After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 94

Elle's POV

A maid approached with a glass of fresh orange juice—the special blend prepared specifically for my pregnancy. As I reached for it, Marissa suddenly snatched the glass from the maid's hands.

"Thank you," she said sweetly, then proceeded to drink the entire contents in long, deliberate gulps while staring directly at me.

Martha and the maid stood frozen in shock. I felt my jaw clench, but I forced myself to remain calm.

Marissa handed the empty glass back to the stunned maid with a satisfied sigh. "That was delicious! Though I suppose it's rather extravagant for ordinary people, isn't it?" Her eyes glittered with malice as she looked around the room. "As Brad's girlfriend, I do have quite high standards for living. You servants better work hard, or your jobs might not be so secure."

The sheer audacity of her words made my blood boil, but she wasn't finished.

"I'm feeling a bit tired," she announced, stretching languidly. "Where is Brad's bedroom? I'd like to rest in his room."

"Marissa," I said quietly, my voice cutting through the tension, "I think you owe me an explanation about your medical reports."

She raised an eyebrow, still wearing that infuriating smirk.

"Why aren't you at the medical center getting treatment instead of... here?"

For a moment, something flickered across her face. Then she burst into laughter—cold, mocking sounds that echoed through the room.

"Oh, Elle," she said, walking closer until she was standing directly in front of me. She reached out and smoothed a strand of my hair with fake tenderness that made my skin crawl.

Leaning close to my ear, she whispered, "You really are as stupid as I thought. You never learn, do you? Even after I betrayed you once before."

Her words were like ice water in my veins.

"I had to lie to you," she continued, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You're so easy to fool—one sob story and your bleeding heart just opens right up. If I didn't take advantage of your stupidity, I'd hate myself for missing the opportunity." She laughed again, that horrible sound that seemed to echo in my chest. "God, you really are pathetic!"

I closed my eyes, fighting to control my breathing. *Don't get angry,* I told myself desperately.

But inside, I was finally seeing clearly. Yes, I was stupid. I'd looked at Marissa's fake vulnerability and let my compassion override my judgment. I deserved this.

But she wasn't finished with her performance.

"Oh, Elle," she purred, moving even closer, "aren't you curious about what Brad and I have been doing this past week? All those intimate moments?" Her voice dropped to a taunting whisper. "If you really want to know, you could always get on your knees and beg me to tell you."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, but I remained silent.

"You need to understand something," she stepped back slightly, her eyes raking over me with obvious disdain. "Look at yourself, Elle. Short, plain, getting fat, and with that weird personality of yours. You're nothing like the type of sophisticated woman an elite Alpha like Brad Rayne would actually choose."

I forced myself to look away, focusing on a spot on the wall rather than her cruel smile.

"Honestly," she said, her voice filled with false pity. "If you had any sense, you'd leave voluntarily. Go back to where you belong."

She leaned in again, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "If I were you, I wouldn't even keep this baby. I'd leave immediately—go to another city, start fresh somewhere far away."

Her final words hit me like physical blows. "Brad's heart has always belonged to me, Elle. You must have felt that by now. He will never choose you. Never."

Without warning, she jabbed her finger hard into my shoulder, then shoved me backward. I stumbled, my hands instinctively going to my stomach as I grabbed the nearby table for support.

Marissa looked satisfied with her handiwork and sauntered away without another glance.

Martha immediately rushed to my side. "Miss Rayne! Are you alright?"

I straightened slowly, my body shaking slightly from the adrenaline. "I'm fine, Martha."

Inside, I felt that cold calm spreading through me again. I was supposed to leave after the baby was born anyway. Marissa moving in early shouldn't matter.

But it did matter. And the hollow ache in my chest told me exactly how much.

The evening dinner was a special kind of torture.

The three of us sat at the same elegant table, the silence heavy and uncomfortable. I kept my eyes focused on my plate, determinedly ignoring the sickeningly sweet interaction happening beside me.

"Brad, try this steak," Marissa cooed, cutting a piece and holding her fork toward him. "It's cooked to seven minutes—exactly how you used to like it."

She made sure to emphasize those last words, her eyes flicking toward me to gauge my reaction.

Brad eyes found mine across the table. When I didn't react—didn't even look up from my food—his jaw tightened.

When I'd eaten enough to be polite, I carefully set down my napkin and stood. "I'm finished. I'll be going upstairs now."

I walked away without looking at either of them, Alex falling into step beside me to help me up the stairs.

I'd barely closed my bedroom door when a tremendous crash echoed from the dining room below—the sound of dishes hitting the floor and furniture being overturned. Marissa's terrified scream followed.

I paused for just a moment, my hand on the doorknob. Then I continued into my room and shut the door firmly behind me.

Whatever was happening downstairs wasn't my concern anymore.

Hours later, I found myself unable to concentrate on the book in my hands. I kept reading the same paragraph over and over, the words blurring together meaninglessly.

With a sigh, I closed the book and set it aside. My throat felt dry, and I realized I was quite thirsty. I didn't want to wake Alex—he'd already done so much for me today.

I could get my own glass of water.

I opened my bedroom door as quietly as possible and stepped into the hallway. That's when I heard it.

Soft sounds were coming from Brad's study—sounds that made my face flush with recognition. Having been intimate with Brad myself, I knew exactly what those sounds meant.

"Brad..." Marissa's voice drifted through the door, which hadn't been completely closed. "Mmm... I've missed you so much..."

I heard the sound of furniture being knocked over, and my hand froze on my door handle.

A bitter smile crossed my face as I gently touched my stomach. *Looks like my departure date might be moved up even sooner than expected,* I thought.

*Thank god I never canceled the lease on my old apartment...*

I was still lost in thought about my exit strategy when the study door suddenly burst open.

Brad stumbled out, his clothes disheveled and his breathing ragged. There were red lipstick marks on his face and visible scratches on his shirt.

Time just stopped.