Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 78: Minor Inconvenience

Chapter 78: Minor Inconvenience

Ella’s POV:

Once Joanne was gone, Kate’s whole demeanor shifted. She let out a breath, her posture relaxing, and I realized just how much she’d been holding in. "I swear, Ella," she muttered, shaking her head. "Does she not understand when she’s not wanted?"

She turned to me with a glare. "What is with her? She’s everywhere, Ella. Everywhere. It’s starting to feel... obsessive."

"Kate," I said softly, a pang of guilt tugging at me. "I didn’t mean to make things so... uncomfortable."

She looked at me, her expression softening slightly, though the frustration remained. "I know you didn’t. But Ella... sometimes, you can’t ignore instincts just because someone puts on a nice smile."

"Come on, Kate," I replied, trying to laugh it off, "she’s just trying to be a friend. I think she’s really making an effort to fix things."

Kate’s frown deepened, crossing her arms as she watched me gather her belongings. "Maybe you’re too trusting, Ella. People like Joanne don’t just change overnight. She’s up to something; I can feel it."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "I get it, Kate. I really do. But what if she’s genuinely trying to make amends? People can change, right?"

Kate shook her head, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and exasperation. "Not like this. Not so suddenly. You need to be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt."

I nodded, appreciating her concern but still conflicted. "I’ll be careful, I promise. But I also want to give her a chance. Maybe she deserves that."

Kate’s expression softened further, and she reached out to squeeze my hand. "Just promise me you’ll keep your guard up. For your sake and the baby’s."

I smiled, feeling a bit more reassured. "I promise."

---

Joanne’s POV:

As soon as I stepped out of the hospital doors, a hot wave of frustration hit me.

I hailed a cab and slid inside, practically slamming the door shut behind me. My face still stung from Kate’s rejection, and the smile I’d forced on for my plan’s sake felt like a smudge, a humiliating smear on my pride. I’d never been so deliberately shut out. And by someone like her.

I folded my arms, clenching my jaw as I watched the city blur by through the cab window.

Kate was going to make things difficult, far more difficult than I’d anticipated.

I’d spent all this time working to prove myself, trying to show Ella I could be the friend she needed. But somehow, Kate saw through it, picking me apart with every disapproving look. It was like she could see the real me, and that thought alone sent a chill down my spine.

I bit my lip hard, letting out a breath.

"I wish that poison had killed her," I muttered, the words slipping out, barely louder than a whisper.

No one had ever spoken to me the way Kate just did. People liked me. I made sure they did. Or at least, they liked the version of me I showed them. Kate, though, seemed immune to my charm, her coldness like a slap in the face.

As the cab rattled on, I leaned back and closed my eyes, forcing myself to calm down. Losing my temper wasn’t going to get me anywhere.

It was clear that if I wanted Ella in my life, I’d have to deal with her dear friend somehow. I’d tried friendliness, even kindness, swallowing down every biting word I’d wanted to say. But if Kate insisted on seeing me as the enemy... well, I could play that game too.

After a while, I took a deep breath, running through my options. Kate was just a minor obstacle, a wrinkle in what had otherwise been a flawless plan. I’d spent time putting myself in Ella’s path, offering her advice, helping her with the wedding planning, and making myself useful.

I’d forced myself to smile through conversations I didn’t care about and go out of my way to seem supportive.

But Kate’s interference was dragging out what should have been an easy win.

Ella was so close to finally letting me in completely, yet here was Kate, standing guard like a watchful hawk. I pressed my fingernails into my palms, feeling the sting of them bite into my skin. I wouldn’t let some self-righteous friend destroy everything I’d worked for.

The cab driver eyed me through the rearview mirror, probably catching sight of the scowl I was wearing.

I quickly straightened up, smoothing down my skirt and plastering a polite smile on my face. No need to scare him off.

Besides, I couldn’t let my emotions get the better of me. I had to be patient, strategic. That was how I’d always gotten what I wanted.

As the cab pulled up to my building, I paid the driver and stepped out, immediately feeling the weight of the day settle over me. I could still feel that sour taste of humiliation, that memory of Kate’s dismissive gaze. But instead of letting it crush me, I let it fuel me.

I made my way up to my apartment, the quiet seclusion giving me a moment to breathe. I couldn’t risk showing Ella any hint of my frustration; she was far too perceptive. I had to play the part of the concerned friend, the one who cared just enough to be supportive without being too pushy.

Ella seemed to be softhearted, someone who wanted to see the good in others. But her kindness could also make her oblivious, blind to what’s happening right under her nose.

Kate was a problem, yes. But not one without a solution.

I set my purse down on the kitchen counter, turning the idea over in my mind, examining it from every angle. Kate’s loyalty to Ella ran deep. A true friend, loyal to a fault.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to break that bond outright. But if I could plant just a seed of doubt, something small yet insidious...

The thought sent a small, shivering thrill through me. I’d need to be subtle. Even Ella, with her big heart, had her limits.

If I made Kate look like the paranoid one, always watching, always questioning me, Ella would eventually start to notice. She’d start feeling as if Kate didn’t trust her judgment.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through messages, stopping on a text from Ella sent earlier in the week. She’d thanked me for helping with the wedding plans, her words full of gratitude and warmth. I allowed myself a small smile. Yes, that’s right, Ella, I thought, you do need me.

In fact, I’d made myself so necessary that backing out now would leave a gaping hole in her life, one I knew she’d be reluctant to fill with anyone else. That was the beauty of it. Ella had come to rely on me without even realizing it.