On New Year’s Eve, my husband Vincent was still on a business trip in Europe. I decided to fly out and surprise him. When I went to book the ticket, only first class was available. I looked at the $10,000 price tag and used a year’s worth of savings to buy it. After I sat down, I could not figure out how to adjust my seat. The young woman next to me let out a scornful laugh. “Never flown first class before?” I smiled awkwardly. “No, I haven’t.” “My boss always books me first class,” she said. “Sometimes he even arranges a private jet for me.” I was taken aback. “Your boss must be very generous.” “Actually,” she said smugly, “he’s not just my boss. He’s my lover. Look, this is the ring he gave me” Looking at the diamond ring on her hand that was identical to my missing wedding ring, I froze. Wait. Wasn’t Vincent just a regular employee? When did he become a CEO? I stared at her ring finger. “But that ring…it’s a wedding band. Are you two engaged? Or married?” “This?” Lucia glanced at the diamond. “I had him take it off his wife.” I was stunned. “I wasn’t going to trouble the wife at first. But on my birthday, that woman had a miscarriage and made him rush to the hospital. I spent my birthday alone.” My hand moved to my lower abdomen. I suddenly remembered that brutal winter The road home from the market was a sheet of black ice. Vincent’s salary was pitiful-we couldn’t even afford an electric scooter. I slipped and fell hard. Our three-month-old baby became nothing but a pool of blood… That day, Vincent dropped everything. He stayed by my side for three days and three nights. But when I finally woke, my wedding ring was gone. Just like our child. Vincent held me close. “It’s okay, we’ll have another child. And the ring-I’ll buy you a new one.” I cried and shook my head. “Didn’t you say the company is doing layoffs? We need to save money. When you’re making big money later, then you can get me a new one.” That day he looked at me with reddened eyes, tears welling up. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I haven’t earned enough money. I’m sorry I haven’t given you a good life.” I shook my head. Beside me, Lucia was still admiring the diamond ring. I asked, “So you made him take his wife’s ring and give it to you?” “Yes. Actually, he refused at first. Said he’d buy me something more expensive.” Lucia examined the ring from all angles. “But that old woman is so arrogant precisely because she thinks she’s his wife, right? If I didn’t teach her a lesson, wouldn’t she just walk all over me in the future?” I clenched my teeth. “Honestly, this ring isn’t worth as much as the other things he’s bought me.” “But it is a wedding ring, after all.” Lucia smiled at me. “When a woman ends up like that old hag, she’s got no hope left in this life.” I gripped the corner of my clothes, forcing out a smile. “If your sugar daddy is so willing to spend money on you, he must be paying his wife plenty of hush money, right?” Lucia laughed. She leaned in close. “I’ll tell you-that old woman doesn’t even know he’s a CEO yet.”
“Why not?” Lucia admired her diamond-studded manicure. “Because there’s no point. That woman already spent her youth helping him build his career.” “If you were a man who got rich and then looked at your wife who’s already old and faded, would you still spend money on her? Can money bring back her youth?” The glass reflection showed my slightly haggard face. Lucia leaned toward me. “I can see that although you’re older than me, you still have some looks. Since we’re fated to meet, let me give you some advice.” “Women really should invest in medical aesthetics and beauty treatments. I can see your skin is already getting dry-your husband probably isn’t interested in you anymore, is he?” I stared at her without speaking. Her skin was flawless. I used to be like that too. In fact… I was even prettier than her. Ten years in a rental apartment, buffeted by wind and rain-when I look at my old photos now, I barely recognize myself. “Medical aesthetics… that’s expensive.” “So what?” Lucia shrugged. “My sugar daddy gives me $500,000 a month for living expenses, and he reimburses these beauty treatments too.” I looked at the small crystal on Lucia’s winged eyeliner, My hands trembled as I clutched my clothes. “How long have you been his mistress?” “Since June 12th, 2023. Why?” My grip on my clothes tightened. June 12th, 2023. The day my mother died. That day, my mother needed $500,000 for surgery. I remember clearly how Vincent begged everyone he knew and used all his own savings to scrape together $350,000 for me. That was nearly everything he had earned since he started working. In the end, despite my desperate efforts, I could only come up with $80,000. My mother still died. That day he held me tight, tears streaming down his face. “It’s my fault. I’m useless-I couldn’t even earn enough for Mom’s medical bills! You’ve suffered so much with me…” My heart felt like it was being cut by knives. I still wiped away his tears. “You managed to get $350,000 together. I’m grateful.” “Mom said you did your best. She doesn’t blame you, and neither do I… I’m the one who couldn’t come up with the remaining $150,000…” His tears fell onto the back of my hand. He gripped my hand tightly. “Nina, just wait a little longer. Please wait for me… I promise I won’t let us suffer like this anymore…” I nodded through my tears. $500,000… So he could have gotten it after all. “You know what? That woman’s mom also needed exactly $500,000 that month.” Lucia said. I looked at her. She winked her left eye at me. “Actually, he was originally going to give it to her.” My breath caught. “Did he use it for your living expenses instead?” “No, he’s so rich-giving me $500,000 still leaves him with plenty more.” “Then why didn’t he give it to his wife’s mother?” “Because…” Lucia rested her chin on her hand. “I told him that once her mother died, that woman would have no family left. Then even if he got caught keeping me on the side, she wouldn’t dare say anything.” My teeth were about to shatter from how hard I was biting down. “Plus, that month I had my eye on a new Chanel piece that cost exactly $500,000.” I stared at her intently. “Aren’t you afraid his wife will find out what you did?” “Please, I’m way too smart for that.” Lucia laughed. “I gave him the idea to take out $350,000 and pretend it was all his savings. His wife would just think her husband did his best-she’d never check if he had someone on the side!”
As she spoke, her expression shifted. “The only annoying thing is, he did it to keep the old woman from leaving him if I was ever found out.” “Tch. Lucky old hag.” SLAP! A hand struck Lucia’s face without warning. “Are you insane!” Lucia’s drink spilled everywhere. Flight attendants rushed over to help clean up. She was furious. “What’s your problem? Why are you freaking out!” “Mistresses are this brazen now?!” I was seething with rage. The flight attendants quickly pulled us apart. They moved Lucia to an empty seat farther from me and tried to calm her down. Finally, Lucia’s emotions stabilized somewhat. She wiped her hands with the towel the attendant handed her while shooting me a contemptuous glance. “I hate self-righteous people like you the most. Going on and on about mistresses-the truth is…” “Ha! You’re just old now and can’t attract men anymore, right?” “Go back to when you were young, and you probably chased them harder than anyone!” “You!” The attendant quickly stopped me from exploding. I didn’t want to cause them trouble, so I bit my tongue and sat back down. Lucia gave me a disdainful once-over. “Let me tell you the truth-you’re already old. Your husband definitely has someone on the side too.” “Don’t believe me? Go home and check his phone. Because looking like you do, no man would want to come home.” SPLASH! I threw my fresh drink right in her face. Lucia screamed. The attendants frantically positioned themselves between us. The senior purser smiled apologetically. “Ms. Sullivan, she’s one of our VIP guests. Please calm down. How about I bring you some fruit to help you cool off?” “VIP guest?” I clenched my teeth. The purser leaned down and spoke quietly. “She’s linked to Mr. Pierce, a rising star. Best to steer clear for your own good-Pierce is fiercely protective of her.” I smiled bitterly. The plane arrived at the connecting airport. Neither Lucia nor I got off. We could turn off airplane mode now. I texted Vincent. “Where are you?” He sent a photo of his desk. “Making money for my wife.” “For me, or for someone else?” No reply. I sent back a question mark. The next second, a familiar voice came from Lucia’s direction. “What? Someone spilled juice on you? Who dared to treat my Lucia like this?” “Some old hag! Hmph, it’s all your fault! If you were here, she wouldn’t have dared!” “Alright, alright. My fault.” “Deposit received: $500,000” The mechanical notification sounded from Lucia’s phone. Vincent’s voice was gentle. “Go buy yourself some little trinkets you like.” I gripped my clothes tighter. The smile on Lucia’s face vanished instantly as she pouted. “Who told you to say you missed me and wanted to spend New Year’s with me? Otherwise I wouldn’t have taken this flight and run into that crazy woman!” “No amount of money will make me happy now! Hmph!” Vincent didn’t get angry. Instead, his tone became even lighter, as if amused. “Well then, what about the new villa I bought you?” Lucia’s eyes widened slightly. “Lucia’s smiling. Are you happy now?” “I am not!” Lucia pouted again. “But… hmph, I’ll give you one chance, since I love you. Okay, honey, make it up to me properly tonight, okay?” “We’re going to have sex for three hours-not one second less! No, we can do it all night long.”
My hand gripping my clothes under my sleeve trembled even more violently. I thought back to after he was transferred to California-every time we met, we only ever hugged and kissed. Every time I initiated anything beyond that, he would sigh. “I’ve been working so long, I’m a bit tired. Can we wait until I’ve rested up?” But before he could “rest up,” he’d already be gone again. The plane was about to take off again. Lucia kissed the camera and hung up the video call. That’s when Vincent sent me a message. “Why don’t you even trust me now, honey? Are you upset I can’t spend New Year’s with you because of overtime?” “After the holidays, I’ll come home and take you to that rotating hot pot place you love, okay?” The plane took off. A flight attendant came to Lucia’s new seat carrying a black and gold gift box. “Ms. Evans, a gentleman asked us to give this to you.” “Oh my! A Prada necklace! How did he know I’ve had my eye on this one!” The attendant smiled and handed over a card. “Mr. Pierce also has a message for you.” “He hopes Ms. Evans won’t be disturbed by irrelevant noise, that you’ll bravely be yourself and treat all obstacles as nothing.” “Because Mr. Pierce will always stand behind you. He will always love you.” I looked at the message Vincent had sent me and closed my eyes. “Ms. Sullivan, this diamond is from Mr. Pierce for you.” The purser handed me a diamond. I frowned. “For me?” The purser nodded. “Mr. Pierce knows you and Ms. Evans had some unpleasantness. He says Ms. Evans has been a bit irritable lately-the doctor says she shouldn’t get upset.” “So, Ms. Sullivan, please go give Ms. Evans a sincere apology.” I looked at the diamond and laughed, a hollow sound. “An apology? Seems a bit much.” “Don’t trouble yourself over it. Mr. Pierce can make that back several times over in a day.” A six-figure diamond. Several in a day. I turned the stone over in my palm. Suddenly I laughed. So a stranger was worth more than I ever was. I nodded. “Fine. I will apologize.” “Ms. Evans! Mr. Pierce has sent her to apologize!” I gave a shallow bow. “I sincerely apologize for laying hands on you. Please forgive me, Ms. Evans.” “Alright.” Lucia stood up. “Let me slap you twice, and I’ll forgive you.” The purser smiled apologetically. “Ms. Evans, she is older than you after all. Please be magnanimous and don’t stoop to her level.” “So what?” Lucia’s laugh was mocking. “This face is already ruined anyway. Whether I hit her or not, no man will like her.” “I’m doing her a favor slapping her twice. She gets to take a diamond home-she should be thanking me.” An attendant tugged at me. “Ma’am, why don’t you just let her? Let her slap you twice and this will all be over.” “She has Mr. Pierce behind her, after all.” “Right, a six-figure diamond-we’re not really losing out.” Six figures… Right. I’d have to desperately save for ten or eight years to get six figures. This diamond in my hand could buy ten years of my life. I rolled it between my fingers. Then, I flicked it onto Lucia’s tray. It skittered across the surface and dropped to the floor. “I don’t want it.” SLAP! Her hand struck my face without warning. “I’m giving it to you,” Lucia snarled, showing no mercy. “And you refuse?”
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