Chapter 9
I took out one of the medical reports Kyler found and put it on the table.
“Anna, you dropped a page of your report. I found it, and here it is.”
Anna saw the report and quickly grabbed it.
The other three looked at her, puzzled, and asked, “What report? If you’re sick, why didn’t you tell us? You should have called us if you were going to the hospital!”
Gilbert held Anna’s hand and said, “What’s going on? If it’s something serious, you have to tell us. We’re your best friends. How can we help if you don’t tell us?”
Anna kept saying it was nothing serious. The others wanted to see the report but she refused.
“It’s really nothing. I didn’t tell you because it’s my private matter. I feel embarrassed, but I’m fine,” she said.
Anna hid the report with a hint of helplessness when Daniel realized. something was off and spoke up, “We tell you everything. Why is it so hard for you to tell us what’s wrong?”
I listened to them talk for a while.
Antonio hadn’t said a word, and the other three were getting anxious, their faces turning red with anxiety. I finally spoke up, “You guys really don’t need to worry. It’s not bad news. Anna is perfectly fine.”
Anna quickly stopped me, wanting me to stop talking.
I put on an innocent look, just like she used to, and said with a smile, “I
thought pregnancy was a good thing and wanted to share the joy with everyone. Did I mess up? I’m sorry, really sorry.”
As I spoke, I started to look like I was about to cry, and I walked over to Antonio. I said to him, “I thought everyone knew about you donating sperm to Anna. That’s why I mentioned it.”
As soon as I finished my words, the room erupted into chaos.
Gilbert’s eyes widened as he clutched Antonio’s collar. You’re a married man with a kid! Why are you still pestering Anna? You’re even giving her your sperm? Have you lost your mind?”
Daniel kept asking Anna if she was being pushed into this.
Anna stayed silent, but her eyes were drilling holes into me.
I shot her a smug grin and then stepped up to Antonio. “It wasn’t Antonio’s fault. Anna said she wanted a baby. I heard her. I get that it’s not wrong for a woman to want a baby, so I’ve been trying to let it go. Why are you guys giving them a hard time?”
Hearing this, Antonio grabbed my shoulder. “You knew about this? And it doesn’t bother you?”
“Nope! Because I love you!”
I was selling it so hard that I almost bought it myself. I used to think this kind of drama was beneath me, but now I saw these guys were totally buying it.
Right then, these so–called best friends were at each other’s throats. When things were about to get too heated for me, Antonio steered me out, telling me to leave. He promised that he would find some time to see me and the little one later.
I left the private room and Kyler gave me a ride home. On the way, I sent
Antonio the divorce papers.
I added a note: “I messed up today and messed with your friendships. Antonio, let’s get a divorce! It’s like an explanation for them.”
Kyler gave me a sideways glance. “Do you think he’ll go for it?”
I nodded firmly.
He would totally bite. No matter how much they squabbled, I was still the odd one out. I wouldn’t rate higher than them.
As expected, by nightfall, I got the text that Antonio had agreed to divorce.
We set up a quick talk to finalize the divorce. He felt guilty, so he left with nothing, giving me all the money.
On our divorce day, Anna showed up right after we stepped out of the courthouse, handing Antonio a massive bouquet.
“Congratulations, Mr. Kaufman, on finally being free!” she said loudly.
It was so loud that I found it funny.
I glanced at my watch and said, “Anna, congratulations on finally getting to be his most beloved woman.”
“Don’t get all sarcastic on me. If you hadn’t been causing all this drama, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Anna shot back.
After that dinner, Gilbert stopped hanging out with them, and Daniel flew off to get his Ph.D. abroad. The only one who stayed meant a lot to them. today.
As Anna was posing with Antonio for a memory snap, she got swarmed,
Reporters and onlookers started piling up, and the crowd just kept on
growing
Anna was clueless about the sudden attention until I took out my phone and showed her my old video channel.
“Hospital visits, dinners, and my latest video. Since Gilbert cut ties. my views are through the roof. Everyone’s here to see the real you. Oh, and Anna. Kyler asked me to tell you something.
Anna’s eves were wide with worry as she looked at me. “What is it?”
“Kyler said your pregnancy has stopped again. You should get checked out quickly so it doesn’t affect your health. It’s the IVF baby you had with my ex during our marriage.”
The moment I dropped that bomb, the place went wild.
Kyler was waiting for me in his car, and I took the opportunity to slip away in all the confusion.
Later on, I moved to another city with the kid, bought a big house, and made sure the child was insured.
I named him Liam Parrish.
I never told him how his dad died saving Anna from a car crash, or that his dad wanted to see both of us before he passed, but I refused.
All I told him was that I was his mom and that I loved him more than
anything.
Kyler decided to have further studies and moved to my city. We remained friends, keeping things as they were.
Neither of us made a move to change things.
What actually brought us closer was Anna.
Back then, Antonio pushed her away at the courthouse, saving her from a truck, but he didn’t make it.
Yet, Anna married Gilbert the year after.
Gilbert later caught Anna with another man, and in a fit of anger, he killed Anna and then killed himself.
I often dreamed about Anna, and I called Kyler late at night, drifting off to sleep while listening to his voice.
When the kid was old enough, he asked, “Can Mr. Warner be my dad?”
I nodded.
