---- She undid her scarf to reveal hickeys all over her neck, looking smug. "I know you two have been in acold war lately. He's been staying at my place most nights because he doesn't want to go home to you. Do you really want to wait around until he hates you? Forcing something that's not yours will only end in pain." She was clearly bragging. Madeline sneered and eyed her icily. "You think being a side chick and ruining someone else's relationship will end well?" She'd already heard Lacey say the same things too many times for them to bother her-all they did was grate on her nerves. She turned to leave, not wanting to waste her time and breath anymore. However, Lacey grabbed her wrist and stopped her. She looked down at the red nails on the hand that had caught her, and her blood boiled. Still, she tried to keep her anger at bay as she yanked her hand free. Just then, Lacey said, "I'm ---- pregnant." Without a second of hesitation, Madeline slapped her hard across the face, making the fake smile on it instantly disappear. Silence descended upon the cafe as Lacey stared at her in disbelief. Tears brimmed in her eyes, making her look pitiful. "T've long since wanted to slap you like that!" Madeline's gaze hardened as the ferocity she'd displayed in her youth returned in full force. Her presence became so intense that it was almost as if fire burned in her blood. No one dared approach her. She pointed at Lacey and snarled, ''Are you proud of being a side chick? Do you get off on chasing after a taken man? Does being with 'someone else's partner' give you a thrill? Well, listen up- it's pathetic. Don't show your face before me again, or I'll slap you each time I see you!" She stood with her back straight, trying hard to hold her head high. However, something started ---- feeling off with her. She didn't know whether it was because she'd moved too abruptly or because she was too emotional-pain shot through her, starting from her belly. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and a chill ran down her spine. She tried to remain upright as she staggered away in her heels, but she'd only taken a few steps before her vision went black. She toppled toward a white table beside her. Madeline felt like she'd descended into an empty realm. She couldn't hear anything but her ragged breathing. It was so late that she felt it would make her eardrums explode. Then, she landed on the floor with a crash, catching everyone off guard.