Chapter 6

The doctor reviewed Angela's medical report and tried to talk her out of the abortion.

"Ms. Spears, you have a thin uterine wall, and abortion is not without its risks. This baby will very likely be the only child you'll ever have."

Angela's knuckles turned white. She couldn't stop herself from trembling, but she still gave the doctor a firm nod.

"I want it aborted. Now."

She would rather never have a child again than give birth to one who would never be loved from the very start.

The procedure was quick. However, the dilation and curettage process was excruciating, and the feeling of a life slipping away from her body made Angela break down in tears and scream in a heartbroken manner.

When she finally left the operating room, Daryl and Cathy had only just ended their extremely thrilling and exhilarating live stream.

Cathy then posted a photo on her personal page on the website, showing their hands tightly intertwined as they lay peacefully in bed.

"Hey guys, remember to congratulate Mr. Fox for defeating Mr. Wolf and finally winning Ms. Rabbit's heart once again! Mr. Fox promised to take me on a trip to make it up to me, so watch out for our new updates then!"

The comments below her post all cheered in unison and wished them all the best.

However, Angela's heart was now hollow and numb. She dragged her weary self all the way back home to the equally empty house. Daryl still hadn't returned.

Another day passed. She saw the photos that Cathy posted on her social media as Daryl brought her sightseeing, lit up sky lanterns for her, bought her a diamond ring, and kissed her deeply at the highest point of a Ferris wheel.

At night, they continued fucking each other in various positions while live streaming with their animal masks on to please their viewers.

Angela pressed her hand against her flat tummy and felt her heart being torn into shreds. Yet, Daryl never noticed anything amiss and even sent her a couple of voice messages, his tone so gentle that it didn't make any sense.

"I'll be home right after this business trip, Angie. I even bought a lucky amulet from a famous fortune teller here for our baby."

Cathy happened to post her baby's ultrasound photos online the day Daryl sent that voice message. He'd also been the one accompanying her to the hospital that day.

Angela smiled bitterly. How ironic that Daryl still thought she was pregnant with his baby and that she didn't mean it when she said she wanted to break up with him.

Cathy then sent Angela a text message.

"We need to talk, Angie."

…

Angela went to the coffee shop as agreed and sat across from Cathy at the table.

Cathy's gaze was calm, but her tone carried a hint of resentment. "I'm pregnant, but the father of my child doesn't want it. What should I do?"

"I think you should talk to him instead of me," Angela replied calmly.

After a short pause, Cathy replied coldly, "Stop pretending. You saw everything at the villa entrance the other day, didn't you? I'm pregnant with Daryl's baby.

"I know that he's your fiance, and I'm your best friend, and I'm shameless for sleeping with him. But what can I do? There's no stopping true love when it comes knocking on your door."

Angela simply asked, "Why did you have to get someone to crash into me? You'd always been protecting me since we were young."

Cathy's eyes flashed with anger as though her tail had just been stepped on. She yelled hysterically in response. "I never wanted to hurt you! I just told the driver to scare you a little! What right do you have to give birth to his baby? It's not fair to me or my baby!

"Wanna make a bet? We'll see if he chooses you or me in the face of danger. If he chooses you, then I'll disappear from this relationship and get rid of the baby. But if he chooses me, then you will give us your blessings, Angie."

She held out her pinky toward Angela like how they used to when they were young.

Angela took a deep breath and said, "You don't have to do this, Cathy. He's already—"

Before she could finish, loud screams suddenly erupted behind them. There was a massive explosion in the cafe, and broken glass shards were sent flying everywhere.

Then, a huge fireball blasted from the kitchen, spewing dense, black smoke in the air. The customers in the cafe panicked and began rushing for the exit, trampling over one another in their haste.

"Are you insane?" Angela yelled as she stared at the crazed Cathy in horror. "Did you do this? How could you plant a bomb in the coffee shop? Were you trying to get us all killed?"

Cathy's eyes were cold and ruthless. "I had no other choice, Angela. I really want to know the answer to this riddle."

Everyone around them had already escaped the burning coffee shop, but Cathy grabbed onto Angela, refusing to let go. And since Cathy was taller and much stronger than her, Angela wasn't able to shove her off and run to safety.

The fire got bigger and bigger, and the smoke grew denser and more suffocating by the second.

Another explosion happened. This time, the broken glass shards rained down on them and cut into Cathy's arm.

Right at that moment, Daryl appeared at the scene. He immediately fixed his eyes on Cathy and rushed up to her, scooping her up in his arms without any hesitation.

"You idiot, who told you to run about like this?" he growled at her before sprinting out of the place.

Angela stood frozen, and her lips trembled as she called out to him. "Daryl Carson!"

"Angie?" Daryl froze, his legs suddenly rooted to the ground as he turned around to look at her with guilt in his eyes. "How did you get out of the house?"

The look on his face was familiar. He had the same expression when Angela caught him secretly smoking when he was supposed to have quit cold-turkey three years ago.

He couldn't possibly change a habit he was addicted to at the drop of a hat. This principle applied to him now, too.

However, a second later, Cathy began moaning painfully in his arms. "My stomach… It hurts…"

It snapped Daryl right out of his stupor as he rushed to bring Cathy out of the furnace. The only thing he said to Angela before he left was, "Take care of yourself, Angie. I'll get Wilfred to bring you home after I've sent Cathy to the hospital!"

His focus was entirely on Cathy's aching stomach. He completely missed the fact that Angela's entire back was covered in glass shards, staining her body crimson.

Angela staggered out of the burning coffee shop with much difficulty. The sun was supposed to be hot enough to give anyone a sunburn, but her heart was so cold and disappointed that it might as well be in the middle of winter.

"Oh my god… Her entire back is covered in glass! That's so scary!"

"Call the ambulance! She's going to pass out!"

Angela collapsed to the ground completely pale, surrounded by the crowds' gasps and screams of terror. She was like a broken and abandoned rag doll as she lay there, unable to move anymore.

Even as her consciousness faded away, the last thing she saw in her hazy vision was the sight of Daryl leaving with another woman in his arms.