The next day, I ran into her at the time clock. Her face was grim.
“Anna, did your husband really give you that pill?”
Puzzled, I nodded.
“Of course. Why? What is it—some rare herb worth a fortune?”
She hesitated, then said,
“The composition is complicated. Maybe you should come back in a week for the final report.”
“Your… your husband…”
I thanked her again, brushing off her tone.
“My husband is really generous. I’ll treat you to dinner when the results come out.”
That evening, William called:
“Honey, Sophia is holding her birthday party earlier this year. I’ll pick you up after work.”
Although I was reluctant, all his old friends would be there.
As his wife, not showing up would look bad.
I replied:
“Alright, I just got off work. Come pick me up now.”
By the time we arrived, everyone else was already seated.
Seeing me, Sophia stood warmly and said:
“Anna’s here—come sit next to me.”
She pulled me down beside her, though every instinct in my body resisted her touch.
Dinner stretched on, drinks flowing.
Sophia grew tipsy, raising her glass of wine again and again, urging me to drink.
I waved her off.
“I’d better not. William and I are trying for a baby, you know that.”