Chapter 1

Over the weekend, my husband Richard Levine and I were invited to a charity auction.

During the auction, Richard's secretary Bonnie White and I both had our eyes set on the same blue diamond.

I was ready to go head-to-head fairly when Richard, in front of everyone, humiliated me by saying he'd bid a blank check for Bonnie.

He sneered, "Susan Quinn, you're just a housewife. What right do you have to compete with me?"

Just as the other bidders were dropping out one after another, I snapped my fingers at the auctioneer, drawing everyone's attention.

I looked the auctioneer straight in the eye and said, "Whatever Mr. Levine offers, I'll beat it by one dollar!"

Every eye in the room was on me.

And a moment later, the crowd burst into mocking laughter.

One guest sneered, "Is this woman crazy? Competing against her own husband? Got too much money and just wanna throw it away?"

"She's totally insane. A housewife challenging Mr. Levine like this? What nerve!" another chimed in.

"I'd heard rumors that Mr. Levine got a trophy wife a few years back and always kept her out of sight. Never thought we'd see her here tonight," someone else whispered.

As the murmurs around them grew louder, Richard's face darkened visibly.

The next second, he shot to his feet, pointing at me and shouting, "Susan, drop that hand right now! You hear me?

"Every cent you spend is from the Levine family. How dare you compete with me?"

I leaned back in my chair with perfect composure, my gaze cool and measured as I regarded him.

I sneered, "Richard, I am your wife. A little respect would be nice.

"Since when do I let others claim what I want?"

Then my eyes turned steely as I added, "Besides, I've never spent a single cent of your money. Stop spouting nonsense."

At my words, Richard's face flushed crimson with rage.

He shouted, "Susan, how many times must I tell you? In public, you call me Mr. Levine.

"You're just a housewife. We have no professional relationship."

I let out a soft sigh, my eyes fixed on him. "So, Mr. Levine, are you really going to bid against your own wife for the sake of your secretary?"

From the moment I set foot in the auction hall, something felt off.

I should have been sitting right next to Richard, but instead, I was tucked away in the corner.

But I let it slide. Richard's father Edward had always been decent to me, even asking for my advice on investments now and then.

And as an accomplished woman, I figured it was only natural to humor my self-important husband.

But who would have thought that my rightful seat had been given to Richard's secretary, Bonnie?

She was a recent graduate, with nothing going for her but her youth.

And yet, here was Richard, sticking up for her.

Just thinking about it made my blood boil.

But Richard, the so-called rising star of the business world, didn't seem to notice anything was amiss. He just kept pushing me, as relentless as ever.

"Susan, who do you think you are? I don't need you telling me how to run my business.

"You've been living off my family for years—what gives you the right to challenge me?"

Finally, Richard snapped, "Let me make this clear: I'm going to win that blue diamond for Bonnie today, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Before I could shoot back, Bonnie was already on her feet, her eyes flashing with defiance.

She drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Susan, I'd say it's time to throw in the towel.

"You don't want to upset Mr. Levine, do you? You'll regret it if you do."

She paused, a sly grin spreading across her face. "A housewife should know her place, don't you think, Susan?"

Her words set off a wave of laughter from the crowd, even the auctioneer on stage had to stifle a chuckle.

But I just shrugged and gave a short, mirthless laugh.

"So, Bonnie, you're determined to outbid me to the very end today, huh?" I said, my eyes narrowing at her.

Bonnie smirked at me, her eyes dripping with contempt.

She sneered, "Susan, let's be realistic here. You're a housewife—no job and no income. What makes you think you can compete with me?

"Mr. Levine's playing with no limits now. Do you really have that kind of money to throw around?"

I lifted my chin and gave her a cool smile.

Then I said, "You're wrong about me, Bonnie. I'm not like you.

"I don't need a man to foot my bills."