Chapter 88

Philip's POV

I was reviewing the quarterly financial reports for Philip Investment Group.The numbers looked impressive. Even after losing several collaborative projects with Howard Technologies, my company remained strong. That brought me satisfaction.

I glanced at Brian's photo on my desk-him at three years old, laughing at the Central Park Zoo. The empty frame beside it bothered me. I'd removed Annie's photo weeks ago but hadn't replaced it. The empty space made something twist in my chest.

Annie should have returned to me by now. Instead, she was building a new life at Howard Technologies. The thought of her with Howard made my jaw clench. I slammed the financial report shut, making my assistant look up nervously.

My phone rang. Sarah's face on the screen. I paused before answering,surprised by my own reluctance.

"What is it?" My voice sounded cold. I was getting tired of Sarah's constant demands and mood swings. But then I remembered she was carrying my child and tried to soften my tone.

′′Mystomach feels uncomfortable..," Sarah's voice trembled. I recognized the pattern-Sarah always needed me when I was busiest at work."It's all Annie's fault," she continued, sniffling. "She exposed our relationship online." Annie's name made me sit up straight, anger burning in my chest. How dare she? She already had Howard's attention-wasn't that enough? Why couldn't she leave us alone? "People are attacking me, calling me a 'homewrecker,'" Sarah sobbed. "I don't even know what I did wrong."

I felt suddenly protective. Sarah was pregnant with my child. I couldn't let anyone hurt her or my baby, no matter how annoyed I sometimes felt with her. I remembered how Annie needed peace during her pregnancy with Brian. How could Annie attack another pregnant woman? This wasn't like her at all. What happened to the gentle Annie I knew?

"Can you please ask Annie?" Sarah pleaded. "If she tels me what I've done to offend her, I'll correct it immediately!"

I clenched my fist. Some part of me knew I might be getting manipulated,but I was too angry to think clearly. I considered myself a logical businessman, but with Annie and Sarah, I always ended uap ruled by emotions.

"T'll handle this," I said, ending the call. I needed to confront Annie.How could she treat a pregnant woman this way,especially after going through pregnancy herself?

I stared at Howard's contact on my phone. I couldn't call Annie directly-she'd blocked my number. But I could reach her through Howard. This wasn't about winning Annie back, I told myself. This was about protecting Sarah and my unborn child.

I pressed call. Howard answered with a cool "Can I help you?" He sounded surprised to hear from me. I didn't waste time: "Ask Annie why, as a woman, she keeps targeting another woman.What's the point of that?" The anger in my voice gave me satisfaction. I wanted Howard to see Annie's flaws-to see her spiteful side.Maybe then he wouldn't think she was so perfect. "Could you clarify which lady Annie is allegedly harassing?"Howard remained calm, almost sarcastic. His tone suggested my accusations were ridiculous, That made me even angrier.

"Sarah Johnson," I said, my teeth clenched tight.

The line went quiet. I pictured Howard looking down on me-this man who had taken everything that should be mine: my wife, my son's affection,even my social position. My jealousy burned hotter.

"Mr. Thompson, this doesn't concern you," I said, trying to sound calm."I don't want to direct my anger at innocent people, so please put Annie on the phone." I sounded polite, but inside I was furious. Who was he to get between Annie and me? This was our business.

"She is my girlfriend," Howard stated firmly. Each word felt like a knife in my chest. "And I've heard about the conflict between them today."

"So you're protecting her?" I asked mockingly, my anger obvious.

Howard laughed coldly. "What else would I do?"

Every word he spoke made me angrier. "Throughout this entire situation,she hasn't done anything wrong. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let you lecture her?" Hearing him call himself Annie's "boyfriend" made me dizzy with rage.Even though I had Sarah, even though I ended my marriage to Annie,I couldn't accept her being with someone else. Annie should always be mine.This thought was ugly, and it disgusted me, but I couldn't deny it was there. "Since their conflict began online, Isuggest you search for the complete story there first," Howard said calmly. He was talking to me like I was a child. "Understand the truth before passing judgment." His tone made my blood boil, "Our companies maintain a partnership," Howard continued, "yet you're easily provoked by Sarah's words, quick to attack my girlfriend without considering the consequences. This seriously calls into question your professional judgment."

His words hit me like cold water. Was he threatening my business? Over a woman? "After all that talk, you just want me to leave Annie alone,right?"I almost shouted.

"From a professional standpoint, your impulsiveness makes you an unreliable partner," he said flatly. Each word stung my pride. "From a personal standpoint, you claim to love Annie, yet you consistently doubt and criticize her based on others' accusations."

"I regret everything Annie once had to endure," Howard added. Those words stabln business, people always respectebed my heart.

d me, flattered me, did what I wanted. Howard showed me none of that.He was suggesting I'd been a terrible husband who didn't deserve Annie.The worst part? Deep down, I knew he was right. That made me even angrier.

"Learn the details of the situation first," Howard suggested. He used the same superior tone I often used with my employees. Being talked to this way made me feel both ashamed and furious.

"Fine, I will," I snapped back. I grabbed my phone and searched social media. The first comments I found did criticize Sarah, just as she claimed. My anger grew-how could Annie be so cruel? This wasn't like her at all. But something made me keep searching. I needed to know why strangers were defending Annie. After more searching, I found a video showing what really happened: OSarah had first attacked Annie's comics and character

DAnnie had responded with evidence showing Sarah started it

OSarah had lied more,claiming Annie was the real "other woman"

DAnnie had posted our marriage certificate and Sarah's wedding announcement with her ex-husband, proving who was lying

My anger vanished, replaced by shame and embarrassment. Sarah had tricked me again, and I'd fallen for it like an idiot. I'd accused Annie without checking facts first. This wasn't even the first time-I'd believed Sarah's lies about Brian before too. Why did I let Sarah manipulate me so easily? Maybe because she knew exactly how to trigger my need to control Annie?

A horrible thought hit me: maybe I didn't really love Annie. Maybe I just couldn't stand her being outside my control. I couldn't accept that she was happier without me than she ever was with me. The thought made me sick,but I knew it was true.

"Have you finished reading, Mr. Baker?" Howard's voice startled me-I'd forgotten he was still on the line.

"Yes," I answered, feeling like a child caught doing something wrong.

"Do you still want to defend Sarah?" OSarah had first attacked Annie's comics and character

DAnnie had responded with evidence showing Sarah started it

OSarah had lied more,claiming Annie was the real "other woman"

DAnnie had posted our marriage certificate and Sarah's wedding announcement with her ex-husband, proving who was lying

My anger vanished, replaced by shame and embarrassment. Sarah had tricked me again, and I'd fallen for it like an idiot. I'd accused Annie without checking facts first. This wasn't even the first time-I'd believed Sarah's lies about Brian before too. Why did I let Sarah manipulate me so easily? Maybe because she knew exactly how to trigger my need to control Annie?

A horrible thought hit me: maybe I didn't really love Annie. Maybe I just couldn't stand her being outside my control. I couldn't accept that she was happier without me than she ever was with me. The thought made me sick,but I knew it was true.

"Have you finished reading, Mr. Baker?" Howard's voice startled me-I'd forgotten he was still on the line.

"Yes," I answered, feeling like a child caught doing something wrong.

"Do you still want to defend Sarah?" I couldn't answer. I was too ashamed. Once again, I'd made a fool of myself in front of Howard, proving he was right about me all along."There's nothing wrong with acting foolishly, as long as you recognize your limitations," Howard said calmly, but with a sharp edge. "If Annie truly wanted to create trouble for both of you, she's had plenty of opportunities. But she hasn't. She just wants to forget everything related to you. Yet you two keep entangling her." Each word hit me hard. The worst part was knowing he was right. Annie never started these conflicts-it was always Sarah and me who wouldn't leave her alone.

"Why?" Howard spoke slowly. "Do you think she's easy to bully because she has no one protecting her?"

That hurt. I should have been Annie's protector, not someone who hurt her. Now Howard protected her, and I was the person she needed protection from. This complete role reversal made me feel lost and jealous.

"No, absolutely not," I denied quickly, but my voice gave me away.

"Good," Howard said with disgust and hung up.

I sat in the dark of my study, flipping through photos of Annie and me.

A thought of Howard's arm around her waist sent me lurching to my feet,my fist clenched tight. The phone screen cracked under my grip,a jagged line splitting across our faces.

I threw the phone onto my chair and caught my reflection in the window-hair disheveled, expensive shirt wrinkled. A bitter laugh escaped me.

Here I was, Philip Baker, Harvard Business School graduate, CEO of a major investment firm-pacing around like a teenager over a woman I claimed not to want. Outmaneuvered by Sarah, outclassed by Howard,yet somehow still convinced of my own brilliance. Pathetic.