My Revenge: His Empire Crumbles

I woke up in my husband's office to a chilling discovery. Stamped across my face in bold, red letters was "USDA PRIME"-a cruel joke from his intern, Karma.

But my husband, Josiah, the man whose tech empire I helped build, didn't defend me. He called it a harmless prank and shielded his mistress from my rage.

The humiliation was broadcast for the world to see. He then gave her my custom anniversary gown and took her to a charity gala.

As if that wasn't enough, she announced she was pregnant with his child.

He chose her. He chose their new "family" over our seven years of marriage, over the memory of the child we lost together. The look he gave her, full of a tenderness I hadn't seen in years, shattered the last piece of my heart.

So as he walked out the door with her, my lawyers walked in. At the next board meeting, I watched the color drain from his face as I froze every asset to his name.

"Sign the divorce papers, Josiah," I said, pushing a pen across the table. "My responsibility now is to clean house."

Chapter 1

I woke up to the chilling silence of Josiah's office, the faint glow of the city through the skyscraper windows doing little to warm the room. A dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. I must have drifted off after reviewing those charity proposals.

My hand went to my cheek. There was a raised, rough texture, alien to my skin.

Panic flared. I stumbled to the executive bathroom, flipped on the harsh light, and gasped. Stamped right across my face, from my temple to my jawline, in bold, red letters, was "USDA PRIME."

The grotesque irony hit me like a physical blow. It was the novelty stamp Josiah kept on his desk, a gag gift he thought was hilarious.

"Oh, look who decided to join the land of the living!" a syrupy voice cooed from the doorway.

Karma Clements leaned against the frame, a smirk playing on her lips. Her eyes, usually wide and innocent, were sharp, predatory.

"Quite the mark, isn't it, Avery?" She took a step closer, her gaze lingering on the grotesque stamp. "Josiah thought it was a brilliant idea. Said you looked just like a prize-winning heifer, ready for market."

My blood ran cold. My stomach churned.

"You did this," I whispered, the words tasting like ash.

"Me?" She feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes. "Why would I do such a thing? I merely assisted Josiah. He was quite... inspired."

She scoffed, her eyes raking over me. "Honestly, Avery, you're pathetic. Sleeping in your husband's office, waiting for him like some forlorn puppy. Don't you have a life? Or are you just collecting dust like your 'old money' antiques?"

Rage, hot and blinding, surged through me. This girl, this intern I had personally mentored, whose tuition I had covered, whose dreams I had championed.

"You ungrateful little snake," I snarled, lunging forward.

My hand connected with her cheek with a resounding smack. The sound echoed in the silent office. Her head snapped back, a crimson mark blossoming on her pale skin.

Before I could land another blow, a strong hand gripped my arm, pulling me back.

"Avery! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Josiah's voice, laced with fury, cut through the haze of my anger.

He shoved me away, his body shielding Karma. His eyes, usually so warm and loving, were now cold and accusatory.

"Are you insane? You just assaulted her!" he roared, his gaze fixed on the red mark on Karma's face.

My breath hitched. He was defending her. Defending the woman who had just publicly humiliated me in his own office.

"She... she stamped my face!" I stammered, pointing a trembling finger at Karma.

Josiah barely glanced at me. He was too busy cradling Karma's face, his thumb gently caressing the reddened skin.

"It was just a joke, Avery," he said, his voice dropping to a condescending tone. "A harmless prank. You're overreacting. You always do."

A cold dread seeped into my bones. A "harmless prank"? My gaze fell to Josiah's shirt sleeve. A faint, sweet floral scent, Karma's signature perfume, clung to the fabric.

He hadn't been home in two nights. He'd said he was working late, burning the midnight oil for his company.

"Josiah, what's that smell?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Karma giggled, a high-pitched, childish sound. "Oh, that's just my new lotion. Josiah spilled some coffee on me earlier while we were, you know, working late. He was so apologetic."

She flashed me a saccharine smile, her eyes sparkling with malicious glee. She was playing him like a fiddle, and he was falling for it.

Josiah chuckled, a soft, indulgent sound that shredded my heart. "Karma is quite the work ethic, isn't she? Always so eager to learn, so dedicated. Not like some people, always complaining about my long hours."

A sharp pain lanced through my chest. He used to praise my tireless support, my unwavering belief in his vision. Now, my dedication was a complaint.

I remembered the early days, when Josiah would pull all-nighters, and I'd bring him coffee and comfort, my own family's connections quietly smoothing his path. He was a driven, ambitious man, but he was always grateful. Always.

When did he change? When did his ambition morph into this arrogant entitlement?

A sudden surge of nausea hit me. My head spun. The image of Josiah, laughing with Karma, defending her betrayal, blurred before my eyes.

The door to Josiah's office suddenly swung open. His secretary, a young woman named Brenda, stood there, her eyes wide with shock. She had obviously heard the commotion.

"Mrs. Chase?" she stammered, her gaze darting from my stamped face to Karma, then to Josiah.

I knew what she was thinking. Everyone in the building knew Avery Elliott, the elegant, composed heiress who married the charming tech CEO. The woman who had everything.

Brenda's initial reaction, a flicker of pity, quickly turned to a horrified gasp as her eyes landed on the "USDA PRIME" mark across my face.

The silence that followed was deafening, amplified by the sudden cessation of Brenda's startled breath. It hung heavy, thick with unspoken judgment and humiliation. Karma, seizing the moment, let a triumphant, almost imperceptible smirk creep onto her lips.

Josiah, oblivious in his rage, finally noticed the stamp. His eyes narrowed, not in understanding, but in a fresh wave of annoyance.

"Karma, apologize to Avery," he demanded, his voice tight. It wasn't a request, it was an order, delivered with the weary impatience of a parent dealing with squabbling children.

Karma's eyes widened, filling with perfectly timed tears. "Apologize? After she hit me? Josiah, she's a monster! She's always been jealous of us, of what we have!" She buried her face in Josiah's chest, her shoulders shaking with dramatic sobs. "I can't stay here, not with her. I'm leaving!"

She pulled away, stumbling towards the door, a picture of wounded innocence.

"Karma, wait!" Josiah exclaimed, his protective instincts kicking in. He reached for her, his voice softening, a stark contrast to the harsh tone he'd used with me. "Please, don't leave. She's just... she's not herself. You know how she gets."

He turned back to me, his gaze hardened. "Avery, don't you dare cause a scene. This is my office. And Karma is my intern. You're being completely unreasonable."

"Unreasonable?" I choked out, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. The metallic taste of the stamp still coated my tongue, a constant reminder of the humiliation. "You want me to be reasonable after this? After she marked me, after you defended her?"

Josiah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, let's just clean you up. It's just a silly stamp." He reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek.

His touch, once a comfort, now felt like a violation. I flinched, pulling away. The red dye, instead of fading, seemed to spread, smearing across my skin, making the grotesque words even more prominent. I imagined myself in a funhouse mirror, a distorted reflection of my former self, a walking billboard for betrayal.

Karma, still hovering near the door, let out a snicker she quickly tried to mask with a cough. "Josiah, darling," she purred, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness, "don't forget that charity gala tonight. They're expecting you. And me, of course."

Josiah's attention snapped instantly from me to her. His eyes lit up, the annoyance fading, replaced by a glint of excitement. "Right! The gala. I almost forgot." He turned to me, his expression softening slightly, a practiced veneer of concern. "Avery, you should just go home and rest. I'll handle this. We can talk later, okay? When you've calmed down."

"Calmed down?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You want me to calm down? After everything?"

He waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, calm down. You're making a spectacle. Go home. We'll discuss this when you're thinking clearly."

He took Karma's hand, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that burned my soul. She shot me a smug, triumphant look over her shoulder as they walked towards the exit.

"Don't worry, Avery," Karma's voice, sickly sweet, drifted back to me. "I'll take good care of your husband tonight. He needs someone to appreciate him."

They disappeared through the door, leaving me standing alone in the sterile, silent office. My home. My husband. Gone.

"You'll regret this, Josiah!" I screamed, my voice raw, echoing in the empty room. "You'll regret everything!"

A moment later, Josiah's head poked back in, his face etched with a mix of exasperation and pity. "Avery, please. Stop this. You're just making things harder for yourself." He sighed. "I'll call you later, okay? Just... try to be reasonable." And then he was gone again, the door clicking shut behind him, sealing me in.

Through the closed door, I heard Karma's voice, hushed and trembling. "Josiah, she's so angry. I'm scared. What if she tries to hurt me again?"

Josiah's response was a low rumble, laced with reassurance. "Don't worry, Karma. I won't let her touch you. You're safe with me."

His words, intended for her, sliced through me like a thousand knives. He was protecting her. From me. His wife.

As I slowly made my way out of the office, Brenda, the secretary, looked up, her expression a mix of sympathy and fear. "Mrs. Chase, are you... are you okay?"

I managed a weak smile. "I'll be fine, Brenda. Thank you."

I walked past her, my head held high, though my heart was shattering into a million pieces.

I reached my car, my hands shaking as I fumbled with the keys. I stared at my reflection in the rearview mirror. The red stamp stared back, a badge of shame. I would not forget this. I would not forgive this.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers flying across the screen. "Retrieve the dress Josiah commissioned for me. The couture one. And I need a novelty stamp. 'USDA PRIME.' Make it unique. And permanent."

The car glided smoothly through the New York traffic, a silent cocoon separating me from the bustling world outside. My world, however, was in chaos. As the gates of the Elliott estate swung open, a familiar figure emerged from the grand entrance.

"Mrs. Chase," Higgins, our long-serving butler, bowed slightly, his face lined with concern. He always knew when something was amiss. "I trust your day wasn't too taxing?"

His eyes, discreetly, flickered to the lingering red smudge on my cheek. I knew it was still there, a ghost of the morning's humiliation.

"Just another day, Higgins," I replied, trying to steady my voice.

He hesitated, then cleared his throat. "Mrs. Chase, there's something you should know. Mr. Chase... he was here earlier. He took something."

My heart pounded. "What did he take, Higgins?"

Higgins shifted uncomfortably. "The gown, Mrs. Chase. The couture gown you had custom-made for the charity gala. He said he needed it for tonight."

A cold wave washed over me, colder than the New York winter. Not just any gown. The gown. The one I had painstakingly designed with the atelier, the one woven with threads of silver and moonlight, a masterpiece meant to symbolize our seven years of marriage, our shared journey to the pinnacle of New York society. It wasn't just fabric; it was a promise, a dream. It was a testament to the belief I had in him, the support I had poured into building his empire.

I remembered his ecstatic face when I first showed him the sketches, the way he' d kissed my hand and vowed eternal devotion.

"Avery," he' d whispered, his eyes shining, "This gown, it' s like our love. Exquisite. Timeless. You are my queen, and I will always cherish you."

Now, that exquisite gown, that symbol of our once-unbreakable bond, was in Karma' s possession. He had given her my future. He had given her my dream. The memory of his words, once a comfort, now twisted into a cruel mockery.

The world tilted. My vision blurred. How could a man change so completely? How could he forget everything we shared, everything we built, for a fleeting dalliance with an intern? The pain in my chest was a physical ache, a hollow space where hope used to reside. My carefully constructed composure threatened to shatter.

"Mrs. Chase?" Higgins' voice was gentle, pulling me back from the precipice of despair.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Thank you, Higgins. I'll manage."

I walked past him, my legs feeling like lead. A maid, seeing me, rushed forward with a damp cloth. "Madam, let me help you with that mark."

She dabbed gently, but the crimson dye stubbornly clung to my skin, a permanent stain, just like the betrayal on my heart.

My phone buzzed incessantly. Friends, well-meaning and bewildered, were flooding my inbox. They had seen something.

I opened the notifications. It wasn't just something. It was everything. Photos of me, in Josiah's office, with the "USDA PRIME" stamp emblazoned on my face, were circulating online. Karma had live-streamed it, her caption a snide, "Some people just can't handle a little competition."

The comments were a mixture of outrage and pity. "Poor Avery, after all she did for him." "What a humiliation! His own wife!"

My best friend, Cassandra, called, her voice trembling with fury. "Avery, darling, are you okay? I just saw... that slut! How dare she! And Josiah! I swear I'm going to rip them both apart!"

"I'm fine, Cass," I said, my voice eerily calm, though my hands were shaking. "I'll handle it."

"Handle it? Avery, your face is all over the internet! Everyone's talking! That hussy is practically celebrating!"

"Let them talk," I said, a dangerous glint entering my eyes. "Let them celebrate. They won't be celebrating for long."

Just then, the front door burst open. Two burly men in dark suits entered, their expressions grim. They dragged a struggling, terrified Karma Clements behind them. She had clearly been snatched directly from the gala. Her couture gown, the one meant for me, was rumpled and torn, her carefully applied makeup smeared.

"Let me go! What is this? Josiah! Josiah, help me!" she shrieked, thrashing against their grip. She stumbled, falling to her knees on the polished marble floor.

"You can't do this! Do you know who I am? I'm carrying Josiah's child!" she cried, her eyes wide with fear. "You're just a jealous old hag, Avery Elliott! You're nothing without your family name!"

I stepped forward, my voice calm, almost serene. "Karma, darling, do you know what the name Elliott means? It means I own this city. It means I built Josiah. And it means I can unbuild him just as easily."

Her face went pale, her defiance faltering. "You... you can't. He loves me. He chose me."

I smiled, a chilling, humorless smile. "He chose convenience. You chose greed. And you both chose to humiliate me. Big mistake, darling. A very big mistake."

The two men dragged Karma to the center of the foyer. The specially crafted stamp, a custom-made replica of "USDA PRIME," was brought forward. It was larger, more imposing, and the ink was a vibrant, indelible red.

Karma watched, her eyes wide with terror, as the men held her down. A piercing scream tore from her throat as the stamp descended, once, twice, three times, across her arms, her legs, her chest. Each press left a clear, undeniable mark.

She writhed, sobbed, and pleaded, but I remained unmoved. The "USDA PRIME" marks spread across her body like a grotesque tattoo.

When they were done, I picked up a silk handkerchief and calmly wiped my hands. "Don't worry, Karma," I said, my voice as cold as ice. "That's permanent. Just like the mark you left on me. And just like the mark you'll leave on Josiah."

"You... you monster!" she sobbed, her voice hoarse. "This isn't fair! You're just doing this to get back at me!"

I tilted my head, a shadow crossing my face. "Fair? Darling, life isn't fair. But I'll make sure it's balanced."