Chapter 1

I had not even ended the call when she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked it back.

My phone crashed to the ground, and she stomped on it, her stiletto heel cracking the screen.

"You think you can call for backup, you wretch? I'll make sure you're groveling before I'm through with you, or my name is not Alora."

"Enough!"

My best friend had returned to her car and, seeing the scene, flung her bag right at the woman's face.

"Is this how the Collins family acts? Stealing and striking in broad daylight?"

The woman clutched her cheek, flushed a bright red from Lilian Stewart's slap, and let out a wicked grin.

"Rules? Here in Riverton City, Collins Group makes the rules! And nobody–I mean nobody–talks back to me.

"That medieval chalice is mine! And who are you to challenge me for it?"

I could not help but smirk at Alora. "Wow, Collins Group must be slacking. They didn't teach you 'stealing is wrong' in training, huh?"

Alora let out a mocking laugh and slammed her high heel down right in front of me.

"On my turf, wanting something I've got my eye on is like winning the lottery. People line up to give me stuff, and I don't even bother looking their way."

'Some lottery,' I mused.

Over 20 years in Riverton City, and that was a first, someone having the guts to talk to me, Nancy Yates, like that.

I shot a look at Lilian, who was fuming and stamping her foot.

The Stewart family princess there probably never had to swallow such disrespect in her life.

Alora snorted and snapped her fingers.

"Just so you know, in Riverton City, my word is law. No one's ever crossed me.

"Grab these two clueless twits!"

In a flash, a swarm of bodyguards with dark shades closed in, trapping us.

Lilian had barely whipped out her phone to call the Stewart family's security when two goons grabbed her, slamming her onto the Rolls-Royce hood, her face squished and stuck.

"Lilian!"

I tried to break free to help her, but two sharp slaps to my face left me seeing stars.

Lilian, still fighting, screamed, "Idiots, you dare lay a hand on my bestie!"

Lilian was pushed to the ground, and Alora pressed her red heels down onto her face.

"You think you're something special? Today, I'm going to show you how we do things in Riverton City!"

I was pinned to the ground, forced to kneel, powerless to do anything but watch as Alora's foot crashed into Lilian's face.

"Let's see if you'll be so bold now! You're about to learn the hard way that nobody messes with Collins Group!

"You were the one who smacked me with your purse earlier, right? Now it's your turn to feel what happens when you cross me!"

Lilian's face quickly turned a deep shade of purple and red, blood starting to seep from the bruise.

She was only there to pick me up, yet she was trapped in that senseless shame.

I fought back, yelling at the top of my lungs, "Alora, I am Nancy, Eric's legally wedded wife!"

I screamed at Lilian, who was still under Alora's assault. "She's the Stewart family's sole heiress in Riverton City! Stop this now, and maybe we can still talk!"

Alora froze for a second at my words, then let out a mocking laugh.

"Eric's wife? Part of the Stewart family? You two are nothing but con artists fresh from Myland, aren't you?"

The crowd around us burst into laughter.

"Everyone knows Alora is Mrs. Collins."

"It seems anyone can claim to be high society these days."

"The Stewart family? Riverton City? Never heard of them. What, do they sell fish balls on the street corner?"

Alora leaned in close, her grip tight on my face, her eyes filled with rage.

"Say you're his wife one more time, and I swear I'll mark that pretty face of yours. You're about to learn what happens when you mess with me.

"And you think you're fit to even say Eric's name?"