He Secretly Married His Mistress While Living Off My Money—So I Stripped His Wealth Overnight Chapter 03

He Secretly Married His Mistress While Living Off My Money—So I Stripped His Wealth Overnight Chapter 03

A tiny spark of stubborn resentment lingered inside me.

I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “You’re obligated to care for her after seven years together. What about the twelve years I spent building your business beside you?”

Brendan folded his arms across his chest and let out a mocking huff.

“You chose this life voluntarily. I never forced you into anything.”

I spun and darted to the bathroom, heaving violently from rising sickness.

Panicked, Brendan hurried over and rubbed my back while pulling me into his chest.

“Is your chronic stomach trouble flaring up again?”

Years of binge drinking to secure business partnerships had permanently wrecked my digestive system back when we were building his company, leaving me prone to crippling stomach spasms ever since.

He rushed me toward the hospital, and the sharp smell of disinfectant plus his hurried figure waiting in registration lines pulled my mind back twelve years.

He’d owned no vehicle back then and carried me three miles on his back through dark night streets to emergency care.

My hand drifted gently over my slightly rounded stomach.

If the baby’s father only knew about this pregnancy…

A brutal shove sent me flying backward into a hard wall a split second later.

Bone-deep pain shot through every inch of my torso.

Maren stood before me, eyes glistening with manufactured rage and hurt.

“You know full well we’re legally married, so why’re you chasing down my husband?”

Every bystander’s gaze locked onto me instantly.

Muffled judgmental whispers filled the surrounding air.

“Looks innocent enough, but she’s a homewrecker with no shame.”

“They signed legal marriage papers already, yet she still stalks the man. She’ll get what’s coming to her.”

Weak from the pain, I slid down the cold wall toward the floor.

Dozens of passersby walked past without offering a single helping hand.

Everyone labeled me the villain ruining their legal marriage.

A victorious glint flashed in Maren’s eyes as she raised her palm to slap my cheek.

Ignoring my throbbing body, I caught her wrist mid-swing, my stare cold and empty.

“You know exactly who’s really in the wrong here.”

Maren flinched for a split second, unease flickering across her face.

In the next breath she burst into messy sobs, clutching her belly and stumbling backward like I’d attacked her.

She sold the perfect image of an abused pregnant victim.

“Let go! Don’t hurt my baby, my stomach’s killing me…”

Brendan sprinted over right after finishing hospital registration.

Without a single question, he reared back and landed a thunderous open-handed slap across my face.

The force whipped my head sideways, my cheek swelling instantly while my ears rang nonstop.

I crumpled onto the cold hospital flooring.

I stared up at Brendan in stunned disbelief.

His fingers twitched, a fleeting flicker of regret crossing his face for just one second.

It vanished immediately as he wrapped his arms securely around the weeping Maren, guarding her like priceless fragile glass.

He snarled down at me.

“Sorrel Bennett, how could you turn so cruel?”

“If anything happens to my wife or our unborn child, I’ll make you pay dearly.”

“Give Maren a formal public spoken apology right now.”

A bitter, hollow smile tugged my lips.

Twelve years of wholehearted devotion had led to nothing but this…

The crowd around us kept growing louder with jeers.

“Just apologize already; you earned that slap for messing with a married man.”

“Stop ruining a happy household and find your own partner.”

Each harsh comment sliced open fresh wounds in my chest.

I pushed myself upright against the wall, done playing along with Brendan’s cruel performance.

I turned to leave, yet his iron grip locked around my wrist.

His hold threatened to crush the bones in my hand as he dragged me roughly back in place.

He leaned down close to my ear, a cruel smirk pulling his lips apart while lowering his voice to a menacing whisper.

“Didn’t you mention your dad’s traveling all the way to Havenbrook to visit you?”

“Imagine what’d happen if explicit private photos of you got plastered everywhere around town…”

“Can his aging heart survive that kind of public humiliation?”

My body went rigid, pupils blowing wide with terror.