He had blocked me.
Holding onto the last hope, I tried sending an emoji to him.
However, after quite some time, it only showed one checkmark and not the second one.
Staring at the chat room, I felt my warmth slowly fading away while my body shivered uncontrollably.
How is it possible?
To make matters worse, I didn’t even know when it happened.
“What’s wrong, Letty?” I was jolted out of my thoughts when I heard Rose’s voice. Then, I tried my best to stay calm and replied, “Nothing.”
Rose believed me because she was a guileless person. Stirring her chocolate milk, she seemed to be in a trance as she said to herself, “Letty, your friend and his wife looked enviably sweet! If only Nick and I met each other earlier, then we might be as sweet as them.”
Feeling a little unsettled, I put my phone back into my pocket and replied nonchalantly, “Well, you and Nick have a blissful marriage too. I envy you because you’re already pregnant a few days after your wedding.”
Rose was startled upon hearing that and immediately changed the topic.
As my mind was occupied with Jackson, I didn’t dwell on the conversation. After sitting for a while, I excused myself to go home.
Once I got home, I kept staring at the checkmark and didn’t even realize it when Anthony returned. When I felt someone putting a blanket over my shoulders, I turned around and saw that he was bending over behind me. It turned out that he had been observing me for quite some time.
“You’re back.” I turned off my phone screen and put it back into my pocket carefully.
However, it was too late because Anthony had seen what I was trying to hide. After sitting down, he fiddled with my hand and asked casually, “Did you meet Jackson?”
It appeared that he wasn’t surprised to know that Jackson had returned.
“You knew that Jackson has returned?” I asked nervously, knitting my brows.
Anthony looked up at me gently and heaved a long sigh. Then, he caressed my forehead and replied casually, “I heard about it not long ago. However, you guys have met even before I could figure out the best way to tell you.”
I was a little upset. “You should’ve told me earlier.”
If I had known it beforehand, I wouldn’t be that befuddled in front of Jackson.
I was frustrated with myself, for I didn’t have the courage to ask for his forgiveness. Similarly, I hesitated for several hours but still hadn’t sent my friend request to him.
Deep down, I knew that I couldn’t blame Anthony for my misery. Collapsing onto the couch, I then slid to the floor and kneeled on the mat. The next moment, I sprang upon the table and rested my head on it, screaming, “Ah! I’m useless!”
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. How could Jackson be so heartless? We’ve been friends for more than twenty years, yet he ditched me just like that.
Anthony didn’t comfort me with words but merely caressed my back slowly, giving me enough time to vent my frustrations and calm myself down.
Exhausted from all the crying, I sat on the floor and fell into a trance. After a while, Anthony stood up and carried me into the bedroom.
After tucking me in, he turned around and was about to take a shower when I instinctively grabbed his wrist. I was reluctant to see him leave.
“Anthony, not only has Macy passed away, but Jackson has also ditched me. Did they leave me because I don’t deserve them?”
Anthony frowned after hearing that. He sat on the bed beside me and comforted me in a deep voice, “Macy’s death was an accident. No one wanted it to happen. As for Jackson, he’s bound to marry someone else and have kids sooner or later. Besides, you’ve nothing to do with the change in his personality. So don’t punish yourself for their misfortune.”
After pausing for a while, he held my hand tightly and added with a smile, “Besides, I’ve always been here for you, right?”
Unable to shake off the uneasiness I felt, I couldn’t help but knit my brows.
It wasn’t easy for two people to stay together. However, even my friendship with Jackson, which lasted for decades, ended just like that. Hence, even though I had been with Anthony for a long time, I couldn’t help but wonder if we could withstand the test of time.
I offered no retort. The intense crying I did leave my eyes tired and puffy. I watched Anthony for a while before I drifted off to sleep.
I then had a lengthy dream.
In it, Macy, Jackson and I were back in high school. We were lazing around beneath the shade of a tree, watching other kids play with crickets. The fearless Macy pissed off their head honcho. Jackson then charged up and tangled with them. He was like a brave gladiator who did not cry out even as his head bled.
When I awoke, there was only the sedate expression on Anthony’s face as he slept next to me.
I extended a hand to caress his face. There was simply no going back to where we came from.
…..
After the ten-day long hormone therapy, I was finally able to have an ovum successfully extracted from my body. The artificial insemination process also went well. In three days, the cultivated embryo would be ready to be inserted into my uterus.
It was also today that Anthony did not have me sent home as usual. Instead, he ferried me to the Featherstone Corporation personally.
There was hardly time for me to warm my seat before Anthony produced a file from under the table, which he opened up before passing it along.
I was not sure what to make of it. The heading read—Letter of Authorization for the Shares of Featherstone Corporation.
Anthony meant for me to transfer all the shares I have on hand to his name and make him my legal executor.
Confounded, I placed down the document. “Has this something to do with the investment with GW?”
Even though he had explained to me the importance of the financing, I still had reservations about it as the risks involved were too great.
Anthony nodded. “I could not categorically deny that. Though I haven’t green-lighted it, it’s inevitable that I might have to make a decision on this on your behalf once you sign the letter. More importantly, the lab results would be confirmed in the next few days. It was difficult enough for us to be able to conceive, so whatever GW may be up to, I don’t want you to become a target for them. Not only is this about the transference of shares, but you will also be completely removed from all involvement in Featherstone Corporation.”
His reasoning was sound but his one-sided approach had me feeling that my opinion was made peripheral. “Are we discussing this, or are you informing me?”
“I am fine with either one. Which do you prefer?” He shrugged, but appeared sincere.
There was not much I could say in response as it did not seem that he had any ulterior motives.
His concerns were not completely unfounded. Everything that happened before this could have stemmed from our failure to maintain a low profile. Anthony might have thought that perhaps I should step away from the public eye before the pregnancy happened.
In the end, I declared in indignation, “You might as well publicly announce that you are divorcing me if you really want to ensure my safety.”
Anthony took into serious consideration something I merely said in jest, and nodded solemnly. “If it came down to that, sure.”
I was flabbergasted.
Who wants him to go down that route?
I rolled my eye disdainfully at him and dumped the file on the table. “I’m not going to sign on this.”
A frown appeared between his eyebrows as he did not expect me to turn him down. His mouth was agape as though he wanted to say something before he was cut off by a knocking on the door.
Knock! Knock!
Both us turned in toward it in unison. It was Joseph, and with him was Stella.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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