The Cursed Dragon King Human Mate

(Anna POV )

“Anna, you’ve been on your feet since morning. Go home.”

I looked up from the espresso machine, blinking at my boss like I hadn’t heard him right. “Mr. Darius, it’s fine. I can close.”

He shook his head, already reaching for a cloth to wipe the counter. “No, it’s not fine. Today is your sister’s birthday, isn’t it? Thirteen, right?”

A small smile tugged at my lips despite the exhaustion weighing on me. “Yeah… Lily turns thirteen today.”

“Then why are you still here?” he said, giving me a pointed look. “Go. Get her something nice. Cake, maybe. A girl only turns thirteen once.”

My chest tightened slightly at that, cake, I hadn’t even thought about it, between rent, food, and everything else, birthdays had quietly become just another day we survived.

“Thank you,” I said softly, already pulling off my apron.

“Don’t thank me,” he waved me off. “Just don’t come back tomorrow telling me you missed her birthday because of work.

I laughed lightly, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I won’t.”

The evening air was cool as I stepped out of the coffee shop, the familiar streets of our small town stretching quietly before me, this place used to feel safe, now it just felt small, small dreams, small chances, small life, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, my thoughts drifting as they always did to my dad.

It had been eight months since the accident at Cole Industrial Holdings, eight months since toxic chemicals took him and eleven other men with him, eight months of fighting for compensation that never came, Mr. Cole refused to pay, said it wasn’t his responsibility and the workers signed documents, legal words that meant nothing when your father was buried in the ground, I clenched my jaw, mum tried to stay strong, but I saw it, the fear in her eyes every time the landlord came around, every time bills stacked up, every time we had to pretend things were okay for Lily, thinking about her brought a soft smile to my lips, she deserved something good today, something normal that didn’t feel like loss.

“I’ll get her a cake,” I whispered to myself.

Even if it meant spending money we didn’t really have.

The town bakery came into view, warm lights glowing through the glass windows, the scent of fresh bread and sugar drifting into the street, just perfect, I pushed the door open, the small bell chiming softly above me and then my heart dropped.

There, near the display counter, stood William, my boyfriend, laughing looking relaxed and happy and beside him was Vanessa Cole, my childhood nemesis and the daughter of my late father's boss, with her hand laced with his, my fingers went cold, for a second, I couldn’t move, think or breathe, then something sharp and painful pushed me forward.

“William?”. My voice cut through the air.

They both turned, Vanessa’s eyes lit up instantly with amusement, William looked annoyed like I was the problem.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Vanessa let out a soft laugh, squeezing his hand. “Wow. This is awkward.”

I ignored her, my eyes locked on William. “Answer me.”

He sighed like I was stressing him. “Anna, not here.

“Not here?” I repeated. “Then where? Because clearly I’ve been the only one taking this relationship seriously.”

Vanessa stepped forward slightly, her expression smug. “Relationship?”

The way she said it made my stomach twist.

“Don’t tell me he hasn’t told you,” she added, placing a hand lightly on her stomach.

Something inside me went still, William ran a hand through his hair.

“Anna, it just happened”

“I am pregnant,” Vanessa cut in smoothly.

I felt cold all over me, the world blurred around the edges.

“What?” I whispered.

She smiled, slow and proud. “I’m pregnant. And yes, it’s William’s.”

My chest tightened painfully, I looked at him, searching for denial, for guilt, for anything, but all I saw was distance, this was the same man who promised to stand by me when my dad dead, he was my first boyfriend and I have been with him since high school.

“It wasn’t planned,” he said quickly. “You wouldn’t understand.”

A hollow laugh escaped me. “You’re right. I don’t understand how you cheat and stand here like I’m the inconvenience.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Oh please. Don’t act like he lost something valuable.”

I stiffened.

“You are nothing,” Vanessa added casually, glancing at William like it was a joke. “Can you imagine? What exactly were you holding onto, Anna? Dreams?”

The words hit harder than I expected, but I refused to break, not in front of her.

“We came to check cakes,” Vanessa continued, gesturing toward the display. “For our wedding.”

My head snapped up. “Your what?”

“Our wedding,” she repeated, smiling sweetly. “Daddy is handling everything. It’s going to be huge.”

Of course it was, she was Vanessa Cole, daughter of the man who destroyed my family.

“She has nothing to offer you,” Vanessa added lightly, looking at William. “No money, no future, no status, she and her family are not more than a church rat”

William didn’t argue, didn’t defend me, nothing, that hurt more than anything, I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing my spine straight.

“Congratulations,” I said quietly.

Vanessa smirked. “Thank you. Try not to cry. It’s embarrassing.”

I held her gaze, Cold and unyielding.

“I won’t,” I said calmly. “Because unlike you, I don’t need to steal someone else’s life to feel important, and my family are not murderers”

For a brief second, her smile flickered, then it returned sharper this time, I didn’t wait for another word, I turned and walked out of the bakery, the bell chiming behind me like a final goodbye.

The night air hit my face, but it did nothing to cool the storm inside me, my heart ached and my chest felt heavy, but my eyes stayed dry because I couldn’t afford to break, not now not when Lily was waiting for me, not when Mum needed me strong, I took a shaky breath, wiping my hands against my jeans.

“Get it together, Anna,” I whispered.

I turned back toward the bakery door, because no matter what happened my sister still deserved her birthday cake, and I wasn’t going to let them take that away too just like they took my dad.