Chapter 2

"Shame on you! I didn't know he bought you the lastest phone! I don't even spend that much money on myself!"

A few dads in the crowd stepped up when Tara became ungovernable.

"You beat up a woman and broke her phone when you showed up. I've called the police on you."

Tara spat at the men who tried to intervene. "You must have fallen head over heels for that woman too! Why else would you help her?"

Scanning my outfit, she commented in disdain, "Look at her clothes. She's practically decked in luxury items."

Turning to the man, she asked, "Can a poor guy like you afford to pay for her lifestyle?"

I trembled in rage, as Tara not only beat me up for no reason, but she also unfairly accused me of being a homewrecker.

Staring her down, I demanded, "Who the heck is your husband?"

If looks could kill, Tara Jameson would be dead by now.

She placed her hands on her waist and stared haughtily at me. Snorting, she taunted me again. "Yeah, keep faking it. How dare you ask for my husband's name when you totally know who he is?

"Fine. I'll put the nail in the coffin. My husband is Preston Whitmore."

Finally, I came across a name that rang a bell. Standing up with much difficulty, I endured the pain in my face and explained, "I know Preston Whitmore, but you misunderstood our relationship. I'm his—"

I wanted to clarify that I was Preston's employer, but Tara did not give me a chance. She grabbed my hair and slapped me in the face again.

A cold glint appeared in her eyes. "How dare you bring up Preston? Don't claim that there's nothing between the two of you.

"I have my bestie to thank. She's a preschool teacher here, and she told me she saw a kid who looked like a carbon copy of Preston! If not for her, I wouldn't have known about this filthy affair!"

Tara continued kicking and lashing out at me with a malicious look in her eyes. The onlookers who tried to stop her were held back by the women who came with Tara.

Tara looked around and snickered. "My husband is the director of a hospital who works with the Harlan Group. Which one of you dares to stop me?"

The mention of Harlan Group made everyone freeze. Tara gave the women a look, and they quickly charged at me and pinned me down on the floor.

When I was pinned to the floor, Tara kicked me and stepped on my hand. "Oh, I wasn't paying attention just now. I finally recall that you're Preston's friend from high school, aren't you?

"Were you Preston's one-sided crush? You're trying to get cozy with him now that he's wealthy and powerful, right?"

I shook my head fervently, trying to explain myself, but I couldn't even open my mouth as Tara was pinching my face.

Indeed, Preston and I attended the same high school, but I had no idea he had a crush on me back then. We fell out of touch after college, until we learned that Preston was a doctor when Victor and I went for IVF.

As Preston was my high school friend, I entrusted him to pick the best quality sperm for my IVF treatment. Apart from that, we did not have any relationship at all.

The Harlan Group had expanded its range to partner with the hospital, all because I wanted to lend a hand to my high school friend. Never had I thought that my kindness would backfire.

Snorting, Tara shot me a look of contempt. "It doesn't matter that a shameless woman like you gave birth to my husband's kid. A child without a father will never see the light of the day."

What kid was she talking about?

Doubts filled my mind.

It was at that moment the children left school after class. Emma, hand-in-hand with her teacher, skipped her way out of the school.

I lay on the ground, cheek swollen, my clothes disheveled from the scuffle just now. I frantically attempted to cover my chest so Emma did not have to see me in that embarrassed state.

But Tara was merciless. She tore my silk shirt in half. "Time for your daughter to see you for who you are—a shameless woman!"

I looked up and saw Emma staring at me helplessly. Tears flooded my eyes. I struggled to get up with only one thing in my mind: Emma was still a child. She should not be seeing this.

Without thinking, I yelled, "I am Preston Whitmore's employer! I'm the CEO of Harlan Group!"