"Yes…" Anne whispered, realizing she probably shouldn't have blurted the last part. They already knew too much, but she'd been too caught up in the moment that the words had just come out. It was already too late anyway. There was no way she could take it back. She didn't even want to take it back. Somehow, she expected them to share in her enthusiasm. "I've already planned to tell him whenever he makes it official, but you guys have given me a kind of boost. I'm gonna tell him once he wakes up. I just hope I don't regret this." "Hmm," Yvette said. "But you said you only met again earlier this year, why would you want to rush things? I know Asher would never want to go into something that's supposed to last a lifetime this quickly. Are you sure he proposed?" "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, getting defensive. Just when she'd thought they'd forgotten the last and started bonding. "That I'm just making up the whole thing? Or I'm tricking him in some way?" "Well, you wouldn

"So that goes there and the ribbons should go over the window. What do you think Asher? Too tacky?" Yvonne asked, with her hands on her hips. She had begun making the arrangements for the party even though Asher had been vehemently against it. "You're going to pay for this," he said with a dark look and walked into his study with the baby in his arm while the children followed after him. What was it about him that attracted children to him even when he currently looked mean, Anne wondered. Whatever it was definitely also attracted adults because even though they were supposed to be fighting she still couldn't stop watching him or even thinking about him after he left. "Yvette, stop moping around and come help me with this," Yvonne complained, helping one of the decorators attach the ribbons to the high walls. Yvette was sitting beside Anne, eating chips and watching the entire drama unfold while giving little sarcastic nuggets of wisdom whenever she could. She had her phone in her

"Anne, wait, it's not what it looks like, I promise you."He was coming closer, saying things he expected her to believe. His lies, as usual. What did he take her for? What did he even want from her?Mustering the last of her courage to get up on her feet, she took off her shoes and began to bolt off. She had nowhere else to go and her children had to be with her, but being in the same space with Asher was just not something she could handle right now. "I don't know this woman. You've got to believe me. She just came out of nowhere," he explained, gripping her arm and forcing her to turn to him. His face looked contrite enough. Anyone who was dumb enough to not see the full picture would easily fall for his gullible tricks. Anyone who was as dumb as she had been. "You have to believe me. I'd never do anything to hurt you, baby and you know that. Why would I go through the struggle of getting you this far just to do something this stupid. I've been set up. I don't know why or by who

"You both should just stop," Anne cut in, in a low frustrated voice. It felt like the room was compressing on her and even hugging her legs did not let her escape that feeling. However, her two friends were in a league of their own, angrily deciding her fate. "Why would you want to make everything complicated for absolutely no reason?" Lola barked. "Everything is already going so smoothly. Just a little time and patience and everything will be settled. What's the point of your advice?" "Just because something seems easy now doesn't mean that's how it will eventually turn out in the end. I love my friend and I know how much she's complained about Asher within just these few months. She's become depressed and a rich guy with a few houses isn't going to fix that." "She's my friend as well but you're blowing everything out of proportion. Asher did not make her depressed. If anything he's even opened her up. You know this! The old Anne would never tell anyone anything, always keep ever

"I'm currently in a…" she began but paused. If Asher was looking for her, probably to do something bad to her, then giving away her location to his sister wouldn't be the wisest thing to do. There was no telling whose side she really was on. "You're where? I didn't quite get that," Yvette called from the other end of the line. Even the slightest modulation in her voice raised suspicions in Anne. "Never mind.""Wait a minute. You think I'm gonna rat you out to Asher? What will I gain from that? I know I love drama but this is just low," she retorted, her voice a mix of humor and offense. Anne released the breath she didn't know she was holding. The confirmation was a relief, but it wasn't enough. "I'd rather not say. He might have bugged you or something." Yvette laughed dryly. "And you think if he has me bugged, he can't track you down right now?" That was…scary."Sorry, I gotta go…""Hey!" Yvette growled, "that's enough. What do you even think he's going to do to you? Do you t