"See the snagged thread on the hem? Last time Mr. Delgado brought his wife to parenting class, Mrs. Delgado was wearing that exact dress and caught the fabric on something. Mr. Delgado didn't even blink, just bought her a dozen limited-edition dresses on the spot."
Their voices weren't loud, but they were loud enough.
I turned to look at the man beside me. His sharp, cold profile hit me like a slap I couldn't hear.
The taste of blood lingered between my teeth. My fingers clenched the fabric of my skirt until my knuckles went white.
So that was it. To Bertram, I was only fit to wear Alexis Pruitt's hand-me-downs.
"Bertram!"
The next second, Alexis burst out from behind the glass partition, beaming as she ran toward us.
She slammed into my shoulder as she passed, then threw herself into Bertram's arms.
The impact sent me stumbling sideways. My lower back cracked against the corner of the wall, and cold sweat broke across my skin.
Bertram's voice drifted over, impossibly gentle. "You're pregnant. Don't run around like that."
"I just missed you so much." Alexis pouted, clinging to him. Then her eyes widened with theatrical surprise. "Oh? Prudence, you're here too!"
I glanced at that guileless, butter-wouldn't-melt expression of hers and felt my stomach turn.
"I certainly am. And imagine my surprise, finding out the Delgado family's foster sister gets to be called 'Mrs. Delgado' around here."
The color drained from Alexis's face.
"Wait, what does she mean? Alexis is the fake wife?"
"Sounds pretty convincing to me. But if that's true, why does Mr. Delgado always come here with her?"
I looked at the happy couple, my gaze dripping with contempt.
But beneath it, my heart was still waiting. Still stupidly hoping for Bertram's choice.
After a long silence, he reached out and pulled the woman beside him into his arms. The pressure radiating off him crashed over me like a wave.
"Prudence, do you really have to drag Alexis down just to feed your pathetic little need for attention?"
Of course.
I watched them and let out a bitter laugh.
"Fine. I'll keep my distance."
I turned to leave, but in that same instant, my feet stopped.
Not far away, a mascot costume stood propped up, perfectly still.