The day I flew back home, my husband, who was supposed to pick me up, sent someone else, claiming a last-minute emergency. That “someone else” blocked my path at the arrivals gate, her chin tilted in arrogant challenge. “So you’re Adrian’s so-called ‘best friend.’” I was frantic. “Crestwood Estates in Kingsbridge. I need to get there now.” The butler had called that morning. My grandfather had collapsed. I’d caught the first flight out. But she and her friends didn’t move. They formed a wall, their eyes burning with a raw, ugly hostility. “You home-wrecking, backstabbing bitch. I’m going to kill you today.” A sharp slap cracked across my face, stunning me. Then the fists and feet started flying. Thankfully, I knew enough self-defense to react, twisting and using their momentum to throw a few of them to the ground. “Are you insane? Is this how my husband told you to welcome me home?” 1 Thrown to the polished airport floor, Scarlett scrambled back up, her face contorted with rage. “You’re just the shameless friend who doesn’t know her place! How dare you call him your husband?” she spat. “Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson about boundaries with married men!” She was prepared. Her friends produced steel batons from their bags, advancing on me. I grabbed Scarlett’s arm, twisting it behind her back, my patience wearing thin. “We can’t be talking about the same person,” I ground out. “I despise infidelity. I would never, ever wreck someone’s home.” A crowd was gathering, their phones already out. The exit was becoming impassable. Panicked that I wouldn’t make it home in time, I tried to reason with her. “Ma’am, whatever your issue is, you can take it up with my lawyer. Right now, I have a family emergency. I don’t have time for this drama.” I tried to push through the gawking onlookers, but she held up a photo. It was a professional shot of me and Adrian, smiling. My first instinct was to confirm it. “Yes, that’s my husband and me.” That was the spark that lit the fuse. Scarlett exploded. “Adrian has always told me you were just his childhood friend, practically his sister! And you have the nerve to call him your husband in public?” she shrieked. “I knew it! You’ve been using the ‘best friend’ excuse to sleep with my husband behind my back, you pathetic slut!” The crowd, which had started to disperse, surged back in, their curious glances turning to judgmental stares. I felt like a criminal on display. Scarlett, reveling in her victory, swung the baton. Pinned by the crowd, I couldn’t dodge in time. The blow landed hard on my arm. A flash of white-hot pain was followed by a spreading numbness. “My grandfather is dying,” I warned, my voice low and dangerous. “I am not playing games with you. Get out of my way, or you’ll be hearing from my legal team.” I was his only grandchild. He had always doted on me, even entrusting me with the company he built from the ground up. I couldn’t be late. I just couldn’t. Scarlett’s face was a mask of righteous fury. “Let me make things crystal clear for you,” she yelled for everyone to hear. “My name is Scarlett Pierce, and I am the legally wedded wife of the man you call your husband!” “You shameless home-wrecker! Using your ‘friend’ status to fly around the world with him, taking wedding photos, meeting his family! I swear, if I don’t beat you to a pulp today, I’ll take your last name!” As she screamed, the batons rained down on my back and shoulders. I sucked in a sharp breath against the pain. I was a woman. I could understand the rage of being betrayed. But that didn't give her the right to do this. I caught the next baton in my hand, my fingers wrapping tightly around the cold steel. I met her gaze, my eyes narrowed. “That’s enough. I got married five years ago. My marriage certificate is in my purse. My husband would never cheat on me. You’ve made a mistake.” My voice was shaking, but firm. “If you touch me again, I’m calling the police.” Scarlett just rolled her eyes, her expression curdling with contempt. She rummaged in her designer bag and triumphantly produced her own marriage certificate, a crisp, official document she waved for the crowd to see. “Adrian and I have been married for three years. He took me to the courthouse himself,” she declared. “For three years, he’s been flying overseas for ‘business.’ I saw your texts on his phone. He said you were just friends. Then I found the photos on his social media. There’s no such thing as a platonic friendship between a man and a woman. You are the other woman!” Her entourage chimed in. “She’s just been clinging to Mr. Foster, waiting for him to make it big. Now that he’s successful, she’s back to kick you out and take her place. What a schemer!” “Exactly! In the old days, they’d drown women like you for this!” My mind went blank. I snatched the red-bound certificate from her hand. The man in the photo was undeniably Adrian Foster. Before I could process it, my phone buzzed. A text from the butler. [Miss Vance, the Director is fading fast. He’s asking for you. He just wants to see you one last time.] 2 There was no more time to think. “Miss Pierce,” I said, my voice strained, “my marriage certificate is dated two years before yours. I suggest you look into whether someone impersonated my husband to scam you. My family member is dying. I’m leaving now, but my lawyer will be in touch.” I pushed my way forward, but she grabbed my wrist, her grip like a vise. “Trying to run away?” she sneered. “Afraid your little charade is over?” My patience snapped. The desperation and fear in my chest ignited into pure rage. I told her it was an emergency. Why wouldn’t she listen? Just then, a timid voice spoke up from behind me. “I… I’m an airport official. I can verify the certificate numbers for you, check which one is authentic.” As desperate as I was, refusing now would make me look guilty. I locked eyes with Scarlett. “After this, you let me go. Deal?” My hands trembled as I texted the butler, asking for an update, praying I wasn’t too late. He replied with a video. My grandfather, lying in bed, his eyes wide and unfocused, was gasping my name, a thread of life he was clinging to just for me. My vision blurred with tears. I turned to the official, my voice a choked whisper. “Are you done yet? Please, I’m in a hurry.” Even in my panic, I tried to be decent. “Scarlett, something is very wrong here. You should contact my assistant. This might be a new kind of identity fraud.” Whoever was playing this sick game with my husband’s name, I would make them pay. Adrian was the CEO of Stellar Corp, the company my grandfather had poured his life into. This had to be a setup, a corporate sabotage plot to ruin our reputation. The official examined both documents, her brow furrowed. Then her expression shifted as she looked at me. It was a look of pure disgust. She handed Scarlett’s certificate back with a polite nod. “Yours is valid, ma’am. The number is in the system.” Then she turned to me, her face a mask of scorn, and threw my certificate on the ground. “You were so confident, I almost believed you. But this? Your number doesn’t exist. It’s a fake.” She sneered. “Trying to scam a man like Mr. Foster now that he’s famous? I guess money really does attract all kinds of trash.” Her words hit me like a physical blow. “What? How is that possible?” I cried out. “Adrian and I have known each other for ten years! We’ve been married for five! How can our certificate be fake?” I bent to pick it up, to demand she check again. Scarlett’s stiletto heel slammed down on my hand, pinning it to the floor. Pain, sharp and blinding, shot up my arm. “You see?” she said, her voice dripping with triumph. “Mine is the real one. You filthy bitch, sleeping with my husband and trying to steal my identity. I’ll teach you some manners.” Her friends closed in again, their batons raised. A blow to my back sent me crumpling to the ground, the air knocked from my lungs. “Stop!” I screamed. “You have no right! This isn’t settled! I am a director on the board of Stellar Corp, and I will sue every single person who laid a hand on me today! You will all be held legally accountable!” My threat was met with a moment of silence, followed by a wave of derisive laughter. “First she’s the wife, now she’s a director? Does this woman ever stop lying?” “Stellar Corp is the biggest company in Kingsbridge! You think just any piece of trash can be on their board?” Scarlett raised an eyebrow, emboldening them. “Stellar Corp is my husband’s company, and I’ve never heard of a director named Audrey Vance. Don’t worry,” she announced to the crowd. “As the boss’s wife, I’m giving you all permission. Whoever teaches this home-wrecker the best lesson gets a job at Stellar.” The crowd went wild. “Stellar only hires Ivy League grads and overseas talent! Their starting salaries are in the millions!” “She’s just a mistress anyway. Who cares if she gets roughed up? I hate cheaters.” A hand tangled in my hair, yanking my head back. Nails dug into my skin. I screamed, bracing for the mob to trample me. Suddenly, a chorus of sharp whistles cut through the noise. A team of airport security guards pushed through the crowd, creating a barrier around me. “What is the meaning of this assembly? We have a VIP from Stellar Corp arriving today! Disperse immediately!” 3 They parted the sea of people, and two guards helped me to my feet. Scarlett stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. “You’re telling me to leave? Do you have any idea who I am?” The security captain stepped forward respectfully. “Ma’am, we’ve received instructions to ensure clear passage for a VIP from Stellar Corp. We need to prevent any blockages.” Scarlett scoffed, poking him in the chest with her baton. “Stellar Corp? You mean me, right? I’m Adrian Foster’s wife.” She flipped open the marriage certificate and shoved it in his face. “Open your eyes. I’m the person you’re supposed to be protecting. This airline is a subsidiary of our company, isn’t it? A dog should at least recognize its master. Be careful, or I’ll have you fired.” The captain flinched back but said nothing, his men still forming a protective circle around me. Scarlett sneered and snapped her fingers. “Fine. If you want to play hero, you can take a few hits for her.” While they were distracted, I frantically tried to call Adrian. If Scarlett’s certificate was real, it meant my entire life was a lie. The line was busy. Over and over again. Scarlett watched me, a cruel smirk on her face. “What’s the matter? Trying to call for backup? Trying to call Adrian?” She kicked my shin lightly, her eyes glittering with malice. “My husband told me he would answer my call, anytime, anywhere. Let me show you just how little you mean to him.” She pulled out her phone and dialed. It rang twice before he picked up. “Hey, babe. What’s up?” That familiar voice. My husband’s voice. And just like that, I understood. All those years I was overseas, they were together. A bitter coldness spread through my chest. I had defied my family, turned down a strategic marriage alliance, all for him. I had personally placed him in the CEO’s chair. And this is how he repaid me. “Adrian Foster,” I snarled into the phone she held out. “You have some nerve. I suggest you get your psycho girlfriend out of here right now, or you’ll regret it.” Maybe it was the venom in my voice, but he didn’t recognize me. There was a pause, then his tone turned harsh and arrogant. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m the CEO of Stellar Corp. I can make sure you never work in this city again. You’re threatening me?” Scarlett pouted into the phone. “See? And this bitch is trying to frame me as the other woman! Everyone knows you only have me!” “Don’t worry, babe,” he cooed. “I’m on my way. I’ll give you some backup.” I clenched my fists, a humorless smile on my lips. No time to pick me up from the airport, but one call from her and he comes running. She hung up, then tapped the baton against my cheek. “I thought you were such an important ‘friend,’” she taunted. “He didn’t even recognize your voice. Hahahaha.” She and her goons moved closer, their expressions hardening. “Alright, everyone. Teach this cheating whore a lesson she’ll never forget.” They all held batons. The security team was outnumbered and surrounded. The crowd surged forward again, and one of Scarlett’s friends even started a live stream, her phone pointed at me. #StellarCorpBossWifeBeatsDownHomewrecker #ExposingTheMistress I made one last desperate attempt, my eyes locked on hers. “I’m warning you, stop now. When Adrian sees what you’ve done to me, he won’t let you get away with it. He owes his entire career to me!” Scarlett just laughed. “Oh, still talking tough when you’re about to die? Let’s see if that mouth of yours still works after we’re done with you.” The baton came down, a precise, brutal strike to the back of my knee. My leg buckled. I collapsed, my face pale, a cold sweat breaking out across my skin.
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