“So what if I am?” Daniel sneered. “Isn’t it the truth?”

“Sure, Mrs. Foster may be a bit older, but at least he has money. Unlike you—after all these years together, you still can’t even afford a house!”

I stared at him, my heart growing colder with every word. Ten years. Ten whole years and this was what it came to? That the final nail in the coffin of our relationship was my supposed inability to buy a house? If my parents ever found out about this, they’d probably laugh hard enough to lose a few teeth. I had planned to bring him home to meet my family, maybe even casually surprise him with a villa—one I intended to put in his name. That was the kind of future I had imagined. But who would've thought the man I once loved would reject me—because he thought I was poor?

Daniel must’ve mistaken my silence for submission. Emboldened, he went on with even more arrogance.

“What’s the matter, Linda? Cat got your tongue?”

“Still in shock? Don’t tell me you actually came here hoping to toast to my marriage?”

Then he threw his head back and laughed. “But hey, if you must come in, be my guest. At least you’ll finally get to see what you lost.”

Despite his endless stream of insults, I simply smiled—a calm, unfazed smile that only seemed to irritate him more.

“There’s no need for that,” I said quietly. “I’m afraid you’re the one who’ll regret this.”

With that, I turned to leave. But I barely took a step before a furious voice barked from behind me.

“You little bitch—who the hell do you think is going to regret it?!”

The voice belonged to none other than Maggie Foster—the bride herself. Chairwoman of Foster Group.

In business circles from Atlanta to Miami, Maggie was infamous. A notorious philanderer, she'd changed spouses more times than one could count—rumor had it he'd been married over a dozen times. And yet, not once had any of those ex-partners spoken out or accused her of wrongdoing. For that alone, I almost respected her. At least she was straightforward. She got what she wanted—youth and handsome. They got what they wanted—money. When it was over, both sides walked away clean. No fuss, no drama.

Now, Maggie sauntered up to me, swirling a glass of red wine as she looked me over with thinly veiled mockery.

“I heard… you’re my husband’s ex-girlfriend?” she said, lifting a brow with an amused smirk.

Then she suddenly grinned, a wicked edge glinting in her eyes.

“Tell me something, girl. Are you that useless in bed? You were with him for ten years and he’s still acting like a damn virgin.”

As if to prove her point, she reached around and gave Daniel a loud, heavy slap on the ass—right there in front of everyone.

“But I’ll give him this,” she continued with a laugh. “Your little boyfriend’s quite the slut. With the way he moans, I’m guessing you’ve never known what a real man feels like.”

I felt bile rise in my throat. And Daniel? He didn’t even flinch. In fact, he leaned into her like a spoiled pet, burying his face against her chest.

“Honey… you’re so bad,” he purred, his tone sickeningly sweet.

I forced down the nausea, fixing my gaze on him. “Daniel. Tell me the truth—did you really sleep with her?”

The crowd, drawn by the spectacle, gathered around eagerly, hungry for more drama. Daniel, unfazed, replied without a hint of shame.

“So what if I did? You made it easy for me.”

And just like that, the last flicker of affection I had for him—burned out completely.

“Well then,” I said, voice steady, “since you’re so desperate to become someone’s obedient little lapdog, I suppose all that’s left is to offer you my blessings.”

“You better make sure to grab as much money as you can while your wife’s still breathing. Because when she dies, that gold stream of yours is going to dry up fast.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, Maggie’s face twisted with rage.

“You little bitch! Who the hell are you calling dead?! I’ll have you know I’m going to outlive all of you!”

I let out a light laugh, unbothered. “Chairwoman Foster, don’t take it personally. But with how fast you go through husbands, I’d be surprised if you don’t die in bed within five years.”

Maggie was trembling from head to toe after hearing my words. Her face turned pale with rage, but she couldn't form a coherent sentence—she just stood there, stammering in place. Daniel, clinging to her arm like a loyal lapdog, immediately jumped to her defense, barking as if his meal ticket had been insulted.

“You bitch! How dare you curse my wife?”

“Even if Chairwoman Foster is older, she’s still a hundred times better than you! With her status and influence in Leavenworth, she could crush you with the flick of a finger!”

“I’m telling you—apologize to my wife right now, or don’t even think about walking out of here alive!”

When I was young, my parents taught me to respect the elderly and care for the young. But standing in front of this foul-mouthed old woman, spewing venom without shame, I couldn’t muster an ounce of respect. Especially not for someone who had the nerve to steal my boyfriend and then flaunt it like a prize.

As the betrayal simmered in my chest, I felt my patience starting to burn.

“Mr. Murphy,” I said with a calm edge in my voice, “you’re betting on the wrong horse.”

“This 'Chairwoman Foster' you speak of... to me, she’s nothing but a cheap social climber with a few dirty coins in her pocket.”

The crowd around us erupted in whispers and gasps.

“Who is this woman? She’s not even blinking while insulting General Manager Foster. Could she really be someone powerful?”

“Powerful? Please. She couldn’t even keep her boyfriend. Probably just another pretty face with no brains.”

“Exactly. Chairwoman Foster is a major player in Leavenworth. This girl’s just barking to save face.”

I let them talk. Their flattery meant nothing to me—just noise from sycophants trying to suck up to the wrong person. Because the truth was, if I wanted to, I could bring down Foster Group with nothing more than a casual signature. Their entire operation would collapse before the ink dried. But I didn’t. Not because I couldn't—but because I didn’t think it was worth my time. She was old. She wouldn’t be jumping around for many more years. Unfortunately, people tend to mistake mercy for weakness.

“Who are you calling a turd, you little bitch?!” Maggie finally exploded. “I’m the Chairwoman of a listed company! You’re just some pathetic woman abandoned by her man! Where do you get the audacity to talk to me like that?!”

“You’d better apologize right now, or I swear I’ll make sure you can’t take a single step in Leavenworth ever again!”

I looked up slowly, meeting her furious glare head-on. My voice came out cold and deliberate.

“Chairwoman Foster… I’ll ask you just once.”

“Are you sure you want to stand against me for the sake of this man?”

There was a sudden, eerie stillness in the room. Even the music had faded into background static. For a moment, Maggie stared at me, stunned—her bluster cracking under the weight of the aura I had deliberately released. Sensing her hesitation, Daniel instantly panicked. He clung to her tighter, desperate to keep his grip on his golden goose.

“Honey, don’t listen to her! She’s just a poor orphan—no parents, no background, no future. She’s nothing in Leavenworth! We don’t have to be afraid of her!”

Maggie cleared her throat a few times, trying to cover her faltering composure. Then she straightened her back and forced a smirk onto her wrinkled face.

“Girl, I’ve lived longer than you’ve been alive. And in all those years, you’re the first person who’s ever dared to threaten me.”

“My Foster Family holds real power in Leavenworth. You think I’d be scared of you?”

She was trying to sound bold, but anyone with a brain could see it was all bark and no bite. Her words weren’t for me—they were for herself. Still, I played along, pretending not to notice the fear twitching behind her eyes.

“I suggest you think this through, Chairwoman Foster,” I said calmly. “You wouldn’t want your entire company to crumble in your hands, would you?”

But before Maggie could say a word, Daniel once again jumped out like a clown at center stage.

“Linda, cut the act already! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

“So what is it? You came to see me today for money, didn’t you?”

Daniel’s voice dripped with arrogance. Halfway through his words, he reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek bank card, holding it out between two fingers like a bribe.

“There’s a hundred thousand dollars on this card. Think of it as compensation for the ten years you wasted with me.”

“Take the money, disappear from my sight and don’t you dare ruin my wedding.”

I stood motionless, a faint smile tugging at my lips, but I didn’t reach for the card.

“Mr. Murphy,” I said slowly, “do you have any idea how foolish you look right now? To someone like me, money is just a number.”

“But you—” I paused, looking him up and down, “you’re willingly marrying a woman older than your own mother just to crawl onto the rich list. Aren’t you worried people might die laughing at your desperation?”

Daniel’s face flushed deep red with anger. His eyes bulged and he jabbed his finger at me.

“So what if she’s older?! Even an old woman is a hundred times better than you!”

“Let me make one thing very clear—even without Chairwoman Foster, I would never marry you!”

By the end of his rant, he was practically roaring.

“Linda, a pathetic bitch like you doesn’t deserve love at all!”

I stood still for a beat, stunned at how low he was willing to sink. Then, I let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

“So, a poor bitch doesn’t deserve love?” I echoed, my smile turning ice-cold.

“Well, now I’m curious. What would happen if the ‘poor bitch’ you’re mocking right now became the richest woman in the country?”

My gaze sharpened, pinning him in place.

“Tell me, Daniel—when that day comes, will you get down on your knees and beg me?”

Daniel scoffed and burst out laughing.

“You?” he sneered. “Richest in the country? Please. More like the country’s biggest liability!”

I ignored his pathetic jeers and turned calmly toward Maggie, who had been silently observing from the side.

“Chairwoman Foster, how about we make a little wager?”

“I bet your precious bridegroom will end up kneeling at my feet—crying and begging for forgiveness.”

The entire wedding venue erupted into chaos.

“Is this woman insane? She’s talking about ruining the wedding of Foster Group’s Chairwoman!”

“Right? Anyone can talk big. If she’s really the richest in the country, why couldn’t she even keep her man?”

“Where’s security? Get her out of here before she ruins everything!”

Their words bounced off me like raindrops on stone. I didn’t care what they thought. The only person that mattered was the sixty-something woman standing before me—who had stolen my man and thought she could still enjoy a peaceful wedding? Over my dead body.

Maggie's face twisted with tension. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but no words came out. I stepped closer, still calm, still smiling—applying just enough pressure to crack her composure.

“Foster Group,” I began casually, “was listed on the New York Stock Exchange at the end of last year. The company is currently valued at one billion dollars.”

“As the largest shareholder, your stake is around thirty percent, which puts your net worth at roughly three hundred million.”

“Those numbers sound about right, don’t they, Chairwoman Foster?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw it—her expression faltered. Her eyes flicked with panic.

“You bitch! How dare you investigate me?!”

I chuckled softly, waving her off.

“Chairwoman Foster, don’t flatter yourself. A company of your size doesn’t even qualify for my attention.”

“My ex-boyfriend happened to work for you, that’s all. I simply asked someone to take a quick look. Nothing serious.”

Before I could even finish my sentence, Maggie’s body started trembling.

Her voice came out dry and wary. “What... what exactly are you trying to say?”

I smiled coldly, a glint of amusement in my eyes.

“I’m just thinking out loud.”

“Thinking what?” she snapped, her face slowly twisting into something ugly and terrified.

I leaned in slightly, lowered my voice and said with deadly calm.

“I’m wondering... which would be more satisfying—buying your company and taking everything from you…”

“Or letting it collapse into dust... and watching you crawl through the ruins.”