When he turned to face me, his tone softened just a little.
"I'm not saying it like that. It's just... Isabelle has no one else, and I worry about her."
"Her child is illegitimate. It won’t threaten your place. Why must you keep targeting her?"
"As long as you agree to give me four days a week with Isabelle, the wedding can go on as planned."
That once-handsome face now made my stomach turn.
I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side.
"Don’t bother. I won’t marry you. Give all your days to her. Congratulations, you’re free."
"You talk so self-righteous. If you’ve got guts, stop using money to control people! Hypocrite!"
He threw those words over his shoulder and stormed out without a single glance back.
Tears slipped down silently, soaking the pillow beneath me.
Eight years of one-sided love ended just like that, dead and buried in a single night.
I didn’t sleep a wink. By morning, a fever burned through me, climbing to 39°C.
When the maid brought breakfast and pressed her hand to my forehead, a scream of fright escaped her lips.
My father hurried me to the hospital for an IV drip.
Two hours later, the fever finally broke.
While I was paying the bill alone, I unexpectedly ran into Ashton, who had come with Isabelle for a prenatal checkup.
Isabelle leaned weakly against him, her hands gently resting on her barely visible belly.
With a soft smile, she murmured, “The baby was so good today, didn’t make a fuss. Do you think he heard what you said yesterday?”
Ashton’s face softened with a tenderness I had never seen before. He gently flicked the tip of her nose.
“Silly girl, the baby hasn’t even properly formed yet. How could he possibly hear anything?”
“I don’t care, I don’t care! He definitely heard! You’re not allowed to say a single bad thing about the baby. My baby is definitely the smartest in the world.”
Ashton instantly lost his temper but then nodded obediently.
“Yes, yes, yes. Isabelle is always right. The baby takes after you, smart and beautiful.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of me.
Isabelle deliberately stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
I quickly ducked behind the corner, my heart aching so fiercely it was hard to breathe.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to let go of what I felt for him. But despite my efforts, my eyes reddened without warning.
When I went to pay the bill, Isabelle approached me alone, flashing the dazzling engagement ring on her finger.
“Miss Castellano, hello. I assume you already know who I am after yesterday.”
“From now on, we’re both women serving Ashton. Please take care of me.”
The bitterness I had barely held back exploded into a fierce storm inside me. My face hardened, cold and sharp.
“You’re dirty. Don’t think everyone else is as low as you.”
“Serving a man? How dare you say something so vile? Ashton might be a treasure to you, but to me, he’s not even human.”
After paying the bill, I turned to leave.
Suddenly, Isabelle grabbed my wrist and yanked me down toward the floor.
After a brief struggle, she let out a sharp, desperate scream, choking on her sobs.
“I’m sorry, Miss Castellano, it’s all my fault. I should never have fought you for Ashton. Please, please don’t harm my baby. The child is innocent!”
“I knew Ashton first. I’m willing to give him up to you. I want nothing but for the baby to be born safely. Isn’t that enough?”
Her sobs quickly drew the eyes of everyone nearby.
Other patients and their families began whispering, then pointing fingers at me.
“Snatching another woman’s man and now playing the victim? Mistresses these days have no shame at all!”
“I despise homewreckers more than anything. Filthy trash!”
“Money doesn’t make you better than anyone! Bullying a pregnant woman, what kind of heartless person are you? Apologize right now!”
The flood of accusations crashed over me, drowning out any chance to speak.
Before I could even open my mouth, Ashton rushed over without a moment’s hesitation.
