My husband’s little lover purposely shattered our wedding photo and even acted proudly while insulting me as an old, unattractive, aging woman.
Out of anger, I slapped her forcefully, making her lose her composure in the next day’s model shoot video, nearly preventing her from blending into the entire industry.
When my husband found out, he not only stayed calm, but even, for the first time, took the lead in preparing a table full of dishes I liked.
That evening, he brought me milk to aid my sleep.
After drinking it, I lost consciousness deeply.
When I regained awareness, I discovered I was tightly restrained in a cruise ship’s banquet hall.
From the mirror, I noticed a few bold words stamped across my face.
[Cheap meat on sale.]
I abruptly raised my head, only to see Waylon Gutierrez casually leaning to the side.
His little lover, Astraea Barnes, held a pork stamp, flashing a teasing smile at me.
The crowd below consisted of Phenix City’s upper class, looking at me with mean looks and joy at my suffering.
The host came up onto the stage.
“By President Gutierrez’s request, a special lot has been added temporarily tonight…”
“Mrs. Gutierrez stamped with pork seal!”
“Starting bid, one dollar!”
…..
My thoughts went empty, with only the coldness spreading through my blood.
I could not believe that just because I got upset over the engagement ring being auctioned, Waylon, to release anger for Astraea, made me suffer such humiliation in public!
Waylon looked at my pale face, seeming quite pleased. “Astraea only joked with you, but you caused her to lose face in public, taking away all her dignity.”
“Since you enjoy showing off at auctions, I’ll give you an opportunity, enjoy it.”
My body felt cold all over, and just when I was about to say something, a light laugh broke out.
Astraea had switched into a new, elegant dress, her face as flawless as before, without any red marks showing.
She wrapped her arm around Waylon, kissed him on purpose in front of everyone, then looked at me boldly.
The crowd below became more excited because of this.
“Astraea is embarrassing Audrey Cooper in public this time! Look at her face, so ugly……”
“I heard Mrs. Gutierrez was an orphan who lived with President Gutierrez in a basement for five years before clinging to him and getting him to marry her.”
“A freeloader, fully depending on President Gutierrez for support, still dared to take out her anger on his new lover; being shamed in public now is what she deserves!”
The burning pain on my face and the heavy shame came together, striking me at once. I shook with anger, my hands tightly clenched.
Waylon mockingly patted my other untouched cheek, his tone harsh and sarcastic.
“Don’t lose your temper, wife.”
“Everyone knows you have relied on me all these years to survive; without me, you have nowhere to go.”
He held Astraea beside him, his eyes soft.
“Astraea, don’t be afraid.”
“No matter what you do, I’ll protect you.”
Astraea’s eyes brightened for a moment as she stepped forward eagerly.
“Mrs. Gutierrez, I was only teasing you, sorry.”
She smiled insincerely, reaching out to wipe the words on my face.
I instinctively moved away, but the next moment, I was tightly restrained by the bodyguards.
“Mrs. Gutierrez, you are no longer favored. Just obey and endure, don’t think of going against Miss Barnes again!”
I gritted my teeth, never expecting that one day, when I fell, the bodyguards who once received so many benefits from me would treat me like this.
The bodyguards were too strong for me to break free, and I could only kneel there while Astraea wiped my face with her hand.
The dark ink spread further, turning into a wide patch across my face.
Astraea covered her lips and laughed out loud.
“Oh, Waylon, look at her. Doesn’t she look like a clown? So ridiculous.”
Astraea’s eyes moved. “But Mrs. Gutierrez made me lose face in front of everyone, and I’m still angry. Waylon, let me stamp a few more marks. What do you think? Her face is already like this anyway.”
Waylon looked at her with affection. “I’ll listen to you, but…”
“The main issue tonight has not been handled yet.”
Waylon stepped onto the stage, picked up the microphone, and his voice echoed through the hall.
“Thank you, everyone, for attending Cooper Group’s route signing pre-event banquet. Before the auction officially starts, let’s first settle some family issues.”
“As you all know, my wife, out of jealousy, intentionally caused Astraea to lose face at the auction, and the owner of this golden route, the ship king, Cooper family, values most the family behavior of partners.”
“So tonight, I will set a rule to punish her shameful actions!”
Golden route?
I was shocked.
Of course, I was familiar with this route.
It was the key to completing Waylon’s maritime project.
No wonder he made an example out of me to warn others, to curry favor with the Cooper family.
However, he still did not know that the leaders of the so-called ship king Cooper family were none other than my father and older brother.
I looked at Waylon, trying to keep my sickness and hate down.
For the sake of our marriage, I still reluctantly asked, “Waylon, are you truly going to end things with me because of that woman? Do you know I am……”
Waylon lost his patience, his brows tightening as he cut me off. “I already said this is your punishment for hurting Astraea, and the ship king Cooper family values discipline. If I don’t punish you, how can I secure this route?”
“How did you become so unreasonable now?”
Unreasonable?
I observed his annoyed look, my heart sinking little by little.
At that time, I concealed my status as the shipping king’s daughter, cut ties with my family, ran away with him, and stayed with him in a basement for five years.
Even Waylon’s rise to his current position within just five years was entirely due to me building networks for him behind the scenes.
I originally intended to tell him my true identity on the anniversary in seven days and persuade my father and elder brother to pass the position of ship king heir to him.
But now…
I laughed coldly, shut my eyes, and stopped looking at him.
Waylon thought I had given in, so his voice softened, with a bit of pride.
“As husband and wife, I’m not refusing to help you.”
“As long as the price you offer is higher than the prices of the few people below, you can auction yourself successfully.”
