The blonde woman’s accusing finger pointed directly at Bella, who had frozen in the entryway of the dining room, clutching Leo’s inhaler in her hand.
The crystal chandeliers above the table reflected the scene like a cruel mirror. The Sterling family was gathered for the welcome dinner, and every eye was now fixed on her. Bella felt the floor shifting beneath her feet. She had spent 8 months taking care of Sophie and Leo. 8 months in which she had become their refuge, their comfort. And now this woman, Mr. Sterling’s new fiancée, was pointing at her as if she were trash.
“Christina, please.”
Sebastian’s voice sounded tense. “Bella is just doing her job.”
“Her job.” Christina turned to him, her eyes burning. “Her job is to interrupt family dinners, to barge in without permission.”
“Leo needs his medicine before bed.” The words left Bella’s mouth in barely a whisper.
“Then leave it on the table and get out.”
Christina waved her hand as if shooing away a fly. “The children have everything they need now that their father is back. They don’t need a stranger coddling them anymore.”
Sophie, sitting next to her father’s fiancée, began to tremble. Her small hands gripped the edge of the mahogany table.
“She’s not a stranger,” the girl murmured.
“What did you say?” Christina leaned toward Sophie with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Throughout dinner, she had tried to win the kids over with sweet comments and empty promises, but Bella recognized that look. It was the same look she used when talking about remodeling the house, as if everything that existed before her arrival was flawed.
“I said she’s not a stranger.” Sophie raised her chin. “Bella takes care of us.”
“I’m going to take care of you now, darling.” Christina placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder, who flinched at the contact. “I’m going to be your new mom.”
Leo started to cry. The sound pierced Bella’s chest like an arrow. The six-year-old boy, who had barely spoken a word since his father had left nine months ago, was sobbing silently, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Leo, honey…”
Bella took a step toward him without thinking.
“Don’t you come near him.” Christina shot up from her chair, blocking the path with her body. The white dress she wore, far too formal for a family dinner, swirled around her like the feathers of a furious bird. “Sebastian, this is unacceptable. Either she goes right now, or I go.”
