Chapter 2

"Adrian?"

Sienna tosses her handbag onto the couch like she owns the place.

"Don't play dumb."

"You're only hanging on because his parents like you. That's the only reason you won't give him a divorce."

Linda goes pale.

"Miss, you've got this all wrong. This is—"

Mom holds up a hand to stop her.

She stares at Sienna, her voice turning cold.

"Explain yourself."

Mistaking Mom's restraint for fear, Sienna lets her smile turn smug.

"What? Scared?"

"Lena, if you know what's good for you, you'll give up what was never yours to begin with."

She pulls a stack of photos out of her bag and slams them down on the coffee table.

They scatter everywhere.

Adrian hugging her. Kissing her. Walking into a hotel with her. In bed with her. One after another, spread out right in front of Mom.

Mom stares at them, and the color drains from her face.

Her fingers are trembling.

Sienna crosses her arms and lifts her chin.

"Get a good look?"

"I'm the one Adrian loves."

"He says you're boring. Uptight. Like a pretty little decoration sitting around the house. He says coming home makes him feel like he can't breathe."

"If the Sterlings didn't need a wife from the right kind of family, you think you'd still be Mrs. Sterling?"

Mom slowly looks up.

"Adrian told you all this himself?"

"Of course."

Sienna smirks.

"He also said that once the timing's right, he's divorcing you."

"And as for that baby…"

She pauses, and her eyes turn venomous.

"His family made him have it."

"You really think he wants it?"

Mom shoots to her feet.

"Say that again."

For a second, Sienna actually looks scared.

Then she sneers.

"What? Did I hit a nerve?"

"Lena, don't think a baby's gonna keep a man around."

"Adrian says this baby came at the worst possible time."

"If you're smart, you'll get rid of it yourself. Then sign the divorce papers."

The next second, Mom slaps her across the face. Hard.

Sienna's head snaps to the side. She's too stunned to even react.

Upstairs, I'm staring at my phone, my fingers ice-cold.

In my last life, she threw those photos in my face.

This time, they landed in front of Mom.

Adrian's lies can't hide anymore.

Sienna clutches her cheek and screams.

"You hit me?"

Mom's voice is terrifyingly calm.

"You bet I did."

"You crawl into another woman's marriage, then you waltz into my house like you own the place?"

Sienna loses it.

She lunges at Mom, trying to hit her back.

Linda jumps in between them.

"Miss! You can't do this!"

Sienna shoves Linda out of the way and jabs a finger at Mom, screaming.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"You think being Mrs. Sterling makes you better than me?"

"When Adrian's in my bed, he tells me how much you disgust him!"