Chapter 1

Beth froze for a second when she heard me make the call.

Then a twisted smile crept across her face.

"Showing your true colors now, aren't you? You've been sleeping with so many married men. This isn't your first time, is it?"

Beth laughed loudly, drawing a crowd.

Colton was still pinned down by her men, unable to move.

I tried to respond to Dominic on the other end of the line, but Beth snatched my phone and smashed it on the ground.

Colton panicked. "Stop it."

When he got agitated, he slurred his words and his voice shook, which made the people around him laugh.

I frowned, worried about his condition.

"Let him go right now, or you won't be able to handle what comes next."

"And I'm not your husband's mistress."

"Take your people and leave now, and I'll let this go."

My words did nothing to rein Beth in.

Her laughter only grew louder.

"Did you all hear that? My husband's mistress is actually threatening me."

"This guy's clearly an idiot. Using him as a shield is one thing, but do you think I'm stupid too?"

Beth threw her drink in my face.

Then she pulled out her phone in one smooth, practiced motion and held up a photo. The woman in it wore a white dress similar to mine.

She was holding a child's hand, her head resting gently against a man's chest.

The important detail was the bracelet on her wrist.

The blue gemstone in the center was exclusive to the Turner Family, identical to the one on my wrist.

Because of that one photo, everyone decided I was the mistress.

My thigh was still bleeding.

Alcohol seeped into the wound, and the pain was excruciating.

"Do you even know what event this is? And you still had the nerve to show up?" Beth's voice rose, her expression smug.

I stepped back, reaching for a clean napkin to wrap around the wound.

Of course I knew. This was the farewell banquet Dominic had thrown for Colton and me before we went abroad.

We could be gone for years.

I had to stay with Colton until his treatment was finished.

"You're at the banquet. Don't you know whose it is?" I kept my voice flat, but I breathed a sigh of relief.

But Beth wouldn't let up. She grabbed my arm and shoved me again. "A mistress like you has no place at Miss Turner's banquet. She'd be furious if she knew."

"You came here looking for another man? You've got quite the appetite, haven't you?"

I gritted my teeth as the wound on my leg sent another jolt of pain through me.

Colton saw me covered in a cold sweat from the pain.

He grew frantic, wrenching himself free and rushing to my side, his eyes fixed on my wound.

Then he spun around, his eyes red with rage, and lunged for Beth's throat.

Beth screamed for her men. "Kill him!"