The third year I spent playing the perfect wife, my husband, Alec Denisof, was in a car crash. I knelt by his hospital bed, gazing at his unconscious form, and my sobs were the most convincing in the room. But inside, I was ecstatic. If this bastard Alec actually dies, does that mean I inherit everything? That’s tens of billions! I’ve hit the jackpot! Just as I was reveling in my secret delight, Alec’s eyes snapped open. “What did you just say?” 1 I lifted my head, my eyes instantly welling with tears. I looked at him with an expression of profound love, my voice trembling. “I was saying… I was saying that as long as you're okay, I'd be willing to die right here and now.” Perfect! The line, the expression… I’m almost moved to tears myself. But this time, Alec didn’t respond with his usual look of contempt. He just stared at me. For the first time, the expression on his handsome face was one of utter shock, as if he’d been struck by lightning. A bizarre mix of stunned disbelief and utter confusion. Had he… gone stupid? Looking at his shattered expression, a sense of foreboding crept over me. Please don’t tell me the crash scrambled his brains. He was staring at me so intensely it was making my skin crawl. What are you looking at? Never seen an award-winning actress before? I grumbled internally. Just as I was wondering if he’d truly lost his mind, Penelope Reed, sitting on the other side of the bed, couldn’t stay quiet any longer. She tugged on Alec’s sleeve, her voice a saccharine, baby-doll whine. “Alec, what’s wrong? Did Ava upset you again? Ava, you should apologize to him, quickly.” See that? The masterclass in being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Subtly making me the villain without breaking a sweat. Normally, Alec would have seized the opportunity to mock and belittle me. But today, he just waved a dismissive hand, his eyes never leaving my face. 2 After Alec was discharged, the atmosphere at home became… strange. He no longer spoke to me with his usual coldness, but he wasn’t exactly warm, either. Most of the time, he just watched me. Intently. It was starting to freak me out. Dude, if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to start thinking you have a secret crush on me. So creepy. I’m getting goosebumps. Despite his unnerving gaze, I diligently continued my performance as the deeply devoted wife. One afternoon, I was lounging on the sofa with a face mask on, watching TV, when Penelope Reed waltzed in, carrying a thermos, dripping with calculated charm. “Ava, darling, I made some soup for Alec. Is he around?” she asked in her soft, delicate voice, but her eyes were scanning me like a radar, lingering on the thousand-dollar sheet mask I was wearing. Made soup? This is a girl who’s never touched a dish in her life. I bet the delivery guy made it. While I was roasting her in my head, I plastered a look of pleasant surprise on my face and quickly peeled off the mask. “Penelope, you’re too sweet! Alec’s in his study. Please, have a seat.” Alec heard our voices and came out of his study. Penelope immediately fluttered over to him like a social butterfly and presented the thermos. “Alec, I made this for you myself. You have to try it.” They interacted as if I wasn’t even in the room, so I discreetly started to head upstairs. “Ava, don’t go,” Penelope called out, her gaze zeroing in on my wrist. “That bracelet is gorgeous. Was it a gift from Alec?” My heart skipped a beat. The bracelet was a gift from Alec’s mother. Though his mother had never given me the time of day, the bracelet was a Denisof family heirloom, worth a fortune. Seriously? If Alec ever bought me something this expensive, pigs would fly. Oh, here comes the classic scene. She’ll ask to see it, then “accidentally” drop it, then burst into tears, making me look petty while she looks innocent. And Alec will have to comfort her. I’d bet my life the script goes exactly like that. The whole drama was already playing out in my head. I gave a shy smile. “It was… from my mother-in-law.” “Wow, she must adore you,” Penelope said, her eyes wide with envy. Then, she asked tentatively, “Can I… can I just have a look? Just for a second.” She looked so hopeful and pure that refusing would have made me look like a monster. I glanced at Alec. He was leaning against the sofa, his expression unreadable, showing no intention of helping me out. Fine. Have it your way. I steeled myself and began to slowly slide the jade bracelet off my wrist. “Of… of course.” Just as the bracelet was about to slip past my knuckles, Penelope let out a sudden “Oh!” and stumbled, crashing directly into me. CRACK! The sharp sound of splintering jade echoed through the silent living room. The emerald-green bracelet lay on the polished marble floor in a dozen pieces. There go my fifty billion. No, I mean, there goes the Denisof family heirloom. Penelope’s reaction was faster than mine. She immediately dropped to her knees, tears instantly streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry! I’m so, so sorry, Ava! It’s all my fault, I lost my balance… Something so precious…” She cried so beautifully it was almost poetic, as if her own heart had shattered, not the bracelet. I stood frozen, my face pale, tears welling in my eyes, perfectly portraying the image of a bullied wife, heartbroken but too scared to speak up. Not bad, girl. With acting skills like that, you’re wasted on anything less than professional extortion. Alright, the ball’s in Alec’s court now. According to the script, he should rush over, help his darling Penelope to her feet, and then shoot me a death glare while saying something like, ‘It’s just a bracelet. It’s not as important as Penelope.’ I looked at Alec, half-expecting him to deliver the final, crushing blow. But Alec didn’t move. He didn’t even glance at the weeping Penelope or the pile of shattered jade on the floor. His gaze was fixed, unwaveringly, on my face. And in his eyes… there was a look of scrutiny I’d never seen before. And… disappointment? What was he disappointed about? That I didn’t immediately start a catfight with Penelope? What are you looking at me for? Look at your precious angel! She’s waiting for you to comfort her. Why aren’t you following the script? Next, she’s supposed to offer to replace it, then pull out some cheap knockoff she bought at a flea market to humiliate me. Countdown starting in five, four, three… “Ava, I’m truly sorry,” Penelope said, just as I predicted, lifting her tear-streaked face. She sniffled, pulling a bracelet from her own wrist. “This one isn’t as valuable as yours, but it was a gift from my mother. Please… please take it. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to forgive myself…” She held the bracelet out, looking pitifully at me, then at Alec. The living room was dead silent. Just when I thought Alec would condescendingly tell me to be gracious and accept it, he finally spoke. “That won’t be necessary.” Two words. They froze Penelope’s sobs and her outstretched hand in mid-air. Alec slowly stood up and walked over to us. He looked down at Penelope, his eyes utterly devoid of warmth. “The housekeeper just mopped. The floor is a bit slippery. You should be more careful next time.” He paused, then turned toward the door. “Mark, see Ms. Reed out.” The expression on Penelope’s face shifted from tragic damsel to dumbfounded shock, the color draining completely from her cheeks. I was stunned, too. What… what did that mean? He didn’t comfort Penelope. He didn’t blame me. He just… brushed it off and kicked her out? As Mark “escorted” Penelope out, she gave me a look that could kill. The living room was empty except for me, Alec, and the shattered jade on the floor. He looked at me, still with that same, unreadable expression. For the first time, a flicker of panic ignited within me. This man, who I thought I had wrapped around my little finger, had changed. Something about him, somewhere along the way, had completely and utterly changed. 3 After Penelope was shown the door, I cautiously knelt and started picking up the bracelet fragments. I kept my head down, not daring to look at Alec, but my mind was racing. What the hell is wrong with him today? Instead of defending his precious angel and attacking me, he sends her packing? Could it be… his conscience finally kicked in? No way. A dog ate his conscience years ago. I get it! He must have thought Penelope’s acting was so terrible it was embarrassing him. Yes, that has to be it. Still, my heart aches for his mom’s bracelet. That thing was worth billions, and now it’s smithereens. If his mother finds out, she’ll skin me alive. Nope, I can’t take the blame for this. While I schemed, I spoke in the most grief-stricken tone I could muster. “Alec, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault, I wasn’t holding it properly… If your mother asks…” “It’s just a bracelet.” Alec cut me off, his voice flat and emotionless. I looked up and met his deep, inscrutable eyes. He had repeated the exact line I had scripted for him in my head, but the tone and context were completely wrong. There was no comfort for Penelope, no defense of her actions. Just a chilling, unnerving calm. “You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll handle it,” he said, then turned and went back into his study, shutting the door with a firm click. I remained frozen, staring at the closed door, the sense of unease growing stronger. His reaction was completely off-script. For the next few days, Alec became even more withdrawn. He stopped staring at me with that strange intensity, but the tension in the house was thicker than ever. He would lock himself in his study and stay there all day. I was more than happy to have the peace and quiet. I spent my days at the spa, shopping, and counting down the days until our contract expired. My mood was soaring. One evening, I was humming a tune as I came out of the bathroom. I passed his study and noticed the door was slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out. Curious, I tiptoed closer to see what he was up to. Through the crack in the door, I saw Alec sitting at his desk, holding a document, lost in thought. His handsome profile was cast in shadow by the desk lamp. That document… it looked familiar. I squinted, and my heart dropped into my stomach. Wasn’t that the prenuptial agreement we signed three years ago?! He had pulled it out? I held my breath, the hair on my arms standing on end. What the hell is he playing at? We’re so close to the end. Why would he pull out the contract now? Is he thinking of backing out? Is he going to try to screw me out of the villa and the fifty million compensation? I knew it! Capitalists are all the same! Alec Denisof, you son of a bitch, if you dare to back out of this deal, I swear I’ll kill you! I was fuming, wanting nothing more than to storm in there and demand an explanation. But blowing up now wouldn’t do me any good. I took a deep breath, suppressed my anger, and quietly backed away, planning to retreat to my room and strategize. Just then, Alec moved. He slowly lifted his head, and our eyes met in the dim hallway. The look in his eyes was something I had never seen before… shattered. Yes, shattered. Like a broken mirror reflecting shock, pain, and a deep, self-mocking irony. He held up the agreement, his voice raw and hoarse. “Ava,” he asked, “these three years… has it all just been an act?” My heart sank. He knows? How could he know? He’s known the terms of the contract from the beginning, what’s different now? I forced myself to remain calm, my face quickly morphing into the familiar, innocent, and bewildered expression he knew so well. “Alec, what are you talking about? What act?” I cautiously pushed the door open and walked toward him, my eyes turning red on cue. “I… I don’t understand.” Alec watched me, watched me approach him step by step, watched the flawless performance on my face. And then, he let out a low, soft laugh. It was a laugh filled with endless sorrow and self-deprecation. He slammed the agreement down on the desk with a loud rustle. “You don’t understand?” he repeated, his eyes bloodshot, enunciating every word. “Ava, I’m asking you. Do you want to leave me that badly?” Of course! Did you think I’d stick around to be the stepping stone for you and your true love? To wait for you to discard me when you’re done? Three more months. Just three more months! I just have to endure it, and then freedom and money will be mine! I can’t screw this up now! While I gave myself a mental pep talk, my trembling voice delivered a heartfelt confession. “Alec, I don’t know why you’re suddenly saying this.” “I love you. Why would I ever want to leave you? Unless… unless you don’t want me anymore.” As I spoke, a single, perfectly timed tear rolled down my cheek. I expected my performance, like all the others over the past three years, to be met with his usual disgust and impatience. But this time was different. As my words hung in the air, the last glimmer of light in his eyes was completely extinguished.
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