Chapter 2 The Woman He Forgot

Adrian said calmly, "Honey, why aren't you back yet? Mom's waiting to chat with you."

That soft tone froze me in place.

Evelyn waved her phone at me, eyes bright with triumph, and cooed, "Babe, tell Mom to wait a minute. I'll be right back."

Mom? Could it be that my mother-in-law, the one who'd always looked down on me, tossing out snide remarks and veiled insults whenever she spoke, knew about this too?

Hearing the indulgent warmth in Adrian's voice twisted something inside me. I snatched the phone away and barked, "Adrian, get out here right now!"

He frowned. "Who's there?"

Evelyn glared at me through gritted teeth. "A beggar. I was about to shoo her away."

Adrian's voice turned sharp. "Everyone at tonight's banquet is important. Don't let a piece of trash spoil the occasion."

Before I boarded the plane, he'd clung to me with red-rimmed eyes, saying he'd miss me. And now, over the phone, he couldn't even recognize my voice. "Adrian, listen to me! Don't you want the core technology anymore?"

Before I finished, one of Evelyn's bridesmaids grabbed my hair and yanked me aside.

Evelyn slapped me so hard that her wedding ring cut my forehead. Blood poured down my face.

Adrian's voice was cold. "Take care of it. The company is in transition. I don't want people like her affecting things."

Then, he hung up. Hearing the hollow echo after the call ended, I felt my heart sink into despair.

Back when Adrian was pursuing me, he poured all his heart into loving and protecting me.

Once, during dinner, I casually mentioned I liked a restaurant. The next day, he bought the place and had the chef come to our house to cook just for me.

When other women tried to become his mistress, he crushed their hopes without mercy.

All of Ardenton knew that Adrian adored his wife. He treated me like something precious, never letting me out of his sight.

But who could have imagined that after only three years abroad, he'd proudly bring his mistress home and let her humiliate me like this?

I couldn't hold back the grief and rage. I screamed, "I'm the Shea heiress. If any of you will help me, the Shea family will hand over our domestic assets!"

Before the words finished, a bridesmaid pummeled my abdomen with a few hard fists. Pain shot through me, and I collapsed to the floor.

Evelyn looked down at me with contempt. "The Shea heiress? Everyone knows the Shea family is abroad. Strip her."

I struggled, and the flash drive holding our core technology slipped from my pocket. I reached for it, but Evelyn grabbed it first.

Seeing how much I was bleeding, a bridesmaid tried to intervene. "Don't make this into a murder."

Evelyn shoved her away. "Murder? The Stone Group is rich. They can buy several lives like hers."

She grabbed my chin, her nails digging into my skin until sweat broke across my face. "Even his wife couldn't beat me. And you still dream of getting into his bed?"

I froze. "You know his wife?"

Evelyn's face lit with smug satisfaction. "She's a useless, plain housewife. She ran off abroad in shame."

So, Adrian never told her I'd gone overseas to develop new technology.

Before I could say a word, Evelyn folded her arms and said coldly, "Whoever beats her to my satisfaction gets ten million."

That was the cue. The onlookers surged forward, spitting insults.

"We hate gold-diggers like you. Don't you know Mr. Stone is married?"

"If you don't beg for Ms. Sutton's forgiveness, you're not leaving!"