Chapter 1I'm in the hospital after losing my second baby when my five-year-old calls me on video:
"Mommy, last night I got up to pee and saw Margot coming out of Daddy's room."
"And she looked way younger than you!"
I hear footsteps, then my husband's face pops up on screen:
"Kids have the weirdest dreams, huh?"
"Alright sweetie, go play. Mommy's coming home soon."
He hangs up.
I just sit there staring at Margot—our housekeeper.
She's been here at the hospital with me this whole time.
How could my daughter see HER at home?
And she said Margot looked younger than me—like 30 years younger overnight??
That night, after Margot falls asleep, I sneak out and grab a cab home.
What I see... I can't even process it.
...
The house is totally quiet.
Light came from under our bedroom door.
Reid used to tell me he keeps a light on when I'm not home.
Said the dark makes him feel lonely without me there.
I actually laugh at myself for being paranoid.
But... since I'm here anyway, why not surprise him?
I'm about to open the door when I hear his voice—and he sounds turned on.
"You know Sienna's coming home tomorrow. You really had to wear me out tonight, huh?"
Some woman giggles back.
"Well, you only stay over like twice a month. I miss you."
"Plus, Sienna's the one who crashed this relationship."
"And she's useless—can't even keep your baby. I'm just giving you a replacement."
Reid's tone completely changes.
"About the baby—"
"I don't care if your mom did it on purpose or not."
"Tell her to be more careful from now on."
"Sienna's not dumb."
"My company goes public soon, and she can't find out about anything before that."
"I know, I know~"
Woman's voice, all flirty and whiny.
"My mom's at the hospital being super sweet to her right now."
"She even told us we should hurry up and have a baby so she can help raise it."
"Babe, we're not broke anymore. We'll hire people for that—your mom's gonna live the good life with us."
"But yeah, one kid's not enough..."
Reid laughs and there's movement, then her moaning starts up.
I sit in the pitch-black living room.
Listened to that disgusting noise for like an hour.
So my daughter wasn't dreaming.
She really saw someone.
And that woman's our housekeeper's daughter.
While I was in the hospital losing our baby?
My husband brought her home to sleep with.
Now it all makes sense why Reid hated every housekeeper before Margot.
Always bitched about the food or said they sucked with our daughter.
Then Margot showed up.
Her cooking's basic, she's messy as hell.
Even forgot to pick up our daughter a few times.
But suddenly Reid's obsessed with her.
And here I am—
Inherited my entire family's company, grew up with everything handed to me.
But I've been cramming myself into Reid's tiny-ass apartment just so he doesn't feel inferior.
I thought maybe Margot reminded him of when he was poor.
So I tried being cool with it.
Turns out my patience just made it easier for them to screw me over.
Good thing I found out before it was too late.
I call my lawyer.
"Draft divorce papers."
"I want every penny my company invested in Reid's business back."
"Also, dig up everything on our housekeeper Margot Delacroix—especially her daughter."
"I want ALL OF IT."
On my way back to the hospital, I call our head housekeeper.
Told her to pick up my daughter and bring her to the family estate.
My daughter's too little.
She doesn't need to see this garbage.
Chapter 2
Sky's barely getting light when I get back to the hospital.
Margot rushes out of my room looking freaked.
"Oh my god, Mrs. Carrington! Where'd you go? I was worried sick!"
"Couldn't sleep, walked around downstairs."
"Margot, doctor's here now though—can you handle my discharge stuff?"
Once everything's packed, the driver takes us straight to Reid's office.
Margot looks nervous.
"Mrs. Carrington, what're we doing here?"
"You know this place?"
I smile at her.
She shakes her head real quick.
I barely go to Reid's office except for major meetings.
He always said me showing up gets people gossiping, and he hates that.
The receptionist is new—has no clue who I am.
She's about to make me sign in when she spots Margot.
Big smile.
"Oh hi! Visiting Mr. Carrington again?"
"He's so lucky to have a mother-in-law like you."
Margot goes white.
Before she can say anything, I jump in.
"Actually, she's our housekeeper."
"She probably brings him lunch a lot, so you get the confusion."
"I AM his wife. I'll just head up."
Leave her standing there shocked and take the elevator.
Reid's assistant's walking out of his office when she nearly crashes into me.
Doesn't say hi—just spins around and pounds on his door.
"Mr. Carrington, your wife's here."
Don't know what they were doing seconds before.
But now he's straightening his collar and she's staring at the floor acting innocent.
I check her name tag:
[Genevieve Beaumont]
So this is Reid's little princess.
Designer everything, head to toe.
Ring on her finger's like three times the size of mine.
Even her phone charm probably costs more than that stuffed animal our daughter wanted for her birthday—
The one Reid said no to because she's "too spoiled."
She must feel me staring because she stutters.
"Mr. Carrington, I should—I'll get back to work."
"Hang on." I stop her.
She freezes like I just pulled a gun.
Reid looks worried. "Sienna, she—"
"Don't I know you from somewhere?"
I cut him off. He relaxes a bit. Laughs.
"That's Margot's daughter."
"She's literally Margot's clone from when Margot was young."
"So yeah, you'd think you know her."
"Margot heard I needed an assistant. Her daughter just got back from studying abroad and she's really talented, so Margot hooked it up."
I nod.
Reid quickly waves her out.
I lean into him.
"Babe, I missed you so much. You didn't even visit me once."
She stops in the doorway for a second, then leaves.
Reid whispers in my ear.
"Company's been insane prepping for the IPO."
"I knew Margot was taking care of you, so I wasn't worried."
Right.
Other than the day I got admitted, he hasn't shown his face once in two weeks.
He sent flowers twice—lilies, which I hate.
Smell exactly like Genevieve's perfume though.
"Oh hey, since you're here anyway, can you sign off on my new project?"
"I'm dropping it the day we go public."
"With your company backing it, our stock's gonna explode."
He lets go and grabs some papers, all excited.
Instead of just signing like I always do, I glance at it for a second and set it back down.
"Send it to my assistant."
His smile dies.
"I'm tired. Wanna go home."
He forces a grin.
"Right, my bad."
"You just got out of the hospital and here I am forgetting."
"I'll get someone to drive you."
I wave him off.
"Margot and the driver are downstairs."
"Oh, and your new receptionist's not too bright. Thought Margot was your mother-in-law."
"Fire her.
"... Sure."
Chapter 3
Soon as I get home, my lawyer sends files over.
Videos, photos, documents—tons of material.
So that's why Genevieve called ME the homewrecker.
Turned out they're childhood sweethearts.
When Reid's family went bankrupt, Genevieve's family moved and they lost touch.
I met Reid right after that happened.
Some industry dinner, he was begging this rich creep not to pull his investment.
Everyone knew that guy—total predator who goes after young guys.
Reid's good-looking, classy vibe—exactly the type these pervs go for.
Everyone figured he was screwed that night.
But I guess his looks got to me too and I stuck my nose in.
Later, with my company's backing, Reid's career took off.
After we got married, he became even more successful.
So yeah, he had plenty of cash to take care of his ex when they reconnected.
We live in Reid's cramped apartment.
Genevieve lives in a multimillion-dollar mansion.
We never travel together.
Genevieve's Instagram's packed with couples' vacation shots.
My birthday gift's a cake his assistant ordered.
Genevieve got a thirty-million-dollar custom necklace for hers.
Genevieve's burning through our marital money.
Even her mom's ridiculous salary comes from me.
They're probably laughing their asses off about what a sucker I am.
I pull up Genevieve's Instagram.
She just posted:
[Got such a scare today. Hubby's taking me out to decompress.]
[But seriously, when's this gonna end?]
Photo shows their fancy candlelit dinner.
Few minutes later, someone with a matching couple profile pic comments:
[Sorry babe. Hang in there. I'll take you shopping after to make up for it.]
My phone slips and nails my foot.
Pick it up and call Reid.
Doesn't answer.
I keep calling.
Finally picks up, annoyed as hell.
"I'm in a meeting. Can you not—"
"I just dropped my phone on my foot."
"What do you want ME to do about it? I'm NOT a doctor!"
He catches himself.
"Look, that project's over budget. Your assistant's making us recalculate everything."
"I'm drowning here. Sienna."
"But it's just a few hundred million. Can't you just greenlight it??"
I do quick math.
FEW HUNDRED MILLION.
That's like two more mansions and jewelry for Genevieve.
Not much, really.
"I'll check with my assistant tomorrow about it."
When I don't cave, he hangs up.
Two hours later, Reid comes home with a bouquet of lilies.
Walks in and sees Margot rubbing my foot.
He freezes. Looks pissed.
Our daughter runs over to hug him and he actually pushes her away.
"What's going on here?"
"Foot rub. Told you I hurt my foot."
"Margot's actually really good at this. She could quit housekeeping and do massage—make decent money."
Second Reid walked in, Margot's eyes filled up with tears.
He barely keeps his cool.
"Margot, you can go rest now. I'll take over."
I slip on my slippers, say never mind, head to my room.
Pull up the new living room camera on my phone.
Reid looks furious.
"Has Sienna lost her mind?"
"First scares the hell out of Viv, now she's treating you like garbage."
"Thank God the company goes public in three days."
"Once stock stabilizes, I'm filing! I'm so done with this crap."
"Oh, and Viv said you're the one who made Sienna lose the baby."
"You got rid of that stuff, right? She better not find it."
Watching the monitor, I just smile coldly.
They're about to crash and burn hard, but they still think they can go public and dump me?
Fine.
I'll give them a parting gift they'll never forget.
