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."