Chapter 1

If my daughter, Vivian Montiago, weren't in huge danger, I would have made my husband, Rhett Montiago, get his ass over here and explain the situation to the rest of the blind employees while on his knees.

I wanted him to explain why someone as uncivilized as his secretary, Hailey Lester, actually dared to wear the luxury clothing and jewelry she stole from me while parading herself as the real Mrs. Montiago at the preschool that I built.

The Montiagos were only able to make their fortune entirely because of me. Since Rhett didn't know how to be a good house-husband, instead choosing to fool around with his secretary and have a son behind my back, I wouldn't hesitate to destroy the Montiagos.

The only problem was that Vivian's life was in great danger now, and I didn't have the royal time to deal with the revolting couple. I had to get Vivian to the hospital as quickly as possible.

I quickly and painstakingly wrapped Vivian up in my coat so that I could bring her to my car.

"Try to run after causing such a huge fuss?" the employees screeched, running after me. "Are you deaf? She told you to get down on your knees and apologize!"

"I've seen countless shameless people, but none of them as shameless as you!"

They surrounded me in a tight circle and refused to let me take another step forward.

I felt my chest tighten when I heard Vivian's breathing getting quicker and shallower by the second. She had been born with a heart defect, and the longer we delayed, the closer she would be to death.

Still, I suppressed my anger and said, "If you let me go now, I will forget all the things you've done to me today."

I had already planned to get the entire business industry to blacklist all these people. However, if they repented and let me go, I would still be willing to spare them.

"Hahaha!"

Instead, I'm met with the sounds of cruel laughter. "You're just a mistress; a homewrecker. Who do you think you are? You're not even worthy to lick the dust off our feet!"

"You'd dirty the floors with your filth even if you were the office cleaning lady!"

I frowned when I heard their insults. All this time, I thought that Rhett had been good at managing his employees. I never thought that the people he'd hired at his company would end up being less civilized than the gangsters on the street.

I didn't want to argue with them anymore. I took out my phone to call my private hospital and request a helicopter to save Vivian's life.

"You little bitch! How dare you ignore me!"

Just as the call connected, Hailey suddenly rushed over, snatched my phone away, and flung it to the ground, where it smashed into pieces.

As it turned out, she had been waiting for me to drop to my knees to beg her for mercy, but I'd been so worried about Vivian that I never heard a word she said.

She was so angry that she immediately instructed her bodyguards behind her to grab hold of me.

"Beat her up!" she screeched, gritting her teeth in anger. "Slap the living daylights out of this filthy bitch's mouth!"

"We are living in a society governed by the law. You can't lay a finger on me," I warned. After all, she wouldn't be able to face the consequences if she really were to offend me.

"Law?" Hailey scoffed mockingly. "This is my territory, and my word is the law! Beat her up!"

The bodyguards shoved me to the floor. I instinctively curled up around Vivian, protecting her with my body as dozens of feet started kicking and stomping on my stomach.

I tried my best not to cry out in pain, but it only made them abuse me even harder than before.

Suddenly, there was a shrill beeping sound.

Hailey, who'd been clapping her hands and enjoying my torment, suddenly froze in surprise, along with her bodyguards.

"What's that sound?" she asked, a look of fear surfacing in her eyes. "What the hell did you do?"

I raise my bruised arm with much difficulty.

"You had all better stop now," I said. "My smartwatch will alert the police when it senses that my life is in danger. And none of you can afford to bear the consequences later."

The safety system on my watch had been specifically designed for my safety, and no one here could ever guess the powerful person responsible for it.

"I recognize the brand of her smartwatch. One costs at least a few hundred thousand dollars," one of the employees said. He then told Hailey, "What if she's telling the truth? Let's just forget about it."