Chapter 239: A common enemy

Words : 1201 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 239: A common enemy Anne’s eyes fluttered open, blinking against the soft light. The first thing she saw was Augustine, sitting right beside her, his gaze locked on her face like he hadn’t looked away once. "You are awake," he said gently, relief spilling into his voice. His hand tightened around hers. "How are you feeling? Any dizziness? Anything hurting?" Anne gave him a faint smile, though her chest felt heavy. The memories of what had happened—Margaret’s rage, the accusation, the slap, the pendant—rushed back in fragments. Still, she tried to push it down. "I’m sorry," she whispered. "I must have scared you." "Don’t apologize," Augustine said, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "Of course, I was scared." He stopped himself and exhaled, brushing her cheek with his fingers. "But the doctor checked everything. You are okay. And you need to stay that way. No more stress, understand?" She nodded, eyes searching his. "So... what did the doctor say, exactly?" A slow, glowing smile spread across his face. "You are pregnant." His eyes lit up like the sun had just risen in them. "We are going to have a baby." Anne didn’t react right away. For a second, she thought she had misheard him. Maybe it was just the ringing in her ears. But the look on Augustine’s face stayed the same: glowing, full of joy. "What did you say? Did you say I’m... pregnant?" "Yes, my sweet wife," he confirmed, his smile widening. "You are going to have our baby." Her lips parted in disbelief, then curved into a radiant smile. "I’m pregnant. We are going to have a baby." "Yes," he said again, softer this time. She sat up and threw her arms around his neck, holding him tight. "Oh my God, Augustine," she whispered, her voice catching. "We are going to be parents." Tears gathered in her eyes, her chest swelling with something deeper than happiness. For so long, she had chased the idea of family, had clung to the hope of reconnecting with her roots, her real parents. That hope had been shattered cruelly by Margaret’s accusations and rejection. But in this moment, none of that mattered. She had Augustine. She had a life growing inside her. That was her family—small, real, and full of love. Blinking away her tears, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. "You, me, and our baby... This is our family now. Just us three." Augustine cupped her face, gently brushing away the tear tracks on her cheeks. "You have changed everything for me, Anne," he said. "You lit up a life. You gave me love, laughter, and purpose. And now, this child... you’ve made me whole. Thank you for loving me. For making this our life." Anne couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears came fast, unstoppable. The weight of everything she had held inside finally spilled out. Her voice trembled as she leaned into Augustine. "It’s you who completes me." Her shoulders shook with every sob. Her mind drifted to the life she had left behind—the one that ended in betrayal and heartbreak. She had loved the wrong man, trusted the wrong people, and died without ever knowing what real love felt like. Her past life had been a tragedy, start to finish. But this life... this life was different. And it was all because of Augustine. He had changed everything. She wanted to tell him the truth that she had been given another chance, that her soul had carried the pain of a life cut short. But she stopped herself. No one would believe such a thing, and she didn’t want to burden him with something so strange, so heavy. Instead, she looked into his eyes and let the truth of her feelings pour out. "Before you, I was a wreck. I was buried in heartbreak, stuck in the belief that no one could ever truly love me. I thought if I made everyone else happy, maybe someone would finally see me, want me. Even when people hurt me, I kept smiling. But inside, I was falling apart." She let out a shaky breath, then smiled through the tears, squeezing his hands. "But then you came into my life—like a storm that cleared the wreckage. You didn’t just change my life... You changed the very me. You showed me love that’s real, safe, and alive. You gave me reasons to breathe again." Augustine’s eyes glistened. He reached for her, pulling her closer. "We are two halves of one whole," he said. "We complement each other. And I swear, I’ll never stop trying to make you smile. Never stop choosing you." He leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a soft, tender kiss. Anne smiled against his mouth, her tears still falling—but now they were tears of joy. She kissed him back, whispering between kisses, "And I’ll never stop loving you." On the outskirts of the city, Lorie stepped out of a cab and approached the small, roadside café Megan had told her about. It was quiet, almost eerily so, with only a handful of customers scattered across the room. The place felt like it belonged in a forgotten postcard. Inside, tucked into a corner booth, Megan sat alone, tapping at her phone, a coffee steaming in front of her.ƒreewebηovel.com Lorie paused just outside the door, adjusting the scarf wrapped tightly around her head and lower face. She took a breath and walked in. "Good afternoon, ma’am," she said as she reached the table. "It’s been a long time." Megan looked up, instantly wary. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the woman standing in front of her. Since Lorie’s face was half covered, she couldn’t recognize her. "Who are you? I’m waiting for someone. Don’t sit here," she said quickly, frowning as Lorie moved to pull out the chair. "It’s me," Lorie replied. "Lorie." Megan blinked, squinting at the eyes behind the scarf. "Lorie?" Her expression twisted with confusion and judgment. "Why did you cover your face? And that sweater—it’s drowning you." She remembered Lorie as polished and stylish, always put together, always catching eyes. But the woman standing before her now looked nothing like the version Megan used to admire. Lorie’s stomach turned as memories of the daily abuse she suffered came rushing back. The scars on her body and the bruises on her face were enough to frighten anyone. She had no option but to hide them beneath a loose, oversized sweater and keep her face covered. "It’s a long story," she murmured, her voice low and worn. "I’ll tell you some other time. I can’t stay long." Only she knew how much she had pleaded with Robert to let her out, how she had spun a story about visiting her mother just to buy a few hours of freedom. She had to be back before dark. If not, she’d pay the price—another beating, maybe worse. She forced herself to focus. "Why did you call me? You said it was important." Megan leaned forward, her tone sharp and direct. "I want you to help me take down our common enemy, Anne. I want her out of the picture." Her eyes glinted with venom. "For good."

Chapter 239: A common enemy

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