Katherine moved swiftly between the tables, her hands skillfully juggling a tray of hot coffee and fresh pastries. Her apron, tied securely around her waist, was a stark contrast to the elegant dresses she used to wear when she was Leonard Ford's wife. But that life seemed like a distant memory now. The cafe was her sanctuary, a place where she could get lost in work and forget about her past troubles behind.
As she served a couple seated near the counter, Katherine's thoughts drifted to the secret she had been carrying for the past few weeks. The pregnancy had been an unexpected discovery, one that left her both terrified and determined. There were moments when the weight of it all felt unbearable, but Katherine had resolved to face this challenge with courage. She would not let anyone, especially Leonard, dictate her life again.
Katherine took a deep breath as she wiped her hands on a cloth and glanced around the cafe. Her eyes settled on a customer seated near the window, her face hidden behind a large menu. The sun's rays filtered through the glass, wrapping the figure in a warm, gentle light. Katherine approached with her usual warm smile, ready to take the order.
"Are you ready to order?" she asked politely, her voice carrying the softness she had mastered in her new role.
The menu slowly lowered, revealing a familiar face. Katherine's eyes widened in surprise before a genuine smile spread across her lips. "Irene!"
Irene Donovan, Katherine's best friend, grinned up at her. "You caught me," she said, her tone light and teasing.
Katherine shook her head, her smile turning into a playful smirk. "You don't need to come here so often to check on me, you know."
Irene chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Why not? I'm here to show support for my best friend. And, of course, to visit my future niece or nephew." She glanced pointedly at Katherine's still-flat stomach, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Katherine's hand instinctively moved to her abdomen, her smile faltering for a brief moment before she forced it back into place. "Well, I appreciate it, but really, you don't have to worry about me so much."
They had known each other for years, and Irene had always been the one to stand by Katherine's side, through thick and thin. Fiercely loyal and protective, and she was really thankful for her.
Irene waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. You know I'm always going to be here for you, Kath. Now, how about you take my order? I'm starving."
Katherine nodded, pulling out her notepad. "The usual?"
Irene gave an exaggerated nod. "Of course. You know me too well."
After jotting down the order, Katherine turned to walk back to the counter, but not before giving Irene one last smile. Their usual exchange gave her a comforting feeling, but as Katherine moved to place the order, a lingering unease settled in her chest. She tried to shake it off, focusing on her tasks, but the uncertainty of her future, especially with the baby, kept gnawing at her.
A few minutes later, Katherine returned to Irene's table, carefully placing the plate of food and a steaming cup of coffee in front of her friend. Irene looked up with a grateful smile. "You're a lifesaver, Kath."
Katherine chuckled softly. "Anything for you."
As they talked, Katherine's attention was suddenly drawn to the TV mounted on the wall behind the counter. The volume was low, but the images were clear enough to catch her eye. The screen showed a polished news anchor delivering the latest business update, and Katherine's heart skipped a beat when she saw the familiar face of Leonard flash across the screen.
Leonard was in the middle of a press conference, his expression serious yet confident, as he discussed his plans to expand his business empire. His tailored suit and composed demeanor reminded Katherine of the man she had once fallen in love with, the man who had turned her world upside down.
Katherine's stomach twisted with a mix of emotions—anger, sadness, and an aching sense of loss. She wondered, just for a fleeting moment, what Leonard would do if he knew about the baby growing inside her. Would he care? Would he try to control her life again, as he always had? The thought of him finding out made her chest tighten with anxiety.
"Katherine? Kath!" Irene's voice broke through her thoughts, accompanied by the sharp snap of fingers in front of her face.
Katherine blinked, her focus snapping back to the present. She turned to see Irene watching her with concern, her brow furrowed. "What were you looking at so seriously?"
Katherine shook her head slightly, as if trying to clear the lingering fog of her thoughts. "Oh, nothing," she murmured, but her eyes betrayed her as they flickered back to the TV.
Irene followed her gaze, and when she saw the image on the screen, her expression hardened. "Oh, the jerk," she muttered, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Katherine couldn't help but smile at Irene's reaction. It was moments like these that reminded her how lucky she was to have a best friend like Irene, someone who knew exactly what she had gone through and wasn't afraid to show her disdain for the man who had caused Katherine so much pain.
Katherine had confided everything to Irene—the heartache, the betrayal, the coldness with which Leonard had handed her the divorce papers, and the devastation that followed. Irene had been there for every tear-filled phone call, every late-night rant, and every moment when Katherine had felt like the world was collapsing around her. She had seen firsthand how Leonard's actions had shattered her best friend's life.
So when Irene looked at the screen, her loathing was personal. To her, Leonard wasn't just some wealthy businessman with a charming smile; he was the man who had broken her best friend's heart. Irene had made no secret of her feelings towards Leonard over the years. She despised him for what he had done, for the pain he had inflicted on Katherine, and for the way he had so casually brushed her off as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience in his life.
"Why do you even have this on?" Irene snapped, glaring at the TV as if it were personally responsible for bringing Leonard's image into their space. Her voice was sharp, filled with the protective anger she felt whenever Leonard's name was mentioned.
She then raised her hand, catching the attention of one of the other employees. "Hey! Can you change the channel, please?"
The employee nodded and quickly switched the channel, the screen now displaying a more lighthearted cooking show. Irene turned back to Katherine, her expression softening. "You need to stop thinking about him, Kath. You're so much better off without him."
Katherine nodded, even though she still felt a bit of her old emotions lingering. "I know. I'm trying." She forced a small smile, pushing back the dark thoughts that threatened to take hold. "I should get back to work. Enjoy your meal, okay?"
Irene gave her a knowing look but didn't press further. "You got it, but remember, I'm here if you need to talk."
Katherine nodded, grateful for the understanding. As she turned to walk away, she suddenly felt a sharp impact against her side, followed by the sensation of something cold and wet splashing across her apron. The strong scent of coffee immediately filled the air, and Katherine froze for a moment, her breath caught in her throat.
Before she could even react, a loud, angry voice broke through the café noise.
"Watch where you're going, you clumsy fool!"
Katherine's heart raced as she slowly looked up to see who was speaking. Her eyes widened as she found herself looking into the furious gaze of a tall, impeccably dressed woman. The woman's dark eyes blazed with anger, her perfectly manicured hand held a now-half-empty cup. Katherine's stomach churned as she recognized the face.
It was Miranda.