My Cheating Fiancé Shaved My Head

I stared at the black-and-white image. Eight weeks.

The betrayal was not just emotional anymore. It was physical. Aiden had slept with Zaria two months ago, right around the time I was finalizing the buyout for his failing tech firm. I had spent my nights crunching numbers to save his legacy, while he spent his nights in her bed.

I crumpled the glossy paper into a tight ball. I tossed it into the trash can next to the plastic bag holding my severed hair.

The heavy oak front door clicked open.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.

"Mazie? Where are you hiding?"

Lucia.

Aiden's mother marched into the living room. She wore a tailored crimson pantsuit and thick-soled designer boots. She didn't bother to wipe her feet. Clumps of wet dirt tracked across the hardwood floor I had spent an hour mopping yesterday.

"You're leaving a mess," I said, walking out of the bedroom.

Lucia scoffed, crossing her arms. "I am your future mother-in-law. You should be offering me tea, not criticizing my footwear. You've absolutely no manners."

"I am not making you tea."

"Excuse me?" Lucia narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. She looked at my bare, jagged scalp and let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Aiden told me about your little tantrum. He said you shaved your own head just to make Zaria feel guilty. You look ridiculous."

"He told you I did it?"

"Don't play the victim. You're always trying to steal the spotlight from that poor, sick girl." Lucia waved a dismissive hand. "Anyway, I came here to settle the wedding party details. Zaria is devastated by your childish behavior today. To make it up to her, she will be your only bridesmaid."

I stared at her.

"You want my fiancé's pregnant mistress to be my only bridesmaid?" I asked.

Lucia blinked. Her smug expression faltered for one measured beat. "What nonsense are you spewing?"

"I found the ultrasound in Aiden's coat. Eight weeks."

"Oh, please." Lucia recovered quickly, adjusting her diamond collar necklace. "Men have needs. You work eighty-hour weeks. You neglected him. If Zaria is carrying my grandchild, that's a blessing. You'll still get the ring, so stop complaining."

I let out a dry, humorless laugh.

"There's no ring," I said. "And there's no wedding."

Lucia's face turned red. "You can't cancel the wedding! The invitations are already sent. The deposits are paid."

"Then you can marry him," I said. "Or Zaria can. I don't care. If you are so unhappy with my manners, go get a new daughter-in-law."

"You ungrateful brat," Lucia spat. "After everything we have done to welcome you into this family."

"Welcome me?" I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "Three years ago, I worked three jobs to buy Aiden his first car. Zaria took it for a joyride and crashed it into a tree. Do you remember what you said at the hospital?"

Lucia clamped her mouth shut.

"You didn't ask how I felt about losing twenty thousand dollars," I continued, my voice rising. "You asked if Zaria was startled. You told me to stop crying over metal when she had a bruised wrist."

"She was fragile!" Lucia shouted.

"She is a parasite, and so are you."

Lucia raised her hand, her palm flying toward my face.

I caught her wrist mid-air.

Her eyes widened in shock.

I shoved her backward with both hands.

Lucia stumbled over her thick-soled boots. She flailed, her arms pinwheeling before she collapsed onto the beige sofa.

Her crimson suit bunched up around her waist.

She scrambled into a sitting position, her face twisted in pure rage.

"You just wait!" Lucia roared, pointing a shaking finger at my chest. "Tomorrow Aiden will have you on your knees apologizing to Zaria!"