My college roommate, the one who spread slut-shaming rumors about me, sent me an e-vite.

“I’m marrying the richest man in the country! Soon, I’ll be the kind of wealthy wife you could only dream of associating with.”

“Consider it a favor, since we were classmates. I’m graciously letting you be a bridesmaid. Don’t miss this chance to latch onto someone important, okay? ;)”

I frowned. What the hell was Jessica Lee on about? I was the wealthiest woman in the country.

Had some new richest man suddenly popped up?

Just as I was about to delete her contact, my finger slipped and opened the invitation.

I froze when I saw the photo of the groom.

Wasn’t that my husband, Kevin Grant, who was supposedly away on a business trip?

A cold smile touched my lips as I typed back through gritted teeth.

“I’ll be there. And I’ll even bring a surprise for you.”

1

Right after I sent the message, a shipping notification popped up.

It was from my husband – a local wine specialty from where he was supposedly traveling.

And the delivery address? Coincidentally, it was the exact hotel where Jessica was holding her wedding reception.

Just last night, Kevin had been cooing sweet nothings to me over the phone.

“Honey~ It’s only been three days, and I miss you like crazy. The hotel food is awful, I hate it. Nothing compares to your home cooking~”

“Ugh~ This business trip is going to take half a month, it’s so long. Without me there, you have to take good care of yourself, okay? Don’t make me worry~”

Staring at the familiar features of the groom in the photo, I almost doubted my eyes. Maybe he just looked like my husband.

I couldn’t bring myself to believe Kevin would betray me.

Especially not by secretly marrying the very person who led the bullying against me in college, the one who started those vile rumors.

But the watch, clearly visible on his left wrist in the picture, told me the truth. It was him.

I had personally designed that watch for him, sketching it myself. Our names were engraved on the dial.

It was one of a kind, something money couldn’t buy.

A wedding reception like that must cost a fortune.

I immediately checked the activity on his supplementary credit card. Sure enough, there was a massive charge at that very hotel.

The wedding was the day after tomorrow. If I booked a flight now, I could still make it.

I packed my bags immediately and headed to the airport that night.

The entire journey, I kept hoping it was all just some terrible misunderstanding.

When I arrived at the hotel, the first thing I saw were promotional displays plastered with sickeningly sweet photos of the bride and groom.

I couldn’t find Kevin anywhere, and his phone went straight to voicemail.

After searching around, I bumped into Jessica Lee in the hallway, already decked out in her wedding dress, surrounded by her posse.

“Jess, isn’t that gold-digging tramp who loves sleeping with old rich guys coming yet?”

“She used to bully you back in school, Jess. Now that she knows you’re marrying the richest man, she’s probably too scared to show her face!”

“Good riddance if she doesn’t come. If she does, I’ll definitely help you teach her a lesson later.”

Hearing their chatter, my brow furrowed.

So, this was clearly a setup aimed at me.

But I was the actual billionaire heiress. Why would I be scared of them?

I composed myself and walked forward.

“Jessica Lee, congratulations on the wedding!”

My voice drew everyone’s attention.

“Is that her? She’s kinda pretty, I guess, in that slutty way.”

“Look at her clothes. Definitely knockoffs from head to toe.”

I could only laugh inwardly. Jessica’s friends were just as clueless as she was.

Carrying fake designer bags themselves, they assumed everyone else’s luxury items were fake too.

Seeing me approach, a calculating glint flashed in Jessica’s eyes.

“Ava! I didn’t think you’d actually come! We were just waiting for you, the last bridesmaid. Quick, come get changed.”

I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the women around her. “You already have three bridesmaids. You don’t really need me, do you?”

Jessica stepped forward, grabbing my hand with fake warmth.

“Ava, we were roommates for four years! You have to be my bridesmaid.”

“Besides, the groomsmen are my husband’s friends, all incredibly rich and powerful. You should really treasure this opportunity.”

My gaze dropped, and I noticed her slightly rounded belly.

That definitely wasn’t just weight gain.

Kevin and I had been married for five years, childless.

And here was his mistress, already pregnant.

A wave of bitterness washed over me. Curious to see what she was plotting, I nodded in agreement.

But the moment I stepped into the dressing room, Jessica’s expression changed completely.

She looked down her nose at me, sneering.

“I can’t believe you actually showed up, Ava Miller. You’re still the same desperate bitch as always, jumping at any chance to suck up to the rich.”

“Girls, strip her clothes off!”

As the three women lunged at me, I reacted instantly. A quick punch for the first, a side kick felling the next two.

Thank goodness for those kickboxing classes I took; handling these skinny women was manageable.

I pulled out my phone. “Jessica Lee, what do you think you’re doing? Keep this up, and I’m calling the police.”

Jessica laughed coldly.

“Ava Miller, don’t you forget, my husband is the richest man in the country.”

“Even if I beat you half to death today, nothing will happen to me.”

With that, she waved over four bodyguards.

“You guys, hold her down.”

The uniforms on these bodyguards looked familiar. As the actual wealthy one, I had my own security team.

But I’d left in such a rush today, I hadn’t brought them.

And these men… these were the bodyguards assigned to protect my husband.

I smoothed down my clothes, my voice turning icy.

“Take a good look. Do you know who I am? Are you sure you want to lay a hand on me?”

The four bodyguards exchanged confused glances.

As they started moving towards me menacingly, a chill ran down my spine.

“Aren’t you the billionaire’s bodyguards? How could you not recognize me?”

2

Hearing my confused question, Jessica scoffed derisively.

“These are my husband’s bodyguards. Who the hell do you think you are, you bitch? Why would they need to know you?”

“Get her! Strip this bitch naked!”

I was no match for their combined strength. Within a minute, I was pinned to the floor.

A bodyguard snatched my phone and handed it respectfully to Jessica.

She pressed the side button, and the screen lit up.

Jessica’s friends gasped, staring at the phone’s wallpaper.

“Jess, why does the man holding this trash look so much like your husband?”

“That’s definitely AI-generated! There’s no way Mr. Grant would even know this bitch.”

Furious, Jessica smashed my phone onto the floor.

“Ava Miller, you’re shameless! You found out my husband is rich and decided to latch onto him?”

“How dare you use AI to create intimate photos with him! You make me sick.”

Hearing Jessica, everyone else stared at me with contempt.

A couple of them even spat in my direction.

I looked at Jessica defiantly.

“Do you dare call Kevin Grant here and have him confront me face-to-face?”

The words were barely out of my mouth when Jessica marched forward, her face dark, and slapped me hard across the face, twice.

“No wonder you’ve been acting so high and mighty since you walked in. So you’re the sly fox who’s been secretly seducing my husband.”

“He protected you well, didn’t he? I searched for ages and couldn’t find you. Well, today, you’re not leaving this hotel alive.”

Jessica ordered her people to tie me to a pillar near the hotel entrance and hung a cardboard sign around my neck.

“HOMEWRECKER SLUT - FAIR GAME!”

Jessica loudly announced to the people passing by:

“This shameless woman tried to seduce my billionaire husband on our wedding day, trying to ruin everything!”

“The grand finale of today’s wedding celebration will be a live broadcast of beating the mistress!”

Bound and unable to move, I could only try to explain to the surrounding crowd.

“I am the wealthy one! Kevin Grant’s wife is ME!”

Before I could finish, Jessica slapped me several more times.

“Are you delusional? Since when is the richest person a woman?”

“I’ve been with Kevin for four years! You think some pathetic homewrecker like you can step over me to take my place? Dream on!”

Jessica’s words shocked me. Kevin was truly skilled at hiding things.

Married to me for five years, yet cheating on me for four of them.

And now, secretly holding a wedding ceremony with his mistress.

The hotel staff all recognized Jessica and knew her as Kevin Grant’s new wife-to-be.

Not a single person believed me. They all sided with her, pointing and whispering.

“Young women these days just want shortcuts. Always scheming to land a rich man. Now she’s claiming she’s the rich one? Utterly ridiculous.”

“Pah! A woman like that? She could strip naked in front of me, and I wouldn’t bat an eye. And she dares to seduce Mr. Grant?”

Jessica lifted her high-heeled foot and, with the help of her bridesmaids holding her steady, kicked me hard several times.

The moment the sharp impact hit my abdomen, my instinct was to curl up.

But the ropes held me fast, leaving me gasping for breath.

Each kick from Jessica felt like a boulder crashing onto my stomach.

Pain radiated from my gut, engulfing my entire body. Sweat beaded on my forehead and trickled down my face.

“Ava Miller, you bitch! How dare you seduce my husband! Today, I’ll show you who the real wife is!”

When Jessica got tired, she had her makeup artist touch up her face, leaving me tied there.

A stout woman, wanting to curry favor with Jessica, stepped forward.

“Miss Lee, beating this bitch like this might tarnish your image.”

“We all know how sensitive fingertips are. Just using fine needles to prick under her fingernails will make her scream in agony.”

Jessica looked at her approvingly.

“Then you do it. A hundred bucks per needle. Prick more if you want to earn more.”

Immediately, the stout woman untied me, had others hold me down on the ground, exposing my hands.

She produced a bundle of fine needles, lifted my index finger, and jammed one in.

I squeezed my eyes shut, biting down hard, trying to endure the pain.

After several continuous jabs, the dense, sharp agony in my fingers became unbearable, and I couldn’t stop myself from crying out.

Just then, Jessica’s phone rang. It was Kevin.

Jessica quickly had the stout woman stuff a sock in my mouth.

Smugly, she squatted in front of me and put the call on speaker.

Kevin’s voice filled the air next to my ear.

“Momo, my wedding car convoy is almost there. Are you ready on your end? Don’t embarrass me.”

3

Jessica immediately switched her tone, speaking coyly.

“Honey, don’t worry. There won’t be any silly door-blocking games to trouble you today.”

“I’ll have the bridesmaids and myself kneeling at the hotel entrance to welcome you properly. I guarantee your friends will be so envious.”

On the phone, Kevin’s voice was arrogant and commanding, completely different from the gentle, almost needy way he usually spoke to me.

I struggled against my bonds, trying desperately to make a sound through the gag.

Seeing this, Jessica continued, “Honey, that little tramp you keep on the side tried to ruin our wedding. If I beat her up a bit, would you be angry with me?”

Kevin’s indifferent voice came through the speaker.

“Do whatever you want. As long as you’re happy. Besides, you’re the only one I love. I don’t have any other women. She must be lying.”

“If you’re really pissed off, you can just kill her. You’ve got me to protect you, you don’t have to be afraid of anything.”

Jessica looked down at me with contempt. “Honey, you’re the best! Love you~”

I sneered inwardly. Kevin clearly had no idea it was me tied up here. Otherwise, he’d probably be on his knees begging right now.

I truly regretted being so blind, ignoring my father’s warnings back then, insisting on marrying for ‘true love’.

Thankfully, before boarding the plane, I had informed my house manager of my destination.

He should be arriving with reinforcements soon.

Jessica hung up the phone and stepped on my hand.

“Ava Miller, did you hear that? I am the love of Kevin Grant’s life. Trash like you? I can get rid of you whenever I want.”

Looking at Jessica’s smug face, I regretted letting her off the hook back when she spread those rumors about me.

Instead, I had secretly arranged for my family’s corporation to fund her entire university education.

Back in college, wanting to experience normal student life, I chose to live in the dorms instead of my family’s apartment.

When I moved in, Jessica noticed my high-end cosmetics and tearfully told me her sob story.

Her parents were divorced, and her grandmother supported her education by running a small street stall.

She could never afford meat in the cafeteria, let alone makeup.

Her tearful, snotty display tugged at my heartstrings.

I discreetly had someone check her background, and it confirmed her story.

Feeling sorry for her, I arranged for the corporation to sponsor her tuition and living expenses.

In our daily interactions, I often gave her beauty products and taught her about skincare and makeup.

But somewhere along the line, rumors started spreading around campus that I was a gold digger.

Whispers claimed I left in luxury cars every weekend for paid dates.

My assistant investigated and found out Jessica was the source of the rumors.

Furious, I confronted her, but she just burst into tears, accusing me of bullying her because my family was rich.

The issue escalated to our academic advisor.

But the advisor didn’t bother with the facts and immediately blamed me.

“Ava Miller, assaulting a roommate can lead to serious consequences, even jail time! Apologize to Jessica Lee right now.”

“I know your family has some money, but you could try being less flashy. Driving off in fancy cars every weekend, it’s no wonder classmates misunderstand you.”

The truth was, I went to the corporation headquarters every weekend to handle business matters. To get back to the dorms before curfew, my house manager drove me.

Yet, even though I was the victim, the advisor was completely biased and unfair.

Later, when my father found out I’d been wronged, he had the university fire that unprofessional advisor.

Jessica wrote me an apology letter, promising never to fabricate stories again.

Seeing her looking genuinely pitiful, I decided not to pursue it further and let the corporation continue funding her.

“Beep beep beep…”

The sound of numerous luxury car horns interrupted my thoughts.

Jessica hastily had someone shove me aside.

Supported by her bridesmaids, she knelt primly at the hotel entrance.

I glanced up. Surrounded by an entourage, Kevin Grant stepped onto the red carpet, looking impeccably distinguished.

The dark, high-end suit he wore enhanced his already handsome features.

Kevin was undeniably good-looking; that’s what had attracted me in the first place.

It led me to defy my father’s wishes, insisting I wouldn’t marry anyone else.

Looking at the bowing crowd, Kevin smirked faintly.

He clearly relished this feeling of being admired, of being above everyone else.

He walked up the steps, took Jessica’s outstretched hands, and pulled her into an embrace.

As they turned, Kevin noticed me lying on the ground.

He frowned in disgust, clearly displeased.

“Momo, why is there some crazy woman lying behind you?”

“It’ll look terrible if she ends up in our arrival video.”

Jessica chuckled lightly and pointed at me.

“Honey, don’t you recognize her? She’s that mistress you were keeping on the side~”

“Today, I want everyone to see what happens when someone tries to destroy my marriage and covet my husband!”

Kevin spoke with revulsion, “I’m the richest man in the country. Would I really be interested in this kind of trash?”

“Bodyguards, chop her up and feed her to the fish.”

Hearing this, everyone looked towards Kevin in fear.

Indeed, crossing the richest man meant disappearing without a trace.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in my fingers, I struggled to push myself up.

“Hmph! Kevin Grant, quite the big shot, aren’t you?”