The Rejected Wife is a Secret Tycoon

Oriana's POV

As the top heiress of a multi-billion-dollar empire, I hid my identity to marry Silas for love. Yet, on the night of our third anniversary, he trapped me in a restaurant with a frozen bank card, leaving me looking like a deadbeat who couldn't pay a $500,000 bill.

Immediately after, he swaggered in with his heavily pregnant mistress, Brielle.

When I questioned him, he mercilessly slapped me to the ground. He even allowed a room full of wealthy businessmen to hurl insults at me, trying to force me to kneel and apologize to his mistress.

Looking at his distorted, ego-inflated face, I didn't get angry; instead, I laughed.

Silas smugly believed he had completely crushed the dignity of a weak housewife.

But this fool still didn't know that with just one phone call, the billionaire empire he was so proud of would be reduced to ashes in half an hour.

—

Soleilno Ristorante was filled with the finest Romanée-Conti and iced black caviar.

"Oriana, hold onto my card. I’m going to the car to get your anniversary gift. I’ll be right back."

Silas Thornton gently squeezed my hand, flawlessly slipping my own bank card out of my purse and pressing his black card into my palm.

Watching his tall silhouette disappear out the restaurant doors, I still harbored the illusion that I was wrapped in his thoughtfulness.

A week ago, his secretary, Brielle Moreau, stole my bank card and spent millions at the mall. She even publicly mocked me at a restaurant, calling me a useless trophy wife who solely relied on Silas to survive.

In a fit of anger, I froze the card on the spot.

Unable to pay, Brielle not only lost face but was detained by the restaurant for 24 hours under suspicion of trying to dine and dash.

Afterward, Silas just held me and joked, "Oriana, why stoop to a little secretary's level? You're making a mountain out of a molehill."

I thought the matter was settled.

Until five hours passed. The other guests gradually left, leaving me as the only one in the empty, increasingly chilling dining hall.

Silas never came back.

His phone was unreachable, and my messages went unanswered.

The restaurant manager, Marcus, brought two burly bodyguards to my table. With a cold expression, he handed me a bill for $500,000.

"Mrs. Thornton, we are closing."

Suppressing my bad premonition, I handed over the black card Silas had given me.

Seconds later, the POS machine let out a harsh error beep.

"Sorry, Mrs. Thornton. This card is frozen," Marcus said, looking down at me with undisguised suspicion.

I froze.

Disbelieving, I dialed Silas’s number again, only to hear a cold, automated voice.

A chill shot from the soles of my feet straight to my head.

Silas had handed me this card himself. This was a trap.

"Stop calling, Oriana."

A scornful, teasing voice suddenly echoed from the entrance.

The doors pushed open. Silas walked in high-profile, his arm wrapped tightly around Brielle's slender waist.

Trailing behind them were familiar faces from Veyra City—Thornton Group's business partners and top executives who usually pandered to Silas.

Wearing the latest Chanel haute couture, Brielle clung to Silas's arm, a triumphant, arrogant smile on her face.

"Silas, you really didn't lie! She actually waited here like an idiot for five hours!" Brielle giggled, her voice piercing the empty restaurant.

I slowly stood up, glaring at the man I had vowed to spend my life with for the past three years. "Silas, what is the meaning of this?"

"What is the meaning?"

Silas sneered, pulling Brielle closer. His eyes were as cold as if looking at a stranger.

"A week ago, weren't you so arrogant when you froze that card, leaving Brielle detained like a thief for twenty-four hours?"

Silas took a step closer, his tone dripping with vindictive pleasure. "You humiliated her. So today, I'm letting you taste what it's like to have no money to pay a bill and be publicly humiliated!"

The crowd of "friends" behind him erupted into mocking laughter.

"I knew it. This woman is nothing but a pretty face."

"She acts like a rich socialite, but without Mr. Thornton, she can't even afford a meal!"

"Coming from a totally average background, marrying Silas was already a stroke of luck. How dare she make things difficult for Mr. Thornton's favorite secretary, Brielle?"

The ridicule washed over me like a tidal wave.

Brielle looked incredibly smug. In front of everyone, she leaned up and planted a deep kiss on Silas's lips.

Silas didn't push her away; instead, he expectantly stroked her hair.

"Did you hear that, Oriana?" Brielle strutted over in her heels, lifting her chin provocatively. "Silas is the master of the Thornton Group. I can spend his money however I want! Every cent you have is his. Who the hell do you think you have right to cut me off!"

With that, Brielle picked up a $10,000 glass of red wine from the table and threw it directly into my face!

The freezing red liquid dripped down my light golden blonde hair, soaking my carefully chosen white evening gown.

"Time to teach you a lesson, my dear Mrs. Thornton," Brielle smiled viciously, no longer bothering to hide the jealous hatred in her eyes.

I closed my eyes and wiped the sticky wine from my face.

No screaming. No crying.

For the past three years, to protect Silas's fragile and sensitive ego, I had hidden my true identity as the sole heir of the Valtor family, willing to be the low-profile wife behind his success.

I secretly had my father inject capital into his company, helping the Thornton Group secure one multinational deal after another, ultimately pushing him to the position of Veyra City's richest man.

And now, he was using the resources I gave him to trample on my dignity, all to please another woman.

"Oriana, don't say I didn't give you a chance."

Silas slipped his hands into his pockets, looking down at my miserable state, the mockery on his lips glaringly obvious.

"If you're so capable, pay this $500,000 yourself right now."

"But if you can't pay—" Silas lowered his voice, laughing maliciously, "—then get on your knees and apologize to Brielle."

The people around them laughed even more brazenly.

"Silas, don't make it too hard on her. Where is she going to get $500,000?"

"Exactly, she probably doesn't even have a thousand bucks on her!"