5| Fury and Disbelief.

RHONDA

If I didn’t find the password and tamper with the prototype, then Theodore would get away with everything. He would secure the billion-dollar contract, and he didn’t deserve it.

Fortunately, he hadn’t arrived at the company yet. I took advantage of that, slipping into his office and quickly scanning through his files, hoping to find where he had saved the password. But I couldn’t find anything.

Frustration burned through me. I clenched my fists, biting back a curse. I had to look for another way to contaminate the prototype.

Just as I was about to sneak out of the office, the door opened and he slipped in.

I froze.

He paused when he saw me, a frown on his face as he stared at me.

“I came to see you, but was about to leave when I didn’t see you,” I blurted out quickly.

He looked at me skeptically but quickly softened his expression.

“Okay. Uhm…” He pressed his lips together as he ventured further into the room.

I held my breath when he came a little too close. His mistress’s scent attacked my nose, making my stomach twist. He had been with her before coming here.

He was about to wrap his arm around me when his phone suddenly rang. Oh, thank goodness.

“Excuse me,” he said, quickly tugging it from his pocket and stepping away.

“What? Infirmary? I am on my way!” he said urgently after a few seconds.

I had lost all my supernatural abilities since I lost my wolf, which was why I couldn’t hear what the person on the other end had said.

He flicked his gaze at me, worry saturating his features. “I need to go.”

And just like that, he rushed out of the office, leaving me curious.

The sound of my phone ringing snapped me back to reality.

I glanced at the screen to see who was calling.

Malcolm.

The name appeared boldly on the screen.

My heart skipped a beat.

My childhood sweetheart. The name alone stirred a flood of memories. We went to the same high school, and everyone thought we’d end up together. But life happened, and he left the country and never returned. A few years later, I began seeing his name everywhere. Malcolm Hitler, founder of the SkyTech company.

I had been so proud of him from a distance.

That was until last week, when I unexpectedly ran into him at a tech event abroad.

He was still the same kind, smart, and dangerously charming boy I knew. He offered to rekindle the bond, but I made it clear that I was now married with a pup. Little did I know that my husband was a cheating bastard.

Anyway, we exchanged contacts, hoping to keep in touch as friends. But we hadn’t spoken since, until now.

“Hey, Malcolm,” I said softly into the phone.

“Hey, Rhonda!” he chuckled from the other end. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Um… how are you?”

“I’m fine. Happy birthday!”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “You remembered.”

“Of course!” he laughed. “I never forgot. Every year, I think about you, especially on your birthday. Fuck…” He cut himself off quickly. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re married now.”

Tell me why my heart skipped a beat at his words. Perhaps I still had lingering feelings for him.

I shook my head. It couldn’t be.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “Thank you, Malcolm.”

“Okay. I have to go now. It was really good hearing from you again. Bye, Rhonda!” he suddenly said before abruptly hanging up.

Later that day, I went to pick up Leo from school. The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong. His little face was drawn into a frown as he walked toward me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked gently as we headed toward the parking lot.

“Mommy is not feeling well,” he said in a dull voice. “She’s in the infirmary.”

“She’s not your mommy!” I gritted out in annoyance and he pouted.

“She is,” he drawled.

So that was why Theodore had rushed out earlier.

Sighing, I continued, “How do you know?”

“She called my teacher and asked to talk to me,” he replied, then suddenly stopped walking. His lower lip jutted out as he looked up at me. “Can you take me to see her, please?”

I opened my mouth to refuse, but the words died on my tongue. Saying no would only cause a tantrum, and the last thing I wanted was for him to resent me even more.

So I forced a smile. “Okay, darling.”

“Thank you, Mommy!” he beamed, wrapping his small arms around my legs.

I ruffled his hair. “You’re welcome.”

Soon enough, he would love me the way he used to. He still remembered little things about me, like the fact that I hated yellow. His mind had simply been poisoned. That was all.

We got into the car, and I buckled him into his seat.

“Almost forgot,” he said suddenly as I turned on the ignition. “Happy birthday, Mommy.”

My eyes widened in surprise as I looked at him. He remembered.

A burst of joy filled my chest as I smiled at him. “Thank you, baby.”

We soon arrived at the infirmary and were directed to Layla’s ward. As we walked down the hallway, I bumped into a familiar face. Isabel. One of the nurses who had cared for me during my pregnancy. We had grown close during that time.

“Luna Rhonda!” Isabel exclaimed when she saw me. “It’s been so long! What brings you here?”

Before I could answer, Leo slipped his hand out of mine and ran toward the ward.

“Leo’s nanny is ill,” I replied. “We came to visit.”

“Layla?” the nurse asked, rolling her eyes slightly.

“Yes. Is there something wrong?” I asked carefully.

She shook her head quickly. “No, no. Nothing at all.”

It was clear that everyone knew about the affair. Everyone except me.

I masked the pain with a smile. “Okay then. I should go in.”

Just as I reached the door, I heard voices inside. I paused instinctively. The door was slightly ajar, allowing their words to drift out clearly.

“Mommy is pregnant?” Leo exclaimed excitedly. “So I’m going to be a big brother?”

“Yes, baby,” Layla replied warmly, cupping his cheeks. “You’re going to be a big brother.”

My heart slammed violently against my ribcage.

“I’m thinking of telling Rhonda the truth tonight,” Theodore said, standing beside them. “About you being his biological mother. I don’t know how she’ll take it.”

My blood ran cold, my insides twisting violently.

What the fuck did he mean by that?

Before I could stop myself, I barged into the room.

“What did you just say?” I demanded, my voice trembling with fury and disbelief.