Mistress Accusation: My Mother-in-Law and I Turned the Tables

Almost without thinking, I shot back. "Otto's card has always been in the safe. There's no way it could have been taken out like this!

"That card of yours has to be fake!"

My confident tone didn't faze Ruth at all. If anything, it only made her more arrogant. She ignored me and handed the bank card to a credit verification officer. "We'll know soon enough if it's real or fake."

Behind me, Agnes was practically curling up, clutching her chest. "Ronnie… my… my chest hurts."

I quickly patted her back and helped her to her feet. "Agnes, let's get you to the hospital."

"Wait! Who said you could leave?" Janette dug her sharp nails into my shoulder, making me wince. "Two impostors trying to run? Not so fast."

The officer spoke up, returning the bank card with a respectful gesture. "Mrs. Garrett, this card is genuine."

Agnes' eyes went wide, and her face drained of color. "How… How can this be? This card… Otto said it was just for me."

Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it.

Ruth, more than anyone, snapped. She lunged forward with her fists raised. "You think you can spend my family's money like it's yours? I'll beat the crap out of you!"

I shot out an arm to stop her, keeping my own anger in check. "I don't care how you got that bank card. I'm warning you—back off. Right now."

Ruth looked almost amused. "Are you talking to me?"

She grinned viciously and yanked me by the hair, dragging me closer. "I was just dealing with that mistress. I almost forgot that I had to take care of you, too!"

Janette jumped in eagerly and slapped me twice. "Your mother-in-law is seducing my future father-in-law, and you're after my future husband. You two really make a hell of a team, huh?"

Seeing me get hit, Agnes panicked and frantically dialed Otto's number, but no one answered. Ruth noticed this and smashed her phone.

"Still thinking you can tip someone off? Let me make this clear—my husband already blocked your number.

"And me showing up to catch you today? That was his idea!"

Agnes went pale when she heard that. Her face went ashen, and her tears wouldn't stop falling.

Janette took advantage of the moment, driving blow after blow into my stomach.

I had no choice but to play the Marshall family card. Gasping for air, I choked out, "Janette, let go of me! Not unless you want the Saccone family dragged into this."

Janette froze, her eyes darting nervously toward Ruth.

"First, you tried to leech off the Garretts, and now you're trying to pass yourself off as a Marshall?"

Ruth crossed her arms, smirking. "You really know the rich, don't you? You heard Ms. Marshall grew up overseas, so you thought you could get away with impersonating her, right?"

Emboldened, Janette straightened up. "Even if you were really a Marshall, so what? I've got more than just the Saccones behind me. The Garretts have my back, too."

She glared at me, daring me to challenge her, and I felt a wave of helplessness. "Give me my phone, and I'll prove it!" I snapped.

Ruth didn't hesitate. She pressed her heel down on my phone. "Trying to call for backup? I'm telling you, not a chance."

"What's going on? Why has the auction stopped?"

In the distance, a familiar figure slowly came into view. I shouted desperately, "Mr. Lambert! It's me—Veronica Marshall!"