Layla clung to Alex's arm and cocked an eyebrow at me, smug as ever.
"Oh, Felicia, you're so out of the loop. These aren't for the baby."
"They're birthday gifts for the billionaire's son."
The moment she mentioned him, my fingertips twitched. My mind went blank.
I didn't even notice when Alex snatched the toy right out of my hands.
His gaze swept over my clothes and jewelry, his eyes full of open contempt.
"All these years, eating my food, wearing what I paid for, and now you want to spend my money fighting me over toys?"
"Felicia, could you at least try to keep some dignity?"
Seeing me frozen in place, Layla giggled.
"Scared already, Felicia?"
"Imagine how you'd lose your mind if you knew Alex and I are heading to that birthday gala next."
My eyelid twitched. The words left my mouth before I could think.
"Funny. I don't recall seeing either of your names on the guest list."
Layla scoffed and rolled her eyes at me.
"Called it. Who do you think you are?"
"Without Alex pulling strings for you, you wouldn't even qualify to set foot in a store like this."
Alex shot me a guarded look.
"I pulled every favor I had. Greased every palm. All to get a meeting with Melvin Henson."
"I'm warning you, Felicia. Don't you dare follow me there and make trouble."
"Whether my company goes public rides on today."
I never involved myself in his business dealings. But I knew one thing.
"Even if you bought out this entire store and laid it at Melvin Henson's feet, he still wouldn't give you the time of day."
Back then, I'd returned the infertility diagnosis to Alex. He'd been furious, convinced I was playing some sick joke, so he'd retaliated with an even crueler one.
He'd waited until the housekeeper's back was turned and stolen Melvin's late brother's orphaned child.
If I hadn't begged Melvin to show mercy for old times' sake, Alex would've been rotting behind bars. He wouldn't have had three years of freedom to enjoy.
Going public? Once he found out the truth, the only thing he'd want to go was six feet under.
He saw the mockery on my face and shoved me, hard.
I stumbled backward and hit the ground.
"Ignorant woman. You think you can just throw around a billionaire's name like that?"
"Just because you're too broke to sit at the table doesn't mean you get to stand in my way."
That was when Layla took two steps toward me.
Sweet words dripped from her lips, but calculation flickered across her face.