Chapter 2

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

A man with a beer belly swirled the liquor in his glass and sneered, "Everyone knows how many years Lisa has been by Freddy's side. She's his true partner, his capable wife."

Another woman chimed in with a smirk, "Mr. Richmond and his wife are so devoted. I'd say this woman's just here because she smelled money and wants to blackmail him."

I turned to Freddy, my voice icy. "Freddy, tell them who I am!"

At last, he opened his mouth. With a helpless smile plastered across his face, he walked toward the guests.

"My apologies, everyone. She's just our housemaid. She reads too many domineering-CEO novels and sometimes gets carried away with her fantasies."

Then he glanced at me, his eyes sharp with warning. "Valerie, please take Elise home to rest. Don't cause a scene here."

His words shocked me to my core. My husband, who had shared my bed for twelve years had, in front of everyone, branded me with an identity more humiliating than betrayal itself.

With Freddy openly standing by her, Lisa grew bolder. Her voice rose, dripping with false sympathy.

"Valerie, I know it's not easy raising a daughter alone, but this isn't the way to swindle money. How about this—you go home first, and I'll have the butler add three extra months to your wages."

The guests burst into raucous laughter.

"So the maid was trying to climb her way up? Pathetic! People will do anything for money these days."

"That little girl looks pitiful enough, stuck with a mother like that."

"A wretch's child will never be innocent. She's just as good at acting pitiful."

Lisa's lips curved in triumph. She crouched down beside Eugene and cooed, "Eugene, see that? Study hard, or you'll end up like certain people here—pathetic clowns, good for nothing."

Eugene lifted his chin, his eyes sharp and cruel, far too harsh for a child his age.

"You filthy woman, how dare you argue with my mom?"

He shoved me hard. Off guard, I stumbled back two steps and nearly fell, dragging Elise down with me.

Arrogant as a spoiled heir, Eugene declared, "My dad already said it—the Richmond Group will be mine one day! Who do you think you are, you illegitimate brat? You're not even worthy of calling him Dad!

"From now on, you'll be just like your mom—a lowly maid and nothing more!"

The guests roared with laughter, their mockery sharp as blades. Someone even clapped and called out, "Bravo, Eugene! Such ambition—you'll be great one day!"

Just then, several hotel staff walked by carrying trays. Among them was the very manager who had served me last time.

Catching sight of me, he deliberately raised his voice for all to hear.

"Well, well, if it isn't the one who called herself Mrs. Richmond, who ordered a two-thousand-per-table birthday banquet last time, only to have her card decline for even fifty dollars!"

"I knew it," his colleague snorted. "Some people love pretending to be rich ladies. But in the end, they can't keep up the act and slink away in shame."

At that, Lisa laughed derisively. "You don't have even fifty dollars to your name? No wonder you came here to make a scene."

The beer-bellied man staggered forward, his narrowed eyes sliding over me and my daughter. His tone turned lewd. "Still, you have to admit, this maid has a bit of charm. And the little girl—she's a pretty one too."

He leered and lowered his voice, though loud enough for all to hear.

"Forget about Mr. Richmond—he'll never take you. Why not come with me instead? I'll give you three hundred a month, cover your food and lodging too. How about it? Then you won't have to worry about scraping together fifty dollars ever again. I'll take you and your kid in—pretty generous of me, don't you think?"