Chapter 1
I was getting a facial at a beauty clinic when a card payment alert suddenly popped up on my phone. It said: [Your bank card was used at 10:00.]
I felt confused. I always paid with a prepaid annual card at this place, so there shouldn't have been any extra charges.
I went to the front desk to ask about it and saw a stranger signing the bill with my husband's name.
That wasn't all. I overheard a familiar male voice on her phone. "Babe, I'll come pick you up in a bit."
My whole body shook with anger, because the voice was my husband's.
I called my lawyer on the spot. "Draft me a divorce agreement."
*****
After hanging up, I cut off my husband's credit card right away.
My secretary sent over the woman's basic info in no time.
Her name was Kate Mayfield, and she was my husband Gabriel Huston's classmate at university. She was now working at his company.
"By the way, I like this lotion. Can you wrap up a few bottles for me?" Kate said to the attendant waiting nearby, pointing at the bottles on the table.
The attendant looked apologetic. "Sorry, ma'am, this lotion isn't for sale."
Kate's face twisted with impatience, her tone sharp. "I'm doing you a favor by spending here. Don't be ungrateful," she snapped.
The attendant looked flustered and quickly tried to explain, "Ma'am, this lotion really isn't for sale."
I forced down the anger boiling inside me and stepped up to stand right next to Kate.
"Get me a few bottles of this lotion," I said, tapping my finger on the counter.
The girl at the front desk recognized me and nodded immediately. "Of course, Ms. Finney."
Hearing that, Kate slammed her bag down on the table with a heavy thud.
"Didn't you just say the lotion wasn't for sale? So why are you selling it to her?" Kate demanded. "Are you looking down on me? Do you know who my husband is?"
Kate jabbed her finger at the front desk girl, her voice sharp as she berated her in front of everyone.
The attendant plastered on a smile and awkwardly explained, "Ms. Finney is a VIP client, and she designed this lotion. We don't have the right to sell it."
Kate shot me a look of pure disdain. "You designed this lotion? I've heard it's pretty good. Name your price. I'll buy it, no matter how much it costs."
I let out a soft laugh and said slowly, "I'm not selling it."
Kate's ears flushed bright red, like she'd just been humiliated in front of everyone. The next moment, her eyes went cold as steel, fixed on me.
"Do you know who I am? How dare you treat me like this?" she said.
Unflinching, I met her gaze directly, completely calm. "I'm not selling it to you. What are you going to do about it?"
The attendant hurried over, trying to calm things down. "Ladies, please, let's talk this out."
She turned to Kate. "Ma'am, if you really want the lotion, why not discuss it nicely with Ms. Finney?"
Kate gave the attendant a dismissive look. "Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?"
The attendant's face stiffened, and she lowered her head, saying nothing.
I never imagined Gabriel would cheat on me with someone so bossy and full of herself.
Still not satisfied, Kate poked the attendant's forehead with her scarlet nails.
"You're just an attendant. Who are you to tell me what to do? You're nothing but a servant, here to wait on me!" she spat.
The attendant's eyes turned red, tears welling up, but she didn't say a word.
I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed Kate's wrist, stopping her. "And who do you think you are, treating her like that?
"This is her job. Every job deserves respect. By humiliating her, you're only making yourself look bad in front of everyone."
Kate struggled, yanking her wrist away. "Bitch, let go of me."
SMACK!
Kate broke free and slapped me hard across the face. My left cheek stung like fire.
"My husband is Gabriel Huston, CEO of Pridmore Group. How dare you treat me like this?" she shouted.
I scoffed. If Kate was Gabriel's wife, then what was I? What about the marriage certificate with mine and Gabriel's names on it?
How ridiculous. I, the real Mrs. Huston, with the marriage certificate to prove it, just got slapped by this wannabe Mrs. Huston.
Seeing me stunned, Kate looked even more pleased with herself. "Scared now, huh?
"Since you know who my husband is, be a good girl and apologize to me. Maybe then I'll consider letting you off the hook."
I finally snapped out of it and shot back, "Who do you think you are, asking me to apologize to you?"
Kate's eyes went sinister and venomous. She whipped out her phone and dialed someone up.
"There's a woman here who doesn't know who she's messing with. Get in here and teach her a lesson," she snapped into the phone.
Soon, a few bodyguards in black suits marched in and took position in front of Kate.