"I'm just trying to teach your husband how to be a proper, tidy homemaker. Otherwise, all he knows how to do is spend your money and throw jealous fits. How's he supposed to take care of you?"
Noel's lip trembled, his eyes glistening on cue. "If you think I'm out of line, then fire me. I'll leave and never come back. That way I won't be a bother to either of you."
Lauren's expression melted instantly. She cupped his face and wiped his tears, then turned to glare at me.
"Laurence, a skin allergy isn't going to kill you. Pop a few pills and you'll be fine."
"Noel's right. You need to learn your place. Other women's husbands don't act like you. Some wives keep a whole stable of lovers and their husbands don't say a word."
"Behave yourself. Stop upsetting Noel, and I promise I'll keep the deal I just made with you."
My heart went cold. Completely, irreversibly cold.
When Lauren's first business venture fell apart, she'd been swindled out of everything. Not only was she flat broke, she was half a million dollars in debt.
I couldn't stand watching her waste away, sleepless night after night, sinking deeper into despair.
But I didn't want her to feel like I was handing her charity, so I hid my identity. I told her I'd sold the house my parents left me, the one meant for our future together. I used the money to pay off every cent of her debt, gave her seed capital, and encouraged her to start over.
Then I asked one of my grandfather's most accomplished protégés to pose as a business mentor, coaching her one-on-one in corporate management and how to survive in the cutthroat world of high finance.
After that, I quietly leveraged my family's network to pull strings behind the scenes, securing investors and partnerships, helping her claw her way back up and into Capital City's elite circles.
And now, before she'd even fully cemented her position, she was already plotting to cast me aside and enjoy the best of both worlds.
But in this world, people who betray a sincere heart never meet a good end.
Noel gleefully upended an entire bottle of liquor over my head.
The alcohol burned like acid in my eyes, forcing out involuntary tears. My hair clung to my face in wet, reeking strands.
He poured five bottles in total, making sure every inch of me was drenched before he finally stopped.
He watched my skin swell red and angry from the allergic reaction, watched me clench my jaw against the searing pain and the fire spreading across every nerve.
Noel smiled, satisfied. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.
"Laurence, that sharp mouth of yours was running pretty hot earlier. What happened? Cat got your tongue?"
"You know as well as I do that I'm the one Lauren cares about most right now. One word from me, and she'll make you drink that entire basin of dirty underwear water."
"But tell you what. Get on your knees, knock your forehead on the floor a few times, and beg me nicely. I'll let you off with just two-thirds of the basin. Sound fair?"
So that was it. Payback for last night.
But if I rolled over that easily, I wouldn't be Laurence Henson.
I seized a fistful of his hair and slammed his entire head into the basin of filthy water.
Noel choked, thrashing wildly, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't lift his face from the surface.
The guards wrenched me off him. He collapsed to the side, retching and coughing, but still managed to wail through his sobs.
"Lauren! He's jealous because you chose to kiss me that night! He's doing this out of spite!"
"If you don't punish him, I'll kill myself right now!"
Lauren's face turned to iron. She backhanded me so hard I hit the floor.
My forehead cracked against the corner of the table. Warmth flooded down my face.
"Laurence, you ungrateful piece of trash! You don't like me having a lover? Fine. Then I'll make you the side piece. You'll become the very thing you despise most!"
"Tomorrow I'm going to the courthouse with Noel. He's a hundred times more obedient and forgiving than you'll ever be. He deserves to be my husband, not you!"
"You like using your hands so much? Then I'll destroy them. Someone get over here and smash his fingers, one by one. Let's see if he ever dares lay a hand on Noel again!"
I was pinned to the floor, both arms stomped flat against the ground.
Noel tossed aside the towel he'd been using to dry his face and flashed me the triumphant grin of a victor.
Val walked over with a small iron hammer, lined it up with my fingers, and raised it high.
Just as the hammer was about to come crashing down, the banquet hall doors blew open with a deafening bang.
Ebony Mason's face emerged into view, all sharp, striking angles that looked almost otherworldly.
Behind her stood over a hundred former mercenaries in tight formation, disciplined and battle-ready.
Every single one of them wore the Mason family's iconic crest pinned to their lapels.
In the next instant, every person in the room shot to their feet, gasping in unison.
"Miss Mason, what brings you here?!"
