My mother-in-law, Kylie McGowan, told me that she wanted to experience the life of the younger crowd, so I took her to my husband Jerome Callen's newly opened upscale bar for a quiet drink.

I had just ordered her a signature cocktail when a woman from the booth across the aisle sauntered over, wine glass in hand.

Her eyes flicked over the menu on our table, and she laughed mockingly.

"Seriously? You ordered the cheapest drink on the menu? Did you bring this old lady here just to enjoy the free AC? People like you should stay in the gutter. This place isn't meant for penniless people!"

I rose to my feet, holding back my temper. "We're paying for our drinks here. What does our drink choice have to do with you?"

But she suddenly snapped, grabbed a half-finished beer bottle off a nearby table, and swung it at my head.

"My husband's the owner of this bar! I could smash your skull in and still afford the damages! Get out, you pauper! Don't be an eyesore here!"

I wiped the liquor off my face as my entire body shook with anger.

Then I turned away, started my livestream, and spoke directly to my followers. "Look here, everyone! I'm going live to catch a cheater. Let's go explore my husband's other home."

Comments flew across the screen so fast that they blurred.

"Holy! Noelle, your head's bleeding! Who did that to you?"

"Jerome's other home? What do you mean? I just came from his finance livestream. He literally said he was heading home to have dinner with you tonight!"

"Who's that woman? She's acting like she owns the place! I know this bar. It's new. I heard that Jerome's the owner."

"Wait. That woman said her husband is the owner of that bar. So… is she Mrs. Callen?"

Across from me, the woman lit a cigarette with a sharp snap of her lighter.

She scoffed, saying, "Your husband? Please. Jerome wouldn't look twice at a pauper like you. Quit pretending here. Take that old hag and leave before I call security!"

I was about to argue back when I noticed the watch on her wrist—"Time's Prelude".

That was my watch.

Just yesterday, Jerome held my hand with a look full of sympathy.

"Noelle, the strap's a little loose. I'll have it adjusted for you and give it a tune-up, so you'll have the perfect watch to wear tomorrow."

I laughed at him for overreacting, but his thoughtfulness melted my heart, so I handed the watch over to him.

I never expected it to be on another woman's wrist at this moment.

Even my livestream followers noticed it right away.

"Hold up! Isn't that watch Noelle's 'Time's Prelude'? That's a one-of-a-kind piece!"

"Oh my god! I remember that watch! When Mr. Callen gave it to her, we all said that it was straight out of a fairy tale! Why is it on that woman's wrist?"

The woman clearly saw the comments. She raised her wrist on purpose, showing it off. She haughtily said, "So you really are Jerome's wife. Even better. Let me make this clear. This watch is proof that he loves me. You're nothing but the wife on paper. Jerome's heart is mine!"

"You don't deserve to wear it," I said coldly, clenching my fists.

"Noelle, let's go. She's not worth it." Kylie went pale when she saw the watch.

"Old hag, where do you think you're going? Clean yourself up first!" The woman stepped forward to block our way. She grabbed a bottle of red wine and poured it over Kylie's head.

"Aren't you livestreaming? Great. I'll show everyone how you and this wrinkled fossil get on your knees and lick every drop off my shoes."

She waved at a few black-suited security guards at the side. "Don't just stand there! Hold these two paupers down! When Jerome gets here, I want him to watch these two beg at my feet!"

I pointed my phone camera right at the woman's face. "Everyone watching, meet the self-proclaimed true love of Jerome. She wants my mother-in-law and me to kneel before her."

The livestream comments instantly shifted from anger to an overwhelming flood of ridicule.

"Kneel? Has she lost her mind? She's asking Noelle and her mother-in-law to kneel to her?"

"LOL! Where does this wannabe queen come from? True love, my ass. Does Mr. Callen even know about this?"

Kylie spoke up too. "Miss, the power you get from a man disappears the moment the wind picks up."

The woman's face twisted into a furious scowl. She grabbed a bottle. "You old hag! Don't lecture me!"

I instinctively pulled Kylie behind me.

The bottle slammed hard into my back with a heavy bang. The wine soaked through my dress, and glass shards tore my skin.

I stifled a groan and dropped to my knees.

"Noelle!" Kylie cried out, panic in her voice.

The woman pointed at me and shouted at the security guards surrounding us, "What are you staring at? Hold this crazy wench down! And the old hag, too! Tie them both up!"

The guards approached us, looking fierce and menacing.

"Wait!" Kylie shouted. She pulled out her phone to call Jerome and placed it on speaker.

Just before the call cut off, Jerome's annoyed voice came through, with a woman laughing in the background. "What is it, Mom? I'm busy."

"Jerome, Noelle and I are at your new bar. She got hit with a wine bottle protecting me and is bleeding badly," Kylie said anxiously.

Jerome replied dismissively, "Why did you two go there? I'm stuck at a very important dinner engagement. I really can't leave. Take Noelle to the hospital first, and let Cassidy handle it. I'll come by later and cover the medical bills. Later, okay?"

With that, he hung up. The line went dead, followed by a series of beeps.

So that woman's name was Cassidy.

Kylie's hand trembled as she gripped the phone.

"Did you hear that? Jerome doesn't care about you one bit." Cassidy waved her hand and proudly said, "Security! What are you waiting for? Drag them out!"

The guards closed in again.

"You just heard your boss. He's just too busy to come. But if any of you touch us, I promise you'll regret it."

I shielded Kylie behind me and forced my voice to remain calm. "By the way, I'm still live-streaming this. If this goes public, let's see if your bar can still stay in business!"

My words clearly hit a nerve. The security guards exchanged looks and suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Cassidy screamed in frustration, "What are you afraid of? It's just some stupid livestream! If anything happens, Jerome will take the blame! Get them!"

But no one moved a muscle.

Left with no choice, Cassidy called Jerome and put the call on speaker. The call was answered almost instantly.

"Cassie? What's wrong? Didn't I tell you to stop being so willful? I'm busy right now."

She broke down, crying into the phone. "Jerome! Someone's causing trouble at your bar! They even hit me! You have to come now!"

Jerome's tone shifted immediately. "What? Are you hurt? Don't be scared. I'm on my way! Wait for me!"

With that, he hung up in a rush.

I felt like I'd been dropped into an ice bath.

Just minutes earlier, Kylie had told him that I'd been hit in the head with a wine bottle trying to protect her, and he had told us to go to the hospital ourselves.

Cassidy ended the call and barked at the guards, "You heard him! Jerome's coming! Tie those two madwomen up right now! When Jerome arrives, I want you to know who truly has his favor!"

Kylie looked at me worriedly, but I gave her a reassuring smile. Then, I walked right up to Cassidy and slapped her hard across the face.

"Did you just slap me?" Cassidy screamed, clutching her cheek.

She raised her hand to strike me, but froze when she caught sight of the watch on her wrist.

"You care about this watch, don't you?"

As she shook the watch, my heart skipped a beat as an ominous feeling rose within me.

She smiled, smoothly unfastened the strap, and held the watch high. "You say Jerome loves you, but he gave me your token of love. I heard that this watch is priceless. I wonder if it's still worth anything if it's broken."

After saying that, she slammed it down hard onto the floor.

"No!" I screamed, lunging forward.

With a sharp crack, the sapphire crystal face shattered instantly, sending delicate parts flying everywhere.

My heart shattered along with it.

Even my livestream followers were stunned by her madness. The chat went completely silent at that moment.

"See that? That's how much you mean to him. Worthless!" Cassidy laughed like a maniac while grinding the broken watch face beneath her sharp stiletto heel. "Why do you treasure this worthless piece of junk so much?"

"I'll kill you!" I charged at her, tackled her to the ground, and rained down punches.

"Ah!" Cassidy screamed nonstop.

Finally, the head of security behind her snapped out of shock.

"Get her off! Now! Tie up this crazy woman!" he shouted to his men.

They dragged me away.

"Yeah! Tie her up and beat her! I want her bedridden for the rest of her life!" Cassidy then shouted at the crowd, "When Jerome gets here, he'll be on my side! Get them!"