Bella's smug smile faltered slightly when I didn't react, but her confidence returned quickly, as if fueled by a thought she couldn't wait to share. She leaned forward, her fingers resting lightly on her swollen belly, her voice dripping with faux innocence.
"Ah, sorry about last night," she said sweetly. "I actually wanted Dominik to stay home with you, but just after he left, my stomach started acting up." She stroked her belly gently, her lips curving into a triumphant grin. "Seems like the baby was missing his daddy. I hope it wasn't too cold for you to sleep alone."
I shifted in my seat, leaning lazily against the backrest to ease the sharp, stabbing pain in my stomach. Crossing my arms, I offered her a slow, deliberate smile.
"Bella, it must be exhausting to be a mistress," I said, my tone light but cutting.
Her expression twisted into something ugly, her smile vanishing in an instant. "Nadia, you're the mistress!" she spat, her voice trembling with fury. "If I hadn't gone abroad back then, you would never have had the chance to marry him!"
I arched an eyebrow, unfazed by her outburst. "And whose fault was it that you left? I didn't send you away."
Her face darkened, her jaw tightening. Memories flashed in my mind—how Bella had fled the moment her family's business went bankrupt, leaving Dominik behind to fend for himself.
"Shut up!" she snapped, her hands clenching into fists. "Even if you married him and supported him during his hardest years—so what?!" She leaned forward, her voice dripping with venom. "He still refused to have kids with you! From the beginning, he's only ever loved me!"
My nails bit into my palms, the pain grounding me as the ache in my stomach worsened. I kept my face carefully neutral, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.
"Why are you even here, Bella?" I asked, my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me. "Not just to gloat, I hope. Shouldn't you be urging Dominik to divorce me instead?" I leaned in slightly, my gaze locked on hers. "After all, as long as we're married, you're nothing more than his mistress. And the baby you're carrying... well, it's just a bastard."
Her face contorted with rage, her composure slipping entirely. Bella's repeated provocations only confirmed what I already suspected—she hadn't convinced Dominik to divorce me yet. And he didn't do so not because he loved me, but because he didn't dare.
The room was tense, the air heavy with unspoken words. Suddenly, Bella grabbed her glass of water and flung its contents at me. The cold liquid hit my face, dripping down onto my blouse, but I stayed still, unmoving.
At that exact moment, Dominik walked in.
"Dominik!" Bella cried, her voice trembling as she collapsed onto the floor, clutching her belly like she was in agony. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed dramatically. "She pushed me! My stomach hurts... What if something happens to our baby?!"
I stayed seated, the water trickling from my face onto the floor in steady drops. My gaze remained fixed on Dominik, who rushed to Bella's side without hesitation, his voice low and soothing as he helped her up.
"She called me a mistress!" Bella wailed, her voice shrill. "She said our baby is a bastard!"
My fingers curled into fists under the table, but I kept my face calm, even as my heart ached.
"Enough," Dominik said sharply, cutting off her tirade. "Go home now."
Bella's eyes widened in disbelief, but before she could protest, he turned to me. His brows furrowed as he took in my pale complexion and trembling frame. "Honey, are you okay? You look really pale."
I let out a short, bitter laugh. "Dominik, unless you're blind, you should've seen her throw water on me."
He stared at me, his face unreadable, the silence between us stretching uncomfortably long.
"Let's talk at home," he said finally, his tone measured.
I felt my resolve cracking under the weight of his gaze. Still, I forced myself to smile, even as bitterness welled up inside me. Without a word, I reached for the jug of water on the table and tipped it over Bella's head.
Water cascaded down her hair and onto her clothes, her shrieks filling the café as I stood up. My movements were slow and deliberate, the pain in my stomach nearly doubling me over, but I refused to show it.
If Dominik wouldn't defend my dignity, I would do it myself.
As I walked away, Bella's screams followed me. "Can't you see, Dominik?! She's bullying me! You have to divorce her!"
***
That evening, Dominik came home earlier than usual. I was hunched over the toilet, my body wracked with violent heaves as blood stained the water.
The doctor had told me to admit myself to the hospital immediately, but I hadn't gone. Seeing the blood swirling in the bowl, I realized it didn't matter. I probably didn't have much time left.
I was so lost in my thoughts, drowning in the weight of everything, that I didn't even notice him standing in the doorway.
