I Asked For Divorce When His Mistress Returned

Carlos's brow furrowed, his gaze growing colder by the second. "Adele, do you have any idea what happens to people who try to threaten me?"

I could see he was angry—but I couldn't understand why. Shouldn't he be relieved that I was willing to divorce him and let him be with Leilani? Maybe he thought I was playing games again.

I pushed my feelings down and met his gaze, my expression calm. "If you have time, we can head to the courthouse first thing tomorrow and finalize the paperwork."

I thought I was offering him the most sincere compromise I could. Walking away from a man who would never love me was the best way to protect both me and the baby.

At my words, Carlos's eyes narrowed. He gripped my chin hard. His dark eyes were full of contempt, his voice edged with sarcasm. "Adele, you think too highly of yourself. You're nothing more than a pawn your family sold to mine. Whether you stay or go is up to me."

When I married Carlos, his family had paid mine a substantial marriage settlement, cementing a long-standing alliance between our families. I understood his unspoken threat. Without his family's support, mine would struggle to stay afloat.

His phone rang—probably Leilani, anxious for him to come back. Carlos shot me one last look, jaw tight, and walked out without a backward glance.

The storm was still raging when I stood at the hospital entrance, with no idea where to go. I breathed in deep and looked down at my belly. Don't worry, baby. No matter what, Mommy's going to bring you into this world safe and sound.

By the time the taxi dropped me at my parents' house, it was well past midnight, and the whole place was asleep. Mrs. Walker, the housekeeper, woke with a start and looked me up and down with thinly veiled disdain. "Adele, what brings you home at this hour?"

Too exhausted to explain, I just handed her my suitcase. "Go back to sleep," I whispered. "You can move it to my room in the morning."

I yawned and started for the stairs, but Mrs. Walker hurried to stop me. "Adele, Siena turned your room into an art studio for herself."

The words landed like a slap. We had plenty of spare rooms. Mrs. Walker's tone dripped with fake sympathy. "Don't be upset, Adele. You're a married woman now—who would've thought you'd show up with luggage in the middle of the night? If we set up a new room now, the noise will wake Mr. and Mrs. Tucker. Why don't you crash in my room for the night?"

I smiled to myself. She wouldn't dare treat me this way without Siena's blessing.

"No need," I said calmly, and headed for the living room couch instead.

Rain battered the windows all night. By dawn, it was my father who woke me.

"Adele, why are you sleeping on the sofa?" He frowned and turned on Mrs. Walker. "Why didn't you prepare a room for her?"

Caught under his stare, Mrs. Walker stammered out an excuse.

Siena's soft voice drifted down from the stairs. "It's not Mrs. Walker's fault, Dad. It's mine. I turned Adele's room into my art studio because it was convenient."

She hurried down, her face full of apology. "I didn't mean any harm, Adele. If you're planning to stay, just let me know. You're welcome to my room."

The irony almost made me laugh. This was my childhood home.

"I plan on staying for a while," I said evenly. "Please have my room restored."

Siena's smile flickered, but she agreed quickly.

Dad looked like he wanted to say something. I knew he was wondering why I'd shown up out of the blue. My troubled marriage to Carlos—and the baby growing inside me—were complications I wasn't ready to explain.

I took a steadying breath. "Dad, if I wanted to divorce Carlos, would you support me?"

He hesitated, worry etched into his face. "Adele, what's going on?"

I shook my head, and he didn't push. Instead, he handed me a cup of coffee, his voice tinged with regret. "Adele, we were wrong back then. If you're unhappy with the Richards, come home. Whatever you decide, I'll support you."

His words warmed something in my chest. After unpacking, I checked on my mother. Her anxiety usually kept her sleeping late. Standing outside her half-closed door, I heard her voice, sharp with irritation.

"If we hadn't adopted her, she never would've lived such a privileged life! Divorce? Does she have any sense of gratitude?"

My father sighed. "Adopted or not, we raised Adele as our own for twenty years. If she hadn't negotiated with Carlos's family back then, we would've gone bankrupt."

My mother's voice rose with indignation. "How is marrying into a wealthy family a sacrifice? It's a dream for plenty of women. Don't forget, Siena is our flesh and blood! After everything she endured out there before she came home last year, we owe it to her to make up for lost time!"

"I know we need to make it up to Siena, but Adele is clearly unhappy..." My father's voice trailed off as my mother cut him off. "Enough! We can't lose the Richards' support now. We raised her for twenty years—she can repay us this way!"

A heaviness settled over my chest. I was their adopted daughter; Siena, their biological daughter, had gone missing at three. I had been grateful to be loved by them, to receive the best care. But since Siena came back, everything had changed.

I didn't want to hear another word, so I left for the Richards' company. When I walked into my office, my assistant Helen brought me coffee, looking hesitant.

"Go ahead," I prompted. She'd been with me for years, ever since she'd followed me from my family's company.

"A new female design director's been appointed—apparently Carlos chose her himself," Helen said, putting pointed emphasis on female.

I froze, then connected the dots fast. "Was her name Leilani Olson?"

"Yes. Do you know her?" Helen's voice hinted at something more. "She seems innocent, but to get on Carlos's good side, she must be cunning."

Carlos had brought his mistress into the company. Only Leilani could make him act this openly. I lowered my gaze, hiding the smile tugging at my lips. "I see. You can go now."

Lack of sleep and a morning buried in paperwork had worn me down. After lunch, I found myself rushing to the restroom, fighting nausea.

"Are you all right?" someone at the sink asked, offering me a tissue. I took it and glanced up—into Leilani's face, pure as a daisy.