Chapter 1
For our first anniversary after a year of contractual marriage, my award-winning actor husband Damian Grayson surprised me with a high-end necklace-identical to the one his first love Serena Hart wore last month.
“You deserve the best,” he said tenderly.
On impulse, I posted about it online, flaunting the gift.
Ten minutes later, his younger sister Amber Grayson went off in the comments.
“A fake dares to show off? You really think you’re the real one?”
“My brother only has eyes for Serena! You’re just a replacement. Know your place and return the necklace to its rightful
owner.”
“Oh, and hand over those endorsements while you’re at it. Otherwise, you will get kicked out with nothing!”
One click into her profile, and it was all fangirl delusions-“My brother and Serena are true love!”, “The replacement should
disappear!”
I scoffed. “A necklace? This brand belongs to me. And you’re calling me the fake? He wants a replacement, you play the
accomplice. Since you two love drama so much, maybe I should withdraw my investment and let you both star as a pair of
tragic lovers-unemployed and penniless.”
Holding the necklace, I felt an indescribable emotion.
Stellar Tears-a piece I had designed myself a month ago.
The moment it launched, Damian bought it.
And now, it had become my anniversary gift.
I picked up my phone and snapped a photo of the necklace, captioning it simply, “Received a gift from my husband.
Mood: excellent.”
Ten minutes later, my notifications blew up.
Amber led the charge in the comments, “A fake dares to show off? You really think you’re the real one? My brother only has Serena in his heart!”
“You’re just a replacement. Return the necklace to its rightful owner and surrender those endorsements, or you will get kicked out with nothing!”
I paused.
A fake?
I was wearing my own design, and I was the fake?
Now that was amusing.
I clicked into Amber’s profile, curious what other gems she had to offer.
Her feed was a shrine to Damian and Serena-photos of them together, Serena wearing the very necklace now in my
hands.
“My brother and Serena are true love.”
“The replacement should get lost.”
“Once Serena makes her comeback, certain people better scram.”
The more I scrolled, the more absurd it became.
What did this brat think she was? A matchmaker? Or Damian’s personal agent?
Returning to my post, I replied directly, “He wants a replacement, you play the accomplice. Since you two love drama so much, maybe I should withdraw my investment and let you both star as a pair of tragic lovers-unemployed and penniless.”
The moment I hit send, my phone rang.
Damian.
I answered, only to hear Serena’s voice in the background before he could speak. “Damian, don’t blame Evelyn. She might not know…”
He hung up abruptly, then texted, “Amber is young and impulsive. Don’t take it to heart. Delete the post-it’s bad for PR.”
I almost laughed.
Young and impulsive?
Amber was in her twenties. How much younger did she need to be?
And yet, when she publicly insulted me-accusing me of wearing a fake and demanding I surrender the necklace to Serena-his response was to tell me to delete my post?
To let it go?
And what about Serena?
Her words on the phone sounded like an explanation to me at first.
But when I thought about it carefully, what she actually said was, “She might not know.”
Not know what?
Not know that this necklace was something Serena pitifully handed down to me?
Or that I, Evelyn Lockwood, wasn’t even allowed to wear my own designs in this household?
I video-called Damian back.
He answered in a panic, angling the camera away so only the ceiling was visible. “Evelyn, let me explain-”
“No need.” I cut him off.
“Tell Amber to delete her comments and apologize. Publicly. Or she’ll never touch L&W jewelry again.”
Silence.
Then, cautiously, “Evelyn, you’re joking…”
“When have I ever joked with you?” My voice was eerily calm as I stared at the ceiling on my screen. Damian, you have one hour. Make your sister apologize and admit she was wrong. Or it won’t just be about endorsements. What else do you
think I can take from you?”
I hung up.
For a few minutes, my phone was quiet.
Then it erupted-call after call from Damian.
I ignored every one.
