Chapter 6: New Path

“This could have a destructive impact on Andrew and his company, particularly as he seeks a significant contract,” Cecilia stated, her voice thick with worry. 

"However, whoever disclosed the information regarding your health problems and divorce from Andrew to the media must be someone near the family." "The specifics are too precise to originate from an outsider," Annie remarked, furrowing her brow in contemplation. 

The discussion lingered without resolution as both women went to their bedrooms for the evening. 

The next morning, Cecilia rose early, put on her clothes, and got ready to go to work. 

The colorful fluorescent lights of the mall glittered above while Cecilia tightened the apron tied at her waist. The lively enthusiasm from the customers enlivened the space, blending with the soft melodies of pop music and the faint echoes of children’s laughter. 

Inhaling deeply, she fixed her hair and looked at her image in the mirror. . She seemed sophisticated, yet tiredness and worry were clear in her eyes. The mild nausea that had been her persistent companion lately tightened her stomach, but she pushed it aside. 

She reminded herself that she needed to accomplish this. For her own good and for her unborn child. 

“Cecilia?” 

She turned to see Mrs. Harper, her new supervisor, coming nearer. The old woman looked at her swiftly before giving a nod. "Your main responsibility is to restock the display with the new items." 

As the day progressed, Cecilia engaged herself in the activities, grateful for the distraction. She carefully arranged items on shelves, answered customer questions, and completed transactions with a friendly smile. Each task permitted her to momentarily ignore the chaos growing inside her. 

Nonetheless, the temporary relief was fleeting. 

Around midday, while assisting a customer in selecting a watch, she experienced slight discomfort in her lower abdomen. She hesitated briefly, her hand automatically moving to her abdomen. 

“Are you okay?” the customer inquired, worried clearly on his expression. 

"Certainly, I'm fine," Cecilia replied quickly, flashing a smile. "Just a little tired." 

The man nodded in agreement, recognizing her answer, while Cecilia's mind raced in turmoil. Was that common? She had learned that slight cramps could be typical in early pregnancy, but it still caused her anxiety. 

At the end of her shift, Cecilia felt exhausted. Her feet ached, and the slight nausea had returned, but she felt a sense of pride for having made it through the day. She closed the register and began tidying the counter when a voice from behind surprised her. 

"Truly, this is unexpected." 

She turned quickly, her heart sinking as she locked eyes with Ethan’s intense stare. He leaned nonchalantly against the counter, his grin as annoying as usual. 

“What brings you here?” How did you know that I’m currently working in this mall? Cecilia inquired, her tone more biting than she meant. 

"Shopping," Ethan responded, his voice laced with feigned naivety. “However, I always buy my stuff from here. So, I’m here to buy my groceries as usual.

Cecilia shot him a fierce look, her hands tightly balled at her sides. “Is there something you want me to assist you in buying?” 

Ethan laughed softly, the noise deep and harsh. "Absolutely not." It's... commendable. Yet I can’t help but question why the former spouse of an alpha is employed in a setting like this. 

Her stomach twisted at his remarks, but she maintained a neutral expression. "That doesn't concern you." "But how do you know so much about me?" 

"I tend to navigate through whatever I find intriguing." He moved nearer, his stature daunting as he towered above her. "It seems that you are hiding something from me, because you usually become cold whenever I move closer to you." "I can feel it." 

“I told you to let me be,” she spat, her voice quivering with a blend of rage and anxiety. 

Ethan's gaze tightened, his grin vanishing. For an instant, his face was inscrutable, but then he drew back, lifting his hands in feigned capitulation. 

"Alright," he replied, his voice gentler yet equally intense. "However, this isn't over." "You won't be able to escape me forever." 

With that, he turned and walked off, leaving Cecilia trembling with a blend of relief and dread. 

The next day, Cecilia went back to work, resolved not to let Ethan’s remarks influence her. This job was important for her. She needed stability, regardless of how little it appeared. 

Annie stopped by during her lunch break, joining Cecilia in the food court. “How are you doing?” Annie inquired while sipping her iced tea. 

“It’s okay,” Cecilia responded, jabbing at her salad. 

Annie scowled, examining her friend intently. "You don't seem well." “Did anything happening at the office toady?” 

Cecilia paused, her thoughts darting to Ethan's surprising arrival. "There's nothing I can't manage," she replied at last, pushing a smile. 

Annie appeared unconvinced, yet she chose to drop the matter. "Just know, I'm available whenever you need my assistant," she said gently. 

Cecilia nodded, feeling her heart swell with appreciation. She was uncertain how she would manage without Annie’s assistance. 

That evening, while Cecilia strolled home from the mall, the cold wind nipped at her cheeks. She wrapped her coat more snugly around herself, her mind racing. The roads were silent, and the rare car driving by was the sole indication of activity. 

Her wolf shifted restlessly, causing Cecilia’s senses to intensify. She glanced behind, yet the path behind her was empty. Despite that, the feeling of being watched remained, making her skin tingle. 

Cecilia rushed quickly, her heart pounding as she arrived at Annie’s apartment building. Cecilia struggled with her keys, her hands shaking as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. 

Once the door shut behind her,Cecilia leaned against the door, panting. 

"You're safe," she whispered to herself, trying to calm her troubled heart. "You are fine." 

As the evening drew on, Cecilia lay in bed, lost in thought,The feeling that something was wrong refused to leave her. The silence in the apartment was suffocating. 

A sudden noise outside her window took her from thought, causing her to sit up to know if someone is outside their apartment. She focused intently, her wolf softly whispering in the depths of her thoughts. 

As the noise returned—a soft tapping—she swung her legs off the bed and stood up, her bare feet quiet on the floor. 

She moved toward the window carefully, her breath halting as she drew back the curtain. 

Ethan remained outside, his eyes softly shimmering in the moonlight. 

Cecilia experienced a tightness in her stomach when their eyes met, His look was both penetrating and enigmatic.

"What brings you to my place at this unusual time?" she asked, her voice quivering. 

He did not respond to her question. Instead, he raised his hand, requesting for her to open her entrance door so that they could talk properly like two adults.

"I can't do that," she answered, her head shaking in refusal. 

A quiet smile crossed Ethan’s lips,His eyes, though, remained hard and unfeeling. “You can't keep avoiding me, Cecilia,” he remarked, his tone quiet but clear. 

Before her mind could catch up with her thoughts, he shifted his direction to the opposite side of her door and walked out of the apartment. This action caused Cecilia to feel uneasy and lost in thought.

She rested back on her bed,trying to figure out how to handle Ethan the next time she crossed paths with him. But she couldn’t shake off the questions that lingered in her mind. What was it that Ethan wanted from her? Why wouldn’t he just let her be?