Iris’s POV
What Marty pulled at the bar blew up overnight.
[#DempseyHeirDropsFortuneOnDancerButGetsColdShoulder]
[#HeroMomentMartyDempseyRisksLifeToSaveDancerAtGunpoint]
Hashtags like that kept trending. Everyone was waiting to see how I’d react.
But I couldn’t be bothered. I logged out of every single social media account without a second thought.
Suddenly, the hospital room door opened. I looked up and saw my guest. It was Madisen.
“Everything outside is a complete mess, and you’re just sitting here like nothing’s happening?”
Her tone was pure provocation, but I didn’t feel a thing.
“I’ve got nothing to hide. Why wouldn’t I be calm?” I retorted flatly. “Mistresses are the ones who should feel guilty.”
Her beautiful face instantly iced over.
“Who the hell are you calling a mistress?”
“Bitch, not everyone is as lucky as you. I had to become a dancer just to survive, but I’ve always kept myself clean. I’ve never slept with any client.”
“I’ve seen plenty of rich, powerful men. Marty is just one of many who’ve chased me. But someone willing to risk his life for me? That’s a first.”
Her expression suddenly softened, and her tone shifted.
“So I came to tell you that after the shooting, I realized how sincere his feelings are. I’ve decided to give him a chance.”
“I’m Madisen Moyland, and if I’m going to be anything, it’ll be the wife, never some secret mistress!”
I stared at her. For a long second, I burst out laughing.
“Wow. What a fiery declaration. Too bad, a mistress is still a mistress. Even if you claw your way up, you don’t get to rewrite what you are.”
I swung my legs off the bed, walked up to her and slapped her hard.
She wasn’t ready for that. She dropped straight to the floor, and a gemstone pendant slipped out from the loose collar of her hospital gown.
It was a flawless pigeon-blood red. The sunlight caught it, and its fiery sparkle almost hurt my eyes.
When Marty and I were approaching our second anniversary, he’d gone through jewelry magazines and quietly enlisted people to attend auctions, spending a fortune to buy this gemstone.
I thought it was a surprise for me. God, I was so fucking happy.
But on the actual anniversary, I sat there all night beside a table full of food I cooked myself, waiting until he stumbled home drunk.
He said there was a sudden business engagement, and the gemstone was really just carefully prepared to please a client’s wife.
Seeing how uncomfortable he looked, I even felt bad for him. After that, I put even more of myself into managing family matters.
Turns out, every bit of it was real feelings traded for fake bullshit.
I let out a slow breath and shook my head at his mistress.
“Get out. Now. Don’t soil my eyes with your presence, or I won’t go easy on you.”
“And one more thing. This title? Mrs. Dempsey?” I looked her up and down. “Even if I throw it away, it still won’t ever be yours. You’re not even fit to stand on the same level.”
“Bitch!” Her shock twisted into anger. Just as she propped herself up, the door slammed open. It was Marty.
“Iris! Damn it, I was seriously wrong about you! I didn’t think you could be this arrogant and controlling!”
His eyes quickly landed on the red mark on Madisen’s face. He rushed over and helped her up.
“Madz is too kind. She was worried about your injury and came to check on you, and this is how you treat her?”
“I’m the one who overstepped.” Madisen gently touched his hand, smiling softly. “Mrs. Dempsey is probably just in a bad mood from her injury. Don’t be mad at her, Marty.”
Marty froze. When he realized what had happened, he excitedly pulled her into his arms.
“Madz, what did you just call me? You finally said it like that…”
The way they looked at each other made my stomach churn. Disgust clawed its way up my throat.
Madisen leaned against his chest, shooting me a smug look.
“This is really my fault,” she said softly.
“Marty, I only just realized how sincere you are. I want to reciprocate your feelings, but I don’t want to ruin your marriage with her.”
“That’s why I came today to talk to Mrs. Dempsey. I was going to keep my feelings hidden. I didn’t expect to upset her.”
That expression, seventy percent pitiful, thirty percent sweet, had him completely hooked.
“It’s not your fault,” Marty said immediately. “She’s the one being narrow-minded.”
Then, he demanded, “Iris, apologize to Madz. Right now!”
I let out a cold scoff and turned, just wanting to get back to the bed, but a sudden sharp pain hit my lower abdomen. I froze.
Madisen stepped forward, supporting me, then leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper by my ear.
“Mrs. Dempsey, whether it’s the necklace or that title, if I want it, there’s nothing I can’t take.”
“You didn’t know, did you?” she murmured. “Marty drank two whole bottles for me just to get me that necklace.”
