My Dad's Mistress Taught Me A Lesson in Public

On Valentine's Day, I accompanied my father, Bruce, to shop for gifts, not expecting to be mistaken for his mistress by his real mistress, Selene.

Selene surrounded me with a group, saying, "Look at these college girls, shamelessly acting as mistresses."

"Dressed like a country bumpkin, how dare you come to a luxury store? Are you trying to compete with the child in my belly for the family fortune?" she glared at me.

Confused, I looked down at my haute couture outfit, wondering who she was referring to.

They roughly tore my clothes, pulled my hair, and destroyed my carefully chosen items.

Selene threw out a card. "I'll pay for all the losses."

I doubted there was even a penny on that card.

*****

"I was wondering why Bruce would not spend the Valentine's Day with me, and here he is with this bitch."

Just as I was about to pay for a bag I had bought for my mom, she threw it out of my hands.

I looked at the platinum crocodile leather that I had been waiting for half a year but didn't dare to touch, and my heart shattered. "My bag..."

"Bag? What bag?" Selene stomped on it with her heels, then approached me.

Only then did I see her appearance. It was Selene, my neighbor who lived in the abandoned Reeds manor.

My mother, Sarah, had often complained about her unreasonable behavior during Reed's manor renovations, which had led Bruce to mediate multiple times.

"Spending a man's money on a bag and you're upset?" Selene sneered.

Confused, I replied, "Did you mistake me for someone else?"

While I was using Bruce's supplementary card, it was still my money.

"How could I be mistaken?" Selene slammed a few bills in my face. "No wonder Bruce's credit card limit dropped so fast. He opened a supplementary card for you months ago. You're spending a lot."

I scratched my head. I had just returned from studying abroad and needed to buy many things, so Bruce had given me the card.

"Yes, I spent it. Is there a problem?" I thought she was here to collect a debt. "I did spend a little more, but..."

It was all my hard-earned money, and the family company was founded by me.

Before I could finish, Selene slapped me hard.

"How shameless of you, spending other people's money without a hint of embarrassment." Selene looked down on me condescendingly.

Her hand was so strong that my head was buzzing from the slap and I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Her command summoned a group to surround me. "Look at how shameless female college students are nowadays, acting as mistresses.

"How dare you come to a luxury store dressed like that? Are you competing with the child in my belly for property?"

I glanced at my haute couture clothing, wondering if she was talking about me.

It wasn't until I noticed her slightly bulging belly that I realized this woman was Bruce's mistress.

Bruce persuaded me for a long time before I reluctantly agreed to help him choose a Valentine's Day gift for Sarah.

This day marked not only Valentine's Day but also my parents' wedding anniversary. After over twenty years of marriage, my parents remain deeply in love, and I often feel like a "light bulb" between them.

I frowned, trying to process the situation. "Did you say you have a child?"

"Yes," Selene replied, her head held high and a hint of smugness in her tone. "Bruce and I have been together for three or four years. Isn't it normal to have a child? Don't be so ungrateful."

"Don't you know he's already married?" I struggled to accept this sudden revelation.

"How dare you accuse me? The one with children is the real 'original spouse.' You are all mistresses. Don't even think of spending a penny of Bruce's money. It's all for my children," Selene said contemptuously.

"I've checked you out. I heard you're a college student. "Do you realize your actions tarnish the image of college students?" Selene sat on the sofa. "Take off her clothes. I want to see what charm attracted Bruce."

Horrified, I stepped back. "How can you justify such unseemly behavior?"

Before I could finish, Selene slapped me hard twice. "I've already said you're the one who came after me. Understand the order of precedence?"

I struggled, and several men held me down and stripped off my clothes.

I desperately tried to protect my clothes. Helpless, I turned to the salesgirls for help. "Please, call the police."

But the new employees didn't recognize me and watched the scene unfold.

"I was wondering how she could buy a crocodile bag at such a young age. Turns out she's dating a rich man."

"That man looks old enough to be her father. I can't believe she has no shame, doing anything for money."

"But that woman doesn't seem to be the official wife, right? Haven't you heard he has a family?"

"Even so, she said she's pregnant with a boy. What do wealthy families care about most? Offspring."

The salesgirls were whispering nearby, and every word reached my ears.

My jacket was torn, and despite my struggles, I couldn't escape the grip of several people. Enraged, I viciously bit Selene's arm.

"You little bitch, how dare you bite me? I'll teach you a lesson!" She stood up and kicked me hard in the abdomen with her high heels.

"Hit her!" A few men hesitated, but Selene yelled, "What, do you want me to do it myself? What if something happens to the baby in my belly?"

I was beaten mercilessly, blood oozing from my mouth as the crowd watched, treating it like a spectacle.

Selene winked at Nora, who discreetly drew the store's curtain.

"Do you know who my husband is?" Selene asked arrogantly as she stood up.

Nora shook her head respectfully.

"Bruce Walsh, owner of the city's largest listed company, which will soon be mine since he's transferred all his shares to me. If you're wise, you'll know how to treat me," Selene sneered.

I wiped the blood from my mouth, shaking at the realization. Before starting my own company, I had saved our family's business from bankruptcy.

Though Bruce was the nominal chairman, I was the real decision-maker.

Some time ago, someone told me that someone was buying a large number of shares, but I knew very well that such a small amount of shares could not surpass mine, so I did not take it seriously. But I never suspected it was Bruce.

Now, beaten and powerless, with only an undershirt on, I watched as Selene stomped on my head, taking pictures with her phone.

"Iltosa University, huh? I guess you won't need to go to school after this. Let your school see what a morally corrupt person you are," Selene taunted, sending the photos triumphantly. My heart sank.

I applied to this university with great difficulty because I wanted to develop in my hometown.

I had worked tirelessly to complete the project. I also liked this direction very much, and it was the result of my hard work.

"Please, don't," I pleaded, moving forward painfully, but was pushed to the ground.

"Now you know shame? Where was that when you were using other people's money?" Selene chuckled.

She picked up a handbag that had been kicked away. "I can't bear to buy this, and you don't even think about your level to deserve this."

"Bruce's sickly wife also likes this thing. It's awful." After saying that, she picked up the scissors and cut it twice fiercely. "What I can't have, no one can!"

"And I wonder when his wife will die," she sighed, turning to the man tying me up. "Jensen, did you tell the doctor all the imported pills were switched with vitamin C?"

"Yes. It has been changed." Jensen nodded.

Sarah was indeed ill, and Bruce's takeover of the company stemmed from her condition. The world didn't know he was a freeloader.

Sarah's health had deteriorated suddenly, requiring long-term medication, and I hadn't realized the extent of the problem.

I struggled hard, but was pushed down again and again.

I glanced at kind-looking Nora, pleading, "Please call the police. I'm not a mistress. He's my father."

"Father? You're quite playful. You must call him dad a lot." Nora smiled while covering her mouth.

Selene snorted, "Don't bring your bed stuff to me, who are you screaming for? How much do I have to pay you for screaming?"

My heart sank as I stared at her.

"How dare you look at me like that?" Selene shouted, slamming my head into the counter. "And your hair's in the way."

She grabbed scissors and cut my long hair, saying, "College students rely on their looks to seduce. Let's see who wants a bald person in bed calling for Daddy."

Tears streamed down my face as I felt utterly powerless.

Being tied up by these people, I was unable to escape, like a fish ready for slaughter.

I dodged with all my strength, and Selene's scissors stabbed straight into the bag placed in the middle of the counter.

That was the treasure of the store, and Nora gasped.

"What are you panicking about? My husband is rich." Selene glanced at her unhappily, "You will all be fired tomorrow."

Nora quickly agreed, "It's only fair for you to teach the mistress a lesson. We're here to support you."

"Can't you see? She's the mistress. Why are you siding with her?" I cried, desperate for them to understand.

"Girl, having money means having a good outlook on life. Look at her, she has the temperament of a legitimate wife," Nora laughed lightly.

Selene shot me a look. "You all did poorly. How can she still say that? You didn't hit her hard enough."

"Hit her hard."

Suddenly, a group of strong men surrounded me, punching and kicking. I felt my ribs threatening to break.

In despair, I glanced at the door, hoping Bruce would appear. Just when I was paying, he said that someone scratched his car in the underground garage and he went to check.

"You've messed with the wrong person. Normally, it's just a matter of time, but on Valentine's Day, you dared to steal my man from me," Selene said calmly, sipping her coffee.

I wanted to retort, but I couldn't utter a word.

Bruce didn't come, but a group of onlookers came.

The store's gauzy curtains failed to shield against prying eyes.

"This is the place from the video where that little girl was beaten badly."

"Tsk, look at her figure. No wonder she's a mistress."

"Thank goodness this got exposed. Otherwise, people like her could still be doctors, ruining our society."

Selene listened to the gossip with a smug expression, stepping toward the crowd.

"Don't worry, everyone. I'm a messenger of justice and won't let this scum go unpunished."

She brandished a bill. "I'll make her repay every cent."

The crowd murmured, "She spends money like water. Her supporter must be rich."

Those words echoed in my mind, and I felt too defeated to argue.

I managed to cover myself with a rag, but Jensen yanked it away. "Are you still ashamed?"

"How can you not be ashamed in a man's bed?"

"Is it okay to play with you for free?"

I frowned as I listened to these insulting remarks and kicked him.

Jensen grabbed my leg in pain and was about to slam my head against the wall. Selene approached, giggling and swaying her hips.

She placed a hand on Jensen's chest. "Just take the loss, she won't survive anyway."

Selene leaned in closer, showing me her phone.

"Iltosa University has announced your doctoral qualification is revoked due to your misconduct."

I stared at the screen in disbelief, tears streaming down my face.

This was all my hard work. It meant that all my efforts had come to nothing.

It hurt more than being labeled Bruce's mistress.

"Luna Reeds, right?" Selene sneered. "How come you have the same surname as that sickly woman at home? What bad luck."

She waved for the men to release me. "That's it. I'm going to rest."

In a good mood, she handed her credit card to Nora. "Charge the damaged items at full price."

I struggled to stand, disregarding my clothes, and grabbed my phone to call for help.

After totaling the bill, Nora reminded Selene to confirm, but she dismissed it.

Moments later, Nora said in embarrassment. "Your card balance is insufficient."