Chapter 28: How much did he over hear?

**Aileen's POV**

I froze as her words echoed in my head. "What?"

"You heard me," she said, her tone light but sharp, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "Simple, isn’t it?"

I swallowed, trying to process her audacity. "Uh... I don’t know where you got this idea from, Mrs. Price, but I’m your son’s assistant. And you," I pointed at her, my voice gaining strength, "are not the person to tell me to leave."

Her expression hardened for a moment, her frown deepening, but it quickly faded as though she had already devised her next move. She walked back to her seat with an air of confidence, slowly lowering herself onto the plush cushion. "How about this?" she began, picking up her teacup with practiced grace. "If I pay your grandmother’s medical bills?" she asked, her voice smooth as silk.

I stiffened, my eyes narrowing. "You stalked me?"

She placed the teacup back on the table, the porcelain making a soft clink. "Resign immediately," she commanded, her tone sharp now, "and leave Riverdale for good."

Her voice dripped with venom, but I stood my ground. Crossing my arms firmly over my chest, I locked eyes with her. "How about no?" I said, my tone defiant.

Mrs. Price smirked, crossing her legs in response. "I wasn’t asking," she said with a chilling chuckle that echoed through the room.

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, refusing to let her intimidate me. "People like you," I began, my voice firm but tinged with suppressed anger, "will never understand how hard we have to fight to keep even the smallest space in this big city."

She feigned a look of sympathy, placing a hand over her chest. "Oh, such a heartfelt speech, Aileen," she mocked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But forgive me for not being moved. I’ve seen your kind before. Girls who think they can climb up the social ladder through charm and desperation. Leave tomorrow morning, and I’ll make sure you’re compensated with a very generous check. This is your last chance."

Her words made my stomach churn, but I refused to waver. For a moment, I considered the tempting offer, but a stronger resolve overtook me. Tilting my head slightly, I smirked. "Even in your wildest dreams, Mrs. Price, I won’t resign, and I won’t leave this city. If you have any tricks up your sleeve, feel free to play them. I’ll see this through to the end."

Her smile faltered slightly, replaced by a flash of irritation, but I didn’t give her the chance to respond. Turning sharply on my heel, I started walking away. Then I paused, glancing back over my shoulder with a dangerous glint in my eye. "I know what you’re capable of, Mrs. Price. But does Anthony? How do you think he’ll feel when he learns an employee was forced out of his company because of you?"

Her face tightened, and her wicked smile returned, but it was less certain this time. "You’re nothing," she spat venomously, "and I’m his mother."

"Stepmother," I corrected sharply, my voice steady and cold.

Her smile vanished completely as the word struck her like a slap. She recovered quickly, however, straightening her posture and motioning to the man who had escorted me earlier. "Take her back," she ordered curtly.

"Yes, ma’am," the man responded immediately, stepping forward to lead me out of the room.

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**Mildred’s POV**

"How dare she?" I muttered angrily, my fingers gripping the armrest of the chair. The nerve of that woman! "I can’t believe she talked back to me," I hissed through gritted teeth. "No one—absolutely no one—talks to me like that. She’s going to regret this. Oh, she’s going to pay for this insolence."

Just then, Mary, my trusted aide, entered the room. Her perceptive gaze immediately picked up on my foul mood. "Mrs. Price," she began cautiously, "are you worried that Mr. Price might turn against you because of... an assistant?"

I slowly lifted my gaze to her, my lips curling into a bitter smile. "That woman," I said, my voice trembling with suppressed rage, "isn’t just his assistant. She’s the woman my son was forced to marry by that senseless old hag."

Mary’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure? We’ve been searching for his wife for over a year, and she’s been right under our noses?"

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a humorless chuckle. "That cunning old woman protected her well—just in case I ever decided to cause trouble. For over a year, I’ve tried to uncover who my son married, and I failed. But when I started looking into his precious assistant’s background, I discovered the truth."

Mary’s expression hardened as she crossed her arms over her chest. "So, Anthony doesn’t know about this?"

I shook my head. "Of course, he doesn’t. It’s all part of her little scheme. That woman positioned herself perfectly. Slowly, she’s making him fall in love with her. And when the time is right, she’ll reveal her true identity as his wife, securing her place as the heir’s wife and within this family."

My voice dripped with disgust as I clenched my fists.

Mary looked thoughtful for a moment. "I still can’t believe Anthony hasn’t figured this out."

I laughed, the sound bitter and sharp. "He’s as foolish as his father. Do you know why he wanted a divorce in the first place? Because he thought his wife was cheating on him."

Mary blinked, clearly surprised. "So, what’s the plan now?"

I straightened, my resolve hardening. "The divorce papers have already been signed. They just haven’t completed the legal procedures yet. All we need to do is ensure they stay in the dark about each other’s identities. We’ll handle the rest."

Mary nodded firmly, her expression determined. "Understood, ma’am. Susan and I will take care of everything." She turned to leave but froze in her tracks as her eyes widened in terror. "Mr. Price!" she gasped.

I felt my heart skip a beat. Slowly, I turned my head toward the doorway, and there he stood—Anthony. His tall figure loomed over Mary, his expression unreadable but clearly filled with suspicion.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze as my heart raced. "How much did he overhear just now?"