I let out a scoff.

“I didn't come here to play your pathetic little games.”

“I came to settle the score.”

Elwin's expression went cold instantly.

“Maura, you'd better behave yourself before Summer gets here.”

Norma jabbed a finger at me, snarling：

“Ungrateful wretch! Just wait until my daughter-in-law gets here and puts you in your place!”

The words had barely left her mouth when a figure appeared, drawing every eye in the room as she glided toward us.

Summer Pruitt wore a lavish designer dress, every gesture radiating the kind of arrogance and entitlement that only old money could breed.

She stopped to fuss over the baby for a moment, then made her way over.

First she greeted Norma, then looped her arm through Elwin's.

“Elwin, what are you and Mom up to?”

Norma pointed at me：

“Summer, thank God you're here. This tramp found out you're my daughter-in-law and had the nerve to mouth off at me. Deal with her!”

Summer's gaze swept over me, sizing me up from head to toe.

“So you're the woman who chased after Elwin for five years and wouldn't take no for an answer until he married you?”

“He told me he never even liked you. The only reason he went through with it was because he felt sorry for you, throwing yourself at him the way you did.”

“He's too kind for his own good, really. But now he's the father of my son, so I'd suggest you do the smart thing and sign those divorce papers quietly.”

“Oh, and one more thing. You disrespected someone you shouldn't have. You owe her an apology. On your knees.”

I glanced around. Summer's bodyguards had corralled the other guests several yards away, keeping them out of earshot. The purpose was obvious: nothing said here was meant to leave this circle.

I smiled coldly.

“Quite the guest list tonight. You must be worried about dragging the Pruitt name through the mud.”

She caught my meaning. A thin, icy smile curled across her lips.

“Smart enough to figure that out, are you? Then let me guess why you're really here. Money.”

Norma sneered.

“This one's got some nerve. My son already offered her a million-dollar check and she tore it up.”

Summer's eyes narrowed.

Then she pulled out a check of her own.

“Tell you what. Fill in whatever number you want. Keep your mouth shut, and I won't make your life difficult.”

Norma bristled, unwilling to let it go.

“But she just……”

Summer's expression turned frigid.

“Shut up. This is about the Pruitt reputation.”

Norma clenched her jaw and glared at me but didn't dare say another word.

I looked at the check.

This time, I took it.

A satisfied smile spread across Summer's face.

“Good. Now that you've accepted, leave.”

I replied evenly：“What's the rush? Elwin is still technically my husband. The least I can do is stay and enjoy the celebration.”

Something cold flickered behind Summer's eyes.

“Fine. If you want to watch so badly, then watch to your heart's content.”

“Pathetic.”

She let out a contemptuous laugh and walked away with her entourage.

It wasn't long before one of my operatives sent me a video.

On the screen, Summer was giving Norma her instructions.

“Once the banquet is over, take a few men and get rid of that woman for good. I don't want her running her mouth. Keep the check for yourself. I'll handle the rest.”

Norma was practically glowing：

“Now that's the daughter-in-law I deserve! So satisfying. The second she steps out, I'll take care of it.”

When the time came, the emcee took the stage.

He launched into an effusive speech about how Summer had been instrumental to Elwin's company, how the two had fallen in love through their partnership, then heaped praise on the baby in their arms.

Then Summer picked up the microphone.

“Thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate our baby's one-month celebration. My husband and I are deeply honored by your presence.”

“I now declare this banquet……”

“Wait!”

A clear, commanding voice cut through the celebration.

Every head in the room turned toward me.

Under the weight of all those stares, I walked to the stage, took the microphone from the host's hand, and faced the crowd.

Every pair of eyes was locked on me, wary and uncertain, as I spoke.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there's something you should know.”

“This woman's husband, Elwin Henson, is already a married man.”

“He carried on with another woman behind his wife's back and fathered a child with her.”

I held up my marriage certificate with Elwin for the entire room to see, plain as day.

The moment the words left my mouth, the room erupted.

Guests stared at the two of them in open disbelief.

One of the senior figures in attendance turned to Summer's father.

“Mr. Pruitt, what exactly is going on here?”

Jeremy Pruitt's face was dark as a storm cloud.

He shot a displeased glance at Summer on the stage, as if blaming her for not handling this beforehand.

So he had known about Elwin's marriage all along and had simply gone along with whatever his daughter wanted.

The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

In that instant, I decided the Pruitt family had no reason left to exist.

Beside me, Summer was seething, her glare sharp enough to flay me alive.

But it was Elwin who spoke up.

“Everyone, please, don't believe a word she says!”

“Yes, we signed a marriage certificate, but she dragged me to the courthouse when I was blackout drunk. It doesn't count!”

“We don't even have children together. She's the one who won't let go!”

“So that certificate? It's nothing but a piece of paper.”

He delivered it with such conviction that the crowd swallowed every word.

The accusations swung toward me instead.

“So she's just some obsessed admirer? Unbelievable. Crashing a Pruitt family event like this.”

“I knew it. A man like Mr. Henson would never do something so disgraceful.”

“The delusion on this woman is something else entirely.”

The ridicule and contempt crashed over me like a wave, burying me where I stood.

I stayed rooted to the spot, cold to the bone, every limb rigid.

The husband I had loved for three years had just twisted every truth inside out and slandered me in front of hundreds of people.

And in that moment, I laughed.

I looked straight at Elwin.

“Good for you. You're really something.”

His expression was remote, his voice low.：“Maura, I told you. You shouldn't have come here. Since you insist on clinging to me, don't blame me for what happens next.”

Below the stage, Jeremy Pruitt nodded at him with a look of approval.

Summer's face twisted into something ugly as she turned on me.：“You just don't know when to quit, do you? Fine. Then you can die for it.”

She screamed at the bodyguards standing near the stage.：“What are you standing around for? Drag this lying tramp out and get rid of her!”

Relatives from both families piled on, cursing me for disgracing their names.

The bodyguards surged toward the stage.

Every guest in the hall held their breath. The tension was suffocating.

Everyone was certain of the same thing: I had crossed the Pruitts, and I was finished.

Then the next second changed everything.

The heavy double doors of the hotel ballroom slammed open.

Dozens of black-suited security operatives poured in, moving in lockstep. They pinned the bodyguards to the floor before a single one could reach me.

The lead operative stopped before me and reported.：

“Ma'am, the hotel is locked down. Not even a fly is getting out.”

I lifted my gaze and let it drift across the ashen faces of Summer, Elwin, and every member of both families.

A smile curved my lips, cold and razor-edged.

“You wanted me dead, didn't you? You wanted to twist the truth?”

“Then let's see who buries who today.”