Desires Die Hard

“Ellie, I’ll be home late tonight,” Anya said. She had been planning to drop Ellie a call later to let her know that.

After all, she was going to head to Cindy’s after work.

“You’re working late again?” Ellie asked.

“It’s not work,” Anya said. “Remember my best friend, Cindy? She’s just came back. I’m going over to her place later.”

Ellie had no idea who that was.

After a few moments of confusion, she finally recalled who Anya was talking about. Cindy has been Anya’s best friend.

“Is she back in the country?”

“Yup, she is. That’s why I’m going over to her apartment. I’ll have to trouble you to take care of the kids again.” Anya couldn’t help the wave of guilt rising within her at the mention of her children.

She had been so busy since she had started work. She hardly had any time for her children.

The thought of that sent another wave of guilt surging in the young woman.

“It’s no trouble at all. But they wouldn’t stop asking for you though,” Ellie said before placing the phone against Nathaniel’s ear. She murmured to the young boy gently. “Come on, Nate, it’s your mom. Say hi to your mom.”

Nathaniel knew his mother was on the other end of the line. He immediately started shouting into the phone excitedly. “Mama! Mama..”

“Hey, Nathaniel, my sweetheart. That’s right, it’s Mom.” The sound of Nathaniel’s voice sent tears welling up in Anya’s eyes.

She missed her kids so much. How she wished she could be back home right now, with her darlings in her arms.

“Mama…” Eudora wanted to talk to her mother too. She wasn’t going to let her brother have all of their mother’s attention.

Unfortunately, that was the only word they knew to say to their mother. Besides “mama“, they didn’t know any other word.

It was enough for Anya.

Anya sniffled. Her voice was choked with tears. “Hey, my precious Dora. I love you too.”

“Ellie, I’m thinking of bringing them to the SeaWorld this weekend.” She tried not to take the kids out. She didn’t want the MacMillans to know that she had children.

Her darlings had not had a chance to get out of the house for some time.

“Are you sure?” Ellie didn’t disapprove of the idea but she appeared slightly concerned. “Aren’t you worried about bumping into the MacMillans?”

That was a distinct possibility.

After all, Mdm MacMillan had turned up at Ellie’s apartment building to issue her a stern warning. She knew where Anya

lived.

“We’ll wear disguises. It’ll be fine.” Anya’s mind was made.

She was going to bring her kids out and let them have a glimpse of the world outside. She couldn’t keep them locked up at home all the time. That wouldn’t be good for them.

“Alright,” Ellie finally said after a moment of silence. A simple disguise should do the trick.

“Ellie, I have to go now. I’ll be heading straight to Cindy’s place after work. I’ll feed the kids when I get back.”

“Sure.”

Anya wanted to end the call but Nathaniel wouldn’t let her. He tugged at Ellie’s arm insistently, trying to tell his aunt that he wanted to talk to his mother. But he didn’t have the words to convey his needs. All he could say was “mama“.

The boy pulled Ellie’s phone from her fingers and shouted into the phone repeatedly. “Mama! Mama! Mama!”

Anya felt her chest twinge painfully at the sound of her son’s voice.

“Nathaniel, Mom’s going to be home soon,” Anya said softly as she dabbed the tears at the corner of her eyes. “Be a good boy, alright? Mom…”

Without any warning at all, Evan appeared behind Anya while the latter was attempting to soothe her boy. His voice was a sudden sound next to her ear. “Ms. MacMillan?”

The sudden bark had Anya whipping herself around in alarm. She looked as if she had just seen a ghost. At the sight of the man, Anya’s grip on her phone loosened. The phone slipped through her

fingers and landed on the ground.

It was Evan.

What was he doing here?

How much of the conversation had he caught?

Anya found herself seized by terror.

Would he kill her if he knew that she had secretly had his children? Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Would he take Nathaniel and Eudora away from her?

Anya couldn’t let herself dwell on those terrifying thoughts. The mere thought of her losing her kids hurt. The pain was akini to driving a dagger into her heart.

She felt her heart spasm with agony.

He must never find out about the kids.

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A sudden calm overtook Anya. She bent forward and picked her phone up.

Then, she hung up immediately.

She didn’t want Evan to catch the children’s voices from the other end of the line. Luckily, Evan hadn’t heard a thing. He was simply curious. What was Anya doing here?