Chapter 3
The sharp sound of slaps echoed from outside, along with a middle-aged woman's voice cursing, "You shameless brat!"
Edward threw the door open.
Chloe's mother, Mavis, was yanking Chloe's hair and slapping her.
The party security guards stood there, stunned.
Mavis was now straddling Chloe, raining down slap after slap.
Chloe's cheeks were streaked with angry red handprints, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, and her elegant gown was ripped to pieces.
"Don't just stand there! Get her off!" Edward barked.
Edward's furious shout jolted the security guards into action.
They quickly dragged Mavis off Chloe.
As our eyes met for a brief second, I gave her a slight nod.
That was enough.
If it were too soft, it wouldn't be enough to vent my resentment.
But if things got out of hand and the police showed up, that'd be trouble.
At an event like this, Chloe's reputation was completely destroyed. She'd forever be known as the homewrecker.
Seeing her humiliated, even just a bit, was the only thing that could take the edge off my anger.
"Grace, that's way over the line," Edward said.
He threw his coat around Chloe and was about to scoop her up and leave on the spot.
"Edward, if you walk out holding her like that, how are you going to explain it to Mr. Shaw?" I called out.
Edward stopped in his tracks and turned to face me.
"Grace, isn't this exactly what you wanted?" Edward snapped.
Without hesitation, he strode out, not looking back.
Was this really what I wanted?
Letting this whole drama play out just to prove he truly loved Chloe, while I was nothing but the one left behind in this marriage?
As Edward walked away, the crowd quickly dispersed.
Mavis shuffled over, wringing her hands and giving me an ingratiating smile.
"Mrs. Pierce, about what you promised before..." she said, her voice tentative.
I waved my hand weakly. "Don't worry. I'll help with your son's house and the wedding gifts."
A smile spread across her weathered face.
It reminded me of the very first time I met Chloe.
Chloe was always at the top of her class, but her family had nothing.
Back in high school, her parents were ready to sell her off for wedding gifts.
I started helping her out after the small town's school principal introduced us.
I covered her school fees, got her what she needed, listened to her vent about her family's favoritism, and talked about her dreams and what she hoped for in the future.
She got into a top university, and I went with her on move-in day. I helped her shop for clothes she'd need and kept supporting her all through college.
After she graduated, I even got her a job in the tech department at Pierce Group.
But in just a month, she went from being a promising tech recruit to my husband's secretary.
And not just any secretary. She was always fumbling through tasks, totally out of her depth in the corporate world.
I still remembered, after her affair with Edward came to light, she showed up at my house, grinning as she bossed me around, telling me to help her take off her shoes.
Then, as if she suddenly realized she'd made a mistake, she covered her mouth in fake surprise.
She said, "Sorry, Grace. It's been ages. I mistook you for the housekeeper.
"You really should start putting some effort into your appearance, Grace. Even if you don't go out much, you're not exactly young anymore. It's not the age to go bare-faced."
She was practically flaunting her youth, acting like it was her biggest asset.
Honestly, youth was nothing to brag about. Especially for someone who had no family support, who only managed to leave that small town because someone else lent her a hand.
She'd forgotten where she came from, forgotten who pulled her out of that place.
So I'd play the saint and give her a reality check. And also, I'd send her packing, right back to where she started.
That was only fair, wasn't it?
Edward didn't come home at all that night. He spent the whole night at the private hospital, staying by Chloe's side.
Early the next morning, I got a call from Mavis. She was sobbing her heart out on the phone.
She wailed, "Mrs. Pierce, you have to help me!
"That little brat actually sued me. Pierce Group's legal team showed up and said they're going to have me thrown in jail!
"But they said if I tell them who put me up to it, they won't press charges.
"Mrs. Pierce, I swear I never mentioned your name. Please, you have to help me.
"And about my son's wedding gifts... is there any way you could give a bit more?"
I promised her I'd make sure nothing happened to her.
Edward wasn't really after her.
Sure enough, as soon as I hung up, Edward called.
He said, "Grace, come to the hospital and apologize to Chloe. I've already called the reporters.
"Just put on a good show, and everything else will be easy."
I shot back, "And what if I don't go?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then Edward's voice came through, icy as ever. "Grace, paying someone to seriously hurt another person? You know how Pierce Group's legal team operates.
"A few years in prison? That's nothing for them."
I told him I'd go to the hospital.
On the way, my phone was already blowing up with news alerts about it.
The titles read: [Shocking twist! The wife bows to the mistress and apologizes!]
[Mr. Pierce is having it all. His wife and mistress are making peace in a historic truce.]
[The wife started her food stall again, rumored to be broke, and now she's at the hospital, making amends to the mistress.]
I put my phone away, turning my attention elsewhere.
Outside Chloe's hospital room, a dozen reporters were camped out, waiting for me.
The moment I walked in, flashbulbs exploded everywhere, blinding me.
The reporters started asking me, "Mrs. Pierce, are you really here to apologize to Mr. Pierce's secretary?"
"Mrs. Pierce, doesn't it feel humiliating for the legal wife to go this far?"
"Mrs. Pierce, is it all about the money? Is that why you keep tolerating Mr. Pierce's cheating?"
I flashed a calm smile. "Apologize, huh? Make sure your cameras are ready. I wouldn't want to move too fast and miss my shot at tomorrow's headlines."