Chapter 4 Best Friends

Lysander's fingers clenched slightly as she thought of the medical report tucked inside her wallet. Her knuckles whitened, but she held back. Until the situation between the three of them was clear, she had no intention of telling Josiah about the pregnancy. "Not ready yet?" Josiah chuckled lightly. Nearby, Lysanne observed the scene like an amused spectator. With a smirk, she chimed in, "Oh, Josiah, forget about it. Doctors are always busy. She probably hasn't had time to prepare a gift for you. Unlike me—a carefree wanderer—who came back from abroad just to celebrate your birthday." She walked over, casually linking her arm with Josiah's and speaking with a playful tone. "But don't worry, I've got a gift for you. Just promise you won't dislike it!" The sight left Lysander feeling oddly out of place, as though she were the outsider in her marriage. Yet, as she reminded herself, she was Josiah's legal wife. "Josiah, I've taken next week off. Let's go out for a few days," Lysander suggested calmly. Josiah blinked in surprise, pulling his arm free from Lysanne's grasp. "I thought you were busy working on a report. Are you sure you have time?" Before Lysander could answer, Lysanne interjected, her voice tinged with mockery. "If Dr. Thorne is too busy, I'd be happy to go with you. I've just returned to Ecron and don't have much to do anyway." Her pointed glance made Lysander's suggestion seem absurd. "I can arrange it," Lysander said firmly, refusing to stay passive in the face of Lysanne's provocation. If Josiah had secrets to keep, that was a matter between them—it wasn't for a so-called 'good friend' to interfere. Josiah thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright, we didn't get the chance to take a honeymoon after our wedding. It would be a good opportunity to make up for that." Turning to Lysanne with a serious expression, he advised, "Take care of yourself and the baby. You should be resting, not running around." "I'm fine! Really! You can ask Dr. Thorne. If I'm being discharged, it means I'm healthy enough to go out and have some fun," Lysanne said, shaking Josiah's arm playfully, her tone almost childlike as if she were a pregnant wife acting cute with her husband. "Stop causing trouble. Behave and listen," Josiah said softly, giving her shoulder a gentle pat. "Josiah," Lysander called his name, and Josiah immediately realized he had acted a bit too casually in front of his wife. "We should go in for dinner," Lysander added before heading inside first, leaving Josiah and Lysanne behind. Lysanne watched Lysander walk away, smiling slightly. She knew well that when it came to Josiah, she would always win—he would always choose her. As for Lysander, she was just a temporary substitute, bound to be pushed aside eventually. ... After Josiah's birthday passed, Lysander still hadn't brought up her prenatal examination report. A voice inside her told her to wait a little longer. Lysander and Josiah were lying in bed when he mentioned a get-together the following day, saying everyone could bring the family along. After thinking it over, Lysander finally decided to go with him. It was important for his old classmates to know who his real wife was. Once she was ready, she went downstairs, left the house quickly, and saw Josiah's white Cayenne parked outside. She approached the car and opened the passenger door, but she froze when she saw who was inside. "Dr. Thorne?" The person inside was also surprised. " ... Ms. Lysanne." Lysanne had dressed up for the occasion. Though she was noticeably pregnant, she wore a long red dress, her black hair flowing down, and light makeup. However, her red eyes and slightly nasal voice hinted that she'd been crying earlier. "Oh, I'm also going to the get-together," Lysanne explained, her tone casual. "Josiah offered me a ride." It occurred to Lysander that Josiah and Lysanne had been classmates from elementary to high school, so it made sense that she would be at the get-together as well. Even so, Lysander couldn't help but think that the passenger seat of her husband's car was her rightful place. Noticing that Lysanne made no move to switch seats, Lysander suggested politely, "Ms. Lysanne, the back seat is more spacious. You'd be more comfortable there." Lysanne tossed her hair with a bright smile. Sitting up straight in the high SUV seat, she looked down at Lysander and said lightly, "I get car sick if I sit in the back." Lysander had sensed the hostility from Lysanne since the day before. But in front of Josiah, she kept it under control. Although it stung, Lysander smiled. "So, Ms. Lysanne, what does that mean?" "Dr. Thorne, would you mind sitting in the back for a period? Could you do me—a pregnant woman—a favor?" "For a period?" "Yes," Lysanne replied. "I haven't been back to Ecron in years, and I plan to stay for a while. I don't want my baby born abroad. I want him to experience more of the local culture." She was six months pregnant now, but it would take years for her baby to be influenced by the culture around them after birth. "So, Ms. Lysanne, are you planning to stay with us for three to five years?" "My parents are in a nursing home up on the mountain, so I can only stay at the Guerra family's old house for now. But the old house is too far from the city, making prenatal check-ups difficult. I heard you and Josiah live in an apartment downtown, close to the hospital. After I give birth, I plan to stay with you," Lysanne said straightforwardly, without asking for Lysander's approval. It seemed as though she had already reached a decision and was simply letting Lysander know about it. Lysander turned her head to Josiah in the driver's seat. "What do you think, Josiah?" He looked slightly apologetic. "Our place is indeed closer to the hospital." "So, you two have already discussed all this, right?" "Lysander, Lysanne is pregnant, and she's my best friend," Josiah said. Best friend. Had he maintained contact with Lysanne over the past three years, or even mentioned her name once, Lysander might have come to that conclusion. But the fact was, there had been no contact. Why would two 'best friends' lose touch for years? Was it truly just friendship, or was there more going on behind the scenes? Josiah urged, "We should leave. It's time to go." He was addressing Lysander, not Lysanne, and hadn't suggested that Lysanne move to the back seat. Lysander smiled a little bitterly, opened the back door, and got in. The get-together was being held at a bar called Mirage. It was quiet during the day, and the spacious area made it ideal for a gathering. Perhaps because Lysanne was pregnant, Josiah drove extra carefully. Lysanne sat in the front seat, touching up her makeup with a small mirror. "Josiah, is this okay?" He glanced at her. "It's fine. You look good." She pouted slightly, clearly unsatisfied. "I'm pregnant, and I can't even put on full makeup. What's the difference between how I look now and without makeup?" "You still look great without it." "It's different. For a get-together, I need to look amazing," she said, setting the mirror down. Then, in a casual tone, she asked, "Where did I put my phone?" Josiah sighed and pulled her phone from his pocket, handing it to her. "You're still the same—always losing your phone and only looking for it when you need it. Here." Lysanne took it and laughed. "Feels like we're back in school. You always kept my phone for me back then." He seemed to be reminiscing. "Yes, back in school, when those boys sent you love letters, I would help you to reply to them." "Ugh, those boys were so annoying. By the way, I think I just heard a notification. Can you check who messaged me on WhatsApp?" Without waiting for a reply, she tossed her phone into his lap, not caring that he was driving, and continued with her makeup. Josiah, used to her behavior by now, took it all in stride. Without any complaints, he accepted her request. He reached into his lap, unlocked the phone, and asked, "What's your password?" "It's the same as before. You know it." From the back seat, Lysander noticed Josiah frowning at the screen as he tapped away. "Your password is like Morse code. Do you truly need it to be that complicated?" "You know it too," Lysanne replied playfully. "Have you finished entering it yet?" "Just a second. Almost there—" "Josiah!" Lysander suddenly yelled, seeing something ahead. "Watch out!"