Chapter 1

My husband, Cyrus Knox, had been pulling in six figures a year. He was young, brilliant, and the kind of man everyone envied.

His only flaw? He'd married me, the spoiled rich girl who supposedly knew nothing and spent everything.

Three years in, he finally couldn't stand my "uselessness" anymore. Using work as an excuse, he insisted his sharp, no-nonsense secretary, Judith Dorsey, move into our home.

He looked at me with fake, patronizing gentleness. "Leona, Judith is good at her job. If she stays, she can handle things anytime. It's for our family too. Just think of her as a younger sister, alright?"

I saw it all: the ambition he couldn't hide, and the admiration in his eyes for Judith. And behind him, Judith stood there, smiling all soft and harmless at me. My heart went cold.

I nodded, playing the clueless, obedient wife he thought I was.

What he didn't know was that the "ace secretary" he paid a fortune for was a plant from my father's company.

And every move Cyrus thought he controlled had been part of my plan all along.

*****

"Leona, Judith spilled coffee all over herself while rushing to finish a project report. Lend her your new silk pajamas first. I'll have her buy you ten new ones tomorrow," Cyrus called from the bathroom doorway.

His voice had that entitled edge, like he expected me to just go along with it.

I was lying in bed with a face mask on, reading a book. I looked up when I heard him.

Judith stood there wrapped in a towel, her hair dripping wet, looking perfectly awkward and apologetic.

"Ms. Tanner, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to. Mr. Knox is making a big deal out of it. I have my own pajamas," she said.

She kept nervously twisting her fingers, sneaking glances at me, clearly watching to see how I'd respond.

I sneered inwardly.

What a textbook "domineering CEO and his pretty secretary" drama, playing out right in front of the wife, me.

Ever since Judith moved in a couple of weeks ago, scenes like this happened all the time.

At first, Cyrus still bothered to come up with some fancy excuses.

Like, "Judith was working late, and it's not safe for her to go home alone," or "There's an early meeting tomorrow, so it's easier if she stays over."

But after a while, he stopped bothering with excuses altogether.

Judith's toothbrush, towel, and slippers appeared in our guest bathroom, one after another.

Some of her clothes hung right there in the guest room closet, like they belonged.

Now, it had gotten to the point where she was about to wear my pajamas.

That pajama set was a birthday gift I bought for myself last month. It had handmade lace, was soft and close-fitting. I couldn't bear to wear it.

My best friend, Molly Boyer, was already fuming on the phone. "Leona, are you out of your mind? You're basically inviting the wolf into your house. Your husband's heart is already with her, and you're just going to let it happen?"

I smiled faintly. "Don't worry. The real show is just getting started."

I slowly sat up in bed, peeled off my face mask, and gave Judith a warm, welcoming smile.

"It's just a pajama set. It's nothing," I said.

I got up, walked to the dressing room, took out the brand-new silk pajamas, and handed them to Judith myself.

"Don't call me Ms. Tanner. That's way too formal. Call me Leona, okay?" I said.

I gently took Judith's hand, placed the pajamas in her palm, and tapped my fingertips on the back of her hand, as if it was an unconscious movement.

Judith stiffened for a split second, then looked up at me with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Leona, you're the best."

Cyrus looked pleased with how things were going. He walked over, and put his arm around my shoulders, giving me a kiss on the forehead. "I knew it. Honey, you're the most generous and gracious."

His kiss carried the scent of another woman's body wash lingering from the bathroom, making my stomach turn.

But I could only snuggle into his arms, smiling like a blissful, innocent wife.

"I'm willing to do anything for your work and for our family," I said.

Cyrus looked even more pleased.

He probably thought he had his "trophy" wife wrapped around his finger.

He patted my back. "Alright, get some sleep. I need to go over tomorrow's proposal with Judith in the study. This deal is really important for the company."

With that, he walked off with Judith toward the study, the two of them looking inseparable.

The warmth drained from my smile until all that was left was cold.