Quiana was a petty person who always wanted to get back at anyone who made her feel uncomfortable.
Just now, Elise had said something that upset her, whether on purpose or not, and Quiana felt like she had to strike back.
Elise's face immediately went cold.
The atmosphere at the table got tense, with only awkward silence filling the air.
For a moment, no one spoke, and Quiana looked like she didn't even realize what she had said, absentmindedly playing with her spoon.
Hunter calmly served her some food, and Quiana accepted it without a word.
She knew Elise was really sensitive about having a kid out of wedlock, which was a huge blow to someone so proud. But Quiana also couldn't stand hearing anyone talk about it.
She pretended it didn't bother her, but deep down, it drove her crazy.
Quiana didn't look down on Elise for having a child out of wedlock. Couples in love can get close, and sometimes things just happen.
What she hated was Elise's attitude, looking down on unmarried mothers while being one herself, and she couldn't stand anyone mentioning it.
Usually, Quiana wouldn't say something like this because it wouldn't make her any friends and could even cause enemies.
But Elise was the one who upset her first.
Quiana was just too tired to pretend anymore.
The dining table stayed silent.
Rhett calmly cut the steak on his plate into small pieces and then swapped plates with Elise.
He did it all quietly, but nobody missed the meaning behind it.
Kelsey only glanced at him before lowering her head, pressing her fingertips lightly together, her face blank.
This was the first meal she had with Rhett since they got married, and it was at a Western restaurant.
With steak, too.
Rhett was just like now, cutting the steak for her like it was something he always did.
It was a habit he'd gotten into because of Elise.
Kelsey couldn't help but feel kind of worthless, remembering all the little things Rhett had done before that moved her.
Elise's expression finally softened.
She looked at Rhett with tenderness and affection in her eyes. "Thank you."
Rhett wiped his hands and suddenly said, "I've said it before, a piece of paper doesn't matter. Even if we didn't have it, I'd still take care of you and the child."
Quiana sneered and muttered under her breath, not believing a single word.
Of course, she could tell Rhett was just defending Elise.
Hunter held her hand under the table as a warning, and Quiana hesitated, biting back what she wanted to say.
Kelsey stayed quiet the whole time, trying to be as invisible as possible.
But seeing Rhett and Elise act so affectionate made her feel sick.
Especially when she heard Quiana say earlier that they already had a child and had celebrated the baby's one-month birthday.
She thought about the baby growing in her own belly...
Their children could be the center of attention, showered with love and affection, while her child ended up as a pile of bloody flesh...
Why were they allowed to be so happy and content, while she just wanted to keep her only child and had to suffer like this?
She had to change her name and move to another city just to survive...
If they only saw her as a toy or a stepping stone in their relationship, why couldn't they just be honest with her? Why did they have to play such cruel games?
As she lowered her head and took a bite of fish, she suddenly felt nauseous and instinctively retched.
The atmosphere got tense again.
Kelsey stood up and rushed out, covering her mouth.
Rhett's eyes flickered for a moment, then went back to calm. His black eyes looked even colder and deeper than before, making it hard to read his feelings.
Elise's smile slowly faded, and she completely lost her appetite after feeling relieved by Rhett's earlier defense of her. She grabbed a napkin and stood up. "I'm full. I need to use the restroom."
As she walked away, the wooden chair legs scraped against the floor, making a sharp, jarring sound.
Rhett's face darkened, and his eyes shone with a cold, dangerous light.
Quiana wasn't as carefree as before. She held the fork near her lips but didn't put it in. "Why do I feel something strange between these people?" she asked.
Hunter stayed calm, only looking up when Kelsey rushed out.
He held Quiana's wrist and gently guided the food on her fork into her mouth. "Eat properly," he said.
Quiana was speechless.
Dr. Lewis was always cold and indifferent, not caring about anything.
But Quiana was different, always meddling in other people's business and hating evil.
Sometimes it gave Hunter a headache, but most of the time he just let her be.
She could watch whatever drama she wanted, but Dr. Lewis only cared if she ate well.
---
In the bathroom, Kelsey felt better after throwing up. She planned to go back but slowed down, thinking about how she'd acted earlier.
In the hallway, Elise walked gracefully in high heels, her model-like figure swaying.
Kelsey's eyes darkened when she met Elise's gaze, then she looked away and planned to walk past her.
She was afraid that if she stayed too long, she wouldn't be able to hold back her anger.
If it weren't for her, her child wouldn't have...
But she knew she was now Kaitlyn, not Kelsey, and with her current identity and strength, she couldn't fight them yet.
Even if she tore her face fighting them, she'd only let them slaughter her. Only when she climbed to the top one day could she settle scores with them one by one.
She told herself it wasn't time yet.
Kelsey took a deep breath and walked past Elise without looking back.
Elise sneered and grabbed her arm. "What are you hiding from?"
Kelsey frowned and turned away. "I'm not hiding."
"Not hiding? You saw me and walked right past?"
Kelsey found it funny. "There's only one way here. At most, it's just a brush with you. Besides, I don't know you, and I haven't offended you. Why would I hide from you?"
When Kelsey spoke back, she still smiled like she really didn't get Elise's motives.
Every time Elise met Kelsey, she acted like she was fragile and humble, like she was born to be weak. So whenever she faced her, Elise was confident.
Whether the person in front of her was Kelsey or Kaitlyn, that fearless attitude made Elise feel really uncomfortable.
"Kaitlyn, that's your name, right?" The person she'd always looked down on suddenly stood up to her, baring teeth and claws. It made Elise feel both angry and disgusted.