Billionaire's fake wife is a secret genius

hapter 1 The Promotion That Changed Nothing

Jessica's POV

“Congratulations, Jessica. You have been promoted to head of jewelry design and technology.”

I blinked. “I…I'm sorry, what?” I asked.

My boss smiled, sliding the document towards me. “You heard me right. Three years in this company and you've outperformed designers with ten years of experience. You earned it.”

A laugh escaped my lips. Half disbelief, half excitement. “Thank you…thank you so much. I promise i won't disappoint you,” I said.

“I know you won't,” he said with a smile.

I held the paper tightly as i walked out of the office, my heart leapt in joy as i never expected to be promoted so soon.

Outside, my coworkers surrounded me. “Congratulations! You deserve it! I knew you'd get promoted!”

“Thank you,”I laughed, trying to hide my excitement. As everyone returned to work, two designers behind me continued chatting. “Did you see the news? The one about Lumiere?”

“Yes, that another anonymous jewelry collection was sold out worldwide in less than five minutes. It's unbelievable,” the other person said.

“But I still can't believe nobody knows whether Lumiere is a man or woman. And they're calling Lumiere the greatest jewelry genius in the world,” the first person said.

I paused for a brief second, then continued walking as though i hadn't heard a word.

Outside the building, i looked down at my promotion letter again. Just three years of working with the company. Head of jewelry design.

“Jerry is going to be very happy” I whispered to myself. Pulling out my phone, dialing his number__then stopped. “No…i will tell him in person “.

I could already imagine his reaction, his proud smile, the way he would pull me into a hug and say “I always knew you could do it, Jess.”

I hurried home. As i stepped into the house, i noticed the air in the room was tense. Heavy. Something felt wrong. My smile slowly faded. “Jerry?” I called softly.

But no response. I stepped further in and froze.

There he was. Jerry. Seated on the couch. Arms folded. Eyes cold and distant. Staring at me. I felt surprised because he has never looked at me with such coldness before.

I forced a smile, though a chill ran down my spine. “You are home early today. That's new.”

He didn't smile back. Didn't respond. Instead, he slowly stood up and walked toward me. Ran a hand through his dark hair. “I have good news,” I said quickly, trying to lighten the tension. “I got pro__”

“Jessica.”

My voice died instantly. Something about the way he said my name, flat, emotionless.. made my chest tightened. “Yes?” I whispered. He looked straight into my eyes. Not warmth. Not love. Nothing.

“I want a break up.”

Silence filled the room. My mind went blank. “... What?”

“I said i want a break up.”

I took a staggering step backward as his words washed over me. “Break up? This is a prank, right?”

“No, I'm dead serious,” he replied.

The promotion letter slipped from my fingers onto the floor. “Why?” I asked, staring at him.

He exhaled like he was bored. “Because i already got what i wanted.”

My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

His lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “I mean you're no longer useful to me.”

My heart skipped. “Jerry…?”

“I’m tired of pretending that i love you,” he muttered with a smug look.

A knot tightened in my stomach. “What?”

He chuckled softly, and that sound…Cold, unfamiliar_sent a chill through me.

“I dated you because i needed access to everything your parents left behind.”

My breath hitched. “No…”

He shrugged. “You were the easiest way in.”

“No.” I stepped back. “You are lying,” I said, my voice cracking.

“Well, but it is,” he said calmly.

His words like a dagger stabbed deep into my chest. “You loved me…you told me you did.”

He scoffed. “I told you what you wanted to hear.”

The room suddenly felt too small, too difficult to breathe in.

“And honestly,” he continued, “I also thought I'd get something else out of it.”

My fingers trembled. “What…?

He leaned closer, voice dropping. “I thought you'd at least be a virgin. But you turned out to be disappointing.”

I froze. His words struck harder than a slap. For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything. Couldn't think.

I grabbed his shirt with trembling hands. “How could you say something like that? Jerry, i loved you! I trusted you…I gave you everything!”

He looked at my hands with disgust. “Get your filthy hands off me.” He shoved me back. I stumbled, barely catching my balance.

“Please, Jerry. Don't do this,” my voice broke, tears streamed down my cheeks.

“I already did,” he said flatly. Then he turned away, completely indifferent. “I have someone i love. She'll be moving in soon.”

“Someone else? You're replacing me already?” I asked.

Without hesitation, he answered, “Yes.”

The words hit harder than anything else as i felt something inside me collapse.

“So pack your things and get out.”

I stood there for several seconds, then bent and picked up the letter i had dropped before forcing my feet toward the stairs. Each step felt heavier than the last.

Inside the bedroom, I quietly pulled out my things. Folded, pack. Then i opened the bottom drawer, my fingers brushed against something familiar.

A small velvet box. I stared at it for a long moment, before i slowly opened it. Inside rested a folded jewelry sketch. My fingertips traced the paper, as thousand memories threatened to surface. “Not yet,” I whispered.

Some secrets were safer buried. Closing the box, I slipped it into my luggage before zipping everything shut. Dragging my luggages downstairs.

Jerry didn't even look up from his phone. I stopped to look at him. “Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?”

Finally, he looked at me. “Yes.” voice firm.

Cutting the last thread of hope i had.

A bitter smile curled on my lips. “Then i hope you never regret it.”

Without another word, I dragged my luggages toward the door. I didn't cry, not anymore. The moment I stepped outside, my phone vibrated. An unknown caller. The caller ID displayed only two words.

L. Headquarters. I stared at the screen, my fingers tightened around the phone. After several seconds…i pressed decline. “This isn't the time,”I whispered.

But immediately my phone vibrated again, this time, it wasn't a call. It was a text." We found the person who stole your original designs." My steps came to an abrupt halt, causing my heart to skip. Then another message arrived, "The buyer is in Kyoto."

Slowly, I looked back at the house that had once been my home. A cold smile spread across my lips. "Jerry..." Looks like our game is only just beginning.