#Chapter 143: New Friends, Old Enemies

Moana

I felt my heart sink as I saw my ex-boyfriend, Sam, staring up at me from the crowd. His eyes were wide and disbelieving; of course he knew that I wasn’t Ella’s mother. And of course he knew that I wasn’t Edrick’s real fiancee, as Sam and I had only broken up a few months prior. I could spin the story to make it seem as though Edrick and I quickly got engaged after I found out that I was pregnant, but if Sam said anything publicly about how I wasn’t really Ella’s mother, there was no way I could possibly hide that.

Although I wanted to run away and hide from embarrassment, I put on a brave face, continued smiling as Edrick asked me to, and went back to staring above the crowd just like I had been doing before. And soon, Edrick’s speech was over. We stepped down off of the gazebo as the crowd stood and made their way over to the picnic area for brunch, and now that I wasn’t standing in front of everyone, I felt a lot less anxious about Sam being here. I just hoped that he wouldn’t say anything to anyone about his past relationship with me, but at the same time, I had to have faith that Edrick would handle it if he did say something.

“See? That wasn’t so bad,” Edrick said, shooting me a smile and patting Ella’s head. We then turned to see a group of other kids who were already on the playground. A few of them had gathered at the edge of the playground area and were staring at Ella curiously. One of them waved at her, and Ella waved back.

“Can I go and play?” Ella asked, looking back and forth between Edrick and myself with wide, hopeful eyes.

Edrick nodded. “Go ahead. Come find me or Moana if you get hungry.”

Ella took off running to meet the other children, who immediately swarmed her and began asking all sorts of questions. She seemed to handle it well, which made me proud.

“She’s so good with other kids,” I said to Edrick as we watched Ella play. “She has no trouble whatsoever making friends.”

Edrick nodded. “Well, she didn’t get that trait from me, I’ll say that much,” he said with a laugh.

female voice came

red lipstick and an attractive matching top and

“If it isn’t my old friend Mia. I didn’t

little homesick. Decided to come home until I get sick of being here and get

long will that be?”

She held her hand out for a handshake, and when I took it, her hand was warm. “I’m Mia. Edrick and

Mia was warm and inviting, and I immediately felt comfortable with her; although she was stunningly gorgeous, which made

nice to meet you,” I replied. “I’m Moana.

Edrick and shot him a

I was pretty was more flattering than any compliment any man had ever given

however, said nothing. It seemed that even the mention of

seeing you, Mia,” he said. “Have a drink and something to eat. I have to speak to one of my business partners about something.” And with that, he turned on his heel and headed over to the picnic area, leaving Mia and I alone together. As I followed Edrick with my eyes, I could also see that there was a gaggle of the other wives that had formed at one of the tables, and they were all staring over their sunglasses at me like I was a

turned to look at me and made a disgusted

all a bunch

eyes widened, but I couldn’t help but laugh at her candidness. They were, in fact, a

I said, clearing my throat. “You

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