Chapter 3

After landing, Vera, Mrs. Howard, and I made our way to the private arrivals exit.

A black company sedan was already waiting at the curb, its silver emblem glinting under the lights and drawing plenty of stares.

I recognized the plates instantly. It was registered under the Winslow East Harbor division.

I was about to step forward when a man with slicked-back hair climbed out of the car, walked right past me, and went straight to Vera.

His face was plastered with an obsequious grin.

"Mrs. Grant, you must be exhausted from the trip."

Mrs. Howard's voice pitched up immediately.

"Mrs. Grant, look how much Mr. Grant adores you. He sent a company car just for you. Very few people in East Harbor get picked up in one of these. It proves you're the one closest to his heart."

The flattery clearly pleased Vera.

She gave a poised smile. "Mrs. Howard, I'll remember that you spoke up for me today. I'll have Noah take a look at your company's proposal."

Mrs. Howard's eyes lit up. "That would mean the world. Thank you."

Vera turned to me, triumph written all over her face.

"Luca, perfect timing. There's a woman here who doesn't know when to quit. She insulted me on the plane and even had the nerve to hit me."

Luca Bennett's expression darkened at once. He strode over to me.

"Mr. Grant told me what happened on the way over. So you're the one who disrespected Mrs. Grant on the plane?"

Since its founding, the East Harbor division had been managed by Noah day to day.

It made sense that the East Harbor staff had never seen me. What I hadn't expected was how well they knew Vera, or that they would call her Mrs. Grant in public without a second thought.

I folded my arms, adopting the same tone I used in the boardroom.

"Open your eyes and take a good look at who I am."

Luca swept his gaze over me, contempt barely concealed.

"Aren't you just some woman whose first-class ticket was paid for by a man? And you think you can put on airs in front of Mrs. Grant."

I looked at him coldly.

"Didn't Mr. Grant ever show you a picture of the real Mrs. Winslow?"

Luca laughed as if he'd heard a joke.

"Of course I know. You're looking at her. Miss Rossi. Unless you expect me to believe it's you? A dozen women in East Harbor try that line every year."

Passengers from our flight gathered around, eager for the show.

Luca gave me a knowing look.

"Mrs. Grant, you don't come to East Harbor often, so you wouldn't know. Women around here are always trying to claw their way into a wealthy family. She probably hired some private investigator, found out Mr. Grant would be at the airport today, and picked a fight with you on purpose. She's waiting for him to show up so she can play the damsel in distress."

The crowd's interest only sharpened at the mention of a wealthy family and a mistress.

"Looks so young, but doing things like that behind closed doors."

"The understated ones are always the most calculating."

The fury I'd held in check for the entire flight finally boiled over.

"Winslow Holdings bears the name Winslow. I am the Winslow family heir."

After a beat of silence, several people burst out laughing.

Mrs. Howard laughed the loudest.

"Did everyone hear that? A woman who can't even dress the part is claiming to be the Winslow heir."

Luca scoffed.

"If you're the Winslow heir, then I'm the president. The things people make up about themselves these days."

Vera pulled out her phone, shoved the camera in my face, and started a livestream.

"Everyone, look. This is the woman. She insulted me and hit me on the plane, and now she's claiming to be the heir to Winslow Holdings."

Comments flooded the screen.

"Who has the nerve to hit Vera?"

"Where are the Winslow lawyers? Get out here and handle this."

"Don't worry, Vera. We're all watching. She's not getting away."

Vera turned the screen toward me, grinning with the confidence of someone who'd already won.

"You can still apologize. Admit you lied, and maybe I'll ask Noah to let you off easy."

I knocked her phone aside.

"You don't believe me? Then let your so-called husband tell you himself."

I was reaching for my own phone to call Noah when Vera suddenly shoved me.

My ankle had an old injury that hadn't fully healed. I lost my balance and fell backward.

There was no way I was going down without a fight. I grabbed her wrist on instinct.

She wasn't ready for it and went tumbling down with me.

Behind us, a familiar male voice cut through the air, sharp with anger.

"What is going on here?"