Chapter 1

At the company's annual gala, I walked in on my husband's arm.

Out of nowhere, someone splashed a full glass of wine all over me. I turned around and saw a woman pulling her hand back, still holding the glass.

My dress was soaked.

I was about to confront her, but my husband stepped in front of me.

He said she didn't do it on purpose, told me to just let it go. He added that there were too many people from their company around, and he didn't want a scene.

A little later, I caught the two of them backstage, practically wrapped around each other.

The woman looked at him with this soft, lovestruck gaze.

She said, "Thanks for defending me in front of your wife, Mr. Bishop. Splashing her felt amazing. I swear I'll work hard and won't cause you any trouble."

She bit her lip, pretending to be all innocent and sweet.

My husband reached out and pinched her nose, smiling at her like she was the love of his life.

*****

Not long ago, someone told me my husband, Eric Bishop had a new assistant.

She was a fresh college grad, pretty and full of life. I was warned to keep an eye on her.

Back then, I was totally confident. I never thought something like this would happen to me.

The sight of these two together stung my eyes.

With my head held high, I strode over in my heels, glass in hand, every step full of elegance.

Before she could even process what was happening, I hurled the wine straight into her face and asked coldly, "Feels good to get splashed, doesn't it?"

She burst into tears on the spot.

I raised an eyebrow and said, "You're Eric's new assistant, Vicky Howell, right?"

Vicky's shoulders shook. She looked at Eric, eyes brimming with tears, then dropped her head in silent agreement.

Eric moved protectively in front of Vicky, keeping her behind him. "Suzanna, Vicky didn't mean it. It's her first time at an event like this. She's just nervous."

I looked at him coldly. "So being nervous gives her the right to pour wine all over me?"

Eric shot me an impatient look. "Vicky's never met you before. She didn't know you were my wife, so that's why she ended up spilling wine on you by accident.

"She's just a young girl who just got out of school. Go easy on her."

What a ridiculous excuse.

I shot back, "She's your assistant, right? Does she not know what kind of event this is?

"It's the company's annual gala. Who else would be showing up on your arm besides your wife?

"And no matter what her excuse is, she has zero right to act so dumb and out of line at a place like this."

Eric was left speechless.

But he still shielded Vicky behind him, even reaching out and tenderly wiping the tears from her cheeks.

It felt like a knife twisting in my heart watching him be so gentle and caring with her.

But I wasn't about to let Vicky off the hook that easily.

I said, "Eric, your precious assistant isn't as innocent as you think. She did it on purpose. She wanted to embarrass me in front of everyone."

Vicky looked at me, eyes red and brimming with tears, looking frail and vulnerable.

Eric, of course, didn't believe a word of what I said.

He called me out for being too overbearing, said I was making trouble for young Vicky, and claimed I just had to have the last word, no matter what.

Seeing Eric so quick to defend her, Vicky tugged at his sleeve, looking all aggrieved. "Mr. Bishop, I don't even know Suzanna. Why is she picking on me like this?"

She called me "Suzanna," not "Mrs. Bishop" like she should have.

If this had happened before, Eric would've no doubt stepped in to correct her.

But this time, his lips pressed into a thin line and he didn't say a single word.

Vicky's voice trembled as she looked at me, her eyes pleading. "I'm sorry, Suzanna. I didn't mean it. Please don't be mad at me. I'll do anything you want. I will even beg."

Watching her act innocent like she was born for it, I snorted coldly. "Vicky, can you quit with the pathetic tricks? You're seriously making me sick."

Eric's face went cold in an instant. He quickly snapped at me, his voice full of anger, "Suzanna, are you done making a scene?

"Do you really have to pick on a girl who doesn't know any better just to make yourself feel superior?

"Did you forget how you were bullied when you first started working? And now you're doing the same to someone just starting out? You're totally out of line."

His words struck a nerve, hitting me right where it hurt.

Just for Vicky, he was willing to throw my old pain right in my face.

I didn't say anything. It was like someone hit pause on the whole room.

Maybe realizing he'd crossed the line, Eric's voice softened, trying to smooth things over with me. "Suzanna, apologize to Vicky, and we'll let this go."

I looked at him with detached indifference, like he was just another pathetic excuse for a man.

I only threw a glass of wine at Vicky. She should be grateful I didn't slap her right then and there. Apologize? Dream on.