Page 53 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3

We sat back down.I ate quickly‚ barely tasting the food because my mind was far away.With Anna.Every second was too long without her‚ and I couldn't stop thinking about how much I'd missed her‚ how badly I wanted to hold her again.I checked the time every few minutes‚ my chest tight with impatience.

Finally‚ I was done.I stood‚ pulled out my wallet‚ and paid the bill before Sophie could even argue."I've got to go‚" I said simply.

She didn't argue.She just sat there‚ quiet‚ watching me leave.

And the moment I stepped outside‚ I felt it again—Anna's scent.Stronger now.Pulling me‚ guiding me.I followed it down the street until I stopped in front of a boutique.My heart pounded in my chest.I stepped inside.

And there she was.My Anna.Standing at the counter‚ about to pay for something.My chest squeezed so hard I could barely breathe.Without thinking twice‚ I walked forward and told the cashier‚ "I'll pay for that."

And just like that‚ our eyes met‚ and the whole world stopped.

CHAPTER 151

Anna's POV

"Ryan…" I called‚ but then anger just rushed through me like fire in my chest.How dare him?After leaving me on read for three whole days‚ not even calling‚ not even explaining a single thing‚ and now he wanted to suddenly show up and what?Pay for our dresses as if everything was fine?

I turned to the cashier and told her flatly‚ "I'll pay.Take my card instead.Don't take his."

The poor girl blinked at me‚ clearly caught between us.I repeated myself‚ sharper this time."Take my card."

But the look Ryan shot her was enough to make her flinch.She nervously muttered‚ "Sorry‚" before she reached out and took his instead‚ swiping his black card quickly like she was scared of him.I felt my chest twist in frustration‚ in humiliation.I didn't even want to stay there another second.I grabbed Sasha's hand and stormed out of the boutique‚ pulling her with me‚ my anger bubbling so violently it was making my skin hot.

"How dare him!How dare he think this was okay?!"

The moment I stepped outside‚ I saw a woman coming straight towards me.A strange woman.Her face was twisted in anger‚ her eyes sharp like daggers locked on me.I stopped‚ startled‚ clutching Sasha's hand tighter as the woman stopped right in front of me.

"Are you the reason?!"she snapped‚ her voice trembling with rage as she grabbed my hand.

I pulled my hand back‚ my brows furrowing."Excuse me?"I asked‚ confused and defensive.

She was beautiful‚ I won't lie about that.Beautiful but furious‚ her lips curled in disgust as she glared at me like I was the worst person she'd ever seen."Stay away from him‚" she hissed‚ her voice low but filled with venom."He's mine.He's been promised to me long before he even met you."

My stomach dropped.My throat closed up.I took a step back‚ trying to understand what she was saying‚ who she even was‚ but her words just kept coming at me like punches.

Sasha immediately stepped in front of me‚ her arm pushing the woman back."Hey!What the hell is your problem?Why are you harassing my friend?!"she snapped‚ her voice protective and fierce.

"This doesn't concern you‚" the woman spat‚ glaring at Sasha now before turning her fury back to me."This is between me and this bitch who thinks she can steal my man!"

I gasped‚ completely thrown."Who the hell are you?"I asked‚ my voice shaking‚ my chest pounding as I tried to make sense of why some stranger was attacking me like this.

Before she could answer‚ a sharp‚ angry voice cut through the air.

"Sophie!"

Everything froze inside me.My heart dropped‚ my breath caught‚ my entire body went cold.Sophie.The name slammed into me like thunder.My eyes widened instantly as realization hit me‚ this was her.This was the Sophie.

Ryan's voice came again‚ desperate this time."Anna‚ baby—" He started toward me.

But I couldn't move.I was frozen‚ my body tense‚ my hand shaking as I gripped Sasha's arm so tightly my nails dug into her skin.

Sasha's eyes flicked between me‚ Ryan‚ and the furious woman.I saw it dawn on her too, the name‚ the look on Ryan's face‚ the way everything suddenly made sense.She didn't waste a second.She yanked my arm hard‚ her voice low but urgent."No‚ Anna.Come on.We're leaving."

I stumbled with her‚ still dazed‚ still unable to process‚ but she was already pulling me down the curb‚ her free arm waving frantically for a cab.Ryan's footsteps pounded behind us‚ his voice calling again‚ "Anna!Wait—"

A yellow cab screeched to a stop and before I could even think‚ Sasha shoved me inside‚ climbing in after me."Drive!"she ordered sharply‚ and the driver took off immediately.

"Anna!Anna!"Ryan's voice echoed behind the glass‚ growing fainter as the cab sped away.