"Delilah, what the hell are you doing here?" Rose narrowed her eyes, her voice dripping with frost.

This was her and Maximus’s marital home. Why was Delilah living here? She couldn't stomach it—absolutely not.

Hearing the intrusion, Delilah scrambled to her feet. "How did you get in? Who let you in here?"

"Hmph! Take a good look around, Delilah. This is my house—Maximus’s and mine. Obviously, I have a key." Rose twirled the key between her fingers, her gaze sweeping over Delilah with icy contempt. "And you? Why aren't you rotting in that gold-plated cage Maximus bought for you? What business do you have coming here?"

Watching the key dance in Rose’s hand, a fire sparked in Delilah’s chest. Yes, this was the marital villa. But for the sake of staying close to Maximus, she had moved in from her apartment. She was the one managing his daily life, the one who had effectively made herself the lady of the house.

In that moment, watching Rose stand at the top of the stairs, a vicious thought took root in Delilah’s mind. She had to get rid of Rose.

As long as Rose refused to sign the divorce papers, Delilah would remain nothing more than a pathetic mistress. It was she who had fallen for Maximus first; why should Rose get to occupy the seat of Mrs. Anderson just because she was born into a wealthier family?

She wasn't going to stand for it. She wanted the title. She wanted her child to be the legitimate heir to the Anderson fortune.

"But I do live here," Delilah hissed, stepping forward with a sharp, ugly look in her eyes. "I eat his meals, I sleep in his bed, I’m here every single day. Who exactly are you? You’ve already been kicked out—why are you crawling back?"

"You..." Rose’s face paled, her lips trembling with indignation.

"Or maybe," Delilah murmured, closing the distance between them, "you just can’t stay away from Maximus? Are you back to fight me for him?"

She leaned in close, whispering directly into Rose’s ear, "Oh, I have some news for you. I’m pregnant. It’s Maximus’s baby."

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a tall, handsome figure entering the foyer. A cold, twisted smile tugged at her lips. *God is on my side today. Rose, let’s see how you get out of this.*

In a split second, Delilah’s expression shifted from venomous to terrified. Her voice turned shrill and trembling. "Please, Rose, stop! I love Maximus—I can't live without him! Please, don't force me to leave!"

"Ah! Help! No, stop pushing me!" Delilah retreated, stumbling toward the edge. She threw herself backward. It was only a ten-step staircase; it wouldn't kill her, but it would be more than enough to end the life of the child inside her.

*Rose, there's no way you're walking away from this.* As she tumbled backward, a flicker of pure, malicious triumph crossed Delilah’s face.

"Delilah!"

Maximus’s voice boomed from the distance. He sprinted toward the stairs, but he was too late.

Blood began to pool between Delilah’s legs almost instantly. The vibrant, sickening red stained the floor, burning into Rose’s vision. For a second, it felt as though she were reliving the memory of the child she had lost.

*But it wasn't me. I didn't do it.* She mumbled the words under her breath, her mind fracturing. "It wasn't me... I didn't push her."

Maximus’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. He shoved past Rose, slamming her aside with brutal force, and lunged toward the bottom of the stairs.

"Delilah!" He scooped her up, his face ashen. He looked at the unconscious woman in his arms, his voice trembling with terror. "I’m getting you to the hospital! You have to hang on!"

He stood up, glaring at Rose as he marched past her. "Rose Harrison, you are a vicious, heartless woman! She’s pregnant! How could you do this to her? Mark my words—I will never forgive you for this."