"Rose Barnes, I refuse to believe you're this stupid. You really haven't figured it out? This baby is Leo's. And his real wife? That's me. So do yourself a favor and get lost."
I let a smile touch the corner of my lips. "Is that so? A 'real wife' who has to hide in the shadows?"
That hit a nerve. Adela's eyes went sharp.
"Don't get too full of yourself, Rose. Who do you think Leo's going to choose?"
And then she threw herself backward.
"Adela!"
Leo and his friends came rushing over.
"I'm sorry, Rose," Adela whimpered, clutching her stomach. "I know it bothers you that other people can get pregnant, but I can't lose this baby. Please, I'm begging you, leave him alone."
Leo didn't even bother pretending anymore.
"Rose Barnes, have you lost your mind? You could've killed her!"
Adela was rushed to the hospital.
Leo stood rigid outside the operating room, eyes locked on the doors.
"Rose Barnes, you'd better pray nothing happens to her."
I let out a quiet laugh. "And if something does? What, is the baby yours or something?"
Leo's hand trembled.
Whispers rippled through the people around us.
"Looks like we've got a cheating scandal."
"The wife caught the mistress."
Leo's expression darkened.
"Rose Barnes, when did you learn to throw around baseless accusations?"
My fists clenched at my sides. "Baseless? You know damn well whether it's baseless."
Something in my tone must have tipped him off, because Leo suddenly grabbed my arm. "Whatever this is, we'll talk about it at home."
I wrenched free. "What's the matter? Afraid she'll lose her reputation?"
That finally set him off.
"You really want to do this? You want to tear everything apart right here?"
"Fine. Let me spell it out for you, Rose Barnes. Adela is my legal wife. You're the other woman. So where do you get off acting like you have the moral high ground?"
"What do you even have? You're a hen that can't lay eggs. I've been more than generous to you. Without me, who do you think would ever want you?"
The man standing in front of me had become a stranger.
I couldn't even pinpoint when it had happened—when he'd stopped loving me.
Seven years of my life, and he'd treated every last one of them like garbage.
"Oh my God, I thought she was the wife. Turns out she's the mistress."
"A mistress acting that entitled? Shameless."
The crowd's whispers fueled Leo's confidence.
My reaction was strangely calm.