My Billionaire Husband Made Them Pay

My husband, Ethan Vance, was the richest man in the city. Ever since we tied the knot, I hadn't worked a single day. I spent my days at our estate, doing whatever brought me joy. Today, I went out of my way to accompany Chloe to an ultra-luxury boutique to pick out her birthday gift. Who knew the sales associate would take one look at our simple, casual clothes, sneer in disgust, and try to kick us out? I gave a cold laugh. "My husband is the majority shareholder of this entire mall. You..." Before I could finish, Linda burst out laughing. Her laugh was sharp and grating, like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Your husband is the majority shareholder?" She scanned me from head to toe, her eyes lingering on my logo-free jacket. "Honey, if you're going to make up a fairy tale, at least do some research. Mrs. Vance shopping in a luxury boutique wearing flea-market rags? Please." I kept my expression flat. "Believe it or not. I'm calling him right now." I reached into my pocket for my phone. Linda’s eyes flashed with malice. She lunged forward and snatched the phone straight out of my hand. "Drop the act! Who do you think you're calling?" She raised her arm high and slammed my phone violently onto the floor. *Crack!* The screen shattered into a web of glass, sharp pieces scattering across the marble tiles. I stared down at my ruined phone, my fists clenching tight. Chloe rushed forward, her face flushed with fury. "What the hell is wrong with you? What right do you have to smash Natalie's phone?" She pulled out her own phone, pointing the camera right at Linda. "I’m recording everything! Let's see how smug you are when everyone finds out who the real bully is!" Linda shot her a sideways glare, a contemptuous smirk playing on her lips. "Oh? Brought a little sidekick, did we?" Her hands were deceptively fast. Before Chloe could even hit record, Linda ripped the phone from her grip. *Smash!* Another sickening crunch echoed through the store. Chloe’s phone lay in ruins on the floor. Chloe froze, tears of rage instantly welling in her eyes. "You've gone way too far!" Her voice trembled, but she didn't back down. Instead, she stepped firmly in front of me. "Natalie really is Mrs. Vance! And my brother is Ethan Vance! Go look it up yourself!" Linda crossed her arms, letting out a slow, mocking chuckle. "Little girl, you two roommates or something? You've got the scripted routine down pretty well." She tilted her head, eyeing Chloe up and down. "Both of you combined aren't wearing more than fifty bucks. And you dare pretend to be Mr. Vance's family?" Chloe shook with sheer outrage. "Who are you calling broke? You're the broke one! Your whole family is broke!" Linda’s face darkened, taking a menacing step forward. "What did you say? A tramp like you dares curse at me in my own store?" I pulled Chloe behind me, shielding her with my body. "You smashed two of our phones. Do not think you're getting away with this." Linda rolled her eyes dramatically. "Not getting away with it? What are you gonna do? Call the cops? Go ahead. Call them." She leaned in, dropping her voice to a venomous whisper. "Let the cops see who's really causing a scene here." "People like you come in here just to touch things you could never afford. Then you put on an act like you're royalty." I stared directly into her eyes, my voice icy. "With an attitude like yours, you won't last another hour in this job." "Ha! You really think you're Mrs. Vance, don't you?" Linda planted her hands on her hips, her chin lifted high. "Let me tell you something. A high-end boutique like this isn't meant for trash like you." "Go back to your dead-end job, save up some pennies, and buy your clothes off a bargain rack. Stop playing pretend here." Chloe stomped her foot in pure frustration. "You're nothing but a pathetic snob!" Linda sneered, completely ignoring her. "Look around. You should be grateful I’m even being this polite to you."I was done wasting my breath on Linda. "Let’s go, Chloe. We'll let Ethan handle this." I took Chloe's hand and turned toward the glass doors. Suddenly, Linda sprinted forward, spreading her arms wide to block the exit. "Leaving? You think you can just walk out?" I frowned at her. "You smashed our phones. We haven't even settled that bill yet, and you're holding us hostage?" A sinister smirk tugged at the corner of Linda's mouth. The very next second, she shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Thief! Stop them! We have thieves here!" I froze. Chloe froze too. "They stole a hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar diamond necklace from our store! Both of them!" Linda pointed directly at us, her shrill voice echoing across the entire floor. "I saw them slip it into her bag with my own eyes!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "That's a blatant lie! We never touched any necklace!" Chloe panicked, tears spilling over. "You're framing us! You smashed our phones, and now you're lying through your teeth!" Linda ignored our protests completely, screaming into the hallway. "Security! Security! Get over here right now!" In less than thirty seconds, four uniformed security guards charged inside. "It's those two! They stole a diamond necklace! Don't let them escape!" Without asking a single question, the guards lunged forward. One pinned my shoulders, while another grabbed Chloe's arm, wrenching it roughly. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" I struggled fiercely, but the guard's grip was brutal. He twisted my arms painfully behind my back. "Stay still! You stole from this store and you dare resist?" Chloe was shoved roughly against a display shelf by another guard. She burst into tears from the pain. "We didn't steal anything!" I screamed at Linda, my eyes blazing. "We never laid a finger on your jewelry! We stole nothing!" "Search my bag right now! Check the security cameras if you dare!" Linda sneered coldly. "Check the cameras? That’s for the police to do. Who knows if you'll pass it off to an accomplice in the meantime?" She strode toward the storefront, addressing the rapidly gathering crowd outside. "Everyone, take a good look! These two stole a hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace from our display, and they tried to run when I caught them red-handed!" The crowd instantly erupted into whispers. "Are you serious? A hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace?" "Look at how they're dressed. Makes sense they'd try to steal." "If you're broke, don't come to these places. Greedy hands always get caught." A woman carrying designer shopping bags looked at us with sheer disgust. "Stealing and pretending to be high society. Earlier I heard her claiming her husband owns the mall. What a joke." Another man raised his phone, recording video. "Put this on TikTok. Let everyone see what these thieves look like." Pinned against the cold shelf, Chloe's face was flushed red with humiliation. "We are not thieves! How can you say that without proof?" "Proof? You were caught on the spot," Linda walked over, looking down at us like we were dirt. "I suggest you hand over the necklace right now. Otherwise, once the cops get here, a bag search will be the least of your worries." "We didn't steal it!" I glared at her through gritted teeth. Linda let out a mock sigh and turned back to the crowd. "See that? Denying it to the bitter end." "I see people like them all the time. Penniless, but the second they see luxury, they just can't control their sticky fingers." I glared at her, my fingernails digging painfully into my palms. Chloe sobbed so hard she could barely catch her breath, repeating the same words over and over. "We didn't steal it... We really didn't..." Not a single person believed us. The crowd grew larger by the second, their mocking whispers cutting into us like poisoned daggers."What's going on here?" A man in a sharp suit strode into the boutique, the click of his polished leather shoes echoing against the floor. Linda immediately rushed over, putting on an aggrieved face. "Manager Stone! These two stole our hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace, and when I caught them, they tried to bolt." Richard Stone glanced at me, then over at Chloe, who was still pinned against the shelf. "Them?" "Yes, them! And get this—they even claimed to be Mr. Vance's wife and sister. It's completely absurd." I struggled against the guard’s grip, speaking clearly. "You're the store manager, right? My name is Natalie Vance. I am Ethan Vance's wife, and this is his sister, Chloe." "You can run a background check, pull the surveillance footage, or call Ethan directly to confirm." Richard scanned me from head to toe. Then, exchanging a knowing glance with Linda, the corners of his mouth curled into a mocking smirk. "Mr. Vance's wife?" He let out a short, bark-like laugh. "What a coincidence. Mr. Vance happens to be inspecting the mall today. He’ll be on this very floor in just a few minutes." "Once he gets here, let's see whether he exposes your cheap scam, or if you still dare keep your mouth so tough." My heart leaped. Ethan was really here in the mall? Chloe grew excited as well. "Ethan is here? Perfect! Just wait until he arrives—let's see how you clowns talk your way out of this!" Richard shot Chloe a look of pure contempt. "Still talking big, huh?" Linda stepped closer to Richard, leaning in to whisper, but deliberately making sure her voice carried to my ears. "Manager Stone, since Mr. Vance will be here any second, why don't we teach these scammers a lesson on his behalf first?" "When Mr. Vance arrives and sees we've already cleaned up the mess for him, he'll definitely hold us in high regard." Richard's eyes lit up. He nodded in approval. "Good point." He turned to the security guards. "Hold her up." Two guards hauled me up from the floor, wrenching my arms back so I couldn't move an inch. Richard stepped up directly in front of me, staring down at me with cold arrogance. "I'll give you one chance. Confess that you stole the necklace, and I'll go easy on you." "I didn't steal it." I locked eyes with him, enunciating every single word. *Smack!* A violent slap crashed against my face. My head snapped to the side. "Admit you're a thief." "I'm not." *Smack!* A second slap landed, harder than the first. My ears rang violently, and the coppery taste of blood flooded my mouth. "Say you're a thief!" "I never stole a damn thing." *Smack!* The third slap sent my vision spinning, my cheek swelling instantly. Richard, however, seemed to get a thrill out of it. The cruelty in his eyes grew darker. "Refusing to confess? Fine. I have all day." *Smack!* "Confessing yet?" "I won't admit to something I didn't do." *Smack!* Blood trickled from the corner of my lips, dripping down onto my plain jacket. Chloe completely lost it, screaming hysterically. "Stop hitting Natalie! Let her go, you monsters!" She thrashed with all her might, nearly breaking free from the guards holding her. "Natalie, just say it! Don't let them beat you like this!" I shook my head at her. The blood in my mouth was warm and metallic, but there was no way in hell I would ever utter the words *I confess*. *Smack!* Richard threw another brutal slap across my face. My head whipped back, and the entire side of my face went completely numb. "Broke tramps always have the stubbornest mouths!" Richard shook his hand out, as if disgusted by touching me. Chloe wept inconsolably. "Please stop! She really didn't steal anything!" Linda strutted over and yanked Chloe's hair viciously. "You still have the nerve to cry?" *Smack!* She slapped Chloe hard across the cheek. "One thief and one lookout—you think you're entitled to tears?" *Smack!* Another slap landed on Chloe. Chloe's cheek swelled immediately, tears and saliva streaming down her face. "Don't you dare touch her!" I screamed, throwing my weight forward, but the guards held my arms in an iron grip. Linda flipped her hair, glancing back at me with a sickening smile. "Don't worry, honey. You're up next." Richard rolled his neck, stepping right back in front of me. "Last chance. Admit you're a thief, and this ends right now." I lifted my head, blood smeared across my chin, and met his gaze. "You can beat me to death. I will never be a thief." Richard's expression turned pitch black. "Fine. You've got guts."Richard took a step back and shot Linda a sharp look. "Go get that necklace." Understanding instantly, Linda hurried behind the counter, grabbed a necklace from a drawer, and concealed it tightly in her palm. Richard cleared his throat, raising his voice so the entire hallway could hear. "Since you refuse to confess, we'll search your bag! Let everyone see what's really inside!" "Go ahead and search," I spat. "There is no necklace in my bag." Richard gave the guards a nod. "Search it." Two guards pinned my shoulders down firmly, while another snatched the purse off my shoulder. Linda took my bag, turning her back slightly to the crowd, the necklace already hidden in her hand. She reached deep into my purse, rummaged around for a second, and then dramatically yanked her hand out. A diamond necklace dangled from her fingers, catching the bright store lights. "Found it! Caught red-handed!" She held the necklace high in the air, yelling at the top of her lungs. "Look, everyone! Here it is! Our hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace, hidden right inside her bag!" Both Chloe and I stared in utter disbelief. Then it hit me—this had been a setup from the very start. The crowd outside went wild. "They actually found it?" "She really was a thief!" "Caught red-handed and still trying to deny it?" I stared at the necklace in her hand, trembling with fury. "That was never in my bag! She pulled it out of her own hand! You framed me!" Richard scoffed loudly. "Framed you? It was pulled straight out of your bag in front of dozens of witnesses, and you claim it's a frame job?" "It is a frame job! I have never seen that necklace in my life!" My voice cracked from screaming. "You think I'd care about your cheap hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace?" I tilted my chin down, gesturing toward my collarbones. "The necklace around my neck is worth over two million dollars! Why the hell would I steal your cheap display piece?" Richard’s gaze dropped to my chest. Resting against my skin was a platinum chain holding a rare, flawless pink diamond, radiating a soft, mesmerizing glow under the spotlights. He stared at it for two seconds, then burst into mocking laughter. "Two million dollars? For this?" He reached out and grabbed the pendant around my neck. "What do you think you're doing?" I instinctively tried to pull back, but the guards pinned me mercilessly. "Drop the act. A twenty-dollar knockoff from a street stall, and you claim it's worth millions?" Richard yanked violently. *Snap!* The delicate chain snapped. The necklace tore free from my neck, slipped through his fingers, and hit the marble floor, bouncing twice. "You think this piece of junk is worth millions?" He sneered, kicking the fallen diamond aside with the toe of his shoe. My mind went completely blank. That necklace... Ethan had bought it for me last year at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong for nearly two million dollars. It was our third-anniversary gift. He had searched the globe to find that specific pink diamond and hired a master jeweler to design it exclusively for me. I wore it every single day. I had never taken it off. And now, it lay broken on the filthy floor, kicked aside like garbage by Richard Stone. Chloe completely lost her mind. "That necklace is real! It's real, you idiots!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice cracking with hysteria. "My brother bought that at an auction for two million dollars! It was an anniversary gift for Natalie!" "You're dead! All of you are dead!" Richard paused for a brief second, then roared with laughter. "Two million dollars? Her necklace cost two million?" Linda joined in, laughing mockingly. "Mr. Vance spending millions on jewelry for her? Does she even look worthy?" Chloe kept sobbing and screaming. "You're going to regret this! When Ethan gets here, none of you will escape!" Richard clicked his tongue, completely brushing off her words.