My Husband Kept A Mistress As My Stand-In

“Sorry, Maddie. I didn’t mean it that way. I shouldn’t have gotten jealous over you and a stranger. That’s completely on me.” Archer’s eyes reddened with emotion. “But Bailee and I have nothing going on. I invited her here as a gesture of thanks. Can you ever forgive me?”

Beside him, Bailee Wagner dropped her gaze, her expression pitiful, her voice catching. “Yes, Ms. Mills. I’ve kept my distance from Archer to avoid any misunderstandings.”

“All I wanted was a decent birthday gift,” she went on. “My family can’t compete with yours. You’ve been spoiled since birth, and you married a man like Archer. Can’t I even choose my own gift?”

“A simple gift?” Maddie pressed. “Ms. Wagner, this isn’t about the gift. It’s that you’re an employee of Williams Enterprises—and you’ve overstepped.”

When Maddie stepped closer, Archer instinctively moved to shield Bailee, speaking softly. “Maddie, if this really bothers you, I’ll have her transferred to another branch after the gala.”

“But just for today—for my sake—let her have the bracelet. I’ll get you anything else you want later.”

Bailee nodded, tears shining in her eyes. “Ms. Mills, I really love this bracelet. You have everything. Why fight me over this one thing? Or is it because you don’t like me, so you’re targeting me?”

“Why should I care?” Maddie sneered. “This bracelet was mine to begin with. Why should I give it to you?” She took the bracelet from the auction host, a smile on her lips that didn’t reach her eyes. “Ms. Wagner, know your place.”

Maddie’s refusal to back down finally snapped Archer’s patience. His tenderness vanished in an instant. “Maddie, do we have to do this in front of everyone? What about my dignity?”

“It’s just a bracelet. Does it really mean more to you than I do?”

He seemed to have forgotten the vows he’d made—the promise to reclaim every one of her mother’s belongings that had been sold.

Maddie raised her hand and slapped him across the face. The crack echoed through the room, and stunned gazes swung toward them.

Archer turned his head, face flushed with anger. He glared at her, forcing the words through clenched teeth. “Maddie, have you had enough? Have I spoiled you so much that you’ve forgotten how to be reasonable?”

Maddie reined in her emotions, her tone steady. “Archer, you’d better not regret this.”

Then she turned and walked away without looking back.

Once she disappeared from sight, Bailee gently touched the red mark on Archer’s cheek, her voice full of concern. “Are you okay, Archer? Ms. Mills was out of line. How could she hit you like that in front of everyone?”

Archer shook off her hand. His nails dug into his palm as he stared after Maddie. “I’ve spoiled her too much. She’s forgotten who gave her everything she has.”

Bailee watched his expression shift and ventured carefully, “About the bracelet, Mr. Williams…”

Archer rubbed his swollen cheek, then pulled a credit card from his pocket and handed it to her. “There’s five hundred thousand on this card. Buy whatever you want.”

Maddie headed to suite 317, intending to thank whoever had bought the bracelet in person.

She knocked. No answer.

She flagged down a passing server. “Excuse me, do you know where the gentleman in that suite went?”

“He left right after buying the last item.”

Disappointment flickered through her eyes, but she pressed on. “Do you know who he was?”

The server gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Ms. Mills. We can’t disclose our guests’ identities. Please don’t make this difficult for us.”

Maddie realized she’d crossed a line and stepped aside. “Thank you.”

An hour later, Maddie got home from the gala. She went straight to the study, opened her laptop, and pulled up the assets listed under her and Archer’s names.

After compiling the financials, she picked up her phone and called Attorney Zack. “I’ve sent you the asset division files for Archer and me. I need the property division paperwork finalized by tomorrow.”

Attorney Zack received the files at once and nodded respectfully. “Understood, Ms. Mills. I’ll get on it right away.”

Maddie’s eyes stayed fixed on the screen, her grip on the mouse tightening. “In a case where Archer Williams committed bigamy, how are assets typically divided?”

“A second marriage does not automatically transfer his assets to you,” Attorney Zack said. “We can trace your contributions, examine any fraud, and pursue the property and financial claims the evidence supports.”

Half of Archer’s current assets were investments Maddie had made to support his career.

Her expression darkened as she sent Archer and Bailee’s marriage certificate to the attorney. “Please use every legal means to recover what’s rightfully mine.”

After she hung up, Maddie sank into her chair. Exhaustion pressed down on her, but sleep wouldn’t come.

Archer would fight the divorce—she was sure of it. So until everything was settled, she couldn’t let him see even a hint of change.

Suddenly, the study door burst open.

Archer threw his jacket onto the desk and yanked Maddie up from her chair. “Do you have any idea how your impulsiveness just ruined my reputation in this community? What are you trying to prove? Are you still hung up on what happened before?”

Maddie opened her eyes slowly. Her gaze landed on Archer, calm and unreadable, but she said nothing.

The fire in Archer’s chest burned hotter, his voice climbing with anger. “Since we got married, have I wronged you even once? I come home on time every day. I tell you about every business meeting. If a woman’s going to be there, I don’t go. I’ve done all of that, and it’s still not enough for you?”

Every incident, every concession he believed he’d made to marry her was burned into his memory.

Maddie suddenly found the whole thing laughable.

She didn’t want to look at Archer another second. She rose and left the study without a backward glance.

Behind her, Archer’s voice came low and firm. “Maddie, no matter what you think, my conscience is clear.”

Her heart felt like it had been crushed under shards of ice. A piercing bitterness spread through her body, the words echoing over and over in her mind.

A clear conscience.

To him, he had done everything with a clear conscience.

The next morning, by the time Maddie woke, Archer was already gone. Breakfast sat on the table, made just the way she liked it.

Maddie pressed her lips together, a tangled mess of emotions stirring inside her.

After everything that happened last night, Archer had still remembered to make her breakfast. And yet this was the same man who had lied to her for years.

No matter what, her ties to Archer had to be cut.

Maddie ignored the breakfast and went straight to the office. Over the years, she hadn’t paid much attention to Archer’s business dealings, and many of the accounts were outdated. She needed the latest financial statements.

When the secretary saw her, she froze for a moment before greeting her. “Mrs. Williams, are you here to see Mr. Williams?”

“No,” Maddie said calmly. “Have the finance manager come see me.”

Her shares in the company were second only to Archer’s, which gave her the authority to involve herself in every business matter.

The secretary hesitated, then nodded and complied. Maddie noticed her making a quick call afterward—probably to warn Archer. Maddie didn’t stop her. Let her.

She sat in the finance office, sipping her coffee absentmindedly and flipping through the magazines on the shelf. Most were celebrity gossip rags, with a few novels and comics mixed in.

Frowning, she noticed details she’d missed before: the checkered desk mat, the scattering of cute plush toys. The most conspicuous was a pair of stuffed dolls with two English letters—A and B—printed on their clothes.

A sudden realization struck her—just as the office door swung open. Bailee hurried in.

“Sorry, Ms. Mills.” She held a cup of coffee, her voice apologetic. “I didn’t know you’d be coming by so suddenly…”