Chapter 3 The Moment She Stopped Believing Him
1513 Words
That single sentence struck Anya like a bolt of lightning. "You're pregnant?"
Livia lowered her eyes with feigned shyness. "It was unexpected… I'm three months along."
For three months, Livia had been pregnant, just like Anya. Their babies had been conceived at the same time.
"Is the father your boyfriend? Ever since you started dating him, I've never once seen him." With every word Anya spoke, her heart trembled harder.
"Yes," Livia said with a soft smile, picking up her phone. "But he's rarely home."
She glanced at the screen and continued casually, "Still, it's fine. Even if he can't stay with me often, every time we meet, he makes it up to me like he's trying to make me forget everything. I should be satisfied, right?"
Adrian called Anya to ask where she was, then drove over to pick her up. When the car arrived, his expression turned dark the moment he saw Livia.
"You called in leave for something urgent just to slack off outside?"
Before Livia could respond, Anya spoke first. "I was the one who asked Livia to come shopping with me. Please just take her home first."
"No need," Livia said softly, one hand resting on her waist. "I won't be a third wheel." She quickly got a rental bike and left without waiting for them to respond.
Anya noticed Adrian's grip on the steering wheel tighten again and again. He drove unusually slowly that day, keeping close behind Livia the entire time, as if afraid something might happen to her.
The next second, Livia's bike tilted and she fell.
Adrian slammed the brakes. The sudden stop jolted Anya hard in her seat, the impact nearly throwing her forward.
But Adrian didn't notice her at all. He immediately got out of the car and rushed toward Livia. He crouched beside her, his voice low and reprimanding.
"Are you stupid? You can fall on flat ground? Get in the car."
"What does it have to do with you?" Livia's eyes turned red, her voice trembling. "You should be taking Anya home. Don't worry about me!"
Adrian clicked his tongue but said nothing. He simply bent down, lifted Livia into his arms, and carried her into the back seat. Only after settling her did he turn to look at Anya in the passenger seat.
Her face was deathly pale. Her lips had lost all color. Both hands were pressed against her cramping stomach, cold sweat beading on her forehead. A flash of panic finally crossed Adrian's eyes.
He reached out and grabbed her arm. "Sorry, Ani. Did I scare you just now? She's your best friend. I was afraid you'd rush out and get hurt instead, so I…"
Livia quickly added, "I'm sorry, Ani. It's my fault. I made you worry."
Watching their synchronized performance, Anya only felt irony. They clearly cared so much about each other, yet still insisted on acting like everything they did was for her.
She closed her eyes, protecting her slightly swollen belly. "It's fine. Just take her home."
On the drive, Adrian was visibly distracted, his expression growing heavier by the minute. After dropping Livia off, he finally let out a breath and drove Anya home.
Neither of them spoke on the way back. Only after they arrived home did Adrian come up behind her and wrap his arms around her.
"Anya, are you still mad at me? I'm sorry. I was really anxious at the time. You said she was your only close friend, and I was afraid if she got hurt, you'd be upset. That's why I reacted on instinct."
It felt like a heavy blow landed straight on Anya's chest, numbing and painful at the same time.
He had clearly noticed she was uncomfortable from the sudden braking, yet his eyes kept drifting toward Livia in the rearview mirror. It was obvious who mattered more.
"Adrian, we should…"
Before she could finish, Adrian answered a phone call. His expression suddenly changed.
"Ani, something urgent came up at the company. I have to go. Wait for me at home!" He rushed out without hesitation.
Anya's heart tightened. She immediately accessed the Westbrook Villa surveillance from the study.
As expected, he went straight to Livia. The moment he entered, his voice was filled with concern. "Your stomach hurts? Let me see. Is it from the fall earlier?"
He held her gently, massaging her abdomen with obvious distress.
Livia leaned against him and whispered, "You were too obvious today. Do you think Anya might find out about us?"
Adrian's expression instantly cooled. He shifted slightly away from her. "She won't find out. And you're not allowed to meet her privately again."
"Why?" Livia's voice rose with grievance. "Anya is my best friend. Just because of you, I can't even see her anymore?"
"She's pregnant," Adrian said in a low voice. "I can't let you say anything that might upset her."
"But I'm pregnant too!" Livia's voice cracked. "Does my child not matter? You came to see me even knowing I'm pregnant; don't you care at all about my feelings?"
Silence fell. After a long moment, Adrian said coldly, "This child shouldn't exist in the first place."
"You bastard!" Livia cried as she hit him, but the next second, the sound of kissing filled the room, followed by rustling clothes.
"Be good. Get rid of it. I'll make sure you're taken care of for life."
Livia paused, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "But I hate surgery. I'd rather you help me take care of it yourself… I heard if we do it a few times, it'll go away on its own."
Adrian cursed under his breath, but the next moment, he lifted her into his arms and slammed the bedroom door shut.
A message arrived on Anya's phone.
Adrian: Ani, I'm sleeping at the company tonight. Rest early. Love you.
Those two words "love you" looked black on the screen, yet burned like blood.
Anya's stomach churned violently. She suddenly bent over and retched. How ridiculous.
The place where they had been cheating all along was the very same house she was supposed to move into in seven days.
Her heart felt like it was being torn apart. Warm wetness slid down her face.
Then another message came in, from her private investigator.
Private Investigator: Ms. Laurent, I found an account. It may contain what you're looking for.
A private investigator forwarded her a private journal account. The moment Anya saw the content, the blood in her body seemed to freeze.
The account looked like Livia's personal confessional space, filled with dense entries of her thoughts.
Livia: On March 12, I became my best friend's boyfriend's personal secretary. She's so strange; she insisted I work for her boyfriend. Does she not know I like Adrian too? Or is she doing it on purpose so I have to watch them show off their love all the time? Disgusting.
Livia: On May 5, I just broke up with my ex, and Anya immediately dragged Adrian in front of me to show off. She even fed him fruit. Disgusting! She's always been like this since we were kids, performing in front of teachers and parents, using me as a contrast, stealing the attention that should have been mine. I feel so uncomfortable.
Livia: On June 2, it rained today. Her boyfriend offered to drive me home. I said I was cold, and he put his coat over me. I could clearly see the desire in his eyes.
Livia: On July 4, the office power suddenly went out. I screamed and fell into his arms. When I looked up, I accidentally kissed him. He froze, but he didn't pull away.
Livia: On August 7, we slept together. He doesn't actually love Anya as much as I thought. He only thinks she is suitable for marriage. Thinking about it now, I almost feel sorry for my best friend. After all, we grew up together…
Only then did Anya understand. Livia had been misinterpreting everything.
Back then, when Livia had no job, it was Anya who begged Adrian to give her a well-paid position.
When Livia went through a breakup, Anya even took her out to meals, trying to help her recover.
But all her lifelong composure, her restraint, and her attempts not to overshadow others had all become, in Livia's eyes, some kind of calculated scheme.
Anya gently placed a hand over her stomach, tears gathering in her eyes.
She had a low progesterone level and had always struggled to conceive. This child had only come after Adrian knelt in a church and prayed multiple times.
She had once looked forward so much to this life growing inside her. Now, she no longer knew what choice she should make.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck her abdomen again. She couldn't reach Adrian, so she drove herself to the hospital.
Just as her car turned out of the residential corner, a vehicle suddenly appeared from the intersection, out of control, and headed straight for her.
Bang!
- Writer
