While shopping with my best friend, I accidentally saw my husband, Caleb Vance, the billionaire "Prince of New York," bidding a fortune for a necklace I had admired for months. I thought it was an anniversary surprise. But the next day, I saw it hanging around the neck of his stunningly beautiful intern. I didn't cry. I didn't make a scene. Instead, I called my contact at the jewelry brand and ordered two hundred replicas of that exact necklace. I had them delivered to every single girl in the intern's college dorm. Since he likes giving gifts, I figured I’d help him be generous. Let everyone have one. Oh, and I also had my lawyer draft the divorce papers and sent them directly to his office. That day, every girl in dorm 1A at NYU received a gift from the wife of the CEO of Vance Tech. Everyone, that is, except Luna. 1 The gala was in full swing when Caleb walked in with Luna on his arm. The girl was young, radiant, and clinging to him like a vine, smiling brightly at the room. The crowd around me parted like the Red Sea. I saw the pity and awkwardness in their eyes. I never thought Caleb would actually dare to bring her to a public event. We were a power couple, a union of two of the city's biggest families. I thought he would at least have the decency to save face for me. I was wrong. "Why the long faces? Is everyone just stunned by Caleb's new secretary?" I stepped forward, breaking the tension with a smooth explanation. The crowd relaxed, relieved. Caleb walked up to me as if nothing was wrong. "Serena." His voice was gentle. Luna followed his lead, her voice sugary sweet. "Hi, sister." I swallowed the urge to vomit and smiled back perfectly. We are adults. In this circle, the most important skill is pretending. Pretending to be happy when you're furious. Pretending to like people you loathe. Besides, causing a scene here wouldn't benefit anyone. But when my eyes landed on the necklace around Luna's neck, my heart finally turned to ice. Ten minutes ago, I watched Caleb tenderly tuck a stray hair behind her ear and fix her slipping strap. Yesterday, when I saw him leave the auction house, I was so sure that necklace was for me. I felt a flutter of excitement, anticipating the surprise. I even went to the salon this morning to get my hair and makeup done. But the surprise never came. I called him earlier to fish for hints. The answer was nothing. But I did hear a girl's voice in the background: "Mr. Vance, won't your wife be upset?" "No. She's always been generous and understanding. She won't mind." That was the moment I realized how naive I had been. Caleb was gone long ago. He was right. I am generous. Fighting with a pick-me girl? That's beneath me. Luna stood behind Caleb, smiling sweetly, but the provocation in her eyes was unmistakable. I smirked internally. Just a naive college student thinking she's special. I stared at her neck and said slowly, "Nice necklace. Was it a gift?" Luna wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what I was asking. 2 She was a student. She couldn't afford that necklace. Luna looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, then shifted a fearful glance to Caleb. Caleb jumped to her defense, as expected. "Serena, don't misunderstand. Luna had a hard time at the internship, so as her boss, I bought her a little something to cheer her up. It's nothing." I raised my champagne glass to him, smiling my understanding, then turned and called my assistant. A moment later, Caleb’s phone rang, and he stepped away to answer. A socialite friend sidled up to me, asking loudly who Luna was. It wasn't a polite question; it was mockery. Everyone has eyes. Caleb's protective stance was obvious. I didn't mince words. "Probably some girl dreaming she can sleep her way to the top." Luna's face went white. She looked humiliated and wronged, tears filling her big, doe eyes. What a perfect, innocent white lotus. No wonder Caleb liked her. The woman asking the question didn't expect me to be so blunt and awkwardly excused herself. I crossed my arms and looked Luna up and down. "Ms. Luna, right? At your age, you should be reading books, studying for exams, maybe applying for a government job. Don't harbor unrealistic fantasies. You'll lose your dignity and your heart." She knew I was humiliating her. Her lips trembled, but she couldn't say a word. I sneered internally. Just because I act generous doesn't mean I'm a doormat. "Sister, I..." "Stop." I cut her off. "My mother only had one child. I don't have a sister. And this isn't the 1800s; we don't do the whole 'sister-wife' thing." Luna's tears fell faster. Just as I was about to dig in deeper, Caleb returned. He walked straight to me. "Did you order the necklaces?" My assistant was fast. "Yes." "Why did you order so many? You don't even wear jewelry like that." I leaned against a pillar, smiling teasingly. "Helping you build good karma, of course. Interns have it tough these days. A little gift makes everyone happy." Caleb's mask finally cracked. But he recovered quickly. He smoothly wrapped an arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, "It's just a necklace. If you like it, I'll buy you another one. Don't scare the new girl. I'd hate for you to get wrinkles from frowning." His voice was low and husky, the same tone he used during our intimate nights. But now, he was using it to protect Luna. I leaned into him, playing the part of the loving wife, but my whisper was cold. "You know exactly what she's doing. It's not just about the necklace. Caleb, I don't care how you play around outside, but remember, I am Mrs. Vance. If this blows up, it hurts both of us." "This ends today. I hope this is the last time." I said the last sentence through gritted teeth. 3 From the outside, it looked like we were flirting. The crowd cheered and teased us. I felt his body stiffen. I patted his back with a smile and walked away to grab another drink. When the party ended and guests started leaving, I thought I had made my point clear. But I underestimated how thick-skinned some people can be. Luna tried to get into Caleb's car with us. "Luna's dorm is far, and it's hard to get an Uber this late. It's on the way, let's drop her off," Caleb said to me. I scoffed. "We live in the Upper East Side. She lives in Queens. How is that on the way?" Caleb frowned. Luna looked at me with teary eyes. It made me look like the bully. Seeing I wasn't budging, Caleb played the emotional card. "Serena, you've always been understanding..." I cut him off. "What if I say no?" Luna stepped forward, eyes red. "Sister, I shouldn't have taken the necklace. It's my fault. But I really can't get a ride..." "I'll trade you my favorite perfume for the ride, okay?" She held out a fancy bottle. Probably another gift from Caleb. I wrinkled my nose. "What scent is that? Eau de Desperation?" Luna turned bright red, holding back tears. Caleb finally snapped. "Serena, that's enough." I laughed. "That's enough?" "Caleb, don't forget who hosted this gala. Without my father pulling strings, your deal tonight would be dead in the water." I pushed past the weeping Luna and got into the car. Businessmen always weigh the pros and cons. Caleb knew what I meant. He might be the golden boy, but I was the heiress who brought the connections. In our world, feelings come second to power. He got in the car. We drove in suffocating silence. I didn't care about fighting a little girl, but I couldn't have rumors spreading that the Mrs. Vance was left on the street. I noticed the passenger seat had been adjusted. I knew exactly who sat there. There was a sticky note on the dashboard: "Princess Seat." Rage flared in my chest. I wanted to kick Caleb out of the car and slap Luna. Just then, his phone rang. Luna, sobbing. "Caleb... sob... I couldn't get a car... someone is following me... I'm scared..." Caleb slammed on the brakes. "Okay, don't move. Stay there. I'm coming to get you." I stopped adjusting my seat and looked at him in disbelief. "Serena, you take the car. Luna might be in danger. I have to go back." I laughed out loud. "We are in the middle of Manhattan. There are people everywhere. There's a police station two blocks from where we left her. What danger?" "Are you her dad? If she's in danger, she should call 911, not you." 4 Caleb was speechless for a second, then sighed deeply. "Serena, can you have some empathy? She's a girl alone at night." "Are you seriously fighting me over a necklace right now?" I didn't back down. "Are you blind, Caleb? She is provoking me. You can't see that? And you're going to dump me on the side of the road for her?" Caleb's expression shifted from anger to cold disappointment. "Serena, when did you become so unreasonable? You weren't like this before." I laughed. I'm unreasonable? "Caleb, this is the first time you've ever argued with me over another woman." Caleb turned to look out the window, refusing to engage. "Did you forget our agreement before we got married? Even if there's no love, there's respect. You don't cheat, I don't cheat. For the reputation of our families. Are you going to break the rules for her?" Silence filled the car. I knew I had won this round. That night, we slept in separate rooms. His excuse: I was too "domineering," he felt suffocated, and we needed space. Fine. It gave me time to think. Lying in bed, I replayed the day. This was the first time Caleb had ever disrespected me for another woman. Our families were close, but Caleb and I didn't know each other well before the arrangement. I thought he was just a spoiled rich kid. But three years ago, I fell for his charm. He was smart, funny, and capable. So when our parents suggested marriage, I agreed. It was a merger of empires. We respected each other. I thought we were the perfect power couple. Somewhere along the line, I thought he started to love me. The cold prince would cuddle me at night, warm my cold feet in winter, make me tea when I was sick. He recently told me, "Serena, you are always my first choice." But Luna appeared, and everything changed. My phone buzzed. A text from Caleb: "Goodnight, Serena." With a cute cat sticker.
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