Chapter 1

It's New Year's break, and my husband insists on dragging me to a class reunion.

By the time we arrive at the hotel, most of our former classmates are already there.

They all seem to be doing well for themselves - driving Mercedes and BMWs, while I'm in a domestic economy car.

From quite a distance, I can hear someone loudly gossiping.

"I just don't get it. Cort used to be the hottest guy on campus. How did he end up marrying that ugly duckling Becca?"

When my husband hears someone insulting me, not only does he not defend me, but he eagerly joins the others for photos, deliberately leaving me off to the side.

After we've eaten and drunk our fill, the former School Belle slowly approaches me, holding my husband's hand.

"Becca, I've got my eye on your husband. Name your price."

I can't help but smirk, the corner of my mouth turning up slightly.

"You might want to think this through carefully. Divorcing me could land you in jail."

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If it hadn't been for my husband repeatedly urging me to come back, I wouldn't have had time to attend the class reunion at all.

For the sake of our shaCadillacory as classmates, I have to take time off work, asking my boss for leave.

But I never expected that at the dinner table, a former classmate would brazenly try to steal my husband right in front of everyone.

What chilled me to the bone was that my husband actually agreed.

"Oh Becca, Becca, who would have thought after all these years, your skill at bullshitting has really improved."

"I'm giving you money out of consideration for you taking care of Cort all these years, trying to make it up to you."

"You? You think you can get me arrested? Don't you know there's not a soul in all of New York City who'd dare to touch me?"

Just as I was about to speak up, my husband pulled the school belle right into his arms.

"Becca, I suggest you just take the money. Save us all from embarrassment later on."

I looked up at the two of them, their fingers tightly intertwined, and spoke coldly.

"By the looks of it, you two must have planned this all out beforehand, right?"

When I was at work, Cort kept calling me over and over, insisting I had to come back no matter what.

Now I see, he must have been hooking up with the school belle for a while.

They probably planned to use this class reunion to publicly force me into a divorce.Can't believe after all these years of marriage, Cort never let me touch him. Turns out he's been thinking about someone else all along.

As soon as I finished speaking, my husband's face changed immediately.

"You're talking bullshit. Cecilia and I are kindred sCadillac

"If it wasn't for her family forcing her to study abroad back then, I wouldn't have agreed to marry you."

Hearing his words, I was completely stunned.

Back then, his breakup with the school belle was the talk of the school. Everyone knew she dumped him. How come now in his version they're suddenly soulmates?

Although I'm not sure why these two are hooking up again, at least Cort is still my husband for now.

This anger in my chest, I just can't swallow it.

"Cort, you do realize this is cheating, right?"

I kept staring at him as I spoke, but he couldn't even look me in the eye.

At this moment, the school belle threw herself into my husband's arms, putting on a coquettish act.

"What cheating? You're just upset about the money, aren't you?"

"Name your price. I've got plenty of cash!"

I looked at the chunky-faced former high school belle in front of me like she was some kind of clown.

"Cecilia, don't say I didn't warn you. Today, as long as Cort divorces me,"Most likely within half an hour, both you and he will be in prison."

No sooner had I finished speaking than Cort eagerly stepped forward.

"Jefferson, stop trying to scare us. Who do you think you are, threatening us with jail time?"

"We've been married for so long, yet I barely see you a few times a year. Who knows which nightclub you're working at as a hostess?"

"Let me be frank with you. If it weren't for the fact that you once pursued me, you wouldn't be getting a single penny."

Me, a nightclub hostess? I can't believe he even came up with that.

If it weren't for my special identity, I would've slapped him right then and there.

Cort's words elicited roars of laughter from the crowd.

"You all heard that, right? I've always said, you marry according to your worth. Someone like Becca, with no background and homely looks, it's no wonder her husband would eventually run off with someone else."

"Exactly! Just look at the clothes she's wearing. How does she even have the nerve to show up at a class reunion?"

"When it comes to status, we should look to the Lincoln family's young lady. Now that's what you call generous spending and a solid background."

The people around kept flattering the school belle, but not a single person stood up to defend me.It seems in their eyes, I'm now just like a circus clown for their amusement.

This kind of classmate, this kind of gathering, it's better not to come at all.