“I saw it! It wasn’t this lady’s fault! It was that bad woman! She pushed this lady into me and broke my Captain America shield! Bad woman, you owe me a new toy!”
The young boy pointed straight at Cory, his shrill cries slicing through the air and instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
“It wasn’t me! I—”
Cory barely had time to explain before the boy suddenly lunged at her, pounding his tiny fists against her rounded belly.
He sobbed and shouted, “You’re a bad woman! You hit the lady, and you made me fall! You broke my toy! Pay me back! Pay me back!”
She instinctively shielded her belly and crouched down to try to reason with him. “I didn’t push her. I swear, it wasn’t me—”
But the kid wouldn’t listen. Out of nowhere, he bit her arm, clamping down hard and refusing to let go.
Cory winced in pain, her brows pinched tight. Her arm swelled up almost instantly, blood running freely from where his teeth had broken skin.
“Let go!” she choked out, trying desperately to pull away. But the boy clamped down even harder, refusing to release her no matter how she struggled.
Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out. “Jenelle! Are you alright?”
Marius came striding over, cold and tense, his pace urgent. He didn’t spare a single glance at Cory. Instead, he rushed straight to Jenelle, who was sprawled on the floor.
“I’m fine… I fell on my own.” Jenelle looked up at him, her voice soft and gentle. “It really wasn’t Vice President Brantley’s fault, Marius… please, help her.”
The more she tried to defend Cory, the more it sounded like she was covering for something—making it seem all the more like Cory was actually at fault.
Marius’s expression instantly darkened. He turned sharply toward Cory, his voice frigid.
“Cory, do you have any sense of decency left? Pushing someone last time wasn’t enough? Now you’re even starting fights in public?!”
Cory stared at him, stunned, her face draining of color. “You actually believe him? You won’t even ask me for my side of the story?”
“This isn’t the time for your excuses!” Marius snapped. “Apologize to the kid’s mother! Finish what you started!”
“I didn’t push anyone. I’m not apologizing.” Her voice trembled, but it was clear and unyielding.
Blood ran down her arm, her belly ached from the struggle. But she stood tall, refusing to lower her head.
“Mommy! She still won’t say sorry!” the little boy wailed again.
The middle-aged woman stormed up and shoved Cory hard. “Women like you don’t deserve to have children! Evil creature! Still trying to deny what you did?”
Cory stumbled back and fell heavily to the floor. Her knees hit the floor hard, and a sharp, twisting pain shot through her belly. Her face went instantly pale, like the color had been drained from her.
Marius instinctively stepped forward, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes.
But then Jenelle whispered softly, “Marius… my foot really hurts…”
His outstretched hand froze midair. Then, without another word, he turned away and gently lifted Jenelle into his arms, walking off without looking back.
“Cory, you need to reflect on your behavior,” he said coldly. “If Jenelle’s injury turns out to be serious… you’ll be held responsible!”
Cory sat on the freezing tile floor, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers whispering ugly rumors and glaring at her.
Her ears buzzed. The whole world seemed to be pointing fingers at her. And the pain in her belly was only getting worse, twisting violently like it was trying to tear her apart from within.
Worse, Marius never once noticed her blood-soaked arm, still dripping from the boy’s bite.
Finally, someone realized something was wrong and shouted, “Something’s wrong with her belly! Somebody call 911!”
At the hospital, the bright lights were blinding.
While Cory was rushed into the emergency room, a doctor barked orders.
“The baby’s in distress! There’s a risk of preterm labor! Where’s the family?”
A nurse rummaged through her bag and pulled out her phone. “The father’s number?”
Cory’s lips were pale as chalk. She barely managed to whisper the digits.
The phone rang for a long time before Marius finally picked up, and his voice was already laced with fury.
“How long are you planning to keep this up, Cory? Jenelle’s foot is so swollen she can’t even walk! And you’re still stirring up trouble?!”
Her lips trembled as she spoke through tears. “I didn’t push her. My belly… hurts. I think… I’m going into labor.”
“Oh, cut it out!” he snapped. “Even your jealousy has limits! You’re really using childbirth now just so I’d come see you? Stop this nonsense, Cory!”
Then came a loud click—the call was harshly disconnected.
