Chapter 3My Husband’s Yacht Proposal Backfired

At ten the next morning, the buzzer rang.

Damian walked in, followed by a demure, downcast Kayla.

The second they reached the living room, Damian grabbed Kayla by the arm and shoved her toward me, his voice harsh and performative.

"Apologize to Nina! Right now!"

Kayla’s eyes welled with tears instantly. It was impressive. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"Mrs. Cross, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let things get so close. I didn't mean for you to get the wrong idea."

"The yacht... it was just a stupid party. Everyone was drinking. It wasn't real."

"Damian didn't sleep a wink last night. He was so worried about you being upset. Please don't blame him. If you have to hate someone, hate me."

She kept calling me "Mrs. Cross," playing the role of the humble penitent. But that line about him "not sleeping a wink" was a jagged little needle. She was telling me, in code, that they had spent the night together after he stormed out of here.

I leaned back against the sofa, watching the performance with clinical detachment.

"Are you finished?"

Kayla bit her lip and took a step forward, closing the distance.

"I know you’re angry. But Damian has such a sensitive stomach. He can only sleep if he has a glass of warm milk, and he was so restless at my place last night..."

"He still cares about this home, Nina. Please don't let me be the reason you break up a marriage."

"Damian."

I ignored her and looked at the man whose face was turning a sickly shade of gray.

"Did you bring her here to give me a play-by-play of your sleepover?"

"Nina, don't listen to her! She’s confused!"

Damian scrambled toward me, trying to grab my hand again. I pulled away.

Seeing the ice in my eyes, he pivoted to the emotional blackmail.

"I stayed at the office last night. I swear. Nina, we’ve been together for six years. Don't you remember the early days? When we were splitting a ten-dollar pizza and dreaming of this life?"

"We’ve survived so much together. You’re going to throw it all away over a misunderstanding?"

"It was a joke! A stupid, drunken mistake!"

He was getting worked up now, playing the part of the misunderstood, devoted husband.

Just as he was reaching his crescendo, Kayla spoke up.

"Damian..."

She didn't call him 'Mr. Cross' this time. Her voice was thin, but it cut through the room like a blade.

"I didn't want to say anything. But I’m scared... I’m scared for the baby to grow up without a father."

The air in the room turned to lead.

Damian’s expression shattered. He spun around to look at her, his mouth agape.

"What did you say?"

"I’m pregnant."

Kayla looked up, her face streaked with tears, but as her gaze flicked to mine, I caught it—a spark of pure, unadulterated triumph.

"Nina, I don't want your money. I just want Damian. You can't give him a family, but I can. I can give him a real home."

"Shut up!"

Damian let out a panicked roar, his face white as a sheet.

Kayla flinched as if he’d hit her. She stumbled back half a step, her heel catching on the edge of the rug. She went down hard, landing heavily on the hardwood floor near the coffee table.

"Ah—!"

A sharp cry of pain escaped her. She clutched her stomach, her forehead instantly breaking into a sweat.

"Damian... my stomach... it hurts so much..."

Damian had been watching my reaction, but at the sound of that scream, he snapped. He lunged for her, gathering her into his arms.

"Kayla! Kayla, talk to me!"

His voice was vibrating with a terror I hadn't seen in years. The "devoted husband" who was just begging for my forgiveness vanished in a heartbeat.

"It hurts... the baby..."

She gripped his lapels, gasping for air, tears streaming down her face.

Damian didn't even look at me. He scooped her up in his arms and bolted for the door like a man possessed.

The heavy front door slammed shut with a boom that echoed through the empty penthouse.

Silence rushed back in.

I sat there, staring at the spot where they had just been standing.

A long moment passed before my phone lit up with a notification.

It was a text from Kayla.