Anya woke up from the sound of her phone. It was ringing for a call. She looked at the caller and saw it was Marie, so she immediately answered.
"Anya! Goodness, would you not do anything else than worry me?! Your assistants said you were taken away by Andrei last night! What happened?!" She frantically said. Anya sighed and smiled slightly.
"Ria, I'm alright." She said in a calm voice.
Marie heard this, and she stopped pacing back and forth. "Really? Where are you right now? I would go to you!"
Anya chuckled and answered that she was just in the apartment and that Marie should not worry.
Without saying anything more, Marie hung up the phone when she heard Anya's answer.
Anya looked at her phone exasperatedly and shook her head.
She then got up to get ready since she would have a guest early in the morning, especially if that friend would be in hysterics if she saw Anya in a mess and still in yesterday's clothes.
Anya took a quick shower and then changed into fresh clothes. Just after she finished preparing herself, her doorbell rang. She walked to the door to open it for her friend.
Marie directly went in and eyed Anya from head to toe, checking if her best friend was still in one piece.
"What happened? Are you okay?" Marie asked again, worried. Anya led her to the sofa first.
"Let's sit down for now," She said. Marie followed after her.
"Well, when Andrei tried to take advantage of me-"Anya tried to explain, but she was immediately cut off.
'He took advantage of you!" Marie exclaimed. Anya then appeased her.
"Calm down! He was drunk, and he failed; let me finish." She hissed. Marie grumbled and anxiously listened to her story.
"He failed because someone saved me. Damon Castellano," Anya said slowly. Marie shot her head at her.
"THE Damon Castellano? And the very guy who sends you gifts?" Marie asked, emphasizing the s. Anya had already tattled to her best friend everything. Almost.
"Yes, but that's not all." Anya started as she looked at her linked hands.
"He is also the father of my child." She whispered. She knew her friend was shocked as she couldn't say anything for a moment. So Anya looked up to see her friend's eyes wide as a saucer as she stared at Anya's face and then at her belly.
Anya raised a brow.
"What are you looking at?" She asked incredulously. Marie stared at her stomach again and stammered. "Y, you mean, you're pregnant?"
"What?! No!" Anya was also shocked at Marie's conclusion. This girl! "T-then,"
"I mean the surrogacy!" Anya exasperatedly said as she fanned herself. She was getting embarrassed at Marie's thoughts already.
"Why are you red?" Marie quizzed her with narrowed eyes.
"Because you're saying silly things, okay?! Stop thinking that way; we don't have that kind of relationship!" Anya exclaimed.
Marie studied her and hummed.
"Hmm, alright. But he is pursuing you, right?" She asked. Anya glanced at her and looked away.
"He offered for me to stay at his house last night after he saved me. He said I am not safe alone, and he could protect me well." Anya said nonchalantly and shrugged. Well, she tried. It was only now she realized that she was saying embarrassing things. She had not felt it last night, but with her best friend's scrutinizing eyes, she finally felt the ambiguity of their relationship.
"What? Well, that's great! He could indeed protect you closely, and you have your son!" Marie pushed. Anya narrowed her eyes at her. Where was the friend constantly reminding her to be cautious of men?
Marie said this and explained.
"Well, don't look at me that way. I know I said men could not be trusted, but this is Damon Castellano we are talking about! He won't waste his time just to mess with a woman unless he is interested in her." Marie hinted as she nudged Anya on the shoulder.
Anya irritatedly pushed her away.
"It is not that easy, okay? He already has a fiancé," Anya dropped. Marie was again shocked.
"What?! Does he plan to make you a mistress?! He is that kind of person?" Marie exclaimed. Anya saw that she was dirtying Damon's name to others, so she tried to explain.
"I mean, well, it is arranged. He said it was just his mother's desire, and no one could make him do anything he did not want to, but still-"
"Well, he said it! And I believe! A man like him can never be bossed and pushed around by anyone, even his family! He is that powerful," Marie convinced.
Anya sighed.
"I know. But Marie, I am not ready yet. I don't think I can take any more drama. It is still his mother. No matter what he says, he can't deny his mother can still influence his life," Anya retorted. Her friend was quiet for a moment.
"I just want a peaceful life. and that fiancé of his is fierce; I know she would not just let things be for Damon and me, so it is impossible." She added.
"But what about your son? Don't you want to be a family with him?" Marie asked concernedly.
When Anya heard this, she smiled bitterly.
"You know, how do I still have the right to fight for my right and dream to be with my son? I don't deserve him. I already accepted that I wouldn't be a part of his life long ago. I am already happy knowing him and seeing him grow up safely and healthy." She answered with a sigh in her heart.
Marie understood. This is just how Anya is. And she knew being in Damon's life was not as simple as it could be. She is all alone, and with her past, there is no doubt people would prey on her in Damon Castellano's big and dark world. When she enters it, she would only have Damon, no one else, by her side. Can they guarantee Damon could protect her and fight for her?
Marie sighed as well. The two became quiet for a moment.
Until Anya felt her stomach grumble. It was then she realized she had not eaten since yesterday. Her planned meal with her assistants was sabotaged by you-know-who.
So she broke the silence and offered to order a meal for the two of them. Marie agreed and stayed at Anya's apartment till lunchtime. When it was time to go back to work, Marie bid her goodbye and reminded Anya of a couple of things to watch out for. She then walked out of the apartment to head to her office.
Anya sat at her apartment alone. She felt quite lonely as she took up the quietness and coldness of the place.
She was pondering over this when her phone rang for a call. It was a video call request. Anya hesitated for a while, but remembering he was her savior, even though she didn't want to have any relationship, she also did not want to be rude. So she accepted the call.
Good thing she freshened herself up earlier.
When the call was on, he saw the man sitting straight on the couch, the camera sitting steadily at the table.
"Good morning," He greeted with a deep voice and a slight smile. Anya was struck for a moment, and she needed to blink her eyes a couple of times to recover.
"Uhm, good morning. Can I help you?" She greeted me back and tried to be professional.
Damon saw this, and his smile deepened.
"I just wanted to check whether you're okay now," He answered.
Anya heard this and was quite embarrassed. She remembered her topic with Marie earlier and felt her cheeks warm. This is Marie's fault!
"Yes, Uhm, yes. I am okay," She answered and tried to hide her shyness.
"That's good," He smiled again and was pretty distracted by something at his side.
"I'm sorry, but Allen wanted to see you since you last met. I think he heard I am calling you right now, and I am trying to get on camera," He chuckled as he motioned something to his side.
Anya heard this, and she froze slightly. Her son was just beyond the screen, and she could meet him. she wanted it so much that her heart raised.
"Well, he's here. Do you mind talking to him for a moment," Damon turned to her and smiled helplessly at Anya.
Anya bit her lips and said.
"Sure," She would love to. The words were daring to spill from her lips.
Damon had amusement in his eyes as he took his son from his nanny and faced the camera with him in his arms.
"Mommy!" The little boy greeted happily.
Anya felt like her heart was shot with an arrow, and she fell in love again and again with this baby. And this loveable and cute baby was her son!
When her eyes darted to the boy's hand, she saw a single mitten wrapped in one of his little hands. It is the very same mitten she has here with her.
Tears welled in Anya's heart, and she tried to blink them away. "Baby.." She called in a trembling voice.
My baby, Allen. It is you.