Chapter 4

Half a month later, Riverton's top annual charity gala was held at the Intercontinental Hotel.

I put on a simple, elegant custom cheongsam and wheeled my mother-in-law's chair into the room.

The centerpiece of the night was a pair of exquisite Qing-dynasty jade bracelets, something Veronica had wanted for a long time.

"Fifty million, going once!"

"Fifty million, going twice!"

I raised my paddle.

"Sixty million."

The whole room went quiet, then broke into a low murmur.

The auctioneer brought down his hammer.

"Sold. Congratulations, Mrs. Henson!"

I stood up with a smile and went backstage to settle payment with the unlimited supplementary card Veronica had handed me the day before.

Five minutes later, the auctioneer hurried back onto the stage.

"I'm sorry, everyone. There seems to be a problem with the last transaction."

"The payment was declined."

He looked straight at me and said it loud and clear.

"Mrs. Henson, the system shows the supplementary card in your hand has been frozen."

"May I ask, do you have another form of payment?"

I gripped the black card, cold sweat breaking across my palm as the wealthy wives around me stopped their chatter and turned to point at me.

"Can't even clear sixty million, and she's playing the rich wife?"

"I heard she came from some nobody family."

"Maybe she stole the Henson card and came out here to show off?"

"How embarrassing. She's dragged the whole Henson name through the mud."

I stood there, looking down at the frozen black card, my fingertips going cold inch by inch.

How could it be frozen?

Veronica had only given me the card yesterday.

Just as everyone waited to enjoy the show, the doors of the exhibition hall were suddenly pushed open.

Cole strode in with Chloe on his arm.

"Of course she can't get the money out." Cole walked to the center of the floor and gave a smug, cold laugh in front of everyone.

"Jane, did you really think your dirty accounting was flawless? I already reported to Mother that you'd been embezzling company funds. This card was frozen on her direct order!"

"How could the Hensons let a thief like you keep waving our money around out here to con people?"

Sharp gasps went up all around.

Chloe took the cue and opened her Hermès bag, pulling out a thick stack of bank statements.

She walked up to me, threw her hand up, and scattered the pages into the air.

They fluttered down and covered the floor.

"Everyone, take a good look!"

"Every line on these is proof that Jane's been moving assets!"

"She sent all the Henson money straight back to that broke family of hers!"

I stared at the statements all over the floor, my breath quickening, then dropped to my knees on the carpet and began gathering up the pages.

"I didn't… I really didn't!"

I looked at my mother-in-law in the wheelchair, my eyes red.

"Mom, please believe me."

"I never sent a single cent to my family!"

"These statements are fake!"

Cole stepped forward, kicked away the pages I'd just picked up, then pulled a document from the inside pocket of his suit and slapped it down on the glass table beside us.

"You've come this far and you still dare to argue?"

"Jane, since you have no shame."

"Then there's nothing more to say."

He reached out and tapped the document on the table.

"The divorce agreement. Sign it now."

"Leave the marriage with nothing, then get out of the Henson family!"

The laughter grew louder.

I clung to the hem of Veronica's custom cheongsam, clutching at my last hope the way I had in my past life.

"Mom… I really am innocent."

"Please, say something for me…"

Veronica looked down at me, her face giving nothing away.

The next second, she yanked the fabric out of my grip, took a pen from her handbag, and threw it down hard on the floor.

"Sign it now."

"We Hensons never keep a thief who steals our money."