Chapter 4

I kept my composure as I said, "It's just a bracelet. No matter how precious it is, it's still worth less than me. Besides, Mable broke it herself. What does that have to do with me?"

Mable's eyebrows shot up in fury. "Still mouthing off even when you're doomed, huh?"

The manager, Trisha Gates, rushed in and bowed apologetically at her. "What happened, Mrs. Kaine?"

Mable glanced at the shattered pieces on the floor and gave an exaggerated account.

When Trisha turned toward me, she looked me over for a few seconds, then snapped, "What's wrong with you? Is this how you treat guests? Don't forget who you are."

After I married Caspian, I barely appeared in public, so most employees in his companies didn't recognize me.

I gave a short laugh and unhurriedly said, "If you don't know who I am, ask your chairman."

Trisha froze, then she scowled. "You slut! What makes you think you're worthy of meeting our chairman?

"Since you broke a guest's belongings, it's perfectly justified for us to hand you over to the police. Looking at you, even selling you off wouldn't cover the cost."

As the group's actions grew more outrageous by the second, I forced my anger down and calmly said, "It's just a bracelet. Worst case, I'll pay for it, so is there a need for you to be so aggressive?"

"Pay? You're a bar singer, or in other words, a bar girl. How would you do that? With that pretty face, or some other part of you?"

Sarcastic sneers rose around me. Everyone was convinced that I was bluffing.

Ignoring the taunts, I slipped off the diamond signet ring on my finger and held it out to Trisha. "Take this ring to your chairman. He'll understand when he sees it."

The air in the room seemed to freeze at my mention of Caspian. Eyes locked onto the ring I was holding as all the earlier mockery and laughter died away.

Mable snatched the ring and scoffed. "You really are a whore, Erica. What makes you think you can claim some connection to Mr. Caspian with a random plastic ring? Are you trying to say that he's your sugar daddy?

"Quit dreaming. Everyone knows he adores his wife and never lets her attend any social event. He protects her so much that we've never even seen her."

People around us nodded along, while she deliberately tossed the ring to the floor.

"What relationship I have with Caspian is none of your business. You'll have your answer once he gets here," I replied, reaching forward to pick up the ring, but a red stiletto heel stomped hard on my hand.

I cried out in pain and glared up at the owner of the heel. "Move, Mable."

The ferocity in my eyes must have frightened her because she flinched a little. But before she could step away, Lester pressed his shoe against the back of my hand and crushed it. I could even hear bones cracking.

The pain was so agonizing that I collapsed to the floor.

"You're still putting on airs, Erica. Let's see what gives you the right to act so arrogantly. Is it this body of yours?"

He crouched and ripped open the back of my top. I instantly felt a chill as several whistles sounded around us.

Lester's gaze was dark and unfathomable as he looked down at me expressionlessly.

Publicly humiliated by his actions, I was utterly enraged. I was just about to slap him when a deep voice came from behind me.

"What's going on here?"

At the sound of that voice, Lester instantly whipped around and approached the man with an eager smile.

"You're here, Uncle Caspian. This bar singer broke the bracelet you gave Mable, so I was just teaching her a lesson…"