The Clueless Housewife Who Ruined a Genius Chapter 2

The very next morning, Chloe was already at the dining table, wearing my clothes, her child beside her. She looked like a conqueror holding court.

"Stella, you're awake? Come, have breakfast.."

"I heard you love soy milk, so I asked the housekeeper to make you a cup. Consider it a welcome gift."

She smiled, pushing the cup towards me.

"No."

I had no words to waste on her and turned to leave.

But Chloe suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Stella, where are you rushing off? You haven't touched your soy milk. It's a gesture from my heart."

"Let go!"

Without a second thought, I jerked my arm free.

Suddenly, Leo's face flushed, and he started struggling to breathe.

"Mommy, I...can't breathe..."

"Leo, what's wrong?"

Chloe's scream was perfectly timed.

It drew Julian's attention instantly.

He rushed downstairs without hesitation.

"What happened?"

Chloe spun around, tears already streaming down her face.

With a practiced thud, she dropped to her knees before me.

"Stella, I know you don't like me, but how could you hurt a child?"

"Whatever you feel toward me, take it out on me. Leo is just a boy. He doesn't understand any of this."

Julian's face instantly changed.

He quickly, tenderly, helped Chloe up.

"Chloe, what are you doing? Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to bully you."

Then, he erupted in anger, pointing his finger at me.

"Stella, what did you do?"

"Why would you hurt a child?!"

I scoffed.

Looking at the man who once swore I was his entire world, I almost laughed out loud.

"Julian, are you blind, or just willfully ignorant? Which part of you saw me lay a finger on anyone?"

"No, no, Julian, Stella didn't do anything, it's not her fault."

Chloe cut in perfectly, tears already tracing down her cheeks, her expression a masterpiece of wounded sorrow.

"I shouldn't have moved in. I shouldn't have disturbed Stella's life."

"And I definitely shouldn't have mentioned carelessly that Leo is allergic to soy milk, only to still offer it to him... just to try and please her."

"Still, regardless of fault-Julian, please, just take Leo to the hospital first."

"Tsk, what a well-rehearsed script."

"Ms. Hayes, your performance is wasted here. It's a shame you never pursued acting."

I applauded softly, a smile on my lips.

"Stella, that's enough!"

Julian was livid, his hand rising as if to strike me.

I scoffed and leaned in closer.

"What's wrong, famous author? Can't bring yourself to do it?"

"Or are you worried your wife might say something...untimely at your book launch in two days?"

"You!"

Seeing his face freeze, I knew he was afraid.

Because I understood better than anyone how desperately Julian craved success.

I had watched him claw his way up from obscurity, from a writer no one knew into the "genius" everyone praised.

His expression shifted. He released me angrily.

"Stella, you've disappointed me."

He scooped up Leo, shoved past me roughly, and rushed out.

Caught off guard, I crashed into the sharp corner of the table, the impact jolting through my abdomen.

Disappointed?

I laughed, and the tears came instantly.

I had once been pregnant, too.

Seven years ago, during Julian's most hectic book launch, I had lost the child in an accident.

Back then, he had held my hand, his eyes filled with a sorrow that felt genuine.

"It's okay, we're still young."

"There will be other chances."

I still remembered the grief in his eyes.

After that, he never mentioned trying for a child again..

But now, I recalled everything I had uncovered last night.

My miscarriage. Chloe's pregnancy.

The timing aligned with a precision so chilling it froze the blood in my veins.