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Lily patted Mikey’s cheek and gave me a smug smile. “Bella, don’t take it personally. He’s just scared you’re going to steal Jake away.”
“He just likes me so much that he wants me to be his mom forever.”
Her smile was perfect, but the way she said
that last sentence was like a slap in the face.
She made sure to put her diamond ring right on
top of Mikey’s head.
I thought back to an interview I’d seen with her
on TV recently.
The reporter asked her how she managed to be
so happy all the time.
She said, “I have to thank my fiancé’s ex–wife.
If she hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have this life.”
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Everything was telling me that Jake loved Lily
so much that he couldn’t bear for her to live in
misery.
Luckily, I wasn’t in love with him anymore.
I fingered the ring on my own hand, thinking about the man who had given it to me. I burst out laughing.
Jake noticed the ring and his eyebrows shot down. He radiated cold fury. “You don’t need to wear a fake ring to impress people.”
I scoffed. “It’s not a fake. My fiancé gave it to me when we got engaged.”
The breath hitched in the throats of both Jake and Mikey.
Jake stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly laughed. “Bella, your fiancé must be a
loser if he can’t even afford a real diamond ”
<
8:18
loser if he can’t even afford a real diamond.”
Mikey chimed in with a sneer. “Ms. Sterling,
even if you can’t find a hotshot like my dad, you
shouldn’t settle for some… deadbeat who can’t
afford a ring.”
What they didn’t know was that this simple
band was worth billions. It was a sign that you are a member of the Foster family.
I didn’t want to explain. I’d be devastated if I
lost the ring.
But the three of them took it as proof that I’d married some penniless nobody.
Lily covered her mouth, giggling. “Bella, things must be really bad for you. Can’t even afford food after breaking up with Jake?”
Lily stood on tiptoe and kissed Jake quickly.
“Jake, she’s still your ex–wife. Why don’t you
<
give ner Tive dollars for cap Tare?”
Jake looked at me and said slowly, “Lying is a
bad idea, Bella. Go take a cab home and stop
embarrassing yourself.”
Just then, the broken phone beeped.
I sighed and pointed to the phone on the floor.
“Can I please have my phone back? My fiancé
must be going crazy, I haven’t texted him in so
long.”
Yuma, that big baby. If I didn’t text him for a
few minutes, he would throw a fit for a long
time when I went home.
Mikey snorted and stomped on the phone with
his expensive custom–made shoes. He looked
at me with a sneer. “A deadbeat control freak?”
When I heard that, I knew Mikey had also been
reborn.
<
That was his favorite insult.
Whenever I tried to get him to do his homework
or chores, he would say that.
This time around, Jake and his son still chose
Lily.
I couldn’t bear the thought that I had given birth
to a son for someone else.
I calmed myself and tried to keep my cool.
“Mikey, give me my phone back. Stop!”
Mikey ignored me. He kicked the phone into a
nearby decorative pool.
Jake glared at him and snapped, “Why would
you do that? How’s she going to get home
now?”
<
Mikey shrugged. “I’ll just have someone buy her
a new one. How much can a piece of junk be
worth?
“Is he scared that the deadbeat fiancé will hit
her?”
Lily saw what was happening and immediately
defended him. “Jake, don’t be mad. It’s not his
fault. Don’t be so mean.”
Lily put on her baby voice, and Jake’s face
immediately softened.
She rummaged through her purse and pulled
out a $20 bill, dropping it on the ground. “Here,
take this cab home. An auction isn’t the right
place for you.”
Pure humiliation.
Everyone around us burst out laughing.
<
I was the butt of the joke.
Just then, a soft but angry voice rang out,
“Who’s bullying my mommy!”
Pippa ran up, bit Mikey’s leg as hard as she
could, then ran behind me.
Mikey screamed in pain, glaring at the little girl.
His voice was full of resentment and ice. “What
did you call her?”
Jake froze, his breathing grew heavier. “Did you
pay her to be an actress?”
