Reacting the same way, Bruce instinctively stepped forward at the sight of Nova, placing himself between them.
His friends paused, their attention shifting to the scene.
Grace suddenly felt like the mistress caught by the wife—something soiled, a tangible shame.
And that was the reality: Bruce and Nova were legally married. She was merely the woman kept on the side.
But this time, Nova didn’t begin with insults or slaps. Instead, she adopted an air of magnanimity.
“Ms Grace,” she said, “I know it was wrong of me to take Bruce from you back then. And I know you’ve never stopped thinking about him. Don’t be afraid I’ll hurt you—I’m not that petty. You can stay by his side tonight.”
Grace’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t a smile. She said nothing.
Seeing her distress, Bruce guided her to a quiet corner. He ordered a plate of her favorite fruits and a glass of milk, his gestures almost tender.
Yet looking at the offerings, Grace felt only hollow disinterest.
A sudden commotion erupted from Nova’s direction—Bruce’s head snapped toward the noise instantly.
Seemingly triggered, Nova had grabbed a bottle of hard liquor and was trying to drink straight from it. Bruce’s friends rushed to wrestle it away.
“Sis, you can’t drink! Have you forgotten you’re pregnant?”
“Get off me! I’ll drink if I want to. No one can stop me.”
“Don’t make this hard. Bruce just warned us—not a single drop for you tonight, or he’ll skin us alive.”
Nova snorted, her voice rising to carry. “So you *do* remember I’m Bruce’s wife? Then stop bringing your trash to these parties. If I see another one of your tramps here, I’ll make sure Bruce’s child never leaves my womb!”
Grace knew exactly who the “tramp” was. With painful clarity, she saw the flicker of panic in Bruce’s eyes at the threat to their unborn child.
A bitter, self-mocking smile touched her lips. She signed to him, *So your wife is pregnant. Congratulations.*
Bruce frowned, his expression stern. “She’s just trying to upset you. Don’t listen.”
He said it without a hint of guilt, as if stating absolute truth.
Had Grace not seen the evidence herself, she might have believed him.
For the rest of the evening, Bruce sat beside her, but his gaze kept drifting. Whenever Nova leaned too close to another man, jealousy darkened his eyes.
Grace saw it all. Watching the man she once loved fill his vision with someone else, her heart twisted with uncontrollable pain.
She felt like an obstacle in their twisted dynamic. Making an excuse, she slipped out to the poolside for air.
She hadn’t been there a minute before she turned and found Nova facing her.
Nova’s eyes glittered with challenge. She jerked her chin toward the pool, a smirk playing on her lips. “Since I got pregnant, Bruce lets me get away with anything. If I pushed you in, do you think he’d still rush to save you like he used to?”
Then she lunged forward and shoved Grace into the water.
