Chapter 89 Chapter Eighty Nine
Sydney’s POV
Mark seemed to have gotten frozen on the spot. His hand that held the lighter remained poised at the tip of the cigarette that was still stuck in between his l*ps as he looked at me, or rather, as he gaped at me.
His hands fell to his side. His words were heavily coated with disbelief. “You’re not joking.
I gave him a blank look. When did we become such buddies that I would make such a joke? I thought. He must be thinking the same because he shook his head and we just stared at eachother like that for a while.
Suddenly, Mark seemed to now understand me as he quickly put away the cigarette and lighter away in his pocket.
He looked alarmed, slightly panicked as he took a step closer, his gaze monetarily shifting from the hallway to my face. I wondered, slightly amused in the midst of all these emotional turmoil, if he was going to run. Does the mention of a baby or the sight of a pregnant woman scare him
so much?
Instead he took a step forward and asked, sounding concerned, “Is it Lucas’s?” He gaze slid down. the hallway again, “Do you want me to bring him back? For you, I can allow him to stay here. I rolled my eyes. Why would he ask him to leave in the first place? And why is he even being nice? The Mark I remember doesn’t care then I remembered; he lost his memory.
I shook my head and gave an indifferent look. There’d be no need for that. I don’t want my man to stay with me just because of the child, that’s like trapping him and that will only lead to disasters.” I looked down the hall, attempting to hide the pain I was sure was glaring in my eyes, “He left because he wanted to, not because you asked him to. If he still loves me, he will come. back. I will keep waiting for him here.”
I turned back to Mark when I heard him sigh. His gaze was already on me and he said, “I feel sorry for your current situation.” I slightly raised my eyebrows at the look on his face. He actually did look sorry. Wow. Is this really Mark? “I will be honest though,” he continued, “I am still very happy that you chose to stand by my side, not his. I am grateful.”
“Then you should thank your Grandmother,” I said coldly, suddenly vexed that this whole shares thing was what caused the first big fight between Lucas and I. “It is her you need to be grateful to. She is a wise and visionary woman. If she had not asked me to give her my word in advance, trust me, I would have made a different choice today.”
He looked like he wanted to say something but he didn’t. Instead, he just stuck his hands back in his pocket and looked away from my face.
I broke the silence, feeling my anger rise, “I’m sorry.” Why am I even apologizing? “I am so f**king annoyed of your presence right now, I have to leave.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned my back to him and walked down the hallway. I could feel his gaze on my back as I strutted down the hallway.
My phone vibrated in my hands. When I checked it, I saw several missed calls from Grace. I almost smacked my head on my forehead when I remembered that I had dialed her number before I saw Mark. She must have gotten worried when I didn’t pick her calls.
I picked up the call. “Hey!” I said and even I could hear the urgency that tinged my voice, “Come pick me up.”
There was a short pause and I could easily picture Grace’s eyes probing me if I were before her. Then she said softly but I couldn’t miss the confusion that coated her words even if I wanted to, “Sydney, what’s wrong? Did something happen? You sound… off.”
I swallowed, “Nothing is wrong. Oh, a lot is wrong. Then I added in a small voice, “I just want to go home.”
Grace didn’t ask me any more questions. “I’ll be there in a jiffy, was all she said before I hung up. Chapter 89 Chapter Eighty Nine
I looked around me and saw that I was already outside. All the bustling noise of the busy streets near and far, started to register, the honks of cars mixed with the occasional screeching of tires. I turned and saw the bench that was always there, at the far end of the coffee shop beside the GT Group building. Thankfully, no one was there. I simply walked and slowly lowered myself on the
Scal
My eyes were trained in the distance, but my mind was in a more distant place, filled with doubtful and fearful thoughts.
Soon enough, Grace’s car appeared in my sight. And thankfully, I didn’t need to shout her name or walk back to the front of the GT Group building because she saw me sitting there..
She nodded and stopped. I numbly got on my feet, opened the door that Grace had opened halfway and climbed into the car beside Grace.
None of us said anything as Grace drove to the parking space of GT Group and made a U–turn. As she drove us home. I kept my gaze glued to the window beside me. But I could feel her constantly peering at me. Finally, she broke the serene silence and asked gently. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I turned my face to the front, looking ahead at the cars before us then I shook my head. I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes,my ch*st rising as I sighed.
That was one thing I loved about Grace, she never probed or forced me to speak. She always knew when I needed peace and she always gave me. It was like her little superpower.
I didn’t hear her say anything. She just quietly drove us home.
By the time we got to our apartment and the car rolled to a stop as Grace parked, I had finally sorted out my emotions and I was ready to speak.
As soon Grace removed the key from the ignition and the purring of the engine stopped.i blurted out. “Lucas and I broke up, he’s going back to Italy, and I’m pregnant with his child.”
I didn’t need to see Grace’s face to know that she was stunned. She definitely hasn’t expected a lot to happen in such a short time. I hadn’t expected it either.
I finally looked her way and I saw her firm grip on the steering wheel as she took everything in. And probably thinking of the right words to say.
“Sydney…” she finally turned to me and our eyes met. As usual, her eyes were filled with concern for me. I really hated that I always made her worried. Why does stuff always have to just sprout. up from nowhere in my life?
“Yes?”
What… what are you going to do?” Her voice trembled as she got her question out.
I looked ahead and with another sigh, I answered. “Obviously, I will keep the child. As for Lucas… I trailed off, suppressing the sudden pain
anger and pity for myself that aroused as I
said his name. “I will leave him be”
“So. Grace started tentatively but I already knew what was on her mind.
“Yes,” I said, saving her the stress, “I don’t plan to tell him the news.”
Grace exhaled. Then she suddenly asked in a falsely relaxed tone. “Can I be the child’s godmother then?”
My smile widened in a wide grin as the warmth of her support struggled to subdue the pain in my heart and I can already see how easier the journey and trials will all be as long as I have my best friend by my side. I glanced at her, “Of course, if it’s not you, who else? I couldn’t find a more suitable godmother than you.”
She undus her seatbelt and leaned toward me, engulfing me in a warm hug. She said gently, “Thank you. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be the unborn baby’s godmother. I can’t wait to hold him or her in my hands.”
I hugged her back and let the tears fall freely. I rid myself of the heartache as I clung to her, wetting her shirt with my tears. And Grace just silently held me like she always did. Her hold on me tightened then the sound of her muffled sobs reached my ears.
