Chapter 2

Neither Vera nor Mrs. Howard expected me to stay this composed after hearing them announce their identities.

The smile on Mrs. Howard's face froze, then twisted into indignation.

"What would a kept woman hiding in the shadows know about our contract?"

She turned to the other passengers, raising her voice.

"Everyone, take a good look at this face. Don't be fooled by her act of innocence. Sitting in first class doesn't mean you have money. For all we know, every dollar she has was stolen from another woman's family."

The passengers exchanged bewildered glances.

Several people pulled out their phones. Cameras pointed our way, and the whispering grew louder and louder.

The lead flight attendant stepped forward to intervene, but Vera silenced her with a single glare.

"If anyone interferes today, I'll have my lawyers come after your airline. Don't forget whose money paid to renovate the executive lounge at East Harbor Airport."

The attendant's expression tightened. She could only step back and give me an apologetic look.

I watched the two of them play off each other and felt nothing but absurdity.

One was my husband's mistress, parading around under my family's name.

The other was the wife of a vendor desperate for my approval, eager to kick a stranger just to prove her loyalty.

And together, they'd teamed up to brand me the homewrecker.

Vera took my silence as a sign she'd struck a nerve.

She walked up to me and jabbed a long red fingernail into my chest.

"What, nothing to say? Scared now? I don't need you to kneel. Get down there, wipe the drink off my shoes, and apologize."

Mrs. Howard snickered behind her hand.

I took a deep breath. "I suggest you take your hand off me."

"Still pretending you're some kind of society heiress?" Vera sneered. "Your sugar daddy must have made you feel untouchable."

Mrs. Howard piled on. "And what good will that do her? The Winslows could cut her off with a phone call."

The captain announced our descent. I bit back my anger and reached for my laptop.

I still didn't know whether Vera had been deceived by Noah or was a willing participant. The plane was too cramped for this. I'd deal with it after we landed.

But my reaching for my things looked like guilt to them.

"Leaving so soon?" Vera grabbed my wrist. "Too late for that."

Before I could react, she slapped me hard across the face.

My ears rang. My cheek burned, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

I was the only child of this generation of Winslows, cherished by my grandfather and parents from the day I was born. Even after taking over the company and getting used to cold shoulders in the boardroom, I had never been humiliated like this.

Vera flicked her wrist and looked down at me.

"That slap was a lesson in knowing your place, on behalf of your sugar daddy."

Mrs. Howard was quick to agree. "Why dirty your own hands on someone like her? She's not worth it."

I touched my burning cheek and let out a cold laugh.

The next second, I grabbed a fistful of Vera's carefully styled curls and yanked her head back.

The slaps rained down, one after another.

The cabin erupted.

Flight attendants rushed over and pulled us apart.

Vera screamed. "You're insane! You actually hit me! I swear I'm calling my husband right now. When I'm done, no hotel in East Harbor will even let you through the door!"

I stared at her coldly.

"Go ahead and call. I'd love to see who ends up on their knees begging after we land."

Vera wasted no time dialing Noah.

She cried, practiced and pitiful all at once. "Honey, someone on the plane is bullying me. She slapped my face and said Winslow Holdings doesn't belong to you."

A voice I knew all too well came through the speaker.

"Ridiculous. Someone actually had the nerve to bully my wife? Didn't you tell her you're Mrs. Winslow? Sit tight. I'm sending someone to the airport for you."

The word wife hit me like a punch to the chest.

Just before I boarded this flight, he'd said my name in that gentle voice and promised to make it up to me with dinner when I came home. Yet now he was calling the woman who had humiliated me his wife.

I was about to speak when the call went dead.

Vera lifted her chin in triumph.

"You heard him, didn't you? Once we land, you'll find out exactly who you messed with."

A faint smile touched my lips.

"Good. Let's see how long you can keep lying to everyone."