡¯s silliness, he winked at me. Can you believe it?!


    This time, I agree. I hope Cedric won¡¯t leave me. Whatever problems we might face in the future. We are different, not just in terms of social status. No, that can be set aside. But our principles and ideals can clearly sh. I won¡¯t deny that there might be many disagreements.


    Or¡­ let¡¯s not leave each other. I¡¯m extremely selfish. I need something to hold on to so my ego doesn¡¯t get out of control. Maybe God gave Cedric to me so we could walk together and bnce each other.


    He put down the guitar! But the apanying music is still ying while the wireless mic is perfectly in ce. Cedric¡¯s fingers are pointing at me. I¡¯m so nervous!


    ¡°My life is perfect with you, Joice. By my side. Never have your own thoughts and never try to run away from me.¡±


    I pouted. ¡°Did I ever try to run away from you?¡±


    His response was met with a chuckle from Cedric.


    ¡°I love you, Anya Joice.¡±


    His voice resonated in my heart. Can I turn away and reject it again? No.


    ¡°I love you too.¡±

 [48]

    I don¡¯t know where time went. It passed by so quickly that I didn¡¯t even realize it. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve been so busy and haven¡¯t had enough breaks, except for my limited rest time, you know?


    Suddenly, I found myself in a room with quite a few people. Krystal was there, and also Mrs. Iriana-since I got engaged, I¡¯m not allowed to call her ¡°Mrs. Iriana¡± anymore, just ¡°Mrs.¡± Iplied. I sat quietly while someone fiddled with my face, and my dress was being straightened, I didn¡¯t understand.


    Krystal said I should just ept it. The problem is, I¡¯m a hundred percent sure that when we be husband and wife, and I descend to the venue where the wedding party is held, I¡¯ll be surprised. Seriously. I¡¯ve prepared myself not to get angry or show a sulky face.


    First, Krystal got involved. Even though she said the invitations were only sent to 150 people, including important colleagues for xton¡¯s business, it still couldn¡¯t be as simple as I thought, right?


    Second, my two best friends were so busy. They only apanied me for three or four days leading up to today, my wedding day. The rest? They sometimes took two or three hours to reply to my messages. I started to think, are their jobs or their assistance to me really that busy? I don¡¯t know! All I know is, I felt lonely. Only Anna was there with me, but sometimes she had to apany Krystal to various meetings.


    Third, Cedric was the same. He still picked me up and dropped me off every day, never missing a day. But he was no longer working in the same office as me. His decision was final, he chose to go back to being his original self. He spent his time going from one cafe to another just to check on the progress and running of his businesses there, and sometimes he indulged in his hobby of ying music. I can vouch for thatst one.


    Sarman¡¯s recement was already there. Morepetent, and I admit, he was very meticulous. I was left stunned several times when he gave detailed exnations-very-about the finances to Krystal. It seemed like my boss was really satisfied with this recement for the corrupt guy. If not for the injection of funds from a certain Jonathan xton, I think our office would have copsed. Because of this case, Krystal and several other staff members were often running around to provide testimony and provide evidence requested by the authorities.


    Back to Cedric.


    The club where we met on that fateful night was a ce where he usually hung out with his friends. I personally haven¡¯t met them yet, but Cedric said it wasn¡¯t necessary. They woulde when we get married. How mysterious, right? Do you want to know Cedric¡¯s reason? He¡¯s afraid his friends will have a crush on me. Crazy, right?


    ¡°Wow, the beautiful bride,¡± one of the makeup artists praised after finishing putting some shimmering stuff on my hair. I didn¡¯t understand what they did to my hair. Suddenly it was all neatly done and¡­ so elegant. The makeup they put on was not excessive, but I felt like praising myself. I couldn¡¯t believe that the person I was looking at in the mirror was actually me.


    Indeed, when handled by professionals, the results are exceptional. Then two other people helped me put on the dress I had tried on before. Since the dress was broken white, they didn¡¯t put it on earlier. Maybe they were afraid of getting stains or something. But I did catch a glimpse of them steaming the inside of the dress to make it fit my body better.


    ¡°You¡­ look amazing, Anya,¡± Krystal came in but immediately looked at me with admiration. I just responded with a shy smile. Oh my God! Krystal herself, with her ivory yellow dress, was so beautiful that I thought no man could look away from her. And she¡¯splimenting me like this?


    ¡°Krystal, you too.¡± I was no longer too shy to address her with that new title. Even though we were very professional at the office, as I had requested, and there was no change in behavior after my rtionship with Cedric was made public.


    After that flower-filled evening, Cedric officially announced who I was. He answered many questions about our rtionship which, they say-this is just gossip spection, but I ignored it. I¡¯m used to being the subject of gossip. It doesn¡¯t really affect my performance as Krystal¡¯s assistant. And it¡¯s true.


    It doesn¡¯t matter who I¡¯m involved with, I still maintain professional boundaries. After office hours, that¡¯s when we briefly let go of work-rted tensions.


    ¡°Papa said the event will start soon.¡±


    Now, my heart was beating uncontrobly. My stomach suddenly felt uneasy and¡­ I felt hot! Even though I knew the room was air-conditioned. Oh dear¡­


    ¡°Anya?¡± Krystal called suddenly, making me jump in surprise. ¡°Nervous, huh? I am too.¡±


    Ah, why did my heart suddenly feel so sentimental?


    I stepped in the footsteps of a role model in my life. Krystal xton, who in less than an hour would be my sister-inw. Two nights before, we had a heart-to-heart talk. I felt like crying again when I recalled it.


    I¡¯ve been saying since I got pregnant that I¡¯ve be more emotional.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    For the first time, Krystal visited my apartment. She spent a few days with me here after finishing her business outside. Cedric wasn¡¯t allowed to apany me for too long as usual. They said it was dangerous. Yet he still often stayed over. I was puzzled by that myself. But let it be, we had fun spending time together before going to sleep. We always had something to talk about.


    It¡¯s like I have a very close sister.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind Cedric getting married first. In fact, it¡¯s good. Especially with you, and soon I¡¯ll have a niece or nephew.¡±


    I was actually unsure how to respond to Krystal¡¯s words.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to get married if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, Anya. I do want to get married.¡±


    I mustered the courage to look into the eyes of this woman, who looked even more beautiful without makeup. Seriously. At that moment, we were both on the verge of sleep. She was candid with me, just like I was with her. Discussing the issue of Cedric and me getting married first still felt ufortable for me.


    ¡°The problem is not as simple as seeing someone, falling in love, and getting married. It¡¯s not that easy, Anya.¡±


    Krystal sighed softly. She sipped her green tea.


    ¡°My past still haunts me. I can¡¯t forget it. It¡¯s sad to think that he¡¯s no longer by my side while our rtionship is about to reach its destination.¡±


    Honestly, I had never heard about this before. Krystal had never talked about her personal issues, especially something as private as her feelings. She was open about work and professionalism. But when it came to her heart, she was tight-lipped and hard to open up, revealing that she was more fragile than me.


    I hesitantly touched her shoulder. Since I didn¡¯t receive any rejection, I gently stroked it, letting her know that she wasn¡¯t alone. I was there for her.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m happy you two are getting married. I¡¯ll have a friend. You, Anya.¡±


    Her smile was so genuine. I could feel it.


    Being epted by the xton family alone, I was already so fortunate. And Krystal, who was so open with me? There are no words to express my immense gratitude. Who am I, anyway? Just a person who was once arrogant but was pped by the path of fate. That even though logic might prevail, it must be bnced with the heart. Because a sincere heart can ovee logical principles that stand firm.


    One thing I always feel grateful for in the midst of everything that has happened in my life in the past few months is Baby. Baby is strong. Baby isn¡¯t fussy or demanding like me. And Baby never leaves me, no matter how foolish the intentions that once crossed my mind.


    If those intentions had been realized, I don¡¯t know how deep the regrets would have been. Perhaps for a lifetime, I would be immersed in a feeling that could not be redeemed with mere apologies.


    Unconsciously, I rubbed my bulging belly.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is your stomach hurting?¡± Mrs. Iriana came closer to me. I was quite surprised by her sudden movement. The cheerful smile from earlier disappeared, reced by a worried look as she nced at me. Krystal also looked concerned.


    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m fine, Mrs. Iriana.¡±


    I heard them exhale with relief.


    ¡°I thought your stomach was hurting.¡±


    I shook my head firmly. And that happy smile began to reappear, warming my heart.


    ¡°Finally¡­ I has a daughter-inw too.¡±


    Both of them, Krystal and Mom Iriana, stood side by side and hugged me. They learned in close to embrace me tightly. And then? What else could I possibly want? I had a man I could rely on, who promised not to leave me and Baby, who loved me with all his heart, ws and all, and epted me just the way I am.


    ¡°Oh¡­ why is it like Teletubbies here!¡± The mood-ruined came again. This time, her lips were moving, muttering incoherently, I could see that.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Anya! You look so beautiful, seriously!¡±


    I saw Mom Iriana shaking her head slightly with a small smile. Then she held my hand. I looked at her with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Cedric¡¯s ce. He must be impatient to see his wife.¡±


    I think my cheeks were getting even redder.


    ¡°Your smile is so adorable, Anya!¡±


    ¡°Doni! That¡¯s enough.¡± Krystal warned her, making Dona instantly silent, while Naomi burst intoughter and stuck her tongue out.


    I felt like I was floating from the dressing room to the venue. I didn¡¯t know how it was decorated since I had requested a simple concept, but it seemed like my idea had been taken over. The cameras deliberately focused on Cedric, not the venue. Annoying, right?


    When we arrived in the courtyard¡­ my heart felt like it was about to burst. Money does talk. I was a hundred percent sure of that. The chairs were neatly arranged with food and drinks lined up at the side, beautifully arranged with touches of white and gold everywhere. At the end, where a stage-like setup seemed to have been built, although I was certain it wouldn¡¯t function properly, there was ake in the background.


    I just found out that the chosen venue wasn¡¯t far from the man-madeke on the site. As all the guests who were sitting turned their heads to me-probably because the event host announced that the bride had arrived-I felt nervous. Seriously!


    However, once our eyes met, and I saw his outstretched hand waiting for me to ept it, all the fear and nervousness seemed futile. There, at the end of the rustic-style altar, Cedric was waiting for me. If I thought he was attractive before, now he was even more.


    His attractiveness had increased a thousand percent!!!


    I no longer heard the whispers about me as I walked towards Cedric. I didn¡¯t hear the apanying music either. Not to mention Dona¡¯s mischievous whistle, which I knew she was enjoying to the fullest.


    I just focused on my steps. Being careful and quickly epting the hand of the man who had already taken residence in my heart. And when my hand touched his slightly trembling palm, I surrendered my world to him.


    ¡°Hello, Wife.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°Hello, Husband.¡±


    ¡°Who picked your dress?¡±


    My eyebrows furrowed. Seriously, Cedric was asking this? Not asking how I was doing in the dressing room or something more reasonable?


    ¡°I feel like I want to cancel the party, Joice. I¡¯m serious.¡±


    I guess Cedric¡¯s sense of embarrassment had been cut off. Without any signal, he kissed me in front of everyone!!!


    Was there something wrong with this dress? No, there wasn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t even wear high heels. It was just a low-cut dress that showed a bit of my shoulders and back. My hair was styled in a slightly high bun. What was wrong?


    I didn¡¯t think there was anything.


    Cedric was just being cheeky. At the end of our kiss, he said, ¡°Apart from being incredibly beautiful today, you¡¯re incredibly sexy, Joice.¡±


    What did I tell you?


    ¡°The sweetest temptation in my life¡­ is you. Anya Joice.¡±

 [49]

    I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the breeze on my face. The night was beautiful, and I could see the star-studded sky with a perfect moon. I remembered that it had been a while since I stood on the balcony like this. My busy schedule made me feel like my bones were about to fall apart one by one.


    But I liked it. I loved my new activities that demanded so much attention. From the moment I woke up until I went to bed at night, that is if Cedric didn¡¯t act all cuddly and ask for more intimate moments.


    ¡°Joice, it¡¯s quite cold out here. You might get sickter.¡±


    I turned and found Cedric, my husband, walking towards me. He then wrapped a thick shawl around me and fixed my messy hair. Oh, did I forget to mention? This was another one of his hobbies; fixing my hair.


    ¡°Daydreaming again, huh?¡±


    I smirked. ¡°You think you know everything.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s usually like that. Daydreaming.¡±


    I yfully pinched his t stomach, and Cedric winced. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m serious about talking about our honeymoon. Where do you want to go?¡±


    When he mentioned the word ¡°honeymoon,¡± I was reminded of the failed vacation. Baby got sick, and there was no intention to go to the airport just to unwind from the busyness. For me, Baby is the top priority. Cedric was fine with it too; he even apologized.


    When, oh when, does Cedric not make my heart and days colorful?


    Sometimes I think I¡¯m so grateful to be loved by him. And I feel that the highest appreciation I can give is to walk beside him, to be in bnce with him, not forgetting my respect for the man who is now my husband and role model.


    Yes, a role model.


    His patience and eptance of me, just the way I am, make me depend on him. Not in an overly reliant way or anything like that. Just enough to make him never stop praising me. Sometimes Cedric can be that silly. It¡¯s like he won a huge tender, just like when Krystal was working on a big project right now.


    ¡°I¡¯m confused when asked where I want to go for our honeymoon.¡±


    Cedric pouted in response. ¡°You¡¯re always busy with Krystal¡¯s work trips.¡±


    Iughed. That¡¯s true. Every time Krystal had business trips out of town or even overseas, I went with her. Baby too. Cedric? He followed if he could. If not, he dealt with his projects in Washington DC. I didn¡¯t really understand much about Cedric¡¯s caf¨¦ business. Even when it came to financial matters, I knew there was Mr. Daska overseeing everything. I just kept an eye on things.


    ¡°So?¡± he asked again, hugging me from behind and resting part of his head on my shoulder. Slowly but surely, I was pretty sure Cedric was teasing me with the tip of his tongue. Such a habit! He couldn¡¯t see his wife being idle even for a moment!


    ¡°How about camping by the edge of the forest?¡±


    Cedric turned me around in one swift motion. He looked at me in disbelief. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    I nodded confidently. He tried to tease me earlier, right? Now it was my turn! I fed his dirty imagination about my body with a soft whisper.


    ¡°Have you ever tried honeymooning in a tent? It¡¯s dimly lit, with the sound of crickets. The air is cold from the mountains.¡±


    I heard him let out a soft growl. ¡°You¡¯re so good at teasing, huh?¡±


    This time, myughter burst out. Take that! ¡°I¡¯m not teasing, Cedric, darling. This is what I want.¡± With the tip of my fingers, I traced his strong jawline, making him groan again while closing his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to?¡±


    ¡°As long as I do it with you, I want to. You offered it, after all.¡±


    No more beating around the bush or sweetness; I pinched his stomach. This time, harder than before, causing him to cry out in pain. Cedric was really annoying when it came to teasing me, always reminding me that everything I offered was apparently not enjoyed by him.


    ¡°Cedric, what perfume are you wearing?¡±


    He furrowed his brow, looking at me with confusion. Probably because I neverined before and now I was protesting like this. Well, yes! I really hated the scent! It wasn¡¯t the usual one he wore! Cedric¡¯s signature scent, the one that made me want to be constantly close to him, even though I was the one who threw myself into his arms more often.


    ¡°The usual perfume, why?¡±


    I red at him in frustration. I didn¡¯t want to admit that I changed the perfume. ¡°No. This is different, not like the usual one.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same, Joice. I haven¡¯t changed my perfume.¡±


    I shoved Cedric¡¯s body roughly. I didn¡¯t like the smell! Seriously. ¡°Change your clothes, Cedric. Go take another shower!¡±


    ¡°I just showered.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! But the perfume makes me sick. I won¡¯t sleep with you if it smells like this.¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t changed the perfume, my love.¡±


    ¡°Whatever! If you don¡¯t shower, you won¡¯t sleep with me! Go sleep on the sofa!¡±


    Cedric looked at me with a sorrowful gaze. I ignored him, choosing to go to sleep immediately while looking for something I needed to calm my upset stomach. I remembered keeping a small bottle of baby oil in the nightstand drawer. It belonged to Baby. I thought I needed a scent that was somewhat soothing. Once I found it, I sniffed it gently. Quite useful. Meanwhile, my husband walked reluctantly to the bathroom, giving me a chance to rummage through his dresser. I searched for the perfume he said he was wearing as usual. He must be lying!


    When I found it, there were two bottles of Cedric¡¯s perfume, and both of them were the same. I sniffed it a little, and my stomach churned even more, unable to take it. I half-ran to the bathroom to catch up with Cedric.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Joice?¡±


    ¡°THE SMELL!¡±


    ****


    This morning, I cooked. Usually, I rarely touched the kitchen on workdays. Except when preparing Cedric¡¯s simple breakfast; a cup of coffee filled with love, two slices of buttered bread with love, and a sweet kiss on the corner of his lips to energize him for work. Sounds excessive, right? Oh well, I do it for my husband, not someone else.


    I don¡¯t know why, but when I woke up today, I really wanted carbonara spaghetti. Complete with shrimp and fish balls. And the thick creamy sauce with lots of cheese. I made it myself without letting Yohana help. Her task was to take care of Baby.


    And not long after, my husband came downstairs, already wearing aplete shirt. This time, I prepared his outfit. When we prayed together for the morning, I told him that from now on, I would be the one preparing his clothes. It was not something I usually did. This was my way of making sure Cedric didn¡¯t spray perfume again.


    Last night, it took two hours for the scent to disappear from my sense of smell. The bottle sessfully became a resident of the trash, as I couldn¡¯t resist my urge. I told Cedric that tomorrow, after work, I would stop by his favorite store and look for a new perfume. He said it wasn¡¯t necessary, but I didn¡¯t care to listen to him.


    He wore a long-sleeved brown shirt, paired with matching darker trousers. Don¡¯t forget the cufflinks, zer, and tie. Everything wasplete. As a recement for the perfume, I sprayed my vani-scented perfume instead.


    ¡°Joice, are you serious I wearing this perfume?¡± he said, now standing next to me. His lips frowned, and his face looked displeased. ¡°I have a meetingter.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯d rather wear a perfume I don¡¯t like than wear my perfume?¡±


    He remained silent.


    ¡°If you really want to wear that perfume again, fine, go ahead! Find it in the trash! Don¡¯te near me!¡±


    I¡¯m sure Yohana, who had been helping me set the table, was looking at me strangely. I¡¯m not usually this angry and nonsensical in the morning. Especially not at Cedric.


    ¡°Okay, no problem,¡± she said, casually running her hand through my hair and giving a quick peck near my temple. ¡°What should I make for breakfast?¡±


    My smile suddenly appeared. My anger dissipated quickly just because Cedric obeyed everything I wanted. It¡¯s simple, isn¡¯t it? Happiness, I mean.


    ¡°Spaghetti carbonara. You just sit there, and I¡¯ll prepare it.¡±


    Now, the frown was gone. I also enjoyed the aroma in the kitchen. The scent of cooking mixed with the sweet perfume we wore, creating a perfect ambiance that motivated me to prepare breakfast sweetly.


    After I finished cooking and served the meal to Cedric, we sat down to eat calmly. Cedric no longer felt forced, and he was busy with his phone because I knew he had an important meeting today.


    As I took a bite of my cooking, suddenly, I felt extremely nauseous. This time, it was worse thanst night. It made Cedric and Yohana panic as I couldn¡¯t even get up from the seat near the toilet. I vomited the remains of my empty stomach and felt incredibly weak.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the doctor, Joice.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I faintly heard Cedric¡¯s voice, which never left my side. Then everything went dark.


    ***


    I didn¡¯t know how long I had been asleep. What I knew was that when I opened my eyes, I saw the IV tube still attached to my hand. What happened to me? Suddenly, my thoughts went to Baby!


    How is my child? Zain! Yes, Zain, how is my child!


    ¡°Don¡¯t move too much yet, Joice.¡±


    I finally became aware of who was beside me. My mind was fully focused on Zain, so I didn¡¯t pay much attention to the other person sitting there, holding my hand. His eyes were filled with great concern. When we locked eyes, I could feel Cedric heaving a sigh of relief.


    I knew why he was so worried. With my hand free from the IV, I gently stroked his cheek.


    ¡°You made me lose a 100-hundred-dor tender.¡±


    I turned the gentle stroke into a p! Damn Cedric, turns out. Instead of wincing in pain, heughed. But tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.


    ¡°But I got a gift worth more than 10 billion, Joice. I have never regretted this. You can find 10 billion, but when ites to this matter, I¡¯ll give my world.¡±


    His lips were conditioned, Cedric said, and I weakly kissed the hand that I had just pped.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant again, Joice.¡±


    I processed his words slowly.


    ¡°The doctor said, based on the ag-¡±


    ¡°CEDRIC!!! I don¡¯t want to get pregnant again, my goodness!!!¡±


    He just grinned!


    ¡°Well¡­ but you are pregnant.¡±


    With the little strength I had left, I got up from the bed. I pounded on Cedric, who didn¡¯t seem bothered at all. Heughed even more!


    ¡°You¡¯re something else¡­¡± I ran out of words and energy. Especially when he casually wrapped me in his warm embrace. I epted the gentle, loving strokes on my back. And I felt his shoulder trembling softly. Is Cedric crying?


    ¡°If you¡¯re shocked like this, imagine how I feel.¡±


    He released the hug for a moment and looked at me with teary eyes.


    ¡°You know; my biggest fear has actuallye true. You¡¯re pregnant again. The thought of going through childbirth again makes me feel like I want to die, Joice.¡±


    I stayed silent, taking in his words. Then he hugged me, this time tighter than before.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared, Joice. Really scared.¡±


    ¡°But you wereughing earlier,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°To push away all the negative thoughts. But my heart was racing.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s to me?¡± I challenged, smiling. I was going to continue being angry, but I couldn¡¯t do it. My husband seemed so helpless, and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it.


    ¡°Well¡­ we¡¯re both to me. We made a new Baby.¡±


    I sneered. ¡°Sure, put the me on me.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯m always wrong for you.¡±


    My smile resurfaced. ¡°Because your wife is always right.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, always right. Until I remember, maybe two or three months ago, asking to be¡­ inside. Then I pro-¡±


    I bit his shoulder as hard as I could.


    ¡°OW, Joice!¡±


    ¡°Say that again, and I¡¯ll be angry!¡±


    Finally, he chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared, really scared. But I can¡¯t deny Baby, can I?¡±


    I agreed with that. I touched his cheek again, bringing him closer so that our foreheads touched. ¡°I¡¯m scared too, Cedric. Scared of not waking up again. But I have the same conviction that I can get through this. Right? Besides, I¡¯m not alone. There¡¯s you, Mom, Dad, and Krystal. Let¡¯s not forget my siblings and Baby too.¡±


    I could clearly see Cedric¡¯s tears falling.


    ¡°We¡¯ll pray together, so that Baby is healthy and grows well, just like his big brother. I¡¯ll be healthy too.¡±


    Cedric nodded softly.


    ¡°And we¡¯ll be together again because I know I can¡¯t live without all of you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll apany you during the surgery. I won¡¯t leave you again.¡±


    I nodded softly. ¡°But I¡¯m curious, how many months pregnant did the doctor say I am?¡±


    ¡°The doctor said¡­ around 6 weeks.¡±


    My memory was dragged back to a series of events that led to my second pregnancy. I had already warned myself-aside from being scared and worried about the day of giving birth, I was also thinking about Baby¡¯s young age-so I should have taken precautions.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who asked to do it inside, Joice, in case you forgot.¡±


    Cedric was now ying the psychic, huh?


    ¡°You must have done it on purpose, right?¡±


    Cedric pouted now. ¡°You were the one insisting.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I argued this time. I had even forgotten about this.


    ¡°You don¡¯t remember. You were lost in pleasure.¡±


    ¡°CEDRIC!!!¡±


    Oh God, always protect us. Keep our love whole and ever-burning. Make our future offspring righteous children. I love my family so much, with a love so immense because of Your grace. I am always grateful in my prayers because it is by Your will that I am destined like this. Always protect us. Amen.

 [50]

    Cedric POV


    I really hate it when Krystal gets pushy. It¡¯s like there¡¯s no other day for her! Walking around in Washington DC after lunch is just insane! Not to mention, my phone keeps ringing non-stop. ncing at it, her name keeps popping up again and again. She¡¯s so idle, isn¡¯t she? Plus, it¡¯s so unusual for her to ask for help, usually, she always handles her problems herself.


    In less than thirty minutes, I arrived at the caf¨¦ near her office. I parked in a hurry and rushed to meet Krystal. As soon as I got there, I could clearly see her sitting at one of the caf¨¦ tables facing herptop. Krystal¡¯s choice of table is always quite noticeable.


    I think Krystal¡¯s whole world revolves around work. I actually feel sorry for her, but what can I do? She likes it that way. I can¡¯t stop her at all. Or maybe it¡¯s because of something that, well¡­ I can¡¯t bring myself to say. I¡¯m afraid it would make her even sadder.


    Just when I was about to approach her, a girl with bright brown hair bumped into my shoulder from behind. She was in such a hurry that she didn¡¯t pay attention to her steps.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± she said.


    I just grinned and replied, ¡°No problem.¡±


    I didn¡¯t take off my Rayban sunsses; let people think I¡¯m weird. I don¡¯t care. As long as I don¡¯t be the center of attention for passersby. It¡¯s not pleasant to attract attention everywhere I go. Am I some kind of celebrity? But my steps came to a halt when the girl headed towards my sister¡¯s table. She sat down hurriedly while revealing something from her bag.


    She quickly ced her belongings not far from Krystal¡¯sptop. Not to mention, she was muttering something unclear under her breath, and her slender, red-tinted fingers were handing Krystal a bunch of papers. Oh, and don¡¯t forget, I found her hair annoying. Strangely, it seemed like she didn¡¯t mind it. She even tucked it behind her ear with a small smile.


    I¡¯m used to seeing beautiful girls; from those in bikinis, striptease dancers, elegantly dressed like Krystal, or cute ones in flower-patterned dresses. But this girl I¡¯m observing is different; her beauty is unique.


    She gives off an impression of intelligence, not easily approachable, impressively elegant and charismatic, and slowly I could hear her voice exining something about a project that I happen to know the origin of. Her tone is firm, no hesitation, as if she knows exactly what she¡¯s talking about, and what¡¯s most intriguing¡­ her voice sounds sexy.


    Seriously. Simr to Krystal¡¯s.


    Ah, I shouldn¡¯t linger here! People might suspect that I¡¯m just here for a coffee-free visit! So I choose to sit not far from where my sister is discussing with that beautiful girl.


    Later, I¡¯ll ask Krystal who she is.


    It took half an hour of waiting, but it¡¯s not a problem because the spot I chose allows me to observe that girl properly. Since it¡¯s free, might as well make good use of it. And when the beautiful girl stood up, I felt like it was time to meet Krystal. I noticed that she didn¡¯t look around at all.


    Her steps were steady as she left the caf¨¦. She didn¡¯t care that she was drawing attention from people around here. The tap of her shoes echoed along with her departing steps. This girl is savage. I even caught a whiff of her soft but¡­ simultaneously sexy perfume. Argh! Now I¡¯m even more curious!


    ¡°You¡¯re sote, Cedric.¡±


    As usual, it¡¯s Kak Krystal and her total dedication. ¡°Traffic,¡± I said, and she pouted in annoyance. Whatever.


    ¡°I need your help, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the payment?¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh! You¡¯re asking for payment before even agreeing to help? I told Dad he¡¯d finally understand how you feel!¡±


    I burst outughing. Making Krystal angry is my number one hobby. My sister, who¡¯s always beautiful, can never control her lips to speak gently. She¡¯s always turned on to get mad. ¡°I need your help to open another caf¨¦ in Metropolis, sis.¡±


    Once again, she pouted. ¡°xton Express should be your responsibility.¡±


    ¡°I prefer to work behind the scenes. You¡¯re so cool being the boss. I can¡¯t handle it.¡±


    Krystal threw a tissue at me, but a momentter, she chuckled. ¡°Still not enough with just one caf¨¦?¡±


    I nodded clearly in response. ¡°Growing the business while we¡¯re young is necessary, sis. Just like Dad did. Now our task is to maintain what he built. If thepany shakes, I¡¯ll be there to support, even if my line of work is different.¡±


    Kak Krystal waved her hand, and Iughed. It¡¯s her habit to interrupt.


    ¡°What kind of help do you need?¡±


    I knew that when Krystal put down her coffee cup after taking a sip, our conversation was no longer just a joke. My sister is a perfectionist. Big time. If you make a slight mistake, she¡¯ll strike you down. I know where she inherited that trait from. Dad. Luckily, Dad had a child who inherited that ability. If not me, I¡¯m quite casual, but I can¡¯t be reckless either.


    That¡¯s why I find it a bit strange when she asks for help. Is it really that urgent? If it is, I¡¯ll risk everything, because it concerns family. For me, familyes first. That includes what Dad built for us in the future.


    ¡°In the next year, I¡¯m nning a massive expansion. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be too busy and be careless. You know my weakness, when I¡¯m focused on the path I want to take, I be blind to everything around me.¡±


    I nodded in agreement.


    ¡°That means you¡¯ll have a workspace, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°WHAT?¡± Good thing I didn¡¯t take a sip of this almost finished cappino. ¡°Are you crazy? No way!¡±


    ¡°Well, then how will you supervise the office while I¡¯m busy, Cedric?¡±


    I let out a frustrated breath. I¡¯m theziest person when ites to work, unlike Krystal. Sitting quietly in an office, it¡¯s just not me! If I were into the corporate world from the beginning, maybe I¡¯d be the Chief Executive Officer, not her.


    I like my freedom. I have many caf¨¦s. If I count, there are eight branches that are growing rapidly, but I still don¡¯t like sitting still. I like to explore, search for ideas, and things that keep my business from copsing with time. I¡¯ve been running it for almost eight years, and now it¡¯s in a stable phase, meaning I¡¯m just reaping the benefits.


    How can I monitor that many caf¨¦s without sitting behind a desk? I¡¯m a simple person, I don¡¯t wantplications. My gadgets are advanced. I always receive reports online. I even feel that when I visit the caf¨¦s, only a few people know I¡¯m the boss. It¡¯s not a problem. I like it that way.


    I saw Krystal getting a bit agitated.


    ¡°Seriously, I don¡¯t like the idea of working in an office like that,¡± I honestly said to Krystal, not sure how many times already. ¡°Is my help really that urgent?¡±


    Once again, I got hit with a tissue.


    ¡°Primarily in the finance department,¡± she replied.


    I fell silent for a moment. Krystal hadined about this before, but it had been a long time since she mentioned it. I thought she had it all under control. Our discussions at home ¨C if shees home and I happen to be there, not far from the office¡¯s developments ¨C were never just idle talk. I always helped her from behind the scenes.


    Dad is no longer actively working. Even when hees to the office, it¡¯s just a formality, especially during the General Meeting of Shareholders. After that? He rxes with Mom; traveling abroad, staying at home, vi, hotel, and wherever Mom pleases.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± I said.


    Krystal gave me a small smile. When I said something like that, I never jokingly offered help. But I still need to think about how to do it. I don¡¯t want to suddenly show up as one of the top executives in the office. Krystal might get cynical looks from other employees. Personally, I never wanted to show up to a lot of people who I really am, especially not to Mom and Dad. I¡¯ve always strictly warned them not to brag about me to their colleagues. Who knows, they might have some weird idea of wanting to set me up with someone. No way. I¡¯m not going to let that happen. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t find my own partner.


    Speaking of partners¡­ I remember the beautiful girl from earlier.


    ¡°Sis, who was the girl sitting at your table earlier?¡±


    Krystal frowned. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°The girl earlier.¡±


    ¡°My assistant at the office.¡±


    Now I¡¯m even more curious. My sister¡¯s assistant is that good-looking. No wonder she seems to be trying hard to keep up with Krystal. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡±


    ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±


    I just chuckled. ¡°Is it not allowed?¡±


    Once again, Krystal waved her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no harm in knowing her name.¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh! You¡¯re so stingy, I just want to know her name.¡±


    Do you know the most annoying version of Krystal? Negotiations aren¡¯t even finished yet, and she can just leave if it doesn¡¯t go her way. Like now. Fine. Maybe a threat will be effective.


    ¡°I won¡¯t help if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    Krystal stopped packing her things, looking at me in disbelief.


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, sis. I just need her name.¡±


    Krystal sighed in frustration. Inside, I wasughing victoriously.


    ¡°Anya.¡±


    ¡°Just that?¡± It can¡¯t be that her name is just Anya. I¡¯m not stupid.


    ¡°Her full name is Anya Joice.¡± Krystal put her LV-logoed phone into her bag somewhat harshly. I guess she¡¯s still annoyed with me. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with her. Look for another girl. She¡¯s my beloved assistant.¡±


    I burst intoughter. Oh my gosh! I¡¯m like a fuckboy or something! I¡¯m a good kid, you know. My previous rtionship ended long ago because it was being constantly bothered by material things. Mom didn¡¯t approve of my girlfriend back then. Krystal didn¡¯t either, to be honest.


    ¡°I just wanted to know her name.¡±


    Krystal just shook her head briefly. ¡°Alright, I have a meeting to attend now.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    I didn¡¯t keep her for too long. Anya Joice. Her name is unique. She has an attractive and beautiful face. I have a great opportunity to get close to her, but it would be weird if I put on the same act as Krystal. How should I approach her then?

 [51] a

    Oh, damn!


    Why is she here again? Oh my gosh, she looks so sexy! I swear, she was dressed appropriately at the office earlier! If I recall correctly, she was wearing a ck zer with long pants. But now? Wow!


    A ck dress barely covering her thighs with an open back. Not to mention that incredibly low neckline. Her chest¡­ looks so perfectly shaped! I look around, and she¡¯s alone. It¡¯s been a year since she started working with Krystal, focusing solely on the finance department, but I never suspected they could be so wicked. You can¡¯t catch someone like Anya so easily.


    She has two close friends always around her. They¡¯re never far and always following her every move.


    As I expected, not only is she hard to approach, but Anya also has very high standards for her life. I don¡¯t know why, but she¡¯s somewhat simr to Krystal. She likes things organized. No room for imperfections, even the sweetness level of her tea must be perfect. I¡¯ve been reprimanded by her before, but I find myself getting addicted to being scolded by Anya. It¡¯s crazy, I¡¯m bing infatuated.


    But that¡¯s not the whole story. Everything rted to this stunning long-haired girl who is now incredibly sexy is wless. I don¡¯t know, maybe working with a perfectionist like Krystal can mold someone. During my time at the office, many of Krystal¡¯s staffbeled her as the Devil Boss.


    When I teased her, she would justugh and say, ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    ¡°Hey, boss. You rarelye here,¡± I just nced briefly. Jacob, the owner of this bar, is here. He seldom visits unless there¡¯s business to attend to. I sometimese here to pass the time, not to get drunk, just to rx.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s rare.¡±


    The person I¡¯m talking toughed softly. He swayed his ss of tequ, inviting me to join. I declined. My attention can¡¯t stray from the bartender¡¯s table over there. I can¡¯t let Krystal¡¯s assistant get involved in any trouble here.


    In less than half an hour, I knew she was in trouble. Her steps were already unsteady. And there were quite a few guys approaching her! It means they¡¯ve been watching her since she sat down. Damn it, I let my guard down! Where did her brilliant mind go? Is Anya, okay?


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± I grinned. ¡°Got some business to take care of.¡±


    I walked decisively towards Anya, shooing away the guys taking advantage of a drunk girl. I won¡¯t stand for it. As I tried to get closer to her, I didn¡¯t even dare to say, ¡°Miss Anya, do you want to go home? I can take you.¡±


    She might throw her high heels at me!


    As I shooed away the guys surrounding Anya, there was one that made me suddenly furious. I felt like punching him if it wasn¡¯t for Jacob¡¯s arrival. Luckily, I didn¡¯t hit that guy with my fist. He had the nerve to touch Anya¡¯s shoulder! I, who was secretly observing, didn¡¯t even dare to get close. Damn it!


    ¡°Calm down, Cedric.¡± She smiled even when she saw that guy with a fierce look. She gently pushed him away, making sure he kept his distance. I guess she¡¯d rather lose bar customers than have me, who rarelyes here, get involved. My circle in the club scene is dangerous, I admit.


    ¡°Is she your girlfriend?¡± Jacob asked, wanting to know more.


    ¡°Oh, my wife,¡± I didn¡¯t beat around the bush as I reached out to support Anya since she was having trouble standing. I caught a whiff of alcohol mixed with her perfume, and it was intoxicating.


    Sheughed. ¡°Are you offering to walk me home or not?¡±


    I didn¡¯t bother to respond. She knew I wasn¡¯t serious, but she could y along if she wanted. For the past year, I could only watch this beautiful girl from afar. I can¡¯t even challenge her gaze; she doesn¡¯t even look my way. To her, I¡¯m probably just dust, and that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not bothered. My business isn¡¯t finished yet.


    The most important thing is that she¡¯s within my reach. When everything is settled, maybe I should really consider greeting her more than just asking what she wants for lunch.


    ¡°Do you have a car?¡± I always knew that Anya never parted with her City. As long as I¡¯ve been at the office, there¡¯s one manager who doesn¡¯t mess around when ites to approaching Anya. I¡¯m sure of that. So, why haven¡¯t I given up? Because I noticed that Anya doesn¡¯t even acknowledge that guy¡¯s existence. She treats him like everyone else. Even when offered a ride home, she always declines.


    Impressive, right?


    Oh, one more thing. The guy at the cafe across the street, he¡¯s the same. Trying to get Anya¡¯s attention but, once again-I personally don¡¯t get it, is Anya just picky or what? -she doesn¡¯t even pay attention. Even when greeted or approached politely, the girl in my arms just politely responds. But anything more than that, she won¡¯t entertain.


    What kind of guy can capture her heart?


    ¡°A car, right? Where¡¯s my car?¡± She said with a grin. Typical girl. So annoying when drunk. She doesn¡¯t realize the danger lurking, does she? Her friend, too. Why isn¡¯t she being watched carefully? I feel like giving both of them a scolding.


    Once we¡¯re in the parking area, her car is there. It¡¯s just a matter of finding the keys. Damn it! I don¡¯t know whether to call it bad luck or what. If she can¡¯t handle alcohol, why drink so much? There was a lot of it, I saw it.


    Usually, when a girl gets drunk, her emotions get disturbed. Some because of a broken heart, others just need an outlet. So, what about Anya? Why is she like this?


    ¡°Anya, where are your keys?¡±


    She looked up, her eyes a little hazy. At that moment, I felt the blood in my body drain away. Under the light, her gaze could really render me motionless. When I first saw her, I couldn¡¯t really look directly into her eyes. Not even at the office. I should be thanking God just for being able to steal a nce.


    ¡°The keys, right? Where are they, Cedric? I forgot.¡±


    Shit! She remembered my name!


    ¡°Uh, maybe you can check your bag? They should be there.¡± I let go of my hold on her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not drunk, it¡¯s that damn vodka.¡±


    ¡°Vodka is not to me,¡± I said, slightly amused by her mumbling. She usuallyins about paperwork and work results, and now?


    She pouted. ¡°What do you want with my keys?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    I can clearly see her eyes staring at me suspiciously. Oh my gosh! ¡°You can¡¯t drive, what if something happenster,¡± I said as an excuse. But it¡¯s true, though. If I leave her to drive, I don¡¯t know what might happen. It could be really dangerous, right? Oh¡­ I hope not!


    ¡°No need. I can manage on my own. I¡¯m not drunk,¡± she replied.


    I just kept silent while following her unstable steps. Just in case she copses or trips, and then gets a bump on her forehead. It wouldn¡¯t look good when she returns to the office with a bruised forehead.


    There you go¡­ she¡¯s tripping already. Good thing I¡¯m behind her. I quickly catch her before she falls, despite her protests and grumbling. What really puzzles me is that she took off her heels. She just threw them away like that. Oh my gosh! And she struggles to free herself from my grip, not wanting to be held.


    ¡°Move aside! I can handle myself.¡±


    Rather than argue with her, I just pick up her heels. I can put them in the car and take her home. Problem solved. When she tries to open the car door, she nearly slides and touches the pavement. I quickly hold her to prevent her body from getting scratched. It¡¯s not like I care or anything. Just¡­ it¡¯s a waste, okay? How many drinks did she have? I wonder! I¡¯m really surprised. If her alcohol tolerance is low, why did she get so drunk?


    What if someone does something bad to her?


    It¡¯s a good thing I found her here. Getting angry won¡¯t help. She just smiles and approaches me after I help her stand.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Thank you, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°The keys, Anya.¡± I give up. The scent of Anya¡¯s perfume makes it impossible for me to avoid being close to her. I also didn¡¯t expect her to look for the keys. She hands me a small purse and asks me to find them.


    Fortunately, she didn¡¯t cause any trouble on the way. She justined and rambled on about her issues with Krystal. I learned that her assistant has manyints, especially about the perfectionist standards of Krystal. I just smile while listening to her. I give some responses, but I know that someone drunk will forget what we talked about, right?

 [51] b

    But behind herints, I can hear clearly that Anya admires Krystal greatly. It¡¯s like, after being teased by Krystal, Anya is praised. She even admits that Krystal is her role model. I just listen attentively.


    It didn¡¯t take long, and I arrived at her apartment¡¯s parking lot. Don¡¯t ask me how I know. I followed Anya home once before. Well, maybe I had some free time. But I was just curious about where she lived.


    As soon as I nced, I already suspected that my job was not just driving her. I had to apany her to her unit because she was in no condition to do it on her own. She kept rambling incoherently and walking unsteadily.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    And my choice was right. I didn¡¯t take advantage of the situation. I genuinely helped her. I don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to the girl I¡¯m interested in. Right now, I¡¯m closing myself off. There are more urgent matters to attend to than my feelings. I admit, she¡¯s caught my attention all this time.


    She doesn¡¯t make a fuss, just lives a normal life like any metropolitan girl-hence my confusion when I saw her at the club, alone too.


    My intention was, once the issue at the office was resolved, I would approach her without any hesitation. Let her be ufortable; I didn¡¯t care. Others might give up, but not me. Cedric xton doesn¡¯t know the word ¡°surrender.¡± Just because shebels me and gives me condescending looks, not to mention her curt words, especially when rejecting someone. Oh¡­ if I didn¡¯t have a strong heart and faith, I might havemitted suicide by now.


    I¡¯m half-serious about this.


    With serious effort, I finally managed to bring this girl to her unit. As soon as we entered, she started vomiting. It was painful to watch. I helped her massage her neck to ease her difort. After that, she motioned for me to sit on the sofa while she probably tidied herself up.


    What I didn¡¯t prepare for was her suddenly sitting on top of me!


    ¡°Cedric.¡±


    Damn it! The way she calls my name can¡¯t be so casual, right? It¡¯s like she threw herself at me! And to make things worse, she lightly traced her slender fingers along my jaw! My mind started thinking all sorts of things!


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s better if you go to sleep. I¡¯ll leave now.¡± It¡¯s better this way; I can¡¯t linger around a beautiful drunk girl. There¡¯s no guarantee I can restrain myself for too long.


    ¡°Why the rush?¡± she asked.


    I closed my eyes. If I spoke in a sane state, I doubt she¡¯d be this close to me. Her breath was so close, like we werepeting for it! Damn it!


    ¡°Honestly, tell me, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°After I¡¯m honest, I¡¯ll be let go,¡± I said quickly. This is for the greater good; I can¡¯t spend too much time with Anya. It¡¯s dangerous!


    ¡°I won¡¯t hold you captive.¡± She even responded withughter. ¡°Who¡¯s more beautiful, me or Krystal.¡±


    Once again, she yed with her fingertips against my face. I had to hold back a groan from all the thoughts rushing through my head. Throughout my life, being faced with this incredibly sexy woman so close, my thoughts can¡¯t be a hundred percent rational. The devil inside me is also quite prominent. If it weren¡¯t for my brain warning me not to touch what shouldn¡¯t be touched yet, I might have kissed those red lips to my heart¡¯s content.


    Without restraint.


    ¡°You are the most beautiful,¡± I answered truthfully. Sheughed again.


    ¡°Cedric, Cedric, you¡¯re good at lying, huh. I¡¯m not mad, you know.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± I swear. Her index finger distracts me! I lowered it slowly; I was also afraid of hurting her feelings. ¡°Now I want to go home. You¡¯re already at your apartment. Get some rest.¡±


    Before I could leave, she stopped me again. This time it was worse. She came close, and I instinctively held her hands behind her back. ¡°Anya,¡± I growled, unable to bear it.


    ¡°Let go,¡± she said with a somewhat¡­ teasing tone? She wriggled on top of me even more, asking to be released from my hold.


    ¡°You said I¡¯m beautiful?¡± she asked again. Her movements were bing more suggestive, her eyes yfully blinking. Dear God! Remind me not to give in repeatedly. The temptation is incredibly strong! I finally let go of her hands, rather than letting her keep moving unpredictably on top of me.


    ¡°Yes. You are.¡± That¡¯s enough; I can¡¯t be too close to a beautiful drunk woman. The temptation is insane! I might lose control. But before I could fulfill this good intention, she pushed me. This time, she was the one holding me. Her smooth hands, imprisoning me. Her eyes didn¡¯t look away from mine.


    I can¡¯t! If I continue, I don¡¯t know what might happen tomorrow. I get up. I don¡¯t care that she fell to the carpet. I hear her in pain, but I¡¯m trying hard not to care. If I extend my hand, there¡¯s no guarantee I¡¯ll free myself from Anya quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Before I could go far, she shouted.


    ¡°Fine. Just leave.¡±


    As I turned around, Anya stumbled on her walk, but quickly grabbed her bag from the table. Not to mention, she quickly grabbed her other shoe. I stopped her!


    ¡°Move aside. I want to y again.¡±


    ¡°What else do you want to y, Anya?¡± I hold her wrists tightly. Her eyes red at me angrily, but I don¡¯t care. ¡°You¡¯re already drunk. It¡¯s better to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Who told you to boss me around?¡±


    I¡¯ve faced drunk women several times, but none as stubborn as her. Do I seem scared of her angry gaze? Not at all. This time, I dare to challenge her gaze. What used to be somber andcking energy, I don¡¯t know why now all her emotions are concentrated. And it only makes Anya sexier. Multiple times sexier.


    I don¡¯t care if she ps me, throws me off the balcony, curses at me, or evenins about me to Krystal. I don¡¯t care. What I care about is closing the distance between us. In one bold move, I kiss her lips without hesitation.


    We devour each other. While I give in because I can no longer resist the temptation of this woman, I have no idea what she¡¯s feeling. All I know is she matches my every move, not backing down in the least. Damn it!


    ¡°Is this all?¡± she asks.


    Dear God! Is there a more sensible question than this? After we¡¯ve been passionately kissing? Suddenly, my mind can¡¯t think clearly.


    ¡°If I continue, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be the one regretting it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Anyaughs instead.


    ¡°I won¡¯t stop, even if you ask me to.¡±


    What I never prepared for is her tilting her head, as if mocking my inner struggle. ¡°What are you going to do, hmm?¡±


    Her index finger is once again used to trace along my jaw. Anya is such a temptress. Does she act this way with other men too? I¡¯m not sure, considering how ordinary she is in her daily life. Instead of stopping or reducing her actions, her finger keeps tracing, making me groan in restraint.


    Damn it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever regret it, Anya. Never.¡±

 [52]

    I am a lover of gentleness and caution. I don¡¯t like rushing or hurrying things. I always want to leave a profound impression, through whatever I can give. For example¡­ a touch. Just like now.


    On her soft bed, a real Anya, who upies a corner of my heart that I can approach just a little bit, lies there. Breathing heavily, her impatient eyes eagerly meet mine. Her sexy ck dress is now abandoned on the floor. I left her with only a ckce bra and a thin sheet covering the area between her legs.


    No words can express how beautiful, sexy, and smooth her body is, which I now eagerly gaze upon. I record every inch of what I see, so that it will fill my memories, getting to know the most intimate things about Anya Joice.


    Clearly, there are red marks I left all over her body, especially on her chest. I wonder how her face will look when she wakes up and realizes. Her gaze is enough to make me flustered. As all the buttons on my shirt sessfully came undone, her fingers are equally skilled. It drives me crazy.


    Her fingers trace along my chest very slowly. The effect? My goodness! I feel like I want to pounce without hesitation. All I have in my head is that she will be calling my name when it¡¯s all over.


    ¡°Your body is great,¡± she says. Her praise only makes me go even crazier. My eyes follow the direction her fingers move. I try to suppress the overwhelming rush in my heart. My heart, don¡¯t even ask how it¡¯s functioning. It¡¯s already in overload!


    ¡°If you want me to stop, now¡¯s the time,¡± I tell her.


    She just smiles a little. ¡°No, stay on top.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t regret this, Anya.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Is she insane? Does she speak without thinking? It seems so. The evidence is her hands, which keep moving. She unbuckles the belt of my jeans, half sitting up as she pulls them down. It seems I can¡¯t move backward anymore. Even if asked, I might not want to.


    We¡¯re both nearly half-naked. Scanning each other. I don¡¯t know if alcohol still influences Anya¡¯s rationality or not. All I know is, once again, she pulls me closer. Her hand perfectly sped around my neck. Our lips meet again. This time, there¡¯s no gentle kiss, no waiting to match each other.


    Our kisses are intense, demanding, passionate, and pleasurable.


    A moan escapes Anya as I lick the hollow of her neck, sucking it with force. I¡¯ve been doing this since earlier, but this moan somehow increases my enthusiasm.


    ¡°Call my name, Anya.¡±


    I thought she wouldn¡¯tply, but I was wrong. Damn it, her voice is driving me crazy!


    ¡°Cedric¡­,¡± she says. I intentionally gaze into her soft eyes. Her breath is slightly rapid, and she¡¯s a bit out of breath, even though I haven¡¯t fully actualized the image in my head. I don¡¯t care if she thinks I¡¯m wicked or whatever, but at this very moment, I swear; Anya belongs to me. No one else can get close to her except for me.


    I only had to wait for the right moment.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± Iplimented sincerely. I couldn¡¯t deny that at all. A smile appeared between her slightly swollen lips, making me even more fond of her. I deepened the kiss that had been interrupted earlier, but only for a moment. It made her moan softly.


    ¡°Slow down,¡± I said. And I proceeded with actions that made her squirm in delight. Using the tip of my tongue, I traced her beautiful body. asionally, I nced to see how she responded to my touch. Since there was no rejection at all, and it even seemed like she was waiting for it, I continued wholeheartedly.


    Until I reached the area between her slightly parted thighs.


    ¡°May I?¡± I still had to ask about this. Let¡¯s not rush, so that Anya won¡¯t forget any moment we¡¯ve shared.


    ¡°Yes, yes. You may.¡±


    A small grin appeared on my lips unconsciously. Slowly, I pulled down the thin material of her pants, revealing the most intimate part of Anya. With gentleness, I traced it with my fingertips, making her fidget restlessly. As I paused for a moment, she said with a halfmanding tone, very typical of Anya, but I liked it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡±


    Who would want to stop? Not yet, Anya. Not yet. ¡°Yes. Just be patient for a moment.¡± And with the tip of the tongue that I used to moisten parts of her body earlier, I started to wet her intimate area.


    ¡°Cedric!¡± she half-shouted. She tugged my hair slightly. It didn¡¯t hurt much, but it was enough to make me stop this action.


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°Can I continue?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡±


    ¡°Or are you unsure? I¡¯ll stop if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    ¡°NO! Please!¡±


    See? Who¡¯s the one teasing? Me or her? So, I continued. After all, I got her permission. asionally, I nibbled and sucked gently, making her moans and groans fill the room. It was so sexy and making me more aroused. So, I dared to prate her with my fingers.


    She twitched slightly. Soft curses escaped her lips. For a moment, I let my fingers stay inside her, waiting to see her response. Feeling no resistance, I continued. This time, more than just entering, I moved my fingers slowly, in sync with the tip of my tongue.


    I could tell that this y really drove her out of her mind. I heard her sexy moans and groans. Her eyes werepletely clouded with passion. I wanted Anya to remember who touched her body this time. Because I wanted Anya. Only Anya.


    From the beginning, she had filled my heart. Given this opportunity, not to exploit, but to tell her that I exist in her life.


    ¡°CEDRIC!¡± Anya shouted, making me smile. I ended the y earlier. I think she felt like she lost something. That¡¯s why she red at me angrily.


    ¡°Be patient. Don¡¯t be satisfied with just Anya¡¯s fingers.¡±


    Her face turned red.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, Anya,¡± I praised as I tidied her hair. Her forehead was sweaty even though this room was air-conditioned. I gently stroked her blushing cheeks. Her lips were slightly open, probably trying to catch her breath that seemed to have disappeared into her chest. Once again, I caressed those plump lips tenderly. I traced each row of her teeth, sucking gently on the corners of her lips.


    ¡°Can I?¡± I asked. Actually, I didn¡¯t need to ask. She seemed more than ready for me to enter her like this. Her legs spread wider, seemingly granting me ess without permission. But no, I needed consent.


    In achieving satisfaction in a rtionship, I didn¡¯t want to be the only one dominating. The other person should also experience and give pleasure. It should be enjoyable for both parties, at least that¡¯s how I see it. If she refuses and only wants it to go this far, I¡¯ll stop. Although it feels so unsatisfying!


    ¡°But slowly.¡±


    Anya? A virgin?


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done this with another man in a very long time, Cedric.¡±


    Oh, okay.


    ¡°Please, slowly.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± I said, kissing her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure, Ibu, that you won¡¯t forget today,¡± I whispered softly as I entered her slowly. I didn¡¯t know if she heard my earlier words or not. All I knew was that her lips were moaning my name so beautifully, and her movements drove me crazy.


    As I deepened my movements, Anya followed and matched my pace. Damn! It felt incredibly amazing. Instead of making Anya forget my touch, I was the one who couldn¡¯t forget how sweet and tight her body was.


    ¡°Cedric!¡± she eximed, holding back her voice. Her body lifted slightly. Her breaths were like someone running a marathon, gasping for air. Sweat flooded her forehead. Inside her, what belonged to me experienced the peak of pleasure with Anya Joice for the first time.


    I was so satisfied to hear her moan my name repeatedly. Until it was my turn to lose control, but my mind was still clear. I wanted to pull out, but damn it, Anya¡¯s hand stopped me.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not my fertile period, you know.¡±


    I was a little surprised by her words. But once again, because those slender fingers were tracing my chest, my sanity vanished. In one motion, I knew this was more than just pleasure. We even did it three times, each time in a different position. Until she fell asleep in my arms.Original from N?velDrama.Org.

 [53]

    Finally, she became my wife.


    Happy? Don¡¯t even ask.


    I¡¯m extremely happy. Though, well¡­ there were a lot of dramas. It wasn¡¯t easy to be in Anya Joice¡¯s life, I admit that. Trying to win her heart turned my world upside down. There was always something wrong. If I had remembered that I still had a promise to Krystal, I might have spilled everything as soon as I found out that Anya was pregnant with my child.


    If I had revealed my true self then, I¡¯m not sure my mission would have been executed perfectly. It wasn¡¯t about anyone¡¯s interests. Since I found out that there was a xton heir inside her womb, I made Anya my top priority. But it wasn¡¯t that simple, you know?


    The situation at the office became quite tense. Even though it didn¡¯te to the surface, I knew Krystal was angry about what happened. Eventually, I remained the Cedric that Anya knew. Staying by her side, even if she often pushed me away, pped me, scolded me, and made me feel like giving up.


    I just had to wait for one more proof, and all the problems at Krystal¡¯s office would be resolved. After that, I wouldn¡¯t just let Anya go. It¡¯s not that I wanted to give up, but sometimes Anya¡¯s negative thoughts were overwhelming. It gave me a headache.


    And then, when Papa and Mom finally found out. It was all because Krystal told them. I got scolded at the hospital and berated at home. Luckily, I really care about Krystal.


    Papa pped me hard, and my lip split. He said I had gone too far and made them ashamed. Well, what could I do? Seriously, Anya was such a temptation. Okay¡­ fine¡­ I have weak self-control.


    As for Mom, she cried non-stop. That¡¯s what made me feel incredibly guilty within the family. I¡¯m Ibu¡¯s pride, Papa¡¯s youngest child even though I¡¯m already an adult. I¡¯m still the one who receives the most pampering. But I just tarnished their name like that. I regret it, but what can I do? Moreover, it¡¯s Anya who¡¯s pregnant. Feeling regretful might not be necessary.


    ¡°Who did you impregnate?¡± When Papa switches to question mode like this, I can¡¯t do anything. My cheek was still stinging from his p. And Ibu refused to let me hug her.


    That night, I was interrogated thoroughly. Exactly a week after Anya fainted for the first time, and I finally became sure that she was pregnant with my child. Krystal didn¡¯t believe it straight away, you know. I knew her mind was too logical toprehend something that seemed absurd to her. But I swore I would prove that Anya, her beloved assistant, was indeed pregnant with my child.


    And that¡¯s when the drama unfolded at the hospital. Thankfully, Anya left immediately after I warned her that the security might ask Krystal to stop shouting. She was hysterical because Anya was the victim of my n. Well, if you think about it, I was the victim of Anya¡¯s seduction. She was just too tempting.


    Perhaps Krystal thought I couldn¡¯t get close to her assistant like that, huh?


    ¡°Anya, Dad. Krystal¡¯s assistant.¡±


    Papa growled while rubbing his chest. ¡°Take responsibility, Cedric.¡±


    I nodded firmly.


    ¡°Bring her here right away.¡±


    And this is the problem. Anya is not the kind of woman who would cry and ask me to take responsibility!


    ¡°Immediately, Cedric,¡± he said again, making me swallow nervously. I asked for help from Krystal, but he just shrugged and didn¡¯t want to help.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let this problem drag on,¡± he said.


    I nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Tomorrow, bring that girl here.¡±


    I was caught off guard. ¡°I can¡¯t, Pa.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you? You have to marry her, Cedric. We must know if a xton family descendant is going to be born.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the only problem.¡±


    Papa looked at me with an unfriendly gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s Anya. She knows that Cedric is Krystal¡¯s office boy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your problem to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Pa,¡± I eximed in frustration. ¡°If Cedric reveals his true identity now, everything we¡¯ve worked for in the past year will fall apart.¡±


    I saw both Papa, Mom, and Krystal seemed to contemte what I just said.


    ¡°What¡¯s clear is that you must bring that girl here immediately. By any means necessary.¡±


    All I could do was nod. I didn¡¯t know how to make Anya ept me. This battle was incredibly difficult. In the regr tenders I usually do fornd or building acquisitions, when I just mention the name xton, everything is resolved. However, it¡¯s impossible to reveal that in front of Anya right now.


    I thought that with her being pregnant with my child, her arrogance would decrease a bit or her ego would be touched. But that didn¡¯t happen. It only made me even more confused about how to make her ept me, whether it¡¯s me or the baby in her womb.


    If you ask about my feelings, I¡¯ve already dered that she¡¯s only mine, right? That means my heart only calls out her name. From the beginning, I¡¯ve impressed upon her that she¡¯s the only one for my heart. I don¡¯t need anyone else.


    Her being pregnant is beyond my control. I made sure at that moment it wasn¡¯t just me who wanted it. If I¡¯m asked to take responsibility now, I¡¯m more than willing to do it. Even if the way to do it is wrong, I still have time to prove myself. If Anya is the one, I want.


    I have plenty of time to do that, right?


    Talk less, do more.


    ¡°You¡¯re lost in thought, Cedric?¡± she asked, making me startle. Her eyes, which were closed before, were now open and looking straight at me. Several times I woke up with her beside me. I never get bored and always pray that simple things like this will keep our love strong until we¡¯re old. No boredom, no weariness, and no difort with each other.


    That¡¯s my real challenge. Anya doesn¡¯t really want to open up about her personal life. It¡¯s what often makes me suddenly confused because there are too many negative things upying Anya¡¯s mind. That¡¯s not good. I have to reduce it. It¡¯s not good for her mental health.


    ¡°Not lost in thought,¡± I said while gently stroking her furrowed forehead. Her lips pouted, seemingly asking for a kiss. ¡°Still tired?¡±


    She nodded softly. ¡°My body feelspletely drained.¡±


    When her cutenesses out, oh¡­ my heart weakens! Krystal warned me that Anya is different. She¡¯s not like other girls. I already felt and knew that clearly. It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t prepared to face her ton of strange behaviors. I thought she would be like an ordinary woman who could be melted with a lot of attention. Sure, sometimes I get some appreciation, but don¡¯t expect it tost long.


    Especially when her sassy sidees out. Oh God, my heart aches again.


    ¡°Okay, after breakfast, you rest again,¡± I said.


    ¡°Feed me,¡± she said while moving closer. ¡°Didn¡¯t you rub my bellyst night?¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°Yes, to help you sleep better, right?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°That¡¯s your duty.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask room service to prepare breakfast, what do you want?¡±


    This beautiful woman just smiled slightly. ¡°I want you.¡±


    I just shook my head. ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first.¡±


    ¡°I want you, Cedric.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Having a wife as adorable as her is truly extraordinary, making my heart flutter. And strangely, what she says doesn¡¯t always match with what I interpret from her words.


    ¡°Hug me.¡± Anya entered my embrace. She looked for afortable position without caring if something inside me was stirring. Damn it. Damn it. Two weeks before the event, I did take Anya for a routine check-up. Together with Papa and Mama, so they wouldn¡¯t be too curious about their grandchild¡¯s condition. But I didn¡¯t ask about intimate things that might happen between us in the future. Like having sex, for example.


    That didn¡¯t even cross my mind.


    Knowing that Baby is growing well, getting proper nutrition, the mother is happy, and soon we¡¯ll officially have a legal bond, that¡¯s more than enough.


    But what am I experiencing now? Damn it! Such a temptation!!! Her slender fingers caress my chest. Again. Just like her usual habit, but this time it¡¯s far more tempting! Seriously! Her fingers asionally make small circles and make me lose focus on thinking.


    ¡°Joice,¡± I softly growled, trying to restrain her fingers from yfully gliding over my exposed body.


    ¡°Why, huh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like this.¡±


    She justughed. ¡°It¡¯s always wrong when I touch your chest. Why?¡±


    ¡°Are you intentionally teasing me?¡±


    I¡¯ve said it before, besides being moody and fierce, my most beautiful wife Anya can be so annoying. She blinked yfully as if she didn¡¯t understand the meaning of my words. Acting innocent? Unable to resist, I gently positioned her beneath me. I held her hands beside her, but this move only made her smile mischievously.


    ¡°Be careful, Darling, Baby might get hurt.¡±


    ¡°In that case, don¡¯t tease me, Joice.¡±


    ¡°If you do it gently, Darling, it won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    Since she started calling me ¡®darling¡¯, her voice has be a distraction, making it hard for me to concentrate. A mixture of sweetness, firmness, seeking attention, fierceness, dominance, and craving to be loved, allbined in her voice.


    ¡°Have I been rough before?¡± I asked while looking straight into her eyes.


    ¡°Uhm¡­ thest time you did that.¡± She moistened her lips with a very tempting move. ¡°That¡­ was rough.¡±


    Shit!


    ¡°So, were youpletely drunk, half-drunk, or conscious?¡±


    She giggled softly. ¡°Drunk. But when we were doing it, I was conscious.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you refuse?¡± I was quite curious, to be honest. Not that I mind. When I made advances, she rejected me quite vehemently. Fortunately, I¡¯m in love, so I could endure it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I was confused myself.¡±


    I waited as it seemed Anya still wanted to talk.


    ¡°I felt hypnotized by you.¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m handsome?¡±


    She hesitated, and I chuckled.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t handsome back then, but you were intriguing.¡±


    Really?


    ¡°You intrigued my heart, made me unable to think of anything else except having you above me. Like now.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious now?¡± This is an open invitation, right? I hope I don¡¯t misinterpret it again. Dealing with women is already mysterious enough, and on top of that, I¡¯m facing the amazing Anya. Will my life ever be settled?


    She nodded slowly. Her pale face slowly blushing. Making me even more flustered!


    ¡°If Baby gets disturbed, let me know.¡±


    She nodded again.


    Is there anything happier than this? After a long time, resisting Anya¡¯s overpowering temptations, this time she surrendered beneath me.


    ¡°Tell me, Joice, if I¡¯m being rough.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t take too long.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°I love being slow in my touch. So, you won¡¯t forget how much I adore you. For the rest of my life.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t wait and quickly pulled me in to kiss her. She even yfully bit my lips! So¡­ from the beginning, who couldn¡¯t wait¡­ me or Anya, huh?

 [54] a

    Our routine went back to normal. I drop Anya off and pick her up from work while I manage the cafe that I had entrusted to Daska. She¡¯s someone I trust, so thankfully, there weren¡¯t any major issues while I was away. Well, it¡¯s not like Ipletely left the cafe, just that I didn¡¯t wholeheartedly manage it anymore, that¡¯s the only difference.


    When ites to work matters, I can¡¯t argue with Anya. She has valid reasons for choosing to continue her job. I know it hasn¡¯t been easy for her to reach this point. A week after we got married, I asked Anya to be more open with me, not just because we changed our status. No, I wanted our rtionship to be like two people who need each other, filled with love and many prayers to keep us together.


    I wanted to be a friend she could trustpletely. It didn¡¯t feel good when Anya got angry because I asked two of her friends to keep quiet about who I am until I reveal it myself. But in reality, it made Anya a bit skeptical, and she often threw sharp remarks at those two.


    Naomi and Doni.


    Fortunately, they didn¡¯t take offense. Instead, theyughed when Anya started with her sarcasticments. Anya said they couldn¡¯t move on from their own foolishness. But Anya isn¡¯t foolish; she just doesn¡¯t want to see beyond what¡¯s in front of her. Her focus is straight ahead, but it¡¯s filled with quite a bit of negativity.


    I believe if it weren¡¯t for Krystal supporting her, Anya wouldn¡¯t be at this point. Anya needed more than just a fear-driven motivation. That¡¯s why Krystal is so fond of her work as an assistant and as a sister-inw. Anya receives abundant affection from her.


    By the way, Krystal¡¯s affection is not just praise. No, Krystal isn¡¯t like that. She always pushes someone with things she believes can exceed limits. That¡¯s why many think Krystal enjoys pushing people, but it¡¯s not true. And fortunately, Anya is the type of person who can match Krystal.


    A perfect fit.


    That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t want to stop her from working at home. Her passion for work is ingrained in her. She¡¯s dedicated when ites to her job, and I noticed that. I also just found out that when we first met, Mother suggested that Anya shouldn¡¯t work. And it made Anya quite sarcastic and cynical towards me at that time. I already mentioned that Anya is different, right? Maybe other women would throw themselves willingly once they found out their potential husband is well-off. Not Anya. Just hearing sweet words from her is already a cause for gratitude.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been daydreaming a lot, huh?¡±


    I blinked. When I realized it, Anya was right in front of me, observing me carefully. Her eyes were suspicious. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been calling you for a while.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I imitated her steps, which I felt were¡­ annoyed? Because I didn¡¯t hear her call earlier, is that why? When did she call me anyway?


    ¡°I want some tea. Jack has gone home. Krystal hasn¡¯t returned yet, but her report is awaited.¡± She stopped in front of the ss cab. There must be one of the files she needs to refer to for her report. I¡¯ve been sitting not far from her desk for the past hour, and I¡¯ve finished my work.


    ¡°Shall I make it for you?¡±


    She nced at me sharply. Even when pregnant, she¡¯s still beautiful, and her fierceness doesn¡¯t diminish. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make it for you. Wait here, don¡¯t do anything weird.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by weird?¡±


    If I mention the name ¡°Henry,¡± she¡¯ll definitely get angry. Let me test it again. ¡°Oh, maybe you want to go to the 22nd floor. Meet Henry.¡±


    See, I was right! She walked towards me with a fierce look in her eyes. I received a small, painful pinch on my stomach. ¡°say something like that again, and you¡¯ll be in big trouble! No sleeping together with me!¡±


    I winced in pain. ¡°Ouch¡­ the one who can¡¯t sleep without having their belly rubbed is you, not me, Joice. Forgot?¡±


    Instead of letting go, she tightened her grip! ¡°Joice, it hurts.¡±


    ¡°The one who wants their belly rubbed is Baby, not me!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    I gave in. It¡¯s hard to tell the difference between Baby¡¯s desires and hers. ¡°Okay, wait a minute. I¡¯ll make the tea.¡±


    Her angry re from earlier turned into a sweet smile. It¡¯s so adorable! ¡°Thank you, my darling Cedric.¡±


    I¡¯ll borrow the term used by the young people nowadays; being whipped. It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ve be Anya¡¯s love ve, anyway. And unexpectedly, she gave me a quick peck right on the lips. Well¡­ that¡¯s not eptable. How can it be just a quick peck?


    So, I continued. I deepened the kiss, regardless of the CCTV camera. It¡¯s probably Henry who will check the footage, thankfully, if Krystal sees it, she¡¯s used to catching us kissing. She said we often forget where we are. But it¡¯s actually Krystal¡¯s fault. She barges in and interrupts us.


    It¡¯s a good thing I didn¡¯t start undressing Anya. It would¡¯ve been even more chaotic, right?


    ¡°Oh my God, can¡¯t you do this at hometer?¡± Anyained at the corner of her lips. But she didn¡¯t resist when I continued. She even pressed the back of my neck to keep me close.


    ¡°You owe me because I¡¯m making you lemon tea,¡± I said, lightly brushing her wet lips. Our foreheads touched, our breaths mixed, and our eyes couldn¡¯t focus on anything but each other.


    ¡°Love you, Joice.¡± Those words will always resonate in me, no matter what our situation is. Because deep in my heart, there¡¯s only Anya.


    ¡°Kiss me again,¡± she whispered.


    As I did, with a rhythm slower and softer than before, I didn¡¯t expect to be shocked by a scream from someone.


    ¡°OH MY GOD! HAVE YOU NO SHAME? GETTING FRISKY AT THE OFFICE!¡±

 [54] b

    I ept my fate. I¡¯m their personal chauffeur, but I do it willingly. Especially since Anya¡¯s smile hasn¡¯t faded at all. She looks so beautiful from the rearview mirror. The three of them are quite a remarkable trio. None of them are gentle when speaking, but like true friends, none of them ever leave each other¡¯s side.


    I¡¯m so lucky that Anya has them.


    Do you still remember when I revealed my true identity at the office? During lunch, Doni pulled me aside. His eyes were red, a sign of how angry he was with me. I was prepared for the risks. What mattered most to me was that this was the right moment. At first, I didn¡¯t want many people to know who I really was.


    I rarely appear in public. Ever since I handed over all of my father¡¯s business and business meetings to Krystal, I¡¯ve been behind the scenes, helping her out. I don¡¯t mind as long as my face doesn¡¯t be public knowledge.


    Who doesn¡¯t know Jonathan xton? The sessful businessman who chose to retire and stay at home with his wife, leaving the massive xton Expresspany to his capable eldest daughter.


    Anya said she ended up in the hospital due to pain caused by Sarman¡¯s attack. Though she didn¡¯t fully me him, the pain increased after that. Damn Sarman! I won¡¯t let him go so easily. If not for him, I wouldn¡¯t have to delve into the financial records. Papa found out about this case, and it made him furious.


    It¡¯s not just because Anya is pregnant with his grandchild, it¡¯s also about his rough treatment of women. And Anya, in this context, was just doing her job. Why should we cover it up when she feels it¡¯s right, even if I know it¡¯s to hide his wrongdoing? That¡¯s what made both Papa and me angry.


    Back to Doni. This agile guy didn¡¯t hold back in scolding me. He dragged me to the parking lot, pushing me into Naomi¡¯s car. The girl followed me, scolding me non-stop, and well¡­ they cornered me effectively. I didn¡¯t argue or seek defense. What they said was true, especially regarding Anya.


    If it weren¡¯t for Naomi, my cheek might have turned blue from being hit by Doni¡¯s fist.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Doni. If Cedric gets injured, Anya will ask a lot of questions. She¡¯ll be sad again. I don¡¯t want to hear Anyaining about her battered husband,¡± Naomi said.


    Then the clenched fist slowly came down. ¡°Anya loves you so much. You should be grateful. If not, you would be dead in my hands!¡±


    Doni is probably lying. Throughout the time I¡¯ve listened to Anya speak, she¡¯s never admitted her true feelings. Her behavior did change significantly after I started taking care of Ibu. It was unintentional, really. I was in a panic when Ibu got sick and couldn¡¯t think of anything else at that moment.


    Despite being angry seeing Anya being affectionate with Henry, it felt so irritating! And I vented out my anger at the hospital. I told them I was Anya¡¯s future husband and that the baby in her belly was my creation. What else did he want? He¡¯s brainless if he still wants to approach her.


    Then on Monday, when Sarman was arrested, Henry looked at me with a pitiful look. It felt so satisfying!


    ¡°That¡¯s why you need to control your emotions,¡± I knew Doni was growling in frustration.


    ¡°Remember, Mr. Cedric, just once, if you make Anya cry or sad, you¡¯re dead. I guarantee that. I don¡¯t care about jail as long as Anya¡¯s heart is okay. Understand?¡±


    I¡¯m not afraid of his threat. Besides, I have no interest in making Anya sad, let alone cry. What¡¯s the point? Her heart, which I hold dear, is the one that feels sadness the most.


    I wanted tough at Doni¡¯s bright red face, but I held it in. Their interaction was amusing to me. Their friendship was truly extraordinary.


    ¡°I bet your baby is a girl, Anya. I¡¯m sure of it,¡± Doni said loudly. Beside him, I saw Naomi scoffing. ¡°Look at Anya, she¡¯s glowing so much. I read an article that says if a pregnant woman looks incredibly beautiful during her pregnancy, it means she¡¯s having a girl.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re like a fortune-teller, Doni.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Anya! I¡¯m serious!¡±


    ¡°Let him be with his assumptions. We don¡¯t need to believe it. Besides, believing in Doni¡¯s words is a disaster. It¡¯s utterly useless,¡± Naomi remarked.


    ¡°Naomi, you¡¯re getting more annoying, you know!¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    I shook my head slightly at their way of talking. There was no filter whatsoever.


    ¡°Enough, you two. You keep bickering, and we¡¯ll end upte!¡± I chimed in.


    ¡°Hey, couldn¡¯t youe up with a bettereback? I¡¯m perfectly normal, you know! I prefer real men, not fake ones like Doni Te.¡±


    ¡°Well, even if I were sane, I still wouldn¡¯t nce at you, Naomi.¡±


    ¡°Shut up, you two! You¡¯re giving me a headache!¡±


    Everyone fell silent. My wife¡¯s voice was truly intimidating. It seemed she didn¡¯t need to raise her tone or re at them; just her firm tone alone was enough to make everyone scared and reluctant to speak. But it¡¯s for the best. It didn¡¯t disturb my concentration while driving.


    ¡°The one who cut in line was Naomi, not me,¡± Doni mumbled. I could see his pouting lips from the rearview mirror. Naomi was still pouting, unwilling to ept it. ¡°Nao, Anya has been so fierce during her pregnancy. We keep getting scolded.¡±


    Amazingly, Naomi nodded in agreement. ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. We were wrong. Sorry, sorry.¡±


    I sighed with relief. The friend¡¯s war didn¡¯t continue. To be honest, I often saw them interacting without any sweetness. But you know what, that¡¯s precisely what makes me happy that Anya is a part of their group.


    ¡°How¡¯s the preparation for your new house, Anya?¡± Naomi asked.


    I nced at Anya, who was seated beside me. It was obvious she sighed deeply. I wondered why. Wasn¡¯t she enthusiastic about moving out these past few days?


    ¡°Joice.¡± I needed to check what was going on with my wife, right? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll surely miss the apartment. I lived there for five years, and it¡¯s not easy for me to just leave it like that.¡±


    Naomi and Doni burst intoughter. Meanwhile, I noticed that Anya¡¯s eyes were getting teary. During her pregnancy, I must admit that Anya¡¯s mood swings were intense. Like now, she was crying just because of the thought of moving.


    I gently stroked her head to calm her down. I felt like scolding Naomi and Doni for daring tough at Anya¡¯s sadness. They had no sympathy whatsoever, did they?


    ¡°Oh,e on, Anya. Just say you can¡¯t forget the moments with Cedric in the apartment. Am I right?¡±


    Fortunately, I managed to restrain Anya from attacking Doni. Sometimes Doni¡¯s words are full of provocation, even though I was right in front of him! No fear at all, huh?


    ¡°Mr. Doni, watch your words.¡±


    Well, it worked. He fell silent.


    Naomi burst intoughter. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s done for! The boss is angry! You¡¯ve picked the wrong time to tease her, Dona Te! I really need to remind you. If Anya considers us her loved ones, we¡¯re practically the boss¡¯s inws. We could get fired.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I forgot. Oops.¡± Doni immediately touched my wife¡¯s shoulder without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Anya. Seriously. My mouth is full of bber.¡±


    I ignored Doni, focusing more on making sure Anya didn¡¯t feel sad. That was the most important thing. Since I officially got married and took on the role of a husband and soon-to-be father, not to mention having dinner together every night at the main house, Anya was immediately elevated to Papa¡¯s beloved daughter-inw. I could swear that if Papa saw Anya even slightly unhappy, I¡¯d be the one receiving the wrath.


    Just like Krystal, if she didn¡¯t obey Papa¡¯s orders, he¡¯d intervene. Yes, that¡¯s how influential Anya Joice was in my family. Even regarding the house, because Papa and Mama agreed not to allow us to live in the apartment. Instead, Papa is expanding the main house to amodate us.


    Papa, with his logical thinking and concern for Anya¡¯s safety, managed to persuade his future daughter-inw to live in the main house,pletely separated from the swimming pool area beside the house. It¡¯s currently in the construction phase, so we¡¯ve been living like nomads. Sometimes at the apartment, sometimes back at the main house.


    As Anya pleases.


    Papa¡¯s target is to have the house ready before Anya gives birth. So, the construction is being expedited, but not carelessly. Papa¡¯s perfectionist nature remains unchanged. I¡¯m quite grateful that Anya didn¡¯t get angry or argue further. Maybe, above all else, she prioritizes Baby. Can I say that Baby¡¯s presence has changed a lot of Anya¡¯s perspectives on life?


    Before, many pessimistic words came out of Anya¡¯s mouth, but now I often hear her say, ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t lose hope when there are problems at the cafe, you know. Because there¡¯s Baby.¡±


    Ah, it¡¯s so sweet, right? Especially the way she speaks, so affectionate to my ears. It makes me love her even more.


    ¡°So, do you all want to eat steak?¡± I asked to make sure. They all remained silent, though. Suddenly mute, I guess. Although I know very well that the three of them can never stay quiet.


    ¡°YES!¡±


    Ah, they¡¯re back.


    Let them be like this. I feel better when they stay as they should be. I don¡¯t want to prohibit or ruin their friendship. In fact, I feel that without Naomi and Doni beside Anya, I wouldn¡¯t know what kind of person my wife would be. I admit that both of them have been a great help to me and our rtionship.


    Most importantly, my Anya is no longer sad. She always stays true to herself, and even if she changes, it¡¯s always for the better. For me, that¡¯s more than enough.

 [55]

    ¡°Are we there yet?¡±


    It hadn¡¯t even been five minutes since I covered her eyes with a handkerchief. Oh my gosh! Her lips were already making so much noise. But I finally understood one thing. Anya never yed around when she said she was afraid of the dark. Not because of the darkness itself, but because she was afraid that when she opened her eyes, I wouldn¡¯t be there beside her.


    Her grip on my hand was tight. So, I whispered, ¡°I¡¯m right here, Joice. I won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    Her breathing gradually steadied, but her lips couldn¡¯t stay still. I paid close attention to each step. I didn¡¯t want any debris left behind, but my fear was justified. If Anya were to fall, it wouldn¡¯t just be dangerous for her, but also for Baby. They were my top priorities in life now. To put it simply, my life and death revolved around the two of them.


    ¡°Cedric,¡± she said with a slightly trembling voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll always be beside you.¡± I whispered softly.


    ¡°Where are we going, anyway? It¡¯s really surprising!¡±


    Anya; strict, blunt, assertive, and chatty. Perfect.


    I released her hand to open the door, but she stopped me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare let go of my hand!¡±


    I was sure her expression was one of shock. It was a shame her eyes were covered, but I could imagine it. ¡°I won¡¯t go far, Joice. Just a moment.¡± Instead, I positioned Anya close to me, so she could still feel my presence. Besides, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live without Anya.


    Every night, I was apanied by the most beautiful woman in my eyes; not only beautiful but also sexy. Stern and adorable at the same time. Who would want to leave her? No one. Only a fool would have such intentions.


    ¡°Ready?¡± I asked half-whispering. She wore soft pink lipstick, and her face seemed even more beautiful. ording to my mother, it might be due to pregnancy hormones. I don¡¯t know. All I know is that Anya was beautiful before, and now she¡¯s even more beautiful. And her body was bing fuller. Seriously, I was so happy! The doctor said Anya¡¯s weight gain was significant, and it had a positive impact on Baby, who was healthy and growing well.


    Anya was fully dedicated to Baby. She followed the doctor¡¯s advice without hesitation. During her free time, she read articles about pregnancy. On weekends, she discussed pregnancy with my mother. What else could I not be grateful for in my life? Nothing. Everything that¡¯s happening in my life now, I¡¯m extremely grateful for.


    ¡°For what?¡±


    I grinned. Slowly, I uncovered her eyes. Once Anya took in her surroundings, she used her hand to cover her mouth. She was amazed.


    ¡°This is our home, Joice.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s amazing!¡±


    I chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Cedric. It¡¯s really amazing.¡± Her smile, oh my! So happy!


    ¡°Home tour?¡± I offered, extending my palm. There was no doubt she¡¯d ept my offer. When our skin touched, I held her hand so tightly. My heart promised that this was just the beginning of many happiness¡¯s I would fight for, for Anya.


    Getting her to ept it was tough! I couldn¡¯t handle being ignored for just three days. What more if she actually got really mad? I couldn¡¯t even imagine it.


    Actually, I designed everything in this house. As for the furniture, I¡¯ll discuss it again with Anya, as not much has been finalized yet. The construction took three months, and as I predicted, by the time Anya gives birth, we¡¯ll already be living in our new home. It may not be perfect yet, but it¡¯s already livable.


    Even if we¡¯re not ready to move in because there are still some things missing, it¡¯s not a problem. The most important thing is that the building ispleted. However, Papa and Mama don¡¯t agree that we move in immediately. They want us to be close to them during Anya¡¯s maternity leave. I don¡¯t mind, it¡¯s all up to Anya. If she¡¯sfortable, I¡¯m fine with it. Besides, I see their interactions are very good. When I ask Anya about my parents, she has noints. In fact, her eyes light up when she talks about this and that.


    Even Krystal. My sister has beening home together with Anya a lottely. She says it¡¯s actually fun to have someone to talk to like Anya. But I know they¡¯re still talking about work. And with Papa too. They¡¯re all incredible together.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the master bedroom, Cedric?¡±


    We¡¯re in the backyard garden. I transformed the part of Mom¡¯s flower garden-I changed it to something more child-friendly for our future children. I intentionally left it empties for a while, as I don¡¯t want to buy anything without asking Anya first. She might poutter.


    ¡°It¡¯s upstairs, Joice. Can¡¯t wait, huh?¡±


    She pouted. ¡°Can I decorate it however I want?¡±


    I smiled, kissing the top of her head. Ignoring some people who were still busy tidying up the parts that were still messy. ¡°Of course. Go ahead. It¡¯s your home.¡±


    Among all the things that made me tired from dividing my thoughts-about the caf¨¦, Anya¡¯s overly spoiled nature, the house construction-I was rewarded with her sweet smile. It¡¯s like a ton of sugar couldn¡¯tpete. Exaggerated? Maybe, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Let it be my heart¡¯s business.


    We climbed the stairs slowly. Anya¡¯s belly had grown so much. asionally, I caressed her stomach with affection. It¡¯s an activity that never gets boring for me. I purposely ced all the rooms upstairs, except for the guest room. I was certain it wouldn¡¯t be used. Maybeter, I could turn it into a gym. We¡¯ll see, it¡¯s easy to arrange.


    As soon as Anya entered the master bedroom, she was once again amazed. I know Anya likes to read books on the balcony. Maybe it¡¯s because of the peaceful atmosphere or something, I don¡¯t know. So, I created a room that slightly protrudes, and it¡¯s clearly visible from the main bed, facing the spacious balcony. I made the balcony like a wooden deck, with a small table and chairs. Or if Anya¡¯s notfortable with those two items, we can put some small cushions. It can be used for lounging there. Whatever makes Anya mostfortable.


    It¡¯s also perfect for afternoon naps.


    ¡°I really love this spot,¡± she said. Anya stood in front of me, trying toe closer, but her belly reached me first. It made her pout, but I justughed.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you like it, Joice.¡± I fixed her hair that was touching her cheek.


    ¡°I love everything, Cedric.¡± Her teary eyes were gazing at me. Ah¡­ I¡¯m weak to this. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± I took both her hands and kissed them gently. ¡°For me, you¡¯re the home Ie back to, Joice.¡±


    I spoke the truth. I don¡¯t care if people say I¡¯m too in love with my wife or whatever. Or even if they say I¡¯m still a younger¡¯ in this marriage and experiencing domestic life. Banana moments haven¡¯t arrived yet. Yeah, no problem, I don¡¯t mind.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    For me, this rtionship is worth fighting for and is at a stable point. Of course, there¡¯s no guarantee that our rtionship will always be smooth sailing. We often argue, well¡­ Anya isn¡¯t a foolish woman. Her logic is highly regarded, and I feel like she might have been created with a male-like setting. Her logic often outweighs her emotions. But when her heart gets touched, oh¡­ I¡¯d better apologize frequently. It¡¯s brutal.


    ¡°Getting more and more skilled with those sweet words, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Joice.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah.¡±


    I smirked. Anya¡¯s habit is always like this when she¡¯s praised or when she uses a slightly flirtatiousnguage, she always reacts like that. But actually, I rarely use flirty words because what I¡¯ve learned for a person like Anya, is actions. Assuring her that my heart will always be there for her. Strengthening her that I won¡¯t leave her. Giving her endless attention, understanding, affection, and above all¡­ love.


    Yes, so that Anya won¡¯t look anywhere else but at me. Like now. Her round eyes are gazing at me with happiness. Her lips curl into a smile that I always miss. Not to mention her bodynguage always wanting to be close to me.


    I ced a long kiss on her forehead. ¡°Are you happy with me, right?¡±


    What did I get in return? A little pinch on my waist! Oh my gosh! When does my wife ever stop teasing?


    ¡°If I¡¯m not happy with you, ever since you barged into my life without permission, I would have kicked you out a long time ago.¡±


    Now it¡¯s my turn to burst intoughter. I was half kneeling, and this time it¡¯s right on her pregnant belly. I caressed it gently, and like I did to her mother earlier, I gave it a long kiss, hoping that Baby inside can feel it.


    ¡°Daddy loves Baby. Thank you for being in Mama and Daddy¡¯s life.¡±


    Amazing! I¡¯m always surprised whenever Baby responds to my affectionate words! Inside there, he/she moves! So lively. When I looked up and locked eyes with Anya, my wife was beaming.


    ¡°Baby knows how to appreciate Daddy¡¯s love.¡±


    I was ted.


    ¡°What about Mommy?¡±


    The smile on her lips vanished. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel that I also love Daddy and Baby?¡±


    Once again, myughter resounded. Oh, goodness, who said I don¡¯t feel the same? I know that a certain Anya Joice has already fallen under my charm. Starting with her behavior, which is far from good, then she started softening even though I haven¡¯t told her my true identity yet. I¡¯m convinced that my name is already in her heart.


    Proof of that is, she still wouldn¡¯t let Kelvin or Dewa approach her. At that time.


    But then, I knew myughter wouldn¡¯tst. Because Anya was looking at me with a grimace that turned into a painful scream. I panicked!

 [56]

    ¡°Cedric, sit!¡±


    This time it was Dad giving the order. Automatically, my wandering and scattered thoughts flew back into my mind. I realized that I had been pacing back and forth anxiously in front of the operating room, so I finally followed Dad¡¯s words.


    Earlier, Krystal had told me to sit down. Mom did too. But I ignored them. Seriously. This is the most nerve-wracking thing that has ever happened in my life. Anya often said it was getting close to her due date. I myself had issued many warnings for her not to overwork herself and to start preparing.


    Mom had also be more talkative, but Anya¡­ oh my! I just found out that she could be so rxed facing the approachingbor day. She was just chill, still able to work from home and assist Krystal online. Or just have discussions with Dad about the office policies. I didn¡¯t want to get too involved because I was dealing with the opening of a branch in Kalimantan. Need to spread our wings, right?


    What Anya didn¡¯t prepare for was her due dateing two weeks early! She said the pain on the way to the hospital was incredibly intense. Although she didn¡¯t scream excessively, know that my hand turned red from her nails and grip. It wasn¡¯t as painful as what she was going through, I¡¯m sure of that.


    I didn¡¯t really understand the procedures for a woman giving birth. All I know is that Anya is now in the operating room. Struggling alone even though she¡¯s very scared of being alone. When the decision for this operation was made, she cried. Not because of pain or anything, but I¡¯m pretty sure it was more emotional than the physical pain she was enduring.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone,¡± she said before finally giving in as the doctor reassured her repeatedly and was surrounded by many people. She wouldn¡¯t be left alone like that. I wanted tough, but I couldn¡¯t. All I could do was kiss her forehead for a long time before the nurse pushed her stretcher into the operating room.


    It feels like my ordeal is more than just this. Seriously. I didn¡¯t pay much attention when they exined why Anya had to have surgery; what mattered most was that she got the fastest treatment. Especially now.


    The doctor said the surgical procedure would be done soon, but he came out with the nurse. He said Anya couldn¡¯t be given an epidural injection? I don¡¯t know. One thing¡¯s for sure, that¡¯s one of the injections used to numb the spinal cord so they can quickly perform a cesarean section. Inside, my wife couldn¡¯t rx at all, the doctor said, and that¡¯s why the injection had to be given.


    The most likely option is total anesthesia.


    ¡°Are there any risks, Doctor?¡± Dad asked, diverting my attentionpletely. I didn¡¯t even think about that.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    My heart felt like it dropped from its support.


    ¡°Because this is total anesthesia, both Anya¡¯s consciousness and the baby¡¯s will be affected by the medication. In a regr surgery, the baby remains conscious, not asleep like the mother. That¡¯s the basic idea. That¡¯s why Anya tried so hard to expedite the process with this total anesthesia.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else, Doctor?¡±


    ¡°Because the baby¡¯s condition follows the mother¡¯s, there¡¯s a possibility that the baby¡¯s cries and responses will be slowed down. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong, Sir, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    I felt weak.


    ¡°Do your best, Doctor. My daughter-inw and grandchild are inside. Anya is praying for a smooth operation. As a family, we trust that you¡¯ll do your best.¡±


    If Dad hadn¡¯t insisted oning along, my brain would have been nk, bombarded with questions by the doctor. I nced at Dad, who looked worried, unable to hide it in his facial expression. But he was amazing; he tried to stay calm. Not like me.


    I approached Dad who was sitting across from me. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡±


    The great man just smiled as he hugged me. ¡°Soon, my child will be a father. It¡¯s not easy, Cedric, not easy at all.¡±


    I started to understand that clearly. How to bnce Anya, whose ego level was very high from the start. Not to mention her reluctance to lose in any argument, acting as if she were superior. I understood why she could be like that. Not because I just loved her and let her have her way, no. It wasn¡¯t like that; I bnced Anya in a different way.


    Ipromised on many things first before reaching an agreement. She was right when she said she was hurt by the lies I had told. Turns out, she had already nned several aspects of our life if I only remained an ordinary OB worker.


    As she told her story, I felt incredibly lucky to have Anya. That¡¯s why I always let her express her desires first before adjusting and telling her if some of her ns seemed too far-fetched and not good. This way, she still had a lot of control, but with my persuasion. Actually, in this matter, I was the one who had more control.


    ¡°I learned from the expert, which is you, Dad.¡±


    Dad justughed. ¡°Anya is different, Cedric. She¡¯s a woman with principles, I can see that from the way she talks during discussions. She doesn¡¯t like being active at home like your mother. I know and understand that. It¡¯s not a problem for me as long as she can take care of herself, but my worry might not be unfounded.¡±


    I fell silent.


    ¡°What you have now is the fear of Anya. Just like your sister.¡±


    In the end, I chuckled softly. Dad was right.


    ¡°If Anya wants to work againter, don¡¯t stop her. Let her create with her abilities. She must already understand her priorities now.¡±


    ¡°I never stopped her, Dad. We¡¯ve talked about this a long time ago. It¡¯s Mom who still objects to it.¡±


    The smile on Dad¡¯s lips remained loyal. I waited for him to continue.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to exin to your mom so she understands your wife¡¯s wishes. I don¡¯t want Anya to be sulking, and then I can¡¯t y with my grandchild.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you said being a father is difficult. Especially when the wife works outside. You have to bnce it very well. Let her know that she might be overzealous outside. Your child and you should be her real priorities. Working for a wife and mother, if the husband can provide, is not an obligation. And never feel like just because your wife works, you¡¯re free from responsibilities. Wives really love to shop. Like your mother. If she likes buying flowers and bags, I don¡¯t know what Anya¡¯s preferences are. But I¡¯m sure about Krystal; she¡¯s into fashion, not makeup.¡±


    I grinned. I felt like Dad deliberately brought up this topic to ease the tension within me. And it worked; I started to rx. Mom wasforted by Krystal. I was truly grateful to be surrounded by them. Unbeknownst to me, the door that had been open, bringing in the news that made me tense, opened again. The doctor and a different nurse came in, carrying a crying baby.


    His voice made me shiver. I¡¯m a father now? I feel like crying right now.


    ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Cedric. Your son was born safely without any issues.¡±


    ¡°Praise God.¡± We approached together. Dad hugged me tightly. When the nurse gently handed this tiny baby to me, there are no words to describe how happy I was to be a father. His cries suddenly stopped, and his eyes looked directly at me.


    ¡°Hi, Baby. This is Daddy.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t get enough of looking at Baby¡¯s face, who had just entered the world. I was so incredibly happy. But that happiness disappeared quickly when one of the nurses came out with a panicked look on her face.


    ¡°Doctor, the patient¡¯s condition is dropping.¡±


    ***


    I didn¡¯t spend a single moment without holding her hand that was not attached to the IV. I remembered that throughout Baby¡¯s pregnancy, she had to get IV injections often. I briefly let go of that connection during lunchtime. Mom said I still had to take care of my health to avoid dropping while taking care of Anya.


    But this incident made me feel like I needed more support than just my parents. My God. Because it is only to Him that I pray so fervently not to separate us. To give me one more chance to improve myself as a son, husband, father, and responsible man. Especially in matters of religion.


    I still make many mistakes. I neglect so many things, especially my spiritual obligations to God. And again, I rarely remind Anya about this matter.


    When I heard the words from the nurse behind the doctor earlier, I swear, there was no greater desire than to see Anya immediately. But that was impossible. I had to restrain all the struggles of my ego and leave it to the doctor¡¯s treatment. I just hoped that time would pass quickly and I would receive good news.


    During the intervals, I always prayed to God that I would still be given a chance with Anya and our child. Don¡¯t separate us. I don¡¯t know how it feels to live without Anya. Baby needs her so much too.


    ¡°Joice, Baby is very healthy, ording to the doctor. So cute,¡± I said while stroking her weak hand.


    ¡°The doctor said¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t stop myself, and once again, I cried. This time, in front of her. Earlier, during my prostration, I released all the emotions I had bottled up. I knew my God heard my prayers. Maybe there were many things being considered to grant my request. What¡¯s clear is that if my hope is fulfilled, I want to change. Perhaps I see this as a big p about who I am in God¡¯s eyes. Maybe I¡¯ve been too arrogant. So, God gave me this to make me realize that I¡¯m nothing.


    ¡°I love you so much.¡± I kissed her hand again. This time, for a long time. Letting tears wet her fragile hand. The hand that prepares a cup of coffee and a simple breakfast every day. The hand that I always use to rub my chest because it¡¯s her favorite thing to do. The hand that helps me a lot every day, and without realizing it, I have be very dependent on it.


    ¡°Wake up, okay.¡± I sobbed quietly and the longer I sobbed, the louder it became. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me alone.¡±

 [57]

    Maybe Papa¡¯s, Mama¡¯s, and Krystal¡¯s prayers have been a great help to me. Oh, don¡¯t forget Anya¡¯s two closest friends who never miss any updates. Every day, both of theme just to check on Anya¡¯s progress and also to encourage me. Sometimes, they also take a quick look at Baby.


    It¡¯s been three days, and Anya is still faithfully sleeping. She doesn¡¯t want to wake up, huh? Meanwhile, I¡¯m feelingpletely restless. My only job every day is to sit by her side. Sometimes, I receive reports that I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ve done correctly or not. I leave everything to Daska, luckily this trustworthy person can be relied upon.


    I don¡¯t know what would happen to my caf¨¦ if it weren¡¯t for Daska.


    This situation seems to be affecting Krystal too. I got a report from Naomi that Krystal often gets angry for no apparent reason. Maybe she¡¯s also worried about Anya. So, she neglects checking all the reports, and when it¡¯s time to execute, something goes wrong. Krystal rarely tolerates mistakes, indeed.


    ¡°Anya, you look sofortable sleeping. Wake up, will you?¡± I gently hold her hand. Nothing has changed since the first time I entered this hospital room. Her eyes are still closed. All the medical devices are still attached to her. There¡¯s no significant sign of improvement. I don¡¯t know medical terms; I¡¯ll learn themter. All I need is for Anya to wake up. That¡¯s all.


    Last night, I read one of Anya¡¯s favorite novels. How did I know? She has this cute habit. For things that be her favorites, she¡¯ll have duplicates. Like this novel. One is neatly wrapped and in perfect condition, sitting on her bookshelf among her numerous other novels. When I bought the bookshelf, she said it wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    So, I prepared a special room in our new home. A reading room specifically for storing all of Anya¡¯s book collections, as well as mine. And in the future, it will grow with the addition of many books for Baby. I really hope Anya will be the one to choose reading materials for our child. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be excellent at it.


    Back to Anya¡¯s book. The ones she reads frequently tend to be a bit worn out, with lots of folds and scribbles indicating parts of the text she likes. Like the pink-marked page in the book ¡°Aroma Karsa.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather live a short life filled with love than be imprisoned.¡±


    But I don¡¯t want a short life filled with love. I want to spend more time with the person I love. The imprisonment mentioned must refer to something else. I don¡¯t quite understand because I only read a few early chapters and found these marked quotes.


    And there¡¯s Anya¡¯s neat handwriting below it.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    I don¡¯t feel imprisoned by Cedric¡¯s love. On the contrary, his love makes me feel like I can fly like a bird. Of course, when I¡¯m with him. I can¡¯t imagine living without Cedric. Yes¡­ I love him that much.


    P. S.: I hope he never finds out about this quote! It would be so embarrassing!


    I smiled slightly as I read that note. My love doesn¡¯t belong to me alone, right? My love also belongs to Anya. We belong to each other. I can¡¯t imagine being separated like this; it¡¯s just too much.


    ¡°Please wake up,¡± I said again, feeling weak once more. It¡¯s okay, though. I cry for the love in my heart. I deeply feel how much I hope for Anya to return the grasp of my hand as she usually does.


    I don¡¯t know which prayer was answered. Was it mine? Was it my family¡¯s prayers? Was it the religious gatherings that my mother organized at home to help her daughter-inw wake up soon? Ah¡­ I feel that God is truly good. He gives me many chances to embrace true love. The love for Him.


    Anya wakes up and returns the grasp of my hand. My heart races uncontrobly. And the first thing she says is, ¡°Were you crying?¡±


    ****


    Even though I still wanted to be with Anya, at least to tell her about everything that happened while she was unconscious, as well as the moments with Baby that seemed to miss being near her. But I was pushed away. As soon as I informed Papa, Mama, and Krystal that Anya had regained consciousness, they rushed to be with her. I know they all deeply miss and love Anya.


    To make matters more lively, the noisy duo is also present. They are now keeping Krystalpany while she enjoys a cup of coffee in a caf¨¦ near the hospital. Oh well, I¡¯ll step aside. It turns out that many people have been waiting for Anya to wake up. When her eyes opened, and the first person she saw was me, that was more than enough for me.


    It means I never had any intention of leaving her, not even a bit. I want to apany her for a lifetime, until the end of time.


    Well¡­ let it be. I¡¯ll just sit on the long sofa. Observing my dearest wife surrounded by sweetness, much like sugar. This happened after the doctor dered that she canmunicate well now. For me, that¡¯s a tremendous relief. I have no other desire than to see and witness Anya¡¯s consciousness.


    Thank God, I¡¯m so grateful.


    Perhaps due to exhaustion, I didn¡¯t even realize that I fell asleep on the sofa. It was Mama who woke me up. She said Anya needed me. I quickly approached. As our eyes met, I could clearly see the smile that I¡¯ve been longing for these past three days. Slowly, I took Anya¡¯s hand, which I usually hold and kiss, and touched her cheek. I sat beside her, feeling her presence so close to me.


    Even though she still looks pale, the glow of happiness is evident. Maybe it¡¯s because she has seen Baby and is surrounded by all the people who love her.


    ¡°I miss you,¡± I said as I kissed the palm of her hand.


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    ¡°I was afraid¡­ I was so scared that you-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here, Cedric.¡±


    Honestly, moments like this make me very emotional. Tears once again fell from my eyes.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you, just like you won¡¯t leave me. Right?¡±


    I nodded without hesitation. I kissed her hand without caring how many kisses I gave.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Let Baby¡¯s dad cry. I¡¯ll be the one acting like a baby. I¡¯ll be the one who¡¯s clingy. You have to be strong.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be strong if you¡¯re here.¡±


    Her pale lips curled into a smile at my words. But I was serious; that¡¯s how it truly is.


    ¡°My surgical wound is starting to hurt, it seems.¡±


    ¡°Be patient. I¡¯ve asked the doctors; it needs some adjustments,¡± I reassured her softly. The sparkle in her eyes that had been so bright started to dim. I became anxious. Why? ¡°Joice?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sad¡­ I can¡¯t breastfeed Baby. I¡¯ve been trying, but my condition is like this,¡± she said as tears suddenly fell.


    I kissed her forehead, using my thumb to wipe away the tears that came unexpectedly. Gently, I embraced her as shey there weakly. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out, okay? Maybe with therapy or something-I don¡¯t really know. We can consult with experts.¡± I looked into her eyes intensely. ¡°But one thing you must do for sure.¡±


    Her forehead slightly wrinkled.


    ¡°You need to get better first. Once you¡¯re healthy, we¡¯ll fight for breastfeeding, and I¡¯m sure we can do it.¡±


    ¡°How do you know so much?¡± she asked.


    I grinned. I didn¡¯t really know that much, actually. I just asked a few questions yesterday because Baby needed parental consent to be given form milk. They said breastfeeding was the best option. I asked further about Anya¡¯s condition when she wakes up, whether she can breastfeed Baby or what steps I need to take in the future. The nurses and doctors emphasized that breastfeeding was the best.


    I¡¯m a hundred percent sure that Anya would want what¡¯s best for Baby. She has collected and read books about parenting and baby care countless times. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s aware of all this.


    Maybe because I didn¡¯t immediately answer her question, she sighed softly. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty, Cedric. Can you get me some water?¡±


    I fetched the water and slowly gave it to Anya.


    ¡°Kiss me,¡± she said after her lips became moist from drinking. Her words shocked me!


    ¡°You, seriously. You know your wife has been sleeping for a long time, and you wake her up with a romantic kiss like in a storybook.¡±


    Can I burst outughing?


    ¡°Even though you can only say¡­ Joice, don¡¯t leave me. Don¡¯t go alone. Take me with you.¡± Her lips moved, even though they were stiff, but I knew she was teasing me. ¡°But there¡¯s no action behind it.¡±


    ¡°What kind of action do you want?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Kiss me!¡±


    Oh well, Anya was indeed created to be the sweetest temptation in my life. So, what can I do but indulge her?


    Unlike usual, I didn¡¯t hesitate to give her a passionate kiss. The kiss I gave her conveyed how grateful I was that I could still feel this sweetness being reciprocated. How God has been so good to both of us. I gently caressed the lips that I had just kissed. My gaze was fixed on her, not looking away.


    ¡°I¡¯m so grateful that you¡¯re back,¡± I whispered.


    She nodded softly.


    ¡°God has been so good to us, Na.¡±


    Again, she nodded, and tears welled up slowly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I haven¡¯t been a good husband in recognizing how merciful our God is, Anya.¡±


    ¡°I prayed, and my prayers were answered. I feel like such a failure as God¡¯s creation if I don¡¯t learn to be obedient,¡± she said, and I wiped away the traces of tears, even though I could feel her shoulders trembling as she held back sobs.


    ¡°We both learn to be better individuals, right?¡± I cupped her slightly pale face. ¡°Together. With Baby, who will grow up with us.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Cedric. I want that. Let¡¯s improve ourselves together.¡± She sobbed, and I could feel it because her eyes couldn¡¯t deceive me. ¡°I was so scared I wouldn¡¯t see you again. I was afraid I couldn¡¯t take good care of Baby. And¡­ God gave me the chance toe back.¡±


    I didn¡¯t care about all the exnations the doctors gave about Anya¡¯s condition during those three unconscious days. For me, the most important thing was that Anya was conscious now. That¡¯s it. That was more than enough for me to be incredibly grateful.


    ¡°In the darkness that enveloped me yesterday, the only voice I could hear was yours. Thank you, Cedric, for calling me continuously.¡±


    When we exchanged vows at the wedding yesterday, I was nervous, but not as dramatically as this. This moment truly made me believe that opportunities alwayse when least expected. Maybe only once, or maybe several times. It depends on the individual, whether they choose to seize the opportunity to change or ignore it as a passing breeze.


    If we both agree to head in the direction of self-improvement, we will achieve it together.

 [58]

    I¡¯m actually a bit puzzled by Anya¡¯s recent behavior. Let me tell you one thing. Sometimes, when taking care of Zain-our baby, Ruzain Alistar xton-I would have disagreements with my mother. But strangely, Anya would yield. With a genuine smile, she admits that she follows everything my mother says without any objection whatsoever.


    Anya listens to my mother¡¯s advice with sincerity, and she is open to receiving a lot of advice regarding the baby. Even though she ns to consult her doctor friends, she still gives my mother a lot of leeway when ites to taking care of Zain. Well¡­ maybe Anya realizes that Zain is showered with so much love, especially from my parents.


    However, I thought we were done with the issue of raising our child. Apparently not. There are times when my beautiful wife just stays silent while looking at Zain sleeping in his crib. She gazes at him with an empty look, and I don¡¯t know why. At first, I didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, but in the past two or three days, Anya¡¯s change in behavior has be too noticeable.


    ¡°Joice?¡± I approached her. I didn¡¯t just leave Anya to take care of Zain during his first month of adaptation. It¡¯s not easy, but fortunately, Zain doesn¡¯t keep us up at night. If not, it would be like World War III. Anya must be exhausted from taking care of Zain all day. If she doesn¡¯t get enough rest, I would feel guilty.


    Even though we have a babysitter who helps Anya, it seems like Anya is totally devoted to Zain. Zain only wants to be held by his mother or me. Otherwise, he won¡¯t have it. He¡¯s even picky with me if I¡¯m with him for too long. He won¡¯t let me carry him. Zain is quite selective, even though his father loves him dearly.


    I don¡¯t need to spend a lot of time outside the house taking care of the caf¨¦. I can still keep an eye on things and manage it as it is. Daska is truly reliable. I felt Anya closing her eyes, sensing my touch on her smooth cheek. I aligned myself with her sitting position, then gently persuaded her to lean on me. ¡°Has Zain been sleeping for long?¡±


    ¡°Not too long. He just finished breastfeeding too.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you rest. Taking care of Zain since morning must have tired you out.¡±


    She chuckled instead. ¡°I¡¯m tired, but it¡¯s fun, you know?¡±


    What confuses me and raises many questions is that her smile slowly disappears. From the corner of my eye, I could see how her face turned mncholic. I hate it when Anya is like this. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    I heard her take a soft breath. ¡°Mom loves me and Zain so much.¡±


    That¡¯s true.


    ¡°I feel so lucky to be in this family,¡± she said, and I gently stroked her head while giving her a quick kiss. ¡°Then why do you look sad?¡± I asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s a point where I feel really alone,¡± she raised her index finger to signal that she didn¡¯t want to be interrupted. She knew I would try to interject. Where does this kind of thinkinge from? I¡¯m here for Anya. I¡¯m always by her side. But I do know that there has been significant progress in Anya since I married her. She has learned a lot about expressing her feelings to me. That¡¯s not easy. I need to appreciate her bravery in doing that.


    Isn¡¯tmunication the most crucial aspect of marriage? If we hide one or two things, how can we be in sync? I emphasized this to Anya. Indeed, I don¡¯t ask for this and that. I love Anya as she is. Changing her would mean changing the things I love and find endearing about her.


    ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t be thinking like this right now. But you should also know and realize that I¡¯m a person who misses my mother being here. Or my father. Watching our child grow day by day. Even though questions like ¡®why¡¯ and ¡®what did I do wrong¡¯ are constantly spinning in my head without finding an answer.¡±


    I hugged Anya uncontrobly. I¡¯ve learned to understand this aspect very well. Anya appears strong, but she¡¯s not. I myself don¡¯t know how I would be if my mother left me. Especially Anya, who was left when she was still a child. Not long after, her father also left just like that. It¡¯s reasonable for this trauma to leave such a deep mark on her heart.


    ¡°Does it bother you?¡± she nodded softly within my embrace. ¡°Maybe because earlier, you seemed a bit annoyed that you couldn¡¯t hold Zain the way my mother wanted. So, it made you feel ufortable.¡±


    Ah¡­ when she talks like this, I¡¯m actually really happy. Even though there might still be things Anya is keeping to herself, at least she¡¯s willing to talk. It makes me feel dependable, you know?


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to my mother, alright?¡±


    She momentarily pulled away from the hug I gave her, looking up at me and shaking her head without hesitation. ¡°No need. Maybe your mother said that because she loves Zain so much. She¡¯s worried something might happen to him.¡±


    I smiled.


    ¡°But maybe it¡¯s just that when my sensitive side res up, I remember everything.¡±


    I lifted her chin so she would look at me because earlier she just kept her head down. I don¡¯t like it when she pays more attention to the carpet than to her handsome husband. I¡¯m serious; Anya said I¡¯m handsome.


    ¡°Where is the confident Anya I know, who could hold her head high with pride?¡± I teased.


    She smirked. ¡°This is a different matter. Zain is not a business affair.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate yourself. You¡¯re so dedicated to Zain. It¡¯s okay to feel sad because of what my mother said. It¡¯s good; it means you have emotions. If youpletely ignore my mother¡¯s words, I¡¯d be worried, Joice.¡±


    Her forehead furrowed. It was so adorable. I gently smoothed it out to prevent her from furrowing her brows. It was like a messy nket in the morning.


    ¡°Emotions thate out because you don¡¯t ept something are better than keeping them buried inside. There¡¯s a time to keep them, and there¡¯s a time to let them out. It¡¯s like information about someone¡¯s mistakes to drive them to be better. Should something like that be kept hidden? I¡¯m sure you know the answer to that.¡±


    I stole a kiss on her forehead first. I love having conversations like this with Anya, in this kind of situation and position. Feeling like she needs me so much. Feeling like I am her true support. And¡­ it shows that I can be relied upon by my wife. That¡¯s a source of pride for me!


    ¡°Nah, just like you right now. It¡¯s better to let it out than to keep it buried. Dangerous. If you don¡¯t like someone and you have to live together, it¡¯s not good. For example, you and my mother. You and my father. Or you and Krystal. Or simply put, you and me. What will happen in the future if you keep piling up things you don¡¯t like about me? It will turn into a big pile of trash. And¡­ BOOM!¡± I joked.


    ¡°What do you mean, boom?¡±


    Myughter escaped, even though it was soft. ¡°I mean, it might be a trigger for longsting arguments. Days might go by, and every time one issue is brought up, it leads to bringing up another. We shouldn¡¯t let that happen. If there are unresolved issues, let¡¯s solve them together.¡±


    Anya gazed at me intensely, and I felt a bit awkward.


    ¡°When we talk like this, I feel like you¡¯re so mature.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness you said mature and not old.¡±


    She chuckled. ¡°I meant mature, not old.¡±


    It was her turn tough. Herughter was what I wanted to hear ¨C light, carefree, and it seemed like her sadness was fading away.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t experienced the same things as you. I know that losing someone is never simple. That¡¯s why I¡¯m d you talk to me like this, Joice. It means you consider me being by your side.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my husband, after all. What else?¡±


    I continued to smile. Her lips, I swear, have moved at least five centimeters forward. ¡°Initially, it wasn¡¯t like that. I was pushed away all the time.¡±


    Her lips pouted.


    ¡°Come here.¡± I pulled her closer and into my embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t go far away. I can¡¯t stand being apart from you.¡±


    She pinched my stomach. ¡°Exaggerating.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always said that to me. But I¡¯m just being honest.¡± I gently stroked her head. The scent of her shampoo was still the same. Everything about Anya hasn¡¯t changed. The only difference is that she¡¯s plumper now. She also protested about this and that. I just let her be. In the end, she herself will say, ¡°Oh, I forgot I¡¯m breastfeeding Zain. I need to eat more.¡±


    That¡¯s just how Anya is.


    As her breathing became regr, and her yfulness subsided, I noticed she was getting tired. So since she was back in my embrace, her fingers were, as usual, caressing my chest, which she seemed to like. Even though she knew it could tempt me. I saw that my wife was falling asleep. Deeply asleep. She must be exhausted.


    I slowly adjusted her sleeping position to make her morefortable. I covered her with the nket so she wouldn¡¯t get too cold. Her nightgown was slightly open at the chest, almost teasing me outright. But no, for that one thing, I¡¯ll wait until we¡¯repletely ready. It¡¯s not a problem.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    I saw the mark from her surgery; it looked scary! But it¡¯s proof of Anya¡¯s fight for Zain and me. I won¡¯t rush anything. The doctor said it might look healed on the outside; dried and neatly stitched with only a thin scar. But what about the inside? That¡¯s uncertain. And sexual activities put some pressure on her stomach. I need to be careful, right?


    As I was about to leave Anya to change my clothes, her forehead furrowed. ¡°Mom, I miss you.¡±


    Oh God, that must feel terrible. I¡¯m going to talk to my mother about what happened earlier, and¡­ it seems like I have to do something.


    I grabbed my phone and immediately sent a message to Daska.


    Cedric: I sent my wife¡¯s profile. Find out about her parents. Keep searching until you meet them. Also, get thest contact information regarding her sibling in Beverly Hills. How long will it take? But the oue must be positive. Understood?

 [59] a

    One yearter.


    Zain has grown into such an adorable baby! He¡¯s incredibly cute. Every time Ie home from checking the caf¨¦, my main destination is always Zain. I often have to park at the main house because Zain is usually being held captive by Mom and Dad.


    No problem. Anya works as usual. She took a three-month maternity leave, and I made sure to request from Krystal, my dear sister, not to make Anya work overtime. Krystal justughed evilly. I was so annoyed that I ended up giving away one of my hard-to-find yellow Vespa collections, and I had to meet the collector in Canada.


    Damn you, Krystal.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to work with my beloved little sister,¡± she said after I handed her the keys to my one and only dearest sister.


    When I told Anya about this, she burst intoughter. She said she willingly fell for Krystal xton¡¯s threats. Before I negotiated with Krystal, Anya¡¯s boss (aka my sister) already told her not to join meetings or work overtime. She should focus on her work at the office and take care of Krystal¡¯s needs that could be handled at her desk.


    To stay focused on breastfeeding and learn how to be mobile with Krystal.


    I was dumbfounded.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t be too naive,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this because I care so much about you, Joice.¡±


    I wasughed at. It made me imitate her steps into the bathroom. She had just returned from work. She came home with Krystal because it was Friday. It was their usual routine for Krystal to stay until Sunday. She said she missed Zain. I wanted to tell her to have her own baby if she missed him so much, but I didn¡¯t have the heart to say it.


    I¡¯ve already mentioned that everything that happened between Anya and me started because of her, right? She¡¯s the one who seduced me. But I don¡¯t me her. I just ept that I was tempted by a woman as beautiful and sexy as Anya. Seriously.


    Like right now.


    She slowly unbuttoned her shirt, knowing I was watching. It fell gracefully, almost like a slow-motion scene in a movie, revealing her beautiful back. Her hair was now ck, still long, and her body still had a nice shape. Even from behind, she looked so alluring.


    One of the many parts of my wife¡¯s body that drives me crazy is the nape of her neck. It¡¯s smooth and alluring. So when I closed the distance between us, I lifted her hair gently in one hand and ced a couple of kisses on her neck, leading to her nape. I could feel her letting out a soft moan. Don¡¯t tease your husband, Joice!C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. I feel hot and sticky, Cedric.¡±


    Her voice was so adorable. As she turned around, the front of her body was still d in a tempting pink bra that highlighted her assets. But I remembered, that bra now belonged to Zain, not me. So I¡¯ll just be an appreciative observer.


    When I first had sex with Anya, she didn¡¯t wear any essories on her neck. Now she does. A thin ne with a pendant of my initials,plete with sparkling Swarovski, which I specially ordered as a gift. Because she came back to me after being unconscious for three days. Because she took good care of Baby during her pregnancy. Also, I think it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve given Anya a gift in our entire rtionship.


    My initials are right on her chest. I grinned.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you must have some naughty thoughts about it,¡± she said.


    I chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be naughty with your wife, Joice.¡±


    I already know, don¡¯t I? Anya is the sweetest temptress in my life. I don¡¯t know why, but the way she lowers her skirt seems intentional. Her hips move as seductively as possible, and her eyes asionally wink yfully at me.


    ¡°Who¡¯s stopping you?¡± I hold her hips after the skirt falls. She¡¯s left only in her matching bra and panties, which look striking against her fair skin. Thebination of beauty and sexiness weakens mepletely.


    ¡°You¡¯ve touched me before,¡± she says while wrapping her arms around my neck. ¡°Now, I want you to bathe me.¡±


    ¡°Two hours, okay?¡±


    She nods with a mysterious smile.


    ¡°But before that, I¡¯m actually not confident being naked in front of you.¡±


    I¡¯m confused why she suddenlycks confidence. Her body looks amazing to me. I notice Anya pointing at her surgical scar, which seems to bother her. But I don¡¯t think anything of it.


    ¡°Joice, please. Don¡¯t be like that. In fact, remembering this scar makes me love and care for you even more. It¡¯s proof that you didn¡¯t ignore both of us. You epted both of us.¡±


    Her eyes still look sad. ¡°But it¡¯s not sexy anymore, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re always sexy. Even just being like this drives me crazy.¡±


    She pouts. ¡°You¡¯re just a pervert, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Just for you, Joice.¡±


    ¡°But this is the present. What guarantees will there be in the future?¡±


    I chuckle. Typical Anya. Sometimes she¡¯s still negative. ¡°This is not just sweet talk. You¡¯re always so skeptical of my words. It seems like you only consider them as passing words.¡±


    Anya looks at me, waiting for me to continue talking.


    ¡°Since the first time we met, you¡¯ve had control over me. It¡¯s not just because of the circumstances. And the universe sent one extraordinary event for both of us, it felt¡­ insane! That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been fighting to prove that I am indeed worthy of your love. Just like how I love you so much, Joice. No matter your past. It doesn¡¯t matter how your body will change in the future. Because what I love is you. Anya Joice. My wife.¡±


    Slowly, her cheeks turn red. Anya rarely blushes from sweet words. She¡¯s the type of woman who prefers actions over words. I¡¯ve proven that myself, you know.


    ¡°Now, do you want me to bathe you or do you want to do something else first?¡±


    Sheughs, but the distance between us narrows. ¡°Whatever you like, Cedric.¡±


    Got the approval, right? In one swift move, my fingers slipped into her pants, touching the part of my wife that I adore the most, making her widen her eyes and groan in frustration.


    ****


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± She asks impatiently. We have just entered the highway out of town. I didn¡¯t say where we¡¯re heading, just that we¡¯re going out of town and staying for two or three days.


    Zain¡¯s breast milk stock is safe. One whole freezer full. Anya is used to pumping ording to her schedule, and it doesn¡¯t change just because we¡¯re going away. At the vi, there will be a fridge that can be used as a temporary storage. She¡¯s really concerned about this. She wants to make sure nothing is missed because, for her, it¡¯s essential. I just go along with it. I don¡¯t understand much about it, and the exnations don¡¯t really stick.


    If I think about it, Anya sacrifices more for Zain than I do. At night, when Zain is thirsty, Anya wakes up. She sits half-reclined to breastfeed Zain and then goes back to sleep after he¡¯s full and asleep. In the morning, she prepares breakfast for me before I leave. While I¡¯m solely looking for the money.


    ¡°Cedric,¡± she calls me again. I just turn and smile, messing up her hair yfully. For this asion, I¡¯m driving. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not brave enough to drive alone, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s going to be very emotional.


    I don¡¯t want my concentration to be affected by what will happenter. Beforehand, I checked if this thing Daska brought is true or not. I won¡¯t reveal anything until I¡¯m sure about it.


    It takes about four hours since we left home. I asked for and honestly told my parents about it. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d hide this matter. My mother fully supports my decision while my father reminded me to be careful. I have their blessings. I said goodbye with questioning looks from Anya, but I tried to ignore them.


    I¡¯ll wait for the right moment to tell her everything.


    Along the way, we talked about things I could divert Anya¡¯s pressing questions. Thankfully, she doesn¡¯t make it too hard for me to find many topics to discuss. When ites to Zain, Anya forgets that there are plenty of other things we can talk about. But as soon as the car enters the cemetery area, Anya¡¯s words fall silent.


    ¡°Where are we, Cedric?¡±


    I take a slow breath and exhale gently. ¡°I want to take you to meet someone.¡±


    Her forehead furrowed. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Your mother.¡±


    A smile, a blush on her face, and her eyes showing many emotions.


    ¡°I hope you listen to the story I¡¯ve gathered wisely.¡±


    She shakes her head slowly.


    ¡°Can you, Joice?¡±

 [59] b

    She remains silent. Her eyes gaze at me intensely. I take both of her hands, holding them tightly, making sure she doesn¡¯t feel alone anymore. ¡°Before we get out of the car and meet your mother, there¡¯s something you need to know first.¡±


    Then I tell her in detail about my search that I didn¡¯t inform her about beforehand. I told her that waiting for her to find answers where she wasn¡¯t making any effort to search would only haunt her with questions like ¡®why¡¯ and ¡®whose fault is it,¡¯ and I didn¡¯t want that.


    So, I decided to find out about the whereabouts of her parents. Even though Anya said that Nek Sumi never informed her about her parents¡¯ condition, I didn¡¯t believe it. The pressure that Daska put on Anya¡¯s uncle, who became her legal guardian ¨C which also required a significant financial bribe ¨C yielded results. But I didn¡¯t mind.


    Finally, the uncle told the truth about the situation. I drew a big conclusion that Anya¡¯s mother, whom I found out was named Fiona Oliver, had an affair with another man. Just like Anya said when her father left for thest time. It was also what Mrs. Sumi told her. This revtion shocked her father. His love, the affection he had given, made Anya¡¯s father lose control. He did the same thing as his wife. He left, leaving a young Anya drowning in sadness and immense loss. When I heard this story, I felt so sorry. Love shouldn¡¯t leave someone behind. If you no longer match or find it more enjoyable with someone else, then let go. No need to make the child the victim.


    And I hate that the child was my wife, who was now looking at me with tearful eyes. My heart ached so much. I felt what Anya felt. Even my hug couldn¡¯t stop her tears.


    ¡°Your mother lived with her lover. It onlysted for fifteen years, Joice. She also has a child. I got the detailed information from that child. You could say that she¡¯s like a sister to you.¡±


    Anya wiped her damp face roughly. ¡°Then where is she now?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out, okay? Do you want to greet her directly?¡± I extended my hand for her to hold again. I knew she was a little hesitant when giving me her hand, but I made sure she wouldn¡¯t feel alone facing this.


    I led Anya to one of the rather old graves. Only given a boundary of concrete, it was already cracked here and there. The name Fiona Oliver was written but had started to fade. Maybe it was rarely visited or something, I don¡¯t know. What¡¯s clear is that the grave I was heading for was in a corner a bit far from the others.


    The corner of my eye kept ncing at Anya, who fell silent as she gazed at her mother¡¯s grave. There were no tears like before; her eyes were fixed on the tombstone.


    ¡°So¡­ my mother is already dead, huh?¡± Her voice was filled with immense pain.


    I didn¡¯t respond. It was heartbreaking to hear her pain.


    ¡°I often considered my mother dead, Cedric. Seriously. It seems like my prayers have been answered by God.¡±


    There was nothing I could do but give her a tight embrace while gently rubbing her shoulder. ¡°If you want to cry again, it¡¯s okay, Joice. I¡¯m here.¡±


    She smiled faintly. ¡°I cry not because of her existence, Cedric. All this time, whenever I think of my mother, the question of why, which I¡¯ve never found an answer to, alwayses to mind. I¡¯m her child, right? Why did she leave me?¡±


    I chose to wait for her to continue speaking.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If my mother is indeed dead, so be it. I don¡¯t mind. In my heart, she¡¯s already dead.¡±


    I never med her for any decision, even if it was wrong.


    ¡°But I realize, just like you said earlier. If I keep burying these feelings, there wille a time when I¡¯ll question again, ¡®why was I abandoned?¡¯ Right?¡±


    I released the hug slowly. Then Anya moved closer and knelt before the grave. Her graceful fingers gently caressed the namete. Her eyes began to well up with tears. I felt that this was the moment she was letting go of everything that troubled her regarding the meaning of her mother in her life.


    ¡°Anya is here, Mom. Unfortunately, we can¡¯t meet face to face, but Anya believes that you can hear her voice, right?¡±


    The rustling of the wind mixing with the leaves apanied the silence between us.


    ¡°However, it may be, Anya is grateful to have been born by you. Anya is strong, Mom.¡±


    Her shoulders started to tremble, and I moved closer to her.


    ¡°Anya believes that you have your own reasons for leaving her. Hopefully, it¡¯s not because you didn¡¯t love Anya, as I feared.¡±


    We were interrupted by approaching footsteps, and when we turned, a young man I had met before appeared. He smiled awkwardly as he saw me and Anya.


    ¡°You must be¡­ Sis Anya, right?¡±


    Anya frowned, rising slowly while holding my hand. She might have been a bit nervous because he had a somewhat intimidating appearance. Tattoos covered his right hand, and piercings were visible all over his body. He had a muscr build, like a typical gangster.


    ¡°I¡¯m Jacob. Fiona¡¯s son. And I suppose, Sis Anya, you are my half-sister from the same mother, right?¡±


    Despite his tough appearance, when I first spoke with Jacob, I knew he wasn¡¯t just an ordinary person. Intimidation was evident in the way he carried himself.


    ¡°Are you the result of my mother¡¯s affair?¡±


    This is what I was a bit afraid of. I already warned Jacob beforehand. My wife has a sharp tongue when she speaks, but luckily, he understood the situation.


    ¡°Can we sit down first? Maybe at a coffee shop? I¡¯m sure you and your husband must be tired from the long journey here.¡±


    I nced at Anya, who seemed to consider the offer. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Joice. Let¡¯s hear Jacob¡¯s exnation.¡±


    Finally, we agreed to talk at a nearby restaurant not far from the cemetery. On the way there, Anya didn¡¯t say a word. I told my driver to follow Jacob¡¯s old motorcycle, which didn¡¯t match hisrge build.


    ¡°So, what do you want to say?¡± Although Anya had just sat down, she hadn¡¯t even touched her strawberry juice. Jacob didn¡¯t seem bothered by Anya¡¯s provocation. He began telling his story. It started with the meeting between Fiona and Ryder, Jacob¡¯s father. ording to Jacob, Ryder was supposed to marry Fiona, but due to financial pressures and Robert¡¯s cunning maniption, Fiona gave up on the idea.


    However, Fiona¡¯s love for Ryder never truly died. Anya was born without love between them, but it didn¡¯t make her mother cruel. Anya didn¡¯t object to that part. Jacob added that living with Robert was filled with pressure, even though his mother was good. I assumed he referred to Nek Sumi. Whenever there was a w, Ryder waited for Fiona, but they eventually ran away. It was after a fierce confrontation that Anya probably didn¡¯t know about.


    Their divorce was simple. Fiona¡¯s second marriage to Ryder was only witnessed by a few people. The divorce from Robert wasn¡¯t easy, considering Robert¡¯s over-possessive nature. Hurt by Fiona¡¯s remarriage, Robert became enraged. He repeatedly attacked Ryder and Fiona¡¯s residence, forcing them to move as far away from Robert as possible. This left Anya, whom Fiona found hard to leave.


    Jacob said that since he learned and understood his mother¡¯s story, Anya¡¯s name was the only one mentioned. Her sister who lived in Beverly Hills, probably with their grandmother or father, was unknown to Fiona. The way his mother praised Anya and spoke about her efforts to take Anya back from her former inws was remarkable. However, Nek Sumi never wanted to hand Anya over so easily.


    Fiona buried her sorrow and even though Jacob said his father knew about it, he himself was powerless. Since living in SunCity, they were no longer bothered by Robert¡¯s presence until one day, out of nowhere, Robert appeared in front of the peaceful home Jacob had with his mother.


    He brandished a machete with a fierce look. Screaming like a madman, especially when he saw his mother hysterically terrified, Robert became even more ferocious. Ryder tried to protect Fiona and Jacob. Young Jacob vividly remembered how Ryder fell, drenched in blood at the hands of the cruel Robert.


    Jacob got angry, shouting and cursing, but his mother ignored him. Jacob said his mother ran as fast as she could with him. He got injured by shards of ss and thorns, but they were left behind because they lived near the forest, quite far from the residential area. When help arrived, Jacob felt that it was already toote.


    Jacob didn¡¯t know what happened between Robert and the police. What he knew was that his life was now just with his mother. Losing Ryder was what made his mother frail and sumb to illness. Three yearster, she followed Ryder to the same realm.


    ¡°What about my father? Do you know now?¡±


    Jacob grinned. ¡°Yeah, I know now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if your story is true or just a cheesy drama-filled tale. What I want to know now is about my father,¡± Anya said.


    ¡°If only Mom hadn¡¯t mentioned how much she regretted leaving her pride and joy, Anya Joice, with a despicable man like Robert, maybe I wouldn¡¯t be willing to share this story,¡± Jacob replied.


    Anya¡¯s lips lifted slightly. I admired her. Despite Jacob¡¯s attempts to pressurize her, it didn¡¯t affect her at all. When I first met Jacob, he even pulled out a folding knife. But I didn¡¯t like violence, so I managed to talk things out calmly, and this time, I brought someone who could make Jacob wary.

 [59] c

    I gathered this information with a lot of protection. ¡°Do you want to meet your father now, Joice?¡± I asked. My beautiful wife nodded, and Jacob hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, but don¡¯t regret it if what I say is true.¡± Jacob stood up as if he wanted us to follow him. Anya nodded quietly, as if she didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. There was no point in backing down now. I¡¯m sure Anya¡¯s mind was filled with questions and mysteries about her parents, and now they might finally be answered.


    During our search yesterday, we only got to meet Jacob, as he promised to show us the whereabouts of my wife¡¯s father. This might be the evidence we were looking for, I hoped. But as a precaution, I asked Daska not to stray too far from us. If something happened, at least Daska could react quickly.


    As we followed Jacob, again, we didn¡¯t speak a word. Anya chose to remain silent, but her grip on my hand never loosened. In fact, it felt even tighter. I knew she must be really nervous, especially when the car turned into an old building. The sign read ¡°Long Ind Mental Hospital.¡±


    I could sense that Anya felt just as surprised as I did. When we got out of the car, I scanned my surroundings. It seemed safe and a bit deserted. I saw a few people in uniforms moving around the corridor in the building across from us.


    ¡°Why are we here?¡± Anya asked.


    Jacob chuckled. ¡°Robert is here, Anya. You can find out his whereabouts.¡±


    We exchanged nces, unsure of what to do.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait here. You can ask the receptionist and his therapist, if possible. Ask them about the exact reasons why he¡¯s here.¡±


    Anya gave Jacob a disapproving look, and he responded with a shrug. I was sure that if this weren¡¯t a public ce, Anya would have confronted Jacob.


    ¡°If I go in, Robert¡¯s life won¡¯t be safe,¡± Anya¡¯s fists clenched. Before it was toote, I stood in her way as she marched towards Jacob. I didn¡¯t mind if she wanted to hit Jacob; the guy was a bit rude. But seeing her like this, I had to be the neutral one. I spoke gently, ¡°Let¡¯s just go inside. Leave Jacob be.¡±


    I could hear the frustration in my wife¡¯s growl. She looked like an angry lioness ready to pounce on her prey. Her eyes red at me, upset that I held her back. But when I signaled her to be patient, she pouted.


    Anya¡¯s steps were impatient as she headed towards the building. I followed her a bit hurriedly. Armed only with Robert¡¯s name, I felt a bit doubtful, but hopefully, this was the right way. What I never expected was that Anya¡¯s father would be in this ce.


    Our meeting was somewhat restricted. There was an elderly male patient with the exact same symptoms we had just heard, surrounding him. It included Anya¡¯s story about not fully believing that her father was used of being a murderer. But it turned out that it was true.


    Although the nurses and hospital staff were skeptical-Robert had spent more than a decade in this mental hospital, and not a single family member visited him. I don¡¯t know why. When all the documents were presented to Anya, my wife read them with trembling hands. This included police investigation files and a certificate from the hospital stating that Robert showed signs of mental disturbance. He could be calm andmunicative at times, but his thoughts were fixated on one person, Fiona Oliver, Anya¡¯s mother. I couldn¡¯t understand mental issues centered around love. What I understood was that love shouldplement each other, not dominate.


    Perhaps Robert¡¯s eptance of his fate was one of the triggers for his condition. Physically, the attending doctor said he was healthy, no serious illnesses. But mentally, he was disturbed. Everything that Jacob had told us turned out to be true. It left my wife speechless after reading all the documents presented earlier.


    ¡°Would you like to visit Mr. Robert, Anya?¡± one of the nurses offered.


    Anya looked up, her eyes teary as she gazed at me. There was nothing else I wanted more than to strengthen her heart. I nodded softly, giving her space, and I trusted that the nurse apanying her would take good care of my wife during the meeting with her father.


    I waited for quite a while, probably because of my worries, and it felt like an eternity. When I checked, it had only been thirty minutes since Anya disappeared behind the building¡¯s corridor. There was nothing I could hope for other than for Anya to feel more at ease after knowing everything about her parents.


    Less than five minutester, Anya emerged. I could clearly see that her eyes were slightly swollen. I was sure their meeting had made her cry. That was okay. It was better than keeping it all bottled up inside for too long.


    After expressing many thanks for the information and for arranging the meeting with Mr. Robert, we said our goodbyes. As we walked, Anya suddenly leaned on me.


    ¡°My life is so full of drama, isn¡¯t it?¡± Her soft words were filled with sadness. I hugged Anya and nted a quick kiss on her head. Regardless of her past, I didn¡¯t care. All I cared about was Anya. Besides, my own parents didn¡¯t mind. Someone¡¯s past might be rted to their personality, but it didn¡¯t mean they deserved unfair judgment.


    Anya¡¯s biological parents yed a small role in shaping her personality. She received most of her upbringing from Nek Sumi, right? I often heard her talk about how much her grandmother loved her. Maybe this was also a form of Mrs. Sumi¡¯s love for Anya, to keep her from knowing the truth about her parents.


    Jacob was still there, loyal as ever. Sitting on his motorcycle while smoking. When he saw meing out with Anya, he flicked away the cigarette butt and looked like he was waiting for something. I guess he wanted to say, ¡°My story is confirmed, right?¡± But he didn¡¯t say anything. Maybe he already had the answer he was looking for.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Anya now stood in front of Jacob. I could tell her heart was in turmoil.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anything, Anya.¡± Jacob say.


    We remained silent, savoring the moment.


    ¡°Since Mom passed away with one message, I finally realized that we are the same.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    From the corner of my eye, I saw Anya looking at Jacob without hesitation. Her eyes welled up with tears again.


    ¡°You were left by Mom and Robert without knowing why. Mom tried so hard to take you, but she was blocked. There are times when I feel grateful for experiencing a mother¡¯s love longer than you. Mom instilled in me how lucky she was to have you. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t bring myself to hate you even though you¡¯re Robert¡¯s child. But at the same time, you¡¯re also Mom¡¯s child. You¡¯re my sibling.¡±


    Anya approached Jacob. Although still within my reach, I had to remain cautious.


    ¡°I¡¯m grateful to meet you, even though Mom told me to find you, I waszy. The pain in my heart is still strong.¡±


    Anya just nodded softly.


    ¡°Mom told me about you, without any photos, without any of your favorite clothes or anything that she could bring. I thought you would resemble Robert¡­ but you don¡¯t.¡±


    Jacob himself moved closer to my wife.


    ¡°You look so much like Mom, sis. So much.¡± Tears streamed down Jacob¡¯s face. His sobbing made me suddenly feel sad. I knew Anya had been crying before.


    ¡°Can I, Anya? Can I hug you? I¡¯ve missed Mom so much.¡±

 [60] a

    Two weeks have passed since we found out about Anya¡¯s parents¡¯ past. I always told her that knowing this, there¡¯s no need to overthink or fix anything. It¡¯s enough, and there¡¯s nothing to be fixed, except maybe the rtionship between Jacob and Anya.


    They both are wounded. Two siblings who should have grown up together, experiencing a fun childhood. But reality wasn¡¯t like that, right?


    I¡¯m impressed with the way Anya handled herself in front of Jacob. I also feel that Jacob might have let go of his grudge a long time ago, as there¡¯s nothing, he can do now but ept the fate before him.


    Anya took the initiative to refurbish the graves to make them more presentable, for her mother and also for Mr. Ryder. As for her father, Anya is trying to ensure he gets the best care possible. If being there can make Mr. Robert feel better, Anya doesn¡¯t mind visiting him asionally. She also visits her mother¡¯s grave at the same time.


    Jacob, on the other hand, continues his life in SunCity, doing odd jobs as he did before meeting Anya. He refuses Anya¡¯s help, thinking he doesn¡¯t need it, but Anya insists. I also eventually force Jacob to ept it. After all, it¡¯s just a motorbike that Jacob can use to work as aborer in the nearby market. His appearance may resemble that of a market thug, as besides being a porter, Oliver Jacob is known as someone to be feared.


    ¡°My motorbike looks good, Anya,¡± Jacob chuckled as he received the keys from Anya, along with the vehicle ownership papers.


    ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll take care of it. And visit Mom¡¯s grave too.¡±


    Jacob gave her a thumbs up.


    ¡°If you can,e to the house. Meet Zain.¡±


    Jacob¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. I personally didn¡¯t believe what Anya said at that moment. But when I saw her confident smile, I knew that maybe Anya had embraced the concept of eptance. It¡¯s not easy to be my wife, I¡¯m pretty sure of that.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±


    ¡°No one will ever drive you away,¡± Anya patted Jacob¡¯s shoulder gently, making his eyes that were once downcast now look up and gaze at my wife. ¡°You¡¯re my little brother.¡±


    Once again, I saw them hugging. It felt a bit unusual to me since I only got to know Jacob recently. But that status can¡¯t be denied, right? Jacob truly is Anya¡¯s little brother, with contrasting skin tones ¨C one as fair as milk, the other sun-kissed brown.


    Now, I can see Anya more alive, more cheerful. And¡­ determined? I don¡¯t know, but I can feel many changes since that day. I¡¯m truly grateful for everything.


    I remember, throughout our marriage, we¡¯ve never had a honeymoon session. It seems like this is the perfect moment to invite Anya for a vacation. I hope her spirits will be even higher, and that she can continue to be happy by my side.


    ¡°Cedric, are you serious?¡± she asked while holding the envelope I gave her. We had just returned from Anya¡¯s office. As usual, she took a bath first when she got back from work. Usually, she takes her time, but ever since Zain came, she spends no more than fifteen minutes in the bathroom. Instead, she spends her time ying with Zain in the main house.


    While I was enjoying a cup of coffee she made, I turned to her. Her tired expression was reced with a sweet and gentle smile. It seems like Anya is bing less stern and brusque. The scent of her shampoo and perfume starts to tickle me.


    ¡°What¡¯s serious?¡± I said, surprised. Now that she¡¯s not being stern and brusque, I feel a bit flustered. Out of the blue, Anya sits on myp without asking for permission or anything. Fortunately, I¡¯m always prepared for her sudden moves like this. If not, Junior down there could get hurt.


    ¡°We¡¯re going on vacation?¡± she opens the envelope again. Two tickets to Raja Ampat are disyed in front of me, along with brochures about the cottage I¡¯ve booked for the event. The n is, in two days, we¡¯ll all leave for the trip. Papa, Mama, Krystal, and Zain areing along. Our two best friends areing too. I hope they won¡¯t refuse the surprise I¡¯ve nned for them. When I told them about my surprise n for Anya, they quickly responded. And I guess there¡¯s no harm in inviting Jacob. After all, Anya seems to have epted her past now.


    Jacob was surprised when I told him about the n two days ago. But once he found out I had a secret mission for his sister, he immediately agreed. In three days, it¡¯ll be Anya¡¯s birthday. I estimate that we¡¯ll have enough time to arrive at the event location. I deliberately made it a honeymoon trip. The others will stay in Raja Ampat while I get my freedom. As long as they don¡¯t disturb Anya and me.


    The cottage staff has confirmed that the event I nned can be arranged. I left the decoration and other arrangements to Naomi and Dona. Let them be busy. I¡¯ll just ept the result. Besides, if I suddenly get busy, Anya would get suspicious.


    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re going on vacation. We¡¯ve never been on vacation together, have we?¡± I asked while smoothing her long hair. Her smile gets even wider. In response, she shakes her head.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start preparing then,¡± she nods, and¡­ gives me a quick kiss. It feels nice. As she¡¯s about to get up, I hold her waist and sit her down right on top of me.


    ¡°Hey, I need to get Zain.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Zain is with Mama and Papa. Let it be.¡±


    Sheughs. Her face is right above mine. Her breath smells of fresh mint, and her hair is slightly obstructing the view, but it only adds to the sexy impression. It¡¯s as if Anya deliberately shifts her hair to one side, exposing part of her shoulder and the back of her neck that I really want to kiss.


    ¡°Is Zain doing well?¡± she asks softly, hovering above my lips.


    ¡°Zain is not making Mama busy. Besides, Miss Dede is there.¡±


    Her smile bes even more tempting. ¡°I remember, we haven¡¯t yed here, Cedric.¡±


    I just nod. I¡¯m starting to lose my sanity, you know.


    ¡°Do you want to?¡± she asks.


    ¡°If you offer it like that, who wouldn¡¯t want it?¡±


    Sheughs yfully, but before it can stop, I silence her with a long, demanding kiss. She lets out a soft moan and a hiss as I lift up a part of her dress. Full of tempting movements, I trace her smooth back, stopping when my fingers reach the sp of the bra she¡¯s wearing.


    I don¡¯t need any tutorials on how to unsp a bra.


    ¡°But before I continue, I need to tell you something.¡±


    I was so close to touching her firm butt. Don¡¯t ask about the bra, it¡¯s already off, and I just tossed it somewhere. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on my period.¡±

 [60] b

    My n waspletely canceled. Zain suddenly had a fever. We didn¡¯t know why because everything seemed normal with his activities. He had enough rest, ate well, and was breastfeeding fine. Anya and I were struggling the night before our departure. Zain was extremely fussy, to the point that Anya had to sleep sitting up. He didn¡¯t want to be put down at all and only wanted to be held by his mother.


    I couldn¡¯t bear to see Anya like this.


    Zain either.


    His body must be in pain somewhere, causing him to be so fussy. Eventually, Anya¡¯s mother advised us to take him to the doctor. It was Zain¡¯s first visit to the doctor, other than his regr vinations. It was different this time. During the examination, we found out that Zain was teething for the first time, and not just two teeth, but four.


    We exchanged nces in the doctor¡¯s office, and then weughed.


    ¡°New parents, it¡¯s understandable,¡± I honestly told the doctor. The doctor who had been handling Zain from the beginning just smiled warmly.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, sir. If the fever persists, give him this.¡±


    I nodded obediently. Afterward, I saw that Anya was also relieved. The visible relief was evident on her tired face, even though she had a thinyer of makeup covering it. I knew she hadn¡¯t slept much.


    And, well¡­ our ns were canceled. Anya was sad, but Zain came first. She said, ¡°We can still go on a trip another time.¡±


    I think she said those words to encourage herself. All I could do was gently pat her shoulder and say, ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll do it next time, Mama. Don¡¯t be sad. Right now, Zain is the priority.¡±


    Anya nodded in agreement.


    But my n still had to proceed. The tickets were void, and I didn¡¯t get much money back from the cancetion. It didn¡¯t matter. Zain was sick, and I didn¡¯t want to force the trip. Anya might keep thinking about it if I followed her mother¡¯s suggestion to leave Zain behind and go with just the two of us. I couldn¡¯t do that.


    Zain and Anya were inseparable. Even though it was only a three-day vacation, I felt like a viin for even considering separating them. So, I decided to cancel all the ns there. But not at home. I changed the surprise location to the backyard of the main house.


    So that Anya wouldn¡¯t find out.


    Throughout the day, I apanied Anya and Zain. I deliberately didn¡¯t let Anya go to her mother¡¯s house. Zain seemed to be soothed only when he was close to his mother. Perhaps Anya thought it was time for her to fully take care of Zain while at home. Even though she did that on Saturdays and Sundays, Anya said it wasn¡¯t enough.


    So she kept herself busy, helped by Miss Dede, while I monitored the preparations forter in the evening. Exactly at midnight, I held the surprise. Everything went smoothly. Krystal asionally updated me on the progress. We just had to wait for the right moment.


    Luckily, Zain wasn¡¯t fussy like the previous night. My handsome son slept soundly next to his mother at exactly nine o¡¯clock. I could see that Anya didn¡¯t move at all in her sleep. The rise and fall of her chest indicated that she was soundly asleep. Thebination of exhaustion andck of sleep must have taken a toll on her.


    I just needed to prepare the final touch.


    At exactly midnight, Anya¡¯s phone rang. It was me calling her. I monitored the situation through the CCTV connected to my gadget. She was startled after the third loud ring.


    When Anya answered the call with her eyes wide open, I could clearly see her panicking. Zain wasn¡¯t there. She immediately grabbed her phone and answered my call.


    ¡°Where are you? Zain is not here!¡± she said, sounding hysterical.


    ¡°Zain is in Mama¡¯s room, Joice. Just calm down.¡±


    ¡°Cedric! Don¡¯t y games with me!¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I¡¯m not ying games.¡±


    ¡°Where are you!!!¡±


    I smiled wider. ¡°Just look at the bouquet on the nightstand. There¡¯s a clue.¡±


    She didn¡¯t waste time finding out what was really happening. The bouquet of red money envelopes arranged like roses was neatly ced there. The big writing said, ¡®FOLLOW THE ARROW, AND YOU WILL FIND ME,¡¯ which she had already read.


    Instead of smiling, she just discarded the note. She only grabbed the bouquet of flowers and hurriedly walked away. I forgot to tell her she should have worn a jacket! Some of the buttons on her blouse were still undone! Oh my!


    Along the stairs, the arrow was already lit up. At the end of the stairs, I gave her another gift. This time, it was a car key. I remembered when she talked about how I often used her car and said she didn¡¯t need to think about it if it wasn¡¯t important. She had her own car, and it was usable. This time, I gave her one specifically for her as a gift.


    Guess what her reaction was? She left the key hanging there!


    ¡°Where is Zain, Cedric?!¡± she yelled angrily on the phone. Maybe I went overboard? Instead of smiling because of the surprise, her tone of voice turned threatening.


    ¡°Just follow the arrow, Joice.¡±


    No small talk, she just hung up. Anya¡¯s steps continued until she reached the front door. A key hanging with a card was there.


    I put together the words without holding back. I hoped Anya would understand that my feelings for her were sincere.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m not perfect, but I be perfect because of you. I understand that it¡¯s difficult to bnce with you, but I believe you have reasons behind your strong ideas. I don¡¯t regret anything that happened between us. There¡¯s only one thing I regret and it still bothers me to this day. The sadness in your face when I said who I was. I¡¯m sorry. Even though it¡¯s in the past, I still feel guilty.¡±


    This time, I saw that she didn¡¯t discard the note. She held it together with the bouquet of flowers. Then she continued to follow the directions. I didn¡¯t know how her expression was because I saw the path she would take, surrounded by candles. I reduced the lighting to only a few garden lights, just to make it more dramatic.


    As she approached me, standing at the small table that I had transformed into a romantic dinner setup with candles, I felt that something was wrong. Anya¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t soften, there was no amazement, and she didn¡¯t seem to feel surprised at all.


    ¡°Where is my son, Cedric!¡±


    I swallowed hard. Having a beautiful and fierce wife in the form of Anya Joice was truly shaking my world. Everywhere, when given a surprise, her eyes would sparkle with joy or something. But not now!


    ¡°He¡¯s in Mama¡¯s room, Joice. Asleep.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not lying, are you, Cedric?!¡±


    Even the endearments she usually used for me, which always sounded cute, were gone.


    ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± I moved closer, tidying up her slightly messy hair that got blown by the wind. I also put the long cloth around her that I had asked from Kak Krystal, remembering Anya with her slightly unbuttoned blouse.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s all this for?¡±


    I sighed softly. ¡°Today is your 31st birthday. Forgot?¡±


    Her eyes blinked slowly. She looked at me with an unbelieving gaze. ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s my birthday today, right?¡±


    ¡°You forgot?¡±


    She grinned innocently. ¡°Not really, just never really treated my birthday as something special.¡±


    ¡°This time, I made it special.¡±


    She scoffed. ¡°Yeah, special, making me all anxious!¡± Then she yfully hit my shoulder, without using the bouquet of flowers, of course. Maybe she realized that there was a lot of cash in there. ¡°Don¡¯t y games with my son.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my son too, Joice. We made him together.¡±


    Once again, I got hit. When the synchronized voice from the main house was heard, Anya finally stopped. Her gaze was incredulous at what she saw. Perhaps she was so shocked that her hands covered her open mouth.


    ¡°Anya¡¯s cruelty is never-ending, Cedric. You¡¯re willingly subjecting yourself to torture!¡± said Dona along with everyone who helped me. Ibu was holding Zain, who happened to wake up just as my mother was giving her the surprise. The birthday cake for Anya was brought by Krystal, and several presents were brought by Jacob. Meanwhile, Naomi and Dona were ready with confetti.


    Anya just grinned and then asked to have Zain in her arms. She showered our son with kisses full of love.


    ¡°Well¡­ who wouldn¡¯t be surprised? My son is missing when I woke up. I thought he was kidnapped or something,¡± she said, elicitingughter from everyone there. Instead of covering up her embarrassment, Anya ended up hiding behind me.


    The event proceeded as nned. In fact, I thought the sense of togetherness in her family had not diminished at all. Jacob seemed a bit awkward with his presence, but Anya didn¡¯t let that happen. She skillfully introduced her brother to her two best friends. I also engaged Jacob in a casual conversation.


    We had a rxed dinner while engaging in light conversation until I decided to take Anya to a big surprise that I hadn¡¯t mentioned before. Ibu and Zain had already gone in, followed by Papa. Only Krystal, Jacob, Naomi, and Dona remained.


    ¡°Where are we going now?¡± she protested a little when I pulled her away while we were enjoying chatting with everyone.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    There was one room that had been in the process of renovation for the past year. I couldn¡¯t fully manage it, as I had left it for a while due to being busy with the caf¨¦. However, for the past two months, I made time to consult and build the room ording to the perfect design for Anya.


    ¡°This is a gift for you. A ce where you can have some ¡®me-time¡¯ at home.¡± I gently pushed the door that was located near the backyard garden. Anya didn¡¯t know that the room was being renovated. I intentionally kept it a secret so that everything could be as tidy as possible when she saw it. I prepared this as her birthday gift.


    She was taken aback. Her eyes wandered around, examining everything in the room. There was a tall bookshelf with books arranged alphabetically, a table and chair ced in a corner because I knew that she would put a small table in the middle for Zain¡¯s activities. Anya¡¯s books that she rarely touched because of Zain were stacked neatly one by one. There were many empty slots for her to fillter, as I only knew she liked romance novels but was too afraid to buy them for her, fearing that I might pick the wrong ones.


    ¡°Happy birthday, My Wife,¡± I said, hugging her waist. She turned around slowly and wrapped her arms around me.


    ¡°This room is for me?¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, My Husband.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for being born and being there for me. You¡¯re my soulmate.¡±


    Sheughed in response.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Joice.¡±


    ¡°When did I ever doubt you?¡±


    ¡°But youughed just now.¡±


    Anya approached me even more. Her steps slightly back as if pulling me to stand in the middle of the still empty room with no furniture.


    ¡°Your words sometimes make me feel amused, you know.¡±


    My brow furrowed.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m not too fond of sweet words, Honey. Your actions are already sweet enough for me.¡±


    Can I admit that my chest swelled with pride?


    ¡°That¡¯s what made me fall in love with you,¡± she said as she gently caressed my hair. I closed my eyes, feeling the softness of her fingers on my scalp, causing me to tilt my head slightly towards her, savoring the tender touch she gave me.


    You are everything to me.


    ¡°Are you singing?¡± I signaled her to be quiet and savor the moment.


    You are the pouring of my heart.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    I could never leave you.


    There is no one else I hope for, only you alone.


    ¡°Thank you, Cedric. For giving me so much love and affection.¡± Anya hugged me tightly. I deeply inhaled her sweet scent,pletely losing myself in her embrace, which always makes me feel alive.


    We remained in each other¡¯s arms for a long time before she finally let go of me gently. ¡°I have a gift for tonight.¡±


    My brow furrowed.


    ¡°Just thought of it.¡±


    Without any further exnation, her graceful fingers confidently touched what belongs to me.


    ¡°Do you wanna y with me?¡± she said, winking seductively.


    ¡°Here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± I had no doubt in responding to her temptation. I¡¯m always tempted. In the remaining sanity I had before it disappeared because she deliberately and slowly removed her blouse, I prayed to God.


    Keep our love always.


    Keep the fire of our love and affection.


    Until death do us part.


    Until the end of time.


    Until our tiredness traverses this world.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!