CHAPTER 98: UNTITLED

Chapter 98 – Untitled

Well. Was this supposed to happen?

Amelia dropped her head, her head resting on her folded arms on the front desk. Any chime from her phone made her jolt in alert, quickly checking it, and her hope deflated when she saw it wasn’t from who she was expecting.

"Like what?" Amelia prompted.

She rubbed her slender neck that had patches around them because of the maniac hickeys Mathew left there.

"Is Amanda the second woman or the mysterious woman?"

"Does it mean both Amanda and Aaron cheated on each other?"

"Why?" they both asked at the same time.

Amanda had jumped on her bed when she woke up this morning. She knew the morning was different, so peaceful, so relaxing, and serene. Before she took her phone and checked the latest news.

The co-worker smiled softly, stood up, and patted Amelia’s shoulder, "Respect their space until they are comfortable again and try to understand their POV."

I know this man, he came to my children’s sports festival. Picture attached as evidence.

And Amelia blinked, not understanding the co-worker’s statement and shrugged her shoulder in dismissal, hoping the silence and ache in her heart ease till then.

"When you have a one-night stand with your friend and they have avoided you since that time, what does it mean?"

"The Mystery Woman and His Twins!"

This wasn’t how she wanted it to be. This wasn’t supposed to be how it would be. Though she smiled that day to ease Mathew’s panic, that didn’t make her happy.

Well, it didn’t matter anymore. If he hadn’t pushed her too hard, she wouldn’t have to go far like this.

"Hanith, Jasmine," she wetted her lower lip, "from now till next week, we won’t be going out and we will catch up," she said as her kids scrunched their noses in confusion and question.

Amanda smirked, waiting for how Aaron would pull this underground. Even if he knew she was the one behind it, there was nothing for her to lose anymore.

Amanda scoffed defiantly. No matter what he said, he won’t be able to get out of this.

She smiled and stood in their room as a form to protect them from the lurking eyes.

Everything was suffocating. She wanted to run away from the speculation, the judgment, and the invasive questions.

"Are you okay?" Hanith mumbled softly, circling his finger on her thigh.

"Mom," Jasmine called softly, darting her eyes to her brother before they both copped on her lap.

Do you understand the feeling of being happy at another’s downfall or being the reason for another’s downfall? Do you understand the feeling of seeing them in the same situation as you? Being in the same situation? That thrill, exhilarating feel, that thrum in the bloodstream. Exactly how Amanda was feeling.

Because she didn’t know when he’d pass by, that was why she took the front desk work.

.

Katherine had built her life quietly away from the world’s cruel gaze, even her writing life was private. The only person who knew her personally was her agent. No one else.

Aaron had left her earlier after making sure she was calm and ate breakfast before he told her he would deal with everything and Katherine should calm down.

"Secret Family Exposed!"

"Oh oh," the co-worker wiggled her brow but stopped when she saw the confusion in Amelia’s face. "Well, it can mean many things."

How does it feel, bitches? She laughed maliciously, sipping the bitter coffee, savoring the chaos she created for Aaron.

Amanda clicked on the picture the comment uploaded and she ground her teeth in anger. Katherine was laughing, the kids sat between them as Aaron gave them cotton candy.

"Aaron’s Scandalous Double Life!"

Would she break down like her? Or would she? No, Amanda shook her head. She couldn’t care about how Katherine felt. What she just wanted was Aaron’s downfall.

"The Knights would address the news on the Internet soon and would like everyone to keep their speculation to themselves. Thank you."

Amanda clenched her hands. How could he? He had the time for Katherine yet he couldn’t give her anything.

Katherine’s hands trembled as she read the headline, the comment from each post. Her eyes glistened. No, this can’t be happening?!

Katherine smiled tightly, "Am I not okay?" she said, placing kisses on each of their foreheads.

There was this ache, this lingering ache in her heart that she knew it was only him that could mend it.

"Well, how should I say this?" she said playfully, putting her index finger under her chin.

Amelia chomped on her burger angrily as her brows furrowed. There was nothing shameful with the night they had together, or did Mathew not like it?

She paced inside her room, anxiety eating her up as she walked to her children’s room, seeing them already playing on their bed.

"What about school?" Hanith inquired.

The distance was even worse than when they had never known each other.

And she tsked her tongue because she was supposed to be drinking wine to cheer to her plan, but because of the little monster in her, she had to abandon the thrill of wine in her system.

"Maybe awkwardness or emotional discomfort." she shrugged.

"What twist in your pants, Amelia?" one of her co-workers asked.

Mathew had been avoiding her. She knew Mathew was in the hotel but couldn’t find him. Mathew never avoided her, he never does. He always sought her out most of the time—maybe to ask for recommendations, chat about anime, but now, it was like a shadow she couldn’t catch.

As she buried her head in her trembling hands, she didn’t seem to catch a break. But was this how Amanda felt when her scandal erupted on the Internet?

"Awkward and emotional discomfort?"

And she shook her head in a dancing manner as if she was listening to music while smiling happily.

But Katherine couldn’t calm down. How could she calm down when her and her innocent children were on the Internet like a prize?

She hated people’s eyes on her, that was why she never agreed to any book event—whether signing events, touring, or anything. She just wanted a private life. But her private life shattered in a night.

Amelia nodded, clicking her tongue, "So how can we go back to before? I hate the distance."

She had tried to bury herself in work, but that shit wasn’t working when there were many things running in her head and mind. She had made numerous mistakes today and yesterday that some of the staff members told her maybe she should take a break, but she couldn’t.

The twins looked at each other again before raising up and both placed a kiss on her cheeks.

Is Aaron living a double life? How can he balance both?

Amanda wanted to know how Katherine would be feeling, she wanted to know whether she’d be crying in the corner of her room from the public outrage or she would still keep that nonchalant facade.

She couldn’t help herself from cackling every time she checked her phone, reading the headlines.

She scrolled again and saw a new headline:

"Are those children his?"

"Shoot it all to me, Amelia, I’m here to help your relationship life." The co-worker took a seat beside Amelia.

.

Katherine knew from this, people could start digging into her horrible past and she didn’t want that and she really hoped Aaron did something.

"Oh, space, is it." Amelia nodded, folding the hamburger wrap diligently.

Money is gone, father gone, company gone. Only her and her crappy room and the little monster growing every day inside her. But he, Aaron, had many things to lose.

The co-worker walked to the door to leave the break room, "I wish you luck in your relationship," she gave her a little smile, then said, "As I’m seeing it, you’ve a long bumpy road ahead, so you need that luck."

She sighed in relief, caressing their faces.

"We will!" they laughed and raised their hands up in surrender.

"What’s going on between the Knight couple?"

Headlines screamed in bold letters:

She didn’t think he would be like this.

"Say what?" Jasmine asked.

"It’d be awkward if you sleep with your friend like the friendship line has been crossed and can’t go back again. Or emotional discomfort because they want to process their feelings—that night or incident gave them unexpected emotion."

Amelia’s brow creased together, swallowing the chunk hard, then tilted her head, "I want to ask something?"

And she laughed out, her kids her joy.

Amelia blamed herself for succumbing to the heat of that moment. It was like she took advantage of Mathew. Mathew wasn’t in his right senses, yet she was, but when his lips eloped hers, she folded under him. Embraced him, hugged him, kissed him, and rolled in bed with him.

Katherine laughed, tickling their stomach, "Don’t you want to spend time with mummy?"

Let’s wait and see how you get out of this!