Page 101 of Baby For My Bossy Fake Fiancé

Tears blurred my vision. And again, I hurriedly wiped it away.

The goofiness, her enthusiasm, the care, they were all fake.

After informing Sierra that I’d be leaving New York, I left. Despite her pleas, I didn’t reveal this location. I couldn’t.

I wanted to be alone, away from everything I once knew. She understood.

So, when I arrived here, I cut every connection to my past life; to Sierra and anything that tied me to New York.

It hurt to make the decision. But life had dealt me its unfortunate hands, and I was bound to its torture.

Alone.

I still didn’t know why Sarah did it. Each day, I wondered why. It hurt.

But not as much as Damien’s unbelief.

Again, the unwanted memories of us rushed through my head, hitting me with a wave of nausea, and a lingering ache in my heart.

He was quick to believe the lie.

It shattered my heart to know that’s what he thought about me. It shattered my heart to know that I was nothing but a thief to him.

But perhaps I deserved it.

I was stupid to think he felt the same way I did. It was stupidity to think my love was reciprocated.

It was foolish to have gotten carried away.

“We’re here,” the driver announced. And I forced my eyes to the three-story building.

It was nothing like Blanchard Legal. Nothing like the dream I’d had for myself. But this –all this– was a new start.

Forcing a smile, I handed him a couple of dollar bills, before climbing into the half-busy sidewalk.

Today was a Monday. The last day of work before the Christmas and New Year holidays.

I’d thought life was a tad bit better when I found Sierra. I thought life was good when I received the employment letter. But it turned out to be the opposite.

Releasing a heavy breath, I trudged to the entrance, to resume my position as a paralegal.

I couldn’t work as a lawyer yet. Not until I took the state exam and underwent other procedures.

But I was lucky to have applied just when the company was in urgent need for extra hands.

I was halfway to the entrance when I noticed a snowman by the entrance, and a Santa on the other side.

I held my breath. It was a few days until Christmas. A season of love and rejoicing. But here I was struggling to prevent myself from falling into the abyss of pain… and loss.

Here I was grieving over something I never had.

I wasn’t happy. I could never be. But maybe if I took each day as it came, it all would seem less tragic.

Perhaps Christmas wouldn’t be so bad because at least I had company.

With a small smile, my hand found my flat belly. Seven months till I meet my companion. But before then, its mere existence was enough to sustain my happiness.

Or what was left of it.

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