Sweet Subterfuge

“Ms. Seymour here is my daughter-in-law. She’s been married to my son for almost a year but hasn’t gotten pregnant yet. We’ve never held it against her and wanted to take her to the hospital for checkups, but she refused no matter what. She even spoke aggressively to me in front of a bunch of relatives to embarrass me!

“But even then, my foolish boy didn’t divorce her and kept protecting her! Since she’s incapable of getting pregnant, my son found a way and got a surrogate instead. She even agreed to it, but now that the surrogate is pregnant, she wants to back out of it! Two nights ago, she even pushed the surrogate down onto the floor at a fancy restaurant. The woman was already four months pregnant! Also, she poured hot stew all over the poor girl! The surrogate nearly lost the baby, and she’s still under observation at the hospital!

“Tell me, people. How can she be so cruel!”

Larissa always knew that Janine’s skills in distorting the truth were impeccable but hearing the ridiculous extreme to which she had twisted the truth caused Larissa’s chest to go tight once more.

“Since you’ve chosen to publicly humiliate me, I don’t think I need to bother sparing you and your son’s reputation.” Larissa straightened up, her attitude neither haughty nor humble.

“First off, there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m not pregnant simply because I don’t want to be. I’ve come clean to your son about this early on in our relationship. He was afraid that you couldn’t accept it, so he never told you about it. Secondly, your son did not find a surrogate, and he never informed me either. That woman who is four months pregnant is his mistress—oh, no, soon-to-be wife actually, because I’m already going to divorce your son. Thirdly, that woman crashed into the waiter herself. How she banged herself up has nothing to do with me.”

“You’re lying! You little liar! Shameless bitch!” Janine raised her hand in preparation to slap Larissa again, but the latter was not going to let her prevail. She only got slapped because she had not had the time to react. This time, Larissa caught Janine’s wrist and stopped her.

“I don’t care if you don’t believe me. My conscience is clear, and I don’t care how you see me. If there’s nothing else, I will return to my work.”

Larissa let go of Janine’s hand, but her hair was yanked on the moment she turned. The pain from her scalp caused her to hiss.

“You little liar! Fucking bitch!” Janine’s aggrieved voice sounded from behind. “You will go to the hospital with me! Apologize to the poor girl! Apologize to my grandchild that you nearly murdered!”

at Janine’s hand, but the latter had a firm grip on her hair and refused to let go. Janine began to drag her out,

please don’t do this!”

you don’t let go, we’ll call

Janine. “Do it! Call them! Let them be the judge. How long should my

all the commotion?” The tone

the first to react. “Mr. Rogers, sir!”

and followed her example. “Mr.

over slowly, his brow furrowed deeply. “Does the security of this branch do nothing? You would allow some random lunatic from nowhere to come and abuse your

guards had clearly been informed by their supervisor too and were wary of Kevan. So, when he said that, those who were still observing and hesitating came over at

loose from Janine’s yanking, and the cheek that was swollen from the slap had also gained a bloody scratch from the mayhem. Her clothes were now in complete disarray from the

like before, the Hardy couple lay down side by side on the floor in perfect synchronization.

Does the law still exist around here?” they howled loudly, even rolling about at times.

one another before looking toward Kevan for his next order.

ground right now. Sucking in a deep breath, Larissa prepared to go over to persuade

so much taller than her. Whenever they stood together like this, she had to look up to see him. Kevan’s head was

he said flatly.

to flee from everything, of course. The further away she could be, the better. But no, that was not okay. She said, “This incident started because of me. Of course, I should be the

Deal with it?” Kevan suddenly let out a cold snort. “How do you plan to deal with it? Be slapped and dragged by your

face was prickling with heat, the flush reaching her

smile disappearing, Kevan repeated, “Go upstairs. I’ve called the

could see the resolve in his eyes. “…Okay.” She turned and headed toward the elevator.

sure that she had entered the elevator, he instructed