Chapter 172 Public Spectacle

Chapter 172 Public Spectacle
The woman who crouched slightly with a pale face stiffened and finally raised her head.

Lena's suspicion was confirmed. It was indeed Stacy.

One hand still protectively covered her stomach. The other clutched medical documents against her chest.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Lena's eyes drifted downward. Toward the visible curve beneath Stacy's coat.

A pregnant belly.

Her blood ran cold.

The hospital noises and the crowd faded. Everything blurred except the woman standing before her, and the memory of the divorce papers Rhys refused to sign.

Stacy's face turned white. "L-Lena…"

Lena's fingers trembled. Her gaze remained fixed on Stacy's stomach.

A thousand thoughts crashed into her mind. A thousand possibilities and explanations. Yet only one remained. One terrifying possibility that refused to leave.

"Stacy..." Her voice came out barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

Stacy's lips parted, but no words came.

The color drained from Lena's face.

Suddenly she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer. Just as she was about to ask again, Stacy let out a painful cry.

“Ah!”

Her knees buckled. She crouched on the floor. Her entire body started shaking. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead, with tears streaming down her face.

“Lena…” her voice cracked. “Please…”

Lena froze.

Stacy grabbed the edge of Lena’s coat. Her shoulders trembled violently.

“It was a mistake. I-I didn’t mean for things to happen like this.”

Lena’s brows furrowed. “What are you doing?”

“I know I was wrong.” Stacy cried harder. “I know I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Rhys. But please…”

Stacy dropped her knees to the floor. The documents in her hand scattered across the floor.

Several people nearby stopped to stare at the situation with a frown.

“Please let me go.” Her voice broke apart. “For the baby’s sake.”

Lena’s eyes widened. “What…?” 

Her mind couldn't process what was happening. Coupled with the shock of finding her pregnant and her sudden performance, Lena stood frozen.

“The baby is innocent.” Stacy clutched her stomach. “Please don’t hurt him.”

Whispers erupted around them.

“Did you hear that? She’s pregnant.”

“That woman wants to hurt her?”

“Is she insane?”

Lena's gaze snapped around. People were staring. Every single person. Some watched with sympathy, others with disgust.

A few had already taken out their phones, recording.

The realization struck her all at once. Her stomach dropped.

“Lena…” Stacy continued crying. “I’ll leave. I’ll disappear. Just don’t hurt my baby.”

The crowd erupted again. Several women glared at Lena. A middle-aged man shook his head. “How vicious.”

Another woman scoffed. “She’s bullying a pregnant woman. What kind of person does that?”

Lena noticed how Stacy deliberately shifted her coat aside. Just enough to expose her rounded stomach to everyone, and gain more sympathy from the crowd, hereby painting her as the villain.

Lena's vision went red. A violent surge of adrenaline rushed through her body.

"Stacy." Her voice dropped dangerously low. "When did I attack you?"

Stacy remained silent. Her gaze stayed down.

"Don't make me do something stupid. Speak up!"

"She's threatening her again," someone said loudly. "Look at her face."

"I'm calling security."

Lena scoffed. The little emotion she had left converged into rage.

She nodded, trying to convince herself of the reality she was in. "It's bad enough you slept with Rhys. Now this?"

She let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Really? If you wanted him so badly, why don't you pressure him to SIGN THE FUCKING DIVORCE PAPERS I've been sending him for mo— ah!”

A heavy slap landed across Lena’s face. A sharp ringing filled her ears. The entire corridor gasped. For a moment, she couldn’t hear anything.

Then the crowd exploded.  "She deserved that."

"Good for her."

Lena slowly turned her head. Her cheek burned.

Standing before her was Mrs. Adler. She was already turning to help Stacy up from the ground.

"Mom, please—" Stacy whimpered.

"Shh. You're safe now." Mrs. Adler wrapped an arm around her.

Then she turned to Lena. The older woman’s body trembled with fury.

"You shameless girl!” Her voice rose. “How dare you try to harm my grandchild!"

Lena stared at her silently.

The older woman’s voice became shriller. “What kind of monster are you? I always knew you were unsuitable. You think wearing elegant clothes changes who you are?”

Her finger pointed at Lena. “It doesn’t. You’re still barbaric.”

The phones around them multiplied. More people stopped walking and started recording the ongoing drama.

Several nurses rushed over. “Please calm down. This is a hospital.”

“We need everyone to lower their voices.”

Mrs. Adler turned on them immediately. “Are you trying to silence me? I am the Madame of the Adler family. The Adler family are one of the biggest sponsors of this hospital."

The crowd erupted. “The Adler family?”

“No wonder she looks familiar.”

“Oh, this is news.”

Mrs. Adler pointed at Lena. “If anyone should leave this hospital, it should be her. She tried to harm my grandchild.”

Whispers drowned from every side.

The nurses exchanged nervous looks. A few quickly left. Most likely searching for someone with enough authority to handle the situation.

"How pathetic," Lena muttered under her breath, too tired to entertain anyone from the Adler family.

Mrs. Adler's head snapped toward her. "What did you just say?"

She stepped closer. "You called me pathetic? You barren woman! If you can't give Rhys a child, why don't you allow the ones who can to give him one? In fact, my son is divorcing you this instant."

Lena stilled. Like a bucked it cold water was poured on her.

Stacy, who had been crying on the side, immediately held Mrs. Adler's hand. "Please, let's just go. Don't—"

But Mrs. Adler was too angry and blinded.

And that was her mistake. Because something inside Lena finally snapped.

"Barren?" Lena repeated. Her voice shook. Not from fear, but from rage. "Why don't you ask that son of yours if I was pregnant or not?”

Mrs. Adler froze.

Lena took a step forward. “Why don't you ask him why he ignored my calls when I desperately needed him? Why don't you ask him why I almost bled to death, carrying his child?”

The corridor fell silent. Every face turned toward her. Even Stacy looked stunned by her sudden outburst.

Tears burned Lena’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“Why don’t you ask him why I lost that baby?” Her voice cracked. “Why don’t you ask him that?!”

She breathed all her resentment out.

Mrs. Adler was stunned. Her eyes went wide. 

“As for the divorce…” Lena inhaled deeply, trying to compose herself.

"As for the divorce? Rhys is no longer my husband. I declared that three months ago. I'm just waiting for him to sign the papers to make it official."

Mrs. Adler’s mouth opened and closed. She had no way to retort back.

But embarrassment quickly became anger. Her face turned red.

“You—” her voice trembled. “You have no manners.”

Lena’s expression darkened.

Mrs. Adler pointed at her again. “If your mother were here, perhaps she would’ve taught you some—”

“DON’T.”

The word tore out of Lena's throat. Her eyes turned bloodshot. Every last thread holding her together snapped.

Mrs. Adler took a step back instinctively. Fear flashed across her face.

Lena let out a frightening laugh. She stepped forward and shoved Mrs. Adler's shoulder. 

The older woman stumbled. “W-What are you doing?”

“I’m mannerless, so what?”

She shoved her hard again.

“I don’t have a mother, so what?”

Mrs. Adler nearly lost her balance.

“Someone stop her!”

The crowd watched. But no move or intervened as Lena continued shoving her back.

They were all too engrossed in the spectacle playing before them.

Lena pushed again. "At least I didn't become a cheater and get pregnant for someone else, did I?"

"Lena, stop!" Stacy cried out. "That's Rhys's mother. You're going to push her down."

Lena whirled on her. "And you! You think you have it all? Pretending I tried to harm you?"

Stacy flinched, hands flying to her stomach.

"How about I just harm the baby? Hmm? Make the claim true?"

"You bitch—"

Lena turned. Mrs. Adler's hand was coming for her hair. But it never reached.

A large hand caught her wrist midair. The movement was swift and effortless.

The corridor fell silent. Everyone stared.

Mrs. Adler’s eyes widened.

Lena froze. Very slowly, she lifted her head.

A familiar light blond hair with broad shoulders grazed her vision.

Standing between her and Mrs. Adler. His grip tightened around the older woman’s wrist. 

His brown eyes were colder than the winter outside.

"Touch her," he said, his voice low and cold, "and I'll make sure you regret it."