Chapter 3

But I was clearly the fool. He'd already had another woman by then. My heart slammed like it had been struck by something heavy. I pressed a hand to my chest, gagging with dry heaves.

No one had ever dared insult our family, the Arnaults, like this. All of Morlene City treated us with respect.

Bradley was nothing more than a son-in-law who'd married into money, and he hadn't even been given access to the family's core business, yet he already had the nerve to act like this.

I would make them pay for this.

Suzanne kept right on ranting. "Bradley is the only son in three generations of his family. Do you really have the heart to leave him without an heir? Just because you've got a little money doesn't make you special.

"Your family doesn't even have a son. Won't your family still have to rely on my son in the end? I've had enough of your spoiled little princess act, ordering my son around all day like he's some kind of dog instead of a person!"

She pulled Paige close and looked her over with satisfaction. "Paige practically grew up in front of me. From now on, she'll be his mistress, kept somewhere of her own. You can stay the legal wife, but you won't be allowed to interfere with her.

"She's the mother of my first grandchild. The three of you can live happily together from here on out."

She said it all so matter-of-factly, without a shred of regard for me.

Once Rhonda realized I really was Bradley's wife, she stopped pointing the livestream camera at me. Instead, she preened for the camera and gave the viewers a tour of the house.

"Look at this place, everyone, isn't it gorgeous? Three floors, and a garden too! There was one nasty dog around, but I already sold it. Someone's coming to take it away shortly."

My feet froze mid-step. I'd had Nugget for eight years. He was an old dog, and she'd actually dared to sell him.

I spun around and started calling out through the house. "Nugget? Nugget!"

Paige trailed after me, annoyed. "Get out! Stop yelling through my house!"

I ignored her. Finally, passing the attic, I heard Nugget's frantic barking. I kicked the door open and led him out by the collar.

Rhonda rushed over to snatch him from me. "You tramp, leave the dog. He's mine!"

I shoved her off and kept walking without even looking at her. There was no point wasting time on her. Once I was out of here, none of them would escape what was coming.

Rhonda's mouth twitched, and she raised her phone again, vicious. "Everybody look," she shrieked into the camera, "this slut is trying to steal our family dog!"

The comments, none the wiser, started flooding in again.

[This homewrecker still hasn't left? She's so shameless, now she's stealing a dog too. I want to reach through the screen and slap her.]

[Why would she want to steal a dog? She's not going to eat it, is she? That's terrifying, don't let her take it!]

[Beat her out of there and teach her a lesson! Trash like her deserves it!]

But a sharper-eyed viewer couldn't help pointing out: [Has nobody noticed the dog only trusts her? He's obviously hers.]

That comment was instantly buried under a flood of others.

Seeing the dog about to leave with me, Paige burst into furious tears.

"You're being so cruel! This is my house! What gives you the right to take our dog? Are you going to try to take my baby next?"

Suzanne panicked immediately. "Sweetheart, don't cry, think of the baby!"

As Paige's crying grew louder, Suzanne's face darkened, and she lunged to wrestle Nugget away from me.

"This is Bradley's house, and what he says goes! Hand over that mutt!"

I didn't budge, gripping the leash with everything I had. "He's my dog! Let go!"

Something told me that if I let go now, Nugget would end up on some restaurant's back table.

Rhonda set down her phone and grabbed my hair from behind and yanked it wildly.