Harry watched me with that same mocking smile. "Stop glaring at me like you want to eat me alive. If you've got money, pay the bill and leave."
"Ha! What money? She couldn't pay this if her life depended on it."
"The food, the wine they've already uncorked—she couldn't even look at that total without flinching."
"She's been living off Mr. Gilbert's money this whole time. Without him, she's nothing."
To make sure I was completely humiliated, Harry stood up with a cold laugh, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"Anyone who helps Celeste out of this mess becomes my enemy—and an enemy of the Gilbert family."
Everyone knew the Gilberts were the wealthiest family in Cresthaven. No one would dare cross Harry.
A few business partners I was actually close with started to rise from their seats, ready to step in for me.
But the moment they heard Harry's words, they sat back down fast, terrified he might notice.
"See? Mr. Gilbert isn't playing around."
"He's protecting his little secretary harder than he ever protected his wife!"
"Right? I thought being his legal spouse would count for something—that he was just angry. But this is real."
"After that threat, who's going to help her?"
I lost control. I stormed over and grabbed Harry's arm. "Harry, are you really going to humiliate me like this for some scheming little homewrecker?"
Harry sneered and backhanded me across the face.
Slap.
"Yes."
I turned back to stare at him, barely able to believe what just happened.
Three years of marriage. We were famous for being the perfect couple. He was the one who pursued me when I first came to Cresthaven.
At our wedding, he made vows—swore he'd be faithful forever, that he'd love me with his life until the end of time.
And now? Just three years later, every promise, every beautiful memory—destroyed by his cold cruelty.
Just like people always said: marry into wealth with nothing but a pretty face, and you'll never have any dignity.
The moment someone younger and prettier comes along, your life as a rich man's wife is over.
But Harry had no idea. When I married into the Gilbert family, I wasn't after their money. I married him because I loved him.
Facing my bloodshot eyes, Harry pulled out a napkin and turned away dismissively, wiping the hand he'd just struck me with.
"You knew I cared about that secretary, and you still had to push it."
"Celeste, if you can't pay this bill, I'll have the manager strip you naked and throw you out of this restaurant."
The room erupted. Everyone stared at me with mockery and hunger in their eyes.
"Mr. Gilbert's really going all out—making his own wife run out naked for the new girl."
"Can you believe it?"
"She won't be his wife for long. After tonight, she'll be nobody."
"Shh, let's just watch."
The older businessmen looked on with amusement.
"I want to see if she's got the body to match all that pride."
My face burned with humiliation.
Harry had taken my card before we left the house, catching me off guard.
All I had was the designer dress on my back. I had no way to pay.
And my phone was dead. That's when I realized—Harry had planned all of this.
"It's getting late, Celeste. The restaurant's waiting for you to settle up so they can close."
