One year had gone by since my husband got married to me. I went back to the company for a celebration party.

I'd just taken my seat when a woman with a Cartier ring around her finger splashed a glass of red wine in my face.

"That's the chairman's seat, you slut! Who are you? How dare you take his seat!"

The guests surrounded me and grabbed my hands and feet. Someone even kicked me down to the ground.

I held my fury back. "I'm the chairman's wife! Matthew Grayson is my husband!"

The woman yanked my hair and sneered at me. "So, you're the bitch he's forced to marry. He's already generous enough, letting you marry him. You live on his money, and now you're trying to steal his place and be the boss. I know sluts like you know no shame! Guards, throw her out!"

I laughed mirthlessly. The man who leeched off me thought he could call the shots now.

Still, I kept my fury in check and called his number. "Hello, Matthew. Did you tell everyone I lived on your money and that you're the boss of the company?"

Ridiculous Demand

Matthew said nothing at all, but his mother, Sarah, did. A shrill voice retorted, "What on earth are you talking about, girl?" There was a heavy accent in her voice. She was a country woman. "My son makes big money while you do nothing all day! You shop around all the time! Of course, you live on my son's money!

"It's been a year since you married my son, and you haven't even given me a grandkid! How dare you yell at my son! This is ridiculous! Unbelievable!"

Sarah wanted to insult me further, but Matthew hung up, and only beeps echoed in the air. A moment later, Matthew's text came in.

'Sorry, Wendy. Mom's getting older, and you know what it's like with country ladies. They're stuck in the 60s. Don't take it to heart. We can talk about it when I get back.'

I stared at the text. This was absurd. It was a joke. Sarah was blind to her own world. Her son rose from a no-name man to the head of a company in a single year.

I helped him out a lot, but she thought her son did it on his own. She thought he was unbelievably talented.

The secretary, Rochelle Wood, overheard the call. She was the woman with the Cartier ring. Now, her eyes were filled with scorn for me.

"You heard that, people! Mr. Grayson's mother doesn't even like her!" She turned to me. "And I heard you snuck your way into marriage by drugging Mr. Grayson. You're a slut who'd stop at nothing to get what you want! How dare you show your face around us!"

She scanned the people who were keeping me down.

"But I'm not unkind. For Mr. Grayson's sake, I'll give you a chance to repent. It's the company's celebration party today. If you apologize—and I mean, really apologize—to all the company's employees in the hall, we'll let this slide and let you go."

Since their boss and his mother hated me, everyone played along with the secretary's plans. And they insulted me further.

"Yeah! Mr. Grayson's mom sees Ms. Wood as her own daughter!"

Someone added, "If you haven't snuck into the spot and refused to leave, Ms. Wood would've been the one to marry Mr. Grayson!"

"Now apologize to us, or you're not leaving!"

Rochelle pressed her hand down on my head, forcing me to bow.

The Mistress

I clenched my teeth and held my back as straight as I could. I was hissing through my teeth.

"You might be blind, Rochelle, but I'm still Matthew's wife! You're going to get fired for this!"

Rochelle Wood chuckled and huddled close enough to whisper into my ear. "Do you know why his mother took my side? Because I'm pregnant with her grandkid! Even if Mr. Grayson does show up, it's me against you. He's going to take my side, you barren bitch."

She scoffed. "You don't even hold a candle to me. I'd leave if I were you. Saves the humiliation and the spot for a more deserving woman."

My pupils turned into little dots, and I stared at the tiny baby bump on her belly. It was an eyesore. The man who promised me eternal love and gratitude had betrayed me a long time ago.

While I was paving his way to success with my money, connections, and resources, he kept a woman on the side and started a family with her!

They even had a baby!

"Why you…"

Before my rage could spill out of my mouth, Rochelle's smug smile turned into terror. She grabbed my arm and tumbled backward like she was hit with a freight train.

A bloodcurdling scream shattered the air of the hall. Rochelle crumpled down to the ground and held her belly tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she put on the mask of a hurt pregnant woman.

"I was just trying to help, Mrs. Grayson! Why'd you push me?"

A furious voice exploded from the crowd. "What are you doing, Wendy?"

Matthew shoved the crowd aside and darted into the fray. He didn't even look at me. Instead, he went straight to Rochelle, looking every bit the worried lover as he helped her get back up.

"Are you alright, Rochelle?" he asked. "How's your… belly?"

At the same time, Sarah's heavily accented voice barged in. "My God, this is ridiculous!"

She darted in and raised her callused hand. Without even asking a single question, she put all her weight into it and slapped me across my face.

The impact made my head turn, and then burning pain throbbed in my cheek. My ears started to ring.

"You evil witch! The devil has taken you, hasn't he? You started a scene at my son's company, and now you pushed Rochelle!"

She jabbed a finger in my face and roared, "Get a divorce, Matthew! You can't keep this witch around! And make sure she takes nothing from you!"

My whole life, I'd never run into this kind of abuse. I thought, 'Guess there's going to be a big score to settle.'

I covered my cheek and turned around. My eyes scanned the furious Sarah, the fake bitch, and finally, Matthew. Slowly, I asked, "Are you sure you're going to make me leave with nothing, Matthew?"

He was holding the crying Rochelle. She was faking her weakness, while he froze for a fraction of a moment.

He quietly soothed Rochelle and hurried over to me. With a voice only he could hear, he whispered words of fake sweetness into my ears. "I’d never hurt you, Wendy, but you know my mom—stubborn as an old mule, and so impulsive. But she is my mother, at the end of the day. She was just letting her worry get the better of her. I’m truly sorry she struck you."

I was still indifferent.

It was a bullshit story. His mother slapped his wife for his secretary. That was way beyond being worried.

Refusal

The signs were all there, but I had no idea about them.

Matthew was watching me. He thought my indifference meant I wasn't mad, and he spoke in an even softer tone. "Go back home and leave this to me. You will get the explanation you deserve. Trust me."

I left the noisy hall and called my assistant.

"I need you to compile the company's transactions, important business proposals, work reports, and shareholder changes over the past year, then encrypt them and send them to me ASAP! Right now, if possible!"

My assistant answered calmly, "Got it, Mrs. Grayson. Right away."

…

It was already late at night.

Matthew was back. I heard the key turning in the keyhole. He was holding an immaculate paper bag. It was the delivery package from my favorite spot.

Matthew was carefully taking his shoes off at the porch and changing into slippers. Softly and gently, he said, "Are you still up, Wendy?" I could hear how much he was faking it.

Only a lamp was on in the living room. I was seated behind the desk, while the screen of my laptop shone in the near-darkness.

I met his eyes calmly. "Yes. I have work to do."

He put on a loving smile and approached me, then he set the paper bag down on the desk. "I can handle work. You don't have to work so hard. You should get plenty of rest."

He opened the bag and took out the food. It was still warm. Then he pushed the food over to me. Still gentle, he said, "I got you supper. Shrimp balls, your favorite. They're still hot."

I did not take the food.

I didn't even look at it.

Only silence remained now, and it was pressing down hard.

Matthew's smile froze, then he spoke again, this time relenting. "Are you still mad about what happened earlier? Ms. Wood's a fresh college graduate, and there's a lot she doesn't know about the workplace.

"I know she can be a bit rough around the edges, but she knows how to care for people. My mom's getting older, and she needs people like Ms. Wood."

He continued, "Yes, she went too far with you, and I've given her a proper scolding. She said she's sorry. We can give her a second chance."

He paused.

Then, he turned the attack on me, this time with a little flicker of resentment he did not notice. "And you did push her first. She's pregnant. If she lost her baby, we'd have a lot to answer for. We have to be reasonable."

I interrupted him, "Is she really? Whose baby is it?"

Matthew froze up, but then he smiled. "It's private. I can't just ask her that."

That acting was so bad, it made college students look like pros. I nearly laughed. Well, if he wasn't answering my question, I saw no point in pushing him.

Instead, I said, "Then, fire her. I see no point in keeping a secretary who can't even show any professionalism."

Matthew massaged his temples. This time, he did not back down. "I've talked to her, Wendy. She's just a pregnant college grad. Why do you keep pushing her? You can't have any children of your own.

"You don't get how hard it is for pregnant women. I think termination is taking it too far. And I'm in charge of all company affairs. So…"

He took a deep breath and softened up, but he still wanted to prod me. "So, just leave it at that. Let me handle it. I hired her for a reason."