Chapter Two: A Mistress In

The moment I ended the call, Brandon's reply lingered in my mind.

“Yes.” That was all he had said, yet it felt strangely reassuring.

I slipped my phone back into my purse and drove home.

The villa was quiet when I arrived. For months, I had hidden inside these walls, avoiding guests and refusing to attend social gatherings because I couldn't bear the pitying looks people gave me. Tonight, however, I walked through the house with my head held high. The scars were gone. The woman everyone thought was ruined no longer existed.

Tomorrow, I would no longer be Daniel Sterling's bride either.

The thought should have hurt, but instead, I felt relieved.

I had just changed into my pajamas when I heard the front door open downstairs. A moment later, footsteps approached the bedroom before the door swung open.

Daniel stepped inside, smelling faintly of cheap perfume and whiskey. When he saw me sitting on the couch in the dim light, he startled slightly, but quickly forced a warm, concerned smile onto his face.

"Jessica, darling," he said, walking over and kneeling in front of me. He reached out to gently touch my shoulder, his eyes swimming with fake tenderness. "Why are you up so late? You should be resting. The doctor said stress is bad for your... condition."

My condition. The way he said it made my stomach turn.

"I couldn't sleep," I said, keeping my voice soft, and completely neutral.

"I know, baby. I'm so sorry I was late," he murmured, kissing my forehead…a kiss that made my skin crawl. "The corporate team kept me tied up all night securing our future. I'm doing all this for us, you know? Even with your face... I still want to give you a grand wedding tomorrow, even if we have to keep you somewhat covered up."

I stared at him in the dark. The sheer hypocrisy was breathtaking. Just hours ago, I had heard him call me a disfigured monster to his friends.

Now, he was playing the devoted, long-suffering fiancé to my face.

"You're so good to me, Daniel," I whispered smoothly.

“Yes, and I will always be, now wait let me get you some some milk.” he said standing up

A satisfied smile appeared on his face before he left the room and quietly closed the door behind him. After some minutes he came back.

I accepted the glass and stared at the pale liquid. A memory surfaced unexpectedly. Four months ago, one of the nurses had mentioned that sleeping medication was often mixed into milk because the taste was difficult to detect.

My eyes narrowed slightly, or perhaps I was overthinking or maybe after everything I had witnessed tonight, I had finally learned not to trust Daniel blindly.

Pretending not to notice anything unusual, I lifted the glass to my lips and took a small sip before setting it down on the bedside table.

Daniel watched me closely.

Only after seeing the glass almost empty did he finally relax. A strange look flashed through his eyes before disappearing.

"Goodnight, Jessica I need to work downstairs since I won't be working tomorrow.” He he said leaned down and kissed my forehead.

The second he was gone, I picked up the glass and carried it into the bathroom and without hesitation, I poured the remaining milk into the sink.

Then I returned to the bedroom, switched off the lights, and climbed into bed.

Twenty minutes later, I heard the front door open again.

My eyes opened immediately in the darkness.

I stood up and went outside the door. Staring from the stairs.

The door opened, and Ivy stepped out, holding a small overnight bag.

Daniel met her at the side door, pulling her into his arms the second she stepped inside. He pressed her against the wall, kissing her deeply right there in our marital home.

"God, I missed you," Daniel breathed heavily between kisses. "Did anyone see you?"

"No," Ivy giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck, her voice echoing softly up the back staircase where I stood hidden in the shadows.

"Is the ugly beast asleep?"

"Yeah, she's locked away upstairs," Daniel sneered, taking Ivy’s bag and guiding her into the downstairs guest suite. "She's so clueless.

She actually believed I was working late for us."

"She’s so gullible," Ivy sneered, stepping into the room as Daniel closed the door, leaving it slightly ajar. "So what's the plan for tomorrow? Are we really letting her walk down the aisle?"

I pressed myself against the wall outside the guest suite, my breath steady, listening to every single word through the crack in the door.

"The wedding is just a formality for the media and her parents," Daniel’s voice came through, cold and calculating. "Once the ceremony is over and her father transfers the thirty percent division shares to my name, I’m putting her on a private flight to the northern estate. I’ll tell the public her mental health deteriorated from the trauma of her disfigurement."

"And me?" Ivy cooed, the sound of fabric rustling filling the air. "When do I get to be Mrs. Sterling?"

"Soon, my love. As soon as the shares are legally mine, I’ll file for divorce on grounds of her instability. Then I’ll bring you and our baby into this house permanently. Everything she owned…her money, this house, her family's status…will belong to you alone.”

"Oh, Daniel," Ivy giggled, her voice thick with triumph. "She suffered that terrible accident to save you, and in the end, she's handing me her whole life on a silver platter."

"She was stupid enough to get burned for me," Daniel chuckled darkly. "Let her pay the price."

Standing outside the door in the pitch-black hallway, I didn't feel sadness. I didn't feel heartbreak.

I felt an icy, cold fury that burned hotter than the fire that had almost killed me.

They thought they were setting a trap for a pathetic, broken woman. They had no idea that tomorrow, at the engagement banquet, the trap was going to spring on them instead.

I quietly turned around, walked back upstairs to the master suite, and pulled out my phone to text Brandon one final time before morning.

They thought tomorrow would be the day they stole everything from me.

They were wrong, tomorrow was the day I became Brandon Sterling's Wife.

And the day Daniel Sterling lost everything.

I woke up late the next morning, the bedroom quiet and completely empty. Sunlight streamed through the tall lace curtains, casting long shadows across the king-sized bed.

I sat up, brushing my hair back, and noticed a small piece of paper resting on the bedside table next to an empty glass. I picked it up.

It was a note from Daniel, written in his neat, practiced handwriting.

“Good morning, my love. I had to head to the venue early to coordinate with the press and the board. Rest up, take your time, and remember to keep yourself covered tonight so you don't feel overwhelmed by the crowd. I love you.”

A cold, mocking smile touched my lips. “I love you?” The same man who had slipped sleeping pills into my milk and spent the night in the guest room with another woman.

Without a second thought, I ripped the note into tiny pieces and tossed them straight into the trash can.

My phone had been buzzing continuously on the nightstand. I finally picked it up and opened my messages. It was a barrage of texts and photos from an unknown number.

I scrolled through them calmly. And they were pictures of Ivy in my silk robe, sipping espresso in our kitchen, and a selfie of her laying her head on Daniel’s chest while he slept.

“Morning, sweetie,’ one text read. Daniel and I already left for the hotel. Hope you slept well after your milk. Don't forget to wear a veil tonight so you don't embarrass him.”

A second text followed: “And remember he belongs to me now. Just accept it and don't make a scene, or Daniel will send you away sooner than you think.”

I tossed the phone onto the bed, completely unfazed. Ivy thought she was taunting a broken woman; in reality, she was just digging her own grave.

At 2:00 PM, a sleek black Mercedes pulled into the driveway.

Two women in crisp black suits stepped out, holding a long garment bag, followed by a top-tier hair and makeup team.

"Mrs. Sterling?" the lead stylist asked respectfully, bowing her head as I opened the front door. "Mr. Brandon Sterling sent us. We are here to prepare you for this evening’s banquet."

"Come inside," I said softly.

For the next three hours, they went to work. They washed, styled, painted, and dressed me with silent, rhythmic perfection. When I finally stepped in front of the full-length mirror, I held my breath.

The gown Brandon had selected was an absolute masterpiece…a deep emerald green silk dress that clung to every curve, backless, with a subtle slit up the side. The rich color made my skin look porcelain, radiant, and completely untouched by fire. My long dark hair was styled in soft, glamorous waves, and my makeup was sharp, elegant, and striking.

There were no bandages. No heavy veil. No scars to hide. Looking back at myself I looked like a queen stepping onto her throne.

After some time we drove off to the venue. The Grand Imperial Hotel was packed with the city’s high-society elite. Photographers’ flashbulbs went off continuously, blindingly white against the crystal chandeliers as business tycoons, heiresses, and reporters filled the ballroom.

Tonight was supposed to be the public announcement of my marriage to Daniel, hosted by his division of the family empire. He was aiming to lock in the final contract investments from my family’s estate tonight.

I arrived separately, stepping out of Brandon’s private car just as Daniel and Ivy were walking up the red carpet together. He was in a classic tuxedo, looking arrogant as ever, while Ivy stood by his side in a flashy white dress that screamed desperation.

Daniel was scanning the crowd nervously, looking out for me. He clearly expected to see a timid girl wrapped in a heavy shawl, hiding her face behind a thick veil, cowering from the cameras.

Instead, the crowd suddenly went dead silent as I stepped into the light.

Whispers rippled through the hall like wildfire.

"Who is that woman?"

"Look at her... she’s stunning!"

"Is that... wait, is that Jessica?"

Daniel turned his head, his eyes widening in absolute shock. The champagne glass in his hand tilted, nearly spilling onto his suit. He stared at me, his mouth slightly open, his gaze raking over my flawless face, my unscarred cheeks, and the breathtaking gown I wore.

For a second, total disbelief flashed across his face, followed instantly by a wave of possessive, burning desire. He had forgotten how beautiful I was before the accident…and seeing me now, completely restored, rendered him entirely speechless.

He pulled away from Ivy without thinking, taking a step toward me as if drawn by a magnet.

"Jessica?" he breathed, his voice trembling.

"Your... your face. How…"

Before he could reach me, Ivy’s face contorted with pure, ugly jealousy. She saw the way Daniel was looking at me, like a man who suddenly realized what he had lost. She saw her hold over him slipping away in a single second.

Panicking, Ivy rushed forward, stepping directly between us.

"Jessica!" Ivy cried out loudly, her voice echoing across the entrance hall to draw everyone's attention. "Why are you doing this?! Why are you wearing such a revealing dress to mock Daniel after everything he’s done for you?!"

I stopped, looking down at her with cool, unbothered eyes. "Get out of my way, Ivy."

"No.” Ivy shrieked, tears springing to her eyes in a performance that deserved an award. She grabbed my arm tightly, leaning in close so only I could hear her whisper, "You won't take him back from me, you ugly bitch."

Then, before I could even brush her off, Ivy violently threw herself backward onto the marble floor, letting out a sharp, dramatic scream.

Clang.

Her glass shattered against the tiles as she hit the ground, clutching her stomach and sobbing hysterically.

"My baby." Ivy cried out, her voice ringing across the entire banquet hall. "Help me! She pushed me, Jessica pushed me because she’s jealous of my baby.”

The entire ballroom gasped. Dozens of cameras swung toward us, flashbulbs exploding instantly as the crowd surged forward to catch the scandal on camera.

Daniel’s expression shifted instantly from stunned awe to sudden, furious outrage. He rushed to Ivy’s side, lifting her into his arms while glaring up at me like I was a monster.

"Jessica.” Daniel roared, his voice dripping with venom in front of all the reporters and high-society guests. "Have you completely lost your mind?! How could you attack a pregnant woman?.”