Chapter 2

I let out a cold laugh. "Do you really expect me to buy that crap about a project bonus? Who do you think you're fooling? You think I'm an idiot?

"Did you think I didn't add your secretary on social media?

"Is that why you're flirting so shamelessly, not even bothering to hide it?

"You're robbing the cradle and you don't even feel a shred of shame?

"If you're bold enough to give Ashley 1.5 million dollars today, what's next? Are you planning to waste everything we own on her tomorrow?

"You should really thank me. If I hadn't stepped in and frozen the account right away, she would've blown through all that money.

"If I took her to court and she couldn't pay up, that amount alone would be enough to make her rot in jail for years."

My anger only grew as I spoke, my voice firm and unyielding.

I said, "From now on, your daily spending limit is ten dollars. Deal with it, or else you won't get a single cent."

I didn't give him a chance to say another word hanging up on him.

After hanging up, I added him to the blacklist.

My daughter and I enjoyed a carefree month together, having fun and leaving all our troubles behind.

A month later, we pushed open the door to our house, feeling refreshed from our vacation. But the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold.

The place was a total mess, like it had been robbed. Nothing was where it should be.

My dressing table was cluttered with Helena's cheap makeup.

In the closet, my clothes were shoved into a corner, while Helena's dresses dominated the hangers.

My daughter's room was even worse. It was completely trashed, with her beloved toys strewn all over the floor.

My daughter walked over, picked up her beloved doll, and looked up at me, tears streaming down her face.

She said, "Mommy, they're all broken."

Rage exploded within me.

I immediately called the butler, my voice icy enough to chill the air. "What the hell is going on? Get your ass over here, now!"

The butler scrambled in, practically crawling in panic. When he saw my face dark with fury, his legs were shaking so badly his knees nearly buckled.

He bowed apologetically. "Ma'am, it was Mr. Duncan. He brought Miss Hatcher back and forbade us from tidying up.

"He said Miss Hatcher will be living here from now on. We didn't dare disobey him."

"Where's Samuel?" Helena asked through clenched teeth.

The butler replied, "Mr. Duncan took Miss Hatcher to another city nearby for some business. He said he won't be back until tomorrow."

Business meeting? Please, who did he think he was fooling?

I pulled out my phone and checked the tracker. Samuel's Porsche was parked inside a hot spring resort.

Seriously? Since when did business deals happen in a resort?

I swallowed my anger and dropped my daughter off at Mom's house.

Then, I slammed the pedal down and headed straight for that so-called "business meeting" at the hot spring resort.

When I arrived, I asked the front desk about Samuel's whereabouts, then made a beeline for the private bath area they'd mentioned.

Just as I expected, through the swirling steam, I spotted Samuel and Helena lounging together in the same hot spring.

Helena was wearing a nearly see-through swimsuit, pressed up against Samuel. The two of them were openly flirting without a care in the world.

A wave of disgust surged through me.

I turned to a nearby waiter and asked for a huge bucket of ice.

Hauling the heavy bucket, I marched straight to the edge of the pool.

Without a second thought, I upended the entire bucket of ice right over the heads of those two scumbags, soaking them.

"Who the hell did this?!" Samuel jumped up, cursing as the ice hit him.

Samuel was so shocked by the freezing cold that he shot out of the pool, swearing up a storm.

But when he realized it was me, his fury melted into confusion and panic. "H-Honey? What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be out with our daughter?"

I scoffed. "If I hadn't come back, you'd have turned our house upside down. You've got one minute. Get dressed and get the hell out!"

My gaze was sharp as a knife as I swept my eyes over Helena, who was shivering from the cold, hugging herself and acting all pitiful.

"Not bad. You're so young, and have already learned all the tricks to please men in bed," I snapped.

Helena squeezed out a few tears, looking like she'd suffered the greatest injustice in the world. "Mrs. Duncan, I really don't get what you're trying to say. I have some self-respect too..."

I scoffed, "Self-respect? Seriously?"

I marched right up and landed a stinging slap on her face. The sound echoed loud and clear through the empty hot spring.

I added, "You? Talking to me about self-respect? Don't make me laugh."

Samuel had just thrown on his bathrobe. Seeing what happened, he rushed over and pulled Helena protectively behind him, yelling, "Ashley! How could you hit her?"

"So what?" I scoffed. Then with a swift motion, I slapped Samuel hard across the face, with the full force of my fury behind it. "I'm not just hitting her. I'm hitting you too!"

The commotion had already drawn the attention of the other guests.

Helena was covering her face, sobbing pitifully, while Samuel stood there with a bright red handprint on his cheek.

The people nearby were whispering, all speculating about the scandal playing out before their eyes.

I fixed Samuel with a cold, contemptuous stare. "So, are you planning to keep disgracing yourself here, or are you coming home?"

Samuel's face was as black as a thundercloud, but he still ended up trailing after me out the door.

Once we reached the parking lot, I opened the driver's door and got behind the wheel.