I caught my husband and his mistress playing poker red-handed.

“Dana, since you’ve found out, I won’t hide it anymore. Let’s get a divorce!” he said bluntly.

I laughed out loud, flashing a wide smile and walked away with a small compensation package.

After the divorce, I moved to a cozy little house in the suburbs and ended up spoiling eight younger brothers.

One day, my ex-husband suddenly showed up, driven by his mother, looking to reconcile with me.

“Look at you, Dana! Have you fallen so far that you’re living in such poverty without me?”

“Get down on your knees, admit you were wrong and I might consider taking you back. You can even move back into our villa!”

I sneered and gestured towards the bedroom. Eight younger brothers came out, surrounding me, draping themselves casually around my shoulders.

“And what part of me looks impoverished to you? You may be unwanted, but I’m in high demand!”

——

Facing eight men who were younger, better-looking and more accomplished than himself, William’s face turned an unsightly shade of purple. His teeth clenched, his expression brimming with resentment.

“Dana! How long has it been since you left me? And this is how shameless you’ve become?”

I ignored William and lightly trailed my hand over Adam Ross’s eight-pack abs beside me.

“Hmm… Someone’s calling me shameless. Tell me, did I ever force you?”

Right in front of William and me, my brothers all slapped their solid chests proudly.

“Bullshit! Our sister’s charm is unparalleled—we’re here willingly!”

I smiled again and turned to look at William.

“Exactly. It’s mutual consent. Besides, I’m single and they’re unmarried. What’s the problem?”

“Unlike my ex-husband, who cheated on me during our marriage and kicked me out of the house!”

“And now, needing me to deal with his mother who’s returning from abroad, he has the audacity to beg me to act as his wife again!”

The truth was, while William was managing the Walter Corporation, the company’s shares were actually held by his mother, Sarah Walter, who lived abroad.

If William, the shameless scumbag, feared anything in this world, it was his ruthlessly shrewd mother.

It was her cunning that enabled the Walter Family to rise above the other four great families and achieve its current position.

As for me, it was Sarah Walter who personally chose me to marry William back then.

But not long into our marriage, William fell for his secretary and kicked me to the curb.

He kept all this hidden from his mother, who was living overseas. Now, with her sudden return for her 60th birthday, he was desperate and had come crawling back to me to play the role of the dutiful daughter-in-law.

This pathetic man!

What William still didn’t understand was why his mother insisted he marry an ordinary woman like me.

He didn’t realize that the reason the Walter Family was able to rise above the other great families and maintain its dominance was the Ross Family’s financial and political backing behind the scenes—a secret only a select few knew.

Although my parents had passed away a few years ago due to genetic illnesses, they had left the entire Ross Family estate in my hands.

My sarcastic remarks made William’s face turn even darker.

“Enough with the act, Dana. Hiring a few male models to put on a show doesn’t cost that much. You’re probably spending the divorce settlement I gave you anyway.”

“If you come back and play your part, my mom might even reward you with a few more million. You know she’s always liked you as a daughter-in-law.”

“My mom’s 60th birthday party isn’t just for her; my dad, family elders and everyone will be there. Don’t embarrass me!”

By the end of his rant, William’s face was flushed with anger, a mix of shame and fury.

“Fine. Seeing how eager you are, I’ll reluctantly make a trip back!”

Honestly, I wanted to see what kind of waves his mistress had stirred up in the year since I left.

After William left, I clapped my hands on my thighs and looked at the eight brothers around me.

“Alright, go wrap up your tasks and meet me here at the courtyard first thing tomorrow morning! We’re going to return to the Walter Family in style and you’re all going to make your sister proud!”

The eight of them snapped to attention in unison, saluting sharply.

“Yes, Sister! Mission guaranteed!”

Looking at the group of vibrant, handsome men, each with their unique charm, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

The truth was, these eight brothers weren’t just pretty faces. Each one was extraordinarily talented.

Some excelled in business, some in the arts. One was a tech genius and another was a martial arts champion.

I’d invested in each of them according to their strengths and they’d all made outstanding achievements in their respective fields.

Unlike William, that worthless scumbag who only knew how to play poker with women, my vision was much broader, my taste far more refined. These eight brothers were the result of my investments.

The next morning, all eight of them arrived on time. I brought out the stretch limousine from the underground garage, which fit everyone perfectly.

With eight brothers dressed in custom-tailored suits, I drove us to the Walter Family villa, making an entrance so grand that we instantly became the center of attention.

“Who are they? Pulling up in a stretch limo like they’re some big deal.”

“Look at that! There are eight handsome men getting out of the car—so dreamy!”

Ignoring the gawking Walter Family onlookers, I parked the car and stepped out with my entourage.

William’s mistress, Rossa, strutted out to greet me. She was dressed in a tight-fitting fishtail gown, radiating the air of a hostess.

“Well, well, Ms. Dana, you’re here! Why did you bring so many male models along? Still living it up, huh?”

My martial arts champion brother, Mark Ross, didn’t take kindly to her remark. His expression turned icy as he chuckled coldly.

“Watch your words, ma’am. We’re her brothers, not male models.”

My art collector brother, James Ross, gave Rossa a once-over, then sneered.

“Calling our sister old and vigorous? I thought you were some young beauties. But she is wrong, aren’t you pushing forty?”

James Ross always had a sharp tongue and his comment nearly made Rossa choke.

After all, Rossa was only twenty-four. For the record, I wasn’t that old either—just thirty.

I led my brothers into the villa’s grand living room.

Some of the older generation, like William’s uncles and cousins, were familiar faces. The younger ones were mostly strangers to me.

Ignoring the crowd, I headed straight for the head of Walter Family—my mother-in-law, Sarah Walter.

This visit served two purposes: to see how far Rossa had stirred the pot and to meet Sarah Walter.

After all, in the entire Walter Family, the only person I respected was Sarah Walter—a woman with unmatched foresight and capability.

The moment Sarah Walter saw me, she stood up and warmly greeted me.

“Dana, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you. William said you’ve been busy traveling for work lately?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw William frantically signaling me and I instantly knew this was one of his fabricated lies.

“Yes, Mom. It’s been a year since you’ve been back to check on things. Now that you’re here for the birthday celebration, are you planning to stay longer?”

“Trying my best, trying my best. You know I’m used to life abroad—staying here for long is a bit much for me...”

As I exchanged affectionate pleasantries with my mother-in-law, Rossa, standing to the side without a title or status, was so envious that her mouth twisted in frustration.

After all, I still held the title of the Walter Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, while she remained nameless and unacknowledged.

A year ago, I divorced William—or so we claimed. In reality, we were merely separated; the paperwork was never finalized.

Though Rossa had moved into William’s villa and posed as the new young madam of the Walter Family, the truth was that they hadn’t registered their marriage. Legally, they had no ties.

This was one of William’s struggles. Any official change in marital status would immediately expose him to his mother.

And if his mother found out he had kicked me out to bring in a mistress, she would break his legs.

So, although everyone in the room knew the tangled relationships among me, Rossa and William, not a single person dared to bring it up.

As I chatted with my mother-in-law, our conversation grew lively. At one point, she reached into her bag and pulled out an enormous emerald pendant, pressing it into my hand.

“Dana, I got this at the royal auction in France—a flawless emerald once part of their royal collection. Not too expensive, just a little over a hundred million Dollar. Consider it a homecoming gift from me to you.”

Her birthday banquet hadn’t even started and she was already giving me a gift. It was clear how much she valued and liked me.

That gesture alone was enough to make everyone else burn with jealousy.

I accepted the pendant happily.

“Thank you, Mom. I’ve prepared a gift for you too—I promise it’s something you don’t already have!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Rossa. Her face was already contorted with jealousy and she was biting her lip so hard it was about to bleed.

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of smug satisfaction.

Before I could present my gift, Rossa couldn’t hold back any longer. She stepped forward eagerly, addressing my mother-in-law.

“Madam—oh, I mean, Mother Walter! I wish you boundless happiness and longevity. I’ve also prepared a gift for you and I’m sure you’ll love it.”

With that, she turned and brought out a painting, unfurling it with a flourish before my mother-in-law.

“Madam, look! This is Tranquility of Bamboo and Feathered Pair, a rare masterpiece I acquired at great cost from a private collector!”

It seemed Rossa had done her homework, knowing my mother-in-law loved antiques and traditional art.

As expected, my mother-in-law’s face lit up with delight. She reached out to touch the painting, her expression one of pure joy.

“This painting is a priceless treasure. How much did you pay for it?”

“One hundred million.”

As she said this, Rossa glanced smugly around the room, as if challenging everyone: Who here can give a gift more precious or thoughtful than mine?

She had a point. From what I could see, the pile of birthday gifts by my mother-in-law’s side had already grown into a small mountain, undoubtedly from other family members who had arrived before me.

So far, it seemed none of those gifts could surpass Rossa’s in value or appeal. It was unlikely anyone would outdo her today.

Her intentions were clear.

First, she wanted to curry favor with my mother-in-law, laying the groundwork for the day she revealed her relationship with William.

Second, she wanted to impress the Walter Family, proving she had the qualifications and ability to replace me as the young madam.

But here’s the thing: my family had been dealing in antiques and art for generations. The moment I saw the painting, I could tell it was a fake.

Though it was a decent imitation, it completely lacked the texture and spirit of the original. At best, it was the work of a third-rate artist and worth no more than a few thousand dollar.

I knew this because I had been present at the auction where the original painting was sold. I even knew which collector currently owned it.