Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

At 2 a.m., Joy was jolted awake by a knock at her door.

"Who could be knocking at this hour?" she wondered, grabbing her trusty baseball bat as she tiptoed to the door, peering through the peephole.- Her heart skipped a beat.

In a flash, she swung the door open, revealing Selena's disheveled figure. Joy's eyes widened in shock. "Did you get mugged? Or am I dreaming?"

Selena looked like a mess, her hair wild, her clothes disheveled, and the hem of her pants hinting at dried blood. She looked like a ghost, ready to haunt the night.

With a carefree toss of her hair and a cheeky grin that revealed dimples, Selena said, "Hey, I need a place to crash!"

Half an hour later, Selena emerged from the bathroom. Joy handed her a glass of hot chocolate as she herself took a sip of red wine. She glanced at Selena's puffy eyes. "Had another fight with Everett?"

Selena clutched the hot chocolate, but a chill ran down her spine.

As Selena recounted the night's drama with an air of indifference, Joy's temper flared. "What? Everett did something that awful? How could he pull a stunt like that on his wife?"

Selena forced a smile, leaving her answer unsaid.

Joy studied Selena again, understanding why she looked so worn out. Ever since marrying into the Bennett family, Selena had bent over backward to please them and uphold Everett's reputation, always appearing as the graceful Mrs. Bennett. She never let anyone see her fall apart.

"Damn jerk," Joy fumed. "If you hadn't saved him back then, he'd be six feet under by now. And now he only cares about his side piece?"

"As for Margot, she's even worse. She knows full well he's married, yet clings to him like a leech. I've never seen such audacity!"

Selena's mind drifted back to her first encounter with Everett. Everyone thought they met after their engagement, but it was actually much earlier. After losing her parents, she spent time at her grandma's in the countryside, feeling down. Everett was there, too, recovering from heart issues. By chance, she saved his life. He promised to never forget her.

So when Josh proposed the marriage, she thought... it was Everett's wish too.

had been a harsh

the present, Joy's fiery rant

Joy's mother Ann was

and Margot countless times. Joy usually held back,

your mind because of anger? How are you

After a pause, she sighed, "I'm not mad

steps, the cold night wind whipping around

licked her lips, then asked, "So...

that shameless woman Margot win? Are

murmuring, "To everyone else, I'm

then she shrugged, "I've been the fool for three years. Everyone's waiting to see me get booted. Might as well

wants my leftovers, she can have them. There are plenty of

...

bringing

rushed over to take his coat and asked, "Sir, what should I

flight, Everett had a slight headache and no appetite.

glanced at the empty dining room, and asked, "Where's Selena? Still

looked uneasy. "She's

briefly, then smoothed out.

She hasn't been home

across

Selena had spent the week in a

she'd bent over backward to fit Everett's mold. To match his schedule,