To my husband Gary, I was just a simple housewife.
No job. No ambitions. And, according to him, useless.
What Gary didn’t know was that I’m the secret owner of Vanguard Global Holdings , a $5 billion empire .
I own shipping lines, hotels, and technology companies across Asia.
Why did I hide it?
Because I wanted Gary to love me for who I really was, not for my money.
When we first met, he was friendly. But as he rose through the ranks at the company (a company that was secretly my subsidiary, something he was unaware of), his ego grew. He became arrogant, irritable, and verbally abusive.
Then came the night of his promotion party .
He had just been promoted to vice president of sales .
I was getting ready to put on my dress when Gary came into the bedroom holding a hanger.
« What are you doing, Isabella? » he asked coldly. « Why are you holding that dress? »
« I’m getting dressed for your party, darling, » I said with a smile.
He laughed mockingly, snatched the dress from my hands and threw it on the floor.
« You’re not a guest, » Gary said firmly. « Don’t act like the first lady. At this party, I need someone to take care of things. We’re short-staffed. »
She put a hanger in front of my face. Hanging from it was a black maid’s uniform, with a white apron and headband.
« Put this on, » she ordered. « You’ll be serving drinks. Anyway, that’s all you’re good at, isn’t it? Being a maid. And one more thing… don’t you dare tell the guests you’re my wife. You’re shameful. Just say you’re a part-time maid. »
My heart shattered.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to tell him I could buy his entire existence.
But I remained silent.
This was my final test. I wanted to see how deep his cruelty truly ran.
« Whatever you want, Gary, » I whispered.
As I went downstairs, I saw a woman sitting on the sofa.
Tiffany. His secretary. Young, beautiful, heavily made up.
But what shocked me the most was what she was wearing around her neck.
My grandmother’s emerald necklace.
The heirloom that had disappeared from my jewelry box that morning.
“Honey, does this fit me?” Tiffany asked Gary as she touched my necklace.
« Perfect, » Gary replied, kissing her. « It suits you better than it did the haggard woman who owned it. Tonight you’ll sit next to me at the Presidential Table. I’ll introduce you as my partner. »
Tears fell as I adjusted my apron in the kitchen.
He stole my dignity.
And now, I had given my family’s legacy to his lover.
AT THE PARTY…
The hotel ballroom was illuminated.
Executives, investors, and other prominent figures filled the room.
Gary was the star of the evening. Dressed in a tuxedo, hand in hand with Tiffany, the stolen necklace gleaming around his neck. They sat at the central table, laughing and drinking expensive wine.
And me?
I stood to one side, head down, with a heavy tray of champagne in my hand.
« Waiter! More wine! » Gary shouted.
I approached. « Yes, sir. »
Gary humiliated me on purpose. While I was pouring the wine, he deliberately elbowed me. Some wine spilled on the table.
« IDIOT! » Gary shouted in front of everyone. « Such a simple job and you still can’t do it right! Clean that up! »
Tiffany and her friends laughed.
« That maid of yours is awful, Gary. Where did you find her? »
« On the street, » Gary replied with disgust. « I picked her up out of pity. »
I knelt down to clean the table. I felt their burning stares. The pain of their cruelty stabbed me in the chest like a knife.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
The large doors opened.
The CEO for the Asia-Pacific region arrived, Gary’s boss’s boss,
Mr. Arthur Sterling.
The most respected and feared man in the company.
Gary stood up immediately, smoothed down his coat, and approached Tiffany.
« Mr. Sterling! » Gary greeted enthusiastically. « Welcome! Thank you for coming to my celebration! This is Tiffany, my… fiancée. »
Mr. Sterling didn’t shake Gary’s hand.
He simply scanned the room, as if looking for someone.
“Where is the Board of Directors?” Mr. Sterling asked.
« They’re not here, sir. It’s just the executives, » Gary replied.
Mr. Sterling continued walking. He passed Gary’s table.
And then he saw me.
I stood to one side, holding a cloth and a tray, wearing a maid’s uniform.
Mr. Sterling’s eyes widened. His face paled. He stopped.
Gary thought Mr. Sterling was angry because of me.
« Sir, I feel sorry for that maid! » Gary shouted. « She’s a fool! Should I have her removed? Hey! Move aside! You’re blocking Sir Arthur! »
Gary raised his hand to push me.
“DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT WOMAN!” thundered Mr. Sterling’s voice.
The entire ballroom froze.
Slowly, Mr. Sterling walked toward me.
The powerful CEO, the man Gary feared most, stopped in front of me… and bowed deeply. A 90-degree bow, a sign of respect.
He remained bent over for several seconds before raising his head.
“Good evening…” Mr. Sterling said, his voice trembling.
“…Madam President.”
Gary gasped.
« Madam… President? »
Tiffany dropped her glass. It shattered on the floor.
I slowly took off my apron. I removed my headband. I fixed my hair and stood up. My posture was no longer that of a servant, but that of a woman who owned everything she walked on.
« Good evening, Arthur, » I said calmly. « It seems our employee is out partying. »
« Electronics employee…? » Gary whispered. « Isabella… what’s wrong? »
I turned to him. His face was completely pale.
« Gary, » I said, « the company you work for, Vanguard Holdings, is mine. I signed your promotion. And I’ll sign your dismissal too. »
« That’s not true! You’re just a housewife! » she shouted, but her voice was full of fear.
« Mr. Sterling, » I said without looking at Gary. « Explain yourself. »
“Mr. Gary,” Sterling said. “Ms. Isabella Valderama owns the entire conglomerate. Her net worth is $5 billion. She pays your salary. She gave you the position, at your request, even though you weren’t qualified.”
Gary collapsed to his knees.
« Isabella… darling… baby… I didn’t know… is this a surprise? »
I ignored it and turned back to Tiffany.
She trembled, covering her neck.
“The necklace,” I said coldly.
“W-What?”
You’re wearing my grandmother’s necklace. My husband stole it from me. Give it back or I’ll have you arrested for theft.
Tiffany quickly took off the necklace and handed it to me.
« Gary gave it to me! He said it was his! » she shouted before running away in embarrassment.
Gary crawled towards me, grabbing the hem of the maid’s uniform I was still wearing.
Isabella! Forgive me! I love you! I made a mistake! I was just stressed!
I withdrew my hand.
When you made me wear this uniform, Gary, you stripped me of my dignity as a wife. You treated me like garbage. Now I’m returning the favor.
“Mr. Sterling.”
“Yes, Madam President?”
« You’re fired, Gary, » I said loudly. « And I’ll make sure no company in this industry ever hires you again. You’re blacklisted throughout Asia. Tomorrow, my lawyers will seize your house, your car, and everything you bought with my money. According to our prenuptial agreement, you won’t get a thing if you cheat. »
I went to security.
Guards. Take out the trash.
Security personnel dragged Gary out as he screamed and begged. The guests who had laughed at me earlier now stood silent, terrified.
I left the ballroom with Mr. Sterling.
« Ma’am, » he asked, « would you like to change your clothes? There’s an extra dress in the suite. »
I looked at the maid’s uniform she was still wearing.
« No, Arthur, » I smiled. « I want to go home wearing this. To remind myself that, no matter what I wear—uniform or gown—my worth is never defined by the fabric, but by who I am. »
That night I lost my husband.
But I recovered.
And the whole world bowed down to the « maiden » who wore the crown.
