"You've really crossed the line, you crude thing. Apologize to Serena right now, and someone stop her."

I gripped my suitcase and looked at Kevin. His face was thunderous as he helped Serena up.

"Kevin, tell them to move!"

"Didn't you hear what my mom said?"

Serena nestled into his arms with the posture of a winner. He didn't see anything wrong with it. Meanwhile I—the wife who'd just married him—stood there like the outsider.

"What if I don't?"

"Then behave and be a good Mrs. James."

He thought this was just me throwing a tantrum to scare him.

"I'm sorry, Miss Simmons. I shouldn't have pushed you. It was my fault."

I bowed to her sincerely, and everyone froze. Usually I was proud—untouchable. If something wasn't my fault, I never backed down.

But I memorized everything that happened today. One day, I'd make them pay it all back.

Only after I left did they snap out of it.

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I'll go after Rachel."

"Don't bother. You've spoiled her rotten. Without our family, she's nothing. Reckless little thing."

Kevin didn't care either. He was certain I'd come crawling back by morning. Our fights never lasted more than twelve hours. Why would this time be different?

Serena wanted to stay longer, but for once, he told her to go home. Said it was "inconvenient." She added that to her list of grievances against me.

The next day, Kevin checked his phone. Nothing from me. When he got to the office and found out I'd taken leave, his mood soured further.

"Did she get my approval for this?"

"Director Gilbert is using her annual leave, sir."

He called me. Straight to voicemail. Every time. He decided I'd gotten too bold for my own good.

I returned to the company a week later. I'd always kept work and personal matters separate. Kevin had wronged me, but that wouldn't affect my professionalism.

"Director, your position…"

I pushed open the door and found Serena at my desk, posing and snapping photos like she owned the place.

"Get out."

"Oh, Rachel, sorry." She didn't look sorry at all. "Since you abandoned your post, Kevin asked me to fill in. You don't need to come anymore."

I almost laughed. Had Kevin forgotten who secured half his projects? Some deals even the James family couldn't land—especially the ones in the Tri-State region.

"I'll say it once more. Get the hell out."

"Kevin, maybe I should go…"

"The one leaving is her, not you." He appeared in the doorway. "Since you didn't want to come back, someone had to take your place. I don't need employees who throw tantrums."

I didn't argue. I grabbed my things and headed for the door.

"Admit you were wrong, and I'll let you stay."

"Mr. James." I turned, cardboard box in my arms, and met his eyes. "What exactly did I do wrong?"

He went quiet. Because he couldn't answer. He kept saying I was wrong, wrong, wrong—but the joke was, I'd done nothing wrong at all.

"Think carefully. If you really want to cut ties with me, you'll be labeled a discarded wife. You'll never hold your head up in this circle again."

In their circle, I'd never been able to hold my head up. To them, I was already a joke. Just because I smiled through it didn't mean I was deaf to what they said behind my back.

I used to think brushing it off was enough. But I realized now—these people just wanted to watch me humiliate myself.

Fine then. I'd make them the joke instead.

Kevin didn't expect me to be this resolute. But there was no way he'd lower himself to reconcile either.

He was far too proud for that.

A full month passed before I heard from him again.

Accompany me to a banquet tomorrow.

No time.

I had the Cox family gala tomorrow anyway. Didn't even think twice before declining.

Kevin hadn't expected this. A whole month of silence from me, and when he finally extended an olive branch, I slapped it away. He was so furious he smashed his phone.

When I walked into the venue, his expression curdled.

"I already have Serena as my date. What are you doing here?"

I gave him a single glance and turned to leave. He grabbed my arm.

"Rachel, what kind of attitude is that?"

"Mr. James, we're in public. The grabbing and pulling isn't a good look."

That shut him up. He wasn't about to embarrass himself further. Fine—let him watch. He wanted to see what I could possibly do without him.

Serena and her little entourage blocked my path.

"You're in my way."

The contempt in my eyes clearly offended them. These were high society princesses—when had anyone ever looked through them like they were nothing?

"Just a discarded wife, acting all high and mighty. The James family threw you out. How did a country bumpkin like you even get in?"

"Oh my god, did you sneak in to chase after Mr. James?"

"None of your business. I'd suggest you stay out of it—unless you want trouble you can't handle."

That did it. They closed in around me like mean girls from a bad high school drama.

Mr. Rodriguez had left early for another engagement, and I didn't actually want a scene. This was the Cox family's event. Causing problems here wouldn't benefit me.

Kevin watched me get surrounded and didn't lift a finger. He wanted me to understand that without him, I couldn't survive. If I just bowed my head and begged, he'd swoop in to save me.

He was dreaming.

"Where do you think you're going? Mr. James doesn't care about you anymore. Without him, you're nothing—and you still dare to bully our Serena."

In their eyes, I was just a pathetic leech clinging to Kevin. Laughable, really. But I couldn't be bothered to explain.

As I turned to leave, someone's foot shot out.

I stumbled. A dress worth tens of thousands hit the floor, and a glass of red wine splashed across it perfectly.

"Oh no, this is that heiress's gown! Even if I sold myself, I couldn't pay for it. What do we do?"

The Cox family's daughter hadn't planned this far. They'd only wanted to put me in my place and curry favor with the James family.

When I heard them trying to pin it on me, I helped the servant up.

"It's fine. Give it to me. You can go."

The moment she heard someone would take the fall, she bolted.

"Rachel, what is wrong with you? This belongs to a VIP guest. You got it dirty, and now you're trying to take it? Do you know how much trouble this could cause the Cox family?"

Clever girl—she knew exactly when to pivot. Smart people always do.

Since this happened on Cox property, someone had to answer for it. They needed a scapegoat.

The group marched me out to the garden. I frowned, trying to figure out what they were planning.

"I don't have time for games. Move."

"Rachel, we go way back. If you don't want to take the blame, you'll just have to suffer a little."

Before I could react, they grabbed their wine glasses and drenched me. In an instant, I was a complete mess.

My eyes burned with rage as I glared at the woman who'd just slapped me.

"Serena Simmons, are you out of your mind?"

"What are you staring at? Serena did you a favor. If you don't take a little punishment, you think that heiress would've let you walk away? That's a ten-million-dollar dress—not ten bucks. Have you ever even seen ten million in your life?"

Kevin walked over when he noticed the commotion. Serena explained everything from start to finish, and he didn't object. Maybe there was some selfishness behind it. He just nodded and turned away.

I didn't expect him to be this cold. Even if our engagement was arranged by the previous generation, we'd been living under the same roof for years.

When they saw Kevin had no reaction, they went even further.

"You're just a discarded woman. The James family doesn't want you anymore—you think you can just walk away? Do what you're told like a good girl, and maybe the heiress will be merciful."

"Let go of me, Serena." She yanked my hair back so hard my scalp went numb.

"I'm warning you—if you keep stirring up trouble, don't blame me for what happens next."

"Oh, I'm so scared." One of them laughed. "Remember my name—Lisa Finch. So when you come for revenge, you don't pick the wrong person. A discarded woman talking tough? That's hilarious."

"The Finch family," I said through gritted teeth. "I'll remember. I won't let you off."

Another slap cracked across my face. The pain was blinding. My whole body trembled from holding back, teeth chattering.

Kevin waited, but I didn't beg. Watching me get beaten into this state, he only said flatly, "Just admit you were wrong and behave like before. I'll pay for the dress."

To him, it was that simple.

"This dress is mine. Why would I need you to pay? You'd better worry about yourselves—don't end up not knowing how you died."

"Rachel, why are you still so stubborn? It's just an apology. Why make this so difficult?"

"A discarded woman acting like some Tri-State heiress. Look at yourself—what part of you looks the part? Pathetic."

Their mocking laughter poured into my ears. I clenched my fists so hard a faint taste of blood rose in my throat.

Serena suddenly let go—and shoved me hard onto the gravel. A muffled groan escaped me.

"Sorry, Rachel. I didn't mean to."

"She's not that delicate. No need to pretend in front of me."

Kevin's words made me look up. The coldness in his eyes hit me like ice water.

I didn't want to deal with them anymore. I was about to get up and leave when someone rammed into me from behind. With a splash, I fell into the pool.

"What are you playing at? It's only five feet deep."

Kevin had looked worried for a second, but after hearing that, he assumed I was just trying to get his attention.

What none of them knew was that I'd been terrified of water since I was a child. Even though I wanted to overcome it, the darkness closing in around me dragged me straight into panic.

The suffocating grip of death wrapped around me layer by layer. They waited. I didn't come up. They started to get nervous.

A black figure dove in.

"Cough, cough, cough—"

The head of the Cox family walked over. "What happened?"

He heard my coughing and glanced in my direction. At first, he assumed it was just an accident—but when he saw the man beside me, his eyes went wide with terror.

He didn't know me, but he knew Ethan Rodriguez.

I forced my eyes open, swept a glance over the crowd, and my voice cut through the air, ice-cold. "It's gotten cold. Time to go bankrupt."