Chapter 2

Stacy sidled up with a fake look of concern.

“Mrs. Lock, you’re soaked through. There’s a strong breeze in this hallway—you could catch a cold.

“I’ll take you to the changing room so you can change into something dry.”

I saw the barely concealed urgency in her eyes and let out a cold laugh before shaking off her hand.

“Was it really an accident, or did you do it on purpose? You know the answer.”

She hadn’t expected me to expose her in front of everyone, and her face turned pale.

“My clothes are already wet, so I might as well skip changing into a swimsuit. I’m going to soak in the hot tub over there.”

As everyone stared at me in shock, I strode toward the outdoor hot tub on the other side of the spa.

[Is the villainess insane? She’s actually letting this slide?]

[Don’t worry. The male and female leads are fighters—they can handle the heat!]

So, both of them had exceptional heat tolerance?

I’d see just how exceptional it really was. Let’s see it stay in there forever.

“Veronica!”

My mother-in-law Rebecca Cook’s shrill, spiteful voice rang out from the end of the hallway.

I stopped and turned around, only to see her storming toward me in a pair of high heels.

[The savior has arrived! The male lead’s mother is here!]

[Now the older brother’s wife and the male lead are safe. The mother-in-law dotes on her eldest daughter-in-law!]

I gave her a cold look.

“Mom, shouldn’t you be playing poker in the front room? What are you doing here?”

She forced a smile and reached for my arm.

“Veronica, come on. Come with me and take a look at the new emerald pieces.”

Outside the crowd, Stacy breathed a sigh of relief. Rebecca also cast a furtive glance at the steaming wooden door.

I understood immediately.

The old woman had known about the affair all along and had come here today specifically to cover for them.

I stood my ground.

“No. I’m too tired.”

The fake smile vanished from her face. She put on the airs of a wealthy matriarch and snapped, “Veronica, don’t be so ungrateful! Come with me right now. I’ve picked out an emerald bracelet, and you’re going to pay for it!”

[That’s right! Put her in her place!]

[Isn’t the villainess always terrified of her mother-in-law? Why isn’t she wagging her tail and rushing to act as her personal ATM?]

The necklace around Rebecca’s neck was a strand of rare pearls I had bought for six million dollars at an auction last month.

The limited-edition Hermès bag clutched in her hand had been flown in from overseas at my request.

And today, she wanted to treat me like a fool and make me pay for something else.

In the past, I obeyed her every whim for Corey’s sake.

But now that I was throwing that cheating bastard into the trash, who did this vile old hag think she was?

What disgusted me most was that she knew her younger son was sleeping with her elder son’s wife, yet she was still helping them cover it up.

When I remained unmoved, Rebecca finally dropped the pretense.

“How dare you! If you refuse to come with me, I’ll make Corey divorce you right now!”

[Here comes her trump card! Go, old lady!]

[This is driving me crazy! The female lead is already rolling her eyes in there. She's about to give out!]

Rolling its eyes? That was excellent news.

I casually smoothed my hair and replied with a dismissive, “Oh.”

[What’s going on? Has the plot gone off the rails? Did the villainess take the wrong medication today?]

[Could she have figured something out?]

Rebecca was humiliated in front of everyone and trembled with rage.

She raised her hand and swung the palm bearing an enormous diamond ring at my face.

My gaze sharpened, and I quickly stepped back.

Rebecca’s hand missed. Her high heel twisted beneath her, throwing her off balance, and she went headfirst into the decorative cactus planter beside her.

“Aah! My face! Veronica Lowe, you vicious witch!”

Rebecca dragged herself out of the cactus planter, blood streaking her face. She looked like a deranged old hog.

“This is outrageous! I’ll make Corey throw you out! You’ll leave this marriage with nothing!”

Stacy hurried over, pulling out the spines while helping her to her feet.

“Madam Lock, let me take you somewhere to have those wounds treated.”

Before leaving, Stacy glanced back at me, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.

My heart sank. I had a feeling this wasn’t over.