Chapter 5

"I'm your wife. Why can't I be here?" Leslie glared at him, her voice sharp with anger.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Wait, that's Mr. Garner's wife?"

"That explains it. I always thought the woman hanging on his arm looked way too seductive. Turns out she's not even his real wife."

"So why'd he show up with someone else instead of his own wife?"

"You seriously don't get it. Guys care about appearances. Look at that mistress, all dolled up. While his wife is so plain. If it were you, who would you bring?"

Luke's face kept shifting from red to pale, unable to hide his embarrassment and anger.

"What does that have to do with you hitting her?" he shot back.

Leslie fixed him with a cold glare, every word sharp as ice. "She provoked me, so she pays the price! Luke, how did the necklace my mom left me end up around her neck?"

"Leslie." Before Luke could get a word in, Abbey jumped ahead, putting on her best pitiful act.

She said, "Don't blame Luke, it's all on me. I just couldn't find a necklace to go with this dress, so Luke remembered your emerald necklace and said it would look perfect on me, so he let me wear it..."

As she spoke, she made a show of reaching for the necklace, pretending to take it off.

"I didn't know you cared so much about this necklace, Leslie. I'll give it back to you right now," Abbey said.

But Luke said, "No need to give it back."

He grabbed Abbey's hand and shielded. His face was full of concern for her. Then, he turned to Leslie with anger in his eyes.

He snapped, "It's just a necklace. Do you have to go off like this and get all worked up?"

He sneered. "Leslie, since you married me, what's yours is mine. I can give it to whoever I want. Don't tell me I need your permission."

Luke spat, "Don't forget, I'm the one putting a roof over your head, feeding you, dressing you, everything. And you still have the nerve to question me?"

Suddenly, Leslie slapped Luke hard across the face before he could even react.

Luke didn't even have time to dodge. He took the hit full force.

Abbey let out a shrill scream and threw herself in front of him.

"Are you crazy? You hit him over a lousy necklace! He's a business tycoon. Do you have any idea how much his face is worth?" Abbey shrieked.

Luke stared at Leslie in utter disbelief, unable to move.

Leslie trembled with rage as she looked at the man she once loved. The pain was so intense, she could barely breathe.

Leslie snapped, "Luke, you know this necklace is the only thing my mom left me. It means everything to me, and you just gave it away to impress her? How could you say something like that?"

Tears blurred her eyes, and Luke felt more and more like a stranger.

She knew he'd cheated, even had a kid with someone else, but she never thought he'd go this far.

Leslie had once told Luke, through tears, how her mother had died protecting her, how this necklace was her last memory of her.

No matter how hard life got, she never even considered selling it.

Back then, Luke'd hugged her tight, saying he'd look after her and keep her safe, just like her mom used to.

But now, he just gave away the only thing her mom left her, handing it to someone else like it meant nothing.

It was only now that it seemed to dawn on him. Luke's face went pale.

He parted his lips, about to speak, but Abbey jumped in before he could get a word out.

"Seriously, what's more important. A dead person or someone who's alive? Your mom's gone, and that necklace was just gathering dust in a box. At least if I wear it, it's actually being used," Abbey said.

As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked Luke's face, putting on a show of concern.

"And look at where we are. With all these people watching. Even if you're upset, shouldn't you save this kind of drama for home instead of embarrassing Luke in front of everyone?" Abbey added.

As soon as Abbey said that, Luke finally realized how much he'd embarrassed himself.

He'd just been slapped by a woman in front of all these industry big shots.

His face instantly darkened.

"Abbey's right. It's just a necklace. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" Luke said coldly.

Luke helped Abbey to her feet, then shot Leslie a frosty look.

He added, "I'm not going to make a scene with all these people watching. Just go home. Want a necklace? I'll get you another one."

Leslie stood her ground. She fiercely wiped away her tears, her gaze fixed on the necklace hanging from Abbey's neck.

"I want that necklace. If you don't hand it over right now, I'm not going anywhere!" Leslie declared.

She swept her gaze over the crowd and said, "You might be worried about your reputation, but I couldn't care less. This necklace is custom-made. Anyone with an ounce of sense could trace it back and see it was my mother's!"

With that, she strode right up to Abbey, her presence intimidating even without a hint of makeup. She held out her hand, demanding the necklace.

"Give me the necklace," Leslie said.

Abbey flinched, shrinking back under Leslie's fierce glare.