88

CH 88.
As Lucas lay in bed beside Andrianne, his mind was racing with thoughts of Emily and the impending threat of her showing up at his doorstep. He couldn’t bear the thought of his wife finding out about his past relationship with Emily, so he decided to sneak out of bed and take the call.
He tiptoed out of the bedroom, making sure not to make any noise that could wake up Andrianne. As he reached his office, he heard the familiar ringtone of Emily’s phone call and picked up the phone. Emily’s voice was sharp and insistent as she demanded that he spend time with her, just like he did with Andrianne.
Lucas felt trapped between his past and present, but before he could respond, he heard footsteps approaching. Panicked, he quickly ended the call and tried to gather his composure as Andrianne asked him what was wrong.
Lucas turned to her, trying to sound nonchalant. “Oh, it was just a work emergency, nothing to worry about.”
Andrianne looked at him with a concerned expression. “Are you sure? You look worried.”
Lucas tried to shake off his nerves and gave her a reassuring smile. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Let’s go back to bed.”
As they lay down together, Andrianne snuggled up to him and placed her hand on his chest. Lucas couldn’t help but feel guilty for keeping secrets from her, but he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the warmth of her body next to his.
As they drifted off to sleep, Lucas made a promise to himself that he would never let his past with Emily come between him and Andrianne again. But he couldn’t shake off the feeling that the past was catching up to him, and he didn’t know how long he could keep it hidden from the woman he loved.
Lucas quickly got up from bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Andrianne watched him with a hint of suspicion in her eyes. She had noticed that Lucas had been acting strange lately, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
“Are you alright?” she asked, as he came out of the bathroom.
“Yes, I’m fine. I just need to go and meet this client at the airport. It’s a really big deal and I can’t afford to mess it up,” Lucas rereplied, as he started to get dressed.
Andrianne nodded, not completely convinced. “Okay, be careful and don’t stay out too late.”
“I won’t. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Lucas assured her, before giving her a quick kiss and heading out the door.
Once Lucas was gone, Andrianne felt a sense of unease settle over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. She decided to call Jackie and see if she could come over for a visit.
“Hey Jackie, are you busy?” Andrianne asked when Jackie picked up the phone.
“No, not really. What’s up?” Jackie replied.
“I just need to talk to someone. Can you come over?” Andrianne requested.
“Sure, I’ll be right over,” Jackie said.
A few minutes later, Jackie arrived at the mansion. Andrianne greeted her at the door and led her into the living room. They sat down on the couch and Andrianne began to tell Jackie about her suspicions.
“I don’t know what it is, but something feels off with Lucas. He’s been acting strange lately, and I just can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something from me,” Andrianne confided in her friend.
Jackie listened intently, nodding her head in understanding. “Have you tried talking to him about it?”
Andrianne shook her head. “No, I don’t want to jump to conclusions. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”
“Well, you know what they say – better safe than sorry. Maybe you should try talking to him and see what’s going on,” Jackie suggested.
Andrianne sighed. “I don’t want to accuse him of anything without any evidence. I just wish I knew what was going on.”
Andrianne appreciated Jackie’s concern and they went ahead with their girl’s day out plan. They drove to a nearby mall, parked the car and headed inside.
As they walked into the mall, Andrianne noticed how much she missed spending time with her friend, Jackie. “I am glad we are doing this,” she said.
“Me too, girl. You deserve some fun,” Jackie replied.
They started by window shopping and trying on clothes. Jackie would pick out an outfit and Andrianne would tell her what she thought of it. Andrianne found herself enjoying this light-hearted moment with her friend. They went from store to store, trying on clothes and admiring each other’s choices.
As they walked past a spa, Jackie suggested they get massages. Andrianne agreed, and they both went in for a relaxing massage. The massage therapist worked on their shoulders, back, and legs. Andrianne felt her muscles relax and the stress from the past few days start to melt away.
After the massage, they decided to have lunch at a restaurant in the mall. While waiting for their food, Andrianne brought up the topic of her plans to sue her father.
“I understand how you feel, Andrianne. But, you need to be very careful. Your father is a powerful man, and he will do anything to protect himself,” Jackie said, concern etched on her face.
“I know, Jackie. But, I have to do this. I need to make him pay for what he did to my mother,” Andrianne replied, her voice firm.
“I understand, but please be careful. We don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby,” Jackie said, her hand reaching across the table to hold Andrianne’s.
Andrianne squeezed her hand in response, feeling grateful for her friend’s concern. They talked about other things over lunch, trying to take their minds off the stress that had been weighing on them.
After lunch, they went to see a movie. They got their tickets and snacks and headed into the theater. They watched the movie, laughing at the funny parts and feeling emotional during the sad moments.
As they walked back to the car, Andrianne felt lighter than she had in days. “Thank you for this day, Jackie. It was just what I needed,” she said.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. You deserve it,” Jackie replied.
They drove back to Jackie’s house, chatting and laughing along the way. When they got to the house, Andrianne hugged Jackie tightly, feeling grateful for her friend’s support.
“Thank you for everything, Jackie. You’re the best,” Andrianne said, smiling.
“Anytime, girl. You know I’ve got your back,” Jackie replied, hugging her back.
Jackie went inside, feeling rejuvenated and happy. She knew she had a long road ahead, but having a friend like Jackie made it all seem a little less daunting.