The Sweet Revenge Plan of the Wrong Mrs. Perkins

"No need to trouble yourself." Samantha shot a quick glance at Alexander, blunt and unbothered. After dinner, she headed straight to a luxury fashion store she'd partnered with, on her own. Alexander lounged on the sofa like he had all the time in the world, casually bossing people around. "Bring all of these over." Immediately, six sales assistants sprang into action, arms full of clothes, practically crowding around Samantha, eager and sycophantic. "Mrs. Perkins, your figure is amazing! The pieces Mr. Perkins picked out suit you so well!" "He's so thoughtful, really! Must be nice having your husband help you pick clothes himself!" "Mrs. Perkins, which one would you like to try on first?" Samantha didn't even glance at the clothes. Her lips curled into a slight smirk as she walked over to Alexander. She placed a hand lightly on his shoulder and leaned in, giving a teasing, confident smile. "I said I'd pick my own," she said, voice calm but firm. "So do let me. Your thoughtful gesture? Wasted." With that, she gave a soft laugh, plucked a dress off the nearby rack without hesitation, and strutted off to the fitting room, moving with deliberate allure. The corners of Samantha's lips lifted just right, a delicate yet sexy curve. Her faint warm scent lingered around Alexander, and with the way her eyes sparkled and her body moved, it hit him all at once-damn, this woman was pure temptation. He frowned slightly. Back then, Caitlin was quiet, reserved-the kind of girl who faded into the background. Now? She had presence. Every step, every glance demanded attention. Not because she asked for it, but because it was impossible not to give it. Alexander compressed his lips, frustration bubbling inside. He couldn't control her at all. Hell, he couldn't even keep his own emotions in check when she was around. A few moments later, Samantha stepped out wearing the dress she'd picked. She stood in front of the full-length mirror, calm and poised. The staff quickly gathered around again, fussing over her-fixing the collar, straightening the sleeves, smoothing the hem. Samantha stared at her reflection with pride, her smile faint but sharp, confident. "Wow, Mrs. Perkins, you've really got an eye! It looks like it was made just for you," one of them said, genuinely in awe. And they weren't just flattering her to make a sale. Even bare-faced, Samantha had a beauty that made it hard to look away. The black off-shoulder top hugged her just right, showing off her elegant neck and delicate collarbones. That figure-enough to leave someone breathless in a glance.The back of the off-shoulder dress had two slender straps crisscrossed and tied into a delicate bow, revealing the smooth, fair skin of her lower back. That slim waist of hers-it was the kind that made your mind wander without even trying. Down below, wide-legged trousers in a shade of elegant gray hugged her legs just right, the stretchy fabric outlining her figure to perfection. Alexander leaned back slightly, raising a brow coldly. "Every size available." The saleswoman's eyes lit up with surprise and delight. She nodded quickly. "Of course, thank you so much, Mr. Perkins! We'll have the full order prepped and delivered to your home right away." Another staff member chimed in with a bright smile, "Mrs. Perkins, your husband is really thoughtful-he reserved every size just so you wouldn't match with anyone else at the event!" "Exactly! With your looks, this outfit on you will outshine everyone. Even if someone else wears the same piece, they'd be the one embarrassed, for sure!" Samantha offered a faint smile, polite but distant, not saying much. After she changed out of the dress, she casually walked over to the register. With a light lift of her red lips, she recited a string of numbers. When the system pulled up her profile, the store manager nearly had her jaw hit the floor. Turns out, Samantha could pick any piece she wanted in the store, no charge at all. The brand's HQ would cover everything. And this was no run-of-the-mill boutique-it was one of the top-tier labels in the world. Even their most elite VIPs only got a ten-percent discount and early access, maybe the chance to pre-order limited editions, but buying without paying? That was unheard of. Alexander, CEO of the biggest corporation in Lichester, might've been influential beyond measure, but now they were realizing-his wife? Was a financial powerhouse in her own right. His brow furrowed as he noticed the stunned look on the staff's faces. "What's going on?" he asked, voice tinged with irritation. One of them was about to stammer an explanation, but Samantha stepped in first, raising a hand slightly to stop her. She leaned against the counter, her smile calm but sharp. "Nothing. But thanks for the offer-really. Just... I've got it covered." Back at the villa, Alexander's face was so dark it was like a thunderstorm brewing. The tension rolled off him, so heavy it felt like it froze the whole room. Since the moment Samantha returned, it was like she came back with a vendetta-constantly butting heads with him. And that wasn't even what got him the most. What really got under his skin was that every single time they clashed... she came out on top. Somehow, she always managed to throw him, the all-powerful Alexander, completely off balance. Over and over again, she made sure he had no room to retaliate. She fought him head-on at home, and never gave him the upper hand outside either. The fact that she wouldn't even let him buy her a dress-he couldn't stop thinking about it. Like it or not, Caitlin-no, Samantha-was still legally his wife. Even if it was all just on paper, she was still his woman. And yet, the wife of Lichester's wealthiest man flat-out rejected using her husband's money... Worse still, all she had to do was rattle off a code and the store just handed her the dress for free.When a woman no longer wants anything from a man, that's when she truly stops caring. Alexander looked like he was about to explode-jaw clenched, veins twitching on his forehead. He had completely lost control of Caitlin, and that realization made his fury burn hotter. Samantha casually headed for the stairs like none of this concerned her, and that was the final straw. Alexander's tone turned sharp and cold as he barked, "Caitlin, stop right there." She turned on her heel, eyes sharp as glass. "Alexander, maybe show me some basic respect next time. It wasn't me who made a deal with investors using my life." "Respect? Are you serious? Ever since you married into this family, we've covered every single expense. You get 500K in spending money every month. I'm the one keeping you in this cushy luxury life," he snapped, voice cutting through the air. Lucas, watching from the side, let out a low whistle. Damn, he thought. This guy's got a death wish. Does he not realize the 'softy' of the past is long gone? The second those words left Alexander's mouth, the room froze. Lucas felt a bead of sweat slide right down his forehead. Game over, he thought. A full-blown war was about to break out. And with Caitlin looking like this? She wasn't stopping until the whole Perkins house was upside down. "Keeping me?" Samantha sneered, her lips curling as if amused. "Yeah, my company got screwed over. But that doesn't mean I lost my talent. I can still earn enough to live on. It's your family who refused to let me work! Do you think I actually enjoy sitting around in this cold, spiritless mansion, being ignored and pushed around like I'm a ghost?" Her voice cracked sharply at the end, emotions spilling over. She honestly had no clue how Caitlin survived in this dead-silent nightmare of a marriage-but she sure as hell wasn't going to do it. That's why she hated Alexander's indifference to Caitlin. And from now on, she wasn't about to let him off easy. She faced him full-on, icy smile tugging at her lips, eyes blazing with contempt so clear it made Alexander's chest tighten. Every word out of her mouth cut like a knife. Was this really Caitlin-the timid, gentle woman everyone thought they knew? Alexander's mind reeled. This woman looked like she was daring him to fight back, practically radiating the message: "Come at me if you want. I'm not scared of anything-and you? You're not worth my fear." It was terrifying, honestly. How could someone flip a switch in just five days and become a whole different person? "My name is Caitlin," she said slowly, deliberately, jabbing a finger at her own chest. "You'd better remember it-because starting today, it'll haunt you." And just like that, her presence seemed to suck all the air out of the room, her cold defiance instantly putting Alexander on the defensive.