Chapter 533:

Ever since Marc told her to terminate the pregnancy, she’d been keeping her distance, afraid he’d drag her to the hospital himself.

Marc hadn’t even bothered to check in.

It’d been nearly a week of silence.

That realization only made Doreen angrier.

She’d thought getting pregnant with Marc’s child would give her leverage, but all it had brought her was rejection and stress.

She was full of rage with nowhere to put it—until she spotted Stella. Strolling toward her, all carefree and unbothered.

Just the sight of Stella’s calm face triggered something in Doreen. It was all her fault!

As they got closer, Doreen suddenly clutched her belly and called out sweetly, “Stella! What a coincidence!”

Stella’s smile faded. She looked at Doreen and asked flatly, “Are we even close enough to call that a coincidence?”

But Doreen widened her eyes in feigned innocence and launched into a deliberately loud speech. “I know you’re upset that I’m having Marc’s baby. I never meant to compete with you. I just… I don’t want the baby to grow up without a father. I know you and Marc were married, but he doesn’t love you anymore.”

She clasped her belly and continued, louder this time, making sure everyone nearby could hear, “Could you stop contacting Marc, please? The baby’s innocent. It needs a father.”

A few passersby had already slowed down to stare. Some glanced at Stella with awkward, knowing looks.

Stella’s patience snapped, her brow furrowing as she finally spoke up. “Doreen, there has never been anything between Marc and me. I am not interested in his relationships, and your pregnancy does not matter to me. If you want to be with him, go find him. Why are you bothering me? Does that make sense now?” She could hardly believe Doreen had managed to graduate with a brain like that.

The whole situation made Stella feel strangely offended.

Doreen clenched her jaw, her eyes threatening to spill over with tears.

“If you truly have no feelings for Marc, then why do you keep reaching out to him? Is this some sort of game? I have always respected you, Stella, and I know you and Marc had history, but I am the one who is pregnant!” Doreen’s voice trembled as she spoke. “You are just keeping him on a string, aren’t you? I never imagined you could be so heartless.”

Every word Doreen said sounded like a sob, her face the very picture of heartbreak. Stella could only sigh, tired of the drama. “Take your nonsense elsewhere. If you can’t understand English, maybe you should work on it.”

She was beginning to think talking to Doreen was as useful as speaking to a wall.

Just as she turned to leave, Doreen’s gaze flicked behind her, and then she grabbed Stella’s hand without warning.

Suddenly, Doreen let out a wail and flung herself sideways, completely catching Stella off guard.

Doreen hit the polished tile with a thud, tears springing to her eyes as she stared up at Stella and cried, “Stella, why did you push me? Oh no, my stomach, my baby… the baby!”

Before Stella could get a word out, Marc’s voice broke in from right beside her. “Stel, what’s happening here?”

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