Delilah threaded her arm through Allan's, pressing herself against him with sickening familiarity. "Do I need proof? My husband is standing right here. Go ahead, ask him yourself."
Allan glanced at me, then looked down at Delilah and tipped her chin up with his fingers, indulgent as ever.
"You. I've already introduced you to everyone at the office, threw you a birthday party myself. You're my woman. Does that really need proving?"
His answer was exactly what I'd expected. I knew he would side with Delilah.
So from the very beginning, I had never hoped he would side with me.
Still, I noticed he'd said my woman. He hadn't actually called her Mrs. Delgado.
"Miss Gilbert, what else is there to say?" Delilah's lips curled into a triumphant smile, every word a calculated barb. "Allan loves me. No matter what tricks you pull to hurt me, he'll never love you. Stop embarrassing yourself."
Allan shot me a look that said leave.
I let out a cold laugh. "Sure. I see you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin."
Before she could respond, I'd already opened my handbag.
Under Delilah's stunned gaze, I held up the business card for everyone in the room to see.
"You all graduated from top universities. I'm sure you can read what's printed here. But just in case, allow me."
I read each word, slow and deliberate:
"Sweet Bliss Dessert Boutique. Manager: Delilah James."
"I won't bother reading the phone number. But if anyone still has doubts, I'm happy to dial it right now."
The color drained from Delilah's face. She clutched Allan's sleeve, knuckles white.
The others turned to look at her, their expressions shifting from curiosity to suspicion.
Dawn stepped forward again to defend her. "So what? What does that prove? Mr. Delgado has plenty of money. He can't open a little dessert shop for his wife? You're so desperate for a man you've lost your mind, barging in here trying to steal someone's husband."
Delilah's eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling with rehearsed hurt. "Miss Gilbert, is this what your parents raised you to be? This shameless? Publicly clawing at another woman's husband, is that something to be proud of? Your parents must be so disappointed they ever brought you into this world."
Crack.
I grabbed a fistful of her hair. "Delilah, I wasn't planning on slapping you this soon. But you just couldn't help yourself. This man is garbage. You want him? He's yours. You're welcome to love trash. But you don't get to say a single word about my parents."
"Let go of me! Allan, help me—"
Delilah clawed at my wrist, thrashing wildly.
Dawn shrieked, frantic. "Mr. Delgado! You can't just stand there and watch her get beaten! This woman is insane! Save her!"
Everyone else hung back, watching the spectacle unfold. None of them could tell whose story was true.
Allan hesitated, visibly torn, then finally snapped. "Katherine, let her go! Delilah is my woman. Keep this up and don't blame me for what happens next."
Threat after threat. All for her.
I slapped Delilah hard across the face.
"Allan Delgado, what gives you the right to threaten me? I hit her today. What are you going to do about it?"
Before anyone could move, I landed two more slaps, each one harder than the last.
Delilah screamed. "Allan, save me—"
My hand was already raised for the next blow when Allan caught my wrist. In the same motion, he backhanded me across the face.
The force behind it was enormous.
I hit the floor. My elbow scraped against the ground, and I watched the blood seep from the broken skin. For a moment, all I could see was that night years ago when he'd thrown himself in front of me, taking the knife meant for my body.
He'd promised me once. As long as he was by my side, as long as he still had breath in his lungs, he would never let a single hair on my head be harmed. Never let a single tear fall.
But now...
Every last bit of this pain was delivered by his own hand.
