Chapter 59

Annie's POV

I stepped out of my bedroom, my body still aching slightly though the worst of yesterday's discomfort had subsided. Lucy was tiptoeing down the stairs with exaggerated caution.

When she spotted me, her face immediately transformed into an expression of concern that seemed almost comically adult.

"Mom, shouldn't you be resting?" she asked, her brow furrowed with worry. "Yesterday you didn't feel well."

"I'm feeling much better today, sweetheart," I assured her, descending the remaining steps. "Well enough for my work."

Lucy remained unconvinced, studying my face with surprising intensity."But if you start to feel bad again, you have to stop. Promise?" She extended her pinky finger solemnly.

I linked my pinky with hers, suppressing a smile at her seriousness. "Promise."

In the car, Lucy settled between us, content to remain close rather than pressing her face against the window as she usually did.

"Excited about your butterfly explorer project?" I asked.

She nodded enthusiastically, "Penny and I are going to make the best map ever. We'll find all the secret places where butterfles hide."

"That sounds wonderful," I encouraged. "Will you show me when it's finished?"

"Of course!" Lucy replied as if the question were absurd. "I show you everything important." *Everything important*. The simple phrase carried such weight. I remembered when I'd first come to live with them-silent,withdrawn,communicating only through nods and shakes of her head, if at all. Now she spoke freely, sharing her thoughts and feelings with increasing confidence.

As we approached the school, Lucy finally spotted Penny waiting by the entrance. Her entire face lit up, but instead of immediately clamoring to exit the vehicle as she usually did, she turned to me frst.

"Will you be here when school finishes?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability.

"Of course," I promised, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "T Il be waiting right here."

Only then did she nod, apparently satisfied,and prepare to leave. She hugged me quickly, then turned to Howard. "Bye, Dad!"

My smile faltered when I spotted Margaret Thompson waiting near the entrance. What was she doing here?

"Mother," Howard greeted her.

"I came to speak with Lucy," she stated,her gaze sliding toward the child who now half-hid behind my legs, regarding Margaret with undisguised wariness."And what would you like to say to her?" Howard inquired, his voice carrying a protective edge. Margaret drew a measured breath, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "I wish to apologize for my previous behavior." The statement hung in the air, as surprising as if she'd announced she was joining the circus. Lucy peeked out from behind me, her expression cautious but curious.

Margaret knelt down, a movement that seemed to cost her considerable pride, bringing herself to eye level with Lucy. "I wasn't very nice to you before," she began stiffly. "The things I said about your condition were unkind and incorrect. I'm... sorry."

Lucy studied Margaret's face. After a long moment, she nodded once."Okay."

The simple acceptance seemed to both relieve and perplex Margaret. Then,she rose to her feet, smoothing her skirt with practiced precision.

"Is that all?" Howard asked, his tone suggesting he found the apology insufficient.

Margaret's lips thinned slightly. "What more would you have me say?"

"Perhaps you should also apologize to Annie," Howard suggested,though his tone made it clear this wasn't merely a suggestion.

Margaret turned toward me, looking as if she'd swallowed something unpleasant. "Ms. Baker, I may have... misjudged you initially. My comments regarding your background andI suitability for employment were...premature." Standing there, I found myself considering everything that had happened wíth Philip-his betrayal, Sarah's manipulation, Brian's rejection.Compared to those wounds, Margaret's disapproval seemed almost trivial. "I accept your apology," I said simply. Margaret blinked, clearly surprised by my ready acceptance. "Just like that?" "Life's too short to hold grudges over misunderstandings," I replied with a slight shrug.

Margaret's gaze flicked between me and her granddaughter. "Thank you."

"Good," Howard interjected coolly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have work to attend to."

Later, in my office, I reviewed the final animations for my illustrated children's story. My characters now moved across the screen, their adventures unfolding just as I'd imagined.

"The board is impressed," Howard commented. "Your concept has exceeded initial projections."

I smiled,still somewhat amazed that my simple drawings had evolved into this. "I never imagined my illustrations would become animations."

"This is merely the beginning," Howard replied with characteristic certainty."The gaming division has expressed interest in developing interactive educational content based on your character designs."

His casual confidence in my success both exhilarated and intimidated me.In just months, I'd transformed from a divorced,unemployed mother with fractured confidence intoa respected creative professional.

"Do you think-" I began, but a sharp knock interrupted my question. Before either of us could respond, the door swung open to reveal Sarah Johnson. She wore a designer outfit that somehow managed to be both professional and provocative-a skill she'd always possessed. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she said with practiced contrition, though her calculating gaze swept the office. Howard's expression immediately hardened. "How did you gain access to this floor?"

Sarah ignored his question. "Annie, I needed to see you."

"What do you want, Sarah?" I asked,proud of how steady my voice remained.

"I came to apologize," she declared, her voice thick with what anyone who didn't know her might mistake for genuine emotion. "I was young and foolish, and I never considered how my actions would hurt you."

The absurdity of her statement almost made me laugh. "Young? Sarah, you're thirty-three. You knew exactly what you were doing."

"I made a terrible mistake," she insisted. "Can't you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

I studied her face-the calculated vulnerability, the coldly assessing eyes."Some things can't be fixed with a simple 'I'm sorry,' Sarah. You didn't just have an affair with my husband. You deliberately poisoned my son against me."

"What can I do to make amends?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Please, tell me what you want."

"I want you and Philip to stay out of my life," I sated clearly. "That's all." As I spoke, I noticed Sarah's gaze shifting occasionally toward Howard,who remained silent but watchful beside my desk. A suspicion began forming in my mind about her true purpose here. "You're still in love with Philip, aren't you?" Sarah suddenly asked,her tone sharpening. "That's why you can't forgive me-because you're still holding onto him." The accusation was so absurd that I simply stared at herfor a moment before responding. "Really? That after everything he did. I'm pining for him?"

"It's understandable," Sarah continued, her voice taking on a sympathetic tone that made my skin crawl. "He was your first love, the father of your child. Of course you'd have trouble letting go."

"What I find interesting," I replied calmly, "is how predictable you are,Sarah. You always use the same tactics-gaslighting, false sympathy,playing the victim. Don't you ever get tired of being so... repetitive?"

Sarah's composure slipped momentarily before she launched into her next performance-collapsing into the visitor's chair with a dramatic sob."I'm just trying to make things right! Why are you being so cruel?"

"Cruel?" I repeated, feeling an odd detachment as I watched her theatrics."Sarah, if I were truly cruel, I would have already shared with all our mutual acquaintances exactly what you did-how you coached my five-year-old son to reject me, how you created a secret chat group called'Perfect Family' while I was still married to Philip, how you deliberately caused me stress that contributed to my miscarriage."

Sarah's sobbing abruptly ceased, her eyes widening slightly at the mention of details I'd never publicly disclosed. "But I haven't done that," I continued evenly. "Not because I care about your reputation, but because it would hurt Brian to have everyone know how he was manipulated. So no, Sarah, I'm not being cruel. I'm being remarkably restrained." Sarah's expression hardened. "You've changed. You used to be so... soft." "Yes," I agreed simply. "I have." The office phone suddenly rang. Howard, who had remained a silent observer throughout our exchange, answered it, his voice carrying its usual measured authority. "Thompson speaking."

After listening briefly, he addressed the person on the other end with quiet intensity. "I want to know how an unauthorized individual gained access to the executive floor. Implement security protocol seven immediately.Effective immediately, only employees and confirmed business partners are permitted entry."

Sarah's expression shifted as she realized the implications. "You can't throw me out!" she protested, her voice rising indignantly. "I came here in good faith!"

Howard regarded her with the same detached assessment I'd seen him direct at business competitors. "You may leave voluntarily, or security will escort you out. The choice is yours."

Sarah gathered her purse, movements sharp with anger. "This isn't over,"she declared, though the threat sounded hollow.