Chapter 1

My husband, Val Sanchez, kept his secretary Freya Fox as his mistress, and she deliberately wrecked three of my luxury cars, each worth millions.

The first was a Lamborghini. The front end was crushed, badly deformed, and in the back seat I found a piece of lingerie Freya wore all the time.

The second was a Maybach, scratched all over, dented and battered, and from the back seat I pulled out a used contraceptive.

This was the third. The roof of the Bentley was caved in, the rear smashed, and in the back seat I found a whip smeared with something white.

I gripped that whip tight and turned toward Freya.

I raised the whip and brought it down across her. "Wrecking my car is one thing, but doing something this filthy in it too? You think this is some sleazy love-hotel?"

"Cash or card?"

Freya wailed and dodged, but she still went down under the whip.

"Mrs. Sanchez, I really didn't mean to. Why would you do this to me over a few worthless cars?"

Val shielded her, aching for her, and flung a black card in my face, snapping at me.

"What are you throwing a fit about now? Fine, I'll just buy you another one!"

It was always like this.

Whatever Freya wanted appeared in her hands the very next day. My jewelry, my properties, even my child.

I let out a cold laugh, snapped the black card in two, and swung the whip at Val with everything I had.

"Val, don't you like being whipped? Today I'll whip that filthy mouth of yours clean."

Since he was already filthy, he could be thrown out with the trash.

After ninety-nine strokes my hand had gone numb. I didn't look at the two of them cowering in the corner, terrified of me.

I dropped the whip on the ground, turned, and left, then called my father.

"Dad, I want to sue Val and Freya, and pull my investment out of Sanchez Group while I'm at it."

...

I was in the middle of a meeting at the company when I got a call from traffic police.

"Ms. Sawyer, the vehicle your husband was driving has been in an accident. He hit a tree at the roadside. Please come to the scene as soon as possible to help us handle it."

My mind went blank for a second. I paused the meeting and went straight there.

The moment I stepped out of the car, I saw the limited-edition Bentley, its whole rear sunk into the tree trunk, a branch driven through the roof.

That Bentley was a birthday present from my father.

Only three of them existed in the world. Since I'd gotten it, I hadn't touched it once.

Now it was beyond recognition.

"Ms. Sawyer, please inspect your vehicle. We'll have it towed for repair after that."

The insurance people and the traffic officer led me over to the car.

I reached for the back seat like it was second nature, and sure enough, I found a whip.

At the same time, a sound of sobbing reached my ears. It had to be Freya Fox, the little secretary Val kept.

I turned and followed the sound.

Freya's face was flushed, her body trembling faintly, and Val had her gathered in his arms with tender concern.

I tightened my grip on the whip, a flicker of cold in my eyes.

I walked toward them, whip in hand, and threw it in Freya's face.

"I remember warning you last time. Stop touching my things. Do my words go in one ear and out the other for you?"

The color drained from Freya's flushed cheeks in an instant. She picked up the whip as though she couldn't bear the humiliation, and said, pitiful and fragile,

"The young master said I could drive it. I thought you knew, Mrs. Sanchez."

Hearing her bring up my son, my heart sank all the way down.

Three months ago, Freya had also applied to be my son's private piano teacher.

During that stretch I was buried in a major project and traveling constantly.

By the time I came back, I found my son and Freya had grown closer.

He was even crying and begging her to be his mother.

A dull ache went through my chest, and then I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"Two days ago, you drove my Maybach straight off a cliff. The whole car was dented, one long scratch after another."

"Five days ago, you took my Lamborghini and tore through the streets, then drove it right into a mall. Not only was the front end wrecked, Val paid out thirty million on your account."

"To put it plainly, she's your little lover. What gives her the right to spend marital assets?"

Freya sank weakly to the ground, sobbing without stop, insisting over and over that it wasn't so.

Val gathered her against his chest, aching for her.

Then his gaze settled on me, his expression cold, his lips curling in indifference.

"Sweetheart, it's only a little money. A few cars. I'll just pay you back for them."

"Freya's still young, still at the age where she loves to play around. Why bother nitpicking with her and ruining our son's fun?"

He casually drew a black card from his wallet and tossed it in my face.

Young?

A twenty-something child?

Young enough to wreck my car on purpose, young enough to steal my child?

The cold in my eyes grew heavier as I reached out and snapped the black card in two.

This black card was a supplementary one I'd set up for Val.

Before, I liked him, and everything came second to him.

Now that he was filthy, he could be dealt with.

I picked up the whip off the ground, cracked it hard, and struck at Val.

"Every single time she just happens to wreck my car?"

"When she drives my cars, does she ever ask me?"

"A little money? Val, don't make me laugh. Which piece of clothing on your body wasn't bought with my money?"

"I indulged you far too much before. Your mouth's so filthy, let me whip it clean for you!"

I put everything into it and brought the whip down on Val.

But he caught it in one hand, the smile fading from his face.