Chapter 8 Cassie Is Pregnant with Marcus’s Child

"Wendy, the discharge paperwork is done. Have you got your things ready? Let me drive you home." Nora's voice pulled Wendy back. "All set. Let me grab my stuff from the room."

They had barely left the ward when Wendy and Nora ran into Cassie and Marcus in the hallway.

The two were laughing and chatting, Marcus holding Cassie's arm. They looked good together — like a real couple.

Wendy's breath caught.

No wonder Marcus had shown up in the maternity ward. She'd thought he'd gone out of his way to track her down, but no — he was here for Cassie.

She should have known.

Wendy gave a bitter smile. She had no interest in dealing with either of them. She just wanted to take Nora's arm and get out of there as fast as possible.

But Cassie stepped right in front of her, all smiles. "Wendy, you're at the maternity ward too? What a coincidence."

"Not really." Wendy glanced at Marcus, dodged Cassie's outstretched hand, and pulled Nora back a step. "I'm in a hurry. I'll get going."

"Come on, Wendy. I think there might be some misunderstanding between us. Can we talk, just the two of us?" Cassie said with a smile.

Nora scoffed. "Misunderstanding? You're the one with bad intentions. There's no misunderstanding — you're just scheming and manipulative —"

"Nora, watch your mouth. This has nothing to do with you." Marcus moved instinctively in front of Cassie, shielding her. That protective gesture cut right through Wendy.

"Marcus, look at yourself," Nora said coldly. "Your wife is sick, and you're here with another woman in the maternity ward, blocking for her like she needs protection. What, you think I'm going to hit her? Honestly, she deserves it. But I'm not stupid enough to land myself in jail over her. And I wouldn't want to dirty my hands anyway."

"Wendy, didn't you say you were cutting Nora out of your life? Was everything you told me a lie?" Marcus's expression turned cold.

Wendy was afraid he'd go after Nora next. She pulled her best friend behind her and whispered, "Nora, go wait for me downstairs. I'll talk to Cassie and come right after. I'll be fine, I promise."

Nora knew Wendy was trying to protect her, and she didn't want to make things harder.

She swallowed her frustration. "Fine. I'll be right downstairs. Call me if anything happens."

"Got it." Wendy gave her a reassuring look, and Nora finally turned to leave.

Cassie turned to Marcus. "Marcus, why don't you go pick up the prescription? I want to talk to Wendy alone for a bit. Once I explain things, I'm sure this whole misunderstanding will clear up."

Marcus looked at her, his eyes soft in a way that felt almost absurd. "Just say what you need to say. Don't feel pressured. I have nothing to hide."

When he turned to Wendy, that warmth was gone. His gaze was cold. "You're just too soft. Unlike some people, who are always stirring up drama and making trouble."

That hit Wendy like a punch. Three years of marriage, and this was what she got — his contempt? How pathetic she'd been.

She laughed bitterly. "Like Mr. Sullivan is such a great catch. I can't wait to divorce you. Don't flatter yourself."

Marcus's face darkened with fury. He shot her a warning look. "I'm telling you, be civil to Cassie. If anything happens to her, I won't let it go."

Wendy said nothing, just a cold breath through her nose. Cassie stepped in, playing peacemaker. "Marcus, don't worry. I'll talk to Wendy nicely."

One hundred words from Wendy wouldn't do what two seconds of Cassie's sweetness could. So Wendy didn't bother.

Once Marcus left, Cassie dropped the act. The soft, gentle mask came off, replaced by a sharp, satisfied smirk.

Wendy had expected it. Good — no need to pretend. "Say what you came to say. I don't have time for small talk."

"Wendy, I'm carrying Marcus's child. I think you already figured that out, didn't you?" Cassie rested a hand gently on her stomach, eyes going soft and tender. Ignore the words, and she might have looked like a picture of motherhood.

But all Wendy felt was sick.

"You've been married to Marcus for three years, and you still couldn't give him a child. What should I call that — all show, no substance?" Cassie's mouth curved up as she leaned close to Wendy's ear, savoring every flicker of pain on her face.

Wendy wasn't going to give her the satisfaction. She let out a cold laugh. "I figured as much. Like mother, like daughter. You and your mother are the same — shameless women who go after other people's men. It happened with my father. Now it's happening with Marcus."

Cassie's smile faltered for just a moment before she recovered. "But the one who isn't loved is the side piece, Wendy. If Marcus loved you, how would I be carrying his baby? You and your mother are the same — both pitiful women nobody cares about. What does being the wife even mean when it's all in name only?"

"Your mother got with Charles Shaw because she had no shame and no limits. My mother treated her like her own sister, and she stabbed her in the back — climbed into Charles's bed while my mother was pregnant." Wendy's eyes burned red. "And you — what trick did you use to get into Marcus's bed?"

"That's a lie! My parents were truly in love. If it weren't for your mother, they could have been together properly. So she deserved to die!" Cassie shrieked.

The mention of her late mother hit the most tender place inside Wendy. Before she could stop herself, she grabbed a fistful of Cassie's hair. "Shut up. Your filthy mouth has no right to say my mother's name."

If Cassie's mother hadn't faked a suicide attempt all those years ago, leaving Wendy's mother alone and unattended right before she gave birth — no one to get her to the hospital in time, a hemorrhage during labor — her mother would still be alive.

Cassie and her mother owed her two lives.

"Your mother died. Why didn't you die with her and your little brother?"

Cassie kept pushing. Wendy tightened her grip.

Then Cassie went limp and started falling backward.

Wendy moved fast — catching herself against the wall, twisting to the side so her stomach didn't hit the floor. But when she looked up, Marcus was already storming toward her, face dark with rage. "Wendy, what the hell are you doing?"

He pulled Cassie firmly into his arms.

Cassie whimpered softly. "Marcus, don't be angry at her. It's my fault. I said things I shouldn't have. That's why she pushed me."

"That's not what happened," Wendy shot back. "When did I ever push you? I grabbed your hair — I barely used any force. You grabbed my hand and —"

"And you're still making excuses? I saw it with my own eyes. You pushed her." Marcus was furious.

"Marcus, it's okay. I don't blame her. If this is what it takes to make her feel better, then so be it." Cassie dabbed at her eyes, her own red-rimmed.

And then Wendy watched him carefully help Cassie up, her medication in his other hand, his entire world revolving around her.