"Exactly. No wonder she dwells in a mansion worth millions at such a tender age. It's clear she's slept her way to this opulence. How utterly shameful for a woman!"
The commotion had drawn the attention of the neighbors, who now gathered at the threshold. Their whispers and snide remarks sliced through the air.
Unable to contain their disdain, someone even spat in my direction.
I removed my coat, a symbol of my wealth, and cast it into the trash. Fixing my gaze on Stella, I spoke with a firm resolve.
"Your name is Stella Carter, correct? You've mistaken me for someone else. I am a married woman, and I am not acquainted with your boyfriend. I suggest you gather your people and vacate my home immediately."
Considering Stella an employee of my subsidiary and a victim of mistreatment by a mistress, I chose not to engage in a dispute over a simple misunderstanding.
I expected her to storm off in a huff upon hearing my words.
Instead, her face contorted with a newfound rage.
She shouted, "What? You dare to play the part of a mistress yet lack the courage to admit it?"
She then produced her phone, flipping through her photo album to display what she claimed were incriminating messages. "Here are the chat records between you and my boyfriend. These are the indisputable proofs of your infidelity!"
I scrutinized the screen, only to find exchanges between Howard and myself.
In the chat, Howard had labeled me a "vixen."
Our conversations were filled with the flirting nothings of a devoted couple.
Some were indeed quite dirty talks.
It was then that the truth dawned on me.
The man Stella spoke of was none other than my own husband, Howard, and the mistress she referred to was, in fact, me, Howard's lawful wife.
Since Howard married into my family, he had always been the model of propriety, attentive and obedient.
I had always believed his love for me to be genuine and his loyalty unwavering.
Yet, here I stood, confronted with the bitter reality of his betrayal.
Fury ignited within me, a conflagration fueled by Howard's betrayal and the mistress' audacity to accuse me in my own home.
I glared at Stella and coldly said, "Stella, I advise you to seek out Howard and clarify the nature of his relationship with me."
"What is there to ask? My boyfriend is honest. He cannot be mistaken, but you look the part of a shameless seductress!"