Audrey's POV
It was already morning. It had been a long time since I'd actually had a good night's sleep. My home, as I've said, is a very busy one — Dad, Mother, and Andrew were already up and ready to go to work, while all I wanted was to stay curled up in bed all day.
"Wake up, sleeping head. You're not going to cook yourself up here in your room all day. You need to get up and live your life. Dr. Malvin will be here to check on you and…" my mother drifted off. She knows I'm still not ready to tell anyone I'm going to be a mother yet, so she's just giving me the space I need.
"Play nice and listen to her," my mother added with a soft smile.
And then — just like that — my dad and brother walked in. Like a duo, both put their hands into their pockets and pulled out a black card toward me as my mum looked at them with a knowing smile. Everyone started to laugh.
"Well, I'll take this," I said, taking the card from my dad and brother.
"Mum, what about you?" I asked.
"Well, they know when I'm bored, I buy things. Just go shopping."
"Fine. Here, you can have mine. I already called the bank and all your cards are active," my mother said.
"Have fun, sweetie," my mother added.
"Try not to buy anything useless, okay?" my brother said with a smirk.
"Call me, baby girl. Or you can drop by the law firm, okay? Daddy loves you."
And just like that, all three of them were gone.
For a second, I didn't feel pregnant. Whatever Dr. Malvin did yesterday was working — I wasn't in pain. I felt like I was back in full Audrey-swing mood. The spoiled 18-year-old brat. I think I deserve that.
I went and took a nice shower. Standing in front of my drawer, none of my clothes felt like my taste anymore, but I finally found something. Just then, my phone rang.
Eden Rafaella Shepherd Anderson.
I hesitated for a second before picking up. My baby sister's voice came through the line, smooth and cheerful as always.
"Finally! My runaway sister answers her phone. Do you know how many times I've called you? You could've at least pretended to be alive."
I smiled despite myself. "Good morning to you too, Eden. Where in the world are you now?"
"Tokyo. But don't change the subject. You left me hanging, Audrey. Do you know what it feels like to hear from the tabloids that your sister filed for a divorce, instead of hearing it from her? Oh, and let's not forget — whispers about you being pregnant. Do you even care about my poor heart?" she teased, but there was concern under her words.
I froze, clutching the phone tighter. "What… what did you just say?"
"Oh, don't play dumb with me. You think you can hide things from me, Auds? You've forgotten who you're talking to. I'm Eden Rafaella Shepherd Anderson, the one who can get the world's most secret files with just a smile."
"Eden, stop it. I don't want to talk about—"
"Fine. Then let's talk about this: Jeremy." Her voice dropped. "He's making a mess. The Gillians are falling apart, Simon's stirring things, and guess what? They still think you're missing. Or kidnapped. Jeremy hasn't denied it either. And you know what's worse? He's acting like he doesn't care, but I've seen the way he looks in those photos. He's rotting without you, sis."
I sank onto my bed, torn between anger and the ache in my chest.
"Eden, I didn't ask for your report."
"Yeah, but you need it. And Audrey?" Her tone softened. "You don't have to be strong with me. I know you're hurting. Just… let me be your shield this time, okay?"
For a moment, I wanted to cry again. But instead, I whispered, "I'll think about it."
"Good girl. Oh, and one more thing — I'll be home soon. And when I get there, Jeremy Gillian better hope I never cross paths with him."
"Eden…" I warned, but she'd already hung up, leaving me staring at the phone with a storm of emotions brewing inside me.
---
I pulled the brim of my hat lower and adjusted my dark shades. The mall was crowded, but not enough to make me invisible. My driver trailed behind with a trolley full of shopping bags. I just wanted to pick a few things and disappear before anyone recognized me.
"Hello there, beautiful."
I froze.
That voice.
I turned slowly, and there he was — Simon. Looking maddeningly casual in a white shirt rolled at the sleeves, eyes sparkling like he'd just won a prize.
My stomach knotted. "Take the bags to the car," I said quietly to my driver, who obeyed without question. I took off my shades, meeting Simon's gaze.
"Good to see you," he said, grinning. "You look great. Stunning, actually."
"Simon…" My voice came out sharper than I intended. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped closer, closing the distance as if the entire world had disappeared. "I told you I'd find you, Audrey. El Salvador, space, the moon—doesn't matter. I'm not giving up."
I opened my mouth to speak, to push him away, when something flickered in my peripheral vision. A familiar shape. A presence I could feel before I saw it.
My heart stopped.
Jeremy.
Standing on the other side of the mall, near the escalator, staring at me. His posture rigid, eyes locked on mine like a blade.
What the—?
My breath caught as questions collided in my head. What is he doing here? How did both of them find me?
Simon noticed my shift and glanced over his shoulder, his smile dimming when he followed my gaze. "Ah," he muttered. "So he came too."
The air between the three of us grew thick, heavy with something I couldn't name. For a second, I wasn't sure who I feared more — the man who wouldn't stop chasing me or the man I once loved who looked at me now like a stranger and whom I want to kill.