Zia bit her lower lip hard.
Rachel put on a pitiful expression.
“Zia, I’m really scared to drive in the rain. If you won’t let me, I’ll leave….” Her eyes welled up, then she stood up resignedly, ready to go.
Brian held her hand. “You’re staying here. That’s my decision. There are plenty of guest rooms; I’ll take your things.”
After saying that, Brian glared at Zia. Without waiting for her approval, he pulled Rachel toward the guest room. His children followed behind, just like chicks following their mother.
“Aunt Rachel, please read us a story.”
“Yes, Aunt Rachel. Please!”
“Okay, sweethearts. Aunt Rachel is going to read you a bedtime story.” Rachel ruffled their hair, while Brian smiled gently at her and stroked her hair as if he’d done it a thousand times before.
To Zia, they looked like a real little family. She rubbed her face and looked up at the ceiling, holding back her tears.
She had promised her father’s urn that she wouldn’t cry over someone like Brian anymore.
In her room, Zia changed into her pajamas and was brushing her hair when Brian appeared behind her.
He looked at Zia in the mirror. “Zia, there’s something I want to talk to you about. I know Rachel was really mean to you in the past. That was decades ago, and you’re both adults now. Forget the past animosity; treat Rachel well from now on.”
Zia clenched her fists, but in front of Brian, she smiled. “Why bring up Rachel all of a sudden?”
“Rachel is pregnant.”
Zia blinked, trying to keep her expression neutral.
“Oh.”
“Don’t be mean to her; she needs to avoid stress and will be staying at our house. My mother asked me to take care of her from now on.”
“Where’s her husband? Shouldn’t her husband be the one taking care of her?”
Brian avoided her gaze. “Her husband cheated on her and left her.”
“Oh, really? I’ve always wondered who her husband was. Rachel’s always been part of the Ridge family. She almost never showed who her husband was.”
“Why are you so full of questions today? That’s Rachel’s personal life. Never bring it up in front of her. I’m tired; I’m going to sleep.”
Brian clicked his tongue, turned his back on her, climbed into bed, and turned off the light.
The lights were turned off, and Zia’s expression was hidden in the darkness. After a moment, she took a deep breath and climbed into bed.
Brian was sleeping with his back turned to her, showing a distant demeanor for the first time in their ten years of marriage. Zia closed her eyes, holding back the pain in her chest.
Half an hour later, she felt movement beside her as Brian woke up. Zia’s eyes remained closed as Brian walked out of their room.
Her hands were clenched tightly beneath the covers. Without needing to follow, she knew where Brian was going.
A few hours later, Brian returned to bed at four in the morning, carrying the scent of Rachel’s body and sex.
Zia’s eyes opened, staring blankly at the ceiling. The feeling in her chest had gone numb and cold.
The next day, Zia acted as usual and covered the dark circles under her eyelids. She woke up early and prepared breakfast for herself.
Zia stopped in the dining room and found Rachel preparing a breakfast of bread and milk for four people.
Zia’s attention was drawn to the ring on Rachel’s ring finger.
“What are you wearing on your hand?”
Rachel glanced at her, her lips curving into a mocking smile as she raised her ring finger.
The wedding ring that Zia had taken off last night at her vanity table—which she’d thought was lost—was actually slipped onto Rachel’s finger.
“You mean this ring? Brian gave it to me because I asked him for it last night. I was craving a wedding ring just for fun. Brian promised he’d buy me a new one.” Rachel rubbed her stomach with a provocative gesture. “Did Brian tell you I’m pregnant?”
Zia sneered coldly to herself. Rachel couldn’t provoke her with her fake pregnancy.
But she wouldn’t tolerate Rachel taking her wedding ring.
A wedding ring is sacred. She remembered Brian proposing to her with that ring ten years ago, when dandelions were floating around them.
Even if Zia wanted to throw the ring away, she wouldn’t let Rachel wear it.
Zia stepped forward quickly and grabbed her hand. “Take it off. It’s not yours.”
Rachel just smiled mockingly. “Okay.”
She slipped the ring off and tossed it into the trash. “Go ahead, pick up that trash, hahaha…”
Zia didn’t move to retrieve it. Her hands were clenched tightly, while Rachel continued her provocation.
“Besides, you’ll be kicked out of this house soon enough. You know, even though he knew I was pregnant, Brian didn’t hold back and made love to me. He was so gentle and attentive to our baby in my womb. Meanwhile, when you were pregnant, he wouldn’t even touch you and came to my bed because you were ugly and looked like a dead fish…”
Zia swung her hand, slapping Rachel’s face hard enough to send the woman staggering backward.
“Does being a whore make you proud? Don’t forget that I’m still Brian’s lawful wife. If I expose this to the media, everyone will point to you as the whore who seduced a married man, and all the reputation you’ve built will be destroyed.”
“You….” Rachel clenched her fists, wanting to strike back, but quickly lowered her hands when she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of Brian walking toward them.
Her eyes flashed with cunning. She suddenly dropped to the floor.
“Arrgggh… It hurts, Zia! I know you hate me, but I’m pregnant. Please don’t hurt my baby.” She clutched her stomach, moving away from Zia as if she were a monster.
“What kind of game are you playing….”
Before Zia could finish her sentence, Brian grabbed her by the shoulder and slapped her face hard. “Zia, you’ve gone too far!”
Zia rubbed her stinging cheek. Her eyes reddened as she glared at Brian. “You hit me without knowing the truth?”
Brian’s gaze was as cold as ice. There was no warmth or love in his eyes like there used to be.
“I’ve seen everything clearly! Zia, you’re so cruel. Even though you’ve been a mother yourself! How could you push Rachel, who’s pregnant?”
“I didn’t push her….”
Zia didn’t finish her sentence because Brian coldly ignored her, roughly shoving her aside to grab Rachel.
