"You idiot, did you hear what everyone’s saying?" Jessica’s voice sliced through the low hum of conversation around us, sharp and deliberate. The cruel edge in her tone made my stomach churn, and the smirk on her lips only deepened the sting of her words.
"Do you really think dragging Scott to an event like this is going to help you hold on to being his wife?" she sneered, her voice thick with mockery.
She paused, letting her words settle in the air, the smirk on her face widening as if she were savoring the impact of each syllable. “Everyone here thinks you don’t deserve him. So, what are you going to do about that, huh?”
That was the final straw.
My patience snapped, and tears welled up in my eyes. I shoved her away—not hard, just enough to put some space between us. I didn’t want her so close to me.
But somehow, Jessica stumbled and fell to the ground, her graceful composure faltering just enough to make her look vulnerable. Her brows knit together slightly, as though she were trying to mask the pain.
“Jessica!” one of her friends cried, rushing to her side.
She turned her anger on me, shoving me hard enough that I stumbled back.
“You’re insane!” she spat. “Jessica was only trying to help you calm down, and this is how you repay her? Turns out you’re not just dumb—you’re downright vicious!”
I wasn’t expecting the push and lost my balance. My hip collided with the sharp edge of the coffee table, and I let out a gasp as pain shot through my stomach. Before I could steady myself, I felt something warm trickling down my leg. A wave of panic surged through me as I realized what was happening.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the commotion. “What the hell is going on here?”
Through my tears, I looked up to see Scott. Relief and humiliation crashed over me in equal measure.
“Scott, I…” I began, my voice trembling.
But before I could say anything more, Jessica’s friend jumped in, her finger pointed accusingly at me.
“Look at Jessica!” she cried. “Your wife pushed her! Jessica was just trying to help, and this is how she gets treated?”
She turned on Scott with indignation. “What were you even thinking, bringing her here? You know this is Jessica’s first event since coming back. Are you trying to humiliate her by letting this fool ruin the night?”
I glanced at Jessica, who now had tears pooling in her eyes, making her look heartbreakingly innocent. Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
“Scott, it’s okay,” she said, waving her hand as if to brush it off. “Nadia didn’t mean it. I wasn’t standing properly, and it’s understandable for someone like her to get overwhelmed.”
Jessica looked directly at me, her tone dripping with false kindness. “Please, don’t be angry with her. She didn’t mean any harm.”
Scott rushed to Jessica’s side, helping her to her feet, his face full of concern. His hand lingered on her arm as he made sure she was steady.
Then he turned to me, and his expression shifted. His brows furrowed, his jaw tightened, and his voice was laced with frustration.
“Nadia! I was gone for one minute! What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped. “Why do you always have to make a scene every time something doesn’t go your way? You're so stubborn!”
His words hit me like a punch to the chest. The humiliation, the pain, and now Scott’s anger—it was too much. My voice cracked as I tried to explain.
“I didn’t—! They were bullying me!” I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Jessica said I wasn’t good enough for you. She called me an idiot!”
I turned to Scott, my eyes pleading. “They were the ones attacking me, not the other way around!”
Before I could say more, Jessica’s voice, soft and pitying, cut through the air. “Nadia, how could you lie like that?” she said, her eyes wide with hurt. “Everyone was just curious to meet you. Nobody said anything mean.”
She let out a small sigh, shaking her head. “And as for me? I’d never insult you like that. With all these people here, everyone heard what I said. I was only trying to help.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, the whispers growing louder with each passing second.
“Exactly! Look at her, throwing tantrums and making up lies.”
“Jessica was nothing but kind to her, and this is how she gets treated? What a mess.”
“She’s not just dumb—she’s downright dangerous. Poor Scott, having to deal with her.”
Scott’s face darkened further, his jaw clenched tight.
“Enough!” he snapped, his voice silencing the whispers around us.
He turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. “Nadia, stop it! Just stop! I’ve had enough of this today. I always thought while you might not be the smartest, at least you were kind and pure. But this?” He gestured to the scene around us. “This is just unacceptable. For the past month, what has Jessica done to you to deserve this kind of treatment?”
I stared at Scott, disbelief coursing through me like a tidal wave.
Just as I opened my mouth to explain, he cut me off, his voice cold and unyielding. “Apologize to Jessica. No matter what happened, there’s no excuse for your behavior.” His tone sharpened, each word landing like a blow. “You’re not exactly that smart, and everyone’s been letting you get away with things because of that. But that doesn’t mean you can act however you want.”
He paused, glaring at me with frustration etched across his face. “Ever since Jessica came back, you’ve been acting out in every way imaginable. I’ve been treating you like a child, letting things slide. But today? You’re going to apologize.”
My head spun as his words crashed over me. It was like the floor beneath me had disappeared, leaving me free-falling into some endless pit. My stomach twisted with pain, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“Scott,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute, “do you see me as a child? Or as your wife?”
I took a shaky breath, my hands clenched at my sides as I added, “They all call Jessica your ‘lost love.’ Tell me the truth—is that true?”
I felt my chest tighten as I pushed forward. “Even if I’m not the smartest person in the room, even if I’m a fool, I know one thing: as your wife, I’m supposed to come first.”
For a moment, I saw a flicker of guilt cross Scott’s face, like a crack in his otherwise impenetrable wall. But before he could respond, someone else in the room gasped loudly.
“She… she’s bleeding!”
“Oh my God, is she pregnant?”
