A Toast to the Wrong Wife

Five years ago, I was nearly killed in a car accident while saving my mother-in-law. My injuries were so severe that I spent years abroad undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. The moment I landed back home, I ran into my former college roommate, Vanessa Caldwell. She and her designer-clad friends looked me up and down with open disgust. "Gianna Lott?" Vanessa stared at me. "Is that really you?" One of her friends covered her mouth and giggled. "Vanessa, why does your old roommate look like she just got out of cleaning the airport bathrooms?" Vanessa waved a hand, pretending to defend me. "Don't be rude. Then again, Gianna's mother was a housekeeper..." She paused dramatically before giving me a fake, apologetic smile. "Oh my God, Gianna. I'm so sorry. Was I not supposed to mention that?" I had no interest in entertaining them. I turned to leave, but Vanessa stepped directly into my path. "By the way, my son's first birthday party is tomorrow," she said. "We haven't seen each other in years. You absolutely have to come." I rejected, "No, thanks. I'm not interested." Her friend's expression immediately darkened. "Don't be so ungrateful. Do you even know who Vanessa married?" She leaned closer, her voice dripping with superiority. "Her husband is the heir to the most powerful family in Crownmere. Someone like you could live 10 lifetimes and still never get close to a man like him." Another woman tittered meanly. "Just look at her. She probably doesn't even own a proper dress. Gianna, should I donate one of my old ones to you?" Vanessa raised a hand, putting on another performance. "That's enough." Then, she looked at me with exaggerated pity. "Gianna, I never imagined your life would turn out this badly." She sighed. "For old times' sake, I can arrange a catering job for you at the party. You'll earn a little money and get a glimpse of how the upper class lives." Before I could refuse, she shoved an invitation into my hand. I was about to throw it away when the name listed under "Father of the Birthday Boy" caught my eye and my breath hitched. It was my husband's name, Alexander Whitmore. Chapter 1 The Invitation A heavy knot formed in my chest, but I kept telling myself there had to be some kind of mistake. So, I ignored Vanessa and her friends' stunned expressions as I walked out of the airport and took a cab straight to the house my husband and I had shared before I left. When Douglas Hayes, our longtime house manager, opened the door, a look of shock flashed across his face before he could hide it. "Mrs. Whitmore?" he stammered. "You're... You're back?" He quickly took my luggage from me, but his eyes wouldn't quite meet mine. "You should've told us you were coming. Mr. Whitmore could've picked you up." "I wanted to surprise him," I replied evenly. Douglas gave an awkward laugh and carried my suitcase upstairs. "It's good to have you home. This place hasn't felt lived in for a long time." Then, he hesitated. "Mr. Whitmore... has been so busy with work. He hasn't stayed here in months." I stopped halfway up the stairs. "Months?" I thought, 'That can't be right. I video-called Alexander just yesterday, and he was sitting in our bedroom.' He had called me every single day throughout the five years I'd spent recovering overseas. He always asked about my treatment and reminded me to take care of myself no matter how busy he was. I pulled out my phone and called him. A few seconds later, Alexander's familiar, handsome face appeared on the screen. "Hey, sweetheart." His smile was warm, his eyes filled with the same tenderness I remembered. "Calling at this hour? Do you miss me already?" I opened my mouth to tell him I was home, but the words refused to come. "Honey, I've been thinking about coming back," I said instead. "The doctor said—" He cut me off before I could finish. "You're not fully recovered yet. Stay there and focus on getting better. Once the doctors clear you, I'll go right over and bring you home myself." The sincerity in his eyes made every question I wanted to ask die in my throat. He seemed to notice my silence. He merely fell silent for a moment before saying he had to get back to work, and ended the call. That night, I didn't sleep a wink. I told myself I was probably overthinking it. Alexander loved me. There was no way he would've cheated on me. ... The first birthday party for Vanessa's son was set for the next evening at Crownmere, the city's most exclusive luxury hotel. The moment I stepped into the ballroom, every head turned in my direction. Vanessa stood at the center of the room, surrounded by wealthy socialites and society wives. When she saw me, satisfaction flickered in her eyes before she hurried over with an exaggerated smile. "Gianna! I'm so glad you came!" One of her friends immediately let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh, my God! She actually showed up dressed like that?" Another woman laughed. "Is she here for the birthday party or a job interview with the hotel?" Vanessa lightly tugged at her friend's arm, pretending to scold her, "Don't say that. Gianna has always been careful with money. As her old classmates, we should be understanding." Then, she turned toward the nearby guests and added loudly, "She can't help it. When you grow up as a housekeeper's daughter, you don't exactly learn much about high society. Just being invited here is probably a new experience for her." I stared at her without expression, refusing to give her the reaction she wanted. When she noticed that I was completely unfazed, Vanessa sighed theatrically. "Gianna, don't take it personally. They're only being honest." Her smile widened. "Don't worry. I haven't forgotten my promise to find you some work." She clapped her hands, and a hotel manager immediately approached, carrying a server's uniform. "You should change into this," Vanessa urged, her voice dripping with condescension. "We're expecting a lot of guests tonight, so try to keep up. I'll make sure they pay you 100 dollars for the shift." She leaned closer and spoke as though she were doing me an enormous favor. "You're only getting that rate because we used to be friends. Most people would kill for a connection like this." Muffled laughter rippled through the crowd as contemptuous eyes swept over me. "So, that's Mrs. Whitmore's poor college friend? She came here hoping to make connections, and Vanessa put her to work serving food. That's hilarious." "A hundred bucks? Vanessa, you're far too generous." "Haha! At least she'll get to spend one night around important people. This might be the highlight of her entire life." A woman near the back gave me a disdainful once-over. "She's a housekeeper's daughter. Serving people is probably the only thing she's qualified to do." Chapter 2 The Other Mrs. Whitmore Their cruel remarks reached my ears, but I felt strangely apathetic to it all. Instead, I calmly pushed away the uniform Vanessa was holding out to me. "You don't need to worry about finding me a job." I met her gaze without flinching. "I came tonight to celebrate your son's birthday, and nothing you've said has hurt me. All you've done is show everyone exactly how shallow and cruel you really are." Vanessa's smile froze. Clearly, she had never expected me to challenge her so openly after five years. Her face flushed with rage. "Who do you think you are, Gianna?" she snapped. "You're nothing but a housekeeper's daughter. How dare someone with your background lecture me!" Her friends immediately crowded around her. "Do you even know who Vanessa's husband is? He's Alexander Whitmore, the sole heir to Whitmore Holdings!" My mind went blank. 'Alexander Whitmore? The heir to Whitmore Holdings? That's my husband.' When they saw the color drain from my face, they assumed they had finally frightened me. One of them smirked at me. "Scared yet? One word from Alexander could bring half of Crownmere to its knees." Another woman scoffed in derision. "Vanessa is Mrs. Whitmore, the future lady of the Whitmore family. Who do you think you are to challenge her? "If she asked her husband to find you a job cleaning bathrooms or working security, you should be thanking her on your knees. Yet, you still have the nerve to insult her?" Another woman folded her arms. "You'd better apologize to Vanessa right now, Gianna. Otherwise, you'll regret it." Just then, a commotion broke out near the ballroom entrance. I looked up and saw my husband walking in with a baby boy in his arms. Alexander wore a gentle smile as he cradled the child against his chest. The sight nearly knocked the air from my lungs. My husband had built a family with another woman during the five years I had spent fighting for my own survival. The truth was staring me right in the face, and I couldn't deny it anymore. Suddenly, the ballroom felt as if it was tilting under my feet. Alexander approached Vanessa and carefully placed the baby in her arms. "Easy. Don't tire yourself out." The moment Vanessa saw him, tears filled her eyes. "Thank God, you're here." She leaned into him, her voice trembling with practiced hurt. "I invited my old classmate to our son's first birthday party out of kindness. I even arranged a job as a server so she could earn some money. "Instead of thanking me, she caused a scene. She accused me of being jealous and claimed I humiliated her for being a housekeeper's daughter." Alexander wrapped an arm around her and gently rubbed her back. "You're too kind. Someone like her never belonged at an event like this in the first place. "Next time, don't invite just anyone. What if some nobody frightens our son?" His words turned my blood to ice. I stared at the man I had loved for years. "Alexander," I said, my voice carrying across the ballroom. "Why don't you tell them who I really am?" He spun around. The moment our eyes met, a look of pure panic flashed across his face. Chapter 3 The Wife He Denied Vanessa noticed Alexander's reaction and tugged at his sleeve. "What's wrong? Do you know her?" Alexander cleared his throat, quickly regaining his composure. He said calmly, "Her mom worked as a housekeeper for my family for many years. "Five years ago, my mom was involved in a serious car accident. Gianna was badly injured while trying to save her, so the Whitmore family gave her a very generous settlement." He paused before looking at me with carefully rehearsed disappointment. "Unfortunately, it seems that wasn't enough for her. Now she's come here to cause trouble at my son's first birthday party." Looks of understanding immediately spread across the guests' faces. Their contemptuous stares became even harsher. "So, that's what happened! Mr. Whitmore has already done more than enough for her." "Some people are never satisfied. Show them a little kindness, and they start thinking they belong among the elite." "She's using an old favor to extort a wealthy family? How shameless." Alexander walked toward me, pulled out his checkbook, and scribbled down an amount. Then, he tossed the check at my feet. "Take the money and stay away from Vanessa and me." He leaned close to my ear and lowered his voice so only I could hear him. "Sweetheart, stop making a scene. Too many important people are watching. We'll talk at home, and I'll make this up to you." I almost laughed right then and there. He clearly had no idea that one word from me could strip him of everything he had. Five years ago, his mother revealed a secret she had kept buried for more than two decades after I was critically injured. Alexander and I had been switched at birth; I was her biological daughter, while Alexander was not her son by blood. However, the Whitmore family couldn't afford to lose their only male heir at the time. She told me she was sorry for everything that had been taken from me. That was why she had arranged my marriage to Alexander, to keep me part of the Whitmore family and to ensure I could rightfully share in everything that should have been mine. The truth had shattered everything I thought I knew. Still, I had made a choice. As long as Alexander truly loved me, I was willing to keep the secret forever. Now, I finally understood how foolish that decision had been. I pulled out my phone and called my father-in-law, Richard Whitmore. "Richard, I've thought it over, and I'm ready to come back to Whitmore Holdings and take over the family business." Vanessa snapped, "Who do you think you're fooling?" Before I could say another word, she lunged forward and slapped the phone from my hand. It hit the floor and skidded across the marble, the screen shattering instantly. Vanessa stared at me with open disgust. "Taking over the family business? Please." Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "What exactly could you even inherit from a housekeeper? A broom and a bucket?" The ballroom erupted with laughter. Alexander recovered from his initial shock and looked at me with nothing but disgust. "Gianna, I tried to handle this peacefully. Since you refuse to accept my kindness, don't blame me for what happens next." He signaled to the security guards near the entrance. "Throw this woman out." I stared at him, so furious that I barked out a harsh guttural sort of laughter. "Are you sure that's how you want to treat me?" Then, I reached into my purse and pulled out our marriage certificate in front of everyone. I held it up for the entire ballroom to see. I said slowly, "Alexander Whitmore, we've been married for five years. How did I never realize you were living two completely different lives? "You kept another woman and had a child with her. Yet, you're standing here acting like I'm the one who wronged you?" Alexander's expression twisted in panic. He clearly had never imagined that the obedient wife he once had full control over would expose him in public. Every guest in the ballroom stared at the marriage certificate in my hand. "What? Gianna is Mr. Whitmore's real wife?" "The date is right there. The certificate is official." "Goodness. So… Vanessa is the mistress? This is the biggest scandal Crownmere has seen in years." Chapter 4 When Lies Became Law Vanessa suddenly rushed forward and snatched the marriage certificate from my hands, tearing it cleanly in half. "You think you can scam the Whitmore family with a fake certificate? Don't even think about it, Gianna!" As she hurled insults, she reached into her bag and pulled out another marriage certificate. Then, she held it up high, pointed at the date, and shouted for everyone to see, "Take a good look! Alexander and I registered our marriage six years ago—one full year earlier than her fake one! This woman will stop at nothing for money, even forging official documents. "She's a complete fraud!" I froze, staring at the black-and-white date printed on that certificate. I felt a chill surge from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head. 'Six years…' I hadn't expected Alexander to be capable of something this despicable. He had gone so far as to forge a marriage certificate just to give Vanessa a proper title. I looked at him coldly. "Alexander, aren't you afraid of being charged with bigamy?" The crowd erupted into even louder laughter than before. "This is hilarious. A scammer with a fake certificate accusing someone else of bigamy?" "Tell me about it. She's been exposed and still won't back down. The audacity." "Well, now she's not only failed to extort any money, but she's also about to earn herself a fraud charge. Serves her right!" Alexander's expression had already settled back into calm composure. He stepped forward, pulled Vanessa into his arms, and cast me a disdainful glance. "Gianna, you really are just like your mother, the nanny. You're both low and filthy. "To think you'd even forge a marriage certificate and come to my banquet to cause trouble just to get your claws into a wealthy family. It seems I'll have no choice today but to use legal means to protect my rights." "That's right, Mr. Whitmore! We support you! Bring this scammer to justice!" "A woman with no morals like her shouldn't be let off!" Surrounded by her friends, Vanessa sauntered toward me again. "I've already called the cops!" she announced sharply. "But before they get here, I need to uphold justice myself and teach you a lesson for daring to play mistress and threaten me, the rightful wife, to my face!" Then, she lunged at me, grabbing my hair and yanking at my clothes. "Strip off those rags! Put her in a server's uniform so she remembers her place!" My long dress was torn apart violently. Someone had already taken out their phone, snapping photos and recording videos of my half-naked body. "Let me go!" I trembled with rage, struggling with all my strength. "This is illegal! You're all breaking the law in broad daylight. None of you will get away with this!" Smack! Vanessa's slap landed hard across my face, sending stars bursting across my vision. She held a plate of leftovers before expressionlessly dumping the greasy scraps and foul residue straight over my head. "You're just a mistress, yet you dare act arrogant in front of me, the actual wife? In Crownmere, my husband is the law! Beat her!" she screamed, her voice shrill with triumph as her high heel came flying toward my face. I shut my eyes in despair. Just then, a familiar figure burst into the banquet hall. The instant she saw me lying on the ground, horror overcame her as she shrieked, "Who did this?" The entire hall fell silent. Someone gasped, "Oh my God… It's Old Mrs. Whitmore!"