"Do you know how much calling the police will damage her reputation? You’re truly selfish."

I smiled, hooking the necklace with my hand. "A welcome gift for new employees. Mr. Worthington is so generous. I’m just curious—does everyone get one, or only Charlotte? There are twenty new employees joining this month. Is Mr. Worthington planning to give one to each of them?"

Alexander’s face darkened, and he remained silent. Charlotte hurried over and bowed deeply. "I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I was careless. I forgot I’m just a small assistant. Who am I to wear such expensive jewelry?"

She placed the necklace back into its gift box and gently pushed it toward me. "I’ll never accept anything that doesn’t belong to me again." Her face was pale, and I felt a pang of pity for her.

She wiped her tears with her hand. "Elizabeth, if there are consequences, I’ll bear them myself. But please don’t fire me. I really want to learn more from President Worthington. I don’t want to leave the company. Please give me this chance."

Alexander handed her a tissue, gently wiping her tears. "Why are you crying? You’re my assistant. I gave you the gift. I can’t hold you responsible. I’m your boss. Only I have the right to fire you. Stay by my side."

Charlotte looked up at him, her eyes filled with trust and admiration, as if he were her hero. That look made my stomach twist. Alexander frowned at me. "Elizabeth, explain everything to the police immediately. If you insist on pursuing this, I’ll buy it for you, okay?"

I looked at him coldly. "Buy it? Isn’t the money you spend considered joint marital property? Mr. Worthington is so generous! Even a small assistant can give such an expensive gift. Truly eye-opening."

Alexander, flustered, snapped, "Enough! What else do you want? When did you become like this? Do you realize how ugly jealousy makes you look?"

He pulled out a check, quickly filled in the amount, and tossed it to me. "One hundred million. Are you satisfied?"

He then grabbed the jewelry box, took out the necklace I had helped Charlotte wear, and gently adjusted the pendant. My hand brushed her earrings. "It’s beautiful. It suits you perfectly. Don’t cry—you won’t look pretty if you keep crying."

My heart twisted. I looked so ugly being jealous. When did I become like this? I watched my husband hugging his assistant in front of me, closed my eyes, and dejectedly told the lawyer, "Take the check and withdraw the report."

As we left the police station, Alexander’s car pulled up. He rolled down the window. "You had to cause trouble today? It’s my mother’s birthday. You didn’t forget, did you? Get in."

I looked up. Alexander and Charlotte were sitting in the back, leaving the front passenger seat for me.

I froze, staring at Charlotte. She bit her lower lip. "Elizabeth, Mr. Worthington said you don’t allow anyone else in the passenger seat, so he’s leaving it for you."

After saying that, she glanced at Alexander cautiously, as if afraid of saying something wrong. Then she looked back at me, a faintly smug expression lingering in her eyes. Alexander was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and she was behind him—clearly trying to embarrass me.

Alexander said sharply, "Get in the car. Don’t waste everyone’s time."

I curled my lips into a small, controlled smile. I am the proper young mistress of the Worthington family. The young mistress and the driver sit in one row; Alexander and the assistant sit in another. When we reach the Worthington family mansion, I won’t be the one embarrassed.

The car drove down the road, taking a sharp turn. Charlotte leaned sideways against Alexander, then quickly straightened, her face flushing. "I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I didn’t mean to fall onto Mr. Worthington. Please don’t mind it."

She looked at me cautiously. "You won’t be angry, will you?"

I didn’t respond. Alexander rubbed his brows. "It’s just a small matter. The driver was unsteady. Just be careful. It’s not like he did anything shameful." Catching my reflection in the rearview mirror, he added calmly, "Elizabeth, I hope you won’t make a fuss anymore. That’s enough. Stop giving Charlotte a hard time."

Looking at Charlotte’s smug expression, I said coldly, "From start to finish, I haven’t said a word in the car. Alexander, you keep accusing me. My patience with you has ended."

The car stopped in front of the Worthington residence gate. A servant opened the back door, but I acted first and opened the front door myself. The servants were startled. "Young Madam! I… I didn’t know. I thought you were in the back."

I nodded. "It’s okay. I don’t blame you. The person in the back seat is your future Young Madam."

As I spoke, the servants and waiting guests turned to watch.

Charlotte’s tears fell, and she lowered her head. "Mr. Worthington, I’m not going in. I really haven’t learned my lesson. How could I possibly be here?"

Alexander stepped out from the other side and held the door for her. "Don’t worry. I’m here. No one can give you a hard time."

Haha—love-sickness and a little green tea. What a show. So childish.

I turned away, my chest aching. Seven years of marriage, and now the seven-year itch had struck. Our marriage was arranged, but unlike loveless unions, we had grown together, married passionately, and shared a fiery love. Love can be powerful when it comes, but devastating when it leaves.

I don’t know how far he and Charlotte have gone, but I know his heart has long been unfaithful. I don’t want Alexander like this anymore.

My mother-in-law waved happily. "Elizabeth’s here! Come quickly! Where’s Alexander?"

I forced a smile, my eyes reddening. My aunt leaned over and whispered something. My mother-in-law’s face darkened as she saw Alexander and Charlotte walking arm in arm. Charlotte wore the baby’s breath necklace, freshly put on. Alexander guided her toward me, giving me a warning look. Charlotte stepped forward and handed me a gift box.

"Happy birthday, Auntie! This is my gift for you. I made a bracelet myself, blessed at a temple to bring you health. It’s not pretty, so please don’t mind."

I opened the box. Inside was a simple red bracelet. Ordinarily, cheap—three for ten dollars at a street stall would have been prettier.

Someone nearby burst out laughing. "She’s probably watched too many idol dramas, thinking a slum girl can impress a wealthy mother-in-law with a handmade bracelet."

Another sneered, "I’ve never seen anything like this. If you’re not in our circle, don’t try to get close."

I suppressed my laughter, eyes fixed on Charlotte, filled with contempt. Yes—contempt. A little green tea girl hoping to climb into the Worthington family over me had no chance. With her lowly background, even tolerating her would be degrading, let alone letting her rise. Even without my words, society would teach her the lesson naturally.

Alexander spoke up, "Mom, Charlotte is young and doesn’t understand. This is her gift, so please accept it."

My mother-in-law glanced at her, and the servants immediately reached out to take the bracelet, handing over a red envelope. I smiled faintly. The red envelope came from the plate my mother-in-law had given to the servants that day—a small gesture of mockery, if subtle.

Charlotte accepted the red envelope happily. "Thank you, Auntie."

Then she turned to me. "Elizabeth, what gift did you give Auntie today? I see you don’t have one. You didn’t forget, did you?"

I looked at her with sharp disgust, then shot Alexander the same glare. Since she came to my house, I wouldn’t hold back. Alexander, knowing my temper, was about to intervene, but I spoke first. I took my mother-in-law’s arm. "Mom, I bought you a sapphire—your favorite. Let me show you a picture."

I pulled up photos from my phone, including the ones from the auction house. My mother-in-law’s face lit up. "Oh, Elizabeth, you’re wonderful. You always make me happy."

I pursed my lips. "But today I discovered Alexander took the jewel without my knowledge, saying he wanted to give it away."

Alexander snapped, "That’s enough, Elizabeth! Haven’t you said enough?"

My mother-in-law’s voice rose even higher. "Being mean to my daughter-in-law? What are you doing? Who gave the gift Elizabeth gave me? Who’s worth that much?"

Alexander dared not reply. My mother-in-law’s sharp gaze swept to Charlotte’s neck, stopping at the necklace in astonishment. "Elizabeth… it can’t be this?"

My eyes reddened as I nodded. "Yes. Alexander cut it into dozens of pieces, claiming it was a new job gift for his assistant."

Guests gathered, murmuring in shock. "No way! A gem worth a hundred million, cut into pieces? What’s Alexander thinking?"

"What’s the difference between this and throwing it away?"

"What kind of background does this assistant have that Alexander would do this? Such a waste!"

My mother-in-law shrieked, "Alexander, are you crazy? You cut hundreds of millions’ worth of jewelry into this and set it into a necklace that looks like something from a street stall. Where’s your brain?"

I wiped my tears. "I couldn’t find it today, so I thought it was stolen and called the police. But Alexander came to the station and scolded me, saying I was being unreasonable and targeting his assistant."

"But I bought it specifically for Mom. He wanted to buy jewelry for another woman—and I didn’t dare say anything. How could he waste a gift for Mom on a female college graduate?"

"Mom, you don’t know how I… It was so embarrassing at the police station today. If you didn’t know, you’d think I was the mistress."

My mother-in-law’s face darkened. "He’s rebelling. Alexander, get this man out of the Worthington family immediately. Don’t bring any random people to my birthday party."

Charlotte’s eyes were red, tears streaming silently. I said sharply, "Today is my mother-in-law’s birthday. Don’t cry and bring bad luck to her. There’s no better time to cry than at an elder’s celebration."

She couldn’t reply. Desperately, she tugged at the necklace and placed it in Alexander’s hand. Choking back tears, she whispered, "I’ll give it back. I don’t want it anymore." Then she ran out, crying.

Alexander hurried after her, leaving everyone in the banquet hall stunned. After a while, he returned with Charlotte in his arms, her eyes red and swollen. He glared at me. "You’re cruel, Elizabeth! You’re deliberately trying to embarrass Charlotte in front of Mom. Do you think I care about you?"

"You’ll only make me loathe you more."

"Charlotte and I are just superior and subordinate, yet you insist on throwing mud at us."

I looked down at him coldly. "Alexander, the internet isn’t lawless. You think no one knows what you’ve done. I was foolish not to say anything. I thought you’d return and make it right, but today I’ve realized—I won’t wait for you anymore."

I pulled out my phone and opened Charlotte's Instagram Moments. The post from last night read: “Give me a sky full of stars, and I’ll give you my life.”

The photo showed her lying in Alexander's arms, a baby's breath necklace resting on her bare back. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

The photo’s ambiguity was obvious. It was taken on a bed, and though partially covered by a quilt, it was clear she was naked. Alexander’s face went pale. I sneered, "Want to know why you didn’t know? Your assistant deliberately sent it to me. If she weren’t so spoiled, how could she dare challenge me so boldly?"

"Alexander, you disgust me."

I turned to Charlotte. "You win. This man is yours. I don’t want him anymore."