Maxwell didn't help me up. Instead, he seized my jaw in a vise grip, fingers digging into my skin.
"Even now, you won't quit."
"Fine. Let me spell it out for you. When Vera came to me, she was pure. Untouched. Not like you, you used-up piece of trash."
Mrs. Head's eyes went wide as saucers. She slapped me again.
Still not satisfied, she grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head into the wall.
She kept going, wrenching me forward and smashing me back, again and again, until my scalp split open and blood streaked down the plaster.
Even then, she wasn't done. She spat the words through gritted teeth: "No wonder you can't have kids!"
"Must've been sleeping around so much you got rid of too many. Ruined yourself."
I let the blood run from my forehead down my face. My eyes locked onto hers, unblinking.
"Who told you I'm the one who can't have children?"
"Still talking back!" She lunged at me again.
Maxwell saw the blood covering my head and face. He didn't stop her. The corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Mrs. Head noticed he wasn't intervening, and it only emboldened her. Her voice climbed higher. "Of course it's you!"
"How many years have you been married to my son? Not a single egg to show for it."
"Now he's about to be a father. So tell me, who's the one that can't conceive?"
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "So any woman who gets pregnant must be carrying your son's baby?"
She took it for jealousy and rolled her eyes at me.
"You don't have to be so nasty about it!" She jabbed a finger in my direction. "I used to think my son married above himself. Turns out you're the one who took advantage of him, you worthless tramp."
"Go ahead and wait for your little gotcha moment!" She released my hair with a shove.
"When that baby comes out, you'll see for yourself!"
The words had barely left my mouth when the delivery room door swung open.
A nurse stepped out, her expression stern.
Maxwell and Mrs. Head rushed forward.
"This is a hospital. Keep your voices down!"
"All this commotion is disturbing the patient and the surgeon."
She waited until our side had gone quiet before continuing.
"Who here is Vera Galloway's family?"
Maxwell stepped forward, tense. "I am..."
The nurse swept Maxwell with a strange look.
"Nurse, how's Vera doing?"
"Are she and the babies okay?"
"They're fine, but..." The nurse trailed off, then produced a liability waiver and held it out to Maxwell.
