Chapter 3

"Raven, shut your mouth!" Fred finally snapped. Like an enraged bull, he charged past the two security guards and lunged at me.

Unfortunately for him, before he could even touch me, I drove my foot straight into his stomach. I was wearing four-inch heels, and I didn't hold back in the slightest.

Fred let out a muffled groan, dropping to his knees while clutching his stomach, his face twisted in pain.

A collective gasp swept through the room. No one had expected that I, the usual gentle, soft-spoken boss' wife, could hit this hard.

I looked down at him, my eyes imperious and cold. "Fred, we've been married for three years. You know exactly how much I've given for you, for our family, and for this company. I used to think that people had a heart and a conscience, that you would see everything I've done for you. But now, I understand that you're utterly heartless."

I turned away from him and focused on Winnie, who looked completely petrified. On the big screen behind me, the slides changed again. This time, it showed a series of disgusting chat logs.

It was Winnie bragging to her best friend.

"Getting a man to fall for you is easy. Just whisper the right things in bed, and he'll do whatever you say. All that old hag Raven does is work. No wonder she's being neglected—she totally deserves it.

"Fred told me that once the company's stable, he'll divorce her. Once that happens, I'll be the proper Mrs. Fred Colson. In fact, he bought me another bag today. It's the latest Hermès!"

Below that were all kinds of photos of the luxury gifts she'd gotten, along with selfies taken in different hotel rooms. In the background, Fred's clothes or his signature Patek Philippe watch were always in view.

The evidence was overwhelming. There was no room for denial.

Winnie let out a piercing scream and buried her face in her hands, wishing a hole would open up in the ground and swallow her whole.

The curses rising from the crowd grew even harsher.

"She's shameless! And she actually thinks being the other woman is something to brag about!"

"Trash like that thinks she can be the boss' wife? Dream on!"

"She's a disgrace to all women!"

I watched Winnie's meltdown with relish, but there wasn't the slightest sense of satisfaction in me. I used to believe Fred and I were some kind of campus fairy-tale couple who'd made it in the real world.

We started from nothing and built everything side by side. But I'd forgotten that once some men had money, they couldn't help turning rotten. It was as if it were etched into their bones.

"Ms. Lane, you really do deserve this award. The prize is all these glorious chat records that will make you 'go down in history.' I'll have them printed, framed, and hung right above your desk so you can admire your achievements every single day," I said.

Winnie jolted violently. Then, she lifted her head and glared at me with pure venom. "You're vicious, Raven! You'll meet a horrible end!"

I laughed. "I don't know whether that will happen, but I do know one thing—your good days are over."

Just then, the doors to the banquet hall swung open from the outside. Several uniformed police officers walked in.

"Who called the police?"

Every head in the room snapped toward the entrance. The last trace of color drained from Fred's and Winnie's faces.

I set the microphone down and slowly stepped off the stage. "Officers, I'm the one who called. There's someone here suspected of embezzlement. It's a large amount."

I pointed at Malcolm, who was sprawled on the floor. The officers went over and cuffed him on the spot.

He burst into tears and shouted, "Winnie, Fred! Help me! Please!"

Winnie tried to rush over to him, but the police stopped her. "Ma'am, as his family member and someone involved in the case, we'll need you to come with us to assist in the investigation as well."

Another officer walked toward Fred.

Fred struggled to his feet, forcing himself upright and barking in a shaky, brittle voice, "What do you think you're doing? Do you know who I am? I'm the owner of this company!"

The officer didn't even bat an eye as he showed his badge. "Mr. Colson, we have reason to believe you're connected to an economic crime. We need you to cooperate with our investigation."

Fred completely lost it. He stared at me, his eyes full of terror and disbelief. "Raven, you set me up!"

I sauntered toward him and stopped in front of him, looking him straight in the eye. "Set you up? No. All I did was lay out every single thing you've done. Oh, by the way, we still haven't given out the third award."

I pulled a document out of my clutch and slapped it against his chest.

"The Best Traitor Award goes to you, Fred Colson. The prize is…" I paused for dramatic effect, "a divorce agreement and a property settlement that leaves you with absolutely nothing."