Billionaire, Let's Divorce! by BELLA

ANASTASIA

| finished shopping quite late. There were a lot of things that | needed to get and the t| was supposed to

have used to get sof them, my ex colleagues had successfully helpedto squander it.

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

Few minutes later, it was my turn. | watched as the cashier efficiently scanned the barcode on each item. Then

he read out the total cost for my purchases with a smile.

| handed him my card and he did a swift job of swiping it across the machine. He handedmy card, packed up

my things and handed it to me.

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

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

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

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

"Hey, Aiden," | repeated, cramming my phone between my shoulder blades and my cheek as | picked up the

empty crate of egg and began to carefully arrange the eggs | 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 sfree time."

"Okay," | drawled as | stopped what | was doing and thought about what he said. He didn't outrightly ask but |

knew he was, in sway, asking for my permission. | wondered if he would stay back if | asked him to. He

probably would because | 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 and vice versa.

"Anastasia?"

| was pulled back to the phone call. "Of course." | shrugged. "He's your daughter after all."

There was a short silence. Then, "Alright."

"Wait!" | blurted multiple times when he was about to end the call. "I want to ask you about something."

Another silence. "Go ahead."

"Okay, so short story. Earlier, | was at

the store. And | ran into my

colleagues from when | was in your company. We exchanged

pleasantries and they were like very excited to see me," | rolled my eyes as | said that part. "Then we asked one

another about life and work and then one of them asked about my husband." | paused. "That was out of the

point but it's understandable, a wedding happened, right? Then the shocking part was when they askedhow

Amie was doing and if her chemotherapies were going well and all?" | took another pause.

"I'm still here," he said gently.

"Okay, so, that was when they asked about my baby. Like, they were like, 'how's your son in the NICU?' and

‘how's preparation to have him back home?"" "Woah," Aiden muttered.

"I know, right? | was rendered speechless."

"That's a lot. How did they know all of that? Especially the deets about the baby? Did you tell them?"

"No, | did not. That's exactly why I'm telling you this," | said, dropping the pack of tissue paper on the counter.

Then | leaned against it and focused on our conversation. "It was really unnerving." "Downright creepy. Or have

you been in contact with them all these while? Maybe on W**++tp and you just hinted at it in a group or with a

status update?"

"No. That's the thing. I lost contact with most of my ex colleagues when | left. And | did not post anything about

what's happening in my life right now. | barely even post."

"Then how?" He murmured, but | suspected that it was to himself.

"I don't know either. | suspect that the hospital staff are unknowingly sharing news. You know, maybe a comment

here and there to a

neighbor about what went on at

work

and all. Because | don't see any

other explanation for how these people know what they shouldn't."

"Yeah," Aiden said. "Don't worry, I'll look into it and see what's really happening."

"Okay, thank you." Then it occured toto ask, "Or did you," I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug, "did you,

maybe, like, did you mention it to anyone, a friend?"

"Of course, | didn't," his response cback immediately, calm and sure.

"Sharon is the only other person who knows about these things," he added. "I'd ask her and see if she told

anyone about it. Though, | doubt it. Sharon isn't really the type."

"Alright then. Thank you." | thought

about asking about how their baby was doing but | immediately decided against it. "I'd really appreciate Because

| don't like that lots of people that | barely interact with

Kn

know things about me."

"It's okay. | understand. I'm sure, we'll get to who's spreading the news soon," he assured me.

"Thank you," | muttered again, and a few seconds later, the line went dead.

As | placed my phone on the counter, | stood there for a while and just stared into the air, still wondering how

they knew about it. Dennis was too busy coming to terms with all the development to post on social media.

Eventually, | returned to sort out the items | bought. As | did, | made a mental note to talk to Dennis about it. |

just hope he didn't randomly mention it to anyone.