His Plus-Size Wife Returned as a Billionaire Heiress

My husband called me fat, ugly, and disgusting. Then he used that as an excuse to cheat on me with his secretary, Joanna. I threw him a birthday party, hoping to make him happy, but he chose to spend the night with her instead. Tired and fed up, I signed the divorce papers and walked out of his life. Three years later, I was no longer the unwanted XXL wife of Adrian Wellington. I was Miranda Wright, a billionaire heiress who had just bought my ex-husband’s company under a fake name. When Adrian finally discovered who I was, he was shocked. Then he fell at my feet, pleading for another chance. “Miranda, don’t do this to us.” I ignored him, pulled my hand away, and barked an order at my security guards. “Throw him out, and make sure he never comes anywhere near me again.” He once thought I wasn’t good enough for him. Now, he was begging for the woman he had thrown away. Chapter 1 MIRANDA “Did Adrian really marry her?” “She gets bigger each day.” “Look at her. She looks like a pig.” I heard the whispers, the murmurs, and the insults that followed me as I walked into the hall. It had always been like that. I’d been body shamed since childhood, but it grew worse after I married the billionaire heartthrob of almost every woman in the city. Adrian Wellington. Our marriage wasn’t based on love. I loved Adrian long before we got married, but he only saw me as the woman his grandfather had chosen for him. I ignored the nasty remarks and walked into the hall, my eyes glancing around for Adrian. It was his birthday party, and I’d spent the last few months preparing for it. I caught him standing far away from where I was, and there was a woman next to him. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, their foreheads only an inch away from touching. They were so close… too close. His hand was wrapped around her waist in possessiveness, and she raked her fingers through his hair. I was his wife, and I was the only woman he was supposed to be holding like that. But Adrian never looked at me twice. And whenever he did, his eyes always glared at me like he was irritated by my sight. My heart fell at the sight, and I stared at the woman, watching as she tilted her head in laughter. Joanna Lane. Adrian’s personal assistant. They were always together, people shipped them, and just three days ago, I’d caught her making love with Adrian in his study. In the same house we lived in together. But they had no idea as I didn’t confront them or make a sound to inform them they’d been seen by me. I kept my calm, walked away, then returned to the bedroom, where I’d sobbed my eyes out. I approached them slowly, and Joanna raised her head to me. Her lips curled into a taunting smile immediately, her fingers tightened around her glass of wine. “Mrs. Wellington,” she whispered. Joanna always called me that name with a mocking voice. “I didn’t think you’d attend tonight.” Of course, they weren’t expecting me. Earlier that afternoon, Adrian had given me a glass of milk, but I’d poured it down the kitchen sink. He was unaware that I’d found out that he’d been lacing the glass of milk he occasionally gave me with sleeping pills whenever he wanted to go somewhere without me. “Why wouldn’t I?” I forced a small smile. “I threw this party for my husband, remember?” Adrian turned squarely to face me, his eyes glistening with hatred as he pulled away from Joanna. He dragged his eyes over my body, his voice ringing out in irritation as usual. “What are you wearing?” He asked mockingly. “Miranda, you look disgusting in this dress,” he said bluntly. The music stopped playing, and laughter erupted from the crowd. Even his business associates were laughing and flashing their cameras to record the moment. “Don’t say that, Adrian,” Joanna reprimanded, feigning concern as her eyes glared at me. “The dress isn’t ugly. It’s just the person wearing it.” Then she stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with maliciousness. “Maybe if you lost a little weight, you’d actually fit in any dress without looking like a pig in it.” My breath hitched. I darted my eyes away from her, still wearing a forced smile on my lips. That wasn’t the first time Adrian and his mistress were humiliating me. It was something they did at the slightest opportunity. “Thanks for the advice, Joanna,” I said curtly. “I appreciate it.” Adrian scoffed. “I bet she’ll eat a bowl full of burgers and fries right now if they’re in front of her.” Everyone laughed again, and Adrian joined them. I’d gotten used to the nasty comments, but hearing it from a man I loved, a man I’d been married to for three years… It broke me. Three nights ago, I overheard Adrian and Joanna having a conversation about my body while they made love loudly. “She looks like a pig,” he’d uttered disgustingly. “I can’t make love to Miranda. You’re the only one I want, Joanna.” I understood then why he never touched me, not even for once. My size was his biggest problem, and he hated me more than anything. Tears stung my eyes but I refused to let them fall. Adrian kept making hurtful jokes… anything to make the crowd laugh. But every part of me broke down painfully without showing. “Would you like some cake, Miranda?” Joanna asked tauntingly. “We already cut it before you came but I was kind enough to save you a slice.” “You mean, half of the cake,” Adrian added. “Why not?” Joanna walked closer and grabbed my wrist. “She can eat it all. Right, Mrs. Wellington?” I tried to wriggle my wrist free, but her grip was tight. Joanna pulled me towards the cake forcefully, ignoring my words to stop. “What are you doing, Joanna? Let go of me.” “What is the matter, Mrs. Wellington?” She sneered. “Don’t you want cake?” Adrian said nothing. He did nothing to stop his mistress. I summoned my strength and pulled roughly away from Joanna, but she’d already retrieved her hand. “You want cake?” She snarled, pushing me forward. “Have it.” Joanna pushed me roughly and I staggered forward, crashing into the cake I’d made for Adrian. My face slammed right into the middle, and I felt the cold icing on my skin. Gasps erupted from the crowd again, and flashlights were on my face. I gasped softly, the laughter triggering something inside me. Slowly, I wiped the icing off my face, my stomach lurching at the humiliation. I’d been embarrassed at the same party I’d thrown for Adrian. The same one I’d spent months planning, and invested all of my life savings into. My finger brushed off icing from my face, and I tasted it. I turned around slowly, the remarks echoing from every corner. “Did she just… taste that?” “She’s really disgusting like a pig.” “Miranda is weak. She’s going to cry and run out.” Cry? Run out? Absolutely not. That was something I usually did whenever Adrian humiliated me publicly, but this time was different. I was done being his weak, fat wife. Adrian stared at me with narrowed eyes, laughing with Joanna by his side. She curled her lips into a sneer, asking me… “How was the cake, Fatty?” I ignored her, fixing my eyes on the man who’d hurt me more than anything. Taking a deep breath, I let the words out loud and clear. “Adrian, I want a divorce.” Chapter 2 MIRANDA Adrian stared at me like I’d said something foreign. The crowd murmured, but this time, the words weren’t about my weight. “She’s divorcing him?” “I thought he was the one who would leave first?” “Wait, she didn’t run out this time.” “What?” Adrian chuckled nervously. “You’re joking. Right, Miranda?” He turned to the crowd, trying so hard to maintain his reputation. He’d always rejected women, and never got rejected by any. I was going to be the first woman to stomp on his ego. “She’s only joking,” he told the crowd. “Miranda isn’t divorcing me.” “It’s not a joke, Adrian,” I said firmly. “I want a divorce. I’m tired of this marriage.” The truth was, I would never ask for a divorce if I hadn’t known and overheard his plans two weeks ago. Adrian was on a phone call in his office when I got there. I’d brought his lunch to him but met his door slightly opened, and he was having a conversation about me. “I need you to get the divorce papers ready, Attorney,” he’d said. “I’ll need it next week.” My stomach churned and the food bag almost slipped from my grasp. I pressed my lips tightly to stop myself from making a sound while I continued listening. “Yes,” he said over the phone. “You’ll bring the papers on my birthday. I’m divorcing Miranda that day and marrying Joanna.” I didn’t give him the food that day. I turned around to leave, then went straight to meet his Attorney. So, I was a step ahead of him. I knew what he’d planned to do, and I’d managed to act first before he humiliated me further. Adrian scoffed, disbelief written all over his face. He stepped closer, his eyes blazing with anger. “What do you think you’re doing, Miranda?” He growled. “You can’t divorce me.” I smiled. “I already did.” I snapped my fingers and called for the Attorney’s attention. Fortunately, he was sitting next to their table, and he came with the brown envelope. I signaled at him and he handed it over to Adrian, who accepted it with reluctance. “Those are the divorce papers,” I whispered. “I already signed it. Sign it.” “Miranda—‘’ He tried to say something but Joanna stepped in, her voice chirping in excitement. “Sign it, Adrian.” She urged him. “This is what you’ve always wanted. What we’ve always wanted. Don’t you want to make me the new Mrs. Wellington?” Of course, that was what she’d always wanted. The name, the status, and everything else that came with marrying Adrian. She even had a baby already, the same baby Adrian had coerced us to adopt. I only found out a month ago that he was the father of the little boy, Elliot. Joanna had the baby ten months after Adrian and I got married. His expression hardened. Reluctantly, he retrieved a pen from the Attorney, and brought out the papers from the envelope. “It’s a good thing you’ve freed Adrian,” Joanna told me. “He doesn’t need a fatty like you.” My lips curled into a deeper smile. “Of course, Joanna.” “Here,” Adrian handed the papers back to me. “I’ve signed it.” I accepted them and gave them back to the Attorney. “Thank you.” “You’ve made a very big mistake, Miranda,” he smirked. “Don’t forget our agreement. You don’t get a single thing or a penny from this marriage. You walk out, and you’ll leave with nothing.” Oh, I knew. It wasn’t something new. From the very beginning and on our wedding night, Adrian had made it clear that I married him without anything, and that I was going to leave the same way. “You don’t have to worry about that, Adrian,” I muttered. The whispers got louder once again, and while they laughed in victory, I was silently thinking of a way out of that party. “She’s really leaving the marriage empty handed?” “Adrian is really a smart man. That fatty doesn’t deserve anything from him.” “She ate lots of food under his roof. I’m sure that’s more than enough for her.” The words didn’t hurt that much anymore because they’d been uttered too many times. I was tired of hearing them and felt they could say something new to get my attention. “You lose, Fatty.” Joanna laughed. I gave a subtle nod, didn’t say anything else, and turned around to leave. Not even a goodbye because they didn’t deserve it. The cake’s icing still clung to my dress, parts of my face, and even my hair. It was already melting, and I kept brushing it off with my fingers. The crowd didn’t stop talking even as I walked away. But I walked out with a smile, eager to get back at every single one of them who’d hurt me. Especially Adrian Wellington and Joanna Lane. They could enjoy the party I’d thrown because it was the last time they would experience it. And Adrian? He could have all the fun in the world… for now. Because when I get back at him, he was going to crawl for forgiveness, begging to be dead. But I wouldn’t listen. He’d wasted three years of my life, made me toil for a company he didn’t let me have a job. Then he’d cheated on me with his assistant, making sure I raised a baby they had together. I couldn’t help the tears streaming down my cheeks as I got outside. The night was cold, and my body began to shiver. Something buzzed in my hand, and I’d almost forgotten that I still held my phone. Glancing at the screen, it was an unknown number. “Hello?” I answered, wiping the tears off my face. The voice responded almost immediately, sounding urgent and clear. “Miranda Keyes?” “Yes.” “It’s Attorney Xander, your father’s lawyer,” he said. “Your father passed away three days ago, and we’ve been trying to reach you.” My heart raced. My footsteps slowed down, and I felt the cold seeping through my skin without remorse. “W-What?” My lips quivered. “My father died?” “You need to come back home. As the only surviving member of the family, your father’s billion dollar empire has been willed to you.” Chapter 3 MIRANDA Three years later… “Ms. Wright, do you have any business tips for people who’d like to learn from you?” The paparazzi asked from different corners, flashing cameras as I stood on the stage, holding my three new awards. Best entrepreneur of the year. Youngest and most successful business woman of the year. Number one most influential woman of the year. I won it all. And it was always the same awards for the third year in a row. And several other business people wanted to know what I did and how I did it. “I’ll advise them to work hard,” I said with a smile. “As long as you’ve dreamt about it, work on it, and you can achieve it.” The crowd gave a loud applause and a few people whistled. The smile on my face grew wider, and I began to walk carefully down the stage. Interviewers and paparazzi followed me everywhere, eager to get more photographs, and ask more questions. But I was done for the day. “Ms. Wright, should we be expecting another company launch?” Through the crowd, I heard whispers about me, and for the first time in years, nobody commented about my body because... Nobody knew who I was. “She’s my role model.” “Miranda Wright is so influential and successful.” “I admire her. She’s a real boss lady.” I smiled as I walked through the crowd, pretending not to hear the little comments. The same people who’d once made nasty remarks about me were the same ones applauding me. It had taken three years for me to change the narrative, three years for me to leave the country and return with a whole new personality. A whole new body. After my father died, I inherited his billion dollar empire and began running his chain of companies. I was adopted when I was eight years old. My adopted parents loved and adored me, but they barely had money to spend on anything. Grandpa Wellington was our greatest help. Mara, my adopted mother, worked as a housekeeper for the Wellingtons. Most of the times, I assisted her with the chores. That was where Grandpa Wellington saw me and insisted that I married his grandson because of how hardworking I was. And after I’d saved his life during a fire accident that occurred on his 70th birthday gala. I’d only found out about my biological father, Gerald Wright, two years after marrying Adrian. We’d kept in touch secretly, but I had no idea how wealthy he was until he died. “Ms. Wright,” Gia, my personal assistant, called after approaching me. “There’s a couple waiting outside to see you.” My eyebrows furrowed. I’d only returned to the country three days ago to collect the awards. I wasn’t expecting anyone to see me because I’ve been denying appointments. “A couple?” I asked. “Who are they?” “Adrian and Joanna Wellington.” My chest tightened at the mention of their names. Adrian and Joanna. I’d heard about their wedding three years ago. They’d gotten married a week after Adrian and I divorced. I’d gotten several requests and countless emails from them about wanting to meet me. Apparently, their company was at the brink of collapse and they needed me to form a business alliance. Wearing a small smile, I whispered. “Tell them to meet me tomorrow morning at the office.” “They’ve refused, Ma’am,” Gia muttered. “And they’ve been waiting for the last five hours under the sun.” “Five hours?” “Yes, Ma’am.” “They’re really desperate, aren’t they?” I whispered to myself, chuckling softly. Then I returned my attention to Gia. “Sure, show them the way to the private office in this building.” For three years, I’ve been building myself and waiting for the right time to strike. Everytime I thought I was ready, I realized that I wasn’t, and I kept postponing my plans. But today? Maybe it was the day I’d finally enter phase one of my revenge. I walked confidently into my private office, getting ready to meet the same people who’d made my life hell. Barely five minutes later, the door opened and they walked in with Gia. I raised my head after hearing Gia’s voice, my eyes narrowing at the awful couple. Seeing them again after so long, brought back painful memories. I knew they had no idea who I was yet, because I’d lost so much weight and looked completely unrecognizable. Joanna grinned widely, rushing towards me before I could say anything. She stretched her hand forward for a handshake, excitement written all over her. “It’s an honor to finally meet you, Ms. Wright,” she chimed. “I’m Joanna Wellington.” I stared at her hand and refused to take it. My back was reclined against my chair as I sipped my coffee. “Sit.” She sat down immediately, then I turned my attention to Adrian, who had his eyes on me the whole time. He didn’t say anything immediately. I signaled at Gia to leave, and turned my face away from Adrian, attending to the documents on my table instead. “If you have no intention of coming in, Mr. Wellington, then I’ll have to ask both of you to leave.” Joanna gasped in fear and pushed her body forward, instantly begging me not to chase them away. “Please forgive him, Ms. Wright,” she apologized. “He’s just stunned to finally meet you.” I stared at him. “Is that so?” “You’re our biggest mentor,” she said excitedly. “We’ve been waiting to meet you for a whole year, but you’ve been unavailable.” I wore a small smile, wondering if she would say the same thing if she knew who I was. Or if she would insult me if I looked like my old self in my old body. Adrian slowly walked into the office and took a seat. His fingers massaged his forehead gently, his voice still as husky as I’d remembered. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Wright,” he murmured. “You felt familiar and…” He trailed off, but I was curious to know if a flash of recognition had replayed in his head when he saw me. I pressed further. “And what?” He shrugged. “You have the same first name as my ex-wife. And somehow, I see the resemblance.” Joanna smacked his hand to keep him grounded, and I saw the silent reprimand in her action while hearing it in her tone. “Don’t be rude, honey.” “Rude?” I asked curiously. “Why would you think he’s being rude?” She chuckled nervously. “His ex-wife was a fat looking pig. She was totally ugly, and you look nothing like her. You’re so pretty and perfect.” Typical Joanna. Of course, she’d never change. She spoke with so much venom and hatred that it made my stomach churn. She still hated the old Miranda, and it was painful to know that. “I’m sorry if I sounded rude, Ms. Wright,” said Adrian, apologizing. Never had I heard or seen Adrian Wellington apologize to any one, except his late grandfather. But here he was, kissing the feet of a woman he had no idea was someone he’d ridiculed. I didn’t respond to his apology. I wanted to know what he thought about me and if he knew what had happened. So, I asked. “Your ex-wife, what was her name? And where’s she now?” Adrian let out a small laugh like I’d asked something funny. His voice was thick with hatred and sarcasm. “Her name was Miranda Keyes,” he responded. “And for all I know, she died three years ago.” Chapter 4 MIRANDA Of course, they thought I’d died three years ago after I’d mysteriously disappeared from the country. But they had no idea who was sitting right in front of them. “So…” I began after a few seconds, attempting to change the conversation. “You wanted to meet me?” Joanna nodded impatiently. From her actions, I could tell that she was more excited than Adrian to meet me. “Yes, Ms. Wright.” “Well, I’m here now.” Joanna exchanged glances with Adrian, then leaned forward carefully, her attention shifting back to me. “We’ve seen and heard a lot about your business achievements, and we’d like to be a part of that amazing success story. So, we’re offering you an opportunity.” My eyebrows furrowed. “Opportunity?” “Yes,” Adrian added. “You’re one of the few business owners who’ve really inspired us, and as a business mogul myself, I think there’s one thing both our companies have in common.” “And what could that be, Mr. Wellington?” “Resources.” I chuckled softly at his response. It was easy to know what he meant because I’d been in the shadow during the last three years, feeding off every information about his company. Adrian Wellington might’ve been the biggest business man in the city—but that was three years ago. His company was currently struggling, and he was on the verge of bankruptcy. Hence nobody wanted to do business with him anymore. He’d gone from owning the company to having only forty percent shares. He’d sold sixty to another company, and was practically living off the proceeds of his savings. I sat upright in my chair, darting my eyes between both of them. Joanna stared at me like she’d lose sight of me if she blinked. “Resources, huh?” I murmured. “So, what are you suggesting, Mr. Wellington?” He didn’t respond immediately. He glanced at his wife briefly and she gave him a nod, signaling that it was okay to continue. I already knew what he was going to say, but I patiently waited for him to utter the words. “We think a business alliance would be the best decision for both our companies, Ms. Wright.” A business alliance with a company that was already failing? They must’ve thought that I was a dumb person that could be manipulated when I already knew what was going on with them. Still, I pretended not to know anything, and showed signs of being genuinely interested in their offer. “You think a business alliance is worth giving a shot?” Joanna nodded. “For a company as great as ours, it’s the right fit for yours, Ma’am.” “Isn’t your company struggling?” I asked, and I noticed the falter in their expression. They’d done their best to hide it away from the media by debunking it as fake news. But I knew too well. Adrian cleared his throat slightly like my words had him in a chokehold. “That’s only a misconception.” “And a rumor,” Joanna added. “Our company is actually thriving. Saying it’s failing is only a narrative pushed by the people we’ve refused to form an alliance with.” I forced a small smile. “And you think that I’m the better candidate for this?” “Ms. Wright, with everything you’ve achieved under such a short period of time, you’re the best candidate we’d ever have to choose.” I smiled again, but this time it was because they had no idea what they were doing. It was funny that I didn’t even prepare or add that to my plans, but I already got an idea. “Fine,” I said after a few minutes of silence. “Let’s have a business alliance, shall we?” Joanna’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Really? You’re going to merge your company with ours?” “It’s a little too early for that, don’t you think, Mrs. Wellington? I’m considering your business offer, but first…” I picked up my pen and tapped it lightly against the table, staring at both of them with my eyes narrowed. “You’ll have to agree to my terms.” I added. Adrian didn’t hesitate to respond. “Sure. What are your terms?” “I’ll pay a visit to your company for a little visual check. And my lawyers will draft the whole business documents. Everything we’re going to sign.” They were silent for a moment and kept exchanging silent glances. I didn’t rush them for a response, I sat there unbothered, knowing they had no other choice. No other option. That couple was desperate to do anything. They were running low on money and needed a successful company to save them. But they were going about it the wrong way by trying to trick people into signing and forming alliances with them. “We accept your terms, Ms. Wright.” Joanna spoke up seconds later, grinning from ear to ear. “Are you sure you’ve thought this through?” I asked. Adrian leaned over, and his eyes almost made me pity him. But past memories of how he’d treated me replayed in my head, and I shoved off every atom of pity. “Absolutely,” he said. “And we’re ready to do this.” “Yes, Ma’am,” Joanna whispered. “There’s no other person we’d want to close a business deal with.” Perfect. They were already heading to their doom, and were completely clueless about it. I smiled to myself, knowing out of the three phases of revenge I’d planned… I was done with phase one. Well, almost done. There were still a few things I needed to put in place before marking it complete. I gave a subtle nod, stood up, then dismissed them with my words and a small wave. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow morning then.” Chapter 5 MIRANDA “Are the papers ready?” I asked Attorney Xander over the phone. I’d made him my attorney after inheriting my father’s empire. “Yes, Ma’am.” “Good,” I said. “Please have them ready by tomorrow night.” A soft knock echoed through the office and I hung up the call. Gia walked in a few seconds later, and I turned to face her. “Ms. Wright,” she called. “You sent for me.” I nodded. Yes. I need you to send an invitation to the Wellingtons. Tell them I’d love to see them at the inauguration gala.” “Okay, Ma’am.” Gia turned around to leave, but I halted her with my words. “And Gia? I want the biggest cake for the party. Don’t forget that.” I returned to staring out of the window after Gia left. Taking a slow sip from my glass of wine, I could already taste the sweet victory of my revenge. A few hours ago, I’d paid a visit to Adrian’s company and was slightly impressed at how well-managed he made it look. A quick glance and nobody could tell that it was actually struggling. But I knew better. I knew more than what he spilled to the public because… I’d bought sixty percent of his company under another one of my company’s names. And tomorrow night? At the inauguration gala, the Wellingtons would finally understand what it felt like to be humiliated in front of everyone they knew. The cake humiliation, the way he’d planned to serve me the divorce papers on the day of his birthday party... Adrian and Joanna thought they’d humiliated Miranda Keyes and made her disappear. But they had no idea what was coming for them. A business alliance? Sure. I was going to take everything and more. Everything! ~ Later that evening, I invited them over for dinner and they accepted my invitation without thinking twice. When I went downstairs to meet them, I saw Elliot, already grown and talking. My heart ached at the sight of him. That was a baby I’d taken like my son, but got heartbroken after finding out that he was Adrian’s love child. “We’re honored that you invited us here, Ms. Wright,” Joanna chirped. “And we hope you don’t mind that we brought our son with us.” Their son. So, they were finally admitting that he was their baby together? “Your son,” I said slowly, taking a seat while they did the same thing. “I never knew you had a son together.” Adrian chuckled. “We do.” I stared at the little boy who kept his eyes on me. He kept tugging at my dress and I had the strong urge to hold him. “What’s your name, little one?” He whispered. “Elliot.” Of course, I’d given him that name. “Elliot,” I repeated with a faint smile. “Such a lovely name.” Seeing them together as a cute little family made my heart sink. And for a moment, I hated that they were living like they hadn’t done anything wrong to me. Joanna finally made Elliot retreat to his seat after he kept clinging to me and calling me ‘Mummy.’ “I’m your mummy, Elliot,” she reminded him, then pointed at Adrian. “And this is daddy.” I watched them quietly, my fingers tightening around my fork. Slowly, I ate from my plate, trying so hard not to show any emotion. “I’m sorry about Elliot’s behavior, Ms. Wright,” Joanna apologized. “He’s not usually like this.” “It’s okay. He’s just a kid.” “He really isn’t used to having me around,” she continued. “And his nanny wasn’t available to work tonight.” It wasn’t surprising to know that they’d hired a nanny to look after Elliot. Back then, I’d paid close attention to him, and Joanna barely spared him a glance. “Ohh,” was all I could say in response. We began eating, and silence ensued for a moment. Until I broke it with a few words. “Did you get my invitation for the inauguration gala?” “Yes, Ma’am. We did. And we’re so happy that you’re inviting us.” “Why not?” I whispered. “We’ll be business associates soon, and I just bought a new company that might need your… resources.” Adrian smiled. “Congratulations on your new company, Ms. Wright.” “Miranda,” I murmured. “You can call me Miranda. Until the deal is closed.” Joanna and Adrian exchanged a glance that showed how uncomfortable they were. Or maybe they had a flash of the old Miranda’s face replaying in their head. “Are you sure about that, Ma’am?” Joanna asked. I flashed her a small smile. “Absolutely.” She nodded. I swirled my fork around the pasta on my plate and slowly took it in my mouth. I chewed, swallowed, then proceeded to ask another question. “Do you like cake, Joanna?” She paused, her eyes staring at me like I’d said something triggering. “What?” “I asked if you loved eating cake,” I said. “I was just wondering. I ordered a very large one for tomorrow.” She dropped her fork slowly and stared at herself, then grabbed a glass of water to drink. I watched her reaction carefully, then lowered my gaze after Adrian pulled her closer to whisper. “I told you to watch your weight.” “I… I’ve been doing that, Adrian.” “Clearly, you’ve not been working hard enough,” he growled, loud enough for me to hear. “You’re becoming fat and I don’t like it.” Joanna looked embarrassed and it felt oddly satisfying to see. She swallowed hard, barely reached for her fork, and kept sipping water. “It’s okay to eat whatever you want,” I told her. “For tomorrow’s inauguration, I got a big cake to celebrate.” “I… I think that’s good,” she forced a smile. “It is,” I muttered. “I’ll make sure to save you a slice. Or two.” “That’s not—‘’ “—Come on, Joanna,” I brushed her off curtly. “A slice wouldn’t hurt now, would it?” She gulped down a swallow. “I guess, it wouldn’t.” “Exactly,” I raised my head and shifted my attention to Adrian. “Tomorrow, we’ll sign all the necessary documents and seal the deal. Are you excited about that?” He nodded excitedly. “Yes.” “Good,” I drank from my water. “Because tomorrow, we’re going to have everything we’ve ever wanted. Everything.” My phone buzzed on the table, and I saw a message from Attorney Xander. THE DOCUMENTS ARE READY. EVERYTHING WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR NAME AT MIDNIGHT TOMORROW. Smiling, I typed back a response while the Wellingtons kept complimenting the food and chef. “Good. Make sure the entire city is invited.” Chapter 6 MIRANDA “Everything is ready, Ma’am.” I stood in front of the mirror, staring at myself in the outfit I’d picked out the previous day. It was a stunning red gown. I’d chosen the color because red, they say, is the perfect color for revenge. “What about the media coverage?” I asked Gia. “And the other person who’s streaming the event live?” Gia stood behind me, responding to every question I’d asked. I wanted that night to go exactly the way I’d planned. Nothing could ruin it. “They’re all in their positions, Ms. Wright.” “Good,” I stepped away from the mirror and turned to face her with a smile. “That’s what I want to hear.” Footsteps walked into the room seconds later, and it was my other assistant, Chris. He bowed slightly in respect when he saw me before announcing in a husky voice. “Ms. Wright, the Wellingtons have arrived.” My mood changed the moment I heard that. My smile deepened into a satisfying one, and I whispered in response. “I’ll be downstairs in five minutes.” I needed a few more time to breathe properly before facing the whole crowd. Tonight wasn’t just a regular night, it was a night where everybody who’d offended me was going to get their karma. ~ “Mr. and Mrs. Wellington,” I chimed when I saw them in the hall. “Thank you for accepting my invitation.” Joanna stretched her hand forward first, grinning from ear to ear. “We’re so happy that you invited us.” “Thanks once again, Ms. Wright,” Adrian chipped in from behind. “And congratulations on the inauguration.” I wore a small smile. “Please, I already told you to call me Miranda. At least, until the night is over.” They nodded, chuckling as I led them to their table. Elliot was with them, and they all took their seats while I instructed the waiters to attend to them. I gave an instruction to Gia as well. “Get the cake out and make sure nobody cuts it.” Gia nodded and turned around to do what I’d told her. I returned my attention to Joanna. “As promised, I left you a cake. More than two slices though because I’m a very generous woman.” She gave a nervous chuckle. “Seriously, Ms. Wright… you shouldn’t have.” “Nonsense,” I waved her off as Gia returned seconds later. “Come on, Mrs. Wellington, let’s get you your cake, shall we?” I caught the nervous glance she exchanged with Adrian. His expression hardened, but he couldn’t say anything. Joanna stood up reluctantly, and I stretched my hand forward to hold her. Staring around the space, Joanna appeared uncomfortable and self conscious. And for the first time since I knew her, she was scared and nervous. “There are so many people watching,” she murmured. “Can I just stay back while your assistant brings the cake to me?” “You don’t have to be nervous, Joanna,” I coerced her. “Besides, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re with me, okay?” She gave a subtle nod. Without her knowledge, I gave a signal to the guy handling the livestream in a corner, and he understood perfectly what I meant. We were a few steps away from the twelve-layers cake when someone bumped into Joanna as planned. She staggered forward and crashed directly into the cake. Whispers erupted as people started pointing at her. I smiled silently, sending another appreciative signal to the woman who’d done the job. Joanna pulled out her face and had the cake’s icing all over her skin. I feigned a frown to act like I was sorry. “Oh my goodness, Mrs. Wellington,” I reached for her wrist and gasped softly. “I’m so sorry.” She brushed off the icing with her fingers as her body trembled. Joanna stared around the hall, her face covered in embarrassment. “I… I need to… get this off my face.” “Sure,” I beckoned at Gia. “Please get Mrs. Wellington a towel.” Glancing at Adrian, his eyes narrowed at his wife, and I saw the anger that glinted in his eyes. I smiled, staring as the cameras captured every moment. Someone stepped onto the main stage and a loud voice came from the microphone. It was my manager, Ryan Stones. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to one of the biggest events in the city. We all know why we’re here, don’t we?” A few people answered but I kept my eyes on Joanna. Gia had returned with a towel, and was assisting her to wipe off the icing that clung to her skin. “Are you good, Mrs. Wellington?” I asked. “It’s a bad thing you didn’t get to taste the cake properly.” “Maybe some other time,” she swallowed hard. “I need to get back to my seat now, if you don’t mind.” “Sure.” She walked away briskly and through the soft music playing in the background, I watched her argue with Adrian as she returned to him. Trouble in paradise so soon? I laughed quietly to myself. The night had only begun. “Let’s welcome the new owner of ADC corporations,” Ryan announced, his eyes fixed on me. “Ms. Miranda Wright.” People clapped as I walked towards the stage. Through the corners of my eyes, I saw how Adrian and Joanna froze after hearing the announcement. ADC corporations was Adrian’s company. My newest launch and the same one I’d purchased under another identity. “She bought the company?” Joanna asked, staggering backwards in shock. “What?” “I can’t believe this,” Adrian added, dragging his palms over his face. I got to the stage and straightened the microphone. All eyes were on me, and I exhaled deeply before continuing. This was it. This was the part where I revealed my true identity and moved to the next phase of my plan. “Good evening everyone,” I said. “Thank you for coming to my event and for joining me tonight.” People clapped hard and I grinned. Adrian and Joanna’s eyes were fixed on me, and they refused to look away. “As announced,” I continued. “ADC corporations is my newest launch, but that’s not all the surprise I have for you all today. Everyone knows me as Miranda Wright, but… here’s my real name…” The cameras were in my face as I stared at the Wellingtons. My smile grew wider, and without wasting another second, I murmured. “I’m actually Miranda Keyes.”