Damien looked like I’d physically slapped him when I dropped the D-word. A flash of hurt crossed his eyes before he quickly masked it.

He waved a hand, signaling a maid to take Lily away, then followed me into the walk-in closet.

"Honey, look, I know you're grieving your dad, and I'm doing everything I can to fix this. I've already contacted a team of specialists abroad. As long as there's even a one percent chance, I won't give up on him."

He stepped closer, trying to pull me into a hug. "But you can't take your anger out on the kid just because you're upset, and you certainly shouldn't be throwing the word 'divorce' around. Is our marriage a joke to you? And Lily... she’s just a child who’s starved for affection. The handprint on her face still hasn't faded. Today is her birthday. Can you please just let it go?"

He smoothed my hair, his tone shifting from pleading to commanding. "Tonight is Lily's thirteenth birthday party. You are the lady of the house; you have to be there. I know you and Lily have your issues, but let's talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

I scoffed internally. There won't be anything to talk about tomorrow. The divorce papers will be here by then.

Before the party started, Lily barged into my closet without knocking. Her eyes scanned the display shelves greedily before locking onto the Hermès bag I was holding.

"Daddy, that bag is literally perfect for my dress. Can I please wear it tonight?" She clung to Damien’s arm, whining sweetly, while shooting me a look of pure provocation.

Damien didn't even ask for my opinion. He just assumed I’d agree. "Aria, since Lily likes it, just let her carry it for the night."

I kept my face completely blank, though I was sneering on the inside. I handed the bag over without a fight. "Whatever. Take it."

Once the party started, Damien’s performance was Oscar-worthy. He played the doting husband to perfection, keeping his arm around my waist, blocking drinks for me, and adjusting my shawl.

We were surrounded by envious glances and empty compliments. "Mr. Damien is so thoughtful. You are so lucky, Aria."

My expression remained flat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lily watching us, unable to hide the jealousy burning in her gaze.

When I slipped away to the restroom, Lily followed me. She checked to make sure we were alone, then suddenly shoved the Hermès bag hard into my chest. It hit me with enough force to hurt.

"Here! Take it back!" Lily looked at the bag with disgust, as if it were contaminated waste. "It’s out of season anyway. Only an old hag like you would treat it like a treasure. I don't want to carry your garbage."

She let out a cold laugh and stomped off.

I walked back into the main hall just in time to hear a woman scream.

"My bracelet! My diamond Cartier bracelet is gone!"

It was Mrs. Blackwood. The crowd instantly buzzed with commotion. That bracelet was a limited edition worth millions; she had been flashing it around all evening.

Lily stepped forward, her face the picture of innocence, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Mrs. Blackwood, was it that diamond panther bracelet?"

Mrs. Blackwood nodded frantically.

Lily gasped, covering her mouth in mock surprise. "Oh no... I think I saw that bracelet in my Mom's purse when I was in the bathroom."

She quickly clamped her hands over her mouth, acting as if the secret had just slipped out.

Every eye in the room turned to me.

I turned to look at Damien.

In that split second, Damien's face changed. He knew better than anyone that Lily had the bag the entire time.

He walked up to me, leaning in to whisper so only I could hear, his voice practically begging. "Aria, give her the bracelet. Just do this for me. Don't make a scene."

"Excuse me?" I looked at him in disbelief.

He didn't wait. He snatched the Hermès bag from my hands, and in front of everyone, reached into the inner pocket.

A second later, the glittering Cartier diamond bracelet was dangling from his hand.

The crowd gasped.

Damien gripped the bracelet tightly and turned to the owner. "Mrs. Blackwood, I am terribly sorry. My wife has been... mentally unstable lately. She must have liked your bracelet and taken it by mistake. Could you please let this go, for my sake? After all, we’re signing that partnership deal tomorrow."

Mrs. Blackwood looked furious, but she glanced at Damien, then thought about the multi-million dollar contract. She gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "Since you're asking, Damien... of course. It was just a misunderstanding."

The guests immediately started whispering, but the narrative had shifted completely.

"Oh my god, Damien is a saint."

"His wife steals in public, and instead of getting mad, he uses a massive contract to protect her."

I stood there, frozen, listening to these absurd praises. Damien walked back to me, pulled me into his arms, and resumed his act. "It's okay, Aria. I'm here. No one can hurt you."

Just then, sirens wailed outside.

Police officers marched straight into the banquet hall.

The lead officer looked stern. "Who called 911? We received a report of grand larceny."

Mrs. Blackwood rushed forward. "It was a misunderstanding, we've settled it privately..."

"Misunderstanding?" The officer’s face darkened. "Do you know that filing a false police report is a crime? Who made the call?"

Lily, hiding behind the crowd, suddenly burst into tears. She shrank back, trembling. "Waaah... I'm sorry... I called... I saw Mom take the stuff and I got scared... I didn't mean to..."

Hearing that Lily could be held liable, the arm Damien had wrapped around me went stiff.

His face turned pale. He lowered his voice, speaking rapidly into my ear. "Aria, you have to take the fall for this. Please, just do this for me. I'll make it up to you later. I'll give you anything you want. But Lily can't have a criminal record. She's just a child. I promise I'll discipline her later and make her apologize."

Before I could even open my mouth, he looked up at the officer and said clearly, "I'm sorry, officer. My wife stole the necklace."

When the cold handcuffs clicked around my wrists, my body began to shake uncontrollably. A deep, bone-chilling terror seized my throat, making it impossible to speak.

Damien knew.

Before we got married, I told him my deepest trauma. When I was ten, I was framed for stealing a classmate's luxury watch. I spent three days in juvenile detention. Those three days were a living nightmare that still haunts me.

The older girls in the cell forced me to drink toilet water. They slammed my head against the wall. They stripped me naked to humiliate me.

After I got out, I spent three years in therapy. To this day, I can't be alone in a confined space.

Damien had sworn—he swore—that he would never let anyone wrong me like that again. He promised to protect me.

And now, he was the one sending me back to hell with his own hands.

Damien couldn't even look me in the eye. He turned his head away, focusing on Lily, who was fake-crying into a handkerchief. His voice was dry and hollow.

"Aria, just go with them. I'll have my lawyer bail you out. You'll be out soon. Just... endure it for a little while."

An hour after I was booked, Damien showed up in the visitation room with a lawyer and a cashmere blanket. Through the iron bars, he tried to hand the blanket to me.

"Aria, I know you've had a rough night."

He held onto my hand through the gaps. "Lily has already apologized. She only did it to get back at you for hitting her earlier."

I looked at this man, a chill running down my spine.

"So," I stared at him coldly. "To save face for your criminal daughter, I have to be the sacrificial lamb? Why?"

Damien frowned. "Don't be so dramatic. I've already pulled some strings. You're the only one in this holding cell. The blanket is brand new, and I had a five-star meal delivered for you. The lawyer will handle the bail paperwork first thing in the morning, and I'll take you home."

He sighed. "Aria, Lily is Sarah's daughter, after all. Sarah died saving me. I promised I would keep Lily safe for the rest of her life."

Sarah saved your life, so I have to pay for it with mine?

Why does your gratitude have to be built on trampling my dignity?

I pulled my hand back and didn't take the blanket. "Get the hell out."

Damien's face darkened. "We'll talk when you've calmed down. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

He left with the lawyer.

Less than ten minutes after Damien left, the door to the visitation room opened again. Lily walked in, carrying a heavy bag.

She walked up to the bars. "I heard it gets cold in here at night. Just came to check if you were dead yet."

She leaned in close, lowering her voice, her eyes overflowing with malice. "Aria, you are so stupid. Did you really think marrying my dad made you the lady of the house? Daddy belongs to me, and only me."

"I actually intended to run your old man over and kill him right there," she suddenly added.

Hearing her admit it with my own ears was a shock that made me tremble.

Seeing my pale face, Lily smiled even wider. "It's a shame he's got nine lives. I only managed to turn him into a vegetable. But hey, that works too. Now you have to spend your life serving a cripple and wagging your tail at my dad for medical bills. How does that feel?"

"Karma is going to get you," I said through gritted teeth, my nails digging into my palms.

"Karma?" Lily laughed like she’d heard a joke. "I have a dad, I have money, and I have the Juvenile Protection Act. Who’s going to give me karma? You? You’re just a prisoner."

She clapped her hands.

From the shadowy corridor, three burly female inmates walked out. They wore the same uniform as everyone else, but their eyes were fierce. These were clearly the cell bosses.

Lily opened the heavy bag and pulled out stacks of cash. She threw the bills into the air, letting them rain down on the floor like some grotesque confetti. "The money is yours."

Then she pointed at me, huddled in the corner, her tone light and airy.

"Take good 'care' of her tonight. If anything happens, my dad will clean up the mess."

The three inmates stared at the money on the ground, their eyes gleaming.

They gathered the cash, turned around, and slowly advanced toward me.

Lily stood outside the bars, crunching on her lollipop, watching the scene with a cold sneer.

"Goodnight." She turned and left.

The next morning, Damien pulled out his chair at the dining table out of habit, waiting for a hot breakfast and my morning kiss. But the table was empty.

The cold air made him pause for a second before he suddenly remembered I was still in the detention center.

"I must be losing it," Damien muttered, rubbing his temples. "I'll go pick her up in a bit. Maybe take her shopping for a new bag to smooth things over."

He called the maid to order some porridge from the kitchen for when I got back.

Just then, the doorbell rang. "Delivery," the maid said, bringing in a document envelope.

Confused, Damien opened it. Two things fell out. One was the divorce papers, already signed.

Damien's face turned grim. Before he could react, sirens wailed outside.

Several heavily armed police officers stormed in, holding arrest warrants.

"We are arresting Lily for attempted murder. And you, Mr. Damien, are under arrest for harboring a criminal and obstruction of justice. You need to come with us."