The Love Affair(Good Wife Better Mistress)

Conspiring

As intended, Nicole's words make Mrs. Candela  quite anxious.

"Gabriela, I haven't tasted your fish soup," she says in a conciliatory tone, "How about you make some for me?"

Gabriela wants nothing more than to stab Nicole with one of the silver forks. She doesn't know if the pregnancy is genuine or pretense. If Nicole's faking it, it's okay—the truth will come out soon enough.

"But if she's truly pregnant, that's bad," Gabriela thinks, "Alex's grandfather will send Her back if Nicole's pregnant. If Alex and Nicole are finally divorcing, she can't stay back because she stands to gain the most from the divorce. Gaby knows she can't allow Nicole to come back in Alex's until she's secured her position and married Alex, but she also doesn't want Nicole to have Alex's baby."

In the kitchen, the chef guts and skins the fish and gives it to Gaby. Gabriela hearts oil in a pot before throwing the fish in. The hot oil splashes onto her bare skin, and she jumps back and screams in shock.

Nicole leans back in her chair and smiles. After Gaby screams, Nicole can hear pots and ladles banging against each other. Between the screams and the clanging metal, the kitchen sounds like a battlefield. Mrs. Candela frowns, and the wrinkles around her eyes deepen.

The milky fish soup is ready soon and the maid places a small bowl of it in front of Nicole. Mrs. Candela glances at the liquid and frowns with distaste. The soup smells too fishy and Nicole feels her stomach churn. She looks away with a small frown.

"I lost my appetite," Nicole announces.

Gabriela is enraged. Though she's just sat down, she stands up and waves her arms at Nicole.

"First you want to drink it and then you don't want to drink it," Gaby snarls, "Make up your mind, lady!"

"Interesting," Nicole says, smiling sarcastically, "I didn't know you had to be a hothead to become Alex's wife."

Gaby flushes with shame and embarrassment, frustrated that she allowed Nicole to get a rise out of her.

"What the hell do you want to eat then?" Mrs. Candela snaps.

Mrs. Candela doesn't like to see Nicole upsetting Gabriela and she hates Nicole's arrogance. She feels that Nicole has completely spoiled her appetite. She wants to tell Nicole that she doesn't care if she eats or not, but she knows she can't. Nicole is already weak and half-starved—if she continues to avoid food, she may miscarry and Mrs. Candela doesn't want to be held responsible for that.

"I'll tell them to make chicken soup," Candela says in a nicer tone, "Pregnant women have to eat something nutritious."

"I heard that the kitchen staff all went up to the mountains to hunt game," Nicole says, "And they say wild animals are more nutritious."

"You can't have that," Gabriela argues, "That's for my birthday party tomorrow."

"Fine, then I won't eat," Nicole snaps, "Where's my phone? I want to check Google to see if starvation can cause a miscarriage."

Mrs. Candela Romano can't believe Nicole's boldness. Starvation will cause a miscarriage.

"Go tell them to cook whatever she wants" Mrs. Candela growls.

With a satisfied smile, Nicole stretches and rises from her chair.

"My whole body is a little sore, and I think I should rest for a bit," Nicole says, "I hope the delicacy is ready when I get back."

Gabriela is furious, but she knows she's powerless to do anything. Until she can prove that Nicole is faking the pregnancy, she has to cater to her every whim.Nicole raises her eyebrows mockingly at Gabh and then slowly leaves the room. She returns to the main building and calls John from a landline. John answers the phone with a speed that surprises her.