The Price of Assumptions

It was the finals that week. I came to my brother's new home with a stack of textbooks, hoping to study hard in a quiet environment for the upcoming exams. I had just flipped open my book for a few minutes when someone knocked on the door rapidly. I assumed that the plants I ordered were being delivered, so I opened the door without a second thought."Look, everyone! This is the face of the mistress Claude has been seeing in secret!" As soon as I opened the door, a phone on a selfie stick was practically shoved in my face by a short woman with heavy makeup. Behind her was a large crowd of people."Who are you? You must have the wrong door," I stated with a frown.Before I could finish, they barged in, pushing me inside along with them. "Hmph. You're the one Claude has been having an affair with, huh? She's not even that pretty!"The group of women shot hostile glares at me, and I felt very apprehensive. A wave of unease washed over me. "Why are you trespassing into private

I watched in shock as the priceless painting was shredded to pieces. I felt numb all over.When Julia's gaze landed on the eight-million-dollar piano afterward, I shot her a glacial stare. She walked up to the piano, her gaze fixated on its glossy surface. Then, she ran her hand over a row of keys. The melodious sound of the piano echoed through the room.Julia's face contorted with fury as she came over to me. She yanked my hair and kicked me repeatedly."You wretch! This is my favorite piano. Claude said he'd buy it for me, yet here it is in your place!" Julia screamed.I fell to the ground again as her high heels dug into me. The only thing I could do was curl up in defense. I gritted my teeth, wondering what kind of look would appear on Julia's face once she knew she was destroying her new marital home and piano. Then again, she didn't need the house anymore. I vowed not to let her become a part of the Stark family."How do you like the act of the mistress being torn apart b

Thankfully, Claude was tall. As his cool, smooth blazer was wrapped around my body snugly, I finally felt a sense of security."How are you, Silvia? Where does it hurt?" he asked.I was angry that he arrived late and didn't want to speak to him. When Julia had forced me to kneel in the room, I'd managed to reach my phone and tap on the emergency contact button—Claude was my only emergency contact."Mr. Stark, I suspect you're claiming that she's your sister to cover up her true identity as your mistress," Orla said, audaciously holding her phone toward us. "This woman's last name is Felton, so she can't possibly be your sister."Claude looked at her as if she were an idiot. He said coolly, "You're Julia's cousin, and your dad runs a small electronics factory."Orla's face fell, and the people behind her quieted down instantly.She glanced at her phone screen and spoke up hesitantly. "A-Are you threatening me? I'll have you know that the public isn't easily fooled. I have millions

Julia stood in their midst. Her face was pale, and she was unable to utter a word. When her relatives noticed that she was unresponsive, they grew anxious and began shoving her rudely. The hands that had pushed and pinched me now fell upon Julia. They shoved her from side to side without restraint."Enough! I said I wanted to go after the mistress, alright. But you all came along because you wanted to cozy up to Claude!" Julia retorted loudly in frustration as the blame began to pile up on her.Her voice rose, and she continued, "You're all just scared that you won't get to benefit from Claude once he dumps me for his mistress. It's too late to shift all the blame to me now. If I'm going down, we're all going down together."She turned on her aunts and berated them. "And who suggested humiliating the mistress, putting up banners, stripping her, and parading her around? Wasn't it you lot?"Her words sent the crowd over the edge, and the scene devolved into chaos."What did you say?

I paused for a moment. Then, a warm hand pulled me out of the hospital room.On the way home, Claude gently said to me, "Silvia, don't let Julia's guilt-tripping get to you. No matter what happens, none of this is your fault."I nodded, giving him a reassuring smile.Julia claimed that she needed medical supervision for her pregnancy, so she was granted bail for treatment. However, her relatives remained in custody.A few days later, the police station called and said that Julia's cousin, Orla, wanted to speak to my brother and me."Mr. Stark, Ms. Felton, I'd like to make a deal with you." In just a few days, Orla had become noticeably thinner."What can you offer to strike a deal with us?" Claude didn't even bother to look up at her."I have information that could solve one of your biggest problems. All I ask is that you drop the charges against me for destroying the villa," she said, her voice filled with urgency.Claude stayed silent, and so did I."Let's hear it. If what y