17

(Betty’s POV)

The footage was clear enough that there was no mistaking either of them.

For a moment everything around me became strangely quiet.

I stared at the screen, and did not know where they were going. I did not know why they were there. I did not know what had happened before the video was recorded. But none of that mattered to Thalia.

She wanted me to be hurt, it's obvious she wanted me to see it.

I slowly lifted my gaze. “Is that all?”

She looked surprised. “What?”

I handed the phone back. “Is that all you wanted to show me?”

Her expression hardened. “You aren’t even going to cry?”

“No.” I forced a smile. “Why would I cry in front of you?”

She stared at me for a moment before saying, “Because you’re pathetic enough to keep hoping he will eventually love you.”

The words hit me harder than I wanted to admit.

But I refused to give her the satisfaction.

I turned around. “I have nothing else to say to you.”

I walked out of the kitchen. My hands were trembling. I did not know whether it was anger, jealousy, humiliation, or all three.

But there was one thing I knew with absolute clarity: I needed answers. I needed to know why Jayson was with Jewel. And I was not going to sit at home torturing myself with assumptions.

I grabbed my phone and headed toward the front door. I was halfway across the foyer when I heard Thalia behind me.

“Where are you going?”

I stopped. “None of your business.”

She laughed coldly. “Go ahead. Perhaps you’ll finally understand where you stand.”

I did not answer her, and just walked out.

I was driving to the resort in no time, I know the place very well.

My mind replayed the video repeatedly—Jayson and Jewel entering a resort together, his hand on her back, her smile. What were they doing there? Why hadn’t he told me? And why did he keep acting as though I mattered when he was still meeting the woman he claimed to love?

I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but my heart needs answers, my mind needs to move on.

Betty Harrington has to know where she stands, as a housewife or as someone Jayson Blackwood can fall for.

By the time I arrived at the resort, my heart was pounding. I stepped out of the car and walked inside. The receptionist immediately looked up.

“Good morning, madam. How may I help you?”

“I’m looking for Jayson Blackwood.”

She checked the computer. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t disclose information about our guests.”

“He’s my husband.”

Her eyes widened slightly and I pulled out my phone and showed her a recent picture of Jayson.

“I still can’t give you his room number.”

“I don’t need his room number.” I turned around. “I’ll find him myself.”

I walked toward the lounge and that was when I saw Jewel.

She was standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows, holding a cup of coffee, looking out at the gardens.

She looked exactly like the woman I had seen in the photographs—beautiful, elegant, confident, and completely unbothered.

The moment her eyes met mine, her expression changed. For several seconds neither of us moved. Then she placed the cup on the nearby table.

“You’re Betty.” She said dryly.

Okay, I love her confidence, bring it on!

I walked closer to her. “And you’re Jewel.”

She nodded. “I’ve been expecting you.”

I stopped. “Expecting me?”

She folded her arms. “Your husband told me you might come and he was a bit scared you might hurt yourself.”

My heart tightened. “My husband told you all that?”

“Yes.”

I laughed bitterly. “Of course he did.”

Jewel frowned. “You seem angry.”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“I don’t know why you came here.”

“Because I saw you with my husband.”

She sighed. “Betty, whatever you’re thinking…”

“I don’t want you to explain anything to me.”

“Then why did you come?”

“Because I wanted to see the woman my husband apparently can’t stop loving.”

Her expression hardened. “And I wanted to see the woman who refuses to let him go.”

I stared at her. “I am his wife.”

“Because you married him doesn't mean that.”

“And you are his ex.”

Her jaw tightened. “Hey, I'm his lover, his first love. So shut up, you don't know anything about us.”

“I know enough.” I smiled, the kind of smile that didn't reach my eyes.

“No, you don’t.”

“Then enlighten me.”

She stepped closer. “Jayson and I loved each other before you ever entered his life.”

“I know.” nodded my head.

“He never stopped loving me.”

“I know that too.” I nodded again.

“Then why are you still here?” she inquired.

My eyes burned. “Because I’m pregnant with his child, and because despite everything, I still love my husband.”

She stared at me. “You love him?”

“Yes.”

She gave a humorless laugh. “That’s unfortunate for you.”

I felt my anger rise. “What exactly do you want from him?”

“I want what was mine before you came along.”

“Jayson isn’t property, you can’t just claim him.”

“Neither is he yours.”

“He is my husband.”

“Husband?” She smirked. “And he loves me, come on girl, don't be dumb.”

The words silenced me for a moment. I looked at her. She looked right back at me.

Then she said, “You should accept reality, Betty. You cannot force someone to love you just because you are carrying his child.”

My hand instinctively moved toward my stomach. “Don’t talk about my baby like that.”

“I’m not talking about your baby.”

“You just did.” I glared at her, like her words annoy me, so much that I wanna smash her head on a wall.

“I told you the truth.”

“You don’t know anything about my marriage, get that?”

“And you don’t know anything about our love story, so keep quiet and stop fighting over a man that's not yours.”

“Your time ended already.” I said and her expression immediately changed.

I knew I had hit a nerve, yeah, perfect!

“You should leave,” she said quietly.

“I am not going anywhere and don't you dare tell me what to do.” My anger increased.

She stepped closer. “You need to stop embarrassing yourself.”

I felt my blood boil even more. “You’re the one who came back into my husband’s life while he’s still married to me.”

People were already watching us, but I've never given a fuck about something like that!

“And he welcomed me back.”

That sentence shattered whatever restraint I had left.

A staff member wanted to intervene.

“You all will mind your business and let me deal with her!”

I stepped forward. “Stay away from him.”

She laughed. “You don’t get to give me orders.”

“I am warning you, not giving you orders.”

“And what are you going to do?”

I stared at her. “Don’t test me.”

She moved closer until there was barely any space between us. “You are nothing but a woman desperately holding onto a marriage that your husband never wanted.”

My breathing became uneven. “Take that back.”

“No.”

Before I could think, she shoved my shoulder and I stumbled backward.

“Don’t touch me!” I yelled.

She stepped forward again. “Then don’t threaten me.”

I pushed her away from me. It happened so quickly. One second we were arguing. Next, my foot slipped on the polished floor. My balance disappeared.

I stumbled backward, instinctively reaching for something to steady myself.

My hand missed and then I fell down.

My body hit the hard floor. A sharp pain tore through my stomach.

I gasped. My hand immediately flew to my belly.

“No…”

Everything around me became blurry. I could hear Jewel saying my name, but her voice sounded distant, as though it were coming from underwater.

I curled my body instinctively, one hand gripping my stomach.

“Madame, madame!”

The pain was sharp and sudden and terrifying.

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through it, trying to protect the tiny life inside me with nothing but the press of my own hand and the desperate, silent plea that nothing irreversible had just happened.