Chapter 4

A week later, Ethan' s personal jeweler called him, his voice agitated.

"Mr. Cole, something... unusual. The centerpiece of the Mia Constellation, the necklace... it' s appeared on the preliminary listing for a Sotheby' s auction. An anonymous seller."

Mia was in the adjoining room, ostensibly reading, when Ethan took the call. She heard his sharp intake of breath.

He came to find her, his face a mask of confusion and hurt.

"Mia? My jeweler just called. He said the Constellation necklace is... up for auction. Is this true?"

She looked up from her book, her expression calm. "Yes, Ethan. It is."

"But... why? That necklace... it represents everything. Our love. Our story."

"I' m donating the proceeds to literacy charities," Mia said evenly. "The ones that don't have billionaire patrons. It felt like the right thing to do. It' s just... a thing, Ethan. Beautiful, yes. But I find I prefer simpler things these days."

He stared at her, bewildered. "Simpler things? Mia, this isn't like you. Are you... are you upset about something? Is it because I' ve been working so much?"

He bought it back, of course. Secretly. For an exorbitant sum.

He told his jeweler it was a misunderstanding. He later presented the necklace to Mia again, placing it around her neck himself, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"Let it stay where it belongs, my love," he murmured, kissing her temple. "With you."

She felt nothing as the cold diamonds touched her skin.

She merely smiled. A small, empty smile.

Internally, she scoffed. His performance was flawless. He truly believed his own lies. Or perhaps, he believed her too naive, too trusting, to see through them.

His phone started ringing. One of his tech exec friends.

He ignored it. It rang again. And again.

"You should get that," Mia said. "It might be important."

He looked torn. "It' s just the guys. They want to go out tonight. Some celebration."

"Then you should go," Mia said, turning a page in her book. "Don' t let me keep you. I' m a bit tired anyway."

He hesitated, then his face brightened. "Actually, why don't you come with me? Just for a little while. Show them my beautiful wife."

She declined politely.

He went. And at the bar, surrounded by his sycophantic inner circle, he was louder than usual, his laughter booming, his arm draped around an empty chair he dramatically referred to as "Mia' s seat."

He bought a round of champagne, toasting "to my incredible wife, the anchor of my world."

His friends cheered.

The PI sent her photos. Ethan, holding court, the life of the party.

A devoted husband, publicly performing his love.

While his mistress waited for him in Big Sur. Or Malibu. Or wherever their next rendezvous was.