Another Turning

After leaving Byron Lewis' study, my phone buzzed with a message from Elliot Lewis, telling me to meet him at the clubhouse.

As soon as I walked into the room, his friends started teasing me.

"Just like a puppy, you come running whenever Elliot calls! Wendy, you're so clingy! It's embarrassing for your family."

"Two months ago, she hooked up with Elliot at a party when he was drunk, and she got pregnant on purpose! Now, she's scared Elliot will dump her."

Elliot, who was sitting in the middle, looked at me with icy eyes.

"Wendy, are you that desperate to marry me? You just found out you're pregnant yesterday, and today, you're already talking to my dad about marriage. The whole town's buzzing about our upcoming wedding.

"Don't think you can trap me with this baby. I haven't decided if I want to marry you. If I don't want to, nobody can make me."

He looked at me like I was nothing.

It was just like my previous life. He never loved me or the baby I was carrying.

I took a deep breath and looked back at him without flinching. "Your dad invited me over to talk. What we talked about is none of your business."

Someone laughed mockingly. "Don't tell us you're planning to marry someone other than Elliot?"

"Wendy, are you trying a new tactic because Elliot won't be forced into marriage? Are you playing hard to get?"

Elliot gave me an icy, mocking smile.

"Everyone knows you're carrying a Lewis child. Besides the Lewis family, which other family would dare get involved with you? And in the Lewis family, who else would marry you if not me? What could you and my father possibly have talked about besides the alliance and the baby?"

"There's more," I said, keeping my cool. "Your father is throwing a birthday party for me tomorrow, and he's going to pick out a name for my baby."

"What?" The room was filled with gasps of surprise.

I knew exactly why they were so shocked.

Byron Lewis, the man who ran the whole city, had not gotten involved in family affairs for years. Now, he was making a big deal about my birthday and my baby, even choosing the baby's name himself. That was the kind of special treatment only the future Donna and heir of the Lewis family would get.

Once the shock wore off, everyone started sucking up to Elliot, throwing words of congratulations his way.

"Elliot, you're so lucky! The Don himself is going to name your kid. He must see you as the next Don!"

"Yeah, Elliot! Don't forget about us when you're the big boss of the Lewis family. We've always been on your side, even when you and your brother were kids fighting for the top spot!"

Elliot got up, looking all smug, and came over to me.

"Well, Wendy…" he said. "I guess I should congratulate you too. After all your hard work and clever moves, you've finally won me and my dad over. You're going to be my Donna."

He leaned down and whispered in my ear in a mocking tone, "I can agree to marry you, but to prevent what happened last time, you have to promise me one thing—don't ask about my personal life after we're married. Just be the perfect wife and have my kids.

"Don't worry. If you do as you're told, I'll make sure your kids will inherit everything from me."

My heart felt heavy. What was he talking about? Had he been reborn, just like me?

Suddenly, a weak voice came from behind. Sheila Baker entered, her eyes red and teary. She whispered between sobs, "Mr. Lewis!"

Elliot saw her and quickly moved away from me to rush over to her side. "Shouldn't you be resting? Why are you here?"

Sheila looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "Mr. Carter was worried about Ms. Carter going out alone while she's pregnant. He sent me to find her…!"

Elliot turned to me, his eyes filled with anger. "Wendy, it's just a baby! Are you so delicate that you need someone who's sick to look after you? Sheila's job is to help the Carters, not to risk her life! Don't you see she's not well?"

Sheila had indeed been coughing the entire time.

"It's not Ms. Carter's fault. I… I heard about your wedding and just wanted to wish you both happiness… a long life together…"

Sheila gently pulled on Elliot's sleeve while coughing and crying, looking so upset that she might pass out.

Elliot picked her up with care and shot me a fierce look. In front of everyone, he said in an icy voice, "Wendy, if you keep being mean to Sheila, forget about marrying me and becoming the Donna of the Lewis family! You'll end up being a single mom forever!"

He said that, hugged Sheila, and walked away without looking back.

People started laughing and making fun of me. I looked at the two and everyone else who was teasing me. I could not help but smile a little.

Perfect.

I did not want to marry Elliot or become his Donna anyway. My baby would soon see his dad.