Chapter 3

Folks from the Graham Group arrived as well. Steve Graham called out cheerfully, "Mr. Maddox, Mrs. Maddox."

They didn't even spare me a look. Obviously, when he said Mrs. Maddox, he meant Jessie.

"Oh, Steve, don't call me that yet! I'm not Mrs. Maddox... at least, not yet," Jessie said, her cheeks turning pink as she played up her coy act.

Edward didn't say a word to stop her. Instead, he just watched her with a fond, indulgent smile.

Everyone from both companies was busy buttering up Jessie, hoping to win her favor.

I walked over, and only then did Edward seem to remember I existed.

He looked a bit awkward and said, "Sandra, they're just joking around. Don't let it get to you."

I just smiled.

This was the man who urged me day after day to return to the company?

The man who couldn't even publicly acknowledge me, just to protect his mistress?

I stared at the diamond necklace hanging from Jessie's neck and gave her a sweet smile. "Ms. Graham, your necklace is stunning. I actually have one from the same brand at home, and it's worth at least three million dollars. Did your boyfriend buy it for you? He must be rolling in cash."

Jessie's smile froze for a split second, but she quickly recovered, stroking the necklace with a smug air. "Is it really that pricey? My boyfriend absolutely spoils me. Anything good, he gives it to me first. Not like some people, who'd be thrilled even with a freebie."

Her words stung, and I couldn't help but remember the diamond brooch Edward had given me last time. It was probably the free gift that came with her necklace.

I let out a cold laugh. "Oh? I'm just so curious. Who exactly is your boyfriend? Or maybe even your husband?"

Steve immediately declared, "Isn't Jessie's husband Mr. Maddox? She's Mrs. Maddox!"

Everyone started calling her Mrs. Maddox, one after another.

I looked at the now bloodless-faced Edward and asked clearly, "Honey, since when did you decide to marry another woman without telling me?"

The whole room went dead silent. Everyone stared at me in shock.

Steve stared at me like I was crazy. "Are you out of your mind? How could you possibly be Mrs. Maddox?"

Everyone was giving me the side-eye, their faces full of doubt.

Jessie looked like she was about to burst into tears, her face drained of all color as she gazed at Edward.

Edward instinctively moved to shield Jessie, his voice low and annoyed. "Today's important. Don't start drama. Just go home. I'll come find you when I'm done here."

I stared at him, disappointment heavy in my voice. "Edward, you used to say I was the most important person in your world. So, tell everyone. Who is really your wife?"

Jessie's tears fell in big, dramatic drops as she sobbed. "I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have come. I guess I should just leave."

"You're not the one who should be leaving," Edward said.

Edward yanked Jessie back, then glared at me. He snapped, "Sandra, I've been carrying this company on my back for years while you barely lifted a finger. Now you show up just to make me and the company look bad? Why can't you learn a thing or two from Jessie? You can still walk away now, or else..."

Before he finished, I slapped him hard across the face.

Jessie cried out, her eyes wide with pain. "How could you hit him?"

With the crowd gasping in disbelief, I spun around and slapped Jessie across the face, ripping the necklace from her neck without any hesitation.

Edward covered his face, glaring at me in fury. "Sandra, have you lost your mind?"

Jessie, her cheek still burning from the slap, shrieked, "Sandra, do you even know why Edward can't stand you? It's because you always act like you're better than everyone else! But what right do you have? You hit rock bottom ages ago!"

"Five years back, you got locked up with a bunch of men and almost got assaulted. You're filthy from the inside out! You're so scared you won't even wear a dress or step outside. Edward loves it when I wear dresses. You can't even compare to me!"

The diamond necklace bit into my palm as I looked at Edward in disbelief. He couldn't even meet my eyes, guilt written all over his face.

It felt like I never truly knew him. I never imagined he'd expose my raw, bleeding wounds for everyone to see, without a shred of hesitation.

The man who once loved me so much he'd rather hurt himself than see me suffer was gone.

Everyone was whispering and shooting judgmental looks at me, just like they did back then.

But this time, there was no one left in my corner.

"Where are the security guards? She's not my wife. She's just here to make a scene. Throw her out," Edward said coldly, never once meeting my eyes.

Edward didn't even look at me, just impatiently motioned for the guards to take me away.

"Who dares touch me?" I shot back.