Pregnancy Stripes

Anika's chest was rising and falling from fear. Why did Tori have to see her? This was so humiliating!

"Uh...Tori, I-" She tried to speak but the right words just wouldn't form.

"How dare you! Thief!" Before Anika could say another word, Tori jumped up on her, pulling her hair so tight that strands of it actually cut off.

Anika cried out in pain. She just kept apologizing.

Lark stepped forward this time, dragging his sister away from Anika. "That's enough, Tori. Let's go. Please leave her alone."

Feeling embarrassed, Anika lowered her head, trying to stop the bitter tears from streaming down her eyes. Her vision had blurred by this time.

"You'll pay for this! I swear it. I'm calling the cops right now." Tori spat out."How dare you, huh? You filthy rat. How dare you!" Lark kept pushing her away from getting any closer to Anika.

When she seemed to have calmed down a bit, Lark stepped forward to face Anika. "Apologize right now." He demanded.

Anika tried to speak but her breath was shaky. She was really sorry.

"You won't? That's it, I'm calling the cops!" Tori ran outside.

"Sis, wait—!" Lark was torn between running after Tori or scolding Anika. "I'll try to calm her down." He said at last, to Anika. "How could you be so foolish?"

Meanwhile, all this while, Anika couldn't help but wonder where Anna was. When did she run off? She told her to watch guard for her. Why didn't she warn her that Tori was approaching?

"I'm so disgusted by you right now." Lark said.

This made her snap back into reality. "Please," she straightened her posture. This was her husband. She can be honest with him. "I just need to...I just need a little. Please. Her cosmetics, the jewelry, they cost a lot. I just thought...if only I could sell it and..."

"You're crazy for that, so does this guarantee your stealing?" Thick brows furrowed.

Anika shook her head. "No, it doesn't. I'm sorry."

"That woman can die if she wants to. Why cause all this scene just to save her?"

"Don't say that! Please."

"There is no money for charity. You can go and visit her. I think I've got 10 dollars to spare for transport. But that's it. Go say your goodbyes and...I dunno."

Anika swallowed. She hated arguing with Lark. The man was not so smart, and besides, she wasn't in any position to be arguing right now.

"She's like 45 years old already. That's old enough for me, if you ask me."

Disgusted by that statement, Anika did not hide the horror on her face. "Your own mother is about to spend millions on her fiftieth birthday."

Lark blinked, then he shrugged. "So?" He heaved in a deep sigh. "Anika, this woman isn't even your real mother. She's just another maid in the family."

She didn't know what, but something in particular from what he'd just said stung her chest. "Just another maid...like me? Like I was?"

Years back when they saved her, she became a maid. But she was very hardworking and over time, Lark fell in love with her, eventually marrying her. Desiree and Tori surely did not like that it happened, but she'd been living with them as an in-law and less like a maid. They'd hired Mary a few years after the Golds saved her life. The poor woman and Anika had both been maids but they were like mother and daughter.

She remembered what they had told her at the hospital regarding Mary's condition. How critical it had become...

The pain was stabbing now, and suddenly, her vision blurred and everywhere became dark.

"Anika...Anika...!"

She heard the faint voice of Lark calling out to her. She had collapsed to the floor now. She was still completely at alert but felt very weak and dizzy.

Once she was feeling better, Anika quickly rushed out to the nearest pharmacy. Lark had ignored her the moment he saw she could catch her breath again. He threw a few notes on the floor for her to get herself the medicine she needed, because it had finished.

"Don't die of this sickness because of poor Mary." He'd said before walking away.

Sickness? She had severe anxiety, clearly, Anika had been under immense stress lately. Why would he say she was sick?

The series of panic attacks she had was due to severe trauma from her childhood and he knew that very much. Still, he made her feel like she purposely wished to be hurting.

She headed straight to the section where her medicine was and reached for it. On her way to the counter to make her payment, she found Anna in front of her. As she was about to call out to her friend, something caught her eyes. Anna was buying pregnancy strips.

Anika frowned. What did she need that for? It wasn't like she was dating anyone. Or was she?

"Anna," she said, causing the lady to jump up to her feet. "Were you startled just now? Then you should know how I felt when I looked around and found out you'd disappeared."

Anna buried her face to the ground.

"What was that all about? Where were you when I said you should be on the look out for me? Tori found me and caused a scene."

"I swear. It wasn't my fault. I literally collapsed from exhaustion. I didn't know what happened. Somehow I managed to crawl out to get myself checked. I'm so sorry, I didn't think you'd get caught."

"That's why you couldn't even let me know you were leaving?" Anika was still angry. But now, she was more concerned and worried for her friend. "Are you pregnant?"

She froze, hiding the strips behind her. "What? No. Nah, this um, it's for a friend!"

Anika rolled her eyes."I am your only friend. What's this all about? You're not even dating anyone."

She did not expect Anna to flare up like that. "What? You fool! You're my only friend? I have a life apart from living in yours. Who do you even think you are!"

Anika's eyes bulged open from shock, her lips parting open. She had not expected this reaction from Anna.

"Get lost. I don't need this right now." Anna pushed her away and ran out, throwing the stripes on the counter. Anika was too shocked she couldn't even hide the horror on her face. Before she could process what had just happened, her phone started to ring again. Fear gripped her insides, making her feel like her stomach was tied in knots.

It was from the hospital. Please, I need a little more time! She cried silently. What was she going to do now?