• Chapter Thirty Nine •

"You know I'm not going to let this slide" Gemma walked in a few hours later, sitting in front of me and I looked at her with raised eyebrows. I was in the middle of sorting my desk out, throwing away loose pieces of paper and filing important documents. "Let what not slide?" I gave her a questioning look before sitting on my chair "You know what." Gemma looked at me knowingly "You mentioned Harry's off mood and I've been thinking about it, so what's going on, Anna? You can tell me" I sighed and began to explain all that happened from me having questions about what relationship we share to the rumours said about me and finally to this morning.

"He asked you to be his girlfriend?!" Gemma shrieked and I nodded "Then he acted like a total ass to you?" I nodded yet again "It must be something related to Noah" she stated and my interest piqued "Noah?" I questioned "Mhmm," Gemma hummed before continuing "He's been dealing with his lawyer and social services lately, I guess it's been quite stressful on him" she let out a deep sigh and my mind held a million questions, none that I couldn't seem to voice. "Why? What does social services have to do with him? Is it because of him being Noah's guardian?" Well duh Anna, you need a trophy for being so daft. Oh shush, go away you stupid voice.

"He told you about that too?" Gemma raised her eyebrows in surprise, her green eyes widened and I slowly nodded "You really must have something that allowed Harry to open up about himself" she said in an admirable tone and I passed her a small smile, flattered a little. "Sounds cliché but I think you bring out the best in him. I swear I haven't seen Harry smile or laugh with us in years than I've seen him do in the last two months" Gemma reached over, taking my hand into hers "All thanks to you" her grateful tone warmed my heart. Her phone beeped, interrupting our conversation, she pouted "I've got to go, Shawn's having a crisis" I chuckled "Go, it's fine" I assured her "I'll talk to you later" I nodded watching her walk out.

"I'm not in the mood to talk, Cole" I sighed, walking faster to my car. It was finally the end of the day "Still haven't forgiven me, huh?" I gave him an incredulous look and continued forward, gripping onto the handle of my bag. "What you did is unforgivable" I rummaged through my handbag, retrieving my car keys and unlocked my car. I threw my stuff into the passenger side and got in "But here I am, apologising for what I did. I know it was terrible and wrong of me to make your sister a target and I'm extremely sorry for it" he begged, leaning against my car door.

I turned the key in the ignition, the Mustang roared to life and I looked towards Cole "I'll never forgive you" with that said, I reversed and drove out the parking lot. I sped through the peak hour traffic only to realise that I need to do grocery shopping. Tash and I have turns every alternate week to do the grocery shopping but this week she forgot leaving me to have an energy bar for breakfast. I hung my handbag on my arm and with tired strides, I grabbed a trolley and began food hunting.

I was in the cereal aisle when I heard a loud squeal, "An!" I spun on my heel, a grin formed on my lips, seeing Noah in a baby seat "Noah!" I said equally as loud and made my way to him. His chubby hands grabbing onto the air, reaching out to me "Hello, Miss Montgomery" Raiza greeted "Hello Raiza and it's Anna, please. Miss Montgomery makes me feel old" I nodded with a smile before taking the ball of joy in my arms "Oh my, somebody has gotten heavier" I grunted once I placed him on my hip and he gurgled, hiding his face in the crook of my neck as his drool dribbled on my shoulder. "How's my handsome?" I cooed, tickling his tummy as he wrapped a loose strand of my hair in his hand.

"Ow, Noah!" I scrunched my nose when Noah decided to give me a kiss but ended up biting my cheek "Naughty boy" I playfully chided which he thought was fun as a loud laugh left his mouth. "You think that's funny?" I gasped and he had the audacity to nod his little head before tapping my cheeks with his hands "Gosh, I wonder where you got your naughtiness from" I heard Raiza chuckle from the side of us "He's like his father. Harry was just the same, I only fear for when Noah starts walking" she frowned and Noah pouted before babbling a story in his baby language, some of which I didn't understand but I kept my interest at peak.

Noah let out a cry when Raiza took him back and I waved at him a little. "Ann!" He cried, reaching out for me, earning an annoyed look from other customers. I glared at them before holding onto Noah again "You amaze me" I shook my head at him as he laughed, gone were the tears he had seconds ago. "He likes you, a lot" Raiza said in admiration and I smiled at her "I like him too" I placed a kiss to Noah's forehead while he snuck his face in the crook of my neck, this time holding onto the collar of my top with his hand.

I continued my shopping with Noah attached at my hip, with much difficulty I steered the trolley into different aisles. I ignored the stares I got from various women at the store, it made me feel even more self-conscious about myself. Eventually, I finished my shopping and I felt my heart break when Noah started to cry - not wanting to ever see him sad. I parked my car and with tired steps I entered my apartment finding it in complete darkness.

"Tash? Are you home?" I called out, stroking the wall with my hand to find the light switch and immediately began to panic when I heard a crash coming from one of the rooms. Storm was nowhere to be seen otherwise he'd bark. I switched on the light watching as it illuminated the apartment and a shrilling scream left my lips, my hands flew to my gaping mouth as I took in the sight of my apartment. My entire apartment was trashed. Glass covered the floorboards, spray paint strewn across the walls in various words and symbols of hate.

The cushions that decorated the couches had giant slits in them exposing the inner materials, so did the couch itself. A circular gash had been formed on the screen of the TV, the cracks reaching the edges. I couldn't move from my position by the door, my body was in complete shock. What the hell happened here? I questioned myself, managing to regain my composure I took careful steps towards my room. Slowly, I pushed open the door finding my bed turned upside down and my cupboards wide open while my clothes lay tattered on the floor.

Was this a burglary or a threat? I glanced up at the wall behind my bed which held the words - We're watching you - in black spray paint. My heart thudded in my chest at a rapid pace, so loud that it reached my ears as I gasped for breath. "Anna?" I heard my sister's frightened voice echo through the apartment "In here" I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat, my mouth having gone dry as my voice croaked. "What happened?" Tash whispered from behind me, I turned to face her while shaking my head.

"I.. I don't know" I held my head with my hands as tears made their way down my cheeks "I don't know what happened" I continued, shaking my head furiously, my body fell to the base of my bed - the mattress was thrown off with the sheets torn - I took in a shaky breath while my mind raced more than a mile, trying to figure out what or who would have done this. Cole? Matt? I don't think they would've taken part in such monstrosity.

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