The Price of Betrayal: Bankrupting My Billionaire Husband Chapter 1

On the day of my alma mater’s Centennial Gala, my assistant sent me a screenshot of an Instagram Story.

The caption read: [Hope my girl kills her first performance tonight. You’re gonna shine, star. ✨]

In the photo, a girl I didn't know was standing backstage, looking like a delicate white swan. She was wearing my custom-made haute couture gown.

The story was posted by my husband, Julian. And he had blocked me specifically from seeing it.

I stared at the photo, fingers hovering over the keypad, ready to demand an explanation.

But before I could type a word, the girl from the photo walked onto the stage. I was sitting front row center in the VIP section.

She was dressed exactly like the photo. And then, she began to sing.

It was the song Julian had written for me.

I paused, lowered my phone, and snapped a picture of her performance. I sent it directly to Julian.

"Honey, isn't it a small world? I just found my missing couture gown and my diamond necklace right here at the gala."

"And this girl... she's singing the love song you wrote for our anniversary."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think I had a stalker obsessed with becoming me."

"Tell me, if I call the cops right now for grand larceny, how many years do you think she'd get?"

The moment the message delivered, a spotlight swept across the audience.

It landed squarely on a man holding a neon support sign in the VIP box opposite mine. His face was plastered on the giant auditorium screens.

It was Julian. The sign was full of cutesy cheering words for the girl on stage.

I didn't hesitate. I stood up, turned around, and waved at my husband across the aisle with a dazzling smile.

"Honey! What a coincidence!"

* * *

Our eyes met. Julian’s face drained of color instantly.

I acted completely oblivious, looking at him with mock concern.

"Julian? You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you feeling okay?"

The University President, sitting next to me, stood up and looked between us curiously.

"Ms. Vance, you know Mr. Sterling?"

He gestured to Julian with admiration. "Mr. Sterling is our newest major donor! The two new science labs and the library wing? All him. We even named the atrium after him!"

The President turned to Julian, beaming. "Mr. Sterling, you should have told us you were coming! We would have seated you in the front row with the Guests of Honor."

It was loud. He obviously hadn't heard me call Julian "Honey."

I smiled, walked over, and linked my arm through Julian's stiff, freezing arm.

"Oh, we know each other, President Miller."

I leaned my head on Julian’s shoulder. "We're husband and wife. Right, honey?"

Julian flinched. He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"I... I was just passing by. Saw the lights, thought I'd drop in. Didn't want to bother the administration."

He stammered through an introduction. "This is my wife, Victoria Vance."

He was so guilty he couldn't even look me in the eye.

I didn't expose his pathetic lie right there. Instead, I turned my attention to the stage.

"President Miller, who is that girl singing? She has a lovely voice."

The President’s face lit up.

"That's Lily Harper. A real diamond in the rough. She comes from a very difficult background, but she's brilliant. One of our top scholarship students."

"Mr. Sterling here is her personal sponsor. Since she enrolled, he's been very generous to the university."

I nodded, maintaining my perfect socialite mask.

After the gala, the President enthusiastically introduced Lily to us.

"Lily, come meet our most distinguished alumna, Victoria Vance! The 'Vance Legacy Scholarship' you applied for? She established it."

He chuckled. "And what a small world—your sponsor is Ms. Vance's husband."

Lily immediately bowed her head, gushing about how much she admired me and how grateful she was to Julian.

She played the part of the humble student well, but she couldn't hide the calculation and jealousy in her eyes.

I stared at the dress she was wearing.

"Miss Harper, for someone from a 'difficult background,' you have expensive taste. That gown is a custom piece I lost a few days ago. It’s worth six figures."

"It's uncanny. It looks exactly like my missing auction item."

Lily’s face went pale. She looked at Julian for help.

Julian shot her a warning glare.

She immediately dropped her head, voice trembling. "The dress... I sewed it myself. I saw a photo in a magazine and copied it. The pearls are fake, too."

"I know it's a knock-off, but I just wanted to look perfect for the stage."

I didn't press further. I just turned to Julian, smiling dangerously.

"Honey, you know how much I loved that dress. If I ever find out who the thief is... I’ll make sure they pay back every cent, a hundred times over."

Julian looked like he was about to vomit. He grabbed my wrist, his grip tight.

"Tori, the gala is over. Let's go home."