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“Maybe next time, Bella,” I chuckle, reaching across the table to ruffle her brown hair playfully. “For now, let’s enjoy this amazing food.”
Our plates arrive, piled high with delicious breakfast treats. Isabella beams at her stack of fluffy pancakes, while my own plate holds a tempting tower of golden-brown French toast.
“Come on, Lily,” Isabella teases, wagging her fork at me. “You’re eating for two now, remember? Better get started on that French toast!”
My smile falters, and I glance down at my stomach, my hand instinctively moving to rest on it. The thought of my pregnancy still churns an uneasy mixture of emotions within me—love, fear, and a nagging doubt about what the future holds.
“Isabella, it’s not that simple,” I murmur, trying to keep my voice steady. “There’s a lot to consider, and I…I just don’t know what’s best right now.”
“Hey,” she says gently, her gaze softening with understanding. “Whatever you decide, I’m here for you, okay?”
“Thank you,” I breathe, touched by her unwavering support. It’s a fragile lifeline amidst the storm of uncertainty raging inside me.
“Besides,” she adds with a cheeky grin, spearing a piece of her pancake and waving it at me, “you don’t want this delicious breakfast to go to waste, do you?”
Laughing at her antics, I accept the playful challenge. With renewed determination, I pick up my fork and dig into my French toast, savoring the rich flavors that dance across my tongue. One bite at a time, I remind myself. That’s how I’ll figure this out—one step, one decision, one bite at a time.
The sun dips lower in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling café. I watch as Isabella’s eyes widen in disbelief, her fork hovering mid-air, dripping with syrup.
“Wait, you slept with all three of my brothers?” she asks incredulously, shaking her head. “Annalise, what were you thinking?”
I sigh, running my fingers through my wavy brown hair and meeting her gaze. “It just…happened, Isabella. I never planned for any of this.”
“Okay,” she says slowly, setting her fork down. “So who’s the father?”
“Nikhil,” I confess, my voice barely audible over the din of chatter around us. “He wants to make our relationship work, but it’s not so simple. I have feelings for Cassius and Damian too.”
Isabella leans back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. “That’s quite the predicament. But you’re going to have to make a choice eventually.”
I know she’s right. The weight of my decision presses down on me like a heavy fog, clouding my thoughts and making it difficult to breathe. I stare at my untouched French toast, the sweet scent of cinnamon doing little to ease my troubled mind.
“Can we talk about something else?” I ask quietly.
“Of course,” Isabella replies, her tone softening. She takes a sip of her coffee before launching into a story about her latest art project, the words flowing effortlessly from her lips.
As I listen to her animated tale, I can’t help but marvel at the stark contrast between our lives. Isabella’s world is filled with color and creativity, while mine has become a tangled web of secrets and desire.
My heart aches with longing for the simplicity of friendship—for the days when the biggest worry I had was deciding which movie to watch during our weekend sleepovers. Now, I’m caught in the middle of a dangerous dance with three alluring men, each one holding a piece of my heart.
I force myself to focus on Isabella’s words, her laughter and enthusiasm pulling me back from the edge of despair. For now, I find solace in our friendship—a brief reprieve from the storm that threatens to consume me.
“Annalise,” she says, her eyes shining with sincerity, “remember that no matter what happens, I’ve got your back.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, the words tinged with equal parts gratitude and fear. If only she knew just how much I needed that reassurance.
The sun casts long shadows across the cobblestone streets as Isabella and I sip our drinks. The café’s soft chatter provides a comforting backdrop to our conversation. My mind drifts, weighed down by the secrets I’ve shared.
“Damian’s wedding is next month, isn’t it?” Isabella asks, her voice pulling me back to the present moment.
I nod. “Yes, he’s marrying a woman from another bratva family.”
“Annalise, you know you shouldn’t have slept with him,” she admonishes gently, her eyes filled with concern. “It’ll only make things more complicated.”
My cheeks heat up at the thought of my tryst with Damian. “I know, but there was something about him…an intensity that drew me in.” My voice trails off as I recall the way his touch ignited a fire within me like no other.
Isabella sighs. “Well, what’s done is done. Just be careful, okay? These men aren’t like the ones you grew up with.”
“Trust me, I know,” I say, thinking of the dangerous world they inhabit. The thought of revealing the truth to the brothers terrifies me. Will they see me as a pawn, a means to an end? What if my betrayal pushes them to take drastic measures?
