Chapter 4

When her friends brought it up, Leslie just shrugged and said it didn't bother her. She only hoped Luke wouldn't let her down someday.

Before long, Luke, still in his twenties, scored big with a business investment and quickly became the hottest rising star in the business world.

Once his career took off, Luke didn't want Leslie out in public anymore. He told her, "My health isn't great. Why don't you stay home and take care of me?" So Leslie left the company they'd built together and started learning the ins and outs of domestic life.

She'd thought about going back to work, but Luke wouldn't hear of it. He said he just loved coming home and seeing her waiting for him.

Leslie sometimes wondered if Luke was seeing someone else, but for years, he always came home with spotless clothes, never a hint of perfume or lipstick. She didn't want to turn into a paranoid wife, so she forced herself not to dwell on it.

Twelve years had passed in the blink of an eye. Luke had made it big, but he was busier than ever, and the two of them barely saw each other anymore.

Leslie could feel he didn't care about her like he used to, but she got it. She was the one who'd chased him in the first place, and after twelve years together, things were bound to lose their spark.

So she tried to rekindle what they'd lost. She suggested trips, learned new recipes, and tried every way she could to bring a little freshness back into their life.

But no matter how hard she tried, the only thing she saw in Luke's eyes was more and more obvious disgust.

"Can you stop clinging to me all day? Don't you have your own life?" Luke snapped.

He said coldly, "Seriously, what other wife gets to live this easily? You don't have to worry about a thing. So what do you have to complain about? Leslie, just leave me alone."

Every cruel word from him was like a thorn, piercing straight into her heart.

And Abbey's pregnancy test was the sharpest knife of all, cutting deep into Leslie's heart. She was already battered and broken, yet still loving him with everything she had.

Her vision blurred as tears welled up, but Leslie still managed to type out a message to him. [Luke, let's get a divorce.]

By the next morning, Luke still hadn't replied.

Her message was like a stone sinking into the sea. Leslie couldn't help but wonder if maybe he'd muted her long ago, not even bothering to look at her messages anymore.

After breakfast, Leslie picked up her phone again and saw that Abbey had just posted something on her social media.

Abbey: [Thank you for flaunting your favoritism for me. That's why I can brag so boldly.]

And she'd attached a photo.

In the photo, Abbey had her long hair pulled up, showing off her elegant neck. She was dressed in a sleek black custom gown, and around her neck was an emerald necklace surrounded by diamonds, glinting coldly in the sunlight. It looked so familiar.

It was the only heirloom Leslie's mother had ever left her.

With a clatter, the fork fell from Leslie's hand onto the table. She stared in shock, her hand frozen mid-air.

Heart pounding, she bolted to the bedroom, yanked open the safe. And just as she feared, the emerald necklace was gone.

A cold wave washed over Leslie. Only she and Luke knew the code to that safe.

That necklace meant more to her than life itself.

Leslie's fingers tightened, and in a flash, she sprang up, snatched her car keys, and rushed out. He headed straight for the venue of tonight's business gala.

The business gala was filled with the city's elite, all the movers and shakers of Eblando.

A few days earlier, her father had called to urge her to attend. "Leslie, I know you love Luke. I didn't approve of your marriage at first, but you were determined, so I didn't say anything more."

He added, "But you can't just depend on others. You need your own career. This gathering is a great opportunity. I mailed you an invitation. If you're willing, go and check it out."

Leslie had originally planned to discuss it with Luke and use the chance to finally open up about her family background. But before she could, Abbey had already provoked her, and that was how Leslie found out about Luke's affair.

By the time Leslie arrived, the party was already in full swing.

She spotted Luke right away, a glass of wine in hand, with Abbey by his side. He was chatting with the city's business elite, not even sparing her a glance.

But Abbey was the first to notice Leslie. She said something to Luke, then let go of his arm and, with a graceful turn, walked over to Leslie.

"Leslie, seriously? You showed up looking all disheveled like this?" Abbey sneered.

She flaunted the emerald necklace around her neck, fingers toying with it as if daring Leslie to say something.

She said, "You're inferior to me in every way. The only reason you ended up as Luke's wife is that you met him a few years before I did. That's just pure luck."

She added, "Just look at yourself, so old and washed-up. And you actually have the gall to show your face at an event like this? Do yourself a favor and leave before someone takes a picture and embarrasses Luke!"

Leslie's anger boiled over the moment she saw her mother's necklace in Abbey's hands.

"Give me back my necklace. Now!" Leslie demanded.

Abbey yelped, clutching her face as she collapsed to the floor.

All eyes in the room snapped to them.

Luke spotted Abbey sprawled on the floor and instantly pushed through the crowd, dropping to his knees to help her up, holding her protectively in his arms, worry written all over his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle with concern.

Then he looked up, his eyes icy as he stared at Leslie.

"Leslie, what are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?" he snapped.