ELLA

I didn’t go to work today, just like Leonard had promised.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t have to rush out of bed, prepare for another exhausting day, or mentally brace myself for whatever chaos the triplets would bring.

Honestly, I was relieved.

The mere thought of spending an entire day away from their constant drama made me feel lighter.

Because, there would be no arguments, just peace or at least, that was what I had hoped for.

After spending some time in my room, I decided to get up and grab some water.

The moment I stepped out into the hallway, I bumped into Bella.

My mood instantly soured.

A wave of irritation washed over me as memories of what she had done yesterday resurfaced in my mind.

I didn’t even bother acknowledging her presence.

As far as I was concerned, Bella had completely lost her mind.

There was no point speaking to someone who seemed determined to make everyone’s life miserable.

Without saying a word, I walked past her and headed straight for the kitchen. The cool air from the room greeted me as I entered.

I made my way toward the refrigerator and pulled the door open. A blast of cold air brushed against my face.

I grabbed a bottle of water and twisted the cap open.

My head had been pounding ever since I woke up that morning. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was annoying enough to make me uncomfortable.

Maybe I was just tired, or maybe I hadn’t slept properly. Whatever the reason was, I hoped the water would help.

Tilting my head back, I drank deeply. The cold liquid slid down my throat, providing temporary relief.

For a brief second, I thought I was beginning to feel better, but the feeling didn’t last.

Instead, something strange happened. A sudden wave of dizziness hit me, and my vision blurred slightly.

I blinked rapidly, then came the nausea.

My stomach twisted violently.

I immediately froze.

The sensation was so sudden and overwhelming that it caught me completely off guard.

My grip tightened around the bottle, another wave crashed into me, stronger this time.

My stomach churned painfully.

Without wasting another second, I rushed toward the sink. Barely making it there in time, I bent over and threw up.

The force of it left my body trembling.

I gripped the edge of the sink tightly as another wave passed through me.

When it was finally over, I remained there for several seconds, trying to steady my breathing.

My chest rose and fell heavily.

"Was this what they call morning sickness?" I echoed in my head.

After a moment, I turned on the tap and splashed water into the sink. I rinsed my mouth repeatedly, trying to wash away the unpleasant taste.

The cool water helped slightly, at least enough for me to feel somewhat human again.

Taking a deep breath, I straightened, and then I turned around only to freeze.

A pair of dark eyes was staring directly at me. It was Bella, she was standing there with an expression that immediately irritated me.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement, her lips slowly curved into a grin, and then her eyebrows shot upward.

"Woah," she said dramatically, her grin widening even further. "You are pregnant, Theresa!"

A burst of laughter escaped her. The sound echoed throughout the kitchen.

"Who is the bastard’s father?" she asked.

The smile on her face stretched even wider, as though she had just discovered the most entertaining piece of gossip in the world.

The moment the word left her mouth, something inside me snapped. My hands instantly curled into tight fists at my sides.

Anger surged through me so quickly that it almost took my breath away.

She could insult me all she wanted, I honestly didn’t care anymore.

But my child?

How dare she?

How dare she refer to my baby in such a disgusting manner?

A protective instinct rose fiercely inside me. The anger burning in my chest was unlike anything I had felt moments ago.

My entire body became rigid, my jaw clenched tightly, as I stared directly into her eyes.

"Don’t you dare speak about my child in that manner again, Bella." My voice came out firm.

The amusement on her face only fueled my anger further, and I took a step forward, my gaze never leaving hers. "Or you won’t live to tell the story."

Every word was laced with warning.

I had already said what I needed to say, so there was no point wasting another second on Bella. The longer I stayed in her presence, the more irritated I became.

Without another word, I moved to walk past her. She was partially blocking my path, but I fully intended to go around her and leave the kitchen.

I had taken barely a step when her voice rang out behind me.

"Whore!"

The word sliced through the air, and my footsteps stopped instantly. For a brief moment, complete silence settled between us, as I stood motionless.

Then, very slowly, I turned around.

My eyes locked onto hers, and there was no hiding the murderous intent burning in my gaze.

My patience had already worn thin, and Bella seemed determined to test the little I had left.

The smug expression on her face only made my anger rise further.

"Don’t be stupid, Bella," I said clearly. "I am nothing like you."

For a moment, I expected her to be offended, but instead, she chuckled.

The sound grated on my nerves.

Bella folded her arms across her chest, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

"What do you think my brothers would do to you once they find out you are carrying that thing in your belly?" She said, her tone dripped with confidence.

As if she had already imagined the outcome, as if she was looking forward to it, as if she believed those words would scare me.

For a second, I simply stared at her.

Then a smile slowly appeared on my lips, it was not a pleasant smile. It was the kind of smile that made people uncomfortable.

The kind that appeared when someone had no idea they were walking straight into a trap.

I wasn’t about to let her keep that victorious expression for long. If Bella wanted to play this game, then I would gladly play along.

"What if," I began slowly, making sure every single word was clear, "those same brothers of yours are responsible?"

The effect was immediate.

It was almost comical.

The color drained from Bella’s face so quickly that it looked as though someone had physically wiped it away.

Her confident smile disappeared, as her eyes widened and she instinctively took a step backward.

Shock was written all over her face. It was pure, unfiltered shock and for a moment, she looked completely speechless.

And I loved every second of it. The satisfaction that washed through me was impossible to describe.

Moments ago, she had been standing there mocking me, but now she looked as though the ground beneath her feet had vanished.

My smile widened.

"So now," I continued firmly, refusing to look away from her stunned expression, "how do you think they would feel knowing that you just called their child a bastard?"

Bella’s lips parted, and then closed again, but no words came out.

She simply stood there staring at me. The confidence she had been flaunting moments ago was nowhere to be found.

I slowly walked toward her, and when I finally stopped in front of her, I looked directly into her eyes.

Then I raised my hand, and before she could process what was happening...

Smack!

My palm connected with her cheek.

The sound echoed throughout the kitchen.

Bella’s head snapped to the side from the force.

For a second, she simply stood there motionless and then she slowly lifted her head, her eyes were wide with disbelief.

One hand immediately flew to her cheek.

She gently touched the spot where I had struck her, as though she couldn’t believe it had actually happened.

I, however, had no regrets.

"That is for calling my child a bastard, bitch."

A smug smile spread across my face. The satisfaction I felt at that moment was immense.

Bella deserved every bit of it.

Without waiting for a response, I turned around, and this time, I didn’t stop, as I walked straight out of the kitchen.

My mood felt significantly better.

And as I left Bella standing there in complete shock, only one thought crossed my mind.

No one messes with my child and gets away with it.

Absolutely no one.