Chapter 1His secretary maxed out my black card, mocking me to my face as a "useless trophy wife."
I froze it on the spot.
Her precious little darling? Stuck all night, couldn’t pay, totally humiliated.
But my husband Ryan just booped my nose. "Babe, seriously? Over a little girl?"
My birthday. Same restaurant.
He ordered the priciest dishes—thousands of dollars.
"Friends are coming." he said.
Hours passed. Food went cold. He vanished. No friends. No trace.
I had to pay for it myself.
"Ma'am... your card's declined."
"Declined?"
This was the card my husband gave me. Before we left, he took my other cards—said it was my birthday, he'd cover everything.
I actually fell for it. Thought I'd married a decent man.
What a fucking joke.
Now he's vanished. Fifty calls. Nothing.
And if this card won't work...
The manager's expression shifted from polite to annoyed.
"Ma'am, you got another way to pay or...?"
"We don't do tabs here. Remember last month?"
Oh, I remember. His secretary maxed out his card here, mocking me to my face as a "useless trophy wife."
My stomach dropped.
Is this his revenge?
Heels clicked at the entrance. I turned.
There he was—arm wrapped around that smug little bitch.
Behind them, his friends. Every face lit up like they'd bought tickets to a show.
"You love watching people squirm when they can't pay, right?" His voice was smooth, mocking. "So let's see how you handle it."
The crowd ate it up.
"Isn't she that girl from nowhere?"
"And now he's here with the upgrade. Priceless."
"That's what you get for marrying up on looks alone. The second someone younger walks in? You're out."
Real classy crowd.
My nails dug into my palms.
He actually set me up. All for his secretary's bruised ego.
He pulled out her chair, settling in like a king.
"Don't worry, babe," he brushed her hand. "Whatever she did to you? I'm paying it back—double."
She practically glowed, then leaned in and kissed him. Right there. In front of everyone.
"You're the best, baby."
Then she turned to me, eyes venomous.
"You're just a pretty face with nothing behind it. Who the hell do you think you are, freezing my card?"
She grabbed a wine bottle and hurled it at my feet.
CRASH.
Red wine exploded across my dress, splashing my face.
Oh, how dramatic.
"Look at you!" she shrieked, laughing. "He'll pay for anything I want now. But you? You're finished."
Ryan just smirked.
"Stop glaring at me like that. You've got money? Pay up and leave."
"Like she's got anything!"
"Look at that bill! All those dishes, all that wine—she couldn't cover it in her dreams!"
"She's been riding his wallet this whole time. Without him? She's nobody."
Nobody.
Right.
We'll see about that.
Chapter 2
To make sure I was completely humiliated, Ryan stood up, his cold gaze sweeping the room.
"Anyone who helps her tonight? You're my enemy. And an enemy of the entire Blackwell family."
Everyone knew the Blackwells ran this city. No one would dare cross him.
A few business partners—people I'd actually worked with—started to stand up.
Then they heard his threat and dropped back into their seats like they'd been burned.
"Damn. He's serious."
"Loves his secretary more than his wife."
"I thought they were married, you know? Thought this was just a fight. But no—he's really doing this."
"With that kind of threat? No one's touching this."
I snapped.
Marched right up to him and grabbed his arm.
"Are you seriously doing this? Over some homewrecking bitch?"
He slapped me.
SLAP.
"Yes."
I froze. Stared at him.
We'd been married three years. Everyone thought we were the perfect couple. He chased me when I first moved here. At our wedding, he swore he'd love me forever. Promised loyalty. Devotion. Till death.
Three years.
That's all it took for those vows to mean nothing.
They were right. Marry into money on a pretty face? You've got no dignity. The second someone younger shows up, your time's up.
But he didn't know the truth.
I didn't marry him for his money.
I married him because I loved him.
My eyes burned red. Ryan pulled out a tissue and wiped his hand—the one that just hit me—like I'd contaminated him.
"You knew I cared about her. But you had to push it."
He leaned in close.
"You can't pay? I'll have the manager strip you naked and throw you out onto the street."
The room erupted.
"Holy shit, he's really gonna do it."
"For his side piece? Damn."
"She won't be his wife much longer. After tonight, she's done."
"Shut up, let's just watch."
The older men in the crowd? They were practically drooling.
"Let's see if she's got the body to match that face, huh?"
Laughter.
My face burned with rage.
Before we left, Ryan took all my cards. Said he'd handle everything. Made me feel safe.
All I had was the designer dress on my back. No money. No cards.
And my phone? Dead.
He planned this.
Every. Single. Detail.
Chapter 3
"Tick tock. We're trying to close up here. You gonna pay or what?"
"Oh wait—you can't, can you?"
"So what happens now? Cops show up, haul you off? Ring a bell? 'Cause that's exactly what you did to me."
Madison lit up a cigarette and blew smoke right in my face.
That smug bitch.
I lost it. Swung at her.
The whole table went flying.
Ryan grabbed his guards. "Get her the fuck away from Madison!"
They threw me back.
"Stop it, Ryan!"
"What? You can dish it out but can't take it?"
My vision blurred red as I stared him down.
The Blackwells went from nothing to the top of this city in three years. Because of me.
I pulled every string my family had. Even the mob backed off because of my name.
Tonight was supposed to be the night I finally told him. That I wasn't nobody. That I'm heir to one of the Four Families.
I was gonna take him home to my parents.
Guess people show their true colors fast.
"Ryan. You're really gonna humiliate me like this?"
He laughed. "Babe, what'd you think this whole setup was for?"
Madison strutted up with her guards and decked me across the face.
"Listen up, bitch. Two options. Either the cops drag your ass to jail, or you strip naked, get on all fours with a piece of meat in your mouth, and bark your way out that door like the dog you are."
She smirked.
"Option one, you keep your dignity—sorta. Option two? Nothing. No clothes, no respect, nothing. Pick one. I'm getting bored."
Every eye in the room locked on me.
I clenched my fists. Looked at Ryan one last time.
"Fine. This is what you want? When your precious empire burns, don't say I didn't warn you."
Madison cackled.
"Oh my God! Is she serious right now? What is this, some drama where she's secretly rich? Girl, please!"
"She's fucking delusional."
Ryan's face twisted. He thought I was full of shit.
Grabbed a plate and hurled it at me.
"Shut the hell up. You? Destroy me? Yeah, right."
He snapped at the manager. "Deal with her."
The manager stepped up with security. "Ma'am. Cash or someone covers it. Now."
Still trying to be professional. Barely.
I looked around. Spotted a partner I'd worked with—closed deals for Ryan through her.
Started walking over.
She jumped up, backing away fast.
"No—no, don't! I can't help you—"
"Chill. I just need your phone."
"One call. Someone'll bring cash."
The room exploded with laughter.
"Oh this is too good! Who the hell's gonna show up after what Ryan just said?"
Madison grinned wide. "Sure, sweetie. Call away. Thirty minutes. But when nobody shows?" She waved at the gross old men practically drooling.
"These gentlemen get to unwrap you themselves. I mean, if the richest guy in town fucked you, you must be something special, right?"
The men leered harder.
