Chapter 2
"Ma'am, what are your orders?" the bodyguard in front asked, his head lowered, voice full of respect.
I recognized the lead bodyguard instantly. I'd personally chosen him for Gabriel, but I never thought Gabriel would assign him to protect Kate instead.
It was clear just how important Kate was to Gabriel.
I let out a bitter laugh. My assumptions about being close to Gabriel were just wishful thinking. To him I was nobody.
Kate pointed at me, a sinister grin twisting her lips. "Since you want to act tough, I'll show you who's really in charge."
"What are you standing around for? Hold her down!" Kate snapped sharply at the bodyguards.
The bodyguards lunged at me, locking my arms so tight I couldn't even budge.
"Let me go!" I spat out through clenched teeth.
At my words, Kate burst out laughing. She reached up and grabbed my chin, her long nails pressing sharply into my cheeks.
"Weren't you acting all tough just now? Where's that cocky attitude now?" Kate sneered. "Just so you know, everything in Honstone City is mine for the taking."
With that, Kate signaled the bodyguards to force me to the ground, my cheek pressed mercilessly against the icy tiles.
I glared at Kate, my voice cold as ice. "I won't let you get away with this."
Kate dug the sharp heel of her stiletto into the back of my hand, the agonizing pain making cold sweat break out on my forehead in an instant.
She leaned in close, her lips almost brushing my ear, her voice laced with cocky swagger.
"Sure, I'll be waiting. But let's see if you can even make it through today," she taunted.
SMACK!
She swung her hand and landed another vicious slap across my face, making my ears ring as blood oozed from the corner of my mouth.
Blows rained down relentlessly, and my left cheek swelled up instantly, throbbing with pain.
The attendant finally couldn't take it anymore and stepped up, her voice low. "Ma'am, you've crossed the line. Ms. Finney isn't someone you can mess with."
Kate shot me a look of pure disdain, like she couldn't care less. "My husband is Gabriel Huston, CEO of Pridmore Group, the top dog in Honstone City. Nobody dares to cross me in this city.
"In Honstone City, the Huston family makes the rules. If I want to teach nobodies like you a lesson, I will. What can you possibly do to me?"
The attendant stiffened, then dropped her gaze and kept quiet, not daring to say a word.
Just then, a boy burst through the door and threw himself into Kate's embrace. "Mommy, Daddy and I came to pick you up!"
Hearing the boy's voice, I struggled to lift my head.
The boy, who looked about three, was hugging Kate's leg and calling her "Mommy" again and again.
"Mommy, who is she?" Ernie Huston asked. He pointed at me, his little face scrunched up in confusion.
Kate reached out and ruffled his hair, her voice gentle and tender, a complete contrast to the cruel expression she'd worn just moments before.
"Ernie, she was mean to Mommy just now, so I had to teach her a lesson so she won't forget," Kate said.
Ernie's eyes burned with defiance and anger, his breath coming in heavy bursts, chest heaving with emotion.
He lunged at me, scratching and hitting with all the strength his body had.
"You baddie. How dare you bully Mommy? I'm gonna teach you a lesson," Ernie shouted. "Daddy said when he's not here, I have to protect Mommy."
As he spoke, Ernie swung his fist at my arm. It didn't pack much of a punch, but it was full of resentment.
He started kicking and punching, pummeling my stomach.
My voice came out hoarse and strained. "Who's your dad?"
Ernie kicked me hard in the chest, and I started coughing violently, struggling to catch my breath.
He said, "My dad is Gabriel Huston, the CEO of Pridmore Group. I'm Ernie Huston.
"Now that you know who I am, you should realize just how much my dad treats my mom like a queen. When he gets here and finds out you messed with her, he'll make you wish you'd never even looked at her wrong."
What a joke. I'd been married to Gabriel for three years, and we never had a kid.
And now I found out he already had a three-year-old son.
No wonder every time I brought up having a baby, Gabriel would wave me off, telling me not to worry about it.
He already had a kid, so of course he couldn't care less about having one with me.
I couldn't help but let out a wry laugh.
Ernie grabbed a fistful of my hair and snarled, "What are you laughing at?"
I spat in Kate's direction. "You two are just a mistress and her illegitimate kid. What are you two so smug about?"
Kate's face changed instantly, her voice betraying a fear she couldn't hide. "What nonsense are you talking about? Shut up!"
So Kate clearly knew Gabriel was married. Otherwise, she wouldn't be panicking like this.
I curled my lips into a mocking smile and retorted, "Tell me, am I wrong? Aren't you just a mistress? And isn't this boy just a bastard?"