Chapter 3

The moment Austin said it, the guests were stunned.

"What, Ms. Matthews has a lover? And she actually threw herself into his arms in front of everyone. Shameless."

"I always said it. How could a woman build a business this big? Turns out it was her bedroom skills."

"Look at the way that man's dressed. Clearly worth a fortune. Sleep with a few like him and you've got money and power both, don't you?"

But when they finally got a clear look at the man's face, every expression changed.

"What? The lover is Mr. Vance!"

"No wonder the Matthews business does so well. With the Vance family, one of Metropolis City's giants, looking after her, how could she not thrive?"

I slipped out of Julian Vance's arms and studied each face carefully, reading every reaction.

The guest list was one I'd revised again and again, and even when Austin lost his mind just now, I didn't stop him. I wanted to see exactly which people I could cut from future dealings.

And now I had my answer.

Austin took my silence as an admission.

His eyes went red with fury. "Tilda Matthews, are you so desperate for a man you've lost your mind?"

"So impatient you had to pull something this filthy at my birthday party?"

A low voice cut in. "Who gave you permission to talk to her that way?"

The next instant, a heavy slap landed across Austin's face, five red finger-marks blooming on his cheek at once.

The guests froze.

"The always-refined Mr. Vance actually hit someone for Ms. Matthews. Tell me those two aren't involved, who'd believe it?"

"No wonder Austin's father won't come back. A pair of horns that big and that hard, who'd want to come home to that?"

I pressed my temple, thinking of tomorrow's headlines, and felt a dull ache spreading across my forehead.

Austin didn't grasp for a second that he'd done anything wrong. He was still demanding answers from me.

"Tilda Matthews, you actually let him hit me?"

"All my life, you never once said a harsh word to me."

"And today, you let your lover strike me."

"Do you even see me as your son anymore?"

I closed my eyes. I really wanted to say one word. Never.

At the same time, a doubt surfaced. Austin was this insufferable, this begging to be smacked, and somehow I'd held my hand all these years. How?

I sighed, and finally spoke. "Do you have any idea how good the Vance family's legal team is?"

Austin blanked for a second. "What?"

For once, I explained. "You slander Mr. Vance like this, do you know what a lawsuit would cost you?"

Austin wasn't having it. "Which part did I get wrong? You two were wrapped around each other. Are you telling me there's nothing between you?"

At that, Julian Vance laughed.

"What Tilda and I are to each other is none of your business."

Austin didn't answer. Instead, eyes bloodshot, he grabbed my wrist and roared from the pit of his throat.

"Tilda?!"

"So familiar, so intimate. Is that what he calls you in bed too?"

"Tell me. Behind my father's back, exactly how many men have you had?"