Chapter 51 Anna
Anna
“Sorry I’m late, I wanted to orgasm,” Gemma announces, marching through my unlocked front door and dropping her handbag with a thud.
“Get out.” I point back the way she came. “Get. The fuck. Out.”
“I brought danishes.” She holds up a paper bag like it’s a peace offering.
I sniffle, wiping my nose with a crumpled tissue. “Fine. You can stay.”
Max and April file in behind her. Max is scrubbing a hand down his beet-red face—I’m assuming from Gemma’s blatant admission. They make a beeline for where I’m buried on the sofa under a fluffy blanket, surrounded by used tissues and stone-cold tea.
April sinks to the floor and crosses her legs. Gemma claims the chair opposite.
“Weasel,” Max says softly, dropping beside me and wrapping me in his arms.
I combust, shaking and sobbing against his shoulder.
“Are you gonna say ‘I told you so’?” My voice breaks.
“Never,” he murmurs into my hair.
“The comments are awful, Max.” Fresh tears spill as he rubs soothing circles over my back. “Did you see them?”
Turns out someone filmed the whole altercation between Roger, Liam, and me. It’s posted on TikTok. And, unfortunately, they only captured the punch. Not Roger grabbing me, so the turd looks totally innocent.
It’s bad.
Even though it’s only been a few hours, the video already has ten million views. The comments are revolting and cruel. It has thousands of shares, and the rumors of our relationship have spread like wildfire across social media.
Cedric rang me earlier, demanding a meeting Monday morning. I’m dreading it. I’m certain I’ll have to kiss my job goodbye, all because Liam couldn’t walk away.
The part that breaks me the most? I know Liam’s heart was in the right place. But what good is that when his actions have destroyed not only us, but my job—my entire livelihood?
Max was right. I had everything to lose.
“People in the comments called me fat and ugly,” I whisper. “They said Liam could do so much better. That he must be desperate.”
“Those absolute cunts,” Gemma spits. “Don’t worry—I’ve been taking receipts.”
“What does that mean?” April asks warily, her eyes bouncing between me and Gemma.
“I screenshotted their nasty comments and sent them to their employers via LinkedIn.”
“Gemma!” April gasps. “You can’t do that!”
“I can and I will. Disgusting trolls deserve to suffer the consequences.” Gemma squares her shoulders.
Max’s gaze catches mine. “Have you heard from Liam?”
A long string of mucus drips from my nose and Gemma makes a gagging sound. April quickly passes me a fresh tissue.
“He’s tried calling.” I wipe my face. “But I don’t want to talk to him.”
“That’s for the best right now,” Max says firmly.
“I don’t know, Max,” Gemma says with hesitation.
“It’s important that you take tonight to process everything.” Max looks directly at me. “You’re emotional right now and that can cloud your judgment. I don’t think you’d achieve much by speaking to him right now.”
He has a point. I don’t want to add fuel to the already burning fire. I’m furious with Liam. I don’t even know what I’d say. This is a big deal for me. A really big deal. It’s not as simple as accepting an apology.
“I just feel so out of control,” I whisper. “We were supposed to decide when and how we told people about us. And he just… ruined it.”
“For now it’s mostly speculation. The only person who knows for sure that you’re in a relationship is Cedric,” Gemma says.
“I think I have to end it,” I say.
“I don’t think you have to end it,” Max says, squeezing my hand. “I think you just need a little breather. Time to sort out your job situation—that’s what’s immediately at risk. Don’t make any rash decisions while you’re this upset.”
“You don’t have to decide anything tonight,” April says. “This literally just happened. Give yourself time—”
“Fuck time!” I snap and April recoils. “What choice do I have? My career is in danger. The media’s fucking us both up the arse.
Finn’s going to find out I was shagging his dad and feel betrayed we didn’t tell him.
” I drop my head into my hands. “I was so stupid for thinking it could work out okay for us. I never wanted the spotlight or the attention. Look where it’s got us.
I just wanted Liam.” My voice quivers. “I just wanted a family.”
April’s eyes soften but there’s steel underneath. “Anna, I need to say something.”
I look at her warily.
“I can’t watch you spiral like this. You’re convinced falling in love with him is the problem. But have you considered maybe this all happened because you’ve had shit luck?”
I tilt my head. “April—”
“Liam cares about you. He saw someone he loves being harassed and reacted badly. But it was a mistake born from trying to protect you, not from trying to hurt you.”
I gape at her. “But he did hurt me.”
“Not on purpose,” April protests.
“It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t on purpose,” I say.
“Of course it matters. Intent always matters,” April says.
I lift my brows. “Not when I lose my teaching license.”
“You haven’t lost anything yet,” Max says before holding his hands up in defense. “I’m not saying that potentially losing your license doesn’t matter—I’m just being logical. Nothing’s been taken away from you.”
“Not yet,” I murmur into my tissue.
“Exactly. If you do lose your license, we will deal with it. But right now you’re tearing yourself apart over something that hasn’t happened,” Max says.
“I know punching Roger wasn’t ideal,” April says, “but Liam did it because he cares about you. He didn’t do it to sabotage your relationship or career. He cares about both of those things. He cares about you.”
Silence blankets us and I lower my head. “What Roger said was really bad, I guess . . .”
Max’s eyes turn fierce. “What did he say?”
I shake my head.
“Anna,” Max presses. “What did he say?”
My lip wobbles. “He said… He said he wouldn’t want my used-up cunt anyway because God only knows where it’s been.”
The room goes still.
Max starts to rise, his face murderous. “That fucking—”
“Max,” Gemma warns, pulling him back down. “Bloody hell, no wonder Liam snapped.”
“It still doesn’t excuse what he did,” I say quickly.
“It certainly provides fucking context,” Max says, rolling his shoulders. “And I respect Liam a whole lot more for it now.”
I tuck myself into a ball. “I feel like he decided my job was worth less than his need to defend me.”
“I don’t think that’s how he would have seen it,” April says. “But don’t get me wrong—I do think he should have listened to you.”
“Exactly, then I could have been the one to punch the prick,” Gemma adds.
“I’ve spent my whole adult life building my teaching career. And his rash decision destroyed all of it. He didn’t even think about what it would do to me—who might have been around to see it. He just acted.”
“Anna, he saw someone he loves being hurt,” Gemma says, her eyes steady on mine.
My words come out on a sob. “Everyone else’s version of protecting me just ends up hurting me more. Mason didn’t tell me he didn’t want kids because he knew it would hurt my feelings, and now this.”
Gemma’s brows draw together. “Anna, Liam made a mistake—”
“And now I’m paying for it.” My voice is barely audible. “Of course this was all going to fall apart.” I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “I’m divorced, childless, and now I’m about to be jobless too. All I’ve wanted is a family, and every time I get close, it’s ripped away.”
“You can still have a family,” Max says, his voice firm.
“I just never thought I’d have to do it alone,” I rasp.
My phone pulses on the sofa arm and Liam’s name lights up the screen. It’s his eleventh attempt today.
“I can’t talk to him right now,” I murmur.
“Then don’t,” April says gently. “But please don’t push him away until you’ve really thought about it, okay?”
I wipe my jumper sleeve under my eyes. “Yeah. Okay.”
Max’s hand settles on my shoulder. “I know how much you wanted me to accept him, Weasel. I know what he means to you.” He pauses. “Don’t choose something permanent to fix something temporary. Promise me.”
The phone stops rattling.
“I promise,” I breathe, my throat almost too tight to speak.
He nods sharply, rubbing his palms together. “Now. Let’s get some food into you. Tomorrow we’ll look into the job situation.” He pushes off the sofa. “I’ll cook you some dinner.”
“Oh!” Gemma springs up and rushes to her handbag. “I think I have just the thing.” She rummages around, plucking out a small colorful cardboard box. “I brought my tarot cards.”
April claps her hands excitedly.
“Give me strength,” I whisper.