I Lost Our Baby Saving My Husband’s Mistress

Maria’s deliberately exaggerated apology caught everyone off guard—especially Mrs. Rodriguez. She shot a guilty look at Grandma Poppy.

Grandma Poppy caught the look. "Easton, don't just stand there. Look at your wife’s arm."

Easton didn’t move. "She can speak for herself," he said coldly. Maria was putting on a show in front of his grandmother. Fine. Let her.

Maria's heart sank even lower when Easton made no move to help her. She had braced herself for his misunderstanding, for his anger, but it still cut deep.

"Enough!" Grandma Poppy's voice rang out, sharp with outrage. She turned on Mrs. Rodriguez. "What did you do to Maria while I was away?"

Mrs. Rodriguez’s hands flew up defensively. "Mom, I didn't do anything! You can ask Mrs. Miller—"

Maria cut in. "Grandma, don’t blame her. She couldn’t sleep and wanted a massage. Apparently, being discharged from the hospital wasn’t a good enough excuse for me to say no." She held Mrs. Rodriguez’s gaze. "That’s what started all this. I thought you should hear it from me."

Maria knew Easton would misunderstand. She knew he'd be furious. But she didn't care anymore. She wasn't going to compromise herself for him the way she had before.

Mrs. Rodriguez trembled with rage, her voice shaking. "How dare you make such wild claims! Mom, don't believe her—she's doing this on purpose..."

"That's enough!" Grandma Poppy's tone turned cutting. "You have the nerve to insult her right in front of me. How am I supposed to believe you didn't bully her while I was gone?"

Growing more agitated, Grandma Poppy went on, "I made it clear—Maria is carrying your grandchild. I'm not asking you to spoil her, but at least don't stir up trouble. Didn't you promise me?"

"Mom, I really didn't—"

Piper stepped forward and pulled her mother aside. "Grandma, don't just take her word for it. She's using the fact that she's pregnant with my brother's child to act like she's above everyone."

Piper pointed accusingly at Maria, her anger escalating. "Five years ago, you tricked my brother into marrying you. Half a year ago, you pressured him into having a child with you. And now you're using that child to drive a wedge between Grandma and Mom. Grandma has treated you so well, but you use her kindness to push your schemes and secure your place in the Rodriguez family. You're disgusting!"

Overwhelmed, Piper lunged at Maria, hand raised to strike.

Grandma Poppy moved fast, shielding Maria and planting herself between them. "I dare you!"

In the chaos, Piper shoved Grandma Poppy. She hit her head on the coffee table and crumpled, unconscious.

Piper scrambled back. "It—it wasn't me..."

Terrified, Maria dropped to her knees to help. "Grandma..."

Just as she reached out, Easton rushed in and shoved her away.

Cradling Grandma Poppy, Easton gave Maria a glare colder than ice. "Happy now?"

Maria pressed her lips together. "I'm sorry..."

She'd only meant to use Grandma to teach Piper and her mother a lesson. She never thought it would go this far.

"You'd better pray she's all right," Easton said tightly, then lifted Grandma and carried her out.

Maria followed without thinking.

"Stop right there!" Piper's mother blocked her path, seething. "Maria, I never thought you'd have the nerve to rat me out to Grandma like this!"

She had assumed Maria would take their bullying the way she always had. She hadn't expected Maria to pull a stunt like that the second she walked into the room. If Grandma hadn't fallen, who knew what consequences they'd have faced?

Her anger flared. "Maria, this is all your fault. If anything happens to Grandma, your days as lady of this house are over."

Then she turned to Piper, who was white as a sheet. "Don't worry. I saw everything. Maria pushed Grandma! Butler, you saw it too, didn't you?"

The butler nodded quickly. "Yes, that's right. I saw it. Maria pushed her. All the servants saw."

The nearby servants hurried to agree. "Yes, we saw it."

Piper straightened, glaring at Maria with pure venom. "Of course it wasn't me. She's my grandmother. Why would I hurt her? Maria, you vile woman—you'll do anything to ruin my reputation."

She looked ready to lunge at Maria again. "Don't stop me. I'll finish her today!"

Her mother held her back. "No need to waste time. Go to the hospital and tell your brother."

"Right, I'll tell him..." Piper fumed. "Maria, you've caused so much pain—my brother won't go easy on you!"

After they left, Maria headed to the hospital too—not because she was afraid of what they'd tell Easton, but because she was worried about Grandma Poppy's condition. A head injury could be serious, especially at her age.

At the hospital, the doctor explained, "Her blood pressure is dangerously high. We’re treating it and monitoring her closely for complications, including a stroke. The next few hours will tell us more. Given her age, we need to be cautious."

Maria stood outside the room, listening as her heart clenched with anxiety. She had wanted Poppy to know the truth, not to get hurt. But Piper had pushed her. Maria held on to that fact even as guilt surged through her. If Grandma didn’t wake up...

Fear hit her like a wave. Maria pressed her shaking hands together. "Grandma, you have to pull through..."

Suddenly, the door opened and Easton stepped out.

Their eyes met. Without warning, Easton seized her by the arm, his grip like iron. "Maria, how dare you come here!"

So he'd believed Piper and her mother's lies. They'd set her up, and he'd bought every word.

Maria said nothing. What was there to say? Even if she told the truth, he wouldn't believe her. He'd only think she was trying to weasel out of trouble.

"Admitting it?" Easton took her silence as a confession, his grip tightening. "How could you betray someone who's been so good to you?"

He dragged her forward. Maria had no idea what he meant to do in his rage. "Where are you taking me?" she asked.

Easton's laugh was frigid. "To hell!"