A Vengeful Ex-Wife
Chapter 268 A Gambler's Daughter

The women exchanged pleasantries. Judy and Alina handed over the gifts they had brought. Judy bought Ruth a dress, while Alina bought her a bag.

"When is the wedding date of James and Alina?" Ruth asked with a smile.

The other two women's faces instantly changed. Judy didn't want to hide anything from her friend. "James hasn't informed me yet, and I'm afraid I can't press him when it comes to these things. Let's just wait and see."

Alina, on the other hand, was silent. She hadn't told anyone yet that James had been planning to break off their engagement.

Ruth glanced at the young woman and noted how the atmosphere had turned awkward. She quickly changed the topic, her smile still in place. "Well, I can understand since James is a very busy man. Oh, my birthday cake has arrived, let's go take a look."

"Sure, let's go."

The party didn't last long, and Parker and Ruth retired to their home soon after sending the last guest away.

Parker took a shower while Ruth busied herself with unwrapping her birthday presents in the next room.

She liked the dark brown evening dress that Judy had given her. Thinking of Alina, Ruth rummaged through the pile for the bag the girl had brought.

The material of the purse was alligator skin, and it looked to have cost somewhere between one hundred and two hundred thousand dollars. Ruth's lips curved downward. She was slightly satisfied with the gift For a woman who was to be James' future wife, her gift was truly shabby.

More importantly, the bags that Ruth usually carried with her cost no less than five hundred thousand dollars.

She opened the bag and flipped through its compartments. She was just about to put it aside when she spotted a folded piece of paper in one of the tiny pockets inside.

She picked it up, confused, and read its contents.

It took less than a minute before she recoiled from it, pale and stunned.

The note said, "When you were in France nine years ago, your best friend slept with your husband and aborted his baby."

Ruth trembled all over as the facts clicked into place inside her head.

Nine years ago, she had indeed gone on a trip to France, along with her husband, Judy, and Sebastian. One night, she had gone to the hospital for an infusion. Since the ward hadn't afforded any accommodation for the patient's family, she had asked her husband to retire to their hotel for the night.

And after they had come home to H City, Judy had had an abortion. Ruth had known that the child was not Sebastian's, but she had never imagined it to be her husband's.

She stormed into the bathroom and ambushed her husband, who was still in the middle of his shower. "Did you sleep with Judy Lan nine years ago when we were in France?" she demanded.

Parker paled at the words. He turned off the water and wrapped himself with a towel before approaching his wife.

They looked at each other for a long time before he finally asked, "How did you replace out?" "What? So it is true after all.' Her husband and the woman she considered her best friend had betrayed her. She broke down as the scene played out in her head.

Parker embraced her. "Honey, listen to me. It was just an accident. I-'1

Pak! Ruth's palm landed square on his cheek. "Don't touch me! You make me sick!"

A fight ensued in the Xu family residence, and it continued long into the night. In the end, Parker left, slamming the door behind him. Ruth was left sobbing in the bedroom, feeling like the whole world had betrayed her.

At six o'clock the next morning, Judy's phone rang while she was still in bed.

She fumbled for it in a daze and saw that it was a call from her best friend. She swiped to answer. "Hello? Why are you up so early?"

Whatever was said on the other end of the line jolted Judy awake, and her eyes shot wide open.

"What did you say?"

"Judy Lan, did you have an affair with my husband?"

Judy couldn't replace her tongue.

That had been so many years ago, and neither of the parties involved had ever mentioned it again. She wondered why it was suddenly exposed now.

She stared at the empty space on the bed next to her. Sebastian had fortunately gone on a business trip yesterday, and she was the only one at home at the moment. Judy pressed at her temple and answered, "It was just an accident, okay? We haven't even contacted each other since then."

Whatever little composure Ruth had mustered crumbled again. "Judy Lan! He is your best friend's husband. How can you be so disgusting? You bitch!"

"Calm down. I can explain. Of course I was never in love with your husband, how could I?"

"And yet you fucked him! Do not forget, Judy Lan, you were lucky that you married into the Xi family. You were nothing more than a gambler's daughter. Have you somehow developed some undeserved sense of superiority all these years that you no longer know your place?"

"Ruth Duan, I dare you to say that again!" Judy's background had always been a taboo. No one had ever dared to mention it in her presence since the day she had become Sebastian's wife.

The friendship between these women was now at its breaking point.

"Oh, I will dare! I'll say it again and again, as much as I want to! What are you going to do about, huh? What now? Are you still proud of yourself after sleeping with someone else's husband? I've been so nice to you all through these years, Judy Lan. Thankfully, Alina Tang told me the truth, or I will remain a fool, calling a snake my best friend!"

Alina Tang?

So Alina was the one who had told Ruth this secret.

Later, at around ten in the morning, Judy stormed into Alina's office. The girl herself had barely just arrived.

Alina was taken aback, but quickly regained her senses. "Auntie Judy, what brings you here so early-" Pak!

"Ah!"

The sound of skin hitting skin echoed in the room.

Alina covered her burning cheek and looked at the angry woman before her in disbelief. "Aunt Judy? What happened?" Judy sneered with disdain. "I've been trying so hard to help you get the position of Mrs. Xi, and this is how you repay me?" "Repay you? What do you mean? What on earth happened?"

"I finally understand why James' grandmother keeps saying that you're just pretending. Your acting skills are truly outstanding!"

"I didn't do anything!" Alina was starting to panic amidst her confusion.

"Stop with your lame excuses! I already know about the note you gave Ruth. You'd better behave yourself starting today, Alina Tang!" "Aunt Judy, what note?"

Judy gritted her teeth. "Fine, you can act innocent all you want, but don't expect me to help you anymore in the future."

And then she turned on her heel and left, leaving Alina baffled and aggrieved.

At Golden Mansion

Maria was looking out the window as she stroked her swollen belly. Her phone was perched on the table and on speaker mode. "Ms. Song, Ruth Duan and Judy Lan have fallen out, and both women believe that Alina Tang was behind the note. Judy was seen heading over to Alina's office earlier; by now, they should have fallen out as well."

"All right, good."

The call ended.

Maria smiled. 'Weren't Judy and Alina in such good terms? To think that they would turn against each other over a measly note, and without even listening to each other's side? Their relationship must have been just for show, huh?'

It wasn't that Maria had not wanted to do anything to Judy all this time. The woman just happened to be careful and thorough with her schemes and shenanigans, and she rarely ever left any trace.

It had taken Maria a great deal of effort to replace out this piece of news.

Everyone had their fair share of hidden pasts that they never want uncovered, and Judy was no exception. In fact, not only was her past kept a secret, it was also a very sore taboo for her.

Unfortunately for the woman, the more she wanted to hide, the more Maria wanted to smoke her out of hiding. Now that Judy and Alina had parted ways, all that was left was for Maria to sit back and watch the fun unfold.

- Author's note

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Translator: Jessie Chen