The charity gala was held at the most luxurious hotel in Asterford.
Crystal chandeliers blazed overhead, silk gowns brushed against tailored suits.
By the time I arrived, the evening was already halfway through.
Adrian hadn't shown up yet.
I stood alone in a corner, a glass of champagne in hand.
Whispers drifted toward me.
"Isn't that Mrs. Griffin? Why did she come alone?"
"I heard Mr. Griffin's been obsessed with some intern lately. Takes her everywhere. Doesn't even bother bringing his wife to events like this."
"How embarrassing. If I were her, I'd have left already."
"I heard she came from nothing. Married into the Griffin family by pure luck. Guess the luck's run out."
The wealthy ladies' tongues were always sharper than knives.
Once, their words would have cut deep. I would have felt small, slipped into the restroom, and cried in private.
Now, they were nothing more than noise.
I took a slow sip of champagne and let my gaze sweep over the gossiping crowd.
When our eyes met, they fell silent without meaning to.
A stir rose near the entrance.
"Mr. Griffin's here!"
I looked up.
Adrian had finally arrived.
He was dressed in a white suit, polished and charming.
On his arm was none other than Jasmine—the so-called cousin of Marcus.
Jasmine wore a pale pink couture gown, its hem studded with crystals that glittered under the lights.
I recognized it instantly.
Adrian had ordered it in Hacloustein last month. He had told me it was for our anniversary.
Apparently, it had found another owner.
Jasmine clung to him like a proud peacock, a triumphant smile curving her lips.
Adrian scanned the room uneasily. When his eyes landed on me, he visibly stiffened.
He released Jasmine's hand and hurried toward me.
Jasmine hesitated, then picked up two glasses of red wine and followed behind him.
"Audrey, you're here early." Adrian lowered his voice. "Marcus had something urgent come up. He insisted I bring his cousin along so she could see how these events work. I didn't have a choice."
Marcus again.
Marcus again. Whenever Adrian needed a convenient stand-in, Marcus was the one he pulled out.
Before I could respond, Jasmine approached.
"Hello, Mrs. Griffin. I'm Jasmine. We met earlier today." She smiled sweetly and held out a glass of wine. "Mrs. Griffin, let me toast you. Thank you for lending Adrian to me as a guide."
Lend?
What a convenient word.
I didn't take the glass. I simply looked at her.
"Mr. Griffin charges a high fee for personal guidance. Can you afford it?"
Jasmine's expression froze, her eyes reddening instantly.
"Mrs. Griffin, I think you've misunderstood…"
She stepped closer, as if to take my hand.
The moment her fingers brushed mine, her heel suddenly "slipped."
She lunged toward me as if losing control.
I instinctively stepped aside.
"Ah—!"
Jasmine screamed. Missing me entirely, she crashed straight into the display behind me.
On it stood the final auction item of the night.
A priceless antique porcelain vase.
The vase hit the floor, shattering in a sharp, ringing explosion that echoed through the ballroom.
Silence fell.
Jasmine collapsed among the shards, her palm sliced open, blood spilling onto the marble floor.
She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face, and pointed.
"Mrs. Griffin! Why did you push me? I know you don't like me, but the vase was innocent!"
Adrian went ashen. He rushed over to lift Jasmine up, then turned on me in fury.
"Audrey! Have you lost your mind? That antique belongs to the Chandler family for tonight's auction! The starting bid is fifty million dollars! You're making a scene over jealousy? At an event like this? Can you even afford to pay for it?"
People gathered, murmuring.
"Fifty million dollars. The Griffins are going to bleed for this."
"Mrs. Griffin pushed her in public. How jealous can she be?"
"No class at all."
The disgust in Adrian's eyes pierced like needles.
He didn't ask what happened. Didn't check the cameras. He simply pronounced me guilty.
In his mind, I was nothing more than a jealous shrew.
I looked at the man I had once loved, now unrecognizable, and felt the final trace of warmth inside me extinguish.
I set my glass down slowly and smoothed the folds of my gown.
"Fifty million dollars, is that right?"
I stepped in front of Adrian and met his gaze.
"If I settle the matter of the vase and secure the Skycrown Spire landmark project for Griffin Group, we divorce."
Adrian stared at me, stunned.
Then he laughed in disbelief.
"You? A housewife? If you can take Skycrown Palace, I'll agree to the divorce—and walk away with nothing."
"Fine. It's a deal."
I turned to face the crowd and took out my phone.
Outside, rain lashed against the windows, lightning slicing across the sky.
I dialed the number that had lain dormant for three years.
"Professor, I'm back."
