Chapter 1

Elias Thorne designed a one-of-a-kind jewelry set for me right after I gave birth.

But when I got home, I found a shipping box in the trash with a "Review for Cashback" coupon inside.

The jewelry he gave me was a fifteen-dollar knock-off from a bargain website.

Meanwhile, his little mentee posted on her feed, wearing a piece of jewelry that cost a fortune.

【"Thanks to my mentor for designing this set just for me. It's the best birthday gift I've ever received."】

I finally realized our marriage had turned toxic long ago.

1.

I didn't link the box to the jewelry at first.

But Elias was sloppy.

He left the coupon in the box, and it had a picture of the necklace he gave me printed right on it.

I searched for it online and found out it was mass-produced junk.

I stood there, holding my baby daughter, feeling completely numb.

It wasn't about the money.

Elias had looked me in the eye and told me he designed it himself.

He said it was the only one in the world.

"I want to give you and our daughter the most precious things in existence," he had whispered.

Then, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Sutton Pierce, Elias's little protégé.

【"Hey, it's my birthday today. Elias is with me, so he told me to let you know he won't be home tonight."】

【"By the way, if you're worried, check my Instagram. I promise he's behaving himself."】

My heart hammered against my ribs.

I knew exactly what she was doing.

She'd done this before, pretending to be my "spy" while flaunting their closeness.

Her feed was always full of them.

Hugs, him kissing her hand, and "innocent" touches.

Elias always said they were just joking around and that I should be more open-minded.

I expected another party photo.

Instead, I saw the jewelry.

Sutton was wearing a stunning blue diamond set.

【"Thanks to my mentor for designing this just for me. It's the best birthday gift ever."】

A bomb went off in my brain.

I'd seen the sketches in Elias's study.

They were for a rare blue diamond set.

A one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

How ironic.

My gift was a cheap fake, and he lied about designing it.

Sutton's gift was the real deal, crafted by his own hand.

I guess that's the difference between the wife and the muse.

It showed exactly where we both stood in his heart.