The Heiress He Betrayed Now He's Begging on His Knees

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When I was eighteen, I pulled a stray dog out of the gutter.

Everyone laughed at Mortimer Henson back then, mocked him for being beneath them. After all, he'd knelt at my feet, forehead to the ground.

Ten years.

He went from that meek, desperate boy to the ruthless Mr. Henson of Harbor City, a man whose word could make or break empires. He climbed to the top on the back of my family's power and threw me the most extravagant engagement party the city had ever seen.

I thought the hard times were finally behind us.

Then I checked the security feed from our new home and saw a scene that turned my stomach.

His assistant had her arms wrapped around him, her voice a playful purr. "Mr. Henson, your precious heiress is waiting to consummate your engagement, and yet here you are with me. Why is that?"

Mortimer's hand settled on the woman's waist, fingers digging into the curve of it. "Don't mention that woman. Every time I think of her, I feel like I'm still that pathetic dog begging for scraps."

"Once I get my hands on the last of her family's shares, I'll send her to join her dead father."

My grip tightened around the phone until my nails bit into my palm.

I turned and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"I'll accept your proposal. But I need Mortimer Henson dragged back into the gutter where I found him."

...

I hung up and let out a long, shaky breath.

I was the only daughter of a legendary business tycoon, yet I'd inherited none of my father's instincts for the corporate world. I'd believed Mortimer was someone I could count on. Turned out he was rotten to the core.

"Judy Young, what are you thinking about?"

I forced a smile. "What do you think of the new place?"

"Anything you pick is perfect. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Not a single crack in his expression. Not one.

Mortimer seemed eager to change the subject. He reached over and took my hand.

"Babe, let me ask you something. What kind of surprises do girls your age like?"

"The project team at the company just pulled off something big. I want to reward them."

The hasty addition was so transparent it made me want to laugh.

The reward was for that assistant of his. Obviously.

"Girls don't really care about flashy stuff," I said, keeping my voice light. "You can skip the designer bags and perfume."

"Take her to an amusement park instead. Ride the Ferris wheel to the very top and make a wish together. She'll be over the moon."

A dreamy smile spread across Mortimer's face, as if he were already picturing the scene.

Watching his reaction felt like swallowing broken glass. My chest ached.

"Thanks, babe! I haven't cooked for you in ages. Tonight, let me show off my skills."

Cooked for me? He hadn't cooked for me in ages. That much was true.

Where had the Mortimer who used to make me three meals a day gone, each one different from the last? I'd thought bringing him into Young Group would bring us closer. Instead, late night after late night, meeting after meeting, the distance between us had only grown.

"Judy, why are you crying?"

"Is my cooking that bad?" He wrapped his arms around me the way he used to.

"Come eat, sweetheart."

For a moment, everything blurred, and I could almost believe he was still that gentle boy I'd fallen for under a clear moon.

Maybe the security footage had been a hallucination.

Then I looked down at the table.

Beef tossed with cilantro.

He knew I hated cilantro. He knew I didn't eat beef.

I said nothing. I just took small bites and waited. Normally, Mortimer would have noticed something was off within seconds.

He didn't say a word. His eyes kept drifting to his phone.

Finally, it rang.

I watched the relief wash over his face as he exhaled.

"Hello? Something urgent at the office? Got it, got it. I'll be right there."

He turned to me with that practiced smile. "Sweetheart, something came up at work. I need to head in for a bit. I'll be back before you know it."

Mortimer finished speaking and didn't wait for my response. He grabbed his car keys and headed for the door like an eager teenager.

For a split second, I wanted to call out to him. To see if he'd stay for me.

The words made it all the way to my lips before I swallowed them back down.

There was no point. A man like that wasn't worth the Young family heiress begging.

I stared at the floor, eyes hollow, replaying everything we'd been through.

We'd already survived the hardest times. Why couldn't Mortimer keep holding on?

When my father refused to let me marry him, Mortimer had knelt and kowtowed until he passed out.

He'd sworn he would never betray me.

So why?

Knock knock knock.

The sharp rapping at the door shattered my thoughts.

"Babe, this is Olympia Barber, my executive assistant at the company." Mortimer's face was tight with urgency as he looked at me. "She just got pressured into drinking way too much at a business dinner. Poor girl's got nobody to turn to, so I brought her here. You don't mind, right?"

"I'm so sorry to bother you. I didn't mean to contact Mr. Henson, but I really didn't know who else to call..." The woman in front of me draped herself against Mortimer's chest like she had no bones in her body.

I didn't lose my temper. I didn't scream.

"Well, she's already here. Come on in."

Mortimer shot me a surprised glance, then guided Olympia inside.

This house was the place Mortimer and I had shared for ten years. There was a time when he wouldn't even let the housekeeper through the door, insisting on taking care of every meal and every detail of my life himself.

"Mr. Henson, you're so amazing. Buying your wife such a gorgeous house."

Mortimer slid his arm around her waist and gave it a suggestive squeeze.

They must have thought I was blind.

Without changing my expression, I raised my phone and quietly snapped a photo. Evidence for the day I'd need it.

"It's getting late, Miss Barber. Why don't you take a shower and get some rest?"

I strode over, cutting through their little exchange of longing glances.

"Thank you for taking me in, Mr. Henson. I'll make myself at home, then." Olympia ignored me completely, her gaze still locked on Mortimer, dripping with adoration. "Can I sleep in that room tonight?"

She pointed straight at the master bedroom. Mine and Mortimer's.

"That's my room with Judy. If you sleep there, where are we supposed to go?" Mortimer glanced at me. "Letting you stay is generous enough. Don't push it."

He brushed off her teary-eyed pout and turned to me with exaggerated attentiveness. "Come on, babe, it's late. Let's get to bed."

I lay there staring at the ceiling, listening to the sound of the shower running in the bathroom.

Mortimer climbed under the covers, bringing with him a sickly sweet fragrance.

"Did you switch body wash?"

"A coworker recommended it. Smells nice, doesn't it?"

I didn't want to answer. I rolled over, turning my back to him.

The old Mortimer would have pulled me close, refusing to let even an inch of space exist between us.

Tonight, the gap between us was wide enough to fit another person. Wide enough to fit Olympia Barber.

Some time passed. I didn't know how long. Then the body beside me slipped silently out from under the covers.

I followed without making a sound.

Sure enough, I watched Mortimer walk into the guest bedroom and lie down next to Olympia.

I crouched by the door and hit record.

"Baby, I didn't scare you earlier when I snapped at you, did I? You know how it is. Judy's incredibly paranoid. If she sees us getting too close, she'll get suspicious."

"It's okay. I don't care what I have to put up with, as long as it's for you."

"Just hang on a little longer. Soon, it'll be just you and me."

I'd heard similar words through the surveillance footage.

But hearing them in person was nothing like watching a screen.

My fingertips went cold. My hands trembled as I gripped my phone and crept back to the master bedroom.

"Babe, did you hear something outside?"

"Morty, you definitely heard wrong. Come feel how fast my heart's beating..."

It wasn't until the first pale light of dawn that I felt the mattress dip beside me.

Moments later, the familiar rhythm of his breathing filled the silence.

I gripped the comforter, repeating the words in my head like a mantra.

Judy Young, he's not worth your tears. Don't waste a single one.

I was at the bathroom sink, brushing my teeth, when I caught Olympia barging in from the corner of my eye.

"Hey, Judy, how do you work the showerhead in there?"

"Last night your husband was just so passionate. I really need to clean up."

She looked right at me, a challenge burning in her eyes, and tugged her collar down.

The trail of red marks along her neck made my blood boil. Every instinct screamed at me to storm into that bedroom and confront Mortimer.

But I held back.

A moment of satisfaction wasn't enough. I wanted them destroyed beyond recovery.

"Press the button on the right side."

"You know, men start losing it after thirty. Better enjoy him while you can."

"Say whatever you want. Morty only loves me!"

Olympia flashed a vicious grin.

The next second, she threw herself hard onto the floor.

"Help! Mr. Henson! My back, it hurts so bad..."

"What happened?" Mortimer rushed over in a panic.

"I just came to ask Judy how to use the showerhead, and she talked to me like I was beneath her, and then she..."

"Then she what? Tell me. No one's going to bully you here."

"She shoved me onto the floor. I don't know why she... hates me so much."

"There's a security camera right outside the bathroom door. There's no point in this." I shrugged. "We all know the truth."

"Keep your mouth shut, Judy." Mortimer's jaw was tight, barely containing himself.

"You think I don't know what kind of person Olympia is?"

"She never lies. You're a good person, but this time you've gone too far."

"You're seriously lecturing me right now?"

My lips pressed into a thin line, and I held his gaze without blinking.

"What? You're all worked up. Don't tell me you still have feelings for me!"

Olympia, sensing the tension crackling between us, shrank back and spoke in a timid whisper.

"Mr. Henson, I'm sure Judy didn't mean it. Please don't punish her because of me. I'll be good."

"For Olympia's sake, I'll let this go!"

"Watch yourself. And this jasmine plant? I'm taking it to the office as an apology to her."

He ripped my carefully tended jasmine right out of its pot, roots and all.

I stared down at my phone's wallpaper. Mortimer, smiling, kneeling beside me in the garden as we planted that jasmine together.

All the strength I'd been holding onto crumbled.

A single tear fell onto the screen.

Not long after, Olympia posted on Instagram, showing off her love story for the world to see.

"Flowers wilt, but love never fades."

The photo was the jasmine Mortimer had taken that morning.

I liked the post without a flicker of expression.

Shortly after, the post was deleted.

My phone rang. The sugary voice on the other end had turned cold and venomous.

"Don't you get it? Morty and I are meant to be together."

"Stop clinging to the title of Mrs. Henson. The one who isn't loved is the real homewrecker."

"I said I liked jasmine, and he didn't hesitate for a second. Ripped out every plant you grew and handed them to me!"

I pressed a hand against the cramp twisting through my stomach and kept my voice steady.

"Well, of course he did. Trash belongs with trash. A match made in hell."

"Judy Young, you filthy little... how dare you talk to me like that, you shameless..."

I had no interest in listening to her shriek obscenities, so I hung up.

A message from Maxwell was waiting in my texts. He'd sent over Olympia's background file.

I read through it carefully. A textbook damsel-in-distress act.

A gambling-addicted father. A critically ill mother. A younger brother still in school. And poor, broken Olympia at the center of it all.

I called Maxwell Mann.

"Maxwell, thank you so much, really!"

"How's that thing coming along?"

Listening to his answer, a genuine smile spread across my face.

"Great, I'll see you in three days then!"

"Three days? Where are you going?"

I spun around, startled, and found Mortimer standing there, his expression ice-cold.

"You misheard me."

The denial came out on instinct. The last thing I needed was to stir up trouble.

Mortimer frowned. He knew I wasn't telling the truth.

"Judy, we're getting married soon. I'll treat you well, I promise."

"We'll have three kids. They'll look just like you, I'm sure of it."

I kept my face neutral, saying nothing, while a single thought ran through my mind: Dream on. I'll be gone before any of that happens.

"Anyway, let's save that talk for later. The company's hosting a gala tonight. Think the boss's lady could grace us with her presence?"

It had been ages since I'd set foot in the office. I nodded.

"Sure."

I barely recognized anyone at the company anymore.

Mortimer really had played his hand well.

I dug my nails into my fingertips, forcing myself to stay calm.

At the gala, the employees who saw Mortimer walk in with me couldn't help stealing glances at Olympia.

I sat in a corner and watched Mortimer and Olympia clink champagne glasses, celebrating some project victory.

I didn't throw a tantrum. I didn't cry.

I just watched it all with blank detachment, like a stranger observing someone else's life.

Mortimer noticed. He frowned and walked over.

"Judy, what exactly is your problem?"

"Olympia is just a subordinate. Stop being so petty."

Before I could get a word out, Olympia sauntered over too.

"Is someone jealous? Mr. Henson was only celebrating with our project team. We actually delivered results, after all."

"Not like you, who can't really do anything or be of any help to Mr. Henson."

"Oh, I can't help your precious Mr. Henson? Do you have any idea what he was doing back when he"

"That's enough, Judy." Mortimer cut me off, each word deliberate, something dark pooling behind his eyes.

"Olympia's young and doesn't know better. What's your excuse?"

"Is this all because I took your jasmine? Fine, I'll make it up to you."

"Just tell me what you want."

Looking at him playing the big shot, I couldn't help but laugh.

"How about you sign over all your shares in the company to me?"

"There's a limit to jokes, Judy."

Mortimer shut me down instantly, his gaze locked on mine, every trace of his usual tenderness gone.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Forget it, then."

Halfway through the evening, Olympia asked me to help her cut a cake.

I had no idea what she was scheming, but I agreed anyway.

Then I spotted the small knife tucked in her pocket, and every nerve in my body fired at once.

"Go to hell, Judy Young!"

Olympia drove the blade into her own arm in one swift motion, then tossed the knife at my feet.

"Help! Somebody help! She stabbed me! The Young heiress stabbed me!"

The lively buzz of the ballroom froze solid. Mortimer's eyes went bloodshot as he charged toward me.

Before I could say a single word, he slammed me into a pillar.

"Are you okay, Olympia? I'm taking you to the hospital."

A whole entourage swept out after them.

I struggled to my feet. Something in my back felt cracked, like a rib had snapped.

At the hospital, after they wrapped my injuries, I stared up at the stark white ceiling and felt the last ember of hope die inside me.

He hadn't asked a single question. Hadn't spared me a single glance. He'd just convicted me on the spot and thrown me into a pillar. I would make him pay for that.

I went home, packed my things, and placed the broken-engagement agreement on the coffee table.

Back at the house, I finally saw Mortimer, who hadn't come home in two days.

He didn't spare a single thought for the fact that I'd been hurt. The first words out of his mouth were about her.

"I took care of the whole situation with Olympia getting stabbed. All you have to do is apologize."

"Come with me to her room right now. That princess attitude of yours needs to go. How are you going to act like this after we're married?"

I let out a cold laugh. "My attitude is none of your concern."

"And while we're at it, you slammed me into that pillar and hurt my back. Where's my apology?"

"If you want someone to apologize, do it yourself. I'm not going."

"You got hurt?" Guilt flickered across his face instantly. "I'm sorry. I didn't control my strength that night. Does it still hurt?"

"Don't be mad. How about I throw a party in a couple days and have Olympia make it up to you? Would that work?"

The man standing in front of me was a truly spectacular actor. I thought it quietly to myself.

It was time to start preparing to leave.

"Mortimer, I hope you'll always be happy. I hope you never regret the choices you've made."

I wrapped my arms around him gently, my eyes filled with nothing but hatred.

Such a gifted performer, Mortimer Henson. I wished him a lifetime of misery with no way out.

Two days later, Mortimer stood in the banquet hall surrounded by a crowd of guests.

But Judy never showed.

Olympia glanced at Mortimer's expression and spoke in a timid little voice.

"Do you think she's still upset with you because of me?"

"It's all my fault. I made her jealous."

Mortimer pinched the bridge of his nose. "Watch what you say, Olympia."

He knew Judy. She wasn't someone who broke her word.

Something must have held her up.

His assistant burst through the doors, panic written across his face.

"Mr. Henson, Miss Young is missing!"

Mortimer shot to his feet. His fingers were trembling.

"What did you just say?!"