Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Our routine went back to normal. I drop Anya off and pick her up from work while I manage the cafe that I had entrusted to Daska. She's someone I trust, so thankfully, there weren't any major issues while I was away. Well, it's not like I completely left the cafe, just that I didn't wholeheartedly manage it anymore, that's the only difference.

When it comes to work matters, I can't argue with Anya. She has valid reasons for choosing to continue her job. I know it hasn't been easy for her to reach this point. A week after we got married, I asked Anya to be more open with me, not just because we changed our status. No, I wanted our relationship to be like two people who need each other, filled with love and many prayers to keep us together.

I wanted to be a friend she could trust completely. It didn't feel good when Anya got angry because I asked two of her friends to keep quiet about who I am until I reveal it myself. But in reality, it made Anya a bit skeptical, and she often threw sharp remarks at those two.

Naomi and Doni.

Fortunately, they didn't take offense. Instead, they laughed when Anya started with her sarcastic comments. Anya said they couldn't move on from their own foolishness. But Anya isn't foolish; she just doesn't want to see beyond what's in front of her. Her focus is straight ahead, but it's filled with quite a bit of negativity.

I believe if it weren't for Krystal supporting her, Anya wouldn't be at this point. Anya needed more than just a fear-driven motivation. That's why Krystal is so fond of her work as an assistant and as a sister-in-law. Anya receives abundant affection from her.

By the way, Krystal's affection is not just praise. No, Krystal isn't like that. She always pushes someone with things she believes can exceed limits. That's why many think Krystal enjoys pushing people, but it's not true. And fortunately, Anya is the type of person who can match Krystal.

A perfect fit.

That's why I didn't want to stop her from working at home. Her passion for work is ingrained in her. She's dedicated when it comes to her job, and I noticed that. I also just found out that when we first met, Mother suggested that Anya shouldn't work. And it made Anya quite sarcastic and cynical towards me at that time. I already mentioned that Anya is different, right? Maybe other women would throw themselves willingly once they found out their potential husband is well-off. Not Anya. Just hearing sweet words from her is already a cause for gratitude.

"You've been daydreaming a lot, huh?"

I blinked. When I realized it, Anya was right in front of me, observing me carefully. Her eyes were suspicious. "No, I haven't."

"I've been calling you for a while."

"Why?" I imitated her steps, which I felt were... annoyed? Because I didn't hear her call earlier, is that why? When did she call me anyway?

"I want some tea. Jack has gone home. Krystal hasn't returned yet, but her report is awaited." She stopped in front of the glass cabinet. There must be one of the files she needs to refer to for her report. I've been sitting not far from her desk for the past hour, and I've finished my work.

"Shall I make it for you?"

She glanced at me sharply. Even when pregnant, she's still beautiful, and her fierceness doesn't diminish. "Fine. I'll make it for you. Wait here, don't do anything weird."

"What do you mean by weird?"

If I mention the name "Henry," she'll definitely get angry. Let me test it again. "Oh, maybe you want to go to the 22nd floor. Meet Henry."

See, I was right! She walked towards me with a fierce look in her eyes. I received a small, painful pinch on my stomach. "say something like that again, and you'll be in big trouble! No sleeping together with me!"

I winced in pain. "Ouch... the one who can't sleep without having their belly rubbed is you, not me, Joice. Forgot?"

Instead of letting go, she tightened her grip! "Joice, it hurts."

"The one who wants their belly rubbed is Baby, not me!"

I gave in. It's hard to tell the difference between Baby's desires and hers. "Okay, wait a minute. I'll make the tea."

Her angry glare from earlier turned into a sweet smile. It's so adorable! "Thank you, my darling Cedric."

I'll borrow the term used by the young people nowadays; being whipped. It's fine, I don't mind. I've become Anya's love slave, anyway. And unexpectedly, she gave me a quick peck right on the lips. Well... that's not acceptable. How can it be just a quick peck?

So, I continued. I deepened the kiss, regardless of the CCTV camera. It's probably Henry who will check the footage, thankfully, if Krystal sees it, she's used to catching us kissing. She said we often forget where we are. But it's actually Krystal's fault. She barges in and interrupts us.

It's a good thing I didn't start undressing Anya. It would've been even more chaotic, right?

"Oh my God, can't you do this at home later?" Anya complained at the corner of her lips. But she didn't resist when I continued. She even pressed the back of my neck to keep me close.

"You owe me because I'm making you lemon tea," I said, lightly brushing her wet lips. Our foreheads touched, our breaths mixed, and our eyes couldn't focus on anything but each other.

"Love you, Joice." Those words will always resonate in me, no matter what our situation is. Because deep in my heart, there's only Anya.

"Kiss me again," she whispered.

As I did, with a rhythm slower and softer than before, I didn't expect to be shocked by a scream from someone.

"OH MY GOD! HAVE YOU NO SHAME? GETTING FRISKY AT THE OFFICE!"

****

I accept my fate. I'm their personal chauffeur, but I do it willingly. Especially since Anya's smile hasn't faded at all. She looks so beautiful from the rearview mirror. The three of them are quite a remarkable trio. None of them are gentle when speaking, but like true friends, none of them ever leave each other's side.

I'm so lucky that Anya has them.

Do you still remember when I revealed my true identity at the office? During lunch, Doni pulled me aside. His eyes were red, a sign of how angry he was with me. I was prepared for the risks. What mattered most to me was that this was the right moment. At first, I didn't want many people to know who I really was.

I rarely appear in public. Ever since I handed over all of my father's business and business meetings to Krystal, I've been behind the scenes, helping her out. I don't mind as long as my face doesn't become public knowledge.

Who doesn't know Jonathan Blaxton? The successful businessman who chose to retire and stay at home with his wife, leaving the massive Blaxton Express company to his capable eldest daughter.

Anya said she ended up in the hospital due to pain caused by Sarman's attack. Though she didn't fully blame him, the pain increased after that. Damn Sarman! I won't let him go so easily. If not for him, I wouldn't have to delve into the financial records. Papa found out about this case, and it made him furious.

It's not just because Anya is pregnant with his grandchild, it's also about his rough treatment of women. And Anya, in this context, was just doing her job. Why should we cover it up when she feels it's right, even if I know it's to hide his wrongdoing? That's what made both Papa and me angry.

Back to Doni. This agile guy didn't hold back in scolding me. He dragged me to the parking lot, pushing me into Naomi's car. The girl followed me, scolding me non-stop, and well... they cornered me effectively. I didn't argue or seek defense. What they said was true, especially regarding Anya.

If it weren't for Naomi, my cheek might have turned blue from being hit by Doni's fist.

"That's enough, Doni. If Cedric gets injured, Anya will ask a lot of questions. She'll be sad again. I don't want to hear Anya complaining about her battered husband," Naomi said.

Then the clenched fist slowly came down. "Anya loves you so much. You should be grateful. If not, you would be dead in my hands!"

Doni is probably lying. Throughout the time I've listened to Anya speak, she's never admitted her true feelings. Her behavior did change significantly after I started taking care of Ibu. It was unintentional, really. I was in a panic when Ibu got sick and couldn't think of anything else at that moment.

Despite being angry seeing Anya being affectionate with Henry, it felt so irritating! And I vented out my anger at the hospital. I told them I was Anya's future husband and that the baby in her belly was my creation. What else did he want? He's brainless if he still wants to approach her.

Then on Monday, when Sarman was arrested, Henry looked at me with a pitiful look. It felt so satisfying!

"That's why you need to control your emotions," I knew Doni was growling in frustration.

"Remember, Mr. Cedric, just once, if you make Anya cry or sad, you're dead. I guarantee that. I don't care about jail as long as Anya's heart is okay. Understand?"

I'm not afraid of his threat. Besides, I have no interest in making Anya sad, let alone cry. What's the point? Her heart, which I hold dear, is the one that feels sadness the most.

I wanted to laugh at Doni's bright red face, but I held it in. Their interaction was amusing to me. Their friendship was truly extraordinary.

"I bet your baby is a girl, Anya. I'm sure of it," Doni said loudly. Beside him, I saw Naomi scoffing. "Look at Anya, she's glowing so much. I read an article that says if a pregnant woman looks incredibly beautiful during her pregnancy, it means she's having a girl."

"You're like a fortune-teller, Doni."

"Oh, come on, Anya! I'm serious!"

"Let him be with his assumptions. We don't need to believe it. Besides, believing in Doni's words is a disaster. It's utterly useless," Naomi remarked.

"Naomi, you're getting more annoying, you know!"

I shook my head slightly at their way of talking. There was no filter whatsoever.

"Enough, you two. You keep bickering, and we'll end up late!" I chimed in.

"Hey, couldn't you come up with a better comeback? I'm perfectly normal, you know! I prefer real men, not fake ones like Doni Tesla."

"Well, even if I were sane, I still wouldn't glance at you, Naomi."

"Shut up, you two! You're giving me a headache!"

Everyone fell silent. My wife's voice was truly intimidating. It seemed she didn't need to raise her tone or glare at them; just her firm tone alone was enough to make everyone scared and reluctant to speak. But it's for the best. It didn't disturb my concentration while driving.

"The one who cut in line was Naomi, not me," Doni mumbled. I could see his pouting lips from the rearview mirror. Naomi was still pouting, unwilling to accept it. "Nao, Anya has been so fierce during her pregnancy. We keep getting scolded."

Amazingly, Naomi nodded in agreement. "I agree."

"Okay, okay. We were wrong. Sorry, sorry."

I sighed with relief. The friend's war didn't continue. To be honest, I often saw them interacting without any sweetness. But you know what, that's precisely what makes me happy that Anya is a part of their group.

"How's the preparation for your new house, Anya?" Naomi asked.

I glanced at Anya, who was seated beside me. It was obvious she sighed deeply. I wondered why. Wasn't she enthusiastic about moving out these past few days?

"Joice." I needed to check what was going on with my wife, right? "What's wrong?"

"I'll surely miss the apartment. I lived there for five years, and it's not easy for me to just leave it like that."

Naomi and Doni burst into laughter. Meanwhile, I noticed that Anya's eyes were getting teary. During her pregnancy, I must admit that Anya's mood swings were intense. Like now, she was crying just because of the thought of moving.

I gently stroked her head to calm her down. I felt like scolding Naomi and Doni for daring to laugh at Anya's sadness. They had no sympathy whatsoever, did they?

"Oh, come on, Anya. Just say you can't forget the moments with Cedric in the apartment. Am I right?"

Fortunately, I managed to restrain Anya from attacking Doni. Sometimes Doni's words are full of provocation, even though I was right in front of him! No fear at all, huh?

"Mr. Doni, watch your words."

Well, it worked. He fell silent.

Naomi burst into laughter. "Oh, he's done for! The boss is angry! You've picked the wrong time to tease her, Dona Tesla! I really need to remind you. If Anya considers us her loved ones, we're practically the boss's in-laws. We could get fired."

"Yeah, I forgot. Oops." Doni immediately touched my wife's shoulder without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Anya. Seriously. My mouth is full of blabber."

I ignored Doni, focusing more on making sure Anya didn't feel sad. That was the most important thing. Since I officially got married and took on the role of a husband and soon-to-be father, not to mention having dinner together every night at the main house, Anya was immediately elevated to Papa's beloved daughter-in-law. I could swear that if Papa saw Anya even slightly unhappy, I'd be the one receiving the wrath.

Just like Krystal, if she didn't obey Papa's orders, he'd intervene. Yes, that's how influential Anya Joice was in my family. Even regarding the house, because Papa and Mama agreed not to allow us to live in the apartment. Instead, Papa is expanding the main house to accommodate us.

Papa, with his logical thinking and concern for Anya's safety, managed to persuade his future daughter-in-law to live in the main house, completely separated from the swimming pool area beside the house. It's currently in the construction phase, so we've been living like nomads. Sometimes at the apartment, sometimes back at the main house.

As Anya pleases.

Papa's target is to have the house ready before Anya gives birth. So, the construction is being expedited, but not carelessly. Papa's perfectionist nature remains unchanged. I'm quite grateful that Anya didn't get angry or argue further. Maybe, above all else, she prioritizes Baby. Can I say that Baby's presence has changed a lot of Anya's perspectives on life?

Before, many pessimistic words came out of Anya's mouth, but now I often hear her say, "Dad, you can't lose hope when there are problems at the cafe, you know. Because there's Baby."

Ah, it's so sweet, right? Especially the way she speaks, so affectionate to my ears. It makes me love her even more.

"So, do you all want to eat steak?" I asked to make sure. They all remained silent, though. Suddenly mute, I guess. Although I know very well that the three of them can never stay quiet.

"YES!"

Ah, they're back.

Let them be like this. I feel better when they stay as they should be. I don't want to prohibit or ruin their friendship. In fact, I feel that without Naomi and Doni beside Anya, I wouldn't know what kind of person my wife would become. I admit that both of them have been a great help to me and our relationship.

Most importantly, my Anya is no longer sad. She always stays true to herself, and even if she changes, it's always for the better. For me, that's more than enough.