Love and Debt
Chapter 107: Friendship

Chapter 107: Friendship

She met with Peggy and the rest of her friends in a newly opened restaurant. It was a simple lunch, but her friends brought their bodyguards with them. Andrew asked her to bring one, but she thought it wasn’t necessary.

"You should bring a bodyguard from now on. You can’t just walk around here without one." Sophie commented.

"I don’t think someone would—"

"Nina, what if someone approached you again like what happened in Paris? This is not just for you, but for all of us." Alora coldly said.

She didn’t talk back and just nodded in agreement.

"So, did you talk to Brie? Andrew said you decided to tell her what happened four years ago." Emily asked her first.

"Yes." She sighed. "She didn’t want to meet the twins. I mean Lucas and Alira. She said she’s scared they might hate her because of what I did."

"Did you tell her they don’t feel that way towards her?" Alora asked.

"I told her the twins were excited to meet her, and they were like her big brother and sister. But I can not convince her." She answered.

Alora and the rest felt the sadness and guilt from Nina’s voice. Yes, she made a mistake and messed up everything, but Brie was not involved with her mother’s decision before. She shouldn’t feel that way.

"How about we visit your house tonight? We can’t force Brie if she feels like that, so we’ll go to your house. And I think we should have a party for her." Emily suggested.

Nina was surprised. She didn’t expect that Emily would suggest something like that. She glanced at Peggy, who was quietly eating beside Sophie. She couldn’t just agree with Emily without considering Peggy’s feelings.

The others glanced in Peggy’s direction, waiting for her reaction. Peggy frowned when she saw them looking at her.

"What? I’m fine with it. The kids have nothing to do with what happened. Besides, we haven’t had a party for a long time. I guess we could have a welcome party for Brie—" Peggy paused and looked at Nina. "And for Nina." Peggy said with a smile on her face.

Nina saw the sincerity in Peggy’s eyes. She bit her lips to stop her tears, but still, she cried.

"Why are you crying again?" Alora asked.

She sobbed and sniffled. She felt something was blocking her throat; she could not find the words how to thank her friends. She took a deep breath and then tried her best to smile at them.

"Thank you. After everything I’ve done, you are still so nice to me. All of you treated me the same way as before—even Andrew. I promise I will help you find Benjamin. I will make everything right even if it causes my life." She said in a hoarse voice.

"Shh. Please stop it. Don’t ever say that again. The lives taken four years ago were enough. I don’t want to see anyone dying ever again! If you want to redeem yourself, promise us, Nina, that you will never sacrifice your life to any of us. Your life is yours, don’t waste it on anyone else." Peggy said in a serious tone.

"I’m so—"

"Stop apologising. As much as possible, we want to start over again. There were times that we felt awkward towards each other, and we couldn’t tell if we forgave you completely, but we all felt we just needed to spend time together. Like we always have." Sophie commented.

She could not stop thanking her friends for giving her another chance. She promised herself she would never disappoint them again, and whatever it took, she would help find the people responsible for what happened to them.

After lunch, they watched a movie and then went shopping. Nina had never felt so happy in the past four years. She didn’t think her friendship with the girls had changed, but it felt stronger.

She was an outcast during high school since she was the only one who didn’t come from a wealthy family. Everyone could say that she became lucky to meet Alora, who introduced her to the others. Then she met Andrew, and eventually, she became Mrs Cross. Her life was a roller coaster ride since she met them, but she was still happy she was a part of the circle.

"Nina, did Andrew ask you to marry him again?" It was Emily.

Nina’s eyes widened in surprise. Andrew’s mom also asked the same question. It’s not that she didn’t like it, but she felt it was too early to assume they would still get married after all that happened.

She shook her head in response to Emily’s question.

"What? He didn’t? He should ask you as soon as possible! That jerk!"

She chuckled. She had never heard Sophie cuss someone. She was always the calm and gentle one among them. But hearing her say those words, time changed, and so as people’s personalities. She thought.

"Well, I don’t think it’s best to talk about it now. I hurt him, and for four years, I was the enemy’s wife. What would people think about him? And how about Brie? Do you think everyone would rejoice if they found out I carried a child when I was somebody else’s wife? If we tell the whole world that I hid Andrew’s daughter for four years, do you think they will accept that? People will ask, and they might dig deeper. I’m scared that someone will find out about what happened in Flousia. And it would open up the wounds that were already healed." She said sadly.

Even if she wanted to marry Andrew again, she was still considering the consequences. No one knew what exactly happened inside the palace that day. The five most influential families did everything to hide the truth. No one found out that she was one of those people responsible for the loss of innocent lives.

If anyone found out about it, she will be dragging Andrew’s name into the mud again. She could never allow that. For now, she’s happy and satisfied to be with him and Brie.