My Husband Remarried When I Was Away

Public Shame

They had my shoulder underfoot, driving me down so my forehead hit the floor again and again.

Someone twisted my arm and snapped my fingers one by one.

I bit down on my teeth and warned, cold and loud, "Evelyn, the files on that USB are the core technology Adrian needs. Let me go. If you don't, he won't let you get away with this."

Evelyn toyed with the thing in her hand, then sneered. "Core technology?" She paused like she couldn't be bothered. "One minute you're pretending to be his wife, the next you're acting like an employee. Do you believe your own act?"

With that, she put her foot down and crushed the USB. "I want to see how Adrian will not let me get away with it."

At her words, the secretary raised her hand and slapped me dozens of times.

Blood and a metallic tang flooded my throat. My face swelled into something that barely looked human.

Evelyn let a victorious smile spread across her lips. She turned to the crowd and shouted, "This is what happens to women who fake it and try to climb into Mr. Stone's bed. If I catch anyone else trying to seduce Mr. Stone, they'll end up in a worse situation than she's in right now!"

Then, she waved her hand and pointed toward the busy street. "You like men so much? Fine, let every man in the city see your disgrace. Strip her."

I screamed and fought with everything I had. "I'm from the Shea family! The Shea heiress! Who here dares touch me?"

No one listened.

They grabbed my arms and hauled me to the curb.

My back had already been rubbed raw by grit and gravel from the road. A blinding, burning pain washed over me, and I nearly passed out. I fought harder as their hands began to pull at my clothes.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the chaos from the entrance. "Stop! What's going on here?"

I turned and saw two police units spilling out of their cars, moving fast.

Evelyn didn't flinch. She watched me with the unhurried air of someone who had already won.

"What can a couple of cops do?" she said, contempt plain as day. "Whoever shows up, I wouldn't be scared. Even if I beat you to death right in front of them, they wouldn't dare touch me. Everyone in Ardenton knows how powerful the Stones are."

When she looked at me, her eyes glittered with triumph and menace.

I lifted an eyebrow and felt cold settle into my gaze. If Adrian had the nerve to allow this, I wouldn't hesitate to shame him publicly.

I recognized the lead officer. My uncle had promoted him. I struggled to my feet and said, "Evelyn assaulted me. I don't want money. Lock her up—"

Before I finished, the officer walked right past me and stopped in front of Evelyn. "Mrs. Stone, are you all right?"

For a second, I felt stunned. Before I left the country, I'd even shared meals with them. How could they turn on me and pretend they didn't know me today?

Evelyn's smile widened like she'd tasted victory. "I'm fine. Just a crazy woman causing trouble."

The officer came toward me with a grim face.

I stared at him without expression. "Have you forgotten who my uncle is?"

For a heartbeat, the officer's eyes flickered with unease, but he kept his voice steady. "Disturbing the peace in a public place. We'll take her in and see how stubborn she really is."

It hit me then. While I was abroad developing the technology, the whole social circle in Ardenton had accepted Evelyn as Mrs. Stone.

I let a thin, knowing smile cross my face. "Fine. Then, you'd better be ready to strip off that uniform."

The officer swallowed hard. Panic showed on his face.

The secretary spat at me with venom. "Crazy witch, how dare you threaten the police? Take her away. Mr. Stone ordered it."