"Apologize to Wesley right now. If you ruin the Garnett–Peterson marriage alliance, I won't forgive you, Jean!" Callum ordered, his eyes seething in anger.

I turned slowly, locking eyes with Callum, the newly crowned head of the Garnett family.

Cold. Calculated. Completely heartless.

"Callum," I said, keeping my tone level, "is marriage a family asset now? Or is it still my life? How much longer are you planning to pimp me out for the Garnetts' gain?"

My gaze drifted deliberately to Shanice as I continued, "His first love is back. You don't really expect her to play the mistress forever, do you?"

Right then, another slap landed across my face, the sound sharp enough to hush the air.

"Jean, when did you become so sharp-tongued and spiteful?" Callum's voice cut through the tension like ice breaking. "Wesley is successful, admired. Having two women chasing him isn't rare. But you—jealous, irrational, blind to the big picture. Clearly, I didn't discipline you enough."

I held my cheek and stared straight at him.

"Callum, I'm twenty-eight. Whatever 'discipline' you think I missed? It's too late to fix now."

His face twisted, a smirk tugging at one side of his mouth. "So proud of yourself, huh? Just because you've been Wesley's wife for a few years? Looks like he's spoiled you too much."

Then he leaned in, voice low and sharp. "If you're not gonna learn the easy way, maybe it's time I drag your slut of a mother out of the grave and let her teach you what real family values look like."

I froze as my body locked up before the words left my mouth. "What are you planning?"

Callum sneered and retorted, "What else? Dig that whore out of the grave, of course. Let her personally show you how to put the family first."

The shock hit me like a blow. I knew Callum. This madman was absolutely twisted enough to do it.

"Apologize to Wesley," he ordered coldly, "and promise you'll stop with this childish jealousy. Swear you'll never make trouble for him again."

My hands curled into fists at my sides.

At that moment, I realized that I could not walk away from my marriage to Wesley.

I turned stiffly toward Wesley.

My voice came out flat, drained. "Sorry. I was petty. Narrow-minded."

A flicker of smug amusement flickered in his eyes. He waved dismissively, as if brushing off a gnat.

"Alright, alright. Just go home. Don't throw another tantrum like this."

I turned to leave, but Callum stepped in my way, blocking me like a brick wall. "You slapped Miss Fontana. You owe her an apology, too."

I stared at him, stunned. 'This was my family? This was the support I was supposed to lean on?'

Right then, I couldn't help but let a bitter laugh escape my lips. "Fine. I'll do as Callum says."

I turned to Shanice, swallowing the bile rising in my throat.

"Miss Fontana, I'm sorry. I was impulsive," I said. "You're welcome to hit me back."

Shanice's face lit up instantly with a bright, fake smile.

She reached out, took my hand, and clasped it like we were old sorority sisters.

"Oh, Jean! What are you saying? We were classmates! It was just a silly misunderstanding. How could I ever hit you?"

Then, Shanice leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper in my ear. "Pathetic bitch. Is this your little act? Dragging Callum in to play the heavy? If you're that desperate to stay married, just admit it. Let me give you a reality check. Wesley told me that as long as I want him back, he'll never touch you again. You're just a warm body he doesn't need anymore."

Her voice dropped lower, sweeter, more venomous.

"Ever wonder why he never gives you money? It's because he promised me everything. Every dollar he earns? It's mine. You're not even worth the loose change in his pockets."

My chest tightened, and heat surged through my veins. My eyes widened as I looked at Shanice, struggling to contain the rage bubbling up.

But Shanice stepped back effortlessly, slipping back into her sunny, polished self like nothing had happened.

"Jean, it's settled then. Wesley's throwing a welcome banquet for me. We've invited all of Riverton's finest. You have to come. I even picked out a little gift for you."

Across the room, I glanced toward Callum, now casually chatting with Wesley like none of this mattered.

My teeth sank into the inside of my cheek.

I forced out one word as I said, "Fine."

The second we stepped outside, Nikki exploded beside me.

"Jean, this is absolute crap! They're humiliating you. Are you seriously just gonna take that?"

I reached over and gave the back of her hand a soft pat, a faint smile pulling at my lips.

"Nikki, I spent ten years around people who treat misery like a morning cup of coffee. You really think I'm that easy to knock down?"

My eyes sharpened with a familiar fire.

"If they're dying to give me a 'gift' at that party, I'll make sure they get one in return."

...

Moonview Manor.

The driveway resembled a luxury car showroom, jam-packed with high-end imports. The estate buzzed with wealthy chatter and sparkling laughter from Riverton's elite.

Inside, a towering eighteenth-meter crystal chandelier spiraled down from the ceiling, reminiscent of palace grandeur. Gold and silver streamers shimmered in graceful folds from the rafters, resembling a regal coronation.

A large red-and-gold banner unfurled overhead in the center of the grand ballroom:

[WELCOME HOME, SHANICE FONTANA!]

"Congratulations to Miss Shanice Fontana on her successful return."

In a tailored, dark-patterned suit, Wesley escorted Shanice smoothly through the crowd like she was the queen of the night.

And around her neck? The exact same diamond necklace that had once been auctioned off at the Queen's Auction.

Even though my heart had gone numb a long time ago, I still felt it throb in my chest.

A dull, steady ache that refused to fade.

I once dared to try on that necklace.

And the moment I did, Wesley's eyes lit up with fury. He stormed over, grabbed my wrist as if I'd set something on fire, and barked at me to take it off.

"Take it off right now," he snapped, as if just wearing it for one more minute was some kind of personal offense.

Frightened, I hurriedly unclasped the necklace, put it back in the safe, and stammered an explanation.

"I was simply trying it on. I didn't mean anything by it."

His face twisted with rage.

"Have I not told you? Don't touch my things. Do it again, and don't blame me when I turn on you!" Wesley threatened, his voice lashing out like a whip.

After that, he changed the safe code. Even the lock on his study door got replaced.

Back then, I didn't understand. I mean, it was just a necklace, right?

As his wife, wasn't I wearing something from his collection normal?

Only now did it finally hit me.

It had never been mine to wear.

It was never meant for me.

That necklace had always been waiting for its rightful owner.

Wesley's loyalty had never once wavered. And it had always belonged to Shanice.

Right at the event hall, the music suddenly cut off.

Under the spotlight's glow, Wesley and Shanice stepped onto the stage together, arms intertwined.

"Today marks Miss Shanice's return after completing her studies abroad," Wesley confidently announced. "I hereby declare that she will take the position of Vice President of Stellar Corp, holding twenty percent of the shares."

He lifted his hand just as an usher walked up carrying a tray.

"As an additional reward," Wesley continued, "I gift her Moonview Manor in gratitude for joining Stellar Corp."

Then, he pulled the red silk cloth from the tray with a practiced, showman's flourish.

Underneath, a bright red property deed glowed under the lights.

The crowd gasped. This time, nobody even tried to play it cool.

"Wesley, that's insane! A VP title and an entire estate? I've never seen anything like this in Riverton."

"Do you even get what that's worth? We're talking tens of billions. Literally."

"Come on, open your eyes. Shanice and Wesley were crazy about each other. She's always been the one he really loved."

The whispers spread like wildfire, moving from one corner of the room to the other. It didn't take long before every eye in the place turned toward me. Some looked at me with pity, while others wore smug, self-satisfied smiles. But most were just waiting, eager to see what kind of scene I might cause.

Beside me, Callum was a storm brewing. His jaw was clenched so tightly, I could almost hear it grind.

Then he leaned in, his voice low and razor-sharp.

"Look at them. Just one move and it's billions. And you still have the nerve to talk about divorce? If you've got this much time to sulk," he muttered, "use it to figure out how to hold on to your husband's heart. Because if you get dumped, don't even think about crawling back to the Garnett family. I won't tolerate that kind of disgrace in our house."

I gave him a faint, polite smile, lifted my phone, and showed him the video I'd just saved.

"You're right, Callum," I said calmly. "Lesson learned."

...

Back on stage, the two of them locked eyes. This silent, drawn-out moment between them was full of syrupy sweetness. Wesley gently placed the deed in Shanice's hands, then leaned in and kissed her. Right there. In front of everyone.

Just like Shanice had once said: a man's love lies where his money lies.

And now here he was, handing her tens of billions the second she returned.

Give it a few more years, and Stellar Corp might eventually be hers. But none of that mattered to me. Six years of marriage had never been about love.

It was survival and a way to stay fed and to stay standing.

Once the ceremony concluded, Shanice approached me, holding a small gift box.

"Jean," she said, her tone sweet and airy, "thank you for attending my homecoming party."

Then, she held the box out with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "This is my gift to you."

I blinked, caught off guard.

She'd actually walked away from Wesley just to hand me this?

What could possibly be inside?

Curious, I lifted the lid and froze.

My pupils narrowed, and my whole body tensed.

Inside the box was a used condom. The faint, sickly-sour smell clung to it, unmistakable.

Shanice leaned in, her breath brushing my ear, her voice like honey laced with venom.

"Jean, Wesley just couldn't keep his hands off me last night. I had no choice but to give him what he wanted."

She chuckled breathily, letting the words settle in before saying, "You have no idea how wild he was. It was as if he hadn't seen a woman in eight hundred years. He nearly devoured me, Jean."

Shanice then arched a brow, her gaze bold and taunting, like she wanted to carve her words into my skin.

Her smile widened, too sweet to be sincere.

And I got it clear as day.

"Jean, cry all you want, scream if you like, hit me again if you dare, I still slept with your man."

I shut the gift box with a quiet click, lifted my chin, and offered her a smile as cool as polished steel.

"Thanks for the gift. I love it."

Then I turned and walked directly onto the stage, my heels tapping sharply and steadily against the marble floor. When I reached the mic, I lifted it calmly and faced the room full of perfectly dressed snakes.

"Tonight, Miss Fontana was kind enough to give me a special gift," I said, my voice clear and steady. "In return, I've prepared something even grander for her. I hope she loves it."

The heavy velvet curtain behind me parted with a slow, dramatic sweep when those words left my mouth.

A massive screen flickered to life.

There, projected in high definition, was Shanice—naked and tangled in white hotel sheets, her body twisting with pleasure beneath a Black man.