Without Him, I Thrive

While browsing a secondhand marketplace app for wedding decorations, I stumbled upon a seller with the username "SpoiledPrincess."

Her latest listing was a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, accompanied by a caption dripping with mockery.

"Gift from my boyfriend. Said his ex picked it out—way too outdated for my taste."

"He even told me his ex looked like new money wearing this kind of thing. But on me? Pure class."

My hands trembled as I clicked to enlarge the photo. The pendant's back bore engraved initials.

The same necklace Benjamin White had given me for my birthday last week.

The necklace I thought I'd lost was now draped around another woman's neck.

A commenter asked: Your boyfriend's that generous?

Her reply appeared almost instantly.

"Because I rocked his world last night. Unlike that frigid old hag he used to date."

Chapter 1

The blood drained from my body in an instant, leaving my limbs ice-cold and numb.

The phone's glare burned my eyes as that username—"SpoiledPrincess"—continued updating with new comments.

"Well, not entirely. He said his ex was boring as hell. Like drinking plain water. But me? I'm straight whiskey."

"Plus, she's five years older than me. Who wants a washed-up woman when you can have someone young and fun?"

I stared at the photo, my vision blurring at the edges.

That necklace—the one I'd searched for frantically for two days—now rested against her slender, sun-kissed collarbone.

The background showed the interior of a car's passenger seat.

I'd recognize those Maybach leather seats anywhere. The distinct stitching pattern was unmistakable.

Benjamin was obsessive about his car. He never allowed anyone to eat inside—not even me. I'd learned to be careful, to follow his rules.

Yet there, in the corner of her photo, sat a half-empty boba tea.

Nausea rolled through my stomach in waves.

I thought back to the day I'd "lost" the necklace.

Benjamin had picked me up from work. I'd dozed off in the passenger seat during the drive home.

When I woke, the necklace was gone.

I'd nearly burst into tears—it was his birthday gift to me, after all.

But Benjamin hadn't been angry. Not even slightly.

He'd unbuckled my seatbelt with gentle hands and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"It's fine, sweetheart. It's just a necklace. Don't let it ruin your day."

"Besides, I wasn't sure about that style on you anyway. Too flashy. Let's pick out something more elegant together."

I'd been so touched by his understanding. What a considerate, loving partner, I'd thought.

Now I understood.

My "elegance" was code for boring. And that girl—she was his excitement.

The apartment door lock beeped.

I killed the phone screen instantly.

In the darkened reflection, I caught a glimpse of my face—ghostly pale, hollow-eyed.

Benjamin pushed through the door carrying a white paper bag, steam still rising from inside.

Pop-Tarts from that vintage diner across town. I'd mentioned wanting to try them once, but the line was always impossibly long.

He shrugged off his tailored suit jacket and hung it on the coat rack, revealing a crisp white dress shirt underneath.

His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, exposing lean, muscular forearms.

That face. That body. No wonder young women threw themselves at him.

"Still up?"

He crossed the room toward me, trailing the scent of tobacco and something else—a faint, cloying sweetness.

Exactly like the boba tea in that photo.

He reached out to pull me into an embrace, his movements practiced and easy.

"Waited in line for an hour to get these. Still warm. Want to try?"

I stepped back instinctively, dodging his touch.

His hand hung suspended in midair. Confusion flickered across his features before melting into indulgent affection.

"What's wrong? Still upset about the necklace?"

"I told you, it's just jewelry. Not worth getting worked up over."

He set down the Pop-Tarts and closed the distance between us, pulling me firmly but gently against his chest.

His chin rested atop my head, voice dropping to that low, hypnotic register that had always made me melt.

"Amelia, the wedding's in two days. Don't frown over something so trivial. It breaks my heart."

His chest was warm, his heartbeat steady and strong.

If I hadn't seen those posts, I would have believed myself the luckiest woman alive.

I took a deep breath, swallowing the metallic taste rising in my throat, and looked up into those seemingly devoted eyes.

"Benjamin, are you absolutely sure the necklace is gone?"

"I remember having it in the car. Could it have slipped between the seats?"

Benjamin's gaze didn't waver. Not even a flicker.

He even reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips warm against my skin.

"I had the driver search every inch of that car. Nothing."

"You probably dropped it on the curb when you got out. Someone must have found it."

"Amelia, forget about it. I'll take you shopping tomorrow for something even better."

I studied his face, searching for any crack in his performance.

There was none.

When had he become so skilled at lying? So comfortable deceiving me that he could hide an entire mistress without breaking a sweat?