「Babe, what's yours is mine.」
I turned to Cecily.
「I let the first two slide. This one wasn't even insured yet. How exactly do you plan to pay me back?」
Cecily looked like a startled fawn, her wide eyes instantly glazing over with tears.
She hunched her shoulders, fat teardrops rolling down her cheeks.
「Mrs. James, I'm so sorry. I'll pay you back even if it costs me everything I have.」
「The car was eight million dollars.」
「I… I……」
Cecily trembled even harder.
Thaddeus pulled her behind him in one swift motion, his tall frame shielding her completely.
「Michelle, seriously? It's just a car. I'll pay for her!」
He pulled out a black card and held it out to me.
「Take my card and go buy another one!」
「Even if Cecily wrecked ten more Cullinans, I could cover it!」
My fingertips had barely touched the card when Cecily reached over and slapped it to the ground.
「Mrs. James, every cent you spend comes from Mr. James. How do you have the nerve to take his money?」
Thaddeus let out a soft laugh：「She's always been this greedy.」
I looked at my own supplementary card lying on the floor and smiled.
Using my money to reimburse me, then calling me greedy.
The whole reason I chose to marry Thaddeus was because he was obedient.
But now? Ha.
「Thaddeus, you've stopped being a good boy.」
Thaddeus froze.
I didn't pick up the card. It was about to become a useless piece of plastic anyway.
I turned and walked out of Thaddeus's office, dialing my assistant immediately.
「Cancel every Farley Bank card in the James family's possession. Effective now.」
I hung up, drove straight to the dealership, and picked up a Rolls-Royce Phantom on the spot. Then I took it for a spin.
My phone rang nonstop the entire time. All Thaddeus. I didn't answer a single call.
By the time I got home that evening, the whole James family was waiting.
Thaddeus's parents and his sister.
I hadn't even had a chance to take off my shoes before Jacqueline James started in on me.
「Sweetie, I hate to say this, but your husband's secretary accidentally wrecked your car. Over something that trivial, you canceled the whole family's cards?」
「Right? I took my friends to karaoke this afternoon and my card got declined at checkout. You have no idea how humiliating that was. I wanted to crawl under the table!」
Jordan James let out a disapproving grunt：「Thaddeus has been too good to you. Spoiled you rotten.」
Thaddeus wrapped his arms around me, his voice going soft：「Babe, stop being difficult. Just restore everybody's cards and no one will hold it against you.」
Ellie James piped up：「Since it's your first offense, we'll let it go this time. But what you did was completely out of line. Pull this again and Mom and Dad won't be so forgiving.」
「Don't say I didn't warn you. Push them too far, and my brother might just leave you!」
I let out a quiet laugh：「Thaddeus, your little secretary told me every cent I spend comes from you. You didn't correct her. You even called me greedy.」
「Fine then. From now on, we all spend our own money. Nobody freeloads off anyone.」
Ever since I married Thaddeus, every member of the James family had carried a Farley Bank black card with no spending limit.
Their combined monthly charges ran into nine figures.
I had never said a word about it.
Now I was going to make Thaddeus understand that everything I gave, I could take back just as easily.
Thaddeus's tone softened considerably：「Babe, this isn't the office. At least leave me some dignity.」
I gave his chest a light pat：「You can't have it both ways. You were so tough at the office, so stay tough. All the way through.」
