Chapter 4

When I got ready to try on the tailored gown I was supposed to wear to the banquet, I realized that it had been switched out.

The one before me was far inferior in quality, and it was obviously several sizes larger than mine.

Since I had to wear the gown the next day, I called the boutique angrily to question them.

However, the woman at the boutique sounded aggrieved as she explained, "Ms. Lane, this really isn't our fault. Your husband said he'd take the dress home for you to try on, and when he brought it back, he told us that we needed to make some adjustments. We really don't know what went wrong."

Suppressing my anger, I stormed over to Luke's office to question him. When he saw me, he frowned. "I thought I told you not to bother me during working hours—"

"Did you take my gown?" I interrupted him. "The woman at the boutique said you took it home for me to try on. Why don't I remember that?"

After a pause, he said, "Wendy doesn't have a gown, so I let her wear that one. Besides, didn't I buy you another one that looks similar? It's just a gown. Why make such a fuss?"

I scoffed incredulously and threw the gown at his feet. "This piece of rag? If it's so great, why don't you let Wendy wear this one?"

Luke's face darkened instantly. "Can you stop being so unreasonable?" he snapped coldly. "It's just a gown. You have plenty of those. What's the big deal about giving one to Wendy? All you do is act like a shrew and throw tantrums. Is that how the wife of a CEO should behave?"

Just then, Wendy entered the office. Her eyes were red, as if she'd been wronged somehow. "Luke, please don't fight because of me. I'll give you back the dress."

She handed me a bag, inside of which was my tailored gown.

Luke glared at me coldly and put an arm around her protectively, comforting her in a gentle tone. "It's alright. I'll take you to pick out a new gown, okay? Anything you like. You shouldn't be wearing someone else's cast-offs, anyway. Used goods are disgusting."

Coldly, I took the bag and left, my hatred threatening to boil over.

Luke was right. Used goods are disgusting.

The anniversary banquet was packed with people. Wendy was most eye-catching in her custom-made feathered gown that perfectly outlined her figure. Standing beside Luke, who was in a bespoke suit, they looked like a match made in heaven.

When she saw me, she frowned slightly before approaching me with a wine glass in hand, a provocative look in her eyes. "Long time no see, Ms. Lane. Welcome to our company's anniversary banquet.

"But I'll hand it to you—not many women can hold it together when they know their husband is cheating on them. You must have a heart of gold."

She giggled. Her tone carried the arrogance of someone who considered herself the true mistress of the house. Clearly, she did not think much about me.

I smiled at her, entirely unfazed by the sharp edge in her words.