Chapter 1

At my husband's company team-building event, his assistant walked into the private room and went straight for the seat at the head of the table.

She smiled brightly at me.

"Mrs. Stone, why don't you take that seat? I'll be looking after Mr. Stone today," she said.

The whole table went quiet.

David frowned at me.

"Don't sweat it. She's just a kid and doesn't know any better," he said.

I didn't bother to argue or make a fuss, just grabbed my bowl and moved over to the kids' table.

Rachel arched her brows, looking all triumphant and self-satisfied.

"Wow, Mrs. Stone, you really know how to stay in your lane," she said, dripping with sarcasm.

But before anyone could react, Linda stood up, grabbed a glass of orange juice, and splashed it right in Rachel's face.

"You're the one who needs to know her place! Move it, that seat belongs to my daughter-in-law," Linda snapped.

*****

Orange juice dripped down Rachel's hair.

Her smile froze, her white shirt soaked and plastered to her chest, she looked like a drowned rat, as if she'd just been dragged out of the water.

Not a single person in the private room dared to say a word.

I sat at the kids' table, bowl in hand, still holding a piece of rib with my fork.

Andrew Stone was sitting next to me. He looked up at me and whispered, "Mom, Grandma is so awesome."

I ruffled his hair.

"Eat up," I said.

Rachel finally snapped out of it, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

"Mrs. Stone, what are you doing? I was just trying to help Mr. Stone take care of the guests," she said.

Linda Stone set her glass down on the table.

"You really think you need to sit at the head of the table just to look after the guests?" she snapped.

She pointed straight at the chair.

"That seat used to be mine. Today, it belongs to my daughter-in-law. And who do you think you are, deciding where she should sit?" Linda demanded.

David's face darkened.

"Mom, Rachel's my assistant. She's just helping me organize the team-building event today. Please don't make things ugly," he said.

Linda turned to him.

"Ugly?" she shot back.

She let out a cold laugh.

"Your wife's right here, and you let your assistant take the head seat. You let your wife get pushed aside, and then you tell her not to mind it. David, have you forgotten you're married?" Linda demanded.

David was left speechless.

Rachel covered her face, her voice shaky.

"Mr. Stone, I should just go. This is all on me, I never should've come," Rachel said, her words barely above a whisper.

She started toward the door, moving slowly, as if she could barely hold herself together.

Everyone turned to look at David.

Sure enough, David stood up.

"Rachel, wait a second," he called out.

I set my fork down.

The bowl landed on the table with a quiet clink.

David turned to look at me.

"Emily, don't start with that passive-aggressive attitude again," he said.

I looked up at him.

"Did I say anything?" I shot back.

He frowned.

"You're just putting on an act for everyone, aren't you?" he demanded.

I let out a small laugh.

"I'm just sitting at the kids' table, eating, not causing any drama. Your mom splashed your assistant, and now you're mad at me?" I asked.

I looked at him.

"David, do you even know who your wife is?" I asked.

As soon as I said that, the private room went even quieter.

Rachel stood at the door, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Mrs. Stone, I really didn't mean anything by it. Mr. Stone's always busy, and I'm just used to taking care of him," she said, her voice trembling.

I nodded.

"Used to it so much you think you can just take the head seat?" I shot back.

She bit her lip.

I pressed on, "So used to it that you think you can just tell the host where to sit?"

She didn't say another word.

My mother-in-law came over and picked up the small bowl in front of me.

"Emily, go back to your seat," she said.

I didn't move.

Linda turned to David.

"You invited her, so you handle it. If she doesn't leave, I will. And from now on, don't bother inviting me to any more family meals," she said.

David's expression was sour.

He tried to keep his cool and told Rachel, "Go clean yourself up in the bathroom."

Rachel's eyes lit up, as if she'd scored a victory.

Linda snapped, "Not to clean up, get out."

Rachel's face went pale again.

David finally lost his temper.

"Mom! Do you really have to blow everything up and make us all look bad over a stupid seat?" he snapped.

Without warning, Linda raised her hand and delivered a crisp slap right across his face.

The slap rang out, echoing through the room.

David's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap.

"It's not just about a seat," Linda said, each word sharp and clear.

She spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

"You took your wife's dignity and let an outsider trample it," Linda said.

I looked at her.

For the first time in ten years, I felt like someone finally noticed all the pain and injustice I'd endured.

But Rachel didn't leave. She stood by the door and suddenly lifted her phone.

"Mrs. Stone, I recorded all of it: you hitting someone and throwing juice on me," Rachel said, her voice calm and brimming with confidence.

She wiped her face, and there wasn't a hint of hurt in her eyes.

"Mr. Stone, don't worry. I won't let you be humiliated for nothing," she said.

David's expression shifted instantly.

I put my fork down, fixing my gaze on her phone.

Her phone screen was still lit up.

The recording was still going.