Chapter 87

Hector suddenly remembered something. "By the way, your phone rang. I answered it."

Cynthia grabbed her phone. It was Jonathan. "What did you say?"

Hector replied, "I said I'm your friend and you're staying here tonight."

Cynthia felt a headache coming on. "How did he react?"

Hector looked innocent. "He hung up."

Cynthia rubbed her temples. She imagined Jonathan's jealous expression. She knew she was in bad shape, and Jonathan only knew about her insomnia, not her other problems or her past. She didn't want him to know.

Her headache persisted. She lacked the energy to explain. More importantly, she had an unresolved issue.

Cynthia slept at Hector's. She woke at eight a.m.; Hector had gone to his clinic. The house was quiet. She'd stayed here before, during a previous illness, so she was familiar with the place.

Hector's was a large condominium unit on the top floor of an upscale building. The living room had a floor-to-ceiling window offering an excellent view.

Barefoot, Cynthia stood before the window, staring at the bustling traffic below. The endless stream of cars on the elevated road pulsed with the city's energy.

Every day seemed the same; the world wouldn't change because of anyone's problems.

Cynthia called Simon. "Simon, can I borrow something from you?"

Simon's deep voice answered. "What?"

Cynthia said, "Your pet."

She stayed until noon, leaving only after Simon called, confirming arrangements.

Before leaving, Cynthia called Lilian, her tone flat. "Lilian, let's meet."

After a pause, Lilian agreed. "Okay. I have something to tell you, too."

"Remember our secret base? I'll wait at the usual spot." Cynthia hung up.

Cynthia drove to Mount Quadfield, a luxury residential area where each mansion had a private courtyard, offering seclusion. Pamela had gifted Cynthia a mansion there for her fifteenth birthday.

Cynthia loved the setting. In high school, she'd turned it into a secret base, a hangout for her, Lilian, Naomi, and Filip. Only the four of them had access; their faceprints were registered in the security system.

Chapter 87

Cynthia arrived early. The yard was overgrown; she hadn't been there in over three years. Despite the neglect, she could still recognize the familiar scenery.

A large cherry tree stood in the yard, beneath which was a weathered swing. Dust coated everything.

Cynthia remembered her and Lilian nestled in the swing, looking at the stars. Lilian had always leaned on Cynthia's shoulder. Cynthia recalled Lilian saying, "Cynthia, you're like a star, and I'm a worm. Thank you for being friends with me."

Cynthia had replied, "You're more than a star to me. I'm afraid you'll abandon me someday."

Cynthia had stood, hands on hips. "You're overthinking. You're too sentimental." Then she extended her hand. "Lilian, we'll always be friends."

The memory felt ironic. The person she'd treated so sincerely had hurt her the most.

Cynthia went to the basement and checked what Simon had sent. "Good. Looks like they're hungry," she thought.

She then went to the attic, a monitoring room with cameras covering the outside, yard, and interior. She turned on the monitors and waited.

A black Mercedes-Benz, belonging to Filip (and driven by Lilian for the past month), appeared on the screens. Lilian, in her usual white dress, got out. She seemed to remember something, lingering in the yard before entering the house.

Lilian stood outside the monitoring room, surprised to find the door missing. Cynthia, dressed entirely in black, sat inside, smiling.

"Lilian, you're here," Cynthia said.

Lilian entered, looking pitiful. "Cynthia, can you help me?"

Cynthia asked, "What do you need?"

Lilian said, "Filip doesn't want the baby, but I can't lose it. Please help me persuade him. He only listens to you. Cynthia, please, let go of my child."

Cynthia smiled sarcastically. "Let go of your child? Don't blame me. What does it have to do with me that Filip doesn't want the baby? You're making it sound like I instigated him. Lilian, you're very good at guilt-tripping."

"I didn't mean that. Filip feels sorry for you. He's cruel to me because of that. If you forgive me, he'll let go." Lilian moved closer.

SEND GIFT