So that was what this was about. Scott skipping the wedding to propose to Hester. The rooster. The tainted wine forced to my lips.
All of it—revenge for three months ago.
I drew a slow breath and crushed the fury rising in my chest. When I spoke, my voice was ice.
"You want me to apologize? Neither of you deserves one."
Scott's face went ashen.
"You'll apologize whether you want to or not. And on top of that, you'll pay Hester ten million dollars in emotional damages."
His eyes narrowed to slits.
"Otherwise, you won't make it out of Riverton in one piece."
On cue, several men materialized behind him. Their expressions were lewd, their gazes crawling over my body without an ounce of shame.
He thought I'd crumble. Thought I couldn't produce that kind of money. Thought I'd have no choice but to beg.
What he didn't know was that ten million dollars meant nothing to me. And threats? From him?
Not even close.
A faint smile curved the corner of my mouth.
"Fine. Ten million. I'll pay."
I let the words settle. Then my gaze hardened.
"But she just slapped me across the face. And she destroyed my dowry." I looked between them, steady and unhurried. "So don't you think you owe me an apology? And compensation of your own?"
Hester let out a derisive laugh and cast a contemptuous glance at the shattered pieces on the floor.
"That slap was a privilege. You should be grateful I even bothered."
"And this junk of yours? What's it even worth? Don't tell me you're trying to shake us down over a pile of scrap."
My gaze turned cold. I spoke slowly, deliberately, enunciating every word.
"Scrap? Secretary Pruitt, your ignorance is showing."
"Every piece in my dowry is a genuine artifact, centuries old, some dating back over a thousand years. Each one is a priceless treasure beyond anything money can buy."
"What you just destroyed was a Song Dynasty celadon vase and a white jade bracelet. If you don't believe me, by all means, bring in an appraiser."
The room erupted into murmurs all over again.
Hester didn't buy a word of it. She sneered.
"I don't care what kind of vase it was. Someone like you owning Song Dynasty relics? Please."
Just then, my phone rang. It was my parents.
Their identities were classified, which made it impossible for them to attend the wedding in person. A phone call to congratulate me was all they could manage.
I hit the answer button, and my mother's gentle voice came through immediately.