He Ditched His Bride for Her Pregnant Sister

Adalee Morgan heard a voice and glanced over, spotting a young woman in her twenties with delicate features—but her eyes burned with raw jealousy. Adalee raised an eyebrow, instantly suspecting this woman had a thing for Cruz Nichols.

"Who are you gawking at?" Jade Hill snapped, shooting Adalee a look of pure disdain. "If it weren't for the baby you're carrying, do you honestly think Mr. Nichols would lower himself to marry someone like you?"

Jade had seen the online gossip painting Adalee as some country bumpkin dragged out of obscurity, always hanging around shady places. She couldn't wrap her head around how a woman like that ended up pregnant with Mr. Nichols' child. Determined to make Adalee's life miserable, she wasn't about to let up.

Avery Larson, one of the household staff, couldn't help but chime in. "Jade, Mr. Nichols brought Mrs. Nichols here himself. We all saw it. He even had everything set up for her—that means he acknowledges her."

Jade turned her icy stare on Avery. "Be quiet!"

Avery flinched and clamped her mouth shut. She knew better than to cross Jade, the housekeeper's daughter, who had way too much influence around here.

Unfazed by Jade's hostility, Adalee simply asked, "And who might you be?"

Jade let out a haughty laugh. "I'm the head maid here. Everyone answers to me!"

Adalee chuckled, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Ah, so just a servant? Then you should be following the orders of the lady of the house, shouldn't you?"

"You—" Jade stammered, her face reddening with fury. "You're just a passing fling. Once you pop out that baby, Mr. Nichols will kick you to the curb, and you'll be worse off than a servant!"

"We'll see about that," Adalee said coolly, taking a seat at the dining table as if Jade didn't exist.

Jade fumed, feeling like she'd just punched a pillow—no satisfaction at all. Just as she opened her mouth to fire back, someone announced, "Mr. Nichols is back!"

Jade's demeanor did a complete 180, her face instantly sweet and servile, while she subtly signaled the staff to keep quiet about the earlier spat.

Adalee caught Jade's two-faced act and rolled her eyes discreetly.

Cruz Nichols strode into the dining room, his steps deliberate, commanding, carrying an aura that felt almost suffocating. The room's lively chatter died in an instant, and even Adalee tensed up.

He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over a chair, his gaze locking onto his petite wife. Seeing her slightly nervous expression, his eyes darkened. "Have you eaten?"

Adalee shook her head honestly, a hint of pout in her voice. "Not yet. The baby's already complaining."

Cruz's chiseled features tightened as he shot a cold glare at the staff, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "Didn't I tell you all to have dinner ready?"

Jade went pale, caught off guard by his sudden fury. "It's ready! It's ready! We'll serve it right away!"

She frantically signaled the kitchen staff, and within moments the table was loaded with dishes that looked incredible, the smell making anyone's mouth water.

Cruz settled into the seat next to Adalee and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a muscular forearm and an expensive watch. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I had them make a bit of everything. Eat up—don't let the baby starve."

Adalee blinked, surprised by the effort. "Thanks, but you didn't have to go all out. I'm not picky."

His unexpected thoughtfulness nudged her opinion of him up a notch.

But then he opened his mouth again, and whatever goodwill had started to bloom shriveled up.

Cruz fixed her with a penetrating look. "Don't get the wrong idea. This is all for the child."

Adalee forced a laugh that came out awkward. She dropped her gaze back to her plate, toes curling from the embarrassment of thinking he could ever care for her.

Jade, having overheard Cruz's cold words, smirked with quiet satisfaction. She knew it—the Cruz Nichols she worshipped would never lower himself to love a simpleton like Adalee. The thought was absurd.

Dinner flew by, and to everyone's shock, Adalee devoured her food like she hadn't eaten in days. Completely unbothered by the stares, she even asked to have the leftovers wrapped up for a midnight snack.

Jade scoffed at Adalee's clear lack of class. Cruz had been about to offer her some pulled pork, but at her request, he paused, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, and put it back on his own plate.

When Adalee finally set down her fork, Cruz let out a mildly exasperated sigh. "I'm not short on food. Not now, not ever."

Adalee blinked at him, confused. Was he implying they had a future together? She quickly shook off that crazy thought and explained, "I just don't like wasting food."

Cruz's expression softened a fraction, the ice in his voice thawing a little. "Leftovers aren't good for a pregnant woman. They'll go to the local strays."

"Oh." Adalee nodded, relieved. She stole a glance at Cruz's perfect profile, a faint smile tugging at her lips. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't help but find his soft spot for animals endearing.

Meanwhile, across town, Miranda Jenkins burned with jealousy, dead set on dragging Cruz back into her life—by any means necessary.

Back at the villa after lunch, Cruz drove Adalee home. Madeleine Nichols was there, sitting in front of the TV with a distinctly sour look on her face.

Adalee felt a pang of guilt, avoiding her mother-in-law's gaze. She knew she shouldn't have left her earlier. But Cruz seemed unfazed, greeting her with a cool, "Still here, Mom?"

Madeleine let out a small huff. "I have something to discuss with Adalee. Why are you in such a rush?"

Cruz shrugged. "Then say whatever you need to say."

Madeleine shot him a sharp look. How dare her son talk to her like that? She turned a warmer expression toward Adalee and beckoned her over. "Come here, darling. I have something important to tell you."

Adalee hesitated, but Madeleine's sudden change in demeanor left her no room to refuse. Earlier, she'd been standoffish, and it had put Adalee on edge.

But now Madeleine's tone was inviting. "Come on, it's good news!"

Adalee shuffled forward, looking at her mother-in-law with curious eyes, ready to listen.

Madeleine gently patted Adalee's head. "Your piano skills are outstanding. I've had a room set up with a brand-new piano, so you can practice whenever you want."

Surprised and touched, Adalee nodded. "Thank you, Mom."

Madeleine beamed. "You have real talent, and you should cultivate it. Who knows—maybe you'll become a national treasure one day, even surpassing Beethoven himself!"

Adalee's cheeks flushed at the high praise. She felt a little shy.

"Oh, and I've taken care of your education. You'll be attending the top university in the country. Since you're pregnant, there's no rush—you can start once the baby's born."

Adalee was blown away. That university was elite, nearly impossible to get into without exceptional grades. She'd always assumed it was out of her reach. But with Cruz's backing and the school's support, it suddenly seemed possible.

And wouldn't you know it—Miranda Jenkins went to that same university. The thought of running into Miranda there, exposing all her lies, was way more appealing than staying cooped up at home.

Adalee made up her mind in a heartbeat. "Mom, I don't need to wait until after the baby. I can enroll when the new term starts!"