I was just about to hand her the necklace and try to calm her down.
But Juliet suddenly slapped me hard across the face.
"Cripple! How dare you seduce my husband?
"You thought you could hide here, but I still found you! Today, I'll make sure you understand the wrath of the richest man's wife!"
The sudden and vicious slap left me dizzy.
All eyes were now on me.
"So this is the mistress who seduced the richest man, Mr. Hayden? She looks decent, but who knew she'd be so shameless?"
"Some people seem decent on the outside but who knows what they're doing behind closed doors."
"Exactly, and she's spending money in a jewelry store. She must be an experienced swindler."
I paid no attention to the onlookers' comments and seriously explained to Juliet,
"You're Juliet, right? You've got it wrong. I'm not the mistress you're looking for."
Juliet scoffed and pulled out her phone, showing me a photo.
"Still trying to deny it? My husband never likes taking pictures. If you're not a mistress, why would he take a photo with you?
"What? You have the nerve to be a mistress but not to admit it?"
As Juliet spoke, she glanced at the necklace in my hand and snatched it, throwing it to the ground and stomping on it.
"How dare you buy jewelry with my husband's money? You're nothing but a disgrace. Do you deserve it?"
Seeing the photo of me with Lamont, I suddenly understood.
Juliet had mistaken me, his mother, for the mistress trying to seduce her husband!
I tried to explain hurriedly, "I'm not a mistress. I'm Lamont's…"
Smack!
Before I could finish, Juliet slapped me again.
"Lamont? How dare you call his name so intimately in front of me and still claim you're not a mistress?
"A cripple like you thinks you're worthy of my man?"
Several bridesmaids chimed in.
"I bet this cripple's leg got broken when she was caught seducing another woman's husband."
"A woman as shameless as her has probably been beaten a lot."
"Since she has no shame, let's strip her naked today and give her some real fame!"
The bridesmaids were all indignant, eager to tear me apart.
Juliet seemed very pleased with their suggestion and kicked me to the ground.
She said coldly, "Strip her!"
The bridesmaids immediately surrounded me, violently tearing at my clothes.
Struggling, I shouted, "Stop! I'm Lamont's mother!"
Hearing my words, the bridesmaids froze.
Juliet squinted her eyes and stared at me.
"You just said you're Lamont's mother?"