Chapter 2

I stood behind the Silvershore Bay bus stop, keeping an eye on the lottery store.

Soon enough, a man emerged.

It was Erwin, as I expected.

I curled my lips.

It seemed like he had also traveled back through time.

Erwin must have just been back, too. Otherwise, he would've been lying in wait at the lottery long ago.

Why didn't he buy a lottery ticket himself? Did he forget the winning numbers or something?

I let out a contemptuous snort.

Last time, I was just unlucky enough to let a scumbag like him take advantage of me.

But in this life, I won't let him take my money away easily or deceive me easily.

I wondered where I should hide this lottery ticket.

*****

An hour later, I arrived at Erwin's company.

The receptionist told me Erwin was in a meeting and then escorted me to his office to wait.

When I pushed open the door, I saw a woman sitting at Erwin's desk, painting her nails. Then she looked up at me.

I remembered her face.

She was Allison Granger, the unattainable campus beauty with a perfect figure. She and Erwin were from the same high school as me.

I still remember her violin solo at the opening ceremony. She stunned everyone with the lingering melody and had all the boys falling over themselves for her.

Of course, Erwin was one of them.

But what a joke. Behind that refined facade, Allison was all about status. She never gave those losers a second glance.

She would just string them along with soft words and lingering looks, keeping them as her loyal lapdogs.

After graduation, she effortlessly landed a rich boyfriend and went abroad.

Rumor had it she married into a wealthy family the moment she came of age.

So why was she back now and in Erwin's office, of all places?

The receptionist looked awkward. "Oh, Allison, you're here."

Allison's thin eyebrows knitted. "This is Mr. Johnson's office. Who gave you permission to bring unauthorized personnel here?"

Blushing from the scolding, the receptionist replied, "This is Mrs. Johnson."

But Allison's voice hit me like a thunderbolt. The memory of her sickly sweet tone came flooding back.

I once heard her say, "Are you done yet, darling?

"Just look at her situation. Even if you spent every last penny, she's beyond saving.

"Money's tight everywhere. Why waste it on a vegetable?"

The corners of my mouth lifted in a cold smile.

So it was Allison, the homewrecker, who stole both my man and my money.

Allison leaned back in the chair, looking completely at ease. "Oh, Mrs. Johnson, my apologies. Mr. Johnson has never mentioned you before.

"I'm here with him every day, yet I've never seen a single photo of you in his office.

"Forgive me for not recognizing you.

"But now that I've met you, I can kind of see why."

She covered her mouth with a fake laugh. "Honestly, you're just not presentable. No wonder Mr. Johnson is too embarrassed to show off your photos."

It was true that Erwin never kept my photos in his office.

Apart from our wedding photos, the pictures of us together could be counted on one hand.

But I had seen Allison's photo before.

It was an old student ID picture, which was tucked away in the hidden compartment of Erwin's wallet.

Once, when he was drunk, he slumped onto the sofa, just staring at that photo for ages.

He looked so infatuated back then.

Now I sneered inwardly.

Seeing that I stayed silent, Allison went on, "But Mrs. Johnson, you really ought to know your place. This is a company.

"Pets should just wait obediently at home for their master's attention. If you come out here making trouble, don't be surprised if you get put in your place."

I cracked my knuckles behind my back. Then I approached the desk with a sweet smile on my face.

"You're absolutely right," I said. "Pets who cause trouble deserve to be punished."

Then my palm landed hard on her left cheek. While she was still reeling, I followed up with another slap on her right cheek.

"You bitch!" Allison shrieked, wanting to stand up.

But I was faster. I yanked her hair and slammed her head down onto the desk, pinning her in place.

I couldn't stand her stealing money from me.

The receptionist's jaw dropped. "M-Mrs. Johnson..."