Her gaze drifted around the living room, slowly taking everything in. The high ceilings loomed above her, elegant and intimidating. A crystal chandelier hung proudly in the center, catching the light and scattering it across the room. Plush furniture filled the space, each piece screaming wealth and comfort.
'This is so extravagant... and adorable.'
The living room alone was three times bigger than the small room she shared with her husband back home. That realization always struck her whenever she visited, and it never failed to leave her slightly breathless. In a fleeting moment, her eyes landed on a picture frame mounted neatly on the wall.
She stared at it as if she was seeing it for the first time, even though she had admired it countless times before. She couldn't help but appreciate the sheer loveliness of the wedding photograph. It stood out prominently among the many pictures taken that day-her favorite, if she was being honest.
Like a memory freshly unsealed, Vanessa's grand wedding day flooded her mind. She could almost hear the laughter again, the music, the chatter of guests. Vanessa had been radiant-overflowing with excitement. She had married her dream husband, after all, even if their relationship had always seemed a little complicated from the outside.
Gloria sighed.
Honestly, she envied her best friend sometimes-perhaps more often than she cared to admit. Luck seemed to trail Vanessa wherever she went. Unlike her, Vanessa was endowed with riches, influence, and opportunities Gloria could only dream of. She was well educated and had risen to become the executive vice president of Anderson Corporation, the powerful company owned by her grandmother, who was both founder and CEO.
Vanessa's life could have been perfect in every sense, if only she had been able to give birth to a child of her own. But the Almighty understood best.
And even though Gloria's story was quite the opposite, filled with struggle rather than privilege, she still believed she had an upper hand over Vanessa.
Or at least, she hoped she did.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she spotted a young lady in an apron approaching. Gloria's eyes immediately fell on the tray the maid carried, particularly the glass of fruit juice resting neatly at the center.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Gloria. Ma'am Vanessa said she'll join you shortly," the maid said with a polite smile as she placed the tray on the small table beside her.
"Oh, thank you, Beatrice," Gloria replied warmly, returning the smile as she reached for the cold drink.
It felt like an answered prayer. The sun outside was scorching, and her throat had been unbearably dry. Only something chilled like this could quench her thirst at that moment. As soon as the maid turned to leave, Gloria gulped the juice down quickly, emptying the glass in a few eager swallows. She returned the cup to the tray almost immediately, suddenly conscious of herself-careful that her low-class habits wouldn't be noticed.
She wiped the moisture from her mouth with the back of her palm, then discreetly rubbed her palm against her dress.
"Gloria."
The sound of Vanessa's voice made her stiffen slightly. She looked up just in time to see her friend descending the stairs, graceful as ever.
"It's so good to see you."
In no time, Gloria sprang to her feet. They met halfway, pulling each other into a warm embrace, exchanging kisses on their cheeks like they always did.
"Me too," Gloria responded, smiling brightly before returning to her seat.
"So," Vanessa said as she settled beside her, "what brings you here?"
Gloria kept her eyes fixed on Vanessa's face, her grin widening deliberately. Her teeth shone as she smiled, hoping her obvious excitement would serve as a clue.
"Hey... what is it?" Vanessa asked, amused. "You look unusually happy."
"Don't you notice anything different?"
"Different?" Vanessa echoed.
"Yeah... like something unusual about me."
Vanessa's confusion deepened. She studied Gloria from head to toe, her brows knitting together before she finally shook her head. "No, I don't. You look the same to me. What's this about?"
"Alright, just try guessing."
"Come on, Gloria. You know I hate guessing. Just save me the stress."
Gloria burst into a joyful smile, unable to hold it in any longer. "Fine... Well, I'm two weeks gone!"
She waited, expecting excitement, maybe even squeals-but it never came. Instead, Vanessa froze. The silence that followed was thick and unsettling.
"You... you're pregnant too?" Vanessa finally asked.
"Yes," Gloria replied, her smile faltering. "What's wrong? Why do you look so shocked?"
Vanessa only shook her head.
"Wait," Gloria said slowly. "Don't tell me... you're pregnant too."
Another heavy silence settled between them. And then, suddenly, understanding dawned on her. Her demeanor shifted instantly. The joy drained from her face, replaced by burning anger and a sharp sting of betrayal. They had always called themselves confidants-best friends who shared everything. Yet Vanessa had hidden something this huge from her.
Disappointment weighed heavily on her chest. She had come all this way to share her joyful news, only to discover that her so-called best friend had been keeping her own secret all along.
"Oh, I see," Gloria said bitterly. "So that's how it is now. I thought we were best friends... that we could trust and rely on each other no matter what. But I guess I was wrong. That was my misconception."
Vanessa leaned closer, her eyes filled with apology. She gently took hold of Gloria's arms, her grip careful and pleading.
"Believe me, that's not true," Vanessa said softly. "I was planning to tell you. Yours just came first. You know you're my best friend, Gloria. I would never do anything to ruin our friendship."
Well, Gloria found it hard to stay angry for long. Keeping grudges was never her strength. It was one of the reasons their friendship had survived since childhood, weathering storms that would have broken others apart. As Vanessa's innocent hand rested gently on her skin, her anger slowly melted away, replaced by a familiar warmth.
"It's fine," Gloria said at last. "What matters is that we're both happy about the news. And I pray to the Almighty that the child you're carrying will come out safely and in good health."
She knew that prayer was not just a formality. It meant everything to Vanessa-especially now. This wasn't Vanessa's first pregnancy. It was, in fact, one of the most painful struggles she had faced in her marriage over the past few years. Twice before, she had conceived, carrying hope in her womb-only for it to end in tragedy. Both babies had been born without signs of life, leaving behind scars no one could see.
"Amen. Thank you, Gloria."
Vanessa pulled her into a long, comforting hug, holding on as though afraid the moment might slip away. But just as their embrace lingered, an elderly woman appeared before them, her presence abrupt and imposing. She stood with a look of disdain etched across her face, radiating authority. There was no doubt-she was the matriarch of the household. Everyone revered her. Everyone feared her.
Vanessa and Gloria noticed her at the same time, and their moment of happiness came to an abrupt end.
"Grandma," Vanessa called, unease flickering across her face.
"Good afternoon, Madam Anita," Gloria said quickly, bowing her head anxiously.
The instant she saw Vanessa's grandmother, Gloria knew trouble had arrived. The old woman had never liked her-not from the very beginning, not since the day she became friends with her granddaughter.
Twenty years ago, when Vanessa's parents had died in a brutal robbery attack, Vanessa had been left shattered and alone. At school, people distanced themselves from her, whispering about misfortune and bad luck clinging to her name. Everyone kept their distance.
Everyone-except Gloria.
She had seen Vanessa's pain differently. She had felt sympathy, understanding that Vanessa needed a friend more than anything else. So she stayed. Even when Madam Anita disapproved of their friendship because of their glaring social class difference, Gloria refused to leave Vanessa's side.
She remembered the day her own education came to a halt-when her parents could no longer afford her high school tuition. Even then, she would sneak into Vanessa's bedroom just to sit with her, to play, to listen, to console her whenever life felt too heavy. From that point on, they had acknowledged each other as best friends.
Whatever Vanessa had, she shared with Gloria. However, it wasn't out of pity. She only did those to show how grateful she really was. A silent thank-you for standing by her during her darkest days, even when their meetings had to remain secret. Now, as adults, they saw no reason to hide anymore. Gloria visited openly, sitting in the mansion for casual chats.
And whenever Madam Anita discovered her presence, she never missed the chance to insult or humiliate her.
There had been moments when Gloria almost gave up-times when the humiliation felt unbearable. But Vanessa would plead with her, asking for patience, promising that everything would be fine someday. Eventually, Madam Anita stopped openly commenting on their closeness.
Yet, Gloria knew the truth.
Deep down, the old woman still despised her.
Madam Anita rolled her eyes indifferently and walked out of the living room without saying a word.
"Please excuse me. I'll be right back," Vanessa said to Gloria.
.
.
.
Vanessa rose hurriedly and followed her grandmother into the front yard, where the old woman stood staring into empty space. Vanessa appeared behind her, already knowing how this conversation would go. It felt like a scene she had lived through countless times-a loop that never seemed to end.
She drew in a breath, straightened her shoulders, and spoke anyway. "Grandma."
Madam Anita turned at once. The sharpness in her eyes made Vanessa's chest tighten. It was the same cold and impatient look that always made her feel as though she had done something unforgivable, even when she hadn't.
Vanessa's fingers curled slowly at her sides. She took a step closer, careful with her tone. "But Grandma...What you're asking of me isn't easy."
Madam Anita's lips pressed into a thin line.
"I can't just sever my ties with Gloria like that. She's my friend... my best friend. She's the only one who stayed when I needed someone the most. I can't just throw her away like she means nothing."
"And so?" Madam Anita snapped. "So what if she stayed? Haven't you repaid her enough? You gave her more than she deserves. You're even now. You owe her nothing."
Vanessa shook her head slowly. "It doesn't work like that, Grandma." She stepped forward again, her voice growing a bit louder. "You can't measure kindness, especially not the kind that comes when you're broken and alone. What Gloria did for me-" Her voice faltered for a split second before she forced it steady. "It was exceptional."
Madam Anita scoffed. "I don't understand you anymore. You don't listen to me like you used to. You are even raising your voice at me now. Is that what you learned from that Gloria?"
Realizing her grandma was right, she immediately brought her gaze downward, softening her voice. "I'm sorry if I sounded rude. But Gloria isn't what you think. She's different." She lifted her head again. "She's the one who taught me most of the good things I know today."
Madam Anita's jaw tightened. "You're still defending her! What's wrong with you, Vanessa?" She took a step closer. "How do you expect to keep your pregnancy a secret when you insist on seeing her all the time?"
Vanessa didn't answer. She felt her throat tighten, her eyes dropping to the tiled floor beneath her feet.
Madam Anita's gaze followed the movement. "Don't tell me," she said slowly, "that she already knows."
Vanessa's shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry, Grandma."
She couldn't bring herself to look up.
A sharp gasp cut the air. Madam Anita lifted a hand and pressed it against her forehead. "Oh my goodness! What were you thinking? Why would you tell her?" Her hand dropped. "You've just ruined everything."
"I didn't have a choice," Vanessa said quietly. She clasped her hands together. "She would've found out sooner or later. And I don't see why I should hide it from her." Her voice hardened, just slightly. "She's not the reason my other pregnancies ended the way they did."
Madam Anita's eyes flashed. "You trust that woman far too much. All she brings is bad luck. Didn't it ever occur to you that she might be using black magic?" She leaned closer. "She crept her way into this family like a poisonous snake. Isn't that enough to arouse your doubt?"
Vanessa recoiled as if struck. But she straightened immediately. "That's not true. You're just overthinking this. I know Gloria. And I believe she would never hurt me."
She paused for two seconds before gathering her words together.
"Forgive me, Grandma," she said again, softer now. "But I can't do what you're asking of me. Staying away from her would be too difficult."
With that, she took a step back and walked out of her grandmother's sight.
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