Fiona's face lit up with delight as she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist without hesitation.
"You have no idea—this is my sugar daddy's family heirloom jade bracelet. I kept pestering him for it, so he had a fake one made with tiny cracks all over it. His wife barely tapped it and it shattered."
"She felt so guilty she handed over their last property as compensation. He signed it right over to me."
I felt flash-frozen, my blood turning to ice in an instant.
Wilfred's promise from seven years ago echoed in my ears.
"Athena, this jade bracelet is something my grandmother protected with her life. Wear it, and you'll be my woman forever."
"I'll love you for the rest of my life. If I ever break this vow, I'll walk away with nothing..."
He'd even signed an agreement to that effect.
Not that it stopped him from keeping a mistress on the side.
So his "forever" only lasted seven years.
My body refused to obey me, locked rigid in place.
Even my tongue felt tied in knots.
The chatter around me grew more grating by the second.
"Wow, he gave you the family heirloom? Your position as Mrs. Rivera is set in stone now. You're going to be a rich man's wife—don't forget about us little people!"
"Well, he did pick up the tab for everyone. Shows how much he values our Fiona."
"Why are you still calling him your sugar daddy? He's your husband now!"
"This calls for a celebration! Come on, let's raise a glass to Fiona—congratulations on your successful upgrade!"
I gripped my wine glass until my knuckles went white.
The words tore out of me before I could stop them.
"Aren't you worried his wife will find out? Your sugar daddy is the one at fault—he'll lose everything in the divorce."
Fiona's smile was smug, utterly confident.
"Not worried at all. He transferred all the assets ages ago. He's even made it look like the company is drowning in debt. When they divorce, his wife won't just walk away empty-handed—she'll be saddled with massive debt."
"Just thinking about how every luxury I buy for myself and my child will be paid for by that worn-out hag slaving away... it gets me so excited!"
My stomach churned as if filled with spinning razor blades, the pain making the room tilt around me.
Divorce wasn't enough. Leaving me with nothing wasn't enough. He wanted me drowning in debt to support his mistress and their child.
How much did he hate me?
I raised my arm and flung my wine straight into Fiona's face.
She choked and sputtered, coughing violently as our classmates rushed to help wipe her down.
"Athena, what the hell? Why'd you throw wine at Fiona? Are you out of your mind?"
"Seriously, what is wrong with you? It's not like she stole your husband. Why are you so worked up?"
"She's obviously jealous. She used to be better than Fiona in every way, but now Fiona's marrying into money and she can't handle it."
I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to slap Fiona senseless.
"Are you all completely shameless? She's a homewrecker, flaunting it in everyone's faces, scheming to destroy the wife—and you're defending her? Have you no decency?"
My outburst left them red-faced, averting their eyes, mumbling nothing.
Fiona wiped her face clean and let out a cold laugh.
"You talk about decency, but look around—every single person in this room is on my side. People mock poverty, not promiscuity. Money buys all the decency you need."
"Athena, you're just jealous I found a better man than you did. You've been making snide remarks since you walked in. If you want a sugar daddy so badly, I can set you up—though someone as pathetic as you probably only deserves some old geezer!"
Slap!
The slap I'd been holding back finally landed across her face.
She shrieked in fury. "Athena! What the fuck is wrong with you? Acting all high and mighty? Give you a rich old man and you'd grovel lower than anyone!"
Stunned by my outburst, my classmates crowded around, voices rising in accusation.
