Chapter 2

2

Grant finally spoke. He wore a patronizing, weary smile as he turned to the guests.

"I apologize for the disturbance, everyone. This is my nanny, June. She reads too many romance novels and has developed some... delusions."

He turned back to me, his eyes flashing with a sharp warning.

"June, take Nina back home and get some rest. Stop making a fool of yourself in public."

I felt like I'd been hit by a freight train. I couldn't believe this man, who had shared my bed for twelve years, would give me such a ridiculous identity to my face.

Seeing that Grant was backing her, Vivian's confidence soared, and her voice grew louder.

"June, I know being a single mom is hard, but you can't just make things up. Tell you what―go home now, and I'll have the house manager cut you a check for three months' extra salary."

The ballroom erupted in laughter.

"So the nanny wants to be the lady of the house? How pathetic! People will do anything for money these days."

"The little girl looks sad, but what do you expect with a mother like that?"

"A brat raised by a trashy woman will always know how to fake tears. She's not innocent."

Vivian smiled triumphantly. She knelt down and whispered to her son.

"Connor, look closely. You have to study hard, or you'll end up like these people―nothing but clowns."

Connor tilted his chin up, his gaze filled with a spitefulness that didn't belong on a seven-year-old's face.

"You trashy woman! How dare you yell at my mommy?"

He reached out and gave me a violent shove.

Caught off guard, I stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling over Nina.

Connor looked exactly like a spoiled little prince.

"My dad said the Miller Group will be all mine one day!"

"What are you, you little stray? You think you can take my daddy away from me?"

"You're going to be a servant just like your mom!"

The guests' laughter became even more piercing. Someone even started clapping.

"The young Master Miller has spirit! He's going to go far!"

Just then, a few hotel staff members walked past with trays. One of them was the manager who had served me before.

He saw me and purposely raised his voice so his colleagues could hear.

"Oh, look! Isn't that the 'Mrs. Miller' who tried to book a thousand-dollar-a-plate dinner but didn't even have five hundred bucks in her account?"

"I told you, some people love to play pretend. They think they're high society until they have to slink away in shame."

Vivian let out a sharp laugh.

"Too poor to even have five hundred dollars? No wonder she's here causing trouble."

The pot-bellied man from earlier waddled over. His greasy eyes traveled up and down my body, his tone suggestive.

"You know, for a nanny, she's actually got a nice figure. And the kid is pretty cute too."

"Grant clearly isn't interested, so why not come with me? I'll give you three thousand a month and take care of your housing. How's that?"

"You won't have to worry about five hundred dollars ever again. I'm being a pretty nice guy here, right?"

The crowd roared with laughter.

"Mr. Miller is being generous! But is she even worth three thousand?"

Vivian leaned into Grant, joining in the mockery.

I turned to my husband and demanded, "Grant Miller, are you really going to let them insult Nina and me like this?"

Grant watched with a blank expression, as if I were a total stranger.

Once the laughter died down, he finally spoke, his voice cold and impatient.

"June, stop embarrassing yourself. Today is my son's birthday. Take your daughter and leave, or I'll have security drag you out."

Nina was shaking violently in my arms. Her small hands gripped my coat so tightly her knuckles were white.

She buried her face in my chest, terrified of the hateful faces surrounding us.

"Mommy... is what they're saying true?"

Hearing my daughter's terrified whisper, I felt my heart breaking into a million pieces.

Twelve years of marriage, and this was how he chose to trample over us in public.