- Now that we’re all gathered, I’d like to be the first to welcome our partner and the new owner of “A.Y.K” among us. To you, Amanda. - Kirk hands Amanda the glass of champagne, but she refuses, which reaffirms my suspicion that she’s not feeling well.
- I think it’s worth going to congratulate your new “partner,” - Karina stresses the last word with an intonation that makes me want to rip her tongue out.
I don’t have time to respond when the girl heads over to Amanda, leaving me no choice. I will not leave them alone.
- Our congratulations, Mrs. Amanda. - how fake her smile is. - I'm so glad that my beloved is getting new partners. - Karina takes my arm, and all I can do is search for some kind of emotion on Amanda’s face. But there’s nothing there. Not a single thing. Even in her green eyes, there’s void, as if they have stripped her of the ability to feel anything. Up close, I notice how much Kitten has lost weight, and although her makeup masks it well, I see the dark circles under her eyes.
- Thank you for the congratulations. And please accept mine, because I haven’t had the opportunity to wish you happiness in starting a family yet. - Ami forces a smile out, that I know for sure. I’ve seen it on her face many times before.
- Thank you. - I remain silent because I have nothing to say. The words that want to come out seem pointless, and saying something just for the sake of it feels wrong. So I just stand there, looking at the woman I wanted to stop loving twice, and not once have I managed to do so.
Amanda shifts her gaze to me, and I notice how the pupils in her green eyes widen.
- Excuse me, I need some air. - Ami turns around and walks away.
- She seems unwell. - Karina snickers, and I pull my hand away from her.
- That doesn’t concern you. - I want to follow Amanda to check if she’s okay, but my not-so-fiancée grabs my shirt again.
- Don’t do this. You know what people will think of us. I’ll step out, I promise no nonsense, - in a way, she’s right since there’s already too much gossip about our marriage, and her father is concerned about his reputation, and I too want to stay in the big game, I mustn’t forget that.
Karina goes after Amanda, and Kirk approaches me.
- I apologize; I didn’t know your fiancée wasn’t invited to today’s event. - This bug definitely knew but did it on purpose since Karina is the daughter of his close friend, and this marriage is no less beneficial for him.
- By the way, Mrs. Amanda doesn’t seem to be feeling well. I was told she felt nauseous all morning in the office. Maybe it’s nerves or jet lag. - Kirk muses aloud, and I can no longer remain here; I set my glass down:
- I’ll go find my fiancée. - although I don’t care where she is, I want to see if Amanda is alright. So I approach the balcony and overhear part of the women's conversation.
- It’s obvious, but you won’t change anything. He’s mine. He doesn’t need you. - That bitch, I warned Karina to shut up.
- Get the hell out of here. - I see Amanda gripping the balcony railing and breathing too quickly.
- Accept it. He doesn’t love you because he’s marrying me. - it’s the end for her. Karina is crossing all lines. - Adam will never leave me, and you can’t make him.
I notice how Amanda is trying to hold herself together. The woman turns to Karina and clenches her fists.
- Really? - she’s burning too calmly. - And what if Adam finds out I’m carrying his child. - hearing this, the ground falls out from under my feet.
- Carrying my child.... I repeat the words I never even dreamed of hearing from Kitten. But is it really possible? Or could she have said it to provoke Karina? But on the other hand, it explains her nausea and refusal of alcohol.
I can’t bear it any longer and step onto the balcony, causing both women to turn their heads my way.
- Amanda, is that true? - I see the woman’s face instantly pale even more, but her eyes don’t look away. Ignoring Karina, I approach Ami and take her hands.
- Please tell me the truth. - the phrase sounds like a plea, and I notice moisture in her green eyes.
- Yes... - the woman whispers barely, and for me, those three letters are like thunder in silence. I pull Kitten to me because I simply can’t hold back. She doesn’t pull away; instead, she stands there, her hands dropped quietly, sobbing softly.
- This is all very sweet, but have you forgotten, my dear, that we’re getting married in two months? - Amanda seems to get shocked, she jumps back from me. But this time, I won’t let her escape. No, she’s mine, and I won’t let her go for anything.
- He won’t be there. - I don’t even look in the direction of my ex-fiancée when she storms off the balcony, shouting:
- You will regret this.
Amanda continues to gaze at me, and only now do I notice that she’s holding her stomach, which isn’t even visible yet.
- Adam, please.... - I don’t know what she wanted to say, but I don’t want to hear it. I approach her and kneel down, causing her green eyes to widen again.
- Kitten, don’t push me away, please. Let me be with you and the baby. I can’t live without you; no matter how hard I tried to forget, it never worked. - for the first time in a long while, tears well up in my eyes, for now my life is worth nothing if she says "no."
- Adam... - tears roll down the woman's cheeks, and I'm ready to throw myself off the balcony because I know she’s crying for me. - I need time...
- Whatever you say, Ami. I’m ready to wait for you a lifetime. - I kiss her hand, continuing to kneel for the second time in my life and once again before the woman who is my goddess.
- Take us home. - Amanda extends her hand to me, and I feel like I can breathe again. It’s as if for all this time she wasn’t by my side, someone was pressing on my throat, not letting me breathe deeply. We exit the balcony hand in hand, immediately attracting the attention of all the partners, especially Kirk, next to whom stands Karina. But none of this matters because I'm with the woman I've been waiting for seven years, who loves me and will soon give birth to my child.
- Where to go? - I help Amanda into the car, and when she tells me the address, I realize it's one of Korniyev's apartments. We drive in silence, and I think about when the right time will come to tell Amanda Korniyev's secret. I promised that after his death, she would know everything, and I was ready to do that until today. And now I'm afraid it will be a blow to her, and it will have a negative impact on our baby.
I walk her to the apartment, with guards following behind; I noticed them on the way from the restaurant, but it’s better that someone is always around Ami. The woman unlocks the door and steps inside, leaving me on the threshold.
- Come in. - I enter and close the door. I want to be with her for a little longer. I understand she needs space and time to think everything over. I sit next to her on the couch, and she rests her head on my lap. I caress her hair, feeling Kitten’s body relax.
- Adam...
- What, Kitten?
- Stay. – she turns to look into my eyes.
- I’ll be here until morning; don’t worry. - I run my fingers across the woman’s cheek, and she closes her eyes. But suddenly, she raises up so that there’s only a few centimeters between our faces.
- No, not until morning. - I look at her and see the green sparkling again. - Until the end of life. - Amanda kisses me, not giving me a chance to respond. And in this kiss, there are so many unspoken words that we simply drown, forgetting about seven years of lies, suffering, and resentments...