Chapter 2
Before I could say a word, a middle-aged woman stormed into the room.
It was Andrew's mother, Margaret Smith.
She came right up to me, jabbing a finger in my face.
She snapped, "You're a curse, Victoria. How dare you threaten my son?
"It's such a misfortune for us to have someone like you marry into our family."
Emily immediately stood up and supported Margaret, showing some false concern.
She said softly, "Mrs. Grant. Don't get upset. It's bad for your health.
"Victoria probably hasn't come to terms with it yet."
Margaret's expression softened instantly when she looked at Emily, and she patted Emily's hand affectionately.
She said, "Emily, you really are understanding. Some people only know how to enjoy life but never contribute to their family, and couldn't have a baby in past three years."
Margaret turned to me and gave me a nasty look. "Let me make this clear, Victoria. You're signing that agreement today, whether you like it or not."
With that, she grabbed a stack of photos from her bag and threw them right in my face.
The photos were scattered all over the floor.
They showed me entering and leaving a hotel with a man who wasn't Andrew.
The shots were deliberately taken from certain angles, making us look way too close.
I actually knew the guy. He was a business partner from a previous project. We only talked about cooperation in the hotel's conference room that day.
Andrew picked up one of the photos, his hands trembling.
He growled, "Victoria, you make me disguested. Is this how you cheated on me?
Emily covered her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Victoria. How could you do this?
"Andrew turned down so many excellent women for you. How could you..."
Margaret was so mad that she looked like she was about to explode. "Shame on you! You spent our family's money to keep a man outside."
Margaret charged at me and raised her hand to slap me.
I didn't even try to dodge.
The slap hit me square in the face, burning like hell.
She glared at me. "Well. What do you have to defend yourself now?"
Andrew threw the photos in front of me, his voice thick with disgust.
I raised my hand, touched my burning cheek, and just laughed.
I sneered, "Great shots. So this is what you're using to force me to sign the agreement?
"Do you really think some shady photos are enough to kick me out with nothing and make me pay you 1.5 million dollars?"
My calm attitude only seemed to piss them off even more.
Margaret pointed at me and turned to Andrew. "Andrew, stop wasting time with her.
"Call the legal team right now and freeze all her accounts. Let's see how tough she can be when she's broke."
Andrew didn't even hesitate and called right in front of me. "Freeze Victoria Shaw's accounts that are associated with the Grant Group. Right now!"
Less than a minute after he hung up, my phone started blowing up with several bank notifications.
One of them read: [Your account access has been restricted.]
One after another, several messages popped up, all saying the same thing.
Those accounts held my salary from the past three years, the occasional allowance Andrew gave me, and all my own savings.
Altogether, it was over 3 million dollars.
Now, all that money was nothing but a bunch of frozen digits.
Margaret shot me a triumphant look. "Let's see if you can still act all high and mighty now that you've got nothing."
Emily strolled over, pretending to be all caring, and took my hand in hers.
She said, "Victoria, don't blame Andrew or Mrs. Grant. They got so angry because of you.
"If you sign the papers and apologize at the wedding, you'll get your money back.
"We're not really after your money. We just want you to own up to your mistake and bring it to a closure between you and Andrew."
She left no room for argument, making it sound like everything was my fault.