Maeve was prettier than Natalia, no question. But Maeve's sharp presence—her eyes, her edge—made people instinctively wary of her.
Natalia, on the other hand, had a sweet, approachable vibe, like the girl next door. And she'd "saved a life" right in front of everyone.
To outsiders, it didn't take much to decide who looked like the villain and who looked like the victim.
As Natalia kept "struggling" to pick up the photo, Andres extended his leg and stepped on it.
Hard.
Natalia yanked her hand back just in time—otherwise Andres's shoe might've crushed her fingers.
He stared down at her, his voice low and deadly.
"You have two choices. Leave. Or die."
Andres hated being set up. Hated being used.
This Natalia woman had tested his patience again and again, and her clumsy little tricks made him feel physically sick.
Natalia forced a stubborn expression anyway. She lifted her chin, eyes shining with tears she refused to let fall.
"I know my proposal back then made you unhappy… but I did it for the greater good. For people's lives."
"I never thought you could be so cruel—leaving me alone in Africa and never checking on me."
"These days I've thought a lot. In the end… we just live in different worlds."
"But don't worry. I understand where I stand. From now on, I'll stay out of your life and keep my distance."
To the crowd, it sounded exactly like a rich man dumping a poor, hardworking girl and moving on with someone else.
Andres instantly got stamped with the label: scumbag.
Not only had he hurt a "kind girl," he was now threatening her for the sake of his new woman.
Andres was furious.
"So it's the same old routine again. Women really do love this stuff—anything for your attention."
Natalia didn't thank Maeve for stopping Andres. Instead she frowned, offended. "Watch what you're saying. I'm not scheming. I didn't approach anyone on purpose."
Maeve flicked the photo between her fingers. "Then explain this. What exactly are you to my man?"
Andres had been ready to explode—until he heard her say *my man.*
For no rational reason at all, his mood lifted. Being claimed by Maeve in public hit him like a warm rush of satisfaction.
Natalia stayed stubborn. "When I met him, I didn't even know you existed."
Someone in the crowd immediately seized on it. "Hey—ever think you're the other woman?"
With that, more heads nodded.
"Anyone with eyes can tell those two weren't 'nothing.'"

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