The Vicious Wife

He is a saint

Jihyo trembled with rage when she heard Roseanne's laugh that was full of mockery. "And do you think he will pick you over me?" she asked while taking another step back.

"No... why would he choose me over you? It's not like I am not the only woman around him. So you have to be very careful. After all... Daniel has the tendency to be easily swayed," Roseanne was quick to answer.

Roseanne laughed inwardly at how self-centered Jihyo was at this moment. Had she ever considered that karma would get to her one day? Ever since the day Roseanne was born, the whole Li family, with the exception of Old Madam Ye, Roseanne's paternal grandmother, treated her as if she was a scum of the earth. For the simple reason that she was born out of wedlock and her mother was deemed as a nobody, someone beneath the Li family. Li Jihyo grew up innocent of the adults' prejudice against Roseanne but was soon brainwashed into believing that Roseanne was indeed wretched.

Roseanne remembered all the nasty things that Jihyo had done to her. Jihyo had embarrassed her in front of her so called elite friends countless times and she could not forget how Jihyo framed her for stealing examination papers in school.

As Roseanne was growing up, she felt that she and her mother didn't deserve any of these. However, she was helpless and powerless to defend against all the schemes and attacks from the Li family then. But that was not the case now. She was no longer the helpless and powerless Rosella of the past.

All this while, all Jihyo could think about was to keep Kang Daniel away from Roseanne, thinking that Roseanne truly had designs on her husband. How foolish! As if Daniel was worth any of her time and affections. Roseanne might have had some feelings for Daniel in the past, but those feelings were long dead, along with the old Rosella Li.

For Roseanne, Kang Daniel was just a pawn; a pawn in her war against Jihyo. Since Daniel held such an important place in Jihyo's heart, she would strike where it would hurt Jihyo the most – her husband,Kang Daniel.

"He would not do that to me," Jihyo said, unaware how the conversation had turned in a completely different direction. Why is she defending herself against Roseanne now when she was the aggressor earlier? How did it become like this?

"Of course he wouldn't." Roseanne smiled. "After all, he is a saint. Someone not capable of cheating and lying.Kang Daniel is-"

"Stop it! He will never betray me!" Jihyo shouted with finality. It was stern and loud, like a declaration. At this point, Daniel happen to come back with a glass of water that Jihyo had requested. Noticing the commotion, he immediately went to both Roseanne and Jihyo. Fear was apparent in his eyes. What if Roseanne was bullying his wife?

"Jihyo, let's go home," he said the moment he reached his wife's side. "Let's talk about all these at home." Daniel was aware of Jihyo's true character. He knew how scheming and manipulative she was but this didn't stop him from loving her. Surprisingly, Daniel found these qualities of Jihyo attractive but he knew that others might not think the same way. He knew his wife was not a saint but he still adored her. At this moment, he couldn't wait to bring his wife away from the party for fear that his wife might embarrass herself again in front of everyone.

While Daniel was worrying about his wife, Jihyo already had a scheme in mind. "Miss Lilian," Jihyo said, her voice full of self-righteousness. "My mother loved you and raised you like her own. Yet, here you are, being ungrateful. You can insult me but I cannot stand for you insulting my mother."

Jihyo's words send shivers of shock down Daniel's spine. 'How could Jihyo think about scheming against Roseanne even after knowing her identity? How could she still scheme against Roseanne in front of everyone here? Jihyo is pregnant with his child. Hadn't it crossed her mind how dangerous it is for a pregnant woman like her to engage someone in a confrontation? With Roseanne no less?'

"I am actually a very kind person Miss Lilian. But the moment you touch my mother, I would become someone else," Jihyo said, her words were hinting at the insult that Roseanne threw at them earlier on the topic of the bracelet. By now, their confrontation had already drawn a crowd around them. At the same time, Tang Ling became alarmed at the commotion and decided to put a stop to all this. She originally thought that Jihyo would only have a peaceful talk with Roseanne. She trusted her daughter to be able to control herself. Who knew that this would happen?

Roseanne looked at Jihyo with pity in her eyes. She pitied the child inside Jihyo who would be born to a mother like her. Even at a young age, Roseanne was someone who loved kids. She always wanted a child of her own, a husband, a family. Yet, this was taken away from her seven years ago. Like Daniel, Roseanne also thought that Jihyo was being careless to seek a confrontation when she is heavily pregnant. How could Jihyo not care about her child? Seeing as Jihyo still had not changed her ways even though she was going to be a mother soon somehow made Roseanne feel a little angry inside.

But Roseanne did not show her anger. In fact, she even had a smile on, as if Jihyo's words had nothing to do with her.

"First and foremost Mrs. Kang, you really cannot afford this piece of jewelry. It would be a waste of both of our time if we discuss this further," Roseanne said, feeling her irritation building inside. Did Jihyo think that she could provoke her with her words? If the same situation happened seven years ago, maybe she would have reacted and turn this to an even bigger confrontation. Her heart had grown so much stronger over the years and so Jihyo's words had no effect on her at all.

"Second, I can reimburse your family back for all the expenses incurred when my mother and I were living in the Li family. Like the food and rent for that old maid's quarters that my mother and I lived in. Don't say that I am ungrateful. I can assure you that my lawyer can make arrangements."

"Third, you speak of love? About how your mother raised me like her own? All I remember is how your mother kept preventing me from going to school. I wasn't given the opportunity to attend classes and pick up some skills like you did when we were children. Do I have to be grateful to your mother for stalling my development?"

"Fourth, I don't have any interest in your husband who is beneath me. Call me ruthless but why would I be attracted to or want to be with someone who cannot bring me any benefits?"

"Fifth, I know your ego can't take this but since you insist on buying my bracelet, I shall be kind to name you a price. I will even wait for you to raise the required amount of money before I sell you the bracelet," Roseanne said, gesturing Lia with her eyes.

Lia nodded as she quickly wrote down the price of the bracelet on a piece of paper and handed it to Roseanne. Holding out the piece of paper to Jihyo, Roseanne taunted, "Here is the price of the bracelet. If there are any other items on my body that you wish to buy, please feel free to let me know so that I could quote you a price."

"What are you waiting for Jihyo? Take it...before I decide to donate it to someone else."