Lahat ng Kabanata ng Three Friends-With-Benefits Begged Me Back After My Pregnancy: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 18

The next day, I dropped Noah off at kindergarten.He clung to me at the classroom door, sobbing."I don't wanna leave Mommy!"Which set off every other kid in the class.I dug a lollipop out of my pocket. "Mommy will bring you donuts tonight, okay?"Noah wasn't having it, and I was running out of ideas.Then a tiny hand appeared in front of him.A small, sweet voice: "Don't cry. I'll go in with you."I turned. A little girl in a miniature Lolita dress, and behind her, a pair of very long legs.My eyes traveled upward and landed on a pair of eyes I'd once been completely, hopelessly lost in. Still impossibly deep.Ryan's lips curled with a hint of contempt. "So you finally decided to come back."I was essentially shoved into Ryan's car and sat pressed against the far corner.Ryan stared at me like a hawk that had finally caught its prey. "That kid — is he mine?"I whipped my head around, genuinely startled. What kind of logic was that?He read my reaction and took it as confirmation.He

The three of them sized each other up.Ryan casually slung his arm around my shoulders. "I'll take you and Noah home."Janus's gaze went dark. He stared Ryan down, pried our hands apart, and straightened to his full height."If you want Anna, there's a line. I was here first."Adam watched the two of them bicker with a smug grin.Ryan narrowed his eyes as something seemed to dawn on him, and his gaze swung to me — cool and suspicious.I spread my hands with an innocent face.Adam sauntered over to my side. "Shouldn't the older ones step aside for the younger generation? You two are practically geriatric. All this competing can't be good for your health."Janus smiled and pointed at Ryan. "If we're talking oldest, it's got to be this gentleman."He tapped Ryan's ring. "Married and still sniffing around? You think Anna would be your side piece?"Ryan smugly pulled off the ring, twirled it, and pointed to the engraving."These are mine and Anna's initials. So what exactly are you two?"My

I was furious and laughing at the same time.I forced them to show me the chat.The cringe was so hard my toes curled. It was a full-on verbal war zone in there.Adam:[Anna fell in love with me at first sight. Sponsored me through college and beyond. You two side pieces think you can compete with a childhood bond? I'm the dream. Get it?][Your combined ages are pushing a hundred. Maybe try a different hobby. Anna prefers a younger model.]Janus:[If years of "childhood bond" haven't led to a relationship, that means she's just not into you. Anna sent me designer bags. She even knitted me a scarf.][And how long does the "young hottie" shelf life really last? I'm in my prime. Don't come crying when you let yourself go and Anna trades you in.]They went back and forth, relentless.But what really got me was Ryan — the man of eternal silence — jumping into the fray. He dropped a single bomb:[Anna and I are legally married. You two side pieces can get lost.]Then he followed up:[The Van

After things reignited with Adam, Janus somehow became impossibly clingy.He called me every day and found every excuse to get me to his apartment.Until he sent me photos of sleeping pills."I'm seriously dying here, Anna."I rushed to his place.And found him locked inside a cage with a dog collar around his neck."Anna, it hurts."I looked around — the door wasn't even locked.Janus held out the other end of the leash. "I'll only come out if you hold it."I did what he asked and led him out of the cage.Janus nuzzled against me. "I want a reward."Then he closed his eyes and tilted his chin up, intentions crystal clear.And damn it, he was beautiful — years had only refined him.I gave him a light kiss.That flipped his switch.Janus grinned — pure mischief — and locked his arms around my waist."Anna, you're way too easy to trick. You know that?"I looped the chain around his neck. "How do you know I'm not the one tricking you?"Janus's lips curved slowly.He took over and devoured