I stood frozen, watching as Vincent's hand casually rested on the small of the blonde woman's back. The diamond pendant around her neck caught the light with every movement, sending prisms dancing across her skin. My skin crawled with recognition—that pendant had been in my safe just weeks ago.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself forward, weaving between clusters of Manhattan's elite until I reached them. Vincent's eyes met mine for a brief second before sliding away, his smile faltering only slightly.
"Vincent," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "We need to talk."
He turned to me with a practiced smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Harmony," he said, as if greeting an acquaintance rather than his wife of three years. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" I repeated, incredulous. "You've emptied our accounts—all of them. Seventy million dollars, Vincent."
The woman beside him raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, her red lips curving into a smile that held no warmth.
"Harmony, this is Jade Franklin," Vincent said smoothly, placing his hand on Jade's lower back. "She's an important client heiress I'm helping with some investment purchases today."
Jade extended her hand, her wrist adorned with a familiar silver bracelet studded with tiny sapphires. My mother's bracelet. The one Vincent had promised would be kept safe in our bedroom safe.
"Charmed," she purred, her eyes never leaving mine.
"That's my mother's bracelet," I said quietly, staring at the gleaming silver band. "How did you—"
"I've had it for months," Jade interrupted, stroking the bracelet with manicured fingers. "Vincent gave it to me as a token of appreciation for our... business relationship."
Something inside me snapped. "Vincent, what is going on? Our accounts are empty, and this woman is wearing my mother's heirloom."
Vincent's expression hardened. He glanced around at the watching crowd and lowered his voice. "I think you should leave, Harmony. You're making a scene."
"Answer me!" My voice rose, drawing more curious glances from nearby guests.
Vincent's face transformed, his features arranging themselves into a mask of concern that didn't reach his eyes. "Security," he called, his voice carrying across the room. "This woman is causing a disturbance."
Two men in dark suits materialized at my elbows.
"I'm sorry," Vincent continued, addressing the room rather than me. "This is a... delusional woman who has been stalking me for months. She's made some ridiculous claims about being my wife."
The room fell silent. I felt dozens of eyes on me, assessing, judging.
"That's not true," I protested, my voice breaking. "We've been married for three years!"
Jade laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Oh, this is pathetic," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "These desperate attempts to claim Vincent are getting tiresome."
She turned to the security guards. "This unstable woman has been harassing us for weeks. I think it's time she was removed."
Vincent nodded solemnly. "I've never been married," he stated flatly. "And I would certainly never associate with someone so... beneath my standards."
The security guards tightened their grip on my arms. I fumbled in my purse, pulling out my wedding ring, then my wallet where I kept our marriage certificate.
"Look!" I cried, thrusting the papers toward Vincent. "Our marriage certificate! From three years ago!"
Vincent barely glanced at it. "Forgeries," he said dismissively. "From a disturbed mind."
The guards began escorting me toward the exit, my feet barely touching the ground as they half-dragged me across the polished floor.
"Vincent!" I called out desperately. "How could you do this?"
But he had already turned away, his arm sliding around Jade's waist as they returned to their bidding, leaving me to be hauled out like unwanted trash.
The last thing I saw before the doors closed behind me was Jade's triumphant smile and Vincent's cold, unrecognizing stare—as if I truly were a stranger who had never touched his life at all.
