Matthew and Natalie had intended to find a quiet corner to chat, but their path was blocked by amotion. They saw Wendy pping another woman.


    "Slut!" Wendy''s furious voice cut through the air. "You were all over my husband at thest g, and now you''re here doing it again? Can''t you live without someone else''s man? Pouring him a drink... what exactly is going on between you two?"


    Natalie and Matthew exchanged a look. She hadn''t wanted to get involved, but then she recognized the woman Wendy was hitting—it was Joanna''s biological mother.


    Why was she here again? And so openly drinking with Nathan?


    They never appeared together in public, but this was the second time recently. What was going on? It seemed Joanna''s mother was tired of waiting in the wings and was making her move.


    Then it clicked. In her past life, around this time, Wendy had been diagnosed with Alzheimer''s and institutionalized after a public outburst. She was only released monthster when her third son intervened. Wendy''s fate had changed, but it seemed her rival''s ambitions had not.


    Natalie and Matthew moved closer. Joanna''s mother''s face was already swollen from Wendy''s ps, and she cowered behind Nathan, ring venomously at Wendy but not daring to speak.


    Nathan shielded her, trying to reason with his wife. "Wendy, don''t misunderstand. She was just apologizing forst time. There''s nothing going on between us. You''ve hit her and yelled at her, can we just let this go?"


    Wendy shot a cold re at the greasy-looking Nathan. "Let it go, Nathan? How? I caught you two in bed togetherst time, and now you''re sharing drinks here today. You expect me to believe there''s nothing going on? Let''s ask everyone here if they believe you!"


    Wendy raised her voice, deliberately escting the scene. She wanted everyone to see what a fraud Nathan''s ''devoted husband'' act really was. She was going to force this woman''s hand and make Nathan ask for a divorce himself. She had already gathered enough evidence to ensure he would leave the marriage with nothing.


    Nathan lived for money. Taking it away would be like taking his life. Without his wealth, she wanted to see how long their ''love'' wouldst. Without money, his leeching rtives would tear him apart. For years, she had been supporting a family of parasites, none of whom were grateful, all of whom schemed against her.


    She had recently cut off contracts with a few of his rtives. They would surely beining to him soon. She couldn''t wait to see what happened when love wasn''t built on a foundation of money.


    Nathan was getting anxious. He truly hadn''t expected to see her tonight. He hadn''t seen her in days and, because he''d been having.


    wanted to see if she could help. He never imagined they''d run into each other here. Wendy had been suspicious for a while, and now being caught twice in publie


    some performance issues, hol ne


    sensed his marriage was over. It seemed he needed to elerate his ns.


    He forced a smile. "Wendy, I''m sorry, this is truly a misunderstanding. It''s a crowded party; it''s inevitable we''d run into each other. And she''s a guest at an event like this, so we can''t just be rude. I promise I stay away. from all women from now on. I know you don''t like me even standing with other women. Wendy, I''ve been on my best behavior for years, so afraid of making you angry that I barely even speak to the opposite sex."


    With one smooth speech, he had painted Wendy as a jealous shrew. Nathan was a master at shifting me.