On our wedding anniversary, my husband’s so-called “female buddy” showed up.

In front of everyone, she shamelessly yanked down her neckline:

“My chest was busted by your husband’s hands—what are you going to do about it?”

Ethan Walker froze for two seconds, then burst into laughter.

“Chloe Miller, guess that silicone implant of yours wasn’t high quality. I was just joking around, didn’t even use any force!”

They acted as if it were some trivial joke, and no one seemed to think anything was wrong.

Chloe leaned closer, refusing to let it drop.

“It used to be real before—you could squeeze and I’d let it go. But this is a brand-new implant I spent twenty grand on, and you just popped it. You owe me compensation!”

…

Ethan batted her hand away. “Stop trying to extort me. It wasn’t on purpose. Maybe it’s just poor quality to begin with—nothing compared to my wife.”

He said this while wrapping his arm tenderly around my waist.

Immediately, all eyes turned toward me, filled with mixed emotions.

“Well, of course. Lily Evans is a real woman—curves in all the right places. What man wouldn’t be tempted?”

Ethan shot the guy a glare and kicked at him.

“Don’t even think about making a move on my wife.”

In public, Ethan always carried the image of a devoted husband.

If anyone dared to speak badly of me, he wouldn’t allow it.

If another man looked my way more than twice, Ethan would fume for days.

And yet, this very man insisted on keeping a small clique, which included his loud, brash “female buddy.”

Chloe glanced at me and forced a smile.

“Of course your wife has a great body—otherwise how would she have married you?”

“But unlike her, I’m your brother.”

She said this while hooking an arm around Ethan’s shoulders, cleverly nudging me aside.

“Ethan, you disloyal bastard. You won’t even cover a measly twenty grand? Didn’t you spend eighty grand last time on a diamond bracelet for your wife?”

Her face showed a hint of lingering delight.

“But tell me—between me and your wife, whose is softer?”

I frowned at Ethan, expecting him to shut this down.

To my shock, he didn’t feel offended at all. Instead, he picked up the banter.

“Of course it’s my wife. That fake chest of yours feels hard as plastic.”

Chloe pretended to be furious and leapt onto him, gnawing at his neck.

“You brat, how dare you talk about your dad like that? I’ll bite you to death!”

Soon, Ethan was covered with her slobber.

As they carried on, I suddenly clapped my hands.

“Why don’t you just kiss here and now? We’ll record a documentary to rewatch later.”

Only then did Ethan realize things looked bad. He quickly pulled away and tried to reassure me.

“Baby, don’t mind it. We’ve been messing around like this since we were kids—I almost forgot you were here.”

I sneered, lifting my head.

“So when I’m not around, do you two just go to bed?”

Someone voiced their dissatisfaction.

“I told you not to bring spouses along. Why bring a woman so petty and sharp-tongued?”

“Some people are filthy themselves and think everything looks filthy.”

“Honestly, treating your husband like he’s some priceless treasure, guarding him so tightly.”

“If they were really involved, it would’ve happened long ago. If Ethan had wanted Chloe, he would’ve married her, not someone else.”

Clearly, this little clique didn’t welcome me.

I was about to finish my juice and leave.

Suddenly, Chloe leaned over.

“Lily Evans, I heard you manage the family finances.”

Her smile was sugary and fake.

“Since it was your husband who busted my implant, why don’t you pay me instead?”

It was an outright test.

Whether I agreed or not, I knew I’d become the laughingstock of their circle afterward.

I let out a cold laugh.

“Pay you? Aren’t you the one who claims to be a man? Having a flat chest is normal. Why even need implants?”

Chloe’s smile froze on her face.

“Sis-in-law, if you won’t pay, fine. But why mock me?”

Once she realized I wasn’t easy prey, she stopped trying to engage with me.

In fact, wherever I was, she deliberately kept her distance.

Within minutes, the others started giving me strange looks.

A kind soul whispered in my ear,

“Don’t you see? Chloe’s trying to lead everyone into isolating you.”

I smiled.

“That’s exactly what I want.”

This was my first—and would be my last—time attending one of these gatherings.

But when I returned from the restroom, I saw Ethan handing Chloe a check.

“Who else spoils you like I do?”

“The check says one hundred fifty thousand dollars. Go ahead and spend it.”

“And don’t tell Lily—I don’t want her overthinking.”

Chloe gleefully accepted it and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

“Knew you were loyal, brother.”

Ethan’s gaze slid downward, and without hesitation, he reached out to squeeze her chest.

“This one feels better than the last. Stick to this standard from now on.”

Laughter rippled through the group.

“Ethan, you’re insane. Your wife is right here—aren’t you afraid she’ll make a scene?”

Ethan shrugged, unconcerned.

“It’s nothing serious, just fooling around. Besides, my wife’s in the restroom. Don’t any of you run your mouths.”

“If she hears nonsense and gives me hell at home, you’ll all regret it.”

But in the next second, he turned around—and froze when he saw me watching.

Panic flashed across his face as he stood quickly.

“Lily, when did you get back?”

Holding a menu, he hurried to offer it to me.

“I told them to wait for you before ordering.”

Whenever we ate out, Ethan always made sure I ordered first. No one else could order until I did.

But before I could take it, Chloe snatched it away with a fake laugh.

“Oh come on, why wait? I’m starving.”

She shot me a playful glance.

“Sis-in-law, you don’t seem like the petty type. Mind if I order my favorites—sweet and sour ribs, garlic shrimp?”

I smiled back.

“Not at all.”

When the garlic shrimp arrived, Chloe pulled the whole plate toward herself, dumping it into her bowl.

“Ethan, I don’t want my hands greasy. Be a good boy and peel them for me.”

Ethan hesitated, then chuckled helplessly.

“You really are spoiled, brat.”

All eyes shifted to me, their looks complicated.

I lowered my gaze and smiled faintly.

“I want some shrimp too.”

Ethan froze mid-peel. He looked at me, then at Chloe.

Finally, he placed the peeled shrimp into my bowl.

“My baby eats first.”

Chloe’s knuckles whitened around her chopsticks as she glared at me, teeth nearly cracking.

During dinner, she pretended to drop the check in front of me—obviously trying to show off.

But before she could pick it back up, I snatched it first and slipped it away.

Chloe’s eyes widened. “Lily, what are you doing? That’s mine!”

Unbothered, I glanced at the name and amount on it, snapped a photo, then waved it before everyone.

“The name here is Ethan Walker’s. This is marital property. Any expenditure should be clearly accounted for—it can’t just vanish without explanation.”

I turned to Ethan.

“Darling, you’ve always reported your spending to me. Why didn’t you this time? What exactly is this for?”

Ethan’s face darkened with embarrassment. He stammered,

“Baby, I…”

“Give me back the check!” Chloe snapped.

Shoving her chair back, she stood and rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight me.

I almost forgot—she was the only woman in this clique, yet always claimed to be “one of the guys.”

She drove away any girlfriends that the men brought in, sneering and sowing discord until they broke up.

She thrived on being the only girl among men, enjoying the attention.

Too bad I wasn’t about to indulge her.

I leaned back with a cold smile. “I won’t return it. What will you do about it?”

Chloe punched me square in the face.

“Lily, I’ve put up with you long enough.”

She yanked my hair, forcing my head down.

“Just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you. Even if you’re Ethan’s wife, I’ll hit you all the same.”

Gasps sounded around us.

“Chloe, stop it—don’t go too far.”

“If Ethan sees this, he’ll go ballistic.”

“That’s his wife, for God’s sake…”

Chloe sneered over her shoulder.

“So what? You all know Ethan values his ‘brothers’ above all else. I’ve beaten up his past girlfriends plenty, and he never said a word.”

Her grip tightened, nearly ripping my hair from my scalp.

Her eyes gleamed with spite, as if to say: Even as his wife, you don’t matter.

She lowered her head and whispered where only I could hear,

“Lily, what are you so smug about? Can’t you see? When it comes down to a choice, Ethan always picks me. Every time I see you with him, it makes me sick.”

But the next second, her smug smile froze—

and a scream of agony tore from her throat.

I had pulled out my self-defense knife and driven it into her left shoulder, steady and precise.

As her face twisted in shock, I sneered coldly.

“Feeling better now?”

The onlookers, who had been waiting for drama, went wide-eyed.

Whispers broke out.

“Never thought Lily was so ruthless. She looked soft, but she’s deadly.”

“Proves you can’t underestimate anyone—especially not her.”

“Chloe’s in for it now. No way she’s walking this off.”