I was in the middle of a Zoom conference with several investors when my high school alumni WhatsApp group, dormant for nearly a decade, suddenly erupted with notifications.
[Ashley, have you seen Victoria's announcement? She's getting married today! Are you really not coming?]
As messages flooded my screen, I learned that Victoria Pierce, our high school's former homecoming queen, was about to walk down the aisle.
Everyone from our graduating class would be there.
I kept my response professional: [Sorry, caught up in meetings right now.]
The backlash was immediate and harsh.
[What could you possibly be doing? Someone who's been MIA from social media forever must be living under a rock!]
[Just admit you're embarrassed about your life instead of playing the busy card.]
Victoria herself jumped in: [Remember our senior year bet? I always said I'd marry someone way more successful than you!]
I fired back: [Must have slipped my mind.]
The group chat exploded.
[Victoria's fiancé is the CEO of a NASDAQ-listed company! They've got a fleet of Rolls-Royces for the wedding procession!]
[Sounds like someone's jealous of Victoria's success and conveniently 'forgot' about the bet!]
[Maybe you can't even afford a decent wedding gift? Want us to start a GoFundMe for you?]
Amid the bombardment of messages, Victoria tagged me again, feigning magnanimity.
[I really want you to be there for my special day! Since we're old classmates, I'm sure my husband could arrange an entry-level position for you at his company.]
She followed up with a stunning pre-wedding photoshoot featuring her and her soon-to-be husband.
My blood ran cold when I saw his face.
It was Nathan Bradley – my husband, who had married into my family.
[Of course, I wouldn't miss witnessing your happiness!] I typed, my fingers trembling slightly.
Just then, a message from Nathan popped up: [Hey honey, heading to visit my parents upstate today. Left you some pasta in the fridge – just needs reheating.
[Love you.]
Nathan had moved in with me three years ago, always taking care of the little things in our life.
Even when he was away, he never failed to think about my needs.
What used to warm my heart now filled me with bitter irony.
I ended the video call abruptly and drove to the wedding venue Victoria had shared.
As I pulled up to the Manhattan hotel, I saw an enormous digital display: [Celebrating the union of Victoria Pierce and Nathan Bradley, CEO of Global Prime Industries!]
Below stood Victoria in a custom Vera Wang gown, waiting expectantly for her groom.
Our former classmates swarmed around her like paparazzi.
"Victoria, you kept this totally under wraps! The CEO of Global Prime Industries – are you kidding?"
"He's literally on Forbes' 40 Under 40 list! You've struck gold!"
"Vic, you're about to be New York's next it-girl! Don't forget us when you're hosting charity galas!"
Even our old AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Reynolds, was there gushing over Victoria.
"I always knew you were destined for greatness, Victoria. That's why I never minded your creative interpretations of Shakespeare – I knew you were meant for bigger things than academics!"
As praise rained down, Victoria basked in the attention, her expression radiating smug satisfaction.
Nathan had been living with me for years, seemingly without direction. To help him gain business experience, I'd put him in charge of my smallest venture, Global Prime Industries.
I never imagined it would become Victoria's ticket to social climbing.
When I walked in, the crowd of former classmates who'd been fawning over Victoria moments ago turned to me with barely concealed contempt.
One of Victoria's followers spotted my car and rushed over sneering.
"Ashley, you're something else. Did you actually rent a Bentley just to save face at Victoria's wedding?"
Others quickly piled on.
"No wonder you showed up – trying to play pretend socialite? That rental must cost your entire quarterly salary!"
"Some people just can't handle others' success. As if a rented luxury car could compare to Victoria's husband!"
"Is it really that hard to accept that Victoria's done better than you? Why go through all this trouble just to fake it?"
I maintained my composure despite their jabs.
"Actually, it's my car," I stated calmly.
Before I could elaborate, Victoria stormed over to me, fury etched across her face.
She slapped me hard across the cheek.
"Your car? That's my fiancé's car!
"I've had suspicions he was seeing someone behind my back, and it turns out to be you, you homewrecker!
"You gold-digging witch! How dare you crash my wedding, flaunting my fiancé's car just to mock me, his real future wife!"
Victoria's accusation left our former classmates stunned.
"Victoria, that's really your fiancé's car? No way!" someone exclaimed in disbelief.
Victoria straightened her shoulders, radiating smugness. "Of course it is! Why would I make that up?"
She whipped out her iPhone, scrolling through her Instagram feed filled with photos of her and Nathan.
There were intimate shots of them in the car and staged photos of them posed against it, looking every bit the power couple.
The car's interior details and license plate were clearly visible in each shot.
The crowd collectively inhaled. "Oh my god, it really is Victoria's man's car! That means Ashley's the mistress!"
Victoria's perfectly contoured face contorted with rage, her microbladed brows furrowing.
"No wonder you've been so off the grid. You've been busy being the other woman!"
Our former classmates turned to me with expressions ranging from scandalized shock to open disgust.
"I can't believe it! Ashley always seemed so put-together, but she's been living as someone's side piece!"
"Tell me about it! I used to think she was this mysterious valedictorian type. I even slipped a note in her locker junior year! Now I feel sick just thinking about it!"
"Some people act all pristine and proper, but deep down they're just opportunists. Wave enough money in their face and watch their morals disappear!"
"Look at her flaunting the sugar daddy's Bentley right in front of the legitimate fiancée. She must be jealous Victoria's getting the ring and trying to sabotage the wedding!"
Even Mrs. Reynolds looked at me with revulsion, her voice sharp with contempt.
"Ashley, please don't mention you were my AP student. I never taught anyone with such questionable ethics!"
The commotion drew a crowd of hotel guests and staff, phones raised to capture the drama.
Some even spat in my direction, muttering "homewrecker" under their breath.
In a surge of anger, I stripped off my Chanel blazer worth over twenty grand and tossed it into a nearby garbage bin.
I turned to Victoria, my voice ice-cold. "Maybe you should ask Nathan who the real mistress is before you start throwing accusations!"
Victoria's palm connected with my face again, harder this time.
"Are you blind? I'm marrying Nathan today! What more proof do you need?"
She jabbed her finger toward my car, her voice rising hysterically.
"I absolutely despise homewreckers. You all deserve what's coming to you!"
She pulled out her car key and carved "MISTRESS" into my car's pristine paint job.
I stared at the jagged letters, a chill creeping down my spine.
"You'll realize soon enough just how ironic that is."
Victoria's rage reached a new peak. "You shameless witch! You steal my man and then have the nerve to mock me?
"It makes me sick thinking about my fiancé's car being driven around by some gold-digging tramp!"
She grabbed a loose brick from a nearby planter and started smashing my car with it.
The windows, headlights, hood – nothing escaped her wrath.
"Victoria's going to be the First Lady of Global Prime Industries! We can't let some homewrecker disrespect her like this!" someone shouted from the crowd.
Suddenly, everyone joined in the destruction, using whatever they could find as weapons.
After shattering all the windows, they climbed inside to tear up the custom leather interior.
My pristine Bentley was reduced to a wreck in minutes.
I watched these unhinged people with icy composure. "I hope you'll all be this enthusiastic when the bills come due."
But they ignored me completely, caught up in their destructive frenzy.
Suddenly, one of Victoria's minions popped the trunk. "Hey look! She's got some fancy art collection back here!"
Victoria sauntered over, pulling out a canvas with a sneer.
"A gold-digging side piece trying to play art collector? How pathetic."
I felt compelled to warn her. "Those pieces are worth significantly more than the car, especially that painting.
"I strongly suggest you handle it with care."
The trunk contained several auction acquisitions I hadn't yet moved to my gallery.
Victoria's fury intensified at my warning.
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to own masterpieces!
"You're nothing but trash, and trash deserves nothing!"
She ripped the painting apart in front of me, then ground the pieces under her Louboutins with savage satisfaction.
Mrs. Reynolds, examining the destroyed artwork, gasped in horror.
"That was an original Basquiat! I heard it went for over 300 million at Sotheby's!"
Victoria tossed her hair dismissively. "So what if it's 300 million? That's my fiancé's money anyway!
"What's his is mine, so I can do whatever I want with our property."
Her delusional logic left me momentarily stunned.
Nathan, far from being the business mogul they imagined, was a complete novice. His mismanagement had nearly halved Global Prime's market cap since I'd put him in charge.
If not for our marriage certificate, I would have terminated his position long ago.
Yet here were Victoria and our old classmates, worshipping him as some brilliant CEO and hanging on his every move.
With Victoria leading the charge, the others eagerly joined in destroying the precious artworks from my trunk.
Seeing their manic state, I decided intervention was pointless.
I quietly pulled out my phone to call security.
Before I could dial, Victoria lunged at me, snatching my iPhone and smashing it against the pavement.
"Calling the cops? You homewrecking skank, you've got some nerve!"
Then her eyes locked onto my necklace, gleaming with recognition.
"That looks like a Cartier. Using my fiancé's money for that too?"
Before I could stop her, she yanked the necklace from my throat with brutal force.
The sudden violence made my blood run cold as I demanded, "Give that back!"
Seeing the fear flash across my face, Victoria's red lips curved into a cruel smile. "Getting nervous? That must be quite the little luxury piece!"
Panic seized my chest. "The value doesn't matter! It's personal – please give it back!"
I reached desperately for the necklace.
This wasn't just another piece from Cartier; it was a sacred memento that my mother had sacrificed everything to obtain for me.
I had been deathly ill as a child, lying comatose in Mount Sinai Hospital at age four.
The specialists had advised my parents to prepare for the worst, but my mother refused to accept defeat.
She sought out an ancient monastery in upstate New York, praying ceaselessly for my recovery.
My mother, in the sweltering August heat, made a grueling pilgrimage to the remote sanctuary.
She was nearly delirious when she finally received this blessed necklace, driven only by her desperate love for me.
It seemed as if divine intervention itself responded to her unwavering faith.
Miraculously, I emerged from the coma, but the ordeal had permanently damaged my mother's health.
On her deathbed at Sloan Kettering, she made me promise to keep the necklace safe.
Since childhood, that necklace had been my talisman, a constant reminder of her love pressed against my heart.
It wasn't about the precious metals or gems. It was my last connection to my mother, and I couldn't bear to see it damaged.
"Try to get it back, and I'll make sure it's destroyed!" Victoria sneered.
Before I could move, she slammed the necklace onto the marble hotel steps.
The sickening crack of shattering metal and gems resonated through my body as the pendant exploded into fragments across the polished stone.
"No!"
My heart shattered with it, watching my mother's final gift disintegrate before my eyes.
I struggled to breathe, the world spinning around me.
"You absolute monster!" I snapped.
I slapped Victoria with every ounce of strength I had, leaving an angry red mark on her face.
"You psychotic bitch!" Victoria screamed, clutching her cheek, her voice echoing off the hotel's facade.
"Someone put this gold-digging whore in her place!
"A million cash to whoever gives me the best show!"
The crowd turned savage in an instant.
"You think you can mess with Victoria? She's about to be the First Lady of Global Prime Industries! Who do you think you are?"
"It's just some stupid necklace! Shouldn't you be used to losing things, selling yourself to the highest bidder? Why the dramatics?"
"Trashy homewrecker! You really thought you could show up here and play tough? Did you think we'd be intimidated?"
Even Mrs. Reynolds couldn't resist joining the mob mentality.
I hit the ground hard, shaking with fury and shame, jaw clenched tight.
"You'll all live to regret this!"
My former classmates' laughter dripped with cruel derision.
"Regret? This isn't high school anymore! Being valedictorian doesn't make you untouchable now!"
"Exactly! You're just another failed wannabe! Out here being a sugar baby and still think you can threaten us?"
"Know your place, side piece! You should be grateful anyone even looks your way!"
"How low can you sink? Sleeping with your old classmate's man? You're digging your own grave!"
They pinned me against the cold marble, their vicious taunts mixing with the crowd's jeers and spittle.
Victoria towered over me, victory gleaming in her eyes as she ground her Louboutin heel into my cheek.
"Regret? I've never regretted a thing in my life! I can't wait to see how you plan to make me regret this!"
Suddenly, a convoy of black Maybachs and Rolls-Royces thundered up to the hotel entrance.
Nathan stepped out of the lead car, surrounded by an entourage of suited executives…
The moment Nathan emerged from the car, the rowdy crowd fell silent as if someone had hit a universal mute button.
All eyes were drawn to his commanding presence.
The classmates who had been holding me down instantly released their grip, straightening up as they stared at the newcomer.
Victoria quickly removed her heel from my face, transforming into the picture of refined elegance.
Nathan cut an impressive figure in his Tom Ford suit that emphasized his athletic build. His mere presence demanded attention, instantly becoming the focal point of the scene.
"Is that really Mr. Bradley from Global Prime Industries?"
"That's him alright! Talk about making an entrance! Look at that fleet of luxury cars!"
"I wouldn't even dare dream of rolling this deep."
"He's not just loaded, he's hot too! No wonder that gold digger Ashley's been trying to get her hooks in him."
"Victoria hit the jackpot! Landing a guy like him? I'm dying of envy!"
Amid the whispered admiration, Victoria glided over to Nathan, wrapping herself around his arm.
"Baby, you're finally here! I can't wait to be Mrs. Bradley!"
Nathan gazed down at her with warm affection.
"You're such a romantic. That's what I love about you," he said, pulling her closer.
Seeing this, my former classmates swarmed forward, desperate to network with Nathan.
"Mr. Bradley, it's an honor! I run a boutique digital marketing agency – if Global Prime needs any campaigns, I'd love to pitch! Here's my card," one practically thrust their business card at him.
"Mr. Bradley, we've just launched an amazing startup! We'd love to send you our beta version. No strings attached!" Another beamed eagerly.
"Mr. Bradley, Victoria and I were besties all through high school. I've followed your career for years! Any chance Global Prime is hiring? I'm a quick learner!"
"Mr. Bradley…"
The chorus of networking attempts grew more desperate, each trying to outdo the other.
Victoria's smile grew wider watching our old classmates grovel before Nathan.
She basked in her perceived superiority, drinking in the attention.
Nathan remained coolly professional, casually directing his executive assistant to collect the business cards like it was just another day at the office.
Then, Victoria's mother stepped forward, beaming with pride.
"We've prepared some single-origin coffee inside. Please join us."
Nathan checked his Patek Philippe. "Thanks, but we're running behind schedule.
"I've booked The Plaza and arranged everything. With this motorcade, we should have room for everyone to join."
"Perfect! Let's head out!"
The group nodded enthusiastically as they moved toward the line of luxury vehicles. The prospect of riding in these prestigious cars to the wedding of Global Prime Industries' CEO had them practically floating with excitement.
Just being associated with such a high-society event made them feel like they'd finally made it.
As they were about to enter the vehicles, police sirens pierced the air, growing rapidly closer.
A squad of NYPD officers burst from their vehicles, voices commanding.
"Nobody move! We've received reports of assault and vandalism!"
The celebratory atmosphere shattered instantly.
The classmates who'd been buzzing with excitement now looked stricken.
Some couldn't even raise their heads, terrified of attracting police attention.
Nathan's eyebrow arched in confusion as he turned to Victoria.
"What's going on? Why are the police here?"
Guilt flickered across Victoria's face as she stammered, "Well… my friends wanted to help me deal with this homewrecker, so things got a little heated."
Nathan's expression shifted to discomfort. "Homewrecker? What are you talking about? You know you're the only one for me. Why would I be seeing someone else?"
Victoria pouted, playing innocent.
"Okay, maybe I jumped to conclusions. But even if she's not your mistress, she still tried to ruin my wedding, so she deserved what she got."
Her old classmates quickly backed her up.
"Exactly! She's always been jealous of Victoria since high school. She couldn't handle seeing Victoria succeed!"
"Victoria was gracious enough to invite her, and she showed up just to cause drama!"
"Right? She's been trying to one-up Victoria for years. We couldn't just let her get away with it!"
The classmates were clearly trying to score points with Victoria, eager to trash me in front of Nathan.
Victoria's mother seized the moment too, adding, "Nathan, sweetheart, this is Victoria's special day. That tramp showed up looking for trouble. If you let her get away with it, people will think you're weak."
Nathan nodded slightly, his expression hardening.
"If she's been causing problems for Victoria, I suppose she had it coming."
With Nathan's approval, Victoria straightened up, confidence restored.
She faced the police officer, voice steady. "Officer, someone crashed my wedding to start trouble. We were just defending ourselves."
The officer frowned skeptically. "Everyone needs to come down to the precinct to give statements."
The classmates who'd participated in the attack suddenly looked nervous.
But Victoria stood firm, tone defiant. "I'm not going anywhere! This is my wedding day, and I refuse to spend it at a police station!"
She turned to Nathan, eyes pleading. "Honey, you're the CEO of Global Prime. You must have connections – can't you handle this?"
The others quickly jumped in, expressions desperate.
"Yeah, Mr. Bradley, you're someone important! The police will listen to you!"
"This is supposed to be your and Victoria's celebration. We can't let it end at a police station!"
"Exactly! Global Prime is one of the biggest companies in Manhattan. One word from you could make this go away."
Victoria's mother chimed in, "Nathan, darling, it's your special day with Victoria. We can't let this tarnish your reputation!"
Under the mounting pressure, Nathan straightened his tie, shifting into executive mode as he addressed the officers.
"Officer, I'm Nathan Bradley, CEO of Global Prime Industries. I'm well acquainted with the police commissioner. Perhaps we could resolve this unofficially?"
The officer paused, then replied firmly, "Public assault isn't something we can overlook, regardless of connections.
"And dropping charges isn't my call.
"You'll need the victim's consent to make this go away."
Nathan wore a confident smirk.
"That's simple enough. I doubt anyone would dare stand against me!"
He turned to Victoria, voice authoritative. "Where's this person you all attacked?"
Without hesitation, Victoria led Nathan through the crowd, dramatically pointing at my crumpled form on the ground.
"Baby, it's this bitch right here!"
I lay there on the marble steps, my Chanel blazer torn and stained, looking utterly defeated.
Nathan didn't even recognize me.
He approached with the casual arrogance of a Wall Street executive, barely glancing at my injuries before sneering.
"So you're the one who's been harassing Victoria?
"I'm Victoria's fiancé, and you should understand that messing with her is completely unacceptable.
"But since you've already learned your lesson, I'll let it slide this time.
"Today is my wedding day, and I won't tolerate any drama.
"You've got a few bruises. I'll have my lawyers draw up a settlement.
"We can handle this privately, right? That works for you?"
His words dripped with condescension, as if his attention alone was a gift I should treasure.
I responded with nothing but an icy scoff.
Nathan's expression darkened slightly.
"Something wrong? You seem unhappy."
He paused, then added, "Fine, since it's my wedding day, I'll be generous.
"Here's the deal. If you need anything, come to Global Prime.
"I'll make sure you're taken care of.
"That satisfy you?"
He looked down at me like I was gum stuck to his Ferragamo loafers.
Victoria, clearly annoyed, shot me a venomous look.
"You should be grateful! Don't bite the hand offering to feed you!
"Honestly, if we weren't old classmates, you wouldn't even get this kind of offer."
The other classmates jumped in, their envy obvious.
"Right? You think you're still the valedictorian? Mr. Bradley's willing to settle – talk about lucky!"
"Mr. Bradley is being so generous. Anyone else would've pressed charges!"
"Why are you still sprawled there? Get up and thank Mr. Bradley properly!"
"Maybe she's soaking up Mr. Bradley's attention. This might be the highlight of her sad life!"
The mere mention of Nathan's supposed generosity only fueled the resentment of my former classmates, who had always resented my success.
Their barely contained hostility now erupted into open rage, as if I'd stolen their chance at greatness.
As they continued their tirade, Nathan's patience visibly thinned.
He fixed me with a cold stare, tone sharp.
"Look, I've been extremely generous today, for Victoria's sake. Don't push it. Disrupt my wedding, and you'll regret it!"
Under his threat, I gritted my teeth through the pain and slowly stood.
I brushed my hair back and met Nathan's gaze directly.
"Nathan, you really think you're something special, don't you?"
My mind drifted to our first encounter, during a Manhattan thunderstorm.
I was driving down Park Avenue in a torrential downpour, visibility near zero.
Suddenly, Nathan appeared in my headlights, catching me completely off guard.
I slammed the brakes, but too late—I hit him.
Watching him fly through the air left me paralyzed with shock.
I jumped out, ready to rush him to NewYork-Presbyterian.
But he waved it off, slowly standing, and simply said, "I'm fine," before limping away into the rain.
As I watched him disappear into the storm, something stirred in my heart.
He was different from anyone I'd ever met.
Intrigued, I looked into his background and found he worked at my father's company.
My heart leaped with excitement.
It felt like destiny.
That very day, I arranged to "intern" at my father's firm.
When Nathan spotted me there, his face registered surprise.
He was also new, having just started as an entry-level analyst.
Nathan wasn't the brightest MBA graduate; in fact, he seemed somewhat out of place in corporate America.
But his small-town background had given him grit. He worked tirelessly, pouring everything into each task, never cutting corners.
Whenever I passed by, he'd be glued to his Bloomberg terminal, completely absorbed in his work.
That kind of dedication made me see Nathan differently.
He was nearly let go for underperforming, but with some subtle intervention on my part, he got fast-tracked for promotion instead.
His face lit up like Times Square that day.
After his promotion, Nathan threw himself into work with even more passion.
I admired that relentless drive.
As we spent more time together, I discovered a different side to Nathan.
Behind his serious exterior was a surprisingly witty guy who could always make me laugh.
Being with Nathan felt effortless and natural.
Even in silence, his presence brought me peace.
However, our relationship shifted dramatically during what could only be described as a movie-worthy moment.
After a charity gala one night, I stepped out only to be cornered by some drunk Wall Street bros who started harassing me.
Terror gripped me, but suddenly Nathan appeared like a guardian angel.
Though those drunken idiots beat him pretty badly, I was safe.
That was the first time my heart raced for this man who'd risked himself to protect me.
During his hospital stay, I couldn't contain my feelings anymore and confessed.
To my joy, Nathan reciprocated wholeheartedly, and our romance began.
Throughout our relationship, I kept things low-key, enjoying life as a normal couple.
We'd grab food trucks in Chelsea, walk the High Line, explore Central Park, catch indie films at Angelika, and spend weekends at Coney Island.
It was simple but perfect.
Eventually, I brought Nathan home to meet my father.
When he realized I was the daughter of a Wall Street titan, he visibly paled.
My father, aware of Nathan's modest background, didn't judge him.
He made it clear that social class wasn't important; our family wealth transcended such concerns.
He had just one condition: Nathan had to take our family name.
As my father's only heir, he didn't want me marrying into another family.
I expected Nathan to hesitate, to struggle with his pride, or flat-out refuse.
After all, he was his parents' only son.
Moreover, taking your wife's name was still somewhat taboo for a man.
To my shock, Nathan agreed without hesitation.
He even declared then and there that he would love me exclusively and devote himself to me alone.
To prove his commitment, Nathan insisted on signing a prenup that day, agreeing that any infidelity would leave him penniless.
His sincerity touched me deeply.
After our marriage, Nathan continued being attentive and supportive, doing everything to make me happy.
To help build his reputation, I handed him control of Global Prime Industries, hoping he could make a name for himself.
Though the company struggled under his leadership, I never blamed Nathan.
I only wanted our happiness together, and as long as his love was genuine, nothing else mattered.
For years, I believed in the love Nathan showed me, convinced I'd found my soulmate.
Now, it all felt like a cosmic joke.
The moment Nathan's eyes met mine, the color drained from his face.
He stood frozen like a Wall Street trader watching the market crash.
His expression morphed into pure terror.
Before Nathan could speak, Victoria's voice cut through, dripping with contempt.
"Ashley, who do you think you are? Using my fiancé's first name so casually?"
The crowd of former classmates joined in, their voices rising with self-righteousness.
"Exactly! Don't think Mr. Bradley will save you. Without Victoria, you're nothing to him!"
"Right! You're just a nobody! You think you're worthy of even breathing the same air as Mr. Bradley?"
"Seriously, you think being Victoria's old classmate gives you special privileges? Know your place!"
As the insults flew, an eerie calm settled over me.
But Nathan's expression grew darker by the second.
I couldn't help but smirk at him and asked casually, "Nathan, hear that?
"They say I'm not worthy of using your name. What's your take?"
My casual words nearly knocked Nathan off his Ferragamos; he stumbled slightly, struggling to maintain composure.
Just as he opened his mouth, Victoria jumped in.
"You gold-digging whore! How dare you address my fiancé like that?!
"Clearly you need another lesson in manners!"
She lunged at me, manicured hand raised to strike.
But Nathan moved faster, catching her wrist mid-swing.
Victoria gasped, staring at him in shock.
"Baby, why are you stopping me?
"Feeling sorry for this loser?
"Or is she really your side piece?"
The Plaza's marble lobby erupted with gasps and whispers.
Everyone turned to Nathan and me, their eyes wide with speculation.
"Oh my god, is Ashley really Mr. Bradley's mistress?"
"Must be! Why else would Mr. Bradley defend her?"
"She's just a side chick. No way she compares to Victoria!"
"Obviously! Mr. Bradley's just stopping Victoria to avoid police involvement. He's protecting her."
Victoria clutched Nathan's Brioni sleeve, shaking him.
"Even if she is your mistress, you don't have to protect her! I'm your future wife!"
Her voice dripped with entitled certainty.
Nathan suddenly jerked away from her, snapping, "Get off me!"
Victoria stumbled back in her Louboutins, face frozen in shock.
The crowd stood bewildered. "What's happening?"
In front of everyone, Nathan dropped to his knees.
"I'm so sorry, darling!" he trembled.
Nathan publicly submitted to me, calling me "darling" before the entire crowd.
Our former classmates stood speechless.
Victoria gaped like a Botox injection had frozen her face, questioning everything she thought she knew.
"What's going on? Why is Mr. Bradley calling Ashley 'darling'?"
"What's their real relationship?"
Questions flew like arrows.
Victoria's perfectly contoured face turned ashen, as if she'd just lost her trust fund.
After a long moment, she snapped back and turned to Nathan, voice shrill with hysteria.
"Nathan, what the hell? Why are you calling this tramp 'darling'?
"This is supposed to be our wedding day!
How dare you call someone else that in front of me?"
Her emotions spiraled as reality crumbled around her.
"You said I was your only one! You said you were single! You said the marriage license didn't matter as long as I had my dream wedding at The Plaza! How could you lie? Answer me!"
Victoria grew more frantic, grabbing Nathan's hand and shaking it violently.
Nathan yanked away, fury exploding as he shouted, "Will you shut up?
"Do you realize what you're doing? You're destroying everything!"
Victoria staggered back from the brutal rejection.
She stared at him, mascara running, unable to recognize the man before her.
This wasn't the Nathan who'd promised her the world. How could her perfect fiancé turn into such a monster?
Nathan, at that moment, couldn't care less about Victoria's feelings; he was too busy sweating through his Tom Ford suit in panic.
Turning to me with desperate eyes, he pleaded, "Please, sweetheart, I know I screwed up.
"Just this once, can you forgive me?"
It was astounding how quickly the mighty CEO had crumbled. His usual Harvard Business School confidence had evaporated, replaced by pathetic groveling.
I met his gaze with arctic coldness, disappointment crushing my chest.
"Nathan, before our wedding, you swore to love me forever. What happened to that?"
I gestured at Victoria, my voice steady but sharp. "You declare your love while planning another wedding? How exactly did you think that would work?
"It all makes sense now. That 'chance' meeting when I hit you with my car – you didn't even flinch, just walked away.
"Those convenient rescues when I was in trouble – you appeared from nowhere, then brushed it off like it was nothing. Why?
"I brought you home, and when my real identity came out, you weren't even shocked.
"You'd been stalking me all along, hadn't you?
"You orchestrated that car accident to get close to me, didn't you?
"You knew exactly who I was and what I was worth, and you played me perfectly – using me as your ticket to the top while spending my money on your other women.
"Nathan, you really deserve an Oscar for this performance."
For years, I'd basked in what I thought was genuine love, convinced of his unwavering devotion.
I never imagined those touching moments were just carefully calculated moves in his social climbing game.
How pathetic.
I felt like such a fool, believing I'd found true love, thinking Nathan was my soulmate.
"Please, darling, I really do love you! I'll fix everything, this will never happen again," Nathan begged, grabbing at my Chanel sleeve, pure panic in his eyes, terrified of losing his meal ticket.
Victoria, still processing, blinked at Nathan, confusion written across her face.
"Nathan, why are you begging her? You're the CEO of Global Prime! So what if she's your wife? You don't need to grovel!
"Why are you debasing yourself for her?"
Nathan's eyes flashed with rage as he glared at Victoria, practically spitting as he shouted, "Because I married into her family! Everything I have. It's all thanks to her!"
When Nathan spoke, Victoria's face mirrored the collective shock of our former classmates.
It suddenly dawned on them that they'd picked a fight with Manhattan royalty.
I shot them an ice-cold glare before turning to the officer. "Officer, these people have publicly assaulted me, destroyed my property, including a Basquiat worth hundreds of millions, and committed slander. I want to press full charges."
"Got it," the officer nodded professionally.
He efficiently rounded up everyone involved and escorted them to the precinct.
Before leaving, he advised me to bring all relevant documentation—authentication papers, purchase records from Sotheby's, and my medical report from the ER. He assured me everything would be properly documented.
After getting treated at NewYork-Presbyterian and collecting the necessary paperwork, I headed to the police station.
Inside, my once-arrogant classmates looked like hedge fund managers after a market crash.
Their earlier fawning over Victoria came from believing in Nathan's position as CEO of Global Prime Industries.
They'd assumed Victoria was about to become a power player's wife, which made them desperate to network with her.
Now they realized the quiet girl they'd dismissed was actually Upper East Side aristocracy.
The tables had turned, and they looked as comfortable as tourists in a five-star restaurant, completely out of their element.
Their glares at Victoria could've cut through diamonds.
She stood there shell-shocked, having just had her perfect world shattered.
Not only was she facing astronomical damages, but the irony was devastating.
Victoria had spent the day ranting about homewreckers, only to discover she was the other woman.
Her dream Plaza wedding had become a Page Six scandal, with her as the punchline.
The reality was crushing her designer-clad shoulders.
As the officers reviewed my documentation, they calculated the total damages caused by Victoria and her mob at $790 million.
The room filled with gasps as everyone turned pale.
"That's impossible! Even if she's not a mistress, nobody's that loaded!"
"Officer, she's scamming you!"
"We went to Dalton together; she was totally basic back then. No way she's that rich!"
"You should investigate where that money came from. Could be laundered!"
"Yeah, it must be some kind of fraud!"
The classmates were still in denial, desperately reaching.
Their protests echoed through the precinct, but the officer just scoffed.
"We've done our due diligence. She's the daughter of one of Manhattan's most powerful billionaires. Her wealth is beyond your comprehension. Her choosing to stay low-key doesn't give you the right to assault her!"
His words left them speechless.
The officer continued, "The damages you've caused are enough for serious prison time. Instead of questioning her background, you should be figuring out how to make restitution. She's made it clear she wants full prosecution."
For everyone present, $790 million might as well have been a billion.
Knowing they couldn't afford it, they switched to playing victim.
Some classmates tried standing their ground, addressing me indignantly.
"We were all at Dalton together. You're already loaded; why come after us? It's just a misunderstanding! After all these years, do you really need to destroy our lives?"
"It's just a Bentley and some art, right? You're a billionaire's daughter, don't be petty. Are you really going to sweat a few million?"
"Come on! Your injuries aren't even that serious. Just drop it already!"
They continued, each argument more entitled than the last, as if $790 million was just another shopping spree at Bergdorf's.
Or maybe they thought since I had family money and wasn't dead, I should just be their sacrificial lamb and eat the loss without complaint.
I couldn't help but laugh bitterly, my voice dripping with contempt. "So now that you know we're old classmates, everything's fine?
"Did you think about that when you were assaulting me?
"You were all so brave destroying my property. Now you want me to let it go? Really?
"What's wrong? Bold enough to vandalize but too weak to face consequences?"
Throughout high school at Dalton, I'd always kept to myself, focused on academics.
I never caused drama.
But Victoria constantly targeted me, accusing me of being stuck-up and antisocial, claiming I thought I was too good for everyone.
She'd rally her trust fund army to torment me, making my high school experience a nightmare.
Back then, I'd just kept quiet and avoided confrontation, hoping they'd eventually grow up.
Ironically, my passive approach only made them bolder.
Now, they'd tried to physically break me, ready to crush me into submission.
If I didn't teach them a lesson now, they'd just keep bullying anyone they saw as beneath them.
Seeing my unwavering stance, my former classmates finally cracked.
No longer daring to confront me, they turned their collective fury on Victoria.
"This is all your fault, you delusional psycho! You jumped to conclusions and dragged us into this!"
"Really! You're the actual homewrecker here, yet you had the nerve to accuse her and get us involved!"
"Pretending to be the CEO's fiancée of Global Prime? How pathetic can you get?"
"We only kissed up to you because we thought you had connections! Now you expect us to pay for your delusions? No way in hell!"
"Exactly! You should be responsible for that $790 million! Don't try dragging us down with you!"
Faced with their accusations, Victoria snapped.
She fired back instantly, "You spineless social climbers dare blame me?
"Since Dalton, you've all been encouraging me to put others down!
"If it weren't for your desperate networking attempts, I wouldn't be in this mess!
"You treated me like Upper East Side royalty when you thought I was marrying a CEO, but now you're throwing me to the wolves!
"Look at yourselves—born to be brown-nosers! None of you are walking away from this!"
Victoria and her former minions went at each other's throats. If the NYPD hadn't stepped in, they might have recreated a Real Housewives fight scene.
After the screaming match, the classmates tried claiming innocence, saying they hadn't damaged anything personally.
But when the cops pulled up the security footage, their false bravado evaporated.
Each person faced their individual charges.
Some, desperate to avoid Rikers Island, liquidated their assets and begged their networks for loans, only to crawl away broken after settling.
Others received divorce papers from their spouses and found themselves cut off from their social circles.
With no one willing to touch their GoFundMe campaigns, they were left to face justice in detention.
As for Victoria, she'd been the ringleader of the destruction.
Naturally, her portion of the debt was the largest.
Faced with this crushing financial burden, she turned to Nathan in desperation.
"Nathan, after everything we've shared, can't you help me? I couldn't pay this off even if I sold my organs!" Victoria sobbed, mascara running, voice breaking.
Nathan, feeling a flicker of guilt, hesitated before giving me a pleading look.
"Darling, maybe we don't need to go nuclear. Could you show some mercy? Just this once, for old times' sake?"
I shot him an arctic glare. "Show mercy?
Nathan, have you lost your last shred of dignity? You think you have any say with me right now?
"Every time I think about how you played me with your fake devotion all these years, I feel nauseous.
"The divorce papers are ready. As of today, we're done."
I walked away without looking back.
Victoria and the classmates who couldn't pay were taken into custody, facing criminal charges.
Even Mrs. Reynolds found herself under investigation for her role.
As for Nathan, he left with nothing but his Tom Ford suit, as per our prenup.
I transitioned from being someone's wife to being gloriously single.
While it took adjustment, I discovered an unexpected freedom in it.
Then one morning, during my usual Central Park run, I spotted Nathan lurking on my regular path.
His designer stubble had grown into an unkempt beard, and his eyes held a wild gleam. When he saw me, his face contorted as he lunged forward, pulling out a knife.
"You bitch! Finally found you!" Nathan snarled, voice raw with rage.
I frowned slightly, maintaining composure. "Nathan, what do you think you're doing?"
He glared at me, eyes burning. "What am I doing? You heartless witch! You turned me from a Wall Street CEO into a homeless man digging through dumpsters! And you have the audacity to ask what I'm doing?
"So what if I married you for money? What's wrong with that? Every guy's got his hustle. Just because I got ahead doesn't mean I can't find real love too! What gives you the right to destroy my life over this?"
Seeing Nathan unravel like this made me sigh, and I spoke firmly, "Nathan, you're still young. Drop the knife. You can still turn your life around."
"Turn around? What the hell are you talking about?" Nathan shouted, advancing with clenched fists.
He continued, "You took everything from me. If I can't have peace, neither will you! Die!"
He slashed the knife at me.
In that instant, my concealed security detail sprang into action, delivering a precise strike that sent Nathan flying.
From the moment I'd realized Nathan's true nature, I'd stepped up my protection.
I knew someone like him wouldn't just fade away quietly.
That's why I'd hired ex-military security to shadow me daily.
I hadn't expected to need them so soon.
"Take him to the precinct," I ordered coolly and turned away, heading back to my Upper East Side townhouse.
Later, I heard Nathan's violent tendencies had erupted in prison, leading to a fight that left him permanently disabled with two shattered legs.
As for me, I reclaimed my life and identity.
I learned that depending on others for happiness was a fool's game.
Being single felt empowering—no disappointments, no betrayals, just pure freedom and clarity.
A woman didn't need a man to shine; she could thrive independently with grace.
Self-love was the greatest romance of all.
