My fiancé's secretary stole my ancestral Phoenix-Blood Jade Bangle.
When I confronted her, she smashed it to pieces right in front of me—then humiliated me in front of the entire office, sneering that the bangle was just a gift I'd earned by "sleeping with some old man."
I was furious.
I pulled out the proof of ownership and called the police immediately.
They confirmed she'd stolen it. I filed charges for defamation and theft.
My fiancé just chuckled and patted my head like I was a child.
"She's young, fresh out of school—doesn't know any better. She sees something pretty and wants it. Can't you just let it go?"
Behind him, the little secretary flashed me a smug grin, stuck out her tongue, and flipped me off.
I had her hauled off to the station for a lesson in consequences.
Strangely, my fiancé didn't seem upset. If anything, he became more attentive—showering me with extravagant gifts, promising to move up our engagement.
I should have known better.
The night of the engagement party, I arrived in my finest gown, ready to celebrate. Instead, I was seized like a common criminal.
Someone "found" a missing Cartier watch hidden in the folds of my dress.
Lucas Henson emerged from the crowd, his arm wrapped around his secretary.
He clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.
"Well, well. Better lock the doors—can't let our little thief slip away. Who knows what else she's stolen?" His lips curled. "Might want to strip-search her. Check thoroughly."
——
Security guards swarmed me before I could speak, forming an impenetrable wall. The guests circled like vultures, their whispers sharpening into accusations. "She looks respectable enough, but stealing from the richest man in the city? Bold." "You never can tell these days. That dress isn't cheap, either." "Ha! Probably got it on her back—if you know what I mean. I've never seen her face among North City's elite families." "Gold-digger through and through. Sees something shiny and her fingers start twitching." My fists clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms. I turned to Lucas, trembling—not with fear, but with the desperate hope that he would say something. Defend me. Explain. "Lucas." My voice cracked. "Tell them. Tell them I'm not a thief. I'm not some scheming mistress. I'm your fiancée. Tonight was supposed to be our night." He looked at me. And laughed. "?" He tilted his head, amusement dripping from every syllable. "You?" "Maybe find a mirror and take a good, hard look at yourself. A two-bit gold-digger with a passably pretty face, calling herself my fiancée?" He shook his head slowly. "Delusional. I'm the sole heir to the Henson empire. You really think someone like you could ever touch that?" Before I could respond, he hurled his champagne glass at my face. Glass shattered against my cheek. A shard caught my eye. White-hot pain exploded through my skull. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling them burn and water uncontrollably. When I finally forced them open, tears streamed down my face—and the crowd took it as a confession. I stared at the man I'd loved for years. The man who had whispered sweet nothings to me just last night. Who had held me like I was precious. Now he stood there, arm around the woman who'd destroyed my grandmother's bangle, looking at me like I was garbage. Ah. So that's why he'd been so generous lately. That's why he hadn't been angry when I had Daisy Finch arrested. He wasn't forgiving. He was planning. Biding his time. Waiting for the perfect moment to humiliate me tenfold on her behalf. And now—now he was introducing her as his rightful fiancée. While I stood here, surrounded by guards, branded a thief. The insults came faster, sharper, each one a knife: "A gold-digger dreaming of marrying into money? Read too many romance novels, sweetheart?" "Greedy little thing—only steals the expensive stuff!" "Got two working hands but won't earn an honest living. Just spreads her legs and takes what isn't hers." "Must be nice, being pretty enough to lie down and get paid for it." Lucas pulled Daisy closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Surprise, baby." His voice was honey-sweet, loud enough for everyone to hear. "This is my gift to you. However she humiliated you that day?" He smiled down at her. "Tonight, you pay her back. Tenfold."
