Chapter 2
With my piercing scream, the surroundings fell into sudden silence.
Eyes from the queue of waiting tourists swiveled toward me in unison.
"Mommy!" Lily yanked her hand free from Michael's grip and threw herself into my arms.
"Julia, what are you—" Michael froze for a few seconds, a flash of shock and panic crossing his face.
"Daddy, who is she?" Mia, similar in age to Lily, tilted her head in confusion beside him.
The woman holding her hand lifted her chin slightly, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes that swept over me with disdain. "Honey, is this your new nanny?"
Chill shot through my veins, and a buzzing noise filled my ears.
The sounds of the crowd faded away, leaving only the sight of Michael's mouth moving. "Right, yes. She's here to help us with the luggage."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Michael, you spineless bastard! Say that again!"
His gaze darted around nervously, his face turning pale.
Grabbing my arm, Michael dragged me to the side and lowered his voice. "Go back home. I'll explain everything later."
I shook off his hand, unable to hold back a roar any longer. "Michael, how could you do this to me? I bore your child, and yet you keep a mistress behind my back?
"You lied about the tickets being sold out, just to bring this mistress and her daughter out for fun. And you dragged our daughter along!"
As the words left my mouth, tears rolled down my cheeks.
The onlookers were ignited by my outburst, gasping audibly.
Fingers began pointing at our group.
Calmly setting down her luggage, the woman crossed her arms and walked up to me, tutting loudly. "Nannies these days, trying to claw their way into employers' bed. How pathetic."
"Don't you call my mommy that!" Lily suddenly spread her arms, shielding me in front of her.
Just as I was about to speak, the woman crouched down in front of Lily with a smug smile.
Before I could react, the woman smiled brightly.
She crouched down to Lily's level. "Lily, let me tell you what pathetic really is. Having a baby without a marriage license is pathetic. So is clinging to a man who doesn't love you."
The last thread of rationality in my mind snapped.
"Bullshit!" Like a madwoman, I raised my hand high, aiming to slap the woman across the face.
In the next second, a massive force struck me, nearly knocking me into the air.
I fell hard onto the ground.
The rough gravel tore through the skin of my palms, stinging intensely as blood welled up.
Michael checked the woman over with great concern. "Eva, are you alright?
He then spun around and roared at me, "Julia Sterling! Have you lost your mind?
"Eva is frail. If anything happens to her, I'll make sure you go to jail!"
The woman named Eva Carter looked terrified.
Digging into her bag, she pulled out a marriage license and slapped it across my face.
Her eyes burned with inexplicable fury. "Open your damn eyes and look. Michael and I are the legally married couple here!"
I froze. Stumbling to my feet, I gripped the paper, staring at it in horror.
Impossible. I married Michael years ago.
Eva rolled her eyes. "Hey, we hired you as a nanny, and now you're acting like the lady of the house? I've never seen a mistress this shameless!"
The murmurs grew louder, suffocating me.
"Wait, what's going on? She tried to smack the side chick, but turns out she's the side chick herself?"
"That woman dresses like a grandma. She's way older than him. I believe the pretty lady."
"She must be totally crazy for her employer."
"The other lady just flashed her marriage license. So where's yours? Bet you don't even have one."
Sweat beaded on my forehead as I stammered, "Who walks around with their marriage license? They set me up—"
My gaze darted around as I was desperate for an ally, but no one cared.
In fact, several onlookers had already whipped out their phones to record the spectacle.
Michael pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and addressed the crowd, "Alright, everyone, nothing to see here.
"This hysterical woman is just my nanny. I was kind enough to bring her daughter to Disney with us, and now she's trying to shake me down."