[KYLE]
"It's been four months. Aren't you going to tell Joenathan about your pregnancy?"
I sat down with an exasperated sigh right after delivering food to a customer's table. Angela's question made me look at her irritably.
"Could you stop bringing up that man's name, Angela?" I replied sarcastically.
Angela looked at me with utter seriousness. She even shifted in her seat to face me.
"Kyle, your belly is getting bigger. You need to hold Joenathan accountable. Are you really going to let him live happily married while you—"
"I'm happy, Angela. I don't need to ask him to come back or tell him about my pregnancy," I said, cutting her off.
Angela fell silent for a moment, looking somewhat stunned. This wasn't the first time she'd asked me to tell Joenathan about my pregnancy.
Four months ago, after I divorced Joenathan, I moved in with Angela. I also helped her run the restaurant while earning a wage.
In this remote town, I was lucky to find work at another shop even though I was pregnant. I knew some people who knew me pitied my situation.
"Do you think I don't see how much you're struggling with your pregnancy?" Angela asked pointedly.
I let out a heavy sigh, then gave her a faint smile. I tried to reassure Angela because she was always worried about me.
"I don't want to talk about that man, Angela. I'm not convinced he'll take responsibility," I replied firmly.
Angela snorted. She seemed fed up with me constantly arguing with her.
I had just stood up, intending to do something else, when my attention was drawn by the restaurant bell chiming.
"Welcome to the restaurant—" My voice suddenly faltered when I saw who had entered.
My whole body froze as I watched a familiar man approach me. Everything seemed to stop turning when I saw him again—the man who had thrown me away just to be with another woman.
Four months had passed, and the pain in my chest was still there.
Seeing Joenathan return after so long brought back memories of our separation. I also remembered what it felt like to be discarded because Joenathan had chosen to be with Zeeva.
"Joenathan?" My voice came out in a whisper.
Now Joenathan was standing in front of me. Four months had passed, but he hadn't changed much. His gaze was still sharp, his aura intimidating, and he looked like he had something urgent to say.
"We finally meet again, Kyle," Joenathan said in greeting.
I hadn't even had a chance to say anything.
Wait. How had Joenathan found me?
"Why did you come here?" I asked curtly.
I was truly sick of seeing his face.
"I can find you anywhere, anytime, Kyle. No matter how far you go—"
"Get out of here. I don't want to see your face," I cut him off firmly.
Joenathan looked shocked by my reaction. He probably hadn't expected me to be this cold toward him.
Did Joenathan think I still loved him?
That was impossible after four months had passed and everything he'd put me through.
"Kyle, I need to talk to you," Joenathan said. "It's very important. I know I've made a huge mistake, but please listen to me."
I let out a mocking laugh when he said that. I looked away, deliberately showing him how disgusted I was.
"Didn't you hear me? I don't want you here, Joenathan. Who invited you?"
Joenathan looked slightly taken aback. Instead, he reached for one of my hands and stared at me intensely.
"I know you're furious with me over what happened between us. But I really want us to talk, Kyle," Joenathan replied, trying to persuade me.
I turned my gaze toward Angela, who looked worried and was waiting for me. With my eyes, I begged Angela for help and signaled that I didn't want to see Joenathan.
"Kyle..." Joenathan tightened his grip on my hand. "I'm so sorry for the way I treated you. All this time, I haven't been able to stop imagining what you've been going through."
I tried to pull my hand free, but he was incredibly strong, as if he desperately needed me.
"Joenathan, let go of my hand! I don't love you anymore, and I want nothing to do with you!" I said firmly, though my voice was low.
I tried not to cause a scene and draw the attention of the other customers in the restaurant. Especially since I was pregnant and Joenathan's tight grip was hurting my hand.
I suddenly became afraid that Joenathan might get even rougher with me.
"Kyle, I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me. Can we talk for a moment?"
"What are you doing? Let go of her hand!"
Joenathan was shoved backward, and his grip came loose at the same time.
I nearly stumbled and fell, but Angela caught me. When I looked over, I saw Anthony pushing Joenathan away from me.
"Who are you?" Joenathan asked Anthony.
Anthony furrowed his brows. "I should be asking you that. Who are you? Oh, are you Joenathan, the CEO of Big Dore Orc Company who abandoned his wife?"
I suddenly panicked when Anthony said that. Anthony was the man who had been helping me for the past three months. We'd first met at this restaurant, and he had continued looking out for me ever since.
"What do you mean? I don't know you—"
Joenathan's words stopped. He looked back and forth between Anthony and me. Then, a few seconds later, he let out a mocking laugh.
"Oh, have you found another man, Kyle? Or... is that baby you're carrying not mine, but his?"
SLAP!
I instinctively slapped Joenathan after he said that. I knew it would draw the attention of many customers around us, but I couldn't hold myself back.
"Don't talk nonsense. Do you think I'm like you, sleeping around with all kinds of women?" I shot back coldly.
My heart ached at his question. I didn't care if he eventually found out about my pregnancy. But instead, he had thrown a hurtful accusation at me.
Joenathan held one of his cheeks, then stared at me in disbelief.
"You said you loved me, Kyle. Why are you slapping me now?"
"I loved you once, Joenathan. Not anymore," I said firmly. "That's why I didn't want to tell you about my pregnancy."
"You shouldn't have done this to me," Joenathan said. "If you're carrying my child, why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought I could tell you, but after seeing your reaction... you still think I'm a low-class woman."
Just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my abdomen. I immediately squeezed my eyes shut and clutched my stomach. My body swayed as I felt something jolt inside me.
"Kyle, are you okay?" Anthony immediately asked, stepping toward me.
"Kyle, come with me. I want to talk to you about something—"
"Go away, Joenathan! I don't want to see your face!"