Chapter 2 · Secretary's Dress, Wife's Revenge

Edward hadn't reached out to me since then.

That was just how he was: whenever I called him out on his mistakes, he'd go radio silent, hoping to dodge the issue.

It wasn't until that afternoon that my phone buzzed with a message from my friend, Vivian.

She messaged: [Charlotte, why are you ignoring me? I saw you inside earlier and called out to you, but you didn't even turn around.]

I frowned and shot back: [I haven't left the house today. You must've mistaken someone else for me.]

Vivian replied: [Are you sure? I saw that sapphire mermaid gown you had custom-made, and Edward was right there with you.

[Hang on, I got a front shot.]

The next second, a photo popped up on my screen.

In the photo, Edward was dressed to the nines in a perfectly tailored black suit.

And right beside him was Sophie, wearing the sapphire mermaid gown I had custom-made, smiling as she chatted with the crowd.

I stared at the photo for a full ten seconds.

Before I could even process what I was seeing, my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Paul, Edward's assistant, attaching a screenshot of Sophie's social media post.

Sophie had posted: [First time at the Summit Auction Gala. Thanks to Mr. Grant for showing me the ropes. I finally get what real high society is all about.]

She even posted a photo showing herself in the front row of the auction hall, Edward right beside her, and a faint smile on his lips. He'd clearly sanctioned the selfie and caption.

Suddenly, it hit me: Edward could never stand having his picture taken.

Even when things were sweetest between us, if I ever tried to get a couple of photos, he'd just frown and shut it down every time.

Guess I went too easy on Edward this morning.

Not only did he have the nerve to show up at the Summit Auction Gala with another woman, but he even let her wear the custom gown I ordered and let her flaunt their selfie on social media for everyone to see.

I forwarded the photo straight to Edward.

I texted: [Mind telling me why she's wearing my dress?]

Edward had seen it, read the receipt and all, but didn't bother to reply.

A few minutes later, I snapped a photo and sent it to Edward.

Vivian's message popped up right after.

She texted: [Charlotte, what did you just send to Edward? He suddenly got up and rushed out. Sophie couldn't stop him at all.]

I didn't even bother texting Vivian back; Edward was already calling me.

The photo I had sent Edward showed me sitting by the fireplace, holding a beautifully crafted wooden box in my hands.

The box was spotless. It looked like it had been polished all the time.

Edward demanded, "Charlotte, put that down." His voice was tight, trembling with panic and anger.

He pressed, "What are you trying to do?"

Inside the box were a few treasured keepsakes: some old, faded photos, a bracelet, and a delicate pendant.

The girl in those photos had a smile that lit up the whole picture.

She was Edward's first love he lost to illness, the girl he could never let go of, Yvonne. Edward's family had let slip about her once or twice.

Suddenly, it all clicked for me: Sophie bore a striking resemblance to Yvonne. No wonder he'd been acting so out of character lately.

Edward said, "Charlotte, don't touch those things."

He sounded desperate, almost begging me to stop.

I said, "Edward, you know I absolutely hate it when people mess with my stuff.

"Now you know exactly how that feels.

"Right now, get Sophie out of my dress. There's a lounge at the auction. Make her change into something else, immediately."

There was a long pause on the other end.

Edward shot back, "Come on, Charlotte, you only ever wear those dresses once anyway. What's the harm in letting Sophie have one you don't even care about?"

I let out a cold laugh.

I said, "Edward, even if I've tossed something aside, it's still off-limits. I don't let anyone else touch what's mine.

"You've got two choices.

"Either get Sophie out of that dress before the auction starts, or..."

I gave the box in my hand a little shake, letting the contents inside clink softly.

I added, "You'll have to deal with the consequences yourself."

With that, I hung up on him.

Chapter 2

Edward hadn't reached out to me since then.

That was just how he was: whenever I called him out on his mistakes, he'd go radio silent, hoping to dodge the issue.

It wasn't until that afternoon that my phone buzzed with a message from my friend, Vivian.

She messaged: [Charlotte, why are you ignoring me? I saw you inside earlier and called out to you, but you didn't even turn around.]

I frowned and shot back: [I haven't left the house today. You must've mistaken someone else for me.]

Vivian replied: [Are you sure? I saw that sapphire mermaid gown you had custom-made, and Edward was right there with you.

[Hang on, I got a front shot.]

The next second, a photo popped up on my screen.

In the photo, Edward was dressed to the nines in a perfectly tailored black suit.

And right beside him was Sophie, wearing the sapphire mermaid gown I had custom-made, smiling as she chatted with the crowd.

I stared at the photo for a full ten seconds.

Before I could even process what I was seeing, my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Paul, Edward's assistant, attaching a screenshot of Sophie's social media post.

Sophie had posted: [First time at the Summit Auction Gala. Thanks to Mr. Grant for showing me the ropes. I finally get what real high society is all about.]

She even posted a photo showing herself in the front row of the auction hall, Edward right beside her, and a faint smile on his lips. He'd clearly sanctioned the selfie and caption.

Suddenly, it hit me: Edward could never stand having his picture taken.

Even when things were sweetest between us, if I ever tried to get a couple of photos, he'd just frown and shut it down every time.

Guess I went too easy on Edward this morning.

I forwarded the photo straight to Edward.

I texted: [Mind telling me why she's wearing my dress?]

Edward had seen it, read the receipt and all, but didn't bother to reply.

A few minutes later, I snapped a photo and sent it to Edward.

Vivian's message popped up right after.

She texted: [Charlotte, what did you just send to Edward? He suddenly got up and rushed out. Sophie couldn't stop him at all.]

I didn't even bother texting Vivian back; Edward was already calling me.

The photo I had sent Edward showed me sitting by the fireplace, holding a beautifully crafted wooden box in my hands.

The box was spotless. It looked like it had been polished all the time.

Edward demanded, "Charlotte, put that down." His voice was tight, trembling with panic and anger.

He pressed, "What are you trying to do?"

Inside the box were a few treasured keepsakes: some old, faded photos, a bracelet, and a delicate pendant.

The girl in those photos had a smile that lit up the whole picture.

She was Edward's first love he lost to illness, the girl he could never let go of, Yvonne. Edward's family had let slip about her once or twice.

Suddenly, it all clicked for me: Sophie bore a striking resemblance to Yvonne. No wonder he'd been acting so out of character lately.

Edward said, "Charlotte, don't touch those things."

He sounded desperate, almost begging me to stop.

I said, "Edward, you know I absolutely hate it when people mess with my stuff.

"Now you know exactly how that feels.

"Right now, get Sophie out of my dress. There's a lounge at the auction. Make her change into something else, immediately."

There was a long pause on the other end.

Edward shot back, "Come on, Charlotte, you only ever wear those dresses once anyway. What's the harm in letting Sophie have one you don't even care about?"

I let out a cold laugh.

I said, "Edward, even if I've tossed something aside, it's still off-limits. I don't let anyone else touch what's mine.

"You've got two choices.

"Either get Sophie out of that dress before the auction starts, or..."

I gave the box in my hand a little shake, letting the contents inside clink softly.

I added, "You'll have to deal with the consequences yourself."

With that, I hung up on him.