“Dominic, what are you doing? Who is she? ”
I opened the door to our bedroom and saw my husband of months with another woman. He didn’t even flinch.
“Yvonne, you saw it. Let’s get divorced. ”
I was six months pregnant. “How could you do this?
I’m carrying your child. ”
“I want a decent job, not a kid. Lexi got me a job at a top company. What can you offer?
”
I stared at him. Since losing his job six months ago, I had quietly arranged everything. Our life, our bills, even a project proposal I’d written for him under a fake name so he could rebuild his confidence without his pride getting bruised. I planned to tell him the truth after the project succeeded.
He never gave me that chance. “Pack your things and get out,” he said. I laughed. “This is my house.
You two are the ones who should get out. ”
Lexi stepped forward, sneering. “And you, shameless homewrecker. ”
“Hey, how dare you?
”
She pushed me hard against the wall. A sharp pain tore through my belly, and I felt something break inside me. “My belly. It hurts.
Dominic, help me. Take me to the hospital. ”
He didn’t move. He watched me slide to the floor, his face cold, then turned away.
Lexi shot me one final look of contempt before they walked out together. I called my brother from the hospital bed after waking up alone. He was furious when he learned the truth. “Why didn’t you tell me who he was?
I would have stopped you from marrying that monster. ”
“I wanted to wait until he had a successful career before introducing him,” I said. “I never thought I could be so wrong about someone. ”
He offered to send me abroad to recover.
I refused. “I want to go to the company as an intern. After this failed marriage, I realized my understanding of human nature is far from enough. ”
__________
I joined Scott Group as an intern.
A week later, I attended a company dinner. I heard a familiar voice behind me. “Why are you here? ”
It was Lexi, dressed like she owned the place.
She smiled smugly. “Yvonne, I bet you found out Dominic landed the director position at Scott Group. That’s why you’re here sniffing around him, isn’t it? ”
She pulled something from her pocket and waved it like a prize.
“I’m the vice president. Now you understand why he picked me over you. ”
“So, the top company you kept bragging about was the Scott Group? ” I asked calmly.
“As far as I know, Dominic’s resume isn’t director material. Did the CEO approve it, or are you abusing your power to get your lover hired? ”
“Shut up. You’re just here to ruin this for me, aren’t you?
”
Dominic appeared beside her, looking at me with contempt. “I can’t believe the man who saved you from that car crash turned out to be a kept man, some sugar boy. ”
Wait. He saved me from a car crash?
I remembered that crash. I remembered the nurse who helped me. The memory flickered, but I pushed it aside—I needed to focus. “Shut up.
Lexi has skills, connections, and a real background. And you, you’re just the good-for-nothing loser. Of course I chose her. ”
The crowd at the party watched.
People whispered. Some laughed. “Good-for-nothing? ” I raised my voice.
“Do you even know who I am? ”
“Who do you think you are? ” Lexi waved her hand. “Security, get her out of here.
”
“Let me go,” I said, pulling out my papers. “This is my offer letter and resume. I’m the new intern at Scott Group. Who dares kick me out?
”
Silence. Then laughter. “Everyone, check this out,” Dominic announced. “An MBA from Lyceum University, five international finance certifications.
I bet you can’t even use Excel. That resume is fake. ”
Lexi nodded. “She’s nothing but a housewife who knows housework and cooking.
The Scott Group doesn’t welcome dishonest employees like you. Get out. Do it. ”
“How dare you forge qualifications?
I’ll make you regret—”
“What about the mistress wrecking marriages? ” I shot back. “Everyone, your vice president and director are having an affair. ”
“Stop lying!
” Lexi shouted. “Not only do you show no remorse, now you dare slander me in public? ” I moved closer. “Lexi, you killed my child.
I will personally kick you and Dominic out of this company. ”
Gasps rippled through the room. “Who do you think you are? ” she spat.
“I was appointed vice president by the chairman. Only the chairman decides who can stay in this company. ”
“I am the chairman. ”
The room burst into laughter.
“The chairman? You’re getting better at making things up,” Dominic sneered. “Why don’t you say you’re the president of the whole world? Yvonne, you’re really good at lying.
Our chairman is a middle-aged man, and he only shows up at the quarterly board meetings every year. ”
“That’s my agent. ”
He waved dismissively. “All right, stop spouting nonsense.
No one will believe you. Get out of here, or don’t blame me for not showing mercy. ”
“You made your pregnant wife miscarry, nearly killing her,” I hissed. “What mercy is there to talk about?
”
“Shut up! ”
Lexi turned to the crowd. “She’s my ex-wife. Nobody knows her better than I do.
There’s no way she’s the chairman. I got it—she must be Mr. Scott’s mistress. No wonder she dares say stuff like getting the CEO to kick us out.
”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “No wonder you agreed to the divorce so easily. Turns out you were the one cheating on me first. ”
“You’re just a mistress,” Lexi snapped.
“How dare you act so cocky? You will pay dearly for your ignorance and stupidity. Just wait until Mr. Scott arrives.
You’ll be begging on your knees. ”
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “This really is Mr. Scott’s number.
I’m calling him now. ”
“We can’t let her win,” Dominic muttered to Lexi. “This woman has no status, no connections. I don’t buy that Mr.
Scott would punish me, the vice president, for some scared mistress. ”
They moved closer. Dominic grabbed my arm. Security cut the cameras, and the lights in the back room flickered.
“Let go of me! Get off! ”
“That face of yours is quite pretty,” Dominic whispered. “No wonder you managed to seduce the CEO.
”
“What? What are you doing? ”
“Scared now? ” He pulled out a knife.
“Weren’t you acting so cocky earlier, flaunting your status as the mistress? Let’s see if the CEO still wants you after I ruin this face. ”
Just then, a man in a suit appeared in the doorway. “Mr.
Scott. ”
Jonathan walked in. His eyes moved from me to Dominic and back. “What can I do for you?
” he asked, his voice flat. Dominic straightened up. “There’s a new intern at the company. She was at the party today, too.
Is she all right? ”
“She had an emergency alert earlier,” another voice said, and I recognized my own brother’s tone. “Jonathan, help me,” I said. Jonathan cleared his throat.
“What was that noise? Was that Yvonne? ”
“It’s nothing,” Dominic said quickly. “It’s just…
the party. The colleagues are getting a little carried away celebrating. ”
“As long as all is well,” Jonathan said tightly. “Remember, take good care of Yvonne.
Notify me immediately if she returns. ”
He left, but his eyes told me everything. Lexi watched him go, then turned to me, a cruel smile on her lips. “Looks like you’ve really got him wrapped around your finger.
Well, that just means I can’t keep you clinging to Mr. Scott any longer. You’re acting all prim and proper, but you’ve got quite a wild side hidden away, huh? So, you went after the rich guy, huh?
That baby wasn’t even mine, was it? Serves you right that you lost it. ”
She grabbed me, and I screamed as they dragged me to a car. I fought, but Dominic’s grip was iron.
“Something’s wrong,” I heard Jonathan say on a phone call from somewhere behind us. “I feel like Yvonne’s in danger. To the villa. Let’s go.
”
__________
They took me to a villa on the outskirts of the city. The room was cold and bare. They mockingly referred to me as a mistress, laughed at my claims, and warned me against involving Mr. Scott.
Dominic spoke into my ear. “You had your chance. How dare you fight me now? You’re just the homewrecker.
I’m ruining your face today, just like you ruined my life. ”
They cut my clothes, tore at my skin, and then they brought me to the pool outside. “You’re not drowning yet? ” Lexi taunted as I gasped for air at the edge of the water.
“No need to rush getting out. Let’s have a chat. I’ll give you one more chance. Admit it publicly that you’re Mr.
Scott’s mistress. Leave the company and disappear immediately. Then I’ll let you go. ”
“A mistress?
Aren’t you the one? ”
She shoved my head under the water. I struggled, my lungs burning. “Quick, say you’re the homewrecker.
Say it! ”
“No. I’m not. ”
While she was distracted by her own manicured nails, I grabbed a shard of broken glass from the deck and slashed at her ankle.
She screamed, stumbling back. I scrambled out of the pool, gasping. Using that moment of chaos, I grabbed a nearby bucket and slammed it into her face. “You hurt my face!
” she shrieked, blood dripping from her cheek. A woman I didn’t recognize—her sister, Heidi, I later learned—appeared. She looked us over, and a dark smile spread across her lips. “Lexie, your face is bleeding.
Killing her is too easy. I’ve got a better way to teach her a lesson. With a figure like that, no wonder you can seduce men. ”
They dragged me out of the villa and into a chaotic, filthy part of the city—the red-light district.
Heidi barked orders at a group of men who ran the place. “Gentlemen, here’s a gift for you. She’s feisty, but a woman with attitude is more fun, right? ”
They threw me into a room and locked the door.
I heard the men laughing on the other side. I finally got out through a service exit, bleeding and bruised, my phone dead. I flagged down a passing car, my throat raw as I begged the driver to call the police and take me to a hospital. __________
When I woke, I was in a hospital bed, my brother sitting beside me.
His face was pale. “Jonathan, are you okay? ” I asked. “You look terrible.
”
He smiled weakly. “I’m fine. Just a little accident. The police station said you filed a report and came back here.
What’s going on? ”
I told him everything. He listened quietly, and when I finished, his knuckles were white. “Get Lexi Gordon and Dominic Flynn out here,” he ordered an assistant.
At the company, Lexi’s father, Waylan Gordon, tried to block the arrest. “This is absurd. We haven’t done any of those things,” he roared. “She’s lying.
Ask anyone. They were all there that day. Were you all present when she was abused? ”
The employees cowered, muttering, “She kept pestering and harassing Lexi.
She got physical with Lexi and Dominic. ”
“She claimed to be the chairman and threatened to fire Lexi and Dominic,” one added. “That’s right, her and that other woman caused all the trouble,” said another. Waylan sneered at the officers.
“Officer, they’re family, covering for each other. You’re accusing us without any evidence. ”
Then a familiar voice cut through the noise. Mia Wheeler, Jonathan’s wife, walked in, flanked by Lexi.
Mia looked at me, oblivious to who I actually was. “Yvonne, I’m Jonathan’s sister. My name is Yvonne Scott,” I said. Mia laughed.
“Mrs. Scott, that woman, she’s Mr. Scott’s mistress. You probably don’t know this, but Mr.
Scott arranged an internship for her at the company. He pays her a lot of attention. ”
“Interesting,” Mia said, her voice dripping with venom. “I was only out of the country for a week, and my husband managed to prepare such a big surprise for me.
”
She turned to the officers. “Officer, I am Jonathan Scott’s legal wife. I accuse her of lying about her identity, and her accusations are all fabricated. Take her away; she’s trying to run.
”
Before I could protest, someone dragged me down a hallway and into a storage room. Mia’s minions shoved me against a wall. My head cracked against the concrete, and I tasted blood. “I’ll deal with you later,” Mia said, turning to walk away.
I laid there for hours, bound and gagged. When I freed myself, I crawled. I dragged my broken body across the floor and found a service door. My brother found me in the parking garage, covered in the evidence of my ordeal.
He helped me into a car. “I’m going to fix this,” he whispered. “No one touches my sister and gets away with it. ”
__________
Two days later, when I could walk again, I returned to the company with him.
My brother walked me straight past security. He called an emergency board meeting. Employees packed the hall. “Yvonne, I’ve had enough,” Jonathan announced to the assembled staff and shareholders.
“I’ve gone by my position as an agent too long. Everyone, meet your real chairman. ”
He turned to me. “Miss Scott is the chairman of Scott Group.
I’m merely her agent. I have the letter of appointment and the board resolution here. ”
Mia Wheeler stormed in. “Jonathan, you just finished sticking up for your mistress, didn’t you?
Now you bring her into the company like it’s nothing. I see you don’t give a damn about me. ”
“Mia, you’ve got it all wrong. She really is my sister, Yvonne Scott, my full-blood sister, the real chairman of Scott Group,” Jonathan said.
“Impossible! I don’t believe you. Men always like to call their lovers different nicknames. You’re actually lying for her now, right?
”
“If you don’t believe it, look at this,” Jonathan held up documents and a family photograph. “This is Yvonne’s official appointment as chairman, unanimously approved by the board. And this is our family photo from ten years ago with our parents, me, and Yvonne. Do you see a difference?
”
Mia’s face went pale. “Mia, I never thought the daughter of the Wheeler Group could be so stupid, letting others use you as a pawn,” Jonathan said coldly. “Our marriage was just a business alliance from the start. The Scott Group can’t and dare not continue to partner with someone like you.
The future mother of my children can’t be someone as foolish as you. Let’s get divorced. ”
“No, Jonathan, it’s all my fault. I was deceived.
I was blind. We can’t get divorced. Yvonne—I mean Ms. Scott—help me out.
Say something for me. ”
“Ms. Wheeler,” I said quietly. “As chairman, I’m not comfortable handing projects to your company again.
A partner who lacks basic judgment and gets manipulated easily isn’t trustworthy. ”
“The divorce papers, I’ll have Thea take them to your place,” Jonathan added. “You’d better sign them quickly. ”
Security escorted her out, her screams echoing down the hallway.
__________
The police arrived moments later, escorted by my brother’s security team. “Lexi Gordon and Dominic Flynn,” the lead officer announced. “You’re under arrest for assault, illegal confinement, and attempted murder. ”
“You’ve got no evidence,” Lexi shouted.
“You can’t arrest us. I’ll sue you. My father has the board seat. You can’t touch me.
”
Her father, Waylan, stepped forward. “They’re right. I’m on the board. You have no proof.
”
“No proof? ” I held up a tablet. “Officer, here’s all the surveillance footage from the villa and the conference hall. Our security system automatically backs up to the cloud.
”
Lexi’s face drained of color. “It’s fake. That video has to be fake. ”
Dominic fell to his knees.
“Yvonne, I was blind. I shouldn’t have betrayed you. Please let me go. ”
“Let you go?
” My voice cracked. “I’ve been begging you to save me for days, and what did you do? ” I turned to the officers. “Officer, take them away.
They’re guilty of assault and illegal confinement. Don’t let them walk free. ”
“Yvonne, I can be a witness,” Lexi suddenly pleaded. “Give me a chance to make up for my mistakes.
It was all his fault. He tricked me. He said you were Mr. Scott’s mistress.
”
“An accomplice as a witness? ” I shook my head. “Take them all. ”
Outside the station, Dominic made one last desperate plea.
“Yvonne, I really saved you from that car crash. If it weren’t for me, you would have died. You can’t be ungrateful. ”
I stopped.
“Dominic, you really saved me. That’s why you think you deserve special treatment. But I’ve already done everything I could for you. I married you.
I carried your child. I gave you an opportunity you didn’t deserve. And you threw it all away. You cheated, you betrayed me, you abandoned me while I was pregnant, and you killed your child.
”
His face twisted. “Karma will catch up with you. ”
My brother stepped forward. “Actually, Dominic, are you sure you were the one who saved Yvonne back then?
I had someone look into the car accident. On that day, after Yvonne lost consciousness, the first person to arrive at the scene was a passing nurse named Emily. She’s the one who gave first aid and called the ambulance. She then ran into you on the way.
She asked you to take Yvonne to the hospital. Do you remember what you said? ”
“I… I forgot.
”
“You said, ‘What’s it got to do with me? Why should I bother with this? ’ The nurse had no choice. She pulled five hundred bucks out and handed it to you, asking you to take care of Yvonne, then hurried off.
Is that right? ”
Dominic’s face went slack. “No, it’s impossible. ”
“You threw away your last shred of dignity just for the money.
You were planning to take the money and leave, but then the ambulance arrived. ”
“So, everything was a lie,” I whispered. “You never saved me. ”
“No, I saved Yvonne.
So, so you all owe me one. ”
“How could someone who’s always willing to help others cause his wife to miscarry and then go on to mistreat his ex-wife with his mistress? ” Jonathan said. “You’re a jerk, Dominic.
Plain and simple. ”
The officers dragged them away, still screaming. __________
A month later, I found myself standing by the window of the chairman’s office, overlooking the city skyline. Dominic and Lexi were awaiting trial, facing serious charges.
Jonathan had formally stepped back as my agent, and I had taken full control of Scott Group, just as I had always done behind the scenes. I thought about Dominic’s final words in the hallway. He had grabbed my arm one last time. “If you were just an ordinary housewife, without your status, if I weren’t the chairman of Scott Group, if I were someone you could toss aside, would you still act like this?
”
I had looked at him, this man I once loved. “You won’t because you’re not that person. You are a greedy opportunist. Truth is, if you hadn’t betrayed me and our child had lived, I was going to let you run my other company.
You could have been CEO. ”
His face had crumbled. Now, I turned to the open door, where my brother stood smiling at me. “I won’t hide in the background anymore,” I said.
“Starting today, we’ll be working together, and we’ll take Scott Group to new heights. ”
