MasukOh God. Oh God. That was the only thought Anna could manage. Her breath quickened, dread rising into her throat. She bit down on her lower lip, trying to get her breathing under control. “Pregnant?” Elena repeated, as though completely unaware of the bombshell she'd just dropped. Anna didn't look up. Not with Jason sitting directly across from her. “Act normal,” she murmured to herself. “Act normal.” But she sat frozen, her heart in her throat, her chest rising too rapidly for any of this to pass as normal. “Who's pregnant, Elly?” “She meant there'll be one eventually,” Leah said quickly, grabbing Anna's hand beneath the table. Anna gripped it for dear life. There. Leah handled it. It was fine. Everything was going to be…Elena gasped, realizing what she'd blurted. “Oh my goodness. Annie, I'm so sorry.” Anna squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the ground shift from under her. She suddenly felt woozy, even though she hadn't had a drop of alcohol. A sharp clink of silverware against
There were four cars already in the driveway. It told Jason he was the last of the lot. He could easily point out the cars Ethan and Cole had driven—the Porsche was Cole's because… well, it was Cole. The BMW was Ethan’s. Jason knew because he’d gifted it to him on his last birthday. He could vividly picture Leah driving the Cabriolet with its roof down, one hand on the steering wheel and the other in the air. She was the kind of woman who would love a dramatic entrance. She'd probably be best friends with Cole. Jason adjusted the wooden box in his hands as his gaze lingered on the Range Rover. There was no way she'd have driven that, but then, she was the only one unaccounted for. A few members of the staff moved around the property, but before he could ask one of them where their boss was, laughter drifted toward him. He followed the sound, his steps slowing as he drew closer. His conversation with Julian the night before surfaced in his mind. He'd been about to share the good n
"We wanted somewhere they could actually grow up," Julian said quietly as they walked out of the children's wing. "Not just somewhere beautiful."Elena slipped her arm through his, beaming up at him. Anna hung back in the group as they descended the wooden staircase. Julian and Elena led the way, arm-in-arm, with Gideon and Leah following. That meant Anna could watch Leah without her realizing. Gideon kept glancing at Leah every few seconds, and with each one, Anna could feel rather than see Leah tense further. But she didn't let go. Instead, she leaned further into Gideon. Because no matter what she was hiding, Gideon was her safe place. He was home. Anna released a breath, forcing her eyes away from them to the banister, her fingers tracing its polished wood. The staircase was dark, polished wood, its carved balusters and sweeping handrail giving it an old-world elegance that made the entire house feel like it belonged to another century.“Did this staircase come with the castle
Anna remained seated at her vanity long after she'd finished getting dressed. Her finger swept lightly over her elegant low bun, tucking an escaped face-framing strand back into place. She picked up the muted rose-red lipstick she had on, capped it and popped it into her handbag. Cubic zirconia stud caught the light at her ears while a delicate white-gold necklace rested against her collarbone. Simple and elegant. Exactly what she'd been aiming for. Focusing on lipstick shades, earrings and hairstyles had given her mind something to do besides replaying yesterday's heartbeat... and wondering what tonight would bring.Just as she slipped into her silver heels and stood, her phone lit up on the vanity. She reached for it immediately. Crazy Bitch🙄🤍: I'm downstairs, Mademoiselle… come wow me😉Anna smiled despite herself and headed for the door. Leah was being, well, Leah… again. It didn't wipe away what had happened yesterday. If anything, it made it glaringly obvious Leah was hidin
The waiting room wasn't nearly as intimidating as Anna remembered. Or perhaps it only felt that way because this time, she had Leah and Elena with her. Leah had commandeered the chair beside her, scrolling through her phone while her crossed leg bounced restlessly every few seconds. Every now and then, she shot Anna a poorly concealed look of concern.Elena, meanwhile, had somehow managed to strike up a conversation with an elderly woman knitting a tiny yellow sweater across the room."...So your granddaughter's due in September? That's so cute!"The woman laughed. "My daughter.""Oh… sorry. I spoke out of turn.” Leah didn't even look up. "You usually do."The woman chuckled. Elena glared at Leah. Just then, a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties walked out from the office, both hands on either side of her waist. She was heavily pregnant. The older woman stood immediately, packed her knitting stuff into her bag and hurried over to the young woman. “What did the doctor
The most exhausting, therapeutic day ever? The girls' day out had felt exactly that way.The moment Anna had mentioned a day out, Leah had called it quits with the breakfast but made sure Anna finished hers in the car. “All tabs on me!” Elena had hollered in the car with a Dua Lipa playlist blasting through the speakers. And spent the entire drive to The Domain arguing with Leah about whose tab the bills were on. When Anna had tried to suggest they split it amongst themselves, they had both snapped, “Stay out of it!” Eventually, Leah had won, leaving Elena sulking until they strode into The Domain. They spent the next hour trying on clothes and critiquing each other. Anna couldn't remember the last time she laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. As they exited The Domain, arms loaded with more shopping bags than they could comfortably carry, they dumped everything into the car before Leah dragged Anna into Kendra Scott next. Then a lingerie store where Anna threatened to scream blo
The door to the rooftop creaked open and Anna stepped out, a folded yoga mat under her arm and Jason's jacket still around her. The cool air brushed against her neck and cheeks, tousling the strands of her hair around her face. She stepped further out, noting how quiet it really was up here, the
Jason tensed as Anna drew him down by the collar, her lips pressing into his, slow and deliberate. His brain fizzled like overloaded wires sparking and his hands clinched at his sides. If he let this become more than theatrics, everything he’d built—done— to get here would unravel like cheap stit
“Mom…” the woman, whom Anna had called Olivia, choked out, looking like she might collapse right there. Jason blinked, dazed, as Anna moved in a blur. One minute, she was standing by her door, brows furrowed at the woman, and the next…Her eyes widened in horror and she dashed out to the open door
One minute, she was crying in Jason's arms, the next, Anna was pushing away, wiping her face and asking him to drive her to the hospital. He did. Told Ethan he could go home. The moment they stopped in front of the hospital, she was out, rushing through the lobby. She didn't notice the looks thr







