Chapter 1Seven years into marriage, my CEO husband's first love sent me her 99th taunt.
I didn't even get mad. Actually told them they looked good together.
Because as a trophy wife, I learned the truth: feelings are fake. Money's real.
Until I tried to schedule my six-year-old son's circumcision.
Payment declined.
My CEO husband's explanation?
"Nina just got pregnant. That's where the money needs to go."
"Starting now, you and the kid get $800 a month."
Wait, WHAT?
No love, now no money either?
So he gets money, his mistress, AND a wife raising his kid?
Screw that!
I'm taking him down!
...
I didn't reply to his voice message. Just posted a GoFundMe instead.
Thirty seconds later, the entire social circle exploded.
My socialite friends started messaging me:
"Cass? Did you get hacked?!"
"You're married to Sterling Corp's CEO and can't afford a thousand-dollar surgery?"
I screenshot the transfer he sent me half an hour ago and sent it over.
Clear as day: [$800.00. Note: This month's allowance.]
Then I added: "Please don't tell anyone."
"Hayes has been struggling lately. Cash flow problems. He's drowning in stress."
"I just can't push him about money. Not over something this small."
Between the lines, I basically confirmed Sterling Corp was going bankrupt.
The ladies went quiet for a second.
They hesitated.
But looking at that pathetic $800 transfer? They bought it.
Ten minutes later, my Venmo pinged nonstop. They pooled together the full grand.
Rumors spread fast.
By end of day, the whole city knew:
"Hayes Sterling's so broke his wife crowdfunded their kid's circumcision!"
Meanwhile, in Sterling Corp's executive office.
Hayes was on his twentieth call from a business partner.
"Hayes, I heard your company's having liquidity issues?"
"Maybe we should pause our partnership?"
He hung up. Snapped at his assistant:
"What the hell is going on?! Why is everyone questioning Sterling's finances?!"
His assistant handed him a tablet, shaking.
On screen: my post.
That very night, he came home fuming.
"Cassidy! What the HELL is wrong with you?!"
"The whole city thinks we're bankrupt! Our phones won't stop ringing!"
I looked up at him, eyes red.
"But babe... you only gave me eight hundred dollars. I couldn't afford Leo's surgery."
Hayes was shaking with rage, jabbing a finger at my face.
"That doesn't mean you get to lie!"
"Tomorrow's Mr. Whitmore's daughter's wedding. The whole industry will be there."
"You're coming with me. You're setting this straight. Understand?!"
I looked at his twisted face. Nodded.
"Okay."
Chapter 2
Next morning.
Hayes canceled his early meeting and drove me to Mr. Whitmore's daughter's wedding himself.
At the check-in table, he made sure everyone could hear him.
Pulled a check from his jacket and slapped it down on the registry book.
"Sterling Corporation. One hundred thousand dollars!"
The room went quiet for a second. Then the whispers started.
Once we sat down, the socialites at our table locked eyes on me.
Mrs. Caldwell, who'd Venmo'd me yesterday, leaned over.
"Cass, what was that about yesterday? Hayes looks loaded to me."
Under the table, Hayes grabbed my wrist. Hard. Like he wanted to snap it.
I smiled and delivered my lines:
"Yesterday was a misunderstanding. I was just joking around."
"Sterling's doing great. Really. Don't worry about it."
They relaxed a little.
Hayes lifted his glass, satisfied, and turned to schmooze with the other executives.
After a few rounds of drinks, guests started leaving.
Half the food was still sitting there untouched.
I watched Hayes brag about Sterling's billion-dollar plans for the second half of the year.
Then I unzipped my Hermès Birkin.
Under everyone's shocked stares, I pulled out a giant roll of plastic grocery bags.
Ripped one off. Snapped it open.
Then I got up and started stuffing food into it.
Wagyu beef tenderloin. Butter-poached lobster. Truffle risotto...
Every last bite went into my bag.
Some sauce splattered onto my dress. I didn't care.
The room went dead silent.
Mrs. Caldwell nearly dropped her teacup. "C-Cass... what are you doing?"
"Packing leftovers."
I tied the bag shut and ripped open another one. Started loading up desserts.
"Can't let good food go to waste."
Leo grabbed my leg and shouted loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Mommy! This is enough food for SO many days!"
"Mommy, I want that lamb!"
Every table turned to stare.
Hayes's smile froze on his face.
He spun around, disbelief written all over him. Hissed under his breath,
"Cass! Have you lost your MIND?!"
Before he could explode, the groom rushed over.
He looked at me and Leo. Then at Hayes. Pity all over his face.
He pulled that hundred-thousand-dollar check back out and shoved it into Hayes's hands.
His voice went rough. "Mr. Sterling. I get it. But keep this."
Hayes tried to push it back, stammering.
"No, please take it. Sterling Corp is NOT—"
"Stop." The groom cut him off. Voice shaking. Clapped Hayes on the shoulder.
"Hey, look—I get it. Times are tough. Your wife and kid need you more than we need a big check."
"Keep it. Seriously. Take care of them."
Hayes stood there gripping that check. His face flushed dark red, then deeper.
A hundred pairs of eyes stared at him. All of them pitying him.
He was furious. But there was nothing he could say.
Chapter 3
We got home. Hayes threw his keys onto the entryway table and jabbed a finger at my face.
"Cassidy, are you INSANE?!"
"You're the wife of Sterling Corp's CEO and you packed LEFTOVERS at someone's wedding? I don't care if you have no shame—I DO!"
I looked down, voice barely audible.
"Eight hundred dollars a month isn't enough for groceries."
"Leo's growing. If I don't pack food, what—you want him to starve?"
Hayes froze for a second.
Even he seemed to realize eight hundred bucks was ridiculous.
He yanked out his phone. Jabbed at the screen, annoyed.
"Transfer received: $2,000."
The notification echoed through the living room.
He glared at me.
"There. That's extra for this month. But if you embarrass me in public again... don't say I didn't warn you."
I nodded. Said nothing.
Once I was back in my room, I rolled my eyes.
Nina's flaunting a three-million-dollar ring on Instagram.
Meanwhile, I'm over here with two thousand dollars. For his actual son.
What a joke.
The next morning, someone shook me awake.
I opened my eyes.
Nina was standing next to my bed, hand on her belly, chin up like she owned the place.
"Hayes told me to move in."
I threw the covers off, annoyed. "Great. So why are you waking me up?"
She rubbed her stomach, looking smug.
"I'm pregnant. This room's the biggest. So it's mine now."
Fine, fine, fine.
I brushed past her and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
When I came back out, I stopped in my tracks.
Nina's people were going through my closet. Taking my jewelry. My bags. Everything.
They were cramming my Birkins into her suitcase. Limited editions. All of them.
She looked at me and rolled her eyes.
That night at dinner, Nina sat in the head chair.
Right in front of me and Hayes, she started in:
"Babe~ Leo's private school is what, seventy grand a year? That's kind of ridiculous."
"I mean, with everything going on at the company... maybe just cut off the tuition for now?"
Hayes thought for a second and actually nodded.
I didn't make a scene. Didn't say a word.
Just took Leo's hand and walked back to our room.
