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Diana spotted me the moment I walked in. Her sharp eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, and a sly, almost smug smile played on her lips as she gave me a slow, deliberate once–over, like she was weighing her competition.
Tim Diana Terell. We met at the hospital last night, she said, her voice sugar sweet but dripping with something sharper, more calculated.
“Yeah I barely spared her a glance, responding with a nonchalant hum while fixing my hair in the mirror.
She kept the small talk going, her tone light and conversational, but I wasn’t biting.
Whatever game she was playing. I had zero interest in entertaining it. Raelynn was right–this woman was trouble, through and through.
When Quinn and I got married, he’d sent Diana off to study abroad. Back then, she’d had no choice but to accept that the man she loved had married someone else.
And now here she was, sauntering back in as if nothing had changed, like she still owned a stake in his life.
She was bold, I’d give her that. Brazen enough to waltz in as the other woman without a shred of shame. It was almost admirable–thick skin like hers didn’t come easy.
I threw her a bored look, turned on my heel, and made my way toward the door. There was no way I was wasting any more
of my time on her.
But just as my hand reached for the door handle, she dropped her bomb. T’m pregnant,” she said, her voice smug, practically daring me to react. “It’s Quinn’s baby.”
My steps faltered, my heart plummeting like a stone. Slowly, I turned back to face her. Gone was the syrupy, innocent act she’d been putting on. Her expression was cold, triumphant, her true colors showing in stark contrast.
“You’ve had your fun playing Mrs. Madden for two years, Natal” she said, venom dripping from every word. “But now that I’m back, I’m taking what’s mine.”
For a moment, I was stunned into silence by the sheer audacity of her words. Then I laughed a sharp, bitter sound that echoed through the restroom like a slap.
Diana had landed just last night, fresh off a plane from her overseas studies. If she really was pregnant, it meant Quinn had never actually cut ties with her. The timeline lined up all too perfectly with his last trip abroad two months ago.
The irony wasn’t lost on me: we were both carrying Quinn’s child.
I crossed my arms and arched a brow, my voice as cold as ice. “Miss Terell, judging by your tone, you seem confused about your standing here. That baby you’re flaunting? Let’s call it what is–a bastard.”
Her composure cracked instantly, her face twisting with rage as she jabbed a finger toward me, “Who are you calling a mistress?” she snapped, her voice shaking with fury. “Natalia, if you hadn’t barged into Quinn’s life, he would’ve married me! I was supposed to be Mrs. Madden–you stole that from me!”
I didn’t flinch. Instead, I let my gaze stay steady, cool, and cutting. “You really think that if I weren’t in the picture. Quinn would’ve married you?” I said, my tone sharp enough to slice. “Let’s get real, Diana. You think Alex Madden would let the daughter of a maid into his family?
“Especially when that maid’s sitting in prison for theft?”
Her face went pale, her jaw tightening as the words hit their mark. I’d done my homework. Hack when 1 still thought my love for Quinn meant something, I’d dug into the lives of everyone close to him. And Diana’s dirty Laundry wasn’t hard to find.
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Her mother, Julia Terell, had worked as a maid for the Maddens for over two decades. After Quinn’s mother passed, Julia had practically raised him. Diana had grown up in the Madden household, always lurking in the shadows, never truly belonging.
But five years ago, Julia’s greed got the best of her. She stole a priceless family heirloom and ended up with a ten–year prison sentence. She was still locked up.
Diana’s eyes reddened with anger, her mask of innocence shattering. “You bitch!” she shrieked, lunging at me with her hand raised to slap me.
I wasn’t about to let her land a hit. Dodging to the side, I avoided her swing, but Diana wasn’t done. She pivoted sharply, her next move wild and unpredictable. This time, she charged straight for my stomach.
Panic surged through ine. My only thought was to protect my baby. Instinctively, I threw my arms around my belly and shoved her away with all the strength I could muster.
A piercing scream tore through the air as Diana collapsed onto the floor. “My baby. my baby!” she wailed, clutching her. abdomen.
Scarlet blood spread beneath her. pooling on the polished floor. Her cries echoed through the office, drawing a crowd of horrified onlookers. Two of my female colleagues rushed in, their eyes wide with horror as they gasped at the sight.
Moments later. Quinn stormed through the door, his face dark as a brewing storn. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and scooped Diana into his arms.
“Quinn… save our baby.” Diana whimpered, her voice trembling, her pale face streaked with sweat–a picture of pure vulnerability
“Don’t panic, the ambulance is on its way,” he murmured, his tone low but laced with tension. Every fiber of his being seemed focused on her, his concern etched into his furrowed brow
Then, his head snapped up, and his gaze locked on me. The fury in his eyes was blistering, like he was barely holding himself back from tearing into me.
I froze under his glare, my stomach twisting in knots. Words clawed at my throat, desperate to come out, but I couldn’t find anything to say.
What would it matter? I could already see the judgment in his eyes–he’d made up his mind about what happened. He wouldn’t believe me.
The ambulance arrived quickly, the medics moving Diana onto a stretcher as she whimpered softly, milking every ounce of sympathy from the moment. Quinn followed right behind, not sparing me a single glance.
Left alone in the silence of the office, I could feel the weight of every whisper, every stare. In the blink of an eye, I had become the office joke, the subject of everyone’s whispered gossip and behind–the–back glances.
I couldn’t stand it any longer. The stares, the judgment–it was too much. Grabbing my things, I slipped out early, swallowing the lump of humiliation in my throat as I headed bome,
The moment I stepped through the door, my adoptive father called me into his study, his face lined with worry.
“Natalia, there’s trouble at the company. Can you lend me a million dollars?” His voice was strained, teetering on the edge of desperation.
I forced a bitter smile. I don’t have that kind of money” The Madden family’s engagement gift–what little financial security I’d ever had–had already been poured into covering my family’s debts. There was nothing left.
“Could you talk to Quinn?” Elijah’s plea was heavy with urgency. A worker died on one of the construction sites, and the compensation has to be paid immediately. If we don’t settle it soon, the situation could spiral. Natalia, I’m begging you. Please, help us get through this.”
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The weight of his plea pressed heavily on me. No matter how strained things were between us, Elijah had always been my father in every sense that mattered. I sighed and nodded reluctantly. “Tll try
But Quinn? I knew asking him was a long shot. After what happened at the office, there was no way he’d agree to help me.
After mulling it over, I decided to head to the Madden Mansion instead. If anyone could help, it was Alex.
As his granddaughter–in–law, shameless as it felt, I might still have enough standing to appeal to his sense of family.
When I arrived, the butler greeted me politely and ushered me into the grand living room.
To my surprise, Quinn was there, lounging on the sleek black leather sofa in a crisp white shirt, the top button undone, exposing just enough of his collarbone to look both casual and commanding.
I blinked, startled. I’d expected him to still be at the hospital with Diana, holding her hand or playing the doting boyfriend. Yet here he was, calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.
“Natalia, you’re finally here.” Alex greeted warmly, his kind eyes crinkling as he smiled. “Quinn mentioned you two are planning for a baby. That’s wonderful news! But look at you–you’re too thin. You’ll need to eat more from now on to keep yourself and the baby healthy.”
Quinn told him that? My mind scrambled. And how did Alex know I’d be coming today?
I glanced at Quinn, searching for answers. His brown eyes met mine, sharp and calculating. Whatever game he was playing.
I couldn’t read it.
“Serve the dishes, Quinn instructed the staff, his voice calm but commanding.
The meal was extravagant, and Alex, clearly determined to fatten me up, insisted I drink two bowls of soup to “nourish” myself.
After the meal, Alex kept me engaged in a conversation about family matters. I tried to bring up the money issue several times, but the conversation never naturally found its way there..
By the time the clock struck eight, I hadn’t found an opening.
“Grandpa, it’s getting late. We should head home, Quinn said, rising from his seat and making the first move to leave. I followed suit, offering Alex a polite nod before turning toward the door.
The ride home was drenched in an awkward, suffocating silence. The air between us was heavy, thick with unspoken tension. Quinn’s grip on the wheel was tight, his jaw clenched, and his expression colder than a January frost.
Unable to take it any longer, I finally broke the silence. “How’s Diana? My voice was quiet, hesitant. I wasn’t trying to stir the pot–I just needed to know. What happened to her wasn’t my fault. I hadn’t meant to hurt her or the baby. It was self- defense.
Quinn’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. Without warning, he slammed on the brakes. The car jerked to a violent stop in the middle of the road, tires screeching-
The sudden jolt sent me lurching forward, my arms flying up instinctively to shield my stomach.
Before I could recover, his hand shot out, grabbing my collar and pinning me back against the seat with a force that left me breathless.
“Don’t you dare say her name, he growled, his voice low and menacing, each word dripping with warning. His eyes locked. onto mine, dark and turbulent, like a storm on the verge of breaking.
My chest tightened, a knot of humiliation and heartache tightening around my ribs. The pain was almost too much to bear.
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I forced a bitter laugh, trying to mask the sting. “If she means that much to you, why aren’t you with her right now? Or are you afraid I’ll
go running to your grandfather?” I glanced at him with a smirk. “Seems like maybe she’s not as irreplaceable as you think.”
But my taunt didn’t seem to get to him. Whether I’d hit a nerve or he just didn’t give a damn anymore, Quinn’s face remained a mask of indifference. His grip loosened, and withmic a word, he released me and resumed driving
When we pulled up to the villa, Quinn got out of the car without a word, heading straight inside, not even sparing me a glance. I hesitated for a brief moment before reluctantly following him inside.
Back at the villa, everything felt oddly unchanged. The familiar scent of Lavender lingered in the air, and everything was just as it had been–intact, untouched–no sign that Diana had ever been here.
For a moment, a foolish hope flickered inside me, like a tiny spark. Maybe, just maybe, Quinn hadn’t brought Diana here.
Lost in thought. I didn’t notice Quinn until the bathroom door opened. He stepped out, freshly showered, the white bathrobe hanging loosely around him.
It barely concealed his chiseled chest and the taut muscles of his body, every inch of him radiating raw masculinity.
Quinn caught me staring and frowned slightly. “Need me to help you shower?”
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