Chapter 1My husband was in post-sex shower—his phone lit up.
[Dear Sunshine Academy parents, don't forget tomorrow's opening ceremony!]
I froze.
We've been married five years. Still NO kids.
Must be a wrong number.
Then another message pops up.
[Hello! This is Kai's teacher. Thank you SO much for the million-dollar playground donation!]
[We've prepared a special ceremony for you and Mrs. Reid tomorrow!]
Wait.
Kai?!
That's Ashton's SECRETARY's son.
I put his phone down before I smashed it.
Breathe.
Focus.
I grabbed mine and texted my assistant.
[Pick me up tomorrow morning. Sunshine Academy.]
Using MY money to play daddy?
Fine.
Then I—the REAL Mrs. Reid—deserve front-row seats to meet my little "bonus son."
...
A few minutes later, Ashton walked out wrapped in a towel.
He picked up his phone, a barely noticeable smirk crossing his face.
Then it buzzed.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he started getting dressed.
"Babe, something urgent came up at work. Don't wait up tonight."
I nodded like I knew nothing.
The second he left, I opened the car tracking app on my phone.
That limited-edition Rolls-Royce Phantom?
My five-year anniversary gift to him just last week.
Guess he couldn't wait to drive it straight to his side piece.
Half an hour later, I followed the GPS to the most exclusive villa community in Beverly Hills.
Ashton expertly pulled up in front of a mansion.
Then his secretary, Laila Cross, came running out.
She threw herself into his arms, whining.
"Ash, I sent Kai to my mom's tonight. Why'd you take so long?"
My breath caught.
So it was HER.
Just then, I overheard a couple of residents walking by.
"Those two are so in love. You can hear them sex every night."
"Seriously. I once even saw them fucking in their POOL."
"That villa's thirty million. Heard he bought it cash and put it in her name."
I let out a bitter laugh.
Six months ago, I'd found a flyer for this place in Ashton's bag.
I foolishly thought he was planning to surprise me with a new house for our anniversary.
Turns out, he was.
Just not for ME.
Before I could process it, Ashton's indulgent voice drifted over.
"We already had our fun this morning. So thirsty?"
Laila giggled and smacked his chest.
"Well, Mrs. Reid's probably keeping you on a tight leash, huh?"
Ashton scooped her up. "What Mrs. Reid? You're my Mrs. Reid."
"Besides, she doesn't even compare to you."
What?
I knew this was coming.
But hearing him say it out loud still felt heartbroken.
When I first met Ashton, he was just a penniless nobody.
My dad disliked him.
Only after I accepted Claire as my stepmother did my father finally stop standing in our way.
I even knelt at my mom's grave for three days in guilt, apologizing.
And this is what I got in return.
Betrayal. Humiliation.
I bit my lip, pulled out my phone, and snapped photos of the villa.
Then I sent them to my private investigator and my lawyer.
I could make Ashton into a business golden boy.
Of course I could just as easily destroy him.
Chapter 2
After I was done, I called Ashton.
It took him forever to pick up.
His voice was impatient.
"Babe, I already told you—work emergency. Why are you calling?"
"Oh, right. I totally forgot you were at the office." I kept my voice sweet.
"I just wanted to let you know—Dad's on his way there. Said he wanted to drop by and see you."
Silence.
Then panic. "Your dad's coming? Okay. Yeah. I'll get ready."
Then the call abruptly ended.
I smiled as I looked up just in time to see him stumble out of the villa, half-dressed, buttoning his shirt as he ran.
Laila stood in the doorway, eyes red.
I almost laughed.
My dad wasn't going anywhere. I made it up.
But so what?
I simply couldn't stand watching them be happy.
Once Ashton was gone, I walked up and knocked on Laila's door.
Thinking Ashton had come back, she rushed forward sweetly.
"Ash! I knew you couldn't stay away—"
Then she saw ME.
She froze, stumbled back.
"Mrs. Reid! Wait, no—please don't misunderstand!"
"What I just said, I didn't mean..."
I looked at her, disgusted. "All bark, no bite?"
"Come on, Laila. If you're gonna be a homewrecker, at least commit."
She blinked, then straightened up, her expression shifting.
"Mrs. Reid, if you already know, why bother asking?"
"Don't you think you look pathetic right now?"
I raised an eyebrow. Didn't expect her to grow a spine.
"Pathetic? Me?"
She lifted her chin, no trace of guilt in her eyes. Just contempt.
"You know he doesn't love you. But you keep clinging to him anyway."
"You think money can keep a man?!"
"Ashton's been done with you for a long time! Otherwise, why do you think you haven't gotten pregnant in five years?"
"He's been drugging you. Every. Single. Day. So you wouldn't have his kid."
She sneered.
"If I were you, I would've left a long time ago."
I listened quietly without interrupting her.
Honestly? It was funny.
I crossed my arms, glanced at the villa behind her, then slapped her across the face. Hard.
"You had his kid. So what?"
"As long as he's still married to me, you and your little bastard are nothing but dirty secrets."
"And this house? Built with MY money."
"The ones who need to leave IS you!"
She staggered, hand on her cheek, staring at me in disbelief.
"You—you hit me!"
I smiled, pulled off my wedding ring, and tossed it into the gutter.
"Congrats. You can have my trash."
Her face went pale, but she stubbornly lifted her chin.
"What are you so proud of?"
"Ashton's a big deal now! He doesn't need you anymore!"
"One word from me, and he'll divorce you!"
I actually laughed in anger.
"Sure. Let's see who exactly he picks tomorrow."
I turned and walked away before she could say another word.
Ashton didn't come home that night.
Didn't call, either.
Guess Laila was too scared to tell him I showed up.
I slept like a baby.
The next morning, I got into my assistant's car.
"Jordan, let's go. Sunshine Academy."
I couldn't wait to see Ashton play daddy.
Chapter 3
When we arrived, the parking lot was packed with luxury cars.
A few minutes later, Ashton's Phantom pulled up.
Laila stepped out of the back seat, holding Kai in her arms.
"Mr. Reid! Mrs. Reid!"
Principal Morrison rushed over, beaming.
"You're here! Come in—the ceremony's about to start!"
A crowd instantly formed around them.
"That's the Mr. Reid who donated the whole playground?"
"A million bucks for his kid's preschool. Talk about generous."
"I heard he's self-made and is now a billionaire in just a few years. Incredible."
Ashton was eating it up.
He took Kai from Laila's arms, all smiles.
"I wouldn't be here without my wife. She's been with me through everything."
"If it makes her and Kai happy, it's worth every penny."
I almost gagged.
His wife stood by him?
Did he forget if it weren't for my father investing fifty million, he'd still be cold-calling at some no-name sales firm?
Did he forget that I used my family's connections to land him every major deal he ever closed?
Just as they were about to walk inside, I stepped out of the car.
I took off my sunglasses and stared straight at him.
Loud enough for everyone to hear, I said:
"A useless husband daring to keep a mistress and a bastard on the side. That takes guts!"
Ashton froze.
Laila, on the other hand, was quick, clutching his arm tightly.
I walked right up to them, smiling.
"Wow, Mr. Reid really cares for his employees."
"So much care that you knocked one up and built her kid a playground. What a great boss."
The crowd exploded.
Everyone's eyes shifted to Laila.
The admiration? Gone. Replaced with disgust.
"Wait—she's his secretary?"
"So she's the mistress! And that kid's illegitimate!"
Laila's face went pale, tears immediately welling up.
"I'm not a mistress! Ashton and I have been together for six years! Kai's five!"
She looked up at him, desperate. "Ash, tell them."
Ashton snapped out of it and glared at me.
"Nadia, what the hell are you doing here?"
"What do you want?!"
Then he turned to the crowd, pulling Laila close.
"I'm so sorry, everyone. This is… misunderstanding."
"She's our housekeeper. She's been having delusions for years—thinks she's my wife."
"I kept her on out of pity. Didn't think she'd follow us here and cause a scene."
What?
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
He just called me the HOUSEKEEPER.
The parents instantly turned on me.
"Oh my God. She's a crazy maid?!"
"Maids these days have no shame. Thinking they can just become the lady of the house."
"Look at what she's wearing. No way a maid can afford that. She probably stole it from Mrs. Reid."
"Disgusting. And she had the nerve to call the actual Mrs. Reid a homewrecker!"
My phone buzzed.
A text from Laila.
[See? Ashton picked ME.]
[Wonder why he didn't come home last night? Guess.]
[I was gonna let it go—not tell him you hit me. But you just had to show up and embarrass yourself.]
Then a video.
Ashton and Laila were in his office. Half-dressed. Fucking ruthlessly.
No wonder he neither came home nor confronted me last night.
But I still didn't get it.
Where did he find the nerve to treat me like this?
I looked him dead in the eye.
"Ashton Reid, aren't you afraid my father will find out?"
He hesitated.
Then leaned in close and whispered, his voice low and mocking.
"Your dad? Your stepmom's about to pop out a SON any day now."
"You really think you're getting anything from the Winstons after that?"
