Chapter 9
I pulled out one of the medical reports Samuel had found and slid it across the table.
“Amber, you dropped a page of your test results. I picked it up, here you go.”
Amber’s eyes shot to the paper, and she snatched it away, her fingers trembling.
The others exchanged confused glances. “What report? Are you sick? Why didn’t you tell us? If you needed help, we could’ve gone with you!”
Warren grabbed her arm. “What’s going on? If something’s wrong, you need to tell us. We’re your best friends. How can we help if you shut us out?”
Amber quickly brushed it off, claiming it was nothing serious, just a minor issue. But the others pressed her to let them see the report. She refused.
“It’s really nothing,” she insisted. “It’s private. I’m embarrassed, but there’s no problem.”
She tucked the report away, irritation flashing across her face. Leo, sensing something wasn’t right, raised an eyebrow. “We share everything with you. Why can’t you just be honest with us?”
I listened to their back-and-forth, trying not to laugh at how well Amber was playing the role of the innocent victim.
Liam, however, stayed silent as the others grew more upset, their concern visibly growing. Finally, I decided to intervene. “You don’t have to worry about it. It’s not bad news. Amber’s perfectly fine.”
Amber shot me a warning look, but I ignored it. I smiled sweetly at her, pretending to be oblivious to the tension. “I just thought pregnancy was something to celebrate. Was I wrong to say that? I’m really sorry if I offended anyone.”
My voice wavered, like I might cry any second. I moved closer to Liam and added, “I thought everyone already knew about you donating sperm for Amber. I didn’t mean to spill a secret.”
The room erupted.
Warren’s eyes bulged as he grabbed Liam by the collar. “You’re married with a kid, and you’re still messing around with Amber? Donating sperm? How could you do that?”
Leo kept turning to Amber, asking if she’d been pressured into this.
Amber stayed quiet, her teeth gritted in anger as she shot me a glare. I couldn’t help but smile smugly. I stepped between her and Liam, playing the role of the saint. “Don’t blame Liam. Amber said she wanted a baby, and I heard her myself. It’s not wrong for a woman to want a child, right? I told myself I’d just mind my own business. So, why is everyone attacking them?”
Liam’s grip on my shoulders tightened. “You knew? And you didn’t care?”
“Of course not. Because I love you.”
I almost believed my own words. I’d never resorted to this kind of drama before, but damn, it worked like a charm with men like Liam.
Meanwhile, the so-called “best friends” were tearing into each other. Just as things started to spiral out of control, Liam shoved me out the door, telling me to leave and promising he’d come see me and our child later.
Samuel drove me home. On the way, I sent Liam the divorce papers with a message:
“I messed up today and ruined your friendships. Liam, let’s just get divorced. It’s the only way to make things right for them.”
Samuel shot me a look, skeptical. “Do you really think he’ll agree?”
I nodded, my resolve firm.
He would. No matter how heated things got, I was always the outsider. Their bond would always come first.
