Chapter 7

The venue was the definition of glitz and glam, packed with luxury cars and the city's elite.

The moment Charles arrived with Lily on his arm, they became the center of attention.

Lily wore a pure white princess dress, nestled close to Charles like a fragile little blossom, basking in everyone's praise.

"Mr. Reed and Ms. Evans, you really are such a perfect couple."

"I heard wedding bells are in the air? Congratulations."

Charles went through the motions, barely paying attention to the guests. His eyes kept flicking to the entrance, like he was waiting for something or maybe on guard for it.

Right then, the massive doors to the ballroom swung open.

The room, previously buzzing with chatter, fell into a pin-drop silence. Every eye in the room was drawn to the stunning couple at the door.

Alexander was dressed in a bespoke black suit, his presence as commanding as a king's. But it was the woman on his arm who truly stole the show.

Her wine-red gown burned like fire against her flawless skin. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a look that was both bold and dangerously sharp.

"Is that... Mr. Parker?"

"Who's the woman with him? She's gorgeous. Why does she look so familiar?"

Charles was sipping his champagne, glancing toward the door with total indifference as the whispering started.

With a sharp crack, the stem of his glass shattered in his grip, drenching his hand in champagne. He stared at the woman in red. He was shocked, with utter disbelief written all over his face.

Emma? How could it be her? How could that mousy, submissive housewife who spent all her days cooking and cleaning transform into this radiant bombshell? And to top it all off, she was on Alexander's arm!

"Charles... is that Emma?" Lily's voice was trembling, her nails digging deep into her own palms.

I felt his murderous gaze and tilted my head slightly, locking eyes with his shocked, fuming expression. I didn't flinch. Instead, I smirked provocatively.

Charles, let the games begin.

Alexander seemed to catch the shift in the air. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close in an intimate gesture as he led me straight toward Charles.

"Mr. Reed, long time no see," Alexander said, his voice relaxed and playful.

Charles ignored him entirely. His eyes were glued to me, burning with enough intensity as if they could burn a hole right through me.

"Emma, have you no shame?" he hissed, the words forced through his clenched teeth. "You stole company secrets, and you have the nerve to waltz in here like you own the place? And you've already managed to hook up with Alexander? How low can you go?"

The surrounding guests began to crane their necks, their whispers rippling through the air.

If this had been the old me, his insults would have left me pale and stuttering, desperate to explain myself. But now? My heart was as hard as stone.

I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, my smile as calm as a summer breeze. "Mr. Reed, what are you even accusing me of? You need real evidence for that. You say I stole company secrets—has the police filed a case? Do you actually have any proof?"

"How dare you talk back?" Charles was livid. He lunged forward to grab my wrist. "You're coming with me. Stop making a total fool of yourself."

But his hand was halted mid-air by a much stronger grip. Alexander stepped in front of me, his face stoic, squeezing Charles' wrist until the latter's face contorted in pain.

"Mr. Reed," Alexander said. "Putting your hands on my woman right in front of me... that's a pretty bold move. Do you really have that little respect for me?"

"Your woman?" Charles let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "Alex, don't let her looks fool you. She's nothing but a worn-out cast-off—a piece of trash I threw away when I got tired of her."

The sound of the slap echoed through the entire ballroom. The crowd went dead silent.

I shook my numbing palm and stared coldly at Charles, whose head was still snapped to the side from the impact.

"Watch your mouth, Charles." I stood tall, my voice steady. "I am a human being, not your property. For three years, I worked like a maid for you and fulfilled every last one of my duties.

"You're the one who cheated. You're the one who tried to destroy your wife for a mistress. That slap? You had it coming."

"You dare slap me?" Charles covered his face, his eyes blazing with fury.

Seeing an opening, Lily turned on the waterworks. She rushed forward, sobbing hysterically. "Emma, how could you hit Charles? It's all my fault. If you're mad, take it out on me. Please don't hurt him."

As she spoke, she tried to "accidentally" lunge into me, planning to stage another fake fall and frame me for pushing her again.

Too bad for her, I wasn't that naive, clueless girl anymore. I stepped aside and stuck my foot out just an inch.

Lily let out a sharp shriek as she fell, face-planting right into the table holding the champagne tower.

With a crash, hundreds of glasses came thundering down. Champagne drenched her from head to toe, and shattered glass scattered everywhere. The once "innocent little princess" was transformed into a drowned rat in a matter of seconds.

"Lily!" Charles cried out, scrambling to help her.

I stood above the chaos, looking down at them with a sense of satisfaction I'd never felt before.

Just then, Alexander slid his arm around my shoulders and addressed the stunned crowd. "Everyone, allow me to introduce her.

"She is Emma Sinclair, my girlfriend. From now on, if anyone has a problem with her, they have a problem with the entire Parker Group."