Chapter 1

My husband, earning a paltry five thousand a month, brazenly moved his pregnant mistress into my multi-million dollar penthouse, which I'd bought outright.

Not only did he try to kick me out, but he also allowed his mother to steal and use my special chemical cream, leading to her disfigurement and baldness.

His sister even demanded I pack my bags and clear out for the mistress.

Watching this self-righteous family of fools, I laughed, chillingly.

They seemed to have forgotten that I was not only the owner of this luxury apartment but also the CEO of the company that held his fate in my hands.

Since you're so comfortable spending my money, then you'll return it all, with interest.

You can spend the rest of your lives reflecting on your mistakes in prison!

After seeing my mother-in-law, Brenda, sneak into my master bedroom on the security camera countless times, I finally snapped.

On the screen, she was sitting at my vanity, her eyes gleaming at a plain white ceramic jar on the table.

Her rough fingers scooped out a large glob of white cream, preparing to smear it on her face.

I took a deep breath and opened our SnapChat family group, sending a voice message.

"Brenda, whatever you do, don't touch the white jar on my vanity.

That's an industrial-strength depilatory and decolorizing cream our R&D department just formulated.

It's extremely corrosive and will cause severe burns if it touches your skin."

Less than thirty seconds after I sent the message, my sister-in-law, Ashley's voice message popped up, sharp and shrill.

"Sophia, who are you trying to scare?

It's just some skincare cream, right?

What's wrong with my mom using a little of your stuff?

Do you really have to make up such a malicious lie to curse her with disfigurement?"

Immediately after, my husband, Mark, jumped in with a text message.

"Sophia, you're being a bit much.

My five-thousand-a-month salary goes entirely to support this family.

You eat and drink off me, and you're still stingy about your mom using a bit of your skincare?

Don't be so selfish!"

I looked at the words on the screen and laughed, purely out of anger.

Five thousand a month to support the family?

This multi-million dollar penthouse in the city center was my pre-marital property, bought entirely with my own money.

Mark's measly salary wasn't even enough to cover the monthly property management fees and utility bills.

The car he drove, the designer clothes he wore – wasn't all of it paid for with my secondary credit card?

My generosity, mistaken for weakness, had only attracted a pack of greedy leeches.

Fine.

Since good advice was wasted on the undeserving, I wasn't going to bother with more words.

I slowly typed a line: "I've warned you.

Consequences are on you."

Ashley instantly replied: "Pfft, cut the act!

My mom just said the cream has a faint fragrance and feels cool on her face – it's definitely high-end stuff!

You can just stay at work and be jealous.

When my brother gets home, he's going to teach you a lesson, you selfish, wicked woman!"

I locked my phone, took a sip of my iced Americano, and my gaze turned cold.

Teach me a lesson?

We'd see who was teaching whom a lesson today.