"I just signed a multi-billion dor deal with Mr. Pierce today! I haven''t even had a chance to report it to Dad, and here you are, raising hell and picking fights. We''re going to need Mr. Pierce for a lot more in the future. Do you really want to ruin things for your husband?"


    James took the chance to scold his wife, but Mrs. Mercer was no pushover. She felt no guilt and simply roared back at him, “Don''t think you can order me around just because I didn''t catch you red-handed today. I know exactly what kind of man you are."


    After her outburst, Mrs. Mercer turned her attention to Patti. Terrified from the earlier beating, Patti instinctively shrank back, her eyes wide with fear.


    "Miss Yale, I''m sorry," Mrs. Mercer said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn''t realize you were Mr. Everhart''s girlfriend. But honestly, you people have no shame. The man is married, after all. Still, I have to give Mr. Everhart some face. In the future, please don''t have my James drive you around. It causes misunderstandings, and it''s not good for your reputation either. Am I right?"


    Far from apologizing, Mrs. Mercer had dressed Patti down. If Patti weren''t actually involved with James and terrified of making things worse, any other woman would have plotted revenge. As it was, she could only swallow the bitter pill and force a smile. "You''re right, Mrs. Mercer. Rest assured, I won''t ride in Mr. Mercer''s car again. This was all a huge misunderstanding. I''m very sorry."


    As she spoke Patti shot a venomous re at James. A moment ago, she had been scared to death by his wife, thinking their affair had been discovered. James, too, felt a wave of relief, his forehead slick with sweat. Although the phone call had provided an alibi, Mrs. Mercer still didn''t trust him. someone take you to Mr. Pierce. As for Mr. Everhart''s girlfriend, I''l handle her arrangements."


    have


    No matter what, she wouldn''t allow James to be alone with any woman, at least not


    in her presence. Patti desperately wished Mrs. Mercer would disappear, but she didn''t dare say so.


    "Miss Yale, why don''t I have someone get you some ointment for your injuries? I really am so sorry about what happened," Mrs. Mercer said with a sharine smile as her friends hoisted Patti up and steered her into the hotel. Patti''s body ached from the beating, and her so-called helpers showed no gentleness, causing pain with every movement. All Patti could do was suffer in silence.


    Once inside, Mrs. Mercer didn''t arrange a room for her. She simply dumped Patti in the lobby and said with a backhanded tone, "Since you''re Mr. Everhart''s girlfriend, I''m sure he gives you a generous allowance. You don''t need me to pay for your hotel room. I''ve done more than enough by bringing you here. If you have a problem, have your Hawthornee talk to me. The one thing I hate most in this world is a mistress. You''re lucky you''re not with my James, or I''d beat you every time I saw you. Fucking shameless. If you have the guts to steal someone else''s man, why not find one of your own? Oh, that''s right, you''re just a disposable slut nobody wants."


    Many of the hotel staff recognized Mrs. Mercer; her frequent visits to catch her husband cheating weremon knowledge. Patti, utterly humiliated, didn''t dare


    make a sound. She wished the ground would swallow her whole.


    It waste, and her apartment was nearly a two-hour drive from the city. Exhausted and in pain, Patti had no choice but to begrudgingly book a room for herself. She had nned to call Hawthorne toe and take care of her, but his phone went


    straight to voicemail. In ?fit of rage,


    she hurle


    her phonerat phone at the carpeted


    floor andy awake all night, fuming.


    "James, you bastard. You and your wife can both die a miserable death."