All My Labor Saved His Business, He Rewarded His Mistress

Iris’s POV The nearest hospital belonged to the Dempseys. The attending doctor looked at the bullet graze on my shoulder, hesitation written all over his face. “Ma’am… Mr. Dempsey arrived before you. He’s already called all the medical staff over. He wants a full-body checkup done for another woman.” “Where is he?” Actually, I already knew. After the doctor pointed it out, I walked straight to the exam room. “Marty,” my voice came out tight, strained, “giving her jewelry wasn’t enough for you? You had to throw in my life, too?” He turned around at the sound of my voice. His eyes flicked over my pale face, drained from pain, and something like discomfort flashed across his expression. “Iris, pushing you at the bar… That was my fault. But Madz’s a dancer. She can’t have scars on her body.” “And besides, I calculated it. That bullet wouldn’t have killed you.” “And what if it did?” I let out a cold laugh. “Marty, all these years, did you ever give a single damn about me?” His brows pulled together. The arm he had around Madisen loosened slightly. “So you’re Mrs. Dempsey.” Madisen stepped away from him, lifting her gaze to meet mine. “He saved my life today. I’m grateful for that. But I have zero interest in getting involved in whatever this is between you two. He’s the one who keeps chasing me. Maybe you should keep your husband in check.” She looked at him, saying, “Mr. Dempsey, I’m not doing the exam. And I won’t be seeing you again.” She turned to leave after that. But Marty immediately grabbed her, then scooped her up into his arms. “Iris, you’ve gone too far,” he hissed, glaring at me. “There is no ‘what if.’ You’re perfectly fine right now. You even have the energy to stand here and give Madz a hard time.” I stood there like stone, cold seeping into my bones. Just like that, he turned to leave. Instinctively, I reached out to grab him, but he shoved me off, irritation clear on his face. “Enough! Jeez, Iris, when did you become this unreasonable?” “It’s just a flesh wound! A few stitches and you’ll be fine. If you’re that worried about scars, I’ll pay for the best damn cosmetic treatment!” “But didn’t you see how badly Madz was shaken? Psychological trauma can affect someone for the rest of their life, you know.” “I need you to understand me and be mature about this. Stop making everything about relationship shits right now!” The force hit hard. My lower abdomen slammed hard against the edge of the table. In an instant, pain exploded through me, dropping me to the floor. The medical staff who saw it rushed over with a wheelchair, but Marty snatched it first. “Who are you trying to fool? Madz’s legs are weak from fear and she can still walk. You’re not that fragile.” Just like that, he pushed her out and left me behind. My colleague finally arrived, helping me up. By the time I forced myself into the exam room, cold sweat was soaking my back. “I-Iris… Blood! There’s so much blood!” Her voice shook. I looked down and saw the blood pouring down my legs. The pain in my shoulder and my abdomen hit me all at once. I couldn’t hold on anymore. Next thing I knew, my vision went black. When I woke up, the attending doctor stood in front of me, guilt written all over his face. “Mrs. Dempsey… you were two weeks pregnant. But now…” he began. Then, he quickly added, “Your body is not in a good condition to begin with. The pregnancy wasn’t stable and with the impact earlier… I’m afraid… it just wasn’t meant to be. Don’t worry, you and your husband can still have children in the future.” Tears spilled out before I could stop them. My whole body started shaking. Maybe it’s better this way. After all, there is no future between me and Marty. “Doctor.” I wiped my tears and stopped him before he left. “Please don’t tell him about this.” He looked surprised for a moment, then sighed and nodded. “I understand. You’re worried he’ll feel guilty, that it’ll hurt him if he finds out.” I just smiled. I didn’t say a word. After he left, I picked up my phone and called HR to process my resignation. Then, just as I expected, Dad called. “I agree to your terms. The fifty million advance has already been wired to your account.” I checked the transfer right away. “The remaining half? You give it to me on the wedding day. Or there is no wedding.” “Iris. Do you really have to be this calculative?” His voice sounded tired. “You’re my only daughter.” “Well, my mom wasn’t your only wife,” I shot back bluntly. “Don’t forget: you had another child, too. Your affair was what got him killed.” I hung up. Then, I transferred the fifty million straight to the care facility I had already arranged. There’s only one week left before the arranged marriage. Anyone who doesn’t love me? I don’t give a shit about them anymore.

Iris’s POV What Marty pulled at the bar blew up overnight. [#DempseyHeirDropsFortuneOnDancerButGetsColdShoulder] [#HeroMomentMartyDempseyRisksLifeToSaveDancerAtGunpoint] Hashtags like that kept trending. Everyone was waiting to see how I’d react. But I couldn’t be bothered. I logged out of every single social media account without a second thought. Suddenly, the hospital room door opened. I looked up and saw my guest. It was Madisen. “Everything outside is a complete mess, and you’re just sitting here like nothing’s happening?” Her tone was pure provocation, but I didn’t feel a thing. “I’ve got nothing to hide. Why wouldn’t I be calm?” I retorted flatly. “Mistresses are the ones who should feel guilty.” Her beautiful face instantly iced over. “Who the hell are you calling a mistress?” “Bitch, not everyone is as lucky as you. I had to become a dancer just to survive, but I’ve always kept myself clean. I’ve never slept with any client.” “I’ve seen plenty of rich, powerful men. Marty is just one of many who’ve chased me. But someone willing to risk his life for me? That’s a first.” Her expression suddenly softened, and her tone shifted. “So I came to tell you that after the shooting, I realized how sincere his feelings are. I’ve decided to give him a chance.” “I’m Madisen Moyland, and if I’m going to be anything, it’ll be the wife, never some secret mistress!” I stared at her. For a long second, I burst out laughing. “Wow. What a fiery declaration. Too bad, a mistress is still a mistress. Even if you claw your way up, you don’t get to rewrite what you are.” I swung my legs off the bed, walked up to her and slapped her hard. She wasn’t ready for that. She dropped straight to the floor, and a gemstone pendant slipped out from the loose collar of her hospital gown. It was a flawless pigeon-blood red. The sunlight caught it, and its fiery sparkle almost hurt my eyes. When Marty and I were approaching our second anniversary, he’d gone through jewelry magazines and quietly enlisted people to attend auctions, spending a fortune to buy this gemstone. I thought it was a surprise for me. God, I was so fucking happy. But on the actual anniversary, I sat there all night beside a table full of food I cooked myself, waiting until he stumbled home drunk. He said there was a sudden business engagement, and the gemstone was really just carefully prepared to please a client’s wife. Seeing how uncomfortable he looked, I even felt bad for him. After that, I put even more of myself into managing family matters. Turns out, every bit of it was real feelings traded for fake bullshit. I let out a slow breath and shook my head at his mistress. “Get out. Now. Don’t soil my eyes with your presence, or I won’t go easy on you.” “And one more thing. This title? Mrs. Dempsey?” I looked her up and down. “Even if I throw it away, it still won’t ever be yours. You’re not even fit to stand on the same level.” “Bitch!” Her shock twisted into anger. Just as she propped herself up, the door slammed open. It was Marty. “Iris! Damn it, I was seriously wrong about you! I didn’t think you could be this arrogant and controlling!” His eyes quickly landed on the red mark on Madisen’s face. He rushed over and helped her up. “Madz is too kind. She was worried about your injury and came to check on you, and this is how you treat her?” “I’m the one who overstepped.” Madisen gently touched his hand, smiling softly. “Mrs. Dempsey is probably just in a bad mood from her injury. Don’t be mad at her, Marty.” Marty froze. When he realized what had happened, he excitedly pulled her into his arms. “Madz, what did you just call me? You finally said it like that…” The way they looked at each other made my stomach churn. Disgust clawed its way up my throat. Madisen leaned against his chest, shooting me a smug look. “This is really my fault,” she said softly. “Marty, I only just realized how sincere you are. I want to reciprocate your feelings, but I don’t want to ruin your marriage with her.” “That’s why I came today to talk to Mrs. Dempsey. I was going to keep my feelings hidden. I didn’t expect to upset her.” That expression, seventy percent pitiful, thirty percent sweet, had him completely hooked. “It’s not your fault,” Marty said immediately. “She’s the one being narrow-minded.” Then, he demanded, “Iris, apologize to Madz. Right now!” I let out a cold scoff and turned, just wanting to get back to the bed, but a sudden sharp pain hit my lower abdomen. I froze. Madisen stepped forward, supporting me, then leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper by my ear. “Mrs. Dempsey, whether it’s the necklace or that title, if I want it, there’s nothing I can’t take.” “You didn’t know, did you?” she murmured. “Marty drank two whole bottles for me just to get me that necklace.” A chill shot up from the soles of my feet, pain chasing right behind it. I broke out in a cold sweat in seconds. So even the whole “getting drunk for business” was bullshit. All of it was just to make some girl smile. From start to finish, it was only me, fooling myself. “Why are you sweating so much all of a sudden, Mrs. Dempsey? Want me to call a doctor for you?” Madisen reached for my shoulder. “Don’t touch me.” I slapped her hand away and forced myself to sit back up. “Ms. Moyland, I don’t care how ambitious you think you are, but let me spell it out for you. What you’re doing right now makes you no different from a mistress. And even if you end up in my seat someday, that label’s not going anywhere. It’ll stick to you for life.” Her smug look cracked, lips pressed tight, eyes glassy. “Iris! That’s enough! Apologize to Madz!” Marty snapped, then turned soft in a heartbeat. “Madz, you’re the only one I love. Don’t take anything she says to heart.” “I’m not apologizing to a mistress,” I said firmly. The exhaustion hit me all at once. I leaned forward, pulling open the nightstand, reaching for what I needed inside. Marty watched me, something complicated flickering across his face before it turned cold. “Iris, looks like you’ve been sitting in the Mrs. Dempsey position so long you forgot where the hell you came from.” “In my eyes, your mom is the real homewrecking bitch. And you? You’re just an illegitimate daughter who can’t even stand in the light. What gives you the right to judge someone like Madz?” My hand froze midair. I looked up at him, disbelief crashing over me. “W-What did you just say?” “I never loved you. I love Madisen. The one who isn’t loved? That’s the real mistress.” “And your mother? She broke up your father’s perfectly good marriage, fought for his attention, and got someone killed in the process.” “Iris, your mom’s the mistress. And you, her bastard kid, you’ll always be trash. Always looked down on!”

Iris’s POV “Got it?” The disgust in his eyes, the impatience in his voice? It hit the deepest, ugliest wound I had. I stared at his mouth moving, in and out, until everything blurred. My mom had been deceived. She didn’t even know my father had a family until after I was born. That’s why the wedding kept getting “delayed.” She was too proud to stay. She took me and left. My father’s legal wife? She found out about the affair, went into premature labor from the shock, bled out and died. The baby didn’t survive long either. No father meant my childhood was a magnet for bullying. Insecurity and shame wrapped around me like vines, choking tight until I met Marty. He never looked down on me for being an illegitimate kid. Hell, he even told me his own dad cheated all the time. I thought we were the same, broken in the same way. Turns out he just learned exactly where to stab. My tears hit hard and fast, one after another. My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe, gasping for air like I was drowning. He stared at me, suddenly silent. “Marty… It’s my fault for liking you.” Madisen clung to his arm right on cue. “If people call me a mistress, fine, but dragging you into this? I feel awful.” Hearing that, he snapped out of it instantly. “No. Madz, I won’t let you be wronged.” Next, he yanked me off the bed and dragged me straight into my mom’s hospital room. “If no one taught you manners, I will,” he warned. “If you refuse to apologize, I’ll have them cut off your mom’s treatment. Let her rot.” His threat exploded in my ears like thunder. My mind went completely blank. When my mom fell into a coma after the accident, Marty had promised me the best medical care, top specialists, everything just so I wouldn’t worry. I looked at him, this stranger wearing a familiar face, and swallowed everything down. “Ms. Moyland, I apologize for my inappropriate behavior,” I said. “I’m sorry.” “Oh, it was just a misunderstanding. I won’t take it to heart,” Madisen replied sweetly, almost pouting. “Marty, honestly, you didn’t have to go this far just to stand up for me.” Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from the care facility; they’re coming tomorrow to transfer my mom. I exhaled, finally able to breathe again. Then I opened the drawer, pulled out a document, and handed it to Marty. “Perfect timing. The company sent over an urgent contract. I already checked it. No issues. You just need to sign.” “Iris, if you’d been this reasonable from the start, we wouldn’t be here.” He didn’t even look at it. He just signed his name. “Don’t worry. I’ll still make sure your mom’s taken care of.” I put away the divorce agreement he just signed and smiled in relief. It doesn’t matter anymore. Now there’s nothing of mine that can be used against me!

Iris’s POV In the following days, Marty didn’t come to the hospital again. He and Madisen were constantly showing up at every fancy event together. News of their closeness trickled back to me. But I stayed silent, letting people fill in the blanks themselves. The day I got discharged, I’d barely stepped through the door when I heard Beverly’s furious voice. “You want some nightclub dancer in the company as your personal secretary, fine. But now, you’re letting her live here, too? Marty, I may be old, but I am not stupid!” “The Mrs. Dempsey title? Only Iris deserves that!” she spat. Since Marty’s dad passed, his mom had been living abroad. For her to come back personally, that meant that Madisen had clearly threatened the family’s interests. “Seriously, Mom, do you know what I hate most about you? Measuring someone’s worth by their status.” “Well, I don’t care,” he added. “I don’t care about anyone’s status. Even if it means cutting off our mother-son bond, I will marry Madz.” I just wanted to go upstairs and pack, but Madisen caught sight of me instantly. “Mrs. Dempsey, you heard that, right?” “I just wanted to change myself, so why does everyone look down on me? Does being lowborn mean I can’t aim higher?” Her face was stubborn, but there was calculation in her eyes. I rolled mine. Marty blocked my way, annoyed. “My mom hates illegitimate kids more than anything. It’s weird she approves of you.” “You, woman. I bet you’ve been talking shit behind Madz’s back, so Mom’s taking it out on her.” This idiot was lost in his own logic. I cast him a sidelong glance and could no longer hold back. “Marty, I don’t compete with a mistress for a man. Do you think I still care about you? About being Mrs. Dempsey? Hah.” I slipped past him, storming upstairs to pack. I thought about leaving this place soon. My heart was tangled, restless. I barely slept that night. Just when I finally nodded off, sharp pain struck the back of my neck. Then I was yanked off the bed. “Bitch! It’s all your fault Madz ended up cornered! Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left me or thought about another man!” “What the hell are you saying?!” Marty shoved his phone at me, the screen blazing. [Marty, meeting you was my luck, but I shouldn’t have hoped for more. Mrs. Dempsey keeps calling me a ‘mistress.’ Yesterday, I realized she’s mocking me, telling me I’ll never have my place. Tonight, at the cruise gala, I’m agreeing to the man who once chased me, closing this chapter completely.] “You actually believe this cheap bullshit?!” I sneered. Before I could argue more, his phone buzzed again. [Marty… This child is so unlucky. It can’t call you ‘dad’ anymore.] The attached image was a prenatal checkup report. Marty’s fury flipped instantly to tender obsession when he saw it. “Madz and our child… I must protect them,” he muttered. “Marty,” I said, “what if I told you we had a child, too? But you… you accidentally killed him. Would you believe me?” Even now, speaking of that child sent a stab through my chest. I stared at Marty, gripping some strange, lingering obsession. “What nonsense are you talking about?” He blinked in surprise, then scoffed. “You’re lying now just to get me back? Oh, god, Iris. You’re beyond ridiculous!” Even though I’d expected his response, hearing it made me flinch inside. He paced, restless, then stopped with a sudden, odd expression. “Hey, you know the man chasing Madz is a bastard. You literally shoved her into the fire yourself. You owe her too much.” “I get it. You’re probably not okay with leaving the Mrs. Dempsey title behind. But tonight, if you sleep with that bastard, Madz will come back safely, and you? You’ll slide into the Mrs. Dempsey seat just like that.” I looked at him in horror. Before I could speak, I felt a brutal strike on my neck and lost consciousness.

Iris’s POV When I woke up, I was already in the car with Marty, on the way to the ball. Just then, my phone lit up. It was a message from my father. [Calvin will be at the cruise ball tonight. Take this chance to meet him and get acquainted ahead of time.] The address below matched exactly where we were headed. What a coincidence. I sat up, massaging my neck. Marty noticed the movement and warned me. “Don’t even think about sneaking off.” He pointed at a greasy-looking man on his tablet. “Iris, you should actually thank me. If I hired a lawyer and divorced you, you’d end up with nothing. Better to follow the path I laid out. That way, you can at least keep a wealthy lifestyle.” I glanced at the man’s profile and finally saw Marty for the cold, calculating man he was. “You don’t have to look at me like I’m a criminal,” I said with a big smile. “You don’t want me anymore. Why should I cling to you? I’ll go to the ball, help you find your Madz, then go find my new love. Everyone wins.” His face tensed, a surge of unspeakable anger rising. He opened his mouth to say something, but my smile stopped him in his tracks. He could only turn away, fuming. At the ball, I spotted Madisen immediately, right in the middle of the dance floor. Marty weaved through the crowd and took her hand, heading out. “Marty, I’m not worthy of being with you. Let me go,” Madisen said, conflicted. The man beside her scowled when he saw Marty. “Madz, the one I choose is always the best. Some people carry the stigma of being an illegitimate child and still fight and claw without shame. So, Madz, you have to be confident in yourself. Stop thinking you’re not enough.” I ignored Marty’s condescension and focused on my phone. A lawyer’s message came through: the divorce was finalized. My marriage to Marty was over. My relaxed smile only made him more agitated, and the man beside Madisen looked even more displeased. “You moron. If you try to take Madz tonight, you’ll be going against the Dempseys.” No one dared offend the Dempseys, the power players of Texas. The man could only swallow his resentment and leave. Seeing that, Madisen sighed, her tone resolute. “Marty, I know how you feel, but I’ve seen the difference between us.” “Look, even though I’m wearing the same brand as Mrs. Dempsey, I don’t have her elegance.” “That’s the brand’s fault,” Marty said, concerned. “Iris, don’t ever wear this brand again. Take that dress off now.” Furious at his absurdity, I slapped him hard. He was caught off guard, shocked for a moment before his anger exploded. “Hey! That’s way out of line!” He waved, and his bodyguards rushed me. Thanks to childhood training, I learned some self-defense. I fought back, but the strength difference was overwhelming; they pinned me down. Just as Marty was about to touch me, a commanding voice cut through the crowd. “Before I came, Uncle Robert asked me to watch over you. Out of respect for him, I’ll help the Dempseys.” “But judging by the current situation, I don’t think the Dempseys care about the Clouthers anymore.” The crowd parted, and Calvin appeared in a wheelchair, facing me. The Seidenfelds and Clouthers had been close for generations. In Texas, the Seidenfelds’s influence was unmatched. If it weren’t for the Seidenfelds’s help over the years, my father’s company would have collapsed long ago. That’s why my father had always been so intent on marrying me off to Calvin. I, however, grew up mostly with my mother and knew little of the Seidenfelds. Marty’s gaze darted between us before finally ordering his men to release me. “I really underestimated you,” he muttered. “Calvin has no connection to you, yet he stepped in on your behalf.” “Damn, Iris, you were obviously sleeping with him during our marriage?! You have no shame!” “Right back at you,” I said smoothly, locking eyes with Calvin as I pushed him away. On the deck, he spoke up first. “You really don’t have to force this marriage. I’ll handle everything with Uncle Robert on my side.” He sounded genuine, and I couldn’t help but get a little curious about him. I figured I’d use the chance to chat. Nearby, Madisen’s lips pressed tight with jealousy. She strutted over during a pause in Calvin’s attention. “Didn’t expect you to pretend to be so noble while secretly seducing men.” I was too lazy to even respond and was about to move somewhere else to wait for Calvin, but she grabbed my hand. “I’ve said it before. I get what I want. And right now, bitch, you’re really in my way!” She sneered, a burly man appearing behind her, and they pushed me off the deck. Struggling, I saw Calvin dive in and pull me to shore. Even before the Seidenfelds medics arrived, I was completely stunned. How could he, paralyzed from the waist down, move with such agility?