Reborn As My Husband's Favored Mistress

Hannah's POV My legs have grown numb from standing outside my husband's office, waiting for my turn to see him. I never thought that after helping him build this multi-billion dollar fashion company, I would be waiting in lines to see him, especially regarding my hard-earned royalties which I need to pay for my heart surgery. His special assistant, Lisa, has been inside the office for the last two hours. She is the one he now discusses everything with. The one who now decides how much I and everyone else earn. I stride closer to the door, finally having run out of patience. I cannot go another week without the surgery. So I need my missing royalties fixed right now. My hand stops before reaching the doorknob after hearing my husband speak. "Is my ugly wife complaining about her earnings again?" I hear his arrogant voice ask. "Or which other way has she found to discredit you, sweetheart?" Ugly wife? The horrific words hit me like a hammer hits a nail. I have been literally fighting death, and still working hard to earn my hospital bills. I did not have time or money to waste on costly makeup. I could have been much better if I had been paid my right royalties. I am not surprised that he called her sweetheart. I have long suspected that she was his beloved mistress. The one who got everything she wanted while I worked my ass off even when sick. "I gave her only half of her royalties this time," Lisa's voice proudly reports. "I needed money for the Rolls-Royce and my sister's college fees. I did not want to bother you by asking for little money." My jaws and fists clench. She stole my royalties so she can have a Rolls-Royce and her sister's college fees while I need money for heart surgery to remain alive? My designs are what built this company and kept it on top of every competitor. They are what made my husband the richest man in this country. He now owns half of this city's biggest properties. Yet I have never asked for more than my rightful share of royalties. Leon said that he will never break the company's strict policies in an effort to favour me or give me more than I have earned. I did not argue because my royalties used to be enough. Until he made Lisa his assistant and she lowered every employee benefits, claiming that too high salaries were hurting the company's profits. It was not true, but Leon always sided with her. Most of the top designers left the company. I remained because I did not want to risk starting anew when my heart was failing and I needed money for treatment. Now that money has been taken by someone who needs a luxury car and cannot pay with her own big salary. It had to come off my royalties. "Do not let her bother you. She does not need much of the money anyway," I hear Leon comfort her. "Would you like me to give her a warning against harassing you?" My sick heart pounds dangerously hard. The doctors warned me against anxiety before the surgery. But how can I stay calm through this? "Please do. She has this fake claim about a sickness that she keeps bothering me about," Lisa answers in a voice that makes her sound like the victim. A fake sickness. That is what she has been calling it. I did not ask her to believe me. I did not ask for the company's funds to cover my treatment. I only asked for the right amount of my royalties. But she has taken those too, with my husband's approval. I finally push the door open and storm inside. Lisa jumps from Leon's lap. Leon appears just as startled until they notice that it's me. That somehow makes them sigh in relief. My own husband doesn't mind getting caught cheating with his mistress. That is how little he values me. My co-workers often told me that a man like him would never have looked at me twice if it were not for my designing rakent. No one ever thought that without my designing talent he would only have been good-looking. It is my talent that propelled his dream of wealth to a reality. "Hannah, you have lost your manners so much that you can burge into my office without notice? Who even gave you an appointment?" he snaps in anger, glaring at me with vivid disgust. He used to thank me for every stunning work while the company was still growing. Now I am expected to go through his secretary to get an appointment with him just to complain about my missing royalties. I do not answer his stupid outburst as my gaze shifts towards Lisa. She wears one of my most impressive designs. "You stole my royalties to buy luxury cars when I need surgery? I heard everything. How can you be so wicked as to -" "Shut up!" Leon's furious roar cuts me short. He stands up and makes his way towards me. "Lisa has not taken anything I did not allow her to. You're an employee of my company and you earn what I decide you earn," he states in a cold voice. I did not expect him to take the blame for her. This is a side of him that I never noticed before the company's success. "You decided that I should not get what is written in the contract? Not even you has the right to do that!" I yell. His expression remains cold. "What you have is enough to take care of your basic needs. I am not wasting more on greedy wife who I am already ashamed of." The sting of his cruel words makes my whole body shake with every kind of negative emotion. Everything that sickens my failing heart. Lisa smiles behind him, nodding her head in agreement. "You're supposed to be helping your husband maintain the success of the company, not drain its accounts," she shamelessly utters. Leon walks back to her and pecks her cheek. "Someone at least uses their head here. You must be feeling jealous that I am no longer in need of your bad advice," he accuses. My advice is what built his empire, Lisa's decisions are what will tear it down. But I am the one he so confidently insults. His hatred for me is no longer a matter of suspicion. He has made it clear, at a time when I need his help the most. I feel like my sick heart is about to explode and I am having a hard time breathing. If he decides not to give me the money, there is nothing I can do about it. His wealth gives him power above law. It is too late to leave and start anew. I will be dead in a fortnight if I do not get the surgery. I am infuriated, but the anger is hurting me more than it is hurting them. Maybe I should just let go of my pride and ask for the money without blaming anyone's wickedness. "I do not care about your relationship with Lisa. I only ask for the money I have worked for," I say. He chuckles in contempt as if there is anything wrong with what I have said. "Money is all you care about. It is the only thing that keeps you in this company, right?" "I do not see anything else that should." His eyes widen as if my answer really surprises him. He wanted me not to be jealous of Lisa, right? He cannot have that and loyalty at the same time. "Then what Lisa gave you is what you will earn every month!" he angrily blurts. No! I will not have another month without the surgery. "I helped you build this company, and you deny me my own royalties that I need for surgery?" "Lies will not make me change my mind. Get out now before I get someone to drag you out!" he roars. There is clearly nothing I can say that will persuade him to do the right thing. Lisa's smirk broadens. She won in every way and she knows it. I should have quit long ago. Leon's success would have already crumbled if I did. It will as soon as I leave. Sadly I might not be alive to see it. Tears sting my eyes. I refuse to show them how much they have hurt me right now. I turn before the first tear rolls down my cheek. "Good luck with your success without my designs," I say before storming out. I am having a hard time breathing and my body feels weak. I need to relax before I die sooner than I am meant to. I take a step away from the door and halt after hearing Leon's voice speak again. "Do not worry, she will never leave. I know her better than anyone." Really? He thinks I would remain here no matter how much he hurts me? He just made sure that I won't. I will still file a divorce and present my resignation just for spite. "I believe you," Lisa says. "I will go get that car before the dealership closes. You do not mind a little of my absence, do you?" "How can I refuse you anything after you handled my wife's craziness with pure grace?" Leon replies. I force my legs to move before I hear another word that raises my heart beat. I stumble back to my small office, close the door and finally allow the tears to flow freely. My hands shake as I draft my resignation letter. It would not take me several hours if my chest did not hurt. It feels like my heart might completely fail any minute. I take three long breaks before finally completing the letter. Tomorrow I will have my lawyer draft the divorce. I would like to die free of my cruel husband's name. I send the letter straight to Leon's email. I am feeling extremely exhausted so I stand and make my way out of the building. Walking feels unusually tiring. I sigh in relief after getting to my car. I could not afford an apartment close to work so I have always had to drive a whole hour to get home. I am only half way there when I notice a brand new Rolls-Royce Ghost on the opposite lane. The window by the driver's seat has been rolled down and Lisa's beautiful, proud face is clearly visible for everyone to see and get inspired. No one would think that she had to steal the royalties of a dying woman in order to drive a car so expensive. I feel a fresh surge of anger. I am going to die because of her, and she will be left enjoying a lavish life with my husband's great wealth. An idea of vengeance strikes my mind. I have a rare chance to destroy the car that she stole my royalties to buy. I have nothing left to lose. She made sure that I will die, so there is no loss in risking my life to destroy her precious car. I do not think twice before increasing my car's speed. I see her eyes wide when she notices my car quite close. I give her no time to react before taking a sudden swerve while still maintaining the high speed. My cheap car crashes into the Rolls-Royce harder than I ever intended.