“Yes, Chloe, let us come see!”

“A top-tier red-carpet gown—if I miss this, I might never see one in my life.”

My colleagues swarmed Chloe, their faces alight with anticipation.

Chloe struggled to compose herself, her voice trembling slightly. “The designer's still in Paris and the dress hasn't arrived. It's not a good time.”

Sensing her panic, I pressed on. “What, are you looking down on us? You think we’re not worthy of seeing your haute couture gown?”

“Or is it that the invitation isn’t really yours, so you can’t?”

The questions hung in the air, sharp and pointed.

Even the colleagues who had been fawning over Chloe began to look uncertain.

Chloe probably never imagined she’d be putting on a show for the real heiress on her very first day.

Just as I thought her facade was about to crumble, our department director, Jessica, strode into the office. The moment she saw Chloe, she linked arms with her like a long-lost sister.

“Chloe, why didn’t you tell me you were coming in? What’s all this? Is someone giving you trouble?”

Jessica’s tone was inquisitive, but her words were aimed squarely at me. “Ava, I know your marriage is a mess and you're stuck with a loser husband, but don't project your jealousy onto everyone else.”

“Chloe’s red-carpet look? I personally heard the chairman on the phone with Vogue’s editor-in-chief discussing it. How could it be fake? If Chloe lets this go, it’s out of generosity. But if you keep this up, I’ll have to recommend your termination to senior management.”

With Jessica’s public endorsement, our colleagues immediately fell back in line behind Chloe.

“Ava, don’t drag us all down with your jealousy.”

“We never doubted Chloe for a second.”

Chloe, feigning magnanimity, said nonchalantly, “Since Jessica has spoken, I’ll just pretend this never happened. But you should remember, Ava, not everyone is as tolerant as I am.”

Her words made my accusations look like a joke. What a performance, the two of them in perfect sync. There was no point in being the lone villain, so I dropped it.

But Chloe’s supporters wouldn't let it go, rehashing what I’d said in the employee group chat.

Some employees tagged me relentlessly, hurling insults. Others, lost in the fantasy of the fitting party, pestered Chloe about when they could come.

A short while later, Chloe posted a throwback photo on Instagram with a well-known designer, reaping a fresh wave of praise and envy. She promised to invite everyone to a celebration after the Gala.

Across the room, Ethan immediately pulled out his phone and followed Chloe on Raya.

“We’re going to my parents’ for dinner this weekend. You promised me last week,” I said, handing Ethan his freshly ironed suit.

Ethan stood before the mirror, adjusting his tie. “Did I?” Without another word, he turned and left the house.

My parents lived in a duplex penthouse on Fifth Avenue, where access to most of the building was restricted. Downstairs, my family’s head butler, Alfred, was waiting with a fleet of Cadillacs to pick me up.

The penthouse was one of the most valuable properties in New York City, often rumored to be priceless. It was, in fact, my family’s.

I had originally planned to reveal my identity to Ethan today. Clearly, he wasn’t worthy.

A notification popped up on my phone. My new colleague, Chloe, had posted an update.

In the photo, Chloe stood confidently in a luxurious designer outfit, while my husband trailed behind her, laden with shopping bags from high-end brands. The look on his face was a miserable mix of exhaustion and adulation.

After dinner with my parents, Alfred drove me back to my apartment as usual.

“Miss, you own so many properties. Why do you insist on living in this cramped, old apartment?” Alfred’s bewilderment mirrored my father’s own confusion about my marriage to Ethan.

“Cramped? This apartment is in a prime downtown Manhattan location. More importantly, it’s close to the office.”

This apartment was the main reason Ethan had been so eager to marry me right after graduation.

“Miss, this is a gift from your father. The family heirloom, the ‘Star of Sterling’ diamond necklace, valued at 25 million dollars. He said the Met Gala invitation was too pedestrian and that this was a more fitting gift.”

Alfred respectfully opened the velvet box, revealing the necklace. I glanced at it. The diamonds were dazzling.

I didn’t think much of it at the time. I locked it in the safe, and between work and everything else, I forgot all about it—until a week later, when Chloe walked into the office wearing my necklace.

“Chloe, your necklace is gorgeous! It must have cost a fortune.”

“Of course! Everything Chloe wears is beyond our reach.”

“I’ve seen that in a magazine. It’s the ‘Star of Sterling.’ It’s worth 25 million dollars.”

“Wait, are you saying that necklace is worth 25 million?”

“Oh my God, she’s just casually wearing a mansion around her neck.”

Chloe sauntered into the office and placed her latest designer handbag conspicuously on her desk.

The brilliant diamonds sparkled against her skin.

A few eagle-eyed colleagues immediately gathered around to shower her with compliments. Their chatter drifted over to me, and I looked up to see the familiar necklace draped around Chloe’s neck.

Isn’t that my necklace? I thought, confused. I locked it in the safe myself. How could she possibly have it?

“Ava, stop dreaming,” Ethan sneered from across the aisle. “Take a good look at yourself. Do you really think you could ever afford something like that?”

“And where did that necklace come from?” I asked, my voice dripping with ice. “I think you know the answer to that better than anyone.”

“This necklace was a gift from Ethan,” Chloe replied with a sweet, mocking laugh. “He didn’t tell me the price, but if I’d known it was this cheap, I wouldn’t have worn it.” She knew exactly where it came from and was deliberately flaunting it.

I immediately had Alfred pull up the security footage from my apartment.

The video showed Ethan sneaking into our home while I was working late. He opened the safe and took the ‘Star of Sterling’ necklace. Then he raided my walk-in closet, grabbing several of my Hermès Birkin bags.

Chloe’s post from yesterday suddenly made sense. She was showing off the spoils of my husband’s theft.

My colleagues, oblivious to the truth, were still fawning over Ethan.

“Ethan must come from money! He’s been holding out on us.”

“I told you all Ethan lived in that luxury downtown complex, but no one believed me.”

“Since you’ve been keeping it a secret, Ethan, you owe us a big meal!”

Ethan, blushing from the praise, ordered catering for the entire office from Per Se, the city’s most exclusive three-Michelin-starred restaurant—for everyone but me.

Without a second thought, I froze Ethan’s black card. He remained completely unaware, preening in his moment of glory.

Let’s see how you’re going to pay for this, I thought.