Chapter 2
“Hayley’s got her Harvard MBA now-she’s way more qualified to be Mrs. Leonel than you’ll ever be. If it weren’t for the fact that you-”
Archer was rambling on when my words finally hit him.
He stopped mid-sentence. “Wait, what the fuck did you just say?”
包
Hayley stood there looking all understanding. “Oh, Karen’s just lashing out. I’m not trying to take anything from anyone-I just want to be with Archer and my baby. That’s honestly all I care about.”
Archer squeezed her hand, clearly moved. “God, Hayley, you’re always so thoughtful.”
Then he looked me up and down with this smug expression.
“Every single thing you’re wearing-that Hermès bag, those Louboutins-I paid for all of it. Remarried, my ass.”
“Who the hell else would bankroll your bougie lifestyle?”
‘Karen, Leonel Corp is worth billions now. If you don’t want to lose everything you have, you better start treating Hayley with some respect!”
‘From now on, Hayley’s moving in to bond with her son.”
‘Since you clearly suck at being a mom, let the real one take over!”
Hayley shot me this triumphant look. Whatever. I ignored them both and checked the text from William Firenze:
‘Babe, still closing this deal in London. Sorry you’re stuck with kiddo duty-I’ll make it up to you when I get back! ?”
Then my phone buzzed with a bank alert. Eight million dollars.
‘Afternoon shopping for my girl and our little one?”
Followed by those puppy dog eyes emojis begging for praise.
All the stress just melted away. I smiled and texted back: “Miss you. Hurry home to us.”
When I looked up, Hayley was trying to feed my son chocolate.
‘Here, sweetie, Mommy brought this special chocolate from Europe. Try it!”
practically flew at her, smacking that chocolate away. “He’s allergic, you idiot!”
Suddenly, Hayley threw herself backward and screamed, “ARCHER! SHE’S ATTACKING ME!”
Archer shoved me so hard I went down, scrambling to catch his precious Hayley.
The crowd’s anger was getting louder. “What kind of psycho nanny won’t even let the real mom hold her own kid?”
‘Look how she’s dressed-way fancier than her boss. Bet she’s been stealing from them for years!”
Some little brat actually poured coffee on me. “Bad lady! Bad lady!”
My phone went flying in the chaos, and the kid stomped on it, cracking the screen.
My face darkened. I’d rushed back to New York without my usual security detail-never expected this shit.
I said firmly to the crowd, “I’m not the goddamn nanny. This is MY son with MY current husband.”
But the accusations drowned out my explanations.
I struggled to get up, trying to get my son out of there.
But someone shoved me back down.
Archer’s Italian leather shoes appeared in front of my face. He looked down at me like I was trash.
“Apologize to Hayley. Right fucking now.”
I struggled against the hands holding me down, but Archer slapped me again.
“Karen Silkisia, Hayley’s carrying my second child. She’s done everything for the Leonel family.”
“Letting you keep the title of Mrs. Leonel was generous enough. If you think you can use that to bully Hayley, I can take away everything you have.”
My mind flashed back to that night three years ago-waiting for Archer to come home for our anniversary, only to find a newborn of Archer and Hayley.
He’d sworn to me that Hayley was just a mistake, that he’d end it and come back to our marriage.
I was already heartbroken but willing to try again-only because his mom had saved my life years ago.
But I never imagined Archer would dump his crying infant on me like I was hired help, while he played happy couple with his side piece across Europe.
The memory made me even angrier. I fought harder.
Hayley put on her fake concerned act, helping me up. “Archer, let Karen go. I’m not mad at her.”
Then she smugly rubbed her belly. “Besides, I just got hired at Firenze Corporation. I’ll be pretty busy, so I’ll still need Karen to help with the kids at home.”
My eyes went cold. “Which Firenze Corporation?”
