The diamonds around my neck felt like a beautiful, glittering chain. I stood beside my husband, Asher, with a smile on my face as hundreds of the city's most important people celebrated us. But infact, they celebrated the powerful billionaire and his perfectly curated wife. They were celebrating our perfect three years of marital bliss.
If only they knew.
Asher's hand was on my back. To anyone watching, it was a possessive, loving gesture. But I felt like a piece of furniture he was guiding in the right direction. There was no warmth, no affection in his touch. It was just a part of the show.
He tapped his champagne glass, and the room fell into silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate our three years of marriage." He began, turning to give me a smile but it was a CEO smiling for a corporate photo. "I want to tell everyone how grateful I'm to my beautiful wife, Rysa. She has been my anchor, my inspiration, and my greatest treasure. Her grace and dedication have made our family name shine brighter than ever.She is, without a doubt, the most manageable partner I could have asked for."
A wave of laughter rippled through the crowd. The word "manageable" echoed in my head. He might as well have called me a well trained dog. My cheeks burned, but I kept smiling. I had become an expert at hiding the anger.
He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. To everyone else, it looked like a loving whisper.
"The smile is slipping, darling." He murmured. "Try to look like you're enjoying the life I've given you."
And then he pulled back, his public mask instantly back in place.
Enjoying the life you've given me?
You gave me a cage, Asher. You filled it with diamonds and called it love. But while you were busy building your empire and ignoring the woman you put in this golden prison, I was busy too.
You want me to smile, Asher?
Okay. I'll give you a smile. Because tonight, the most "manageable" thing about me is going to be how easily I walk away from you.
My jaw clenched for a second before I forced a brighter, and wider smile.
Just a little longer. Soon, I'll be free.
My fingers tightened around my clutch. Inside, next to my lipstick, was an envelope. It was more priceless than any of the jewels I was wearing.
His speech ended with everyone applausing.
Asher turned from the crowd, his smile dropping for a second as his eyes scanned my face, the fake smile had faded again. He leaned in again, his hand sliding from my back to grip my elbow, a little too tightly.
"The cameras are on us, Rysa. Smile. Properly. How many times do I've to repeat? I won't have you looking like a ghost at your own party. This is important."
The pressure of his fingers, his dismissive tone, was the final push. For three years, I had obeyed his commands. I had been his beautiful, silent prop.
But not tonight.
As I looked at him, I smiled. It was not the practiced one I'd worn for years, but it was something brighter, more genuine. It confused him for a moment as I saw a flicker of surprise in his cold eyes.
You think this is for the cameras? About looking pretty for your business associates?
While you were at your board meetings, I was building a business. While you ignored my birthdays, I was securing a lease on an apartment. While you paid me with diamonds, I was saving every penny of my own earnings.
The clutch in my hand felt alive, the divorce papers inside felt like a hidden weapon.
You want a performance? Just wait.
You're about to get the show of a lifetime. And I promise, my love, you won't forget your lines.
I gently stepped away from his grip and moved toward the podium. The crowd's murmuring lowered, and then stopped. Every eye was on me. I could feel Asher's silence behind my back. I picked up the microphone.
"Thank you for those beautiful words, darling." I said as I looked at the confused, curious faces of the guests. "It truly inspires me to also raise a glass. But not to the past three years."
I paused, letting the anticipation build. I could feel Asher tense up behind me.
"I'd like to make a toast to new beginnings."
With my free hand, I reached into my clutch and pulled out a small remote.
"And to celebrate new beginnings," I continued, my thumb hovering over the button, "you need a new name. Thank you, darling for everything. But I prefer to be known was the CEO of Siren's Gems."
I clicked the remote.
The giant screen behind us, which had been displaying a romantic photo of us from our wedding, flickered and went dark. Then, a beautiful logo appeared on the screen :
SIREN'S GEMS.
The silence broke into a volcano of shocked whispers. I saw mouths agape, heads turning, fingers pointing at the screen. I didn't need to look back at Asher to know the expression on his face. I could feel the anger radiating from him like heat from a furnace.
The perfect, pampered wife was gone. In her place stood Rysa Lin, THE CEO.
The shocked whispers continued in the ballroom. I let them have their moment, let them stare at the SIREN'S GEMS logo that was now my declaration of war. Cameras flashed, but all I could feel was the icy silence from the man standing behind me.
I turned slowly to face him. Asher was frozen. The glass of champagne was clutched so tightly in his hand that I thought it might shatter. His cold eyes that had looked through me for three years, were now locked on mine, trying to read me.
With deliberate slowness, I reached back into my clutch. This time, I grabbed the one thing that held more power than an diamond he'd ever given me.
I pulled out a white envelope. One word was printed in bold, black letters on it:
DIVORCE.
I held it out to him. The air crackled. I could see the calculations behind his eyes. How he most be thinking about his insult, his public humiliation, and my sheer audacity.
"I think this belongs to you. Our deal is over."
His hand didn't move to take the envelope. He just stood there, completely frozen. The papers hung in the space between us like a ticking bomb. And I was the one who had the button.