The Divorce Prescription (Celina and Adam) novel Chapter 957

Hailey kept her head down as she washed her hands, clearly not intending to engage with Kaia.

Kaia stepped beside her, turned on the faucet, and washed her hands. "Hi, Ms. Hailey."

She had taken the initiative to speak.

"Hi," Hailey replied.

Kaia said, "You know, Ms. Hailey, I kind of envy you. You're not Mrs. Pilsner, but you're carrying Mr. Pilsner's child. That alone must mean he sees you differently."

Hailey turned off the water and reached for a paper towel, drying her hands in silence.

She didn't respond. Instead, she waited quietly for Kaia's response.

Sure enough, Kaia continued to speak with a smile. "Ms. Hailey, even though you're having his child, you still didn't become Mrs. Pilsner. Honestly, that's a bit of a failure, don't you think?

"People always say a child gives a woman leverage, but you're the first I've seen who didn't manage to secure the title. It's honestly kind of sad."

It was obvious that Kaia was mocking her.

Hailey turned to face her and asked, "What are you really trying to say?"

Kaia stepped closer. "I'm not trying to say anything, Ms. Hailey. I just thought I'd remind you to keep your distance from Mr. Pilsner. If having his child still didn't make you his wife, it means he doesn't have feelings for you. Plenty of women are into him, and I'm sure someone else will take that title soon."

Hailey smirked. "And that someone is you? You're aiming to be Mrs. Pilsner?"

Kaia flipped her hair back with a confident smile. "I never said that. But I do know one thing—Mr. Pilsner made it very clear that you'll never be his wife."

Hailey rested a hand on her lower belly. "You're right—I'm not his wife, but I am carrying his child. Sometimes, being lucky enough to get pregnant is a kind of power, don't you think?"

Kaia's expression shifted.

Hailey continued, "I don't know your goal here, but if you have this much time and energy, maybe you should invest it in Jonah instead of wasting it posturing in front of me.

"From where I'm standing, all this bluster just screams insecurity. Has he not taken the bait yet? You'd better work harder, Ms. Ellington. Like you said, plenty of women want him. There might be a new secretary sitting at your desk tomorrow. But there's only one mother of his child—and that's me!"

The only reason she had ever been crowned campus belle at Ironwood University was because she looked a bit like Hailey.

She knew Jonah had made her his secretary because she looked like Hailey.

She was known because of Hailey, but now she needed to break away from that image. She refused to spend her life beneath Hailey's shadow.

Being her stand-in felt like nothing but disgrace.

The truth was, everyone knew that she was just Hailey's replacement.

Kaia couldn't accept it, and she didn't want to lose like this. That exchange with Hailey had left her completely defeated.

Girls like Hailey, born into power and privilege, knew exactly how to cut deep.

When Hailey looked at her, it was like watching a fool trying too hard to matter.