Chapter 3

I bent down to pick up my phone, but that allowed Tia to step on my back.

"I've just called my husband. He's on his way!" she proclaimed smugly. "Let's see how smug you can look by the time he gets here!"

Ignoring the pain, I grabbed her ankle, flipped her away, and sent her crashing to the floor, landing hard on her backside.

The manager's face drained of color as he rushed to help her up. "M-Mrs. Brando! Are you alright? Should I call an ambulance?"

"The ambulance?!" she screeched. "No! I want this woman apprehended right now!"

She seethed. "You disgusting succubus! You seduced my husband and assaulted me! You can kiss your reputation goodbye from now on!"

The owner, enraged by my actions, pointed a finger at me. "How dare you harm Mrs. Brando! This hotel is equipped with surveillance cameras everywhere. I've already called the police!"

The crowd, fueled by a sense of righteousness, began wagging their fingers at me, playing the role of moral authorities.

Some of them even became physical, pulling my hair and yanking at my shirt.

"How dare you attack someone as esteemed as Mrs. Brando!" one of them shouted. "I'll be her witness today—you're nothing but a homewrecker and a violent menace!"

"Make her go viral!" another yelled. "The world needs to know who she really is!"

They shoved me toward the entrance of the hall where the wedding had been supposed to take place.

A large photo of Matteo and me hung in the center. Some members of the mob seized the picture and ripped it in two.

I watched them destroy it. All I felt was fury and disgust.

Go ahead, tear it down, you fools! You were doing me a favor—you just didn't realize it yet.

"Did you get a good angle?" Tia asked gleefully, her voice laced with triumph. "Upload it now. The world will finally know the real you!"

I tightened my grip on my phone as Matteo's messages flooded in.

Ha! He still thought I would care what he had to say?

I skimmed through the messages.

Predictably, they were full of apologetic platitudes and a hollow promise to explain himself later.

I blocked him immediately and sent a text to my secretary: [The wedding is canceled. Tell my dad to stop investing in Luxury Palace Hotel now. Matteo is fired from my company.]

[Understood, Miss McPherson.]

Tia noticed me typing on my phone and stormed toward me, her stilettos clicking sharply on the floor.

I had no time to move.

She stomped hard on my lower abdomen, her heels digging deep into my flesh with crushing force.

Pain surged through me. I curled into a ball on the floor, gasping weakly.

The crowd gasped too, but their concern was fleeting.

The owner looked down at me coldly.

"Enough with the theatrics, Miss McPherson. We won't be covering any damages because your wedding was ruined by your own actions. That's not our responsibility." He paused, then added, "You're also expected to apologize to Mrs. Brando. For the sake of your dignity, do so now."

The world seemed to darken with the pain, and I could only manage to glare at him with pure hatred.

The manager suddenly pointed at my pants, his voice panicked. "B-Blood!"

I looked down. Was my baby… gone?

For a moment, panic flickered across Tia's face, but it was quickly replaced by a smug, malicious grin.

She crossed her arms and sneered. "Oh, so you thought you could get a piece of my husband's inheritance by having his baby? Too bad. Your plan's ruined. Looks like not even God wants to side with you!"

I bit my lip and fought to stay conscious, despite the overwhelming pain and horror.

Just then, we heard footsteps approaching rapidly from the entrance.

A familiar voice cried out, "Gina!"

I lifted my head with great effort.

Matteo was breaking through the crowd, rushing toward me. His bodyguards followed closely behind.

Here he came. The man who kept a mistress on my dime—and she thought she was me!

I couldn't wait to destroy them both.