Chapter 5
"Without Mr. Monroe’s permission, you cannot leave."
The place where I had lived, which I thought was a happy life for seven or eight years, had finally turned into my prison.
The bodyguards even escorted me back to the dining table, their expressions full of mockery.
Cassidy was sitting in my seat.
"Sorry, but this spot has the best view of the garden. Archer said I can sit here from now on."
I looked at Archer. He said nothing, which meant silent approval.
And with that, Cassidy’s smug gaze became a clear declaration of my humiliation.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and smacked her hard across the face, freezing her and everyone else in place.
"Get up. This is my seat! No one sits here without my permission!"
If I weren’t allowed to leave, at least no one was taking my place as lady of the house.
Dorian jumped off his chair and shoved me.
"You’re bullying Sister Cassidy! You’re a bad woman!"
Archer stepped in front of the aggrieved girl, shielding her behind him, his face dark with anger.
"It’s just a seat, must you fight over it?"
I clenched my fists and stared at both of them, their faces identical as they scolded me. But I didn’t back down.
Meeting my heartbroken gaze, something flickered in Archer’s eyes. Finally, he spoke.
"Cassidy, you sit here."
Cassidy reluctantly moved to the seat across from me, though she stayed next to Archer.
I hadn’t eaten in two days. With nothing left to hold on to, I picked up my fork and took a few bites.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cassidy slip off her shoes under the table, stretching her foot into Archer’s lap with a playful grin.
Archer’s breath hitched. He glanced at me, trying to maintain control.
"Elise, why have Dorian’s grades been slipping lately? You know how much I care about his education."
He scolded me seriously, yet his left hand remained on Cassidy’s foot, rubbing it shamelessly under the table.
Cassidy bit her lip and giggled, her eyes meeting his in a silent exchange of shared secrets.
I slammed my fork and knife down and stood up, fighting the rising nausea in my throat.
"From now on, he’ll have a tutor and a housekeeper. As the daughter of a servant, I have no right to discipline a Monroe heir."
Archer’s face darkened with anger.
"Must you be like this? Dorian is your son!"
"Is he?" I shot back, watching as his words froze him in shock. Without another word, I turned and made my way up the spiral staircase.
A sharp-witted maid quickly led Dorian away, her quick thinking sparing him from the scene.
Even the distance of the staircase couldn’t block out Archer’s crude words to Cassidy.
"Try that again next time, and I’ll screw you right on the dining table."
Back in my room, I called my personal assistant.
“Micah, sell off all my shares. Hasn’t Alfonso always wanted them? Transfer them to him.”
I owned ten percent of Monroe Corporation, a gift from Archer’s grandfather after I gave birth to Dorian.
Alfonso, who always clashed with Archer, was constantly eyeing the heir’s position. I believed this would be the perfect gift for him.
Once I finished the arrangements and hung up, I heard voices seeping through the crack in the door.
“Hmm, so what if she shamelessly seduced Mr. Monroe? She’s nothing but a cheap, vulgar woman. In the end, she’s no match for a true heiress. Serves her right!”
Yeah. I gave everything I had to prop up the crumbling Monroe family; that was my punishment.
“Didn’t she make a scene about getting a divorce today? And now she won’t leave. I mean, who would willingly give up being Mrs. Monroe?”
I sighed softly.
Yes, I should step aside.
Suddenly, a maid shrieked, “Oh my! Sir, Alfonso, you’re back from your world tour?”
Archer’s mother, Willa’s voice came next, cold as ice.
“If we hadn’t come, would you lowly gossips talk yourselves to death?”
