Chapter 5

Kelsey POV

One week later, Metropolitan Charity Gala, New York.

Griffin arrived with me in full formal attire.

I wore a black velvet backless gown, like a proud black swan. Around my neck was an emerald jewelry set-my grandmother's legacy, my final dignity and confidence.

Griffin wore a purely handmade Italian tuxedo, handsome and upright. The moment we entered, we became the focus of all cameras.

"Mr. Griffin and his wife are truly a model couple."

"Seven years married and still this devoted-practically royalty among the elite."

Compliments and envy surrounded us.

Griffin stayed attentively protective, shielding me from drinks, adjusting my dress-every detail performed to perfection.

Then the charity auction began.

The finale item was a blue diamond necklace called "Ocean's Tears," starting bid five million dollars.

"Like it?" Griffin whispered in my ear, his breath warming my neck.

I glanced listlessly at the large screen. "Too ostentatious."

"That's what makes it worthy of you." Griffin raised his paddle without hesitation. "Six million."

"Seven million."

"Eight million."

The price skyrocketed.

Finally, Griffin won it for twelve million dollars.

The entire hall erupted in applause.The auctioneer exclaimed excitedly, "Congratulations, Mr. Griffin! Is this an anniversary gift for Mrs. Kelsey?"

Griffin took the microphone, gazing at me with deep affection. "My wife deserves all the beauty this world has to offer. This necklace only gains a soul when it graces her beautiful neck."

Under everyone's envious and jealous gazes, I cooperatively displayed a happy, bashful smile.

Only I knew how much I was digging my nails into my own hand beneath the tablecloth.

Because I had seen her.

In the most inconspicuous shadowy corner of the banquet hall stood a girl in a server's uniform.

It was Joyce.

She hadn't gone to the branch office at all. She'd found a way to sneak in here.

She held a champagne tray, those eyes full of greed and jealousy fixed on that blue diamond necklace on stage.

Midway through the gala, I went to the restroom.

Just as I turned the corridor corner, from the corner of my eye through a half-open lounge door, I saw two entangled figures inside.

By the moonlight streaming in, I recognized them as Griffin and Joyce.

That "Ocean's Tears" necklace worth over twelve million dollars was now hanging around Joyce's pale neck.

The blue diamond glittered with a cold light in the darkness.

I quickly pulled out my phone and pressed record.

"Like it?" Griffin's voice carried heavy breathing.

"Love it to death." Joyce caressed the diamond lovingly. "But you just publicly bought this for that old hag Kelsey."

"That was a PR show for the media and board of directors." Griffin kissed her neck frantically. "Only you are the little vixen in my heart. On her, it's just an expensive display rack. On you, you're the one I truly want to spoil."

"Do I have to return it to her later?"

"No need. I already had someone make a high-quality fake. The naked eye can't tell the difference. You keep the real one. I'll put the fake on her later."

Real diamond for the mistress, fake for the wife.

I forced down the urge to burst in and tear their faces apart, my nails digging into my palms.

Save the recording. Turn and leave.

Back in the banquet hall, I acted as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with the socialites over champagne.

Ten minutes later, Griffin returned.

He held that exquisite velvet jewelry box, walked up to me, and opened it with great ceremony.

"Kelsey, let me put it on you."

The necklace lay quietly in the box, still dazzling.

But I could tell at a glance.

The fire was wrong.

A real diamond's brilliance is cold and sharp, but this one, though exceptionally crafted, refracted light with a dull, cheap quality.

It was the fake.

Griffin really had skills-he must have premeditated this "substitution" long ago.

I obediently turned around, lifting my long hair to expose my neck.

The cold metal touched my skin like a damp, cold serpent coiling around me.

"Beautiful." Griffin praised sincerely in my ear. "Only you in the world can wear it with such nobility."

I touched that fake necklace, turned around, and smiled radiantly.

"Thank you, honey. I love it."

"Oh, when I went to the restroom earlier, I think I saw that former intern Joyce." I suddenly spoke up.

Griffin's eyes instantly contracted, then immediately returned to normal. "You must have seen wrong. She's already been transferred to the Seattle branch."

"Really? Maybe my eyes were playing tricks." I sipped champagne. "After all, that cheap, overpowering perfume smell really shouldn't appear at this kind of event."

Griffin's smile stiffened for an instant.

The gala ended.

Sitting in the luxury car's back seat on the way home, I sent Erasmus an encrypted message.

"The evidence chain is complete. The blue diamond is fake-I'll get the appraisal report. Erasmus, you can launch your takeover plan. I want to see him utterly disgraced."

Erasmus replied instantly.

"You're ruthless. Wearing a fake and still putting on an act with him."

I replied: "If I'm not ruthless, how can I send him to hell?"

Back home, I removed that fake necklace and casually tossed it into the bottom of my jewelry box.

Griffin hugged me from behind. "Why'd you take it off?"

"Too heavy. My neck hurts." I turned to avoid his kiss. "I'm going to take a bath."

In the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

The inferior metal necklace had rubbed a faint red mark on my neck.

I splashed cold water on my face again and again, the hatred in my eyes growing clearer with each droplet.

Griffin, every fake gift you've given me, every lie you've told-I'll repay them all tenfold.

Just wait and see.