The room was filled with murmurs of disbelief. The guests were all shocked.
The paparazzi were eager for the scandal. They couldn't stop their cameras from flashing as they captured every explosive moment with excitement.
Erik looked at me in disbelief.
Our eyes met, and his were filled with panic.
He rushed towards the stage and grabbed me. But my friends held him back.
He shouted, losing control, "Noreen, are you crazy? What good does this do for you? Turn off the video now!"
In fact, I wanted to do that.
I just want to embarrass Erik.
I ignored him and turned to face the guests below. I said frankly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry you have to witness such disgraceful scenes, but I can no longer tolerate betrayal."
I paused deliberately and looked at Erik's livid face before continuing slowly, "Erik and I were married for three years, and he's been cheating on me for two and a half. Every time he told me to work late, he was actually with Mia... You can find all the evidence of his betrayal in the files on your phones."
As soon as I finished speaking, murmurs erupted from the audience.
Some couldn't wait to open the files. Soon, they gasped in disbelief.
"Oh, my God, there really is evidence! This is disgusting!"
"So all of Erik's supposed deep love for Doreen was just an act? He actually cheated for two and a half years after he got married. What a performance!"
"Look at those chat records. They were truly audacious and completely disregarded Doreen!"
Erik's parents were seated at the main table. They looked utterly unsightly.
The Hayes family had always valued their reputation. As I was publicly exposing Erik's scandal in front of all their friends, their business partners, and the media, they felt so embarrassed.
Erik's mother, Ellen Hayes, abruptly stood up. Her high heels clicked as she quickly made her way to the stage.
She yelled at me, "Noreen, Erik married you, an ordinary woman. You should be grateful. Why are you making a fuss here? He doesn't like you merely because you don't know how to please him! Get down from there and stop making a joke of our Hayes family!"
Her twisted words ignited the long-buried anger within me.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" I turned to the crowd and raised my voice. "Mrs. Hayes, he flaunted his affair with Mia in matching outfits on our wedding anniversary. I'm an ordinary woman, so I am unworthy of him? Yet you condone your husband keeping a mistress and illegitimate children? So do you think you are a good mother?"
"You're spouting nonsense!" Ellen shrieked and raised her hand to slap me.
But I caught her wrist firmly.
Gasps erupted from the crowd. Their eyes darted between Erik and Mia as they seemed to realize something.
"Are you trying to hit me?" I whispered in her ear, "Shall I talk about your husband's illegitimate son and how much educational funds are being secretly diverted each year?"
Ellen's pupils shrank sharply. All her strength seemed to have been drained, and she stumbled back a few steps.
At that moment, Mia rushed to support her and anxiously looked at me. "Noreen, how could you treat Mrs. Hayes like this? She's still Erik's mother. Even if Erik and I did something bad to you, it has nothing to do with her. Please don't take it out on her."
What a considerate person who pretended to be innocent and virtuous!
I raised an eyebrow at her and said, "Miss Dixon, now you know how to respect and have good manners? What was on your mind when you climbed into the bed of a married man?"
Mia bit her lip and looked tearfully at Erik. "Erik... are you just going to let her insult me like this?"
Erik was already driven mad by my revelations. He was further enraged by Mia's tear-streaked face.
He pushed aside those blocking him and stormed up to me. He pointed a finger in my face and yelled, "Noreen, don't go too far. Mia is innocent! If it weren't for your barren womb, would I need to find another woman? Which man doesn't want his own baby?"
His words were like a thunderclap, sending the room into an uproar.
Everyone turned to me. Their gaze was filled with curiosity, sympathy, and a hint of mockery.
I stood frozen. Erik thought he had struck a nerve and grew more smug. "It's your own inability to conceive, yet you blame me? Noreen, what right do you have to make a scene here?"
I burst into laughter and seemed to have heard the greatest joke.
"Erik, you're quite the blame-shifter." I looked at him coldly and said, "Are you saying I can't conceive? Isn't it actually because you are impotent?"
I paused intentionally and gave the crowd time to digest. Then I continued, "I can't fathom how you muster the courage to cheat on me when you can't even last ten minutes without the help of Viagra. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Erik, you should get treated instead of finding validation by cheating."
The room exploded instantly!
The reporters swarmed Erik, and flashbulbs popped like daylight.
"Mr. Hayes, is it true that you've been buying Viagra?"
"Are you cheating to compensate for physiological issues?"
"Mr. Hayes, are you accusing Miss Morgan of infertility to cover your own condition?"
Erik squinted against the flash and yelled for them to move. But he was ignored.
"Mrs. Hayes, is it true that your husband has an illegitimate son?"
"Miss Morgan, did you know about Mr. Hayes's condition long ago?" Why are you with him?"
"As Erik's mistress, do you have anything to say to Mrs. Hayes?"
...
Erik's parents were surrounded by the reporters and shielded their faces with their hands.
Mia covered her face and crouched in despair. She muttered, "Stop filming..." But the shutters only clicked faster.
I watched their predicament, and the anger in my chest finally vented.
I remembered something and turned back to Erik. "Erik, you're cheating on me. I'll draft the divorce papers and send them to you. Please sign them quickly. Also, I need compensation for my emotional distress. You'd better transfer the substantial amount to my account within 48 hours. It is three hundred million in total. If you don't do that, I'll post the video of you lasting less than ten minutes online so everyone can see it."
Erik's fists clenched, but I leaned in and whispered, "You wouldn't want others to know you are actually weak, right?"
Veins bulged on Erik's forehead, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree. "Fine."
I was pleased and picked up the microphone again. I signaled for quiet.
Everyone stopped, and their eyes shone with anticipation as they waited for me to speak more.
I didn't disappoint them. I cleared my throat and said, "Everyone, please stay quiet. The real show is yet to come. The gift you just saw was merely an appetizer."
I scanned the crowd and said, "The second grand gift I've prepared for Erik and his secretary is about to make its debut."
