Chapter 0416
SHARON
My ally has asked that we meet today and I agreed.
I looked at my face in the mirror. The worry was evident in my features. My gaze fell on my stomach, my fake stomach.
This 'ally' has refused to say why she wanted to help me. And I'm left to wonder; does she know about my fake pregnancy? So when she proposed that we meet in person, I accepted immediately.
I took a deep breath and smoothed my hands over my blouse. "Let's go see what the fuss is all about," I muttered. I grabbed my bag and made my way out of the house.
Once I was seated in my car, I exhaled one more time. Then I looked through my bag to be sure that the pepper spray, stun gun and taser were intact.
She didn't sound dangerous, but you never could tell. Besides, whoever knows my secret right now is dangerous.
I punched in the address she sent to me and headed to the restaurant. It was an old restaurant in a remote area. I parked about a mile away from the restaurant and walked the rest of the way.
After what felt like forever, I stopped before the building of the restaurant that looked like it would collapse any minute from then. I dialed her number.
"I'm here," I simply said.
There was a pause then, "But I don't see you. Where ar- Oh, I've seen you. You have on mom jeans and a black blouse, right?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll be right out."
She was a beautiful young lady. She had on a crop tank top under her loose denim overalls. She didn't look like someone who could offer any help to me and I wondered, once again, what she could possibly want to help me with. I have never seen her before, so how does she know and why does she think I need help? Definitely, she must know something about me. But what does she know?
She waved even though she knew I could see her. "Hey!"
I forced my lips into a smile and walked up to her.
"Thank you for coming," she said and together we walked into the cafe.
I sat there, my bag on my lap and watched as she ordered two large cups of orange juice for the both of us.
She turned back to me with a smile. "I know we aren't here to have a chithat over drinks, but we can't just sit here and take up space. They won't allow it."
I nodded, "I understand."
"So..." I began after they dropped the large cups before both of us. "You said you're my ally?" I finally said, unable to remain patient anymore.
She took her time and drank a good amount of the juice before she returned the cup to the table and faced me.
She began and I appreciated that she was very straightforward. "I love Dennis but he wouldn't look at me. I know Dennis is Anastasia's husband. And I know there's the risk that Anastasia might take your husband from you soon." I watched her carefully. "Why did you say that?"
"Because I know that your husband might still have feelings for his ex, Ana, and it's now worse because she has two kids for him, we both know the story behind that so I won't dive in."
The hair on my skin stood. It was so uncanny how she knew all of this and I had no idea who she was. "Who are you?" I asked
She shrugged. "A woman in love," she smiled.
I narrowed my eyes at her. She
rolled her eyes and reclined in her seat. "I used to work for Dennis in one of his bars. When he found out that Move him, he got scared of his own feelings and fired me.
When she first mentioned Dennis, it had taken a while for me to remember that he was Anastasia's husband. That man was completely taken by Ana, just like Aiden. What does she mean he got scared of his own feelings?
"So how do you intend to help me?"
She leaned forward and placed her hand on the table and looked at me in the eye. It took everything in me not to look away from her stare.
"Don't you want Aiden all to yourself? Do you want to keep living in fear that you might lose him one day?"
When I didn't say anything, she continued. "We'll actually help eachother. I'll help you and you'll help me too."
"Go straight to the point," I hissed.
She smirked. "We'd work together to separate our love interests from Anastasia."
"How?"
She shrugged. "It's simple. The children are the connectors. We get rid of the children. That way, her hold on the men will weaken, especially on Aiden. She was right, but...
"What do you mean..." I paused, eyeing her. "What do you mean 'get rid of the children," I rushed out, the words too heavy for my mouth.
She shrugged again. "I mean it in every sense of the word, Sharon."
I gaped at her, horrified. She said it so casually as if 'getting rid of the children' was getting rid of weeds in a garden.
"You're joking, aren't you?"
She chuckled. "I won't go through all this stress to humor you, Sharon. I'm not a paid clown or comedian."
Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed my bag, noisily pushed the chair back, gaining the attention of the few people that sat around. She looked up at me, shocked. "What are you doing?" She stammered.
"Never ever in your entire life contact me again," I told her lethally. I might be hoarding a secret, but that doesn't make me a weakling.
I was satisfied by the fear I glimpsed in her eyes before I turned around and strutted out of the ruined restaurant.
As I drove back home, my hands on the steering wheel shook despite my hard grip on it.
I thought of how I was no difference from her by faking a pregnancy for months. recalled how desperately! had begged the doctor to keep my secret, how I had threatened our house keeper. I thought of what I'd do if she had tried to tell Aiden and a shiver run down my spine.
I was no different from that girl, ready to do anything just to keep a man.
But Aiden wasn't just a man. He was a dream come true. And to keep that dream, I need to come clean.