Chapter 7 Watch Out for Your Stomach

Helga froze, cheek burning from the slap. By the time she found her voice, Lia was already gone.

“What’s so great about you?” she muttered. “Your mother’s dead, your father doesn’t want you. Who in this house sees you as mistress?”

But why had Lia suddenly become so terrifying?

Lia stepped into the villa. Laughter floated from the sitting room. She caught Jan’s name, then ran straight into Lena, cheeks flushed.

So, they’d decided Lena could marry Jan.

“Lia!” Anna rushed over, all smiles. “Why did you come back? Are you alright?”

Her tone was soft, but her eyes cut sharp. Everyone knew she wanted Jan.

Lia gave her a single cold glance and walked upstairs.

“Stop!” Konrad slammed the table. “You see us here and don’t even greet us? No manners at all!”

“Manners?” Lia smirked. “You’d know best.”

“You useless brat!” he snapped, trembling with rage.

Gudrun chose her moment. She slid her hand onto Konrad’s arm and sighed. “Don’t be angry. Have the kitchen prepare something extra. We’ll eat as a family.” She straightened, smoothing a palm across her belly.

Lia’s eyes narrowed. Four months pregnant. She almost laughed—if only Gudrun knew it was a stillborn child.

“Lia, I remember you love tomato pasta. I’ll make it myself,” Gudrun said sweetly. “Your room is still here. I have it cleaned every day. You can come back anytime.”

Testing her. Fishing for proof Lukas had kicked her out.

Lia smiled faintly. “How kind. I was planning to move back and stay for good.” She turned without waiting for a reply.

Gudrun stiffened. This wasn’t the answer she wanted.

“Move back?” Lena jumped in. “Did your husband agree?”

Konrad slammed his thigh. “You left by yourself, now you want to come crawling back? Do you think this is a hotel?”

“Dad, maybe she’s in trouble,” Anna chimed in, voice syrupy. “We don’t even know who her husband is. Could it be Mr. Müller?”

Konrad snorted. “Mr. Müller? As if he’d choose her. She probably seduced him. Lia! Get down here and explain yourself!”

Lena smirked. “Yes, Lia. We’re family. Why hide it?”

Lia swept them with a cold look and kept climbing the stairs.

“Lia, wait!” Gudrun hurried after her. Lia spun just as Gudrun reached out, and the older woman stumbled, nearly falling before she clutched the railing.

Lia’s lips curved into a slow smile.

“Be careful, Ms. Eisendorf. You’re carrying a boy. Whether you get into this family depends entirely on him.”

She caught Gudrun’s hand deliberately, her gaze sharp and knowing.