Chapter 113

Annie's POV

In my office. I was reviewing the final touches on a new children's book illustration when my phone suddenly vibrated. Glancing at the screen, I was surprised to see my mother's name lighting up the display.

I answered with a casual, "Hi, Mom."

"Annie," Ruth's voice came through, uncharacteristically urgent. "I need to apologize to you."

Her words caught me completely off guard. My mother was many things-practical, hardworking, direct-but rarely apologetic. I set down my pencil,giving her my full attention.

"Apologize? For what?"

"For not supporting your decision to divorce Philip," she said,her voice heavy with regret. "I've been too conservative, always thinking Philip was'not that bad' of a person. I discouraged you from leaving him."

I leaned back in my chair, momentarily speechless.

"What brought this on?" I finally asked.

"I just spoke with Philip," my mother explained, her tone hardening. "That man-he's not even human! How could he do this to you? To his own son?"

The vehemence in her voice startled me. "Mom,what happened?"

"He cheated on you with his first love, abandoned the wife who supported

him when he had nothing, took away your child, and now he's neglecting Brian!" Her words came in a rush of indignation. "And that mother of his-Betty-she doesn't care for Brian at all. All she cares about is Sarah and her unborn child!"

I remained silent, allowing her to express the anger she had apparently been containing.

"T've been blind," she continued, her voice softening slightly. "You made the right decision leaving that family. Annie. You were absolutely right."

A small smile formed on my lips. So they had finally shown their true colors to my mother as well. They had practically abandoned Brian-the child they had fought so hard to take from me-in favor of Sarah's unborn baby.

How they would regret this decision when they eventually discovered the child might not even be Philip's.

"Thank you for saying that, Mom," I replied, genuinely touched by her support,late though it was.

"I want you to know," she continued, "that whatever you decide to do from now on, I support you completely. You have my full backing."

"Thank you, Mom," I said again, feeling a weight I hadn't realized I was carrying lift from my shoulders.

"Don't be so formal with me," she said with a hint of her usual briskness."We're family. There's no need for all these thank-yous."

Before I could respond, she abruptly changed tone. "I need to go now.I have some things to arrange."

"Wait-" I began, but she had already ended the call.

I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone. The conversation had been unexpected but deeply gratifying. My mother's validation of my decision to leave Philip felt like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place.

My reflections were interrupted by a message notification.Howard had texted,asking me to come see his newly remodeled office. I frowned slightly in confusion-I was intimately familiar with Howard's office,having spent considerable time there, including some rather...unprofessional moments. What could be new about it?

Curiosity piqued, I made my way through the bustling corridors of Howard Technologies. The company was thriving, and the energy was palpable in every corner. As I approached Howard's office, I noticed subtle changes-the reception area had been extended, and there was a new door adjacent to his main entrance.

When I stepped inside. I gasped involuntarily.Howard's already spacious office had been expanded to nearly twice its original size. The familiar desk and leather chairs remained, but beyond them, through an elegant archway, was a completely new space.

Howard stood in the center of the room, his tall figure commanding as always, a rare smile playing on his lips as he watched my reaction.

"What do you think?" he asked, gesturing toward the addition.

I stepped further into the office, taking in the details. "It's...impressive.But what's that?" I pointed to the adjoining space.

"That," he said, guiding me through the archway, "is your creative space."

The new area was flooded with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows.

In the center stood an adjustable drawing table, positioned to capture the best of the daylight. A comfortable chair was tucked neatly beneath it.Along one wall, shelves held an array of professional-grade markers.colored pencils, and various art supplies, all meticulously organized by color and type.

Display boards had been mounted on another wall,perfect for showcasing and reviewing works in progress. In a corner sat a small refrigerator,which Howard opened to reveal my favorite drinks and snacks.

"I thought you might prefer working here," Howard explained, watching my expression carefully. "Rather than in your separate office down the hall.11

I turned to him, surprise evident on my face. "You want me to share your office?"

"Is that a problem?" he asked, his voice level but his eyes searching mine.

"Won't people in the company talk?" I hesitated, thinking about the potential gossip this arrangement might generate.

"That's precisely the point," Howard replied with characteristic directness."

I want everyone in this company to know that you're my girlfriend."

I studied his face, sensing there was more to this than professional acknowledgment. "Is that the only reason?" I asked, a teasing glins in my eye.

Howard didn't shy away from my implication. "No," he admitted frankly."It also means we don't have to sneak around when we want to be... close."

"Howard Thompson!" I exclaimed, feigning shock at his brazenness.But inwardly, I was drawn to this combination of authority and candor-the

way he could be so commanding yet so transparent about his desires.

I couldn't help but reflect on how different this was from my marriage to Philip. Philip had always maintained appearances,saying what was proper rather than what was true. Howard, by contrast, was unapologetic about his feelings and intentions. There was something thrilling about that honesty.

"So?" Howard prompted, bringing me back to the present. "Will you accept this arrangement?"

Looking around at the thoughtfully designed space-a place created specifically with my needs and comfort in mind-I found myself nodding."Yes. I accept."

The satisfaction in Howard's eyeswas immediate. It struck me again how different this relationship was from my previous one. Philip had always viewed my illustrating as a hobby, somnething to be tolerated rather than celebrated. Howard not only encouraged my professional development but took pride in it, creating space for my work within his own domain.

I was part of his life, his present, and his future. This idea meant a great deal.

A knock at the door interrupted our moment.

"Come in," Howard called.

Susan Moore, Howard's efficient secretary, entered holding a tablet. "I have updates on Ms. Baker's comic publication, Mr. Thompson."

"Go ahead," Howard nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

Susan turned to me with a pleased expression. "The printing details for

the physical versions of your comics have been finalized. The books should be published within the next few months."

"That was fast," I remarked, genuinely surprised by the efficient timeline.

"The publishing market for physical books hasn't been doing well recently,"Susan explained. "Publishers haven't had any bestsellers lately. When they saw how quickly your merchandise sales were growing, they believed your books could help them turn a profit. They've prioritized your work, which has accelerated the production process."

She scrolled through her tablet before continuing, "We've also hired staff to coordinate with international publishers. They're interested in your books and are willing to handle everything with a standard profit-sharing arrangement."

I couldn't help but appreciate how pleasant it was working at Howard Technologies. I could focus entirely on my creative work while others handled the business aspects with remarkable efficiency. This level of support would have been unimaginable during my time with Philip.

"Do you have any objections to these arrangements, Mr.Thompson?"Susan asked,turning to HIoward.

"None," he replied simply.

Susan nodded, then paused slightly before adding, "That's all the good news. Now for the bad news."

My head snapped up in surprise. What? Bad news?