Chapter 99

Annie's POV

The night breeze caressed my skin as I leaned against the balcony railing,gazing at the distant lights of New York City with a newfound softness in my eyes. Today's events-from Catherine's dramatic complaints about her new work assignment to the touching gift from Lucy's grandparents-though complicated, left me feeling unusually content.

Howard stood beside me, his tall frame blocking the cool wind. He turned to face me, and in the moonlight, his usually serious face had softened.

"Lucy's grandparents seem to like you," he observed, studying my profile.

I smiled, shaking my head gently. "They're just transferring their feelings for their daughter. Because I take care of Lucy."

Howard's gaze lingered on me, his eyes filled with unmistakable admiration. "No, it's more than that."

I reached out to lightly touch his face. "But you're different. You genuinely love me."

"Yes," Howard admitted without hesitation. "The first time I'saw you was at the hospital. Lucy pointed at you and said you were Brian's mom."

His voice grew softer, more intimate. "You looked so vulnerable then, yet gentle and beautiful at the same time."

Howard found my hand, his thumb tracing circles in my palm. "The next time I saw you was when you fell down the stairs and lost your baby."

His expression momentarily darkened. "You were lying in a pool of blood.your face pale. That's when I realized how much suffering you'd endured,how terribly you'd been treated." He pulled me closer, his warmth enveloping me. "As we spent more time together. I gradually discovered the real you-independent, resilient, with clear goals and dreams."

His gaze met mine, intense and sincere. "Before I realized what was happening, I was drawn to you. By the time I became aware of it,I had fallen deeply in love with you."

Howard didn't seem to expect an immediate response. Instead, he cupped my face in his hands and leaned down to kiss me. I closed my eyes,losing myself in the gentle pressure of his lips on mine.

This peaceful moment was interrupted by my phone ringing. I reluctantly moved away from Howard to check the caller ID-an unknown number.My instincts told me I should answer.

"Hello?" I asked cautiously.

"Annie, it's Philip." His voice immediately made me tense. "Please don't hang up. I have something important to tell you."

My body stiffened, fingers tightening around the phone. "What do you want?"

Howard noticed the change in my demeanor, his brow furrowing with concern. I put the phone on speaker so he could hear too.

"When Sarah mentions you online, could you not respond?" Philip's voice sounded tense, almost desperate. "Your response today got her criticized.It affected her baby... she almost miscarried."

The same ridiculous logic again. Sarah publicly attacks me online, I simply clarify the facts, and I'm asked to be silent? Because "she's pregnant"? As if pregnancy is some kind of immunity card that allows you to hurt others without consequences. I listened with increasing disbelief to Philip's absurd request. After everything Sarah had done to me-after the child I lost because of her-he was asking me to silently accept her harassment?

Is he really that naive? Or has his intelligence completely failed him? A grown man, CEO of a Wall Street investment firm, making such a childish request. Does he truly believe the world revolves around Sarah because she's carrying a child? This kind of thinking that ignores right and wrong is suffocating. Philip has always been like this, only seeing what he wants to see, interpreting everything in the most self-serving way possible.

"Philip, do you hear yourself?" I asked coldly. "Do you realize how absurd you sound?"

"Please, Annie. For her child's sake-"

"You dare," I interrupted, my voice sharp. "From the beginning, this entire situation,I have been the victim. And now, just because she claims her child might be affected, I should let her spread lies about me?"

Philip's voice turned defensive. "She's pregnant!"

"And that gives her the right to harass me online? Damage my reputation?"My voice rose as years of suppressed anger surfaced. "Philip, let me ask you something-is that child mine?"

There was a pause before he reluctantly answered, "No."

"Then I have no obligation to tolerate her behavior," I said firmly. "I know better than anyone that she's using this child to keep you close.She would never let anything happen to it."

I took a deep breath, calming myself. "Tell your girlfriend to stay away from me. Because next time, my response won't just be clarifying facts."

Without waiting for his reply, I ended the call and immediately blocked the number. My hand trembled slightly as I put down the phone.

Howard took my hand, his touch reassuring. "That was Philip?"

"Yes," I nnodded, taking deep breaths to calm myself. "He borrowed someone else's phone to call me because I've blocked his number."

Howard's lips twisted into a contemptuous smile. "He really goes to great lengths to defend Sarah."

Before he could say more, his own phone rang. He glanced at the screen.raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"Speak of the devil," he murmured, showing me Philip's name on the screen.

Howard answered with professionally cold couresy,"Mr. Baker, what can I do for you?"

Philip's voice came clearly through the night air. "Can you limit the resources provided to Annie? Perhaps reduce her promotion opportunities?"

Howard's face remained impressively neutral, though I could see anger flickering in his eyes. "The affairs of my company are none of your business,Mr.Baker."

"But if Annie didn't have so many followers, Sarah wouldn't be attacked online," Philip insisted, his reasoning both desperate and flawed.

Howard's patience was visibly waning. "If Sarah hadn't provoked Annie in the first place, none of this would have happened. Don't you think that's the real issue here?"

"I'm just asking for your help," Philip's voice took on a pleading quality I'd rarely heard during our marriage. "For Sarah's child." Howard's tone turned icy. "I suggest you find the real problem instead of asking the victim to make further concessions."

There was silence on the other end for a moment before Philip spoke again.his voice low. "I understand Annie is the injured party here. But I'm desperate, Howard. Sarah is using the child to manipulate me, I know that.But what if her claim about stress affecting the baby isn't a lie? What if my refusal causes complications?"

There was a note ofvulnerability in his voice. "I've already lost Brian-he barely speaks to me anymore. I lost Annie and the child we should have had. This might be my last chance at being a father."

Howard's expression softened slightly, though his voice remained firm."

Then perhaps you should focus first on being a better father to Brian,

rather than enabling Sarah's behavior."

"It's not that simple," Philip sighed. "Nothing is simple anymore."

"I can't help you with this problem, Philip," Howard finally said. "Annie has been through enough because of you and Sarah. I won't let you victimize her again."

After the call ended, Howard pulled me close, his arms wrapping protectively around me.

"He's a mess," I whispered against Howard's chest.

Howard nodded, his chin resting on top of my head. "He made his choices.Now he has to live with them."

We stood in silence for a while, watching as stars appeared one by one in the night sky. Despite these interruptions, a sense of peace still enveloped me. For the first time in years, I felt truly protected,truly valued.

"You handled Philip so calmly just now.,." Howard began,a note of admiration in his voice. "You've changed."

I smiled at him. "I've learned that sometimes the most powerful response is simply refusing to engage."

"You always had that strength," Howard replied, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "You just needed to discover it."

"It's getting late," I said softly, glancing at my watch. "I should check on Lucy, make sure she's sleeping well."

Howard nodded, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. "Go ahead. I'll stay out here a little longer."

I took one last look at the quiet New York skyline below, wondering if just a short while ago, Philip had been somewhere down there,watching us.I was no longer the Annie Baker who could be pushed around, and that change was profound and irreversible.