Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Leah
On any normal day, there’s nothing a good pizza can’t solve. Whenever I feel sad or overwhelmed by reality, I buy one. But as I bite into the delicious Italian dish inside the hotel’s almost empty restaurant, I don’t feel that usual peacefulness washes over me. I’m still thinking about the baby in my stomach and what this means: I need an abortion.even if I’m starting to want it less and less.
Suddenly, the whole table starts to vibrate due to my ringing phone. The word “dad” flashes on the screen, and I steel myself before answering the video call.
I hold my phone up to my face. “Hello?”
Immediately, I’m presented with an image of my parents coming up on the screen. They are sitting in our living room and smiling like dorks when they see me.
“There you are!” my mom exclaims. “How has Tokyo been treating you? Are you ready to come home?
“Ready to come home?” my dad snorts. “Please, our daughter isnt a baby–I bet she has enjoyed her time overseas,” his eyes narrow. “I hope Caleb hasn’t been too bossy with you.”
I can tell my dad is used to “work mode Caleb.” It’s a role and colder personality he takes on whenever work is involved, and I bet y
dad is used to seeing Caleb in that role since he is my dad’s boss. But since I’ve grown intimate with Caleb, a few kisses are enough to soften up the man, something my parents won’t hear about. I would be crazy to mention our romance or that I’m pregnant with Caleb’s kid.
“I’m more than ready to come home. Tokyo has been nice, but I want to eat American food,” I say with a smile, not wanting my parents to worry about me.
But nothing goes past my mom.
“Are you feeling okay, honey? You look a little pale, my mom points out in her mama voice, to which my dad rolls his eyes.
“Leah is fine, Anna,” he answers in my stead. “But she is eating, so we should probably hang up and leave her alone with her pizza. We don’t want her to eat cold food, right?”
My mom doesn’t look totally convinced that I’m fine, and she would be right. I’m not fine, and I swear my mom must have spider senses for noticing it immediately.
“I want Leah to answer me,” she says.
My smile wavers. It always happens when my mom shows compassion. “Yeah, I’m fine, Mom. I’m just a little tired. The time difference is still messing with me.”
“Alright, sweetie. Make sure you get enough rest on the airplane so that you have the energy to find your bagh And your dad and I will pick you up tomorrow.”
1 freeze at my mom’s words. “Wait, what? You don’t have to do that!”
“Nonsense,” my dad chimes in. “I don’t mind driving.”
“Besides, we have a surprise waiting for you at hpme gleam in her eye.
so we want you home as quickly as possible,” my mom says with a
19:15 Sat, Feb 1 B
Chapter 31
A surprise? Great, that’s just what I need on top of everything else. But I keep my smile for my parents. “Okay, I’m looking forward to it. See you tomorrow then.”
The phone call ends after we say our goodbyes, and I sigh once look back at my pizza. It no longer looks appetizing, not when my stomach churns with nerves.
What should I do about this pregnancy? An abortion doesn’t come for free, so I will need to tell my parents. But how am I going to break the news that their little girl is pregnant? By her boss, no less…
I’m startled out of my worries by a hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I see Lana smirking down at me with a salad in her free hand. “Hello, Leah. Mind if I join you?”
I want to say no since eating lunch with Caleb’s ex–wife is weird, but she is already taking her seat.
“So I’ve noticed that during our stay at this hotel, you and Caleb have been sharing a room,” she says with her eyes in her salad before finally looking up at me with fire in her eyes. “You’re fucking him, aren’t you?”
I nearly choke on my pizza at Lana’s blunt question. “Excuse me
She rolls her eyes and spears a piece of lettuce with her fork. “Oh please, don’t play dumb. It’s obvious that you two are into each other: the longing glances, the secret smiles…
My cheeks heat under her intense scrutiny. I set down my pizza slice, my appetite completely gone now. “Lana, I don’t know what-
Lana cuts me off with a harsh laugh. “Save it. I don’t need your excuses or denials. I’m just here to give you a friendly warning.”
I blink. “A warning?”
“Uh–huh,” she leans in closer, her smile menacing. “In fact, I saw Caleb leave the hotel this morning in the company of a beautiful woman.”
My heart stops at her words. Is she telling the truth? Did Caleb give me the day off just so he could go and fuck another woman?
No.
My Caleb wouldn’t do that.
“I don’t believe you,” I say in a low tone.
To my surprise, Lana doesn’t look mad. She just raises a perfect eyebrow, looking almost amused by my naivety. “Oh honey,
have no
idea what kind of man Caleb really is. I was married to him, remember? I know all his dirty little secrets. And you let me tell you, he’s not the faithful type. The filthy rich ones never are.”
When I say nothing, she leans back in her chair with her predatory smile still gracing her red–smeared lips. Shehen picks up her phone from her bag with her manicured nails, and presents it to me.
“Look for yourself,” she says.
Well, if she insists…
When I look down at the screen, my heart falters because Caleb indeed standing in the hotel lobby with another woman- and she is way more beautiful than me.
