Billionaire, Let's Divorce! by BELLA

ANASTASIA

I finished shopping quite late. There were a lot of things that I needed to get and the time I was supposed to have used to get some of them, my ex colleagues had successfully helped me to squander it.

I wheeled my cart to the checkout counter and joined the line.

Few minutes later, it was my turn. I watched as the cashier efficiently scanned the barcode on each item. Then he read out the total cost for my purchases with a smile.

I handed him my card and he did a swift job of swiping it across the machine. He handed me my card, packed up my things and handed it to me.

"Thank you," I told him as I turned around and left.

Half an hour later, I was unlocking the front door to the house.

I hauled everything into the kitchen and began to sort them out. Once in a while, I'd remember the incident at the supermarket and wonder, for the umpteenth time, how they knew all about that. Even if we were in touch all these time, those things they knew were details I'd never share with a mere coworker.

As I turned the grains of rice into its container, my phone rang out from the living room. I quickly turned the rice, placed the container where it should be and hurried out of the kitchen to get my phone.

"Hey," I breathed out as I made my way back to the kitchen.

"Hey, Anastasia," his deep voice filled the speakers.

"Hey, Aiden," I repeated, cramming my phone between my shoulder blades and my cheek as I picked up the empty crate of egg and began to carefully arrange the eggs I got in it. "What's up?" More like, why'd you call?

He cleared his throat. "I called to inform you that I'd be visiting Amie at the hospital today." Then he added, "I've got some free time."

doing and thought about what he said. He didn't outrightly ask but I knew he was, in some way, asking for my permission. I wondered if he would stay back if I asked him to. He probably would because I know he wanted peace but it would be unfair. Afterall, it's his kid. He has every right to see her. I've done enough hiding her away from him

"Anastasia?"

phone call. "Of course." I

was a short

was about to end the call. "I want

Another silence. "Go ahead."

short story. Earlier, I was

And I ran

I was

then one of them asked about my husband." I paused. "That was out of the point but it's understandable, a wedding happened, right? Then the shocking part was when they

here,"

baby. Like, they were like, 'how's your son in the NICU?' and 'how's preparation to have him

know, right? I was

How did they know all of that?

against it and focused on our conversation. "It was really unnerving." "Downright creepy. Or have you been in contact with them

with most of my ex colleagues when I left. And I did

but I suspected that

the hospital staff are unknowingly sharing news. You know, maybe a comment here and there to

what went on

work

Because I