Married To My Ex's Brother, Reborn Miraculously-Chapter 246: Lorie has changed?

After Audrey had finally drifted off to sleep, Anne found her time to check her phone. She picked it up and saw Augustine’s message.

’Sam told me everything. Honestly, I don’t like the idea of you spending the night away from me. But I understand why you made that decision. Stay with your friend and give her the support she needs. Just don’t forget to take care of yourself and the little one growing inside you. Love you.’

Anne smiled, warmth flooding her chest. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard, ready to type a reply. But instead, she tapped the video call icon.

The screen lit up, and within seconds, Augustine’s face appeared, his expression instantly brightening.

"You finally remembered me," he said with exaggerated sorrow, slumping in his chair. "I was starting to think I had been replaced by your best friend."

Anne giggled, leaning back against the headboard, her hand resting over her belly. "Forget you? How could that be possible? You are a part of me. A piece of you is growing inside me." She smiled softly. "And most importantly, you have filled every corner of my heart."

Augustine groaned dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "You say things like that and expect me to sleep tonight? That’s cruel, Mrs. Bennet."

"Then take a deep breath and try not to think about me," she teased.

"That’s the problem," he said with a mock sigh. "I can’t stop thinking about you. I wish I were there right now... I’d kiss you so hard."

Anne grinned and brought the phone close to her lips. "Then here is a kiss to hold you over." She pressed a playful kiss against the screen. "Mmuah..."

Augustine chuckled, shaking his head as if trying to gather himself. The way her lips pressed against the glass stirred something deeper in him, making it harder to resist the ache to be near her.

"You are not making this any easier." His voice dropped into a rough, husky tone. "If you keep teasing me like this, I swear, I might just show up there to find you."

Anne laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "And wake up the entire neighborhood in the middle of the night?" she teased. "Let’s not cause a scandal. I’m hanging up before you lose your mind. Goodnight."

Before he could respond, she ended the call.

Anne couldn’t wipe the smile from her face, his voice still echoing in her ears. She set her phone aside, lay back on the bed, and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Her hand instinctively found her stomach, resting gently over the life growing inside her. With her heart full and her mind still dancing in the afterglow of their call, she closed her eyes, that smile still playing at the corners of her lips.

The next morning...

Audrey sat on the edge of the bed, her face flushed with guilt, eyes downcast. "I’m really sorry, Anne," she said quietly. "I shouldn’t have gotten that drunk. I feel awful for putting you through all that."

Anne shook her head gently, her smile warm and reassuring. "You don’t need to apologize. We all break sometimes. When you are hurting, you need someone to lean on. You have been there for me when I fell apart, when I couldn’t see past my own pain. You helped me stand up again."

She placed a comforting hand on Audrey’s shoulder. "Now it’s my turn. I’m here for you...always. I’ll stay with you as long as you want."

Audrey rolled her eyes with a playful smile, though her chest swelled with gratitude. "Just don’t let Augustine storm in here yelling at me for stealing his wife overnight. I don’t want to get on his bad side."

Anne laughed, a flicker of last night’s memory crossing her mind. His teasing, impatient tone on the phone seemed to echo in her ears. "He won’t go that far," she said, brushing it off. "Now come on, get dressed and meet me for breakfast. I’ve got to head to work soon."

Anne walked into the kitchen while Audrey got ready, her heart a little lighter than the night before.

While Anne stood by the stove, flipping pancakes, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at the screen and froze when she saw Lorie’s name.

It had been a long time since she had heard from her. The name alone stirred unease. Instantly, Anne’s thoughts flashed back to the conversation she had had with Lilly and Rose.

’Is she calling to ask for help with a job?’ Anne wondered silently.

She stared at the screen for a few seconds. Then, with a slow breath, she answered, "Hello?"

"Anne... I hope I’m not bothering you," Lorie’s voice came through, soft, regretful, almost unrecognizable.

Gone was the usual arrogance, the cold, mocking tone Anne had grown used to. Now, it was wary, trembling slightly.

"I really need your help. Please... please don’t hang up."

Anne didn’t reply, her brows drawn in suspicion as she listened.

"I know you have every reason to hate me," Lorie continued. "I treated you terribly, bullied you, humiliated you, and spread lies about you. I don’t blame you for not wanting to see me, let alone help me."

A quiet sob slipped through the line.

"But life has changed me. It has broken me in ways I never imagined. And now, for the first time, I see how wrong I have been. I’m truly, deeply ashamed of how I treated you over the years."

There was a pause for a moment.

"I just want to talk. Please...If you can, come see me at Mom’s bakery. I’ll be there. Waiting."

Anne remained silent, her mind spinning. It was the first time she had heard Lorie sound so broken, so fragile. There was a rawness in her voice that didn’t feel phony. It tugged at something in Anne, making her wonder: ’Is Lorie truly suffering in her marriage with Robert?’

But even as doubt crept in, a voice within warned her about how Lorie had treated her in the past.

Lorie had manipulated her before, played innocent while twisting the knife behind her back. Could this be another ploy?

And if things were really that bad, why hadn’t Patricia said a word?

Still, Anne couldn’t ignore the pull of curiosity. Part of her needed to see it for herself, to know the truth.

"Fine," she agreed. "I’ll come after work."

The call ended.

On the other end of the line, Lorie lowered her phone slowly, her face shifting.

The sorrow drained from her features like a mask falling away. What replaced it was cold, calculated. Her eyes darkened, glinting with simmering rage and hate.

"You are still as gullible as ever, Anne." A slow, twisted smile curled across her lips. "This will be your last coffee with me."

Whatever humanity was left in her eyes vanished, replaced by a void that held only desperation and deadly intent. "Don’t blame me for being cruel. I’m just trying to get out of this miserable, abusive marriage."

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