She Called Me A Kept Woman, I Kept The Family Fortune Chapter 03

She Called Me A Kept Woman, I Kept The Family Fortune Chapter 03

No one in the room had expected me to go head-to-head with Ethan. The looks coming my way were pure disbelief.

Everyone at the auction was somebody in the business world. Ethan himself had only made the guest list because Caldwell Holdings had risen so quickly over the past few years.

From the look in his eyes, Ethan seemed almost to be enjoying the spectacle.

“Everyone, let me make one thing clear. This woman may be my wife on paper, but in reality, she has nothing to do with me.”

“If she can’t pay what she’s bidding tonight, Caldwell Holdings will not be responsible for a single cent.”

I almost laughed.

“Mr. Caldwell, I wouldn’t be so quick to distance yourself from me.”

“After all, you’re the only person here reckless enough to place an uncapped bid at a charity auction.”

“If you can’t cover it later, you may be the one begging me to bail you out.”

Before I could say anything else, Madison shot to her feet.

“Evelyn Hart, are you seriously still living in a fantasy?”

“You’re a stay-at-home wife, and you think you can go toe-to-toe with Caldwell Holdings? You really don’t know your place.”

I shook my head, completely calm.

“I know that’s hard for you to believe right now, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”

“If you don’t believe me, tell Mr. Caldwell to call my bluff.”

Madison arched one eyebrow and scoffed.

“Fine. Let’s see. I can’t believe someone who doesn’t know her own limits still has the nerve to put on this act.”

I didn’t get angry. If anything, I grew calmer.

“Sorry, but you and I aren’t the same. When I buy something, I don’t need a man to pay for it.”

That kicked off another round of whispers among the guests who thought they knew me.

“Anyone can talk big. If she were really that powerful, why would she choose to be a stay-at-home wife?”

“Exactly. Mr. Caldwell is a rising corporate star worth tens of millions. What does she have?”

“She’s just making a scene for attention. Why are we even giving her the time of day?”

I stood and let my gaze sweep across the room.

“Since everyone has so much to say, let me be clear. I don’t just look down on the Caldwells. At this point, I’ve lost respect for every single person in this room.”

I might not involve myself in business, but at least I knew how to act like a decent human being.

Since I’d walked into the ballroom, these so-called business leaders had spent more time sucking up to Ethan than talking about the charity they were supposedly there to support.

The moment I said it, the whole room turned on me. Even the auctioneer lost patience.

“Ma’am, people like you aren’t welcome at this event.”

I lifted my eyes to the stage.

“People like me? Go on. Tell me exactly what kind of person that is.”

Before the auctioneer could answer, Madison rushed onstage and snatched the microphone.

“Evelyn Hart, you’re nothing.”

Her voice blasted through the speakers, carrying to every corner of the ballroom.

The executives around the room rose to their feet and applauded in agreement.

Even Ethan, who had been quiet for a while, watched me with obvious satisfaction.

Watching them, I finally realized how stupid I’d been to save the Caldwell family in the first place.

My silence only convinced Madison I was scared. She raised the microphone again.

“Hey, Hart. Now you get why Mr. Caldwell didn’t even want to sit next to you tonight, don’t you?”

Her voice rose.

“Because you don’t belong here.”