Chapter 101 Need To Talk
ANNA'S POV
I watched as people started to file out of the estate. That was the least way I expected the party to end.
Ryan watched me like he was waiting for me to say something. The words couldn't leave my mouth. I wrapped my arm around my mom, and she turned around to hug me so tight that it felt like my bones were going to crack under the pressure.
“Are you okay?” I asked, and she sniffled. I felt her tears drop on my shoulder, and it broke my heart more than it was supposed to.
“How am I supposed to be okay?” She asked, her shoulders shaking. “I just watched the little girl that I adopted as a baby walk away with the one man who broke my biological daughter's heart. How the hell am I supposed to be okay?”
I was supposed to feel hurt myself. But for some reason, I didn't. Daniel hurried over to her side as well, running his hands on her shoulders in the most delicate manner possible. I knew that this was their thing, and I left him to it as I went to face my dad.
He was extremely silent. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, but his eyes were slightly wet. There was pain written all over him.
“Dad,” I called out softly, and he turned to face me, wrapping his arms around me in a hug.
“She acted like she was the perfect child all this time. What changed?” He asked in a whisper. I knew the answer immediately.
I happened. She changed after I arrived. The way she was greeting every single one of the family members until her eyes fell on me. That was the moment she changed—the moment she wanted to exact revenge on me.
I just didn't think that she was going to stoop so low, to the extent of trying to frame me for stealing the family heirloom. That was too much for even me.
And now, she had gone home with James. As I looked around the hall, I noticed that there was one person standing there who wasn't supposed to be there.
Melissa.
Her eyes were on mine the entire time. Her hands were balled into fists, digging into her dress. Her feet seemed to be rooted in place, and it took me everything not to drag her the hell out of here.
Before I could even look away, she took a deep breath and walked towards me. She wasn't breathing. I could see it through the tiny dip in between her collarbones.
I attempted walking away, but she was quicker. She quickly held on to my arms.
“What do you want?” I asked without second thought. She was the last person who should even dare or try to talk to me.
“We need to talk, Anna. And you know.”
I quickly yanked my hand away from hers. “You must have some nerve trying to even approach me after all this time. Do I have to remind you that our friendship is over?”
“I know that,” she said through gritted teeth. But we can't just watch this man use us like this.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Use us?” I asked, frowning as I turned to face her properly.
“He only used the people who added any value to his life. And I'm sorry, Melissa. But I don't think you check that box.”
She flinched for just a second before tipping her chin again. “Good thing I was the one that he could show off to the world.”
“And yet, he had just taken another woman to your home.”
She ran her hands through her hair, like she didn't even care about how many hours it had taken her to get the hair ready.
“I shouldn't be doing this with you, Anna. But James is the one person we have in common that has played us in our faces.”
I wanted to scream and tell her to leave. But then, I paused mid-sentence, biting my tongue.
She wanted my help. I didn't need her help much, but she could be of slight relevance to me. Especially since she was closer to James. She could be my little spy.
But I wasn't going to be making any hasty decisions. “Fine,” I said, tipping my chin. “I’ll think about it.”
“I'll call you,” she whispered. I wanted to ask her how she was going to get my number. But at that point, I didn't even care.
I turned around, realizing that it was just me and Ryan left.
“Where are Mom, Dad, and Daniel?” I asked, and he sighed, slouching his shoulders.
“Daniel took them upstairs to try to put them to bed. Trust me, they're going to be acting like children for a while.”
I allowed myself a small smile. “I'm not sure I'm going to have a problem with that. They're my parents for a reason.”
“And work?” He asked.
“I have an assistant. She'll be handling everything. Plus, I can work from home for a while.”
“Would you like me to keep an eye on Isabel for you?” He asked, and I almost jumped at the offer. But I quickly held myself back. I couldn't keep asking for his help. I've been showing up for myself this whole time. It wasn't going to be new doing it all over again.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I think I'm fine on my own. You and Daniel have done enough. I should take it up from here.”
He looked slightly disappointed, but didn't say a word as he nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets. I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around him in a hug.
“I should probably head upstairs too,” I whispered as the cleaners started clearing all the glasses of champagne, and plates of half eaten food.
“Of course,” Ryan muttered, looking slightly hurt that I was about to leave him. But staying around him was the one thing that I couldn't afford to do at that point. Not when I was constantly feeling weird.
I turned around, hearing only the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floor as I headed upstairs. I stopped briefly, right in front of my parents' bedroom.
“Happy anniversary Mom and Dad,” I whispered, letting a single tear slip.