Chapter 57: Will You Be His Pet Cat?

After a week away on business, Livia couldn't resist and made a call to Angelo.

There was no answer, so she followed up with a text asking when he'd be back.

While waiting for a reply, Livia received a call from Bronte.

She had arrived at Elmrest Springs train station.

Livia told Matilde she was going to pick up Bronte. Matilde was surprised by her sudden visit.

Picking up Bronte, Livia said outright, "You've lost weight."

"Have I?" Bronte glanced down at herself. "I don't think so."

"You have." Livia nodded confidently, then patted her own waist. "I've put on weight."

Bronte gave her a quick once-over. "Are you even ninety pounds?"

Livia shook her head. "Haven't checked. By the way, why did you suddenly decide to come?"

Instantly, Bronte's demeanor drooped.

"What's wrong?" Sensing something amiss, Livia linked arms with her, and they walked toward the subway station.

"I came to get a physical checkup at the hospital." Bronte sighed. "Rhodes brought up having a baby a few days ago, and I'm somewhat scared."

Livia understood her fear.

Bronte had been pregnant once during her previous marriage, but it was an ectopic pregnancy that nearly took her life.

Every married woman wants her own child, but after that experience, Bronte was understandably frightened.

Even those who hadn't lived through such a traumatic event would be scared at the thought of bleeding out on the operating table.

"It's okay. Rest up today and I'll go with you to the hospital tomorrow," Livia consoled her. "Medical technology is so advanced now, you'll surely get your wish."

Trying to appear composed, Bronte smiled weakly. "I've asked at a hospital back home, and the doctors suggested IVF. I've discussed it with Rhodes, and he's willing to spend any amount as long as we can have a child."

"Why didn't he come with you?"

"He's tied up at the office," Bronte replied. "I figured I'd get checked out first, and if natural conception isn't in the cards, we'll consider IVF."

Livia nodded in agreement. "Okay."

The subway was always crowded, forcing Livia and Bronte to stand.

Suddenly, someone stared at Livia, whispering to a friend before cautiously approaching her. "Excuse me, were you interviewed on the street recently?"

Livia blinked in surprise, hardly expecting to be recognized by a random video.

She smiled sheepishly. "Yes, that was me."

"You really are beautiful in person. Are you sure you're not a celebrity?" the girl exclaimed, clearly excited.

Livia felt a bit awkward. "I'm just an ordinary person."

"But you're so pretty. And your boyfriend is super handsome, the scholarly, talented type. You guys are perfect together," the girl gushed, her and her friend's delight unmistakable.

Livia was flustered.

"No, you've got it wrong. We're just friends, really." Livia hadn't realized the video would have such an impact.

"Friends can turn into more," the girl said enthusiastically. "You two should definitely be a couple."

Livia fell silent.

Finally, their stop arrived, and Livia hurriedly escorted Bronte off the train.

"What was that about? A boyfriend?" Bronte inquired, curious. "Are you seeing someone new?"

"No. It's just a friend. I ran into him at the airport a few days ago and then got interviewed on the street. It was a misunderstanding," Livia didn't expect things to blow up like this.

Bronte could tell she wasn't lying. "Sounds like you two would make a good match. So, did you really break up with Angelo?"

Now, Livia truly didn't know how to define her relationship with Angelo.

'Keeping a romantic relationship secret is just ridiculous,' she thought.

To avoid a repeat of the subway incident, Livia decided to catch a taxi home.

She clarified to Bronte, "Don't mention anything about Angelo to my mom. She doesn’t know."

"Sure," Bronte agreed without hesitation.

Once home, Matilde naturally brought up Bronte's situation, which she recounted honestly.

Matilde could only offer her reassurance that everything would work out.

At five in the afternoon, Matias arrived home from work.

Soon, dinner was ready and the family gathered around the table. After some casual conversation, Matias said, "I checked out that company today, it’s quite impressive. Their control room even has a private bathroom and a lounge – definitely an upgrade from my current work environment."

"Did you find a new job?" Bronte asked, interested.

“The leadership at my previous company offered me a job with a bit higher salary and a little less stress. They told me to give it some thought. So, I decided to check it out, and it really is a great place," Matias beamed. "I'm planning to start tomorrow."

"That's pretty nice," Bronte said.

"When I went there today, I happened to see Mr. Bradley returning, and that big-time celebrity was still with him. That's when I remembered the last time I saw that actress in his car. Now that they're coming and going together, she must be the future Mrs. Bradley."

Livia caught the critical detail. 'Angelo's back?'

"Mr. Bradley? A female star?" Bronte asked. "What company are you at now?"

"It's a jewelry retailer. The star's name is Valentia. She's a real catch – beautiful and talented. They make a good couple." Matias was oblivious to his daughter's changing complexion.

Reading the room, Bronte glanced at Livia, who quickly flashed a reassuring smile that she was all right.

After dinner, Bronte followed Livia back to her room, closed the door behind them, and pressed her for details about her real situation with Angelo. Had they really broken up?

"He's with Valentia now, and you're not jealous?" Bronte was baffled, "How can you stay calm?"

Feeling a sense of loss that turned into resignation, Livia replied, "What can I do? Angelo never wanted our relationship to be public."

"So what's your plan? Just keep going like this? Be his adored pet cat?" Bronte shook her head, "That's no good. What will you have in the end? You might even get trash-talked by Valentia."

Livia's heart broke.

'He had asked me to pick him up from the airport before the business trip, but he returned without a word.

'He doesn’t answer calls or reply to messages. I was hoping he might be planning a surprise of some sort, but it seems that he’s now bring Valentia to work with him.'

The irony didn't escape her—the one to uncover this was her father.

"Livia?" Bronte frowned, patting her shoulder. "What are you going to do about this?"

Livia bit her lip, a sign of her resignation. "I'm done, there’s nothing left to do."

"You’re giving? Not even going to ask for an explanation?"

"It was never going to last with him. Since he's made up his mind, why shouldn't I just go with the flow?" Livia took a deep breath, her voice tinged with fatigue. "Guessing, doubting, the uncertainty, it's exhausting when you can't see a future."

Hunched over and covering her face to take a moment, Livia soon looked up with a self-deprecating smile. She turned to Bronte, her words laced with bitterness. "I don't even know how I ended up like this."