"Home invasion robbery," I stated firmly to the police as I sat in the station.
Merlin wept bitterly: "It was just a slight emotional dispute..."
"I don't know her. She picked the lock and entered. She broke the law."
"Evelyn! I was just returning to my boyfriend's home! You want to imprison me?!" Merlin became hysterical upon hearing my words.
I responded calmly:
"Firstly, he's my husband. Secondly, the house is mine. What right do you have to take both my husband and my house from me?"
"Evelyn!" came a furious roar from behind. "What are you doing?" Previously, Evelyn would recoil when he was angry.
She always dreaded upsetting him.
She would swallow her grievances to maintain peace.
I am not like that.
"This woman entered our home," I said, raising an eyebrow. "What should we do?" Julian turned to the police, "This is my wife. She misunderstood my relationship with Miss Frost. It's just a family dispute."
He had brought a team of lawyers, complicating the matter.
Merlin, seeing the police finalize the mediation, gave me a scornful glance, smirking triumphantly.
As we left the station, Merlin clung to Julian, looking fragile:
"Julian, it was my fault for rashly trying to explain the misunderstanding to your wife, not realizing it would only anger her further."
Julian frowned, "Evelyn, even if you are jealous, there's no need to be so cruel, potentially ruining her life..."
"Slap!"
Before he could finish, I slapped him.
Julian was dumbfounded, "You hit me?"
"What about it?" I coolly inspected my nails. "I did hit you. Is there a need to pick a specific time?"
Evelyn was indeed jealous of Merlin.
Jealous of this despicable woman, merely because she received his affection.
That was because Evelyn loved him.
I, however, lack such benevolence.
"Do you know where you went wrong, hmm?" I grasped his chin. "I don't mind your numerous affairs; I've always turned a blind eye. But this foolish woman, whether she's your fifth or sixth, dared to flaunt herself before me."
"You can't even manage a fling. How useless can you be?"
Merlin was visibly shaken, her voice trembling: "Fifth or sixth?"
She looked towards Julian, who was staring intently at me. She regained her composure:
"How could you do this to Julian? You hit him! Do you have no decency?"
She lunged forward with hand raised high.
Julian caught her wrist.
Another slap sounded.
Before Julian could speak, I slapped him again, hard.
"This is the woman you're having an affair with. She tried to strike your wife. Do you really prefer such uncouthness? I respect your tastes, but please keep her from embarrassing herself and disturbing the peace."
I patted Julian's bruised face and methodically slipped on my black leather gloves:
"Otherwise,people may say that the CEO of Mercer Corporation can't manage his affairs and has fallen for a vulgar fool."
Ignoring Merlin's cries and curses, I gracefully picked up my bag and entered my car.
When I got home, the paparazzi had already detailed the incident outside the police station vividly.
I pushed it to the top of the trending topics:
#The CEO Caught Cheating, Wife Beats Him in Public.
The hashtag exploded on social media:
"Wow, this tycoon's wife is fierce."
"Men cheat, and women usually cry or cherish the relationship, but few retaliate like this."
"She still lost though; look how delicate the other woman seems."
"Enough with the disgusting tone; in those marriages of wealthy house, everyone plays their part. She clearly doesn't care. With her wealth and looks, who needs a faithful man?"
"Damn, this guy really is unlucky..."
...
I headed to the kitchen to cook, and soon Julian came in with his phone.
He showed me the photo Merlin had sent: "Is it because of this?"
"Aren't you the one who hates when I check your phone?" I continued cooking, indifferent, "Don't touch my things again." Julian's anger was palpable: "It was just a gathering with classmates.Even though I was drunk, I didn't do anything. Everyone can testify for me.."
"I'm not interested in these details.Don't explain it to me," I leaned against the counter, arms crossed, "I have one rule: each time she appears before me, I will hit you. My demands are simple.You will make her behave.."
"When will you stop being unreasonable?! I've told you, she and I are just..."
"Shut up, I'm eating, don't make me nauseous."
I took my plate to the table; he followed,sat down and found his plate empty.
"Where's mine?" Julian glared at me.
His stomach is sensitive; Evelyn had taken great care to nurture his health with varied, healthy, and delicious meals.
"I made only for myself." I sipped my milk contentedly, "Can you not sit in front of me? Your bruised face is off-putting."
Julian slammed his phone down and leaned back in his chair, furious.
Good, let him throw a tantrum.
I took my plate upstairs to binge-watch my shows.
Below, I could hear the sounds of pots and pans crashing.
Julian hated Evelyn.
Because Evelyn once said, "I can endure anything to be with you."
He frequently brought women home, making her listen to their pleasure all night from outside.
She cried and bore it, blaming herself, thinking it was the punishment she deserved.
Publicly, she still maintained the dignity of Mrs. Mercer, holding together a marriage full of holes.
Once, she dared not intervene when he cheated.
Showing the slightest discomfort invited his mocking: "Didn't you say you could endure anything? You can leave if you can't."
Now, I simply don't care.
And he's the one losing his mind.
I cranked up the music, enjoying my hot meal and my shows in my room.
Can't handle it?
This is just the beginning.
