Chapter 76: CHAPTER 076
Anna’s eyes widened as she stared at Monica.
Her voice betrayed her, leaving nothing but a parted mouth and stunned silence.
The image from that night resurfaced, the night she discovered Monica fucking James in their bed.
She never thought she’d see her again, though it was possible since Monica lived close by.
“Anna,” Monica called, stepping toward her.
In a flash, Anna yanked open the car door, lunging for the backseat.
She didn’t want to talk to Monica.
“Anna, wait! Please, wait!” Monica moved quickly, slapping her hand against the door to keep it from closing. “Please, Anna, don’t go.”
Anna glared up at her from the seat. “What do you want from me?”
Monica just stared, her mouth opening and closing. “I… I…” she stammered, struggling to find her words.
“I guess you have nothing to say. Let go of the door so I can leave,” Anna said, reaching for the car door again.
“Pl—please! Let’s talk!” Monica pleaded. “Please, I just want us to talk.”
Anna scoffed. “Talk? I have nothing to say to you, Monica.”
“Please,” Monica begged. “Just hear me out. Even if it’s only for five minutes.”
“I don’t have that time.”
The two guards, who had been leaning against the car, stepped closer.
The taller one, who had been sitting beside Anna in the passenger seat, moved forward. “What’s happening here?”
Monica jumped, startled by their sudden presence.
She glanced at the large men in dark suits, then turned back to Anna, her eyes pleading. “Please, Anna. Just hear me out.”
“I’m leaving, I can’t—” Anna started as she dragged the car door.
“Ahh!” Monica groaned, doubling over as the side of the door slammed into her stomach.
She clutched her stomach while Anna stared, unsure what to do or say in that moment.
Monica lifted her head, her eyes full of pleading, the pain from the car door still clear on her face. “Please, let’s just talk. I won’t take much of your time. For old times’ sake.”
Anna wanted to say no, to leave Monica standing on the pavement, but something inside her told her to listen.
She let out a long, heavy sigh, the weariness settling deep in her bones. “Okay.”
A small, shaky smile broke across Monica’s face.
Anna stared, annoyed. Why was she smiling?
She really had the nerve to smile at me, after what she’d done.
Anna stepped out of the car and closed the door.
She turned to the guards. “Please, can you give us a few minutes? I only want to speak with her.”
“No,” the taller guard said flatly. “We have to return to the mansion. Now.”
“Please,” Anna insisted. “Just a few minutes.”
“No, we can’t. The Boss would be mad if he found out,” the shorter guard said.
“Please…” Anna said already getting tired of pleading.
The guards exchanged glances, silent for a moment.
The taller guard sighed and looked back at Anna. “Okay, but you have to talk to her here.”
“It’s private. We can’t talk here, but we won’t go far,” Anna added.
“Yes,” Monica chimed in, pointing to a small cafe across the street. “We’ll just be over there. Please.”
The guards glanced between Monica and Anna.
The taller one checked his watch, then looked back at Anna. “Ten minutes. That’s all.”
“Thank you,” Anna said, relief washing over her now that they had finally agreed.
The shorter guard leaned close to Anna, his voice a low growl near her ear. “You better not try anything funny. You don’t want to get the Boss upset.”
He pulled back, his cold eyes locking onto hers until she nodded.
Together, Anna and Monica crossed the busy street and entered the small cafe, the bell jingling overhead.
The air smelled of stale coffee and fried food.
“Let’s sit here,” Monica said, pointing to a small table near the window, not far from the entrance.
“Okay.”
They moved to the table and took their seats across from each other.
The seat creaked under Anna as Monica set her shopping bag on the floor.
“Who are those men with you?” Monica asked quietly. “They look… scary.”
“That’s none of your business,” Anna replied, avoiding her gaze. She focused on a sticky ring left by a previous cup.
“Just tell me what you want to say so we can get this over with.”
“Oh… okay,” Monica said, feeling somehow deflated by Anna’s response.
“So, what is it you want to talk about?” Anna asked, staring at Monica.
Monica held her gaze, struggling to find the right words, but they wouldn’t come.
Her fingers twisted together nervously in her lap.
Silence hung between them.
The only sound was the clatter of dishes from the kitchen.
After a moment, Anna let out a sigh, breaking the silence.
“You know, if you didn’t have anything to say, you wouldn’t have let me come here,” she said, turning to the window and staring outside.
Monica stared at Anna for a brief moment before speaking. “I’m sorry.”
Anna let out a bitter laugh, then turned to her. “Sorry? Sorry for what, exactly? For sleeping with my fiancé? For betraying me? Or for ruining our friendship?”
“I’m sorry for everything,” Monica whispered, lowering her head.
She was sorry for everything?
Sorry wouldn’t fix anything.
Anna stared at her, feeling the anger she’d tried to bury rise in her chest.
Her gaze flicked to Monica’s baby bump, visible beneath her tight dress.
“Is it for James?” Anna asked.
Monica followed Anna’s gaze, looking down at her stomach before meeting her eyes again.
She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “Yes.”
“I see,” Anna said, nodding and forcing a sarcastic smile. “How long were you and James sleeping together before I found out?”
Monica swallowed hard. “About a year.”
“A whole year?” Anna’s voice rose, making an older woman at the next table glance over. “You were sleeping with my fiancé behind my back for a whole year?”